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LIBRARY

OF THE

MASSACHUSETTS

AGRICULTURAL

COLLEGE

_L!BRARY_

u wersttTof
massachusetts

amheSTmass.

THE

ttitiislr

n Jm^

AND

BEE-KEEPER'S ADVISER.

EDITED BY

THOMAS WILLIAM COWAN, F.G.S., F.R'.M.S., etc.

Author of ' The British Bee-keeper's Guide Book.'

VOLUME XIII.

January - December, 1885.

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PUBLISHED BY JOHN RUCKLE, KINGS LANGLEY, HERTFORDSHIRE;

AKD BY

KENT AND CO., 23 PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C

fe v,,3

I N I) B*X.

Abbott, C- N., mid the
awards of the execu-
tive of tbe Health Exhi-
bition, 1, 2, 10
Abbott, Bros., their foun-
dation 6xer for sections,
111, 177 ; their queen-
cage, 177 : their section-
holders, 218 ; their new
method of fixing founda-
tion, 295; and their em-
ployees, 320 ; their ob-
servatory hive, 330
Adapting board, 228
Adulteration of honey, 403
After-swarms, preventing,
202 ; and ther cells, 212
Alighting-boards, 328
Alley on Queen-rearing, 120
Alsatian gingerbread, 126
Alvine discharges, 103
Amateur bee-keeper, ex-
periences of, in queen-
rearing and introduc-
tion, 29 ; in search of the
ideal purchaser, 207 ; re-
port of, for 188.3, 371
Amateur feeder, Siintnins',

115
America, honey and wax,

crop of, 158
American cloth, 36, 177,
380. See Enamel Cloth
American new bee disease,

383
Andaquiss wax, 38
Andreuiu fnlvjc, 177
Andrews, Judge, his method
of queen - introduction,
247
Anglo-Cyprian hive, 173
Antiseptics, various, 322
Ants, 177, 227, 343; and
bees, 306 ; proportion of
sexes of, 313
Apiary, work in, ISO; a
profitable, 192 ; chief
features of, 362
Apicultural diplomas, 151
Apicultural experiments,

290
Apiculture, teaching in

schools, 379
Apis dorsata 207, 353
Arrenotokia, cases of, 174,

207
Artificial swarm, 140; time

for making, 119, 176
Artificial swarming, 147,

165, 227
Artificial ventilation, 343
Asparagus polleu and

honey, 253
Association, advantages of

joining, 177
Authorities, another of, 15
Awards of the Inter-
national Health Exhibi-
tion, 10
Bacilli, 160
Bacillus alvei, 121, 161 ;

and phenol, 185
Bacillus Gaytoni, or depi-

lis, 227, 292, 384
Balearic bees, 275
Bar-frame hive, a guinea,

52
Bartsia, honey from, 361
. Basle cookies, 126
Beatrice, Princess, and the
Hants Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation, 181, 182
Bee, the drowning, 335 ;
tongue of the, 391; an-
terior leg of the, ib. ; hum
of, 404
Bee -appliances, 2
Bee-books, 89, 140, 177
Bee census, difficulty in

obtaining, 27
Bee club, 323
Bee-feeding, sugar for, 19
Bee-flora or flowers, 15, 101,

106, 207, 223, 362
Bee-flora :—
Acorns, 15; -Egoletbrou,
196; Alsikeclover.21,101 ;
Apple, 151 ; Aquilegia,
137 ; Arabis alpina, 15,
21, 38; Arabis, variegated,
256; Asters, 101"; As-
trantia major, 168; An-
brietia, 188; Balsam, 175;
Bird-cherry, 15 ; Black-
berries, 230; Blackthorn,

53; Black willow, 137; ]
Borage, 21, 106 ; Borecole !
or Kale, 101 ; Broom, 15,
22 ; Brussels sprouts, 76, |
101 ; Buckwheat, 154 ; >
Bugloss, 21; Cabbages, j
76, 101 ; Canada balsam,
109; Centaurea cyanus,
22 ; Clover, 397 ; Colum-
bines, 137 ; Crocus, 15,
39; Currants, 101, 128;
Figwort, 39 ; French
honeysuckle, 27, 40, 51,
253; 'Giant balsam, 101,
3 10; Globe articbokes.lOl;
Golden rod, 40 ; Goose-
berry, 128 ; Hawthorn,
53; Heath, 292, 312;
Hoary lime, 15; Holly,
128; Horehound, 171;
Ivy, 137, 154, 230;
Lavender, 170 ; Limes,
2:30; Limnanthes Dong-
lasii, 15, 38, 40, 106, 343 ;
Lucerne, 40 ; Marjoram,
171; Marjoram pot, 75;
Marjor.im knotted, ib ;
Meadowsweet, 39, 76 ;
Melilotua leucantha, 40,
153, 289 ; Mignonette, 40,
106; Michaelmas daisies,
101; Mordin, 291; Mother-
wort, 230; Mustard, 40;
Myrobella plum, 15, 5-3,
123, 159; Nepetos pur-
purea, 135; Nigella
Damascena, 76 ; Pear
blossom, 151 ; Peas, 101 ;
Phaceliatenacitifolia, 76;
Prus japonica, 137; Rape,
76 ; Raspberry, 123 ;
Redhot poker, 159; Rho-
dodendrons, 187, 196 ;
Rosemary, 170 ; Sedum
spectabilis, 101 ; Snow-
berry, 53, 128; Snow-
drop, 81 ; Staph vlia, 159 ;
Thyme, 170 ; Touch-me-
not, 101 ; Trifol'mm in-
carnatum, 151 ; Triteleia
uniflora, 187 : Tritoma
uvaria, 137 ; Turnips, 76,
101 ; ' Veronicas, 101 ;
Wall-flowers, 15, 76, 106;
White clover, 76, 101 ;
Willow, 128 ; Wood-sage;
76 ; Yews, 148
Bee-hive Hall, 156
Bee-hives, drowning, iuthe

ancient times, 389
Bee-house, in a, 368
Bee-houses, 303, 350
Bee-hunt in a Hungarian

forest, 15S
Bee-keeper, a young, his

experience, 14
Bee-keepers' appliances,

206
Bee-keepers' Magazine, 335
Bee-keepers in Germany,

210
Bee - keepers' Associa-
tions and Shows: —
Aberdare, 202, 246, 297 ;
Armagh, 97 ; Banbridge,
297; Berkshire, 114,265;
Bishops Waltham, 25- ;
Bonnybridge, 332; Breck-
nockshire, 317 ; British,
2, 23, 40, 55-61, 76, 113,
151, 165, 202, 231, 247,
263, 279, 404, second-class
examinations, 305, 315,
, 327, conversazione, 348,
' 381; Buckinghamshire,
40, 151, 232, 251, 279 ;
Caledonian, 268, 385 ;
Cambridge and Isle of
Ely, 130, 15 1, 187, 267 ;
Carmarthenshire, 129 ;
Cheshire, 23, 316; Christ-
church, 331 ; Colnbrook,
279; Cork, 233; Corn-
wall, 62, 282; Derby-
shire, 41, 315 ; Devon
and Exeter, 62, 128 ;
Dorsetshire, 351 ; Dublin
Royal Society, 314; Dun-
glass, 332; Falkirk, 319;
Falmouth, 282; Finch-
ley, 268 ; Glamorgan-
shire Agricultural, 231 ;
Gloucestershire, 63, 96,
219, 267, 279 ; Great
Grimsby, 182, 267, 367 ;

Hants and Isle of Wisht,
63, 79, 96, 1U0, 182, 233,
261,330; Hawarden, 297;
Herefordshire, 61, 296 ;
Hertfordshire, 77, 182,
233,283 ; High Wycombe,
279 ; Huntingdonshire,
41. 81. 184; Irish, 80,
113, 152, 183; Isl? of
Man, 263. 296; Kent,
265,401; Lancashire and
Cheshire, 53 ; Lannces-
ton, 282; Leicestershire,
65, 80, 97, 183, 204, 261,
Lincolnshire, 367 ; Lin-
colnshire Agricultural,
91, 182, 231; Matlock,
Bath, 182, 297 ; Middle-
sex, 81, 181, 233; Mon-
mouthshire, 251, 332;
Neath, 216, 280; Norton,
268 ; Norfolk aud Nor-
wich, 78, 266 ; North-
amptonshire, 43, 67, 80 ;
North of Scotland, 42,
318 ; North-East of Ire-
land, 43. 97, 130, 319;
Nottinghamshire, 3, 96,
113, 131, 169, 218,
231, 232, 279, 318; Odi-
ham, 297 ; Oxfordshire,
21, 97, 114, 218, 267;
Penzance, 282 ; Ply-
mouth, 129 ; Preston,
Royal Agricultural Soc,
at, 252; Redruth, 282;
Romsev, 330; Rutherglen,
331 ; St. Austell, 282 ;
Shropshire, 183. 282;
Somersetshire, 42, 204,
251 ; Staffordshire, 42,
113, 367; Stirling, 319;
Surrey, 95, 129,216, 252,
281; 'Sussex, 151, 203,
330; Warwickshire, 182,
316 ; Wigtownshire, 318 ;
Winchcombe Mid Sude-
ley, 316 ; Wilts, 66, 130,
218, 283 ; Worcestershire,
23, 66, 204, 231, 280;
Yorkshire, 84
Bee-keeping, simplicity in,
25 ; in Scotland, 27, 51 ;
in elementary schools,
59 ; statistics of, ib. ;
progress in, 81 ; my first
years experience in, 102 ;
the future of, 107, 133;
prospects of, 155 ; experi-
ments in, 171 ; and the
labouring classes, 172,
205 ; profits of, 172 ; at
Downton, near Salis-
bury, 217 ; and agricul-
ture, 243; experiences in,
253 ; does it pay in
England ? 258 ; in North
Loudon, 273 ; taught in
an elementary school,
286 ; in its educational
aspect, ib. ; for ladies,
291 ; books on, 292 ;
novelties in, 295 ; in
Somerset, 336 ; in Merio-
nethshire, 337 ; notes
on, 386; antiquity of , 396
Bee law in Germany, 336
Bee-louse, 120
Bee-nest, an airy, 306
Bee pasturage, 28
Bee plants, 301 ; cultiva-
tion of, 175
Bee-poison, my experience

with, 321
Bees, treatment of, in Jan-
uary, 2 ; as fertilisers of
flowers, 16,72, 138,394;
in a chimney, 16; and
their work, 17; irrita-
bility of, -.'9, 271 ; mutual
recognition among, 30 ;
dying, 36, 195 ; destruc-
tion of, by tits, 52 ; loss
of a hive of, 52 ; do
thev hear ? 52, 82, 257;
dead, 53, 140,210; treat-
ment of, 71 ; aud bee-
keeping, 80 ; on out-
skirts of a town, 83 ;
chilled, 89; on separate
stands, ib. ; a noble lord
on, 98 ; eating sparrows,
98 ; in skep, 105 ; in
super cover, ib. ; dwind-
ling, 106; sucking sand,

ib.; as fertilisers, hybrid-
isers, and fruit pro-
ducers, 1:38; refusing pea-
flour, 140; clustering of,
ib, ; at Bournemouth,
ib. ; visiting" oyster-
shells, 160 ; ventilation
by, 159 ; parts of, 161, 394;
and rhododendrons, 187,
196 ; attacked by, 192 ;
suffocated, 196,211; and
peaches, 210 ; flyingback
to their hives, 210 ; hear-
ing of, 212 ; legal claim
to, ib, ; in skep dwind-
ling, ib. ; in a building,
213 ; eccentric, 219 ;
uniting spontaneously,
221 ; the ways of, ib, ;
revivified, 226 ; in the
streets of London, 234 ;
biting, 210 ; in a tree,
ih. ; visiting oak-trees,
241 ; law respecting, ib. ;
crossing the sea, 255 ;
stinging when swarming,
257 ; removing from glass
supers, 258 ; moving 200
yards, 258 ; handling in
August, 259 ; are thev a
nuisance r 269, 285, 299 ;
crossing water, 270 ;
carrying out dead grubs,
276 ; near Plymouth, 292 ;
cleanliness of, 303 ; and
roses, 306; deserting hive,
308; robbing, 349; win-
tering, ib. ; expelled, 326;
kept at a d:stance from
residence, 312; building
irregularly, 343; destroy-
ing their eggs, 357 ; and
honey in a tree, 374 ;
keeping at a distance,
379 ; in trees, 389 ; unit-
ing, ib. ; varieties of, 396 ;
dead, 402. Sec Carniolan,
Italian, Cyprian, East-
ern, Moving, Transfer-
ring, Uniting", Feeding, &c.

Bee-shed, 36

Bee-shows, 287

Bee -stings, 389. See Stings.

Beeswax, testing, 335;
price of, 379

Bee tours in Ireland, 222

Beetles, as fertilisers of
flowers, 393

Beginner, a young, 210

Beginners, 181

Benton, Frank, his Bees,
86 ; Tunisian bees, 133 ;
his shipping-cage, 345 ;

Birds, 75

Black honey, 83

Bligh competition, 2, 12,
60, 69, 126, 149, 314, 327,
355, 406 ; awards of, 388

Blow, T. B., his mission to
Carniola, 314

Blue tits, 75, 118

Bootefor Young Readers, 17

Books on bees, 226

Bottle-feeders for raw
sugar, 187

Bottom rail, 72

Brain of the worker-bee,
365

Brimstone, cure of foul
brood by, 392

British Bre Journal, weekly
issue of, 125, 146, 161, 327,
345, 399 ; editorship of ,248

British Honey Company, 4,
21, 60, 91, 99, 107, 112,
111,161, 379; first public
meeting, 143

Breeding bees, 247

Broad-shouldered f rn mes,
379

Brood, stimulating and
spreading, 111 ; turned
out, 212 ; spreading the,
253 ; but no queen visi-
ble, 308

Buckwheat honey, 379

Bumping v. driving, 403

Bulbs, planting of, 329

Burdctt-Coutts, Baroness.
her prizes for affiliated
county associations, 17

Burkitt, Rev. W. E., at
the Agricultural College,
Downton, 217

Burrowing bees, 223

Butterflies as fertilisers ol'

flowers, 393

California , honey dew of,3 ?

as a bee country, 35>;

honev crop of, 366

Calvert's carbolic acid, 259*

Camphor a cure of foul'

brood, 375
Camphorated syrup, 304,

325
Canadian honey, 51 ; honey
leiflet, 360; bee-keepers,,
and honev, 381
Candied cake, 361
Candv, 39, 53, 83, 89;
roakine, 89, 362, 312;
wintering bees on, 301 ;
or dry sugar, 312
Cape Colon v, honey bees

in the, 299
Carbolic acid, 120, 222,259?
for stings, 216 ; as a bee-
quieter, 217
Carbolic solution, 226, 210-
Cary, W. W., death of, 103
Carismarkt, 33
Ca-niolan bees, 278, 346,.

358
Carr-Stewarton hive, 379
Casts, or second swarms,.

148; time between, 226
Caucasian bees, 211
Cells, pitch of, 391
Central Association, value-

of, 163
Cerisine, 168
Ceylon beef, 86
Cheshire, F. R., 'Apparatus
for differentiating tke-
Sexes in Bec3 and Wasps,'
157; his Bees and fiee-fceep-
ing, 327, 393
Cheshire Fund, 2,21, 39
Cheshire hive, 22
Chilled bees, 120
Chinese bees, 209
Cleansing flight, 36
Clustering, 202
Colonial and Indian Ex-
hibition, 329
Colonies, examination ofP
110 ; weak v. strong, 308 ;.
equalising, 361
Colour of hives, 368, 407
Combination hive, 325 ;
back supering, 51; twin
hive, 36
Comb foundation, 140
Comb-honey from Com-
bination hives, 36
Combs, distance from
centre to centre of, 54 ;.
broken, 89, 106, old, 106.
328; doubtful, 120, 195;
stored, 120 ; soiled, 161 :
run over by mice, 176 ;.
joined together, 195 ;
sample of, 226 ; affected
with bacillus, 258 ; to be-
left in winter, 275 ; spare,
291 ; fancy work in, 343 ;
cleaning, 361 ; contain-
ing partly sealed honey,.
ib. ; storing, ib.
Comic elegy, 224
Commercial feeder, Siiu-

inins', 115
Committeemen of the
B. B. K. A., election of, 2
Compensation for loss of

bees, 11
Condemned bees, 230, 2U„
259, 391; price of, 274 ;
taking after dark, 275 ;
driving, 291 ; utilising.
307; treatment of, 311.
310. 312 ; building thick
comb, 362
Congratulations to nQfl

editor, 260
Conversaziones, 318, 334
Cork dust, 64; and venti-
lation, 311
Cottagers and county

shows, 289, 358
Coughs, honey for, 169
County Associations 62",
76, 93, 113, 235, 236, 241,
270; suggestions for, 205;
aud sundry other mat-
ters, 251 ; anonymous
letters on, 255
County representatives, 21,

76, 93, 113, 125
Covering for swarms, 118

INDEX TO VOLUME XIIL

in

Covers, 328

Cowan, T. W., editor of
the British Bee Journal,
243 ; his letter to the sub-
scribers to the British
Bee Journal, 261
Cowan's Gut'de-Boofc, 36
Cowan hive, 88, 226, 307,

390
Crates, 38, 140
Crisp, W., lecture on bees,

157
Criticism desired, 374
Crooked combs, 240 ;

straightening, 227, 276
Crown board, 39
Crystallisation of syrup,380
Cuban honey, 132
Cyprian bees, 8, 189
Death's head moth, 259,

314, 351
Death of bees through

neglect, 121
Desborongh, J. G., his
new method of supering,
381
Deserting colonies, 75
Dillon, Rev. F., lecture by,

80
Diphtheria, honey a cure

for, 169
Discovery, an interesting,

15
Diseased bees, 177
Diseased comb, 276
Diseased queen, 106, 137
Dissecting of microscopic

objects, 109
Distance from centre to
centre of combs, 88 ;
between frames, 72
Distance guide, 292
Divisional racks for sec-
tions, 140, 148
Divisional boards in front

and back of hive, 140
Dolan's dummy feeder,

295,303
Doolittle, Mr., 75
Doubling, 105, 259, 372,

380; hives for, 211,410
Drive, unable to, 308
Driving, 177

Driven bees, 247, 258, 309,
325; experiences with,
236 ; in October, 291
Drone and worker-cells, 390
Drone brood, 140 ; in sec-
tions, 241
Drone-comb, 121, 226
Drone, dead, and immature

queen, 259
Drone foundation, 211
Drone massacres, 121, 343
Drone thrown out, 140
Drones, 160, 171, 176, 239,
343 ; retention of, 578 ;
observations on, 340 ; in
November, 379
Drone- traps, 120
Dry sugar, 18
Dry-sugar feeders, 83,
Dry sugar feeding, 25, 71,

103, 171, 289, 343
Duncan's pearl sugar, 19,

72, 74, 87, 88, 195
Durham, Association for,

295
Dysentery, 36, 75, 325, 361,

383 ; suspected, 362
Dzierzon, a visit to, 33 ;
autobiography of,353, 375
Early swarm, li8
Earth-wax. 168
Earwigs, 275, 292
Eastern bees, 7, 34, 189,

235
Echoes from the hives, 17,

et passim
Economical feeding, 171
Egyptian bees, 190
Elm for hive-making, 120
Enamel cloth. 16, 74, 161,
177, 195, 211, 29* ; re-
moving, 211
Enamel paper, 237
English honey cakes, 126
Entrances to hives, 2, 17,

328 ; open, 3*7
Eucalyptus, oil of, 322
Examination of stocks, 2,

39, 105, 121
Examining candidates, 109,

149
Excreta of bees, analysis
of , 335

Exhibition cards, 314
Experiences, 299; first

year's, 320, 337
Experts, 173; tour of, 188;

suggestions to, 102, 270
Excluder zinc, 71, 210
Extracted combs, 379
Extracted honey, 120 ; feed-
ing, 159 ; largest harvest
of, 378 ; working for, 211
Extracting honey, 120, 148,
181, 217, 240, 261, 278;
time for, 240 ; from com-
bination hives, 212 ; diffi-
culty in, 291, 307 ; thick
honey, 299 ; wax, 276

Extractor, 36t 303 ; princi-
ple of, 397

Extractors and wide -
shouldered frames, 259

Extraordinary increase in
a Ligurian hive, 158

Famine, impending, 54

Feather-alum, 158, 177, 212,
226

Feeders, 379, 397

Feeding, 13, 39, 71, 89, 105,
106, 148, 161, 165, 262,
278, 294, 313, 325, 347,
374,379; in December, 2,
402; from combs behind
division board, 54 ; for
autumn, ib.; swarms, 202;
after-swarms, 230

Fertile worker, suspected,
227

Fighting, 194, 227

First and second-class cer-
tificates, report on, 347

Flies as fertilizers of
flowers, 393

Flight-board, water on, 159

Flight of bees, 292

Floor-boards, 18, 39, 71, 75,
111, 120, 29*; refuse on,
106

Flowers, visits of insects
to, 4 ; fertilisation of,
15, 392; with regard to
honey. 355, 372, 407

Flour- cake, 160

Food for bees, 74 ; amount
of, 87, 139, 309

Foreign, 45, 86, 131, 152:—
America, 8, 34, 103 ;
America, Syracuse, 86,
132 ; Australia, 208, 304 ;
Burmah, 208, 353; Cen-
tral America, 103 ; Chili,
87 ; Cuba, 45 ; France, 4,
31, 45, 86, 103, 131, 189,
238, 303, 375, 396; Ger-
many, 5, 396 : Hungary,
5 ; India, 7, 46 ; Italy, 5,
45, 86, 131, 304, 341;
Northern Africa, 133 ;
South Africa, 133, 376,
386 ; South Australia,
341, 352; Switzerland,
31, 352, 375, 396; Yuca-
tan, 103

Foul-brood, 53, 54, 121, 161,
177, 185, 212, 235, 291,
369; prevention of, 136;
how to fumigate with
salicylic acid, 219 ; the
cause of, 223 ; suspected,
291 ; anticipating, ib. ;
cured by camphorated
syrup, 304 ; queenless
stock affected by, 325 ; its
management and cure,
377 ; cure of, by brim-
stone, 392

Foundation, 89, 160, 308;
in sections, 120, 196 ;
for supers, 119 ; adulter.
ated,106; using old, 176 ;
fixer, 119; fixing, 53, 177,
408, 410

Foundation -sheets, stretch-
ing of, 323

Frame, size of, 259

Frame-hive, with crooked
combs, 227 ; examination
of, 246

Frames, arrangement of,
120; for wintering, 240;
given to bees to clean
out, 275 ; position of,
342; number of , 343, 380 ;
number of, for wintering,
262, 275 ; number of, for
a good queen, 159 ; num-
ber of, in a stock, 380;
reversible, 387, 40*

Frame feeder, Simmins",

165
Free trade in honey, 312
French honey cakes, 126
Furniture polish, 379
Garratt, J., his experiments
with an inverted skep,
350
Gatinais, the, 381
Ginger-beer plant, 307
Given, D. S-, 89; his wired

foundation, 38, 71
Glamorganshire, Associa-
tion for, 406
Glass supers, removing
bees from, 258 ; bees
building combs upwards
in, ib.

Gloves, 259

Glucose, and grape snjrar,
20 ; and paraffin, 239 ;
detecting, 305

Glycerine, 109

Godfrey, R. R., address by,
at Nottingham, 3

Golden syrup, 342

Grantham fair, 123

Granulated honey, 207. 342,
350,397

Granulation, 179

Grape honey wine, 150

Grapes preserved in honey,
150

Griffin, W. N., his paper
on honey and wax, 151,
165 ; lecture on bees, 158

Guernsey, bee-keeping in,
206

Hamet, M.. 375

Hants B. K. A. and Prin-
cess Beatrice, 181, 182;
President Fund, 204

Hatching retarded, 241

Health Exhibition, 60

Hearing of bees, 241

Heat desirable for comb-
building and brood-rear-
ing, 192

Heather, 230 ; honey, 241 ;
taking bees to the, 246,
272

Heddon's reversing frame,
382, 401; recipe.^Ktt

Hehner, O., his mode of
testing honey, 179 ; ana-
lysis of honey and wax,
349, 384 : on tin for honey,
363

Hewitt, J., his wintering
candy, 258 ; his work, 301

Heysham, Captain, a
glance at our work and
our necessities, 103

Hibernation, 343

Hinges for hives, 207, 2:37

Hive, cheap, 118; choice of,
361

Hive-clubs, 92

Hive-covers, 347

Hive-making, 116, 326, 362

Hive-stands, 347

Hives, 8, 38, 71, 72, 89, 105,
379; number of, on land
nine yards square, 121 ;
changing for dry, 72 ;
position of, 72, 275 ; with
eight frames, 160 ; to be
kept level, 165 ; legs of,
226 ; width of, " 275 ;
which have not swarmed
for two years, 291 ; con-
tracting, 307 ; with
* warm ' frames, 313 ;
colour of, 322; ventila-
tion of, 323; reducing
for winter, 325 ; removal
of, 347 ; single or double-
walled, 378 ; time for
opening, 379 ; for ex-
tracting, 380

Hiving swarms, 221, 225;
in frame-hives, 181

Holy Land, 34

Honey in Scotland, an
annual, 11 ; sale of, ib. ;
adulterated, 13,403; reply
to query on the produc-
tion of extracted, 13; a
substitute for butter, 34;
judging, 55-57, 82 ; as a
comestible, 72, 363, 368,
390 ; specific gravity of,
74, 342 ; from logwood
blossoms, 88; extracted,
88, 124, 135, 291; price
of, 100 ; impregnated

with salt-petre, 105 ; not
setting, 106 ; giving
combs of, 121 ; the best
means of disposing of,
123, 293, 322 ; as food and
mediciue, 125, 150, 158 ;
heather, 141 ; for wine,
use of, 150 ; as medicine,
151 ; list of articles in
which it is used, 158 ;
varieties of, 166; testing,
179; colour of , ib. ; possess-
ing intoxicating proper,
ties, 196 ; unsealed, 258 ;
dark-coloured, ib. ; heat-
ina-, 275 ; importation of,
306 ; failure of, 307 ;
keeping, 343 ; treatment
of fermented, 361 ; ex-
traordinary takes of, 360;
small harvest of, 362 ; in
tins, 379 ; extracted or
section, 397; when ripe,
397,408 ; granulated, ib.;
price of, 40*
Honey Bee, the, by Dr.

Stroud, 156
Honey bees and bee-keep-
ing, 4
Honey-birds, 395
Honey bottles, half-pound,

140
Honey buzzards, 81
Honey Company, why

formed, 123
Honey cure, the, 169
Honey dew, 166, 168, 241,

246, 256
Honey drinks, 273
Honey fairs, 133, 329 ; and
honey companies, 155 ;
Lincolnshire, 367
Honey fruit cakes, 126
Honey and wax, Mr. Grif-
fin's paper on, 151, 165
Honey imports, 10, 37, 47,
98, 114, 153, 184, 234, 253,
320, 355, 386
Honey judging at shows, 99
Honey labels, 275
Honey liqueur, 150
Honey plants and trees,

137, 153, 170, 187
Honey presser, 342
Honey production recog-
nised in Herts as a na-
tional industry, 188
Honey ripener, 259, 378
Honey seasons, 275
Honey and pollen yielding
plants, 21,39,75,127, 170,
187, 212
Honey sponge-cakes, 150
Honey tea-cakes, 126
Honey vinegar, 150
Hornet, 343

How to commence bee-
keeping, 164
Howard's fixing foundation

to bar-frames, 330
H nber, 275
Humble bee infested with

insects, 160
Humble bees, 303, 306; as
fertilisers of flowers, 394
Humming-birds and honey,

395
Hunger swarms, 75
Hybrids, 120, 186, 292, 410
Hydromel, 303, 379
' Imitation the sincerest

flattery,' 23
Important notice, 91
Indian bees, at tacke 1 by,365
Indigenous bees of Britain,

342
Insect fertilisation of flo-
wers, 392
Insect-wax, 38, 98, 167
Insects, the buzzing of, 239
Instinct of bees, 339, 368,

391,407
International Inventions

Exhibition, 262
Inverted combs, 240
Inverted frames, 119
Inverted hives, 374
Inverted skeps, 374, 409
Inverted skep system, 386
Iron frames for making

inside of hives, 14
Iron wire, 177
Italian bees. 8, 81, 8* ;

queens and drones, 2*1
Ivy honey, 106
Jamaica bees, 28

Jenner, Fust H., reversing-
frames, suggested by, 381
Jenyns, F. G., his paper on
Bee-keeping in its educa-
tional aspect, 248 ; dis-
cussion on, 263
Jottings for the Journal,

83, 300. 322, 357, 377
Judges, 101

Judging, 11, 14, 89, 186, 27G
Judging honey, 179

Kansas Beekeeper, 335
Kassartyr apiary, 133
Koehler process, 342
Kennedy, James, hisdeath,
75

Labour lost, a protest, 338-

Labourer, help to, in com-
mencing bee-keeping, lift

Longstock hive manufac-
tory, 231

Langstroth, Dr., his re-
ceipt for making honey,
277

Larvie, destruction of, 19 1

Law on bees, 226, 273

Lavender honey, 342

Leaf -cutter bee, 259, 395

Leandri's solar wax ex-
tractor, 5

Leaving home, 211

Lectures on bees and bee-
keeping, 4, 17, 23, 80,
118, 138, 139, 157, 158. '
190, 191, 210, 234, 305,
396, 409

Life - members' subscrip-
tions, investment of, 40

Ligurians, 186, 211, 289;
vicious, 140; in Suffolk,
173 ; on high stands, 325

Limes and blackberries,
honey from, 259

Lincolnshire, bee-keeping
in, 287

Maiden swarms, 217

Manipulation, 39 ; too fre-
quent, to be avoided, 111 ;
best time of the day for.
228

Manipulation of hives, 313

Manufactured honey, 277

Mason bees, 395

Mason andBucham's revers-
ing frame, 382, 401, 403

May, weather in, 180

Mead, 150, 160, 30i, 375

Mel-pel, Dr. Wray's, 251,
255

Menthol, 323

Metal ends, 105, 120, 139

Mice, 347

Microscope, mounting for,
106

Microscopic objects, the dis-
section of, for mounting,
108

Microscopial soiive, 17

Mid-Cornwall, season in,
359

Montgomeryshire, Associa-
tion for, 295

Moths, as fertilisers of
flowers, 393

Mould, dry green, 88

Mouldy combs, 89 ; pat-
tern, 71

Mounting mediums, 109

Moving hives, 39,53,70,71,
105,121,195,196,229,275,
313, 318, 389; and in-
creasing ten stocks to
fifteen, 83

Moving short distances, 53,
362

Mullendofl's theory of the
origin of bee-cells, 5-7,
51

Mustard honey, 212

Myrtle wax, 168

Nadirs, removing, 292

National British Bee-
keepers' Union, 117, 156,
161

National Schools, teaching
bee-keeping in, 60

Natural swarms, purchase
of, 165 ; swarming, 147 ;
latest date of, 259

Nature, assisting, 173

Neighbour, A., his mar-
riage, 75 ; his reversing
frame, 382

Nettle-rash, lotion for, 235

Now Zealand, bees for, 138,
271

IV

INDEX TO VOLUME XIII.

Nicholson's skep union, 295
Nomenclature, 403
Notes from a novice, 298
November, 364
Nuclei, 36, 262; time to

form, 120

Observatory hives, 54, 292,

298, 307, 362, 410; Mr.

Blow's. 119 ; use of, 196 ;

utilised by a swarm, 271

Ointment, honey as an, 169

Onions, honey from, 211

Oxford bee-keepers, appeal

from, 100
Packing honey in sections,

259 ; sections, 271
Painting hives, 89, 275, 339,

372
Palestine bees, 190, 316
Papier preservateur, 380
Paraffin wax, 168
Parasite bee, 325
Pai'ker's foundation fixer,

148, 177
Parson's life, the labours

of, 183
Passages under dummy, 121
Patent honey tins, 205
Pea- meal, 39
Pecten, the, or comb of the

bee, 370
Peel Testimonial Fund,l, 10
Peel, Rev. H. R., prizes
given by, for affiliated
county associations, 37 ;
death of, 199, 205 ; fund
in memory of, 201, 203,
218, 232, 245, 311, 327
Peppermint honey, 342
Pettitt, W. J., death of, 231
Phenol, cure of foul brood
by, 17, 36 ; solution, 161 ;
is it a cure for foul brood ?
174, 185, 205; and ford
brood, 205
Pitch-pine for hives, 121
Plants, for hedges, 53 ;
rules for raising, for
honey only, 158
Platelayer's apiary, a year's

work in, 302
Plinths, 328

Pollen gathering, 89, 106 ;
from broom and furze,
88 ; of various colours,
159 ; grains, 210 ; dried,
211 ; mass, 227 ; appa-
ratus of the bee for col-
lecting, 394 ; colour of,
270
Pop-holes, 88, 98
Practical bee-keeping, 43— 15
Price of honey, 100, 404
Prizes for affiliated county

associations, 37
Propolis, 105, 136; sec-
tions, &c, to be cleared
of, 328
Pyramidal hives, 410
Quaker's revenge, 305
Quarterly meeting and con-
versazione, 110, 163, 247,
321, 384
Queen, balling or encase-
ment of, 110, 140, 160,
292; finding the, 120, 227,
253; outside a hive, 140 ;
ejected, 141 ; replacing,
159, 176; sting of, 160;
age of, 177; and her eggs,
194 j laying many eggs in
one cell, 195 ; ascending
into super, 211 ; fertilisa-
tion of, 213 ; not laying
eggs, 240 ; of a second
swarm, lb. ; a small, 258 ;
young, 276 ; with para-
sites, 342 ; ascertaining
presence of, 342; caging,
398
Queens, loss of, in June,
18 ; introducing, 110,
247, 278; old, 110; loss
of, 121 ; diseased, 160,
195, 227; two-year old,
160; rearing, 195; late
in commencing to lay,
215; young, 227,239; re-
gister the age of, #30 ;
sent by letter post to
India, how to utilise, 234 ;
do they originate foul

brood ? 237; treatment of,
#41 ; dead, 258 ; diseased,
and comb, ib. ; late
hatched, 275; laying, 3f>8;
and combs, 325 ; preserv-
ing, through winter, 361 ;
raising in winter, ib.
Queen-cells, ripe, 148; posi-
tion of, 226 ; preserving,
ib.; sealed, 240; giving,
ib. ; hatching of, ib. ;
empty, 291
Queen-excluder, 409
Queen-introduction, 18, 26,
184, 185, 223, 227, 272;
experience in, 205
Queenless blacks, 140 ;

colonies, 75, 140, 278
Queenless o ess, supposed,

241
Queen-raising, 72, 116, 120
Queenslaud.bee-keeping in,

190
Quilting, 105

Quilts, 39. 74, 211, 402:
waxed, 160; removing,398
Quincunx, 313, 341
Races of bees, 336,359
Racks, 38

Ray nor divisible section-
rack, 388, 410; feeder,
89, 212
Reading show, Mr. Hek-

uar's test of wax at, 10
Recipes required, 192 ;
where wax is an ingre-
dient, 379
Rectangular feeders, 299
Reference-book, my, 356
Reinserting extracted

combs, 140
Removing hives.36,402,410 ;
thirty miles, 18; sections,
275; supers,278;inOct.,
325 ; by rail, 362 ; combs
when full, 141 ; covers,
364
Re-queening, 246, 262 ; four
stocks, and increasing to
seven, 89
Rests, tin or wooden, 140
Reversible frames, 49, 50,
70, 82, 88, 84, 138, 287,
301, 365, 387, 404, 405
Reversing frames and

hives, 381, 401
Ripe honey, 397, 408
Ripening honey by solar

heat, 241
Robbing, 141, 194; incite-
ment to, 120
Rushton collateral hive,

329
Rye-meal, 39
Sainfoin honey, 197
Sale of swarm, 380
Salicine, 137
Salicylic acid, 121, 137, 323;

solution, 341
Saw-cuts in frames, 71
Schonfeld, Pastor, 29
Science and bee-keeping,

225
Scotch bee-case, 335
Scotland, bee-keeping in,

12,85
Seager, Rev. J. Lingen, his
paper on honey judging,
55-57 ; his convertible
octagon hive, 150
Sealed honey, 18; stores

remaining, 140
Season, notes on the, 285,

406 ; end of, 293
Second swarms, 202
Sectional hive for queen-
raising, 105
Section, a standard, 24
Section-case, 148
Section-crates, 2
Section honey or extract-
ing, 70 ; packing for tra-
velling, 72
Section-rack, size of, 140
Sections, 18, 48, 54, 84, 89,
247; size of, 24, 40, 71,
73,380; medium-size, 47 ;
unfinished, 51, 291 ; at
right angles to the
frames, 69; past, present,
and future, 73; weight
of, to be attributed to

flowers, 83 ; of different
sizes, experiments with,
118 ; covering, 121 ; pro-
polisation of, ib. ; position
of, 121, 140; in body of
hive, 140, 19!j ; in frames,
141, 240 ; two tiers of, in
use, 160 ; second, 165 ;
taking off, 177, 202, 217,
271; putting on, 177,256;
Siuimius', 195j covering
for, 196 ; foundation for,
211 ; bees not entering,
211; giving and remov-
ing, 217 ; packing, 246,
271 ; emptying partly
filled, 259 ; care of, 313 ;
capped cells in, 343 ;
average weight of, 357
Sexual functions of queens,
drones, and workers, 237
Shading hives, 217
Sharp, A., his paper on
practical bee-keeping, 68
Shelly, Dr., his skep-eover,

220
Shows, 225, 238, 257, 273
Side-comb not built out,

195
Simmius, S., his hive, 12 ;
his feeders, 165, 174, 257,
258 ; his dry - sugar
feeders, 139
Simplicity in bee-keeping,

51,68
Simpson honey plant, 39
Single i'. double • walled

hives, 14
Sissou, Rev. J. L., his

apiary, 93
Skep, close examination of,
105 ; in doubtful condi-
tion, 160; weak, 196;
over a bar-frame, treat-
ment of, 241 ; without
bees or honey, 325
Skep-covers, 220
Skeps, multiplying stocks
in, 88; directions for
swarming from, ib. ; size,
of, 106 ; weak stocks in,
106 ; examination of, 110;
unsealing honey in, 139 ;
cleaning, 140; supplying
candy to bees in, 140 ;
attempted transfer from,
196; conveying, to shows,
231 ; and bar - frames,
treatment of, with no at-
tention for two years,
241 ; experience with,
357 ; working supers on,
359 ; the use of, 372 ;
treatment of, in winter,
328
Small Farm and Labourers'
Holdings Company, 125,
147, 211
Smoker springs, 69, 84
Smokers, 120; materials
for, 173; dispensing with,
189
Smoking bees, 110, 380
Snow, 402

South African bees, 133, 220
South Wales, bee-keeping

in, 373
Southern California, honey

business of, 158
Sparrows, 18, 75, 148
Specific gravity of honey

and wax, 341, 408
Speculative feeding, 131
Sphex, instinct of the, 369
Spiders. 347
Split top-bars, 11
Spreading brood, 111, 379
Spring management, 67,81,

98
Springs for smokers, 84
Standard frame, size of,
120, 173, 241; sections,
47, 100; size for bar-
frame, 138, for sections,
40,61
Stands, 328 ; height of, 18
Starvation, 148
Statistics of bee-keeping,
proposed collection of,59
Station stormed by bees,273
Stewartcn hives, 379, 394
Stimulation, 17, 89, 120

Stings, 216 ; and bites, 16 ;
death from, 234; effect
of, 235, 272 ; cure for,
256, 375

Stocks, G., his show crate,
329

Stocks, treatment of, 121 ;
reducing, 308

Stomach-mouth of bees,
343, 397

Storage of honey, 309

Storifying hive, 326

Storing appliances, 328

Storcs.rapid disappearance
of, 110 ; consumption of,
176, 365

Strange, if true, 16

Straw-covers, 326

Straw-packed walls, 71

Straw skep, 177

Stroud, J. W., M.D., The
Honey Bcc, 156

Sugar for bee-feeding, 19,36,
54, 70, 72, 88, 89', 119, 120,
141,177,195,212,275; boil-
ing, 53 ; making a solu-
tion of, without boiling,
83 ; and granulation, 21^

Sugar-candy, 36

Suggestion, a, 102

Supering, 148, 181 ; time
for, 176 ; when to be
avoided, 180 ; skep, 227 ;
a swarm, 240

Supers,' piling, 54; posi-
tion of, 121 ; manage-
ment of, 153 ; placing,
160 ; removing, 258, 261,
308 ; foundation for, 275

Sussex, curious custom in,
306

Swarm, driven, 88; making
in a skep from a bar-
frame hive, 212 ; astray,
225; an early, 234; of
Ligurians, loss of, 234
from stock eighteen days
after artificial swarm-
ing, 241 ; a prolific, 262

Swarms of bees, 81, #75;
food for, 176j hanging
out for three' days, 263;
for heather harvest treat-
ment of, 177; by rail,
180; feeding, 202; ex-
amination of, 16.; return-
ing, 211, 212; fed, and
pure honey, 213; second,
217 ; acceptance of, 228 ;
catching, 273 ; feeding,
275: erratic, 288

Swarming, 135, 147, 159;
prevention of, 54, 140,
330; vagaries, 227 ; signal
for, 379

Swarm-box, 176 ; introduc-
ing artificial swarm into,
176

Swallows, 275, 325

Swauniorc Bee Club, 337,

377
Syria, bcc-convcntiou in,
*'J38
Syrian bees, 190, 221, 292 ;

smoking, 292 •
Syrup, 361 ; specific gravity
of, 74; consisting of, 110;
sealed, 139 ; quantity of,
140 ; avoiding storage of,
161; feeding, 305; mak-
ing, 325 ; with acids, 326 ;
unsealed, 342 ; amount to
be given, ib.
Syrup-feeder, a new, which
dispenses wi; h syrup
making, 115
Taking stock, 84
Tea, substitute for, 379
Throat complaints, honey

and sage for, 169
Thymol, 323
Ticking, 309
Tiering up section racks,

211
TiH| in honey find other

articles of food, 363
Tinned wire, 140
Tits, blue, 83; and fly-
catchers. 16
Tomtits, 347
Top-bar, width of, 241
Trade catalogues, 175

Transferring, 89, 106, 119
120,140,160,211,258,276,
292, 379, 397 ; time for,
36, 121

Transposing weak stocks,
195

Travelling, stock damaged
in, 176

Two barrow-loads of fire-
wood, and seventeen
pounds of honey, 28

Two-pound sections, 140

Trypograpb, 103. 197

Tunisian bees, 133

Ulivi, Giotto, his V Ai>i-
coltuva Razionalc, 86

Unclimbable fence, 397

Uniting, 110, 195, 210, 276,
278, 292, 294,378, 379, 408

Unripe honey, 325

Unsealed combs, 275; food
fermented, 71 ; honey,
thin, 291

Upper and lower frames,
space between, 18

Useful hints, 2, 38, 74, 110,
147, 165, 180, 202, 216, 229,
246, 261, 278, 294, 313,
328, 346, 364, 383, 402

Vacant spaces in hives, 294

Vegetable waxes, 167

Veil, suggestion for a, 175

Veils, 138

Ventilation, 361, 402; up.
ward, 110; direct upward,
364

Vinegar in syrup, 377

Virgil, 386

Warmth to be maintained, 2

Warmth v. ventilation, 171

Warming, 111

Wasps, 81 ; nests, 16, 292,
294; are they injurious
to bees ? 15 ; injurious to
bees, 26; and bees, 340,
343; carnivorous, 343

Water, supply of, 75 ; for
bees, 111, 148; pond of,
121

Watkins, A., lecture by, 139

Wax, imports and exports
of, 37 ; varieties of, 38 ;
purifying, 121, 307,325;
extracting, 276 ; recover-
ing from combs, 308 ;
colour of, 326 ; specific
gravity of, 342 ; produc-
tion of, 366 ; detecting
adulteration of, 396

Wax-moth, 224, 228 ; lame
of, 197

Weak colonies, 75

Weekly issue of Jou rnal, 327

Welsh, translation of ' Skep'
pamphlet into, 164

West of England honey
depot, 295

What next? 192

Wheat meal, 39

Wide-shouldered franies,71

Wild bees, 195; in Oregon,
210

Willesden card, 120, 196,
378

Winds, high, 2

Winter feeding, 171 ; cover-
ing next bees, 275; cover-
ings, 346; packing, 308;
packiug removing, 17 ;
p;:^ages, 308, 326; pre-
parations, 294, 313, 328
Wintering bees, 343, 389;
on candy, 289

Wintering", stores for, 259,
294 ; on sugar syrup, 380

Wire, 119

Wire netting, 410

Wired foundation, 71, 89,

176, 177, 259, 370, 380
Wired frames, 213
Wood building, 309
Woodbury, Mr., descrip-
tion of a bee disease, 383
Work and our necessities,

a glance at, 192
Year's doings, 323; results

359
Yorkshire Association, 372
Zinc for roof, 36; perfor-
ated, 120 ; tunnel, 342
Zoubaretf, A., his book on
bee-keeping, 395

Comm-inications to the Editor to be addressed ' Strangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c.'

[No. 1G1. Vol. XIII.]

JANUARY 1, 1885.

[Published Fortnightly.]

editorial, gutties, fa.

JANUARY, 1885.
A new year lies before us — a blank page of the
World's History on which no characters have as
yet been traced. What will it bring forth 1 Who
•can tell 1 We are not endowed with the gift of
Frophecy, nor can we pretend even to the fore-
knowledge of a Zadkicl. It would, therefore, be
in vain for us to promise our readers au abundant
honey season such as that of the past year, or to
foretell a golden age in which there shall be no
•strifes or controversies, or anything else which is
likely to disturb the peace of the bee-keeping world.
All that we can say is that should we be again
favoured with an abundant honey harvest, there
Is ample machinery now prepared in the ' British
Honey Company ' to enable the bee-keepers of the
United Kingdom to take full advantage of it; and
as for strifes and controversies we can only hope
that they will be instrumental in working out some
good result, which may perhaps not be apparent
until the year 18S.5 has long been numbered with
the past, and the present generation of bee-keepers
have long been mingled with the dust. We have
to labour now for those who shall come after us, as
our predecessors have laboured for us. Let us hope
then that the industry which we are all united
in supporting and developing may receive such
an impulse and stimulus during the next twelve
months that the year 1885 may be marked 'with
white chalk ' in the annals of bee-keeping as a
year specially marked by advance and progress as
well as 1 iy harmony amongst the bee - keeping
fraternity.

PEEL TESTIMONIAL.
X\e are very glad to find (see p. 10) that Mr. Peel
has once more put down his foot upon the Testi-
monial scheme, and we hope that nothing will induce
him this time to take it up again. It was never a
bond fide affair. Mr. Peel, it was well known, had
strong objections to receiving a testimonial, and the
majority of bee-keepers do not seem to have been
anxious to present him with one. The only pre-
tence for the Testimonial was the benefit which was

likely to accrue to it from the County Associations;
but the County Associations do not seem to have
exerted themselves much in the matter. Testi-
monials, if they arc to be presented at all, should
be carried through on the spur of the moment, and
not allowed to drag on for twelve months. We
hope that we shall hear of no more Testimonials
in the bee world for a long time to come.

MR. ABBOTT AND THE AWARDS OF THE
EXECUTIVE OF THE INTERNATIONAL

HEALTH EXHIBITION.
With reference to the letter from Mr. C. N.
Abbott which made its appearance in our last
issue, we regret very much that it was not sub-
mitted to ourselves by our sub-editor before it
was published. Much unpleasantness might in
that case have been avoided. The mischief is,
however, now done, and we think that Mr. Abbott
must plead guilty to a certain amount of care-
lessness on his own part in not ascertaining the
facts of a case before he proceeded to comment
upon it. The facts are these : The Committee of
the B. B. K. A. were requested by the Executive
of the International Health Exhibition to furnish
them with the names of three gentlemen whom
they might add to the list of their Jurors. The
Committee of the B.'B. K. A. forwarded to the
Council of the I. H. E. the names of three gen-
tlemen well known in the bee world for their
integrity and impartiality. The B. B.K. A. Com-
mittee had nothing further to do with the matter;
and in our opinion they made a great mistake when
they subsequently interfered and recommended the
Executive of the I. H. E. to reconsider their awards.

Referring, again, to the same letter we wish to
state that with regard to any dispute over prizes
wdiich may have taken place at a Surrey exhi-
bition, we have no knowledge at all about the
matter. We have never attended an exhibition
in Surrey. If Mr. Cheshire judged at the show
in question, he was in all probability invited to
do so by some gentleman connected with the
Surrey County Association ; and it is impossible
that we could have given any distinct undertaking
(as Mr. Abbott alleges) that the Surrey gentlemen
should not engage whom they pleased as the judges
at their shows.

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[January 1, 1885.

ELECTION OF COMMITTEEMEN.

It is to be hoped that those who offer them-
selves as candidates for the Committee of the
B. B. K. A. at the approaching election will make
up their minds to attend the meetings as regularly
as possible, even if it be at the cost of some
personal inconvenience to themselves. It is not
fair that members of the Association should accept
an office, the duties of which they have no inten-
tion of discharging. One member of the last
elected Committee has not made his appearance
at any one single meeting during the past year ;
another only on two occasions. Mr. Cowan has
been compelled to reside abroad during this year
through the much-regretted illness of Mrs. Cowan ;
but he has attended the meetings of the Committee
as often as some of his brother members, and has,
besides, done a great deal of work for the Asso-
ciation, in spite of the disadvantages under which
he has been placed.

We trust that the electors will exercise some
discrimination in giving their votes, and select
the best men to serve the Association from the list
of candidates presented to them. They must re-
member that if they elect men who will not attend
to their duties, they are throwing a very unfair
burden upon the shoulders of those who both will
and do work hard on behalf of the Association.
Any elector can obtain information from the Secre-
tary, Mr. John Huckle, as to the number of at-
tendances which each member of the Committee
has made during the year 1884.

CHESHIRE FUND.

V. Novitski £0 3 0

S. J. Baldwin 0 10 0

J. H. Howard 0 2 6

Total £32 6 6

USEFUL HINTS.

The weather during December has been, on the
whole, not unfavourable to bees, although the tem-
perature having been higher than usual will have
tended to free consumption of stores.

Examinations must not, on any account, be
attempted beyond, if any suspicion exists that
stocks are getting short of stores, removing the
chaff-cushion and gently raising the quilt suffici-
ently to notice the position of the bees, as they
only cluster on empty cells. If they are at the top
of the combs, that will indicate that the stores on
those combs are exhausted, or in process of con-
sumption, and if the other combs are already
emptied, a dearth is imminent. If, on the other
hand, the bees are low down between the combs,
and the upper parts are filled with scaled stores, all
is well.

Feeding, if required as shown above, must only
be by a cake of candy placed on the frames under
the quilt, or by barley sugar given in a feeder on
the float principle.

Keep warm, and after raising the quilt carefully
replace it and the chaff-bag, so as to prevent any
draught.

Entrances must be kept clear of dead bees,
especially where they have been contracted to very
small dimensions. A few dead bees may so block
the exit as to cause fatal excitement in the hive.
Of course when division-boards are used to reduce
the size of the hive, having small passage-ways cut
in them, these are the real entrances to the hive
proper, and require to be kept free more than the
main entrances, which are less likely to become
choked.

High Winds, — Always carefully examine hives
after gales, to be sure that no displacement of roofs
or unsteadiness of stands has been caused.

The treatment of bees in January may be
summed up in three words — Rest, Dryness,
Warmth.

Appliances. — The commencement of the new
year reminds us that in a few months every one
will be rushing after hives, &c, and driving makers
and dealers frantic to supply the demand. The
wise man is he who reckons now (which one can
easily do approximately) according to the number
of stocks, what hives and other gear he is likely to
want, and gives his orders accordingly. He gets
better served, and his hive-maker is pleased to
have his orders early.

Section Crates. — These will be greatly in de-
mand, as the Standard sections will render all
crates made to take any other shapes useless unless
altered. Those who have been using any other
shapes will do well to remember now that their
existing crates are obsolete, and that the demand,
when supering time arrives, for crates of Standard
size will be great. Therefore order early.

ASSOCIATIONS.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

Committee Meeting held at 100 Jermyn Street, on
Wednesday, December 1 ~th. Present : — T. W. Cowan (in
the Chair), Rev. E. Bartrum, Hon. and Rev. H. Bligh,
Rev. H. R. Peel, Rev. F. S. Sclater, Captain Bush,
R.N., J. M. Hooker, D. Stewart, and the Secretary.

The minutes of the last meeting having been read and
confirmed, the Finance Committee presented their re-
port. The same having been considered, it was resolved,
That a vote of thanks he sent to each guarantor who
had become responsible for any deficiency that might
arise in connexion with the expenses of the Bee De-
partment at the International Health Exhibition, and
that the Secretary do inform the guarantors that no
call will be made upon them in regard to such expenses.

The attention of the Committee having been called
to a letter signed by Mr. C. N. Abbott, and inserted in
the last issue of the Bee Journal relating to the careless-
ness of the experts who accompanied the judges at the
I. II. E., it was resolved that the Secretary do insert a
letter in the next issue of the Bee Journal setting forth
that the Committee of the B. B. K. A. appointed neither
the judges nor the experts that accompanied them in
making their awards.

Mr. Hooker reported that the Bligh Competition Sub-
Committee had held a meeting, and their report had

'■January 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

been published in the last issue of the Journal, resolved,
That this report be referred again to the Sub-Committee,
and that the rule relating to copies uf the competitors'
diaries being sent at the end of every two months be
strictly enforced, and that in future summaries of the
reports be published from time to time in the British Bee
Journal.

The Secretary was instructed to write to the several
Members of the Association who were still in arrear
with their subscriptions. Resolved, That the next Com-
mittee Meeting be held on Wednesday, January 21st,
and the Quarterly Conference on January 28th. The
Annual General Meeting of the Members of the As-
sociation was fixed for Wednesday, February 11th, sub-
ject to the approval of the President.

Quarterly Conference, Wednesday, January 28th.
Notices of motions for this meeting must be received
by Tuesday, January b'th.

Annual General Meeting, Wednesday, February 11th.
Notices of motions for this meeting must be sent by
Wednesday, January 2Sth.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'

ASSOCIATION.

I beg to enclose a report from a Nottingham paper of a
meeting of the members of the Notts Bee-keepers'
Association held on the 18th Dec. I had the honour to
be elected Hon. Secretary, and I think we can see our
way clear to become a successful organization. If you
will be good enough to publish this letter, I will ask
through you for the hearty co-operation of all bee-keepers
in Notts. We intend to hold frequent committee and
other meetings, and with the aid of good district secre-
taries we are bound to succeed. — E. Fjsrneyhough,
Hon. Sec. Notts B.K.A., Iladcliffe-on-Trent.

The annual meeting of this Association was held
yesterday afternoon at the Exchange Hall, Nottingham.
Aid. Manning, J. P. (ex-Mayor), presided, and among
those present were — The Rev. R. Holden, Rev. T. F.
Boultbee, Rev. T. B. Garland, Messrs. J. Brierley, Price,
Rose, Beeson, R. R. Godfrey, Mrs. Wotton, Mr. Ferney-
hougli (hon. secretary), &c. The Nottinghamshire Asso-
ciation of Bee-keepers was established in the year 1884.
Its objects are to encourage amongst the residents of the
county, and especially the cottagers and labouring classes,
a more humane, intelligent, and profitable system of bee-
keeping. The Association is a branch of the British
Bee-keepers' Association (or Central Society), of which
the Baroness Burdett-Coutts is president. The annual
report of the Society states that Nottinghamshire is a
very good honey-yielding district, but a large quantity of
honey is annually wasted in the county owing to a want
of proper knowledge of bee-culture. The cottager's
honey is, from the manner in which it is taken, often
almost unsaleable, and has hitherto been driven out of
the market by foreign honey. English honey will
always command a better price than foreign, much of
which is adulterated, and is entirely devoid of the fine
aroma and flavour of pure English honey. Good honey,
put up in a neat and attractive form, commands a read}'
sale, and realises good prices. Among the rules of the
Society are the following : — ' District secretaries shall be
empowered to select, or cause to be selected, one or more
representatives of each parish in their district, and shall
summon them to attend meetings, either monthly or as
often as may be found convenient. At these meetings,
after the business affecting the Association has been
disposed of, papers may be read, and questions connected
with bee-keeping may be discussed.' 'The parish repre-
sentatives shall furnish the district secretary with a list
of all the bee-keepei-3 in his parish, and shall induce as
many as possible to become members of the Association.
They shall make any suggestions with regard to the

working of the Association which they may have to
offer to the district Secretary.'

The first business before the meeting was the election
of officers for the ensuing year as follows : — President,
Viscount Newark ; Vice-presidents, Aid. Manning and
Mrs. Robertson (Widmerpool) ; Hon. secretary, Mr. E.
Ferneyhough ; Hon. treasurer, Mr. II. E. Thornton ;
Committee, Mr. J. Barron, Mr. J. Beeson, Rev. H. J. L
Dobbin, Mr. J. Geeson, Mr. A. Felstead, Mrs. J.
Wotton, Mrs. Hole, Mrs. Mason, Rev. A. II. Halley,
Mr. A. Lewis, Rev. H. P. Ling, Mr. W. Silver, and Mr.
J. Mann.

It was resolved, on the proposition of the Chairman,
that the Committee be authorised to appoint district
secretaries in connexion with the Association. The
Chairman also observed that, although he was not him-
self practically acquainted with bee-keeping, yet he
thought that valuable services might be rendered
towards the promotion of bee-culture by the district
secretaries, and especially by the clergy of the various
parishes.

Mr. li. R. Godfrey, of Grantham, gave an address, in
which he expressed the great pleasure which he felt in
attending the meeting. He expressed an opinion that
each of the district secretaries should be acquainted with
the culture and management of bees, and that they
should be responsible for the different local exhibitions.
He felt sure that Nottinghamshire was one of the most
suitable counties in which the operations of the Bee-
keepers' Association could be carried on. He spoke of
the great success which had attended the holding of a
honey-fair at Grantham, and he recommended that each
county should give its own prizes for the best honey.

A short discussion ensued, and a vote of thanks was
passed to Mr. Godfrey, and to the Chairman for pre-
siding.

CALIFORNIA HONEYDEW.

Sittingbol'kne. — Petty Sessions, Monday. — (Before
F. Locke, Esq. (chairman), R. J. Tylden, Esq., Colonel
Tyler, and Major Knight).

Thomas Grant, grocer, Sheerness, was summoned for
sailing adulterated honey. Defendant said he was not
guilty of any fraudulent intention. Instructing-constable
Stewart stated that he went to defendant's shop in
Chapel Street, Sheerness, on November 10th, and asked
defendant if he had any honey. Defendant replied,
' Yes,' and witness then said he would have a pot. De-
fendant served him with it, and, in reply to his question,
said the price was lOrf. Witness then said he would
j have three pots. Defendant said, ' I can recommend it,
we use it in our own house, and I think you have had
some before.' Witness replied in the affirmative, and
then paid 2s. 6d. for the three pots of honey, after which
he told defendant that he had purchased them for the
purpose of analysis. Superintendent Mayne then came
in, and witness handed the three pots to him. Defendant
then said, ' Some sell it as honeydew, I do not think it is
pure honey.' Cross-examined by defendant : ' You did
not make that remak before the purchase was completed.'
Superintendent Mayne deposed to receiving the three
pots from the last witness in the defendant's shop. He
saw that each pot was labelled ' California Honeydew.'
Defendant made the remark, ' Some sell it as honeydew.'
He gave one pot to the defendant, and retained one him-
self, and delivered the other to the county analyst. Dr.
Adams certified that the pot contained ' a mixture of
honey with not less than 50 per cent of corn syrup.' The
Superintendent handed one of the pots to their worships,
and it was seen that it was plainly labelled ' California
Honeydew.' Instructing-constable Stewart (recalled)
said he did not look at the label when defendant handed
him the pots. Defendant said he told the constable
that it was a preparation, and fully explained all about

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[January 1, 1885.

it before he served him. He said nothing afterwards ;
all that he said was before the purchase was made. In
replv to the bench, Superintendent Mayne said he
believed the pot contained nearly a pound. A magistrate
remarked that honey could not be purchased at 10</. per
pound. The chairman said that in strict law they
might have convicted the defendant, but as there was a
conspicuous label upon each pot, which the constable
might ersily have seen, the summons would be dismissed.

The Visits of Insects to Flowees. — A meeting
of the Maidstone and Mid Kent Natural History and
Philosophical Society was held in the Library-room, at
the Museum, Maidstone, on Friday evening, under the
presidency of Mr. M. A. Adams, M.R.C.S., when there
was a good attendance of members. The chief feature
was the delivery of a lecture by Mr. J. T. Powell, on
the ' Visits of Insects to Flowers,' illustrated by diagrams
and followed by an examination of specimens under the
microscope. The lecture was exceedingly interesting
and instructive, and was listened to with deep attention.
Mr. Powell showed what an important work was carried
on by insects in the fertilisation of flowers. The subject
of the mutual relations of insects ard flowers was, he
said, a comparatively new one, and it was only within
the last quarter of a century that due attention had been
given to it. He explained, by means of the diagrams,
the structure of flowers, and went on to deal with their
fertilisation by means of the pollen. If a flower were
fertilised by its own pollen that was called self-fertilising,
but if the pollen were carried to it from another flower
that was called cross-fertilising. Cross-fertilisation was
effected in two ways, either by the agency of the wind
or insects. Plants which were cress-fertilised, as a rule,
produced better seed than those which were self-fertilised.
The relative position of the stamen and pistil in some
flowers rendered self -fertilisation impossible, and in these
cases if it were not for cross-fertilisation the species
would die out. Wind-fertilised flowers are usually
deficient in brightness ; those fertilised by insects are
generally brilliant. Some were of opinion that insects
had no sense of smell, but, however that might be —
and it was a subject on which they knew very little —
he, for his part, believed that insects were attracted by
odours. The great attraction which flowers had for
insects was the sweet juice in the nectaries known as
honey. The lecturer proceeded to show that in passing
from flower to flower the insect conveyed pollen on its
feet, and this pollen was rubbed off. While the -bee or
other insect was suiting its own purpose by taking the
honey it was also transferring the fertilising pollen. To
female insects, particularly bees, which were the chief
means of conveying the pollen, the pollen itself was an
attraction, and their instruments for brushing it up and
carrying it away had been often described. The lecturer
explained the modus operandi of bees in visiting certain
flowers, giving minute information as to the transference
of the pollen. In some instances, he showed that it
was necessary before fertilisation could take place, that
the bee should literally force itself into the flower. This
was the case with the snap-dragon flower. In other
cases not only was the strength of the insect a factor,
but the weight also. He then explained the construction
of the sweet pea, and showed that, but for the weight
of the bee having a mechanical effect in bearing down a
portion of the flower, fertilisation could not take place.
Hive and humble bees were the usual visitors to the
leguminous family, and without the intervention of the
bees we should get no fruit from the kidney beans. It
had been found that, by keeping bees away from kidney
beans, the flowers did not set. Referring to the orchids
in the diagrams, he said there were eighteen ways in
which they could be fertilised ; but Darwin said there
were only six ways in which they could be fertilised
with advantage. The fertilisation of the flowers of the

orchid family would always be associated with the
name of Darwin. Night moths visited some of the
orchids, which could not be fertilised except by insects
with very long tongues. The. pollen-masses stuck to
them and were thus conveyed to other flowers. Mr.
D.trwin found a moth with a pollen-mass sticking in its
eye; and an entomologist caught a moth at Dover and
sent it to him (the lecturer) with over twenty pollen-
masses sticking to its tongue, so that it must have been
pretty much embarrassed thereby, as it was not able to
coil its tongue up in the usual manner. Garden sage
sometimes produced flowers, which were rather large,
bright blue in colour and thin-lipped. In this family the
older flowers were fertilised from the younger ones. Mr.
Powell then went on to show that the constancy of
insects is of considerable importance in fertilisation,
that was to say, whether they stuck to the same sort
of flowers in the same journey. In the hot July of 1881
he watched the insects at Cromer, and one result of his
investigation was that bees, as a mle, were very constant
and butterflies very inconstant. The hive-bee was the
most constant of bees. He found that sometimes the
inc nstancy was only seeming, as the bee would leave a
flower and go to another simply for the purpose of
moistening its throat, and would then return. Some
flowers were entirely fertilised by nocturnal moths,
among them being the red valerian, which is so plentiful
in the cuttings on the North Kent line. This flower was
fertilised by a moth with a tongue an inch and a quarter
long. Only a few British flowers were adapted to
fertilisation by wasps, which had short tongues. All
the flowers so fertilised were very shallow and dull-
coloured, and the wasps were left by other insects in un-
disturbed possession of those which they could con-
veniently visit. In the course of further observations,
the lecturer spoke of the effect which overgorging had
on. the humble bee, and which led one to think whether
the honey was not by some means converted into mead.
Certain it was that the humble bee was very intem-
perate. The shades of night might come on, but the
humble bee ' o'er all the ill j of life victorious ' heeded
not, and the morning sometimes found him lying on the
ground bitten in two with his honey-bags ransacked.
Some thought this was done by the birds, but he had
seen that long beetle-like thing, the black cocktail or
devil's cock-roach, bite the humble bee in two and take
its honey.

A cordial vote of thanks was given to Mr. Powell for
his valuable lecture.

Honey-Bees and Bee-keeping. — A lecture on these
subjects was given to the Christian Association at Spald-
ing, Lincolnshire, by Mr. II. Stanley Maples to a large
and appreciative audience. The lecture was illustrated
with appropriate diagrams, which had been lent for the
occasion by Mr. Godfrey.

Jforcrqn.

FRANCE.

With the present number, the Apicultcur of Paris ccm-
pletes the twenty-ninth year of its existence. The same
contemporary affirms that these last few months have been
most unfavourable for the sale of honey. At first it was
hoped that the cholera would have spared the northern
districts, which are the best market for this article ; but
its appearance in Paris has greatly interfered with the
honey trade. The same journal comments upon the
Honey Company which has just been formed in London.
' This half million of francs,' it remarks, ' will soon be
subscribed, for in England, as well as in the United
States, people are practical, and serious undertakings are
readily patronised.'

January 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE "JOURNAL.

At Havre the wax market rem 'tins stationary, with
a regular demand ; best ' Brittany ' in cakes being par-
ticularly sought after, and 315 franca per 100 kilos ghen
for ' best ' in bond; seconds fetched from JXX) to .'U0
francs in cakei.

ITALY.
Leandri's Solar Wax Extractor.

Having noted this new invention in previous numbers
of the Journal, we have now much pleasure in placing
before our readers a translation of a report made upon
the same by Monsieur Guilois of Saint Pierre (France),
published by our contemporary the Bulletin de la
SocUte d' Apiculture de la Soinme.

' The members of the Socioto d'Apiculture de la
Somme have doubtless read a report published in No.
06 of this bulletin, and signed by the Rev. Dubois, de-
scribing a solar extractor invented by Signor Giuseppe
Leandri. Many of them may, however, have forgotten
what was said, whilst it i; even probable that others
have failed to attach to it any great importance, their
first impression being that a utensil of this nature could
give good practical results only in thosa southern countries
where the rays of the sun are of sufficient power to melt
the combs without artificial assistance.

' One, however, of our readers was struck by the
description of the extractor then given, and made it a
point to give it a fair trial. This was done in the
course of the closing season, and I can bear witness to
the fact that it was a satisfactory success. In fact, I
have been an ocular witness, and I have Mr. L. Sauvage's
complete permission to make known the fact, the experi-
ments with Signor Leandri's extractor having been made
at his resideuce, although slightly altered to render it
more suitable for the climate of the district. I may
say that besides melting down old combs M. Sauvage
used it also as a honey-extractor ; iu fact M. Sauvage
has been using it for both wax and honey as re-
quired, and his success was so complete that old combs
were converted into moulds of wax iu one single
operation.

'To those who may doubt whether it is possible to
raise the temperature so high by means of this apparatus,
I would only say that a thermometer which we placed
inside it had to be withdrawn for fear of an accident, as
the mercury had reached its highest point. Then, again,
it was found that the wax remained liquid in the mould
below so long as the apparatus remained exposed to the
sun, thus proving that a sufficiency of heat for the
operation was not only reached but even exceeded.
Of course it is evident that an apparatus of this nature
cannot be of much practical service in establishments
where wax-melting has to be done at all times of the
year. In such cases it would never do to depend entirely
upon the rays of the sun, but it is just the thing for the
majority of private bee-keepers whose production of wax
is limited, and are naturally desirous of using up every
particle of their old combs, without having recourse to
the uncomfortable process of wax-melting as is now
generally practised, particularly as with Leandri's ex-
tractor we shall in future be able to obtain from rejected
combs as fine a wax as has ever been exhibited at our
shows by our most expert professionals.

' At first it was apprehended that this process would
nsxer afford a perfect extraction, and that a certain
amount of wax would be sure to be lost in the residuum,
but in practice it has been found that this is not the
case. Still, those who are not thoroughly satisfied can
easily pass the residuum under a press immediately it is
■taken out of the extractor.

' I am sorry I cannot give the exact measurements of
the extractor, for to render them intelligible it would
require a few diagrams, but our colleague is at all times
willing to show his to any one calling. There is also
another model at the residence of the President of our

Society, No. 47 Place Saint Denis, Amiens, and any one is
welcome to see it and to copy from it all necessary
particulars.

'Now, as regards the alterations made upon Leandri's
original idea, I may say that iu the first place the dimen-
sions have been increased and the mould is now placed
inside the extractor. The triangular case which con-
stitutes the main body of the apparatus, 'n set upon four
feet, and it is between the two in front that the mould
for the reception of the wax is situated. Consequent!}',
this mould is no longer exposed to the air as in the
original invention. The height of the front wall has
been so calculated as to produce hardly any shade in th i
apparatus. This is an important point, and to fully
understand its value, it will be sufficient to place a
particle of any opaque material, and it will be seen that
the melting of the wax is at once checked. It ia
furnished with two glasses, the distance which separates
them being about 0'02 Cent. They are what are termed
semi-double glasses.

' The board or floor in which the comb is placed is
moveable and is made of boards about O'Olo Cent, thick;
the whole being lined with thick tin. Two inclined
grooves in the floor conduct the melting wax into the
mould. This mould has the advantage of being move-
able, and can therefore be taken out whenever required
for cleaning or removing the residuum. In order to pro-
tect the glasses when not in use, M. Sauvage has invented
for it a cover, which he fixes to the walls of the outer
box by means of hinges. This cover is, moreover, lined
with zinc thus acting as a reflector and adding mors
power to the action of the rays of the sun.

'Other modifications upon Leandri's original idea have
been introduced, but are of minor moment. The most
important point was the price. As now altered, however,
it cannot cost much. M. Sauvage is of opinion that a
well-made solar extractor, like the one here described,
should not cost more than fifteen or eighteen francs, plus
the cost of the glass, zinc, and paint. Being simple, I
feel convinced, that, once seen, many a bee-keeper will
make one for his own use. Once filled with old combs
and exposed to the action of the sun, it will not require
any attention for hours. Should the mould become full
of liquid wax before the combs are all melted, the cover
is lowered and the melting is at a stand-still. For ex-
tracting honey, it is sufficient to place underneath a
tin or basin, and to put into the extractor the combs
well broken up. For this operation the aid of the
reflector is not required.' — Guilois, Saint Pierre.

HUNGARY.

An international exhibition is to be held in Buda-Pesth
in the course of the coming summer, of which all kind of
livestock will be a speciality. As regards apiculture,
there will be one week during the exhibition in which
foreign breeds of bees, either in hives or iu travelling-
boxes, will be examined and reported upon by a specially
appointed committee.

GERMANY.

mullenhofp's theory of the origin

of Bee-cells.

(An address given at the meeting of Bee-keepers at
Frankfort on-the-Maine, by the Vice-President, Mr. W.
Vogel, editor of the Bienenzeitung. Translated by S.
Stutterd.)

Honoured Assembly, — My task is to make you
acquainted with Dr. Miillenhoff's theory of the origin
of bee-cells. Will you allow me first to indicate to
you the position Dr. Mullenhoff occupies ? He is a
naturalist and chemist at Berlin;, and, although not
actually a bee-keeper, he avails himself of every oppor-
tunity of studying bees, and was for this purpose twice
at my apiary during the summer.

Dr. Mullenhoff has laid down his theory on a strictly
scientific basis, and it is at this time going the round of

6

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[January 1, 1885.

scientific circles. I have, however, no intention of bring-
ing the theory before yon in scientific form, but rather
prefer to popularise it, and I will endeavour to give you
the theory, according to my apprehension of it, as far as
possible in my own words.

Let us, first, have before us the different kinds of bee-
cells. I need not dwell on this part of the subject, as you
are all familiar with it. The smallest is the worker-cell :
it is an hexagonal column with a pyramidal base, which
is formed by three rhomboids. The drone-cell is only
distinguished from the worker-cell by its size. The
queen-cells, on the contrary, stand in contrast to the hex-
agonal cells. I speak here of the so-called swarm-cells,
the primary queen-cells. Such a cell when it is opened
is like a truncated cone, round on the inside and with a
cup-shaped base ; originally the queen-cell is tolerably
smooth on the outside, but at a later period small indenta-
tions with prismatic borders may be observed, especially
at its, lower part. Further, where the bees on a comb
pass from worker-cells to drone-cells Ave find the transi-
tion-cells. They are mostly irregular hexagonal or pen-
tagonal columns with pyramidal liases. The cells which
are attached to the hive are pentagonal columns which
with one entire side abut on the roof of the hive or on
the comb-liar for the purpose of giving the comb a hold.
The so-called honey-cells have no immediate interest for
us here.

Let us put to ourselves the question : What may have
probably been the feelings and thoughts of the man who
thousands of years ago, or perhaps thousands of years
before that, first took a comb in his hand and considered
its cells thoughtfully ? That this once occurred we must
allow. But, alas! history gives us uo information about
this fact. That, however, is no misfortune. We bee-
keepers, who at least in the summer mouths have combs
in our hands nearly every day, can to-day answer for our-
selves the question proposed. Do we not often admire the
regular position of the cells, the regular shape, the wise
economy of space and material as well as the firmness
resulting from the method of construction ?

Pappus, who lived in Alexandria towards the close
of the fourth century, is the first mathematician of whom
we know that he considered the shape of honeycomb-
cells. He admired the regular column which is formed
by the body of the hexagonal cell. For centuries after
Pappus, we hear nothing of investigations about the
shape of bee-cells. Maraldi, who also investigated the
starry heavens, first recognised the pyramidal base of the
angular cells and measured the angle of the three rhom-
boids. Ri5aumur, that indefatigable inquirer, conjectured
that the bees constructed pyramidal cell-bases for the
purpose of saving building material, and caused the
mathematician, Kbnig, to compute the size of the angle
of the cell-bases, without giving him previously any
information about Maraldi's measurements. Kbnig ap-
plied himself to the task, and his computation of the size of
the angle agreed within two minutes with the measure-
ment of Maraldi. Not merely the suitability and
advantage of the six-angled cell, but also that of the
pyramidal base, was immediately established. The hoi ey-
comb with its cells passed forthwith, fully and com-
pletely, under the domination of geometry.

The Germans have the reputation of being the nation
of thinkers, that is, they are never content with a mere
outside description of facts and phenomena, but always
and everywhere the}' ask after the reason or the cause
of every phenomenon. Certainly, we bee-keepers have
given no cause for the German nation to lose this repu-
tation. Very soon bee-keepers were asking themselves :
How is it the bee has the gift of building its cells with
mathematical skill and accuracy? For long one stood
there with inquiring lips.

When one has not the truth immediately at hand,
people are very prone to go back to the creative act; for
since the human eye did not look on at the Divine crea-

tive act, the human mind finds there a very fertile soil
for all kinds of hypotheses. So the bee-keepers said, It is
innate in the bee this endowment that it has of building
its cells according to its requirements — at one time an-
gular, at another time round, sometimes pentagonal, at
other times hexagonal. The Creator, says one, favoured
the bee more highly than other species of its class. Quite
logically one proceeded further upon the basis of this
hypothesis and spoke of the transmission of the innate
endowment. According to this, the bee, that to-day
leaves its cell before our eyes, is, without any teacher,
just as wise and skilful as that one was which en that
day of creation first hummed responsive to the newly
arisen morning sun. Therefore the bee is, according to
this, a born architect, a born mathematical genius.

It is not to be disputed that this hypothesis of cell-
construction sounded very pleasantly to bee-keepers, and
sounds pleasantly to-day. Is it. not an elevating senti-
ment to suppose our pets to be more highly endowed
by the Creator than any other animal ? 1 confess —
whether it is to my shame I leave undecided — I could
never take kindly to the hypothesis generally accepted.
It was in vain that I puzzled my brains to get nearer to
the complete truth. I wanted to find a connexion
between the hexagonal facets of the bee's eyes and the
hexagonal cells ; but immediately my bold structure
collapsed again, for the bee builds cells that are not hex-
agonal, attachment-cells, transition-cells, and even queen-
cells, that are round.

Let us now enter, more immediately, into the theory
of Dr. Miillenlioff. According to my apprehension of it
the fundamental principle of the new theory is as follows :
the bee possesses the gift of building cells; this gift is
hereditary; but the bee has the capability — like all
insects— of building cells standing alone not with angles,
but only round, Gentlemen, is it not audacious to ex-
press such a proposition in view of the honey-comb with
its hexagonal cells ? Will you kindly take with me a
brief glance at the fulness of nature's life ? We have in
Germany quite a large number of species of wild bees
that do not live in colonies. These insects build for every
egg a cell standing separate, and the shape of every such cell
— whether it may he situated in wood, mortar, or earth —
is round ; for the. most part these cells are cylinders with
a cup-shaped base and a similar cover. Accompany me
now to Brazil — our thought will carry us there in a
moment — and let us examine the nests of the Melipona".
The honey-cells of this insect stand apart, outside the
the brood-nest, and are round, mostly conical. Have
j'ou ever carefully observed when the queen-wasp, having
finhhed her hybernation, begins in spring to build her
nest on a short stalk which serves as carrier, she lays, first
of all, the foundation for one cell, and this cell is round I-"
Not before she has laid the foundation for six other cells
to encircle it does she transform the one that was at first
round into the hexagonal shape. Notice, further, that
the wasp-comb has cells only on one side ; how does that
affect the form of the base of the cells ? It is cup-shaped,
because from physical mechanical reasons no pyramidal
base could be produced. Though why should we roam
at a distance ? Let us put aside wild bees, Melipona",
and wasps, and come to our own bees. We are standing
before a stock ready to swarm and open the hive. We
have first taken two combs out of the brood-nest and find
queen-cells, round cells upon them; they are just cells
standing apart, and these the bee can only build in the
cylinder form, and gives to them a cup-shaped base, and
a cover of similar shape. AVill you po'j&'fcly assume that,
the bee instinctively and consciously builds the queen-cell
round ? Could not a queen be just as well developed in
a larger hexagonal cell, as either a worker-bee or a drone
is developed in the hexagonal cell? Why then does t he
bee, build the queen-cell round ? Because she can only
raise a cell standing apart in the round form. The bee
has not such a complicated instinct as the adherents of

January 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

1 he old theory imagine. But will not the worker-cells
and droae-cells upset all our theory?

Kindly look with me at a comb which the bees have
constructed from the beginning-, and on which they are
still building. Let us observe closely the cells of the
thin margin just begun. On the side of the cells towards
the middle of the comb where they abut on three cells
we see three smooth surfaces — three sides for the column,
but towards the outside, where as yet no fresh cell has
been begun, we see not three smooth surfaces but only
one single round wall hollow on the inside, just because
they can only build round. Indeed the bee is not even
in a position to lengthen an individual hexagonal cell
hexagonally into a honey-cell ; the lengthening is always
round on the side where the adjoining cells are as j'et not
lengthened. Such honey-cells, hexagonal below with
rounded prolongation above, may be observed always
where an abrupt depression occurs in the adjoining comb
Still more distinctly may we see this in queenless stocks
without brood; for in them the bees build over cells that
contain pollen so called little cups (Niipfchen) : such a
cell is hexagonal below, but the little cup at the top is
round. Why do not the bees prolong hexagonal cells
hexagonally 'i Because it is not in their power; forthey
only understand how to build round.

Do you want to have still further proof brought that
the bee can only build round cells? If any one should
put it to me that I have not produced proofs but only
examples, I answer them; our knowledge of bees, as
indeed all our knowledge of nature, is not a science of the
intellect but a science of experience. ( )ur intellect cannot
introduce laws into the hive, but it may gather laws and
rales out of the hive.

That the cells of the comb become hexagonal and
pentagonal, and have a pyramidal base is a purely physical
and mechanical occurrence. Consider, first, that in the
nest of the building stock a temperature of i!(>0 to 28°
K. (00!° to '■'•'>' h'ahr. ) is maintained. In this tem-
perature, the wax-scales produced by the bees and
worked up by their mandibles become soft, and at
the same time extremely plastic. From experience you
know how soft are the cells of a comb just built. Let us
put a comb-bar into a stock that is building for the pur-
pose of watching the bees building their cells. We
observe that the bees hang up on each side so that their
heads stand opposite to one another. Since now every
individual bee pushes itself with the wax to be found
between its mandibles as much as possible upwards and
forwards, a plate of wax is produced out of the plastic
wax through the pressure on both sides. The heads of
the building bees meeting one another must always yield
towards the side of lesser resistance, that is, a bee ou the
one side is pushed by its two opponents below, and
therefore lias its head pushed exactly into the middle of
three standing opposite to it. By this pressure, which is
exercised on the soft wax, Maraldi's pyramids are pro-
duced, that is, the pyramidal bases of the cells. Therefore
Maraldi's pyramids are not formed by innate and in-
herited conscious action of the architects, but exclusively
according to purely physical laws. The shape of the
bee's head plays no part at all in the production of the
pyramidal cell-bases. The sides of the angular cells are
produced likewise by the pressure which the cylindrical
body of the bee exercises on the extremely plastic wax.
Kindly look how the bees build. Here, one bee is
building at one cell and around it six bees are building
each at one cell : what shape must the middle cell as-
sume ? It is obliged to form itself into a hexagonal
tube. Since the bees in building, not only push the
middle wall powerfully upwards, but also the cell walls,
and because the abdomen is thinner than the thorax, every
cell mast be a little inclined towards the middle wall.

Every individual bee, therefore, assumes a position as
if she wanted to build a hollow cylinder. If we look at
the structure of the queen-cell we see the cup-shaped base

and the hollow cylinder or hollow cone produced, since
there is only one bee in it.

The cells that are attached to the roof are not con-
sciously built pentagonally by the bees. Since four cells
abut on such a cell, two sides — namely, the two which
join the comb-bar or roof — of the attachment-cell melt
into one side, and the pentagonal attachment-cell stands
before us. Therefore the production of attachment-cells
is a physical mechanical occurrence.

We may illustrate the method of cell-structure by
soap-bubbles. Let us put soap-bubbles of equal size
into two frames.* Bringing both frames so close
together, that they touch one another, we see how
hexagonal columns are produced out of the soap-
bubbles, and where the bubbles of the two frames touch
one another we see Maraldi's pyramids. The soap-
bubbles which touch the frames must be formed into
pentagonal columns, and therefore assume the form of the
attachment-cells. If we use soap-bubbles of varying size,
we see where larger and smaller bubbles touch one
another irregular prisms are formed, we see even pen-
tagonal ones produced, and have immediately the pro-
duction of transition-cells before our eyes. If all the
bubbles have again an equal size the cells soon assume
again their regular form. Instead of soap-bubbles we
may use quite soft cylinders of wax with cup-shaped
bases. lieidenbach's wax queen-cells for introducing
queens will serve. If we suppose, then, an equable pressure
exercised on all these cylinders, nothing hut hexagonal
cells with pyramidal bases would be produced.

You see, therefore, that the old hypothesis on the origin
of bee-cells is completely shattered by the new theory ;
only here and there out of the rubbish heap we may pull
out a fragment that may be redressed and made servicable
for building up the new theory.

But, then, is it handsome, so unmercifully to overthrow
the old hypothesis, that has become dear to us, for the
purpose of putting a new theory in its place ? Mere
hypothesis everywhere loses its raison d'etre where the
naked truth comes before our eyes. I neither bow down
before legend nor before mere hypothesis, but certainly in
humility before the sunlight of truth.

INDIA.

Eastern Bees.
Mr. Bcuglas speaks of the unicomb bees, A. dorsata
and A.Jturea, and the multicomb bee, A. Indica. It is
very probable that each swarm of Apisjtorea only build
one comb, a? all that I saw had but a single comb, and I
was repeatedly told that they did not build more.
Moreover, as these tiny bees do not frequent the forests
I as much as they do the more open country where shrubs
and bushes form the greater part of the vegetation, it is
reasonable to suppose that they choose the latter, so as
to find near the ground suitable twigs upon which to
build ; and, in fact, all that I found were in such loca-
tions. The pasturage of the open country may very
likely suit them better, yet as there are always some
large trees among the bushes, they might choose ele-
vated places if they wished. As, however, the single
comlj is generally attached to a small branch or twig,
there is room for but one. This at the top is built
around the twig so as to envelope it, the cells being deep
for storing honey, the thickness of the comb at the top
often reaching two or three inches. Below, where the
brood is reared, the comb is, however, but three-eighths
of an inch thick. The tiny hexagonal wax-cells, of
which there are eighty-one on each side of a square inch
of surface (160 on both sides), are very beautiful. Of
course it is easy to imagine that a swarm constructing a
single comb not much larger than a man's hand can
never be made very available, even if it can be kept in
hives. I succeeded in taking one hive of these bees

* I suppose the frames would have glass in them. — Tb.

8

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,

[January 1, 1885.

from Ceylon to Cyprus, and they behaved much better
than hives of the two larger species. An acrident re-
sulting in the death of the queen at a time when no
brood was present in the hive was, of course, the virtual
extinction of the stock.

Most of the A. dorsata stocks which I saw consisted
of but one huge comb attached to a large branch, or to
some overhanging ledge of rocks. But this giant honey-
bee (it surely deserves the name 'honey-bee,' although it
is not cultivated) does sometimes build several combs
side by side, for when in Ceylon I transferred into a
mammoth moveable frame-hive a stock which had built
three parallel combs in a cavity of the rocks. I fouud
these bees in the Kurunegala district at a place known
to the natives as Cambera-galla (A. dorsata rock). It
was a wild forest region, some miles from any habita-
tion, rarely visited, so that I had much difficulty in
transporting my hives and implements to the place, and
getting up to the top of the rock, which, perched on the
side of a mountain, towered up nearly a hundred feet
from the lower side, as near as I could judge. The
walls on all sides were either perpendicular or over-
hanging ; and I was at first at much loss to know how
we were to get up to the dozen or more huge stocks of
A. dorsata, whose combs depended from two to four feet
from one of the overhanging ledges near the summit.
But the natives, of whom there were a dozen present,
led me by a crevice just large enough to admit a man's
body into the interior of the rock, and, by building a
ladder of poles and rattans, we reached a sloping ledge
some forty feet up ; thence winding around we came
nearer the summit, and at last found a dark passage
leading right up through the centre of the rock. The
top was nearly level, and about ten feet square. A
cavit}- enclosed on all sides but one, and partially loofed
over, contained a large stock of A. dorsata, which of
course I had not been able to see from below. The bees
drove us down in the daytime, but at night with the aid
of a torch and smoke I cut out the combs and fitted
them into frames which were placed into a hive hauled
up over the side of the rock. I had learned that the
best time to approach these bees in their forest lodg-
ment is at night, as they do not fly much then. The
frames of my hives were about 12 in. deep by 18 in.
long, and so the combs were cut accordingly. I think
larger frames would have been better, but not so easy to
transport. As the A. dorsata comb is one and three
eighths inches thick, the bars of my frames had been
made of that width. There were some fifty to sixty
pounds of honey in the conbs of this stock, and after I
had given the bees a fair supply the natives had a nice
feast, and some was left over; besides, they eagerly
devoured the bits of brood which did not find place in
the hive.

As this was towards the close of the season when the
bees find little honey, just before the swarming season,
it i3 fair to presume that the amount of honey would be
much greater at most any other time, and the huge
combs would have made a nice lump of wax. "We se-
cured hut one other stock of the dozen that were on the
overhanging ledge of rock ; the risk to limb and life
being too great to try for any more there, so we moved
on to other localities. Once in moveable-comb hives, I
did not find A. dorsata intractable, but there are other
reasons why its culture may never prove successful,
although it is an experiment worth trying.

The little A. Indica builds its parallel combs (five-
eighths of an inch thick, thirty-six cells on each side of a
square inch) in hollow trees, rock cavities, etc., and is
cultivated to a certain extent in earthen pots, wooden
skeps, etc., yet I do not believe with much profit. The
queens are prolific, and the workers industrious, but it
is what the Germans would surely call a swarm-bee.
And if kept in moveable-frame hives, the great difficulty,
as Mr. Douglas well remarks, would be the absconding of

the bees at nearly every manipulation, notwithstanding-
the presence of brood and honey. I have lively
recollections of getting the bee3 of a recently transferred
stock whose combs I was fixing a little, back into their -
hive six times in succession one morning, performing in
these processes a good many gymnastics on the roofs
and trees in the vicinity of my apiaiy. Before I learned
of this peculiarity of Apis Indica I formed quite a
favourable opinion of it, though, from all that 1 saw, I
should think ->4 lbs. reported as its yield in the "Wynaad
rather high, though, of course, I judge merely by the
amounts I saw in the combs of the stock I captured.
As the causa for absconding seems to lie in the very ex-
citable nature of the^e bees, I would recommend the use
of smoke only when absolutely necessary. They can
generally be driven from combs by blowing them
strongly, and become less excited than when smoked.
The}' can be brushed or shaken from the combs easily.
As the worker brood-combs are but five-eighths of an
inch thick, the bars of frame-hives intended for these
bees should be but five-eighths wide instead of seven-
eighths to one inch, as for Apis mellifica, and the
spacing but one-quarter in. to three-eighths at the must.

In Ceylon 1 found two parties who had got out hives
from England, which of course were adapted to Apis
mellifica and had frames whose bars were seven-eighths to
one inch wide, and spaced so as to remain three-eighths to
half-inch apart. Of course, these parties could not under-
stand why their bees would not do the way the books
said other people's bees were accustomed to do, that is,
build the combs regularly and but one in a frame, never
cr.ee dreaming that, not only were they not of the
same race, but, even more, they belonged to quite dis-
tinct speci s.

Whatever may be the result of any attempt to
cultivate the honey-producing bees native to East India,
I still feel sure that, in the hands of a bee-master of
sufficient experience and knowledge of principles to
enable him to adapt himself, or rather his management,
to circumstances, any of the races of the species Apis
mellifica can be made to thrive in India. Certain 1 am
that those stocks of Apis mellifica which I took to
Ceylon thrived very well indeed during the time I had
them under my observation.

I look forward to the time when bee-culture in India
will be a source of no inconsiderable revenue; in fact,
I fear the time will yet come when ' Brother Jonathan '
across the water will find that his tons of delicious
nectar will have to compete in the English market with
tons of sweets gatheied on ' India's coral strand.' —
Frank Benton, Munich, German;/.

AMERICA.

OlTEIAN AND ITALIAN BEES.

"We have now ample means for judging of the
temper of Cyprian bees, as shown in their native island,
where no questions can be raised as to their absolute
freedom from mixture with other varieties. In a
private letter to me, Professor Cook, of Lansing, says of
Mr. Frank Benton, who has done this good work for us,.
'He is scientific in his methods and habits, very earnest
and enthusiastic, and honest to the core.' "Wiitingout
of his Brge experience with them, in a season so un-
favourable for honey-gathering that, if they possessed
any unmanageable irritability, it could not fail to show
itself, Mr. Benton gives them the palm, even over
Italian bees, for easy control in all necessary manipula-
tions.

Some years ago Mr. Muth, of Cincinnati, after weigh-
ing 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 counter-
balanced by excessive irritability. Mr. Benton's explan-
ation of the simple methods by which they may be kept

January 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

9

peaceable lias dissipated these apprehensions,* and I am
strongly inclined to think that we have been fortunate
enough to secure a strain of bees which unites the best
qualities of both the blacks and Italians. After a large
experience for many years with the last-named races, 1
came to the following conclusions : —

(1.) Where late forage is scarce, the Italians stop
breeding much earlier than the blacks.

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 evidence is quite conclusive that the
Cyprians, like the blacks, are strongly given to late
breeding.

{'2.) The Italians, unless stimulated by judicious feeding,
do not resume breeding as earlg as the blacks.

In Greenfield, Massachussets (see p. 339, 3rd ed. of
my work on the Hive and Honey-bee), where I had only
blacks, the December of 1640 was extremely cold.
January 1647 was the eldest January on record in that
latitude for more than fifty years. Once the temperature
was 30° below zero, F., and there were two days when
the wind blew a strong gale, the mercury getting but
once as high as 0° below zero. From the Tth 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 aim st continuous gale. Early in the forenoon of
the 14th, the mercury was 10j° below zero. Later in
the day it moderated enough for me to examine three
strong stocks, in the central combs cf 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 ex-
perience with black bees led me to expect breeding to
begin in good stocks about the 1st of January, and
lometimes a little earlier.

In my Italian apiary at Oxford, where the moan of
the winter is very little lower than the mean of March
in Greenfield, I seldom failed to get an opportunity of
overlooking my stocks some time in February, and
rarely found much brood in that month, even in the
strongest : while in most of them, laying had not even
begun. The present winter heie, though unusually
cold, does not compare for severity with that of 184" in
3reenfield, and there have been three thaws, causirg the
resumption of navigation on the Ohio Eiver. Two of my
neighbours examined a large 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 colony
of Italians, when breeding fairly begins in the spring,
will, as a rule, rapidly outstrip a black one of (qua!
strength, is it not equally true that what is called
' spring dwindling ' among Italians may in many cases
be attributed to the above - mentioned causes ? In
localities where the main honey-harvest is over on or
before the middle of July, earl}- breeding is essential to
success, and with Italian bees, artificial stimulus must
ordinarily be used to induce it. Some of the readers of
Gleanings may remember my experiments in this line
two years ago, interrupted 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 resemble,

* It may be well to caution those who keep bees very
near to public highways to be careful to observe Mr. B.'s
directions ; and if they have had but little experience with
bees it may be as well to let them alone, rather than run
the risk of rousing them to fury.

even if they do not surpass, the blacks. In the American
Bee Journal, February -, 1881, Melville Hayes, of
Wilmington, Ohio, writes, under date of January 3rd, of
his Palestine 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 connexion,
I will mention the curious 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 -accounted for by supposing him to have
attempted to handle them just as he did the Italians.

(3.) The Italians are much more inclined to build
drone comb than the blacks.

AYhen forage is abundant, if an empty frame was
placed between two full ones, my experience with the
blacks led me to expect them to fill it with worker-comb ;
and if their queen was one of the current year, I could
count upon this with almost absolute certainty; 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 out the other combs; and if
the honey in them was capped over, they would some-
times build another tier of cells right upon the cappings
of the old combs ! Time would fail me to describe my
various experiences in trying, when forage was abundant,
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 secure —what cost me no trouble with the
blacks — a sufficient supply of worker-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, it must
be evident that the Italians must have some extraordinary
advantages to give them the preference among our lead-
ing bee-keepers.

From all that I can Team 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 introduction in undoubted
purity into this country. All honour to Mr. 1). A .
Jones, of Beeton, Canada, whose extraordinary energ)
and experience in the management of bees, and largt.
expenditures, have done so much, and promise to do so
much more, to secure for Europe and America the beat
race of bees, or the best cross between different races,
that the world can give us ! Without Mr. Jones, Mr.
Benton might have longed in vain for such golden oppor-
tunities; 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 off than
we now are from the desired goal.

The Holy Land bees procured by Mr. Jones' personal
visit to Palestine- will probably be found to have the
same good traits witli the Cyprians, and to be much
nearer allied to them in size and disposition than to the
Egyptian (A/iisfasciata). Mr. Jones himself gives them
the preference, and it may be that our most valued bees
shall come to us from that promised land, flowing in
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 cautu.n
on both buyers and sellers. It is well know n that tested
Italian queens have been advertised, not only by parties
having insufficient experience in queen-breeding, and

10

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[January 1, 1885.

without adequate arrangements for keeping them pure,
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 increasing med-
ley of bastardized bees. — L. L. Laxgstkoth.

Cnrrtspontrcnic.

*#* All Correspondents forwarding Letters for insertion in
the Journal, Reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes
from the Hives, Queries, tOc. , arc requested to direct 'their com-
uiunications to ' The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," c/o
Messrs. Strangeways <£• Sons, Tower Street, Upper St. Martin's
TjO/ne, W.C

OUR HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the United Kingdom
during the month of November, 1884, amounted to
\'l~'2l. [From a private return sent by the Principal
Statistical Department, IT. M. Customs, to E. II.
Bellairs, Wingfield House, Christehurch.]

PEEL TESTIMONIAL FUND.
May I request you to state in your next issue
that I cannot, in justice to myself, lend my name
to the scheme of a ' Peel Testimonial Fund ' any
longer? It is well known that at the outset I de-
clined to receive any testimonial on my own account,
but that when it was proposed to found, upon the
basis of a testimonial to myself, a scheme for ad-
vancing the interests of the County Bee-keepers'
Associations, I was induced to fall in with the idea
from a desire not to stand in the way of any effort
made to encourage them and advance their in-
terests. The matter has, however, been before the
public for the whole of the past year without any
satisfactory result ; and I must therefore now with-
draw my name from the scheme in question ; and
with all gratitude to those who wish well towards
me, must respectfully, but nevertheless firmly,
decline to accept any testimonial upon any ground
whatever. — Herijert R. Peel, Thornton Hall,
Dec. 19th.

AWARDS OF THE LIRE.

The attention of the Committee of the British Bee-
keepers' Association has been called to the communication
inserted in your last issue, page 434, in which Mr.
Abbott states, that he ' supposed ' the experts who
accompanied the Judges in making their awards in the
Bee Department of the International Health Exhibition,
were appointed b}r the British Bee-keepers' Association.
I am desired to point out that these appointments were
made by the Executive of the I. H. E. The British
Bee-keepers' Association were not empowered to make
any such appointment.— J. IIuckee, Secretary, British
Bee-keepers Association.

THE READING SHOW.
I am undeserving alike of Mr. Abbott's praise and of
his censure. No act of carelessness of mine, when act-
ing as judge at the Reading show, lost him the first
prize. The matter is simply this: For the first time, I
believe, in the history of bee shows, the judges at the

Reading show attempted not only to judge the exhibits
of honey and wax by their outward appearances, but
brought analysis into requisition. That during the
progress of the judging no very intricate chemical pro-
cesses can be employed, which would involve far more
time and labour than could possibly be given to them, is
evident ; we therefore used, for wax-testing, a little
device which you were good enough subsequently to
describe in the Bee Journal. We did not imagine that
that little test gave indications which were absolutely
final, but it was considered that any sample not comply-
ing with it should be regarded with a sufficiency of
suspicion to deprive it of a chance of first prize.

ilr. Abbott's foundation sample, on repeated trials,
did not readily follow the test. This created a doubt in
the judges' minds, and the prize was awarded to another
exhibit.

Subsequent exhaustive analysis in my laboratory,
undertaken for my and Messrs. Abbott's satisfaction,
established the genuineness of the sample, and suggested
to me slight improvements in the execution of the test,
which I at once made public.

Carelessness there was none whatever. I acted ac-
cording to my lights, and surely Mr. Abbott will not
reproach me when I confess that in common with other
people I live and learn. So much for the censure.

As a student of science I hold truth above all, and
feel not ashamed if I have to tinker at my previous
work. 1 only did what I considered my duty when I
showed in the Bee Journal the failings and weaknesses
of my little test. That feat deserved no praise. — Otto
Hehneb.

JUDGES' AWARDS AT THE LIRE.

In reference to the extraordinary and regrettable
communication (intended as an attack upon myself)
appearing in the last number of the Journal, I have
nothing to say to Mr. Abbott, since the weapons of his
selection are not those I could condescend to use. The
whole matter, however, concerns the bee-keeping world,
and judges particularly, more deeply than would at first
appear, so I think it wise to give the facts of the case.

A letter and a telegram were received by me from the
Rev. E. Bartrum, stating that the jury who were to
judge the Bee Department desired some guidance, which
he had been asked to give, but that he would not accept
the responsibility unless I shared it witli him. Although
I had previously refused to act as judge when asked by
the B. B. K. A. to do so (for the communication 1 at
first referred to shows but too clearly the annoyance to
which a fearless judge ma}- be exposed), my friendship
with Mr. Bartrum induced me to comply. My position
was that of referee, and nothing was volunteered by me
until my advice or opinion was asked. I acquiesced, of

! course, that the medals should be given as suggested,
and regard the alteration as a most mischievous inter-
ference with precedent as well as a palpable injustice;
and it remains now to be seen whether Mr. Baldwin
will remain content with his bronze while he is clearly
ahead of the one for which by some means a silver
medal has been obtained. That Mr. Bartrum and
myself endeavoured to discharge our duties justly and
fearlessly as Christian gentlemen will not be doubted
by those wdio know us. But in conclusion I must add
that if annoying personalities are to form part of the
contents of the Journal, it will be for me to consider
wdiether I had better not regard my last contribu-
tion to it as having already been written. — FllANK R.
Cheshire, Avenue House, Acton, W.

[To prevent any misunderstanding we think it right to

! state that the name of Mr. Cheshire was not one of those
forwarded to the Council of the I. II. E. Mr. Abbott
and Mr. Cheshire have each had their say, and the con-
troversy must now be closed.]

January 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

11

SALE OF HONEY.

From the letters I have received, I have reason to
believe that my previous communication upon the above
subject lias proved of benefit to some who were seeking a
market for their honey. My experience during this
season will, I think, enable me to throw out a few hints
that may be useful in the future to those who will have
honey to dispose of.

1 . Follow Mr. Hewitt's advice and create a market
at home by retailing it yourself ; if you object to that,
then ask a reasonable price of your grocer or any trades-
man willing to sell it for you, but he must have a profit.

2. Two-pound sections or bottles are not ready sale,
the one-pound will sell much better, at least fifty to one.

8. Do not put the honey in jars except for exhibition
or sale at home, dealers prefer buying- in bulk, it costs
less carriage and prevents breakage.

This year I have introduced lie/, glasses of hone)' and
retailed 1J gross in a short time, the price meets the
wants of the poor mother who only requires a little for
her child. I think our next step will be to put up the
hone}' in useful glass vessels, similar to those used for
marmalade. If we wish to increase the demand for honey
we must not lose sight of these minor matters.

I do not wonder that some bee-keepers cannot sell
their honey; they appear to imagine that honey com-
panies and tradesmen keep their shops open to sell their
honey without any remuneration. I received a number
of letters similar to the two specimens I give. One
writes from the west of England, ' I have four cwts. of
extracted honey left, I have sold a few pounds at home
at Is. per lb., if you are open to buy I will send you the
remainder at the same price.' This price with carriage
would mean a cost to me of Is. :'>%d. per lb. by the time
it was bottled and labelled. Another writes : ' I have a
quantity of honey in 2-lb. bottles, I can send you at
2s. id. per bottle. This with carriage and breakage would
not cost less than 2s. 5id. by the time it reached me.
X.i merchant, trader, or company, can help such
pet sons until they bring a little common sense to bear
upon the matter. — L. AVekn, Lowestoft.

SPLIT TOP BARS.
In seeing the remarks of Mr. Hewitt's method of fixing
foundations I can quite concur with him as to the evil of
the split bar, as I have used both myself, and find from
experience that the plain bars are the best. It is all
very well for Mr. Hooker Hill to say that we want no
wax-spoon, but to keep to the effective, quick, and easy
way of inserting the foundation. But I fail to see the
effectiveness of the split bar. In the first place, we lose
quite three-eighths of foundation, besides being so much
weakened by the saw-cut, which, as Mr. Hewitt points
out, is harbour for the wax-moth; whereas in the plain
bar it requires the use of neither screws nor putt}', but
simply a little hot wax, a feather, and a gauge to put the
comb to the centre, and all is complete, and I can truly
say that I have used the plain bar for the last three
years, and never had but one case of breakdown. As for
quickness, I will venture to say that with the wax and
feather I could put three combs in while any one else
was putting one in the split bar, no matter who he may
be ; so I fail also to see the quickness, although we may
differ in our opinions. I have been a bee-keeper for the
last ten years, and I am only too happy to come forward
and condemn the split bar as a perfect nuisance in an
apiary. — W. Willcock, Doncaster.

COMPENSATION FOR LOSS OF BEES.
I had two stocks of bees sent to me per G. E. K. Com-
pany from Suffolk. They arrived to me in a very bad
condition, the comb, bees, and honey all mixed together.
I sent a claim for 21. They replied to the effect that

they had inquired into the matter, that they were not
properly packed, and therefore they could not make any
recompense. Mr. Rivolta and I wrote several times
stating we were in a position to prove they were packed
properly, and with ordinary care they would have arrived
safely. To this they sent an offer of 20*., which I re-
fused, and wrote to that, effect. To my refusal they
wrote and said they would give no more, still maintaining-
they were not properly packed. To this I wrote again
to say we would accept .'!0s. to save further trouble and
time : and if they did not come to these terms we should
put it into the hands of a solicitor and go in for the full
claim. To this I have received the enclosed letter from
the Superintendent. — II. W. Hatch.

' Sib, — Referring to your letter of 2nd instant. As I
understand from your letter that consignee is willing to
accept 30s. in settlement, I have without prejudice in-
structed our station-master at Leytonstonc to pay that
sum.'

JUDGING.

I have to thank ' An Occasional Judge ' for his letter.
If a number of our judges would, like him, give us their
opinion of what constitutes merit in comb and extracted
honey, the discussion of the subject might help to clear
away the differences of opinion which at present exist
among judges. Your correspondent seems to consider
weight a very important point, and I do not seek to
deny that it is so, but I would not place a beautifully
finished section behind a less perfect one in the prize-list
because it was an ounce less in weight. Purity of comb
and evenness of sealing should in my opinion get the
preference, although there was a little wanting in
weight. On this point I would be glad to have the
opinion of some of our experienced judges, and I am
certain that other competitors will also be gratified for
such opinions. 1 may, with your permission, Mr. Editor,
return to this subject, as I think it one which we might
profitably discuss during the winter months. — AriAniST.

AN ANNUAL HONEY-FAIR IN SCOTLAND.

The thought has often occurred to me, and must have,
I am sure, to many others, why the bee-keepers of
Scotland do not hold an annual honey show, &c, say in
Glasgow. The Caledonian Apiarian Society hold an
annual exhibition in connexion with the Highland and
Agricultural Society, and I understand that it will be
held this year at Aberdeen. Now, it cannot be expected
that all the principal bee-keepers can patronise that show,
the reason of it being so far away, and the heavy
expenses, loss of time, &c, incurred prevent many from
going. If the Caledonian Apiarian Society, with the
co-operation of the various bee Associations, would hold
an annual show, as suggested, and offer prizes for all the
various classes connected with bee-culture, I am sure
it would be the means of bringing together more ex-
hibitors, especially amateurs who have never competed
before, and would never think of going to Aberdeento
compete with some of the more advanced. A show like
this affords an opportunity to every one to bring for-
ward their exhibits, and having Glasgow as the centre,
or even Edinburgh, it may be expected that all the
honey-merchants, &c, would avail themselves of the
opportunity of securing their year's supply, and thus cut
out the adulterated stuff that many of our Italian ware-
housemen indulge in selling to the public as pure honey.
Now that the above suggestion is made, I hope some of
the more advanced and skilled bee-keepers will take the
subject up, and see the advisability of going into the
work at once, and let the season 1885 be their first
annual show. It would, at the same time, prove very
instructive to some of our townspeople, who at present
do not understand the nature and industry of our little
insects.— J. D. McN.

13

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[January 1, 1885.

BEE-KEEPING IN SCOTLAND.

I feel much honoured by the communication of your
correspondent ' J. A. B.' in your last issue. Iu men-
tioning my success in bee-culture he is kind enough to
ask me for a sketch of my life. As that would not be of
any scientific importance, or tend to the edification of
your readers, I shall limit myself to giving- a short account
of my endeavours and success in bee-keeping.

I began in the year 1877 by 'purchasing a single hive.
At that time bee-keeping had not (to a great extent)
attained the dignity of a science, though it was indus-
triously and profitably prosecuted in all rural districts of
Scotland. In 1879 I had increased my stock to six hives,
which were reduced in the spring of 1880 to only two.
Thus, I may say, I served ray apprenticeship. From
1880 till the present time I have not lost one hive in
wintering. The following figures show my rate of pro-
gress. In 1881 I had five hives ; in 1832, thirteen hives ;
in 1833, twenty-nine hives; in 1834, forty-four hives;
and now I have sixty-two. My profits for the four
seasons respectively average 29*. per hive ; the increase
of. stock should compensate for my labour. I attribute
what measure of success I have enjoyed to my reading
the Bee Journal, care in wintering, and stimulating
in spring, having all the hives ready for the first honey-
glut. Nor do I go in for continual pottering among the
hives, as I consider too much middling as injurious as
too little attention. I have fortunately never' yet seen
foul brood. My bees are all blacks, hives mostly bar-
frames, double wall, and well packed, frames across
entrance, and work on the tiering up system.

As an instance of wintering with little food, last year
I had a hive in skep, with young queen and less than
4 lbs. of honey in it. Jt was "blown over in the great
storm of 12th December ; at that time it had only empty
comb. I put a 3-lb. cake of tablet over the hole (made
from Saddler's receipt), and the hive wintered safely, and
turned out one of my best this summer. At the' same
time I would not advise wintering light hives, but I
merely mention this as an instance of what can be done
in an emergency. We have an Apiarian Society here, of
which the Rev. J. B. Robertson, of Leswalt, is Secretary.—
\\ ii.i.iam McNally, Glenluce, JS'.B.

BEE-KEEPING IN SCOTLAND.
In your issue of 15th December, page 088, ' J. A. B.'
makes an assertion which is new to me ; but as an asser-
tion without proof goes for nothing, I, along with many
others, would be glad to hear how he can make out that
Scotland ten years ago was far behind its neighbours iu
this work ; and would be glad also if he would give us a
statement of the advances, showing in what respect they
are advances, made during that term in Scotland. If
your correspondent ' J. A. B.' is really in earnest as to
forming acquaintanceship with the 'Scotch heroes,' he
need have no difficulty, as their name is Legion. For my
part, I put no reliance on shows, nor do I consider it a
good criterion to judge from what is seen at them. The
shows held throughout the west of Scotland for the last
century have never yet been equalled by any modern
ones. If 'J. A. B.' takes an uninterested view of the
Edinburgh Show, he will see that the principal prizes
werecarried off by the old apiarians, and that those of
less worth were not competed for by them, but were left
for the younger ones to swell their honours. ' But facts
are stubborn chiels that winna ding, and dauma be dis-
puted.' How does it come, if Scotland was behind ten
years ago, that their exhibits at the first Crystal Palace
Bee and Honey Show ( 1874) eclipsed everything, as the
Times newspaper had it, and that the Scotch at that
lime not only gave lessons, but were entreated by the
Southerners to instruct them ? Then how is it that, after
that date a long time, Mr. Abbott was indebted to the

Scotch for information how to manufacture comb-foun-
dations ; and that the same gentleman tells us, iu the
number for April 138;J,page 271, that, 'The introduction
of the quilt was an invention of his, and that he had a
hard struggle to get it forced upon the public,' when
this also was a Scotch innovation in use in this country,
and recorded by ' A Renf rewshire Bee-keeper' in Journal
of Horticulture, giving his experience of it in I860 ? Then
at the Kibble Show, held in Glasgow 187G, was it not a
Scotchman who competed with England's champion, Mr.
Abbott, the former completely defeating the latter? This
we are prepared to prove by many witnesses. I may
just mention, too, that the dividing-boards, as well as
many other little things, are of Scottish origin; but mean-
while I hold over till ' J. A. B.' gives his proof for what
is undoubtedly new to us all. — J. H.

ME. SIMMINS' HIVE.
I should like to say a few words about the hive, &c,
Mr. Simmins so kindly described in the Journal on
January loth, 1884. I cannot say much as regards the
hive I have made for next year, except I can make it
in half the time with half the material and half the
labour of those I made last year. The draught-pre-
venter seems to me the best I have seen, or know of as
yet. The dummy, or dry sugar-feeder, will save a lot
of trouble, and is something all bee-keepers ought to be
thankful for. The roof I believe to be the best that
can be made to keep out the water if made according to
Mr. Simmins' instructions. And as for the sections and
crates I like them very much. I have tried the
American one-piece, and I have tried Mr. Simmins', I
much prefer the latter, the foundation can be fixed so
nicely and separators are not wanted, nor wedging ar-
rangements, and if top and bottom rails are made of
glass, one can see the little labourers at work, and also
when the sections are finished. I make my own sections
in the evenings and on wet days. If you will kindly
insert this in your valuable Journal with my very best
thanks to Mr. Simmins I shall feel obliged, so that he
may know how much I appreciate his hive. — E. Lander,
Barrow Street Farm, Mere, Wilts.

BLIGH COMPETITION.

Referring to the report in your last issue, I have no
doubt that many of your readers, especially those par-
ticularly interested in this contest, are surprised and
disappointed to know that so many competitors have
withdrawn therefrom ; and as my name appears among
the scratched, I suspect the cause will be found to be as
disappointing to us as to your readers generally ; and re-
membering also how many times regret wa? expressed
that on the former occasion failure as well as success
was not reported, I think it may be interesting to give
account of my own failure, which I attribute not so
much to the rules themselves as the unfortunate con-
struction put upon them. Rule 0 says —

' Competitors will only be credited for sales of honey,
wax, or swarms.'

' All honey in virgin comb will be credited at Is. Gd.
per pound.'

Now to my mind this conveys that as soon as sections
of virgin honey have been secured (bonajide if you like)
the competitor is entitled to credit himself with their
value estimated at Is. Gd. per pound, and I accordingly
made my calculations and arrangements. All went on
well until I had obtained fair success, when in July I
received the following notice from the judges: —

'It must be remembered that nothing is to be credited
in account till the money has been received by sale in a
bonajide market. At the close of the competition alone
the honey unsold may be entered.'

I had then obtained eleven two-lb. sections sealed on

January I, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

13

hoth sides, and 4 lbs. slung from seven unfinished sec-
tions, and immediately after removing the crate, I
swarmed (artificially), using for this purpose a new hive
and frames bought with money credited as before men-
tioned, and it was then too late to introduce the principle
of bonajide sale, at least to me, for I had calculated the
value of my honey, and had already applied the amount.
Of course it- may be suggested, that my ingenuity ends
with obtaining the sections ; and had I possessed a pliable
friend to hand over so much cash, and for mere form's
sake taken away the honey, the difficulty might have
been overcome; but I preferred withdrawing from the
contest, because I think that selling honey is a depraved
art compared with that of obtaining it from the flowers,
and that the object of the competition was not to test a
bee-keeper's excellence in that direction. I need only
add, that had I understood the bonajide sale system was
to be insisted upon, I would never have entered the list;
and the only regret I have is that those embryo bee-
keepers about me who have taken so much interest in the
operations are deprived of the results, after so much
painstaking preparation on the part of your obedient
servant, Tiios. F. Ward, G'mrch House, Highgate,
Middlesex.

ADULTERATION OF IIOXEY.

There has recently been much written in the British
Bee Journal about the adulteration of American honey,
but doubtless the quality of a great deal of the in-
ferior hone}- coming from that country is beyond the
conlrol of the bee-keepers there, as the frequent allusion
in the American Bee Journal and American Bee Gleanings
testifies to the large quantities of aphid honey collected
by the bees there and the frequent inquiries what to do
with it. Its deceptive taste deceives many : nor need we
wonder at this, seeing it has the lx>es. If the B.B. K. A.
succeed as well in educating the British public in
choosing pure honey granulated in winter, as well as
they have the bee-keepers in the rearing of bees and
collection of honey, great progress will have been made.
— B. Tiionp, Langnck, 23rd December.

REPLY TO QUERY OX THE PBODUCTIOX OF
EXTBACTED HONEY.

'Mid Cornwall' asks, in the last issue, why I dis-
approve of the doubling S3'stem. I think his own state-
ment and experience clearly answer the question better
than any words of mine. He admits trying one hive
on each plan, and, as commonly advised, adds the brood
from another hive to that which is doubled, and relates
the result as 105 lbs. from the doubled hive, and 8 lbs.
from the hive from which the brood combs were taken,
making a total of llo lbs. from both hives which,
divided by '2, would leave an average of 56J lbs. from
each against 63 lbs. produced from the hive managed,
I suppose, something after the plan described by me in
the Journal for February 1st, 1834. However I will
briefly state my objections to the doubling system.

1st. The plan commonly advised, and set forth by Mr.
Cowan in his Guide Boole, is to give the brood-combs
from some other hive. I certainly object in the strongest
manner to this proceeding, as you thus ruin another
hive (see 'Mid Cornwall's' result) for honey -getting
that season, besides I am certain I could get more honey
to work each stock separately, that is, supposing both
stocks are alike strong and ready for honey storing as
should be the case in every well-ordered apiary.

2nd. I object to the combs in the honey-chamber, or
upper storey being there, as you cannot examine the
brood-combs in the lower hive without first lifting off
the upper storey with its hone)' and bees. Very often,
too, when a second storey is used the bees build little
bits cf comb between the upper and lower combs, or

lower combs and queen-excluder, and the examination

of such is only accomplished after much trouble, stings,

I and death of bees, before all is replaced. The advocates

j of doubling make a strong point of the bees in natural

J conditions always placing the honey above their brood.

They equally as often place and fill the back combs

I of their hive first, as may be often noticed in straw

skeps before being fed up for winter. No doubt, honey

would ripen sooner above the brood-nest on account of

greater heat, but in a long hive with myriads of bees, I

think the honey would get sealed over quite as fast.

3rd. You cannot work a stock up to be as strong on
the doubling principle before the honey season com-
mences as you can ou the long hive system ; as you have
only ten frames for brood in the lower hive: and this
is why the advocates of doubling always advise taking
the combs from another hive ; but you will observe this
is no test, nor yet is it fair to pit my sj-stem against such
a course. I also object to give the whole of the room
in the upper storey all at once, and you cannot well
give less and contract the space to prevent the heat from
escaping.

4th. One season, or even one stock, is not enough to
test any one plan or system. In average seasons I
venture to say the plan recommended by me would give
far and awa}r the best results. It is for such seasons
we should provide, although in a good season like the
past I believe I could compare favourably as to results.

oth. Bees are more likely to swarm in a doubled hive
by reason of there being less surface room over their
combs than in the long hive, and hence greater heat, and
I also think more bees are kept fanning to keep down
the temperature which in the long hive could be gather-
ing honey by reason of there being a greater air surface
over the quilt. In conclusion, I believe if ' Mid Corn-
wall' tries one hive on its own merits on each plan, he
will re-echo all I have said. In the long hive you can
throw back the quilt and examine the brood-nest with-
out touching or disturbing the honey-chamber and vice
versa. If the excluder is made as described in my
article, and touches the sides and bottom of the hive,
and the zinc is proper size holes, I fail to see how the
queen can enter the honey-chamber, and I have yet to
find one queen doinir so.

Several private letters received from valued corre-
spondents who have followed out my advice given in
spring, still further confirm my own experience of the
soundness of my teaching on the 'Production of Ex-
tracted Honey.' — Wm, Ditty, Jrxn., The Apiary, near
Neictownards.

FEEDIXG, &c.

Having procured Simmins' sugar-feeding dummies for
spring feeding, I have made inquiries about Porto Bico
sugar. My grocer tells me it is not generally kept, not
being much used now, but he can get me a hogshead.
Will Mr. Simmins tell me if boiled cane-sugars would
answer the purpose ? Very nice sugar is to be had re-
sembling the Porto Bico and Demerara,but paler coloured.

Mr. Hewitt mentions Syrian bees, which produce
1000 lbs. of honey to one hive of 00 Association frames,
that is, lGlbs. 14 ozs. of super honey to each bar-frame
of bees.

The Ligurians, I believe, do nearly as well. My
British bees last harvest produced over 400 lbs. of honey,
mostly sections, from six hives. A double-walled hive, with
ten Association frames, gave 80 lbs. of section-honey;
that is, 8 lbs. to each association frame of bees. 'Mr.
John Peel's simplicity ' of management gives about eigh-
teen ounces of super honey, extracted I think he means,
to each of his sixteen frames, in each hive, viz., two cwt.
from twelve hives.

I keep my bees warm v\ ith quilts, and chaff cushions
in winter, and give them fresh water slightly salted

14

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[January 1, 1885.

twice a-week in spring. I know the bees like it, and the
Americans say it prevents diarrhoea. I put my supers on
in the middle of May, and keep them warm, too, with
coverlets, the roof-supers having drop on cosies, wadded
like tea cosies ; they are easily raised to see what is going
on, and look neat. All my hives had provisioned them-
selves so well for winter, they may want no feeding in
the spring.

Large hives to hold so many Syrian bees must be
rather difficult to manipulate unless made in the form of
a cross, viz., one square compartment in the middle
with twelve frames, and a similar compartment attached
to each of its four sides, rive roofs, and some spouting
would be required ; but if the bees could get themselves
into the central compartment for wintering, the outside
rooms might be filled witli chaff or other material after
inserting a division board, and each have a tube through
it for exit and entrance of bees. The loss of a queen
from such a hive at some seasons of the year would be
very serious ; I think on this account I would prefer a
ten or twelve-framed hive, and Ligurian or British bees,
but being a bar-framist of only three summers, I shall be
very grateful for any reliable information. — Bees-
wing.

SINGLE v. DOUBLE WALLED HIVES.

Perhaps the following may be of interest respecting
this question. About the latter end of May an ordinary
swarm of bees vagrant were found clustered under the
projecting end of a fixed stand in a gentleman's garden
in this neighbourhood, on which were two unoccupied
bar-frame hives, both filled with combs, one of which
was placed over them, but they would not take posses-
sion, and so they remained until 'the 16th of July, when it
was decided to destroy them. I heard of them on that
date and got permission to take them, which I did on the
16th. Weight of bees 7 lbs., the combs measuring
18 x 14, with brood in all stages to the very edges, the
nights for a fortnight previous being very cold, also a
scarcity of honey. I forgot to say the stand was under
an open shed facing north. — G. A. Wanstall, North-
bourne, Dial.

IRON FRAME FOR MAKING INSIDE OF
HIVES.
Having seen a good deal about hive-making in the
B. B. Journal lately, I send you a pattern of an iron
frame for making the inside of hives, and for making
frames in. You will observe that the outside measures
14ix8§ in. : this I use for making the inside of hive;
and the inside of iron frame measures 14 x 8| in.; this I
use for making the frames in. There will then be left a
\ in. space around the frames for the bees. I keep the
sides in their place for nailing to top bar (mine are 16 in.
long) with two pieces of wood cut wedge shape, so as to
keep them tight. In making the frames I place the iron
in a strong wood block so that it shall stand the strain
of the wedges. I have several hives of different sizes, so
have altered them to take the Standard frame, and have
found the iron very useful. By using it I get every
hive and frame one size, so as to be interchangeable. If
you think the idea is of any service to the readers of
B. B. J. you can use it. — J. 1'., Kingsbridge, South
Devon.

A YOUNG BEE-KEEPER'S EXPERIENCE.

Now that we are past the hurry and bustle of this
long-to-be-remembered honey- season, perhaps you would
indulge me as a young bee-keeper and a reader of your
valuable Journal with a corner of space while. I give
your readers an account of my experience and a snort
sketch of my previous bee-keeping history. It is five
years ago since I owned my first swarm, but lost it in

six months. Three years ago I got another one, and its
progeny managed to keep alive till this spring, when the
hive lost the queen. But I got a top swarm from my
father, and put it in amongst the few remaining bees,
and they did fairly well. In the spring I began my
practical experience amongst them, assisted in taking
three artificial swarms, and transferred two swarms
from bar-frames to straw skeps. About the end of July,
when my father was at the Caledonian Apiarian Show,
I drove the bees from a wooden hive into a straw skep
without any assistance. This I accomplished to his satis-
faction, and got the swarm to myself. About the middle
of August my father was unfortunate enough to get his
left leg broken, so I was left in charge of the stock, and
had to do the best I could with my slender experience.
On the Gth of September I began to remove the supers
from the top swarms, and made a fair beginning, by
taking 10 lbs. of super-honey from my own swarm ; on
the 8th I took 20 lbs. of super honey from one of
my father's swarms ; on the 10th I drove the bees from
my own hive, and put them into the one I got in July ;
on the 11th I took 4 lbs. of super-honey off another hive;
on the 12th I drove the bees from another hive ; on the 10th
I took 15 lbs. of super-honey from a Corelian [?] hive ;
and on the 18th I drove them into another hive ; on the
20th one of the hives we were to winter was rather
heavy, so I drove the bees out of it and had about 20
lbs. of comb cut out. This finished my first year's work,
heartily tired of it, but ready to do the same again,
and, no doubt, would be able to do it better. Except a
few stings on the hands, I came off pretty straight, but,
of course, the Corelians (P) distinguished themselves in
that line, as they do in honey gathering, so they are to
be excused.

Now, Mr. Editor, you are always impressing on your
readers the benefits they would derive from driving-
bees, and if they cannot do it themselves to get an
expert to help. Now, what i3 to prevent any one from
driving his own bees ? Your experts should make the
bee-keepers drive them under their directions, and if they
would put ' a stout heart to a stiff brae,' as says an old
Scotch proverb, they would soon be able to do it them-
selves. As a reward for my services, I had handed over
to me a swarm, fit to keep itself all winter, and I picked
up a hive of blacks and fed them, so I have three swarms
wintering.— James C. Abmsihong, South Alloa.

JUDGING AT SHOWS, &e.
I have been much puzzled to find out the rules
judges are guided by in making their awards at seme of
the bee shows, that I think it is high time that strict
rules should be drawn up for the guidance of judges,
exhibitors, and the public. We frequently hear of dis-
satisfaction, and well there may be, judging from the
following, which came under my own personal know-
ledge. A schedule said ' For the best stock of bees of
any race, to be exhibited living with their queen in
Observatory hives.' Now I was under the impression
that, under such a wording, the bees had to be of a pure
race, and that the queen had to be their own metier.
Yet in this case the first prize went to a quee?iless lot,
consisting of mixed cress-bred Italians and blacks, and
the second prize to a lot of cross-breds. Inespective of
this, I should like to know what should constitute a
' best stocic'

Again, in the class for hives, a hive was shown double-
walled, nicely planed, nail-holes well puttied, and all
well sand-papered, with crate of twenty-one 1-lb. sec-
tions— in fact, all except stand, quilt, and painting. I
could not see how any hive-maker could execute orders
like sample for the price ; yet the construction was so
' faulty ;' the quilt would not be able to enclose the heat
I of the hive as to save metal runners, the deal hive-sides
I had been planed up like the edge of a turning tool, so

January 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

15

that when any weight got in the frames the tops of
hive-sides would split off, letting frames into bottom of
hive, crushing bees, and filling their owner with disgust,
who trusted to the judgment of the ' judge ' for its beiug
the right tiling. Yet this hive took the first prize for
the best frame-hive at 10*. 6d.

I think the utility of all bee-furniture should occupy
the essential place, appearance second, and price third,
instead of the converse, as at present, and that every
hive or appliance taking a prize should be impounded as
a means of reference, to see if the maker is turning his
orders out equal to it.

Also, what constitutes the best honey ? Of course
stiffness is one consideration and flavour another, but
such are the variations in people's palates regarding
taste that if fifty different kinds of honej were put up,
and as man; people set to award a first prize on taste
alone, I venture to think nearly every sample would get
favoured. If lightness of colour is to be a point, rich-
fiavoured sycamore honey woidd have no chance. Ought
there not to be classes for sycamore, clover, lime, and
heather honey ? I think I would exclude ' blackberry '
honey, which looks the worst I know of either in ita
liquid or granulated state, and is therefore hardly fit for
shows.' — John Hewitt, Sheffield.

AN INTERESTING DISCOVERY.

Every bee-keeper knows that bees in old hives are
often plagued by lice (Braula cava), but many will
doubt that they are also liable to the itch, yet so it is.
Mr. frapp, Inspector of Slaughterhouses at Strassburg,
has discovered on a bee a species of acarus, which very
closely resembles the itch acarus of man (Sarcqptes
hominis, or Acarus scabiei). The parasite was examined
most, carefully by Mr. Crapp, in conjunction with the
celebrated entomologist, Professor Oscar Schmidt, and
drawings were taken of it, highly magnified. About
fifty or sixty individual parasites were attached to one
side of the bee's head, where they formed a little grey
patch. — Dennler, Editor of the 'Alsatian Bee Journal.'

Mr. Otto Ilehner, who has kindly translated the pre-
ceding paragraph, has added the following —

Note. — Until by physiological experiment, by inocula-
tion, the identity of the above-mentioned parasite with
that producing itch in man is positively established, it
appears desirable to withhold definite judgment. Simi-
larity in form by no means implies identity. — Otto
Heuner.

THE HOARY LIME.

I would like to draw the attention of your readers to
the importance of the Hoary Lime (Tilia jiubescens) as a
bee flower. It blows from four to five weeks after the
common lime {Tilia grandifolid), at a time when the
honey harvest is ceasing for those who are not near
heather. It is a handsome tree, and is covered with
most sweetly smelling blossoms. It has, I believe, been
introduced into this country from North America, and
grows freely in this climate. — Geo. Geeer.

ARE WASPS INJURIOUS TO BEES OR NOT ?

The following extract is from a Scotch paper of last
year, and refers to the East of Scotland Bee-keepers'
Show : —

' Wasps are far from popular, and yet the wasp byke
located in an ordinary straw-skep, for which Mr. James
Glen, Arbroath, has gained a special prize, is evidently
drawing the greatest amount of attention. Mr. Glen
took the nest, or byke, when it was but the size of a
bantam's ecrg, and placed it in an empty skep, where it
has now got to bo 27 inches in circumference, with a

community of several hundred wasps. The byke, with
protecting glass on the bottom or floor of the skep is
turned up, and as a side of the byke is cut open the
visitors have ample opportunity of seeing these irritable
and dangerous creatures busy in their curious domain.
The process of hatching the eggs can be seen. Mr.
Angus Cameron, who for two years was Queen's Prize-
man at Wimbledon, one of the Judges at the Show,
entertains a high respect for the despised wasps. He
has one of their bykes on the top of one of his own hives
at Blair Athole. He never kills wasps. They to him,
and others too, are esteemed as useful members of the
great community of nature. They eat grubs, insects, and
caterpillars. Living on refuse, they enter unchallenged
into the hives of honey-bees, clear the place of all refuse
and litter, and are therefore excellent scavengers.'

Is this so !J Many of the books on bee-keeping say,
Kill all the wasps possible, as they are very destructive
to bees. — O'S.

ANOTHER OF THE 'AUTHORITIES.'

May not the following extract from the 1'honetic
Journal of 4th October, 1884, be considered a parallel
to the article in your Journal of loth December, copied
from the Graphic, under the head of ' Editorial
Ignorance ? ' — I.

' " This is quite a treat to me, I must say," said she to
Mr. Leslie, " lor I have not had the chance to see bees at
work in glass hives." Mr. Leslie then said, "I know the
queen of each hive, who will come to me when I call her ;
and you shall see one of them if you please." Then she
gave a call which the bees of the hive they had their eyes on
knew, and a large bee soon came on her hand, and soon she
was spread from head to foot with bees. She then threw
up her hand, on which the queen flew off in great state
with her guards round her and the rest in the rear.' —
Page 474, 1'honetic Journal.

BEE FLOWERS.
Mr. Dobbie in the Dceember number of the Bee Journal
stated, ' In late volumes of the British Bee Journal and
other works on bee-culture, I do not find the common
broom and the bird-cherry mentioned as members of the
bee-flora.' Thinking that so common a plant as the
broom and the cherry could not have escaped the notice
of some of the more recent observers, I turned to the
first bee-book that came to hand, viz., Langstroth. On
page 208 the broom and the cherry are both noticed,
although not described in botanical language. I take it
to mean the whole genera. Pollen is by no means a
scarce article in the average of seasons in the month of
May, as bush fruits and many of our garden trees and
fruits are blooming. From observation I find in my
garden the Myrobella plum used for hedges, one of the
earliest trees to flower, standing out in the open without
an}- protection or shelter. Last year it was in bloom
the same time as the crocus. As early-spring blooming-
plants to supply bees with pollen, I do not think there is
anything to surpass the following, — viz., Crocus, White
arabis, Limnanthes Douglasii, and Wallflowers. The
three last named are to be obtained almost anywhere at
a cheap rate, and their great recommendation is that
they come speedily into flower, grow close to the ground,
and can be cleared away to make room for something
else. I do not think in the majority of country places
that there is any necessity to plant or specially care for
pollen-bearing plants in May ; there is generally enough
and to spare of that article at that season. — North
Norfolk.

Fertilisation op Flowers. — Dr.E.LewisSturtevant
says : ' Our bean crop is dependent in a greater or less
measure upon other agencies than the fertility of the soil
or the character of seed used. It mav seem curious at

1G

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[January I, 1885.

first that our farm crops should depend upon such small
agencies as insects, and yet without insects to carry the
pollen from flower to flower, in some species of plant we
would have no seed produced. A true list of insects
beneficial to vegetation should include in addition to
those which are destructive to injurious insects, those
also which are beneficial to the plant. The scarlet runner
bean is an excellent illustration of our remarks. This
bean never seems to produce seed except when the
flowers are cross-fe -tilised ; and in Nicaragua, where in-
sects of the proper kind do not exist, this plant is said to
be sterile. If there were no insects to convey the pollen
from flower to flower, this species might be as sterile in
our northern localities. The bumble-bee, however,
frequents these flowers, and in seeking the nectar brings
its head in contact with the pollen, which adhering to it
is conveyed to the next flower visited, and is brought in
contact with the pistil.' He also advises ' the bean-grower
on a large scale, to keep a colony of Italian bees in the
vicinity of his fields, for the purpose of effecting the
cross-fertilisation of the flowers, and thus adding increase
to his crop upon the possibility that these bees might
be effective for this purpose.' — American Bee Journal.

Bees as Feutilisebs of Flowers. — In fructifying
the various flowers bees act as Nature's marriage-priests,
and present us with a field of study as boundless as the
gorgeous realm of Nature's bloom. But for the oft-
repeated visits of the bees many a beautiful flower would
in a short time cease to bloom — aye, and also to live !
Many plants absolutely require the visits of bees or other
insects to remove their pollen-masses, and thus to fertilize
them. Hence, Darwin wisely remarks, when speaking
of clover and heart's-ease : 'No bees, no seed; no seed,
no increase of the flower. The more visits from the bees
the more seeds from the flower; the more seeds from the
flower the more flowers from the seeds.' Darwin
mentions the following experiment: ' Twenty heads of
white clover, visited b)r bees, produced 2900 seeds ; while
twenty heads, so protected that bees could not visit them,
produced not one teed.' Professor Beal, of the Michigan
Agricultural College, has been conducting experiments
for the past six years with bumble-bees and red clover.
The sixth experiment, during 1882, he describes as fol-
lows : Two fine bunches of the first clover crop, apparently
alike, were both covered with mosquito netting. No
insects were seen about either, except what are mentioned
below. On June 29 a bumble-bee was placed inside of
one netting and seen to work on the flowers; July 10,
two more were introduced and seen to work, and on the
12th more were put in and observed. On July ill fifty
ripe heads were selected from each plant and the seeds
carefully counted. The fifty heads on the plants where
bees were excluded yielded twenty-five seeds. The fifty
heads on the plant where the bumble-bees were inserted
under the muslin and seen to work yielded ninety-two
seeds. This is nearly four times as many as were pro-
duced by heads where the bees were excluded. In all
instances, the heads were seen to be unopened when they
were covered with muslin or paper sacks. In the last
experiment as well as in the others, perhaps the bees did
not visit all the flowers. Insects, even in the most
favourable seasons, are not alwaj'S to be relied on to
transfer pollen enough to fertilise all the pistils. Pro-
fessor W. W. Tracy has found in several seasons, where
he has raised Hubbard squashes on a large scale, that he
increased his crop of fruit quite largely by artificially
transferring pollen with his own hand, every day or two,
during flowering. To see how the uncovered heads of
red clover from different plants varied in the number of
seeds produced, I selected fifty heads from five plants
near each other, where each had plenty of room. This
was the second crop of clover. Fifty heads from each
plant yielded as follows: 12G0, 1275, 14(30, 1485, 1820
seeds respectively. In another place, fifty heads yielded
2290 seeds, or nearly twice as many as plant number one

\ in the lots just above noticed. It is a fair conclusion that
bumble-bees are of considerable value in fertilising th«
flowers of rod clover.

Tits and Fly-catcheiis. — The Kev. C. S. Millard
! CastockReetory, Notts, writes: — 'I am sorry to see that,
your correspondent, H. F. Hills, advocates shooting fly-
catchers, some of the most useful and interesting biros
I we have. Is he quite sure that he has not mistaken
friends for foeB 't My own experience would lead me to
think so. We have many llj-catchers here, but only
once or perhaps twice have I seen them paying attention
to my bees. On one occasion I was much concerned to
see one perched on one of my hives, then darting every
minute or so to the door of the hive, and carrying on
one of my bees to feed a young one which sat on a high
wall at the back of the hives. I neither shot nor threw
stones at them, but watched. Presently the young bird
flew to the ground with the bee its mother had just
given it, and 1 ran up before it had time to swallow a
fat drone that was struggling on the ground. If it was
only drones they were killing they were quite welcome
to them, and I am inclined to think this was the case as
the old bird seemed to single out her prey. A drone
would be a much safer mouthful thau a worker-bee. I
have never seen tits at my beehive, but one of my
parishioners tells me he has watched them tapping at
the hive door and killing the bee that answered the knock.'

Stbange, if true. — A gentleman, whose veracity I
could not doubt, told me the following story ; but
although I could not disbelieve him, the occurrence
seems so strange that I must confess I am so incredulous
that I would like to see it before believing. — A gentle-
man, whom I well knew, and who had a magnificent
mansion and demesne near Cork, was at the time re-
siding temporarily on the Continent, and one of his
tenants from the county Limerick came to his place in
Cork, when the gardener told him that an extraordinary
occurrence had taken place on that day — that the bees
in every hive belonging to his master had come out, and
as one swarm had flown several times round the garden,
eventually clustering on some climbing plants which
formed an arbour over a seat on which his master usually
sat, and after remaining there some time, again rose and.
returned to their respective hives. The tenant told him
that the same thing occurred in Limerick on the death
of a lady bee-keeper; and that when sufficient time had
elapsed to enable him to hear respecting his master, he
would find that he had died on that day ; and it turned
out as the tenant had piedicted. It may be consoling to
some bee-keepers to think that their pets who provide
them with sweets during life mourn for them when they
die. — Boz, Cork.

A Swaiim OF Bees in a Chimney. — A correspondent
writes from from Ohatteiis, Cambridgeshire, to the effect
that a swarm of bees, which had been in a chimney for
vears at a farmstead near Chatteris, in the occupation of
Mr. J. O. Smith, was successfully driven, and the enor-
mous quantity of 187 lbs. of honey taken. Some of the
combs were '■'> ft. G ins. long by 15^ ins. wide.

"Wasps' Nest. — A strong wasps' nest was taken in
these grounds on Thursday, Oct. 30tk. I suppose it is
only another of the many proofs of the extraordinary
mildness of the season. — il. 10. P., Shedfield Jluuae.
Botley, Hants.

Stings and Bites. — An old woodsman of Australia,
who used to catch snakes for pastime, says that a raw
onion bruised and applied as sooa as possible to the
wound is a certain cure for the bite of all the venomous
serpents of that country, except the death-adder, which
he admits is so poisonous, and its poison is so quick in
acting, that there is no known remedy for it. That the
onion is a specific for the sting of poisonous insects of all
kinds, has long been known to the writer of this paragraph

January 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

17

who, when a boy, invariably carried one Oh expeditions
with companions against hornets' nest?, etc. It was
found that the application of onion juice would instantly
allay the pain caused by the stinging of hornets, yellow-
jacketSj wasps, Lees, etc. — Washington Star.

Bees and their Work. — A lecture was given on
Tuesday evening, in the Young- Men's Christian Asso-
ciation Room, Hertford, on 'Bees and their work,' by Mr.
J. P. Satnbels, of Cole Green. The lecturer, by the aid
of some diagrams, published by the British Bee-keepers'
Association, pointed out and explained the several parts
of the bee, both externally and internally, and the uses
for which each was so beautifully adapted — showing
the general structure, the respiration, nervous, and
muscular systems, the bodily functions and secretions ;
and then went on to describe the production of queen,
worker, and drone bees, with the cells, cell-rooms, and
contrivances for strength, &c. After which the lecturer
showed from the diagrams and four fresh specimens the
means the Creator has provided for bees to be the
fertilisers of the flowers that grow around us, so that
fruit shall be produced by the agency of the bees, and
that no flowers are capable of self-fertilisation. He then
noted that bees are subject to several diseases, such as
foul brood, &c, and referred to specimens on the table
of queens, cells, grubs in situ, queen-bees and other
objects, provided by Mr. R. T. Andrews.

Bees in a Fir-tree in the New Forest. — On the
19th of November in the New Forest near Ringwood, a
nest of bees was discovered in a fir-tree. There were
four combs of beautiful white wax on a branch. The
branch was about half-way up the tree, and the tree
was a young one. The branch was cut down, and three
of the combs snapped off. The two centre combs were
covered with bees in the centre ; on either side both in the
cells and outside : but all appeared dead. There was no
royal cell attached to the combs, and the two outside
combs had very few bees on them, and were white and
very clean. The two inside combs were brown, but
there were no eggs, or grubs, or }Toung bees visible
anywhere, only working bees. The bees were stiff and
immovable, but after an hour in a warm room they
suddenly revived, and crawled out of the cells. — G. S. L.

Cure of Foul Brood by Phenol. — W. .T. Williams,
Beechen Cliff, Bath, in a letter to Mr. Cheshire, says :
' I was surprised to see how quickly the disease dis-
appeared, and with the lot that had it worse than the
others (a stock that I formed from the others), and of
which, perhaps, I took a little more care when I put
them into winter quarters (about 20th October), I had
a nice patch of healthy-looking brood in all stages.
Allow me to return you my hearty thanks for making
known such a remedy, and for the trouble you have
taken in the scientific researches you are making.'

Microscopical SoirIe. — Through the kindness of
Mr. F. Cheshire, I was able to show at our microscopical
soiree last week some of his slides of Bacillus alvei,
and also some of the comparative anatomy of the
queen, worker, and drone-bees. They not only evoked
admiration, but also, I feel sure, an interest which must
be healthful; and I venture to think that the same
mig;ht be done in other countrv towns when similar
gatherings occur.— Fredk. Row, Braintree.

REVIEW.

In the series ' Books for Young Readers,' G. Bell &
Sons, of Covent Garden, have issued a book (Tot and
the Cat), containing, amongst other interesting tales,
one on Mrs. Bee, told in simple language. It is a capital
book to put into the hands of our little ones in the
various country schools as a reading-book. The habits of
the bee, which are in accordance with our most recent
knowledge, are narrated in an interesting and amusing
manner calculated to hold the attention of children.

dBdjacs front tj)c Jpbcs.

South Cornwall, Dec. 24. — Quietness has for some time
reigned in the apiary, and there have been but few sounds
to echo. We have mostly wintered' well in this neigh-
bourhood, but there have been, as elsewhere, several
instances of queenless hives, about some of which I have
been consulted when it was too late to do anything. Ivy
has been wonderfully attractive to the bees this past
season, and they have visited it down to the middle of
this month, excepting only during two or three brief
spells of cold in November. And a pretty sight has been
a dense mass of it on the top of a wall, the rich foliage
supporting hundreds of delicate pyramidal spikes, many
of them having no less than eight lateral umbels. Anent
the fly-catchers. If those that perch on one of my bee-
houses every year do not catch bees it is not for want of
trying. But what of that? They must live, doubtless,
though some — like Sj'dney Smith in another case — may
not see the necessity. Besides, if every living thing that
killed another were to be killed in return there would be
nothing left to settle with man, the great destroyer of
all. We have birds in our gardens tiiat are far worse
enemies than the fly-catchers. — C. R. S.

Langrick, 27th Dec. — What a fine seasonable winter
we are having, and the bees I think are doing very well !
My home apiary, fifty hives, and Anwick, thirty hives,
are all alive so far, the latter stronger than the home one.
— 1!. Thorpe.

Co. Cork, Dec. 26. — Bees all snug in winter quarters
long since, having accumulated much stores off ivy,
working almost continuously on it from Sept. 11 to Nov.
1, with the exception of about ten days, when we had
frost and severe weather. — John J. Smyth.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS

Busy Bee. — 1. Removing Winter Packing. — Do not
remove your winter packing before March. After
that time the hives will require no extra covering. 2.
Entrances to Hives. — Your bees require more air.
The entrance through the inside dummy should be
6 inches wide by § inch deep. Ventilation is im-
portant, and the entrance should be kept clear of dead
bees and refuse. Some colonies, however, are more
active than others during the winter months, and in
your case it is no bad sign. 3. Spreading Brood. — If
brood is spread at all it should not be done too early,
but the time must depend on the strength of the
colony and the weather ; except in the hands of an
expert it is a dangerous operation, and, to the in-
experienced, we decidedly say ' don't.' The constant
disturbance of the bees, at a critical period, often
causes more injury than advantage. See Cowan, p.
101. 4. Stimulation. — Stimulation at spring must
also be used with care and judgment, much depending
on the weather and the strength of the colony.
When cold winds and frosty nights prevail it is often
injurious. In these matters, practice and experience
alone can decide the proper course, as no general rule
can be laid down for all cases. A bottle-feeder, by
which the supply of food can be increased or
diminished at pleasure, is best for stimulating. See
Cowan, p. 95.

Delta. — It would be preferable to move the hives in
the spring the distance mentioned.

C. R. S. — Spreading the Brood. — Mr. Cowan in his
Guide-book advocates spreading the brood, but recom-
mends that it should be done with great caution. We
desire to endorse Mr. Cowan's wise counsels; especially
should they be borne in remembrance by all young
bee-keepers. See Reply to ' Busy Bee ' (S).

18

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[January 1, 1885.

I

A Herts Bee-keeper. — Sealed Honey. — Sealed honey
is most unlikely — we might almost say impossible — to
acquire any flavour which it did not possess before
sealing-. It is probable, therefore, that the bees of
that particular hive had found and worked upon some
flowers giving; honey of disagreeable flavour while
filling the super. There is an alternative suggested
by your words ' almost ' perfectly sealed. The honey
in the unsealed cells may have fermented, and if eaten
with other parts of the super would spoil the flavour of
the whole. Your method of keeping- it seems as good
as possible to adopt.

L. Brown. — 1. Flour-board. — There is no advantage in
having floor-boards double and packed, as the bees do
not cluster in contact with them, and they add to the
cost of the hives. 2. Dry Sugar. — Dry-sugar feeding-
offers many advantages over liquid syrup, and is well
worth a more extended trial than it has at present had.
Do not forget that bees cannot utilise ' dry ' sugar.
They must have water, whicli is most readily supplied
in spring by placing a small piece of tin over the
frames, on to which the vapour of the hive may
condense.

A. Clark. — Section?. — The all-in-one piece V-cut sections
are the best ; they are as easy to glaze as any, provided,
of course, separators have been used to prevent bulging
of combs.

R. E. C. — The objections you name no doubt suggested
themselves to the Committee on Sections. The
4 x 4i would not fit a standard frame, 4j x 3 being
l.'U, while the frames being 14 inches outside would,
unless made of too thin stuff, be less than 13J inside.
As to your objection to the vertical height of two tiers
of sections being equal to (not greater than as you
say) the hive side, the bottom bar of the section-
frames may rest on the floor, and the top bar be
disestablished altogether, the sides being hinged to the
bottom bar, and held together by the excluder, or by a
strip of tin along the top. Frames on this principle
have been exhibited scores of times, and are to be had
of all hive-makers. 2. Reply in our next.

Boz.— See reply to ' II. E. ( '.'

A Lady, Rostrevor. — Grass, weeds, or growing crops in
front of hives, under the entrances, are very bad, and
lead to great loss of bee life. Unless you can sacrifice
that part of your lawn on which the hives stand, and
lay it down in gravel or ashes, or move the hives so
that for a few feet in front of them there is gravel, or
at any rate, not vegetation ; you can only palliate the
evil by keeping the grass short. 18 inches is too high
for the stands. Reduce them to 8 inches, and provide
alighting boards of perforated zinc sloping down to
and resting on the grass. Side slips used to be recom-
mended when tin- bees were wintered in single-walled
hives and on all their combs: but now they are
wintered crowded together, and in warm double-walled
hives they are not so necessary. If you use them, and
so prevent the bees getting from comb to comb round
the ends of the frames, you must provide winter
passages for them.

Andrew Buchan. — Space between Upper and Lower
Frames. — 1. The usual space allowed between the
upper and lower frames is ] -inch, but some allow § inch.
We prefer the former, because it prevents propolisa-
tion, and does nut induce to comb-building between
the frames, whereas the wider space does occasionally.
2. The spaces in tin- zinc diaphragm excluder, in
common use now. in almost all hives, will prevent a
full-sized laying queen from passing through, but not
unfertilised young queens about .;\ inch.

Edward Crisp — Queen Introduction. — Certainly, Let

your five stocks remain as they are until spring, giving

food
quilt

3d, if required, in the shape of candv under the
u..ilts, until the end of February. We advise you to
work these colonies in their present form through the
summer, and introduce Italian queens, if you then feel
disposed, towards the autumn. The price of imported
queens in the spring is double of that in the autumn.
It is, however, easier to introduce queens at swarming
time than at any other. Your proposed plan might
accomplish the end you propose ; but seasons vary so
much in this climate that you will find the increase in
the number of bees sometimes twice as great as at
others. And the same may be said of ' tendency to
swarm,' 'income of honey," &c. So that no hard 'and
fast line can be laid down.

Thos. Isaac, L. Wren, and others.— Queen Intro-
duction.— If there is any fresh evidence to be offered
on this subject, we shall have much pleasure in giving
it insertion.

B. L. Cherry.— Removing Hires Thirty Miles. — 1. If
at any part of the journey the cart has to go over
rough ground, let the combs be parallel to the axle.
Let the hives rest upon a thick bed of straw. 2. Fix
the frames so that they cannot swing, by screwing
strips of wood across the whole, and cover the whole
of the tops of the hives with perforated zinc or canvas.
•'i. As early as possible. Before the combs become
heavy with brood and honey will be better than
later.

A. B. — In the month of June, bees losing their queens
would raise another ; and the probability is that, even
if there were no drones in the hive, she would find her
mate from hives in the vicinity.

J. J. Smith. — Sparrows occasionally eat bees.

Erratum.— In Mr. Simmins' letter on the ' Width of Sec-
tions,' p. 438, nine lines from bottom, for 'American 4J by
4J,' read ' American 4£ by 4.J.'

TIHIIE

CHESHIRE CURE FOR FOUL BROOD

Is Prepared for Mr. Cheshire,
under his Personal Guarantee, by

3WKS&. 3L. TK" O Iff,
94 HARLEYFORD ROAD, LONDON", S.E.,

WHO WILL SUPPLY IT,
ACCOMPANIED BY' FULL DIRECTIONS FOR USB.

Price Is. 6d. per Bottle, postage 2hd.

PHENOLATED SOAP

Contains 15 per cent. Absolute Phenol, specially
prepared for Disinfecting Hives.

Price 6d. per Tablet, pontage '2d.

A liberal discount for quantities of one dozen and upwards
to Secretaries of County Associations and to Dealers.

1333^

Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stkangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c.'

[No. 16-2. Vol. XIII.]

JANUARY 15, 1885.

[Published Foutnightly.]

fflbxtaxml, Maxim, &t.

SUGAR FOR BEE-FEEDING.
There are constant questions on this subject in
the Journal, which show that much uncertainty
prevails upon the best sugar for bee-feeding, and a
Few remarks upon it may therefore be useful.

Sugar for table use may be roughly divided into
the two main classes of raw and refined, and the
latter is, of course, chiefly prepared from the
former, though white sugar is now sometimes
made direct from the cane or the beet-root. Both
■the manufacture and the refining are intricate
chemical processes, and the important thing, so far
as bee-feeding is concerned, is to get a sugar
which is as far as possible free from any chemicals
or their results, as well as from the dyes which are
freely used to make sugar bright yellow or snow-
white. Arranged in order of merit for bee-feeding,
various sugars might probably rank as follows : —
Raw sugars (uncrystallised),

Porto Rico.

Barbados, Jamaica, &c.
Refined,

Pearl Sugar (Duncan's),

Small White Crystals.
Raw sugar in crystals, such as Demerara, ic. &c,
is often dyed with sulphurous acid and with
stannous oxide. Loaf sugar in all its forms, in-
cluding in many cases Dutch and other crushed,
contains more or less ultramarine, which is akin to
washing blue ; it is also more costly than other
sugars, and presents no advantage whatever for bee-
feeding. All white, whitish, yellow, or brown soft
refined sugars, known in the trade as Centrifugals,
Pieces, Greenock crushed, <fcc., should be studiously
avoided, for they are really the refuse of the refineries
and contain a quantity of salts, water, and foreign
matter. Only small, white, dry crystals should be
accepted from the refineries. The names of the
various makers are unimportant to the bee-keeper,
for whether crystals are made by Messrs. Duncan,
Lyle, Tate, or Schwartz in London, or by Crosfields
or Macfies in Liverpool, matters little. Let the bee-
keeper seek a bright, white, dry sugar with a distinct,
sparkling grain. Duncan's ' Pearl ' is a new sort of
sugar, like the granulated which is much used in
America. It is white, and has a dry small grain. It
is also to be had in seven-pound bags bearing the

maker's name, which is important, as there is no-
thing which traders so freely misrepresent as sugar.
Unless the Porto Rico, or other soft raw sugars
offered in the shops, can be relied on as true to
their names, either this Pearl or Refiners' Small
White Crystals should be chosen. Probably soft
raw sugar is really the best food for bees where it
can be got, for being made in a primitive way
modern chemicals are not used in it.

Starch or grape sugars are formed by the action
of acids on starch or cane sugars, and the acids are
afterwards supposed to be neutralised or removed.
Here, again, chemicals and their results are to be
dreaded and avoided. It might be thought that
as invert or glucose sugars (which are other names
for starch or grape sugars) are uncrystallisable,
that a certain amount of trouble would be saved to
the bee-keeper by their use ; but as they vary im-
mensely in their constituents, the greatest caution
should be exercised by bee-keepers in using them
for bees.

In the above remarks so much has been said of
chemicals that it may be thought that sugars in
the preparation of which they have been used may
be injurious for human use, but that would be far
too wide a conclusion to be drawn. In the first
place, human beings do not live on sugar, like our
bees at certain times ; nor do they store it up in
cells to last over the winter, as the latter do. A
large proportion of acids and dyes would be per-
fectly innocuous in the one case, and yet might be
very injurious in the other. As a matter of fact,
the proportion of these foreign matters is in any
case infinitesimally small. Nor, indeed, is it by
any means proved that they would be injurious
even to bees. All that the bee-keeper wants is to
secure as pure a form of sugar as possible, so as to
avoid any possible risk.

In conclusion, there is a good deal of absolutely
unfounded talk just now as to the inferiority of
beet to cane sugars, when as a matter of fact they
are absolutely identical in the dry refined form.
No one would think of feeding bees or men on raw
beet sugars, which, though handsome to look at,
are nauseous and malodorous in the extreme. If
beet reached the bee-keeper in the Pieces, Crushed
or Centrifugals of the trade, that is, in the refuse of
refining, it might be injurious from the salts and
dyes such sugars contain. But if the bee-keeper
buys his beet in Refiner's Pearl or Crystals, he
may rely upon it that it is equal to any cane sugar

20

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,

[January 15, 1885.

in the world. If, however, it is desired to avoid
beet altogether, there is nothing for it but to buy
open pah, or soft, Porto Ricos, Barbados, Jamaicas,
or other old-fashioned raw sugars ; or to run a
remote risk with sulphurous aeid or stannous oxide
— the ' doctor ' or the ' bloomer,' which give the
splendid yellow to Demeraras and other bright
grocery vacuum pan raw sugars.

GLUCOSE AND GRAPE SUGAR.

In the preceding article we have advised that
caution should be exercised in the using of glucose
or grape sugar in feeding bees. Glucose is a con-
stituent of the juice of grapes, and other sweet
fruits ; it also enters largely into the composition
of honey. When pure it is not unsuitable for bee-
food ; and if so used, it has been found desirable to
feed bees in the proportion of three of glucose to
one of syrup. In this proportion it has been found
to answer the purpose ; the bees take it freely, and
there are no signs of crystallisation. The American
bee-keepers, however, condemn its use, considering
that it causes dysentery.

The following digest of an American Govern-
mental Report on glucose will be found to contain
very valuable information respecting it.

On April 27, 1882, the Hon. Green B. Raum,
Commissioner of Internal Revenue of the United
States, addressed a letter to Prof. W. B. Rogers, at
that time President of the National Academy of
Sciences.

The National Academy of Sciences is a body
incorporated by Act of Congress, approved March 3,
1863, and is composed of fifty members, comprising
those among the most eminent in every branch of
science and of art. The Academy is a government
institution, and its duty is, whenever called upon
to do so by any department of the government, to
investigate, examine, experiment, and report upon
any subject of science or of art that shall be sub-
mitted to it.

The Commissioner's letter specified that there
was then pending before Congress a Bill ' to tax
and regulate the manufacture and sale of glucose,'
which Bill proposed to so amend the internal
revenue laws as to impose a special tax upon the
manufacturers of and dealers in glucose, and to
levy a tax on the article in its solid, liquid, and
semi-liquid form ; and the Commissioner requested
the appointment of a committee of the Academy to
examine as to the composition, nature, and pro-
perties of glucose or grape sugar, and its saccharine
quality as compared with cane sugar or molasses ;
and also as to its deleterious effect when used as an
article of food or drink, or as a constituent element
of such articles.

The Academy accordingly appointed the follow-
ing eminent gentlemen from among their number
to make the desired investigation : — Chairman,
Prof. George F. Barker, of the University of
Pennsylvania ; Prof. William H. Brewer, of Yale
College ; Prof. Charles F. Chandler, of Columbia
College ; Prof. Wolcott Gibbs, of Harvard College ;
Prof. Ira Remsen, Johns Hopkins College, Md.

The report made by these gentlemen was volum-
inous and exhaustive, and gave in detail the
methods employed in making the examinations.
The following extracts will show the general results
attained, and prove how groundless have been the
charges against glucose and grape sugar manufac-
tured from corn, as to their healthfulness and
purity, &e.

The fourth question submitted to the committee
was: 'Is the use of "glucose" or "grape sugar"
injurious to health'?'

In reply to this the report states the results of
experiments made by Dr. J. R. Duggan, of the
Johns Hopkins University : ' The experiments oc-
cupied about two months, during which time Dr.
Duggan repeatedly took large quantities of the
extracts. At the end of the experiments, and
during the entire period, his health continued ex-
cellent. There was nothing whatever to indicate
that the extracts contained anything injurious to
the health, and the conclusion seems to be fully
justified that the samples examined by us, and
which we have every reason to believe were fair
average samples of the substances found in the
market, contained nothing objectionable from a
sanitary standpoint. ■ In the experiments the ex-
perimenter took into his system everything that
could possibly be objectionable contained in from
120 grains to 160 grains of the glucose or grape
sugar, i.e., from a quarter to a third of a pound.
It must be borne in mind further that the extract
which was taken into the stomach must have con-
tained any objectionable mineral, as well as organic
substances, present in the glucose employed.
Hence, the results seem to be final as regards the
injurious natures of glucose or grape sugar made
from maize.'

The committee conclude their report as follows :

'Summary and Conclusion. — The results which
have been obtained by the committee, and which
have been presented in the foregoing pages, may be
briefly summed up as follows : —

' First. — Starch sugar, as found in commerce, is
a mixture iu varying proportions of two sugars,
called dextrose and maltose, and of dextrine or
starch gum. Dextrose was discovered in grapes by
Lowitz in 1792, and was first prepared from starch
by Kirchoff in 1811. In 1819 Braconnot prepared
it from woody fibre. Maltose was first recognised
as a distinct sugar by Dubonnfaut in 1847, in the
product of the action of malt on starch ; no dex-
trose is thus produced, according to O'Sullivan. . .

'Fifth. — Starch sugar represents one distinct
class of sugars, as cane sugar does the other — the
former being obtained naturally from the grape, as
the latter is from the cane and the beet. Starch
sugar, which is a term chemically synonymous with
dextrose and glucose when pure, has about two-
thirds the sweetening power of cane sugar. By
the action of the dilute acids both cane sugar and
starch yield dextrose. In the case of starch, how-
ever, dextrose constitutes the sole final product. . .

' Seventh. — Of mineral or inorganic constituents,
the samples of starch sugar examined contained
only minute quantities. The total ash formed in.

January 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL

21

the "glucose" was only from 0'325 to 1-060 per
cent, and in the " grape sugars " onty from 0'335 to
0-750 per cent. No impurities, either organic or
inorganic in character, other than those mentioned,
were detected in any of the samples examined.

'Eighth. — The elaborate experiments upon the
fermentation of starch sugar would seem to be
final on the question of the healthfuluess — not only
of glucose itself, but also of the substances pro-
duced by the action of a ferment upon it. Large
quantities of a concentrated extract from the fer-
mentation, representing from one-third to one-half
a pound of starch sugar, were taken internally by
the experimenters, and this repeatedly, without the
slightest observable effect. This result rigidly
applied holds, of course, only for those sugars
which, like this, are made from the starch of Indian
corn or maize.

' In conclusion, then, the following facts appear
as the result of the present investigation : — ■

'First. — That the manufacture of sugar from
starch is a long-established industry, scientifically
valuable and commercially important.

' Second. — That the processes which it employs
at the present time are unobjectionable in their
character, and leave the product uncontaminated.

'Third. — That the starch sugar thus made and
sent into commerce is of exceptional purity and
uniformity of composition, and contains no injurious
substances. And

'Fourth. — That, though having at best only
about two-thirds of the sweetening power of cane
sugar, yet starch sugar is in no way inferior to
cane sugar in healthfulness, there being no evi-
dence before the committee that maize starch
sugar, either in its normal condition or fermented,
has any deleterious effect upon the system, even
when taken in large quantities.'

CHESHIRE FUND.

We have received towards the above fund a
subscription of 2s. 6d. from J. Rodham. This
gives a total of 321. 9«. The whole of the balance
has been handed to Mr. Cheshire and the fund is
now closed. We beg to tender our best thanks to
the contributors for their kind donations.

COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES.

We hope that County Bee-keepers' Associations,
at their Annual General Meetings, will not fail this
year to appoint Representatives to attend the
Quarterly Conferences with the Committee of the
B. B. K. A. We note that the first Conference
of the present year will take place on Wednesday,
January 28th.

BRITISH HONEY COMPANY.

We understand that good progress has been
made towards the formation of this Company.
Over twelve hundred shares have been taken
up since the first of January.

THE CULTIVATION AND PROPAGATION OF

THE MOST IMPORTANT HONEY AND

POLLEN-YIELDING PLANTS.

For the guidance of those who intend to grow
honey and pollen yielding plants in and around
their apiary the following cultural notes may not
be out of place at this season of the year.

The plants here mentioned are all of easy culture,
and have been proved to be indispensable to the
provident and thoughtful apiarian.

The subject of suitable bee-pasturage is one of
increasing importance, and will, I believe, in the
not-far distant future, assume features that are
little thought of at the present time.

Why, for instance, is the honey season over by
the middle of July 1 Is it not possible that a profit-
able income of honey may not be attained by ju-
diciously cultivating honey-yielding plants in quan-
tity for at least two months longer 1 After clover
•and lime have blossomed what a flowerless, and
consequently honeyless, appearance the fields and
hedges present ! The source of honey is indeed
meagre. I feel sure that all this loss of the profit-
able application of bee-industry might be obviated
and turned to good account by the cultivation of
suitable plants.

Alsike Clover {Trifolium hybridum). — This clover is
said to be a cross between the red and the white varie-
ties. It possesses in a marked degree the well-known
honey-secreting character of TrifoHum repens. The tube
also of the florets is so short that even the black bee finds
no difficulty in reaching the nectar. Alsike is a peren-
nial, and consequently does not flower (or very scantily)
until the second year. Sow on finely prepared soil in
March or April, at the rate of 4 lbs. to the acre, rake
fine the surface, and run a roller over to press the soil
firm. The first year it may be cut for hay, and by
judicious mowing may be made to bloom from June to
August of the second year.

Arabis alpina, known to bee-keepers as Arabis. — In
mild winters this species of Arabis is often to be seen
flowering in January. It is grown in gardens on rock-
work and for spring bedding. Shoots torn off the old
plant with a ' heel ' will easily strike root in ordinary
garden soil, giving shade for a few weeks if the weather
is hot and dry. The best time to strike the cuttings is
just after the plants have done flowering. When well
rooted transplant one foot apart each way. Arabis may
be also increased by sowing the seed, but this is a longer
process. Flowers in February and March.

Borage [Borago officinalis). — Borage is a very impor-
tant plant to the bee-keeper. It is of very easy culture,
and blooms uninterruptedly from April to November.
Bees are so fond of borage that I have known them
neglect hawthorn, lime, raspberry, See, to regale them-
selves iu the nectar that this well-known bee-plant
secretes, and this, too, not only at a certain time of the
day, but all day long, ' from morn till dewy eve.' Given
a moderately rich soil and a few successional sowings,
the bee-keeper will have abundance of borage blossom
all the summer through. The plants should have
plenty of room; two feet apart each way is not too
much. As it is a rather gross feeder, a good soaking of
manure water will assist the plant, especially in dry
weather. Its relative, the Bugloss (Ecltium vulgare).
has been recommended as honey-yielding, but during
my experience of it I never saw it visited by more than
half-a-dozen bees, though I admit that this fact is no
criterion that the plant does not secrete honey. Bees
know well where the best and largest flow of honey is

22

THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[January 15, 1885.

to be got, and no doubt the borage close by furnished
more and better sweets than the bugloss. "While on the
subject of bee preference I may be permitted to give
another instance. Two years ago a field of mustard
was in full flower near my apiary. At the same time I
noticed an unusual activity among my bee3, and con-
cluded the mustard was the cause of it ; but on examin-
ing the field very closely, I could not find a single bee to
visit the whole field of yellow blossoms. And later, and
quite by accident, I discovered that ivy was the source
of the honey and pollen they were bringing home.

Broom (Ci/tissus scoparius) is generally sown in
spring, either where it is intended to be grown or in
seed beds, and transplanted in the autumn or following
spring. It roots deep and flourishes on dry banks in
a sunny position and on light poor soils, especially on
limestone soils. Flowers in May and June.

Centaurea cyanus is an annual, and should be sown at
intervals from March to May. The earliest sowings will
flower in June, while the Llater sowings will prolong
the flowering period to September. If sown in August
and treated as a perennial, by transplanting the seed-
lings when large enough one foot apart, it will come
into bloom a month earlier than the spring-sown ones. —
H. Dobbib, Thickthorn, Norwich.

{To le continued.)

THE CHESHIRE HIVE.
In the Bee Department at the International
Health Exhibition, the Cheshire Hive was exhibited,
by Mr. W. Hollands, Harrison Rise, Croydon.

In giving a brief description of this hive, we think it
desirable to inform our readers that the Cheshire Hive of
the present pattern differs entirely from the former one
known by the same name (and for which, at the Crystal
Palace show in 1874, Mr. Cheshire obtained the first
prize), both in external appearance and internal arrange-
ment. In planning it the requirements of the bees and ease
of manipulation have been the principal objects in view,
cost having been entirely left out of the question ;
although on comparison it will be found to be cheaper
than many low-price hives in the market, as the first

cost includes many necessaries that would have to be
bought as extras in other hives. It is claimed that this
hive gives great convenience to the bee-keeper, at the same
time comfort and advantage to the bees. It provides for
general ease in manipulation, simplicity in queen-rearing,
and success in wintering. It contains twelve frames of
standard size,fitted with metal ends. The walls are double
thickness all round, with an interspace of one inch packed
firmly with cork-dust. Some years since Mr. Cheshire
conducted a series of careful experiments upon different
materials in order to test their powers of resisting cold,
and he then found cork-dust to give fourteen times as
much protection as dead air. These experiments have
led to the introduction of cork-dust by many makers.
The hive is perfectly elastic, as a dummy of careful
construction, also formed of cork-dust between two
layers of wood, admits of any number of frames being
used.

During winter, or indeed at all times when the super
is not on the hive, the frames have placed over them
first a quilt of Hessian, and then the chaff-tray, figure
f in the illustration. This tray has a bottom of Hessian,
and contains 3 inches deep of chaff, which gives the
bees most perfect protection.

If the stock using the flight-hole B require feeding, the
chaff-tray is turned round, when the feeder placed in
p will stand on the frames, and it should be noted that
by this arrangement the necessity for cutting holes in
the quilt is done away with, as all that is necessary is
to turn the corner of the quilt back

The rim of wood b gives great protection in manipu-
lating in windy weather. The roof a, of ornamental
form, is carefully covered with zinc, which is so arranged
that it is everywhere free, and cannot buckle or tear by
contraction or expansion, while leak is impossible. In-
deed the roof is so fitted that it is not only bee-proof,
but defies the entrance of earwigs, except those small
enough to pass through the perforated zinc at the venti-
lation holes. A chain stops the roof at a right angle,
so that it affords ample table room for necessary tools,
such as smoker, &c, while manipulating. When the
roof is shut the fastening h acts automatically, and
prevents the possibility of wind lifting it, while a pad-
lock may be added at the owner's discretion. The
porches are fitted with the simple but most effective
device known as the Cheshire anti-robbing porch. The
roof affords ample room for two tiers of section-boxes,
but then the chaff-tray must be removed ; but in using
one crate of sections only the chaff-tray would be placed
over it, having the effect of husbanding its heat at night.
The section rack contains twenty-one boxes, and the
separators are so divided that one line of boxes can be
manipulated independently of the others, and by the aid
of the new dummy sections the bees can be admitted to
one line of sections at a time — an advantage of immense
assistance to the honey raiser. Between the lines of
boxes, finger space is given, and by a neat arrangement
it is impossible to put in the boxes out of square.
The rack tits on the metal ends of the frames, so obviating
all piecing and trouble with bits of carpet or other like
annoyances.

For producing extracted honey a doubling box is recom-
mended, and for this the roof is made sufficiently deep.
This box has the bottom entirely of excluder zinc, with
bee space both above and below it, doing away with
propolisation, and by a neat arrangement any number of
frames from one to nine may be used at once without
losing heat, or having placed one frame of brood in the
doubling-box sections may be added, for which purpose,
and also for use in the body of the hive, a wide frame of
new and simple construction is provided.

The second porch is intended for queen-rearing on the
nucleus plan, and to do this without alteration in the
size of the frame is now found to be in all respects the
best, and in this hive it is made most simple. The stock

January 15, 1885.]

TIIE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

23

is divided by placing two frames of bees and brood behind
the dummy and turning the hive partly round.

This hive, made of thoroughly seasoned pine, protects
the bees from summer sun or winter frost , and is wintered
by simply reducing the number of frames as may seem
needful. It entirely obviates all need of carpeting, the
failure of the fit of which causes the loss of many stocks
during the severe frost, while the simplification and
increased tidiness makes the work of the operator both
less and more pleasant.

held on Feb. 11, under the Presidency of the Bareness
Burdett-Coutts, President of the Association.

IMITATION THE SINCEREST FLATTERY.

Table Fowls. — The statements made in the Rev.
W, J. Pope's letter a fortnight ago are such as I
can accept without hesitation, but it will not be by
letter-writing that the necessary change will be made.
Two or *hree years ago I advocated in the pages of
the Live Stock Journal the formation of a society
on the lines of the British Bee-keepers' Association,
with the object of dealing with the poultry question
from an economic point of view, gathering and tabu-
lating all details as to races, fecundity, suitability to
soils and districts, &e. But with the exception of Mr.
Pope and a lady no support was given to the proposal.
What we want is to deal sectionally with the farmers
and cottagers of this country, to have lectures and lessons
given in every village and country town ; and if clergy-
men and others with influence and education would do
what they can in their own districts, then we should soon
find a different state of affairs. A society like that sug-
gested might work through country branches, and, by
means of popular lectures, teach farmers, farmers' wives
and cottagers, not merely the best methods of rearing and
keeping fowls, and the best kinds to keep, but also how
to fatten, dress, and properly prepare them for the
market. An exhibition of dead poultry, such as can be
seen at Paris every year, or even like that at the Halles
Centrales every Saturday morning, would be a revelation
to English housekeepers, but there is no reason why it
should not be equalled here. If any readers of The
Agricultural Gazette can arrange to be in Paris and visit
the show which will open there on February 7th next,
they will witness a sight never to be forgotten, and one
which I hope may ere long be seen this side the Channel.
— Edward Brown.

Lecture on Bee-keeping. — A lecture on ' Bees and
Bee-keeping-,' illustrated with diagrams and models, was
delivered by Win. N. Griffin, Esq., hon. sec. of the
Devon and Exeter Bee-keepers' Association, on P'riday,
January Oth, at the St. John's School-room, Weymouth.
The chair was taken by the Rev. Canon Stephenson.
There was an appreciative audience and much interest
shown.

ASSOCIATIONS.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

Quarterly Conference of County Representatives at
105 Jermyn Street, on Wednesday 28th inst., the fol-
lowing subjects will bo discussed : —

(1.) The proposed rules for the guidance of Judges in
awarding Prizes to Honey.

(2.) The proposal for teaching practical Bee-keeping
in Schools as an elementary science.

(3.) The Collection of Statistics relating to the Honey
Industry.

The Annual General Meeting of the Members will be

WORCESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The annual general meeting of the above association
■will be held at the Guildhall, Worcester, on Wednesday,
January 23th. The chair will be taken by the Earl
Beauchamp, President of the Association, at 3 p.m.

CHESHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The Exhibition held at Northwich on 13th September
last, though favoured with fine weather, and a good
number of exhibits of excellent qnality, did not prove
such a financial success as was expected from its being
held in connexion with the Cheshire Agricultural Society.
Mr. Brean, of Manchester, officiated as judge, and
the principal prize-takers were Mr. Hewitt, High Leigh,
Mr. Cotterill, Bowdon, Mr. Franks, Bowdon, and Mr.
Cookson, Saudbich, in the open classes ; whilst foremost
in the cottagers' classes were Mr. Stocks, Winsford, Mr.
Hewitt, High Leigh, Mr. "Franks, Bowdon, and Mr.
Nicholson, Bowdon.

The Altrincham Exhibition has usually been the most
successful of the Association's Shows, owing, no doubt,
in great measure to the fact of its being the centre of the
district in which the Association commenced its labours
under the title of ' The Altrincham and Bowdon District
Bee-Keepers' Association,' afterwards changed to present
title at the instance of the B. B. K. A. The exhibition
there held on 26th September last fully carried out the
expectations raised by the income of the numerous entries
and quite eclipsed all preceding Shows in the three im-
portant factors to a successful show — of quality,
quantity, and finance. In various forms 1200 lbs.
weight" of honey was staged, varying in colour from
clear amber to nearly black, In class 10, for best exhi-
bition of from 12 to 30 lbs. of run or extracted honey in
1-lb. glass jars, and for which were nine entries, the task
of judging must have been the reverse of easy or pleasant.
The awards in this class were — 1, Mr. J. Littler, Fir
Bank, Frodsham ; 2, Mr. R. Andrews, Hill View, Frod-
sham, and 3, Mr. G. Stocks, The Apiaries, New Road,
Winsford.

The Silver Medal of the B. B. K. A. was awarded to
Mr. Cotterill, Malvern House, Bowdon, for best exhibi-
tion of honey in sections. The collection of bee furniture
exhibited by Mr. E. G. Parker, of Bowdon, was a most
comprehensive one, and though not opposed to any other
collection, was highly deserving of first honours as
awarded to it. Mr. Parker also exhibited some beauti-
fully finished 2-lb. sections, and a large observatory hive
containing six combs, all well stocked with bees, for
which in each class he carried off the premier prize.
Other exhibits deserving especial mention were the super
of glass- and wood exhibited by Mr. Broughton Carr, of
Higher Bebington, and the glass super of Mr. Hewitt,
High Leigh, Knutsford, both first-class productions. In
the clas3 for any invention furthering the culture of bees
Mr. Nicholson, of Bowdon, was awarded the Society's
certificate for a ' skep-union,' an article intended to facili-
tate the driving of bees from one straw skep to another.
The prizes offered and the awards were as follows, viz. :
— For best exhibition of honey in sections — Mr. Cotterill,
Malvern House, Bowdon. English bees— Mr. Franks,
Bowdon. Foreign bees— 1, Mr. Cotterill ; 2, Mr. Parker.
Best observatory hive— 1, Mr. Parker; 2 and 3, Mr.
Nicholson. Bee furniture and appliances — 1 , Mr. Parker.
Glass super— 1, Mr. Hewitt, High Leigh, Knutsford.
Super of wood, glass or straw — 1, Mr. Broughton Carr,
Higher Bebington; 2, Mr. Hewitt; 3, Mr. Franks.
1-lb. sections— 1, Mr. Franks ; 2, Mr. Stocks. 2-lb. sec-
tions—1, Mr. Parker; 2, Mr. Hewitt. 1-lb. glass jars of

24

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[January 15, 1885.

honey, prizes awarded as mentioned above. 2-lb. glass
jars of honey — 1, Mr. Andrews, Hill View, Frodsham ;
2, Mr. Cotteiill; 3, Mr. Franks. Best exhibition from
one apiary — 1 , Mr. Cotterill ; 2, Mr. Parker ; 3, Mr.
Stocks, WinWord. Mead, &c— 2, Mr. Nicholson. In-
vention— 2, Mr. Nicholson. Comb foundation — 1, Mr.
McNally, Glenluce, Wigtonskire; 2, Mr. Parker. Honey
extractor— 1, Mr. Cotterill; 2, Mr. McNally. Beeswax
— 1, Mr. Cotterill; 2, Mr. Parker. Open driving — 1,
Mr. Cotterill ; 2, Mr. Franks ; 3rd, Mr. Bailey, Vicarage
Lane, Bowdou. In cottagers' class for English bees— 1,
Mr. Gouldon, Vicarage Lane, Bowdon ; 2, Mr. Bailey.
Glass super — 1, Mr. Franks; 2, Mr. Gouldeu ; 3, Mr.
Hewitt. Super of wood, glass, or straw — 1, Mr. Stocks;
2, Mr. Nicholson. Straw super — 2, Mr. Nicholson. 1-lb.
glass jars of honey — 1, Mr. Stocks; 2, Mr. Nicholson.
2-lb. glass jars of honey — 1, Mr. Stocks. 1-lb. sections
— 1, Mr. Stocks. Mr. Carr, of Newton Heath, Man-
chester, officiated as judge of exhibits and also of the
driving competition, for which there were six entries, and
at the close of which Mr. Carr must have felt glad that
Lis arduous day's work was over.

OXFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The annual meeting of this Association was held in
the Clarendon Hotel, Oxford, on Monday, January 5.
Among those present were the President" (the Earl of
Jersey), Colonel Blunt, the Rev. F. C. Dillon (Enstone),
Secretary, and Rev. W. Neame ; Messrs. Studderd (Ban-
bury), W.Grant (Oxford), C. Taylor, Morris, T. Rowles,
Hill,E. Cobb, Watts, Husbands (Northleigh), W. Hayes
(Chipping Norton), and the experts' Messrs. Cobb and
Perry.

The Secretary read the financial statement, which
showed that the Society had started their work last year
with a balance in hand amounting to 24/.13s.9rf. Theyhad
received in subscriptions 251. Is., and these, with other
items, made up a total of 681. 15s. 8r/. The expenditure
for the year had been 741. 19s. 'id., which shows an ap-
parent deficit of 41. 3s. Bd., but in explanation of that, it
should be mentioned that they had bought a tent which cost
over 211, and that item of expenditure, of course, tended
to place the balance on the wrong side of the ledger.

The Secretary also read the annual report, and the
reports from the experts, Mr. Perry and Mr. IT. Cobb. The
arrangement of the tours was for the present year left
to the committee.

The Vice-Presidents v.-ere elected as follows, Sir Henry
Dashwood having been added to the list : — Sir Henry
Dashwood, the Rev. Canon Ashhurst, J. Mason (Ensham
Hall), Colonel Blunt, the Hon. Mrs. Brassey, and Mrs.
G. Herbert Morrell (Headington Hill Hall).

It was unanimously agreed that the committee of last
year — the local secretaries — should be re-elected, but as
the Secretary thought it was too small, the names of G.
Herbert Morrell, Esq. (Headington Hill Hall), Mr. Stud-
derd (Banbury), and Mr. "W. Grant (Oxford), were added.
The Committee therefore stands thus: — G. Herbert
Morrell, Esq., Headington Hill Hall, Rev. W. Neame,
Forest Hill, Oxford, Rev. W. E. Ivens, Brize Norton,
Oxford, Mr. Studderd, Banbury, Mr. J. Perry, 5 Bridge
Street, Banbury, Mr. H. Cobb, Dorchester, Wallingford,
Mr. W. C. Hayes, Chipping Norton, and Mr. W. Grant,
Oxford.

On the motion of the chairman, the Secretary (the
Rev. F. C. Dillon) was unanimously re-elected.

The Annual Show. — After some discussion, it was
agreed that the Committee should endeavour to prevail
upon the Horticultural Society and Mr. G. Herbert
Mon-ell to allow the Society to hold their annual ex-
hibition on the same day that the autumn show of the
Horticultural Society took place in the grounds of Mr.
Morrell.

Cnrrtsponucnce.

*«.* All Correspondents forwarding Letters for insertion in
the Journal, Reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes
from the Hives, Queries, tic, are requested to direct their com-
munications to ' The Editor of the " British Bee Journal." c/o
Messrs. Strangeways & Sons, Tower Street, Upper St. Martin's
Lane, W.C

SIZE OF SECTIONS.

I am surprised at the B. B. K. A. adopting the 4| by
4\ section to be the standard. I should have thought
(the same as yourself, see B. B. Journal, vol. xii., page
104) that they would have adopted the one that fits best
into the standard frame, viz., 4 by 4h ; this size is also
better for working on the top of hive, as three sections,
in a rack of i-inch wood, measures 14i inches, just the,
width of hive, and so saves putting strips of carpet or
wood on to keep bees in. Neither do I think it fair to
exclude those who do not use the 4j by 4j section from
competing in the coming show at Preston. They cannot
expect persons will go to the expense of new crates,
racks, &c, and adopt again the sections they have dis-
carded because they were not so convenient as the
4 by 4|.

I hope the B. B. K. A. will rescind their resolution and
allow the 4 by 4h to compete as well as the 4j by 4j in
the show at Preston.— John Bull.

A STANDARD SECTION.

It is surprising that the Association has decided to
adopt the American 1-lb. 4|- x 4 \ section as the ' Standard '
for this country.

In the first place, the Association has done its best to
establish the Honey Company, which is to deal in none
but British honey, and yet, strange to relate, British
bee-keepers are to be compelled to produce their honey
in a form which will at once stamp it as being of
American production.

Presumably, this size and shape have been selected
because they have been so generally used, and can be ob-
tained in larger quantities and cheaper than any other.
Nevertheless, I am quite sure some of our own enter-
prising manufacturers could at the same, or a lower
price, turn out the ' British ' section, if one could be
decided upon, and should it be understood that the
American pattern would not be accepted.

One plea put forth in favour of the 4{ x 4\ section is,
that it fits the Standard frame, and yet, as a matter of
fact, it does not fit the same, however arranged ; and
this is conclusively shown by the fact that those who
have made the above statement at the same time recom-
mend a section frame with no top bar, and even then
the bottom rail of this, it is admitted, must rest on the
floor-board.

It is time this inconvenient error was corrected, instead
of being blindly ignored as at present ; and if a special
frame has to be used under present conditions, a special
and more convenient one could surely be worked with a
new and more correct pattern of section.

It is well known that the 4[ x 4} section does not
hold 1 lb. when of the usual widtli for separators.
Why, then, has the Committee decided to retain it ?
With dividers the 1 lb. section should be 4^ x 4 inside,
instead of barely 4x4 as at present.

The new size now proposed should be 4^ deep x 4i
wide (bare) outside, with rim £ thick, to work with
proper ' Standard ' arrangements. A simple section
frame to hold them in sets of six would then be required
thus : upright ends 2 x 8 \ x j thick ; bottom rail 2x14
x \, and no top bar : legs and separators to be arranged
as usual. Without dividers use same dimensions, except

January 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

25

that sections and frame must be only If wide. Of
course the | thickness will be considered too weak by
some ; but, nevertheless, with the corners secured by
thin tin plates this arrangement will last a lifetime. —
S. Simmixs.

DRY SUGAR FEEDING.
'Beeswing' (inquiry, p. 1.'!, vol. xiii.) will rind that
the moist (so-called) varieties of refined cane sugars will
be utilised by the bees, but being so deficient in saccharine
matter, they are not to be compared to genuine Porto
Rico, which has more heat-producing properties, and in
the breeding season is very much more stimulative. — S. S.

SIMPLICITY IX BEE-KEEPING.

There is little doubt but that the number of bee-
keepers would be greatly increased, especially among our
peasantry, were it not for the time, trouble, and expense
attending the present elaborate method of apiculture. I
have kept bees long enough to know that there is a vast
amount of what, for want of a more polite term, I must
call ' humbug ' about it. Take, for instance, the humane
theory, the advocates of which shriek with indignation
at the bare mention of the instantaneous destruction of
bees by sulphur. I am afraid I must be a very Herod in
cruelty, but I fail to see there is anything necessarily
cruel in either the custom or the process; unless we
admit that man is a providential arrangement for the
convenience of bees (and hive-vendors), and not bees
for the profit of man. If you require the labour of
the bees the following summer, preserve them ; if
not, unless you unite or give away, kill them instant-
aneously. In any case they will have ceased to exist
in a few months. Man, in order to live, kills in every
direction.

But we may admit the humane theory, and yet think
it very cruel on the part of its advocates to sell to a poor,
confiding, and benevolent country parson a hive costing
any sum from thirty shillings to five pounds, when one a
sixth or a third of the price would do not only as well,
but better for the purpose required. Is it not time that
some one should raise his voice against the present system
of lauding these expensive hives, supplied with all the
resources of civilisation and of science — walls double on
all sides, walls filled with non-conducting substances,
walls filled with dead air ; all these and many other
details which are actually of no value in practical bee-
keeping, if not a positive hindrance ? And so on all
down the long list of imaginary necessary appliances.
What can be more discouraging to any one contemplating
bee-keeping than to behold the endless array spread
before him by the rival hive-makeis ? Well may such
an one be dismayed, and the cottager cling to his simple
skep, the sight so familiar to us at our flower shows.
And yet, the greater the number of articles displayed
the greater the probability of a prize ! The whole prin-
ciple is wrong. I can obtain as much honey, and keep
my bees in as good health, in a bar-framed hive consist-
ing of four pieces of wood, a bottom board, a tall, flat, or
sloped cover, and a piece or two of old carpet, as in an
elaborate affair supplied with thermometers, porches,
grooved alighting boards, glass windows, zig-zag en-
trances, snow-dazzling preventers, nadirs, collaterals,
lightning conductors, electric lights, warming apparatus,
scientifically applied legs, 'thus increasing their base,'
hinges, knobs, buttons, wedges, hinges, reversable bot-
tom;, and all other improvements, ' the result of ex-
haustive experiment,' which produce, of course, splendid
seasons, an abundance of honey, enormous profits, at
least ' seventy pounds a-year ; ' and, above all, reducing
to a minimum the risk of crushing a bee, — pleasure,

science, profit, crowned with benevolence. Who would
not be a bee-keeper in this latter part of the nineteenth
century ?

But seriously, can we wonder that our converts am mg
the class the B. B. K. A. is supposed especially to benefit
(and realty wishes to), are in number about — well, the
quantity of acres possessed Ly the members of the Land
Reform Association and the followers of Henry George ?
Why, that indispensable article, the smoker, cannot be
obtained under 4*. Gd. and Gs., and half of these so-called
smokers extinguish themselves promptly the moment
they are set down. I verily believe could our Association
place within reach of the cottager a smoker that would
smoke — an important qualification — for 28.6<Z,or2s.,more
practical good would be done to increase bee-keeping
among our cottagers than by hundreds of prize-rewarded
displays of multifarious appliances. So, again, with
feeders. What a trouble and expense they are : and the
process, too, of making S3'rup and supplying it to the
bees. This is the advice given in a recent number of this
Journal: ' Feed early in March with thin syrup, into
which the white of one egg and the yolks of two have
been beaten up into each gallon, and a pinch of saltpetre
added. Before going to a hive take a teaspoonful of
honey into the mouth [not the eye, mark], and slowly
swallow it [notice the slowly~\, allowing it to mix freely
with the saliva. N.B. — Be careful to wipe the lips well
after.' How delightful! Who would not be a bee-keeper
and swallow a teaspoonful of honey in the mouth slowly,
allowing it to mix freely with the saliva, every time he
went to a hive ? How many teaspoonf uls of honey must,
say, our friend Abbott swallow in a July day. It is this
custom, possibly, which accounts for the sweet-tempered-
ness of bee-keepers in general, and of one or two in parti-
cular. All this is very nice, but as a practical bee-
keeper I simplify matters wonderfully,, as described in a
former issue, by rarely using a feeder at all, although I
have a fair collection of them. But as I have already
sadly trespassed upon your space, Mr. Editor, I should
like in some future number, with your permission, to
relieve my feelings upon other points connected with
bee-keeping. In the meantime, I would say to all be-
ginners, to whom my remarks are chiefly addressed,
Don't buy expensive hives, feeders, veils, racks, syrup-
cans, comb-boxes, comb-holders, excluding-zinc, cutters,
foundation fixers, robbing preventers, drone-traps, mag-
nifying glasses, confectioners' handbooks, tool-chests,
evaporators, honey ripeners, indiarubber gloves, or sting-
lotions. They are as necessary for successful bee-keeping
as the wearing of the Argosy brace — have as much to do
with it. Half of the things enumerated are obsolete, the
other half unnecessary. All you want, until you get
your honey, is a good smoker, a cheap veil, simple,
inexpensive hives with broad - shouldered frames — ■
eschewing metal-ends and distance-pins — wax found-
ation to use sparingly, and, above all, the Journal — it
affords amusement at all times, and sometimes instruc-
tion.—J. P.

[We think that our correspondent is too hard upon the
hive-vendors. We are not aware that they act differently
from other tradesmen. They simply supply the public
with what they ask for, and their prices vary according
to the quality of the goods which they offer. When
cheap hives are exhibited at shows, the general remark
is that the prices are too low, that the hives cannot be
made for the money. If purchasers require finish and
good workmanship in the hives they buy, they must of
course expect to pay for it. We do not agree in all re-
spects with our correspondent; but we shall always be
happy to insert his letters, which, as he says of our
Journal, if. not instructive, are certainly amusing ; and
we must leave it to the hive-manufaeturers to take up
the cudgels in their own defence. We are glad to see
that our old friend ' John Peel ' has become a Justice of
the Peace. — Ed.]

2G

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[January 15, 1885.

QUEEN INTRODUCTION.

While the advanced bee-keeper regards queen-intro-
duction as an easy matter, there are others look upon it
as a difficult operation, possessing only two or three
hires of English bees, they desire to introduce a Ligurian
queen; they are most anxious to succeed, but lacking
experience, they often fail; my desire is to help such.
I give no mode of operation except such as I have tried
with success. I am favourably situated for trying expe-
riments, keeping from twelve to fifteen hives close to my
workshop, expressly for raising queens and trying expe-
riments ; they are continually under my eye, and I can
examine a hive several times in a da v when necessary.
I have tried every method of queen-introduction that
has come under my notice either in the English or
American bee publications. I continue to follow no one
except I prove his plan wr.rthy of adoption, and I am
ready to lay hold of a new idea from any one if I think
it worth a trial. I don't care whether he has been a
bee-keeper twenty days or twenty years, neither do I
care whether he is a scholar or 'not, if I can learn
anything from him he serves my purpose. I lay no
claim to originality, any one is welcome to that honour,
if I get. the benefit of it. I try some experiments verv
carefully to be satisfied whether I can recommend them
or not as the case may be. As a rule I am very care-
less when introducing queens into my own hives; in
fact, one might truthfully say that I am sometimes reck-
less, yet for the last two years I do not remember a
single failure, although I have reared and introduced a
good number of queens. There are some things I would
advise a novice not to do : —

1st. If you are changing a queen do not take the old
one away until you are ready to introduce the new one,
or thev may commence queen-cells which will increase
the difficulty.

2nd. Never introduce or liberate a strange queen in
the daytime if you can avoid it; bees are not so likely
to ball a queen at night as they are in the daytime.

3rd. If you wish to try direct introduction, by no
means do it in the day, but at night about the time of
sunset ; this, I fancy, is the rock on which many have
split who tried the direct introduction and failed.

For a novice who has the time, I can with confidence
recommend the following method : — Make or procure
a cage of wire-cloth to hold a brood-frame; select a
frame containing some honey and brood near hatching ;
sweep off the bees, and put it in the cage with the queen
you wish to introduce, close it so that no bees can find
their way into the queen ; as the brood hatches the
young bees will attend to the queen, and she will soon
deposit eggs in the empty cells. The queen will take no
harm if she is confined thus for a week, during which
time a quantity of bees will be hatched and eggs also ;
if the bees in the meantime should build queen-cells, I
would keep her confined until most of them are sealed
over, for this reason, after the queen-cells are sealed over
they are looking for and expecting a queen. To liberate
the queen and bees, one side of the cage must be made
so that it can be taken away; in the evening open the
hive quietly and slip the fastening of the moveable side,
so that the bees can pass in and out to the queen, the
next morning the cage can be taktn away ; this is a safe
way for a young beginner to introduce a queen.

For replacing a queen, the following method has never
failed with me : get two common cages of the same size
made of perforated zinc about 1 in. x i in. x 4 in.
long ; catch the old queen during the day "and place her
in one of the cages, cut a small hole in the quilt that
will allow the cage to pass through and hang between
two frames in the centre of the brood-nest, be certain
there is food that the queen can reach— I have known
more than one queen starved to death while caged — in
the evening put the new queen without bres in the other
cage, quietly draw out the cage containing the old

queen and replace it with the other, leave it undisturbed
for twenty-four or forty-eight hours. At sunset, not
earlier., draw out the cage very gently, stopping the
hole ; give the bees a good smoking in the mouth of the
hive, open the cage close to the mouth of the hive, and
let the queen run in, smoke again and leave them. I
send the above expressly for the young bee-keeper. I do
not presume to instruct the advanced bee-keeper. When
I have time I will give some of mv experiments in.
queen-raising during 1883-4.— L. Ween, Lowestoft.

WASPS INJURIOUS TO BEES.

The question of ' O. S.' on p. 15 reminds me that a
quarter of a century ago a writer in a scientific periodical
that I have before me as I write defended wasps as
being harmless to bee3, because lie had once introduced
a bee into a wasp's nest, and the bee had come out
safely. It is astonishing how these old exploded ab-
surdities crop up again from time to time. The gentle-
man to whom I refer kept no bees, but had wasps in;
hives for several years in succession in order to observe
their ways. Had he kept bees, and expected honey or
swarms, he would, unless his wasps were of another
species than those I have known all mv life, have had
another tale to tell. Over and over I 'have seen bees
attacked at the flight-hole and stung to death, and the
same wasp do this several times, till at last she was
grappled by two or three bees at the same time, when
she received her doom. When this goes on for a few
days, the stock is soon weakened, and as the wasps are
at it late and early, the bees get disheartened, and cease
to defend their stores, which quickly fall a prey to their
yellow enemies. More than once I" have observed hives
cleared of every particle of honey by wasps in a fort-
night. _ And with greatly reduced numbers, and no
honey, it does not take long at the close of the autumn,
which is the time wasps are most troublesome, for a
stock to be extinguished.

Eight years ago I was a good deal plagued with wasps
interfering with my bees, but now 1 never am ; and I
attribute this freedom from depredation to making it a
point for the last seven years to watch for and kill the
queen-wasps in spring. " I and my family catch them
with a butterfly-net when they come to feed and gather
building material on the Cotoneaster on front of my
house, and on the gooseberry and currant-bushes when
in flower, to which they are very partial. — II. W. Lett,
Ardmore Glebe, I/urgun, Ireland.

ARE WASPS INJURIOUS TO BEES, OR NOT?

This question having been raised in your last issue,
and the complaints as to wasps in some localities-
having been loud and deep during the past summer, it
may be interesting to quote from one or two reliable
experiences. First— a gentleman of some note in the
bee world writing to me in September last, when speak-
ing of wasps, says : ' It takes all my time to keep them
from my bees— I lost one stock "entirely— the wasps
came in such numbers as to overpower the' bees, and the
brutes legged and winged the bees and carried their
bodies away. On the floor-hoard I gathered up nearly
half a tea-cup full of wings and legs.'

It having devolved upon me to collect and tabulate
the bee census returns for this county, the following
lamentations have also reached me.

A gentleman writes (referring to a parish a few miles
from Plymouth) : ' A wail has gone up from the hearts
of all bee-keepers there,' and proceeds to say : ' July 1st
I had thirteen good strong hives doing well; November
1st I have one; cause — wasps. As soon as the varmints
enter a hive they have (it appears to me) the same effect
as that of a ferret in a rabbit-warren, and skedaddle is
the hue-and-cry of the rightful occupiers.'

January 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

He has further sent me a list of fourteen bee-keepers,
including himself, who owned forty-eight stocks, thirty-
one of which were known to be destroyed by wasps, and
lie believes there are many others about which he has not
yet been able to get information. The next heaviest
loser to himself was the owner of ten stocks, and he has
lost nine.

A lady, writing from the same neighbourhood as the
above, adds on her report : ' Wasps have killed many
swarms.' I have no doubt that experiences of the same
nature, if not quite as bad, have been common during the
past summer. I have not myself suffered, but 1 have
f jund and destroyed, or caused to bo destroyed, a great
number of nests on all sides of me, and to this I attribute
my freedom from misfortunes similar to those reported,
as the wasps were getting unpleasantly numerous prior
to the strong measures taken against them. — A Member
of the Council, Devon and Exeter Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation.

A DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING A BEE CENSUS.

I send you the enclosed for the B. B. J. Men, and
good men too, recognise the difficulty of dealing with the
labouring classes in some of the more enlightened home
counties. I should like them to extend their experiences
to such out-of-the-way, benighted spots as are to be
found in the wilds of North Devon, where superstition is
rife, where, when anything goes wrong, it is commonly
put down to being ' ill-wished,' or the ' evil eye ; '
where the parson is looked upon as a ' white witch,'
with bees, and is consequently forbidden to come into
gardens where the bees are kept, simply because he is an
advanced bee-keeper, and can handle bees.

A Case in Point. — It has frequently been pointed
out how much care is needed when trying to render
assistance to cottagers with their bees, and it is an un-
doubted fact (more particularly in this county) that they
generally think that you have an ulterior motive, or
have in some way a .selfish interest, when your object is
solely their good. When collecting information for the
bee census a short time since, which it is needless to say
is gathered at some expense and trouble for the further-
ance of the cause, a woman was, to the best of her
ability, giving the information Bought, when a man
passed and said, ' Don'tee tell 'em no more, missus,
they'll be going to tax they bees.' Need I add that the
woman, as the Yankees say, 'dried up;' not one word
more could be got out of her, and their peculiarly sus-
picious natures having once been worked on, further
attempts in the same neighbourhood have proved equally
unsuccessful. — One op the Council, Devon and Exeter
See-keepers' Association, North Devon.

BEE-KEEPING IN SCOTLAND.
I have pleasure in furnishing 'J. H.' with a few par-
ticulars to prove the accuracy of my statement to the
effect that Scotland was, and is, still behind our English
friends in the matter of practical bee-keeping. It seems
evident, however, from the tenor of his letter that his
anxiety is not so much for this information as it is to
display a vindictive opinion towards a gentleman whose
name is universally respected as a true pioneer wherever
modern bee-keeping is successfully carried on. If the
statement he makes is correct as to there being a ' Legion '
of Scotch heroes, the query is, Where are they, what
have they done, or what are they doing, to make bee-
keeping a national industry ? It is easy to point to our
English friends on this matter, and compare their self-
sacrificing labours in nearly every county in order to
instruct, encourage, and assist even the poor cottager in
what was at one time the mysteiies of the bee-hive;
while some of the few heroes which in our famous land
I have heard boasting of thirty and forty years' expe-

rience, and yet within a mile of their apiaries there
are those who have never seen the interior of a bee-
hive.

Again, ' J. II.' puts no reliance on Shows, and yet he
points out with self-satisfaction to a time when Exhi-
bitions were few and competitors rare, and compares
those times to the present, when Exhibitions are being
held over the whole country, at which professionals and
amateurs have full scope for all their abilities ; even on
this point also our English veterans take the lead in
setting us a good example, as we find they never scruple
to compete with all comers, while, alas ! our ' Legion ' of
Scotch heroes seem content with the laurels they have
gained in the past. At the same time, as was shown at
the recent Edinburgh Show, where fair competition does
take place, the old apiarians seem to have had very
little to boast of. True, in one or two classes they
succeeded with bee furniture alone, which would in
all likelihood have been passed over in some of the
small English County Shows; and it is well known that
serious objections were afterwards made regarding the
judges and the methods of judging these same exhibits,
while at the same time the honey exhibits were, as they
ought to be, the sight and the success of the Exhibition,
and, best of all, the competition was keen, and some
old apiarians honestly stated that they were unable to
compete with the prize-winners on that occasion. All
honour to those Scotch bee-keepers who have assisted in
making the Caledonian Apiarian Association a success,
for through its efforts and the assistance of our English
friends the monopoly which would have hid under a
bushel such inventions as comb-foundation, and even the
quilt, has been broken, so that every Scotch amateur can
now successfully compete anywhere. This we consider
another very important advance in Scotch bee-keeping
during the past ten years. So long as this important in-
dustry has been kept back by individualism and, perhaps,
a little jealousy, successful progress was impossible ; now
that we have such a successful institution as the ' Cale-
donian.' and a gentleman as secretary who has done
more^ towards the diffusing of bee knowledge through-
out Scotland than all the veterans who have ever as yet
made an appearance, we are sure to continue advancing,
but this progress is not ten years old yet. In conclusion,
I trust the day is not far distant when the amateur bee-
keepers of Scotland will suitably acknowledge the ser-
vices of Mr. Bennett, as it is well' known that some of the
old apiarians suggested such a thing some time ago ; but I
am afraid that, like some of the inventions referred to, the
idea will be laid aside until some others step in and take
up the matter with all the due consideration necessary for
its success.— J. A. B.

BEE FLORA: FRENCH HONEYSUCKLE.
Among the list of bee-flowers spoken of in the Be?
Journal, I have not seen the French honeysuckle spoken
of by a single correspondent. I happened to raise some
half-a-dozen plants from a few seeds I came across by
chance, and was very much pleased with the results of
my experiment (as I only planted them as an experi-
ment); but I have now added them to my stock of bee
flora. When in bloom the plants were continually
black over with bees. There were two or three species
of small wild bees, the large humble bee, and the hive
bees, all working together, taking not the least notice
of each other, and losing no time in collecting the sweets
from those plants. I watched some of my bees come
from the hives, and after visiting the flowers for a short,
time return in a very heavy condition. As well as being-
a first-class honey plant, it is a very pretty one, and
deserves to grace 'every flower-garden with it's presence.
The flowers are of a splendid scarlet and white colour,
and when once planted there is no more trouble with it,
and it blooms for about six weeks. I should very much

28

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[January 15, 1885.

like bee-keepers to give this plant a trial, feeling sure
that if they did it would well repay them. As I col-
lected a quantity of seed, I will send to any address 300
seeds, all warranted carefully collected, on receipt of
three penny postage stamps to cover the cost and trouble
of sending. As I have only a limited quantity of seed,
I should be glad if purchasers would send soon. Di-
rections sent with each packet of seed. I may add,
that the above plant grew at the side of a bed of borage ;
but it was the greatest favourite with all the species of
bees I saw visiting it. — W. Hollins, Tillington Avenue,
Stafford.

JAMAICA BEES.

In the sixth volume of the Naturalists' Library, dated
1840, and edited by Sir Win. Jardine, there is a para-
graph stating that the Jamaica honey-bee in size and
colour so strongly resembles the European as to sug-
gest the probability that it is the same, the only cir-
cumstance, and that an important one, raising a doubt of
this identity being that though the former possesses a
sting it seldom uses it, and is apparently of a much less
irritable temperament thau ours. So reluctant, indeed, is
the insect to use its sting that it was thought by some to
be stingless ; and as a proof of this greater gentleness the
apiary is in many cases situated directly in front of the
dwelling-house, in one instance, consisting of not less
than fifty hives belonging to a gentleman at Savannah-
la-Mar, ranged close by the door and under the front
windows. Were the exotic insect as test}7 as ours,
visitors would require some nerve to face coolly so
formidable an outpost.

Probably among your numerous readers some one may
be able to give further information respecting these bees,
which may be a very desirable species to introduce into
this country ; and I imagine the difficulty in doing so
from Jamaica, either as colonies or queens, would not
prove insuperable. It appears an effort was made in
1840 to bring over a swarm, but they unfortunately
died on the passage. — A. B. Herbert, Polwarth House,
Edinburgh, Jan. 4.

BEE PASTURAGE.

' North Norfolk' (page 15) must admit that the notice
and recommendation of certain plants known to be good
honey and pollen producers is of great benefit to many
who are not so favourably situated as to have them all
represented in his neighbourhood. It is true there are a
great many plants in flower in May ; indeed, the month
of May is notorious for its flowers. But while one
species provides an abundance of pollen, others again,
produce a very limited amount, and it has been shown
that the number (specifically) of flowers producing
pollen abundantly is not too extensive. Therefore, in
drawing attention to plants of proved utility to bee-
keepers, it will no doubt help those who contemplate
growing bee-flowers near their apiary. — H. Dobbie,
Thickthorn.

TWO BARROW LOADS OF FIRE- WOOD, AND
SEVENTEEN POUNDS OF HONEY.

Some of your readers may be interested in the follow-
ing account of a bee bargain : —

One of my parishioners, a policeman, having for some
time past noticed a dead poplar-tree while on his rounds
which contained a quantity of bees, at length succeeded
in purchasing the tree and whatever it might contain
for a trifle. He knew that a large swarm had left
some six weeks previously. One evening the policeman
and a friend started for the bee tree. Having smoked
the bees, and stopped the inlet and an outlet a little
higher up the tree, they began to cut the top off about
seven feet from the ground, but encountering comb,

went up another couple of feet. In the end they cut off
six feet three inches in length, and having stopped both
ends, proceeded to carrj' the tree home (about three
miles) on their shoulders. When the tree was cut into
lengths and split, four combs were found running the
whole length of the tree as long as there was room for
them, and terminating in a circular mass with the cells
running to a centre. The widest portion of the tree
inside where the bees started was about seven inches by
five, and this tapered to three inches diameter at the
top. The first eighteen inches contained sealed brcod,
which was put into a bar-frame. Seventeen pounds and
three quarters of rich dark honey was obtained. All
the drone-cells were full of honey. The bees, and it is
to be hoped their queen, were placed in a bar-hive of the
policeman's own manufacture. I regret very much that
I did not see the tree before it was cut in lengths, as I
should have liked to have split it from end to end, and
seen exactly how the combs lay. — Charles G. Ander-
son, Otterhampton, Somerset.

IRRITABILITY OF BEES.

While taking sections off frame-hives during the past
summer, the bees became very savage, and not satisfied
with severely stinging the two people who were taking
the honey, they attacked thirty chickens which were in a
large wire run about fifty yards from the hives. Twelve
of them died from the effects of the stings, though they
were extracted as quickly as possible. Some of the older
chickens were very much stung, but recovered when the
stings were extracted. The dull, damp weather was pro-
bably the cause of the bees being so savage, as the writer
has kept bees for several years, but never found anything
of the kind happen before. — H. D., Sandy.

A HONEY-BASKET.
It may be useful to some of the readers of the Bee
Journal to know I got a honey-basket made for 2s. Qd, at
the Blind Asylum, Sackville-stieet, Dublin. It is long
and narrow, and holds a tin box inside, into which six
sections fit exactly, and it carries five or six, according
to the weight of them ; but the tin box ought to be very
tight. I always find it travels safely. — Matilda.

A CURE FOR DYSENTERY.

' Please, Sir, I am come a-borrowing.' — ' Yes; how are
your bees going on ? Have you many supers r '

'Well, no, sir; you see they had the diarrhoea very
bad in the spring, and many thousands of them died.' —
' Oh, dear ! what was the cause of that ? '

' Well, I lays it on to the vinegar in the syrup. You
see, vinegar will gripe you ! But I won't have it so
next year, I know a good cure for it.' — ' Yes, I should
like to know it, it may be useful ? '

' What, for yourself ? Well, I had it awful bad,
and my old woman makes sloe-wine, and that cured
me ; and so it has plenty others, and no end of people.
Why, I cured Farmer Giles' calves that had it mighty
bad," and my neighbour's cow that the vet. was beat at ;
and six fine young pigs of mine was taken with it, but I
soon cured them ; and so I will the bees next spring, you
see ! But how do you cure it when your bees get it,
sir?' — 'I am very pleased to tell you I have not been
troubled with it amongst my bees for the past three
years, because I am most careful about using good sugar,
and preparing my food, and also giving it to the bees;
and am well rep'aid for my trouble, by neither having
dysentery nor foul brood.'— 'Ah, that is that stinking
complaint, that smells like the 'fata plague, as is hard to
cure; I don't want that neither; but I feel sure my

January 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

29

liquor will cure the diarrbcea.' — ' Well, tell me how you
make it ? '

' I take the blackthorn, and peel off the first bark,
that leaves two more ; I peel them off, and stew them
with some blackberry leaves, until there is only a small
drop of liquor left, and that 1 shall put in for the
bees, instead of vinegar ; and I feel sure it will cure
them, because it has cured other things.'

Well, gentle reader, this is 'Hodge's' logic; he can
neither read nor write, and, I doubt, has never worked
out of his parish, but he has used his eyes, and what
more do any of us ? If born under other circumstances,
he might have been Sir Gideon Hodge, Bart.,
M.D., F.R.S., M.R.C.S.E., and I know not what; but
here he toils steadily on, and thinks as he toils; and I
am not sure that he has not found a remedy for
dysentery. Anyhow, it is worth a trial. lie gut what
he came to borrow, and bid good-day to — Amateur
Expert.

EXPERIENCES OF AN AMATEUR BEE-KEEP-
ER IN QUEEN-REARING AND INTRODUC-
TION, &c.

Queen-rearing. — I have reared over a dozen queens in
nuclei, some of which consisted of three frames, and
some of one or two. In one frame of nuclei I have
reared most prolific queens, and, contrary to what some
apiarians say, I found such nuclei quite easily managed,
and with no disposition to swarm when handled. I
only lust one queen on her wedding flight, though nearly
all my nuclei are close together, not more than two feet
intervening. Except with regard to the number of
frames in nuclei, I followed throughout Mr. Cowan's
advice on queen-rearing. ^m

Queen Introduction— Si/stems of 3L-. Simmins, Judge
Andretcs, tic. — On one of my stocks swarming,
I thought the event a fine one for trying Mr.
Simmins's plan of direct introduction. So " after re-
moving queen-cells for nuclei, I took a comb with bees
and fertile queen from a nucleus, and inserted it quietly
in the middle of the swarmed stock. Rain came oil
heavily, and I did not return to the apiary for an hour,
when at the door of the stock in question I found about
Sfty dead bees, and others still being carried out. On
opening the hive I found the queen balled, and then saw
the failure of the direct introduction. I caged her, and
next evening the bees released her from it, and accepted
her. Two days afterwards another stock swarmed, but
the swarm was led by a young unfertile queen, the old one
Having been deposed, and a number of queen-cells ready
to hatch were left in the stock. I cut away all queen-
cells (from which three young queens hatched in ruv
hand), and taking a fertile queen from a nucleus, I caged
her on one of the combs. It was four days after this be-
fore I could find time to release the queen, and just when
proceeding to do so, I noticed another young queen
running about. Evidently she had hatched between the
time the swarm left and the time of my inspecting the
stock and caging the other queen. I removed her on
the comb with bees, and formed a nucleus. ■ I then
released the other queen, and she was immediately
accepted. So both the queens were equally acceptable
to the bees. Professor Cook (p. 108 of his Manual)
says that Judge Andrews, of Texas, informed him that
' queens will be accepted just as quickly when caged in a
hive with a colony of bees, even though the old queen is
still at large in the hive. Such caged queens, after two
or three days, are just as satisfactory to the worker-bees
as though "to the manner born," and even more safe
when liberated — of course the old queen is first removed
— as the bees start no queen-cells, if the old queen has
remained in the hive till this time, and the presence of
queen-cells agitates the newly-liberated queen, which is
pretty sure to cause her destruction. Here, then, we

may cage and keep our queens after the}' have been
fertilised in the nuclei, and at any time can take one of
these, or the old queen, at pleasure to use elsewhere.'
Without intending it I tried Judge Andrews' plan, and
purpose doing so when changing queens in future, as I
consider it infinitely superior to Mr. Simmins's plan,
chief!}' on account of there being no risk with it.
Besides, it has all the advantages which a successful
introduction on Mr. Simmins's plan would have, and the
colony is not without 'a laying queen for five minutes, as
the old one will lay on till she is removed, and the other
released. . I may mention some other instances of intro-
duction of queens. I stated above that three young
queens hatched out in my hand. I allowed one of them
to run in at the door of a nucleus from which I had
removed the queen two days before. She was imme-
diately'balled.' After keeping one of the other queens
in my room for a few hours in a bottle with a drone and
worker, I put her at the door of a nucleus only a few
hours queenless, and she was at once accepted.

Age of Queen when Fertilised.— Cook says five days,
Neighbour three days, from birth to wedding flight.
One of my queens hatched out between Wednesday
evening, June 25th, and the following evening. On the
following Saturday I saw her, accompanied by a few
drones, leaving the nucleus on her wedding flight. She
returned in rive minutes, bearing a distinct mark of
mating. I did not examine nucleus for five days, when
I found a goodly number of eggs.

Two Larvre in One Cell. — Some writers on bees say
that the latter will not allow more than one egg to
hatch in a cell. I find the contrary. In one of my
stocks the young queen (reared from the egg in a
nucleus) is so prolific that a large number of cells have
two or more eggs in them, and in several instances I
found cells with two larvre in each.

Stcarms without Capped Queen- Cells. — One of my
stocks swarmed on July 5th, and left no queen-cells
capped over, only eggs in them. On the 8th this swarm
swarmed, and of course had not time to have capped
queen-cells, but cells were being formed, and there were
no eggs in them at time of swarming.

P.S. I shall gladly furnish any information in my
power (very small, no doubt) to any amateur on receipt
of stamp. — Apicula.

PAUL SCHONFELD.

[Translated from Deutsclie lllustrierte Bienenzeitung ,
No. 4.)

Among the living bee-masters of Germany Pastor
Paul Schonfeld, in to-day's number of our Journal, occu-
pies one of the first places next to Dr. Dzierzon. Like
the latter, he also is a native of Silesia, having been born
in Sulau, a small town of Lower Silesia, on the iJOth
November, 1821. From 1840 to 1843 Schonfeld studied
Protestant theology in Breslau, and in the year 1847 he
received his appointment to the living of Teutschel, near
Liegnitz, where he has continued his beneficent ministra-
tion to the present day, highly esteemed and honoured by
his parishioners. In addition to his official duties Schon-
feld devotes any spare time to the study of bees. The
first inducement to become a bee-keeper was probably by
mere chance, as frequently happens. He took over from
his predecessor in office a colony of bees in an enormous
loghive, which, like all colonies in the neighbourhood,
had been mismanaged by its owner, and had never yet
given off a swarm. In the year 1848. when almost all
the nations of Europe were raving with the thoughts of
liberty, the instinct of swarming also woke in Schon-
feld's colony ; it gave off three swarms, which, however,
died of starvation in the following winter. The loss of
his colonies was the cause of Scbonfeld's determination
to look after his bees himself in future, and in order to

30

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[January 15, 188.>.

do so in the most judicious manner he took the pains of
making himself thoroughly acquainted with the theory
and practice of bee-keeping. All the best bee-literature
that could be procured he studied with indefatigable
perseverance. In this way he very soon became a com-
plete master of this new subject, and the prosperous state
of his colonies was the result of his efforts. With the
augmentation of his colonies his fondness of bees increased
also.

In accordance with the tendency of bis mind, the prin-
cipal subjects of his ardent study and inquiry were the
anatomy and physiology of the bee. After working hard
for five years, his first small contribution to our know-
ledge of the bee appeared in the Eichstiidt Bienenzeitung,
to which periodical he has contributed during the last
thirty years. Of his numerous articles, which are gene-
rally convincing and well argued, and which, moreover,
are distinguished by penetration and clearness, we will
only mention the most important ones, and to these
belong, first of all, his exhaustive researches on the five
senses of bees. These labours of Schb'nfeld made a con-
siderable stir at the time, and their value was fully acknow-
ledged by Baron von Berlepsch, who requested him to
write chapter cv. of his famous bee book, which treats
of the senses of bees ; to this Schbnfeld consented. Baron
von Berlepsch always considered this chapter a great
ornament of his book. Guided by Schonfeld's opinion
that the organ of smell of the bee must of necessity he in
connexion with its respiratory organs, Dr. Wolff searched
for and discovered the organ of smell of the bee, and
wrote his well-known work on this subject.

The investigations of Schbnfeld were succeeded by the
publication of a large number of articles on the tempera-
ture which bees require for their well-being, and these
finally led to the setting up of a theory of wintering bees.
Although at first frequently misunderstood, as if he had
taught that bees ought to be kept at a low temperature
in winter, and though often attacked by Dr. Dzierzon, a
complete understanding on this subject has now been
arrived at between the advocates of the different opinions
which at first seemed opposed to one another.

With regard to his studies on foul brood Schonfeld had
to fight a hard and obstinate battle against Fischer and
Von Molitor-Miihlfeld, which, however, terminated in
Schonfeld's favour ; and thus we owe to this industrious
and keen observer our present knowledge of the real
cause of this most terrible disease of bees.

Following the investigations of Dr. Preuss, who dis-
covered minute bodies of an oval shape in foul brood
matter, which he termed Micrococci, and which he con-
sidered to be the cause of fool brood, Schbnfeld proved
these Micrococci to be the spores of a Bacillus Bacterium,
and maintained that the Bacteria, and not the Micrococci,
are the cause of this disease. Having discovered the
cause of foul brood, it was not difficult to find a remedy
against the spread of this evil, or rather a means of
applying the remedy, Professor Kolbe having simul-
taneously made his important discovery of the antiseptic
properties of salicylic acid.

The latest exhaustive articles of Schbnfeld on the pre-
paration of chyle, and on the mouth of the stomach of
the bee, are also of great importance. That chyle is not
a product of the salivary glands, but of the real stomach
of the bee, on this there can hardly be any difference of
opinion. The anatomical-physiological researches of
Schbnfeld respecting the mouth of the stomach of the
bee, the true character of which he was the first to dis-
cover and to describe, have solved the hitherto unex-
plained problem as to how bees take food and how it is
possible for them, as members of a swarm from the
honey taken witli them on leaving the parent hive, either
to construct cells very rapidly when the weather is
favourable, or to exist for days without other visible
supply of food when the weather is the reverse of favour-
able, and how bees resting on empty combs in the coldest

days in winter are able to draw their supply of food from
the stores above their winter quarters.

The above particulars respecting Pastor Schbnfeld will
be sufficient to show the great fame he has acquired by
his apistical researches, and the discoveries he has made
in connexion with bee-keeping. We wish our highly
esteemed friend not only much pleasure and success with
his bees, but also a continuance of the health of body and
vigour of mind which he has hitherto enjoyed, in order
that he may still he able to pursue his studies with suc-
cess on behalf of our industrious and useful little insect.
— Gravenjiohst.

MUTUAL BECOGNITION AMONG BEES.

Among the infinite variety of interesting problems
connected with the life of bees, ants, and other indus-
trious insects, there is perhaps none that exceeds in in-
terest or perplexity the question of the means by which
the members of a colony so quickly and unerringly recog-
nise each other, or, to put the fact in another way, dis-
tinguish their friends from their enemies. The question
has been discussed and re-discussed by the entomologists
of many countries, and it is the subject of one of the best
chapters in that fascinating book wherein our own Sir
John Lubbock records with so much picturesqueness and
grace the various experiments which he made with ants,
bees, and wasps during a period of ten years. Do these
insects recognise each other by sight, by hearing, by
touch, or by smell ? The question is still an open one,
and with some other questions of a cognate kind, may
possibly remain an open one till some ardent naturalist
takes up his quarters in a bee-hive, there to conduct his
observations for a week at a stretch.

One of the latest contributors to the discussion is a
writer in the German Gazette, and he ventilates what
we think will be to most people a new and hardly a pro-
bable theory. Not only does he arrive at the conclusions-
like some other writers, that bees — the species of insect
to which he chiefly confines himself — recognise each other
by smell, but he goes further and suggests that they are
enabled to do so by a peculiar odour which is imparted
by the queen-bee to the members of her colony. His
idea, which he unfortunately brings no recorded observa-
tions or facts to support, is that the queen, in the course
of her wanderings through the hive, sprinkles all its
inhabitants with some fluid which she has secreted about
her. The propounder of such a theory, the interest of
which no one will deny, might have been expected to say
something about the anatomy of the queen-bee, and tc
have indicated the position of the gland which contains
the fluid. But that is a point upon which he is silent,
and we are left to determine as best we may how so small
a creature as the queen-bee can carry about with her
material enough to communicate a particular odour tc
forty or fifty thousand individuals of her own species,
for a hive often contains that number of bees and some-
times more. That bees do know each other, and can tell
the members of other colonies from the members of their
own, is a well-established fact. Any one who douhts it
may soon convince himself of its truth by reading Sir
John Lubbock's account of their loves and hates, their
co-operation in work and play, their formal games, and
their battles royal with strangers. While the utmosl
harmony reigns between those belonging to the same
community, says Sir John Lubbock, all others are
enemies. They must, therefore, have the power of
recognising each other, a most wonderful fact when we
consider their immense number and tlie shortness of theii
life, the age of a working bee in the summer not exceed-
ing six weeks. And this faculty of identification is sc
acute that any foreign interloper into a hive, save under
circumstances which fully account for and warrant the
intrusion, is at once pounced upon by the sentinels or
guard — for a guard is part of the organization of a hive

January 15, 1885.1

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

31

— and either ejected or killed. In form, size, and colour
the interloper may be scarcely, if at all, distinguishable
from the individuals belonging to the colony, but she is
at once spotted, and the guards are up and at her.

According to the German writer, the exceptions which
bees appear to make to this dracouian severity — this
determination to keep foreigners at a distance — are in
favour of quite youthful arrivals who on their first flight
abroad stray to the wrong hive, and in favour of such
bees as, having accomplished a day's work, and being
laden with honey or pollen, are driven by fatigue or stress
of weather to seek shelter at their neighbours' house.
The first of these ' exceptions ' requires corroboration,
We are far from saying that it will not receive it, but we
do not remember to have seen it stated before. We
know, however, that the instinct of bees is very mar-
vellous, and it may be that they have indulgences for the
young as well as welcomes for strangers who come to
them with well-filled honey sacs. Another statement
advanced is that the young bees to whom this hospitality
is shown generally remain faithful members of the adop-
tive family, and that if after the lapse of a few days, it
falls to their lot to take part iu the watch by the
entrance, they will show no hesitation in attacking any
of their own sisters who wish to penetrate with empty
honey-sacs. We are inclined, again, to doubt the latter
part of this statement, for Huber, a great authority,
states that bees recognise each other after a separation
of months, and Sir John Lubbock tells us of ants recog-
nising each other after a separation of nearly two years.
He has also shown that sister ants recognise each other
even if brought up separately ; and if ants possess this
this power, why not bees ? Of course, the recognition is
not individual or personal. The number of individuals
belonging to a colony, the shortness of the working bee's
life, and the variety of occasions in the summer when the
bees are all at home at one time, make personal
acquaintance impossible. Whether colour is of any
assistance in mutual recognition is a question upon which
it would be hazardous to express a decided opinion.

The German writer holds that colour is of no help
whatever. Perhaps, seeing how much alike in colour the
bees of the same tribe are, he is right. Every one knows,
however, that bees possess a strong sense of colour, in
the ease of flowers at all events, and have an undoubted
predilection for blue. Apiculturists used to believe that
there was a bee language, and that bees knew each other
by a pass-word. But that belief has been generally given
up. So far as can be ascertained the sounds emitted by
bees — and the German writer says thirty distinct kinds
of sounds have been made out by the human ear— are
common to all the species. Moreover, there are not
wanting observers who deny that bees have any sense of
healing. Sir John Lubbock does not deny it, but he
never found them take the slightest notice of any noise
he made. They were equally indifferent to the sound of
his voice, the playing of a violin, the note of a tuning
fork, and the shriek of a dog-whistle. It is strange that
they should have besn insensitive to the vibration, even
if they were insensitive to the noise. It is also strange
that they should themselves be capable of uttering such
various sounds if they cannot hear them when uttered.
The contributor to the German Gazette maintains that
they can hear, and asserts that a noise of a bee which
wishes to drive a person from the vicinity of a hive will
bring other bees to its aid. Others, again, have supposed
that bees know each other by touch, as they may often
be observed in the hive crossing their antennae or feelers
as if they were in communication with each other. But
it is in the antennas, the German writer reminds us, that
the organs of smell are placed, and on the whole there is
perhaps more to be said for recognition by smell than for
any other theory that has been advanced. Soak an ant
or a bee in water and its fellows will attack it and pull
it to p eces. It has lost its odour and cannot be recog-

nised. On the other hand, a point made in the article
under review is that a bee which has been labouring all
day obtains entrance into a strange hive the more easily
because its stock-odour has been rendered less intensive,
or altogether neutralised, by the perfumes of the flowers
it has visited. Various facta are quoted in support of
the theory of a special odour for every colony of bees.
Robber bees, for instance, which enter a strange hive to
carry off the honey, are at first violently assailed and
beaten back, but if they succeed a few times in their
criminal enterprise they may afterwards go in and out at
leisure. This, it is argued, is because they have con-
tracted something of the peculiar odour of the household.
It is well known, too, that two hives of bees may be
united by syringing them with a syrup, flavoured, say,
with lemon or peppermint. It is only at home that
different sets of bees are inimical to each other. In the
open, when busied in gathering honey, they are true cos-
mopolites. They do not concern themselves about the
home or tribe to which the bee on the next flower belongs,
but make the best possible use of the treasures of nature
lying before them. At home they are jealous of the
strange sister; abroad they are either indifferent to her,
or magnanimous enough to tolerate her presence.

Jforctoit.

FRANCE.

The number of provincial exhibitions to be held in
the course of the present year promises to be consider-
able. Already the dates for several have been pub-
lished, among the most prominent of which are the
following : —

Montpelier from the 2nd to the 10th of May next.
Toulouse „ 9th „ 17th ,,

Valence „ 16th „ 25th „

Lyons ,,' 30th ,, 7th of June.

Nancy „ 6th „ 14th of May next.

Setif (Algeria) „ 5th „ 14th
Commenting upon what is likely to be accomplished
in the course of the New Year, the Apiculteur, which
now enters upon its twenty-ninth year of existence,
refers to the honey companies now springing up in Eng-
land, and makes the following remark: — 'Lately we
announced the formation of a powerful company of
English producers for the sale of their products, and
now we hear of another being on the point of formation
on the fines we suggested last year in this paper. Be-
sides bees, this new company will farm poultry and
grow fruit-trees, and dispose of their own produce in
the markets and in the streets. Shall we not follow the
example of those who are winning our race ?'

The central Society of Apiculture and Insectology
held its general meeting in Paris on the 17th of Decem-
ber last, when all the retiring officers were re-elected,
with the exception of one who tendered his resignation.

SWITZERLAND.

The Annual General Meeting of the Society
Romande d'Apiculture wras held at Arpilleres, near
Geneva, M. Bertrand, president of the Society, in the
chair. There were about sixty members present, includ-
ing two or three ladies and a sprinkle of foreign visitors.

In his opening speech, the Chairman said : Ladies
and Gentlemen, — It is just upon eight years ago since, by
the kind invitation of our Hon. President, Monsieur de
Ribeaucourt, about a dozen bee-keepers met at Nyon to
take into consideration the desirability of forming this
Society. Since then the number of our members has in-
creased year by year, and is now about 300. During these
past eight years much good work has been accomplished,
and, generally speaking, the affairs of the Society have
been managed pretty satisfactorily ; but there remains a

32

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[January 15, 18S5.

o-rc.-i .leal more to be done, whether as individual bee-
keej >rs or as a collective body. It would be useless to
I from ourselves the fact that the number of real
bee-masters is still very small among us. A great many
of our members are not yet quite convinced of the
sup i-iority of modern teachings and modern appliances
as compared with the practices of old ; the ranks of our
con erts are not progressing very fast. Hence the
rea- u why I should like to see renewed efforts to
furl ier the objects we all have at heart; we want to enrol
you lg, vigorous men ; we want fresh blood. Our
pur uit is certainly a good one for any of us following it
up in earnest. For my own part, the more experience I
gain the more convinced I am becoming of this fact.
But it is not every district that is favourable to bee-
keeping. It is the' same with the culture of the vine :
special districts may require special treatment; and
where there is no bee-flora it would be useless to be
obstinate, and then blame our new teaching for the
failure. In the course of last year we have had removed
by death from among us two valuable members, viz.,
Mr. Ph. Belet, of Cotes, and Signor G. L. Terni,_ of
Bergamo, Italy, who, although residing in a foreign
country, took a great deal of interest in our work. The
circulating library established a year ago is meeting with
a certain amount of success. The applications for books
have only been fifty in number, but there is every indica-
tion of its soon becoming an important factor in the
field of our Society. The question of statistics was
engaging the attention of the Committee, and forms to
be' filled up for the purpose were sent out a fortnight
ago. Hitherto the season had been favourable, and bees,
like agriculture, were a couple of weeks in advance of
last year. In conclusion, the Chairman wished it to be
stated that the free classes in bee-keeping would
commence at Nyon on the 28th of April. After a, few
other remarks of a general character, the Chairman
invited discussion on the subject entered in the agenda
for that purpose, namely, Whether ' cold ' combs, that
is, combs running from back to front of a hive, are to be
preferred to ' warm ' combs, that is, frames placed from
right to left across the entrance of a hive, as is now
generally done in England.

Mr. Jaques Bonjour, in whose name the subject had
been put on the agenda, opened the discission. Most
of his hives are on the 'warm ' system, but he also 'had
a trial of the other, viz., the ' cold ' plan. Hitherto he
had every reason to be satisfied with the former, as, in
his opinion, frames placed across the entrance of the
hive are more calculated to retain the warmth, and,
consequently, is safer for the brood in the early part of
the season ; but he is not sure that the plan is
one that ought to be recommended for all the year
round. He would, therefore, feel obliged if his
colleagues would also make experiments, and give the
bee-keeping world the benefit of their observations.

M. Thuillard has hives of both kinds, and has had
therefore an opportunity of comparing both systems.
His experience was that ' cold ' combs, running from
back to front, are much to be preferred, as he always
had a larger harvest of honey from hives worked on this
system than on the other.

M. I. von Siebenthal is of opinion that ' nature ' was
the best authority in a matter of this kind. Out of ten
hives of Camiolan bees he had received, he found five
with 'cold' and five with 'warm.' lie had noticed,
however, that the ' cold ' ones were more regularly built
than those across the entrance. This fact had
also been noticed by M. Sumi. This gentleman stated
that although brood does not seem to progress so rapidly
in the early part of the season, it soon makes up for it
when a little warm weather sets in.

M. de Blonay finds no difficulty in obtaining very
straight combs in the ' warm ' system , by taking care
that the dummy is well up against the last frame at the

back. He had only lately transferred three skeps which
he found had all their combs running from front to
back.

M. de Bibeaucourt confirms M. Blonay's evidence
saying that he never experienced any difficulty in
obtaining straight combs on the ' warm ' system.

M. Thuillard stated that care must be taken that
hives worked on the ' warm ' system must be perfectly
level, or else the combs are sure to become irregular.

M. Fusay had never obtained from the ' warm '
system such good results as from the ' cold.'

M. Bertrand was with the majority of bee-keepers,
and had a decided preference for the ' cold ' system.

M. Fusay said that all works well in a hive on the
' warm : system provided the number of frames is not too
large. His idea was, that a queen will not lay eggs so
readily if she has to go a long way from the front
entrance to find room for that purpose.

M. Audemars was continually meeting with combs
running^ front to back in straw skeps.

M. Bertrand points out that bees have not solved
this question themselves, as, when in a natural state,
they will build either way.

M. A. Vallorbes examined about 200 stocks in the
course of last spring, and had found a much larger
number of dead bees in hives worked on the ' warm '
plan, the cause being, in his opinion, their inability to get
from comb to comb during the cold season.

M. Hanon prefers frames placed from front to back
of hives, his argument being, that when placed from
right to left, as in the ' warm ' system, bees have to
lose much time, although of late he had reduced this
drawback to a minimum by following M. Thuillard's
advice and placing a good number of honey-combs in
front for winter supplies.

M. Thuillard considers that a better ventilation is
obtained by the ' cold ' system.

M. J. Bonjour was of opinion that on the whole
' cold ' frames were best suited for brood-rearing,
although this year he had an agreeable surprise by a
swarm issuing from a ' warm ' hive on Easter Sunday.

M. de Bibeaucourt insists upon making winter-
passages in all combs.

M. Bertrand remarks that, upon the whole, it could
be seen from the discussion that the majority was in
favour of ' cold ' frames.

At this point M. Dumoulin read his report upon
certain experiments made by him with a view to cure
foul brood.

M. de Blonay bears testimony to M. Dumoulin's
statement, having been an eye-witness of the good j
results obtained by that gentleman.

M. Bertrand explains to the uninitiated the technical
meaning of ' foul brood ' and ' flour-cake.'

M. de Bibeaucourt avers having cured a diseased
stock by using syrup of vervain. In his estimation foul
brood does not make such havoc in Switzerland as it does
in other countries.

M. Dumoulin recommends the destruction of every-
thing in a diseased hive ; the bees only might be used
after a few days of semi-starvation, and a free use of
salicylic acid afterwards.

M. P. von Siebenthal prefers prevention to cure, and
recommends a supply of salt water in the spring, or
water with salicylic acid. His idea is to keep bees away
from putrid ponds.

M. J. de Siebenthal cautions his hearers against the
purchase of foreign honey which might have been
contaminated with foul brood.

M. Thuillard had one hive affected, which he
destroyed in its entirety ; no signs of foul brood have
been seen in his apiary since.

M. Bertrand, the chairman, pointed out that there
are several ways of curing foul brood, but he knew of
only one that could be called profitable. Nor was this

January 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

33

on the principle of killing the horse in order to save the
harness, as many do in the spring when they destroy
brood as well as combs, although they are both of great
value at the commencement of the season.

M. Arhrrsun recommends fumigation, and syrup with
salicylic acid : tho former as a remedy, and the latter as
a preventive.

After a few more remarks from several speakers, M.
Auberson had much pleasure in stating that, before
the month of May he had taken some honey on the
mountains. Last year be bad been obliged to give about
4(1 lbs. of sugar to each of his stocks.

M. Dumoulin had been sending his bees on the
mountains for the last twenty-five years, and had every
reason to be satisfied with the results obtained. He
only sent, however, strong stocks.

J\l. Bauverd thinks the audience would be glad to
bear that bee-poison was now used in homoeopathy
for certain eruptions, as well as for inflammation of the
eyes.

An animated conversation was kept up during the
repast, after which there was an examination of bee-
utensils, including one of Mr. Cowan's extractors and
English sections. — Bulletin d' Apiculture.

CAELSMARKT.
A Visit to Me. Dzierzon.

BY HI!. PKETTSS.

Scarcely an apiarist can be found who has not wished
to know Mr. Dzierzon. Having a desire for many years
travel through Switzerland and Italy, I proposed to
make it the occasion of a visit to Mr. Dzierzon. On my
arrival at Pesth, Hungary, I wrote him of my antici-
pated tour, and my intended visit to himself. Accord-
ingly I arrived at Briega, a pleasant town in the province
of Silesia, which is the railway station nearest to Carls-
markt, from which it is about one German mile away.
From Brieg, the travelling public! must needs take a
carriage to reach the residence of Dzierzon. And on
account of this primitive way of travelling, my only
alternative was either that, or to walk, or to take a
horseback ride. Having resolved to hire a carriage I
soon saw in the distance, surrounded by a pine-grove,
the celebrated Carlsmarkt, a small village, with the
houses mostly covered with straw mats, except a little
one with a little garden in front well stocked apparently
with grapes and peaches, which instinctively I con-
cluded must be the home of Dzierzon — the distinguished
Dzierzon.

Seeing a little girl I inquired, ' Is this Mr. Dzierzon's
house ? ' She answered, ' Yes.' ' Is he at home ? ' I
eagerly asked. 'Yes, sir,' she replied; 'he is in the
garden.' I immediately passed into the yard, and from
thence to the garden, when Mr. Dzierzon came forward
to meet me with a greeting of the most hearty character.

We are about the same age (born in 1811), but no one
would think him so old. His face has an average fulness,
his hair of black sprinkled with grey, somewhat subdued,
with every motion light and youthful.

In a quarter of an hour we were busily discussing the
foul-brood question. He inclined to the opinion that the
malady woidd not long continue, and inquired whether
I proposed to still continue my experiments, and with
great eagerness desired to know the shape of the micro-
scopic fungus, audits origin. With conversation of this
character he led me into his house, and said, ' I cannot
give you a bee-hat.' ' Well,' I replied. ' although I am
accustomed to the half wire mask of Von Berlepsch, yet
I think a cigar will answer my purpose.' ' But it will
be well,' Mr. Dzierzon continued, ' if you will tie a hand-
kerchief about your neck, while I will do the same. It
will at any rate keep many bees from crawling under
your clothing.'

Mr. Dzierzon then took a piece of rotten wood about ten
inches long and a inch square, which, after lighting well,

we went to the hives. Mr. Dzierzon's little garden, from
which half the world used to be supplied with Italian
bees, contains hardly an acre. His hives are placed in
pavilions or ranks of sixteen hives each. Many dispute
the excellence of a double hive when standing alone,
yet with Dzierzon's method of grouping the arrange-
ment is a perfect one, forming at the same time an ad-
mirable and complete bee-house.

On a suitable foundation be so places together four
double hives that they form a cross, their backs thus
forming room with the door opening inside ; upon these
four others are placed when the exposed corners are
covered by perpendicular walls stuffed with a warm
material, with the whole protected by a common roof
made of inch boards, forming altogether a very warm and
healthy bee-house. These houses were in use at most
all of his stands. Every luxurious decoration of hive is
avoided. And in these stands he keeps only the swarms
engaged in queen-rearing. His nucleus hives contain
generally from four to six combs, all on little bars lightly-
covered with small thin boards. He prefers these bars
to small frames, saying that ' the queen is more easily
found, and not so well able to hide herself.'

I must not forget to mention one peculiarity in Mr.
Dzierzon's apiary. He produces but little honey — so
great is the quantity of his breeding swarms. He simply
says on the subject, ' I am content in not selling honey,
for it spares me the trouble of wintering over such a
quantity of hives.' In less than half-an-hour he had
shown me eight young queens, of each he could tell me
the date of their fertilisation, or if they were still un-
fertilised.

His bees were all of the small Italian size, and all of
them had not the beautiful coloured bands possessed by
those he sent me some time ago. I am convinced, how-
ever, that Dzier::on purchases but a very small fraction
of the queens that are sent from his apiary. The price
is so low,when the cost of honey is really considered.

I asked him what became of his nucleus swarms in the
fall.

' I join them,' he replied, ' in two or three hives with
the best and finest queens.'

Dzierzon's farm contains about eighty acres of land,
upon which he has a few horses, and with one we drove
to one of his distant apiaries ; on the way we drove
through a beautiful avenue of oaks, and expressing my
admiration of the large trees, he said, ' They were
very useful to his bees on account of their honey dew ;
they are often covered over with plant lice (aphides).'
Arriving at the apiary we found similar pavilions or ranks
of sixteen hives as before ; here were also the hives that
furnish the bees for the nucleus swarms, some of which
we opened and found all populous and safe. I turned
j to Dzierzon and inquired, ' Who is managing these
swarms ? ' ' Oh, nobody,' was the reply, ' I let them fly
where they pleased. I have hives enough, and with my
nucleus swarms, as many as I at present desire, having
three hundred in all.'

He spoke then concerning the bee-moth, and his re-
mark was, ' There is nothing in the household of nature
that is not of some use; even the bee-moth is useful, if we
would only recall the natural caves in which bees have built
their houses for centuries ; not being able to eat away
the old wax themselves, for the purpose of rebuilding,
the advent of the bee-moth furnishes the necessary means
of destroying it.'

In the course of our conversation, we came to the
drone question, and I assured him that a very important
case induced me to give it very earnest thought. A
queen purchased from his own apiary has reared (the
workers excepted) the most beautiful golden -banded
drones. Two years after the queen died. It is her
daughter consequently that must now do the breeding,
and she. must rear, whether fertilised by an Italian,
or a German drone or not, drones of the same excel-

34

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[January 15, 1885.

lent quality. But it was not so, all the drones became
black, and they scarcely differed from the German ones,
and the workers were bastards.

' I know also concerning this matter,' I continued.
' that Von Berlepsch has said that he also has observed
that Italian queens have hatched occasionally black
drones.' Dzierzon was now all ear. He replied, ' The
bee-keepers think me authority in this matter of api-
culture, but I make no declaration of infallibility. I
have observed one fact, that the mother always gives
the greatest character to the progeny ; the genuine
Italian queen, for instance, fertilised by a German drone,
will produce bees that will gradually assimilate to the
queen.'

Our conversation was also about many other eminent
bee-keepers — Von Berlepsch, Kleine, Schbnfeld, Vogel,
and others, and his judgment concerning these gentlemen
was always courteous and respectful, never blaming
or disregarding any who opposed his theories. Mean-
while, we returned to Carlsmarkt. Dzierzon invited me
to dinner. I accepted the invitation with pleasure, that
I might the longer enjoy his society. We went first up-
stairs to his library. ' Here,' he says, ' you see piles of
letters, and all of them I shall answer. People often
refer to letters which they have written many years ago,
and they suppose I can keep them all packed away in my
memory.' Dinner was over, and the heat was now very
intense. He invited ne to go with him to one of his
pavilions to see, perhaps, some fertilised queens, and ob-
serve upon them the member of the drone, but no queen
could be found with the interesting sign. Having again
alluded to the foul-brood question, I made preparations
to leave. Shaking hands heartily with me, he said, ' You
will often think now on the Bienenzeitunff.'

Leaving Dzierzon's house all absorbed with what I
had seen and heard, I could well understand the general
respect that he received from every one ; for it is not
only the ingenious physiologist, it is also the mild and
pure character, the noble and virtuous man, controlled
by an inward disposition that merits universal esteem.

May God grant him extreme happy old age which his
health and disposition of mind and body so fairly
promise.

HOLY LAND.

EASTERN BEES.

Probably it may give some light if I were to state
briefly the undertaking of the ' Eastern Bee affair,' by
Messrs. D. A. Jones and F. Benton as I view it.

Almost everybody acquainted with Mr. Benton, or who
has had an3'thing to do with the Eastern bee question,
knows that the above-named gentlemen undertook this
grand affair, coming all the way from America, and,
after only a few days' stay in Europe, came right to the
Orient. Not knowing the language or climate, they had
to suffer a good deal ; especially Mr. Benson, who
after his travels in the south Asiatic Islands in search of
Apis dorsata, and actually ruining his health in the
jungles of Ceylon, had only partial success in obtaining
the great bee. He went on supplying Europe and
America with Cyprian queens, as it was on the Isle of
Cyprus he then ' camped,' till, in January 1882, he left
that place and came over to Beyrouth, Syria, where
again he had to learn another language, as in Cyprus
they talk the Cypriot-Greek, whilst in Syria the Arabic
is the native tongue, although here, in the Levant,
the inhabitants might be called polyglots. Still Mr.
Benton is very quick in taking hold of the most necessary
words in a language that he does not really intend to
learn, so that, when I visited him in May 1882, he knew
sufficient of that language for his daily necessities.
The summer of 1882 did not prove favourable for him,
with several attacks of cholerine, the loss of his only
child, and his very easy way of looking to his health: the
doctors agreed to urge him to leave the country. I
agreed in the fall of 1882 with Mr. Benton for the

purchase of the apiary, and pay him in Syrian and
Palestine queens during the season of 1883 (see page 225,
number 149, B. B. Journal, Vol. xii.) After many
difficulties with the postal officials 1 began the season
of 1883, sending queens to Athens (Greece), and later
to Munich (Bavaria), from whence Mr. Benton hoped to
serve the European and American bee-keepers more
promptly on their demands. I made my best possible
efforts to pay the number of queens agreed to, but the
cholera coming up to Egypt, and in July to Beyrouth
itself, made me leave this place by land. In addition
to these postal irregularities and the cholera, a facial
neuralgia befell me, and I left Beyrouth after complete
restoration.

I left the Mount Lebanon Apiary in charge of a
gentleman, who himself did not understand anything
about apiculture, but still agreed to do his best and
would not have any pay, which still was the worse for
me, as I could not ask a guarantee in consequence of
such an offer; and imagine my own surprise when I had
heard that about twenty of the stocks had gone. He
then followed my instructions by letter to prevent them
flying, but I heard no more about them ; and as I was
busy setting up another apiary, I received a letter of
condolence from Mr. Benton about the complete, or almost
complete, loss of the apiary. He then urged me to come
and help him, but I was in a situation impossible for me
to leave, as April is the month when our orange-blossom
honey-flower is so abundant, that not a day can be
spared; still I think I can well go there in March 1885,
and again in May and June, and can supply queens, the
statement therefore (page 383, No. 157, Vol. xii., B.B.J.)
made in reference to myself, that I ' will not go back
on any account,' was only available for April 1884, and
has nothing to do with any time afterwards.

Still I do not think it very necessary to hazard so great
expenses in getting fresh help from England, when help,
although inferior, may be got in Palestine, a journey of
twelve hours by sea, whilst the other will take a
fortnight at least besides the difference of expense. It is
not the way the bee-keeping public will have any hopes
of getting queens at reduced prices.

I hope this may help Mr. Benton as well as the bee
world. — Ph. T. Baldensperger, Sharon Apiary, Jaffa,
Palestine.

AMERICA.
Honey a Substitute tor Butter.
' Times are bad and likely to be worse,' said a prominent
member of the Franklin Institute to a reporter yesterday
afternoon. ' Butter is becoming scarcer and dearer every
year, and it will be beyond the reach of poor people
this winter. Unless poor people who are out of work
find a substitute that is cheaper than butter, they will
have to eat their bread dry. They will not eat butterine
or oleomargarine ; they would turn up their noses at
that, if they were starving.'
' What can they use, then ? '

' I do not know ; but if some enterprising man would
take hold of the honey question, I believe he would
make a fortune.'
' Honey ? '

'Yes, sir, — honey. There is an opinion going around
that honey is a luxury. There never was a bigger
mistake made. If it does not make much muscle, it
gives warmth to the whole system, arouses all the
nervous energies and gives vigour to all the vital functions.
I can talk about honey because I know about it. I
know that most children would rather eat bread and
honey than bread and butter, and that a pound of honey
will go as far- as two of butter. Besides, honey will
keep for ever and never get sour or rancid like butter
does. Then look how much cheaper it is. Honey can
be bought at 15 cent3 and 20 cents a pound, and a fair
profit made by the retailer. Butter is seldom less than
40 cents, and this winter it will reach 55 cents a pound

January 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

35

Of course I am only speaking of tin best kind of lioney.
Buckwheat honey, which has a slight flavour, can he
retailed at a profit of 1 dollar for 8 pounds. But, Lor'
bless you, the people would not eat that. Only the best
is good enough for them.'

' Coidd enough honey be brought into the market to
substitute it for butter ? '

• Well, that is not exactly the question. It is not
likely that honey will supersede butter altogether ; but
just now, when wages are low and butter is getting
higher and higher every day, it would be a good thing
if "people knew that they could buy a good substitute,
if it is only a temporary one. What is wanted to make
it a paying one is the introduction of the barrel trade.
If retail dealers would take their honey in barrels and
sell it in small quantities at the rate of about 15 cents
a pound, they could make a large profit. You know
worldug people look twice at a quarter before they
spend it on what they think is a luxury. But if they
thought they could buy 5 or 10 cents worth at a time,
they would be glad of it, and they would soon learn that
honey is cheaper and preferable to butter. In the winter
honey candies and becomes hard enough to cut with a
knife and spread like butter, so it can be used in the
same way. If a demand for pure honey arose, a
hundred "barrels could be brought into the city every
week all the year round, or a hundred dozen if the
demand increased.'

' I low about adulteration ? '

' The principal adulteration is glucose, but it is not
difficult to detect. Honey mixed with glucose will not
candy at the lowest temperature, whereas pure honey
candies very freely. The best way to keep honey is in
those five-pound Mason jars. If it candies, so much the
better. A little heat will soon liquefy it, if that is
desired. If people generally knew what a nutritious,
wholesome food honey is, it would not be long before
the bee-keepers would have all they can do to keep up
the supply.' — Indianopolis Evening News, Dec. 10, 1884.

California as a Bee Country. — Bee-keeping has
been carried on extensively in this State for ten years.
The product of our apiaries has been at times almost
fabulous, and is now sent to all the large markets of the
world. There is some competition, it is true, not on this
coast, but in the Eastern States and in foreign marts, but
the superior quality of our article will always make it,
as it has been heretofore, unsurpassed, and find for it a
read}' sale everywhere. The reason for its being so
remarkably hue and so much in public favour is that our
best California honey is gathered from the California
mountain honey sage, a plant indigenous to this State.
It is to be found in all the hills and mountains in the
southern counties of the State. Being a native plant, it
is to be found growing wild in the section mentioned,
and it grows where no other useful shrub or plant thrives.
By giving due attention to the sowing of the seed of the
sage on hill lands where it is not now found, the bee-
pasturing acreage of the State will be, and that profit-
ably too, augmented. The growing of this plant has
been successfully attempted, we are informed, as far
north as the latitude of San Francisco. It is, beyond all
doubt, a good plant to cultivate for bees.

It is needless to write of California as a farming
country. Californians, those who have visited the State,
and still better, the products of the land, all verify the
fact that the State is, par excellence, a paradise for
farmers, gardeners, and persons following kindred occu-
pations. In some of the counties toward the southern
portion of California irrigation is had recourse to, and
the results give testimony to the benefits derived there-
from. We understand the cost of irrigating is not much
of a tax, when the large yields resulting therefrom are
taken into consideration. In the central and northern
coumies irrigation is not required.

There is some public land suitable for farming yet to
be had, hut it seems to be pretty scarce. The Central
and the Southern Pacific Railroad Companies have large
quantities of railroad land which they receive as grants
from the Federal Government, and which they are
offering to those who desire to settle thereon. These
companies have a land office in San Francisco.

To those who contemplate coming to this State, we
wnuld say by all means correspond with the State Im-
migration Society. It is an institution fostered by the
enterprising people of the State for the encouragement of
a desirable immigration, and when applied to, will furnish
all desired information. Its address is No. 10 California-
street, San Francisco.

There are a couple of good agricultural papers in the
State, to wit: the Pacific Rural Press and the California
Patron and Agriculturist , both published in San Fran-
cisco. The former is much the longer established, and
stands at the head of the list of agricultural journals of
America. Its Apiary Department is ably edited, and
has for its contributors some of the best and most pro-
gressive bee-keepers on the Pacific coast, and the
information it furnishes its apicultural readers is hardly
surpassed by the bee- journals themselves.

For an idea of what the honey crop is for this year,
the columns of late numbers of the Rural Prets will
amply show. There is no bee-journal published in the
State", but the want of one is ably supplied by the depart-
ment in the paper above alluded to.

Most of our bee-keepers now cultivate a piece of
ground in connexion with their apiaries. Both may be
made to yield a snug little income.

<&t\im fxam % pities.

Devon. — The following w

ill be found to bo the total

rainfall in 1884 at Broomhill, Tiverton,

Devon : above sea

level 380 feet :-

Number of
Days on which

Month.

Total Depth.

Greatest Fall in -01 or more

24 hon

■s. fell.

inches.

Depth.

Date.

Jan

4-019

•070

25 19

Feb

4-005

■009

27 21

March

3-051

•115

3 16

April

2-021

•051

4 11

May

1-061

■044

2 9

June

2-097

•140

28 7

July

3-009

•080

15 19

Aug

2-017

•092

31 12

Sept.

2-014

■047

15 17

Oct

1-019

•033

8 14

Nov

2-003

•039

30 15

Dec

4-090

•073

5 20

3-436

180

Although the past has been comparatively a dry season,
yet in 1882 we had over 42 inches of rain, and in that
year the pumps in the neighbourhood were dry for five
months. There is little to record concerning the bees.;
we have been busy working up a census, and it is calcu-
lated that about 21 tons 13 cwt. 102 lbs. of honey are
gathered in the county; it has been difficult to obtain
satisfactory returns, as we have had to contend with
superstitions and many other obstacles. — Wm. N. G.,
Hon. Sec. D. and E. B. K. A.

Melbourne, Victoria. — We have started a Bee-keepers'
Association in this colony, and 1 shall feel it a great
kindness if you will send me a copy of your rules, &c,
and all the information that you can give me in every
direction, especially the exhibitions you have held in
Grantham. — Joseph Miller to Mr. 11. R. Godfrey.

36

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[January 15, 1885.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS.

Virtuoso. — Bee Shed. — We advise you not to place
your hives inside the building. They will do far
better outside, on single stands, with southerly, or
south-easterly aspect, space being left between the
hives and the wall for manipulating. We advise
double-walled frame-hives, and to purchase one of a
good maker, as a pattern to work by, having not less
than twelve standard frames, with division-boards.
You might utilise your shed by turning a part of it
into a ' honey-room' for extracting, manipulating, and
other purposes ; having put in a window, as you pro-
pose. No apiary is complete without such a room.
With six hives you certainly ought to possess an ex-
tractor.
W. H. J. — Time of Transferring. — 1. Stimulate your
colony in the skep by gentle feeding at the proper
time,' in order to obtain from it an early natural
swarm. Three weeks after the casting of the swarm
transfer combs and bees from the skep to the frame-
hive. 2. Removing Hives. — If the distance between
the old and the new position of your hives is short,
let them remain until the bees fly, then remove by
degrees. Disguise the old standing plan, and cause
them to mark their new location, and all will
go well. 3. Bees Dying. — It is impossible to say
what is the cause of the dying of the Italian bees
unless we knew their previous history and the sur-
rounding circumstances. Probably the deaths have
been caused by distension of the abdomen, or incipient
dysentery, to "which the late breeding by a young
queen may have conduced. In our own apiary the
Italians are wintering better than the blacks at
present. Do not examine or disturb them at all.
Simply keep the entrance clear of dead bees.
Mellis. — Combination Twin-hive. — The hives you pro-
pose to use are generally termed ' Combination twin-
hives.' These answer well in a good season, and bees
winter well in them. You will find a length of 3
feet clear inside measure, which takes twenty-four
frames, sufficient. The hives should have double
walls. Care will be required to prevent fighting
when the two colonies are united. After one queen
has been removed smoke both ends thoroughly on re-
moving the division-boards. This plan is better
adapted for extracted than for comlnhoney, and in
our opinion the two colonies worked separately would
give a better result than when united. It must be a
very prolific, queen indeed to keep a hive of twenty-
four frames well stocked with bees. As a rule, we
consider twelve Standard frames sufficient for one
queen, except, perhaps, in the midst of a heavy honey
yield, when a colony is being worked for extracted
honey onlv. If this is your object we advise you to
give the plan a trial. Experience alone can decide
these questions.
J. T. Chinnick.— A Cleansing Flight. — The 5th inst.
— the day you mention — being bright, warm, and
clear, the bees, after confinement to their hives for
several weeks, by inclement weather, and unusually
cold winds, took the opportunity of a ' cleansing flight,'
than which nothing could be more conducive to
health. The retained feces were discharged, and the
general health of the colonies greatly improved.
You need be under no fear of dysentery. On fine
mild days in winter the more the bees fly the better
for them. Do not disturb them at all, but keep the
entrances clear of dead bees. That is all that is re-
quired at present, provided the bees are not in want
of stores. More bei 3 are destroyed by injudiciously
interfering with them, and manipulating, at unseason-
able times, than by actual starvation.

A. Clabk. — 1. Moving Bees short Distance. — See replv
to 'W. H. J.' (2). 2. Extractor.— We think that
Cowan's Amateur Extractor would suit your purpose.
We have had no experience with the one you mention.

Constant Reader. — See reply to A. Clark.

F. F. McK. — The following bee-flowers may be em-
ployed for covering a rustic fence: — Clematis Jack-
manii, C.flammula, C. viticella, and C. Vitalba (Tra-
veller's Joy), Hedera helix (Ivy), and its variegated
forms, Pyrus japonica, Escallonia macrantha, Lonieera
caprifolium, Single Roses (Rosa canina), Cotoneaster
microphylla, and Ceanothus azureus.

J. E. L. Gilbert. — Nuclei. — We do not think it neces-
sary to use woven wire separators ; thin wood would
do just as well; but if you do use it, each colony
having a separate entrance would be distinct, and
would not discard its queen on account of the proximity
of another in the adjoining colony.

A Young Bee-keeper. — Zinc for Roofs. — This ma-
terial, if nailed or otherwise fixed, will always buckle
with heat. Its usefulness is not thereby impaired,
although it becomes rather unsightly. But if not
nailed, but simply turned under the eaves, so as to
allow for expansion by heat, the tendency to buckle is
greatly lessened.

A. W. Chattor. — 1. Dysentery. — This does generally
arise from the causes you name ; but as this year you
seem from your letter to have avoided them we trust
you will find your bees free from it. You do not say
they are now suffering from it. Do not mistake the
cleansing which naturally takes place on a fine day
after a period of confinement for dysentery. (See
reply to J. T. Chinnick.) 2. Comb-honey from Combi-
nation Hives. — Get your stocks strong and ready to
gather the harvest. When it arrives remove the
frames not containing brood, and give frames of
sections at the back of hive protected by excluder
zinc. When the bees have taken to them and com-
menced building comb, remove them with the bees
still in them to the crates over the frames.

Red Jacket. — Propolising. — If the frames and crates
are well made and fit the sections correctly, only a
very thin line of propolis will need to be broken ; but
if badly fitting they will be all the more firmly fixed.
Grease, or still better the substance called vaseline,
causes propolis not to stick.

C. Cabrick. — 1. Sugar Candy. — No; the sample en-
closed is not suitable for bees. 2. ' Cowan's Guide-
book,' not his ' Note-book ' is the book you are in search
of. In the former you will find instructions for making
bee-candy. 3. With candy or dry sugar, bees require
water, which may be given by putting a piece of tin
of a few square inches area under the quilt on the
frames. This will condense enough of their own
moisture to serve their needs in winter.

R. E. C. — Sugar for Bee-feeding. — The reply to your
query on this subject having extended beyond the
usual limits has found a place among the ' Editorials.'

Inquirer. — The American cloth is placed with its
smooth surface next above the frames ; and on this
sufficient water will condense, so that the bees are
enabled to reduce the siurar to syTup. (See also reply
to C. Carrick [3].)

W. H. — Phenol. — We are aware that a large number of
bottles of phenol have been purchased, and we presume
used for the cure of foul brood. We have published
the various results that have been forwarded to us ;
and we shall be pleased to give insertion to such others
as may reach us.

W. Franks. — We hope to be able to insert your com-
munication in our next issue.

,-iy^t^k^t^^ the:

Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stiungeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c.'

[No. 1G3. Vol. XIII.]

FEBRUARY 1. 1885.

[Published Fortnightly.]

(^tutorial, Jlotitcs, #c.

PRIZES FOR AFFILIATED COUNTY
ASSOCIATIONS.

From a wish that the Affiliated County Associa-
tions should not lose the benefits which might have
accrued to them under the Peel Testimonial scheme,
the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, the President of the
B.B.K.A., has joined with the Rev. H. R. Peel in
offering three prizes of 51. each, to be balloted for at
the General Meeting on February 11th by all such
County Associations as have held their Annual
General Meeting for the current year, sent in their
reports and balance-sheets to the Secretary of the
B. B. K.A., and have paid their affiliation-fees prior
to February 11th. Before this announcement is
published the Secretary of each Affiliated County
Association will have received a communication
from Mr. Huckle, asking whether it is the wish of
his Association to compete for the prizes, supposing
that all the conditions have been fulfilled. The
ballot will be conducted on the same principle as
the ballot for prize hives at the general meetings of
County Associations.

OUR HONEY IMPORTS.

On page 47 will be found a statement of the value
of our hone}- imports for the years 18S3 and 1884,
showing that, notwithstanding the wonderful honey
yield in the past year in this country, the value of
the imports of 1884 has exceeded that of 1883
by 28,579Z. If we calculate that foreign honey
realises ihL per lb., we find that 3,325,707 lbs.
have been imported into this country.

The thanks of all bee-keepers are due to E. H.
Bellairs, Esq., for the trouble he has taken in
transmitting to us the returns of the honey
imports, forwarded to him through the kindness
of his friend the Principal of the Statistical
Department of Her Majesty's Customs. We could
desire that Mr. Bellairs should be saved this
trouble. The time was when ' Honey ' was in-
cluded in the usual published returns, but in 1871
it was struck out ' as being insignificant and of no
interest to the community.' But a great change
has taken place since then, and imports of honey
from all parts, especially from America, have marvel-
lously increased.

From the returns it would appear that in 1883
the imports were 33,778£. ; in 1884 they are well-
nigh doubled. We consider that these figures are
now of such a magnitude as should make the au-
thorities reconsider their previous determination,
and that honey should not be relegated to the limbo
of unconsidered trifles. If the returns were to be
found in the Accounts of the Import and Export
Trade, we should be in a position to say how many
pounds of hone}' are represented by the sum of
02,357/., the countries from which the honey is ex-
ported, the amount re-exported from the United
Kingdom, and that retained for home consumption.
These particulars would be found most interesting.
The accounts of the imports and exports are compiled
at the Custom House from documents collected by
that department, and are subject to the Board of
Trade as respects the extent of the information
furnished and the form and construction of the
returns.

We could wish that some representation were
made (say by the Committee of the B.B.K.A.) to the
Board of Trade, of the great interest now taken by
the bee-keepers throughout the kingdom in the in-
formation respecting the import and export of honey ;
and we cannot think that such a representation would
be allowed to pass unheeded. Pending that result,
however, we should be obliged by Mr. Bellairs and
his collaborator kindly continuing to furnish our
columns with the returns that come to their hands.

OUR WAX IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.

Passing from the consideration of the value of
the honey imported into the United Kingdom, we
desire to direct the attention of our readers to the
second product of the honey-bee, viz., Wax. From
the most ancient times the production of wax has
been considered indicative of the fertility of a
country ; and to the present day in many countries
it is considered one of the staples of industry.

The returns relating to the Trade and Navigation
of the United Kingdom for the year 1883 have been
recently published, and from them we are enabled
to discover to what extent wax has been imported
into this country ; and as these are compiled by
Government officials we are in the possession of a
number of particulars which the single-handed
labours of Mr. Bellairs have been unable to obtain
respecting the honey imports.

The imports of wax into the United Kingdom

38

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[February 1, 1885.

were, in 1882, 35,538 cwt, value, 126,926/.; in
1883, 28,192 cwt., value, 97,142/. The exports of
wax from the United Kingdom were, in 1883, 12,504
cwt., value, 41,339/.; leaving for home consumption
15,688 cwt,, value 55,803/.

The following table gives us the analysis of the
imports, specifying the countries from which wax
is exported, and the amounts and value thereof: —

Cwt. £

Germany 9,060 24,842

Holland 441 2,897

France 611 3,491

Portugal 496 2,512

Gibraltar . . .... . . 95 533

Italy 292 1,700

Austrian Territories . . . . 63 368

Egypt 75 467

Morocco . . . . . . . . 610 3,272

West African Settlements . . . . 506 2,604

British Possessions in South Africa . 415 2,458

Madagascar 288 1,446

Mauritius 573 2,927

British India 830 4,!>54

China. .

Japan. .

Australasia

United States of America . .

British West India Islands . .

Havti and San Bominpo

Chile..

Brazil. .

Other Countries

1,450 •■;,!'•)•)

6,817 13,141

<;05 3,570

3,035 11,960

873 5,402

34 238

438 2,981

519 1,794

66 330

2s,192 97,142

The mean price per cwt. is 3/. 9s. 3c?. ; and from
the various prices realised in different countries,
we are enabled to arrive at some idea of the purity
and value of the wax. That from China and Japan
fetches the lowest prices, the former about 21. 5s.
and the latter 1/. 18s. 2c/. per cwt. The highest
prices given are for that from Chile and St. Do-
mingo, which amount to 11. ; that from Holland
is the highest from European countries, viz. 6/. lis.
per cwt. The price from the majority of importing
countries is upwrards of 5/.

A large amount of wax is re-exported, Germany
being the largest purchaser. From the realised value
of the wax from Germany, we may conclude that it
is not pure wax, but wdiat one of our correspondents
designated ' earth-wax.' Wax is frequently largely
adulterated with earth, meal, rosin, &c. ; the first
two render it brittle and greyish, and may be de-
tected on melting the wax, when the impurities may
be strained out.

Besides bees -wax, two kinds of animal product
enter into commerce. The first is the insect-wax
of China ; it is found on the surface of mauy trees
there. It is produced by a small hemipterous
insect (Coccus sinensis), which about the beginning
of J une climbs the tree, feeds on it, and deposits
on the branches a wax resembling hoar-frost. This
is scraped off, melted in boiling water, and strained
through a cloth. Another wax of insect origin is
the Andaquiss wax of South America, which is
produced from a small insect called Ave&a. There
are numerous kinds of vegetable wax ; they are
principally to be found in Japan, New Grenada,
and the United States. Wax often occurs like-

wise as a mineral, though in this case its original
source was doubtless vegetable.

The amount of wax imported into this country,
and the sums paid for it, are of such a magnitude,
that it may well behove the bee-keepers of this
country to direct their attention to this product,
and strive that the supply be more equal to the
demand.

USEFUL HINTS.
February, with its early spring flowers, again
greets us, after a cold January, in which much
snow has fallen, and many severe frosty nights
have occurred, although we have exjierieuced no
long-continued frost. We remember seasons in
which February has proved the warmest and bright-
est of the spring months. Such seasons, however,
have never proved very productive either in honey-
yield or the various fruits of the earth. Although
we may not at present enter upon active operations
in the apiary, yet it behoves us to begin our pre-
parations for the coming season under the following
heads.

Hives. — Since wo can now form a tolerably
correct estimate of the number of hives required,
it is best to procure them at once, to have them
well painted, and at our leisure to insert foundation
in the frames. Our own plan is to use full sheets
of the 'Given wired-foundation,' leaving \ inch
space at the sides, and ^ only at the bottom. The
foundation is let into the saw-cut by springing
it open by means of a couple of brads driven into
the bench, and on withdrawing the frame, the cut
closes, grasping tightly the foundation. A piece of
fine silvered wire passed through small holes in the
ends of the frame, two or three inches from the
bottom, is then drawn up tightly on both sides of
the foundation, and secures it in a vertical position.
Our combs in a large apiary have all been built
upon this principle for several years, and we have
had no case of the falling of a comb, or refusal of
bees to rear brood, or store honey in cells through
which the wires pass ; and so firmly are the combs
built into the frames that there is no breakage or
throwing out of combs when extracting. On no
other system have we ever obtained combs so
straight, and with'a little practice the operation of
inserting the foundation is most easily and quickly
performed. Let all old hives be thoroughly
cleaned, scraped, disinfected with carbolic or sali-
cylic acid, and repainted.

Racks and Crates. — The word ' rack ' applies t. >
the frame, fitted to the top of a hive, for holding
sections. ' Crate ' applies only to the wooden case,
usually made with glass sides, for conveying honey
to market or elsewhere. To avoid confusion of
terms, it is necessary to bear in mind this dis-
tinction. Let racks be prepared without delay for
holding the c/Mcm'-standard sections. As being-
more portable and easily manipulated, we prefer tiie
divisional racks, consisting of three separate boxes,
to which were awarded many prizes last season.

Plants. — The present is a good month for plant-
ing Lim/nanthes Dmiglasii, Arabis alpina, on both
of which the bees revel, and other bee plants. The

February 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

39

two former may be obtained now very cheaply, and
will bloom throughout the summer.

Feeding. — -Where bees are short of food, candy
placed under the quilt is still best. Towards the
end of the month, in fine weather, syrup may be
given thick, as food, when required, not for stimu-
lation. Give the food warm, at night, in a bottle-
feeder. When crocus blooms appear, pea, wheat,
or rye meal may be given in any of the prescribed
forms, which it is not necessary to restate or enu-
merate here. An engraving of a useful apparatus
for this purpose is given on page 191, Vol. IV. of the
Jlee Journal.

Manipulation' or Examination of colonies should
only be practised in cases where it is really im-
perative, towards the close of the month, weather
permitting. Except in cases of queenlessness, the
brood-nest must not be broken up or divided.
The outside frames, up to the cluster of bees, on
either side may be removed and examined, and in
those next the bees the sealed honey may be
partially unsealed, and the division-boards again
closed up. Remove damp quilts and supply their
place with warm, dry ones. Let this be done
quickly. Floor-boards should now be changed,
and a supply of spare ones kept on hand, clean -
scraped, and given warm, in place of the soiled
damp ones removed. Gently raise the hive from
the board on wedges, let it remain a couple of
minutes, with the air circulating beneath, and then
quietly place it on the clean, dry board, removing
the old oue. On fine, bright days open the en-
trance slides to their full width — to entice the bees
to fly — clear the entrances of dead bees and dibris,
and towards evening again close the slides so as to
admit one or two bees only at a time. A '-inch
entrance will be sufficient until bees begin to work
freelv. Where chaff-boxes are not used above the
quilt, or felt, a crown-board, or other weight, should
be applied in order to keep all close, and warm.
The above operations should be performed in fine
weather only.

Moving Hives. — Where a re - arrangement of
hives in an apiary, by moving them short dis-
tances, is desired, it may be carried out this month,
during continued cold weather, without loss of bees.
So long as bees have not commenced their spring
flights there is no necessity to remove them daily
by a few feet only, as in the summer months when
colonies are in full work, but they may be carried
to their new stands at once. This, at least, is our
experience.

THE CHESHIRE FUND.

Since no opportunity has occurred, for a reason seen
below, to present me with the objective, towards the cost
of which man}' have kindly contributed, I beg a small
space to express my thanks for the objective itself, and
even more emphatically to record my gratitude for the
kind feelings and appreciation which have led to the gift.
There has been some misapprehension, necessarily, upon
a question purely technical, and some have thought that
a microscope was to he purchased for me. It seems fit-
ting for me to say that the work upon which I have been
many years engaged has required a microscope, and that
upon my two principal instruments and their, accessories,
microtomes, injecting apparatus, &c, I have expended

very little less, if indeed any less, than 2~>0l. My larger
microscope is a beautiful instrument of the most perfect
description; and yet when I came to work upon bee
bacilli, I found that if I was to do all that could be done,
a new power or objective (of which already I possessed
thirteen ) of a special kind was an essential. In a letter
to Mr. Peel I mentioned this, adding that, although it
seemed a heavy outlay for one point only, I meant to
make it. Mr. Peel, Mr. Bligh, and some others, very
thoughtfully and kindly started what is now publicly
known; but I, in the meantime, had ordered the objec-
tive, and curiously received it on the very day Mr. Bligh's
letter, asking to be forgiven his wickedness in showing so
much goodness towards myself, arrived, so that the thing
was bought and paid for in advance, and a present at a
conversazione could hardly be made. This makes the
gift no less grateful to me, while this explanation is
needed, since some of the work recently done has been
accomplished by this new acquisition, e.g., I was enabled
at once to determine by its aid that there is a variation
in Bacillus alvei previously unnoted, and that the one form
which is common is most positively absolutely curable.
The other is now under experiment, and about it we
shall know all in the coming summer, all being well. It
is, of course, known that apicultural problems are occu-
pying by far the larger part of my time ; and just now
this new glass, which is of extreme excellence, is doing
me good service in investigating the glands of bees,
which have much to do with our understanding of some
honey questions. In the summer it is my desire to go on
with the curious, and now very wide, question of disease-
germs, upon which, through my discoveries of a few
months since, I hear the Germans are engaged. All
these investigations must be for the furtherance of api-
culture, so that I hope that while I record my indebtedness
to my brother apiarians, the end will show that the
indebtedness has been mutual. — Frank R. Cheshire.
Avenue House, Acton, W.

THE CULTIVATION AND PROPAGATION OF

HONEY AND POLLEN-SECRETING LPANTS.

(Continued from p. 22.)

Crocus. — The crocus is usually imported from Holland,
and may be bought at a cheap rate. In the autumn
plant the bulbs in groups or en masse, three inches deep.
Do not cut the foliage off before the bulbs are matured,
as this practice tends to weaken them, and prevents the
proper ripening of the root. Another good plan is to
grow them in pots protected by frames or hand-lights.
Place five or six bulbs in a five-inch pot; keep the soil
moderately moist until the flowers have faded; after
then a liberal quantity may be given till the foliage
shows sig"ns of decay ; then gradually discontinue.
When mature store away in a dry place until the
autumn. It is a grand sight to see a three-lighted
frame full of golden crocus flowers, with hundreds of
bees busily engaged gathering pollen.

Fiywort (Scropliuktria nodosa). — This is the celebrated
' Simpson Honey Plant ' of the Americans, who grow it
by the acre for its honey-secreting qualities alone. It is
a native of Britain, and grows, like our meadow-sweet.
(Spiraia nlmaria) in moist situations and by the sides of
streams. Under cultivation it grows to the height of
four or five feet and produces hundreds of little globular
brown flowers. Mr. Root, in his A B C, thus speaks of
its honey-secreting character : ' The amount of honey i*
what astonishes me ; one of these little flowers contains,
I should say, as much as 100 basswood (lime - tree )
blossoms. At present I know of no other plant that pro-
mises so well for cultivation for honey alone. A sine:!.-
plant in the garden, for curiosity, if nothing more, I think
would be well worth the trouble to every bee-keeper.'
This valuable bee-flower blooms continuallv from Julv

id

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[February 1, 1885.

to October, and, like borage, honey secretion is being
carried on all day long, so that bees are busy collecting
the nectar from daylight till dark. The amount of
honey that one flower is capable of elaborating is indeed
astonishing. Here, then, we have a member of the bee-
flora that comes in just at the time when nearly all
other honey -secreting plants are ripening their seeds.
This fact should commend the tigwort to all apiarians.
My experience of it is such, that, as a bee -plant, I
predict for it a great future when better known.

Sow the seed in August in a seed-pan or flower-pot,
the soil used should be very fine as the seed is very
small and should be covered lightly, care should be
taken to keep the soil moist : and as soon as the young
seedlings are large enough to handle they ma}' be
planted out into boxes l£ inches apart using good soil.
They may be wintered in cold frames, or a few leaves
may be thrown over them in frosty weather ; in March
or April transplant in the open, 2J feet apart, giving
water until established.

French Honeysuckle (Hedgsarum coronariuni). — Equal
alike for honey and pollen, in flower from June to
August, perennial, very showy and effective in gardens.
Sow in May in seed-bed and transplant eighteen inches
apart each way ; or if sown in heat in March the plants
will flower the same year.

Golden Hod (Solidago Virgaurea) is another British
pilant, and is often seen growing in old-fashioned gardens
where its golden spikes form a very pleasing feature in
early autumn. Cuttings about three or four inches in
length inserted in sandy soil in April will readily strike
root ; keep moderately moist and not too much exposed
to the sun ; when well rooted plant out in good soil
eighteen to twenty inches apart ; and another method of
increase is to divide the old stools ( = roots) and plant at
once where intended to be grown.

LimnantJies Douglasii is a very pretty little annual, is
well worth growing in every garden ; its claim as a bee-
flower has long been established, and its worth to the
bee-keeper is fully recognised. Curiously enough in my
apiary Douglas's Limnanthes is totally neglected by my
bees, although I have had it in flower from May to
August. Sow in August to flower the following May
and June, and again in April, to succeed the August
sown plants; transplant nine to twelve inches apart.
Limnanthes is quite hardy and produces a quantity of
sead, which should be gathered as soon as ripe ; the richer
the soil the more flowers are produced and the plants con-
tinue longer in flower.

Lucerne [Medicago sativd). — Flowers from May to
July. Cultivation similar to Alsike, which see.

Mignonette (Reseda odorata). — This annual is such a
favourite with every one that it seems superfluous to
give any cultural directions; however, I apologise for
any seeming presumption and will only say, sow the
seed thinly from March to May in patches or broadcast,
keep the plants free from weeds, and do not attempt to
transplant the young seedlings, as they very rarely
succeed being moved. In some seasons bees work very
busily on mignonette.

Melihtus. — The etymological construction of the
genus Melilotus is such that it would be a positive
disappointment if honey did not make its appearance
in some form or other, accordingly we find three species,
viz., M. alba, M. ccerulea, and M. leucantha, so far
mellifluous that all three are recommended as worthy of
cultivation, and are amenable to the same cultural
treatment as Alsike.

Mustard (Sina/iis alba). — Sow in drills six inches
apart from March to July, or sow broadcast if small
quantities are required. In summer the plant will
bloom six weeks after being sown. — H. Dobiiie, Thick-
thorn, Ni rivith, January 22.

(To be continued.)

ASSOCIATIONS.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

Committee meeting, held at 105 Jermyn Street, on
Wednesday, January 21st, present the Rev. H. R. Peel
(in the chair), the Rev. E. Bartrum, the Hon. and Rev.
II. Bligh, Capt. Bush, R.N., Capt. Campbell, J. M.
Hooker, the Rev. F. G. Jenyns, H. Jonas, W. Martin,
the Rev. G. Raynor, the Rev. F. S. Sclater, D. Stewart,
and the Secretary.

The Secretary presented the balance-sheet for the past
year, and reported that the accounts had been duly
audited on the 10th inst. Resolved that the balance-
sheet be received and adopted.

The Chairriian announced that the President of the
Association had promised 10/. to be added to •")/., given by
himself, to be offered as three prizes, to be balloted for
at the annual general meeting of the Association by
those Comity Associations who had fulfilled the condi-
tions of affiliation.

The Secretary reported that several communications
had been received from the Secretary of the Lancashire
Association recommending that a deputation do attend
from the Lancashire and Cheshire Association to confer
with the committee of the B. B. K. A., with the view of
making an arrangement whereby the L. & C. B. K. A.
might again affiliate itself with the B. B. K. A. Resolved
that in accordance with the proposal made by the
L. & C. B. K. A., Mr. W. B. Carr and Mr. J. M. Gibbs be
invited to meet the committee of the B. B. K. A. on the
28th inst., at three o'clock.

The Sub-Committee appointed to consider and report as
to the desirability of the Association adopting a standard
size for 1 and2-lb. sections presented their report, recom-
mending that the standard of 4} x 4J x 2 for 1-lb. and
•5j x 6| x 2 for 2-lb. sections be adopted by the Associa-
tion as the standard sizes. Mr. Jenyns moved that the
report be referred back to the Sub-Committee to consider
whether it was not advisable to adopt the size of ^J x
4j x 2 as the standard size for 2-lb. sections. This
motion was lost, and it was unanimously resolved that
the Sub-Committee's report be presented for the approval
of the General Meeting to be held on February 1 1th.

The Annual General Meeting of the Association will
be held on Wednesday, February 11th, at ;> p.m. The
President of the Association will take the chair. The
following special subjects are set down on the agenda: —

The report of the Sub- Committee appointed to con-
sider and report on the adoption of a standard size for
sections.

The Rev. II. R. Peel to move, ' That a certain fixed
sum lie invested annually on account of sums already re-
ceived for life members' subscriptions, and that in future
such sums as may be received shall be invested and not
applied to the current expenses of the year.'

Mr. F. H. Lemare to move, ' That in future the name
and signature of the member be omitted on the voting-
papers in the election of the Committee.'

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'

ASSOCIATION.

The annual general meeting took place at Ayles-
bury on January loth, when the chair was taken by
J. Bartlett, Esq.,in the unavoidable absence of the Presi-
dent. After some opening remarks by the chairman,
the County Secretary was called upon to read the annual
report of the committee for lr<84, and the annual
balance-sheet. It is satisfactory to learn, from the
report, that the total number of members has increased
during 18.^4 from 2:J0 to .'WD, and that there are for 1884

February 1, 188;>.^

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

41

63 cottage members, against 27 in 1833; whilst the
artisan members have increased from 68 in 1883 to 102
in 1884. The animal balance-sheet shows a considerable
deficit; and the very large aim unit of work undertaken
by the committee during the year clearly shows that they
felt, the importance of fully establishing the Association's
usefulness and activity by a larger outlay than the funds
in hand could meet, in the confident belief that this
would secure for them a large increase of members in the
future.

The district system has been greatly improved during'
the year, and eighteen districts now exist. Lectures have
been delivered by Messrs. Baldwin, Blow, and the County
Secretary, in various parts of the countyr. The bee-tent
has been hired on thirteen occasions: an expert's tour
in spring and autumn has been undertaken : fifteen suc-
cessful exhibitions of honey, &.C. (including the County
Show at Aylesbury), have been held. Local advisers
have been appointed throughout the county ; and a large
number of district and other meetings have taken place.
It is satisfactory to learn that ail this work is producing
good result. Already fifty-five new members have
joined the Association for 1835, and a sum of 67. has
been specially collected towards paying off the remainder
of the debt upon the bee-tent. The committee has
decided upon a most satisfactory programme for 1885;
and we are pleased to notice that it lias introduced forms
of application for the Bee Jmirnu! circulation, and
expert's tours, which will save much waste of time and
money in cases where the privileges of the Association
are not fully required.

After the report had been considered and adopted,
and the balance-sheet passed, a discussion was raised by
the chairman as to the desirability of increasing the
terms of subscription payable by cottagers and artisans.
We are pleased to hear that the general feeling of the
meeting appeared to be against such a change, which, in
our opinion, would tend to lessen the interest taken in
the work of Bee-keepers' Associations, and to decrease
their usefulness to the labouring classes of England.

After votes of thanks had been passed to the president,
vice-presidents, and committee, they were unanimously
re-elected. The meeting terminated with a vote of
thanks to the chairman, after which the members for
the new year drew for three prize hives, which were
Avon by — (1) W. Selvidge, Slough: (2) W. Needham,
Tiillingstone Dayrell ; (•">) 1'. William^, Eton.

DERBYSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'

ASSOCIATION".

The third animal meeting of this Association was held
in the Guildhall, Derby, on Friday evening, January 23rd,
Mr. Aid. Hobson (ex-Mayor) occupying the chair.
There were also present Lord Denman, Mrs. Hurt
(Littleover) Mr. II. V. Edwards, Mr. Councillor IIoI-
brook, Mr. \V. T. Atkins, Mr. W. G. Copestake, Mr. W.
Handhy (Hasland), Mr. II. Daniel (Burton-on-Trent),
Mr. W. Newton (Burton), Mr. D. Cooper, lion, secre-
tary, and others. The secretary read the annual
report : —

In presenting the third annual report to the members
of the Derbyshire Bee-keepers' Association, the committee
had pleasure in reporting a slight improvement in the
position of the Association, there being a balance of
41. 18s. lUd. The number of members had increased
from 172 to 207; and, with the exception of not having
sufficient funds to enable the expert to make a second
visiting tour to the members in the autumn, there would
be nothing of an unfavourab'e character to report, the
honey season having been lie best for some years past.
Several interesting and instructive lectures had been
given by the Rev. G. Shipton, at Ashover, Baslow,
Barlow, Whittington, Duckmanton, and Whittington
Moor; and by Mr. W. "Walker at Cromford and Hollo way.

A bee-tent having been purchased by the committee,
instructions in the manipulation of bees, illustrated by
bee-driving, &c, in the tent, were given by the Rev. <i.
Shipton, at Chesterfield, Clay ( 'ross, Riddings. Eckington,
and Billow; and by Mr. W. Walker at Matlock Bath and
Cromford. The expert, Mr. William Haiidby, com-
menced his visiting tour in April, and reports that in
35 days he made 151 visits, and examined 074 hives —
396 bar-frames and 278 skeps ; that the cost of visiting
amounted to 15/. Is. lid. ; that he entered 52 new
members, received 2/. 3s. as donations to the bee-tent
fund, and visited eleven local shows, viz., Derby Arbore-
tum, Tibshelf, South Wingfield, Cromford, Riddings,
Matlock Bath, Barlow, Chesterfield, Clay Cross, Ecking-
ton, and Derby. An examination of experts for third-
class certificates was held during the first day of the
show,for which there were four candidates — three Derby-
shire and one Staffordshire — all of which gained certifi-
cates. Your committee feel that they cannot conclude
their report without an acknowledgment of the
gratuitous and able services of the Rev. G. Shipton,
judges, and other gentlemen, who, by their lecturing and
assistance, have done so much to further the object of
this Association. The thanks of the members are also
due to the Derbyshire Agricultural Society, who kindly
permitted the Association to hold its annual show in
their grounds.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted, and on the
motion of Mr. Newton a vote of thanks was passed to
the retiring officers. The Duke of Devonshire was re-
appointed president ; the whole of the vice-presidents
were re-elected, and also the committee, with the excep-
tion of Mr. W. T. Atkins, who took the place of Mr.
Goodwin. Mr. D. Cooper was unanimously elected
secretary. Mr. II. Daniel, the Burton secretary, re-
signed, and Mr. Wm. Newton was appointed to succeed
him, a vote of thanks being passed to the former for his
two years' services.

The drawing for the two prize hives then took place,
the successful members being Mr. W. G. Saxton, Doe
Hill Station, and Mrs. Hurt, Littleover. A vote of
thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.

HUNTINGDONSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The second annual meeting was held at the Fountain
Hotel, Huntingdon, ou Saturday, January 10th, at
2 o'clock p.m. A. W. Marshall, Esq., the treasurer, took
the chair. The meeting was a fairly good one, many
being prevented from attending by the unfavourable
weather. The report and balance-sheet, read by the
Hon. Sec, Mr. C. N. White, were adopted, and ordered
to be printed and circulated. There was considerable
discussion as to future procedure, it being thought by
many that the bee-tent should only be erected at the
annual show, and that the members, particularly the
cottager class, should be visited by an expert. The
question of expense arising, Messrs. C. N. White, J. H.
Howard, J. Edey, and E. Woodham, promised to act as
district advisers, the Hon. Sec. being instructed to invite
other gentlemen to allow their names to be added to the
list. The committee of management was then elected.
Mr. C. N. White was re-elected lion, sec, with a hearty
vote of thanks for his past services. A. W. Marshall.
Esq., was re-elected hon. treasurer, and the names of
several gentlemen were added to the list of vice-
presidents. The representatives to the B. B.K.A.
quarterly meetings were J. Linton, Esq., Buckden Wood,
Huntingdon, and Mr. J. Edey, St. Neots. After the
clcse of the business, Mr. Howard delivered a very
interesting address on ' A Cottager's First Steps in
Modern Bee-keeping,' for which he received a cordial vote
of thanks.

42

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[February 1, 1885.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE BEE-KEErERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The Northamptonshire Bee-keepers' Association held
their annual meeting at the Lecture Hall, Gold Street,
Northampton, on Saturday, the 21th January, 1885,
which was fairly well attended, J. Rooke, Esq., of Weldon
Grange, in the chair.

The balance-sheet, which showed a slight improvement
on last year's, was presented and passed, and a number
of copies ordered to be printed for circulation among the
members. The president and vice-presidents were re-
elected, and the name of Lady Knightley added to the
latter.

Mr. J. E. L. Gilbert, Northampton, was elected hon.
secretary in the place of Mr. J. Davies, resigned, and
Mr. J. Francis, Northampton, was re-elected hon. trea-
surer. The local secretaries are : The Rev. J. Phillips,
M.A.,WestonFavell; Mr. W.R. Parke, Wellingborough;
C. Pell, Esq., Wellingborough ; Mr. Manger, Kettering ;
the Rev. A. W. Durham, M.A., Newnham; J. Rooke,
Weldon Grange; Mr. J. Bull, Ringstead; Mrs. Alder-
son, Holdenbv Rectory ; Miss Bevan, Brixworth Hall ;
.Mr. Perry, Banbury ; Mr. D. W. Brearley, Denton ; Mr.
W. E. Stimpson, Northampton ; Mr. F. Long-land, Castle
Ashby; Mr. R. Hefford, Boughton; Mr. A. T. Adam,
Crick ; Mr. Wilkinson, Thrapston. The committee of
management consists of the local secretaries, with the
lion, secretary and hon. treasurer.

The bee-tent of the Association attended eighteen
flower-shows, and entailed a loss of nearly 6/. ]0s., and
the amount of subscriptions and donations was about
10/. less than 1883.

In spite of the above drawbacks the committee, by
rigid curtailment of unnecessary expenses, have been
able to reduce the amount of their liabilities, and they
are sanguine that, with an increase of subscriptions and a
more successful year with their bee-tent, they shall be
able to clear off during the present 3*ear a large portion
of their liabilities.

SOMERSET BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the Somerset B. K. A. was held
on Thursday, January 22nd, at Bath, under the presi-
dency of H. D. Skrine, Esq. The report of the hon.
sec. was adopted, and the accounts passed unanimously.
The Rev. Charles G. Anderson was unanimously re-ap-
pointed the treasurer and hon. secretary for the ensuing
year. The Association has made a considerable advance
during the past year, and is now in possession of a com-
plete bee-tent.

STAFFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The annual general meeting took place at Stafford, on
January 22nd. Mr. H. J. Beaumont Piercy was voted to
the chair, in the much-regretted absence of Lord Wrot-
tesley, who was expected to preside. There were sixty
members present. After the minutes of the last meeting
had been read and passed, the secretary read his report
of the work of the past year, from which it is clear that
the Association has done some good work, and made
satisfactory progress. The expert, Mr. A. W. Rollins,
paid spring and autumn visits to the members, and
visited in spring 122, and in autumn 102 apiaries, ex-
amining 397 stocks of bees iu spring, and 061 in autumn.
The bee-tent belonging to the Association has been
engaged during the year at nineteen shows and fetes — alto-
gether on twenty-four days, and has handed over a balance,
of 131. 17s. lid. to the Association, after paying all
expenses incurred by it, which will prove how popular
the art of bee-keeping has grown in the county. The
Bee Jaurnal is being widely circulated through the
county ; thirteen copies are being distributed amongst the

members, at the expense of the Association. The com-
mittee have arranged a system of local government for
the future, to be carried on by twenty ' district
secretaries,' who have undertaken the office, in their
twenty respective districts. A meeting is to be held
shortly, when their work will be clearly defined, and it is
to be hoped they will work well together, and extend
the influence of the Association in every part of the
county. The Annual Show took place at Stone, on
August 27th and 28th, when 13/. was awarded in prizes.
There were seventy-two entries in the nine classes.
There were seven candidates for the third-class B. B. K. A.
certificate for proficiency displayed in the management
of bees, which were awarded to Messrs. S. Farrington,
George Farrington, E. Clowes, J. Leake, G. Ilandley,
S. Warren; and, since that date, Messrs. George Far-
rington and John Leake have been awarded the second-
class certificates from the same source. The Rev. F. S.
Sclater was appointed judge by the B. B.K. A. for the
second-class certificates, and further judged the exhibits
in the show to the satisfaction of all. There have been
held five committee meetings during the year, with an
average attendance of ten. The officers of the past
year having resigned office, Mr. A. II. Heath was re-
elected secretary and treasurer, the Rev. D. Glennie,
auditor, and a committee of twenty-six were elected,
including the above-mentioned distiict secretaries, to hold
office for the present year. A lottery for four bar-
frame hives created some amusement, and the hives,
which were in the room at the opening of the proceed-
ings, attracted worthy attention, being the work of four
members of the Association. A motion, proposed by an
over-scrupulous member, that there should be no more
lotteries, was overruled by a large majority; and the
meeting decided to continue them in future.

The statement of the treasurer showed that the
Association had been a financial success during the past
year, and a vote of thanks to the chairman brought the
proceedings to a close.

APIARIAN SOCIETY FOR THE NORTH OF
SCOTLAND.

On Saturday, January 3, a meeting of those favourable
to the formation of an Apiarian Society for the North of
Scotland was held within the West Front Room of the
Music Hall Buildings, Aberdeen. Among the gentlemen
present were Messrs. John Ledingham, Slap, Turriff ;
Alex. Finlayson, writer: Rev. W. Innes, Free Church
Manse, Skene ; G. D. Collie, advocate, Aberdeen, &c.
On the motion of Mr. G. D. Collie, Rev. Mr. Innes,
Skene, was called to the chair. The Chairman introduced
the business in a few remarks, stating that the matter of
bee-culture was one of growing importance. Many were
prosecuting bee-culture very much in the dark ; and a
society such as it was now proposed to form would give
a great stimulus to the study of the subject, and would
be particularly interesting to the j'oung. It would also
promote the interests generally of bee-culture among the
rural population. The Secretary, Mr. Alex. Finlayson,
stated how the idea of the society had originated, and
mentioned that he had received returns from fifty-six
gentlemen stating they were anxious that sucli an Associ-
ation should be formed. Another gentleman had written
to say that he could guarantee ten additional members,
so that together they would have sixty-six members to
start with. Mr. Collie then formally moved that an
Apiarian Society bo formed for the North of Scotland,
and that a committee be appointed to draw up the rules.
Mr. M'Gregor, Inchmarlo, seconded the motion, which
was unanimously adopted. In reply to a question by
the chairman, the feeling of the meeting was in favour
of not appointing the committee until after the first show
should be held. On the motion of Mr. Tait, Foveran,
seconded by Mr. M'Farlane, Old Aberdeen, the meeting

February 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

43

constituted tlu- committee with power to add to the
number, and Mr. Pinlayson moved that Mr. Innes be
appointed chairman, but that gentleman could not see
his way tu aco-pt office. On the motion of Mr. Grant.
Login Buchan, Mr. Tait was then unanimously appointed
chairman. Mr. M'Gregor was chosen vice-president,
and Mr. A. Finlayson secretary and treasurer. The
following were appointed a Committee of Management
till next animal meeting : — Chairman, Mr. Tait, Foveran;
Vice-chairman, Mr. M'Gregor, [nchmarlo; Committee,
Rev. Mr. Innes. Free Church, Manse, Skene; Mr.
Beveridge, Heath Villa; Mr. G. I). Collie, Viewhank,
Cults; Mr. Cockburn, Cairnie, Keith; Mr. Fraser,
Schoolhouse, Dyce ; Mr. Grant, Logie Buchan, Mr.
Given Douglas, Bridge Cottage, Cluny; Mr. J. K.
Ledingham, Slap, Turriff; Mr. M'Farlane, Old Aber-
deen: Mr. Maekay, Dunbeath, Caithness; Mr. Ogg, 0
Crispon Place; with power to add to their number.
The committee are empowered to draw up rules and
regulations for the conduct of the Association.

NORTH-EAST OF IRELAND BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

At the third of a series of meetings held in connexion
with the above Association at 21 Waring Street,
Belfast, on Friday evening, 9th January, Mr. Paul
McHenry read a very interesting paper " entitled 'A
Bee-keeper's Experiences.' John K. "McCausland, Esq.,
Vice-President of the Association, occupied the chair.

Mr. McHenry, after giving- a short sketch of bee-
keeping from the earliest ages commencing with
Aristotle, some 800 years B.C., and noting the various
discoveries which had been made from time to time by
Schirach, Reaumur, Butler, Purchas, Wildman, Swam-
merdam, Huber, and others, and the benefits they con-
ferred mi the bee-keeping world ; the formations of bee
associations in Germany in 1765, and the outcome of
the same ; the offering- of premiums in same year by the
Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Science, Manu-
factures, and Commerce, amounting- to 400/. in all to
encourage bee-keeping; the impetus this gave to the
study was such that forty-two works on the subject
were published in the six years following. The subject
of hives and their inventors was then fully a-0ne into,
commencing with Maraldi, 1712, who brought out a
glass hive by which bees could be seen working-, and the
economy of the hive thus studied, also showing- the
practical improvements which have from time to time
been made by Huber, Langstroth, and the late T. W.
\\ oodbury, who did so much to advance English bee-
culture. The essayist then pointed out the strides
rational bee-keeping had made in Great Britain and Ire-
land, since 1874, in which year the B. B. K. A. was
formed; and the results which followed the tour of the
two experts through Ireland in 1880, viz., Messrs.
Abbott and Carr; also their report to the B. B. K. A.
on Ireland asacountry suited for bee-culture, which was
so interesting- that lie quoted it in full. These gentlemen
pointed out the total want of knowledge which existed
as to the proper means of obtaining honey without
having recourse to the sulphur-pit ; the great amount of
bee-floral luxuriance which abounded all through the
parts of Ireland they had travelled, embracing "Mary-
borough, Clonmel, Newtonards, and various other dis-
tricts. After this the Co. Armagh B. K. A. was formed
in 1881, and to the untiring zeal "and energy of Messrs.
Lett and Greer the present position of bee-keeping in
the North of Ireland is in a great measure due. This
Association was amalgamated "with the North-East of
Ireland B. K. A. in July 1884, and at present is in a very
heaithy condition, the members owning over 300 bar-
frame hives. Mr. McHenry then went fully into the
means whic-n he adopts, and which he finds fairlv suc-

cessful, commencing- with the class of bees, hives, time
for spring feeding, and the necessity for same; when
and how to super ; the duration of the honey harvest in
Ins neighbourhood ; the preparation of stocks for winter,
and said the key to successful bee-keeping was acting on
Oettl's golden rule, ' Keep your stocks strong.' °IIe
advocated bee-keeping as a profitable pursuit, even when
it did not pay, the watching- of the very interesting
movements of the bees afforded pleasure', health, and
recreation. He then recommended bee-keepers to o-row
crocus, limnanthes, arabis, and borage; and said, although
he had read to the contrary, he had proved bees will pasture
at home if means are provided for them to do so ; and
where possible to prove things for themselves— it would
give them some trouble, but they would be all the better
for it. He recommended all going in for bee-keepino- to
join the N. E. I. B. K. A., stating that it brings bee-
keepers together, and that there are at present members
who have given the study much time and attention, both
able and willing to give advice to beginners, and con-
cluded by hoping that the year they had just entered on
would be a happy one for bee-keepers anil a prosperous
one for the N. E. I. B. K. A.

The paper was then very favourably criticised by
several of the fraternity, and a cordial vote of thanks to
the essayist and chairman brought the meeting to a
close.

PRACTICAL BEE-KEEPING.

(Head at a meeting of the Huntingdonshire Bee-Keepers'
Association.)

I was invited some weeks ago to read a paper upon
this occasion with reference to the above, which I had
great pleasure in doing-, feeling sure that the remarks, I
am about to make, being based upon nothing short of
practical experience, will prove in some degree useful to
tin- bee-keeping' fraternity.

Having- satisfied myself as to the best kind of hive to
use, and the most pleasant and profitable course to pursue
in bee-keeping, I am quite willing to give my experience
for the benefit of others. I do not, of course, expect my
system to meet with the approval of everyone ; different
bee-keepers have different ways of working. ' Some »o
in entirely for comb honey and others for extracted honey.
But my experience is that it is best to work our apiaries
for both kinds, the demands for such being about equal —
at all events, such is the case with myself. I find, too,
that the demands are larger every year; therefore I want
as much honey as I can possibly' get with an increase of
stocks at the same time, to enable me to get more honey
in future. But how to get an increase of stocks without
diminishing the present yield of honey has been a diffi-
culty I have laboured hard to overcome. Most bee-
keepers appear to be agreed that if increase of stocks be
obtained through natural or artificial swarming, the yield
of honey will not be so large the same year as would
have been the case had swarming have been prevented.
But having studied the subject for several years and
tried several experiments, I have so far succeeded in .sur-
mounting the difficulty that I am able to get an increase
i if stocks to the extent of oO per cent of the original
number in one year without the sacrifice of a single
pound of honey.

I also have a system that will entirely prevent swarm-
ing when increase is no longer desirable. It is nothing
unusual to hear bee-keepers speak of swarming as ' a
very great nuisance.' In the spring it causes them a lot
of trouble and anxiety, and also unnecessary expense for
hives, &c., and in the autumn they are at a' loss to know
how to dispose of their surplus stocks to the best advan-
tage. _ They try some, so-called non-swarming system,
but fail to accomplish the desired object, and conclude
that whatever may be said or done bees will insist upon
swarming. Such, however, is not the case. I am quite

44

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,

[February 1, 1885.

sure that if I had a given number of stocks in the spring
and did not want any further increase, I could go through
the season without making a single artificial swarm, or
running the risk of a single natural swarm issuing. The
process is most simple, and which I shall explain further
on. But if we are to manage our bees with the maxi-
mum of pleasure and profit and the minimum of labour
and annoyance, it is of the greatest importance that good
hives be used, not only well made, but of such a descrip-
tion that will give the best facilities for manipulation
and the largest yield of honey. It is not, however, my
intention to dwell upon the hive question — that would
require a lengthy paper of itself — suffice it to say, that
during the last six years I have made and used a great
many different kinds of bar-frame hives; and having
done so I do not hesitate to say there is none to equal, to
say nothing about surpass, that known as the ' Combina-
tion hive,' which should hold at least twenty British
' Standard ' frames, for while sueh a hive combines
every advantage, it is at the same time free from every
disadvantage. I am the more bold in making this asser-
tion because the decision I have arrived at in this respect
is fully endorsed by nearly every advanced bee-keeper I
know — especiaUy those of many years' experience.

We will take it for granted, then, that our bees are in
such hives, and for sake of argument will suppose that
we have twelve stocks, six for supering, the rest for ex-
tracting ; taking it also for granted that we want both
kinds of honey. In the spring we must stimulate the
whole of our stocks in the usual manner; but it being
more difficult to get a given number of sections beauti-
fully filled with white honey-comb than to obtain the
equivalent in extracted honey, we must, in the first place,
make comb honey our special object, and get our sections
rilled as early as possible : the earlier we can produce
them the higher prices they will realise. Therefore
stocks that are to be supered must be built up early in
the season ; and for doing that I know of no better
method than the following.

When the whole of our stocks are breeding well and
the weather is warm (sa)' in April) those set aside for
supering should be gradually strengthened with brood
from the other hives until they contain ten frames each ;
any of these that are only partly filled with brood should
be exchanged for full ones from the, hives that are to be
extracted. It might appear at first sight that in adding
so much brood to onr stocks that are to be supered the
queens of the same woidd be 'crowded out,' but if it be
borne in mind that ripe brood is recommended, the diffi-
culty will at once disappear. Brood being rapidly hatch-
ing out from the whole of the frames will not only give
plenty of room for the queen to continue laying her
regular number of eggs, but will bring the stock up to
such extraordinary strength, and at such an early date,
that supering will be necessary much earlier than would
otherwise have been the case, the result being that the
very first flow of honey that comes will be deposited in
sections. When the bees are about to swarm, which
will probably occur by the time they have filled the first
set of sections, and which will be indicated by their
clustering at the entrance of the hive, or raising queen-
cells, which can be easily ascertained — it will then be
necessary to remove the super, slip back the ten frames
of brood from the front to the back of the hive, replace
them with seven frames filled with worker foundation,
and place quilt upon the same. The frames of brood
should then be taken out and the bees shaken back into
the hive close to the frames of foundation, under which
they will quickly run; and when clustered upon the
foundation the same should be closed up with dummy,
the quilt removed, and the super returned. The whole of
the operation need not occupy more than ten minutes.
The bees will work in the super with increased vigour,
and will show no further signs of swarming throughout
the season. The foundation will be worked out into

complete combs in about two days, and there being only
seven in the place of the ten removed, the bees will be
more than ever crowded into the super; and it may be
advisable to add a second crate of sections: but this
should not be done unless absolutely necessary, for, seeing
that we have taken away the whole of the brood, there
will be no further increase for three weeks, and if too
much super room is given sections will not be filled either
so neatly or so rapidly.

The question now arises, what are we to do with the
ten frames of brood just removed from our supered
stock? We will leave them for a moment and turn
our attention to the stocks that are to be worked for ex-
tracted honey, and which, having been robbed of some
of their early brood, have not as yet been in a position
to gather much surplus honey ; but while our first lot of
stocks are filling the first set of sections, the second lot,
— that is, those that are to be extracted, will be occupied
principally in brood rearing, and by the time our supered
stocks are ready to swarm the others will have been built
up into stocks of about ten frames each, and the hives
being large enough to hold twenty such frames, those ten
taken from the supered stock can be added, and should
be placed alternately with those already in use. There
will be several queen-cells upon the combs taken from
the supered stock, but they need not be interfered with,
for when such are placed in strong stocks they are allowed
to remain a certain time uninjured. Therefore we can
leave them for the present in perfect safetj-. A few days
later on the stock must be examined for the purpose of
finding the queen. The comb upon which she is found,
with also a second comb of brood hone)', pollen, and ad-
herent bees, must be put into a new hive and placed upon
a new stand, the two combs being closed up with dummy
and the entrance of hive narrowed so as to admit not
more than two bees at a time. This nucleus, small as it
is, can, with a little care, such as feeding a little at first,
and so on, be built up into a stock by the end of the
season equal to any in the apiary. The hive to be ex-
tracted will now contain eighteen frames, which must be
carefully examined, and every queen-cell, except one, re-
moved. Some advise that it is best upon such occasions to
leave two cells to insure against failure, but my experience
is that there is nothing more productive of failure. Far
better lose a young queen, especially when there are
plenty on hand, than a swarm from an 18-frame hive,
which would be sure to issue if the two queens hatched
at one time, and if such occurred in the absence of the
bee-keeper loss would be almost inevitable. But if only
one royal cell is left there is no such risk to run.. By
the time the young queen has hatched out aud become
fertilised the greater part of the worker brood will also
have hatched, and it then being the midst of the honey
season the cells will be filled with honey as fast as the
young bees leave them. We can then extract to our
heart's content, and thus not only make room for more
honey, but also for the young queen to lay her egg>, and
no swarming, or signs of swarming, will occur. Having
treated the whole of our twelve stocks in the manner I
have described, we shall be in possession of eighteen
stocks, or, in other words, have increased 50 per cent;
and I think it will be very plainly seen that by working
upon the above system we shall get more honey of both
kinds than would have been the case had each hive
been left to its own merits. We shall also avoid a very
great difficulty by having nothing but old combs to ex-
tract from, while our newly built ones, which are tender
and always very difficult to handle, are being used for
breeding purposes, and thus getting toughened in readi-
ness fur extracting purposes the next year.

When we find that we have nearly as many sections
filled as we shall be likely to require, and wish to get
more extracted honey, the supers from two stocks, which
we will call A and B, can be removed, the brood taken
from A and given to B, which is new to be worked for

February 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

45

extracted honey. Stock A must be replenished with six
or seven frames, tilled with worker foundation, to be
worked out and tilled witli stores for winter, which will
probably be as much as the bees will do, the best part of
the season being over when the operation talces place.
If the queen in stock B is over three years old she should
be destroyed, and steps taken to induce the bees to raise
several queen-cells, all of which can be left until they
are about ready to hatch ; all spare ones can then be re-
moved and utilised for re-queening stocks that have aged,
or other undesirable queens. We shall thus keep the
whole of our stocks headed with young prolific queens,
all of which will have been reared under natural, and
therefore the most favourable circumstances, without
breaking up or in any way injuring a single stock for
aueen-rearing purposes'.

When I have as many stocks as I want and wish, to
prevent further increase, I shall work upon a system
similar to that described; that is, I shall strengthen my
stocks for supering in early spring with frames of brood
from the other hives. When they show siorns of swarm-
ing, I shall take away the brood, and add the same to
the hives that are to be extracted ; but instead of taking
two frames of brood, Ac. from the latter for the purpose
of starting a fresh stock, I shall simply destroy the
queen, and every queen-cell except one. I shall thus
entirely prevent swarming, both with mv supered stocks
and those to be extracted also. The hives that are
supered one year will be the ones to be extracted the
next, so that every queen, when in its third year, at
which time its prime is passed, will be destroyed.

With a dozen stocks I should require 7 lbs. of founda-
tion to carry me through the season; at the end of the
season I should have forty-two spare combs, which I
should melt down into wax, and which would realise
nearly enough to cover cost of foundation. Old combs
would of course be selected for the purpose. Thus my
apiary would not only he free from old queens, but
worn-out combs also. I should require no new hives,
nor should I have any expense whatever to meet, except
that for sections and sugar for feeding.

There is one more question I would like to touch upon
before concluding my paper. I refer to the removal of
the queen, which some appear to have a great objection
to ; for while admitting that such a process increases the
present yield of honey, they contend that the future
prosperity of the stock is injured. Such, however, is not
my experience. I first tried the method two vears ago,
and when going into winter quarters witli thirty stocks,
the best of the wdrole lot was one from which the queen
had been removed during the honey season, and a young
one hatched out. The same thing has occurred 'again
this year, which inclines me to the belief that the young
queen, coming out in full vigour, will more than recoup
the time lost through the removal of the old one. If
there is anything in my system that is not clearly under-
stood, I shall be pleased to endeavour to make it more
plain : and if any one can suggest an improvement, I
hope they will do so, so that we may each benefit one
another, and thus he able to work upon the best and
most profitable system in practical bee-keeping.— A.
Shaup, The Mill Apiary, Huntingdon.

jfoTciqn.

ITALY.
The Apicojtore, which with the present number enters
upon the eighteenth year of its existence, publishes
the official list of the prizes awarded in the Apicultural
section of the National Exhibition, held at Turin in the
autumn of last year. The gold medallists are four in num-
ber, two of whom are well known in England as breeders
and exporters of Italian queens, viz., 'Signor Giacomo

Bertoli of Varallo-Sesia, and Signor Lucio Paglia of
Castel S. l'ietro, near Bologna.

The Rev. Giotto Ulivi, of l'ievano in Oampi-Bisensio,
Tu-cany, whose bee-hive and principle of culture are
well known to the whole bee-world as the 'Giotto' hive
or the ' Giotto ' principle, has decided upon publishing a
monthly journal under his own editorship, to be called
L'Apirultura Razionale risorta in Italia.

FRANCE.

The general annual meeting of the members of La
Socio te d' Apiculture de la Gironde was held at Bordeaux
on the 12th of December last. Mons. Contiege, general
secretary of the Society, in the chair. In the course of
the proceedings, the treasurer handed in his report of the
results obtained from the apiary of the Society last year,
and the figures show that the honey harvest amounted
to 4;i0 kilos, (the kilo, is 2{ lbs.), :!:!0 of which had
already been disposed of at 00 centimes (!) pence) per
kilo., less discount. A comparison shows that the re-
venue derived by the Societv from its apiarv was, in

1881 " .' 68.00 i'cs.

1882 219.40 „

13S:J 396.55 „

1884 about 400

The meeting expressed their satisfaction at this steady
increase in the revenue of their apiarv, and after an ex-
change of a few remarks of a general character the
members dispersed.

The Bulletin de la Sucicte d 'Apiculture de la Gironde,
of Bordeaux, like the majority of the other Continental
Bee Journals, reproduces Mr. Cheshire's recent communi-
cations regarding foul brood.

CUBA.

Bee-keeping on this island is in the experimental stage
as yet. This apiary, being the first and only one run on
the moveable frame plan, has not been established long
enough to fully demonstrate whether it can be made a
success or not. As you perhaps know, the principal
honey flow comes here in the winter months, and the
amount of honey in the flowers at that unnatural time
of the year is most astonishing, for in an experience of
many years, and extending over a wide range of country
(California included), I have never seen any plant that
surpassed the bell-flower of Cuba for amount and
quality of honey.

This great flow of nectar, coming as it does in the
winter, has one advantage — that is, the apiarist can run
his bees up as strong as it is possible to do, and there is
not the slightest danger of swarming. At first thought
the northern bee man might think this a consideration
not to be lost sight of, and in fact it is in one sense, in
another it is not. We must who remember that December,
January, and February, are winter months, and that it is
winter time with the bees. Although they are in the
tropics, tbeiv nature is not materially changed, and long-
before the honey flow commences (which is usually the
first of December), the bees tell the apiarist that winter
is approaching, by thequeens refusing to lay as they do in
the spring; by their sealing up all air-holes; by the com-
plete slaughter of all drones; by the absolute absence of
preparations to swarm ; by the cross and petulant dis-
position of the workers, and by their disposition to ball
and kill the queens when they are disturbed. All these
go to show that winter is close at hand. But winter
does not come with the severity that it does in the north.
The sun shines, and it is nice autumn weather ; the
flowers bloom, and the bees gather what honey they can
in the short days, and with their small force of workers.
But after they get the honey stored, it is a job to take it
from them — they are so very cross. There is one thing
in favour of this winter flow that I did not mention, i.e.,
it lasts for two months good, and for six weeks more
about half a flow.

Did this winter honev-flow come in the months of

4G

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[February 1, 1885.

April and May, enormous results could be realised, for
by the first of April the colonies are strong; but then
the surplus season is gone, and the apiarist has on his
hands full colonies, with no use for them except increase.
There is a surplus of bees on hand, out of season, for
swarm they will, and by so doing they reduce their
strength to go through the four months' dearth of honey
that is to follow the last days of June. Then feeding has
to be resorted to, or many colonies will perish, and the
moths destroy the combs.— A. W. Osbuiin, San Miguel
de Jarueo, Cuba, Dee. 10.

BEE-KEEPING IN INDIA.

In your review of my "little book, you were kind
enough to point out two apparently erroneous statements ;
please accept my thanks. Should a second edition of the
book be published there are several points in which I am
conscious it might be improved. The statement, ' The
queen lays queen, worker, and drone eggs,' appears to me
a perfectly correct one, it would, however, be less likely
to be misunderstood if stated differently, e.g., ' The queen
normally lays all the eggs which hatch into queens, into
workers, and into drones.' I am quite aware of the whole
course of the controversies on the determination of the sex
of the egg or larva ; but I think, avoiding all controversial
matter, an egg laid in a queen-cell and hatching to a
queen is in plain language a queen egg, notwithstanding
the admission that the same egg laid in a worker cell
would have hatched to a worker ; it is not a worker egg,
and it is more correct to say queen eggs may be changed
to worker by transference to worker cells than to insist
that there are no queen eggs, but queens are hatched
from worker eggs. In bee-keeping technical phraseology,
it is generally stated that queens are hatched from worker
eggs, because the process of hatching a queen from an egg
which would otherwise have hatched to a worker is
familiar, whereas the converse is not : still it is illogical,
for an egg laid in a queen-cell and hatched to a queen
cannot justly be termed a worker egg, and obviously the
existence of the queen and queen egg must have preceded
in time that of the worker and worker egg. You also
state ' Wax is the only means of fixture ' of the combs to
the frames. I have handled many combs new and old,
and a new almost white comb certainly does not appear
to be fixed with propolis, it is difficult to distinguish the
propolis in an old comb ; it seems to me the wax fixing
the comb differs from ordinaiy wax. I have not, how-
ever, tested it. I concluded you were correct, and even
admitted my error ; but knowing I must have had some
grounds for my assertion, I looked up the subject in a
few books. I find it is generally accepted that propolis is
used with the wax in fixing the combs, although it is
not added immediately the comb is commenced — Vide,
Dzierzon's Rationelle Bienenzucht, p. 35 (edition, Brieg,
1878) ; Vogel, Die Honit/biene, p. 59 (Mannheim, 1880);
Die Bienen /jeituvj/ , republication systematically arranged;
Cook's Manual of the Apiary, p. 113, &c. I have evi-
dently sinned in good company, but I will make some
observations as opportunity offers ; it seems to me
probable on a priori grounds bees would so use propolis
when available.*

* Notwithstanding the above special reasoning of our
correspondent, we venture to hazard a conjecture that
should a second edition of his Handbook be called for, we
shall find that our friendly remarks have not been un-
heeded, and that he will declare that the queen-bee lays
only two kinds of eggs, worker and drone. When he has
completed the ' observations ' he purposes to make to prove
that propolis is used in the attachment of the comb to the
frame, we shall be pleased to have the opportunity of
transferring them to our columns. In the meantime we
would^ suggest that the declaration that honeycomb ' is
fixed firmly to the top bar and sides by means of propolis,'
should be considerably modified.

The following news may interest your readers: — I
have an Italian queen, bred and impregnated in India ;
not having made the journey from Europe she is very
prolific, and I have had to remove her stock from the
apiary, as they robbed the others and removed all the
stores from one of the other hives. I tried all the usual
means to stop the robbery, hut found removal the only
practicable alternative. A rag dipped in methylated
spirit actually drove away the robbers for one" day;
kerosene oil and solution of carbolic acid had no effect.
I have three other stocks of Italians, weak, but doing
well, and one very weak and vicious stock with an
inferior queen. I had foul brood in one stock, and it
apparently spread to another; I kept the bad stocks
going by brood from a third stock ; I destroyed their
brood twice, I sprayed, disinfected, and fed on medicated
syrup, and changed the hives, but without curing the
disease, which threatened to terminate disastrously my
attempt to introduce Italians. I tried phenol, but the
diseased stock remained diseased. I then concluded the
queen must be the cause of the mischief, as her brood
was mostly drone, so I destroyed the queen and gave the
bees a frame of eggs and brood ; they reared a new queen,
who commenced to lay three weeks afterwards, and the
disease disappeared. The queen destroyed, and the in-
ferior queen I have still, were both imported in queen-
boxes with very few bees. I find queens should be im-
ported in nuclei in well-ventilated boxes. I have a queen
who has been in India two years, she is very prolific,
and her bees are very good-tempered. Of thirteen queens
imported, I have only saved three good ones, and one
bad one ; two of the good ones only arrived in Septem-
ber last, and may fail. I am of opinion the Italian bees
will do very well in India after I have bred some queens
here, which I hope to do this season ; the queens lay,
and pollen is obtainable, all the year round.

Apis indica, var. Bhootan, is a larger bee and an un-
described variety or species ; its cells are 5J to the inch,
and the bee when distended is much like an Italian. It
is an elevated region bee ; it works earlier and later than
the Italians at present; it is exceedingly mild in dis-
position, and is said to fill its hive with bees and comb.
I have a stock under observation ; several other stocks are
being observed. Captain B. Fulton, of the Bengal Staff
Corps, keeps this bee in Bhootan, and from this gentle-
man I obtained a stock. I do not anticipate this variety
will prove equal to the Italian.

I find A. indica very liable to moth, permitting the
moth to collect on the floor-board undisturbed. Tint
Italians, even in weak nuclei, are proof against the moth,
although here the warm, damp climate is extremely
favourable to moth. The largest yield from any hive of
Apis indiea cultivated in a favoured locality by a
European bee-keeper of several years' experience in
Australia has been .'!0 lbs. of honey, but this appears to
be exceptional ; the variety is greatly inferior in every
way to the European varieties, and its yield far more
precarious. The variety cultivated on the Himalayan
slopes I hope to replace hy the Italians ; with ordinary
success Italian nuclei will be issued to a dozen persons
in different parts of the country during this season.

I have set before myself the task — 1st!)', of examining
the several varieties of the honej' bee indigenous to India
and its dependencies, with reference to economic value
and natural affinities, working out a classification of
these insects on morphological grounds ; 2ndly, of intro-
ducing the Italian bee to take the place of the very
inferior varieties of Apis indiea, and introducing modern
bee-culture to the natives of India ; 3rdly, of finding if
any Asiatic species or variety exists which would prove
on cultivation superior to the hive-bees cultivated in
Europe and America.

The descriptions of persons unacquainted with bee-
keeping are of little or no value, I am therefore keeping
each variety likely to prove valuable. Apis dorsata 1 am

February 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

47

convinced is unsuitable to cultivation in Europe, it is a
widely different species from A. meUifica, so that a cross
appears impracticable, but 1 think I have at last dis-
covered a variety of A. indica which may be of use to
European bee-keepers. This bee is cultivated in stone
bee-houses sometimes 25 feet high; it appears to be
larger than A. lifflistica, judging from the dead specimens
I have, and I am about to send properly made portable
hives for two stocks. The result of my observations I
■will communicate as soon as known. As I am working
in the interests of European bee-culture as well as for
the benefit of our Asiatic fellow-subjects, I should feel
obliged by specimens of queen, drone, and worker, of the
varieties cultivated in Europe and of the Egyptian bee.
These are required for comparison, and would be pre-
ferred if killed by immersion in a very weak spirit, the
spirit being' gradually strengthened until equal parts of
strong spirit and of water are present. Dried specimens
thoroughly dried and packed in pill-boxes with scraps of
thin paper (not cotton wool) would be of great use.

I find the single extractor like Abbott's' Little Wonder'
very laborious to use, and I attribute this to a defect in
the principle. A much better cheap extractor may be
made by making two shallow cans somewhat like the
Abbott can, but open top and bottom for convenience in
cleaning-: these cans are fastened together so as to be 10
or 1- inches apart, and are supported by a central wire
or red bent thus : i Below the cans are joined by a
funnel opening be- j low. Two combs being put.
in, the extractor is I supported by the left hand and
spun with right, the honey falls through the funnel into a
pail or other vessel, in which the rod
rests. I use a can with a simple centre
step soldered in the bottom ; as each can
is filled its cover is put on and it is re-
placed by an empty our. This extractor
is not at all fatiguing to use, and is ex-
ceedingly cheap ; it is most effective.
The netting used is common half-inch
mesh, and all the honey can be imme-
diately extracted from thin weak combs
of A. indica without injuring the combs, the greater
part of the tin used should be a common thin quality,
stout strips being only used for attachment of the
cans to each other and to the central rod. Instead
of using the left hand alone as a support, a piece of
wood with a hole through it, pressed against the wall,
may be used and is more convenient; when the speed is
gained the machine is allowed to run, it does not require
further driving as the balanced combs act as a fly-wheel,
This extractor is sufficient for small apiaries, it will
extract from one comb or from two at a time. — J. C.
Douglas, Calcutta, December 30th, 1884.

(feTcspontrwrc.

%.* A 11 Cm-respondents forwarding Letters for insertion in
the Journal, Reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes
from the Hives, Queries, <tc. , are requested to direct their com-
munications to ' The Editor of the " British Bee Journal," e/o
Messrs. Strangeways <i- Sons, Tower Street, Upper St. Martin's
Lane, W.C

OUR HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the United Kingdom
during the month of December, 1884, amounted to
2720/. [From a private return sent by the Principal,
Statistical Department II. M. Customs to E. H. Rellairs,
Wing-field, Christchurch.]

Through the kindness of Mr. Seldon, the Principal of
the Statistical Department H. M. Customs, who has sent
me each month for a period now of two years returns
showing the amount of foreign honey entering the ports
of Great Britain (which returns have been published
from time to time in the pages of the British Bee Journal )

we are enabled to compare the various months for each

yrear. Below will be found a tabular statement ; and as

these figures are collected entirely through the courtesy

of the principal, there being no official instruction for

including honey in the regular Tables of Returns, the

gratitude of bee-keepers is due to Mr. Seldon for the

trouble he has taken in the matter. From the many

letters I have, received on the subject, I need hardly

express the great interest bee-keepers take in these

figures, showing as they do how much we pay the

foreigner for honey, although I cannot think they show

the capacity of the British public for the consumption of

honey even when added to the home production. — E. II. B.

Month. Ins.; 1884

January . . . £1,612 . . . £2,031

February . . . 2,175 . . . 2,234

March. . . . 1,535 . . . 2,515

April .... 1,518 . . . 4,962

May .... 4,781 . . . 5,245

June .... 3,534 . . . 15,387

July .... 7,496 . . . 10,089

August . . . 6,262 . . . 1,019

September . . 972 .. . 6,453

October ... 725 .. . 5,388

November . . 1,908 . . . 4,272

December . . 1,260 . . . 2,729

Total

£33,778

£62,357

A MEDIUM'SIZE SECTION.

While admitting the necessity of a standard frame, I
desire to plead for more allowance being made in the
selection of the size of sections. I take it that the prin-
cipal reason for adopting a standard frame was to insure
the size of every hive might, be the same, and that there
should be no uncertainty on this point, when ordering
one from any maker. This does not apply to sections, and
I do not quite like the hard-and-fast rule in this case ; in
fact, I am an advocate for the ' happy medium ' in all
things. The two-pound sections are generally admitted
to be too large, and I am of opinion that the one pound
(which do not contain one pound) are too small. I have
used many of all kinds and sizes, but those containing
about a pound and a half, or rather less, are the best :
they are beautiful when nicely filled, convenient to
handle, and are more readily accepted by the bees than
the one pound. Nor do I think there need be any diffi-
culty in framing the rules in this respect.

Surely more liberty might be allowed to each individual
bee-keeper on this point ; and I sincerely hope that, if
standard sizes of sections are to be absolutely necessary
for exhibition, an intermediate size between the one anil
two pounds should be admitted.

The one-pound sections do not evidently satisfy all, as
appears bjr the correspondence in your last issue ; and I
should be glad to hear if others do not agree with me as
tc the necessity of a medium-size section. — W.

STANDARD SECTIONS.

I consider both John Bull and S. Simmins are wrong,
and the B. B. K. A. is right upon the standard size for
1-lb. sections, I am satisfied 4 x 4| is going out, and
4j x 4} is growing in favour. I buy a large quantity
of 1-lb. sections of honey. In 1880 about 15 per cent were
4 x 4i ; I have bought more this year than last, and
from bee-keepers in different parts of the country, yet
there has not been among them oue section 4 x 4|: this
I think is an evidence that the majority of bee-keepers
are using the 4} x 4j section.

I am surprised that such a practical man as Mr. S.
Simmins should say the 4j x 4|- will not hold 1-lb. of
hone}', and the size is not suitable for standard frames.
I have 4} x 4} sections now in stock weighing 18 oz.
perfectly flat. During the summer I have bought some
containing 10 oz. of honey without bulging. I desire no

48

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[February 1, 1885.

tetter size for standard frames, a top bar on a -wide frame
for sections is an abomination when taking out full
sections, especially if they are propolised and covered
with bee-. I always make my ordinary frames with a top
bar A-inch thick, it is much better and firmer to handle
than J when full of honey; for the section frame I also
use i in. sides and bottom bar g thick, thus leaving §
space between the bottom liar and the floor-board. As
it may be useful to some amateurs who make their own

frames, I enclose a rough sketch giving the dimensions)
and showing how I put my wide frames together to
obtain strength and firmness to bear the weight of the
section wdien filled. I find no sagging with the bottom
bar because the bees prnpolise all together firmly before
the sections are filled with honey.

If John Bull will put stouter sides to his crates and
use broad shoulder frames, no packing will be necessary.
— L. WrtF.x, Lotvestoft.

SECTIONS.

As a cottager, I must raise my humble protest against,
the committee of the B. B. K. A. debarring other
than 4j x 4j sections from the Treston or any other
shows. Why do they try to incur unnecessary expense
upon poor people who have not the means to change from
one size to another with all its necessary expenses ? I
have, for instance, naturally expected that when a
standard section was adopted the one fitting best into the
standard frame would be selected. Judge my surprise
when 4j x 4j — which raises the height li inches above
the top of my frames — is preferred to 4j x 4 inches,
which I can nicely work inside. I must, if the resolution
stands good, get another supply of sections, crates, and
packing crates, or be debarred from competing. What
does this mean ? It means that I am to be excluded from
the shows. It also means that several others whom I
know and are using the same class of sections, will be
hindered from competing, all on account of a lack of fore-
thought by our advanced lights.

I heartily join John Bull and S. Simmins in asking for
reconsideration, and trust the committee will have suffi-
cient benevolence to enable them to comply with such a
reasonable request. I do sincerely hope that they will
continue to manifest their customary consideration of the
humble cottager in all their deliberations. — Station
Mastee.

SIZE OF SECTIONS.

I am glad to see that others besides myself do not
approve of the size adopted by the Committee of the
13. B.K. A. for sections, and trust that it is not yet too
late for them to recall their decision. I cannot agree
with your reply to ' R. E. C in your paper of the 1st
January, to which you refer me, inasmuch as the stand-
ard frame is just the size for the 4 in. b}' 4iiu. sections
by making the ends of the frames J in. thick, which is
quite sufficient when the bottom bar is nailed to them
with 1{ in. or lr, in. French wire nails, and they may be
strengthened with l in at the corners, if considered ad-
visable, but I have. used them for two years without any
tin, by this means you can have a thin bottom bar, and
a top bar, or if you prefer, you can discard the top bar,
and make the bottom one thick, so that two sections will
be just the height of the frame, and as the 4 in. by 4i in.
sections do not hold a full 1 lb. when separators are
used, they may, as Mr. Simmins says, be made a little
higher, say 4g in. by 4i in. outside, and the bottom or
top bar thinned to suit.

Another advantage of having the frames retained the
proper size to hold these sections is, they would also be
the proper dimensions for the 4 in. by OJ in. sections to
hold lilbs., if any one chose to adopt them for their own
use; and, indeed, when the standard fram.3 was first
adopted, it seemed to me that it was done for the purpose
of being able to use the 1 and ljlb. sections in section
frames in the hive, but the B. B. K. A. now discard both
and adopt sections which are altogether unsuitable for
the frames they adopted, as, to suit them, the endsof the
frames should be 1 in. thick, thus having a lot of waste
timber in the hive, or else too much space should be left
between the side of the hive and the ends of the frames.
So far as the shape of the hive and frames are concerned,
I believe they would be just as good, if not better, if
made to suit the 4} in. by 4j in. sections, but since the
B. B. K. A. have adopted the present size for frames and
hives, let them keep to them, and not be changing to put
money into the pockets of those who make or deal in
hives. Indeed, if the resolution to adopt the 4 \ in. by
4j in. sections be persisted in, bee-keepers may expect, at
no distant date, either to find the size of the hive and
frames changed, or else the 4 in. by 4i in. sections
adopted in lieu of the committee's present favourite, and
thus, one way or other, money will go into the pockets
of dealers in apiarian appliances, and assist bee-keep-
ers in getting disgusted with the expense attendant on
becoming an advanced bee-keeper — the opposite of
which I trust will be the case — and as the B. B. K.A.
and your Journal have so much advanced bee-keeping,
may they continue to do so. — Boz.

SIZE OF SECTIONS.
I am sorry to differ from Mr. Simmins in his con-
clusion that because the B. B. K.A. has adopted the.
4|x4j- size section, that British honey will be stamped
as being of American production. May I ask what does
the British public know of American comb honey in
sections ? Practically nothing. And as the ' Iloney
Company ' intend dealing in British honey exclusively,
that of itself will be a sufficient guarantee as to the
source of the produce they offer for sale. And again, no
doubt Mr. S. is quite right in his surmises why (for one
reason) the Association decided on the 4j x 4j size, viz.,
because they have been so generally used ; and if so, it
was a very valid reason for their decision. Mr. S. must
not forget the hundreds of crates that have been sold
these last few years, all constructed to take 4'rx4^
sections, and also' the numbers of supers for straw skeps,
all made to take the same size of section. Has not
the slender pocket of the poor cottager to be considered
in the matter 'i Fancy his dismay on receiving his 100

February 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,

49

or 200 sections, and then find when he had folded them,
tixed the foundation, that he could not get them into his
crate, or into his super on his skep ; and very likely the
only carpentry tools he possesses is a saw and a wood-
chopper, and possibly a hammer, or a small hatchet, that
docs dutv for both wood-chopping and nail-driving. Those
bee-keepers that have invested in crates to lake the 4 X 4-i-
size can easily wedge up 1 heir 4 j x 4^- sections with a strip
of board inside their crates, but not so with crates made
to take the Standard size. If another and a longer size had
been determined on by the B. B. K. A., the crates would
have required considerable alteration ; and as regards the
new size section proposed by Mr. S., one may as well
make section-frames to hold 4 j x 4 j size sections as
4^ x 4i- size sections. — Woodleigh.

[The B. B. K. A. has not yet adopted any size of sec-
tion, nor can it do so until the Association holds its
Annual General Meeting. Nor has the British Honey
Company in any way pledged itself to deal exclusively
in British Honey, — on the contrary, it has taken the
fullest power possible, and has therefore the fullest liberty
of action. — Ed.]

DIMENSIONS OF SECTIONS.

Surprise was expressed in your last issue by two cor-
respondents that the B. B. K. A. should have adopted as
its 1-lb. standard section the dimensions — 4j x 4j x 2 in.
I am not aware that there has been at present any
adoption at all, but I sincerely hope that the Association
will put forth, as a standard, this section, because it is
the one in general use, and it works extremely well
beside the standard frame. I shall be much more sur-
prised than either of these gentlemen if the Association
adopts any other size.

Nine-tenths of the 1-lb. sections manufactured in
America are of this size, and there is no use in blinking
the fact that we are chiefly dependent on our trans-
atlantic cousins for our sections. I have carefully
examined the English-made sections of most firms, and
have seen none equal to the American, either in work-
manship or quality.

The fact is ourEnglish makeK cannot obtain the Ameri-
can white woods in bulk at a price low enough to enable
them to compete successfully with American makers. Dur-
ing last season it was almost impossible to obtain sections
at all. Indeed, having imported a few thousands, I was so
besieged that I could have sold many thousands at nearly
double their cost price. How should we have been
situated had we been compelled to use a specialty as
a standard — say 4^ x 4 x 2 — or what one of your
correspondent recommends as ' 4g x 4| (bare) with rim
| thick, &c, &c.;' from which, pray, sir, if you have any
power at all in the matter, deliver us. Now in practice
sections are never used in ordinary brood frames, other-
wise something might be said in favour of the 4i x
4x2 as best fitting the standard frame. But taking
the 4f in. section as the unit of the standard section
frame, we can very conveniently tit six sections into one
frame by dispensing with a top bar, making the fiame-
ends i in. thick, and allowing space enough beneath the
bottom bar to prevent crushing the bees. In this way I
have worked 4 j-in. sections with the greatest ease and
suacess ever since the establishment of the standard frame
in 1882. And, in my humble opinion, if any other size
be adopted, the standard section will become a ' hole-and-
corner ' thing for the benefit of a few English makers
only. If we are to have free-trade, let us have it in its
entirety.

The allegation that the 4|-in. section does not hold
1 lb. of comb-honey is incorrect. I have a number of
these sections now in my possession which weigli fully
1 lb. No doubt they require to be well filled, but therein
lies the skill of the bee-keeper. I believe there is very
little difference of opinion in regard to the size of the

2-lb. section, viz., 6| x •">] x 2 in., but there are some
who would like to see the 6i x 4 j x 2 in. adopted.

This would be worse even than the proposals of your
correspondents respecting the 1-lb. section. The shape
is thoroughly disliked by the public, and 1 have been
informed by a large dealer in sections that he cannot dis-
pose of them — that when the ordinary 2-lb. section is
selling freely these are left unsold on his counter. The
same arguments which militate against the fancy 1-lb.
sections tell with a twofold force against this shape and
size for a standard 2-lb. section.

For goodness sake, sir, do not let us have any of these
fancy dimensions foisted upon us as standards, but let us
take the two in common use — almost to the exclusion of
all others — and then our standard sections will become
as great a success as our standard frame has already
become.

In competition for prizes at the shows of the B.B.K. A.,
make your standard sections a sine qua non, or allow
other sizes to compete with them ; and so let them win
their way as the standard frame has done; but don't
impose upon us as a standard the pet sections of any
single person or clique. — Anti-Humbug.

SIZE OF SECTIONS.

I cannot but feel that the decision of the B.B. K.A.,
in fixing upon certain sizes of sections for the Preston
Show is a step in the right direction ; and that, in
deciding as it has done, the Committee has been guided
by the fact that the sizes adopted are those most
generally used. Indeed, it is only necessary to attend
the numerous honey exhibitions now held to ascertain
that something like three-quarters of the sections
exhibited are of the size chosen. Notwithstanding Mr.
Simmins's remarks in your last issue, I think it is
admitted by bee-keepers generally that a 4} x 4} in.
section can be used with perfect ease in the brood-nests
of hives made to take the Standard frame. Added to
this, it appears to me that a crate to take sections
4x4J in. can easily be adapted for 4yx4j in. section?,
by simply tilling up the space no longer required : whilst
the separators (if used) can easily be fitted to the new
requirements. On the other hand, a 4| x 4} in. crate
cannot be altered with equal ease so as to take 4 x 4i in.
sections. Here is an additional reason why 4| x 4 j in.
sections should be adopted. Most bee-keepers uow-a-
days seem to agree in discouraging a large use of sections
in the body of the hive, but prefer their use in supers.
The importance, therefore, of John Bull's remarks is
very small, especially as strips of carpet, such as he
objects to, are not, in my opinion, altogether a dis-
advantage in helping to confine the heat and make it
rise into the supers. Mr. Sinnnins' recommendation of
a 'British' section seems of little value, when we
remember the ease with which our American cousins
imitate anything which they may think to their own
advantage. Nor do I think such a radical change as he
advocates at all desirable. — It. S. T.

REVERSIBLE FRAMES.

American bee-keepers, who have used reversible
frames, prove that the system of reversing has many
advantages. Up to the present time they have not
arrived at any simple, efficient, and inexpensive manner
of reversing. One of their prominent writers sets forth
the following points as necessary in a complete reversible
frame: — 1st. The lateral movement must he as perfect as
that secured in the use of the ordinary style of suspended
frame. 2nd. The construction must be simple. 3rd. To
reverse the frame must consume no more time than it
takes to simply turn it upside down. 4th. There must be
freedom from sharp points, &c. 5th. The reversing de-

50

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[February 1, 188;"

vice must be inexpensive and capable of being' easily
applied to the ordinary styles of hanging- frames now in
use.

We beg to put before you an invention which we claim
' is the thing required.' The advantages derived from
our patent will be best understood by the following copy

being bent at right angles and so form the shoulder or
rest. A simple contrivance of this kind can be easily
adjusted to any ordinary frame of Standard size. I
have such a one before me, and with your permission
will send you an illustration for insertion in a future
number of your Journal which will better explain than
can be done by words. — Alfred Neighbour.

from the specification. This invention consists in a re-
volving inner frame, it being the easiest and most simple
mode of reversing the comb in the hive proper. The
object of reversing being to compel the bees to store
honey in receptacles placed above the brood combs for
that purpose, it being unnatural for the bees to store
honey in a reversed comb, therefore saving the bee-
keeper perfect control over the bees, both in honey-storing
and brood-rearing. Also compelling the bees to attach
the comb firmly to all the sides of the frame. We claim
that our invention can be attached without difficulty to
any bar-frame in use — Association or others. The
above drawing- shows our inner frame in the act of
revolving or being reversed. A |-inch space is left
between the inner frame and the top bar. The adoption
of this invention will greatly increase the profits of bee-
keeping.— Mason and Buchan, Dalkeith, N.B., January
\oth.

REVERSIBLE FRAMES.

Reversible frames have not yet received much atten-
tion from British bee-keepers, and I hope that during
the coming season many trials will be made so that an
opinion may be formed as to the practical advantages
arising from their adoption.

Those of your readers who peruse the American bee
periodicals will have seen that several correspondents
have written approvingly respecting them.

I have not had any experience in their working myself,
but having occasionally inverted a straw skep and seen the
way in which the bees manage under such circumstances,
leads me to think that the theory is worth being carried
into practice.

When a frame of comb is reversed the honey-cells
are at the bottom and the brood is now uppermost.
The bees will not suffer their stores to be placed in such
an unsafe position and will commence to empty the cells.
In doing- this, the queen is stimulated in her vocation
for which she will have increased space when the cells
are cleaned out, and the honey carried up into the
supers. Thus the whole space within the frames be-
comes devoted to brood, and the hive being strong in
numbers is ready to take advantage of a favourable
opportunity for honey gathering, the produce of which
they will deposit in the supers. Another advantage is
likely to follow, and that is, that the reversed combs
will be built up to the bar and thus a firm slab of comb
will be formed.

In order to give this system a fair trial it is necessary
to have a simple means of adjustment. There have been
several plans advocated, but the one I would bring under
the notice of your readers is constructed of flat iron
coming half way down the two sides of the frames and
working on a pivot so as to be turned either top or
bottom. The wood shoulder will, of course, have to be
sawn off, but their place will be taken by the flat iron

THE HONEY COMPANY.

I see Mr. F. Lyon is not very sanguine of the success
of the British Honey Company ; he says (page 384) that
in nine cases out of ten the object of Companies is to
provide comfortable berths for manager and secretary,
and fees for directors : let us hope that the proposed
Honey Company is the tenth, and that the manager and
secretary will prove themselves worthy of the con-
fidence of the Directors and shareholders, and that the
Company will be the means of bringing the honey-
producer and the honey-consumer within a measurable
distance of each other ; and if in the past the honey-
producer has always found a sale through existing
channels, as bee-keeping is advancing with rapid strides
it is more than probable that in the near future we shall
have a surplus every year, unless the demand very much
increases, and that is just where the Honey Compaq- will
step in and create a demand by putting it up in an uniform
style and being able to keep up a supply all through the
year. Whereas in the past the retailer has not been
able to get honey only at one season of the year, and the
consequence is that a taste for honey as an article of
food has to be created, so to speak, every season, and
then as the retail trader sells out and is unable to re-
plenish his stock the demand dies out with it.

And another valid reason why we should have a Honey
Company is this, that at present the retailer has, as I
have said above, to purchase in as large a stock as they
can get in a lump, and consequently their money is lying-
idle until they have realised, besides the inconvenience
of having a large stock without adequate room for
warehousing the same in a great many instances ; but
when the new Honey Company has started, the retailer,
be he grocer, confectioner, g-reengrocer, or chemist, will
be able to order to suit his wants by the dozen or the
gross, either in section or in bottle, and at all seasons of
the year ; and he will not only have the very great
advantage of purchasing as required, but he will be able
to suit, the tastes of his customers; as all honey must be
graded and classed, he will be able to order the white
clover, sanfoin, bean, May-blossom, heather, and fruit
honey, just as he finds which kind suits his trade best. —

WoODLEIGH.

MULLENHOFF'S THEORY OF TILE ORIGIN OF
BEE-CELLS.

In your issue of Jan. 1 of this year you publish a
translation of Mullenhoff's Theory of the Origin of Bee-
cells, the main purport of which is to show that the
hexagonal cellulatiou of the honey-comb is due, not to
any special and inherited idiosyncrasy in the bee for con-
structing hexagonal cells, but, on the contrary, that the
hexagonal cellulation is a necessity dependent on well-
known physical and mechanical principles.

Although I am somewhat loth to assume to myself the
credit of having pointed out the fact now claimed by
Br. Mullenhoff as altogether new and original on his
part, and particularly as I cannot with certainty affirm
that no other observer or observers prior to myself had
hit upon the same theory, I venture to ask you to allow
me to prove, at any rate, that in a paper by me on a
widely different kind of organic structure, viz., On the
Development uiul Structure of the Diatom Valve* I

* Published in Trans. Hoy. Microscopical Society in 1860.

February 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

51

made the following remarks as long ago as the year
I860:—

'Now in the genera of diatoms which exhibit the
honey-comb structure — that is, where we rind the appear-
ance of a number of little hollow cylinders of considerable
relative depth, and open outwards, in so far as the
siliceous wall is concerned — the conversion of elementary
circular cavities into hexagons is exactly what would
result from pressuw equally exerted in every direction.'
— G. C. Wallich, M.D., Surgeon-Major, Retired List,
U.M.'s Indian Forces, Jan. 22, 1885.

UNFINISHED SECTIONS.

In your reply to J. Nainby, you advise him to extract
his honey and keep the combs carefully till another
season. Allow me to add to that advice by telling him
to put the crate of sections over a good stroug colony of
bees, giving them access to them by the feeding-hole,
without disturbing the quilt or crown-board, and in
twenty-four hours the bees will clear them out perfectly.
1 have several crates of such that I extracted the honey
from, and put them on the hives to be cleared out, and
they are simply splendid combs, and about half of them
were unsealed when taken off the bees ; but I find the
honey extracted from them (the unsealed ones) has
crystallised without the slightest trace of thin, watery
extract on the top, while my neighbour's (cottager's, out
of straw skeps) has not crystallised }-et, and, in fact,
shows no signs of doing so. Can any one suggest a
reason ? I may add, for the benefit of J. Nainby and others,
that I pack my sections containing empty combs in the
crates, first laying the dividers over the bottom, and then
wrapping each crate separately in paper, and storing in a
dry room, and in the spring they will come out as clean
and as white as when packed away ; but if troubled
with the wax-moth, examine each crate a few times
during the winter, and, if necessary, fumigate with
sulphur, as directed in a previous number of the Journal.
— "Woodleigh.

WASPS INJURIOUS TO BEES.

I have proved by experience that wasps are very
injurious to bees, but I find that they generally attack
weak stocks. I had one stock spoiled by them this last
summer ; it was rather a weak one in number of bees,
but plenty of honey, and I have watched the wasps
begin at the end of a row of stocks, and try hive after
hive till they have got a taste of honey, but I have never
seen them carry off the dead bees. 1 tried every means
to save my stock, contracting the entrance, putting
bottles as traps to catch the wasps, destroying every
wasps'-nest I could find or hear of, but still they came.
So at last I united the few bees left to next stock, and
removed my honey they had left to safe quarters. Some
of my neighbours (bee-keepers) lost one, two, or three
each from wasps this last season. I always look out for
them in spring, and endeavour to destroy every one I
can ; they get into the straw hackles on the straw-skeps,
and are very busy about the gooseberry-trees when they
first come into bloom. I intend putting a small premium
on each queen caught within a mile of my apiary in the
early spring. — Woodleigh.

FEENCII HONEYSUCKLE.

I have received a large number of letters from all
parts for the French honeysuckle mentioned by me in
your last issue of the Journal. A large number of appli-
cants have been supplied, and a number remain on hand.
Now, if I had returned their letters unsupplied it would,
with time and postage, have been a loss to me of IV.

upon every letter so returned, the same to the senders;
and, in addition, they would have been disappointed in
not receiving the seed. I could not very well afford to
lose so much upon so large a number of letters. If those
not supplied will kindly wait until the end of the season
they shall be the first to have them when ripe. The seed
could then be sown on gentle heat, protected during the
winter, and it would come into bloom next year, viz., the
same as if< sown in April ; and should any of my appli-
cants remove from their present addresses, they may
inform me by a post-card. I shall be happy to have a
card from any with respect to my suggestion. Of course,
if any desire to have their stamps returned I should not
mind meeting them in half the postage ; but as this would
cause me considerable loss, I hope they will agree to my
suggestion. I can assure them that they shall be honour-
ably used. I have received a number of letters thanking
me for the seed, and in some instances presenting me
seeds of other bee-flowers. I thank a large number of
applicants (both supplied and unsupplied) for their kind
expressions towards me.

Vulture of the Honeysuckle. — Sow about the end of
AprU, and when large enough plant out, to at least each
way, six or nine inches apart; or it may be planted, one
or two plants together, in clusters ; it will then require
no more trouble except cutting down, when dead, at the
end of the season. — W. Hollins, TiUington Avenue,
Stafford.

[We think the above suggestion will meet the views
of the applicants whose desires have not been supplied.
No time will virtually be lost by the proposed arrange-
ment.]

BEE-KEEPING IN SCOTLAND.

Your correspondent, 'J. A. B.,' at page 27, has failed
to produce proof as to the accuracy of his statements —
substituting therefor but ' vindictive opinion ' — and may
be ranked along with that southern ' Hero,' who could
literally 'load a ship with fertile (humble) dormant
queens,' as what is known in the north as ' windy a wee.'
The Scottish ' Heroes ' are to be found in their homes
amongst their bees ; the fledglings, like 'J. A. B.,' pro-
teges of their English brothers, frequent the exhibition
bench, and, success being new to them, flap and crow
vociferously, which does the old hands' hearts good to
see.

Scottish apiarians, without one single dissenting voice,
are unanimous in their opinion of the untiring efforts of
Mr. Bennett, honorary secretary of the ' Caledonian,' to
further the apiarian cause ; but, for the benefit of those
who know no more of Scottish apiculture than ' J. A. B.'
the Major rides his hobbies hard ' for love, and no for
siller,' and has declined point blank, over and over again,
to receive anv testimonial whatever. — J. H., Glasyoic,
Jan. 22.

SIMPLICITY IN BEE-KEEPING.

J. P.'s admirable suggestion in your last issue should
be followed up. Surely the Committee of the British
Bee-keepers' Association might easily issue a specifica-
tion, very caref ully prepared, of the requirements needed
in every satisfactory hive, together with the thickness
and quality of the material to be used, and the price
for which the hive should be supplied. Similar in-
formation could be given about smokers, &c. ; and care
should be taken to include nothing but necessaries,
omitting all that may be termed luxuries. No mention
of makers would, of course, appear, so that any unfair
interference with trade might be avoided. The object
would be merely to educate beginners, tell them what
essentials they need, and the probable outlay necessary.
I can well remember my own difficulty when first I
started bee-keeping. — School Masteb.

51

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[February 1, 188").

DO BEES HEAR?

The remarks at p. 31, of the B. B. J. for loth
January, 1885, ahout bees having a sense of hearing or
the contrary, open up a most interesting portion of their
natural history. I have studied Sir John Lubbock's
delightful book and verified by repeated experiments,
which I may detail at another time, his conclusion that
bees possess a strong sense of colour and can instantly
discriminate one hue from another; but I am not
satisfied with his bee-hearing trials. Sir J. Lubbock's
tests were insufficient, and I do not recollect his taking
notice of what, I think, may yet be found as the solution
of this question, viz., that insects hear or have their
nerves affected by the waves of sound, in a different
way to what we experience, and hence our difficulty in
comprehending how bees hear. My own belief is that
they do hear. Man and the other mammals, and birds,
and reptiles, and fishes, have a great nerve-centre, the
brain, to which the thrills of sound and waves of light
are conveyed by special nerves, whereas in insects there
is no such seat of sensation, hence we find, as regards
their sight, these wonderful conglomerations of facets,
which, regarded from our stand-point as binoculists, are
insoluble puzzles.

How can a bee direct its course through the air with
unerring aim to one flower or the flight-hole of her own
hive, when through the facets of her compound eyes she
sees (so, at least, we think) five thousand images of the
one object ? And may it not be the same with the bee's
organs of hearing, or whatever sense in insects is
analogous to them ? My own experiments which lead
me to think that bees do hear, are, — that when a gun is
fired off in proximity to a hive of bees they momentarily
hush their murmurs — I mean, when this is tried, that it is
done early in the morning or late in the evening when
the bees are quiet ; and that, if a wooden hive in such
a condition is carefully approached, and one gentle tap
given with the finger-nail on any part of the timber,
instantly the bees will notify by their peculiar ' whiss '
that they have had the sound conveyed to them. I had
this insect peculiarity most unpleasantly brought under
my notice a few years ago in a friend's orchard to
which I had gone to destroy a large paper nest
belonging to a colony of wasps. The nest hung on
the branch of an apple-tree; I did not disturb the
insects, and was planning the best way of securing the
nest for my museum, when I happened to lay my hand
on a branch of the same tree, about five j'ards distant
from the nest, when in a moment the wasps rushed out
and stung me rather severely. In this case I could come
to no other conclusion than that the sound of my touch
was conveyed through the branch, — a fact which is easily
tried bv placing the ear close to one end of a sound
piece of timber — say a felled tree — and getting some-
body to tap at the other extremity ; when every touch,
no matter how slightly given, will be distinctly heard
by the listener.

The subject is one well worthy of further elucidation,
towards which I offer these ideas by way, I hope, of
introduction to a long discussion in your valuable
columns. — II. W. Lett, Ardmore Glebe, Lurgan,
Ireland.

LOSS OF A HIVE OF BEES.

Uould any of your readers give a satisfactory explana-
tion of how I came to lose a hive of bees, which
occurred under the following circumstances? — Happen-
ing to look into the doorway one day, I noticed the
entrance was choked with dead bees, so I lifted up the
hive, and to my horror found a good three parts of the
bees dead or dying on the floor-board soaked with
moisture; in fact, they were so wet that when I stirred
them up the water ran away from them, although there
was no crack in the hive where rain or snow could pos-
sibly get in, the other part of the hive being perfectly

dry. They were a fairly strong lot, well covering four
frames, six being in the hive. The week after Christ-
mas day was very foggy in the early part of the night,
with sharp frost towards morning. Could the fog have
got into the hive, and the frost brought on rapid con-
densation, with consequent loss of heat and the lives of
our poor pets ? — F.

[From your description we imagine that your bees
perished from want of ventilation or food — or perhaps
both combined — certainly not from fog. It is also pos-
sible that suffocation, from dead bees blocking up the
entrance, was the cause. These should be cleared away
repeatedly during the winter mouths.]

A GUINEA BAR-FRAME HIVE.

The following is a very brief description of one of
the best hives it has yet been my good fortune to meet
with. It is made by W. AYillcock of Doncaster, and is,
indeed, an excellent hive of the best material, sound, and
thoroughly seasoned, and is extremely well made and
accurately fitted, as well as being substantial and
durable. The hive is 2-1 inches long inside from front to
back, takes the Standard frames, has double walls (pine)
all round, and stauds on four splayed legs of English
oak. The legs are continued up the hive walls to a
fillet at 2 inches from the top. 'ibis fillet runs all round
the hive and c a. Ties the roof, which is of red wood
(deal), and is very carefully made and fitted to exclude
the weather. The holes for ventilation are covered with
very fine wire gauze. The floor-board is double (li inch
thick) reversible, and is carried on sloping runners so
arranged as to wedge it up at the back, while a loose
strip of wood wedges it in front. The entrance is six
inches wide, regulated by slides and protected by a
porch. The internal fittings are fifteen true frames,
standard size, a section frame for the back, divider and
dummy. The outer walls are about 2 inches higher
than the inner, to allow room for supering, if needed, in
summer, and for sufficient packing in winter. For its
price, this hive will be hard to beat. — Yohkshiee.

DESTRUCTION OF BEES BY TITS.

On Wednesday, January 14th, while standing at a
window overlooking my hives, I noticed a pair of great
tits apparently searching for food. In a few minutes one
of the birds flew down to the alighting board of an empty
nucleus and commenced tapping. No bees appearing, it
next flew to the ground, and carried off a bee to the
nearest tree. After this had been repeated many times,
and two of the occupied hives had been tapped at, I drove
the birds away and discovered that the ground — which
by the way was covered some C inches in depth with
'snow — was literally strewn with bees, some of which
were alive. Taking a small bird-trap, i set it carefully,
covered with snow, and baited with dead bees on the
alighting-board of the nucleus. In less than five minutes
one of the tits was caught, and instantly killed, when its
stomach — which was the size of a cherry — was found to
be full of various portions of bees, the most noticeable
being a head complete with proboscides. I then set the
trap for the other bird, anil in about an hour it was
caught likewise. The stomach contained similar sub-
stances. A very small portion only of each bee was
eaten, the head appealing to lie the chief delicacy; the
"tie.' substances found in the stomach consisted of por-
tions of skin, part of the inside of the thorax, and a few
of the front legs. The bees, deprived of the above parts,
were scattered in numbers on the ground. I may also
mention that I carefully timed these tits as they were
eating, and they took in every case from three quarters
of a minute to a minute to devour each bee.

It will be apparent what a great, deal of harm may be

February 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

53

done by these birds sit this season of the year, not only by
the actual destruction of individual bees, but chiefly b)
the constant tapping which keeps the -whole colony in a
state of excitement. The above birds, by the number of
Lees lying on the snow, must have been at work at the
hive doors some hours before they attracted notice. —
A. I. W., Ingham Vicarage, near Lincoln.

(Btljacs frant % |)tbcs.

Honey Cottage, Weston, Leamington, Jan. 22nd. — Bees
on the whole are wintering fairly, though I notice two
or three stocks ( that had stores of honey of their own
gathering) have dysentery very bad. They have plenty
of honey, and had no syrup-feeding' in autumn. — John
Walton.

Hunts, Somersham, January I'-'i. — Matter for echoes
has been scarce lately, as both bees, and to a certain
extent bee-keepers, have been at rest. We have for the
past two months, sincj winter was ushered in by a
rather severe snow-storm, seen very little of our bees, as
thev have only been able to take, during the whole time,
two or three good cleansing flights. On Monday I ex-
amined two lots of condemned bees which I got late last
autumn, after all my stocks were securely packed for the
winter; and having no spare combs, and season being
too far advanced for syrup feeding, 1 tried the experi-
ment of wintering them in two separate hives on empty
combs with cakes of candy above the combs. The last
time I saw them alive was early in December, imme-
diately after the first cold spell of a few days duration.
They had then consumed nearly half of the cake, I had
not examined them from that date to last Monday, when
I found both lots dead and very little more candy con-
sumed. I had no faith in candy alone, but being assured
by Mr. Hewitt (Vol. xi. p. 110) and elsewhere, that bees
will winter on candy alone and come out well in the
spring, I thought I would make the experiment with
these bees. I send this report because I have not noticed
that your request for reports on the trials of this method of
winter feeding has been complied with. — C. N. White,
Hon. Sec, Hunts, B. K. A.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS.

W. — Plants fur Hedges. — Hawthown is admirably
adapted for hedges ; if required more as a bee-flower
than as a formal hedge, the young plants should not
be subject to the usual clipping and pruning, but al-
lowed to grow without any restriction. A very useful
hedge may be had from blackthorn (Prututs spinosa),
the flowers of which come very early in the spring ; a
few Standard Hawthorns may be planted at intervals
of, say, twenty feet. If the hedge is not intended as a
fence against cattle, &c, Snowberry and Broom may
be planted. Of course these cannot be relied upon to
turn stock, but a hedge of Broom in fidl flower in May
is, indeed, a very pleasing sight. The Myrobella Blum
(Prunus myrobelana) is another excellent shrub for
hedges.

T. E. PiOUTH— Bead Bees.— We fear that your bees do
not get suflicient air. Give an entrance of nine inches
by § in. the lower side of the dummy, and one of six
inches, at least in the outer wall of the hive, and clear
away all dead bees and refuse from both entrances.
During a hard, long-continued frost many bees outside
the cluster usually perish.

T. R. — Moving a Stock. — Under the circumstances it
would be best to move your hive at once — say to some
cottager's garden— a couple of miles away, and when
your own removal takes place, to again transfer them
to your new abode. Failing this, vou must run the

risk of the loss of a few bees by moving them at the
time of quitting your present abode. Do not transfer
to another hive until after your removal. For stimu-
lating in March give from half-a-gill to a gill accord-
ing to strength of colony. The wire-gauze system
would not answer, as you would lose a large number
of bees from the excitement caused by confinement.
If fine warm weather prevailed you would probably
lose the colony.

C. II. — Dead Bees. — The brown granular substance of
which you speak is simply refuse wax and pollen
caused by the unsealing of the honey-cells by the bees
to obtain their food. We do not know to what hive
you refer when speaking of ' Neighbour's patent hive,'
but in any case give a dry, clean floor-board, and dis-
turb the bees as little as possible until later in the
season. If they- are in a frame-hive, and you think
they require food, raise the carpet covering — i.e., the
quilt — and place candy over the cluster of bees.
When the cold weather depart?, and the bees begin to
fly, you will probably discover that they are not
suffering from dysentery. A considerable number of
bees die in the winter from old age and other causes
independently of disease.

W. — Combs affected with Foul Brood. — We certainly
should not destroy the combs, but would fumigate
them with salicylic acid, and afterwards spray them
thoroughly with phenol, or a strong solution of car-
bolic acid, using for the latter purpose a 'Cooper's
Patent Protector,' which may be procured at any
ironmonger's for a couple of shillings, and which ejects
the spray with great force.

Busy B., Coleraine. — 1. Boiling Sugar. — You will find
on comparison that the crystals of loaf-sugar are of
considerable size and hard, while those of 'Candy,'
as prepared for bee-feeding, are small and soft. The
water is not all boiled out, the syrup when ready f< ir
stirring to convert it into candy being not very much
stiffer in consistency than honey, and the finished
candy should not be much harder than the hardest
setting honey in cold weather becomes. 2. Fixing
Foundation. — Cut the sheets half an inch shorter
than the length of the frames between the side
bars, and fix it so that a quarter inch space is left on
each side. If made to fit, it will ' buckle ' into waves
when the bees work it.

L. Gilbert, Novice, and F. G. Phef.ce. — Moving
Bees Short Distances. — The time and method of
moving bees depend greatly upon whether they are to
be moved from one part to another of the same
premises, or to other premises, with perhaps a highway
or other property intervening. In either case the best
way is by the swarming process, as frequently described
in our columns as follows : — Make a swarm and place
it upon the old stand, remove the stock to the new
position. At night remove the swarm to the new-
position, and, if increase is not desired, place it on or
near the stock, and in a few days' time reunite. But,
as this can only be done hi swarming weather, the
next best plan is to move the hives a yard a-day until
in the new position. But this is a tedious plan, espe-
cially at a season when the bees are not flying much,
as only the days when they are abroad are to be
reckoned. This plan is obviously inapplicable where
a highway, river, or intervening property, has to be
crossed. The three correspondents above named desire
advice as to moving bees 2o0 yards, a quarter of a mile,
and 100 yards respectively, and whether to move them
now or in the spring. If the second plan can be
adopted we should say the spring, but if circumstances
prevent its adoption the bees must be taken at least
a mile away, and kept there until several opportunities
for flight have occurred before being brought back to
their old locality. If none of the above plans are

54

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[February 1, 188;

suitable, then they must be moved direct to their new
positions, and in this case now will be a better time
than later on, as shorter flights are now taken, and the
danger of returning to the old spot is lessened, although
it, of course, exists. Great care should be taken to
make exit difficult by leaving a board against the
hive front to call the attention of the bees and cause
them to mark the position.

F. OK Preece. — Feeding up for Autumn. — Yes ; the plan
of letting one or more strong stocks do all the work
of storage for the whole apiary lias many advantages.
Not the least being that the clanger of robbing when
weak stocks are being fed is avoided. The same plan
is specially suitable to provisioning condemned bees,
and was recommended in. our columns last July and
August.

E. Williams, Hawarden. — Impending Famine. — The
bees which you sent reached us in a flattened condition,
and quite indistinguishable. In the absence of any
particulars, we should feel inclined to pay special
attention to the hive out of which they were turned.
It is not very unusual to find brood existing at this
season, but the rejection thereof seems to indicate
impending famine.

W. H. D. — 1. Foul Brood. — Your treatment has been
correct so far, and we trust that your stock is cured or
in a fair way to become healthy. By all means
complete the cure before transferring to a new hive.
You will find among replies to other correspondents
some remark's as to moving bees. 2. Cork dust. — The
sample which you send is burnt cork and is not right.
A\ hat you should use is ground cork, which is to be
had for the asking, or for a few pence, of grocers and
fruiterers who sell Almeria grapes, which are im-
ported in barrels with the ground cork packed among
them to prevent bruising. It is as well to leave it in
permanently if your hives are exposed to the sun, as
it tends to keep the heat out in summer and in in
winter. 3. Sections. — The proposed standard hav-
ing been well considered by the Committee, you will
do well to adhere to it. You would not be able to
get a higher price for larger than for the standard
size, if you wished to sell. 4. Distance from centre
to centre of Combs.— 1^ is the exact average
width determined from several measurements, but
1J inches will do, although the bees would prefer
the correct distance and would build to it if left to
themselves.

Gr. — 1. Combination Hire. Bach supering. — Where
sections are worked in the body of the hive, the wide
— i.e. the section — frames, with sections and bees,
when well commenced, should be transferred, as
supers, above the frames (their place below being
filled with others), where the bees will seal, and finish
the sections, more quickly than below. All wide
frames, therefore, should be so made as to form com-
plete supers when placed above the bees. They are
often made without top bars, and hinged at the
bottom, to facilitate removal of sections. We do not
know when Mr. Abbott's promised pamphlet will
appear. 2. Piling Supers. — No piling of sections, — or,
as it is usually termed, ' tiering up,'— will be required
if you work on the system above recommended. If,
however, you use the ordinary section-rack, and
practise ' tiering up,' the second rack should be placed
under the first, but not until the latter is about half
filled, when it should be raised entire— with bees and
sections — and the empty one placed under it. 3.
Feeding from Combs behind Ditiision Board. — We
advise you to give the combs of sealed store inside the
division-board, and close to the brood-nest, unsealing
a few cells as occasion requires — a far better plan
than placing the food on the outside of the division-
board. If you prefer the latter plan we should advise

the use of two division-boards as you suggest. 4.
Crates— -If you practise ' tiering up ' you must use
the ordinary section-rack. Otherwise we prefer the
' divisional - rack.' See ' Hacks and Crates ' under
' Useful Hints.'

R. S. Lloyd. — Observatorg Hires. — Observatory hive?
are the worst things that could possibly be conceived
for purposes of profit or breeding. In the height of
summer bees will manage to exist in them, and they
are invaluable for natural history purposes, or as an
interesting ornament for a sitting-room, and we may
add for show purposes; but we never see them stocked
with bees without pitying the poor wretched insects
that have been induced at the will of their masters to
inhabit them. Bees will inhabit the kind you name
if you place them in it, and breed in it to a greater or
less degree, but we should certainly not recommend it
as a nucleus for queen-raising, although many queens
have been hatched in such for the purpose of observing
the process.

W. Franks. — Having carefully considered your state-
ment, we feel we cannot undertake to give insertion to
it in its present form. If the facts are correct as stated,
we advise you to use your individual efforts to effect
some improvement. A communication to the Sec.
of the B. B. K. A. would, in all probability, be the
means of having the attention of the executive of
the Association in question called to their present
condition.

<i. Stocks and Enquirer from Cornwall.—
Sugars for Bee-feeding. — The samples of American
granulated sugar forwarded are very similar in appear-
ance and quality to Duncan's Pearl Sugar which we
recommended in our last issue. We prefer the latter,
as, having the manufacturer's name on the seven-
pound bags, we thereby have some guarantee of its
purity. It can be procured from Neighbour's, Regent
Street.

M . Pumpiire v. — Canadian Honey. — The sample of honey
forwarded is pleasant to the eye and ^not ungrateful to
the taste. It has a distinct flavour of peppermint. If
this taste were not in the original sample, it might be
due to the bees having, since it was sent, found other
pasturage, which has communicated the peculiar
flavour. If this reply is not sufficient or satisfactory,
we would suggest that the two kinds of honey should
be submitted to an analyst.

J. E. M., Ipswich. — Prevention of Swarming, i$-c. — We
quite understand your anxiety to get some honey this
year, but your reason for not doing so last is not so
evident. All the advice given you may be good under
certain circumstances. The stock, when you pur-
chased it, might have been in a very weak, heartless
state, and consequently under the treatment you gave
it, took all last year to regain its lost strength, as you
say it is now strong. Or, again, it might have had a
worthless queen, and when other hives were bringing
in profit she was being replaced by the bees, and by
the time your stock was strong the honey glut was
passed. If this was so, 3rou now stand a very good
chance for profit should the coming season prove a
good one. Watch the advice we give in 'Useful
Hints,' and stimulate them by-and-by as we advise ;
and if supers aTe placed on at the proper time the pro-
bability is they will not swarm, but take to the super;
but as to saying ' how often they ought to be examined
to prevent them from swarming all through the year,'
Shades of Woodbury, help us ! that is beyond us
quite.

Mr. Cheshire would be obliged by any correspondent
forwarding him dysenteric bees to assist his microscopic
studies.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stuanoeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c'

[No. KM. Vol. XIII.]

FEBRUARY 15, 1885.

[Published Fortnightly.]

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
(Jiaiitebly Conversazione.

On Wednesday, the 28th January, at 6 p.m., the First
Quarterly Conversazione of the above Association in
the present year was held in the Board Room of the
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,
10") Jermyn Street.

Among the company assembled tc hear a paper to be
read by the Rev. .1. Lingen-Seager entitled ' On Honey
Judging at Shows,' were the following gentlemen : —
The Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh, the Rev. II. 1!. Peel,
Captain Campbell, Mr. J. Garratt, Mr. F. Lyon, Mr. .1. P.
Sambels, Mr. G. D. Ilaviland, the Rev. Mr. Clay, Mr.
G. Drinkwater, Mr. S. J. Baldwin, Mr. T. B. Blow, Mr.
W. II. Dunman, Mr. W. O'B. Glennie, Mr. J. M. Hooker,
the Rev. W. E. Burkitt, Mr. G. Henderson, the Rev.
Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. H. G. Morris, Mr. W. Hollands,
Mr. W. T. Seabrook, Mr. Ilinton, Mr. T. Simpson, Mr.
Zehetmayr, &c. The Hon. Mrs. Bligh, Miss Gayton,
and other ladies, were also present during- the pro-
ceedings.

Til- Rev. Mr. Clay (Bucks County Representative)
having taken the chair called upon Mr. Seager to read
his papt r.

Honey Judging.

I conceive that the subject that I have to bring lief ore
vou this afternoon is one of much greater importance to
bee-keepers than is generally supposed.

During the last few years, since I took up bee-keeping,
and especially since 1 have acted as hou. sec. of the
Hertfordshire Association, I have had communications
with bee-keepers in almost every county in England, in
Scotland, Ireland, and several of the colonies. One of
the questions which has been most frequently put to me,
both verbally and in writing, has been, ' What am I
to aim at ? ' ' What do the judges want ? ' and I confess
I have been obliged to answer, ' I do not know. The
opinions and requirements of judges differ so much, and
no fixed rules have been laid down for their guidance."
Thus it was that I ventured to write last summer to the
Committee of the British Bee-keepero' Association on the
subject.

For some fifteen years I have been constantly ' mixed
up' with judging of one kind and another. The first
time I was asked to act in the capacity of judge was at
a dog-show ; I accepted the office eagerly, fully believing
myself competent to decide upon half-a-dozen breeds; at
the end of the day I came to the conclusion that. I knew
nothing at all about it, and I do not think the other
judges knew much more, than I did. I have examined
some thousands of boys for one purpose or another; have
judged flowers, and butter, and a variety of things, but
each time I judge at a show or sit down to look over
papers, I am more and more convinced how much more

difficult the task is than is generally supposed by the
many who are so ready to undertake it.

1 remember hearing; a story of an examination for a
valuable scholarship which was conducted by two gentle-
men, both of them apparently fully qualified for the
work. When the papers had all been looked over, the
two gentlemen met to decide the fate of the competitors.
One of the examiners took up his stand on the hearth-
rug with his hands in his pockets, and began, ' Well, my
impressions are, &c, &c.' The other, a Cambridge man,
of precise and mathematical mind, looked up in dismay;
he sat at the table with a large sheet spread out before
him, covered with figures — tiie marks he had given for
each subject and each division of subject. The 'figures'
and the 'impressions' could not be made to agree, no
decision was arrived at, and a fresh examination was
held by other examiners.

Now much of the honey-judging 1 have come across
has been of the 'impressions' type, and the decisions,
when challenged, very hard to defend. I remember one
particular case of this kind. The judge, coming round
the show an hour or two after he had made, his awards,
indignantly exclaimed that the first prize had not heen
given to the sections to which he had awarded it, and
insisted on the card being changed. When the secretary
came on the spot he quietly explained that permission
had been given to the exhibitors to re-arrange their
exhibits after the judging was over, and thus a different
impression had been made by a different arrangement.

I think all are agreed that this 'impression' style
of judging is unsatisfactory, and that what is wanted is
a code of rules for the guidance of judges; but how far
it will be advisable to lay down hard-and-fast lines in
the form of a scale of marks is a matter for your dis-
cussion.

I take it that my business is not so much to put for-
ward my own views as to provide material for discussion ;
with this object, therefore, I shall now attempt to place
before you those points which experience has shown to
need some definite ruling.

The first point which I bring forward is 'weight' —
weight of sections, that is. It is well known that a 1-lb.
or 2-lb. section may be pretty, even, &c, &c.,but yet fall
very much below the nominal weight. Is it advisable
that such sections should compete on equal terms with
those that weigh what they pretend to ? If this is satis-
factory to exhibitors, is it to those who buy, and who,
when they get home, find they have got short weight':'
It is all very well for us to say, this is only a nominal or
approximate tceiyht, and that we sell by the section, not
by the pound : but others have found, as well as I have,
that an unsatisfactory impression is often created by
this; indeed, for the last two years I know many pro-
ducers have found it necessary to sell sections by weight,
because they have received so many complaints from
purchasers. For this there are open to us two remedies
— first, to do away with the names ' 1 lb.' and ' 2 lb.,
and simplv to call the sections large size and small size
or, secondly, to fix, once fur all, a standard of weight

THE BRITISH. BEE JOURNAL.

[February 15, 1885.

and let it be understood that all sections which are not
up to the standard shall be disqualified.

It occurred to me once last year to have before me an
exhibit in -which the sections were, in every way except
weight, so far superior to all others that I could not see
my way to withholding the first prize from them ; I
determined to weigh them, and was quite astonished
when I found that the twelve 1-11). sections weighed as
nearly as possible 1 lb. less than the next twelve that I
put in the scales. Now had there been a fixed minimum
weight I should have been relieved of an unpleasant
responsibility and not exposed to much invidious criti-
cism which resulted upon my awarding the first prize to
what appeared to be a very inferior lot ; a similar diffi-
culty must have occurred to many others.

Closely allied to this point comes my next, the filling
up of sections.

Is a good section one that is filled closely up to the
wood all round, without running over, or one round
which passage-holes are left 'i I once heard two judges
— as far as I know equally qualified to form an opinion —
discuss this point, standing for half-an-hour before the
show-bench and unable to come to terms ; one maintain-
ing that the comb ought so to be joined to the wood
that it could be cut away without bleeding the honey,
the other asserting that a fuller section, if evenly worked,
ought to have the preference.

This is not a question to he settled off-hand ; but it is
of the utmost importance that a well-matured decision
should be arrived at in the matter, and such a definition
given as shall leave no opening for dispute.

I will put a case before you which actually came
under my own knowledge. In 1880 a judge, deputed by
the British, went to a local show, gave his awards, and
explained his principles of judging to some of the chief
exhibitors : ' You ought to be able to cut out the piece of
comb without spilling' any honey.' Next year another
representative of the B. B. K.A. went to judge at the
same town ; the exhibitors, who had carefully selected
their sections according to the rule given them the pre-
vious year, were wofully disappointed — and, I think,
justly so — when they found their exhibits all passed
over ; and one of them subsequently said to me : ' If I
had known what the judge wanted 1 coidd have shown
a much better lot than that which took the prize.' This
sort of thing does a great deal of harm.

Now as to. sealing — many-, perhaps most, judges will
say there can be only one opinion on this point ; the seal-
ing must be thin, even, and transparent. But there is
another side to this — thin sealing is good as regards
appearance and for eating, but what about packing and
travelling ? — a matter of no small importance ; and what
about keeping:1 Not long ago I saw some sections, which
had won the first prize at a good county show, oozing all
over, by no means inviting, certainly not fit for the market.

I offer no opinion in this matter; I only ask that the
question may not be settled off-hand in a hurry.

Next as to colour — -it is very easy to sit in one's chair
and say : 'Oh! honeycomb should he "creamy-white,"
or "pale straw," or "light amber," except in the case of
heather ;' but do the eyes of all of us see colour alike ?
and have you not come upon beautiful sections of honey
that certainly could not be described by any of these
terms ? The more I see of honey gathered in different
districts, and from different flowers and trees, the more
I distrust my judgment as far as colour is concerned.
And if colour presents a difficulty, what shall we say
about flavour ?

I confess I feel a kind of despair when I see a long row
of samples before me, and know that when I have tasted
half-a-dozen of them my palate will have lost its power
of distill guishing, and that neither dry biscuit nor cigar-
ette will restore it ; and even if I could honestly decide
which I thought best, how many judges — not to say
purchasers — would disagree with me ?

Someone may say I am only raising difficulties, and I
had much better have left such points alone and let each
judge decide for himself. I do not believe in leaving such
difficulties alone ; we had much better face them. I may
just relate the following fact, to which I was a witness.

Two well-known judges were tasting honey. A thought
sample x quite perfect, and y very inferior ; B thought
y excellent, and x indifferent ; they consented to be blind-
folded and taste again, and each of them failing, without
the help of his eyes, to maintain his opinion, adopted the
choice of the other. After that what can we say about
judging by taste 'i

Doubtless there are some points, even in matter of
taste, about which judges will not differ: these relate
more especially to run or extracted honey, but may as
well be noted while we are on the subject. All will be
agreed that no one is qualified to act as judge who can-
not at once detect honey in a state of fermentation, or
honey made from the secretion of the aphis ; but as one
lady prefers eau-de-Cologne, another lavender water, and
a third Jockey Club, and yet the sense of smell in all
may be equally refined, so one palate may prefer the
flavour given by one flower and another quite a different
one, while they may both be as offensive to a third as
violets were to Leach's huntsman. We know how
widely tastes differ in the matter of olives and caviare.

Ought granulated honey in the comb to be admitted
in competition ? This is a question that has frequently
been raised, and, as far as I know, never satisfactorily
answered. On the one hand it must be remembered that
granulation is, to a great extent, an evidence of quality
and an accident of temperature ; in answer to this it may
be said that the exhibitor should keep his honey at a
proper temperature, but it yet remains to be decided
what the proper temperature is. Then again, judges
may urge, It is next to impossible to decide between
granulated and liquid honey, especially when run or ex-
tracted. It has been suggested that a separate class
should be made for liquid and granulated, but at small
shows this would be impossible ; and it may be a question
whether it would, in any case, be advisable.

Several chemists and grocers have told me that many
of their customers prefer honey in the more solid form,
especially when it is very white; and we cannot afford to
ignore the market.

There are a few points on which probably most ex-
perts will find common ground, but which do not the
less need to be formulated for the sake of exhibitors.
There can be, for instance, I imagine, no difference of
opinii in as to the demand that all cells .shall be filled and
sealed in each section or bar super ; all recognise the
importance of a level surface, betraying no sign of an
ill-fitting separator; also of room being left for a glass to
be put on without touching the comb ; and that all sec-
tions in one exhibit should be uniform in appearance and
alike in flavour. But are all equally agreed about the
dressing-up of sections:'

Many of those who sell large quantities of section-
honey plead that the pretty coloured paper and lace petti-
coat are a great attraction: but, like charity, they
cover a multitude of sins. Others say : ' Bo what you
like with your honey for sale, but do not let us have
any exhibits dressed up at all.' Others, again, ' A narrow
paper-edging is good and keeps out the dust :' some say,
'Let the paper be white;' others, ' Why not have any
colour? '

This question is an important one — more important
than appears on the surface — and a definite law should
be laid down; I do not mean for sale, but for exhibition
purposes. What I have said about colour and flavour in
sections applies equally to run or extracted honey, ' only
more so.'

As to consistency — I have heard more rubbish talked
about this than any other point. Cannot Mr. Hehner,
our analyst, give us some practical help on this head ? —

February 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

57

some definite test by which a decision may be registered
with something like confidence? The dipping a spoon in
and watching it run or drop off is very unsatisfactory. I
have known honey to be thickened in such a way as to
escape the detection of any ordinary judge, and yet
remain clear and of good flavour.

The objectionably appearance of much of the extracted
honev that is shown is, I believe, chiefly owing to igno-
rance ; and I have generally found that the second-year
people manage to improve in this point, and get their
honey in good form ; but a few simple rules woidd be
useful for judges as well as exhibitors.

In conclusion, I trust that I shall not be thought to be

travelling too far off the track if I venture a suggestion,

that when judges are sent down from head-quarters to

local shows, a special request should be made that one or

two gentlemen of the county association in question

should accompany the judge. This would serve a double

purpose, first, of educating a new generation of judges;

secondly, of disseminating through the county the views

and principles of judging advocated by the parent society ;

also, that where it is desired, the judge should explain

generally the causes of success and failure. I believe

that no competent person would object to giving his

reasons for and justifying his awards; and such a course

would do much towards improving the quality of our

shows and answering the question, ' What are we to

aim at?' _,

Discussion.

Mr. Garratt thought he might be considered pre-
sumptuous in rising first. However, as there appeared
to be some diffidence amongst the members in opening
the discussion he would venture to say a few words,
trusting they would be the means of drawing out
thoughts and suggestions from those judges he saw
present, who were far more competent to speak on the
important subject before the meeting than himself. He
thought there was a somewhat caustic vein running
through the paper. The question was a very difficult
one, and no blame should be cast on the judges, who had
no rides to guide them in their decisions, and were con-
sequently left to exercise their own powers of dis-
crimination in awarding prizes. In the absence of any
official guide, or plan, or even suggestions, what could
they do but adopt their own methods? and as a matter
of course these awards were affected to a large extent b}'
the views or taste of any particular judge, lie believed,
however, they were in a state of education on this
subject, and were gaining knowledge year by year.
Possibly it would be practicable some day to lay down
certain rules on which judges could base their decisions,
but there never could be anything approaching a hard-
and-fast line drawn. In regard to the exhibitions of
animals (although admitting the two cases were not
quite parallel) certain rules had been established which
came to be recognised, and upon this the awards were
given. He would have liked to hear some practical
suggestions from Mr. Seager as well as criticisms. There
was no doubt that the honey at given exhibitions must
be judged relatively according to the produce of the
exhibition. It would not be right to insist on a certain
colour as being the correct colour, because that colour
might be absent entirely from some exhibitions. He
thought the fact that exhibitors occasionally cavilled at
the decisions of judges was not of much import. There
always would be cavillers, and they must be content
until they could fight their way to the front. He con-
sidered the paper a most interesting one, and that the
difficulties had been well pointed out. It was not easy
to make any practical suggestions, but he submitted that
it might be possible to determine on certain points in
regard to judging honey, and fix a maximum number of
marks for each point.

Captain Campbell said that as regarded sectional
supers, it must be remembered that if they were under

weight it was not the poor unfortunate bee-keeper but
the bees who were to blame. The regulation size of
frames was 4] inches by 2 inches, and if these were
filled properly they ought to make one-pound sections,
but if the bees did not fill up the frame obviously the
sections would not weigh one pound. lie thought the
judges should not be expected to give the reasons upon
which their decisions were pointed. It had been well
laid down as a maxim in law, that when a judge gave
his decision only he was sure to be correct, but when he
gave his reasons he was sure to be wrong. It had been
remarked that some exhibitors had cavilled at judges'
decisions, but let them imagine what food for grumbling
would be afforded if reasons were given. Besides, they
would have a difficulty in finding judges if such gentle-
men were called on to give reasons for their awards.

Mr. Ilinton entirely agreed with Mr. Garratt that the
paper was a most interesting one, but was disappointing
in the matter of suggestions. He could not support
Captain Campbell in ascribing the fault to the bees
when sections were not sufficiently full. If this sort of
excuse were to be taken for the shortcomings of the
honey, one might as well blame the flowers, and so on
ad infinitum. With regard to reasons no hard-and-fast
line could be drawn, although he thought that in nine
cases out of ten it was possible for judges to state them.
Nothing satisfied disappointed exhibitors so much as
knowing the reason why they were disqualified.

Mr. Lyon thought that it would be universally ad-
mitted that the object of exhibiting honey at show's was
the ultimate sale of it. Judges should' therefore take
into consideration the thick or thin sealing of sections.
If these were thin sealed they were rendered bad for
keeping and bad for carriage, because very little inove--
ment would cause the honey to ' weep,' when it became
unsaleable. Besides this it was likely to damage goods
in a grocer's shop. He had heard of grocers declining
altogether to receive honey, because they had had other
goods spoilt by badly sealed sections. It was important
that every cell containing honey should be sealed over to
avoid ' weeping.' Granulated 'honey in sections should
be disqualified. As regarded flavour he thought no rule
could be laid down, because this depended on the season
of year, the flowers, and the district. As regarded
colour, he had seen honey from Lincolnshire almost as
white as lard, but this was extremely rare, and he was
of opinion that amber or straw-coloured honey should
take first rank. Very few sections of the regulation
measurement fairly filled and sealed scaled "quite a
pound, but he thought they should not be rejected when
just under that weight.

Mr. J. P. Sambels believed that very few sections
reached one pound, and therefore the judges should not be
too exacting on that head. It was 'desirable that there
should be as few pop-holes as possible. He quite agreed
with Mr. Lyon in his objections to lightly sealed sections.
They certainly did look better, but he 'had heard com-
plaints respecting them on the part of tradesmen. They
became unsaleable, and were consequently a dead loss to
the owner. Up to that time it had been a moot point as
to the way sections were put up for exhibition. No
doubt they obtained an easier sale when prepared
attractively at the shows, which were really a kind of
honey fair. Besides, if stout paper were used outside,
dust, flies, &c, could be the better excluded.

Mr. Haviland exhibited a hydrometer that he had had
made for the purpose of ascertaining the density of
honey. By this instrument one could find the proportion
of sugar in the honey. However, he believed the public
were more concerned about the sale of honey than the
specific gravity of it— they were governed more by its taste
and appearance than the amount of sugar it contained.
He thought it would be a good idea to separate different
examples of honey according to the flowers from which
they were produced and label them accordingly. Some

58

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[February 15, 1885.

persons liked the honey produced from one flower, and
some that from another.

Mr. Urinkwater trusted that this discussion would take
some practical form. If the Committee of the l'arent
Association would only draw up a set of rules for the
guidance of judges throughout England, bee-keepers
would be very much indebted to them, as they already
■were to Mr. Seager. He was prepared to move a resolu-
tion to that effect.

Mr. Baldwin quite agreed that it would be a great ad-
vantage to judges and exhibitors if a code of rules could
be established in reference to honey-judging, but he fore-
saw several difficulties in relation therewith. If granu-
lated honey were to be disqualified, certain parts of the
country would be excluded from competing at shows.
In Lincolnshire section-honey became set in a very few
hours after being removed from the hive. The same
might be said of the honey produced from turnip-seed in
Komney Marsh. He could not agree with Captain
Campbell in saying that the weight of sections depended
on the bees rather than the bee-keeper. The bee-keeper
need not have the pop-holes, in which cases the bees
would fill up every corner splendidly. He presumed the
proposed rules would not disqualify sections if they were
not quite two inches wide, provided they measured 4|
by 4| ins. Very few sections measured 2 ins. wide.
With regard to flavour, that depended on the flowers
and the locality. It was difficult to arrange a code of rules,
because so much scope must be allowed for the discretion
of judges, one class of exhibits being quite different to
another. He certainly thought preference should be
given to those who displayed taste in their exhibits.
There was no doubt a showy appearance was an induce-
ment to purchasers. In his opinion sections reaching
fifteen ounces in weight should not be disqualified.

The Rev. II. R. Peel wished to remove an impression
that certain dimensions had been fixed officially as the
standard size of sections. That was not so. That
matter had been considered by a sub-committee, and
would be brought before the General Meeting of mem-
bers for definite settlement on the 11th February.

Mr. Blow thought some code of rules might be adopted
with benefit to the produce of section-honey. He be-
lieved that a weight of one pound could easily be got in
4j sections. He agreed with Mr. Lyon in ids remarks
respecting heavy sealing, which was most desirable from
a commercial point of view. He had seen cases in which
honey was unsaleable after a long journey. Sections
should be dressed and made to look as attractive as pos-
sible. There was no fear of judges being misled there-
by. He quite indorsed Mr. Baldwin's views on the
subject of granulated honey. In some districts it was
practically impossible to prevent comb-honey from gran-
ulating. In the case of Lincolnshire honey the granula-
tion was not so objectionable as that of ordinary honey.
The former had an even, lard-like appearance, while the
latter was studded with lumps.

Mr. Garratt begged to express his entire disapproval
of the system of dressing honey for shows.

Mr. Sambels explained that he did not wish to convey
that pop-holes were not the fault of the producer, but he
desired to say that judges should give the preference to
sections with the fewest number of pop-holes.

Mr. Lyon suggested that a copy of the proposed rules
(if the Committee consented to undertake the task of
preparing them) should be sent to each member of the
Association with a request that he would read them,
make any suggestions, and return them to the Com-
mittee before their final adoption.

Captain Campbell said that although he thought it
unreasonable to ask judges to give the reasons for their
awards, they might be invited to make any remarks they
chose as supplementary to such decisions. If they would
consent to give reasons when rejecting exhibits, such
information would be most valuable to producers, who

might next time avoid the rocks and shoals of their early
experiences.

Mr. Dunman strongly disapproved of dressing honey
for shows.

Air. Hinton considered that unadorned honey was
adorned the most. He also thought that granulated
honey should not be excluded from the shows.

The Rev. II. R. Peel said a special committee had been
appointed to consider the subject of that day's discussion,
and when they had decided on a set of rules these would
be published in the columns of the Bee Journal, so that
they might be further discussed by the public, who would
be invited to make any suggestions they pleased before
such rules were finally passed.

Mr. Urinkwater was much gratified to hear that the
Committee had already taken the subject into considera-
tion with a view to a practical result.

The Rev. J. Lingen Seager, in reply, said he shoidd
still adhere to his resolve not to express any opinion on
the points he had brought forward. He merely intended
to point out as forcibly as he could the unsatisfactory
way in which honey-judging had been carried on hitherto,
which fact he thought all judges must acknowledge.
There was no doubt the)' would welcome any assistance
in the shape of rules to guide them. Of course he was
aware that only general principles could be laid down, a
large margin being left for the exercise of the judges' dis-
cretion. He thought it would be possible perhaps to
arrange a system involving a scale of marks. Whenever
he had acted as a judge he had adopted a plau of this
kind. On those occasions he invariably went over his
work two or three times, each time preparing a separate
paper of marks. These papers were not compared till the
conclusion of the inspection. He had, however, generally
found that his first impressions were confirmed by this
method.

Mr. Gleunie, in moving a vote of thanks to the lecturer,
said the subject of his paper had exercised the minds of
the Committee of the B. B. K. A. ever since they had
held their first Show. He was a member of the Com-
mittee as long ago as that Show held at the Crystal
Palace, when he remembered dissatisfaction was ex-
pressed by some exhibitors at the awards of the judges.
He hoped the discussion of that night would help them
in smoothing over the difficulties they had always fore-
seen in dealing with this matter. He was sure they were
all much indebted to Mr. Seager for his valuable paper.

Mr. Dunman having seconded the resolution, the Rev.
Mr. Seager briefly returned thanks.

The Rev. II. R. Peel moved, and Captain Campbell
seconded, a vote of thanks to the Chairman, who ex-
pressed his acknowledgment of the same, and the pro-
ceedings terminated.

Special Meeting.

A special meeting of the Committee of the B. B. K. A.
was held at 105 Jermyn Street on January 28th, for the
purpose of conferring with a deputation from the Lanca-
shire and ( 'heshire Association to consider proposals
whereby the Lancashire and Cheshire Association might
renew its affiliation with the Central Association. There
were present the Rev. II. R. Peel in the Chair,the Hon. and
Rev. II. Bligh, the Rev. F. G. Jenyns, the Rev. F. S.
Sclater, Capt. Campbell, II. Jonas, D. Stewart, and the
Secretary. Mr. J. P. Jackson (in the absence of Mr.
W. B. Oarr) and Mr. J. M. Gibbs attended as the de-
putation from the Lancashire and Cheshire Association.

Mr. Jackson pointed out that the Lancashire and
Cheshire Association had ceased to pay its affiliation fee,
as it was considered that the B. B. K. A., having
accepted their Association for the two counties, support
ought not to have been given to an independent Asso-
ciation for Cheshire.

The Chairman pointed out that the object of the
B. B. K. A. was to make such arrangements as would tend

February 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

53

to teach the residents of every county a better system (if
bee-keeping. The area proposed by the L. & C. Aassocia-
ticm was considered to be much too large for any society
to work thoroughly well ; moreover, complaints had been
received from time to time of the L. & C. Association
having neglected their own county, and at the same
time were endeavouring to extend their work into North
Wales and other adjacent counties. The deputation
assured the meeting that no pait of the Association's
work had been neglected. Every member, however far
he resided from the centre of operations, had always
received the benefit of the expert if he wi.-b.ed to do so.
After some discussion it was unanimously resolved,
' That the Lancashire and Cheshire Association be
received in affiliation on ihe di.-tii ct understanding that
they confine their operations within the boundaries of
the two counties.'

Quarterly Coxfkbbkck.

The Quarterly Conference of the li. U.K. A. and county
representatives w;is held at 10") Jermyn .Street, on
January 28th. The llev. II. R. Peel in the chair, there
■were also present the Hon. ami liev. 11. Bligh, the
Rev. F. G. Jenvns, the Rev. F. 8. Sclater, Mr. II.
Jonas, Mr. J. M. Hooker, Capt. Campbell, W. O'B.
Glennie (Treasurer), and the Secretary. The following
counties were represented: viz., Herts, by the Rev. J. L.
Seager and Mr. J. P. Sambels; Rucks, by the Rev. IS.
R. Wilkinson and the Rev. Mr. Clav ; Kent, by the Rev.
Thos. Sissons and Mr. C.Allen; Dorset, by Mr. W. II.
lUmman ; Lancashire and Cheshire, by Mr. J. 1'.
Jackson and Mr. J. M. Gibbs ; and Wilts, by the Rev.
W. E. Burkitt. T he minutes of the last conference
having been read and confirmed Mr. Dunman moved
that the second privilege affiliation be amended, and that
in future twenty -eight days' notice be given of any
motion to be brought forward at these conferences.
Carried.

The subject of teaching practical bee-keeping in Ele-
mentary Schools and the various means whereby the
young could be induced to take an interest in the subject
was discussed at considerable length. The Rev. J. L.
Seager announced that he had an interview with one of
Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools and had been
informed by him that a suitable reading-book should
first be prepared and presented to Inspectors and School-
masters. It was announced that such a book was in course
of preparation by the Committee of the R. R. K. A. The
Rev. Mr. Clay was of opinion that the cause of bee-keeping
would be considerably advanced if suitable picture-cards
as object-lessons were published by the National Society.
The National Society would, in all probability, publish
them at their own expense if the subjects were pre-
pared by the Committee of the B. R. K. A. The Rev.
F. G. Jenyns considered that much could be done by a
lesson-book which aimed to interest children in the
history of bees and to teach them the principles (without
the technical knowledge) of bee-keeping. The discussion
was continued by the Rev. T. Sissons, the Rev. F. S.
Sclater, and others; ultimately it was resolved that the
Committee of the B. 13. K. A. be recommended to —

1. Apply to a few of the leading publishers of school-
books and inform them that the Association will be
glad to supply a few chapters on modern bee-keeping for
incorporation in any of their school reading-books that
they may contemplate issuing.

2. To take steps for the publication of one or more
illustrated subject-cards suitable for use in Elementary
Schools.

In reference to the collection of statistics relating to
the number of hives', the quantity of honey produced,
&c, in the United Kingdom, it was resolved that the
Board of Trade be requested through the 13. R. K. A. to
include the number of stocks of bees possessed by bee-
keepers in the Uniud Kingdom in the Annual Agri-

cultural Returns. Some discussion ensued upon the
resolution. The Rev. L. Seager considered it most im-
portant that such returns should be inserted, if possible.
1 le considered that the Government were not likely to reach
the bee-keepers in the first instance, but would probably
do so after the Associations had taken some steps towards
the collection of such statistics themselves. The Kev.
Mr. Clay considered that it was not advisable to have t hese
returns published until fuller returns could be made, as
in their present imperfect state they would convey a
false impression and be very misleading to the public at
large.

The next Quarterly Conference was fixed for Wednes-
day, April 2w2nd.

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.

The Annual General Meeting of the Aseociation was
held at :i p.m. on Wednesday, February 11th, 188o,
in the Board Room of the Royal Society for the Pre-
vention of Cruelt}' to Animals, lbo Jermyn St. James's,
the noble President (the Baroness Burdett-Coutts) taking
the chair. Among the large audience, present were the
Hon. and Rev. II. Rligh, Captain Campbell, the Rev. E.
Bart ruin, the Rev. F. G. Jenvns, Mr. II. Jonas, the Rev.
G. Raynor, the Rev. F. T. Scott, Mr. J. Garratt, Mr. F.
Lyon, the Rev. Wr. E. Burkitt, the Rev. J. Lingen
Seager, the Rev. Mr. Clav, Mr. T. B. Blow, Dr. Walker,
Mr. Baldwin, Mr. II. E. Roberts, Mr. II. G. Key, Mr.
N. Royds, Mr. II. Kemble, Mr. G. Carbonell, Mr. H. C.
Finch, Mr. G. Solomon, Mr. II. G. Morris, the Rev.
Astley Roberts, the Rev. F. Sydney Morris, Mr. II. A.
Ellis, Mr. W. Martin, Mr. G. "Warren, and the Rev.
F. G. Sclater. Mrs. Burkitt, Mrs. Cooper, Mrs. Cohen,
and several other ladies, also assisted in the proceedings.

The Baroness, in opening the proceedings, said it was
hardly possible for any assembly of Englishmen and
women to meet that day without referring to the sad
news reported in the newspapers, namely, the death of
their noble and distinguished countryman, General
Gordon. This subject, she felt assured, was foremost in
all their hearts at the present time, and she could not
help giving utterance to her feelings thereon. (Applause.)
They could now only hope that those gallant fellows,
several thousands of miles distant from our shores, and
who had never yet been defeated in their progress
through the desert, might be still able to wipe out the
stain which now rested on Great Britain as a nation.
She did not believe there was an English person there,
or anywhere in the country, who would not have lifted
up their hand and voice, and given their money, to
achieve what she could not but think it would have been
quite possible to do if undertaken earlier, namely, to
rescue the gallant soldier, the story of whose fate, as
well as that of his small band of warriors, now filled
them with sorrow and indignation. (Cheers.) She
hoped the meeting would forgive her for this apparent
digression. (Cheers.) There was no doubt at this time
that the country was in a very unsettled and unsatis-
factory condition, and it was the duty of every bene-
volent institution, as well as every individual, U> strive
(even though it may be in ever so small a way) to promote
its well-being. She knew of no more patriotic action
than the endeavours made to revive and stimulate the
industries of all classes, especially the poorer classes.
That was specially the mission of the Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation, which merited the confidence, the gratitude, and
support of her fellow-countrymen. Her ladyship then
called on the Secretary to read the minutes of the last
annual meeting, which having been done they were con-
firmed.

The Secretary read a letter from Sir Thomas Farrer
(addressed to the Baroness Burdett-Coutts), in answer to
a communication from the President on the subject of
the omission of honey exports and iniuoits from the
Trade Returns of the Board of Trade, and promising that

CO

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[February 15, 1885.

the suggestions of the Association shall he considered ;
also one from Mr. F. II. Lemare, regretting that un-
avoidable absence from London would prevent him
moving the resolution standing in his name on the
agenda, namehy, — ' That in future elections for the
Committee, the name and signature of the member be
omitted from the voting-paper/ and begging that some
gentleman present would act as his locum tenens.

The second subject on the agenda was the following-
resolution, which was carried unanimously : — ' That the
Report and Balance-sheet issued for the year 1884 bo
received and adopted, with a vote of thanks to Mr.
Kirchner, the auditor.'

We learn from the Report that eighty-seven new
members have joined the Association during the year, in-
cluding one Life Member, and that new County Associa-
tions have been formed iu Cumberland, Carnarvonshire,
Denbighshire, Flintshire, Monmouthshire, Nottingham-
shire, Gloucestershire, Pembrokeshire, and that others are
in course of formation.

Increased facilities are now given to enable each County
Affiliated Association to be represented regularly at the
Quarterly Conferences held in London. County Asso-
ciations may appoint Members residing in London, or
elsewhere, to represent them. One or more County
Associations may unite together to send one represen-
tative to each Conference, who shall be empowered to
represent the whole of the Counties so united.

The demand for the Association's publications has
increased considerably during the year. New editions
of 'Modern Bee-keeping' and Mr. Raynor's ' Queen Intro-
duction,' have been issued, and several new works added
to the list.

During the year, thirty-two candidates have undergone
examination for Third Class Certificates, at ten centres.
Twenty-eight of these were successful ; four only — or
about twelve per cent — having failed to satisfy the ex-
aminers. For Second Class Certificates eleven candinates
have competed, at seven centres, of whom six only were
successful.

Bligh Competition. — A second competition was
commenced on May 20th, and no less than thirty-three
entries were made. The rules had been carefully revised
by a sub-committee appointed for that purpose, suggestions
from the general public having been invited through the
columns of the British Bee Journal.

The Teaching of Bee-Keeping in the National
Schools. — The Committee, recognising the benefit which
would accrue to the rural population of the United
Kingdom from the teachings of practical bee-keeping in
the National Schools as an elementary science, prepared
a graduated scheme, and submitted it (through the
President of the Association) for the consideration of the
Educational Department. In reply thereto, the Committee
were informed that the Vice-President expressed his regret
that after full consideration of the subject, and reference
to Members of Parliament representing various Agricul-
tural Counties, he was unable to include practical Bee-
Keeping as a branch of elementary science among the
class siibjects recognised under Article 109 F. New
Code.

A reading book, for use in Elementary Schools, is in
course of preparation by the Committee. It is proposed
at some future period to bring this matter again before the
Educational Department.

Exhibitions. — Health Exhibition. — [laving regard to
the advantages likely to accrue to the cause of bee
culture in England by a full representation of the
industry at the International Health Exhibition, the
Committee took steps to secure the requisite allotment
of space, and the co-operation of the principal bee-
keepers and implement-makers for that purpose. The
number of exhibits was, on the whole, very satisfactory
i n character. The general collections of Messrs. Neighbour,
Mr. S. J. Baldwin, Messrs. Abbott Bros., and others,

were both interesting and instructive, and attracted
attention from the many visitors during the course of
the season.

The Bee Department of the Royal Agricultural Show,
held at Shrewsbury on July 14th, and following days,
resulted in a considerable extension of the Association's
work in North Wales.

The Committee notice with satisfaction the formation
of Honey Companies on a commercial basis, which pro-
mise, if successful, to provide a safe and ready market
for the honey produce of the country. Members will no
doubt see their way to give them such encouragement as
the importance of the question demands.

An appeal is made for increased support to enable the
Committee to extend their work.

Mr. J. Garratt proposed a vote of thanks to the re-
tiring Officers and Committee, which he thought was
richly deserved by those gentlemen, who had given hours
and days of their time without reward to the cause of
bee-keeping. Their self-sacrifice was worthy of the best
acknowledgment.

The Rev. J. Lingen Seager seconded the motion, and
said the excellent work done by the parent Committee
had not been without its effect on the Branches. He
was convinced that much more interest was taken in the
work of their particular Branch by county members
than would otherwise be when the latter became aware
that the local body was in affiliation with the parent
Association.

The resolution was carried unanimously.

The Rev. F. T. Scott proposed a vote of thanks to the
Council of the Royal Societj- for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals for the gratuitous use of their
Board-room for Committee and other meetings. Before
speaking to the resolution, he would like, as a member
of the Committee of the B. B. K. A. for the past yr.ar, to
express his thanks for the cordial vote just passed. He
need not say much to commend to their favour the
motion he had proposed. The Committee could not
overrate the value of the assistance lent them by the
R. S.P.C.A., and the Baroness herself, without whose
powerful aid they could not have assembled month after
month, and year after year, in the splendid hall which
now held them.

The Rev. G. Raynor seconded the vote, saving that
the R. S. P. C. A. and the B.B.K.A. mutually assisted
one another. The Society helped the Association be-
cause the latter aided the former in carrying out its
programme hy advocating a more humane system of
treating bees. He quite endorsed all that Mr. Scott had
said.

The resolution having been carried unanimously, the
Baroness thanked the members for their kind vote, and
said that the President and Council of the It. S. P. C. A.
fully recognised the valuable work which was being done
by the Association — namely, in the improvement of
hives, in the combating of an ignorant inclination on
the part of some persons to destroy bees, and in the
endeavours on the part of the Association to get bees
accepted as an assistant to the agriculturist and the
horticulturist.

The Rev. E. Bartrum, in proposing the election of the
President, Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, Auditor, Analyst,
Librarian, and Secretary for the year 1885, said with
regard to the re-election of the Baroness Burdett-Coutts
he need not ask for any opinion on that point. lie
was a quite certain they all recognised her as their
true Queen Bee, and that she was as indispensable to the
Association as the queen to the hive. They all trusted
she would be spared many years to occupy the position
she now held. Mr. Glennie (Treasurer) had been their
Treasurer for many years, and his worth and merits
were well known. Mr. Kirchner (Auditor) was thorough
in his work, and well deserved the thanks voted to him.
.Mr. Otto Ilehner (Analyst) was one of the most rising

February 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

CI

young chemists of 'the day, and a gentleman of whom
they might well be proud. He had rendered the most
valuable services to the Association. Their old friend,
Mr. Henderson (Librarian), was most earnest in the
cause they were promoting-, his responsible work being a
labour of love to him. Last but not least (certainly so
far as work was concerned), Mr. lluckle (Secretary)
had shown himself most assiduous in bis duties, lie
was a man of rare and exceptional practical ability.
All these gentlemen he (the speaker) proposed for
re-election.

Captain ( 'ampbell seconded the. resolution, saying
that the different officers mentioned by Mr. Bartrum
were thorough hard-working bees, and they deserved
well of the Association.

The resolution was carried unanimously.
The Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh said with regard to
the Election of Trustees, it had been suggested that the
appointment of Trustees for one year only was open to
objection on the ground that in the event of any legal
suit, in which the Association was concerned, pending
at the time of the retirement and re-election of Trustees
1. gal difficulties might arise. This would be obviated
by the election of permanent Trustees. He therefore
proposed that the President, the Treasurer, Mr. T. W.
Cowan, the Lev. II. R. Peel, and the Rev. G. Laynor,
be constituted the Trustees of the Association.

Mr. H. Jonas seconded the resolution, which was
carried unanimously.

The Secretary read the names of the Committee
who had been elected to office for the year 188o as
follows :— Mr. T. W. Cowan, the Rev. H. R. Peel, the
Rev. G. Lavuor, the Rev. L. Bartrum, the Hon. and
Rev. II. Bligh, Captain W. Bush, R.X., Captain C. D.
Campbell, Mr. J. M. Hooker, the Rev. F. G. Jenyns,
Mr. II. Jon;:-, the Rev. F. S. Sclater, Mr. 1>. Stewart,
Dr. G. Walker, Colonel E. Smyth, and Mr. W. II.
Dunman.

The Hon. and Rev. H. Bligh proposed a vote of thanks
to Mr. Dunstan, who had kindly acted as scrutineer of
the voting papers, which was seconded and carried
unanimously.

Captain Campbell stated that he had received a letter
from Mr. Lemare asking him to propose or support the
motion which he (Mr. Lemare) woidd have brought
under the notice of the meeting could he have been
present. He (Captain Campbell) wished to say that he
did not agree with Mr. Lemare's proposal, and con-
sequently could not support the motion, which was
unanimously negatived.

The Hon. and Rev. II. Bligh explained that three
prizes of 61. each (two by the Baroness Burdett-Coutts
and one by the Rev. H. R. Peel) had been offered to be
balloted for by all those branch Associations which had
conformed in every respect to the rides of affiliation.

The prizes having been balloted for in the presence of
the meeting, the Baroness announced that Cornwall,
Wiltshire, and Kent were the successful competitors.

Mr. Lyon, regretting the absence of the Rev. Mr. Peel,
who was unavoidably detained in the country by domestic
affliction, rose to move the resolution on the agenda
standing in Mr. Peel's name. He thought that the
Association ought to have a reserve fund to fall back
upon in case of any emergency, and this was only to be
obtained by investing life-subscriptions.

The Rev. E. Bartrum seconded the motion, strongly
advocating the policy of its adoption.

Mr. Garratt wished to know under what circumstances
it would be considered justifiable to draw on the in-
vested property.

A lengthened discussion took place, in which Captain
Campbell, the Rev. F. T. Scott, the Rev. E. Bartrum,
Mr. Garratt, Mr. Lyon, and the President took part.
It was ultimately agreed that the resolution should be
put to the meeting in the following form :— ' That it is

desirable that a minimum sum of 167. shall be invested
annually on account, of sums already received for life-
members' subscriptions; and that in future all such sums
shall be invested, and not applied to the expenses of the
current year ; and that the sum so invested shall not be
appropriated by the committee without the consent of
a general meeting of the members.' This motion having
been proposed by the Rev. E. Bartrum, and seconded by
Mr. Garratt, was passed unanimously.

In reference to the last item on the agenda for dis-
cussion, namely, 'The recommendations of the Committee
for the adoption of a standard size for one and two-
pound sections,' the Secretary read an extract from the
minutes of a Committee meeting, held on January 21st,
1885, as follows: — 'The Sub-committee appointed on
May 14th, 1884, to consider and report as to the
desirability of the Association adopting a standard size
for one and two-pound sections, presented their report,
recommending that such standard sizes be for one-pound
sections, 4]-x4jx2 in., and for two-pound sections,

5Jx6Jx2in The motion that the report of

the Sub-committee be received and adopted by the Com-
mittee was carried.'

The Rev. G. Raynor read a letter from Mr. Bellairs
(Secretary of the Hampshire Association), deprecating
the adoption of any standard size for sections, which he
thought, might be allowed to vary in size.

The Rev. J. Lingen Seager handed to the President
some resolutions passed at a meeting of the Herts
branch of the B.B.K.A., held the previous day, which
suggested the undesirability of adopting a fixed standard
at present.

The Rev. F. T. Scott said he thought this subject had
not, been sufficiently ventilated among bee-keepers to
warrant them in coming to a decision on it. There was
such a diversity of opinion on the matter that the con-
sideration of it had better be deferred for another year,
and he begged to move a resolution in accordance there-
with.

The Rev. E. Bartrum seconded the motion. He hap-
pened to know that Mr. Cowan and Mr. Peel were of
opinion that a definite decision on this question had
better be deferred for the present.

The Rev. G. Raynor thought this matter should remain
open for the present.

The Rev. F. G. Jenyns quite agreed in thinking it
desirable that this subject should not be dealt witli then.
It was very important that the opinions of the Branches
should be ascertained, and suggestions invited from all
quarters before a settlement of the question was
arrived at.

The Rev. Mr. Clay said his friends of the Bucks
Association felt that sufficient time had not yet been
allowed for a proper consideration of the question.

The consideration of this matter was then adjourned.

The Rev. J. Lingen Seager asked whether, in conse-
quence of the decision just arrived at, the stipulation
regarding- the size of sections for exhibition at the
Preston Show could now be withdrawn.

The Rev. J. Lingen Seager moved, and Mr. Jonas
seconded, 'That, if possible, the rule respecting the
standard for the Preston schedule of sections be
rescinded,' which was carried unanimously.

Mr. Jonas, on behalf of the Committee, said that if
not too late every effort should be made with the Royal
Agricultural Society to carry out the resolution.

The Secretary said he apprehended no difficulty in the
matter provided the Royal Agricultural Society would
give their consent to the alteration, but it was very
doubtful if they would do so.

The Rev. E. Bartrum moved, and the Rev. F. G.
Jenyns seconded, a vote of thanks to the President,
which was carried by acclamation and briefly acknow-
ledged by her ladyship, after which the proceedings
terminated.

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL

[February 1 5, 1 885.

COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.
Reports of several of the County Associations are to
hand and show the following' list of members : —

Hertfordshire, . . 404

Kent 377

Staffordshire . . 355
Buckinghamshire . 330
Norfolk .... 244

Essex 213

Hants and Isle of

Wight . . . .200
Wiltshire . . . .175
Dorsetshire . . . 173

The names of the several representatives appointed to
attend the quarterly meetings of the British Bee-keepers'
Association, will appear in our next issue.

ASSOCIATIONS.

Herefordshire .

. 130

Cornwall . . .

. 151

Bedfordshire

. 134

Leicestershire .

. 112

Oxfordshire . .

. 103

Huntingdonshire

. 01

Somersetshire .

. 82

Cumberland . .

. 66

Shropshire . .

. ■)■>

CORNWALL BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting' of this Association was held on
Wednesday at the Town-hall, Truro. Present — the Rev.
A. R. Tomlinson, Mrs. Polwhele, Mr. G. E. George, Mr.
G. Gradidge, and Mr. C. Kent, hon. sec.

Tile report of the committee was as follows: — 'In pre-
senting their third annual report the committee have
pleasure in announcing steady progress in bee-keeping
throughout the county. There are now on the books of
the Association 152 members. The annual value of the
subscriptions is 44/. Vs., but there are still subscriptions
in arrears amounting to 71. 13s. The total income has
been 02/. 13s. Gd., and we have expended 50/. Is. Wd.,
leaving a balance at the bank on the 31st December of
6/. Is. lOd. At that date there were prizes unpaid
amounting to 15/. lis. Gd., besides several outstanding-
bills and half the cost of our new bee tent. Their financial
condition, therefore, is not so good as they could desire,
but the committee trust by the exercise of strict economv
to overcome present difficulties and to put the Association
into a more satisfactory position. The past season has
been all that could he desired from a bee-keepers' point
of view. Bee-keeping has been taken up by several in
the county as a commercial enterprise, and with very fair
results. ( )ne of their cottage members produced over half
a ton of honey, the whole of which -was disposed of at
remunerative prices. In consequence of the formation of
the British Honey Company and the Bee and Fruit
Farming Company, there will in future be greater
facilities for the disposal of the produce of their apiaries,
and they hope that bee-keeping will advance in pro-
portion as those market facilities increase. The medals
and certificates given by the B.B.K.A. were awarded at
the Truro show as follows: — Silver medal — Rev. C. R.
Sowell, St. Goran; bronze medal and certificate — Mr. II.
Mount, Penzance. In conclusion, the committee woul 1
again urge each member to do his utmost to secure fresh
subscribers, and so enable them to carry out the work
they have undertaken in a more efficient manner.

The statement of accounts showed liabilities amounting
to 43/. 18s. lOrZ. and assets 33/. 14s. 10d., leaving a debit
balance of 15/. 4s.

Mr. George stated that he had disposed of a large
quantity of honey to Messrs. Furniss and Co., who used
it in the manufacture of biscuits.

The Secretary stated that Messrs. Furniss and Co. had
also purchased of other members of the Association.
Messrs. Furniss had manufactured large quantities of
honey biscuits during the past year. They commenced
the making of these biscuits through his representations,
and he had reason to believe that the same firm would next

season consume still larger quantities of honey than they
had in the past.

The following were elected as officers for the ensuing
year : — President — The Right lion, the Earl of Mount-
Edgcumbe. Vice-Presidents — The Hon. and Rev. J.
ToWnsliend Boscaweh, Mrs. Digbv Collins, Sir James
McGarel-IIogg, Hart. M.P., Mr. T.' Martin (St. Austell),
Lord Robartes, Sir John St. Aubyn, Bart. M.P, the
Right Hon. Earl St. Germans, Mr. A. Pendarves Vivian,
M.P. Treasurer— Mr. A. P. Nix (Miners' Dank, Truro).
Committee— Mr. A. Bailey (Liskeard), Mr. W. K. Baker
(Towednack), Mr. J. Branwell, jun. (Penzance), Mr. G.
II. Chillcott (Truro), Mr. G. Dixon (Truro), Mr. G. II.
Fox (Falmouth), Mr. G. Gradidge (Truro), Mr. "W. N.
Griffin ( Alphington, Exeter), Mr. G. E. George ( Probus),
Mrs. J. W. Iloekin (Flushing), Rev. .1. A. ivempe (St.
Breward), Mr. J. Lander (Laveddon, Bodmin), Mr. II. B.
Neame (Portreath), Mr. W. Prockter (Launceston), Mr.
T. R. Polwhele (Polwhele, Truro), Mrs. Polwhele
(Polwhele, Truro), Rev. "W. Rogers (Mawnan), Mr. J.
Rowse (St. Agnes), Rev. C. R. Sowell (St. Goran), Rev.
J. Svmonds (Baldhu), Mrs. Tom (Rosedale, Truro), Rev.
A. R. Tomlinson (St. Michael Penkivel), Mr. J. W.
Wilkinson (Perran- ar- worthal), Mr. J. Williams
(Scorrier House, Scorrier). Mr. C. Kent (Truro) was
elected secretary and local representative at the meetings
of the British Bee-keepers' Association.

Votes of thanks to the secretaiy and to the Mayor for
the use of the room terminated the proceedings.

DEVON AND ENETEE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the members of the Devon and
Exeter Bee-keepers' Association was held at the Guildhall,
Exeter, Friday, Feb. 6. The President of the Association
(Mr. W. II. Ellis) occupied the chair; and there were also
present the Right Worshipful the Mayor (W. Brown,
Esq.), the Right Hon. the Earl of Devon, the Rev. J. G.
Dangar, and Mr. W. N. Griffin (Hon. Secretaries), the
Rev. J. Dickenson, the Rev. 1'. Williams, Admiral
Moorman, Captain Heysham, R.N., Messrs .1. Thacker,
Bsde, Michelmore, C. J. B. Sanders, Church, Cowan,

F. Clapp, Wivell, Honey, &c.

The report of the Committee was read by the Rev. J.

G. Dangar, from which it appears that the Association
is now free from debt, and there is cash in hand. During
the past year only one exhibition took place, in con-
sequence of the necessity for retrenchment, and by
reason of the loss which fell on the Society consequent
on the wet weather prevalent at the numerous shows of
1 883. The Show was held on May 21st, 22nd, and 23rd,
in connexion with the exhibition of the Devon Agri-
cultural Society, at Exeter, and in all respects it was a
most successful display. At the close of 1884 it was
deemed advisable to take a census of the hives owned by
the members of the Association in the County of Devon ;
inquiries wero also made with regard to other matters,
e.g., the number of hives in the locality of any member,
the amount of honey harvest, the character of the hives
in use, whether bar-framed or skeps. The replies
amounted to only 84 in number. The amount of honey
shown by these returns was disappointing and mis-
leading; many having no account of the quantities
taken made no return. The total shown was 80231bs.,
62941bs. of which was comb honey, 26291bs. run or
extracted honey. The deduction from the returns is that
from members and non-members, there had been produced
in the county a grand total of 48,5981bs., or 21 tons
13 cwt. 121b., and allowing 10rf. per pound for comb and
run honey, the honey gathered in Devonshire is worth
2024/. 18s. -Id.

The statement of accounts showed that the receipts
had been — annual subscriptions, 30/. 17s. Orf. ; donations,

February 15, 188.r..J

TUB BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

153

9/. 10s. ; bee-tent at Bideford, 18S3, 10s. ; advertisements
in annual report, 1/. 14s.; grant from the County Agri-
cultural Association, 10/.; ditto from Local Committee,
10/. — "1/. 17s. '.hi. The receipts from the exhibition at
County Agricultural Show amounted to 20/. Is. S-i-rf. ;
making the total receipts, ill/. 19s. 5%d. On the ex-
penditure side of the account there appeared — balance
due to the Treasurer, 44/. 5s. 4UL ; payment on general
account, 151. 12s. lOd. ; expenses in connexion with the
County Agricultural Show, 2o/. 17s. i>d. After meet-
ing all expenses there was a balance in hand of
(V. 3s. lOd.

The Earl of Devon, in moving the adoption of the
report, said he had great satisfaction in calling attention
to the fact that the funds showed a considerable advance.
He must confess to ignorance as to the details of the
work of the Association, but that did not diminish the
anxiety he had to promote the object it had in view, as
far as his means would permit. He concurred in the
suggestion that they should have a paid expert who
should at certain times go round and give instruction in
the various parishes to those who were desirous of
keeping bees, how to manage them and correct anything
which was wrong. He believed that in several parishes,
if notice were given of the attendance of their repre-
sentative, meeting of the labourers and others would
be summoned by the clergyman or the squire, so that
the expert might have an opportunity of explaining to
them the advantages of his system and mode of manage-
ment. He thought nothing better could be done which
would be more likely to extend the operations of that
very useful Society than the appointment of an expert
to pay such visits from time to time. He had said that this
was a very useful Society, and there were many points in
which it presented its usefulness. It did not merely
promote apiculture and make people acquainted with the
habits of the bees, but it familiarised children with the
work of God in very small animals, and it promoted the
economical well-being of the working-classes. They all
knew that while the wages of the labourer could only,
in the long run, be regulated by the law of supply and
demand, yet they knew that there were certain ways in
■which without interfering- with that great principle, the
labourers and their families might be assisted to a certain
extent. He believed the allotment of small pieces of land
was one such measure, and another was to teach him to
keep bees, and how to do so properly. He supposed there
were localities where this could not be done; but there
must be many localities in this county where the keeping
of bees intelligently would be of material advantage to
the labourer. On that ground, therefore, he should like
to see the operations of the Association extended, and he
commended it to their support.

Captain Heysham seconded the adoption of the report,
and it was carried unanimously.

Mr. Wivell moved that the following be elected as
officers for the following year: — President, Mr. W.
Horton Ellis ; • Vice-Presidents, the Bight "Worshipful
the Mayor of Exeter, the Sheriff of Exeter, the Bight
Hon. Lord Clinton, Viscountess Chetwynd, Lady Anna
Maria Courtenav, Sir John Kennaway, Bart.', M.B.,
Colonel Walrond, M.P., Mr. E. Johnson, M.P., and Mr.
II. S. Northcote, C.B., M.l\

Mr. Bennis moved that the following form the Council
for the year:— The Rev. J. Bartlett, the Rev. E. I.
Gregory, the Rev. P. Williams, Admiral Moorman,
Captain Heysham, and Mr. J. Thacker, with the Rev.
J. G. Dangar and Mr. W. N. Griffin as Hon. Secretaries,
and the Rev. J. Dickenson as Treasurer.

The following gentlemen were appointed local repre-
sentatives of the Association for the current year :— Mr.
James C. Butler, Newton Abbot; the Rev. F.*T. Salmon,
Gittisham; Mr. W. S. Spearman, Plymouth; the Rev.
J. B. "Williams, Collumpton; the Rev. M. L. Gooby,
Buckfastleigh ; the Rev. J. R. Powell, Hitrhampton ; Mr.

"W. Hodgson, Ottery St. Mary ; Mr. John Park house,
Kingsbridge ; and the Rev. F. Gilbert White, Ashbuvton.

Captain Heysham read a paper entitled 'A Glance
I at our Work and its Needs,' and votes of thanks to him,
to the President, and to the Mayor, concluded the
proceedings.

THE GLOUCESTEBSIIIEE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIAITON.

The general meeting of the above Association took
place in Cheltenham on Thursday, Feb. 5th, General
i Muspratt- Williams presiding. The report of the last year
was read, and was considered quite satisfactory, 144
members having joined the Association since last April
when it was formed. The balance sheet showed a deficit
of 21s,, and this was better than was expected as the
young Association lost heavily at their first annual
exhibition held at Stroud. Much regret was expressed
at the meeting that Mr. Zachary, the Hon. Secretary, has
been obliged to resign his post, and the Rev. J. Turner,
Colne Rogers Vicarage, near Northleach, was elected in
his place. The feeling of the meeting was strongly in
favour of buying a bee-tent so soon as the funds will
permit, the Local Secretaries and Committee feeling con-
lident the number of members will be greatly increased
during the coming season.

HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The annual report of this Association is to hand, and
is in every way an eminently satisfactory one. After
dealing with the progress of bee-keeping throughout
Great Britain, it proceeds to recapitulate the work of the
Association during the past year, alluding to its having-
sent a gift of 5/. to the B. B. K. A. ' to assist the funds
of weaker kindred associations,' — a fact which ought
not to be lost sight of. A sum of 46/, 10s. Grf. was given
away in prizes at the various shows ; an expert was
sent round in the spring and also in autumn at con-
siderable expense ; and after meeting other expenses, in-
cluding a heavy item for the Royal Counties Agricul-
tural Show in 1883, and a grant to the Wilts B. K. A.
towards the loss incurred at the Weyhill Show, the
Hants Association carries forward a sum of 34/. 17s. Id.
Alluding to the present method of preparing honey for
market, the report sa3's: — ' Your lion, secretary had the
honour of judging along with Mr. Alfred Neighbour and
others what was probably the largest and finest exhibition
of honey ever held in Great Britain — that of the East of
Scotland Bee - keepers' Association, held in Dundee
September 11th and 12th, at the great International
Flower Show. He understands there were about oOOO
pounds of honey staged, the greater part of which was
in sections, each of which was separately glassed, am!
nearly the whale of which was sulci during the shew!'
And it proceeds to urge upon the members the importance

I of adopting a plan which will make sections more port-
able and marketable than the old system of show cases.

1 It also draws attention to extracted honey, which ap-
parently is neglected in Hants in favour of super honey.
The committee, it says, ' would urge upon the cottage
members particularly the importance of pa}'ing greater
attention to this subject. "Where appliances are obtain-
able, the profit arising from the sale of extracted honey
is usually far larger than that yielded by sections, as was
shown by the sales of honey during the two. days of this
show, in which the proportion of extracted as compared
with comb or section honey was as six to one in favour
of the former. The public prefer, for various reasons,

' honey in bottle.'

Allusion is made to the efforts of the Rev. V. II.
Movie to secure the use of honey in the manufactures,

C4

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[February 15, 1885.

to whom it says all bee-keepers are indebted, and it
expresses a hope that the new venture, the ' Honey
Company,' may enjoy a successful career. The labour of
lecturing- has again fallen in great measure upon the hon.
secretary, Mr. Bellairs, assisted by Mr. Medlicott and
others ; and with regard to the show held at Farnborough
(Aug. 'JO), it says, ' The adv antage of free lectures was
again secured, through the exertions of the hon. local
secretary, Mr. W. T. Joyce, to whom the thanks of the
Association are due. Through his exertions a large
number of cottagers from the district attended, and
competed for prizes ; and it is not too much to say that
Mr. Joyce has done more than any one to popularise bee-
keeping' in the north of the county. Much enthusiasm was
evinced throughout the show, and it may be of interest to
say that amongst the exhibitors (but not competitors) was
II. I. M. the Empress Eugenie. The importance of free
lectures cannot be overrated, and it is much to be wished
that a charge should not be necessary. Until, however,
a larger number of Hants bee-keepers support us this
seems scarcely possible.'

There has been an increase of fifty-four members to
the Association, which now numbers more thijn 200, the
vast majority of whom subscribe 5s. and upwards,
although many of these could doubtless avail them-
selves of the rule which allows subscriptions of 2s. 6d.
and 1*.

The Annual General Meeting is to be held at noon,
February 19th, at the rooms of the S. P.C.K., 0 Fort-
land Street, Southampton.

HEREFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' '
ASSOCIATION.

The Annual Meeting was held at Hereford on January
26th, the President, Jas. Rankin, Esq., M.P. being in the
chair. The Hon. Sec. read the report, the purport of
which was as follows : —

Lectures on Bee-keeping wrere given in the spring at
Ross by the Hon. Secretary, and at Ledbury, Bromyard,
and Hereford, by Mr. C. Brown, of the Worcestershire
Association. The attendance was not large in either
case, but gave rise to an accession of ten members to the
ranks. Experience points out that such lectures attract
larger audiences in villages than in towns.

It was decided early in the year to grant to bond-fide
cottage members a flat-topped straw hive and crate of
sectional supers (value 5s. Sd.) on payment of 2s. Gd. in
addition to their subscription. Nine members availed
themselves of this offer, which it is proposed to continue.
Copies of the Bee Journal have been subscribed for, for
the reading-rooms at Hereford, Ross, and Ledbury.

The practical work of the season was opened with the
three days' meeting of the Herefordshire Agricultural
Society at Ledbury, June 24th, 25th, and 2Gth, when an
exhibition of everything relating to bee-culture was held
on a much larger scale than had yet been attempted in
the district. Several novelties were introduced at this
meeting, the first being a most interesting microscopical
exhibition illustrating bee-life. This was held in the
square manipulating tent, the microscopes (11 compound
and 8 simple ones) being ranged round the central
opening. This department proved most attractive to the
general public ; it was open free the first day, but it was
afterwards found necessary to make a charge, the
manipulating tent being then connected with it by a
short corridor. The microscopes were lent by gentlemen
in Hereford and Ledbury, the objects by the Hon.
Secretary and Messrs. Abbott, and the success of the
undertaking was in a great measure due to the labours
of Mr. J. E. Ballard, of Ledbury, who devoted most of
his time for three days to it. A Bee-keepers' Convention,
which was held on the show ground, was but poorly
attended : it was perhaps the first attempt of the land in

England; they are common in the United States. The
experiment was sufficiently successful to encourage
future attempts in the same direction. The five subjects
mentioned on the programme were satisfactorily dis-
cussed. An exhibition of hive-making in straw was
another novelty of much interest. The two manipulating
tents have been much used throughout the season, and
every horticultural show throughout the county (except
Kington) has been visited.

The pecuniary results of these visits have been un-
satisfactory, the receipts not being sufficient to pay
expenses ; and as the public seem no longer willing to
pay to witness such exhibitions, the committee have de-
cided not to charge in future for admission, but to visit
only those societies who will pay a fixed sum as grant
towards expenses.

The expert's spring and autumn tours have been a
source of great satisfaction to members, and as no charge is
made for these visits, and their cost (where fully taken
advantage of it) exceeds the amount of subscription,
members should do all in their power to lessen the
expert's expenses by taking up as little of his time as
possible, and when convenient supplying him with
conveyance to or from the next member.

The committee decided not to hold the honey show of
the year in connexion with any society which charged
admission, but to combine it with a Honey Fair to be
held on the first Wednesday in September, in the Butter
Market at Hereford. The result was most successful in
eveiy way. The fair had been well advertised, and was
visited by hundreds of interested spectators, many of
whom bought freely. Nearly two tons of honey — all of
which was the property of the county — were staged, and
a good proportion to the value of Qol. sold. The
general experience was that extracted honey sold more
freely than sections, even at the same price. The
system of selling adopted was for all cash to be paid
over to one cashier, whether sold by members themselves
or by the salesmen; every jar or section was labelled
with" initials of owner, and price, and every sale entered
at the time, giving the owner's initials in books provided
at the counters. The amount of work in connexion with
the fair is very great, and much more volunteer assistance
will be required in the future.

The increase of members during the year from 112 to
168 has been most satisfactory, but there still remains a
large number of bee-keepers iu the county who have not
yet joined. Members would do a service to the Associa-
tion' by forwarding to the secretary a list of those in their
neighbourhood.

Steady, though slow, progress has been made in the
work of the Association in Radnorshire, several new
members have joined, among them a well-known ad-
vanced bee-keeper, Colonel Pearson, who has lately come
to live near New Radnor. It is hoped, with the acces-
sion of more members, to appoint a local expert in
Radnorshire ; the county is well suited for bee-keeping.

In conclusion, the Committee point with pleasure to
the honey fair, as evidence that the work of the Associa-
tion during the past three years has not been without
result. Three years ago there was hardly a bee-keeper
in the county who regarded his bees as a means of adding
to his income; now there are many such.

The balance-sheet showed a la'rger expenditure than
income, for although there was a balance in hand of
10/. 58. 8d., there were also liabilities to the amount of
18^. ; the assets, however, being considerable, the Asso-
ciation is in a sound financial position.

In moving the adoption of the report, together with
the statement of accounts, the President said that, con-
sidering the very recent establishment of the society, the
figures and facts to which they had listened were of a
very hopeful and encouraging character, lie had no
doubt that, as the society gained in the number of mem-
bers, and as it became better known throughout the

February 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

Go

length and breadth of the county, it would be very much
more elaborate. lie could not conceive any person who
had turned his attention in the very slightest degree to
the question of bee-keeping, having the slightest doubt
as to the exceeding advisability of keeping bees, and
espeeiallv among the cottage inhabitants of the county.
He regretted that, having had the honour of being elected
the President for the past year, he should have done so
little for the society ; but, if it were acceptable to the
society, he should be glad this year to give •"/. towards
any prizes which might be considered best suited to the
interests of the Society. He should be very glad, though
he did not quite know what the cost of the lecture would
be, if it could be arranged for a lecturer to give a few
lectures on bee-keeping in his neighbourhood — that of
Much Dewcburch and Much Birch. If that could be
done he would venture to say that he would get a very
good audience who would take a deep interest in the
matter.

Dr. Bullsecondedthe Report. He observed that the Pre-
sident had rightly remarked upon the great advantage of
bee-keeping to cottagers, who might thereby add to their
income ; but there was a much greater advantage than
the one thus indicated, and it was the fertilisation of
flowers by the bees. In the County of Hereford they
depended greatly on the apple crops, and he ventured to
say there could be adopted no means which would insure
as good an apple crop as the keeping of bees, which
fertilised the flowers whenever the sun shone. Bee-
keeping, therefore, was of greater importance to the
county of Hereford than to mauy other counties.

Colonel Pearson, supporting the proposal of the
adoption of the report, considered the establishment of
a honey fair a good thing. The report stated that
extracted honey was more easily sold at the honey fair
than sections. Section honey, in small quantities, was
nice to place on the breakfast-table ; but for commercial
purposes he favoured extracted honey. He thought the
proposal to grant bond fide cottage members a flat straw
hive at a small price a very good one.

The following reports were submitted by the expert of
the Association (Mr. Hole), and the assistant-expert (Mr.
Aleadham) : — 'I have to report that on the 12th of April,
1884, 1 commenced the spring tour to members of the
H. B. K. A., but the weather proving inclement, I post-
poned further visits till the 22nd of the month, and
finished on the 26th of May, visiting Go members,
owners of 220 stocks, in 19 bar-frame hives, and 107
skeps or plain boxes. Members, generally expressed
their satisfaction at what had been done for them. I
would mention here, as an instance of the value of an
early spring visit — season permitting — that I called on a
cottager with a view to getting his subscription as a new
member. This was on May 8th, and I found here four
skeps which all contained bees a few days previously,
but when I examined them one lot only was alive. Of
course, the bees had required spring feeding. The owner
seemed perfectly ignorant of this, and stated, that they had
been flying strongly; but in all probability, a little early
advice woidd have saved three stocks for this cottager.
I found in the spring that many lots of bees were lost
quite late, in consequence of this neglect of the spring-
feeding. The autumn tour was commenced on October
1st, and finished October 22nd, visiting 48 members,
owners of 2.37 stocks, 152 frame-hives and 85 skeps.
For the autumn tour I had the assistance of Air. Aleadham,
and the result shows that the use of the bar-frame is
on the increase, and that generally the bee-ketpers are
pleased with the results of the past season. They begin
to see that in supporting the Herefordshire B. K. A.
they are benefiting themselves and the cause, knowing
that such an Association is calculated to bring before the
notice of consumers value of the honey as now pro-
duced on the modern system. (Signed) J. E. Hole.'— ' I
beg to state that during my autumn tour I visited ten

members, and inspected their stocks — uniting and trans-
ferring in several cases. Their united apiaries contained
44 stocks, .'!2 bar-frame hives, and 12 straw hives.
(Signed) Moses Meadham.1

The following officers were re-elected : — President, J as.
Rankin, Esq., M.P. ; Hon. Secretary, Mr. A. WatMns;
Treasurer, Rev. F. S. Ilooke Yaughan ; Expert, Mr. J. R.
Hole. The Committee were also re-elected with the
addition of Mr. A. P. Small. Additional officers were
elected as follows : — Auditor, Br. Chapman; Represen-
tatives to B. B. K. A. the Secretary and Treasurer ; Assis-
tant expert, Mr. M. Meadham.

Several alterations were made in the rules, which it
was stated would be printed along with the report for
circulation among the members.

The Rev. J. E. Sale proposed, and Br. Bull seconded,
that the certificate given by the British Bee-keepers'
Association be awarded in tho cottagers' class in the
future.

In accordance with a rule of the Association, a hive
was balloted for, and the winner was Mr. Radcliffe
Cooke, of Helen's.

LEICESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The General Meeting of this Association was .held on
Jan. 29th, by kind permission of the Mayor, in the
Mayor's parlour, Old Town Hall, Leicester. The attend-
ance was rather sparse, probably on account of the
boisterous weather. Among those present were Revs.
A. M. Rendell and T. W. Goddard, and Messrs. Carter,
Bryan, Walker, Foxon, AV. S. Pridmore, Marriott, W.
1'. Meadows, C. Redshaw, Bridge, A. Willett, Johnson
Ward, Airs. Ball, and the Secretary.

Mr. T. Carter was voted to the chair, and the pro-
ceedings were opened by reading the Report.

A discussion followed in which Mr. Bryan drew
attention to the adulteration of honey, and mentioned
the fact that a tradesman in Leicester advertised pure (!)
honey at od. a pound. Reference was made to Air.
Hooker's notes on ' The adulteration of honey,' hi the
British Bee Journal. It being stated that the British
Bee-keepers' Association was taking up the matter, it was
decided to leave the matter in its hands.

The deficit in the balance-sheet was next discussed,
and various means of reducing it were suggested. It
was finally settled that there should be only one show
held during the current year, viz., that at Market
Harborough, and that the Committee should base their
regulation of the amount of the prizes on the results of
the past year. The Report was then accepted, and
the following Alembers were elected to serve on the
Committee: viz. Revs. Canon AVilles, J. Biid, and
J. II. M. de Alowbray, and Alessrs. Carter, Walker, J.
E. Saunders, C. Billson, AValter S. Pridmore, L.
Fosbrooke, jun., Lowe, Johnson Ward, J. \V. Bickley,
Bond. The Treasurer and Secretary were re-elected, and
a gTatuity of three guineas awarded to the latter.

The question of employment of an expert to visit
members, &c, was introduced by Air. AV. S. Pridmore.
A lively discussion followed, in the course of which
Air. Bridge of Countesthorpe, expressed his opinion
that the majority of members would not care to have a
stranger meddling witli their bees ; other members took
the opposite view, and finally it was agreed that the
Secretary issue an explanatory circular asking replies to
the following questions, viz. (1) Are you in favour of
engaging an expert P (2) How much will you subscribe
to an expert fund f

It was also decided that lectures on bee-keeping should
be given in different parts of the county, and the
volunteered services of Messrs. Bridge and AV. S.
Pridmore were accepted. Air. Bridge also offered to lend
(on long notice) a set of diagrams illustrative of bees

CO

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[February 15, 1880.

and bee-keeping to auy member who desired tliem as an
aid to lecturing.

The proposal that the f leneral Meeting he held in -May,
so that bee-keepers might have an interchange of views
in the bus}' season, was not pressed as it was suggested
that the employment of an expert would answer the same
purpose. After the usual votes of thanks, the proceedings
terminated.

The next Committee Meeting will be held on Feb. 28th.

WILTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The general meeting of the above was held at Trow-
bridge on January 30th. The attendance, though
somewhat larger than last year, was but small, the
day being too wet for long journeys to be undertaken.

The Rev. II. Trotter, Rector of Trowbridge, having
been voted to the chair, called upon the Hon. Sec. to
read the minutes of the last meeting, which, having been
duly signed, he proceeded to read the report of the com-
mittee and balance-sheet for 1SS4. From that it appears
that, although thirty-five new membei'3 have joined the
Association, the total number — 1S4 — is no larger than
last year, partly owing to many half-hearted bee-keepers
having given up the pursuit, as involving too much per-
sonal attention —discouraged, too, by previous bad seasons,
and partly from the fact that many 'outsiders' have
now the opportunity of joining associations in their own
counties.

The total paid-up subscriptions from members amounted
to 301. (many being still in arrear*), while the takings at
bee shows, donations, &c, bring up the total income to
7H. 3s. ±rl., an increase of 10/. 16s. 3d. on the previous
year, but still falling short of liabilities.

A long discussion arose as to the best method of
keeping the expenditure within bounds for the future.
Attention was drawn by a member to the item 'Hon.
See's attendance and expenses as "Delegate" at four
quarterly conferences of B. B. K. A., ot. l(i.s.,' and it was
proposed ' That, for this year at all events, these attend-
ances be discontinued, being, in a manner, luxuries, and
not really benefiting the county associations.'

The Hon. Sec. pointed to the resolution on the subject
passed at the general meeting in 1882, and drew atten-
tion to the ' Conditions of Affiliation,' and further stated
that the B. B. K. A. laid greater stress than ever on the
county associations being regularly represented at these
conferences. lie also intimated tliat if the resolution of
1682 was rescinded, and no delegates' expenses paid for
attendance at all these meetings, he should decline re-
election as Hon. Sec. ; but that otherwise he would
this year forego the half-guinea fee to which he lias
hitherto been entitled, although each of these visits
necessitated two entire days' absence from home and the
expense of a night in town.

The Rev. J. II. Dixon (till now one of the appointed
delegates) spoke most strongly against the proposal, being-
supported by some who stated that they had themselves
benefited indirectly by the delegates' attendance. The
proposal was then withdrawn, and the report and balance-
sheet accepted.

The meeting then proceeded to the election of the
committee, nearly all of whom retain their seats, the
new members being :— Rev. C. W. Honey, as Assistant
Hon. Sec. for the Devizes district (vacant for the last
year); \V. S. Bambridge, Esq.; Mr. C. "Warden; and
Mr. John Rogers. All the Assistant Hon. Sees, were
re-elected, also the Treasurer (T. Herbert Clarke, Esq.)
and the Hon. Sec. (Rev. W. E. Burkitt), Mr. Burkitt
and Mr. Clark being also appointed delegates for the
ensuing year. Mr. 1 iurkit t, holding First Class Certificate
of B. B. K. A., retains office as Expert of the Association,
and E. Day (Third Class), of Milford Hill, Salisbury, was

* A few of these have been sent in since the meeting.

appointed Assistant Expert, in the room of Rev. E-
Davenport, who has removed to a distant county.

It was next resolved to appoint a number of District
Advisers, and that the Hon. Sec. be authorised to add to
the list from time to time.

It is a source of great satisfaction that four members
of the Association, during the last year, gained the certi-
ficates of the R. R. K. A. as ' Experts in Modern Bee-
keeping,' viz., Mr. C. "Warden (head gardener to Lady
Ilervey Rathurst, Clarendon Dark) and W. S. Bam-
bridge. Esq., Mus. Bac, of Marlborough College— of the
Second ( !lass ; E. Day (of Salisbury) and F. Bartley (gar-
dener to General Rice, of Rowde, near Devizes) — of! the
Third Class. Two or three other members would doubt-
less have been as successful had there not been obstacles
to their entering for last year's examination.

The Hon. Sec. drew attention to the fact that, owing
to the low rate of subscriptions paid by the labouring
classes, there is great need of far more liberal suppport
from the gentry than has hitherto been accorded if the
Association is to extend its operations or even hold its
own.

During the past year bee .'hows were held at Marl-
boroug h(two days ) ,"Westbury,"Wootton BassettjChiseldon ,
and Weyhill Fair, the latter lasting for live days. Nine
lectures were given — two gnrden parties (with bees in-
stead of tennis) attended and seventy-four visits paid t< i
apiaries by Mr. Burkitt, and nearly as many more by
Rev. E. Davenport, his late colleague.

The three prizes given at the County Show by the
B. B. K. A., were awarded as follows: — The silver
medal for best 24 lbs. of section honey and 12 lbs. ex-
tracted, to A. G. Radcliffe. Esq.. Fonthill. The bronze
medal (second prize), Rev. W. E. Burkitt. Certificate for
best super not sectional, to Mr. II. W. Tayler, Melksham.
The judges being W. II. Dunman, Esq., and W. N.
Griffin, Esq. (who also examined the candidates for the
experts' certificates), on behalf of the B. B. K. A.

The special donations to the Prize Fund last year
amounted to only 2/. 13s., this (together with the many
subscriptions left unpaid), the Hon. Sec. pointed out,
was the real cause of the deficit — in the General Funds.
It was, therefore, resolved that, in hopes of securing a
more adequate sum this year, every member of the Com-
mittee and the district advisers should be provided with
collecting cards, with a view to obtaining various con-
tributions, not only frum Members, but from any in-
terested in country pursuits.

The Hon. Sec. was instructed to endeavour to make
arrangements with the "Wilts Horticultural Society for
holding the County Show in connexion with the Floral
Fete to be held in the 1'alace Gardens, Salisbury, in
August.

A special vote of thanks was accorded to the Rev. E.
Davenport for his very valuable services rendered to the
Association ever since its formation, both as a Member
of the Committee and as Expert.

The usual vote of thanks having been proposed and
seconded, the meeting broke up. — W. E. Burkitt, Hon.
Ser.

WORCESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The annual general meetinjr of this Association was
held at the Guildhall, Worcester, on Wednesday,
January 28th. Among those present were the President
! (the Earl Beauchanip), Lady Georgina Vernon (llan-
buryl, Rev. E. AVitmore Isaac, Mr. C. II. Baylies, and
Mr. E. A. Dimmock (Hanlev Castle), Rev. S.' Latham,
Rev. E. Val. Williams, Mr. B. Henley, M. W. Paddison
(Malvern), Mrs. Deacon (Eastburv Manor), Capt. W. B.
Williamson, Mr. W. D. Slnde, Mr. J. Neal, Mr. J. W. W.
Boughton, Mr. II. W. Carey (Worcester), Rev. W. M.
Kingsinill (Bredicot), Mr. A. 11. Martin (Evesham), Hon.
Sec, Mr. G. N. Preen (Kidderminster), Mr. E. B. Foot-

February 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

07

man (Hartley), Mr. W. Barnard (Ombersley), and Mr.
C. Brown (Bewdley), Expert of tlie Association.

AIx-A.. II. Martin read the report, from which it ap-
peared that during the past year there had been a steady
increase in the number of members. At the close of 1883
the Association numbered l~(i, ami now numbers 221, 76
having joined during the year. The income had amounted
to 1 'I'M. (is. (id., and after paying all the expenses of the year
there was a balance of 20/. Os. \\d. in the hands of the
treasurer. During the spring and summer the expert of
the Association, Mr. C. Brown, made his first annual
tour through the county at the expense of the Association,
visiting all those that required his assistance, and num-
bering in all about 200. He found they possessed on an
average four hives each, amounting in total to about (iOO
lines. He is able to report that considerable advance
lias been made in the system of management amongst all
classes, including cottagers, and that the yield of honey
in some parts of the county had been very large. Ten
places have been visited by the bee tent during the year,
viz., Bretforton, Chaddlesley, Corbett, Redditch, Kidder-
minster, l'ershore, "Worcester, Malvern, Madrestield, and
Evesham. Short lectures were given by Mr. A. H.
Martin on several occasions, and Mr. Brown conducted
the manipulations with live bees, and a great deal of
interest was awakened.

Lord Beauchamp. in moving the adoption of the
report, said he thought that, looking at the extent of the
Society's receipts, no one could say other than that the
monev at its disposal had been most usefully and wisely
expended. To diffuse a knowledge of the correct
method of keeping bees and obtaining the greatest
amount of pure honey was a most laudable undertaking
and one which would add to the. sum of human
happiness among the agricultural population of this
country. So long as the cultivation of honey was carried
on by a few persons the market for honey — though
quite sufficient to absorb all the honey produced — was
not a large one. But with an improvement in the culti-
vation of honey and the greater amount now produced
there would have been a difficulty in disposing of the
increased store, unless some such undertaking as the
British Honey Company had been started which would
afford bee-keepers a satisfactory way of disposing of
their stores. He had been looking, with some interest,
at the objects the Company proposed, and he observed a
remarkable silence with regard to one mode in which
honey was used in the middle ages. Perhaps most of
those present know that mead was one of the useful
alcoholic drinks consumed in the middle ages, and it was
made chiefly from honey. But the British Honey Com-
pany in the attractive prospectus they put forward did
not propose to return to the medireval custom of drinking
mead, which would perhaps be rather a difficult thing to
develope a taste for in the present state of civilisation.
The Company had applied themselves to the much more
practical task of providing for the disposal of honey
according to the wants and needs of the present day, and
he thought those who had at heart the promotion of the
cultivation of honey must be indebted to those who had
taken such pains to promote this Company, to which he
wished all possible success. The study of bees was a
most interesting one. He would not say more in the
presence of those who knew more about it than he did,
but be might, at all events, say he had an opportunity of
visiting the bee tent which was brought to the flower
show at his own village, and he p-ained a good deal of
information from it, and was much struck with the ad-
mirable manner in which the expert of the Society im-
parted information and handled the beas. He did not
think they could look for such an extensive result from
the operations of the society during the first year or two
as hereinafter. People were a long time taking in new-
ideas. Those who had kept bees were wedded to their
old-fashioned ways of dealing with them, and those who

had not kept bees were slow in seeing the advantages 5,
be derived from the cultivation of honey. But no dou
if the Association persevered in what he might call its
missionary pursuit of diffusing a taste for bee -culture,
in the course of a few years he had no doubt there
would be in this county — which was so well suited for
it, from its botanical produce — a great increase in the
production and consumption of honey. The thanks of the
county were due to those who had organized this Asso-
ciation and brought it to its present prosperous state.

Mr. Henry seconded, and the motion was carried.

Mr. Martin read the statement of accounts which
showed total receipts, 12;!/. Gs. Grf. including a balance
brought forward of 29/. 14s. lQd. Members' subscriptions,
511. 10s. Receipts from bee-tent at shows, ]"/. 15s. 3d.
Donations to PrizeFund, 10/. 18s. (W., and Worcestershire
Agricultural Society's donation, 5?. Exhibitors' entry
fees 71. 10s., and an expenditure which left a balance of
20/. !!s. l\d. and included expenses of expert 20/. 5s. '■'id.,
expenses of bee tent at shows SI. 8s. 7d., expenses of
annual show at l'ershore 11/. 8s. 7d., and prizes at
annual show 17/. 17s. (if/.

The President and the Vice-Presidents were re-elected,
and the following were appointed on the committee:
Mr. J. J. Addvman, Mr. Robert Cordell, Mr. E. A. Dim-
mock, Canon W. W. Douglas, Mr. C. II. Haynes, Mr. J.
Hiani (Astwood Bank), Mr. W. B. Henley, Mr. \V. F.
Gibbon (l'ershore), Mr. II. H. Griffin (Hartlebury), the
Rev. E. AY. Isaac, the Rev. AV. M. Kingsirill, Airs. Piers

F. Legh, Rev. N. Ogilvy, Mr. James Partridge, Airs.
Swinden, Mr. Samuel Tombs, Air. Hervey Wall, Air. II.
Wright (Redditch), Aliss Wilson, and Air. Martin
Woodward .

The chairman proposed the re-election of Air. A. H.
Martin as honorary secretary saying that to Air. Alartin's
energy anil assiduity the Association owed much of its
success. The Rev. E. W. Isaac seconded, and the proposi-
tion was carried unanimously.

Air. A. II. Martin, in returning thanks, said that he
was much obliged to his lordship for the kind manner in
which he had spoken of the services he had rendered to
the Association, and as he had done in the past so he
would endeavour to do in the future all he could do to
promote the objects they had in view.

Alessrs. A. H. Alartin and C. II. Hajmes were ap-
pointed to represent the Association at the quarterly
conferences of the British Bee-keepers' Association in
London.

The annual ballot for the three hives given by the
Association then took place. The winners were, Alessrs.

G. H. Glover, the Hollies, Claines ; AY. Paddison,
Malvern ; and Aliss Aloore, Elmley Castle, l'ershore.

Votes of thinks were accorded to the chairman, and to
Air. Alartin for his services to the Association

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
As we have no member or representative of any kind
in the northern half of the county, 1 shall be pleased to
hear from any lady or gentlemau willing to act as district
secretary. — J. E. Lamport Gilbert, Hun. Sec, St.
James's, Xort.liamptun.

^nrrcspoiXHcncc.

SPRING MANAGEMENT.

Once again we are coming round to the busy time, and
must begin to consider how our bees are to be managed
to bring them into proper condition to take advantage of
the first — yes, the very first — ' spell ' of honey weather.
AYe may rest assured that if stocks are strong early, they
will with careful management give a good account of

G8

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[February 15, 18S5.

themselves throughout the whole season, while those
which are not ready for the earlier incoming will do
little more than keep themselves during the same
year.

We will suppose that the average colony had been
carefully fed during the preceding autumn, and properly
stored for winter ; when early in the year, finding them-
selves richly provisioned, the bees will have been steadily
breeding for a considerable time before the beginning of
March, when the first examination should be made. No
colony should be disturbed earlier than the first of that
month, unless the owner has been negligent, and is not
certain that the stores will hold out. I am compelled to
state that the practice of uncapping a portion of the
honey so early as Feb. 20, as often advised, is not only
unnecessary, but even worse, as the excitement then
induced causes a too rapid development of the brood-nest
at this period, and consequent premature exhaustion to
the nurse bees, which as yet are too few in number to
undertake such heavy duties as this plan involves, thereby
causing a relapse later on. On the other hand, those
which had not been actively stimulated until the middle
of March, continue to advance from the first, and are
seen to be rapidly increasing in numbers, while the for-
mer are for a long time almost at a standstill. Those
allowed to rest for a longer period had been permitted
gradually to supersede most of the old bees before being
forced to greater exertions ; thus they have a good base
to start upon, and while consuming about half the
amount of food, will be found in a much better condi-
tion to take the field than those which were disturbed
earlier. The only way to obtain the necessary force of
young nurse-bees to stand the first strain of active stimu-
lation, is by making sure that the stock has been rich in
sealed stores from the preceding autumn; in fact, all
should then have been so treated that at the March
examination they shall be found stronger in numbers
than when closed down for winter.

All stocks must be overhauled on the first of March,
but do not even then bruise or slice off the cappings ;
there will be time-enough for that, as will be presently
shown. All that is now required is to see that each has
more than sufficient to carry it along. Eemove all combs
not required, and place one heavily stored behind the
dummy, with passage under. Those well supplied will
spare a comb of honey for a poorer neighbour, placing
the same behind dummy if a fair store surrounds brood-
nest; should there be but little, let the full comb be
inserted in the place of an empty one that may be con-
veniently removed.

At this examination unite with others those that may
be queenless : give clean hives, or clear out all refuse
from such as cannot easily be changed, and see that
there are no crevices to admit draught : crowd the bees
on to as few combs as possible, and see that the entrance
is not more than one inch wide ; and above all, arrange
the quilting, or crown-board, that no heat may escape
above the cluster.

This first operation will alone cause greater activity
among the bees, and unless stored combs are running
short, no other stimulation is necessary until about
March 15. — S. Simmins.

(7b be continued.)

PRACTICAL BEE-KEEPING.

In answer to Mr. A. Sharp, in last Journal on
Practical Bee-keeping.' I may say if he makes his hives
double-walled and puts an extra entrance in the east side
behind, to make nuclei stocks and rear queens in, he
would have a practical Combination hive. Having tried
various kinds of hives, several of which I now use, before
giving my system of wintering (see page I'll, for October
15th, 168-'!) 1 concluded that the hive I there described
for its utility in holding nineteen frames and a dummy

was the most efficient I had tried, and have since ad-
vised my friends to take pattern by it.

If Mr. Cheshire's Health Exhibition Hive (as described
on page H'2) had the legs nailed between the walls at the
corners, instead of out^de, it would hold them very fast
and make the hive more rigid and keep out the wet and
be very. near perfection. I am not a hive-dealer, but
I give my experience as a farmer and honey-grower. I
manipulate my own hives, and superintend over one
hundred more for a brother and friend. — K. Thorpe,
Langrickvitte, Feb. 10.

BEE-KEEPING IN SCOTLAND.
I have read the effusions of 'J. A. B.' and, but for
the gross imputations upon the integrity of the judges
and the attempt to throw a slur upon Scotch bee-keepers
in general, and hive-makers in particular, would have
treated his article with silence. His sneer at our thirty
or forty years' experience, and the serious objections
stated against the decision of the judges are sufficient proof
to me who ' J. A. B.' is. Let me tell him, however, as
I told him at the judging of the Edinburgh show, that it
is only those having long experience that are the best
suited to adjudicate on anything, and that it would be a
wise thing if directors of shows would relegate all novices
from the list of judges. The prize takers at Edinburgh
have all taken prizes either at England's best shows, or
have cotnpeted successfully with the English at our own
shows. Therefore, when 'J. A. B.' says, 'which w-ould
in all likelihood been past over in some of the small
English County Shows,' is a very great delusion on bis
part, or shows the sting of a defeated competition.
The bee-furniture at Edinburgh was not only superior, but
the prizes were awarded to those that possessed the re-
quirements necessary in bee-keeping ; and this I, along
with my coadjutors, intimated to the grumblers at the
time such as ' J. A. B.' In regard to the honey exhibits
being as ' J. A. B.' says, 'the honey exhibits were as they
should bo,' I will not dispute this; but wherever there was
competition the prizes went to the old hands, whose
specimens were certainly very far ahead of those of the
few years' experience. In conclusion, bee-keepers who
are willing to instruct on request, cannot be expected to
go about the country bawling out for people to visit them,
nor yet to make themselves prominent in the pages of any
light periodical they imagine will publish their trumpet-
iugs. Then, although many people remain ignorant of
bees near any apiary, there is nothing remiss on the part
of the bee-keeper ; for this certainly nothing of a slur
should adhere to the promoters of bee shows, who can
conceal these from bee-keepers within half a mile of their
show grounds, and award a gold medal to the only
exhibitor.— One of the Judges.

SIMPLICITY IN BEE-KEEPING.

Although not agreeing with all your correspondent,
' J. P.', says on the above subject, I have felt for a long-
time that the direction modern bee-keeping was taking-
was more a scientific than a simple and profitable one,
and as a scientific occupation was getting more and
more out of the reach of those that the B. B. K.
Association so continually assert it is f'heir wish to
benefit, viz., the cottager, labourer, and those similarly
situated.

I am living where modern bee-keeping has only lately
taken root, and it is now quickly spreading, and I have
had numerous inquiries from those who have lately taken
up the pursuit or have been thinking of doing so; and I
have repeatedly been asked how they are to get all the
things which the bee-books say are necessary to good and
successful management. I have been obliged to tell them
not to mind much they find in these books as many of

February 15, 1885.]

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

fi9

them are no doubt useful and almost necessary to
advanced bee-keepers but not to them, and seem to me
to bo got up and pushed by dealers, &o., as a sort of
trade-maldng trick to keep up business.

I have constantly advised them to spend ~d. in
Modern See-keeping book, and offered to lend them a bar-
hive, or if impracticable told them to buy a Makeshift or
other cheap hive as a pattern and make their own; this in
some cases is beyond their purse or ability as regards the
hive.

I have found no bee-book yet so well calculated to
suit beginners in bee-keeping as Modern Bee-keeping,
and when reading any others I can get to see (I never
buy any) I am always surprised at the opening part
where it generally states how simple and how easy it is
for any one to realise a profit by bees ; and then, like
books on rabbits, pigeons, poultry, and pigs, devotes
the remainder of the space to pointing out the numerous
accessories and appliances requisite to he successful in '
the end. I think we yet want a simple and less ex-
pensive system advocating for the class I speak of.

When they have got over the past few seasons and
are more acquainted with the subject through ex-
perience and the perusal of the B. B. J., there is nothing
to prevent (in fact, you then cannot prevent them) from
adopting some of the scientific appliances, and then
I think they will be more likely to be able to afford
them, if they have been educated up to their use and
have realised a profit from the modern system, which is
all the more likely, than if they- go in for expensive
things they do not know how to use properly. They often
fail and throw up the thing in disgust, lay all the blame
on bee-keeping, whereas it is that they began at the
wrong part and did not know how to use the things they
purchased.

I know a young farmer in this part who has got the
' bee-fever ' through reading about the subject in Farm
and Some, and he saw some bees advertised for sale,
and bought them. As the late owner had to leave his
home and grounds, the purchaser was compelled to
move them about sixteen or eighteen miles, he came to
me for advice as to how to do it, and he succeeded in
getting them home in safety. I lent him the B.B. J.,
and there he sees all the scientific appliances advocated,
and now be wants to rush in for extractor, honey
ripener, wax-smelter, &c, and is surprised when I tell
him either to do without or make an extractor himself;
but he talks of extracting ever)' two or three days, and
is already calculating on a rich return for his money,
although three months ago he thought nothing about
bees and had never seeu a queen or drone or the in-
side of a hive other than the old skep. This is the result
of the teachings of B. B. J. and the advanced Bee Book
he has purchased and studied, and he has already
invested in wood for hives more money than I ever
spent in hives or appliances this last five years. I am
afraid he will see the balance on the wrong side by-and-
by. I make, three or four bar-hives pay me very well, I
subscribe to the B. B.J., have a copy of the Hand-book,
once bought a Makeshift hive for a friend, who did not
pay for it, and so I got it back and made it up into a
good hive for my own use. This is the only one I have
that is not my own, make throughout. The plan I adopt .
is to buy nothing that I can make, and to do without
most of the things that are said to be necessary. 1 made
a Little Wonder extractor, and buy only bars, sections,
foundations, excluder zinc, and honey "jars. — J. I. S.
Somerton, Somerset.

SECTIONS AT BIGHT ANGLES TO THE
FRAMES.

Before the next issue of B. B. J. the question as to the
standard size of sections will have been decided, and I
hope in favour of the size advised by the Sub-
committee.

I am surprised that among all that has appeared in
your pages as to the arrangement of sections and section-
frames for use in the body of the hive, one very simple
and inexpensive one has (I think) not been alluded to.
It was shown me by Mr. Hart, of Longstock.

The plan is to place the sections at right angles to the
frame's and on their sides, thus showing the quarter-inch
openings perpendicular, thus avoiding the use of that
abomination of all bees (of my acquaintance), the 'ex-
cluder zinc' In this way two rows of seven 4i and 4i
sections, one on the other, are placed at the back (or side")
of the hive ; a strip of deal 0 x 4i on each side, planed
rather thinner at the lower acts as a wedge, and keeps all
close without any frame. The dividers are strips of tin
20x;!i- (thus a :.'0xl4 sheet cuts four), bent so as to
clasp tightly each pair of sections from top to bottom.
By cutting four nicks { inch deep in the part of the tin
at the bottom, and turning the pieces down, ' bee-space '
is left below the sections.

It is difficult to describe this on paper, so the best plan
would be to send to Messrs. E. M. Hart & Co. for a
sample set (the price, I think, is 2s., or for three stamps I
would send any one a small model). If desired, these
fourteen sections, when half-finished, can be laid sideways
on the top of the hive (tied round with string) for com-
pletion.

I did not know of this plan in time to test it last
season, but heard it well spoken of, and I was told it was
largely adopted by Mr. Bellairs. It certainly seems a far
better and simpler plan than the section frames, and
might be adopted with any shaped 1-lb. sections. — W. E.
Bukkitt, Buttermere Bectorij, Bangerford, Feb. 5.

SMOKER SPRINGS.
During last season I heard a great many bee-keepers
complain of their smoker springs breaking, several after
being used only a few times, "and having been put to
some trouble myself from the same cause, I was led to
think that to be perfection a spiral spring should be
used. I accidentally found a chair or a sofa spring, and
cutting it in half with a file, I was in possession of two
cone-shaped spiral springs, about three inches high each.
I fixed the wide end of one of these on the bottom board
of the smoker-bellows with four small wire staples ; then
Slightly forcing the two boards of the bellows together,
I refixed the leather, and, on trying it, found I had a
spring that was powerful, simple, easily fitted, and, I
should imagine from its shape, unbreakable, and only
costing about three half-pence. They can be obtained at
any ironmonger's. The bellows of most smokers are not
wide enough to permit their being grasped firmly in one
hand, I therefore fitted a new bellows to mine, which
seems an improvement. I cut two pieces of pine,
Gi x 4i x % in., and bored the blast-hole J in. to the left
of the centre ; this brings the tin guard on the. left edge
of the bellows, thus giving plenty of room on the right.
— H. Fewtrju.l, Cumberland Road, Reading.

BLIGII COMPETITION.
In the Report of the British Bee-keepers' Association
I received this morning, allusion is made to this subject,
and members of the Association are invited to offer sug-
gestions for improving and simplifying the rules under
whichthe competition is now carried on in the event of
its being repeated another season. As stated by the
Committee, a similar request was made a year ago ; but
though several suggestions were then offered, it does not
appear that they were acted upon. One in particular,
which several of your correspondents put forth in the
columns of your Journal, was to the effect that before
being confirmed, the new rules should be published and
submitted to the criticism of practical bee-keepers. Had
this been done, I cannot think that so absurd a rule as
No. VI., with its still more absurd interpretation (vide

70

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[February 15, 18S"..

B.B.J, for December and January last) would ever have
been sanctioned, the effect of it being, as I need hardly
point out to any one who understands the matter, utterly
to discourage all honest competition or practical bee-
keeping in any shape. That this is the general opinion
is shown by the fact alluded to in the Report, that so
large a number of those who paid their entrance-fees did
not continue the competition, notwithstanding the ex-
ceptionally fine season of last summer.

The Committee express a hope that those who are
still in the lists ' will hold on to the finish.' May I be
allowed to express my hope and trust that if they do, no
bee-keeper will attach the slightest importance to the
results, which, whatever they may be, must be utterly
fallacious and misleading ?

I write strongly, for I am, I confess, disappointed at
the failure of a scheme from which I had hoped much
good might arise, and which I endeavoured to promote
by donations and entrance-fees, but which has been
utterly marred and spoiled in the carrying out. — George
Shtpton.

REVERSIBLE FRAMES.

In accordance with intimation given by me on page 50,
I herewith send a wood-cut showing the position of the
metal ends, and how they can be turned round so as to
support the frame either" from top or bottom, and thus
serve as a simple means of reversing.

As before said this contrivance can be adapted to any
kind of frame, and is easily fixed even on hives in use,
no alteration of the hive being at all necessary. — Alfred
Neighbour.

[We have received a communication from Messrs.
Mason and Buchan stating that Mr. Neighbour's rever-
sible frame is ' exactly the same principle as their patent : '
we do not see the similarity. Mr. Neighbour's letter
refers to the position of the metal ends, theirs to the
reversibility of the frames.]

<2£dj0cs from % Jjjtbcs.

Worthing, Bat/stead. — Bees in this locality are on the
alert ; three stocks in nry apiary were busily devouring
barley-sugar placed over the crown-board exit in inverted
finger-glasses, and had come to an end of the stores.
Flights have been frequent during last month. — E. W.

North Leicestershire. — On Nov. 14th, 1S84, the bees
went into winter quarters, and remained perfectly quiet
till Bee. 5th, when they had a general turn-out, and
settled down again until Jan. 5th. At this date some of
the stocks maintained their quietude, and showed un-
pleasant signs of distress, when the sudden rise of tem-
perature on Jan. 27th set them at liberty. Stocks are
generally in good condition, and some few bees have
been buzzing about the aconites to-day (7th inst). — E. B.

Blacltheath, Kent, Feb. (!. — My bees seem to be very
strong and in good condition, and are getting through
the winter very well. Some few have died during the
late frosts. These I have removed ; the rest are in first-
rate condition, and have been lately flying about during
the hours of sunshiue, looking none the worse for their

long rest. Last Sunday (Feb. 1st) I caught a queen
wasp, which had evidently felt the influence of the
warm genial sunshine, and was therefore looking out for
a place to start a nest in. I think this is the first wasp
that has been seen in this neighbourhood this year. —
Herbert S. Sauxders.

Itnttini/ileun, Feb. 7 . — I am pleased to say stocks are
progressing favourably, though so far none but very
superficial examinations have been made. "We have
experienced a very moderate winter, though not so mild
as the last.— S. Simmixs.

Oxford', 'February 7th. — Bees are now beginning to
move in many apiaries, being invited hence by the mild
weather, and appear perfectly healthy and ready for
good work during the coming season. The winter can-
not be said to have been heavy, though we have had a
little frost, and bees, on the whole, seem to have suffered
little; notwithstanding one case of dysentery took place
in our midst. Very little winter feeding has been done,
as, generally speaking, it is not believed in here, but we
are now beginning to stimulate them. The weather is
very stormy, and the ground sodden, many bees alighting
on it, and dying thereby. — E. F. II.

Bath, February 9th. — For the first time this season I
see pollen being brought in in small pellets, orange and
dirty white. There are a few crocus out to account for
the orange-coloured pollen, but where does the white
come from 'i One of my hives receives occasional visits
from robber bees, who do not, however, appear to effect
an entrance. But what causes robbing at this season ?
My hive, when put up for the winter, was strong in
number and in food. — M. II. Frekiiford, Bath.

Urn/dun Hill, Bashe;/, Herts, February llth. — In your
lists of spring flowers for bees I do not think the great
value of the snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) is sufficiently
appreciated. Yesterday, February 10th, being- a warm
sunny day the bees were out in great numbers and very
busy working on the snowdrops, of .which I have a large
quantity in bloom, and their legs were covered with
large halls of deep orange pollen. For two years 1 have
noticed how much they were visited by the bees, and
even when the crocus are out which in this heavy clay
soil is late, the few remaining snowdrops are preferred.
— L. Attexborough.

Xeirtownards, Ireland, Feb. 5. — Winter is rapidly
passing way, and en the whole it has been very mild,
witli a moderate rainfall, and in severity cannot be com-
pared to that of last year for rain and storms. Bees have-
had frequent flights to cleanse themselves and renew their
health. The bees in my own apiary are wintering nicely,
having plenty of good, healthy, sealed stores. I know of
a colony almost died out with dysentery, the owner of
which on examination took away a quart of dead bees,
and the combs and hive were in a sad state of dampness,
and traces of the disease caused by wintering on unsealed
stores given too late in autumn. In another apiary a
colony has commenced to breed, and on examination eggs
and young grubs were visible. — A Newtowxauhs Hkk-
keeper.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS.

Ax Inquirer.. — Section Honey or Extracting. — It would
be more profitable to get honey by extracting than by
sections, if the instructions given in previous numbers
of the Journal be carefully attended to.

E. P. — Mucin// Bees. — Please refer to our issue of Feb.
15, where instructions as to moving bees short distances
are fully given.

Beeswing. — The sugar as per sample will do very well
for the purpose. The cloth will also do, though a
more even surface is preferable. If tin is used, have
a plate .'1 inches wide and as long as the feeder, placing

February 15, 18Sf>.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

71

it close to the same. Of course it should be under-
stp id that if covered too closely by quilting material
no moisture will be produced.
M. IIai.i.iwell. — Mr. Simmins's tiv.-t idea was to
arrange the dummy with glass slides, but on consider-
ing the expense, and liability of a breakage, and other
inconveniences, he decided to use only wood. The
state of stores is^ readily ascertained after a little
practice by raising' the dummy -lightly by the hand.
The proposed arrangement, moreover, will give no
moisture, as there will not be sufficient variation in
the internal atmosphere of the hive to cause it, con-
sidering the position of feeder.
H. .Jeaxf.s. — Practical Bee-keeping. — Excluder '/.inc. —
Mr. A. Sharp's reply is: — 'I have entirely abandoned
the use of queen excluder, considering it an unneces-
sary expense and a great annoyance to the bees. Not
a bit of it was used in my apiary during the past
season, and the only section found to contain brood
was one that was tilled with drone-comb. If a stock
is built up early, so as to be in a position to store the
first flow of honey that comes in supers, the sections
tilled with worker comb-foundation, and so arranged
that there is a quarter of an inch between the bottom
of them and the tup of tbe bars, there is little fear of
the queen ascending. At least, such is my experience.
When extracting I often find combs filled with hone\-
from top to bottom entirely free from brood. Combs
that contain brood are not extracted until the brood is
sealed over, in which case extracting appears to have
no injurious effects. I do not therefore see any
need to confin; the quson to a limited number of
frames.'
Wm. Ditty. — Given-icired-Fowndaiion is an American
production and is largely used in that country, but of
late the practice of wiring the frames, and pressing
the ordinary foundation on the wires, has come into
vogue. The ' Given -foundation ' is inserted in the
top-bar, with the wires hanging vertical, i.e., parallel
to the end bars, but not touching them by a \ of an
inch. Neither must it touch the bottom bar by 5 or
j inch. Dead again our directions in ' Useful Hints,'
and you will find that the silvered, or tinned wire —
which crosses the wires in the foundation — is to be
passed through holes in the ends of the frame, 2 or
.'! inches from the bottom-bar. These holes, 2 inches
each end, must be near to each other, and a doubled
piece of wire passed through one end is then drawn up
tight, through the holes in the other end, and twisted,
when it holds the foundation in a vertical, or perpen-
dicular position to the top and bottom bars of the
frames, and ensures straight and veitieal combs being-
built within the frames. Given is the inventor of this
foundation, hence its name. The price in England is
2s. lOrf. or :)s. per lb., according to the quantity taken
and we believe several dealers in bee appliances import
it, we know tl at Messrs. Neighbour do. The wire,
imbedded in the foundation — a wire to every inch —
is of the finest description, not thicker than horse-hair,
and is easily cut, with ordinary scissors, to fit the
frames. We consider it quite as cheap as thick un-
wired foundation at Is. \dd. or 2s. per lb., since the
septum being' very thin, and the cells Hat-bottomed,
it goes much further, and there is no danger of combs
— even if quite new — breaking out in the extractor.
We speak from experience and not from theory, but
we say try it first, on a small scale, and we feel sure
you will continue the use of it afterwards. The Van
Ueusen wired foundation is an equally effective make.

Donnon. — Treatment of Beep. — The bees may be
diiven very well during warm weather in April, but
transferring to frame-hives is an operation which re-
quires an expert. We advise you to take the swarms,
either naturally or artificially, at the proper time, and

three weeks afterwards to transfer the bees, brood and
combs from the old hives to new ones putting together
two colonies. You may take super honey from tbe
swarms if the season prove a good one. See Modem
Bee-keeping under ' Transferring.'
G. K. Diss. — Mouldy Pollen in Spare Combs. — You did
quite right. The combs are quite suitable to give to
a swarm, and if the pollen is not to their liking the
bees will very soon clear it out. 2. Unsealed Food
Fermented. — We should not give any doubtful food to
bees in spring, as it may lead to dysentery. When
the season is more advanced and the weather warm,
you may give the cmubs to a strong lot to be cleaned
imt, but Ave should advise you to extract all the liquid
food first, and if the quantity is small throw it away.
.'!. Feeding. — At this time of year candy is the best
food. Do not think of putting a dry sugar feeder
between the combs. When you do use it, in another
month's time, put it outside the clustered bees, in the
position of a dummy. 4. Wired Foundation. — We
have always found the ' Given-wired-foundation '
worked out as quickly and as readily as any other
kind, and when inserted as recommended in ' Useful
Hints,' in our last issue, there has been no curling or
warping, and, best of all, no sagging or falling is
possible. Our experience of the heavy foundation,
with thick septum, is that with large colonies and hot
weather it is impossible to prevent the whole sheets
from falling.
A. Banffshire Bee-keeper, — Mooing Hires. — See
'Useful Hints' under ' Moving Hives' in our last
issue. If the weather has been so fine as to induce
the bees to fly freely there is danger of loss. After
this month by far the safest plan is to move the hives
a distance of" one mile at least, and after the lapse of
three or four weeks to again remove them to their
permanent site.
A. Fish.— 1. Straw- packed Walls. — Your plan will
answer, but is complicated. Cork-dust is quite as
good or better than straw as a non-conductor of heat,
and is cleaner and less likely to harbour vermin or
become mouldy. 2. Saw-ruts in Frames. — This is the
simplest plan* of fixing fonndation, but the clefts
should be filled with putty on the upper side of the
top bars to prevent harbouring wax-moth grubs. •'!.
Wide-shouldered Frames. — Ye-, we certainly recom-
mend this form in preference to the plain top bar
witli distance pins or staples. The invention of
metal ends offers the most simple means of widen-
ing the frames, and is preferable to wooden shoul-
ders. 4. Size of Sections. — We should advise you
to adopt 4} x 4j. 5. Foundation. — The cause of
your sheets swaying to one side is either that
your hives do not stand level or that you gave more
sheets than the bees could cover on both sides. If a
sheet of foundation has bees on only one side, their
weight will of course bring it out of perpendicular.
A better plan than that which you suggest was
mentioned in our columns some months ago, viz., a
few threads strained through holes in the ends of the
frames on each side of the sheets. (!. A short account
of results, especially if accompanied by such details as
would explain them, would possibly be interesting.
A. IS. ('. — Position of Hires. — There should be a distance
of three feet between each hive ; and between rows of
hives at least six feet. It is desirable to have a path
behind tbe hives, so that when examining them, as
they should he from the back, the bees passing in
and out of the hives may be disturbed as little as
possible.
Co. Limerick. — Floor-boards. — It is not necessary that
floor-boards should lie moveable. In Woodbury hives
it is desirable to have them loose for facility in clean-
ing them. In larger hives the same purpose may be

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[February 15, 1885.

effected by shifting the combs from one part to the
other.

L. E. It. — Merits of Honey as a Comestible. — We know
no pamphlet on honey which would suit your purpose
better than Honey as Food by F. it. Cheshire. Infor-
mation as to price per thousand may be obtained from
Mr. Huckle.

South CIlos. — Sugar for Bee-feeding. — We should give
the preference to No. 2 for dry sugar feeding. No. 3
tastes of molasses. Messrs. Neighbour's advertisement
will give you the information you seek as to the price
of Duncan's Pearl Sugar.

J. J. N. C. — 1. Double shoulders are recommended. 2.
Your drawing is correct, except that It's is rather bare,
DA is correct; but In is better than ItV. The shape is
a question of convenience. .'!. Yes; but putty is better
than wax for filling up and costs less. 4. Bottom Bail.
— It is quite immaterial. Some use no bottom rail, but
it tends to keep the frame square.

Richard White. — Packing Sections for Travelling. —
Do not make a large box in which to pack sections ;
let the packages be easily handled ; 28 lbs. is a good
weight. The main point is to prevent jars and jerks.
Mr. Baldwin exhibited some time ago a spring crate
which might be dropped from a height without
damaging the sections. Mr. Abbott recommended
indiarubber balls under the crates. We have found
thick pads of hay in canvas effective, and they have the
merit of being inexpensive.

Thf.la. — 1. Queen-raising.— -You had better raise your-
queens in the parent hive: queens raised in a strong
stock are more vigorous than if raised in a weak one.
2. — Mr. Simmins' plan is well spoken of by those who
having tried it, and its simplicity recommends it. •>.
— The sample of sugar forwarded is better for making
syrup than for dry sugar feeding. 4. Changing hives
for dry ones. — At the beginning of April, or earlier, if
any signs of dysentery should appear. 5. The index for
1884 volume was published, as usual, at the end of the
year, with title, &c.

G. R. — Position of Hires. — Your hives will stand much
better in the garden than in the field, where they
would get very little sun, and would be exposed to the
north and east winds. It is far better to place them in
the garden, with a flight-hole through the wall, than
in the field. But why not let them stand in the
garden at ' B,' and face them south ? This would be
your best plan. Remember that bees are 'sun-wor-
shippers.'

E. McNally. — Bees as Fertilisers of Flowers. — Conclu-
sive evidence to prove that bees are more or less essen-
tial to the due fertilisation ( and, therefore, not injurious )
of many wild and exotic flowers may be found by con-
sulting Lubbock's British Wild Flowers in relation to
Insects, Darwin's Fertilisation of Orchids, kc.

Veritas, Virtuoso, A Sussex Cottage Bee-keeper, are re-
quested to favour us with their names.

Report of Hertfordshire B.K.A. in our next.

The reports of the various Associations have obliged us
to postpone several communications to our next issue.

Sir. Cheshire informs us that he has been enabled to
make a discovery as to the nature of dysentery which is
extremely curious and interesting, a full account of
which will be given hereafter. We note that Mr.
Cheshire has been made an honorary member of the
North Eastern Bee-keepers' Association, Syracuse. U.S.,
in consequence of his researches into the nature of
bacillus alvei, or foul broo'd.

THIS

CHESHIRE CURE FOR FOUL BROOD

Is Prepared for Mr. Cheshire,
under his Personal Guarantee, by

94 HARLEYFORD ROAD, LONDON, S.E.,

WHO WILL SUPPLY IT,
ACCOMPANIED P.Y FULL DIRECTIONS FOB USE.

Price Is. 6d. per Bottle, postage 2d.
PHENOLATED SOAP

Contains 15 per cent. Absolute Phenol, specially
prepared for Disinfecting Hives.

Price 6d. per Tablet, postage 2d.

A liberal discount for quantities of one dozen and upwards
to Secretaries of County Associations and to Dealers.

DR. PINE'S

Registered Removable Metal Frame Ends.

Prize Medal, B.B.K.A., 1882 ; and numerous other Prizes.

THE ORIGINAL INVENTION,

FREE from the DEFECTS
found in ALL IMITATIONS.

Hive-makers will supply Hives fitted with them, and gene-
rally without extra charge, the small cost being saved in
diminished cost of labour.

Price of the Ends, Is. per doz.
or 10s. per gross.

DR. PINE'S

Woven Wire Veils.

Prize MedalfB.B.K.A., 1879.

Do not confine the breath, do
not obstruct the sight, and
cannot be blown against the
face or ears.

Price 2s. Gd. each.

DR. PINE'S BEE-KEEPERS' LOTION

Is the acknowledged Remedy for Stings, especially for removing
the subsequent inflammation. Price Is. Gd. per bottle.

The above Inventions may be obtained from

Messrs. NEIGHBOUR & SONS, Regent St. & Holborn, London.

And from all respectable Dealers in Bee-keepers' Requisites.

Dealers may obtain Wholesale Prices from the Inventor,
Mr. r. S.YOMT, 94 Harleyford Road, London. S.E.

ONEY AS FOOD. By Frank E. Cheshire, Esq.,
F.E.M.S. Price 3d.

Trade Catalogue. — Received from Messrs. Thomas B.
Blow and Ellis, Welwyn, Herts, their Illustrated Catalogue
of Bee-keepers' Supplies, pp. 1-60.

Publications of the British Bee-Keepers' Association :

H

FOUL BROOD ; The Means of its Propagation, ani>
the Method of its Cuke. By Frank R. Cheshire,
Esq.,F.E.M.S. Price GJ.

Address J. HUCKLE, Kings langley, Herts.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Strangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c'

[No. 105. Vol. XIII.]

MARCH 1, 1885.

[Published Fortnightly.]

€bxtnxml, ^atms, #c.

SIZE OF SECTIONS.

About a year ago a letter appeared in our columns
signed 'R. E. C.,' adverting to the perplexing variety
of sizes of sections, and stating that a well-known
manufacturer of bee-appliances had advertised no less
than seven different sizes. Our correspondent called
attention to the benefit the B. B. K. A. had achieved
for bee-keepers in fixing a standard frame, and
intimated the desirability of their obviating the
unnecessary trouble that bee-keepers were subject
to by the adoption of some standard dimensions for
1-lb. and 2-lb. sections. Previous to the appear-
and of this letter, the Irish Bee-Keepers' Association
had been troubled by the same perplexity ; and at
their annual meeting it had been decided that sec-
tions to be recognised as 1-lb. sections at the honey
shows held by the Association must in future measure
either ih x 4 or 4J x 44; ; and those of other dimen-
sions would not be eligible for competition as 1-lb.
sections.

An appeal having been made to the Committee
of the B.B.K.A. to consider the desirability of
fixing the size of the standard sections, a sub-
committee was appointed by that body to consider
this matter, who, after much careful and pains-
taking study of the question, at the meeting of the
Committee, held on November 19th, 1884, presented
an amended prize list for the bee-department of the
Royal Agricultural Show to be held in Preston
during this year, and recommended ' That, in the
classes for 1-lb. and 2-lb. sections of comb-honey,
the size of the sections should be defined, viz., for
2-lb. sections 0^x5^x2, and for 1-lb. sections
4i x 41 x 2.' These sizes have attained the greatest
popularity in America ever since their introduction
in the season of 1879 ; and in this country they
have been adopted by a great majority of bee-
keepers, who considered them the most suitable for
the respective weights. This recommendation was
accepted, though not unanimously, by the General
Committee. But as many bee-keepers had intro-
duced other sizes into their apiaries, objections
were raised to the dimensions accepted, and a
warm discussion took place in our columns. The
various County Associations discussed the subject
at their meetings and instructed their represen-
tatives to communicate their views to the Central

Association. The Hants Association stated, in an
addendum to their Annual Report, that while an
uniformity in sizes of sections was desirable for the
purposes of judging, 'they considered the ultimate
advantage of diversity of size and shape in offering
to the consumer a variety of sizes and prices is of.
greater moment' The Herts Association, also
having considered the proposal of the Committee,
passed a resolution to the effect that ' no standard
section should be at present adopted by the British
Bee-keepers1 Association, and that they be requested
to consider the sizes 4{ x 4^, and Si x 4|, with a
view to their adoption as standard sections at some
future date.'

At the Annual General Meeting of the B.B.K.A.,
held on Feb. 11, it was evident that the action of
the Committee with regard to the Preston Show
was premature, and that bee-keepers throughout the
country were not desirous of accepting a standard
size of sections for the present. It was therefore
determined that the consideration of the matter
should be adjourned.

We believe that a correspondence between the
Secretary of the B.B.K.A. and Mr. H. Jenkins,
Secretary of the Royal Agricultural Society, with a
view to rescind the resolutions relating to the
Preston Show, has taken place. But we fear that
the bye-law-s of the R. A. S. will prevent any alter-
ation being now made in the schedule of prizes for
the Preston Show.

SECTIONS, PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.
When we compare the supers exhibited at the
first Crystal Palace Show, in 1874, with the con-
tents of every show-tent in 1SS4, we cannot fail to
be struck with the change which has taken place in
ten years. Then bee-keepers went in for monster
supers, and each tried to produce something bigger
than his neighbour. That was all very well when
honey used to be sold direct from the producer to
the consumer, who, when he had got his super,
could cut out comb as he required, and did not
mind if the honey ran. Then bee-keeping was in
the hands either of cottagers, who supplied a small
local demand, or of gentlemen who were pleased to
obtain a prize for their honey, quite regardless of
whether it was sold. Now, liowever, when bee-
keeping has passed, or is rapidly passing, from
being a hobby, and is taking its place as an in-
dustry, the commercial element asserts itself more

74

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[March 1, 1885.

and more every day, and will not be denied. There-
fore, the question of producing honey in its most
saleable form is one of the greatest importance.
One of the earliest, if not the earliest, attempts in
this direction was the introduction by Mr. Abbott
of a super in which the wood could easily be divided
with a knife between the combs, so that the whole
could compete for weight and yet could be divided
for sale. Then came the American sections, in four
pieces, soon to be superseded by the present one-
piece folding sections, which seem to be almost
incapable of improvement in principle, although
sizes and shapes may be modified. For commercial
purposes we must consider the best means of ob-
taining the honey, how it may be best sent to the
market, and the size and shape most attractive to
the public, who must be the ultimate buyers. As
to the first, no doubt a far larger harvest can be
obtained in 2-lb. sections, and the quality will be
finer, but the difficulty of transit is great; far greater
care in handling is required ; and although a few
people will purchase a. 2-lb. section, those who will
buy a smaller size are as twenty to one. Sections
of 1 lb., although giving the bees more work, weight
fir weight, will travel more safely and sell more
readily. This size has been sold recently in grocers'
shops at l.s. each, but naturally the producer does
not get anything like that price, for reasons which
have been pointed out in our columns. Now, every
one who walks through the streets of our great
cities and towns and notices shop- windows must be
aware that shilling and sixpenny goods are those
which sell best, and are 'pushed' by shopkeepers.
Why cannot a smaller — a sixpenny section be pro-
duced 1 The ordinary 44/ x 4^ x 2, containing theo-
retically 4 x 4 x \\ of solid comb, weighs 1 11). ; a
section 4^ x 34/ (a size familiar to photographers as
'quarter-plate') x 14;, or brood-comb frame thick-
ness, would contain theoretically 4x3x1 of comb,
or exactly half the quantity, and might supply a
sixpenny section. No doubt this suggestion will
meet with objections, but so would one of a shilling-
section in 1874 ; we venture, however, to think that
before many seasons are passed a sixpenny or half-
pound section will be a recognised size. As the shape
of sections will possibly he again brought before the
notice of our readers, and also the points to be
aimed at to secure the verdict of the judges, we
will not at present touch upon those two questions.

USEFUL HINTS.
Owing to the mild weather experienced during
last month, the bees have been stimulated to frequent
flights, and, in many cases, to unusual activity. In
populous colonies, breeding is now carried on freely;
and on the 11th and 12th of last month, in our
own apiary, pollen was carried in to a considerable
extent, both from natural and artificial sources.
It is certainly a pleasant sight to the apiarist to
behold his bees awakening up to life after their long
winter's sleep, thronging around the entrances with
merry hum, covering the catkins of the nut-bushes,
the bright yellow bloom of the furze and aconites,
and the snowdrops and crocuses, wherever they are

to be found. But let not these inducements to
action lead to undue activity in the way of ma-
nipulation. Leave the bees alone — Let well alone, —
must still be our motto wherever food and bees
are plentiful, and the latter flourishing. We know-
how difficult it is for a beginner to abstain, but we
have known hundreds of colonies destroyed by over-
manipulation, or unnecessarily pulling them about,-
at. this early season. After a few warm days, come
frost, and perhaps snow, or cutting, cold, blighting
winds, lasting, perhaps, for weeks, and the poor
disturbed, aroused bees — their brood-nest broken
up by outside frames being stuck into its very
centre, under the notion of spreading brood — come
to grief, and their brood chilled and destroyed, too
often affording a well-prepared seed-bed for the re-
ception of bacillus alvei, or the germs of foul brood.

Food. — Elms, poplars, willows, peaches, nectarines,
apricots, and the early pears and plums, during the
present month will afford in fine weather a plentiful
supply of pollen, but not much honey. The de-
mands upon the stores will now be heavy, and,
where requisite, syrup, of about the consistency of
honey, may be given, by a bottle-feeder, to colonies
which are short of stores, and are breeding freely.
Syrup of the specific gravity of L350 (which is the
specific gravity of average honey) may be made by
dissolving 7 lbs. of Duncan's Pearl Sugar in 3 lbs.
of water, slightly boiled, with the addition of
salicylic acid, tartaric acid, or vinegar, and salt,
according to the ordinary recipe. Than this there
is no better food for bees, not even their own honey.
Give the syrup warm, and always feed at night,
making the quantity depend upon the strength and
needs of the colony. These remarks apply more
particularly to the latter part of the month, and
to those colonies short of stores. It is not ad-
visable to commence stimulation throutih feeding;
by driblets at present. From six to eight weeks
are required to bring up a colony to the maximum
of population, to enable it to take full advantage
of an influx of honey, which rarely occurs before
the end of May or the beginning of June. Happy
apiarians if we get it then ! In hives where the
bees do not fully occupy the outside combs on
either side of the brood-nest, a few cells in these
combs maj' be unsealed occasionally with a sharp
knife. In warm days, the bees will remove the
honey from these cells and place it around the
brood in the centre frames for use. In cold weather
they will neglect it entirely, so that no undue
stimulation will be caused. Later on, cells in the
centre frames, over the brood, may be treated
similarly to advantage, without moving frames.

Quilts. — Towards the middle or end of the
month, when breeding is well commenced, we con-
sider the American system of using enamel cloth
upon the frames of decided advantage. The winter
quilts are removed ; the enamel cloth, already cut
to fit the top of the hive, takes their place, smooth
side downwards, and the removed quilts, with a
weight upon them, are placed over it. There is no
longer any upward ventilation, and the condensed
moisture being retained within the hive, is of great
service to the bees, and prevents much loss of bee-

March 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

life from foraging journeys in search of water for
the hrood. Our practice is to cut out of the
euamel cloth a circular central piece, corresponding
with the inner circumference of the feeding-stage.
The feeder is then placed in position, and remains
ready for use. When the feeder is not required,
the removed piece takes its place. The enamel
cloth remains in use until swarming or supering
time arrives.

c^ueenless Colonies.— The loss of a queen may
generally be discovered on the early cleansing flights
of the bees, by the incessant agitation at the en-
trance of the hive, which is continued long after
other colonies have quietly settled down and gone
to rest. The dead and shrivelled queen may often
be found on the ground beneath the entrance.
Such hives should be examined on the first suitable
opportunity, and the loss verified, when the bees,
on their own combs, should be united to a colony
having a fertile queen, by quietly inserting them
on the outsides of such colony towards evening,
with as little disturbance as possible, closing the
hive, injecting a moderate quantity of smoke, and
feeding with warm syrup, from a bottle-feeder.

"Weak Colonies. — If possessed of a prolific
queen, such, under favourable circumstances, may
be quickly built up into strong colonies. They
should be confined by division-boards, to as many
combs — containing some sealed food — as they can
fairly cover, and additional ones must be supplied,
outside the brood-nest, when required, a few honey-
cells being occasionally unsealed, but the brood-nest
must never be opened or disturbed. By treating
thus a colony, which, in early spring, covered one
Standarxl frame only, we increased it to one of the
most flourishing and populous in our apiary. Mr.
Doolittle, a skilled American apiarist, relates a case
in which a queen, with eighty-one bees only, on the
arrival of warm weather, increased her colony so
rapidly as to give in the autumn a surplus of 5 lbs.
in sections, and went into winter quarters in
splendid condition. Such colonies must not be
stimulated until settled warm weather has set in.
The same rules apply to 'Spring Dwindling.' The
addition of a brood-comb, later in the season, when
the bees are well able to cover it, will assist
materially.

Deserting Colonies, often called ' hunger
swarms,' arc colonies which, from want of food, or
from a dislike to their hive, desert in a body, and,
after the manner of a swarm, cluster upon a
branch, or elsewhere. Such should be placed upon
fresh and sweet combs, in a new hive, confined to a
small space, and, failing sealed stores, should lie
syrup fed until the fecundity of the queen is
proved. A failure in this point sometimes causes
the desertion, in which case union with another
colony is the only remedy.

Dysentery. — Where hives arc foul from dysentery
it will be best to transfer frames, combs, and bees,
to a clean dry hive. If too cold to operate out of
doors transfer in a moderately warm room or out-
house. By placing strips of wood under the ends
of top-bars, five or sis frames, containing brood-
nest and bees, may be removed, without separation,

to the new hive ; give a clean floor-board, cover up
warmly, and feed with warm syrup. Afterwards
disturb as little as possible.

Birds. — The blue-tit may be easily caught in
traps baited with linseed. Shoot sparrows. Both
are very destructive to bees at this season, and
especially when breeding.

Miscellaneous. — Still continue to clean floor-
boards. Supply water in shallow troughs — filled
with pebbles, placed in a sunny sheltered spot,
near the hives, sprinkling over it occasionally a
handful of salt when refilling. Don't forget to pro-
vide hives, sections, supers, &c. Keep near the
apiary a pail of water, and a garden-syringe, with
which to destroy queen-wasps. By such means we
destroyed, last spring, sixty-three such queens, and
obtained a number from village boys by payiug a
penny each for them. The present month is a
good time to purchase bees, either from cottagers,
in skeps, for obtaining early swarms, or in frame-
hives. Beware of robbers — the pilfering of weak
colonics by their strong neighbours. It is said
that an onion, rubbed on the alighting-board and
around the entrance, will deter robbers. The only
cure, in persistent robbery, is the removal of the
robbed colony to a new stand or location.

Mabmage. — On the 10th of February, at the Friends'
Meeting House, St. Martin's Lane, Alfred Neigh-
bour, of 90 Alexandra Boad, South Hampstead, and
149 .Regent Street, W., to Hannah Bromley, of 209
Brixton Rojid, widow of Johnson Bromley.

We desire to congratulate our friend and corre-
spondent on the above event, and to wish the bride
and bridegroom every happiness, not only during
their ' Honeymoon,' but for many Honey seasons
in the future.

Death of a Bee-keeper. — It is with deep regret
that we announce the death of Mr. James Kenned}', of
Comber, Ireland. He was a frequent contributor to our
columns under the nom de plume of ' Paddy.' Mr.
Kennedy acted as the district secretary for Comber in
behalf of the North-east of Ireland 13. K. A. This Asso-
ciation has thereby lost one of its best members and
warmest supporters.

Till: CULTIVATION AND PROPAGATION OF
HONEY AND POLLEN-SECRETINC PLANTS.

[Continued from p. 40.)
Marjoram knotted (Origanum marjorana). — This
Marjoram is a native of Portugal, being of tender con-
stitution it does not stand our winters in the open
ground, therefore it should be treated as an annual.
Sow the seed on a south border or any warm position,
the end of March or beginning of April, in drills nine
inches apart, thinning out the plants when about two or
three inches high to six inches apart. The seedlings
before thinning' should be watered or the operation may
be done after rain, which is preferable ; carefully lift
those that are not to remain and transplant in rows, as
recommended for sowing. If a pinch of seed be sown in
gentle heat in March and transplanted when large
enough, they will flower a few weeks earlier than those
sown in the open. The seed seldom ripens in this
country in flower from June till August.

Marjoram Pot (O. onites) is a perennial native of
i Sicily, and should be propagated b}r division of the

76

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[March 1, 1885.

roots in March and planted one foot apart ; a dry, light
soil and a sunny position suit these Marjorams best. In
flower from July to October.

Meadow-sweet (Spireea ulmaria). — A native of Britain,
and flourishes by the side of streams and on low marshy
meadows ; though a moisture-loving plant, it will never-
theless respond to cultivation, especially in soil of a
retentive character. Its propagation is by division of
the roots, in March plant eighteen to twenty inches
apart. In flower from June to August.^

Nigella Damasena. — An annual requiring a light soil
and a warm aspect ; sow the seed thinly in drills one foot
apart ; when the seedlings are two inches high thin out
to nine inches apart ; in the rows the young plants
rarely succeed being transplanted. In flower from
June to September.

Phacelia tenaeiti folia, — The cultural treatment recom-
mended for Borage will answer for this annual.

Rape (Brassica napus). — Sow in drills one foot apart
at any time from March to August, the seed quickly
germinates and will flower in about three weeks after
sowing. In spring and midsummer the tumip-fly (Attica
nemorum) plays havoc with the young plants ; in some
seasons it is a "difficult matter to get a crop; dusting the
young seedlings early in the morning when the dew is
still on them with soot, lime, or road dust, is adopted to
counteract the ravages of this small fly or (speaking
more correctly) beetle.

Turnips, Cabbage, B7-usscls Sprouts, fye., if allowed to
flower will furnish a goodly amoimt of bee-forage in
spring.

Wallflower (Cheiranthus cheiri). — For early spring
forage wallflower is far away the best of all bee-flowers
of any yet brought to my notice, and by the employment
of two or three varieties it may be had in flower from
March to June. Out of several varieties I have grown
the one known as 'Harbinger' is in most favour,
whether the nectar is sweeter or produced in greater
abundance I am unable to discover ; the flowers are dark
red and most delightfully scented : this variety also has
the merit of being the earliest of all the many sorts of
wallflowers. Three varieties I would specially recom-
mend for succession are, 1st, Harbinger (dark red) ; 2nd,
Tom Thumb (yellow) ; and 3rd, the common sort. A bed
of Tom Thumb, with its bright orange blossoms, is
indeed a sight not to be soon forgotten ; so lavishly does
it flower, that a bed seen at a distance resembles a dense
carpet of gold, while its habit of growth is all that can
be desired , being dwarf, bushy, and compact, the flower
spikes are not liable to sway about with the wind, as is
the case with those of a tall lanky growth. It is very
embarrassing to bees when they are prevented from
directly settling on any flower to have to hover about
until the wind abates a little.

To give the best results the seed should be sown not
later than the end of May. Early sowing is by far the
best plan, as it gives the plants a better opportunity of
getting sufficiently strong to resist severe frosts in winter
and to bloom freely in the coming spring and summer.
Sow thinly, and when the. plants are large enough, prick
out in rows six inches apart to strengthen them ; finally
plant out in August eighteen inches apart : plants thus
treated will produce an enormous quantity of bloom,
allowing the seedlings to remain too long in seed-bed
compromises all prospect of the expected feast of flowers
and the sweet perfume in spring.

White clover (Trifolium repens). — This clover is known
under the names of Dutch clover, white sucklings, &c,
but by whatever name it is called, it is the queen of all
bee-flowers, at all events it is in this country. Its dis-
tribution in Britain is pretty general, but in districts
where it is largely for seed it must verily be a bees'
paradise. Cultivation, see Alsike.

Wood sage (Teucrium scorodonium), — I have seen this
sage grow in great abundance in some parts of Scotland,

where it grows luxuriantly on dry banks, hedges, See.,
especially on stonj' soils; it is a great favourite there
with the honey and other bees. I have had no experience
of this herb under cultivation, but from observation and
other data I believe it to be a valuable addition to our
bee flora. If any reader of the B. B. J. should possess
any seed or roots of the wood-sage, or of any reputed
bee-flower, I should be glad to test them along with others
I already possess ; the result I hope to give in the pages of
our Journal at the end of the season with the Editor's
permission. — H. Dobbie, Thichthorn, Norioich.

COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.
Keports of several of the County Associations are to
hand and show the following list of members : —

Hertfordshire

. 404

Herefordshire . . 100

. 376

Cornwall .... 151

Staffordshire . .

. 355

Leicestershire . '. 134

Buckinghamshire

. 339

Bedfordshire. . . 112

Norfolk . . .

. 244

Oxfordshire . . . 103

Derbyshire . .

. 236

Huntingdonshire . 91

Worcester . .

. 221

Somersetshire . . 82

. 213

Hants and Isle

of

Cumberland ... 06

Wight . . .

. 200

Shropshire ... 55

Wiltshire . . .

. 184

Yorkshire list not given.

Cheshire . . .

. 183

Northants list not given.

Dorsetshire . .

. 173

COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES

APrOINTED TO ATTEND QUARTERLY MEETINGS OF THE
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

Buckinghamshire. — The Rev. E. Clay and the Rev.

S. R. Wilkinson.
Cheshire. — Mr. Bush and Mr. Cotterill.
Cornwall. — Mr. Charles Kent.
Devonshire. — Rev. J . G. Dangar and Mr. W. Griffin.
Dorsetshire. — Mr. W. H. Dunman.
Essex. — Mr. F. H. Meggy and Mr. E. Currant.
Herefordshire. — Mr. A. VVatkins and the Rev. F. S.

Stoke-Vaughan.
Hertfordshire. — Rev. A. Roberts and Mr. J. P.

Sambels.
Huntingdonshire. — Mr. J. Linton and Mr. J. Edey.
Kent. — Rev. T. Sissons and Mr. G. Allen.
Staffordshire. — Mr. Percy Toynbee.
Somerset. — Rev. C. G. Anderson.
Wilts.— Rev. W. E. Burkitt and Mr. T. Herbert Clark.

The above list is taken from the reports and informa-
tion furnished by Secretaries. It is to be regretted that
the names of the representatives are omitted in a large
number of the reports. We shall be glad to add others
upon hearing from the Secretaries of those County Asso-
ciations which ore not included in the list.

ASSOCIATIONS.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

Committee Meeting held at 105 Jermyn Street on
Wednesday, the 25th of February. Present : The Rev.
II. R. Peel (in the chair), the Rev. L. Bartrum, the
Hon. and Rev. II. Bligh, the Rev. F. G. Jenyns, Rev. Q.
Raynor, the Rev. F. S. Sclater, Capt. Bush, R.N., Capt.
Campbell, W. II. Dunman, II. Jonas, G. Walker, and
the Secretary.

The Minutes of the last Committee Meeting were read,
confirmed, and signed. In accordance with the resolu-
tion passed at the Annual General Meeting, the Trustees

March 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOUHNAL.

77

were authorised to invest the sum of 20/. on account of
the sums received for life-members' subscriptions.

Letters were read, (1) from Col. Smyth, tending' his
resignation as a member of the Committee, owing to cir-
cumstances having arisen to call him away from England
during a considerable portion of the ensuing year ;
(2) from the Royal Agricultural Society, announcing
that the bye-laws of the R.A.S. did not permit of any
alteration being made in the prize list in regard to the
size of sections to be exhibited at the Preston Exhibi-
tion ; (3) from Mr. McNally, of Glenluce, N.B., respect-
ing the conditions upon which local societies were
received in affiliation with the British Bee-keepers'
Association.

An application for a series of lectures to be given in
North Wales was favourably received and fully con-
sidered. The Secretary was instructed to communicate
with Mr. Davies, the Hon. Secretary of the Denbighshire
Association, with the view to carry out the Lectures as
desired.

The proposals of the County Associations of Kent,
Cornwall, and Wilts, for the disposal of the prizes of
51. each gained by these Associations in the ballot which
took place at the Annual General Meeting, were sub-
mitted and approved.

It was resolved that a leaflet be prepared giving
simple instructions to beginners in bee-keeping. It was
also resolved that no London show be held this year
except in connexion with the Annual Exhibition of the
British Dairy Farmers' Exhibition at Islington or some
other society. On the motion of Mr. Jonas, it was
resolved that the B.B.K.A. should always devote its
special attention to bee-culture in the district in which
the Royal Agricultural Show was held.

The following sub-committees were appointed for
the ensuing year, viz. : Finance — Bartrum, Jonas, and
Walker. County Associations — Peel, Sclater, Bush,
Campbell, and Dunman. Bliyh Competition — Bligh,
Hooker, Martin, and Stewart. Educational — Bartium,
Bligh, Jenyns, and Raynor. Exhibitions. — Bush, Dun-
man, Jonas, Sclater, and Stewart. Mr. Cowan to be ex-
officio member of each Sub-Committee. The next Com-
mittee Meeting was fixed for Wednesday, March 18th.

County Associations included in the ballot : — Bedford-
shire, Brecknockshire, Bucks, Cornwall, Cumberland,
Devonshire, Dorsetshire, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire,
Huntingdonshire, Kent, Leicestershire, Norfolk, North-
amptonshire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Somersetshire,
Staffordshire, Wilts, Worcestershire.

The county of Essex was omitted from the list owing
to the error of a clerk in the delivery of the Asso-
ciation's Reports.

HERTFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The annual general meeting of the members of the
Hertfordshire Bee-keepers' Association was held in the
Council Chamber of the Shire Hall, Hertford, on
Tuesday, Feb. 10. Mr. Percival Bosanquet presided;
and amongst those present were the Rev. F. G. Jenyns,
the Rev.' F. II. Burnaby, the Rev. J. Lingen-Seager
(hon. secretary), Messrs. R. B. Croft, A. B. Lipscomb,
F. W. Silvester, H. C. Heard, II. McMullen, R. T.
Andrews, G. Buller, J. Gregory, J. Huckle, J. 1'.
Sambels, II. E. Roberts, J. Chapman, Perry, etc.

The Secretary read the minutes, and the report and
balance-sheet.

From the report it appeared that lectures have been
delivered by the honorary secretary at Abbot's Lang-
ley, Bishop Stortford, Buckland, Crossley Green, Frog-
more, Hatfield, High Cross, Hitchin, Hoddesdon,
Markyate Street, Redboum, Sawbridgeworth, Tring,
and Watford ; by Mr. J. P. Sambels, at Bayford,

Bengeo, Hertford, and Tewin ; and at other places by
the Rev. F. G. Jenyns. The Hon. Secretary made
a tour during the spring months, extending over
a fortnight, visiting members and other bee-keepers
during the day, and delivering lectures in the
evening at each place where he halted for the night.
The Hon. Secretary reports that though there are still
some few neighbourhoods in which no advance has been
made, on the whole he was agreeably surprised to find
how much interest was taken in the newer methods, and
intelligence shown in adopting them amongst artisans
and cottagers throughout the country.

The bee-tent has attended several horticultural and
cottage garden shows. Two exhibitions of honey, wax,
&c, have been held — (1) in connexion with the Hitchin
Adidt Schools' Summer Horticultural Show ; (2) in
connexion with the Moor Park Horticultural and
Cottage Garden Show.

Considerable attention has been given during the year
to the development of the organization of the Associa-
tion by dividing the county into districts, each district
containing a number of parishes, with a district secretary,
local advisers being appointed for each district. The
Hon. Secretary will be glad to receive suggestions for
the improvement of these districts. Several of them are
large, and should be subdivided, and begs that his
attention may be called to any errors in regard to name,
address, or parish.

The accounts show an adverse balance of 91. lis. h\d.,
which is due to members not having paid their sub-
scriptions.

The report and the balance-sheet were adopted.

The President and the Vice-presidents having been
re-elected, the following were elected as the Committee
for the ensuing year: — Western side of the Midland
Railway— The Rev. Astley Roberts, the Rev. F. H.
Hodgson, Mr. A. B. Lipscomb, Mr. H. C. Finch, and
Mr. F. W. Silvester ; eastern side of the Midland Rail-
way—Mr. R. B. Croft, Mr. W. M. Allfrey, the Rev.

F. G. Jenyns, Mr. H. C. Heard, and J. P. Sambels. Mr.

G. N. Martin, the Rev. G. Finch, Miss Gayton, and the
Rev. F. H. Burnaby, were also added to the Committee.

The J. Rev. Lingen-Seager was re-elected as Hon.
Secretary, and the Rev. Astley Roberts and Mr. J. P.
Sambels were unanimously re-elected as representatives
to attend the quarterly meetings of the British Bee-
keepers' Association.

It was agreed that the arrangements for the visits of
the experts., should be made by the Hon. Secretary, and
the matter of Shows was left to be fixed by the Com-
mittee.

The Hon. Secretary next invited those present to con-
sider a proposal of the British Bee-keepers' Association
to establish standard sections, and said that personally
he was of opinion if any standard was fixed it should not
be done all at once.

After the matter had been fully discussed, the follow-
ing- resolution was proposed and unanimously adopted : —
' That no standard section be at present adopted by the
British Bee-keepers' Association, and that they be
requested to consider the sizes 4j x 4\ and 8i x 4 \ with
a view to their adoption as standard sections at some
future date.'

A hearty vote of thanks was given to Mr. Bosanquet
for presiding, and the chairman having briefly replied,
the meeting separated.

Quarterly Conference op the Hertford
District of the H.B.K.A.

The fact of the annual meeting being held at Hertford
on the afternoon of February 10th was taken advantage
of by Mr. Andrews, the district secretary, to call his
members together a few days earlier than originally
intended for their second quarterly conference. There

78

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[March 1, 1885.

was a very large attendance, amongst whom the cottager
class largely predominated.

The Rev. J. Lingen-Seager was voted to the chair ;
and amongst those present were Mr. R. T. Andrews,
district secretary, Dr. Shelley, Messrs. Cozens, J.
Robinson, G. Turner, J. P. Sarnbels, II. McMullen,
0. Rose, J. Bootes, J. H. Austin, Storey, Benson,
Doddridge, Bird, Aldridge, Ashwood, Surridge, Chape-
low, Brown, Halley, II. E. Roberts, Clarke, Jauncey,
Southeren, &c, &c.

Mr. R. T. Andrews explained the objects of the con-
ferences were to make the work of the Herts B.K.A.
better known, especially amongst the cottager class of
bee-keepers ; and also to enable the inexperienced to
profit by the better practice of the more successful bee-
keepers present, and hoped all would avail themselves
freely of the opportunity of questioning those present on
any point on which they required advice or assistance.

The Chairman explained the organization of the Herts
B.K. A., the county being divided iuto twenty-six districts,
each with its district secret aryandlocaladvisers,and having
spoken in eulogistic terms of Mr. Andrews' zeal and ability,
went on to point out where he hoped the members of
the Association would lend a helping hand in the future :
1st, by getting in subscriptions. He thought many mem-
bers could be of great service if they would look up
subscriptions, especially from those members who were
in arrears. 2nd, by letting him know who amongst the
members did not require the services of the expert
during his spring visit. It was very annoying to the
expert after travelling ten miles, as he did sometimes,
to see a member, and then find his services were not
not required.

Mr. Sarnbels hoped much from their improved organ-
ization, which was now in real working order. The
district secretaries and local advisers should know in their
several districts who required the services of the expert
and who did not. The experts collected a large number
of subscriptions, and that was a very strong argument in
favour of his calling on all the members.

The Chairman replied it did not pay to spend 5s. to
collect a Is. subscription.

Mr. Andrews said he believed there were man}' present
who did not know the advantages of joining the Associ-
ation, and went on to enumerate them, and asked those
present who were not members to join.

A person in the room said he was a cottager, and
neither be nor any of his neighbours knew until last year
how to keep bees.

Mr. Bird said he was a cottager, and as he knew the
good work done by the Association, he wished to be
entered as a member, and placed his os. subscription on
the table (applause).

Mr. Turner suggested that one or two members in
each district should be appointed as collectors.

Mr. J. Robinson suggested the use of reply post-cards.

Mr. Turner believed a personal visit would be most
successful.

Mr. Andrews had used eighty reply post-cards in
endeavouring to get a census of hives in his district,
and the result was not encouraging, and sincerely hoped
collecting subscriptions would not be considered a part
of his duties as district secretary.

The Chairman said it was not intended, but he should
be happy to get the assistance of all that were free to
give it.

Mr. Turner suggested that a conspicuous placard,
setting out the objects and advantages of the Associ-
ation, should be placed in all the working men's clubs
and coffee taverns, &c, throughout the county.

Mr. Andrews said the idea was excellent. He should
be also most happy to arrange for lectures in any village
where it may be desired.

Mr. Sarnbels said there was a conspicuous lithograph
of an apiary, prepared by Mr. Greenslade of Reading,

which would be most excellent for placing in working
men's clubs, &c, and promised to bring the idea before
the committee.

The Chairman called on Mr. II. E. Roberts, certified
expert, to make a few remarks on practical bee-keeping,
who, in the course of his remarks, said : The first thing
for a bee-keeper to do in spring was to see that his
bees were all alive. If the bees were not noticed when
the fine weather came in, it might be taken for granted
there were none alive in the hive. Some people began
to feed their bees with sugar-candy, but he preferred to
feed them with syrup. If they found brood and a queen-
bee in a hive on examining it, they would know it was
all right ; but if they found a hive without a queen, and
it had plenty of bees, they should join it to another
hive. He explained how this was to be done, and then
said he did not think it was well too soon to adopt bar-
frame hives ; skeps with sections on the top were pre-
ferable for beginners; and be did not think it was
advisable altogether to give up using the skeps. He
next gave some practical advice in regard to dividing-
brood, and in answer to a question said he obtained
11 cwt. of honey last year from fourteen bar-frame
hives and eight skeps.

The Chairman deprecated dividing brood too early;
if done wisely the results were marvellous, but unwisely,
were most disastrous.

Mr. Sarnbels said he was afraid much that had been
said was not very interesting to several cottagers present
who were not advanced bee-keepers or members of the
Association, consequently he hoped the meeting would
excuse him if he made a few remarks on practical bee-
keeping that were intended specially for cottagers. He
pointed out how sections could be raised on straw skeps,
how much more saleable they were, and how the ad-
vanced bee-keeper would drive the cottager out of the field
in a very few more 3'ears unless he raised honey in a
saleable form. Being provided with a straw skep and
super and cover, he explained their use, and proceeded
to show the advantages of the bar-frame hive over the
skep in giving greater command over the bees and ease
in ascertaining the state of the colony. He showed the
meeting a fine patch of drone-brood in worker-cells, the
progeny of a ' fertile worker ' which he had taken from
one of his hives on the previous Saturday, and explained
how much more difficult it would have been to have
discovered the queenlessness of this stock if it had been
in a skep; and, in answer to a question, explained how
be intended uniting it to another stock at the earliest
opportunity ; and being questioned as to the certainty
of the grubs being drones, said undoubtedly they would
hatch out drones, although a clever writer in the B.B.J.
had described such as 'fertile workers'

Several questions having been asked and answered on
practical bee-keeping, the meeting closed with votes of
thanks to the Rev. J. L. Seager for presiding, and Mr.
R. T. Andrews for arranging the conference, one of the
greatest marks of success being the interest taken by
those present, several of whom joined the Association.

NORFOLK AND NORWICH BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The third annual meeting of this Association was held
at Norwich on Saturday, January -"1st, the Rev. A. F.
Bellman presiding.

The meeting was well attended, showing that the
number of enthusiastic bee-keepers is increasing in the
county since the formation of the Association.

The Hon. Secretary (Mr. II. R. Emms) read the annual
report; from which we learn that during the year 1884
forty-eight new members have joined the Association,
making the present total 245, against 2:!4 last year.

The annual Show of bees, bee furniture, and honey,

March 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

79

was again held in connexion with the Norfolk and Nor-
wich Horticultural Society. There was a good show of
hives, &c, and the show of honey — which was exhibited
solely by members of the Association — was grand, every
class' being well tilled, and the appearance and quality
good.

The. medals and certificates given by the British Bee-
keepers' Association were awarded as follows : — Silver
medal, Robert Hawes, Bnckenham; bronze medal,
Charles Hazle, Buxton; certificate, H. Bartram, Ilnppis-
burgh. Bee manipulations were also exhibited in the
Association's bee tent, under the care of Mr. T. B. Blow,
assisted by Mr. Lilly, and proved a source of considerable
attraction. An examination of members desirous of
training third-class certificates of competence in modern
bee-keeping, given by the British Bee-keeping Associa-
tion, was also held, under the superintendence of the
judge (the Rev. George Raynor). Two candidates offered
themselves for examination, viz., Mr. E. Lilly, of Buxton,
and Mr. H. Dobbie, of Thickthorn, both being successful.
The bee tent has also been exhibited at King's Lynn,
Hunstanton, Westwick, Yarmouth, and Watton.

The balance-sheet showed the total receipts for tin-
past year to have been 117/. 2s., and after all expenses
had been met, there was a balance in hand of 4£. 15s. Qd.

The report and balance-sheet were unanimously
adopted, the Chairman stating that upon the whole
there was good ground for congratulation upon the work
of the Association during the past year. The subscrip-
tion list had been a very satisfactory one, and it was
hoped the forthcoming year's report would bo no less
gratifying.

The following gentlemen were then appointed to serve
on the Committee for the ensuing year: — The Revs. A.
F. Bellman, J . Blake Humfrey, H. Collison, J. P. Garriek,
E. Harris, S. Hardinge and J. II. Payne, Captain H. L.
Strange Herring, and Messrs. W. II. Back, J. 0. Catter-
moul.'F. T. Chevallier, J. U. Aldridge, W. T. Gidney,C.
B. Lucas, R. Harvey Mason, and C. \V. Middleton. The
Hon. Treasurer and Hon. Secretary were re-appointed
with thanks for their past services.

A most interesting conversation then ensued, during
which the Rev. J. Blake Humfrey brought under the
notice of the meeting the advantages offered by the
British Honey Company, which he considered was de-
serving the support of all bee-keepers.

HAMPSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
An Introduction.

"Worcestershire bee-keepers will learn from the report
of the Hants B.K.A. that our esteemed friend, Mr.
Davenport, has left Hungerford and gone to Stourport,
to continue his labours as a Congregational minister. He
holds a first-class certificate from the B. B.K.A. , and
during the past year did a great deal of professional bee-
work for the Hants B.K.A. in a remarkably able and
satisfactory manner. The report of his spring and
autumn tour was printed in e.rfenso in the Hants report.
His loss to Hampshire should be the gain of "Worcester-
shire, and we hope bee-keepers in that comity will offer
him a hearty welcome in his new sphere. — E. IT.
Bellaies, Hon. Sec. Hunts B. K.A:

"We have much pleasure in appending to the above
Mr. Davenport's very interesting report of his spring and
autumn visits : —

Upon my first arrival at "Winchester, the first apiaiy I
visited consisted of seven frame hives, all in excellent
condition, save that they had been over fed. I recom-
mended that a few combs should be relieved by means of
the extractor. From thence I went to another apiary,
where I find fifteen hives of all sorts, shapes, and sizes ;
all of which proved to be strong and in healthy condition,

with numerous drones — an unusual sight so early in the
season. These were quite ready for supering, and I
urged the importance of uniformity and interchangeability
in size. My next visit brought me before nineteen hives,
in old-fashioned bee-houses, packed with saw-dust.
Some of the stocks were in boxes, others in boxes of
frames of every conceivable width and shape. Things
were in ' a considerable of a muddle,' but the hives were
very strong, and indeed showed signs again of having been
over fed. The importance of slow stimulative feeding
seems to have been overlooked in this locality. I then
visited two more apiaries, in the latter of which the
queens were worn out and required replacing. The
train then took me to Chandler s Ford, whence I was
driven through as fine a country for bees as is to be
found in all England, honey yielding-plants abounding
on every side, and even the hedges were laden with
flowers yet unfolding of that wonderful bee shrub the
privet. In a space of three miles I only passed twelve stocks
(in skeps), and could not help reflecting upon the loss,
or rather waste, annually arising from such neglect.
The owner was from home, but the gardener took me
to the bees. ' "Well, gardener, how many bees have
you ? ' ' Four stocks,' was his reply. ' Let us look first
at the strongest' — a puff of smoke, a pause, and lo ! the
bees were — non est, or rather non sunt ! The other stocks
of which he didn't take so much account were in tolerably
good condition, but combs twisted into all manner of
fantastic shapes. Judging from the number of empty
hives 1 saw here, as well as the large assortment of
costly appliances of all kinds, I imagine the owner must
belong to the very large class of enthusiastic but disap-
pointed bee-keepers so often met with.

The next day was bitterly cold, but I met at the apiary
of a working man the intelligent owner and several of
his friends, who were much interested in the operations
necessary in uniting, driving, &c. From here I took the
train to Botley, where I examined the hives of several
members, looking out for ' foul brood,' which I had been
warned existed in the locality, but I am glad to report
I failed to discover any trace. One of these apiaries
was such as will commend bee-keeping for pleasure
and profit to all who ma}' see it, being admirably
managed by a lady connected with the Society. From
here I went on to Havant and Bedhampton, and then to
Emsworth, where I found what might almost be called a
bee-farm, consisting of twenty frame-hives, in the midst
of a large market garden. The owner combined the two
businesses, and expressed great satisfaction in learning
what I was able to teach him. Sunday intervening, on
Monday I went to Fleet, where I was hospitably received
by a gentleman who had invited (as requested in the
form) several neighbours to meet me, and together we
visited the hives, and I was able to suggest several im-
provements in the methods of management. Here, again,.
I was met with a magnificent field for bee labour, showing
the vast opportunities for educating the poor open to the
Hants Bee-keepers' Association.

This finished my round of inspection, and altogether
I was well pleased with the result. There were many
instances of advance upon old methods ; and although I
feel bound to express the immense field open in every
direction, the ground has very apparently been broken
by the labours of the Hants B. K. A. One circumstance
impressed me strongly, viz., that experts should not be
hive-dealers. Some of the apiaries I visited were literally
burdened with hives and appliances supplied by dealers
who had formerly visited them, and unless people intend
to make bee-keeping a regular pursuit such tilings are
' caviare to the general.'

September, 1864. — Owing to the increased number of
applicants for expert's service, it is necessary to give a very
condensed record of my work. Generally, I found every-
where evidence of the abundant yield of honey this
season, and a marked increased amount of interest in bee-

80

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[March 1, 1885.

keeping. At Botley I was surprised to find a stock
which had been robbed and exterminated of every bee
save the queen, who was alone, pacing the silent corridors
which so oft had resounded with the busv bum of her
subjects. At Emsworth the twenty stocks had grown
to thirty-eight, and had yielded an immense weight in
honev. The owner had also developed wonderfully in
his knowledge of bee management. At some places the
disposition to rob was so great that manipulation was
extremely difficult, and the bees belonging to a railway
porter gave me so many reminders of their bravery, I was
painfully impressed. At another place I visited I fear my
advent was de trop, the proverbial ' scissors ' controversy
spoiling my chances of obtaining a hearing, although
I had to undertake a very long walk to get there ! Nor
must I omit to mention the excellent apiaries of two
young working men I visited, whose hives — home-made —
were of the very best description, twenty-nine in number,
and stocked with strong, healthy bees. Here I had one
of the very best teas I ever enjoyed, and if for nothing
else I shall ever remember my visit there, for the unosten-
tatious generosity displayed by the friends.

Owing to the large area embraced by the Hants
B. K. A., I had a considerable share of railway travelling
to perform. Starting from Hungerford I visited the
extreme points of Bournemouth on one side and Peters-
field on the other, taking en route, ainong other places,
Holmesley, Romsey, Botley, Havant, Alton, and Bishop-
stoke ; and throughout I was greatly struck with the
marked improvement in the practice of bee-keeping over
what I had witnessed in the spring. Knowledge gained
by reading and experience is largely on the increase,
making the work of the expert more difficult and his
office more important. I found an unnecessary scare
about foul brood; so much has been said and written
about it lately, nearly every one is thinking his bees have
it. Another complaint is the inability of many to dispose
of their produce. But this is a question which must be
dealt with by the Association, and hardly enters into the
report of an expert. — Henry Davenport, 1st Class
Certif. B. B. K. A.

IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The committee met on Tuesday last, at 30 West-
moreland Street, Dublin, and adopted the amended
draft of the annual report, which is to be submitted
to the general meeting to be held on Thursday, April 0,
at 11 a.m., in the rooms of the Society for the Preven-
tion of Cruelty to Animals, 36 Westmoreland Street.
The prize list was revised and enlarged ; it is intended
to offer at the spring show a special prize for lady
bee-keepers, also for observatory hives, and one for the
amateur hive-maker. The next apiarian exhibition is
to be held, by kind permission of the Royal Dublin
Society, at Ball's Bridge, on 7th April and "three sub-
sequent days.

MIDDLESEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

A meeting' in connexion with the Finchley Horti-
cultural Society was held at the Assemblv Rooms,
Finchley, on Thursday evening the 11th Feb., H. C.
Stephens, Esq., in the chair, when Mr. Blow delivered
an interesting lecture on Practical Bee-keeping, illus-
trating the same by means of a frame-hive and various
other appliances. Mr. Stephens, in moving a vote of
thanks to Mr. Blow, said he hoped this year they would
be able to hold a bee show in connexion with their
annual flower show, and announced his intention of
offering prizes for honey. The vote was seconded bv Mr.
J. T. Harveyson, after which a number of those present
examined the hives, &c, and appeared greatly interested
in their construction, and the facility with which the bees
could be examined.

NORTH AMPTONS HIRE BEE-KEEPERS'

ASSOCIATION.
Mr. J. E. Lamport Gilbert has made a mistake, in
stating that the Northants Bee-keepers' Association has
no members in North Northamptonshire, as I am a mem-
ber, and reside in that district. I likewise, last year, offered
to take the district secretaryship conditionally, but re-
ceived no answer to my letter. I have again made the
same offer. — J. R. Truss, Bainton Heath, Stamford.

LEICESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'

ASSOCIATION.

Correction. — Mr. Bridge, of Countesthorpe, will

lend his diagrams to lecturers on bee-keeping without

notice ; he only requires lony notice when called upon to

lecture. — E. B.

Bees and Bee-keeping. — The above was the sub-
ject of a lecture by the Rev. F. Dillon, hon. sec.
of the Oxon Bee-keepers' Association, at Oxford, on
February 17th. There was a fair attendance. The
Rev. Lecturer, in opening his remarks, said he was
there on behalf of the Oxfordshire Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion to try and interest them in bee-keeping, and to show
them what interesting creatures bees were, and what
profit could be got out of them. First of all, he wished
to call attention to that Association, whose report for the
past year he had with him, and whose object it was to
spare the bees ah cruelty and suffering which was caused
by the ignorance of people who keep them. What their
Association with regaid to bees wished to do was to show
people that there was absolutely no reason why the bees
should be killed in that way. It would be unfortunate
if they were obliged to kill the bees, and could not get
the hone}' in any other way ; but it was not necessary,
and he wanted to show them that it was cruel to carry
out these old principles of destroying the bees. There
had been a good deal of talk in the papers about vivi-
section, but he thought the killing of bees would not he
defended by any scientific man. They not only
wanted to defend the bees, but also to do good to
those who kept them. By the new method put forth by
the Association they would get a larger quantity and bet-
ter quality of honey, and they would in addition, be
able to keep their bees, which, if they had to buy in the
spring, would cost them something like 10s. lie spoke
to those who were in the habit at the present time of
keeping bees in the old straw skep, as they would know
that the honey taken from the sulphur pit was only worth
about 3d. or 4d. a pound ; but if they would listen to
their advice they would get them Is. to Is. 4d. a pound
for it, by simply keeping bees in the proper way. Was
it not better under all these advantages, being able to
keep their bees, and having a better quality of honey,
and larger quantity, to use the new and humane method?
It had been known that people had taken 30, 40, 50, and
even 100 pounds of honev from one hive by working
it under that method ; and if he could make good his
words, and should prove to them that the Bee-keepers'
Association was doing an excellent work, he hoped that
all those who kept bees would come forward and enrol
themselves in it. The lecturer then spoke on the natural
history of bees, explaining the difference of queen,
worker, and drone, and also difference of cells which
contained the three classes of bees. He had alluded to
the old sulphur-pit system of bee-keeping, and be wished
to show them the system by which they coidd save their
bees and get a better quality and quantity of honey.
There were two ways, at the present time, of keeping
them. One, the most advanced, and another not quite so
advanced, but very proper and profitable. Let him
describe the last, which was the old straw skep, only
making sure to have one with a flat top, with a hole cut

March 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

81

in. Through that hole the bees would come up, and all
they had to do was to put another hive on the top of it,
which the worker hees would fill, and they would be
enabled to take the honey without destroying the bees,
and the bottom hive would be ready for the next year.
By that method they were able to put on the top a crate
of sections, or a bell of glass, or even another hive similar
to the one below. At the end of the season they would
then have their lower hive of bees still good, and they
would be saved those qualms of conscience, which he did
not doubt they would have if they killed the bees. Per-
haps to those beginning bee-keeping it would be well to
follow out that plan. Some people nadired their hives,
and put another hive underneath, but it was a very bad
idea as the queen was almost certain to descend, when
she would not think of ascending. His first plan was a
good one, but not the best. The best plan was the more
modern way, namely, by the bar-frame hive. [A bar-
frame hive was then exhibited, with double walls to keep
the bees warm in winter, and fitted with a number of
frames, that had been supplied with wax foundation. A
crate of sectional supers was now produced, and the
lecturer explained how they could be used.] The rev.
gentleman went on to say that so far it looked very
simple, but for beginners it would not be all plain sailing,
as perhaps they might be stung, and everything would not
go as they wished. But by using a smoker, which was
like a pair of small bellows, they could puff some smoke
into the hive, and the result would be that the bees
would get in a fright, and at once make a rush upon the
honey, and gorge themselves, so that they would not
starve for two or three days, and while in that condition
they would not sting them without they were actually
hurt. There was one thing they must be careful not to
do, and that was not to jar the hive, as there was nothing
that made the bees so angiy as that; and that was a
very good rule they could keep in mind. In conclusion,
the rev. gentleman called attention to how proper and
careful feeding was most advantageous; and how bad
feeding woidd prove most disastrous, causing unnecessary
excitement by food running short as the bees were
increasing. Several questions were put and answered,
and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the lecturer
for his most interesting and instructive remarks. The
company having inspected the bar-frame hive on view
and implements used in humane bee-keeping, then dis-
persed, after a number of gentlemen had given in their
names as members of the Association.

Italy and Italian Bees. — Italy is indeed a glorious
land. Every time I have visited it I have been more
than charmed — fairly enchanted. It is the land where
the chestnut and the orange blossom — a land whose
fertile plains and grand mountains, whose beautiful
lakes and luxuriant vegetation fill one with enthusiasm
and delight. It is favoured with refreshing dews, with
copious rains, with a mild climate, and with a wealth of
golden sunshine. How could such a land fail to have a
beautiful and valuable race of bees! There is no need
of my describing this race, nor telling in what respects
it excels the common bees, for you are all quite familiar
with these tilings. But a few words as to where the
Italian race is found in its greatest purity may be ac-
ceptable. A few years ago there was quite a discussion
in the American bee publications as to whether black
bees existed in Italy or not, and very likely many are
not yet clearly informed in regard to this point. An
examination, however, of back volumes of the leading
Italian Bee Journal, L'Apicoltore (Milan), would set this
point at rest in the minds of all, for plenty of Italian
writers on bee-culture have stated that very dark bees
not possessing the three yellow bands exist in various
parts of the peninsula and on the adjoining islands. In
that portion of the central plain having as its northern
limit Bergamo, its eastern limit Verona and Mantua,
the Apennines on the south, and on the west Milan, we

find Italians in their purity. Also below the Apennines
between Genoa and Rome. Outside of these regions
they shade off into hybrids. — Frank Benton's 'Bees'

Swarms of Bees. — Two swarms of bees took place on
Laines Farm, Cuckfield, occupied by Mr. Symons, on :21st
and l'2nd January. They belonged to his carter, named
Baker, who is about to leave his service and cottage, and
who had sold them to a neighbour. It is unusual for
bees to swarm thus early, more especially as the weather
on both days was extremely cold. — West Sussex Gazette.

"Wasps. — In regard to the wasp question. My experi-
ence of them goes to prove that they are destructive to
hive-bees, especially to weak swarms. I had a hive last
year completely taken possession of by wasps. The bees
were first disposed of, then the honey and the combs. I
would certainly destroy every wasps' nest that could be
got at. — A Banffshire Bee-keeper.

Honey Buzzaeds. — During the last year (1884)
there has been an unusually large number of honey
buzzards visit this country, as many as fourteen having
been killed in one county. These migratory birds feed
on the grubs of the wasp and the honey-bee, although
not on the wasps and bees themselves. This increased
number of the birds would point to the fact that both
wasps and bees were in larger quantities, and more nests
of these insects were to be found than has been the case
for the last four or five years. — Herbert S. Saunders.

%* All Correspondents forwarding Letters for insertion in
the Journal, Reports of Associations, Shcnus, Meetings, Echoes
from the Hives, Qiteries, etc., are requested to direct their com-
munications to ' The Editor of the " British Bee Journal," c/o
Messrs. Strange/ways & Sons, Tower Street, Upper St. Martin's
Lane, W.C

SPRING MANAGEMENT.
[Continued from p. 68.)

At that date (middle of March) uncap a portion of the
sealed honey of those colonies which still have abundant
supplies, others that need it begin to feed, giving a
continuous supply ; but, if syrup is used, see that but
little more is allowed than the daily consumption
requires. Should it be decided to use my dry-sugar
feeder, there will be no possibility of overcrowding the
combs, while the bees are aware that a large store is
alwa}'s on hand, and the stimulation will be greater than
with syrup; in this case, use American oil-cloth over,
with smooth side to the frames, to cause condensation of
moisture. If several combs still contain sealed food
along the top, so much the better, as it never pays to
allow bees to feel they are likely to be poverty-stricken.

Some of the more forward colonies may now have
a comb inserted at the centre without danger, but the
novice must not be too fast in spreading brood ; let him
bear in mind that nothing cf the kind should be at-
tempted until the space occupied appears ow-crowded,
and then he cannot go far wrong. Brood-spreading has
generally been carried too far, and I do not myself
recommend it except that as combs are returned, or
foundation added, such should be placed about the
centre of the cluster. A good queen (and no other
should be retained) will very soon fill every available
cell, providing the bees are properly crowded.

As yet, those stocks which are below the average
should remain unmolested, except for the first inspection,
when they should, if not already possessing it, have been
supplied with sufficient stored combs to carry them to
the end of April, at least. If necessary, remove such
stores from strong colonies, and feed those rather than
the weaker lots.

Towards the end of March, with the exception of the

82

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[March 1, 1885.

last mentioned, all may have more of their sealed food
uncapped, and at the next examination (first week in April )
most of that remaining. Meanwhile, every previously well-
provisioned hive should have had the feeder in operation
before the old stores were likely to run short. Again
add combs or foundation as required. Do not, as yet,
enlarge the entrances, even though the bees may
occasionally find hardly room enough during a warm
spell of sunshine. Throughout this month the hives may
be inspected, and foundation given about every seven or
eight days, alwaj's selecting a warm day for the opera-
tion, and do everything as quickly as possible.

At the beginning of April, uncap a little of the honey
in those weaker colonies previously referred to, and con-
tinue to do so at intervals until the end of the month,
when unite as presently shown. In all apiaries, however
well conducted, there are sure to be some colonies in
spring which are below the required strength, and if
allowed to stand as they are, such will give little or no
profit the same season. It has many times been sug-
gested that the stronger should be occasionally robbed of
brood to assist the waak ones; but in the end this process
causes only loss to the bee-keeper, and I must insist upon
the good stocks retaining all their brood and bees until
the time comes for supering, when, as I have before
pointed out in these columns, two or three combs may be
removed to advantage, crowding the bees into the
sections at once. It has also been advised that the
weaker colonies be united early in March, but when one
has once practised this in comparison with that plan now
given, of leaving them alone until the end of April, the
latter will always be adopted in future. When united
earl}', the excitement which ensues soon causes tli3 loss
of most of the older bees, and the two or three placed
together soon become nearly as weak as they were
individually ; but if the operation is delayed until the
later period, we shall find that almost the entire popula-
tion consists of young bees, brought to life principally by
those which, under the former condition, would have
died early in March, instead of holding out for some six
weeks longer.

Beginners but too often have nearly, if not quite, all
their stocks weak in spring, and nine times out of ten
they really do not know what a strong colony is. My
own idea of what a genuine colony should be is this : ' It
should have been so prepared the previous autumn that
it will require no more food, and but little attention,
until the first honey glut of the following year, when it
should be quite ready to go into the sections.' Indeed,
it will always be found that good stocks require least
attention, but if the autumn preparation has been
neglected, no amount of after care will prevent the
season becoming a failure.

Nevertheless, I know of no better time to show the
novice what condition his stocks should be in than May
1st. At this time most of his colonies should be ready
to take to supers ; but are they ? I am afraid but
seldom, for how often do we hear of supers being placed
over half-filled stock hives, and the owner being sur-
prised that the bees will not leave an already too large
chamber to work in that which is only throwing them
back still farther, by permitting the escape of vital heat,
which is so necessary to their well-being, particularly at
this time.

Now let me advise the beginner to cast away all
scruples, and at the above-named date so unite his
colonies — no matter how many may have to go to make
up one stock — until each hive then remaining is occupied
by not less than eight combs with brood, and crowded
with bees. Then he will know what a strong colony
should be, and then only will lie begin to realise a profit.

Keserve only the best queens, and if any others should
be too valuable to destroy, confine such until required,
with a few attendants, in a small box (about .'ix.'i in.),
having in it a piece of honey-comb, tied in a small frame.

It would be folly to advise a beginner to establish nuclei
outside to take care of these, just as we have been
persuading him to do away with all weak colonies, but the
more advanced bee-keeper would, however, be in a
position to do so, and will leave such on the stand
originally occupied by each, with one frame of bees and
brood, with one of stores on either side. These will be
valuable for uniting to any stocks the same day they may
have sent off their queen with a swarm.

HONEY-JUDGIXG.
I am very glad the matter of hone3'-judging is under
discussion. Certainly the ' impression ' idea is not fully
satisfactory. Those who have had much to do with
examinations of any land — take, for instance, a Latin or
Greek composition paper — know well how the 'im-
pression ' varies after a certain number of papers have
been examined. It is generally best (though this is unsatis-
factory) to re-examine them again after a short interval,
and this time inversely, taking the last paper first, and
so on. My idea in writing is to suggest that if a scale
of marks can be arranged — a thing which seems to me
in itself very difficult — about eighty per cent of full
marks should be allowed for in this way, leaving a
margin of twenty per cent for impression — in a manner
similar to the marks allowed for good style, &c, in an
ordinary examination. One point increases the difficulty
of fair honey-judging, viz., the position of the exhibit.
Excellent sections in a bad position strike the eye as
inferior to a very much poorer lot. — Ashton G. Rad-
cliffe, Font/iilt, Tisbury, February 20.

DO BEES HEAR?

Mr. Letts' experiments (page 52) with reference to the
unsettled question of bees possessing the sense of hearing
are far from proving that the}' are provided with even
elementary auditory nerves, on the contrary the three
tests that he records were undoubtedly responded to by
the insects' marvellously keen sense of touch and not of
hearing. Mr. Letts' first experiment is ' that of the gun
firing in the immediate vicinity of a hive, when the bees
momentarily suspended their murmurs.' Did the bees
actually hear the report, or was the sound communicated
to them by the sudden disturbance of the air ? It is
well known that a sudden explosion in mid-air disturbs
the atmosphere to such an extent that houses, bridges, &c,
are sometimes wrecked and otherwise damaged. Elec-
trical explosions in the clouds, the report of which is
thunder, often cause buildings to shake, and crockery,
&c. to jingle. Therefore the bees instantly suspending
their murmurs may doubtless be ascribed to their feeling
the rapid undulations of the air.

Nos. 2 and .'3 tests are most assuredly that of touch,
and not of sound or hearing. To prove this, strike any
sonorous body at the entrance of a hive being careful
not to jar it, and note the result ; not a bee responds to
the sound, but if the floor-board is gently tapped the
inmates at once feel the jar and are prepared to act on
the defensive at once. Invertebrate nature is poorly re-
presented by members possessing the organs of hearing,
but the senses of sight and touch are marvellously
developed. — II. Dobbie, ThictUhorn, Nonoich,

REVERSIBLE FRAMES.
Although not prepared to offer any experience as to
the utility of reversing combs as brought to the notice of
readers of the B. li. J. page 49 and 50, February 1st, I
take the liberty of mentioning that a slight modification
in the frames of my ' 88' hive (as exhibited at Knights-
bridge and since improved) would admit of its frames

March 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

83

being reversed at -will and that without having recourse
to any additional metal attachment.

Personally, I object to metal fittings attached to any-
thing inside the hive itself. Such metal fittings must
seriously interfere with the warmth of the hive during
cold weather.

An illustration of the frames belonging to the '83'
hive may assist in conveying a proper idea as to the par-
ticular feature alluded to.

A standard sized frame without projecting top has
brackets fixed on the frame ends, as at A and D. The
brackets are intended to rest on inner sides of hive
correspondingly shallower than the inner sides of an
ordinary frame hive. It is claimed for this form of frame,
that the quilt lying close to the frames from A to B. and
C. to D., as well as over the top, the heat of the cluster
is better retained from circulating all over the hive, the
bees having, as it were, a good tight roof overhead and
some distance down the sides equally confined.

Now all that is needed to make these frames reversible
is to shift the position of the brackets to the centres of
frame ends and make the inner walls half the depth of
the usual hive, and we have a hive with reversible frames
— better calculated to retain the natural warmth of the
stock than would be the case with frames such as are in
common use. — J. It. W. Hole, Tarrington.

MAKING A SOLUTION OF SUGAR WITHOUT
BOILING.

Perhaps the following simple plan of making a solution
of sugar without boiling may not be known to all your
readers:

Put the required quantity of water into a jug or jar,
or other deep vessel, and hang the sugar in a piece
of muslin, so that it is just under the surface of the
water.

By trying this plan with a tumbler of water, the
rationale of it is at once seen. Streams of dense solution
descend to the bottom of the glass, displacing water
which, in its turn, becomes saturated and sinks. The
same plan is the quickest way of dissolving gum, or any
other substance. — F. Lyon.

WEIGHT OF SECTIONS TO BE ATTRIBUTED
TO THE FLOWERS.

At the last quarterly conversazione of the British Bee-
keepers' Association there was a discussion about the
weight of sections ; some blamed the bees, some the bee-
keepers for the shortcomings of the honey ; one gentleman
said, ' One might as well blame the flowers, and so on
ad infinitum.' Well the flowers really are the culprits.
Clover-honey weighs very light, and sycamore veiy
heavy. I weighed several sections of these kinds against
each other last season, with the result that a section
5 x 5 x 2 of sycamore-honey weighed two or three ounces
more than an equally full similar section of clover-hone}-.
In July I had some heavy, amber-coloured honey ; all the
1 lb. sections were from one to two ounces above weight
except one, which was exact. I should think heather-
honey would weigh very heavy, but I have not tried the
experiment. — Beeswing, \7th Feb.

DRY SUGAR FEEDERS.

I am much obliged to you for your reply to my
question about tin condensers to be used with dry sugar-
feeders. I was not aware before that if 'the bars are too
closely covered with quilting no moisture will lie pro-
duced.' Mr. Simmins does not mention this when
speaking of American cloth being placed next above the
frames. Perhaps he means that no quilts or chaff
cushions should "be placed on the top of the American
cloth, but I think such an arrangement would be too
cold for the bees. Will you be good enough to say in
your next Journal exactly what ought to he done with
American cloth, or tin; if American cloth is used, ought
it to cover completely all the frames, or only a portion,
and what ought the rest to be covered with :J If tin is
used, would it. be right to cover with calico and quilts,
leaving a portion of the calico exposed, say, as much as
covers two frames, and should this exposed calico be
next to the tin condenser or farthest away from it !J —
Beeswing, Yith February.

Mr. Simmins forwards the following reply to the
above query:— 'I do not myself recommend sheets of
tin for the purpose of giving water by condensation, but
if " Beeswing " intends to use such, it must be arranged
as before stated, and with no more than two thicknesses
of ticking over it, besides the ordinary roof. A high
temperature is produced in and near to the feeding-box,
so that the space under the slip of tin canuot become too
cold. All the rest of the top surface must be covered
up as warmly as possible— say, with the equivalent of
three inches of chaff. When the entire space above the
frames is covered with the enamel sheet, and the same
depth of chaff above it, there will be found quite
sufficient moisture collect round the edges ; but where a
metal plate, much smaller than the surface of the hive,
is placed above the frames, and the whole covered with
porous material, then the heated air escapes, though
imperceptibly, and the metal remains dry, though had
the cooler air been allowed access to the upper surface
of the plate, of course a certain amount of moisture
would collect underneath.

JOTTINGS FOR THE JOURNAL.

Black Honey. — If men could always define strictly
what they mean there would not be such frequent mis-
understandings. Recalling last season, there was a conflict
of opinion as to the origin of black honey. If the supporters
of the bramble theory meant the bramble berry and
not the flower, I can, from evidence obtained this season,
support them, for during the dearth of honey preceding
the heather harvest my bees began to fill cells with black
honey; and I noticed them working on the fruit of the
raspberry and black currant, in the former sipping from
the openings between the fruit and in the latter from
hurst berries.

Tits. — It almost, gives a humane person a shiver of
horror to read in the pages of the B.B.J, the cold-
blooded manner in which your correspondent describes
how he trapped the blue-tit. Let fancy dwell for a
few moments on the agony which the poor bird must
have endured to have its fine delicate leg broken in a
spring -trap and afterwards to have its neck dislo-
cated. It is a pity persons have not something better
to do than practise such cruelty. What eternal tor-
ments they must think due to human sinners when
they so delight to torture a little blue-tit for acting as
scavenger and pecking up a few dead bees, for, after all
the talk of how the tit goes and taps at the entrance of
the hive and then picks up the bees that answer the
summons, to use a rough expression, it's all ' bosh,' the
tit simply scrapes his slender bill along the flight-hole to
feel if any dead bee is within his reach, and if not
immediately flies away to the next hive. Let any one

84

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[March 1, 1885.

tap a hive as light as the tit does in the same tempera-
ture as when the tit frequents the hives, and he will soon
find the bees are not in the humour to come to the door
so promptly, and the tit is so remarkably active that he
has not the patience to wait for a live bee coming down.
Men would do better to think oftener before they take
away innocent life.

Springs for Smokers. — I see a correspondent raises the
question of spiral springs for smokers. The one I use is
made by Mr. Dixon of Great Ayton, and he uses spiral
springs, and I can only say it has been the cheapest and
best smoker I have ever used.

Italian Sees. — I am also glad to see accounts of such
different ditties being sung in favour of Italian bees, with
special reference to its first cross, from what were sung
last year in the pages of the Journal.

Sections. — Great attention is likely to be bestowed
upon the standard size of sections this coming season.
I do not think much will come of it unless they issue a
a standard two-foot rule, or send the makers to a night-
school to learn how to use one, as the so-called standard
frames issued by different makers differ considerably.
Take a case in point : at the Ripon Show there were only
two exhibitors of hives, and upon comparing the frames
it was found there was considerable variation. One of
the gentlemen visited the ' Healtheries ' on purpose to
verify the frames he used, and found them exact, so that
the other must have been wrong. To test this matter
let any one send for a standard frame to each of the
different makers, and he will at once be convinced that
the makers have not arrived at an agreement as to what
is the standard size.

Yorkshire Bee-keepers' Associatio?i. — As this is an age
of raising monuments, I think a subscription might be
set on foot to erect such a hive — something in the
Pompey's Pillar style — to be placed on the top of
Eoseberr}' Topping as an example of what might be
achieved by the Yorkshire Bee-keepers' Association as
soon as they become known in the district. We have
here one solitary member, and he often asks himself the
question what is the use of belonging to the Association.
But if we had a monument such as Mr. Blow illustrates
in his catalogue,* why we might raise our heads and
roll our eyes and say, Look at that.

Reversible Frames. — I like that idea of reversible
frames ; it looks like business. By-and-b}', when the
proper hive is discovered, which will be a Combination
hive extractor, where the principle is after a grindstone
handle, and nothing left to do but turn the handle, and,
err/o, the hone}' will fly out as fast as the bees bring it
in ; and the most charming result will be the bees, being
turned round a few times instead of flying right at you,
will go off on the wrong track and bring in more honey,
have it duly extracted, and to work again. This will
be something like bee-keeping ; none of those ' blighted
hopes' which an American contemporary devotes a
column to !

Progress in Bee-keeping. — Bee-keeping is progressing
here, bar-frame hives are beginning to dot the country
side, and people are looking at the profits that can be
got out of flowers. Some of them do not ignore the
sugar-cask, and the returns are prodigious long before
flowers come out in quantity. For my part I have no
taste for anything but our golden heather honey, pure
mountain dew that cannot be imitated by any spurious
compound.

Hoping that we may have a good season, a weekly
Journal, and harmony amongst bee-keepers. — W. Crisp,
Great Ayton.

* We presume our friend refers to the representation of
the Stewarton Hive. — Ed.

SMOKER SPRINGS.
A still simpler spring than that suggested by Mr. Few-
trell is one of this shape, made of
wire and put on outside the thin
end of bellows with two staples,
so if worn out or broken it can
be readily fixed without removing
bellows. I believe E. M. Hart
& Co. now fit all their ' Cold-
Blast Smokers' with them. — W. E. Burkitt, Buttermere
Rectory, Wilts.

DO 'J

THE SNOWDROP AS A BEE FLOWER.

I do not think the majority of bee-keepers recognise
the value of the snowdrop as a bee flower. I found they
are preferred to the crocus by the bees. As they open
downwards their pollen is protected from the wet, and
bees can gather off them while they cannot off the crocus,
and they also remain in bloom a much longer period. I
cultivate several thousands of them, especially as a spring
flower for my bees, and can add my testimony to that of
L. Attenborough in Feb. I5th number of Journal. —
J. Churchill.

SECTIONS IN BODY OF HIVE AND TIN
DIVIDERS FOR SAME.
Referring to the Rev. W. E. Burkitt's article of Feb-
ruary loth on sections placed in body of hive. It is not
a new idea, as on page 4G of the July number of B. B. J.
for 1881, Mr. C. N. Abbott (the then Editor) gives a
woodcut of a pile of sections so placed, and showing
that his inventive mind had already thought of the plan
of placing sections at right angles to the frames, and also
on their sides, to do away with the section frame.
With reference to the tin dividers, spoken so highly of by
the reverend gentleman, I may say that to Mr. Bellairs is
due the credit of the invention. — W. T. Joyce, Farn-
borough, Hants.

TAKING STOCK.

Having sold my honey, wax, &c, I have taken stock
to the end of December 1884, and thinking my success
might stimulate some timid persons, wishful to embark
in bee-keeping, I offer mj' experience for their considera-
tion and encouragement.

Well, March 10th, 1881, 1 purchased a box with three
holes in the top full of comb and bees, for 18s., I sold
1/. 12s. Or/, worth of honey, and had three swarms of bees
from it. I had four hives to commence 1882, the produce
of which was was 31. Ids. for honey, and several swarms,
some of which I united. I had eight hives to commence
1883, the produce of which was 0/. for honey, and several
swarms, some of which I united. I had thirteen hives to
commence 1884, the produce of which was 28/. 15*., and
two swarms, one of which I sold with hive complete f i ir 11.
10s. Consequently one hive (or box) has produced in
four years fourteen hives, and the large sum of 431. 3s.
Qd., to which add the value of the fifteen hives and their
glorious army of occupation, at 1/. 10s. each (22/. 10s.),
which makes a total of 05/. l.'is. G</. Deduct four years'
outlay, viz. 16/. 2s. Gid., which leaves me 49/. 10s. Ilk/,
profit and stock to begin the season of 1885.

I make my hives of 1-inch wood, bacon-boxes, &c, bar-
frames, glass windows, 16 in. each way inside by 11 in.
deep, supers same size by 6 in. deep, one of which supers
with honey and comb weighed 50j lbs. I sold 102A lbs.
comb honey at Is. id., and 3504 lbs. extracted honey at
Is. per lb., together with what I kept for myself and left
the bees for the winter. I had quite a quarter of a ton of
honey last, season to sweeten my labour, fill my pocket,
instruct my mind, amuse my friends, and astonish some of
them. I had one crate of sections as much for novelty as

March 1, If 85.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

profit. I pot a catalogue of hives and bee furniture, bought
Modern Bee-Keeping, price Qd., became a yearly subscriber
to the B. B. Journal — the mainspring to my progress,
indeed indispensable for practical information, teaching
me what, when, and how to act. Its pages abound with
so much instruction about little insects who have all
through the sunshine of our life been bus}' by our side,
that really one is ashamed to admit so much ignorance
concerning them, and feel very much indebted to the
pioneers of the bee-world for showing us the marvellous
wonders in nature, as exemplified in a hive of bees. It
is an enjoyment to read and study their writings. Yes,
above all, I would impress upon the minds of beginners
to commence taking the B. B. Journal, — the first step, the
yen- best one ; it will direct you as it has done myself in
the right way to success.

I may just say I have been a butcher, although butchers
are notorious for living well, driving fast, and dying
beggars, yet I have not swallowed the knife. I have ex-
changed the beef for the bees, the killing for the saving,
the kicking for the stinging; yet I only got stung three
times last year, and that through carelessness. However
I must conclude, and if my good intentions in the above
disconnected remarks induce any wavering over difficulties,
which will be so easily vanquished \>y the little word ' try,'
then I have accomplished the aim and end of my desire,
and hope they may try and overtake me, wishing them
and the British Bee journal every success, I for the
present say good-bye. — Jos. Feanks, Lonynewton,
Darlington.

BEE-KEEPING IN SCOTLAND.

It seems a pity that I have failed to convince such a
presumed champion of Scottish rights as ' J.H.' aspires to
be, and yet evidently his arguments against my assertions
are summed up in his last effusion in page .51, to his
own self-satisfaction. It will be a sad day for our
native Scotia when the dread of such correspondents
shall hinder in any way the free and generous discussion
of her failures as well as her successes. It is well,
therefore, to treat with contempt such insinuations as
English proteges, fledglings, &c. : more proof could be
added, however, to my former notes than 1 could possibly
expect to appear in the columns of the Bee Journal. But
to prove the advancement of bee-keeping within easy
reach of ' J. H.' I could take him to districts within a
few miles of Glasgow, where ten years ago bees were
to be seen in nearly every garden, now, alas ! such a
spectacle is unknown. As I said before bee-keeping to
be successful in Scotland must be a national industry and
not the ' reserved hobby ' of a few individuals. ' J. II.'
will have further insight into progressive bee-keeping, by
reading Mr. McTIenry's paper on page 43. If Scotland
had been to the front with advanced bee-keeping as she
has been a pioneer in many important industries and dis-
coveries in every part of the world, such associations as
the North of Scotland and others would have been formed
long ago, and the finest honey-producing country in the
world woidd have taken its position as such in such
places as the recent Health Exhibition in London. I
trust, therefore, that ' J. H.' will lay aside the matter of
jealousy on this important subject, and honestly give
' honour to whom honour is due.' I have no fear of the
position which Scotland will eventually attain to in the
bee-keeping world. We want enthusiasts, and we want
fair open competition between old and young; and if our
individual talents are concentrated on adopting the best
and cheapest methods of producing pure honey, then, and
not till then, are we progressing in bee-keeping industry.
' J. H.' agrees with me in my opinion of Mr. Bennett — I
know him well, and believe his love for the work is the
sole motive of his unselfish labour, our duty is none the
less, however, and needs no further comment. — J. A. B.
Hamilton, X. B.

BEE-KEEPING IN SCOTLAND versus EDIN-
BURGH SHOW OP 1884.

As a reader of your very valuable Journal I have been
interested by the effusions on the above subject. I find,
however, on page 68 an article said to be by ' Oiteif the <
Judges.' This, I think every impartial reader or" '
Bee Journal must say, is a concoction of another party.
For myself, I don't believe it was ever written by any
of them. By referring to page 265, of Aug. 1st," 1884,
the report of Edinburgh Show is commented on by the
able secretary ; and he says the judges for bees and "hives
were Messrs. Buchanan and Patrick, but I find in the
article of Feb. loth, ' One of the Judges,' so called, says,
The bee-furniture at Edinburgh was not only superior, but
the prizes were awarded to those that possessed the re-
quirements necessary to bee-keeping, and this I along with
my " coadjutors " intimated to the grumblers at the time.'

Now, sir, how does it come if only two judges were
appointed to judge bee-furniture, that the judge who
writes had, to use his own words, a number of judges
along with him in his department ; probably they were
competitors too ?

I am a member of the ' Caledonian,' but was not an
exhibitor; but being interested in bee-shows I took delight
in visiting the Edinburgh one, and I must confess that it
eclipsed anything I had ever seen previously, and I may
state that I saw the great show in the Crystal Palace
in 1874, so much talked about by our ' heroes ; ' and
I also, when speaking with Mr. Neighbour, asked his
opinion about the show, and he declared it to be the best
he ever saw in his life.

But to return to the judge's effusion on Edinburgh
show. I cannot understand what he means about the
gold medal in his closing sentence : is he going to offer
one for the Aberdeen show ? I hope he will make it more
plain in his next letter. In conclusion, I may say I have
notified Messrs. Buchanan and Patrick about this letter.
— Erytnall.

[As we were going to press, we received another con-
tribution written in the above strain, signed ' Banks of the
Clyde.' We see no object to be gained in the continuance
of this controversy. We had hopes that the contributions
of our northern friends would have been more exhilarat-
ing and instructive ; and we trust that these hopes may
yet be gratified. — Ed.]

THE LAST CONVERSAZIONE.

Your last number was particularly interesting, and
the subject of honey-judging treated on Jan. 28th is
very important, the more so because it is not without
difficulties. Being not uninterested personally, I should
like to say that I question whether it is possible or
desirable to lay down hard and fast rules. As to the
sealing of sections, I do not see the sense of preferring
those sealed so thinly that you can see the honey inside,
and are likely to see it outside sooner- than you wish.
Give me a good, fair, smooth cover to the cell; a good
cork to the bottle. But why call it ' thick ' or ' heavy ? '
What, after all, is the extra amount of wax in a crate of
sections ?

Perhaps more important is the question of the size of
sections. If a 1-lb. section is not to contain more than
1 lb., why should it be qualified if it holds less? And
then how many crates would stand the double test of
4j x 4 j size and 1-lb. weight (exactly)? It appears to
me that you must either admit a minimum of (say)
15 oz., and a maximum to suit a slightly out-size section,
or call them small and large sections. It happened to
myself to have a (nominal) 1-lb. section-crate disqualified
by the judges because the sections were too large — an
old out-size of Abbott's. This I was told on entering
the room by one of the judges, a leading member of the
B. B. K. A. I am sure I instantly bowed to the de-
cision, having had too much experience of judges' work

8G

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[March 1, 1885.

not to know what is due to those who fill that un-
enviable post. I hardly gave the matter a second
thought, as I was told that only a certain size was
recognised in higher quarters, and I took no trouble to
make a comparison of exhibits, though I rather fancy-
that, but for the disqualification, mine might have taken
second place. But now Mr. Peel says that no official
standard has been fixed ! Why, here's a ' failure of
justice,' and no ' court of appeal.'

Surely something must be decided, and judges cor-
rectly instructed, either to be as strict as Portia, or,
better still, to use their free common sense. — A Silver
Medallist.

Jforcigit.

FRANCE.

According to the Apindteur, the sale of honey in
France generally, but in the Paris market particularly,
is not so brisk of late as the friends of apiculture could
wish. It is even feared that at the present rate last
year's stock will not be all cleared off before the fresh
crop obtained from early fruit-blossoms comes in. A
satisfactory business was done during Christmas and the
recent new year's festivities, but the demand has been
particularly slack ever since.

The same contemporary mentions as a fact that owing
to the reduced prices at which stocks and swarms have
had to be sold of late years, several apiculturists have de-
cided upon giving up breeding bees for sale, in order to
devote their apiaries to the production of honey : with
this object in view, they are introducing larger hives so
as to check the natural tendency of swarming, believing
that, under existing circumstances, it will pay them
better to direct their attention to the production of
honey. The difficulty, however, of disposing of last
year's supplies, continues the Journal above named, is
likely to cause a momentary reaction upon the already
well-defined movement in French apiculture.

Advices from Marseilles show that the recent arrivals
of wax at that port exceed the sales, and the stock on
hand during last mouth averaged upon 50,000 kilos.
Algerian was offered at from loo to 160 francs per 50
kilos, and Morocco at from loo to 105 francs according
to quality.

ITALY.

Mr. Frank Benton has issued the first number of a
leaflet entitled ' Bees.' It is dated ' Leghorn, Italy, Feb.
20th.' The purpose of this will be gathered from his
opening address, which we append: —

' To each of my old friends and customers I have a
few words to say, yet haven't time to write a separate
letter to every one ; moreover, each letter would cost
five cents postage, or if over one-half ounce in weight
five cents for each additional half ounce or part thereof.
As there are some hundreds of you now, these are con-
siderations worthy of attention. I wouldn't like to
have you get the idea that I'd be glad if your number
was smaller, nor do I want to neglect any one of you ;
so I've concluded I'd just print these lines, and besides
saving myself a great deal of time each copy will cost
but one cent postage. Then, too, I am sure you will
take more pleasure in reading plain print than any
hurriedly scrawled letter I might send you. When you
get this, kindly send a line — a postal-card if no more — ■
to Munich, Germany, and I will then know you are not
altogether displeased with the idea of getting in printed
form the items I have to communicate to you. The
good wife will receive your replies, and I am sure will
be much interested in them, and eventually they will all
reach me.

' Meanwhile, I may take the liberty of presenting you
additional thoughts from some other point m my journey.

Friends in Germany wished me, as I set out, a gliickliche
Beise; in Italy it has been buon viaggio; and when I tell
you that, if He who rules the deep wills it to be so, I
shall be, when you read these lines, on the confines of
Sahara's sands, I am sure you will all add the English
" A pleasant journey." And for this as well as many
other kind words and encouraging deeds I return you my
sincere thanks. — Fbank Bextox.'

The first number of the Rev. Giotto Ulivi's new
monthly Journal, called L'Apicokura Rationale, has
made its appearance. It bears on the frontispiece an
illustration of his noted ' Giotto ' hive the principle of
which he enthusiastically advocates for universal adop-
tion. His motto is 'Industriae simplicitas ac parsi-
monia leges' Although the practical utility of the
' Giotto ' principle is not unanimously admitted in api-
cultural circles, yet its author's knowledge of every
subject connected with bee-keeping is so well rooted that
his journal has met with a favourable reception by the
whole of the apicultural fraternity, and L'Apicoltura
Itazionale is looked upon as a valuable addition to Italian
bee literature.

_ Judging from the news which is reaching the Asso-
ciation from all parts of the Italian Peninsula so far bees
have wintered satisfactorily.

_ The Apicoltore informs its readers that a Bee Exhibi-
tion and Honey Fair is to be held in Milan between the
20th and the 27th of September next. Further par-
ticulars will be published as soon as possible.

AMERICA.

Prof. A. J. Cook, in a paper read at the Michigan
Convention, writes : —

' The new facts, if they be facts, recently developed by
Mr. Frank Cheshire, of England, in reference to foul
brood, are certainly very interesting. Mr. Cheshire
claims to have found the specific cause of foul brood in
a kind of bacterium which he calls Bacillus alvei. He
thinks that these are not confined to the brood, but
swarm everywhere in the adult bees, queen, drones, and
workers, and even in the sperm-cells of the drones and
ova of the queen. He thus objects to the term " foul
brood," as he believes old bees die from this fungoid
affection.

' He thinks that honey probably does not contain the
spores, but that they — the spores — are conveyed on the
feet and antenna; of the bees. Lastly, he suggests
phenol as a specific to be used as the cure of the
malady. He is not the first to suggest phenol, nor is
the idea of the moulting of the fining of the alimentary
canal with the skin of the larva original with him, as it
is a fact well known to every entomologist.

' Now, while we should be very glad of this elaborate
investigation by Mr. Cheshire, we may well pause before
we join in his cry of " Eureka ! " If the adult bees are
attacked with the Bacillus alvei, why do we get none of
the characteristic odour from them ': And how are we
to explain the cure by partial starvation which has been
so successful in the hands of Messrs. Jones, Mason, and
many others? These well-authenticated cases of cure
can be explained only on the ground that the active
spores are confined to the honey, and that the adult bees
are not victims of the malady, and can only convey it in
the honey. Again, why is it that so many fail with
phenol ? While we may all hope much from such careful
research, we must yet wonder whether the bottom facts
are reached in this matter of " foul brood." '

CEYLON.

I am not sure if the readers of the British Bee Journal
are aware what a fair opening there is in Ceylon for a
small capitalist who understands the working of an
apiary on a scale entitled to make it a remunerative
business; and a few words on 'Ceylon bees' would
perhaps not be amiss.

March 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

87

It was my pleasure to meet, and become personally
acquainted with, Mr. Rudolph Dathe, bee-master of
Eyotrup in Hanover, at the house of a mutual friend
on Maria Estate, in the neighbourhood of Kandy, in the
early months of last year. This enterprising gentleman
had frequently heard from his father, also a bee-master,
of the productiveness of the Asiatic bee ; and, undaunted
by the failure of Professor Frank Benton to import these
bees, which was mainly due to his illness in Ceylon and
Quarantine on the return journey, he determined to visit
that island in the hopes of securing several colonies.
This he did with the assistance of the Uerman consul
and a couple of his fellow-countrymen, superintendents
of estates in the Hill districts, as well as Mr. Holloway,
the energetic proprietor of Maria estate, to whom he
kindly presented the swarm of Italian bees which he
took with him to Ceylon.

A very interesting account of Mr. Dathe's travels,
written by himself, appears in Nos. 19 and 20 of the
Bienen Zeituny of October last.

The only bees which may be profitably kept are the
two largest of the four species to be found in the island.
The first of these is the Bambara (Apis dorsata). They
hive on the branches of the larger forest trees, their
combs being of enormous dimensions. The largest one
found by Mr. Dathe was more than a metre in breadth
and 65 centimetres in length. The upper part which
served as a receptacle for honey was 13 centimetres in
thickness, while the normal thiclaiess of the breeding
Comb was about 34 millimetres.

This bee is about 18 millimetres in length, but owing
to its great power of tension often appears longer. It is
prettily marked, and having longer ligula;, and being-
very hairy, it is better adapted than the Apis mellifica
for the rapid collection of honey. The queen is 23
millimetres in length, and of a blackish-brown colour.
The sting of the Apis dorsata is sharp and severe ;
but the action is clumsy, so that the bee can be removed
before it is inflicted.

Taking a walk in the neighbourhood of Ilanguranketty
in the Hill districts, I came across a beautiful piece of
lionet-comb depending from the branch of a tree which
overhung a somewhat precipitous ravine. It was semi-
circular in shape with a radius of a foot. The wax was
almost snowy white, and the cells perfect. I was told
by my servant that the Bambaras frequently build a
temporary residence in this way until they are assured
that a sufficient number of honey-yielding flowers are to
be found close at hand. Apparently these had decided
that the situation was a bad one, for the comb was deserted.

The next in size, though it takes priority in the quality
of its honey, is the Mi Mcessa, from the Singhalese
'Mibiri.' sweet, and 'Mcessa,' fly (Apis indicd). They
cli isely resemble the Italian bee. They hive in the cavities
of trees in the garden plots of the natives, as well as in
the forests. From this peculiarity they are more easily
tamed than the Bambaras, and are frequently kept by
the villagers, who make a most primitive hive by placing
one chatty, or earthenware vessel, on the top of another
face downwards, holes in the upper part and sides of the
lower chat ty forming the means of entrance. The swarm
is thus raised some foot or so from the ground, which
prevents the bees from being affected by the damp.
Colonies of the ' Mi ' as well as the ' Bambara' can
easily be obtained at the rate of a rupee (Is. 8d.) ; indeed
on one occasion I purchased a colony for the small sum
of sixpence. The price of the honey varies from 37i to
•jO cents per quart bottle.

The ' Dandupolbawa (Apis fovea) is smaller than
the 'Mi,' and longer and proportionately more slender
than the larger fly. In a pecuniary point of view they
are of little value, only producing a small quantity of
honey. This, however, is very sweet and of a pale
yellow colour. They hive on the lower branches of
shrubs, such as the coffee, and are easily handled, the

pain of the sting being only momentary. Shortly before
I left the island I had two swarms which were working
well together, depending from a coffee twig placed across
a small tea-chest, which stood on a table in the back
verandah.

Lastly come the peculiar little ' Tom Thumb ' bees,
or, as the Singhalese call them, ' Kanameyawa mcessa.'
They are much smaller than the common fly, and are
found in tiny holes of trees, crevices of rocks, or any-
where where they can obtain shelter from wind and rain.
One swarm of this tiny species of the hymenoptera had
established themselves in the body of an old and eyeless
china dragon on the door-step of the Maria Estate
bungalow. They are called 'Kana' (ear), from their
determined attempts when roused to enter the ear of
the disturber of their peace. They have no comb, the
honey being soaked in a mass of blackish-yellow wax.
The boney is very sweet and is used medicinally by the
natives. They have one advantage over all the other
species, — merciful Providence has not endowed them
with a sting.

If any one could be persuaded to start a small estab-
lishment in Ceylon, I feel convinced that, if experienced
and careful, he would be sure to make it pay, and have
a fair balance for his own pocket ; especially as no one
has yet tried the experiment, and he would consequently
have the whole business in his own hands. — E. Bur-
leigh Campbell, 25 St. Jaynes's Square, Monmouth*

CHILI.

Exports of Honey axd Wax from Chili ix 1SS3.

Honey.

From To Kilos Kilos

Valparaiso | r, , t, ., • ( 215,590 i
m l l - (-treat Britain -,,,„ ,, ,

lalcahuano ( / 50,990 (

Ditto ) ^ ) 2(1,80-1

t , ■ I- r ranee n: -

\ arparaiso ) | -{■, ,■>■■■>

Ditto "] f 740,0571

Coronel J> Germany ■{ 2,209 \ 772,20(5

Melipulli J (_ 30,000 J

Valparaiso ' Belgium " 6.200 0,200

Ditto ) T- ( 1,785 ) ia n3e

Talcahuano \ L"'S11^ { 1^300 \ 14'0so

Valparaiso, &c. Brazil, &c. 8,986 8,980

266,530

242,139

(1289tons, 12owt. 1 qr. 20 lbs.) =1,310,266
Valued at $201,392.

Wax.

From To Kilos Kilos

Valparaiso 7 r, . t, .. . j 19,452

Talcahuano | Great Bntamj -;4-,,

Ditto | ,-, | 1,745 j ~aaa

v i • rrance ,. , ,., - / ,93b

Valparaiso | | 6,243 I '

Ditto / r, | 64,271 /

Melipulli \ Germany j m f

Valparaiso ,

lakaiiuano

1,634

24,931

65,071

1,634

(93 tons, lewt. Oqr. 12 lbs.) =99,624
Valued at $85,617
1882 1883

Kilos Value Kilns Value

Honey, 1,532,249 $232,340 I 1,310,256 $201,392
Wax, 70,011 62,570 | 99,624 85,617

Extracted from Estadistiea Cbmercial de la Itepiibliea
de C/ule correspondiente al aim de 1883.

* The writer of the above letter lias forwarded to us a book
which has been recently published by him ; it is entitled,
A Trip to Tissa, Ceylon. It comprises three sketches : ' A
Trip to Tissa, Ceylon,' 'A Singalese Devil-Dance,' and ' A
Night's Salmon-fishing on the Wye.' The book is illustrated
with two lithographed engravings, ' Tangalla Eest House,
Ceylon,' and ' Symond's Yat, Monmouth.' The author has
a facile pen, a genial disposition, a lively imagination, and
good descriptive powers. We hope to have from him further
communications on apiarian matters when he resumes his
duties in Ceylon.

88

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[March 1, 1885.

Northampton. — I put ten stocks into winter quarters and
all are alive and doing well. February 14th was a fine
day, the bees were flying freely and carrying in pollen.
On that date I took the opportunity of looking at three
hives I thought would be short of stores, but found the
consumption of stores had been remarkably small. I
could not resist the temptation of lifting up a central
frame, and, to my surprise, found brood in all stages ; in
all three cases the population had increased since the
autumn. I hope to see how others have stood the
winter, as I know of several cases of stocks dying in this
county. Mortality among my bees has been very small,
in fact, I am utterly at a loss to account for so few
dying. My stocks are well packed with chaff packing
on the top, inside, outside, and every other side. — J. E.
Lamport Gilbert, Hon. Sec. Northants B. K. A.

North Leicestershire. — On the 12th inst. the bees had
their first spell of work on the aconites and snowdrops.
To-day (24th inst.) they have been carrying in abund-
ance of pollen from crocuses, arabis, aconites, and snow-
drops. Barley-sugar and pea-flour are being used as a
supplement. — B. B.

Harborne, Birmingham. — Bees here have wintered
well, and wero gathering pollen from snowdrops, wall-
flowers, and a few crocuses, on Friday and Saturday, the
loth and 14th of February. Most of the hives "have
started breeding, but we do not commence stimulating
till the beginning of March. I shall work for extracted
honey solely this year, as it sells so much better than
sections, many people actually straining the honey out,
instead of eating comb and all. — Lordswood.

Oxford, Feb. 1\st, — A week of stormy weather has
been followed by a very sharp frost, but, with a little
care, everything so far has gone on well ; and I do not
expect to hear of anything now, as most of the hives I
have visited are in excellent condition, one hive having
three frames of brood, but I am riot certain that every-
one will agree that this is a good sign; thougli it cannot
go far wrong if properly attended. "The few' bright days
have been hailed with delight by the bees, who have
hunted in vain for some flower or other to gather a little
honey from, but without success, as the crocuses have
only just began to peep, though we have great expectations.
It might be interesting to know that Mr. D. S. Brickland,
Abingdon, took 1G2 pounds of beautifully sealed honey
from three skeps in May and June, 1884, which was a
very good beginning for a novice. — E. F. II.

Honey t'ott, Weston, Leamington, Feb. 23rd. — The
week ending February 14th was nice and mild, so that
he bees had a good chance to fly ; also, it enabled me
to look over many stocks, and change their floor-boards.
I was agreeably surprised to find the majority in good
order, more especially as last "month I found two or
three stocks had dysentery. Two or three days at the
end of last week the weather was very severe, with a lot
of snow; but about noon on Sunday it changed, and
became much milder, so that the bees were out in great
numbers on the crocuses and snowdrops ; and a mezereuni
tree, which is smothered with red blossoms, was very
much visited by them. — John Wajlton.

South Cornwall, Feb. 24. — Nothing of importance to
report since last month. On the few fine days we have
had bees have flown, and have gathered pollen from
furze. _ We have but few crocuses. I find a straw skep
very light. I don't know why, unless the bees have been
gluttonous, for I feel confident they were not stinted
in their stores. No frame-hives examined yet, the
weather quite unsuitable, and they ought to be in no
want. I have never heard of a case of foul brood or
dysentery in this neighbourhood and sincerely trust I
never shall. — C. B. S.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS.

Busy Bee. — Distance from Centre to Centre of Combs.
■ — 1/u is the correct distance, and the more nearly
we approach nature in our dealings with bees the
better. 1§ inch must not be exceeded.

N. M. B. — 1. Bees on Outskirts of a Town. — There is
no objection to your proposed position. Bees thrive
in far more confined situations. 2. Cowan Hive. — If
ants are likely to be troublesome by all means take
steps to keep them out. A simple means is to drive a
large nail or screw into the end of each leg, leaving
about two inches projecting. Let these projecting
ends stand in saucers or pans of water, or still better,
oil. You had better not put your hives under a shed,
but render them fit to stand alone. If you alter the
make of the Cowan hive by fixing the loose interior
hive you destroy his method of packing for winter.
You would not find two stocks winter well one over
the other, and you could not readily get to the lower
one if it required food or attention. Better use long
hives, and the stocks back to back.

Felix. — 1. Multiplying Stocks in Skeps. — Yes; your
plan is correct, and you need not fear but that there
will be bees enough left to hatch the brood in A,
supposing, of course, that other conditions of success,
such as strength of stocks, fine weather, &c. are
present. 2. Driven Swarm. — No ; the driven swarm
should be treated as a natural swarm, and placed upon
a fresh stand, otherwise you will weaken the parent
stock too much. 3. Directions for Swarming from
Skeps have been repeatedly given. You will have an
opportunity of establishing your ideas in favour of
skeps by entering as a competitor in the next ' Bligh
Competition.' At present we cannot agree with you.

West - Midland. — Extracted Honey. — The largest
harvest can be obtained by the doubling system. If
you do not wish to adopt that system, your plan of
giving a set of combs over the brood-nest is the next
best plan.

Beginner. — Pop-holes are spaces left at corners, and
sometimes at bottoms and sides of sections, which
make them light, i.e. not so heavy as they would, and
should be when well filled. This can be prevented by
giving sheets of good thin comb-foundation. A little
management on the part of the bee-keeper is some-
times necessary, such as inverting a few sections
occasionally.

Alfred P. Whitington and J. Hall. — Reversible
Frames. — There is not in the sketches forwarded such
a novelty in the principles of the reversibility of frames
as to require us to give an illustration of them. Those
that have appeared in our pages seem to represent the
principal features which have been brought out in
your drawings.

Beeswing. — 1. Pojj-holes. — Kefer to reply given to
'Beginner.' 2. Dry Green Mould. — This has been
found to be caused by mouldy pollen that has not
been capped by honey. Dead bees if allowed to lie
in heaps in a damp hive will also be covered with mould.

J. P. Allen. — Sugar for Bee-feeding. — The sample
marked No. 3 would prove most suitable for making
syrup. No. 2 might answer the same purpose ; but it
is very inferior to the preceding. No. 1 would not be
useful for dry feeding. Procure Porto Rico or the best
grades of Demerara.

II. T. Bland. — We beg to refer you to our advertising
columns for purveyors of Duncan's Pearl Sugar.

Boz. — Candy. — Give one cake, weighing about a pound,
and if that is gone before there is outside food to be
had, give and another and another.

Arthur Townend, Jamaica. — 1. Honey from Logwood
Blossoms. — Logwood has a slight smell resembling

March 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

89

that of violets, a sweetish taste, and is an astringent ;
and the probability is that honey from its blossoms
partakes of the same properties. 2. The Honey Com-
pany is, we believe, founded on purely commercial
principles ; but not being connected with the Journal,
we would refer you to the secretary of the Company
for replies to your inquiry.

Veritas. — Judging at Shows. — We entertain no doubt
of the 'truth' of your statements, but we have some
hesitation as to the propriety of the insertion of your
communication.

C. Poland. — Chilled Bees. — Your bees had evidently
been beguiled by a beam of sunshine to venture out
of their warm hives; and on their return they had
been caught by a ' snap ' of cold, and prevented re-
entering their homes. As the weather improves, the
bees will get stronger and more hardy, and probably
this may not occur again. Picking up the -fallen bees
and taking them to a warm place will generally restore
their suspended animation.

H. G. — Mr. I). S. Given, the inventor of the Given
wired foundation, died in Los Angeles, Cal., on
July 10, 1884, where he went in November, 1881,
with the hope of regaining his health. Mr. Given
was born on Dec. 22, 1843, and resided in Illinois
from 1864. In 1806 and 186" he was secretary of the
Freedman's Bureau. His partner in business, Mr. J. E.
Caldwell, in company with the widow, continues to
carry on the business at Hoopeston, Illinois.

F. McK. — Requeening four Stocks and increasing to
seven. — If you can ensure the queens which you buy
being young and vigorous you may do so. Other-
wise, when you have by careful stimulation got one
stock very strong divide it. When the stock has
raised queen-cells make up nuclei, in which get the
queens hatched and fertilised. Then increase your other
stocks by division, and requeen at one operation.

Chips. — 1. Pattern of Hives. — The success of bee-
keeping depends more upon the man than the hive,
but for convenience you had better make your hives
on what is called the ' Combination system,' i. e. long
enough to take several frames and sections behind, or
to hold two stocks if needed — say twenty-four inches
long inside. You need not make the floors moveable,
as in so long a hive you can clean one part at a time,
pushing the frames to the other end. 2. Sections. —
We give preference to 4j x 4j ; the one piece are best.
3. Stock Foundation. — We prefer that having the
bases, as in natural comb. 4. Wired Foundation. —
Please refer to our reply to Wm. Ditty in our number
for February 15.

G. D. Clark. — Feeding light Stocks. — If you have not
much time candy will be more convenient for you, but
for stimulative purposes we prefer syrup. Candy
should break with a crystalline fracture, but the
crys'a s should be small and softish. Kaw sugar will
make candy, but refined is best for all bee-foods.

J. L. — Moving Bees, and increasing ten Stocks to fifteen
at one Operation. — Proceed as in the first place men-
tioned on page 53. You would then have ten stocks
and ten swarms. You can then reunite five of the
swarms without any difficulty. If you have the
opportunity of doing so, swarm and move one strong
stock first, and the rest eight days afterwards, giving
queen-cells from the first to those stocks which you
intend to increase from. You will thus save eight
days of queenlessness in each of five stocks.

A. B. C. — 1. The sample of sugar forwarded will be found
suitable for feeding bees. 2. If there is sufficient
distance between the rows, as the bees possess such a
home-finding faculty, there is no objection to their
being placed face toface.

J. P. — Mouldy Combs. — We should not destroy the combs.
Pub them", when dried, with a soft brush, spray them
with salicylic acid, and give them to the bees. If the
combs are much soiled with dysenteric stains, act on
the advice given in our ' Useful Hints.' 2. Painting
Hives. — As the loss of a queen in her matrimonial
flight is at all times a serious matter, it might be
avoided by painting the fronts of your hives of a
different colour, so as to assist the queens in marking
the position and appearance of their homes.

Sam. Geo. S. — 1. There was nothing exceptional in your
bees disporting themselves as you describe, the day
being so warm. 2. Candg. — Both the samples which
you send are boiled to the degree of lump sugar, and
are not fit for the purpose. Read reply to ' J. P.,' and
try again. 3. Stimulating. — Bead 'Useful Hints.'

William Brown. — 1. Books. — Having fully mastered
the instructions given in Modern Bee-keeping, we
should advise you to proceed to the study of Cowan's
Guide-book. 2. Hives. — Consult our advertising col-
umns. The hives of those continuously advertising
there may be depended on ; but it would be invidious
if we were to mention our personal preferences.
3. Transferring. — We should advise you let the bees
swarm, and three weeks afterwards to transfer the
bees, brood and combs from the skeps to the bar-
frames. See ' Transferring ' in Modem Bee-keeping.

J. P. — Making Candg. — Proceed thus — Put your sugar
and water together in a pan and boil until a little,
dropped on to a cold surface, sets hard, so that the
finger does not stick to it. Then remove from the fire,
add your flour (pea-flour is best), and stir until it is
about to set, which you will easily see. Have ready
some plates or saucers, with paper in them, and rapidly
turn out your candy into them.

A Cottager. — Broken Combs. — If the combs are much
broken down and displaced, it is best to transfer to a
frame-hive. The transferring should be done under
shelter or in a warm room. It is an operation re-
quiring experience. Are you not within reach of an
expert ? See Modern Bee-keeping, under ' Transferring,'
p. 59.

Virtuoso. — 1. Bees on Separate Stands.- — Experience
shows that bees thrive better on separate stands, in
open ground, than in a shed, or building, especially if
the walls are of brick or stone, which prevent the
sun's rays from reaching the hives. Bees never do
well in a conservatory or greenhouse. Space forbids
discussion of accepted facts. 2. Pollen Gathering. —
Pollen-gathering in fine weather in February is not at
all unusual. See ' Useful Hints.' 3. Sugar. — See
our editorial on ' Sugar for Bee-feeding,' in our issue of
January loth, 1885 (vol. xiii. p. 19.) 4. Amount
of Food. — The number of holes for stimulating must
depend upon their size. In the Raynor Feeder the
holes are small. From two to six will be sufficient,
according to strength of colony. Practice alone will
teach these small matters. The words which you
quote — ' Syrup given thick, as food, not for stimula-
tion ' — were intended to apply to colonies (often popu-
lous) whose stores were all consumed, or nearly so,
and which, consequently, are threatened with starva-
tion. We thought the words 'when required''
sufficiently explained the meaning of the sentence. 5.
We consider the ' Pearl ' sugar the better of the two.

Received : — Mason and Buchan ; Captain Heysham's
Lecture ; Report of North-east of Ireland B.K.A. ; A. Fish ;
R. Thorpe.

Eekata. — In reply to Wm. Ditty, for two inches each
end, read two in each end.

Annual General Meeting. For Mrs. Burkitt, read Mrs.
Curreys.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. Mar. 1, 1885.J

B1

For Sales and Purchases of Bee Appliances, Honey, Books,
Pamphlets, Diagrams, &c, Exchanges and Situations.

Terms : Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad-
ditional three words, One Penny extra; no reduction can
be made for continuous insertion.

THE SIMMINS' METHOD OP DIRECT INTRODUC-
TION. Enlarged to 32 pages. Price GM. Post free,
of the Author, Rottingdean, Brighton ; Messrs. Neighbour &
Sons, 149 Regent Street; and Mr. J. Heckle, Kings
Langley, Herts. (53)

I EE-KEEPING, Plain and Practical : How to

Make it Pay. By A. Rusbridge, Is. 6d., post free,
Is. 8d. Address J. Heckle, Kings Langley, Herts.

BEES for Sale, double-walled Hives, Association Frames.
Warranted strong and healthy. Address J. Gilbert,
St. Paul Street, Stamford. c 16

WANTED to Purchase, The British Bee Journal from
commencement, in good condition. Apply to The
Hon. Sec, Hants Bee-keepers' Association, Christchurch.

ALE, THREE STOCKS. — Standard Frame Hives.
Address Mr. Carter, 15 Ashburnham Road, Bedford.
c_21

HONEY for Sale.— Pure, extracted ; about 100 lbs. in
bulk ; will be put on rail for M. per lb. Address
T. Histed, Maresfield, Uckfield. c 22

BUTLER'S Feminine Monarchic, original Phonographic
Edition, 1034, 1/. ; Warder's True Amazons, 1716, 5s.;
Thbrley on Bees, 1765. 5s. Lot 1/. 5s., or exchange. Address
H. T. Bland, Duffield, Derby. c 23

SIX HIVES, for Bottle Feeders; back and front double-
walled; loose floor-board, sloped; dummies, roof, ten
bars, porch, 9s. dd. each ; three unnailed, 20s. 3d. Address
Harry Fisher, Leighton Buzzard. c 24

SEVERAL GOOD STOCKS.— Bees in Stra^ Hives, 15s.
each. Address Crisp, Halstead, Essex. c 25

WANTED, two 4 lb. Swarms of Ligurian Bees, to be
guaranteed headed by pure Fertile Young Ligurian
Queens, early in May. Applicants to state the prices re-
quired. Address Thos. Berry, Victoria house, Barrowford,
near Burnley. ,c 26

s

E

NGLISH and LIGURIAN BEES for Sale in Bar-
frame Hives. Apply T. Hill, Scotlands, Cannock
Road, near Wolverhampton. c 27

FRENCH HONEYSUCKLE SEEDS, M. per packet,
post free. Address Mrs. Hony, Bishops Cannings,
Devizes. c 28

FOR SALE.— Five Stocks of Bees in Straw Sleeps, 12s.
each. Address Jackson Maflethorpe, Billinghay,
Lincoln. c 29

FOR SALE. — Nine dozen Sections, about 1 lb. each, in
good condition. Two dozen at %d. ; free to London ;

or what offers for whole ?
Dorset.

Address, Antell, Piddletown,
c 30

FOR SALE.— A quantity of rure Extracted Honey, in
bulk or bottle. What offers ?

Piddletown, Dorset.

Address T. Stickland,
o31

WANTED.— Bee Journal on the 4th and 20th of month.
Address W. Cowley, Stony Stratford. c 33

WANTED a Hundredweight of HONEY, good quality.
Apply, stating price, to Mr. Timson, Clunbury
House, Berkhamsted.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' PRACTICAL
NOTE BOOK. By Thomas W. Cowan, F.G.S.,
F.R.M.S., &o. Crown 8vo, boards, Is.; postage Id.
Indispensable for every Bee-keeper. Published by J. Huckle,
Kings Langley ; may also be obtained of all Hive-dealers.

DUNCAN'S GRANULATED SUGAR direct
from the Refinery in 2 ewt. bags. Samples and Prices
on application. Address Arthur Hall, Stony Stratford,
Bucks. 3400

WANTED in March, a quantity of FIGWORT
(Scrophularia nodosa) PLANTS. Address Vicar,
Saint Breward, Bodmin, Cornwall. 3565

|ON'T forget to read this Important Notice —
JOISTS' NEW ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE of
HIVES and BEE FURNITURE is now ready.

Salt post free per Penny Stamp. Address — ■

ALFRED JOY, The Apiaxy, Aylesford, Kent. 3304

Imported CYPRIAN S^& SYRIANS.

See December Journal. Remittances and Letters posted up
to March 4th to Larnaca ; March 4th to 19th, Beyrout ;
after that, Munich, Germany. (94)

DEVON & EXETER BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

EXPERT WANTED.

He will have to inspect the Arjiaries of Members
twice a-year; he must reside in Devonshire, and
must hold an Expert's Certificate of the British
Bee-keepers' Association.

Testimonials, Salary required, and other par-
ticulars, to be sent to W. N. Griffin, Esq., Hon.
Sec, 4 Argyle Terrace, Weymouth, as soon as
possible.

Further details of duties will be forwarded to
selected Candidates.

Important Notice to Amateur Hive-makers.

Standard Frames in the Flat,

Tenoned and Morticed, requiring no block to make, with
17 in. solid Top-bars, per gross 10s.; with split Top-bars,
per gross 12s. 6d. Can be used with Metal Ends.

SECTION CRATES,

Dovetailed, in the Flat, for 4.} by 4} Sections.

To hold 71b. per doz. ... 7/6 Sections & Dividers ... 3/9

„ 141b. „ ... 9/0 „ „ ... 7/6

„ 211b. „ ... 120 „ „ ... ll/O

No less quantities supplied, and we do not undertake to fill

orders at above prices after March. Terms Gash.

E. M. HART & Co., The Longstock Hive Manufactory,

STOCKBRIDGE, HANTS.

(90)

Will be sent post free on receipt of Two Stamps,

THE AMATEUR'S GUIDE
IN BEE-KEEPING.

A. Cx: TO jiL -VST 2S O Z\T,

ALMA BUILDINGS, MACCLESFIELD. (3210)

L

IMNANTHES DOUGLASIL— Strong Plants,
6</. per 100, or 4s. per 1000. Address Gardener,

3614

Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Strangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c'

[No. 16G. Vol. XIII. ]

MARCH 15, 1885.

[Published Fortnightly.]

(Bbxtoxml, gofuxs, #r.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO SECRETARIES AND
REPRESENTATIVES OF COUNTY ASSOCI-
ATIONS.

The next quarterly Conference will take place on
Wednesday, April 22nd. Notices of motions for
this meeting must be forwarded to the Secretary of
the British Bee-keepers' Association not later than
Wednesday, March 25th.

THE BRITISH HONEY COMPANY.

We are informed that the Directors of the above
Company have secured suitable premises at Columbia
Market, on very favourable terms, through the kind-
ness of the President of the B. B. K. A., who has
done all in her power to ensure its success. The
Directors intend commencing business in the course
of the next few weeks, and they confidently appeal
to all those interested in bee-keeping to support
them by takiug shares as soon as possible, in order
that they may have all their arrangements made
before the honey harvest begins.

The necessary expenses, though managed with
strict economy, must be proportionately larger with
a small capital than with one twice the amount. And
as a result, a smaller price will have to be paid for
honey to ensure even a small profit to the share-
holders. With the largely increased production of
honey, owing to the labours of the various Associa-
tions in spreading the knowledge of bee-keeping, we
may safely prophesy that the honey harvest of
1885 will be much larger than iu former years,
unless we have an exceptionally bad season; and
even in that case, it will compare favourably with
the bad years of the past.

It has been a reproach against advanced bee-
keeping that it is useless to show bee-keepers how
to get large harvests, unless a market is provided
for the surplus honey which they cannot sell retail.

Such reproach is now a relic of the past, and bee-
keepers in the future will have no difficulty in
disposing of their honey, though they must not
expect tii get as much per lb. for large quantities
as for small. Still the price they will get will
full}- repay them, for the Company will pay ready
money ; aud the price of honey, like that of every-
thing else, will depend on the supply and demand.

LINCOLNSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
Great Grimsby Exhibition.
We have pleasure in stating this Society will
hold its Annual Show at Great Grimsby, on Wed-
nesday, Thursday, and Friday, July the 29th, 30th,
and 31st. A liberal schedule of prizes is arranged
for the bee department, in the management of
which the Society will, as usual, be assisted by mem-
bers of the Lincolnshire Bee-keepers' Association.
Grimsby is a large and important seaport, has
direct railway communication with all quarters,
has a population close on 30,000 ; near to which
is situated Cleethorpes, one of the most salubrious
bathing-places in Lincolnshire, with a population
of several thousands. In such a field we imagine
the members of the L. B. K. A. will not fail to
make good play, especially in respect to honey
sales, which, we understand, they are determined
to make an important point. We wish the Society
a successful meeting, specially in their bee de-
partment.

ASSOCIATIONS, AND SHOWS IN 1885.

The first Schedule of Prizes that has reached us
this year comes through the hands of that staunch
friend of bee-keeping, Mr. R. R. Godfrey, of Grant ham.
The schedule is issued by the Lincolnshire Agri-
cultural Society, whose annual show is to be held
this year at Great Grimsby, and who have re-
quested the Lincolnshire B. K. A. to take charge of
the Bee Department.

In looking back on the year 1884-, and in seeking
a reply to the inquiry as to that which had given
the greatest impulse to progress in bee-keeping, the
answer would assuredly be, the numerous shows that
have been held in the various localities throughout
the kingdom ; and more especially the silent, yet
direct, influence of the Bee Department of the Inter-
national Health Exhibition. The result of all exhi-
bitions and shows, whether they have occurred at the
large annual shows held by the County Associations,
or have been appendages to the more modest Horti-
cultural and Floricultural Societies that are now held
in almost every parish in the country, has been
that apiculture has to some degree made a distinct
a lvance in that immediate neighbourhood. The
exhibition of bees and their homes, the explana-
tions and the manipulations which are the general
ace impairments, have served to quicken some
minds, and have created in some visitors a desire to
be more intimately acquainted with this interesting

92

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[March 15, 1885.

pursuit. To take an example. A circular recently
issued by the Cornwall B. K. A. contains the fol-
lowing statement : — ' As an instance of the good
effect produced amongst cottagers, it may be stated
that one cottager in the county has, through the
influence of the Association, been led to such a
study of bee-keeping that his hives during the past
season produced more than half-a-ton of honey, the
whole of which was readily disposed at Is. per pound.'

These exhibitions suggest new thoughts; they
rouse some dormant faculty. A stone is cast into
some placid, lake-like mind, and it is stirred to its
inmost depths. A desire is begotten to reap those
advantages which possibly are to be gathered from
the prosecution of a new industry, Forthwith bees,
hives, and appliances, are procured, and at once a
new zest — a fresh motive power — is given to their
lives. Our columns furnish us with many instances
of this. In last October we received a letter from
a correspondent, who says, ' I am only a cottager :
I have taken nearly 900 lbs. of honey, all from
supers, without touching the stock hives ;' and he
closes his letter with a very natural feeling of
complacency, ' Come and see for yourself what a
cottager can do. My apiary is open for inspection
at any time.' This letter was transferred from our
columns to those of the Leisure Hour, thus giving
the above facts a world-wide circulation. Another
cottager, ' working from six to six,' informs us that
he had taken rather over 400 lbs. of honey nearly
all in sections, and had sold it ' for the nice sum of
22£. 2s.'

Others, again, with more quickened mental
powers, have a desire to become experts, to possess
certificates of ability, to take a higher position as
gardeners, ifec, and to utilise their knowledge in
extending their study of apiculture. We recently
received from an expert who had been successful in
saining a second-class certificate an intimation that
his ambition was to acquire also a first-class. Who
can predicate the great advantages that will accrue
to bee-keeping from the increase of such experts 1

There are some, too, of a mechanical turn of
mind, and these develope into hive-makers and
piirveyors of all descriptions of bee appliances ; and
thus a means of livelihood is secured of which they
had not previously dreamed.

And if this be the result of local shows, we may
surmise, « fortiori, that greater results have fol-
lowed from the show that was held last year in the
great metropolis. Who can say what effect may
have been produced in the minds of the numerous
visitors to the Bee Department of the I. H. E. 1
In many the sight of the industrious bees may
have revived pleasant remembrances of the country
and of rural pursuits to which for many years
they had been strangers. The show, too, was
visited by many clergymen, who are ever earnestly
desirous of doing something which may prove bene-
ficial to their parishioners ; these may have beheld
in bee-keeping an effective instrument in raising
the minds of their people, in transforming their
very being, and causing a happy change in their
monotonous lives and humdrum thoughts, and so,
by ' the expulsiveness of a new affection,' rousing

them to a higher state of existence. We do not
put forth bee-keeping as a panacea for all the
troubles which affect the life of the agricultural
labourer, but we verily look upon it as one of the
means of ' stilling the wail of the village,' and of
inspiring hope where at present there is but dull
despair.

We trust, then, that the shows of the present
year may be numerous, and attended by thousands,
and that great and lasting good may result to all,
but especially to the agricultural labourer.

HIVE CLUBS.

The battle of the hives still continues, and will
continue despite all the efforts of the various
Associations, and one of the chief reasons why the
straw skep has its upholders is the increased cost of
a workable frame-hive. It is perfectly useless pointing
out to a cottager the advantages of the frame-hive
over the skep unless we can devise some means by
which he can obtain the more expensive hives with-
out an immediate outlay far beyond his means.

It is a reproach against English farming gener-
ally that not enough capital is put into the land.
A farmer with enough money to farm properly
some 200 acres, takes one double the size, with the
inevitable result that the land is starved. So in
bee-farming it would be far better if the cottager
began with one or two frame-hives, and then gradu-
ally converted his apiary from skeps into all frame-
hives, proving to his own satisfaction the increased
profit to be obtained from the latter. Of course, if
he is a carpenter, or at all events can handle tools,
the expense will be very much lessened ; but nothing
has redounded more to the credit of the skep than,
the numbers of cheap and bad frame-hives that
have been sent out by unscrupulous hive-makers.

We have seen scores and scores of hives at
absurdly low prices, warranted, of course, made for
winter as well as summer use, which would have
taxed the skill of a veteran bee-keeper to safely
winter the bees. Letters have appeared from time
to time in this Journal, showing how useful hives-
could be made out of the rubbish of a grocer's shop,
but we have no records how these hives answered.
Some years ago, we made a hive out of old egg-
boxes ; it was double-walled all round, and the
total cost, including four coats of oil-paint, was
only 2s. G</. It has wintered bees successfully for
some four years, but the making of it, labour, wear
of temper, and tools, not being included in the cost,
was one of the toughest jobs that we ever tried in
carpentering. The wood was so full of knots and
shakes that the plane had to be sharpened every
few minutes, and though there is a certain amount
of conscious satisfaction in looking at this hive, it
is not likely to have a fellow. The labour not
being reckoned, a well-made frame-hive, with cover
and floor-board, ten frames, and dummy, will cost
about 7s. Qd., if made of seasoned, yellow deal, and
if we have to buy such a hive from a maker, the
price will be just double this.

It must always be a disputed point how best to
advance the knowledge of successful bee-keeping.

March 15, 1885.]

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

93

Bee-tents and shows, lectures and inspections of
of apiaries by experts, arc all valuable in their way,
but to supplement these we must help the cottager
to purchase the necessary hives, and this can be
best effected by starting hive clubs, by means of
which members might be able to purchase their
hives by paying so much per month, or when they
had gathered their harvest. Arrangements might
be made with hive-makers early in the winter to
supply the necessary hives in the spring, and as
they would not get paid till the summer an extra
charge would have to be paid for interest, and in
addition to this a small charge for insurance, and
when this amounted to the sum sufficient to buy a
hive it might be raffled for amongst the members.

The establishment of the Honey Company will
meet the demand for a wholesale honey market.
With the increased knowledge of bee-keeping, the
supply of honey has largely increased during the
last few years, and comb-honey which fetched
2s. and 2s. 6d. per lb. retail can now be bought
for KM. or 1*., and it is extremely likely that the
price will be even lower than this. Small quanti-
ties, of course, can be easily disposed of at a retail
price in the immediate neighbourhood of the bee-
keeper ; but only a short time ago there was a
despairing letter from a bee-keeper, who had some
hundredweights of honey to dispose of, but could
not find a market, though he offered the comb-
honey in 2-lb. sections at 9tf. per lb. ; and having
tasted many samples of honey, we can safely say
that this honey was very good.

It is a well-established fact that the consumption
of any article of food is largely increased when the
price falls, so as to make it a necessary rather than
a luxury ; and if by means of the Honey Company
we can buy honey from the bee-keepers at Id. or
Sd. per lb. wholesale, the amount consumed by the
general public will be more than trebled than if
the price was lOd. or Is.

So that it behoves all of us, who want to see bee-
keeping an industry, rather than a hobby, to do
everything to increase the supply ; and we think
that this can best be ensured by some such plan
as is sketched out in this article, rather than by
holding houey shows, and giving seven or eight
prizes to one bee-keeper, who is slightly in advance
of his fellows.

COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.

Reports of several of the
hand and show the followin

Hertfordshire

. 404

Staffordshire . .

. 355

Warwickshire .

. 350

Buckinghamshire

. 339

Norfolk . . .

. 244

Derbvshire . .

. 236

"Worcester . .

. 221

Essex . . . .

. 213

Surrey . . . .

. 211

Hants and Isle

of

Wight . . .

. 200

Devonshire . .

. 187

Wiltshire . . .

. 184

Cheshire . . .

. 183

County Associations are to
g list of members : —

Dorsetshire . ,

Herefordshire ■

Cornwall . . .

Gloucestershire .

Leicestershire .

Bedfordshire . .

Oxfordshire . .

Huntingdonshire

Somersetshire .

Brecon 72

Cumberland . . . 66

Shropshire ... 55

Nottinghamshire . 38

Yorkshire list not given.

Northants list not given.

173
160
151
145
134
112
103
91
82

COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES

APPOINTED TO ATTEND QUARTERLY MEETINGS OF THE
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

Buckinghamshire. — The Rev. E. Clay and the Rev.

S. R. Wilkinson.
Cheshire. — Mr. Bush and Mr. Cotterill.
Cornwall. — Mr. Charles Kent.
Cumberland. — R. Ferguson, Esq., M.P.
Devonshire. — Rev. J. G. Dangar and Mr. W. Griffin.
Dorsetshire. — -Mr. W. II. Dunman.
Essex. — Mr. F. II. Meggy and Mr. E. Durrant.
Herefordshire. — Mr. A. Watkins and the Rev. F. S.

Stoke- Vaughan.
Hertfordshire. — Rev. A. Roberts and Mr. J. P.

Sambels.
Huntingdonshire. — Mr. J. Linton and Mr. J. Edey.
Kent. — Rev. T. Sissons and Mr. G. Allen.
Staffordshire. — Mr. Percy Toynbee.
Somerset. — Rev. C. G. Anderson.
Surrey. — Captain Campbell and Mr. R. J. Hinton
Wilts. — Rev. W. E. Burkitt and Mr. T. Herbert

Clarke.

The above list is taken from the reports and informa-
tion furnished by Secretaries. It is to he regretted that
the names of the representatives are omitted in a large
number of the reports. We shall be glad to add others
upon hearing from the Secretaries of those County Asso-
ciations which are not included in the list.

REV. J. LAWSON SISSON'S APIARY AT
EDINGTHORPE, NORTH WALSHAM.
The Rev. J. Lawson Sisson makes bee-keeping a
' hobby.' Generally speaking, people who have 'hobbies'
are apt to be bores; but Mr. Sisson rides his hobby
with a frolicsomeness that is amusing without being
tedious. A country parson, in charge of a small parish,
has a certain amount of time at his disposal during
which he can pursue some favourite occupation. In
the varied occupations of husbandry and the pleasant
pursuits of rural life he may find genial recreation and
healthful exercise. Mr. Sisson finds both in bee-keeping.
Having derived considerable amusement, and probably
some profit, from his recreation, he desires that his
neighbours, more particularly the cottagers, may embark
in it to their own and the public advantage. In olden
times, when honey had no rival in cane or beet sugar,
bee-hives were common objects in the country. County
historians incidentally reveal the attention which our
forefathers paid to the preservation of bees when they
state how many sextaries of honey, in addition to other
dues, tenants had to deliver annually to the lord of the
soil. In recent years scientists have shown that the
neglect of bee-keeping has resulted in a far greater loss
than the diminished supply of honey. Flowers and fruits
would be more abundant if bees were more numerous, as
those insects perform the process of fertilisation for a
great many plants. Thus this subject of bee-keeping is
one which has an interest for all classes besides the
cottager.

Accepting an invitation to visit Mr. Sisson's apiary
we found ourselves the other day at Edingthorpe, which
is situate three or four miles from North Walsham, and
a short distance from the sea. Edingthorpe Rectory
stands next the public road, in grounds which are part
garden, part orchard, and part in a state of nature. From
the highway there is not a glimpse to be obtained of the
apiary which is the subject of gossip in the country-side.
Disappointment, however, is put to instant flight when
you are shown into the rector's study, where you ex-

04

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[March 15, 1885.

perience the first of a series of surprises which, in a
judiciously conducted ramble through the premises, suc-
ceed each other like tableaux in a drama. In the study
the evidences of the rector's favourite pursuit are over-
whelmingly abundant. Imagine the contents of an editor's
sanctum, of a small museum, of an artist's studio, of a
chemist's shop, of a photographer's atelier, of a mechanic's
workshop, and of a student's library, in somewhat con-
fused combination, and many of the newspapers, natural
history specimens, pictures, mechanical appliances, and
books having reference to bees, and the reader can form
some idea of Mr. Sisson's study. Here it is that, besides
preparing his Sunday discourses, the rector pens his letters
for the newspapers on bee-keeping, answers the queries
of his numerous correspondents who want more detailed
information, and executes some delicate mechanical work.

' Now we will go and see tho bees,' says the rector ;
'but stop, we will first look in at the barn — such a
wonderful barn.' It struck us, however, as a very
ordinary-looking barn, standing in an enclosed yard
appropriated to pigs and poultry ; and we began to
wonder when we should see the bees. But on the barn-
door being thrown open there was another surprise for
ns. A lot of planking, a carpenter's bench and tools,
several hives in various stages of manufacture, and scores
of what looked like lidless and bottomless flat boxes were
revealed. Ask where the workman is gone, and the
rector shows you that he is the craftsman who combines
cheese-boxes with a bee-skep and ' supers,' and constructs
model hives such as are figured in books on bee-keeping.
The idea suggested by a peep into this barn is that the
rector is making preparations for bee-keeping by con-
structing several hives ; and we began to wish that our
visit had been made a little later whence had proceeded
further with his operations. Not having thus far seen
any bees was calculated to strengthen such a conclusion.

' Now we will go into the garden and look at the hives,'
said Mr. Sisson, who conducted us to the rear of the
rectory where, on the grass, stood three or four wooden
hives constructed after the American model. It was
rather disappointing to be told, when one was ap-
proaching the hives with considerable circumspection,
that they had only just been painted, were stood out to
dry, and were consequently tenantless; and again one
wished that the visit to Edingthorpe had been made a
little later in the season when more bees were likely to
be visible.

Our Edingthorpe parson is, as we have said, a humorist,
and we suspect that he delights in treating his visitors to
a series of surprises. Just as we were likely to get
' skeptical ' (to adopt one of Mr. Sisson's puns) about the
existence of the Edingthorpe apiary, we were shown into
a small detached building, formerly used as a wash- or
brew-house, against the windows of which were placed
what appeared to be some boxes, covered over with
sacking, &c. Projecting from the window-sills were
some boards covered with bees which passed through a
broad tunnel cut in the window-frame into the hive
within. An examination of the bees at work in these
hives can be made without the slightest fear of being
stung. Removing the warm coverings from the super-
imposed structure of the hive, Mr. Sisson disclosed a series
of the lidless and bottomless boxes stood on end and
clustered together, and those at the back being fitted with
glass, through which one could see thousands of bees
busily moving to and fro over the marvellously constructed
comb. This was very interesting; but the character of
these hives and the various appliances scattered about the
building rather strengthened than weakened the idea that
Mr. Sisson was engaged in establishing an apiary, and that
our visit was too early timed.

' Now we will take a walk down the garden,' said the
rector; and as we approached that inclosure, some distance
behind the rectory, we were thoroughly surprised at the
scene before us. This was the apiary, resembling a

miniature Swiss village, for the hives, about thirty in
number, are of chalet-like pattern. The opening
directions of the Mantuan in the fourth Georgic have
been carefully followed by Mr. Sisson, namely, —

' First for thy bees a quiet station find,
And lodge them under covert of the wind.'

The hives stand a short distance from a fence and grove,
which shelter them from northerly and easterly winds.
In front of the two groups of hives is a magnificent bed
of Limnanthes Douglasii,'rich with its creamlike blossoms,
on which the bees love to linger. From this apiary the
Corporation of Norwich might obtain a valuable hint.
Each house is numbered, so that Mr. Sisson can keep a
record of the doings and work of the inmates. Trusting
to the Imowledge of the temper of bees possessed by our
guide we make a tour of these villages, Mr. Sisson
removing the square wooden roofs of several hives so as
to expose the ' supers ' — the lidless and bottomless boxes
before mentioned — in which, through a glass behind, the
industrious insects can be seen at work, making comb or
depositing hone}'. Before proceeding farther we may as
well describe these hives. They consist of a main box,
having double walls, with the interstices filled with chaff
or cut cork for ensuring warmth to the inhabitants. Into
this box are fitted a series of bar-frames, similar to school
slate frames, from the top side of which pieces of artificial
or second-hand comb are suspended. When a hive of
bees has sent out a swarm to colonise, Mr. Sisson shakes
the swarm into a zinc pail, pours it into the box containing
the filled-up frames, and places a ' dummy' frame at the
back to keep the bees in what he describes as the ' ready
furnished apartments.' Generally they at once set about
working on the artificial comb. As soon as they have
fully furnished and stored the ground-floor, Mr. Sisson
puts on a number of ' supers,' each fitted with a bit of
artificial or cleaned-out comb. Access to these chambers
is gained by the worker bees through a piece of perforated
zinc placed over a large hole in the ceiling of the ground-
floor. In a few da}rs these supers are filled with honey,
and are then removed by the bee-keeper to make room
for empty supers, that the bees may continue their labours
without finding the necessity to seek more room in
another habitation. From the supers of one hive Mr.
Sisson has obtained seventy pounds of pure honey in one
season, leaving to the bees the main stock in the combs
below. The greater portion of Mr. Sisson's stocks are
the produce of two swarms he purchased several years
ago. He has, however, a swarm of Italian bees, beautifully
marked creatures.

A gentleman whom we met on our way to Edingthorpe,
on learning the object of our errand, amused us by ex-
pressing his belief in what we have always regarded to
be superstitious notions respecting bees. ' Bees,' he said,
' like to be praised and to live in harmony. If they are
abused or disturbed by quarrels they will become angry,
and will take flight.' As we watched Mr. Sisson's opera-
tions among the hives we thought there was some truth
in this old belief. Gently, confidently, and almost affec-
tionately, Mr. Sisson inspected colony after colony, pick-
ing up bees with his fingers, suffering them to alight on
his hand, and commenting in pleasant terms upon the
movements of the insects. ' Ah ! ' he exclaimed, as he
held forth a bee on the tip of his finger, ' here's a pretty
little fellow ; a young bee ; see how its stomach oscillates
with its store of honey.' Unroofing one hive, Mr. Sisson
expressed his opinion that it was not worth a penny, as
he feared there was no queen, though the bees had been
some time in possession of the ground-floor. Standing
behind another hive Mr. Sisson tapped the sides of the
basement with his hands, when the bees began to ascend
into the supers. ' They imagine there is a whirlwind or
a storm,' remarked Mr. Sisson. Hardly had he said the
words than there issued a stream of bees from the hive
buzzing angrily.

March 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

95

' Beat a retreat, or they will sting you,' was the warn-
ing; and, acting on that advice, we retreated quickly to
the shelter of the grove, from which we observed Mr.
Sisson, with veil-covered face and bare hands, adjusting
the hive, at the same time exclaiming, in soothing tones,
' Mine are the tamest bees in the world. They are not

like 's murderous bees.' We found presently that

one lot of bees, a hive of hybrids, did not bear this gentle
character, for another visitor well acquainted with the
apiary gave them a wide berth. But some of these Mr.
Sisson handled fearlessly. He has, however, no more
fear of suffering from the sting of a bee than a person
who has had the small-pox dreads another attack of that
disease. He says that he has been so completely inocu-
lated with bee-poison that it now affects him very little.
To reach this comparative insensibility to the sting of
the bee, he has had to undergo a considerable amount of
pain and inconvenience.

Of course a cottager cannot procure, unless he has a
turn for mechanics, such first-class hives as Mr. Sisson
possesses; but Mr. Sisson shows the cottager how to
adapt the ordinary skep to the system he practises. Let
the cottager get an old American cheese-box from his
grocer, stand it bottom upwards and fasten the common
straw skep, costing 2s., on the top. In the top of the
skep let him make a hole, over which place a piece of
perforated zinc just large enough to allow the worker
tees only to pass through, and too small to permit of the
upward passage of the drones and the queen. Over this
place the lid of the cheese-box, with the rim downward,
so as to fit on to the skep. Fasten to this lid (which has
a square hole in the centre above the piece of zinc) a
frame of three-inch deal, into which the American sec-
tions are to he packed. Over these put a water-proof
roof, with holes for ventilation at the back, and the
cottager's hive is complete. By this arrangement the
cottager can remove the sections, which hold from 1 lb.
to 2 lbs. of comb, from time to time, and substitute empty
sections for them, without disturbing the main stock in
the skep below. Many cottagers who have read Mr.
Sisson's letters walk miles to study for themselves the
construction of these hives ; and as Mr. Sisson imparts
information and instruction to all most readily, they are
delighted with their visit, and encouraged to try bee-
keeping on his system.

When we had spent an hour in watching the numerous
( olonies of bees in this apiary we thought we had seen
all. But there was another surprise in store. Keturning
to the rectory we were shown upstairs into a spare bed-
room, where we found large boxes stored with frames, to
be placed in the main boxes, hundreds of sections (which
are of simple construction and cost little) read}' for use,
and cupboards stored with sections filled with delicious
honey-comb and jars of honey. An expeditious method
of extracting honey from the comb is by means of the
American slinger, which Mr. Sis.=on has in his stud v.
Pieces of comb, with one surface of the cells sliced off,
are placed perpendicularly in metal frames in a revolving
apparatus, fixed in the centre of the cylindrical slinger.
A handle being turned the apparatus revolves with great
rapidity, so that the honey is thrown out of the cells by
centrifugal force. When all the honey is thus ejected
from that side of the comb the other side is treated in the
same manner. The emptied comb is then available for
further use by the bees, which, thus saved the labour of
manufacturing their little stors-houses, can devote the
whole of their time to the collection of honey, to the
profit of the bee-keeper.

We have said enough, we think, to show the character
of the apiary at Edingthorpe and the enthusiasm of Mr.
Sisson on the subject of bee-keeping ; but if any person,
gentle or simple, thinks he can pick up a ' wrinkle ' as
to the management of bees from an inspection of this
apiary the reverend gentleman will, we are sure, be
pleased to give him the opportunity. — Norfolk Paper.

ASSOCIATIONS.

SURREY BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The sixth annual general meeting of the above Associ-
ation was held in the large room of the Royal Arms
Coffee Tavern, North Street, Guildford.

Present: Thos. Chapman, Esq. (Chairman of com-
mittee), Colonel Sandwitli, Captain Campbell, Mrs.
Maclear, Miss Birch, Messrs. Daw, Mantoii, Dashper,
Lemare, llewitson, and many other members and
cottagers.

Mr. Ramsden (vice-president) being unable to be
present, Mr. Chapman was voted to the chair.

From the report we gather that the number of
members has steadily increased, and many cottagers
have joined the Association, so that the total number
is now 211, forty-one of which are cottagers, several of
whom have adopted bar-frame hives, and all are gradu-
ally reforming their methods of managing their hives,
and producing superior honey in consequence ; but great
difficulty is felt in disposing of the honey, and the es-
tablishment of hor.ey companies will doubtless give a
great impetus to bee-culture, and open up a more ready
market for honey and wax.

The annual county show was held on the grounds,
and in conjunction with the Royal Counties Agricultural
Societies' Exhibition in Shalford Park, near Guildford,
on the 24th and three following days of June, under ex-
ceptionally favourable circumstances as regards weather.

The silver medal of the British Bee-keepers' Associ-
ation, and other prizes awarded by the judges, Messrs.
Hooker and Abbott, were kindly presented to the success-
ful competitors by the Earl of Onslow.

Local bee and honey shows, in connexion with fruit
and flower shows and lectures on bee-keeping, have been
held at Wimbledon, Albury Charter House, at Godalming,
Camberley, Great Bookham, Chobham (twice), Croydon,
and Cranleigh. Two fresh districts have been formed
at Chobham and Cranleigh, and another is being estab-
lished at Sutton, where great interest is being developed
in bee-culture.

At Dorking, Reigate, Red Hill, and Haslemere, it is
much to be desired that branch districts should be
formed, and that some gentlemen in those beautiful
localities may be induced to accept office of district
secretaries, and thus extend the operations of the
Association more generally in the county.

At the Albury show his Grace the Duke of North-
umberland visited the bee tents, and, with her Grace
the Duchess, has kindly allowed their names to be added
to the list of patrons of the Association.

The manipulating tent of the Association has been
kept in constant demand, and has proved a most efficient
means of extending the knowledge of improved methods
of bee-culture.

The want of a qualified county expert for the members
is much felt, and it is hoped such may soon be found
willing to undertake the duty. The continued want of
a secretary is much to be regretted: and until such an
officer is obtained it is impossible for the Association to
expand as it ought, and the committee hope that such
may soon be found to help forward the work so well
begun in 1870.

The treasurer's financial statement is submitted, show-
ing the cash in hand to be 5/. 7s. 5d., and stock to the
estimated value of 1)2/. 7s., with no outstanding liabilities.

The report and statement were ordered to be printed
and circulated.

The office-bearers and committee were re-elected, E.
Daw, Esq., of Godalming, being appointed treasurer,
vice Captain Campbell, who becomes hon. secretary.

It was resolved that the next county bee show for
1885 be held if possible at Sutton, Surrey, and that a

96

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[March 15, 1885.

new district be established there, and a local district
secretary be appointed.

A letter was read from Captain Allett of the Royal
Military College, York Town, offering to act as hon.
local secretary for York Town and Caniberley district,
which was cordially accepted with the best thanks of
the meeting to Captain Allett for his kindness.

Captain Campbell and Mr. R. J. Hinton of Croydon
were appointed to represent the Association at the
quarterly meetings of the British Bee-keepers' Associ-
ation.

The meeting then concluded with a vote of thanks to
the Chairman, and after tea and coffee were served a
conversazione was held. Captain Campbell read a paper
by the Rev. E. Bartrum on ' The Hive for the Busy
Man,' and exhibited and described ' the Stewarton
hive.' An interesting discussion followed, after which
the company left about six p.m.

HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The third annual general meeting of the members
of this Association was held February 19th, 1885, in
Southampton, at the rooms of the S.P.C.K. There were
present — Mrs. Shears, Mrs. Bellairs, Miss Palmer, Miss
Grimes, the Revs. J. Pemberton Bartlett, W. E. Medli-
cott, H. W. Bull, P. P. Izard, R. Parker, Col. Farquhar,
Commander Suckling, R.N., Messrs. James Jee, Henry
Daniell, W. H. Baigent, H. F. Hart, W. T. Joyce, A.
Roots, T. Giles, E. H. Bellairs, &c, &c. The annual
report, balance-sheet, and accounts were discussed and
unanimously adopted ; the President, Vice-Presidents and
officers were re-elected, with a special vote of thanks to
the Hon. Sec, Mr. Bellairs, for his many services to the
Association ; and the following gentlemen were elected
to serve upon the Committee for the current year : —
Rev. Walter E. Medlicott, Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett,
Rev. Arthur B. Cotton, Kev. H. W. Bull, Rev. J. B.
Robinson, Rev. P. P. Izard, Rev. R. Parker, Commander
Suckling, R.N., Frank J. B. Beckford, James Jee, and
W. H. Baigent.

The question of Standard Sections was fully discussed,
and a resolution unanimously passed, which will be
found elsewhere. Allusion was made to the approaching
marriage of the President of the Association H.R.II. the
Princess Beatrice, and the Hon. Sec. was instructed to
communicate with the Vice-Presidents as to the suit-
ability of setting on foot a fund to mark their appre-
ciation of the happy event. The meeting terminated
with the usual vote of thanks to the Chairman, the Rev.
W. E. Medlicott, for presiding.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

At a committee meeting held at the People's Hall,
Nottingham, on Saturday, March 7th, at 3 p.m., present
Mrs. J. Wotton, Messrs. S. Godfrey, Felstead, Fisher,
Bell, Scattergood, Beeson, and E. Ferneyhough, hon.
sec. Mr. John Beeson in the chair. The minutes of the
last meeting having been read and confirmed, the hon.
sec. submitted his report and statement up to date, show-
ing a balance in hand of 81. 9s. dd. ; and also reported
that at present the Association numbered thirty-eight
paid members, and that from the census forms returned
by fifty-six bee-keepers in the county, it appeared that
on May 1st, 1884, there were 199 hives, and on Septem-
ber 1st, there were 280 hives. The increase of skep-hives
being seventeen only, while the increase of frame-hives
was seventy. The total amount of honey taken from the
above number of hives was 3857 lbs., or an average of
19J lbs. per hive.

It was proposed by Mr. F. Fisher, and seconded by

Mr. Win, Bell, ' That the offer of Mr. Huckle, secretary
to the B.B.K.A., respecting hire of bee-tent for the season,
be accepted, and that the expenses be guaranteed b}' the
committee.' (Carried.)

It was proposed by Mr. F. Fisher, and seconded by
Mrs. J. Wotton, ' That the bee-tent be sent to Mansfield,
Hucknall-Torkard, Farnsfield, Newark, Retford, Carlton,
Radcliffe-on-Trent, Willoughby, and Stapleford, in con-
nexion with the above local Flower Shows, and that 10s.
be offered by the Association to each Show as a prize, to
be arranged as the District Secretary and Flower Show
Committee may think suitable.' (Carried.)

The matter of the annual show in connexion with the
Notts Agricultural Society was then brought forward,
and it was agreed that it should stand over for negotia-
tions, and report at the next committee meeting.

It was announced that A. R. Calvert, Esq. had con-
sented to deliver a lecture on bee-keeping (with practical
illustrations) at Fairsfield, on the 23rd inst.

Mr. Bell, of Aunesley, undertook to deliver a lecture
at Hucknall-Tolkard at a suitable date.

Mr. Fisher, of Farnsfield, also undertook to deliver a
lecture at Willoughby.

The hon. sec. was instructed to pay the affiliation fee
to the B.B.K.A. The proceedings closed with a vote of
thanks to the chairman.

[The bee-keepers in Nottinghamshire will be pleased to
see that through the exertions of the new hon. sec. the
Association is getting into working order, and we trust
that they will give him all the help he may require. — Ed.]

GLOUCESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

In presenting their Report, the Committee are pleased
to be able to congratulate the members on the success of
their first year — the Association, which was only started
in April, being able now to reckon 145 members. The
Local Secretaries are confident that many will add their
names to the list of subscribers during the coming season
and rind that those who have already done so are
thoroughly satisfied with the benefits which the Asso-
ciation has been able to confer upon them. Lectures on
bee-keeping have been given in several large towns, and
have been well attended. All members have been en-
titled to the use of The British Bee Journal on loan for
two days, and, with a few exceptions, the Journals have
been forwarded promptly. The Association held a
large show of honey, hives, bee appliances, &c, at the
Gloucestershire Agricultural Society's Meeting at Stroud;
they also erected a bee-driving tent, and gave driving-
exhibitions at short intervals during the three days of
the Meeting. The show was very unsuccessful financially,
but was the means of securing several new members.
The prizes offered for competition by the British Bee-
keepers' Association were awarded as follows : Silver
medal, C. Marshall, jun., Cheltenham ; bronze medal,
E. J. Burtt, Gloucester ; certificate, Jos. Cook, Fairford.
The Association also erected a bee tent at Winchcomb,
Latton, and Stratton Flower Shows. An expert travelled
round the county in the autumn to assist members with
their hives'; this cost the Association the sum of 9/. 4s. 0</.,
but appears to have been especially appreciated.

The Committee wish also to acknowledge their appre-
ciation of the valuable assistance given to them by Rev.
H. Peel, Rev. E. Bartrum, Rev. V. Moyle, Rov. W. E.
Burkitt, and Mr. Huckle, to Mr. Slade for the kind use
of a room for the committee meetings, and to Mr. C.
Brown for his professional help.

The Committee much regret to announce that Mr.
W. Zachary has been unavoidably obliged to resign his
post as hon. sec, and feel assured that the Rev. J.
Turner will carry on the work to the advantage of the
Association.

March 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

97

The Expert's Retort. — I last night arrived hornet
after thirteen days spent in calling on various members
of your County Association. During my journey, I
called on about sixty-three members of various places —
from Tewkesbury to Bristol — examining upwards of
200 hives, the larger proportion of which were of course
strawT skeps ; but I was very pleased to find throughout
an earnest desire on the part of all the members to im-
prove their method of management, and in many cases a
tar-frame hive or more had been purchased, and the
contents of straw skeps transferred, or the bees driven
and put on foundation during the last two months,
showing that the Association had by its work saved the
Eves of many thousands of bees, and at the same time
put their owners in a fair way of making them return
good profits during the next season. I may add, I found
evidence that the Secretary and Local Secretaries had
been hard at work driving for the cottagers, instructing
and helping them, and doing much to spread the neces-
sary knowledge for the successful management of bees,
under advanced systems. I may suggest, I found an
inclination to give too many frames of foundation to
driven bees, and too much room for wintering; also that
feeding had hardly been rapid enough for the late
season. But, on the whole, I think the Association has
every reason to congratulate itself on the work done
during its first year of existence. Allow me at the same
time to express my thanks for the kindness and courtesy,
as well as the hospitality, of the various members on
whom I called. — C. Bnowx, Expert, Korthicood Apiary,
Beicdlei/, October 17, 1884.

The balance-sheet shows that the receipts and ex-
penditure have well-nigh equalled each other.

OXFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The annual exhibition of honey, wax, hives, and appli-
ances connected with bee-culture, of the above Association,
will take place on Thursday, July 30th, in the private
garden of the Warden of Wadhani College. The exhibi-
tion will take place in conjunction with the Oxfordshire
Horticultural Society, and a large gathering is expected.

COUNTY ARMAGH BEE-KEEPERS'

ASSOCIATION.

In presenting this, their last Annual Report, the Secre-
taries of the late County Armagh Bee-keepers' Association
believe that they have good ground to congratulate their
members on the progress made during the three years of
the existence of this society. There seems also every reason
to believe that the new society to which we now belong
-will be stronger and more helpful to the County Armagh
Bee-keepers than the old society could ever have been.
Our place has been that of a pioneer Society, and in
that capacity we believe that we have done good work.
The chief results that we have accomplished have been
the circulation of the Bee Journal, and the purchase of a
•bee-tent which has been paid for entirely out of its own
■ earnings.

At our last yearly meeting the possibility of extending
the field of the Society was discussed, and it was sug-
gested that it could be more easily worked from a larger
centre, such as Belfast, where committee and general
meetings would be more accessible, and where there
would be a greater number of members with the will
and leisure to attend to the working of it. When a
society was about to be founded for the counties of
Down and Antrim, your Secretaries laid these views
before the promoters of it, who kindly listened to and
ultimately adopted the suggestion. The members of our
Society having agreed to amalgamate with the new
Society, it was founded under the name of the ' North-

East of Ireland Bee-keepers' Association,' and its success
during its first year seems a sufficient justification of the
course adopted. In bidding you farewell, your Sec-
retaries beg to thank you for the warm support which
you always afforded them during the three summers
when there was not much honey, and they hope that
you will always as loyally and cordially support the new
Society who have begun under the good auspices of an
abundant honey harvest. They would conclude by es-
pecially pressing upon you the importance of attending the
meetings and shows of the Society, and of letting your
wants and wishes be known through your district Sec-
retaries.

II. W. Lett, M.A., | „ „
Geo. Greer, \ Hon- &ecs-

NORTH-EAST OF IRELAND BEE-KEEPERS'

ASSOCIATION.

Your Committee have much pleasure in presenting
their first annual report. Although the Society is
only about seven months in existence, there are over
ninety members ; of these however, about forty were
previously members of the County Armagh B.K.A.

Shortly after this Association was formed under the
name of the Antrim and Down B. K. A., a proposition
was made by the County Armagh B.K.A. for the
amalgamation of the two Societies under the title of the
North-East of Ireland Bee-keepers' Association, thereby
giving more strength. After a consultation held at
41 Waring Street, this was agreed to.

At the time of amalgamation, the County Armagh
B. K. A. consisted of sixty-nine members nominallv, but
of these only about thirty-eight had paid their subscrip-
tions, so that only these names were put on the books of
the new Society, and although the members who had
not paid were written to, we are sorry to say very few
responded to the call.

Owing to the Committee of the Newtownards Horti-
cultural Society refusing to allow the bee tent into their
Show, your Committee arranged to hold a Bee and
Honey Show in Belfast. This took place on Friday,
29th September, in the Botanic Gardens, the directors of
which kindly consented to allow the bee tent to be
erected there. The Exhibition Hall was procured, and
proved a very suitable place for exhibiting the honey
and various bee-keeping appliances, and for the delivery
of a lecture in the evening. There was a splendid show
of honey, of a quality we believe inferior to none in the
United Kingdom. The show of appliances was very
fair, in the most complete collection of which Mr.
Lonsdale and Messrs. A. Cross Bryce & Co. carried off
equal first prizes. In the evening Mr. Wm. N. Griffin,
Hon. Sec. Devon and Exeter B. K. A., gave an in-
teresting lecture to a large and influential audieuce.

The Treasurer's balance-sheet, although perhaps not
so much on the right side as many would like, shows,
nevertheless, that the Society is in a good condition.
Three verv interesting essays have been read — one by
Rev. II. W. Lett, M.A., on the 'Honey B_>e ; ' one by
Mr. AVm. Ditty, on 'The General Management of
the Apiary;' the third by Mr. Paul M'Henry, on 'A
Bee-keeper's Experience.' It is to be regretted that
more members did not take advantage of these to learn
more about bee-keeping.

LEICESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
A committee meeting was held at Leicester on 28th
February. Ten members of the Committee were present,
and the Rev. Canon Willes was voted to the chair. After
the confirmation of the minutes of last meeting the
expert question came on. Only thirty-one replies had
been returned to the circular sent to the members ; of

08

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[March 15, 1885.

these replies fifteen were in favour of employing an
expert and sixteen not. The sums promised towards the
expert fund were manifestly so inadequate that Mr. W.
S. Pridmore's proposal, ' That the expert question do
stand over for the present,' was seconded by Mr. J. W.
Bicldey, and carried unanimously.

The prize schedule was then drawn up very much on
the lines of previous ones, and the meeting closed with
the usual, votes of thanks.

A Noble Lord on Bees. — Earl Cowper, K.G. (who
is also President of the Bedfordshire B.K.A.), in his
presidential address to the Herts Natural History and the
Field Club at Watford, on Feb. 17th, 183S, after referring
to rats, partridges, auts, &c, said — ' I turn to the bee.
My studies in natural history have, as I have told you,
been few and desultory. But of the few books which I
have come across upon the subject, there is one of absorbing
interest. I mean Hither on Bees. I have a great fancy
for this book ; perhaps, because it is one of the first I
read of the kind. It is rather an old book, and I have no
doubt that its information would be very stale to most
of my present audience, and that a great deal has been
discovered since. But I am sure no book that has ever
b. e l written upon the subject carries the reader along in
the same manner. livery detail is confirmed by experi-
ment, and every experiment is related in the minutest and
most circumstantial manner ; but you often feel as if you
were reading, not an account of the habits of insects, but
a chapter from a history of the middle ages, or a ballad,
or a novel. There is a description of a fight between two
queens in a hive, with all the other bees standing round in a
circle which is as spirited nsthe fight between Ilerminius
andManilius in Macaulay 's Lays, or as the tournament in
Ivanhue. The account of the reception of a new queen
and her passage through her dominions, with her subjects
drawing themselves obsequiously on one side or presenting
their tribute of royal honey, is like a scene from Kenil-
worth. The behaviour of the bees when they find it
necessary on certain occasions to oppose the destructive
instinct of their monarch, the respectful but firm manner
in which they restrain its movements, never using their
sting i, and preserving as far as possible the outward forms
of reverence, reminds us of some of the noblest and most
patriotic of our ancestors. Then there is a most graphic
description by an eye-witness of a massacre of the drones,
such as yearly takes place in every hive — the gradual
increasing commotion among the working bees; the
insults offered to the drones in numerous individual
instances; the growing alarm of the poor drones, who
gradually collect together at the bottom of the hive ; the
entry of the working bees among the unarmed crowd ;
the rapid and indiscriminate slaughter ; the ghastly calm
which succeeds ; and the subsequent removal of the dead
bodies. One fancies oneself reading of the Sicilian
Vespers or St. Bartholomew's Day. I will not detain you
by an account of the emigration of the surplns population
or the founding of new colonies, for these are familiar
incidents. 1 will only that say I wish all our emigrations
were conducted in the same orderly manner, and that it
was as easy to remedy overcrowding among men as
among bees.

'Well, ladies and gentlemen, these experiments and
observations give rise to strange and serious thoughts.
Even when read in a book, and much more of course
when ac ually seen, each event which I have described
appears as the result of deliberate will or momentary
passion in the actors. And yet if we follow the history
of a bee-hive for some continuous time, or if we observe
different bee-hives at the same time, we see that, all these
things which appear as the result of individual passion
occur in a uniform order and by a fixed rule. Before
every swarm, except the first, the queen, who is to lead
it, tries desperately to destroy the young queens in their
cells, and is respectfully but firmly prevented by her

subjects from doing so. Every year, and almost on the
same day, there is a massacre of the drones in every hive.

' After considering these things I felt almost inclined
to agree with Mr. Buckle that human history may,
perhaps, also be reduced to fixed rules, and that the
emigrations and conquests, the rebellions and the wars,
the massacres and the changes of constitution in different
countries, which compose that history, may occur im
accordance with some well-ordered plan, which we do
not see far enough to explain.' — Herts Mercury.

Turning the Tables; Bees eating the Sparrows.
— The advice in the last Journal to shoot the sparrows
to prevent them eating the bees, called to my mind that
I had heard the daughter of a bee-keeper (who lives
within five miles of Northampton) say her father always
fed his bees during winter with roasted sparrows. I
will try and obtain a few particulars about these sparrow-
eating bees, and if of any interest will forward them to
you. — Member Northampton B. K. A.

Pop-holes. — An esteemed correspondent suggests the
following causes for the occurrence of pop-holes in sec-
tions : — ' The bees are too few, or the super is too hot or
cold, or the honey glut was suspended, or a batch of brood
hatched simultaneously ; the queen laid largely in a few
days, and consequently stores were largely consumed
suddenly, and comb-building was suddenly suspended,
and the combs finished off and never taken to again.'

Insect White Wax. — In the west of the province of
Ssu-chuan (the province bordering on Thibet) grows the
insect tree, an evergreen with thick dark leaves. In
March and April pea-shaped excrescences or galls are
found attached to the bark of the boughs, and in each of
these galls there is a swarm of brown creatures, each with
six legs and a pair of club autennne. In the east of the
province, on the other hand, grows the wax tree — usually
a stump about six feet high, with numerous sprouts
rising from the gnarled top. In the early part of May
the insect carriers are busy carrying the insects from the
insect trees in the west to the wax trees in the east.
Packets of galls are suspended close to the branches, a
few holes are pricked with a needle in the packets, and
the insects creep rapidly up the branches to the leaves,
and excrete the wax. After ninety or a hundred days
the wax is about a quarter of an inch thick ; the branches
are lopped off and the wax removed by hand. The Chinese
then place the insects themselves in a bag, squeeze them
until they have rendered their last drop of wax, and finally
throw them to the pigs — a depth of ingratitude in which,
alas! 'that Heathen Chinee is not peculiar.' — Pall Mall
Gazette.

tomponuciuc.

*»* All Correspondents forwarding Letters for insertion in
the Journal, Reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes,
from the Hives, Queries, ti'C., are requested to direct their com-
mmiicatioiis to ' The EoiTOR of the "British Bee Journal," c/c
Messrs. Strangeways & Sons, Tower Street, Upper St. Martin's
Lane, W.C

OUR HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the United Kingdom
during the mouth of January, 1880, amounted to 804/.
[From a private Return supplied by the Principal
Statistical Department H.M. Customs "to E. 11. Bellairs,
Wingfield House, Christchurch.]

SPRING MANAGEMENT.

(Continued from page 82.)

During April many opportunities will have been offered
for inserting additional combs or foundation, until at the
beginning of May we have all colonies (including the

March 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

9*

weaker ones now united), in proper condition for work,
with the bees crowded on not less than nine combs. It
may be said that I am setting up an impossible standard
for so early a date, but it must be borne in mind that in
very many districts the first flow of honey is lost simply
because the bee-keeper thinks his stocks cannot be brought
into condition by that time, or is unable to do so ; using
the said honey to build up colonies, whereas they ought
to have been strong enough to store it. Just consider
that your bees are to be ready for the supers by a certain
date, according to your locality, and make up your mind
that if possible it shall be done. On no account, how-
ever, think to have them strong at the desired time, by
the too-rapid spreading of the brood-nest, or an error will
be committed in that nearly all the woiking force will
be engaged in providing for an immense number of young
bees, and a still larger number in the larva state. Bees
will be obtained it is true, but during all the early part
of the season the balance of power will be on the wrong
side. Strive rather to start with colonies in good 'heart,'
and during the whole time of preparation keep the combs
well crowded with bees; if necessary, unite, to obtain
the desired end, and when the point is once gained less
difficulty will be experienced, as year by year one is taught
by practice.

If the owner has b^en careful, none of his stocks should
be to crowded with stores as at any time to necessitate
extracting during the early spring months to give the
queen room. Such a course is both injurious and un-
necessary, and if persisted in, shows plainly that the
operator's system is greatly at fault, as he ought to have
been able to obtain hives full of bees by the beginning of
May, with combs so crowded with brood that the entire
number do not contain more than about three pounds of
syrup, besides the usual store of pollen.

As to artificial pollen, the bee-keeper will have to study
bis own locality that he may know whether such is
really necessary or not. The probability is, that in nearly
all districts the bees will have sufficient bee-bread stored
over from the previous autumn to keep them going until
the middle of March, when a fresh supply will be coining
in, — in some cases much earlier ; but on the whole I do
not suppose it is ever really necessary to offer pea-flour
while bees can fly freely. It is quite a different thing
when the hives are nearly full of brood, and a long spell
of cold weather occurs. Then it is absolutely necessary
to supply such food (together with water) right in the
hive, or much of the young brood will perish. In this
case the enamel sheet will give water, and the pea-flour
should be mixed up thoroughly with the dry sugar at
the rate of a ^lb. to each 'Jib. dummy-feeder.

After all, there is a great pleasure to the beekeeper in
being able to watch the bees humming merrily around
the flour, scattered on shavings or chaff, placed in some
sunny spot, and, excepting a little waste, no harm
will come from it if not begun until February has
gone.

During March and April many colonies will be found
queenless, and often the first thought is that a good
opportunity offers itself for giving imported or other
valuable queens. But instead of buying queens at this
early date, even supposing a dealer has them to spare,
the bee-keeper will do far better to unite such at once to
other hives, to the ultimate benefit of both bees and
master.

In uniting it is not always either convenient or de-
sirable to remove the whole colony from one stand to
another at a distance, or many lives will be lost which
we cannot afford. In that case select two with queens
near together ; remove one on her comb with attendant
bees (also another comb or two of bees if desired) and
insert in the queenless lot ; then let the remainder of the
bees be given in a similar manner to the adjoining one.
Remove the empty hive quite out of sight,' with all its
belongings, and the one in which the bees are now

united must be placed half-way between the two stands
lately occupied. Place a board slanting from the
ground up to entrance, so as to attract the flying bees
to one common alighting-board, thus also making the
hive appear strange to both lots. It is preferable,
on all occasions where possible, to carry the combs
and bees of that colony having a queen to the hive
which is queenless.

In all cases of uniting by intermixing combs of beesr
allow plenty of room for inserting each alternate comb,
to avoid crushing ; and previously remove all clothing
from each hive, and, above all, part the combs so that no
bees hang from oue comb to another, thus permitting the
full light of day to penetrate everywhere ; and when
these combs are drawn together again, with stranger
bees and combs between, there will be no inclination to
fight, providing the operator has not been clumsy jn his
manipulations. Another important point to be borne in
mind is this : whenever a queen on a comb with bees, or
several combs of bees, are to be given to another colony,
these must be carried in a box or ordinary hive without
a lid. I have never used a comb-box with a closed-
top ; and possibly it may be just here that some have
failed in following my ' Direct Introduction.'

The subjects next coming under consideration belong
to summer management, and will be given under
separate headings in the following order : — Queen Rais-
ing, Swarming, and Management of Supers. — S.
Simmins.

HONEY JUDGING AT SHOWS.

I think that the honey-producers in the United King-
dom owe a debt of gratitude, and should accord their
hearty thanks, to the Kev. J. Lingen Seager for his prac-
tical paper ' On Honey Judging at Shows.' Its utility
was fully demonstrated in the discussion afterwards.
Few men have the acumen, combined with moral
courage, to point out the great variety of ways in judging
honey. Special reference was made to Lincolnshire
honej-. I exhibited honey of my own, and some of Mr.
Brown's at South Kensington in 1882. The liquid took
nine prizes ; but, oh, the granulated, by being left in a
cool room ! I took some to Knightsbridge Show the
following year, with a similar result ; but Mr. Brown
and I still continue to keep our honey the same. No
doubt it will now be frequently asked, Does honey dete-
riorate in quality when it granulates ? I venture to
predict that the time is not far distant when the public
will more appreciate granulated extracted honey.

I hope, after mature discussion, a code of rules will be
formulated for the guidance of judges, and information
of exhibitors as to the quality of honey and the best
mode of its preparation for exhibition, from a commercial
point of view, so as to successfully compete with foreign
honey, and educate the public to purchase English honey,
the supply of which is in excess of the demand, and the
market price of it should be quoted.— H. Thorpe, Lang-
rickoille, 25th Feb.

HONEY COMPANY.

A number of small bee-keepers have asked the question
' AMU the Honey Company buy of the shareholders./?)^?
if so I will take a few shares.' Now, sir, this, to my
mind, is a very important question especially to working
men, and if the object of bee culture is to improve, and
help those who need an answer in the affirmative would
strengthen the hands of the Directors and cause great
numbers to take a few shares each as far as their means
would allow. Such persons as the above do not understand
investing in companies, but they would understand a direct
market for the produce of their bees. — W. D.

[The reply to the above will be found in our Editorial,
I 'The British Honey Company.' — Ed.]

100

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[March 15, 1885.

"THE COMING SEASON AND THE CULTIVA-
TION OF HONEY AND POLLEN-SECRETING
PLANTS.

The busy time of the bee-keepers is at hand. The
preparation in hives, foundation, sections, &c, is being
seen to and put in a forward state in readiness for our
anticipated swarms and honey. In the general prepara-
tions I hope that the sowing and planting of bee-forage
for our pets will not be overlooked. I feel convinced
that before long this subject will receive more attention
among bee-keepers than it doe3 at present, and there are
many reasons why it should do. With the month of
July, the honey harvest closes ; but I see no reason why
it should not (at least in many districts) be extended
until the commencement or middle of October. There
are many flowers adapted for such a purpose coming
into bloom in June or July, and remaining until the end
of October. On this point I am at one with Mr. Dobbie.
That gentleman has enumerated some very good honey
and pollen-producing plants in the three "issues of the
Bee Journal; but I feel convinced that their number is
legion, and that by making experiments the number of
pollen and honey-secreting plants may be extended a
thousand-fold, and many first-class bee-forage plants
brought to light that are at present known nothing
about. As an instance of this idea I may mention that
among the bee flora spoken of I have not seen the
Coccinea or the Moschata named. Those are two first-
class bee plants, and like the French honeysuckle produce
large quantities of bloom which continue from July to
October. I shall make all the experiments I can the
coming- summer in discovering such useful bee-plants as
those already known, and I trust that others will do all
they can in the same way. There is, however, in sowing-
seeds, a difficulty to be provided against, viz., had seed.
Many are disappointed owing to obtaining a pennyworth
-or so of seed from local tradesmen, who in too" many
instances have a large quantity of seed on hand perhaps
.several years old, and owing to having been kept in the
damp have germinated, and are therefore useless. To spend
several shillings on as many kinds of seeds from large
nurseries and seed-growers is beyond the reach of many
bee-keepers. To obviate this difficultly, I have made
arrangements for large quantities of the best bee-plant
seeds including those above named, and shall be happy to
supply any of your readers with a list according to my
advertisement in this Journal on another page. — W.
Hollins, Tillington Avenue, Stafford.

HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

STANDARD SECTIONS.

At the annual general meeting of this Association
held in Southampton, Feb. 19, 1885, at the rooms of the
S.P.C.K., this subject was fully discussed, and the follow-
ing resolution was declared carried, nemine contradicente,
by the chairman :— ' That this general meeting of the
Members of the Hants and Isle of Wight Dee-keepers'
Association declares that it is of opinion that the adoption
of any standard or common size for section by the British
Bee-keepers' Association would be calculated to inflict
injury upon the the interest of bee-keepers, by preventing
that variety of form and choice so essential in the honey
trade, without offering any corresponding advantage.'

AN APPEAL FROM OXFORD BEE-KEEPERS.

I, and many others residing in Oxford, would be
greatly indebted to you if you would insert the follow-
ing, which appeared in the Oxford Guardian on the
11th ult.:—

' Several gentlemen interested in the subject of bee-keep-

ing having requested me to call your attention again to
the Oxfordshire Bee-keepers' Association, which has, and I
believe in future will do, an excellent work in the county.
I take this opportunity of mentioning that the Society
might be greatly expanded, and the knowledge of humane
bee-keeping increased, if a local committee was located in
the city, so that the labouring classes whose interests the
society should have at heart as well as the cottagers in the
country could be furnished with the necessary literature
and a place to meet, where an extractor, a good one mind,
might be used. Everyone in the present age is aware of
the benefits accruing to a properly managed system of bee
keeping and a meeting place where bee-keeping and its
cognate branches could be discussed in all their details
would be of the greatest utility to amateurs. I sincerely
hope this interesting study of those useful and profitable
insects may be actively taken up by those who care to
exert themselves to promote thrift amongst the working
classes.'

I think it is exactly what is wanted at the present
time amongst us, and I hope the Rev. F. Dillon, our
secretiiry, may catch sight of it. It would a great help
to working men, who, I am sure, sir, you will agree with
me, ought to receive a little attention, and it would assist
them to study these curious, and most interesting, when
once known, insects. Many would make a .start at the
present time, but they are horrified when they see the
many catalogues put forth with announcements that
this and that is necessary if you are to keep bees success-
fully. So I hope this appeal may find some issue, and
that many of our labourers may find enjoyment in bee-
keeping more profitable than loitering at street corners
and sitting in public-houses. — A Beginner, Oxford,
February 21.

[We should advise our correspondent to communicate
directly with the Rev. F. C. Dillon, the hon. sec. of the
Oxfordshire Bee-keepers' Association, Enstone. — Ed.]

THE PRICE OF HONEY.

Some correspondence recently appeared in these columns
relative to the prices asked for honey; but while depre-
cating the unreasonable sums generally wanted by ama-
teurs, none of the writers have proposed a price per lb.,
to be considered as a reasonable basis upon which to
conduct wholesale transactions.

At present we are passing an important stage, and
though many bee-keepers have done themselves harm by
asking exorbitant prices, it appears that dealers are
endeavouring to press to the other extreme, and offer
the producer prices which are quite unremunerative, and
such as he ought not to accept if he studies his own
interests and those of the bee-keeping community.

Now, while it h true that amateurs will always con-
stitute one — but an irregular — source of supply, it will
be the large producers who must guide the market; and
should the dealer attempt to bring prices down below the
proper limit, he will be only injuring himself, as he should
know that the supply cannot last, for the simple reason
that the production of honey will cease to be profitable.
But before the present development has too far advanced
to the detriment of our industry, let us consider what shall
be a fair market value for our honey.

In America (United States), where there is more com-
petition than here, and prices have long since settled down
to the proper level, and where, too, most bee-keepers are
favoured with vast areas of honey-producing plants and
trees, and on the whole, with a more certain climate, we
find the price of comb-honey from 8d. to Orf. per lb.,
while that of extracted is about 4id. wholesale. Now,
considering the shorter duration of our season, uncertain
climate, and our comparatively small patches of honey
plants, necessitating the keeping of fewer colonies for a
given area, and hence greater expense in producing a
stated quantity, I maintain that we ought to obtain at

March 15, 1885.1

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

101

least half as much more than the American quotations,
especially when we also consider English honey is gene-
rally conceded to be superior to the imported article.

And, moreover, why should we accept for our home-
produce less than the foreign honey can be sold for on
arriving here? The wholesale prices obtained for the
latter being about Is. per lb. for comb, and tikd. for a
good extracted article. The dirty wild honey coming
from various parts is almost given away, but is useless
until thoroughly cleaned and refined, and therefore
should not be considered as having any bearing upon the
matter. The above prices should guide the English bee-
keeper, and in future let us insist upon obtaining a fairly
remunerative price for our produce ; say for 1-lb. combs,
Is., and for extracted in bulk 7d. per lb. ; if bottled, a
little more, according to how it is put up.

Of course, circumstances will occur.causing slight varia-
tions, such as a good or bad season, style of package, &c,
but on the whole, I am convinced that the man who
attempts to dispose of his produce at any considerable
reduction from these prices, will expend his labour
for nothing, and if a specialist, will soon give up in
disgust.

Not very long since, a statement appeared by the Rev.
V. H. Moyle to the effect that he could lay his hand on
some 130 tons of English comb-honey at Sd. per lb. It
has been reported that another gentleman, who could
dispose of a few tons, forthwith wrote to him asking
for quotations. After considerable delay, an answer was
obtained giving the price required as fourteen pence per
pound — a clear 5d. per lb. profit, after deducting expenses.
It seems impossible, and I cannot believe that Mr. Moyle
has so little commercial knowledge as first to offer a bee-
keeper such a wretched price, and secondly, to expect such
a profit on wholesale transactions. It seems much more
likely that he meant to have said, or perhaps did say,
that he could obtain that quantit}' of both extracted and
comb honey at an average price of 8d. per lb. I see no
other way to explain it, unless that gentleman will him-
self enlighten us.

Instead of assisting the cottager, or other bee-keeper, to
dispose of his honey at a fairly paying sum, such a price
for comb honey in sections will simply be assisting him
to ruin, so far as his apicultural prospects go, unless,
indeed, he can afford to give his labour for nothing.

With regard to labour, it should be understood that a
man cannot work for himself without payment any more
than he can for another. Labour, in whatever form it
may be represented, is the heaviest, and therefore the
most important, item of expense with all articles of pro-
duce, and honey forms no exception to the rule.

Then let us as producers carefully consider the whole
matter, and decide upon the sum that shall be considered
as giving a fairly remunerative profit for the average
season.

As to those who find a difficulty iu disposing of their
honey, the trouble seems to happen mostly with those
who have only one or two cwts., or less. Now, as a
matter of fact, these are the bee-keepers honey com-
panies and other large dealers are least able to assist, for
the reason that it does not pay them to dabble in such
odd lots.

Nevertheless, it appears to have been because of the
cry from the multitude of small producers that steps
were taken to establish the British Honey Company, but
it remains to be seen to what extent that firm will be
able to assist them, especially as we are now told that
the said Company ' has reserved to itself the fullest
liberty of action ; ' meaning thereby that foreign honey
will be bought as well as British, and the home-producer
will consequently have to compete against larger imports
of foreign honey than ever before. I am sure there are
many who will be disappointed to learn this, as the
general impression was that the Company would deal in
British honey only. — S. Siwmins.

BEE FLOWERS.

At a time when the profitable management of bees is
engaging the attention of so many people, I think it no
more than right that the increase of honey-secreting
trees and shrubs and plants should claim a fair share of
our attention. Among the former the different kinds of
fruit-trees, such as apricot, plum, peach, pear, and
nectarine cherries, both wild and cultivated, black-
thorn; and later on, apple, whitethorn, maple, poplar ;
and among shrubs the pretty flowering currant, or Itibes
sanguineum should find a place in quantities iu our
shrubberies, not only on account of its valuable honey-
3'ielding propensities, but also its excellent effect.

The present is a good time for increasing the stock of
useful perennial honey plants, such as the herbaceous
Veronicas, Sedum spectabilis, Michaelmas daisies, or
perennial asters, of some varieties of which the bees are
very fond ; and the golden rod (Solidago) is also much
appreciated by bees. All of the above are easily in-
creased hy simply cutting the old clumps into several
pieces, and planting them again into fresh stations,
either in beds or in the mixed herbaceous border.

Among annuals suitable for sowing during this and
the following month, I would specially mention the
value of the giant balsam or touch-me-not, as it is
commonly called, I suppose owing to the peculiar way
in which the seed-pods burst on being touched when
they approach maturity, throwing the seeds about
in all directions, if one is not careful in gathering them
to enclose them in his hand. Mignonette is another
plant that might well be more extensively cultivated ;
and both this and the foregoing plant in the south of
England, if once sown and established, sufficient seed
will generally survive through the winter in the ground
to ensure a crop of plants each subsequent year.

In most kitchen gardens at this time of year there are
quantities of stumps and roots of the following, which if
left for a month or two in the ground will yield a
valuable pasture for bees ; and if the hives, those pat-
terns of industry, are located near, will be enabled to
visit them at times when longer flights would be hazard-
ous : — Brussels sprouts, borecole or kale, cabbage, turnips;
and if a neighbouring farmer allows a field of rape or
mustard to seed so much the better for your bees. The
first four named we have been in the habit of allowing
to stand and bloom till the beginning of July, and with
the very best results. Globe artichokes we have some-
times allowed to unfold their massive blue flowers, and
it is surprising how the bees busy themselves in these
flowers, and when they withdraw come out as dusty as
millers.

Why should we not improve the pasture-lands in our
neighbourhood by sowing over them both alsike and
white clover? it would both improve as fodder for cattle
and forage for bees. It is my intention to procure some
seed of the two plants above mentioned and sow in the
park here, which surrounds the apiary, but we do not
anticipate any great yield for a season or two until the
plants get thoroughly established. We feel certain that
if bee-keepers go on increasing in the same rate as they
have during a few past years, that it will become neces-
sary to cultivate honey-secreting plants if success is to
be achieved. In addition to the foregoing all the
varieties of peas and beans are useful honey-plants. —
C. Warden, Clarendon Park, Salisbury.

JUDGES.
There has been a great deal said of late in several bee
publications respecting the judgment of honey and its
various points. In my opinion we are wanting very
much in this one point (namely, men capable to judge).
I would suggest that each community pick out of its
Association four members, men of experience, to be

102

THE BK1TISH BEE JOURNAL.

[March 15, 1885.

judges for twelve months, and under no circumstances
are they to go in that capacity with their own Associa-
tion tent, hut to interchange with other Associations ;
and in no case the same judges twice in the same season.
I know of an association where the same judges accom-
panied the same tent four times at least in the same
season, and all have been members from the same Asso-
ciation as the tent, also being self-elected ; that is to say,
not having been appointed by the Committee. I think
this is a very loose way, and cannot be too strongly con-
demned by the parent Association. — W. P.

A SUGGESTION.
In your mid-February issue I read an account of the
meeting of the Leicestershire Bee-keepers' Association,
in which it appeared that the finances were low and
that there was some question as to employing an expert.
Now, with regard to both the above difficulties, may I
make a suggestion ? There are many persons, in the
same position as myself, who have a few hives, who
have read books about bees, and therefore know some-
thing of them ; but their knowledge is so vague that
they cannot carry it into practice, and they accordingly
lose the profit on their bees or a large percentage of it.
Nevertheless, many of them are anxious to learn if they
only have the opportunity. Some of them are not even
aware of the existence of the Leicestershire Bee-keepers'
Association ; many of them have seen, like myself,
reports of the Society having met, but they have a
very vague idea of the benefits they are to receive if
they join the Society, or, in other words, what they are to
receive in exchange for their subscription. I would
therefore suggest that the Society should employ an
expert who should go round to the several villages in the
district and call on the different bee-keepers, give advice
gratis as to the bees, or in exchange for a few pence, the
amount of his demand being judiciously regulated ac-
cording to the person for whom the service is performed,
he should drive bees or take honey in the new methods,
&c. He could then explain the benefits to be obtained
from joining the L. B. K. A. and solicit subscriptions; I
myself would willing pay a ' small ' sum to see and have
thoroughly explained to me the really practical methods
employed in bee-keeping by a skilful man. It seems to
me that by this method the L. B. K. A. would become
widely known, and their subscriptions becoming more
numerous, the expenses of the expert would be, to a
considerable extent, met by this increase and the small
commissions charged. This is only the suggestion of a
non - practical (through ignorance) bee - keeper, but
perhaps is worthy of consideration. — Lkicestf.kian.

MY FIRST YEAR'S EXPERIENCE IN BEE-
KEEPING.

Having been a spectator of the processes of driving and
transferring at Wisbech Show, I commenced keeping
bees. My stock of bees in the middle of March 1884,
were two lots in straw skeps and one in wood hive.
I made five more hives during April, May, and June, one
of which the rector bought. I transferred a stock for him
and managed them during the summer.

I commenced manipulating about the middle of March,
giving one bottle of syrup to each hive, that is all I did
in the way of spring feeding : straw hive took their chance
until they swarmed. Bees had plenty of sealed stores
in wood hive. The first mistake I made was in being
over anxious to spread brood, for when I found brood
on two frames I inserted frames filled with foundation
between them. I examined two or three times in April,
doing no good to the bees : only with the help of Mr.
Baldwin's advice, gaining a little information for future
events.

In second week in May straw skep No. 1 swarmed,
the first swarm I had ever seen. They settled nearly on

the ground among' gooseberry-trees, I could not get wood
hive near enough, so with the help of an old-fashioned
bee-keeper, we hived them in skep, and in evening I
transferred them myself to wood hive with very little
trouble. Queen proved very prolific, they did well, I
think. I started them with six frames full of comb
foundation and one bottle of syrup ; they eventually filled
seventeen frames, three frames of brood I took away to
build up casts. I wanted to get all the bees I could. I
extracted from that hive about oOlbs. of hone}'. I did
not give room enough for bees in wood hive, so they
swarmed two days after the first swarm came and were
hived in straw skeps in which they are now : I took no
honey from them. Everything being so new to me I
could not think the swarm came from the wood hive, so I
put on it a crate of sections, six of which had been
partially filled in body of hive already. They never
entered them, of course, and I could not see the reason
why at the time.

On Sunday morning following I had two casts. One
I hived in new wood hive I had got ready, the other in
straw skep for permanency, a short time after another cast
came, where from I don't know, but they settled under
the alighting board of wood hive containing first cast.
Business called me away for a time, when I returned
they were fighting severely. I immediately smoked
them and sprinkled them with scent, in the midst of
which operation a thunderstorm burst, and I had to shut
them up in haste and leave them to fight it out. Two
days after, finding no brood, I took a frame of brood
containing one queen-cell from old wood hive and in-
serted in this hive ; they were started with five sheets
foundation and one bottle syrup. I extracted a few
pouuds of honey from them. After twenty-one days I
drove bees from straw skep No. 1, and united them to
hive containing the casts which had fought, taking 181bs.
honey from this skep.

The second week in June, straw skep No. 2 gave out
a splendid swarm which I hived in wood hive, giving
eight frames full foundation ; the day being very hot, I
had a breakdown, but I got over it without any difficulty,
I gave them one. bottle of syrup, and the next day took
crate sections from old wood hive and gave it to them.
They soon filled twenty-one 1-lb. sections, and I extracted
a little from them besides. After twenty-one days I
drove bees from straw skep No. 2 one very hot day ;
quantity of bees very small, I was afraid a quantity of
them had got crushed' between the combs, but it was not
so. I put them in new wood hive and built them up to
a fair size stock, of course I got nothing from them,
though I took about 20 lbs. honey from the old skep. I
took about 14 lbs. from the old stock in wood hive.

I have now given you an account of my proceedings,
muddles, &c. I must hasten to give results. I obtained
121 lbs. extracted and run honey, and twenty-one 1-lb.
sections, and added four stocks to my apiary by swarming,
making seven stocks, five in wood hives, and two in
straw skeps. When I have sold remains of stock of
honey, I shall have realised 71. for honey and wax. I
have not much left. Being fortunate in having two stocks
in skeps given to me, I have only spent 5s. for bees. For
hives, cylindrical extractor, feeder, &c, I have spent
9?. 10s. Thus my expenditure has exceeded my income
to the amount of 21. 15s. I value my stock of bees, hives,
and appliances, thus : —

£. s. d.
Five stocks including wood hives at 30*. each 7 10 0
Two stocks in straw skeps 2 0 0

Extractor and various other appliances 4 0 0

13 10 0
2 15 0

Deduct excess expenditure
Balance

£10 15 0

By these figures I conclude I have already made 10/. 15*.
by keeping bees. — A. II. Fisu.

March 15, If 85.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

103

THE TRYPOGRAPII.

County secretaries will find this machine most valuable
for sending out notices, circulars, &c. By its aid I have
been enabled to send to our various local newspapers short
notices of our aims and doings, in addition to being able
to communicate with every one of our members upon the
shortest notice. Unlike the gelatine process of repro-
ducing letters, any number of perfect copies can be ob-
tained in the shortest possible time, and a child can work
it. We obtained ours of Messrs. Shoolbred & Co.,
Tottenham Court Road, \V., with an extra supply of ink
and paper, for 45s. The Army and Navy Stores also
keep it. It may be worth adding that Messrs. Deacon,
of Leadenhall Street, E.C., sell a little book for Is. or
Is. Gd., giving the names of all the newspapers published
in the various counties of England. Mr. Iluckle, who
uses the machine, first drew our attention to it. —
E. H. B., Hon. Sec. Hants B. K. A.

DRY SUGAR FEEDING.
One often sees this recommended in the B. B. J., and
from its simplicity it is certainly a very taking idea.
But how does it work ? I mean that piece of American
cloth over the bees. Practically, it may be the nicest
thing in the world. Theoretically, one would suppose
that the bees had to take a Turkish bath before they
arrived at the requisite state of condensation. Now this
may be very agreeable to their feelings ; but is it neces-
sary ? Why not suspend on the other side of the bees a
dummy feeder, filled with water ? — J. O. Coussmaker,
M.A., Hamstall Rectory, Rugeley.

Jmtigit.

AMERICA.
Another Pioneer gone.— William W. Cary was
born Feb. 24, 1815, and died Dec. 9, 1884, at Colerain,
Massachusetts. Mr. Cary from his early childhood
had a great love for bees, and never lost an opportunity
to study their habits when he chanced to be where they
were kept. This impulse was so strong that it led him
away from the ordinary amusements of boyhood. When
thirteen years of age he met with an accident that de-
prived him of motion in one knee. The joint became
anchylosed in a partially fixed position, causing him
considerable inconvenience io moving about lumber piles
and the ordinary work of his mill, which is only a few
rods from the dwelling in the village of Colerain, Franklin
Co. Mass. Being thus crippled did not affect his energy
or enterprise. In the autumn of his eighteenth year, he
obtained his first colony of bees, and from that time has
never been without bees. His iast illness was long and
painful, nearly eighteen months. He grew rapidly worse,
and died December 0, 1884, in his seventieth year.
He had been a bee-keeper for fifty-two years. About
the year 1850 he made the acquaintance of the Rev.
L. L. Langstroth, who was then living in Greenfield,
Mass., and they spent some time together in experi-
menting with bees and hives. At that time he com-
menced using the Langstroth moveable comb hive,
determining to make all the experiments he could think
of that promised to shed any light on the subject without
regard to the season's surplus, that he might later work
more safely, intelligently, and profitably. Early in March
1860, he learned that Mr. Samuel B. Parsons, of Flushing,
N. Y., had succeeded in importing a few queens from
Italy. He visited him and spent the entire season in
Flushing propagating queens, having the whole charge of
Mr. Parsons' apiary. Bees for several miles around were
bought or Italianised, and every precaution was taken
to prevent admixture. Since then he has uninterruptedly
bred the Italian queens, and has used many imported

mothers in his apiary. Mr. Cary took great interest
in the importation of other races of bees, and made
transportation boxes which he sent to foreign countries
accompanied by full directions; but these attempts did
not meet with any success. A few years ago, a missionary
from Ceylon spent some time with him to learn practically
the m ui igemont of bees, and through him Mr. C. hoped
to receive, some day, Apis dorsata, or at least some
specimens of that bee and its combs; but nothing ever
came of it. Since then the efforts of both Mr. Jones and
Mr. Benton have thrown some light on the subject of the
foreign races of bees. — American Bee-Keeper 's Magazine.

CENTRAL AMERICA.
Bees in Yucatan. — Describing the ruins of the temple
at Uxmal, Mrs. Alice D. LePlongeon says: 'The place
swarms with life. During the months when no rain falls,
every creature seems mad with thirst. There are millions
of bees quite harmless, yet very troublesome, for they
swarm about one's face and make themselves most
annoying. They must be stiugless, otherwise they would
be more than simply annoying. Wherever water is to
be f ound, they go throw themselves into it, and part with
life for a drop. When they feel the dark waves closing
over them, they doubtless repent of the rash deed, so
having taken a drink and a bath, they are very grateful if
any one will ladle them out. Then they crawl away like
turtles, to repeat after awhile the suicidal attempt. The
hives of these harmless bees are most ingeniously built of
clay, held together and made extremely hard by a
secretion pi-oper to the insect. Speaking of the supersti-
tious of the people, Mrs. Le Plongeon says that they
suspend from the bee-hives jicaras filled with a drink
called zaca, so that the bees may not abandon them, but
may constantly bring honey, and their owners keep in
good health. — American Bee Journal.

FRANCE.

The month of February has been rather colder than its
predecessor, but, taken altogether, it has not been preju-
dicial to apiculture, and stocks have not suffered from its
influences. Where cases of dysentery had been noticed,
no serious consequences have followed, the weather having
permitted of occasional cleansing flights, particularly
during the first two weeks.

What, however, fills bee circles with apprehension,
is the absence of demand on the market for apicultural
produce. At this season, states the Apiculteur for this
month, the consumption of honey should be very con-
siderable. This year, however, the calm is of sufficient
magnitude to alarm bee-keepers. Several holders came
to Paris in the course of February in the expectation of
meeting with remunerative prices for their honey, but
had to return home disappointed, and their last hope is
now their local consumption. Honey in pots, however,
finds a ready sale at from 120 to 160 francs, but these
figures are not remunerative. At the Palais de l'lndustrie
show, the same description of pots was finding ready
buyers, but honeycombs were disregarded.

Some good sales are reported from Havre of Peru
honey, but it is understood that they were made for
account of Antwerp and Amsterdam merchants.

A GLANCE AT OUR WORK, AND OUR

NECESSITIES.
A Paper read by Captain Heysham, R.N., at the
Annual Meeting of the Devon and Exeter B.K.A.
February Gth, 1885.
I can assure you that it is with the greatest diffidence
and reluctance that I come before you to-day. In the
first place, I say it in all sincerity, I have not the pre-
sumption to think that I can hope to say much that is
new, or that will lead to new lines of effort, where the
ground has already been so thoroughly beaten. At the
same time I must ask you not to be frightened by the

104

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

TMarcli 15, 1885.

title I have been obliged to adopt, for want of a more
suitable one, I can only glance at a very small portion of
our work. To even touch upon the numerous and ever-
increasing calls on the energy, zeal, and ability of our
respected President and Hon. Secretaries, would occupy
far too much time, but some little idea of their widespread
efforts may be gathered from the necessarily condensed
statement of ' Work done ' in our Annual Report.

Our great object, and the one that the Association has
ever before it, is the spread of bee-culture on the modern
and humane system, and that more especially amongst
the Cottager Class.

I happen to be living in a part of Devon where bee-
keeping on advanced principles is very little practised.
' Bar-frame hives ' are few and far, far between, and
the possessors of such hives amongst cottagers are
scarcely to be found.

I will now, with your permission, and asking your
indulgence, consider, first, the best way of^extending the
usefulness of our Association, and nest, having converted
our cottagers, how, as far as we can, to prevent disap-
pointment, and the consequent backsliding which is by
no means uncommon. I have had cases of failure referred
to me quite lately ; one did not approve of the bar-frame
hive, because the bees built up in the roof, another had
only one or two sections (out of a crate full) filled ; in
the first instance, no quilt or covering had been put over
the frames ; in the second, the section crate had been put
on, on the quilt, and the bees had actually eaten through
the obstruction, to accomplish what they had done.
Another, a man of education and intelligence, has given
up the bar-frame hive, simply because, on his first
attempt (two or three years ago), a swarm, after being
put in, deserted the hive, and he was unable to account
for it. Unfortunately I did not hear of this till some
days afterwards, when in vain I explained that various
reasons might have caused the desertion ; he adhered to
his opinion, viz. that he did not hold with the bar-
frame hive, and has since never tried anything beyond
the old straw skep. I might multiply such instances,
and every bee-master present could, I am sure, add to
them from his own experiences.

We have lately resolved to appoint ' Local Represen-
tatives ' of our Association, and for this purpose we want
to find men in every part of the county who are
themselves interested in bee-culture, and who are both
able and willing to give advice and assistance when such
is needed. In a paper written by me in 1883, which,
owing to illness, was never printed, the above system was
strongly advocated, and it was not till some months
afterwards that I first saw the idea of ' District Advisers'
started in the Bi'itish Bee Journal ; and the plan is, I
believe, now in full work, in some of our County Associa-
tions. And here it will not be out of place, to glance at
the work that can be done by our ' Local Representatives.'
I am sure that, the more you think of it, the more you
will see how incalculable is the good they may do, and
that their power for good is second to none.

Our respected President, Honorary Secretaries, and
Council, may organize, consult, and initiate, but our
' Local Representatives ' can stimulate, and increase the
vitality of the cause, in every corner of the county,
where it is impossible for the former to do more than a
passing visit. The very fact of advice and assistance
being given beyond all doubt free of charge, and, as will
soon be well known, gladly given, will do much, because
doubt on this point and the feeling that, although ' no
charge is made,' a 'something' is expected, would deter
many from seeking it. In saying this do not let me
create the impression, that I do not think ' the labourer
worthy of his hire,' on the contrary, if a bee-keeper seeks
the aid of a man who makes bee-keeping his calling, and
gives up all Lis time to it, and moreover, in most cases,
calls him from a distance, he must, and ought to remu-
nerate him for his skilled assistance ; but to gain disciples,

we must hold out a helping hand and endeavour to
establish 'Representatives' in every corner of the county
who will forward our views for the love of the cause, and
faith in the benefits their teaching will confer.

Then see the multitude of useful work that could be
done in the way of small shows, with practical teaching
and lectures, in all parts. Shows that would cost but
little, and probably do much, and the cost of which would
be as nothing, compared to our hitherto expensive shows,
that can only be held in some few great centres. These
might be got up wherever ' Representatives ' can be found.
The appliances which most advanced bee-keepers possess
would often suffice, but when this is not the case they
could be supplemented by a few from the Association.
The expenses when summed up would probably be, in
some instances, the carriage by rail of a few supplemen-
tary articles, a spring cart, which in many instances
the squire or landed proprietor on whose ground the show
was held would supply, and a man's wages for the day.
The 'Representatives' would keep touch of each other as
far as possible, and confer when the opportunity offered,
which would not only be of great service to the cause, but
a pleasure to them as bee-keepers, and they could help
each other in the getting up of these shows on a small
scale, as suggested. Let this be tried, and compare the
result in the way of disciples gained, and the spread
of knowledge, with that which has hitherto been
accomplished, by a few costly shows in populous
centres.

Our County Show is a necessity, and without it we
should not get together, and see tested in competition all
the improved hives and appliances of our best makers,
as well as all the newest inventions, and the finest samples
of produce. Apiarians, and the cause they represent,
could not afford to lose these advantages, but they do
not reach the humbler cottage bee-keeper in distant and
out-of-the-way pai'ts of the county. I believe that our
' Local Representatives ' can reach them in the way I
have suggested and in various other ways that will
suggest themselves to willing minds and ready hands.
I have seen such shows and can answer for it, that they
were perfect, in themselves, on a small scale, and cost
the Association nothing; that they created some interest,
was proved by an accession of members on each
occasion ; and it shall not be my fault if the experiment
is not repeated, and if possible carried ' further a field.'
Although those possessing the advantages of education,
and some leisure, do not, and ought not to require the
same attention, and instruction in detail, as their poorer
neighbours, it will be admitted that they are much
wanted, and indeed are essential, to the success of the
cause. Hence it is a pleasurable experience to see
people, whose interest has been awakened, dropping in
from time to time, asking for information and help, to
start bee-keeping on the modern system. I am sorry to
say that these converts are by no means always ready
to support the Association, but generally ask the
question, ' What shall I gain by becoming a subscriber ?'
They do not realise that the very hives they buy and
the instruction they are enabled to obtain, whether from
books or word of mouth, are the outcome of our Bee-
keepers' Associations, and that no intelligent bee-keeper
can help being benefited by them ; and further that the
labour of love so willingly undertaken, by those in the
same position as myself, is for the Association, nor do
they realise the fact that while asking for and obtaining
such help and instruction, they are culling to the full all
the advantages, and are leaving the expenses of the
movement to be met by the few for the advantage of
the many. I believe it was agreed at the last meeting
of our Council that a paragraph should be inserted in
the next ' Annual Report ' calling attention to these facts,
so that the Local Representative will at least be enabled
to lay it before those seeking his aid.
(To be continued.)

March 15, 1885.]

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL,

105

(£tljaes foam % pibcs.

Grantham, Lincolnshire. — The occasional bright warm
sunny days of late afforded me the opportunity of making
a thorough examination of my stocks after their shift
to new quarters. It was satisfactory to find most of
them strong and lively, though some with nearly a bare
cupboard. We are not, as in the south, favoured with
much out-door forage so early in the year, hence breeding
is slow. I have commenced feeding with warm syrup
at evening such stocks that are short of stores. I have
removed old quilts and put on clean dry ones ; but not the
sweater quilts as advised in ' Useful Hints ' of last issue.
I must differ from the advice on that point ; it cannot be
good for bees or any other animals to imbibe their own
sweat ; and further, diy warm porous quilts are to my
mind the most necessary for comfort of inmates of the
hive ; quite with you in your remarks further on where
you say ' when hives are foul from dj-sentery, transfer
to a clean dry hive,' since the dampness in a hive is
we know injurious, and is doubtless often a cause of the
dysentery we must try to prevent, but would not the
sweating quilt conduce to the cause of the very evil
bee-keepers so much dread, dysentery ?• — B. E. Godfrey.

North Leicestershire. — A long period of low tempera-
ture has kept the bees within their hives ; on three days
only have they been able to gather pollen during the
fortnight ending 10th hist. Matters are getting critical;
for if the weather continue cold so that the bees cannot
visit the crocuses there will be great losses from ' spring
dwindling ' and starvation, through stores being too far
from bi-ood-nest. — E. B.

Devonshire, March 6th. — Stocks all seem strong arid
forward and have been out of late in large numbers, and
gathering from crocuses, gorse, arabis, &c, on all fine
days. Wednesday, 4th inst., was a lovely, bright, spring
day, and bees were out in force, taking advantage of it.
Since then it has turned cold, with biting north-east and
east winds ; I am, therefore, glad that I have not yet
made the generally recommended ' first examination,'
and cannot help thinking that well-provided stocks are
much better left undisturbed till after such a cold spell
as we are now experiencing, and which is to be expected
about this time, and that they will, in the end, come out
better than those that have been interfered with and
their brood-nests disturbed. Below I send you the rain-
fall for January and February of this year, as well as
that for the corresponding months of last year. In
January, 1885, the total rainfall was .0-11 inches, while
the number of days on which '01 inches, or more, fell,
was 17. In the corresponding month of last year the
total fall was 4-49 inches, and the number of days on
which rain fell 19. In February, 1885, the total rainfall
was 3-97 inches, and the number of wet days 20, against
a total of 4'05 inches, in corresponding month of last year,
and 21 wet days.— W. N. G., Hon. Sec, 1). § E. B. K. A.

Oxford, March 0th.— The order of the day during the
last fortnight has been continual change : one day a
bright sunshine, very inviting, but most dangerous, and
another a sharp frost, with a slight fall of snow, which
proved a better friend than the former as it did not
invite the bees out. The only thing of importance just
now, and that which occupies a great deal of attention,
is the discussion on the advisability of a local committee
to work in Oxford amongst the labouring classes. It
promises well that some action will be taken by the
Oxfordshire Association to see it safely on foot, as the
Eev. F. Dillon has promised to do his utmost. But there
is one idea prevalent, which I must say is ridiculous and
absurd, and which cannot result in any practicable ends,
viz., to start an association apart from the County
Association. Have the proposers of this scheme thought
of the difficulty of getting experts, bee-tents, &c. ? Any

one must see, if they will only take the trouble to weigh
the matter, that such a thing would be impracticable,
without it is to be in conjunction with the Oxfordshire
Association; and it is to show the foolishness of the
Idea that I have dragged the subject into this note. To
leave this subject, and to return to our little friends, I
may say that to-day the bees are working hard, and carry-
ing in pollen in great quantities. The sun is shining beauti-
fully, but rain threatens to descend shortly. — E. F. H.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS.

J. W. A. — Doubling. — We cannot do better than refer
you to Cowan's book, fourth edition, pp. 54 and 55,
where you will find ' Doubling ' fully described.

E. L. H.— Quilt iny. — The layer next the frames should
be ticking, then a piece of carpet, and, in spring, a
board on the top of it. You may substitute a piece
of American cloth for the ticking when breeding has
well commenced, but not too early or you may cause
dampness and dysentery. 2. Propolis. — Propolis can
be scraped off the frames, and it is not necessary to
scald them,' but if dysentery has existed leaving
stains, you would do well to wash with phenolated soap.

E. Owen. — Bees in Super Cover. — You had better let
them swarm as you suggest, and hive the swarm in a
bar-frame hive, and, about twenty-one days after-
wards, transfer the combs and bees remaining to
another bar-frame hive. 2. Hives. — We must refer
you to our advertising columns for your selection of a
hive, merely suggesting that you should get a long
one known as a ' Combination Hive.' 3. We shall be
glad to hear that you and as many of your friends
as you can enrol, have joined the B.B.K. A., and be-
come subscribers to the Journal.

D. "Wallace, Parsonstoivn. — 1. Removing Bees. —
Please refer to p. 53, where full instructions are given
in answer to other inquirers. 2. Examination. — Do
it now. But, instead of giving more room, remove all
frames not covered with bees, giving them back as
they increase in strength. 3. Feedmy. — Now, if they
require it, or uncap the honey in the frames which
you remove, and place behind the divider giving access
to them. 4. Bees in Sleep. — You must transfer. Un-
less you have had experience, you had better let them
swarm, and transfer twenty-one days after. 5. Sec-
tional Hive for Queen liaising. — Make a long hive, i.e.,,
a trough 14A inches wide, 8i deep, and 24 or 30 inches
long. You can then divide it off by moveable dividers
into as many nucleus chambers as you please, making
entrances on alternate sides and at each end. When
you have raised your queens give them to your con-
demned bees when you hive them, of course removing
their own queens.

A. B. — 1. Close Examination of Skep. — This is not
possible. You can only drive the bees from one part
to another by smoke and look down between the
combs when, if there is sealed brood, you will see it.
You may catch sight of the queen. Or you may
choose a warm fine day, and drive all the bees out and
return them. 2. The space between the side bars of
the frames and the hive sides should be J inch, neither
more nor less. 3. Metal Etuis. — If you refer to the
illustration in the advertisement you will see that the
top bar of the frame is slid into the opening in the
end, the perpendicular part of the small triangle rests
against the frame-end. The length of the metal end,,
l/o, preserves the lateral space, and the triangle the J
inch space between frame and hive side. The ends
rest on the edges of the hive sides.

F. Gikdlestone. — 1. The honey impregnated with salt-
petre should not be used for bee-feeding, its chemical
constituents would be injurious to the bees. 2. If
you have a supply of honey, it may be utilised for

10G

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[March 15, 1885.

stimulating food. It would save you the trouble of
syrup-making. See ' Useful Hints.'

T. C. — Bees sucking Sand. — We should presume that the
bees, if hive-bees, sought the newly dug sand for the
purpose of obtaining moisture ; if mason bees, or burrow-
ing bees, for agglutinating the particles for their cells.

Leicesterian. — It would be desirable to let the bees
swarm ; and twenty-one days after, transfer to the bar-
frame. See ' Transferring,' in Modern Bee-keeping.

Amateur. — 1. Old Comb. — Melt down the old and
mouldy combs containing dead larvae. Foundation is
far preferable. 2. Adulterated Foundation. — You
would be doing good service to the cause of bee-keeping
by making an exposure. Whether you will undergo the
annoyance, responsibility, and trouble, almost certainly
resulting therefrom, it must rest with yourself to
decide. Before you enter on such a course be careful
to ascertain that your analysis is quite correct. We,
of course, cannot guarantee the truth of all statements
made in our advertising columns. If the foundation
was warranted, or even stated to be made of pure
bees' wax, you have a good case. We fear that
adulteration of foundation with paraffin is carried on
to a considerable extent.

E. K. Elliott. — Broken Combs. — There are two courses
which may be pursued in the case you describe : (1)
Invert the hive on a floor-board. On a fine warm day
separate all the attachments of comb from the sides of
the hive, and remove the hive from the frames, combs,
and bees, leaving them in a mass on the floor-board.
Scrape and clean the hive. Cut away each comb sepa-
rately, one by one, and brush off the bees with a feather,
or light brush, into the hive. Tie the straight worker
comb into the frames, placing all brood in the centre, and
return each frame to the hive as you operate, being
careful to place the brood-frames in the centre of the
hive, and those containing honey on the outsides.
Beware of injuring the queen. ("2.) Transferring.—
Leave the hive in its present state until it swarms
naturally, and three weeks afterwards transfer as
recommended above. We prefer the latter plan.

W. H. J. — Dwindling. — From your description, the
hives were clogged with honey, and too little breeding
space left for the queens ; hence the population has
dwindled and the stores are left. You will do well to
remove one or two combs of sealed honey from each
hive, and to give in lieu empty combs, or to extract the
honey from the combs removed, and to return them.

E. B. — Honey not Setting. — It is very unusual for honey
to remain liquid so long. If this is a peculiarity of
your district, it indicates sections as better to work
for than extracted honey.

Inquirer. — 1. Weak Stocks in Skeps. — Weak stocks
will do no good, and the sooner you unite the better.
The first warm fine day, turn up the skeps, sprinkle
with a little warm thin syrup and drive out both lots.
Blix them together and return to the skep which con-
tains most brood, which 30U can ascertain when the
bees are out by drawing the centre combs apart. You
will not, of course, be able to see auy except sealed or
ready to seal. 2. Size of Skeps. — Large ones are the
best, say 15 or 16 inches wide by 10 inches deep, flat
tops with large holes for feeding and supering. The
sides should be upright.

East Limerick. — Pollen-gathering, though not always
to be considered a sign that the hive has a queen, may
generally be supposed to be so. Why not satisfy your-
self by ' ocular demonstration?'

M. G. Kirk. — 1. lie/use on Floor-Board. — The refuse
from the floor-board is normal, and consists almost
entirely of dropped cappings from cells which have
been opened for the purpose of feeding on the contained
honev. Take a little of this refuse and make it hot on

a piece of paper, when you will find the wax, of which
it principally consists, melting and spreading, and so
declaring, its character. Treating it with benzol is the
better plan, if you would wish to "isolate the pollen-
grains and thin coats mixed with the wax. 2. Aloine
Discharges. — The alvine discharges are full of pollen
debris, and simply indicate that the bees have been
exposed to a very low temperature. The hive walls
being thin, the wintering space within the hive too
large, the covering thin or ill-fitting, or the bees few
in number, would fully account for all that is ob-
served. I have lately established that dysentery is a
distinct disease, from which your bees are certainly
not suffering. They have, however, from some cause
been unduly taxed, and the remedy lies in removing
the reason of their unsatisfactory condition. — F. C.

R. I'. — Diseased Queen. — The case of your queen is of
extreme interest. She was suffering very badly from
disease, her body being nearly full of the now well-
known bacillus alvei. The fact of bees (workers)
leaving the stock when stricken, so that they may die
outside, I drew attention to months since, and here the
same instinct is found to possess even the queen. Her
recovery from chill more than once is just what all
observers have known to be the rule. Some queens
sent to me from Ireland, and which were supposed to
be dead before their departure, I found to be still
living upon their arrival, and to be capable, in a damp,
warm air, of being sufficiently revived to actually
feed. It will be most interesting to watch your stock,
in order to discover whether the disease has estab-
lished itself amongst the bees. — F. C.

J. A. T. — 1. Feeding. — We hardby undertand what you
mean by saying that ' many bees have gone away, and
have not returned.' From your description we imagine
the colony is strong and healthy. As regards stores
you do not inform us. The safe plan, therefore, is to
feed from a bottle-feeder, with warm syrup, given
towards evening. See Modern Bee-keeping, pp. 64-5,
and Coican, p. 151. 2. Bee Flowers. — You cannot
grow flowers to be of much service to your bees. The
best garden flowers are Limnanthes Douglasii, wall-
flowers, borage, mignonette, ifcc. 3. Transferring. —
We advise you not to transfer at present. Allow your
skep to swarm ; place the swarm in a modern frame-
hive ; three weeks after the issue of the swarm, transfer
bees and comb from the skep to a frame-hive.

Herbert Worth. — Ivy Honey. — 1. There is no doubt
that in case No. 1 the bees had not stored any large
quantity of honey gathered from the ivy. In case
No. 2 the bees had collected large stores from ivy,
the honey from which is disliked by many as having
a peculiar flavour and being dark in colour. Our own
bees collected largely from ivy as late as the 5th
November last year, and have wintered well upon it.
We are inclined to think that the honey described as
' very disagreeable in flavour ' was collected from
aphides, which often infest the ivy. 2. Feeding. —
Feed copiously the colonies in skeps, from a graduated
bottle feeder. (See answer to J. A. T.) As the skeps
are only partly filled with comb you cannot expect
early swarms, unless the season prove very favourable.
The only plan is to give as much syrup as the bees
will take to encourage comb-building as the weather
becomes warmer. The fact of the bees carrying in
pollen largely proves that building is going on, and
that the colonies are healthy. You have only, there-
fore to guard against starvation.

Rev. F. Coussmakeh. — Mounting for the Microscope. —
Full instructions will be given in our next number.

Received : — North East of Ireland Annual lieport
and several Queries, whicli will be attended to in our
next.

Mar. 15, 1885.] ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

CHESHIRE HIVES

AND APPLIANCES.

(As described on page 22, l'ol. XII., British Bee Journal).
Sole Appointed Maker —

W. HOLLANDS,

HARRISON RISE, CROYDON.

PHENOLATED CANDY CAKE, for Spring use, as
recommended by Mr. CHESHIRE on page 337 of B. B. J.
Price Gd. per lb. ; 6 lbs., post free, 4s.

CHESHIRE QUEEN CAGE. -The very best for
Introducing. Price 6<i., postage l£d.

THE CHESHIRE CURE for FOUL BROOD,

Supplied by Mr. Cheshire, with full directions for use.
Price Is. Gd. per bottle, postage 2d.

The Trade supplied with PHENOL on the most liberal terms.
PRICE LISTS ON APPLICATION.

Important to Bee-keepers.

ALL PERSONS REQUIRING

GOOD AND CHEAP HIVES

Should apply at once to
TXTCCIffUIR, «Sc SOST,

MAKERS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION OF HIVE TO ORDER.

Address— RADCLIFFE-ON-TRENT, NOTTS.

H.B.— Refircneei to E. FERNEYHOUttH, Esq., Hon. Sec. Notts B.K.A.
' (99)

Expert B. B.K.A.

Manufacturer, THE APIARY, HOLME, PETERBOROUGH.

By authority — Simmins' Hives, Crates, Sections, d-c.
ASSOCIATION STANDARD SAW-CUT BAR FRAMES, l/-per doz.

FIFTY NATURAL SWARMS STILL ON OFFER.

Send for Illustrated Guide and Catalogue, Post Free. (98

)

REVERSIBLE FRAMES.

Our Protected Inner Revolving Frames, in the flat, with
pivots and nails for 2id. each, made of first quality yellow
pine, dressed, -^ or f by Jths. A variety of side supports,
in wood, inexpensive and efficient, with and without top-bars.

Special Terms to Manufacturers and Dealers.
MASON & BUCHAN, Dalkeith, N.B. 3665

Irish Bee-keepers' Association.

SPRING SHOW

Will be held at BALLS BRIDGE,

ox
APRIL 7, and Three subsequent days.

PRIZE LIST and ENTRY FORMS on

application to

CHARLES F. KNIGHT, M.D., Hon. Sec,

82 Harcourt Street, Dublin.

W. T. FALCONER,

JAMESTOWN, N. Y., U. S. A.

MANUFACTURES A FULL LINE OF

BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES.

Facilities unsurpassed for producing

SECTIONS

Of all kinds, that cannot be excelled as regards
Quality, Workmanship, or Price.

S3T Manufacturers and Sealers in want of large
quantities can be supplied on short notice.

Nearness to N. Y. City insures low inland freights. Prices

quoted on board cars at Jamestown or in N. Y. City.

CATALOGUE and PRICE LIST Free upon application.

CORRESPONDENCE SOLICITED.

Cheapest House for Bar-frames & Sections.

BASS-WOOD SECTIONS, with V Joint, either 4J by 4J
by 2, or 4 by 41 by 2, in either one piece or dovetailed,
3s. per 100, or 27*. Gd. per 1000 case. One sort.

BAR-FRAMES, yellow pine, morticed, ' Standard ' size,
15J in. top bar, Id. each, or 6s. {hi. per 100.
17 in. top bar, with groove for Foundation, Id. each, or

8s. per 100.
Broad shouldered, 17 in. top bar, with groove for Foun-
dation, 2d. each, or 15s. Gd. per 100.

BROAD FRAMES to hold Six 4 by 4J by 2 Sections.
2d. each, or 10s. per 100. SMOKERS, 2s. 9d. each.

ARTHUR DONNELLY & Co., Lurgan, Co. Armagh.

EXPERT WANTED.

THE MIDDLESEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSO-
CIATION will be glad to treat with a competent
Man to undertake the usual Spring work in their Country
Districts. Apply to F. Kenworthy, Hon. Sec, 55 Coleman
Street, E.C.

BEE FLOWERS. — PLANTS of FIGWORT
(Scrophularia nodosa), the famous Simpson Honey
Plant, 2s. Gd. per 100 ; BORAGE PLANTS, Is. Gd. per 100.
Seed of the above, and of all other Bee Flowers, in id.
and 6<7. packets, free. Address Henry Dobbie, Cringleford,
Norwich. 3633

TOY'S NOTED CHEAP BEE-FEEDERS, one
t) for Barley-sugar Feeding, and one for Syrup Feeding.
Hundreds in use. Post Free for Is. 6d. Address The
Apiary, Aylesford, Kent.

The only Weekly Bee Paper in the World.

THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL

Established in 1861.
Edited and published by Thomas G. Newman, at 925 West
Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., and will be sent
to European Subscribers at 10s. Gd. per annum for the
Weekly, or 5s. for the Monthly, including Postage. The
money may be sent by International Postal Money Orders
on Chicago. London Agents : Messrs. Geo. Neighbour &
Sons, 149 Regent Street, W.

Publications of the British Bee-keepers' Association :

ONEY AS FOOD. By Frank R. Cheshire, Esq.,
F.R.M.S. Price 3d.

H

FOUL BROOD ; The Means of its Propagation, and
the Method of its Cure. By Frank R. Cheshire,
Esq., F.R.M.S. Price Gd.

ADULTERATION OF HONEY. By Otto Hehner,
Esq., F.C.S., F.I.C. Price Gd.

Address J. HtTCKLE, King's Langley, Herts.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. ["Mar. 15, 1885.

%ccral frcjiaft §U)im-tiscm:cnts.

For Sales and Purchases of Bee Appliances, Honey, Books,
Pamphlets, Diagrams, <3x., Exchanges and Situations.

Terms : Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad-
ditional three words, One Penny extra ; no reduction can
be made for continuous insertion.

4S" SPECIAL NOTICE.— We cannot under any circum-
stances be responsible for the truth of statements
made in Advertisements, or for the trustworthiness
of either Buyers or Sellers.

Advertisements will not be received for insertion under this
heading from Manufacturers or Dealers in Bee Furniture,
except for the Sales of Honey and Bee Literature.

THE SIMMrNS'"METHOD OP DIRECT INTRODUC-
TION. Enlarged to 32 pages. Price 6.W. Post free,
of the Author, Rottingdean, Brighton : Messrs. Neighbour &
Sons, 149 Regent Street; and Mr. J. Hockle, Kings
Langley, Herts. (53)

BEE-KEEPING, Plain and Practical : How to
Make it Pay. By A. Rusbridge, Is. Gd., post free,
Is. 8d. Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.

SIX HIVES, for Bottle Feeders ; hack and front double-
walled; loose floor-board, sloped; dummies, roof, ten
bars, porch, 9s. M. each ; three unnailed, 20s. 3d. Address
Harry Fisher, Leighton Buzzard. c 24

WANTED, two 4 lb. Swarms of Licurian Bees, to be
guaranteed headed by pure Fertile Young Ligurian
Queens, early in May. Applicants to state the prices re-
quired. Address Thos. Berry, Victoria house, Barrowford,
near Burnley. c 26

FOR SALE.— Five Stocks of Bees in Straw Skeps, 12s.
each. Address Jackson Maplethorpe, Billinghay,
Lincoln. c 29

FOR SALE. — Swarms and Stocks of English Bees in
Straw and Frame Hives. Price according to size and
time. All Bee-keeping Appliances supplied. Address C. H.
Cbisfokd, Ninfield, Battle, Sussex.

FOR SALE. — Together or separate. Hives stocked with
Bees.— Two Abbott's Copyable, 22s. each. Two Cot-
tage, 19s. each. All Association Frames. Extra Stock put
in Copyables for 12s. each. Skepsfor transferring, 16s. , 14s.
Box, 15s. The lot, .£7. Address Charles Greaves, Little.
port, Ely. c 34

FOR SALE. — A number of Stewarton Octagon Boxes,
all in first-class condition, some of them unused.
Half price. Address Henry Blackwood, Gillsburn, Kil-
marnock, c 35

FOR SALE. — Four very strong lots of Bees in Straw
Hives, each Hive with one of last year's Queens, 15s.
each. Address R. Atkin, The Hill, Welwyn, Herts. c 36

EVERAL Straw Skeps of Bees, 12s. each. Apply, by
letter only, T. R. Smith, Woking Village, Surrey, c 37

s

FOR SALE.— Teu Twin, or Stock and Nucleus Combi-
nation Hives ; also a few Section Racks, and Simmins'
Dry Sugar Feeders. Cheap. Address Head Master, St.
James's, Northampton. c 38

T. JAMES'S, NORTHAMPTON.— J. E. L. Gilbert,
Hon. Sec. Northants B. K. A., offers his Services as
Expert during the Easter Vacation. Expenses only re-
quired, c 39

BEES FOR SALE.— Stocks, any time, £1 each. Swarms,
May or June, 12s. id. Address Arthur Felstead,
Rempstone, Notts. c 40

HONEY, Pure Extracted, for Sale, 40 lbs. in 1-lb.
Bottles. Apply F. Ayling, Lodsworth, Petworth,
Sussex. c 41

OR SALE.— Strong Stocks of Bees in Skeps, 15s. each.
Address A. Sharp, Mill Apiary, Huntingdon. c 42

F

FOR SALE.— Forty Sections, about 1 lb. each. What
offers ? Address J. Holley, Hail Weston, near St.
Neots, Hunts. c 43

DON'T forget to read this Important Notice —
JOY'SNEW ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE of
HIVES and BEE FURNITURE is now ready.

Sent post free per Penny Stavip. Address —
ALFRED JOY, The Apiary, Aylesford, Kent. 3304

Imported CYPRIANS & SYRIANS.

See December Journal. Remittances and Letters posted up

to March 4th to Larnaca ; March 4th to 19th, Beyrout ;

after that, Munich, Germany. (94)

F3E&A.I«"Jg BEBTTOlff.

WANTED, a Single Man, with a good know-
ledge of Modern "Bee-keeping, as GROOM, and to
be generally useful. Or, a Man with a knowledge of Bee-
keeping, to take some duties of a Game-keeper, and other
work. Apply Bee-keeper, Post Office, Market Rasen,
Lincolnshire. 3682

LIMNANTHES PLANTS, 6d per hundred;
4s. per thousand. Three Hundred post free. Address
Joseph Cook, Fairford. 3506

LIMNANTHES PLANTS, M. per 100, free ; 5s.
per 1000, packed. Seed, 3d. Canada Balsam, 3d.
Address, Rector, Buttermere, Hungerford. 3637

SUPERIOR VEILS, with Wire Gauze Fronts,
Is. 2d. post free ; two for 2s. 2d. Candy, 5M. per lb.
Address, W. Crisp, Halstead, Essex. - 3661

A FOUNDATION MACHINE, by Neighbour and
Sons, quite new, with accessories ; also a four-frame
Observatory Hive, in mahogany, only used twice. Particu-
lars on application to C C. Cust, Bank, Wareham. 3657

IMPORTANT TO BEE-KEEPERS.

SEND stamped addressed envelope for Printed
List (price) of the best Bee Plant Seeds for your pets.
Good Seed a boon to Bee-keepers. Address W. Hollins,
Tillington Avenue, Stafford. 3674

Important Notice to Amateur Hive-makers,

Standard Frames in the Flat,

Tenoned and Morticed, requiring no block to make, with
17 in. solid Top-bars, per gross 10s. ; with split Top-bars,
per gross 12s. Qd. Can be used with Metal Ends.

SECTION CRATES,

Dovetailed, in the Flat, for 4J by 4} Sections.

To hold 71b. per doz. ... 7/6 Sections & Dividers .. . 3/9

„ 141b. „ ... 9/0 „ „ ... 7/6

„ 211b. „ ... 12/0 „ „ ... 11/0

No less quantities supplied, and we do not undertake to fill

orders at above prices after March. Terms Cash.

E. M. HART & Co., The Longstock Hive Manufactory,

STOCKBRIDGE, HANTS.

(90)

Will be sent post free on receipt of Two Stamps,

THE AMATEUR'S GUIDE
IN BEE-KEEPING.

a. 43-. x> a. -\xr s o w,

ALMA BUILDINGS, MACCLESFIELD. (3210)

BEITISH BEE-KEEPERS' PRACTICAL
NOTE BOOK. By Thomas W. Cowan, F.G.S.,
F.B.M.S., ifcc. Crown 8vo, boards, Is.; postage Id.
Indispensable for everyBee-keeper. Published by J.Hockle,
Kings Langley ; may also be obtained of all Hive-dealers.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Steangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c.'

[No. 107. Vol. XIII.]

APRIL 1, 1885.

[Published Fortnightly.]

(Sbitorial, Sottas, fit.

THE HONEY COMPANY.

As several letters have appeared in the Joui~nal
from Mr. S. Simmins, ' W. D.,' and ethers, with re-
gard to the working of the above Company, we are
authorised by the Board of Directors to make the
following statement of their intentions.

The primary object of the Company is to pro-
mote the ready sale of British honey, but they have
taken full powers to sell foreign honey as well ; so
that if the demand for honey by the public is
greater than the supply of British honey, they
alight be enabled to supply foreign honey instead
of none at all. The Directors have no intention at
present of dealing in any honey except that pro-
duced in the United Kingdom, and will buy honey
from their shareholders first, other things being-
equal — price, quality, <ic. Supposing a share-
holder holding, let us say for sake of argument,
one share, offers the Directors honey inferior in
quality and more in price to that offered by a
non-shareholder, it would be extremely unbusiness-
like in them to buy the dearer honey, and
advantage the one shareholder at the expense
of the many. In order to make it easier f< ir bee-
keepers in a small way, the Directors will receive
honey in payment of shares, which may be paid
up in part or in full at the option of the share-
holders.

The Company will also provide tins for sending
jhe honey, and, being able to make special rates
with the railway companies and others, will pay
carriage on honey, which will be recharged to the
seller, if not allowed for in the price at which the
honey is offered. This price will, of course, vary
.according as the honey harvest in Great Britain is
good or bad.

Over 5000 shares have already been applied for ;
and the Directors arc now prepared to receive offers
of honey, and samples will be received at the offices
•of the Company, addressed to Mr. Huckle, 17 King
William Strcctj' Strand.

It will be advisable for small producers of honey
to act together, so as to save expense in carriage ;
and as tbc Company will guarantee the purity of
all the honey they sell, and will from time to time
submit samples to their analyst, all persons un-
known to the Directors must send a reference as a

guarantee that the samples are genuine ; and in all
cases the sellers of honey to the Company will have
to guarantee that the honey they send has been
produced in Great Britain, and that it is genuine.

Through the great kindness of Mr. Burdett-
Coutts and the President of the B. B. K. A., most
suitable premises, with ample cellarage for storing-
honey, have been secured on very favourable terms
to the Company at Columbia Market, and the
Directors propose commencing business in the
course of the next few days.

The General Meeting of all the shareholders will
take place on 16th April, and a statement of the
affairs of the Company, their plans, &c, will then be
clearly put before them, and discussion invited on
any suggestions that may be made.

We understand also that a well-wisher to the
Company has offered to transfer to the Directors a
very valuable contract for the sale of honey without
any compensation to himself.

The fact that there are 200 shareholders, with
shares from one and upwards, shows conclusively
that the British bee-keepers are convinced of the
usefulness of such a Company, and so have taken up
already over a fourth of the nominal capital, thus
ensuring its commercial success ; and it only re-
mains for those who have not taken shares to scud
in their applications as soon as possible before the
General Meeting, as the Directors reserve to them-
selves the right to close the list when they think
fit, and afterwards issue the shares only at a
premium, or offer them, in the first instance, at par
to their original shareholders.

THE FUTURE OF BEE-KEEPING.

It is not too much to say that the production of
honey is now being gradually recognised as an
agricultural industry, and we are glad to note that
more than one Agricultural Association is offering
honey prizes this year. Whether bee-keeping will
continue to maintain the position into which it has
so suddenly sprung remains to be seen. One thing-
is certain, that, if it is to do so, it must be re-
garded as a profitable industry, and not merely as
a pleasant pastime for leisure hours. It is all very
well for country clergymen and others who have
little else to do, to take it up as a hobby, or as a
means of civilising their neighbours, for ladies and
gentlemen to keep a few hives to supply themselves
and their friends witli honev ; but this will not

108

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[April 1, 1888.

constitute it an industry, or do any permanent
good to the country.

Bee-farms have been started in England, and we
hear a good deal about ' artizans and labourers
paying their rent with their bees;' but there are
two considerations which constantly force them-
selves upon our notice, first, the yearly increasing
difficulty that many bee-keepers find in selling
their honey ; and secondly, the fact that the high
price which honey has fetched in past years cannot
be expected to be maintained. These two points
resolve themselves into the practical question,
' Will bee-keepers in the future find a market for
their produce at a remunerative price]' And we
believe that the answer is certainly, Yes.

The price of honey has lately been dealt with at
length by a well-known writer in our columns.
But, after all, the price of anything is what it will
fetch in the market. Honey, to find a ready side,
must be put forward as an article of food, or for
manufacturing purposes. It is largely imported
into this country, and the home production must
be able to compete with the foreign in the open
market. The fact is, we are passing through a
transition state ; the home supply has improved
somewhat rapidly both in quantity and quality,
and so far the demand has kept something like
pace with it, but time is necessary to bring the
producer and consumer together. This, we be-
lieve, will to a great extent be shortly brought
about by the Honey Companies ; and the price will
then settle itself, and it will be seen whether it
will really ' pay to keep bees.'

As regards comb honey in sections, the 'home-
grown ' has a certain advantage over the foreign on
account of the difficulty of carriage, and it will
always command a more or less fancy price as a
lnxuryj and those, who can offer it in fine con-
dition, will lie able to sell it at something more
than a merely remunerative price. At present
something like the same price is asked and expected
for all honey in sections, whatever its condition
may be; and a v irj 'urge proportion of that which
finds its way into tlie market is very inferior, and
many exhibits to which prizes arc given at the
various shows are scarcely worth commendation.
However, time an I experience will show a consider-
able improvement in this direction.

No doubt there are a good many bee-keepers
on modern principl ;s too, to whom the craft will
never bring any pr .fit : but this is equally true in
all trades. Careless and neglectful bee-keepers
must 'go to the wall' like other folk if they will
not mend their ways, and leave the profits to the
skilful and diligent

in the case if ex :r >cted honey 'the race will be
to the swift,' and only those whose hives, whether
few or many, can be made to yield largely will find
it pay. As an article of food honey is very
valuable, but it 8 scarcely a necessity, and the
price at which it will find a ready sale must abso-
lutely be regulated by the demand ; and that price
must shortly be what is now called a \t.'ry low one.
Mr. Simmins puts it or 7 J. That price may do for
a year or two, aid i limited quantity in orna-

mental bottles, and perfect in colour and trans-
parency, will probably continue to fetch even a
higher price ; but the bulk will have before many
years are past to be sold at even a lower price — a
price which will make it accessible to the middle
and lower classes as an article of food ; and that as
such it will before long be bought in Columbia
Market we have no doubt.

Of course, many bee-keepers will exclaim indig-
nantly at the bare suggestion of this. But we are
not prescribing what the price of honey shall be ;
we are only prophesying what it will be, and we
further prophesy that there will be plenty of
persons found to produce it at that price, and that,
too, with a ' living ' profit.

There are not wanting persons who would advo-
cate something like a honey ring or a trades union
system, by which they would fix the price ; but
their policy is a short-sighted and selfish one.
Those, on the other hand, who desire to see the
pursuit established as an industry for the many,
and especially for the agricultural poo7; will no
doubt be anxious to maintain for their clients as
high a price as is consistent with a free and ready
sale. The task of finding a constant market is, no
doubt, a difficult one, but not an impossible ; with
proper organization, and the co-operation of County
Associations with the Honey Companies the diffi-
culty may be overcome.

Thus the future of bee-keeping as a general
industry would seem, to a great extent, to depend
upon the working of the Honey Companies and
the efforts of the various Associations. If the
Associations will do their part in teaching their
members how to secure large harvests, and to
present their produce in a marketable form, there
is little reason to doubt that the Companies will
find the means to pass it on to the consumers at a
fairly remunerative price.

THE DISSECTION AND MOUNTING OF
MICROSCOPIC OBJECTS. *

Many objects cannot be examined under the
microscope without subdivision or previous pre-
paration, cither cm account of their size, or because
some parts are hidden from view by others of an'
opaque character.

This is so with most insects, especially the larger
species, though, on the other hand, some of the
more minute kinds are generally sufficiently trans-
parent as to require no special treatment. The
student will find it necessary to acquire a slight
knowledge of dissection in order to gain a correct
insight into the relative structure of their speci-
mens. We can hardly describe in a few words how
to proceed in each individual case. Experience
will be gained by practice, and the student will
find that his dissections will be more easily made if
he carefully study the general arrangement of
the organs of his specimens. Bees and other
insects intended for dissection should never bo
allowed to become dry ; and if they cannot be

* In reply to request of Rev. J. 0. Coussmaker, and others,
for instructions on above subject.

April 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

109

treated at once they should be preserved in dilute
glycerine or weak spirit.

Dissections may be carried on with but few
instruments. Small-sized saucers or watch-glasses
will be found to serve as the most convenient kind
of trough. The specimen will be more easily
dissected if fastened into the bottom of one of
these by a little paraffin wax or other adhesive
substance to prevent it from moving about. The
specimen should then be covered with a small
quantity of dilute glycerine or water, so as to
enable the waste tissues to be easily carried away.
A watch-maker's eye-glass will be found a very
useful help to magnify the minute organs. A few
ordinary sewing-needles with the eye ends inserted
into penholders or other handles are very neces-
sary. Camel-hair pencils, one or two pairs of
delicate forceps, a few dissect ing-knives of various
shapes, and two pairs of finely-pointed scissors (one
pair with straight blades, the other with curved
blades), are nearly all the requisites that will be
required.

The student will do well to practise his dissec-
tions on the larger species of insects, such as
beetles, wasps, <S:c. The queen and drone-bees will
be found admirable and interesting subjects. Do
not hurry on with imperfect dissections of a number
of subjects, but keep to one species, such as the
honey-bee, until a good knowledge of its anatomy
has been attained. Do not take the trouble to
mount any imperfect specimens.

The student having fairly well mastered the art
of dissecting, should procure from one of the
numerous dealers in microscope apparatus a few
glass slides. These are usually made with ground
polished edges, and generally of one universal size
— viz., 3x1 inches ; some thin glass covers, and a
few cells of various sizes and thicknesses made of
glass, tin, or vulcanite. These latter must be
fastened to the slides in the centre when the object
that is to be mounted is of considerable thickness,
or will not bear pressure. It is evident that a wall
nmst be formed round it to support the thin glass
cover. Care should be taken that the glass slides
and covers are perfectly clean and dry before the
object is mounted thereon. Marine glue, gold size,
and diamond cement, are the most convenient ad-
hesive substances for fastening on the cells or the
cover glasses.

The next articles to be considered are what may
bo termed ' Mounting Mediums.' There are a very
large variety of these, and it is impossible to give
all the various recipes for the making of such in
our very limited space. We will proceed with two
of the mediums most generally used for the mount-
ing of insects.

Canada Balsam.- — If the specimens are large
they should be put into liquid potash, and let
them remain a longer or shorter time according to
their texture. When ready to remove they should
be well washed in water, and carefully cleaned
with a camel-hair pencil, then immersed for a few
minutes into alcohol, so as to remove all trace of
water, or the object will become cloudy. After-
wards the specimens should be put into a bottle of

spirits of turpentine, where they may remain until
required for mounting. Small insects, parts of
bees, &c, may be made transparent by a continual
soaking in turpentine or oil of cloves. In mount-
ing an ordinary object the superfluous spirit should
be drained off, and a sufficient quantity of balsam
should be laid in the centre of the slide. This
should be warmed, as it becomes much thinner,
and is more easily manipulated. The object is
then carefully placed into the balsam, and the thin
cover glass laid on with a pair of forceps, gently
pressing it down to the level of the specimen.
The" mounted slides should b« allowed to remain
for a day or two, so that any air-bubbles may
escape ; then very gently dried for a few hours in a
slow oven ; after which the superfluous balsam
round the cover glass may be carefully scraped
away with a small knife. Canada balsam may be
purchased from dealers and chemists. It is a thick,
transparent, resinous substance, similar in appear-
ance to good honey.

Glycerine. — This is another medium which is
most commonly used for the preservation of parts
of insects, more especially the internal organs.
The dissections having been done may be well
washed in water or alcohol, so as to remove all
extraneous matter ; then put into a small bottle of
pure glycerine until ready for mounting. A cell of
glass, tin, or other substance, according to the
thickness of the object, should be firmly fixed with
marine glue or other good cement to the centre of
the glass slide. The object laid into the cell, and
filled up with glycerine. The top of the cell to be
coated with marine glue, liquid glue, or gum
dammar, which is used as a cement for fastening
the thin cover glass. Care should be taken to
avoid air-bubbles, as if these occur it is often
necessary to use an air-pump for their extraction.
We may here state that all slides of this kind
should be examined at short intervals, as they may
be found to require another coating of varnish
round the edge of the thin glass cover, so as to
prevent all danger of leakage.

EXAMINATIONS.

It will be observed from the report of the pro-
ceedings of last Committee Meeting of the B.B.K.A.,
p. 11.3, that it is proposed to hold in London, on
May 16, an Examination of Candidates who may
be desirous of gaining either First or Second Class
Certificates. The scheme, as adopted last year,
will in the main be adhered to for the coming year.
Third Class Examinations will be held on any date
from May 1st to September 30th at any place by
request of the Secretaiy of any Affiliated Association
which has fulfilled the conditions of affiliation.

An Examination for Second Class Certificates
will be held on a date (after September 30) to be
fixed by the Board of Examiners at various centres
throughout the country. This examination will be
open to those who have already gained Third Class
Certificates.

For First and Second Class Certificates an exam-
ination will be held in London during the spring of

110

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL

[April 1, 1885.

1886. This arrangement will give those candidates
who may have failed or who had not been able to
compete at the Second Class Examination, held in
the previous autumn, an opportunity for further
study, which maj' enable them to be successful and
to gain their certificate previous to the opening of
the next season's work.

Candidates intending to compete at the forth-
coming Examinations must give notice to the
Secretary, Mr. J. Hackle, King's Langley, not
later than Saturday, May 2nd ; such notice must
be accompanied by an entrance fee of five shillings.

QUARTERLY MEETING AND
CONVERSAZIONE.

The Quarterly Meeting of County Representa-
tives will be held at 105 Jermyn Street on Wednes-
day, April 22, commencing at four o'clock. The fol-
lowing subjects will be discussed : —

(1.) The desirability of securing more satisfactory and
uniform rules in Schedules at local and county
Shows.

(2.) To discuss the advisability of County Associations
holding their Annual Meetings during the month
of January being entered in the conditions of
affiliation.

(3.) Consideration of leaflet containing hints to be-
ginners in bee-keeping.

(4.) Tabulated returns of the work of County Associa-
tions during 1684 to be submitted.

The Conversazione will commence at six o'clock,
when a paper will be read by W. N. Griffin, Esq.,
Hon. Secretary of the Devonshire Association.
Subject : ' Honey and Wax, their Varieties and
Qualities.'

USEFUL HINTS.

Upward Ventilation. — Weather permitting,
quilts of porous material should now be removed,
and their place supplied by enamel sheets over
all strong colonies. Sheets of calico steeped in,
or brushed over with, melted wax, are as good
as enamel. The bees will prevent too great an
amount of moisture accumulating in the hive,
■ — witness the little ventilators merrily fanning
at the entrances. The conditions now are widely
different from those of the winter months when
the bees were closely packed in central cluster,
and had no power of ventilation, — when days were
short and nights long, and the atmosphere cold, or
teeming with moisture. Then flannel quilts, as
absorbents, might be useful. We say might ad-
visedly, for we are not quite sure of the fact. In
medium-sized skeps, well stored with scaled food,
and inhabited by populous colonies, under the old
system, we never knew a case of dysentery, and
very rarely of disease of any kind. And yet the
interiors of these skeps were so thoroughly pro-
poliscd that escape of moisture was an impossibility.
This we do know, that if enamel sheets are not
supplied the bees will soon enamel for themselves.
No sooner do the opening buds of chestnuts, poplars,
and other trees, afford a supply of propolis, than
the natural instinct of the bees leads them to apply
this — nature's enamel — to ceiling, walls, and floor,

rendering the whole interior of the hive impervious
to moisture.

There need be no fear of dysentery or dampness at
this advanced period of the year. ' Assist Nature,
but do not attempt to teach her,' should ever be
our motto.

Stores in strong, healthy colonies will now dis-
appear rapidly. It behoves us, therefore, to beware
of starvation, and to have the feeding-bottle ready
for all hives. The bees will not take down the food
except when required. If larva — white grubs — be
cast out of any hive, starvation is imminent. With
the best feeding sugar at '2d. per lb. there is no
excuse for allowing bees to starve.

Examination. — In mild, warm days hives may
now be thoroughly examined, and the presence or
absence of queens ascertained. Let it be done
quietly, but speedily, and by an expert, if possible.
Never lay bare the whole of the frames at once — ■
about half is sufficient. Use no smoke at the
entrance. An assistant, smoker in hand, to drive
down the bees by jets of smoke over the frames,
while the operator manipulates, helps materially.
Robbing is the chief danger, in large apiaries
especially. Only last week, while examining quickly
six hives, two of the queens were encased — before
we could close the hives — caused, no doubt, by
the entry of robbers, or strange bees. So great was
the commotion that, after rescuing, we were obliged
to cage the queens, releasing them after twelve or
fourteen hours' confinement. Obtain a sight of the
queen, if possible, but do not dally for this purpose.
Evenly deposited brood, in various stages, is
sufficient evidence of her presence. Still keep the
bees confined to the combs they can fairly cover,
adding others outside, as required. To any popu-
lous colony, found queenless, add a weak colony
with its queen — caging the latter for twenty-four
hours — by placing the weak one in the centre of
the strong one. This operation we have thrice
performed within the last ten days, and it is a
pleasant sight to behold the increased energy of
the bees — the loads of pollen carried in, with haste
so eager, that one might suppose life or death to
depend on the issue, — and this where a few hours
before all was despair, loitering about the entrance,
and not the slightest energy displayed. In a well-
managed apiary the ages of all queens are known,
but where this is not the case an old queen may
be known by the listless manner in which she
walks over the comb, the lack of attention paid to
her by the bees, the small amount of brood in the
hive, and the dwindling population. Sluggishness,
and oftentimes largely developed size, with un-
wieldy abdomen, are certain marks of age. Depose
at once such queens, and unite the bees to another
colony.

Note, fir future guidance, the conditions of every
colony.

From the middle of this month syrup of thin
consistency — 10 lbs. of sugar to seven pints of
water — may be advantageously given to strong-
colonies.

The condition of skeps can only be ascertained
by turning them up and examination. If full of

April 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

Ill

bees, but light, the colonies arc prosperous, and
must be freely fed, in anticipation of early swarms,
or supering.

General Remarks. — Towards the end of the
month strong colonies will be making preparations
for swarming in southern counties. Hives, and all
things pertaining thereto, should be in readiness.
Racks of sections must also be ready. Last season
many were put on and partly filled by the closo of
the month. Be careful to supply water. A thin
piece of board, pierced with holes, floating on the
troughs, will prevent drowning. A very useful and
simple appliance for securing foundation in sections,
the invention of Mr. Abbott, jun., is described, with
engraving, in vol. ix., pp. 179 and 257, of B.B.J.
We use no other. Our plan is to fill the sections
with foundation and to leave a space of three-eighths
of an inch between the sections and brood frames.
By these means our sections have been well filled,
with few corner holes, for bee passage, — the bee3
passing beneath the sections instead of through
them.

For raising early drones, queen-rearing in nuclei,
&c, see Cowan, pp. Ill and 154.

We defer our remarks on Swarming until next
month.

Clean floor-boards, enlarge entrances of strong
colonies, keep all snug and warm above, and refrain
from too frequent examinations further than to
feed, and unseal honey-cells, and to keep the brood
chamber contracted, so that the bees may be able
to cover all the frames.

Warning. — Remember that summer is not here
yet. ' Severe snowstorms' — in London 'four inches
deep,' — ' around Windsor several inches,'— ' at Alder-
shot the greatest snowstorm experienced for twenty
years,' — ' in Scotland a very heavy snowstorm.'
East, west, north, south, and midlands, 'snowstorms
and piercing north or easterly winds ;' — such are
the reports which reach us while we pen these
lines. Compare with these the statements of that
fine old Kentish bee-master, Robert Golding : — ' In
1830, the weather, from the 20th to the "30th of
March, was so fine that single hives increased in
weight upwards of 3 lbs. each, and bees worked in
wax, where room was given, as vigorously as at
midsummer.' Also,— 'March, in 1841, was equally
favourable.' Not without reason, therefore, is our
climate termed treacherous and uncertain. To
those who have been unnecessarily ' overhauling,'
' requeening,' ' uniting,' and performing other pos-
sible, or impossible, operations, we fear the results
will prove disastrous. Already such operators
report numerous cases of ' spring dwindling,' ' loss
of stocks,' etc., and no wonder. Alas ! that so many
enthusiastic neophytes in the art should imagine
that because they possess moveable-comb hives, there-
fore these combs, with the poor bees and brood
upon them, must necessarily be kept in perpetual
motion .' AVe hear of one energetic novice who
manipulates his two or three hives by lamp-
light every evening, exhibiting exciting 'queen-
hunts' to his astonished neighbours ! Verbum sat
sapienti. We do not hear that our poultry friends
are constantly ' manipulating ' their sitting hens,

or ' counting their chickens before they are
hatched !'

At this season of the year the best time for mani-
pulating hives is in the evening, when the apiary is
at rest. At this time there is less danger of incite-
ment to robbing, and the bees are generally in a
quieter mood, and less inclined to sting. We
have never known queen encasements occur during
evening manipulations. We do not intend these
remarks to apply to our friend's proceedings, as
related above,— by lamplight !— or to advise un-
necessary examinations, but simply to necessary
operations in the open air, during the evening, and
in broad daylight.

STIMULATING AND SPREADING BKOOD.

By this time, no doubt, many bee-keepers have com-
menced feeding their bees, with a view to stimulating
the queen to lay. As a rule bee-keepers err in com-
mencing too soon, and I have known some to examine
their hives early in February, and then to at once com-
mence feeding. Bees ought so to be wintered that
they need not be examined until the middle of March,
and should then be found strong, covering six or seven
frames, with still some honey remaining unconsumed.
It is very bad for the bees if they are neglected and
have to be fed before this, because when a hive is dis-
turbed to be examined, this of itself stimulates the
queen to lay. A strong hive undisturbed may have a
small patch of brood in the centre of brood-nest even
at tli9 beginning of February, and this will spread
slowly, but as soon as the hive is disturbed the brood
increases very rapidly. Even hives having no brood at
all, when examined will be found, if inspected again the
next day, to contain eggs in quantities. Now there is not
much danger to a hive if the brood commences to expand
at the proper time, but February is too soon to force it,
and is most injurious to the welfare of the colony. The
old bees are induced to leave their hives to look for
food, and many of them perish from cold, and the num-
bers decrease before there can be any young bees to take
their places. Bees, therefoie, should not be interfered
with before the middle of March, when a favourable
opportunity should be taken to give them clean hives,
and to make a thorough examination as rapidly as pos-
sible. The bee-keeper will then enter the condition of
his hives in his note-book, and determine upon the course
to be pursued. Supposing the hive to contain more combs
than the bees can cover, some of the outer combs will be
removed, and the brood-nest reduced by the division-
boards, so as to crowd the occupied space with bees. I
say crowd, because we must bear in mind that a fall in
the temperature at night causes the bees to cluster more
compactly and desert the outer combs, and there should
be sufficient bees to cover every comb on the coldest
night. If the bees have not been examined until the
middle of March, most likely the hives will be found to
contain three or four combs partly filled with sealed
brood, and this first examination will very soon increase
this quantity, especially if we have farther stimulated by
uncapping some of the honey-cells. As soon as the honey
in the cells is exhausted, of course recourse must be had
to gentle feeding, and care must be taken that the bees

112

THE BBITISH BEE JOUBNAL,

[April 1, 1885.

are not without food. If the hees are not able to get
pollen, it must be supplied to them artificially until they
are able to obtain it. Now if the bee-keeper wishes to
make the most of his bees he will not be satisfied with stim-
ulating only by means of gentle feeding, but he will force
the brood to spread much more rapidly than it would do
if left to itself. I have purposely deferred saying any-
thing about spreading the brood until this month, as I
consider it is quite soon enough to begin now. The
operation of spreading the brood is very simple— so simple,
in fact, that bee-keepers are perfectly reckless with re-
gard to it, and go on at such a rate as to entirely ruin all
their prospects of obtaining honey, instead of having
their hives at the time of the honey-flow so strong as to
be able to collect a large quantity of it. Persons have
denounced spreading the brood ; and no wonder, when
their experience has been so disastrous. I know a num-
ber of bee-keepers, who ought to have known better,
destroy their whole apiaries by injudicious brood -spread-
ing. It is now more than eleven years ago since I first
made known the way I then adopted by spreading the
brood, to have my bees in a condition to take advantage
of the early flow of honey, and I have carried out the
same plan ever since with most beneficial results. In the
British Bee-keeper's Guide-booh I take particular care to
caution bee-keepers as to the dangers to be guarded
against. By experience I had found the?e out, but
because there are certain precautions absolutely neces-
sary to insure success, it is certainly not a reason for
giving up the operation altogether. If the instructions
are faithfully carried out there is very little risk attend-
ing it. The whole secret consists in having the space
occupied crowded with bees, so that, however cold it may
be at night, the bees can still cover the outer combs. If
we examine the hives at the beginning of April, and
find brood, say on three combs, we can uncap the honey-
cells on the comb having the least brood, and place it
between the other two. The effect of this will be to
make the queen deposit eggs round the brood and extend
it on the combs to a distance greater than that occupied
by the brood on the other two combs. In the course of
a week the hive, if examined again, will be found to
contain brood on four or five combs. Those containing
the least brood have the honey-cells uncapped, and are,
in their turn, placed between those containing the most
brood. All this time the division-boards are kept in the
same place, and the number of frames not increased, but
those in which the brood is contained can be manipulated
until every comb is filled with brood. By this time
numbers of young bees will be hatching out, and when the
space begins to get over-crowded — and not till then — insert
an empty comb in the middle of the brood-nest. As soon as
there is room for another it can be given. In this manner
much more brood can be raised than if the bees were left
to themselves, and we have a young population ready for
the early harvest.

It is evident that unless the whole of the space is
crowded with bees, the brood in the outer combs would
perish from cold, and this is the great danger to be
avoided. I would also recommend that on no account
should the chaff coverings be removed, as theie should
be perfect ventilation; and the moisture should not be
allowed to condense in the hives. Our Swiss friends
winter their bees without difficulty on account of the
dry climate, and have not the trouble we have in spring;
and experience has taught me that hives with ventila-
tion through chaff in the spring have done much better
than those not having it.

The above remarks respecting stimulation and brood-
spreading apply more particularly to the south of England,
where the honey harvest is very early, and if the right
time is missed very little honey can be got. Bees left
to themselves do not increase rapidly until the honey-
flow commences, and this is precisely the time they
ought to be gathering the honey, instead of only pre-

paring for it. In some places there is only one yield of
honey, and that early in the spring, and it is highly
important that bees should be ready to start storing it
in sections as soon as it arrives. In the north, where
the honey harvest is not till June, or oven July, stimu-
lating the bees is not so important, as they frequently-
collect enough to keep them going, and the brood
spreads naturally. Let me urge bee-keepers again not
to give up spreading the brood, but to do it with ex-
treme caution, and I am sure they will be amply re-
warded by the prosperity of their hives for the extra
care bestowed. Those who cannot faithfully carry out
the above instructions had better not attempt it, but be
content with only stimulating.— Tiros. Wu, Cowax.

THE HONEY COMPANY.
Criticism is always useful ; and, as several letters
have appeared in the Journal against the formation of
the above Conipan)', the following unprejudiced opinion,
which appears in the Bee News, edited by Ilerr Graven-
horst, the well-known German bee-keeper, may perhaps
interest some of your readers. — Geobgk Walker,
Wimbledon.

' Englishmen are, like the Americans, practical people,
and therefore take up a thing from the practical side,
viz., from that which is of most use. Therefore they
have, years ago, founded a well-knit Central Society . .
.... which represents, in every resp9ct, the interest of
bee-keepers, and which forms a power which understands
how to attain that for which it strives. It is only since
the founding of such a central Society, that bee-culture
has made such progress in England, which is followed
from year to year by an increasing production of honey.
In order to dispose, at a suitable price, of the harvested
honey, the central Society has now undertaken to start
a company, which is called the British Honey Company.

We consider the formation of such a Company

of endless importance, for by it the bee-keepers, as well
as the public, are to be served. The latter is assured
of receiving unadulterated goods, and the former not
only know how to dispose of their honey at all times ;
they also get a good price for it, and are saved many
cares, unpleasantnesses, and risk.

' Faithful to our given word, to bring what is good
wherever we may find it to the knowledge of our
readers, we communicate the above and join with it the
request, that they would consider the thing; how we
German bee-keepers can follow the lead of our English
colleagues.

' The British Honey Company, that is, the Company
which has been formed in England to procure a remu-
nerative market for the honey of the bee-keepers of
Great Britain, will be a great blessing for them, and
chiefly will provide that the producers and consumers
shall be brought nearer together.

' The editor cannot get rid of the thought of the
founding of a German Company, and wishes in all
seriousness to invite the German bee-keepers to approach

the matter but we are all the more persuaded

that the German bee-keepers would gain much advan-
tage from it, should we follow the example of England.
The easier an article of sale can be sold, the better it will
be paid for, the more and more quickly will this branch
of industry flourish. Could we, who have honey for
sale, always sell it to such a Company at remunerative
prices, there is no reason why each of us alone should go
to the expense of procuring pretty labels, bottles, &c,
when a Company can manage all these much more easily,
more cheaply, and better. He who would oxpect all the
salvation of bee-keeping from a Honey Company, would
doubtless lie too short-sighted, as that, depends upon
many other and more important factors.'

April I, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

113

COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.
Reports of several of the County Associations are to
land and show the following list of members: — ■

Hertfordshire . . 104

Kent 376

Staffordshire . . . 355
Warwickshire . . 350
Buckinghamshire . ■'!■'!!>
Norfolk .... 244
Derbyshire . . . 236
Worcester . . .221

Essex 213

Surrey 211

Hants and Isle of

Wight .... 200
Devonshire . . . 187
Wiltshire .... 184
Cheshire .... 183
Berkshire .... 180

Dorsetshire . .
Herefordshire .
Cornwall . . .
Gloucestershire .
Leicestershire .
Bedfordshire . .
Oxfordshire . .
Huntingdonshire
Somersetshire .
Brecon ....
Cumberland . .
Shropshire . .
Nottinghamshire
Yorkshire list not giver
Northants list not given

17.'!

160

151

145

134

112

103

9]

82

72

66

55

38

COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES

APPOINTED TO ATTEND QUARTERLY MEETINGS OF THE
BIUTISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

Buckinghamshire. — The Rev. E. Clay and the Rev.

S. R. Wilkinson.
Berkshire. — Mrs. Currey and Mr. J. Bowly.
Cheshire. — Mr. Bush and Mr. Ootterill.
Cornwall. — Mr. Charles Kent.
■Cumberland. — R. Ferguson, Esq., M.P.
Devonshire. — Rev. J. G. Daugar and Mr. W. Griffin.
Essex. — Mr. F. II. Meggy and Mr. E. Durrant.
Herefordshire. — Mr. A. Watkins and the Rev. F. S.

Stoke- Yaughan.
Hertfordshire. — Rev. A. Roberts and Mr. J. P.

Sarnbels.
Huntingdonshire. — Mr. J. Linton and Mr. J. Edey.
Kent. — Rev. T. Sissons and Mr. G. Allen.
Norfolk.— The Rev. J. Blake Humfrey and Mr. W. II.

Back.
Staffordshire. — Mr. Percy Toynbee.
Somerset. — Rev. C. G. Anderson.
Wilts. — Rev. W. E. Buikitt and Mr. T. Herbert

Clarke.

The above list is taken from the reports and informa-
tion furnished by Secretaries. It is to be regretted that
the names of the representatives are omitted in a large
number of the reports. We shall be glad to add others
upon hearing from the Secretaries of those County Asso-
ciations which are not included in the list.

ASSOCIATIONS.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Committee-meeting held at 105 Jermyn Street, on
Wednesday, March 18th. Present: the Rev. II. R.
Peel (in the chair), the Hon. and Rev. II. Bligh, the
Rev. E. Bartrum, the Rev. F. S. Sclater, Capt. Bush,
R.N., Capt. Campbell, H. Jonas, G. Walker, and the

. Secretary.

The Secretary reported that arrangements for the de-
livery of a series of lectures in North Wales was pro-
ceeding satisfactorily, and that the Rev. J. Lingen Seager
had kindly undertaken this tour, which would commence
on Monday, April Oth. Resolved that the best thanks
of the committee be given to Mr. Seager for his kind
offer. Further applications for lectures in Merioneth-
shire and Cardiganshire were also considered. Upon the

; recommendation of theCounty Association sub-committee

it was resolved that the Secretary bi empowered to make
suitable arrangements for carrying out the.-.'' lectures.

The Secretary was also instructed to provide for a
series of lectures to be delivered ir.der thi auspices of
the Cumberland Association.

It was also resolved to make Ji p issibl , arrangements
for the attendance of a bee-tent and an expert at the
Isle of Man Agricultural Show in Julj next.

The educational sub-committee presented their report,
recommending that Saturday, May LGth, be the date
fixed for the first-class examination of candidates desirous
of gaining certificates; such examination to be held in
Loudon. First and second class certificates lo be awarded
according to the merits of the candidates. Candidates to
give the secretary, Mr. J. Hackle, King's Langley, fourteen
clear days' notice of their intention to compete, such notice
to be accompanied by an entrance-fee of 5s. Only those
candidates who have already gai ed a second or third
class certificate to be entitled i ■■ urpeti ;•' this examin-
ation.

The secretary was instructed ' - communicate with
Mr. W. N. Griffin, the hon. sec. oi the Devonshire
Association, requesting him to read a paper at the next
quarterly meeting.

The next meeting of the committee was fixed for
Wednesday, April 22nd, at three 1'clock.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE BEE - 15 EEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

A lecture ill connexion with the above Association
was delivered on Monday evening, March 2-'ird, at the
Church Schools, Farnsfield, by A.N. Calvert, Esq., C.E.,
on ' Bees and Bee-keeping : howf make it Pay.' The
Rev. R. A. McKee occupied the chair, and, upon intro-
ducing the lecturer, pointed out the objects of the Asso-
ciation and the benefits to be derived therefrom. In the
course of a very interesting lecture (which was illustrated
by hives and all apparatus connected with modern bee-
keeping), Mr. Calvert showed how bees might be kept to
produce a profit, and described fully the working of a
modern bar-frame hive. At tin c ose of the lecture
several persons joined the Association.

A vote of thanks to the lect • .-on the chairman
brought the proceedings to a elos .

STAFFORDSHIRE BEE-1 EE 'HIS'
ASSOCIATION.

At a Committee Meeting held at Stafford on Wednes-
day, March 18th, it was decided thai Mr. Rollins, the
expert of the Association, and Mr. E. Clowes commence
the spring tour as early after Mar :h 25th as the weather
would permit : 105 members had made application to be
visited. It was also arranged ilia' in future the cir-
culation of the Bee Journal be controlled by Messrs.
Geo. Farrington, .1. R. Criteblovi '- i. Oartwright, and
the Rev. R. Rigdeu, to whom all complaints or sug-
gestions should in future be. made. V schedule of prizes
was resolved upon for the show -■ I" held at Tamworth
on Aug. 25th and 20th, a ■ ipj o) which will be
forwarded on application being made to the Hon.
Secretary.

HUSH BEE-KEEPEP.S' ASSOCIATION.

Spring Showto be held at Ball's Bridge/Dublin, on 7th
April, and three subsequent days. Amongst additions to
the Prize List we notice a special prize for lady bee-
keepers, also one for the amateur hive-maker. The An-
nual General Meeting will be h^ld cm Thursday, April
Oth. at 11 a.m., in the rooms of -lie Society for the Pre-
vention of Cruelty to Animal.-. 36 Westmoreland Street,
Dublin. The Report, which sir >ws the Association to be
in a very satisfactory condition, contains a suggestion
which is to be considered at tin General Meeting. It is

114

TFIE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[April 1, 1885.

to hold monthly meetings, open to all members, at which
papers could bo read and discussed, and new inventions
introduced to the notice of members. The exhibitions
held in various parts of Ireland during the past season
were most successful and encouraging. The yield of
honey was enormous, and found a ready sale at remunera-
tive prices. A great many new members have joined
the Association. The Agenda Paper for the Annual
Meeting contains twelve distinct notices; one to consider
the desirability of changing the time and place of the
Spring Show, another to appoint district representatives,
&C.

BERKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATIONS

From the Annual Report of this Association we learn
that it has made good progress during the past year. The
number of members has increased, fresh ground has been
opened up, and the thoughts of the members, as well as
the general public, have been steadily drawn to the mani-
fold properties and usefulness of honey, and its great
adaptability to many useful ends.

The total number of members is 174. The receipts
have been 108/. 4s. 8r/., and the payments 83/. 12s. 'Id.

1 hiring the past year a handsome flag has been pre-
sented to the Society for its tent, by Mrs. Currev, of
Avenue Villa, South-Eastern Avenue, Reading.

In April a Conversazione was held, by invitation of the
hon. secretary, in the Foresters' Hall," Reading, to the
members and their friends, which was very numerously
attended and much appreciated.

A bronze medal at the Health Exhibition was won
by the Rev. Y. II. Moyle, and three second Prizes at the
British Bee-keepers' Royal Association Stand at the
Agricultural Society's Meeting at Shrewsbury, by Mr.
Wm. Woodlev ; and also a third prize at Shrewsbury by
Mr. M. Whittle.

Various additions lia\ e been made to the library, which
now numbers thirty volumes.

Four members of the Society have gained third class
certificates of proficiency in bee-culture during the year,
viz., Mr. Fewtrell, of Heading; Mr. Webster, of Woking-
ham ; Mr. Colebv, of Wargrave ; and Mr. Cambridge, of
Aldermaston.

The bee tent has visited fifteen places during the vear,
and the financial result lias been anett profit of 5/. 13s. del.
to the Association.

Lectures have been delivered on bee-culture by the
hon. sec. at several places, resulting in an iuerease of
members, and also by him on ' Honey in its applied
Forms."

The Annual Show, a most successful one, was held in
the Old Town Hall, Reading. It was opened by Mrs.
Mount, of Waning Park, near Reading. The schedule of
prizes was the largest yet issued by any county associa-
tion, and included a silver cup, and silver and bronze
medals, notably for honey in different applied forms, as
food, beverages, confectionery, sweets, medicine for man
and beast, toilet articles, and other useful forms.

To Messrs. Huntley and Palmer the thanks of all bee-
keepers are due for their having been the first to manu-
facture and bring out a biscuit, now well known every-
where, viz., the 'Honey Drop Biscuits,' which, as is
observed in the last annual report of the British Bee-
keepers'Association , 'promises to be an article of permanent
value.'

Messrs. Fry and Sons, of Bristol, have also issued pure
British honey chocolate tablets and creams. Messrs.
Blatch, of Theale, honey beverages. Mr. George, Reading,
confectionery. Mr. Thomas, Reading, honey toilet pre-
parations, and Messrs. Cross and Cardwell.'Noad, honey
medicines.

During the show, on October 1st and '2nd, lectures
were delivered by Otto Ilelmer, Esq., F.O.S., on 'Pure
and Adulterated 'Honey,' and by F. R. Cheshire, Esq.,
F.R.M.S., on ' Pees as Fertilizers' of Fruits.'

The thanks of the Society are due to the Rev. F. S.
Sclater, hon. sec. for Bucks Bee-keepers' Association, the •
Rev. W. E. Burkitt, hon. sec. for Wilts Bee-keeper.i'
Association, and Otto Ilehner, Esq., who kindly acted as
judges, as well as to F. R. Cheshire, Esq., for his lecture.
Mr. Sclater was deputed by the British Bee-keepers'
Association to act as examiner of the candidates for
third-class certificates.

The show of bee flora seeds, by Messrs. Sutton and
Sons, was most, effective, and the prompt willingness with
which Messrs. Bracher and Sydenham, Watson, Adnams, .
and others responded to the idea of exhibiting plate and
china for holding honey was encouraging. A" very great
impetus has been given in the county generally this year
by the exertions then made to promote bee-culture on
improved principles.

OXFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION ..

The expert for the Oxford district has just made his
spring inspection. It is on the whole very satisfactory,
but at the same time there are many things which need
the careful attention of beginners — there are many of
them in the University city just now, There is a large ■
field for bee-keepers in and around Oxford; and that
fact is just being realised, so that the members of tha
Association are rapidly increasing, and many who do not
at present see the benefits accruing to unity are taking
up the question of bee-keeping and making themselves
practical bee-keepers. In respect to this class of the
community, the Oxford Times of the 28th ult. says: — 'An
effort will be made to considerably augment the number
of members of this Association during the coming
months. Those who keep bees, and others who agree
with the objects of the Association, are earnestly
requested to join. The Hon. Sec, the Rev. F. C. Dillon, .
will be pleased to give any information.'

CfliTCsponticittc.

*#* All Correspondents forwarding Letters for insertion in ■
the Journal, Reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes
from the Hires, Queries, etc., are requested to direct their com-
munications to ' The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," c/o-
Messrs. Strangewai/s & Sons, Tower Street, Upper St. Martin's
Lane, W.C

OUR HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the United King-
dom during the month of February 1885, amounted to
5385/. [From a private return sent by the Principal of
the Statistical Office, Her Majesty's Customs, to E. H..
Bellairs, Wingfield House, Christchurch.]

THE HONEY COMPANY.

I am surprised to find that a number of people are
finding fault with the Directors of the Honey Company
because they ' reserve to themselves the right of dealing
in foieign honey.' Now this commends itself to me as a
most wise decision on their part, for more reasons thai>
one. I will put a simple and very possible case. Sup-
pose some season should prove an exceptionally bad one
in England, and the Company was unable to meet the
demand of its regular customers with home-gathered
honey; are they simply to tell them they must go to
some other market ? Would it not be to the interest of
all parties (and especially to the welfare of bee-keeping
in England) that the Company should be able to buy up
foreign honey and in some degree balance the prices and
keep their regular customers until better times ?

I earnestly hope that we shall hear no more of such a
frivolous objection, and that it will not prevent people

April j, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

115-

talcing- shares in a concern which is based upon sound
commercial principles, and is calculated to be of immense
benefit both to bee-keepers and the public generally. — J.
LingeN-SeaGKB, Hon. Hoc. Herts B.K.A.

I am very glad to see that the British Honey Company
is virtually formed. It will be of the greatest possible
advantage, both to the honey producer and to the public.
To the former as affording a ready market for his honey,
and to the latter as protecting it against the adulterated
stuff which has been imported from America and else-
where in such large quantities of late years, and has
brought such discredit upon the honey industry generally.
I hope tliat all bee-keepers will give their best support
to the British Honey Company, and not leave it to a few
to bear all the burden and expense, whilst they reap the
benefits of it. — Honeycomb.

A NEW SYRUP FEEDER, WHICH DISPENSES
WITH SYRUP-MAKING.

I do not suppose there is a single bee-keeper who would
not be glad to do away with all preparation in the way
of cooking or mixing sugar and water, before being
placed in the feeder. I have always hoped to do away
with that trouble, and at last I am pleased to be able to
state that so far as my own apiaries are concerned syrup-
making- is a thing of the past.

As a slow feeder and powerful stimulator, I find nothing
better than my dry -feeding dummy, but there are times
when it is necessary to feed a colony up quickly at the
end of the season, or it is desirable to obtain a large
number of sealed combs for future use, and then syrup-
feeding must be resorted to ; but how to do it so that
both sugar and cold water could be placed at once into
the feeder, remained an unsolved problem until in the
spring of 1834 1 designed a feeder for supplying some
40 lbs. at one time to be placed under the hive, and
which received the sugar and water in the usual pro-
portion without the slightest preparation. I now sub-
mit three different styles on the same principle for work-
ing above, and at the' side of hive.

The 'Commercial Feeder' is 17 [ x 17|-inch, being full
size of my hive and eleven inches deep, and will hold
between SO and 40 lbs. The quilt is removed from top
of hive, and this feeder with centre slot placed across the
frames, covers the entire hive, and the quilting and cover
is placed above all. The principle upon which this and
the under-mentioned feeders work can best be shown by
a simple section as per illustration. The uprights at

' '

^j

centre reach to within half an inch of top, and are the
full length of feeder, with half-inch passage (C) between,
where the bees come up, and go to work at the syrup
standing in a similar space on either side. The thin per-
pendicular and diagonal lines are perforated zinc or tin,
running from end to end, and are kept in position by
half-inch square supports. The feeding passages are
capped by a sheet of tin to prevent bees coming out
when inserting food; and, moreover, no robbing can occur
with either of the feeders under consideration.

The sugar is put in at A A, and the water as usual is
then poured in and circulates iu B B, until the sugar is
dissolved, and syrup formed, which meanwhile rises in
the two half-inch passages, where the bees readily
utilise it. With the exception of the perforated sheets
and cap, the whole is made of 5-inch pine, carefully
tongued at all joints. The dotted lines show upper and
lower margin of outside rim. This feeder can be made
any size smaller to go under ordinary covers for placing
over the bole cut in quilt, but care must be taken that
the upper and lower chambers are in the same proportion
to each other as here represented, or no amount of per-
suasion will make the sugar dissolve iu the proper
quantity of water.

The ' Frame Feeder ' for placing at the side of combs is
made either of all metal 14 x 8i x 3-inch, or in wood,
14 x 8i x 4i-inch ; the top bars of each having an
oblong opening cut out nearly full length and width for
filling, such open space being covered by the usual qudts.
Instead of being double this feeder is constructed as one
side of above illustration, the low board representing the
side with J-inch passage at top to admit bees into a f-in.
space, running from end to end and from top to bottom.
The inside of the front wall of the all metal frame-feeder
is lined with perforated tin, to give the bees a good
foot-hold throughout the |-in-. passage. The tin feeder
takes about •') lbs. sugar besides the water, and the other
•r> lbs., being something like 5 and 8^ lbs. of syrup re-
spectively.

The 'Amateur ' (also holding nearly 0 lbs. food) is de-
signed especially for those who prefer to feed over the
hole cut in quilt, and is of circular form,'.) in. in diameter
and 4 in. deep, with a 2-in. funnel in centre, surrounded
by another of perforated tin or ziuc, set f in. off all
round, where the bees work at the syrup. The diagonal
perforated sheet in this case is in the shape of an inverted
cone, reaching from the bottom edge of the perforated
funnel to the outside rim, \i in. below the upper edge of
same. The centre funnel is lined inside and out with
perforated material, to give the bees foothold, and this,
including the t[ in. space all round, is capped with a
piece of glass set in metal rim, while the whole feeder is
covered with a lid of tin. The inside of funnel com-
municating with hive may be coated with wax, as an
inducement for the bees to come up, or a drop or two of
syrup mav be let down at the time of filling. The
' Amateur' is very suitable for feeding up skeps, and a
single feeder will finish off a considerable number if
shifted from one to another, as each has sufficient. Of
course there is no objection to the use of warm water, if
anyone cares to go to the trouble of using it, though the
action of the feeders will be found almost perfect with
cold, and should a few lumps remain undissolved, such are
thrown forward where the bees can make use of tliem.

As I have elsewhere stated, all fast feeders ma3Teadily
be made to answer the same purpose as the regulating-
arrangements, by inserting a given quantity of food to
last a stated time, according to the requirements of a
colony, indeed such a proceeding is far preferable to-
depending upon atmosphere feeders, which a careful test
will show cannot be relied upon to act as intended.

Now, while I have always insisted upon a soft, moist
sugar as being- best adapted to dry feeding, just the
opposite is most suitable for the process now under our
notice ; loaf sugar being exactly the thing for these feeders,
just as it has always been more readily converted into
syrup than any other when prepared with boiling
water.

As I have no pecuniary interest in these feeders, to
save unnecessary correspondence, I will mention (with
the Editor's permission) that I have had my own patterns
made by Mr. W. P. Meadows, of Syston, near Leicester,
and Mr. J. II. Howard, of Holme, Peterborough, either
of whom will be happy to supply any further informa-
tion that mav be desired. — S. Simmins.

110

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[April 1, 1885.

1

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7 A

HIVE-MAKING.

By a Lady Amateub.

I fancy not a few of my sister bee-keepera are their
-own hive-makers, hut 1 shall be pleased if I can induce
a few more to become so by giving some details of the
simple way in which I make mine. I have found it
most pleasant work ; besides which, there is the satis-
faction of arranging things according to one's own pet
fancies, of which bee-keepers are said to have a good
many.

My hives are 30 in. long, on the ' Combination ' prin-
ciple, with a hinged roof-case, sufficiently deep to admit
of doubling. The following are the priced materials for
one hive ; the boards are priced per running foot, as
-supplied me by a timber merchant: —

8 ft. best red board, planed one side, d. .s. d.

both edges 7x1 ... 2 ... 1 4

9 ft best red board, unplaned ... 11 x A ... 2 . 1 ti

Hit. „ _ „ ., 9xi ... 1J ... 1 9

6 ft. 6 best white board, planed one side

and both edges 9 A J ... V, ... 0 10

27 ft. best red lathing, unplaned ; cnt

for meat Is. for 46 ft. ran say H x \ ... .0 7

Total for wood

4 iron legs for stand 4

3 doz. screws ].'. in., No. 8, at Hit. ; 3 doz. 1 in.,

No. 8, at~W. "

3d. worth U in. brads, 11 lunges ljj long, and

screws to fit, 2!,d

2 ft. ti tarred felt (reputed 3 ft. wide, but only 2 ft. S),

at Sd. per yard

1 doz. Abbotts' frames, and 1 top for plain dummy

Total cost of materials 11 8

The carrier's charge for bringing my wood seven miles
from the town comes to '.)cl. a hive.

The village blacksmith makes the iron legs of i in.
rod. They are 0 in. long, and riveted into a 2 x 2 in.
plate, with four screw holes. They are hammered up
rather thicker at the foot end.

Floor-board. — Three lengths of 30 in. of 7 x 1 planed
red. Sink the entrance-way
before joining these by sawing
down \ of the depth of the
board as far as may be wished.
I find the shape in the ac-
companying plan the most
suitable. It will be necessary
to smooth it with plane and
chisel, finishing' off with sand-
paper. Join the boards by
means of a cross-piece (a 21-in.
piece of 9-in. board will cut
four) at each end, allowing the
front one to project A an inch.
Screw the legs on at the four
corners, first with a brace and
centre-bit, sinking holes for the
reception of the riveted heads of the legs. The floor-
board is loose from the hive.

Body-case of unplaned red board. Two sides, 30 in.
long of 11 x i; one front, 20 in. long, 11 x i ; one back,
20 in. long, DxJ (this last to be flush with "the sides at
the bottom). Use three screws and two brads to each
joint.

Inner Hue proper of planed white. Two sides, 20 in.
long of 0 x h, to he fixed by means of brads through the
case-ends 14 i. in. apart, the planed surfaces turned in-
wards.

Roof-ease of unplaned red. Two sides, 30 in. long,
9 x \ ; one front, 20 in. long, 9 x \ ; one back, 20 in.
long, 11 x i (this last to be Hush with sides at the top).
Join in the samo way as the body-case ; but to give
rigidity divide the 0 in. remnant of 7 x 1, and screw it
into diagonally opposite angles at the top.

. elm

I3im -

Gable-ends of unplaned red, 9 x js — 22 in. will cut one
paii' (while 33 in. will cut two pairs). Screw them on
outside the roof-case ends, lapping them over the latter
by 1 in. Pare the points off flush witli the sides. Cut

33 ih '•>"

30 in. of lath and fix narrow way up between the gables
as a roof ridge, paring the points of the latter flush with
it. Cut all ventilation-holes and line them with per-
forated zinc.

Laths are bradded on projecting J in., to keep out the
weather all round the bottom of the roof-case, and the
sides and back of the body-case, their outer top edges
having first been bevelled off. Also a plain lath is fixed
to the body-case in front, immediately below that on
the roof-case, and into these two the hinge3 are sunk.
By means of a couple of picture-rings and
a piece of string each side the roof is stayed,
so as not to open beyond a right angle.

For Entrance Slide — two laths, A and
B, are so bevelled that A being fixed to the
body-case B can slide on the projection of
the floor-board, A keeping it upright. B
should be divided into two lengths.

The AVu /liter and Porch are identical —
21 x -ih red ; the inner upper edge of each
being so bevelled that they shall slope at
a suitable angle when fixed to the pro-
jecting floor-board and the body-case respectively. To
prevent warping they should have a small slip of wood
underneath across each end.

The Felt will need patching for either the front or
back eave, the patch being well lapped. It is tacked on
with large tacks, so as to lie closely down on the wood
all round.

Little finishing touches will suggest themselves to the
worker. In conclusion, let me beg my readers to re-
member, that in carpentering, as in needlework, it pays
best to prepare the work thoroughly. Do not saw up
wood until you have planned down on paper exactly
what you want. Above all, do not spare the square,
but mark with it your intended saw-cuts, even when
sawing up the lathing.

Body-case.

QUEEN-RAISLVG.

Much has been said as to various ways of forcing
queens, and obtaining them before required for swarms ;
but nothing is worse than making haste to establish a lot
of weak nuclei at the expense of on.- or more good stocks,
which, instead of being rendered useless for the entire
season, as too frequently is the case, should remain a
powerful hard-working force throughout, while under
my process giving almost as much honey as if they had
not been disturbed at all, and into the bargain, a much
larger and more substantial rate of increase than those
which had been deprived of brood and bees before
attaining full strength, with the vain expectation of
being to the fore with fertile queens.

A very simple way has occasionally been recommended
for getting queen-cells started by removing the presiding
queen; but such a process is indeed more simple than
practical. In very many cases, especially with Liguriaps,
no more than one or two cells are started, and therefore
much time is wasted for nothing. Even supposing the
plan could always be depended upon, I should for my
own use prefer to leave the queen undisturbed until after
cells had been built and eggs deposited in them by her,
under the natural impulse of s.vaimir.g. As a rule
queens raised in this way give the besi results, and I lind

April 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

117

no time lost by waiting: for them ; on the contrary,
during- the season, considerable gain over the usual forc-
ing; methods.

By the plan now given, the nuclei are started under
the best possible condition, with bees and brood at the
swarming point, and by exercising a little foresight we
may always have our earliest cells from the best queens.
When any colony is selected foi' queen-raising let it be
stimulated as an ordinary colony until the middle of
April, till it has, say, six frames well crowded with bees
and brood. Now do not on any account add another
comb or sheet of foundation. Leave them to this
limited space, and very shortly, rinding themselves be-
come more and more crowded, in all probability pre-
parations for swarming will be made.

Watch when the cells are started, and on the fifth day
from the time eggs are first found in them, or two days
before they are to be capped over, (which occurs about
the seventh day) make an artificial swarm as now shown.
Let the original hive remain exactly where it is, but
remove from it all the frames of brood with adhering
bees ; place these in a new hive, and stand the latter in a
fresh situation. If the day be not warm enough leave it
until the next, or morning of the following da)', which is
the utmost limit, as the old queen will almost certainly
lead off a swarm as soon as the cells are capped.

Leave the queen in her own hive, and with the bees
clustering around the sides, those foraging, and the other
workers which having flown will return, a good swarm
will soon surround her. Give them four or five combs to
start with, or part foundation.

Returning- to the brood and bees removed to the new
hive we shall find the combs covered with nearly all
young bees, and with thousands hatching out daily, until
in the ninth day after making the swarm it should be
decided how many cells are to be saved. "We will sup-
pose six are required ; and in that case it should have
been ascertained that each comb had at least one royal
cradle attached to it. If any have none, carefully
remove one or two with a sharp pen-knife from such that
may have several, cutting i in. clear all round, or on that
side where attached, and insert some in a similar position
on the combs requiring them.

Now having all nucleus hives in readiness, place one
of the combs and bees in each, with one broodless comb
of stores on either side of the same ; cover up warm,
with g-in. entrance, and stand them about in twos and
threes, that such may be readily united on removal of
one or other of the queens ; leave one, of course, on the
stand lately occupied to collect the few flying bees that
may have ventured abroad. I have found no other pro-
cess so satisfactory as this, where the combs crowded
with young bees attached to their queen-cells stay where
placed, and are perfectly at rest from the first.

About two days after establishing the nuclei the young
queens will begin to hatch, and in another ten days will
generally be found laying. There is no need whatever
to trouble about cutting out queen-cells if any of the
combs contain more than are wanted ; the bees will them-
selves soon tear down those not required.

Where any queen fails entirely such nucleus must be
united at once to another, or a comb and bees with
queen-cells from the next hatching should be added to it
without delay.

If it is desired to continue breeding from the same
queen, instead of making the swarm on the same day
(fifth from eggs being deposited in royal cells) remove
and insert her in another strong colony, crowding these
also on to a limited number of combs as before, and then
proceed accordingly.

The colony remaining on the original site, whether the
new swarm as first described, or if no swarm is made,
then the stronger nucleus which remains in the same
position will be ready for work in the sections almost as
early as those not disturbed for queen-raising.

Should it bo desired to mate the queens to special
drones these must be reared early in selected stocks.
Place in the centre of the brood nest by April 1st a comb,
about one-third of which consists of drone-cells. Limit
the colony to a small number of frames, feed carefully,
and drones will soon be on the way, and flying long
before any other stocks produce them. It is the fairly
strong colony crowded into a comparatively small space
that will always produce the earliest queens and drones ;
while very powerful stocks with just enough, or a little
more room than they really require, will not trouble
themselves on that score until the season is well advanced.
It has frequently been suggested that a queen-cell or
virgin queen should be given to a colon)' that it may
quite prevent swarming. But such treatment frequently
leads to endless mischief; the queen maybe lost, and the
trouble with such a powerful colony is rarely discovered
until too late ; and on the other hand if queen-cells had
previously been started they will almost certainly swarm,
notwithstanding the general belief that the new queen is
allowed to destroy all her immature rivals ; indeed, cells
will frequently be constructed after she is inserted (in
such lots as have not swarmed), and altogether the plan
is very unsatisfactory, even if we do not consider the
fact that without a good laying queen, bees become to a
certain extent lazy, and even if the young queen becomes
i fertilised in due course, what have we then ? Why,
every probability that the remainder of the season will
be devoted to providing food for a rapidly developing
brood-nest, instead of honey being stored, and the pro-
duction of young bees becoming more restricted.

On no account, therefore, risk the prosperity of a non-
swarming colony by such a proceeding, though there is
little harm in trying the same thing with that portion of
a recently swarmed lot, consisting of all young bees
moved to a new location, the old queen remaining with
the hard-working portion, as should always bo the case.
As a rule, then, if young queens are wanted they must
be raised in small colonies, obtained from stronger ones
at the least possible expense to the latter, as I have herein
endeavoured to show.

Having obtained such young queens in nuclei, my own
plan is to let them stand as increase, and during the
season give them the odd brood-combs that may be to
spare as will be shown under swarming. About the
middle of August some are united and the surplus young
queens are then given to those full colonies whose queens
are considered no longer profitable. Thus these young
and vigorous ones are stimulated after the season is over,
and the increasing population is fed on sugar ready for
the next year, instead of using up vast summer stores to
no purpose, as would have been the case if such queens
had been placed in full colonies earlier.

The foregoing remarks apply mainly to those districts
in this country, which are many, where the harvest ends
with July ; but with myself, where honey is frequently
gathered during August in greater quantity than at any
other time, those nuclei started early in the season, and
occasionally assisted with brood, come along in good con-
dition for the last spell of honey weather, which almost
invariably occurs towards the middle of the month.
Nevertheless, I do not as a rule insert young queens in
full colonies between the end of May and middle of
August. — S. Simmixs.

NATIONAL BRITISH BEE-KEEPEBS' UNION.

I see in the Journal of Horticulture a series of attacks
upon the Bee Journal, the British Bee-keepers' Associ-
ation, and the British Honey Company, by two indi-
viduals signing themselves 'A Lanarkshire Bee-keeper'
and ' A Hallamshire Bee-keeper.' It should be known
that the person signing himself 'A Lanarkshire Bee-
keeper1 is William Thomson, of Auchinraith, Blantyre,
N.B. ; and that 'A Hallamshire Bee-keeper' is John

118

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[April 1, 1885.

Hewitt, of Sheffield, who also signs himself hon. sec. to
the promoters of what he calls the National British
Union of Bee-keepers. This much I know; but I should
also be glad to know who are the Promoters of tke
National British Union of Bee-keepers besides Messrs.
Thomson and Hewitt themselves. — A Leader of Both
Journals.

[We have no knowledge whatever of the National
British Bee-keepers' Union, or of its promoters, but
are quite ready to publish a list of their names should
Mr. John Hewitt forward one to us. —Ed.]

Lecture by Mr. Cheshire. — In the evening lectures
on agricultural science, promoted by the Institute of Agri-
culture, we note that a lecture will be delivered by
F. 11. Cheshire, Esq., on ' Honey — its Productions and
Storage,' on April 13th, at the Lecture Theatre in South
Kensington Museum at 8 p.m.

Lecture. — On March 17 the Rev. J. Lingen-Seager
gave a lecture on bees and bee-keeping at a Working Men's
Club in Hackney Wick. There was a good audience,
who seemed much interested in the subject. It would
appear that on the Bank Holiday in August last a number
of Hackney Wickers spent the day at the Vicarage at
Stevenage ; the bees were of course shown, and a re-
quest was made for a lecture. There is a probability
of an attempt being made by a gentleman in the ensuing
summer of setting up a hive at Hackney Wick, and if it
succeed lie will have a fair number of disciples.

Lecture on Bee-keeping. — A lecture was given in
connexion with Herts B.K.A. in the Court House School-
room, Berkhamsted, by Mr. J. P. Sambels. Rev. A.
Johnson occupied the chair. There was a good audience,
and much interest w~as taken Li the lecture.

Early Swarm. — Is it not very early to have a natural
swarm of bees on March 14th ? I have had one to-day,
about 2 o'clock; a very good swarm, but I returned them
and put the queen back into the hive ; it was a bar-frame
hive. I am afraid I shall have several swarms before
this month is out, as some of my hives are very strong. —
S. Cookson, Sandbach, Cheshire.

Honey Production Recognised in Herts as an
Agricultural Industry'. — We have reason to believe
that arrangements have been made with the Herts Agri-
cultural Society by which they will offer prizes at their
forthcoming Show for the stimulation of honey pro-
duction.

Experiments with Sections of Different
Widths. — Dr. Miller, of Illinois, in 188;! experimented
with sections 4^ x 4j inches, and of live different widths.
The ordinary pound sections, scant 2 inches in width,
used with separators, averaged 14'32 oz. per section ; the
others were used without separators with the following
averages: If inches, 13*8 oz. ; li, 1P76 oz. ; 1', 10'47
oz. ; li, S)"57 oz. It appeared to Dr. Miller that the sec-
tions li inches in width suited the notions of the bees the
best. — American Bee Journal.

How to Help Labourers to Commence Bee-
keeping.— Instead of selling your surplus swarms, get the
consent of a labourer to let you establish a stock of bees in
good wood hive in his garden, on the condition that you
take from them honey sufficient to satisfy you for value
of bees and hive, in the meantime showing him the
management of them. After you have received the
value of them in honey hand them over to the labourer ;
thus he would, by waiting a time, get them for nothing.
— An. Fish.

Cheap Hive. — A correspondent desires to bring to
our notice a cheap ready-made ' makeshift ' combination
hive, very good for a bee-house, viz., Smith k Co's. coffee
with chicory boxes. They measure inside 1 4 J inches
broad, S\ inches deep, and 18 inches long. The boxes
are procured from grocers for Is. each, and require very
little fitting:.

Dunkirk, Faueraham. — This is the 27th of March, and
yet I have had no opportunity of examining the
bees thoroughly. The temperature has always been
below ~>0 degrees as yet, and without that temperature
being recorded I never pull a colony to pieces to ex-
amine. Stores are very short, and candy has to be
frequently given ; most, if not all, colonies are breeding,
and yellow willow pollen is carried in freely on fine
days. I am afraid the fruit-blossoms will be out before
the colonies are as strong with young bees as I could
wish them. — John Martin.

Petworth, Sussex. — Bees have been fairly busy the
last two weeks with the palm, now well out here-
Weather very changeable. Saturday, March 21st. —
West wind, cold, until the evening, wind then went
down, and it was quite warm. Sunday, March 22nd. —
Wind plain east. lias been snowing from 7.30 to 12,
and is now raining. Wind very keen. — C. G.

Hunts, Somersham, March lfith. — The weather during;
the first fortnight of the present month lias been very
fine ; bright and warm days have been followed by sharp
frosty nights. Slight examinations having revealed a
satisfactory state of things inside the hives, I did not,
until March 4th, commence my usual plan of changing-
my stocks into cleau and newly painted hives. I have
now completed the overhauling and changing of my
stocks, and have been gratified with their state generally.
Most of them were well supplied with food, as I took
very little honey from the stock hives last year. Foul
brood I have never had, neither have I seen it, although
I have examined stocks in many parts of England and
Wales. An experienced bee-keeper some time ago said
in the Journal that an expert ought not to have his
certificate unless he understood the cause and cure of
foul brood. How few bee-keepers understood either
until Mr. Cheshire's ever-memorable address was given
on the subject last year. Breeding is going on fast.
Natural pollen is not plentiful here, so I have supplied
artificial, and my neighbours', as well as my own bees,
work on it industriously. Again my Anglo-Cyprian
hive shows the strongest colon}' and the greatest amount
of brood, although, when I left it last year after taking
off the last lot of sections, I thought it a very poor stock.
I have had a look round the neighbourhood, and I find
stocks strong, but stores in many cases scanty. A few
stocks have died of starvation. Stimulative feeding, I
am pleased to say, has been commenced by some, and
will shortly be resorted to by other of our cottager class
of bee-keepers. I notice that in recommending the use
of the Simmins' method of dry-sugar feeding it is stated
that enamel-cloth should be placed on the top of the frames
for condensing the moisture necessary for enabling the
bees to use the sugar. I do not quite see it thus. If the
enamel-cloth were the onlycoveringl could understand there
being plenty of moisture condensed and hanging in drops
of water from the enamel-cloth over the bees, but these
drops, I imagine, would run together and fall into the hive,
and not be sucked up by the bees and then disgorged
upon the sugar as is by many supposed. The oil-cloth is,
as recommended, to be covered with quilts, and therefore
there will not be condensation by a cold surface ; neither
do I think it necessary that the moisture should be con-
densed. It is a well-known fact that sugar or salt,
placed in a damp place, quickly absorbs moisture. Be-
fore the bees can take the sugar it must absorb moisture,
and that in sufficient quantity is found in the hive. It
is undoubtedly necessary that the moisture should be
kept in the hive during the breeding season, and that
may be effectively done by the first covering being enamel-
cloth, but not yet. If the bees are well packed with
quilting, as the}' should be, of course some moisture will

April 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

119

pass through, hut still I think, for present use, there will
be plenty left in the hive. — C. N. White, Hon. Sec,
Hunts B.K.A.

North Leicestershire, March 22nd. — The last fortnight
has been very unfavourable for the bees, for though there
has been a fair amount of sunshine there has not been
sufficient warmth to ripen the pollen in the crocuses and
coltsfoot now in bloom. Syrup feeding has commenced,
and pea-flour is in full request. — E> ]!.

Oxford, March 2'ird. — Weather too cold to do much
good. Have had a few bright days, and the bees have
made good use of them, bringing in pollen in larger
quantities than ever. Everything is as vet going on
very quietly, and there is nothing which needs any
comment.— E. F. H.

Honey Cott, Jf'eston, Leamington, March 'loth. — About
a fortnight ago, the sun being bright and warm, and the
bees on the alert (not much natural pollen about, our
nearest wood being a mile away), I thought I would
begin feeding with pea-flour. I put some in the
crocuses, and a lot on some shavings in an old skep ; in less
than Ave minutes the bees went for it by scores and
hundreds, which they have continued to do ever since ;
it does not take them many minutes to clear a lot of it
awa)T, they shine in the sun like a lot of millers. I have
placed a barrel of water where it has a tap placed so as
to leak on to a slanting board in a sunny spot, which is
very much patronised by the bees. I found, on further
examination of stocks, two queenless, another also had
been robbed before I was aware, these two appear to
have been the same, as there was no trace of eggs or
brood. — John Walton.

Froymore, St. Albans. — I have to-day, March 28th,
observed a drone emanate from one of my hives. The
hive is very strong and well provided with food, which
I left in last autumn. I have not fed them at all. Pollen
is being carried in freely. Can it be that the hive is in
readiness to throw off a swarm, wind and weather per-
mitting ? — Arthur B. Lipscomb.

Kingston, March 27th. — The hives in this district, so
far as I can learn, have passed through the winter fairly
well, but are short of stores now. The weather, on an
average, has been dry and cold, consequently I have not
given my own bees, or those of my fellow-members and
friends, a minute examination, as I have been requested
to do in the past. For the better advancement of bee-
keeping in this district, I purpose suggesting to the various
bee-keepers (whether members of the Association or not)
the desirability of meeting together, either monthly or
quarterly, to confer, or chat with each other on bee-
keeping, so that each may profit by the other's expe-
rience.— Herbert Crawley.

Belfast, March 22nd. — Bees have generally wintered
well, more especially in bar-frame hives. Plenty of
young bees out, and breeding going on fast without
any stimulative feeding. On February 28th there was
sealed brood in four frames of one of my own hives ;
bees at lhat time working on snow-drops. — Ierne.

Killamey, March \Sth. — I examined my stocks on the
1st hist., and found them very strong. I also found that
there has been no winter during my experience in which
the bees have consumed less food than the last. We
have had frosts at night for the last fortnight, but the
days were fine, and the bees very busy bringing in
pollen, but to-day it is intensely cold, with a north wind
and showers of snow and sleet. — M.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS.

J no. Bishop. — Time for Artificial Swarming. — From
beginning of May to end of June, according to season,
weather, and strength of stocks. When these con-
ditions are favourable to natural swarming then is the
time to swarm artiheiallv.

Porpoise. — Inverted Frames. — The theory of this plan
is that the cells, having a downward inclination, are
unsuitable for storage of honey, which will, therefore,
be deposited in supers. Brood will be raised in the
inverted combs, but the bees will, as they have the
opportunity, reconstruct them.

IJkv. W. W. Flemyng. — 1. Wire. — Yes, the wire is
exactly similar to that we use. 2. Piercing holes for
Wire. — For piercing holes in the ends of the frames
use the smallest bradawl you can procure, and make
the holes as near together as possible, so that the
doubled wire may grasp firmly the foundation. 3.
Foundation for Supers. — No ; we prefer the thin-
nest foundation that can be procured, stamped with
worker-cell base. We do not think you could obtain
drone foundation for sections, but if you could, it
would be unwise to use it, as it would be an induce-
ment to the queen to enter the sections. 4. Inserting
Foundation. — We do not know : Mr. Hooker would
inform you ; but we believe that he now inserts
foundation by driving two brads into a bench, or
table, at a distance of about six inches asunder. The
saw-cut in the top-bar of the inverted frame is placed
upon these brads, and a slight turn, forcing it open,
the foundation is slipped into the cut, and the frame
being allowed to revert to its former position the
foundation is firmly held in its place. 5. Foundation-
fixer. — A small machine called a ' foundation -fixer,'
an American invention, is much used for fixing
foundation in sections, and may be obtained of most
dealers in appliances. If a less expensive apparatus
be desired, a very simple but effective appliance, the in-
vention of 5Ir. Abbott, jun., will be found described and
portrayed in the B. B. J., vol. ix., p. 179. We have
used this ourselves with perfect satisfaction ever since
it was made public, about four years ago. C. Trans-
ferriny.—lLOUv bees may be transferred to clean hives
on any mild warm day. See 'Useful Hints' in our last
issue. Let it be done quickly, and carefully, to avoid
robbing and encasement of queens, which generally
go together.

Observatory Hive : Mr. Blow's. — 1. The inside width
between the glass should be 2 inches. 2. What is
termed 21-ounce glass is thick enough, though plate-
glass is better, and should be £ or -,';0 thick, -j. We
prefer entrance from the centre of hive. 4. Walnut,
mahogany, or oak. 5. Certainly line the shutters
with flannel or baize. C. In a three-bar hive Mr.
Blow puts two ventilators, each \i inches diameter,
and makes arrangements so that they can be closed if
needed. A feed-hole at the top, too, is very desirable.

Kangaroo. — Encasement of Queen. — The encasement of
your queen was no uncommon event. See similar
cases recorded in another column, under ' Useful
Hints.' These encasements, during the early spring-
manipulations, in most cases, are caused by an attack
of robbers. The excitement, commotion, and loud
humming of the bees under examination, naturally
attract visitors from other colonies; and it is a well-
ascertained fact that bees will encase their own queen
on the entry of strangers into their hive, to preserve
her from danger or, perchance, from death. In caging
the queen you acted wisely. There is always great
risk in closing a hive while the queen is encased, or,
indeed, in leaving her under encasement at any time.
To avoid the danger in future, manipulate in the early
part of the evening, when bees have ceased to fly, and
' When 'twere done, 'twere well 'twere done quickly,'
but, let us added also, quietly. There is no fear of
your queen having been killed.

Sdgar.— M. W. H. — Nos. 1 & 2 will make excellent
syrup for bee-feeding; but are not suitable for dry
sugar-feeding. F. II wiper. — The sugar forwarded
will answer your purpose of dry - sugar feeding.

120

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[April 1, 1885.

W.— Four samples. No. 3, Porto Eico, good for dry-
sugar feeding. Nos. 1 and 2, Duncan's Pearl, for syrup.

J. P. B. — 1. Smokers. — There is no 'Raynor Smoker.'
Probably you allude to some of the cheap, imperfect
smokers, put forth of late. The cold-blast is a very
good smoker, but we consider the imported American
' Bingham Smoker ' the best, and the cheapest, in the
end. You do not say what fuel you use. Touchwood
is apt to give out flame. Try brown paper, loosely
rolled. 2. Floor-boards, fjfa, — Floor-boards should be
cleaned at once. There is uo danger of chilling brood
by removing the hive from a soiled to a clean
dry floor-board. If done at evening, not a single
bee need fly. Gently raise the hive from the board
by small wedges ; after a few minutes, pass be-
tween hive and floor - board a stout goose - quill
saturated with carbolic acid solution, or blow a
very little smoke between the two, and gently
remove the hive to the clean floor-board. Delay
the removal of the quilts, Sec, if the weather is cold,
aud the season late. Bees and brood may be chilled
by opening the hive from above, by manipulating and
dividing the brood-nest, in unseasonable weather, but
never by a change of floor-boards ! Hybrids are
proverbially vicious, but under quiet, fearless treat-
ment, they soon become gentle, aud easily manipulated
in well-made hives, where no jerking or jarring is
necessary.

Afeicanus. — 1. Finding the Queen. — Practice alone will
enable you to And queens. A patch of white or red
paint has been placed on the thorax of the queen, by-
some, but it is either quickly removed by tie bees, or
causes encasement and destruction of the queen ; hence
it is worse than useless. Practise, at first, on your
smallest colonies. Do not smoke the bees at the
entrance, a little smoke over the frames is sufficient.
Manipulate very quietly, so as to cause no disturbance.
When bees are rushing wildly from one side of the
hive to the other, leaving the combs, and running over
the floor-board and the hive-sides, it is next to
impossible to catch a sight of the queen. Remove the
first frame, without jarring, and set it aside. Quietly
draw half the remaining frames to the side of the
hive, thus creating a space in the centre of the brood-
nest, and there begin your examination of each frame
separately, and you will soon learn to find a queen.
2. Drone-traps. — Drone-traps are so little used, and
so various in construction, that it would be impossible
to describe them. Their principle is that of a box,
formed of perforated zinc, attached to the entrance of
the hive, through which the worker-bees can pass, but
the drones cannot, and so, in their struggles to find an
exit, falling into a lower compartment of the box, from
which they are unable to escape, they are captured
and destroyed. We do not advise their use. Remove
all drone-combs from your hives, supplying their place
with full sheets of worker foundation, and you will
have no occasion for drone-traps, .'i. Arrangement of
frames. — The arrangement you propose is the best.
Ten frames for the brood-nest is sufficient, and above
and behind these, sections may be placed. 4. The
Bee-louse. — A little carbolic powder rubbed into the
quilt, on both sides, will not injure the bees, and will
drive away, or destroy the bee-louse. Or you might
try the so-called Persian insect powder, which is
simply Pyrethrum (the herb feverfew) dried and
rubbed into powder. 5. Perforated Zinc. — There is
no necessity whatever for perforated zinc under sec-
tions. It impedes the workers, and with the use of
worker foundation and plenty of room below, there
will be no superabundance of drones, nor any fear of
the queen ascending. 6. Sugar. — The enclosed sample
of sugar is adapted both for making syrup and for
dry-sugar feeding ; but it would answer better for the
latter purpose. Thanks for the Graaff lieinet paper.

Dr. Stroud's publication is to hand, and will receive
notice : to him, also, thanks.

Devon. — You cannot do better than act in accordance
with your suggestion.

W. D. and C. W. H. — Honey Company. — You will find
in our Editorial, 'The British Honey Company,' p. 107,
your queries more definitely, and we trust more satis-
factorily, answered than in our last. We shall be
pleased to receive your sug-gestions. ' Rome was not
built iu a day.'

W. — You may return the combs to the bees at any time
after spraying with solution of phenol.

Barnaey Rudge. — 1. Sugar for Dry Feeding. — Mr.
Simmins recommends Porto Rico, but any other sugar
would no doubt do, the crystallised raw varieties in
preference. Commence now. 2. Queen-raising.—
"Where several stocks are kept, it undoubtedly pays to
devote one or two to queen-rearing for requeening the
others instead of letting each rear its own queen and
be without eggs laid for three weeks. -'5. Incitement
to Robbery. — The plan of placing food about out-of-
doors is easy, but may lead to robbing. 4. Elm. —
Elm is not fit for hive-making ; it shrinks and twists
very much. 5. Doubtful Combs. — Combs removed in
autumn from diseased stocks had better be melted up
at once, and not returned to the bees. 6. Willesden
Card. — The Willesden paper should have been painted
to prevent its absorbing water. 7. Alley's book on
Queen-rearing may be had from Messrs. Neighbour,
Regent Street. Its price is 5s. You would find it useful :
it contains the result of above twenty y'ears' experience.
8. Time to form Nuclei. — When they are strong-
enough to be ready to swarm, and when drones are
present in some of your hives.

E. Cahdwell. — It would be desirable to let the bees
swarm, and after twenty-one days transfer. (See reply
toF. J. (!.)

Iota. — Treatment of Skip to get Honey. — Presuming
from your letter that you do not desire increase of
stocks, but simply honey, you may adapt a board to
the top and work some sections ; or, if you want ex-
tracted honey, fit up some shallow frames with old
tough comb and use as a super, extracting as fast as
filled. If the sleep swarms return the bees. 2.
Manipulating liar-frame Hires. — Yes ; you cannot get
on without smoke.

A. Clark:. — Stimulating. — Give them syrup in small
quantities.

II. Paiiey. — 1. Extracting Honey. — If you leave it for
a short time ail the pieces of wax will float upon it,
and may be skimmed off. Do not expose cuttings and
cappings of comb outside the hives ; it is likely to lead
to robbing. Give it in the hives at the back of the
divider, leaving a space under it for access by the bees.
2. Supers. — If you give the sections at the rear of the
brood-nest they are more readily accepted, and then
should be placed in the racks without disturbing the
bees clustered in them.

J. E. L. Gn.BEnT.--l. Extracted Honey. — The doubling
system undoubtedly- gives a larger harvest. 2. Ex-
tractor, Metal Ends. — You ir.ny easily remove the
ends, and let your frames lie flat against the cages,
and that is a better plan tkan altering the cages.
.'!. Stored Combs. — Extract the unsealed, and the sealed
honey is quite proper to give to the bees. Uncap the
cells and place behind the divider.

Ieene. — 1. Foundation in Sections. — Use the thinnest
foundation, and as even this is not always worked out
by the bees, but the cell walls erected on the guides,
it is not advisable to use too large pieces. They should
come nearly into the corners at the top and extend
about half an inch down. Be sure it is fixed firmly,
so as not to give wav. 2. She of Standard Frame. —

April 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

14 inches long and 85 deep from underside of top-bar
to underside of bottom rail.

Enquirer. — Number of Hires on piece of land nine yards
square. — l'ou could put three rows of four or fire each,
and leave a fair amount of room for getting about.

Dr. Wallace. — 1 . Moving Hires by Swarming Si/stem. —
Yes ; you can do it at swarming time, say June.
Bemeinber that a swarm, i.e.. bees without combs, is
not the same as a divided stock out of a frame-hive.
2. No ; your plan is not correct ; you would have so
weak a stock as to be practically useless.

Fenman. — Examination Required. — Probably the two
hives which have no brood are queenless. When your
other colonies are at work and carrying in pollen
vigorously, notice carefully these two, and we think
you will find them listless and scarcely working at all,
carrying in no pollen, or only Aery small pellets now
and then. If this be so, then thoroughly examine
every comb, and if no queens are found unite them to
your other colonies. Old queens often die in winter.

H. W. — Position of Supers. — The American cloth, or
quilts of any kind whatever, must be removed, and the
supers, or section-racks, placed upon the frames. If a
hone3--board is used it is placed upon the frames, and
the section-rack upon it.

C. Lake. — Loss of Queens. — The first queen was lost,
by some mischance. She might have led off a swarm,
unobserved, or she might have been destroyed by
robbers. The second queen, seen on the wing, in
October, was her unfertilised successor, in search of
drones, and, failing to meet them, no doubt she perished
during one of her aerial flights.

M. IL, Freshford, Bath.— Trent men f of Stocks.— You
treated the two colonies after the most approved
fashion. "We recommend, however, as scon as the
weather becomes mild and warm, that the queen
should be removed from the three-frame colony, and
that the three frames, with combs, bees, and brood,
should be united to the other colon)', by placing them
on both sides of the four frames, with as little dis-
turbance as possible. Let this be done towards evening,
and, immediately afterwards, feed with warm syrup
from a bottle-feeder, and repeat the feeding on alter-
nate evenings. By these means you will probably
obtain one strong colony. By keeping them as two
you will probably lose both. Blow a little smoke in
at the entrance after uniting.

C. Gilbert. — 1. Died through Keglect. — The bees, from
all that appears, have died through want and neglect.
The combs forwarded I have carefully microscopically
examined, and they seem to contain no traceable
disease ; but the Gatteria mellonella larva abounds in
them, while, they also swarm with an acarus, very
beautiful from the microscopist's point of view, since
the long hairs adorning its body are pinnated in the
most curious and interesting manner conceivable. If
I needed bees, I should not at all hesitate in making
the purchase because these stocks have died. 2. Allow
the bees to swarm, and twentv-one davs after transfer
them.— F. 0.

II. J., Kihnington. — Foul Brood. — The comb is very
decidedly foul-broody. We are sorry to say your
other bees are in danger. Bead replies given pre-
viously in cases similar to your own, and commence
to attempt the cure of any stock in which you may
see the disease manifesting- itself. — F. C.

B. C. — Death of Drones. — The bee forwarded is a
normal drone that has died from the extrusion of its
organs. The discovery is singular, considering the
time of the year, but by some possibility last season
the drone may have got into an awkward corner, and
in its excitement, whilst endeavouring- to regain its
liberty, the accident, which i« fatal, may have" arisen.

^t, frequently

is ver

ry
lis
The

Excitement from any cause, or violent
thus occasions the death of drones. — F

"W. M., Paignton. — Bacillus Alrei. — -The
badly infested with Bacillus alrei; almost
of those forwarded contain millions of
bees, themselves, are probably dying of
and hence their rapid decrease. We should, if
are sufficiently strong in numbers to give hope of
survival, strengthen them by brood from another stock,
and then treat them with phenol. It would be risky to
unite them to another stock. — F. C.

F. J. C. — 1. Time for Transferring. — Although it is
generally recommended that this should be done
twenty-one days after swarming, for the reason that
there will then be no brood to damage, still it can be
done at any time when the weather is warm. Avoid
exposure of the brood or the queen to chilling air, tie
the combs up into close contact with the top-bars of
the frames, fill the frames completely with the combs
as far as they go, and take care that the midribs of
the combs are in the centres of the top-bars. 2. Your
proposed plan would not answer. •'{. No ; alighting
boards are best left unpainted.

Onj« Intending to commence Bbe-Keeping on the
Humane System. — I. Pitch Pine for Hives. — There
is no particular objection; but it is very heavy,
especially for roofs, and more liable to draw with the
sun than red pine. 1'. Salicylic Acid. — You can make
solution of salicylic acid, or rather of salicylate of
soda, by the means you name.

A. Fish. — Drone Comb. — No ; you need only have drone-
comb, and consequently drones, in one hive; and
indeed, if you have neighbours whom you know to
have drones, you need not have any. Bo not insert
a frame of drone-comb, if you do it at all, before the
third week in April. Then place in middle of brood-
nest if you want drones reared at once. 2. Passages
under Dummy. — You can give water or food behind a
dummy ; but we are doubtful if the bees will accept
pea-flour from that position.

Miss Daly. — 1. Giring Combs of Honey. — Give them
behind the dummy, which raise a quarter of an inch
to give access to them. Unseal the honey first. You
may give them now. You can give dry sugar now,
either to stimu'ate or to provide food for those needing
it. 2. Pond of Water. — We should advise you to

provide water for

bees in shallow plates, with

stones for them to stand upon, rather than let them
have to frequent the pond, into which many will be
blown and drowned. 3. Covering Sections. — As a
rule cover up warmly ; but if you find the bees on
very hot days clustering outside, try the effect of a
little ventilation, and cover again if the weather
should become cool. 4. Propolisation of Sections. —
Vaseline is said to prevent propolis sticking. The
closer the fit the less will be used. 5. Position of
Sections. — It does not matter, but, as hives are
generally inclined slightly the way of the frames, it
is as well to place the sections the same way.
M. Essex B. K. A.— Purifying Wax .—Straining through
cheese-cloth does not remove the pollen, Sec, which
cause the dark colour. The fine particles can only be
separated by keeping the wax hot for sufficiently long-
time for them to subside. The wax must be placed in
a deep vessel well wrapped up to retain the heat. So
long as heat is applied circulation i3 kept up and the
dregs will not subside. Only a very small quantity of
acid should be used, sufficient to render the water very
sour to the taste. Refer to p. 411, vol. xii.

"We much regret that through press of matter commu-
nications from H. T. Spice, J. Dann, B. Flatman, E. B.,
R. P., C. Warden, H. Dobbie, H. W. Lett, B. R. Godfrey,
J. Oarratt, aud others are postponed to our next issue.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 1, 1885.

CHESHIRE HIVES

AND APPLIANCES.

[As described on page 22, Vol. XII., British See Journal).
Sole Appointed Maker —

W. HOLLANDS,

HARRISON RISE, CROYDOX.

PHENOLATED CANDY CAKE, for Spring use, as
recommended by Mr. CHESHIRE on page 337 of B. B. J.
Price 6<i. per lb. ; 6 lbs., post free, 4s.

CHESHIRE QUEEN CAGE. -The very best for
Introducing. Price 6<i., postage ljd.

THE CHESHIRE CURE for FOUL BROOD,

Supplied by Mr. Cheshire, with full directions for use.
Price Is. Gil. per bottle, postage 2d.

The Trade supplied with PHENOL on the most liberal terms.
PRICE LISTS ON APPLICATION.

Importantjo Bee-keepers.

ALL PERSONS REQUIRING

GOOD AND CHEAP HIVES

Should apply at once to

TURSTEK. «&c SON,

MAKERS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION OF HIVE TO ORDER.

Address— RADCLIFFE-ON-TRENT, NOTTS.

N.B.— References to E. FERNEYHOUGH, Esq., lion. Sec. Notts B.K.A.

(99)

J- H- HCWi

Expert B.B.K.A.

Manufacturer, THE APIARY, HOLME, PETERBOROUGH.

By authority — Simmins' Hives, Crates, Sections, &c.
ASSOCIATION STANDARD SAW-CUT BAR FRAMES, 1/- per doz.

FIFTY NATURAL SWARMS STILL ON OFFER.

Send for Illustrated Guide and Catalogue, Post Free. (98)

C. G. HARRISON,

MANUFACTURER OF BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES,

PRIZES wherever shown.

Every Description of Apiarian Requisites in Stock or in

progress. Illustrated CATALOGUES Free.

COOMB'S WOOD, HALES OWEN, WORCESTERSHIRE, 373s

Irish Bee-keepers' Association.

SPRING SHOW

Will be held at BALLS BRIDGE,

ox

APRIL 7, and Three subsequent days.

Entries close on 4th April.

PRIZE LIST and ENTRY FORMS on
application to

CHARLES F. KNIGHT, M.D., Hon. Sec,
82 Harcourt Street, Dublin.

W. T. FALCONER,

JAMESTOWN, N. Y., U. S. A.

MANUFACTURES A FULL LINE OF

BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES.

Facilities unsurpassed for producing

SECTIONS

Of all kinds, that cannot be excelled as regards
Quality, Workmanship, or Price.

SST Manufacturers and Dealers in 'want of large
quantities can be supplied on snort notice.

Nearness to N. Y. City insures low inland freights. Prices

quoted on board cars at Jamestown or in N. Y. City.
CATALOGUE and PRICE LIST Free upon application.
CORRESPONDENCE SOLICITED. 3637

Cheapest House for Bar-frames & Sections.

BASS-WOOD SECTIONS, with V Joint, either 4£ by 4£
by 2, or 4 by 4J by 2, in either one piece or dovetailed,
3s. per 100, or 27s. (id. per 1000 case. One sort.

BAR-FRAMES, yellow pine, morticed, 'Standard' size,
lof in. top bar, Id. each, or 6s. '.hi. per 100.
17 in. top bar, with groove for Foundation, Id. each, or

8s. per 100.
Broad shouldered, 17 in. top bar, with groove for Foun-
dation, 2<7. each, or 15s. (id. per 100.

BROAD FRAMES to hold Six 4 by 4J by 2 Sections.
2d. each, or IS., per 100. SMOKERS, 2s. 9<i. each.

ARTHUR DONNELLY & Co., Lurgan, Co. Armagh.
3716

In consequence of Owner having gone Abroad.

MESSRS. E. M. HART & Co., have for disposal
a large quantity of SECONDHAND BAR-FRAME
HIVES, with Single Walls, loose Floor-board, and deep
Roof. Painted, at 5s. each, or 0 for 27s., 10 for 42s. 6i/.
CLARKE'S COLD-BLAST SMOKER, 2s. 6<7., post free.
SIMPLEX FEEDERS, per dozen, 14s.

E. M. HART & Co., Longstock, Stockbridge. (101)

White Flint Glass ; 1 lb., 15s. per gross, free on rail.

BEST COlfpTlWNDATION,

2 lbs., 2s. 3d. per lb.; super, 3s. per lb.

SPLENDID HIVES 12s. 6d. each.

FREDK. PEARSON, Stockton Heath, WARRINGTON. 3733

SIMMINS' NEW FEEDERS.

THE CHAMPION, AMATEUR,

FRAME, AND OTHER FEEDERS,

FROM THE SOLE AUTHORISED MAKERS,
W. P. MEADOWS, Syston, near LEICESTER,

Or J. H. HOWARD, Holme, near PETERBOROUGH.
The only Weekly Bee Paper in the World.

THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL

Established in 1861.
Edited and published by Thomas G. Newman, at 925 West
Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., and will be sent
to European Subscribers at 10s. {id. per annum for the
Weekly, or 5s. for the Monthly, including Postage. The
money may be sent by International Postal Money Orders
on Chicago. London Agents : Messrs. Geo. Neiohbour &
Sons, 149 Regent Street, W.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Strangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c.'

[No. 108. Vol. XIII.]

APRIL 15, 1885.

[Published Fob.tnigh.tly.]

(Atonal, Sottas, #r.

THE BEST MEANS OF DISPOSING OF
HONEY.

We publish the lettei's of Messrs. Godfrey and
Ward (sec pp. 133-5) as coming from old friends and
•supporters of the British Bee-keepers' Association,
from whom we are sorry even to have to differ. We
cannot, however, help saying that these letters appear
at a singularly inopportune time. Had they been
written in the summer or autumn of last year,
when the question of the desirability of forming a
Honey Company was being discussed, they might
have been useful contributions to that discussion.
Appearing at the present time, when the British
Honey Company is firmly established, and com-
mencing active operations, they only convey the
impression that the writers wish to undo what has
been already done in this direction, and that they
make their attempt when it is too late to be
successful.

The Directors of the Honey Company have not
undertaken the duties imposed upon them of their
own choice, but through the force of circumstances
and at the request of a large number of British
bee-keepers, and in our opinion they deserve (if they
•do not receive) the thanks of the bee-keeping public.
No defence or apology is required on their behalf
for accepting office. It is well known that for
many years past the British Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation has been endeavouring to provide a honey
market for its members. The resolution passed at
the General Meeting of 1881 was fatal to this
scheme. It not only shelved the question for a
twelvemonth, but it gave the Committee no en-
couragement to renew their endeavours at the end
of that period of time. The funds of the B. B. K. A.
were clearly inadequate for such a purpose. The
• establishment of the British Honey Company is the
consequence of that resolution. An attempt was
made, and we must say a very brave and well-
intentioned attempt to supply the deficiency, but

private enterprise unaided by public capital can
never ensure that prompt and ready payment which
the British bee-keeper expects for his produce.
The honey-producers turned again to those who
had befriended them in former years, and begged
them to provide some means for the disposal of
their surplus honey with the certainty of prompt
payment. The Honey Company has been formed
in response to this appeal, and such is its history up
to the present date.

The best means of disposing of honey is, no
doubt, for the producer to find a purchaser in his
own neighbom-hood, and to sell it to him for the
highest price he can get without the intervention
of any third party. It very often happens, how-
evei-, that such a purchaser cannot be found.

What is the producer to do then ] Mr. Godfrey
says that the best plan is to take it to a Honey Fair.
We commend honey fairs, which we have always
advocated and instituted wherever we have had the
opportunity. A seller may, no doubt, get something
more than the wholesale price for his honey if the
fair is attended by a large number of wealthy
people, and the demand for honey in the neighbour-
hood is equal to, or in excess of, the demand.
There is, however, an uncertainty whether he
will sell it all, and whether he may not have to
pay his entry fee for nothing. There is always a
large surplus of unsold honey at the end of every
honey fair, which has to be got rid of by some
other means. The Grantham Fair left a large
quantity of Lincolnshire honey unabsorbed last
year.

We can see no better means for a cottager to
dispose of his surplus honey (supposing that he
cannot find a local purchaser) than for him to take
a share in a Honey Company in which he has con-
fidence, paying for such shares with the honey which
he has to sell. He will then reap all the profits
which may accrue to the merchant or middleman.
A provision has been made by the British Honey
Company that shares may be paid for in honey in
lieu of cash, and we are of opinion that this pro-
vision will soon enable the cottager to ascertain
what is the best means of disposing of his honey, if
he cannot find a purchaser in his own immediate
locality.

124

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[April 15, 1885.

We have not the space here to reply to all the
•objections which have been raised against the
British Honey Company. Time will show whether
these objections have any solid grounds or not.
We are confident, however, that the Directors will
do nothing to prejudice the interests of British bee-
keepers, and we are equally confident that, having
once put their hand to the plough, they have no
intention of looking back. They must go forward
now in the path which has been marked out for
them, undeterred by the opposition of some who
have ' lost touch ' of the times, and who for reasons
of their own wish to keep British bee-keeping
within narrower limits than those of a National In-
dustry.

THE PRICE OF HONEY.

However much we may agree with the principles
of Free Trade in the abstract, and also as regards
the occupations of others, when it comes to the
touch of applying those principles to our own par-
ticular occupation, many, too many, believe in
Protection. The farmer is certain that the only
thing that is fair is to put a duty on all imported
corn, while he would have free trade, pure and
simple, in all those articles which he requires
for his own use. The iron merchant, on the
other hand, would like a duty imposed on all foreign
iron, while he is averse to any duty on corn, &c.
To arrange any system of protection that would
be fair for all parties would tax the skill of the
boldest financier, and would be p>ractieally im-
possible.

So with the article that concerns us bee-keepers
— Honey. From the letters that have appeared
in this Journal and other papers that discuss bee-
keeping, we see that this harking back to Pro-
tection is ever apparent. The writers wish by
some artificial means to keep up the price of honey,
and they bewail the formation of the Honey Com-
pany as a danger to bee-keepers because they are
afraid that it will virtually fix the price of honey,
and that in the future, when the Company is
selling honej', say at Sd. per lb., they will not be
able to get lOd, and Is. Now, as has been pointed
out in a former number of the Bee Journal, the
lower the price the greater the consumption, as
the article in question becomes a necessity and
not a luxury. We are perfectly aware that our
opponents may retort — That is very true, we don't
deny your facts or your conclusions, but have you
forgotten that in former years the British farmer
was prosperous when our American cousins sent us
no wheat, or if they did, the duty on it prevented
it competing against British wheat ? The fallacy
in this argument is apparent even to the typical
schoolboy.

The farmer no doubt prospered under this iniqui-
tous system ; but even then his prosperity was
more apparent than real, because he got more than
the value for his wheat, and his seeming prosperity
was at the expense of all those who were not inte-
rested directly or indirectly in land. The reason
why the crash was so long averted was clue to the
fact that then, even more so than now, the agricul-

tural income was greater than the income from all
other trades ; and, consequently, when the farmer
was prosperous, it was only partly at the expense
of the nation at large. It is often said, and we be-
lieve there is a large amount of truth in the state-
ment, that it does not pay the farmer to grow
wheat, as he cannot compete with the foreign
supply. Assuming, for the sake of the argument,
that this is a fact, what is the inevitable conclu-
sion 1 He must grow those things which do pay,
and those in which he need fear no competition, or,
at all events, only limited.

So with regard to Honey. No matter whether
we have honey companies, bee-keepers' unions,
honey fairs, or any other mode of providing a"
market for honey, we may take it as a fact, that
the non-bee-keeping public will not give 10<Z. per
lb. for honey when they can get as good for 8d. or
Qd. No matter how we continue to keep up an
artificial value for honey, the crash will come a good
deal sooner than later. To try and form, as a
writer in the Journal of Horticulture (9th April)
points out, a gigantic trades' union of all British
bee-keepers will be certain to lead to only one re-
sult— failure. That we British bee-keepers have
anj-thing to dread from foreign competition, we
mean as far as the extinction of the bee-keeping
industry is concerned, is, in our opinion, as remote
a contingency as the independence of Ireland.
It will tend, no doubt, to lower the present
artificial price of honey ; but we have no fear that
we shall not be able to sell honey at a consider-
able profit. It is the old story of Mrs. Partington
and her mop. Do what we will, we can't war
against nature and nature's laws ; and it is as
certain as the tides that you will not get people to
buy in the dearest and sell in the cheapest market.
Never prophesy unless you know, and so we will
not venture to assert what the remunerative price
of honey will be. Mr. Seager thinks it will be as
low as 3d. per lb., others, less sanguine, think
nothing under lOd. ; if we take the mean between
these two extremes, it will probably give us the
price — at all events for the next few years ; and
with the increased knowledge of bee-keeping, we
think that the larger amount of honey obtained
will more than rejnuy for the lowering of the price.
AVe must take facts as we find them. No doubt if
we had to recreate the world, we each and all of us
could remedy several of its most glaring short-
comings ; but we doubt whether the general result
would be a success. At present there is a pressing-
demand for a market to which bee-keepers can send
their surplus honey. Whether this can be best
effected by a company, a union, or private enter-
prise, time alone will show. We believe, and that
strongly, that the first is the most economical
and the safest way : economical — because the ex-
penses of such a company will be met by a profit
of a few pounds per ton ; and safest — because the
too great success of such a company, as shown by
their paying a very large dividend, will infallibly
lead to several others being started, or to the pro-
ducers refusing to sell their honey except at a
higher price.

April 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

125

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL : PROPOSED
WEEKLY ISSUE.

There is a time in the history of a hive when its
inhabitants, from the increase in their numbers and
the inconvenience consequent thereon, find the con-
straint of their dwelling so intolerable that they
obey their natural instincts by swarming, seeking a
fresh home and establishing a new colony. The law
of development is ever at work. In the history of
a journal advocating a progressive industry the
effect of the same law is visible. We note this in
the past history of our Journal. It has passed
through various phases. Commenced in the month
of May, 1873, it has, through the intervening years,
kept the object for which it was established stead-
fastly in view ; this object was ' the free discussion
of all theories and systems in bee-culture, and of the
relative merits of all hives and appurtenances, so
that the truth of them may be established.' The
work the Journal has hitherto accomplished has
been great and important. It has ever advocated
the humane system of bee-keeping ; it has assisted
in raising a new industry ; it lias given to many a
fresh zest to their lives by directing their attention
to a new mode of obtaining an addition to their
incomes ; it has supported the institution of the
British Bee-keepers1 Association with its affiliated
•county societies ; it has endeavoured to establish
the formation of agencies for the disposal of bee
produce ; it has evoked the zeal, and energy,
and enterprise of many to the development of
apiculture as a science and an art ; and wc
may obtain some idea of what it has achieved
by contrasting the position of bee-keeping of the
present day with that of the past. Established as
a monthly publication, it was found necessary in
the course of time to convert the Journal into a
semi-monthly, in order that it might be more
abreast of its work. And now these questions
press upon lis : How far have we accomplished our
mission ? Can we make the Journal more equal to
the exigencies required 1 Can we render it a more
perfect reflex of the opinions of bee-keepers and the
literature of bee-keeping at home and abroad 1

For some time past we have felt that the 'cabined
and confined ' space allotted us is insufficient for
our needs, and though at times we have endeavoured
to remedy this by giving supplementary pages we
confess that we have been unable to keep under the
numerous contributions of our correspondents. The
industry of which we are the exponents has made
such rapid strides, so many have embarked time
and capital in the production of honey, hundreds
•of pounds are now produced where formerly there
were only tens, that we are forced to inquire
whether we cannot more satisfactorily than before
perform the duties incumbent on us.

It is not desirable that the communications re-
ceived by us should be held over, even for a
fortnight ; the industry we represent is of such
importance that everything in connexion with it
should be announced without the slightest delay,
as by postponing any communication the effect is
frequently lost. We are pleased to say that the

circulation of the Journal has increased beyond our
most sanguine expectations, and it is still steadily in-
creasinsg. Even as we are penning these lines our
publishers inform us that their usual supply of
numbers is exhausted, and that they require more.
This is satisfactory to us as bearing evidence that our
labours are appreciated, and it must be so also to
those who use our columns as an advertising
medium. It is likewise a cause for our gratitude
to those who have assisted us by their communica-
tions, and those kind friends who have given us the
support of their patronage, and who have recom-
mended the Journal to those with whom they have
come in contact. May their number be increased !

We have received from time to time appeals from
our readers stimulating us to a more frequent issue;
and seeing that our circulation is fast approaching
that number when such a step may be justified, we
feel it incumbent upon us to give this request our
best and most earnest consideration. From all
quarters we are ever receiving testimonials of the
high appreciation in which the leadings and the
teachings of the Journal are held, and we may
assure our friends that it will ever be our highest
ambition to continue to deserve their approbation.
We shall be pleased to have the opinions of our
readers as to the advisability of a weekly issue, and
at all times to receive any suggestions which will
render the Journal more perfectly and more truly
what it aims to be — ' The Bee-keeper's Adviser.'

SMALL FARM AND LABOURERS' HOLDINC
COMPANY.

On Friday, the 24th, a meeting will be held at
Willis's Rooms to ventilate a scheme for promoting
the cultivation of land by small proprietors. The
promoters take cognisance of the cases of small
farmers, of market gardeners, and of agricultural
labourer's ; they also propose to encourage co-
operative farming and labour partnerships. They
naturally place the interests of the agricultural
labourer in the forefront of their enterprise : and
their plan, so far as he is concerned, seems to have
been drawn up with careful regard for the circum-
stances of his position, and therefore for what is prac-
tical as well as expedient. We conceive that this
will afford an admirable opportunity for proving the
utility of bee-keeping as a means of assisting the
agricultural labourer.

ADDITIONAL COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES

APPOINTED TO ATTEND QUARTERLY MEETINGS OF THE

BBITISU bee-keepers' ASSOCIATION.
Nottinghamshire. — Rev. A. II. Ilalley. The number

of members of this Association is now 71.
Surrey. — Mr. F. H. Lemaie and Mr. P. Waterer.
Warwickshire. — Mr. J. N. Bower and Major Deakin.
Worcestershire. — Mr. A. II. Martin aud Mr. C. II.

Ilaynes.

HONEY AS FOOD AND MEDICINE.*
The paper read by Mr. Cheshire, on 10th April, 1884,
dealt with the first part of this subject, and in the dis-

* Honey as Food and Medicine. Lecture given at the
meeting of the Vosges Club at Ban, on 7th January, 1885,
by J. Dennler.

126'

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[April 15, 1885.

cussion that ensued Dr. Walker confessed bis ignorance
of the value of honey as a medicine ; and Mr. Peel, in his
remarks, said that he had applied to various medical men,
■who were in general accord, and did not disagree on this
question, but stated their inability to grapple with the
subject. So, having read this very interesting paper by
Herr Dennler, the President of the Strasburg-Engheim
Bee-keepers' Association, we thought it would be of
great advantage to British bee-keepers to translate it for
the benefit of those of them who cannot read it in the
original.

After discussing the great diversity in the colours of
honey, due to the flowers upon which the bees feed, the
time of year, and on the nature of the soil, he discusses
the qualities of good honey, its tendency to granulate,
distinguishing it from spurious honey, and the way of
keeping honey for years by carefully storing it in cool
cellars after it is skimmed, which process must be re-
peated if the slightest trace of fermentation appears on
the surface. He advises making a solution of one part
of salicylic acid to ten of spirits of wine, into which some
unsized paper is dipped, then dried, and the vessels con-
taining honey covered with this paper, and parchment
over it.

To detect spurious honey, which usually contains glu-
cose, he gives the following recipe : — Put into a bottle
two tablespooufuls of honey and three times as much
spirits of wine, and thoroughly shake the mixture. Let
it stand for some time, and a fine white deposit will he
formed if there is any spurious honey, which is dextrine,
while the pure honey will show no deposit, and will only
be slightly altered in colour.

He considers honey as a food second to none, on ac-
count of its great solubility in the blood, its power of
providing for the heating of the body and for the main-
tenance of life, and if not alone sufficient for the main-
tenance of life, is still one of the best known foods.

He strongly recommends honey as food for children,
especially for those who are growing quickly, as it
provides an easily digested food, and changes their pale
faces and languid condition to a condition of rude health.
It is also useful to the old on account of its heat-giving
properties. ' Do you wish to enjoy a green old age i
Eat daily the most precious food of the ancients — milk
and honey. Crumble up a little white bread in a cup
with some milk and unadulterated honey. This is the
most healthy, the most nourishing, and the most relish-
ing breakfast.'

Then follow some valuable recipes, which we com-
mend to the notice of all those who care for dainty
dishes. We have approximately changed the metrical
system of weights and measures into English. The
gramme (grm.) contains nearly 15J grains, the kilo-
gram (k.g.) is 2| lb., and the litre nearly a quart.

(1) Alsatian Gingerbread.

1 lb. (n k.g.) honey.

1 lb. (1 k.g.) flour.

2J drams (10 grms.) bicarbonate of potash.

The honey must first be put on the fire in a saucepan
till it begins to boil. It is then taken off the fire, and
the flour well stirred up in it, and last of all the potash.
If sweet gingerbread is wanted, you must whip up the
white of an egg, and stir in \ lb. (126 grms.) of syrup
or honey.

(2) Basle Cookies.

Prepare some dough as in No. 1 (which will keep for
a year in a cellar); mix it with

J lb. of shredded almonds (5 grms.),

\\ drams of orange juice (3 grms.),

f dram of lemon juice,

2 grms. cinnamon, together with (1 grm.) J dram of
finely pounded cloves.

The whole must be carefully kneaded together and
sifted, so that there are no lumps, and then baked.

(3) French Honey Cakes.

Heat in a saucepan 4| oz. (150 grms.) of pure sugar
and J pint (g litre) of milk. When the sugar is dis-
solved, add 12 oz. (350 grms.) of honey and boil,
mixing with it 1 lb. (5 k.g.) of fine flour, and 30 gr.
(2 grms.) of bicarbonate of potash. Knead the dough
thoroughly, and make a thick cake of it, and put in a
dish sprinkled with some flour, and bake for an hour.

(4) English Honey Cakes.

Take 2 lbs. (1 k.g.) of honey, i lb. (250 grms.) of
fresh butter, the juice of two lemons, and some ground
nutmeg. Melt some butter, and well mix the ingre-
dients together. Take 2 lbs. (1 k.g.) of flour, and
make a dough, which must be Ughtly and carefully
rolled out into cakes about J in. thick. Cut in pieces,
and bake them lightly in butter.

(5) Honey Fruit Cakes.

Take 4 eggs,
5 tea-cups flour,
2 „ honey,
1 „ butter,

1 „ sweet milk,

2 teaspoonfuls cream of tartar,
1 „ baking soda,

1 lb. (s k.g.) raisins,
1 lb. currants,

1 teaspoonful cloves,
1 „ cinnamon,

1 „ nutmeg.

Bake in an oven with a slow fire. These cakes will
keep good for months.

(6) Honey Tea-cakes.

1 cup strong honey,

i cup thick white cream,

2 eggs,

3 cup butter,
2 cups flour,

■s teaspoonful of soda,
I „ cream of tartar.

To be made into a dough and baked slowly.
(To be continued.)

BLIGH COMPETITION.

Now that the second season of the Competition has
commenced, it may be of interest to bee-keepers to know
the present state of the apiaries of those competitors
who still remain in the race, and from these data to be
able to form an opinion as to which will be foremost at
the finish.

We have received from the Hon. and Rev. Henry
Bligh a short abstract from the diaries of those who
have complied with all the requirements of the rules of
the Competition, and present it to our readers.

Mr. J. Hedding, Sawstone, Cambridge, commenced on
May 22nd, with a swarm of black bees (nearly, if not
quite pure), weight 4 J lbs., on 7 frames of foundation
in a, Combination hive with broad-shouldered frames.
These being worked out on May 26, 3 more frames were
added, and 2 frames of sections placed at rear of brood-
nest without excluder zinc. On June 14th, these
sections were nearly filled. On Juno 28th, took 6
sections filled, the other 0 were partly filled with brood.
Put on crate of sections. July lGth, took 15 sections.
Aug. 14th, took 13 sections, weight 8 lbs. Aug. 25th,
took off super and inserted 3 frames with foundation.
Sept. 13th, commenced feeding. Sept. 10th, divided the
stock, giving a new queen to the old hive. Oct. 4th, a

April 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

127

fair quantity of brood, but bees rather thin in old hive.
Feb. 24th, both hives all right and plenty of stores.

Balance Sheet.

Capital . . .
Honey sold

£2 0 0
1 15 8i

£3 15 8i

Hive, &c. ... :..

Bees

Hive, &c

Sundries

Balance in hand

£0 18
0 19
0 15
0 12
0 11

£3 15 8J

Mr. S. Sprinks, Barn's Green, Horsham, hived a
swarm of 2J lbs., on 6 frames with full sheets of found-
ation in a hive of which no description is given, on May
21st. On June 10th, he added two frames of sections
and one with foundation. June 19th, added another
frame and extracted from three. June 20, ditto. July
3rd, extracted 3 frames. Aug. 16th, extracted 3 frames,
took away sections, only 3 full ; made a fresh swarm
and added a queen to old stock. Fed till middle of
October. Oct. 15th, packed up both lots for the winter.
March 1st, have not examined bees since October.

Balance Sheet.

£2

0 0

Hive, &c £0 15

8}

1

3 10

Bees 0 9

0

0

4 6

Hive, &c 0 13

v.

Queen 0 3

0

Sundries 0 6

9r\

Balance in hand 1 0
£3 8

8.T

£3

8 4

4

Capital

Extracted honey
Sections

Mr. W. Seabrook, Sutton. May 24th, put swarm,
4 lbs. 5ozs. on 5 frames foundation. May 26th, added
frames. June 3Cth, fed. June 7th, added frame. June
14th, young bees hatching freely ; added frame. June
21st, extracted 5i lbs. honey, and added box at top into
which 4 frames of wood were lifted, added 2 frames
foundation to lower box, and put excluder zinc between
the 2 boxes. June 29th, extracted 7i lbs., most of brood
hatched in upper box. July 5th, extracted 6+ lbs.
July 12th, extracted ")lbs. July 10th, removed upper
box, putting 3 of the frames in body box. Extracted
0 lbs. Oct, 10th, fed for last time. March 1st, no entry
since October.

Balance Sheet.

Capital £2 0 0

Extracted honey 1 16 3J

£3 J6 U

Hive, &o £0 17

Bees 0 17

Doubling-box ... 0 2

Sundries 0 3

Balance in hand 1 16

3
3
0
6
3.V

£3 16

3*

Mr. T. Owen, Corsham, Wilts. Commenced May
30th, with 4 lbs. bees, first cross English and Italian, in
hive with 10 frames. June 3rd, put on 7 sections.
June 7th, put on 7 2-lb. sections. June 12th, took off
7 lbs. honey in sections. June 18th, took off 13^ lbs. of
honey in sections. July 4th, took off 6 J lbs. in sections.
July 16th, made artificial swarm. Aug. 22nd, found
both stocks had plenty to winter on. Oct. 8th, closed
hives for the winter, each had about 20 lbs. of honey.
Feb. 20tb, both hives all right, bees carrying in pollen.

Balance Sheet.

Capital £2 0 0

Sections filled ... 2 0 0
Extracted honey 0 6 6

£4 6 6

Hive,

&e.

£0 12

fi

Bees

. 0

16

0

Hive,

&c.

0

7

6

Sundries

0

2

7

Balar

ice in

hand

2

7

11

£4

ti

6

Rev. T. B. Garland, Ranby, Retford. On June 12th,
placed swarm of 4 lbs. 11 ozs. in hive 'made out of old
gasolene box on 0 frames of wired-foundation. June
13th, 4 sheets of the foundation down, but remainder

well worked out ; added two frames. Juno 14tu, added
2 frames. June 18th, put on crate with 14 1-lb. sections.
July 19th, took off 9 sections. Aug. 7th, removed crate
of sections, 3 of which were filled. Divided the stock
and added new queen to the swarm. Aug. 8th, queen
when liberated, flew off, but fortunately settled again
amongst her new subjects who received her well. Aug.
9th to 31st, fed and added some frames of foundation.
Oct. 14th, prepared for winter, but in No. 2 found
queen-cells some hatched out. Removed all, and hearing
queen piping, removed her and added fertile queen. Oct.
16th, liberated the queen. Oct. 18th, found her safe.
Dec. loth, finished packing the bees. March 1st, have
not looked at hive since December.

Balance Sheet.

Capital

... £2 0 0

Hive, &c

£0 8

4

9 Sections ...

... 0 13 6

Bees

0 18

9

Hive, &c

0 9

9

Two queens

0 6

0

Sundries

0 8

1

Balance in hand

0 2
£2 13

7

£2 13 6

6

Mrs. N. M. Mutlow, Tarringtou, Ledbury. May 20th,
commenced with 2i lb. swarm in 10-frame hive, on 6
frames, and gave a little syrup for a start. May 24th,
added a frame. May 30th, extracted o lbs. June 17th,
extracted 4A lbs. ; removed queen on comb to Makeshift
hive, adding 3 frames of foundation and shaking another
frame of bees into new hive ; put 2 frames of sections in
hive No. 1, which still contained •> frames of brood.
June 27th, removed a frame with queen-cell and bees to
form nucleus No. 3. June 30th, extracted from all
frames except those with queen-cells ; put crate of 12
sections on No. 1. July 2nd, gave No. 1 2 frames with
foundation. July 12th, not finding queen in No. 3,
exchanged their 1 comb for 1 from No. 2. July 19th,
took 2 sections off No. 1 ; put frame of brood taken from
No. 2 into No. 3. Aug. 16th, extracted 6 lbs. of honey
and took 3 sections. Oct. — , found all 3 hives with
plenty of stores and bees. Feb. 12th, examined hives,
No. 1 doing well, No. 2 not so well, probably queenless,
No. 3 doing better.

Balance Sheet.

Capital
Honey sold.

... £2 0 0

... 0 17 0

Hive, do £0 16

Bees 0 10

Hive, ifcc 0 5

Hive, No. 3 ... 0 5

Sundries 0 16

Balance in hand 0 4
£2 17

0

0
0
0
1

11

£2 17 0

0

(To be continued.)

PROPAGATION OF HONEY AND POLLEN-
SECRETING TREES AND SHRUBS.

A considerable portion of the honey collected bjr bees
is obtained from forest trees, fruit trees, and shrubs; for
instance, there are distinct honeys known as lime-tree
honey, hawthorn hone}-, holly honey, See. But these
different sorts with their peculiar flavour can only be
obtained where any particular species of tree or shrub
is grown in quantity. In one district holly may be
abundant, in another hawthorn, and a third lime,
sycamore, &c.j and if the honey is extracted, while
any of these trees are flowering, it will be stamped with
one particular flavour. It is said that of all honey
gathered from trees or shrubs that of raspberry is the
best. Lime-tree honey is in good repute, to secure the
full flavour of this honey it requires to be fully ripened
in the hive. The old school of bee-keepers considered
this the source of their black — I was going to say honey,
but really it can only be called an apology for the pure
article.

128

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[April 15, 1885.

I need not describe the propagation of fruit-trees, they
can he purchased at the nearest nursery far cheaper
than they could be raised by the bee-keeper; as also
such trees as lime, sycamore, hawthorn, &c. Therefore
I will only give the mode of propagating those trees and
shrubs that admit of easy and rapid increase, for no
doubt these find most favour by giving quicker returns
for the capital invested.

Gooseberry, black, red, and white currants, and also
the red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum), can all be
increased readily by cuttings of the current year's wood.
The cuttings should be cut clean just below a bud, all
the buds rubbed off except three or four at the tip,
insert in nursery rows, six inches apart, in a partially
shaded part of the garden; the rows to be one foot
from each other : it is important that the cuttings be
made firm in the ground. This operation may be done
any time .(.weather permitting) between October and
February,, and during the following summer weeds
should be rigorously kept down, and during dry weather
water would be thankfully accepted. In the autumn,
after the leaves have fallen, transplant eighteen inches
apart to give them more room, and when two years old
they may be transferred to their permanent quarters,
planting them three or four feet apart. Bees will work
on currants when in flower when everything else is
saturated with water, the drooping habit of the flowers
protecting them from rain and heavy dews. White
currants do not secrete much honey apparently, as I
do not see much attention paid to them while in
flower, but black currants, gooseberries, and the red-
flowering currant, are eagerly sought after.

Raspberry is increased by suckers taken up in October
or November, planting three canes together tied to a
stake for support, each set of three or four canes to be
four feet apart. As regards varieties it is just as well
to have a good sort as an inferior variety. Fastolf and
Carter's Fillbasket can be recommended as first-class
bearers and producing fine fruit. The raspberry requires
a good rich soil and a moderately shady position, and
should never be planted in a dry sandy soil fully exposed
to the sun, as in such an aspect and soil failure would
rje inevitable. There is a variety called the autumn-
fruiting raspberry on account of its producing fruit
naturally at that season, but I do not find that bees
care much for the flowers. Langstroth considers the
flavour of raspberry honey superior to that of white
clover.

Snow-berry (St/mphoricarpus reeemosus), this shrub is
chiefly used for covert planting, as it thrives well under
large "trees and spreads rapidly by throwing out suckers.
When once established it will drive everything else
t>efore it ; blocking up pathways, and constantly over-
stepping its allotted boundary unless well kept in check;
any soil seems to suit it, and may easily be propagated
either by cuttings or suckers. Cuttings may be inserted
like black currants, but the buds need not be rubbed
off, and suckers may be taken up and planted any time
after the fall in positions that are usually allotted to
nettles and other tall-growing weeds. The suckers will
eventually master the nettles, and thus an unsightly and
an unprofitable piece of ground may be turned to good
account, by affording considerable bee-forage, and also
an improved appearance of the nettle-clothed waste.

Willow (Sakx caprea). This species of willow pro-
duces pollen in considerable abundance at this season
of the year, as soon as the first flowers are open, crocuses,
&c, are at once neglected for the more liberal supply
afforded by these catkins (palms of our boyhood). It is
a cheerful sight to watch the heavily laden bees entering
their homes with the bright yellow pollen, the source
of which we know to be the willow. It is a mistake to
think that the willow can only be grown by the side
of streams or on saturated ground. I have often
met with trees crown from stakes that had been

employed in fencing, and now luxuriating, and flower-
ing freely, far removed from water, proving at once,
that wet, watery soil is not a necessity ; all that is
required is a shady position and a few stakes cut into
lengths of about four or five feet and placed firmly in
the ground. ' In two or three years they will begin to
flower, keeping bees busily employed collecting pollen
for some tliree or four weeks. The trees should be
planted, if possible, about -50 to 160 yards from apiary,
which will give an easy flying distance. The bee-keeper
will thus have a valuable and convenient source of
natural pollen at a time when long flights should be
minimised as much as possible, seeing as this is the
cause of large numbers of bees losing their lives.

Holly is an excellent tree to plant for shelter, as it
makes a capital break to cold winds. It is also an
important honey and pollen producing tree, the flowers
are easily accessible for honey - collecting, the bees
seemingly do not stay long' to get a load. Plants may
be raised from seed (holly berries) collected when ripe
in winter, and sown in February or March in open
ground. When the seedlings are a year old, transplant to
induce a bushy habit and to form good short roots. Of
course it will require some years to grow them into
available trees for shelter or for bee-forage, therefore the
best plan would be to purchase five or six-year-old
plants. Holly plants should be planted in May or June,
this being the very best time for their removal, and
water should be given about twice a-week for a few
weeks until they get hold of the soil. I may perhaps
mention here that one thorough watering is worth any
number of driblets.

Myrobella Plum or Cherry Plum (Prunm mijrobalana).
This shrub may be new to most bee-keepers, but it ought
to be made known to every one ; those who know the
value of hawthorn in May and June would as equally
appreciate this plum in March and April when known,
to them. It is employed like hawthorn as a hedging
plant and grows rapidly even on the poorest soils, where
the hawthorn does not succeed and soon forms (when-
cut only during winter) a hedge almost as solid as a
wall, and when the hedge is of sufficient height, it will
either turn man or cattle. For bee-forage the young trees
should not be clipped, but allowed to grow at their own
sweet will, when they will soon make fine ornamental
trees. The first flowers open with the crocus and:
during March and April, when it is a sheet of bloom,
with wreaths two feet long of snow-white flowers, it is-
constantly besieged with bees. Propagated by budding
and grafting, but cheaper to get through a nurseryman.
— II. Dobbie, Thickthorn, Norwich, March 25th,

ASSOCIATIONS.

DEVON AND EXETER BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

Census of Hives.

In our issue of February 16th we gave an abstract of
the annual report of the above Association. We have
since received the printed report, and we are pleased to
extract from it a fuller account of the bee census of the
county undertaken by the Society than we were enabled:
at that time to give : —

' At the. close .of 1 884, it was deemed advisable to take
a census of the hives owned by the members of the
Association in the county of Devon; inquiries were also
made with regard to other matters, e.g., the number of
hives in the locality of any member, the amount of the
honey harvest, the character of the hives in use, whether
bar-frames or skeps ; return post-cards were issued for
this purpose by the lion, sees., and the replies, amounting
to only 8-1 in number, gave the following particulars : —

April 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL

129

' Twenty-eight members had no hees, and twenty-two
of the forms were blank. The remaining- fifty-six mem-
bers own 335 stocks j 308 of these were in bar-frame
hives, fifty-four in straw hives, and tweaty-tkree in
other hives. Thirty-three members used the bar-frame
hive exclusively. The fifty-four straw hives are owned by
twenty members, nineteen of whom have a few in con-
junction with the " bar-frame hives." One only works
exclusively with straw hives. The twenty-two hives
under the heading- of " other hives," consist of two
skeps with bar-frames, three Stewartons, two box hives,
one glass hive, and fourteen " other hives."

' Analysing the returns otherwise we find —

2 members own over 20 stocks . . 50

3 „ „ 15 „ .. 53

3 „ „ 10 „ .. 37

4 „ „ 10 „ .. 40

4 „ „ 0 „ .. 36

5 „ „ 8 „ .. 24

4 „ „ 7 „ ..28

5 „ „ 6 „ .. S3

I' ,, ,, .1 ,, . .

Total

16

12
G
8

.385

' The amount of honey shown by these returns is dis-
appointing and misleading ; many, having no account of
the quantity taken, made no return. The total shown
is 8723 lbs., 6094 lbs. of which is comb honey, and
2629 lbs. rim, or extracted honey. To bring this out
more clearly, your council have selected ten out of those
-who have made a return of quantities. These ten show
a total of 5221 lbs., whilst one return shows 800 lbs.
from six hives ; and taking four more we find an average
per hive of 97 lbs. in one case, 74 lbs. in two others, and
one of 62 lbs. The apiaries consisted respectively of ten,
seven, six, and four hives on Lady-day last. The bees-
wax had probably not been all extracted, as compara-
tively few members make any return. The total shown
is 89| lbs., this is only from twenty-three apiaries.
Taking that part of our census relating to non-members,
there are only twenty-three returns in which any infor-
mation is given, and only eleven of these give an)' as to the
honey harvest, quantities taken, &c. In the twenty-three
parishes from which reports come we find there are 178
bee-keepers, owing 554 stocks, 222 in bar-frame hives,
and 332 in skeps. "While the total of the harvest from
the eleven parishes from which we have any information
is 3293 lbs. of honey, and this is from 279 stocks, which
gives an average of somewhat less than 12 lbs. per hive ;
but this is probably far too high an average for skeps,
as 122 out of the 279 are in " bar-frame hives ;" and,sadto
say, it must also be borne in mind that prior to November
there were, for a certainty, mam' more stocks in skeps.
As regards the bees-wax, it would appear from these
returns that its importance and value are not sufficiently
recognised, as only 28 lbs. of wax is shown by the
owners of 554 stocks of bees. Looking at the census in
another way, so as to obtain an average for the county,
we find that eighty-four members (of whom twenty-
eight are non-bee-keepers) obtain 8723 lbs. of honey ;
since striking an average in the same proportion 234
must obtain 24,299 lbs. ; the returns as to non-members
being meagre, your council by careful inquiry ascertained
that for ever)' bee-keeper who has joined the Association,
there are two who are non-members, but as these cannot
be considered advanced apiculturists it is estimated that
thev obtain half the quantitv of honey ; then 468 realize
24,299 lbs. This makes a grand total of 48,598 lbs., or
21 tons 13 cwt. 102 lbs., and allowing lOrf. per lb. for
comb and run honey, we find that the honey gathered in
Devonshire is worth 2024/. 18s. id.'

Honey, Hive, and Bee Show at Plymouth.

A Honey, Hive, and Bee Show will be held on Tuesday ,
Wednesday, and Thursday, May, 26, 27, and 28, 1885, at
Plymouth, at the same time as, and in connexion with,
the Devon Agricultural Society's Show. Numerous prizes
will he given. For schedules of prizes apply to Mr.
W. N. Griffin or the Rev. J. G. Dangar, Hon. Sees.

SURREY ASSOCIATION.
Captain Campbell and Mr. R. J. Hinton having been
elected to serve on the Committee of the British Bee-
keepers' Association, Mr. F. II. Leuiare and Mr. P.
Waterer have been elected to act as Representatives to
attend the Quarterly Meetings of the B. B. K. A.

CARMARTHENSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The Annual General Meeting of the members of the
above Association was held at the Cawdor Arms Hotel,
Llandilo, on Saturday afternoon, the 28th of March,
when there were present : Lord Dynevor (in the chair),
Sir J. II. W. Drummond, Bart., Lieutenant-General
Sir James Hills-Johnes, K.C.B., V.C., Captain Riley
(Llanon), Mr. Methuen (Brunant), Mr. J. L. Thomas
(Caeglas), Mr. M. Daniell (Llanelly), Mr. W. Morris
(Llanon), Mr. W. Thomas (Penybank), and Dr. W. H.
Lloyd, and Mr. Thomas Jones, Mr. M. Jones, and Mr.
L. O. Lewis, secretary, of Llandilo, &c. After the
minutes of the previous meeting had been read and con-
firmed, the hon. secretary read the annual report and the
balance sheet.

The report stated that the past season had been a
most favourable one for bee-keepers. The total income,
exclusive of donations to the bee-tent fund, was
52/. 4s. l\id. including 38/. Os. Qd. received in sub-
scriptions, and a balance in hand from 1883 of
71. 2s. did. ; the total expenditure 59/. 4s. 7d., in-
cluding an adverse balance of 15/. 12s. id. carried
forward from 1883. There were outstanding liabilities
amounting to 6/. 19s. 7id., and a balance of 6/. Is. for
bee-tent, to meet which there were in hand assets to the
value of 23/. 17s. Qd. It would thus be seen that the
Association was in a sound financial condition. During
the spring the apiaries of 52 members were visited by
the hon. secretary, and 150 stocks were examined, of
which 90 were in bar-frame hives. A bee-tent had
been purchased at a cost of 17/. 19s. Bd., towards the
payment for which 12/. 10s. had been received in special
donations. The absence of any Welsh literature on bee-
keeping had been greatly felt. To issue an edition of Modem
Bee-keeping in Welsh would require an outlay of 50/. The
committee of the parent society were prepared to spend
that amount if they were guaranteed its return within
twelve months.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted.

Mr. J. L. Thomas, Cae-glas, proposed the re-election
of the President, the Earl of Cawdor, and of the Vice-
Presidents — Lord Dynevor, Viscount Emlyn, M.P., the
Right Hon. the Lord Bishop of St. David's, Sir J. H.
Drummond, Bart., Lieut .-General Sir J. II. Johnes, Mr.
W. R. H. PoweU, M.P., Mrs. Bath (Sir John Jones
Jenkins was excepted) ; and that the following be added
— Mr. II. Peel, Mr. J. C. Richardson (Glanbrydan), and
Mr. C. W. Mausel Lewis (Stradey). Dr. Lloyd seconded
the motion. The secretary (Mr. L. 0. Lewis) and the
treasurer (Mr. J. Hughes, The Bank, Llaniilo) were
also re-elected ; as were the following district secretaries
— Mr. Walter Spurrell, Carmarthen ; Mr. D. Lewis,
Llauegwad ; Rev. W. Jones, Llanon : Mr. J. Davies,
St. Clears; Mr. L. Bowen, Talley and Llansawel; and
Rev. J. Lloyd, Penboyr. The acting committee were

130

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[April 15, 1885.

also re-elected, the following being added to their
number : — Captain Butler, Mr. B. W. Lewis, Mr. Brad-
shaw, Mr. M. B. Jones, and W, Thomas (Penybank) ;
and power was given to the committee, by an addition
to Rule 4, to add to their number. The following were
elected Hon. Life Members : — the Bey. H. I>. Peel and
Mr. Frank R. Cheshire.

Votes of thanks to the President brought the meeting
to a close; after which the annual drawing for prizes
took place.

WILTS BEE-KEEPEBS' ASSOCIATION.

Not having sent you any ' Echoes ' for some months,
I now offer you the following Beport of Bees, and
the work done by our Association lately.

After an abundant honey harvest, super work, gener-
ally, was abandoned in July, owing to unsettled weather,
and the large amount of brood prevented the storage of
any surplus honey. Later on, however, fine weather
and abundance of ivy-blossom, and a goodly second crop
of charlock, enabled the bees to go into winter quarters
under very favourable conditions. There were, it must
be noted, an unusual number of queenless stocks to
attend to. In every case where ordinary care has been
taken the bees wintered well, began breeding early (in
some cases before the end of January), and all now in a
promising condition (April 8th), very few have required
more than slow feeding. I found new honey in some,
February 20th.

Our Association having been one of the fortunate
ones, on February 11th (with the sanction of B. B.
K. A.), resolved to expend their 5?. prize on the
expert's travelling expenses. Circulars were sent out
announcing the arrangements for visitations throughout
the county, and the requests for a visit have been very
numerous. The assistant expert not being able to get
far from home, most of this work devolves upon me.
At odd times I have visited most of the bee-keepers near
at hand, and on March 18th started for a three days'
tour, working ten miles of the Avon Valley — all new
ground. I visited thirteen bee-keepers, owning 127 stocks
(mostly well cared for), gave one lecture, attended by
some fifty cottagers, at only one day's notice, and gained
five new members. Meeting with so much hospitality
and land help in getting from place to place, the tour
has only cost the A ssociation 3s. Gd. One village shoe-
maker I found the proud owner of thirteen stocks of
Ligurians and three of Blow's hives. I have already
visited twenty-three apiaries, numbering just 200 stocks;
of these nine were dead — one from dysentery, five from
starvation, three from robbers; ninety-seven were in
bar-frame hives, fourteen in plain wooden boxes, the
rest in skeps. A great improvement is noticeable in the
care cottagers are taking of their old skeps. All seem
pleased with a visit from the expert, who is now pretty
well known in the county, and nearly all glad to have
their hives examined, which was far from being the case
three years ago. The Association now has the assistance
of nineteen ' district advisers,' five of whom hold
B. B. K. A. certificates, and they aro mostly doing good
■work among their neighbours. Already twenty-two
new members have been enrolled. A good deal of
excellent honey, mostly in sections, is still left on hand,
though a very moderate price has been asked for it.
To-morrow I start for a two days' tour ; next week for
five days, round Trowbridge, Westbury, and Warminster;
on 22nd, to B. B. K. A. Quarterly Meeting and Salisbury ;
27th, to Bevizes and Marlborough ; May 4th, Swindon,
Malmesbury, and Chippenham. So that the kind donors
of the SI. prize will see that it is not being ' laid up in a
napkin ;' and it is to be hoped will be the means of gain-
ing new members, not only for our own Association, but
for our honoured parent the British Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation, who has so liberally helped us and her numerous
offspring.

Applications for information as to the examination
for third-class certificates are already coming in. — Yours
faithfully, W. E. Bikkitt, Hon. Sec. and Expert,.
April St'h.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE BEE-KEEPEBS'
ASSOCIATION.

I always read with pleasure the accounts of the;
different county Associations in the Bee Journal, but
always fail to see any account of our own county
Association (the Cambridge). I began bee-keeping
some five years ago, joined the county Association, and
took in the Bee Journal so as to get all the information
I could. To the latter I always look forward to and
read with interest ; to the former I paid my 5s., and
that receipt is all I have ever received except notices of
meetings. Five years back the county Association wa3
represented here at the Wisbech Working Men's Insti-
tute Flower Show, and I suppose they lost money.
This year there is a grand chance for them to come,
as we are having the county Agricultural Show here in-
July. I hear they do not intend being represented, as-
they have only one member in the district, and having
lost nearly 13/. the last time they visited here. Now
they forget what rapid strides bee-keeping has made
since their last visit ; then there were only a few bee-
keepers, at this present time I know more than thirty bee-
keepers who have the bar-frame hive system with about
300 stocks, besides cottagers with skeps. I have not
reckoned ours as one of the best districts for bee-keeping.
We have a large firm of seed-growers and a fruit-farm of"
nearly 300 acres ; besides orchard farms of over 500 acres.
Our town is quite surrounded by orchards, and the popu-
lation of the town and district is over 30,000. Now,
sir, the county Association says, ' We do not think of
offering prizes at the forthcoming Agricultural Show, or
taldng any part in it directly, as the expenses would be
great. If we had a few subscribers who would take an.
interest in the Association they might do more (they
have only about two), and at their last show at Wisbech
they lost' 13/.' That is not to be wondered at, as they were
very unfortunate in having a very inexperienced expert,
and not haying more subscribers is their own fault.
Other Associations send out experienced or certificated ex-
perts to visit and instruct the members, we only get a
piece of paper once a-year for our money to say there is
a meeting at Cambridge. They never come near us at
all. If they were to have a meeting here at times they
might get members. We have more bee-keepers in and'
around this district than all the rest of the county. —
J. Dann, Wisbech, March 19.

[We fear that the complaint of our correspondent re-
garding the inactivity of the Cambridge Association is
too true. We feel sure the Committee of the B. B. K. A.
would gladly assist in any proposal which might be made
for the establishment of the Cambridgeshire Association:
upon a sounder basis. We do not know whether the-
above resolution was carried by the members in General
Meeting or by the committee only. — Ed.]

NOBTII-EAST OF IBELAND BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The first annual general meeting of the above Society
took place on Tuesday, 10th March, at 41 Waring Street,
Belfast. Amongst those present were — Bev. II. W.
Lett, M. A., Messrs. J. K. M'Causland, David Carmiehael,
J.P., W. E. Best, E. Smith, William Shaw, ('. W.
Henderson, William Ditty, S. Cunningham (Treasurer),
II. M'Cleery (Hon. Sec), etc.

Owing to the absence of the President (the Right
Hon. Lord Ashley), the Vice-President (Mr. J. K.
M'Causland) took the chair, and called on Mr. Lett to
read the report of the late Co. Armagh B. K.A.

April 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

121

The Chairman then called on Mr. M'Oleery to read the
report of the North-East of Ireland Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation. This report shows that, although the Society has
been only about seven months in existence, there were over
ninety members, and that, financially speaking, it was in a
fairly good condition. In speaking of the show which
was held in Belfast ou September 29, 1834, it says that
there was a show of honey inferior to none in the
United Kingdom. The Committee of the Society
tendered their best thanks to Mr. Cunningham, .Messrs.
M'Keiizie and Sons, A. Cross Bryee and Co., and also to
the press for the excellent reports of the show, meetings,
etc. The report winds up by showing that the members
of the Society own seventy-nine straw skeps and -66
bar-frame hives, and that during the year 1884 the
quantity of honey taken amounted to nearly 6000 lbs.

Mr. M'Causland moved the adoption of the report,
which was seconded by Mr. Carmichael and passed
unanimously.

The other business of the Society was then gone on
with, and the proceedings terminated with a cordial vote
of thanks to the Chairman.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS-
ASSOCIATION.

A lecture in connexion with this Association was de-
livered at the Board Schoolroom, Willoughby-on-the-
Wolds, on Tuesday, April 7th, by Mr. Frank Fisher (of
Farnsfield), on ' Bee-keeping : How to make it Pay.' In
the course of a very interesting lecture, Mr. Fisher ex-
plained the many advantages of the modern bar-frame
luve over the old straw skeps, and showed how bees may
be kept to produce a large profit. Major Robertson, of
Widnerpool Hall, occupied the chair, and kindly offered
a prize in connexion with the coming show at Willoughby .
There was a large and appreciative audience. A vote of
thanks to the lecturer and the chairman brought the pro-
ceedings to a close.

A lecture was delivered on Tuesday evening, April
7th, at the Coffee Tavern, Hucknall Torkard, by Mr. W.
Hell, of Annesley, on 'Bees and Bee-keeping: How to
Make it Pay.' The Rev. J. E. Philips, vicar of Hucknall,
occupied the chair. The lecturer thoroughly explained
the working of a bar-frame hive, and showed its advan-
tages over the old straw skep. In the course of his re-
marks Mr. Bell enumerated the many benefits to be
derived from joining the Association, which already
numbered over seventy members in various parts of the
county. There was a large audience, who were deeply
interested, especially with the practical illustrations intro-
duced by the lecturer. A vote of thanks to the lecturer
and the chairman brought the proceedings to a close.

|fll%,

FRANCE.

M.Hamet, Prof essor of Apiculture at the Luxembourg,
announces that the opening of the free public lecture on
Apiculture at the Garden of the Luxembourg, Paris,
commences this year on Saturday, 11th April, at 0 o'clock,
and will be continued every Tuesday and Saturday at
the same hour. Perhaps some of our readers may have
an opportunity of looking in.

The Society of the Aube opens its meetings, in con-
nexion with the Horticidtural Exhibition, which will
take place at Nogent-sur-Seine on 30th and 31st May.
Medals in enamel, silver, and bronze, will be distributed
to the members, for implements and agricultural pro-
ducts which they may present at the exhibition. Persons
desiring to take part in this meeting are invited to com-
municate, before the loth May, with either M. Vignole,

President at Beaulieu, pres Nogent, or M. Beuve, Secre-
tary General adjoint, at Creney, pres Troyes. Exhibits
must be delivered at Nogent and installed within the
exhibition enclosure by 8 p.m. on Thursday, 28th May.

The Society of Horticulture, Botany, and Apiculture
at Beauvais, will hold an Exhibition on the Esplanade of
the Hotel deVille at Beauvais from the 13th to the 22nd
of June. There will be three classes in Apiculture (pro-
duets, implements, and instruction), open to all comers.
Apply to M. Decaye, President, Rue des Halles, 68, before
7th June. Exhibits must be sent in, carriage paid, before
noon on 12th June. Apply for programme.

Brood Comb. — Strengthen your stocks by adding
brood-comb whenever they are likely to languish,
particularly after throwing off a swarm, when the
young queen, not yet fertilised, is liable to many
mischances, any of which may be prejudicial to the
stock. Nothing stimulates young stocks so much as the
development of young brood, and even where no
accident occurs to the young' queen many days are
necessarily lost before egg-laying commences, during
which time the bees are apt to become torpid ; whereas
by giving them a frame of brood-comb they are at once
stimulated to useful activity, and can if the queen be
injured or lost in her marriage-flight at once proceed to
raise up a new one. To the swarm also a framo of brood-
comb is most welcome. It tends to settle them in the
hive, and gives them an additional interest in working.

Speculative Feeding. — In spring the bees are often
balked and stopped in their labours by the change-
able and frequently cold temperature of our northern
climate. It is to guard against these contretemps
that we have recourse to speculative feeding, which has
for its aim to come to the aid of the bees, and to put
them into a condition to more rapidly repeople the
hive than if they were left to the hazards of the season.
In certain regions, when the harvest is either forward or
late, we can thus regulate, even to a certaintv, the
moment when the hives being at their strongest, can send
out their workers ' in their thousands ' to collect the
bountiful gifts of Nature. But even in the more
favoured countries, where the honey harvest is yielded
more or less all through the year, every bee-keeper
knows that only the strongest stocks give full profit.
"Well, speculative feeding gives strong population to all
hives which, in other respects, are in a normal condition.

The bee-keepers of the heather region of Lunebur"-,
in Hanover, who are masters of the craft, give us a
striking example of what may be done by speculative
feeding in circumstances relatively unfavourable. Feed-
ing from the month of April up to July they triple the
number of their hives to work with their teeming popu-
lations on the few honey-hearing plants of their country.
They thus attain to such results that many families
live almost exclusively by the products of apiculture.
They feed with preserved honey which is often ten years
old. This honey has an uninviting appearance, but be-
sides its saccharine matter it contains great quantity of
pollen, which accounts for the astonishing effect pro-
duced by it. — Bulletin cle la SoeietS a" Apiculture de la
Somme, No. 4~>.

ITALY.

The Apicolture devotes a considerable portion of its
pages in complimenting the British bee-keepers upon
the recent establishment of Honey, Bee, and Fruit
Companies, and regrets, at the same time, that the steps
which the Italian Association took some years ago in
the same direction should not have met, at the hands of
Italian bee-keepers, the support which they so much
deserved. The same contemporary comments, moreover,
in most favourable terms on the beneficial results which
will be sure to follow the introduction of honey into
Messrs. Huntley and Palnier'a biscuit -factory, as the
manufacture of Honey Drops upon so large a scale must

a 2

132

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[April 15, 1885.

inevitably absorb a considerable quantity of home-
gathered honey.

At a meeting of the Italian Bee Association held at
Milan on the 29th of last month, Signor Giacomo
Guazzoni was unanimously voted to be Hon. Director
of the Apicultural Museum and Library of the Asso-
ciation.

AMERICA.

Bee Convention at Syracuse, New York State.

Kotes by Arthur Todd, of Philadelphia, for the
British Bee Journal.

January '2\ , 22, and 23. Saw, in the Town Hall of
Syracuse, N.Y., a gathering of the most earnest and
successful bee-men of New York State, all members of
the North-Eastern Bee-keepers' Association, founded by
the late Moses Quinby in 1868. Many of those present
had brought with them objects of interest, so that quite a
small museum of bee novelties adorned the hall. The
automatic reversing honey extractor made by Stanley
Bros, attracted a great deal of attention. There was a
drone-trap large enough to hold a small swarm of bees.
Mr. Vanderwort was there with one of bis latest improved
comb-foundation mills. Mr. King showed one of Iris
automatic autumn quick feeders, hive, sections, &c.
There were samples of honey from away beyond the
Mississippi, from Florida, and from Cuba. The writer
had brought along a small apparatus forming a glass
tank, which contained a soap solution, by blowing air
into which bubbles were produced, and so long as the air-
pressure employed was steady and equal, it was seen
that the bubbles were pressed together, forming hexa-
gonal figures of equal size exactly like honey-comb.
The object of this exhibit was to show that the build-
ing of hexagonal figures was not due to instinct in the
bees, but the simple following out of a law in nature.
For the further understanding of this interesting ques-
tion I beg to refer your readers to an article entitled
' Origin of the Cells of the Hive Bee ' which appeared in
the Journal of Science for 1883, and which, if not already
reprinted in your columns, deserves a place there in my
opinion.

The writer had also brought along with him the
Frank Cheshire charts, which were quite new to most, if
not all those present ; they were examined with great
interest, and their special utility as a part of the furni-
ture of all bee societies was urged. Thanks to the kind-
ness of Frank Cheshire, I was enabled to exhibit under
a good microscope actual Bacilli alvei and 'sperma-
tozoa of the hive bee,' mounted by himself and sent me
specially for this convention. Great was the desire to
see those ' little bits of stick, you know,' as all said the
horrid Bacilli looked like. It took time for the hundreds
of bee-men there to tile up and each have a peep at our
common enemy ; and during this period I made many
new acquaintances, and renewed old ones, amongst those
such as Captain Hetherington, C. C. Van Deusen, L. C.
Root, G. M. Doolittle, &c, &c, whose names are famous
in the annals of bee-keeping in this country. I had long
had the desire to attend this Convention," and knowing
the great interest taken in this country in the investiga-
tions undertaken by Frank Cheshire, Esq., I took the
liberty early to write him, asking if he could mail me a
sample slide of Bacillus alvei to exhibit at this meeting.
In response I received not only the slides spoken of, but
a most kind letter. This letter I had the pleasure of
reading aloud to the Convention, and his expressions of
fraternal greeting to the bee-keepers of this great new
country were most cordially and heartily received.
With one voice the Convention voted that the name of
Frank Cheshire do hereafter appear upon its roll as an
honorary member, and I was deputed to convey its wishes
to him.

The question ' Is Stimulative Feeding profitable and
practicable ? ' was well ventilated. The general feeling

seemed to be that if it is known that the bees have stores
enough to carry them well on into the spring it is best to
leave ' well ' alone. One very successful bee-man told
how he stimulated early by open air feeding and had no
losses to signify by the bees chilling with cold. His
plan is to have a large flat pan with a floating tray in it,
and this is kept well filled with thin syrup at a tempera-
ture of 80° Fahr. The effect of the artificial heat ou the
bees even on cold windy days is to give them extra
powers of endurance and carry all safely back to their
hives. If a few of his neighbouring bees do get a. share
he does not mind, considering the advantages gained by
his own bees. Cane-sugar syrup only is used, as any
mixture with honey would lead to robbing.

Mr. F. C. Benedict, the Secretary, read a paper entitled
' Best Management of the Apiary for Comb Honey.' The
gist of the paper is about as follows : — ' I confine what
remarks I have to offer to a section in a latitude where
clover and basswood are the principal sources of supply.
We start in the early spring before the first natural
pollen is gathered, and when we are letting our bees
work upon rye-flour. AVhen or before natural pollen
appears see that each colony has a good queen, and plenty
of honey, and covered with some material that will keep
in the heat and moisture. Look them over again in ten
days, and you will find colonies that cannot cover eight
frames, so contract by using the division-board till they
have no more frames than they can cover, and have
plenty of honey. In another ten days you will find
many young bees, and if }-ou find that the queen is using
all the room add one frame to the brood-nest. Now
begin te stimulate brood-rearing by feeding, either feed
in the hive or at the entrance, one part sugar, to three
parts water, and about four table-spoonfuls per hive
daily. There are now about fifty days to white clover
bloom, so push them as fast as possible, for there is no
danger in getting the colonies too populous at this time.
Examine each colony weekly. Good results may be
obtained with nearly all of the moveable frame-hives. In
the honey season I prefer a top storey hive, for a strong-
colony can utilise more than eight frames, and the hive
that can be enlarged is desirable. Coming to the honey
season we have the sections filled with a light foundation
not less than ten square feet to the pound placed on
racks with separators clamped between. At swarming
time, with all strong swarms that issue up to within one
week of basswood bloom, remove the old hive to a new
stand, and place the new hive upon the old stand.'

In view of the present large production of honey in the
United States, the questions ' How to market our pro-
duct ? ' and ' How to increase the demand for extracted
honey ? ' met with good attention. There were men who
believe in the commission merchant having a trace of
honesty left in him, and men who seem to think all com-
mission men are thieves. One gentleman thought it
would be a good thing if the amonnt of money spent on
express and freight charges were devoted to getting up
neat packages for the home trade. Some consider the
markets spoiled by the farmer who keeps bees; but is not
a specialist rushing his small crop on the rnai-ket at any
price, — 'only sell,' and thus reducing values needlessly?
The fact of Honey Companies being started in England
was mentioned, but met with no favour as applied to this
country.

Other papers were read and questions discussed ; but
the most important one to my mind, and vitally affecting
the interests of honey producers in the ' old country,' was
the question, ' Shall Cuban honey be admitted into the
United States duty free, or not ? ' Decidedly not ! was
the general opinion ; and in view of the fact that a treaty
to admit Cuban honey free, whereas now it pays one
penny per pound duty, is before the United States Senate,
a series of resolutions were drafted and a committee ap-
pointed to issue a circular letter to all bee-keepers urging
united and immediate action.

April 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

133

Now I have mentioned that among the samples of
honey exhibited was one of Cuban honey. This sample
was not the old style of Cuban honey, which was a vile
mixture of honey, pollen, brood, dead bees' wax, and
various other Hastinesses; but ' honey,' clear, brilliant,
inviting to the eye, and of first-rate flavour, gathered by
modern methods with bees in frame-hives taken out with
an extractor. Cuba is waking np, and knows that she
can supply the world with honey of prime quality. The
cane-sugar industry in Cuba is almost dead, and nearly
all of the planters are financially bankrupt ; as the
drowning man catches at the straw so will they increase
their honey-saving labourers, and soon England and
Europe will be having pure machine-extracted honey
delivered in Liverpool, perhaps for 2d. to 3d. per lb. As
there is no penny a pound duty to help yon, now is the
time to look the matter in the face, and see if in quality
and price England's bee-men cannot hold their own
against any country.

The Convention at an end I accompanied the President,
L. C. Root, Esq., to his home in the famous Mohawk
Valley, and there, with Mr. Locke, the editor of the
American Apindturalist, and Mr. C. C. Van Deusen, a
large honey producer (whose name is well known in con-
nexion with flat-bottom comb-foundation) we held a
private convention of our own. Mr. Root is a son-in-
law of the famous Moses Quinby, inventor of the bee-
smoker, and I believe the. first to market comb honey in
section-boxes; the man who in 1858 wrote, ' There is not
the least doubt in my mind that whoever realises the
greatest profit from his bees will have to retain the
moveable comb in some form.' I had the pleasure to
meet Mrs. Quinsby, the widow of the famous man. I
visited the bee-cellars of Mr. Root and saw numbers of
colonies, put in there November 19th, 1884, all being
daily watched, temperature noted, weights taken every
month, &c. Bidding farewell to my kind host and
hostess and family, I was soon whirling off home, my
mind laden with fresh thoughts to guide me in another
year's bee work.

NORTHERN AFRICA.

Mr. Frank Benton informs us that there has been
established in Tunis, the site of the ancient Carthage,
an apiary of forty hives, to be conducted on modern
methods. The name chosen is ' The Kassartyr Apiary,'
the estate to which it adds a pleasing feature being
known by the name ' Kassartyr.' At present the
moveable - comb hives are not all in place and the
stocks in suitable condition to take full advantage of
the first yield of honey — that from wild rosemary
blossoms, but some surplus has been obtained and many
combs have been constructed, so that when the jujube
blossoms open next mouth an excellent harvest may be
safely counted upon. The rosemary yields wonderfully,
and as thousands of acres are covered with its pale blue
blossoms during January, February, and March, it will
be a great dependence. A medium stock transferred the
last day of February has yielded up to date over forty
pounds of extracted honey besides building out several
frames of foundation. The rosemary is the plant from
which the famous Narbonne honey of France is
gathered, and the Kassartyr honey is most excellent in
quality. Some of it is quite transparent, very thick and
possesses a pleasing- aromatic taste. Altogether the
proprietors of ' The Kassartyr Apiary ' have every
reason to feel encouraged in the work they have under-
taken, and it has already begun to have its influence, as
two other apiaries on the same plan are soon to be
established in the province, and several enterprising
parties are talking of introducing the culture of bees on
their estate. A few words about the bees of Tunis.
They are dark — even darker than our common black
bees, but, strange to say, possess nearly the qualities of
Syrian bees, and show, except in colour, very little
.resemblance to the black or German bees." Like

Cyprians and Syrians they are somewhat smaller-bodied
than are the common bees, adhere very well to the
combs when handled, but can be shaken off readily.
They are also active, energetic workers. But, unlike
Cyprians and Syrians, they are liable at times to fly at
one and sting him when he approaches the apiary and
yet does not molest the hives. They bear smoke rather
better than other Oriental races ; queens show a tinge
of bronze colour and are very prolific. On the whole,
Tunisian bees are not to be despised even if they are
true Africans iu colour. I've been wondering how this
race of bees got here, and have only been able to offer
the following explanation : — Early Greek colonists must
have brought Ilymettus bees with them. History might
lead us to this conclusion and it is indicated by their
colour, qualities, &c, and particularly their disposition to
submit to smoke, as well as by the fact that other
Mediterranean countries from which bees might have
been brought here at an early date all have as their
general types yellow races of bees. — The Bees, No. 2.

SOUTH AFRICA.

In the pamphlets I have forwarded, a brief description
is given of the two distinct classes, or rather varieties,
of bees in Cape Colony — the black and the yellow.
Specimens of the drones'of both which I shall send you,
if possible, next post.

The bees of South Africa are admirable workers, and
eminently reproductive ; and it has occurred to me since
writing you my last, that many British bee-keepers might
like to avail themselves of the opportunity of introducing
and breeding one or both of the African varieties. If
such desire should be expressed by any of your readers,
and they will kindly favour me with particulars as to
how they would like fertilised queens to be forwarded,
and where, although there is no ' parcel post ' from here
to England, I might, perhaps, be able to arrange to send
them by the steamer which leaves here once a-week, and
I have no doubt they would arrive safely. I have myself
been long desirous of obtaining, with a view of testing
their comparative excellence by the side of South African
bees, either the Ligurian, Cyprian, or Carniolan bees,
but especially the first ; and I should be glad to know
by what means I could procure a fertile queen of either
of these varieties, or whether any of your correspondents
or subscribers would be disposed to effect exchange. —
J. W. Stroud, M.D., Port Elizabeth, Cape Colony,
S. Africa, March 4th.

Cflrospontrwa.

*»* All Correspondents forwarding Letters for insertion, in
the Journal, Reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes
from the Hives, Queries, (be. , are requested to direct their com-
munications to ' The Editor of the " British Bee Journal." c/o
Messrs. Strangeways <£• Sons, Tower Street, Ujiper St. Martin's
Lane, W.C

HONEY FAIRS.

The very numerous communications I continue to
receive from various quarters, soliciting my views as to
the best means of providing a profitable market for the
sale of members' honey when harvested, and so much
having been written in the Journal and in the press
generally of late upon the question of ' How to dispose
of honey profit ably V will, I hope, be accepted as an
excuse for my troubling you with this letter ; and as my
object in penning it is to advise to the best of my
humble ability on this very important question —the all-
important one, I may say, from a bee-keeper's point of

i view — I venture to think my remarks will be received by

i brother bee-keepers as sincere.

Allow me, then, at once to state, that if bee-keeping

1 is to be made a lucrative engagement (and we know it

134

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[April 15, 1885.

can be), we one and all must use our utmost endeavours
to bring the producer into direct contact with the con-
sumer ; and your readers will not be much surprised if I
ask, Is there any other better or more effectual means of
doing so than by establishing honey fairs throughout the
kingdom ? Nor will they, I think, be disposed to ques-
tion my answer, when I unhesitatingly say there is not ;
and so thoroughly convinced am I of this fact, based on
past results of our annual honey fair held at Grantham
(a small town), that it is my intention, if spared, to
arrange for the Lincolnshire Association to hold honey
fairs at all the market towns in the county on their
respective market days during autumn, thus affording,
as I hope, the greatest possible facility to members to
market their honej- profitably, and the public an oppor-
tunity of securing home produce at their own doors, as
also giving to the world ffratis some idea of the extent
bee-keeping has assumed at the present day, and thus
interesting them in the work, and so helping on our
cause.

I notice with surprise, and not without a feeling of
regret, that, presumably to assist members in the dis-
posal of their produce profitably, several members of the
Committee of the British 13. K. A. (including our much-
esteemed late Hon. Sec, and our present valued Chair-
man of Committee) have given their patronage and
support to the establishing of a Honey Company.
Why, may I inquire, do we need such a company ? It
may, or it may not, be a good trade speculation, and if it
had been taken up by outsiders I should not have
troubled to remark upon it ; but when I read that the
most prominent members of the Committee of the
B. B. K. A. are promoting this Honey Company, the
question forces itself upon me, Is this the only' mode
which the Association see of aiding their members in
the disposal of their produce profitably after so much
deliberation in their council-room ? and have Associa-
tions so failed in their endeavours to find a more satis-
factory way to escape the fulfilment of their promises
to members, as set forth in their rules generally on this
point, as to be compelled to lull themselves into the idea
that Honey Companies will meet the case ? I truly
hope not; or depend upon it, when members find they
can get no more than 6d. or 7d. per pound for their
honey (which, I have very good grounds for stating,
would be the most they might expect from a company),
there will sooner or later be a great diminution in our
ranks.

We, as promoters of Bee-keepers' Associations, must
keep in view the fact that we induce people (our poor
especially) to engage in bee-keeping as a means of
adding to their ma_ybe scanty income. We hold out
promises of assistance whereby it may be made profit-
able to them. We receive them as members, and take
their subscription money; they embark in the charming
work ; spend a lot of (in many cases, perhaps) hard-
earned cash, and by chance get a nice lot of honey.
Here we leave them with promises unfulfilled as regards
providing, or even attempting to provide, a market at
which they might profitably dispose of their surplus
produce.

So far as my observation serves me in taking average
seasons in our varied clime, the British bee-keeper ought
to realise the very lowest average of 1CW. per pound "for
extracted honey, and Is. 3d. per pound for super comb
honey; and I should hesitate before trying to induce
any one to engage in bee-keeping for profit if I saw
no prospects of his obtaining at least such an average.

I read and hear many reports respecting the price at
which honey (English' honey) can be produced, but
never in my life did I hear that it could be raised at
'•'id. per pound, nor do I think any one else ever did,
until they read Mr. Seager's statement, which I do not
for a moment think- any bee-keeper will credit. I have
debited Mr. Seager with the loss of two nights' rest

caused by reading his remarks recorded in December
Journal, that honey could be produced at 3d. per pound;
but as it probably may have been (as Opposition M.P.'s
say) an after-dinner statement, I gladly leave the credit
open.

Now I have been for years trying to knock into folks
the good of bee-keeping and the profitable results there-
from. It is true, at the same time, I have been in an
asylum for lunatics more than once ; and if any of my
bee friends should chance to heed Mr. Seager's state-
ment, they might be inclined to think It. R. G. had
better be sent back there, and retained during pleasure,
and so kept from doing further evil. I hope Mr. Seager
is not so deeply interested in the British Honey Com-
pany as to be blind to the fact that the cottage bee-
keeper, whom he is striving to encourage and benefit,
would he a rarity when he found he could not get more
than three times the price for his honey that Mr. Seager
quotes as remunerative.

I hear wailing notes from many quarters already, and
if the price of honey is to be thus run dowu I should
certainly not be surprised if half the bee-keepsrs in
England were to throw up the work in disgust, and
accuse promoters of bee-keeping of having deluded
them. I fancy I hear the lamentations of a poor cot-
tager, who may have been led to start in bee-keeping as
a profitable pastime after his day's work, and who has
spent some of his hard earnings in buying hives, bees,
&c, with a view, as pictured to him, that the profits
from his bees would enable him to meet his landlord
promptly, and buy boots for his children as well. Let
us consider the case of a man in such a position. lie
purchases six stocks of bees with hives, &c, at an
outlay of 4/., and in a favourable, season these six stocks
yield him an average of over 20 lbs. of honey each,
120 lbs. in all, which at 3d. per pound would be 30s. ;
add 20s. for swarms, which he might chance get. This
gives a total of 50s. less interest on capital invested,
which at the lowest rate ought to be 10 per cent in a
bee business is 8s. Here, then, we have nett 42s. and
labour: the domicile of the poor cottager would have
to be Irish rinted, and the youngsters Irish shod, if the
profits from his bees had to be depended upon.

Referring again to the price of English honey, re-
marks have been frequently made by correspondents In
this effect, that to successfully compete with the
foreigner, and drive out of our market his poisonous
stuff, we must be content with lower prices for our pure
English honey. I must say I do not see the force of
such argument. If folks prefer small beer at Qd. per
gallon, let them have it ; but is that a reason why good
ale should be offered at the same price ? Would pro-
ducers of good Stilton be so insane as to offer their rich
product at the price of Butch ? or any sane Aylesbury
dairyman his fresh butter at the price of American tub?
I venture to think not. I may be wrong in my con-
clusions ; nevertheless, I would caution one and all who
should at this bee-keeping crisis (for it is a crisis) be
thinking of embarking in bee-keeping as a profitable
business not to attempt it with a prospect no more
promising than that which appears looming in the minds
of many. — R. R. Godfrey, Grantham.*

[We publish this letter from Mr. Godfrey because we
consider that the opinions of such a well-known bee-keeper
should be placed fairly before our readers, though we
venture to think that his arguments arc not sound.

The Honey Company has no intention of interfering witli
such disposing of honey as Mr. Godfrey suggests might be

* Mr. Raynor, in a private letter to me and which he has
kindly given me the privilege of quoting, remarks, ' Your
annual honey fair appears to have been a decided success
again ; I wish that all our principal Associations would follow
your example in this respect, the difficulty in a plentiful
season like the past appears to be how to dispose of the
honey at reniunerative prices.'

April 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

135

very well effected by honey fairs, and we wish every county
had such an enthusiastic and practical bee-keeper as our es-
teemed correspondent. If our readers will consider carefully
the arguments that have appeared on this subject in recent
numbers of the Journal, they will be able to judge for
themselves the great advantages that will result from
having a reliable wholesale market for honey, independent
of counties or their local markets.

Supposing, for instance, that Lincolnshire has more honey
than its inhabitants can consume, and we know that this
is the case with Lincolnshire at the present time, while
London is deficient, how can we better maintain the balance
of supply and demand than by the Honey Company buying
the surplus of Lincolnshire, and so being able to supply
the longings of the Londoner for honey? But it may be
retorted, that in such a case the former or the latter would
have to pay the profits of the middle-man, that is, in tins
case, the Honey Company. In an ideal state of existence
it might be possible to do away with the merchants alto-
gether, but we are afraid such a millennium is only in the
dim future, notwithstanding the co-operative stores. The
wholesale and retail trades are quite distinct branches of
business, and as such require different modes of working.
It would not repay those who buy and sell by the hundred-
weight or ton to buy and sell instead by the ounce or
pound ; and in these days of close competition the profits
of the middle-man are cut down to a very low figure. The
bee-keeping father of the shoeless children would doubtless
prefer retail prices for his honey instead of selling whole-
sale to the Company, but it would often happen that the
supply of honey at a local market was in excess of the
demand, and if this happened again and again, there would
be a heavy bill for carriage, <i'c. Even if it were not so,
who is to sell the honey for this shoe- wanting father?
and is the salesman to be found to do this for nothing ?

Again, we join issue with Mr. Godfrey on the price of
honey. Unless we have a very short supply, such prices
as he names — 10;/. per pound for run honey and la. 3</. per
pound for comb — are prices of the past. We have had
some hundredweights of the former offered to us for Ghcl.
per pound, and of the latter at 8|<f., and this before the
advent of the Honey Company. It is quite an open question
what is the lowest price at which honey can be profitably
produced in Great Britain. We avoid Mr. Godfrey on the
one hand, as well as Mr. Seager on the other.

In these days of competition we do not think the return
of 50s. on an outlay of U. is a bad investment, and in any
good neighbourhood for bees the return ought to be con-
siderably more than 20 lbs. per hive ; and if we put it at
the Godfrey- Seager mean, the profit would be more than
cent per cent. In conclusion, our advice is not to despair
of British bee-keeping ; get the highest price you can for
small quantities of honey which can be sold in your imme-
diate neighbourhood ; and if you have any surplus get
every farthing you can for it from the Directors of the
Honey Company. — Ed.]

PRICE OF honey:.

Having' read all that has appeared in the Journal on
the subject of promoting- bee-keeping in this country by
opening markets for the sale of honey, it appears to me
that the new British Honey Company is a mistake, that
it will not have the desired effect, and that no one who
has yet attempted to enlighten us has succeeded in show-
ing how the desired object is to be gained. Of course I
take a bee-keeper's view entirely, and have nothing what-
ever to do with soundness of the commercial principles of
the Company, and have no doubt the financial results
will be satisfactory enough to the shareholders, nor do I
doubt the Company's primary object, viz., the ready sale
of British honey ; but what 1 want to know is this," Will
the promotion of a ready sale secure to the producer a re-
munerative price, or will the ready sale be promoted at
such a price as to render bee-keepiDg in this country
about as profitable as growing corn ?

If we have a powerful Company established on sound
commercial principles, using its energy to produce a
satisfactory dividend, and for tltis purpose penetrating all

the honey-producing districts in the world, will the
British bee-keeper, with his fickle climate, be able to
hold his own against the foreigner?
I We hoar a good deal from time to time about Eldora-
dos and barrels of honey, and I do not know whether all
foreign honey is inferior in quality to our own, but I do-
not suppose the British Honey Company will give the
' Britisher ' a higher price for his native honey on sound
commercial principles.

Then the next question is, Supposing the British
public is able to buy genuine and pure honey, nicely put
up and guaranteed by the British Honey Company, at
j Crf. per lb., will this be promoting bee-keeping in this
i country ? And lastly (for it will come to this), will the
British bee-keeper be able to compete with the British
Honey Company in supplying honey of the best quality
at the lowest price ?

I have always been in favour of establishing a depot,
and a fund for buying the produce of British bee-keepers,.
and retailing on co-operative principles ; but with the
prospect of foreign supplies and large profits on heavy
capital account, I say, ' 'Save me from my friends'

If the fact of there being a large Honey Company
established on such sound commercial principles, is in
itself sufficient to promote the interest of British bee-
keepers (as the Hon. Sec. Herts B. K. A. seems to think)
on account of the ready sale, we as bee-keepers can only
hope that other companies will spring up on sound com-
mercial principles to create a little wholesome com-
petition for our honey, at prices which will encourage us
to persuade others to embark in bee-keeping for the sake
of profit combined with pleasure. — Tiios. F. Wabd,
Highgate.

P.S. — If your prophecy comes near the truth, there
may be a few favoured places where bee-keeping will be
possible, but to talk about promoting bee-keeping with
honey on a par with household jam, is indeed startling-
to one British bee-keeper.

NEPETOS PUKPUREA.
I venture to think I can introduce the readers of the
B. B. J. to a very valuable, and, I believe, rare plant,
for our busy little friends. It is called the Nepetos
purpurea, is a perennial, perfectly hardy, blooms from
May till November, and for those six months of the
year is literally covered with bees. Its long spikes of
flowers lie almost on the ground, the plant looking from
a distance like a blue cushion ; so it is very ornamental,
besides affording- honey as long as a flower remains. I
keep but a few stocks of bees, and find I can this spring-
dispose of a small number of cuttings of my favourite
plant on the receipt of Is. Gd. per dozen. The cuttings
strike readily in the open ground, and shoidd soon be
put in. I may add that the honey here is considered
delicious, and I think the little Nepetos has a large share
in giving it its rich flavour. The proceeds of the honey
and cuttings are given for the benefit of the ' Bird's-
Nest' near Dublin. — C. S. Cooper. (Address, Miss
Cooper, Highfield, Byfleet, Weybridge.)

SWARMING.

I have stated elsewhere that all stocks intended for
the production of honey should be at full strength by
Ma)r 1, or some ten days before the first flow of honey
is expected in any locality. And now, having all in
good working order, we. must so manage that the bees'
natural desire to increase may be turned to profitable
account, rather than permit that instinct to be the cause
of loss, as with many bee-keepers has been the case.

In the first place, it should be understood that the
very best results in comb-honey are obtained (in most
districts) with those colonies that are not permitted to
increase, or are not divided by the bee-keeper. Very

133

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[April 15, 1885.

frequently it has been stated, that as soon as colonies are
strong- enough they may be divided rather than let them
swarm ; but even if one is willing to forego a portion of
the season's honey for the sake of increase, this is a very
poor way to obtain it, as the best part of the season is
gone before such lots get to work in earnest, and then in
most localities with our short season, the two will not
gather nearly as much as the one strong colony which,
3warming in due time, is returned on to foundation in
its original situation, and the supers at once replaced,
when there is no delay whatever. The brood-combs
with the remaining young bees being removed to a fresh
place, can then be broken up into at least two colonies
for increase (as shown under 'Queen-raising-') each of
which will soon be as strong as either of those two made
by division before the swarming point was reached.

Where it is desired to prevent permanent increase, it
is by no means necessary or desirable to put a stop to
swarming. Other than judicious shading, and giving all
needed space, there is no economy whatever in so-called
preventive measures. No practical bee-keeper can afford
to cut out queen-cells from populous colonies, with every
probability of missing one or more, and all his time gone
for nothing, without considering the fact that the bees
will again and again build other cells if once determined
to swarm. Neither is there anything gained by removing
a frame or two of brood occasionally and inserting-
foundation in their place. The new combs are built out
at the expense of so much work in the sections, whether
tilled with stores, as will be the case during a good flow
of _ honey, or crowded with brood when but a little is
being brought in. On the other hand, such new combs,
when only one or two are given at a time, are one of the
greatest inducements to the formation of queen-cells.
Do not, therefore, try any such piecemeal operations, and
if the bees are determined upon swarming, let them have
their wish, under proper management, and depend upon
it, better and more work will be the result.

Though the statement may seem contradictory, it is
possible to permit, or make bees swarm, and yet have no
permanent increase. Referring to my communications
last spring, Vol. XII., pp. 12 and 108, it will be seen how
this is done, when it is found they are preparing to swarm.
One plan being to place the whole of the bees on to
foundation on the original stand, and then to distribute
the combs of brood (after removing queen-cells) among
others being worked for extracted honey, or giving them
to queen-raising nuclei, another way was to remove theold
combs and young bees adhering to another hive standing
near the newly-made swarm. The young bees (those
removed with the brood-combs) are then permitted to
take care of a young queen, and when she is mated and
laying nicely, the two are united, first destroying the old
queen.

Until last season, I had found no better plan than that
of returning swarms on all foundation, and the supers at
once given back. With half the brood-combs returned
and the remainder comb or foundation, I had found the
supers neglected for a considerable time ; and when all
empty combs were given it was still worse. The past
season, however, has shown me that 'all foundation ' was
not quite the thing, as I had much better results by re-
turning just two combs of brood, and the rest foundation.
I have now adopted this plan, because with no combs
drawn out below, a large number of the workers would
go above, and deposit pollen in the sections; and, more-
over, before more young bees could hatch out, there would
be a considerable falling off in the strength of the swarm,
hut this loss is fully made up by the two brood-combs,
one of which should have bees hatching out, and the
other containing larvns in various stages.

When working for extracted honey, we have little or
no swarming, as more room can always be given than
the bees really require, but while producing comb honey
so much space cannot be allowed, therefore more care

and attention is required ; and so far no plan has been
discovered which does away with the inclination to swarm;
nevertheless, I have herein endeavoured to show that
this desire need cause the bee-keeper no anxiety, because
under good management the colonising instinct may be
so controlled as to be the means of a still larger quantity
of honey being stored. For instance, a new swarm
will always store honey more rapidly for the time being,
than a stock, which, though stronger, has not swarmed.
This happens not simply because the swarm is aware it
has a new home to establish, but also because for som»
days they have but little brood to provide for. — 8.
Si.mmins.

PROPOLIS.— 'THE FUTURE OF BEE-KEEPING.'

Mr. Cheshire's surpassingly interesting papers have so
whetted one's appetite for scientific information that I
am induced to ask if Mr. Ilehner has anything to tell us
on the subject of propolis, of which he asked for speci-
mens in the winter.

The future price of honey is all important, for if its
production will not pay, many will certainly hesitate
about plucking the rose from among the thorns. But I
am surprised that you think many persons will be able
to produce it, with a 'living' profit, at less than Id. a lb.
Of course you have information and knowledge which
only a few possess, but I do not fancy such producers
will be found in remote parts, and that any great
quantity will be sent up from the western counties, for
example. Difficulties of locomotion will be taken into
account, and I expect that a better price than this will
be obtained from private friends and neighbours. I find
that year after year many persons await their supplies
from the same cottagers. It is a very few of these who
have much time to devote to their bees, and fewer still
into whose brains you can beat the advantages of better
methods. You have been incautiously rather slighting
to some who endeavour to do this. I refer to a remark
against which I venture to ask you to allow me to protest.
It will be found near the bottom of the second column of
page 107, where you speak of ' country cleryy and others,
who have little else to do.' You have only, for want of
a second thought, I am sure, repeated a not uncommon
remark, which was begotten of ignorance, and is uttered
sometimes in malice, sometimes with a mixture of scorn
and pity, sometimes as a mild, but cutting, joke. I think
I could introduce you to some who are always fatiguedly
far from that most unenviable condition (' little to do,'
is bad enough, but to think of 'little else to do' than
attend to bees !), who often sigh for forty-eight hours in
the day, all of which they could fill with work, and who
cannot give half the attention to their hives — if they are
bee-keepers — which they require and deserve, even when
increased returns would be far from an inappreciable
boon to themselves. — C.

PREVENTION OF FOUL BROOD.
Is salicine equally efficacious with salicylic acid for
the above purpose ? Through going to a chemist this
year to get a supply of salicylic acid, I found out that
what was sold to me last year for salicylic acid and
borax, was really salicine and borax. It was very
bitter to the taste, and reminded me at the time of the
salicine medicine which I had been taking: however,
having no knowledge of the proper taste of the acid, I
did not suppose that anything was wrong, and gave it to
the bees, in all confidence, in their food (I also sprayed
with it), and certainly on the whole it did them no
harm, for they worked vigorously and prospered under
the influence of the tonics. That which I have now
obtained from a chemist for salicylic acid has a sweetish
taste, and is not bitter at all. He tells me that salicine
and salicylic acid have quite different properties, the

April 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

137

former being a tonic and the latter a powerful anti-
septic, although both alike come from the willow. In
all probability many others besides myself were supplied
last year with the tonic in mistake for the acid, and if
any failure by its use either to prevent, or to cure foul
brood, perhaps this disclosure may do something to free
the acid from the blame.

If you can clear up this question as to the proper
taste of salicylic acid, it may help to prevent mistakes in
the future.

I use the acid in the belief that ' prevention ' (if
possible) is better than cure ; ' I should try phenol if
' Bacillus alvei ' were to break out among my bees. —
II. T. Spice.

[Salieine is the bitter principle found in willow-bark.
Salicylic acid is formed by the oxidation of salieine', and
also more cheaply from phenol, which is dissolved in
caustic soda, then mixed with carbonic dioxide (CO.,),
and heated up to '220° — 250°.

Salicylate of soda, that is salicylic acid and borax, is
more soluble in water than salicylic acid. Pure salicylic
acid is tasteless, salieine having a bitter taste. The
former is a powerful antiseptic, much more powerful
than carbolic acid, and is used in the treatment of fevers
(Query, would it prevent the swarming fever ?), while
salieine is used as a bitter tonic, and supposed to have
the power of arresting agues like quinine, but this has
not been proved.

In case you have foul brood to contend against you
cannot do better than use pure salicylate of soda, as
advised in Cowan's Hand-book, or use phenol, buy
Calverley's carbolic acid crystals No. 1, and use as directed
in a former number of the Journal (see Bee Journal,
August 15th, 1884, page 284).— Ed.]

HONEY PLANTS.

I do not remember having seen the Tritbma uvaria
recommended as a honey plant, nevertheless bees are
very partial indeed to this plant in autumn, when few
other flowers are to be met with. Our Tritomas bloomed
about the time we were feeding up for winter, and it
was surprisiug what a number of bees visited this plant,
I counted many bees round one poker - like flower stem ;
and to see these industrious creatures forcing their way
up the tubes of the flower, so as to enable them to reach
the nectar, was quite amusing, as they must have
suffered a considerable squeeze to allow them to enter
at all. As it is still opportune to purchase plants of
these, or divide and increase those already in stock,
perhaps the hint may not be out of place.

With us the bees work very much upon our plants of
Aquiligea or Columbines, and doubtless they obtain both
honey and pollen from the same. Unfortunately these
plants are limited to the garden, and I do not remember
having seen a single plant in a wild state in this neigh-
bourhood, although they are commonly met with in
parts of Oxfordshire ; and this leads me to believe that
they are proof against rabbits, and it is my intention
(if spared) to sow all our surplus seed in the neigh-
bouring woods and waste places this autumn, at which
time the seed of this plant germinates most readily, but
if kept through the winter its vitality seems impaired.

Have any of your numerous readers ever observed
how the bees visit trees of the birch ? when in bloom
I suppose that also should be classed with the legion of
honey-producers.

Ivy in this district affords a capital pasture for bees
during September and October. Owing to the woods
being left almost to their own care, ivy had taken
possession of many of the trees, and long since has
reached its climax of growth, and flowers freely every
year. Last autumn it seemed that the wasps had a mono-
poly of this plant until very late in the season, when the
bees came more to the front. How is the honey

secreted in the flowers of this plant ? it would appear
as though it oozed through the surface of the ovary and
that it required moistening with either heavy dews or a
slight shower before it became available to bees, as I
have frequently noticed the bees visiting the ivy quite
early in the day and after slight showers, but the wasps
work upon it at any time. Now that the improvement
in forestry is engaging the attention of landowners,
those ivy-clad trees will soon be abnost a thing of the
past ; at least, considerable inroads have been made in
them during the past few years.

What would the secretaries of bee and honey shows
say to offering- a prize for the best and largest collection
of honey-yielding plants and flowers, either in pots
or cut and placed in water and arranged so as to produce
the best display, and also be labelled correctly with their
common name, but not botanically, unless both are given,
as I certainly think that the names difficult to pronounce
have been the means of preventing- many easily culti-
vated plants from becoming generally known ? If pro-
ductive of no other good it might encourage many bee-
keepers who might visit the tent, to add, at least, some
of the plants to those they already possess. I am aware
that many of our best honey plants will be over before
honey shows become general, but there will be plenty
left that require extended cultivation if only for the
pollen they yield.

The black willow here has been a beautiful sight
through a greater part of March owing to the long
spell of dry weather, but the prevailing north-east winds
have prevented the bees gathering pollen from the catkins
when the plants were not near to the hives. I consider
the foregoing one of the most valuable trees that can
be placed near an apiary.

Our bees, too, have been busy on the pretty red flowers
of Prus japoniea, which they appear to much appreciate,
judging from the numbers which visit the expanded
blossoms.

Now is a good season for sowing a good breadth of
single wallflowers for transplanting to their flowering-
quarters later on. When planted early in sheltered
nooks in shrubbery borders, this plant flowers much
earlier than when exposed in open beds on the flower-
garden, and in such a position, in favourable weather,
would be much appreciated by the bees. — C. Warden,
Clarendon, Wilts,

DISEASED QUEEN.

I am much obliged by your kindly answering my
query about the dead queen I forwarded to you. [See
No. for March 15, p. 106.] And I desire now to state
honestly that I knew there was foul brood in the hive
she belonged to ; of course, I did not know she was
affected, though I suspected she was. I have some
reason to believe she brought the disease with her when
she came to me from an English bee-dealer last year.
My object in keeping these facts from you was to make
sure that you were right in what you have written as to
foul brood, &c. Though knowing but little about bees,
I have been somewhat sceptical as to what I have read
in the Journal about foul brood. Henceforth I shall
read and believe. I may say I have since examined the
hive, and find they — the bees — have made queen-cells,
which are occupied by grubs. If queens are produced,
of course they will be useless. But do you think the
young queens will resist the disease ? / think they will
not, as I twice tried to raise some in same hive last year,
and failed. I tried, last year, the cure advocated by Mr.
Cheshire, but did not succeed. I find the bees do not
care for the sja'up after the ' cure ' has been put in it.
"Would it be safe to put the bees of this hive into a
healthy hive ? Please say ; and how would you pro-
ceed ?— R. P.

' [It is not more than ten months since I started those
investigations which have sc-attered almost every pre-

138

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[April 15, 1885.

viously held notion respecting foul brood to the winds,
and it would be unpardonable vanity to suppose that
the whole question has as yet been exhausted. The
curious continuation your queen has afforded of the
suspicion I have more than once indulged, in relation to
similar, and until lately utterly unaccountable, behaviour
on the part of queens which persistently deserted their
hives, is to me extremely gratifying.

That queens can aud do sometimes bring disease to
the stock into which they are inserted, I have put
altogether beyond question; and this fact, although
perhaps at first unwelcome to dealers, is, after all,
an addition to our knowdedge, which tends directly
to the advantage not only of the bee-keeper, but the
dealer himself, since the interests of the two, when
clearly understood, are found to be identical. No
caution, because no caution was considered necessary
in sending out queens, has, no doubt, often been a
fruitful cause of calamity by upreading disease, and
so many have in disgust given up the hobby. If dealers
forewarned now act conscientiously, this can all be
avoided, and one of the occasions of disappointment
aud vexation eliminated.

Your query as to whether queens raised from this
mother would be free from the disease, I can only
answer with reserve. From such a queen, I should
imagine it would be extremely uulikely that any
progeny would be actually healthy. She was riddled
by the disease in every part, and since I have ac-
tually witnessed the pest at work in unlaid eggs, few
of hers could be supposed to be free. This malady,
although quickly killing the grubs, on account of the
extreme softness of their tissues, which allows the bacilli
to travel through and through them, does not seem to
rapidly make an end of the adult bees ; and it will
be remembered I have found the disease confined
to one aud vary in three cases, and confined to the
spermatheca in four, indicating that the queen in these
cases was born healthy, but had contracted disease
at her mating. Another queen was diseased in the
liver, and in the liver only, as far as I could find.
This clearly proves that in the adult insect the in-
fection may be localised, and assume a chronic instead
of an acute form, reminding of a bacillus disease to
which our poor flesh is heir, viz., consumption, which
will remain in abeyance during conditions making for
health, and will then, when the vitality is lowered,
break forth in one lung, or in the mesentery, or
brain ; and then more or less quickly wreck the whole
organization of the body. It is, therefore, quite possible
that a queen may be long diseased, and that her progeny
may not be affected until her egg-bearing organs are
reached. If this view be correct, and I only feel that
the evidence is not as yet sufficient in amount to warrant
a very positive assertion, then such a question as the one
now in hand admits of no categorical answer. The con-
dition of the queen at the time must be fully known
before a definite yes or no can be given, but I would
strongly urge the desirability of breeding only from
queens that have given the very highest results.
Never, on any account, allow a cell from a weakling
to mature.

With regard to the cure, modesty bids me say little,
except that had I the stock, I should feel the most
positive confidence in being able to cure it, i.e. if the
queen be healthy. If she be stricken, at present I
imagine cure is impossible.

In reply to your query, "Would it be safe to put these
bees into a healthy stock ? I should say unhesitatingly,
Dun'f. Diseased bees are no gain, if added to the
healthy. They may not, and probably would not, infect
them, because they would be too old to act as nurses,
and woidd toddle off to die when death-pangs began to
reach them ; but the possible advantage is no compensa-
tion for the risk. — Frank 1!. Cheshire.]

' BEES FOR NEW ZEALAND.'— REVERSIBLE
FRAMES.— VEILS.

In answer to inquiries re bees for New Zealand, the
Agent General informs me that 'the New Zealand
Government have not offered a reward for the intro-
duction of humble bees into that country, and moreover
that those bees have already been successfully introduced
by private enterprise.' I'erhap3 the above will prevent
disappointment to any who intended to try for 1000/.
which was not offered, so I send it to you for publi-
cation.

Recersible Frames. — Will any bee-keeper who has
tried the reversible frames kindly state if the queen-
bee readily deposits her eggs in the inverted cells, and
if the bees hatch out from them strong and healthy as
in the natural position ?

Veils — a Suggestion. — I have for some time used a veil
with a light cane hoop stitched inside it in such a position
as to hang a little below the chin, and as I have found
it work well perhaps others would like to try it. I
think it beats wire gauze, being more effective, cheaper,
lighter, and more comfortable. — B. Flatjian.

STANDARD SIZE OF BAR-FRAME OF
B.B.K.A.

With regard to the Standard size of bar-frame adopted
by the B. B. K. A. on Feb. loth, 1832, would you kindly
inform me, and others, through your colomns, if any
alteration in, or addition to, the resolution then passed
has been since made. I have one of the stamped frames
now before me, and in the resolution, as printed on the slip
pasted to it, the dimensions are given as follows : — ' Top
bar f in. thick, bottom bar 5 in. thick, side bar J- in.
thick, 11 in. long, and 8J inch deep.' I ask for in-
formation as I was recently persuaded to believe that
the B. B. K. A. had added a fixed length for the ends of
the top bar, outside the rectangle of the frame. — H. W.
Lett, Ardmore Glebe, Lurr/un, Ireland.

[The total length of top-bar is 17 inches. — Ed.]

Lecture on Bees as Fertilisers, Hybridisers
and Fruit -producers, at Maidstone. — A lecture
having the above for its title, was given on Thursday
evening the 20th ult, by Mr. Frank Cheshire, F.L.S.,
F.R.M.S., before the Maidstone Farmers' Club and
Chamber of Agriculture, at the Royal Star Hotel,
Maidstone.

The occasion being somewhat a novel one, inasmuch
as it is probably the first in which the subject of
bee-keeping in any aspect has been brought under the
special notice of agriculturists, it may be well to explain
that the Secretary of the Kent Bee-keepers' Association,
acting under the impression that the subject of the
fertilisation of fruit-blossoms and field-crops could not
possibly fail to enlist the interest of an audience com-
posed of Kentish farmers and fruit-growers, made over-
tures to the above-mentioned Club that a high -class
lecture on the subject should be provided. This
meeting with a prompt response arrangements were
made with Mr. Cheshire to present the subject.

The formal business of the Club and Chamber having
been disposed of, the President, G. Marsham, Esq.,
invited Mr. Cheshire to enter upon his lecture. This he
accordingly did, and it became at once apparent that his
audience were prepared to devote the closest and keenest
attention to every detail of the matter laid before them.
To those who have experienced the delight of following
Mr. Cheshire in his descriptions of the processes of
nature in its truly wonderful arrangements for the pro-
pagating of plant-life by the instrumentality of bees and
other insects, assisted by most admirably executed
diagrams, it is unnecessary to say a word; but to those

April 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

139

who have not been so fortunate it may be said, tliat
words fail to convey a true idea of the pleasure which is
realised from both' the subject-matter and the mode or
manner of its presentation. Mr. Cheshire engaged the
attention of his audience for about an hour and a half,
and at its close received its warm applause.

Several gentlemen offered observations on the lecturer's
remarks, and contributed further interest to the subject.
To all of these Mr. Cheshire replied with great exactness
thereby gaining additional applause.

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Cheshire
for bis most interesting and valuable lecture, and with
this the acknowledgments of the meeting were given to
Mr. Garratt for the part he had taken in bringing the
subject under notice. From the success attending the
first attempt to bring the subject to the attention of
agriculturists, the thought is naturally suggested that
other clubs of similar character should be urged to
adopt a ^similar course. By this means the cause of
bee-keeping would receive additional support, at least
morally, if not materially.

Lectures. — Mr. A. Watkins, hon. sec. of the Here-
fordshire Bee-keepers' Association, has recently given
four lectures on bee-keeping in that county, at the village
schoolrooms at Almeley, Burghill, Much Dewchurch , and
Marden. These lectures were illustrated with the series
of lantern-slides photographed by Mr. Watkins (all from
nature), the subjects being views of bee-gardens in Eng-
land, Italy, and Switzerland, various kinds of hives,
various manipulations, such as examining the brood,
taking off sections, extracting, and bee-driving, also
photographs of parts of the bee s body, such as the sting,
leg, eye, wax-pocket, tongue, &e.

<&z\qz& front % Siuxs.

North Leicestershire. — During the fortnight ending
Oth inst. the bees have only had one really good day ;
viz., March 28th. On the 4th, 5th, and 6th inst. they
were in flight for a short time ; but during the remaining
ten days they were entirely confined to their hives by
bad weather. Twenty-one frosty nights in March, and,
up to date, four in April, have kept the fruit-trees from
blooming, so that there is, at present, absolutely nothing
for the bees to work on except crocuses still in bloom
and the willows just bursting out. On the whole, the
prospect is not a cheering one.— E. B.

South Cornwall, April 6. — I am inclined to think that
this is not a good county for early spring work, the
climate is so variable. During the latter half of March
«ast winds prevailed, and it was but seldom that bees
were abroad. A fortnight ago I took advantage of a
fine day to examine four hives. Two were strong, two
had brood, all were well supplied with food. An ex-
amination of two of them to-day shows progress. When
weather and time combined will enable me to extend
researches, I know not. I hear good accounts around
me, and some liives are supposed to have been breeding
all the winter. If we get another cold spell in a fort-
night's time it will be a critical matter for those which.
do not get attention paid to them. My bees will miss
their supplies from gooseberry-bushes, for I calculate that
bullfinches have destroyed bud enough to have produced
thirty gallons of fruit. " I shall look for great results from
apple blossom further on, as bud is very thick, but, alas !
late frosts are very prevalent here. — C. R. S.

Hereford, April 7th. — Bees appear to have wintered
well in this district, and, as far as I can see, without
great consumption of stores. My seventeen hives have
all done well, all are breeding. I fed up in the autumn
with candy (no syrup) placed in frames in the back of
the hive. In two cases, where an upper storey had been
put on and freely extracted from, tliere was hardly a

pound of honey left below, and they had, therefore, to be
fed very liberally. Candy (t», not on tho top of the
frames) has been such a success with me that I shall
continue to use it; I fed up two driven stocks with it,
giving them empty combs. They have come out well.
I have not yet had to feed this spring, but have stimulated
by uncapping stores. Weather rather cold with easterly
winds, although the sun shows itself frequently. The
interest in bee-keeping is evidently increasing in this dis-
trict.— A. Watkins.

Bideford, Fairy Cross, April 8. — Made a slight ex-
amination of hive on March 19th. Stores in plenty,
and everything going on favourably. On April 6th
examined all hives (four bar-frame hives and one straw
skep). The frames were well covered with bees. Three
or four frames in each hive well filled with brood in
different stages. In No. 4 hive a few drones were,
hatched, and several inches of drone brood were capped
over. Straw skep not very flourishing, as an old queen
presides there. Uncapped a little in each hive, and
covered with enamel cloth. Quite enough stores in each
to last if weather continues favourable. Pollen has been
very plentiful this spring, especially on the willows. —
J. N. K.

Neictoicnardx, Ireland. — I examined all the hives in
my apiary on Oth March, and found all had still plenty
of food, and that in some hives breeding had been going
on for some time, and I saw brood in two or three combs
in several hives. The weather from about 12th March
up to this, 6th April, has been one continued time of
nasty, cold, biting north and north-east winds, with an
odd day of rain, which soon dried up, and then again
the cold, cold wind. Such weather has been good for-
getting in the crops, but the worst I ever remember for
bees, as the sun shining tempts out the bees, which are
soon rendered helpless by the cold. To-day, 6th April,
my bees are considerably weaker than early in March,
and if such weather continues it will play sad havoc
among them. Again I am the more convinced of the
truthfulness of the old motto of 'Keep only strong
colonies,' as they are far better able to stand such
weather-tests as we have been experiencing. I put on
six dry sugar feeders about middle of March, but with
one or two exceptions they remain untouched. In the
north of Ireland we generally have milder weather at
this season, but we must cheer up, as every cloud is said
to have its silver lining. At any rate, I will in future
not disturb the bees until April in each year, as March
weather is treacherous. I only have had one examina-
tion this year, namely, as above on Oth March, but I be-
lieve they would have been better without it. Hoping
we may all have a good honey season is the wish of — A
Newtown ards Bee-keeper.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS.

J. C. L. Gilbert. — 1. Metal Ends. — If those you have
are not immoveable, they must be imitations of the
real ones which are immoveable. You had better con-
sult our advertising columns and obtain the correct
invention. It is necessary that the combs should lie
flat against the wire of the cage or they will break
out. 2. Sealed Syrup. — Yes; combs containing syrup
sealed over are quite suitable for feeding now. 3.
Simmins' plan of dry-suyar feediny is well spoken of
by those who have tried it, but such a very weak
colony as you have we should feed with syrup.

Delta. — Amount of Food to leave in Autumn. — If you
take only super honey, and do not take any from the
stock hive, that should be enough, except in the case
of weak stocks or unfavourable swarms.

A. E. S. — 1. Unsealiny Honey in Skeps. — You may turn
up the skep and pass a knife between the combs, and
so uncap the honey. Be careful not to injure the

140

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[April 15, 1885.

brood if any. You had better uncap the side combs
first, which will not contain brood at the present time.
2. Cleaning Sleeps. — Turn them up and carefully re-
jnove all chips of comb and dirt from the edges and
scrape the floor-boards — search all cracks for moth-
grubs and fill up with putty. 3. Half-pound Honey
Bottles. — We are not aware of any dealer selling these
at present. 4. Supplying Candy to Bees in Sleeps. —
Place it over the feeding-hole. 5. Bees Head. — "With-
out examination, we can only suggest that the cause
of death was queenlessness. 6. Queenless Stock. —
They cannot raise a queen without eggs which of
course they have not. You had better unite at once
to another stock.

F. Pearson. — 1. llcious Ligurians. — Do not say you
' cannot manage them,' but try and do so, especially as
they are also, as you say, ' extraordinary good workers
and collectors of honey.' If you really wish to ex-
change them for blacks you need only exchange the
■queens. Most owners of blacks would be glad to
effect the exchange for you. 2. Queenless Blacks. —
Before concluding they are queenless make another
search, and if you fail to find her or any eggs, unite
to your other stock at once. The mouldy cells most
likely contain pollen and may be disregarded. As
the bees require to use the combs they will clear them
out.

A. B. C. — 1. Bees refusing Pea Flour. — This is frequently
the case. The bees should be educated to take the
pea-flour by filling crocus blooms with it; they will
never refuse it when thus offered, and, having acquired
a taste for it, will take it from other places ; a skep
with shavings in it, as described in manuals, is better
than a plate. 2. Sections in body if Hive. — You may
put two or three frames of sections behind the excluder,
but not more.

A. Withinshaw. — Bees at Bournemouth. — We see no
reason why bees should not get on well there. If
a few miles inland, all the better, for the reason that,
at the seaside, they can only range on one side for
food. There is no objection to keeping fowls at an
apiary.

II. B. — Queen outside a Hive. — As to \vl13' she was there
we can offer you no reason ; but, before returning her,
you should have ascertained out of which hive she had
come. You probably returned her to the wrong one,
and so caused her death.

South Glos. — 1. Comb Foundation. — The sample sent is
correct for sections. 2. Drone Brood. — The cells which
you found projecting beyond the others contain drone
brood. If they exist in worker cells, it is an indication
that the queen is old, or at any rate beyond her work,
and she should be superseded as soon as possible.
•'!. Re-inserting Extracted Combs. — Place in middle of
hive with a frame of brood between them. 4. A
species of Bombus.

31. W. M. — Encasement of Queen. — If, after examining
or otherwise disturbing a hive, you notice much excite-
ment, reopen it; and if the queen is encased you will
see a ball of bees, as big a-s a walnut, on the floor.
Direct a puff of smoke on it and the bees will separate ;
you can then pick up the queen and cage her.

Midlothian. — 1. Transferring. — As 3'ou are, as you say,
a novice, you had better do as you suggest, let your
skep swarm ; hive the swarm in a bar-frame hive, fur-
nished with foundation, and feed until the combs are
built out. Twenty-one days afterwards, transfer the
stock to another bar-frame hive. If in the meantime
a cast should issue, you may hive it in a bar-frame hive,
and unite either to the stock or the swarm by feeding,
if the weather is bad you should have two good stocks
to send to heather. 2. Feeding. — Continue to feed
gentty ; if the bees do not take it down, examine your

feeder, perhaps the holes are stopped, or the syrup
crystallised. 3. Reversing Frames before sending to
Heather. — The theory is correct; and, a9 the expe-
rienced bee-keepers you name find the practice answers,
you cannot do better than follow their advice.

F. J. Chinnick. — Prevention of Swarming. — The plan
which you suggest was tried long ago, and found not
to answer.

Kip van W. — 1. 1) rone thrown out. — The drone sent
arrived crushed ; it appears to be one of tliis year's.
Why not open the hive and ascertain if there are
others ? 2. Division Boards in Front and Back of
Hive. — Do not remove the front one yet; the ante-
chamber formed by it is a great protection against
cold winds. When you find the bees crowded give
another frame or two. -3. Sealed Stores remaining. —
Do not remove the sealed stores. You may uncap
them, and the bees will soon use them up. 4. Queen
raising. — For an amateur the plan described by Mr.
Simmins is rather difficult, and. you would find the
plan described by Mr. Cowan in his book more simple.
4. Divisional Racks for Sections. — Having, as you say,
ordered one to try, you will soon learn more about it
than we can tell you now.

Richard Perrey. — Modern Bee-keeping, price Gd.;
Cowan's Guide Book, Is. Gd.; to be had from J. Huckle,
lvings Langley, Herts.

W. Ditty. — Size of Section-rack. — 1. The size of the
section-rack must depend on the size of the hive. The
rack should cover the top of the hive. 2. Crates. —
We prefer the ' Divisional-rack,' which is the inven-
tion of the Rev. G. Raynor, and has been successfully
used by him for the last five or six years. He first
exhibited it in two sizes — one for 21b., and the other
for 1 lb. sections — at the South Kensington Show in
1881, both of which obtained high commendation.
The rack consists of three separate boxes, each con-
taining seven sections, and by it the heat is retained
more effectually than by any rack with which we are
acquainted. The separate divisions render it easy of
removal and of manipulation in general, and it is espe-
cially adapted for ladies' use. 3. Position of Sections.
— Yes ; the sections should range flush with the upper
edges of the rack, a bee-space of f in. being provided
beneath the rack. 4. Tin or wooden Rests. — No; we
prefer wooden rests. 5. Tinned Wire. — The tinned
wire, previously recommended, was supplied by Mr.
Blow. ' Lemonade wire ' might answer the purpose if
not too thick and heavy. 6. Two pound Sections. — The
2 lb. section — 5j x 6J x 2 in. — should stand with 5 j
side downwards.

J. K. Frost. — Clustering of Bees, §c. — The clustering of
your bees outside the hive was caused by the old queen
being superseded. The young queen might have been
killed while transferring, or she might have been lost
on her wedding flight, and the colony, having no queen,
perished. We advise you by no meaus to use the old
combs. The comb forwarded betrays no signs of foul
brood. Allow your colony to swarm, and twenty-one
da3'S afterwards transfer from skep to frame-hive.

C. Lake. — 1. Quantity of Syrup. — If the weather is fine
and warm, and the bees short of stores, they would
take down three or four pints of thick syrup, but the
quantity consumed will depend greatly on the pros-
perity of the colony and the breeding qualities of the
queen. 2. Artificial Swarm. — Don't make your arti-
ficial swarm until )-ou have ten frames well covered
with bees — say towards the end of next mouth. Take
a couple of frames with brood, bees, and honey, on one
of which is the queen, and place them in the centre of
an empty hive, filling up with full sheets of foundation,
and confining the bees to six frames. Set this new
hive on the stand of the old stock. Close up the

April 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

141

frames of the old hive by division-boards, and remove
it to a new stand. All this must be done in the
middle of a fine day when the bees are flying freely.
Upon the part containing the queen you may place a
super, a few days afterwards, and add frames below as
required.
M. — 1. Supering. — Placing supers on your hive will
delay, if it does not prevent, swarming. The number
of sections to be obtained from any colony must
depend upon the season, and the strength of the colony,
and it is simply absurd for an author to lay down a
hard and fast rule, such as you state. Swarms always
work with more energy than old colonies, and your
swarm of the 18th June beating the old stock is just
what we should have expected, as the year was
exceptional, and the honey-now continued later than
usual. 2. Sobbing. — The colony which perished during
the winter had most likely been robbed in late autumn,
and had lost its queen. Cold weather setting in
prevented the robbers carrying off the whole of the
spoils. 3. Yes; you may remove the outside combs
when sealed over, and place full sheets of foundation,
alternately, near the centre, when the hive is crowded
with bees, and when honey is coming in, or feeding in
large quantity is carried on. In the former case
sections may be placed on the hive, with a good chance
of getting them filled, but this must not be done too
early in the season.

A Constant Eeadf.e. — Sugar. — The three samples of
sugar are suitable for making syrup. Sample B is the
purest and the best for your purpose.

E. G. Parker. — Honey. — The honey forwarded is
heather honey ; but its taste resembles English
heather honey more than Scotch. We should say
both samples are the same honey ; but that in the
bottle has lost some of its flavour by being stirred
when bottled. Both are suitable for medicine and
household use.

W. C. P. — You would find No. 1 best adapted for
making syrup, and No. 2 for dry sugar feeding.

~\l. H. — Sections on Frames. — The alteration from the
body-box to over the frames makes no perceptible
difference to the pitch of cell. Considerable judgment
is required to know just when to remove them. There
being a liability of the comb twisting in section if
done too soon, before well attached to sides. The sides
of the sections which, when in body-box, were next to
frames, must, in nearly every case, be placed upwards
when changed.

A. E. B. — Ejected Queen. — The bee sent was a fully-
developed queen. She had apparently received a
sting in the fourth, not the third, abdominal segment.
The fifth segment was also perforated. She was
found by dissection to have been fully fertilised, and
we have little doubt that she was the reigning queen
of last season, to which you refer as being larger.
Queens at this part of the year are perceptibly
smaller than at two or three months later. Your
hive should be examined to discover its condition.
You give no information which could lead to any
explanation of either the stinging or the ejection.
— F. C.

Received: — Illustrated Catalogue of Bar-frame
Hives a?id Bee-keeping Appliances, manufactured by
John H. Howard (certified expert B. B. K. A.), Holme
Apiary, Peterborough. (40 pp.) — This is a carefully
compiled catalogue, containing illustrations of all the
necessary bee-keeping appliances; the prices are moderate.

*** We have given four supplementary pages this number,
but several communications are held over till our next.

CHESHIRE HIVES

AND APPLIANCES.
{As described on page 22, Vol. XII., British lice Journal).
Sole Appointed Maker —

W. HOLLANDS,

HARRISON RISE, CROYDON.

PHENOLATED CANDY CAKE, for Spring use, as
recommended by Mr. CHESHIRE on page 337 of B. B. J.
Price Gd. per lb.; 6 lbs., post free, 4s.

CHESHIRE QUEEN CAGE. — The very best for
Introducing. Price 6</., postage l^d.

THE CHESHIRE CURE for FOUL BROOD,

Supplied by Mr. Cheshire, with full directions for use.
Price Is. Gd. per bottle, postage 2d.

The Trade supplied with PHENOL on the most liberal terms.
PRICE LISTS ON APPLICATION.

Important to Bee-keepers.

ALL PERSONS REQUIRING

GOOD AND CHEAP HIVES

Should apply at once to
TXJEtKTDEJIt &d SOIff,

MAKERS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION OF HIVE TO ORDER.

Address— RAQCLIFFE-ON-TRENT, NOTTS.

N.B.—Refa -ciices to E. FERNEYHOUGH, Esq., Him. See. Notts B.K.A.

(?9)

Cheapest House for Bar-frames & Sections.

BASS-WOOD SECTIONS, with V Joint, either 4£ by 4£
by 2, or 4 by 4A by 2, in either one piece or dovetailed,
3s. per 100, or 27s. Gd. per 1000 case. One sort.

BAR-FRAMES, yellow pine, morticed, 'Standard' size,
15| in. top bar, Id. each, or 6s. 9(?. per 100.
17 in. top bar, with groove for Foundation, Id. each, or

8s. per 100.
Broad shouldered, 17 in. top bar, with groove for Foun-
dation, 2d. each, or 15s. Gd. per 100.

BROAD FRAMES to hold Six 4 by 4J by 2 Sections.
2d. each, or 10s. per 100. SMOKERS]' 2s. 9d. each.

ARTHUR DONNELLY & Co., Lurgan, Co. Armagh.

37111

IMPORTANT TO BEE-KEEPERS.

THE 'PERFECTION' BAR-FRAME HIVE.

A COMBINATION OF THE

LATEST AND BEST IMPROVEMENTS.

Should be seen by all intending to keep Bees on the most
profitable principle.

Price -------- 30s.

Write for description to —
SIDNEY DICKERS, Hadley, Middlesex. (97)

BEE FARM AND HIVE MANUFACTORY
TO BE DISPOSED OF, as the Owner has to go
Abroad, with 7 acres Meadow, House, Garden, and every
accommodation for carrying on the MANUFACTURE of
all APPLIANCES appertaining to BEES on a large scale,
by Steam power, with a First-class connexion. About £500
is required, and a good Income can be realised. It is not
essential to know the Business, and is a capital opening
for any one wanting a pleasant and profitable occupation.
Address Mr. Davison, Land Aejent, 17 Hail Street, Blooms-
bury, London, W.C., and Basingstoke.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL, [April 15, 1885.

Special Urcpaib §,bbertisemeitts.

For Sales and Purchases of Bee Appliances, Honey, Books,
Pamphlets, Diagrams, &c, Exchanges and Situations.

Terms: Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad-
ditional three words, One Penny extra; no reduction can
be made for continuous insertion.

SW SPECIAL NOTICE.— We cannot under any circum-
stances be responsible for the truth of statements
made in Advertisements, or for the trustworthiness
of either Buyers or Sellers.

Advertisements will not be received for insertion under this
heading from Manufacturers or Dealers in Bee Furniture,
except for the Sales of Honey and Bee Literature.

THE SIMMINS' METHOD OP DIRECT INTRODUC-
TION. Enlarged to 32 pages. Price G^d. Post free,
of the Author, Rottingdean, Brighton; Messrs. Neighbour &
Sons, 149 Regent Street; and Mr. J. Huckle, Kings
Langley, Herts. (53)

ODERN BEE-KEEPING. An Illustrated Handbook
for Cottagers. Fourth Edition, considerably enlarged.
The soundness of its information, the simplicity of its
instruction, combined with cheapness, make this Hand-
book invaluable to all intending Bee-keepers. Price Id.,
post free.

THE MANAGEMENT OF STRAW SKEPS. dT
signed to teach the Cottager how to obtain the best
results at the least possible cost. By attention to its teach-
ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto. Price One Penny.
Six copies and upwards, post free.

FOUL BROOD ; The Means of its Propagation, and
the Method of its Cuhe. By Frank R. Cheshire,
Esq., F.R.M.S. Price Gd.

[EE-KEEPING, Plain and Practical : How to
Make it Pay. By A. Rdsbkidge, Is. Gd., post free,
Is. Sd. Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.

FOR SALE.— 100 lbs. of HEATHER HONEY, in 2-lb.
Sections. What offers ? Address William Codling,
Hartburn, Morpeth. c 48

SOME BEE-KEEPING APPLIANCES for Disposal.
Very cheap. Address Head Master, St. James's,
Northampton. c 51

SWARMS from 50 Stocks. Orders booked now. Ad-
dress Jas. Gilbert, The Bee-keeper, Stamford, c 56

FOR SALE.— Swarms and Stocks of English Bees in
Straw and Frame -Hives. Price according to size and
time. All Bee-keeping Appliances supplied. Address C H.
Ceisford, Ninfield, Battle, Sussex.

BEES. — For Sale, the entire Stock of a Practical Apia-
rian, leaving the neighbourhood. About 50 Stocks of
English and Hybrids, in splendid condition. Mostly in
Flat-topped Hives, with Feed-hole ; few Bar-frames. Price
moderate. First-rate opportunity for those about to start
an Apiary. Address E. H. Robertson, Swalcliffe, Banbury,
0x°n. c 59

rpWO nice healthy Stocks of Bees, Makeshift Frame-hives,
A. 15s. each. Address Crisp, Halstead. c GO

ONEY for Sale. 100 lb.-Sections~aT9d. ApplyX
J. Noves, Gewsey. c 61

H

I HAVE 120 1-lb. Sections. Offers requested for the
whole or a part. Address H., 11 West Street, Here-
ford. c G2

FOR SALE.— Five Strong Stocks of Black Bees in new
Combination Hives, covering 6 Frames, well painted,
for 25s. each. Address John Booth, Brewery, Chippin"
Norton. c 63

WANTED to Purchase several early Swarms of English
Bees. State price and particulars, to be delivered
free to Blackwater Station, S. E. R. Address C. KiNGSFord,
Blackwater, near Farnborough, Hants. c 64

FOR SALE. — A very strong Stock of Bees in double-
walled Hive, with Supers (filled with Comb), Smoker,
and Abbott's ' Little Wonder ' Extractor, to be Sold cheap.
Address F. Thomas, 43 Greenwood Road, Dalston, E. c 63

SALE. — Home-made Twin-Hive, with two Stocks ; Bees
and Combs, 30s. Give Hive in. Skeps, stocked, 15s.
5 lbs. Super Foundation (2s. 8d.), sell at 2s. ill- ; lot 10s. Grf.
May Swarms, 10s. Charles Gbeates, Littleport, Ely. c 66

FOR SALE. — Several Stocks of Bees in Straw Hives
with Crown-boards ; other in boxes, all suitable for
Supering, 10s. each. Also one Abbott's Bar-hive, 20s. The
whole in good condition. Address P. Tonkin, Padstow,
Cornwall. c 67

CN. WHITE, Certificated Expert, B. B. K. Association,
• Somersham, Hunts, will send Prices of Stocks,
Swarms, or Queens, English or Foreign, on application.
Two Observatory Hives for Sale. c 68

VARIOUS Bee-keeping Appliances. New, and very
(cheap. Address Head Master, St. James's, North-
ampton, c 69

STRONG STOCK of LIGURIAN BEES in Standard
Bar-frame Hive, on Legs, with loose Floor-board, &c,
price 45s. Also Strong Stock Black Bees in Standard Bar-
frame Hive, on Legs, with loose Floor-board, &c. , price 35s.
Also Stewarton Hive, consisting of three Body-boxes and
Honey-box, with square well-made Cover in three parts, on
Legs, price 25s. Address Walter Tyzack, Abbeydale House,
near Sheffield. c 70

I? G. PARKER, Watchmaker and Jeweller,
_J a Alteincham and Knutsford, has on Sale all kinds
of BEES and BEE APPLIANCES as reasonable in price
as any could wish. He is Winner of the First Prize for
Largest and Best Collection for several years past at the
Cheshire County Show ; also for English Bees and Obser-
vatory Hives. First Prize also for best Combination
Hive. This he has from 12s. 6</. each. HIVES from
2s. Gd. to 5?. each ; VEILS, Is. ; SMOKERS from 3s. Gd. ;
COMB FOUNDATION from 2s. Sd. per lb. ; HONEY
EXTRACTORS, 9s. 6<7.; SECTIONS, PARCHMENT,
SWARMS in HIVES, well packed, from 15s. ; FEEDERS,
SUPERS, ZINC, QUEEN CAGES; HONEY BOTTLES
15s. per gross, free on rail ; English and Scotch HONEY at
all prices, Sea., &c. 'Modern Bee-keeping,' best and
cheapest book on Bees, 7 stamps. Orders by Post. Ad-
dress E. G. PARKER, Altrincham.

DON'T forget to read this Important Notice —
JOT'S NEW ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE of
HIVES and BEE FURNITURE is now ready.

Sent }>ost free per Penny Stamp. Address —

ALFRED JOY, The Apiary, Aylesford, Kent. 3304

Important Notice to Amateur Hive-makers.

Standard Frames in the Flat,

Tenoned and Morticed, requiring no block to 'make, with
17 in. solid Top-bars, per gross 10s. ; with split Top-bars,
per gross 12s. Gd. Can be used with Metal Ends.

SECTION CRATES,

Dovetailed, in the Flat, for 4J by 4.} Sections.

To hold 71b. per doz. ... 7/6 Sections & Dividers ... 3/9
„ 141b. „ ... 9/0 ,, „ ... 7/6

„ 211b. „ ... 12/0 „ „ ... 11/0

No less quantities supplied, and we do not undertake to fill
orders at above prices after April. Terms Cash.

E. M. HART & Co., The Longstock Hive Manufactory,

STOCKBRIDGE, HANTS.

(90)

Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Strangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c.

[No. 109. Vol. XIII.]

MAY 1, 1885.

[Published Fortnightly.]

(ffbitaxml, itoiiucs, #r.

THE BRITISH HONEY COMPANY, LIMITED.

The first public meeting of the above Company was
Leld on Thursday, April 16th, 1885, in the Board Room
of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals, lOo Jermyn Street, St. James's, when the fol-
lowing shareholders were present : — the Rev. Herbert R.
Peel, the Rev. F. W. Scott, Dr. George Walker, Mr. D.
Stewart, Mr. W. N. Griffin, Mr. Arthur B. Lipscomb,
Mr. G. Drinkwater, Mr. P. AY. Brannon, Mr. G. M.
Stone, Mr. T. W. Cowan, Mr. G. Henderson, &c. The
Baroness Burdett-Coutts, President of the B.B.K.A.,
"was also present during the proceedings.

The Rev. Herbert R. Peel, Chairman of the Board of
Directors, presided. The Secretary (Mr. Iluckle) read
the notice convening the meeting.

The Chairman said that the report and accounts would
now be presented to the meeting, which would also be
asked to fix the dates of the financial year. He then
Tead the report, as follows : —

' In presenting their first report the Directors have to
congratulate the shareholders on the auspicious start made
by the Company.

'With shares to the number of 547G already allotted,
there is such evidence of interest in the undertaking as to
show that the Company meets an actual want.

' The powers of the Company contained in the very eare-
Xully prepared Articles of Association are ample, and the
prospect of a good honey season justifies the anticipation of
a successful commencement of business.

' The Directors are pleased to note that the shares are
taken up by persons of all classes — from the capitalist who
looks to the money profit of his investment, down to the
humble cottager, who thus shows his interest in an enter-
prise, which will relieve him of the labour and anxiety of
■seeking a safe market for his produce. The Directors look
for a considerable increase in the number of shareholders,
when bee-keepers, as the season advances, can apply part of
.their honey receipts to the purchase of additional shares in
a, Company which exists for their common benefit.

' The Directors have also determined that, in purchasing
honey, a preference shall be given to honey offered by share-
holders, provided that in price and quality the terms of
purchase are equally favourable.

' The Board have thought that it will be in the interest
of the Company to allow applicants for shares — who so
desire — to pay for such shares in honey, provided it is of
the standard quality and at the agreed price.

' The Directors are of opinion that, when two-thirds of
the authorised issue of shares shall have been taken up, the
lists should be closed to the public, and that all remaining
shares shall be reserved, in the first place, for allotment
among the original shareholders, who will be fairly entitled
to have this advantage as pioneers and promoters of the
undertaking.

' At so early a stage in our existence there can be little to
report beyond sanguine expectations and confident hopes of
successful business. The Directors have, however, secured
on most favourable terms, suitable and commodious pre-
mises for then- London depot and business works at Columbia
Market, through the generous aid of Mr. and the Baroness
Burdett-Coutts, who have already evinced so much interest
in the promotion of the Honey Industry in the United
Kingdom.

' The amount of the expenses incurred up to the present
time, and of the estimates for further immediate outlay for
plant, <tc, are laid before you, and will be found to have
been carefully and prudently considered.

' You will be asked to confirm what has been done, and to
give your intelligent aid in advancing the interest of the
Company, by making known among your friends and the
public generally, the objects aimed at by the British Honey
Company, Limited, viz. :

' The increased production of pure British honey,
' The establishment of a safe and reliable market for its sale,
' And the further development of an industry which, for
want of such a Company, has so long languished in
obscurity.

' Herbert B. Peel, Chairman. N

Duncan Stetabt, Deputy Chairman.
Frederick S. A. Haniiury Tjracy.
Thomas Bates Blow. V Directors.

Thomas William Cowan. (

George Walker. \

Ferdinand Francis Zehetmavr. '
'17 King William Street, Strand, London, If'.C.

April 16th, 188.3. John Huckle, Secretary.'

The financial statement up to the ICth ult. was also
read by the Chairman.

The Baroness Burdett-Coutts intimated that Mr.
Burdett-Coutts would he happy to take some shares
in the Company, and she also believed Sir Stafford
Northcote was desirous of doing so. (Cheers.)

The Chairman then rose to move the adoption of the
Deport and Balance-sheet. He thanked the Baroness
heartily for her kind interest in the Company, and
felt sure that, all the members were gratified on hear-
ing the announcement just made by her ladyship. He
felt somewhat diffident in occupying the chair on that
occasion in the presence of the Baroness, whom they
were all accustomed to see in that capacity as Pre-
sident of the B. B. K. A. However, the Act of Par-
liament compelled him as Chairman of the Company
to preside at the meeting, which was what is called the
Statutory Meeting, and required to be held within four
months after the registration of the Company. He con-
gratulated them on the fact that the allotted shares
numbered nearly 0000, which was a good number con-

144

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 1, 1885.

sidering that the venture Lad only been started four
months. lie thought they would all gather from the
Report read that the Company had now been firmly and
definitely established, and that, too, at a comparatively
small cost, for "their total expenses up to the present time
bad not exceeded lt>7/. It was satisfactory to know that
the shareholders had carried out their scheme in the face
of a certain amount of opposition. He thought they
ought to regard these obstacles placed in their way as a
compliment paid to them rather than otherwise. That
opposition was based on four grounds in the different
journals relating to bee matters which had touched on the
question. The first charge was that the Directors were
nearly all members of the B.B.K.A. ; the second, that they
would deal in foreign honey to the exclusion of British
honey; the third, that they would lower the price of
honey aud depreciate its value ; the fourth, that they
would interfere with the honey fairs held throughout
the kingdom . He would like to say something in
answer to the two first charges, and leave his brother
Directors to deal with the others. With regard to
the Directors of the Company being members of the
B. B. K. A., he could only say that they would at once
plead guilty to that charge, in which they could see no
crime. The British Honey Company was quite inde-
pendent of the B.B.K.A., and owed its existence to
the fact that the latter was unable to provide a honey
market for its members. Those who were acquainted
with the proceedings of the B.B.K.A. would remember
that at the general meeting held in the beginning of
1884 in that room, a scheme was proposed for the
formation of a honey market, which proposal was
shelved for a twelvemonth, it being pretty generally
understood that the B. B. K A. had not sufficient funds
to establish a honey market even for its own members.
Private enterprise was then tried, but not altogether
with success, after which it was determined to form a
British Honey Company, for the benefit not only of the
members of the B. B. K. A. but of all beekeepers
generally, so that they might find a ready market for
the sale of the surplus produce of their hives and be
sure of quick returns, which was a great boon to
bee-keepers. That was the best answer to the first
charge against them. He considered their opponents
were somewhat partial in their attacks. Some of the
gentlemen connected with the Bee Fruit Farming
Company were also members of the B.B.K.A., and
yet they had not been subjected to similar criticism.

The British Honey Company and the B. B. K A. were
running on parallel lines, which, according to Euclid's
definition, never met. The two would never clash, but
the former would provide a honey market for bee-
keepers generally, and relieve the latter of a great
responsibility and burden on its finances. The great
struggle was how to found a honey market, and the
B. B. K. A. had never succeeded in establishing one,
because that institution was supported only by the 5s.
subscriptions of members, and its funds were therefore
inadequate to cope with such an undertaking, which
required a large amount of capita!, and could on!}- be
carried out with public money. With regard to the
next charge, to the effect that the Company would deal
in foreign honey, and swamp a British industry by
bringing over honey from California and other parts of
America, and, in fact, wherever it could be bought, he
could only say there was not the slightest ground for
apprehension on that head. When the Directors were
framing the Articles of Association they decided, acting
under the advice of their solicitors (Messrs. Freshfield),
in whom they had every confidence, to take the fullest
possible poweis for dealing in honey, wax, and all other
bee products, and in appliances used in bee-keeping.
Those who brought this accusation had entirely over-
looked the fact that it was distinctly state I in the
Articles referred to that the primary object of the Com-

pany was to foster and develope the industry of bee-
keeping in this country. They had not the slightest
intention of swamping the trade in British honey by
introducing foreign produce. They had begun by buying
large quantities of British honey, and they would continue
to do so as long as that course was practicable. It might,
however, happen that bad seasons would visit England,
Wales, Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. In such a
case as that, how would they be enabled to fulfil their con-
tracts entered into with co-operative stores, grocers, and
others ? They would have to say, ' We cannot supply
you with British honey, but we wili undertake to get
foreign honey, and we will guarantee its purity.' It was
well known that the foreign hone}' which had been im-
ported during the last few years had not been of such a
quality as to recommend it to the British public. They
would all remember what Mr. Otto Hehner hail told
them in reference to a great deal of the foreign honey
he had analysed. He found that a large portion of the
public had been eating glucose in some form or other.
It had been ascertained that glucose could be manu-
factured out of anything that contained starch, and it
was more than probable that, under the name of honey,
the public had been eating old rags, or even cancelled
pawn-tickets, which had no redeeming point in them
whatever. (Laughter.) The Directors would keep all
transactions in British and foreign honey quite distinct
from one another, and labels would be prepared to enable
them to do so. They would not buy foreign honey and
mix it with British, but would sell each separately. In
all cases they would guarantee its purity, submitting the
foreign produce to the severest test Mr. Hehner could
apply. He did not think he could say more than that to
clear the Directors of the second charge, and he asked their
opponents to give them a year's trial, and then come for-
ward if they could to substantiate their original allega-
tions. With regard to lowering the price of honey they
did not expect to lower it below a point at which it
would be unremunerative to the producer; but they hoped
to increase the demand for hone)' very much, and open
up channels for the sale of it which had never been opened
up before, and thus of course the gain must be on the
side of the producer. He thought the very extravagant
price of honey, up to the present time, had kept it from
being used by people in humble life. It had been a-
luxury hitherto, but they hoped to make it an article of
general consumption in the same way as butter and
cheese. With regard to honey fairs the Directors did
not wish to interfere with them. Their operations wcce
very much confined to the locality in which they were
held, and even then in most cases they did not absorb all
the honey produced in the neighbourhood; of which the
Company had very good evidence, for large quantities of
honey had been offered to the Directors from a county in
which a fair had been held last year. In conclusion, he
was glad to say that the Company was now thoroughly
established, and they did not intend to recede from the
position they had taken up. That position they owed
very much to the assistance given them so generously
by Mr. Burdc-tt-Coutts and the Baroness, who had kindly
granted them premises at Columbia Market. (Hear.) Mr.
Burdett-Coutts had been good enough to say that until
the Company was in a nourishing condition he would not.
expect any rent. (Cheers.) They were anxious that no-
thing should be kept back from the shareholders; and in
order that they might state accurately the present posi-
tion of their produces they had written to the solicitors,
Messrs. Freshfield, asking for a statement of their claim.
In reply, the solicitors begged them not to trouble about
such costs, aud stated that they regarded the undertaking
as a philanthropic rather than a commercial one, and that
their charges would be as low as possible. He thought
the shareholders were indebted to the Directors, who
had worked very hard without any remuneration to in-
I sure success. They had attended meetings almost weekly

Maj 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

from tlii' commencement, ami they had decided that no
remuneration should be offered to themselves except out of
profits. Their object is to popularise bee-keeping. They
wero fortunate in having secured the services of Mr.
Ilucklc as Secretary. The accounts were kept by him with
the greatest regularity, and the remuneration he received
was very modest, indeed. Mr. Iluckle himself proposed a
lower salary than they had decided to give him, but the
Directors had not the conscience to accept his offer, and
had therefore fixed on the present sum. Henceforth,
when a bee-keeper sent up his samples, they would bo
examined, and if arrangements were made for its purcha le
the Company would send him down canss unawhat smaller
than those used by the Aylesbury Dairy Company, which
will be returned full to Columbia Market, after which the
seller would at once get his mousy, The producer would
not be put to the expense of bottling lib own honey. The
Directors had consented to receive honey in payment for
shares in lieu of cash. That was the leading feature of
the whole scheme. It was desiiable to encourage that
mode of payment, hy which the shareholder, on the co-
operative principle, helped to promote the object in view-
by doing ail in ids power to make bee-keeping a national
industry, an end which, if possible, was most likely to be
effected through the agency of their Company. After a
few words in reference to the office furniture an 1 arrange-
ments, which the speaker stated had been decided upon
with the strictest regard for economy, the Chairman con-
cluded by moving the adoption of the Report and Finan-
cial Statement.

In reply to a question put by the Baroness Burdett-
Coutts, the Chairman explained that if it were more con-
venient to a working man who wished to become a
shareholder, he might pay for bis shares in honey, instead
of in actual cash. The honey could be sent up and valued,
shares being allotted according to the amount forwarded.
2*. Gd., or its value per share, must be paid on applica-
tion, 2s. Or/, on allotment, and the remainder at successive
calls of sums not exceeding ■">$. per share at intervals of
not less than three months; 1/. being the price of a fully
paid-up share.

The Rev. P. W. Scott, in seconding the motion, said
that, after the full and satisfactory statement made by
the Chairman, they must all fully understand what were
the objects of the Association, and that everything con-
nected with it was straightforward and above-board.
There was no doubt this Company would promote the
industry of bee-keeping very much indeed, and make
honey a more common article of food than it was then.
There had been a great increase in the sale of it during
the last few years, and now there was every prospect of
a further development of the trade. He thought it a
great advantage to the working man that all the Com-
pany's transactions would be on the ready-money prin-
ciple, lie had generally found that people who purchased
honey to sell it attain were very long-winded in their
payments. He himself bad not been paid for honey sold
the previous year during the months of July and
October.

Mr. Stewart said that objections had been taken to the
Company by those who supported honey fairs, and called
themselves well-wishers of the cottager, on the ground
that the effect of their Association would be to extinguish
those fairs and lower the price of honey. It must be
borne in mind that many people would not send their
honey to the shows and to the honey fairs, owing to the
cost of forwarding it and the risk of failing to sell it.
The Directors had now offers of more than :!000 lbs. of
honey which had not been taken by the honey fairs.
There was a considerable amount of trouble and risk
attendant upon the exhibition of honey at fairs. The
exhibitor had to prepare it and pack it carefully, pay the
carriage and entrance-fees, and then submit it to compe-
tition with the produce of other people. It was not to
be wondered at that honev was often returned to exhi-

bitors. There could not be much doubt that the bush.

■ like and ready dealings of the Company would depreciate
honey fairs. By sending honey direct to the Company,
the cottager would ba sure of a speedy return, without
tlic co.>t of bottling, &p. There, had been an attempt to
establish a large honey market at Reading, and Messrs.
Huntley and Palmer did their best to assist by intro-
ducing honey into niaay new articles of diet. However,
there came rumours of delay and difficulty, and it is
believed there was not sufficient capital at command to
engender public confidence. There would be no com-
plaints of that sort against the present undertaking.

Dr. G. AValker complained that the gentlemen who
preceded him had stolen his best thoughts. He depre-
cated the artificially high price per pound for honey
which had been kept up under the old system. He
advocated the principles of free trade in this commodity,
as in every other, and instanced America as an example
of a protectionist country, where there was far greater
distress than in the British Islands. He had known as
much as 2s., or even 2s. Gd., per lb. paid for honey ; but
there was no reason why it should not be sold as low as
Sd. or Sjrf. per lb. In answer to those who objected to
the Company on the ground that it would damage the
sale of British honey, and destroy the raison d'etre of the
British bee-keeper, he would say that the shareholders
had a very simple remedy in their own hands, and that
was to turn ilia Directors out of office after a trial had
proved their conduct to be open to question. He thought
shareholders would find the Company a safe, if not a
very profitable, investment. They hoped to turn over
their capital about six times in the year — thus, supposing
their capital to be 500CV., and they turned it over six
times, they would practically be working with a capital
of .'!0,000/., and 2 per cent on that sum ought to realise
a fair profit for investors. Of course they would buy
honey in very large quantities, and would obtain the
lowest possible rates for carriage.

Mr. T. "W. Cowan thought the Directors had taken
very judicious powers to sell foreign honey, because thia
rendered it possible for the Company in bad and unpro-
ductive seasons in this country to keep up their 3'jpplies
from without. Of course, if at any time the supplies
failed them, owing to their depending solely on the
United Kingdom, their business might be ruined, and
all their trouble thrown away, and British bee-keeping
greatly injured. A great deal of honey came into Eng-

j land adulterated, and a great deal came there pure, but
was adulterated after reaching t!u3 country. He thought
if the Company guaranteed the purity of all the honey
sold by them, the British public should be satisfied.

The Baroness Burdett-Coutts expressed herself highly
pleased that the Company had been established while she
still held the position of President of the B. B. K. A. It
was really a philanthropic undertaking, and could be
classed with those which have for their object the benefit
of the masses by bringing within their reach pure, cheap,
aud wholesome food. And the best way of carrying out
so good an object was to found, as they had done, a Com-
pany on sound commercial principles. She was astonished
to hear of the opposition the}' had met with, but, as she
had not followed the subject closely, possibly she did not
fully grasp the situation. It seemed to her that the pro-
vincial honey markets had nothing to complain of. There
was no reason why they should not continue aud prosper,
as the provincial markets for poultry, cheese, and eggs
did. It might be of interest to those who had taken pre-
mises for the Company in Columbia Market to know that
Mr. Burdett-Coutt3 was about to get a Bill introduced
into Parliament which had for its object to connect a
railway with the market ; and if depots and centres could
be established in the honey-producing districts, the honey
could be run in a single truck right into the market with-
out transhipment, much in the same way that rnilk, butter,
eggs, and other produce, were brought to town from the

146

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 1, 1885.

country. Her Ladyship concluded by congratulating the
members of the B.B.K.A. on the success of the Company
up to that time. (Cheers.)

Mr. W. N. Griffin said that while a high price might
he obtained for one super at a show, a dozen would be
returned unsold. The extravagant prices mentioned he
thought were the exception rather than the rule.

The motion was then carried unanimously.

Dr. G. Walker proposed that the financial year should
close always on December 31st. The Directors would
then have plenty of time to ascertain and discharge all
their liabilities, and prepare a balance-sheet and report
for presentation to the shareholders in April every year.

Mr. Stewart seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously.

The Baroness Burdett-Coutts stated that it had given
Mr. Burdett-Coutts great pleasure to locate the Company
in Columbia Market, and that Mr. Harrison, her agent,
would be happy to render the Directors any assistance he
could.

The Chairman said the Directors highly appreciated
the kindness of her Ladyship, and could not sufficiently
thank her. He had just received a telegram from the
Hon. F. S. Hanbury Tracy regretting his inability to be
present that day.

The Kev. Mr. Scott proposed, and Mr. I'. W. Brannon
seconded, a vote of thanks to the Chairman, which was
duly acknowledged, and the proceedings were concluded.

JUDGING HONEY.

It is one of the great disadvantages of living in
this sceptical as well as scientific age, that our
belief in some of our most cherished ideas gets
rudely shaken. The minds of the turtle-loving
alderman is haunted by phantoms of the snake-like
conger, and even the celebrated recipe of the
immortal Mrs. Glasse needs not the much - be-
friended animal, if we can obtain the associate of
Mr. Richard Whittington ; and so if to make these
respective soups, wc can do without either the
turtle or the hare, can wc not likewise manage to
obtain good judging without first catching good
judges 1 We trow not.

It is the peculiar privilege of all Englishmen, not
even excluding farmers, to grumble at the weather,
the seasons, or anything else, and from time to
time letters have appeared in the Journal com-
plaining bitterly of the want of uniformity in the
judges' awards at different shows, and asking why
at one show certain honey exhibits, named from A
to Z, should maintain their alphabetical position,
while at another show, to use a sporting phrase,
Z romps in first and C B A arc nowhere : disre-
garding entirely the popular belief in the uncer-
tainty of English law, those who are dissatisfied
with the present state of affairs wish to have some
rules or regulations framed, so as to meet this
difficulty, and prevent their recurrence. There is
no doubt that such a code would be extremely
useful to judges who were inexperienced in their
work, or even to those who were not, if we could
get all of them to taste with the same tongue, or to
look through' the same eyes, but as tastes differ and
opinions as well, it seems to be a hopeless task.
There is no difficulty in getting judges to agree in
such points as consistency or style of the exhibit,
though even here their relative proportion will
vary greatly in the opinion of different judges; but

when it comes to agreeing as to colour, flavour,
and taste, the difference is more widely marked.
Some prefer the luscious heather honey, some the
delicate flavour of the fruit - blossoms or clover,
while certain uneducated palates are tickled with
that liquid production of old rags and sulphuric
acid. By making separate classes for the different
kinds of honey, we can partly solve the problem,
but however mechanical we try to make the
judging, the same difficulty meets us, and we come
back to the point from which wc started. It might
be possible to draw up a code giving certain points
for the various qualities ; such as flavour, aroma,
ifcc, and having obtained the assent of the judges,
to let the exhibitors know that their honey would
be judged by this standard.

But, nevertheless, though taking every possible
precaution in our power to establish uniformity in
judging, we may take it for granted that the same
exhibits will take different places at different
shows, unless the same judges are employed.

To get satisfactory awards ; satisfactory we mean,
not to the unsuccessful exhibitors, for that is im-
possible, but to the unprejudiced public, the one
essential is experienced judges, men of some stand-
ing in the bee-keeping world, with a practical
knowledge of what the public requires; for that,
after all, is the most important consideration. As
none of us are infallible, not even the youngest, it
is always better to have two or three judges, as
there is less likelihood of unsatisfactory awards,
due to the peculiar opinions of any one of them,
and we would rather that such a one should not
judge at all.

(To he continued.)

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL: PROPOSED
WEEKLY ISSUE.

When announcing in our last the possibility of a
weekly issue of the Journal, and requesting the
opinions of our readers as to the advisability of the
change, we were scarcely jjrepared to receive the
almost unanimous support which the proposal has
elicited. We say ' almost,' for a letter from one of
the county secretaries seems to imply a fear that
the more frequent circulation of the Journal would
involve to the secretaries of counties and districts
an undesirable increase in their work ; but we would
hope that in carrying out a weekly issue measures
would be adopted which might reduce their labours,
aud create a desire in many, now only readers of the
Journal, to subscribe for it, so that at the end of the
year they might have in their possession a volume
of the facts of bee-keeping to which they might have
access.

From the numerous letters we have received we
have much pleasure in culling a few as samples of
the rest : — ■

Andrew Buchan, Dalkeith: — ' All the readers of youv
Journal here wish to have it weekly. I wish you success.'

C.N. White, Somersham, Hunts: — 'I should like to
join in the chorus which I believe will be raised in ap-
proval of your implied intention to publish the Bee
Journal weekly. I, for one, shall gladly welcome the
change, as 1 look forward with great interest to the

May 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

147

arrival of the Journal every fortnight. I believe the
more frequent issue would be greatly valued and properly
appreciated, more particularly by those who look to the
Journal as a guide for the various operations in the apiary.
I should like to see " Useful Hints," which to cottagers
and beginners in bee-keeping is the most valuable part of
the Journal, in every issue.'

Rev. W. W. Flemyng, Portland, Waterford : — ' I have
read the article in the last number on the " proposed
weekly issue," and should be very glad to increase my
subscription if the change to a weekly issue is made. I
hope it will.'

Marcus J. Astle, Wilne Mills, Derby: — ' I like the idea
of a weekly publication of the B. B. J. immensely, and
shall be only too glad to pay a double subscription in
return for the privilege of reading the valuable informa-
tion contained in your Journal a week sooner, to say
nothing of extra quantity.'

J. J. Smyth, Ballinacurra : — 'I would be glad if you
could see your way to making the B. B. Journal a weekly
instead of a fortnightly one. I think the move would be
to yours and the interests of all concerned.'

J. Kingsmill, Goring : — ' As the opinion of your readers
is invited on the subject of a weekly issue of the B.B.J.,
I venture to record my opinion most decidedly in favour
of the proposal. The advantages gained cannot be over-
rated, more especially during the months from March to
September inclusive, when one requires most to make use
of the valuable hints contained in the Journal on bee
management. I will certainly not relax my humble
efforts to induce all I can to become subscribers, if only
for their own benefit.'

Kev. Charles Wood, Salisbury : — ' You ask for the
opinion of your readers with regard to a weekly issue of
the Journal. I should say the sooner it is made weekly
the better, as bee information so soon becomes, in many
cases, comparatively valueless, but I fear the price would
have to be reduced ; 3d. a-week would be too much for a
good man}'.'

II. Dobbie, Norwich : — ' I am pleased to see that it is
the intention of the B. B. J. being issued weekly, and I
for one will gladly welcome the English weekly Bee
Journal, or, I ought to say, the British weekly Bee
Journal.'

Rev. F, Wheatley, Teignmouth : — ' I hope the editor
will soon be able to give us a weekly edition of the
Journal, which has been of more benefit to me than any
Association. May it continue to prosper ! '

SMALL ALLOTMENTS COMPANY.
We alluded in our last to this scheme, which we
consider is one in which we, as bee-keepers, should
take a marked interest, and which will doubtless
be promotive of bee-keeping. The Company was
inaugurated on Friday, April 24th, in Willis's
Rooms, when the preliminary steps were taken
towards the formation of what may be called ' a
national land company.' The object of this Com-
pany is to purchase large holdings of land, and then
to subdivide them into small portions, on a sys-
tem of deferred payments over a term of years ; and
also to let land in small quantities where considered
desirable. The Earl of Carnarvon occupied the
chair on the occasion. Amongst the speakers were
the Duke of Argyll, the Marquis of Ripon, Lord
Thurlow, Sir R. Loyd-Lindsay, M.P., and Mr.
Albert Gray, M.P. A provisional committee was
appointed, as well as a committee to inquire how
far the present state of agriculture and condition of

labour admit of the successful application of indus-
trial partnerships to the cultivation of land in the
United Kingdom. In the Association there are 5*-.
and 1/. shares, and the money so raised is to be>
invested in the purchase of estates. The land so
acquired is to be laid out for peasant proprietors or
cultivators, for small farmers, for market gardeners,
and for people from the towns who may wish to-
retire to country life and take to gardening,
poultry-rearing, bee-keeping, cheese-making, and
other minor industries. The scheme is one de-
serving the most cordial support of the public, and
will tend to develope the agricultural resources of
the country. The present time is most favourable-
for this interesting experiment. In every county
estates are in the market, and therefore there would
be no difficulty in obtaining land. The successful
action of this Company would restrain the constant
immigration of agricultural labourers to the large
towns, lowering wages and increasing the numbers of
the poor ; and with its aid we might hope to see once
more our native land dotted with smiling villages
inhabited by a happy and contented rural population.

USEFUL HINTS.

Swarming. — (1) Natural. — Amongst our readers
there are doubtless many who still practise the
skep system, and prefer the natural to the artificial
swarm. In early seasons swarms are expected by
the middle of the month. The appearance of drones
and the crowded state of the hive are the usual
premonitory signs, but at this early period there is
rarely any lying outside of the bees. The constant
rushing out of a handful of bees, running wildly up
the front of the hive, and again quietly settling
down in a state of sluggishness, are sure signs that
a swarm will soon issue. When these symptoms
appear the hives should be carefully watched, as
many swarms are lost without the owners even
suspecting their loss. A swarm, when settled, if
not in shade, will rarely remain more than a quarter
of an hour; it is important, therefore, that it should
be hived immediately the bees have settled. When
the bees seem disinclined to settle, water thrown
freely from a garden syringe will generally have the
desired effect in bringing them down, and causing a
settlement.

Sprinkle the cluster with water before hiving,
and shake it quickly into a new clean skep ; throw
a sheet over the mouth, binding it tightly around,
and invert the skep under the shade of the tree,
allowing it to remain for a few minutes, when it
may be wedged up, an inch or two all round, above
the sheet, and the bees having all ascended, the
cloth may be removed, and the hive allowed to
remain until the evening, when it should be removed
to the stand it is intended to occupy. We prefer
this plan to removing at once, as experience teaches
that the bees settle more quietly, and are far less
likely to desert. Be careful to get a draft under
the hive, and shade with rhubarb or other large
leaves, sprinkling the whole occasionally with cold
water.

If the swarm is to occupy a frame-hive, it may

148

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 1, 1885.

be transferred at evening by shaking it urjon a
sheet in front of the hive, wedged up a couple or
three inches, and guided in by a feather moistened
with carbolic acid solution. This same feather — a
strong goose-quill is best — will be found most useful
when a swarm has settled upon a stump, the stem,
or thick branch of a tree which cannot be shaken,
whence it may be driven with the greatest ease into
the skep, placed above to receive it, far better and
with less disturbance than by smoke. A.wineglass-
ful of carbolic acid to a pint and a half of water is
the solution we use; and it should be applied to the
stem or branch — not to the bees — to cause them to
run. Swarms may be introduced to hives fixed
upon legs by shaking out the bees on the frames
and guiding them in with the feather.

(2) Artificial. — Swarms may be made in accord-
ance with the directions given in the books : see
Cowan, pp. 84, 86, 131, and Modern Bee-keeping,
pp. 39-41. Imported queens, or young queens
raised in nuclei, should be given to the queenless
part when artificial swarming, i.e., dividing, is prac-
tised. As a rule, we believe that queens raised by
natural swarming are preferable to all others.
Artificial swarms must not be attempted until the
hives are populous, and, apparent]}', sufficiently
advanced to swarm naturally.

Feeding.. — Continue to feed, with thin syrup, all
weak colonies, and, in cold or wet weather, strong
ones also. All swarms in frame-hives should be
covered with enamel cloth, and should be liberally
fed until the combs are drawn out from the found-
ation. Confine the swarm by division-boards, to as
many frames of foundation as it can cover — six to
eight — according to its size, and add more on the
outside, as required, every two or three days. A
strong colony will require twelve standard frames,
unless supers be given as soon as ten frames are
drawn out. If the frames range parallel with front
and back the additional frames must be given
behind. Feeding during inclement weather is most
important. We have repeatedly known bees to
perish from starvation in May and June.

Supering. — On strong colonies not intended for
swarming, supers, or racks of sections, may now be
placed where honey is coming in. The sections
should be nearly filled with the thinnest foundation,
and -y in. space allowed between the sections and
brood-frames.

We have lately been supplied with a ' Parker's
Foundation-fixer ' — an American invention — an en-
graving of which is given in Mr. Cowan's book,
p. 64, and which is the best we have seen. By it
foundation is rapidly and securely fixed in sections
without the slightest difficulty. Every bee-keeper
should possess one, the price being Is. only.

All hives, sections, supers, etc., should now be
ready for use, since with fine weather we, in the
south, may consider ourselves fairly launched into
the honey season. The sectional supers we have
found to answer best are the divisional boxes, of
which a ten-frame standard hive takes three, each
containing seven 1-lb. sections.

After this, and next in usefulness, we place the
' section-case,' meaning thereby a, rectangular box

without top or bottom, in which the sections rest
on strips of tin, zinc, or wood, at the prescribed
distance from the brood-frames. This ' case,' more
readily, perhaps, than any other section-holder,
admits of tiering up when partly filled, and of
placing another case of sections under it, no mean
advantage when we consider that by this plan bees
are kept hard at work in storing sections, and
prevented from casting swarms, when honey is
coming in plentifully: The sections, when in posi-
tion, must range flush with the upper edges of the
case.

General Remarks. — Ripe queen-cells, i.e., sealed
over and near upon hatching, should be carefully
cut out from hives whic'ti have swarmed, enclosed
in a cage of wire-cloth, and placed on the feed-hole
of any strong colony, being carefully covered with
a piece of flannel, where they will hatch out and be
fed by the bees. These young queens may be given
to nuclei, or introduced to colonies requiring queens
after division, or otherwise.

It is more necessary now than ever that bees
have a plentiful supply of water near the apiary.
For want of this myriads perish in the search after
water amongst the leaves of all the brassica or
cabbage tribes, where they become chilled. Any
one may ascertain this fact for himself by carefully
inspecting his broccoli or cabbage bed.

Virgil tells us that we are not to allow a yew to
flourish near the hives, but it so happens that we
have always encouraged the growth of this beautiful
evergreen near and around our apiary, without
experiencing ill effects. Rather, we say, Do not
tolerate the sparrow's or the blue tit's callow off-
spring near. We have just counted the number of
visits paid by a hen-sparrow to our hives, in fifteen
minutes, and it amounted to thirteen living bees,
sometimes when on the wing, being carried off as a
' delicious morsel to its merciless offspring.' Moral,
Destroy all nests.

Casts, or second swarms, in May or early June,
so far from being worthless, we consider amongst
the best ; if only their young queens survive their
wedding flight. Occasionally, but rarely, fecunda-
tion occurs during the swarm flight. Watchfulness
is required here ; and where young queens are lost,
their place should be supplied at once. During
long-continued inclement weather fecundation is
often long delayed. Three years ago a young
Cyprian queen of ours only succeeded in meeting
the drone on the thirty-first day of her age, and
afterwards proved most prolific. Of this fact we
are quite certain, as we had her under daily
observation.

All our swarms arc covered, 1st, with a sheet of
enamel cloth, smooth side downwards ; 2nd, a
sheet of felt ; 3rd, over all a crown-board weighted.
By these means we find the foundation more
speedily drawn out, and the combs completed,
than by any other we have tried.

Beware of Starvation when immature larva)
(white grubs) are cast out from any hive, and
supply warm syrup without delay.

In Extracting we prefer to extract only from
perfectly sealed combs, believing that honey ripened

May 1, 1885.]

THE BRITIS1I BEE JOURNAL.

149

by the bees in their hive excels iu quality and
delicate aroma that which has been exposed to the
air, or ripened by application of heat or any other
process. The quantity obtained may be less, but
the quality, in our experience, is surpassingly
superior.

EXAMINATIONS.
Candidates who may have entered for the Examin-
ation which takes place on Saturday, the 16th iust,
i\re reminded that the Examination will take place iu
the Council Room of the Royal Horticultural Society,
.South Kensington, commencing at IU o'clock.

BLIGH COMPETITION.

{Continued from p. 127.)
Mr. F. Woodley, Chilton, Steventon, Berks. May
54th, commenced with a 3 lb. swarm in bar-frame hive.
June 2nd, spread brood. July 1st, took off 15 sections.
July 4th, took eff 2 sections. July Oth, took off 2 sec-
tion's. Aug. 8th, took off 19 sections. Aug. 17-S1, fed
with syrup. .Sept. 30th, prepared
Feb. 12th, found all right.

Balance Sheet.
. ... £2 0 0 ! Hive, &c

hive for winter.

Capital

38 Sections...

•Slbs. Extracted

2 17 0
0 8 8

Bees

Sundries

Balance in hand

£5

Mr. J. Arnold, East Molesey, Surrey. May 20th,
commenced with swarm of 2 lbs. in Combination hive
with bars, not frames, on 5 bars. Jure 28th, fed more
or less to this date. Aug. 20th, fed till Sept. 27th,
Oct. 7th, packed for the winter. Feb. 12th, plenty of
sealed stores.

Balance Sheet.

Capital

..£2 0 0

£2 0 0

Hive, &c

Bees

Sundries and
syrup

£0 14
0 8

1J

0"

0

... 0 9
Balance in hand 0 8 10 J
£2 0 0

Mr. A. Cooper, Norruanton. Hive 4i lb. swarm in
bar-frame hive on 8 frames of foundation on June 12th.
June 30th, added three frames of foundation. Aug. 2nd,
■extracted 14T lbs. Sept. Oth to Oct. HOth, fed with
syrup. Feb. 24th, found sealed brood on one or two
combs.

Balance Sheet.

Capital £2 0 0

Extracted honey 0 15 2

£2 15

Hive, ote £0 14

Bees 0 18

Sundries 0 4

Balance in hand 0 18

0

0

10

4

£2 15

2

Mr. Henry Cobbe, Dorchester, Oxon. Commenced
May 24th, with 4 lbs. 2 oz. swarm of English tees (on 7
frames of foundation) iu 12-frame Combination hive
made out of two packing-cases. June 2nd, put oa crate
•of 21 1-lb. sections. Jure 12th, took off 3 sections.
June 17th, took off 3 sections. June 21st, took off 9
sections, June 24th, took off 8 sections. June 28th,
look off ;i sections. July 1st, took off 10 sections.
July 7th, took off 4 sections. July 12th, took off 2
sections. July 10th; took off 2 sections filled and also
the remainder unfilled: extracted from them 3 lbs.
July 2i:t, extracted 0 lbs., gave 2 sheets in place of
emptied combs taken out. Nov. 5th, took out 2 combs

and packed for the winter. Feb. 12th, stock apparently
strong with plenty of sealed stores.

Balance Sheet.

Capital

Sections sold
Extracted honey

£2
3
0

£5~

0
0
7

T

0

0
G

~6

Hive, Ac £0 11

Bees ... 0 1(5

Sundries 0 5

Balance in hand 3 13

8
6
0

li>

£5 7

a

Mr. W. Woodley, World's. End, Newbury. Started
May 23rd, with 2 lbs. 11-oz. swarm with 12-month queen
in home-made hive, Abbott's frames. Fed till June 10th,
June 2nd, spread brood. June 10th, put on crate of
14 1-lb. sections. June 20th, put 21 lb. crate under the
other. June 27th, took off 1 4 sections, moved up 1 4 from
lower crate and supplied their place with emptv ones.
July 2nd, took off 20 sections. July 11th, took off 14
sections, leaving only crate of 21 sections to be finished.
July 22nd, took off crate of 21 sections all sealed ; put
in frame with 0 sections. Aug, 14th, took out frame
of sections, 3 filled, extracted 1 lb. from the others.
Aug. 2')th, extracted 11 lbs. Oct. 27th, packed hive for
the winter. Feb. 20th, bees out very strong, interior of
hive dry and warm.

Balance Sheet.

Capital
Sections sold
Extracted

£2 0

0 13

£8 1

0
0
0

Hive, etc. ... £0 10

Bees 0 10

Sundries 0 9

Balance in hand 0 10

0
9
3i

111

0

£8 1

0

Mr. 11. E. Roberts, Gosmore, Ilitchin. Started
May 20th, with 2 lbs. of bees headed by Italian queen,
in single-walled twin hive, on 3 dose ended frames of
foundation. May 30th, added 1 frame. J one 10th,
added 2 frames. June 18th, added 2 frames. Juue 2oth,
added 3 frames. July 4th, took 3 frames of brood and
one of honey to make hive No. 2, to which a fresh queen
was added. July oth, released queen, took out the
frame of honey. July 11th, put back empty comb in
No. 2. July 19th, moved 1 frame brood and 1 frame
honey from No. 1 to No. 2, added and changed frames
till end of August. Feb. 28th, have not opened hive, but
believe them to be all right.

Capital

Honey extracted

Balance Sheet.
£2 0 0
1 5 3

£3 .") 3

Tu'in hive

£0

9

4

Two lb. bees

0

8

0

Sundries

0

4

5

Balance in hand

2

3

6

£3

5

3

Mr. E. C. Youens, AVeithell, Hartford, June 20th,
Commenced with a swarm of 5 lbs. 2 oz., on nine frames
of foundation, in one of Baldwin's Kent and Sussex single-
walled prize hives. Added a piece of board on either
side and also slides to entrance. June 21st, several sheets
drawn out. Put on feeder. June 27th, nearly all foun-
dation drawn out. June 30th, removed feeder. Saw
plenty of brood. Put in frame of sections. Aug. 14th,
removed frame of sections put in on June 30th, as the
bees had not worked them at all : extracted 2 lbs. Oct.
31st, prepared for winter : bees not very numerous. Feb.
4th, all going on well.

Balance Sheet.

Capital £2 0 0

Extracted honey 'J 2 0

Hive, etc

£0 11

3

Bees

1 0

6

Sundries

0 0

7

Balance in hand

0 6

8

£2

4"2 2 0

Mr. F. II. Cudd, Stately, Chislehurst. Commenced
June 2nd, with a swarm of 4 lbs. in home-made hive:
fed at once. June 7th, fed again. June Oth, ditto.

150

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 1, 1885.

June 27th, put on crate with 21 sections. Aug. 5th,
took off crate; 10 sections filled; extracted from nest
and 5 frames 0 lbs. Aug. 20th, extracted -i\ lbs.
Aug. 30th to Oct. 16th, fed freely. Feb. 24th, foimd
plenty of food and brood, reduced hive to 5 frames.

Balance Sheet.

Capital
Sections sold
Extracted

£2 0 0
0 15 0
0 13 3

Hive, &c £0 15 9

Bees 0 16 0

Sundries 0 4 91

Balance in hand 1 11 8J

£3 8 3

THE ' CONVERTIBLE OCTAGON ' HIVE, AS
SHOWN AT THE INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
EXHIBITION BY THE REV. J. LINGEN
SEAGER.

The speciality of this hive consists chiefly in the form
and management of the dummies used. These dummies

ANGULAR DUMMY

are on one side plain, on the other side they present a
concave surface, consisting of three equal sides; these
concave sides are for -wintering, and are then placed for

FRONT VIEW OF HIVE

that purpose facing each other, so as to form icith the
aides of the hive an octagon. By this means the cold
corrers, -which in -winter being never occupied by the

END VIEW OF HIVE

bees, serve only to i educe the temperature of the hive,
are got rid of. On each of these dummies hang two
g/xcial angular frames, and between them can be placed

as many ordinary frames as may be required. After the?
winter these dummies may, one or both, be either reversed
or removed, or, better still, be moved together to one end
of the hive, where with one frame of brood between therm
they make an excellent nucleus for queen-raising, for
which purpose a separate small entrance is provided.

HONEY AS FOOD AND MEDICINE.
(Continued from page 126.)
(7) Honey Sponge Cakes.
Take a breakfast-cup of honey and of flour, and five-
eggs. The yolks must be mixed with the honey and the
whites whipped up, and the ingredients then mixed
up together with as little stirring as possible. A little-
lemon-juice added will give abetter flavour.

(8) Fruits Preserved in Honey. (Cold.)
Take off the stalks of grapes, or any other tine fruit
(cherries, damsons, gooseberries), and put them in a jar,
and pour cold honey over them until they are quite
covered. Hermetically seal it without heat and keep in,
a cool place. They will keep fresh for months.

(0) Grapes Preserved in Honey. ( Warm.)
Take 7 lbs. of good wine grapes with their stalks, pack
them carefully in a jar without bruising them; make a.
syrup of 4 lbs. of honey, a pint of good vinegar, and
cloves and cinnamon according to taste. Boil the syrup
for twenty minutes, skim it carefully and pour it boiling
hot over the grapes, and seal up at once. They will
keep perfectly good for years.

(10) Honey Vinegar, with the dreys of Honey and
Inferior Honey.

Take six quarts of water, two pounds of honey, a crust
of bread or some leaven, place the stone vinegar barrel in.
a warm place ; after the fermentation has ceased cover
the bung-hole with a rag, but not quite to exclude the
air. When the vinegar becomes clear, run it off into.
bottles for keeping.

(11) Grog.

Mix one part of rum, or cognac, with from two to four
parts of cold, or boiling water ; sweeten with honey to
taste, to make either cold or hot grog.

Use of Honey fok Wine, &c.
(12) Grape Honey Wine.
Mix 100 quarts of pressed grapes with about 10 lbs. of
honey, and 20 bunches of hops, and 50 to 100 quarts of
lukewarm water ; let the mixture ferment, and then?
press it. This will make a sound dinner wine, for the
hops give it a tine bouquet. The pressed grapes after-
wards give good brandy.

(13) Honey Liqueur.
In a copper vessel, or enamelled kettle, mix two parts
of water with one of honey ; let it boil for two hours
with constant stirring and skimming. After it has got
cold, pour it into a barrel, where the fermentation may
continue for eight of ten weeks, and then put it into
bottles. It has a Madeira flavour, and can be used as a
dessert wine, and improves very much with age.

(14) Mead.
In the north of Europe, mead is a favourite drink,
which is used like wine or beer. In bee-literature there
are a great many recipes. These are mostly so minute
that 1 do not give them here, and limit myself to the
following very simple recipe : ' Mix honey and water in
a cask, let it ferment, and draw it off.' The quantity of
honey which has to be used depends on the strength of
the mead. About half a pound of honey to a quart of
water gives a wine which in alcoholic strength is like a
common grape wine. If more honey is used, the drink
seems too strong, it is like the Spanish wines. The fer-

May 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

151

mentation lasts some weeks,
yeast or wine dregs.

To hasten this, add a little

Honey as Medicine.

Honey is not only a welcome addition to the food of
the healthy, it is also a welcome medicine to the sick, or
rather a vehicle. How many sufferers have not already
been freed in the simplest and most welcome way from
a worrying cough, from pain in the chest, from sore
throat, and many other complaints, by means of a
spoonful of honey ? To how many elderly persons, who
suffer from asthma and have often at night a most
violent attack of this complaint, has not a teaspoonful of
warm honey brought immediate relief ?

The sick man seeks help where he can. Often he con-
tents himself with drinking the most insipid broth made
of boiled roots or leaves of different plants. "Why
should not others prefer honey, which is the finest and
the most aromatic substance that the young blossoming
plant would offer us ?

It is a matter of congratulation that in recent times
scientific and accomplished physicians lay themselves out
to order this most precious product in many diseases.
In Tlie Been and their Management, a Professor of
Medicine has lately spoken of the use of honey as a
medicine in a distinguished article, in which is so forcibly
shown what a noble product we have in pure honey, and
how foolish it is to believe that it can be replaced by
various kinds of sugar.

' Honey,' this physician affirms, ' disturbs the formation
of fungoid growths, and has therefore been of great use
as a preservative in thrush in babies.

' Worked up iuto an ointment with flour, it is the best
remedy for boils.

' Used internally, honey cannot be too highly praised ;
by its use incipient coughs, colds and catarrh, quinsy in
its early stages, diphtheria in the embryo stage, is de-
stroyed by it, and bacteria as well as fungoid growths.

'For diseases of the palate, throat, and breathing-
organs, pure flower hone}*, especially strained honey, has
proved itself to be infallibly of use, especially when used
continuously and with a corresponding diet.

' When a teaspoonful of warm honey is taken every
fifteen, twenty, or thirty minutes, it has a surprising
effect on catarrhs, and many a consumption of the lungs
would be hindered in its formation by its use, as well as
stomach complaints.

' Every family should have a glass of pure honey in
the house, in order at once, after catching cold, to be
able to use some. Many a valuable human fife would
be preserved thereby.'

(To be continued.)

Erratum. — P. 126, 6th recipe, for strong honey read slung
honey.

ASSOCIATIONS.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

Committee Meeting held at 105 Jermyn Street, on
Wednesday, April 22. Present, T. W. Cowan (in the
chair), Hon. and Rev. II. Bligh, the Rev. II. R. Peel, the
Rev. Geo. Raynor, the Rev. F. S. Sclater, J. M. Hooker,
R. J. Hinton, G.Walker, D. Stewart, and the Secretary.

Letters were read from Captain Bush, R.N., and the
Rev. F. G. Jenyns, regretting their inability to be pre-
sent, the former on account of illness.

A letter was also read from the British Dairy Farmers'
Association, regretting their inability to entertain the
proposal of the B. B. K. A. to hold their Annual Exhibi-
tion of Bees, Hives, Honey, &c, in connexion with the
Annual Dairy Show.

The Committee having transacted some routine busi-
ness, it was resolved to hold an adjourned Meeting on
Friday, May 15th.

QuARTEKLY MEETING OF COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES.

Present — The Rev. Thos. Sissons and G. Allen, Kent;
the Rev.W. E. Burkitt, Wilts ; the Rev. Astley Roberts,
Herts; Mr. C. II. Haines, Worcestershire; Mr. Waters,
Surrey ; Mr. W. N. Griffin, Devonshire.

The minutes of the last quarterly conference were read
and confirmed.

The Secretary reported that he had issued a circular
to the secretaries of the County Associations setting forth
the method of procedure to be adopted in the prosecu-
tions of the vendors of adulterated honey.

The Secretary further reported that he had communi-
cated with a few of the leading publishers of school
reading books, some of whom had expressed their readi-
ness to consider the proposal of incorporating a few
chapters on bee-keeping in their future issues of advanced
readers. Resolved that this question be referred to the
Educational Committee.

The reply of the Board of Trade in respect to statistics
relating to the importations of honey being inserted in
the monthly returns was read and considered to be
satisfactory.

Replying to inquiries, the Secretary stated the issue
of the bound volumes of reports had been delayed
owing to the non-arrival of the reports from the
Sussex, Lincolnshire, Lancashire and Cheshire, and the
Carmarthenshire Associations.

A lengthened discussion ensued respecting the delay
which had hitherto existed, and the proposal for naming
a fixed date for holding the Annual General Meetings of
County Associations. The secretary reported that com-
munications had been received in favour of the proposal
from the Worcestershire, Somersetshire, and Cornwall
Associations, and against the proposal from the Hants
and Surrey Associations. The Berkshire Association
considered that it was advisable for the meetings to be
held in January, but that it might be difficult to carry
out such a rule. It was pointed out that provision for
sending in the Reports by February 1st was already
made in the conditions of Affiliation, and if the rule was
adhered to there would be no cause for complaint. It
was resolved that the following resolution be entered on
the minutes : —

- That this Conference learns with regret that the rule
requiring the holding of the Annual General Meetings of
the County Associations in January is not so fully
observed as could be wished, and urges the county
secretaries to use their best endeavours to secure con-
formitv to the rule.'

On the motion of Mr. W. N. Griffin, it was resolved
that in future the volumes should be issued immediately-
after the 1st of March.

A leaflet, How to commence Bee-keeping, was sub-
mitted for the consideration of the Representatives, and
suggestions were offered in respect to the same.

The Rev. W. E. Burkitt gave notice that at the next
Quarterly Conference, he would move that the
B. B. K. A. be requested to take steps for the translation
of the skep pamphlet into Welsh.

The next Conference was fixed for Wednesday, July
22nd.

The Quarterly Conversazione was then held, at which
Mr. W. N. Griffin read a paper on 'Honey and Wax.'
This, and the discussion thereon, will be given in our
next number.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The Quarterly Meeting of the Committee of the above
Association was held at the ' George ' Hotel, Aylesbury, on
Tuesday, April 7th :— Present, the Rev. II. R. Peel in the
chair, the Rev. E. Clay, Mr. W. Sturdy, the Rev. A. New-
combe, Mr. J. K. Fowler, and the County Secretary (the
Rev. F. Sclater, of Dropmore Vicarage, Maidenhead).

a 2

152

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 1, 1885.

The County Secretary presented the quarterly balance-
sheet, showing a balance in hand of 221. 8s. 6d. He
reported that the increase of interest taken in the
Association and its work was most encouraging, and
that the new members who have joined the Association
since the commencement of the current year now
numbers eighty-eight. Of old members, 250 have paid
their subscriptions for 1885, leaving sixty-four sub-
scriptions still to be collected.

The reports from the eighteen districts into which the
county has been divided showed that the meeting of
members in each district was proving most useful by
giving information to the members about the plans of
the Committee, and enabling the District Secretary to
ascertain and report to the Committee the views of his
district members.

The spring expert's tour is now just commencing.
Those members only who have applied for a visit will
receive one, application to the County Secretary being now
needed for both Experts' visits and Journal circulation.

The Committee proposes to hold Honey Exhibitions
this year at the Horticultural Shows at the following-
places :-■• Aylesbury, July Oth; Stony Stratford, July
23rd; Buckingham, July 28th; Coin brook, Aug. 3rd;
H.Wycombe, Aug-. 19th. Schedules and all other inform-
ation may be obtained through the District Secretaries, or
from the County Secretary. These Schedules will be
found published in the printed Schedules of the Horti-
cultural Societies. The Association is trying to secure
smaller exhibitions of honey in other parts of the
country, to encourage local interest in bee-culture.

The Committee has decided to lend the Bee Tent (free
of charge) to any members who desire its use for giving
exhibitions in their neighbourhood. No expense will be
incurred by the Association in connexion with such ex-
hibitions. Application should be made to the County
Secretary.

IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The first apiarian exhibition for the year was held as
usual, at Balls Bridge, on 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th April.
The exhibits were large and numerous. Sales were
rapidly effected, apieulturalists seizing the opportunity
to add to their stock of bee furniture, and to provide
themselves with other requisites. Mr. S. J. Baldwin
lectured and manipulated in the Bee-tent ; great interest
was shown in the proceedings, and Mr. Baldwin was
vigorously questioned in the intervals between the lec-
tures, both by those about to become bee-keepers and by
many who wished to increase their knowledge.

The prize list was as follows : —

Class 1. — For the best bar-frame hive, with super for
general use, price not to exceed 15s. 1st prize, silver medal,
Mr. S. J. Baldwin, Bromley, Kent. 2nd prize, Mr. W.
Lonsdale, Lurgan. 3rd prize, V. H. C, Mr. S. K. Twigg,
Riekview, Bray.

Class 2. — For the most economical hive on the moveable
comb principle, for cottagers' use, with arrangements for
summer and winter, price not to exceed 10s. 6d. 1st prize,
silver medal, Mr. S. J. Baldwin. 2nd prize, bronze medal,
Mr. W. Lonsdale. 3rd prize, H. C, Messrs. Edmondson
Bros., Dame Street, Dublin.

Class 4.— For the best and most complete frame hive for
general use in an apiary. 1st prize, silver medal, Mr. S. J.
Baldwin. 2nd prize, bronze medal, Messrs. Edmondson
Bros. 3rd prize, H. C, Mr. W. Lonsdale.

Class 5. — For the best frame-hive for extracting purposes.
1st prize, silver medal, Messrs. Edmondson Bros. 2nd prize,
bronze medal, Mr. S. J. Baldwin. 3rd prize, Messrs. Ed-
mondson Bros.

Class 6.— For the best frame hive for general purposes,
made by an amateur. 1st prize, silver medal, Mr. R. Sproule,
Fairview, Co. Dublin. 2nd prize, bronze medal, Mr. J. K.
Millner, Cherbury, Blackrock, and Mr. W. J. Stanford,
Onnavarra, Lucan, equal.

Class 7.— For the best hive for observation purposes, all

combs to be visible on both sides, stocked with bees and
their queen, and containing not less than three frames of
comb. 1st prize, silver medal, Mr. W. Lonsdale.

Class 9. — For the cheapest, neatest, and best supers for
harvesting honey in the comb, in a saleable form. 1st
prize, bronze medal, Mr. S. J. Baldwin. 2nd prize, Messrs.
Edmondson.

Class 10. — For the best sectional super adapted for straw
skeps. 1st prize, bronze medal, Mr. S. J. Baldwin. 2nd
prize, Messrs. Edmondson Bros.

Class 11. — For comb foundation ; pure bees- wax to consist
of 2h lbs. thick (worker cells) for stock hive, and 2| lbs. thin
for supers ; price per pound attached. 1st prize, bronze
medal, Messrs. Edmondson Bros.

Class 12. — Miscellaneous. For the best and largest
collection of hives and bee furniture most applicable to
modern bee-keeping ; no two articles to be alike. 1st prize,
silver medal, Messrs. Edmondson Bros.

A special exhibit of ' Honey in its applied forms ' was
submitted to the Judges, comprising confectionery,
medicine, toilet articles, chocolate creams and tablets,
' honeydrop biscuits,' &c. The Judges unanimously
agreed that the exhibit was of especial merit, and
recommended the Committee to award the exhibitor, the
Rev. V. II. Moyle, Ashampstead, Reading, Hon. Sec.
Berks Bee-keepers' Association, a special prize of a silver
medal for the exhibit.

The exhibits were placed in a large marquee, and pre-
sented a most attractive appearance; the arrangement
and neatness of the hives and other articles of bee furni-
ture were greatly admired by the numerous visitors to
the exhibition.

The class for the amateur hive maker showed what
progress apiculture is making of recent years. Mr.
Sproule's hive, which took first prize, was thoroughly
well made, and each part showed the care and thought
bestowed on it, to bring the exhibit as near perfection as
possible. The exhibits of Messrs. Millner and Stanford
were very good indeed, and the judges decided that each
exhibit was worthy of the second prize.

Mr. Twigg's hive, in Class 1, possessed many excellent
points. Mr. S. J. Baldwin's exhibits were, as usual, of
the highest class ; he carried off many of the first prizes.

Messrs. Edmondson Brothers, 10 Dame Street, Dublin,
exhibited a number of bar-frame hives of their own
manufacture, suited for all classes of bee-keepers. Their
No. 1 Cottager's Hive, with nine frames and super, is a
good and useful article, at a low price. The Improved
Premier Hive which they exhibited is larger than the
original one, which, at various shows, has won so many
prizes ; it is removeable from the stand, has increased
space to hold the section frames, two dummies and super
of twenty-one sections. It is double-walled and packed
with cork on the four sides, has hinged roof, and is well
painted. This hive, with deeper roof and super of bar
frames, was shown as an extracting hive and awarded
the first prize in that class. In the same class their No.
2, Cottager's Hive, on stand with four legs, painted, with
body hive removeable, ten bar-frames, double sides and
super with twenty-one sections, is one, in every way,
suitable for an apiary, and very moderate in price. The
collection shown by this firm was an extensive one, and
was awarded first prize. It consisted of supers, sections,
smokers, feeders, veils, uncapping knives, extractors,
gloves, &c, in fact, almost every item required by bee-
keepers. The bar-framed hives in this collection were of a
kind described above, with addition of several not entered
in those classes. Amongst the straw hives was a new
one, rectangular, with wooden crown, and fitted with
super of twelve sections and wooden roof ; a most useful
one for cottagers who are not prepared to take to the
bar-framed hives.

Mr. W. Lonsdale, of Lurgan, exhibited some very
pretty hives, well made and painted. His observatory
hive was a constant source of instruction and amusement
to the visitors at the show.

May 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

153

(fercspontrtru*.

**#* All Correspondents forwarding Letters for insertion in
the Journal, Reports of Associations, Shmos, Meetings, Echoes
from the Hives, Queries, <£.r. , are requested to direct their com-
munications to ' The Editor of the " British Bee Journal," cjo
Messrs. Strangeioays c£ Sons, Tower Street, Upper St. Martin's
Lane, W.C

OUR HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the United King-
dom during the month of March, 1885, amounted to
5404/. [From a private return sent by the Principal of
the Statistical Department, Her Majesty's Customs, to
E. H. Bellairs, AYingfield House, Christchurch.]

MANAGEMENT OE SUPERS.

The bee-keeper should have his stock of sections on
hand by April at the latest ; and by that time it should
have been decided whether it is better to use only
starters, or full sheets of foundation. For comb honey I
have found no economy in using anything less than a
full-size sheet, say reaching to within one-fourth of sides
and bottom. None but worker foundation should be
used, and byinserting a full sheet there is little possibility
of any drone-cells being added. If the latter are thus
always excluded, the queen will seldom spoil a section,
especially if one or two small patches of droue-comb are
allowed in the brood-nest.

As to foundation, I have found the flat-bottom Van
Deusen better than any other make ; the very thin base,
when converted to the natural shape by the bees, is equal
to that of any naturally built comb, while the wax is so
soft and pliable that foundation of this manufacture is
worked at in outside sections before that of other kinds
will be touched, even if the latter be placed quite in the
centre. Several dealers in this country have this pattern
on sale ; when ordering, ask for about ten feet_ to the
pound.

Early in the season, from eighteen to twenty-four
sections (1 lb.) will be enough to start with, and any
open space left about the top of the brood frames, when
crates or racks are used, should be carefully closed with
any suitable material on hand, and the whole well
covered with soft oat chaff, either in bags, or packed
crown boards.

If a colony has been carefully worked up, there ought
to be no difficult}- in getting the bees into the supers
when honey abounds. If new foundation, or nice combs
left from the previous autumn fail to accomplish what
we wish, then a more effectual course must be adopted,
and that is, to reduce the number of brood-combs,
removing those outside combs which contain least brood,
and then crowd up with division boards.

As the season advances, a larger number of sections
may be allowed at one time, probably from three to four
dozen, and when these cannot be accommodated, or
sufficient room given in one storey, place others above
those first begun, when the latter will still be carried on
towards completion, and the surplus population will
make a start in the upper tier. On no account place the
new tier of sections between the first set and the brood
frames, or those already nearly finished will be neglected
for those nearest the brood chamber, with every proba-
bility of but few out of the whole number being finished
satisfactorily.

Just as in working several tiers, those already well
advanced being kept nearest the brood chamber, so in
working one storey, it will be found that those nearest
the centre will be completed first ; and when removing
these, whether separators be used or not, be very careful
to bring those next in order towards the middle, and let

the sections with foundation be placed towards the ends
of the rows.

By strictly adheriug to this plan, it will not be fuuud
necessary to reduce the number of sections towards the
close of the harvest to such an extent as some writers
have advised, seeing that the more advanced combs are
always placed where there is most heat, and therefore
where they will be rapidly finished off. On the other
hand, I strongly advise that the number of brood frames
should be reduced at that time, and thus keep the bees
crowded into the supers much later in the season than
otherwise would be the case.

When no more honey is likely to be obtained, all
supers must be removed, and those not properly finished
may have their contents extracted, when several crates
of such combs damp with honey should be placed over
strong colonies to be cleaned, and then all may be stored
away in a perfectly dry condition.

In districts where heather abounds all supers should
be removed and treated as above as soon as the earlier-
supplies are over, and then the best combs rearranged
over good stocks for this final harvest.

In the interval, however, every stock comb which can
be relieved of its stores without danger to brood, should
be passed through the extractor and then inserted at the
centre of the hive ; uncap such as cannot be extracted, or
feed if necessary, and do everything that can be done to
induce continued breeding, so that the hives may go to
the moors with every stock comb crowded with brood,
when there will be every probability of a good store
being obtained in sections.

At all times when either stock or super combs are
being built, the hives shoidd stand perfectly level. If
more attention is given to this matter, little trouble will
be experienced by those who hope to do away with
separators, providing sections are used which are not
more than If inch thick.

During the working season, with no fear of robbing,
the very best time to examine hives is during the busy
and warm hours of the day, and it is then that all
sections should be removed, according as they are com-
pleted. There will then be but few bees to shake off,
and these so full of honey that they leave readily and do
not attempt to pierce the cappings ; but, when the
operation is delayed until evening there are so many bees
at home relieved of their loads, that at the first dis-
turbance a number of cells are immediately broken open,
giving the combs an unsightly appearance.

I have stated in a former paper that when a stock
swarms, the supers are returned at once upon the new
lot which has been placed on the stand recently occupied
by the old hive, when the work is continued with even
more energy than before. Though the matter seems
simple enough, it is just at this stage where very many
despair of ever seeing their sections completed.

Hives must be shaded during very hot weather ; allow
as wide an entrance as possible and remove some of the
quilting' during the day. Be very careful to cover up
warmly at night, and rest assured that such extra labour
at this time will be repaid a hundredfold. — S. Simmi.ws.

HONEY PLANTS.

Melihjt.vs leucantha, a biennial, is a plant we hear
little spoken of, but is a most valuable one, judging
by the way it is frequented by bees and all kindred
insects. I had nearly a quarter of an acre of it last
year ; during the time it was in flower it was covered
with bees the whole day. My sowing of it last year,
owing to the drought, was a failure, though millions of
seedlings came up where plants stood. I ploughed them
down, the land got so dirty through being nearly two
years out. I would recommend its being sown in drills
now as for turnips, the ground can then be kept clean
with the hoe.

154

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 1, 1885.

Trifolium incarnatum I find a most valuable plant,
Ligurians and blacks working- equally well on it ; the hot,
dry weather last year suited it admirably, in wet weather
it is not touched.

Buckwheat comes in when most of our honey -pro-
ducing plants are gone, it at times affords a good ileal of
honey, though it gives the hives an unpleasant smell.
Propolis is largely collected off buckwheat.

Ivy gave a most astonishing amount of honey last
year. Many of my hives were completely filled with
it. I think it was the bee plant of the year.

We have a great promise here of pear and apple
blossom. — J. J. Smyth, Ballinacurra, near Cork.

APICTTLTURAL DIPLOMAS.

Those who, like me, have watched for many years the
prominent position that bee-keepers as a body have
acquired, not only in this country but also in the sister
isle, must naturally wonder that the various County As-
sociations have not made an effort to institute some sort
of rules by which they could confer diplomas (such as are
given by the Royal Geographical and other learned
societies) on those who may deserve them. If this was
the case, the various members would, I believe, from a
popular point of view, be looked up to and treated
accordingly.

As an outsider, and one not connected with bee-
keeping, I hope that such men as the Rev. H. R. Peel,
Messrs. Cowan, Griffin, Tite, and others, who are the
pioneers of bee-keeping, will fully consider this proposal
of your humble servant. — W. O'B. J., April l-r>.

SUSSEX COUNTY ASSOCIATION.
Can you tell me what lias become of the Sussex
County Bee-keepers' Association ? I do not see it in-
cluded in the list which has been published from time to
time in the See Journal. It seems to have died out
during the absence of Mr. T. W. Cowan, who has been
spending the winter out of England. I see, however, in
the account of the first general meeting of the British
Honey Company, in the Investor's Guardian of April
18th, that Mr. Cowan was present, so I hope that he
will soon put matters straight again, and that Sussex will
resume her former place amongst the County Associa-
tion. With such bee-keepers as Messrs. Rusbridge,
Simmins, Overton, &c, Sussex never ought to have let
its Association drop, but I suppose they wanted a leader.

— BrUGHTONIENSIS.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE AND ISLE OF ELY
BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The letter in your last issue referring to the Cam-
bridgeshire and Isle of Ely Bee-keepers* Association is
not altogether accurate, but there are others more fitted
tli an 1 to correct it. Few, however, know how much
the Cambridgeshire Bee-keepers' Association owes to
the British Bee-keepers' Association. At that time I
only knew of three bee-keepers within five miles of
Cambridge who used bar-frames, but before the end of
the following summer both bee-keepers and hives had
greatly increased, notwithstanding that the Association
had spent most of its first year's income in a vain
endeavour to get adequate support from the Wisbech
bee-keepers, who then as now were said to be so
numerous.

How many of the present supporters of the Association
owe their knowledge of bee-keeping to the help given
by those starting it I do not know, bnt there are pro-
bably few who are not indebted directly or indirectly to
the work of the parent Association, and surely it is but
poor gratitude to turn now and refuse to have anything
to do with it. Surely, too, bee-keepers, daily learning

lessons of their bees, should be of all men the last to-
forget the importance of unity. — G. D. Haviland.

I am afraid there is a good deal of truth in what Mr.
Dann, of Wisbech, says as to the inactivity of the Cam-
bridgeshire and Isle of EI3' Association. But is not this
the fault of the bee-keepers themselves p fie complains
that the meetings are held at Cambridge. Is not this
reasonable when nearly all the members reside either in
the town of Cambridge or within easy distance of it ?
Why should we be dragged to Wisbech, a journey of
about lj hours from Cambridge, when the members in
that district number but one or two ? If there was a
large number there, it would be a different matter. It
seems that Mr. Dann has been a member of the Asso-
ciation, but his name does not appear in the 1884 list,
and in that of 1883 no subscription is entered against his
name. I am surprised he did not receive a notice that
his subscription was due, as well as a notice of the
meetings at Cambridge. The Wisbech bee-keepers have
done very little to help the work of the Association. The
reason why the Association has been unable to do more
was, the want of funds and the inability to find a local
expert. The former is due to the very little interest
shown by bee-keepers of the county generally in the
cause. It was decided to hold the first show at Wisbech,
because the Committee thought the bee-keepers of that
part of the comity were in advance of the rest. Thanks
to the indifference of those bee-keepers, it proved to be a
costly failure, from whicb the Association has not yet
recovered. Surely there are some bee-keepers in the
Wisbech district who would like to see the Cambridge-
shire and Isle of Ely Association in a better position. If
so, let them join at once, and also become active mem-
bers of the Committee. It must not be supposed that
the Association has done nothing in this part of the
county. The bee-tent, experts from other counties, the
hon. sec, and members of the committee, have taught
many persons the advantages of bee-keeping, and espe-
cially upon the bar-frame system. In this parish, con-
taining about 1800 inhabitants, and certainly not a good
honey district, where, five years ago, I was the only one
with a bar-frame hive, there are now fifteen bee-keepers
who have adopted that system. Most of these were
members of the Association last year, but considered the
advantages not sufficient to induce them to continue their
subscriptions of 5s. or 2s. 6d., as the case might be. The
Association has sent the bee-tent to, and given prizes at,
the local flower-shows. The show of honey in connexion
wilh the Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely Agricultural
Society's Show at Cambridge last year was quite a
success. What is wanted now is a good local expert.
Cannot the Committee of the S. B. K. A. assist in un-
earthing one at leasts If it were generally known that
the expert of the Association would visit each member
twice a-year, I believe most of those who have now
withdrawn from the Association would be induced to
join again, and many others would become members.
If cottagers pay a subscription of 2s. Gd. a-year, they
expect an equivalent, or even something of greater value,
in return. The lion, secretary and some members of
the Committee have acted as experts in visiting members
in their immediate neighbourhood, but men in the pro-
fession or in business cannot devote much time to that
kind of thing. I trust something will come of this
move. — James Hedding, late Metnber of the Com-
mittee, Cambs. and I. of E. B. K. A., Sainton, near
Cambridge , April 22.

[We must remind our correspondent that the Cam-
bridgeshire Association has withdrawn from affiliation
with the B. B. K. A.— En.]

In the last issue of this Journal Mr. Dann complains
that he always fails 'to see any account of our own

May 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

155-

county Association.' Because the Association dees not
publish all its doings, it does not follow that no work is
done. Real merit is often modest. I cannot help think-
ing Mr. Dann is a little hard in his remarks, as well as a
little incorrect.

In the first place, the Association was only formed in
November, 1861, so that it really has only been in exist-
ence for three seasons, and during that time the Society
lias suffered very considerably from change of officers.
The original founder and promoter was the first secre-
tary, and he, unfortunately for us, fortunately for him-
self, obtained preferment in the Church, and left the
district, so that during the second season we had to put
up with a secretary who knew nothing whatever about
the work, and only took the position because no one else
was willing to do so, and to prevent the Society collapsing
altogether. But at the end of his year of office the
Association was so fortunate as to secure the services of
a gentleman in every way capable of fulfilling the duties
of secretary, and he has already (notwithstanding the
ill-concealed editorial sneer) placed the Society on a
' sound basis.'

The first duty of any Society is to pay its debts, and it
is partly for that reason that we have declined to be
represented at Wisbech, and partly because we are
anxious to get enough money in hand to employ an
expert. The Association has been represented at many
Agricultural as well as Horticultural Shows, and it is
believed that little good has been done at them in for-
warding the objects of the Association, which is 'the
encouragement, improvement, and advancement of bee-
culture, particularly as a means of bettering the condition
of the agricultural and other labouring classes.'

We rind at these shows that it is next to impossible to
get the agricultural and labouring classes to take any
interest in bee-keeping at all, and the persons who
patronise the bee-tent are either those of the wealthier
class or those who already keep bees on the advanced
system, and probably know as much if not more than
the expert himself.

It has been considered that the risk of attending with
the tent at Wisbech was a very great one, and that we
should probably lose considerably by the undertaking,
without doing any great amount of good, and we have
therefore abandoned it. At the same time there is no
reason why Mr. Dann, or any other equally energetic
and public-spirited person, should not get up a Bee Show
at Wisbech on his own account ; and 1 am sure our Asso-
ciation will wish him every success; nay, more than
that, I understand from the Secretary that an offer has
been made to let Mr. Dann (although he is no longer a
member of the Association, having only subscribed for
one year,) have the use of the bee tent free of cost.
With regard to the Editorial note, I can quite under-
stand the B. B. K. A. would like to see another Asso-
ciation formed in Cambridge. It is because the present
Association thinks less of the honour of being affiliated
to the parent society than of the annual expenditure of
61. or 0/. which that, distinguished alliance entails, that
we find the Editor talking about ' inactivity,' and ' a
firmer basis.' (To save him the trouble of another
Editorial note I will take it for granted that he denies
this.) The privilege of being affiliated used to cost us
at least •"/. a-year, which was one-fourth of our whole
income, and in return we got absolutely no advantage
whatever. The only time we asked for assistance last
year, viz., to find a market for the sale of our honey, we
got no aid at all; and consequently we came to the con-
clusion, and I still think lightly, that in our case, at any
rate, the affiliation scheme is only an expense for which
we receive no corresponding advantage. I quite agree,
however, with Mr. Dann, that we want an expert.
Hitherto we have not been in a position to afford one,
but now there seems some Iprospect of such a contin-
gency. A meeting has already been called to consider

the matter. — John E. Ledsam Whitehead, Cam-
bridge, 24 April, 1S8").

[We must certainly deny that affiliation to the
B. U.K. A. need entail any such expense upon a county
association as 57. or 0/. The only expense which need be
incurred is the affiliation-fee of one guinea per annum,
and a sum not exceeding ten shillings for supplying cer-
tain copies of the Annual Deports and balance-sheets,
which no well-managed Association shoidd wish to with-
hold from its members. — Ed.]

LINCOLNSHIRE BEE-KEEDERS' ASSOCIATION.

Would you allow me space in the Journal to call

j attention to the state of the Association which has so

; long been established in Lincolnshire ? Why is it that

for years no report has been issued, if indeed there have

during that time been any general meetings ?

About twelve months ago a correspondent complained
of this state of things, and soon afterwards one or more
prominent apiarians defended the Association and its
work; but I ask, if the Lincolnshire Association is-
simply to b >nefit the large producer, is it accomplishing
the object for which it was formed? for certainly the
mass of the people in the county are not aware of its
existence. Apparently little else but the annual honey-
fair at Grantham, and the show in connexion with the
Agricultural Society, is achieved by it: and can any one
— much less the cottager — be expected to support an
Association, from which — by so doing — he can obtain
no practical advantages? — Justitia.

HONEY FAIRS AND HONEY COMPANIES.

Notwithstanding the editorial remarks appended to
Mr. Godfrey's letter I cannot help concurring in the
opinions expressed by Mr. Godfrey and sympathising-
with the object he so warmly advocates.

The principal object of the British Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation is to benefit cottagers and labourers, all, in fact,
who by their industry, desire to increase their small in-
comes by bee-keeping ; but the promotion of honey com-
panies must prejudice their interests if the price of honey
is thereby reduced, and that this must follow appears to
be generally admitted. Nor do I think honey companies-
will benefit the cottager in disposing of his honey. He
can but seldom have little more to dispose of than he can
sell at home, and the trouble and expense of packing his.
small surplus, the risk and cost of carriage, &c, would
deter him from sending it to London.

The conditions of the production of honey, aud of
poultry and eggs by the cottager, are very similar. A
tew bees and fowls can be kept profitably, but not in
either case in any quantity. But if the price of honey is
to be reduced much below its present value, I feel sure it
will not be worth the time and trouble to produce more
than he requires for his own use, and that the interest of
I the Companies, which may possibly benefit large pro-
1 ducers, and the excellent object of the Association, must
necessarily clash. — W.

THE FUTURE PROSPECTS OF BEE-KEEPING.

Being a member of the Sussex B.K. A., and a subscriber
to the Journal, I find, in reading the correspondence,
there is a great difference in opinion as to the future
price of hone}'. I, for one, quite agree with Mr. Godfrey's
letter. It is quite true they who wear tight shoes only
know where they pinch. I was given to understand,
when I became a member of the Association, that it was
for the benefit of the poor and working class at large ;
and coming under that heading, I feel sure that the
proposed price of honey will not benefit the working
class, but quite the reverse ; as, instead of getting out of

153

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May I, 1885.

the hole by the assistance of bee-keeping;, they will get
deeper into the mire. I entered into bee-ieeping with
all my heart, hoping thereby to gain some of the benefits,
but I am afraid, if such a price is coming to pass we read
of, we must pull up, the signal being against us ; for,
instead of promoting bee-keeping amongst us, it is enough
to c.nt-e a collision between its members. If I am
allowed to express my opinion, it looks like a self-
interested affair for the welfare of certain classes of
people in the trade, and for the benefit of shareholders
<>f the Honey Company. All our books on modern bee-
keeping give us a great show of success, persuading
people to keep bees on the modern system; it will be
only running them on the wrong iine, spending their
hard-earned money in following the advice, and then to
fin 1 disappointment and trouble as. their reward for their
industry. It is not as if we could reckon on our chickens
before they are hatched, but in a climate like ours, we
often get deceived ; instead of tons of honey we read
about, I fear with the best of management it only
amounts to some few pounds, on an average, in some
poor districts, besides having to contend with other
losses. If the price dees come to pass we read about, I
■am certain that instead of helping us to pay our doctor's
bill and shoe the family, as we read about, I fear we shall
see more bare feet than new shoes ; so I think we had
better pull v.p at the distant signal before it is too late to
•avoid the collision, if things are going on like this. — A
Railway Pobteii.

[Many honey-producers, even during the short time
.that lias elapsed since the Honey Company commenced
its operations, have reaped the advantages of the under-
taking; and as time advances many others will continue
to do the same. "We hope our correspondents will in due
lime see good reasons to change their opinions, and in the'
meantime we would advise them not to cross the bridge
till they have come to it. We append the opinions of
some other correspondents: C. 1). O. writes: — 'Success
•to the much-needed undertaking.' II. E. K. : ' It's quite
time the Company was started, so that we shall be sure
of the money.' W. B. : 'It will be a boon to have a
dependible market for our surplus produce.' Joseph
Cook : — ' "With regard to the Honey Company I have
no doubt but Mr. Godfrey's plan is a very good one
where it can be carried out properly, but there are
not many counties that are favoured with a Godfrey, and
■consequently but little hopes of success, and I think the
Honey Company is the best and safest alternative to
take, and bee-keepers are deeply indebted to the
Directors for their energy and pel severance in establish-
ing the said Company, and I hope that they will be well
supported in their enterprise.']

NATIONAL UNION OF BEE-KEEi'ERS.

I fail to find in your columns any list of the pro-
moters if the so-called ' National ' Bee-keepers' Union.
This tends to confirm my suspicions that the promoters
are too insignificant to wish their names to be published;
I am further inclined to think that this Union is an
union of two persons, Messrs. Hewitt and Thomson.
At least, all that we can learn about the matter is that
Hewitt draws up a set of rules, and that Thomson
expresses his approval of them. It looks like a game of
see-saw. No one else seems io trouble to express s.ny
opinion about the matter at alt. — A Leader, of both
.loinxAi.s.

Often have I seen the queen-bee, followed by the worke

bees,
Settle in the swarming season, on the tops of lofty trees.

In the spring the mother bee queen wakens from her

winter's rest,
In the spring, her foe, the tomtit, makes herself another

nest.

In the spring a glorious beauty blazons ail the golden

palms,
In the spring, the bee-man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts

of swarms.

Oh my bee-hives, phenolated! oh my foul-broods mine no

more !
Oh the cheap and nasty bee - hive, with its warped and

shrunken floor !

As the queen is, so the drone is ; gold queen mated with

the brown ;
All the' workers will be hybrids; but the urones are all her

own.

Often in the Journal's pages, have I read the wails of woe,
Uttered by desnaiiing sellers, when -there was uo Honey
Co.!

And have read what guileless Godfrey, writing with a flow-
ing pen,

Talks of honey fairs and maikets, and of prices pennies
ten,

For the bright and liquid honey, but for honey in the

comb,
Dainties put in two-pound sections, we should get a half-a-

ciown.

And have read what sanguine Seager, with a joyous heart

and free,
Prophesies that in the future honey will be pennies three.

Threepence! tenpence ! is there never for us yet a price

between '!
But I hold the truest value is the Ciodfrey-Seager mean.

Foolish, then to keep the straw-skeps, when the bee world is

alive ;
For I hold the ancient strawsken lower than the bar-frame

inVe!

And 'twere best to sell our honey, though the prices low

may fall ;
Better fifty pounds at sixpence, than to get r.o ci in at all !

Jkbictos.

B E E - H I V E HALL.
(Xot by Lord Tenr.ysou.)
Often in the early morning, ere 1 went to sleep,
Have I seen the busy workers from their bec-hhes ciecp.

Often have I seen the drone bees issue with a buzzing noise,
Quite oblivious of their future, like a pack of meny boys.

This Iloxr.y 1!ee.* By Dr. Stroud. — I his essay
is written by Dr. Stroud, a well-known African bee-
master, and is a very valuable contribution to our bee-
literature, and one which will well bear perusal by all
bee-keepers, as it contains in very clear and lucid
language the various ideas held by different authorities
on the economy of the hive bee. "With respect to various
deductions drawn by Dr. Stroud, we hold that he places
the bee too high in the scale of intelligence, and that the
bee has learnt anything by the experience of the others,
we consider is not all borne out by well-known facts
with regard to their life history. "We deny his premises,
and also his conclusions. For iustauee, we quote his
words : ' That the bee is a creature of "intelligence," and
not solely governed by instinct, no bee-keeper, I imagine,
cau question.' We, for i ur part, deny that the bee his
any intelligence, properly so called. Where instinct ends
and intelligence, by which we mean a reasoning faculty,
begins, is always a difficult point to decide. Doubtless,

* The Transactions of the liwsttm Province (South
Africa) Naturalist's Society. Part I.—' The Honey Bee
(Apia meilifica). Its Natural History and Management.
By J. W. Stroud, M.D., Port Elizabeth, Cape Colony.'

May 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

157

in some cases, bees seem to cross the boundary line, but
the instances which Dr. Stroud adduces fail completely
to establish the evolution theory.

If Dr. Stroud will make a glass observatory hive, and
will allow more than the traditional xsa in., so as to
tempt the bees to build a spine of comb on the glass, and
watch carefully the formation of the cells by the bees,
be will see for himself that the cells are not built
hexagonal, with a tri-rhombic base, but that the original
form is cylindrical, with a hemispherical base, and that
these are changed by pressure into the hexagonal cells.
No doubt, economy is one of the great laws of the hive,
but if the bees were such perfect economists and
geometricians, the side of one cell would act as the side
of the next, a party wall, in fact, whereas each cell has
its own walls, and between it and the adjoining cells
spaces are left, which can be easily detected by the
microscope. At the edges of the combs, and also in the
the queen-cells, this pressure does not exist, or only in
part, and as a result the cells approach more or less to
the cylindrical form. Again, we differ as to the question
of the varieties of the eggs which the queen lays. It has
been proved over and over again that the unfecundated
queen can only lay drone eggs, and that even when
fecundated, unless the egg in its passage down the egg-
duct comes in contact with the male entozoon, it will
only produce a drone. Again, when our author says the
fate of the drone consort is a mystery, w-e would ask him
to solve his doubts by examining carefully a princess
after her nuptial flight. Drone eggs are constantly laid
in workei>cells, and worker-egcrs in drone-cells, which is
sufficient to disprove the theory that reflex action, the
refuge of the destitute, determines the sex.

With the practical part of the essay we are more at
one with the author, though we prefer Mr. Cowan's plan
of queen-rearing to that advocated by Dr. Stroud. As
■we have been promised specimens of the African bee, of
winch there are three kinds, a black, a yellow, and a
mixed variety, we will defer our description of them to
a future number, though they seem to correspond with
our common black bee, the Ligurian, and the li3'brid
between these two. — G. Walker, Wimbledon.

The Apparatus for Differentiating the Sexes
in Bees and Wasps: An Anatomical Investigation
into the Structure of the Keceptaculum Seminis and
Adjacent Parts. By Frank K. Cheshire. F.R.M.S.— This
paper is based on a most minute miscroscopical investiga-
tion, requiring such instruments, care, and dexterity that
perhaps few will endeavour to see for themselves the
minuter structures which Mr. Cheshire has so well
described and figured. Yet Mr. Cheshire has not con-
fined himself to dry anatomical details ; indeed, his chief
objects seem to be to discover how the spermatozoa pass
from the drone when the young queen is impregnated
into that small spherical bag, the spermatheca, in which
they are stored until wanted, and how it is the}"- are
transferred with such beautiful regularity from this to
the worker-eggs as they pass along the oviduct beneath.

Mr. Cheshire has discovered a channel the upper end
of which communicates with the spermathecal duct,
whilst its lower end becomes lost in the lower part of the
oviduct. He regards this as the remains of what was in the
young queen, an open passage, allowing the spermatozoa
to enter, but which later on becomes closed. Since, how-
ever, lie seems not yet to have seen the channel open, it
will be better for us to reserve our judgment until the
few weeks have elapsed which will enable him to obtain
young queens, and complete these important observations.

The mechanism which appears to regulate the passage
.of the spermatozoa out of the spermatheca is very clearly
described and indicated in an accompanying drawing ; and
though it seems abundantly supplied "with muscles and
nerves, it is not to this that Mr. Cheshire attributes the
function of withholding spermatozoa from drone-eggs

The paper will be read with special interest by those
who have ever taken the trouble to dissect the abdomen
of a queen. The freedom with which Mr. Cheshire en-
deavours to explain the action and uses of the structures
he describes, although it tenders it likely that_ he will
before long modify some of his explanations, yet it makes
his paper the more instructive to those who remember
always to distinguish between observations and the in-
ferences drawn from them.

whilst supplying them to worker-eggs

Lecture on Bees and Bee-keeping.— Delivered by
Mr. W. Crisp, F.S.Sc, at Ormesby, Middlesbrough.
Edward Kirby, Chairman to the Local Board, presided.
The lecture was illustrated by splendid limelight and a
set of sixty slides, under the able management of Mr. S.
Groves. Mr. Crisp, in introducing his subject, said that
doubtless many of his audience would be familiar with
that beautiful hymn of Dr. Watts, commencing, ' How
doth the busy bee?' This, said the lecturer, was his
first lesson in bee-keeping ; and his next, was as a small
boy catching the bees and dissecting them to find their
honey-sac, which, when well filled, was about the size
of a pea. By-and-by lie found that some bees had no
honey-sac, and also no stings, and that those bees
(drones) could be caught and handled with impunity.
After further advance in knowledge, he found that the
beautiful hymn of Dr. Watts was not literally correct,
and that 'the bee did not gather honey all the day,' but
more especially in the early morning, and when tired
took its period* of rest and amusement, and that it was
no uncommon thing to see many basking in the sun
upon their alighting-board the whole of an afternoon
after a hard morning's work. Alluding to the varieties
of the bee, the first view on the screen showed illustra-
tions of the humble bee, the mason bee, and others.
The lecturer dwelt upon the great importance of the
bumble-bee in fertilising our red clover, and upon the
usefulness of our honey-bee in securing us a good crop of
fruit. As an illustration, at his old home they had a
three-acre garden well stocked with berry bushes, and
for several years other gardeners used to ask how such
good crops of fruit were secured. He replied, The bees.
By-and-by, when he left the old home and started a new
one, he took the whole of the bees with him. No other
bees were kept at that time in the district. And mark
the result. They have now cleared off the whole of the
berry-bushes because they never had a crop. Then as
an additional proof, in the town he moved to his neigh-
bour complained of never having had a good crop of
gooseberries. He mentioned the bees, llis neighbour
was doubtful, but the following seasons he had an
enormous crop. He then showed how the bee was the
unconscious agent in the act of fertilisation, evidently
showing the wisdom of an All-wise Creator in adapting
simple insects to carry out His will in the design of
nature. Mr. Crisp then came to his subject proper, and
described the various slides and mysteries of the interior
of the bee - hive, interspersing them -with several
numerous anecdotes, which kept his audience in the
closest attention for above two hours. Several views of
bee-farmers — Huber and Abbott, Neighbour's bee-farm,
Baldwin's ditto, and many others, were exhibited as proof
of the rapid strides bee-keeping was making; not the
least being a view of his own apiary, and another view,
Mr. Dixon's hive manufactory at Great Ayton, with
specimens of that gentleman's work kindly lent for the
occasion. Mr. Crisp recommended them all to keep a
hive of bee3, if only for a hobby and an amusement, as
it would be a most interesting study, and keep them
employed; and pav well for the attention given to it.
Then followed quotations of successful bee-keeping from
the British Jlee Journal, Mr. Crisp concluding with a
quaint wish that in the coming Parliament there might
be more workers and fewer drones in its constitution.
As we bee-keepers suppress the breeding of drones by

158

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 1, 1885.

using nothing but worker foundation, the new electors
had it in their power to suppress the drones in parlia-
ment. Votes of thanks concluded a pleasant evening.
Another invitation to lecture was declined until the
winter months, when Mr. Crisp would have more time
at his disposal.

Lecture on Bees. — On Friday, March 27th, Mr. W.
N. Griffin, Hon. Sec. of the Devon and Exeter B. K. A.,
delivered a most instructive lecture to the members of
the Debating Club of the Weymouth Town Society,
Mr. Grooves in the chair. He explained the anatomy of
the bee, the relation of bees to flowers, and scientific
apiculture. The lecturer also pointed out the great
benefit arising from supporting the various societies, and
advised all his hearers to at once enrol themselves as
members of the Dorsetshire Bee-keepers' Association.

A Bee Hunt in a Hungarian Forest. — Having read
an account of how the natives of Australia carry on hunt-
ing the bees, I should like to give a few words about my
own experience. I learnt the art of hunting bees from
watching an old countryman, who appears to be a
great bee-keeper, although he still belongs to the 'old
school,' and kills his bees with sulphur. Notwith -
standing this he possesses a great number of stocks and
manages to get a living by them. It is estimated that
he possesses from eighty to one hundred and twenty
stocks, though it is not known for certain. He seems to
believe that his 'bee luck' lies in a magic power belonging
to his own person, and that he should lose it if he was to
talk about it.

The news having been brought me that the old man
had gone in the forest to hunt, I resolved to follow him
and find out his method. From afar off I noticed that
by the aid of a flute or stick he seemed to be attracting
the bees to him, and that he would afterwards note their
flight homewards. "Wishing to try the experiment myself,
one afternoon I sallied out, cut a stick from a lilac-bush,
cleared out the pith, and cut four small holes in it, just
as if I intended to make a flute. This I filled with run
honey, closed both ends, and then started for the forest.
Having arrived there I brought out my flute and got as
near as possible to some bees, until at last I attracted the
attention of one which alighted on it. After having
sucked the honey the bee flew away, but in about ten
minutes returned witli three companions; and from that
time it beg-an to get lively, and I had sometimes as many
as twenty bees on my flute. I now altered my standing
point, at the same time marching in the direction the bees
were flying, and thus managed to come, in one day, by
altering the direction of my way, to two stocks ; but both
being out of my reach, in a high stump of a tree, I was
obliged to give up getting them. I was more successful
another time I started out, for I succeeded in capturing
two strong stocks, full of comb.

I might here mention that if anybody who is afraid
of being stung will rub his face, neck, and hands, with
feather-alum, the bees will never touch him. — Blatter
fi'tr Bienenzucht.

Rules for Raising Plants for Honey Only. — 1 •
Plants must be grown on large areas of ground, not
simply on small patches. 2. Either barren or very low-
priced land must be used, as the results will not pay the
rental of valuable farm land for this purpose. 3. Plants
must be selected that will reseed themselves year ^after
year. 4. They must also be plants that will retain pos-
session of the ground on which they are grown, to the
almost entire exclusion of other vegetation year after year
without annual cultivation. 5. Plants used for this puv-
pose should not be very troublesome weeds, especially if
liable to spread on neighbouring farms. — 0. O. Popple-
ton, Iowa (American Bee Journal).

List of Articles wherein British Honey is used.
— Honey drops, honey chocolate, tablets, and creams,
honey nectar, lemonade, and other beverages (non-alco-

holic), honey confectionery, various kinds, honey linctus
for coughs, honey medicines, salve, pomade, hair stimu-
lant, tooth-paste, honey lozenges, cough lozenges, barlev
sticks, raspberry drops, &c, jujubes, honey cattle-medi-
cine, fish-bait, vinegar. — Berkshire Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion Annual Heport.

Honey and Wax Crop of America.— Mr. T. G.
Newman states that the honey crop of America in 1884
is estimated to be worth sixty millions of dollars (one-
third of it being in the comb and two-thirds extracted).
The wax product amounts to one million of dollars.

Extraordinary Increase in a Liourian Hive. —
The rapid increase of stocks of Ligurians has frequently
been commented upon, but I expect few of your readers
have known a stock increase so rapidly as occurred in
one of my hives last Friday. The hive in question is a
twin-hive of Abbott's make, oblong pattern with large
entrance, and is tenanted by a strong colony of Ligurians,
and on Saturday I found one of the cats had taken up
her quarters in this hive witli the bees, and had given
birth to three kittens, which were comfortably domiciled
on the quilting above the frames. The cat goes to and
fro, taking no notice whatever of the bees, although cat
and bees have but one common entrance and exit ; she
goes alike when they are busiest and quiet. — J. W. M.,
Feering, Kelcedon.

Weymouth Industrial Exhibition. — At this
Exhibition, held at St. Mary's Schoolroom, Weymouth,
on 6th April, we notice that a bronze medal was awarded
to Mr. W. N. Griffin, late of Exeter, for an interesting
collection of different kinds of honey and wax.

Estimate of the Honey Business of Southern
California. — Number of bee-keepers, 1000; colonies of
bees, 100,000 ; amount of honey to the colony, 200 lbs.,
or in all, 10,000 tons. The wax amounts to 0 lbs. to the
colony, which makes the product amount to 000,000 lbs. ;
at the market value of 20 cents per lb., we have the snug
sum of $125,000 for the wax alone. The quality of this
honey and wax equals any in the world, not excepting
the honey product of the islands of Crete and Minorca ;
and the time is not far distant when the gorges and
canyons of Southern California, which abound in honey-
producing plants, will become the homes of a happy and
prosperous population engaged in the honey industry. —
From a paper read by Mr. J. E. Pleasants, at the Bee
Congress at New Orleans.

Chester, April 21. — Bees seem to have wintered well
in this district, there have been very few ' bee days ' this
spring prior to Thursday last, when we had a heavy fall
of snow, since then the weather has been very good,
honey coming in freely. — Chas. Roberts.

Fairford, April 21. — We are having beautiful weather
the last few days, after two weeks of cold east winds and
frosty nights. The temperature on the 17th was 02°,
on the 18th 63°, on the 19th 70°, on the 20th 69°, and
to-day 71°. I have been the means of about fifty bar-
frame hives being started in my district, and twenty-two
of them were stocked last spring and autumn, most of
which I have examined lately and found all but two in
a very prosperous condition ; but I am sorry to say that
there are still many bee-keepers who are so attached to
the sulphur-pit that I cannot convince them of the evil
of it, but I hope that when they are brought to see the
benefit of the bar-frame hive that they will be induced
to leave it off. — Joseph Cook.

Allonby, Cumberland, April 23. — This is not what you
would call a good place for bees, as we are close by the
sea, and without any trees and very little fruit of any
kind ; the white clover is generally very plentiful, and if

May 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

159

the season be fine we get a good harvest then, but it
requires a good deal of stimulating in the spring to get
them strong and ready for the clover. We have also
heather about a mile off, but I have never been able to
profit much from it, although some store is gathered for
winter use. Our Association in this county is progressing
steadily, and I hope if we have a good season to see the
number of members greatly increased. I am glad to
hear from our secretary that we are to have Mr. Sissons
in this county for a week to give lectures. — J. W.

Hunts, Somersham, April 24. — For just a week the
weather has been splendid, making- us almost forget the
previous part of the month, most of which, particularly
Easter week, was cold, dull, and wet. Stocks are now
progressing favourably, and honey is coming in fast.
The stock in rny Anglo-Cyprian hive is working busily
in one crate of 18 1-lb. sections, and several more stocks,
if I were working for honey, might at once be supered.
Stocks generally are becoming populous, but not a drone
has been seen yet. As one of the district advisers of "our
Association 1 have examined over 100 stocks, and am
pleased to be able to report favourablv on nearly all. —
C. N. White, Hon. Sec. Hunts B. K. A.

North Leicestershire, April 24. — Nine fine days in
succession have given the bees a good opportunity to
go out foraging. They have carried in abundance of
pollen, but very little else. The winds have been very
dry, and although the temperature has been very high
at times, nectar has continued scarce. Some stocks
seem to be making fair progress, but as a ride the others
are weaker than they were a month ago. Gooseberries,
currants, and plums, are just coming into bloom, so that
another week of fine weather may bring about a more
favourable state of affairs in the bee-world. — E. B.

Sutton, Surrey, April 25. — The past fortnight has been
grand weather for the bees, and honey has been so plen-
tiful (chiefly from gooseberries, wallflowers, and arabis) ,
that their syrup has been mostly neglected. Out of my
twenty-six stocks only five are at all unsatisfactory (pro-
bably having old queens), while some have eggs on all
frames, even on the outside comb opposite to the dummy,
though I should mention that they are crowded on to
five or six frames except in a few cases. It was decided,
two months ago, at a meeting of local bee-keepers, to
form a centre of the Surrey Bee-keepers' Association in
the neighbourhood. The Secretary informs me that he
has already received seventy subscriptions. — A Poon
Buzz Buzz.

Leamington, Honey Cott, Weston, April 27. — Glorious
weather now, bees revelling on the palm, plum blossoms,
blackthorn, dandelions, &c. The weather has been all
that could be desired, with the exception of Saturday
and yesterday, when the wind was very rough. Appear-
ances at present point to a good honey season, which no
doubt we all hope will not be disappointed. — John
"Walton.

East Gloucester. — We are having splendid weather for
bees after a cold three weeks, and they seem all in a
capital strong condition. I began feeding on March 20
with dry sugar, it answers well and saves no end of
attention. I think Mr. Simmins has conferred a great
help to all bee-keepers by his invention. On page 137
I see the red-hot-poker is mentioned by Mr. "Warden as
a good bee plant. I have also noticed bees work on it,
and what a grand plant it is in any garden. Aquilegia
vulgaris will grow anywhere. Babbits do not touch it.
Grape hyacinths are pretty little bulbs, and bees are very
fond of them. In January we had 3T8, in February 468,
in November 2-42, and this month up to 20th 2P0 of
rain. We are 800 feet above the sea level. — A. W. L.

Noricich. — My bees are busily engaged collecting honey
from the myrobella plum, they have gathered honey
lately from this shrub far in excess of breeding require-
ments, although brood-rearing is progressing rapidly ; in

fact, in two or three hives I have had to add frames
(empty), as honey was stored at the expense of brood
nest. — lly. Dohbie.

Bray, Ireland, April 18. — This has been a most un-
usually late spring, fruit trees not yet in flower, except
a few gooseberries. Bees have, however, wintered well
and increase fast. I examined a few days ago five flat-
topped skeps which were left all the winter with the top
hole open, the rain being kept off by a loose zinc cover.
The bees have wintered well, and are as strong a3 any I
have seen this year. How does this agree with Mr.
Simmins' plan of covering the hives with American cloth
to keep in the damp ? If sealed honey-combs be examined
at this time of }ear, in the middle of the day, in a strong
hive, it will be found that they are covered with con-
densed moisture, which is caused by the great increase of
temperature in the middle of the "day. If this happens
without American cloth the bees must, as one of your
correspondents says, be almost in a Turkish bath when it
is used.— E. D'O.

Ballinacurra, near Cork, April 19. — Bees were much
retarded by a cold, harsh March, with frost nearly every
night, the same holds good of Aprd up to about loth.
I introduced queens into two queenless hives this year ou
Simmins' plan, with perfect success. Bee-keepers are
much indebted to him for making known to all so easy
a method, and should acknowledge it. — J. J. S.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS.

Staphylia. — Staphylia trifoliata, or more properly S.
trifolia, is an ornamental flowering shrub, and succeeds
well in this country, where it flowers in April and
May. We do not know it as a bee-plant, but should
think it would be worth cultivating for bee-forage ; the
blooms are white and pendulous, about the size of a
hawthorn flower, but more permanent; that is, they
do not fall so soon, each individual flower will last a
week or so in fidl vigour. The species of Staphylia
are known commonly as bladder-nuts on account of
their bladder-like pericarps. We have a Staphylia
(S. pinnata), a member of our British Flora, though
by some botanists considered as a doubtful species.

Novice. — 1. Pollen of rarious Colours. — This is caused
by different bees visiting different species of plants;
both the yellow and the slate-coloured are pollen, the
latter probably from gooseberry-trees. 2. Ventilation
by Bees. — This is quite natural, and does not call for
any interference on your part. Your method of pack-
ing is quite right for the present season. 3. Water ore
Flight-board. — The ' yesterday,' according to the date
of your letter, was in London wet, and the moisture
might arise from leakage from the roof, if so attend to
it at once. Any water gaining access to a hive is
detrimental.

C. B. Spring. — Swarming. — You can easily see when
your bees are ready or preparing to swarm, and then
you may artificially swarm them as described in most
bee-books. You can either do this on your day of
leisure, or even in the morning or evening of any day,
although the midday is most suitable.

II. B. — 1. Feeding extracted Honey. — You gan give it in
a feeder behind the dividers, and if you give them no
room in the stock hive they will stow it in your sec-
tions. 2. Number of Frames for a good Queen. — It
depends upon season and other circumstances. Ten
standard frames are generally quite enough.

W. W. F. — 1. Replacing Queen. — Your proposed plan
would be difficult of performance, and very likely to
fail. A better plan would be to remove the old queen
and to give — from a hive that has just swarmed — a
frame of brood, bees, and one or two sealed queen-cells,
covered by pipe-cover cages. On the hatching of the
queens, if there be two, release one and give the other

ICO

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 1, 1885.

to a nucleus to be fertilised and held in reserve. The
young- queens may be fecundated by any drones within
six miies of your apiary, unless you follow some arti-
ficial system, such as the Kohler process, for procuring
fecundation by selected drones. '2. Foundation. — It is
best to melt down the strips of foundation. Bees
never work well on patchwork.

J. W. BATCiiELon.— 1. Transferring.— It is late for
transferring. Strong colonies in sleep? are too near
swarming to allow of successful transferring. Either
allow them to swarm naturally, or take artificial
swarms. Twenty-one days afterwards transfer combs
and bees from the skepsto frame-hives. 2. Drones. —
The appearance of drones is the prelude to swarming.
It is alsj a mark of strong and healthy colonies.

G. II. C. — Flour-calx. — More flour should have been
stirred into the cake, until you had arrived at the
proper consistency. It would have been better to
have removed the residue, and supplied fresh cake.
It was not the cake that killed the bees. They were
clogged, and suffocated, in the liquid honey 'which
you poured upon the meal. This was bad policy.
When liquid food is given thus it should always be
covered by a float.

A. B. — 1. Balling the Queen.— This generally leads to
her death unless she is speedily rescued. 2'. Queen —
Ye-, she has a sting, but seldom use.' it except to sting
a rival queen. We were once stung on the lip by a
queen which we were holding between the lips to give
both hands liberty. The effects were very slight as
compared with those of the sting of a worker. ."..
Placing ofSupes-s. — We prefer them to run the same
way as the frames, but it is not of very great im-
portance, but more a question of convenience.

J. F. M. — Mead TJ'ine. — There have been numerous
recipes for making mead hi previous numbers of the
Journal. We reprint that given by Sir. E. Thompson,
of Brigg : — To every gallon of water put 4} lbs. of
honey, to which add 1 oz. of ginger, in pieces, and
1 ox. of hops, tied in a bag, to about 5 or C gallons.
Boil and skim it an hour. Let it stand till cold, then
put it into casks, with a pint of brandy to every
(j gallons. N.B.— No yeast must touch it.

Marcus J. Astle. — Two-year old Queens. — Mr. Cowan
in his Guide-Bool; advocates queen-reaving in spring.
Such queens would have the whole of the first summer
cf their existence for work", and would be at their best
as regards laying powers the second year. Mr. Cowan
usually deposes all queens at the end of this second
year, and replaces them by young queens, unless they
have some particularly good qualities to induce him
to keep them for a third year to breed from. Your
queens, being bred so late as July, would have done
no work the first year, could therefore be kept over
until the third year if they prove to be good during
their second year.

A. C. — 1. Skep in doubtful Condition. — If your Lees carry-
in pollen freely you may feel pretty sure that they are
not queenless, although even in that case they would
carry some. Leave them aloue for the present, taking
care they are not robbed by a stringer lot. When the
season is more advanced you can drive and transfer to
a bar-frame hive, and destroy any combs which you
may find infested with moth. 2. Hives Kith eight
Frames. — Although they are rather small, yet very
go ;d results have been obtained from stocks filling
eight frames well. If expense is no object use larger
ones.

CM. — 1. Two tiers of Sections in use. — Let both run
the fame way, and both the same way as the frames
in the stock hive. 2. li'n. red Quilt. — Lay the waxed
side next the frames. Put some warm material over
it. It is absolutely necessary that the heat should be
retained in the hive now brood io being raised.

Cottagku. — Beeg visiting Oyster-sheila.— -They probably
went there for moisture, and also for silt." No harm
will arise.

M. Hatfield. — Siue which has been washed with Nitric
Acid. — We should recommend you not to use it for
bees while any smell of acid remains. Expose it freely
to the sun and air.

W. Slingeb. — Bacilli.— The bees I find contain a large
number of small bacilli (probably Gaytoni). The
disease is certainly not BaeMus alcei, and the attack
will, I imagine, pass away as the summer advances.
This has always happened with hives similarly suffer-
ing, and which have up to the present been brought
under my notice. If any change for the worse arises
a further communication respecting it would be de-
sirable. — F. 0.

C. Kobebts. — Enamel Cloth. — Yourpremiee is incorrect.
The moisture condensed inside a hive is no more the
perspiration of the bees than is the moisture on a
window-pane the perspiration of the occupants of the
room. Even if it were we do not see the force of your
objection, (hi any line day in spring you may witness
bees eagerly imbibing the drainage from farmyard
manure, or from other offensive sources ; we do not
see, therefore, that your contention has any bearing
upon the subject. Again, we do not believe" that Mr.
Cowan's remarks were intended to apply beyond the
early spring ; neither do we advise to discard the winter
cushions or quilts before the middle or end of April,
when the population of the hive begins most rapidly to
increase. It is an established fact in bee-keeping that
upward ventilation is not only not required, but is in-
jurious during the summer months. The greatest
American authority says, ' We cover the frames with
a thin, tough sheet of enamel-cloth' in summer, and
lay the quilt ou this.' There is scarcely an advanced
transatlantic ajSiarist who does not use the enamel
sheet. Before the quilt came into general use the old-
fashioned, tightly screwed down crown-board, propo-
lised beneath, answered much the same purpose as the
enamel sheet, and bees throve under these conditions,
at least during summer. We believe also that at
spring winter quilts and chaff cushions are now almost
universally discarded, or they would become a harbour
for moths and other noxious insects, as well as ad-
mitting of injurious ventilation. Mr. Cheshire, in his
Practical Bee-keeping, which we strongly recommend
you to read, remarks on page 08, ' Summer ventilation
other than that through the hive mouth is not only
unnecessary, but prejudicial,' and he gives his reasons
fully. We are therefore introducing no novelty in recom-
mending the use of enamel-cloth, the benefits of which
we have proved by long experience. The matter is a
very simple one, which anyone may investigate for
himself by actual proof ; and we recommend you to try
the experiment with two equally populous colonies,
under equal conditions — one covered with ventilating
material, the other, according to our instructions, with
enamel-cloth, and quilt and crown-board above — and-
we have no doubt as to the result.

II. P. — Diseased Queens. — I fully believe that the per-
forations of the diseased cells are made by the bees.
They have the habit of biting off the mixed wax and
pollen covering from queen-cells, and can be made to
do the same from drone-cells by causing in any way
the death of the contained grubs (see explanatory text
to my Diagrams). Gas cannot produce the openings, as
the covers are pervious to the air in every part. — E. C.

Humble Bee infested with Insects. — The bee for-
warded is Bombus lapidurius, and carries upon its
body a number of small parasites, but this 13 by no
means unusual. It. would indeed be difficult to find a
bombus which is not the host of several mites (atari).
These small creatures have, however, such quickness,

May 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

161

and so hide themselves between Hie hairs of the thorax
and about the insertion of the legs that without pat'
hunting they pasa altogether unnoticed. — F. Gyt**

A. P. Collye. — Parts of Beta. — The supposed grubs
found on the floor-board are simply the remains ( f '
dead bees. The external skeleton has been emptied of
every vestige of tissue (flesh, Sec), probably by tiny
niites or aeari, many of which are not unfrequently
found in inaccessible nooks in bee-hives. The 1 e -
resuming work in earnest have, during the customary
• spring' cleaning,' turned out the corners, with the re-
sult that has attracted your attention. It is, happily,
in this case, a good sign rather than an evil omen. — F. C.

.1. Hewitt. — Bee-keepers' Union. — "We have decided not
to publish the letter you have forwarded to us. We
reserve to ourselves the full right to publish or refuse
any letters and articles that may be sent to us, more i
especially when we are threatened that if we do not
accept them they will be published elsewhere. If
you wish to advertise the Bee-keepers' Union you can I
do so in the ordinary way by using our advertisement i
columns. At present we know nothing about the j
Union, the promoters, or the multitude of prominent
bee-keepers who are in favour of it, and until wo know
more about this at present shadowy Union we shall
decline to insert any letters on the subject.

(i. M. Goldsmith. — Enamel Cloth. — We do not believe [
that the dysentery arose from the use of enamel cloth,
but from the transferring, adding brood-combs, &c, in
cold and unsuitable weather. We have more than
twenty colonies at the present moment, in the most j
perfect health, and most of them ready for supers, .
very strong, and free from superabundant moisture,
all covered closely with enamel sheets. The sheets
we use are American, and are manufactured specially
for this purp se, without any deleterious ingredient,
or offensive smell. If you have applied the glazed
cloth, used for table-covers and other purposes, we
cannot answer for the effect. Our frames ail range
from front to back, and the entrances are kept open
their full width. This plan we have followed for
several years with perfect success, and have never had
a single case cf dysentery. (See also our answer to
C. Roberts.)

B. II. I'.— Soiled Combs. — The comb sent contains no
traceable disease, but of course the evidence is hardly
more than negative, since this sample does not appear
to have formed part cf the nest at the lime the bees
died. The soilinss do not indicate dysentery (which is
a true and distinct disease, and not simply weakness
and lowered condition as the result of bad manage-
ment), but simply show that the bees have been
greatly reduced and then much chilled on account of
their small numbers. In srnail lots this soiling is sure
to occur during a cold snap. The combs for anything
discoverable mav be Quite well used in other hives. —
F. C. "

F. W. — The comb sent was badly diseased with Bacillus
aheL(io\A brood), and although a fortnight since you
did not observe anything unusual, it is quite certain
that then the disease was established. The similarly
affected stock to which you refer i3 doubtless in the
same plight, and remedial measures should be taken
without delay. For methods of treatment consult our
reply columns and articles on foul brood in back num-
bers of the Journal. It is not needful to remove the
other stocks, although it is to be feared that they have
not escaped contagion altogether, and a careful exami-
nation should be made. The hive was deserted in con-
sequence of the bees becoming weak and dispirited, and
allowing themselves to fall a prey to robbers. — F. C.

A SuFFr.EKn. — Treatment of i'tiU Brood. — If the bees
will accept the medicated syrup from a feeder you need
not pour it into the combs. But if they refuse it you
must act in accordance with Mr. Cheshire's instruc-

tions which accompany the cure. You must continue
the treatment so long as you find any of the larva? are
affected. Note Mr. Cheshire's caution as to the disease
existing in the queen herself. In that case sht; must be
changed.

A. B. C. — Feeding and Avoiding Storage of Syrup. —
While the present weather continues your bees will
gather sufficient honey to keep themselves going (wc
presume they are not at the address from whence your
letter i-> dated). If b.id weather should occur you
must feed to keep up the population, but if you watch
them, and do not give too much they will use the food
and not store it. If you find they are storing away
withhold the supply for a day or two to give them the
opportunity of using it up.

Phenol Solution. — See Mr. Cheshire's paper on Foul
Brood, p. 202. Vol. XII., of Bee Journal, and Cowan's
Guide-booh, fifth edition, p. 153.

Tyro. — Letters on business to Mr. Eluckle, others to tl
Editor as directed. Mr. Simmins' paper on dry-sugar
feeding. ' Another Point Gained,' will be found on p.
155 of Vol. XII. of Bee Journal: it will give you the
information yo.u seek. The speciality of the Anglo-
Cyprian hive is bas?a on a sound principle; but we
prefer the square.

AY. A. C. — Xos. 1 and 4 for syrup, i and 3 for dry sugar
feeding.

The Anglo-Cyprian Hive. — A correspondent -would
be pleased to hear, through the pages of the Be:
Journal, the advantages or otherwise of this hive from
any bee-keeper who has had experience of it.

'A. F.' desires us to insert a caution in this number of
the Journal 'That all inexperienced bee-keepers be
quite sure before they part with cash that the dealer
from whom they buy queens guarantees safe arrival.'

Mr. F. Cheshire writes:—' Will you aid me in getting
surplus queens? You know I want them only for dis-
secting, and I have made a discovery which perhaps will
cause more surprise than anything that has appeared yet.
Queens are, however, an essential in the prosecution of
the inquiry. Bad-tempered, black, old, and ugly, are all
equally useful to me, but they must be aiive to be of
service. I have solve! the question of royal jelly.'

Received. — From W. P. Meadows, Syston, near'

i Leicester, his Illustrated Catalogue of Modern Bee

Appliances (•'!:.' page;). This catalogue contains a list

of all articles used by bee-keepers, and illustrations

I of Raynor's and Simmins's feeders recently described

in our pages.

%* Replies to further queries u-ii! he sent to private ad-
dresses. Foiii supplementary pages are given in tin* number*

BEE VEILS, Silk net fronts, easiest for eyes, and
best in use. Is. ijd. free ; two 2<. Gd. free. Address
1 M. J. White, Somersham, Hunts. 386'>

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' PRACTICAL
NOTE BOOK. By Thomas W. Cowan, F.G.S.,
F.K.M.S., &c. Crown 8vo, boards, Is. ; postage lrf.
Indispensable for every Bee-keeper. Published by J. Hcckle ,
; Kings Langley : may also, be obtained of all Hive-dealers.

Witt be sent post free on receipt of Two Sta»tj)s,

THE AMATEUR'S GUIDE
IN BEE-KEEPING.

-a.- €3r. S3 -A. "VST SE O JBJ,

ALMA BUILDINGS, MACCLESFIELD. (3210}

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 1, 1885.

For Sales and Purchases of Bee Appliances, Honey, Books,
Pamphlets, Diagrams, &c, Exchanges and Situations.

Terms : Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad-
ditional three words, One Penny extra; no reduction can
be made for continuous insertion.

gS" SPECIAL NOTICE.— We cannot under any circum-
stances be responsible for the truth of statements
made in Advertisements, or for the trustworthiness
of either Buyers or Sellers.

Advertisements will not be received for insertion under this
heading from Manufacturers or Dealers in Bee Furniture,
except for the Sales of Honey and Bee Literature.

THE SIMMINS' METHOD OF DIRECT INTRODUC-
TION. Enlarged to 32 pages. Price 6£d. Post free,
of the Author, Rottingdeau, Brighton; Messrs. Neighbour &
Sons, 149 Regent Street; and Mr. J. Huckle, Kings
Langley, Herts. (53)

ODERN BEE-KEEPING. An Illustrated Handbook
for Cottagers. Fourth Edition, considerably enlarged.
The soundness of its information, the simplicity of its
instruction, combined with cheapness, make this Hand-
book invaluable to all intending Bee-keepers. Price 7d.,
post free.

riMIE MANAGEMENT OF STRAW SKEPS. De"-
JL signed to teach the Cottager how to obtain the best
results at the least possible cost. By attention to its teach-
ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto. Price One Penny.
Six copies and upwards, post free.

FOUL BROOD ; The Means of its Propagation, and
the Method of its Cure. By Frank R. Cheshire,
Esq., F.R.M.S. Price 6<Z.

BEE-KEEPING, Plain and Practical : How to
Make it Pay. By A. Rusbridge, Is. 6rf., post free,
Is. 8d. Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.

ONEY for Sale. 100 lb.-Sections at cJd. Apply A.
J. Notes, Pewsey. c 61

H

YARIOUS Bee-keeping Appliances. New, and very
cheap. Address Head Master, St. James's, North-
ampton, c 69

SEVERAL Hundredweights of Pure Extracted White
Clover Honey, in large or small quantities, for Dis-
posal. Orders booked for Swarms and Queens. Several
Varieties. Address E. Woodham, Abbotsley, St. Neots. c 70

FOR SALE, price 21s., or Exchange for a Stock of
Blacks, a Double-walled Hive, with Legs. Address
Davis Bros., Carpenters, High Street, Mortlake, s.w. c 71

THREE Strong Stocks of Bees in Straw Skeps, price 45s.
Address L. Brown, Station Road, Potton, Beds, c 72

CHOICE and Selected Ligurian Queens, warranted to be
reared in full colonies, this year's produce, and purely
fertilized. As the number reared will be in accordance with
requirements, write at once for particulars, J. E. L. Gilbert,
Hon. Sec. Northants B. K. A., St. James's, Northampton.
c73

CN. WHITE, Certificated Expert B. B. K. Association,
. Somersham, Hunts, has Stocks, with or without
Hives, Swarms and Queens, English or Foreign, for Dis-
posal. Prices on application. c 74

SW^tMS of Bees for Sale ; guaranteed good and strong.
Apply Jno. Jas. Alsford, Blandford, Certificated
Expert Dorset B. K. A. c 75

BEES Transferred, Bee-Farms started throughout Ire-
land. Moderate Terms. Address J. Traynor, Bee-
keeper, Tinahely. c 70

FEW good Stocks of Bees in Standard Frame Hives, cheap.
Shall have May Swarms for Disposal. Address J.
Weatherhead, Ely. c 77

WANTED Situation (by a Joiner) as Apiarian and
Poultry Man, or House Carpenter, or to assist in
Garden, Make Hives, &e. Married. Address R. 0. K.,
Post Office, Alfreton, Derbyshire. c 78

FEW Swarms of English Bees for Sale. Address Mr.
Carter, 15 Ashburnham Road, Bedford. c 79

A

FIFTY Strong early Swarms, free on rail, 15/0, including
packing. Address Halley Bros., North Hants Bee
Farm, Thirfield, Basingstoke. c 80

FOR SALE. — Four Hives of Black Bees, in Combination
Hives, Association Standard size. Cork-packed. No
reasonable offer refused. Address F. J. Strong, 5 Alma
Terrace, Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry. c 81

ONE Stock Ligurian, and one Stock Black Bees, in
standard bar-frame hive. Also Stewarton Hive and
cover for sale. Address Walter Tyzack, Abbeydale House,
near Sheffield. c 82

1^ G. PARKER, Watchmaker and Jeweller,
J . Altrincham and Knutsforh, has on Sale all kinds
of BEES and BEE APPLIANCES as reasonable in price
as any could wish. He is Winner of the First Prize for
Largest and Best Collection for several years past at the
Cheshire County Show ; also for English Bees and Obser-
vatory Hives. First Prize also for best Combination
Hive. This he has from 12s. 6d. each. HIVES from
2s. 6rf. to 51. each ; VEILS, Is. ; SMOKERS from 3s. 6d. ;
COMB FOUNDATION from 2s. 3d. per lb. ; HONEY
EXTRACTORS, 9s. 6<Z.; SECTIONS, PARCHMENT,
SWARMS in HIVES, well packed, from 15s. ; FEEDERS,
SUPERS, ZINC, QUEEN CAGES ; HONEY BOTTLES
I 15s. per gross, free on rail ; English and Scotch HONEY at
I all prices, &c, &c. 'Modern Bee-keeping,' best and
cheapest book on Bees, 7 stamps. Orders by Post. Ad-
dress E. G. PARKER, Altrinchasi.

BEE-KEEPERS' GUIDE; or, Manual of the
Apiary. 11,000 sold since 1870. 12th Thousand just
out. 10th Thousand sold in just four months. 2000 sold
the last year. More than fifty pages, and more than fifty
costly Illustrations, were added in 8th Edition. The whole
work has been thoroughly revised, and contains the very
latest in respect to Bee-keeping. Price 5s., postage 4d.
BEE JOURNAL OFFICE, KINGS LANGLEY.

The only Weekly Bee Paper in the World.

THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL

Established in 1861.
Edited and published by Thomas G. Newman, at 925 West
Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., and will be sent
to European Subscribers at 10s. 6d. per annum for the
Weekly, or 5s. for the Monthly, including Postage. The
money may be sent by International Postal Money Orders
on Chicago. London Agents : Messrs. Geo. Neighbour &
Sons, 149 Regent Street, W-

Bronze Nedal awarded for Straw Skeps at the Great
Crystal Palace Show, 1875.

Seventeenth Edition. Price One Sliilling.

SEVENTY POUNDS A-YEAR

HOW I MAKE IT BY MY BEES.
By the late J. W. Paoden.

Also, by the same Author, price Sixpence.

Early Artificial Bee-Sw arming.

No watching required.

Apply to Mrs. J. W. Pagden, The Chestnuts, Alfriston,
Sussex, by whom the same manufacturers of ' Economical
Bee Furniture ' are employed as formerly. (90)

Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Strangeways* Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c.'

[No. 170. Vol. XIII.]

MAY 15, 1885.

[Published Fortnightly.]

(Sfoitorial, Satires, &•

THE APRIL QUARTERLY CONFERENCE.

The advantages of having a Central Association
were very well shown by the subjects discussed at
the meeting on 22nd April. To do any real good
in spreading the knowledge of bee-keeping would be
very difficult except with the assistance of such an
association as the B. B. K. A. ; and it is to its powers
of organization, and to its general supervision, that
we can justly ascribe the progress whicli has
resulted from its labours during the past. We as
a nation will not submit to the centralization so
common to the Continental nations, but a virtue
earned to excess is no longer a virtue, but a vice.
A parent Association can carry out work of a general
character which would not be in the province of any
one County Association.

However much we may be in favour of local self-
government we must have some representative
body, which has the power to deal with imperial
questions ; and as this may be taken as an axiom in
political matters, so we contend it would be perfectly
impossible to make any substantial progress without
the various County Associations cordially helping
the Parent Society to efficiently carry out its work.

We notice with great regret that one of these,
viz., the Cambridgeshire, has withdrawn, owing to
the expense. As we pointed out, in the editorial
note to Mr. Whitehead's (the Cambridge Secretary)
letter, the only expense entailed is a guinea for the
affiliation fee, and the cost of forwarding to the
Secretary of the B. B. K. A. a certain number of
copies of the report and balance-sheet whicli are
issued, or which ought to be issued, annually to its
own members. It is, of course, desirable that each
County Association should send a representative to
the four Quarterly Conferences ; but the sending of
a representative is an optional matter, not a con-
dition of affiliation, and no expense whatever need
be incurred thereby, if representatives, resident in
London, are appointed by County Associations, as
is done by the Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire
Associations. We maintain that Mr. Whitehead's
•view as to the expense of affiliation is an extremely
narrow one, and one which, if generally taken,
which fortunately is not the case, would prove most
disastrous to British bee-keeping.

We are too apt to forget that it is often im-
possible to accurately define by a debit and credit
account the advantages of affiliation, unless we take
into consideration the contingent advantages as
well ; and the subjects discussed at the Conference
show that the latter are not visionary, but real. To
begin with, the first subject was the adulteration of
honey, and the useful circular which had been
issued to the secretaries of County Associations,
setting forth the necessary steps to be taken for
the prosecution of the vendors. This is essentially
a work which could only be done by the parent
society, as we could hardly expect one county
association to undertake the necessary expense
for the benefit of the world at large.

Without agreeing with the cynical remark that
the world consists of so many millions of people,
mostly fools, we bee-keepers know very well that
the general public are very ignorant of the qualities
of genuine honey, and considering the large sale of
glucose, which is seen in its ' ojous ' form too
frequently on the counters of grocers, ifec, we think
that the steps which the B. B. K. A. have taken in
this matter well deserves the support of all. bee-
keepers. We have to educate the people, to show
them good honey, and as far as it is in our power to
prevent them from buying adulterated honey. We
cannot save them from the consequences of their
folly, but, at all events, we can clear ourselves of all
blame in the matter.

Again, there was another extremely valuable
subject of discussion, which was referred to the
Educatioual Committee, that of diffusing the know-
ledge of bee-keeping by inserting a few chapters
on the subject in advanced reading-books, and also
of having object-lessons for use in the National
Schools. By these means we should be able to impart
knowledge of bee-keeping throughout Great Britain.
Children are eminently receptive, and most of us
in our younger days had a mania for collecting
stamps, butterflies, birds' eggs, &c, and next to
reading the wondrous adventures of ' Robinson
Crusoe,' and the heroes of Captain Mayne Reid's
books, no books had greater charms for us than
those on natural history.

If we can instil into the minds of the young
even the elementary facts about bees, we maj' take
it for granted, that we are going the right way to
work to educate our children to become bee-keepers
when they grow up.

164

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 15, 1885.

The Secretary having reported that the bound
volume of Reports had been delayed owing to
several County Associations having not sent in
their reports, despite the conditions of affiliation,
which provide that they should be sent in by
February 1st, it was considered advisable to draw
the attention of all the county secretaries to this
clause, so that in future the volumes should be
issued as soon after March 1st as possible. The
B. B. K.A. would act quite within its powers if it
insisted on this rule being strictly carried out, but
we think that it were better to use milder means
before resorting to sterner measures, and erasing
the names of the defaulting counties.

Some people seem to labour under the idea that
laws were only made to be broken, quite forgetful of
the fact, that in this case their neglect punishes
those that have strictly observed the law.

The next subject of discussion was on the leaflet
' How to Commence Bee-keeping.'

This paper had been very cai-efully drawn up by
the Rev. F. S. Sclater. It was succinct, plain in its
Language, and eminently useful ; and we venture to
think that it would have been a graceful act if
some slight recognition had been shown of the
trouble he had taken. Again and again we receive
letters from correspondents asking us how they are
to commence bee-keeping, and to save ourselves the
trouble of answering them individually, and more
especially by distributing them at the various bee
shows, the general public will be able to get a
definite idea what necessary articles are required.

The man who spends his money recklessly in
buying all sorts of useless appliances, and the man
who strives after a false economy by giving too
little for the necessary appliances, in nine cases out
of ten will abandon the pleasures of bee-keeping ;
and so this leaflet comes at a very opportune time,
as there is every prospect of a good honey harvest.
As usual the battle raged most fiercely about the
desirability of taking any notice of the straw skeps.
The old thread-bare arguments were used for and
against, and the Conference decided, and that quite
rightly in our opinion, to retain the instructions for
the management of the improved straw skeps.

We do not deny for one moment that with the
same attention and management, the bar-frame hive
is infinitely superior to the straw hive, nor that in
the long run there is much to choose on the score
of expense, but it is the greater cost of the bar-frame
hives which will prevent their beinggenerallyadopted
to those who have not the necessary capital. To
ignore, therefore, the straw hive would be to forget
the chief object of the B. B. K. A., which is to in-
struct the cottager class in the art and science of
bee-keeping, nor are we certain that the manage-
ment of the straw hive is not a good stepping-stone
by the more difficult because more advanced
management of the moveable hive with its much
greater advantages, though attended with greater
risks, owing to the fatal facility for inspection and
injudicious meddling.

The leaflet will be issued in the course of the
next few days, and we feel certain that the success
it will obtain will be well deserved by the B.B.K.A.,

and the Rev. F. S. Sclater in particular, for the
trouble they have taken in its publication.

The question of translating ' The Management of
the Straw Skep ' into Welsh will be discussed at
the next meeting. It is a matter of expense, as it
would cost some 50/. ; but we think that it would
be of great advantage to the B.B.K.A, if the Com-
mittee could see their way to getting this done, and
also the translation of Modern Bee-keeping into
German, Italian, and French. The fact that thirty-
four thousand copies have already been printed shows
that this work has been well received by the public ;
and though the cost of the foreign translations would
entail a large expense, the profit on the sale would
soon repay this expense, and moreover prove a con-
siderable source of revenue to the funds of the
Parent Society.

THE HONEY COMPANY.
Since our last issue we have received several
communications respecting this Company, but as we
consider that by this time its object and its aims have
been sufficiently explained, and its rules and regu-
lations abundantly sifted and criticised, there appears
to be no necessity that these communications should
appear in our columns. The din of controversy
is now hushed ; the Honey Company is firmly
established ; the number of shareholders is daily
increasing ; a large quantity of honey has been
purchased ; and the operations of the Company at
Columbia Market are being commenced. It will
now depend on the wisdom and the energy of the
Directors, and the efficiency and the business tact of
the management, whether the Company will prove a
success. There is, no doubt, a vast amount of work
to be done, and numerous difficulties to be overcome,
before that end can be achieved. But the Directors
possess our fullest confidence, and we feel assured
that no pains on their part will be sjiared, and no
means untried, to cany out to a successful issue the
purposes of the Company. Per aspera ad astra.

THE JOURNAL.
We have to acknowledge the receipt of numerous
letters from many kind friends and correspondents
testifying to the value of the Journal and to the
advisability of bringing it out as a weekly publi-
cation. These letters have been much in the same
strain as those inserted in our last issue, and there-
fore there is no purpose to be gained in occupying
our space with them. The general burden of them
is, that if the proprietor sees his way to bring it out
weekly, the price should be reduced ; and a sugges-
tion is very generally intimated that the subscribers
desire that the ' Useful Hints ' should be brought
out more frequently. We return our sincere
thanks to all who have taken the trouble to com-
municate witli xis, and we beg to assure them that
in any change thai may be made their suggestions
will receive all due consideration ; and as an earnest
thereof, we are happy to state that the compiler of
the ' Useful Hints ' has kindly consented that these
should, at once, appear in every issue — at all events,
during the summer season.

May 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

1G5

USEFUL HINTS.

Since our last jottings the weather lias been most
unfavourable for bees. — ' Snow in Scotland — Snow
on the Cotswold Hills — biting, bitter winds — 12
degrees of frost, absence of sunshine;' — such are the
reports which reach us on the 1 2th of May. In our
own neighbourhood we have not heard of a single
natural swarm. Apples, pears, plums, and cherries,
show an unusual amount of bloom, but the bees have
scarcely been able to work upon it at all. A few
days more of cold, unseasonable weather, and all
chance of a harvest from fruit-bloom will be over.

Feeding has been carried on unceasingly by all
careful bee-keepers — the more populous the colony
the more food required. We have found Simmins'
Feeder, lately described in our columns, to act well.
Our plan has been to thoroughly warm the feeder,
and wax the inside of the central cylinder, before
placing it on the hive, and then to pour hot water
upon Duncan's pearl sugar, in the feeder. The
bees have ascended at once, and carried down the
food rapidly. As soon as a change of weather
arrives all will be bustle in our apiaries. Where
feeding has been carried on the increase of young
bees has continued, and it will be difficult to prevent
strong colonies from casting swarms. If such have
been supered place the swarm on the old stand, give
it a frame, or two, of brood, without qneen-cells, from
the parent hive, close up the latter by division boards
and set it close beside the swarm. Remove the
super to the swarm, and, weather permitting, it will
be filled more rapidly than if a swarm had not
issued. The swarm should be confined to the
centre of its hive upon six frames of foundation,
placed on the outsides of the two frames of brood,
more foundation being given as required. The
parent stock may be gradually removed to a distance
of three or four feet, and eventually, if increase be
not desired, may, with its young queen, be united
to the swarm, and the old queen removed. In an
exceptionally good honey season the parent hive
may also take a super.

Artificial Swarming supposes fertile queens on
hand. These may be purchased so reasonably, from
queen-breeders, that it hardly pays an amateur to
rear them, since the time and trouble of forming
nuclei are considerable. A few of these queens
should be kept on hand, and one should be caged
for twenty-four hours on a brood comb in the queen-
less part, after a division has been made, all queen-
cells having been previously removed.

Now is the time to purchase natural swarms.
Buy them of neighbouring cottagers. From 12«. to
15s. is the value of a good swarm in May. Let the
swarm be hived in a new skep in the vendor's
garden, and removed at evening, when it can be
transferred to the domicile it is permanently to
occupy. Swarms should be examined slightly every
few days to ascertain whether they are building
straight combs, but where wired foundation has been
used, according to our directions, this is unnecessary.

Be careful to place all hives level from side to
side (horizontal), by means of a spirit-level, and
raised one inch at back. This is advantageous for
the bees, causing moisture to drain from the hive,

and rendering it easy for the bees to carry out all
refuse. It must not, however, be practised with
hives whose frames range parallel with front and
back, in which case the frames would be thrown out
of the perpendicular, and the combs built irregulaly
or joined together. Newly hived swarms must,
under all circumstances, be liberally fed, and, in
favourable weather, should fill their hives in from
ten to fourteen days, when a rack of sections may
be given.

When a strong colony is working well in sections,
and honey coming in plentifully, as soon as the
sections are about half filled, raise the rack and
place a second one beneath it. The work will be
carried on in both racks, and the two will bo filled
in nearly the same time as one. There will be no
deserting of the upper one. This we have proved
by long experience, and our American bretliren
practise the system almost to a man. Do not
attempt artificial swarming, or division of colonies,
during cold, ungenial weather. The early part of
Juue will be soon enough. Have all things in
readiness — bees, hives, sections, &c. — against the
abundant honey-flow, which we trust will come at
last.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The Second Quarterly Meeting of this Association for
the present year was held on Wednesday, April 22nd, in
the Board-room of the R. S. P. C. A., 105 Jermyn Street,
St. James's, when, among the audience assembled, were
the Hon. and Rev. Henry and Mrs. Bligh, Mr. T. W.
Cowan, Dr. G. Walker, Mr. Hooker, the Rev. F. S-
Sclater, Mr. Garratt, Mr. Waters, the Rev. Mr. Burkitt,
Mr. T. B. Blow, Mr. Henderson, Mr. F. H. Meggy, See.

Mr. Waters (Surrey County representative) presided,
and the proceedings commenced by the reading of a paper,
entitled ' Honey and Wax, their Varieties and Qualities,'
prepared and read by Mr. W. N. Griffin, Hon. Sec. of
the Devon and Exeter Bee-keepers' Association, who
had provided himself with a variety of specimens of
honey, both in the crystallised and liquid state, the pro-
duce of bees in different parts of the world, but prin-
cipally in the British Islands. Samples of wax were also
exhibited by the lecturer, who frequently referred to the
various specimens during the course of his remarks, as
follows : —

Honey and Wax : their Varieties and Qualities,
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,— The
subject which I have the honour to introduce for your
consideration this evening, I thought might be of some
slight practical utility to bee-keepers, especially now that
Honey Companies, depots, and other similar channels,
are being started, in order to facilitate the sale of honey
and thus to encourage the industry in which we are all so
much interested. When I was asked to read a paper at
the Quarterly Conversazione I felt deeply the compliment
paid me by the Committee of the British Bee-keepers'
Association, but at the same time hesitated to address a
body of scientific bee-masters. It has, however, occurred
to me that having attended many exhibitions throughout
all parts of England and Ireland, I thus had the oppor-
tunity of comparing the relative qualities of various kinds
of honey, added to which having begun a collection of
different samples of honey and wax, some matter could
be culled from these notes which might prove of sufficient
interest for a discussion.

Honey was used instead of sugar till the fifteenth
century, and beverages were made of it called mead,
metheglin, pigment, and moret. Not only the Greeks

166

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 15, 1885.

and Bomans, but most of the Asiatic nations, had habitual
recourse to honey in the preparation of food ; it figured
abundantly in their rare composite made dishes, and
formed the standing adjunct of simpler fare, mixed with
wine, milk or water. The Scandinavian and Celtic
nations also manufactured drinks from honey, while yet
beer was unknown, and wines were mainly confined to
the countries that produced them. Mead and metheglin
are sometimes confounded ; but the former was obtained
from the combs from which the honey had been already
taken, while the latter required a hundredweight of
honey to produce twenty-four gallons. Both were fer-
mented drinks; metheglin — the honey wine of the ban-
queting table — was rather viciously intoxicating, while
mead was chiefly used as a vehicle for the flavouring of
fruit and aromatic herbs. The effect of metheglin upon
the heads and tempers of its consumers was notorious, a
fact not now difficult of explanation and accounting for
many a hot feud and doughty trial of strength between
Saxon and Dane.

It is not my intention to give you the analysis of
honey ; this has already been treated on in a masterly
manner by Mr. Otto Hehner and Mr. Cheshire. We
have learnt that the nectar of flowers after being collected
by the bees and converted into honey, is made up of two
different kinds of sugar, dextrose and levulose, in about
equal quantities (or invert sugar as this mixture is called)
and about 18 to 21 per cent of water. Although all
kinds of pure honey are chemically alike, yet there is a
C( nsiderable difference in their flavour, consistency, colour,
and aroma; again, when in a crystallised or candid state
there is a marked variation in density and colour. It is
these points that I venture on the present occasion to
bring forward for your consideration. But before treat-
ing on these distinctions will bring to your notice the
qualities of the twenty-three specimens now before me.
Many are in duplicate so as to enable us to see the
marked differences. First, when in a liquid state (these
samples having been gradually heated and raised to a
high temperature). Second, the same kind of honey,
which has been left to crystallise naturally.

1. Honey gathered during 1884, at Bideford, chiefly
from white clover. liaised to 11)4° F., mild flavour,
thick, and the colour light straw.

2. Honey the same as No. 1 , but left to crystallise,
and, though candied, still retaining the same shade of
colour.

3. Honey gathered during 1884, at Bideford, very
late. Has turpentine flavour and aroma, as if from pine
cones. Baised to 104°, rather thick, and of an orange
hue.

4. Honey similar to No. 3, but left to crystallise, has
become very thick and many shades lighter.

5. Hone}' gathered during 1884, near Belfast, chiefly
from white clover. Raised to 104°, very fine flavour,
has since crystallised, is not unlike in colour to the last
described, but. is not so thick.

(i. Honey gathered during 1884, near Bideford, chiefly
from fruit-blossoms. Delicious delicate flavour. Baised
to 104°, is of a beautiful orange colour.

7. Honey like No. 6 left to crystallise, but has only
become slightly turbid.

8. Honey gathered during 1884, near Bridgewater,
from fruit-blossoms, has been raised to a high tempera-
ture. Delicious flavour, and much resembles No. 1 in
consistency and colour.

0. Honey similar to No. 8, but left to crystallise and
has become pearly white, delicate aroma, even con-
sistency, and is superior in taste to any candied honey
I have tasted.

10. Honey-dew gathered by bees during 1884, at
Hungerford, from the aphides of the oak. Baised to a
high temperature, almost black, most disagreeable to the
palate, and of strong odour.

11. Honey-dew like No. 10, but left to crystallise, and

has become a mottled dark brown, much resembling
marble.

12. Honey gathered during 1884, near Bridgewater,
from plum- blossoms. Baised to a high temperature,
exceedingly delicate flavour, pleasant aroma of the fruit,
colour of a clear amber.

13. Honey gathered during 1884, near Dorchester,
from heather, left to crystallise. Pungent flavour, with
the same strong aroma which all heather honey possesses,
and of dark reddish brown hue.

14. Honey gathered, during 1884, from buckwheat,
grown on peaty land in the fens of Lincolnshire (where
the water is tainted and of a colour resembling cloudy
pale sherry); has a very objectionable flavour and offen-
sive odour, somewhat resembling stale size; colour, dark
reddish brown. Has been allowed to crystallise.

15. Honey gathered during 1884, in Lincolnshire,
from the bloom of mustard, clear with a moderate con-
sistency, but practically no flavour.

16. Honey gathered during 1884, in the fens of Lin-
o nslii re, from bloom of mustard and turnip. Baised to
a high temperature, has slightly the taste of No. 14, but
as no buckwheat was growing in the neighbourhood at
the time this sample was gathered, there is probability
that the peaty water is partly the cause of the disagree-
able flavour of this homey ; thick consistency, and of a
reddish-brown colour.

17. Honey, like No. 16, left to crystallise has become
solid and of a light stone colour.

18. Honey gathered during 1881, in Lincolnshire, from
white clover. Baised to a high temperature, mild flavour,
thick, and the colour, light straw.

10. Honey like No. 18, but left to crystallise, has
become dry and crisp, rich flavour, and of a creamy
white colour.

'20. Honey gathered during 1884, in Lincolnshire, in
the vicinity of woods. Baised to a high temperature,
nearly black, and almost as disagreeable in flavour and
odour as No. 10 ; and I am strongly of opinion it is
obtained from one of the varieties of honey-dew.

21. Hone}' like No. 20, left to crystallise, but has only
become slightly solid.

22. Honey gathered during 1883, at Cintra, Portugal,
from orange-blossom, left, to crystallise. Colour, dee])
yellow, has a peculiar]}' fine flavour and scent of the
flowers.

23. Honey gathered during 1883, at Bideford, chiefly
from garden flowers, taken at end of season. Baised to
198° ¥., excellent quality. Has since crystallised, and is
of an amber hue.

AVe thus find there is a considerable variation in the
quality of honey, differing much according to the flowers
and locality from which it is collected. The best honey
is gathered at the commencement of the season, when
the flora is most abundant. An old writer remarks that
' the finest honey is to be found in those countries most
productive in wheat and wool.' Some assert that the
best honey in the world comes from Pontus, and that its
superiority is attributable to the great quantity of balm
growing there.

Narbonne was famous for the honey collected from
the rosemary, but the quantity is every year diminishing
from the peasantry neglecting their bees for their vine-
yards. Attempts have been made to imitate Narbonne
honey by adding to other honey an infusion of rosemary
flowers.

The honey of Hvmettus has been much extolled, its
peculiar flavour being, no doubt, imparted by the wild
thyme so luxuriantly growing upon that celebrated
mountain.

Martial compares the nectar of the gods to Falernian
wine mixed with the honey of Attica.

The finest flavoured and most delicate honey is that
which is collected from aromatic plants. I consider that
the first essential in honey is its flavour. In comparing

May 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

1G7

the samples we find that, although collected from the
same kind of flowers, yet there is a considerable varia-
tion; for instance, Nos. 1,5, and 18, were all obtained
from white clover, yet No. 5 is superior in flavour : and
again Nos. (5 and 12 obtained from fruit-blossom are
perfect in flavour, though different in colour. Heather
honey Ins a flavour peculiar to itself, and can never be
mistaken. 'The second essential of good honey is that
its consistency should be thick. Nos. 1, 0, Hi, and 18,
would be about equal, whereas Nos. 3 and 12 would
come far behind them. Lastly, we come to the colour
and aroma of honey, in which we find much variation ;
from white and light straw to orange, brown, amber,
yellow, red, and even black. The light delicate tints
certainly catch the eye, but frequently it is found that
these honeys are clear and tasteless, and cannot be
compared to dark honey with rich flavour and fine
aroma. If we are to be enticed by colour, what can we
have more tempting than the ' California Honey-dew,'
which we know from a recent trial, quoted in the Bee
Journal, contains fifty per cent of corn-syrup ?

Mr. R. R. Godfrey, writing to me with reference to
the dark honey, No. 14, says it is ' gathered in the
Lincolnshire feus from buckwheat, grown on peaty land
divided by drains, the water of which is tainted and
coloured from the peaty soil; and if you saw the poor
who live about those parts, they look smoke-dried and
withered, — I should judge from drinking the water, as
well as from the smoke of the peat which is their only
fuel.' Then from the same county we have a beautiful
specimen of pure light honey gathered from the flower
of the mustard, No. 15, but as tasteless 83 lard ; this
last named sample cannot bear comparison with No. 6,
which, although dark in appearance, is rich in flavour.

I have already alluded to the difference of the aroma
of honey. Some years since I had a super of honey
collected at Alphington, the aroma of which was
pleasant, but so strong, that, when opened, it invariably
scented the house. Honey collected from onion, ivy,
kc, is most disagreeable to the palate, and has an
unpleasant scent, but both these drawbacks will dis-
appear by exposure to the air. Captain Heysham, Ii.N.,
lately writing to me with regard to the honey from
which sample No. 3 had been taken, says, ' that by
leaving the bottle for some weeks with a piece of muslin
tied over the mouth, the turpentine flavour and aroma
had entirely disappeared.'

Rhododendrons and azaleas yield poisonous honey,
which acts as a narcotic : we learn from Grecian history
that many of the soldiers in Xenophon's array became
stupefied from eating honey whilst marching through a
wood. It is supposed that this pernicious kind of honey
is usually distinguished, from that which is innocent, by
its crimson or reddish-brown colour, its bitter flavour,
&c. ; but in Florida and California it is so similar in all
respects to innocent honey, that the hunters depend
upon experience only, and knowing that bad honey soon
shows its effects, they, at first, eat very sparingly.

Very little has been said with reference to crystallised
or candied honey, and up to the present, whenever it has
appeared at exhibitions, no notice has been taken of it,
and it is usually supposed to be honey taken during the
previous season ; but this is an error, we must remem-
ber that some kinds of honey become solid far quicker
than others. I am strongly of opinion, with Mr. Ilehner,
that it should never be classified with honey in a liquid
state, and that, in prize schedules at our autumn shows,
there should be a distinct class for crystallised or granu-
lated honey. Reverting to the samples, here again we
find a variety of hues and distinctions in density. Al-
though No. 0 is not the most tempting in appearance,
I would, without a doubt, say that it is the best
candied honey that I have tasted.

Turning our attention for a few moments to honey-
dew, we find that the term is applied to a viscid trans-

parent substance, as sweet as honey itself, that appears
on the leaves of the oak, ash, lime, sycamore, blackberry,
&c, sometimes in the form of globules, at others re-
sembling a syrup, generally most abundant (about every
third year) from June to September. The ancients
suppose it to be a deposition from the atmosphere. The
Rev. Gilbert White, in his Naturalist's Calendar,
regards honey-dew as the effluvia of flowers, evaporated
and drawn up into the atmosphere by the heat of the
weather, and falling down again in the night with the
dews that entangle it.

Mr. Curtis considers it to be an excrementitious matter
voided by the aphis, or vine-fretter, an insect which he
regards as the general cause of what are called blights,
assuring us that he never, in a single instance, observed
the honey-dew unattended by aphides.

Bevan is of opinion that there are two sorts of honey-
dew, one a secretion from the surface of the leaf, the
other a deposition from the body of the aphis. Ants are
particularly fond of this fluid. I may also mention a
circumstance which came under my notice at Otterton,
Devonshire. Whilst in the rectory grounds, I was
attracted to a large lime-tree by the busy hum of count-
less humble-bees collecting the honeydew from the
leaves, which were covered with this sticky substance ;
it evidently had a pernicious effect, as many of the
insects had fallen to the ground in a semi-intoxicated
condition. Judging from the foregoing, and reverting
again to samples Nos. 10 and 11, we cannot wish to have
much of this anything but ambrosial nectar stored in
our hives.

I now come to the latter part of my subject, the
varieties of wax ; and for many of my samples I am
indebted to the kindness of Mr. Ilehner.

Bees-wax, which is a natural secretion of the bees,
and may be called their oil or fat, is composed of 12 per
cent of cerotic acid and 88 per cent of myricine ; these
acids are unique; but in wax, as in honey, we get a
variation in colour and aroma, although chemically it is
alike in all parts of the world.

In English wax we have pale yellow, deep orange,
brown with a greenish tint, and dark brown ; from the
East Indies, pale, and dark drab ; Mauritius, dark brown
and mahogany ; Melbourne and Sydney, two shades of
grey; Algiers, deep yellow; Gambia, light brown;
Spain, deep orange ; Hungary, a lighter shade mottled
with white ; Carnaubia, pale sage green. This latter
sample in appearance resembles marble; it requires an
exceedingly high temperature to melt.

Bees-wax cannot chemically be imitated, but there are
man}' substances which are analogous to it, and in
commerce are used in its place. Of these, spermaceti is
the nearest allied to bees-wax, as a fat from the animal
kingdom ; but on the other hand, neither bees-wax nor
spermaceti must be called fats.

Then we have stearine, or stearic acid, which is quite
white, and is extracted from fat ; all fatty substances
known as fatty acids contain stearic acid, in a more or
less degree.

The insect wax of China enters into commerce ; it is
found on the surface of many trees there, and is produced
by a small hemipterous insect (^Coccus sinensis), which
about the beginning of June climbs the tree, feeds on it,
and deposits on the branches a wax resembling hoar-
frost. This is scraped off, melted in boiling water and
strained through a cloth. Another wax of insect origin
is the Andaquiss wax of South America, which is pro-
duced from a small insect called Avesa. — (B. B. J.)

We also have a variety of vegetable waxes. One
from Japan, of which I have a sample, is of a light straw
colour, and in appearance is not unlike our best kind of
English bees-wax.

There are trees also which afford wax in great abun-
dance : Myrica cerifera augustifolia, or wax tree of
Louisiana, and the Myrica cerifera latifolia, of PenU-

168

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 15, 1885.

sylvania, Carolina, and Virginia. The latter is now
naturalised in France, and is, I believe, being cultivated
in Algeria ; it flourishes also in the dry lands of Prussia.
The fruit of this wax plant (or myrtle-wax, as it is
sometimes designated) is plunged into boiling water,
enclosed in a bag of coarse cloth, and in a few minutes
the liquid wax floats to the surface, when it is collected,
cooled, and remelted into blocks. It is said to have the
same chemical composition as bees-wax, but this I
cannot state with certainty.

We have also two kinds of paraffin wax, or block
paraffin, of a transparent white, one melting at 110°,
and the other at 1;JG°.

Cerisin, or earth-wax, in various colours — black,
yellow, red, and white.

Thus a variety of clarified fats and other substances
contribute to-day, at a much cheaper rate, to many of
the purposes for which bees-wax was formerly em-
ployed ; but on the other hand, they cannot actually
take its place, as all these substances will melt at a com-
paratively low temperature, whereas bees-wax requires
a far greater heat to reduce it to a liquid state, and it
will very soon become solid when removed from the fire.

The goodness of bees-wax, independently of its colour,
may be estimated by passing the thumb-nail forcibly
over its surface : if good, the nail will pass with a kind
of jerk, but if no obstruction be felt, the wax may be
looked upon as adulterated with suet or some similar
substance. The aroma of wax very often resembles that
of the honey that has beeu stored in it.

Very much more, I am aware, might be said on the
subject which we have been considering, but I trust the
matter now before you may be of sufficient interest for
discussion, and it only now remains for me to thank you
very heartily for the patient hearing you have given me.

Discussion.
Mr. Cowan thanked Mr. Griffin very heartily for the
interesting paper he had kindly contributed, and also for
the great trouble he had taken in collecting so large a
number of samples with which to illustrate his observa-
tions. Flavour was generally deemed to be the most
important consideration, and he was inclined to think
that honey submitted to the high temperature of 104
degrees, mentioned by Mr. Griffin, must deteriorate in
flavour. He did not suppose that the honeys exhibited
and spoken favourably of were to be taken as samples of
flavour at that temperature. He was sure that, in a great
many cases, honeys dissolved at that temperature would
lose their flavour entirely. Mr. Griffin had said nothing
concerning the effect of altitude on the quality of honey.
It had considerable effect. There was not much oppor-
tunity of gaining experience of this fact in England,
but in Switzerland it was easily noticeable. He had
found that at different altitudes the grain of honey varied.
Some of the best came from the Bernina, 6165 feet.
The flavour of that honey was most exquisite. It was a
perfectly white, fine-grained, and very luscious honey,
with the most delicious flavour of roses he had ever tasted.
He was surprised to hear that the honey produced from
buckwheat in Lincolnshire was so bad, and doubted not
that this fact was due to the peaty nature of the soil.
He had tasted honey collected from buckwheat grown
on good soil, and although dark in appearance was not
bad. The honey from which gingerbread on the Conti-
nent was generally made was frequently of buckwheat
extraction. His experience differed from Mr. Griffin's
witli regard to honey collected from onions. He had not
found that the objectionable flavour disappeared in course
of time, and even if bees were collecting from Allium
ursinum there always remained a taste of garlic which
could not be eradicated. There was a flower known as
Astrantia major, which imparted a very strong flavour to
honey ; and even when other flowers had been laid under
contribution by the bees, if Astrantia major existed in

the district, its flavour would predominate. He had
tasted it in honey collected at Gryon at an elevation of
.3707 feet above sea-level. The flavour of Narbonne
honey was very fine, and partook of the source from
which it was collected, namely, rosemary. With re-
gard to classing candied honey and run honey separately,
he quite agreed with Mr. Griffin. The flavour became
altered immediately after granulation, and it was im-
possible for the best of judges to decide between the
two kinds of honey if they were both submitted in the
same class. With regard to honey-dew, he was, to
a great extent, in accord with Mr. Griffin. He believed
it was the exudation of leaves, which was the opinion of
a great many persons. But it is not altogether valueless,
and that from the pine has a peculiar flavour, but not at
all disagreeable. With regard to wax, he thought the
best test of its purity was the temperature at which
it would melt. All fats would melt at a much lower I
temperature than wax. He had seen a great number of
samples of beeswax that had been analysed at the Zurich
Exhibition, and that has been brought from different j
parts of the world. Every one melted at the same
temperature, namely, from 145 to 117 degrees Fahrenheit.
He exhibited two specimens of honey gathered in the
same district during the previous season, the lighter-
coloured one having been gathered from clover, and the
darker from general blossoms. He had received from
a gentleman some samples of reputed hawthorn honey of
a very white colour. He could not quite agree with the
sender, as there was no flavour of hawthorn bloom at
all in the specimens, which were remarkable for their
absence of flavour. He had had in his possession, since
the previous August, some honey gathered in the Vosges
mountains, which had not crystallised up to that time.
He also had some taken from near the Lake of Geneva,
which was very similar in flavour to the Alsatian moun-
tain honey, both of which samples he would ask those
present to examine. The speaker concluded by again ex-
pressing his acknowledgments to Mr. Griffin.

Mr. Garratt added his tribute to the excellence of Mr.
Griffin's paper. The historical sketch, as well as the
technical information given, was exceedingly interesting
and useful. They had had recently a paper and discus-
sion on ' Honey Judging at Shows,' and he thought the
facts narrated by the lecturer would throw a good deal
of light on that difficult subject, and enable judges in
future to estimate with more exactitude, perhaps, the re-
lative qualities of merits of exhibits. Although flavour
was an important question, still he thought that a pre-
ference was vety often given to those honeys which had
the ^most taking appearance. The public were always
attracted by that which pleased the eye. He thought
the temperature of seasons had a great deal to do with
granulation. Mr. Griffin had stated that rhododendi'on
honey was poisonous. It seemed to him a wise provision
of nature that honey bees did not gather from that flower.
He had often watched, but had never seen any but
humble bees working amongst those plants. The nature
of honey-dew had been somewhat largely discussed.
Last year there was a great deal of honey-dew about.
In his district they suffered very much from blight, which
affected red and black currants very much. The leaves
were literally coated with honey-dew, and he felt1 in-
clined to believe that it was an insect deposit rather than
an exudation from the plant. With regard to buckwheat
honey, which Mr. Cowan praised, his experience was
that it was always unattractive, both in taste and appear-
ance. Still, he thought all kinds of honey had their
uses. The inferior qualities could be utilised in applied
forms. The Germans were very clever in using honey to
make gingerbread, and the result, everyone would admit,
was excellent. He thought everyone commencing bee-
keeping should study the flora in the district, because
some districts were unfavourable to bee-culture, and
losses might be incurred which a little forethought would

May 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

10!)

have prevented. Localities, where there was a preva-
lence of fruit and white clover, were very suitable. lie
would have heen very glad if Mr. Griffin could have said
something on the size and form of granules. lie had
found that honey often granulated or crystallised very
unevenly, and in fact became partially crystallised and
partially liquid. lie would like to know the reason of
that, and whether it could he obviated.

Mr. F. H. Meggy (Essex representative) would he glad
to make a close examination of Mr. Griffin's specimens.
He thought that the B. B. K. A. ought to keep samples of
honey for inspection at their headquarters. lie thought
it would be practicable to have a collection of honeys in
specimen glasses, similar to those shown by Mr. Cowan,
for disposal among the various branches, say twenty-
four in a box, with printed labels on each, at about 5s.
or 7s. Gd. the box.

Mr. Cowan promised that Mr. Meggy's suggestion
should he brought before the Committee of the
B. B. K. A.

Mr. Griffin, in reply, said he would be glad for anyone
to examine his specimens ; he regretted the collection was
not perfect, but he was, however, endeavouring to make it
more complete, and in the interests of scientific apiculture,
which he was always ready to advance, he would be glad
of any assistance from members of the Association to-
wards that end. If they would forward to him at San
Remo, Weymouth, during the coming season any samples
of other varieties of honey which were not mentioned
in his list he should be pleased. About f of a pound of
each kind would be sufficient. Although, in the majority
of cases, the honey he had had to deal with retained
its flavour at a high temperature, he quite agreed with
Mr. Cowan that some delicate honeys submitted to the
temperature would become damaged in flavour. With
same regard to the unpleasant aroma of onion honey, he
doubted not that it would disappear on exposure. The
well-known way of tying a piece of muslin over the jars
would no doubt answer the purpose.

Mr. Cowan proposed, and Mr. Garratt seconded, a vote
of thanks to Mr. Griffin for his valuable paper, which
was duly acknowledged.

The lion, and Rev. Henry Bligh proposed, and the
Rev. Mr. Burkitt seconded, a vote of thanks to the Chair-
man, who briefly returned thanks, and the proceedings
terminated.

The Librarian of the B.B.K.A. desires to acknowledge,
with thanks, the gift from Mr. F. It. Cheshire, of two
copies of his paper, entitled ' The Apparatus for Dif-
ferentiating the Sexes in Bees and Wasps ; an Anatomical
Investigation into the Structure of the Receptaculuru
Seminis and adjacent parts.'

A copy of Dr. Stroud's ' The Honey Bee (Apis melli-
fica) ; its Natural History and Management, with
Appendix and Glossary,' has been placed in the Library.

HONEY AS FOOD AND MEDICINE.

(Continued from page 151.)
The Honey Cube.

In our time, when grape and milk cures are fashion-
able, Pastor Deichert, the chief representative of the
Hessian Bee-keepers' Association, asserts that a honey
cure accompanied by the same dietetic treatment,
would yield much more favourable results, not only
as a cure for diseases of the breathing organs, but also
as a basis for the manufacture of electuaries. But the
doctors should not set to work so homceopathically as
they have done up till now, for the saying that ' Where
a little is good, more is better,' applies certainly to
honey !

(c) Honey for Coityhs.

We request those who suffer from this complaint to

notice the following communication from Ilerr Kraemer
in Brumath :—

' Brumath, February 1885. During the course of this
winter I have often had opportunity of noticing how
beneficial genuine flower honey is for affections of the
throat, hoarseness, coughs, catarrh, and inflammation of
the wind-pipe, as well in the case of the young as the
old. Having had my attention drawn to an article in
the Zurnthal-boten about the healing properties of honey,
I have used this remedy for myself and numerous
patients in my neighbourhood, and we are all agreed in
our praise of the softening and loosening effects it has.
For those who suffer from the chest, it is especially
strengthening.

' Honey has the most effect when taken lukewarm, — a
good teaspoonful every two hours throughout the day, at
night before going to bed, and in the morning at least an
hour before breakfast. Many invalids mix a little goose-
fat with the honey, and are much impressed by the thus
increased beneficial effect of this simple and cheap
medicine.'

The Austrian-Hungarian Bee-paper gives us further
an account of the healing of an invalid, who had become
subject to a cough in consequence of a severe haemor-
rhage : ' During his illness the patient took several
medicines, hut without success, so that he remained a
martyr to this cough for almost a year. Last year a
friend recommended him to take honey. He did so ;
and after having taken it for one month, he lost his
cough.'

(d) Honey as an Ointment.

Honey mixed to a paste with flour is a simple remedy
for abscesses and boils ; it brings them to a head and
lessens the tension and pain. The honey must be warmed,
spread on linen, and laid on the suffering part.

(e) Honey for Diphtheria.

From the annals of the Franciscans in Thann, in the
year 1217, we learn that our forefathers used honey as a
remedy for diphtheria. It therein says : — •' On Shrove
Tuesday an unknown disease appeared in the laud, so
that people's tongues in their throats became white, as if
covered with moiddiness. They could neither eat nor
drink, suffered also from a dreadful pain in the skin, as
well as a pestilential fever, which drove the people out
of their minds, and within Basle alone destroyed 2000
persons in eight months, here and at Miihlhausen, Alt-
lurch, and Ruffach, Gebwiler, Sulz, and Colmar, many
have died, as well as in the whole of Lower Alsatia and
Swabia. For a long time no remedy was found to remove
this evil. At last it was discovered that he who wished
to recover must, while using such remedies as the physi-
cians gave him, every two hours wipe the mouth and
throat thoroughly, and then cleanse with rose-honey
(honey-comb).

The symptoms here described are quite those of diph-
theria. The patient should be given a spoonful of luke-
warm honey as often as he feels difficulty in swallowing,
at the same time not neglecting to call the doctor before
this fearful disease has advanced too far.

(/) Honey and Sayefor Internal Throat Complaints.
Take some green or dried sage-leaves, boil them for
about half-an-hour in a pint of water. Then let the de-
coction run through a sieve, add a spoonful of honey and
one of vinegar to it, and gargle with it. The viscous
phlegm, and which accumulates in quantities, will be
thereby detached, and can be spat out, and the pains in
the throat will soon cease. Repeat this gargling several
times during the day, according to need.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS*
ASSOCIATION.
The above Association now numbers close upon a
hundred members in various parts of the county, which

170

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 15, 188c

we have subdivided into districts and appointed a
district secretary to superintend each division. Many
of the members have availed themselves of the advice
and experience of the district secretaries, who act as
experts each for his district. There have already been
lectures (illustrated practically) delivered at Farusfield,
"Willoughby-on-the- Wolds, Hucknall Torkard, and
Mansfield, and each lecture has been attended with
good results. Arrangements have been completed with
the Notts Agricultural Society to hold the Annual Show
in connexion with that of the Notts Agricultural Society
at Lenton, Nottingham, on July 2nd, -'ird, and 4th. A
liberal schedule of 201. has been provided, and we hope
it will be the means of thoroughly establishing our Asso-
ciation on a proper basis in the county. Shows in con-
nexion with local flower shows have been also arranged
at Hucknall Torkard, Farnsfield, Manstield, Willoughby,
Retford, and l!adcliffe-on-Trent. The bee-tent will be
in attendance at all. Members will see from this that
we have not been idle, and that we had plenty to do to
revive the Association which all but died last year. I
enclose a newspaper cutting of a report in the Notts
Express of April 24th, furnished by one of our district
secretaries of his visit to a part of the county, where
bee-keeping is little known on the bar-frame principle. —
E. Feiixeyhough, Hon. .Sec.

' A Visit to Keywobth Bef.-Keei>ebs.

' One of the many privileges of the members of the
above Association is the visit of an expert at least once
a-year to their apiaries, for the purpose of giving them
instructions and assistance in the management of their
bees, the charge in no case to exceed the cost of railway
fare. The Rev. II. P. Ling, rector of Keyworth, being
a member, availed himself of the opportunity, and as it
is my duty, being one of the district secretaries, I had
much pleasure in going and explaining the modern
methods of managing bees for the largest profit. I was
agreeably surprised when I arrived on Tuesday afternoon
to find Mr. Ling had assembled in his garden a large
number of his villagers, who keep bees, to witness the
manipulating of his bar-frame (as there is none in use in
the village except his), and to hear and see the advantage
of the modern system of bee-keeping, and the benefits of
becoming Members of the Notts Bee-keepers* Association.
After I had explained the advantages of the bar-frame,
and how much more control they had over their bees in
them, and how easily they could ascertain all that the
bees were doing inside the hive, by taking out the frames
when the weather admitted them so doing, and a better
way of obtaining the honey than that of stifling the poor
insects with fumes of brimstone, and cutting out of the
hive a confused mass of comb, pollen, grubs, and honev
contaminated with sulphur and covered with the dead
bodies of the victims. We then adjourned to the gardens
of some of the cottagers who keep bees, to examine theirs
in skeps, and to show them the way of getting super
honey from them, as it is worth considerably more money
per pound than drained honey.

'Keyworth is a very good part of the county for
keeping bees, as there is an abundance of honey-yielding
trees and plants: all the hives have plenty of store and
are strong with bees, except one. The mail that pointed
it out to me said he could always tell which was the
strongest, although he never lifted them off the stand
(except to put them on the sulphur-pit), and, strange to
say, the hive he pointed out to be the strongest had no
bees in it. What made him think it was a strong one j
was that the bees from the other hives were clearing all '
the honey out of it. The cause of the stock dying" out
was no doubt that the queen died last autumn", it being
too late to rear another in her place, as there was plenty
of honev left in the hive.'

On Monday evening, May 4th, at St. John's School-
room, Mansfield, a lecture was given by Mr. 1'. H. K.-
Fisher, of Farnsfield, showing the advanced system of
keeping bees and gathering honey. The Rev. W. Maples
occupied the chair. The lecture was given at the
monthly meeting of the Mansfield Horticultural Society,
at whose Annual Flower Show an exhibition of bees,
honey, hives, &c, will be held. The lecturer showed in
a clear and able manner how bees may be kept to be
a source of profit and interest. Practical illustrations
were appropriately introduced, the audience being deeply
interested in the subject, which was made intelligible to*
the veriest novice. A vote of thanks to the lecturer and
the chairman closed the proceedings.

foiTtsponocnrc.

*** All Correspondents fomcarding Letters for insertion in
the Journal, Rejiorts of Associations, Shores, Meetings, Echoes^
from the Hires, Queries, dec, are requested to direct their com-
munications to ' The Editor of the " British Bee Journal," c/o
Messrs. Strangeivays ifc Sons, Tower Street, Vpper St. Martin's-
Lane, W.C

MR. CHESHIRE AND HIS CORRESPONDENTS-

I trust that, in pitiful consideration for your humble
servant, you will ask those of your numerous readers
who may desire to put to me questions, divers and
legion, to kindly do so through your columns. I am
spending a good part of every day in anatomical and
physiological inquiries respecting the wondrous little
creature whom you especially favour and encourage, and
I should spend more did not the too dreadful postman
ever bring me inquiries from those whom I know not
in the flesh, which must, unless I am to be discourteous,
receive an answer. I am not ' The Bee-keepers' Adviser,'
and hence requests for names of the best hive-makers,
the place to purchase swarms, lists of best honey
plants, et hoe germs omne, are to me a hindrance, I
had almost said a nui but I forbear. Inquiries re-
specting any peculiarity or problem in apiculture are,
on the other hand, most welcome, and I tender my thanks
for specimens, which have done me immense service ;
specimens of which I never can have too many, and
just now hermaphrodite bees are beyond anything desir-
able. All specimens should be alive if possible, and a
closed box is much better than one having holes in it.
A few bees cannot easily be stifled, and holes in boxes
chill too much the occupants, while they often raise the
postman to fever heat, which leads to bruising of the
knocker, and an expostulation respecting sending any-
thing alive through the post. Believe ine, dear Mr.
Editor, yours, persecuted and highly favoured — F.
Cheshire.

HONEY PLANTS.

That group of plants known as herbs is the source of
some very important and distinct honeys, as, for
instance, the famous Narbonne honey is secreted by the
rosemary, a native of South Europe. The honey of
Hymettus was gathered from thyme. Again Calif oruian
i inue i honev is a combination of the nectar obtained
from mountain sage, marjoram, &c.

It will thus be seen that the natural order Labiatas to
which the above plants belong furnish a considerable
amount of honey, and this, too, of excellent quality.
"We have here then a class of bee forage second to none,
as far as quality of honey is concerned, plants that are
quite hardy and flourish well in this country. Then
why can we not obtain Narbonne or Californian honey at
home !J

An acre of such herbs as rosemary, thyme, lavender,
horehound, See., would go a long way in this direction,
and would produce honey, if not native Narbonne or

May 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

171

Californian, equal in quality to either. The cultivation
is simple and can be propagated to any extent. The
soil suited for their growth need be anything but the
best, in fact, a light stony dry soil would suit them well.
Rosemary can be increased by seed or cuttings. Sow
the seed in April or May in fine soil, and transplant a
few inches apart, when large enough plant eighteen inches
apart. Cuttings should be inserted at the beginning of
May in sand in a rather shady situation, where they may
remain till the following September, by which time they
will have taken root: they may then be planted 18 inches
to 2 feet apart. Cuttings may also be struck in heat
much quicker, all the subsequent culture required is to
keep them free from weeds and to stir the soil
occasionally.

Lavender is also increased rapidly by seed and cuttings.
Seed should be sown in the same way as rosemary, and
the cuttings slipped off when the young shoots begin to
grow in April or May. If inserted firmly in sand, with
the assistance of a little gentle heat, they will strike
root, and make nice little plants the first year; in the fol-
lowing spring transplant to one foot apart in the rows,
and the rows two feet apart.

Thyme is increased by division of the old plants by
seed and by rooted branches. The best plants are raised
from seed, -which should be sown and treated in the same
way as lavender and rosemary, excepting the distance
apart from each plant need only be half as recommended
for them. Marjoram has already been noticed. Ilore-
hound may be propagated by dividing the plant in
spring, by sowing the seed in March or April, or by
cuttings planted in a shady border, plant 18 inches in a
dry situation. — Hy. Dobbie, ThicAthorn, Norwich.

EXPERIMENTS IN BEE-KEEPING.

There may be nothing new in the following ex-
periments, nevertheless, as many learn better from
' instances ' than from wise saws, they are submitted in
hopes that they may prove useful to some, at least,
of the readers of the B. B. J.

Warmth v. Ventilation. — On June 14th last, a swarm
of bees was put into a hive, whose walls consisted of
i inch and H inch stuff with an intervening space 1 inch
wide filled with shreds of paper rammed hard ; bottom
two thicknesses of i inch stuff with a layer of sawdust
1 inch thick between them : top, a layer of felt, a tightly
fitting crown-board li inch thick and ."! inches of saw-
dust. In September two nice bars of honey were put
through extractor and returned. The crown-board was
made as air-tight as strong gum and brown paper could
make it, and covered up with saw-dust. A strong flat top
kept off the wet. The entrance was contracted to 1 inch.
During the warm spell in the first week in December
the bees in this hive remained quiescent a day longer
than their neighbours. They disregarded altogether the
warm sunshine which brought other stocks out on
Jan. oth, but came out well on Jan. 27th.

N.B. Although they had kept within doors fifty-one
days there was no more unpleasant sign of their flight
than in the height of summer.

The hive was opened on March ■'5th. The bees covered
four bars ; there was no sign of mould or damp and
some sealed stores were still untouched. The unoccupied
bars, too, were quite dry and free from mould. The
stock has since been left to its own devices and is not
quite so active as stock;; which have been stimulated.
Not more than twelve pounds of sealed comb were left
for winter stores.

Dry-sugar Feeding. — A virgin swarm of hybrids came
off on July 28th. It more than filled a skep and was
put into a tin-framed hive full of worked-out comb.
The bees were left to their own devices until Aug. 2nd,
when a Neighbour's Feeder full of Demerara sugar was
placed on the feed-hole : and kept replenished from time

to time. At first nearly a pound a-day was taken ; the
quantity then gradually diminished until in November
the feeder ceased to be visited. It was then taken off,
but replaced again full of sugar on March 5th. The
stock is now a very strong one, and is more active in
carrying in pollen and pea-Hour than any other stock
now.

Economical Feeding. — A stock of hybrids which had
thrown off four swarms was found to be entirely with-
out stores at the beginning of October. It was fed up
with about two quarts of the black drainings from the
wax-smelter. It has wintered well and is now fairly
strong. It required feeding on March 5th.

Winter Feeding. — A driven stock of bees was put
into an empty hive and kept supplied by a Raynor's
feeder (index at ;J) from Aug. Oth until present date
(March 23rd). The syrup supplied on Nov. 15th was
not all taken till March 16th following. The bees are
strong and healthy. — E. 15.

DRONES.

The attention of bee-keepers must frequently have
been attracted to the apparently great superabundance
of drones in a hive. Various plans have been suggested
to reduce their number, such as drone-traps and other
contrivances, but they are of little use. The important
problem to be solved appears to be to ascertain clearly
the conditions under which bees at one time build worker-
cells and at another time drone-cells. I have for many
years considered that the air is the exciting cause for the
production of drone-cells. That the air has a powerful
effect on the worker bees may be shown by placing a few
of them under an inverted wine-glass ; in a short time
they fall into a torpid or semi-torpid state, and so con-
tinue as long as the air is excluded ; but upon removing
the glass they revive, begin to crawl about, and eventu-
ally fly away. I could refer to other similar instances,
but wish now to describe the particulars of an experi-
ment that I had the misfortune to try a few years ago.
Having a strong colony of bees in a wooden box about
eighteen inches square, I placed upon them a shallow
super in such a manner that it projected about two
inches beyond the front, thus leaving a space about 18
by 2 inches completely exposed to the air. The bees,
therefore, had ready access either to the top of the hive
or to the super without passing through the hive ; my
object was to save them the labour of ascending and
descending through the crowded hive. They availed
themselves of this arrangement, but upon removing the
super I was sadly disappointed to find a mass of drone-
comb, drone-brood, and drones themselves, such as I have
never seen equalled. I at once came to the conclusion
that the effect of the air on the worker bees was the
cause of this enormous quantity of drone material, as the
shallowness of the super prevented any dense cluster of
the bees. The proceedings of the bees themselves in an
ordinary hive tend to confirm this view of the effect of
the air; for upon a swarm being first hived the cluster
is very dense ; it is absolutely impossible that the least
breath of air can penetrate to the interior, and worker-
cells alone are formed. As the combs increase the bees
covering them are far less dense, they now feel the influ-
ence of the air, and drone-cells are produced, these latter
being always found at the bottom of the combs.

It is well known that bees will convert the worker-
cells of combs into drone-cells, but I am not aware
whether the converse takes place. I should imagine
that either process would occur according as the bees
would feel the influence of the air or otherwise.

By far the most effectual means at present prevailing
of limiting the number of drones is the very excellent
plan of introducing a swarm into a hive with only four
or five frames fitted with foundation comb, and adding

172

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 15, 1885.

other frames as required. This plan is undoubtedly
attended with great success, and its success probably
depends upon keeping the cluster of bees as dense as
possible, thereby excluding the air and favouring the
production of worker-cells. The plan is, however, at-
tended with one serious objection, viz., that not one
bee-keeper in fifty (myself among the number of inca-
pables) is able to carry out the process. A more simple
method is therefore desirable, and I think that the end
might to some extent be attained by the form of the
hive. The object to be kept in view should be to give
ample space for the bees when first introduced. The
cluster is then naturally compact, and there is no fear of
drone-cells ; and when the combs are extended, the space
should be contracted, and re-
duced to a minimum when
the drone - cells are about to
be formed. In the case of
straw skeps, they should be
made in the form of a cone,
or sugar-loaf shape with the
apex downwards. The form
assumed by a swarm of bees
hanging from the branch of a
tree would afford an excellent
model. In the case of a bar-frame hive, the shape of
the frames should approximate to that of a deep triaugle
with the upper corners cut off, and with the apex down-
wards.

But now audi alteram partem.

It is known that the hone3'-glut, as it is termed, lasts
only for six or eight weeks ; that the bees nearly cease
to collect honey about the middle of July ; and that the
drones are destro3_ed about that time, or a little later.
Analogy offers a plausible if not the true explanation of
these phenomena. I need only allude to the motherly
instinct possessed by the females of nearly all animated
creatures for their offspving. The worker-bees strongly
possess this feeling, as is shown by the care they take of
the brood. The drones, even in their winged state, are
altogether dependent for subsistence upon the honey
brought into the hive. The maternal instinct of the
wrorker-bee is therefore excited to provide food for their
helpless brothers, and honey flows into the hive in a
copious stream. After a time this motherly feeling
subsides, and is subsequently changed into animosity;
the flow of honey consequently nearly ceases, and the
drones are eventually destroyed.

A most important question now arises. If we greatly
reduce the number of the drones, may we not at the
same time reduce the maternal instinct which is the
cause of the accumulation of the honey? It is true
that a hen with one chick is equally solicitous as if she
had a large brood, but such may not be the case with
the bees, where many thousand insects work together
for the common good. Experience resulting from ob-
servation can alone decide this question, and it is to be
hoped that some apiculturalist competent to undertake
the investigation will take the matter in hand, and pub-
lish the result in your paper. — W. B. Hunt, Clialdon,
Caterham.

BEE-KEEPING AND THE LABOURING
CLASSES.
As the summer is now almost upon us, it would be
as well to consider how such would benefit mankind,
and the cottager in particular, in other ways than by
the mere gratification of the senses of sight and smell.
There is the vast extent of field and pasture, yielding a
rich harvest to those who care to employ means to
collect it, with no rent, no taxes, and the minimum of
expense for labour, now left to waste and decay. Why
should this be so ? There is no earthly reason why
such a precious gift of the all-wise Creator should be

thrown on one side as of no use. But such is the case
patent to all who choose to observe in all parts of this
our most fertile of all countries. Why this apathy to
one's own well-doing ? Very little capital is required,
very little trouble is eutailed, but, — mark tliis, — very
good pay must accrue to those who will diligently seek it
by attending to their labourers' want at the right time,
and strenuously avoiding that frequent malady of man-
kind— procrastination.

Do you doubt it ? Then let me endeavour to prove
my case. Pigs, fowls, ducks, and rabbits, the cottager
keeps in order to make a little; how much of this little
does he make out of them ? He keeps a pig, and unless
he has a very large garden his bacon costs him more
than he can buy it for at his shop. Fowls and ducks
pay a little during the summer months, and frequently
get the owner into ' hot water' for trespassing on Parmer
So-and-So's fields or scratching up Mrs. Smith's scarlet
runners which are just looking up above the ground, and
an anything but quiet Ute-a-tete across the garden hedge
in the evening is the consequence ; pen them up and they
are not worth a rap. Of rabbits, I heard a cottager say
once, ' If I was to steal all their grub they wouldn t pay.'
I am rather of his opinion. And how about the time,
labour, and mortality of this kind of stock? Very heavy
on all points as compared with my proteges, the honey
bees. Experientia docet. I have ' gone in ' extensively
for all of the above, and have proved my argument by
practical experience. A cottager who keeps bees is a
frequent sight, but a cottager whose bees keep him is
rare. It need not be so.

How is he to do it ? An answer in e.vtenso to this
question would necessitate more space than Mr. Editor
would grant me, but a few hints I am sure he will
favour me with room for.

Associations have been specially established for the
purpose of showing the cottager how to keep bees on
proper humanitarian principles and make them pay ;
they will even pay when kept on the old killiug-the-goose-
that-lays-the-goldeu-egg style. Lectures are delivered
and bee manipulations are conducted at the various
horticultural and agricultural shows throughout the
county during the summer months. Let the would-be
bee-keeper attend some of these held near him. Honorary
experts are provided in different districts, who are willing
to give their advice gratis at any time, and the British
Bee Journal is distributed — to those who are members of
the Association — every fortnight; let him purchase a
standard work on modern bee cultivation ; it will cost
him for a good one but Is. Sd. ; read and digest this
thoroughly : have but one hive to commence with the
first season, and don't be talked into going in for more :
this last hint is worth all the others put together, as
ninety-nine out of every hundred who have given up
bee-keeping, have done so by undertaking the charge of
more colonies than one before they could master even a
quarter of a one ; don't interfere with this one more than
is absolutely necessary ; once a-week is frequent enough
to take away surplus honey unless there is a very heavy
flow on.

And now about the profits. I will first give one or
two instances of other's profits and then finish by a sample
of my own. In Cook's Manual (if the Apiary, 1884, a
work for advanced bee-keepers, it is stated that a certain
Captain Heatheriugton received the enormous sum of
10,000 dollars for one season's honey crop ; the fifteen
hives kept at the Michigan State College gave a profit
of 400 per cent over their entire value in the spring ; a.
cottager who resides in a neighbouring county to this
realised 221. this last season for his honey crop. I have
paid a poor woman near this town (Wokingham) over
0/. in one season for very inferior bee-produce, which, if
she had kept her bees on the modern system, would have
enhanced the value of it to at least 0/., but to every pound
weight her bees produced they would have at the least

May 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

173

returned three pounds. The following return is my best
sample for last season : —

£ I. d.

Hive 10 0

Sections 0 3 6i

Foundations ... 0 3 9

Crate 0 2 0

Stock Bees 0 15 0

Food' 0 2 9

Deterioration of

hive, &c 0 3 0

Profit 5 16 11J

8 7 0

£ s. <f.
35 Sections honey

at Is. 6</ 2 12 G

50 do. at Is. 3</.... 3 2 6
71b. Extracted

Honey 0 7 0

Swarm 0 10 0

Value hive and

stock now on

hand 1 15 0

8 7 0

I do not presume to promise such a golden result to
a first attempt by a novice, and no one, I should think
would expect such ; hut although I laboured under the
disadvantage of this being a transferred stock of early last
May, I was able to pronounce it my best lot. I, as you
see, got a very good price for the sectional honey, as I
sold it across my own counter. The cottager can sell it,
to his richer neighbours at quite as good a price.

There is a drawback to many would-be bee-keepers,
and frequent remarks meet my ears, such as ' I don't like
them, or rather, they don't like me.' True, there is — I
forget who called it so — a ' business end to a bee ' ; but
that need not trouble anyone. I can assure you that
that little difficulty can he surmounted. "When I first
commenced bee-keeping, a stab from an old irascible
sentinel bee was, to say the least, unpleasant, but this un-
pleasantness wears off very quickly; even if you do
receive one it has scarcely any effect after you have
served what I may term your apprenticeship, as each
succeeding sting you receive proportionately loses its
virulence. I opened and examined fifteen bar-frame
hives recently, and did not get a single sting. Any
one can do the same. — W. B. Webster, Wokingham,
( Heading Observer.)

STANDARD FRAMES — LIGUEIANS IN
SUFFOLK.

Will you allow me space in your valuable Bee Journal
to pass my opinion on the standard size bars ? I con-
sider they are not deep enough. I have one hive with
bars thirteen inches deep, and I find they do better in
every respect than any hive I have got and always have
done when stocked either with English or foreign bees,
I think it is much better to have, say, for instance, ten
bars in a hive 17 inches deep instead of having 20 at 8J.
They can keep the heat up better and the queen will
never get into the sections. I find, and have proved by
experience, that they always work better upwards than
lengthways. It will keep more to the nature of bees in
a wild state, for if they have room they always have deep
combs. I have on several occasions taken from build-
ings combs 4 feet in height, but never in length, unless
they have been forced for want of room. There would

not be any fear of combs breaking while

extracting if the bars were made thus :— •

with a small spline across the centre, so

that the bees will fasten the combs firmly I •

to it.

Now for a few remarks on the Ligurian bee. I con-
sider, in time, they will be the downfall of hundreds of
bee-keepers instead of benefiting them, for they not only
are a nuisance to the owners themselves, but to the
neighbours living round, for it is impossible to keep
them pure as in time they will be the cause of hybrids
for more than a half mile round. I am ready to own
that hybrids are the best workers, but they are perfect
demons to manage, for when I am extracting from them
I very seldom get off without being stung myself, and
I am sorry even for the cats and dogs that are moving
about within their reach for 100 yards or so ; and I

am sure most ladies and gentlemen like to walk in their
garden without being stung in this way, and this all
comes about through the introduction of these very
beautiful bees, the Ligurians, which cannot, while pure,
get more honey, or store so much, in Suffolk than the
English bees. But you can have as many swarms as you
wish, for the bees in this part this season are very for-
ward and are already beginning to work in the sections,
and cottagers' skeps that have never been fed are
hanging out for want of room. I trust we shall
have a good season, for I am a lover of bees and should
like to see bee-keeping flourish, for I know there is great
profit to be reaped if managed on the bar-frame system,
as they ought to be.— C. Pollahd, Haughley, Suffolk,
May it/t.

ASSISTING NATURE, ETC.

I have several hives full of bees and ready for supering.
They contain eleven frames, and have not been touched
since the supers were removed last autumn, nor have
they been stimulated. They are Ligurians and half-breds.
They certainly were well packed tops and sides, but no
frames removed. Do we not sometimes do too much in
the way of assisting nature ? I feel sure, with the un-
certain weather we have had this spring, I could not
have had them stronger or nearly so strong, as there
would have been much risk in opening the hives for
manipulation and inserting new combs. I should be
glad to hear if others have had similar experience.

Material for Smokers. — A very good material to be
used for smoking is old artificial manure bags, the older
the better, which can often be procured from farmers at
little or no cost. If they are washed and well dried
nothing can be better.

Experts. — I have often thought that we should learn
much if some of our experts would tell us sometimes of
some of their mishaps. Surely they meet with some
occasionally. Have they- the courage to do this? — W.

ANGLO-CYPRIAN HIVE.

If ' A Correspondent,' who wishes to know the advan-
tages and disadvantages of the above hive, will refer to
my Echoes, pp. 287 and 349, Vol. XII., and p. 110 in
the present volume, he will find my experience of it. In
case he has not access to back numbers of the Journal, I
will, with your permission, repeat what I have already
written. I got an Anglo-Cyprian hive in the autumn of
1883, and populated it with driven bees in September.
Twelve frames of foundation were drawn out and well
stored with syrup, and the stock wintered well and came
out very strong in the spring. I examined it for the first
time last year on April 2nd, and found a remarkably
fine stock. I did not super till May 21st, but might have
done much earlier. I took from it during the season
nearly 00 lbs. of honey in sections, but onl_y about sixty
were perfect ; the remainder were either spoiled by the
entry of the queen or not well filled. Being on a lecturing
tour for B.B.K.A. in South Wales and in Cumberland
in August, I did not take off section-crates until the
middle of September, and then I saw such a poor lot of
bees that I thought they must be queenless, and being
very busy and not caring to bother with them, I
covered them just as I took off the crates with an old
shawl and a sack, and did not examine them again until
the first week in March this year. I then found a stock
quite equal to last year's. I have now one crate of 18
1-lb. sections nearly filled with honey ; and if it had not
been for the cold weather we have had for some days, I
feel sure I should have had them completed liefore now.
As I supered earlier by a month this year than last, I ex-
pect, should the season be as good as last year's, to get
considerably over 100 1-lb. sections. I must say that I
am very fond of the hive, and for wintering and produc-
ing sectional honey I could not wish for a better. To me

174

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 15, 1885.

it is as easy to manipulate as any hive, but I should not
recommend it to a novice. It has to my mind only one
drawback, and that is, the liability of the queen to enter
the lower row of sections. If the crates were fitted with
a queen-excluding bottom similar to those in Mr. Sim-
mins' crates, the only drawback I find would I believe
then disappear. Should further information be required,
I shall be glad to give it by letter. — C. N. "White,
Somersham, Hunts, May Wth.

MR. SIMMINS'S NEW FEEDERS.

The method of escaping from syrup-boiling, which Mr.
Simmins introduces in connexion with his latest feeders
seems a little difficult to understand as regards the
principle of it. In these new feeders the sugar is put in
with cold water, in due proportion, and mixes itself.
The bees then ' take it cold.' Very well ; but if it can
be mixed cold and taken Cold from one feeder, why not
be taken cold from any feeder ? In other words, if boil-
ing is unnecessary, what have they to do with one feeder
more than another ? The syrup can be mixed ' cold ' in
any large vessel in the house, and poured into the ordi-
nary inverted bottle-feeders. I should be glad to hear,
then, whether the new principle of non-boiling is in any
essential way connected with a new form of feeder, as I
think it far from unlikely that I have missed the point
of Mr. Simmins' invention. — B.

[Your correspondent should understand from sectional
illustration and description that water circulates freely
at sides and under the body of sugar, and hence the
whole is soon dissolved, upon the principle that loaf
sugar and water arranged in that manner amalgamate
in the form of syrup, providing that not less than one-
half pint of water be inserted for every pound of sugar.
Your correspondent is evidently greatly mistaken in
thinking that the same saving of labour can be obtained
by first going to the trouble of stirring and mixing sugar
and water before being placed in other feeders ; whereas
with the new feeders all such labour is avoided, as the
sugar and water are simply placed in them and no other
care is required. Besides, no other vessel or feeder can
possibly act in the same manner where the sugar is
allowed to rest upon the plain bottom of such, unless,
indeed, it should be subject to continual stirring or
shaking up. I hope soon to be able to give your readers
the benefit of some good illustrations, so that the whole
arrangements may be better understood. — S. Simmins.]

'IS PHENOL A CURE FOR FOUL BROOD?'

Last autumn in your columns I gave my experience
with ' phenol,' Mr. Cheshire's cure for foul brood. I
described how I had tried it on hives that were slightly
tainted with foul brood, acting fully according to the
directions laid down by Mr. Cheshire; yet withal the
disease only increased, showing that this course of treat-
ment was unable to effect a cure. I also described how
I had tried it on hives to test its powers as a preventi-
tive of the disease, and how it had also turned out in
that case a miserable failure. At the time of my
writing I was then operating on my diseased bees, and I
may here state that those bees all died out shortly after-
wards from the disease in spite of phenol, leaving me
with empty diseased hives, diseased frames, quilts, See.

My first action then was to destroy all these diseased
combs, quilts, and frames, but my hives being almost
new, and rather expensive ones, I was loth to destroy
them, so commenced and disinfected them, and after-
wards gave them a thorough washing. I then pur-
chased some comb-foundation, and also material for new
quilts, and had a supply of new frames and dummies
made.

At this time I got the offer of six skeps of con-
demned bees, and although rather late in the season, I

secured them, and making three strong stocks from the
six, I shook them into my disinfected hives containing
new frames furnished with fidl sheets of comb-founda-
tion. 1 then commenced to feed each with phenolated
syrup, making it twt>, which the bees took pi'etty well,
and in due time had built out their combs, stored them
with this medicated food, and sealed them nicely over.
The season being so far advanced, the queens did not lay
in any of the three hives. After giving them in this
way a sufficiency of stores for wintering, I snugly-
covered them up, intending to ' forget them ' until
spring.

These condemned bees, I may say, came from dif-
ferent parts of the country, and examining each skep as
I drove it, I found all perfectly free from the least trace
of foul brood; and, according to Mr. Cheshire's state-
ments, I need have had no fear of disease after this,
as I had healthy bees in thoroughly disinfected hives
with new frames of comb nicely drawn out from fresh
foundation, the bees being all the time fed with pheno-
lated syrup, and their sealed stores of same.

I think that even Mr. Cheshire himself could not say
that this was not a fair trial, and if his 'absolute
phenol ' were what he has led the readers of the Bee
Journal during the past year to believe, I might have
snapped my fingers at foul brood.

Well, I examined these three stocks on the 23th of
February, and found each had plenty of sealed stores,
but none of the queens had at that time commenced
laying. On the 2nd of March I placed a ' Raynor '
feeder on each, and commenced spring feeding with
phenolated syrup, making it as strong as I found the
bees willing to take it. I again examined on the 2.3rd
of March, and found the queens had been laying for
some time, there being plenty of eggs and some sealed
brood in each. I again made an examination on the
14th of April, and found the combs covered with sealed
brood; but, ah ! more than half was foul and putrid. I
again examined a few days ago, and their appearance
was perfectly disgusting.

What will Mr. Cheshire say to this ? Will he say as
before, that his directions ' may or may not have been
followed,' or that it ' may not have been phenol that was
used?' or will he candidly admit that 'the Cheshire
cure ' is very imperfect ?

My own advice to bee-keepers, if they have at any
time the misfortune to find the least trace of this terrible
disease in their apiary, is never to mind 'absolute
phenol,' but to destroy those bees without delay, and to
burn without hesitation the hive with everything that
has been in use in or about it, letting no false notion of
economy prevent him from so doing.

I think that if bee-keepers could be advised from
what reliable traders to purchase their appliances and
foundation, they would be less troubled with any such
infectious disease. Also if these traders would guarantee
their appliances ' disinfected ' before sending out, it
would greatly assist their sales, as it is my opinion that
diseases are in this way conveyed to many bee-keepers. —
ArtTHun B. Johnston, Brick Hall, Ki'llyleayh, County
Down.

P.S. Should Mr. Cheshire wish any of these bees for
examination, I will be most happy to forward them
to him.

A CURIOUS CASE OF ARRENOTOKIA.
I have received three queens from kind readers who
have seen my request. I needed these for some examina-
tion of the glands which I am now especially studying.
One of these queens sent by Mr. Webster was found to
be a drone-breeder and so turned out as useless. Iler
spermatheca was, however, furnished completely with
spermatozoa. This is the exception which proves the
rule ; and her peculiarity was probably due to paralysis
of some of the muscles attached to the spermathecal valve.

May 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

175

This production of drones only has been artificially pro-
duced by pinching the extremity of the abdomen so that
the last ganglion is injured. This defective condition is
denominated ' arrenotokia.'— Frank R. Cheshire.

THE CULTIVATION OF BEE PLANTS.

It is very interesting as well as gratifying to see how
the cultivation of bee plants is attracting the attention of
Lee-keepers generally, as indeed, it must do so, owing to
the rapid strides bee-keeping is making in every direc-
tion. The issues of the Journal of late have been more
profuse in furnishing your readers with the experience,
discoveries, and observations of several observant con-
tributors interested in the subject. I hope that future
issues will continue to give such information, and of a
more extended nature. I am myself testing the merits
of about 150 kinds of flora this season, and if other bee-
keepers will do all they can in the same direction bee-
keepers generally will be greatly benefited by their
experience, and its results when made known. As I
write these lines I am delighted by the sight before me.
Opposite the window at which I sit, I have a plat of
wallflowers in full bloom, mostly of the Harbinger
variety, and it is very interesting, besides being a great
pleasure, to see how they are appreciated by the bees whose
hives are only a few yards from such a store of useful
forage — honey and pollen being thus afforded in fair
abundance. I have watched bees load themselves with
large pellets of pollen, and sip the sweets from a few
wallflowers within the short space of two minutes.
Incredible as this may appear to some of your readers, I
can assure them that it is the case. Useful, however,
as these wallflowers are to the bees, they only follow in
succession snowdrops, crocus, and arabis, all of which
have been of equal service to them ; while at the same
time I have had the satisfaction to know that the plant-
ing of them in close proximity to the hives has minimised
the flight of the bees on dull and unfavourable days, and
prevented large numbers from straying off and getting
lost in their search for forage.

The fruit and clover blossoms being close at hand,
garden flora generally will, for a short time, be more or
less deserted according to the favourableness or other-
wise of the district. The glory of the bees in the fields
and orchards is but of short duration, and the end of
July will bring them to the gardens again. The bee-
keeper is wise who has in readiness all the honey and
pollen plants he can for the use of his bees, especially if
he has any condemned stocks that he intends to feed up
for the winter. By having a quantity of borage, figwort,
French honeysuckle, moschata, coccineas, mignonette,
and the honey-secreting variety of balsams — I say the
honey-secreting balsams, as there is one particular kind
that gives more than any of the others, and that it finds
work and forage for the bees during that period of
activity following the close of the honey season, and
which continues until the time of going to rest for the
winter. The balsam, advertised by me in the present
issue of the Journal, is the honey species that all bee-
keepers should possess: it blooms until cut down by
frost, grows to a large bushy size, branches from iop and
bottom, and is covered in bloom. I don't think that I
shall ever forget how this plant was appreciated by some
condemned stocks that I drove for a person last August,
who gave them to me for my trouble, and my experience
of which I intend, by your permission, Mr. Editor, to
give to your readers in some future issue of your
esteemed Journal. — William Hollins, Tillinyton
Avenue, Stafford.

A Suggestion. — Finding it impossible to see with a
veil, I have placed in mine facing the eyes a piece of
glass, and I find it is a success. This idea might be
useful to many. — Wm. Kinnaird Jenkins.

Queen Wasps. — At this time of year queen-wasps
may be found, late in the evening, by lifting up the leaf
which is laid over the heads of broccoli to shield them
from the sun. We have killed fifteen during the last
week in our small garden. If the broccoli is a little
open, the wasps may be found in the branches of the
flowers. — G. F.

TRADE CATALOGUES.
Illustrated Catalogue and Frice List of
Improved Bee-hives and Apiarian Appliances.
Manufactured and imported by C. T. Overton, Lowfield
Apiary, Crawley, Sussex. (32 pp.)«^This is a compre-
hensive and well-compiled catalogue. The engravings
are carefully done. We have here representations of
the Cowan Hive, and the numerous hives that were
exhibited by Mr. Overton at the International Exhibition.
Besides the various bar-frame hives, we have several
straw hives ; we would direct the attention of our
readers more especially to No. 21, called the Sussex
Prize Straw Hive, with super. The prices seem re-

Sus«ex Prize Straw Hive -with Super.

markably moderate. The catalogue also contains a list
of bee-books, and a most valuable list of flower seeds
for bee-pasture. Mr. Overton is the expert of the
Sussex Bee-keepers' Association, and has obtained a
first-class certificate as expert at the examination of the
B.B.K.A.

Modern Bee-keeping Appliances for 1885. — An
Illustrated and Descriptive Catalogue, containing Useful
Information for Amateurs and Practical Bee-keepers.
Published by J. R. W. Hole (Qualified expert B.B.K.A.,
London Exam.), Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
(24 pages.) — This is rather more than a mere catalogue.
There is to be found in it a considerable amount of sound,
practical information as to the uses of the various ap-
pliances, and also the working of the frame-hive. Its
perusal will be of great service to beginners in bee-
keeping, and will render them great assistance in their
selection of appliances. The information is concise and
to the point. It contains a very full description of foreign
bees, especially Cyprians. It has also a list of flowering
shrubs and plants.

IIedshaw's Illustrated and Descriptive Catalogue of
Hives and Bee-keepers' Appliances for 1885. The Apiary,
South Wigston, near Leicester. (16 pages.) — In this
catalogue will be found a useful assortment of bee ap-
pliances, at moderate prices.

176

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 15, 1885.

(gfcfmes fxam % jite.

Chester, April 21st to May 1st. — Fairly good bee
weather, tut showery ; May 1st to 10th, extremely cold,
with occasional snow and hail showers. In some hives in
this district bees are casting out brood ; feeding abso-
lutely necessary. The season is quite three weeks later
than last. — Chas. Roberts.

Cheadle, Staffordshire, May 11th. — Bees wintered well
in this district, but to the present the spring has not been
good, therefore breeding is rather backward. On Thurs-
day last, the 7th inst, we had several snow-storms, and
yesterday storms of hail. — Thomas J. Smith.

South Cornwall, May 12th. — An effort of memory
might possibly recall another such cold spring as we are
now having. Three fine days in the third week of April
set our bees at work vigorously, and new honey was
brought in. I ventured to distribute brood in two cases,
and it has proved successful. Since then we have had
an almost unbroken series of keen nights, and days not
less severe in the shade. The sun at intervals has drawn
our workers out, and they are certainly making way, but
slowly. They do their best to gather* from blackthorn,
maple, sycamore, and beech ; but there is not heat
enough to produce much nectar, I fear. Nightly feeding
goes on with eight hives out of sixteen. I believe all
these sixteen have queens, but I am in a little doubt as
to one. Three or four are weak; the others have a
superabundance of old honey, which they do not seem to
care for much when uncapped, but may be glad of to
feed their numerous progeny if it is cold at the end of
the month. Had the last "fortnight been mild I think
we should now be in advance of our usual condition ; as
matters are, I do not think we are behind it. — C. 11. S.

Sutton, Surrey, May Vith. — During the first week of
this month we have had cold and wet weather, many
hives requiring assistances with the feeding bottle ; but
since Sunday, May 10th, there has been plenty of sun-
shine, and bees have been very busy on the apple-
blossoms. — A Boon Buzz Buzz.

North Leicestershire. — Bees are making very little pro-
gress, the gain in numbers being nearly counterbalanced
by the loss through the cold winds and snow. There is
a good honey-flow just now from currant, gooseberry,
cherry and pear trees, and dandelion is supplying abun-
dance of pollen. Dry-sugar feeding is proving very
successful, as well as economical, in time, trouble, and
expense. — E. B.

County Fermanagh. — The spring is very late, and for
the last few days the weather has been intensely cold—
almost as cold as January. As I write (6th May) a
vigorous shower is going on of sleet and snow outside.
Even when there was no rain or snow, that is to say, for
the three days preceding, the bees showed their appre-
ciation of _ the state of things by remaining shut up
closely. For three days not a single bee in any of my
hives was seen outside the flight-holes ; and this in May !
I have just had a striking proof that 'bees do nothing
invariably.' On the 28th of April I found in one of my
hives five queen-cells sealed over. These I destroyed, all
except one, which I removed to a queenless hive, where
it hatched this morning. Now this production of queen-
cells was against all bee-rules and all bee-precedent.
For, in the first place, there was abundance of room.
The hive is a Combination, holding eighteen frames, and
the colony very small, barely covering four frames. In
the second place, the queen is very young — not yet a
year old. In the third place, the bees ought to have
known that queens now are perfectly worthless in such
a district, because there is not a drone, nor the colour of
one, within five miles. And lastly, they ought to have
known that so small a colony could not afford to send
out a swarm, being barely able to support themselves —
S. L. B.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS.

B. — 1. Combs run over by Mice. — If they only smell of
mice, exposure to the air will set them right. If
much nibbled, it might not be worth while to give
them to the bees. Slight damage would soon be
repaired. 2. Using Old Foundation. — You can re-
move the brittleness, and render it fit for use by hot
water. Let it be hot to the hand. About one part
of boiling to two of cold will be right. Just hold the
sheets in the water for half a minute.

W. K. J. — 1. Replacing Unproductive Queen. — Remove
the old queen, but do not destroy any of the queen-
cells. Let the strongest of the young queens reign by
right of force. 2. Stock damaged in Travelling. — The
future depends upon whether the young queens pro-
duced from the cells existing early in May became
fertilised. If so, the stock will, no doubt, prosper.
If not, it is queenless, and will die out.

W. F. A. — Hiving Swarm in Bar-frame Hive. — Remove
some of the frames, and place the division-board
against one wall of the hive. Cover the remainder of
the frames with the quilt. Shoot the bees into the
space between the remaining frames and the division-
board, and gently bring the latter up to the frames,
forcing the bees before it. Or you may place the
hive on the ground, lay a sheet on the ground with
the edge over the alighting-board, and kept down by
some stones ; throw the bees on the sheet in front of
the entrance, and they will run in. In this case the
frames should be previously arranged with the division-
board in place aud the quilt over all.

D. H. D. — 1. Time for Supering. — It is worse than
useless to put on supers before honey is to be had in
the fields, and the weather becomes warm enough for
bees to gather it. These conditions are rarely to be
met with in this climate before the middle of May.
By placing a rack of twenty-one sections upon your
hive on the 1st of April you caused an upward cur-
rent of air through the brood-nest, and injured your
bees. Cold winds and frosty nights have prevented
supering up to the present time, even in the case of
the strongest colonies, in well -managed apiaries.
2. Drones. — The appearance of drones is no bad sign,
but rather the contrary. Allow your super to re-
main, and when warm weather sets in drive the bees
into it by moderately smoking them at the entrance.

W.- — 1. Su'arm-Bo.r. — A swarm-box to contain a 4-lb.
swarm shoidd be 14 in. x 14 in. x 10 in. inside dimen-
sions. Holes, 4 in. square, should be cut in the top
and bottom, and covered with perforated zinc. The
bottom should be clamped outside, to allow the circu-
lation of air beneath. It is well also to clamp the top
for the same purpose. 2. Food for Swarms. — For a
journey of not more than two days food is not re-
quired. A frame of comb-honey in a swarm-box
would be a very dangerous, addition, from its liability
to breaking loose. Good's candy — a mixture of honey
and finely-powdered sugar, kneaded into a stiff dough,
and secured at one end of the box by wire-cloth —
would be much safer. 3. Introducing Artificial
Swarm into Swarm-bo.v. — -Yes ; Root's system of using
a funnel answers well. Ten inches diameter would be
large enough for the upper part. For the cylinder
below a diameter of 2 in. or 2h in., with 4 in. in
length, would be sufficient. 4. 'Time for making Arti-
ficial Swarms. — Yes; the evening is the best time, and
swarms should be despatched by night mail. 5.
Wired Foundation. — Neighbour has always supplied
us with wired foundation, which, however, is not
Given's, but Van Deusen's. "We never knew him to
be without a supply on hand of the American makes.

II. W. II. — Consumption of Stores. — No; he con-

May 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

177

sumption of food is so great now, from the active
breeding in strong colonies, that a large quantity of
syrup will be consumed advantageously during the
present inclement weather. There is little fear of
syrup being stored and sealed as honey in cold and
wet seasons. Moreover, in frame-hives, if such were
the fact, it might easily be ascertained by inspection,
and the quantity given reduced.

W. F. S. — Enamel Cloth. — Of the enclosed samples of
enamel cloth, only one approaches in fineness of tex-
ture and pliability the imported American. This we
return, together with a specimen of that we use, in
order that you may compare the two. Two sizes are
sold — 17A in x 17^ in., to cover twelve frames — and
lH x 15 in., which covers ten frames. These, and
the foundation fixers, may be obtained of Neighbour,
who imports them ; possibly of other importers also.

M. C. II. — Abbott's Queen-cage. — There is no necessity
in this queen-cage of putting any bees along with the
queen ; Messrs. Abbott dissuade bee-keepers from this
pi'actice. The cage should not have been lifted out of
the hive in releasing her, this should have been effected
by drawing up the wire.

James W. Lloyd. — Tunnel Entrance. — There is no
novelty in the model of tunnel entrance forwarded.
It has frequently been tried by hive-makers, but has
been discarded as having been found in practice ob-
jectionable. The objections to it are the ease with
which it is stopped with dead bees in the winter,
and the liability of the bees being suffocated in the
summer, there being a difficulty in the ventilation.

Rev. J. Oakeley. — The report of the Gloucestershire
B.K.A. was given on pages 00, 97.

Cbanleigh. — 1. Putting on Sections. — Place the crate on
the frames with nothing under it. Put the quilt on
the top of the sections. 2. American Cloth. — The
samples of American cloth would all prove serviceable
for your purpose. The one having the smoothest surface,
No. 1, is to be preferred.

Feather Alum. — If sulphate of alum is asked for, the
chemists will know what is required. It is not the
alum used as medicine, which is a sulphate of alumina
and ammonia. In chemical language it is called a
lydrous sulphate of alumina. The word in the original
German was ' Federweiss.'

W. H. II. — We have been informed that the iron wire
mentioned is sold by Mr. "Walton, Muskham, Newark.

Mns. Maixolm. — Parker's Foundation Fixer may be
procured from Messrs. Neighbour, Regent Street.

G. W. Stones, Mb. Roberts, Mn. Oxley, etc. —
Enamel cloth. — Enamelled cloth may be had from
Messrs. Neighbour, but it is procurable from any
draper's shop having a stock of American cloths.

F. 0. U. — Filing wired Foundation. — Cut away the
foundation from between the wires, sufficiently deep to
leave length enough of wire to go through holes in the
top bar. Fix the wires by driving pegs into the holes.
The hive must stand level, so that the foundation hangs
perpendicular to the sides, or it will be built out of the
centre of the frames. It should be cut \ inch less than
the inside depth of the frames. 2. Driving. — Open
driving is the best, especially so if it is required to
capture the queen. 3. Diseased Bees. — It is difficult
to ascertain the nature of the disease from your de-
scription. Send us a piece of the comb containing some
brood and we will endeavour to assist you.

J. Davies. — Get your Journal direct from Mr. Iluckle,
King's Langley, Herts. Mr. Cheshire's address is
Avenue House, Acton. He will be pleased to have
the queens you can spare.

J . Roberts. — The sample of sugar forwarded is Porto
Rica, and would prove serviceable.

Ignoramus. — Age of Queen. — In a skep, or fixed comb-

hive, it is impossible to obtain a sight of your, queen,
except by driving out the bees, which is not advis-
able. The determination of age, by appearance, even
by a long-practised expeit, is difficult. You can
therefore only trust to the instinct of the bees to
supersede the queen when she becomes useless through
age. 2. Kohler Process. — The 'Kohler process' is
given at length in a pamphlet on Queen Introduction
by the Rev. G. Raynor, to be had of Sir. Huskle,
King's Langley, price 8|rf. post free. 3. Bee Books. —
Cowan's Bee-keepers1 Guide-book. His Note-book con-
sists of a series of tables by which the bee-keeper can
keep a record of all his observations and operations in
the apiary. 4. Foul Brood. — Foul brood in skeps can
only be discovered by turning up and thoroughly
examining them, when the symptoms may be easily
discovered by an expert, 5. Advantages of joining an
Association. — By joining the Association you become
entitled to the visits and advice of an expert. You
obtain a sight of the Bee Journal, which is passed on
to all members, and other advantages, respecting
which you will do well to consult the Secretary of
your County Association. C. The bees forwarded
were Andrenre falvee, a description of which will be
found in vol. xi., p. '■)■'>. 7. Straiv Skep. — As you only
found fifty or sixty bees in it, it is no doubt queenless.
As there is so much honey remaining, keep the combs
and put a swarm to them. 8. Ants under a Bee-house.
— A broad band of chalk round the legs is said to
keep ants from climbing up. So woidd a band of tar,
or a rag bound round and wetted with oil.

W. Watson. — Taking off Sections. — You will find those
nearest the centre are sealed first. Take these off, put
the side ones in the centre, and put fresh ones at the
sides. A swarm, either natural or artificial, generally
checks the progress of sections. If a natural swarm
issues return it to the stock hive.

Northumberland. — 1. Fixing Foundation. — A saw-cut
along the centre of the top-bar, which is opened and
the edge of the sheet inserted, is the best way of
fixing. 2. Whole sheets of foundation are not liable
to give way if properly fixed. 3. Treatment of
Swarms for Heather Harvest. — Double jour swarms
when they issue, furnish the frames with foundation,
and encourage them by feeding if the weather is
adverse, so that you have strong stocks to send to
heather. 4. Metal Ends. — These are quite as good for
wintering as entire wooden frames.

William W. Flemyng. — 1. Enamelled Cloth. — See
replies to W. F. S. and others. 2. Foundation Fixer.
— There is no better way for fixing foundation in
sections than by the foundation-fixer; the one used by
you — Abbott's section foundation fixer — is highly to
be commended.

J. Davies. — Diseased Bees. — The bees sent are filled
with small bacilli, probably Gaytoni, but upon this
point nothing definite can be stated without cultiva-
tion. This will be done, and then another report will
be made upon them. I have received other bees con-
taining the same bacillus during the past week ; some
through J. N. Bower, Esq., of Knowle, Birmingham.
Here the symptoms are much the same as those you
describe. .See my account of Bacillus Gaytoni in a
back number. — F. C.

Received from Dr. Stroud, of Port Elizabeth, Algoa Bay,
copy of his pamphlet, with photographs ; and a com-
munication for the Journal. From D. A. Jones, of Beeton,
Canada, several numbers of The Canadian lice Journal. Some
communications are held over till next issue, and several
Replies to Queries will be forwarded by post.

Erratum. — In Mr. Sirnmins' paper on ' Management of
Supers,' 6th line, read ' one-fourth of an inch.'

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL, [May 15, 1885.

Special |1rcgaib ^butritscments.

Fop Sales and Purchases of Bee Appliances, Honey, Books,
Pamphlets, Diagrams, Ac, Exchanges and Situations.

Terms : Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad-
ditional three words, One Penny extra; no reduction can
be made for continuous insertion.

THE SIMMINS7 METHOt7of1)IRECTINTRODUC-
TION. Enlarged to 32 pages. Price 6%d. Post free,
of the Author, Eottingdean, Brighton ; Messrs. Neighbour &
Sons, 149 Regent Street; and Mr. J. Huckle, Kings
Langley. Herts. (53)

MODERN BEE-KEEPING. An Blustrated Handbook
for Cottagers. Fourth Edition, considerably enlarged.
The soundness of its information, the simplicity of its
instruction, combined with cheapness, make this Hand-
book invaluable to all intending Bee-keepers. Price Id.,
post free.

rpHE MANAGEMENT OF STRAW SKEPS. Be-
I signed to teach the Cottager how to obtain the best
results at the least possible cost. By attention to its teach-
ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto. Price One Penny.
Six copies and upwards, post free.

FOUL BROOD ; The Means of its Propagation, and
the Method of its Cuke. By Frank R. Cheshire,
Esq., F.R.M.S. Price 6rf.

BEE-KEEPING, Plain and Practical : How to
Make it Pay. By A. Rusbridge, Is. 6A, post free,
Is. Sd. Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts. 3932

SWARMS of Bees for Sale ; guaranteed good and strong.
Apply Jno. Jas. Alsford, Blandford, Certificated
Expert Dorset B. K. A. c 75

BEES Transferred, Bee-Farms started throughout Ire-
land. Moderate Terms. Address J. Traynor, Bee-
keeper, Tinahely. c 76

E W good Stocks of Bees in Standard Frame Hives, cheap.
Shall have May Swarms for Disposal. Address J.
Weatherhead, Ely. c 77

FOR SALE. — Four Hives of Black Bees, in Combination
Hives, Association Standard size. Cork-packed. No
reasonable offer refused. Address F. J. Strong, 5 Alma
Terrace, Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry. c 81

EVERAL Swarms of Bees for Sale. Address G. H.
Fogden, Stockbridge House, Chichester. c 83

F

S

FOR SALE, Three Hives, two being Abbott's Irish Com-
bination, well made, painted ; a lot of Standard
Frames, Sections, Wax Foundation, and other odds and
ends ; also a small Chicken-house, made in sections to
move ; separately or together, cheap. Apply personally to
Mrs. Sampson, 20 Lambert Road, Brixton Hill, S.W. c 84

WANTED, BEES. Stocks or Swarms. Exchange
Snowdrop Bulbs. Address Jobn Wharton, Hawes,
Yorkshire. c 85

HONEY. Three cwt. fine Irish Honey in one ewt. kegs.
Price 6<7. per lb. Address Herbert Kemp, High
Street, Horncastle, Lincolnshire. c 86

IMPORTANT. — Large late Honey-secreting Balsam, six
strong Plants, 8d. Borage, Is. 3d. per 100 free. Address
W. Hollins, Tillington Avenue, Stafford. c 87

WANTED, Langstroth, Root, Cook, Hunter, Cheshire,
on Bees. Exchange Chemical Apparatus, &c.
Address Rose, Abergavenny.

a TWENTY-FOUR Sections of Honey for Sale, 16s. the
lot (to clear), all Glazed and Liquid. Address
W. Woodley, World's End, Newbury. c 88

WANTED, Good Strong Swarms of Bees in exchange
for 100 Good Strong Bedding Geraniums, and two
doz. Calceolarias. Address 0. Goddard, Reepham, Nor-
wich, c 89
SEVERAL Stocks of Bees in new Standard Frame Hives
for Sale, cheap. Address W. St. John, Boulton Road,
Handsworth. c 90

PRICE 21s. Double-walled Hives on Legs, with Ten
Association Frames and Dummy, painted two coats ;
workmanship and materials of the best quality. Will
exchange for Stocks or Swarms. Address Davis Bros.,
Carpenter, High Street, Mortlake, S.W. c 91

CN. WHITE, Certificated Expert B. B. K. Association,
. Somersham, Hunts, will send prices of Stocks,
Swarms, and Queens, English and Foreign ; and Nuclei or
English Swarms, headed by Foreign Queens, on applica-
tion^ cjM

WANTED, Section and Extracted Honey in exchange
for Virtue's Illustrated ' Shakespeare,' in 40 Parts.
Just published at .£4. Address S. Geo. Spence, Franklin
House, Spilsby. c 93

STEWARTON HIVE, consisting of Three Body Boxes
and Honey Box, also well-made Cover, on legs, for
same. Address Walter Tyzack, Abbeydale, near Shef-
field, c 94

CANADA BALSAMS, strong Plants, well rooted, Is. per
100. Address Walter Tyzack, Abbeydale, near Shef-
field. _J __ c 95

TWENTY-FIVE Stocks of Bees in well-made Combina-
tion Hives, with Standard Frames. Price 30s. each.
Owner going abroad. Address R. K. Allport, Medbury,
Sutton, Surrey.

THREE Stocks of Black Bees in Bar-frame Hives for
Sale. Address H. T. Smith, New Town, Huntingdon.

IN consequence of Removal, Ten Stocks of Bees for Sale,
with Wooden Hives and Houses ; various ; cheap.
Apply to Mrs. Willson, Rock Dale, Reading. c 96

EE HIVE for Sale, Cheap.— Neighbour's Cottage, three

lights, with Thermometer, and two Bell Glasses. Apply

F. Harston, Marston Green, near Birmingham. c 97

WANTED, a gooaTwORKTNGGARDENER (over 21).
Bees and Fowls. 20s. per week. Address Mr. Hill,
4 Charles Street, Berkhamsted.

IP G. PARKER, Watchmaker and Jeweller,
'j # Altrincham and Knutsford, has on Sale all kinds
of BEES and BEE APPLIANCES as reasonable in price
as any could wish. He is Winner of the First Prize for
Largest and Best Collection for several years past at the
Cheshire County Show ; also for English Bees and Obser-
vatory Hives. First Prize also for best Combination
Hive. This he has from 12s. M. each. HIVES from
2s. (id. to 51. each ; VEILS, Is. ; SMOKERS from 3s. 6rf. ;
COMB FOUNDATION from 2s. Sd. per lb. ; HONEY
EXTRACTORS, 9s. 6</.; SECTIONS, PARCHMENT,
SWARMS in HIVES, well packed, from 15s. ; FEEDERS,
SUPERS, ZINC, QUEEN CAGES ; HONEY BOTTLES
15s. per gross, free on rail ; English and Scotch HONEY at
all prices, &c, &c. 'Modern Bee-keeping,' best and
cheapest book on Bees, 7 stamps. Orders by Post. Ad-
dress E. G. PARKER, Altrincham.

BEE-KEEPERS' GUIDE; or, Manual of the
Apiary. 11,000 sold since 1876. 12th Thousand just
out. 10th Thousand sold in just four months. 2000 sold
the last year. More than fifty pages, and more than fifty
costly Blustrations, were added in 8th Edition. The whole
work has been thoroughly revised, and contains the very
latest in respect to Bee-keeping. Price 5s., postage id.
BEE JOURNAL OFFICE, KINGS LANGLEY.

The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the Woxld.

THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL

Established in 1861.
Edited and published by Thomas G. Newman, at 925 West
Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., and will be sent
to European Subscribers at 10s. 6d. per annum for the
Weekly, or 2s. Gd. for the Monthly, including Postage. The
money may be sent by International Postal Money Orders
on Chicago. London Agents : Messrs. Geo. Neighbour &
Sons, 149 Regent Street, W,

Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stra\geways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c.

[Xo. 171. Vol. XIII.]

JUXE 1, 1885.

[Published Fortnightly.]

(Sftitorial, goticcs, tfr.

JUDGIXG HOXEY.
(Continued from p. 116.)

In judging comb-honey there are certain con-
ditions, which will disqualify the exhibits, and so
make more easy the labour of the judges. Opinions
differ with regard to the relative importance of
many of these conditions, but the remains of brood
having been reared in any comb-honey is univer-
sally allowed to be a satisfactory reason for rejec-
tion. In some cases it is nearly impossible to keep
a young and slender queen from going up into
supers, in spite of the traditional y^ths, and often
it is very difficult to make the super cases just
warm enough to induce the bees to take to them,
and still not warm enough for brood-rearing. Again
and again we have seen splendid supers of honey
disqualified because there were the remains of a
patch of brood ; but with the sectional supers the
presence of this disqualification simply testifies to
the ignorance of the exhibitor.

Whether granulation should lie a disqualification
is a moot point, as certain varieties of honey granu-
late very quickly. If judged from the commercial
view, no doubt it should be a disqualification, as the
public will not buy granulated sections, just as in
the same way they discard pure honey when granu-
lated, in favour of any worthless corn-syrup. If the
granulation was evidently of recent date, and other
things being equal, the non-granulated would still
have the preference in our opinion ; but when the
public awake to the fact that granulation is a sign
of genuine honey, we think that there will be no
difficulty in disposing of granulated sections; and
it is of course evident that fermented honey, and
honey-dew, should be at once disqualified, as also
any sections that have been worked out by means
of sugar syrup. Opinions again vary with regard
to the bulging of sections, showing either that
separators have not been used, or that they have
not been deep enough. Some judges are extremely
particular on this point, and invariably disqualify
any sections showing this bulging, while others,
with a greater show of reason, overlook such a de-
fect, so long as it does not interfere with their
being glazsd or being packed without breaking
the comb.

The above are the chief disqualifications, and
any exhibits containing any of these defects having
been removed, the more difficult task of deciding
on the merits of those left in has yet to be settled.
The sections should be fairly up to weight, at all
events within an ounce or two. They should be
well filled out, evenly sealed all over, and uniform
in colour and appearance. The sealing should be
of medium thickness, as a thinly-sealed section,
though inviting enough on the exhibition-stand, will
not bear carriage, as the honey will ooze out, and so
spoil it for selling purposes.

One or more of the sections should be opened
and the honey tasted, but it is not essential to
spoil them by using a spoon or a shovel, and we
would strongly advise the executive officers at all
honey shows to provide the judges with toothpicks
for testing comb-honey, as we have often seen sec-
tions ruthlessly spoiled, much to the disgust of their
exhibitors. If, however, there is any doubt of the
genuineness of an exhibit, a section should be emptied
by the extractor, and the honey tested in the follow-
ing way, as pointed out by Mr. Hehner : — 'A solu-
tion of pure hone}' in water, when boiled with one of
a salt of copper, which has been rendered caustic by
the addition of potash, deposits a precipitate of red
sub-oxide of copper, 100 parts of honey thus yielding
about 132 parts of precipitate.' Cane-sugar yields
no precipitate, or only in a lesser degree, while
cane-sugar treated with sulphuric acid, or corn-
syrup, throws down a precipitate with barium
chloride, which honey or cane-sugar does not. A
small quantity of these reagents, together with a
few test-tubes and a spirit-lamp, should always be
provided for the use of the judges.

The honey, unless in the heather honey class,
should be creamy white, or of a pale-amlier colour ;
though here, again, judges differ very widely, while
some competent judges will not look at dark honey,
others ignore the light honey in favour of dark
honey, as the latter contend it has more flavour
and body, which makes up for its uninviting ap-
pearance.

But as it is a very hackneyed expression, that it
is impossible to legislate in advance of the moral (in
this case the honey) sense of the public, we should
undoubtedly give the preference to light, or good-
coloured honey, though we should by no means dis-
qualify dark honey, if of good flavour, but, on the
contrary, might award it a high place in the list,

180

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June 1, 1885.

unless the other exhibits were superior in other
points of excellence. The same difficulty meets ua
in deciding as to flavour, one of the most important
points of excellence, and which, with many judges,
and that rightly in our opinion, is considered all-
important.

There is an amusing story told of a man, who
tried to write an account of the Coliseum at Rome,
■without introducing any mention of ' butchered to
make a Roman holiday.' He failed utterly ; and so
we confess we tried to steer clear of the old adage
about difference of tastes, but Fate has been too much
for us. No matter how artificial or mechanical we
may try to make the judging of honey, we are certain
to come into collision on this point, and we fail to see
how uniformity can be obtained. None of us, who
have any taste left, would prefer the abomination
called pure run-honey, so common in the dark ages,
and which gave a delightful flavour of wax, bee-
bread, dead grubs, &c, with a dash of lucifer-
matehes, to the clean flavour of extracted honey
from super sections ; but when it comes to the
relative importance of honey gathered from various
flowers, we shrink aghast at trj-ing to grapple with
this superhuman task ; and though we have decided
opinions on the honey wo prefer, we would not,
in our wildest moments, imagine for one moment
that every one else will agree with us. It goes
without saying that the unsuccessful exhibitors will
often, if not always, be dissatisfied with any judging,
no matter how correct it may be in the opinion of
experts; and the only way to get good judging is not
by drawing up any artificial standard of rules, but
by getting good judges, and by that we mean, those
bee-keepers, or honey dealers, who have had large
experience, and who are not warped by their ad-
herence to any particular doctrine on this much-
vexed question of judging honey.

USEFUL HINTS.
The inclemency of the weather during the month
of May has proved fatal to many a good colony of
bees, as may be exemplified by the following dia-
logue which occurred on the 25th ult. between
ourselves and the ' Squire's1 gardener : — Gardener :
' I've come, sir, to see whether you can tell me
what be the matter with master's best stock of
bees] They come out of the hive and die all
around ! The mouth of the hive is choked up with
dead and dying bees, and it seems to me as they'll
soon all be dead if we don't do somewhat.'
We : ' Have you fed the bees 1 ' Gardener : ' Lor !
no, sir, not this time o' year sure/// ! ' We : ' Per-
haps you have supered them, then ? ' Gardener :
' Why, yes, sir, a fortnight back ; when the expert
came, he told us to put the super on, as the bees
was very strong; and so we did, and they went into
it at once, and it was pi-ctty nigh full o' bees, and
Missis was expecting to have some sections ready
by now.' We .- ' My good man, the expert was
wrong. Of course he could not foresee the cold
weather — frosty nights, snow hailstorms, cold winds
and rains, which have prevented the poor bees leav-
ing their hive — but he ought to have said, "wind
and weather permitting ! " By the super you have

cooled down the hive, and, the stores being all con-
sumed, your bees are chilled, and starved. Go home,,
and, having removed the super, put on the winter
quilt, and feed copiously with warm syrup. Take
out of the hive the outside frames and pour into
them syrup. Collect the chilled and dying bees in
a sleep, sprinkle them with warm thin syrup, tie
cheese-cloth over the mouth, and place the skep
in a warm corner of the kitchen. In' the morning
many bees will have recovered, and will fly back
to their hive on being released.'

The moral here is evident, and the case proves
the correctness of the advice given in our columns
of late, and which we now reiterate — ' During in-
clement weather feed cdl colonies, especially the
strongest.' It is not at all uncommon for bees to
die of starvation in the month of June. We can-
not make the weather, but we can provide against
it. There is plenty of time yet for a splendid honey
harvest, and ' nil desperandam ' should ever be the
motto of the British bee-keeper. Many strong
colonies which had made preparation for swarming,
will have allowed the queen-cells to be destroyed ;
aud it is quite likely, that, if sujiered at the right
time, such colonies may not swarm at all. In
such cases the drones have been already destroyed.
Where the queens are aged and worn-out, they will
be cast forth from the hives and the young queens
will take their place, awaiting fecundation until the
weather changes. When colonies which have been
supered throw off swarms, pm-sue the plan recom-
mended in our last.

Work in Apiary. — Watch carefully for swarms.
In swarming weather the bees must never be left — ■
no, not for five minutes — or swarms may be lost.
A quick, intelligent boy — especially if bribed by six-
pence for every swarm — will make the best of watch-
men. If we are not greatly mistaken this will
prove a swarming year. In our experience the old
distich, —

' The bees will swarm in seasons wet,
But in dry summers 'tis honey they get,'—

has always proved true ; and in such seasons we
have repeatedly had large swarms from hives in
which not an ounce of honey had been stored.
Dividing, of course, prevents natural swarming, but
a swarm will often escape before division has been
made. June is the chief month for practising
nucleus-swarming and dividing. Keep the nuclei
strong in bees. Imported queens may be readily
introduced to nuclei, and if, when accepted, the
nucleus, enlarged by additional combs, or foundation,
be placed on the stand of a strong colony — the latter
being removed — when bees are flying, and the
nucleus queen caged for twenty-four hours a strong
and prosperous colony will have been established.

Swarms by Rail will travel well and safely in a
flat crowned skep, with a piece of canvas (cheese-
cloth) sewed over the mouth, and a cord around it,
box-fashion, the label being attached to the canvas
addressed ' This side up ! Live Bees ! Care!' Ven-
tilation through the crown is unnecessary. We
prefer this plan to a swarm-box. Swarms may also
travel securely in the frame-hives they are to occupy
if the following precautions be taken: — Wired-

Juue 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

181

foundation in full-sheets, inserted in the saw-cut,
lateral motion being prevented by transverse wires
from end to end of the frames, a ' spaced-floor-board,'
i.e. strips of wood nailed upon the floor-board and pro-
jecting upwards half an inch between the bottom bars
to prevent any side-motion of the frames ; a square
frame of wood, covered with open canvas, placed over
the frames, and screwed down at the four corners.
Under these conditions we have repeatedly sent
4-lb. swarms on long railway journeys without a
mishap ; and it is a great convenience to a beginner
to receive the swarm in the hive it is to occupy,
and on the foundation to be drawn out. All that
is required on arrival is to exchange the spaced
floor-board for an ordinary one — to supply the place
of the canvas-top by a sheet of enamel cloth — and
to set up the swarm in the place it is to occupy.
Colonies on combs, if not too heavily weighted with
honey, may be sent on the same plan.

Beginners cannot do better than to purchase a
cottager's swarm, and on the same evening transfer
it to a frame-hive where it is intended to remain.

Supering. — Immediately, on a change of weather
for the better, give populous colonies cases of sec-
tions— 1-lb. in preference to any other size — for
several years we have found the 2 -lb. sections all
but unsaleable, except at a much lower price. The
white clover will soon be in bloom after the fine
rains we have experienced, and, with warm weather,
we may still hope for a bounteous harvest.

Peet Cages we have found useful in natural
swarming. When the swarm seems restless and
inclined to desert, or return, if the queen be placed
in the cage, and the spikes of the cage pushed into
the crown of the skep, inside, the swarm will re-
main contentedly. The same plan, iu the case of
more queens than one leaving with a swarm, will be
found to succeed, the supernumerary queens being
removed. In this case the disturbance arises from
the royal battles which take place, and which often
end iu the maiming of both queens. When two
large swarms unite and cluster together, each queen
should be confined in a separate cage, and placed a
distance of three or four feet apart from the other,
when the bees will each go to their own queen. In
this way we have separated three swarms which
had united and formed a mass of about two bushels
of bees.

Extracting.-: — There will not be much sealed
honey for extraction during the early part of the
month, but it is well to have all things in readiness.
A friend reports to us that he is exchanging his 1-lb.
glass honey bottles for others holding |-lb. only —
that these latter will fetch the same price in the
market as the 1-lb. jars. Small packages, both of
comb and extracted honey, certainly appear to be
most in demand at present ; but, doubtless, fashion
will change before long. At all events, we are
bound to please our customers.

Hiving Swarms in frame-hives may be easily
accomplished thus : — Provide a box — having neither
top nor bottom — about 5 in. deep, exactly fitting
the top of your hive. Into this, placed over your
frame-hive, shake the swarm from the skep, and
quickly throw a sheet over bees and all. The bees

will speedily descend into the frames below, espe-
cially if they be well filled with foundation. In a
few minutes the sheet may be withdrawn, the few
stragglers brushed down with a feather, moistened
with carbolic acid, the box removed, the quilt sup-
plied, and the hive set up in position. This is best
done in the evening, but it may be successfully
performed at any time.

CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION.
The annual examination of candidates for certifi-
cates of the first and of the second class was held
at the Gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society,
South Kensington (now better known as the In-
ventories Exhibition) on Saturday, May 16th. The
examiners present were T. W. Cowan, Esq. (chair-
man), the Rev. G. Raynor, and the Rev. Dr.
Bartrum. Six candidates presented themselves for
examination. All candidates seeking a first class,
in accordance with the regulations, were required
to deliver a lecture on some subject named by the
examiners, and all without distinction were tested
by an oral examination as well as on paper. The
results will appear in the Journal in due course.

H.R.H. THE PRINCESS BEATRICE AND
THE HANTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

It must have been a source of much gratifica-
tion to all interested in bee-keeping to have noticed
a slight paragraph in several of the daily papers
mentioning that the Hants and Isle of Wight
B. K. A had presented to their President, H.R.H.
the Princess Beatrice, a very beautiful brooch
in the shape of a bee, as a mark of their
esteem, on the occasion of H.R.H.'s forthcoming
marriage. Through the kindness of the Secretary
of the Association, E. H. Bellairs, Esq., we have
been enabled to give a full description of this
present in another column. We note specially this
pleasing occurrence because we are in a position to
state that the present has been highly appreciated
as a token of loyalty, goodwill, and esteem, from
the members of the Association. We feel assured
that EE.H., each time she may wear the loving
token, will be reminded by it that industry, per-
severance, and usefulness, are essential in every
walk in life — amongst the exalted and the humble,
the rich and the poor.

We beg heartily, on behalf of all bee-keepers,
to congratulate the Association on their ' happy
thought,' and on the very effective and successful
manner in which they have carried it out.

MIDDLESEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

We have been informed that this Association
has received an accession to its strength and its
importance by the Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh
having kindly consented to act as joint Secretary
with Mr. Fox Keiiworthy. We trust that this
step will give a fresh impetus to many earnest bee-
keepers in the society, and that it will soon take
that place among the associations which its central

182

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June 1, 1885.

position, its wealth, and its multitudinous popula-
tion, entitle it to assume. Mr. Fewtrell, of
Reading, has recently been employed as expert to
the Association, and has inspected the hives
throughout the county, his visiting tour has
been very successful, and has infused new energy
irtto the members.

LINCOLNSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
AT GREAT GRIMSBY.
As intimated in a former issue, we now publish
in our advertisement columns the full Schedule of
Prizes for the bee department at the Lincolnshire
Agricultural Society meeting, which will be held at
Great Grimsby on the 29th, 30th, and 31st of July.
It cannot but be satisfactory to the promoters of
bee-keeping to find these County Agricultural
Societies so ably assisting in the work ; and we do
not doubt but the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society
will have that hearty recognition of bee-keepers
they so well merit, and that we shall have the
pleasure of putting on record another successful
meeting, similar to those of previous years.

HANTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
In another column will be found an advertisement of
an important exhibition, to be held under the auspices of
this Association at Southampton, on June 23, 24, 25, and
2G, in connexion with the annual Show of the Royal
Counties Agricultural Society, which has been fixed this
year to he held at that place. Prizes to the value of
about 20/. will be offered ; and as this Show is one of the
important events of the year to agriculturists, being
largely attended by visitors from all parts of Great
Britain, we hope a full measure of success will attend
the earnest labours of the Hants Association. As a
honey exhibition it will probably be one of the earliest
cf the year, so that a very favourable opportunity is
offered to those bee-keepers who are first in the field
with their honey crop.

HERTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The Hertfordshire Agricultural Society are, we are
pleased to note, showing their appreciation of apiculture
by offering, at their forthcoming show at Hadfield on
July 9, prizes for honey and bee appliances to the
amount of 10/. 10*.

The third Quarterly Conference of the Hertford
district of the Association was held in the Town Hall,
Hertford, on Tuesday last, May 19th, of which we hope
to give a fuller account in our next.

MATLOCK BATH FLORAL AND HORTI-
CULTURAL SOCIETY.

The fourteenth exhibition of this society will be
held in the Pavilion, Matlock Bath, on August 8th.
With a hope that the cottagers who are mem-
bers of this society may be stimulated to become
bee-keepers, a special prize has been offered by
Messrs. John Evans and A. Clark ; this consists
of a bar-frame hive and a stock of bees, valued
at 35,«. ; the condition appended to this prize

is that the winner must give an undertaking that
he will offer the swarm from the stock of bees
as a prize to be competed for at the next year's
show. We draw attention to the above in the hope
that the suggestion conveyed by this special prize
may stimulate other bee-keepers to try the ex-
periment in their respective localities, so that the
cottagers there may be induced to take an interest
in bee-keeping.

ASSOCIATIONS.

HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

At the annual general meeting of this Association,
held last February, the Honorary Secretary announced
that Louisa Marchioness of Waterford had interested
herself in a scheme to raise a fund to purchase a wedding
present for the President of the Association, H. R. H. the
Princess Beatrice. The Vice-presidents were applied to,
and they very generally responded, and in pursuance of
the expressed wish of the general meeting the Hon.
Secretary had issued invitations to the members to sub-
scribe. The result was most gratifying. Out of a total
of 200 members eighty-seven had responded, amongst
whom were many artisans and cottagers, and notwith-
standing a special request ' that donations should not in
any case exceed in amount the annual subscriptions,' a
grand total of 55/. 7s. 3d. was sent in.

A diamond Bee was decided upon, and a design pre-
pared by the Hon. Mrs. Boyle (better known perhaps as
E. V. B.), the work being entrusted to Mr. Emanuel, of
Albemarle Street. Each donor to the fund, which has
been called the ' II. and I. W. B. K . A. President Fund,' has
been presented with a card printed in gold as follows : —

A Drawing of the Diamond Fee presented by the Vice-presidents and
Members of ike Hants and Isle of If ight Bee-keepers' Association to their
President, H.ll.H. the Princess Beatrice, upon the occasion of her
Marriaae, 1885.

In our next issue we hope to give a full list of the sub-
scribers. The following letter has been received from the
Princess by Lady Waterford : —

Windsor Castle, May 7th, 1885.

Dear Laoy Waterfoud, — I hasten to express to you,
and through you to the other members of the Hampshire
and Isle of Wight Bee Association, my warmest thanks
for the charming and appropriate present you have sent
me for my approaching marriage. I am deeply touched
by this unexpected proof of your kind interest and good
wishes for me. — Believe me, dear Lady Waterford, yours
sincerely, BEATRICE.

WARWICKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The annual meeting of the Warwickshire Bee-keepers'
Association was held on Thursday, at the Grand Hotel,
Colmore Row. Mr. Arthur Hodgson (Mayor of Strat-
ford-on-Avon) presided ; and there was a large attendance.
Letters of apology for non-nttendance were received

Juno 1, 18£5.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

18;}

from Lord Leigh, the Rev. Canon Evans, Colonel
Caldicott, and others. — The Chairman said he was
delighted to preside over that meeting, for lie was
perfectly satisfied that their Association was doing
a vast amount of good. They had to a very large
extent, in connexion with other associations which
had been formed throughout the United Kingdom,
greatly improved tee-culture. The straw skeps were
gradually becoming obsolete, and they were making
room for hives of a very improved character.

The fifth annual report of the Committee recorded the
continued success of the Association. The number of
members continued to steadily increase, being at the
close of the year 361. Regret was expressed at the loss
of two Vice-presidents during the year- -namely, the
Marquis of Hertford and the Hon. G. II. C. heigh,
M.P., who were very much interested in the work of the
Association. The statement; of accounts showed that
the receipts, including a balance of $41. 7s. od., had
been 100?. 7«. llrf., and after paying all expenses there
was a balance in hand of 55/. 15*. -d. The Chairman
moved the adoption of the report, and it was carried.

Mr. Gill proposed the re-election of the President
(Lord Leigh) and the Vice-presidents ; and that a vote
of thanks be given to them for their past patronage
and support. — Mr. Hughes seconded the motion, and it
was passed.

A vote of thanks was accorded to the Committee, to
the hon. treasurer and auditors, and to the hon. secretary
(Mr. J. N. Bower), and the assistant secretary (Mr. J.
R. Ingerthorpe) for their past services, all of whom were
re-elected.

Mr. F. Cheshire, of London, delivered a lecture upon
' The Wonders of the Beehive.' Between 200 and 300
persons were present.

At the close of the discussion the ballot for three
hives took place, which hives were won by Mr. A. H.
Stanbury, Hall Green, Birmingham ; Mrs. Houghton,
Coventry ; and Mr. E. Haywood, Fazeley, Tamworth.

The Association has grown very rapidly, and continues
to do so.

HUSH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The annual general meeting was held at 30 Westmore-
land Street, on the 9th ult., in the rooms of the Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Present —
Miss Violet Knight, Rev. Canon Proctor, Messrs. Thomas
Smith, J. K. Millner, J. M. Simpson, Henry Chenevix,
E. D'Olier, jun., S. K. Twigg, Robert Sproule, W. J.
Stanford, S. C. Gavaeau, J. Edmondson, Ch.is. Frederick
Knight, M.D., hon. sec, and others. The Rev. Canon
Proctor in the chair.

The minutes of the last annual general meeting were
read and confirmed. The report and balance-sheet issued
for the year 1884 were received and adopted, and a vote
of thanks passed to the auditors, Messrs. E. E. Davidson,
and E. D'Olier, jun. A vote of thanks to the Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for the gratuitous
use of their rooms for committee and other meetings,
was passed unanimously. The following officers were
appointed for 1885 : — President, Lord Ardilaun ; Vice-
>residents, Hon. Richard Bellew and Rev. Canon Proctor;
'Ion. Treasurer, Sir J. W. MaeKay, 2-'! Upper Sackville
Street, Dublin ; Hon. Secretary, Charles Frederick Knight,
M.D.,82 Harcourt Street, Dublin. Committee: — Messrs.
R. Sproule, J. Edmondson, E. D'Olier, jun., W. J.
Bramlev, J. P. Allen, S. C. Gavaeau, S. K. Twigg, J.
M. Gillies, J. Kelsall, F. F. Collins, Rev. P. Kavanagh,
Captain L. Riall, Rev. J. M. Aldridge, Rev. Canon
Bagot, and Rev. Thomas Lindsay.

A vote of thanks was passed to the scrutineers of the
voting papers, Messrs. Chenevix and D'Olier, who kindly
consented to act as scrutineers for 1835-86 with Mr.
Thomas Smith.

Mr. M. H. Read moved : ' That attractive labels for

I

honey bottles and sections be issued to members of the
Association at a price which would just defray cost of
production." The matter was referred to the incoming
committee to report to the next general meeting. — Mrs.
Knight moved: 'That leaflets be issued from time to
time to members giving short rules for their guidance,
mentioning new inventions, and that a special fund be
started, called the "Cottiers' Fund," to prowde hives for
cottagers, the price of the hives obtained to be repaid by
small instalments through members who shall be respon-
sible to the Association for the amount.' Passed unani-
mously.

Moved by Dr. Knight and resolved : 'That in future
members who are unable to be present at a general
meeting may discuss and state their views of matters on
the agenda paper by letter addressed to the Honorary
Secretaiy.' — Mr. Edmondson moved : ' That the time and
place of holding the spring show he changed.' After
some discussion it was resolved to continue the present
arrangements. — Dr. Knight moved : ' That district repre-
sentatives of the Association he appointed by the in-
coming committee, as may be found advisable.' Carried
unanimously. — Mr. Duffin moved: 'That statistics of
the number of stocks of bee3 and their produce be
collected from Irish bee-keepers, and that the hon. sec.
be requested to communicate with Dr. Grimshaw,
Registrar General, asking him to have these statistics
included in the annual agricultural returns.' Passed.
— The Rev. Canon Proctor having to leave, the chair
was taken by Henry Chenevix, Esq. — Moved by Dr.
Knight, and unanimously resolved : ' That the incoming
committee shall have power to appoint an expert to visit
members twice a-year ; and that a special subscription
list, called the " Expert Fund," be now opened for that
purpose.' Also, ' That a circular be issued to clergymen
and other gentlemen in public positions requesting them
to become patrons and members, in order that they may
forward the interests of the Association, and help to
spread a knowledge of advanced bee-keeping amongst
Irish cottagers.' — Sloved by Mr. Sproule and carried:
' That the incoming committee be requested to take steps
for holding monthly meetings, open to members generally,
for the purpose of having papers read, discussing same,
exhibiting new inventions, and other matters useful for
instruction in the management of bees.' — Mr. Sproule
moved: 'That the marked thanks of the Association be
accorded to the Honorary Secretary for the work done
on behalf of the Association during the past year.'
Carried by acclamation. — A vote of thanks was unani-
mously passed to the press for opening their columns ta
apiarians and for the editorial assistance given to the
Association.

A cordial vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated
the proceedings.

LEICESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

A lecture on bees and bee-keeping was delivered bf
Mr. Walter S. Pridmore at 'The Three Swans' Hotel,
Market Harborough, on May 12th. The lecturer was
very successfid in keeping up an unflagging interest in
his subject.

After the lecture some time was spent in examining
the hives and bee-appliances which Mr. Prilmore had
brought for illustration. Several new members joined
the Association. — E. B.

SHROPSHIRE ASSOCIATION.— REPORT OF
EXPERT'S SPRING TOUR, MAY, 1885.

Commenced my journey on Tuesday morning, calling
first at Baschlirch, on through Rvton, Llanyniynech,
Oswestry, Ellesmere, Overton, back to Shrewsbury, then
taking Berrington, Atcham, Wrochwardine ; next day

184

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June 1, 188l

Hope near Minsterley, Stretton Heath, Hanwood,
and Stapleton, finishing at ' Craven Arms.' Examined
hives in all places except one or two -where the owners
were absent, and had left no instructions for them to be
examined. Found, on the whole, stocks fairly strong,
considering the cold east winds that have prevailed
during the early spring, in some cases the hives having a
quantity of honey left from last j-ear. The mortality
amongst members' hives has been small. Examined
about fifty bar-frame hives and about ten skeps. I
found one very common tendency to allow too much
room for wintering, and an anxiety to give too much
space and more frames than the bees could cover at the
time, thus checking to some extent the breeding. But
on the whole a very satisfactory condition of hives
throughout. Though a magnificent district for bees,
unfortunately few bees are kept by the cottagers, and
many empty stalls and bee-houses to be seen. — C.
Brown, Expert B.B.K.A.

HUNTINGDONSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

A committee meeting of the Huntingdonshire B. K. A.
was held at the Fountain Hotel, Huntingdon, on Satur-
day, May 2nd, for the purpose of fixing the place and
date of the annual meeting and revising the prize
schedule. As the chairman, A. W. Marshall, Esq., and
other members of the committee were unable to be
present, the attendance was small. The chair was taken
by J. Linton, Esq.

The Honorary Secretary reported that the Chairman
had written to him regretting his inability to be present,
as he was leaving home, and promising to repeat his
previous generous donations to the prize fund. It was
regretted that not more than about half-a-dozen mem-
bers had, in reply to a notice, requested the attendance
of a district adviser. Many members have, however,
been visited by the district advisers in different parts of
the county. It was unanimously decided that the annual
show of bees and bee products should be held at St.
Neots, in connexion with the Horticultural Society's
Show on Bank Holiday, August 3rd, and thai the Prize
Schedule, as amended, should be printed and circulated
by the end of May. Although there are in the county
experts, certificated and non-certificated, of acknowledged
ability, the Committee were unanimous in their decision
to appoint an entire stranger to take charge of the bee-
tent, particularly as it has been decided that the annual
show will be the only one held this year. The lion. sec.
was instructed to arrange for holding the annual show,
and endeavour to secure the services of Mr. Baldwin as
expert. — C. N. "White, Son. Sec.

fercspontmtce.

*** All Correspondents forwarding Letters for insertion in
the Journal, Reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes
from the Hives, Queries, ȣ-c., are requested to direct their com-
munications to ' The Editor of the " British Bee Journal," c/o
Messrs. Strangcways <£.- Sons, Tower Street, Upper St. Martin's
Lane, W.C

OUR HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the United Kingdom
during the month of April, 1885, amounted to ddSdl.
[From a private Return sent by the Principal, Statistical
Department, H.M. Customs, to E. II. Bel]airs,Wingfield,
Ohristchurch.]

ANOTHER METHOD OF QUEEN
INTRODUCTION.

Many bee-keepers will be glad to learn that still
another process of introduction has been discovered,

which promises to be successful in every case, and in
all hands.

Finding that all did not succeed with ray ' cotub
method ' so well as my own success led me to expect,
I determined that if by any means possible I would not
rest until I had found a plan which should answer every
time with every one who cared to follow it.

Thinking the matter over, about two years since I
decided to confine a nucleus made up for the occasion,
and then inserted a fertile queen, which was accepted.
Other trials proved equally successful, and it will be
admitted that the process is worth trying when I state
that throughout the past and present season I have sent
out a large number of queens, either with half-a-pound
of bees, a three-frame nucleus, or with swarms ; and
most of them had never seen the bees they were to
travel with until the moment before the package was
closed, and no animosity has been shown them in a
single case. Hence it is a fact that while under the
excitement of confinement bees will always accept a
queen. The many who have hitherto hesitated to buy
valuable queens for fear of losing them, may now cast
away all fear, if they will only proceed as now advised.

When queens are expected, make up your nuclei, each
consisting of one frame of hatching brood and adhering
bees, with as many more bees as will cover a comb, and
one comb of stores on either side of that with brood ;
confine them under perf orated zinc, giving ample venti-
lation, but not enough to cause chill, and as soon as the
bees are in an uproar (having found themselves confined
and at the same time queenless) your queen can be
inserted under one corner of the quilt, first driving the
bees back with a very little smoke. Let them remain
confined in a cool, darkened room for three days, when
they may be stood out where needed, and there will
then be no danger of any of the bees going back to their
old hive, as some will do if liberated earlier, when they
are sure to be slain. Indeed if bees be taken from any
colony and confined for only five minutes, and then
allowed to fly home, not one will be allowed to enter
what was a few minutes since their own hive. There-
fore it should be borne in mind that bees recently con-
fined can never be united to tho=e having full liberty,
and the former should be allowed a few daj-s' flight
before any such operation is attempted.

When the nuclei are stood out the combs will be found
to contain a large number of eggs recently laid bj- the
new queen, therefore no lime whatever has been lost
through confinement. By giving other frames of hatch-
ing brood occasionally such substantial nuclei may soon
be worked up to a strong coloiry, and no risk whatever
has been incurred by the queen.

As I have always pointed out, it is by far tke best
policy to start valuable imported queens in nuclei, and
allow them to recover themselves gradually, as it fre-
quently happens that when given at once to a strong
colony, being forced to excessive exertions to keep the
combs stocked with eggs, the strain is too great for
them, and death is the result. The confinement during
transit may not be of long duration, but it should be
remembered that just previously the queen had probably
been laying extensively, and then quite suddenly she
receives a severe shock by being shut up with a few
bees, and considering this every care shoidd be taken by
the purchaser not to cause further injury by going to
the other extreme immediately he gets her.

Virgin queens may be given to nuclei just made up in
the same way, but these I do not liberate, as a rule,
until the fifth day, as then there is not so much time
for them to fly and get lost before they are really old
enough to become fertilised. In either case the nucleus
should be provided with thin syrup while shut up indoors.
My own nucleus hives are similar to my stock hives,
having a recess at front and back, but containing only
three frames. To adapt them to this process of intro-

June 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

185

• duction, the front recess is covered with fine perforated
zinc down to about half-an-inch from tiio alighting-
hoard, where a slip of wood is inserted to let the bees
out or not as desired, while it in no way prevents them
parading throughout the whole front surface of the
nucleus hive under the zinc.

When nuclei are made up as herein stated the usual
one-and-a-half inch entrance gives all ventilation neces-
sary, but if it is desired to start a stronger lot '(which
for the purpose is quite unnecessary) more air must be
allowed by perforated zinc at the top.

So far as the safety of the queens is concerned those
nuclei with fertile queens might be given their liberty
the same evening, and those with unfertile queens early
ihe following morning, but I think I have plainly shown
that nothing is to be gained by so doing.

The facts relating to this method of introducing queens
to nuclei at the time of establishing the same, was first
mentioned by me in the American Bee Journal for January
14th, I860, and further experience fully justifies me in
claiming for it all the advantages I have mentioned. —
S. Simmins, Jiottingdean, near Brighton.

QUEEN INTRODUCTION.
I have for two seasons successfully introduced queens
•on Simmins' plan, using a little smoke. I have also
joined bees the same way, but not always without loss.
Never lost a queen with the method ; what I have done
has been with bees in my own apiary. If I had strange
bees from anywhere, I should keep them to themselves
a short time before joining. I should never think of
getting Ligurian or other queens, and put them direct
into the stock, I think that would be courting disaster.
One way I have tried to join Ligurian queens (imported
ones) is to get a strong stock with plenty of ripe brood
in, shake all bees off three or four combs, except young
liees, put jTour combs in a nucleus hive, put in queen, take
hive indoors, keep it at a fair temperature all night; next
Hay if enough bees have hatched out to keep one comb
of brood warm, put back spare combs to stock hive ; if
not enough bees out keep indoors another night, the
young bees will not interfere with the queen ; feed the
•lot until bees appear for work, then join to a good stock,
or build the small lot up ; not so much risk with queen.,
but it is a longer job. — J. Da vies.

FOUL BROOD.

If Mr. Arthur B. Johnston has used faultless carbolic
acid in his treatment of foul brood, the hive bacillus of
Mr. Cheshire is likely to turn out as harmless as the
comma-shaped cholera bacillus of Dr. Koch, which Drs.
Klein and Gibbes, after careful investigation, pronounced
incapable of producing effect and not peculiar to cholera,
and not behaving differently from other putrefactive
organisms.

But Mr. Johnston must perceive that all experiments
are open to challenge in which the guaranteed phenol has
not been employed.

Calvert's No. 1 carbolic acid is quite as efficient as
that prepared under the guarantee of Mr. Cheshire; yet
failure with it to cure a virulently diseased hive does not
dispose of objections. — Questioner.

BACILLUS ALVEI AND PHENOL.

The failure of Mr. Johnson and some others to cure
disease amongst their bees by the use of phenol, I much
regret, since all my very serious expenditure of time and
money has but the one object of enabling bee-keepers to
rid their apiaries of this evil, beside which all others pale.
T intend hereafter taking up this question at length, and
so now content myself by saying that Bacillus alcei is
■easily, readily, and absolutely, cured by a proper admin-

istration of phenol, and that I make this statement again
without the smallest qualification or reserve. How then
can these failures be accounted for? In one of two
ways ; either that the remedy is not properly applied
(and often, even in the hands of the intelligent, it has not
been), or that there exists another bacillus disease which
is not amenable to treatment. I am inclined, at present,
to doubt the existence of such a disease, since all the
forms coming before me last year, save one, were
evidently identical; and in this one case Mr. Che3rne and
myself concluded, after a cultivation, that it was only a
temporary variation of the Alvei ; but until experiments,
now in progress, are complete, I desire to abstain from
any assertion. I cannot help taking exception to the
tone of one line in Mr. Johnson's letter. lie speaks of
what I have led the readers of the British Bee Journal
during the past year to believe, in a connexion which is
not agreeable. Mr. Johnson hardly realises, I am sure,
the tremendous labour through which I have passed, and
the very heavy pecuniary loss I have willingly borne in
this matter, or he would have felt that I had higher
motives than any that could have made me colour
anything.

If Mr. Johnson will send me some of his combs (not
bees) containing dead larvae we will try to unravel the
mystery, and I will ruin two stocks by inoculating them
and letting the disease run riot in order that I may have
subjects for examination and experiment. This whole
question is a serious, as well as an exceedingly difficult
and involved, one, and Mr. Johnson will, I am sure,
gladly concede that, due to my efforts, our ideas of bee
diseases have undergone a revolution. Tho so-called foul
brood is really a disease primarily of the adult bees, and
only incidentally of the larvae. Let us work together,
striving to accumulate evidence and unravel the truth.
If phenol fail, I will be amongst the first, not onty to
admit it, but to proclaim it. I and others have, however,
cured far too many desperate cases with it to enable me
to doubt for an instant its full power to grapple with
Bacillus alvei ; but if this be not Mr. Johnson s enemv,
let us strive together to discover the means by which
that which is, may be made, an enemy, no longer. —
Fhank R. Cheshire, Avenue House, Acton, W.

IS PHENOL A CURE FOR FOUL BROOD ?

I have read Mr. Arthur B. Johnson's letter carefully,
and I can answer the question above with all confidence,
and say without hesitation or fear, ' Cheshire's cure for
foul brood ' is a perfect cure. You will remember that
I reported last year losing ten hives out of twelve and
that I adopted the order of instruction given with Mr.
Cheshire's 'Cure,' and I had gratifying results in the
autumn and promised to let you know how I got along in
the spring.^ Well, sir, the disease spread into other
hives, and in November I had five under treatment, and
could not positively say I had eradicated the pest when
I closed up for winter.

In March I opened my hives and found that three
queens were dead, one had a queen drone breeder, two
without. The two hives that were worst had queens in,
they had been longer under treatment : one of these
showed signs of foul brood. I now began to treat again
for the disease, and to-day I have not a single comb
tainted, and bees in all the cells affected last autumn. I
can thus speak for its efficacy.

From Mr. Johnson's letter I gather that he has been
purchasing phenol and mixing it himself, but why not
give the proper guaranteed quantity and quality ? No one
was ever in greater despair than I was, to see all my
combs, — about eighty, beautiful and straight, — all one
mass of stinking corruption. These were all boiled
down, but had I known of the phenol cure I could have
saved above half. I no longer fear this loathsome disease,
but I don't wish for its return.

18C

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June i, 1885.

It is quite useless Mr. Johnson recommending bee-
keepers, who find the scourge to destroy their bees and
burn the hires .and combs and everything about them . It's
all nonsense, and I may be pardoned in speaking so bold,
because I have realised its value as a purifier. I am
fairly well known, and it is not through any connexion
with Mr. Cheshire that I write this testimony. It is to
encourage the poor industrious soul who loses his love for
the bee and despairs in bee-keeping because lie sees such
a scourge ravaging his apiary. Let him take courage ;
there is a remedy in the Cheshire cure, if iie will give it
a fair trial ; and if he lives within nine miles of Winsford
I will help him if he will apply to me. My experience
of it is such as to warrant its recognition anywhere. I
have found its presence in several places and told them
of the cure. I also saw a hive badly tainted presented
at a show last year for driving, and oh, how I trembled
when I saw my bees robbing it ; I had only just then
read of the cure and did not know its value.

I doubt not Mr. Johnson has done his best with the
materials he has had, but let him isolate his bees, — or not
just as he likes, — and whilst they are at the height of
their breeding — this is the proper time. Let him feed
with syrup diluted with ' Cheshire Cure for foul brood,'
and there is no question about the destruction of the
pest. — The Stationmasteb, Winsford, May 15th.

JUDGING AT SHOWS.

J have just been looking through this year's Journals
and part of last, and was struck with the number of
letters on this point. As I am only a honey exhibitor I
shall not speak about other things. I have Mr. Seager's
paper before me ; he says, ' This is not a question to be
settled off-hand; ' true, but it is time a settlement was
made. He refers in the next paragraph and says an ex-
hibitor said to him, 'If I had known what the judges
wanted I could have shown a much better lot than that
which took the prize:' — here we have proof of the necessity
of a code of standard points. Thus we see its necessity,
and the proper method now to follow is to decide the
points and fix a maximum number of marks for each
point.

The paper was fairly good, but lacked suggestions, and
instead of boldly proclaiming a code of standard points
it left the matter where it. was taken up.

The shows are now commencing, it is important that
the matter should be decided for the guidance of exhi-
bitors and judges, and I again beg to ask the Committee
of the B. 15. K. A. to come to some arrangement for the
current year with a view to revision at the close of the
season.

The March issue of the Record contains a very interest-
ing paper written by Mr. W. Broughton Carr, who has
been sufficiently bold to fix a code of poinl s as follows : —
Flavour, 8 marks; colour, 6; consistency, or specific
gravity, 6 ; uniformity, 3 ; condition, 3 ; aroma, 2 ; ' cret-
up,' 2. I shall be happy to comply with this code for
extracted honey, but we require also a code for other
classes of honey. — Geo. Stocks, Winsford, May 15th.

LIGURIANS— HYBRIDS— DEMONS.
Your correspondent Mr. C. Pollard, touches upon a
sore point in my experience when he speaks of hybrids
as being 'perfect demons to manage;' and 1 don't know
•whether lie is so far wrong when he says that eventually
these foreign bees will be the downfall of hundreds of
bee-keepers. That their irritability will make much
difference to those who make bee-keeping a serious
business is not very likely, but to the agricultural
labourer, the country gentleman, and the ladv amateur,
it will make all the difference in the world. In my own
village, an old woman, for whom I have great regard,
told me she had been stung more often and more vigorously

last summer than during the whole of her life. She
does not know the reason, — but I do. Perhaps not very
wisely, I told her; and I think it very improbable that she-
will ever give half a sovereign for a foreign bee, ever
become a member of our County Association, or approve
of modern methods and scientific apiculture.

Again the vicar of a neighbouring parish obtained a
swarm of hybrids to inhabit a forty-shilling hive. It
was charmingly placed under a wire arbour, over which,
trailed in abundance a lovely clematis and a fragrant
rose, and which was obtained for the purpose of affording
a local habitation for the palatial hive. In less than a
week this worth}' divine bid a sorrowful farewell to his
garden with a swollen nose and a disfigured eye. During
the dead of night only would he venture into that garden
with impunity. At last the crisis came. Though it was
a good place, the gardener and the boy gave notice.
They were attached and faithful servants, but they were
rapidly getting beyond the recognition of their respective
friends and relatives, and felt thatany fnteorthesundering
of any ties was preferable to becoming in their bodies
walking Ligurian sting-cushions. That arbour is now
vacant and the hum of the bees is not heard round
the aforesaid clematis and rose, and the life of the
vicar, the gardener, and the boy, pursues its unruffled
and tranquil way. I might relate other instances, but
instead I will give my own experience. Some three or
four years ago, when I lived in another part of the
country, I bought two pure imported Ligurians. I
anticipated a pleasant time as I had been reading in
Cook's Manual of the r/entle Ligurians. Soon came the
first swarm, the largest I had ever seen, and with some
pride, I sent over to the good woman near by, who had
kept bees all her life, to come and see, and assist in the
hiving. She came, and was astonished at the colour and
size of the swarm, but ten times more so at the number
of stirgs she received.

Poor Mrs. Bedding ! "Well do I remember our con-
ference that evening, you bandaged and swollen, you
would not wear a veil, bees never stung you, you had
kept them all your life. Ah, yes ! but you had never
kept gentle Ligurians. I then learnt for the first time
the advantage of tucking my trousers into my socks.
"Well, Mr. Editor, I did not give up bee-keeping, but as
rapidly as possible reverted to the native stock. This
summer I am sufficiently black. Am I satisfied? Of
course not. I again feel a hankering for the gentle
Ligurians. I wrote the other day to three apiarians,
told them how I had found my Ligurians extremely
difficult to handle, and of a temper indescribably ferocious.
I was informed by the three that my experience differed
from theirs, Mr. Simmins stating that only upon one
occasion did he find the progeny of a Ligurian queen
exhibiting the characteristics described. I have ordered
three queens from three distinct vendors residing in
different counties. Two I have received and successfully
introduced. If their progeny are gentle, 1 shall have no
difficulty in Ligurianising my whole apiary, and keeping
them pure. If they should prove otherwise, I shall give
up Ligurians finally, as too frequent tfemonstrations spoil
the pleasure of bee-keeping. Your readers shall know
my fate. Life is full of illusions, and I am prepared for
the worst. Of course I may not have received pure
Ligurians in my former experience, though I bought and
paid for them cs such. — H. J. W.

' THE LABOURS OF A PARSON'S LIFE.'

So a clergyman has little else to do but look after
beehives : p. 10". I had just begun bee-keeping and
thought to take in your Journal, but, in a borrowed
number, came across the above statement, which very
nearly made me fling up the whole thing in disgust ; fur,
I argued, if we clergy who keep bees receive this
measure from the Bee Journal, what measure shall we

June 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAI,.

187

get from the majority of our parishioners who care
nothing for bees or the latest fashion in hives? But
is your statement true ? Take the country parson, for
he is the most likely man to go in for bee-keeping, and
I suppose also the most likely man to have little else to
do. For amusements, — there are plenty to compete with
bee-keeping. Gardening : most country parsons have
gardens ; cricket: there are such things as village cricket
clubs and lawn tennis ; lots of parsons play at these ;
tisliing : a regular parsonic pursuit ; shooting : most
country parsons know a partridge from a peewit;
concerts, parties, &c. ; so that even a country clergy-
man who did not keep bees might find a good many
other things to do. And, seriously, he has his parochial
duties, which are not so light as your paper would make
out. The Ordination Service, — if you will only look at it,
— gives a tolerable list. I won't parade the labours of a
parson's life ; he has his work, and I will only say that
if he does half of it, he has plenty to do besides looking
after bees. But if he does take up bee-keeping for the
sake of his poorer neighbours, he deserves better measure
than you have given him, if, as I suppose, you have the
true interest of bee-keeping at heart.

I have seen country parsons at bee-shows labouring to
instruct those who come to the bee-tents. ' Little else
to do ' is a hard verdict on such men, and one you ought
to have the grace to retract. — R.S.R. Ainport,Andover.

[The writer of the article referred to wishes us to
state that it was not his intention to cast any reflection
upon f country clergymen,' but merely quoted them as a
class amongst whom there are many who have sufficient
leisure at their disposal to take up bee-keeping ' as a
hobby or as a means of civilising their neighbours.' He
also begs us to say that he is sorry if he has uninten-
tionally given any offence by what he wrote.— Ed.]

HONEY-YIELDING TREES.

The arrival of your Journal reminds me that I wish to
report an observation I made here last month. It is
usually stated that a bee only gathers honey from one
species of flower during a single flight, and I have no
reason to doubt that this is so during the great honey-
season ; but in the early spring, when honey-producing
flowers are rare, one would naturally suppose that bees
might be less particular. This supposition I was enabled
to verify thus : Having a large pot of Triteleia unijhra
before my front door, and this being the only group of
flowers of the kind in the neighbourhood, I saw a bee
one day visit two blossoms of the Triteleia and suck
honey from them, and then pass on to a patch of Arabis
and gather a further supply from that flower. While
I am writing I must express my surprise at the papers
frequently appearing in the Journal on the subject of
bee-pasture. The trees seem so often neglected in the
treatment of this subject. I suppose the willows, fruit
trees and bushes, sycamores, limes and Spanish chestnuts,
give five-sixths of the honey I get here in the north-
west of Middlesex. One full-grown sycamore is equiva-
lent to half an acre of clover. I think more attention
should be drawn to the trees of a neighbourhood in
deciding whether a locality is suited for an apiary or
not. — Fued. Stock, Burton Bank, Mill Hill, K.W.,
May 19th.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
When I wrote my letter in jour issue of April loth
I did not wish to sting any one, but I quite expected to
cause a little ' buzzing.' Now I don't desire to provoke
any discussion, but I must still think had we bee-keepers
in this part of the county been left to the mercy of the
Cambridgeshire B. K. A. we should not have been very
f orward in the art of modern bee-keeping ; so far we

have plodded along and helped others as best we could.
During last season Mr. Botharnley (a bee enthusiast) and
I acted as (may I call it) district advisers to several iu
our neighbourhood who had recently commenced bee-
keeping on the humane system; and during the winter I
obtained some slides from Messrs. Abbott Bros, for
several weeks, for the use of which they very kindly
charged me only a nominal sum; and with my large
lime-light lantern we gave several lectures on bees and
bee-keeping and made several converts, including five
ladies.

Mr. Howard of Holme and I also gave lectures
in his village and in two others. I am always willing
to do all I can to further the object, but one cannot quite
give up all their time ; and I still think if the County
Association had only made up their minds to have come
and taken an interest in the coming County Agricultural
Show here in July, they would have been better off
botli numerically and financially. I cannot see that they
would have been anything out of pocket, as the Agri-
cultural Society would have met them in the matter of
expenses. They now have generously offered five
guineas for prizes for honey and hives, and a lady in
Wisbech has given two pounds ten ; that will be a good
start, and other subscriptions might have been collected
as there are now a great many bee-keepers in and around
the neighbourhood who would have willingly subscribed
to the prizes, and no doubt would have become members
of the Association.

There is a small committee formed here to assist the
secretaries of the Agricultural Society to frame the
schedule and help to get a good show of honey, hives,
&c, and will no doubt avail themselves of the kind offer
of the Association to have their bee-tent for manipu-
lating.— J. Danx, Wisbech, May Hind.

BEES AND RHODODENDRONS.

Mr. Garratt, in his remarks on Mr. Griffin's paper,
viz., ' Honey and Wax,' states that he has never seen
our cultivated bee work upon rhododendrons and azaleas,
although be lias frequently watched. Up till a few-
days ago I should have been prepared to confirm that
gentleman's opinion, as during the past four years we
have kept bees here, quite close to a very large bank of
the plants in question ; and it was not till the past
fortnight that 1 saw our honey-bee working on them,
which during the past fortnight they have been in great
numbers; indeed, I cannot remember having seen a
greater number of bees around any one plant than I saw
around a plant of Rhododendron nobleamim. They
have also visited the azaleas, but in less numbers. My
opinion is that bees are driven f o take or seek nectar on
plants that at other times they would refuse if a supply
of that which was better to their taste could lie found.
In this district I believe there was a dearth of honey
between the pear and cherry, and before the apple,
blossom came in; hence the bees seeking honey on
plants that they would under other circumstances have
passed by. — C. Wahden, Clarendon, Wilts.

BOTTLE-FEEDERS FOR RAW SUGAR.
Many bee-keepers wDl object to the outlay for the
new ' dry-sugar ' feeders if already possessed of the old
system of bottle-feeders. To such let me recommend a
simple plan I have successfully used this and last
seasons.

Cut a circle of excluder-zinc of the size of interior of

bottle. Bend it so as to pass the neck, and when in,

flatten out again. Now till the bottle with raw sugar,

i hook up the zinc, and press it firmly on top of sugar:

| and invert over the feed-hole. The sugar will not fall

through the large perforations of the zinc, and it will be

I in the best possible position for absorbing the steam of

a2

188

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June 1, 1885.

the cluster. Practically the bees work up every granule
until the bottle is empty.

An old pickle-jar. will answer, and any zinc having
holes large enough for the bees to pass through-. — E. H.
Bella irs.

POLLEN FROM BROOM AND FURZE.

No doubt many readers of the British Bee Journal
have noticed a great number of their bees enter the hives
dusted over with pollen, some have their upper surfaces
completely covered, wliile another lot has the under part
Of their bodies thus affected. Of course it is known
that the bees must necessarily get more or less coated
with the fertilising grains of pollen, in their search for
honey, but why should that sectiou of bees that are told
off as it were for honey-collecting get covered over with
pollen ? I confess it was for some time a puzzle to me
how the little fellows contrived to dress themselves thus
— like the claw in the fable — in borrowed plumage, but
after some close observation I found that the flowers of
the broom acted the part as milliner.

The contrivance set apart for this operation is very
interesting, and those who have not witnessed it, and
are interested in matters botanical, I should persuade
to visit the nearest clump of broom, where it will be
seen that the bees in quest of honey (I say those in
(|uest of honey, for those in search of pollen are content
to collect pollen alone), depress the left petal, or what is
technically called wing, of a partially opened flower,
which liberates the hitherto imprisoned pistil and stamens
from the keel-shaped lower petals, with some consider-
able force. The stamens thus mechanically set free
strike the bee exactly on the anterior upper part of the
thorax accompanied at the same time by quite a little
cloud of pollen, especially if the weather is dry and
warm. This phenomenon is really interesting and re-
quires to be seen to be appreciated.

An analogous movement of stamens may be observed
in the flowers of the whin or furze, but owing to these
being shorter than those of the broom, they can only
strike the under surface of the bee's abdomen.

The pistil of the broom and furze flowers protrudes
beyond the stamens, and on liberation strikes the already
pollen covered surface of the bee, and in this manner the
stigmatic surface of the pistil gets charged with the
fertilising element from another flower (some species of
course ).

It will thus be seen that our bees are not coated with
"tills golden dust in a hap-hazard way or through their own
carelessness, but simply by a beautiful law of Nature's
own, in order to accomplish her own natural means of
of cross-fertilisation through the agency of these little
industrious insects. — IIv. Dobbie, Thickthorn; Noririr/t .

AUIiRIETIA PURPUREA.
I have much pleasure in forwarding you the enclosed
cuttings of a flower I have never seen any reference
made to by any of the bee-keepers or readers of your
valuable paper. Its name is Aubrietia purpurea, a very
hardy perennial, and blooms from March until very late
in the season. I have growing in my garden arabis,
borage, limnanthes, wallflowers, &c., and .find the bees
frequent this little plant more than any of the others,
which is sufficient proof that it may claim a leading
position amongst our bee flowers as a honey producer.
It makes a beautiful border, and will grow in1 almost
any place. Bee-keepers would do well to give Aiibrietia
a trial, and thus test its qualities as a bee plant. It
strikes readily from cuttings if planted in damp weather.
I can spare s«me cuttings. Price may be ascertained by
application to— John Di McNallyJ 10 Hi/hide .Street,
Sjiri in/bum, Glasgow.

[We do not remember that Aubrietia purpurea has

been previously mentioned in the Journal, but Aubrietia
grceca has been noticed and commented upon. The two
are very mucli alike, and afford considerable pasturage
in spring and early summer, and are best propagated by
division of the plants and by seed. — Ed.]

FEMALE EXPERTS AMONG COTTAGERS.

Some would have us believe that it was useless to
endeavour to inform cottagers of modern principles in
bee-keeping, on the grounds that the men are away from
home all day, and could not give the bees the necessary
attention. But surely this must be a poor excuse for
not endeavouring to further the enlightened principles
among the poorer classes, the very aim for which our
parent and affiliated Associations exist. Mr. A. I. Root,
in his excellent work, A B C of Bee Culture, gives us
some conclusive proof of what a female can do among
bees, in the person of Mrs. L. Harrison ; but the other
day I saw an instance still more striking, of a female
turning up skeps of bees, taking note of their weight and
the number of bees, and setting them back on the stool ;
and on showing several bystanders her method of
feeding, ' the bees were allowed to pass out at the top of
the hive,' when they soon dispersed the bystanders in all
directions, but Mrs. Expert stood over the hives, without
flinching or fear, and this without gloves, veil, or
smoker. I was eye-witness to this, and I may say that
I never saw a woman show such confidence among bees
before, although many or nearly all the women in this
district, when they or their husbands keep bees, can
manage to hive a swarm aud never apprehend any danger.
Now what, may I ask, can be further required as an aid
to the cottage bee-keeper? Mr. Cheshire, in his able
remarks on foul brood, tells us that what man has done
man can do, and why not what woman has done woman
can do ? It is not all of us who can even hope to attain
the high position that last-named gentleman has won for
himself, but if we never try, we most assuredly shall
never succeed : and so with the cottage bee-keeper and
his wife, they should try if they ever hope to keep up
with the times in bee-keeping. — C. Wabden, Clarendon,
Wilts.

-

—

AN EXPERT'S TO UP.

Having just returned from a ten days' tour, during
which I have been doing the spring visit as ' expert' in
one of our largest counties, I have great pleasure in
testifying to the great and increasing interest which is
being taken in bee-keeping by all classes of society. I
had during this period opportunities of conversing with
noblemen, clergymen, officers in the army and navy,
farmers and labourers ; and all alike, either for pleasure
or profit, were enthusiastically interested in the busy
bees. But my principal reasons for writing is to say
what numerous expressions of joy I heard on all sides at
the formation and success of the ' British Honey Com-
pany' Limited. It is now felt that a safe and certain
outlet will be provided for the honey which is harvested.
Some of the people whom I visited were complaining
that they had sold honey to certain dealers who
advertise in the Journal, but were unable to obtain any
settlement, although numerous applications had been
made for the same; and it is now felt that if. the price
should not be so good, yet payment will be certain and
speedy. It gave me pleasure to commend the objects and
claims of the Company to all.

From all I have seen as to the number and condition
of ' stocks ' examined, I can testify to the ability and.
readiness of the bees for any amount of work which
may await them in the coming season; and I feel certain'
that, providing we have suitable weather, the results of
next honey harvest will be such as will astonish the
most sanguine of prophets: hence the need and impor-
tance of a certain market.

June 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

ISO

The proposed weekly issue of the Journal is, I ani
sure, a step in the right direction and one which will be
gladly welcomed by a very large majority of your
readers, and by no one more than by yours, — First-
class Ckkttficatk Expert.

DISPENSING WITH SMOKERS.

I think I am right in saying that experts in api-
culture advocate the use of smokers, or rather smoke,
to calm bees previous to manipulation. I have six
stocks of bees in bar-frame hives, and for the last two
years I have dispensed with smoke altogether, and have
found that my bees have been quieter and easier to mani-
pulate, besides saving me an endless amount of trouble
in having to manage a smoker, which I am inclined to
think is far more trouble than it is worth ; and I have
come to the conclusion that in manipulating smoke is
unnecessary in very many cases, if not all, and can be
replaced by firmness and care. In case you may think it
would interest some of your readers to know how I
manage to dispense with the use of smoke, I am pleased
to state my method of procedure. I might premise that
my bees have some Italian blood in their veins, and that
when I first had tliem some six years ago, and was but a
tyro iu apiculture, I generally found them very savage.

"When I wish to examine a hive (which I have done at
all hours of the day") I first gently remove the quilt, and
leave the bees for a few minutes, to get over the surprise
at finding- the roof of their house gone. I next remove
the frames one by one (commencing with the one at the
back of the hive) so as to leave a small space between
the ends of each frame. I then take out each comb
separately, and after examination return it to the hive
and close up as at first. On removing the quilt the bees
will fly about in great numbers, but by keeping a firm
and steady hand they will quickly settle down without
giving vent to their anger. Half the battle is to keep
cool — persons who are very nervous in manipulating will
perhaps do well to continue the use of smoke. When a
bee settles on the hand or arm I would advise persons
not to blow it off, but rather to remove it by a gentle
touch of the finger, as I have found from experience that
blowing greatlv irritates bees.

In conclusion, I might mention that I always wear a
veil when manipulating — not because I am afraid of
being stung, but because a lawyer's clerk or a shop-
keeper's assistant, or the like, with both eyes closed,
and the cheeks the size of inflated bladders, from the
effects of a sting, presents anything but a prepossessing
appearance. — W. Beaslky, Ai/lestuite, Leicester.

JforcigiT.

FRANCE.

According- to the Apiculteur of Paris, the first fort-
night of last month has been anything but favourable
for bee-keepers, the weather having been cold and dull
in the extreme. The losses resulting from bees venturing
out during the few short intervals of sunshine, must have
been considerable. A decided change for the better,
took place, however, on the l-5th, when fruit-trees
became one mass of blossoms almost simultaneously,
thereby enabling the majority of stocks to make up for
a good portion of their time lost. A few have thrown
off what are known as Easter swarms, but were poor
and unsatisfactory.

On Easter Monday, about thirty bee-keepers met by
appointment at Auxerre to arrange for the re-establish-
ment of a Bee Association which was started there a
few years ago for the district of Yonne, and dissolved
fifteen or eighteen months afterwards. A much larger
number of friends was looked for, and would have

attended, but for the stormy weather which was pre-
vailing at the time. However, after a brief discussion,
the Association was re-established, and opened to both
French and foreign bee-keepers, to be known under the
name of ' Societe dApiculture de la Bourgogne.'

THE EASTERN RACES OF BEES.

(From Mr. F. Benlon'x 'Bees,' Nos. 4 and 5.)

Many into whose hands these lines may fall will
doubtless know that I passed the years 1880-81-82 in
the Orient, devoting my whole time to bee-culture, and
that I have since then visited several different countries
for the purpose of procuring- the most valuable races of
bees, as well as the choicest queens, to be had.

In 18S0 ' The Cyprus Apiary ' consisted of over two
hundred colonies of bees, collected in various parts of
the island, and in 13S1 the ' Mount Lebanon Apiary,'
baring eighty to a hundred colonies, was established by
purchasing stock-hives from numerous apiaries located on
the sides of Mount Lebanon. Many apiaries were visited
also where no purchases were made, and I have conversed
with a large number of the native bee-owners in many
different parts of the East, but have never seen a trace
of foul brood nor heard of its existence there. This is
worthy of note, since the native bee-raisers in those lands
are well acquainted with the birds, insects, &c, whicli are
injurious to their bees. I believe myself fully warranted
in the conclusion that the disease does not exist there.

After five years' experience I am of the opinion that
the first rank should be given to Cyprian bees as the best
bees, all things considered, yet cultivated. They were
discovered and first imported from Cyprus by Mr. Ed-
ward Cori, Director of Chancellory iu Bohemia, and are
now raised largely in Austria, Germany, and America.
The queens of fliis race live on the average longer, and
show greater prolifieness, than do those of the black or
Italian races, but less inclination to rear large numbers of
drones. They commence laying earlier than either
Italians or blacks, and continue later in the season, more-
over they do not stop brood-rearing at every check in the
honey flow. It results from all this that Cyprian colonies
are always very populous, hence are prepared for every
harvest that comes along, and go into winter quarters in
good condition ; and since this race shows the greatest
energy and diligence in honey-gathering, remarkable
yields of honey cm beobtained with it if rightly man-
aged. A striking example of this is this is the yield of
1000 lbs. of honey, obtained by a well-lmown bee-keeper,
Mr. B. F. Carroll, of Dresden, Texas, in a single season
and from one hive of bees. Cyprians winter excellently,
even in -very severe climates. They show the greatest
courage and perseverance in defending their hives against
robbers, moths, He., — in fact, they are robber-proof and
moth-proof. ^Yhen high winds prevail they are ex-
tremely prudent about venturing out, although their
flight is strong and swift. They frequently construct
eightv to a hundred queen-cells at a time, and the young
queens upon emerging are remarkably Tigorous and
active. When the combs are removed from hives of
pure Cyprians, the bees do not run to the lower parts of
the frames and drop off in clumps as do black bees, but
remain, like Italians, spread evenly over the combs;
They can, however, be shaken from the combs as easily
as black bees. Cyprians are the yellowest, most beautiful
bees yet discovered, and the race is such a well-established
one that in all crosses obtained with it the Cyprian
blood has the greatest influence and is even easily dis-
cernible through many generations. This potency in
transmitting its markings and qualities is positive proof
that the Cyprian is a vigorous, well-established race,
developed by many centuries, perhaps even thousands, of
years of natural selection.

The claim that Cyprian bees are possessed of such
great stinging propensities as to make them nearly un-
manageable I have not found well based ; indeed, in com~

190

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June 1, 1885.

mon with many others who have carefully tested them,
I prefer to manipulate Cyprians rather than Italians, and
find that, while getting no more stings from them, I can
get on much faster with the work.

Syrian bees are found on that portion of the mainland
of Asia lying opposite to Cyprus, but only northward
from Mount Carmel. Their qualities are quite similar to
those of Cyprians, hence what I have said in reference to
Cyprians applies also in a great measure to Syrians, and
of all races yet cultivated they certainly are second to
none unless it be to the Cyprians. The Syrian type is
not however as well established as the Cyprian, and the}'
vary slightly more in their markings and temperament.
The workers and drones show less yellow, are greyer
over their whole bodies, and their individual activity
is not quite equal to that of Cyprians, although ex-
ceeding that of blacks or Italians. The queens are, on
the average, rather larger-bodied than Cyprian queens,
but less nimble, so that the amount of work performed
by the two remains about the same. I do not find
Syrians preferable in disposition to Cyprians. The two
races are very similar in this respect, and with gentle
treatment at the proper time, either can be easily
manipulated with little or no smoke. I rarely have
to resort to smoke unless manipulating Italian or Pales-
tine bees.

Syrian bees are never to be confounded with Palestine
bees, a very different race, found southward from Mount
Carmel, in the Holy Land proper. Palestines are
smaller-bodied than Syrians, often less distinctly banded
with yellow, and are greyer in colour. They are more
given to robbing, more likely to have fertile workers, and
not to winter as well as either Cyprians or Syrians, not
even as well as Italians. They are infinitely more diffi-
cult to handle than the races just mentioned, both because
of their stinging propensities, and because they run on
the combs like blacks and drop off in clumps, and are
also disposed to run from the combs over the hands of
the manipulator, biting at the same time far more than
do other bees. In truth, I know of no bees, unless pos-
sibly it be the Egyptians (which the Talestines resemble),
that are as difficult to manage as the race coming from
Palestine. They are, however, energetic defenders of
their hives, fair honey-gatherers, and prolific breeders,
as well as interesting, and, when distinctly banded, very
beautiful bees. — Frank Benton, Munich, Germany.

BEE-KEEPING IN QUEENSLAND.

Thinking a short statement of the yield of honey
from a small Queensland apiary might be of interest to
some of your readers, we forward the same for in-
sertion in the Journal should you deem it of sufficient
interest. Of course it can be condensed if you think
desirable. The time at our disposal is very limited,
otherwise we believe the return would have been con-
siderably larger in proportion. To the same cause is
attributable the apparent neglect, at a critical time, of
hives 5 and 8.

Our first stock (English bees) we obtained in August,
1882, from the nearest port, distant about 100 miles,
and from thence we had to convey it over unusually
rough and rocky bush-' roads,' across bridgeless creeks
and gullies, involving terrible and unavoidable joltings,
and more than one submershm in the creeks. Fortunately
the box, ' a bar-frame ' hive, was of an unique con-
struction, the frame being of a substantiality that would
astonish your English makers, and very small in size.
Thanks also to the occupants, the combs were built
without regard to the frames, thus further tending to
security in transit. There was a slight collapse of comb,
and about 1000 bees were drowned or suffocated, but
with these exceptions the hive reached its destination
safely. Taking into account the cost of the special
trip which it involved, this stock stood us in some
10/.

YIELD OF HONEY

From Skit-ember, 1884, to March 19, 1885, BOTH inclusive.

Bees, Italian.

Sizes of

i _

„ 1 Hives
J0- (O.S. measure-

Description of

Stock.

ment) .

X 3

ado

'

lbs.

1 | 20x12x12

1st swarm of
Sept. 25, '84

Swarmed Dec. 13/84 140

2 : Ditto

2nd swarm of

320

Jan. 1, '84

3

Ditto

Establ'd stock

Swarmed Nov. 26, '84 260

4

Ditto

1st swarm,

Removed qneen Jan.

Nov. 26, '84

23, '85, so had to
raise artificial one 140

g ! Ditto

Establ'd stock

In Nov. '84, queen
died : inieenless for
one month

200

6 ! 29x12 v 12

Ditto

260

7 I Ditto

Ditto

260

8 | Ditto

i

I

Ditto

Swarmed Sept. 25,
Oct. 3, & Dec. 27,
'S4 : (|Ueenlessl'rom
latter stock 1 mo.

90

9

Ditto

Ditto

Swarmed Sep. 21, '84

290

10

23 x 12 x 12

Ditto

Swarmed Sep. 25, '84

208

11

25x12x12

Ditto

290

12

24x12x11]

2nd swarm,

Oct. 3, '84
[united

Plain box, no frames.
Coi ub had to be
made.

85

18

40x12x12

r<» 1st swarms

520

14

20 17 x 10

1st swarm,
Dec. 13, '84

Plain box, no frames.
Bees had to make

80

their own comb.

3143*

Average per box, 224J lbs.

There being no bees within a radius of 100 miles, this
was a favourable opportunity for Italianising; we,
therefore, in January, 188:j, obtained from Brisbane au
Italian queen, and some workers, at a first cost of -'J/.
These had to be shipped to our nearest port, and obtained
from thence as before, and Under circumstances even
more trying, since it was during our ' rainy season ; ' so
that the total cost to us was even more than on the first
occasion. These facts are merely mentioned in order to
show some of the difficulties that have to be encountered
in starting an apiary in an out-of-the-way district such
as is ours.

AVe omitted to say that the Italianising above referred
to was successfully performed a la ' Simmins' method.'
Bather a risky undertaking, some of your correspondents
may think, seeing that a failure would have involved a
considerable outlay of time and money. — Beckitt and
Mills, Mount Britten, Queensland, 19th March, 1885.

A Lecture on Bees and Bee-keeping. — At the
usual meeting of the Tooting Mutual Improvement
Society, on Thursday, March 20, the Ilev. W. Ander-
son, D.D., the President, in the chair, Mr. James Pirie,
M.A., one of the Masters in the City of London School,
delivered a lecture on the above subject to an unusually
large audience in the Lecture Boom of Defoe Presby-
terian Church.

The lecturer said the wonders of the hive have ever
formed a theme of interest, but the study within the
last quarter of a century has acquired quite a unique
and far-reaching interest from the close relationship
existing between insects and flowers. This aspect of
the question, the lecturer thought, far outweighed all
immediate considerations of commercial harvesting of
wax and honey. Our illustrious countryman, Charles
Darwin, was the first clearly to point out the essential
service which insects perform to flowers. This relation
is one of mutual advantage, the insects obtaining sup-
plies of honey and pollen, and in one case transferring

* From xujH'i-s only ; body-boxes untouched.

Juno 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

191

the pollen from the stamens to the pistil of the same
flower (self-fertilisation), but in the majority of cases
transferring; the pollen from the stamens of one flower to
the pistil of another flower (cross-fertilisation). This
cross-fertilisation was, however, sometimes effected by
the uncertain agency of the wind. Plants which were
cross-fertilised, betides producing a larger number of
seeds, produced a better quality of seed than plants
which were self-fertilised. In some flowers the relative
positions of stamen and pistil rendered self-fertilisation
impossible, and in such cases, were it not for cross-
fertilisation, the species of plant would die out. Wind-
fertilised flowers, as a rule, have no colour, emit no
scent, produce no honey, and are regular in form ;
whereas colour, scent, and honey are the three charac-
teristics by which insects are attracted to flowers.
Darwin, speaking of clover and heartsease, remarks,
' No bees, no seed ; no seed, no increase of the flower.
The more visits from the bees, the more seeds from the
flower ; the more seeds from the flower, the more
flowers from the seeds.' And he mentions the follow-
ing experiment : — 'Twenty heads of white clover, visited
by bees, produced 3990 seeds ; while twenty heads, so
protected that bees could not. visit them, produced not
one seed.' The lecturer here read a curious advertise-
ment, which appeared in the Bee Journal last year,
offering Is. for each humble-bee delivered alive to an
address in Kent. These humble-bees were wanted for
New Zealand, in which colony the common red clover
sets no seeds, inasmuch as the proboscis of the ordinary
hive-bee is not' long enough to effect the object. Ac-
cordingly, while these colonists can grow clover for
fodder, they have none suitable for seed purposes in the
following spring, and thus entail great expense by
importing their seed from this country and elsewhere.
If they succeed in cultivating the humble-bees this
difficulty will be obviated. The marvellous arrange-
ment in Nature whereby cross-fertilisation is secured in
the case of garden sage (Salvia officinalis) was then
minutely explained, reference being made to enlarged
diagrams showing the organs of the flower protected by
a hood, and a bee standing on a platform petal whilst
probing for the nectar secreted at the base of the
corolla-tube. The bee is represented visiting first a
young flower, without coming in contact with the
immature stigma ; but the bee's head strikes the lower
anther of the stamen, which causes the stamen to swing
round on its connective, and thus to bring down the
large upper anthers bearing pollen-dust, with a consider-
able thump upon the back of the bee, and so dusting her
with pollen that when she next visits another flower
having a ripe stigma obstructing the entrance, her dusty
back rubs against the sticky surface of the stigma, and
fertilisation is thus provided for (Lubbock). Peas and
beans, cucumbers, vegetable marrows, campion, borage,
oak, hazel, and hosts of other plants and fruit-trees are
in large measure indebted to bees for the fertilisation of
their seed. The discussion of this branch of the subject
prevented complete details being given regarding the
practical management of hives. Still an outline was
supplied, displaying the immense advantage, in numerous
ways, of wooden bar-frame hives over the old-fashioned
straw or ' bramble ' hive. Mr. Pirie here, with the aid
of one of his own Blake hives, demonstrated the useful-
ness of moveable frames to which sheets of artificial
wax-foundation combs could be fastened thus saving
honey and labour to the bees, for about '2 lbs. weight of
comb is required in a full hive, and if the bees were left
to themselves the honey they would have to collect to
make this wax-comb would weigh 40 lbs.; and it would
surely be better to have the 40 lbs. weight of honey
stored for our own purposes, and let the creatures have
the wax required, costing less than one-tenth of the
value of the honejr. By this system also swarming
could be effected with the most perfect ease and cer-

tainty, and by judicious manipulation, and introducing
of queens to stocks from which artificial swarms had
been taken, four colonies can, in a single summer, be
made out of two colonies, besides yielding a good harvest
of virgin honey in section-boxes, and of run-honey by
use of the extractor. The newest wrinkle in bee-keep-
ing was also explained. In an ordinary frame the queen
deposits her eggs in the centre, and works downwards in
depositing brood, whilst the workers store their honey in
the cells above the brood-cells. But if such a frame is
reversed, the honey-cells will be at the bottom, and the
brood is now uppermost. The bees will not suffer their
stores to be placed in such an unsafe position, and so
they will now commence to empty the honey-cells, and
will carry it aloft to the section-boxes, which it is the
pride of the bee-keeper to have filled. The honey-cells
at bottom of frame being now vacant, the queen is
ready to utilise them for her eggs. Thus the whole
space within the frame becomes devoted to brood, and
the hive being strong in numbers is ready to take
advantage of a favourable opportunity for honey gather-
ing, the produce of which will be deposited in the
supers or section-boxes. Another advantage is that the
reversed combs are likely to be built up close to the bar,
and thus a firm slab of comb will be formed. The
labours and writings of Iluber, Dzierzon, Langstrotb,
Woodbury, Abbott, Cowan, Benton, and Cheshire, were
touched upon. The diagrams used (illustrating flowers,
bees, extractors, the process of driving straw skeps,
the sting of a bee, &c.) were drawn by boy friends of
the lecturer, and, although homely, answered the
purpose.

A cordial vote of thanks was given to the lecturer, on
the proposition of Mr. Sandison, seconded by Mr.
Deuchar.

Bees and Bee-Keeping. — A most interesting lecture
on this subject was delivered on Thursday at the Town
Hall, Colchester, to the Students' Association, by Mr.
Edmund Dnrrant, of Chelmsford. The Rev. W. H.
Wardell occupied the chair, and there was a good
audience. The lecture, which was listened to with much
interest, was illustrated with some capital magic-lantern
slides. The lantern was kindly lent by Mr. W. II.
Stedman. Mr. J. S. Boreham, of High Street, Colchester,
also lent a large amount of bee ' furniture,' specimens of
modern hives, &c. Mr. Dnrrant described the various
kinds of bees, photographs of each of which were thrown
upon the screen, including the English worker bee, or
black bee, the Ligurian and Cyprian bee, the queen-bee
and the drone. He also alluded briefly to their structure
and habits of life, the marvellous reverence which the
workers show for their ' queen,' and the ignominious fate
of the useless drones whose wings are bitten off and the
poor creatures cast out of the hive ; and then mentioned
some of the many superstitions regarding bees, such as
the supposed necessity for telling them if a death occurs
in the family, and for paying for a swarm always in
gold, itc. The old-fashioned methods of bee-keeping and
' burning' he strongly condemned as wasteful and in-
human, and traced out the origin of the custom of beating
on a saucepan when a swarm is taken. The effect on the
bee3 of the noise at the time of swarming was absolutely
nil, because they are known to be deaf. Mr. Dnrrant
explained the modern improved hives, and showed their
great superiority. He mentioned an instance of a man
who persuaded his friend to give him a hive, which he
was about to ' bum,' the consequence bein^ that the same
swarm produced next autumn honey to the value of 61.
It was quite possible for a cottager to pay his rent out of
the producs of his hives, and it had been said that fifty
hives would bring a man in 100/. a-year. The lecturer
concluded by giving a short history of the Essex Bee-
keepers' Association started in 1880. To the farmer
bee-keeping was especially important, because Darwin

192

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June 1, 1885.

had proved experimentally that beans produced four
times as good a crop if fertilised by the good offices of
bees, and clover was improved ten-fold by them. Some
people thought there might be fear of the country being
over-stocked with bees, and the market for honey over-
crowded ; but, considering tliatiu some parts of Germany
and Switzerland there were in a single district as many
as 2000 hives, and yet such districts were not over-
crowded, there was not much likelihood of over-stocking
England with honey by encouraging apiculture. In con-
clusion, as a further instance of the practical use of honey,
the lecturer opened a tin of Honey Biscuits, which he had
Teceived that day from Messrs. Huntley and Palmer, who
only buy their enormous stock of honey from bee-keepers
of the modern school. The biscuits were distributed in
the room. So healthful is honey supposed to be, that
the lecturer mentioned that it had been said if we could
only eat enough of it we should be able to work day and
night. A very hearty vote of thanks was accorded to
Mr. Durrant and those who were kind enough to assist in
promoting the lecture, and a similar compliment having
been paid to the Chairman, the meeting separated. —
Essex Standard.

Attacked by Bees. — The Rev. J. P. Ellwood,
Missionary at Jabalpur, North India, relates an ad-
venture he and his party had with bees while on an
itinerating journey last year : — 'It is said that people live
and learn even in the common tilings of every-da}' life,
and surely this was verified during our journey to
Bandakpur. We had a new experience of camping life,
which might have proved very serious, but as it happened
all of us escaped comparatively unhurt. It so happened
that in one camping-ground there were three nests of
bees on the trees. As soon as the servants and cartmen
began to cook their food, the bees evidently resented the
intrusion, and thereupon one nest descended in great
anger and attacked Mrs. Ellwood, who was quietly
walking round with our little girl. She gave the alarm,
and immediately Jane, the Frances Ridley Havergal
Fund, Bible-woman, came to the rescue, but poor un-
fortunate Jane now came in for the brunt of their anger.
Mrs. Ellwood, being badly stung, rushed into the tent,
but poor Jane could not rid herself of the bees. The
catechists and servants came to her assistance, and they
also had to share the conflict, for by this time the bees
of the other nests, hearing the conflict below, rushed
down upon us. The word was given to all, " Bush from
the camp and save yourselves," and in a few minutes our
camp was one of wild confusion, never to be forgotten.
Catechists, Bible-women, and servants, with their half-
cooked food, bullocks, and other animals, ran helter-skelter
for dear life over ploughed fields, and the bees after them.
The scene was most ludicrous and yet terrible, and the
bees made their presence felt in a very painful way.
After making good our escape we all sat by the roadside,
fearing to return to our tents, for return might have
proved fatal to some of us. Fortunately there was a
road bungalow two miles off, and there we found an
asylum for the night. We did not forget to thank our
heavenly Father for sparing our lives. Only a short
time ago, a European doctor in a similar position was
stung to death by a swarm of bees. We were forcibly
reminded of the Psalmist's words, "They compassed me
about like bees," and we thanked God and took courage.' —
The Church Missionary Gleaner.

Degree of Heat desirable in a Hive for Comb-
building and Brood-rearing. — This should be about
95° Fahr. The degree of heat in a hive, even in winter,
is much more than it is generally thought to be. In
January a thermometer standing near an apiary indicated
7° below the freezing point, but when the bulb was in-
serted a little way into the entrance of a hive, it rose 23°
above that point. Had it been inserted into the cluster,
it would have indicated a much higher figure. — American
Bee Journal.

A Profitable Apiary. — Several Swiss newspapers
have contained the following statement : — ' Pastor Jeker
of Subingen (Soleure), owner of sixty stocks of bees
gathered during last }rear (1884) twenty-nine hundred-
weights of honey, leaving twenty-five pounds in each
hive for their winter provision. These 2900 lbs. re-
present a value of 2900 francs. This is a gain honour-
ably earned.' A correspondent having some doubts. of
the correctness of the above figures, applied to Pastor
Jeker, who in his reply says : ' The figures given are exact
and truthful. My sixty hives (fifty-nine in wooden hives
and one in straw) have furnished me twenty-nine hundred-
weights of hone}'. There are other bee-keepers who have
reaped as much honey; for example, M. Bertrand at
Chalet, near Nyon. Bee-keeping is a nice little source
of income for the people of the country.'

What next? — Au American of the name of Tompkins
has, it seems, solved the problem how to render bees,
wasps, and hornets harmless, by depriving them of the
ability to sting. He has brought to public notice an
ingenious invention of his own called the bee-muzzle. It
consists, we read, of a minute particle of cork, which is
placed in contact with the extremity of the insect, and
into which the bee is induced to thrust its sting. A
drop of cement is then placed on the cork, the result
being that cork and sting are firmly attached together.
The operation is described by the inventor of this novel
kind of muzzle to be quite painless to the bee, although,
of course, the insect is a trifle annoyed at first when it
discovers the sting cannot be withdrawn. But, one is
assured, it quickly grows used to the slight inconvenience,
and, provided the muzzle be adjusted with care, it in no
way interferes with the flight of the bee, its advantago
being that the bees are a safe playmate for children and
as harmless as flies or butterflies. The inventor of the
muzzle, who resides in New York, has in his garden
seven hives, containing a matter of fifteen hundred bees,
exclusive of the queen (!) Formerly the neighbours were
exposed to the danger of being stung, and complaints
were continually lodged against Mr. Tompkins. Since he
has applied his invention to all bis insects, excepting of
course the drones, the danger has disappeared, and the
hives are no longer a nuisance to neighbours. — Evening
Standard, Mai/ 22.

A Bee-keeper's wife is very interested in any recipes
for various ways in which hone}' can be used, and much
obliged to the land friends who supply them now and
again to the Bee Journal, and would he glad if any one
would give directions for making honey drops or such-
like sweets, &c, and honey beverages.

A GLANCE AT OUR WORK, AND OUR
NECESSITIES.

A Paper read before the Devon and Exeter Bee-keepers'
Association.

By Captain Heysham, R.N.

(Continued from p. 104.)

There is another most important class whose aid is
sadly wanted, and whose countenance and assistance
would do far more for us than the mere money value of
their subscriptions. I refer to the landed proprietors
and country gentlemen. Their position naturally gives
them great influence on those around them, and any
interest shown by them would go far towards encourag-
ing bee-keeping as a national industry. The question is,
the best way of gaining their help ? If not already
definitely settled, I trust it will soon be decided to send
a circular to them, showing the good work done, and
being done, by the County Association, and begging for
their co-operation.

Before leaving this part of my subject, there is, I think,
one other point that is worth mentioning; it is this, that
when endeavouring to convince cottagers of the superiority

June 1, 1884.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

193

of the modern system, and giving- them practical illustra-
tions of the method of management, it is most desirable
to show them good, plain, inexpensive, hut serviceable
hives, — hives that they can see for themselves can be made
■at a small outlay, and not to overwhelm them by showing
a number of bulky and expensive articles, which, however
■convenient, or even necessary to those who keep bees for
pleasure, or have a large number of hives, are not
absolutely required by those who are taking up bee-
keeping on a i-mall scale, and with the object of adding
to their slender incomes. Success will make their onward
path easy, and necessary appliances will soon prove them-
selves to be a good investment. This is abundantly
proved, by the numerous working men who have taken
up bee-keeping for profit, and succeeded beyond their
expectations. One giant obstacle seems to be the
■* Extractor ; ' it is true that an extractor on the prin-
ciple of Abbott's 'Little Wonder' can be made very
cheaply, and takes up but little room, and one would
suffice with management for many small bee-keepers in
£ village, but this co-operation is difficult to arrive at.
Could not the Association, by entering into a special
agreement, supply one when asked for by cottagers at
the lowest possible remunerative prices ? This would
add more to the many advantages already offered by the
Association, and which are at present too little known
and appreciated.

It will be said that to increase our list of Members,
and through them to extend the sphere of usefulness of
the Association, has been our object for years, but I would
point out, that to do this, and to succeed with those
whom we more particularly wish to benefit, we must all
work in accord, and not in a fitful or disjointed way.
We have strong prejudices and the clinging to old
customs to combat; and it is only the thorough conviction
of the immense superiority of the new S3'stem over the
old, coupled with the fact, that honey taken in the old
fashion, by sulphuring the bees and smashing up the
combs, is fast becoming unsaleable, that will, in the
majority of cases, effect the revolution in bee-keeping
that we are here to-day to promote.

I have already alluded to the sweeping condemnation
so often pronounced on the bar-frame hive by people
innocent of any knowledge, either of its advantages or
the way to use it ; and I have instanced one case out of
many where it has been so condemned and discarded.
The harm done does not stop there, but is repeated from
one to another, equally ignorant and only too glad to find
themselves able to quote what they consider so well
proved a case, vouched for by one who has tried, and
condemned the 'new-fangled hive,' whicli they have
looked at from afar, but never had the courage, or energy,
to try for themselves. I think that, as a general rule, it
may be said, that the owner of a few neglected-looking
skeps, who has failed to derive an}1- benefit from the
teaching so lavishly bestowed, and brought in most cases
to his very door, in fact, one whose intelligent interest
has never been aroused, is not ripe for the bar-frame
hive, his time has not yet come, he must be brought in
by the force of example, the success of his more intelli-
gent neighbours, or the more powerful lever of self-
interest, when he finds there is no market for such
inferior stuff as he produces. It might be a great aid in
this direction, if we could furnish our ' Local Represen-
tatives ' with a list of cottagers who have been successful,
showing their place of abode, occupation, amount of honey
taken, price obtained, and prizes gained ; and this might
be still more useful if supplemented by a short statement
of the many advantages offered to members of the A sso-
ciation for the very small annual subscription asked for,
and it would effectually answer the ever-repeated question,
"'What shall I gain by becoming a member?' and would
at the same time be cheaper than distributing ' Annual
Report ' books with the same object.

I remember hearing a story of a captain of a ship,

who was accused of firing into a foreign vessel, in his
denial of the charge, he produced argument after
argument to prove that he had not dono so, and, finally,
wound up with the unanswerable one, that he had no
guns. In a like manner, I come, in conclusion, to the
most important question of the day, one on which I think,
that not only the spread of bee-culture depends, but its
very existence up to its present dimensions, viz., the
sale of British honey.

People will not produce, at some cost and labour, that
for which there is no ready sale or convenient market.
We all know what a wonderful harvest has been gathered
in the past season ; and if you are led to expatiate on the
marvellous quantity of honey taken, as a proof of what
can be done wTith the bar-frame hive, with proper
management, and as an incitement to your audience to
take up bee-keeping, you are met on all sides by the
question, ' How can we dispose of our honey ? ' followed
by the searching inquiry, ' What have you done with
yours ? ' There are many present who know that this
is not always Very easy to answer satisfactorily, and the
question cannot be .shirked, it must be taken up, and
answered, if we' are to advance. The formation of a
Company is a commercial question and has no place in a
paper like this; A Central Conipanj-, such as the one
formed in London, will do hut little for outlying districts,
unless depots are .established at convenient centres or
agents appointed; and this means an enormous increase
of working, expenses; For the average Devonshire
cottager, the depot might as well be in South Africa as
in London. "vVe'are indebted to some public-spirited and
energetic men for bringing to light purposes for which
honey may be used, and this is all in the right direction.
One thing is certain, we cannot stand still, and it seems
to me that we have come to a point where more road-
making is required before we can advance.

In some places the IIone}r Fair has succeeded well, and
that, at least for the present, and pending future dis-
cussion, seems to me to be the best and only means we
have within reach to meet the undoubted want. This
would, to some extent, test the supply and thereby pave
the way for further organization if found to be requisite,
and would at the same time give us the advantage of
having the prices determined in open market. Producers
who are not business men may, in some cases, look for
too high a price for honey, but, on the other hand, it is
unduly depreciated by others interested in its sale, and
the open market would regulate this beyond all dispute.
The prices obtained at ' Grantham ' Honey Fair, on
October 18th, averaged 9d. per lb. for extracted, and Is.
per lb. for comb honey, and as sometliing like 4000 lbs.
were disposed of, much of it must have been bought to
sell again ; therefore, when prices are run down consider-
ably below the ruling of the market, producers naturally
compare the depreciated prices with the retail prices,
and the pertinent question as to what becomes of the
difference forces itself upon them.

It has been computed that we have, during the last
year, produced in the United Kingdom 6,706,750 lbs. of
honey, or over 8000 tons; and from returns lately
obtained, we have been able to compute, that our county
of Devon has produced 50,330 lbs. or nearly 22i tons,
which latter quantity, at an average price of 10r/. per lb.
for comb and run honey, is worth 2097/. 9*. 2d.

That our pure British honey ought to be eagerly
sought after, if only we could succeed in diverting the
demand into the proper channel, is, I think, proved by the
fact, that in the twelve months from January to December
of last year,no less a sum than 62,857/. was paid for foreign
honey, of the quality of the greater part of which the
public can scarcely now plead ignorance.

But the quantity gathered in the county represents
but a very small fraction of what might he gathered;
perhaps this will be more forcibly brought out if I mention
here that the returns of only ten advanced bee-keepers;

1<U

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June 1, 1885.

the greater part of -whom owned less than ten stocks of
bees, show in the agregate 5221 lbs. of honey, while four
show averages of 133, 07, 74, and 74 lbs. respectively per
hive.

Having said so much I feel bound to add that the late
returns seem to show that the value and importance of
wax is not sufficiently recognised and appreciated. The
value of wax imported into the United Kingdom in 1S32
amounted to 126,020/., and in 1883 to 07,142/. There
can be_ little doubt as to our capability of producing
honey in sufficient quantities to meet the" demand, and I
am sure we can also do a great deal more in the pro-
duction of wax ; from my own observation, much is
wasted, and old combs are even left about, doing positive
harm.

These statistical facts should be taken to heart and
made known far and wide, as many are sceptical as to
our capability of meeting the demand.

When about 30 lbs. of honey represented a very good
harvest for the average bee-keeper, it was all easily dis-
posed of, however small the place, but quantities such as
now produced, and which will still go on increasing with
thespread of bee-culture, are not to b'e disposed of by
selling a few pounds here and therey we require a well-
considered and well-organized system ; and as I know that
this subject has had the anxious consideration of our able
President, Honorary Secretaries,, and other members of
the Council, I trust we shall in the discussion which will
probably follow have the advantage of -hearing their
valuable opinions thereon, and that Wei 'shall not cease to
give it our earnest consideration till'We' have arrived at
a satisfactory solution of what I must consider the
burning question of the day 'in the interests of bee-
culture.

dtrjwcs from % Hibxs.

Rottingdean, May 21s/.— No honey weather so far,
but doubtless all will be the better for it presently, as so
many things have been delayed to a more seasonable
time, with every promise of a really fruitful year. —
Samuel Simmons.

Brentwood, Essex, May 21.— The ' Echoes ' in the 15th
May number of the Journal contains nothing but com-
plaints about the lateness of the season, and the un-
favourable weather. With us the weather has certainly
been very cold, but my bees seem to have got hardened
to it, for on the 12th May, I had a very strong swarm
from a frame-hive, and have three stocks now working
in the supers, some of which are nearly ready for sealing
over. By the appearance of two of my hives this
morning, I should not be surprised to see swarms from
them both, if the sun keeps out till the afternoon.— L. B.

Grantham, May 23.— The condition of stocks gene-
rally may be said to be very good, and but for the chilly
days during the last fortuight swarms would have been
in plenty. The fruit blossom, which is now on the
wane, has been all that could be desired, both for the
fruit-growers and bee-keepers. Should we be favoured
even now with ' May weather ' of the olden times, full
average -weight swarms would be the order. In my
travels last week, and whilst waiting at a village station,
my ears were tickled by the ever-delightful buzz, and on
looking round I found a swarm-box with its occupants
destined for the far North. I could but feel sorry that
they were not better provided for their long journey.
They would have no chance (if I may judge' by the
twinkle of Mr. Guard's eye as he remarked, ' I'll put um
in a safe corner') of a "'liquor up 'on the road. The
■winter beans are on the eve of bloom, and it would be
wise for those bec-koepers who are dependent on crops
tother side of the hedge to secure a stand in the middle
of the field, be it a bean or clover one. I hear of very

many queenless stocks this year. I shall be out of my
reckoning if the coming season is not marked as the best
for many years past, and with honey at Is. and Is. Gd.
per pound will rejoice the hearts of us all.— R. R.
Godfrey.

Clapham Cottage, I'enmaenmawr, May 23. — Having
now live strong stocks, &c, I am especially pleased with
any hints on bee management, as I am quite an amateur
at the hive. And though I am particularly fond of api-
culture so far, I hope to become more and more efficient.
I take it up to make it profitable. The weather here has
been most unfavourable for bees— wet and cold, snow,
hailj&c, and high winds prevailing almost daily, so that
I have had to feed almost constantly. — E. Owe'n.

Honey Cottage, Weston, Leamington, May 2'ith. —
Another wet day — a repetition of what we have had for
many days during the past month, varied occasionally
with sharp frosts at night, and hail and snowstorms by
day. Vegetation is very backward, and bees have re-
quired to be fed continuously to keep them in o-0od
heart. They scarcely get a chance to work on the "pear
and apple-trees, which have blossomed very profusely.
I have not heard of any swarms round about, but hope
the weather will change for the better before long, as it
is a long lane that has no turning. — John Walton.

Somersham, May 25. — I send no 'Echo,' as I can say
nothing but ' What horrid weather!'— 0. N. White.

_ North Leicestershire, May 2-'>th.— Bad weather con-
tinues^ that the bees cannot reap the harvest ready at
hand in the wonderful masses of bloom surroundim*
them on all sides. On four days only, during the last
fortnight have they been able to do a "good day's work ;
on several days they have been entirely confined by cold
winds and wet. There is little or no cry for increase
of room yet, and matters are generally backward.
Swarming is altogether in abeyance. There has been
an unusually large number of instances of carrying out
of grubs in spite of precautionary feeding. To-day is
nineteenth wet day up to date on this mouth. — E. B.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-

W. B. Hunt.— The Queen and her Eggs.— The queen-
bee can never be said to be ' on the point of laying
drone eggs.' When the population of the hive" in-
creases at spring, and swarming is intended, the queen
deposits drone eggs in any drone cell wliieh the hive
may possess. The bees of a swarm, when headed by
a fertilised queen, always begin by building worker-
cells in which the queen deposits worker eggs, even on
the first daj\ In making an artificial swarm, and
placing it upon worker foundation there is no fear of
the queen laying drone eggs. Neither woidd there
be if no foundation were given. The queen, except in
the case of a drone-breeder or unfertilised queen, has
the power of laying drone or worker egg^, at pleasure.
In the case of after swarms with unfecundated queens
at their head, drone-comb is always built until founda-
tion takes place.

St. Helena.— 1. Eight ing.— The cause of fighting was
an attack by robbers, caused by the scent of the syrup.

2. Destruction, of Larva. — The cold weather caused
the destruction of larvae — probably drone larva; —
and, maybe, scarcity of food was another cause. A
strong colony at this time of the year will take down
a quart of syrup per day. Are you sure that your
feeder acts properly, and that the bees get the sjrupp

3. Robbing. — The bees returning laden with poilen in
the early morning were, undoubtedly, bees of the hive,
which had escaped through some crevice unobserved
by you. Amongst them there might have been
robbers also. On the arrival of fine weather robbing
will cease and the colony will right itself. Continue

June 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

195

to feed during cold weather, and contract the entrance.
4. Moving Hives. — No, you must not move the hive,
or at this time of year you will lose half the bees, or
more. The only plan would be to send it away — a
distance of two or three miles — for a fortnight. After
that it might be brought home and placed in its new
position. The colony is probably weak and requires
feeding. 5. Uniting. — No, it is not too late. By all
means unite the weak colony — queen or no queen — to
a stronger one. The bees will settle the matter of
queens for themselves by destroying the most worth-
less.

An Inquirer. — The sections, Mr. Simmins' pattern,
4| by 4A by If, may be procured from J. Howard,
Holme, Peterborough. We know of no maker of 4}
by 4£ that width.

E. B. L. — Bees Dying. — Judging from 3'our description
of the bees dying, we imagine they were poisoned,
but do not suppose the age of the salicylic acid
solution could bo the cause. We are now using
some made three years ago with good effect. Was
the syrup burned? ' Caramel,' arising from burnt
sugar, will destroy bees. Or was the sugar used
adulterated ? Duncan's Pearl Sugar makes the best
syrup we have ever used.

Finchley. — 1. Enamel Cloth. — -We have never used the
ordinary glazed table-cloth as a covering for hives.
Judging from its strong scent we should think it very
likely to injure or disgust the bees. Besides, it is too
heavy and thick to lie closely to the frames, and to be
easy of manipulation. We have no evidence of its
being injurious. 2. Transposing iceak Stocks. — This
plan is often pursued, but we doubt its advantage,
except under particular conditions. A weak colony, at
this season possesses very little brood, and if the queen
be young and prolific, from four to six weeks must
elapse after transposition before young bees come forth
in any numbers, which will be too late for the bulk of
the honey harvest except in heather districts. Our plan
is before transposing to transfer a frame or two of brood
with adhering bees, from the strong to the weak colon}*,
carefully caging the queen of the latter and closing up
the frames of the former with division boards after
giving an extra sheet of foundation. The two colonies
then take each other's stands, about noon, when the
bees are working. The queen is released the next
morning. We have found this plan to answer well.

Barnaby Budge. — 1. Sugar. — The sample of sugar will
answer the purpose of dry-sugar feeding. 2. Enamel-
cloth. — The pattern enclosed is not suitable. There is
too much substance to allow of its fitting closely to the
frames. The article we recommend, and ourselves use,
is imported. It is sold in squares to fit the hive, with
rims of zinc or tin to make it lie flat. Your pattern
has a very objectionable scent, which might injure the
bees. Mr. Neighbour, and other hive-dealers, we be-
lieve, import it at Is. per square. We advise you not to
use that of which you enclose pattern. 3. Doubtful
Combs. — Yes ; you may safely use the combs after
thoroughly spraying with strong Phenol solution. —
4. Hearing Queens. — We do not think it would pay to
rear queens for sale at 2s. (id. each. The Americans
say that it does not pay to rear them at one dollar
(4s. 2d.) each.

Miss Buchanan. — 1. Uniting. — The presence of brood
proves conclusive!)' that of the queen. It frequently
happens that, in spite of a careful watch, she runs into
the hive, hidden among her subjects. The brood which
was found in the vacated hive should have been pre-
served. If put over the feed-hole of the united stock,
and kept warm, the bees would have hatched it out
and so increased their strength. 2. Combs joined to-
gether in Bar-frame Hire. — If this is caused by mis-
management when hiving, so that some of the combs

are built across, the whole of the framss must be lifted
out bodily by passing two pieces of wood under the
ends, and the combs cut out, straightened, and tied in
again. 3. Side Comb not built out. — This shows that
you gave the bees more frames than they could cover.
Put it in the middle and it will soon be built out.

R. P. — Musselburgh. — Unless any examination for
micro-organisms, such as bacilli, can be made immedi-
ately after death, a certain amount of doubt exists, as
what are termed septic or merely putrefactive organ-
isms soon multiply with the commencement of decay
of which they are the actual cause. In this case the
queen was already dead before you sent her on to me,
but these are the indications : — Ovaries extremely
shrunken, and abounding in bacilli, presumably
Bacillus alvei (a cultivation shall be made to determine
this, and of which I will report). The viscera
curiously small, air-sacs immense. Colour of ovaries
such as that noticed in queens suffering from the
Alvei. All point most distinctly to this queen having
taken the disease of the bees, and for a very curious
reason, which I intend presently to make public, she
would be especially liable so to take it in very early
spring, and but little liable later in the year. If the
cultivation corroborates nij' diagnosis, and I have much
confidence that it will, we shall have another link in
a curious chain of evidence which must in itself do
much to enlighten us where we sorely needed enlight-
ening, and so do something towards preventing the
wholesale spread of the disease in question. — F. C.

E. Sulgkave, Sutton Parva. — Post-card sent to you,
but returned as the address was insufficient. Starva-
tion causes the turning out of the larvaj and pupa;,
whose juices aro first sucked by the famished nurses.
Feed at once to prevent destruction, but great mischief
has of course been done which is now beyond repair.
— F. C.

H. Fewthell, Reading. — The queen if not needed, with
some of the comb, would no doubt be interesting, and I
should be obliged by receiving either or both, as the
workers sent were too dried to permit any satisfactory
microscopic examination to be made. — F. C.

J. Davies, Newport, Salop. — Many thanks for queen.
She was old and must either have commenced to be,or
actually was, a confirmed drone-breeder. She has been
very useful. F. Cheshire, Avenue House, Acton,
Middlesex, is full address.— F. C.

J. H. Eld, Stourbridge. — Queen laying many eggs in one
cell. — Many things have been put forth as axioms in bee
matters which are really not so. It is true that ordin-
arily the queen lays only one egg in a cell, and that the
discover)' of several of the former in one of the latter
may be regarded as contributory evidence pointing to
the existence of a fertile worker, but in abnormal con-
ditions the most sober-minded and matronly queen can
be made to deposit eggs in huddled confusion one over
the other, e.g. Take a strong stock with a vigorous
worker, and move it to a new stand, placing a hive
upon its old stand to receive its bees, now carry
to the old stand all frames but one or two, taking caie
to leave the queen behind. The great activity of the
ovaries of the worker cannot be immediately brought
down to due proportion with the handful of bees now
accompanying her, and she, walking over the compara-
tively few cells covered, will deposit eggs as they aro
produced until a dozen or more may be found in each
cell. By degrees she will lapse into relative quiescence,
and will lay only so many eggs as her bees can brood
and attend. The case you submit is somewhat like this.
A strong hive is stricken with foul brood. The queen
is rapidly ovipositing, and is ready to lay the im-
mense number of eggs demanded by a colony' at the
swarming period, but the disease rapidly diminishes the
stock which would otherwise have multiplied. The

196

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June 1, 1885.

combs the bees can cover decrease in number, and the
area at the command of the queen is restricted. She,
as a result, deposits the surplus eggs b_y laying more
than one in a cell. The fact of the existence of foul
brood I have verified by the microscope, but to the
experienced eye this was hardly needful. The absence
of stores is in this case the outcome of the diseased
condition. — F. C.

A. C, Matlock. — Wild Bees. — The bees sent are solitary
in their habits. An individual mother, who has sur-
vived the winter, starts a nest in the spring, in
which she raises a few progeny only. These bees do
not sting, although the fertile mothers are capable of
doing so. You have in the small lot sent three genera
represented — Andrena, Osmia, and Panurgus. These
bees are useless in the sense in which the question is
asked, i.e. they could not be used as honey gatherers or
as substitutes for hive-bees ; but in the economy of
nature their services are invaluable in fertilising dif-
ferent blooms and so securing seed and fruit. In
localities where hive-bees are not kept these wild bees
save the fruit crops and accomplish incalculable good.
— F. G.

II. A. P. — Bees anil Rhododendrons. — The honey-bee
undoubtedly works upon rhododendrons, but it will
not do so when other forage, more in accordance witli
its taste, is within reach. The amount of honey col-
lected from rhododendrons in this country is so small
that it does not affect the mass in the slightest degree
when mixed with the nectar gathered from other
sources. There were two kinds of honey possessing
intoxicating qualities known to the ancients, to both
of which Pliny alludes as well as Xenophon. One
kind 13 collected by the bees from a plant called
aeyolethron, or ' goat's-bane,' and is found about
Heraclea, in Pontus ; the other, from a species of
rhododendron, abounding among the Sanni or Ma-
crones, a warlike Caucasian people on the north-east
coast of the Black Sea ; but it is a different species
from the rhododendron cultivated in this country.
Xenophon's soldiers were probably affected by the
honey collected from one, or both, of these plants.

J. E. L. G. — Willesden card may be procured from
Spalding and Hodge, "A Cannon Street.

A. W. — 1. The bees in gathering pollen generally keep to
one flower, but this is not always the case. 2. There
are so many places in the south of England which
would be suitable for your purposes that we confess
to a difficulty in mentioning any special one. We
think we mentioned Bournemouth in a previous reply-
as possessing some advantages that we considered it
desirable for you personally to attain.

A Poor Buzz Buzz. — See reply to A. W. (1).

A. II. Palmer. — Your suggestions are valuable, and we
tender you our thanks. They have occurred to our-
selves, but none of them can be carried out without
that amplitude of space which would be given us in
the event of the Journal coming out weekly.

Dublin Novice. — At tempted Transfer from Sleep. — You
no doubt failed to remove the queen from the skep
the first time, and so the bees joined her there. At
your second attempt you should have tied your brood-
combs out of the skep into the frame of your hive,
not into the super. Do not remove the super, but let
the bees and the heat from them have free access to
it, and the brood may hatch out, unless you have
chilled it in your search for the queen. Do not trouble
to find her, be content to find eggs and brood, but if
the latter should turn out to be drone, you may con-
clude that there is a fertile worker and no queen.

E. Lin del. — Use of Observatory Hive. — By careful ob-
servations, regularly recorded, you may succeed in
clearing up some points in dispute. It is an ascer-

tained fact that eggs laid by an unimpregnated queen
will only produce drones, and that an aged queen will
lay many unimpregnated eggs. The means by which
she can lay worker or drone eggs at will are to be
found in a most interesting paper by Mr. Cheshire,,
which has recently appeared in our columns.

J. II. F. — Weak Skep, Bees refusing Porto Rico Sugar. —
We have persistently advocated the use of refined
sugar in preference to raw, and your bees have shown
their preference for it. You may transfer to a bar-
fi-ame hive, cutting out and tying into the frame all
the brood-combs. Do not be too eager to give found-
ation until they have increased in strength, and filled
their own combs with brood, then give one frame at a
time in the middle of the brood-nest.

Dr. Wallace. — 1. Removing Bees. — You can remove
a stock by artificial swarming. Our caution to you
on p. 121 was to the effect that the usual way of
' swarming ' from a bar-frame hive by removing one
or more combs witli bees and queen, and standing this
divided stock on the old stand, is not ' artificial swarm-
ing,' but, more properly speaking, ' dividing.' You have
(A) a bar-frame hive, with seven combs well covered
(not your own), (B) a skep tolerably strong, (C) a bar-
frame hivewithcomb not readily removeable. You wish
to remove the whole 400 yards without increase.
Proceed as follows: — Kemove A from its stand, on
which place an empty skep on a board ; find the queen,
brush her and about half the bees off the combs on to
the board. These will enter the empty skep and form a
' swarm.' liesnove A to a new position. Drive about
half the bees out of the skep B with the queen, leave
this swarm on its old stand, and remove the skep to
its new position. Treat C as A. To get at the bees,
the combs being irregular and not readil}' removeable,
you must cut' them out of the frames, and straighten
them and tie them in again. Do all this on a fine day,
when nearly all the old bees will be out, and will, as
they return, join the ' swarms ' on their respective
stands. Remove from the stock? A and C all the
comb not containing brood, close up divisions, and
reduce entrances to prevent brood being chilled. In
the evening remove the three swarms to the new
positions, placing each on or in front of its parent
stock. You may then reunite in the course of a few
days. 2. Sections in body of the hive should have a
sheet of queen excluder between them and the other
combs, -j. Foundation should not fill the sections.
A triangular piece, point down, the other corners just
coming to the sides of the sections is a good plan.
4. Sections may be covered with enamel quilt, but in
very hot weather it may be advisable to change it for
a porous one.

Walter Tyzack. — Bees Suffocated. — The bees were
suffocated by drowning, not for want of air. Those of
us that have taken bees long journeys know by ex-
perience how impossible it is to take skeps long
journeys by rail unless the combs are so old and tough
as to be almost useless for breeding purposes. I have
one in my possession that has been many long journeys ;
I believe a good game of football with it would scarce
break the comb down, but the bees only manage to
exist in it, and it is most invaluable for show purposes.
It is possible, if the combs were secured by skewers
and pieces of cork between them, they might have
arrived safe, but the jolting of a railway carriage —
most likely of the brake-van — usually proves more than
sufficient for a very large number of skeps in good
breeding condition. We heartily sympathise with
you and your friend as well as the ' poor bees.' —
' Amateur Expert.'

J. G., Antrim. — Your experience is rather unusual ; we
once had a similar ease after they had been united a
few days, but yours is months. Query. — Have the

Juno 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

197

ejected bees Bacillus Gaytoni !J If they have not
settled down ive can only recommend you to ' bully '
them into submission by smoke.

Kehry. — The bee you enclose is evidently a queen,
although rather suiashed in transit; vand that un-
doubtedly accounts for your swarm returning, although
it is rather unusual for them to forsake brood. We
have often found bees work out comb-foundation, and
the queen to fill them with brood far more quickly
than old combs ; they undoubtedly have some aversion
to your combs. Write again if you wish for further
advice — we shall be pleased to help you.

J. W. Batchelor and Others. — The worms forwarded
were the larvae of the wax-moth : they should be ex-
truded from the hive as soon as possible.

A District Hon. Sec. — 1. The Trypograph is a copying
machine for producing any number of copies of cir-
culars, &c; it is too heavy to be transmitted through
the post. 2. The colour of sainfoin honey is yellow.

Corrigendum. — C. II. Haynes, Esq., ITanley Castle,
Worcester, representative of the Worcestershire B.K.A.
presided over the meeting of the B.B.K.A. at which Mr.
Griffin read his paper on 'Honey and Wax,' and not Mr.
Waters, the representative for the Surrey B.K.A., as
reported.

FOE

CHESHIRE HIVES, &c.
THE CHESHIRE CURE for FOUL BROOD.

Apply to

W. HOLLANDS, Harrison Rise, Croydon.
BEE VEILS. BEE VEILS.

GIVE greatest satisfaction. Mosquito Nets, with
Silk Net Fronts, easiest for eyes, and best in use.
One Is. 6<f. ; two for 2s. Gd, free. Address Mr. J. White,
Somersham, Hunts.

DERBYSHIRE EXTRACTOR.

EMPTIES FOUR COMBS AT ONCE.

The Cheapest in the Market, 35s.

Address
H. V. EDWARDS, Mackworth, Derby.

Cheapest House for Bar-frames & Sections.

BASS-WOOD SECTIONS, with V Joint, either 4J by 4}
by 2, or i by 4A by 2, in either one piece or dovetailed,
3s. per 100, or 27*. G<7. per 1000 case. One sort.

BAB-FEAMES, yellow pine, morticed, 'Standard' size,
15| in. top bar, lrf. each, or 6s. 9<7. per 100.
17 in. top bar, with groove tor Foundation, It?, each, or

8s. per 100.
Broad shouldered, 17 in. top bar, 2d. each, or 15s. lid.
per 100.

BEOAD FKAMES to hold Six 4 by ih by 2 Sections.
2d. each, or 10s. per 100. SMOKEES, 2s. 9d. each.

ARTHUR DONNELLY & Co., Lurgan, Co. Armagh.

3716

New Illustrated Catalogue.

Post Free.

ciei^s. zr,:e:ds:h:^"w-,
'the apiaey,' south yflgston, leicestee.

3lJ52

COMB FOUNDATION !

Kaitt's always gives satisfaction. His Super Foundation
is the best in the world.

White fob TjIST to—

BLAIRGOWRIE, SCOTLAND. »86a

E. M. HART & CO.

Can forward, same day as receipt of order :

S. (1.

Bar-Frame Hives, Single wall each 6 ©

The 'Utility' Double Wall Hive, with

Frames and Section Crate 10 6

The 'Villa Hive,' Ten Frames, Three G lb.

Section Frames, and 21 lb. Crate 21 O

Flat Crown Skeps each 1 3

Simplex Feeders per doz. 14 O

Clarke's Cold Blast Smokers, post free 2 6

For delivery after May 15th:
Swarms of English Bees, in a Nine-Frame

Hive, fitted with Comb Starters each 15 O

Orders executed in rotation. Sj'ecial terms for quantities.

THE LQNGSTOCK APIARIES,

STOCKBRZDGX!, :^:.A.33fl-TS-

OEVERAL EXPERTS WANTED for SUSSEX,
O to attend at Shows, with Bee Tent, during the Season,
and to Visit Members. Apply, stating qualifications, to
T. W. Cowan, Esq., Comptons Lea, Horsham.

North East of Ireland B. K. Association.
BEE and APPLIANCE SHOW,

IN

RETAIL FRUIT MARKET, BELFAST,

On 18th and 19th JUNE,
At the same time as Noeth East AGracCLicitAL Show.

For Prize List, apply to H. McCleehy, Hon. Sec, 13
Eoyal Avenue, Bedford.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' PRACTICAL
NOTE BOOK. By Thomas W. Cowan, F.G.S.,
F.E.M.S., Ac. Crown 8vo, boards, Is.; postage Id.
Indispensable for every Bee-keeper. Published by J.Huckle,
Kings Langley ; may also be obtained of all Hive-dealers.

Publications of the British Bee-keepers' Association :

HONEY AS FOOD. By Fkank E. Cheshire, Esq.,
F.E.M.S. Price 3d.
ADULTEEATION OF HONEY. By Otto Hehnee,
Esq., F.C.S., F.I.C. Price 6d.

THE BEST WAY OF INSTEUCTING COTTAGEES
IN THE AET OF BEE-KEEPING. By the Eev.
W. E. Burkitt. Price 3d.

THE CHEMISTEY OF THE HIVE. By Mr. Otto
Hehneb, F.I.C, F.C.S. Price 3d.

Address J. HUCK1E, Kings langley, Herts.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 1, 1885.

Special l«}?aii> Ipberirscments.

For Sales and Purchases of Bee Appliances, Honey, Books,
Pamphlets, Diagrams, &c, Exchanges and Situations.

Terms : Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad-
ditional three words, One Penny extra; no reduction can
be made for continuous insertion.

T

THE SIMMINS' METHOD OF DIRECT INTRODUC-
TION. Enlarged to 32 pages. Price 6J<Z. Post free,
of the Author, Rottingdean, Brighton ; Messrs. Neighbour &
Sons, 149 Regent Street; and Mr. J. Hockle, Kings
Langley, Herts. (53)

MODERN BEE-KEEPING. An Illustrated Handbook
for Cottagers. Fourth Edition, considerably enlarged.
The soundness of its information, the simplicity of its
instruction, combined with cheapness, make this Hand-
book invaluable to all intending Bee-keepers. Price Id.,
post free.

PHE MANAGEMENT OF STRAW SKEPS. Be-
signed to teach the Cottager how to obtain the best
results at the least possible cost. By attention to its teach-
ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto. Price One Penny.
Six copies and upwards, post free.

FOUL BROOD ; The Means of its Peopagation, and
the Method of its Cure. By Frank R. Cheshire,
Esq., F.R.M.S. Price 6A

BEE-KEEPING, Plain and Practical : How to
Make it Pay. By A. Rosbridge, Is. 6d, post free,
Is. 8d. Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts. 3932

BEES Transferred, Bee-Farms started throughout Ire-
land. Moderate Terms. Address J. Traynor, Bee-
keeper, Tinahely. c 76

SEVERAL Stocks of Bees in new Standard Frame Hives
for Sale, cheap. Address W. St. John, Boulton Road,
Handsworth. c 90

CN. WHITE, Certificated Expert B. B. K. Association,
. Somersham, Hunts, will send prices of Stocks,
Swarms, and Queens, English and Foreign ; and Nuclei or
English Swarms, headed by Foreign Queens, on applica-
tion, c 92

CYLINDER EXTRACTOR, to take Association Frames,
with Cage for Sections. Price 25s. Address E.
PHiLroT, 15 Mercery Lane, Canterbury. d 1

"I^TOW is the best time to buy Bees ! 15 to 20 Strong
_L\ Stocks for Disposal in Skeps and Boxes, 15s. to 20s.
each. A reduction to take the lot. Address J. S. King,
Wrangle, Boston, Lincolnshire. d 2

ONE Y" EXTRACTOR, 6s. 6<J. Frame Hive, 7s. Both

new. Would exchange. Address T. Sutton, 12

Bennerley Road, Wandsworth Common. d 3

IVE 5s. Closed-side 1-lb. Section Racks. 3s. each.
Address Head Master, St. James's, Northampton, d 1

F

C"^ HOICE and Selected Ligurian Queens. Young and pure.
J Address Lamport Gilbert, Hon. Sec. Northants
B. K. A., St. James's, Northampton. d 5

G

OOD Swarms of Bees for Sale, English or Ligurian.
Address J. T. Harvevson, Church End, Finchley. d6

G

OOD Stocks of Bees in Standard Frame Hives; also
Swarms cheap. Address J. Weatherhead, Ely. d 7

T

HE HONEY BEE : Its Natural History
and Management from a South African point of
view. By Dr. Stroud, Cape Colony, S. A.

2. APPENDIX and GLOSSARY of TERMS.

3. TWENTY-TWO PHOTOS on Cards, descrip-

tive of the general Anatomy of the Bee.
Together, 5s. ; separately, Is. 9(7. each.
No. of Copies limited.
To be had of J. HUCKLE, Kings Langley,- Herts.

ITALIAN QUEENS ! Write to Prof. L. Saetori
and Co., of Via Federico Confalonieri No. 6, Milan,
Italy, for PRICE LIST of their CHOICE BREEDS. (104)

rpWO DOZEN BEE-FEEDING PLANTS,

Mixed, for 2s. 6d., tree. Address W. Morony, Junr.,
Fortlawn, Ballygla3s, Mayo.

THE SUBSCRIBER is now prepared to Supply
SECTION BOXES, as follows:—

Quantity.
1000

500
1000

500
1000

500

Size.
4£ by 44, by 2

ditto
6§ by 4J by 2

ditto
61 by 5J by 2

ditto

Price.

£10 0

0 11 0

15 0

0 13 6

1 10 0
0 16 6

LESLIE TAIT, Foveran, Aberdeenshire.

i^ G. PARKER, Watchmaker and Jeweller,
\j , Altrincham and Knutsford, has on Sale all kinds
of BEES and BEE APPLIANCES as reasonable in price
as any could wish. He is Winner of the First Prize for
Largest and Best Collection for several years past at the
Cheshire County Show ; also for English Bees and Obser-
vatory Hives. First Prize also for best Combination
Hive. This he has from 12s. (id. each. HIVES from
2s. 6<7. to 51. each ; VEILS, Is. ; SMOKERS from 3s. 6<7. ;
COMB FOUNDATION from 2s. 3d. per lb. ; HONEY
EXTRACTORS, 9s. 6rf.; SECTIONS, PARCHMENT,
SWARMS in HIVES, well packed, from 15s. ; FEEDERS,
SUPERS, ZINC, QUEEN CAGES ; HONEY BOTTLES
15s. per gross, free on rail ; English and Scotch HONEY at
all prices, &c, &c. 'Modern Bee-keeping,' best and
cheapest book on Bees, 7 stamps. Orders by Post. Ad-
dress E. G. PARKER, Altrincham.

BEE-KEEPERS' GUIDE; or, Manual of the
Apiary. 11,000 sold since 1876. 12th Thousand just
out. 10th Thousand sold in just four months. 2000 sold
the last year. More than fifty pages, and more than fifty
costly Blustrations, were added in Sth Edition. The whole
work has been thoroughly revised, and contains the very
latest in respect to Bee-keeping. Price 5s., postage id.
BEE JOURNAL OFFICE, KINGS LANGLEY.

The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World.

THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL

Established in 1861.
Edited and published by Thomas G. Newman, at 925 West
Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., and will be sent
to European Subscribers at 10s. Gd. per annum for the
Weekly, or 2s. Qd. for the Monthly, including Postage. The
money may be sent by International Postal Money Orders
on Chicago. London Agents : Messrs. Geo. Neighbour &
Sons, 149 Regent Street, W-

Bronze Medal awarded for Straw Skeps at the Great
Crystal Palace Sliow, 1875.

Seventeenth Edition. Price One Shilling.

SEVENTY POUNDS A-YEAR

HOW I MAKE IT BY MY BEES.
By the late J. W. Pagden.

Also, by the same Author, price Sixpence.

Early Artificial Bee-Swarming.

No watching required.

Apply to Mrs. J. W. Pagden, The Chestnuts, Alfriston,
Sussex, by whom the same manufacturers of ' Economical
Bee Furniture ' are employed as formerly. (96)

Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stkangeways' Pbintino Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c.

[No. 172. Vol. XIII.]

JUNE 15, 1885

[Published Fortnightly.]

(gbrtorial, Jotters, #r.

THE LATE REV. H. R. PEEL.

It is with the saddest feelings that we take up
the peu to chronicle the decease of the Rev. Herbert
Richard Peel, the editor and proprietor of this
Journal, which occurred on Tuesday, June 4th.
His presence has for many years occupied so large
a portion of the apicultural world, and it is at so
recent a date that he was present in our midst,
that there is no slight difficulty in realizing the fact
that he has passed away from us. His encouraging
and earnest words still ring in our ears ; his
pleasant smile, his affable and courteous demeanour,
are still visible to us ; his gentle, yet firm influ-
ence is still felt ; the effects of his active mind, and
the results of his skilful powers of organisation, are
all ai'ound us. Si monumentum quoeris circumspice.
And now the energising power has passed from our
sight ; he has gone in the very sunshine of his day,
in a manner that paralyses our thought, that eludes
our mental grasp, and completely baffles our com-
prehension. It would be vain, — it would be im-
pertinent, to peer into the last scene of his eventful
life ; rather would we desire to cast a veil over it,
and leave it in the awful mystery and dark gloom
by which it is enveloped. But his spirit is still
with us ; the work that he so bravely and self-deny-
ingly began, and which he perhaps too laboriously
carried on, remains to be accomplished.

On whom will his mautle fall 1. Who will ad-
vance to the front and occupy the void now created I
Who will continue to raise the superstructure on
the foundation that has been so wisely and elabo-
rately laid by Mr. Peel ? We must all hope and
work on ; the future of bee-keeping lies before us.

The Rev. H. R. Peel was born on February 8 th,
1831, at Canterbury. His father was the late
Very Rev. John Peel, D.D., dean of Worcester,
and for over forty years rector of Stone, who was
the brother of the well-known statesman Sir Robert
Peel. The late Mr. Peel was therefore first-cousin
of Sir Robert Peel, M.P for Huntingdon, and the

Right Hon. Arthur W. Peel, Speaker of the House of
Commons. He was educated at Eton College, Dr.
Hawtrey being then Head-master. Having spent
two years at Bremhill, in Wiltshire, as a private
pupil of the late Rev. Henry Drury, he proceeded
to Christchurch College, where he remained until
lie had taken his degrees of Bachelor and Master of
Arts. Both at Eton and Oxford Mr. Peel took
honours as a classical scholar, gaining a Fell Exhibi-
tion at Christchurch of the value of 40/. per annum,
and being presented with an honorary class in taking
up his B.A. degree. He was well known at Oxford
as a criekefer, and played in the Oxford eleven
against Cambridge in 1851-52, as well as for the
County of Kent. He was also very fond of
hunting, rowiug, and other athletic pursuits.

Mr. Peel married in September, 1853, Georgiaua
Maria, daughter of the Rev. Thomas Baker, rector
of Hartlebury. In 1854 he was ordained; and
from 1854 to 1855 he held the curacy of Hallow,
in Worcestershire. In 1855 he removed to the
curacy of Charlecote, in Warwickshire, the seat of
the Lucy family, where he remained five years.
In 1860 he undertook the more arduous duties of
the parish of Handsworth, a suburb of Birmingham,
containing 16,000 inhabitants, where he remained
as rector for twelve years. During these years he
performed the duties of an active and zealous
clergyman, earning the esteem of both Churchmen
and Dissenters, in confirmation of which we have
been privileged to see two addresses presented to
Mr. Peel signed by the leading Churchmen and Non-
conformists of his parish. He is well remembered
at Handsworth as being the promoter of working-
men's clubs. Having suffered several severe attacks
from rheumatic fever, in 1873 he resigned the
rectory of Handsworth, and spent the followiug two
years upon the Mediterranean Sea and its coasts.
While he was Rector of Handsworth, three district
churches, Holy Trinity, Birchfield, Christ Church,
Perry Barr, and a little iron church at Hampstead,
were erected.

On the death of Mr. Peel's father in 1875, he took
up his residence at Abbot's Hill, the seat of John
Dickinson, Esq., near Hemel Hempstead, in Hert-
fordshire. It was here that Mr. Peel first became
connected with the British Bee-keepers' Association.
Desirous of instructing the labourers and cottagers
on his estate in the art of bee-keeping, he invited
the late Mr. John Hunter, on the occasion of a

-200

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June 15, 188;

harvest home, to give them a lecture on the subject.
At Mr. Hunter's request, he then became a mem-
ber of the British Bee-keepers' Association. In
1878 Mr. Peel attended a meeting of the Associa-
tion at the Birkbcck Institute, and, finding that it
was then in a moribund condition, and Mr. Hunter
having announced his intention of resigning the
secretaryship, Mr. Peel volunteered to undertake
the duties of that office.

Mr. Peel threw all his energies iijto this work,
and he had soon the gratification of resuscitating
the Association. One of his first steps was to
obtain the consent of the Baroness Burdett-Coutts
to become the President of the Association. To
him was mainly due the formation of County
Associations, and of connecting the County Associ-
ations with the Central, thus teaching the art of
bee-keeping to cottagers in the remotest parts of
the kingdom. Hertfordshire, where Mr. Peel
resided, was the first Association formed after Mr.
Peel became Secretary of the British ; and with
the assistance of Mr. Huckle he laboured hard to
place Hertfordshire in that honourable position
among the Associations which it still continues to
maintain. Not content with establishing an asso-
ciation in the county in which he resided by per-
sonal visits and by correspondence he penetrated
into thirty-five counties, which now boast of Bee-
keepers' Associations, and animated them with the
spirit and energy with which ho was himself pos-
sessed. There arc now forty Associations affiliated
with the British, with above 5000 members.

In 1882 Mr. Peel left Abbot's Hill, and took up
his residence at Thornton Hall, near Stony Strat-
ford, Buckinghamshire, where he has put forth the
same energy in the cause of bee-keeping as he did
in Hertfordshire.

In the latter part of 1882 Mr. Peel purchased
the proprietary rights of the British Bee Journal
from Mr. C. N. Abbott, of Southall, in order, as
Mi-. Peel said, that the ' bee-keepers might have a
paper of their own free from any trade interests
or bias of any kind.' Into this he infused great
spirit, so that its circulation was soon increased,
and it was converted from a monthly publication
to a fortnightly ; and he has left as a heritage the
hope that it will speedily lie published once a-week.
In 1885 the British Honey Company was estab-
lished, specially for the assistance of bee-keepers,
and in order that the purchasers of hone}' should
obtain pure honey. Mr. Peel was elected its first
chairman.

It would bo difficult for us to specify all that
Mr. Peel has done for bee-keeping. Its position as
an advancing national industry is patent to all ;
and to Mr. Peel are we indebted in a great
measure for the proud position it now occupies.
To bee-keepers his loss is irreparable ; but we
have the consolation that the work he so reso-
lutely set his heart upon on his inception of the
duties of Secretaryship of the B. B. K. A. is now so
well known and established, that prosperity must
attend its future progress.

In the poultry world Mr. Peel is almost as well
known as in the bee world as a breeder of dark or

coloured Dorkings, for which he has taken many
prizes at the Crystal Palace, and other large poultry
shows.

Recently, in consequence of severe rheumatic
pains, Mr. Peel has had recourse to the baths at
Buxton, but his visit was not productive of any
benefieial results ; he returned feeling much de-
pressed, and apprehensive that he was about to be
afflicted with one of his old attacks. It is supposed
that he had taken too powerful baths, and that the
gout was driven into his system instead of being
brought out.

On Thursday, May 28, he attended to his duties
at the office of the Journal, and on the same day
presided at a meeting of the Honey Companj'. On
Saturday he paid a sympathizing visit to Mr. Huckle-
at King's Langley, who for some time had been
unable to attend his usual duties owing to illness.

On Sunday, Mr. Peel conducted two services at
Thornton Church : the Communion Service in the
morning, and preached 'On the uncertainty of life'
in the afternoon.

On the following Tuesday, we quote the report
in the Times newspaper, ' Mr. Peel was missed from
luncheon. His study-door was locked, and on an
entrance being effected by the window, he was
found lying on the hearth-rug shot in the left breast
with a double-barrelled gun at his feet, one barrel
of which had been discharged. Death must have
been instantaneous. The deceased had suffered
greatly from gout in the head and eyes.'

On Wednesday, Robert De'Ath, Esq., coroner,
held an inquiry at Thornton Hall, touching the
cause of death. The jury returned a verdict to
the effect that the deceased came to his death by a
gunshot wound, but there was no evidence to prove
how this was inflicted.

Mr. Peel leaves a family of a wife and four
children, one son and three daughters ; two of the
latter are married, one to A. H. Heath, Esq., of
Madeley Manor, Newcastle-under-Lyne, Staffordshire,
and the other to William Drake, Esq., of Launton,
Oxfordshire (who was at Thornton Hall at the time
of his father-in-law's decease).

On Saturday, June 6, his remains were interred
in the family vault at Stone Church, near Kidder-
minster, where also are buried his mother and
father and only brother. The funeral was attended
by his near relations, and a few of his dearest
friends. The coffin was covered with wreaths sent
by those who wished to pay a last tribute to his
memory, among others, by the Baroness Burdett-
Coutts, and Dr. Bartrum. The service was read
by the Bishop of Worcester, assisted by the Rev.
E. W. Bickmorc, rector of Stone. Mr. R. 1!. God'
frey, of Grantham, was present.

Mr. Peel's love for the classics acquired at Eton,
and especially under the Rev. Henry Drury, con-
tinued to be almost a passion until the close of his
life. When at Abbot's Hill, he used often to say
that he solaced himself during the silent watches
of the night while suffering from the enemy which
pursued him to the bitter end- — rheumatic gout —
by reciting or composing Latin verse, and he would
not unfrequently send passages of a difficult or

June 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

201

FUND IN MEMORY OF THE LATE
REV. H. R. PEEL.

The British Bee-keepers' Association on Wednes-
day, June 10th, at their first meeting after the
decease of the Rev. H. R. Peel, unanimously

adopted the following resolution : —

' That bee-keepers and others he invited to subscribe
for the purpose of raising a fund in memory of the late
Rev. H. K. Peel, to be invested and the interest to be
devoted annually, triennially, or at such other interval
of time as the Committee of the British Bee-keepers'
Association may from time to time thiuk fit, to a prize
or prizes to be given to cottagers, in connexion with the
advancement of bee-keeping in the United Kingdom.'

It will be in the remembrance of most of our
readers that when Mr. Peel resigned the Honorary
Secretaryship of the Association there was an
earnest wish, on the part of all bee-keepers, that
some testimonial in recognition of his services
should be raised. Since the year 1878, when the
late Mr. John Hunter resigned office, Mr. Peel had,
with untiring energy and indomitable perseverance,
laboured diligently in behalf of the interests of bee-
keepers. When we remember the low estate of the
Association when he entered upon office and the
high position in the esteem of the public it had
attained when he resigned the secretaryship we
may estimate the indebtedness of the bee-keeping
world to him. A perusal of the portraiture which
we have attempted in the preceding article will give
some slight idea of his self-denying labours.

puzzling character to friends interested in classical
lore. Recently, when the degree of Doctor of
Divinity was conferred by the University of Oxford
on one of the members of the Committee, Mr.
Peel sent him his congratulations in the following
form : —

Ghratulor hoe D.D. titulis accedere vestn's.

The acrostics which are now so popular often,
also, excited his interest, nor was he by any means
unskilful in unravelling their mysteries. A friend
who knew him well at Handsworth speaks of him
as one who was never out of temper, and who never
forgot himself. This self-control, combined with
his other qualities, was no doubt one cause of the
influence he acquired and retained over men of
ability and culture, as well as over all with whom
he came in contact.

In all the relations of life, domestic and social,
Mr. Peel was most exemplary, being a kind husband
and an indulgent parent. As a public speaker
he was clear, fluent, and convincing : as a minister
of the Gospel, whether in populous Birmingham or
in rural villages such as Hallow and Thornton-cum-
Nash, he was earnest and faithful, ever caring for
his parishioners' highest interests ; as an employer
of labour, he was reverenced and beloved by all the
cottagers and labourers on his estate ; as a friend
of bee-keepers, it is conceded by all that he has
had no equal, that he has deeply and indelibly
left ' his footprints on the sands of time,' and that
all have just cause to mourn his sad and untimely
end.

During Mr. Peel's tenure of office, with the
sanction of the Committee, he introduced most im-
portant improvements in the organization of the
Association, and by the hearty and vigorous manner
in which he gave effect to the decisions of the
Committee the Association had been placed on
a. sure and a firm basis. Mr. Peel bad a pecu-
liar tact in the formation of associations, and he
succeeded in bringing upwards of forty of them
into affiliation with the Central. Mr. Peel had
the faculty of all good generals of kindling in
the hearts of those with whom he came into con-
tact the same enthusiasm which prevailed in his
own, and therefore we find secretaries of asso-
ciations, district secretaries, and experts, zealously
seconding his efforts and showing their desire of
carrying out his wishes. When he resigned the
Secretaryship there was no cessation of his labours, ■
the same usefulness and lofty purpose were visible
while he served on the Committee, and these con-
tinued unabated to the end of his days.

Mr. Peel's high spirit steadfastly refused any
personal testimonial; but he was quite reconciled
to the idea when he found that the fund was
intended to be employed especially for the benefit of
labourers and cottagers ; for though Mr. Peel worked
for the benefit of all bee-keepers, his chief aim and
purpose ever were that artisans and labourers should,
through their following the pursuit of bee-keeping,
have a new interest and recreation, while receiving
for themselves a substantial profit.

Though this Testimonial Fund had the support
of numerous bee-keepers, Mr. Peel formed the judg-
ment that it was dragging wearily along, and that
it had not met with the support at the hands of
bee-keepers that the scheme deserved, he therefore
determined resolutely that it should not be further
proceeded with. This want of success was in some
measure due, we conceive, to Mr. Peel's excess of
feeling in persistently declining to allow the object
of the Fund to be ventilated in the Journal, as he
considered, from his position with regard to that
periodical, that the advocacy of it in its columns
might possibly be misconstrued.

But now as events have caused the resuscitation
of the project there is no longer any reason for
further reticence; and we shall be pleased to open
our columns for the full discussion of the resolution
passed by the Committee, with the hope that this
fund in memory of Mr. Peel may prove a success, 'a
glory to bee-keepers, and an honour to him whose
name it will bear.

There is stiil remaining in the hands of the
Association the amount previously collected. This
will form a nucleus for further amounts; and we
trust that county secretaries and others will give
effect to the resolution of the Committee, and strive
with earnestness in behalf of this most worthy
object.

We have recently seen the result of the spon-
taneous feeling of esteem and devotion of a County
Association towards their President ; may we in a
greater and wider degree show our love and loyalty
to him who has worked so nobly, continuously, and
successfully, for the interests of bee-keepers.

102

T1IE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June K>, 1885.

USEFUL HINTS.
Since our last issue the weather has been almost
everything by turns. From June 1st to 6th,
especially the 3rd and 4th (Wednesday and Thurs-
day), the heat for the time of year was excep-
tionally great, and the swarming fever at its
height. We never before heard of so many swarms
being lost. Scarcely a bee-keeper in our locality
who did not lose swarms. After being hived,
swarms lift the hives in a body, a few seconds
sufficing for their exit, and rising high flew direct
to the place of rendezvous, whether it were the
lath -and -plaster wall of an ancient mansion or
cottage, or the proverbial hollow tree. Bees were
literally boiling out of their hives and supers, and
many a fine crate of sections was deserted when
near completion. Then succeeded rainy days and
cold, frosty nights. All work ceased, and half-
drowned clusters might be seen clinging in front of
those hives which had not swarmed. The weather
again gives promise of better things, and almost
every kind of bee-flora abounds. The white clover
is showing itself in patches over the meadows, and
there is every prospect of a bounteous honey-yield.
Second Swarms will now be the order of the
day where the old system has been followed. To
hives that have been supered, let such be returned,
by removing the supers and shaking the swarms on
the frames, a sheet being cast over all, until the
bees have disappeared amongst the combs, when
the super may be replaced. The young and active
princesses will make short work of their hatching
sisters, and the supers will stand a good chance of
being completed. If all queen-cells be cut out
before the swarm is returned, further swarming
will become impossible. This operation, with
skeps, will require to be varied. To return a
swarm, an eke should be provided, exactly fitting
the skep. This consists of a skep from which the
crown has been cut away, and being placed on the
stand of the old colony, the swarm is shaken into
it, and the hive quickly placed upon it, and the
bees ascend to their old quarters. It is a great
mistake to multiply colonies unless the sale of bees
be the object in view : since a few strong colonies
are far better in every way than a large number of
■weak ones.

Feeding must be continued in the case of swarms
and bad weather. For four or five days, after
swarming, our own swarms were uuable to leave
their hives from stress of weather, and must have
perished in the absence of artificial food. Now
they are flourishing, and nearly ready for supers.

Examination of swarms should be made occa-
sionally— say everj' two or three days — to ascertain
that the combs are built straight, and to remedy
any defects. Very little, if any, smoke should be
used. A little carbolic solution applied to the top
of the frames, when removing the quilt, will effec-
tually quiet the bees and prevent all commotion,
which is especially undesirable in the manipulation
of newly-hived swarms. Shade should be afforded
if the heat is great, the newly built combs being
very tender and easily melted by a sudden excess of
heat.

Clustering. — Do not allow bees to remain idle
at home in clusters in front of the hive during fine
weather, but at once divide, or drive such colonies,
always placing the queen in the new hive on frames
of comb or foundation, or both, closing up the frames
of brood in the queenless part, and setting it up on.
a new stand. Afterwards, when the brood has
hatched, it may be united to the new colony and
the combs utilised or stored. Bees are now more
inclined to fill up empty spaces than at any other
time of the year. When second swarms are kept
for stocks, confine them closely to the combs they
are able to cover and stimulate by gentle feeding.

Removing Sections. — When removing sections
we prefer taking off the entire rack. In the middle
of a fine day raise the rack gently, all round, blow-
ing under it a little smoke, then carry it away to
an outhouse, or other quiet, shady spot, at a dis-
tance from the hive, having first cast a light sheet
over the latter. Here remove all finished sections,
and place the unfinished ones in the centre of the
rack, filling up their places with empty ones, and
replace the rack upon the hive, driving down the
bees with a little smoke to prevent crushing.

Preventing After-Swarms. — Perhaps the simplest
and most effectual method of preventing the issuing
of second and third swarms from frame-hives is the
following : — On the eighth day after the issue of
the first swarm the first princess will have hatched.
On this day, or not later than the ninth, cut out all
queen-cells. A quick, practised eye will at once
discover the young queen at liberty on the combs,
but failing this, a queen-cell, open at the lower end,
will afford sufficient proof of her presence in the
hive. Her motions are quick and undignified, and,
unlike the fertile mother, she receives no attention
from the surrounding bees, except when they are
bent on driving her forth from the hive to make
her marriage flight. She feeds herself and moves
about as an ordinary worker. After fecundation all
this is changed, and she, a mother, receives the
homage due from her subjects.

ABERDARE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
SHOW.

On Thursday, August 13, an Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, and Bees-wax, will be held in connexion with
the above show. The schedide of prizes is on a
very liberal scale, and the prizes are worth competing
for. We hope that the bee-keepers in the adjoining
counties of Carmarthen and Brecknock will en-
deavour to be present on the occasion and take
part in the competition.

ASSOCIATIONS.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
A committee meeting was held at 105 Jeriuyn Street,
on Wednesday, June 10th. Present: T. W. Cowan (in
the chair), the Rev. Dr. Bartrum, the Hon. and Rev. II.
Bligh, the Rev. F. G. Jenyns, J. M. Hooker, Captain
Bush, R.N., II. Jonas, D. Stewart, G. Walker, W. OTi.
Glennie (Treasurer), and the Secretary. Letters were

June 15, 1880.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

203

read from Captain Campbell, the Rev. F. S. Sclater, Mr.
R. J. llinton, and the Rev. It. Raynor, regretting their
inability to be present.

The Chairman, having read the minutes of the previous
meeting, said he felt sure that every one present felt
with himself the great loss the Committee had sustained
in the death of Mr. Reel; each member of the Committee
had lost a sincere and valued friend, and the cause of
bee-keeping had suffered the severest blow, lie (the
Chairman) considered that it was only necessary to
compare the condition of bee-keeping in this country at
the time Mr. Reel accepted the office of Honorary
Secretary to the Association in 1878 with the present
time to see what an irreparable loss the country had
sustained. Mr. Reel had worked with the most in-
defatigable zeal, sparing neither labcur, time, nor expense
in making bee-keeping a great national industry. He
(the Chairman) felt so great sorrow at the loss they
had sustained that he was unable to say much in
reference thereto. In conclusion, the Chairman moved
the following resolution : —

'The Committee of the B.B.K.A,, having learnt with
the deepest regret of the death of the Rev. Herbert II.
Reel, desires to place on record the sense it entertains of
the irreparable loss the nation, the B.B.K.A., and his
personal friends, have sustained by his premature and
most lamentable decease. For many years he acted as
Honorary Secretary to the Association, and threw him-
self into the work with an ability, energy, and tact that
could not be surpassed, sparing neither time, trouble,
nor expense, to extend a knowledge of scientific bee-
keeping amongst all classes throughout every part of
England and Wales.

' To him the establishment of County Associations
affiliated to the British Bee-keepers' Association in
nearly every county in England and Wales is mainly
due, and to this organization must be attributed in a
very great degree the advance in the general knowledge
of bee-keeping throughout his native land, which has
placed England in so short a time at least on an equality
with other countries.

' All this work was done from a sincere desire for the
public good and the promotion of the general welfare of
the community.

' The Committee, in expressing their sincerest sym-
pathy with Mrs. Reel and his sorrowing relatives, beg to
assure them that the recollection of Mr. Reel and his
many good deeds will be ever present with them, and his
name will always be associated with the progress and
extension of bee-culture in England.

' They trust that the consciousness of the good effected
by Mr. Reel will afford his relatives some consolation
under the sudden and grievous blow which has fallen
upon them.'

A copy of the same be sent to Mrs. Reel.

Dr. Bartrum seconded the resolution.

The Chairman said he felt sure that he was speaking
the sentiments of every bee-keeper and well-wisher to
the cause throughout the United Kingdom in proposing
that some steps should be taken to raise a fund for the
purpose of carrying out those objects which were dear to
Mr. Reel, and to perpetuate his memory. He moved
the following resolution: —

' That bee-keepers and others be invited to subscribe
for the purpose of raising a fund in memory of the late
Rev. H. R. Reel, to be invested, and the interest to be
devoted annually, triennially, or at such other interval
of time as the "Committee of the British Bee-keepers'
Association may from time to time think fit, to a
prize or prizes to be given to cottagers, in connexion
with the advancement of bee-keeping in the United
Kingdom.'

The Hon. and Rev. II. Bligh seconded the motion.
The Secretary was requested to make this known

through the medium of the Journal of Horticulture, the

Bee-Keepers' Record, and the British' Bee Journal.

It was resolved that the pamphlet on the Manayement
of Straw Hives should be published in Welsh, atid that
the first edition should consist of 5000 copies.

SUSSEX BEE-KEERERS* ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of this Association took place at
tho Town Hall, Brighton, on Wednesday, 27th May.
Amongst those present were T. W. Cowan, Esq., who io
the absence of the Earl of Chichester, took the chair,
General Dickinson, Mrs. Arbuthnot, B. Lomax, Esq.,
Mrs. Rhilps, Rev. N. Andrewes, Hon. Secretary, and
others.

The Chairman, in apologising for the absence of the
Earl of Chichester, Viscount Gage, and others, said he did
not suppose they must take it that the small attendance
of members present that afternoon was due to any hick
of interest in the work of the Association. They paid
their subscriptions and supported them in various other
ways, and he thought the reason could be found in the
fact that they had no fault to find with the Association,
or else they would certainly attend and ventilate then-
grievances. In reviewing the report which had been sent
to all the members, he said, although through unavoid-
able reasons it was rather late in appearing, it wa.s on the
whole satisfactory and showed that the Association had
done more work during the last year than in any previous
year. The Duke of Norfolk, the Duke of Richmond ami
Gordon, and ,Sir Thomas Brassey, M.R., had become
members and had consented to become vice-presidents,
and the Duke of Richmond had written expressing his
lively interest he took in the work of the Association.
It would be seen that the number of members had
increased to 319, of whom II!) were cottage members.
The annual show was held at Tunbridge Wells, and was
acknowledged to have been one of the finest shows of the
season. The silver medal was awarded to Mr. G. Hallam.
the bronze medal to Mr. T. Stodhart, and the certifi-
cate to Mr. T. Marsh. The subscriptions amounted
to 70/. 17s. Gd. and donations to 12/. 8*. The receipts
from bee tents, of which they had two, were only, he
regretted to say, 22/. Is. 1 1 d. This was a great falling off
from previous years, but he thought that could be attri-
buted to the fact that the experts had no one to assist them,
and that many persons gained admission to the bee tent
without paying while the expert was busy manipulating.
The committee recommended that the local shows should
furnish one or two men to assist experts in taking mouev
and tickets. At one of the shows the tent had not
arrived, owing to the secretary of the flower show for-
getting to send it on, and at another no bees could be
found, so that, in all, only eighteen shows were visited, or
the same number as last year. It would also be seen that
a larger sum had been given in prizes than before and
that they had paid half the cost of a new tent. The
15/. 15s. 7d. deposit last year was reduced to 4/. 4s. lid.,
and he thought the balance-sheet satisfactory. The com-
mittee also recommended that the county be divided, as
the work had so increased that it was impossible for the
present hon. secretary to do the work alone. The countv
was divided into sixteen districts for the circulation of
the British Bee Journal. The experts had done their
share of work, Mr. Overton visiting eighty-nine members
in the spring and 115 in the autumn, and Mr. Taylor
forty members in spring ; but, owing to a misunder-
standing on bis part, none of the members in his district
were visited in the autumn. He moved that the report and
balance-sheet be received and adopted. — This was carried
unanimously.

Rev. N. Andrewes said he found the work more than
he could do by himself, and he thought there was quite
enough work for ten. The committee thought so too,
and he moved, and it was carried, ' That the County be

201

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June 15, 1885.

divided into ten divisions, P. H. Phillips, Esq., being
asked to undertake the work for the eastern division.'

After a long discussion it was moved by General
Dickinson, and seconded by Mrs. Arbuthnot, and carried,
' That members whose subscription is only os. shall pay
Is. Qd. extra for each visit of the expert, and cottagers
onlv paying Is. an extra fee of ti«/.' It was shown that
the" Association was a considerable loser, as they had to
pay the travelling expenses of experts.

Votes of thanks were passed to the President, Vice-
Presidents, officers and committeemen For their services
during the past year, and they were all re-elected, with
the addition to the committee of General Dickinson,
Canon Sutton, and W. Woodard, Esq.

The drawing for the two hives then took place, the
successful members being Mr. E. Milwood, llenfield, and
cottage member, G. Alee, Groombridge.

A cottager present said that last year she had herself
made a clear profit of 14/. on five hives, and attributed
her success to the valuable lessons she had acquired from
the Sussex Association.

General Dickinson said that nine members out of ten
did not know on what terms they could have the visits
of the expert, and suggested that they should have a card
with the scale of fees printed, which they could present
to the members when they visited them. — This sugges-
tion was adopted, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman
concluded the proceedings.

SOMERSET BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION AT
TAUNTON.

The Council of the Somerset Agricultural Association
kindly admitted the Bee Tent of the S.B.K.A. on their
show grounds on the occasion of their first annual show
at Taunton, on May 20th, 21st, and 22nd. Mr. T. B. Blow,
of Welwyn, manipulated and lectured on the 20th and
21st, but unfortunately, on account of the weather, to
very limited audiences; the other attractions of the
Agricultural Association also taking up the time of
many visitors. On the last day the Rev. C. G. Anderson,
Hon. Sec. of the S.B.K.A., manipulated and lectured;
the weather was again most unsatisfactory. Mr. T.
Hallett, gardener at Hill House, Otterhampton, assisted
in the Bee Tent during Mr. Anderson's manipulations.
The meeting was a very disappointing one, so far as the
takings at the tent door were concerned. No honey was
exhibited.

The following is the price for appliances: — 1.
For the best observatory hive stocked : no entry. 2.
Best collection of hives, &c. : 20s. and 10s., Mr. E. J.
Butt, Barnstaple. 3. Best and cheapest hive, not to
exceed 10s. (id. in price: first, 10s., Messrs. J. Dines &
Son, Maldon, Essex ; second, 5*., Mr. E. J. Butt. Highly
commended : Messrs. E. M. Hart & Co. 4. Best feeder
for summer and winter use: 6a., Messrs. Dines. 5. Best
sample of thick foundation : 5s., Messrs. Blow & Ellis.
0. Best sample of thin foundation : 5s,, Mr. E. J. Butt.
The judges were C. Lance, Esq., Stoke Court, Taunton,
and W. N. Griffin, Esq., San Rerao, Weymouth.

The Somerset B.K.A. Bee Tent will be at Bath Rose
Show on July 2nd, and at Wincanton on July 28th.

WORCESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
A meeting of the Committee of the above Association
was held at the Guildhall, Worcester, on June 6th.
The Rev. Norman Ogilvy in the chair. The following
resolution was passed, and the Hon. Sec. was requested
to send a copy of the same to Mrs. Peel : — ' That this
Committee begs to offer to Mrs. Peel and the family of
the late Rev. Herbert R. Peel an expression of their
deepest sympathy in the severe loss they have sustained,
and on behalf of the members of the Worcestershire

B.K.A. wish to record their sense of the kind interest
Mr. Peel took in this Association in particular, and the
valuable help he gave it ; and also their appreciation of
the great services Mr. Peel has rendered throughout the
country to the cause of scientific bee-keeping.'

It was determined to hold the annual show of bees, hives,
and honey at the end of August, at the meeting of the
Citj' and County Horticultural Society, to be held at
Worcester.

HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The following is a complete list of the donors to the
President Fund, announced in our last issue. Unfor-
tunately Lord Henry Scott expressed his desire to con-
tribute 57. too late, the Fund having been closed, so that

his offer had to be declined.

£

8.

d.

Louisa, Marchioness of Waterford

5

0

O

The Earl of Carnarvon ..

5

0

O

The Countess of Malmesbury

5

0

0

The Earl of Northbrook .

5

0

0

The Viscount Eversley .

5

0

«)

The Lord Mount Temple

5

1)

0

The Lady Colville ..

5

0

0

The Lord Tennyson

5

0

II

Mrs. Shawe Storey ..

it.
0

1

0

0

General Maberly ...

Si

10

H.F.Hart ...

s,

5

d.

1)

Rev. Arth. B. Cotton

10

0

P. C. de Crespig

uy

5

0

Mrs. Prior

10

0

Mrs. Bellairs...

5

0

Miss Palmer

10

0

E. H. Bellairs

5

(1

Rev. F. Hopkins . . .

10

0

Miss Lamb . . .

3

(1

Mrs. Charles Stuart

5

0

F. Beckford ...

2

(i

Mrs. Maberly

5

0

Rev. P. P. Izard

2

<;

D. Fullertou

5

0

James Tee

2

i;

Rev. H. C. Hawtrey

5

0

Joseph Addison

2

6

Mrs. Peaeocke

5

(1

Miss Bridge . . .

2

<i

James Tinker

5

0

C. Martin

2

6

Colonel Farquhar . . .

5

0

H. Langdon . . .

2

6

Mrs. Best

5

0

W.Hunt

2

II

D. Preston

5

0

R. Legg

2

o

H. Smith Wright...

5

0

W. T. Joyce ...

2

ii

Sir W. B.Parker, Bt.

5

0

S. Hobbs, jun.

2

0

E. Wigram

5

0

J. Frowd

2

0

Rev. R. Parker

5

0

T. Giles

2

0

Admiral Phillimore

5

0

W. Weller ...

2

n

Mrs. Phillimore ...

5

0

J. Downton ...

1

ii

Mrs. Standish

5

0

W. Candy ...

1

ii

H. S. Young

5

0

J. Whitehurst

1

0

J. P. Stilwell

5

0

H. Tubb

1

ii

Mrs. Shears

5

0

Miss Stock ...

1

0

Henry Daniell

5

0

W. Burgess ...

1

(1

Mrs. Myers

5

0

C. Yeomans ...

1

II

R. Cope Morgan . . .

5

0

A. Brooker

1

II

W. Wynyard

0

0

G. Holley ...

1

(1

Com. Suckling, R.N.

5

0

A. Candy

1

II

Miss Goodlad

5

0

Jas. Hixon

1

II

Miss L. Goodlad ...

5

0

Miss F. Cockburn

1

(1

Rev.W.E.Medlicott

5

0

E. Ainsley

1

0

Rev. J. P.Bartlett...

5

0

G. Horner

1

II

A. Robinson

5

0

J. Threlfall ...

1

(I

Miss Grimes

5

0

A. Roots

1

0

Dr. Ticehurst

5

0

C.White

0

'.I

F. G. Dalgetty ...

5

0

F. A. Sharp ...

(l

6

Rev. F. de Paravicini

5

0

G. Ogg

0

6

£55

7

s

LEICESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
A lecture on ' The Hive and its Inhabitants,' was
delivered at Melton Mowbray, on June 5th, by Mr.
Walter S. Pridmore. The Rev. Dr. Collis kindly con-
sented to take the chair. There was a fairly good
audience, and that the, lecturer succeeded in awakening a
strong interest in his subject was proved by the fact
that some new members were added to the Association,
and a good number of Modern Bee-keepiny sold.

June 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

205

(feresjjonbcwc.

*«* All Correspondents forwarding Letters for insertion m
the Journal, Reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes
from the Hires, Queries, etc., are requested to direct their com-
munications to 'The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," c/o
Messrs. Strangeicays c0 Sons, Tower Street, Upper St. Martin's
Lane, W.C

THE LATE LEV. II. R. PEEL.
It was -with the deepest regret that we all learnt of
the death of the Lev. II. R. Peel, and I feel sure all
bee-keepers will concur with me that we have sustained
a great loss. The late Mr. Peel was truly a friend of
the bees ; he was always ready to advance the industry
we have so much at heart, and was never backward in
giving a helping hand.

Personally, I feel that I have lost a kind and good friend.
At this crisis, however, we must not stand still, and if we
appreciate the noble and good work that Mr. Peel has
so unselfishly begun, we must endeavour to press on the

•cause, and by united effort follow the example so
zealously set to us. The Devon and Exeter Bee-keepers'

.Association have written a letter of sympathy to the
bereaved family, which has been most kindly acknow-
ledged by Mr. Herbert Peel.— Wm. N. Uiuffin, San
liemo, Weymouth, June 11th.

PHENOL AND FOUL BROOD.
I am sorry to see that Mr. A. B. Johnston on page 174
advises bee-keepers having foul brood to destroy bees,
and burn hive and every thing that has been in use in
and about it, because he has not succeeded in curing his
bees of fold brood with phenol. I would rather recom-
mend when one remedy fails to try another, and having
seen and known large apiaries completely cured by fumi-
gating with salicylic acid, I should advise him if he has not
yetdoneso totryit. There are caseswhena hive is beyond
- cure, but they are extremely rare ; and I have known
■ cases where salicylic fumigation lias effected a cure
when every other remedy had failed. It is so simple a
process and inexpensive that it would be certainly worth
the trial. — Tiios. W. Cowan, Comptmis Lea, Horsham.

IS PHENOL A CUBE FOR FOUL BROOD?

As requested, I have forwarded to Mr. Cheshire some
of my diseased combs which contain some dead larva?,
and shall be very glad to hear of his experience with his
two stocks after inoculating this disease into them.

Although ' The Stationmaster at Winsford ' says he

• carefully read my letter, he has not made a correct

' gathering' when he thinks that I purchased phenol and

mixed it myself. Last season I purchased the ' Cheshire

■ Cure for Foul Brood,' and poured on the diseased combs

syrup diluted with it, with the result already recorded.

And this spring I used Calvert's No. 1 carbolic acid with

. a like result.

And yet this confident 'Stationmaster,' who speaks
without ' hesitation or fear,' and who says it is useless
my recommending bee-keepers to destroy their diseased
bees and appliances, boldly declaring it ' all nonsense,'
and asserting that his experience of the 'Cheshire cure'
is such as to warrant its recognition everywhere, says
there can be no question but that this treatment will
destroy this pest.

Before I would hear him repeat the above, I would see
some of his stocks thoroughly infected with the disease
that has troubled me, and let him try his ' isolating ' pro-
cess, his Cheshire cure, and do his best with any materials
he chooses. And when he can say that ' he has not a
single comb tainted,' he will then, I think, be able to speak
much better for its efficacy. — Arthur B. Johnston,
Brick Hall, Killy'eayh, County Down.

EXPERIENCE IX QUEEN INTRODUCTION.

I have introduced four Ligurian queens after Mr.
Roland Green's plan (Bee Journal, Nov. loth, 1834).
Three succeeded, but the fourth I found dead in the
hive next day. This hive was a swarm on May 2Gth,
which had lost its queen. Before introducing the new
queen I made several careful examinations, and could
see neither queen nor egg nor brood in any stage. The
same day, June oth, at (> p.m., I introduced the new
Ligurian queen. I write this to warn any one who may
think of introducing valuable queens to bees which have
been man}' days queenless by this method. At the same
time I feel perfect confidence ia the plan if the old queen
is removed the same day. My queens were from Messrs.
Abbott Brothers, so I cannot see how the queen can be
blamed, and I carried out all the directions faithfully. —
L.W.

SUGGESTIONS FOR COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.

From occasional grumbles in the Journal I gather that-
very many members are dissatisfied with the working of
the County Associations. That is to say, they think they
should do something more than merely extend the know-
ledge of the frame-hive, which, I think, may now be
said to be widely distributed. A writer a few weeks
back thought people ought to subscribe out of mere grati-
tude for what the societies have done. This, however,
will not do in these utilitarian days, when money is not
too plentiful, and people want something tangible for it,
when they part with it. I may be told members get a
visit from an expert, who tells them how to ' shut the
stable-door when the horse is stolen.' Now, in most
places where the frame-hive exists there is someone who
is a thorough bee-master, and Lis neighbours come to him
at all times for information, which is gladly given.

Another advantage members have is the use of the Bee
Journal, six weeks after date of publication (my
experience). Then, again, members have the advantage,
of sending their honey for sale to the annual show, and
for this they are expected to pay a commission on the
sale (this is a real advantage — to the Association). I
sent 21 lbs. last year of splendid honey. It cost me
7*. railway carriage alone to and fro (as it was not all
sold) in addition to the commission on the sale.

As far as I know this is all I could put before a person
anxious to join a society. My object in writing is to
suggest to Associations that they should now make them-
selves of some real good to their members. I would
suggest that the local secretary should have charge of a
small extractor, also a smoker, and any other appliances a
cottager cannot be expected to buy himself ; there might
also be a source of profit, as they might be lent to other
persons than members at a small fee. To give a cottager
a frame-hive, and no means of getting his honey out, is like
trying to open an oyster without a knife. Sections in
many places are quite unsaleable ; here for instance.

My own Association has offered to meet my views in
this direction if I get a certain number of members ; this
is easier said than done, for people have an idea you want
to make profit out of them, and cannot understand any-
one taking an interest in the work for the mere love of
it ; until they get the mania themselves, for it is astonish-
ing what enthusiasts bee-keepers are. I just throw out
these ideas, and I should be glad if older bee-keepers
would add other suggestions, and so greatly increase the
work of our societies. — West Midland.

BEE-KEEPING AND THE LABOURING

CLASSES.

I have for some long period watched with considerable

interest to see if any practical suggestions would be

offered on this subject. Mr. Webster occupies two

columns of your valuable Journal in the mid-May issue,

20C

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June 15, 188o-,

but I cannot see that, he in any way forwards the matter,
as he merely shows that his large profit of nearly 300
per cent is due to the extraordinary luck he had with one
hive and the fact that he cau sell his own honey retail.
Another correspondent some time ago suggested that
bee-keepers should start cottagers with a swarm on con-
dition that the donor should have the whole of the honey
the first year. There are not a very large number _ of
bee-keepers who are willing or able to part with
swarms for nothing, and on this ground alone the sug-
gestion seems useless ; but it appears to me more — it is
harmful, for the incipient interest that the donor might
have in bee-keeping would be blunted, if not lost, by the
ever present feeling that for a weary twelve months he
had got a sort of bill of sale over his hive which deprived
him of all his profit.

I am quite a novice in bee-keeping, and do not pretend
to put forward any very valuable suggestions ; but there
is one thing I do wish to point out, and that is, that to
encourage bee-keeping among cottagers, cheapnessof the
absolutely essential apparatus for bee-keeping is_ in the
first instance ' the ' requisite. My personal experience is
that cheap apparatus does not exist, or at least I cannot
find it ; and I suggest that some gentleman or gentlemen
should undertake to supply cheap apparatus and to
guarantee it good in its way. I hope the gentlemen
who advertise in your columns will forgive me for advo-
cating a ' co-operative or store' system, but the matter
lies in their own hands. Let me illustrate what I mean
from their catalogues, trusting- that they will not think
I have any ill-feeling in the matter. Mr. Neighbour's
cheapest top feeder is 2s.; the cheapest feeder of all Is. Cid.
Mr. Redshaw's cheapest feeder is Is. and 25 per cent for
carriage. Mr. Meadows' is either Is. or Is. Gil.; and so on.
I cannot see why excellent feeders should not be made
from 3d. to id. " My first hive that swarmed this year
was fed with an apparatus composed of a blue bottle — a
piece of perforated zinc and some muslin. Bee-veils are
charged Is. Cyd. and upwards. They need not cost more
than the feeders. Floor-boards are 2s. to 3s. in Messrs.
Neighbour's catalogue. I give a shilling, and feel confi-
dent they might be had for less. Straw hives are
charged 2s. Or/, and upwards. But a few years ago they
were purchased by me at a shilling in the market. I
still have two left that were bought at that price, and
they are most undoubtedly well made.

I know many objections maybe raised, but I have not
written these lines before consideration, and the above
articles mentioned are but a few of the necessaries that I
am sure can be supplied to cottagers at a less price, for
we can hardly expect ' Hodge ' and his successors to
invent cheap articles for themselves. — Leicesteiuan.

BEE-KEEPING IN GUERNSEY.

Not having seen in the B. B. J. any notice of bee-
keeping in Guernsey, 1 beg to send some of my experi-
ences.

I commenced with two skeps purchased from farmers
in the spring of 1884. There are few frame-hives in the
island, and the annual destruction of bees is the conse-
quence. I transferred my bees to bar-frame hives ; one
hive onh' sent out a swarm, which took up its abode in
the roof of a cottage close by, where it was joined by a
wandering swarm. I was called away to England, and
was unable to attend to the bees for over a month, and
when I took them, was obliged consequently to take them
a couple of miles away for about three weeks. I sent
my gardener with them, and he put the skep mouth
downwards on the floor of the cart, consequently about
half the bees were smothered. I eventually joined them
to the parent stock, and had two strong hives. I could
not induce them to touch the sections, and all the honey
they made was only enough to keep them through the
winter. This year I let them alone till the first week in

March, when I found them with plenty of stores, andl
strong in bees.

In consequence, I suppose, of cold wind and weather,.
not a bee appeared on the crocuses, though they were
numerous close to the hive, neither have I been able to.
discover a bee on the apple or pear-blossom.

In the beginning of April I found one hive still with'
a fair amount of stores, the other with none, so I fed!
them with dry sugar (as enclosed), in a dummy feeder,,
and found they took it freely, the frames being covered
with enamelled American cloth.

In the beginning of May I found them strong, with
plenty of brood, and one hive with some old stores, but
not an ounce of new honey. I removed the American*
cloth, and gave them water under the porch, continuing-
the dry sugar feeding.

The only plant on which I saw any bees up to the last
day of May was that enclosed, of which I do not know the
name. On the above day we had our first fine weather, and
since then the bees have been working merrily on the-
strawberries and beans ; they have also worked the oaks.
and I forgot to say that during part of May some
appeared on the currant-bushes.

About the middle of May I gave one of the stocks a
frame of body-sections, as they were so strong I was
afraid they would swarm.

I have to-day (4th June) again examined them, and
found some new comb honey in the frames, and a con-
siderable quantity in the body and sections, some of
which were drawn out well, in others the guides had
been ignored. I should mention that I placed the
sections at right-angles to the frames, and in those in
which the guides had been neglected the comb was
carried through three or four of the section-boxes.
Finding the bees strong, full of brood, and hard at
work, I determined to give them a super, and removed!
the worked-out sections from the body of the hive to
the super; here I found a difficulty on which I had not
calculated. In placing the sections in the body of the-
hive, the entrance-slits had to be placed vertically ; on
removing them to the super they had, of course, to be-
horizontal, and I shall look with interest to my next
examination, the result of which I will communicate to-
you if you find this lengthy communication worth
publishing.

Perhaps you will oblige me by giving the name of tht-
enclosed plant, and also by saying if the sugar I have
used is the best for dry feeding. I am delighted with
the dry feeding, as I have found the result excellent,,
and the trouble nothing ; no making syrup and constantly
pouring it into the feeder : I fill the dummy and find it
enough for about a fortnight. — H. A. S., Guernsey?
4th June, 1885.

[The flower enclosed is Cotoneaster microphylla, ai»
evergreen shrub, and an excellent plant for covering-
walls. Its coral red berries in the autumn produce a
very lively effect at that season. The sugar is very
suitable for the purpose, and easily obtained : the Porto-
Rico sugar is however preferable. — Ed.]

BEE-KEEPEBS' APPLIANCES.
At a recent meeting of bee-keepers, at which I was-
invited to attend, to assist in the arranging of the
schedule of prizes for the forthcoming count}- show, am
objection was raised by one member to the class set
apart for the best collection of bee appliances, on the
grounds that it was productive of harm rather than good,
for people to see the number of articles in use among bee-
keepers, stating that new beginners think they would
have to purchase all, or a greater part, of these ap-
pliances before commencing bee-keeping. If they think
that, they would certainly be in error, and would be-
contrary to the teachings of our most prominent bee-
keepers; and no one more so than Thos. W. Cowan,

June 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

207

Esq. But even this is no reason why we should not see
the different appliances in use in other apiaries, which,
were it not for such exhibitions, perhaps, would never
come under our notice. If we attend an agricultural
show, we see all kinds of modern implements and
machinery, from the ordinary plough to the steam
thrashing, winnowing, and elevating machines ; and who
would venture to tell any one that all these things were
necessary for every farmer? Yet they are of great use
in their proper place; and so also are wax-foundation
machines, and the most modern honey extractors, &c.
— C.W.O.

AX AMATEUR IX SEARCH OF THE IDEAL
PURCHASER.

I am an amateur among amateurs, eagerly watching
for whatever may appear affecting the interests of bee-
keepers, i.e., all who desire to keep bees at a profit ; and
I am grievous])- disappointed. Philanthropists — usually
clergymen — favour a village with a visit, for the pur-
pose "of enlightening the villagers in the matter of bee-
keeping, and assuring them that it is possible to con-
siderably augment their scanty incomes by keeping bees
on the anti-sulphur-pit system, quoting in the course of
their lecture prices ranging from Is. per lb. to 2s. Gd. for
the same quantity. In several instances I have applied
to the lecturer, but have not succeeded in obtaining the
name of the purchaser. The writer of a report pub-
lished in the Journal quoted Is. 3d. per lb. as the price
he got; and in answer to my inquiry he told me ' he sold
all his honey to his friends and acquaintances,* thus
annihilating my ideal market for the article. ' The
unkindest cut of all,' however — unkind in its effects, not
in its nature, as I am grateful to the reverend gentleman
who gave it — is in the following : — ' I would urge you
not to think that you could (as a beginner) add to your
income by bee-keeping.' ' It is wrong to buoy up
beginners with the idea of making- a pot of money with
bee-keeping; it requires several years' study and prac-
tice before it can be done.'

Has an ordinary villager time or capacity for several
vears' study and practice ? And there are, alas ! other
than the farm labourer who are without time or capacity
for such a purpose. A connoisseur in bee-keeping — a
winner of prizes, too — has just written that ' the sale of
honey this last year was very slow indeed. I shall
therefore sell all swarms I can in this and next month,
as the honey season is a lottery, with too many blanks
to a prize.'

How anomalous are theory and practice or experience!
If our zealous propagandists were to limit their state-
ments to whatever is reliable and practicable, they
would cease to raise the expectations, and prevent the
sequential disappointment of such men as — A Nokih
Hants Amateub.

HIXGES FOR HIVES.

Being rather taken with an illustration of some hinges
for beehives, which appeared in your valuable Journal
on the loth June, 1884, page 208, 1 tried everywhere to
get some, and at last found a place where they could be
purchased.

Thinking that others of your readers may be in
the same fix, I write to let you know that they may
be had of Mr. H. C. Whincop, 6 Cross Street, Finsbury
Pavement. The ones I got are made of polished brass,
with levelled edges, and very well finished off; they give
quite a finished look to a well-made varnished hive, but
1 believe they may also be had in iron. I can strongly
recommend bee-keepers to try a pair, as they are most
convenient. I should also recommend that they be put
on in front of the hive, so that the roof opens up from
the back. — F. F. McKenzie, The Warren, Lour/hton,
Esse.r, June &tn.

GRANULATED HONEY.

I am hoping that now the question of granulated
honey having been raised again by the Rev. J.Lingen
Seager, who said, 'This is a question that has frequently-
been raised, and, as far as I know, never satisfactorily-
answered. It is to a great extent an evidence of quality,
and an accident of temperature.' If it is inferior in
quality when granulated, it is very important we should
know why it is so ; when it loses its aroma, also what
means should be adopted to prevent it. I have pre-
viously suggested that the market price of honey should
be quoted in the B. B. J., as is done in America. I am
frequently asked ' What is the price of honey. Can you
sell some for me as I cannot sell it? ' The white clover is
fast coming out, and then a prospect of a good honey
year. — R. Thoupe, Langrick i'ille, Gth June.

[When the Honey Company is in full work, we hope
to be enabled to furnish the market price of honey. — Ed.]

BEE FLOWERS.

What a deal has been written about these ! But what
is a bee flower ? Is it every one from which a bee
sucks ? But it tries its best to get something out of
most, and but few things come amiss at one time or for
one purpose or other. Contributions are levied even on
putty and exuding turpentine. But what is the use of
mentioning all those wild flowers which no one will
cultivate ? Here in Cornwall the hedges made of turf
bear so many flowers that the bees are constantly supplied
with a variety of sweets, but there is no ' glut ' of honey
from any one flower, and the climate is uncertain and
often unfavourable. Even the apple-blossom, of which
there was a great quantity this year, failed to serve the
bees as it would in finer weather. Now we are looking
forward to clover, but at the present moment raspberry
blossoms are much frequented, and so is the old-fashioned
berberry of attractive fragrar.ee. Queen-wasps too are
found in great numbers on these. I believe there is no
early flower so well worth cultivating as white arabis.
Limnanthes, much frequented of course, comes into
bloom with many wild plants. — South Cornwall.

A SECOND CASE OF ARRENOTOKIA. •
I have received amidst numerous queens, for which my
best thanks are tendered, one from Mr. J. P. Sambels,
which he states was hatched last October and has been a
most prolific drone-breeder. Upon dissection, however,
I find she had mated and that the spermatozoa abounded
in the spermatheca, but were collected into a close mass.
I drew attention to this question of arrenotokia in a few-
lines of the issue of May loth, page 174. But this dis-
covery of a second example of it leads me to more fully
explain. The name ' arrenotokia,' applied by Leuckart in
1857 to a case similar to the one we are considering, indi-
cates that the queen, as distinguished from a normal
drone breeder, is fully furnished with spermatozoa, and
is yet incapable of fertilizing her eggs. The possible
causes are various, since the mechanism so wondrously
delicate and complex, which pays out the spermatozoa
as they may be required, and which I explained a few
months since, may fail in its muscles or nerves, or even
the spermatozoa themselves may be defective, as actually
appears to be the case in this instance.

Leuckart, in the Bulletin Aeademie Boi/alede Belgique,
18o7 (pages 200-4), goes into this question, and cites an
observation of a spermatheca containing compacted sper-
matozoa. Can the lateness of the season at which this
queen was hatched in any way explain the matter?
Drones, at the date given, are normally gone ; but the
progeny of fertile workers are then discoverable in the
prime of youth, as well as old drones permitted to live in
queenless* stocks. Speculation is easy, and the possi-
bility suggests itself that the defective spermatozoa owe

208

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June 15, 1885.

their faults to the fact that old or abnormal drones
yielded them. Comparing facts will in the end clear up
these curious and interesting problems.

Failure of the nerves which energise the spermathecal
valves will lead, of course, to the same result, since the sper-
matozoa will then be securely locked within the sperina-
theca, and this condition M. Donhoff claims to have pro-
duced by simply pressing the last abdominal segment
with a nipper. The ganglion lies in contact with the
spermatheca. Slight pressure certainly might easily
injure both. — F. It. Ciik^hiiie, Avenue House, Act on, W.

Jfamepr.

BURMAH,

Apis Dousata, the large Bee of Java, captured
at last. — I have at last captured a swarm of Apis dorsata,
and have it safely hived in an observatory hive. There are
about half a bushel of bees, and are they not magnificent
fellows ? My hive is about 0 feet tall, and 3 by 3 wide
and deep. The bees were secured on a very high tree,
on which were thirteen other colonies. The limb was
cut off, and forms the top bar for the comb, and hangs
like a moveable frame in the hive. I have had a sheet of
glass 9 by 10 inches, put into the back of the hive, and a
door made to shut all up, when one does not want to
watch them. The brood-comb is about 14 by 1G inches,
and is solid with brood. I see no pollen or honey in the
comb. There are young and old bees. The old have the
abdomen a bright yellow, with narrow black bands,
while the young (") are much darker in colour; but I
cannot speak with much certainty, for I have not studied
them long enough yet. They sting, but the sting is not
(much worse than that of the Apis indica — at least I
judged so, for in putting Ihem into place, my assistant
was stung four times, but it was not followed by swell-
ing. The sting is much larger than the common bee, of
course ; and as one of myKarens said last night, ' It makes
a hole at once.' Yet, I judge that it is bearable.

Their wings are beautifully irradiant ; and looking at
them on their comb by night, with a strong light, they
are most beautiful. This morning they are going out of
and into their hive, and looking all about their home.
Will they stay and go to work or not ? is the question ;
we shall see.

One thing I notice : they are far less excitable than
Apis indica. They move slowly, do not dash about their
cage, and struggle for exit like that bee. They impress
one, however, with an idea of ' reserve power,' if they
have a mind to use it. I do not think they are quick on
their combs to repair damage, but I cannot yet speak
with definiteness. I also have a swarm of the 'Melipona'
working well.

I have been studying the Apis dorsata, and there
seem to be two kinds of this bee in Burmah, each quite
distinct, though I have not yet secured specimens for
comparison. One kind is yellowish in colour, and usually
builds nests on the limbs of very high trees, or in rocky
cliffs, while the other is nearly black, hairy, and builds
in thickets r>r on limbs of trees, or on creepers, often near
the ground. Both are unicomb bees. The former kind
is often vicious ; the latter is very gentle, according to
all reports, and the natives have no fear of it at all.
They often approach the nests of the latter by daylight,
and take off pieces of comb, without smoking" or protec-
tion of any kind whatever, and without often being
attacked by the bees. The former kind defends its nest
with great vigour ; and if they once set upon an enemy,
they follow very persistently for a long distance, and
sometimes natives thus pursued must make to a neigh-
bouring stream to escape. One ruse for escape is to break
off a thickly leaved bush and plunge into the water, and
allow the branch to float down with the current, while

the fugitive plunges into the water. The bees then
follow the branch down stream, and lose sight of their
victim. Yet, the first kind with the yellow markings is
not always so vicious, as they can be easily subdued with
smoke ; and if handled carefully they seem to be as
gentle as many kinds of Apis mellifica. Both kinds
leave Burmah at the beginning of the rains, and return
on February 1st each year. They usually return to their
former place of abode. This is especially true of the
yellow kind, which occupy a chosen tree or trees in a
particular locality, year after year, so that the natives
buy and sell these trees as valuable property.

I judge that these bees migrate to some distance to the
north, for these reasons: 1. The reason why the}' migrate
at all seems to be the exposed position of their nests, on
the under side of the limbs of high trees, exposed to all
weathers. The high winds and the violent showers of the
beginning of the monsoons would alwajs destroy their
nests. I never saw a nest survive the rains; hence,
migrating on account of the rains, they must needs go
to a climate where the rains are less violent, or where they
can find sheltering cliffs in which to build. '2. "When they
return they are often found resting near the ground, before
selecting the tree on which to build a new home. Some-
times they will rest there a week and then take flight
again. At such times they are very cross, and the natives
are very careful not to go near them. There are no cliffs
or rocks in Burmah in which these bees can build ; if
there were, they might remain here the year round, as I
understand they do in Ceylon and in Northern India.

In the Paduug-Karen country, about eighty miles
north-east from Toungoo, these bees are in some sense
domesticated, as is also the Apis indica. In order to
secure the services of the Apis dorsata, the Fadungs
dig a trench in a side hill, and drive a stout stake,
inclined about 45° toward the down slope of the hill, into
the ground, and lean branches of trees against the stake
on either side, making a slueld from the wind. The Apis
dorsata returns to these places year after year, aud the
natives secure bountiful harvests of wax and honey,
always leaving some for their yellow workers. May it
not be that the Apis dorsata builds one comb, only
because it does not usually find a place to build double
combs ? The comb is so large that it must indeed be a
large limb of a tree to give room for double combs.

How the combs are built by Apis Dorsata.

I am strongly inclined to believe that the Apis dorsata
can be domesticated, especially the black-coloured species.
Yet, to insure success, doubtless much study must be given
to the habits of this bee.

The fact, as I am informed, that in regions of less rain,
in cliffs and rocks, these bees are found year after year,
goes to show that migration is not necessary to this bee as
to ' birds of passage,' &c! ; that if the conditions are
favourable they may be kept the year round. The fact
that these bees can be mistaken for hornets by the
natives, as in Mr. Benton's experience in Ceylon, shows
how little we can depend on their judgment in such
matters. — A. Bunkeii, Toungoo, Burmah, Feb. 28, 1885.
(American Bee Journal.')

BEE-KEEPING IN AUSTRALIA.

It is now thirty-three years since I took my departure
for this great continent — great in everything forthe great
future — and not the least of all, its great colonies of bees
either cultivated or wild. It is fifty-three years since I

June 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

209

first took practical interest in this noble insect in the old
country. It affords me much pleasure to write you from
this distant clime, although now so well shortened by
steam fleets .and skilful ingenuity. Now, how great are
the magnificent opportunities such as should make the
apiarian's heart glad compared with half a century back.
We seem to be living really in a most wonderful epoch
in the rolling world of apicultural pursuits.

As regards the historical date when bees were first
landed in these colonies I am unable to define. "Wool
and gold have held a long and high festival and have had
an extraordinary influence, so that the bee-keeping
industry has been very slow. Many tips and downs,
frustrations and grave disappointments, have been preva-
lent for many years, and all against the founding of many
things, and bees have had their share of contention as
well as their poor unfortunate keepers. However, in
those days, of some twenty years aback, numbers of
people of every grade of the social circle tried their best
to keep bees at any cost, whether they had knowledge or
not. In some instances the owners had no intelligence
of bees, and of course their bees died away. Those who
did retain any English tuition in apiculture succeeded
fairly well; but with them troubles and losses of bees
continually occurred, and the industry received severe
shocks soon after ; and since science had brought us
sanitary preparations into use it has opposed bees aud
apicultural objects most woefully. The busy little
animals were of course compelled to seek dirty water in
holes in the diggings and in the street gutters of towns.
So their difficulties were tremendous, for poisonous
deposits were ever within their grasp; hence the great
losses sustained.

In these later days we are very considerably better off.
Now there are various fresh-water reservoirs in far-off
up-country districts as well as near to our seaports and
inland cities, and where houses are roofed and water-
catchment is better looked after for both bees and the
bee-keepers. Consequently bee-life is more congenial,
and is certain of a long career profitable to the keeper
and plentiful stores for the workers and their beautiful
queens. And, by-the-by, our improved climatic considera-
tions are of the best assurances, for our seasons are less
hurtful to bees ; we have less hot winds than formerly,
and our winters are less severe in the coldest districts
where bees most delight to be. They seem to revel in
the enjoyment of labour all the year round from day-
light to dark.

This is a vastly superior country for bee pasturage and
consists of many thousands of miles square and extending
ah over the colonies — east, west, north, and south.
During the last few years more work rnaj- be said to
have been accomplished in apiculture, so far as the
J. D. K. Z. gin-cases as a type are concerned; whatever
it may be I cannot define, but the bees seem to have a
great fondness for these kinds of dwellings, and they
prosper most remarkably well in them.

In these present days of 188o a revival in bee opera-
tions has begun, and many styles of hives have come
into use, such as the Watson, Stewarton, Chapman
(colonial), Neighbour, aud that favourite hive, the Rev.
Mr. Langstroth's bar-frame. This latter is much es-
teemed here, and will become the ruling passion bee-
bivewards of any other in the field. During this season,
or I ought to say this prolongation of the last, the
Langstroth hive has been worked at an efficient and
very productive rate, as we have reported unknown
numbers of tons of honey and wax secured, and are still
being obtained, stocks on all sides being uncommonly
heavy. A little foul brood is about, but other losses
from disease are few and far between. During the past
two months the eucalypts and our great forests have
been blooming most profusely, and, in conjunction with
the present fine autumn, the ti-tree, banksias, and a host
of other wild flowers, are causing great labour among the

bees, and ' supers ' are in the ascendant ; so fast are the
' worker' bees plugging-up their cells with incomparable
rich nectar. In five years time I really believe the
Australian colonies will be prepared to supply Great
Britain with nearly all her honey commands, if the grand
qualities of the products are properly regarded.

Some of our colonists, more expert than their neigh-
bours, have recently formed a companj' to sell honey to
those who do not keep any bees. I have not got a pros-
pectus, so cannot explain much about it. It is something
similar to your Honey Company at ' home.'

I have recently ascertained that an association is being
formed for keeping bees on a large scale, as in Cali-
fornia, Europe, &c, combined with fruit-growing, poultry
and pig-breeding, &c, which is to accompany the bees,
and seems to be well explained in a prospectus in manu-
script I have been permitted to read. The promoters are
nearly all of the most skilful bee-masters in the colony,
and one of them is Mr. Oscar Arney, of Hertfordshire,
who is, I believe, well known to many bee-experts, and is
said to be one of the greatest bee-masters of old England.
I notice that English capitalists, and particularly your
British bee-keepers, are to be included in the proprietary,
in which I am sure they will never repent to be attached
for many cogent reasons. In a few months I sincerely
hope I shall be able to write and say that a goodly
number of the old country's ten thousand bee-keepers
have wisely taken up the shares, and supported the
association, withal helping themselves to our big bee-
keeping country. In other respects the association is to be
a ' profit-sharing' one between capital and labour syndi-
cates. This latter fact is becoming popular here in
Victoria.

A Victorian Bee-keepers' Association has been organ-
ized in Melbourne, and has some sixty-six members on
the roll. They went well the first few weeks and then
fell off. It has now only a few devotees who meet now
and then. I anticipate it will collapse, as the members
live widely apart and cannot afford time and cost to
reach the meetings. I sincerely hope that it may be the
reverse, and that I may have to state soon that a refresh-
ing new start has been vigorously entered upon. —
Josei'U Milleu, Melbourne, Victoria, April 20th,

CHINESE BEES.

The accompanying photographs of bee-hives, taken by
Captain Maclear, in the Ordnance Stores' Gardens at
Hongkong, may interest some of 3'our readers. There

were twenty-three of such hives in the garden in charge
of a Chinaman, who freely opened the ends of the boxes
and turned over the bees with impunity, the insects
being of the most peaceful nature.

It seems that the Chinese are well advanced in bee-
keeping, and that queen-bees (called kings) can be bought
in Canton for two dollars, with a few workers (soldiers),
which they consider enough to start a hive, as they in-
crease very rapidly.

The honey is taken by removing the ends of the box
and blowing in a little smoke from a joss-stick, when the
combs most handy to reach are taken out. But as they
begin to take honey very early (May ?) it appears they

210

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June 15, 1885.

destroy a good deal of brood also by the man's account.
They are careful to move the ends of the box and clear
out all the dead cockroaches and wasps, which are
frequently found in the hives.

The account of the processes of various kinds beiug
given in 'pidgin English,' the information given was but
meagre to one not well versed in that jargon, but I hope
that these few facts may be of some interest.— Macleak,
Cranleigh.

Lecture on Bee-Keeping. — A lecture on the
natural history of bees, with a sketch of their manage-
ment in frame-hives, was recently delivered before the
Sheffield Young Men's Christian Association, by Mr. W.
T. Garnett. Much interest was shown in the combs and
bees exhibited, and their wonderful habits.

A Young Beginneh — On May 27th, during my
absence from home, my first swarm of this season was
found on a gooseberry bush by my son of only just ten
years of age. With an ordinary net veil and holelg
gloves he at the first attempt successively shook the bees
into a skep and then into a bar-frame hive. He was
stung a few times, but stuck to his guns. On my return
I found the bees all right. Last season my boy had
seen me hive a few swarms, but until yesterday had
never attempted to do so himself.— Bedfobdshi:re.

Wild Bees in Oregon. — The Portland Neios men-
tions the following incident : — ' A short time ago
Samuel, Asa, and Joe Iloladay, of Scappoose,_ took a
trip over to the Lewiston river, in order to look into the
resources of that region. They found it a most beautiful
country, and one that offers many inducements to
settlers. The part visited lies off in the direction of
Mount St. Helena, and is composed of both timber land
and fine open tracts which abound in game, large and
small. While encamped on the river, they discovered
an object that was as novel and interesting as it was
beautiful and striking. In their rambles through the
pine-woods, they suddenly came upon a fallen tree across
the path which, on inspection, they found to be hollow.
Through a knot-hole they could see something white,
and at once began to investigate. They sawed into the
log and were surprised to find that the whole interior of
the log was filled solidly with honey. _ They at once
brought from their camp some of their vessels to fill
with this sweetest of all nature's productions. Their
buckets and pans were soon filled. Then they sawed off
another length of the log, and found it still solid with
the honey. This they repeated and took from it honey
until they had opened" up ten feet of pure, lovely honey,
which was yielded from a comb that was in many places
four inches thick. Of this find they carried away 180
pounds, which they declared was the finest they ever
tasted, being far richer than the honey which tame bees
produce.'

Bees and Peaches. — A correspondent in the
London Garden, from Wales, remarks as follows : — ' I
know of no better way of securing a heavy crop of
peaches and nectarines, than by putting a colony of bees
in the house when the trees are in bloom. This has
been my practice for several years past in the case of a
house in which the trees come into flower in March, and
the result is always satisfactory. When the bees are in
the house, we never brush the flowers or shake the trees
in the hope of fertilising the flowers ; this work is left
entirely to the bees, and they do it effectually. I have
thiuned 900 small nectarines from a tree which covers a
piece of trellis four yards square, and several hundred
more will have to be taken off before the crop is a safe
and ordinary one. This, I think, is proof enough as to
the advantage of employing bees, and those who think
such work does the bees harm make a great mistake, as
they thus get a supply of food before it is plentiful out-
of-doors ; and I have noted that I have for two years

secured my first swarm and earliest-filled sections from
the peach-house bees. I may add that I have a good
many colonies of bees, and in my opinion they are
useful in a garden at this season, and when managed on
the moveable-frame system, they are both interesting and
profitable.'

Bee-keepers in Germany.— From September 9th
to loth, the annual meeting of the Austro-German
Central Bee-keepers' Association, will bring together
400 to 500 members. Mr. Lehzen, of Hanover, enumer-
ates the associations in Germany and the number of
members in each one, as follows: — 'Central of Giim-
binen, 488 ; Circle of Siegen, 500 ; Baltic Central (in
Pomerania), 950 ; Central of the Province of Hanover,
1300; Central of the Marches, 900; Central of Schleswig-
Holstein, 400 ; Seven United Associations of two
Hesses, &c, 1200; Central of the Great Duchy of Saxe-
Weimar and neighbouring country, 380 ; Central of the
Provinces of Saxon}-, Thuringe, and States of the Grand
Duke of Anhalt, 1200; Central of Mecklenburg, 600;
Central of Bromberg, 500; Baden, 1700; Cammiu,
3500; General of Silesia, 2242; The German Club of
Frankfort upon Main, 2242. Total, 10 principal groups,
numbering 15,880 members — all readers of progressive
periodical publications.'

(&t\pt$ front % pitas.

Langrich, Boston. — I fancy the season Bids fair to be
a good one for bees. My eighty stocks are doing very
well ; blossom is very abundant and white clover coming-
out. — Kobeht TlIOItPE.

South Cornwall, June Wth. — Alas ! again for ' climatic
influences.' These were most unfavourable during the
latter part of May, but June 1st broke out ' glorious,' and
for four days we had rare weather. The bees of course
made the most of it, and it is really astonishing what
they gathered even during the four days of mist which
succeeded. Now it is fine again, and all are busily at
work. The first swarm I heard of came out on Monday,
May 25th — a very enterprising queen, considering the
weather. — C. II. S.

North Leicestershire, June Wth. — A real good fort-
night of fine weather and an extraordinary honey glut
have enabled the bees to fill supers pretty fast. Swarm-
ing set in furiously during the first week in June,
but received a cheek from the wet on the 0th and 8th
inst. — E. B.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-

II. W. Davis. — Bees flying bach to their hives. — 1. We
cannot make ourselves responsible for all the state-
ments of our correspondents. It is a well-ascertained
fact that chilled bees, although from different hives,
when collected and incarcerated in the same receptacle,
in a warm room, on flying back to their hives, after re-
vivication, are joyfully received. We have proved
the fact hundreds of times. Even after two days'
imprisonment they have been well received. 2.
Pollen Grains, Uniting, 8fc— The small grains of
pollen which you noticed were rubbed off the legs
of the bees when passing through the zinc ex-
cluder. After twenty-one days, drive the bees from
the skep, unite them to those in the frame-hive
below, and replace the skep by a rack of sections.
It is better not to divide into two colonies, if that
were possible. Queen-cells will almost certainly have
been destroyed by the bees, therefore you will find no
young queens. There is no fear of a swarm issuing.
If you delay the removal of the skep when all the
brood is hatched out, the bees will use the sleep as a
super, and store it with honey, always supposing the

June 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEC JOURNAL.

211

old queen remains below. Both young queens and
old ones will occasionally pass through excluder zinc.

Col. — 1. Ligurians. — After more than twenty years'
experience with Italian bees, we have no hesitation in
pronouncing them the least irritable of all races, ex-
cept, perhaps, the Caucasian, which are lazy and poor
honey-gatherers. The irritability or quietness of bees
when under manipulation depends very much upon
the operator, and Italians, like all other races, de-
cidedly exhibit temper when roughly handled, and
when once thoroughly aroused they are difficult to
subdue. You will not regret giving them a trial.
Only be careful to procure the pure race. We have
reason to believe that large numbers of the so-called
Italian queens, bred and sold in this country as of
pure race, are cross-mated with drones of other races,
and, consequently, their progeny is hybrid, the most
vicious of all. Ilence we always advise the use of
imported queens from a trustworthy source. 2.
Duubling Hires for doubling should correspond exactly
in size, style of frame, and in fact in every particular.
The frames should be standard size. 3. Size of Hives
for Doubling. — Your dimensions are extraordinary.
We consider 18 in. square a good size for doubling,
and the frames should range from back to front,
j in. being allowed between the bottom bars of
frames and floor - board. 4. Tri/olium. — We believe
that black bees work to some extent on Trifolium
incarnatum, which is an excellent honey-yielding plant,
but not to the same extent as do the Eastern races.
Near to our apiary we have several fields of this
clover, which are covered all day long with Italians,
Syrians, and hybrids, and the honey stored is both
good in quality and large in quantity. 5. Leaving
Home. — Extract the honey from, say, the four outside
frames in each hive, before leaving home. Beplace
them and put on supers of sections, and we trust on
your return that you may find all hives well filled up,
both above and below, with the delicious nectar which
the heather yields.

Rev. W. B. J. — Working for Extracted Honey. — Yes,
you may put frames filled with foundation behind the
queen excluder, but you will find it better to put
them into the breeding part and place some tough old
combs behind for extracting purposes.

Jxo. Turner. — The powder in packet is dried pollen.

M.B. — 1. Returning Swarms. — Yes, you can return them
to the stocks from which they issued. If you pre-
viously find the queen and pick her out they will not
issue again unless about nine days after, when they
may re-issue headed by a young queen : this you can
avoid by destroying all queen-cells but one. 2. Bees
not entering Sections. — There may be rnany reasons
for it. For instance, the section may be draughty
and cold ; there may not be more honey coming in
than they can dispose of below. Try removing the
outside frames and closing up the division boards,
keeping the super warm.

M., Rathelmond. — Transferring. — 1. Supers may be
placed on transferred colonies as soon as the additional
foundation given is drawn out, or when the hive is
combed throughout. 2. Transferred colonies do not
usually swarm so early as others, but much depends
upon circumstances. 3. The enamel-cloth is placed
upon the frames, glazed side downwards, and the
woollen quilt, or felt, laid upon it. We prefer the
enamel-cloth to calico, or any other material.

C. R. — Onions, Quilts, §c. — 1. Onions, grown for seed,
near the hive, unless in large quantities, will have no
injurious effect upon the honey. The ' wild garlic,'
which grows largely in some districts, is most to be
dreaded. 2. The feed-hole in the quilt may be from
2 to 4 in. in diameter, according to the size of the
feeder. 3. The quilt must be entirely removed before

the super is put on. 4. If the sections do not fit close
at the top, but allow spaces for bees to pass through,
they must be covered with enamel-cloth, tick, or
calico. Swathing the whole super with woollen
material to retain the heat is advisable. -r>. At this
time of the year the loss of a queen can be ascertained
by inspection only. ti. The queen sometimes ascends
into the super and spoils it, by depositing egtrs. This
rarely occurs during a plentiful honey-flow, but cbiefly
in cool, moist seasons.
Tyro. — 1. West of Scotland Bee-keepers. — Mr. R. J.
Bennett, 50 Gordon Street, Glasgow, Secretary of the
Caledonian Apiarian Association, will be able to give
3'ou the information you require. 2. Removing
Enamel Cloths. — Enamel -cloth and all quilts must
be entirely removed before supers, section-crates, &c,
are put on the hive. If a colony is sufficiently
populous to work in sections there need be no fear
of chilling the brood. The bees will take care of that
during the warm weather of June and July. Putting
supers on weak colonies, and too early in the season, is
the common error.

D. H. D. — The name and address of the Secretary of
the Small Allotments Company are, Samuel Insull, 37
Palace Chambers, 9 Bridge Street, Westminster.

C. II. R. — Bees Suffocated. — Your bees were suffocated,
by the apron tied over the skep being of too close
texture to admit of sufficient ventilation. Bees, before
swarming, fill their honej'-sacs, which contaiu suffi-
cient food for two or three days' supply. From the
excitement of being confined, and from want of venti-
lation, and the excessive heat resulting therefrom, the
honey was disgorged from the sacs, and the poor bees
became a clammy, sticky mass, and so perished in
their own sweets. If you had used cheese-cloth, of
very open texture — only just close enough to prevent
the escape of the bees — and had left the swarm in an
open shed, where the air could circulate freely, the
result would have been different. In a railway van
there is always a sufficient circulation of air to pre-
vent suffocation when bees are rightly packed, but it
is always the safest plan to despatch them by evening
mail trains. We have received bees thus treated, in
excellent condition, after a railway journey of 300
miles. Although it is not really necessary that there
should be ventilation through the crown of the skep,
yet many provide it, and it is, perhaps, as well to be
on the safe side. The skeps should travel upside
down, and the bees will be found to cling to the sides
— not in a cluster as when swarming.

R. E. C— In all professions there are differences of
opinion. In tliis respect apiculture is not singular.
The foremost apiarists, whether in America, Germanv,
or England, differ on certain points both of theory
and practice. Nevertheless, on all material points
there is a general consensus of opinion, and our
columns are open for the discussion and statement of
different views, especially when backed up by ex-
perience and practice. Our space, already overcrowded,
forbids the putting into practice of your suggestion to
print ' queries ' as well as ' answers.' Until we can
see our way to a weekly issue the thing is simply im-
possible. 1. Drone Foundation. — Krone foundation is
very rarely used. We have never used any but
worker, and we find that it answers well in every
respect. 2. We suspect that 30U have used a thick,
inferior kind of foundation for your supers. The foun-
dation we prefer for sections is that of American
manufacture — thin as a wafer — and with full sheets
of this we have never found a ' septum ' or ' midrib,'
such as you describe, in any single section. 3. Tier-
ing up Section Racks. — Correspondents express their
own opinions. We are careful to recommend such pro-
cedure only as we have proved by actual practice.

212

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June 15, 1885.

The tiering up of section racks is intended to keep bees
at work in supers, and to prevent swarming-. If an
empty super is placed over one nearly completed,
instead of under, very often the bees refuse to take
possession, and send out a swarm. When placed
under they at once take possession. 4. Raynor Feeder.
— The ' Raynor Feeder is now made in two sizes, the
smaller of which, any roof, which takes a super at all,
will admit. It would be an easy matter to enlarge the
roofs of your hives, and the expense would be trifling.
We all gain knowledge by experience. 5. Sugar and
Granulation. — We have used the Duncan pearl sugar
largely, and have found no granulation in the syrup.
Do you make your syrup according to Cowan's recipe?
The vinegar is supposed to prevent granulation.

A. F. — Mustard Honey. — It would be quite impossible
for us to give an opinion as to the quality of your
honey without seeing it. Mustard honey is of poor
quality, and speedily granulates, even in sections of
a few days old. Bees are so fond of mustard that
they will desert most other flowers for it. 2. Honey
yielding plants. — Yes, bees obtain honev more or less
from all the flowers and plants you mention. When
wheat is in bloom they may be observed in numbers
working diligently on the ears. Indeed, there are
very few flowers upon which, bees do not work, but
they have preferences when a choice is afforded. ".
Brood turned out. — The brood was turned out for lack
of food. Instead of feeding slowly you should have
fed freely and copiously. About 2000 young bees
are daily added to the population of a strong colony
at this time of year ; the demand, therefore, upon the
stores is very heavy. 4. Returning Swarms. — It is
impossible to account for the vagaries you mention
unless we know the circumstances more fully. We
do not recommend returning swarms and cutting out
queen-cells, much less destroying young queens. Read
our advice on swarming in our issue of May loth,
under ' Useful Hints.' If you follow it you will
very rarely have second swarms, or casts.

W. B. IIitnt. — After-sivarms and their Cells. — With the
views of Mr. Langstroth respecting after swarms and
the kind of cells they build, expressed in a note on
page 184 of this work, we have long been acquainted
and fidly agree. Our remark, that drone-comb was
built by these swarms referred to the time previous to
the fecundation of the virgin queens at their head.
This we have proved repeatedly. It should, however,
be remembered that fecundation usually takes place
within three or four days — often on the second day —
after the issuing of these swarms, and, therefore, there
is but little time devoted to the building of drone-
comb, and the quantity actually built, owing to the
paucity of bees,is very small. But every one knows that
after-swarms begin to build their combs at the side of the
hive, and not in the centre, as do first swarms; and if
any one will take the trouble to examine the out-
side comb of such a swarm he will find the cells to be
drone-c 'lis. On one occasion we had, in our own apiary,
a large first swarm which united itself to a fair sized
second swarm while hanging on the branch of a tree.
Before we could separate the two the old queen was
killed by the young one, so we hived the whole in a
twelve-frame hive — having larger frames than the
standard ; and the bees went to work merrily at comb-
building, being liberally fed, on account of the weather
proving unpropitious. From the latter cause the young
queen was unable to mate, and about three weeks'
afterwards was lost, on a final attempt. Then
followed intense commotion, the bees rushing forth
from the hive, and attempting to enter other hives.
We, suspecting the cause, opened the hive to find only
a few stragglers rushing wildly over the combs, ten
in number,quite finished, and the other two were begun,
— combs, truly, but the whole consisting of drone-cells.

We immediately removed the drone-combs, supplied
some others containing worker-cells in their stead, caged
upon one of them a fertile queen, brushed off from the
adjoining hives the vagrant disconsolate bees, which,
on entering their old hive set up the usual joyful hum,
when the queen was at once liberated and joyfully re-
ceived, and all was harmony and peace. This was
one instance alone, but we can bring forth many others
which all prove the same point. Newly hived swarms,
with a fecundated laying queen, always begin by
building worker comb ; the converse holds as surety
as the proposition.

[In our last reply to W. B. Hunt ' foundation ' was
printed for ' fecundation.']

W. II. J. — Hearing of Bees. — Your speculation that,
even if, as generally supposed, worker bees are without
power of hearing, queens may be possessed of the
sense, seems worthy of investigation. As to drones
and queens finding each other by the aid of sound, it
is more likely that sight is the means. The large
number of drone3 in most hives, and most of them
being out on fine days when queens are likely to be
upon the wing, renders it probable that, at the altitude
to which they soar, the air is pretty well peopled with
drones on the look-out for queens.

R. Bailey. — Legal Claim to Bees. — You have no legal
claim to the bees, nor can you compel the man to buy
the hive into which you got them. You should have
made some bargain first. As it is you have the benefit
of their labours in working out your foundation and
storing some honey in your hive. If you had stood
the hive on the stand of one of your stocks, you would
also have saved the eggs and brood.

E. J. Gibbins. — Doubling. — It is not necessary to put
excluder zinc over the lower frame if you give the
queen plenty to do below. Ten frames are enough for
a queen to keep supplied with eggs. The plan you
propose is a very good one if you can ensure working
up the three stocks each to fifteen frames of brood by
the time you want to double.

M. IIahgreaves. — Bees in Skep Dwindling. — From
3'our description your bees have probably an old
queen, and her production of eggs does not keep pace
with the loss of life by age. We should advise you
to get some one of experience to examine them, as the
particulars you give are not sufficient to enable us to
pronounce a decided opinion.

F. West. — Foul Brood. — Having procured Mr. Cheshire's
pamphlet on the disease, you cannot do better than
follow his advice.

D. II. D. — 1. Making Swarm in a Skep from a Bar-
frame Hive. — Remove the bar-frame hive to another
stand, and place the skep on the stand from which
you removed it, and let it be on a large board. Open
the bar-frame hive, find the frame on which the queen
is, carry it to the old stand, and with a jerk shake the
bees and queen on to the board ; serve one or two
other frames the same, and replace them in the hive,
close it up, reduce the entrance, and keep warm. The
bees you shake off, and those flying, will, together,
make the swarm. 2. Feather Alum. — See p. 17".
.'!. Sugar for Dry Feeding. — A soft sugar, such as
Porto Rico, is generally used. We have found the
plan answer very well, and it certainly is a saving of
time and trouble.

E. Chisp. — Extracting from Combination Hire. — Yes ;
you must use excluder-zinc to divide the breeding de-
partment from the frame devoted to extracting super-
ing. In the case of sections it is not necessary, the
space between the sections being of a size to exclude
the queen. When a large super is used, excluder
should be u?ed raised a quarter inch from the frames,
so that the bees can circulate under it.

June 15, 1885.]

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

21;

E. A. Lord. — The grubs are very decomposed, but do
not give any sign of foul-brood in the microscope. To
say anything positively it is necessary to see the
larvae in a fresher state. I do not suppose any disease
exists. — F. C.

Busy Bee.— The sample of American cloth forwarded is
suitable for covering the frames.

A Bee-keeper. — The queen leaves the hive for fertilisa-
tion from three to five days after leaving the queen-
cell. She never afterwards leaves the hive, except
when accompanying a first swarm. If the queen is
batched in the fall of the year, and through the absence
of drones is not fecundated, she will be a drone-layer
in the spring.

O. H. M. — Unwelcome Bees in a Building. — You will
probably find that the bees are confined to the space
between two of the joists, and that not much cutting
away would be necessary to dislodge them. If, how-
ever, as you say, you cannot interfere with the building
and you must get rid of the bees, you can destroy them
by injecting the fumes of burning sulphur into the
space in which they are. But let us plead with you
to spare them if possible. Having got the bees out,
either alive or dead, you must carefully stop up every
crack into which bees can find their way, or you will
almost certainly have other swarms in this and future
seasons take possession of the same place.

J. Field. — Fed Swarms and Pure Honey. — Your swarms,
which only took down half-a-pound of syrup in a week,
used it all for their own sustenance, and any honey
extracted from that hive would be pure. As to other,
which took a limited supply daily, the syrup woidd
be all either consumed or stored around the brood-
nest ; and as honey is now coming in freely you
may extract from the outside combs and feel quite at
ease as to the purity of the honey. As to fed stocks,
you may extract what was stored while feeding and
keep it for food, and so ensure future extractions
yielding pure honey.

W. V. S. — Wired Frames. — We presume you mean
combs built on wired foundation. These are suitable
for use in the extractor as being less liable to break
out. The wire does not effect the honey.

If Secretaries of Homy Shows happening during the fifteen
days of our Issue would take the trouble to furnish us with
the dates thereof, we should be pleased to give insertion to
them. Such communication* should reach us not later than
the Wth and 25th of the month.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' PRACTICAL
NOTE BOOK. By Thomas W. Cowan, F.G.S.,
F.R.M.S., <fee. Crown 8vo, boards, Is.; postage Id.
Indispensable for every Bee-keeper. Published by J. Huckle ,
Kings Langley ; may also be obtained of all Hive-dealers.

Publications of the British Bee-keepers' Association :

ONEY AS FOOD. By Frank B. Cheshire, Esq.,
F.B.M.S. Price 3d.

ADULTERATION OF HONEY. By Otto Hehnek,
Esq., F.C.S., F.I.C. Price 6d.

THE BEST "WAY OF INSTRUCTING COTTAGERS
IN THE ART OF BEE-KEEPING. By tbo Rev.
W. E. Bcrkitt. Price 3d.

THE CHEMISTRY OF THE HIYE. By Mr. Otto
Hehner, F.I.C., F.C.S. Price 3d.

EE HOUSES AND HIVES. By Rev. George Raynor.
Second Edition (enlarged), Price 6d.

THE SOCIAL INSTINCTS OF BEES. By G. D.
Haviland. Price 3d.

H

B

FOR IMPROVED INDIA RUBBER STAMPS
for Printing Honey Labels, on Sections, &c. In-
cluding Box, Pad, and Ink, from 2s. each. Name and Ad-
dress in one line, 2s. 6d. each, complete. Send for Price
Lists from C. W. Bartlev, London House, Kimpton, Welwyn.
4030

QUEENS! QUEENS!! QUEENS!!!

PALESTINE, SYRIAN, LIGURIAN, and
BLACK — imported and home reared. Also Small
Swarms, headed by either of above Queens — in Nucleus, if
desired, thus dispensing all risks of introduction. For
particulars apply E. Woodham, Abbotsley, St. Neots. 4028

To Bee-keepers residing in Preston or Neighbourhood.

WANTED to PURCHASE, by the British Bee-
keepers' Association, A FEW STOCKS OF BEES
for Driving and Lecturing purposes at the Royal Agri-
cultural Show. Apply, stating price, &c, to the Secretary,
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.

SUPERIOR BEE VEILS.

WIRE GAUZE FRONTS,

Is. 2d. each ; 3 for 3s.

NO BEE-KEEPER SHOULD BE WITHOUT OXE.

W, CRISP, Halstead, Essex. 4034

38G2

Address J. HUCKLE. Kings Langley, Herts.

GOMB FOUNDATION!

Raitt's always gives satisfaction. His Super Foundation
is the best in the world.

Write :fo:r, XjIST to—

BLAIRGOWRIE, SCOTLAND

The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the
renowned C. F. H. Gravenhobst, Brunswick.

DEUTSCHE ILLUSTRIERTE BIEHENZEITURG.

Organ for the united interests of Bee-culture. By its con-
tributions from the principal Bee-keepers, and its brilliant
Illustrations, this publication has already had an extra-
ordinary circulation. Sample copies sent on request.

Also, ' DEE PEAKTISCHE IMKEB.' Compendium of
Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst. Third en-
larged and improved edition, with fifty-two new original
Pictures, and a frontispiece. Price 4 marks (4s.), stitched ;
well bound, 5 marks.

C. A. Schwetschke & Son (M. Bruhn), Brunswick.

At all Railway Bookstalls, Booksellers, and Hive Makers.
Large crown 8vo. toned paper, illustrated wrapper, 27 Illus-
trations, Is. 6rf. ; postage 2<i. extra.

BEE-KEEPING ; PLAIN AND PRACTICAL :
How to Make it Pay.

By ALFRED 11V SMUDGE.

' This is the title of a new English Book of 14t pages, nicely
printed, with an illuminated cover, and illustrated throughout. Mr.
Rusbridge writes with the pen of a master, detailing his practical
advice in every chapter.' — Tlie Amei-ican Buc Journal, May 6th, 1885.

' All his observations are founded on truth and common sense, and
all his proposals are of a thoroughly practical nature. The mauwho
intends to keep bees profitably and to put all toy systems out of sight,
can do no better, in the first instance, than invest Is. Sd. in Mr. Rus-
bridge's Bee-keeping.' — The Gardener's Magazine.

Xotice. — Secretaries to Bee Associations u.nrf Hive Makers
supplied at per dozen on the same terihs as the Trade*

London: E. W. ALLEN, Ave Maria Lane. 106

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 15, 1885.

-Special |)vepib ^btarttstinents.

For Sales and Purchases of Bee Appliances, Honey, Books,
Pamphlets, Diagrams, Ac, Exchanges and Situations.

Terms : Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad-
ditional three words, One Penny extra; no reduction can
be made for continuous insertion.

THE SIMMINS' METHOD OF DIRECT INTRODUC-
TION. Enlarged to 32 pages. Price 6%d. Post free,
of the Author, Rottingdeau, Brighton; Messrs. Neighbour &
Sons, 149 Regent Street; and Mr. J. Huckle, Kings
Langley, Herts. (53)

MODERN BEE-KEEPING. An Illustrated Handbook
for Cottagers. Fourth Edition, considerably enlarged.
The soundness of its information, the simplicity of its
instruction, combined with cheapness, make this Hand-
book invaluable to all intending Bee-keepers. Price Id.,
post free.

rpHE MANAGEMENT OF STRAW SKEPS. JbT
JL signed to teach the Cottager how to obtain the best
results at the least possible cost. By attention to its teach-
ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto. Price One Penny.
Six copies and upwards, post free.

FOUL BROOD ; The Means of its Propagation, and
the Method of its Cure. By Frank R. Cheshire,
Esq., F.R.M.S. Price 6<f.

BEE-KEEPING, Plain and Practical : How to
Make it Pay. By A. Ruseridoe, Is. 6d., post free,
Is. 8d. Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts. 3932

CYLINDER EXTRACTOR, to take Association Frames,
with Cage for Sections. Price 25s. Address E.
Philpot, 15 Mercery Laue, Canterbury. D 1

G

OOD Stocks of Bees in Standard Frame Hives ; also
Swarms cheap. Address J. Weatherhead, Ely. d 7

WANTED.— Bright Comb Honey in 4£ lb. Sections,
gathered in the neighbourhood. Send price, &c,
delivered to C. H. Crisford, Ninfield, Battle, Sussex.

ON SALE. — Little Wonder Extractor, 6s.; Pair of
Supers, 3s. ; Smoker, 2s. Address F. Goodall, London
Road, Newcastle, Staffordshire.

EES FOR SALE.— Address J. W. Carter, 15 Ash-
burnham Road, Bedford. d9

B

LITTLE WONDER EXTRACTOR : good as new ; in
perfect order. Price 6s. 6<f. Address Rev. R. L.
Lowe, Bradeley Vicarage, Stafford. d 10

TANDARD FRAMES fully worked out,— not pollen

bound — suitable for Extracting from 6s. per doz. ; also

a few Second-hand Hives, complete from 5s. ; also Swarms,

12s. 6<Z. to 15s. Address H. V. Edwards, Mackworth, Derby.

Dll

BEE-KEEPERS' GUIDE; or, Manual of the
Apiary. 11,000 sold since 1876. 12th Thousand just
out. 10th Thousand sold in just four months. 2000 sold
the last year. More than fifty pages, and more than fifty
costly Illustrations, were added in 8th Edition. The whole
work has been thoroughly revised, and contains the very
latest in respect to Bee-keeping. Price 5s., postage 4d.
BEE JOURNAL OFFICE, KINGS LANGLEY.

The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World.

THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL

Established in 1861.
Edited and published by Thomas G. Newman, at 925 West
Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., and will be sent
to European Subscribers at 10s. 6<Z. per annum for the
Weekly, or 2s. 6d. for the Monthly, including Postage. The
money may be sent by International Postal Money Orders
on Chicago. London Agents : Messrs. Geo. Neighbour &
Sons, 149 Regent Street, W

ITALIAN QUEENS ! Write to Prof. L. Saetori
and Co., of Via Federico Confalonieri No. 6, Milan,
Italy, for PRICE LIST of their CHOICE BREEDS. (104)

TWO DOZEN BEE-FEEDING PLANTS,
Mixed, for 2s. 6d., free. Address W. Moront, Junr.,
Fortlawn, BaLlyglass, Mayo.

THE SUBSCRIBER is now prepared to Supply
SECTION BOXES, as follows:—
Qnantity. Size. Price.

1000 ... 4Jby4Jby2 ... £10 0
500 ... ditto ... 0 11 0

1000 ... 61 by 4J by 2 ... 15 0
500 ... ditto ... 0 13 6

1000 ... 6g by 5£ by 2 ... 1 10 0
500 ... ditto ... 0 16 6

LESLIE TAIT, Poveran, Aberdeenshire.

CYLINDER EXTRACTOR.

TAKES TWO STANDARD or LARGER
FRAMES ; made of Tinned Steel, best Treacle Taps.
Best cheap Machine-made, 25s. PRIZE STRAW HIVES
for SUPERING, Is. 9<i. ; six at Is. 6d.

G. STOTHARD, Welwyn, Herts. 4035

J.

Expert B.B.K.A.

Manufacturer, THE APIARY, HOLME, PETERBOROUGH.

By authority — Simmins' Hives, Crates, Sections, <Src.
ASSOCIATION STANDARD SAW-CUT BAR FRAMES, l/-per doz.
fifty natural swarms still on offer.
Send for Illustrated Guide and Catalogue, Post Free. (98)

Cheapest House for Bar-frames & Sections.

BASS-WOOD SECTIONS, with V Joint, 4 by 4.J by 2, in
either one piece or dovetailed, 3s. per 100, or 27s. 6d.
per 1000 case. One sort.
BAR-FRAMES, yellow pine, morticed, 'Standard' size,
15j in. top bar, lrf. each, or 6s. 9<i. per 100.
17 in. top bar, with groove for Foundation, 14 each, or

8s. per 100.
Broad shouldered, 17 in. top bar, 2d. each, or 15s. 6<2.
per 100.

BROAD FRAMES to hold Six 4 by 4A by 2 Sections.
2d. each, or 15s. per 100. SMOKERS^ 2s. 9d. each.

ARTHUR DONNELLY & Co., Lurgan, Co. Armagh.
3716

E. M. HART & CO.

Can forward, same day as receipt of order :

s. d.
Bar-Frame Hives, Single wall each 6 O

The ' Utility ' Double Wall Hive, with

Frames and Section Crate 10 6

The 'Villa Hive,' Ten Frames, Three 6 1b.

Section Frames, and 21 lb. Crate 21 O

Flat Crown Skeps each 1 3

Simplex Feeders per doz. 14 O

Clarke's Cold Blast Smokers, post free 2 6
For delivery after May 15th:

Swarms of English Bees, in a Nine-Frame

Hive, fitted with Comb Starters each 15 O

Orders executed in rotation. Sjiecial terms for quantities.

THE LONGSTOCK APIARIES,

STOCKBKIDGE, H^

Communications to the Editor to be addrested ' Stranqeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c.'

[No. 173. Vol. XIII.]

JULY 1, 1885.

[Published Fortnightly.]

(Editorial, Sottas, $*•

QUEENS LATE IN COMMENCING TO LAY.

[In addressing' A. E., who forwards a query, I am
dealing with a question of general interest, asking
whether he had been too precipitate in removing the
queen he enclosed as she had not laid an egg at twenty
days old, and so prefer to put my reply somewhat
into article form.]

The fact of a queen not laying at twenty clays old
is not in itself a sufficient reason for displacing her.
The normal time in warm weather for mating is
the seventh day, ovipositing commencing about
forty-eight hours afterwards. Although sometimes
queens do mate as early as the fifth day after ma-
turing in the cell, the statement made by Dzierzon
and others that they occasionally mate on the
second or third after hatching, is a half-truth only,
as queens are not infrequently kept by the bees
of their hive within the cell two or three days
after they are ready to leave it, and are then
nourished by special food being placed upon the
feeding grooves of their tongues, which are pro-
truded through openings made in the capping.
These queens may mate two or three days after
gaining their liberty, but that will be five days at
least after their hatching condition has been
reached, which time may be regarded as the mini-
mum. On the other hand, the period of con-
jugation in adverse weather is often greatly ex-
tended, and there is strong reason for supposing
that queens have been delayed in meeting the
drone until thirty days old at least, and yet have
turned out good mothers.

There are wider variations between queens than
common opinion concedes. The very great number
I have dissected during the last two years has
brought to light most curious and suggestive facts,
showing that queens run through a long scale of
variation from a point not very far removed from a
fertile worker to a mother of the completely diffe-
rentiated and highest type, a matter to which I
shall hereafter draw attention.

The queen in question, from reasons which lie
altogether outside my knowledge, for I have not
learnt any details of the stock in which she was
raised, had either received a check or had been in-
sufficiently nurtured. Possibly, or rather probably

she had been raised by old bees which I find con-
tain the anatomical evidence of being unable to act
as first-rate nurses, and a fortiori incapable of turn-
ing out high quality mothers. It is manifest that
normally queens are produced when a hive is teem-
ing with young bees, and from such only can queens
of first-class fecundity and endurance be obtained.
The specimen sent me was anatomically susceptible
of mating, but was yet unfertilised. Her ovaries
were small and surrounding them were still con-
siderable quantities of fatty substances (coi-ps
graisseux) which should be used up during the pupa
condition forming tissue and giving the needed
energy for the vital changes then in progress. The
healthy queen grub at the time of sealing weighs
very nearly double as much as she does when hatch-
ing, because of the disappearance, through oxidation,
of these fatty masses aforesaid. That these had not
properly been utilised in the specimen sent would
indicate depressed vitality, possibly due to too low
a temperature during the chrysalis or pupa stage ;
and this would in turn indicate a small number of
bees which, in the chilly weather obtaining at the
time this queen was sealed in, would be inadequate
to the work of maintaining the needful heat for per-
fectly satisfactory chrysalis development.

Experiments long since made, in which queen-
cclls-sealed were removed and kept at a lower tem-
perature than that of the hive, enabled me not only
to delay the period of hatching by three days and
a half, but to produce queens with aborted wings
and other defects. Errors in temperature and excess-
ive dryness in the air causing the mischief. In a
weak nucleus of perhaps half a pint of bees in chilly
summer weather queens have hatched out with me
seventeen days and a half from egg-laying, while
the full healthy time is sixteen days.

All this points in one direction, and teaches a
lesson which I must repeat that it is the highest
economy and the soundest philosophy to devote the
very best stock to queen-raising. The stock which has
the best points, the finest honey-gathering qualities,
should yield the queens for the coming year's work ;
and let us not think it good policy to employ weak-
ling lots that can do nothing else as our queen-
raisers. Langstroth's advice to use foul-broody
stocks for this purpose is about the very worst that
could by possibility be given. The knowledge he
had of foul brood, so far as its nature and scope
went, was almost nil ; but even considering this his

216

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[July 1, 1885.

suggestion seems to me to lack that insight which
he shows in so many other directions.

To return to the queen under discussion. The
opening to the spermatheca was very wide, as I
Have previously noted in virgin queens ; and pro-
bably by a little more waiting she might have
secured the honours of maternity, but never could she
have become the type of mother which must sweep
a stock quickly on to the heyday of prosperity. Of
such a sort, however, may her successor prove to be,
but she will not if she be reared by the bees which
have produced and mourned the mother we have
cut up and debated. — Frank R. Cheshire, Avenue
House, Acton, W.

STINGS.

Bee-keeping would be a more popular industry
than it is were it not for the extremely objection-
able way that bees have of stinging.

Marvellous as is the mechanism by which this is
effected, it requires a truly philosophical mind to
appreciate it when a bee has driven in its sting on
some sensitive part of our person ; and though
theoretically we may admire, we would rather avoid,
the practical effect. ■

Three traditional courses are open to us — to avoid
bees altogether, to protect ourselves by veils, gloves,
&c, or to have some remedy at hand which will
prevent any ill effects. With some people a sting
is followed by such serious results that it would be
the height of imprudence on their part to attempt
to keep bees ; but as we are writing for bee-keepers
we shall not discuss the first of these courses, as with
certain precautions the chance of being stung can
be reduced to a minimum.

Not that a veteran bee-keeper will not get
stung occasionally, for bees are ' kittle cattle ' to
deal with, and we have often wondered why a
bee should go out of its way to attack us without
rhyme or reason ; but the more experience we have
in handling bees, and the more they are handled,
the less liability there is of being stung, and, as a
rule, we have found that carelessness and neglect of
proper precautions have earned their due deserts.

There arc two golden rules to be observed in
handling bees,— never to irritate the bees by quick
motions, but to be slow and deliberate, and to see
that the bees are gorged with honey or syrup. If
we are careless enough to let a frame slip through
our fingers or pass our hands too rapidly over an
open hive, the bees get irritated and at once sting
the hands or the face if unprotected by a veil,
whereas if wo are slow in our movements the bees
will very seldom attack us.

Bees are very like men in that they are good-
tempered when they have had a good dinner, and
so it is always advisable to see that there is enough
uncapped cells of honey in the hive, or we must
supplement them by pouring some syrup over the
bees and let them suck this up before beginning to
handle them. A little smoke is often advisable,
though with some bees, like the Syrian variety, it
makes them more irritable and more apt to stilly.
A very good plan is to puff in a little smoke at the

entrance, then drum the hive for a few seconds and
puff in a little more smoke as we take off the carpet,
and after waiting a minute or two proceed to take
out the frames.

Until the beginner has got confidence he had
better protect himself by wearing a veil and gloves,
and at some time of the year, especially when the
bees are gathering no honey, a veteran even is com-
pelled to use a veil.

Those of us also, who have got other work to
attend to, had better be on the safe side, and pro-
tect the face, as one or more eyes half closed up by
stings is apt to provoke ill-natured remarks, re-
flecting on our pacific disposition or sobriety.

The sooner, however, we can dispense with gloves
the better, as it is really impossible to do any deli-
cate manipulation, such as catching a queen, if our
hauds are covered.

Doctors proverbially disagree, but there is one
point on which all are agreed, and that is, that
many specifics for any one disease imply that there
is not one of any real good.

So with bee-stings. Scores of remedies have
been extolled, from cold water to carbolic acid,
from plantain leaves to raw onions, as being the
specific.

We have the greatest faith in carbolic acid ap-
plied at once. It is a very cheap remedy, as for a
few pence we can supply ourselves with enough to
treat some hundreds of stings.

All that is wanted is some strong carbolic acid,,
like that used for disinfecting drains, and the
method of using it is as follows : —

Immediately after we have been stung we extract
the sting, touch the place with a stick or glass rod
which has been dipped into carbolic acid, and then
apply a drop of water ; and the union of the two
causes a paralysis of the nerves which control the-
lymphatics, and so prevents the poison from being
taken up into the system. Only the smallest pos-
sible quantity must be used, as the acid, being a
caustic when mixed with water, leaves a sear, which
however will disappear in a few days, unless an
excessive quantity is used. The old idea that we-
can neutralise the poison, which is acid, by using
an alkaline solution of soda, potash, and ammonia,
is altogether erroneous. If it were possible to inject
the solution, so that it should follow the same course
as the acid poison, and immediately combine with
it, we might manage to neutralise the poison; but
the external application of the solution is use-
less, except so far as its cooling properties are
concerned, just as any evaporating lotion tends to
reduce inflammation, and is useful to counteract
the effects of a stills'.

USEFUL HINTS.

We arc now at the height of the honey season,.
and where white clover abounds, sections should
be rapidly filled. Up to the 21st of June few racks
of sections had been completed, in cousequence of
the changeable weather experienced — alternately
hot and cold — so cold, that during the nights the
bees, perforce, were compelled to desert the sections,.

July 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

217

and then would follow a splendidly bright day, and
the sections were again deserted for work in the
fields, and filling np cells below, which had been
emptied during the ungenial weather.

During the present tine break, unfortunately, a
great deal of bee forage is falling before the scythe
or 'mower,' and in districts having no heather, a
fortnight will see the principal part of the honey
harvest over. The old saying,

' When meadows are mown,
Bees store none,'

is not far from the truth.

At present with beans, white clover, tares, or
vetches, and wheat in bloom, the income, with fine
warm weather, ought still to be large ; and soon
we shall have the limes also in bloom, with which
comes the close.

Giving and removing Sections. — Strong swarms
of three or four weeks' standing, which have not
yet been supcred, may have a ease of sections at
once, with a chance of getting them filled, weather
favouring. We have known the white clover in
grazing districts yield abundantly during the
hottest weather in July and August ; and it is
possible that our chief harvest may yet be collected.
Sections inserted in the body of the hive have been
most successful at present ; but the quality gene-
rally is not so good as those worked above. Where
second swarms have not issued, or have been re-
turned, supers ought to be approaching completion.
Sealed sections should be removed at once and
their place supplied by partly finished ones. Sec-
tions when removed should be stored in a dry,
warm room and packed so that the air can freely
circulate around them ; but they must be kept free
from dust. A dry, dark closet is a good place for
storage.

Second Swarms, having been kept, should be
carefully examined to ascertain if the queens have
become fertile, in which case they will have in-
creased in size, the abdomen will have become
longer and more bulky, and they will receive more
attention from the bees ; but the most trustworthy
evidence is the disposition of eggs in a regular,
orderly form. An}7 colonies found queenless should
be re-queened without delay.

Carbolic Acid as a bee -quieter appears to be
coming into more general use. As many inquiries
respecting the strength of the solution used have
been made since our last issue, we give that which
we have used for many years : — To a quart of
water add two ouuees (four tablespoonfuls or a
wineglassful) of the strongest carbolic acid. The
solution should be well shaken before applying it,
as the acid does not mix readily( with the water,
but sinks to the bottom of the bottle. A wide-
mouthed pickle-bottle, with several strong goose-
quills, forms our apparatus, and of these we have
half-a-dozen standing about our hives in readiness
for use. No case of foul-brood has ever visited our
apiary during an experience of nearly half-a-century,
and we have used the above solution for more than
twenty years.

Extracting should now be carried on with vigour.
While honey comes in, the more the extractor is

used the more honey the bees will store. Do not
extract from combs containing brood. Our advice
is intended for the inexperienced, and not for the
expert ; but we think the latter would do well to
forbear, as we cannot believe that the motion of
the machine, however gentle, will not injuriouslv
affect the unsealed, if not the sealed, larvre.

Shade. — In very hot weather shade all swarms
to prevent the melting of the newly-built, tender
combs.

Maiden Swarms.— May or early June swarms, in
a good season, will often themselves throw swarms
during this month. These swarms are usually
termed ' maiden.' Where it is intended to retain
them as future colonies, they should be treated as
second swarms ; except that having old queens at
their head, it will often be of advantage to replace
these by young queens. To such swarms full
sheets of foundation should be supplied, and food
if necessary. It is also excellent practice to give
them, as well as second swarms, a frame of brood
and honey from any strong colony which can well
spare it. Over the enamel cloth, "covering swarms,
a woollen quilt and crown-board, weighted, should
be placed to keep all tight and warm. In extremely
hot weather wedging up the hive \ in. below will
give ample ventilation.

BEE-KEEPING AT THE COLLEGE OF

AGRICULTURE, DOWNTON, NEAR

SALISBURY.

The peculiar feature of this College, in which
it differs from every similar institution in this
country, is its possession of a mixed farm (of 550
acres), which is utilised to the fullest extent, as a
means of imparting a knowledge of practical agri-
culture— offering to each student all the advantages
of a private pupil under a farmer combined with
the highest collegiate instruction in the sciences
on which the art of agriculture is based. The
College is pleasantly situated in the midst of
gardens and orchards, and the farm extends from
the river Avon on the east (behind which lies the
New Forest) to the Downs on the west. The
students, at present, are nearly fifty in number,
under the charge of Professor Wrightson, the
President, assisted by an efficient staff. The
President has lately started an apiary, and on
June 12th he invited the Rev. W. E. Burkitt, hon.
secretary and expert of the Wilts B.K. A., to spend
a day at the College and give some instructions on
the management of the apiary. Notice had been
given to the students that at eleven o'clock Mr.
Burkitt would give a lecture in the garden with
practical illustrations of the management of both
bar-frame hives and skeps. All the hives, consist-
ing of two bar-frame hives and eleven skeps, were
then examined, and useful hints given. An artificial
swarm was made, and the process of driving ex-
plained ; this lasted till luncheon, after which
another batch of students attended to witness
similar operations, two of the professors trying
their hands successfully in driving, and a natural
swarm was hived for a neighbouring cottager. In

218

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[July 1, 1885.

this way a very pleasant afternoon was spent.
Very great interest appeared to be taken in the
proceedings ; indeed, a most satisfactory proof of
this was given by the professors and students on
the spur of the moment collecting a sum of
11. 5s. 6(1. among themselves and handing it to
the hon. sec. as a contribution from the College
to the hive fund at the County Show.

Mr. Burkitt was cordially invited to repeat his
visit, and it seems not unlikely that before long
bee-keeping may be made one of the regular
branches of instruction at this most useful in-
stitution.

PEEL MEMORIAL FUND.

We arc desired to state that subscriptions to this
fund will be received by the following officials of
the British Bee-keepers' Association: — Mr. Thos.
W. Cowan, Chairman of the Committee, Comptons
Lea, Horsham ; Mr. W. O'B. Gleunie, Treasurer,
Greenhithe, Kent ; Mr. J. Huckle, Secretary, Kings
Langley, Herts, and by the Secretaries of County
Affiliated Associations. The following additional
subscriptions have been received : —

£ s. d.

D.Stewart -J -2 0

J.Garratt 110

G. D. Ilaviland 0 10 0

J.Walton 0 5 0

County Secretaries would much oblige by giving
earnest attention to the above. His dat qui cito
dat.

In last issue of the Journal the word 'triennially '
should have been ' biennially.' Sec motion relating
to this fund.

OXFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The schedule of the annual exhibition of honey,
wax, hives, and appliances, connected with bee-
culture, to be held in the private garden of the
Warden of Wadham College on Thursday, July 30th,
has been issued, and may be obtained of the secre-
tary, the Bev. F. C. Dillon, Enstone, Oxon. The
prize list is a full one and offers great facilities to
the cottagers, who will have every opportunity of
appearing at their best and getting just rewards.
The exhibition being held in conjunction with the
summer show of the Royal Oxfordshire Horticultural
Society will undoubtedly add to the attraction, and
visitors should not fail to pay it a visit.

ASSOCIATIONS.

ABBOTTS' SECTION HOLDERS.
For some time past there have been inquiries for a
basket for containing sections of honey. A very neat
and useful section-holder has been submitted to us
by Messrs. Abbott. It appears to be an entirely new
idea, and is introduced very opportunely. These holders
are made of the finest bass-wood. They are intended
for folding round 4j x A\ sections. Packing these
sections for shows and market will now be a matter
of a few minutes. We understand that Messrs. Abbott
invented these last January, but have had great diffi-
culty in inducing the Americans to undertake their
manufacture. (See Advertisement.)

WILTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The expert of the Association, Rev. W. E. Burkitt,
concluded his visitation of the county a fortnight ago,
having made seven tours, lasting from three to five days
each. In all parts of the county a decided improvement
is visible, even among cottagers, who have not yet quite
abandoned the sulphur-pit. The result of the whole tour
has been — 128 bee-keepers visited, owning 780 stocks, of
which 426 are in bar-frame hives. And thanks to the
kind help in transit, and the hospitality offered, the
travelling expenses have only just exhausted the SI. prize
won in the ballot in February last, while thirty-nine
additional members have joined the Association, -many
of whom were either cottagers, or of the class just above
them. Though carefully looked for, disease was only dis-
covered in one apiary — the last visited. The following is a
list of places visited by the expert between March 19 and
June 12: — Pewsey, Manningford, Chitenbury, Enford,
Figheldean, Brigmaston, Appleshaw, Collingbourne,
Everleigh, Devizes, Poulshot, Rowde, Bishops Can-
nings, Beckhampton, Marlborough, Trowbridge, Melks-
ham, Westbury, Warminster, Codford, Stockton, Salis-
bury, Bedlyncb, Downton, Whiteparish, Alderbury,
Fisbury, AVardour, Broad Hinton, Wootton Bassett,
Cricklade, Malmesbury, Somerford, Corsham, and others
in the neighbourhood. The various members of the
committee and district advisers made all arrangements
for the expert's visits beforehand.

The first show of the season was held at Trowbridge
on June 2nd and 3rd, in connexion with the Wiltshire
(late Marlborough and Pewsey Vale) Agricultural Asso-
ciation.

No prizes were given, these being reserved for the
County Show, to be held at Salisbury on August 20th ;
but useful collections of bee-furniture were exhibited by
Messrs. E. M. Hart & Co., and the hon. sec. Some first-
rate bar-frame hives were exhibited by R. Webb, of
Yambrook, near Trowbridge (at most moderate prices,
which were all sold). J. E. Willshere, of Semington,
Trowbridge, showed several, for which he had taken
many prizes. F. Hersett, of Rowde, Devizes, had also
some good useful hives. Mr. Woodbridge, of Hungerford,
had several well-made ' Buttismere skep crates,' which
are much in demand. Mr. E. Chapman, Frome, showed
a great curiosity in the shape of a natural hive filled
with comb — to wit, a large hollow limb of an apple-tree
some •"! ft. long, glazed at the ends, from which, however,
the bees had departed. Observatory hives were exhi-
bited by Messrs. Herbert Clark, C. Webb, and the
hon. sec.

Lectures and demonstrations were given each day in
the bee-tent at frequent intervals ; the hon. sec. receiving
much kind help from various members of the Committee,
and also from Mr. E. Chapman, of Frome, and F. Bart-
ley, of Rowde. Notwithstanding perfect weather and
the excellent site which had been secured for the tent
by the treasurer, the takings fell short of the expenses.
The sales, however, were larger than usual.

NOTTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

A meeting under the auspices of the Notts B. K. A.,
was held in the National Schoolroom, Grove Street,
Retford, on Saturday, June (5th, when a lecture was
delivered by Mr. F. II. K. Fisher, of Farnstield, on
' Bee-kee] ing.'

The Mayor (Mr. Hurtsman) occupied the chair, and
amongst those present were — Rev. A\ . Ilomfray, Mr. F.
Pegler, and Mr. Humphrey Parry. The attendance was
only small. The meeting having been opened by the
Chairman, Mr. Fisher delivered an interesting and in-

July 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

219

structure lecture on the best methods of cultivating bees,
introducing various apparatus, and explaining their uses.
Votes of thanks to the chairman and lecturer brought the
meeting to a close.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'

ASSOCIATION.
Mr. Joseph Cook, acting local secretary of the Fairford
district, begs to inform the members of the Gloucester-
shire B.K.A. in that district that he will be pleased to
give any advice, either by letter or personal application,
as far as his abilities will allow, at his own house; but
as he is unable to walk any distance he cannot engage to
visit any one unless his travelling expenses are paid, or a
conveyance sent for him.

*.* All Correspondents forwarding Letters for insertion in
the Journal, Reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes
from the Hives, Queries, <bc, are requested to direct their com-
munications to ' The Editor of the " British Bee Journal," c/o
Messrs. Strangeways <£• -Sons, Totcer Street, Upper St. Martin's
Lane, W.C

FOUL BROOD :— FUMIGATING WITH
SALICYLIC ACID.

[Will Mr. Cowan be good enough to state in the next
B. B. Journal how to fumigate with salicylic acid? Is the
acid set on fire like sulphur ? — Beeswing.]

For fumigating bees to cure foul brood, a fumigator is
required, as it will not burn like sulphur. The form of
fumigator used is fully described on page 139 of the sixth
edition of British Bee-keeper's Guide Book. It consists
of a cylinder to which is hinged a cover, having a nozzle
•with an opening- 5 ins. by 1J ins., so that it can be easily
inserted between the floor-board. Inside the cylinder is
a spirit-lamp, and above it a metal dish into which the
salicylic acid is placed. In the evening or morning when
all the bees are at home, the hive is raised at the back
off the floor-board by means of blocks of wood, and
-wedges are inserted at the side in such a way that there
is only space for the nozzle of the fumigator to enter.
About fifteen grains of salicylic acid are placed in the
dish, and the rlame of the spirit-lamp so regulated that
the acid is gently evaporated. For much flame will
cause it to boil over and waste, and too little would not
melt it, so that the right amount must be found out by
trial.

The nozzle of the fumigator must be inserted in the
opening and the corners of quilt turned up, so as to allow
the vapour of the salicylic acid to circulate freely. The
entrance in front need not be closed. Parts of hive,
alighting-board &c, not reached by the fume should be
syringed with salicylic-acid solution, given on page 151
of Guide Book. Each hive should be fumigated four to
six times, at intervals of six days : this is generally found
sufficient; but if the disease reappears continue the
fumigations. The bees are in no way inconvenienced by
these fumigations. At the same time give the bees every
other evening a quarter of a pint of syrup containing
salicylic acid.

The above process is simple and inexpensive, and I
have seen large apiaries cured by its means. The
greatest precaution must be taken that everything in use
should be disinfected. For further details, see Guide
Book, pages 138 to 140.— T. W. Cowan.

ECCENTRIC BEES.
There is a dance of devilry going on in my apiary.
Last year I purchased, at a high price, from a well-
known dealer a swarm of Ligurian bees. Thev arrived

on June 11th, too late in this country t) do more than
establish themselves. I?y the end of this season they
will have cost me their weight in gold. I have my
doubt? as to their being Ligurians, owing to their being
more beautifully marked than any I have seen.

They started this spring most satisfactorily, as far as
breeding was concerned. I noticed they required more
feeding than the other bees.
On May .'50th I put on a super.
On June 3rd they swarmed and were put back.
On June 4th they swarmed, joined a swarm from
No. 2, and were successfully hived, filling two skeps.
The old man who was watching them left at 5.15. At
5.45 I went out to return them to their own hive. In
the interval they had disappeared.

June 5th. Found them in a hedge half a mile away.
The}- had spent the night in a hedge where they were
seen at 5.30 this morning. They then moved to another
hedge, where I found them. Brought them back to
their own hive and put on second super. There was
not a trace of comb on either of the hedges.
June 6th. Put on third super.

June 10th. Swarmed. Settled on sleep containing
swarm from No. 2. Hived them separately. Put back
in the evening.

June 11th. Came out for the devil's own dance.
Joined swarms from Nos. 2 and 3, careered wildly round
and round the old man, and finally went back to their
own hive with the larger portions of 2 and 3. The
few remaining bees of 2 and 3 went back to their own
hives. In the evening the hive and three crates of
eighteen li-lb. sections in each were crammed full of bees.
June 12th. Swarmed. Put back. Put on fourth
super.

June 13th. Came out three times and went back
again.

June 14th. Swarmed. The swarm was so lai'ge that
it would not go into one extra-sized skep, and as soon
as the last portion was hived in a second skep a swarm
came from No. 8 and entered the same skep. In the
afternoon this mixed lot went off faster than the old
man could follow them and were lost. In the evening
put back first lot. First saw and helped in a hybrid
queen. Next, unfortunately, saw a yellow queeu. How-
ever, determined to chance it, I helped her in. Then
found a black queen which the bees killed.

June 15th. Found two dead queens outside. Swarmed.
SuccessfuhV hived, but part of them came out in my
presence, and went off. Well, I was not going to lose
them. Over an iron fence I went, through a gate into a
fallow field, where an engine was cultivating. It was a
little down-hill at first, so I managed to keep up ; but
when it came to going up-hill, over fresh cultivated
ground, I got pumped, and the bees drew away fast. I
shouted to the engine-driver, who joined in the chase,
armed with a shovel. I struggled through a field of
beans ; he struggled through a field of clover. All no
use, the bee3 beat us easy, won in a canter, and were
lost. At the end of a mile we were both done. I do
not know what the engine-driver said, but I confounded
those maniac bees. In the evening put back what were
left, and took away fourth super.

Owing to the rain, they were quiet till June 18th, when
they swarmed again. Put back. Saw and helped in a
beautiful yellow queen. Caught and took away six
queens, some of them apparently hybrid and some yel-
low. Rather fancy I saw another queen go in, but as
the swarm was about two and a half times larger than
a usual one, it was difficult to find the queens. They
are ready to come out again, but the rain and the cold
keep them in. Even these bees do not fancy a thermo-
meter below sixty in the day-time and thirty-five at
night.

June 21st. I was wrong. These bees swarmed again.
Thermometer, fifty-nine ; strong, cold N.W. wind.

220

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[July 1, 1885.

I was in the garden at the time. They came out at
three o'clock, and danced all round the house. Some of
them rested on the roof, some on the ground, and some
on shrubs close by. At last they induced No. 3 to come
out and join them, when they immediately settled, l'ut
back in the evening. Did not see a queen.

June 22nd. Examined No. 3. Found a queen, hardly
any bees but drones, and very little brood. There is an
end of any chance of honey from this hive. Raining,
and colder than ever.

Now, all this time these bees have not done any work.
The foundation in the supers is untouched.

On Juno 5th No. 1 swarmed, joined a swarm from
No. 8, and were hived in No. 8. These miserable bees,
which live in No. 7 hive, have mixed themselves with
Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 8. They have had two swarms from
No. 2, and two from No. 3, have lost a portion of their
mixture, and have caused the loss of a large swarm from
No. S. The consequence is that Nos. 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8,
will produce little or no honey.

Misfortunes never come alone. No. 5, after starting
well in the spring, lost its queen, and set up a fertile
worker. Had to be destroyed. At the best, this season
will be the worst since 1882, so my prospects are
somewhat gloomy. A bad season, low prices, and mad
bees, are enough to make one resolve never to keep bees
again. — Ct. 0. E., June 22nd.

SKEP COVERS.

This skep-cover is nothing more than the ordinary
zinc cone cut in two horizontally and put together
again. It consists of a lower portion A, in the form of a
truncated cone, fitting well over the hive, and large

Fig. 1.— Side View.

enough at the top to admit of easily manipulating a
feeding-bottle, &c, through the opening. To the lower
edge on either side is soldered a thin strip of metal (S.S.) ;
holes are punched in these where they touch the edge of
the floor-board, and through these holes a small nail or
screw is driven so as to fix the cover in its place ; addi-
tional security is given by tying the ends of these strips
(which are bent into loops for the purpose) to the
pedestal of the hive-stand, as is shown in figure 2. A bit
of stout galvanised wire (\V) soldered obliquely round A,
conducts the greater part of the wet which falls upon it
to the rear. The second portion, B, is merely a small tin

basin which, when inserted, tits closely over A. It is
furnished with a ring-handle for lifting it off, and a small
projecting 'tag' of tin (t) is soldered into the lower rim :
should I? become tightly jammed on A, the slightest
movement of t will looser, it at once and allow of its being

Fig. 2.— Back View.

lifted off without any jar or shaking. This cover, while
affording all necessary protection to the hive, serves also
to fasten it securely to its floor-board for the greater part
of the year— i.e., except when supering, it remains a fix-
ture : it ensures a great saving of time, because feeders
can be at once refilled, changed, or removed, and the hive
inspected, through the opening in the crown without
removing the cover, it being only necessary to lift off the
lid B; it is not expensive; zinc is doubtless the best
material, but even if made of light tin a coat or two of
paint renders it practically everlasting. The dotted line
in figure 2 indicates the position of the hive within the
cover. A diameter of eight inches gives a convenient size
for the upper opening, and this may be six inches or
more above the crown of the skep. — C. E. Shelly,
Hertford.

SOUTH AFRICAN BEES.

Permit me through the medium of your columns to
reply in general terms to the numerous letters, &c,
I have unexpectedly received in reference to ' ex-
changes' of Ligurian and Syrian or Cyprian bees for
South African ' blood.' Many of these would, perhaps,
have been more acceptable but for 3s. Id. outlay in all,,
for ' deficient postage.' However, while I heartily thank
my correspondents for their communications, and should
be pleased indeed to accommodate them all, I must beg
to remind them that I am so far removed from 'modern'
bee-furuiture, and especially bee-travelling appliances,
that I have yet to learn from one that is well versed in
these matters the best method of procedure to ensure
success in transport. I must, therefore, needs wait to
receive from England, perhaps through your valuable
Journal (the acquaintance of which I have but recently
made) some practical information as to the kind of box
or cage found by experience to be best calculated to
convey them ; and the accessories also most likely to
secure their safety for so long a voyage.

As I hope to be placed in possession of these essentials
erelong, I will seek the best means I can of satisfying all

.July 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

221

requirements. I should, perhaps, add in further reply
that if ' Africans ' found ready favour, and I am con-
vinced they will when once tried, either variety might
he raised pure, and, I doubt not, in any desired quantity.
We are in the second month of winter, and the weather
is just now cold and wet.— J. AV. Stroud, Part Elizabeth,
Alffoa Bail, Cape Colony, S. Africa, Mai/ 19th, 1885.

SYRIAN BEES.

Your readers will remember that some time ago _ a
series of interesting notices by Mr. Hewitt appeared in
your pages on the subject of ' Syrian Bees.' The temper,
productiveness, and general qualities of the race were
described in great detail, and painted in very tempting
and rose-coloured pictures. Gentleness of temper was
the point more specially dwelt upon, this being described
as so marked that various kinds of severe tests, shaking
into boxes, &c, might be tried with impunity; and this
not only without veil or gloves, but even any proposed
amount" of the usual raiment of the human frame might
he taken off for the process without fear of so much as a
single sting.

All this was in startling contrast to another well-
known ' pronouncement ' by a master in the art, who,
in a phrase now almost historic, had acknowledged
defeat by the exceeding viciousness of the Eastern races,
and after making full trial of their qualities had decided
to ' clear his apiary of these truculent pests.' Nothing

• could he more diametrically opposed than these two

• experiences, and the contrast seemed still rather strange
notwithstanding the solution offered by Mr. Hewitt,
that the failure was caused by the operator having
forgotten to work without smoke.

Since these notices appeared I have frequently searched
the B. B. J. as it came out for some testimonies from
other workers, but none have appeared. Yet among the
readers of the Journal, many hundreds, I should think,
must have been trying their fortune with these races. I
am led to think this from a late notice by Mr. Benton,
in which he says, that latterly, while Cyprians are the
rule in Germany aud Caraiolans in America, Syrians
seem most wanted in England. But those who have
tried them seem, somehow, unaccountably reticent on
the subject. The greater lights and the ordinary workers
alike appear inclined to keep their own counsel. Mr.
Raynor was mentioned by name in one of Mr. Hewitt's
letters, as one who might be expected to give his opinion.
But Mr. Hay nor says nothing. Some time ago an
editorial notice appeared in the Journal, saying that the
merits of the Eastern races were being made the subject
■ of experiment by competent judges, and in due time the
results should be made known. It is more than two
years since this appeared ; but the due time would seem
not to have arrived.

I have myself invested in Syrians; and of necessity
have begun to have my own ideas, at least as to their
temper. But, counting myself a learner rather than a
teacher, I do not wish to offer my opinion at present ;
knowing that there must be very many who, from
greater knowledge and wider experience are better
entitled to be heard. As the subject is of general
interest (since every one w-ould wish to know the best
breeds to cultivate), I hope y-ou will give insertion to
this letter, which perhaps may induce some of the many
experimenters to tell us what they know. — S. L. B.

THE WAYS OF BEES.— HIVING SWARMS.

The ways of bees seem to be inscrutable. From a
recent issue this season would seem to have been productive
of many odd things in swarming. I send you the fol-
lowing as being in some degree worth noting for its
•bearing on the nature of bees. It seems to indicate

some source of information possessed by them which is
to us a mystery.

When I commenced bee-keeping three years ago, there
were no other bees in the district nearer than three
miles, and had not been for years. My first swarm?
were brought from a distance of many miles. The lasv
bees that were to be found in the neighbourhood had
ceased to exist some three or four years before I began.
They belonged to a farmer who lived near my church,
about a mile from my own residence. He told me they
died out by the continual losses of swarms, as they all
had a way of making for a certain hollow tree in the
churchyard out of which lie never could get them.

This summer a very large cast of hybrids came out of
one of my hives, and settled on a rose-bush. It was
soon got into a skep, and I left it on a chair beside the
bush to be put into a bar-frame in the evening. An
hour after they issued from the skep ; and my gardener
saw them pass over his head ; and he pursued them for
a few minutes till hopelessly distanced. They went, he
told me, ' as straight as an arrow ' till he lost sight of
them over a hill to which he pointed. I made no
attempt to follow them, thinking that finding no rest
for the sole of their feet they would come back ; but a
suspicion flashed across me when I observed that the
line they had taken was exactly the direction of the
church. Next day they were reported found ; and in
the fatal tree ! And there they still abide.

Now how did they know of it ? Within this distance
there are thousands of trees ; and as I said the tradition
must have been broken, if there was a tradition, because
there were no bees in the neighbourhood for some years
before mine were imported.

As I am writing I should like to mention, if you have
space for it, a new and easy method of hiving swarms of
which I think I am the first inventor.

Many of my swarms this season had settled on rose-
trees while I was looking on ; and though I secured them
all it was with much loss to the roses ; the queen being
often left behind and the whole colony returning to the
bush to be shaken over again. Much meditating by
night I thought if another swarm came to a rose-bush I
might watch the queen and take her before the swarm .
came after. As luck would have it, the next day I saw
a swarm — the last of the season —coming towards a
standard rose-tree ; the leaves of which began to assume
an appearance as if sprinkled from a pepper castor.
I watched where the pepper was thickest, and there
saw the queen, walking round a twig, and took her away
by the wing in my lingers. I did so with some small
trepidation; but the bees never took. the least notice.
Shaking a few bees off the bush into the skep I threw
the queen in after, and went away leaving the skep on
the ground. It all took less time to do than I have
taken to write it. Coming back in half an hour I found
the swarm safely packed in the skep. — S. L. B.

BEES UNITING SPONTANEOUSLY.

On the 13th inst. (June) I attempted to hive in No. 9
a 2-lb. swarm, but coidd not induce the bees to enter
their new home, though two out of the four frames it
contained were from the parent hive, and one of these
bore a goodly patch of capped brood — always a special
attraction — to say nothing of the particularly comfort-
able quarters they were invited to occupy as tenants at
will. They were, indeed, a refractory lot, for as often
! as tumbled out in front of the entrance they took wing
without loss of time, but on being copiously rained upon
I with the garden syringe, returned and settled on the
j roof or sides of the hive — anywhere, in fact, but within
I it. The queen and a few attendants were twice put in-
! doors with a feather, but it was ' no go,' for out she came
i immediately, and would not be persuaded. Now when
i you wish to do some one ' a good turn ' (as in this case),

222

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[July 1, 1885.

and find your efforts unappreciated, it is, to say the least
of it, rather trying to the temper ; so, after a couple of
hours of this game, with the thermometer at 110° in the
sun, I gave it up in disgust and left them to their obstinacy
and the shade of a table-cloth rigged up on four clothes-
props. About 0 o'clock same evening, the gardener sent
to say that the bees had just entered No. 9 of their own
accord. It required a forgiving spirit to supply the
customary half a pint of syrup, but they got it ; and all
was well for that night. As her majesty was an elderly
dame, I mentally decided to ' remove ' her next morning,
and to unite this 2-lb. lot with a swarm of oj-lb. hived
in No. 8 on the previous day. The first part of the pro-
gramme was mercilessly put into execution at 10 a.m.,
and the shades of evening were awaited to carry out
the second part. But men propose, and in this case it was
the bees who disposed, for about 3 o'clock in the afternoon
my attention was arrested by an unusual commotion
among the promenaders on the alighting-board of No. 8.
On opening up to see what was going on inside, found a
vast concourse of bees ; the six scantily covered frames
of yesterday were now densely packed. But how came
they so ? Marvelling somewhat, and pleased withal, I
passed on to examine the disconsolate inhabitants of No.
1), but lo ! the bees had flown, save and except a couple
of hundred or so of young nursemaids who remained to
look after their charge. The mystery was solved, the
bees, finding their queen gone, and probably divining my
intention, had considerately united themselves to their
next-door neighbours to save me the troublo ; and, what
is more, they had been well received — not a single case
of fighting. The hearts of this happy family were
further gladdened by the addition of the !>00 faithful
ones, who, with the frame of capped brood and another
of drawn-out foundation (Abbott's No. 2 Dunman), were
speedily restored to their fellows, constituting 5-lbs. good
of worker bees. 1 hope they will be properly grateful.
The empty house — No. 0 Bee Crescent — was shut up
after its furniture had been removed, and is visited but
rarely by any of its late inmates, who continue to
thrive, and will shortly have a top storey added to their
present domicile. — Wkinkles.

[Spontaneous unity is not uncommon. Queenless stocks
which are robbed frequently unite with the robber stock.
—Ed.]

CARBOLIC ACID.

I see in a recent number of the Journal a question
as to the use of carbolic acid. I should like to be
allowed to give my experience as a caution in the
use of it. I found one afternoon in the late autumn a
hive containing saved condemned bees was being robbed,
they were in a modification of Abbott's Combination
Hive, and I had raised the back dummy about half an
inch, and put a saucer of cappings from comb in at the
back to be cleared out, but the hive not being over strong
the others soon commenced robbing. To stop this I took
a feather dipped in carbolic acid and brushed the alight-
ing board; this stopped the incoming bees at once ; but I
found fighting going on at the back, so I then sprinkled
some acid at the back, and threw the feather in there as
well, closed it down, and was obliged to leave it at that.
On my return after dark I went to see what the result
had been, and found on opening the hive that it was
entirely deserted. I therefore concluded that they had
after all finished the robbing and killed the bees, so I
tumbled in another lot of bees, and thought it was done
with beyond a lesson learned, not only not to give plates of
honey even when closed in the hive, but to look after weak
stocks more closely. But you may judge of my surprise
when about two days after a neighbour came in to say
that there was a swarm of bees in their cabbages ; and on
a friend going for me, as I was away at business, there,
sure enough, was my small stock clustered round the
stalk of a cabbage, and had apparently been there

two nights at the least, and wet part of the time,,
too. Now, does it not seem as though the strong
smell of the carbolic acid drove them out of house
and home ? — C. B., Dudley.

BEE TOURS IN IRELAND.

Started in early spring and gave advice regarding
treatment of skeps and bar-frames. The majority of
bee-keepers wonder why bees require feeding in spring,
as they (the bee-keepers) feed only in winter. When
you _ advise against winter feeding they listen with,
suspicion and wonder at their being fed in autumn and
spring, and frequently in midsummer, according to-
'wind and weather.' Some gentlemen bee-keepers ex-
amine their hives at all seasons, and are never done
exchanging them from front of hall door into back
shed, and out again in early spring. Others tie them up.
in sacks and place them on hav-lofts. No use in giving
these people advice, they know too much, and you must
listen to all they have to say in presence of Mr.
Gardener and visitors of the 'big house.' After a
short time the bees all pas3 away, never more to be
heard of, and the hives and appliances stowed away in
garden house. All now remains silent until the visiting
season arrives again. A lady visitor says : 'Where have
you the bees you talked so much about to us ?' Gentle-
man: 'Oh, they are all dead.' Lady: 'Perhaps there
is some truth in the new method of management.'
Gentleman: ' I think there must be, and I'm bound to give
it a trial.' So you enter the garden for the purpose of
transferring a few skeps procured from the neighbour-
ing cottages into the disused bar-frame hives. The
operation is gone through with dexterity and the
necessary instruction given as to feeding, and not
attempting opening up brood-nest or disturbing in this
vai iable climate of ours. Six of such hives were supered
and really strong on 5th inst.

The South of Ireland bee-keepers seem to be making
headway, and their bees are in prosperous condition. I
only met one instance of complete failure. A Mr.

, an English expert, with a party of gentlemen,

making a tour of Ireland, visited Farm Apiary,.

asked leave to inspect hives. Leave granted he pro-
ceeded, and found that bees did no work in sections, but
deposited all their honey in bodv of hive. He took out
all the frames of honey, leaving only a few for the bees,
and packed them up tor winter. The owner took the
honey into Dublin, hawked it up and down, could find
no market, but was advised to extract it. This done, he
sent his honey to market in a large crock ; this time he
was again unsuccessful, and fetched it home disgusted
with the proceeding. Winter over, he received a note
from the expert asking how the bees got on he packed
up last autumn. Upon examination bees were found all
dead. The owner disgusted gave up, but still retained
a few skeps. — J. TitAYNoit, Tinahely.

MEAD OR METIIEGLIN.
How we make our brew. Well, Mr. Editor, that
time-honoured beverage, yclept ' methagalum,' in com-
mon parlance, seems cropping up again. Mr. Thompson
has kindly given his and his father's recipes for making
it, and with your kind permission I will give ours. I say
ours, as my better half is really the brewer on these
occasions ; aye, and some rare old stingo she will pro-
duce about Christmas-time, when the ringers usually
pay us a visit each year; their remarks each recurring

season is generally, ' Well, I think, Mrs. , your

" niethagalum " is better than it was last year.' But I
myself being in the secret, may tell my 'brother bee-
keepers that Mrs. says that our new-fashioned way

of bee-keeping is not so good for the brew as was the

July 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

223

old sinotheration system (very much in vogue, I am
sorry to say, among cottage bee-keepers to this day)
when the whole of the year's harvest— aye, and a poor
one it was, too — was brought in and passed through the
sorting process, the lighter-coloured portions cut up into
slices for the sieve, and the dark combs put into the
vessel of water ; then in about twenty-four hours, after
the greater part of the honey had run through the sieve
into the pan below, the rest was put into the water and
made to the strength or consistency to bear an egg.
Strain off after well squeezing the combs, put into
copper, and to every gallon of liquor put 1 oz. ginger,
^ oz. cloves, and h oz. pimento, in bags tied to a weight,
to keep under out of the way of the skimmer, which
culinary utensil must be used, as required as soon as any
skum rises to the top of the liquor. Don't stop till it
boils before skimming ; skim all off as fast as it rises. Boil
freely for twenty minutes, put in cooler, and, when cold,
put into barrel, using no yeast ; it will ferment of itself;
and in six months you will have a beverage fit to set
before the Queen. — Woodleigii.

EXPERIENCE IN QUEEN INTRODUCTION :
AN APOLOGY.

While thanking you for inserting my ' Experience in
Queen Introduction' in your last, I must apologise for
mv premature communication, as I have since found the
queen must have been in the hive which I supposed to
be queenless. I have so much confidence in the method,
that I shall try again with a stock which is certain!)/
queenless. — L. W.

BEE FLORA.

Your correspondent, writing from South Cornwall in
the last issue of the Journal respecting bee flora, does
not seem to attach much importance to this subject.
The fact is that there are so many good bee plants well
known to bee-keepers that it is scarcely worth the time
to answer the question as to what is a bee plant. Bee-
keepers in such favoured counties as Cornwall are very
fortunate in having a good natural supply of bee forage ;
but even in such places the cultivation of some favourite
bee plants will well repay the bee-keeper for bis trouble
and trifling expense ; and the very fact that the climate
and seasons are uncertain and unchangeable is a greater
reason still why the cultivation of such plants should be
encouraged, for the bees when their natural time to be
' up and doing' has arrived, will seek for forage, and in
doing so unless it is near to their hives, they will seek afar,
and will perish by thousands in doing so. In districts,
however, where the natural resources are scant, it is the
duty of bee-keepers to make the planting of bee forage a
stud)-. Your coi-respondent alluded to Arabis as a good
early plant. This is so well known that I need not say
anything respecting it, but the wallflowers should not be
overlooked by bee-keepers. Some varieties come into
bloom as soon as Arabis, and others follow in close suc-
cession, affording a fairly good supply of honey and
pollen, besides being useful for nosegay and cut purposes
when other blooms are scarce. — W. IIollins, TUlinyton
Avenue, Stafford.

THE CAUSE OF FOUL BROOD.
This disease is caused by the injurious operations of a
minute organism properly classed among the so called
'disease-germs' or bacteria. All allied organisms are
exceedingly small creatures, only to be seen with highly
magnifying powers; but all are veritable plants, con-
sisting of essentially the same chemical elements and the
same organic structure as the higher and larger members
of the vegetable kingdom. Some writers class the bac-
teria with animals, because they usually have the power
of moving freely in the liquid media in which they live ;

but these authorities cannot be well posted upon the
characteristics of low vegetable forms, for the power of
spontaneous motion belongs to the most of them, as
indeed it does to many of the highest plants, in one or
another.

But as plants, the bacteria are very simple in structure
— an individual possessing all the capabilities of absorbing
food, living, growing, and reproducing its kind — being
composed of a single cell, and this of very minute size.
The cell has, however, a wall of cellulose (wood substance)
inclosing a semi-fluid material known as protoplasm, and
this is true of all living and active vegetable cells from
which all plant-structures are derived. The only ap-
pendage or other structural peculiarity of the bacterium
celi or individual, is in some species a very fine whip-
lash-like filament, which, being capable of rapid vibration,
serves as an organ of locomotion. There are no limbs,
no sense organs, no special digestive apparatus, no heart,
no veins, no nerves. They gain their nutrition by ab-
sorption of fluid material through the cellulose wall,
without any special opening for passage of anything in
or out.

Propagation takes place by a spontaneous division of
the single cell, so as to make of this two cells. Some-
times the two new cells remain attached, and these may
again divide, always transversely, making four cells in a
chain-like row. Thus any number of cells may exist
attached to each other in a thread, but each cell lives
altogether independent of its neighbours, and may at any
time become, without injur)', entirely separated. There
is much difference among the species about this matter
of remaining attached, and also a difference in the same
kinds, according to the food-supply, mechanical agita-
tions, &c.

Some species, and among them pur organism of foul
brood, have another method of reproduction, viz.: by the
formation of ' spores ' within the cell cavity, which are
little masses of condensed protoplasm surrounded by a
cellulose wall, and are, therefore, little bacterium cells,
which have only to increase in size to become like the
parent call.

Still these spores have physiological characteristics
quite unlike the adult cell. They resist the effects of
injurious conditions, as of dryness, high or low temper-
ature, chemical poisons, &c, which destroy the organism
in other forms. Thus, all species of bacteria, as well as
other plants in their normal vegetating condition, are
destroyed by immersion for half-an-hour, in water at a
temperature but little above 120° Fahr., while these
spores, or some of them, may be actually boiled for a
much longer time without being killed.

The organism of foul brood, when not furnished with
spores, is killed by simply drying thoroughly in the sun
for a few days, first being mixed in sufficient water to
thin well the mass in which they exist. The spores,
however, live under such conditions for some months,
but in my experiments they seem to finally perish in a
room kept heated for human occupation in less than six
months. Freezing does not injure the spores, for I have
had them develope after having been repeatedly frozen
and thawed, and in some cases after an exposure to
temperatures reaching 28' Fahr. below zero. But I am
not sure as to the action of frost on the adult forms, not
having had satisfactory materials at hand when the
opportunity occurred for trying.

So long as the food-supply is abundant, and the other
conditions of vegetative life are favourable, spore-forma-
tion does not occur in this species. When, however, the
affected larval mass sinks down to the bottom of the
honey-comb cell, there is little to be found of the or-
ganism but the spores. Cultivated in beef broth, in
which the minute plant flourishes as well as in the bee-
larvpe, the vegetative stage lasts under the temperature
of summer weather (76° to 90° Fahr.) from two to seven
days, i.e., spore-formation does not sooner begin. The

224

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[July 1, 1885.

length of time, however, depends on the quantity of the
food-material, and my trials were with diluted broth,
and in small quantities ranging from about one-fifth to
one ounce, the inoculation being made with a very
minute amount of the material containing the bacteria,
iind, therefore, but few of the latter. Had many been
at first introduced, I have no doubt that spores would
have been sooner found.

In the bee-larva?, nothing so definite can now be
stated upon this point, but the time seems to be longer.
Spores are not found while the larva keeps its proper
shape, and not until it sinks down into a jelly-like mass
at the bottom of the cell. There is, by this time, a very
offensive odour, due, probably, to the gases eliminated by
the ferment action of this same organism, yet it does not
seem to be putrefactive in its nature.

It ought to be thoroughly understood that no putre-
faction or decomposition can take place even in so
susceptible a thing as a young, soft-bodied larva, without
the intervention of living organisms of some kiud. It
is, of course, known that young brood dies upon being
too much chilled, and decomposition ensues, just as a bit
of fresh meat kept in a warm temperature soon becomes
putrid. But in both cases the putrefactive changes are
produced by living agents, instead of spontaneously
arising in the dead organic matter. There are, indeed,
as many bacteria in a putrid bee-larva killed by cold, as
in one destroyed by the organism of foul brood. Others
have said, and I think that it is true, that the odour of
foul brood can be detected and determined as different
from that of putrefaction after death from other causes.
Sometimes it is certain that the usual putrefactive
agents (species of bacteria quite distinct from, though of
the same structure and general characteristics as that of
foul brood) are found in larva; dead of foul brood ; but
knowing well the ubiquitous character of these, I have
been surprised to find the greater number of foul-brood
specimens wholly free from the ordinary putrefactive
bacteria, so that one can, with much reliance, gain pure
cultures of the foul-brood agent from the dead larvae.
But by taking advantage of the fact that the most
common of the putrefactive bacteria do not form spores,
one can, by heating the gelatinous material left of a larva
dead of foul brood, be quite certain of killing everything
except the bacteria of the disease.

Does the organism of foul brood develope elsewhere
than in the brood of bees ? This is a very important
question in the scientific study of the disease, and in our
methods of fighting the malady. It might even be
necessary to settle the point before a well-informed
court of justice could properly decide a case. Only a
few days ago I was appealed to for any possible help in
tracing the introduction of foul brood in an apiary
known to have been free from it during man}' years
before. One colony of bees had been secured from a
distance, and some months afterward the disease was
found in this colony as well as in two or three others.
None had been previously known in the neighbourhood.
Upon inquiry it was ascertained that foul brood had
existed in the apiary whence the colony came, but the
owner believed it was entirely free from the trouble at
the time, and had been for the two years preceding.
An examination failed to reveal any suspicion of the
disease. The man receiving the colony was certain it
was diseased at the time of purchase : the one selling it
was as certain to the contrary.

Xow while the evidence at my command goes to show
that foul brood usually comes from foul brood, it seems
quite possible that in some cases a different source must
be sought. There certainly is no difficulty in keeping
the foul brood organism through many generations, and
lasting through months of time, rapidly multiplying all
the time, in beef broth. These thus grown in broth
have their characteristic effects when transferred to
-sound brood.

If this result can be gained artificially, is it not
plausible that under some circumstances in nature the
organism may live and grow somewhere else than in the
larva? of bees ? I have no further positive information
upon this point, but there are indications that epidemics
among other iusects may be sometimes due to the same
organism. Indeed, I should not be surprised to find that
the scourge of the silkworm, called by the French
jlacherie, is really and truly the same offender ; and
what is more, we have among our wild native cater-
pillars sweeping epidemics caused by the same or a
closely similar organism.

During the summer of ISS.'i, the European cabbage-
worm (l'ieris ra/xe) died throughout central Illinois in
such numbers that their limp forms on the leaves
attracted all but universal attention, and the numbers
were so decimated that in the early part of last summer,
scarcely a butterfly or worm was to be found, nor did
they become numerous again during the season. If it
should be shown that the cause of this destruction was
really the same organism as that found in diseased bees,
it would still remain to be proved that they could be
transferred through the natural working of affairs, to
the bee-hives, from the cabbage fields.

In the absence of knowledge, we may speculate this
way : The butterflies lay their eggs upon the cabbage,
and may readily come in contact with the dead or dying
caterpillars (worms). They also visit flowers to sip the
nectar, and now may be followed by bees, which we can
see may sometimes cany home, upon this supposition,
the deadly invisible foe.

All this is supposition ; but does not the possibility of
making such speculation suggest the need of further
facts ? The foul-brood question has by no means been
answered ; for there are scores of queries as pertinent as
those here suggested, upon which we have no real
knowledge. My own experiments and observations,
begun a year ago, have been too little to call a com-
mencement ; and unless I am mistaken, aside from such
observations as it has been possible for keen-sighted and
diligent practical apiarists to make, no one in America
has carefully studied the disease from the ' germ ' stand-
point. Two things have hindered my own work, viz.,
want of time, other things taking precedence, and the
necessity of caging the experimental bees to avoid con-
taminating the bees of the neighbourhood. Doubtless
Prof. Forbes, State Entomologist for Illinois, with his
well-trained assistants, can be induced to undertake the
matter ; and, if so, there is every reason to hope that
rapid progress will be made. — T. J. BunniLL (Read at
the Mic.hiyan^Convention.). — (American Bee Journal.)

Wax-moth. — 'There is a little insect closely allied to
the common clothes-moth which does a vast amount of
harm to the bee-combs. This is the honeycomb-moth,
of which there are in England two species, both belong-
ing to the genus Galleria. This little creature is
continually trying to make its way into the hives, and is
as continually opposed by the bees, who instinctively
know their enemy. If it once slips past the guards the
unfortunate bees are doomed to lose a considerable
amount of their stored treasures, and have sometimes
been so worried that they have been obliged to leave the
hive altogether. As soon as it can hide itself in an
empty cell — an easy matter enough for so tiny a moth,
which harmonises exactly in colour with the bee-combs
— it proceeds to lay its eggs, and having discharged its
office, dies. The eggs soon hatch into little grubs and
caterpillars, with very hard horny heads and soft bodiis.
As soon as they come into the dark world of the hive,
they begin to eat their way through the combs, spinning
the while a tunnel of silk, which entirely protects them
from the stings of the bees. They can traverse these
tunnels with tolerable speed, so that the bees do not
know where to find their enemies: and if, perchance,

July 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

225

they should discover one of them at the mouth of its
burrow, the hard, horny head is all that is visible, and
against its polished surface the sting- of the bee is useless.
The rapidity with which they drive the silken tubes
through the comb is really marvellous, and even if they
get among a collection of empty bee-combs, they make as
much havoc as if they were bred in the hive from which
the combs were taken. The two species of honey-moths
may be easily distinguished by the shape of their wings,
(talleria alvearia having the ends of its wings rounded,
and (ialleria cereana having- them squared.' — Rennie's
Insect Architecture.

Science and Bee-keeping. — The Ipswich Scientific

Society recently held a very successful conversazione ir
the Public Hall of that town. It was attended by about
•800 of the elite of the town and neighbourhood. Amongst
the great variety of scientific exhibits, one of the most
interesting was tho stand of Mr. S. J. Baldwin, expert of
the British Bee-keepers' Association. The manufacture
of comb-foundation and other arrangements to economise
labour, thereby adding to the profits of bee-keeping,
attracted considerable attention. Another pleasing
feature was the microscopical department, where a
variety of slides were shown illustrating the marvellous
anatomy of the bee, prepared by Mr. Garrett Garrett,
of Ipswich, and lent by some members of the Suffolk
Bee-Keepers' Association, who explained the exhibits to
inquiring- friends. It was a happy thought of the Ips-
wich Scientific Society to include bees in their syllabus.
The study of the subject is so interesting and profitable
that other societies may please go and do likewise.

A Stray Swarm Captuhed. — On Saturday after-
noon, the BJth inst., the shepherd's boy' here, a lad about
thirteen years of age, was passing along a road near the
village and saw a swarm of bees in the hedge. He
at once went to a cottage and borrowed a straw skep
from a cottager who used to keep bees, and without veil
and only an old pair of holely gloves, proceeded to hive
the bees; this he did, and carried them off home to his
father's cottage safely, and, strange to say, without a
sting. In the evening he went back to the same spot,
and seeing a number of bees clustering on the same place
he went home and fetched a tin tea-pot and picked off the
remainder of the bees, and these he also got safely home
and put them in the hive, and at this date, the iSth of
June, they are doing- we 11. — A IIampshirf.Bee-Keeper.

SHOWS AND BEE-TEXT ENGAGEMENTS.
Essex.

July 8 ... ... Southminster.

9

n I6

oo

,, -o

Aug. 12

... Stock.

... Broomfield.

... Easton Lodge, Duninow.

... Wimhish.

... Marks Hall, Harlow.

Bedfordshire.
July 15, Bedford, Potter Street Grounds.
Middlesex. — July 8, 0, Gunnersbury Park.
Hertfordshire. — July !>, Hatfield.
Lincolnshire. — July oO, 31, Grimsby.
Glamorganshire. — August 5, G, Neath.
Devon. — July 15, Axminster.
Berks. — July 14, Home Park, "Windsor.
Surrey. — August 12, Lower Oheam House, Sutton.

The Rev. W. E. Burkitt writes : — ' Can anyone give
me the address of a good bee-master at "(or near)
Sydney ,_ who would give my son, who has lately settled
there, hints on commencing bee-keeping in the colony ?
His address is W. M. Burkitt, G.P.O. Sydney, N.S.W.'

(Bfym front % iiiucs.

Harborne, near Birmingham. — Swarming has been
very late this year, but those who fed their bees obtained
plenty of swarms the first week in June; since then the
weather has been unfavourable, and the bees have not
made much progress in the supers. White clover will
soon be at its best, so we all hope the weather will soon
change for the better. I had two casts last Sunday,
nineteen days after the first natural swarms. Is this
not a much longer time than is generally the case ? —
Lordswood. [See Reply to J. J. Ilounsfield, p. 227.]

Oxford, June 13th. — In the midst of glorious weather
the warm rain of a week ago was followed by a clear
blue sky, and, if your readers will forgive me for using
the expression, ' things have been seen to grow.' Swarms
and casts are the order of the day with the bees, and,
with very few exceptions, honey up to the present time
appears scarce, though we may expect a fine influx of the
golden syrup during the next few weeks. — E. II.

Bishops Waltham, June lSth. — I am a beginner this
year in bee-keeping, but hope to give you the result at
the end of the year. I am keeping a strict account.
Yesterday, the 17th, I took off two 2-lb. sections in good
order. The bees are working well. Lovely weather. — :
A Hampshire Bee-keeper.

Cheltenham, June l'Jfh. — For the last fortnight glorious
weather. Chestnut and May honey was well gathered,
and now the bees are in full work and with every pros-
pect of a grand glut from the limes, &c. — W. D. Slade.

Fairford, June 19th. — We have had beautiful weather
the last three weeks for the bees, and they are making
the most of it. There were not many swarms in the
first three weeks in May, but there have been many since,
and most of them very large ones. — J. Cook.

Horsham, June 2-ith. — What a splendid time it has
been for the bees ! I have a Stewartou seven storeys
high, Cowan hives three and four storeys high, containing
thirty-three, and forty-four frames. The hives are literally
filled with bees, and we have been obliged to prop up
the front of hives, so as to give the bees plenty of room
to fly in and out. They are collecting honey rapidly.
I need hardly say these monster hives are destined for
extracting, but as we have not the time to do it now we
put one hive on the top of another. I have several two
storeys, with racks of sections above. By giving room
in advance of requirements, we have succeeded without
having a single swarm, although swarms have been the
rule all round, and consequently no honey. We have
had no swarms, but have quantities of honey. — Thos.
Wm. Cowan.

Hunts, Somersham, June i>itJt.— After writing last
month, ' What horrid weather ! ' there was an agree-
able change : cold, wet, and miserable weather was
followed by weather which must have gladdened the
hearts of the despondent. Honey lias been gathered
rapidly during the month, and swarms have issued in
such quantities as to perplex the cottagers of the neigh-
bourhood generally. The season is likely to be a good
one, but amongst the cottagers I am afraid, through
their having so many swarms and hiving each separately,
the)' will not have as much honey as by more judicious
management they might have done. For a few days we
have been threatened with a recurrence of last month's
unfavourable weather ; but while I write it is simply-
glorious, and the busy hum in my apiary is delightful. —
C. N. White, Hon. Sec. Hunts B.K.A.

Leamington, IVeston, Honey Cott, June 2.r>th. — 'Another
wet day,' also very cold and depressing. Since my last
echo we have bad intervals of very showery, also very
hot and very cold weather. It has been good for swarm-
ing and honey-gathering at times for a few days, and

226

THE BEITISH BEE JOUKNAL.

[July 1, 1885.

then sudden checks. I have just looked up among the
hives. The bees are nearly as still as death, with large
clusters at the entrances, and only here and there one
that dares venture out. If the weather does not change
for the better soon, the season here will not be up to the
last year or two. — John Walton.

Odcombe, Somerset, June 25th. — The weather in this
district is all against a very profitable honey harvest —
week after week with scarcely an hour's sunshine. We
rely mostly on the early fruit blossom, on which the bees
did fairly well, and brood increased rapidly ; then the
orchards, for which this part is famous, the apple-trees
were a mass of bloom this year, but unfortunately the
weather did not permit the bees to take advantage of it.
For a few days at the beginning of the month honey
literally flowed in, and the sections were filled with comb
as if by magic, but on the fifth came a check, and they
have not done so well since. Our ' honey flow ' practi-
cally ends when the meadows are mown for hay, and
that is fast becoming pretty general in the district. I
fear that unless we have very favourable weather during
the remainder of the month, unfinished sections will be
plentiful. I hear of very few complete ones having been
taken. Natural swarms are coming very fast. Hives
being remarkably strong. — J. S.

Chester, June 25th. — Everything at a standstill in
this district. The last ten days nothing but rain and
cold winds ; the sun invisible. Supers of every kind
deserted, and stores rapidly diminishing, and all this
time the white clover is in bloom ; enough to drive one
to despair. — Chas. Roberts.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-

I. II. L. — 1. Hiving Sivarms. — You were fortunate in
securing your swarm. After remaining all night, and
rising again in the morning, the chances were that it
would decamp altogether. Had you placed on the
ground a skep, wedged up three or four inches on the
side close to the fence, and brushed the bees down-
wards with feathers moistened with carbolic solution,
you would have driven into it every bee in five
minutes, without any shaking, and with very little
disturbance. 2. Carbolic Solution. — The carbolic-acid
solution we use consists of four tablespoonfuls of
the acid to one quart of water, to be well shaken
together before using. A portion of the mixture is
kept in a wide-mouthed bottle and applied with a
strong goose-quill. 3. Cowans Hires. — Consult C. T.
Overton, Crawley, Sussex. 4. Leys of Hires. — Yes ;
it is a mistake to have the legs of hives too long.
Twelve inches is quite sufficient, and they should be
three inches square. The hive looks better and the
bees reach the alighting board with greater ease. The
Americans usually place their hives on the ground,
spreading saw-dust or ashes beneath them.

Arthur S. Hughes. — Drone-comb. — 1. Bees, when
without a queen, or having an unfertilised one,
generally build drone-comb only. We advise you to
cut away the lower half of the combs — consisting of
drone-cells — in the six central combs, and to move,
or rather leave, the two outside combs on each side with
drone-cells, as the)- are. 2. Carbolic-acid Solution. —
For carbolic-acid solution see answer to ' I. II. L.'
Bees dread the scent of it as much as they fear
smoke.

W. E. Burkitt. — Bees Revivified. — If you injected
smoke at the entrance, the commotion caused by it,
and the sudden filling of the honey-sacs, on a warm
day, with no current of air through the hive, would
have the effect of stupifying the bees. Those bees, in
the upper part of the skep, upon which the smoke did
not take effect, would escape. We have several times
experienced a similar result both in the case of skeps

and frame-hives, and»euer inject smoke at the entrance
now. If no smoke was used, we can only suppose
that, in making preparations for the operation, the colony
was disturbed, when the crowding of the bees to the
entrance caused a block, and a partial suffocation
followed. In hot weather with hivesfull of young bees,
and newly gathered honey, operations of this kind are
disturbing and dangerous to the colony. We should
have preferred to allow the second swarm to issue, and
have returned it the same evening after excising
queen-cells, or leaving the returned princess to destroy
them.

J. J. Hounsfield. — Casts. — Eighteen days is an ab-
normal interval between the first and second swarms.
Casts generally leave their hive on the ninth day after
the first swarming ; but circumstances prevent this
rule from being always acted on. By referring to
an ' Echo ' with the signature ' Lordswood,' you will
find that in one apiary two instances of second swarms
leaving nineteen days after the first have occurred.

M. C. H. — The extract in our columns in reference to
feather alum (Federweis) was taken from a foreign
periodica], but we have not made any experiments as
to its properties.

J. Newberry. — Burrowing Bees. — The bee forwarded
is called Andrena Trimmerana ; it belongs to the.
family of Andrenidre, of which there are upwards of
eighty species in Great Britain. The cells they con-
struct are formed of sand-grains agglutinated together
by a viscid saliva. The cells are thimble-like, smooth
inside, but rough outside. In these cells are found
pellets of pollen, slightly sweetened, about the size of
a currant ; the instinct of the bee teaching it the
amount of nutriment required for the subsistence of
the young which shall proceed from the eggs to be
deposited.

Essex. — There is much in your letter that we agree to
and sympathise with. As, however, it is not accom-
panied with your name and address, we regret that
we cannot give it insertion. In the meantime, if the
firm who in your judgment is the cheapest and most
satisfactory of the makers of bee-appliances would
advertise in our columns, bee-keepers generally would
have the opportunity of contrasting their goods and
their prices with those of other manufacturers. It is a
pity that their light is hidden under a bushel. In
matters of this kind we have much faith in the law of
supply and demand.

G. S. R. — Comb. — The sample of comb does not contain
any symptoms of foul brood. The queen has somehow
managed to ascend to the super and has deposited a few
sporadic drone-eggs ; otherwise, both the comb and the
honey are what they ought to be.

R. Cheshire. — The Law on Bees. — A swarm of bees is
the property of its original owner so long as he can
keep it in sight, afterwards it becomes the property of
the first person who secures it. No man can swear to
bees ; with lost identification the property ceases, and
becomes in common. This is the law as decided by
more than one County Judge. In the case as stated
by you we consider that Mr. Jones having ' lost sight
of his bees for a few minutes,' has thereby lost pro-
perty in them ; and Mr. Smith having secured them,
becomes the owner of the bees.

W. Keinton Thomas. — Books on Bees.— Modern Bee-
keeping : or Hand-book for Cottagers, price Gd., and
Cowan's Bee-keepers' Guide-book , price Is. Qd., we can
recommend as the simplest, cheapest, and best books
on bee-keeping. To be had of J. Huckle, Kings
Langley, Herts.

II. Fuggle. — 1. Preserving Queen Cells. — A perforated
zinc box would answer as well as one of wire gauze.
2. Size of Box. — About two inches every way. S.
Position of Queen-cell. — Yes; the cell should be sus-

July 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

227

pended as nearly as possible in the position which
built. 4. Bees in Bo.r. — Xo ; but let the heat from
them have access, and preserve it by well wrapping up
the boxes. 5. Time after hatching before Queen is
given to stock. — As short a time as possible ; do not
omit to give her acce.ss to food while waiting. (3.
Queen-introduction. — Yes; in the usual way.

Tyuo, Hampstead. — 1 . Figh ting. — The two bees wh ich you
saw fighting were, one a robber which had gained access
to the hive, and the other, what would be vulgarly
termed 'a chucker-out.' 2. Suspected Fertile Worker.
— If you cannot find the queen, and you see that the
brood" in worker-cells has dome-shaped coverings
standing up above the level of the comb (drone
brood), you have a fertile worker, or infertile queen.
If the brood is normal and you find eggs, the queen is
present, even though you cannot find her. .'!. Ants. —
Stand the legs of the'hive in saucers of water or of oil.

A. F. — Swarming Vagaries. — The explanation is as
follows : — When the first swarm issued the queen got
lost or injured, and so the bees returned. Meantime
two young queens had hatched, and the swarm
re-issued in two parties, each with a young queen.
These were the two queens you saw in hiving in j'our
bar-frame hive, so that now both your stock and
swarm are headed by young queens.

Miss Neville. — 1. Artificial Swarming: Finding the
Queen. — In artificial swarming or dividing, unless you
find the queen, you cannot know in which division
she is. The difficulty in finding her will soon disappear
by practice, and you cannot be a successful bee-keeper
until you have learned to find her. You do not need to
handle her. The frame on which she is parading with
her subjects is removed bodily, and placed with one or
two others on the old stand to receive the foragers
and the old stock removed to another stand. However,
another plan which does not require to find the queen
may be of service to you : divide the contents of the
hive to be divided equally between it and a new one
(by equally we mean give each hive half the brood
and half the bees), stand the two stocks thus formed
right and left of the place of the old one, so that the
new entrances are at equal distances from the old
one. "Whichever half does not contain the queen will
proceed to raise one, and the presence of queen-cells
after three or four days will inform you which it. is.
2. Number of Frames. — Fifteen would be ample.
■>. YTes. They will raise a queen.

A Tyuo in Bee-keeping. — Young Queens. — The young
queen was probably lost on one of her wedding flights.
These young queens will take repeated flights in search
of drones, and if they fail in their object usually perish
when abroad, either becoming chilled, or beingdestroyed
bv birds or other enemies. Encounters between old
and young queens generally result in the destruction
of the former.

W. Gkoom. — 1. Supering Sleep. — Y'ou had better get
from a hive-manufacturer a crate of sections, and as
your swarm is hanging out for want of work put it on
at once. 2. Swarm issuing from sleep and returning. —
The queen no doubt fell to the ground and was lost.
They will probably issue again headed by a young
queen.

II. G. 13. — Third swarm from frame-hive with crooked
combs. — Had you examined the cluster remaining until
ten p.m. on the log of the hive you would have found
a queen. She no doubt found her way back with her
subjects, and it is not likely they will swarm again.
You had better cut out the combs, straighten them
and tie them into the frames again ; you will then be
in a position to ascertain the state of the hive at any
time. At present you are in as bad a position as if
yon had a skep. For the benefit of numerous inquirers
on the same subject we give the modus operandi:

Make a ' transferring board,' which is a kind of grid-
iron formed of lathes nailed about an inch apart on to
two pieces of wood; get ready some tape about A inch
wide. Lift the frames into which the combs are
irregularly built out of the hive bodily by means of two
pieces of lath pasted under the ends of the top bars ;
cut out one comb at a time and brush the bees off into
the hive. Lay two pieces of tape on the transferring
board and lay the comb on it ; straighten the comb by
cutting the concave parts down to the midrib and press
it flat, the convex side will compress sufficiently ; lay a
frame round the comb and tie it in tightly; keep the
midrib in the centre of the top bar, do not mind where
the surface comes ; be sure to keep the comb close up
against the top bar. To prevent the tapes cutting into
the comb put pieces of wood between them and the
bottom edge of it. Preserve all brood and keep it out
of the hive as short a time as possible. Discard the
drone-combs. If the combs are so awkwardly built
that they must be cut out in small pieces, piece them
into the frames closely and support them by strings
round the frames from side to side in addition to the
tapes. As each frame is finished return it to the bees
in the hive. After two days examine the hive, and if
the combsare firmly fixed to the frames removethetapes
and string. If any have slipped replace them and tie
in again more firmly. The bees will soon repair
damages.

W. J. S., Dunavarra, Lucan. — Queen badly diseased. — ■
Uight to remove her, but by no means allow a new
queen to be raised from her eggs. Six or seven days
after removal, cut out all attempts at queen-cells, and
give fresh eggs and brood from a really good stock,
but better still, a queen-cell sealed. — F. C.

J. S., Wandsworth Common. — Bees full of smalt Bacilli.
— Judging from what I have at present learnt of this
peculiar form of disease, it will pass away. Changing
the queen has immediately removed it in more cases
than one. See reply to Beeswing. — F. C.

W. K. — Pollen Mass. — The material found on the head
of a bee, and of which several cases have been seeu by
you, was a pollen mass from an orchid, probably morio.
The mass had been in part dragged to pieces, and so
used by the bee in the fertilisation of other blooms.
See Darwin's Fertilisation of Orchids (page 34). The
case is interesting, but not especially unusual. — F. C.

F. L., Castle Ashby, Northampton. — The queen was
originally a poor one, and was used up completely. —
F. C.

A. B., He.rthorpe. — The queen was of good appearance.
Egg organs healthy. Spermatheca well charged.
From all that was discoverable she should have been a
good mother. Did she have a fair chance ? Through
sending her by rail I had to pa}' sevenpence excess
carriage. All queens and bees for examination come
perfectly by post in the smallest of fusee-boxes, with
a tiny bit of sponge soaked in thin syrup ; put all then
with the note, inside an ordinary envelope. Honey in
quantity for a few travelling bees is a mistake every
way. — F. C.

Mits. E. Way, Bagstead. — The queen sent was but a
shell. She had been turned out of a hive and lying upon
the ground, small carnivorous beetles had devoured
the contents of the body. They were finishing their
repast when you picked up the remains and disturbed
them. — F. C.

J. S., Odcombe, Ilminster. — The queen was a recently
hatched unfertilised one. "What you saw was perfectly
normal. Consult any guide-book on casting to clear
up your difficulty. — F. C.

Beeswixg. — Bacillus Gagtoni. — All the bees examined
contained the now well-known bacillus, which was de-
nominated Gaytoni. I know nothing about means of
treatment, simply because I have had no stock in my

228

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[July 1, 1885.

possession so troubled, and Miss Clayton, upon whom I
depended as my collaborateur in this matter, has, for-
tunately for herself, no specimens this season. Let us
hope that she may have next ! I have reason to
believe that phenol does not influence it, that the
bacillus becomes inactive in a very high, summer tem-
perature, and that it generally, if not always, implicates
the queen. Miss Clayton, suspecting this last point,
removed the queens of the suffering hives, and left me
to mourn the loss of her namesake. Some of the
queens I have examined from suffering stocks have
not appeared to be diseased. So that the malady in
all probability can be communicated from individual to
individual, like scarlet fever for example, which is a
germ disease. The bacillus is but a moderate offender,
and stocks are not generally more than delayed by it.
Its diameter is only about the Tshrxi of an inch. — E.C.

M. Kkary, Drumyriffin. — The queen was dead, and
partly decomposed, which makes examination very un-
satisfactory and doubtful, but I believe she had been
in a badly diseased condition. — F. C.

G. Stocks, Cheshire. — The reply is the same exactly as
to M. Keary, above. — F. C.

W. W.B. — Wax-moth. — The piece of comb forwarded
has no symptoms of foul brood ; it has been sadly
riddled and devastated by the larvae of the wax-moth
( Oalleria cereana). It is a pity that their depredations
should have been permitted to have gained such head.
These larvae will soon spin cocoons, whence they will
emerge as moths, again to set in motion the round of
insect life. It requires great cleanliness and watchful-
ness, together with the prompt destruction of every
moth, larva, and cocoon, to keep them in check. Strong
stocks and Ligurian bees are the most efficient safe-
guards against them.

W. E. Morton. — Acceptance of Swarms. — There is
nothing unusual in the bees offered to other colonies,
from your swarm, being accepted. In the first place,
the swarm-bees were loaded with honey, and secondly,
being presented on a tine day, when the adult popula-
tion was busily engaged in the fields, and honey fast
coming to the hive, it would have been strange had
they been refused admittance. Your test is a very
uncertain one, and not at all to he relied upon. On a
' swanninff-day ' bees generally unite amicably. Two
swarms will unite without any fighting taking place,
and a swarm will often be received by an established
colony in the most friendly manner. It should be at
all times easy to discover the parent-stock, from which
a swarm has issued, by its diminished population.

A. Branxox. — (1.) Adapting Board. — There must have
been a mistake in the adapting board for skeps, which
was sent to you. There should be free communication
with every section. Your own idea, as shown in your
sketch, is a good one. Made double, of jin. board,
placed crossway of the grain, would prevent warping
to any great extent. (2.) Best time for Manipulating/.
— During the summer months the daytime is prefer-
able to evening for manipulations. From 10 a.m. to
4 p.m., on bright days, is a good time, as the majority
of the population of the hives is then at work in the
fields ; queens are more easily fouud, and the young
bees, at home, are quiet to handle. But this advice
only applies from the middle of May to, say, the mid-
dle of August. During spring and autumn, when no
honey is to be obtained from the fields, it is almost
certain destruction to open a hive at any time hut early
morning or late evening, on account of encouraging
robbing, encasement of queens, and all the attendant
evils.

To Bee-keepers residing in Preston or Neighbourhood.

WANTED to PURCHASE, by the British Bee-
keepers' Association, A FEW STOCKS OF BEES
for Driving and Lecturing purposes at the Eoyal Agri-
cultural Show. Apply, stating price, &c, to the Secretary,
J. Hcckle, Kings Langley, Herts.

117- have received several other queries, the replies to
which will be forwarded by post. Several communications,
however, are subscribed with merely noms de plume or ini-
tial-!, and to tliese replies cannot be forwarded.

COMB FOUNDATION!

Kaitt's always gives satisfaction. His Super Foundation
is the best in the world.

■White job "List to—

BLAIRGOWRIE, SCOTLAND. ««*

The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the
renowned C. F. H. Grayenhorst, Brunswick.

DEUTSCHE ILLUSTRIERTE BIENENZEITUHG.

Organ for the united interests of Beeculture. By its con-
tributions from the principal Bee-keepers, and its brilliant
Illustrations, this publication has already had an extra-
ordinary circulation. Sample copies sent on request.

Also, ' DER PBAKTISCHE IMKER.' Compendium of
Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenborst. Third en-
larged and improved edition, with fifty-two new original
Pictures, and a frontispiece. Price I marks (4s.), stitched ;
well bound, 5 marks.

C. A. Schwetschke & Son (M. BncHx), Brunswick.

1. rpHE HONEY BEE : Its Natural History

J_ and Management from a South African point of
view. By Dr. Stroud, Cape Colony, S. A.

2. APPENDIX and GLOSSARY of TERMS.

3. TWENTY-TWO PHOTOS on Cards, dcscrip-

tive of the general Anatomy of the Bee.
Together, 5s. ; separately, Is. 9<7. each.
No. of Copies limited.
To be bad of J. HUCKLE, Kings Langley, Herts.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' PRACTICAL
NOTE BOOK. By Thoiias W. Cowan, F.G.S...
F.B.M.S., itc. Crown 8vo, boards, Is.; postage Id.
Indispensable for every Bee-keeper. Published byJ.HucKLE,
Kings Langley ; may also be obtained of all Hive-dealers.

Publications of the British Bee-keepers' Association :

ONEY AS FOOD. By Fiunk R. Cheshire, Esq.,
F.R.M.S. Price 3d.

ADULTERATION OF HONEY. By Otto Hehner.
Esq., F.C.S., F.I.C. Price Gd.

THE BEST "WAY OF INSTRUCTING COTTAGERS
IN THE ART OF BEE-KEEPING. By the Rev.
W. E. Bcrkitt. Price 3d.

THE CHEMISTRY OF THE HIVE. By Mr. Otto
Hehner, F.I.C, F-.C.S. Price 3d.

EE HOUSES AND HIVES. By Rev. George Raynor.
Second Edition (enlarged), Price Gd.

THE SOCIAL INSTINCTS OF BEES. By G. D.
Haviland. Price 3d.

DIAGRAMS ILLUSTRATING BEE-CULTURE ao4
the Relation of Bees to Flowers. Approved and Mi-
commended by the Science and Art Department. 8s.
per set. Carriage, per Parcels Post, 3d.

H

B

Address J. HUCKLE. Kings Langley, Herts.

[July !< 1885.] ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

Sgeml |)repib ^bbnttsemmts.

For Sales and Purchases of Bee Appliances, Honey, Books,
Pamphlets, Diagrams, &c, Exchanges and Situations.

Terms : Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; far every ad-
ditional three words. One Penny extra; no reduction can
be made for continuous insertion.

s

B

THE Advertiser seeks a Situation as Gardener. Under-
stands Vines, Flowers, Kitchen Garden, and Manage-
ment of Poultry. Good Apiarian. Address Gardener, care
of Mansell, Bookseller, Darlington Street, Wolverhampton.
[ d!5

FOUR Vols., 7 to 10 inclusive, British Bee Journal, un-
bound, clean. Offers or exchange. Address J. Land,
Wirksworth, Derby. d 16

OFFERS Wanted for Three Stocks of Bees in Straw
Skeps, that have swarmed. Address G. Harris, Jun. ,
Jeweller, Bicester. d 17

THE SIMMTNS' METHOD OF DIRECT INTRODUC-
TION. Enlarged to 32 pages. Price 6W. Post free,
of the Author, Rottingdean, Brighton ; Messrs. Neighbour &
Sons, 149 Regent Street; and Mr. J. Huckle, Kings
Langley, Herts. (53)

ODERN BEE-KEEPING. An Illustrated Handbook
for Cottagers. Fourth Edition, considerably enlarged.
The soundness of its information, the simplicity of its
instruction, combined with cheapness, make this Hand-
book invaluable to all intending Bee-keepers. Price Id.,
post free.

HE MANAGEMENT OF STRAW SKEPS. DeT
signed to teach the Cottager how to obtain the best
results at the least possible cost. By attention to its teach-
ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto. Price One Penny.
Six copies and upwards, post free.

FOUL BROOD ; The Means of its Propagation, and
the Method of its Cure. By Frank R. Cheshire,
Esq., F.R.M.S. Price M.

BEE-KEEPING, Plain and Practical : How to
Make it Pay. By A. Rusbridge, Is. 6<J., post free,
Is. Sd. Address J. Hucicle, Kings Langley, Herts. 3932

\ ' LITTLE WONDER ' Extractor to be Sold. Scarcely
J_3_ been used. Price 10s. Apply Miss Moon, Camden
Road, Carshalton. d 12

WARMS and Stocks of Bees for Sale. Apply to F.
Parfitt, Hatchford End Cottage, Cobham, Surrey.

d12

STRONG Early Swarms carefully packed in new Skeps,
price 10s. This year's Honey in 1-lb. Sections, 10*.
dozen. Address J. Churchyard, 33 Chevallier Street, Ips-
wich, Suffolk. d 13

EES for Sale in Bar-frame Hives. Apply T. Hill,
Scotlands, Cannock Road, Wolverhampton. d 14

FOR SALE. — Several large Stocks of Bees in Bar-
frames, and several large Swarms ; all healthy. Very
cheap. Address Mrs. Couzens, Honeybourne School, near
Broadway, Worcestershire.

THIRTY Swarms of Bees for Sale in nice Straw Skeps,
with Sealed Honey, carefully packed and delivered
: free to my nearest station for 12s. each. Order early ; sent
on receipt of Cheque or Order, payable at Odiham, to
I William Hunt, South Warnboro', Hants. d 20

PRICES of Stocks in Bar-frame Hives, or Combs, or
Wired Foundation, Swarms and Queens, English or
Foreign, on application to C. N. White, First-class Certifi-
cated Expert B. B. K. A., Somersham, Hunts. 18

TO BEE-KEEPERS in Doubt or Difficulty.— Enclose
three stamps with Queries, and reliable Answers and
Suggestions will be sent by return by C. N. White, First-
class Certificated Expert B. B. K. A., Somersham, Hunts.

TO SECRETARIES of ASSOCIATIONS.— C. NTwhite,
First-class Certificated Expert B. B. K. A., is open to
an engagement with Bee-Tent, for a month, from middle of
August ; or would undertake Lecturing Tour in any part of
Great Britain, similar to that undertaken for B. B. K. A.
last year in S. Wales and Cumberland.

NOTICE.— Strong Wallflower Plants, 50, Is. id. ; 100,
2s. 'id., post free. Marjoram Plants, 25 for Is., all
free. The best kinds in cultivation. Address W. Hollins,
Tillington Avenue, "Stafford. d 19

HAVE three more Stocks of Bees in new Standard
Frame Hives for Sale. Hives double walled, with
porch, sliding doors, ten or twelve frames, divider, frame
and crate of supers. Price 26s., 28s., 30s. Also an Ob-
servatory Hive for six frames. Price 25s. Packed free.
Address W. St. John, Boulton Road, Handsworth, Staffs.

d21

BEE-KEEPERS' GUIDE; or, Manual of the
Apiary. 11,000 sold since 1876. 12th Thousand just
| out. 10th Thousand sold in just four months. 2000 sold
! the last year. More than fifty pages, and more than fifty
[ costly Illustrations, were added in 8th Edition. The whole
I work has been thoroughly revised, and contains the very
latest in respect to Bee-keeping. Price os., postage id.

BEE JOURNAL OFFICE, KINGS LANGLEY.

Expeet B.B.K.A.

Manufacturer, THE APIARY, HOLME, PETERBOROUGH.

By authority — Simmins' Hives, Crates, Sections, &c.
ASSOCIATION STANDAED SAW-CUT BAR FRAMES, 1/per doz.
fifty natural swarms still on offer.
Send for Illustrated Guide and Catalogue, Post Free. (98)

Cheapest House for Bar-frames & Sections.

BASS-WOOD SECTIONS, with V Joint, 4 by i>, by 2, in

either one piece or dovetailed, 3s. per 100, or 27s. 6tf.

per 1000 case. One sort.
BAR-FRAMES, yellow pine, morticed, 'Standard' size,

15J in. top bar, hi. each, or 6s. 'M. per 100.

17 in. top bar, with groove for Foundation, Id. each, or
8s. per 100.

Broad shouldered, 17 in. top bar, 2d. each, or 15s. 6<7.
per 100.

BROAD FRAMES to hold Six 4 by 4* by 2 Sections.
2d. each, or 15*. per 100. SMOKERS^ 2s. 9<f. each.

ARTHUR DONNELLY & Co., Lurgan, Co. Armagh.

3716

E. M. HART & CO.

Can forward, same day as receipt of order:

s. d.

Bar-Frame Hives, Single wall each 6 O

The 'Utility 'Double Wall Hive, with

Frames and Section Crate 10 6

The 'Villa Hive,' Ten Frames, Three 61b.

Section Frames, and 21 lb. Crate 21 O

Flat Crown Skeps each 1 3

Simplex Feeders per doz. 14 O

Clarke's Cold Blast Smokers, post free 2 6

For delivery after May 15th :
Swarms of English Bees, in a Nine-Frame

Hive, fitted with Comb Starters each 15 O

Orders executed in rotation. Special terms for quantities.

THE LQNGSTOCK APIARIES,

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[July 1, 1885.

The Bee and Fruit Farming Co., Limited.

CAPITAL £10,000, in 10,000 SHARES of £1 each,

Payable 5s. on Application, 5s. on Allotment, and the balance when required.

DIRECTORS.

JESSE GAKR.ATT, Esq., Hockenden, St. Mary Cray, Managing Director.
LAWEENCE GEEEN, Esq., Tovil House, Maidstone.
JOHN M. HOOKEE, Esq., Sevenoaks.

FREDERICK H. JUDSON, Esq., Coventry Park, Streatham, S.W.
JOHN MAETEN, Esq., Dunkirk House, Faversham.
HENEY GEAVE MOEEIS, Esq., Belmont Hill, Lee, S.E.
SOLICITORS.— Messhs. ASHUEST, MOEEIS, CEISP & Co., 6 Old Jewry, London, E.C.
BANKERS.— Messes. GLYN, MILLS, CUEED3 & Co., 67 Lombard Street, London, E.C.
SECRETARY.— Mr. FOX KENWOETHY. OFFICES.— 55 COLEMAN STEEET, LONDON, E.C.

The principal object for which the Company has been formed is to assist Bee-keepers by providing a ready
means for disposing of the Honey and Wax now being produced on a large scale, and to meet the difficulty
experienced by so many of finding a quick market for their produce. The Company will purchase Honey, Wax,
and Bees, direct from its Shareholders, and will also sell upon Commission when preferred.

QUEENS! QUEENS!! QUEENS!!!

PALESTINE, SYRIAN, LIGURIAN, and
BLACK — imported and home reared. Also Small
Swarms, headed by either of above Queens — in Nucleus, if
desired, thus dispensing all risks of introduction. For
particulars apply E. Woodham, Abbotsley, St. Neots. 4028

DON'T forget to read this Important Notice —
JOY'S NEW ILLUSTEATED CATALOGUE of
HIVES and BEE FUENITUEE is now ready.

Sent post free per Penny Stamp. Address—
ALFRED JOY, The Apiary, Aylesford, Kent. 3304

si«E3

B

ORTABTT I

ORAGE PLANTS, 0d. per 100, to clear, free.
Address W. Hollins, Tillington Avenue, Stafford.

FOE

CHESHIRE HIVES, &c.

AND

THE CHESHIRE CURE for FOUL BROOD.

Apply to

W. HOLLANDS, Harrison Rise, Croydon.
DERBYSHIRE EXTRACTOR.

EMPTIES FOUR COMBS AT ONCE.

C. G. HARRISON,

MANUFACTURER OF BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES,

PRIZES wherever shown.

Every Description of Apiarian Requisites in Stock or in
progress. Illustrated CATALOGUES Free.

COOMB'S WOOD, HALES OWEN, WORCESTERSHIRE.

CYLINDER HONEY EXTRACTOR

(Best in market) ; takes 2 Standard or larger Frames, 25s.

COMBINATION HIVE,

Complete ; 10 wide Shoulder Frames, 8s.

I"TTI«,3ES FOTTIffllATIOIir,

Three lb. at Is. lid. per lb. Six lb. at Is. lOd.

SUPER, 2/9 per lb. STRAW HIVES, 1/9 each.
The BRITISH HIVE ; Complete Hive, deep roof, 9 Frames,

For Cottagers, price 4s. 6d.

ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE FREE.

The Cheapest in the Market, 35s.

Address

H. V. EDWARDS, Mackworth, Derby.

G. STOTHARD, VE1WYN, HERTS.

FOR IMPROVED INDIA RUBBER STAMPS
for Printing Honey Labels, on Sections, &c. In-
cluding Box, Pad, and Ink, from 2s. each. Name and Ad-
dress in one line, 2s. 6(1. each, complete. Send for Price
Lists fromC.W. Barsley, London House, Kimpton, Welwyn.
4030

Bronze Medal awarded for Straw Skeps at the Great
Crystal Palace Show, 1875.

The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World.

THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL

Established in 1861.
Edited and published by Thomas G. Newman, at 925 West
Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., and will be sent
to European Subscribers at 10s. 6d. per annum for the
Weekly, or 2s. Gd. for the Monthly, including Postage. The
money may be sent by International Postal Money Orders
on Chicago. London Agents : Messrs. Geo. Neighbour &
Sons, 149 Regent Street, W,

Seventeenth Edition. Price One Shilling.

SEVENTY POUNDS A-YEAR:

HOW I MAKE IT BY MY BEES.
By the late J. W. Pagden.

Also, by the same Author, price Sixpence.

Early Artificial Bee-Swarming.

No watching required.
Apply to Mrs. J. W. Fagden, The Chestnuts, Alfriston,

Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Straxgeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c.'

[No. 174. Vol. XIII.]

JULY 15, 1885.

[Published Fortnightly.]

tffoxtoxml, Bathes, #r.

MOVING BEES.

In moving bees, two precautions are necessary —
to see that they have plenty of air, and that there
is no chance of the combs breaking down, and so
injuring or killing the bees. We have constantly
seen skeps, which have been brought to bee-shows
for driving, etc., perfectly useless for the purpose,
because they have not been properly packed.

Stocks should be generally selected for driving,
as the old combs arc stronger, and therefore travel
better, and do not break down by repeated drivings.
The best mode of packing them is as follows : — Get
a piece of cheese strainer, rather larger in diameter
than the skep, and also some corks, or pieces of
paper crumpled up, to keep the combs from falling
against each other. Then having puffed in a little
smoke at the entrance, and having drummed the
hive for a minute or two, turn it upside down, and
push down the corks or pieces of paper between
the combs, both in front and at back. Then put
the strainer over the hive, and tie a piece of string
twice round the hive, and keep the string from
slipping by driving in some staples into the hive,
over the string. If there is a crown-hole, this will
have to be covered by a piece of perforated zinc, or
a bit of strainer. Then tie a piece of cord cross-
ways, to carry the hive, or put the skep in a sack,
letting it rest on two pieces of wood, placed at the
bottom of the sack, so that the bees can get air
through the crown-hole, covered by zinc or strainer.

In moving bar-frame hives, we practically follow
the same plan, though we are not obliged to turn
the hive topsy-turvy. We cover the top of the
hive, having first removed the carpets, with a piece
of strainer, and then tack on two strips of per-
forated zinc at right angles to the bars, and bend
these over on either side, nailing the zinc to the
bars, and also to the sides of the hives, to prevent
the bars from being displaced. We then nail down
the strainer by two more strips of perforated zinc,
which run in the same direction as the bars, and
the entrance is covered by a piece of perforated
zinc, nailed on to the hive. If the bees have
to travel any distance, the combs will have to be
tied in or wired in.

But when it comes to sending bees to foreign

parts, we shall have to provide them with food, and
especially with water. The visual way is to get a
small hive or box with two shallow frames, and at
one end place a tube containing a sponge, which is
kept moistened occasionally during the journey.
Ventilation is provided by having slits cut in the
sides and in the top of the hive, or a piece of wood
may be cut out with a centre bit, and a piece of
perforated zinc nailed over this on the under side,
so that there is a little trough left in which dry
sugar or candy can be placed. Sealed honey-comb
is put in the bars, and carefully wired in, and the
bars are prevented from being displaced by being
nailed on to the sides of the hive, and the bottom
of the bars are also more secure if screwed or
nailed on to the bottom of the hive from the out-
side, or we can nail on strips of wood inside, so that
the bottom of the bars may be held by them. We
think, however, that there is a better plan than
this though we have not tried it, and that is, to
supplement the honey-comb which has been put in
the hive by feeding the bees during the journey, by
using the dummy-feeder.

On two of the sides of. the hive close to the
bottom, so as to prevent the bees being injured by
the drip, cut out a piece of wood the size of your
tin bottle, and then tack a piece of wood on to this
to prevent the bees getting out, but leaving a slit
-J-th inch wide by which the bees may be able to get
at the syrup or water in the bottles, which have five
or six holes in one of the shoulders. To keep the
bottles in position some strips of wood will have to
lie nailed on to the box, in the same way as in the
dummy-feeder. The bottles, having been filled with
water or syrup, are tightly corked, and then turned
upside down, the perforated shoulder resting on the
piece of wood tacked on to the outside of the box.

USEFUL HINTS.

During the present month, the weather has
proved all that the most ardent apiarist could
desire. Sections have been rapidly filled, and
finished, and the bodies of those hives where room
was given for storage as well as brood have become,
in their outside, or back combs, clogged with sealed
honey of the finest quality. So far as our own
experience goes, there has been an almost entire
absence of the dark aphidean honey — so called, by
a misnomer, truly, unless we wish to dub the

230

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[July 15, 1885.

excreta of these tree-lice with the name of nectar,
the drink of the gods ! White clover has been,
and still is, yielding plentifully. Mustard, cole,
et hoc genus omne, are abounding in many districts,
all helping to fill up the measure of abundance.
Our ditches, and low-lying marshy lands, are be-
coming redolent of the sweet and strongly scented
motherwort (leonurus), so useful as an antidote to
that bane of the apiary Bacillus alvei, or foul brood,
and so freely visited by all the varieties of the
honey-bee. And last, but by no means least, the
limes, with delicious scent, are beginning to per-
fume the air. After these1 the heather, and the
second crop of the red clover for our Eastern
races, will soon close the honey season of 1885.
May it prove a successful one to all our brother —
and sister — apiarists. Apropos of the latter, a lady
friend was so badly stung when removing sections
the other day, that she was confined to her bed for
a couple of days. Although wearing a veil and
gloves, the bees so insinuated themselves within
her dress that she was dangerously stung in various
parts of the body, — and by English bees, note, and
not by the well-abused Cyprians or Syrians. Had
our friend read and followed the advice given on
' Removing Sections,' nnder ' Useful Hints,' in our
issue of June 15th, p. 202, the misfortune would
not have happened, for instead of removing the
whole rack, to' operate at a distance from the hive,
she attempted to pick out the finished sections,
while on the hive, and to replace them with others,
when most of the bees were at home. Will our
friends kindly refer to the advice in question ?

Register the Ages of Queens. — This is a most
useful practice, since it is very important to know
the age of every queen in the apiary. It will be
remembered that — first swarms are headed by the
old queen, second swarms, and all afterwards, by
young ones of a few days old. This, and other
data, may be entered on a plain card and placed
under the cover of the hive for reference.

Young Queens. — In a season like the present,
prolific in swarms, late after-swarms, however small,
may be turned to good account by retaining them
simply for their queens. These, when fecundated
and laying, will be found most useful for supplant-
ing aged and worn-out queens next month, and
will repopulate dwindling colonies, and render them
strong for wintering. These swarms should be
treated as nuclei — hived upon three frames of
comb, or foundation, or in small skeps, and set up
on separate stands, isolated as much a3 possible
from the rest of the apiary, with a southerly aspect.
If a frame containing brood and honey can be
spared from another colony, it will materially assist
the nucleus. The union with other colonies next
month will be easy and simple by removing the
old queen, caging the young one on a frame of
the nucleus, and transferring queen, bees, and
frames to the old colony. From a skep nucleus
the bees must, of course, be driven.

Feeding. — These after-swarms will require liberal
feeding according to circumstances. All colonics
whose combs have been freely submitted to the
extractor, on the honey flow ceasing, will destroy

their drones, both adult and larvte, and should be
fed without delay. Honey should still be extracted
from full combs, and syrup supplied for winter
stores by-and-by. Syrup-fed bees winter quite as
well as honey-fed.

Condemned Bees. — Apiarists who wish to make
use of these will do well to make early prepara-
tions, by bespeaking the bees and getting ready
their hives. Not less than two lots of bees should
be put together, — three are better. Newly ex-
tracted combs can be used for placing the bees
upon, and will set the queen breeding, perhaps
more speedily than foundation only. We have
usually found cottagers willing to ' take up ' their
bees in the month of August. AVhere ordinary
bee flora only exists, skeps will rather decline than
increase in weight after the first week in the
month. The cottager, where the frame-hive is
coming into general use, will be chary of selling his
driven bees for a trifle, which we earnestly trust
will soon be the case; but where he still obstinately
persists in burning the bees, after the custom of his
forefathers, it is both an act of charity and a p>re-
vention of cruelty to purchase and to enlighten
him. Some years ago we purchased two colonies
of condemned bees from a cottager for a couple of
shillings, united, and wintered them. The follow-
ing spring they were supered early, and yielded in
surplus honey-sections nearly 120 lbs. We shall
never forget the look of astonishment pervading
the features of their former owner, when, by special
invitation, he visited our apiary to see the ' cases '
of sections removed from the hive of his whilom
bees, and exclaimed, ' I will never burn no more
bees, no, never!' He is now the possessor of
fourteen colonies in frame-hives, from which he
reaps a good return.

Blackberries.— In localities where blackberries
abound the honey collected from this source is said
to be dark in colour. In our own neighbourhood
we have a considerable amount of this forage, but
have always attributed the dark honey to the
honey-dew, or aphides. Will some of our corre-
spondents take notes, and report to us on this
subject? The blackberry pollen is of a bright
purple hue ; that from beans and white clover is
grey ; from mustard yellow, &c. eke. If any one
would report to us, from observation, the colour of
the various kinds of pollen collected from the bee
flora of this country, he would confer a favour on
all bee-keepers. There is a kind of pollen, of the
brightest crimson hue, at times carried into our
hives in large quantities, but the source from
which it is obtained we have never been able to
discover. Limes are said to supply dark-coloured
honey. We have always thought it of a rich
golden colour. Are not the aphides, again, the
guilty ones here, since they generally frequent the
limes iu force ? Ivy, we know, gives honey of a
greenish shade, and thick and slimy as 'bird-lime,
or the pitch of Phrygian Ida.'

Ripening Honey. — This process, when performed
otherwise than by the rightful owners, must, we
think, deteriorate the value of the honey. Appli-
cation of heat — whether sun or otherwise — destroys

July 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

231

that fine aroma which exists only in honey recently
abstracted from the sealed combs, and afterwards
hermetically scaled in jars — aroma, which the prac-
tised expert knows so well, but which lie finds it so
difficult, or impossible even, to describe in words.

Conveying Skeps to Shows, to be operated
upon pro bono publico. Such should always be
inverted, and so conveyed to shows for use in the
bee-tent, with a piece of very open cheese-cloth tied
over the mouth. If this caution were observed we
should see fewer broken combs, and bees suffocated
in their own sweets, than at present is often the case.
Verbum sap.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
From the report of the first annual show of the
above Association (see p. 232), we consider there are
good grounds for congratulating the executive on
the success which has attended it. It has given
us much pleasure to note from time to time the
strenuous exertions which have been made by the
hon. sec, Mr. E. Ferneyhough, of Radcliffe-on-
Trent, to resuscitate this society, and to give it
once more its proper place amongst the comity
of associations. These exertions, we feel assured,
have been productive of much benefit to the bee-
keepers of Nottinghamshire, and we trust that they
will support and uphold their secretary in his self-
denying efforts on their behalf. The work of the
county honorary secretary is of the most arduous
nature, and we can well sympathise with the
remark made by the Rev. N. Andrewes, hon. sec.
of the Sussex B. K. A., that it would require ten
men to do efficiently all the work that is required ;
and bee-keepers cannot be too grateful to those
gentlemen who undertake this office. We trust
that all honorary secretaries may have the reward
of seeing the work of their hands established, and
the satisfaction of having the warm support and
hearty co-operation of those on whose behalf they
are labouring.

GLAMORGANSHIRE AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY.
We have much pleasure in mentioning the liber-
ality of the above Society in granting 20Z. towards
the expenses of the exhibition of hives and honey of
the Glamorganshire B. K. A. to be held at Neath on
August 5th and 6th, in connexion with the Agricultural
Society's Show. The Association have secured the
servicesof Mr. C. Brown, Bewdley, Worcestershire, who
will conduct the bee-manipulations each day of the
show. We trust that the result of this show will
be the means of giving much encouragement to this
young Society.

LINCOLNSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
We would desire to remind our readers that the
Lincolnshire Bee-keepers' Association will conduct
the show of bees, honey, and hives, to be held in
connexion with the above Society, at Grimsby, on
Thursday and Friday, July 30th and 31st. The
complete schedule of prizes has appeared in our

issues of May, June, and July, and will found to be
very liberal and attractive. Every information
can be obtained of the Secretary, Mr. S. Upton, St.
Benedict's Square, Lincoln, or of Mr. R. R. Godfrey,
Hon. Sec. of the Lincolnshire B.K.A., Grantham.
We have every reason to hope that this show will
prove as great a success as those in preceding
years.

WORCESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The prize schedule of the third annual exhibition
of bees, honey, wax, and appliances, appears in out-
advertising columns. It will be held at Worcester,
in connexion with the meeting of the City and
County Horticultural Society, in the grounds of
Walter Holland, Esq., of Rose Hill, on August 20th
and 21st. All particulars, with prize schedules and
entry forms, may be obtained on application to the
hon. sec, Mr. A. H. Martin, Evesham.

LONGSTOCK HIVE MANUFACTORY.
From an advertisement in another column it will
be seen that the machinery, plant, &c, of the Long-
stock Hive Manufactory is for sale. We understand
that the principals, Messrs. E. M. Hart & Co., have
been settled in America for the past eighteen months,
and that their well-known manager, Mr. H. Fitz-
Hart, will also settle there in September or October
next.

DEATH OF MR. WYATT J. PETTITT, OF
DOVER.

We regret to announce the death of Mr. Pettitt,
of Dover, which occurred a few days since. This
veteran bee-keeper, who will be remembered for his
zeal in bringing to the front the great advantages of
scientific bee-keeping, has, at the age of some sixty-
five years, fallen a victim to the pursuit which he
loved so well. As many will know, his apiary was
constructed out of the face of the cliff at the rear of
his residence in Snargate Street. In taking a
swarm of bees which had settled at a considerable
altitude he was observed by a neighbour to fall.
Assistance was promptly rendered and medical aid
obtained, when he was found to have sustained a
severe wound on the head, which rendered him in-
sensible. From this he rallied slightly, but after-
wards gradually sunk, and died in two or three days.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The next Quarterly Conversazione will be held at
105 Jermyn Street on Wednesday, July 22nd, at
6 p.m. Subject for discussion, ' Bee-keeping in its
Educational Aspect,' to be introduced by the Rev.
F. G. Jenyns, Rector of Knebworth, Herts.

Quarterly Meeting of County Representatives
takes place at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22nd.
Subject for discussion, ' The desirability of securing
satisfactory and uniform rules in Prize Schedules
at Local and County Shows.'

2 32

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[July 15, 1885.

PEEL MEMORIAL FUND.
The following additional subscriptions have been
received, viz. : —

F. R. Jackson £1 1

G. Walker 0 10

ASSOCIATIONS.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSO-
CIATION.

The first annual show of the above Association was
held in conjunction with the annual show of the Notts
Agricultural Society at Lenton, Nottingham, July
2nd, 3rd, and 4th. Exceptionally fine weather prsvailed
during- the whole three days ; indeed, if such a glorious
time had preceded the exhibition by a fortnight, the
quantity of honey for competition would have been
much greater, many of the entries not being filled, in
consequence of the sections and supers in man}' cases
being all but capped over, just rendering them unfit to
compete.

This being the first show since the resuscitation of the
Notts B. K. A., the executive may bo heartily con-
gratulated on its thorough success. The exhibition of
honey was excellent, although the number of exhibits
was small from the cause above stated. Very fair
specimens of bees were on view in Observatory hives,
and proved a source of great attraction and interest, as
also did the Bee Tent, which was crowded each time to
see the various manipulations that were very ably per-
formed by Mr. E. C. Walton, of Muskham. In Class 1L
i'or the best collection of bee furniture, a splendid show
was made by Messrs. Abbott Bros., of Southall, Lon-
don ; Mr. E. 0. Walton, Muskham, Newark ; Mr.
Meadows, Syston, near Leicester ; and Messrs. Turner
& Sons, Radcliffe-on-Trent. The tent was well pat-
ronised during the whole three days, and there is no
doubt that the Notts B. K. A. will benefit considerably
by an increase of members, many indeed joining during
the show. The judges were Mr. R. R. Godfrey, of
Grantham, and Mr. H. Bates, of Grantham, who per-
formed their duties to the satisfaction of all concerned.
The stewards were Mr. E. Ferneyhough (Hon. Secretary
to the Association), Radcliffe-on-Trent, and Mr. A. R.
Calvert, Radcliffe-on-Trent.

Appended is a list of the successful competitors : —

Bees. — Class 1. For the best specimens of Ligurian,
Carniolan, Cyprian, or Syrian honey-hees — 1, E. C.
Walton, Muskham, Newark; 2, Abbott Bros., Southall,
London. Class 2. For the best specimens of English
bees — 1, Abbott Bros.; 2, E. C. Walton.

Honey. — Class 3. For the largest and best exhibition
of super honey, the produce of one apiary during the
year 1885 — 2, Geo. Coope, Farnsfield, Southwell, Notts.
Class 4. For the largest and best exhibition of extracted
or run honey in glass jars, containing one or two pounds
net weight of honey — 2, Geo. Coope, Farnsfield, South-
well, Notts. Class -5. For the best twelve 1-lb. sections
of comb honey, in crate — 1, Geo. Coope; 2, John Beeson,
Lamcote, Radcliffe-on-Trent. Class 6. For the best
twelve 1-lb. glass jars of extracted or run honey — 1,
Mrs. Wotton, Widnerpool; 2, Frank II. K. Fisher,
Farnsfield. Class 7. For the best super of comb honey
— 2, G. Capnrn, Newton, Nottingham.

Hives. — Class 8. For the best complete and most
practical hive, price not to exceed 30s. — ] , Abbott
Bros.; 2, E. C. Walton. Class 0. For the best com-
plete and most practical hive, price not to exceed 7s. Gd.
— 1, Abbott Bros., disqualified. Class 10. For the

cheapest, neatest, and best super — 1, Abbott Bros.; 2,
E. C. Walton. Class 11. For the best and most com-
plete collection of hives and bee furniture — 1, Abbott
Bros.; 2, E. C. Walton; 3, P. Meadows, Syston, near
Leicester. Class 12. For the best straw hive, the hive
to be stocked with bees working, and the principle to be
fully demonstrated — W. P. Meadows, second prize.

We may add that arrangements have been made for
the Bee Tent to attend several local flower shows
in the county of Nottingham, where liberal schedules of
prizes have been provided for the various exhibits of
bees, honey, hives, &C. (see Bee Tent Engagements).

The Rev. A. II. Ilalley (London Representative of
N. B. K. A.) gave a lecture on bees and bee-keepiug with
diagrams — to the cottagers and others, about seventy
being present — at Everton, Bawtry, Notts, on Friday,
20th June. It is hoped that the industry will be pushed
forward, there being hardly any in that parish who take
an interest in bees.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

A sua essful exhibition of Honey was held by this
Association at Aylesbury, on Thursday July 0th, in con-
nection with the Floral and Horticultural Society's
Show. Although the entries were not very numerous,
the actual quantity of honey exhibited was considerable,
whilst its quality throughout was excellent. The
judges were the Rev. E. Bartrum and Mr. T. \V. Cowan,
to whom the best thanks of the Association are due.
The prize winners in Class I. for section honey sent a
splendid entry, especially the winnerof the first prize (Mrs.
Astle}' of Chequers Court), who exhibited thirty-six most
perfect sections. The second prize exhibit, which con-
sisted of fourteen sections, would have been more satisfac-
tory had greater care been taken to exclude unfinished and
imperfect sections. This greatly detracted from the
general excellence of the remainder. The third prize
was won by a level and exceedingly good exhibit of thirty-
six sections, which well deserved the prize awarded
to it.

The extracted honey was on the wdiole good, although
the exhibitors seenl as yet hardly to have learnt to send
it before the judges in its clearest state, free from air-
bubbles. The first prize for non-sectional super, was
won by an excellent Stewarton super, exhibited by Mr.
F. Freeman of Wendover. On the wdiole the exhibition
seems to point to progress having been made in api-
culture during the past year in the neighbourhood.
Many of the exhibitors were new members of the
Association, whilst the first prize for comb honey was
carried off bj' a member who has lately adopted the
improved methods under the skilful direction of the
District Local Adviser (Mr. P. Brisker). The general
public seemed much interested in the Honey Depart-
ment, and there were numerous inquiries as to the
methods of using the hives and appliances exhibited
by Mr. Stonhill, the expert of the Association.

The prize-winners were —

1. (Sections). — 1, Mrs. Astley, Chequers Court; 2,
Mr. Freeman, Wendover ; 3rd, Mr. Brisker, Elles-
borough. Highly commended, Mrs. Murray, Little
Kemble. Commended, Mr. Summerfield, Aylesbury ;
Commended, Mr. R. A. Abbot, Aylesbury.

2. (Extracted). — 1, Mr. F. Freeman, Wendover; 2,
Mr. S. Bagshaw, Aylesbury ; 3rd, Mr. 1). Norris, Buns-
more. Highly commended, Mr. I'. Brisker, Kllesborough.

3. (Non-sectional Super). — 1, Mr. Freeman, Wend-
over; 2nd, Mr. II. Broad, Aylesbury.

4. (Largest Exhibit of Comb Honey). — Mr. Freeman,
Wendover.

July 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

233

HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The first show of the season held by this Association
occurred at Southampton, June 23, 24, 25, and 26, 1835,
in connexion with the annual meeting and Exhibition
of the Royal Counties Agricultural Society. Although
so early in the year, a very fine display of honey was
secured, the entries in the various classes exceeding 100.
The classes for honey in sections were very full, and the
quantity and finish excellent, testifying to the good
season bee-keepers are enjoying this year. Extracted
honey also was well represented, exhibits coming from
all parts of the county, and varying in colour from a
transparent white through every shade of golden yellow
to a rich ruby red. In the hive and appliances classes
there was not much competition, which was singular
seeing what a large field is open to hive-dealers in a
wealthy county like Plants. Only two dealers attended,
one of whom is declining business, and yet orders were
booked exceeding 50/., and beyond question this might
have been largely exceeded.

Mr. C. N. Abbott came from London to represent the
B. B. K. A. as examiner and judge, and he was assisted
by Messrs. Beckford, Blake, and Tee. Seven candidates
presented themselves for examination in bee-lore, but,
owing to a misunderstanding as to the somewhat strin-
gent requirements of the B. B. K. A. (which under the
circumstances appeared scarcely necessary to the mem-
bers of the Hants committee), only five were enabled to
compete.

The bee-tent was under the charge of Mr. Bellairs,
the hou. sec, who was assisted by Dr. Andrews on the
the first day. Rev. H. W. Bull on the second, Dr. Blake
on the third, and Commander Suckling, R.N., through-
out the show. The popularity of this branch of the
work of the Hants B. K. A. exhibits no slackening, the
tent at times being thronged eight and ten persons deep,
men crowding on each other's backs, and taking possession
of every available empty packing-case whereon to gain
vantage ground to see the manipulations and listen to
the lectures. A pleasant feature was the marked
respect and interest evinced throughout, and the nu-
merous thanks for the knowledge and information so
freely given.

We give below a fist of the judges' awards, and in
alluding to novelties, we must not omit to mention the
exhibit of the Patent Tin Box Co. of Kirby Street,
Ilatton Garden, E.C. They had sent down a consign-
ment of tin boxes or cans with thin patent lids, to hold
about a gallon of honey. These were sold at sixpence
each, and will probably prove of great value to bee-
keepers for storing and ripening honey. There was also
a large exhibit of honey in these tins made to hold two
pounds each, and from their extreme portability- these
found rapid sale at good prices. A novel feature in the
home-made hive class also was Captain Suckling's ex-
tremely well-built frame-hive, having for its crest or
front the well-known brand of ' Moet & Chandon,'
which deservedl}- took first prize. The awards for the
best 12 lbs. of super-honey, in sections not exceeding
2 lbs. each. — lst,G. Horner, Swanmore; 2nd, W, Wood-
ley, Newbury ; 3rd, F. G. Ayling, Privett. Ditto, not
exceeding 1 lb. — 1st, Rev. P. P. Izard, Morestead ; 2nd,
F. Thirlby, Romsey ; 3rd, W. Woodley. Ditto, cotta-
gers and artisans only. — 1st, W. Woodley ; 2nd, J. Giles,
Cowesfield. Best 12 lbs. of extracted honey, in vessels
not exceeding 2 lbs. each, members only. — 1st, Mrs. Best,
Red Rice; 2nd, E. M. Hart, Longstock; 3rd, Mr. F. T.
Beckford, Winchester. Largest and best exhibit of last
season's honey, members only. — 1st, Mr. E. H. Bellairs,
Christehurch"; 2nd, Dr. Blake, Bournemouth ; 3rd, Mrs.
Beck, Red Rice, Andover. Largest and best exhibit of
honey in eveiy form, members only. — 1st, Mr. Bellairs;
2nd, T. Giles ; 3rd, Hart and Co., Longstock. Best and
strongest skep of bees, not being a swarm of this year. —

1st, Mrs. Shears, West End ; 2nd, Mr. E. II. Bellairs.
Best sample of bees 1st, W. Woodley ; 2nd, H. Puzey,
Faringdon, Alton; 3rd, G. Holley, Sherfield, Basing-
stoke. Largest and best collection of hives and appli-
ances, open. — E. M. Hart and Co., Stockbridge. Best
bar-frame hive.— 1st, Geo. Forward ; 2nd, E. M. Hart
and Co. Best cottager's hive. — 1st, Forward ; 2nd, Hart
and Co. Best cottager's hive, the work of an amateur,
members only. — 1st, Capt. Suckling, Romsey; 2nd, F. G.
Ayling, Privett, Alton.

THE HERTFORDSHIRE ASSOCIATION.

The Rev. J. Lingen Seager, the Hon. Secretary of the
above Association, is to be congratulated upon the success
which has attended his efforts in urging the importance
of the various Societies, both agricultural and horti-
cultural in the county, to make bee-keeping a part of their
annual exhibitions. Honey and appliances formed part
of the Herts Agricultural "Society's Show held at Hat-
field on the 9th inst'. Fifty entries were made ; the ma-
jority of the exhibits were of excellent quality, the
1-lb.and 2-lb. sections exhibited by Miss Gayton heing un-
usually good. Another lady bee-keeper (Mrs. Maynard)
was a very successfid exhibitor. Prizes were awarded
to Messrs. Godman and Dickens for collections of ap-
pliances.

A similar exhibition will be held in connexion with
the Frogmore Cottage Garden Show to be held at
Hedges, the residence of Frank Silvester, Esq., near St.
Albans, on the 29th inst. The Rev. Lingen Seager will
attend this Exhibition and deliver addresses on bee-keep-
ing during the afternoon. An exhibition of hives and
honey will also be held in connexion with the Potter's
Bar Horticultural Society at Northaw House on Thurs-
day, July 30. Schedules to be had of Mr. Huckle.

MIDDLESEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The Annual Show of the above Association was held in
connexion with the Ealing, Acton, and Hanwell Horti-
cultural Show on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 7 and 8,
in the magnificent grounds of Baron de Rothschild at
Guunersbury. An exhibition of hives and appliances
was shown in the bee-tent by Messrs. Abbott Bros.,
with some specimens of honey. Manipulations of bees
took place in the live-bee tent, under the superintend-
ence of the hon. sec, Mr. Fox Kenworthy. The Rev.
V. H. Moyle gave frequent lectures on Tuesday, and
Mr. F. Lyon on Wednesday. The weather was vjry fine,
and the Show may be considered to have been a great
success.

THE BEE SHOW AT CORK.

The exhibition of bees, honey, and apiarian apparatus,
was held in a special tent in the centre of the lower show
3-ard. As usual, a number of visitors was attracted to
what is necessarily a very interesting exhibition. In
addition to the exhibits which were exposed in competi-
tion for the prizes offered, there was a bee-driving com-
petition, in which was demonstrated the marvellous
training to which these useful insects are capable of
being subjected under the care of skilful persons. The
apparently careless manner in which the operators
handled the bees and hives, and the successful manner
in which the bee-driving was performed, were the
subject of much admiration. The driving competi-
tion took place at half-past one, when one of the com-
petitors captured the queen-bee and exhibited her to the
spectators, the prize being consequently awarded to him.
At half-past two, Dr. Knight, of the Royal University,
Dublin, delivered an interesting lecture upon the manage-
ment of bees and the most successful methods for their

234

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[July 15, 1885.

treatment. The lecturer illustrated Lis discourse by a
bar-frame hive exhibited by Mr. Taylor, of Tinahely,
and an observatory hive exhibited by Mr. J. J. Smith,
Rathcoursey. Dr. Knight explained the use of the hives
and the manner of manipulating the bees in a most
instructive fashion. He was assisted by Mr. Traynor,
of Tinahely, who acted as expert. The prizes for
packages of honey were borne off by the product of a
Ligurian bive, the honey from our native black bees
taking second place. The Ligurian article bore un-
doubted marks of superiority, but as an endurable and
merchantable delicacy the Irish honey would be preferred
by many. — Communicated.

Lecture on Bee-keeping. — On Tuesday, the 23rd
June, the Kev. A. H. Halley, Hon. District Secretary of
the Middlesex B. K. A., gave an interesting lecture (with
British Bee-keepers' Association diagrams) on bees and
bee-keeping to about forty persons at Heage, Derbyshire,
under the presidency of the Rev. H. M. Mosse, rector of
Heage. Many present gave their experience of bee-
keeping in their immediate neighbourhood.

Death from the Sting of a Bee. — Mr. W. H.
Blanchard, ironmonger, of Poole, died on the 9th inst. from
the effects of the sting of a bee. It appears that while
walking in his garden about a fortnight ago a bee stung
him in the neck, which commenced swelling shortly
afterwards ; and, notwithstanding that medical advice
was called in, he died after much suffering.

An Early Swarm. — On Midsummer morning before
seven o'clock I had a large swarm of bees come out of a
box. I hived them all right, and in the evening I took
them ten miles by train and put them in a friend's apiary.
Is it not unusual so early a swarm ? — Robt. Oxborrow,
Lower Kirby, Essex, June 23, 1885.

Loss op a Swarm of Lugurians. — On Thursday,
the 2nd inst., a very tine swarm of Ligurian bees left my
apiary and headed towards Highgate. They had been
successfully hived (in my absence from home) two days
previously in a skep, but were lost in trying to transfer
them into a bar-frame hive. This sort of thing has been
rather common with bees this year. If anyone has found
them kindly write to the Rev. A. II. Halley, 8 Pymmes
Villas, Upper Edmonton, N.

Bees in the Streets of London. — Considerable
excitement was caused on Saturday, the 11th inst., by
the appearance of a swarm of bees in Argyle Street,
Regent Street. They clustered underneath a van.
Mr. Neighbour was sent for, but, by the time he
arrived, the bees had passed a bad quarter of an hour,
and had been soused with water and knocked down
with caps and coats by the boys. Thus they had become
so dispersed that they could not be secured. For some
hours the neighbouring streets were pervaded by the
homeless wanderers, greatly to the discomfiture of the
cabbies and coachmen and the amusement of the boys,
who chased the unfortunates with their caps, the bees
being too much demoralised to resent their attacks. — F. L.

Another correspondent writes : At about 1 1 o'clock
this morning (Saturday, July 11th), while a man was
walking down Argyle Street, Oxford Street, a queen-
bee settled on his coat, and he was soon covered by a
swarm of bees. He rushed into Oxford Street, the bees
still clinging to him, and up Market Street, Oxford
Street, where he shook his coat, and soon all the shops
round were full of bees, but they all came back to him ;
at last he threw off his coat and hat, and then they left
him. He is an assistant at Messrs. Mappin and Webb,
Oxford Street. A boy is said to have been carrying a
swarm of bees in a box, when he dropped it, and they
then settled on the man. The man was only stung
twice.— II. B.

forasuonbcnxc.

*#* All Correspondents forwarding Letters for insertion in
the Journal, Reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes
from the Hives, Queries, etc., are requested to direct their com-
munications to ' The Editor of the " British Bee Journal," c/o
Messrs. Strangeways <£• Sons, Tower Street, Upper St. Martin's
Lane, W.C.

OUR HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honej' imported into the United Kingdom
during the month of May, 1885, amounted to 0966/.
[Prom a private Return sent by the Principal, Statistical
Department, H.M. Customs, to E. II. Bellairs, Wingfield,
Christchurch.]

HOW TO UTILISE QUEENS SENT BY LETTER-
POST TO INDIA.

Experiments Suggestf.d.

Parties in India who would like to order queens by
mail may hesitate, not knowing what can be done with
a queen accompanied only by a score of workers.
Having had some experience with several races of bees
in Ceylon and Farther India, I may, perhaps, be able to
offer a few suggestions which may aid them.

Secure several drone combs of the common Ceylon bee
(Me mesa or Apis Indica), which builds in hollow trees or
in rock crevices, and fit them into frames ; then transfer
a stock of Apis Indica which has brood in all stages ;
remove the queen and cage (in a pipe-cover cage), the
foreign queen to be introduced, placing the drone-combs
near the centre of the hive.

The new queen should be caged three or four days at
least, and over cells of sealed honey; also she should
have in the cage with her six or eight of the workers
sent with her. The cage should be examined every day,
and at least once during the confinement of the queen it
should be lifted up and shoved to a new spot on the
comb. Also great care must be taken that the bees do
not gnaw through and release the queen prematurely.
If the pipe-cover cage be not pressed in beyond the centre
or mid-rib of the comb, and the adjoining comb be placed
close enough so as to press on the end of the cage which
projects, there will be no danger on this score. On the .
third or fourth day, about sunset, the queen can be
released provided the bees do not seem to be clustered
compactly over the cage trying to sting her through it,
and provided the queen-cells, if any were formed, have
been destroyed a few hours beforehand by the bee-keeper.
At the time the queen is released, honey made a little
thin with water should be drizzled over the combs and
bees, and the queen daubed with it. The hive is then to
be covered and not opened for several days, bees being
meanwhile permitted to fly in and out. Another prer
caution : make the entrances of the hives just as low as
possible, and still let the small Apis Indica workers pass
in and out. If then the bees swarm out, the queen (Apis
Mellifica) cannot go with them.

The queen will lay worker eggs in the drone-comb of
Apis Indica, and in a month or so the Apis Mellifica
progeny will want to fly, whereupon the entrances must
be made f of an inch in height. There will not be
danger of stocks of any variety of Apis Mellifica
decamping as will the ordinary bees of Ceylon. Tho
only danger would be that the Ceylon bees might lead
off the new queen during the first month of her stay in
the hive.

Another plan would bo to use Apis dorsata combs,
paring them down equally on each side until some of
them were \ of an inch thick and others 1] inches. Apis
dorsata builds but one size of hexagonal cells, and they
are somewhat larger than the worker-cells of Apis
mellifica, but smaller than drone-cells of this species.

July 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

235

I would try Apis dorsata workers with their own
combs pared down and then with drone-combs of Apis
Indica : also would try Apis "Indica workers with Apis
dorsata combs, as well as their own combs. In all these
experiments it would likewise be well to employ some
sheets of ordinary worker-comb foundation. I speak of
these plans as experiments, so I shall have to add that I
have executed most of them with success; only I did not
risk introducing any of the Cyprian queens I took with
me to Ceylon in 1881 to any of the native bees. But I
have great confidence in the success of the first procedure
I have detailed.

I would recommend Carniolan bees in preference to
Italians, but for India I believe Cyprians would be far
preferable, being better adapted to a hot climate. They
are sensitive, hence easily irritated by rough treatment,
but if handled gently can be got along with more ease
than anv other bees of the yellow varieties. Carniolans
are the gentlest bees known, equalling the Italians in
working qualities and in point of beauty. — Frank
BENTON, Munich, Germany.

EFFECTS OF STINGS.

Last evening, at the outset of the operation of re-
moving some sections from one of my hives, I received a
stine- on my left wrist, owing to the coat-sleeve having
risen above some too-short-topped gloves I was wearing.
The sting was at once carefully withdrawn, and I pro-
ceeded with my work, avoiding any rubbing or pressing
on the wound*. In less than half an hour I became
conscious that my feet had grown too large for my
shoes, and that my upper lip had swollen and become
rigid, and from the feeling that I had, that I should be
much more comfortable than I was could I be wholly
divested of my clothing. I suppose the process of ex-
pansion must have gone on ' from top to toe.' In less
than another half-hour a violent irritation had taken
possession of my whole body, resembling, I may say,
what I should suppose would be the result did one in a
state of nudity fall headlong into a bed of stinging
nettles ; and it was with difficulty that I coidd with-
hold my linger-, and even my thumb-nails, from per-
petrating dermatic abrasions on every part of my body.
In a little time, on this there supervened a bodily agita-
tion, which I could not control, the action of the heart
being much quickened, and there being also a very
threatening sensation of sickness. This stage of pro-
gress was succeeded by frequently recurring incipient
cramp in the legs, which by brisk walking about I could
with difficulty prevent reaching its most painful degree
of tension. These pleasant experiences were parts of
the sweets of my honey-taking for between three and
four hours, at the expiration of which time I became
nearly myself, except that the irritation to some extent
remained, and except also that 'Tir'd Nature's sweet
restorer, balmy sleep,' would have nothing whatever to
do with me that night ; and so left me the more leisure
to ask you if you will be kind enough to let your other
readers and myself know whether these are common
results of bee-stiDgs, and whether, if they are, when the
wound has been once inflicted, there are anjr certain
means of staving them off. I am the more interested in
the reply that can be given to these questions, having
last 3-ear gone through precisely the same process as that
I have now detailed to you from a sting in my left
whisker.

The virulence of the poison, that from so small a
quantity can in so short a time so affect the whole mass
of the blood, as in my case it apparently does, is some-
thing marvellous. — B. L).

[The symptoms which you so graphically describe are,
fortunately for bee-keepers, not very common. It is
known in medical language as Urticaria, or nettle-rash,
and often follows from eating shell-fish, cucumber,

mushrooms, &c, as well as from taking medicines like
mix vomica, turpentine, &c. It is also caused by the
bites of insects like gnats, or, as in your case, by the
sting of a bee. We should advise you to try carbolic
acid (see Journal, July 1, page 216), but it must be
applied at once. If, however, this is not done, or if in
spite of it the nettle-rash appears, sponge the parts
affected with the following lotion : —

R. Glycerini

Liq. Plumbi Subacet.

Sp. Beet

Aquas ad

51
... 3'i
... .jiv
... gviii

Ed.]

EASTEBN BEES.

A correspondent wishes for some intelligence respecting
Eastern bees. I have kept Palestine or Holy Lands
since 1882, and will endeavour to give 1113' opinion and
some of their characteristics. They are a handsome
variety, very excitable, and if not carefully handled are
irritable, and soon show their tempers, but with ordinary
treatment one need not fear their stings. They are most
prolific, and first-class honey-gatherers. It is stated by
an authority that they are bad in wintering. I have
found them very good in this respect, seldom require
feeding in the autumn, breed late in the scasju, and
commence early in the spring. Bear but few drones,
bur when queenless any number of queen-cells. Ligurians
in comparison with them are like sleepy flies, and have
1 no go ' in them. To an experienced bee-keeper I would
recommend him to give them a trial, but to a beginner I
would not till he has gained some experience with the
common variety. Smoke at times appears to have no
effect on them. I should then advise trying a little
carbolic acid — just use a feather that has been dipped in
the acid, and rub it on top of frames. I have found a
slight smell of this frightens them more than volumes of
smckc. — E. W., Abbotsley, St. Neot's.

CUBE OF FOUL BROOD.

One o'f my seven stocks of bees, a last summer's swarm,
in the early spring was very strong and thriving; but
towards the end of April the bees suddenly became as it
were lazy and sluggish, and on examining the hive found
the combs sprinkled with diseased cells. On opening
a few of them I was convinced of the presence of the
well-known and much-dreaded pestilence Bacillus alrei.
or fold brood. This time, however, I did not destroy
the combs, as I had done in former years, but resolved to
give a trial to the Cheshire Cure. I purchased a bottle
from Mr. Hollands, and treated the bees according to the
directions sent with the bottle ; and, strange to say. after
two doses were administered the bees commenced to work
with their former energy. I kept the bottle with the
medicated svTup on for about a month, and from the hive
in question I had a swarm which weighed over five
pounds, and now I find the combs clean and perfectly
cured ; and I beg through 3'our Journal to give the best
and due thanks to Mr. Cheshire for his invaluable dis-
coveiy. — Valerian Novitzki, Pitlochry, July 0.

COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.

As 3-our correspondents ' Leicesterian ' and ' West
Midland ' ask for suggestions for making County Associa-
tions more useful to members I venture to offer a few
hints on the subject.

I belong to an Association that is not embarrassed by
having to la3r out 108/. per annum — less than one-third
of that sum would be nearer the mark ; and yet we have
our expert, and most of our members are satisfied with
our proceedings ; I sa3' most, for there will always be a
few grumblers. First, then, save your members as far as

23G

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[July 15, 1885.

possible those very charges referred to. If a member
wants a pound of foundation, a few bottles or any other
little matter, we know what an affair it is to find out
where to obtain them, to write a letter and get a postal
order ; then there is a charge for a box and the carriage,
and the thing becomes too irksome. Let your correspon-
dents help their secretary in carrying out such an arrange-
ment as this, which, having tried, I have found to be
practicable, with very little trouble. We get early in
the year from an eminent maker (whose name it would
be invidious to mention) a list of quotations ; but to those
whom he knows he sends a special quotation for large
quantities for cash with order. If enough is ordered it is
sent carriage free ; this to a member ordering, say,
five lbs. foundation, would save his annual subscription,
package, and carriage. At our annual meeting in January
when members assemble in numbers to draw the hive,
we inform them the price of supplies, take their order
and their cash (no credit). If the supplies come to the
county town, or some other easily reached centre, they
can be called for when members happen to come in.
There is no risk and not too much trouble. Bottles
later on are managed in the same way, and the members
save an infinity of perplexity, for which they show
ample gratitude, as my vases of roses and honeysuckle
testify.

Next, in the working of our Association, we thank-
fully accept the generous offer of some of our members to
drive the expert round their neighbourhood, so that his
spring visit has only cost us about 5/. His charge being
5s. per day and moderate travelling expenses, i cannot
see any difficulty which may not be overcome by a little
energy and co-operation. — A Country Member.

SUGGESTIONS FOB COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.
I am pleased, and my friends also, that some one has
at last taken up the sword to fight the question of the
utility of County Associations — their help (?) to cotta-
gers at the present time, when every penny must be put
to a proper use. I quite concur with what ' West
Midland ' said in your last publication ; but he has been
more lucky even than I have, for I have never seen the
Bee Journal, or any other paper or book in connexion
with bee-culture, at the expense of the Society to which
I belong. At a lecture given by our Hon. Sec, not so
many months ago, we were promised some advantages for
joining the Society. But besides having had the expert's
spring and autumn visits, we have gained materially no-
thing. With respect to sending honey to shows, that was
so ably dealt with by your last correspondent on the
subject that it needs no further comment from me, so I
will leave it for our committee to digest, and by the
time the next annual meeting takes place I hope they
will be in a position to provide the local Secretary with
certain things for our use. An extractor is costly, and I
for one, with only a few hives to extract from, could not
afford to buy one ; at least, my returns would not justify
me in so laying out my money. The local Secretary
might also have a small library of bee literature to be
at the disposal of the members; but then I am told that
the books and the extractor, if given us, would be
always out. That is a farce, because the time of use
could be limited, and a fine levied if the things were not
returned in a certain time. How do extensive lending
libraries manage ? Why, if they did not have rules and
regulations, they would be nowhere, any more than we
should. I say it can be done, and I believe that the
number of members in a few weeks after such a course
had been adopted would fully justify it. I am certain it
would where I am located, fori was only talking to two
gentlemen last week — enthusiasts in bee-keeping — who
told me they would join us directly I could offer them one
material advantage. Notwithstanding the extra number
of members that might be got, I see no reason why

something should not be done for present members, for
dissatisfaction is spreading on all hands. Something-
must be done, but I will trespass no further on the space
of our valuable medium — the British Bee Journal. I
hope something may be carried out expediently to make
County Associations more valuable. — Bone.

[If our correspondent woidd carefully read over the
letter that precedes his he would find in it several use-
ful suggestions for the economical conduct of Associa-
tions, especially that portion where he requests ' corres-
pondents to help their secretary.' — Ed.]

MY EXPEBIENCES WITH DRIVEN BEES.

In a recent issue, when speaking of the value of certain
plants for bee forage, I promised to give to the readers of
the Journal my experiences and results with condemned
bees ; and as the time is at hand when bee-driving will
be the order of the day with advanced bee-keepers, these
observations may interest some of our amateur bee-
keepers who would like to drive and rear some condemned
stocks.

It is now just about twelve months since I fell into
conversation with a cottager respecting bees and bee-keep-
ing. After a deal of conversation and arguing I obtained
permission to drive two of his stocks and to have them
for my trouble in doing so. I perfoi'med the operation
one evening in the second week in August, brought them
home, and united them the next morning, putting them
in a straw skep, and commenced to feed with syrup. As
it happened to be a favourable latter end the bees worked
well, and fought well too, both with robbers and wasps,
though they had not much to be robbed of, which may
have accounted for them defending it so well. They
were masters of all comers, as under the floor-board could
testify, as there was a heap both of slaughtered bees
and wasps. When I examined them at the end of
October they had half filled the hive with combs and
these last with honey. I had ceased to feed when I
examined them, and had given them in all about three
shillings worth of sugar ; but I had a quantity of good
forage plants to pick at, among which were the bee
larkspurs, the red-hot poker plants, honey balsams,
French honej'suckles, which were then in bloom the
second time, as that plant breaks out after blooming the
first time and flowers again a month or so later on. I
placed a little candy on the floor as far back in the hive
as possible, and with a little misgiving saw them go to
rest for the winter. They were very active during the
winter, and on mild days I poked through the entrance
pieces of candy. As February advanced the weather
was rather mild, and on the 17th of that month I saw
them bringing in pollen, indicating that all was right. I
commenced to feed with syrup on the 1st of March, and
had a good supply of early flowers for them, which they
made great use of. I expected an early swarm, but very
bad changeable weather set in, and I had to feed well to
save them from starving. However, on the 12th of June
1 had a nice swarm from them, which has done very
well, filling a straw skep which has now got about a
twelve-pound super on. Sixteen da}'S afterwards I had
a grand cast from the stock hive ; these I put into a bar-
framed hive with eight frames, containing small starters
of comb in them, all of which they have built out and
are going on very well.

Now that I have given my experiences I will ask your
readers whether the results are not well worth the trouble
and cnst. Briefly the results are these. The stock-hive
and the swarm well filled and rich in stores with supers
upon both of them ; a bar- framed hive with eight frames
partly worked out, and containing one of the finest
queens I ever saw. The total cost of sugar was about
5s. Gd. I would recommend bees to be driven not later
than the last week in July. — W. Hollins, Tillington
Avenue, Stafford.

July 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

237

A SUGGESTION : ENAMEL PAPER v. ENAMEL
CLOTH.
I have been trying enamel paper instead of enamel
cloth, and am very much pleased with it. As I use it
for other things, I buy it in large quantities at 2'-)s. per
cwt. from J. A. Turner & Co., West Gorton, near Man-
chester. I think if other bee-keepers buy it and like it,
some of our hive-makers might supply it retail; it comes
much cheaper than cloth. I forward sample herewith. —
R. II. Cowell, Greenfield, near Oldham.

HINGES FOR HIVES.

Seeing that hinges for the covers of hives have of late
been frequently referred to iu the Bee Journal, I would
recommend all who purpose using them to be careful to
weight or otherwise secure the reverse end to that on
which hinges may be fixed. About a month ago I had
occasion to be manipulating with a hive of bees, fitted
with hinged cover, and whilst in the middle of my work,
the whole box of tricks turned end uppermost, breaking-
two or three well-formed frames of comb and otherwise
upsetting the equilibrium of the whole colony. The bees
were a good bit mixed over the performance, as was also
the manipulator, who since then has followed the old
and well-known maxim — a preventative is better than a
cure. — S. Cboss, Gas Works, Abergavenny.

DO QUEENS ORIGINATE FOUL BROOD ?

My apiary has, during the last twelve months, suf-
fered much from foul brood. It originated, as far as I
could judge, in one stock which, in the course of twelve
months, dwindled down to a few workers and their
queen, and a few weeks ago the final collapse came, the
hive was void of life, and the queen was found dead near
the entrance. Her body was sent for a ' post-mortem,'
and it was found to be full of ' bacillus alvei.' This
queen was an imported Italian, introduced into the hive
in thesummer of 1883. My object in recording these
facts is to ask our scientific friends whether in their
opinion the ' Foul Brood ' was introduced into my apiary
by this foreign princess. — Henhy Bligh, Hampton Hill
Vicarage, June 27th.

SUGAR-FEEDER.

From the very good suggestion of Mr. E. H. Bellairs on
page 187 respecting the bottle being used as a sugar-
feeder, I have tried a modification which answers ex-
ceedingly well, and will prove a useful addition to the
Simmins feeder.

It consists of a piece of zinc 8 inches x 5, with per-
forations that bees can pass freely. A rim of wood 1
inch high and i inch thick is nailed on the edge. The
feeder is filled with sugar pressed down tight and placed
on the frames under quilt.

In the spring a colony has to be at least moderately-
strong before it will use the side feeder, but with the
sugar above and close to them it is taken freely.

The size can be altered to suit the ideas of the user. It
is cheap, compact, can easily be refilled, and does away
with spoiling the quilt by cutting it.— J. C Lambert,
Sunk Island, Hull.

SEXUAL FUNCTIONS OF QUEENS, DRONES,
AND WORKER BEES.

Having found, within the last year or so, articles by
two or three different apiarists expressive of disbelief in
' parthenogenesis,' together with some reasons, which
would apparently justify the same, I have considered the
subject not a little. I may be pardoned for not attaching
much importance or weight to the observations of the
average American apiarist, because I know that if it is

not a question of dollars and cents, the average American
does not trouble himself much about new discoveries, the
knowledge of which is apparentfy of no practical use to
anybody. For this reason it has seemed to me that
observations to establish new discoveries were not
thorough enough to accept them as proven facts.

Let us consider proven facts first : The queen is the
female bee, the drone the male bee, and the worker is a
stunted female bee. To produce the worker, the queen
must mate, or be fertilised ; if she does not, the eggs
which she may lay hatch drones. It has been proven by
microscopical investigations made by Professors Siebold
and Leuckart, and Rev. Schoenfeld, that eggs laid in
worker-comb by a queen mated in the regular way
contained from two to five of the seminal filaments.
These eggs were examined as soon as deposited, and the
sperm -cells or seminal filaments were always found
within the eggs and not on the outside. Enough eggs
have been examined to establish this as a fact. Conse-
quently, to assume that the workers change the sex of
the egg, on the supposition that the sperm filaments ad-
here to the outside of the egg from which they may be
easily removed, is contradictory to perfectly reliable
authority, which has verified the opposite by ocular
demonstration.

The same scientists have also proven by ocular demon-
stration that freshly-deposited eggs laid by amatedqneen
iu drone-cells, or those laid by a queen not having mated,
as also those laid by workers, are devoid of these sperm
filaments. Now, as one and the same fertilised queen
has been used by these scientists to obtain both kinds of
eggs which she deposited while being watched in an
observatory hive, I think that we are justified in believ-
ing that such exact work by such close observers and
investigators precludes all chances of error, as far as
their investigations extended, which was to demonstrate
the true sexual relation of queen, drone, and worker, and
to show why eggs laid by the same queeii should hatch
workers or drones.

As a natural consequence, it has been assumed that it
is voluntary with the queen to either impregnate the eggs
that she deposits, or not. This assumption is supported
by the observations above stated, but does not, of course,
admit of ocular demonstration. Well, this much we
know of queeii and drone. The workers, on account of
their number, have escaped individual observation.
Those which were dissected proved sufficiently that
they are stunted females.

The next problem was to discover what caused their
being stunted. It has been found that it is the difference
in food which has the effect to more or less develope the
individual bee, and produce either a worker on a diet of
honey and pollen, or a queen on a diet consisting of the
secretion of the salivary glands situated in the heads of
the young worker bees ; this secretion is what is known
as royal jelly. I may also remark here that in old bees
these glands dwindle or shrivel to such an extent that
secretion is entirely suspended; this makes it apparent
why mainly young bees should be employed to rear
queens, and then the same bees not more than once, as
their salivary glands, once exhausted, cannot resume their
functions afterwards ; hence they are not fit, because un-
able, to rear ii good queen. But even if they can not or
do not rear a queen, the desire to preserve their existence
as a colony is generally present, in consequence of which
one or more workers begin to lay eggs.

It has been and still is a puzzle to the apiarist, how
workers are fitted to assume the royal duty of depositing
eggs. Many bee-keepers do not believe it, giving as a
reason that they have not seen it ; still it is a fact that
they do lay eggs, but these eggs always hatch drones.
To entertain the idea that such a worker could or would
be fertilised by a drone was considered so far from the
probable that no bee-keeper ever mentioned it as possible.

But a bee-keeper, by the name of Kremer, in Germany,

238

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[July 15, 1885.

has made a remarkable discovery. He caught a worker
and drone in the act of mating. When so caught they
were still connected by their sexual organs, and thus sent
to Rev. Schoenfeld, who, at present, is the keeper of the
large microscope bought by the bee-keepers of Germany.
After an examination of them he pronounced the worker
to be not more nor less than any other worker-bee ; a
real, genuine worker it was, and not a stunted queen as
was at first believed ; nor were the sexual organs of this
worker any more developed than any of the others which
he had examined.

This discovery caused a great sensation among apiarists
in Germany, as well it might. A writer in the Illustrated
Bienenzeituny asks some questions which he partly
answers, maintaining that the queen never lays any eggs
which hatch drones, but that it is the business of the ferti-
lised worker. Where that drone comes from, to do the
first fertilising in the spring, he does not say. The
following is a translation of the main points and answers
which lie submits: '1. May a worker be fertilised?
According to Kremer's discovery and the investigation
of the bees by Rev. Schoenfeld, the question must be
answered in "the affirmative. 2. Had the worker in
question a desire to be mate ? Certainly ; otherwise the
act would not have taken place, for a worker possesses
the means to repel a drone in case the latter should want
to enforce copulation. The observed fact is also proof
conclusive that the stunted or smaller sexual organs of
the workers admit of copulation. Microscopical investi-
gation proved, also, that no part of the sexual organs of
the said worker had been in any way injured or torn. Ex-
perience also proves that in a colony some workers are
larger than others, and some drones are smaller than the
average. 3. May such workers, in mating, become fer-
tilised ? Certainly; nature does nothing without an
object. The object of mating is to fertilise. Have
laying workers been observed ? Experience says, Yes ;
especially in a queenless colony. 5. What did such eggs
hatch F Only male bees or drones.'

The other points are of minor importance, in one of
which he asserts that it has not been proven that queens
ever lay eggs which hatch drones, which is contrary to
facts ; and he winds up by saying : ' A queen which is
fertilised lays such eggs only, which hatch either perfect
or stunted female bees, according to the food with which
the larvas are supplied. The less stunted and fertilised
workers lay the eggs which hatch perfect male bees or
drones.' — A. R. Koncke, Youngstown, Ohio. {American
Bee Journal.)

SHOWS AND BEE-TENT ENGAGEMENTS.

Nottinghamshire. — July 21, Hucknal Torkard; 23,
24, 25, Notts Horticultural and Botanical Society, Map-
perley Park; 28, Farnsfield; Aug. 3, Mansfield; 11,
Willoughby-on-the-Wolds; 20, Retford; Sept. 2, Clar-
borough : 22, liadcliffe-on-Trent.

Worcestershire. — July 22, Redditch ; 24, Upton-on-
Sevem; '26, Ilagley; 30, Bricklehampton. Aug. 20, 21,
Worcester.

Buckinghamshire. — July 23, Stony Stratford, entries
close Jul}' 13; 28, Buckingham, entries close July 18.
Aug. 3, Colnbrook, entries close July 24; 10, High
Wycombe, entries close Aug. 10.

Essex.— July 16, Broomfield; 22,Easton Lodge, Dun-
mow ; 23, Wimbish. Aug. 12, Harlow.

Lincolnshire. — July 30, 31, Grimsby.

Glamorganshire. — Aug. 5, 0, Neath.

Surrey. — Aug. 12, Lower Cheam House, Sutton.

Leicestershire. — July 29, 30, Market Ilarborough.

Shropshire.— Aug. 19, 20, Quarry, Shrewsbury.

Oxfordshire.— July 30, Wadham College, Oxford.

Kent.— July 29, Ashford.

Hampshire.— Aug. 1 & 3, Southampton.

Jfjofmgtt.

SYRIA.

Bee Convention in Syria. — We had a bee conven-
tion in Syria, or rather we have been having a series of them
recently. This may seem rather surprising news to people
of the Western World, who suppose Syria is beyond the
pale of civilisation. But, though the country is in many
respects behind Europe and America, modern methods
in bee-culture have now taken permanent root here. The
gatherings have been quite informal in their nature, as
close application of parliamentary rules in the conduct of
such meetings is not the way of the country ; moreover,
of the seven or eight different languages represented by
the members of the Convention, four had to be employed
in the talks on bees, namely, English, French, German,
and Arabic. Perhaps some of the friends in other
countries, who find with but one official language in
their Conventions it is still difficult to get on har-
moniously will wonder what we could do with such a
Babel of tongues. Nevertheless, we got on quite well,
and the interchange of ideas will, no doubt, prove of
great value to many of the participants. At one of the
meetings, a president was unanimously elected, but he
has not yet called anybody to order. Probably the most
important work done by the Convention was the adoption
of a standard of frame for Syria, to be known as the
' Syrian Standard Reversible Frame.' All bee-keepers
in countries where several sizes of frame have come into
use will comprehend at once the wisdom of such a
step, while moveable-comb bee-keeping is yet in its
infancy in these parts. The frame adopted measures
14f inches (=365 mm.) in length, and 8J inches ( = 223
mm.) in depth. All members of the Convention, which
included two Americans, one Frenchman, one German,
one Italian, and a number of Syrians, follow American
methods altogether in their apiaries, if we except one, a
Syrian peasant, who has but one frame-hive as j-et, and
for the present retains native hives — long cylinders, made
of clay, or of wickerwork, and also earthen water-jars,
into both sorts of which the bees are put after the recep-
tacle has been laid on its side.

Among other topics which were discussed at our
meetings, migratory bee-keeping (already largely practised
here) and hives adapted to it received much attention ;
also in connexion with this, the various bee-ranges of the
country were discussed. Orange-blossoms furnish the
chief spring harvest, though almond, apricot, and other
fruit blossoms are of importance ; cactus plants supple-
ment these, in fact, in many localities they form the
chief early honey-yield. The late harvest comes in mid-
summer from wild thyme, which is abundant in most of
the hilly and mountainous portions of the country ; of
course, there are also many minor sources — wild flowers,
&c. It was agreed that where orange, cactus, and thyme
blossoms, or even where orange and thyme blossoms, were
abundant, with the usual minor yields, nothing would
be gained by transporting bees to other pastures.

The wintering problem did not get much attention,
since there is no difficulty on that score here ; nor did
we devote very much time to a discussion of the relative
merits of the different races of bees, as none but Syrians
are kept in Syria. The writer, however, and a member
formerly in his employ in Cyprus, testified to the superi-
ority of the Cyprians over the Syrians. No other
members had had any experience with Cyprians.

Altogether a bee-convention in Syria may be con-
sidered an interesting and important event — in-
teresting to the outside world, as showing the progress
already made here, and that America has been taken as
the model; important to the country itself, both because
it is likely to spread greater interest in an industry
which can be made to contribute much more than hereto-

July 15, 1885.]

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

239

fore to the -welfare of Syria, and because the proceedings
are likely to induce a more systematic development of
the industry in the East.

The Convention adjourned to a photographer's, and the
migratory shadows were committed to paper. As far as
means will permit, copies of the same will be sent to the
bee-journals.

Friend Root of Gleanings will surely take kindly to
our president, who appears in the centre of the group
with his hand resting on the ABC book. French bee-
keepers will not be ashamed of their countryman, Mr.
Philip Baldensperger, whose large honey-yields in Palestine
have attracted attention, but have unfortunately been
attributed to German methods, and even to German bee-
keepers, by parties who knew better.* Messrs. P/ennler
& Zwilling, of Alsace-Lorraine, will recognise in his
hand a copy of their journal. It so happens that this
disciple of American bee-culture is flanked by Americans,
for your humble servant, to whom the penning of these
chronicles seems by common consent to have been left,
stands at his other hand. The little block of wood with
three holes in it, and the reversible frame with no
attachments or projecting corners, will be recognised by
some, anyway. A man of Italian origin stands on my
left ; he has never owned any bees, but was in my
employ some time — in fact, I might say he has been my
left-hand man for two or three years past. Still farther
to the left, a Syrian schoolmaster, owner of ten hives,
holds in his hand a copy of the British Bee Journal, yet,
though he knows English and French, he is not a
subscriber to, nor a reader of, any bee-journal, nor has
he ever owned or read a book on bees. Perhaps this
Syrian friend prefers the name, and not the thing. In
front of him is a Syrian merchant — a former landlord of
mine. The good-looking full-bearded man who stands
at the left in the picture represents the sturdy German
race, and says he is ' strongly interested in bees.' Next
to him is a peasant friend with his daughter. The latter,
who holds an earthen jar such as the peasants employ as
hives, has had much to do with recent work in bee-
culture here, for, on a tray placed on her head, she has
brought down from distant villages of Mount Lebanon, in
twos, many of the stocks of bees that have furnished the
queens for customers in far-off Europe and America. The
juveniles are represented by two rising bee-keepers, one
of whom has evidently adopted the smoker, whilst the
other has ' sat down ' on the native cylinder hive.f

Our eyes are turned toward America for light in bee-
keeping matters, and if the world hears of large reports
from these shores of the Mediterranean, the credit of
them will, it is to be hoped, go where it belongs. — Frank
JBentox, ' Mount Lebanon Apiary] Beyrout, Syria,
May 188a,

FRANC 1'].

The Bulletin de la Somme reports that the Society
d'Apiculture de la Somme has obtained a gold medal at
the Concours Regional, held at Beauvais between the
30th May and the 7th of June last. In addition to
this award, the President was complimented upon the
active steps which this Society was taking for spreading
a better knowledge of bee-culture in its district. It
further appears, from the same contemporary, that the
same Society was awarded a gold medal at a Horti-
cultural and Apicultural Show held in the same town,
whilst two silver gilt and five bronze medals were given
to members of the same. The seventeenth general

* See Howards and Alley's reports in Gleaninns and the
American Bee Journal. Also see editorial notes in the
Bienenztiechter of Alsaee-Loraine.

t The photograph described above has come safely to
hand, and we beg to return our best thanks for the same.
It is a great privilege to have the opportunity of scanning
the features of tbose whose names have long been as
'household words' to us En.

meeting of the members of this Society was held at
the Town Hall of Amiens on Easter Monday last,
during which Monsieur Rabache placed upon the table
several extracts taken from English publications, among
the most conspicuous of which was a translation of the
lecture given by Mr. Cheshire at the Health Exhibition
on the -5th of July last.

Glucose and Paraffin. — A short time ago I received
a call from a polite Yankee, who began, ' Sir, do you
handle glucose ?' Merchant. 'No, we do not.' Y. 'You
should handle it. A maan in our city of Shicago does a
rooren trade in it.' M. ' What does he do with it ? '
Y. ' Makes it into honey.' M. ' Where does he get his
beeswax?' Y. ' Why he makes it out of pahrafin, of
course!' M. 'We should not think that honest in this
country, and the police would interfere.' Y. ' Oh, it's all
right. Our buyer takes 60 barrls a-week of us, and if
you handled the article you would do a rooren trade tu!'
On this I politely ended the conversation. — R.

The Buzzing of Insects. — This topic has been again
investigated by Mr. J. Perez, who is led to conclude that,
with the hymenoptera and diptera, the buzzing is due to
two distinct causes: one, vibrations arising from the arti-
culation of the wing — the true buzzing; the other, the
agitation of the wings against the air, which modifies,
more or less, the first. Some of the lepidoptera/of strong
flight, such as the sphinxes, produce a soft buzzing by the
agitation of the air by their wings. The libelluke, the
base of whose wings is furnished with soft and fleshy
parts, do not effect a true buzzing, but only a simple
whirring, due to the rustling of the organs of flight. —
The Science Monthly.

(Bigots from % pxbcs.

Bishops ll'altham, Hants. — After my letter of the
18th June we had wretched weather for "the bees, hardly
able to get out at all for a week ; the last ten or eleven
days, however, have been very fine and rare honey days,
and my yield from one hive has been very good indeed ;
honey is still coming fast, but is not so clear as a week
ago. Swarms have been plentiful hereabouts, but I am
glad to say I have been able to prevent mine from
swarming so far, and have so profited by having more
honey. I have, however, lost a weak stock from robbing,
which I cannot account for at all. — A Hampshire
Bee-keeper.

Lanyric/cville, Boston, July G. — The present fine
weather, with fields, and especially road-sides, white
with clover, is causing the bees to be very busy. Pre-
paring for, and two days at, Boston Show has caused my
hives to become clogged, and the result many swarms —
not wanted, having upwards of one hundred stocks.
One swarm, during a visit of Rev. J. Booth, was pur-
chased by him to stock a Stewarton hive; it weighed, I
hear from him, six pounds. — R. Thorpe.

North Leicestershire, July 9th. — Superb bee weather.
Only one little shower since the 25th ult. Supers filling
fast", and slinger already hard at work. A successful
season is assured. — E. B.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-

G. R. Barrett. — Drones. — You did right in removing
the excess of drones, and you can prevent any more
hatching by shaving off the projecting tops of the
brood with "a knife and removing the greater part of
the drone combs. These should never be allowed to
exist in the centre of the hive. They are sometimes

240

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[July 15, 1885.

useful for extracting purposes stored at the back of
the hive. The swarm having worked out the ten
frames of foundation should be supered at once.

Nemo. — Condition of Hive. — Your skep does not seem
from your description to be doing so very badly. The
weather has been so cold and unsettled in some parts
of the country that that would account for little
honey being seen. As to the combs being dark, they
become dark by breeding in them in twelve months.
The large amount of drones is caused by an undue
amount of drone comb. This you will discard when
transferring to your bar-frame hive. When you do
so, you will learn more about it. Now is a good time
to do it, as there will not be very much brood in it.
If you find none and no eggs it is queenless. We
should advise you not to drive in public until you
have had a little more experience. The fanning at
night goes to show a certain amount of prosperity.

Arthur Fni'EB. — 1. Queen not laying eggs. — A queen
not having laid eggs for fourteen days after hiving a
swarm with virgin queen is not absolutely a proof
that she is lost. (See leader in No. of July 1st.) 2.
Sealed Queen Cell. — The sealed queen-cell in the skep
eleven days after an after-swarm may be a fresh
preparation for swarming, or may contain an abortive
queen. 3. Giving Queen-cell. — You may give the
queen-cell to your hive, and if it is queenless and the
cell not abortive the bees will allow it to hatch. If
there is a queen, even though unfertilised, it will be
destroyed.

Mes. L. — 1. Time for Supering the Swarm taken on
July 3rd. — No ; it would be useless to give the swarm
a super before. the. end of the month, when the greater
part of the bee-flora will be over in your district, as
far as we remember it, there being no heather. 2.
Extracting. — If all the frames are full of brood there
woidd be little honey to extract, and that little should
be left for the brood. Probably your frame-hive is
too small. A hive should contain not less than twelve
standard frames. You do not say whether your hive
has been supered. If not, the fact of its being full of
brood shows that it ought to have received supers.
Where bees have sufficient room for storage above,
and on the sides, there you will very rarely find brood,
provided the central frames are sufficiently numerous
for the brood-nest of a prolific queen. Do not extract
at present. Wait, even until September, when you
will find no brood in the outside frames.

K. Siggery, Leatherhead. — Queen as badly diseased as
any I have yet seen. One ovary contained certainly
millions of bacilli which swarm out into a tiny speck
of water so as to crowd the field of the microscope. —
F. 0.

J. M. B., Achlington. — Not foul brood. Is not the
queen old or out of condition ; as I find workers in
drone-cells and drones in worker-cells ? — F. C.

G. S., Chesterfield. — The two workers and queen were
all badly diseased. The latter, unlike any specimen I
have previously had, was principally attacked in the
spermatheca, the valve of which, very much larger
than the average, possibly inflamed, was filtered,
together with the spermatheca, with a dirty fluid
swarming with bacilli, but not one spermatozoon could
be found. This made the queen a drone breeder of
course, but the reason of the disappearance of the
spermatozoa can only be explained by conjecture.
They may have died through disease and disintegrated,
or through the diseased condition of the valve they
may have passed away and been lost. Altogether the
case is one of considerable interest, and so far to me
unique. The number of diseased queens I have
received has astonished me greatly. At first I
thought such a one a rara avis, now they don't raise
the rate of my pulse, and I hardly think most of them
worth more than a partial dissection. — F. C.

T. T. — 1. Queen of a Second Swarm. — No, the queen of
a second swarm is not fertile when leading off the
swarm. She generally meets the drone from two to
six days afterwards, weather permitting. The young
queen, introduced to your queenless swarm, will pro-
bably mate at once and commence to lay in a few davs
from mating. 2. Time for Extracting.— W e advise
you to wait a few days until the bees seal a part, at
least, of the honey before extracting. If extracted in
its present unripened state it will become acid and will
not keep. 3. Bees Biting. — We never heard of bees
' biting ' the bare arms, as you represent them doing.
When running in numbers over the hands and arms
they cause a tickling sensation by no means pleasant.
That is all. The queen will use her mandibles for
biting.

K.H. Sewell.— 1. Dead Bees.— The bees have evidently
escaped, owing to the flannel covering not lying flat
on the frames, and, being unable to find their way
back, perished beneath the cover. This was not the
season of the non-swarming of the colony. Probably
its queen is less prolific than the other, from age or
some other cause. It is not likely that the supered
swarm will swarm again. 2. Frames for Wintering. —
The number of frames for wintering depends upon the
population of the hive. Usually about six or seven
half filled with sealed honey. Extract the combs on
both sides of the brood nest, and afterwards — later on
in the season — feed with sugar syrup for winter store.

Humanity. — Bees in a Tree. — The only way of driving
out the bees from the tree would be to inject smoke
through a hole below the nest and drive them into a
skep placed above. If, however, they have been in
possession long enough to have built comb and raise
brood it is doubtful whether they can be dislodged.
It can only be done by a free use of smoke. Brown
paper is the best material for this purpose, and it will
be necessary to secure the queen. On the whole we
are inclined to think, that except in the hands of an
expert, the operation will fail.

Ascor. — 1. Carbolic Acid Solution, page 226. — Carbolic
acid solution is used in lieu of smoke, as a bee-quieter.
2. Carbolic acid^age 216. — Yes. The solution relieves
the pain arising from a sting and prevents swelling,
but it requires care iu application, or the 'remedy
becomes worse than the disease.' 3. Hatching of
Queen-cell. — The first swarm had been prevented from
issuing by some cause or other — probably unsuitable
weather — and it is likely that the emerging of the
young queen from her cell was the exciting cause of
the issuing of the swarm. This is not at all an un-
common occurrence. Indeed, under similar circum-
stances, the young queen will often accompany the
swarm together with the old one.

J. K., Ireland. — American Cloth. — Yes. The specimen
you send will answer well as a summer covering for
hives. Place it, enamel-side downwards, with woollen
quilt and crown-board above.

T. C. T. — 1. Queries are not, as a rule, answered by
post. 2. Sections in Frames. — The queen excluder
should occupy the same place as the hive side or
dummy would if the frames were against it, i.e., close
against the shoulders of the frames and the sections
close up against the excluder. 3. Crooked Combs. —
If the midribs are not straight, they must be
straightened (see reply to II. G. B. in No. of July 1st,
p. 227), but if you mean that the surface is irregular,
they will be straightened if pared down level and put
face to face. 4. Combs should be kept in a dry, airy
place. •r>. Inverted Combs. — The honey will be re-
moved and deposited in supers.

II. A. P. — Carbolic Acid. — Carbolic acid, like all other
powerful acids, is, no doubt, a 'strong poison,' and

July 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

241

requires care in use. As a bee-quieter ' Calvert's con-
centrated' is not at all suitable, and we have never
recommended it. That which we have always used
in our apiary, for the last twenty years, at least, and
with the most satisfactory results, is the ordinary acid,
sold by all chemists, and used for disinfecting purposes.
The fluidis of a very dark colour, and the solution recom-
mended, when well shaken, is of a brown colour
similar to sherry, or pale brandy. Of course, if
applied to honey-comb it will leave its powerful scent,
but this should never be done. A quill, moistened
with the solution, is simply passed over the top-bars
of the frames on removing the quilt, and, while
manipulating, this may be done repeatedly to keep the
bees quiet. When brushing bees off combs, the quill
should be wiped before applying it, and no scent will
remain on the comb. So dreaded is it by the bees
that a comb may be cleared of every bee in" a few
seconds. Used in moderation, we never knew any ill
effects to follow, and we use it in all cases of manipu-
lation, even for hiving swarms in the hottest weather,
and no swarm has ever deserted its hive from the use
of it.
J . H. J . — Swarm from Stock eighteen clays after artificially
swarming. — The time is about right, rather later than
might have been expected. The old stock had not
prepared to raise a queen until you swarmed from it,
when they raised at least two, one of which led off the
swarm (cast), and the other remains as queen in the
stock. It is not likely to swarm again this season.
Absence of Drones. — Your neighbour having a super-
abundance would not account for your having none.
You no doubt furnished yonr frames with full sheets
of worker foundation, and no drone -comb has been
built.

T. G. Spence. — Treatment of sleeps and bar-frames to
receive no attention for two years. — The plan you pro-
pose, viz. to break up the skeps, extract the honey, and
transfer bees and best of combs to bar-frame hives, is
as good as you can adopt. You would do best to place
your bees in charge of some bee-keeper to attend to for
you on mutual terms. Possibly, your county expert
would look after them for you.

Miss Mahsh. — Treatment of steep which has been placed
over a bar-frame hive. — You had better do as you pro-
pose, open the entrance of the bar-frame hive and
close that of the skep. Before doing so, we should
drive the skep, put all the bees and the queen into the
bar-frame, and shut off the skep by queen excluder.
As the brood hatches, the cells will be filled with
hone}-, and can be taken in autumn.

J. II. J. — Supposed Queenlessness. — The eggs which you
saw on July 4th, then about five days old, would date
back to June oOth, and might very easily be those of
the young queen which led off the cast on June 16th,
and which you returned. Young queens are so nimble
and so shy that they often escape observation. 2. Ripen-
ing honey by Solar Heat. — Yes, you can do it. Of course,
you will take great care to keep out robber bees.

A . J. S. — Hearing of Bees. — If we place any credit in
Sir John Lubbock's experiments on the hearing powers
of bees, we must come to the conclusion that bees do
not hear. The tanging to induce a swarm to alight
we have not much faith in ; it is an old and time-
honoured practice, known in the times of Aristotle,
Varro, and Virgil, but it is not practised now except
in some remote villages.

G. Best. — Heather Honey. — Heather honey is with
difficulty extracted after it has been stored a short
time. It sets in a few days, and ought, if extracted,
to be operated on at once. Heather honey is generally
eaten in the comb, and this is the proper way of
dealing with it. In order to get the honey from the

cells, cut them across, and afterwards chop them up
into small pieces, put the pieces into a conical bag, and
hang it before a fire ; the honey will then exude.
2. Smoker. — We would suggest that you should com-
municate with the vendor.

B. Erin. — 1. Honey Dew. — This is not actually
poisonous, but it is not nice, and spoils the honey with
which it is mixed. 2. Drove Brood in Sections. — If
you allow them to hatch, films will be left in the cells,
and the sections spoilt. Pull out the grubs before
sealing, and the sections will be little the worse for
their temporal'}' presence. •'-!. Bees visiting Oak-trees.
— They are certainly getting honey-dew which will
spoil your honey. It is very provoking that they
neglect lime - blossom for it, but you have no
remedy.

A. Green. — Condemned Bees. — Refer to p. 274, Vol.
XIII., and you will find the subject fully treated
upon.

K. Siggeey, Leatherhead. — Larvre of queens as fre-
quently die in their cells of bacillus disease as do those
of workers. ' Foul-broody queen-cells' are, in badly
infected hives, rather the ride than the exception.
The cell sent me, however, has no evidence of disease,
but shows that from some cause during the trans-
ference of the cell from one hive to the other the body
of the larva was ruptured, and hence the failure to
hatch.— F. C.

Carniolan. — Retarded Hatching. — Your explanation
is doubtless correct, especially, as very likely, hardly
sufficient bees were left in the stock to perfectly cover
the eight frames.

J. T. M.— Width of Top-bar.— I. The Standard-frame
Committee did not define the width of the top-bar, but
merely its thickness § in. Standard frames, however,
are generally made with top-bar § in. wide. We
prefer, and always have used, top-bars one inch wide,
which allow 5 in. between combs, a space, we think,
quite sufficient, and less productive of bulged combs
than I in., which is the space between combs when a
top-bar of 5 in. wide is used. We also advise you to
try a ' bee-space' of \ in. only, between brood frames
and sections; although we are troubled but little by
comb-building between, when § in. is allowed. 2. We
are scarcely able to advise you respecting the queen,
unless we knew her precise age. If purchased at the
head of a first swarm in Ma}', 1884, she must be over
two years old, and, as a rule, the fecundity of a queen
declines in her third year. The safest plan, therefore,
woidd be to supersede her, but if she is very prolific,
we should, were the case our own, allow her to remain
until another year. 3. Italian queens and drones vary
much in colour. We have daughters of the same im-
ported mother of the brightest golden colour, dark
almost as black queens, and others as beautifully
marked with rings of gold and black as the queen
hornet or wasp. The same rule applies to drones
also. If the workers are all marked precisely similarly,
with two, or, as some say, with three golden bands,
you may consider the mother pure. If some have
three, two, or one band only, or none at all, she is
impurely fecundated, or 'cross-mated.' Queens mated
in this country can never be thoroughly depended upon
as being purely mated. Well-authenticated facts of
drones mating with queens, when located at a distance
of seven miles, are not wanting.

A. W. Wallace, M.D. — Mr. Cowan will supply the in-
formation you require in our next issue.

The Law Respecting Bees : are they a Nuis-
ance ? — An esteemed correspondent requests an explan-
ation of the law, if there be any, on the subject. We
should be obliged if any of our numerous correspondents
would furnish the information required.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 15, 1885.

Sptcial ll'ttjywb ^bimiiscituitts.

For Sales and Purchases of Bee Appliances, Honey, Books,
Pamphlets, Diagrams, &c, Exchanges and Situations.

Terms : Twelve worth and under, Four-pence ; for every ad-
ditional three words, One Penny extra; no reduction can
be made for continuous insertion.

THE SIMMINS' METHOD OP DIRECT INTRODUC-
TION. Enlarged to 32 pages. Price 6Jd. Post free,
of the Author, Rottingdean, Brighton ; Messrs. Neighbour &
Sons, 149 Regent Street; and Mr. J. Huckle, Kings
Langley, Herts. (53)

MODERN BEE-KEEPING. An Illustrated Handbook
for Cottagers. Fourth Edition, considerably enlarged.
The soundness of its information, the simplicity of its
instruction, combined with cheapness, make this Hand-
book invaluable to all intending Bee-keepers. Price Id.,
post free.

rpHE MANAGEMENT OF STRAW SKEPS. De-
1 signed to teach the Cottager how to obtain the best
results at the least possible cost. By attention to its teach-
ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto. Price One Penny.
Six copies and upwards, post free.

FOUL BROOD ; The Means of its Propagation, axd
the Method of its Cure. By Frank R. Cheshire,
Esq., F.R.M.S. Price M.

BEE-KEEPING, Plain and Practical : How to
Make it Pay. By A. Rusbridge, Is. 6d., post free,
Is. 8d. Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts. 3932

G1 OOD Six-frame Stocks, 20s ; Travelling Hive to be
J[ returned. Stocks in Skeps, 17s. 6<L and 20s., pack-
age included ; also Choice English and Ligurian Queens.
Address O N. White, First-class Certificated Expert
B. B. K. A., Somersham, Hunts. 18

TO BEE-KEEPERS in Doubt or Difficulty.— Enclose
three stamps with Queries, and reliable Answers and
Suggestions will be sent by return by C. N. White, First-
class Certificated Expert B. B. K. A., Somersham, Hunts.

0 SECRETARIES of ASSOCIATIONS.— C. N. White,
First-class Certificated Expert B. B. K. A., is open to
an engagement with Bee-Tent, for a month, from middle of
August ; or would undertake Lecturing Tour in any part of
Great Britain, similar to that undertaken for B. B. K. A.
last year in S. Wales and Cumberland.

WANTED.— Cylinder Extractor, Second-hand. Abbott's
make preferred. Address Mrs. R., Abbey House,
Tewkesbury. r> 22

TWO Strong Stocks of Bees in Blow's Bar-frame Hives.
Price, including Hives, 36s. each ; packing extra. Ad-
dress Walter Tyzack, Abbeydale House, near Sheffield.

p 23

ONEY Wanted in 1-lb. Sections. Price, delivered
safely, Henry Blackwood, Kilmarnock. d 24

H

FOR SALE. — About Seven Hundredweight of really
First-class Honey (this Season's), extracted from 2-lb.
Sections, well sealed over, same put up in 1-lb. Jars, tied
down with double parchment, packed, for 10s. per dozen.
Sample of Honey free for 3 Stamps. Special Terms for a
large quantity. Address Gilbert, Beekeeper, Stamford.
d25

FOR SALE, a Neighbour's Cheshire Frame Hive, in
good condition. Address Miss Fawcett, Rawdon,
Leeds. d 26

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' PRACTICAL
NOTE BOOK. By Thomas W. Cowan, F.G.S.,
F.R.M.S., &c. Crown 8vo, boards, Is.; postage Id.
Indispensable for every Bee-keeper. Published by J.Huckle,
Kings Langley ; may also be obtained of all Hive-dealers.

BEE-KEEPERS' GUIDE; or, Manual of the
Apiary. 11,000 sold since 1876. 12th Thousand just
out. 10th Thousand sold in just four months. 2000 sold
the last year. More than fifty pages, and more than fifty
costly Illustrations, were added in Sth Edition. The whole
work has been thoroughly revised, and contains the very
latest in respect to Bee-keeping. Price 5s., postage id.
BEE JOURNAL OFFICE, KINGS LANGLEY.

COMB FOUNDATION.

HAVING a quantity of Comb Foundation on
hand, made of Pure Beeswax, I can offer it at the
following low prices : 24 lbs., post free, 6s. ; 6 lbs., post free,
12s. 6d. BEST BINGHAM SMOKERS, 3s. each, post free.
Address —

J. LEAKE, Jim., Beacon Street, LICHFIELD.

4048

Honey Bottles, White Flint Glass.

^-lb 12s. and 15s. per gross.

1-lb. ... 15s. and 18s. per gross.

H-lb. ... 23s. per gross. | 2-lb. ... 23s. per gross.

COMB FOUNDATION, &c.
FREDK. PEARSON, Stockton Heath, Warrington.

4239

Expeet B.B.K.A.

Manufacturer, THE APIARY, HOLME, PETERBOROUGH.

By authority — Simmins' Hives, Crates, Sections, &c.
ASSOCIATION STANDARD SAW-CUTBAR FRAMES, 1/- per doz.

FIFTY NATUR.iL SWARMS STILL ON OFFER.

Send for Illustrated Guide and Catalogue, Post Free. (98)

Cheapest House for Bar-frames & Sections.

BASS-WOOD SECTIONS, with V Joint, 4 by 44, by 2, in
either one piece or dovetailed, 3s. per 100, or 27s. 6d.
per 1000 case. One sort.
BAR-FRAMES, yellow pine, morticed, 'Standard' size,
155 in. top bar, Id. each, or 6s. 9<i. per 100.
17 in. top bar, with groove for Foundation, Id, each, or

8s. per 100.
Broad shouldered, 17 in. top bar, 2d. each, or 15s. 6<Z.
per 100.

BROAD FRAMES to hold Six 4 by 44 by 2 Sections.
2d. each, or 15s. per 100. SMOKERS, 2s. 9d. each.

ARTHUR DONNELLY & Co., Lurgan, Co. Armagh.

*3710

E. M. HART & CO.

Can forward, same day as receipt of order :

s. d.

Bar-Frame Hives, Single wall each 6 O

The 'Utility' Double Wall Hive, with

Frames and Section Crate 10 6

The 'Villa SSive,' Ten Frames, Three 6 lb.

Section Frames, and 21 lb. Crate 21 O

Flat Crown Skeps each 1 3

Simplex Feeders per doz. 14 O

Clarke's Cold Blast Smokers, post free 2 6

For delivery after May 15th:
Swarms of English Bees, in a Nine-Frame

Hive, fitted with Comb Starters each 1 5 ©

Orders executed in rotation. Special terms for quantities.

THE LONGSTOCK APIARIES,

July 15, 1885.] ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

Leicestershire Bee-keepers' Association.

ANNUAL SHOW at MARKET HARBORQUGH,

On JULY 29th and 30th, 1885.

For SCHEDULES apply to EDWIN BALL, Waltham,

Melton Mowbray.

QUEENS! QUEENS!! QUEENS!!!

PALESTINE, SYRIAN, LIGURIAN, and
BLACK — imported and home reared. Also Small
Swarms, headed by either of above Queens — in Nucleus, if
desired, thus dispensing all risks of introduction. For
particulars apply E. Woodh.ui, Abbotsley, St. Neots. 4215

DERBYSHIRE EXTRACTOR.

EMPTIES FOUR COMBS AT ONCE.

The Cheapest in the Market, 35s.

Address
K. V. EDWARDS, Mackworth, Derby.

The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the
renowned C. F. H. Grayenhorst, Brunswick.

DEUTSCHE ILLUSTRIERTE BIEMNZEITUM.

Organ for the united interests of Bee-culture. By its con-
tributions from the principal Bee-keepers, and its brilliant
Illustrations, this publication has already had an extra-
ordinary circulation. Sample copies sent on request.

Also, ' DEB PBAKTISCHE IMKER.' Compendium of
Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst. Third en-
larged and improved edition, with fifty-two new original
Pictures, and a frontispiece. Price 4 marks (4s. ), stitched ;
well bound, 5 marks.

C. A. Schwetschke it Sox (AT. Bkuhs), Brunswick.

(Best in market) ; takes 2 Standard or larger Frames, 25s.

COMBINATION HIVE,

Complete ; 10 wide Shoulder Frames, 8s.

Three lb. at Is. lid. per lb. Six lb. at Is. KM.

SUPER, 2/9 per lb. STRAW HIVES, 1/9 each.

The BRITISH HIVE ; Complete Hive, deep roof, 9 Frames,

For Cottagers, price 4s. 6d.

ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE FREE.

G. STOTHARD, Welwyn, Herts. 4240
The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World.

THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL

Established in 1861.
Edited and published by Thomas G. Newman, at 925 West
Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., and will be sent
to European Subscribers at 10s. 6d. per annum for the
Weekly, or 2s. 6d. for the Monthly, including Postage. The
money may be sent by International Postal Money Orders
on Chicago. London Agents : Messrs. Geo. Neighbour &
Soxs, 149 Regent Street, W,

Strong Black Mosquito Net,

72 inches wide, Is. fid. per yard.

Black Net Bee Veils, 1/2 each.

(Carriage Paid.) Address B. R. Godfrey, Grantham.

FOR

CHESHIRE HIVES, &c.
THE CHESHIRE CURE for FOUL BROOD.

Apply to

W. HOLLANDS, Harrison Rise, Croydon.

con

IUNDATION !

Kaitt's always gives satisfaction. His Super Foundation
is the best in the world.

White :fo:r, Tjist to—

BLAIRGOWRIE, SGGTLANO. 3862

Publications of the British Bee-keepers' Association :

HONEY AS FOOD. By Frank R. Cheshire, Esq.,
F.R.M.S. Price 3d.

ADULTERATION OF HONEY. By Otto Hehner,
Esq., F.C.S., F.I.C. Price &d.

THE BEST WAY OF INSTRUCTING COTTAGERS
IN THE ART OF BEE-KEEPING. By the Rev.
W. E. Burkitt. Price 3d.

THE CHEMISTRY OF THE HIVE. By Mr. Otto
Hehner, F.I.C, F.C.S. Price 3d.

B

EE HOUSES AND HIVES. By Rev. George Raynor.
Second Edition (enlarged), Price 6d.

THE SOCIAL INSTINCTS OF BEES.
Haviland. Price 3d.

By G. D.

WINTERING BEES. By Thomas W. Cowan. The
most complete work on the subject of Wintering
published. Price 3d.

DIAGRAMS ILLUSTRATING BEE-CULTURE and
the Relation of Bees to Flowers. Approved and re-
commended by the Science and Art Department. 8s.
per set. Carriage, per Parcels Post, 3d.

Address J. KVCKIS, Xingrs langley, Herts.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 15, 1885.

SURREY BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The SEVENTH ANNUAL EXHIBITION of the above Association of BEES, HONEY,
HIVES, and APPLIANCES, will be held on the 12th of AUGUST, 1885, at LOWER
CHEAM HOUSE, SUTTON, SURREY, by arrangement in connexion with the
Floricultukal and Horticultural Society.

schedule of prizes.

BEES. — Class 1. For the Best Observatory Hive stocked
with Bees aud their Queens. Combs to be visible on both
sides. This class open to all comers. First Prize, 11. Is.,
given by H. Lindsay Antkobus, Esq. ; Second, 10s., given
by Sir Trevor Lawrence. Class 2 (for Cottage Members
only). For the Best Stock of Bees in a Straw Hive. First
Prize, 15s. and T. W. Cowan's Bee-keepers' Guide-Book ;
Second, 12s. Gd. ; Third, 5s. and British Bee-keepers' Manual.
Class 3 (for all Surrey Cottagers, not Members). For the
Best Stock of Bees in a Straw Hive. First Prize, 7s. M.
and Modem Bee-keeping ; Second, 5s. and Surrey Bee-
keepers' Association Certificate. Class 4 (for all Surrey
Cottagers). For the Best Stock of Bees in a Bar-frame
Hive. First Prize (if a Member of the Association), Abbott's
' Little Wonder ' Slinger, with double frame ; or 15s. and
Certificate S.B.K.A. First Prize (if not a Member), 12s. 6<i. ;
Second, 7s. 6ci and Clark's Cold-blast Smoker, or value.
Third, 5s. and Manual on Modern Bee-keeping.

HONEY (Honey in the Comd).— Class 5 (for Cottage
Members only). For the Best Six 1 lb. Sections of Honey
in the Comb. First Prize, Bronze Medal of B. B. K. A.
and 5s. ; Second, 7s. 6d. ; Third, 5s. Class 6 (for Surrey
Cottagers, not Members). For the Best Sis Sections, or
other Supers of Honey in the Comb. First Prize, 7s. 6<Z. ;
Second, 5s. ; Third, Surrey Bee-keepers' Certificate. Class 7
(for all Members of the Surrey Bee-keepers' Association).
For the Best 12 lb. or Six 2 lb. Sections of Honey in the
Comb. First Prize, Silver Medal of the B.B.K.A. ; Second,
10s. and Certificate of B.B.K.A. ; Third Prize, 7s. 6rf. and
T. W. Cowan's Bee-keepers' Guide-Book. Bun or Extracted
Honey. Class 8 (for Cottage Members only). For the Best
Six 1-lb. bottles of Extracted Honey. First Prize, Abbott's
' Little Wonder ' Slinger, or 12s. ; Second, Baldwin's Un-
capping Knife, or 4s. ijd. and Manual on Bee-keeping.
Third, Baldwin's 2 lb. Honey Travelling Crate, or 3s.
Class 9 (for Cottagers not Members). For the Best and
Clearest Bun Honey, in clear glass bottles, but not less
than 3 lb. in quantity for Competition. First Prize, 5s. ;
Second, 2s. 6d. ; Third, T. W. Cowan's Bee-keeper's Guide
Book. Class 10 (for all Members of the Surrey Bee-keepers'
Association). For the Best Twelve 1 lb. or Six 2 lb. bottles
of Extracted Honey. First Prize, 15s. ; Second, 10s. ;
Third, 7s. Qd.

EXHIBITION FROM ONE APIARY. -Class 11 (for

all Surrey). For the Best Exhibition of Honey in any form,

from one Apiary the property of the Exhibitor. Exhibits
in other Classes not to be included. First Prize, 11. ;
Second, 15s. ; Third, 10s.

BEESWAX.— Class 12 (for all Surrey). For the Best
Exhibition of pure Beeswax, exhibited in any form, but not
less than 3 lbs. weight made from Comb taken from the
Exhibitor's own Apiary. First Prize, 10s. ; Second, 7s. Qd. ;
Third, 5s.

HIVES AND APIARIAN APPLIANCES.-Ctes 13.
For the Best aud Largest Collection of Hives and Bee
Furniture most applicable to modern Beekeeping, no two
articles alike. First Prize, 11. ; Second, 13s. ; Third, 10s. ;
For the Best Moveable Comb Hive of a substantial form,
calculated for general use in an Apiary, painted two coats
of paint, price not to exceed 15s. First Prize, 15s. ; Second,
12s. 6rf. ; Third, 10s. For the Best Moveable Comb Hive,
with facilities for Harvesting Honey and Wintering Bees.
First Prize, 15s. ; Second, 12s. 6d. ; Third, 10s. For the
best form of Straw Hive with Floorboard and Cover, the
Cover available to protect an arrangement for Supering,
together with Supers, and arrangement for Wintering.
First Prize, 10s. ; Second, 7s. (id. ; Third, 5s.

HONEY FAIR.— Class 14. A Counter will be appro-
priated for the Sale of Honey, Beeswax, and Apiarian

Appliances.

Applications for Counter-space will be received from persons
desiring to exhibit Apiarian Appliances for Sale. Ap-
plicants, or their assistants, will be required to attend to,
arrange, and remove all goods at their Stalls.

LOCAL PRIZES (for Members of the Sutton District
only. — Class 1 (open to Members, not Cottagers). For the
best Hive of Bees. First Prize, 11. ; Second, 15s. ; Third,
10s. Class 2 (open to Cottagers only). For the Best Hive
of Bees. First Prize, 15s. ; Second, 10s. ; Third, 5s. Class 3
(open to Members, not Cottagers). For the best Six
1-lb. sections. First Prize, 10s. ; Second, 5s. Class 4
(open to Cottagers only). — For the Best Six 1 lb. sections.
First Prizes, 10s. ; Second, 5s. Class 5 (open to Members,
not Cottagers). For the Best and Latest Invention in
connection with Bee Furniture, 10s.

Driving Competition. — Class 0. Exhibitors to provide
their own Bees. The prizes to be given for the Strongest
Stock, Expertness, and Expedition in producing Queen will
be taken into consideration. First Prize, 11. Is. ; Second, 10s.

Entry Forms and further particulars may be obtained of Mr. P. WATERER, Sutton, Surrey.

SHROPSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

President: THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF BRADFORD.

THE ANNUAL HONEY FAIR and EXHIBITION of BEES, HIVES, HONEY, and
APPLIANCES used in Modern Bee-culture, will be held in the Quarry, Shrewsbury, in
connexion with the Flower Show and Fetes of the Horticultural Society-, on Wednesday
and Thursday, August 19th and 20th.

EI^TTEIES CLOSE AUG-TJST 15.

Silver and Bronze Medals, Certificates, and Money Prizes will be offered. Full particulars and
Prize Schedules from the Hon. Sec, the REV. J. H. E. CHARTER, Severn Villa, Shrewsbury.

V

-A±ii^^

Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Strangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c'

[No. 175. Vol. XIII.]

AUGUST 1, 1885.

[Published Fortnightly.]

editorial, ifatkts, $u

THE EDITORSHIP OF THE BRITISH
BEE JOURNAL.

Our readers will, we are assured, be pleased to
receive the information that T. W. Cowan, Esq., of
Horsham, having been requested to undertake the
responsible duties of Editor of this Journal, has
kindly acceded thereto. Bee-keepers will accept
this announcement with satisfaction, feeling that in
Mr. Cowan's hands their interests will be well
secured, and that the Journal and the objects
which it has been established to support will,
under his direction, receive a fresh impulse from
his extensive and practical knowledge.

Many converging circumstances in the past career
of Mr. Cowan have indicated his suitability for the
post of Editor. He has for many years occupied a
prominent, — if not the most prominent, place among
bee-keepers. As far back as the Crystal Palace Show,
Mr. Cowan's exhibition of 700 lbs. of super honey
from twelve hives drew the attention of the public,
in a marked degree, to the productiveness of the
honey bee ; and in the following year he was able
to show 120 lbs. in two supers from one hive — this
result having been accomplished, as demonstrated
by him in a letter to this Journal, by his plan of
getting his stocks strong in the spring, selecting
young queens, and judiciously spreading the brood.
Mr. Cowan has given much attention to the con-
struction of the hive ; and his modification of the
Woodbury and Stewarton hives has, in his hands,
resulted in the 'Cowan ' hive, a description of which
will be found in his Guide Book. Bee-keepers are
indebted to Mr. Cowan for the numerous forms he
has introduced of the extractor ; the most popular
and best known of which are the Amateur, the
Rapid, and the Automatic. Mr. Cowan is the
author of Wintering Bees, of the Bee-keepers' Note-
look, and of that most reliable and valuable manual,
the British Bee-keepers' Guide-book. This work
has met with a most surprising success. Though
only published in the latter part of 1881, it has
already passed through six editions, and upwards

of ten thousand copies have been sold in less than
four years. The work, too, has been translated into
several European languages.

Mr. Cowan has served upon the Committee of
the British Bee-keepers' Association since its found-
ation in 1874, and has been the chairman since
1878, the largest number of votes having been
recorded in his favour at each successive election.
In the county in which Mr. Cowan resides he has
taken great interest in forming and sustaining the
Sussex Bee-keepers' Association. Mr. Cowan's
abilities as a judge have made his presence familiar
at the principal shows in England and Scotland.
From his long residence on the Continent, Mr.
Cowan is intimately acquainted with the various
methods adopted by French, Swiss, and German bee-
keepers.

With such evidences of his scientific and prac-
tical knowledge of bee-keeping in its varied forms
and phases, together with his sound judgment,
his impartiality, his urbanity, and kindhearted-
ness, it will be conceded by all that a more
suitable selection could not have been made,
and that the future utility of the Journal, and
the prospects of apiculture, will gain much from
the editorship being placed in the hands of Mr.
Cowan.

BEE-KEEPING AND AGRICULTURE.

It is satisfactory to note that every year brings
us clearer evidence that the two sciences of Agri-
culture and Apiculture are coming into closer
approximation, and are becoming more mutually
helpful of each other. Led on by the Royal
Agricultural Society, the Lincolnshire, the Hert-
fordshire, the Glamorganshire, the Isle of Man,
&c, have followed in its wake, and show their
readiness to recognise bee-keeping as an important
branch of agriculture. Owing to the increasing
imports of corn from foreign countries, large dis-
tricts of land have been thrown out of cultivation,
but many of these are now being utilised as fruit-
orchards ; and as bees play a most important part
in the fertilisation of fruits, clover and other seeds,
it is found that the keeping of bees is a useful
auxiliary to all fruit-farmers. And this not only
for the purpose of improving the flowers and fruits,
but also the results in the production of honey are
found to be no slight incentive to the farmer to

244

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[August 1, 1885.

include bee-keeping as a branch of horticulture and
agriculture.

On instituting a comparison between bee-keeping
and the other minor objects of farm-work, such as
poultry-keeping, cheese-making, the dairy, &c, it
is acknowledged that bees return a larger per-
centage of profit than anything else, and therefore
•we argue that a farmer should keep bees, and thus
add to his income.

One great recommendation of bee-keeping to the
farmer is that it can be managed by his wife or
daughters. The results of the Preston Show have
proved demonstratively that bee-keeping is a pur-
suit suitable for ladies, and clearly indicate the
facility with which ladies residing in rural dis-
tricts or in suburbs of towns might be enabled to
make an addition to their incomes. At that show
Miss Gayton took first prizes in every class in
■which she exhibited ; and three ladies won nearly
all the prizes for honey at Herts Agricultural Show.

The B. B. K. A., to whom is entrusted the Bee
Department by the Royal Agricultural Society, use
their best endeavours to make it instructive and
interesting ; and it was evident that the exertions of
the Committee at the Preston Show were eminently
successful, as during all the days the Department
was thronged with an eager multitude of visitors,
desirous of receiving instruction in the science.
We consider that the arrangements of the Royal
and the B. B.K. A. are susceptible of some improve-
ments, and we desire to suggest that the prize list
should be extended, and that the Department
should be made more thoroughly representative of
the bee-keeping industry of the country. If we
institute a comparison between the eager multi-
tudes who gladly embrace the opportunity of
studying the bees at such a meeting as that held
in Preston, and the languid spectators who visit
the show when held in London, the contrast is
very great. The former are anxious and earnest,
and quickly appropriate what may prove of utility
to them in their various professions ; while the
latter but too frequently treat a bee-keeping show
as a portion of ' a Cockney holiday,' and speedily
any impression that might be made at the time
is swept away. AVe feel convinced that the
future of bee-keeping is bound up with the suc-
cess of agricultural societies, and that it is the
duty of all those who have the interests of bee-
keeping and the benefit of bee-keepers at heart to
make the bee-keeping department of these Agri-
cultural Societies as attractive and complete as
possible.

COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.
That all the County Associations are doing their
work satisfactorily we are not prepared to state,
but probably we shall be somewhere near the mark
if we say that, where they are not efficient, it is
the fault of the members themselves. If any con-
siderable number of the members of an Association
are determined that it shall do its work, they will
soon find a way to make it do so, without airing
their grievances in public, and putting their dirty
linen out to wash.

In the reports of th3 various annual meetings
how often do we read, ' there was a. fair attendance,'
or ' there was but a small number present,' and
other expressions, which at least suggest that the
number of members who take any interest in the
elections or management of their Association is
comparatively small. If no new blood is added to
committees, or only persons who belong to a certain
clique or district, the members have no one to
blame but themselves. So, too, if we may judge
from the reports which are sent to us, the oppor-
tunity which the annual meetings give for sug-
gestions of improvements or proclamation of griev-
ances is seldom made use of.

As a rule, we find that in those counties where
the Association is working most satisfactorily it is
because there is a large number of persons of
various classes who interest themselves in the
work, and are ready to help when asked. An in-
stitution of any kind which, after being fairly
started, is not self-supporting, in every sense of the
word, is seldom worth bolstering up ; so, too, the
success which depends on the efforts and energy of
one man is but ephemeral, and must suddenly sooner
or later come to an end.

During the last two or three years the work
which the Hon. Sec. of a B. K. A. is called upon to
do has so enormously increased that it becomes
more and more difficult to find gentlemen who
have both the necessary administrative ability and
the leisure at their disposal ; thus, in more cases
than one, we know that gentlemen still are more or
less obliged to hold on their offices, though acknow-
ledging that they are unable to perform the duties,
simply because a suitable successor cannot be found.
Whilst undoubtedly the appointment of district
secretaries has added much to the efficiency of
some Associations, still the chief honorary secre-
taries have not, we believe, as a rule, found their
work decreased by this system, but rather increased.
We believe, too, that the appointment of honorary
secretaries of equal position and responsibility for
different parts of a county has not been found un-
attended by considerable disadvantages. What we
would suggest is the appointment of paid assistant
secretaries, a plan which was adopted some years
ago in Herts by Mr. Peel, and is still carried on
there successfully. By such an arrangement the
greater part of the routine and detail may be taken
off the hands of the hon. sec, and the time at his
disposal may be spent in development and general
supervision.

The expense of such a secretary need not be
great, as it requires no special education or ex-
perience, and may easily bo done in leisure hours
by a young clerk or schoolmaster who is glad to
add a few pounds to his income ; and the case of
many associations would probably almost imme-
diately be met by a large increase in the number
of subscriptions. No doubt a well-chosen committee
and an active secretaiy will offer to the members a
better bill of fare at the price than a less efficient
administration ; but in a great degree the bill of
fare must depend on the funds at their disposal,
while again, on the other hand, the income will, to

August 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

245

sonic extent, depend on the bill of fare offered and
given. A good deal of discontent has of late been
produced by the non-fulfilment of promises outside
as well as inside the bee-world ; but what perhaps
has led to more justifiable discontent than any-
thing else is, that individuals have found them-
selves neglected ; for this a remedy will be found
in the responsibility of a paid assistant secretary.

As to ' shutting the stable door when the horse
is stolen,' as applied to experts' visits, it is de-
cidedly a matter of opinion at what particular time
those visits are of most value ; whilst one member
cannot be visited too early in the year, another
would like his call when he is 'ready to put on
supers;' in this it is manifestly impossible to please
all ; the most that can be aimed at is to prevent
some errors, show the causes and results of others,
and to give such general instruction as the oppor-
tunity may suggest.

The great use of the expert's visit, we take it, is
to be found in the comparison of methods and suc-
cess, which he is able to make and speak of as he
goes from one to another of those who have but
little opportunity of seeing what others are doing.

The circulation of the Journal is another vexed
question ; but surely this, if unsatisfactory, is the
fault of the members individually, not of the re-
spective associations. It is no new difficulty or
peculiar to the Bee Journal, it is a grievance as old
as book clubs. We have found the following method,
however, to work well : at the foot of the list of
members, amongst whom each copy is to be cir-
culated, the name and address is written of one
person, to whom all complaints respecting the cir-
culation of that particular copy should be addressed.

One Association has adopted a plan which we
believe works well. When the number of sub-
scribers in any one parish reaches six, they can,
upon application, have sent to one of their number
a copy of the Journal, each issue, the circulation of
which they can arrange for themselves, and which
remains their property after circulation. In parishes
where there are a large number of members, they
receive copies in proportion.

The suggestion that local libraries be established
by the county Associations and extractors provided
by them for each district, is, no doubt, a move in
the right direction ; but this again is a question of
funds. Extractors and libraries are expensive
things, and to establish them in a number of dis-
tricts requires a very considerable outlay, not to
speak of the work entailed in making and main-
taining the arrangements for all to have the use in
due course.

We do not speak of these things as impossible,
but what we wish to point out to ' Leicesterian,'
' Bovs,' and others, is, that the perfect organization
of a county association with very limited funds, and
with a staff which consists entirely of volunteers,
is not so easy a matter as they appear to think,
especially when those who are not satisfied, instead
of coming forward to lend a hand, rush into print
to proclaim their grievances anonymously.

As regards smokers, veils, and other minor appli-
ances, associations can hardly be expected to under-

take to provide them, and we really think that in
these matters the cottagers will be able to take care
of themselves.

One association may find it most advantageous
to lay out its money in one way, and another in
another, but it must be remembered that all have
not the same advantages, and some counties are
naturally much more difficult and expensive to
work than others ; but the permanent efficiency of
any Association must depend on the amount of
energy and public spirit shown by its individual
members, not upon the activity of one or two
persons.

As to the two gentlemen ' who would join if they
could be shown one material advantage,' we can
only say that the idea of joining an Association
simply with the view of getting a material return
for your money, is not a very high or noble one ;
and certainly not in accordance with the views of
those who have given so much time, labour, and
money in the interests of bee-keepiug.

If we understand the word ' association ' rightly,
it implies a joining-together of a number of persons
with a view to carrying out some object which they
have in common ; and this further implies mutual
forbearance, individual energy, and unselfish co-
operation.

THE PEEL MEMORIAL FUND.

We note that the Committee of the B. B. K. A.
are about to take active measures to raise the
necessary moneys for the Peel Memorial Fund ;
and that to effect their object they propose
taking advantage of the machinery of the County
Associations, — a machinery called into existence
in a great measure by Mr. Peel himself. It
is to be hoped that all connected with these As-
sociations— the hou. secretaries, district secretaries,
and county representatives — will respond to the
appeal of the Committee, and do their utmost to
make the fund a success. Circulars containing the
proposal of the Committee for the distribution of
the fund, with the requisite forms for the applica-
tion for subscriptions, will be forwarded to the hon.
secretaries, and through them to all the members
of their Associations, so that every bee-keeper may
have an opportunity of aiding in the object of this
fund. This object is ' to raise a fund in memory of
the late Rev. fl. R. Peel, to be invested, and the
interest to be devoted annually, biennially, or at
such other interval of time as the Committee of the
British Bee-keepers' Association may from time to
time think fit, to a prize or prizes to be given to
cottagers, in connexion with the advancement of
bee-keeping in the United Kingdom.' And so,
while conferring a benefit on bee-keepers, it will
help to keep the name of Mr. Peel fresh in their
memories, and, in some degree, to express their sense
of gratitude to him who was so steadfast a bene-
factor to bee-keepers, and who by his energy and
enterprise did so much to promote bee-keeping and
to bring it to the prominent position it now occupies.

We hope that there will be a hearty response
to the appeal of the Committee, and that there will

246

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL

{Angusi 1, 1885.

be a generous rivalry among all county secretaries,
and that they will strive to do that which lies in
their power to make this fund worthy of themselves
and honourable to the memory of Mr. Peel.

SURREY BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

We would desire to direct the attention of bee-
keepers in Surrey to the forthcoming Annual Exhi-
bition of bees, honey, and appliances, which will be
beld on the 12th of August at Lower Cheam House,
Sutton, Surrey, in connexion with the Floricultural
and Horticultural Society. The schedule of prizes is
on a most liberal scale, one feature especially we note
is that many of the prizes consist of books on bee-
keeping. Every information respecting the Show may
be obtained from Mr. P. Waterer, Sutton, Surrey.

ABERDARE SHOW.
We are requested to state that no entrance-fees
will be charged for Exhibits entered for this Show,
which is fixed for the 1 3th inst.

THE NEATH SHOW.
We are requested to notice that at the Show to
be held at Neath on the 5th and 6th of August, in
connexion with the Glamorganshire Agricultural
Society, Mr. Blow, of Welwyn, Herts, will conduct
the manipulations instead of Mr. Brown, of Bewdley,
who is unable to be present. We should also say
that the grant of 201. was not made to the Gla-
morganshire B. K. A., which is not yet in existence,
but to the local Society.

USEFUL HINTS.

Examination of Frame-Hives. — When manipu-
lations are in progress some of the frames of founda-
tion given too late, and after-swarms, will be found
drawn out and occupied by brood or honey at one
end only. Let these be turned round, and, if at the
sides, let them be placed in the middle of the brood-
nest, and the bees will finish them, Left alone they
would probably remain in statu, quo until another
season. Cut away and straighten all uneven por-
tions, so that the combs may range straight, and
within the frames, from end to end, — an important
item in wintering successfully.

Packing Sections, &c. — We are repeatedly asked
for advice on packing honey for transit by rail, for
marketing, &c. The safest travelling-crate for sec-
tions which we have seen is one lately introduced,
the invention, we believe, of Mr. Baldwin, with
loose-fitting bottom, acting on springs which obviate
all jarring. Messrs. Abbott have introduced a
novelty for this purpose — see their advertisement —
which will be found adverted to on p. 218, July 1st.
Crates for extracted honey, in glass jars, are sold
by all dealers in appliances. At best, the transit of
honey, in sections or glass, is attended with con-
siderable risk, especially by rail, and, when pos-
sible, the safest plan is for some one to travel in
charge of it. When extracted honey is sent in bulk,
in cans or barrels, there is little risk of damage.
Honey-dew. — Numerous correspondents com-

plainingly inform us that the honey collected, since
about the middle of June, is of a very dark colour,
insipid to the taste, and without aroma. This is a
most true description of the so-called honey col-
lected from the aphides, a pest with which the
whole country is at this time plagued. The term
' honey-dew,' and what it includes, has been warmly
debated by most of our prominent apiarists, but we
have not seen a truer or better definition of the
term than the following, given by an American
contemporary : —

' Honky-dew. — The best authorities are agreed that
there are two kinds of honey-dew, or, at least, that honey-
dew is derived from two very distinct sources. One kind
is purely vegetable, and is exuded by plants, often to such
an extent that it falls on the ground in a shower. The
other kind is produced by aphides or plant-lice. Bee-
keepers are justly very suspicious of honey-dew. It may
do, perhaps, for warm-weather food, but it is generally-
agreed that bees cannot winter well on it, although ex-
ceptional cases are recorded.'

Our own experience is that, as food for bees, it is
injurious, and, although we have been troubled
with it but little since the introduction to our
apiary of the Italian, Cyprian, and Syrian races, we
always extract any small deposit, and supply its
place, as winter food, with sugar syrup. For con-
fectionery and similar uses it answers the purposes of
better honey. It is to be feared that many apiaries
will be seriously affected by this product during
the present season, from the long drought and the
prevalence of easterly winds. The July of last
year was very different from the one just ended.
In the former occasional showers kept the white
clover and other forage in continuous bloom, and
the nectar stored was not only abundant, but of the
finest quality. In the latter, although the yield has
been, perhaps, a fair average, we fear the quality of
a large proportion will be decidedly inferior. The
long drought — in many districts six and even eight
weeks without a drop of rain — sadly militates
against both quantity and quality. The pastures
are burnt up, the foliage is covered with aphides,
and water fails to a serious extent. Except from
heather the harvest must soon be over.

Removing to the Heather. — From frame-hives
all honey should be extracted before removal to the
heather, and the frames should be secured from
lateral motion by spaced floor-boards, ventilation
being plentifully afforded, both above and below, by
means of perforated zinc or open canvas, generally
called cheese-cloth. The outside combs of skeps
should be cut out, up to the brood-nest — the bees
being driven away by smoke — and the skeps should
travel in an inverted position, the combs being
secured from movement by pieces of cork between
and paper packing on the outsides. The operation
of cutting out should be performed a couple of days
before removal to allow the bees to clear up the
liquid honey, and to settle down before the journey.
We venture to prophesy a large yield of heather
honey, the finest, to our taste, of all nectars, not
even that from white clover excepted.

Requeening. — The month of August is, perhaps,
one of the best for cashiering aged, worn-out
queens, and introducing young ones in their place.

August 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

m

Colonies, whose young queens have been lost on
the marriage flight, should receive a queen at once,
or the bees fwll quickly dwindle to extinction.
The insertion of a nucleus of two or three frames
— queen, bees, and brood complete — in the centre
of the colony is advisable where practicable, taking
the precaution to encage the queen for twenty-four
hours.

Introducing Queens. — Judge Andrews — an Ame-
rican apiarist of note — remarks on this subject : —

' I always eagre my queens, except in cases of experi-
ment, for I never introduce one that I can afford to lose.
I keep the queen confined for two days near the middle
of the cluster. I then remove the reigning1 queen and
liberate the new one. Some queens I liberate sooner,
for I can invariably tell, by looking at the bees upon
the cage, whether it is safe to liberate the queen or not.
Other queens require to be confined longer than two
days. I never fear that the bees will not feed the caged
queen. The presence of a reigning queen does net affect
them in the least. I do not wish it to be understood
that the retention of the old queen is a point in the safe
introduction of the new one, but only that it saves her
two days' work in the colony, and it prevents loss of
work by the workers, from the great commotion that
follows the missing of the reigning queen, and prevents
the starting of queen-cells.'

This method appears feasible, and we intend shortly
to give it a full trial.

Driven Bees. — Cottagers' apiaries may now be
visited for condemned bees. The bees should be
carefully and quietly driven from the skeps —
almost to a single bee — and the combs cut out
clean, and deposited indoors without delay to
prevent robbing, and the emptied skeps returned
to the garden to be cleaned by the bees. Let the
driving be done as far away from the cottage door
as practicable, to avoid the stinging of children or
others. The English cotter appreciates a skilful,
neatly performed operation. He generally sells, in
the comb, the best of his honey, and does not like
to see it crushed and broken. These operations
are best performed by experts. If neatly done,
Hodge will invite you to come again another year.
"We are besieged in the autumn by numerous
applicants, ' When will ye come to tak the bees,
sir1? they're gettin' nowt now, and '11 soon be
wastin'.' Queens secured from the ' after-swarms '
are useful for keeping round.

Breeding. — When the honey flow ceases, and
extracting is finished, feed moderately to encourage
breeding. September-bred bees are, perhaps, the
most useful of all, as they fly freely before the
winter sets in, and are less likely to be attacked
by dysentery, living to work another spring. Bees
bred after September are rarely able to take flights,
and often perish during the winter months, fouliDg
the hives, and causing disease.

Sections. — Many prefer at this time to collect
in a rack the unfinished sections, and to place
them over a strong colony. The plan sometimes
succeeds, and the sections are finished and sealed ;
but success depends greatly upon the weather.
As a rule, it is best to extract them. Late finished
sections are almost invariably inferior in quality,
and are worth in the market no more than ex-
tracted honey.

ASSOCIATIONS.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

Committee Meeting held at 105 Jermyn Street, on
Wednesday, July 2.'ird. Present: Mr. T. W. Cowan (in
the chair), the Rev. Dr. Bartrum, the Hon. and Rev. II.
Bligh, the Rev. G. Baynor, the Rev. F. G. Jenyns, the
Rev. F. S. Slater ; Messrs. W. H. Dunman, R. J. Hinton,
D. Stewart, G. Walker, and the Secretary. Letters
were read from Captain Campbell, Captain Bush, and the.
Treasurer, regretting their inability to be present.

The minutes of the last committee meeting were read,
confirmed, and signed.

The Finance Committee presented a statement of ac-
counts recommending various bills for payment, leaving'
a balance in hand of 251, 19s. '2d. They further reported
that the Secretary had prepared the. Prize List, &c, of
the Preston Show, and they recommended that the same
he paid forthwith.

The Chairman reported that he had received the fol-
lowing communication from Mrs. Peel, in reply to the
resolution passed at the last Committee Meeting, viz.: —

' I need not say bow grateful I am for the kind sympathy
expressed in the resolution passed at the last meeting of the
B. B. K. A., and may I ask you to convey to the Committee,
at the next meeting how grateful I am, and that I shall ever
treasure in my memory the kind manner in which they
have expressed their appreciation of my husband's en-
deavours to promote the advance of bee-keeping amongst all
classes. I am so glad a fund is being tried to be raised to
perpetuate Mr. Peel's memory, and for a purpose that
would be an encouragement to cottagers.'

The Educational Committee presented their Report,
and recommended that the Second Class Examination be
held throughout the United Kingdom, on Saturday,
November 7th next. It was resolved that the Schedule,
of Prizes to be offered for competition at the Royal Agri-
cultural Show of 1880 be considered at the next Com-
mittee Meeting.

Quarterly Conference.

The following county representatives were present: —
Mr. F. H. Meggy (Essex), Mr. J. Bowly (Berks), the Rev.
J. Lingen Seager (Herts), the Rev. E. K. Clav (Bucks),
the Rev. W. Burkitt (Wilts), Mr. P. Wraterer (Surrey),
Mr. C. H. Hayness (Worcester), the Rev. T. Sissons
(Kent), and Mr. A. Lloyd Jones (Carmarthen).

The subject for discussion was ' The desirability of
securing satisfactory and uniform rules in Prize Schedules
at local and County Shows.' The Secretary of the
B.B.K. A. suggested that each branch, i.e., hives, honey,
collections, &c, should be taken separately and thoroughly
discussed, with the view of drawing up practical
suggestions for the guidance of secretaries and exhi-
bitors. Mr. Meggy (Essex), Rev. J. Lingen Seager
(Herts), and the Rev. AV. E. Burkitt (Wilts) considered
that such information was very much needed, but in
their opinion they should take the form of suggestions,
and not as fixed rules. The question of the packing of
hives was taken first.

The Secretary of the B.B.K. A. stated that the packing
of hives was generally of three kinds : 1. In a plain box
crate. 2. With no crate at all, but simply to nail pieces
of wood across the legs of the hive, covering the top with
a piece of Hessian, and tying a strong cord round the
hive for the convenience of handling. 3. By nailing
pieces of wood across the hive in all sorts of directions
which, when once removed, no one except the manu-
facturer himself knew how to put together again. The
latter system was very objectionable, unless the exhibitor
was present to unpack and repack his own goods.

The Rev. J. L. Seager agreed with the Secretary that
simplicity in packing was very much needed. This
question was discussed at some length.

248

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[August 1, 1885.

Mr. Dunman moved, and Mr. Cowan seconded, 'That
at some future date prizes be offered by the B.B.K.A.
for the simplest and safest crate for the transit of hives
to shows.' — Carried.

On the proposition of Mr. Meggy it was resolved that
in the meamime the B.B.K.A. should draw up sugges-
tions for the packing of hives for transit to exhibitions.
The question of the glazing and packing of sections was
entered upon, but no resolution was come to upon the
subject.

It was resolved that the B.B.K.A. be requested
to draw up a list of suggestions relating to the various
departments of an exhibition, and submit the same for
discussion at the next quarterly conference, to be held
on Wednesday, October 21st.

The Chairman called attention to the fact that steps
had been taken to raise a memorial fund in memory of
the Rev. II. R. Reel, and he trusted that every county
secretary, district secretaries, and representatives would
use their utmost endeavours to make the fund a success
in every county.

The Rev. J. L. Seager considered that no difficulty
would be experienced in collecting subscriptions pro-
viding the B.B.K.A. would supply the necessary forms
for the purpose.

The Rev. Thomas Sissons moved, and Mr. Waterer
seconded, 'That the Committee of the B.B.K.A. be
requested to publish their proposals for the distribution
of this fund, together with a form for the application of
subscriptions for the use of the several County Associa-
tions.'— Carried unanimously.

The Quarterly Conversazione was held at six o'clock,
when the following gentlemen assembled to hear the
Rev. F. G. Jenyns read a paper, written by himself,
entitled, ' Bee-keeping in its Educational Aspect ': — Mr.
D. Stewart, Mr. T. W. Cowan, Dr. Walker, Mr. Otto
Hehner. Mr. Zehetmayr, the Hon. and Rev. Henry
Bligh, Dr. Wray, Mr. G. Henderson.

The Rev. E. K. Clay, having been voted to the Chair,
opened the proceedings by inviting the Rev. Mr. Jenyns
to read his paper, as follows : —

Bee-keeping in its Educational Aspect.

We hear so much of education in these days, all kinds
of schools, and all manner of school subjects, and,
where there are Board Schools, it is brought home to
many an unfortunate ratepayer in such a painfully
practical way, that the very word has something repelling
in it. And to speak of any fresh subject as a subject of
education, and one that 'might well be taught with
advantage, seems like the last straw upon the camel's back.

And certainly there does seem ample load enough
without our seeking to add even such a straw. It is the
same whether we go to our Universities, or Public
Schools, or look at the lists of subjects of which know-
ledge is required for the competitive examinations —
military or civil. And one feels that it must be
indeed a clear head that, in the multitude of these
subjects—without adding another — can yet preserve a
distinct view of each. Onefeelsthatthere isdangerof the
the unfortunate scholar having his mind left in that
sort of confused condition which is portrayed in that
inimitable picture in Mr. Verdant Green's history, in
which is shown the impression left on his mind after his
first visit to Oxford— the colleges, halls, churches, streets,
all intermingled in one confused mass, portions of one
college built into another, all distinctness of subject lost
in the multitude of things seen.

_ So that when we talk of ' Bee-keeping in its educa-
tional aspect ' many will be inclined to exclaim, 'Pray
save us from another educational subject, however small.
By all means let people keep bees, and make as much
profit by them as they can, and get stung as" often as
they like, but don't talk of bee-keeping as of any educa-
tional value.'

And then, doubtless, many outside the little bee-
keeping world, — and this bee-keeping world, although
much to us, is yet a very little one — an enormous majority
in the country not even knowing of its Snstence ; many,
we must be aware, look upon the whole thing as nothing
more than one of the many modern fads, — something'
that people, who have nothing much to do, run after
for a time, so long as it has the charm of novelty and
fashion.

So that I feel somewhat anxious in having to deal
with this subject. I feel that there must be a very
natural prejudice against its very title. And )'et I feel
that it is an important subject, and that there is much
to be said of it, although I fear I cannot say it as I could
wish, or as it ought to be said.

Now to see that there is an educational aspect of
bee-keeping, let us first think for a moment of the true
meaning of education ; let us go to first principles.

Well, the theory of education is, according to the
meaning of the word, the leading out, or the unfolding
of the human powers. It is designed to bring into active
exercise the germs of intellectual life, and to make them
available for the welfare, usefulness, and happiness of
the person educated. It is a process of development.
And this development, if proper balance is to be kept, must
he over a wide area. The truest education, that to be
aimed at, must not be one-sided or narrow. There are
the physical, intellectual, moral, and spiritual faculties,
and each, in its proper proportion, is to be developed,
fostered, strengthened, and raised.

Thus in the education of childhood we must not culti-
vate the physical at the expense of the mental, or the
mental at the expense of the physical faculties. We
teach the child to walk, we foster its strength, and seek
by degrees to develope it. And so, in after years there
is much to be said for the muscular and athletic training
of our schools and colleges. It is, indeed, a part of
education. But at the same time that we teach the child
to walk we exercise its mental powers through the use of
its eyes and surrounding objects, and so go on seeking
gradually to unfold those powers, not in one direction
only, but in many. We teach it to read, and write, and
sum, not because the being able to read, and write,
and sum, is the end of education, but because
they are the means by which the child's powers are
developed, and by which it is able to take further and
yet further steps iu knowledge, and become a wiser,
happier, and more useful member of the community.

And I need hardly say that it is a very narrow and
low view of education to think of it simply as a means by
which the person educated shall he able to know suffi-
cient for what is his special call in life — just that and
little more; just the technical knowledge of his profession,
trade, or manual labour, and thus be able to earn a
livelihood. Necessary as this knowledge is, yet make it
the all and all of your teaching, and although you have
taught much, you have not educated at all. And the
man, so taught, will be certain to be of the narrowest
mind, self-opinionated, and ignorant to the last degree.

It has been well said that ' the first object of school is
not to fit children to earn a living, but to quicken thef acui-
ties and increase intelligence.' And very much to the point,
and most true, is that which we find in the 'Instructions '
issued by the Education Department to Inspectors when
speaking of the ' merit grant ' and what constitutes an
' excellent ' school, ' Above all, its teaching and discipline
are such as to exert a right influence on the manner,
the conduct, and character of the children, to awaken
in them a love of reading, and such au interest in their
own mental improvement as may reasonably be expected
to last beyond the period of school life.'

And, I suppose we know something of this process of
mental development in its breadth, and its use in our
own experience. Much that was learnt at school and
college has long ago been forgotten. Perhaps in our

August 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

249

University days we took a mathematical decree, ami now
the terms and formula1, and many of the problems,
which then to jf^were the simplest possible have now

passed into corffRre oblivion, and yet perhaps we arc
keenly alive to the training;, and the real education
which those forgotten studies gave. The science has
been forgotten, but its fruits remain.

And now, if this is the correct view of education,
and we leave aside, because having to deal more especially
with elementary education, all the higher subjects of
classics, mathematics, and modern languages ; and also
leave aside, as beyond our present subject, the considera-
tion of those essential subjects of all education without
which no education is worthy of the name — I mean,
first of all, religious knowledge as the foundation, and
then not only the simple 'three R's' — reading, writing,
and arithmetic — but. a knowledge of English generally ;
I sa}7, if we leave aside all these and come to think of
all the other many subjects (any of which may be
taken up with profit), and the many attractive fields of
science and art into which the educator can lead the
mind to be educated, there is perhaps no more important
or distinctly educating field than that of Natural History.

I do not' know that there is any study in which can
lie better or more truly realised what the Bishop of
Li mdon, in some weighty words spoken the other day,
describes as the ideal of elementary education. He said,
speaking at the meeting of the National Society, ' The
ideal of elementary education no doubt is that the
religious instruction and the secular instruction should
be to a very great extent fused; that there should
he no secular instruction given in which a religious
element is not either visibly or unconsciously present;
and that in the religious education you should be as
truly cultivating the human understanding as if you
were, giving pure secular instruction.'

The scholar indeed in this field of Natural History,
whatever branch he takes up, I am sure will be
consciously or unconsciously impressed with the highest
and most important truths. He will be one of those who
finds, as our great Shakespeare says —

' Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in everything.'

And no study surely will more certainly draw out,
foster, and strengthen those, habits of 'exact observa-
tion, statement, and reasoning,' which the Education
Department in its code impresses rightly as of great
importance, and which, according to what I have said,
form so important a part of that true scheme of educa-
tion which we must aim at if we wish to avoid narrow-
ness and one-sidedness.

If the scholar stands merely on the threshold of the
wide field, he sees so much attractive, that lie is almost
irresistibly, for a time at least, led on ; the mind is
necessarily expanded as it takes in a few of the countless
marvels of nature's works all around. He will be led to
search for truth, and to distinguish between truth and
error, by careful observation, reasoning, and actual
experience. And in all this his judgment will be
strengthened and his reasoning powers cultivated. And
as he is taught ( as nothing else will teach), the marvellous
adaptation of everything to its purpose, he will learn
amidst Nature's works of Nature's God. And in these
<lays, what more is necessary ?

But this subject of study and education, this natural
history, is an immense field, boundless even to the highest
intellects, still boundless after a lifetime's study ; and
but very few indeed can travel so far, or study it as a
whole. Few, indeed, can study any considerable portion
of it. All that can be done, at all events in elementary
schools, is to lead the scholar to the very threshold, and
to give him some little idea of the vastness of the field
before him. And I think the tendency of such a very
cursory view may be to some, perhaps many, the very

opposite to what 1 have said — rather to discourage further
investigation than to lead on. The vastness of the field
is indeed to a certain extent oppressive and discouraging ;
and as the scholar meets in the very first instance with
the mysteries of classification, and the hard names to
which at first he can attach but little meaning, it
is very possible for him to be inclined to turn away to
something more attractive and immediately practical.

How true this is may be seen, 1 think, by those books
by which the subject of natural history is supposed to be
taught in those schools which take up, what is called
' Elementary Science,' as one of the ' Class subjects.'

I take up one of the very best of these manuals, the
writer of which must have been another Solomon, for he
speaks of ' trees, from the cedars of Lebanon even unto
the hyssop that springeth out of the wall, also of beast,
and of fowls, and of creeping things, and of fishes ; ' and
of all in a very few short chapters. For children of
about eleven years old, 1 find that they are to get an
idea of the ' Animal Kingdom and its five sub-Kingdoms :
(1), the back-boned; (!>), the soft-bodied; (."J), the
rino-ed and jointed animals ; (4), the rayed or starshaped
(5), plant-like animals ; ' from a chapter of hardly four
pages ; the next chapter, of two pages, describing how
the back-honed animals are divided into four classes,
mammals, birds, reptiles, fishes. And then from the
same little book they are to learn of plant-life in garden,
field, and forest ; and in another part of the same book,
of fire and water, of coal and chalk, of iron, tin, copper,
and lead. And so on, more or less, throughout the series.
The writer tries to make his subject popular and
attractive, and to leave out hard names, and, I think,
does so as far as possible ; but one feels, all the same, as
one lays down the book, that the subject of ' elementary
science ' is far too vast to be treated in this way, and that
unless with a very exceptional teacher there must he a
confusion of ideas ; little more than hard names com-
mitted to memory, but soon forgotten, aud in the
majority of cases but very little practical result or real
education.

And it is for this reason, I have no doubt, that in very
few schools is ' elementary science ' taught at all, so much so
that one of H.M. Inspectors told me, that in only one
school in his district was it even attempted, and that
when this one came to be examined he found that the
children knew nothing at all about the subject.

It is true that in some schools Botany, which however
is called a ' specific subject,' has been taught with great
advantage. But this again is a wide, vast, and difficult
subject, except in the hands of a very few exceptional
teachers, following in the wake of the late Professor
Henslow, who, before the days of Codes, taught botany
in his village school in Suffolk with results most strikingly
successful ; but then, perhaps, no man ever lived who
was able to teach scientific truth in such an attractive
manner, or in such simple language as he was.

I proceed therefore, now, a step further in what I want
to say, and with these considerations in view, I would
ask whether, instead of letting the scholar wander
ramblingly over the whole vast field ; whether there is
not much to be said in favour of leading him into one
little portion, and seeking to get him to understand
that little portion well and intelligently? Will it not
be likely to do him more good, and to be more truly
educating:' And will it not be more likely than any
other plan to lead him on, and to make him wish to
know more, and to seek further into the field? The
one little portion well understood, and worked out
thoroughly, and especially if the knowledge gained leads
to practical results, enables him to practise better and
more intelligently some useful industry; this study will
be far more attractive than a verj' superficial know-
ledge of the whole vast field, so superficial as hardly to
be called knowledge, and certainly too superficial to lead
to any practical result.

250

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[August 1, 1885.

And, if this is so, I do not know that we can lead onr
scholar into any more attractive, and at the same time
educating little portion of the field than that in which
we are specially interested, that which deals with Bees
and Bee-keeping. There is much, very much to he said
for other portions, hut, as Kirby and Spenee claim for
entomology as a subject of interest and instruction
precedence over both botany and the higher branches of
zoolog}', so, I think, we may claim for the study of bees
precedence over every other department of insect life.

It is a subject which, while it has the greatest fascina-
tion, interest, and pleasure of its own, calls forth in a
peculiar way habits of observation and ready resource.
And there is no department of natural history in which
more clearly is seen the marvellous adaptation of every
portion of structure to the wants and necessities of the
creature, or in which habits and instincts more clearly
demonstrate some of the highest truths to be learnt from
the observation of nature. It is a page interesting,
marvellous, and instructive in that wondrous book of
nature which, as Keble sa_vs, shows ' how God Himself
is found.'

And thus, I am sure, the tendency of bee-keeping is to
make the man, and if so to educate the child, to be
observant and accurate, to he prompt, ready, and provi-
dent, to he kind to God's creatures, and attentive to their
wants. And, more than this, it will not fail, I think, to
tend to make him a lover of nature generally, and happy
in the midst of Nature's works, and so a devout lover of
Nature's God.

Those of us who have been much amongst the
poor know well the humanising and elevating influ-
ence of flowers in cottage homes. They may be poor
specimens, struggling for existence amidst smoke and
darkness, but still with the delight they give, we see
them, in the care and observation they call forth, as
educators of heart and mind, as teachers and means
of mental improvement. And I am sure what can be
said of them can be said still more emphatically of bee-
keeping as an intellectual and pleasure-giving pursuit, to
say nothing of the moral lessons to be learnt from the
diligence, care, labour, and economy seen in the hive.

If, then, this study can be advanced, and interest in it
promoted, a very good educational work is done. And
when our Association takes as the terms of its charter,
the object of its existence, ' the bettering the condition
of cottagers and the agricultural labouring classes,'
I hope I am- right in taking these words, as not only
referring to a means by which those in such humble
positions can make a little more money, and add to
their store and comforts, hut as also referring to the
higher education which bee-keeping gives them — the
bettering of their condition by the bringing out of the
intellectual powers; by giving them a pursuit which will
inform and improve the mind ; and which will better their
condition by making them better in heart and life.

But I look upon the study of bees — leading to bee-
keeping— as not only a subject of education for the
cottager and artisan, hut for those also whose education
can take in the subjects of a far wider field of natural
science. No one, in whom there is any love of natural
history, can rise from the careful study of such hooks and
papers as those of Cowan, Cheshire, llehner, Langstroth,
Cook, Lubbock, and many more, and not feel to have
heen instructed and made the better andwiserfor it, and
to have a wider view of the world in which he lives and
the economy of its life.

AVe pass then now to the last part of the subject. If
the study of bees and intelligent bee-keeping may be
made so truly educational as I have suggested, how
can the study be best promoted P AVe see the field
before us, how can we occupy it ?

To a certain extent much has been done already in
years past, and there is still much to be done on the old
lines. The great increase of interest in bee-keeping

during the last few years has had its good effect, although,,
of course, to a great extent the interest has been excited
by the profit which, it is said, can bjyaade by it. The-
labours of this Association, supplemeSPPall through the
country by the efforts of its affiliated and other societies,
have done much. Valuable lessons have been taught to
thousands. Bee-keeping has become a national industry,
and there cannot be all this bee-keeping without much
of the education of which we have been thinking.

But we must not stop here. If it is a valuable edu-
cational subject we must press on in that direction.
That it should be taught in our Elementary schools is to-
be desired, and the example of Germany shows us that
in not teaching it we are behind the most advanced
educationists. But we must not be too hopeful of
getting it into our schools, at all events, at present, and
for some time to come. We must not expect much of the
Education Department, without whose sanction but little-
can be done. And it is further useless to conceal the-
fact that, unless by some means it is made a paying
subject — the subject that is, of grant — few schools are
likely to take it up even if permitted, for the pressure-
to earn money is so great ; and in so many schools (un-
fortunately I think) salaries are made so dependent on
the grant earned. And this applies to both Voluntary
and Board Schools. People must not think, as they
of ten do, that Board Schools can do more than Voluntary
Schools with this and kindred subjects. It is a very
common mistake to think so ; but, as far as I know, all
that Board Schools can do which Voluntary Schools
cannot, is to obtain by compulsion a great deal of other
people's money, and then to spend it freely, and oftei*
recklessly; and, after all, get no better results than the-
poorer schools. And in proof of this I may say that
while the grant earned per child is about the same in
both kinds of school, the average cost per child in Board
schools is nearly -I. -.'., whereas in Voluntary schools it
is only a trifle over 1/. las. or a difference of about Gs. Qd.
per child in favour of Voluntary Schools.

It may seem, indeed, an easy thing for the Education
Department to move in the matter, hut when we know
the real state of the case, and the pressure that is put
upon them in all directions, and the innumerable com-
plications in the way, it is not at all surprising that they
are very shy of attempting any such innovation as intro-
ducing bee-keeping as a school subject in any form. A
small concession they have made. They have given
official sanction permitting bee-keeping to be taught as a
' specific subject' when approved assuch by the Inspector;
hut to those who know the Code, which rules everything,
this really amounts to nothing, — nothing even now; and
it is not impossible that, as many of the best-informed
think, these ' specific subjects' will before long drop out
of the Code altogether. And I will venture to say that,
however publicly this permission were made known, not
one single school, and certainly no rural school, would
ever think of so adopting it as a ' specific ' subject.

If it could be taught as what is called a ' class subject '
(the class subjects being, besides needlework for girls.
English, geography, history, and elementary science, of
which only two can be taken, one of which must he
English), if, I say, it could bo taken, as the Association
in its memorial to the Education Department asked, in-
stead of elementary science, or rather as one portion of
the subject — one portion to be thoroughly known rather
than the whole subject imperfectly — if this could be, it
woidd be a great step in advance. Many schools — espe-
cially those where the teacher is an enthusiastic bee-
keeper, and there are many such — would doubtless adopt
it as a subject.

But at present this has been denied us, and I really do
not wonder at the decision, much as I could have wished
it otherwise ; especially so as, at present, very little is
known of bee-keeping outside the little bee-keeping
world. We know it, and, like many of those who have

August 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

251

special interests, we are too apt to think that our little
•world is the ^^h> world.

If, then. w^Rftit to bring the teaching of bee-keeping
into our schools, we must, first of all, as much as pos-
sihle, try to educate tlio Education Department and the
Inspectors as to its importance by more and more getting
public opinion to bear upon them. And thus we must
bide our time, showing by the work we do, and which
will, as time goes on, be more and more known, that we,
as educators as well as promoters of an industry, are
worthy of official recognition.

But we must not think only of elementary schools.
Besides these, there are the great middle-class schools,
in which are being educated many of those who, with
greater intelligence and the advantages of higher posi-
tion, will be qualified, not only to be intelligent bee-
keepers, but to lead and instruct others around them in
their future positions of life. And I feel sure that a
field is open to us in these great and important schools,
which are not trammelled by red tape and the Educa-
tion Department, but are free to give a liberal education
in their own way.

And then there are our Agricultural Colleges. And
there is a field there for effort in the direction we seek,
for there are the young men who, in Many cases, will be
the leading agriculturists of their respective districts ;
men of superior intelligence and education, and fully
capable of appreciating the importance or not of subjects
brought before them, men of some science, men who will
be fully competent to be teachers of others in after-life.
And feeling the importance of this field, we rejoice to
see that an effort has been made at one of the Colleges
by our excellent friend, Mr. Burkitt — an effort in which
we wish him every success.

But really, after all, what we must rely upon to
further our" schemes must be the influence of public
opinion. When this is brought to bear, the thing will
go on. And in order to obtain this, we must — as I have
indicated — show our worth; show that we do not
advocate a fad or fashion, but rather that which is a true
educational subject, as well as a profitable nationalindustry.

[The discussion on the paper will appear in our next
issue. At the close of the discussion Dr. Wray exhibited
his ' SI el-pel,' a description of which will be found on
P- 255.]

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The Association's second show this season was held
at Stony Stratford, in connexion with the Horticultural
Show, on Tuesday, July 23rd. The exhibition was ably
managed by Mr. Graves, the late Honorary Secretary of
the Association, whilst the Rev. F. S. Sclater acted as
judge. The honey exhibited showed a marked improve-
ment on that of last year, both for quality and the number
of exhibitors. Mr. Sturdy, of Thornton, carried off the
prize open to the entire Association both for sections and
extracted honey. Mr. J. Wootton sent a large quantity of
excellent comb-honey in sections, which unfortunately
did not comply with the requirements of the schedule,
and consequently lost a possible place on the prize lists.
"We should be glad to hear of more purchases of honey
being made by the public at such shows. It seems most
desirable that the members of county associations should
consider this subject with increased care, in order to es-
tablish a thoroughly recognised sale at local shows, and
perfect the facilities required by the public for taking
honey home in small quantities.

Subjoined is a list of the prize-winners : —

Prizes open to all members of the Association.- Class

1. (Sections).— 1, Mr. W. Sturdv; 2, Mr. Emerton ; 3,
Mr. Holdour. Class 2. (Extracted).— 1, Mr. W. Sturdy ;

2, Mr. W. Parsons ; 3, Mr. W. Clarke. Class 3. (Non-
sectional).— 1, Mr. J. Wootton ; 2, Mr. J. Graves. Class
4. (Best Display of Comb-honey). — Mr. J. Graves.

Prizes open to members residing in the Stony Strat-
ford district, and given by Herbert Peel, Esq. — Class 5.
(Sections).— 1, Mr. J. Graves; 2, Mr. W. Rogers; 3,
Mr. W. Parsons. Class 6. (Extracted).— 1, Mr. J.
Graves ; 2, Mr. W. Rogers ; 3, Mr. W. Parsons.

SOMERSETSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

Show held at Bath, July 2, in connexion with the
Rose Show.

Class A, open to members of the Somerset B.K.A.
residing in Bath and immediate neighbourhood only.—
Best collection of comb honey: Mr. C. Long, Long-well
Green ; Mrs. Lord Batt. Best twelve 1-lb. sections :
II. Skrine, Esq., Claverton; Mr. Luton, Tiverton; Mr.
Mitchel, Bath. Best twelve pounds extracted honey:
no entry. Best super: no entry. Class B, open to any
members of the Somerset B.K.A. — Best twelve 1-lb. sec-
tions : Rev. C. G. Anderson, Otterhampton. Best twelve
pounds extracted honey : Rev. C. G. Anderson ; Mr. T.
Hallet, Otterhampton. Class C, open. — Best smoker, not
to exceed 3s. : no entry. Best bar-hive, not exceeding
10s. Qd. : Ward & Co., Bath ; Bethel, Bath. Best super,
property of a cottager: G. Minchin, Bath. Best skep of
bees for driving : G. Minchin, Bath. Judges of honey:
Messrs. S. Townsend, Bath, T. Blow, Welwyn. Judges
of hives, &c. : Messrs. C. G. Anderson and S. Townsend.

The show was held in lovely weather, and was very
successful. Mr. T. Blow manipulated the bees and
lectured before attentive audiences. Later in the after-
noon the Rev. J. II. Dixon kindly assisted.

A show was. held at Clevedon on July 22, under the
auspices of the Clevedon Horticultural Association, when
the bee-tent of the Somerset B.K.A. was on the ground.
The Hon. Secretary of the Somerset B.K.A., Rev. C. G.
Anderson, manipulated and lectured to good audiences
till late in the evening. A little honey of good quality
was shown by local exhibitors.

MONMOUTHSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
I have much pleasure in sending you a short account
of some of our proC3edings this season. On June 23rd
and two following days the M. B. K. A., in connexion
with the Herefordshire Agricultural Show, held at Mon-
mouth, had their bee tent on the ground, and also had a
shed devoted to their service for the exhibition of bee-
furniture and honey produce. The bees were manipulated
by Mr. M. Meadham, expert to the Association, and was
greatly assisted by the R;v. J. E. Sale, who delivered
during the manipulations most useful lectures oa the
present improved system of bee-keeping. The Association
gave prizes for both hives and honey, and considering
the state of the weather, which were the only wet days
there had been for a long time, the exhibition was a very
fair success. Since then the tent has been at two horti-
cultural fetes — the one at Newport on July 16, and the
other at Maindee on the 23rd. The former was very
well attended, and, in a financial point of view, was most
satisfactory ; the latter, though by no means so remuner-
ative, it being only, or chiefly, a cottage gardener show,
yet seemed to give great satisfaction, and likely to induce
many more cottagers to join the Association, which was
the object aimed at, and also more than well covered all
expenses attendant in bringing the tent to the ground.
At each show Mr. Meadham single-banded did all the
manipulations, and seemed to interest the spectators with
the instructions he gave respecting bee-keeping. The
Association proposes holding their honey show in con-
nexion with the Abergavenny Horticultural Fete to be
held on the 27th of August, when prizes, open to all, for
hives and honey will be given by the Association's junior
Hon. Sec. — James Oakeley.

a2

252

THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[August 1, 1885.

SURREY BIE-KEEPEES' ASSOCIATION.

On Wednesday, 12th July, an exhibition of bses,
honey, and wax, was held in connexion with the
Croydon Horticultural Society's Sho .v, in the grounds of
J. S. Balfour, Esq., M.P., of Welle'iley House. Prizes
for exhibits of honey by cottagers, and others were
awarded, and also for bees wax, and for observatory
hives. A honey fair was also held, but there was very
little honey sold, though there w-as a good display of fine
honey in comb and extracted, by Messrs. Hollands,
Seabrook, aud Nixon.

The bee tent of the Association has also attended
local Horticultural Shows at Bagshot, Cobliam, Charter
House, Godalming, ?nd Albury, where lectures were
given on bee-keeping by the Hon. Secretary, assisted
by Mr. F. H. Lemare, and the cottager's expert, Mr.
Elson, of Farncombe, and several fresh members en-
tered. Honey fairs wero also held at each of the
above localities, and the attendance in the manipu-
lating tent was fair, the weather being all that could
be desired.

During the winter months several lectures on bee-
keeping have been given at many localities by the Hon.
Secretary, and much interest excited, many new mem-
bers having joined the Association and commenced bee- j
keeping.

BISHOP'S WALTHAM HONEY SHOW.

A show of honey was held in connexion with the
Horticultural Society's Exhibition of Bishop's Waltham
on July 17. The main object of the Society is to en-
courage cottagers and others to keep bees on the modern
principle of bar-frame hives, as a source of profit, in
preference to the old-fashioned skep. The competition
was rather small, owing to the unfavourable season for
the making of first-rate honey in this locality ; what was
shown was generally of a good quality, and, with an im-
proved schedule another year a much better show is con-
fidentty looked forward to. The principal class was that
for the best show of honey in the comb in wooden sec-
tions of any size (open to all). In this class the first
prize was awarded to Mr. G. Horner, of Swanmore, for
twelve pounds of excellent hone}', good in colour, squarely
built, and of excellent quality ; second prize was taken
by Mr. H. West, of Swanmore House, with a stand of
twelve pounds, little inferior to the first ; the third prize
being taken by Miss Medlicott, of Swanmore Vicarage.
Class 2 was for the best show of honey in wooden sec-
tions of any size (cottagers only). (The wording of the
schedule in this class required a slight alteration, the
quantity required should have been stipulated.) In this
class Mr. E. Ainsley, of Swanmore, succeeded in carrying
off first honours with twelve pounds of honey in excellent
condition, being closely followed by Mr. G. Horner,
second, and Mr. H. West, third. Mr. Privitt, of Bishop's
Waltham, exhibited, ' not for competition,' an excellent
show of this year's extracted honey in bottles, and also
about twelve pounds of super honey of excellent quality
and condition. Miss Myers, of Swanmore House, also
helped to increase the attraction with an excellent ex-
hibit, 'not for competition,' of last year's honey. Mr.
Padbury, of Bishop's Waltham (a bee-keeper of thirty
years' standing), and Mr. Privitt were the judges.

THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY AT
PRESTON.

The exhibition of hives, honey, and bee furniture most
applicable to modern bee-keeping is a revelation to those
who have been accustomed to the old straw skep, the
beehive so often used in illustration to symbolise indus-
try. It lingers on in some rural districts, associated still

with all the primitive methods of bee culture, but the
day of its extinction is not far off. Thi^pveable comb
hives, which are absolutely necessary ■Opes are to be
intelligently managed and kept at a profiT/are fast com-'
ing to the front, and bee-culture is already followed
extensively by many individuals, who find that when
conducted on scientific principles it can be made a pro-
fitable source of income. The British Bee-keepers'
Association offer prizes again this year for the best hives,
and also for the best exhibition of honey extracted, and
in sections of combs. There was a very fair number
of entries, and great interest was taken in the competi-
tion. Jars of run honey of various hues, from the palest
yellow to the darkest brown, indicated the nature of the
bee pasturage. The hives and apiarian appliances were
very numerous, and the variety of the latter especially
were in man}' cases excellent testimonies to the inventive
genius of several of our most noted bee-masters. In a
spectacular sense, the most interesting exhibits on the
stands of the inventors were what are known as observa-
tory hives. Among these obervatories one which
attracted much attention was a unieomb structure
exhibited by Mr. S. J. Baldwin, one of the experts of
the British Bee-keepers' Association, and the lecturer on
bee-culture and bee-driving at the Royal Show this
week. George Neighbour and Son, of High Holborn,
took the first prize for the best collection of hives and bee
furniture most applicable to modern bee-keeping. Messrs.
E. C. Walton also exhibited some moveable comb bee-
hives and aspeciality in the shape of boxes constructed to
hold lib. of honey, to be sent by parcels post. Ligurian
bees were mostly used at the show for observatory
purposes. The bees were flying about in hundreds, and
the temperature was high, as could be easily ascertained
by feeling at the glass. Messrs. Dines and Son, well-
known and successful makers, were awarded the first
prize for the best frame hive of a substantial character
for general use in an apiary with arrangements for
summer and winter use. There was a good siiow of
frame hives for cottagers' use, and Messrs. Dines and
Sons here again carried off the chief honours with
a structure the leading qualities of which were effi-
ciency and simplicity. The most interesting feature
in connection with this exhibition was the illustra-
tion of bee -driving by Mr. Baldwin, who delivered
a very instructive Commentary while he manipulated
the bees.

Class 191. Frame-hive, not exceeding 15s. 1st, Dines
and Son; 2nd, S.J.Baldwin; 3rd, A. T; Adams; Com-
mended, W. Lonsdale, W. Knott, E. G. Parker, and
C. Redshaw. — Class 192. Frame-hive, not exceeding
10s. Gd. 1st, Dines and Son ; 2nd, A. T. Adams ; .'!rd, S.
J. Baldwin; Commended, W. Lonsdale and C. RedshaW.
— Class 193. Collection. 1st, Neighbour and Son ; 2nd,
W. P. Meadows; 3rd, S. J. Baldwin. — Class 194. Best
superof honey. 1st, Woodley Bros. ; 2nd, W. Woodley ;
3rd, W. Cotterill ; Highly commended, the Bee and Fruit
Farming Co. — Class 195. Twelve 2-lb. section of comb
honey. 1st, Miss Gayton; 2nd, the Bee aud Fruit
Farming Co.; 3rd, Woodley Bros. — Class 190. Twelve
1-lb. sections of comb honey. 1st, Miss Gayton; 2nd,
the Bee and Fruit Farming Co. ; 3rd, W. Woodley; Com-
mended, W. B. Carr. — Class 197. Run or extracted
honey. 1st, Miss Gayton; 2nd, W. Woodley; 3rd,
Woodley Bros. ; Highly commended, II. Gibbs ; Com-
mended, E. G. Parker. — Class 198. Comb-foundation,
made in the presence of the Judges. 1st, not awarded;
2nd, Neighbour and Son.

The Show was an excellent one ; more than one hun-
dred entries were made in the eight classes; splendid spe-
cimens of honey were shown. The Judges were T. W.
Cowan, J. M. Hooker, and R. 11. Godfrey. Great
interest was manifested in the department, the shed
containing the exhibits and the bee-tent being constantly
thronged with visitors.

Angus 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

Jfoxxt&yavtotmt.

OUR HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the United King-
dom, during the month of June, 18?.>, amounted to
0848/. [From a private return sent by the Principal
of the Statistical Department, II.M. Customs, to E. II.
IMlairs, Wingfield, Christehurcb..]

EXPERIENCES IN BEE-KEEPING.

The f ollowingjiave been my experiences in bee-keeping
for the last month. Referring to the reply to my queries
in Bee Journal of June 1st, I tried transferring B. Found
it easier to read about than to do. Could I have read the
paper on transferring in 1st July number I would have
got on better. However the bees have repaired damages
and are multiplying. I decided to let well enough alone,
and not to move the other hives. I, therefore, every few
days put in a fresh frame of foundation in each of them.
The bees multiplied rapidly, and I soon had each hive
with ten and eleven frames. I then put on supers.
W; H.j the owner of A, has got sixteen pound sections
out of it, and yesterday it sent off a large swarm, which
we successfully hived. W. II. was also lucky enough to
lind a swarm in the top of a tree in the neighbouring
demesne. This was secured by cutting off the branch,
rolling it up in a tablecloth, and carrying it home. My
hive C was evidently going to swarm, so I took off the
supers, and found the body crammed with bees, and a
great deal of brood in the combs ; evidently swarming
must soon take place, so I took Mr. Cowan's plan, and
put on another body with ten frames in it, and the super
over it. I hope this will stop the swarming. I have
bespoken already about fifteen swarms of condemned
bees, and am making twenty hives. W. IT. is so pleased
with his success that he is going to start eight hives, if
he can. I hope to get two or three farmers and others
to start frame hives. I have arranged for getting the
timber for the twenty hives sawed at the sawmills, so
that I can make them by the use of a tenon saw, a chisel,
and a hammer. The bodies are double, 18 x 14w inches
inside, 2i inches thick. The cost of the material is two
pounds. As this is cheaper than most people get their
hives, I shall be glad to give you particulars and drawings.

Now, would you kindly get Mr. Cowan to give infor-
mation on the following points: — 1. How did he get
such strong colonies so early in the year; was it by
spreading brood, uniting, or doubling? 2. Bid be shut
off the upper bodies from the brood nest by excluder
zinc ? 3. How does he treat these huge hives in autumn ?

4. I think of devoting B to making comb to supply con-
demned bees with : how could I put on a dry feeder ?

5, I make the stand of my hives similar to Mr. Cowan's,
with 3§-inch sides to support the floor-board ; I think of
setting each on a foundation made of Portland cement :
will this answer ? In this damp climate sawdust would
rot and become a focus of evil. 6. How is the queen
found in a swarm ; it seems a hopeless search among the
thousands of bees all over one another? — A. W. Wal-
lace, M.B.

[The colonies referred to were not doubled or
united, but they were made strong by simply
spreading the brood. When I took them in baud,
in the middle of April, one of them had brood on
eight frames, the others all had six frames of brood.
I kept these changed about until the space became
too crowded, and then added more frames, until the
body hive containing the eleven frames was crowded
with brood and bees. When I saw that the bees
were rather pinched for want of room in some of the

hives, I removed some of the frames of brood from
centre and put them into an empty hive. The re-
maining frames were then brought together and
frames of empty comb put on each side. The hive
into which the frames of brood were put was also
filled up with frames of empty comb, and this was
placed on the top of first hive. Very soon the hatch-
ing brood was tilling both hives and the queen was
breeding in both these boxes, and as the honey
gathering had commenced and the bees were strong
enough a third box with frames of empty comb
was placed over the other two. This the bees
commenced to use as a super, rapidly filling it.
A fourth hive was then added above the other
three, and this was also used as a store for honey.
The four storeys were completely filled with bees,
and the two lower ones and part of the third with
brood. Of course, to prevent such huge colonies
from swarming it was necessary to give the bees
plenty of room to fly in and out. The hives were,
therefore, raised in front three quarters of an inch
high, so that they had free access to the hives on
three sides. These hives are all used for extraction,
and some of the upper storeys have already been ex-
tracted twice. The hives used for sections have tw< i
body-boxes and three tiers of sections ; that is, sixty-
three sections o:i at a time. The Stewartou was
started with two body-boxes, a super was then placed
on it, after that a second super, and a body-box under-
neath. This hive had the sixth super added on
22nd July, in which the bees are already at work ;
this makes the hive nine storeys high. I would
say that, it not being possible to spread brood in a
Stewartou so readily as in a frame hive, I several
times changed the position of the body-boxes, some-
times putting the top to the bottom, and the
bottom to the top. No excluder zinc of any kind
was used in any of the hives; and in the Stewartou
access was given to supers by side slits, and when
the bees had nearly finished one super, all the slides
were withdrawn.

In the autumn, when the bees are diminishing in
number, the top hive will be removed, then the
next, and then the second, only leaving one body-
box for winter ; the hives always being kept
crowded, so as to retain the heat during the cold
nights. The bees are in Cowan hives, and are
easily enlarged in this way. My apiary can be
seen at any time ; but we shall very soon begin
removing the upper boxes, as the honey is not
coming in so fast just now. I would mention that
my bees are Cyprians and crossbreds, and that all
the queens are selected young and prolific ones.

Put in the dry feeder as directed by Mr. Simmius
(page 188, vol. xii., Bee Journal).

My floor-boards are set on four bricks, and do
not require a foundation of Portland cement. This
allows air to circulate under the floor-board, and
prevents damp arising.

If you wish to find a queen in a swarm,
you should spread a cloth on the ground, and at
one end of it prop a hive up with a stone placed
under its front edge. You then take hold of
the skep containing the swarm, and with a smart
jerk throw out all the bees on to the cloth

254

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[August 1, 1885,

about a couple of feet from the hive. With a
spoon place a few of the bees close to the hive ;
and these, finding a home so near at hand, will at
once crawl towards it, uttering a joyful hum which
will attract the others who will quickly follow.
Now as the bees arc running over the cloth and
into the hive, keep a sharp watch, and as soon as
the queen is seen going in she can be captured.
Do not search over the whole of the cloth, but keep
your eyes upon those entering the hive, and it will
be difficult to miss the queen. — Thos. We Cowan.]

COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS AND SUNDRY
OTHEU MATTERS.

' Well, sir, when are you going to give us a weekly
Journal at a penny ? ' This was the last question I wrote
to poor Mr. Peel, his answer was, ' All in good time.
Meanwhile when shall I see your name at the hottom
of a communication ?' So I put the question now to you ;
and I want you to give us a ' growler' column when you do
make the alteration and have more space at your disposal.
There are lots of things that want ventilating. Look at
what ' West Midland ' and ' Leicesterian ' have been saying
about County Associations, — and you can scarce wonder
at it ; they do not come up to the mark at all.

Now let me tell you my idea of what a County Asso-
ciation should be. It should have a good list of ornamental
officers. Of course it looks well, and moreover their sub-
scriptions are useful — when you get them (?). A strong
representative committee is also requisite. They must be
men of mark, well known in public life, but they need not
own a bee ; and, being once elected, they need not trouble
to attend any of the meetings, as the work should always
he done by the Hon. Secretary. This latter personage
being so important, it is of the very last importance that
you should select the proper man. Well, he must be a
'busy man,' with scarcely a minute to live; a man of
leisure lias ' no time' to work at such things as Associa-
tions. Being busy and hard-working, he will of course
not be rich, — the two things never go together ; like oil
and water, they won't mix. And now we come to his
duties. Tbe duties of the Hon. Secretary and the Asso-
ciation are synonymous, so I will attempt to enumerate
them. He must stump his county to get members;
he must not expect members to do so, as it is ' easier
said than done.' People don't see it. What are
they to get for their money? Having got the mem-
bers, he must get their subscriptions ; this will cost
him about five letters each member on an average.
Until they come in he must advance money to pay
incidental expenses out of his own pocket. If a
member says lie has paid, and the postal-order has been
stolen or never sent(!), he must hear the loss. He must
next allot the numbers of the British Bee Journal for
circulation, write the list on the front page, post them,
and that is done with. All, dear no! he must jog the
members up, or they will not pass them on for six weeks
after date ; and as to the last member on the list returning
them ! They always are returned, but those rascally
post-office people never take heed of such things to
deliver them, what is the use ? Shows ! yes, let us
have plenty of shows and lots of prizes, and good ones,
too, worth gaining ; there will be lots of gate-money to
pay them with, especially if it pours with rain. But
shows are not much trouble, and how nice they are !
what a rendezvous for bee-keepers, how they show up !
And then, you know, you always get a free pass, so that it
costs you nothing ; one ought to get something for their
half-a-crown subscription. We must be careful not to
incur much expense over shows. The hon. secretary can
very well stage the exhibits ; and, to me, I never could
see the force of hiring a saleswoman for the sale-counter

and charging \d. on the Is. commission on sales to pay
her, surely the hon. secretary could seMfa) taking the
money for sales. True, he often li:is^^|t as expert,
but then he might manage to sell a quantitv between
the ' displays ' in the bee-tent ; there is a great deal in
' method ' and ' tact.' Some people are everywhere and
anywhere at the same time, and always manage with
the most perfect method. To such people tbe help of
the committee would be simply a bore, and, besides, if
it was not, he would not get it, so that is much the
same thing. But most shows have an expert now, they
are getting so plentiful there is no trouble to secure the
services of either grade, ' fine,' ' superfine,' or ' extra
superfine.' But if there is an expert, the secretary
should always feel in duty bound to* find him an
audience for each display in the bee-tent ; it is a simple
matter, you have only to shout out, ' The next bee-
driving in the bee-tent will take place in ten minutes,'
and then hurry off to the bee-tent door to take the
money. Then comes the packing up and clearing off
the unsold to the rail ; he can always procure the help
of a small boy for a few pence. The members present
have had a tiring day and consequently cannot help, — the
idea of expecting such a thing ! But then you know,
sir, the secretary must not expect his duties to end here.
He is in a very favourable position to sell lots of honey
for the members, he can get lots and forward them on
to customers ; and if the railway smashers finish off the
whole lot so that the customer refuses to take it, well,
that is rather awkward for the hon. secretary, but he
cannot expect the poor cottager, who is a member of
the Association, to bear the loss; the secretary is a
gentleman and it won't hurt him !

Then there are the arrangements for the expert's visits :
he ought to arrange them differently, so as to give each
member more time ; and then what is the use of his
coming so late that the bees are dead for want of food in
spring ? But one visit is scarce enough ; he ought to come
and fold the sections, and fix the foundation, and place
on the super crates ; and I know he would be of great
service if he could only be handy when it is time to fake
them off, bees are generally so savage just at that time,
and to me the expert never seems to mind being stung.
I suppose one gets used to it in course of time ; and as
for extracting, that is the job of all- others members
dislike most as a rule ; I really think the expert ought to
he sent round to do that and put the hives right for
winter. He need not be sent all over the county, as the
hon. secretary might do his own district near home very
well. Well, sir, you won't find me much more room
until you get your weekly issue. I have said enough,
I am sure, to give you an idea of what a hon. secretary
should be, and what are his duties; there is here and
there a solitary one that partly comes up to this ideal.
I know one that writes in spring time about one hundred
letters a-week for his Association, and stops up uutil
midnight to get through them, acts as judge, spends his
holidays in stumping his county, holds quarterly con-
ferences in several parts of his county, writes for the
Journal, keeps lots of the old women bee-keepers' bees in
order, advances money, buys honey and sells it again and
never gets paid himself, finds time to lend a hand to the
parent Association, although he is not on her Committee,
looks after the experts. But even he fails in some things.
He does not find extractors, and smokers, and gloves, and
veils in every village in his county ; and I think he
ought to do so. To ho sure, many of his members are
always in arrears with their subscriptions, some of the
defaulters being vice-presidents, &c. ; but then you
know there is much in an ' honour,' and a Hon. Secretary
has a very honorary post. I wish I could get the job,
I would soon cease to be an — Amateur Expert.

[We hope our correspondent will get the post which
is the acme of his ambition, and that he will find it
to he a bed of roses. — En.]

August I, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

255

COUNTY ASSOC IATIONS.-
LETTERS.

-ANONYMOUS

With yoii#J^d permission I wish to draw attention
to certain letters which have lately appeared in the
B. B. J. under the above heading.

On the substance of these letters I have no comment
to make; I merely wish to inquire why the writers do
not put their own names to tneir letters, like English
gentlemen. When I read an anonymous growl like that
signed ' /3of'c,' I can only come to one of two conclusions,
either that for some reason the writer is ashamed of his
name, or that the contents of his letter cannot be sub-
stantiated.

As hon. seCjfif various societies of different kinds, I
have occasionally succeeded in running one of these
anonymous growlers to ground, and I have invariably
found them to be persons who either do not subscribe
at all, or who in return for a paltry shilling or half-a-
crown expect a good ten shillings' worth, with the right
to growl out of sight, and the privilege of doing nothing
for the good of the Society.

"Will the good time ever come, sir, when editors will
afford to dispense with all anonymous letters, and cease
to patronise cowards who seek to wound or injure where
they have not the courage to stand up and fight like
men? — J.LiNGE>r Seager, The Grange, Stevenage.

Dn. WRAY'S ' MEL-PEL.'
I have much pleasure in sending you, as requested,
the following description of the three forms of my
newly invented, and provisionally protected, honey
extractor, or ' Mel -pel' {i.e. ' /ionei/-e.rpeller,)l ex-
hibited at the Conversazione of the B. B. K. A., held
on the 22nd. This acts — upon the familiar principle
of the toy 'windmill' — in producing revolutions first
in one direction, and then in the other, by pulling a
string coiled round a reel, through the middle of which
passes an axis that carries also a tin case holding the
sections or frames. The axis, which is of wood, has at
each end an iron pin working either in a double metal
bracket fixed to an upright post, or in an iron frame
screwed to a level surface, such as a table or floor.

1. The smallest and simplest Mel-pel holds three
1-lb. sections arranged in a triangle within a cylindrical
tin case, having a fixed watertight bottom and moveable
lid. Through the centre of this case, both top and
bottom, and fixed to the bottom, passes a tube fitting to
the axis, which is made square, so that when the axis
revolves the case and sections are carried with it, and
the centrifugal force thus produced ejects the honey
from the outer side of the comb, previously uncapped in
the ordinary way. The sections stand upon a stool
which keeps them from the bottom, so as to leave space
below for the honey falling to the bottom. This space
holds fully 3 lbs.," the contents of the three sections

Below the case, and embracing the axis, is a wooden
reel to which is attached and wound a few feet of
string. This, when pulled, causes the axis, case, and
sections to revolve; and when the string is pulled its
full length, the case will continue to turn until the
string is re-wound, but in the opposite direction. The
speed can bo varied to any degree ; and care must be
taken to begin each pull very gently, and to allow the
speed to exhaust itself gradually, so that the Mel-pel is
stationary before the next pull is given.

The engraving is a sketch of this form, being about
one-quarter of the actual size.

n

BRACKET

{

3"

z
o

Id

I-

a

EXTRACTED

HONEV

(•

2. The next form of Mel-pel is made so as to hold
either three 2-lb. sections, or four of 1 lb. It differs
moreover, from the former in containing below a separate
stationary receiver for the honey : the socket, in which
the lower pin of the axis turns, being fixed in the centre
of this receiver ; whilst the upper pin works in the middle
of an iron frame spanning the whole, with one leg fixed,
on each side of the receiver, to a table or other horizontal
support. The top of this frame opens and closes on a
hinge, enabling the operator to adjust and empty the
' Mel-jyeV

In this case the reel is placed above the case (instead
of below, as in No. 1), and the watertight bottom is
replaced by an open cross-piece, allowing the honey to
fall through it into the receiver, which has a spout to
discharge below.

3. This is similar to No. 2, except in being adapted to
bar-frames. Of these it holds two, placed on end so
that the projecting limb at one end of the top-bar passes
through, and is thus secured within, a hole in the
bottom cross-piece; whilst the other projecting limb
passes through a corresponding hole in the lid, which
thus holds it in its place. — G. 0. Whay, LL.D., Bedford,
25th July, 1885.

BEES CROSSING THE SEA.

If your readers would like a little gossip about bees, I
think an incident connected with a swarm would he
likely to interest them.

In this island of Valentin, from which my story
emanates, I had a strong stock of bees in a large flat-
topped straw skep. On the 20th of June last they sent

250

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[August 1, 1885.

off a good large swarm, which alighted in a fuchsia
hedge about twenty yards from the hive. I captured
them, and they are now at work well in a bar-frame
hive. They have nearly filled seven frames, and I have
just given them two more behind an excluder dummy.
On the 28th of June the same stock started off a second
swarm, which settled in a fuchsia hedge close to the
hive. These are now at work in a bar-frame hive.
Perhaps here, by way of parenthesis, I may say that the
fuchsia grows most luxuriously in Yalentia, and here
are miles of fuchsia hedges now in full flower to the
great delight of the bees. When I speak of hedges I
don't mean hedges with some fuchsias in here and there,
but they are composed entirely of this beautiful plant.
And to return to my story. Two days after the second
swarm the same bees sent off a good cast. Instead of
hovering over the fuchsias, as did the others, these sailed
off at once in a straight line down by a bank bordering
the garden, on still straight by the same bank bordering
a field, until they reached the arm of the sea which
divides this island from the mainland. They still con-
tinued their onward course in a direct line, and were off
across the sea ! The distance of the parent hive from
the sea is nearly a quarter of a mile. On m}r asking
an old boatman how far he thought it was across he
said, ' Oh ! more power to the bees, 'tis every step of a
mile and a half, and I believe 'tis more.'

I have heard of bees going a long distance by land,
but never before heard of their crossing the sea. I
wonder if your readers ever knew of a similar case?
After about forty years' experience with bees I am
pretty well acquainted with their 'manners and customs,'
and I am quite sure their strange flight was the result
of forethought, and not merely a momentary impulse.
They did not pause a moment in their flight, but went
off as men do who have a definite object in view.
Thinking they would turn back I had a look-out kept to
the right and left of their point of embarcation, but
they did not turn. We followed them as fast as we
could in our boat, thinking they would alight as soon
as they reached the mainland. Of course it took some
time to row back a distance, and after a diligent search
no trace of them could be found. The next day we
heard that a country boy had seen them settling in a
tree about a mile inland. Again the following dav they
were seen still another mile inland, and near to the town
of Cahirciveen, but they could not be recovered. The
fields to which they crossed are pretty well covered
with white clover, and my opinion is that some of the
bees had previously visited the clover and had made up
their minds to conduct their new queen to this new
country. — C. C. Pilpold.

REMOVING SECTIONS.
I write to point out two happy misses I have had of
unfortunate results connected with removing sections.
I commenced this season by following the advice given
on page 202 in ' Useful Hints' concerning removing crates.
I followed out the hint exactly; when replacing the
crate I was attracted by the excitement and exclama-
tions of my little boy, who had accidentally spied,
crawling on the walk between the 'quiet shady spot'
and the hive, the queen. Of course I took her back to
the hive, and in she walked. The explanation seems to
be that she had walked on to the frames when the hive
was smoked, and thence on to the bottom of the sections
or crate, had been carried to the shady spot, had been
tumbled about unobserved during the 'changing of the
sections, and had finally fallen to the ground on the
crate's being carried back to be replaced. This same
thing has happened twice with different hives on dif-
ferent days. This seems to me to be a serious risk to
run when removing sections. I should be glad to hear
whether others have experienced a similar disaster or

have within a week or two of the work found the
hive queenless.

I have since the second occurrence removed sections
without removing the crate from its •JBje', and have
experienced no difficulty in doing so, notwithstanding
the misfortune described on page 2.'!0 in last Journal.
The only disadvantage in this method seems to be that
it does not give an opportunity of looldng over the
frames, if this is wished. — It. E. C.

IIONEY-DEW.

In my neighbourhood the oaks are completely covered
with honey dew ; nearly all clover houey has been spoiled
with this abominable stuff; my bees collect it to the
exclusion of almost every other source. It is very
annoying to see large trees of lime hardly visited at all
by the honey bee, while their more sensible cousins, the
various species of humble bees, are collecting the pure
nectar. I never remember the honey dews so heavy and
abundant as this year: the liquid in some instances I
have noted trickles off the leaves and literally saturates
the ground beneath. I should fancy the 'dew' deposited
by the oak aphis is darker in colour than that deposited
by any other aphid. Certainly I can produce a beautiful
sample of the blackest of black aphidean honey, which is
almost the colour of ink. My hives are full of it.

This should be a glorious season for those ancient bee-
keepers who aver that nothing beats a summer prolific
in honey-dews for a surplus of honey. Is there any
commercial, domestic, or any other use for this black
abomination ? — Henhy Bobbie, Thickthorn, Xoncir/i,
July 21st.

CUKE FOR STINGS.
Many of your readers will he pleased to know that by
washing their hands in vinegar, and allowing it to dry
on, when handling bees, they will escape being stung ;
at least, I have tried it many times, always with satis-
factory results. The vinegar used was from Hill, Evans,
& Co., Worcester, F. quality. — R. Franks, Ironbridye,
July 16.

VARIEGATED ARABIS AND FRENCH
HONEYSUCKLE.

I take the opportunity to call the attention of the
readers of the Journal to a plant that should be grown
byeverv bee-keeper, and I am a little surprised that it
has not teen noticed before; but perhaps its general
scarcity would account for it not being mentioned. The
plant which I would call especial attention to is variegated
Arabis. It comes into bloom just as the old green-
foliaged arabis bloom is fading away, and remains a
considerable time in bloom longer than the common
white. It is very useful for bedding out or hedging
purposes, grows very even, and does not spread so fast as
the common. Coming into flower as the other dies out
it thus affords a valuable succession of early bee forage
that no other plant supplies at that time of year, and I
would strongly advise bee-keepers to cultivate it. It
supplies a good quantity of honey, and my bees worked
upon it very much at the commencement of June during
the dull weather that then prevailed. To grow varie-
gated arabis to perfection it must not be planted in very
rich soil, or the pretty foliage will change to the common
green colour.

French Honeysuckle. — As the autumn advances I shall
supply those orders for seed that I have on hand, and
which I could not supply at the commencement of the
year. The orders will be sent in rotation ; and to bloom
next year it should be sown as soon as received on a
hot-bed, receiving frame protection during the winter.
The young plants cau be planted out about the end of
April to where they are required to bloom. Those that

August 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

257

cannot treat them as above, would find it to their
advantage to get the plants and plant at once. I shall
be pleased to kAu- if any have changed their addresses. —
W. Hollixs, Tilliiiffttin Avenue, Stafford.

SHOWS AND BEE-TEXT ENGAGEMENTS.

Nottinghamshire. — Aug. •'!, Mansfield; 11, Wil-
loughby- on -the- Wolds; 26, Retford; Sept. 2, Clar-
borough ; 22, Radcliffe-on-Trent.

Worcestershire. — Ausr. .'!, Kingsnorton; 5, Astwood
Bank ; 6, Blackmore Park ; 15, Kidderminster ; 18,
Madresfield Court; 20, 21, Annual Show, Worcester.

Buckinghamshire. — Aug. :i, Colnbrook, entries close
July 24; 19, High Wycombe, entries close Aug. 10.

Warwickshire. — Aug. '■',, Alcester; 12, Erdington;
•Sept. 2, .">, County Show, Leamington; 8, Bedworth.

Essex. — Aug. 12, Harlow.

Glamorganshire. — Aug. 5, 6, Neath.

Surrey. — Aug. 12, Lower Cheam House, Sutton.

Shropshire. — Aug. 10, 20, Quarry, Shrewsbury.

Hampshire. — Aug. 1 & 3, Southampton.

Aberdare. — Aug. IS.

Somersetshire. — Aug. 3, Twerton-on-Avon; 0,
South Petherton ; 13, Nunnery ; 17, Street ; 20, North
Perrott; Sept. 9, Banwell, near Weston-super-Mare.

(BfyatB from %

Sunningdale, Berks. — Perhaps the names of the fol-
lowing shrubs and trees may be of interest to some of
the readers of the B. B. Journal, as they seem to be much
sought after by bees for forage. My bees have been
working in them all day long for the last few weeks. I
have put them in the order in which they blossomed : —
Holly trees, black spruce, cotoneaster, the snowy mes-
pilus (snowberry), kalmia. They have been gathering
pollen from lupins (blue and white), garden poppies,
Canterbury bells, escholzia, single old-fashioned garden
roses, and have gone home laden. — F. G.

Neath, Glamorganshire. — A stock of driven bees has
already given me 80 lbs. extracted honey, and our har-
vest is just beginning, as blackberries form the staple
supply. — E. G.

Rasper, Horsham, July 15. — The bees have been work-
ing splendidly here. From one hive with only nine
combs I have already obtained 35 lbs. 2 oz. from the
supers, and 19 lbs. 8 oz. from below. Two other hives
are also doing very well, but not equal to the above. — A.
F. Parbury.

Hmiey Cott, Weston, Leamington, July 21. — Almost
immediately after my last echo we had a favourable
change in the weather, and the honey came rolling in, and
made quite a change in the apiary, though at the pre-
sent time flowers are fading for want of rain, which has
threatened for several days, but scarcely any has fallen
here. On the whole, I think we may reckon the honey
flow has been up to the average of this last few years.—
John Waeton.

Bishops Waltham, Hants, July 22.— The weather keeps
lovely,and the bees are working well and carrying in honey
fast, chiefly from the limes and buckwheat; swarms are
few, and I think and hope we may have a verv successful
finish up of the season. — A Hampshire Bee-keeper.

Hunts, Somersham,July 24th.— The delightful weather
with which July opened has continued, with the excep-
tion of two days when rain fell, up to now. Our honey
flow, as usual, ceased with June, but it has been coming
in in fair quantity since. Limes have been splendid, but
are now nearly over. They have been much visited by
bees, although in the early morning they seemed to show

a decided preference for the ' honeydew ' which has been
too plentiful. The blackberry is now in full bloom. I
have found my bees working well on it during past years,
lnit never yet have I been able to notice dark honey in
my hives; so I am led to conclude, with the writer of
' Useful Hints,' that an error has been made in saying
that honey from that source is black. I was walking
through the fen on June 20 with a farmer, and could
not help exclaiming, ' How delightful ! Here apparently
is a never-ending supply of forage for bees; oh, that
mine were here, instead of pining for more work at
home ! ' I saw what I thought to be three splendid
fields of mustard ; but judge of my surprise when I was
told that I was mistaken. Although in the distance
they looked when in bloom like mustard, they were in
reality fields of barley and oats ; but nothing was to be
seen but charlock. The quantity of honey gathered in
the fens has been immense, but unfortunately it is all in
skeps. I hope, should this meet the e\-e of the members
of our Association, that they will endeavour to attend
our Annual Show at St. Neots on August 3rd. It pro-
mises to be one of the best yet held. — C. N. White,
Hon. Sec, Hunts B. K. A.

South Cornwall, July 27th. — Through press of occupa-
tions I omitted to send you my usual few lines for your
last mid-monthly number, and now I almost fear I may
be too late for August 1st. This time it is the bees.
But had I written at the end of June I could only have
echoed the complaints of so many correspondents about
the weather. As to this I may say that I had to feed
two swarms on midsummer da)', and if our friend Mr.
Griffin (to whom felicitations) could find time just now
to give us a meteorological report I fancy it would show
that the temperature of this summer to the end of June
was of unusually low average per diem. But with July
better prospects opened, and, with the exception of two
or three dull days, we have had a rare time of it indeed.
The season is late, but rapid. Swarming has been late
all round, and for myself I am satisfied that I have had
too many proofs that when the swarming fit is on
nothing will stop it — for two or three attempts at least.
It runs its time, like a fever, spite of queen-cells removed
and supers supplied. Sections half filled have been more
than once deserted. But the 3'oung brood have done
wonders. A cottager slung 2o lbs. on Saturday last
from a doubled hive, and my best crate of twenty-one
sections, which I hope to exhibit to-morrow at our St.
Austell show, is from a swarm of June 1st in an
Abbott's Combination hive. For three or four days the
weather has been too hot for work, and bees hang in
clusters, though they have ample room indoors and in
the attics, which have to be furnished on emergency
with all sorts of make-shift devices. Clover, like the
corn, is some ten days late, which suits the season
admirably; and with it, self-heal {Prunella vulgaris) is
much frequented. Surely we ought to reduce the
amount of imports. — C. R. S.

Brentwood, Essex, July 2S. — During the last week
honey has been coming in slowly, but the season as yet
has been very good with me. Up to the present I have
taken 48 lbs., 22 lbs., and 11 lbs. — 81 lbs. from three
hives. — L. B.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-

Captain Bevington. — Bees stinging when Swarming.
— As it is very unusual for bees to sting at that time
it is highly probable that the soft soap on your hands
was the exciting cause, especially as after washing you
handled them with impnnity.

Busy' Bee. — Simmins' Feeders. — -The feeders are espe-
cially suited for autumn feeding. The syrup is more
likely to crystallise after boiling than without, for the
simple reason that a large proportion of the water is
expelled under the process.

258

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[August 1, 1885.

A. F. Parbury. — Dark-coloured Honey. — Your bees
have teen collecting' honey-dew, alias excreta of the
insects called aphides, which abound almost every-
where, and is spoiling- a great deal of honey. The
foliage of most trees in our neighbourhood is affected by
it under the name of ' blight,' but at present our bees
having other forage, have refused to collect it. We find
the black bees more inclined to store this nauseous
stuff than the Italian and Eastern races. So far as
we know there is no remedy. In long droughts,
especially when easterly winds prevail, this pest of
'honey-dew' usually appears. The leading bee-keepers
in America consider it almost poisonous to bees, as it
causes dysentery. There the aphides are called ' tree-
lice,' and their excreta ' bug-juice.' It is not honoured
with the name of honey. Extract, ripen, and sell.
Afterwards feed on sugar syrup.

John A. Balmer, Paris, Illinois. — 1. Dues Bee-keeping as
a Business pay in England? — Yes. If you secure a
good district with a succession of various kinds of
bloom, and vigilantly watch over your stocks with
careful and skilful management. Those who deal in
bee-appliances, or breed queens for sale, make a fairly
remunerative business of it. We would not advise
starting near the moors unless there were also the
early blooms, such as fruit, clover, &c, to assist
breeding up strong colonies for the collection of honey
from the heather, which is very destructive to bee-
life, causing strong stocks to rapidly dwindle through
the sudden changes in the temperature at that late
season of the year. We should prefer for locality the
Midlands or the South, but the heat in the latter
sometimes causes the bloom to quickly dry up, yet it
assists bi-eeding more than in the northern parts of
this island. 2. Average Yield. — We consider about
twenty-five to thirty pounds of honey is an average
yield from a quantity of strong colonies.

B, Basset. — The honey has an unpleasant taste. It
is lime honey contaminated with an admixture of
honey-dew.

H. A. P. — Asparagus Pollen and Honey. — The
flowers of asparagus furnish pollen of a bright
orange colour, as also does mignonette. We should
class the asparagus as a second-class honey-yielding
plant ; as to quality we are unable to furnish any
information further than it is of a very light straw
colour.

E. W. Machin. — Messrs. Howard, of Holme, Peter-
borough, and W. Meadows, of Syston, near Leicester,
are the makers of the various forms of Mr. Simmins'
dry feeders. The receipt of Mr. Hewitt's wintering
candy will be found in vol. xi. p. 119.

Broadwell. — Unsealed Ho<ey. — The honey will not
keep in unsealed sections. They might have been
left on the hive, and would have been sealed, during
your absence from home. We advise you to return
them to the hive. If you prefer not to do this, the
only other plan is to extract them and to ripen the
honey by heating it to about 00° Fahr.

Edward C. Davies. — Moving Bees two hundred
Yards. — If you drive your bees, and pour them from
one skepto another, they may be removed the distance
mentioned, and will not show any desire to return to
their former locality.

A. E. S. — 1. Memoving Bees from Glass Supers. — You
may shut the super in a dark box, and occasionally
open it to let the bees out until all are gone, or use a
box fitted with a bee-trap, so that they can get out,
but not in. 2. Bees buildmy Combs upwards in Glass
Supers. — Before putting on glasses they should be
coated with wax by warming the glass, pouring a
little melted wax in and turning about so as to leave a
thin coat. This gives the bees foothold, and a good

surface from which to build. The moisture on the
glass was condensed through its not being kept warm
enough. ^

Anon. — 1. Transferring from Sleep anchj'rom odd-sized
Bar-frame to Standard-frame Hives. — Cut out the
combs and tie them into the frames. The method of
doing it was recently described in our replies. 2.
Driven Stocks. — It is not necessary to find and remove
any queens, as they will fight it out among themselves
and the strongest will survive. It is usual, however,
to retain the young queens, and destroy the old ones.

J. G. W., Stafford. — 1. If your swarm complete their
super while there is yet honey coming in, you may by
giving them the partially filled one from your other
hive get it filled. 2. Yes; you can frequently get bees
to accept a super by driving them into it. 3. We
should not recommend a shed. We prefer each hive
to stand on a separate stand, and covered with its own
roof. 4. Uniting a Cast. — If you united your cast
and swarm now, your super would be better and more
quickly filled.

II. J. S., Westham, near Hastings. — A Small Queen. —
Your queen was exceedingly small, though I can
hardly say of her as you do, ' the smallest 1 ever saw.'
She was, in fact, neither truly a queen, nor truly a
worker, but a bit of both. Spermatheca very small,
but full of spermatozoa, so that she had mated rightly
enough, but abdomen more hairy, legs smaller, tongue
longer than those of a true queen. I have no doubt
her glandular structures partake of the form proper to
the worker, but the dissection of these I cannot under-
take for a day or two. Such cases are extremely
instructive. I apprehend from your letter that the
stock in which she was raised swarmed naturally ; if
I am wrong here a oost-card would much oblige. —
F. C.

B. J. B., Great Haywood. — The combs are affected with
Bacillus alvei rather badly. Honey is not damaging
to human beings if taken from a diseased hive, but it
often carries traces of the nauseous odour, which is not
appetising. When boiled and thinned it may be used
as bee food. The best means for preventing the spread
of the malady is to cure the infected stock. — F. C.

E. Hough. — 1. Dead Queen. — You ask whether your
queen is Ligurian. Queens vary much in colour even
when pure. After death they change and darken, so
that it is not possible to give an opinion with any
definiteness. 2. Transferring. — Bo not attempt to
transfer yet. The combs are tender and the weather
warm, you must at least wait until more brood has
been raised in them and the temperature lower. It
might be even desirable to leave the whole thing to
next spring. — F. C.

A. II., Donegal. — Diseased Queen and Comb. — Examined
queen and worker microscopically, both badly diseased.
Examined comb with my nose at a distance ; it is in
a terrible state. The hive should be disinfected at
once and put out of the way of bees, or it may
spread Bac. alvei far and wide. — F. C.

A. F. Phillipps. — Removing Super. — The best plan of
removing your super is to take it off the hive, about
noon on a bright tine day, quietly but quickly, with as
little disturbance as possible, and to carry it to a dark
corner, or outhouse, when, if there be no brood or
queen in it, very few bees will be found. The super
should then be placed on the ground, and raised a
little on one side, to allow the bees to fiy to a crevice
of the door, left partly open, when they will soon
desert the super. The glass part of the super must be
darkened. If performed in the garden, a sack ma}r be
thrown over the super and the bees left to depart, but
watchfulness must be exercised to prevent robbing.
The tops of supers should be moveable. The bees may
then be quickly brushed off the combs with a feather.

August 1, J 885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

253

If there be many bees, or brood, in the super, and they
refuse to leave it, return the super to the hive until
the brood is hatched, or the queen has retired below,
and then tnjugain.

R. Carter. — Carbolic Acid. — Calvert's Carbolic acid ap-
pears to be a very indefinite term. 1st. Calvert's ordinary
disinfecting' carbolic — -which is, we find, that which
we ourselves use — is sold at the stores at 7id. per 8 oz.,
or 2s. 6d. per half gallon. 2nd. Calvert's No. 1, stated
to be ' for internal use,' has been recommended to us as
a bee-quieter by a chemical friend, who states that a
solution of 1 in 40 would be of sufficient strength, and
that the addition of a little glycerine will cause a per-
fect mixture of the carbolic acid with the water. The
quoted price of No. 1 is Is. per ounce. We have
found the ordinary disinfecting carbolic to answer every
purpose a9 a bee-quieter, and refer you to the state-
ment in 'Useful Hints'— p. 217 of our issue of July
1st, 1885 — in which for the word ' strongest ' read
' ordinary.' This solution, of 2 oz. to a quart of water,
with the addition of a little glycerine, will answer
your purpose; but we do not recommend the application
of this to the face, nor to the hands, unless hardened
by exposure to the weather, when it will do no harm.
AVhen the skin is broken it must never be applied.
To use it on so tender a part as the face would be
simple madness. Use a veil for the purpose you state.

C. B. — The insect found by you in your hive was the
death's head moth (Acherontia atropos). It is found
very frequently in potato-fields, and for some un-
explainable reason is permitted by bees to enter into
and plunder then- hives with impunity.

Novice. — Packing Honey in Sections. — See 'Useful
Hints,' p. 246.

T. ^V. Y. — Leaf-cutter Bee. — Your geranium petals are
being cut by one of the leaf-cutter bees (Megachile).
There are seven British species. If one of them could
be netted while in the act, it would be extremely
interesting to note the species, as the cutting of
geranium petals is certainly very unusual. — F. C.

J. II. Fojig.- -Dead Drone and Immature Queen. — The
drone enclosed has died from the extrusion of its
organs, and has not mated. This fatal extrusion
occurs in numbers of cases, and perhaps a dozen
instances of it might be found at this season even in a
small apiary by seeking for drones lying about near
the hives late iu the afternoon of a hot day. If three
or four drones be held in the hollow of the hand for a
few minutes it will be strange if this extrusion does not
occur to at least one of them. It may be brought
about artificially by gently pinching the abdomen on
its upper side near the base. The accompanying bee
is a partly matured queen.— F. C.

J. F. Anderson. — Condemned Bees. — When driving the
bees, note which is a first swarm and which a second,
and in the ensuing operation destroy the queen of
the first swarm, and retain that of the second. Drive
each colony separately into an empty skep. In the
evening, when you have the bees at home turn up the
skep from which you wish to remove the queen.
The bees will move around the skep — but will not fly
— and you can readily pick out the queen. A feather
may be used for separating the bees until you find the
queen. When the queen is removed set down the
skep, mouth downwards. Now wedge up, in front, the
frame-hive, which the united colonies are to occupy, on
a large board or a newspaper, and shake out of the
skep the other colony possessed of a queen close to the
raised hive. When about half the bees have entered
the frame-hive shake out, upon those bees which are
still running in, the bees from which you have removed
the queen, and all will unite peacefully and run in
together. Use no smoke nor intimidation of any kind,
neither scented syrup, &c. Brushing up the bees with
a feather, moistened with carbolic solution, will hasten

their entrance to the hive, but use it sparingly. No
fighting will take place. We have peacefully united
hundreds of colonies by this method alone, and with-
out the use of smoke or syrup. The bees are very
quiet under the operation, and we do not ever remem-
ber being stung, except when crushing a bee, albeit we
use in this case neither veil nor gloves. The previous
driving of the bees, and depriving them of their combs
and brood, renders them harmless and submissive.
Rev. W. M. — Limes and Blackberries. — Our querist
wishes to know the character and colour of honey
collected from the above-mentioned sources, and
regrets that Mr. Griffin, in his pamphlet on ' Honey
and Wax,' makes no mention of these. Will any of
our correspondents or readers give us their views and
experience on the subject ? Or can Mr. Griffin en-
lighten us ? From our own experience, we have
always thought the lime-honey to be of a rich golden
colour — darker, considerably, than fruit-bloom, or
white clover honey. That collected from blackberries,
we have always supposed to be light in colour —
similar to raspberry honey — rather rich in flavour, but
having little aroma, and the quantity small, the plant
being frequented by the bees chiefly for its pollen,
which is of a bright purple colour. Will our querist
give us his own views on the subject ? We know that
blackberries abound in his neighbourhood, and at this
time of the year furnish abundant forage for the bees,
and there is no plant to which they seem more devoted.
Miss Neville. — 1. Latest date of Natural Swarming. —
End of July, or sometimes under favourable circum-
stances as to food, &c, first or even second week in
August. Langstroth states that he had a ' buckwheat
swarm ' on the 10th of September. 2. Best time of
day for handling Bees in August. — When honey is
coming in, the middle of the day; when there is
none, towards the evening, ii. Gloves to prevent Stings.
— It is possible for the stings of bees to penetrate
India-rubber gloves. Thick hand-knitted cotton gloves,
over which is worn a pair of gauntleted berlins, are a
sure protection ; bees cannot sting through both gloves ;
and when they are wetted will not attempt to do it.
Lincoln Bill. — 1. Emptying partly-filled Sections. —
You may extract the hone}' and feed with it, or you
may leave them on the hive, and when the yield is over
the bees will remove the honey to the lower hive.
2. Stores for Wintering. — If you leave one full frame
of sealed "food on each side of" the cluster, these with
the food contained in the frames in the centre will be
sufficient.
J. T. M. — Doubling. — 1. If instead of adding a third
storey you had extracted all the honey from the second
one, or removed that and substituted another, you
would have done better. You can safely extract before
the seals are actually complete. When they are com-
menced from the edges of the cells the honey is ripe
enough. 2. Honey Ripener. — This is useful when you
have thin and watery honey, but the application of
heat spoils the fine aroma which naturally ripened
honey possesses. — 8. Size of Frame. — It is not of much
importance, but as the Standard size is fixed it is better
to keep to it. 4. Extractors and Wide-sntruldered
Frames. — You can cut a space in the wire-cage to take
theshoulder, or you can use Br. Pine's removable ends,
which were inserted for the purpose among others of
allowing the frames to lie against the cage. 5. Wired
Foundation. — Those who have used it find no objec-
tion to it.

*,* Though ice have given a Supplement of four pages,
we have been obliged to postpone several articles. Berkshire,
Norton, and Finchley Shows are in type; also some com-
munications from Cape Colony, Australia, and the United
States. The communication of Theta (to whom our thanks)
reached us too late for insertion. Several queries will be
answered privately.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 1, 1885.

Serial Ivepnib ^btwrttsemmts.

Fop Sales and Purchases of Bee Appliances, Honey, Books,
Pamphlets, Diagrams, &c, Exchanges and Situations.

Terms : Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad-
ditional three words, One Penny extra; no reduction can
be made for continuous insertion.

VAEIEGATED ARABIS, blooms in succession to the
old White ; good rooted clumps ; divide into a
number of plants; Is. 3d, box free. Famous French Honey-
suckle plants, six plants, to bloom next season, Is., free.
Address W. Hollins, Tillington Avenue, Srafford. d 37

FOR SALE, cheap, a quantity of Bees, Bar-frame Hives,
and Appliances. List forwarded. Address J. S.,
Union, Oxford. d 38

THE SIMMINS' METHOD OP DIRECT INTRODUC-
TION. Enlarged to 32 pages. Price 6Jd. Post free,
of the Author, Rottingdean, Brighton ; Messrs. Neighbour &
Sons, 149 Regent Street; and Mr. J. Hockle, Kings
Langley, Herts. (53)

MODERN BEE-KEEPING. An Illustrated Handbook
for Cottagers. Pourth Edition, considerably enlarged.
The soundness of its information, the simplicity of its
instruction, combined with cheapness, make this Hand-
book invaluable to all intending Bee-keepers. Price Id.,
post free. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.

HE MANAGEMENT OF STRAW SKEPS. De^
signed to teach the Cottager how to obtain the best
results at the least possible cost. By attention to its teach-
ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto. Price One Penny.
Six copies and upwards, post free. J. Huckle, KingsLangley.

FOUL BROOD ; The Means of its Propagation, and
the Method of its Cure. By Frank R. Cheshire,
Esq., F.R.M.S. Price 6>7. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.

BEE-KEEPING, Plain and Practical : How to
Make it Pay. By A. Rusbridge, Is. 6d., post free,
Is. 8d. Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts. 3932

EARLY Driven Bees, early in August, Is. 2(7. per lb.
One Frame Honey Extractor, 6s. G<7. Address
Harry Fisher, Leighton Buzzard. D 2(i

WANTED, a Situation as Head Gardener ; understands
Vines, Flowers, Kitchen Garden, Management of
Poultry, and good Apiarian. Address Gardener, c/o
Manse'll, Bookseller, Darlington Street, Wolverhampton.
p 27

FOR SALE. — Two Strong Stocks of Ligurian Bees, with
imported Queen. Address G. Sewell, Heath, Stour-
bridge, d 28

FORTY Stocks of English, Italian, and Hybrid Bees, in
splendid condition for Wintering. Address Frank
Reed, ' Stonery,' Portslade, Brighton. D 30

FOR SALE. — Eight Stocks in Bar-frame Hives, Standard
size. Young Queens, Super-feeders, ' Little Wonder '
Honey Extractor, and other appliances. Address W. Beers,
Siss, Hants ; station one mile distant. D 31

A BARGAIN. — Cowan's splendid 35s. Cylinder Honey
Extractor, with two Double Cages, Treacle-tap,
Multiplying Gear on top, etc., for 28s. One with two Single
Cages, empties two combs at once, Treacle-tap, and geared
at top, at 20s. ; and a lis. ' Little Wonder ' Eccentric
Extractor at 8s. ; each of them in first-class working order.
Address A. W. Rollins, Stourbridge. d 32

WANTED. — Extracted Honey in 1-lb jars in exchange
for forty Parts of Virtue's Shakespeare, value 47. ;
also have a splendid Stereo-Photographic Set, cost 127.,
good as new, which I would exchange for Honey. Address
L. G. Spence, Franklin Lodge, Spilsby. D 33

TWENTY-FOUR strong Stocks of Bees for Sale, in
Skeps and Bar-frame Hives ; full of honey. Address
Rev. W. E. Ivens, Bridge Norton Vicarage, Oxon. d 31

THIRTY Swarms of Bees for Sale in nine Straw Skeps >
with Sealed Honey, carefully packed and delivered
free to my nearest station for 12s. each. Order early ; sent
on receipt of Cheque or Order, payable at Odiham, to
William Hunt, South Warnboro', Hants. d 35

I710R SALE. — A Dunham Foundation Machine, almost
' new, all requisites for the manufacture complete,
owner retiring from the business. Address 0. H., Office of
B. B. Journal. D 36

F

OR SALE.— A ' Little Wonder ' Extractor, 5s. Address
A. J. Notes, Pewsey. d 39

WANTED.— A Supply of New Super Clover Honey in
1-lb. and 2-lb. Sections. State lowest price per
gross for Cash, delivered in London to S. Wingrove,
10 St. Mary's Road, Harlesden, N.W.

CONDEMNED BEES.— I shall have about 200 lbs. weight
to dispose of during August and early in September.
To avoid disappointment, apply early to F. Lyon, 94 Har-
leyford Road, London, S.E.

FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE; a rare chance. — A
Splendid Stock of Ligurian Bees, with Young Queen.
Purity guaranteed. Reduced to five Frames and placed in
a temporary Hive. Price, complete, 30--. Will exchange
for Abbott's Cylinder Extractor (new), or thirty-five well
finished 1-lb. Sections of Honey. Address Major Clark,
Ferry Hill. __

COMB HONEY.— For Sale, a quantity in 4J Sections.
Address J. C Lambert, Sunk Island, Hull.

FOR SALE. — Four strong Stocks of Bees in Frame
Hives, one Stock in Skep, one empty Frame Hive,
Smoker, Feeding Stages and Bottles. Offers invited ; aU
letters answered. Address William Maltson, Covenham,
South Lincolnshire.

JOHN BARBS, Tea Merchant, Leicester, is open to
purchase Honeycomb in Sections. State lowest price
and quantity ; Cash.

FOR SALE.— Twenty Stocks of Bees in new double- wall
Combination Hives, crowded on 15 beautiful straight
Combs. ' Standard ' Frames. Packed and put on rail.
Cheap. Address A. Sharp, The Mill Apiary, Huntingdon.

GOOD STOCKS. Six Frames of Brood and
Honey, 18s. ; if on Wired Foundation, recommended,
10s. Safe arrival guaranteed. Three-frame Nucleus, with
imported Ligurian Queen, 15s. Stocks in Straw Skeps, 15s.,
packing included. Travelling Hives for Stocks and Nuclei
to be returned. Reliable Answers to Queries on Bee Man-
agement by return, Three Stamps. Address C. N. White,
First-class Certificated Expert B.B.K.A., The Schoolhouse,
Somersham, Hunts.

E. M. HART & CO.

Can forward, same day as receipt of order :

s. d.

Bar-Frame Hives, Single wall each 6 O

Tbo ' Utility * Double Wall Hive, with

Frames and Section Crate 10 6

The 'Villa Hive,' Ten Frames, Three Gib.

Section Frames, and 21 lb. Crate 21 O

Flat Crown Skeps each 1 3

Simplex Feeders per doz. 14 O

Clarke's Cold Blast Smokers, post free 2 6

For delivery after May 15th:
Swarms of English Bees, in a Nine-Frame

Hive, fitted with Comb Starters each 15 O

Orders executed in rotation. Special terms for quantities.

THE LONGSTOCK APIARIES,

STOCKBRIDGE, HANTS.

ffAug-. 1, 1S85.] ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE" ■JOURNAL.

The Bee and Fruit Farming Co., Limited.

CAPITAL £10,000, in 10,000 SHARES of £1 each,

Payable 5s. on Application, 5s. on Allotment, and the balance when required.

DIRECTORS.

JESSE GARRATT, Esq., Hockenden, St. Mary Cray, Mahaging Director.

LAWRENCE GREEN, Esq., Tovil House, Maidstone.

JOHN M. HOOKER, Esq., Sevenoaks.

FREDERICK H. JUDSON, Esq., Coventry Park, Streatham, S.W.

JOHN MARTEN, Esq., Dunkirk House, Faversham.

HENRY GRAVE MORRIS, Esq., Belmont Hill, Lee, S.E.
SOLICITORS.— Messrs. ASHURST, MORRIS, CRISP & Co., 0 Old Jewry, London, E.G.
BANKERS.— Messes. GLYN, MILLS, CTJRRIE & Co., 67 Lombard Street, London, E.C.
SECRETARY.— Me. FOX KENWORTHY. OFFICES.— 55 COLEMAN STREET, LONDON, E.C.

The principal object for -which the Company has been formed is to assist Bee-keepers by providing a ready
jteans for disposing of the Honey and Wax now being produced ou a large scale, and to meet the difficulty
experienced by so many of finding a quick market for their produce. The Company will purchase Honey, Wax,
and Bees, direct from its Shareholders, and will also sell upon Commission when preferred.

QUEENS! QUEENS!! QUEENS!!!

PALESTINE, SYRIAN, LIGURIAN, and
BLACK — imported and home reared. Also Small
Swarms, headed by either of above Queens — in Nucleus, if
desired, thus dispensing all risks of introduction. For
particulars apply E. Woodham, Abbotsley, St. Neots. 4293

The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the
renowned C. F. H. Geavenhokst, Brunswick.

DEUTSCHE ILLUSTRIERTE BIENENZEITUHG.

Organ for the united interests of Bee-culture. By its con-
tributions from the principal Bee-keepers, and its brilliant
Illustrations, this publication has already had an extra-
ordinary circulation. Sample copies sent on request.

Also, ' DER PRAKTISCHE IMKER.' Compendium of
Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst. Third en-
larged and improved edition, with fifty-two new original
Pictures, and a frontispiece. Price 4 marks (4s.), stitched ;
well bound, 5 marks.

C. A. Schwetschke & Son (M. Bruhn), Brunswick.

CYLINDER HONEY EXTRACTOR.

(Best in market) ; takes 2 Standard or larger Frames, 25s.

COMBINATION HIVE,

Complete ; 10 wide Shoulder Frames, 8s.

PTJK.E FOtTBrDATIOIir,

Three lb. at Is. lid. per lb. Six lb. at Is. 10(7.

SUPER, 2/9 per lb. STRAW HIVES, 1/9 each.
The BRITISH HIVE ; Complete Hive, deep roof, 9 Frames,

For Cottagers, price 4s. 6d.

ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE FREE.
G. STOTHARD, Welwyn, Herts. 4290
The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World.

THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL

Established in 1861.
Edited and published by Thomas G. Newman, at 925 AVest
Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., and will be sent
to European Subscribers at 10s. 6(7. per annum for the
Weekly, or 2s. 6(7. for the Monthly, including Postage. The
money may be sent by International Postal Money Orders
on Chicago. London Agents : Messrs. Geo. Neighbour &
Sons, 149 Regent Street, W,

COMB FOUNDATION.

HAVING a quantity of Comb Foundation on
hand, made of Pure Beeswax, I can offer it at the
following low prices : '2h lbs., post free, 6s. ; 6 lbs., post free,
12s. 6(7. BEST BINGHAM SMOKERS, 3s. each, post free.

A (I/I rpgq

J. LEAKE, Jun., Beacon Street, LICHFIELD.

4048

Expert B.B.K.A.

Manufacturer, THE APIARY, HOLME, PETERBOROUGH.

By authority — Simmins' Hives, Crates, Sections, &c.
ASSOCIATION STANDARD SAW-CUT BAR FRAMES, l/-per doz.
Send for Illustrated Guide and Catalogue, Post Five. (98)

BEES! BEES! BEES!

E. M. HART & CO., The Longstook Apiaries,
Stockbridge, Hants, have

FIFTY STOCKS TO DISPOSE OF

at a desperate Bargain ; also

TWO FOUNDATION MILLS,

with 14-in. Rollers, price 107. 10s. for the two, less than the
original cost of one.

Cheapest House for Bar-frames & Sections.

BASS-WOOD SECTIONS, with V Joint, 4 by 4J by 2, in

either one piece or dovetailed, 3s. per 100, or 27s. 6(7.

per 1000 case. One sort.
BAR-FRAMES, yellow pine, morticed, 'Standard' size,

15J in. top bar, Id. each, or 6s. 9(7. per 100.

17 in. top bar, with groove for Foundation, 1<7. each, or
8s. per 100.

Broad shouldered, 17 in. top bar, 2i7. each, or 15s. 6(7.
per 100.
BROAD FRAMES to hold Six 4 by 44 by 2 Sections.

2d. each, or 15s. per 100. SMOKERS, 2s. 9(7. each.

ARTHUR DONNELLY & Co., Lurgan, Co. Armagh.

3716

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 1, 1885.

WILTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

IN CONNEXION WITH THE ABOVE THE

WILTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

WILL HOLD THEIR

ANNUAL SHOW

, HONEY, &c.

AND A HONEY FAIK,

In the Palace Gardens, Salisbury

(By kind permission of the Lord Bishop of Salisbury),

ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 20th, 1885.

PRACTICAL ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE METHOD OF DRIVING BEES, MAKING ARTIFICIAL SWARMS, Ac,
WILL BE GIVEN AT INTERVALS DURING THE DAY.

N.B. — Donations to the Prize Fund are earnestly solicited.

Among the Prizes offered will be the Silver and Bronze Medals and Certificates of the British Bee-keepers' Association,

and Three Bar-frame Hives.
At the same time an Examination for Third-class Expert's Certificates will he held by the British Bee-keepers' Association

who will kindly appoint one of the Judges.

For Schedules of Prizes and Conditions apply to Hon. Sec, Rev. W. E. BURKITT, Buttermere, Hungerford.

ENTRIES CLOSE AUGUST 6th.

Wallflowers for the Bees.

A SPLENDID lot of the above in all its varieties.
Special attention is called to our assortment of
Young's Blood Red and Belvoir Castle, Vs. Gd. per hundred,
cheaper by the thousand. Address John Sullivan, Rose-
field Cottage, Stranraer, N.B. 4297

BEE-KEEPERS' GUIDE; or, Manual of the
Apiakt. 11,000 sold since 187G. 12th Thousand just
out. 10th Thousand sold in just four months. 2000 sold
the last year. More than fifty pages, and more than fifty
costly Illustrations, were added in 8th Edition. The whole
work has been thoroughly revised, and contains the very
latest in respect to Bee-keeping. Price 5s., postage id.

BEE JOURNAL OFFICE, KINGS LANGLEY.

Publications of the British Bee-keepers' Association :

ONEY AS FOOD. By Fiunk K. Cheshire, Esq ,
F.B.M.S. Price 3d.

ADULTEBATION OF HONEY. By Otto Hbhneb,
Esq., F.C.S., F.I.C. Price Gd.

THE BEST WAY OF INSTRUCTING COTTAGERS
IN THE ART OF BEE-KEEPING. By the Eev.
W. E. Burkitt. Price 3d.

THE CHEMISTRY OF THE HIVE. By Mr. Otto
Hehner, F.I.C, F.C.S. Price 3d.

BEE HOUSES AND HIVES. By Rev. George Raynor.
Second Edition (enlarged), Price Gd.

WINTERING BEES. By Thomas W. Cowan. The
most complete work on the subject of Wintering
published. Price 3d.

North East of Ireland

BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

SECOND ANNUAL SHOW OF

BEES, BEE APPLIANCES, and HONEY,

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, BELFAST,

September 11, 1885.

Prizes: Three Silver Medals and £10.

For Prize Schedule apply to

H. M'CLEERY, Hon. Sec, 13 Royal Avenue, Belfast, (no)

Strong Black Mosquito Net,

72 inches wide, Is. Gd. per yard.

Black Net Bee Veils, 1/2 each.

(Carriage Paid.) Address R. R. Godfrey, Grantham.

SALE OR EXCHANGE.

H «Gfr Or 23-

IHAVE a few Settings of my Beautiful Golden-
spangled POLLENS ; what appears also a Splendid
Young Stag thirteen months old, beautifully Crested, Pure.
Address H. Jeanes, Springfield Cottage, Kilmington, near
Axminster, Devon. 4296

H

Address J. HUCK.1E, Kings Langley, Herts.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Strangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c.'

[No. 176. Vol. XIII.]

AUGUST ]5, 1885.

[Published Fortnightly.]

(ffitoloxml, Jttftkis, &r.

TO THE SUBSCRIBERS OF THE
BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

You have already been informed that I have
acceded to the request to succeed the late lamented
Rev. H. R. Peel in the duties of Editor of the
British Bee Journal. Being conscious of the re-
sponsibilities attending the Editorship, I feel I
cannot do better than follow in his footsteps, and
give effect to his wishes by carrying on the Journal
in the interest of bee-keepers. It will be my
object and endeavour to advocate every interest
and measure calculated to advance bee-keeping,
and to give expression to the views and thoughts
of bee-keepers throughout the world. Free ex-
change of opinion on all matters connected with
bee-keepiug will be encouraged; but no personalities,
or anything likely to injure any one, will be allowed.

I have to thauk those well-known bee-keepers
and writers who have already promised me their
assistance and co-operation, and trust that, with
their aid, the Journal will maintain the position
which it has attained of the leading bee-paper in
this country, and that it will be a standard of
authority upon all subjects, both scientific and
practical, of which it treats, so that the experienced
as well as the novice may rely iipon it with impli-
cit confidence.

It will continue to be the recognised organ of
the British Bee-keepers' Association and of affiliated
County Associations, and their objects will be advo-
cated. Every endeavour will be made to obtain
' Answers to Queries ' from the latest and most
reliable authorities.

All communications relating to subscriptions and
advertisements must be made to Mr. John Huckle,
King's Langley, Herts ; and letters for the Editorial
Department — Reports, Echoes, Queries, and other
coiTespondence — to the Editor, care of Messrs.
Strangeways, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane.

Messrs. Kent & Co. will continue to be the
publishers, and the Journal will be obtainable
from all news-vendors.

Trusting to receive the support of all bee-keepeis,
I remain, yours truly,

Tuos. Wm. Cowan.

Comptons Lea, Horsham, 6th August.

USEFUL HINTS.

Removing Supers. — Except in the heather dis-
tricts it is best at once to remove all supers. The
income of houey during the last fortnight has been
simply nil in most parts, and supers allowed to
remain on the hives under such conditions, the
weather being cold, wet, and stormy, are injurious
to the bees, keeping the hive cool and jireventing
breeding, which should be encouraged by all means
up to the middle of next month. Unfinished
sections should be passed through the extractor,
and afterwards placed in racks and given to strong
colonies to be cleaned before stowing away for the
winter. If placed on the hives in the evening they
may be removed the following evening. The
middle of a fine day is the best time to remove
supers. Let it be done quickly, and let the hive be
carefully covered immediately, to prevent even the
semblance of robbing. After removing the entire
case of sections, as formerly advised, be careful, in
separating the sections, to keep a watch for the
queen, as she ma}', by chance, be there, although in
our experience not once in five hundred times.

' R. E. C.,' in his letter on removing sections in
our last issue, when he mentions having removed
the queen also, erred in smoking his bees at the
entrance of the hive — the very plan to drive bees
and queens up into the super. We always advise
no smoking at the entrance, but a few whiffs between
hive and super, which drive the bees doiun instead
of up. If this be done, when bees are working hard
in the fields, the sections will be found almost free
from bees, as well as queen. In removiug many
hundreds of supers thus we have never lost a queen
and only once or twice removed one. Set the
removed super on wedges, to avoid crushing a
simple bee. Practice and experience alone will
teach. It is well, perhaps, to brush off the few
bees from the sections into a box, to be carried back
to the hive, at this season, when young bees might
be chilled. Take the sections indoors immediately
on removal. Robber bees are very much on the
alert now, and the greatest care is requisite to avoid
all temptation to appropriate the property of others.
Do not attempt to remove supers in dull, cloudy,
cool, or showery weather, when many bees are at
home and irritable. Better to wait even a week
for a suitable day.

Extracting.- — When it is required to extract
from the body of the hive, let the outside, or back

262

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[August 15, 1885.

combs, be removed at evening, and their places
supplied by empty frames, or strips of wood, to
prevent the exit or entrance of bees. When
extracted, the combs may be returned on the
following night, to be cleaned by the bees ; and,
finally, removed and stored, when closing up the
hives for winter. In the case of colonies not very
populous it will be advantageous to close up to,
say, eight frames as early as possible, and to feed
moderately, in order to encourage breeding before
the season closes. For the present retain the
enamel cloth over the frames, with the same end
in view. Later on it will be necessary to remove
this, and to supply the winter quilt.

' Robbing. — Bees arc already showing a decided
inclination to rob, and it is of the utmost importance
to prevent a beginning. The Eastern races are far
more prone to robbing than the English, and woe be
to the poor ' blacks ' if once attacked ! So adroitly
do these yellow-jackets fight, and so persevering]}'
do they attack, that the blacks have not the ghost
of a chance against them.

Too much care cannot be exercised in removing
supers, combs for extraction, or, indeed, in per-
forming any operation which necessitates the
opening of hives, during the ensuing five or six
weeks. Except for removing supers, such opera-
tions are best performed at evening, when the bees
have ceased to work. Littering about of bits of
comb, spilling of syrup, &c.j must be carefully
avoided. So easy is it to excite to robbing : so
difficult to check it when once established ! We
have known whole apiaries destroyed by robbing,
carelessly induced, and men and animals in danger
of their lives. When a beginning has unfortunately
been made, strips of felt, tacked or gummed around
the entrance of the hive attacked, and saturated
with pure carbolic acid twice daily, the entrance
being contracted to the passage of a single bee,
have proved more effective with us than other
plans. Whenever an inclination to pilfering is
observed, the entrances of all hives must be imme-
diately contracted.

Feeding. — Colonies requiring food should be fed
at night, the time least conducive to robbing, since
the excitement caused by the food will have calmed
dowrn by the following morning. Food should be
given either in the interior of the hive, or at the
top by means of the feed-hole, and the feeder care-
fully covered.

Warm syrup will be appreciated by the bees, but
care must be taken to avoid spilling the food, which
is often the cause of raids.

The quantity supplied must, of course, depend
upon circumstauccs.

If combs have been extracted close up to the
brood-nest, in. order to provide a winter's supply the
feeding must be copious. A strong colony should
be wintered on from eight to ten standard frames,
and these frames should have about two-thiids of
their surface sealed food, having sufficient bees to
cover well the combs. And this should bo ac-
complished by the end of September, the time at
which we prefer to cease feeding, and to prepare
or winter quarters.

The present time is somewhat early for supplying
winter stores, and gentle stimulation for the next two
or three weeks, previous to feeding largely, will be
advisable, except where sealed stores on which to
place condemned bees are required.

Our object now should be to obtain strong popu-
lations cf young bees to go through the winter
months, and then to give sufficient food in time for
sealing over for winter food. Much will depend on
the weather ; a bright, warm September is always
conducive to successful wintering.

To proerastinators, who postpone feeding until
October, and that month proves unpropitious, the
results are disastrous in the extreme.

Re-Queening. — A general complaint is abroad that
young queens have been lost in unusual numbers
on their wedding flights. In our own apiary about
one-third have disappeared. Last season, out of some-
thing more than a score, we had not a single loss.
By keeping a close watch over hives having young
queens, where loss occurred, we were able to supply
others without loss of time, by means of nuclei or
ripe queen-cells, and all are now breeding largely.
Let, therefore, all hives at all doubtful as to their
queens, be carefully examined, and where queenless,
now is the time to introduce Italian or other im-
ported queens. Throughout September we have
introduced as successfully, and as good imported
queens, as during any month of the year, and at
reduced prices.

Nuclei. — These should now be united, and
formed into strong colonies, for going through the
winter, directions for which will be found in all Bee-
books.

Do not forget the cottager, and his condemned
bees ; but strive to teach him the more excellent

V< IV.

INTERNATIONAL INVENTIONS
EXHIBITION, 1885.
We are happy to announce that Messrs. G.
Neighbour & Sons, of Regent Street, and Mr. S. J.
Baldwin, of Bromley, Kent, have both had awarded
to them silver medals for their exhibitions of bee
appliances.

A Prolific Swarm. — Out of a beehive belonging' to
Mr. Heys, Woodneuk, Barrhead, near Glasgow, there
have been no less than six swarms of bees within
three weeks. The dates on which the different swarms
made their appearance were as follow: — 23rd June,
and the :Jrd, 4th, 6th, 10th, and 12th of July.

A Swarm Hanging Three Days. — It is doubtless
an unusual thing for a swarm to hang three days, but
such was the case with a second swarm, at Creeting,
Suffolk, in June last. The stuck from which it came is
in a large Hat-topped skep ; and the swarm came out
about 10.."i0 in the morning on June 15th ; it settled high
on the branch of an elm-tree, at least forty feel Ixam the
ground. The sun was hot at the time, with an east
wind: on the 10th the sun was hot occasionally ; on the
17th it was overcast and very cool; the bees left the tree
about eleven a.m. on the 18th, which was warm and
sunny. It was a very fair-sized swarm, and when it was
gone a piece of comb was visible, about two inches wide
at the base, and four or five inches long. — T. E. L.

August 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

263

ASSOCIATIONS.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Discussion on the Rev.F. G. Jenyns' Paper on 'Bee-
keeping in its Educational AsrECT.'

Mr. I). Stewart said there was one point especially
worthy of their attention in regard to Mr. Jenyns' paper,
and that had reference to the selection of bee-keeping as
a subject for education, because it opened out so many
other subjects. They often spoke of a land flowing with
milk and honey, and that expression would perhaps
indicate what he meant. They could not have milk and
could not have honey in good supply unless the land
produced in abundance. Pastures must be plentiful, the
water-courses must be abundant, the skies must be pure,
and all vegetation must be luxuriant. The moment anj'-
one was induced to visit an apiary, he would find that
he was almost imperceptibly led on to think about other
matters relating to natural history. If he followed the
bees in their daily flights he would become interested in
the flowers and the fruits, and the delightful study of
botany. There were no doubt many other interesting
matters connected with bee - keeping (the science of
chemistry, for instance,) which would come in for a
share of his attention.

The Rev. J. Lingen Seager thought there was a
danger of confusing two things — bee-keeping and the
science of the bee itself. No doubt it would be very
easy to teach in schools the natural history of the bee to
a certain extent, but he did not see how it was possible
to teach bee-keeping to the scholars. The theory of it
would be of very little use. Anyone who had kept bees
knew that more could be learnt in one half-hour by
seeing the hives handled than could be imparted in any
number of lessons in school. That difficulty no doubt
the Education Department fully appreciated, and he
could not find much fault with their action in the
matter. They could not be surprised that the natural
history of the bee had not been adopted as a special
subject of education, because the Department fail to
recognise the claims of the bee to special attention over
those of any other insect. He had hoped that they
might find a way of introducing the question in some
form into the Code, but he confessed to having become
less sanguine lately on the matter. He was inclined to
think the education of bee-keepers must come later in
life. He had himself tried to interest children in the
subject, but had failed in every case where the person
was under sixteen years of age. Children liked to see
the bees once or twice perhaps, but even if they did not
get stung, the interest could not be kept up longer. He
was not trying to throw difficulties in the way, but he
thought that bee-keeping was a subject, like many others,
which could not keep the attention of young people,
although it might be one of absorbing interest to those
of more mature years.

Dr. Wray said, in reference to the education part of
the question it might interest those present if he men-
tioned a few facts of history connected with the sub-
ject of bee-keeping. They show what encouragement
was given to that industry 120 years ago. In 1761
the Society of Arts offered a gold medal to the person
who should erect the greatest number of hives or
boxes stocked with bees, and a silver medal for the next
greatest number. In 1762 the gold medal was awarded
to Thomas Fawcet, of Oxque, in the parish of Marrick,
near Richmond, in Yorkshire, for the greatest number
of stocks, being 223. In 1703 another gold medal,
which was in his (Dr. Wray's) possession, was given to
Mr. Fawcet for 185 ; another in 1764 for 105 ; and a
fourth in 1765 for 1 82 stocks. That gentleman had an only
child and heiress, known as the ' Queen-bee of Swaledale','
whom his grandfather, George Wray, married ; so that

the Dales' Wrays, of whom he was the elder, claimed
royal descent in a sense unknown to any other clan.
That was mentioned in 4, Genealogist, 284 ; and further
information on the subject of bee-farming in the last
century would be found in 1, Dossie's Memoirs of
Agriculture, a.d. 1768.

Mr. Hehner heartily agreed with the paper. As a
scientific man he felt how impossible it was to teach
anyone in the compass of a little book something of the
whole of nature. Attempts were made to do this under
the cramming S3'stem for public schools examinations.
He thought it was much better to teach one scientific
subject thoroughly than a lot of them badly. In the
course of his professional work he had come into contact
with medical men supposed to have had a general
scientific education, and lie was often surprised to find
that they knew very little about science at all, their
attention having been divided between too many subjects.

Thellev. T. Sissons hoped Mr. Jenyns would'not think,
because the discussion had not been freely entered into,
that his paper was uninteresting to them." This was far
from being the case, for so much matter for considera-
tion had been offered that it was difficult to select one
point in particular to speak upon. He trusted they
would permit him to digress for one moment and allude
to a matter which had recently afforded them consider-
able sorrow. That was the first Quarterly Meeting they
had held since the Association had sustained a very serious
loss in the premature death of their friend, the Rev. Mr.
Peel. He felt it would be unkind of them to let the oc-
casion pass without a reference to that painful event.
Those who had been longest associated with the institu-
tion knew best Mr. Peel's worth, but every member of it
must have felt that they had in him not only an admirable
Secretary, but an excellent friend. It would be difficult
to find anyone who combined all the qualities which were
to be found in him. His remarkable energy, wisdom,
firmness, and affability, withal rendered him" beloved by
everyone who knew him. Mr. Peel had been their ad-
viser, and, in fact, the moving spirit of the Association,
and it was therefore only natural that the Committee
should deeply deplore his loss. He was exceedingly glad
Mr. Jenyns had introduced the subject, which had an
especial interest for him. He remembered when the
system of reading original papers at the Quarterly Meet-
ings was established. At that time they were sore afraid
that there would soon be a dearth of subjects, but ex-
perience soon settled that difficulty. He' knew of no
study which had done so much to interest him and re-
tain his interest by giving him an ever-increasing taste
for it as bee-keeping. lie thought, when starting as a
bee-keeper, that in about twelve months he would know-
all about the matter, but, after keeping bees for several
years, he felt that he was now only just on the fringe of
the subject. The popular idea was that any one had only
to go and get a skep and put the bees in it, and there
was an end of the matter. He had found that every
season added to his stock of knowledge in regard to bee-
keeping. He had been in the habit of preaching a great
rnany anniversary sermons from time to time in connexion
with Sunday schools. Of course he was expected to put
before the children and teachers something new and at-
tractive as often as possible. He had found no subject so
interesting as that treating upon bees and honey and
taking up Samson's experience in the matter. The old
people also seemed interested in that particular sermon —
in fact, all were astonished and entertained by a descrip-
tion of the wonderful performances of the bees, of which
they had no conception. He quite agreed with Mr.
Seager as to the difficult}' of making bee-keeping a part
of school education, and felt that it could only be treated
as such in the schools of rural districts. He found that
education on this subject had done harm in his district,
for he had educated his neighbours rather too fast. The
result of this was that they were all setting up hives, and

264

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[August 15, 1885.

the over population would cause a scarcity of bee food,
arid some of the bees must, therefore starve. He lived in
a London suburb where the supply of bee food was
limited ; probably in country places no inconvenience
-would be suffered from such a circumstance. He had
"been able, from the hive and its contents, to teach his
neighbours lessons of industry, economy, patience, and
neatness.

The Rev. Mr. Jenyns, in reply, said he quite agreed
with the remarks of Mr. Hehner as to the effect that
"whatever branch of education be taken up, it is of the
utmost importance to learn one subject thoroughly. The
object of his paper had been to enforce that view. He
felt that this question was one of great educational in-
terest, for when a child had learnt something about bees
and bee-keeping he would naturally be led on to further
steps in the vast field of natural history, in which lie
-would find sufficient matter for study to satisfy the high-
est intellect. He quite agreed with Mr. Seager as to the
difficult}' of teaching the practical part of the subject in
schools, and he did not anticipate that it could ever be
done in elementary schools. He thought that if they
could get the natural history of the bee taught in schools
it would be a step in the right direction, because the
scholars would be sure to want further information on
the subject, and would thus be tempted to inspect the
hives for themselves, and gain considerable practical
knowledge thereby. He thanked the audience for their
Mod attention.

The Rev. T. Sissons proposed, and Mr. Stewart se-
conded, a vote of thanks to the Rev. F. G. Jenyns for his
valuable and interesting paper, which was briefly ac-
knowledged by the latter gentleman, and the proceedings
closed.

HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The chief Annual Show and Honey Fair of this
Association was held at Southampton, August 1st and
3rd, in connexion with the Royal Horticultural Society
of Southampton, and proved interesting and successful
to a degree. The weather was all that could be desired,
and the visitors on the latter day (August Bank Holiday)
arrived in crowds and kept the officers in the bee depart-
ment hard at work from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The bee tent was constantly thronged by an eager
audience who testified from time to time their appreci-
ation of the efforts of the Association, the lectures being
free to everyone, and the vastly increased public interest
in bee-keeping upon modern plans was apparent upon
every hand. At intervals during both days of the show
the manipulations in the bee-tent and the excellent ex-
planatory and instructive lectures given by the hon.
secretary, E. II. Bellairs, Esq., attracted a great number
of people, who appeared greatly interested and listened
most attentively to the remarks of the speaker. An
excellent point to the lectures was the presence of two
working men who had cleared by their bees last year
20/. and 28/. respectively : and whilst pointing this out,
Mr. Bellairs was careful to explain that not every one
must expect to reap such gains, although he felt sure
an ordinarily intelligent man might expect to realise a
handsome return for his labour and outlay. His recom-
mendation of bee-stings as an antidote for the rheumatics
was not taken au serieu.v. More than usual interest and
surprise was created by the quiet and clever way in which
a- lady, Mrs. Bellairs, drove the bees from a straw skep,
found the queen, &c, not even having the protection of
a bee-veil, and without a single sting. This lady also
passed the examination of the B. B. K. A., and obtained a
certificate as a ' Practical Expert.' George Forward, of
New Town, Christchurch ; Thomas Giles, of Cowsfield ;
WiDiam Welch, West End, Southampton, all passed the
txamination, and will obtain the experts' certificate of the

B. B. K. A. for practical work. Mr. John M. Hooker was
judge at the Show, and the examiner appointed by the
B.B.K.A.

In the hive department there was a full show, Messrs.
Abbott Bros., Messrs. Edey and Son, and Messrs. Hart,
being represented by large and interesting collections of
bee furniture, besides special hives, &c, by other makers
in the hive classes. In the novelties or 'inventions'
class, the Rev. Dr. Wray exhibited his 'Mel- Pel' or
honey extractor, and Messrs. Abbott their new section-
case and a new plan for fixing foundation in the frames.
The Derbyshire Extractor also in this class was generally
approved for workmanship, though not strictly a novelty.

In the honey classes, it is worthy of note that the
first and second prizes for sections were carried off by
two exhibitors residing close to each other, the same
thing occurring in the extracted class, though in a
different part of the county ; in the former case the
exhibits came from the market gardening district south
of Southampton, and in the latter from the higher
land upon the Hampshire Downs. In arriving at these
conclusions, it is needless to say the judges had nothing
to guide them, simple numbers alone being nlaced before
them. The much-prized silver medal was won by a
magnificent display of sections and bottles belonging to
Mr. H. W. "West, an employee at Swanmore House,
Bishop's Waltham, whose success, seeing that he is a
novice in bee-keeping, must have made older bee-keepers
jealous. F. J. Beckford, Esq., of Winchester, followed
second, carrying off the bronze medal, and Mrs. Best,
of Bed Rice, was awarded the certificate.

For the largest and best display of honey in every
form, W. Woodley of Newbury, took chief honours
with a grand pile of sections and bottles weighing
nearly 5 cwt., Mr. Bellairs following with about 2 cwt.
charmingly arranged amongst flowers in handsome glass
vases, in the centre of which was displayed in a heavy
gilt frame a drawing of the Diamond Bee (in gold) pre-
sented to the Princess Beatrice by the Hants Association.

There were in all 126 entries for the Show, so that its
magnitude is easily reckoned. Upwards of 24/. worth of
honey was disposed of, showing that the demand is
steadily increasing with the supply.

We append a list of the awards: —

Class I. For the best collection of Bee Furniture, 3?. ;
I /. :— Messrs. Abbott, 1 ; Messrs. Edey, 2. II. For Ob-
servatory Hives stocked, 11. ; 10s. :— Messrs. Hart, 1. HI.
For Imported Queens, 11. ; 10s.: — Messrs. Abbott, 1; Messrs.
Edey, 2. IV. For best and most complete Bar-frame Hive,
price not to exceed 10s. : 11. ; 10s. : — Messrs. Abbott, 1 ;
A. D. Woodley, 2. V. For the best Cottager's Hive, price
not to exceed 10s. 6d. : 11. ; 10s. : — G. Forward, 1 ; A.
Woodley, 2. VI. For best home-made hive, amateur's
work, 10s.; 5s..:— W. Welch, 1 ; F. G. Ayling, 2. VII.
For best Section rack, 10s. ; 5s. : — Messrs. Abbott, 1 ;
ditto, 2. VHI. No awards. IX. For best 12 lbs. Super
Honey in 21b. Sections, 1/. ; 10s. ; 5s. : — G. Horner, 1 ; E.
Ainsley, 2 ; E. H. Bellairs, 3. X. For best 12 lbs. Super
Honey in 1 lb. Sections, 1/. ; 10s. ; 5s. :— W. Woodley, 1 ;
T. Giles, 2 ; Bev. C. G. Anderson, 3. XI. Ditto, Cottage
and Artisan Members only, 11. ; 10s. ; 5s. : — W. Woodley, 1 ;
T. Giles, 2; E. Ainsley, 3. XII. For best 12 lbs. Ex-
tracted Honey in vessels not exceeding 2 lbs. each, 1/. ; 10s. ;
5s. :— Mr. H. F. Hart, 1 ; Mrs. Hughes, 2 ; F. Beckford, 3 ;
F. G. Ayling, highly commended ; Mrs. Best, commended.
XIII. Ditto, Cottage and Artisan Members only, 1/. ; 10s. ;
5s. :— J. Downton, 1 ; W. Woodley, 2 ; G. Holly, 3 ; T.
Giles, highly commended. XIV. For best 24 lbs. Honey ;
12 lbs. in Sections, and 12 lbs. in bottles, 1st, Silver Medal ;
2nd, Bronze Medal ; 3rd, Certificate of Merit :— H. W.
West, 1 ; F. Beckford, 2 ; Mrs. Best, 3 ; W. La Croix,
highly commended. XV. For largest and best display of
Comb and Extracted Honey, 1/. 10s. ; 10s. : — W. Woodley,
1 ; E. H. Bellairs, 2. XVI. For best Super of Honey (not
in sections) exceeding 10 lbs., Cottagers only. 1st, Bar-
frame Hive and Stock of Bees, presented by the Hon. Secre-
tary ; 2nd, 7s. 6d., Smoker and Bee Veil : — T. Giles, 1 ; A.
Ayling, 2. XVH. For best sample of Bees'-wax, weight

August lo, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

2SJ

not less than 3 lbs., 10s. ; 5s. ; 2s. M. :— W. Woodley, 1 ;
Messrs. Abbott, 2 ; F. ti. Ayling, 3.

The show was a great success, and augurs well for the
future of the Hants and Isle of Wight Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation, and with such an excellent and energetic lion,
secretary it bids fair to be second to none of the County
Associations.

BERKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The fifth annual show and honey fair of the above
Association was held, in conjunction with the show of
the Prince Consort's Association, in Windsor Home Park
on Tuesday, July 14, and was well attended. Amongst
the visitors to the show were their Royal Highnesses
I'rince and Princess Christian, attended by Captain
Campbell and Miss Loche : the Mayor of Windsor (Mr.
J. Oberlin-Harris), Sir Joseph Devereux, the Dean of
Windsor, Rev. Canon Gee, &c. The most striking ex-
hibit in the show was the magnificent collection of this
year's honey by Mr. \V. Woodley and Messrs. Woodley
Bros., delicately tinted yellow, greenish, fawn, and white,
according to the flowers from which it was culled.
Beautifully stored by the bees in combs of faultless
regularity, and elegantly put up by the exhibitor, it could
not fail to attract every visitor's attention. Honey in
sections seems rapidly to beat out of the field the fluid
honey put up in bottles. The cause is not far to seek.
Honey in the natural comb has the stamp of purity in-
delibly impressed upon it, it needs no analysing; it is un-
touched by hand, and the public are getting very shy of
the rubbish which has but too frequently been hitherto
sold under all sorts of high-sounding names and put up
in pretty bottles. The production of sectional honey is
indeed the acme of bee-keeping. The collection of wax
on show was also very good. In spite of the enormously
increased production of substitutes for wax, such as
paraffin and stearine, yet wax is unsurpassed for innumer-
able purposes, and therefore keeps its own place.
Samples of foreign wax were also exhibited, from the
almost black wax of Madagascar bees to the natural]}'
white Indian wax. The Rev. V. II. Movie, hon. sec.
of the Berkshire Bee-keepers' Association, exhibited and
obtained a first-class certificate of merit for a very large
collection of honey in various applied forms, comprising
several productions from leading firms and others. The
Princess Christian remained some time at this stand and
evinced much interest in the manifold uses of honey as
explained to her by Mr. Moyle. Her Royal Highness
has been graciously pleased to receive handsome samples
of all the various productions. Mr. R. Wood, of Windsor,
and Mr. E. Cardwell, of Reading, received, the first a cer-
tificate, and the second the next award for the best collec-
tion of honey medicines ; Mr. Wood showing several
new medical preparations. Mr. W. Beckett, of Heywood,
Manchester, exhibited an admirable collection of new
honey drinks. A first-class certificate was awarded to Mr.
Beckett. To Mr. Cross, of Oxford Street, Reading, was
also awarded a first-class certificate for the newest and
best application of honey in his corn and hone}' food, a
combination which is admirable for infants, invalids, and
old people. The whole series of honey in applied forms
as exhibited was a marked advance in practically illus-
trating what can be done in this way, and yhows that a
great future is yet before bee-culture and the application
of honey. Amongst other interesting exhibits was a
bar-framed hive sent by Mr. Hearn, into which two live
common snakes had entered when young and fed upon
the bees and honey till their size prevented them getting
out of the hive again. Mrs. Wheeler, of Virginia Water,
exhibited a common garden pot filled with honey by bees .
Mr. Bowley, of Reading, exhibited several samples of
adulterated honey purchased in different parts of the
county. The sale counter was under the charge of Mrs.
Currey and Mrs. Cooksey, and a good business was done.
The principal prize-taker3 were Messrs. Woodley, of

Newbury and Chilton. The prizes were distributed by
Princess Christian. The following were the awards: —

Open Classes.— 1.— For the best observatory hive witfe
English bees and their queen, 1, G. P. Cartland ; 2, A. D.
Woodley. 2.— For the largest and best collection of
hives and bee appliances, 1, Abbott Bros. 3. — For the
best moveable comb hive, 1, A. D. Woodley; 2, Abbott
Bros. 4. — For the best and cheapest hive on the move-
able comb principle, for cottagers' use, price not to exceed
10s., 1, Abbott Bros.; 2, A. D. Woodley; Commended,
G. Worssell. 5. — For the straw hive best adapted ta
modern bee-keeping, price not to exceed 5s., 1, Abbott
Bros; 2, S. Dickens. 6. — For the neatest and best rack
containing 1-lb. sections, 1, Abbott Bros.; 2, A. D.
Woodley. 7.— For the best crate for the safe conveyance
of honey in sections or jars, 1, Abbott Bros. 8. — For the
best and cheapest honey extractor, 1, Abbott Bros..;
Commended, A. D. Woodley. 9.— For the best collection
of pure bees' wax, 1 , Abbott Bros. 10. — For the boat
sample of thick comb foundation, 1, A. D. Woodley.
11. — Eor the best sample of thin comb foundation, 1,
Abbott Bros. 12.— For the best feeder, 1, A. D.
Woodley.

Local Peizes.— 13.— For the best exhibition of super
honey from one apiary, 1, W. Woodley; 2, Woodley
Bros. 14. — For the best super of honey (not beicg
sectional), 1, Woodley Bros.; 2, W. Woodley. 15.—
For the best twenty-one 1-lb. sections of comb honey,
1, W. Woodley; 2, Mrs. Goring. 16.— Special class,
open to members of the Berks Bee-keepers' Association.
— For the best twenty-one 1-lb. sections of comb honey,

1, W. W7oodley ; 2, Woodley Bros. 17. — For the best
twelve 1-lb. sections of comb honey, 1, W. Woodley ;

2, Woodley Bros. 18.— For the largest and best exhibi-
tion of run honey in glass vessels, 1, H. Fewtrell; 2,
Woodley Bros. 19.— For the best 12 lbs. of run honey
in 1-lb. or 2-lb. glass jars, 1, W. Woodley; 2, Woodiey
Bros.

Special Phizes. — 20. — For the largest and "best
exhibits of honey from any apiary in Berks (given by
Mr. R. Richardson-Gardner, M.P.), 1 , W. Woodley ; 2,
Woodley Bros. 21. — For the best collection of pure "bees'
wax, 1, W. Woodley; 2, G. P. Cartland. 22.— For the
best super of honey "taken from one hive, 1, W. S. Darby.

Special Phizes (open to all).— 23.— Forthe best collec-
tion of honey applied as food, 1, Rev. V. H. Moyle. 24.
For the best collection of honey applied as beverages, I,
W.Beckett; Commended, A. H. Carey. 25. — For tfas
best collection of honey applied as medicine, 1, R, Wood;
Highly commended, J. Cross. 26.— For the best and
newest application of honey in any form, 1, J. Cross.

KENT BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Annual County Show.
This show was held in conjunction with that of the
Ashford and District Cottage Gardeners' Society on
Wednesday, July 29th. It had been intended to hold
the exhibition at Gravesend, but circumstances prevent-
ing the invitation of friends at the former place, backed
by kind offers of support, decided the Executive to
adoptthat locality. The Councilof the Association having
resolved, as a practical economy, to curtail the amount
of prizes formerly given, some little anxiety was felt as
to the extent to which it might affect the number of
entries, but the result fully reassured them. The
quantity and quality of the honey largely exceeded that
of any show previously held in the county, going far to
prove that the bee-keeping movement is firmly establish-
ing itself as a practical pursuit. The complaint has
been heard that too few of the members come forwanf
to compete for the honourable distinction of prize-
winners, and that certain names are almost stereotyped in
the prize lists. Be this a3 it may, the fact is now recorded
that members of the cottager class fairly wrested (ha

266

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[August 15, 1885.

first honours from the more powerful and favourably
placedexhibitors. In further answer to such complaints,
the question may he asked, what would be the probable
result to the exhibition if the larger producers refrained
from showing ? In such respects, it may be submitted,
honey shows present no difference to horticultural,
agricultural, or any other show, and it can be no matter
for surprise that from time to time certain names occupy
a distinguished place. It is now very gratifying to state
that a cottager, whose name is not unknown in the
pages of the British Bee Journal, gained the distinction
of winning the silver medal of the B.B.K.A., for the
' largest exhibit of comb honey from one stock of bees ; '
and also the first prize for the ' best twenty-four 1-lb .
sections of super honey.' It is also equally pleasing to
record that two of the first prizes offered to cottagers
exclusively were awarded to one who has adopted bee-
keeping as a means of adding to her slender income,
otherwise obtained by the needle.

Briefly, it may be stated, that the chief awards in the
honey classes were gained by theBee and Fruit Farming
Company, Limited, Mr. R. Filmer, the cottager first
alluded to, Mr. Heath, Mr. Guest, Rev. H. Bartram, Mr.
Cudd, Miss Seelly, and Mr. Philpot. In the classes for
hives and appliances, Mr. Baldwin and Messrs. Green
and Sons exhibited their usual excellent collections.
In the class for hives, the cost of which was not to
exceed 12s. Gd., Messrs. Green gained the first, and Mr.
Baldwin the second prize. A novel feature was shown
in that of an exhibit of the Bee and Fruit Farming
Oompan}', Limited, viz., an arrangement for developing
the capabilities of the straw skep for the supering
system. This consisted of a skep in an inverted position,
with floor-hoard and adapting board. The arrangement
carries into effect in the simplest and most inexpensive
manner, the plan which is being adopted by many lead-
ing bee-keepers, especially American, of using the reversible
bar-frame. The exhibitors of this specimen claim for it
that it places within the reach of the slenderest means,
and the most unscientific bee-keeper, the chief advantages
of the bar-frame hive, without any necessity for the
extensive outlay and much painfully acquired experience.

Another interesting feature of the show, and of which
much notice was taken, was a collection of edibles, con-
fections, effervescing drinks, medicaments, &c, frc, kindly
sent for exhibition by the Bev. V. II. Moyle of Berkshire,
whose energy is doing so much to develope the uses of
honey. In all of these articles honey forms the staple, or
at least a very important part. The general effect of
the show was much enhanced by a fine collection of
honey in its most perfect and attractive forms exhibited
on a pyramid stand of large dimensions, \>y the Bee and
Fruit Farming Company. This was greatly admired,
and assisted in a large measure in eliciting the expressions
of satisfaction at the show generally.

The judges were the Bev. G. Kaynor, Rev. T. Sissons,
Mr. T.'Nottidge, and Mr. F. II. Cudd. In the forenoon
the first-named judge held an examination of candidates
for third-class certificates of the B. B.K. A., at which the
only two who presented themselves passed with honours.
These were Mr. R. Filmer, platelayer on the S.E.R.,
Ruckinge, Ashford,and Mr. Greenfield, signalman on the
same railway, Etchinghain, near Hawkhurst.

[We beg to congratulate our former friend and corre-
spondent ' The Platelayer ' on his success as an exhibitor
at the Show, and on his having so satisfactorily passed
his examination. We shall be pleased at any time to
hear from him. — En.]

LEICESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The fourth annual show of this Association was held
in connexion with the County Agricultural Society, at
Market Harborough, on July 1'Uth and 30th, 1885.

The exhibits filled a tent nearly thirty yards long.
The display of hone}' was unusually fine, both in jar and
in comb, and notwithstanding a limit of fifty pounds was
imposed in some of the classes, it is estimated that
nearly 2000 pounds of honey were staged. The Rev. F. G.
Jenyns and Mr. J. H. Howard acted as judges. During
the first day the first-named gentleman examined three
candidates for third-class expert certificates. Two of
them, viz.: Mr. Walter S. Pridmore, of Hincklej-, and
Mr. W. P. Meadows, of Syston, Leicester, passed a satis-
factory examination, and the third equally so, as far as
the examination was carried : time did not admit of its
completion.

Pbize List. — Class 1. Best stock of bees. — 1, W. P.
Meadows. Class 2. Best super honey. — 1, C. Foxon and
Mrs. Rippin ; 2, W. Harrington. Class 3. Best run
honey.- — 1, Rev. M. A. Thomson ; 2, J. W. Dratle, junr.
3, G. Squires. Class 4. Best comb honey in sections. — 1
(silver medal), J. W. Bickley ; 2 (bronze ditto), R. J.
Bragg. Class 5. Best run honey. — Certificated, 5*„ G.
Squires. Class 6. Best frame-hive for 10s. Qd. — 1, W.
P. Meadows ; 2, C. Redshaw ; 3, Abbotts Bros. Class
7. Best cottager's hive for us. — C. Redshaw. Class 8.
Cheapest and neatest supers. — 1, Abbott Bros.; 2,
C. Redshaw. Class 9. Best straw skep. — 1, W. I'.
Meadows ; 2, C. Redshaw. Class 10. Best collection of
bee-appliances. — 1, W. P. Meadows; 2, C. Redshaw.

NORFOLK AND NORWICH BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The fourth annual show of this Association was held
in connexion with the Horticultural Show on Thursday,
9th July, and was well attended. The exhibition was
under the. management of the hon. sec, Mr. H. R. Emms,
assisted by Mr. J. O. Cattermoul, — Jesse Garratt, Esq.,
secretary of the Kent Association, acted as judge, assisted
by Messrs. W. T. Gidney and W. H. Back, of the Norfolk
and Norwich Association. There was a good display of
honey, particularly extracted. Mr. J. J.Rice, of Wen-
sum Street, Norwich, exhibited a splendid assortment of
hives and apiarian appliances, which attracted the atten-
tion of a large number of amateur bee-keepers and others.
The manipulations of bees were carried out by Mr. E.
Lilly, expert of the Association, who delivered most in-
teresting lectures on the ' Modern and humane System
of Bee-keeping,' which were listened to by large and
appreciative audiences. One particularly interesting
feature in this exhibition was the bee-driving by a little
boy of ten years of age (son of the hon. sec), who
handled his bees in a very cool and quiet manner, and
exhibited the utmost indifference to an occasional sting,
much to the astonishment of many of the public, who
appeared to look upon our little friends — the bees — as
most ferocious animals. Subjoined is a fist of the prize-
winners : —

1. — For the best stock of English bees, 1, Rev.
A. E. Booker Hill ; 2, H. Dobbie. 2.— For the best
super of honey not in sections, 1, F. T. Chevallier ; 2, H.
Bartram. 3. — For the best twelve 2-lb. sections of honev,
1, John Halls; 2, J. W. Eldridge. 4.— For the best
twenty-four 1-lb. sections of honey, 1, Rev. II. B. John-
son ; 2, Mrs. S. G. Freeman ; 3, H. Beswick ; Extra 3,
Rev. J. J. Cumming. 5. — For the best twelve 2-lb. glass
jars of extracted honey, 1, F. T. Chevallier; 2, II. II.
Hurnard ; 3, Rev. F. Page Roberts. The whole class
Highly Commended. 6. — For the best twelve 1-lb. glass
jars of extracted honey, 1, F. T. Chevallier; equal 2,
H. H. Hurnard and Rev. F. Page Roberts; 3, John
Laurence. A large class — Highly Commended. 7. — For
the largest and best collection of extracted honey in glass
jars, 1, C. W. Middleton ; 2, H. H. Hurnard.

Cottagehs' Class. — 8. — For the best frame-hive for
general use, ] , Robert Moore. 9.— For the best exhibi-

August 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

2G7

tion of honey in the comb, taken from one hive, without
destroying the bees, 1, and silver medal, II. Bartram; 2,
and bronze medal, R. Moore. 10. — For the best super
of honey, 1, John Lawrence; 2, II. Bartram.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The above Association held a show of bees, honey,
hives, and appliances in connexion with the Agricul-
tural Show. The tent was well patronised each day,
and a quaulity of honey was disposed of in sections and
bottles. Mr. Hole, of Tarrington, near Ledbury, expert
of the Herefordshire Bee-keepers' Association, gave
several displays of bee-driving, and lectured on the busy
bee. The following were the awards: —

Hives, &c. — Class 1. For the best moveable frame-
hive — 1, Mr. J. II. Howard, Holme; 2, Messrs. Abbott
Bros., Soiithall. Class 2. For the best flat-topped straw
hive— 1, Mr. J. li. Hole, Ledbury; 2, Mr. J. II. Howard.
Class 3. For the largest and best collection of hives and
bee-furniture — 1, Mr. J. R. Hole. Class 4. For the best
Observatory hive stocked with bees — 1, Mr. W. D.
Slade, Cheltenham.

Honey. — Class 5. For the best twelve 1-lb. sections
of comb-honey — 1, Messrs. E. J. & F. B. Burtt, Glou-
cester ; 2, Lord Sudeley, Toddiugton ; 3, Mr. E. Mar-
shall, Cheltenham. Class 6. For the best super of
honey in the comb (not sectional) — 1, Mr. W. J. Smith,
Beckford; 2, Mr. C. Long.. Class 7. For the best ex-
hibit of twelve 1-lb. glass jars of run or extracted honey
—1, Mr. C. Marshall; 2, Lord Sudeley; 3. Mr. W. J.
Smith.

Cottagees' Classes. — Class 8. For the best bar-
frame hive made by a cottager — 1, Mr. W. Griffin;
Commended, Mr. A. Brown. Class 0. For the best six
1-lb. sections of comb-honey — 1, Mr. J. J. Smith, Beck-
ford; 2, Mr. Long; 3, Mr. Williams. Class 11. For the
best exhibit of run-honey in glass jars — 1, Mr. T. Dodge;
2, Mr. Carter; 3, Mr. A. Brown.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The Annual Show of the above Society was held at
Wisbech on July 21 and 22. One of the most interest-
ing features of the show was the honey fair and exhibi-
tion of bee appliances. Mr. J. II. Howard, a certified
expert of the British Bee-keepers' Association, kindly
gave his assistance and presence, and carried off some of
the chief prizes. The arrangements, made by a local
committee of bee-keepers (Mr. Daun and Mr. Bothamley
being especially active in this department), resulted in a
capital show of very tine honey being staged, the season
being evidently favourable to the production of good
honey. The Misses Peckover's prizes brought out a
strong competition, fifteen being entered in the class for
sections, and thirteen for honey in jars, Mr. Howard
taking first prize in the former and Mr. F. Oldham in
the latter. Miss Peckover's extra prize of 1/. for super
honey was awarded as follows:— 1, A. Bothamley; 2,
H. Tuck, Upwell; .",, T. Cobley, North Brink." A
driving competition took place in the bee tent, in which
Mr. Howard was the only competitor; great interest
•was shown in his skilful manipulation. Upwards of
850 lbs. of honey were staged, including 192 lbs. in
sections. Much credit is due to Mr. Dann, of Wisbech,
for the arrangements made by him, and for the great
success of the show, he taking 'an active part in obtain-
ing a liberal schedule of prizes.

OXFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The annual show of this Association was held on

July 30th in the gardens of Wadham College, Oxford,

m glorious weather, but the entries hardly realised our

meanest expectations. It was expected that there
would be a grand display of honey and implements, but
we were sadly disappointed. The samples of honey that
were exhibited, though, were of fine quality and pure
colour. The driving competition proved the most
amusing and interesting part of the proceedings to out-
siders, and Messrs. Perry, Cobb, and Grant drove re-
spectively ; but the latter was unable to find the queen,
and [therefore was not placed. The following were the
awards : —

Bees.— Best specimen of Ligurian bees — 1, Mr. Abbott ;
2, Mr. Perry. Best specimen of English bees — 1, Mr.
Perry; 2, Mr. Abbott.

Honey. — Best 2-lb. sections of honey — 1, Rev. P. Dillon.
Best 1-lb. sections of honey — 1, Rev. H. Barter ; 2, Mr. H.
Cobb ; 3, Mr. W. Watts. Best super of honey— 1, Messrs.
Woodley. Best exhibition of run or extracted honey, in
twelve 2-lb. or twenty-four 1-lb. glass jars — 1, Mr. J. Perry;
2, Mrs. Cobb. Best and largest exhibits of all kinds — 1,
Rev. F. Dillon ; 2, Mr. Crute.

Hives. — Best moveable frame for general purposes — 1,
Mr. Abbott ; 2, Mr. Woodley. Best moveable frame-hive,
price not to exceed 10s. (id. — 1, Mr. Abbott; 2, Mr. Woodley.
Best hive made by a member of the Association — 1, Mr.
Watts; 2, Mr. Perry.

Driving. — Divided between Mr. Perry and Mr. Cobb.

Bee Appliances. — Best collection of bee-furniture — 1,
Mr. Abbott.

Wax. — Best exhibit of wax— 1, Mr. Abbott ; 2, Mrs. J.
Cobb.

Mr. Blow, of Welwyn, Herts, occupied the Bee Tent,
and initiated many during the day into the mysteries
in connexion with bees and bee-keeping. We have been
asked to state that an extractor has been placed in the
hands of the local Secretary, Mr. Grant, for the use of
the members of the Association.

LINCOLNSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Gbeat Grimsby Meeting.

The bee, honey, and hive department of this Show was
fully up to its usual extent, whdst the interest in all that
was going on proved how deeply rooted bee-keeping is
getting in the minds of the public. After the rush to the
horse-ring, next came the rush to the bee-ring. Many
and loud were the expressions of pleasure that so much
interest had been taken with the bees and all their be-
longings. The department was under the management
of the hon. sec. of the Lincolnshire B. K. A., R. R.
Godfrey, Esq., of Grantham, with Mr. W. Martin, Mr.
Bolton, and Mr. II. 0. Smith, as able backers ; and right
thoroughly may they be satisfied with the result of their
labours, which, we may add, was made all the lighter by
the great kindness and courtesy they received from the
members of the Committee and from Mr. Upton, their
able and valuable secretary. The entries, though rather
less in number than at the Grantham Show last year,
were of greater extent, and a lofty shed, 70 feet by
20 feet, decked with bunting, was well filled. The col-
lection class was represented by Messrs. Abbott Bros.,
Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Best, and Mr. Dickins, who appeared
to be well patronised. The largest exhibitors in the
honey classes were Mr. Thorpe and Mr. W. Martin ;
some good sections and supers were to the front, which
thoroughly deserved the merit awarded them. The
classes for bees and observatory hives were larger than
ever, and, as usual, was a source of great interest. The
manipulating tent, with Mr. Baldwin as expert and lecturer,
was thronged with visitors eager to learn something about
bees, and no doubt many left deeply impressed with
what they had seen and heard. Mr. Carr, of Newton
Heath, Manchester, and Mr. Henry Yates, of Grantham,
were the judges, and (as might be expected with two
such able men) their award? were well received. We
append list of awards :- -

268

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[August 15, 1885.

Bees, Honey, <fec.
Class 1. Ligurian, Carniolan, Cyprian, or Syrian, with
queen in an observatory hive : 1st, Messrs T. Edey and Son,
St. Neots; 2d, Mr. H. O. Smith, Louth; 3rd, Messrs.
Abbott Brothers, Southall, London. Class 2. English, with
queen in an observatory hive : 1st, Mr. F. W. Biggall, Gay-
ion-le-Wold, Louth; 2d, Mr. H. 0. Smith; 3d, Mr. B.
Thorpe, Langrick Ville, Boston. Class 3. Largest and best
exhibition of super honey, the produce of one apiary during
the year 18S5 : No award. Class 4. Ditto extracted or run
honey : 1st, Mr. Bobert Thorpe, Langrick Ville, Boston ;
2d, Mr. W. Martin, Wainfleet. Class 5. Twelve 1-lb.
sections of comb honey in crate : 1st, Mr. F. W. Biggall,
Gayton-le-Wold, Louth ; 2d, Lydia Brown, Whaplode, Spald-
ing; 3d, Bev. Forster Ashwin, Quadring Vicarage, Spalding.
Class G. Twelve lib. glass jars of extracted or run honey :
1st, Mr. John Lane, Marston, Grantham; 2d, Mr. B. B.
Godfrey, Grantham; 3d, Mr. "Walter Martin. Class 7. Super
of comb honey: 1st, Mr. E. B. Godfrey, Grantham; 2d,
ditto ; 3d, Bev. Charles Potchett, Elmer House, Grantham.
Class 8. Most complete and practical hive on the moveable
comb principle, price not to exceed 30s. : 1st, Messrs. Abbott
Brothers ; 2d, Messrs. T Edey and Sons ; 3d, Mr. W. Mar-
tin. Class 9, Ditto, price not to exceed 7s. 6d. : 1st, Mr. S.
J. Baldwin, Bromley, Kent; 2d, Messrs. Abbott Brothers;
3d, Messrs. T. Edey and Sons. Class 10. Cheapest and
neatest super for harvesting honey in the comb : 1st, Messrs.
Abbott Brothers ; 2d, Mr. T. Edey and Sons. Class 11.
Honey extractor : 1st, Messrs. Abbott Brothers ; 2d, Mr. S.
Dickins, Hadley, Barnet ; 3d, Mr. S. J. Baldwin. Class 12.
Most complete collection of hives and bee furniture most
applicable to modern bee-keeping: 1st, Messrs. Abbott
Brothers ; 2d, Mr. S. J. Baldwin ; 3d, Mr. J. Best, Boston.
The above prizes were given by the town and neighbourhood
of Grimsby. Class 13. Straw hives, showing the most
simple and ready means of managing and the best method
of feeding, the liives to be stocked with bees working: 1st,
Bev. C. Potchett; 2d, Mr. B. B. Godfrey.

FINOHLEY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

At the Annual Show of the Finchley Horticultural
Society, held in the grounds of Alderman Cotton, Esq.,
M.P., at Whitstone on Tuesday, July 14th, the bee tent
of the Association attended under the management of
Mr. J. T. Harveyson, the District Secretary, who was
kept busily engaged throughout the afternoon, great in-
terest being manifested in the lectures and the ease with
which the bees were manipulated. This is the first time
that bees have been exhibited in connexion with the
Society, and the admission to the tent was free.

Special prizes were offered for super honey by H. C.
Stephens, Esq., the first being taken by Mr. .1. T. Harvey-
son, who also had a fine show of extracted honey, and the
second by Mr. S. Dickens, who likewise had a number of
appliances on show.

THE ISLE OF MAN BEE SHOW.

The exhibition of honey and bee-furniture was held at
Castletown on 30th July, in connexion with the Agricul-
tural Show. Taking into consideration the fact that it
was only the second exhibition of the kind, we can con-
gratulate the Manx people on their success, for, though a
small show, the quality of the articles exhibited was very
good. We venture to think that it is not advisable to
let any competitor take more than one prize in the same
class, as the present regulations rather tend to keep out
the small bee-keepers.

Again we would advise offering prizes to exhibitors for
the adjacent islands (England, Scotland, and Ireland), so
as to make a larger show.

The tent of the B.B.K. A. was on the ground, and Dr.
Walker (Wimbledon) was acting as expert, but unfortu-
nately the liives provided for manipulation had all the
combs smashed, owing to their having been brought from
the north of the island by train, as no liives could be ob-
tained near Castletown. Still the public throDged the

bee tent, and Dr. Walker lectured on bees and bee-keeping
during the afternoon, and much interest was shown, and;
various questions asked and answered.

The following were the awards by the Judges, Dr..
Walker (Wimbledon), and Mr. James Moore (Douglas): —

For the best six sections of Manx honey : 1, Alfred
Cubbon ; 2 and .1, John Wade. For the best super of
honey: 1, John Mylchreest; 2, Alfred Cubbon. For the-
best exhibition of run or extracted Manx honey: 1,
Alfred Cubbon; 2, John Mylchreest; 3, E. C. Kerr.

For the finest sample of bees-wax : 1, James Mac-
Whannell.

For the best collection of bee-appliances : 1, Alfred.
Cubbon ; 2, E. C. Kerr.

CALEDONIAN APTARIAN SOCIETY.

The twelfth show of the Caledonian Apiarian Society
was held on ' The Links,' at Aberdeen, on the 28th of
July, and following days, under the auspices of the-
Highland and Agricultural Society. The weather was-
splendid, and the gathering large. The site secured for
the exhibition of the appliances, produce, and work con-
nected with apiculture, was perhaps the best and most
conspicuous in the extensive show-yard. All the arrange-
ments were made under the personal superintendence of
Mr. Bennett, of Glasgow, whose earnest and practical
zeal in matters pertaining to bees and bee-keeping in.
Scotland, is beyond all praise. The display was greater,,
so far as we are aware, than on any prior occasion. In
the honey department there was ample evidence afforded,
of the bountiful season immediately preceding, and, in
the mechanical, the rapid advance of improvements was
fully attested. We are glad to perceive that, while some
who have already earned a name among bee-masters had
dropped out as competitors, others who promise equally
well had taken their place.

The Judges were Rev. A. II. Findlay, Birnam, Messrs..
Anderson, Dairy, Chivas, Smith, and Gordon, Aberdeen-
Considerable difficulty was felt in making several of the
awards, in consequence of an excellence that was uniform
in most departments. Special attention was called to an
ingenious artistic device, wrought out in comb and honey
by the bees under the careful supervision of Diehard
McNally, Glenlnce ; and also to an extensive collection
of liqueurs, confections, cakes, medicines, &c., in which
honey was the principal ingredient, forwarded by Rev.
V. H. Moyle, Reading. On the whole, the show was
most satisfactory and encouraging.

The following were the prize-takers : —

Class 1. British bees — 1, W. W. Young, Perth ; 2,
James Johnstone, Stirling ; 3, Leslie Tait, Aberdeen.
Class 2. Foreign bees — 1, James Johnstone, Stirling ; 2„
W. and B. McNally, Glenluce. Class 3. Observatory hive
—1, Leslie Tait ; 2, W. and B. McNally. Class 4. Move-
able comb hive — 1, B. Steele, Newport ; 2, George Brown,.
New Pitsligo, Aberdeen ; 3, W. W. Young. Class 5. Hive,
price 12s. 6(2. — 1, George Brown, New Pitsligo ; 2, Eichard
McGregor, Banchory ; 3, James Dean, Lochliill. Class 6.
Inventions or improvements — 1 and 2, W. and E. McNally.
Class 7. Straw hive, price 5s. — 1, Eichard McGregor; 2,.
W. VV. Young ; 3, W. and E. McNally. Class 8. Most
serviceable hive for general use — 1, W. W. Young ; 2,
B. Steele; 3, W. and E. McNally. Class 9. Comb
foundation— 1, W. W.Young; 2, W. and E. McNally; 3„
B. Steele. Class 10. Wax — 1st, Eichard McGregor; 2,
B. Steele ; 3, L. Tait. Class 11. Display of honey — 1, W.
and E. McNally ; 2, Charles Carnegie, Marykirk ; 3, William.
Low, Stanley. Class 12. Super above 20 lbs— 1 and 2,.
Eobert Anderson, Stevenston ; 3, Peter Anton, Newburgh,
Aberdeen. Class 13. Super above 10 lbs. and under 20 —
1, Eobert Anderson ; 2 and 3, James Crawford, Lanilash,
Arran. Class 14. Super, not being sectional, not less than
12 lbs.— Peter Anton ; 2nd, W. and B. McNally. Class.
15. Twenty-four 4-lb. sections — 1 and 2, Leslie Tait.
Class 16. Twenty-four 1-lb. sections — 1, George Boss,
Lawrencekuk ; 2, George Brown ; 3, Peter Anton. Class.

August 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

269

17. Twelve 2-lb. sections — 1, William Low; 2, George
Boss; 3, Charles Carnegie. Class 18. Twelve 1-lb. sections
— 1, George Boss; 2, 1). Mcintosh, Friockheim ; 3, Leslie
Tait. Class 19. Twelve 1-lb. jars run honey — 1, Charles
Carnegie ; 2, William Low ; 3, George Boss. Class 20.
Heather honey, not less than 10 lbs. — 1 and 2, W. and R.
McNally. Class 21. Best design worked by bees — 1, W.
and B. McNally. Ladies' Classes. — Class 22. Super above
10 lbs. and under 20 — 1, Mrs. McGregor, Banchory; 2,
Mrs. William McNally, Glenluce; 3, Janet Anderson, Dairy.
Class 23. Glass super of honey-comb — 1, Mrs. W. McNally ;
2, Mrs. Low ; 3, Miss Low, Stanley. Class 24. Twelve
2-lb. sections — 1, Mrs. Low, Stanley. Class 25. Display
of run honey — 1, Mrs. Low, Stanley; 2, Mrs. Carnegie,
Marykirk ; 3, Mrs. McGregor, Banchory. Class 26. Liqueur
or wine — 1, W. Beckett, Heywood, Manchester. Class 27.
Mead or beer — 1, Bichard McGregor ; 2, Charles Carnegie.
Class 28. Cakes — 1st, Charles Carnegie ; 2, W. and B.
McNally; 3, W. W. Young, Perth. Class 29. Collection
of articles made from honey — 1, Bev. V. H. Moyle, Beading.
Class 30. Collection of bee furniture, &c. — 1, E. Steele;
2, W. W. Young ; 3, L. Tait. Class 31. Tray of supers—
1, Richard McGregor ; 2, B. Steele ; 3, W. and B. McNally.
Class 32. Honey extractor— 1, W. W. Young ; 2, E. Steele.
Class 33. Heather-honey extractor — 1, W. W. Young ; 2,
E. Steele. Class 34. Diagrams, &c— 1, W. and B. McNally.
Class 35. Display of honey-producing plants — 1 and 2,
W. and E. McNally. Class 36. Model apiary— 1, W. and
B. McNally. Class 37. Straw hive stocked with bees — 1
and 2, James Johnstone.

NOCTON SHOW.
There was a very nice show of honey, also a fair for
bees and bee-appliances at the Nocton (near Lincoln)
Show, on Thursday the 23rd of July. The tents were on
the lawn at the Hall. The Marquis of Eipon (late Viceroy
of India) and the Marchioness were at home, and took a
lively interest in the exhibits. Mr. IS. Thorpe was the
judge for bees, hives, and honey.

(farcspntafx

*.* A It Correspondents forwarding Letters for insertion in
Hie Journal, Reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes
from the Hives, Queries, die, are requested to direct their com-
munications to ' The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," c/o
Messrs. Strangeioays d: Sons, Tower Street, Upper St. Martin's
Lane, W.C

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW EDITOR.

Permit me to offer you my warmest congratulations,
and a hearty welcome to the important post of Editor
of the British Bee Journal. I venture to think the
announcement of your having undertaken the editor-
ship will be hailed with the greatest satisfaction by all
readers of the Journal. Your large experience, thorough
practical knowledge, undoubted ability as a writer on
apiculture, and your being blessed with that happy
quality— which would to God adorned the character of
all men,— viz., 'charity,' especially befit you to be our
guide and leader. Long may you live, and the 'old
Journal ' go on extending its usefulness (whicli it is
bound to do) under your directorship. My hopes (as
expressed to you when we last met) being now realised,
I am content. — R. R. Godfrey, Grantham, Auaust
lOth, 1885.

ARE BEES A NUISANCE ?
I am constrained to answer this question put in your
your issue of the 15th July, because I am interested
personally in its solution. I may premise that, so far as
I can discover, there is nothing in the books touching
the precise point, and, therefore, your query must be
answered upon general principles and from a comparison
of decided cases upon similar questions. As the majority

of your readers are not lawyers I will not give more than
my deductions from these cases.

Bees were originally animals (or insects) fercc na/urce
(naturally wild), but by domestication they have become
mansuetce natures (or tamed). Now, there cannot be a
doubt that bees are in their nature ferocious, whether
under provocation or not does not for the present concern
us. This being admitted, then it legally follows that a.
man who keeps a ferocious animal, with knowledge of
its mischievous propensity, is liable for any injury done
by it. It is not at all necessary to allege negligence or
want of care in the keeping of such an animal ; the gist
of any action brought being the keeping of the animal
with knowledge of its mischievous disposition.

I quite admit that the foregoing conclusions are open
to the remark that bees are not animals, but insects, and
that they are not mischievous unless provoked.

With respect to the former contention I agree that
there is a good deal to be said, although, as I have
before stated, my own opinion is that this makes no
difference, and with respect to the latter I think it is not
arguable. For want of authority on this point I am
driven to comparison of other cases, and I cannot do
better than quote the very pithy rules given in a capital
little book, ' Underbill on Torts.' The author says :
' The word nuisance (from the French nuire, to hurt) is
applied in the English law indiscriminately to infringe-
ments of proprietary or personal rights, but for the
present purpose it may be defined as any wrongful
conduct in the management of property or any wrong-
ful interference with the property of the public not
necessarily depending for its wrongful character upon
negligence.'

Again, we have another rule, ' Every person should so
use his property and rights as not to cause injury to
another, and the maxim is, " iSSie utere tuo id alienum
non Icedas " ' (Use your own rights so that you do not
hurt those of another), and Mr. Underbill quotes the case
of a person growing a yew-tree on his own land which
overhung the land of his neighbour and being eaten by
the neighbour's horse caused its death ; for this the
owner of the yew-tree was held responsible, although
there was apparently no negligence on his part.

Another rule quoted by Mr. Underbill is the following,
and to my mind this rule and the cases he gives on it
touch thepoint more nearly than any others: — 'Any
act or omission of a person, whereby sensible injury is
caused to the property of another, or whereby "the
ordinary physical comfort of human existence in such
property is materially interfered with, is actionable.'
In an action for the abatement of a nuisance, Vice
Chancellor Knight Bruce said, ' Both on principle and
authority the important point next for decision may
properly, I conceive, be put thus; ought this incon-
venience to be considered, in fact, as more than
fanciful, more than one of mere delicacy, or fastidious-
ness, or as an inconvenience materially interfering with
the ordinary comfort, physically, of human existence ;
not merely according to elegant or dainty modes and
habits of living, but according to plain and sober and
simple notions among English people ?' Now an objection
to be pursued and stung by a neighbour's bees can
hardly be said to be ' fancifulness,' or ' delicacy,' or
' fastidiousness ; ' on the contrary, all but enthusiastic
bee-keepers will be prepared to 'admit that it is ' an
inconvenience materially interfering with the ordinary
physical comfort of human existence.'

One more example Underbill gives on this rule of a
person who allows substances which he has brought on
his land to escape into his neighbour's, and he states that
an action will be without proof of negligence in the
keeping of them. He illustrates this by the case of a
person who collects water upon his land, which without
any negligence escapes into his neighbour's land and does
damage. And again, the Court will interfere to stop

270

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[August 15, 1885.

the noise caused by dogs, from which arises loss of sleep,
if the jury find that the noise has been productive of
discomfort.

The premises and conclusions we may therefore sum
up thus : —

1. Every person is bound to use his rights without
hurt to his neighbour,

2. The injuries caused by ferocious animals are action-
able without proof of negligence.

3. Any person congregating substances (or anything
else) upon his land, is liable for damage done by them mi
their escape.

Therefore, any person having bees (which are ferocious
animals) on his land, is responsible for any injury (or it
would seem even discomfort or annoyance), that they
may do to his neighbour, without any proof of negligence
on the part of the bee-keeper.

I confess that I arrive at this conclusion reluctantly.
I am myself in fear and trembling of an action for
damages caused by the implanting of bee-stings in the
persons of my neighbours, and in coming to this con-
clusion, I am deciding against my own wishes. If,
however, the information is of use to your readers, I
shall be pleased to have enlightened them ; and if such of
them as are ' learned in the law ' can, and will displace
any of the foregoing arguments and lead us to a different
result, I shall be still more pleased. — Theta, IVithington,
Manchester, 28th July, 1885.

TILE COLOUR OF POLLEN.

The observant bee-keeper will notice during the course
of the summer that his bees collect pollen of all shades
of colour, especially if he is located near gardens or
nurseries, where a great variety of flowers are grown ;
and if this fine dust is tested by the microscope, it will
be found that the pollen-grains are as equally varied in
form, though one species of flower maintains a uni-
formity of colour, size, and shape. The colours range
through many shades of violet, purple, blue, red, orange,
and yellow; white, or shades of white, we also meet
with frequently; even black is not wanting; but it will
be observed that orange and yellow shades predominate
over all others. Bees, apparently, have no preference
for any one colour, but will collect pollen where it is
most accessible. It is true, though, that several plants
very prolific in pollen are totally neglected by bees. The
cause, I believe, is that the pollen is not palatable. To point
out the source of all the many varieties of pollen would be
to enumerate many hundreds of plants, both British and
foreign ; therefore, I shall only mention a few of the
most important. Orange pollen is produced by Portu-
lacca (annual), broom, lilium, mignonette, and aspara-
gus ; yellow, by willow, wallflower, barbery, dahlia,
mustard, dandelion, &c, &.C. ; blue, by several species of
veronica; purple, by cultivated poppy, liliuins,_ and
species of Cape geranium ; red, by a native lamium ;
pink, by eucharadium ; brown, by liliums; white and its
shades, by apple, pear, plum, hawthorn, apricot, holly,
&c, &c. ; black, by blackberry and linum grandiflorum.
— Hy. DonniE, Thidkthorn, Norwich, August \§th.

BEES CROSSING WATER.

Some years ago I was sailing in the mouth of Cork
Harbour, the day being rather calm, when I was sur-
prised to see a swarm of bees pass through the rigging
of the yacht and cross over from one side of the harbour
to the other, the distance from shore to shore being about
one and a half miles. Where they started from or
alighted I could not tell.

Last year a swarm alighted on the pump-handle of
a vessel lying in Cork Harbour, a few hundred yards
from the shore. — Boz.

STOPPING BEES FIGHTING.
I had a flat-crowned straw skep which was so crowded
with bees in the end of July that numbers of them
used to cluster on the floor-board and outside the skep
in the evenings and at night. Not being at home in
the daytime, except very seldom, I was surprised one
evening on seeing the walk and the ground near the
hive strewn with dead bees and several about fighting.
I could not at first imagine what was the cause, but on
considering I remembered that a few days before a
swarm issued from one of my other hives and alighted
on the branch of a tree near where they remained until
the day previous to the slaughter, when they went
away, but I think they must have returned and at-
tempted to enter this hive, which was the strongest
stock I had, and thus caused the fighting both inside
and outside the hive, as on the top of the skep under
the straw super 1 found several, amongst the rest a
humble bee, dead. I immediately smoked them well,
sprinkled carbolic acid and water about on the outside
of the hive and floor-board, and tapped the skep sides,
and I saw no more fighting. I then took off the small
super I had on, put a larger one on, and after a few
days all the bees went inside the skep, and are now
working well in the large super. — Boz.

COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.

It appears to me that the way to make combination
useful to bee-keepers, something of this kind should be
done : — Establish small societies wherever a few bee-
keepers are gathered together, under the charge of a local
secretary — such society paying its own expenses and
doing its own work, — paying a small sum towards the
expenses of the County Association, in the way the
Counties do to the British.

I may inform ' County Member ' that for some time
the bee-keepers here have adopted his notion of buying
their comb-frames, etc. together, which in comb alone
results in a large saving per lb. to each individual, — the
county town is between forty and fifty miles away by
rail, so a depot there would be useless. The county, as
the unit, is, in most cases, far too large and unwieldy for
perfect success. It is all very well to say that it is not a
' high or noble ' idea to want a material advantage from
joining an association, but the fact remains that nine out
of ten people do, and will.

I am not at all surprised people who criticise the county
system do not sign their names ; for to do so, that is,
criticise, is sufficient to bring down a totally unnecessary
amount of wrath on their heads. Why not debate their
proposals and reason them out ; instead of saying people
want to wash their dirty linen in public? If Associations
are not to stand criticism like other public bodies, better
say so at once. — J. R. Neve, Campden, Gloucestershire.

A SUGGESTION TO EXPERTS.
Being very anxious to gain every information upon
bee-keeping possible, I attended a bee-tent yesterday,
erected in the grounds of the Bangor Horticultural
Show-yard, and would like now to say a word or two
on a few things which occurred to me during the
interesting lecture given by the expert who attended.
He gave some very good ideas on ' feeding,' ' swarming,'
' driving,' ' transferring,' &c, but to my mind several of
these performances lacked much interest, which would
otherwise have been felt, had the expert practised on a
bar-frame hive, as well as on a very small skep (the only
one in the tent). Having eight stocks and swarms
myself, four in bar-frame hives and four in eighteen-
inch skeps, I was anxious to see some manipulations to
show the great advantages which are said to accrue from
the bar-frame management over the old-fashioned skep.

August 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL

271

Others were in the tent who, like myself, were just
beginning to feel their way to bee-keeping, and who own
six or eight hives, and would much like such practical
knowledge which could so readily be given in a similar
place. Another thing I thought might have been im-
proved upon, viz., the size and make of the skep used
by the expert. It measured, perhaps, fourteen inches
diameter, and the bees were very few indeed as com-
pared with an eighteen-inch, or a twenty-inch skep
of Pettigrew's make, such as I have. The expert
certainly did his work well so far as he went, and showed
capitally how the open driving was accomplished, and all
he said and did seemed to convey the idea that the
skep for all practical purposes could not be superseded
by the bar-frame hives.

The lecture at 4.-">0 p.m. was very well attended, and
these tent lectures would no doubt do very much to
educate the people in bee-keeping, were the ideas I have
mentioned added to the programme. — Edward Owen,
Penmaenmawr.

SENDING BEES TO NEW ZEALAND.

Will you inform me of a few particulars with regard
to the sending out bees to New Zealand ? I am anxious
to know what is the kind of clover which in New
Zealand before the introduction of what, kind of bee was
found to be unfertilised ; and whether this failure of the
plant to bring its seed to perfection in New Zealand
{being itself an introduction there from England or
Europe) was so truly marked that fresh seed has
hitherto been always sent out thither to keep up the
crops ? Also, I should be glad to know what clover (as
a crop) is fertilised, and by what bee, in New Zealand ?
Our English honey-bee gathers honey from both the red
and the white clover-crops, but as far as I understand
the indications given by the offered rewards, it is a
humble-bee that is needed in New Zealand ; and I wish
to know exactly what bee it is, and for what clover its
services are needed ; and whether at last now the thing
has been done so that the seed can now be perfected out
there. — Maclear.

[We should be obliged if any of our correspondents
would give us replies to the above inquiries. — Ed.]

A BAD QUARTER OF AN HOUR IN THE
FARM-YARD.

On Saturday, 25th of July, one of the late intensely-
hot days, my bees — which here let me remark are all
black bees — suddenly seemed possessed by a spirit of
mischief.

Looking out of the window at 1 p.m., I saw the
gardener running towards the apiary, and feared a swarm
had suddenly issued, but he reappeared in no time, with
shoulders well up, and head down, in fact, retreating
in a hasty and ignominious way. As he is no ' carpet
knight' with bees, I ran out to see what had happened,
and found that it was not a swarm, but that the back
premises were full of angry and excited bees, and that
the gardener had unfortunately left his jacket and veil
on a gate, that was now in the centre of these infuriated
insects, and he could not get near them.

The furies had first attacked two unhappy pigs,
stinging them to such an extent that they had actually
cleared the pig-stye wall, a feat they had never before
accomplished, or attempted; following the ' unhappy
ones' into the field, they met with,' and served the
donkey in the same way. My dog, who then appeared
on the scene to see what all the row was about, was
the next recipient of their most unwelcome attentions ;
finally, they attacked the cows, but these latter, wiser
than the other sufferers, took the first hint, and with
tails in the air, sped off to a distant part of the field,

where they took refuge in a copse and so evaded their
enemies.

During the intense heat, about the time named, the
bees, although having, normally speaking, plenty of
room, were hanging about in clusters, and it would seem
as if this freak was only another illustration of work
being found ' for idle hands to do.'

The only possible exciting cause that I can trace is,
that the gardener had taken up some lemon thyme
plants, and thrown them into the pigs. As both bees
and pigs like these plants, the former may have objected
to joint proprietorship with the latter, and fiercely
resented being so unceremoniously rooted about while at
their work, and the unhappy pigs certainly came in for
the greatest share of their anger. There was no getting
the pigs clear till they were driven into the cow-house ami
buckets of water thrown over them, and there they lay,
not caring to move the whole day, and they were much
swollen, and their appetites very delicate for the next
twenty-four hours.

The bees were decidedly aggressive for a day or two
after this incident, coming at one singly, whenever one
was about near the hives, and having an occasional small
'go in ' at the ' unhappy ones,' but now the weather is
again cooler, there is not an idle bee in the apiary, and
they have resumed their wonted amiability. — 0. H.,
North Devon.

PACKING SECTIONS.
As I have seen many letters in your Journal on the
subject of packing sections I feel inclined to mention the
way I have adopted and found completely successful.
I wrap each section in white paper and then pack them
as tightly as possible into a wooden box exactly to fit the
number sent. That box I then placed in a stout basket
or hamper, about two inches larger every way, and I fill
up the spaces above, below, and on all the sides as tightly
as possible with hay or shavings. The wicker-work and
the hay both yield a little to any blow or jar and save
the honey-comb from shock. All the honey that I have
sent in this way, either by post or rail, even to long
distances, has travelled safely. — A. M. S.

REMOVING SECTIONS.
I write to give my experience of following the advice
given on page 202 in ' Useful Hints.' I tried it once,
but do not intend to try it again, for the reason that 1
killed a great many bees, made them very angry, was
more trouble than allowing the crate to remain, and
took me longer to do ; I think I also got stung. I take
sections off Weekly. So I returned to my own plan. I
seldom get stung", kill the bees, or make them angry;
and it does not take long to do. My plan is to allow
the crate to remain on. I always take the whole of the
sections off, rearrange them, putting those most filled in
the centre, and the fresh sections at the outsides._ I
commence by taking the first row of sections out, shaking
the bees off in front of the hive. I then put the divider
at the bottom of the crate, covering the space made by
taking out the first row of sections. I then proceed to
take out the next row in the same way ; and as I take
each row out, I put down the divider, so that at last the
bees are quite enclosed in the hive. I put fresh sections
on by lifting one of the dividers at a time, beginning
where I left off. I use a little smoke to drive the bees
into the hive.— II. I. Male.

IN OBSERVATORY HIVE UTILISED BY A
SWARM.

The following may interest some of your readers, as I

do not remember reading or hearing of a similar incident.

Last month, while staying at my home in the Isle of

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[August 15, 1885.

Wight, I determined to utilise an observatory hive
(which I had some time before made froui directions
given in your Journal), by placing it in position and
filling it with driven bees. I acsordingly one morning
took the hive up into a loft over an out-house, fixed it
at the window, and left it with six frames with half -sheets
of foundation in it. This was about eleven o'clock. About
four in the afternoon I went up to fit a dummy, and my
surprise may be imagined when, on lifting the cover, I
was greeted with a loud buzzing. I quickly replaced the
cover, and opening the windows of the hive, saw a
number of bees on the frames, though there did not
appear to be enough for a swarm. I immediately went
for my veil, ifcc, and, on examining, found a large swarm
clustered in the cover, where they had just started comb.
I put them on the six frames, put in a frame of honey
and pollen, covered them in, and left them. When 1
returned to London at the end of July they had worked
out all the frames to the bottom, had stored a good
amount of honey, and were breeding well.

On examining the other hives I found the swarm had
come from a skep containing an early swarm of this
season, on which I had, about a week before, placed a
super, as the bees were hanging out.

This incident appears all the more remarkable to me
as the observatory hive was hidden behind a lattice
window a good height above the ground, and away from
the other hives. — P. W. 13.

EFFECTS OF STINGS.
In reply to your correspondent in the Bee Journal,
of July loth on the 'Effects of Stings,' I beg to say
I experienced the same residt from a bee-sting on
the fleshy part of my right thumb: in fact, I was quite ill
all the day. I felt very faint and sick, my fingers and
toe-nails turned black, also my lips, nose, and ears. I
cannot exactly describe really how I did feel : enough
only to say I never wish to feel the same again. When
I got up in the evening, not having closed my eyes,
sleep refused to come, — I looked as if I had just come
out of my coffin. But I attended to my bees again in the
morning as usual, taking of course extra precautions. —
Silvester, TJfton Court, Heading.

INTRODUCTION OF QUEENS.

Last year I wrote you that I had made several trials
of the ' SiinmW method ' of queen-introduction, with-
out a single failure. This season I have still further
tested that method, and as yet have not met with the
loss of a single queen, or any of the valuable time of
the working force of the colony. I will explain my
manner of using the ' Simmins' method,' as perhaps it
may be of interest to some of your readers.

On the late morning of what bids fair to prove a
pleasant day, I remove the queen I desire to supersede,
and then close the hive. On the evening of the same
day after the bees have all returned to the hive for good,
I give the queenless colony a little smoke, and wait a few
moments till the bees have all filled themselves with
honey. When that peculiar ' hum,' so familiar to all
bee-keepers, assures me that the bees are filled with
nectar, and consequently in a very amiable condition, I
allow the new queen to run in at the entrance of the
hive, which hive I do not disturb or examine for four or
five days afterwards, when I am well satisfied I shall find
the new queen accepted, and busily at work depositing
eggs, as a good queen should do. " I usually prefer to
make queen introductions at a time when the bees are
busy gathering honey from the fields ; still I have been
successful in several cases when no honey was being
gathered, I having fed the bees inside the hive for two
or three days before the introduction was made, and con-
tinued such feeding for several days afterwards. I

think this method to be the one that is natural, and in
perfect keeping with the habits of the honey bee, and even
if a small percentage of loss should occur, the great gain
by not disturbing the working force of the hive will far
overbalance such loss. I have a theory of my own in
regard to this matter, but theories are of little value
ordinarily, the facts themselves are only of importance ;
and any bee-keeper of experience is as capable of forming
a theory as myself, and ia perhaps more correct than
myself if he differs from me. For the above reason, I
state the facts only, and without trespassing on your
valuable space to set out any theories, or possible vagaries,
of my own. I hope this matter of queen-introduction
will be fully tested, and that we shall have the results
given us from many sources, so that we may be able by
collation and comparison to ascertainsome perfect method
by which no losses can possibly occur. — J. E. Pond, Jr.,
i'oxboro', Norfolk Co., Mass., U.S.A., July 2nd, 1885.

TAKING BEES TO THE HEATHER.

I was very much amused by one of your correspondents
(in one of the back numbers) describing how ' he took his
bees to the Moors.' This will be my fourth season of
removal, and perhaps a few particulars may be interest-
ing, though not so amusing as those of the correspondent
I refer to.

Well-arranged two-storey hives I find the best for this
district. A day or two before the time I take off the
upper storey, leave the brood chamber full of combs
(11 and 1 dummy), put on a crate of sections, properly
arranged to quickly and easily secure the frames and
bees, then with a goose-wing brush all bees of surplus
combs on to front of hive, and leave them. The night
before removal I close the bees in and open the ventilators
(these are in the floor-board — the most safe place for
them). The dray comes early next morning-, we pack our
hives on with combs at right angles to the axles (because
the roads are ' very hilly'), and then off at a trot on the
level road. Last year we went to Ringinglowe, about
li hours from this. An old skeppist, who takes charge
of the bees for the season, was looking out for us. We
soon have them in place, and, first giving a puff of smoke
to check the stampede, open the slides, put on the quilts,
and they are ready for work. Long hives that cannot
have a crate of sections on before leaving home, have
them put on at once, and I always find the bees better-
tempered than they are next day. Afterwards we have
time to look round and see how many friends already
have their bees there, and learn who are still expected,
so that we may make up a jolly party to ' go and see how
the bees are getting on at the moors.' This is always an
enjoyable walk, especially when, as last year, you lift out
comb after comb filled with rich golden honey. After
enjo}'ing a dish of ham and eggs for dinner, we start for
a walk across the moors, and thoroughly enjoy the bright
sunshine, the keen, bracing air, and healthy exercise for
our muscles and lungs. We note the forward state of
the heather, just tinging the moors with a faint purple ;
we stay to admire the grandly beautiful yet wild scenery,
and again, to drink from the sparkling, saucy, moorland
streams dashing along at our feet. One of my com-
panions, Mr. Chester, who is also a lover of ferns, stops
frequently to point out and name his pets. I, who do
not know ferns scientifically, admire them for their
beauty and healthy bright green colour. Often we linger
to gather cranberries, and watch the startled moorland
sheep, and listen to the wild cry of the peewit, or the
whirr of the frightened grouse.

Sheffield is very smoky, but the country round about
is very beautiful. After a walk of ten or twelve miles
we reach Bamford, and again do justice to Derbyshire
fare, kindly provided by Mr. Wall worth, a bee-keeper,
who is gradually changing hi3 apiary of skeps into frame-
hives. We look over some, and find them very strong,

August 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

273

and eager to try their tiny stilettoes on us. His large
Pettigrews are quite a sight to see. Staying to gossip
about bees, we miss the Sheffield coach, and have to face
a walk home of twelve miles, after which we do not
need rocking to sleep.

I hope in time we may gather a strong and happy
club of bee-keepers (for there are many clever ones in
this district), and that taking the bees and going to see
them will be times looked forward to and remembered
with pleasure.

I find it profitable, and think I have learnt something
about the best hives for, and the best wayAto move bees
to, the heather. I also find bees kept on the moors are
stronger and more vigorous for their life in the strong
bracing air. — W. T. Garnett, 42 Sharroio Street,
Sheffield.

SHOWS AND BEE-TENT ENGAGEMENTS.

Nottinghamshire. — Aug. 26, Retford ; Sept. 2, Clar-
borough ; 22, Kadcliffe-on-Trent.

Worcestershire— Aug. 18, Madresfield Court; 20,
21, Annual Show, Worcester.

Buckinghamshire. — Aug. 10, High W3'combe, en-
tries close Aug. 10.

Warwickshire.— Sept. 2, 3, County Show, Lea-
mington; 8, Bedworth.

Shropshire. — Aug. 19, 20, Quarry, Shrewsbury.

Somersetshire. — Aug. 17, Street ; 20, North Perrott ;
Sept. 9, Banwell, near Weston-super-Mare.

Hampshire and Ism; of Wight. — Sept. 9, 10, 11,
Bomsey.

North-east op Ireland. — Sept. 11, Belfast.

Bee-Keefing in North London. — Lady Burdett-
Coutts, in order to encourage the keeping of bees by the
working classes, lately made an offer to each of the holders
of gardens on the Allotment Grounds at Highgate New
Town of a beehive. The offer was accepted by six of
those to whom it was made, and the beehives with
appliances have been delivered to them by Mr. Abbott,
of Southall. The bees of two of the hives, however, have
since flown away.

The English and Roman Law on Bees. — This was
was an action by Thos. Webb, a clerk in the office of
Mr. Asher Trior, solicitor, against J. S. Maberley, a clerk
in the Colchester Post-office, to recover 30s. damages
for a swarm of bees which defendant had 'converted
to his own use.' — Mr. Asher Prior appeared for plaintiff,
and Mr. II. W. Jones appeared for the defendant. —
Before the case was called on, his Honour said he would
explain the law on the subject. Bees were naturally
wild, and the person who first hived them would be
considered the owner. A swarm of bees flying from a
person's hive would be considered his while he kept
them in sight, and while the pursuit was not difficult.
If the owner lost sight of the bees, then he could not
claim them. The English law on bees was taken from
the Roman law, which set forth that if bees swarmed on
another man's land, and were removed by the owner, the
latter could not be proceeded against except for trespass.
The owner of the bees might, however, be prevented
from entering. It appeared that the bees in question,
which defendant alleged were his property, had swarmed
in a garden near the General Post-office, and defendant
had hived them and taken them home. — His Honour
directed a non-suit, remarking that plaintiff had not
shown that the bees were his property, and he (his
Honour) held that he had no title to them.*— Essex County
Chronicle.

A Station stormed by Bees. — An extraordinary
affair occurred the other morning at Battersby Junction,
a small station on the North York and Cleveland Line,
which was fairly taken possession of for a few hours by
a colony of bees. It appears that an ordinary straw hive

full of bees was being conveyed per passenger train from
somo station in the north to the moors around Common-
dale for the summer. At Battersby Junction, a young man
in transferring the hive from one train to another, in-
cautiously lifted it by the top instead of by the sides.
The loose cover came off ill his hands, and the lower part
of the hive fell to the ground. Then ensued a scene
which almost passes description. The infuriated bees
swarmed out by thousands, and commenced stinging
right and left, clearing the station of passengers, officials,
and all in less time than it takes to write it. Those
already in the train quickly closed the windows and doors
against the unwelcome visitors, but not before a number
of the winged terrors had gained admission. A Stockton
gentleman, with his little boy, were standing near the
hive when it fell, and both were dreadfully stung. The
train had to be run some distance out of the station to
permit of the passengers getting out. The bees remained
in undisputed possession of the station for two or three
hours. During the afternoon the apiarist arrived, and
managed to get the troublesome ' army of invasion '
coaxed into the hive again and removed.

Honey Drinks. — These are well worthy of notice.
First, I will give the recipe for the compounding of the
honey. It is stored in one-pound, two-pound, or larger
jars, according as it is likely to be on demand. Weigh
into the jar one pound strained virgin honey ; stand the
jar in boiling water. When the honey is quite thin,
then make, we will say — Black Currant Honey. — You
drop in half an ounce black currant essence, and stirring
it in add quarter of a pint of cognac. Lift the jar out
of the water, wipe it dry, and, when cold, tie down with
parchment paper. Peach Honey is prepared by mingling
with one pound of strained honey, whilst warm, a quar-
ter of an ounce of essence of peach, and a quarter of
a pint of cognac. — The British and Foreign Con-
fectioner for August.

Catching Swabms. — Our bee-keepiug friends will be
glad of the following ' For catching a swarm of bees.'
There are still extant in country places many charms
thought efficacious for staying the flight of a swarm
of bees. Here is the method of our forefathers : —
' Take earth, and throw it with thy right hand under
thy left foot, and sa)': —

' " I take under foot, it might I find ;

What earth may avail against every kind
Of hatred and wrong
And man's iniekle tongue."

' Then throw some gravel where they swarm, and say : —

' " Sit ye down, ladies, to the ground sink,
Ne'er be so wild as to fly to the wood ;
As each man is mindful of his meat and drink,
So be ye mindful aye of my good."'

<£r|mes fxam % Uttos.

North Leicestershire. — August 5th was the close of
the longest and best honey season in an experience of
over thirty years. July was excessively hot and dry :
only '07 in. of rain fell. After one slight shower, the
bees attacked the honej'-dew, and spoilt a good many
sections. The honey of this neighbourhood is excep-
tionally fine this year. — E. B.

Antingham Road, near Walsham, Aug. 5. — On June
4th I had a swarm from a ten-frame hive ; it weighed
5| lbs. It is now August 4th, just two months since
the swarm, and I have taken off sixty pound sections
filled and sealed. I put the swarm of 5A lbs. in an
eight-framed hive, giving them one frame of comb; the
others were full sheets of foundation. I fed gently for
a week; on July 11th, seven days from swarm, I noticed
larvas. I then put on a crate of twenty-four pound

274

THE BRITISH BEE JOUKNAL.

[August 15, 1885.

sections. On the 20th I took off one section. Since
then I have taken them off weekly, as follows: — On
June 26th I took off ten; July 2nd, five; July 10th,
eight; 16th, six; 23rd,seven; 29th, thirteen ; Aug. 4th,
ten. I have now a crate of twenty-four sections on,
several of which are nearly or quite filled and sealed. I
had one stock in the spring from that. I have had
J-'ii, lbs. of honey and two swarms, one weighing- 5J lbs.,
the other 2A.— II. I. Male.

Lydney, Gloucestershire, August 8. — The swarm which
I hived on the 1st of June (it left the skep on the
31st of May) has, I think, done well. By the 28th of
July I had taken eighteen 1-lb. sections, all full and
sealed. I replaced them with more sections, but, owing
to some mistake, I had no foundation to start, them
with before leaving home on the 28th of July ; never-
theless, I believe they are working in the sections. —
J. II. L.

Bishop's Walthdm, Hants, August 10. — Since my last
notes were sent we have had really splendid weather for
the bees, and honey has been abundant, but is now
coming in of a dark colour, which, with us, I am afraid,
is a sign of the end of the honey harvest being near.
"Weather, the last few days, windy and showery. — A
Hampshire Bee-keeper.

Kirkandrews Hector;/, Longtown, Cumberland, August.
11. — As this has been an unusually good honey season
in this part of the country, it may interest you to know
the weights which I have taken from two hives in my
apiary. I onty quote these two, but most of my other
hives have done nearly equally well. The hives are both
old ones, some of the frames being four or five years old,
but the queens in both hives are young ones of last year.
On No. 1 hive the sections have all been 1A lb. (-5 x 5
inches). On Juty 15th I took off two crates of sections
all well finished. In the first crate were twenty-seven
sections, 43£lbs. ; in the second crate were twenty-one
sections, 30-ilbs. ; on August 3rd I took off a third crate
of twenty-seven sections, 36 \ lbs.; and on August 11th
I took- off a fourth crate of eighteen sections, 23f lbs.,
making a total of 134J lbs. There is a fifth crate of
sections still on the hive ; and if the. weather is fine
enough for the bees to go to the heather they will still
store a good weight, but they have to fly a considerable
distance to the heather, and it is only in the very finest
seasons that they gather much. On No. 2 hive, on July
15th, I took off, iirst crate of twenty-seven sections (H lb.
each), 42£ lbs. ; also, July loth, second crate, twelve
sections (1 lb. each), 11 \ lbs. ; on August 1st, third crate,
thirty sections (I3 lb. each), 45| Voi.; and on August
11th, fourth crate, twenty-eight sections (1 lb. each),
27J lbs., making a total of 1264 lbs. This hive I am
going to take to a cottager's garden about six miles off,
close to the heather, and if only next month is favourable
for honey-gathering, I expect a great result. I may state
that I have not yet extracted any honey from the frames,
but I shall no doubt extract a considerable quantity from
them both at the close of the season. I think you will
acknowledge the above statistics to be highly satis-
factory. The honey is nearly all from the white clover,
and of very superior quality. — Frank Taylor.

Kingston, August \'.',th. — Bees are doing well in this
quarter ; they have had a splendid season up to last
week, any amount of brood, several fine swarms, and
honey coming in fast. I have taken off several prime
sections, and have had a ready sale for them. I think
the honey harvest is now over, i.e.,iox this season in this
neighbourhood, the first crop coming from the fields, the
latter from the limes, of which there are many fine trees
in Home Park. My Ligurians have disappointed me
most, for they have not filled a single section, although
they have well stocked the main hive. The hybrid
littie demons (I beg their pardon) have outdone the
blacks or Ligurians in population, filling sections, and

stings by a long way, — hut, hybrids, with all your
stings, I love you still. — Herbert Crawley.

Ballinacara, Co. Cork, Aug. 4. — I am sure I am but
one of many that read with great pleasure of Mr.
Cowan's appointment to the Editorship of our Journal.
I have no doubt that in his hands the paper will flourish,
and its readers be both pleased and instructed. A
capital honey year here is just coining to a close. All
stocks are killing off the drones, and sealing up the
sections preparatory to wintering. Still I hope for more
honey if we had a little rain, as three-quarter acre of
buckwheat is in bloom, with quarter-acre mustard to
follow. These should tide over the time until September,
when ivy blooms. Some days since a hive over full of
bees, not able to work for want of room, clustered inside
and out of hive with one crate of sections on, but not
ripe enough to seal, as preparations were just made to
double sections. An internecine war broke out, which
lasted two days, and ended only then by the help of the
smoker most vigorously applied, when the hive was full
of dead and dying bees to the bulk of a full swarm.
Does it not look as if they thought it too late to swarm,
and in their wisdom killed off those that would soon die
naturally ? — John J. Smyth.

Foxboro', Norfolk Co., Mass., U.S.A., July 2. — The
season so far here has been very fine. The weather has
been cool for the season, but the bees have gathered more
than the average of honey, as we have had but few rainy
days. But little swarming has taken place as yet so far
as I can learn; with myself I do not allow natural swarm-
ing at all, and as I keep but a few colonies for experi-
mental purposes only I can easily prevent it. I am an
attorney-at-law, and keep bees as a means of recreative
amusement. I get honey enough for myself and friends,
and that is all I care for; I feel more interest in the stud}'
of entomology than I do in getting large crops of honey,
and devote all my spare time to my apiary. I am
exceedingly sorry to learn as I do in June ioth's Journal
of the death of Rev. II. R. Peel; truly the bee-keepers
of the world have met with a great loss and the bee-
keepers of England with the loss of a great friend. I
have taken your Journal for many years, and find it of
great value. Long may it live and meet with the sup-
port it deserves. — J. E. Pond, Jun.

Australia. — \_E.rtract from a letter of a Member of the
Worcestershire Bee-keepers' Associatio?i, ordered out with
another brother on account of bad lungs to Australia.1^
' I will tell you what I did yesterday morning. W.
had been out shooting, and discovered a bee-tree ; we
went there and cut the tree down. I then smoked the
holes where they went in and out, and cut a piece out
of the tree with the axe, and with my hands began
getting out the comb, to the great surprise of all the
people, here who came down to look at the performance.
Eventually we split up the tree and took out about
56 lbs. of honey and comb, and drove the bees into a
box and brought them away. The spoil consisted of
five combs 5 feet long each by 5 to 8 inches wide.
Nobody in these parts has seen bees handled like this
before. I. picked out a handful and offered them, and
you can perhaps imagine how amazed they were. The
bees, I believe, are similar to our English blacks. The
nest was 30 feet from the ground.' — H. J. J., Yelima (on
the Murray River, Victoria), \Qth June, 1835.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-

Miss Quin. — Price of Condemned Bees. — If you give
cottagers sixpence a stock, or even a shilling, it will
be fair. Of course if you buy them of someone who
has had the trouble of finding them and driving them,
you will pay more. for them. Take them as early as
possible and give them ready-built combs.

F. Warr. — Transferring June Swarms to Frame-hives.

August 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

27£

— You may do it now, but care is required, as the
combs are tender: in another two or three weeks,
when the weather is cooler, you will find it easier.

W. E. B. — 1. Late Hatched Queens. — A queen raised
now will not be likely to meet with a drone a fortnight
hence, unless you have a queenless stock into which
you may put all drones remaining in other hives and
so preserve them ; queenless stocks do not turn out
drones. The young queen which you found behind
the excluder we should think had gone there to escape
another existing in the hive and which you overlooked.
If no queen-cells are raised on the comb of eggs which
you gave, you may know that a queen exists; by the
time you read this she will probably have commenced
to layi 2. For Winter Covering next the Frames. —
Ticking is better than unbleached calico and over the
ticking a shallow box having canvas for a bottom, and
rilled with chaff or cork-dust, is a good arrangement.
.'!. Leaving tun many Combs in Hive in Winter. — Yes.
there is an objection, viz., that the moisture from the
bees is apt to condense on the unoccupied combs and
render them mouldy, and also that the smaller space
the bees have to keep warni by the natural heat the
less consumption of food they require. Your com-
parison of a hollow tree is not quite to the point. The
combs are built down the side, and thus confine the
heat, which in a frame-hive passes round the frame-
ends.

E. Owex, Penmaenmawr. — Feeding Swarms. —Until the
combs are built out and after that, if the weather
prevents honey gathering. A Bee-keepers' Association
was established in Carnarvonshire during the year 1884.
For names and addresses of officers apply to Mr. Huckle,
King's Langley, Herts; also consult him respecting the
arrangements for examinations at County Shows of
candidates for certificates.

E. P. — Frames given to Bees to clear out. — They will not
clear out the pollen, which will get dry. When the
combs are given back to the bees they will, if they find
the pollen useless to them, then clear it out. — Honey
Labels. — These are supplied by Messrs. Abbott, Blow &
Ellis, and other dealers. — The reduction in the number
of your bees is to be attributed to natural causes, not
to the issue of an unperceived swarm.

aSorthumberlaxd. — 1 and 3. — Swarms. — Give ready-
built combs if you have them, or, if not, full sheets
of foundation. 2. Supers. — An inch deep of founda-
tion, or triangles reaching nearly to the upper corners
of the sections, and the point within an inch of the
bottom.

A. M. S. — 1. Perfection Feeder. — The Equid is no more
liable to drip through the holes of the Perfection
Feeder, if it be kept in a level position, than through
the meshes of a piece of canvas tied over a bottle and
inverted. Experience has proved that water alone
will not drip from the Perfection Feeder, much less
syrup. The fall of level of syrup in bottle is evidence
enough of what bees have taken. If it did drip it
would soon show on the bottom of the floor of hire.
2. Moving Lees. — Fasten bees in the hive at night,
and give ventilation by means of perforated zinc
at top, and move away in a fight spring cart. Yery
few or no bees will return to the old place.

G. A. B. — Unseeded Combs. — There is no plan by which
you can compel the bees to seal the combs. Their
refusal to do so probably arises from a twofold cause
— the superseding of an aged queen and the cessation
of the honey-flow. We advise you to pass combs and
sections through the extractor.

Chabro. — 1. Width of Hive. — Since the rectangle of the
Standard frame is 14 in. wide, if the width of the
hive be more than 14A in., there will be a greater
space than J in. between the ends of the frames and
the sides of the hive, and in these spaces the bees will
build combs, and by so doing will make the frames

fixtures. A I4|-in. entrance is wide enough for any
colony, but if you think otherwise.it is an easy anil
simple matter to open entrances on the sides as' well
as in front, and to close them with slides for the
winter months. 2. Huber. — There are numerous Eng-
lish translations of Huber's Observations on the Natural
History of Bees. Edinburgh, 1800, 1808, 1821 . London,
1841. The work is occasionally to be met with on
book-stalls.
W. J. II. — 1. Requeening bg Uniting Cast. — After re-
moving the old queen, remove the bar-frame from its
stand, and put a skep on a large board in its place,
brush the bees off the frames on to the board; they
will run into the akep and cluster in it. Replace the
bar-frame on its stand with a large board sloping to
the ground, throw the bees on to the board, and as
they run in, throw the driven cast on to them ; they
will unite peaceably without any scented syrup. 1'.
Heating Honey. — Honey heated will not granulate so
quickly as if left to itself, but heating it spoils the
flavour to some extent.
W. F. A. — Taking Condemned Bees after Dark. — It is
possible to operate with bees in lamp-light, but you
will find it rather difficult. We should recommend
close driving, i.e. place the empty skep closely on the
the other, and wrap a cloth round to confine the bees.
Then drum them up in the usual way. You had better
operate in the open air than in a building. Cannot
you do it in the morning before going to work ? If
so, do so. You will find day fight far better for the
operation.
F. C. Andrew, Minorca. — 1. Balearic Bees. — We should
not from the description designate your bees hybrids.
The probability is that they were when introduced
into the island congeners to Ligurians ; but climacteric
influences for many generations have given them their
present special markings. 2. Honey Seasons. — Your
longer abode in the island will make you conversant
with the peculiarities of the climate,' and the times
when the trees and the plants put forth their- flowers ;
and our advice to you, as to all bee-keepers, is, Be
prepared for these natural outbursts, and by keeping
your stocks strong, take the best advantage of the
pasturage then presented to them, and by the con-
dition of your hives you will be able to discern the
best time for putting on supers. 0. Moving Bees. —
The autumn would be the preferable time for moving
bees, and the closing the entrance ' for a few minutes ' '
would not affect them injuriously. 4. Position of
Hives. — A vineyard is not the best place for hives ;
the neighbourhood of fruit-trees is much to be pre-
ferred.
R. Carter, Ullesthorpe. — 1. Painting Hives. — Hives
may be painted with the bees in them ; but we would
suggest that you should use quick-drying paint, and
thai it be done in the evening. 2. Frames for
Wintering. — Six frames in your hive will be enough,
provided that they are well covered with bees.
Lohdswood. — The sample of sugar forwarded will be

found suitable for making syrup for feeding bees.
Thomas Fisher. — Earwigs. Swalloios. — Earwigs do no
harm to the bees. They simply seek the covering of
the quilt for warmth. Whether swallows take bees
or not is a disputed point. We are disposed to think
that they feed upon smaller fry, and that sparrows do
tenfold injury as compared with swallows.
John J. Candy. — The honey forwarded would have
been of a lighter colour had it been gathered from
clover ; it evidently has been got from a mixture of
flowers. 2. Removing Sections. — If the queen has
room in the body of the hive to breed, leave frames
until sections are removed; otherwise, remove the
sections, and take out as many frames as are needed,
and replace with empty combs.

276

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 15, 1885.

J. Beer, Warrington, Wingham. — Comb is badly diseased
with Bacillus ahei.—V. C.

A. J. Kayment. — Straightening Crooked Combs. — The
best time for straightening crooked combs will be in
the autumn, when the brood will be almost wholly
hatched.

Alfred Ellis. — Bees carrying out Dead Grubs. — If
the bees carry out drone-grubs, it is because they are
now no longer wanted; if worker-grubs, it is a sign
of starvation.

Miss S. M. Hayxey. — Uniting. — Take No. 1 or No. 2
to a distance of two miles, and after a week's absence
bring them together, — either to No. 1 or to No. 2, and
then unite them. Let the bees settle as to which of
the queens should survive. If No. 3 is to be united to
No. 1, it will be necessary to capture and destroy the
queen of No. 1 ; then cage the queen of No. 3 forty-
eight hours, and take the usual precautions when
uniting.

J. H. L. — You are quite right in presuming that the
queen in the skep is a young one. Transferring. —
The autumn would be a suitable time for this being
done. We would recommend you to consult Cowan's
Bee-keepers' Guide-book , p. 132, for the best method
of transferring.

Leonard Brown. — Extracting Wax.— It only a small
quantitj-, put into a sieve, and place this over a pan of
water, and put it into the oven, which must not be
too hot. The wax will melt, and drop into the water,
and impurities remain in sieve. It will cake on top of
water when cold. If a larger quantity, we would
suggest the method recommended by Mr. J. M.
Hooker, see Cowan's Bee-keepers' Guide, p. 70.

Celer et Audax. — Judging. — We believe the judges
were right in their award.

%* Report of Buckinghamshire U.K. A. ami several other
communications will appear in our next.

Serial fjrcptb ^bbtvtrscnwrtts.

For Sales and Purchases of Bee Appliances, Honey, Books,
Pamphlets, Diagrams, &c, Exchanges and Situations.

Terms : Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad-
ditional three words, One Penny extra; no reduction can
be made for continuous insertion.

THE SIMMINS' METHOD OP DIRECT INTRODUC-
TION. Enlarged to 32 pages. Price 6Jd. Post free,
of the Author, Rottingdean, Brighton ; Messrs. Neighbour &
Sons, 149 Regent Street; and Mr. J. Huckle, Kings
Langley, Herts. (53)

MODERN BEE-KEEPING. An Illustrated Handbook
for Cottagers. Fourth Edition, considerably enlarged.
The soundness of its information, the simplicity of its
instruction, combined with cheapness, make this Hand-
hook invaluable to all intending Bee-keepers. Price Id.,
post free. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.

rpHE MANAGEMENT OF STRAW SKEPS. 5T
JL signed to teach the Cottager how to obtain the best
results at the least possible cost. By attention to its teach-
ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto. Price One Penny.
Six copies and upwards, post free. J. Huckle, KingsLangley .

FOUL BROOD ; The Means of its Propagation, and
the Method of its Cure. By Frank R. Cheshire,
Esq., F.R.M.S. Price Grf. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.

BEE-KEEPING, Plain and Practical : How to
Make it Pay. By A. Rusdridge, Is. Gd., post free,
Is. 8d. Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts. 3932

FOR SALE. — Eight Stocks in Bar-frame Hives, Standard
size. Young Queens, Super-feeders, ' Little Wonder '
Honey Extractor, and other appliances. Address W. Beers,
Siss, Hants ; station one mile distant. d 31

TWENTY-FOUR strong Stocks of Bees for Sale, in
Skeps and Bar-frame Hives ; full of honey. Address
Rev. W. E. Ivens, Bridge Norton Vicarage, Oxon. d 34

FOR SALE. — A Dunham Foundation Machine, almost
new, all requisites for the manufacture complete,
owner retiring from the business. Address 0. H., Office of
B. B. Journal. d 36

■ iOR SALE. — Some good Stocks of Bees, cheap. Ad-
dress J. Gilbert, Bee-keeper, Stamford. d 45

F

FOR SALE. — A few Hundredweights of First-class
Honey, either in bottle or bulk. Address Gilbert,
Bee-keeper, Stamford. d 46

CLEAN, healthy, Driven Bees for Sale, Is. 2d. per lb.
One-frame Honey Extractor, 6s. 6(Z. Address Harry
Fisher, Leighton Buzzard. d 48

WANTED, 30 or 40 lbs. Bottled Honey ; good quality
and colour. State full particulars, and lowest price
free on rail, to C. G. Greaves, Littleport, Ely. j> 49

C "CAPITAL Cylinder Honey Extractor, takes two Frames,
J Standard size, a bargain, 17s. 6d. Address A. T.
Whitington, Newbury. d 50

ITIOR SALE.—150 lbs. of Extracted Honey. Address
' J. Holley, Hail Weston, near St. Neots, Hunts, d 51

FOR SALE. — Four Strong healthy Stocks of Bees in
Straw Skeps, price 16s. each. Address G. Harris,
Junr., Sheet Street, Bicester. d 52

FOR SALE. — Fifteen good Stocks of Bees in Frame
Hives, price 16s. each. Address R. M'Nally, Lint
Mill, Glenluce.

CHESHIRE'S New Book, Bees and Bee-keeping; Scien-
tific and Practical. Magnificently Illustrated, price
Id. monthly. Published by L. Upcott Gill, 170 Strand,
London. D 53

COMB HONEY.— 4J Sections, well filled and sealed, Is.
each. Carriage paid to any Railway Station. Ad-
dress J. C. Lambert, Sunk Island, Hull. d 54

WANTED. — Driven Bees m any quantity. Apply to
Thomas B. Blow & Ellis, Welwyn, Herts.

EEDS. — French Honeysuckle, 3rf. packet. Address Mrs.
Hony, Vicarage, Bishop's Cannings, Devizes. d 55.

s

WHAT Cash offers for Four strong Stocks of Bees ; also
what per lb. for Driven Bees? Young Queen sent
with each lot. Address H. Dobbie, Thickthorn, Norwich.

CN. WHITE, First Class Certificated Expert, The
• Schoolhouse, Somersham, Hunts, is open to En-
gagements in any part of England, at a day's notice.
Stocks in straw Skeps, 14/-, packing included; English or
Ligurian Stocks, with or without Bar-frame Hives, Nuclei,
and Queens, also for sale. Reliable answers to Queries on
Bee-management, by return, three stamps.

CONDEMNED BEES.— I shall have about 200 lbs. weight
to dispose of during August and early in September.
To avoid disappointment, apply early to F. Lyon, 94 Har-
leyford Road, London, S.E.

COMB HONEY— For Sale, a quantity in 4J Sections.
Address J. C. Lambert, Sunk Island, Hull.

GOOD STOCKS. Six Frames of Brood and
Honey, 18s. ; if on Wired Foundation, recommended,
10s. Safe arrival guaranteed. Three-frame Nucleus, with
imported Ligurian Queen, 15s. Stocks in Straw Skeps, 15s.,
packing included. Travelling Hives for Stocks and Nuclei
to be returned. Reliable Answers to Queries on Bee Man-
agement by return, Three Stamps. Address C. N. White,
First-class Certificated Expert B.B.K.A., The Schoolhouse,
Somersham, Hunts.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stbanqewats' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.e.

[No. 177. Vol. XIII.]

SEPTEMBER 1, 1885.

[Published Fortnightly.]

^bitarial, Joticts, #r.

'MANUFACTURED HONEY.'
The first work that came to our hands when we
entered upon our vocation as a bee-keeper was that
of Langstroth on the Hive and the Honey Bee ; and
though these 'salad days' have long passed away, we
have never forgotten the wondrous fascination of
his charming style and the practical information
we derived from the perusal of his work ; and deep
and sincere has been the gratitude we have ever
since felt towards this ' old man eloquent ' for all
the pleasure and the instruction we received from
his teachings. There was, however, one passage in
his book which we would fain have wished had been
omitted, and that was his ' recipe for making a beau-
tiful liquid honey, which the best judges have pro-
nounced one of the most luscious articles they have
ever tasted.' 'Making honey!' What an incon-
gruity of language ! Honey is the symbol of all
that is natural, pure, and genuine ; honey has been
the theme of poets from the time of 'blind Ma?onides'
to the present day; honey is the joy of age and
youth ; honey is the sweet, rich, bright ' effluence
of the essence ' of flowers, the most delightful and
delighting of all the productions of Nature ; and
we can never see the words 'artificial' or 'manu-
factured' conjoined with it without uttering an
internal protest.

We are, however, too apt to think that adul-
teration is confined to American honey ; but the
denunciations of honey mingled with glucose, &c,
have been uttered as earnestly and as frequently by
American as by British bee-keepers. In Cowan's
Guide-booh are to be found extracts from American
journals, stating the extent to which adulteration is
practised in that country and vigorously denouncing
the practice. It is not only in New York or Chicago
that this so-called honey is manufactured. In
Switzerland this ' manufacture ' is carried on to a
large extent ; the analysis of Mr. Otto Hehner in-
forms us that the ' Finest Swiss Honey,' and the
' Finest Swiss Table Honey,' are ' to a certainty
adulterated ; ' and yet this honey is to be found
on the tables of all the Swiss hotels and is said
to be much relished and patronised by English
travellers.

But why need we look abroad ? In our own

country the manufacture of honey is carried on
largely. Our attention has recently been directed
to a wholesale price current of a City firm in

which ' 's Manufactured Honey' is advertised;

and by it we are informed that ' the success of this
article seems assured, and that the orders have
come in so rapidly that the manufacturers have
been unable to cope with the demand.' We have
not handled or seen or tasted this 'article,' and
therefore are unconscious of its virtues. It. may
be a most luscious product, and suitable to the
British palate; but why call it 'honey'? Is not
our language rich enough in itself to give it some
other name, or would it not have been possible
to derive from the Latin or the Creek some other
appellation than that of our much-loved and time-
honoured term 'honey?' Honey is associated with
our earliest (we had almost written 'our holiest')
ideas of all that is sweet, pure, and perfect. The
Royal Psalmist can find no loftier comparison of
his love to the ' words' of God than to honey, —
' hpney and (do we not almost hear the smacking
of the royal lips?) the honeycomb.' 'How sweet
are Thy words unto my taste, yea sweeter than
honey to my mouth.' The Wise Man shows his
appreciation of the virtues of honey by the whole-
some advice he gives : ' My son, eat thou honey,
because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is
sweet to thy taste.' The Easterns, when they
wished to describe the advantages and fertility
of a country, speak of it as " a land flowing
with milk and honey.' And therefore is it that
we 'have so decided an objection that this grand
superlative word should be degraded to that of a
humble positive by its association with such ad-
jectives as 'artificial' or 'manufactured.' Are bees
to be superseded in future by the devices of ever-
meddling Man ? Are we to pronounce that their
'occupation is gone"? Is honey to be paled before
the light of this new production? Not yet we
opine. Never was there a time when the culture
of bees was more attended to ; and never was there
a time when men's minds were so exercised as to
discover fresh outlets and new utilities for honey
in the shape of confections, drinks, medicines, <fec.
We believe that yet there is a great future in store
for the products of the honey-bee ; and we trust
that pure, unadulterated honey will ever hold its
| position, and that our friends of the British Honey
and Fruit-farming Companies will put forth every

278

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[September 1, 1885.

effort to penetrate to every hearth and home, and
to establish the virtues of pure honey and to prove
to a discerning public the superiority of British
honey, not only to the ' manufactured article,' but
also to that which is so largely imported from
foreign countries.

USEFUL HINTS.

Owing to the long-continued drought the prin-
cipal bee-flora has been destroyed, and there is no
source left from which bees can obtain a supply of
nectar, save, perhaps, from that northern Eldorado,
Scotland, where the heather may still afford pas-
turage. The honey-harvest of 1885 may be said,
therefore, to have closed.

The results have certainly been satisfactory
judging from the reports in many districts, but
in others not more than half the quantity of honey
stored last season has been obtained. Natural
swarming has been far more prevalent, and when
such is the case the honey yield is invariably less.
In our experience this is not a necessary result
when a right system is adopted ; but so few bee-
keepers have the time, knowledge, or opportunity,
for conducting natural swarming on a sound and
safe basis, that we generally find, at the close of a
season like the present, maiden swarms in abund-
ance, queenlessness, and a very moderate yield of
honey in consequence of so extensive a division of
colonies.

Queenless Colonies. — Where such colonies have
dwindled considerably there are two ways of deal-
ing with them : — 1st, By uniting to another colony,
which is perhaps the simplest and best method,
causing little trouble or labour, and being easy of
performance and certain in result. 2nd, By obtain-
ing a couple of colonies of driven bees, uniting
them, and putting them in possession of the combs
and hive of the queenless colony, on its own stand,
the rightful owners having first been brushed from
the combs, and allowed to run in with the sup-
planters. If an increase of colonies is desired — or,
rather, the keeping up of the present number — the
latter plan is desirable. The combs of such colonies
generally contain a larger amount of bee-bread than
is required or desirable for wintering, and two or
three of these may be removed and stored in a dry
place for use at spring, when they will be of great
service for stimulating brood-rearing. By no means
attempt to introduce single queens — valued or not
valued — to queenless colonies possessed of few bees,
as such attempt will invariably result in disappoint-
ment and loss. From queenless skeps drive the
bees and unite them to other hives.

Introducing Queens. — This should be done at
once, not later than the middle of the month, and
only to full and strong colonies. When brood in
all stages exists, remove the old queen three or
four days before introducing the new one, and cut
out all queen-cells before caging the latter ; then,
in a pipe-cover cage, place her upon sealed honey,
close to brood, either with, or without, two or three
attendant workers. Before releasing the queen
ascertain whether more queen-cells are in course
of formation, and cut away all such before attempt-

ing to set her free. Twenty-four hours' incarcera-
tion is usually sufficient. On raising the cage, if
the queen is seized, or attacked, cage her again for
a like period. Let the operations be performed in
early morning or late evening, to avoid the entrance
to the hive of strange bees, than which nothing is
more irritating to a colony.

Extracting and Removing Supers. — All such
work should be performed without delay, and the
hives carefully covered and warmly packed to pro-
mote breeding. Extracting, where hives are clogged
witli honey, to give room for breeding, and to stimu-
late the queen thereto, by replacing the extracted
frames in the centre of, or near, the brood-nest, is
an important operation which admits of no delay at
this late season. Extracted sections may be placed
above with the same view, but should be removed
after twenty-four hours, and enamel cloth and
quilts replaced.

Uniting. — Where it is required to strengthen
weak colonies by the addition of driven condemned
bees, the outer combs should be removed from the
colony and the driven bees placed upon them.
After allowing them a few hours in which to settle
down, remove whichever queen you wish to destroy
and cage the other, alternating the combs of both
hives in one and thoroughly smoking after covering
up. If any fighting is noticed at the entrance,
after an interval of ten minutes, smoke again, and
again. In the case of skeps in which the bees are
on combs the bees must be driven from both
skeps, one of the queens removed, and while the
bees with reserved qiieen are running into their
hive the queenless colony must be jerked out
upon them.

Drones are often retained in hives where the
population is small for covering the brood and
keeping up the heat ; their presence, therefore, is
by no means a sure criterion of queenlessness. A
colony in our apiary, whose queen was lost on her
wedding trip, having raised another from an in-
serted queen-cell, which has filled three combs
with brood, still retains a mass of drones. The
workers having dwindled to about one third of
the population, the drones are closely clustered
upon the brood, and at present there appears no
disposition to destroy them. So truly does in-
stinct, or nature, provide for the preservation of
species.

Feeding. — Let feeding, wherever necessary, lie
carried on freely. All colonies should be fed
up to full weight for winter during the present
month.

Carnioi.ans. — Having given this race a fair trial
during the last two seasons, we can speak most
favourably respecting it. As a lady's bee, it cannot
be surpassed, its gentleness, and indisposition to
sting, is almost past belief after handling Syrians
and Cyprians. It is a good honey-bee, and not
more given to swarming than most other races, as
far as we can judge at present. The worker is a
large bee, and the silvery appearance, caused by
the abdominal rings of white hairs, is very pleasing.
At this late season we are raising queens in nuclei,
so highly do we esteem it.

September 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

279

THE BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS'

ASSOCIATION.

The next Committee Meeting will be beld on
Wednesday, September 16th.

The next Quarterly Meeting of County Represen-
tatives will be held on Wednesday, October 21st.
Notices of motion for this meeting must reach the
Secretary on or before Wednesday, September 23rd.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
An examination for the third-class experts'
certificate was held in connexion with the Annual
Show at Gloucester on July 28th, and certificates
were awarded to Mr. W. D. Slade, of Cheltenham,
-and to Mr. A. Zachary, of Cirencester. The Rev.
Dr. Bartrum acted as examiner and judge.

NOTTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
We note that the Committee of the above
Association have decided to hold a Honey Fair, for
the disposal of members' honey, and have engaged
premises at Mr. Laslett's Mart, Market Street,
Nottingham, for September 17th, 18th, and 19th.
We hope that this venture will prove as great a
success as those of a similar kind which have been
held in other parts of the country.

ASSOCIATIONS.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

At Buckingham, on July 28th , in connexion with, yet
in a sense independent of, the Horticultural Society, there
was a splendid exhibition of honey, both extracted and
in section boxes, and for which prizes to a considerable
-amount were offered by the Buckingham Bee-keepers'
Association to the members of the Association generally;
and also other prizes offered by the late Rev. H. R. Peel,
of Thornton Hall, and II. Hearn, Esq., Buckingham, these
latter prizes being restricted to members residing in
Buckingham district only. In these competitions Messrs.
O . Winterbume, J. Prior, and It. Holland (Buckingham),
J. Pollard, Tingewick, W. Daniels, Maids Moreton, and
W. Sturdy, Thornton, were very successful, showing some
really excellent honey. Mr. Blow was present and gave
some short addresses on the science and art of bee-
keeping; as was also the Rev. F. Sclater, the County
Secretary. The Rev. J. L. Seager, Stevenage, Herts,
offcia ed as Judge of the honey exhibits; and Mr.
Stonhill had a small tent replete with modern bee-ap-
pliances for which he effected sales and took orders. The
stock of honey on exhibition and sale was large, generally
of a superior quality, and the show altogether in every
way satisfactory to its promoters. The awards of prizes
are as follows : —

Honey prizes offered by the Association: — 1. Best
display of honev in sections: 1, silver medal and
10s. Gd., Mr. E. 'J. Ridge; 2, 7s. 6d., Mr. Henley; 3,
os., Mr. J. B. Greaves. 2. Best display of extracted
honey: 1, 7*. Gd., Mr. G. Winterburn; 2, 5*., Mr.
Jason Prior; 3, 2*. Gd., Mr. Mitchell. 3. Best non-

sectional super: 1, 4s., Mr. G. Winterburn; 2, Is., Mr.
It. Garratt. 4. Ikst. and largest display of comb honey :
1, Mr. G. Winterburn. 5. Best display of comb honey
in sections: 1, 7s. Gd., Mr. W. Daniels; 2, 5s., Mr. G.
Winterburn ; 3, 2s. Gd., Mr. G. Pollard. 6. Best dis-
play of extracted honey in jars: 1, Mr. J. Pollard; 2, 4s.,
Mr. J. Prior ; 3, 2s., Mr. G. Winterburn.

Honey prizes, group No. 2, open only to members
residing in the Buckingham District. Prizes offered by
Rev. H. R. Peel, Thornton Hall, and Henry Hearn, Esq.,
Buckingham.

7. Best display of honey in 1-lb section boxes: 1,7s. Gd.,
Mr. J. Pollard; 2, 5s., Mr. W. Daniels; 3, 2s. Gd., Mr.
W. Sturdy, Thornton. 8. Best, display of honey in 2-lb
sections: J, 5s., Mr. It. Holland, Buckingham. 9. Best
display of extracted honey in glass jars (not less than ten
in number): 1, 7s. Gd., Mr. J. Pollard; 2, 5s., Mr. W.
Sturdy ; 3, 2s. Gd., Mr. G. Winterburn.

At the Colnbrook Flower Show on Aug. 3, the Associa-
tion had a tent in the grounds, in which illustrations of
bee-driving were made during the day, under the superin-
tendence of the Rev. F. Sclater, the County Secretary.
In another tent were exhibitions of honey and various
appliances connected with bee-keeping, a useful and
valuable show being made by Messrs. Abbott , of Southall.
A number of prizes were offered by the above-named
Bee-keepers' Association, the following being the
awards : —

Best display of comb honev in section boxes: 1, 10s.
Gd., Mr. Walter Guest ; 2, 7s. Gd., Mr. G. Bartlett ; 3,
5s., Mr. A. G. Fleming. Best displav of run extracted
honey : 1, 7s. Gd., Mr. S. Mitchell ; 2, 5s., Mr. G. Bartlett;
3, 2s. Gd., Mrs. Meeking. Best non-sectional super ; 1 ,
4s., Mr. A. G. Fleming ; 2, 2s., Mrs. Meeking. Best and
largest display of comb honej', exhibited at the Show:
Prize, 10s., Mr. W. Guest.

Mr. Stewart kindly acted as judge.

A large and successful Exhibition of Honey was held
by the Association at. High Wycombe, in connexion
with the Flower Show, on August 19th. The Rev.
George Raynor kindly acted as judge, assisted by Mr. R.J.
Bayes. The quality of the honey exhibited was most
excellent, and the competition for the prizes very keen.
It may be mentioned that the bronze medal, offered for
the best display of comb-honey, was taken by the silver
medallist at the recent Buckingham show. Through the
energy of the Rev. E. Clay, of Great Kimble, a depot
for the sale of bee apparatus has recently been estab-
lished in the Risborough District, and at the show much
interest was shown in the stand of hives and appliances
provided from the depot. Here, Mr. Clay was active in
supplying every information desired by visitors upon
bee-keeping topics, whilst in the bee-tent exhibitions of
driving and general management were given at intervals,
under the direction of the Rev. F. Sclater, the county
secretary. Such depots as that established at Great
Kimble will, we feel sure, be of the greatest convenience
to the members of the Association, and we shall hope soon
to hear of others being established.

The subjoined is a list of prize awards : —

Class I. Sections. — 1, Mr. E. Ridge (Thornborough):

2, Mr. L. Harris (Bradenham) ; 3, Mr. G. Lacey (Nap-
hill) ; Highly Commended, Mr. F. Freeman ( Wendover) ;
Mr. J. K. Filbee (Naphill). II. Extracted.— 1, Mr. F.
Freeman (Wendover); 2, Mr.E. Ridge (Thornborough) ;

3, J. K. Filbee. HI. Non-sectional. — 1, Mr. F. Free-
man (Wendover); 2, Mr. E. Harman (Wooburn).
IV. Display of Comb Honey. — Mr. J. K. Filbee (Nap-
hill). V. Local (sections). — 1, Mr. G. Lacev (Naphill) ;
2, Mr. P. Brisker (Ellesborough); 3, Mr. J. K. Filbee
(Naphill). VI. Local (extracted).— 1, Mr. J. K. Filbee
(Naphill) ; 2, Mr. S. Mitchell (Wooburn); 3, Mr. P
Brisker (Ellesborough).

2,80

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[September 1, 1885.

GLAMORGANSHIRE GENERAL
CULTURAL SOCIETY.

AGRI-

The annual show of this Society was held at Neath
on August 5th and 6th. The weather was beautifully
tine on the first day, but thunder-showers occurred
during the afternoon of the second day. The local
Committee, for the first time in the annals of the show,
offered prizes for appliances and honey, but no entries
■were made for the former. This caused considerable
disappointment, as many bee-keepers came to the show-
intending to buy extractors, &c. The honey, which was
staged in the same building as dairy produce, was of a
wonderfully even quality, and differed very slightly in
Colour.

Mr. Blow stated that the run honey is the best he
has ever seen at a first show of this kind. The sections
which carried off the prizes were evenly built and of
good colour, but this branch of honey culture has
received less attention in the district owing to the
difficulty of selling the sections. A large amount of the
extracted honey was sold at from Is. 2d. to Is. Gd. per lb.
Mr. Blow drove bees and lectured on bee-keeping in the
bee tent to large audiences each day. There were
thirteen entries for run honey (prizes, 1/., 15s., and
10s.), and nine for sections (prizes, 11., 15s., and 10s.),
which result is encouraging, as this year is the first in
which the Society has recognised bee-culture. The
following is a list of awards : — Best 12 1-lb. or 2-lb.
sections — First prize, Mrs. W. S. Powell, of Eglwysnunyd ;
second prize, William Williams, of Margam, and Edwin
Evans, of Margam (equal); third prize, J. Muir, of
Margam. Best 12 lbs. extracted honey in 1 lb. or 2 lb.
jars — First prize, Rev. Z. P. Williamson, of Margam,
and Edward J. Gibbing, of Neath (equal) ; second prize,
William Pullin, of Margam, and William Owen, of
Neath Abbey (equal) ; third prize, William Jones, jun.,
of Neath.

WORCESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The Third Annual Show of this Association was held
in conjunction with the meeting of the Worcester City
and County Horticultural Society in the grounds of
Walter Holland, Esq., at Rose Hill, Worcester, on
August 20th and 21st last.

In the honey classes there were three entries for the
medals and certificate given by the B.B.K.A. The
silver medal was awarded to Mr. E. T. Footman, of
Martley, for a very good exhibit of sections, mostly 1 lb.,
and weighing altogether 170 lbs. The bronze medal was
taken by Sir. C. Brown, of Bewdley, the expert of the
Worcester B.K. A., the competitor who would have
taken this prize having failed to comply with the
regulation requiring his honey to be protected from the
bees, thus causing him to be disqualified, although the
exhibit, amounting to sections weighing 150 lbs., was in
point of excellence almost as good as that which gained
the silver medal. The certificate of the B.B.K.A. was
not awarded. The chief feature of the exhibition was
the excellent exhibits of honey, the competition in
several of the classes being exceedingly close, although,
as usual, the entries in the cottagers' classes were very
few.

In the hive department there was a good show,
Messrs. Abbott Brothers taking, as usual, a large majority
of the prizes in this class, and showing an excellent
collection of bee-keeping appliances.

It is a matter of regret that there were only two
entries in the driving competition offered by the
Honorary Secretary, as under the regulations it could
not take place unless three competitors entered. We
advise all exhibitors to be more careful in future in
complying with the rules and regulations, as several

exhibits in both hive and honey classes were disqualified
for failure in this respect.

The Bee-tent was well filled by most attentive au-
diences. Mr. A. II. Martin, in his introductory remarks,
referred in feeling terms to the loss the Association and
the bee-keeping community generally had sustained in the
death of the Rev. H. R. Peel, who for so many years was
intimately connected with the county of Worcester, and
he especially bore testimony to the" valuable advice and
help he himself had received from Mr. Peel when the As-
sociation was started three years previously. Bee-driving
and lectures were given by Dr. George Walker (who es-
pecially attended from the B.B.K.A. as examiner, and
who acted as judge for the show, assisted by Mr. James
Partridge, of Alvechurch), by Mr. A. H. Martin, the Hon.
Sec, and by Mr. C. Brown, the expert of the Association.

There were nineteen classes, and over 20/. was given
in prizes, for which there were in all eighty entries.
Altogether the show was a great success, and a marked
improvement upon that of last year.

Four candidates presented themselves for examination
for certificates as third-class experts. Messrs. E. T.
Footman, of Martley, and W. F. Paddison, of Malvern,
were successful, having passed very creditable examina-
tions, the bee-driving and manipulations with a bar-
frame hive being especially good. We append the
awards : —

Bees. — Class 1. Best specimen of bees, to be exhibited
in an observatory hive. 1, Mr. C. Brown, Bewdley; 2,
Mr. A. W. Rollins, Stourbridge.

Honey. — Class 2. Best exhibition of honey in
sections. 1, Mr. E. T. Footman, Martley, Worcester ;
silver medal of B. B. K. A. 2, Mr. C. Brown, Bewd-
ley, bronze medal of B.B.K.A. 3, not given. Class 3.
Best exhibition of 24 one-lb. or 12 two-lb. sections of
comb honey. 1, Mr. William Woodley, Newbury; 2,
Mr. F. Martin, Hanbury, Droitwich; 3, Miss Nicholls,
Abbotts Salford, Evesham. Highly Commended : Mr.
W. F. Paddison, Malvern. Class 4. Best 12 one-lb. or
6 two-lb. sections of comb honey. 1, Mr. C. II. Haynes,
Hanley Castle, Worcester ; 2, Mr. A. W. Rollins, Stour-
bridge. Class 5. Best super of honey. 1, Mr. A. W.
Rollins, Stourbridge ; 2, Mr. A. D. Woodley, Reading,
Class 6. Best exhibition of run or extracted" honey. 1.
Mr. A. W. Rollins, Stourbridge ; 2, Mr. A. D. Woodley,
Reading; 3, Lady G. Vernon, Hanbury Hall, Droitwich.
Class 7. Best 12 one-lb. glass jars of extracted honey.
1, Mr. J. Johnson, Wychbold, Droitwich ; 2, Mr. A. D.
Woodley, Reading.

Wax.— (Given by Mr. C. H. Haynes.)— Class 8. Best
exhibit of bees-wax. 1, Mr. William Woodley, New-
bury ; 2, Messrs. Abbott, Southall.

_ Hives.— Class 0. Best complete and most practical
hive on the moveable comb principle. Price not to exceed
30s. 1, Mr. II. Meadham, Huntington, Hereford: 2,
Mr. A. W. Rollins, Stourbridge. Class 10. Ditto, price
not to exceed 10s. 1, Messrs. Abbott Brothers; 2, Mr.
J. R. W. Hole, Tarrington, Ledbury. Class 11. Best
straw hive. 1, Messrs. Abbott Brothers ; 2, not awarded.
Class 12. Best honey extractor. 1, Messrs. Abbott
Brothers ; 2, Mr. A. W. Rollins, Stourbridge. Class 13.
Best and largest collection of hive9 and bee furniture.

1, Messrs. Abbott Brothers; 2, not awarded.
Cottageks' Class. — Class 14. Best 24 one-lb. or 12

two-lb. sections. 1, H. O. Huntley, Pitmaston, Wor-
cester; 2 and 3, not awarded. Class 15, Best 12 one-lb.
or G two-lb. sections. 1, Mr. J. Mansell, Harvington,
Evesham ; 2 and 3, not awarded. Class 16. Best ex-
hibition of honey in the comb in any form. 1, no
exhibits of sufficient merit ; 2, Mr. Mark Wilkes, Trots-
hill, Worcester ; 3, Mr. J. Neale, Crab Orchard, Wor-
cester. Class 17. Best exhibition of run or extracted
honey. 1, W. Willis, Egthorne, Hanbury, Droitwich;

2, J. Cartwright, Gallow Green, Droitwich ; 3, II. O.
Huntley, Worcester. Class 18. (Given by Mr. C. Brown,

September 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

281

expert of the Worcestershire Bee-keepers' Association.)
Best bar-frame hive made by a cottager, a member
of the Worcestershire Bee-keepers' Association, who is
not, nor has been, a carpenter by trade. 1, S. Brown,
Doverdale, Droitwick, a honey extractor ; 2, J. A.
Brighton, 1'erryfields, Broinsgrove, a crate of 21 one-lb.
sections fitted with guide combs.

DniviNG Competition. — Only two entries. No
award.

The arrangements of the tables were most excellently
carried out by Mr. C. Brown, under the direction of the
Hon. Sec. We are glad to be able to announce that
a depot for the sale of honey belonging to members of
the Association has been opened by Mr. George Gabb,
47 High Street, Worcester, who will be happy to give
particulars on application.

HUNTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The Annual Show was this year held in connexion
with the St. Neot's Horticultural Show on Bank
Holiday, August .'S. Mr. Edey kindly arranged sites,
and superintended the erection of the bee and exhibition
tents. The latter was in a good position, and capacious,
showing off the various exhibits to the fullest advantage.
The show was the most successful yet held, and con-
sidering the smallness of the county and the little interest
taken in bee-keeping generally, must be considered
creditable to the Association. The exhibits were more
in number than hitherto, and the competition was fairly
keen. The principal prizes, including the silver medal,
were carried off by Mr. J. H. Howard, of Holme.

The prizes, awarded by R. It. Godfrey, Esq., of
Grantham, were as follows: —

Class 1. Best specimen of foreign bees, exhibited with
their queen in an observatory hive — 1, J. H. Howard,
Holme; 2, G. Beynolds, St. Neot's. Class 2. Best
specimen of English bees, ditto— 1, G. Reynolds; 2, J.
Addington, Chawson ; commended, J. H. Howard.
Class 3. Best exhibit of comb-honey, not sectional — 1,
A. Childs, Alconbury; 2, J. Linton, Buckden Wood;
commended, A. (Jhilds. Class 4. Best twenty-four I-Ib.
sections of comb-honey— 1, B. B. K. A. silver medal,
J. H. Howard ; 2, J. II. Howard ; 3, J. Linton. Class 5.
Best twelve 2-lb. sections of comb-honey — 1, J. H.
Howard; 2, J. H. Howard; commended', Eev. C. C.
James. Class G. 1, B. B.K. A. bronze medal, Mrs.
Allpress, Broughton ; 2, J. fit. Howard ; 3, J. H.
Howard. Class 7. Best sample of bees'-wax, not less
than 3 lbs.— 1, Edey & Son, St, Neot's: 2, G. Reynolds;
3, Mrs. AUpress. Class 8. Cottagers' best twelve 1-lb.
sections of comb-honey — 1, J. II. Howard, jun., Holme;
2, F. Green, Holme; 3, B. Bull, Brampton. Class!).
Best twelve 1-lb. bottles of run-honey— 1, J. H. Howard,
jun.: 2, B. Bull; 3, F. Green.

The bee-tent, in charge of Mr. Baldwin, of Bromley,
Kent, expert-in-chief of the B. B. K. A., was only fairly
patronised, but his remarkably lucid and practical
addresses were listened to witli great attention. Among
the visitors was the President, the Earl of Sandwich,
who took great interest in the proceedings. The weather
was remarkably fine, and the number of visitors to the
Horticultural Show unusually large ; but, unfortunately,
although the exhibition tent was well patronised, the
bee-tent failed to draw any great number. As a means
of members disposing of their honey, the annual shows
are almost useless, and it must shortly be considered
how the Association may be of most use to its members.
Bee-tents help to create' an interest in the subject, and
much advice and practical hints are obtained by those
who visit them : but the work must, to be successful, be
carried on by the Association expert at the homes of
the members. In a few words, the two great objects of
the Association should be to show the members how to
get the honey, and having got it, how and where to sell

it, It is almost useless simply referring them to the
Hone}' Companies and other depots; they must have
real assistance in its disposal. This is particularly
necessary if the cottager and agricultural labourer are to
be encouraged to keep bees on the modern system. —
C. N. White, Hon. Sec. Hunts B.K. A.

SURREY BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION,

The sixth annual show of bees and honey was held at
Sutton on the I2th ult., in connexion with the Sutton
and Cheam Horticultural Society's show, in the pictur-
esque grounds of Lower Cheam House, by the kind per-
mission of II. L. Antrobus, Esq., and was the most
successful, as well as by far the largest and best bee
exhibition ever held in Surrey, and cannot fail to give an
impetus to bee-culture in the locality, where there are
already many advanced bee-keepers, who staged such a
large and fine assortment of splendid honey and bees-
wax that the spacious marquee (80 feet long) was rilled
from end to end with more than 3800 lbs. of honey in
comb and glass bottles, besides two other large tents
devoted entirely for the large collection of bee-hives and '
appliances exhibited by Messrs. Abbott, Messrs. Neigh-
bour, and Messrs. Overton, including several fine observa-
tory hives filled with bees of different breeds, which were
much admired. A large rotary honey extractor also
attracted much curiosity, from its being designed by a
local gentleman and being capable of extracting eight
frames at once.

The Bee-tent of the B. B. K. A., as well as that
of the Surrey Association, were erected in the spacious
grounds, and practical lectures on bee manipulation and
modern bee-keeping were given during the afternoon by
the expert, Mr. .las. Abbott, and the lion, secretary,
Captain Campbell, to large and intelligent audiences,
while Mr. C. N. Abbott conducted examinations for
third-class experts in the smaller tent, till the heavy
downpour of rain set in in the evening and put a stop to
further operations.

Much regret was felt that the driving competition
could not be held on account of the heavy rain, but the
display of excellent stocks of bees in bar-frame hives as
well as the fine quality of the honey staged, indicated
that bee-culture had alread}- made great progress amongst
the gentry and other residents in the rich district around,
abounding as it does with flowers and market gardens,
offering great advantages for bees.

The whole of the arrangements of this, the first bee
show ever held at Sutton, were carried out by the zealous
district secretary, Mr. Percy Waterer, assisted by the
hon: secretary Captain Campbell, and by a most energetic-
local committee. The judges were Mr. J. M. Hooker,
of Sevenoaks, and Mr. 0. N. Abbott, of Southall ; and
there being more than one hundred and Jifty-three entries
their labours were excessive, but the results most grati-
fying to the Association. The attendance of the public-
was very good indeed, but the evening proving so stormy
many were prevented from coming.

The silver medal of the B. B. K. A. was awarded to
Mr. W. Hollands, of Croydon, and the bronze medal to
Mr. Chater, the B. B. K. A. Certificate to Mr. F.
Hewetson. The value of prizes exceeded 30/., including
6/. given by kind local donors.

List of prizes annexed : —

1. — Best observatory hive, Messrs. Overton, 1; Abbott
Bros., 2. 2. — Best stock of bees in a straw hive (cottage
members), W. J. Nixon, 1. 3. — Best stock of bees in a
straw hive (Surrey cottagers not members), T. Barber, 1;
H. Lidon, 2. 4. — Best stock of bees in a straw hive
(Surrey cottagers), W. J. Nixon, 1 ; J. Norket, 2. 5. —
Best 0 lbs. section honey in comb (cottage member
only), T. Chater, 1; G. Hossett,2; W. II. Menear, 3J
6. — Best six sections or other supers (Surrey cottagers
not members), E. May, 1; J.Hall,2. 7.— Bestl21-lb.orsix

282

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[September 1, 1885.

2-lb. section honey, W. Hollands, 1; F. Hewetson, 2; C.
Cousins, 3. S. — Best 6 lb. bottles extracted honey (cottage
members), W.H. Menear,l; T.Chater,2; E. May,3. 9.—
Best and clearest run honey (cottagers not members), E.
May, 1. 10.— Best 12 lbs.' honey in jars, Mrs. S. Shirley,
1 ; C. Fruen, 2 ; W. Hollands, 3. 11, — Best exhibition
of honey in any form from one apiary, H. Eden, 1 ; W.
J. Seabrook, 2 ; W. HoUands and R. H. Coppin, 3. 12.—
Best exhibition of bees'-wax from one apiary, W. J. Sea-
brook, 1 ; W. Hollands, 2 ; F. F. Woolaston, 3. 13re. -
Best collection of hives, Abbott Bros., 1 ; Neighbour, 2 ;
Overton, Bros., 3. 136. — Best moveable comb hive,
Abbott Bros., 1 ; Overton, Bros., 2 ; Woodley, 3. 13e. —
Best moveable comb hive for wintering bees, W. Hollands,
1; Abbott, Bros., 2; A. W. Woodley, 3. 13d.— Best
form of straw hive, Overton, Bros., 1. 14. — Best hive of
bees (members), Miss Dowlmg, 1 ; W. J. Seabrook, 2 ;
W. C. Ahem, 3. 15. — Best hive of bees (cottagers), W.
J. Nixon, 1 ; John Fowler, 2. 16. — Best 6 lb. section
(members), E. Newling, 1 ; G. Martin, 2. 17. — Best 6 lb.
section (cottagers), E. May, 1 ; W. J. Nixon, 2. 18.—
Bee-driving competition, not judged.

BEE SHOWS IN CORNWALL.

This season the Cornwall Bee-keepers' Association
have held five shows of bees, honey, Src, in different
parts of the county, and though no startling profits have
been made the Association has avoided losses, and there
is a fair prospect that the heavy debt whicli overhung the
Association at the commencement of the year will be
materially decreased. The first show was held at
Penzance, in connexion with the Royal Cornwall Agri-
cultural Association. This was the annual show of the
Association, and the able services of Mr. T. B. Blow
were engaged for the occasion.

The tent was next pitched at St. Austell. The ex-
hibition of honey was, without exception, one of the
best local shows ever held in the county. The majority
of the exhibits were sent in really good form, but there
was, as usual amongst cottagers at present, some which
should never have been seen inside a show tent. In
the classes free to the county the Rev. C. R. Sowell, of
St. Goran, was awarded the first prize for the largest
and best harvest of comb from one stock obtained by any
system or combination of systems, and J. Roseveare took
second. The Rev. C. R. Sowell also obtained the first
prize for the best super of comb honey, Mr. Harrison, of
Tregoney, being second. The first prize was an open
crate of twenty-one pound-and-a-quarter sections from a
swarm on June 1st, in an Abbott's Combination hive.
During the afternoon illustrations of driving and manipu-
lating in the Bee-tent were given by Mr. Gradidge, of
Truro, and brief lectures on modern bee-keeping were
given by Mr. Sowell, in the presence of the high sheriff
and a large number of ladies and gentlemen.

The next place visited was Falmouth. Here the show
of honey was not so large as one would expect in such a
good honey-yielding district. The most perfect exhibit
was a collection of 1-lb. sections sent by Mr. A. Bennett,
Tregoney, but the weight was against him, and the first
prize in the class went to Mr. W. Sharpe, Falmouth.
The other prize winners in the honey classes were
Messrs. J. Tonkin (Mawnan), W. Eddy (Falmouth), and
J. Johnson (Falmouth). Only one skep of bees were
sent in to compete for the prize hive. The lecturing and
manipulation were conducted by the Hon. Sec, Mr. C.
Kent.

From Falmouth the Bee-tent went to the other end of
the county, Launceston, where an excellent exhibition
was held. The Rev. C. R. Sowell delivered lectures,
and Mr. G. Gradidge conducted the manipulations. A
large quantity of honey in sections and boxes was shown
and a first prize went' to the Rev. J. A. Kempe for an
enormous glass super weighing 54 lbs., as the harvest of

one hive. Mr. Kempe also obtained a first prize for a-
dozen 2-lb. sections, as the best super in the building.
Mr. Cardell, of Launceston, was also a large exhibitor
of honey.

Five days later the tent was pitched at Redruth, in
connexion with a horticultural, dog, and poultry ex-
hibition. Here the exhibits of honey were very few.
For comb honey the prizes were awarded to Mr. J.
Opie, Helston, and Mr. A. Bennett, Tregoney. A
special prize was given to Mr. T. Phillips, Constantine,
for some splendid quality extracted honey. The ex-
hibition was open two days. On the first day Mr. C.
Kent lectured and manipulated, and on the second Mr.
G. Gradidge was in charge of the tent, assisted by Mr.
H. B. Neame, a member of the Committee.

SHROPSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The Annual Exhibition cf this Association was held in
the Quariy, Shrewsbury, in conjunction with the Horti-
cultural Society's Fete and Flower Show, Aug. 19th and
20th. Practical lectures on bee management and man-
ipulation were given in an adjacent tent, the secretary
being the Rev. J. H. E. Charter, Severn Villa. This was
most certainly the finest exhibition of honey ever seen in
Shrewsbury, both as to quantity and quality, and in the-
chief classes the beautiful finish of the sections elicited
the admiration of the judges, and gave them no little
trouble in arriving at their decisions ; they were obliged
to look over some of the exhibits two or three times
before their fiat could be given, so close was the com-
petition. Beautiful and magnificent were some of the
large piles of delicate honey -comb, and almost as at-
tractive was the rich bottled nectar.

In Class 1 there were three exhibits, and the prize-
takers were decidedly the best. Class 2 was rather a
novelty, and was intended to show the difference in the
formation of cells between the humble bee and honey
bee. The prizes were offered by the Hon. Secretary, but
there was only one exhibit. In Class 3 Lady Hill
judiciously exhibited two forms of supers, namely,
sections, and also neat small straw caps so suitable for
cottagers to adopt who cannot yet manage the former.
In Class 4, as in the last, most remarkably fine sections
were staged, and the competition was very keen, es-
pecially for second place, consequently an extra was
awarded. Mr. Preece's exhibits were truly superb, and
so was the one shown by Mr. Bennett. Mrs. A.
Withers was very highly commended for her exhibit
weighing 1031bs., slightly wanting in flatness in some
parts, but still very fine. In Class 5 there was a
grand display of extracted honey, the winning exhibit
being a splendid lot weighing 250 lbs. A very nice
and beautifully clear sample, though small in quantity,
was shown by Miss E. Steedman, High Ercall, which
met with well-deserved attention and was very nearly
being ' placed.' In Class 6 Mr. J. Minor, Wem, showed
a splendid lot weighing 1191bs., which ' spoke for itself.'
In Class 9 Messrs. Abbott showed a neat method for
fixing the foundation to the bars. In the next class Mr.
Preece showed a very ingenious and cleverly-made hive,
and the one exhibited by Mr. Wood was a fine piece of
amateur work. In the next class Mr. J. Bradley showed
a most creditable piece of work. The awards are
appended : —

Bees. — Best exhibition of bees in an observatorv hive
— 1, Messrs. Abbott, London; 2, Mr. T. Bennett,
Shifnel. Nest of humble bees — 2, Mr. E. Davies,
Bayston Hill.

Honey. — Honey in comb from one apiary — 1, Asso-
ciation's silver medal and 10s., Mr. W. G. l'reece. jun.,
Shrewsbury, 248 lbs., from five hives; 2, Lady Hill,
571bs. Honey in comb from one hive (doubling allowed)
— 1, the Association's silver medal and 10s., Mr. W. G.
Preece, jun. ; 2, Mr. J. Minor, Wem ; 3, Mr. T. Bennett,

September 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

283

Shifnal. A very close competition. Extracted or run
honev. the produce of one apiary — 1, Bronze medal and
10s.," Mr. E. Wood, Wellington", 350 lbs.; 2, Dr. A. O.
Sankey, Boreatton Hall; h. c. Miss E. Steedman, High
Ercall. Best ditto from one stock (doubling- allowed) —
1, Bronze medal and 10s., Mr. J. Minor, Wem.

Hives and Apparatus. — Best and cheapest moveable
comb-hive (in wood or straw complete) — 1, Messrs.
Abbott, Southall ; 2, Mr. W Meadham, Hunting-ton.
Collection of hives, and useful appliances — 1, Messrs.
Abbott ; 2, Mr. T. W. Hole, Ledbury. Any new and
useful invention — 1, Messrs. Abbott. Frame-hive, the
work of an amateur, — 1, Mr. W. G. l'reece, jun. ; 2,
Mr. W. Wood, Wellington ; and Mr. Preece, v. h. c.
Ditto the work of a cottager — 1, Mr. J. Bradley,
Yockleton. Best straw hive with super — No award.

Open to Cottagers only. — Honey in comb from
one apiarv (doubling allowed) — 1, The Association's ce -
tificate and 15s., Mr. J. Bradley; 2, Mr. W. Bennett,
Berrington. Honey in comb in any sort of super from
one hive — 1, the Association's certificate and 15s., Mr. A.
Withers, Marchamley ; 2, Mr. W. Sutton, Harmer Hill ;
3, Mr. W. Bennett. Extracted honey from one apiary
— 1, Mr. It. Watson, Baschurch ; 2, Mr. M. Sutton ; ;!,
Mr. R. Payne.

In these classes the exhibits showed that the cottagers
in some instances are not far behind-hand in working
the approved methods. The judges were the Rev. H. J.
Wilcox (Cockshutt Vicarage), and Captain Nicholas
Robinson (Frankton Grange). The lecturer was Mr. T.
W. Hole, the Hereford Apiary, Tarrington, Ledbury.

WILTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The annual county show was held in connexion with
the Wilts Horticultural Society in the Palace Grounds,
Salisbury, on Aug. 20th, and proved to be in all respects
the most satisfactory one yet held by the Association.
The value of the prizes, number of entries, and amount
taken at the door, being much larger than on previous
occasions. The hon.*sec, Rev. W. E. Burkitt, was ably
assisted by a local sub-committee, and the Committee of
the Wilts Horticultural Society did all in their power
to make the bee show a success.

E. H. Bellairs, Esq., hon. sec. of the Hants and Isle of
Wight B. K. A. was appointed judge and examiner for
3rd class experts' certificates. Rev. V. H. Moyle, hon.
sec. of Berks B. K. A., and Rev. H. Everett, of Dorset
B. K. A., were the two selected by W. B. K. A., but at
the last moment their places had to be supplied by W.
Pinckney, Esq., and W. S. Bambridge, Esq. The centre
tables were entirely occupied with the honey classes, in
some of which there was a keen competition. The
quality of the honey was excellent. Messrs. Abbott's
collection occupied the greater part of one side of the
tent. Excellent hives were also exhibited by A. D.
Woodley, Reading ; G. Perrett, Rowde, near "Devizes ;
R. Webb, Yarnbrook, near Trowbridge. 'The Self-
opening Tin Box Company ' made a good show of their
most useful receptacles for honey, preserves, &c.

A well-stocked sale-counter was presided over by Mrs.
Currey, Miss Burkitt, and Miss H. F. Burkitt.

From the commencement of the show till dusk lectures
and bee-driving, &c, went on continuously in the bee-
tent, which formed, as it were, a south transept to the
large marquee. Very great interest was manifested in
the manipulations, but the afternoon was too dull for
driving to go on pleasantly, giving scarcely a fair chance
to some of the candidates for certificates, five of whom
(including one lady) presented themselves for their
examination.

The judges, hon. sec, and other members of the
committee were invited to an elegant luncheon by the
committee of the Horticultural Society presided over by
the Mayor.

The hon. sec. begs to draw attention to the great incon-
venience often caused to exhibitors and extra labour on
the part of the secretary and his assistants by late entries
— some on the morning of the show — and the very
general neglect of stating space required on the entry
forms ; this omission was the unavoidable cause of Messrs.
Abbott's fine collection being unduly crowded.

The following are the awards : —

Bees, &c. — 1. — Best, stock of bees in observatory hive,
1, H. Gibbons, Ilungerford, 15s. ; 2, Abbott, Bros., 10s.

Hives, &c. — 2. — Best observatory hive, 1,11. Gibbons,
15s. ; no 2nd award. 3. — Best bar-frame hive, price not
to exceed 1/. lis. 6d., 1, Abbott, Bros., 7s. Qd.; 2, R.
Webb, 5s. 4. — Best bar-frame hive, price not to exceed
15s., 1, R. Webb, 7s. 6d. ; 2, Abbott, Bros., 5s. 5.— Best
bar-frame hive, for cottagers' use, price 7s.,l,G. Perrett,
7s. Qd. ; 2, Abbott, Bros., 5s. 6.— Best collection of bee-
furniture, 1, Messrs. Abbott, 21. ■ 2, W. E. Burkitt, 11.
7. — Best arrangement for obtaining super honey from
skeps, 1, W. E. Burkitt, 7s. 6d.; no 2nd award. 8. —
New inventions, Tin Box Company and Messrs. Abbott.

Honey (Open to Members only).— 9. — Best exhibition
of super honey, 1, W. E. Burkitt. 10s.; 2, Rev. R.
Williams, 7s. 6o?.; Highly Commended, Rev. P. E. Miles.
10. — Best 12 lbs. in 1 or 2-lb. sections, and 12 lbs. in 1 or
2-lb. jars, 1, A. P. Hall, Silver Medal ; 2, W. E. Burkitt,
Bronze medal; A. J. Noyes and Rev. C. B. Oldfield
Highly Commended. (Mr. Burkitt having taken Bronze
Medal last year, it goes now to Mr. A. J. Noyes, of
Pewsey, 3rd on judges' list). 11. — Best super of honey
(not being sectional) not less than 10 lbs., 1, Rev. P. E.
Miles, Certificate of B. B. K. A. and 5s.; 2, E. Day,
ditto and 2s. 6d. 12. — Best 12 lbs. in 1-lb. or 2-lb. glass
jars, 1, E. Day, 5s. ; 2, Mrs. Curtis, 2s. 6c?. ; W. E.
Burkitt Highly Commended ; Rev. J. A. Lloyd Com-
mended. 13. — Best old stock of bees, in skep, 1, Thomas
Giles, bar-frame hive worth 10s. or cash ; 2, Mrs. Self e,
a Buttermere skep crate worth 5,?., or cash; 3, P. Miles,
a smoker and bee-veil, given by hon. sec. 14. — Best
bees'-wax, not less than 5 lbs., 1,E. Day, 5s.; 2, 1. Beau-
champ, 2s. 6d. 15. — Best collection of bee flowers, no-
competition.

Driving Competition. — Not completed for want of
time.

Cottagers Only. — 17. — Best 12 lbs. in 1-lb. or 2-lb.
sections, 1, Thomas Giles, a bar-frame hive, complete,
stocked with bees, given by W. Pinckney, Esq. ; 2, G.
Clark, 2s.; no 3rd award. 18. — For the best super of
honey (not being sectional), not less than 10 lbs, 1, not
awarded ; 2, G. White, 5s. 19. — Best extracted honey,
not less than 12 lbs., 1, G. Clark, 5s.; 2, G. Newport,
2s. 6d. 20.— Best flat-topped skep, 1, II. Huish, 5s. ; 2,
G. White, 2s. 6rf. 21. — Best bees'-wax, not less than
3 lbs., Thomas Giles, 2s. Or/., and first Certificate of merit.

HERTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The utility of County Associations has been spoken
of with disparagement in the columns of the Journal
recently, and that many Associations 'have a name to
live, but are dead,' I do not for a moment deny, but un-
doubtedly bee-keeping has been made what it is in
Herts by the vitality of its Association. Having
occasion to visit the sleepy old town of Hertford on
Tuesday last, August 18th, and being informed there was
a quarterly Conference of Bee-keepers of the district, to
be held in the Town Hall that evening, at seven o'clock,
I thought I would give a look in upon them. The Town
Hall forms part of a hideous block of buildings in the
centre of the town. On the centre table were displayed
several appliances, natural history specimens relating to
bees, and enlarged drawings of various parts of the honey-
bee. There was a goodly number of people seated round,
including half-a-dozen ladies. Dr. Shelly, whose improved
skep-cover was illustrated in your columns a few weeks

284

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[September 1, 1885.

since, was voted to the chair. There were a couple of
representatives of the local press present, to whom I am
indebted for many of these particulars. The Chairman
called on the district secretary, Mr. R. T. Andrews, who
said, the small attendance (which by the way we did not
think small) was to be attributed to many being busy with
the harvest, not to declining interest in the Association.

The Chairman asked Mr. Sanibels to tell them some-
thing of interest, who replied, he feared he knew of little
of that character. lie had heard that the present honey
season throughout the country was superior to the last,
but accounts varied, several of his friends living at a
distance complained that it was not so good, and he found
in this neighbourhood some had higher averages than
last year, and some had lower.

Mr. Andrews : My bees have done better.

Mr. Sambels, continuing : Yes ! your bees were in very
good order very early last year, and had fallen back
before the glut came. This year they were in order just
at the proper time, so like many more you have learnt
it is possible to be ready before the flowers. Honey had
been gathered in the United Kingdom this year by
hundreds of tons, not because honey was more abundant
in the flowers than formerly, but because there were not
bees to gather it. The increase in the amount gathered
would bring down the price, but would increase the
consumption, so like true Free-traders they must devise
means to gather it as cheaply as possible, to make it pay.
The British Honey Company were doing a trade that
was increasing rapidly, the sum invested in vessels alone
for transport of honey represented an enormous amount,
and he hoped in course of time the Company would find
means of disposing of all the honey produced in the
kingdom. In travelling about he saw many people's
bees in various parts, and what he invariably found was,
that those who failed with, and consequently abused, the
bar-frame hive, were those who neglected the small
details of the system ; he found hives without dummies,
or one half the quilt thrown back, or the feeder removed,
and the hole not covered and consequently a draught
through the hive, sections placed on in the most careless
fashion, bars sometimes left two inches apart at one end,
and all sorts of irregularities. He need not tell his
hearers the advantages of the bar-frame for profit and
manipulation, but to such bee-keepers he always said,
you had better far give them up, and keep to the straw
skep. There was immense harm done also by over-
manipulation. Do what was necessary and at the proper
time, but don't amuse yourself nor your friends by taking
out your bees merely to look at them.

Mr. Allen asked whether anyone would give him
his experience of black honey ?

A gentleman said that out of fifty-six sections from
one hive he had fifteen or twenty of black honey. The
remainder were as good as possible.

Mr. Andrews inquired whether there were any means
by which bees poisoned themselves. And what was the
reason for a maiden swarm, after two or three days,
leaving the skep in which they had been placed and
dividing into three clusters P He also spoke of the
increasing interest which was taken in bee-keeping in his
district. There were 140 bee-keepers on his list many
of whom were not members of the Association. He
believed there had been 300 swarms in his district this
year, forty or fifty of which had been truant swarms,
that is, had flown away, one, two, or even three miles.
He should like to know how that could be accounted
for ? He also said a lady had given three swarms to
cottagers in liis district, and he hoped many would
follow her example ; there had been prizes given for honey
at several shows, and there were three or four more about
to be held in the neighbourhood, and he was pleased to see
the cottagers had competed very favourably with those
who had more means at their disposal to procure appli-
ances. He showed a mason bee and nest taken in the

neighbourhood, and a large piece of comb and twig cut
out of a hedge, on which a swarm of bees had evidently
budt and afterwards forsaken. He also related several
curious instances of bees swarming into out of-the-way
places in the town, one in a sewer ventilating pipe,
but, probably on account of the smell, they soon
evacuated it.

The Chairman exhibited Abbott's cases for packing
sections, and also an ingenious contrivance for fixing
foundation sheets in frames, his (Dr. Shelly's) own inven-
tion ; it was very clever and showed he gave his
thoughts to something besides pills and physic. He
also exhibited a 'Pell Mell' fixed in a frame which was
self -containing, which he said he had brought out three
weeks before he heard anything of Dr. Wray's at the
British Quarterly Conversazione, so here was another
case of the same idea occurring to two minds about the
same time. His appliances were beautiful specimens of
workmanship.

Mr. Clark also exhibited a very simple, but ingenious
method of fixing foundation in frames, winch consisted of
a stud fixed in a piece of board, the stud is pressed into
the sawscarf hi the frame, and being wider than it is
thick, by twisting the frame around the slit is opened
sufficient to put in the foundation, this was the most
suitable for the pockets of the cottager, as the most
unskilled could make one for themselves. This gentle-
man also passed round a sample of dark honey in the
comb, which had a very agreeable 3mell, but a peculiar
resinous flavour not disagreeable by any means.

Mr. Sambels was now asked to reply to the various
questions. He said he had heard of a great deal of
black honey this season, there were positively no late
flowers this year, while on the contrary last year they
were most luxuriant in August. He should not object
to eating Mr. Clark's honey. Aphid honey was harmf id
to the bees, it gave them dysentery ; and those who knew
the flavour of good honey woidd not care to eat it, even
if it did them no harm, which he should not care to risk,,
but there was a quantity of dark honey about which was-
not aphid honey, which was not suitable for exhibition ,.
but still was edible. Bees sometimes got intoxicated
with the pollen of some flowers, and they were knownj
to die from some cause or other around their hives,
possibly from poison, but he. knew of nothing that they
would gather that was poisonous to them. As to the
maiden swarms, it undoubtedly contained at least three
queens, which came out on the third day after hiving for
fertilization, and a portion of the colony of bees had
associated themselves with eacli queen. He believed we
greatly erred in our modern ways of managing bees,
nature stoutly resisted in-and-in breeding. "We had been
keeping the same bees in our apiaries year after year.
He had spoken of it before, and he believed we should
see the desirability of exchanging swarms with our
friends who lived at least three or four miles away ; if
we did not, we must expect truant swarms to leave us,
as they had been doing this year. He would urge on
them the importance of keeping all their stocks strong,
of using interchangeable hives, and of thoroughly disin-
fecting all hives at least once a-year.

The time had passed pleasantly, the interest had in no
way flagged, there was a vote of thanks to the Chair-
man, when it leaked out he had come straight from
seeing a patient to the meeting, and so omitted getting
his dinner, and several present had come three and four
miles to the meeting. Here was practical proof of the
enthusiasm that has made the Herts Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation what it is. It was Garibaldi I believe, who said,
' a nation lives in the heart of her citizens.' True it
is an Association can only live by the individual
interest of its members. The Hertford bee - keepers
may well be proficient; I am personally indebted to
them for providing a pleasant and profitable evening
to — A "Wanderer.

September 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

285

€amB$avtotnt£.

NOTES OF THE SEASON.

As my dear bees have nearly finished their harvest, I
jot down a few things that I have observed this season,
and do not remember to have seen noticed before.

My hives look west, being; protected from the east by
a thick hedge, and from the south by a small plantation.
In every super that I have taken off, the southernmost
of the three rear sections has been the most backward of
that row, and in every case also the three front sections
have been considerably behind those at the back. I
shall in future give my supers a window in front as well
as behind, that I may see what is going on in the van as
well as the rear.

I have not used queen excluder-zinc, nor do I intend
to do so asrain. I had a few sections in the first crop
bubbling up with brood. I stuck a pin into each grub,
and put those sections back into the new supers. At
the end of a week they were finished off equal to the
others. Neither in the second nor third crop did I find
any brood in the sections.

Of course my old stocks (three) have not swarmed. I
never interfere with the queen-cells, &c, but whenever
they tell me they want to swarm I give them more room
downstairs. Four hives out of six (two being them-
selves swarms of this year) gave indications of intending
to swarm the day after I had removed their full supers,
substituting, as I always do immediately, a nice empty
range of rooms upstairs. It could not have been from
want of room. Has this phenomenon been often noticed ?
and what cause can be assigned ?

On two or three evenings towards the end of June
the alighting-boards were full of drones. On most
other evenings they have seemed to me to be crowded
principally by quite young bees, taking, I suppose, a
short outing, as it were, before real work begins.

There have general^ been also several very small flies
buzzing about the board. Whenever one alighted, the
nearest bee ran at him, but I could not see that he ever
caught him; much less could I trace his fate when
caught. It was amusing to contrast the furious charge
of the Italianised demons with the more sober rush of
my brown pets under these circumstances. In the early
part of June the alighting-boards were the scene of
many furious battles, a dozen or more bees surrounding
one (I presume a stranger), and hustling him about. I
could never observe that they actually hurt him, but the
' bullies ' generally ended in the stranger and one assail-
ant tumbling together off the board on to the ground,
where they would spin round and round in circles for
some seconds, each, I imagine, trying to sting the other.
I usually separated them with a bit of straw or a stick,
when both would fly away quite happy.

One hive (a swarm) contrary to my express stipula-
tions, turns out to be of Ligurian descent. ' Assuetumqve
malo Liffurem' as Virgil has it, which I construe 'the
Ligurian always in mischief.' Whether they are
Quadroons or Octoroons I cannot say, but more spiteful
fiends I never came across. By the way, why do bee-
people talk of crosses as ' hybrids ? ' The offspring of a
bee and a wasp, or a honey-bee and a humble-bee,
■would be a hybrid; that of a spaniel and setter is a
cross. Hybrids are usually unfertile. I wish to good-
ness these were, for then I might hope to get rid of
them. At present I see no chance of doing so without
Tophet, and after my denunciations of that place to my
villagers, it would ill become me to have recourse to it.
I might try simple regicide, but how about her majesty's
successor? Is it likely that a tribe of these yellow-
banded barbarians would accept a simple Brown Bess ?
The fiends are not only brave and peppery, but also
skilful in making war. They know all the weak places

of my armour (which the other bees do not), and when
foiled in the region of my ankles, can make themselves
felt through flannel trousers, plus drawers. I cannot
observe, nor have I ever been able to learn from any
careful observer, that they make more honey than other
bees, under the same treatment and with the same
surroundings ; and they certainly bother one much more
by asking leave to swarm, or even taking French leave.

I doubt very much whether all the Bee Associations
put together have done much good to the cottagers.
He simply cannot afford a proper hive, or give the
requisite time to its management. Wherever I have
been during the past fifteen months, I have found most
of the cottagers still keeping bees in the old way; with
this difference, that whereas the twenty or thirty pounds
of honey and comb they got from an average hive used
to bring them from a shilling to eighteenpence a-pound,
they cannot now get half that price, owing to the
enormously increased production by persons able to
invest a few pounds in their apiaries. The best way of
helping them I find to be (1), lending them a super, to
be paid for when the honey is sold ; (2), driving their
bees condemned to Tophet, and giving them hospitable
shelter; (3), showing them their own bees busily at
work in the following summer, and totting up the
results. One old fellow of seventy-six ' was not going-
to change his ways at his time of life,' and therefore
would not come to my lecture in April ; he ' would back
his bees against mine any day,' &c. &c. Nor would lie
accept my proffered super. I think he is now changing
his mind. According to his wife, 'the bees make honey
only from honey-dew, which is sent from heaven like
the manna in the wilderness. All that they get from
flowers goes simply to wax and bee-bread.'

By the way, is the production of wax voluntary or
involuntary? In the wet summer of 1882, when but
little comb was wanted, as there was nothing to store, I
frequently observed scales of wax in large quantities
about the alighting-board. This looks as if they could
not help producing at least a certain portion.

Again, has anybody yet been able to observe any-
thing like delegated authority in a hive ? Shakespeare
says, 'They have a king and officers of sorts;' though
Solomon says, in the parallel case of the ant, that it has
no ' guide, overseer, or ruler.' They evidently have
their parliaments to decide about swarming, &c, and
building their combs under adverse circumstances; and it
is difficult to conceive that so many thousands of in-
dividuals can be led to act together in doubtful affairs
without some sort of organization. — 0. C. James, Pap-
worth, St. Aynes, St. Ii<es, Hunts, July 30.

P.S. Nearly half the sections from rny third crop
(made during July) are disfigured by a few dark cells
of bee-bread, not lying close together, but scattered
about, from one to half-a-dozen or so in the face of a
section. Can anybody tell me of any way of preventing
this ? In the supers of my first and second crops (made
in June) I used wooden dividers. I omitted them in the
third set, thinking to get a larger weight of honey.
From a careful examination of the sections, it does not
appear that they are generally heavier, though a few,
somewhat misshapen, are so.

AEE BEES A NUISANCE ?

In reply to your correspondent ' Theta's' letter on the
query ' Are Bees a Nuisance ? ' as one who has kept them
for nearly forty years I can hardly agree that I have
found them so, and I trust my neighbours have not
either. In reference to the legal aspect of the case, I
have not the honour of belonging to the profession I
imagine ' Theta ' follows, but I would suggest to him
whether it would not be somewhat difficult to prove the
oicners/iip of the bees supposed to be ' a nuisance ;' and,

28C

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[September 1, 1885.

therefore, even admitting some might think they came
under the legal definition of ' a nuisance,' I think the
difficulty of proving the ownership may have the effect
of removing the sting from your correspondent's letter,
and that we may in future follow our delightful pursuit
without let or hindrance. — Sevenoaks.

BEE-KEEPING TAUGHT IN AN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL.

I have very great pleasure in complying with your
request, to give the benefit of my experience after having
taught Apiculture in an elementary school and thereby
earning a Government grant.

In the first place, of course, the permission of Her
Majesty's Inspector must he obtained, nnd a scheme sub-
mitted to him for his approval. I may mention that I
taught it as the class subject ' Elementary Science,' and
not as a specific subject, as suggested by the Rev. A.
Leaky. To reach the agricultural labourer bee-keeping
would have to be taught in rural districts, and under the
present code these are just the schools that from an in-
sufficient staff-accommodation, See., cannot possibly find
time for specific subjects. They might reach two class
subjects, the first of which must be English, the second
might be apiculture for boys, and needlework for girls, in
a mixed school.

When the Inspector has approved of the scheme, then
comes the procuring the apparatus. This with me was
no easy task. My school being in a very poor district
there are no voluntary subscriptions, and it is in debt
over 100/. to the Vicar. After his giving permission to
teach the subject, which meant probable loss at the end
of the year, I could not ask him to give me 5/. for dia-
grams, hives, smoker, veil, and in fact the whole parapher-
nalia of bee-keeping affairs, without which the subject
would be dry and useless to children. I was not a bee-
keeper myself at the time so that I could not lend them.
I applied to the British Bee-keepers' Association for
help, but was informed that they could do nothing. Not
being willing to give it up without a further effort, I
thought I would make a trial in another direction, and
wrote to E. C. Walton, of Muskham Apiaries, who very
kindly settled all difficulties at once, by saying he would
give me all I wanted. Things then went on smoothly,
although just before the examination I was sorely puzzled
to know how the Inspector would be able to examine the
boys if ho knew nothing about the. subject himself.
When July came, and the day arrived, we had three In-
spectors in the school on the first day, and the head one
said he knew no more about bee-keeping than he did
about hawking, the second knew nothing, and the third
one, who however undertook the task, ' ditto.' I need
hardly say that a great many questions asked were foreign
to the subject, and although they knew their work well
we only got one shilling per head on the average atten-
dance, instead of two, which, this being a large school,
amounted to a considerable sum. On the second day, the
Inspector told the Vicar that had they done as well in
apiculture as they had in the other subjects, a full grant
would have been earned, and persuaded him to give it up.
When, however, the report came, we found that had we
earned the full amount we could not have had it, as the
maximum sum allowed by Mr. Mundella to be earned on
the average by each boy, had been exceeded, and a re-
duction made as it was. This was very comforting and
we are teaching the subject again for next year. There
are two ways which suggest themselves to me to get over
the Inspector's inability to examine, namely, for the
manager or master to forward a text-book to him a few
days previous to the examination with the parts the
children have studied marked, or for the British Bee-
keepers' Association to appoint delegates in each district,

to question before the Inspector, who would then have
ample scope to form his judgment.

To get hold of the rising generation and teach them
' the more excellent way,' is, I am sure, the highroad
towards attaining the objects of the Association, and in
no other way could their energies be put forth to more
advantage. I shall be glad at any future time to offer
suggestions as to how I though't they could get the
subject taken up by masters and teachers generally. I
know another master near here who is about introducing
the subject to his school. — Maoisteh.

[We have had the above communication in type for
some time, but have postponed its insertion till the
subject had been more fully discussed. Mr. Jenyns'
paper has given us the opportunity required. — Ed.]

BEE-KEEPING IN ITS EDUCATIONAL
ASPECT.

I have read the discussion which followed the reading
of the Rev. Mr. Jenyns' paper, and I have read the
paper also, which I consider to be ably written when we
consider the difficulties Mr. Jenyns had to face. The
' discussion' was so much cold water thrown on the idea
of introducing bee-keeping into schools.

Now, Sir, 1 believe the honey bee is the most interest-
ing insect we are acquainted with, and the more we
study it the more we admire it, and I feel it is impossible
for any human being to examine a bee, its labours, and
their fruits, without feeling a new sense of awe and
reverence for our Creator. No doubt there are other
insects very interesting in their habits if we only knew
them better, and I see no objection to the scholars in the
higher standards reading books on entomology and be
instructed on the important branches with a view to
inspire them with a love for all animated nature, and
then, probably, we should see less cruelty to harmless
creatures ; but to introduce bee-keeping in its practical
form is another thing.

It must be the idea of an enthusiast, who thought that
everybody were either bee-keepers or wanted to be so.
Education is not to learn bee-keeping »v any other pro-
fession, but to develop the intellectual powers of youth,
and so prepare him or her for learning a profession.

But is bee-keeping a trade or profession ? Is it not a
fancy ? If a trade, I argue that poultry-keeping, pig-
keeping, and rabbit-keeping, are trades also ; and why
should bee-keeping be taught and not poultry-keeping?
Poultry have their fanciers and, amongst them, enthu-
siasts ; and their production per year is of far greater
value than that of honey and wax, simply because the
demand and consumption are greater. Besides, it would
be most unfair to introduce any one branch of industry
into a school without all could be represented alike, and
I think the educational authorities displayed wisdom in
refusing bee-keeping as a subject for schools.

It is to be hoped the suggestion will be allowed to fall
into oblivion after the inhospitable treatment it has met
with, and instead of employing our time in creating new
bee-keepers, let us assist the old ones not only in producing
honey but in selling it. I notice that honey is already
coming down in price, and I am certain it is not because
ei>en/ bee-keeper has an enormous quantity for sale, for
I have visited apiaries this year where it would require
the contents of three hives "to make twenty-five pounds
of honey.

In one case I was told they had passed through as
many as seven years without any honey at all. Surely
there is room here for the philanthropic scientific bee-
keeper to exercise his generous feelings without spending
valuable time in trying to force into the nature of certain
persons a hobby for bees against their will — and that
would be the case since education is compulsory. — Bees'
Fhiend.

September 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

287

REVERSIBLE FRAMES.

Last year, after reading the American Journals on the
new idea of reversing combs in bar-frame hives, I ex-
perimented to some extent on the principle, and after
serious thought invented a frame which I trusted would
answer the purpose.

This season I was determined to give the new principle
a fair trial. Accordingly, I constructed a new bar-frame
hive containing ten frames (as illustrated in the Journal
of February 1st). On the 1st of June I obtained my
first swarm, and only a small one ; these I put in the
hive on four reversible frames. In four days they were
nicely drawn out. I gave them an extra frame as re-
quired, and on the 12th of the month they had nine
frames beautifully drawn out, and two pounds of honey
stored with pollen and brood in four frames. On the
10th they had so far progressed that I thought it quite
time to experiment; accordingly, I uncapped all the honey
cells and reversed the frames, placing above a crate of
twenty-eight sections. On the 20th I again examined,
and found six sections filled with honey; the nine frames
■which were reversed contained not more than one pound,
and this was stored in the upper portion of the frame,
which before reversing had been the bottom, and un-
finished. The greater part of the cells contained brood
in various stages of formation, and the whole of the
comb beautifully fixed to the frames all round. Such a
decisive proof of the superiority of reversing gave me the
greatest pleasure. I immediately set to work to construct
other frames, and now, with one exception, work all my
hives on the reversible principle.

But to return to my trial hive. On July 12th I took
off twelve other filled sections with six unfinished ones,
and on July 23rd, I sent this hive with others to the hills.
On the 17th August, I took off sixteen capped sections,
the remaining twelve were filled, but not quite finished.
I hope at a later date to give you the total of honey ob-
tained from this one hive. At present I confine myself
to the statement that the process has been a decided
success.

In conclusion, I beg to state that I am not a dealer in
hives, nor apiarian appliances of any kind, simply being
an amateur bee-keeper; still, any gentleman wishing to
test the reversible principle for himself, I shall be most
happy to forward him a complete reversible frame at a
mere nominal charge. Any person having a slight
knowledge of joinery can then make the frames for
himself. — Chas. G. Mason, Lothian Bank,Dallceith,N.B.,
2-ith August, 1885.

REVERSIBLE FRAMES.

Having found in practice our reversible frames to be
a decided advantage, and being desirous to see then-
general adoption by bee-keepers, we beg to intimate that
we have now withdrawn the legal protection which has
hitherto been afforded to our invention. — Mason and
Buchan, Dalkeith, August 20th, 1885.

BEE-KEEPING IN LINCOLNSHIRE.

'J. E. L.' expresses his surprise in your last Journal at
a swarm hanging three days in a tree. I have had for
the last three weeks a small swarm hanging in a thorn
hedge near my apiary, which has worked out four combs,
the largest being eleven inches long and seven inches wide.
"When the heavy rains came I placed a sack loosely over
the hedge to protect them from the wet, but still they are
exposed to view ; but are getting short of stores, which
they protect well from neighbours and wasps.

In referring to the British Bee Journal for July 15th,
1884, you will see that I mention a skep having a crack
in the floor-board one inch wide, also a piece split off it
exposing two inches of the combs, caused by the pressure
of the plum-tree, under which it is standing grating upon

it. This hive swarmed early this season and also had a
good cast, and is again selected by its owner to stand the
winter, and is still covered by two pantiles and some old
sacking.

In driving cottagers' condemned bees I have found a
great many that have lost at least (in my estimation)
ten pounds of honey per hive through using small skeps,
or old ones with two or three rolls off the bottom. And
also several with the combs broken down through the
heat and neglect (the prevailing cause), in not placing
something between the usual covering — apancheon [?]—
and the hive, causing the combs to melt at the top, thus
ruining the colony. — R. Thorpe, Langrick Ville,

BEE SHOWS.

Your correspondent, Edward Owen, has touched on
a point that has often occurred to myself, as I dare say
to many others connected with Bee shows and lectures.
But there are many difficulties in the way, that make
it undesirable to adopt the suggestion.

All experts know the annoyance arising from broken
combs, wasted honey, and brood, caused by the carriage
of skeps unsuitable for the purpose to the shows ; and
also how difficult it is to procure the stocks when re-
quired. How much more often this would happen with
bar-frame hives, as they require special and careful
packing to travel safely to and from the show. But there
is a still stronger objection, our fight is at present against
the 'Sulphur Pit,' which is still rampant and consuming;
and it is only by showing the actual driving itself that
any good can be done, as the ignorance and indifference
of the old-time bee-keeper are still so great we must con-
tinue that branch of the work till the enemy is subdued.
So at present the skep cannot disappear from the tent ;
and to introduce two stocks, one in a skep and the other
in bar-frame at the same time, and proceed from driving
the skep to opening and exhibiting the bar-frame, would,
particularly at this time of the year, lead to the destruc-
tion of one or both stocks from robbing and fighting. The
nuisance caused by robbers from neighbouring apiaries
attacking the skeps while driving is going on is very great,
and if we had the robbers on the spot it would be
intensified.

The only way to meet the difficulty would be to have
lectures at different times for elementary and advanced
instruction ; but my experience is that the very people we
want to get at object to pay for entrance to the tent,
and pay twice they would not.

"With regard to the size and make of the skep used at
Bangor, Mr. Owen must remember we have to get what
we can, and be thankful. Last year when I attended the
Bangor Show, one of the skeps supplied was Hat-topped,
and stood 18 inches high and about 15 inches across, it
was more than one could carry. For many reasons it is
better to get stocks from the neighbourhood of the show,
it being almost the first remark one hears from the
audience, 'Oh! them bees knows him, they be used to
it;' or, 'Oh! thee be trfuind to un.' Now if they are
one's own bees, or bees that have been used at other
shows, no amount of talking will convince the company
to the contrary ; but if your answer is ' These bees
belong to your neighbour So-and-So, and I have never
seen them till to-day,' that settles the matter at once and
removes one more difficulty. Again, if one has to attend
two or three shows in the week, no stocks woidd hold out
long, and the constant moving about, twenty or thirty
or more miles every few days, would be awkward and
expensive.

Of course I do not know who the expert at the show
mentioned was, but I think Mr. Owen must have very
greatly misunderstood his meaning if he gathered from
the lecture that he (the expert) considered that ' the
skep for all practical purposes could not be superseded
by the bar-frame hive.'

288

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[September 1, 1885.

The only thing I can suggest is that Mr. Owen and his
friends -who want help, should strengthen the hands of
the Hon. Sec. of the Carnarvonshire B. K. A., by joining
the Association so that they may get an expert for the
county to make a tour, and he will show them more in
an hour, among their own bees, than many Bee Tent
Lectures will tell them. — C. Brown", Bewdley.

BEE-KEEPING FOB THE CHURCH MISSION-
ARY SOCIETY.

[The following letter has been received hy the Rev.
W. S. Price, C.M.S. Association Secretary for Suffolk,
and formerly Missionary in India and East Africa.]

You were perfectly correct in saying that a bee-hive
at work for the C.M.S. , in my possession, yielded a harvest
of 100 pounds of honey, which was sold for 71. Ws. Nor
is this a very extraordinary event, for I have known of
174 lbs. being gathered from a single hive, and frequently
140 lbs.

It has often occurred to me that if friends of the Society
only knew how to work, they might find bee-keeping for
the C.M.S. a pleasurable pastime. This can be done by
ladies or gentlemen, but not with the ordinary hive, that
is, not in the old-fashioned way of keeping bees. Keep-
ing them in the old-fashioned hive, those who have tried
it find that the bees are master over the owner, but those
who have adopted the new system can pretty nearly re-
verse the order and become their master. This is not
done all at once, and, as servants are sometimes apt to
quit with a short notice, so on the new principle, bees
have been known to do the same, not even giving you
warning ' that this day month ' they mean to leave your
service. But sometimes they are domesticated enough
to do this, and then you can generally come to terms with
them, by opening the hive, depriving them of their honey
in the brood chamber, and by cutting out all queen-cells
you may find. I need scarcely say that the more bees in
the hive, the greater the quantity of honey, but if the
bees swarm you cannot get so much honey.

The bees I first mentioned, and which you have been
good enough to refer to at several meetings, did not swarm
that year the largest harvest of honey was gathered.
They were placed near six acres of white clover, and with
a young queen that laid from two to three thousand eggs
a-day, the colony was kept strong and the bees worked
splendidly.

I may add, for the benefit of all those who may desire
to start bee-keeping for the C.M.S., that in nearly every
county in England there is a Bee-keepers' Association,
which has been started to encourage bee-keeping upon
the new principle, and any Secretary of these Associa-
tions will, I am sure, be pleased to give information as to
the best way of starting bee-keeping. I may as well add,
I manage my bees myself. When I first began, like
most people, I was afraid to go near the hives, much more
to touch them. There is a motto that I have found
useful on many occasions, ' In quietness and confidence
shall be your strength,' and this is specially so when
handling bees. — W. Stewart Walfohd (late Secretary
Suffolk County Association), Ballinyhoo Rectory, Wic/>>
ham Market, June 2:)rd. — Church Missionary Gleaner.

ERRATIC SWARMS.

Facts for' J. E. L.':—

No. 1. — On the last day of .lune a fine swarm escaped
from a bar-frame hive, and, after some minutes, rose far
above the house and shrubberies, finally resting on the top
stem of a tree. Here was a puzzle to secure the truants.
A very long ladder was found, and then a second raised
above and made firm on a branch. Bees still out of
reach, a long-haudled hay-fork was thrust through a
straw sleep, and raised just enough to in some measure

shield the bees. All the apparatus made safe with cords
and left till next day. The writer of this witnessed the-
careful and successful descent of the hive with the swarm
beautifully settled, and quietly enjoying their new home.
No. 2. — On the 31st of May, 1882, bees were missed
from the front of hive in a farmer's garden (where they
had been hanging some days), search being of no avail,
they were supposed to be flown away. On the 23rd of
June the swarm was found in a thick hedge in a distant
part of the garden. Large pieces of comb, with brood,
caused some difficulty, but the busy little things were
eventually placed in a hive, and remained quite satisfied
with the change. — N. D.

THE REV. DR. WRAY'S MEL-PEL.

It has been objected to my invention : 1. That it is an
old thing ; 2. That it is a new thing in its application to
sections ; 3. That, as to frames, half of the pulls are
against the dip of the comb.

To these I would, with your permission, beg through
your Journal to offer the following remarks: 1. I am
told that the principle of the Mel-pel has already been
applied to theextractors ; but have received no particulars
of such application. Perhaps you, Sir, or some reader of
the Journal, would kindly refer me to a description of
such an extractor.*

Assuming this to be the case, it may be observed that
the fact of a contrivance having formerly been in use, un-
known to the new inventor, does not detract from its-
originality, nor impair the utility of the invention. That
very useful article, the safety-pin, was in use amongst the
ancient Romans ; but I do not suppose the patentee was
aware of the fact, any more than I was of the applica-
tion to a honey-extractor of the principle of the toy
wind-mill. 2. This second was virtually, if I am rightly
informed, the objection made by the judges at the recent
Southampton Show, at which the Mel-pel was exhibited,
when they determined that such an extractor for sections
was unwanted. From this opinion I must, with all due
deference, entirely differ. For imperfect or unfinished
sections Mel-pels 1 and 2 are already found very useful.

But I look further than this ; honey in the comb is to
many people injurious, because the wax is indigestible.
The public are already beginning to prefer honey, pure
and simple, to that in the comb ; and the more sections
are offered in the market the less they will fetch. But it
is very important that the growth by cottagers, and by
beginners, of sections in supers over their flat-topped
skeps should be by all means encouraged ; and (to this
end), that they should be taught, as stated in Modern
Bee-keeping, p. 75, that by extracting the honey, and
restoring the combs to be refilled, they will ' increase the
possible harvest even three or four-fold.' The common
mistake, as to sections, is that the supers are too large,
and therefore too cold for the bees to work in. What I
advocate then is the adoption of supers for flat-topped
skeps, of not more than eight sections — three is not too
few — from which, during the season, the honey should be
extracted as they are filled, and before sealing ; so that
none of the bees' labour is wasted on comb.

The advantage of this will be seen when it is generally
known that it takes some 19 lbs. of honey to make
1 lb. of wax, which is not only useless as an article
of food, but to many actually injurious. As therefore
the production of sections increases, so will the demand
for the Mel-pel, Nos. 1 and 2. 3. That half of the pulls
in the Mel-pel for frames are contrary to the dip of the
cells, is, in fact, an advantage for the class of bee-keepers
most likely to use it, I mean beginners and amateurs of
small experience ; such as are just as likely to put the
frame into any extractor the wrong as the right way.
Now, with the Mel-pel, each alterate pull must be the

* Journal of Horticulture, April 8, 1869. Lee's List of
Bee Appliances, 18G9. — Ed.

September 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

289

right way ; so that it is immaterial in which direction the
frame is turned.

Let the experienced bee-master, therefore, who extracts
from frames on a large scale, and the wealthy amateur,
keep to the more expensive extractor. But 1 trust, that
for sections, even these will find Nos. 1 and 2 useful,
being (so [far as I know), the only extractor for the
pm'pose ; and that for bee-keepers on a humble scale No.
3 may prove successful. My main object is the en-
couragement of bee culture, and I hope that the prices in
the accompanying advertisement will further this end. —
G. O. Wbay," Bedford, August 2m, 1885.

COTTAGERS AND COUNTY SHOWS.

As a member of the County Association here, I will,
with your kind permission, say a few words as to what,
in my humble opinion, is a great fault or oversight in con-
nexion with our shows, and I have no doubt also with
some others in other counties; but as regards the shows
in this county, I can speak for myself that the general
idea is that it is a mistake, and more than one cottager
to my knowledge refuses to exhibit his honey on this
account, and this is, viz., at all the shows which have
been held in this county this year the cottagers have
lieen confined to exhibiting one pound supers or sections,
and not allowed to show two-pound sections at all, while
in the open classes both one-pound and two-pound sec-
tions have been allowed. Now, sir, why should not the
classes be the same for both ? and this for more reasons
than one ; the first which strikes me being the saving alone
in the cost of two-pound supers over that of one-pound
when the quantity of honey they respectively hold is
considered, and this of course is the first consideration
with cottagers. A friend of mine, a cottager who has
seven hives, all bar-frames, is only working one of them
with one-pound sections* as he finds the two-pound
so much more to his benefit to use ; firstly, on the score
•f cheapness ; and, secondly, because he cannot sell the
one-pound so readily as the two-pound. I have just to
hand a schedule of the show to be held at Romsey on
the 9th, 10th, and 11th of September, and I -see by it
that not only are cottagers not allowed to show any two-
pound sections, but are confined to one-pound, but also
that the prizes are only one-half what they are in the
open class.

With regard to another matter which has come under
my own observation at different shows, I will quote
an instance at the late show at Southampton on August
1st and 3rd, and this is : why are some people allowed
to have their names on their exhibits ? The man to
whom at the show named the first prize for extracted
honey was awarded, not only had his name, but his full
address, written across the parchment on each of his
bottles; and again, it was nearly three o'clock before
the awards were put on the exhibits.

To speak of one more thing which wants alteration,
this morning I received the schedule of the Bomsey
show, that is on the 10th Sept., and according to the
advertisement in your Journal, entries have to be made
ly the 20th. From the 18th to the evening of the 19th
is not much time to see what you are able to enter for.
Putting aside the fact that if you are out from home
for one day only, and that day the one on which the
schedule arrives, the chances are that you are late, and
unable to show at all. In my humble opinion these
things are mistakes, and require alteration, and I only
ask you to publish this to hear the opinions of others. —
Observer, Lower Sxvanmore, Bishops Waltham, Hants.

BEE-HOUSES.

I intend to establish an apiary on the skirts of a wood,
about 1 j miles away ; for which purpose, and to prevent
molestation, I shall he obliged to have a bee-house

the B. B. J., Vol. IX., page 227, in the discussion on
Mr. Raynor's paper on ' Bee Houses,' Mr. Cowan would
certainly recommend Mr. Root's system, i.e., having a
sort of continuous trough running along each side of the
house in which the frames were to be suspended. Mr.
Root, p. 17, A. B. C, seems to recommend a house for a
distant apiary. My idea is to make a house (similar to
the one to hold twenty hives, illustrated, p. 20, Boot's
A. B. C), about 8 feet by 7 feet, with two shelves along
each side, and three stocks on each shelf, eighteen in all.
The house is to be covered with Willesdeu paper, with a
door at the north end.

I shall be very thankful for the advice and experience
of any brother apiarist. — Icardus, Weardale.

In

WINTERING BEES ON CANDY.

The British Bee Journal for August 1st, 1883 (p. 1 19),
contained a letter by Mr. John Hewitt, of Sheffield,
explaining his proposed system of wintering bees on
candy alone, instead of honey or syrup. At the end of
his letter he said he intended wintering most of his
stocks in this manner, but I have failed to find in any
subsequent number an account of how those stocks
fared, and in what condition Mr. Hewitt found them
in the spring.

As the time for preparing stocks to winter is rapidly
drawing near, will Mr. Hewitt kindly inform the readers
of this paper how his system answered, and whether he
tried it again last winter and with what results ? If
successful, all bee-keepers must be thankful for so simple
a method of wintering; but if found otherwise it is
well we should know the worst. — Edward J. Girbins,
Neath.

LIGUBIAXS.

The other day I was visited by a brother of the craft
from the fertile lowlands of this county. In our discus-
sion on the quality of Ligurians v. Blacks, he said that
his experience formerly was that Ligurians could not
compete with Blacks at all, until a friend told him to put
them aloft on very high stands, or as Mr. Cowan did, in
a loft. He did so, and the result was marvellous, instead
of being beaten by the Blacks they left them a long way
behind. This notion seems so contrary to my ideas (my
hives stand on four bricks, or stones, as near to the ground
as possible), that I should like to have the opinion and
experience of any other brother in the craft. — Icardtis,
Weardale.

P.S. — Is anything more going to be done for an
association for this county, Durham ?

MELILOTUS LEUCANTHA.
I am not certain whether the valuable properties of
Melilutus leucantha have been described in the Journal.
Passing through a friend's garden the last week in July
I saw a sight never to be forgotten. Only one plant of
the above, nearly 7 ft. high, and as much through, was
one mass of bees, working head over heels at it. As it
is rather rare I asked my friend if he would save the
seed and distribute it through the Journal. He gave
consent on my undertaking the trouble.— E. J.

DRY SUGAR FEEDING.
Last autumn I had a stock of bees robbed of every
ounce of honey ; plenty of bees and ten frames of comb
in hive. Being busy at my trade, and having a lot to do
with other hives, twenty-five in number, honey to pack,
&c., I simply lifted the dummy § of inch, shot 10 lbs.
of sugar in vacant space, which they licked up well,
afterwards put five more pounds in, and gently fed up
in spring, which turned out my best stock this season.

290

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[September 1, 1885.

I have this autumn placed small wedges, f of inch,
under each end of top bar, cut a stout piece of wood to
fit the inside of hive about one incli thick and three inches
deep, so that a piece of glass or wood will rest on top,
and filled in with the best Demerara sugar. Moisture
they can now find plenty of. I feel sure any person
with a number of hives, after reducing the number to
about seven or eight frames, and after extracting as close
as they dare do with safety, will be pleased at the result,
there is no fear of wet, sticky floor-boards, there are no
expensive appliances to buy. The bees do not take it so
fast as syrup. I consider it will create autumn breeding
better, being slower fed. How often a person puts off
feeding with syrup through press of business, no time to
boil sugar, &c. &c, till too late.

I am one that think if a poor man has a pleasure in
his bees, he ought to make everything himself, except
forming sections and extractor. I have just fed twenty-
five stocks in half an hour, driving bees included. With
syrup-boiling, bottling, tying with canvas, &c, it would
take three parts of the day. If you feel inclined to
insert this, I think there will be some to try my plan, as
time is money. — Alfred Clayton, Welling, Kent.

APICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS.

We learn from the American Bee Journal that an
Experimental Agricultural Station has been established
at Aurora, Ills., in connexion with the Entomological
Division of the Department of Agriculture. Mr. Nelson
W. McLain has been appointed to take charge of the
station, and Prof. Riley has instructed him to pay par-
ticular attention to these subjects :

To secure the introduction and domestication of such
races of bees as are reported to possess desirable traits
and characteristics.

To test the claims of such races of bees as to ex-
cellence, and to prove by experiments their value to
the apiculturists of the United States,and their adaptation
to this climate and honey-producing flora.

To make experiments in the crossing and mingling of
races, and, by proper application of the laws of breeding,
endeavour to secure the type or types best adapted by
habit and constitution to the uses of practical bee-keepers
in the United States.

To make experiments in the methods of artificial fer-
tilisation, also to test the various methods of preparing
bees for winter.

To gather statistics concerning the bee-keeping industry
in the United States.

To make experiments with and observations concern-
ing varieties of honey-producing plants for bee-forage.

To study the true cause or causes of diseases yet im-
perfectly understood.

To obtain incontestable results by intelligent experi-
ments upon scientific methods as to the capacity of bees,
under exceptional circumstances, to injure fruit — i.e.,
to set at rest the ever-discussed question of bees versus
fruit.

[We should be pleased if similar experiments could
be earned on in some of the Agricultural Colleges in
this country ; we might then look for some most interest-
ing results. — Ed.]

SHOWS AND BEE-TENT ENGAGEMENTS.

Nottinghamshire. — Sept. 2, Clarborough ; 22, Rad-
cliffe-on-Trent.

Warwickshire. — Sept. 2, ii, County Show, Lea-
mington; S, Bedworth.

Somersetshire— -Sept. 9, Rauwell, near Weston-
super-mare.

HaMI\SHIRE AND ISLE OF WlGHT. — Sept. 9, 10, 1],

Romsey.

North-east of Ireland. — Sept. 11, Belfast.

€t\tat$ from % Bitos.

Trenton, Dorking. — A swarm of ordinary black bees,
obtained from the town of Dorking, hived on the 5th of
June, have given me 43 lbs. of super honey, are strong,
docile, and very industrious, having at present the frames
well stocked for winter use and still working, although
all supers have, in accordance with instructions in the
last issue of the B.S.J. , been removed. — W. T. S.

Ottershaw, C'hertsey, Surrey. — I took a virgin swarm
on Monday, the 17th of August; it was hived in a skep
the 4th of July. The amount of honey that I got out
was 12$ lbs. The reason I took it was that I thought
the robbers had commenced it. I think this rather good
for the time : the average was 2 lbs. a week. If you
will make use of this in your Journal, do so the best way
you think proper. — Fredk. S. Fletcher.

Bewdley, Worcestershire, August l~th. — This, on the
whole, has been a good honey season. A large number
of sections have been taken, but the variations in amounts
taken from equally strong stocks within a few miles of
one another have been great. From one place one hears
the limes have given nothing this year ; five miles away
the best of the sections have been taken from the limes.
Beans with me have been a failure, as just as the
blossom came out, the blight caught them and spoiled
the honey harvest from them. Really good, well-filled
sections, up to show points, are scarce this year. Why,
I cannot decide in my own mind. Can any one give the
reason ? The extract from H. J. J.'s letter from Australia
has given me very much pleasure to read. The last time
I saw him he looked anything but able to cut down a
tree and take out the bees, and 1 am rejoiced to hear the
change has done him so much good, and that one of our
Worcestershire members is able and willing to carry in-
struction to the other side of the world, and so spread
the good he has gained himself in payment for the good he
received from their climate. — C. Brown.

Herts, Somersham, August 25th. — Honey taking from
stocks in straw skeps by the cottager and labouring
classes has now commenced, and so also has a certain
amount of growling, for I can call it by no other name,
because of the difficulty of finding a market, and the
miserable price offered when they do find one. Well, is
it to be wondered at ? the miserable price, I mean. I
say no. I tell them it is due, in many cases, to their
own laziness and neglect of advice rendered in the
Journal and elsewhere. It is a very simple matter to
understand that the earlier the honey is in the market
the better the price, aud the more attention the bees
receive in the autumn as well as spring the sooner will
the stocks be ready for supering. Then, if judiciously
supered, i.e. with regard to time and size of super, the
less the swarming and the greater will be the amount
of honey stored. In the future I imagine only those
who give the necessary amount of attention to their bees
will make bee-keeping pay. Certainly, if it is to be
made to pay by the poorer classes, their time of taking
the honey and putting it into the market must be, at
any rate in this district, not Liter than the end of June,
when the supply of honey tit for market ceases. — C. N.
White, Hon. Sec. Hunts B.K.A.

Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington, Aug. 26. — Have
been very busy of an evening of late driving bees in the
neighbouring villages, and as a rule have found the
hives well filled witli honey. There is scarcely one that
would care to change their skeps for bar-frame hives,
even though they can see it would be to their advantage.
In most cases they asked me to come again if all is well
another year. The next thing to do is to get stocks at
home in trim for winter. — John Walton.

South Cornwall, Aug. 2G. — As my last echo reported,
July, which was the only good month we have had, was

September 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL

291

one in which the ' cwlestia dona' actually poured in, so
that hives got crammed with honey, to the exclusion of
eggs, and in some cases grubs were plugged in with it.
Then was shown the advantage of the bar-frame hive
and the extractor. A cottager borrowed mine, and
after getting 25 lbs. from the upper tier of a doubled
hive one Saturday evening, realised 20 lbs. more from
the same source the following Saturday. During the
first week of this month we had heavy showers at
intervals. These effectually put a stop to the produce
from late clover, but for the last fortnight it is astonish-
ing what has been gathered from blackberry, hard heads,
and red bartsia, as is shown by the partial refilling of
relieved combs, and even the capping again of several
cells. To-day long-threatened rain has come, and we
can hope for no extension of the harvest. All through
this district returns are heavy. The same thing was
indicated a few days ago by some hives which I in-
spected in the north of the county, and which were as
full as they could hold. — C. K. S.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-

B. E. O. — Difficulty in Extracting. From the failure to
extract your honey we should suppose you have heather
near you, the honey from which it is impossible to
extract, except when just gathered ; any other honey
can be extracted with the ' Little Wonder.'

J. F. L. — Suspected Foul Brood. — Your description of
cells being sealed over with brood, but quite empty, is
rather misleading, and we should expect that a closer
•examination would show 3-011 the dried remains of the
deceased grubs adhering to the cell walls or bottoms,
as we know the disease to exist in your locality. Send
us a few cells, properly protected from being smashed
in post.

J. E. Moon. — Driving Condemned Bees. — Drive each lot
into a separate skep, which put on the board for an
hour (if you can spare the time), for the flying bees to
join the cluster. You rna)r unite at once by placing
the skeps containing two lots mouth to mouth, and
giving tlie under one a good bump on the ground, the
whole of the bees will fall into it, and you can tie a
piece of canvas over it and carry away. You may, if
you prefer it, keep them separate until you get home
and unite when hiving. Furnish your bar-frame hive
with six frames of ready built comb : arrange the
frames, dummies, quilts, &c, place a large board sloping
up to the entrance, and throw the bees on to it. If
you have kept them separate, throw them together on
the board they will all run in peaceably without fight-
ing ; they need not be sprinkled. The afternoon is a
good time to drive, and by all means hive in the
evening. Do not meddle with bees after dusk unless
you want to be stung.

E. S. R. — Anticipating Foul Brood. — Unless foul brood
actually exists, we should not recommend the use of
the Cheshire cure. If your brood is simply chilled, the
bees will carry it out and no harm be done.

"Weiss. — Bee-keeping for Ladies. — There are difficulties
to be encountered in the mastery of every science, and
bee-keeping is no exception to the rule. The stings
from bees appear to be one of your difficulties. We
may say, as a general rule, that the effect of stings
diminishes in proportion to the number received. But
those who are. acquainted with the specialities of your
constitution will be able to advise you as to the de-
sirability of persistency in the study. Many ladies are
engaged in bee-keeping who derive much pleasure and
instruction (and some of them a considerable amount
of profit) from the occupation, and we trust that you
may prove an addition to that number.

H. Y. K. — Foul Brood. — You need not uneap the brood,
nor need you, at this season, pour the medicated syrup

into the cells. Reduce the number of combs to as few
as can be well covered hy the bees, and feed gently
with syrup medicated with Mr. Cheshire's cure in an
ordinary feeder. As the queen may be affected, if
you have a spare young queen raised from an un-
doubtedlj- healthy stock, it would be as well to unite
her and depose the existing one. We should not
advise you to use infected combs for condemned liees.

Dr. Wallace. — 1. Empty Queen Cells. — If the hive
has not swarmed the bees have most likely super-
seded their old queen by a young one ; the surplns
have been destroyed. 2. Thin Unsealed Honey. — The
nectar as brought in is generally very thin, and if
extracted in that state will not keep. The bees
evaporate the excess of water before sealing. .'3. We
are glad to hear of your energetic efforts to educate
your poorer neighbours by the very excellent method
of putting a bar-frame hive in your dispensary. It is
one which is well worthy of adoption by medical
gentlemen in all rural districts, whether in Ireland
or Great Britain, and we trust many will take the
hint. We are not surprised at the loss of bees in
straw hives, no doubt imperfectly covered in your
moist climate, and your efforts to introduce water-
tight bar-frame hives are the more commendable. 4.
Price of Honey. — Gd. per lb. for honey strained from
the combs of skeps is a very fair price. Good ex-
tracted honey is to be bought at that price or even less.
5. The desired particulars will probably be communi-
cated in a future number.

Apis. — Removing Bees from Roof of Church. — You
must remove either the slates or the lining-boards to
get at them, quiet them with smoke, and cut out all
the combs ; separate the honey-comb, and tie the
brood-combs into frames; put the hive containing
them over the hole, and drive up the bees by smoke.
When you have got them to cluster on the brood-
combs, remove them to a distance. The details of the
operations will vary according to the circumstances of
the case; it is impossible to give full instructions with-
out inspection of the spot.

M. E. M. — The flower forwarded has been so hope-
lessly broken up in transmission that we should feel
obliged by your furnishing us with a fresher specimen,
As it is, we are able to refer it to the genus Mordia.
but will give full name on compliance with our request.

H. J. Hart. — 1. Driven Bees in October. — There will
be plenty of time between now and then to get your
foundation drawn out and stored by your other stocks.
To put driven bees on foundation in October, and
expect them to draw it out and store the combs, will
be likely only to lead to disappointment. The bees
will be so worn out that in spring they will die by
thousands. The food to give is syrup made by boiling
5 lbs. best crystal sugar in a quart of water. 2. Ob-
servatory Hives. — See reply to 'G. G.'

Beeswing. — 1. Unfinished Sections. — As you have no
extractor, you can only do one of two things — break
up the combs and melt out the wax, or let your bees
clear them out. It is useless attempting to keep
them; the unsealed honey will surely go bad. If
there is much heather honey coming in, you might get
some completed by uniting two stocks, and removing
so many frames as to crowd the bees on to the sec-
tions. But we should think it would be hardly worth
your while. 2. Hives which have not swarmed for
two Years. — As they were hanging out in Jul}', they
most likely raised queens, and probably superseded the
old ones by young ones.

F. Biggaix. — At the Longstock sale there was but
little competition, and things went at a great sacrifice
in consequence, the largest number of hives being sold
by private contract after the sale.

W. T. S. — The bee forwarded is what is generally

292

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[September 1, 1885.

termed a hybrid bee : it is a black bee with a con-
siderable strain of Ligurian mixture. We can well
conceive such bees to be of 'violent and vicious
temper;' but why they should not have proved good
honey - gatherers we are at a loss to conjecture.
Whether they should be continued or not in your
apiary ought to be determined by their antecedents.

S. Turner. — Wasps' Nest. — Your enclosure contained a
small wasp's nest. Wasps build their nests in most
out-of-the-way places ; and evidence of this is fur-
nished by your discovery of one found attached to the
key of an unused door.

Anon. — Destruction of Wasps. — A gill of turpentine
poured into a nest of wasps, by day or by night, will
kill the whole of them, and the}- may be dug up
forthwith. Wasps majr be prevented from robbing
by offering them a counter-attraction in the shape of
syrup in bottles. Dr. Butler (Feminin Jtfonarchie)
recommends cider or verjuice, in a short-necked vial or
glass, ' covered with paper that hath a hoal in the
middle : and so you shall catch many.'

G. G. — Observatory Hives. — Instructions how to make
observatory hives will be found, among other places
in previous volumes, in Vol. XI., pp. 210 and 2(jl ; in
Vol. XII., p. 32.

M. L. B. A. — Bacillus Gaytoni. — The bees with black
shiny bodies, which have been creating a disturbance
and endeavouring to force an entrance into the hive of
your Ligurians, are bees affected with the disease
named by Mr. Cheshire Bacillus Gaytoni. They do
not appear to be anywhere welcome. Thrust out of
their own hives, they make strenuous exertions to
enter those of others. Until enlightened by Mr.
Cheshire's researches, they were considered wild bees,
with robbing propensities.

It. White. — Heath. — The three species of heath en-
closed are — 1st, Erica cinerea; 2nd, C'alluna vulgaris;
.'Srd, Dabeocia polifolia. No. 2 is the best honey-
producing species. No. 3, St. Dabeoc's heath, grows
on boggy heaths, and uncommon. No. 1 is common
on heaths and commons, and yields a fair amount of
honey.

Anon. — 1. Uniting. — If in frame-hives, one queen
must, be removed. If both colonies are driven bees, it
may be left to the bees to destroy one queen, but in all
cuses we prefer to remove one queen, viz., the oldest
or least prolific. 2. Smoking Syrians. — Generally
speaking, Syrian bees resent smoke, although there
are exceptions. It is best to handle them quietly
without smoke, or at most a few whiffs may be blown
over the frames on removing the quilts.

E. J. BnooK. — Queen Encasement. — There can be no
doubt that the encasement of the young queen was
caused by the entry of strange bees into the hive,
although you might not notice them. On opening a
hive the excitement and loud humming of the bees
immediately attract others which may be passing or
located in the vicinity. You acted rightly in smoking
the hive and returning the queen. On a fine evening
examine the colony to make sure that the queen is
all right.

Nadir. — Removing AWjVs.— Since you omit to state
whether the crown-boards of the lower Woodbury
hives were removed or not, it is difficult to advise
you. If they were removed — as we should recommend
in future — the operation is simple, viz., after remov-
ing the crown-board of the upper hive, take out each
frame separately, and brush off the bees from all
sealed combs which contain no brood or eggs, keeping
a watch for the queen. Set aside these sealed combs
for extracting or other use, and reserve brood combs
for returning to the colony. Then pursue the same
method with the lower hive, having placed it upon

the one already manipulated, and containing returned
brood-combs and bees. You will thus obtain all the
sealed and superior honey, and leave all the brood for
the colony to hatch out. In all probability you will
find the lower hives to contain drone-comb chiefly,
and the upper ones the queens with their brood-nests.
If the crown-boards of the lower hives were not re-
moved, pass a long, thin knife, or a pieee of wire
between the two hives and proceed as advised in the
former case. The frames of the upper hives will
probably be found attached to the lower crown-board,
or to the lower frames, in which case care will be re-
quired in detaching them, and the outsides of the
frames, reserved for the future colony, should be
cleared of all propolis and wax. The operation
should be performed in the evening, when bees have
ceased to fry. We shall be pleased to hear the result.
Use a little smoke, while operating, to keep the bees
quiet, but do not inject any smoke at the entrance to
the hives. Quiet, gentle manipulation, and very little
smoke, will ensure success. A little carbolic solution
may be applied to the tops of the frames on removing
the crown-boards. Operate on the hives where they
stand, but close the entrance of the one left till last.

Sting. — 1. Distance Guide. — We prefer the division-
board to range one inch from the centre of the top
bar of the last frame. Some prefer three quarters of
an inch only. 2. Transferring. — If the new hive will
take your present frames, the operation is very simple,
viz., to transfer bees, frames, and comb altogether; but
if a larger or smaller frame is required, the bees must,
be brushed off the combs, and the latter cut out and
fitted into the new frames. 3. Earwigs. — We never
knew earwigs to do any harm to bees. They are crea-
tures gifted with wings ; and therefore the means
adopted with those that crawl will not be effective with
them. The best remedy against earwigs is to have close-
fitting hives and to keep stocks strong.

Telegraphist. — Bees near Plymouth. — Much must
depend upon situation. Success in doubling, always
supposing stocks are strong, must, like any other
system, depend on the supply oi bee-forage. We
should say that bees ought to do well on the outskirts
of the town, away from the sea, such as North Koad,
Plymouth, or Stoke, Devonport, from which places we
should imagine all sorts of field-crops, as well as
gardens, are within easy working distance.

John Eastly. — We do not believe that bees can forage
with advantage at a greater distance than three miles,
though we have heard of their going twice that
distance.

W. S. — Books on Bee-keeping. — The simplest and the
best books for a beginner in bee-keeping are Modern
Bee-keeping and Cowan's Guide-book: also the Bee
Journal, especially that portion under the heading
' Useful Hints.' All the above are to be had from
Mr. Iluckle, Kings Langley, Herts.

Several other queries have reached us, but too late for
replies this issue ; they will be af tended to.

The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the
renowned C. F. H. Gkavenhobst, Brunswick.

DEUTSCHE ILLUSTRIERTE BIENENZEITUNG.

Organ for the united interests of Bee-culture. By its con-
tributions from the principal Bee-keepers, and its brilliant
Illustrations, this publication has already had an extra-
ordinary circulation. Sample copies sent on request.

Also, ' DEB PBAKTISCHE IMKEK.' Compendium of
Batioual Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst. Third en-
larged and improved edition, with fifty-two new original
Pictures, and a frontispiece. Price 4 marks (4s.), stitched ;
well bound, 5 marks.

C. A. Schwetschke & Son (M. Bruhn), Brunswick.

J

^_±Jc^^2t^<i

the:

Su

^tAt^

Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Strangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c.'

[No. 178. Vol. XIII.]

SEPTEMBER 15, 1885.

[Published Foetnightly.]

(Sbiinral, gotias, #r.

THE END OF THE SEASON : DISPOSAL OF
HONEY.
The shortening days and the lengthening nights
bear their evidence that the long-drawn-out season
of 1885 may be said to be ended.

From the reports which have reached us, and
the ' echoes ' which have been wafted to us, from
all parts of the United Kingdom, we are led to
the conclusion that, though the hone\' harvest of
the year 1884 was unprecedentedly large, the pro-
duction of honey during the present year has not
been much less in amount. This is the result
not only of the continuous fine weather we have
enjoyed, but also of the larger number of persons
engaged in the culture of bees. The season has
been one of encouragement to those who have
made their first essay in bee-keeping this year ;
and there have been good reasons for sounds of
rejoicing to be heard in well-established apiaries.

Several reports have reached us of the amount
of honey gathered ; but we should be glad to
receive, and to publish, further accounts, more
especially from cottagers. (See letter from 'A Plate-
layer,' p. 302). Last year-^ve were favoured with
numerous reports from this class, and these having
been copied into other journals, the results of profit-
able bee-keeping were circulated far and wide. We
should also be glad to leam whether any of the
numerous carefully drawn up tabulated forms
which were issued by the secretaries of Bee-keepers'
Associations have been filled up by their members,
•and what have been the results.

The time, then, has now arrived for each bee-
keeper to calculate the amount of honey produced,
and to devise means for its disposal.

Many bee-keepers, especial]}' those whose honey
has been produced in favoured districts and there-
fore is of a superlative kind, and those who have been
careful in bringing their honey before the public in a
presentable form, have alreadj- been able to dispose
of much of their stores ; yet a majority of bee-
keepers have a large quantity on hand, and they may
find a difficulty in getting a market for it. The
fine weather has in many localities produced a
succession of crops, — sainfoin, fruit-blossoms,
clover, limes, and now heather, and each in
its season has yielded an abundant supply. The

result is that almost every large bee-keeper, and
those who jmrchase small quantities in the country,
find themselves unable to store so large a quan-
tity. Bee-keepers, following the example of the
farmers with new hay, new wheat, ifcc., at once pro-
ceed to take steps to realise their produce, naturally
desiring to get a return for their outlay. It follows
as a consequence that the honey market is glutted
— at least for a time.

When sales cannot immediately be effected, the
hearts of bee-keepers are apt to be disquieted, and
they take a gloomy view of things, erroneously con-
cluding that there is no market for their produce.
But bee-keepers must learn to watch and wait ; a
few months hence the market will rallj', and then
will a better state of things be brought to light.
From our position we have reason to know that
the sale of pure British honey is increasing con-
siderably, and that a market will be found for it all
the year round. We therefore desire to advise
honey-producers not to send all their honey to
market at present, but to take measures for pre-
serving it either in earthen or tin vessels till such
time as the demand arrives. No company or firm
would be disposed to purchase or store sufficient for
the business of a whole year in the space of a few
weeks. Supposing that the capital and facilities
for storage permitted the large honey-dealing firms
to effect such an object, it could only be done at
the expense of the producer, as the over-stocking of
the market must necessarily result in low and
unsatisfactory prices.

We therefore counsel bee-keepers to exercise
patience ; they have no cause to be dismayed, but
rather the reverse. The outlook for business is
good. There are more numerous outlets for honey
than at any preceding time. British honey is
asserting itself in flavour and in quality in all
quarters. The scientific management of bees has
been practised only a comparatively short time,
and yet what rapid advances it has made. Bee-
keeping was once a hobby ; it is now a pursuit.
The value of honey, both for food and medicine, is
growing — it may be but slowly — upon the mind of
the public ; and the time is coming when honey

! will be classed as one of the necessaries of life, and

i not, as it has been, as one of its luxuries. We feel
assured that for all the honey produced a market

| will eventually be found, and that fair, living, and

1 satisfactory prices will be obtained.

294

THE BKITISH BEE JOUKNAL.

[September 15, 1885.

USEFUL HINTS.
Peepaeations foe Winter. — The time is close
upon us when winter preparations must be no longer
delayed. At the close of this month, and the early
part of October, we like to see the last manipula-
tions of our colonies completed. After many years'
experience, we have always found that strong-
colonies, -well provisioned, and warmly packed, by
the end of September, have been in the best con-
dition in the following spring. During a cold
October hives cooled down, and bees injured by over-
manipulation never recover the necessary amount
of heat, rest, and quietude for passing successfully
through the cold, dark, and dreary winter months.
Enamel cloths should be removed, and the top-bars
of the frames scraped, to clear away the propolis,
before putting on the winter covering. Hives must
be contracted to six, seven, or eight frames, accord-
ing to the number of bees, by closing up the division-
board on both sides. On closing up last autumn,
many of our colonies were too crowded to allow of
their wintering on less than ten, or, in two or three
instances, twelve standard frames ; but this is
rather unusual. Winter passages, in the centre of
the combs, wc have always found conducive to safe
wintering. For quilts, our own plan is to purchase,
from the grocers, sugar-bags, for which we give
3s. per dozen. Each sack supplies six covers. Two
of these are placed on a hive. Upon them is laid
a square piece of thick felt, or carpet, and over all
a flat straw cover, weighted. Then the roof. After
this, our hives are in perfect repose — not even
touched — until the following February or March.
We cannot too strongly impress upon beginners the
necessity for 'perfect repose. Care must be taken
that stools, or stands of any kind, are sound and
storm-proof; and the same must be said of roofs, in
which there must be no leakage.

The cellar plan of wintering has not been tried,
so far as we know, in this country, nor do we think
there is any occasion for it, although largely prac-
tised, and highly recommended, by many prominent
apiarists in Canada and the United States. For
winter location we prefer a sheltered south aspect,
where no ray of the winter's sun is lost, and where
the bees are enticed forth for a cleansing flight on
each warm, bright winter's day. When all fear of
robbing is past, the entrances to all hives are
opened to summer's width, and our frames all range
from front to back. So thoroughly do we believe
in free ventilation. Death from dysentery or cold
rarely occurs in our apiary.

Wasps' Nests should be destroyed, at evening,
when all inmates are at home, by pouring into them
gas-tar, or a little spirit of turpentine, and placing
turf over the entrances. Wasps may also be taken
in large numbers in bottles partly filled with a
mixture of sugar water and vinegar. Very few
bees will enter.

Feeding must still be continued where necessary,
but should end with the present month, all un-
necessary commotion at this late season being
injurious to the bees.

Spare Combs of sealed honey, if stored in a warm
and dry atmosphere, will be found useful at spring,

but, as a general rule, it is best to extract from them
the honey, and if consisting of worker-cells, one or
two of these placed in the centre of the brood-nest
of each colony, will be of advantage. Comb-honey,
if not carefully stored, granulates, and becomes use-
less as food for bees.

Uniting weak colonies to stronger ones may still
be practised, as advised in our last, advantage being
taken of a fine day. Where the bees to be united
are driven from a skep, to be added to a colony
possessed of a skep with combs down to the floor-
board, a successful union may generally be made by
shaking the driven bees into an ' eke ' and placing
the full skep over them. This should be done im-
mediately after driving, as the honey- sacs of the
new comers are then well filled, and a heartier wel-
come is accorded them. The bees must be confined
until the union is completed, and smoked freely.
This plan, however, entails as much trouble as
driving both colonies— as advised in our last issue
— and success is less certain.

Floor-Boards of all hives should be thoroughly
scraped. One spare board enables an instantaneous
change to be made, without disturbing the bees, if
each hive be gently raised on wedges, at the back,
and a little smoke blown in. The bees will then
ascend the combs, and the board can be removed,
cleaned, and given to the next hive, and so on to
the end.

Vacant Spaces, caused by the removal of outside
combs, should be filled up with cushions stuffed
with cork-dust, saw-dust, or shavings. The addi-
tional warmth afforded by these means is consider-
able, and should not be neglected.

' Hill's device ' of placing a frame-work between
the quilts and frames, to allow a passage for the
bees over the frames, is not desirable. Winter pass-
ages through the combs are amply sufficient to
allow of free communication between the brood-nest
and the outer combs.

The Quantity of Winter Stores required de-
pends upon circumstances, — such as the number of
bees, sufficiency of protection from cold, length and
severity of winter, &c. — but, speaking generally,
from twenty to twenty-five pounds of sealed honey
will be sufficient to carry through any colony from
October to the middle or end of February. The
weirjM of hives is not a safe criterion, since combs
full of pollen weigh almost as much as when filled
with honey. Quantity of honey can only be decided
by inspection, which is an easy matter with frame-
hives. And with skeps there is no great difficulty
when turned up, and the bees are driven aside by a
little smoke. The age of combs, and the quantity of
pollen and honey, can then be ascertained with ease.
Enamel cloths should be scraped clean from any
small quantity of propolis adhering to them, and
stored in a dry place for use another season.

In conclusion, we sum up our advice for safe
wintering as follows : — Strong colonies; ample supply
of scaled food ; bees crowded on as many combs
only, as they can well cover ; close-fitting, porous
quilts; clean floor-boards ; sound weatherproof covers;,
firm storm-proof stands ; and plenty of downward
ventilation.

September 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL

295

WEST OF ENGLAND HONEY DEPOT.

We are pleased to be able to state that under
this heading a depot has been started at Freshford,
Somerset, and will be worked by Mr. W. N. Griffin,
late Hon. Sec. to the Devon and Exeter B. K. A.

This gentleman is too well known in the bee-
keeping world to require any introduction from us.
He has been a frequent contributor to the columns
of this Journal, and, by personal service and by his
interesting lectures, has done much to advance the
cause of apiculture in the West of England. His
experience in the various kinds and qualities of
honey, as evinced by his lecture on ' Honey ' de-
livered at a recent conversazione of the British
B. K. A., will be of valuable service to him in his
present enterprise. We feel sure he will do all in
his power to assist bee-keepers and advance the in-
dustry, and we wish him every success in working
the depot.

NOVELTIES IN BEE-KEEPING.

Abbott's New Method of Fixing Foundation.
— This is a quick and certain method of fixing
foundation. It consists in the top bar, instead of
being split right through, having a wedge-shaped
groove cut on the under side of it, rather more than
half-way through. The foundation is inserted in
this groove, and a long piece of wood of wedge
section tightly forced in beside it. If considered
necessary, it may be further secured by tacks.
This method would prevent the harbouring of wax-
moth, which so often find a lodgment in the
groove.

Patent Honey Tins. — Any one who has noted
the sad condition of sections on their arrival
at the place to which they are consigned, how-
ever carefully they may have been packed by
the sender, will be pleased to hail the intro-
duction of any new method for the safe convey-
ance of honey. The Self-opening Tin Box Company
supply their patent tins as receptacles of a great
variety of articles, and these will be found well
adapted for the package and storage of honey, and
for its transmission by the Parcels Post. The tins

were exhibited at the Wilts Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion Show at Salisbury, and were awarded a first-
class certificate. Having made experiments with
them, we can say that, if the lid is evenly placed
and forcibly pressed down, the box is practically

closed ; it is opened by simply levering up the lid.
The boxes will be found very useful to honey-
producers for sending samples of their honey ; and
being infrangible, and presuming they are sold at a
reasonable price, they will be used largely as sub-
stitutes for bottles.

Union for Securing Skei>s while Driving. —
This skep-union, the invention of Mr. J. Nicholson
of Bowdon, Cheshire, is an ingenious contrivance
for the assistance of bee-keepers when engaged in
open driving. The junction of the two skeps is
generally effected by means of driving-irons and a
skewer. Mr. Nicholson's invention achieves the
same purpose by the employment of one article

instead of three, and this, at a critical moment,
would be a saving of time ; it gives the bees a.
broader surface to traverse, and the union is secure
and effective. The outside is made of zinc, painted;
it is provided with several spikes for piercing the
two skeps, and the inside is lined with perforated
zinc so as to give the bees foothold when ascending
Our engraving represents the inner side.

Dolan's Dummy Feeder. — There is much in this
feeder worthy of commendation. It combines in
one several articles which are useful in an apiary.
Its chief purpose is to supply syrup to bees ; this it
does in a clean, ingenious manner, and the rapidity
of feeding can be easily controlled. It may be used
as a Simmins' dry-sugar feeder. In this case the
tin containing the syrup is taken away, and the
dummy is reversed, and the interior being filled
with sugar, the bees obtain access to it through an
opening at the top. If not used as a feeder it may
be converted into a warm winter dummy by its
being filled with chaff or cork-dust. There are
several other features in this feeder which will sug-
gest themselves to the intelligent bee-keeper.

ASSOCIATION FOR MONTGOMERYSHIRE.

Persons desirous of assisting in the formation of
an Association for this county are requested to
communicate with Mr. D. K. Thomas, Caer Sws,
R.S.O., Montgomeryshire.

ASSOCIATION FOR DURHAM.
In the last number of Bee Journal, 'Icardus^
asks whether anything was going to be done for an
Association for Durham. We are pleased to state
that there is now a prospect of such an Associa-
tion being formed. All those bee-keepers in the
county willing to help are requested to communi-
cate with G. H. Proctor, Esq., Flass House,
Durham.

296

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[September 15, 1885.

BEE-KEEPING IN THE ISLE OF MAN.

Two years ago some correspondence took place in the
Journal with regard to the capabilities of this quaint
little island for bee-keeping, and it was confidently
asserted that the meagre honey harvest was due not to
lack of flowers, but of knowledge, and that if bees were
kept on a scientific system instead of the old-fashioned
skep system, the results would show that the island
was very well adapted for producing a large honey
harvest.

Having made a bee tour through the island, we can
fully endorse all that Mr. James Moore, of Douglas, has
written on the subject, for we have seldom seen a honey
district which can surpass the ' dear little Isle of Man.'
Though situated so far north, the climate is extremely
mild, much more so than any other place in the same
latitude, due to the beneficent influence of the Gulf
Stream. There is a wonderful absence of extremes.
The mean annual temperature is 50°, and the mean
winter temperature is only slightly less than that of the
south of France, and considerably higher than that of
many places in the Mediterranean; and the fact that
many plants and shrubs, which in some parts of England
require great care and artificial heat, grow throughout
winter in the open air, proves conclusively the extreme
mildness of the climate.

Wonderfully fertile as it is, the great advantage to
the bee-keeper lies in the fact that the honey harvest
lasts not for a few weeks, but for several months in th
year. Beginning with fruit-blossom — and all kinds of
fruit-trees flourish in the island — large supplies of
honey are produced by flowering trees (lime, syca-
more, &c), white clover, and wild flowers; while the
heather gives the bees plenty of honey right into the
autumn.

It is always unsafe to generalise on insufficient
grounds. Every one knows the relative weight of facts
and theories. The present year may be exceptional as
regards the honey harvest, but even supposing this to be
the case, the following facts speak for themselves.

We visited Mr. Cubbon's apiary in Douglas. He has
between fifty and sixty hives, all of them bar-frame
hives, with the exception of some dozen Pettigrews.
His harvest was not nearly over, as the heather honey
was only just coming in ; but from several of his hives
he had already (August 12) taken some seventy or
eighty 1-lb. sections, together with a large quantity of
extracted honey. As he was very busy, he was not able
to give us the exact yield, but he has promised this later
on in the year.

At Ramsay, in the north of the island, Mr. Kerr had
taken 102 one-lb. sections from one hive, and 109 from
another, which had thrown out a swarm weighing about
10 lbs.

Scientific bee-keeping in the island may be said to be
in its infancj', as bar-frame hives are few and far
between, and it is only within the last few years that
bees have been kept in anything but skeps and old
boxes; but as the child is the father of the man, this
robust infancy augurs well for a still stronger manhood,
and we can safely prophesy that in the future, with a
greater knowledge of bee-keeping, the amount of honey
produced in the island will be largely increased.

ASSOCIATIONS.

HEREFORD HONEY FAIR.

The second Annual Honey Fair and Show of Hives
and Appliances, organised by the Herefordshire Bee-
keepers' Association, took place at the Corn Exchange,
Hereford, on Saturday, August 29th.

The hall was crowded all day, admission being free.
About three tons of honey were staged for sale and about
1700 lbs. sold. Prices were considerably lower than
last year ; some sections (1 lb. size) being sold as low as
sixpence each to clear out, the general price for good
sections being tenpence. Extracted honey from sixpence
(dark) in the bulk, to tenpence and one shilling in 1 lb.
jars. The quality on the whole was not so good as last
year ; from some districts the colour was good, but from
others much contaminated with honey-dew. There was,
however, some splendid honey for competition, especially
in the class for extracted, where the competition was
keen (twenty-one entries for clear honey, nine entries for
candied, or partially candied).

The show of hives was also a success. Messrs. Abbott
sent a very complete collection, which secured first
honours ; and Mr. J. H. Howard also sent some well-
made hives of good value for the money. Undoubtedly
the cheapest hive was one exhibited by Mr. J. R. Hole
in the class for hives not above 6s. 6d. It was made of
unplaned material, two storeys in height (lower storey
only furnished with frames), with roof and floor-board
complete. The judges would have awarded it first prize,
but as it did not fulfil one of the conditions (to be
furnished with a quilt) it had to be passed over. The
hive which took first prize in this class (made by a local
maker) was nicely finished, made so that the hive bodies
could be tiered up, the entrance being cut in the floor-
board ; and the body being square the frames could be
placed across or lengthways. A hive of the same pattern
took first prize in the amateur elass, in fact bee-keepers in
this district who keep a number of hives for extracting
begin to find out that a hive which can readily be doubled
is a necessity, and that hives of the usual ' show pattern '
with legs are almost useless to them.

The judges were Colonel Pearson, Rev. J. J. Evans, also
Rev. F. S. Stooke-Vaughan for honey, and Dr. Chapman
for hives. The whole of the arrangements were carried
out by the hon. secretary, Mr. Alfred Watkins.

The following is a schedule of the prizes: — Honey
(open to members only). Class 1 : Largest and best
exhibit of honey, either in comb or extracted — 1st (1400
lbs.), bronze medal and 11. 10*., Thomas Charles; 2nd
(975 lbs.), 1/., Dr. Chapman; 3rd (230 lbs.), 15s., Rev.
G. Herbert. Class 2 : Best twelve 1-lb. jars of extracted
honey— 1st, 15s., W. Revell ; 2nd, 10s., J. Vale ; 3rd, 5s.,
W.Tomkins. Class 3: Best twelve 1-lb. jars of extracted
honey (candied) — 1st, 15s., M. Meadham; 2nd, 10s., J.
Vale ; 3rd, 5s., W. Tomkins. Class 4 : Best twelve 1-lb.
or six 2-lb. sections of comb honey — 1st, silver medal, and
15s., Rev. G. Herbert ; 2nd, 10s., Thomas Powell ; 3rd,
5s., Dr. Chapman. Class 5 : Best single super of honey,
not being a bar, bar-frame, or sectional super — 1st, 10s.,
Miss Parry; 2nd, 5s., J. Vale; extra, J. Dunkerton.
Class 0 : Best exhibit of honey in any shape shown by a
bond-fide cottager — 1st (420 lbs.), hive, value 10s. (id.,
certificate, and 10s., W. Tomkins ; 2nd, hive and 5s., T.
Lewis; 3rd, hive, W. Smith; 4th, hive, A. J. Adams;
5th, hive, not given. Hives (open to all-comers except
Class 9) — Class 7 : Best frame-hive, with supers, cost not
to exceed 15s. — 1st, 15s., J. Howard, Peterborough; 2nd,
10s., Abbott Bros., Southall; 3rd, 6s., M. Meadham,
Hereford. Class 8 : Best frame-hive, without supers,
cost not to exceed 6s. (id. — 1st, 15s., Rev. Powell, Here-
ford; 2nd, not awarded. Class 9: Best frame-hive, cost
not to exceed 5s. — 1st, 10s., A. J. Adams, 2nd, 5s.

September 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

297

W. Smith. Class 10 : Best flat-topped straw hive, with
crate of sections and roof — 1st, 10s., J. II. Howard ; 2nd,
7*. 6d., not given; 3rd, 5*., J. II. Howard. Class 11 :
Largest and best collection of hives and bee furniture —
1st, '21., Abbott Brothers ; 2nd, 1/. 5s., J. R. Hole.

ABERDARE SHOW.
List op Awards.

I. Largest and best exhibit of super Honey. — 1, TV.
Kettle, Brecon ; 2, Mr. Richards, Talyllyn. II. Largest
and best exhibit extracted honey. — 1, Mr. Kettle.
III. Twelve 1-lb. sections of comb honey. — 1, Mr. W.
Gay, Cardiff; 2, Mr. Breedon, Cardiff; equal 3, Mr. D.
A. Thomas, Ovenden, Sevenoaks, and Mr. Thos. Jones,
saddler, Llandilo. IV. Twelve 1-lb. bottled extracted
honey. — 1, Mrs. Price, St. David's Rectory, Brecon ; 2,
Mr. Richards, Talyllyn ; equal 3, Mr. Kettle and Mr.
Gay. V. Best sample of bees-wax. — 1, Mr. RichaTds;
equal 2, Mrs. Price and Mr. Gay. VI. Best kept hive
of bees. — 1, Miss Thomas, Sgubowen ; 2, Mrs. Wilkinson,
Abermont ; 3rd, Mrs. Thomas, Brynawel.

About 500 pounds of honey were staged. Richards'
exhibit in No. 1 was 100 sections, Mr. Kettle's was
more. Mr. Blow acted as judge.

HAWARDEN FLOWER SHOW.

Bang ! Bang ! ! goes the knocker — G. Spencer, Hawar-
den, to ' Amateur Expert,' ' Our Flower Show is on
August 13th. I hope you will come with the Bee-tent.'
Bang ! Bang ! ! again — J. Huckle to ' Amateur Expert,'
'Hawarden Show is on August 13th. I do hope you
will go and take the tent for us.'

Well now, like a true galley slave the mill is most
fascinating to me, but considering a trip to Hawarden
was a far lesser evil than to be ' wearied by their im-
portunity,' I oiled the mill well and left ft running,
and went ; and I am back again.

The Hawarden people know how to grow good
vegetable, fruit, and flowers, and they know how to
exhibit them ; more than that, there are plenty to come
and see. At 12 (noon) you might look around and
guess about 250 would pass the gates ; but fancy 1274
after 5 p.m. And how they enjoy themselves; music
any amount, both long and loud, singing and dancing
too, but no intoxication and no rough horseplay. But
what is all this to bee-keepers ? I am coming to that.
The season has not been so gpod for bees as the two
last ; the skeps were lighter, and the bees had no un-
sealed stores, and consequently were prepared to fight
or to rob. The exhibits of honey were few ; a large
Woodbury super that gained the first prize was a credit
to the exhibitor ; it was beautifully made of mahogany
and glass, and extremely well filled. The bottled honey
were beautiful samples, and the six 1-lb sections that
gained the first prize were exhibited by a bee-keeper who
knows what good sections should be. The Bee-tent was
attended about as usual, the site was shifted, but that
did not affect the numbers admitted ; those who are
interested will come, while those who are not prefer to
dance and enjoy the holiday. Mr. Spencer was as
courteous as need be, the only thing lacking is a good
vigorous association ; there is some talk of one for the
three northern counties of Wales; Flint, certainly, is
small, but, I believe, a very good association might be
worked for that county alone. I fear the three would
be too unwieldy to be worked as thoroughly as they
should be.

I had the pleasure of examining several stocks of
bees in the neighbourhood, they were evidently in good
hands. None of the Gladstone family were at home
to take any part in the show as they usually do, but
it was a most successful show in every way.

The following day I went down into a neighbouring
colliery; this is nothing to do with bee-keeping, but it
added to the pleasure of — Amateur Expert.

BEE AND HONEY SHOW AT ODIHAM.
On the 25th August, a fine collection of honey
was exhibited in connexion with the Autumn Show of
the Odiham Horticultural Society. Prizes were given
by the Hants and Isle of Wight Bee-keepers' Association,
the first prize falling to the lot of Mr. W. Hunt, whose
splendid exhibit of over two cwts. of honey was greatly
admired ; the second was taken by Miss Turner, and the
third by Mr. Trinder, the head gardener to Sir H. St.
John Mildmay. Lady Mildmay had also a very pretty
case of sections, not for competition, and her ladyship
kindly distributed the prizes. The cottagers also had a
nice lot of honey staged, but it was mostly in small
straw skeps used as supers, but when they can see honey
as shown in the sections, no doubt they will ultimately
see the advantage of using them instead of the little
skeps.

MATLOCK BATH HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The fourteenth annual exhibition of this Society was
held in the Pavilion on Saturday Aug. 8th, and was a
complete success, nearly five thousand people passing
through the gates.

The Society gave prizes for honey and bees, and
about half-a-ton of honey was staged by five exhibitors,
all of which was of a splendid quality. This proves that
the effort of the Society to encourage the keeping of
bees on the modern principle is meeting with success.
Three years since, when the tent of the B. K. A. was
first brought into this district by them, the show of
honey was so small and the quantity so poor that the
expert, Mr. Baldwin, who acted as judge, said none of it
was worthy of a prize. Since then, not only has the
quantity of honey exhibited increased year by year, but
the quality has also improved, that shown this year beino-
as good a sample as will be met with at any show. A
novel method to induce cottagers to become bee-keepers
was introduced in the schedule in the shape of a bar-
frame hive and stock of bees, given by Mr. Jno. Evans,
a member, and Mr. A. Clark, the hon. sec. of the Society,
for the best collection of vegetables exhibited by a cot-
tager, a_ condition being attached to it that the winner
must give a swarm for a prize at next year's show.
There was a keen competition for this prize, which was
won by George Richards, of Matlock Bank. The other
prizes were taken by the following : —

Twelve 1-lb. sections, 1st, H. Richardson; 2nd, B.
Glossop. Six 2-lb. sections, 1st, W. Walker ; 2nd, A.
Clark. Twelve 1-lb. bottles or jars of extracted honey,
1st, Hy. Woodiwiss ; Hy. Richardson ; 3rd, Mr. Hurd.
Largest and best exhibit, 1st, W. Walker ; 2nd, Hy.
Richardson ; 3rd, Mr. Hurd. Stock of bees in observa-
tory hive, 1st, not awarded; 2nd, W. Walker. The
secretary of the County Association was in attendance in
charge of the expert, W. Harding, of Hasland; and
lectures were delivered by the Rev. Mr. Shipton, of
Brampton Vicarage, who also acted as judge of the
honey, and Mr. W. Walker, of Highheath, West
Croniford. ____^

HONEY AND BEES AT THE BANBRIDGE
CATTLE SHOW.

At the Banbridge (Co. Down) Cattle Show, held on
the 5th of August, prizes were awarded as follows for
honey and bees :—

Class 65 — For best stock or specimen of Ligurian or
black bees, to be exhibited with their queen, in an
observatory hive— 1, Samuel Hill, Solitude House, Ban-
bridge.

298

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[September 15, 1885.

Class CC — For best section of honey in either wood,
glass, or straw, and not less tban 5-lb. weight — 1,
'Thomas Gillespie, Banbridge ; 2, Samuel Hill, Solitude
House, Banbridge.

Class 67 — For best six 1-lb. sections — 1 and 2, Samuel
Hill, Solitude House, Banbridge.

Class 68 — Best six glass jars of extracted honey, not
less than 1-lb. each — 1, Thomas Gillespie, Banbridge ; 2,
A. Potts, Cappy, Banbridge.

This was the first time for such, and the Committee
have every reason to be satisfied at the number of entries
and the quality and ' get-up' of the exhibits in the honey
elasses. The Rev. H. W. Lett, M.A., of Ardmore, acted
as judge, and afterwards gave a lecture on the manage-
ment of bar-frame hives, illustrated by an unusually
fierce stock of bees, in the bee tent of the North East
of Ireland Bee-Keepers' Association, which has for several
years past been erected in the show yard. There was a
good attendance, and many interesting facts were elicited
between the lecturer and bis audience.

Cnrospntrwa.

*»* All Correspondents forwarding Letters for insertion in
Hie Journal, Reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes
from, the Hives, Queries, &c, are requested to direct their com-
munications to 'The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," c/o
Messrs. Strangeways cfc Sons, Tower Street, Upper St. Martin's
Lane, W.C

OBSERVATORY HIVES.

May I ask again a question which I put some time
ago, viz. what facts or theories are still needing observa-
tion ? It seems to me that if all owners of observatory
hives were to bend their minds to the investigation of
particular facts, a great deal might be discovered. It
may interest j'our readers to know what a wasp does
inside a hive. I watched one yesterday. He ran all
round the outside every now and then wrestling with a
tee, and apparently stinging ; but the greater number of
the bees took no notice. He did not appear to take any
honey, but made his way out. Wasps should be
attacked before entering the hive, and entrances should
now be narrowed. — E. Liddell, Frogmore, St. Albans,
August PjOth.

[Anything that takes place inside a hive is of interest
to bee-keepers, and it is only by careful observation and
accurate description that we can arrive at a better
knowledge of the habits of bees. Although a great
deal is known about them, we are still a long way from
a perfect knowledge of either their natural history or
habits. Amongst other things opinions are divided
with regard to the antenna?, some believing them to be
organs of smell, others of hearing, and others again assert
that they are only used as feelers. Much difference of
opinion also exists in respect to the construction of wax-
oells, and very little is known about fertile workers, some
even denying that they exist at all. More knowledge
with regard to swarming would also be useful. Then very
little is known about the diseases bees are subject to.
We know by practical experience that foul brood is
most fatal, and although German scientists (from whom
most of our scientific knowledge about bees has been
derived) have shown it to be a bacterial disease, and
have given us remedies with which to successfully treat
it, they have not yet been able to tell us the true cause
of the disease. There are also many other diseases of
which absolutely nothing is known. A wide field is also
open to those who can experiment in the crossing of the
different races of bees, so as to secure one superior to
any other, and more able to resist the variable climate
of our country. Besides these there are many facts and
theories worthy of study, and owners of observatoiy
hives would have plenty of occupation if they devoted
their time to the observation of any of these, and would,
at the same time, be adding to our knowledge of the

subject. In our last number, p. 290, we directed the
attention of our readers to the experiments in apiculture
which were being made in America, and expressed a
desire that similar investigations might be prosecuted in
this country. We shall always be pleased to insert in the
Bee Journal reports of any observations likely to be of use
to bee-keepers. — Ed. J

NOTES FROM A NOVICE.

I have had in my bee-keeping the usual experiences of
a novice. Of coui'se I got a bar-frame hive as soon as I
saw one, and put into it late in the season a weakly
swarm, which I allowed to perish in the following spring.
Better luck in the summer. Got up four strong stocks
by autumn and brought the bees right well through the
winter ; but two, alas ! became queenless in the spring.
Of the other two, one got foul brood, which was rampant
in the neighbourhood, and from the other I took, on the
5th of May, fourteen splendid sections, fully sealed. And
here I must remark that my ardour in making converts
to the bar-frame system is considerably damped by the
fact tli at several people about me took up the system,
got bees and hives, then through ignorance or neglect al-
lowed them to become so diseased that they have been
the cause of much trouble. That we have not fared
worse I am. perhaps not wrong in attributing to the fact
that we have had the finest summer ever known, which
doubtless enabled our hives to resist sickness and disease,
for I saw six hives done to death by foul brood in May
last within half-a-mile radius of my garden. As all in-
terchange of experience may tend to profit, I will inform
your readers how I treated my sick bees. My suspicions
as to disease were first aroused by seeing dead grubs in
front of the hives on the ground, mostly drones, and I
made an examination with the help of an experienced
friend. The disease was there, but not in an advanced
state, and no robbing had occurred, the hive being very
strong in bees and full of honey; very little worker
brood (only a short time before there had been plenty) ;
a great deal of drone. This was about June 1st, and a3
honey was coming in fast, I determined to run no risks
but transfer the bees to a new hive on new bars with
foundation, taking the honey from the old hive, which
was no inconsiderable spoil, destroying the bars and
thoroughly disinfecting the hive itself. I confined the
bees to their new hive for twenty-four hours, in a dark
room, and fed them liberally with phenolated syrup,
which, having no choice but to drink or starve, they took
at first cautiously but afterwards very freely, and con-
tinued to take for a fortnight or more after their libera-
tion. I removed the queen, and, as soon as I could get
one, provided a new one by uniting a small cast. Then
my patience was tried, for it was fully five weeks before
the young queen began to lay, but she has certainly made
up for the lost time, as the hive is now a picture, brood
in quantities on eight out of ten bars, and a fine store of
honey. No sign of disease anywhere, and I hope it will
not break out again. Under the circumstances, as there
was so much honey, and that in the fine season, comb
could be so quickly drawn out, I thought it better to re-
move the old bars of comb altogether lest bees should
stray in from my other hives and so spread the infection.

Our climate here in the South of Ireland is very mild
in winter, and the gorse blooms and other flowers peep
out so soon after Christmas that honey and pollen come
in very early. On the 10th of December, last winter, I
saw pollen going into one hive pretty freely at twelve
o'clock in the day. A neighbouring bee-keeper, who has
some forty hives, left a couple of these to winter without
removing the sections which contained no honey, but
drawn-out combs only. They wintered quite well, and
were the first to yield filled sections, as the bees went
up at once honey began to be got on the fruit trees. I
have now two late swarms still working (September 7th)
hard in their sections, which are well propolised, and

September 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

299

■which they do not quit at night, and I shall try the
experiment of leaving on the sections during the winter.
I think, perhaps, the reason they do not quit the sections
at night is that I tried an experiment of laying strips of
glass on top as well as at the ends of the sections, i did
this to prevent the bees coming out and occasionally
flying at my face, whenever I lifted the quilt to see how
they were working. They have thus been able to pro-
poli'se between the glass and the top of sections, which
are thereby kept very warm and comfortable. Strips
of waste glass, an inch or two wide, cut to right length,
answer famously. 1 may add that propolis is gathered
here in large quantities, though in an apiary six miles
distant none is ever seen in any part of the hives ; and
this while our flowers and trees seem almost identical.
The reason my bees are working so late rn tho sections
is that we have some patches of heather near at hand,
and a considerable quantity a couple of miles distant,
also in woods close by. I will inform you in due course
how the bees winter beneath the sections. I have made
a section into a rough dry-feeder, which I will use
when the work on the heather is over, removing a full
one to make room for it. Of course [ will remove all
sealed sections, replacing them witli others in which the
comb has been drawn out, and also put plenty of warm
packing over and round the super.

It has been a wonderful season for bees in Ireland.
From my own three hives which remained healthy, and
in spite "of delavs from queenlessness, I obtained over
100 lb. sections, and three tine swarms, tho last of which
weighed 7A lbs. weight of bees. The first and smallest
of the swarms I packed off to the mountains, some six
miles off, about July 10th, in a bar-frame hive on
foundation only, and without any food. They have now
two sets of 21 lb. sections overhead, all filled with honey,
sealed and ready to take off in a day or two. The hive,
with its two sets of supers, looks a little Tower of
Babel. — Irish Novice, Kiidare.

RECTANGULAR FEEDERS.

Allow me to suggest the desirability of feeders being
made rectangular instead of circular, as being much
more readily packed up to with the various carpet
coverings, or with the admirable new chaff boxes, which
I found last winter to be the most effective and con-
venient protection to the hives. — T. I., Maldon, &'ej>-
tember 6th.

EXPERIENCES.

I thought my experience of tlie past year might be
interesting to some of your readers.

April 29th. — Had nine hives. Expert from our As-
sociation came and saw foul brood.

April 80th. — Used medicated syrup — Cheshire's cure
— as directed, squirting it into affected cells after open-
ing them with knife.

May 8tk. — Examined all hives; found all affected
more or less. Some smelt very badly. Destroyed eight
of the worst combs ; opened cells of others, squirting in
medicated syrup.

May 21s?. — By the third week I had lost six queens —
six hives without queens, but plent}"- of queen-cells.

May '2$th. — Received from friend four queen-cells,
just ready to hatch out ; gave them to queenless stocks.
By this time two hives had so dwindled that I joined
them to other stocks, leaving me with seven hives.

June oth. — Queen destroyed that I gave, but another
from their own cell hatched out, and they all left the
hive. I found them next morning in a neighbour's
garden, and I gave them a fresh hive.

June 18th. — All hives seemed doing well. I extracted
all honey and syrup from all the combs of three hives
that had been the worst (they were about clean

now), putting the extract by for winter feeding after
boiling.

RESULT OP SEASON.

TOTAL.

No. 1 Hive — Extracted, 38 ; section, 51 ... 89

„ 2 „ Extracted, 41 ; section, 48 ... 89

„ •'! „ Extracted, 25; section, .'37 ... 62

„ 4 ,, Extracted, •'!! ; ... ol

„ 5 „ Extracted, 22i ; ... 22^

„ (1 „ Extracted, 47; ... 47

„ 7 „ The lot that left hive extracted 9i

:jo0

The quality of honey has been very good this year. — B.

ARE BEES A NUISANCE ?
AVe would heartily thank ' Theta' for his well-reasoned-
out article in B. B. J. p. 269, but would like to ask him
how can the ownership of the said nuisance he proven in
law who is the owner ? Suppose an action is entered
against an adjoining neighbour with fifty stocks, and
there are fifty stocks of bees kept by twelve different
persons within a distance of from one hundred yards to
half a mile from the same place, is the owner of the large
apiary to be accounted in law a nuisance? For it might
he said with truth that some of the smaller keepers are
nearer the objector, and that some of his neighbours with
one or two stocks, by careless management would be
really a greater cause of annoyance, though naturally it
would appear otherwise. How can the ownership be
proved, for, in the case of swarms, the law allows owner-
ship only if they have not been lost sight of ; therefore,
upon 'general principle' how can it be S3 proved? —
Sting.

EXTRACTION OF THICK HONEY.
I see in the B. B. J. complaints of the difficulty
of extracting thick honey. I find that if the combs are
left uncapped a few hours, the honey will come out
much easier. I use two cylinder extractors ; in the
first I put the combs with unsealed honey, and by
turning slowly, throw out all the unripe honey, which I
use for feeding. — II. E. Robebts, The Avenue, Oosmore,
September 4£h.

HONEY-BEES IN THE CAPE COLONY.
In reply to the many communications I have recently
received on the above subject, asking for description,
character, &c, of the honey-bees of the Cape, I send the
followiug to your obliging Journal, and trust that it will
cover the whole ground of inquiry.

From my experience of both English and African bees,
I do not hesitate to say that the introduction of the
latter hito English apiaries would be of signal advantage
in every respect, if only their transmission could be made
easy and practicable.

The honey-bees of the Cape Colony may be typically
divided into three kinds — the yellow, the blackish-brown,
and the mixed. Representatives of all these may
occasionally be seen together in the same hive under
circumstances that render the fact somewhat difficult of
explanation. To this matter I may hereafter return.

All three kinds are very hardy, vigorous, and active,
and thoroughl}- accustomed to extreme and often sudden
changes of temperature, for which this climate is
remarkable. During the severe droughts, moreover,
which are frequent, and at times much prolonged, when
every herb of the veldt is parched up, and not a flower
blooms, not so much from intensity of heat as lack of
moisture, the bees still hold on, and multiply rapidly,
though it is not easy to say upon what.

In addition to these physical drawbacks, bees have

300

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[September 15, 1885-..

enemies in South Africa named ' Legion,' — birds, insects,
and reptiles; but the most dreadful, and perhaps the least
compassionate, are the devastating Vandals in human
form that search out and rob the bees' nests for their
honey, and mercilessly deal destruction to young and old.

Taking all things into consideration, it is somewhat
strange that bees look up at all here in trying times, and
certainly ■wonderful it is to observe how marvellously
and speedily they recover themselves, and rise superior
to their misfortunes.

Of the yellow variety it is singular that, from the
same mother, in the same hive, and of the same brood,
two sorts of workers spring in colour entirely unlike.
One of these is readily distinguished as a yellow bee,
though some are much yellower than others ; and these
bees constitute the bulk of the population. The other
sort, which occurs very sparsely in the hive, looks to be
of more tapering shape, and is of an iron-grey colour,
striped on the abdomen with silver-grey. In a typical
specimen no yellow whatever is seen. This points
possibly to an early cross with a dark race, to which
these last, though there are not many, ai-e reversions.

I know nothing of Asiatic, or other varieties, nor even
of the Ligurian, except from description, nor of their
hybrids, so that I cannot speak of Cape bees in com-
parison with them. One thing, however, is very certain,
even in the purest yellow stock, to be found, that all the
worker offspring of the same queen are not like their
mother in colour, nor are they all counterparts of each
other, nor do they all resemble their reputed sire
— indeed, I have seen drones quite opposite in colour —
proceeding from the same hive and of the same brood.
From this, perhaps, we may at least conclude that the
yellow bee as it is here is not an absolutely pure variety.

The hairs on the head, legs, and body of this bee are
of an ochreous or brownish-yellow colour, and especially
so on and around the triangular piece of the thorax, just
above the juuction with the abdomen. This piece of the
thorax is of an aureolin or dark gold colour, and is a dis-
tinguishing mark of this variety. The upper two-thirds
of the abdominal rings are of the same dark gold colour,
striped just below the upper margin by a fine streak of
jet black ; this is followed by a broad band of dark gold,
then two bars of black, separated by a thin stripe of
gold, less vivid. The lowest anal segments are of an iron-
grey tint, growing gradually lighter towards the ex-
tremity, and striped with silver-grey. The queen
resembles the worker in colour, but the black bands of
the abdomen, which are not, so emphatically drawn, are
of a purplish-brown, shot with grey, and there are no
silver-grey stripes as in the worker.

The drones of such a stock are fine, burly fellows, not
usually very numerous, and not much resembling their
mother, except in the purplish-brown of thorax and
abdomen, nor the worker, except that they are striped
on the abdomen. These stripes are of a dull yellow colour,
and on the lower margin of each segment, but the anal
one, — which is all brown, and fringed with brownish-
yellow hairs. The upper segments are encircled with
brownish-yellow hairs, becoming gold-coloured tufts
under the wings, and forming a dense ruff round the
throat. The head and thorax are brown, and closely
covered with brownish-yellow pile, which extends to the
ventral, or lower surface. Like the queen, they have no
silver-grey upon them.

In a typical specimen of the other inmate referred to,
dark iron-grey on the abdominal bands catches the eye
instead of yellow, and so also in the hairs of the head
and thorax. Around the whole length of the abdomen,
which appears more tapering, delicate stripes of bright
silver-grey seem to usurp the place of black ones. The
lower rings are much lighter than the upper, and resemble
those of the preceding.

The blackish-brown bee of South Africa is, I think,
closely allied in character and complexion to the common

bee of Europe, and is gifted with the same shortness off-
temper, though by no mean3 yielding to it in activity or:
prolific power. The drones are much smaller than those
of the preceding, are of a brownish-black coli u-, and have
no stripes at all on the abdomen. There is a wide con-
trast between the two native kinds in this matter of
techiness, and, indeed, other important particulars,
though in gathering and storing qualities the darker'
varieties are, if anything, more infatuated with their
work, and more jealous of the results of their labour.

It is in the hybrids, however, and these are naturally-
far commoner, that the force of character and distinctive
traits of both varieties are seen more or less amal-
gamated— the fierce ardour and disposition of the darker
bee, or the steady, practical industry of the yellow, being,
as it were, measured by the predominance of one shade1
of colour over the other. The drones of the mixed.
varieties resemble those of the yellow bee, but the
colour is less ochreous, and the yellow stripes are-
duller.

These bees are of excellent temper, and withal so
nervously anxious for the safety of their queen that they
are readily alarmed on her account, and are thus exceed-
ingly manageable. In dealing with them I have never
used smoke, beyond, maybe, an occasional whiff from a
cigar, which is at no time necessary when gentleness is-
exercised ; and though my hands are always bare, T
never get a sting, nor am I threatened with an attack-
Such an article as a smoker I have never at any time
used, and, indeed, I have never seen one. They are very
busy gatherers, working early and late, even by moon-
light, it is said, and they lay up large stores of honey
and pollen. On this account, they are enabled to con-
tinue breeding till very late in the autumn, and not
unfrequently throughout the winter months, and this not-
withstanding cold weather and prevalent bleak winds
which are felt here sometimes during a season otherwise
most delightful. During rough weather they stick
closely to the hive, but in the early spring, and whenever
the weather is propitious, they fly very strong; and
where honey is to be had, or pollen, they are abroad in
numbers to gather it. They are readily kept from,
swarming. — J. W. Stroud, M.D., Port Elizabeth, South
Africa.

JOTTINGS.

' C. C. J.' in his remark anent the good Bee Associations
have done poor ' Hodge,' must have multiplied the price-
he used to get for his honey by at least three times. I
myself can remember thirty to thirty-five years ago when
I as a boy used to mind the bees, my friends used to keep
bees and used ekes ('rears' we called them), and I well-
remember the price was 5d., 6d., and 7d. the highest;
and I have heard them say that years before, say fifty to
sixty years ago, the price was id. to 4,\d. I daresay, in
a few instances, a cottager made Is. to Is. Gd. per lb..
with a few pieces of selected honey-comb out of his.
maiden swarms, or by one a little in advance of his
neighbours who used a small straw cap and thereby got
honey of the quality we now get in sections, and sold it
to the squire or clergyman of the parish at a fancy price,,
and very often it was done by way of encouragement to
the cottager, and should not be taken as any criterion of
market price. I think in the near future that the cot-
tager must amend his ways or his honey will not go down
with the public, and it has been the aim of the
Associations to teach him a better way, so that he may
keep abreast of the times ; and, in some instances, they
have succeeded, but in many others 'Hoda-e' will not
budge, and still sticks to his brimstone pit, and then
breaks up all the contents of the hive together, brood,
pollen, and honey, mashed up with an iron spoon in one
mass.

As far as my experience goes there is no way of pre-

September 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

301

Tenting occasional deposits of pollen in sections. I have
found it in glass supers worked through excluder zinc.

Kindly allow rue to indorse ' 0. C. James,' page 28o,
par. .'!, in his remarks about excluder zinc. I have never
used it between frames and sections, and I get very few
sections spoiled with brood, not 1 per cent ; but when I do,
it is invariably drone brood, and I think that may be
accounted for by the fact that modern bee-keepers use
worker-size foundation and crowd the drone-comb out of
frame-hives, so that the natural propensity of the queen
to deposit drone eggs, about the time the first sections are
being filled, is sometimes gratified by the queen finding her
way up into the sections ; and another reason why some
get the queen up into the sectionsisbecause they do not cut
their dividers wide enough, leaving too much space at
top and more especially at the bottom.

In par. 4, the question of bees showing indication of
swarming after the removal of sections is very probably
caused by ' C. C. J.' using his smoker rather freely, which
drives the bees t» gorge themselves with honey, and con-
sequently thej' will be in an excitable state for several
hours, and show the usual indications of swarming, viz.,
full at entrance, with bees idling about, &e. Now if I
may suggest to ' CO. J.' how to remove his sections with
least disturbance to his bees, let him always remove the
entire crate, and also do it when his bees aTe busy at
work, when tho majority are in the fields, and never take
a full crate away and put an empty one in its place, or
his bees may get disheartened ; but as soon as the bees
begin sealing the sections remove the crate, and put
another on next to frames, and place the other on
the top, and by the time they have finished sealing the
sections in the top crate, they will have got on with the
bottom, and so lead them on. I may add I use very little
smoke, often none at all. in removing sections. My bees
are all English and fairly good-tempered. I am sorry to
say they get a little upset sometimes, and then my neigh-
bours have recourse to the blue bag, and some of them
have had to grope their way about with only one eye for
a day or two this season, through a superabundance of
fat in the ocular region. — Woodlf.igh.

.REVERSIBLE FEAMES.

Since the publication of my letter in the Journal of 1st
September, I have received upwards of one hundred and
fifty applications for my Reversible Frames. 1 did not
expect so large a number would apply, and 1 am sorry to
say that all the available woodl had "in stock I have used
up to supply the greater part of these applications.

I wisli to intimate to those who have not, up to the
present time, received a frame, that I hope to be able to
forward one to each applicant within the next fortnight,
as I have ordered some hundreds of feet more wood. I
shall therefore be glad if all persons wishing to avail
themselves of my offer would kindly applv within
the time mentioned.— C. G. Mason, Lothian Bank,
Dalkeith, N.B.

WIXTEKIXG BEES ON CANDY. SOME OF THE
WORK MR. HEWITT IS DOING.

Mr. E. .1. Gibbins, page 280, complains of no reports as
to how my candy system succeeded in 1883-4. •

In the fall of LS83 I claimed that bees could exist on
candy alone ; my theory was challenged bv the authori-
ties and bee-keepers were advised not to try it. But
it proved a success.

"When I began to study and write on bees, I did so for
the ' love of the thing,' the interests of bee-keepers, and
if I could add a mite to apicultural knowledge, or assist
others in doing so, I felt satisfied and sufficiently re-
warded.

This summer I have been personallv teaching cottagers
the bar-frame system in their own gardens, I finding all

appliances and doing the work, and they finding the bees.
Iu addition to this 1 show them how to make hives, &C,
for themselves. The results have been very satisfactory
to all parties; but with my business engagements and my
own apiary I have had my hands full, with the result of
a mass of letters requiring attending to before I do more
writing. But as soon as the season is over and all are
packed up I shall have more time till next spring, when
1 shall have to consider quite a swarm of skepists who-
want practical home lessons in modern bee-culture, and I
certainly think this teaching plan of mine before anything-
ever attempted previously ; they see the whole process
without any suspicion of deception. One would have it
that a certain modern bee-keeper mixed or fed sugar with
his honey to get his big crops ; he knew no sugar was fed
to the two stocks I worked for him. Another exclaimed
he could not have believed bees could gather so much
honey.

For the information of Mr. Gibbins, I may inform him
that last year bees with queens were shipped across the
Atlantic on candy alone, and astonished the 'cute 'Ameri-
cans by the fine condition they arrived in — no water, no
loose sugar, no condensed perspiration, but all eat before
them in a dry pine-box, and this year they are being
shipped to America, as well as here, direct from the East,
in the mail bags, on candy alone.

This Journal, however, does contain some flattering
reports of its success as winter food, and only one failure
by one who did not follow my instructions.

All being well, I expect to pack up in November some
thirty or more stocks on candy, but much different to
what I did in 1 882 — having made some improvements
in it. — John Hewitt, Sheffield, September 4th.

BEE PLANTS.

As a knowledge of those plants that bees work freely
on is of great advantage, too much light cannot be
thrown on the subject. It is strange that a plant
that would be covered with bees one year would hardly
be touched by them the next, due, "most probably, to-
climatic influences. Laurustinus was little worked on.
last spring ; I think it is distasteful to bees, and that
want of pollen alone compels them to do so, for it is
deserted at once for the furze or gorse blossoms. Berberis
Darwinii is one of our best and earliest shrubs, highly
ornamental, most floriferous, and lasts nearly a month ;
quite hardy, and beautiful in bloom and berry. Buddleia
globosa is another shrub highly attractive to bees, and is
both hardy and ornamental. Single wallflowers give a
long season in bloom, are most valuable, and should be
largely planted. Limnanthes also is well worth growing
— so much sought after by bees; continues so long in
blossom, and is most easily grown. Sycamore, a highly
ornamental timber tree, is a large honey producer. Tur-
nips and cabbages allowed to bloom come in well in
spring, when there is little else. White mustard, tri-
folium incarnatum, buckwheat, vetches, should all be
largely grown by farmers who are bee-keepers, as they
are excellent forage crops, giving honey and pollen to the
bee, and a plentiful supply of green food to cattle in the
stall or fold after. Apple blossom and white clover need
no comment. Buckwheat and mustard sown in July pro-
long the season ; those with the blackberry, in favourable
seasons, will meet the ivy in September, and that, if the
weather is favourable, will give abundance of honey and
pollen until November 1st. It was so here last year, in
fact, much more honey was made and stored on ivy than
on any other forage during the season. Melilotus leu-
cantha is a wonderful bee-plant, biennial, growing to a
height of seven and eight feet; is crowded with small
pea-shaped flowers, which are covered with bees and
flies from morning to night. This commences to bloom
about August 1st, and continues for nearly two months,
affording both honey and pollen and stimulating brood

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THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[September 15, 1885.

raising. Borage, crocus, mignonette, cornflower, ane-
mone, poppy, and many others, might be added to above
list — many of which might be planted in waste places.
Old corners dug out, gripes of fences cleared, and planted ;
wallflowers will grow on old walls: I saw an old castle
nearly covered with them. Blackberry pollen is of a dirty
white or light grey colour, not black. I fear I have
-already trespassed too much on your space and patience.
— John J. Smyth, BaUinacurra, Co. Cork.

A TEAR'S WORK IX A PLATELAYER'S
APIARY.

In the autumn of 1884 I went into winter quarters
with thirteen stocks. Perhaps it would be of some
service to your readers to detail the system which I have
for the last three years adopted. I do not pretend to
have discovered anything new, but simply to have adapted
to my locality the rules laid clown in the British Bee-
keepers' Guide.

Here on the edge of the far-famed Romney Marsh,
noted alike for its heavy corn-crops and sheep's heads,
the bees have pretty well finished the harvest by the
middle of July, and consequently about that time section
racks should be removed, the honey from two or three
frames extracted, and returned to centre of brood nest,
which usually arouses the flagging energies of the queen.
In about a fortnight later I commenced to reduce for
wintering by passing the two outside combs through the
extractor, returning them to the back of division board,
to_ be cleaned out by the bees. I find that this effectually
stimulates late breeding. Some ten days later I go
over them again, remove combs, and extract as
need be, always giving combs back to be cleaned. By
adopting such a course I manage to get them uicely
packed on six or seven frames with brood on three or
four by the end of August ; after which time they are
left pretty much to their own devices till the spring
comes round again, and without the labour attending
the extracting of all the honey, and then fussing about
late feeding, with its attending evils.

Early in March I gave each colony a clean hive. Found
they, with two exceptions, had wintered well. Examined
again in a few days, found breeding had commenced ;
uncapped some of the remaining store every few days.
Soon I had, by changing frames about, the whole of
them charged with brood. Then, and not till then, did
I enlarge the brood-nest by dropping into the centre
■combs stored from the previous year. I might say, in
passing, that I kept some few frames of sealed honey all
winter ; these came in handy to give to colonies short of
stores ; the majority did not need any such assistance.

Early in May I had them covering ten or twelve
frames ; on the 7th I introduced clean comb into centre
of selected stock, first marking top bar with conspicuous
pencil-mark. 0th. Removed queen and brood to new
Mve, leaving marked frame with eggs, and placing four
combs of previous year, two on either side. For various
reasons I prefer such a plan before the ordinary methods.
Firstly, you concentrate the full energy of nurse bees on
eggs of the right age to give best results ; secondly, by
not changing hives you are not so likely to create" such
an uproar, particularly when hives are of different shapes
and colours ; thirdly, by marking frame and not allowing
eggs or brood in any other you always know where to
look for queen-cells. The last item is of considerable
moment when one is compelled to manipulate when most
of the bees are at home. Someone has said foundation
will answer as well as combs to fill up hive with. I find
my bees when queenless refuse to work.

Ten days later I formed nuclei in the usual manner.
Owing to cold weather I did not super till the middle of
May. By removing a frame or two I forced them into
supers at once ; I soon had to lift racks and slip empty

ones underneath. Early in the season I find work pro-
gresses better by putting crate under partially filled ones.
Later on, when honey is not so plentiful, give empty
rack on top. AY hen June came in with the very hot
vyeather, owing to unfortunate delay in arrival of founda-
tion, I got many swarms. I followed Mr. Simmins'
plan of removing combs and returning bees, leaving
two frames of sealed brood and then replacing supers.
Being unable to be present to watch them when they
swarmed out, I adopted the plan of a bee-bob, having
noticed that a spot once selected to settle on by a first
swarm usually offers inducements to other swarms to
settle on the same spot, (how provoking to the novice if
it is in the centre of a thorn-hedge !) When my first
swarm issues and clusters, after having hived them, I
take the bough on which they cluster, and make a
bundle of it, about the size of a birch-broom, hang it in
a convenient place, near to the apiary, shaded from mid-
day sun. By adopting this plan, I believe I have saved
several swarms this year which undoubtedly would have
absconded if they had clustered in the sun. Some of
our mechanical friends undoubtedly could arrange to
make them self-hiving by applying the old steel yard
principle to the contrivance. In fact I believe something
has been done in America in that direction. In its
simple form, such as described, I have had full seventy
per cent alight at the proper place.

During the rage for swarming which my bees evinced,
unfortunately I ran short of foundation for stock-hives ;
so, to husband it out, I gave half sheets, which I found
poor economy, as in every instance they filled up the
blank space with drone-comb ; with some that I gave
simply a guide, they filled with worker. By extracting
from combs of hives that swarmed, and giving brood to
nuclei, I built them up to good colonies.

A correspondent in the Journal lately evinced some
surprise at the way a gentleman connected with the
B.B.J, worked up such gigantic stocks. I might tell
him that I had one hive with thirteen Association
frames and forty-two 1-lb. section boxes swarm for
want of space ; had the hive roof been deeper, possibly I
might have prevented it. And my bees are only black
with just a dash of Ligurian blood in them. I might say
the}r were believed to be pure till last year, when the
progeny of one young queen showed one yellow band,
proving, without a doubt, queens or drones, or perhaps
both, fly a very long distance, as the nearest Ligurians
I know of are five miles in a direct line from here. This
3'ear I find several colonies show the characteristic mark-
ings.

I almost forgot to say the two stocks mentioned
above as having wintered indifferently, one through the
continuous tapping of tits at the entrance (they were in
in an Anglo-German hive, thus giving their enemies
every chance), thereby bringing on dysentery. The other
was a lot of condemned bees. These I united towards the
end of April, thus giving me twelve to start with. By
artificial and natural swarming, I increased to nineteen,
and lost one rousing lot. My three best stocks have
given 108, 00, and 04 1-lb. sections respectively. The
total from all hives, practically twelve spring count,
has been a trifle over 800 lbs., viz., 540 1-lb. sections,
four 20-llj. Stewarton supers, together 80 lbs., and 185
lbs. extracted. In addition to this I have some eight or
nine frames of sealed honey, which I shall keep over
against any emergency in early spring. I might say all
the syrup fed by me this year was Is. worth to induce
cell-building when rearing young queens. I have re-
duced to fifteen stocks for wintering, nine of which are
headed by queens of the current year raised in selected
stock. No doubt my letter will not contain anything
new or very interesting to the advanced bee-keepers, but
if there is anything not quite clear, I will be pleased to
explain through your valuable paper. — Platelayer,
Ituckhge, Ashford.

September 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

303

EXTRACTORS.

In reply to inquiry respecting the Cowan Rapid
Iloney Extractor manufactured by me, which gained the
first prize at the Caledonian Show, Aberdeen, and the
first prize Honey Heather Extractor, I beg to state
that in the former the cages revolve, and in the latter the
honey is pressed through a perforated tube by means of
a screw and a wood block or piston. No other method
does its work to perfection ; all other extractors are
worthless for our Scotch heather honey, and I presume
English as well. — W. W. Young, Perth,

HUMBLE BEES.

Can any one tell how humble bees can be kept alive in
health to the spring, and induce them to build their
beautiful nests in boxes? — Red Clover.

[See paragraph on Humble Bees, p. 306].

BEE-HOUSES.

As 'Icardus' asks for advice as to bee-houses, I beg
to suggest to him an idea that struck me when reading
his letter, that if I was going to establish an apiary
away from home I should use single hives as in a garden
and fence them in with unclimbable iron fencing in
preference to a bee-house.— Woodleigh.

DIRECTIONS FOR USING THE COMBINATION
DUMMY FEEDER FOR SYRUP FEEDING.

Place the dummy in the hive, putting the side with
the slit towards the inside. Remove the tin, and having
filled and corked securely, invert it over your syrup jug,
and hold it there until it has ceased to drip, then replace
it in its position in the dummy, taking care that the
perforated edge comes against the slit. When placing
the dummy in the hive notice whether there are any
bees on the outside comb, if not it should be removed.
More holes may be made in the tin for copious feeding,
and may be stopped with wax when not required. The
tin being air-tight the syrup cannot escape, except as the
bees take it. When feeding is done, the dummy may
be filled with cork-dust or chaff, and may also have a
strip of felt round the edge, when it forms an excellent
winter dummy.

For dry sugar feeding the tiu_must be removed and the
durnniy reversed, the bees can then get at the sugar
through the slot on the top edge.

The dummy can be made stouter to order, or with one
side to open out as the ordinary dry sugar feeder. — W.
H. Dolan, Louse, Maidstone.

SHOW AND BEE-TENT ENGAGEMENT.
Nottinghamshire. — Sept. -22, Radcliffe-on-Trent.

Cleanliness of Bees. — A correspondent in Long-
man's Magazine gives the following incident showing
the dislike which bees have to bad perfumery. He says,
Some years ago there was in my father's garden a plot
of early potatoes, some distance in front of a spot where
stood several hives. Early in the season the 'rooks'
commenced to help themselves to the potatoes, grubbing
the young tubers out of the ground, and doing so much
mischief that some had to be shot, and the dead body of
one was impaled in the middle of the plot, as a warning
and example to the rest. Soon after this, a most un-
accountable fury took possession of the bees. No one
dared to approach them, for they attacked and instantly
put to flight every person or animal which ventured
into the garden. This went on for some days with most

unpleasant results, and the bees were fast becoming a
nuisance in the neighbourhood, when the mystery was
accidentally explained. Some one happening to pass by
the impaled 'rook' in the evening, discovered the cause
of all the mischief. Every exposed part of the poor
bird's body, especially about the mouth and eyes, was
literally bristling with the stings of hundreds of bees,
which had sacrificed themselves in a vain and senseless
revenge upon its offensive presence.'

Jtirap.

FRANCE.

Hydromel. — As numerous letters have been reaching
me, asking to be informed upon the best mode of making
hydromel, I will explain to them in the following fines the
modus faeiendi adopted by us in order to produce this
beverage from the products of bees, particularly as it is
admitted by connoisseurs to be a really good article. It
is not at all with mere wax-water or inferior and cheap
honey that we manufacture this beverage, but rather with
honey gathered from sainfoin, clover, lucerne, lime-trees,
&C. ; pure super honey extracted and not pressed of the
latest season. To begin with, we have therefore a com-
plete absence of foreign matter. The recipe is as follows :
— Pour into a copper pan or a large tin pot (never use an
iron one, as it would turn black) as many litres of water
as litres of hydromel 3-ou purpose making. When this
water is hot, add 500 grammes of honey for every litre
of water. Stir this mixture well with a stick of a T
shape if possible, or else with a fiat piece of wood, so that
it may not be allowed to burn or to thicken. As soon as
it boils, commence skimming and keep your fire under
proper control. If the fire is greater than necessary the
whole of the liquid might boil over. Let it boil at least for
two hours until the liquid becomes reduced by about one
third, and sometimes even one fourth of its original volume.
Nor should it be allowed to boil longer than the time just
prescribed, for in that case it would get thick and take
the form of syrup. Run it into a cask, as soon as cooled,
of a convenient size, but care must be taken uot to bung
it up. This done, place it in a dry place that it may
ferment during the following few weeks, nay, even months
sometimes. Some people stop this fermentation by adding
to it a small quantity of sulphuric acid, well diluted in
water ; I cannot advise this plan, as the acid is injurious
in every respect, and turns the liquid acid too. Once
fermentation has stopped of its own accord, the hydromel
may be bottled away. In selecting your bottles remem-
ber to give preference to a wide-necked pattern. It has
been found that hydromel improves better in bottles than
in large receptacles. With age, this liquid will first take
the form of an old Madeira wine, later on it may be mis-
taken for old cognac, and finally becomes a pure alcohol.
As a case in point I may say, that at a recent sale a friend
of ours bought some hydromel in sealed bottles over
thirty years old, and it was found to be a pure alcohol.

We advise all earnest bee-keepers to use every means
at their command to make this beverage popular, formerly
called ' the drink of Gods,' not only in the country, but in
towns as well. For our own part, we consider it the nt
plus ultra of hygienic beverages, and ought to be on the
after dinner table of the rich as well as of the poor, hence
my advice to my colleagues, ' Keep a small cask of it in
your cellar.' It is better for you to take a glass of hydro-
mel than a glass of brandy, leaving alone those spirits
which produce a brutal drunkenness. For manjr a consti-
tution, hydromel is to be preferred to what is called
Dantzick cassis, cream of mint, &c, and many other
beverages less worthy of recommendation. Let hydromel
made as herein directed be our future drink ; it is
easily made, and in flavour is not inferior to Madeira,
Malaga, and other wines. Then again, the more popular

S04

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[September 15, 1885.

it becomes, the readier will be the disposal of our honey.
In bringing our recipe before the public, we have only
one object in view, viz., to show the people how to pro-
cure for themselves a wholesome drink. The French
Temperance Society invites us to take this step, and even
suggests that those who have an eye upon the business
might find it worth their while to consider the profitable
side of the question. And why not? Mr. Collin
d'Harleville said, that 'impossible' should be in no man's
dictionary. In this case it is only a question of setting to
work. — J. B. Lf.iiiche, member and Laureate of the
French Temperance Society, andhon.memberof the Paris,
Somne, Gironde, Aube and Alsace-Lorraine Apicultural
Societies, &c, &c.

Cure of Foul Brood. — In the last number of VApi-
cidteur M. Adele J arrie, who lives in the neighbourhood
of Toulouse, describes his successful treatment of foul
brood by means of camphorated syrup. He cuts away
the worst of the diseased brood-combs and feeds with
camphorated syrup, which the bees take eagerly, quickly
rebuild the combs, and the disease entirely disappears.
After getting rid of foul brood effectually in his own
apiary, he directed his attention to experimenting.
Several hives were in succession infected with the disease,
and he stated that in every instance the result was the
same : ' The bees rebuilt their combs and this horrible
foul brood has entirely disappeared.' He says that from
June to the present time (15th August), during the in-
tense heat, when foul brood is generally at its worst, he
lias had no signs of the disease reappearing. His hives
have given him a swarm each and have twice rebuilt the
combs (honeycombs ?) cut out by him.

Report. — When we penned our review on the 25th of
May last, the apicultural outlook was not a very en-
couraging one; but a change for the better took place the
day after, and bees began to bring in honey in earnest in
all the sainfoin-growing districts. Thus, in the Giitinais,
the honey glut lasted until the 8th or 9th of June, that
is to say, from thirteen to fourteen days, whilst in some
other districts it has lasted even a little longer. In the
neighbourhood of Paris, except on the north side, the
yield has, on the average, been as large as last year's ;
in some localities it was even exceeded. Taking it al-
together it may be said that the income has been as large
as last year's, if not slightly larger.

The pressing question now is how to dispose of all this
honey. It is a well-known fact that there are several
lots yet unsold from last year's stock, and it is no secret
that several holders disposed of theirs just before the new
glut at a sacrifice. So much is this the case that in some
instances, honey in pots exchanged hands at from CO to
75 francs per 100 kilos, figures often exceeded in an
ordinary season, even by the so-called red honey. We
know of cases in which, although 185 francs per 100
kilos had been paid by the wholesale dealer to the bee-
keeper, the honey had to be disposed of to grocers for only
llOor 115 francs ; yet the latter are keeping up their retail
figures and are realising from 25 to 50 per cent profit,
thereby checking, however, the consumption to a con-
siderable degree. We have pointed out this anomaly at
the Chartres Congress, and have shown what should be
done to put a stop to this drawback, resulting from a
combination of cheap sugar and exorbitant profits ex-
pected by the middleman.

Death has lately removed from among us two promi-
nent friends of apiculture, namely, M. Cayatte and M.
Sigant. To the pen of the former is due L'Histoire de
mon Rucher, and La Ruche de V Institideur et du Pi-es-
bytere. The latter had also rendered considerable services
to the bee cause, and for the last twelve years had acted
as treasurer to the ' Society Centrale d' Apiculture et
d'lnsectologie ' of Paris. Their removal from among us
at the present time is an irreparable loss to apiculture.
— (Z ' Apu-ulteur.)

ITALY.

The Apicoltore understands that Monsieur Hamet,
editor of the Apiculteur of Paris, may be expected to-
visit the Bee Exhibition which is to take place at
Milan in September. The Italian organ calls uponjevery
member to contribute as much as possible to the success
of the exhibition, to the end M. Hamet may be favour-
ably impressed with the state of bee-keeping on the
Italian side of the Alps.

The members of the bee community are much flattered
at the honour recently conferred upon their worthy
President, Count Gaetano Barbo', who has just been
elected a member of the Superior Council of Agriculture,
as in his new capacity the Count will be in a favourable
position to put forth the claims of apiculture.

Signor Giacomo Guazzoni, librarian and director of
the Apicultural Museum, has, after a long series of ex-
periments, discovered a new and effectual method of
making comb foundation without the assistance of ex-
pensive machinery.

AUSTRALIA.

{From tlte Adelaide Observer.)

The Fairfield Apiary is the property of Messrs. Cole-
man & May, who have brought much knowledge and
intelligence, and no small amount of capital, to bear upon
the prosecution of their work. The site on which the
hives are arranged is admirably adapted for bee-culture.
A gentle slope, having an eastern aspect, and well
sheltered in the rear by a close hedge, has been appor-
tioned to the busy workers, and the vines with which
the ground is covered give additional protection to their
homes on hot summer days. The country all round ia
rich and fertile, and in the garden and orchard close at
hand there is a fine field for an enterprising bee-keeper.
But better far than garden flowers and fruits are the
indigenous gum-trees which grow thickly on the adjacent
hills. When the red-gum is in full blossom the honey
pours into the hives, and from white and blue-gum also
a plentiful store is obtained. Experience shows that
although, while it lasts, the red-gum is most prolific of
honey, that obtained from the blue-gum is of better
flavour, and as the latter remains in bloom much longer
than the red-gum it is the most profitable to the apiarist.
Last season was an especially favourable one, as all the
gums were in splendid condition and continuous flower,
and the bees filled and refilled the hives almost as quickly
as they could be emptied. Although at the beginning of
the season — which generally lasts from the first week in
October to the wet and eaid weather which comes with
the end of February — there were only twenty-seven
hives at Fairfield, the total yield of comb and extracted
honey reached six tons (13,440 lbs.), and all found
ready sale at from 4^d. to 6rf. per lb. From the best
hive, 414 lbs. of extracted honey were obtained during
the season, while 154 section boxes — each containing one
pound of honey — were obtained from another hive. The
constant removal of their stock acted as a stimulus
to the work of the bees, who were apparently afraid that
unless they were rapid and vigorous in the collection of
• more honey they would go short in the winter. The
hive from which the 414 lbs. were taken averaged
llj lbs. a-day for four days in the height of the season
(about the middle of January), and for some time main-
tained a record of 60 lbs. a-week. Another hive, which
contained nine frames — -each 17 in. by 83 in. — gave
48 lbs. in the first eight days, and its total had reached
1 cwt. in three weeks. Notwithstanding the constant
depletion of the combs, the bees still found leisure
to swarm, and by natural increase the number of hives
grew from 27 at the opening of the season to 109 in
January.

In January the hives were all overflowing with bees.
A swarm thrown off by one of the hives when weighed
turned the scale at ll| lbs., and, as 4000 bees go to the

September 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

305

pound, it will be seen that there were more than 44,000
Dees in this colony. As barely two-thirds of the bees
came out, and this was far from the strongest hive, it is
fair to assume that the mid-season strength is from
60,000 to 70,000. The average strength throughout the
season may be stated at about 49,000. At present it is
probably down as low as 20,000. Even in the winter
the bees are always gathering something when the
weather is favourable, but they eat more than they store.
In the bottom of each compartment, therefore, about
30 lbs. of honey is left for winter food, and it is likely
that a fourth of this will be left when the active work of
next season commences.

With two exceptions, all the hives at Fairfield are
tenanted by the common black bees. Of the others, one
is filled with Ligurians, and the other with hybrids.
There is a good deal of difference between the aris-
tocratic Ligurian, with his distinguishing yellow marks,
and the humbler honey-maker. The Ligurian, as befits
his better birth, is of a milder temper, but, unlike the
higher classes, he also works much harder than his
plebeian neighbour. The quality of the honey is the
same, but each Ligurian makes much more in his short
lifetime than does the black bee. He manages also to
get more into each cell, and as the honey is closer to the
sealing, it shows through in many places, and therefore
externally the combs filled by the Ligurians have not the
clean whiteness usual to the generality. The Ligurians
are very careful in guarding the entrance of their hives,
and the several sentinels stationed there rigorously
exclude strangers. It is no uncommon thing to find a
Ligurian among a swarm of black bees, but it is rare
that a commoner forces his way among the nobles.
Even bees are tuft-hunters it would seem. The hybrid
bees — bred by a Ligurian queen who has mated with a
black drone, or vice versa — are much more savage than
either of the other classes, and it is often absolutely
dangerous to interfere with them. They are distinguish-
able from the Ligurians because they only bear one
yellow band behind the wings instead of two. It some-
times happens that the black bees will not accept a
hybrid queen, and at Fairfield a swarm ruthlessly
murdered one which was introduced into their hive.
There is no appreciable difference in the quality of the
honey made by the different classes of bees.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPEES' ASSOCIATION.
Second Class Examination.
Candidates who have taken Third Class Certificates
and being desirous of competing for a Second Class
Certificate, are reminded that they must give notice to
the Secretary of their County Association on or before
October 1st (see Advert.)

Bligh Competition, 1884-5.
The awards in this competition have not yet been
made ; we hope to be able to publish the result in our
next issue.

QuABTEBLY MEETING, OCTOBER 21.

Notices of motion for this meeting must reach the
Secretary on or before September 2.3rd.

Detecting Glucose.— The Rev. J. G. Teter, in the
Bee-keepers' Magazine, gives the following test: — 'A
cheap and easy way to test the presence of the poorer
grades of glucose in honey is to put some of it into a cup
of tea made strong. If it is heavily adulterated with
the poisonous compound found in glucose, it will turn
black almost like ink. Another test is to pour alcohol
and this poisonous compound together. Pure honey and
pure alcohol will unite, but pure alcohol and this poisonous
compound will separate like cil and water.'

Surrey, Merstham. — An instructive address on
' Practical Bee-keeping and its advantages ' was given
by Mr. Thomas Fisher, one of the churchwardens for
this parish. Cottagers were specially invited to attend.
Mr. Fisher dealt with the subject in an able and in-
teresting manner, and a hearty vote of thanks was
accorded to him at the close of his lecture.

Lecture on Bee-Keeping.— Rev. PrebendaryWolfe
presided, August 1:3, at a lecture given in the Upton
i'arochial Room, Torquay, by Mr. W. N. Griffin, of
Exeter, on ' Bees and Bee-keeping,' under the auspices
of the Devon and Exeter Bee-keepers' Association. The
lecture, which was illustrated by models and diagrams,
was a most interesting and instructive one, and was
given in a style which showed that Mr. Griffin was not
only thoroughly and practically conversant with his
subject, but was well able to convey a good deal of
useful information concerning it in a simple and easily
understood manner. Mr. Griffin's discourse was emi-
nently calculated to kindle interest in the pursuit of
bee-keeping in the neighbourhood, and he was rewarded
by having a most attentive, if not very numerous, audi-
ence, by whom he was accorded a hearty vote of thanks
at the close. — The Western Morning Neios.

A Quakeb's Revenge. — A custom prevails in some
parts of the United States, especially in the towns
and villages of the Far West, of serenading newly-
married couples. This delicate attention is sometimes
taken in good part, the serenaders are invited to
drink and afterwards retire. Such, however, is by
no means the rule. These serenades have been known
to lead to serious consequences ; shots have been ex-
changed, and an instance is reported of an indignant
bridegroom having his house sacked and being lynched
by the serenaders after having shot two or three of their
number. Occasionally a cool and cautious customer is
met with, who will neither ' stand drinks ' nor ' show
fight,' in which case the musical performance is usually
kept up for his benefit till daylight, and his windows are
then broken as a mark of the musicians' contempt for
his meanness. When a marriage takes place which is
regarded with disfavour by the ' hoodlums ' of the dis-
trict, such as that of an unpopular person, or in cases
where there is great disparity of age, this serenading is
made as objectionable and as excruciating as possible.
A case of the kind recently occurred in a village in
Iowa. A certain Mr. Fox, a "Quaker, at sixty-four years
of age, took to himself a young wife, and the young
men of the neighbourhood determined to give fiim a
serenade. He was a total abstainer, and they knew he
would not ' stand ' anything ; and as he was also a man
of peace, they concluded he woidd not fight, and might
therefore be annoyed with impunity. Now Mr. Fox had
fully expected a midnight visit, and being determined
not to submit to a prolonged annoyance, he had made
arrangements for the reception of his visitors. He was
an apiarist, and had a dozen large beehives on his pre-
mises, tenanted by a particularly large and fierce descrip-
tion of bee, which when fairly roused ' would not let
upon a man under three miles.' On the evening of the
expected visit Mr. Fox moved all these hives to the roof
of his front verandah, placing them dangerously near
the edge. He then provided himself with a long pole,
and went calmly to bed. In due time about fifty young
men collected in the front yard and begun to* make a
fearful uproar. Mr. Fox stood it for about a quarter of
an hour, and then got up and remonstrated with them
from his bedroom window. His appeals to his tor-
mentors to leave were, however, only met with derisive
jeers and a renewal of the hideous row. Mr. Fox there-
upon, with the aid of his pole, upset the twelve beehives
into the yard below, and retired, taking care to close his
bedroom window. Presently the music gave place to
terrific howling, and there was a headlong rush from
the front yard. The Quaker afterwards heard that

306

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[September 15, 1885.

several of the serenaders were likely to be blind for a
considerable time, at which he expressed sorrow, but
added that people who will meddle with beehives must
take the consequences ; and that if the young men had
kept out of his front yard they would not have disturbed
the bees. — American Paper.

An Airy Bee-Nest. — In driving some bees for a
lady I found a colony of bees very comfortably lodged
under a stool between the three legs ; they wintered
there last winter, being a swarm of '84, and cast
a swarm this season. They had no connexion with the
bees in the hive on the stool, as I found a queen in the
hive on the stool, also one with the lot underneath ;
rather a parody on cork sides and chaff cushions, warm
wraps, &c. — Woodleigh.

Bees and Roses. — [In reply to a letter from Mr.
Humby, Lincolnshire, complaining of the damage done
to his roses by bees.] It is scarcely possible to take
Mr. Humby seriously. The suspicion that the poets
have taught him the habits of the ' honey fly ' can
scarcely be resisted. Pray let me tell facts against
Mr. Humby's playful imaginations, even if they bring
upon me the charge of boasting. I sacrifice my bash-
fulness for the sake of the ' beastly bee.' I keep bees
and grow roses, and roses and honey have received the
judges' favourable decision. Last year I took nearly
six hundred pounds of honey from eight hives, and I won
three first prizes at the National Rose Society's Show.
My bees and roses are close neighbours, and the bees ' do
no ill to their neighbours.' I agree with an ' old bee-
master,' that bees seldom visit roses. Good roses do not,
like those of Mr. Humby, 'show a disposition to unfold';
indeed, it is almost impossible for a bee to get into a well-
grown rose. They do sometimes get into them in August
and September, but seldom in June and July, when the
rose shows are on. Mr. Humby's roses apparently are
always of an expansive disposition, and it is not surpris-
ing that when the bees are caught by the inviting eye
they yield to its seduction. — F. Page Roberts, Scole
Rectory, September 2. (Standard.)

Humble Bees. — It is a well-settled fact that humble-
bees contribute their share toward the fertilisation of red
clover, while visiting the blossoms for the nectar they con-
tain. Italian honey-bees also perform the same office for
the clover, and many other flowers whose nectaries were
too deep for the ' old-fashioned ' black honey-bee. There
is no way of keeping colonies of humble-bees alive through
the winter. All but the queen-bee die late in autumn, be-
cause they have lived out their life. The following spring
more bees hatch out from eggs laid by the queen, live
out their summer life, and die. — Prairie Farmer.

Curious Custom in Sussex. — At the Archaeological
Congress, held lately in Brighton, Mr. F. E. Sawyer,
F.S.A., read an interesting paper on ' Sussex Songs and
Music' Amongst other things, he stated that wassailing
was not yet extinct in Sussex. In West Sussex orchards
and bee-hives are wassailed, and a ryhming song used on
the latter occasion runs thus : —
' Bees, of Bees of Paradise,

Does the work of Jesus Christ,

Does the work that no man can.

God made man and man made money,

God made bees and bees made honey ;

God made great men to plough and to sow,

And God made little boys to tend the rooks and crows.

Hurra ! '
Ants and Bees. — Sir John Lubbock read an interesting
paper on ants and bees at the Biology Section of the British
Association at Aberdeen. The correspondent of the Daily
Neics writes : — ' Sir John does not increase our respect for
the creature to whose wisdom the sluggard has been com-
mended. In the elementary conditions of sobriety and
uprightness he has found the ant lamentably wanting,
inasmuch as he does not know his way home. A French
observer has come to a different conclusion with regard

to bees, but Sir John coidd not give these insects any
more credit than the ants. After taking many of them
a certain distance, he found that only a third of the
subjects of his experiment found their way home, and
and that after such long intervals as proved that they
certainly had not come in a bee line, and were without
that homing instinct which distinguishes some other
individuals of the animal creation. Sir John Lubbock,
however, gives to ants the credit of a remarkable power
of identifying their friends, and he does not find that
long periods of separation, intoxication, or even immer-
sion in water, with the view of destroying scent, can
deprive these insects of this remarkable attribute. As
to the longevity of ants, Sir John himself can vouch
for the age of two which have been in his possession
since 1874.'

Importation oe Honey. — We understand that the
Pembroke Castle, of Swansea, is bound to Liverpool from
Valparaiso with 140 tons of honey, at 36s. per ton freight.

dErjwxs from % Ute.

Hollingbourne, Maidstone, Kent. — I was surprised on
the 1st of this month by a strong swarm of bees from
one of my hives. I was not at home until the evening
of that day, but my gardener hived them. He was not
expecting, of course, a swarm at this time of the year,
and, not watching, therefore is not sure from which hive
the swarm issued. The next day they issued from their
hive, and alighted on a rose-tree close by. I secured the
swarm, and at once united it to one of my stocks. There
were apparently no drones in this swarm. One of the
directors of the North Western Railway told me lately
of a very curious case which took place this summer in
connexion with bees. A swarm of bees alighted on one
of the carriages of a passing train about three miles on
the other side of Chester, and took a drive into Chester,
where it was safely hived. — J. F. L.

Orange Road, Southwark, August '27th, 1885. — I set
up a cottager's hive last October. I have a good-sized
garden ; this is a neighbourhood of factories, and I
have an India-rubber one next door. It is a district of
84,000 inhabitants. There are, however, numerous
small gardens about, and Southwark Park, with a variety
of flowers, a mile off. My bees were fed (according to
the Tule) till May. They are exceedingly healthy and
large. I had no encotrr&geinent offered to keep them,
and that I should get any honey was deemed by many as
very dubious ; or that it would be so smoky as not to bo
eatable. The result, however, I take to be very success-
ful. The eighteen sections were all filled, and with one
exception all sealed. The colour of the comb is not that
bright yellow or white, that we see in the country, but
not darker than some I have seen in one of the most
reputable West End grocer's store. The honey is most
palatable, with perhaps a greenish hue as compared to
some, owing, as I presume, to the nature of the food. —
John Eastly.

Bishop's Waltham, Hants, Aug. 28th, 1885. — With
us the honey harvest of the year is finished, or
at any rate, in nearly the whole of the district it is over.
There are one or two favoured spots where the bees are
still working, but they are drowsy, and a good many
must be lost while out, as I havo found near my apiary
many unable to fly. I have had a very successful year,
and after I have finished up and put my hives in order
for the winter, I will, with your kind permission, give all
particulars for the encouragement of any one else who
may wish to begin bee-keeping, as I myself did this
year. — A Hampshire Bee-Keeper.

Duffield, Derby, September 3?-rf,'1885. — When you pub-
lish list of honey returns for this season, you may if you
like include mine. From five hives (two hybrids, three

September 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

307

blacks), have had 300 lbs. of honey, with the exception of
about 40 lbs., extracted from shallow frame supers ; also
had two swarms. — H. T. Bland.

Post Office, Llanfarian, Aberystwyth, September 2nd.
— It is only a fortnight ago I happened to see your
Journal, and I was surprised to read of the success that
follows the new method of treating bees. My father
and mother have been keeping bees for thirty-five years,
and always killing them with sulphur ; and when I
think of it now, I say, What a pity and loss it was to do
so ! I have five skeps this year, and I intend to unite
two of them in a bar-frame hive which I have made ;
and I am giving the old combs from the sleeps in the
frames, and tie them. Am I doing right ? [Yes.] I
intend to inform you of my success or non-success in
bee-keeping. There is nobody in this county, Cardigan-
shire, doing anything with the bees on the new method,
but there are a great many keeping them. — John
Morris Jones.

C/apham Apiary, Penmaenmawr. — The past season has
been altogether too dry and unfavourable for honey
gathering. I put supers on several hives, but in no case
did I succeed, and in one only was any work attempted
towards filling sections. In this case two out of twenty-
one lb. sections were filled, these being the only two lb.
in them all through the season. Every hive 1 took up
had a large quantity of empty comb, and altogether I
have but about one-third I expected. I hope for a better
season next year. — E. Owen.

Clonoughlis, Straffan, Co. Kildare, September 7th. —
This has been a splendid honey season. We commenced
the spring with eight hives, and have taken more than
600 1-lb. sections, or an average of more than seventy-
five sections per stock, besides extracting nearly 100 lbs.
and increasing to twelve stocks, which are all on nine
or ten frames well filled with honey. One stock, which
only covered five frames on the 22nd of April, gave
ninety-six sections, another gave eighty-five, and a
swarm from the same gave forty-one sections. None
of the hives were doubled, and were mostly on nine
frames throughout the season. Our honey harvest closed
about the middle of July. — William T. Eead.

Fort Etna, Limerick. — You may be glad to hear that
this has been a good year here. I have got about 40 lbs.
sections and 20 lbs. extracted honey from each of my
stocks, eight in number; others have done well too. —
B. White.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-

G. H. Gadd. — Observatory Hives. — A single frame
observatory is not a proper one to exhibit bees in and
would rightly be disqualified. An observatory hive is
one in which bees and their queens can live and work
in during the whole season and one with less than three
frames is not considered suitable for this purpose. A
single frame observatory is only part of a hive and
does not comply with the above condition. The sche-
dule does not state that the bees were to be pure
English, and with so many Ligurian and other bees
about it is very difficult to find them perfectly pure.
If the committee intended only pure bees to have been
shown it should have been so stated in the schedule.
The judges have nothing to do with the late arrival of
the exhibits, but have merely to judge what they find
staged in the different classes. We strongly object to
rules being broken, and think that exhibits delivered
at the show too late should not be staged until after
the judges had been round and made their awards.

A. W. Wallace, M.D.— Mr. Cowarit Hives.— The hives
have not all been extracted yet, but at the end of the
season, when the bees are ready for winter, we will
give the amount of produce obtained.

Irish Novice. — -The sample of hone}' has been received.
It is excellent in quality and delightful in flavour.
We will take up the question of inverted skeps in a
future number. It may require illustrations which
we have not had time to prepare.

R. E. U. — Difficulty in Extracting. — In the absence of
heather we are at a loss to account for your inability
to extract your honey. Compare notes with your
neighbours. Perhaps there is some honey other than
heather obtained in your locality which gives the
peculiarity to yours. Perhaps a hint may he gathered
from the letter on ' Extraction of Thick Honey,' p. 209.

J. Peacock. — Purifying Wax. — Prolonged boiling is of
no use ; indeed, it spoils the colour by causing the
colouring matter of the impurities to be absorbed. The
sample you send appears also to be burnt. The great
thing is to keep the wax at a melting temperature by
surrounding the vessel with non-conducting substances
large enough for the dreg to settle by its own weight,,
and when cold, scraping it off.

51. W. Moggiudge. — Utilization of Condemned Bees. —
Those placed on foundation on August 5th and well-
fed, should, and most likely will, form a good stock.
To get foundation drawn out by existing stocks, place
the sheets in the middle with combs between them,
and feed liberally. As they are drawn out remove the
outside combs to give to the condemned bees, and give
other sheets in the middle again. If you cannot get
enough ready, give the condemned bees alternate
combs and sheets of foundation. Use two lots united
to furnish bees for one stock. Yrou would find seed of
Limnanthes more useful to distribute than that of
Melilotus, which was tried several years ago, but soon
went out of favour.

G. J. Dunn. — Gingerbeer Plant. — Please refer to Vol,
XII., p. 311, for a description of this plaut.

Mrs. J. Conway. — Honey Failure. — Probably the colo-
nies in your frame-hives were not so populous as those
of your neighbours. Skill is required to bring up the
population to the highest point by the time honey-flow
sets in. This can only be achieved by judicious feeding,,
slowly stimulating, and by keeping j'oung and prolific
queens at the head of each colony. By working an
apiary entirely for extracted honey a much larger
yield may be obtained than by working it for comb-
honey. Had you extracted the honey from your
frame-hives several times during the summer you
would, in all likelihood, have obtained more swarms,
since the queens would have enjoyed more breeding
space and would have produced more bees. We advisfr
you to extract the outside combs of your hives. There
is still time for this. See ' Useful Hints ' in our last
issue. During fine weather bees may be driven from
skeps up to the end of this month, care being taken to
guard against robbing. We hope you will succeed-
better another season.

Busy Bee. — Contracting Hives. — The advantage of
confining the bees during the winter months to as
many combs only as they can well cover, is that the
interior of the hive is kept at a higher temperature, the
bees consume less food, dysentery is generally avoided,
and bee-life saved. The contraries of these advantages
will generally be found to occur where a large amount
of unoccupied space is allowed in a hive. In the
latter case the bees cluster on the central combs, and a
circulation of cold air continually surrounds them;
hence, in order to preserve life, they are compelled to-
consume large quantities of heat-producing food —
honey — the abdomen becomes distended from retained
faeces, and dysentery, and finally death, ensues. In
moderate-sized skeps the bees cover all the combs if
the colony is a strong one ; and the shape of the skep
is well adapted to that of the cluster, both being cir-
cular, so that there are no corners filled with cold air

308

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[September 15, 1885.

to contend against. If you winter on six or seven
frames two-thirds full of sealed honey you need not
fear starvation. The enamel-sheet must be removed,
and winter quilts, cushions, or felt, must take its
place.
B. L. — Syrup-feeding. — We always use syrup made
after Mr. Cowan's recipe for autumn feeding, — viz.,
five pounds of sugar to a quart of water, and find it
answers well. It should he brought to the boiling-
point and allowed to boil gently for two or three
minutes. "Dry sugar feeding is highly spoken of by
many who have tried it. The queen-cell is probably
an old construction. Interview the queen.

V. G., Thames Valley. — Reducing number of Stocks. —
We should do it now. Take all the outside combs,
which will be most likely full of honey ; give all the
brood existing in two stocks to the united one.

W. J. B. — Brood, but no Queen Visible. — As your trans-
ferred stock contained hatching brood there certainly
had been a queen within twenty-one days, and you no
doubt overlooked her. Now you have the bees in bar-
frame hives you can more easily find her. You would
not be likely to find young brood in a skep at this
season, except under exceptional circumstances.

E. Owen. — 1. Recovering Wax from Combs. — You will
find several hints in back numbers of the Journal ; but,
shortly, proceed thus: As you have but a small quantity
tie it in a bag with a weight to sink it and boil, pressing
the bag against the bottom or sides of the boiling
vessel until no more rises. Let it cool, take the cake
of wax, and scrape the dross from the under side, re-
melt in a deep vessel with a little water and put aside
in a warm place well wrapped up to settle again.
2. Mead. — Numerous directions for making mead will
be found by consulting the indices of previous volumes
of the Journal.

Flying Dutchman. — 3. Foundation. — According to
the rough-and-ready tests that we have to hand we
should say your foundation is a very fair sample of bees-
wax. Foundation has been very brittle this summer,
we have heard many complaints. It should always be
kept in about 60° Fahr., if possible, and should be
held before the fire or in warm sunshine before being
fixed into frames; we have used far more brittle
samples after this treatment. 2. Quee?is laying. — Our
advice is, do not stimulate now, but let them rest: close
them up for winter with abundance, mark — abundance
of stores, not a narrow margin above starvation, and
you will find they will commence laying very early
indeed, especially as the queens are young. Confine
them to as little room as possible, in spring, but
let them feel always they have abundance of stores,
and by judicious spreading brood you will get far
more vigorous stocks, than by breeding now.

B. — Weak v. Strong Colonies. — Your question scarcely
requires an answer, the fact, both in practice and theory,
that one strong — i.e., populous colony — is of far more
value than two (half-a-dozen?) weak ones, is well
established. Unite two colonies, removing the old, or
worthless queens, and reserving the young prolific
ones, thus reducing your number to half. A colony
should go into winter quarters with at least 18,000
or 20,000 bees— in weight from three to four pounds.
Not more than half of these will survive the winter,
as spring workers. No doubt small colonies of young
bees may be wintered successfully by close, warm
packing, &c. And if your object 'be the sale of bees
and queens, it may be worth trying, but if you work
for honey remember Oettl's golden rule, ' Keep none
but strong colonies,' a world-wide and most excellent
maxim. Colonies, at present weak in numbers, with
young and vigorous queens at their head, may by
judicious feeding and management, during this month,

be brought up to the standard of strong colonies. As
you speak of ' rational bee-keeping,' allow us to refer
you to Dzierzon's Rational Bee-keeping, pp. 142 and
2.33, where you will find good advice on the points
you suggest as queries. Mr. Langstroth also writes
very strongly in favour of strong colonies. If un-
acquainted with these authors, you cannot do better
than consult them. All localities are alike as regards
the strength of colonies.

J. Chapman. — Unable to Drive.— Queenlessness was the
cause of your bees refusing to run. As a rule queen-
less bees are difficult to drive. The large number of
drones at this season points to queenlessness, which is
the state of many hives that have cast swarms, the
young queens having been lost on the weddino-
flight.

T. Badcock. — Bees deserting Hive. — Your bees deserted
because they were queenless. Either you failed to
drive out the queen with the bees, or there was no
queen in the hive. She might have been killedduring the
operation of driving. If, however, the queen was with
the driven bees, the only other cause of desertion was,
probably, an attack by robbers on the following morn-
ing. Under these circumstances driven bees quickly
desert ahive. From your description, we do not think
the case one of foul-brood. If you have any doubt,send a
piece of the brood with comb to Mr. Cheshire, who
will examine it and report. Your treatment of
the other two colonies is correct. Keep the entrance
about an inch wide, and feed freely at evening, being
careful to cover the feeder, to prevent robbing.

Beginner.— Removing Super.— The difficulty in re-
moving your super arose from the large quantity of
propolis used by the bees. This was probably caused
by an ill-fitting case. A heated knife passed round
between the case and frames, without jarring or
shaking, gentle raising of the super at back, with free
injection of smoke, would have obviated all difficulty.
'Force,' which means rough handling and shaking,
should never be used. No wonder the bees were killed !
The bees perished outside the quilt from cold and being-
unable to find their way back. Supers should be re-
moved in fine, warm weather — never on a cold day.
A practical lesson on manipulation from a qualified
expert is the best course we can suggest. With gentle
handling, and a moderate use of smoke, there sliould
be no loss of a siilgfo bee. Stinging is death to
the bee.

H. W. D. — Foundation, Winter-packing, fyc. — 1. The
weather has been too cold of late for bees to draw out
foundation freely. Ou a return of warmer weather,
strong colonies, with copious feeding, will draw out
foundation into perfect combs as late as till the middle
of next month. This, however, is not desirable, as
such colonies never winter well. If the hives are
populous, place a sheet of foundation in the brood-
nest, and continue to feed. 2. Winter passages may
be cut with little disturbance to the bees, by each,
comb being held by an assistant, while the operator
applies carbolic solution on a feather to the spot, and
with a long sharp penknife removes a circular piece of
comb. We do it ourselves without any help, by
resting one end of the frame on the cover of the hive.
•i. When preparing hives for winter, we prefer to
leave the combs at their proper distance. In the
brood-nest sufficient space for clustering is always
found. Two thicknesses of flannel should be placed
beneath the bottomless box. On the box may be
tacked a piece of canvas, as a bottom, for holding the
chaff or sawdust. 4. On a cool evening, close the
entrances of your hives, and move them at once, with
as little shaking as possible, to their new position.
AVhen placed, open the entrances. Disguise the old

September 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

309

standing-places, by laying down a few bushes around
them. Place a board "in front of each hive in its new
position, to cause the bees to mark the spot when
taking their first flight. You will lose a few bees;
but if moved in cold, wet weather, like that we are
now experiencing, the loss will be trifling. _5. Yes.
You may push the frames to the back of the hive, and
place a moveable side in front of them, forming thus a
porch at the entrance.
J. F. L. — The two pieces of comb forwarded were in-
fected with foul brood.

J. Pubvis. — The idea of the reversible frame took its
origin in America. It may have undergone some
modification at the hands of the bee-keepers men-
tioned in your letter.

Johm Geant. — Bees Robbing. — At this season when
stocks are strong and no honey to be had, they are on
the alert to seize upon every badly defended store.
Reduce the entrances, so that not more than two bees
can pass, and see that robbers cannot enter under the
roof, or by any other way. Carbolic acid is said to
prevent robbing if sprinkled on the part of the hive
robbed.

Ignohamus. — 1. Wintering Bees. — Six frames are
enough for most stocks, but you must judge by the
strength. Leave as many as the bees can well cover.
2. If winter passages are made, slips of wood are not
required across the tops of the frames ; of the two
plans, winter passages are generally preferred. One
hole, about an inch across in each comb, about two
inches from the top is sufficient. 3. Driven Bees. —
While you gave them their own combs in their skep
on the top of the hive containing sheets of foundation,
it was only to be expected that they would desert the
latter for the former. The queen could not join them
by reason of the excluder, and so you found her alone
among the sheets of foundation accompanied only by
a few attendants. You should have cut the combs
out of the skep and tied them into the frames. 4.
Calico is not a good covering for the frames. Use
strong ' Ticking.'

"Wood Building. — 1. You may utilise the building as
you propose, facing the longest side to the S.E. or S.
and keeping the door at the back facing N. The south
side will admit of two shelves, on which to place your
hives — four on each shelf — at equal distances from
each other. The lower shelf should be about one foot
from the ground, and the other so placed as to admit
a hive with super on each shelf. A house of these
dimensions — 16ft. x Gft. x 6ft. — will not take more
than eight hives. Ten might be crowded in — five on
each shelf — but the chances of losing young queens on
their wedding flights, and robbing, would be greater.
2. Remove the thin honey, floating on the top of your
vessel, by skimming. Wood, tin, or strong glazed
earthenware utensils, are best for the storage of
lioney. It keeps well in strong lib. bottles, carefully
sealed, and is then ready for immediate sale. After
honey is set, i.e. crystallised, it can only be bottled
when liquefied by heat. The heat applied should not
"be greater than 100° Fahr. S. The quantity of syrup
supplied per diem depends upon ".^.rcumstances. If
intended for winter store give it wsxm, in the evening,
as much as the bees will carry down. A stro- « ■
colony will dispose of a quart a-day, or more. Tb*
enclosed specimen of enamel-cloth will answer well,
but it must not be used for wintering. See 'Useful
Hints.'

%* Several inquiries respecting queens and foul brood
have been forwarded to Mr. Cheshire, which will be at-
tended to on his return home, and the replies forwarded to
tile correspondents.

THOMAS B. BLOW & ELLIS,

Manufacturers of Bee-keeping Appliances

and Importers of Foreign Bees,

Beg to call attention to the following SPECIALITIES,
which cannot be obtained from any other Makers : —

FOUNDATION, of Genuine Beeswax, in three
different styles. Made on machines produced expresBly for
us. Super Foundation of very pale wax and extreme
thinness. Having bought 10 Tons of Beeswax, the quality
will be uniform through the season, and delivery prompt.
In addition to the above we have on hand just now a par-
ticularly hard sample of Beeswax Foundation, guaranteed
not to break down or sag with the hottest weather. About
3 Tons of this Foundation is on hand.

SECTIONS.— We have just received 250,000 American
Sections, made specially to our patterns, designed particu-
larly to ensure easy access of Bees to Supers ; also a cargo
of Bass-wood, for producing Sections equal, or superior, to
American, on our own machines.

BOTTLES.— In 1 and 2-lb. sizes. 500 gross are on
hand. Most approved shape of best White Flint Glass ;
superior to anything yet produced in this way.

FEEDER.— 'The Perfection.'— The metal-work is
now all machine-made, and all parts are interchangeable.

HIVES.— All Hives are of dry Quebec Pine, two to four
years old, in' twenty-one different styles, from 5s. upwards.

BEES.— Our Apiary, one of the largest in the Kingdom,
is always on view. Hives of every sort can be seen in work.
Any quantity of Stocks of Bees ready for instant delivery.

All Goods are offered at Lowest Prices consistent with quality.
THOMAS B. BLOW & ELLIS, Welwyn, Herts.

COMB HONEY WANTED.

WANTED, TO PURCHASE, 1-lb. SECTIONS
of COMB HONEY. Terms Cash on receipt of
Goods. Apply, Secbetaby British Honey Company, 17 King
William Street, Strand.

The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World.

THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL

Established in 1861.
Edited and published by Thomas G. Newman, at 925 West
Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., and will be sent
to European Subscribers at 10s. 6d. per annum for the
Weekly, or 2s. 6d. for the Monthly, including Postage. The
money may be sent by International Postal Money Orders
on Chicago. London Agents : Messrs. Geo. Neighbour &
Sous, 149 Begent Street, W-

Publications of the British Bee-keepers' Association:

HONEY AS FOOD. By Fbank B. Cheshibe, Esq.,
F.E.M.S. Price 3d.
ADULTERATION OF HONEY. By Otto Hehner,
Esq., F.C.S., F.I.C. Price 6d.
THE BEST WAY OF INSTRUCTING COTTAGERS
IN THE ART OF BEE-KEEPING. By the Rev.
W. E. Bubkitt. Price 3d.

THE CHEMISTRY OF THE HIVE. By Mr. Otto
Hehnee, F.I.C, F.C.S. Price 3d.
BEE HOUSES AND HIVES. By Rev. George Ravnok.
Second Edition (enlarged), Price 6d.
WINTERING BEES. By Thomas W. Cowan. The
most complete work on the subject of Wintering
published. Price 3d.

A BEE-KEEPER'S EXPERIENCES IN THE EAST.
By T. B. Blow. Price 3d.

Address J. EUCXIE, Kings langley, Herts.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 15, 1885.

Special Ipijjaitf ^pimfrscmcnts.

For Sales and Purchases of Bee Appliances, Honey, Books,
Pamphlets, Diagrams, &c, Exchanges and Situations.

Terms : Twelve words and under, Fourpence; for every ad-
ditional three words, One Penny extra; no reduction can
be made for continuous insertion.

THE SIMMINS' METHOD OP DIRECT INTRODUC-
TION. Enlarged to 32 pages. Price 6Jd. Post free,
of the Author, Rottingdean, Brighton ; Messrs. Neighbour &
Sons, 149 Regent Street; and Mr. J. Hockle, Kings
Langley, Herts. (53)

MODERN BEE-KEEPING. An Illustrated Handbook
for Cottagers. Fourth Edition, considerably enlarged.
The soundness of its information, the simplicity of its
instruction, combined with cheapness, make this Hand-
book invaluable to all intending Bee-keepers. Price Id.,
post free. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.

rpHE MANAGEMENT OF STRAW SKEPS. DsT
_L signed to teach the Cottager how to obtain the best
results at the least possible cost. By attention to its teach-
ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto. Price One Penny.
Six copies and upwards, post free. J. Huckle, KingsLangley.

FOUL BROOD ; The Means of its Propagation, and
the Method of its Cure. By Frank R. Cheshire,
Esq., F.R.M.S. Price 6<2. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.

BEE-KEEPING, Plain and Practical : How to
Make it Pay. By A. Rusbridge, Is. 6d., post free,
Is. 8d. Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts. 3932

FOR SALE. — A Dunham Foundation Machine, almost
new, all requisites for the manufacture complete,
owner retiring from the business. Address 0. H., Office of
B. B. Journal. D 36

CHESHIRE'S New Book, Bees and Bee-keeping; Scien-
tific and Practical. Magnificently Illustrated, price
Id. monthly. Published by L. Upcott Gill, 170 Strand,
London. r> 53

WANTED. — Driven Bees in any quantity. Apply to
Thomas B. Blow & Ellis, Welwyn, Herts.

WHAT Cash offers for Four strong Stocks of Bees ; also
what per lb. for Driven, Bees ? Young Queen sent
with each lot. Address H. Dobbie, Thickthorn, Norwich.

COMB HONEY.— For Sale, a quantity in 4J Sections.
Address J. C. Lambert, Sunk Island, Hull.

WANTED ABC of Bee Culture, by Root ; and Cowan's
Guide to Bee-keeping. State lowest price to W. I.
Worner, Martock, Somerset. D 64

HYBRID BEES.— Strong Stocks in Frame Hives, 20s.
Boxes, Skeps, 18s. Driven Bees, Is. 2d. per lb.
Honey, 9rf. per lb. Address Rector, Bowers Gifford, South
Essex. d 65

HONEY FOR SALE.— Hundredweight at 1U. per lb. ;
Half or Quarter Hundredweight at 8d. per lb. No
more Driven Bees for sale. Address Harry Fisher, Leighton
Buzzard. d 66

FOR SALE. — A Substantial Wooden Cylindrical Honey
Extractor, very cheap, 10s. Gd. Also Observatory
Hive, Six Frames, both sides visible, 30s. Address Mr.
Chitty, Pewsey. d 67

SOME excellent Stocks of Bees, strong and healthy for
wintering in straw ; can recommend. Securely packed
and put on rail to any part. Price 16s. each. Isaiah Gadd,
Wokingham, Berks. d 68

BERBERIS DARWINI, 2 feet, 10s. per doz. ; 6 inches,
3s. per doz. MELILOTUS LEUCANTHA, 2s. 6d.
per doz. All post free. Cash with Order to John Joyce,
Ballinacurra Post Office, Co. Cork. d 70

FIVE Strong Stocks in Double-walled Bar-frame Hives,
with Super Crates, &c, Standard size. 25s. each, or
6/. the lot. Address H. Fewtrell, First-class Certificated
Expert, 130 Cumberland Road, Reading. d 71

WANTED, by a Married Man, situation as Gardener,
accustomed to care of Bees, Cows, and Poultry.
Third-class Certificated Expert. 6i years' good character.
Recommended also by Hon. Sec. of the Wilts Bee-keepers'
Association. Apply to F. Bartley, Rowde, Devizes, d 72

I HAVE 10 Goldfinches, warrant 6 Cocks, caged a month,
for Sale, or will Exchange for a Stock of Bees. Ad-
dress H. Woods, Florist, Great Yarmouth. D 73

WANTED. — Clean Combs, Standard size. Address
Slade, Promenade Villas, Cheltenham.

CN. WHITE, First Class Certificated Expert, B.B.K.A.,
• The Schoolhouse, Somersham, Hunts, supplies
English and Foreign Stocks and Queens. Reliable answers
to Queries on Bee-management, by return, three stamps.

ONDEMNED BEES.— I have a few lots left, about
6 lbs. each, with Queens, 8s. each lot. Also about a
dozen Queens, post free, Is. id. each. Address F. Lyon,
{.ll Harleyford Road, London, S.E.

TOY'S ROYAL FEEDERS, one for Syrup and
*J one for Barley Sugar, Is. 6<J. the two, post free. Illus-
trated Catalogue sent with each. Address Alfred Joy,
Mid Kent Bee Farm, Aylesford, Kent. 4390

MELILOTUS LEUCANTHA.— One gentleman
writes : ' I consider it by far the best bee-plant,
please oblige with seed.' Address, with Is., to Melilotus,
c/o E. Jackson, Welwyn, Herts.

Stewarton Hive, stocked with Bees, 25s. 4417

COMBINATION WINTER DUMMY, DRY
SUGAR and SYRUP FEEDER. Standard size, post
free, 2s. 3d., or to Order. Apply to W. H. Dolan, Millers'
Cottage, Loose, Maidstone.

PLANT now BEE FLOWERS yielding Pollen
during the early Spring, when Wild Flowers are
scarce, and when the Bees require natural food for their
young. CROCUS, 100 for Is. 6d., carriage paid. Price
List of other Dutch Bulbs on application to W. Green-
shields, The Rocks, Loughton, Essex.

NICHOLSON'S SKEP UNION.

The latest Invention in Bee Appliances for use in Open

Bee Driving, as shown by engraving on page 295 of

British Bee Jou'ffoj, Volume XHI.

POST FREE 27 Stamps, from the Maker,

WILLIAM ncNAX.LT, Glenluce, N.B.

Special quotations for quantities. (HI)

WEST OF

ENGLAND

IS prepared to PURCHASE Large and Small Quantities
of Good HONEY. Samples to be sent by Parcels
Post, and further particulars of
Witt. N. GRIFFIN, Freshford, Somerset.

The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the
renowned C. F. H. Ghavenhorst, Brunswick.

DEUTSCHE ILLUSTRIERTE BIENENZEITUNG.

Crgan for the united interests of Bee-culture. By its con-
tributions from the principal Bee-keepers, and its brilliant
Illustrations, this publication has already had an extra-
ordinary circulation. Sample copies sent on request.

Also, ' DER PRAKTISCHE IMKER.' Compendium of
Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst. Third en-
larged and improved edition, with fifty-two new original
Pictures, and a frontispiece. Price 4 marks (4s.), stitched ;
well boHnd, 5 marks.

C. A. Sciiwetschke & Son (M. Bruhn), Brunswick.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Strangeivats' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c'

[No. 179. Vol. XIII.]

OCTOBER 1, 1885.

[Published Fortnightly.]

PEEL MEMORIAL FUND.

The Committee of the British Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation, immediately after the death of the Rev. H.
R Peel, passed a resolution inviting bee-keepers to
subscribe for the purpose of raising a fund which
would be a suitable memorial of Mr. Peel's great
work in the interests of apiculture.

The Committee hope that all bee-keepers will
contribute something, however small may be the
amount in some cases, in order that the memorial
may be a really national one.

The Committee have decided that the fund thus
raised shall be invested in the names of trustees,
and that the annual income shall be paid over to
the Committee of the B. B. K. A. for the time being,
to be administered by them as they may from year
to year decide, but solely for the encouragement of
bee-keeping amongst the labourers and cottagers of
the United Kingdom.

For the collection to the fund the Committee
desire to make use of the machinery of the county
associations (a machinery called into existence by
Mr. Peel himself) ; and they request the co-opera-
tion of county secretaries. All who wish to con-
tribute, and by doing so show their grateful sense of
Mr. Peel's work, and assist in keeping it in lasting
memory, are requested promptly to forward their
names, with the sums subscribed, either to their
county secretary or to Mr. J. Huckle, Kings Lang-
ley, R S. 0., Herts.

N.B. — No further application will be made, and
after a sufficient interval for the collection of the
fund, it will be closed. Subscriptions should there-
fore be forwarded without delay.

Bee-keepers and others who are desirous of assist-
ing the fund, may obtain copies of the appeal for
distribution upon application to Mr. J. Huckle at
the above address. The fund at present amounts
to upwards of 80/.

THE TREATMENT OF CONDEMNED BEES.
The disappointment frequently experienced from
stocks which have been made up in autumn from
condemned bees failing and dying out in spring
arises from disregarding the condition in which
the bees were when taken and the necessity of

restoring them so far as possible to the same
condition in their new position. A careful con-
sideration of the natural state of bees in a skep
at this season will be our best guide to our future
treatment of them. We find the honey harvest
over, breeding at an end, the outside combs filled
with sealed honey, while the centre ones are only
partially filled, so that plenty of empty cells exist
into which the bees can pack themselves. The
bees which we drive out of these comfortable
quarters have already taken their share of work
in preparing their hive for the winter, but arc
still strong and vigorous.

If we take these bees and hive them in a bar-frame
hive furnished with foundation, they have to make
their winter arrangements afresh. They have to
draw out the foundation, very often in weather too
cold for the operation, to store food, evaporate it
down and seal it. All this labour imposed upon
the bees, which under ordinary conditions would
have had no work to do until the spring, so impairs
their vital energy that they are prone to fall vic-
tims to cold, long confinement by frost, slight damp,
or, above all, the labour of brood-rearing in the
spring, so that instead of increasing at that season
they rapidly dwindle away.

Now if, instead of giving them all this work to
do, we place them in the same state in which we
found them, so far as wTe can, we shall find a very
different state of things existing in the spring.
The bees will be strong, and, as we have made up
large colonies, brood- rearing can be carried on
rapidly.

To place them in this happy condition we must
give them no work to do. We must give them
ready-built combs already stored as to the outside
ones, leaving them only to arrange their nest to
their own liking. If we are only about to get a
few stocks, the combs removed from our frame-
hives, when crowding the bees for winter, will be
sufficient to furnish hives for them ; but if we
expect to take many lots, we must provide combs
specially for them by setting our bees to work
early in the year to draw out foundation and store
it. By placing sheets of foundation in the middle
of the hive and feeding liberally, removing the
outside combs as they are sealed, one stock can
furnish several stored combs. Mr. Cowan's plan
of artificially heating a hive is very useful for this
purpose.

312

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[October 1, 1885.

When taking the bees always secure young queens
by keeping those of stocks and casts, and destroying
those of first swarms, which will necessarily be old
ones. Keep the bees confined as short a time as
possible before hiving them.

The weight of bees obtained from a skep averages
from 11 lbs. to 2 lbs. Wo have carefully noted the
result of some 160 skeps taken this autumn, and
find that four lots united weigh from 6 to 8 lbs.,
very few reaching 9 lbs.

Each pound weight of bees will require one comb
(standard frame) to cluster upon.

To make a good stock which is likely to give
good results, make up your hive with four or five
combs built and stored, and place in the centre two
combs built but not stored, or only stored partly
down. Arrange the hive with the quilt and division-
board, place a large board sloping up to the en-
trance, and hive the bees by throwing them upon
this board. This is better than placing them
among the combs or behind them, as, being naturally
a bit heated from confinement, they cool down
while running in, whereas, if placed in the hive,
they will often ' boil over ' and cluster outside or
in the roof, giving some trouble to get them in.
If you have not united before bringing home, do so
by throwing as many as you wish to unite on the
boards as they run in. They will unite readily
without fighting. Give each hive of seven combs the
contents of four skeps, or three if very good.
Have your smoker lighted ready, and gently direct
a stream of smoke on any large clusters which
form, and so drive them into the hive. Hive in
the evening, but not after dark, when bees crawl
about and sting more than is pleasant. Up to
seven at end of August, but not later than six at
end of September, will be a good time. Do not
attempt to hive driven bees in the morning ; they
will fly about, and, not knowing their home, try to
enter other hives, and put the wbole apiary in an
uproar. If hived in the evening they will settle
down by morning. Having hived them, give each
lot 6 lbs. of thick syrup with which to furnish the
centre combs around the nest. If, on examining them
after two or three days, you find there are more bees
than can find room on the combs, so that they are
clustered on the division-board, give one more comb.
If you do not obtain enough to make up a hive
as directed, it would be better to utilise them for
strengthening existing stocks rather than for making
up fresh ones. Two lots united, if good ones, may
succeed, but we prefer at least 6 lbs. weight of bees.
When they have taken the 6 lbs. of syrup pack
them for the winter by pushing all the combs to the
back of the hive, placing the division-board in front
of them, cutting an entrance along the bottom of
it, thus forming an ante-chamber, so that the wind
does uot enter the hive proper. Place the winter
chaff-cushion on the frames, and leave them alone
hi confidence that they will give you good results
next year.

FREE TRADE IN HONEY.
As was confidently predicted some time ago,
there has been a considerable fall in the price of

honey. Many causes have contributed to this, and
amongst the most important are, the increased
knowledge in bee-keeping, the cheapness of jam,
and foreign competition.

Bee-keeping now is pursued by many, not as a
hobby or amusement, but as a livelihood, and the
large quantities of honey exhibited at the various
bee-shows prove conclusively that there has been
a great progress in this particular industry. With
the increased production there has followed, as a
necessity, a corresponding decrease in the price.
Supply and demand are mutually dependent on each
other. A good harvest means low prices, unless
there is an increased demand. Take, for instance,
the meat trade. Notwithstanding the enormous
quantities of foreign meat imported into this coun-
try, there has not been that fall in English-
grown meat which so many expected, for the simple
reason that the consumption has been so much
greater, and so many of the labouring classes, who
some thirty years ago hardly tasted fresh meat more
than once or twice a-week, are now in the habit of
using it once a-day, if not oftener. If there had
been the restrictive laws, which the farmers
demanded, against this importation, they as a class
would have benefited, but at the expense of the general
community. As has been well observed, people
do not starve in the midst of plenty, and so low
prices of food mean the welfare of the many.

Of late years we have heard several complaints of
the iniquities of the French bounty system, and that
the sugar-refining industry of this country, as
well as the production of sugar in British depen-
dencies, was being carried on, but only at a loss.

So long as the French people are content to
partly pay for the sugar we use — for that is the
effect of the bounty system — we, as a nation, need
not grumble, though a certain portion of the com-
munity are injuriously affected.

But the result has been to direct the trade into
other channels, and the production of jam has been
enormously increased owing to the cheapness of
sugar, and as a consequenoe cheap jam has had the
effect of lowering the price of honey. ,

In the last edition of the Journal there is a
statement that there are 1 40 tons of foreign honey
consigned to Liverpool ; and it has been suggested
that the only way to neutralize this is by putting
an import duty on foreign honey, so as to protect
the struggling British bee-keeper.

The question of how the necessary revenue is to
be raised for carrying on this great empire is, and
must always be, a very difficult problem, and as in-
direct taxation does not press so hardly, or at all
events so apparently, on the shoulders of the tax-
payer, it has been the custom for ages past to tax
tea, sugar, &c, instead of adding another penny or
so to the income-tax.

But the tendency has been to abolish or lessen
all duties on commodities, and the ' Free Break-
fast Table ' will most probably in a few years be an
accomplished fact. Whether a free luncheon table
(beer, wine, «fcc), and a free smoking-room table,
will also follow in due course, is not so certain.

Hence, wc do not think there is any chance of an

October 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

313

import duty on honey ; nor do we regret this. If
the foreigner can send us honey, with all the cost
of freight from where it is produced, and the various
charges, commissions, &c, of as good quality as we
can produce in Great Britain, the imposition of even
a small duty, would be at the expense of the general
community, and in favour of the comparatively few
bee-keepers.

Admitting for the sake of argument, though we
do not believe it, that pure California!! honey,
guileless of glucose, is equal in flavour to British
honey, what would be the natural result of such com-
petition 1 In the first place, it would reduce the price
of home-produced honey, but the more important
result would be the economy in bee-keeping, the
natural result of keen competition.

If our bee-keepers cannot produce honey on the
spot to compete with foreign honey, and still
return a good interest on their outlay, no protection
duties will be of any avail, and tbe crash would
come sooner or later. We have no fear for British
bee-keeping so long as we continue to hear of the
large harvests from hives properly managed. Those
bee-keepers, who keep bees on commercial principles,
will have to select favourable localities, if they wish
to make bee-keeping pay ; and if they do not, they
will only have themselves to blame.

USEFUL HINTS.
In apiaries which have been treated according to
our suggestions made in the last issue there will
lie little work left incomplete, as regards winter
preparations. When mentioning our own practice
of placing a flat straw cover, or crown-board, upon
the quilt, or felt, we omitted reference to the ' chaff-
box,' used largely by many of our most successful
apiarists. Where section-cases, fitting the hives,
are in store, they may be utilised for the purpose
of chaff-boxes by tacking a piece of course canvas on
the lower side, and filling up with chaff or cork-
dust. A sheet of unbleached calico is placed over
the frames, then felt, and, lastly, the chaff-box
upon it. The roof over this is all that is required.
September has been a cold, wet month, with, how-
ever, some bright days ; and most colonies will go
into winter quarters strong and healthy, with abund-
ance of stores. In many of our hives, breeding, to
a moderate extent, is still carried on. Weather
prophets, in consequence of the long prevalence of
north and east winds, are predicting a mild winter.
Ancient seers, from the abundance of hedge-fruit,
would have forecast a long, severe winter.

Feeding, in many cases, has been delayed owing
to the cold winds and frosty nights preventing the
bees from storing syrup. Inside feeding is desirable
now, or at all events the use of feeders which
receive and retain the heat of the hive when placed
over the brood-nest. Again we say, ' Let feeding
be completed as speedily as possible.'

Sections and frames of comb will pay for the
trouble of wrapping up separately in paper, and
storing in a dry room. All propolis should be
scraped off before storing these ; they will then be
ready for use another season.

Hives with frames parallel to the entrance
— commonly called warm frames — should have
their frames pushed up to the back, and a division-
board, or moveable side, placed in front, thus form-
ing a portico excluding the direct entrance of wind,
snow, or rain. In this board an entrance of 6 in.
wide by \ in. deep should be cut. This last is
important.

Manipulations of hives must now be practised
sparingly. Where necessity demands, it should be
performed about mid-day, in fine weather only, and
as quietly and quickly as possible, avoiding all dis-
turbance by jarring or hasty and rough handling.
' Successful wintering is one great secret of success;'
indeed, without it there is no possibility of acting
up to the golden rule of 'keeping all colonies
strong.'

Preparations for moving hives where deemed
desirable may now be made. The end of this
month, or throughout November, during cold
weather, is, perhaps, the best period of the year
for moving hives to new locations. We prefer a
south-easterly aspect with the ground gently sloping
to the front. If the site is on grass, it must be
kept neatly mown, and a little sand, or finely-sifted
ashes, should be scattered around the hives.

The Quincunx is the best arrangement for
placing hives. This word — derived from quinque
uncia, the fraction ^ — was anciently used to de-
note a grouping by fives, as in the manner of
marking dice, or the five on cards, thus : —
it is used by Cicero, who recommends the
plantingof trees in this order; and by Cfesar,
who applied it to the foi'mation of troops. Professor
Phin, an American writer on apiculture, describes
the Quincunx thus : ' This word is derived from the
five marks on a five-ounce weight, and signifies an
arrangement by fives, this being the least number
that will exhibit the system, the special feature of
which is that the objects stand in straight rows in
four different directions. If it be desired to get
the greatest number of plants on a given area, and
still keep them at the greatest possible distance
apart from each other in every direction, the
quincunx system enables us to do it. The hives
may be arranged as in the accompanying figure,

where it will be seen that they form rows, the
hives in the alternate rows "breaking joint" with
those in the others, and the rows being placed at
such a distance apart that the distances between
any hive and those standing around it are all
equal. The quincunx arrangement is strongly
recommended for the hives in an apiary, and it
serves admirably. It has been sometimes im-
properly called the lie.mgonal arrangement from the
fact that each hive is surrounded by six others, all
at equal distances from it and from each other.
The system is a very old one, and it would be a
pity to introduce a new and inaccurate name for
it.' The quincunx system is invariably used by
our bees in building their combs. The comb is
built with cells on both sides, the division between

314

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[October 1, 1885.

the ends of the cells being called the septum, and
serving as a bottom for both series of cells, thus
saving wax. The cells are not placed exactly
opposite each other, but the centres of the bottoms
are arranged quincunx fashion. So wise by instinct
are our little pets, the bees, in economising space
and strengthening their combs. What a lesson do
they teach us, their masters (1) ! Assuredly ' there
are more things in heaven and earth than are
dreamt of in our philosophy ! '

BLIGH COMPETITION, 1884-5.
The Committee of the Bligh Competition regret
that they have not been able to complete their
decision and report for insertion in this issue ; but
our readers may confidently expect to see it in our
next.

ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY DAIRY SHOW.

This Society will hold its annual show on Wednes-
day, October 15th, and two following days, at Ball's
Bridge, Dublin, when several prizes, consisting of
money and medals, will be offered jointly by the
Royal Dublin Society and the Irish Bee-keepers'
Association for honey, hives, honey extractors, and
bee-driving. We hope that this show, though the
last of the season, may not be the least successful
among the many exhibitions that have been held
this season, and that it may be largely supported,
not only by bee-keepers in Ireland, but also by
many from this cotmtry.

MR. BLOW'S MISSION TO CARNIOLA.
Mr. Thomas B. Blow, who, it will be remembered,
went some years ago to Cyprus, Syria, and the East
to investigate the merits of the races of bees, has
started on a similar mission to Carniola and the
various countries on the eastern coast of the
Adriatic Sea. He will, on his return journey, visit
several queen-raising apiaries in Italy, and we ex-
pect to be able to publish a series of articles giving
an account of his labours.

EXHIBITION CARDS.
We are informed that the Cheshire Committee,
acting under Rule 5 of their Schedule, passed a
resolution prohibiting prize cards won at previous
shows being placed on the various exhibits at the
Altrincham show. We heartily commend the reso-
lution. This practice is most objectionable, and
very misleading to visitors, more especially when
placed upon exhibits of honey. Where no catalogue
is printed, we consider it to be the duty of every
committee to provide exhibition cards giving the
name and address of the exhibitor, such cards being
placed on every exhibit for the information of the
visitors and to the benefit of the exhibitor.

DEATH'S-HEAD HAWK MOTH.

(Acherontia atropos.)
Since our last issue we have received several communi-
cations respecting the death's-head moth, or, as it is more

correctly styled, the death's-head hawk moth. One corre-
spondent has forwarded some very carefully executed
drawings of the skeleton of one which he found at the
bottom of a skep, for which we beg to return him our
sincere thanks. Another correspondent has sent us the
insect itself, which had been found at the back of the
dummy, inquiring whether it was a wax-moth, and
whether it was injurious to the bees. Our replies to
these inquiries would be beyond the usual limits, and
therefore we have cast our remarks more into the form
of an article. We have frequently received either the
skeletons or the insects from other correspondents, and
therefore we may conclude that these death's-head moths
are not uufrequent visitants of bee-hives, and therefore
that bee-keepers would take an interest in a description
of them.

The death's-head moth is a species of hawk moth, a
lepidopterous insect of the family of the Springidce. It is
frequently to be met with in some parts of England and
of the Continent, and it is very widely distributed over
the world, being found in Africa, the Mauritius, and the
East Indies. It measures almost five inches from tip to
tip of the wings when extended. It must therefore be
considered not only as the largest of our indigenous
Lepidoptera, but, with the exception of the Peacoek-motli,
the largest insect inhabiting Europe. It is of a dark colour,
the body yellow with dark markings, the thorax with pale
markings, which bear some resemblance to a skull, from
which it derives its name ; the upper wings mottled with
brown, black, and yellow. The caterpillar, which is some-
times five inches in length, is greenish yellow, the back
speckled with black, with transverse lines partly blue and
partly white. In countries where the potato is cultivated
it is often to be found feeding on the leaves of that plant.
The caterpillars are generally full-grown about the middle
of August. The moth seldom appears before the end of
September ; it conceals itself in some obscure place during
the day, and is to be seen flying about only in the
mornings and evenings.

The presence of this death's-head moth has in some
countries produced the most violent alarm and trepidation
amongst the people, who, from the peculiar sound it emits
and the appearance of what seems like a death's head
upon its back, have regarded it as the messenger of
pestilence and death ; while in the Mauritius a notion
prevails that it casts from its wings a dust which produces
blindness in the persons on which it falls, and therefore
its entrance into an apartment is regarded with dread.
Kuhn informs us that in the year 1799 some monks, who
kept bees, observing that they were making an unusual
noise, lifted up the hive, when an animal flew out, which
at first they took to be a bat, but which proved to be a
death's-head moth; aud he states that several years
before some had been found dead in the bee-hives.
M. Huber also, in 1804, noted that the death's-head
moth was in the habit of entering his hives, and regaling
itself on honey. It is not to be surprised at that it should
be attracted by the smell of honey, as most lepidopterous
insects show a predilection for that kind of food; but it
is difficult to understand how a creature without offensive
weapon, and unprotected by any hard covering, can
manage to elude or resist the attacks of their well-armed
assailants. This difficulty is increased when we consider
the result of one of M. Huber's experiments. He intro-

October 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

310

duced a death's-head moth into a box containing- a colony
of humble bees; it was immediately attacked, and so
severely stung- that it died very soon after.

Kirby audSpence, when speaking of the impunity with
which this animal commits its depredations in hives,
seem to think that the peculiar sharp, shrill, and mourn-
ful cry which it emits affects and disarms the bees, so as
to permit it to continue its spoliations. Iluber also
seems to be of the same opinion. One of these insects
having been brought before a learned divine, who was
also an entomologist when he was unwell, was so moved
by its plaintive cry, that instead of devoting it to destruc-
tion he gave it its life and liberty.

There is no doubt that the death's head moth is one
of the enemies of the bees; and we can well imagine
their consternation at the advent of so strange a
visitant. Iluber gives an account of the manner in
which the bees of some of his neighbours protected them-
selves against the attacks of the moth; they so closed
the entrance of the hive with walls, arcades, casemates,
and bastions, built of a mixture of wax and propolis, that
these insidious marauders coidd no longer intrude them-
selves. This is a singular instance of the superposition
of reason on instinct by the bees, as it would appear from
the statement of Huber that it was not until the hives had
been repeatedly attacked and robbed of nearly their
whole stock of honey that the bees betook themselves to
the plan thus adopted of barricading the entrance, and
so securing the remainder of their treasures.

Though these insects are not desirable visitants to our
hives we do not apprehend any great damage ensuing to
the bees from the death's-head moth in this country.

ASSOCIATIONS.

obtain extracted honey, or of being storified with one or
two crates filled with 4j x 4y x 2 sections to obtain
comb honey : price not to exceed 15s., unpainted.'

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

Committee Meeting- held at 105 Jei-myn Street on
Wednesday, September 16th. Present — The Hon. and
Rev. H. Bli'gh (in the chair) ; Rev. Dr. Bartrum, Rev. F. S.
Sclater,the Rev. G.Raynor, Captain Bush,Captain Camp-
bell, G. Walker, H.Jonas, J. M. Hooker, W. O'B. Glennie
(Treasurer), and the secretary. The minutes of the last
meeting were read, confirmed, and signed.

The Secretary reported that he had communicated
with the authorities at South Kensington in reference to
the Exhibition of the Collection of Appliances presented
to the Association by Mr. Cowan to be exhibited at the
Bethnal Green Museum, but had not yet received a definite
reply.

It was resolved that the Hon. and Rev. H. Bligh do
superintend the arrangements in regard to the fund for
raising a memorial to the late Rev. H. R. Peel.

The Prize Schedide for bees, hives, honey, &c. at the
Royal Agricultural Show of 1880 was agTeed upon : one
or two extra classes were added ; the most important
alteration in the prize list being- in regard to the chief
hive class, to read as follows: — ' For the best and most
complete frame hive of a substantial character for general
use in an apiary, with arrangements for summer and
winter use, and capable of being used for doubling to

DERBYSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION*.
In the Show Grounds of the Derbyshire Agricultural
Society the above Association again held an extensive
and interesting exhibition of bees, honey, and appliances
in a tent on the Recreation Ground. The entries were
larger than on any previous occasion, while the quality
of the honey was particularly fine. The bee-driving-
competition in an adjoining tent was an attractive
feature. The class for the best stock of bees was a
capital one. The yellow-banded bess, which are natives
of Italy, sent by Mr. Wilkes, of Church Broughton,
were awarded the premier prize ; the second place being
assigned to the Syrian bees, belonging to Mr. Austin, of
Alvaston, which are smaller in size, but more active
than the insects which took the premier place. The
honey exhibition, both as to quantity and quality, was
the best ever held by the society, the competition, par-
ticularly in the extracted honey, being very strong. In
the class for exhibits of super hone}', whether sectional
or otherwise, Mr. Williamson, of Osmaston-by-Ashbourn,
had a collection weighing 214 lbs., while Mr. J. Gower,
of Hucknall, near Mansfield, showed a glass super, con-
taining 70 lbs. of honey in the comb, and Mr. S.
Hawkins sent another glass super, which had in it
60 lbs. weight of honey. These exhibits carried off
silver and bronze medals. In the cottagers' classes
there was a good deal of rivalry. In the exhibits for
honey in the comb, Mr. Foster, of Brailsford, sent 101
sections from one hive. One of the combs, in a super
16 lbs. in weight, belonging to Mr. Sadler, of Kirk
Langley Common, measured through Z\ inches, while a
comb shown by another cottager measured 2| inches.
The tent also contained a variety of appliances, hives,
&c, and altogether the Association are to be congratu-
lated upon their successful display. The judges were
Mr. R. R. Godfrey, Grantham ; Mr. Henry Goodall, St.
Peter Street, Derby; and an expert from the British
Bee-keepers' Association, the steward being Mr. F.
Holbrook, Queen Street, Derby.
The following is the prize fist : —
Bees.— Class 2. Best stock of bees. — 1, W. Wilkes,
Church Broughton ; 2, Thomas Austin, Alvaston ; 3, D.
Cooper, Sunny Hill ; 4, A. Cooper, Sunny Hill.

Honey. — Class 3. Largest and best exhibit of super
honey. — 1, R. Williamson, Osmaston-by-Ashbourn ; 2,
Thomas Austin. Class 4. Best twelve sections. — 1, R.
Williamson ; 2, I). Cooper ; 3, William Handby, Has-
land. Class 5. Best honey in comb. — First prize, the
British Bee-keepers' Association's Silver Medal, J.
Gower, Hucknall; second prize, the Bronze Medal, S.
Hawkins, Heage. Class 6. Best run honey. — 1, J.
Gower ; 2, Thomas Austin ; 3, A. Milner, jun., Stretton.
Bees-wax.— Class 8. For best wax. — 1, Mrs. Foster,
Brailsford ; 2, D. Cooper.

Cottagers' Classes. — Class 0. Best honey in comb.
■ — 1, G. W. Foster, Brailsford; 2, James Rowland,
Cliff ; 3, T. W. Jones, Etwall ; 4, D. Judge, Heage ; h c,
William Elliot, Clay Cross ; W. Sadler, Kirk Langley.
Class 10. Best run honey. — British Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation's certificate and 10«., A. Simpson, Mansfield
Woodhouse ; 2, T. W. Jones, Etwall, near Derby ; 3,
Henry Richardson, Shottle, near Derby ; 4, Charles
Fearn, Church Broughton; h c, G. W. Foster, Brails-
ford, near Derby.

Bees- wax. — Class 11. Best wax. — 1, Thomas
Wilson, Ashover, near Chesterfield; 2, S. Hadfield,
Higham, near Derby.

Hives, &o. — Class 12. Best frame-hive, price not to
exceed 10s. 6<"., first, certificate, William Handby,
Hasland, near Chesterfield ; 2, D. Cooper, Sunny Hill,

316

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[October 1, 1885.

near Derby. Class 13. Best frame-hive, cost not to ex-
ceed 5s., certificate and 10s., first, Joseph White,
Tupton, near Chesterfield ; 2, G. W. Foster, Brailsford,
near Derby. Class 14. Cheapest, neatest, and best super
for harvesting hone_y, first, certificate, D. Cooper, Sunny
Hill, Derby; second, certificate, W. Handby, Ilasland,
near Chesterfield. Class Iff. Best collection of hives,
and bee furniture, first, certificate, W. Handby, Ilasland,
near Chesterfield.

WARWICKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The exhibition of bees and appliances, promoted by the
Warwickshire Bee-keepers' Association, was held in con-
nexion with the Warwickshire Agricultural Society.
On the present occasion the number of exhibitors was
very much in excess of any previous exhibition, and the
lively interest manifested in the numerous paraphernalia
appertaining to bees was pleasingly apparent. In addi-
tion to the increase in numbers, however, the exhibits
•were of a very high order of merit. Amongst the appli-
ances were some capital displays by Messrs. Abbott,
Bros., of Southall, London. This display consisted of
numerous descriptions of hives for the keeping of bees of
different species, supers and sections, machines for
making comb-foundations for stock hives. Messrs.
Abbott, in respect of appliances, took nearly all the
leading prizes. A good show was made by Mr. W. P.
Meadows, of Syston, near Leicester. This gantleman
had a splendid collection of appliances, those claiming
special attention being the syrup feeders and wax extrac-
tors. He was awarded several prizes. Mr. Thomson,
of Birmingham, obtained the first prize for a ' Summer-
skill utility ; ' and as regarded run honey the premier
award was given to Mr. W. Tyrer, of Stockton House,
Stockton. _ This department attracted great attention by
reason of its high type of quality, being very much in
advance of anything of the kind ever previously shown
for its purity and beauty. Mr. T. Sells, of Uffington,
was placed at the head of the list in Class 13a. for a
splendid super of honey of marvellous excellence, weigh-
ing upwards of sixty pounds. There was also an ex-
ceedingly fine exhibit of honey in the comb, sent in by
Mr. John Walton, of Weston, who took a first prize;
whilst Mr. Pridmore, of Hinckley, was equally successful
with some of his contributions. The chief interest, how-
ever, was centred in the grand collection of Ligurian and
other foreign bees and English bees. A distinct counter
was appropriated for the sale of honey in the comb and
in glass jars, and for disposal of bees-wax, smokers,
feeders, gloves, and other small articles connected with
bee-keeping. The completeness of the show and its
arrangements was doubtless owing to the management
of Mr. James Noble Bower, the hon. sec, who was un-
tiring in his efforts to promote the success of the under-
taking. The Committee also lent valuable aid. The
Judges were the Rev. Dr. Bartrum, of Great Berkliamsted,
and the Rev. J. E. Sale, of Chepstow, and their decisions
were in every degree popular. Owing to the inclemency
of the weather on the opening day, the manipulations,
which were to have taken place on that day, had to he
postponed until the Thursday, when some eminently
successful competitions in bee-driving and other similar
manipulations were held in a tent adjoining that in which
the exhibition took place. Prior to the distribution of
prizes, which was held subsequently, a lecture was
delivered by Mr. Summerskill, the society's expert. A
list of the awards is annexed : —

Bees. — Stock of Ligurians or other foreign bees, 1, J.
Walton ; 2, R. Bennett. Stock of English bees, 1, W.
Tyrer, Stockton ; 2, R. Bluudell.

Hives. — Best and most complete frame-hive, 1 , Abbott,
Bros. ; 2, T. B. Thomson ; 3, A. T. Adams, Crick, near
Rugby. Best and most complete frame-hive (for cotta-
gers' use), price not to exceed 10s., 1, A. T. Adams ; 2,

W. P. Meadows ; 3, A. W. Rawlins, Stourbridge. Best
frame-hive for general use — the work of an amateur or
cottager, 1, W. Alliband, Hatton ; 2, J. C. Walton,
Weston.

Supers. — Neatest and best rack containing 1-lb. or
2-lb. sections, 1, T. B. Thompson; 2, Abbott, Bros. Best
rack containing 1-lb. or 2-lb. sections, suitable for cotta-
gers, 1, T. B. Thompson; 2, E. Field, Leamington.

Honey. — Exhibition of super honey from one apiary,

1, and Silver Medal, J. Walton, Weston, near Leaming-
ton ; 2, W. S. Pridmore, Hinckley. Twenty-four 2-lb.
sections of comb-honey, 1, J. Walton; 2, T. Sells; 3,
W. Bennett, Shipston-on-Stour ; extra prize, A. T.
Adams. Twenty-four 1-lb. sections of comb honey, 1, T.
Sells; 2, J. Walton; 3, W. Tyrer. Twelve 2-lb. sections
of comb-honey, 1, W. Sells; 2, S. Dickens; 3, Mrs.
Woodward. Twelve 1-lb. sections of comb-honey, 1, W.
S. Pridmore; 2, W. Sells; 3, John Burman, Leamington.
Exhibition of run or extracted honey not exceeding 50 lbs.
in either 1-lb. or 2-lb. glass jars, 1, and Bronze Medal,
W. Tyrer; 2, Miss S. Palmer, Hampton Lucy; 3, W.
Sells ; extra prize, T. Sells.

Cottagers' Class. — Twelve 2-lb. sections of comb-
honey, 1, E. P. Walton, Saltley College ; 2, R. Bennett.
Twelve 1-lb. sections of comb-honey, 1, E. P. Walton ;

2, R. Bennett ; 3, G. Cooper, Coventry.
Miscellaneous. — Largest collection of hives and bee-
furniture, 1, Abbott, Bros.; 2, W. P. Meadows. Sample
of pure bees-wax, 1, A. T. Adams ; 2, Abbott, Bros.

WINCHCOMBE AND SUDELEY FLOWER
SHOW.

The Annual Exhibition of Flowers, Fruit, &c, was
held on Wednesday August 26th, in the grounds ad-
joining Sudeley Castle, and was most successful, the
weather being beautifully fine. The Gloucestershire Bee-
Keepers' Association sent their bee-tent, in which illus-
trations of bee-driving were given during the afternoon,
much interest was manifested, and the superiority of the
new system was generally acknowledged. The Associa-
tion were represented by Mr. C.Marshall, Jr. (Cheltenham),
and Mr. C. N. White (Wiuchconibe), the former of whom
acted as judge of the honey.

The following is the list of prize-winners.

Sections: 1, Lord Sudeley; 2, Mr. W. Smith. Best
Supers: 1, Mr. W. T. Smith. Jars: 1, Mr. C. Staite;
2, W. T. Smith ; 3, Lord Sudeley. Cottagers : Comb ;

1, W. Harriss; 2, Tom Major. Jars: 1, W. Harriss;

2, Tom Major. For best flat-topped straw hive with
super : 1, W. T. Smith.

CHESHIRE ASSOCIATION.

The annual exhibition of bees, hives, honey, &c. of
this Association, was held'in connexion with the Altrin-
cham Agricultural Show on Thursday 24th ult. Con-
sideringthe late period of the year the Cheshire Committee
are to be congratulated upon securing so good an exhibition.
We are of opinion that the Cheshire Committee would
do well to endeavour to arrange their annual show at a
much earlier date, and if possible to arrange for it to be
held at other good centres of the county. A county
Society to be thoroughly representative should bring its
advantages, from time to time, withiu reach of all the
residents of the county. The show at Altrincham was
a great success ; numerous and valuable prizes were
offered for competition. Nearly 100 entries were
made in the several classes. In a few of the honey
classes the entries were somewhat, sparse, owing no doubt
to the exhibition being held so late in the year.

The various classes allotted to cottagers were very
well filled. Iu glancing at the prize awards it will be
observed that prize-winners appear both in the Open
and Cottagers' classes. In Cheshire, as in most otlier

October 1, 1885.]

THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.

317

counties, no doubt considerable difficulty is experienced
in defining the bond fide, cottager. We think these
classes are best confined to (1) artizans, (2) labourers;
both rental and rateable qualifications have been found
to be very unsatisfactory.

The whole of the honey exhibited was shown in
excellent form. Sections were either glazed or exhibited
in exhibition crates. Many of the crates were fitted up
with good taste, and presented a very attractive ap-
pearance.

The classes for bees and observatory-hives were largely
filled; the latter produced some well-made unicomb-
hives; those exhibited by Mr. Nicholson were excellent
specimens, well made throughout, the work of the ex-
hibitor himself. The most successful exhibitors were
Mr. J. Cotterill, being awarded seven first prizes, Mr.
John Nicholson took six first prizes, Mr. Stocks also took
seven first prizes, including one for a useful exhibition
crate, designed with the view to enable the judge to
inspect sections of comb-hone}- on all sides without re-
moving them from the crate.

The show was ably managed by Mr. D. Morrison, the
indefatigable Hon. Secretary, aided by the several mem-
bers of the committee.

The judges were Mr. W. Can- of Newton Heath, and
Mr. "W. Cooke of Denton, the following being the
awards : —

Class I. — Best exhibition of honey in sections, 1st,
J. Cotterill, silver medal; 2nd, G. Stocks, bronze medal;
•'3rd, E. G. Parker, certificate. II.— English bees, 1st,
J. Cotterill; 2nd, W. Franks ; 3rd, E. G. Parker. III.
— Any other variety of bees, 1st, J. Cotterill; 2nd, E.
G.Parker. IV. — Observatory hives, 1st, J. Nicholson;
2nd, James Nicholson ; 3rd, G. Stocks. V. — Collections of
bee furniture, 1st, W. McNally ; 2nd, E. G. Parker. VI.
— Glass super of honey, 1st, S. Cookson ; 2nd, J.
Cotterill ; 3rd, J. Nicholson. VII. — Super of honey in
wood and glass, 1st, J. Cotterill; 2nd, not awarded.
VIII. — Straw super of honey, 1st, J. Cotterill. IX. —
Sections of comb honey not less than 20 lbs., 1st, S.
Cookson; 2nd, G. Stocks: 3rd, E. G. Parker. X.— Kim
or extracted honey, 1st, G. Stocks; 2nd, G. Stocks;
3rd, E. G. Parker. XL — Best exhibition of honey
from one apiary, 1st. J. Cotterill ; 2nd, G. Stocks ; 3rd,
E. G. Parker. XII.'— Mead, 1st, J. Nicholson; 2nd, J.
Cotterill. XIII. — New inventions, 1st, G. Stocks ; 2nd,
not awarded. XIV. — Comb foundation, 1st, J. Nichol-
son; 2nd, E. G. Parker. XV. — Honey extractor, ex-
hibited in extracting honev, 1st, J. Cotterill; 2nd, E.
G. Parker; 3rd, G. Stocks. XVI.— Bees-wax, 1st, J.
Nicholson ; 2nd, J. Cotterill ; 3rd, E. G. Parker. XVII.
— Honey-producing flowers, 1st (equal) S. Cookson and
J. Goulden; 3rd, W. Franks. An excellent collection
of dried plants, exhibited by Mr. Jas. Nicholson, was
disqualified, as bouquets only were admissible. XVIII.
Driving competition, 1st, G. Stocks ; 2nd, W. Franks ;
3rd, S. Cookson.

Cottagers' Classes. — Class XIX. — English bees,
1st, J. Chesters; 2nd, W. Wright; 3rd, W. Franks;
4th, W. Wright. XX. — Glass super of honey, 1st, W.
Wright; 2nd, G. Stocks. XXI.— Wood and glass
super of honey, 1st, J. Nicholson ; 2nd, G. Stocks ; 3rd,
W. Franks. XXIII. — Run or extracted honey, 1st, G.
Stocks; 2nd, G. Stocks; 3rd, W. Wright; 4th, J.
Nicholson. XXIV. — Comb honey in sections, 1st, G.
Stocks ; 2nd, not awarded. XXV. — Best exhibition of
honey from one apiary, 1st, G. Stocks ; 2nd, not
awarded. XXVI. — Bees-wax (equal), 1st, J . Nicholson
and J. Goulden ; 3rd, W. Wright.

BRECKNOCKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'

ASSOCIATION.

This Association has now become a regular branch of

the Agricultural Society of the County of Brecon, and

wherever the Agricultural Society pitches its tents there

amongst them will be found that of the Bee-keepers'
Association. The meeting this year was held at Brecon
on 16th September. The season has been a good one
in this county generally, and the quality of the honey
unusually fine. A few bee-keepers have had to complain
of the presence of honey-dew in some of their hives, but
the complaint is by no' means general. The amount of
honey staged was about 1500 lbs., of which Mr. Kettle,
as usual, exhibited a large proportion. The competition
in the section and extracted honey classes was very
severe, and gave the judges no little trouble to dis-
criminate between them. The firit prize and silver
medal were awarded to a very fine collection of 2-lb.
sections from Cantreff Rectory. Mr. Kettle's collection
of sections and run honey was very fine, and left little
to desire as regards quality of honey and tasteful arrange-
ment, and his collection was very properly rewarded with
a first prize. Mr. Kettle, himself, is an enthusiast in the
work, and has done a great deal to promote the gentle
art in this neighbourhood. At the Show he kindly
superintended the staging of the honey, and succeeded
in the almost impossible task of trying to please every-
body.

The first prize for supers w-as well earned by the Rev.
Herbert Williams for a magnificent square super with
glass top containing about 30 lbs. of honey. There was
no competition in the driving class. The collection of
hives was small, but good in quality ; we were especially
pleased with the excellent specimens shown by Messrs.
Nott and Mr. Griffith, who are both prepared to supply
the neighbourhood with first-class hives at moderate
rates.

One of the hives exhibited by Mr. Griffith was
protected by the new paper covering, which seems likely
to be of great service; he also exhibited an _ ingenious
hive for tiering up in three or four stages if desired.
Our chief objection to this hive was that it was scarcely
large enough for standard frames, and as this system of
tiering involves the removal of sheets of brood from
other "hives to it, this seems objectionable. It is greatly
to be desired that in future shows separate prizes should
be given for clear and for granulated honey. There
were several specimens of the latter exhibited, but no
prizes were awarded to any of them as the competition
with the clear honey was too severe. The specimens of
wax were generally good, and a great improvement upon
past shows.

Mr. Meadham, of Hereford, attended with the tent
of the Hereford Association and gave several excellent
demonstrations of driving, &c.

The judges were the Rev. G. Sale and the Rev. T. S.
Stooke-Vaughan, and their awards were most carefully
made and met with general approbation. A fairlv large
number of cottagers have now taken up bee-keeping in
this county, but most of them had sold their honey
before the Show came off, and so this class of exhibitors
was small. Two bar-frame hives, value 10s. Gd., and
two smokers were raffled for among the cottage ex-
hibitors, and were gained by Mrs. Jarman (hive), Mrs.
Cutter (hive), Mrs. Williams (smoker), Mr. Bevan
(smoker). The tiering up hive alluded to above was
raffled for amongst all the subscribing exhibitors, and
amidst much excitement was gained by Mr. Kettle.
This system of raffling seems popular, and is a means of
inducing members and cottagers to exhibit who might
not otherwise care for the trouble of doing so. Below is
a schedule of the prizes : — ■

Class I. — Best hive on the bar-frame system, with
crate of supers, cost not to exceed 10s. Gd. 1, Mr.
Meadham, 10s. ; 2, Mr. Hole, 7s. Gd. II.— Best hive on
the bar-frame system, with crate of supers, made in the
county of Brecon. 1, Mr. Griffith, 10s. ; 2, Messrs. Nott
& Co., 7s. Gd. III.— (Members of the Brecknockshire
Bee-keepers' Association.) Best exhibition of honey,
either in the comb or extracted. 1, Mr. Kettle, 10s. ; 2,

318

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[October 1, 1885.

Rev. J. J. Evans, 7s. Qd. ; 3, nil. IV. — (All comers,
"being- amateurs.) Best 12 lbs. of honey in sections. 1,
Master A. Evans, Cantreff, 10s. and silver rnedal of the
B.B.K.A.; 2, G. G. AVilliams, 7s. Gd. ; 3, Rev. J. J.
Evans, 5s. V. — Best 12 lbs. of extracted honey. 1,
Miss Williams, 10s. and bronze medal of the B.B.K.A.;
2, Mr. Wooton, 7s. Qd. ; 3, Arthur Phillips, os. VI.—
Best exhibition of supers of honey. 1 , Rev. Herbert
Williams, 10s. ; 2, Rev. J. J. Evans, 7s. Gd. ; 3, Miss C.
Phillips, 5s. VII. — Finest samples of pure bees-wax.

1, Mrs. Rees Price, 5s. ; 2, Mrs. Phillips, 2s. Qd. VIII —
Driving- competition. No entries. IX. — (Cottagers in !
Brecknockshire.) Best collection of honey in comb. 1,
Mrs. Williams, 7s. fid. and certificate of B.B.K.A. framed;

2, Mrs. Jamian, 5s. X. — Best collection of extracted
honey. 1, Mrs. Vaughan, 7s. 6d. ; 2, Mrs. Cutter, 5s. ;
h. commended, Mrs. Williams; commended, Mr. Thomas
Be van.

NORTH OF SCOTLAND APIARIAN SOCIETY.

The first show of honey, hives, and bees in connexion
with this newly-formed Society, was opened on Thursday,
September 10, in the grounds of Gordon's College,
Aberdeen, and was crowned with great success. The
exhibits were nicely arranged in a commodious marquee
erected in close proximity to the flower show tent. An
attractive list of prizes drew forth a keen competition in
every class, the honey in general being pure and ripe.
In the course of the day Lord and Lady Aberdeen visited
the show and manifested great interest in the splendid
collection. His lordship, who wishes to encourage bee-
keeping amongst his cottars and crofters, after making
inquiries at several members of the Association, ordered
a supply of samples to be sent to lladdo House from Mr.
Leslie Tait, Foveran. On entering the marquee the
visitor was confronted by an immense pyramid con-
structed of honey supers of 1-lb., 2-lb., and I-lb. sizes,
and wreathed with evergreens and flowers. This
splendid collection weighed no less than 1021 lbs., and
justly brought for its owner, Mr. Tait, Foveran, the first
prize and silver medal. The display of hone}' belonging
to Mr. C. Carnegie, Marykirk, was also very artistically
got up, and was awarded the bronze medal. Single
supers were a fair display, but not a few of the entries
were disqualified in consequence of the competitors
covering the comb too deeply at the edges with paper, to
the infringement of the last clause of Ride 7. The com-
petition for 1-lb supers was very keen as also for extracted
honey. In the section for 1-lb. jars of extracted honey,
so much alike was the quality that one gentleman, who
had two entries of exactly the same honey, got the first
prize for one collection and nothing for the other. Mrs.
Tait had some excellent cakes, confectionery, &c, made
with honey, as also honey beer and honey wine. A few
excellent observatory hives were exhibited. Mr. George
Brown, New Pitsligo, showed a splendid collection of
hives and bee-furniture, for which he received the first
prize and silver medal. His hives were much admired
for the quality of the wood, superiority of workmanship,
and general arrangement. The extensive assortment of
bee-furniture included everything necessary for the
successful working of the apiary, and brought Mr. Brown
the silver and bronze medals at the Caledonian show this
summer. A large number of ladies and gentlemen visited
the show during the day. The judges were — Mr. Chivas
(of Chivas Brothers), Mr. Smith (of Gordon and Smith),
and Mr. Webster, Gordon Castle.
The following is the prize-list : —

For best and largest display of honey and honeycomb.
1 and silver medal, L. Tait, Foveran, Aberdeen ; 2 and
bronze medal, Mr. C. Carnegie, Maiykirk; 3, R. M'Gregor,
Banchory. For best super of honey: 1, J. Shearer,
Inchmarlo ; 2 and 3, R. M'Gregor. For best twelve 2-lb.
sections: 1, W. Clark, Banchory-Ternang: 2, Leslie Tait,

•'!, John Rose, Culter-Cullen. Best twelve 1 J,— lb. sections :
1 , L. Tait ; 2,W. Clark ; 3, John Tough, Mirebird Crathes.
Best twelve 1-lb. sections: 1, W. Munro, Crathes; 2,
G. Brown, New Pitsligo ; 3. L. Tait. Best twelve 2-lb.
jars of run honey: 1, C. Carnegie; 2, W. Munro; 3,
G. Green, Cluny. Best twelve 1-lb. jars of run honey :
1 and 2, W. Munro ; 3, G. Green. Best sample of run or
extracted heather honey, not less than ten pounds: 1,
Richard M'Gregor ; 2, C. Carnegie; 3, J. Shearer. Best
run or extracted clover honey, not less than ten pounds :
1, Charles Carnegie; 2, J. M. Beveridge, Torphins ; 3,
George Brown. For best mead : 1, 2, and 3, Mrs. Tait.
For best cake made with honey : 1 , and biscuit box, Mrs.
Tait ; 2, George Brown ; 3, Mrs. Brebner, Inchrnarlo,
Banchory. For best collections of different art, made
with honey: 1, Mrs. Tait; 2, Mrs. Innes, F. C. Manse,
Skene ; 3, Charles Carnegie. For best collection of hives,
&c.: 1 and silver medal, George Brown; 2 and bronze
medal, L. Tait; 3, Cardno and Darling. 80 Union Street,
Aberdeen. For best observatory hive : 1, R. M'Gregor ;
3, William Clark ; 3, L. Tait. For best sample of wax :
1 and 2, William Munro ; 3, R. M'Gregor.

NOTTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The first Annual Honey Fair in connexion with tht-
Notts Bee-keepers' Association, was held at Nottingham,
on September 18th and 19th. The spacious Auction
Rooms of Mr. Laslett, 51 arket Street, were engaged for the
purpose. From the fact of the rooms being used for sales
by auction, an idea prevailed with the public that the
honey was to be sold by auction, and this, no doubt,
influenced the sales to a very considerable extent.
About two tons of honey were staged, and although some
lots might have been better in colour and more neatly
put up, still the general appearance was good. Notting-
ham has been so badly supplied for some years with good
English honey, that the commodity has almost ceased to
be recognised as a saleable article by the various grocers
and other tradesmen in the town. The effect of the
efforts made by the Association, especially in holding
this fair, is already visible, many of our leading shop-
men having their windows full of honey. To return to
the fair. The best honey sold readily at a fixed price of
Is. per pound, extracted honey being sold much better
than sections. Several large lots that were staged were
sold by private contract at lue/. and lOi-rf. wholesale.
The silver medal of the British Bee-keepers' Association
was offered for the best six 1-lb. sections, and was worthily
won by the Rev. T. B. Garland, Ranby, Retford. The
bronze medal of the Association was also offered for the
best six 1-lb. jars of extracted honey, and was taken by
Mr. A. Felstead, Rempstone, with a splendid sample. A
conspicuous feature of the fair was a beautiful bell
glass, weighing over 40 pounds, exhibited by Mr. Geo.
Cassain, of Newton, and it commanded general admira-
tion, being afterwards sold for 3/. About 14 tons of
honey were disposed of. Although the fair was not such
a decided success as we had anticipated, still the com-
mittee are to be heartily congratulated. The demand for
honey in the town and neighbourhood of Nottingham is
(in the writer's opinion) bound to increase, and if the
members of the Notts Bee-keepers' Association will learn
the lesson that was given them at Mr. Laslett's Mart,
and be more particular in offering their honey for sale
in a neater and more attractive form, there is no reason
why the fair of 1886 should not vie with all similar
sales held under the auspices of the neighbouring county
associations.

WIGTOWNSHIRE APIARIAN SOCIETY.
The third annual show of honey, bees, and the appli-
ances used in connexion with bee-culture, in connexion
with the above Association, was held in the Old Town

October 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

31(r

Hall, here, on Friday last. The show was unquestion-
ably the best that has yet been held here, both as
respects quality and numbers. In the latter respect the
advance over former years was very marked, no less
than eighty entries being: made, while the commercial
value of the honey shown represented about 100/.
Many of the exhibits were of a very high class, parti-
cularly the super which carried off the silver medal,
followed very hard by the super second in the same
class. There was a great display of run honey, which
was pronounced by the judge to be over all excellent.
There was exhibited by the Rev. V. II. Moyle a selection
of honey as food, beverages, medicine, &c, which at-
tracted considerable attention. In hives and appliances
for bee culture, Mr. Ross, of Stranraer Reformatory,
brought forward for show a great variety of useful
articles, for the humane treatment of bees. Mr.
Stewart, Lochans, exhibited a bar-frame hive, which
was highly commended by the judge. Many new-
makers have entered the field, and the competition among
them must have a beneficial effect in securing the best
workmanship and the most economical prices. Another
of the specialities was the improved Stewarton hive.
All the wants of the experienced apiarian are contained
in this handy hive. The judge was Mr. Richard
M'Nally, Glenluce, and it may he added that the Messrs.
M'Nally did not show.

The following was the prize-list: — I.— For the best
super honey over 15 lbs., 1st and medal, David M'Dowall,
Glenluce; '2nd, J. Fleming, Castle-Kennedy; 3rd, VV.
Carson, Glenluce, and Mr. W. II. M'Dowall, Kirkcowan,
equal. II. — Super honey under 15 lbs., 1st, J. Fleming;
2nd, J. Muir, Castle-Kennedy; 3rd, Rev. J. B. Robert-
son, Leswalt. III. — Best heather honey over lolbs.,
1st, W. Carson; 2nd, W. H. M'Dowall; 3rd, S.
M'Millan, Glenluce. IV. — Best heather honey under
15 lbs., 1st and 2nd, J. Fleming; 3rd, W. II. M'Dowall.
VI. — Best twenty 1-lb. sections, 1st, Rev. J. B. Robertson
and J. Fleming, equal; 3rd, J. Fleming. VII. — Best
twelve 1-lb. sections, 1st, J. Muir; 2nd, J. Fleming;
3rd, W. H. M'Dowall. VIII. — Best six sections over
1-i-lb., 1st, J. Fleming; 2nd, W. II. M'Dowall; 3rd, J.
Fleming. IX. — Best run honey (over 20 lbs.), 1st and
2nd, Rev. J. B. Robertson; 3rd, J. Fleming. X.— Best
run honey (under 20 lbs.), 1st, J. Fleming; 2nd and 3rd,
Rev. J. B. Robertson. XL — Best straw super, 1st, J.
Fleming; 2nd, Rev. J. B. Robertson. XII. — Best super
honey belonging to a cottager, 1st, Nathan Angus,
Carscreugh ;" 2nd, W. Downie, Castle - Kennedy ; 3rd,
Miss Hall, Castle-Kennedy. Best sample bees-wax, 1st,
W. H. M'Dowall ; 2nd, D. M'Dowall ; 3rd, J. Fleming ;
4th, Rev. J. B. Robertson.

The show was visited during the day by large
numbers.

STIRLING BEE SHOW.

The Annual Bee and Honey Show was held in con-
nexion with the Horticultural Society's Show in the new
Public Hall, Albert-road, on 27th August.

The observatory hives were as usual the principal
attraction, which created no little interest. In crowded
rooms, such as the one in which this exhibition was held,
where the bees are confined for over twenty-four hours,
the ventilation should be almost quadrupled from that of
the ordinary observatory hive, where the bees have
access to the open air. The words ' heather honey,'
and a crown worked by the bees, were the principal
attractions on the honey tables.

Mr. R. J. Bennett, of the Caledonian Apiarian Society,
was the only judge. In giving his award, for the finest
display of honey, to Mr. Peacock, Mr. Bennett drew
attention to the want of care displayed in placing and
dressing the exhibits.

The absence of the ordinary paring, sapping, and
general dressing, that goes a long way to making a good

show, deprived this otherwise very beautiful exhibit of
having the appearand' it should have, either for show or
for market. This might also be said of most of the
exhibits. General carelessness on the part of the
exhibitors has been the marked characteristic of this
Show, this being the opinion of an expert. It is hoped
those interested will profit by what has been said.

The prize takers were as follows: — Class 1 : Finest
display of honey and honey comb — 1st prize, Thomas
Peacock; 2nd, James Johnstone. Class 2: 1st, Peter
McTavish; 2nd, James Johnstone, Class 3: 1st, Peter-
McTavish. Class 4: 1st, James Johnstone. Class 5:
1st, John Mcintosh ; 2nd, James Johnstone. Class 6 :
1st and 2nd, James Johnstone. Class 8: 1st, James
Johnstone. Class 11: Best samples of wax — 1st and 2nd,
James Johnstone. Class 12: Observatory hives stocked
with bees — 1st, Mark Hodgson; 2nd, James Johnstone.

FALKIRK BEE AND HONEY SHOW.

This Show was held in the Town Hall in connexion
with the Annual Horticultural Show on 28th August.

Mr. Bennett, of Glasgow, and Mr. Wm. Thomson, of
High Blantyre, were the judges. Mr. Bennett drew
attention to the marked difference of the exhibits from
what he had witnessed the day before at Stirling. Here
were two towns, only some ten or twelve miles apart,
and the bee-keepers showed so much difference in their
knowledge of how to stage their exhibits.

The following were the prize-takers : — Class 1 :
Observatory hive stocked with bees — 1st, Wm. Paterson:
2nd, Wm. B. Watson. Class 2 : Super of honey not less
than 16 lbs.— 1st, Wm. Sword; 2nd, M. W.'Smellie.
Class 3 : Super of honey not less than ten lbs. — 1st,
Wm. Crosbie ; 2nd, Alexander Paterson ; 3rd, Charles
Reid. Class 4 : Best extracted honey — 1st, Wm. Sword :
2nd, Wm. Crosbie.

NORTH-EAST OF IRELAND BEE-KEEPERS"
ASSOCIATION.

The second Annual Show of this Society was held in
the Exhibition Hall, Royal Botanic Gardens, on Friday
the 11th September. Although the weather during the
previous, part of the week was anything but fine, it
cleared up on Friday morning, and so favoured the bees.
The hall looked very well with its tables of honey
(pure Irish) and observatory hives. Of these latter there
were six specimens. Mr.W. Lonsdale, of Lurgan, exhibited
certainly the finest hive, holding six frames, and opening
out into something of the shape of a fan; but as the
prize was for the bees and not for the hives, he only
took second place in this class, the first being awarded to
Mr. E. W. Lockhart, for a specimen of Ligurians. A
novel feature in this class was a specimen of Cyprian
bees, exhibited by Mr. Henry Valentine.

Of honey there was a very good show, and the variety
of colours, from the almost transparent ' white clover '
to the inky aphide secretion, seemed to astonish the
visitors. In the class for the best super of comb hone}',
not being sectional, there was a splendid show. One
box weighing 50 lbs., exhibited by .Mr. I. J. McCabe,
of Katesbridge, Rathfriland, was simply perfection, it
contained eight combs, beautiful alike for their regu-
larity, colour, and straightness.

It was with pleasure we noticed that our English
friends are taking an interest in the bee-keeping of the
North of Ireland. Messrs. Abbott Brothers exhibited a
splendid hive, which would certainly have taken first
place had it not been for Mr. William Porter, of Jerritts-
pass, Newry, who exhibited a hive which was in itself
perfection. It comprised the hive proper or brood-
nest, containing eleven standard frames, a doubling
box holding eleven frames more for extracting purposes :
this last was separated from the lower hive by a sheet

320

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[October 1, 1885.

of excluder zinc, there was also a crate of sections in
three parts which could he used instead of the doubling
box, and ventilation could also he supplied through the
floor-hoard if desirable.

The following is the list of prize-winners : —
Bees. — Class 1, Best stock of honey bees, to be
exhibited in an observatory hive; 1, F. W. Lockhart;
2, William Lonsdale ; 3, W. R. Orr.

Honey. — Class 2, Largest and best exhibition of honey
from one apiary, 1, William Lonsdale ; 2, A. Morris.
Class 3, Best super of comb honey (not being sectional),
also a special prize of one guinea presented by H. J.
McCance, Esq., for the best exhibit belonging to a tenant
farmer in the hunting districts of Antrim and Down ;

1, and special prize, I.J. McCabe; 2, W. R. Orr; 3, Rev.
James Hunt. Class 4, Best twelve one-pound sections
of comb honey; 1, S. Hill; 2, W. R. Orr; 3, E. W. Lock-
hart ; 4, Rev. R. D. Knox. Class 4a, Best twelve two-
pound sections of comb honey ; 1, J. France; 2, H. Valen-
tine. Class 5, Best twenty-four one-pound, or twelve
two -pound glass jars of extracted honey; 1, W. E.
L'Estrange Duffin ; 2, W. R. Orr ; 3, W. E. Best. Class
6, Best twelve one-pound or six two-pound glass jars of
extracted honey ; 1, A. Turkington ; 2, W. E. Best; 3,W.
R. Orr.

Wax. — Class 7, Largest and best exhibit of bees-wax,
confined to members of the Association ; 1, W. Lonsdale ;

2, W. R. Orr.

Hives, &c. — Class 8, Best bar-frame hive honey ; 1,
a silver medal, presented by Messrs. Alex. Cross Bryce &
Co., W. Porter ; 2, Abbott Brothers ; 3, W. Lonsdale.
Class 9, Best and most complete bar-frame hive, not to
exceed 15s., to he made in Ulster ; 1, W. Porter ; 2, W.
Munroe. Class 10, For the best collection of hives and bee-
appliances; 1, silver medal, presented by J. K. M'Caus-
land, Esq., W. Lonsdale. Class 11, Best invention cal-
culated to advance the interests of bee-keeping, to be
made in Ulster; 1, W. II. Lawler, for Lawler's improved
section crate.

Driving.— Class 12, Driving sleep of bees; 1, W.
Lonsdale; 2, S. Hill.

Flowees. — Class 13, Best collection of bee flowers ;
1 (presented by Mr. M'Duff, High Street, Belfast),
Abbott Brothers.

Mr. W. R. Orr, Strabane, was a large exhibitor, and
took six prizes.

In Class 4, the winner of the first prize woidd have
also carried off second had it not been that there was a
rule to the effect that no competitor could take more
than one prize in any class.

Abbott Brothers and their Employes. — Messrs.
Abbott Brothers, of Southall, gave their annual treat to
their employes and the staff at the railway station, on
Saturday, September 15. The employes of the firm
number about fifty. They spent the afternoon at
Fairlawn, where Mr. C. N. Abbott had arranged a large
variety of games including cricket, bowls and billiards.
In the evening a sumptuous dinner was laid in a marquee
on the lawn, at which nearly eighty sat down. Mr. C. N.
Abbott presided, and Mr. C. T. Abbott was in the vice-
chair. Mr. Tidy, tb.3 foreman, proposed the health of
Mr. C. N. Abbott, who thanked his employe's for the
manner in which they had worked during a remarkably
busy season, necessitating much over-time. He then, in
terms of warm praise, gave ' The employes of Southall
Railway Station ; ' and Mr. Gray, the station-master, who
responded, said that he had learnt more geography since
he had been at Southall than he had ever known before.
The railway despatched upwards of 5000 parcels for
Messrs. Abbott during the year, and received large con-
signments from America and Germany. Various other
toasts were proposed and responded to, and the company
separated much pleased with their entertainment.

€axxz8$avfomtt.

*** All Correspondents forwarding Letters for insertion in
the Journal, Reports of Associations, Shoios, Meetings, Echoes
from the Hives, Queries, &c, are requested to direct their COM'
munications to ' The Editor of the " British Bee Journal," cjo
Messrs. Strangeways <£; Sons, Tower Street, Upper St. Martin's
Lane, W.C

OUR HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of Honey imported into the United King-
dom during the months of Jul}- and August 1835,
amounted as follows: July, 12,116/.; August, 23312.

[From a private return sent by the Principal, Sta-
tistical Department H. M. Customs, to E. H. Bellairs,
Wingtield House, Christchurch.]

MY FIRST YEAR'S EXPERIENCE.

In fulfilment of my promise to give you all particulars
of my first year's attempt at bee-keeping and the result
of it, I now hasten to do so. I came into this county
to work in December last, and then for the first time
saw the modern method of keeping bees, and taking a
great fancy to them, and my employer kindly giving me
permission to keep my hives at my cottage in the park
here, I, in February last, bought a bar-frame hive from
a man who was going abroad, with bees in it, which had
been driven the preceding autumn. I got a fellow bee-
keeper to kindly help and show me how to deal with them
the second week in March. I found it health}' but weak.
It then had five frames in. I commenced at once to
feed them, according to the rules in Modern Bee-keejring ;
and the weather being open and fine I was able in a
week to put in two more frames. On looking at them
ten days after I found they had nearly tilled the frames
with comb, and had got brood in several. I then added
two more frames, which filled the hive, and continued to
feed them regularly every evening till May 30th, when,
finding they were both nearly full of sealed stores and
comb and had plenty of brood, I put on a crate of
twenty-one 2-lb. sections. We, unfortunately, then had
a week's wet weather, but it afterwards came out very
fine and hot, with the result that on the 17th of June I
was able to take off my first honey, namely, two 2-lb.
sections well filled and finished off. On June 2-'!rd I
took off six 2-lbs. ; on July 1st, four 2-lbs.; on July
10th, eight 2-lbs.; on July 19th, five 2-lbs.; on July
28th, three 2-lbs. This, I am sorry to say, was the last
of the very beautiful clear coloured honey I got ; after
that it got darker. On August 3rd I got off five 2-lbs. ;
on August 12th, seven 2-lbs. ; on August 22nd, six
2-lbs.; on August 29th, two 2-lbs.; and then finding
that there was very little honey coming in I did not
again look at them till I took the section crate off on
September 12th, when I found one 2-lb. finished, and a
good many more with comb drawn out and witli more
or less honey in them, but these I do not count. The
total for this hive is thus 98 lbs. of super honey and
12 lbs. of extracted honey, which I wanted for show, or,
together, 110 lbs.

After I bought my first hive I set to work and
made a double hive on the Cheshire principle, out of
some old packing-cases I had, and well puttied and
painted it, and on June 14th my employer had a fine
first-swarm of blacks from a neighbour's straw hive,
which was very kindly made a present to me. I hived
them in the bar-frame hive the same evening on six
frames with half-sheets of foundation, and fed them.
On June 20th I added two more frames, and on Juno
30th two more, which filled the hive. I fed them till
July 8th, when I put on a section crate of fourteen 2-lb.
sections. On July 10th I took off two 2-lbs.; on July
19th, one 2-lb. ; on July 24th, two 2-lbs. ; on July 29th,

October 1, 1385.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

321

three 2-lbs. ; on August 2nd, one 2-lb. After this I did
not get off any more well-finished sections, but on taking
off the section crate on September 14th, three sections
were as nearly as possible full, but not all sealed. Total
for this hive, 18 lbs. of well-finished super honey, and
C lbs. not sealed. The first week in September I heard
that a man near here was going to take some straw
skeps, and I offered him a consideration if lie would
allow me to drive them instead of giving them the
brimstone pit. This he consented to do, and I with two
friends (who were going to have the surplus bees which
I did not want) went and successfully drove nine skeps
one evening, I taking three lots and they the remainder.
One lot I put into the other half of my double hive, and
I bought an old double hive, very cheap, in which to
put the other two lots. We helped to hive each other's,
and got them all safely housed the same evening. The
next morning I thought I saw signs of robbing, so closed
up the doors, so as to allow only two bees to pass at
once, and fed them in the evening. I gave them each
three frames of sealed honey taken from the old stocks,
and have fed them regularly up to date when I looked
at them, and found them doing well, with the three
frames of foundation I had put into each hive three parts
■worked out, and with sepJed stores in them, and what
pleased me more than all a fair amount of brood. They
are doing so well, in fact, that I have now put them
and also my old stocks up for the winter, and do not fear
finding them well in the spring.

A word or two now, sir, if you can spare the space,
as to the sale and showing of my honey. To commence
with showing : I sent a case of six 2-lb. sections to the
first show of the year at the Royal Counties Show at
Southampton. I am sorry to say an accident occurred
to them, as on arriving at the Show the horse was
startled by the machinery, started off and upset \ay case,
breaking my supers, every one of them, and these were
my best.

My next attempt was also at Southampton on August
1st, when I was fortunate enough to win the silver
medal of the B. B. K. A. with 12 lbs. of super and 12 lbs.
of extracted honey. The next was at a local show, when
I got second in the Open Class and third in the Cottagers.
The next, and last so far, was at Romsey, on 9th
September, when I got second for super honey in the
Open Class, and first for extracted in the Open Class ;
a total of five prizes. As to sale : what I have sold I
have had Is. dd. per lb. for, but, of course, I do not
expect to get that price for the remainder ; but to show
that it does pay cottagers to keep bees, and especially on
the modern principle, I will put the small average piice
of 8d. per lb. on the weight of honey I have this year,
and will now give you, at that rate, my outlay and
receipts.

Receipts.

£ s. d.
116 lbs. super honey at

Octlat.

£ s. a.

Hive and bees 10 0

Sugar 0 5 0

Foundation 0 4 10*

Supers 0 6 0

Paint, putty, and nails 0 3 8

Bought old hive 0 3 6

Veil and sundries 0 7 0

2 10 0{

8d

3 17

.... 0 -1

4
0

4 1
.... 2 0

4
0

6 1

4

Showing, at this very moderate rate, a balance of
SI. lis. 3ld., and a good stock of five bar-frame hives to
start the spring with next year. My total would, of
course, have been much larger had I not given the driven
bees the frames of honey which I could have extracted.
I am quite a novice, and no doubt much larger and
better results are obtained by more experienced people ;
but I thought that the few simple facts above would
at least show any intending beginner of bee-keeping
that it can and does pay, to say nothing of the pleasure
it is to one, providing they give the subject only
moderate attention; but to anyone who, like myself,

takes a real pleasure iu it, it is a good recreation both
for body and mind, and the}- will greatly enjoy it. — A

IlAMFSlIIKE BEE-KEEPER.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH BEE-rOISON.

In 1838 I put two colonies of bees in an attic closet,
but I made no experiments of any kind with them ;
they were simplj* looked at and admired. In 18o9 I
fairly began my apiarian career, and I soon found that
to experiment much with bees meant to get many stings ;
at first these were not only quite painful, but caused
severe swellings. I dreaded to be stung the latter part
of the week, for often one eye would close and the other
nearly so, and to preach in such a condition was by no
means a pleasure. If stung on the hand, my whole arm
would swell so rapidly that if my coat was not seasonably
taken off, it had to be ripped off. In short, I was a
regular martyr to bee-poison.

My second year's experience was much more favour-
able, and in the course of a few years I became almost
bee-proof. In the pressure of business, and my zeal for
studying the habits of the bee, I generally preferred
to be stung occasionally than to lose time by wearing a
bee-hat. The pain of a sting was seldom very severe,
and not often caused much swelling. My experience was
the same with that of most bee-keepers who have perse-
vered in spite of stings, until at last their systems become
accustomed to the poison.

A few facts out of many that might be given : I once
agreed to help a farmer to move a hive to a new location.
He assured me that the bottom board was securely
fastened. It fell off before we bad got more than a few
steps with our load — covered with bees, some of which
were crushed — and the air at once was filled with the
enraged insects. The farmer dropped his side of the
hive and ran away ; it fell against me, but I held on
until I lowered it to the ground, and then made the best
of my way into the house. Perhaps a hundred or more
stings were pulled out of my face and head ; and yet in
a few hours one could hardly notice that I had been
stung at all. When visiting that great man, Dr. G.
P. Kirtland, of Cleveland, Ohio, he wished me to ex-
amine with him a colony of bastard (hybrid) bees. The
doctor was armed with bee-hat and gloves — both of
which I declined to use. We quieted them pretty well
with smoke, when he began to discuss some point in bee-
culture with his usual animation. Soon his gesticulating-
hand was doing quite a business, the bees became furious,
and paid all their respects to me ; and how many stings
were pulled out my face and head I cannot tell. As
«oon as this extracting work was over, I said, ' Doctor
Kirtland, I protest against all eloquence in the vicinity
of bee-hives — especially when you are clad in proof
armour and I have none ! ' Although ever so well stung
the pain was soon over, and in a short time no visible
proof remained that a bee had stung me.

In 1874, after the death of my son, my health became
so much impaired that I sold all my bees. The next
spring an entbe change seemed to have come over me
with respect to the bee-poison. I first noticed it in ex-
tracting some stings with the poison sac attached for a
friend who wished to procure the bee-poison in a perfectly
pure state. I had noticed at the beginning of each year's
work among the bees that the poison affected me in
various ways, and my wife would often have to awaken
me when she heard me unconsciously moaning in my
sleep. The night after pulling out these stings this
moaning became so pronounced as to awaken the friends
with whom I was sta3ring, and alarmed them with the
fear that that I was dying. Intense dryness of the
tongue and fauces, accompanied sometimes by what
seemed to be an aggravated form of heart-burn, smarting
of the eyes, a heavy drooping sensation in the eyelids,
breaking out fiery spots overvarious parts of my body,

322

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[October 1, 1885.

a disposition to almost tear the flesh of my cheeks, dream-
ing of the. most excited kind, full of violent motion —
these and many other symptoms were of frequent recur-
rence at the beginning of each bee-campaign.

After getting the medicinal bee-poison, as before
recited, the effect upon me was so severe that I
became really alarmed, and earnestly sought to protect
myself against any recurrence of such unpleasant symp-
toms. I soon found that this was next to impossible.
To converse with those fresh from handling bees — nay,
even to receive letters or postal cards from them — was to
be poisoned again.

Ten years ago, being at my old home in Greenfield,
Mass., I engaged to visit my friend Wm. W. Cary, of
Coleraine, one Saturday afternoon, intending to preach
to a congregation where for some 3'ears I had served as
their pastor. The da}' was a charming one, and I was
quite happy at the thought of meeting so many old
friends. Mr. < 'ary had been handling bees all day, and
was well charged of course with the bee-poison. Almost
as soon as he had shaken hands with me, my eyes began
to smart, niy eyelids to feel heavy, and my face to itch.
My spirits sank at once, and the thought of preaching
and seeing my old friends caused me only anxiety ; in
short, the very bottom of all hopefulness seemed to drop
out, as it were, in a few moments. Explaining my
reasons, I sought other quarters, but the pleasure of my
visit was essentially spoiled. Imagination ! I hear some
one saying. Does imagination cause burning eruptions
on the body, constant roaring in the ears as though near
a waterfall, to say nothing of moaning in sleep, &c?

From 1875 to 1881 I dreaded the return of each bee-
season. M3' letters were all read by some member of my
family, that I might handle none from bee-keepers. I
felt that, let my general health be what it might, I could
do nothing more with bees. While I could easily trace
much of my suffering- to the bee-poison, I could not
believe that it was the cause of the head trouble from
which I had suffered so much, for I was a frequent
martyr to this many years before I kept bees. Now had
I given my experiences with the bee-poison from 1875 to
1881, I should have left the matter in such a shape as to
prejudice many against having anything to do with bees.
I should only have given the actual facts in my case, but
for want of other facts not then duly weighed by rue, my
facts would have seemed to warrant inferences just the
opposite from the truth.

In the spring of 1881, my health being more fully re-
stored than for some years, it seemed to me almost an
impossibility to keep longer away from the bees. A
new thought suddenly occurred to me. Suppose a
person after long use of tobacco or opium should give
them up for some time — long enough for the effect they
produce to pass awaj' — and should then attempt to take
the old, big dose, would he not be naturally alarmed at
the result? May I not be mistaken then in supposing
that any great change has taken place in my system as
respects the effects of the bee-poison upon it ? and may
not my painful experiences of the last six years be ac-
counted for in another way ? So long as 1 kept bees
and dealt so largely in queens, I was compelled each
year to inoculate my system so fully with their poison,
that however severe the ordeal at first, I soon became
indifferent to it. Now, being under no such necessity,
I stop short every time of full and repeated doses. Sup-
pose that I take such doses again. "With fear and
trembling on the part of my family, but with scarcely
any on my part, I determined to test the matter, for as
even the presence of freshly extracted honey in the
house was enough to bring on another attack, I felt that
I must get out of the world before I could escape from
this dreaded poison. I determined, therefore, to make
full proof of my new theory. Without any bee-hat I
helped my friends to extract their honey, all the time
saying to the bees, ''Sting me as often as you please;'

and as they were gentle Italians, I did not scruple by
somewhat rough treatment to make them do much more
thau they naturally wished to in the way of stinging.
From the very first I did not suffer nearly as much as I
had done every year since I ceased to work with the
bees, and little if any more than I had done every year
when first handling them. In about a week I was again
bee-proof, and launched out at once into a course of
experiments (all in vain) to control if possible the im-
pregnation of queens.

However, I describe the delight I felt in handling
again the moveable frames. In the apiary of a neigh-
bour, Rev. McGregor, I fully proved that with small
strips of foundation for guides, I could use my comb-
guides, or guide-frames, and secure from Italian bees
the same perfect worker-combs that I used to get with
these guides from the black bees, thus realising a favour-
ite idea of one of our greatest bee-keepers, Doolittle, viz..
getting perfect worker-combs with the least use of
foundation.

AYhile handling frame after frame of such combs, and
feeling as much enthusiasm as I did in 1853, when I first
saw that the bees would follow the triangular comb-
guide, I exclaimed to the Hey. McGregor (apologising
for the seeming play upon his name), ' I must make these
words of Rob I!oy in Scott's novel my own : " My foot
is upon my native heath — and my name is McGregor ! '
— Rev. L. L. Langstroth, Oxford, Ohio.— (American
Bee Journal.)

JOTTINGS FOR JOURNAL.

Colour of Hives. — Reference is made from time to
time in the Journal as to colour of hives, some thinking
that hives should be painted different colours so that the
queens may know where to return when on their wedding
trips. Now the question is do queens often'deave the hive
so as to gain a knowledge of different colours, because if
she does not where is the utility of the idea ; if she were
constantly going in and out of the entrance, the same as
worker bees are, I would concede the point, but as she so
seldom leaves the hive, I don't see how she can possibly
know green from white, or stone from chocolate ; and as
we know worker-bees fly to the same spot by instinct, I
think we may conclude the queen would do the same
irrespective of the colour of the hive. I may mention all
my hives are stone colour with green bands, i. e. the
fillets are painted green the other parts and legs are
stone-coloured.

Disposal of Honey-. — I should advise those who are
unable to dispose of their honey in their respective local-
ities to advertise their honey in B. B. Journal. It is not
desirable to expect too much from experts. Some people
expect the experts to show them how to manage their
bees, how to take their hone)' and put it up in a sale-
able form, and then find a market for them for their
honey at a good price, so that they shall have no
trouble or expense themselves. For myself I am not
one that wants a deputy. If I had as many tons as
I have sold hundredweights, I have not the slightest
doubt I could soon find a market for it. I can say that
during the last few years that I have taken an interest in
bee-keeping, I have found bee-keepers generally, and
'experts' in particular, ever ready to give advice and
assistance for the asking, either on matters of manage-
ment or disposal of produce. — Woodleigh.

VARIOUS ANTISEPTICS
For Mixing with Food, and Spraying Hives and

Combs, viz., Thymol, Eucalyptus, and Saxicylic

Acid.

Some questions having recently- been asked in the Bee
Journal as to the means of giving salicylic acid to the
bees, may I be permitted to submit the result of experi-

October 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

323

inents made by me, and the means I employ in giving
the acid to them ?

I do not consider it advisable to give the bees
thymol in food, on account of its irritating properties,
strong odour, and unpleasant taste ; it, however, being a
powerful antiseptic, is very valuable in solution for
painting the floor-board, or any part of the hive which
may have become mouldy, or has been foul, and is to be
thrown out of use for a time. I advise the use of the
following solution : thymol, i dram ; spirits of wine, 4
ounces. The part on which this solution is used should
be exposed to the atmosphere for at least twelve hours.
Oil of eucalyptus is insoluble to any extent in water, and
being very volatile, also having an unpleasant taste, I
do not consider it of much use for purposes of spraying,
or for feeding; it might, however prove useful for
painting purposes. Far the most efficacious and suitable
disinfectant for bee-keeping generally is, in my opinion,
salicylic acid. It has no smell, a slight sweetish taste,
and being able to resist all natural attempts at decom-
position, offers the greatest amount of advantage to other
disinfectants, not only for the prevention of foul brood,
but for mixing- with food. The following formulae are
those which I find most useful: No. 1. For spraying
combs without brood. Salicylic acid, 4 grains; spirits
of wine, •'! drams ; water, 2 ounces. The acid is dissolved
in the spirit, and the water then added. For spraying-
combs containing suspected foul brood, one ounce of
syrup, and one more of water, should be added to the
above quantity ; it should then be used with a very fine
spray-producer.

No. 2. For giving in food. Salicylic acid, 40 grains ;
sugar, 4 or 6 pounds; wrater, 1 quart. First boil the
water, in which dissolve the sugar; when it again
commences to boil, stir in the acid, which dissolves
almost instantty. By this method of making syrup,
each ounce of syrup will contain nearly half a grain
of the acid, and will not require any vinegar, borax,
citric, tartaric acid, or any other substance (which
must be nauseous to the bees) to prevent it crystallising.
Having had some years' experience hi bee-keeping, I can
well recommend the foregoing.

A substance called menthol (it is allied to peppermint,
and is harmless to bees) 1 find extremely useful when
joining stocks. The bees are first sprayed with a weak
solution in thin syrup, a few crystals are then placed
on the floor-board, the effect of the evaporation from
the crystals lasting for a considerable time after the
smell of the spraying is exhausted.

The quantity advised would be weighed by any
chemist when purchasing them. — T. J. D.

VENTILATION OF HIVES.

You are, doubtless, quite familiar with the old experi-
ment, in which a bottle filled with smoke is rapidly
emptied by the insertion of a diaphragm of paper or
card in the neck of the bottle. It occurred to me a few
nights ago that the same principle might be applied to
the ventilation of hives. Accordingly, one very hot
night, when the bees wrere fanning vigorously, I
formed a diaphragm of a piece of lath, and inserted it
midway in the door of a Combination hive. To test the
result, I applied a lighted candle as near as I could to
either opening, and on one side the flame was sucked
into the hive, on the other it was violently expelled,
showing that an active circulation of air was taking
place. The next day I tested it again by fastening a bit
of tissue paper to a thread, and suspending it before each
aperture in turn — the same effect was exhibited. On
one side the indraught drew the paper within the hive,
while on the other side it was expelled by the outdraught.
I have since inserted diaphragms in several other hives.
For some reason wrhich I cannot explain, the action is
not equally vigorous in them all ; but in all it is demon-
strated in more or less degree.

Will some of your readers try the experiment, and
give their opinion of the value of the process as a means
of ventilation? — A.

BEE CLUB.
We have here amongst ourselves, in Swanmore, a
small Bee Club, kindly started and most generously kept
going by our Vicar ; it consists of only a few members,
and I thought that it would be interesting to some of
your readers in other villages if I sent you an account
of what six or seven only of us have done this year;
between us we have taken from our hives (which
number fifteen or sixteen at most that we have had
at work) considerably over 1000 lbs. of honev and the
following prizes: — eight firsts, including the silver medal
of the B. B. K.A., four seconds, and four thirds, or a
total of sixteen prizes, which I think should encourage
every one to try more and more to take every care of
the poor little bees who work so hard for us, and to
those who have none it will show that there is a good
prospect of success open to them. — A Hampshiee Bee-

KEEPER.

STRETCHING OF FOUNDATION SHEETS.

Following Mr. Simmins' recommendation in your
Journal of returning swarms on two bars of brood, and the
rest whole sheets of foundation, I have found that the
foundation stretches very considerably downwards, in
fact, spoiling the greater part of comb for brood-rearing.
How am I to obviate this difficulty ? I left half to three-
quarters of an inch for sinkage, but this did not do. If
half sheets only are given, drone comb in quantity is
often built. Does this stretching of the foundation arise
from over-heat in hive, or bad quality of wax ? I have
been much annoyed in several hives in this way. Ought
I to extract these combs and melt them down, the cells
are so elongated that the bees I fear, cannot raise brood
therein. I may add that section-crates were on most of
the hives in which this happened ; but not on all. Your
reply in next issue will much oblige. — W. J. T.

[The above having been forwarded to Mr. Simmins, we
have received the following reply: — ' Your correspondent
must have covered his bees up too warm the first few
days, though that would not matter so much with a wide
entrance. With an entrance 12 x §, I have frequently
hived double swarms on all foundation (about eight
sheets to the pound), and no stretching has occurred, no
wires are used. Where no supers are given such newly-
hived swarms, a single thickness of ticking is quite
sufficient for the first few days, and warmer covering may
be given after the first week ; the frames meanwhile being
placed not more than one-fourth of an inch apart. Your
correspondent's combs will do as well as any for ex-
tracting, but if not required for that purpose, they should
be run down at once, as more wax will be obtained while
comparatively new. — S. S.l

A YEAE'S DOINGS.
I have pleasure in sending you a few particulars of the
present year's doings of my hives and bees. I commenced
the year with three hives ; and from hive, number one
I have taken 108 lbs. of super honey, from hive number
two, forty-five lbs. of super honey and from hive number
three, thirty-eight lbs. of super honey. Each of the
hives contains twelve bar-frames, and from the three
hives I have taken sixty-nine lbs. of extracted, making
a total of 191 lbs. of super honey and sixty-nine lbs.
extracted, or together 200 lbs. of honey from three
hives. I have now increased my number of hives to
eight. I have only had one swarm, and the bees for the
other hives I have driven ; I think that at a very low
rate indeed, I shall get 0/. 15s. for the total quantity,
to be added to that is 4/. 10s. for prizes, taken at the

824

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[October 1, 1885.

following shows : — First at Royal Counties' Show at
Southampton ; first at the Southampton Show on
August 1st and 3rd ; first at a local show ; first at
Romsey on Septemher 9th, and second at a local show.
All these for super honey in the Open class, and second
in the Open class for extracted honey at Romsey on
Septemher Oth, and first in the Cottagers' class for
extracted at the same Show. My expenditure for the
vear has been : —

Outlay. £ s. d.

Supers and foundation 0 15 0

Wood for hives 2 10 0

Paint and nails 0 6 6

Sugar 0 5 0

B 16 6

Receipts. £ s. d.

Sale of 260 lbs. of honey, at least 9 15 0

Prizes 4 10 0

14

0

Showing a gain on the year of 101. 8s. (id. I thought
these few particulars might be interesting to you. —
G. Horner, Bishops Waltkam, September '27th, 1885.
[Very interesting to us, and most encouraging to
cottagers. — Ed.]

A COMIC ELEGY.
The death from a bee sting mentioned in a late number
of the Journal reminds me of the death of a Miss Ellen
Gee, of Kew, written some thirty-fire years ago, who
therein is supposed to have died from a sting in the eye
by a bee, and thinking it may interest your readers I
forward it.

Peerless, yet hapless maid of Q,

Accomplished L N G,
Never again shall I and U
Together sip our T.

For ah ! the fates, I know not Y,

Sent midst the flowers a B ;
Which venomous slung her in the I,.

So that she could not C.
L N exclaimed : ' Vile, spiteful B !

If ever I catch U
On jessamine, rose-bud, or sweet 1',

I'll change your stinging Q (cue).

' 1 11 send you, like a lamb or U,
Across the Atlantic C ;
From our delightful village Q
To distant O Y E.

' A stream runs from my wounded I
Salt as the briny C,
As rapid as the X or Y,
The O I O or D.

' Then fare thee ill, insensate B,
That stung I know not Y;
Since not for wealthy Durham's C
Would I have lost my I.'

They bear with tears fair L N Gj

In funeral R A,
A clay-cold corse now doomed to B,

Whilst I mourn her D K.

Ye nymphs of Q, then shun each B,

List to the reason Y ;
For should a B C U at T,

He'll surely sting your I.

Now in a graveyard deep in Q,

She's cold as cold can B ;
While robins sing upon a U

Her dirge and L E G (elegy).

J. Brown, Melksham, Wilts.

(Jfofyofjes from %

Witheridge, North Deoon, Sept. 22. — The quantity of
honey gathered in this district in the past season has been
astonishing. I give you the following results in my own
apiary. Hive No. 1 : Sixty-seven 2-11]. sections, five
frames, six lbs. stored underneath in empty box upon
which hive was standing, total weight 164 lbs. Hive
No. 2 : Sixty-two 2-lb. sections, three frames, total
weight 129 lbs. Hive No. 3 : Forty-nine 2-lb. sections,
seven frames, six lbs. stored underneath, total weight
140 lbs. Hive No. 4. and swarm from ditto, twenty-one
1-lb. sections, nine frames, total weight eighty-four lbs.
The above frames are all large ones, some of them being
Abbott's 16 J inch x 10 inch. Proportionate results
have been obtained by other bee-keepers. The new
system is making rapid strides in this neighbourhood,
scarcely an}- bees having been destroyed this autumn.
— Herbert J. Mansfield.

Hunts, Somersham, Sept. 24. — The season has now
practically closed, but it has not been nearly as good as
last year's. Swarms have all round been numerous,
while supers, sectional and otherwise, have not, as a
rule, been so well and nicely finished as was the case
last year. The 'taking up' of stocks is almost over, but
the brimstone system has not yet entirely gone out of
vogue. I met a member of our Association yesterday
and asked him if I might drive his bees again. He replied,
' I h ave taken them up long ago.' ' And killed the bees ? '
'Yes.' 'How many stocks did you take up?' 'Eighteen.'
Well, I must say I was appalled at this wholesale slaughter,
and not two miles from my house ! Having driven his
bees previously I felt certain that seeing how preferable
the modern is to the brimstone system he wrould never
again adopt that cruel and wasteful method. There are,
I find, some who, apparently, like the new system, but
when they see what can be done with the condemned
bees by their neighbours — yes, and their greatest friends,
which they cannot or have neither time nor inclination
to do themselves, they prefer to exhibit a gross spirit of
selfishness and cruelty. This class I must, in fairness,
add is small in numbers. The weather of the past week
has been most favourable for looking through the apiary
and preparing for winter. By the time this is in print
most of my stocks and those of my neighbours will
be suugly packed and well prepared for winter. — C. N.
White, Hon. Sec., Hunts B. K. A.

Eliot Yale, Blachheath, Sept. 25. — It may possibly
interest some one intending to commence bee-keeping in
the neighbourhood of London to learn this season's result
from one hive at Blackheath. I started a last year's
swarm of Blacks in a ten-frame hive, which, wintering
well, became very strong early in the year and threw
out a fine swarm on the 24th of May : this was placed in
a bar-frame hive. After six days a second swarm came
out and was returned to stock; in two days' time it
issued again and was once more returned to old hive,
queen-cells cut out and supers placed on. The swarm
was also supered on 7th June. The following quantities
of comb honey were removed during the summer : —

On the 17th June, 9 lbs. from stock I very clear and

24th

26th July, 14 ,

10 ,
16th Aug., 2 ,

I! ° 1

Total 47 lbs.

fine honey.

a

swarm ^ darker honey
„ C from limes(?)
stocksj

The supers were finally removed on 28rd Aug., leaving
both hives very strong and abundantly supplied with
sealed honey for the winter. The above quantity might
no doubt have been doubled if the extractor had been
used to obtain run honey. — Charles Poland.

Octber 1, 1865.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

325

Bishop's Waltham, September 27. — -The last few days
make one almost think that the winter is on ns all
at once, and evidently the bees think so too; for there
is hardly a sign of one to be seen about any of the
hives. It is time now that all were carefully and
warmly packed ready for the winter, except any
which are weak and may want feeding up. — A Hamp-
shire Bee-Keeper.

Kirklandhill, Dunbar. — My report for this season is
not very bright. At the beginning of the season honey
was gathered plentifully, but at the heather I only got
an average of 5 lbs. super each hive. However, the
hives are in good condition for wintering. My best
record for this year is 65 lbs. super from a Stewarton.
Next best, 45 lbs. sections from a bar-frame. The bar-
frame hires that I use are Mr. Hewitt's tea-chest hives
with Abbott's frames, and any better need not be desired.
I heartily thank Mr. Hewitt for his description how to
make a hive out of a tea-chest. — George I). Clark.

Tynyrheol Toicna, Neath, September ]Hth. — Our bees
havj done exceedingly well this summer. We had three
stocks, pure blacks, from which we had two swarms, the
first June 30th and the other July 2nd. Our extractions
were taken as follows : — July 6th, 50i lbs. ; July 13th,
65i lbs.; July 27th, 134 lbs.; August 7th and 8th,
172 lbs.; August 26th, 85 lbs.; total, 507 lbs. of run
honey. In addition to this we have had thirteen one-
pound sections, making in all 520 lbs. Further than this
I have taken from the hives sufficient frames of sealed
honey to provision for the winter two lots of condemned
bees (taken a week ago from six skeps), leaving ample to
land them into the spring. — W. Jones, jun.

Bray, Ireland, 2oth Sej>t. — This has been a very short
honey season here, the spring was very cold, and honey
only began to come in quantity about June 1st, when the
weather became settled, and remained so till the first two
or three days of August, after which time no honey was
collected by bees if they had any distance to go to
heather. Yet though so short, the season has been one
of the best we have had here for some years. Many
strong frame hives yielding 00 lbs. or more of section-
honey. — E. D'O.

Winxford, Cheshire, September 28th. — The season is
over ; bees are receiving their last morsel ; and I find I
am the happy possessor of upwards of forty prizes and
five medals for 1885. Wonderful bees ! But that is not
all; I have 3 cwt. of honey. Wonderful bees! Last
year I held my own in getting prizes, but it left me
lamenting my bees. Now I have plenty of bees, and
rather wish I had not so many. Such is the echo from
the hives of —Geo. Stocks.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-

J. II., Lymington. — Queen. — The contents of the body
were smashed out in the post. Examination, of course,
impossible. I coidd have determined if the queen
had reached me living, or only recently dead. — F. C.

J. F. T. — The queen in this case should have been sent
alive. I find bacilli, but whether putrefactive or
pathogenic no power man possesses could determine. —
F. C.

Tinto. — Comb. — This comb is very badly infected with
Bacillus alvei. — F. C.

N. Mtjnday. — Body so utterly dried up that any ex-
amination is impossible. I made an effort, but failed
completely. — F. C.

J. Peacock. — Purifying Wax. — Try the means we
suggested to you. You can, if the colour is caused by
dreg entangled in it, remove it. If you will send us

about four ounces we will try and improvo the colour,
and let you know how to treat the remainder if we
succeed.

E. L. — 1. Ligurians on High Stands. — Our correspondent
' Icardus ' himself expresses his doubt as to the notion,
and we can see nothing to confirm it, neither has any
other correspondent done so. 2. Reducing Hives for
Winter. — Do not remove the combs containing brood.
Remove the two back combs to the back of the
divider, and uncap the sealed portion of the stores ;
cut a small passage in the bottom edge of the divider
to give access to them ; keep the bees warm by cover-
ing them well. They will carry in the honey, and
soon seal it.

G. P. A. — 1. Making Syrup. — Cream of tartar is to be
preferred to vinegar for ' killing the grain,' as con-
fectioners term it. Put a teaspoonful to 14 lbs. of
sugar. The same proportion of cream of tartar to
sugar will do for spring feeding, only using more
water. Boil until thoroughly dissolved. 2. Cam-
phorated Syrup.— We will request the foreign corre-
spondent who forwarded to us the information to
furnish us with the proportions. 3. No. If you make
a saturated solution at a certain temperature, a lower
one will cause crystallisation. Therefore it is not
suitable for autumn.

II. M. E. — 1. Unripe Honey. — This is honey which has
not been sealed by the bees, and is thinner than ripe ;
it is wholesome while fresh, but will ferment if kept.

2. What is a Combination Hive? — The term has
become perverted from its original signification, and
is now understood to mean a hive in which the frames
run across, i.e., parallel to the front, as distinguished
from one in which they are parallel to the sides.

3. Coverings. — You will find a piece of ticking next
the frames covered with a box with canvas bottom
filled with cork-dust or chaff the best covering for
winter. In the breeding season substitute a board for
the box. Earwigs will harbour about a hive what-
ever cover you use.

W. H. Hughes. — 1. Dysentery attaching Stocks formed
from Driven Bees. — Your bees were so exhausted by
the work imposed upon them that they became
affected by some slight cause which would, perhaps,
have been harmless to bees having their natural
energy unexpended. 2. Treatment of Condemned Bees.
— We have complied with your request for an article
upon the subject, see p. 311.

F. A. K. — Queenless Stock afflicted with Foul Brood. —
The case, at this season of the year, is hopeless. You
had better destroy the bees and combs before your
other bees rob them and spread the disease to the
other hives, and thoroughly cleanse the hive with
phenolated soap. 2. Bee-parasite. — The small insect
found on the back of one of your bees is the Braula
cceca.

J. W. B. — 1. Feeding. — If you have bees which require
feeding, you must feed even now or lose them ; give
thick syrup (5 lbs. sugar to the quart), remove all
superfluous combs, and let there be a porous quilt to
allow the escape of the vapour from the necessary
evaporation by the bees before sealing. 2. Driven
Bees. — See 'Editorial,' p. 311. 3. Skej> with no Bees
or Honey.— It had been robbed out by either bees or
wasps, most probably the latter. 4. Do Swalloivs eat
Bees? — Yes. We met with a case on Sunday,
20th Sept. When a stock, transferred the day before
from skeps to a bar-frame hive, deserted their hive,
and while filling the air preparatory to clustering,
several swallows were darting among them. 5.
Removing Bees in October. — Move them in the skeps
inverted and tied down with cheese-cloth. It will
then be too late to transfer this year. When you do

32G

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[October 1, 1885.

so, tie all the combs, except the drone-comb, into the
frames.

K.G.Smith. — Expelled Bees. — The small cluster of
bees found upon the ground, with a queen in their
midst, had been driven from their hive by an attack of
robbers. On examining their hive you will find that
it has been robbed of its stores. There is no remedy.
Preserve the combs for use another year.

A Beginner. — Storifying Hive: — Your three hives
piled upon each other should be thoroughly examined.
Take out all the frames. Those having brood, or
what is termed the brood-nest, place in the centre of
• me box, and on the outsides of these place frames of
sealed honey, tilling up the box, and covering up with
winter quilts and roof. .Remove the other combs and
boxes for your own use. An expert would quickly
perform the operation.

11. B. — Winter Passages, 8(e. — Winter passages are
circular holes, of about an inch, or more, in diameter,
cut through the combs at equal distances from the end
bars, and three or four inches from the top-bar. Their
object is to allow passage for the bees from comb
to comb, without being obliged to pass round the
ends of the frames, where, in cold weather, they
often become chilled, when in search of food. 2.
Remove the unfinished combs and close up the
division-boards. It is late for feeding now, but from
your description we think your bees have, sufficient
winter store. 4. The combs should be separated and
straightened, and the attachments cut away. 5. Well-
made and well-painted hives require no protection
from weather.

A. M. S. — The film covering the mouths of the cells
appears to be the work of a species of spider.

R. White. — The insect forwarded is not the wax-moth,
but the death's-head moth (Acherontia at ropes). See
p. 314).

Thomas Aitken. — Hive Making. — The instructions
given in Root's ABC of Bee Culture for making
hives are simple and practical, and you cannot have a
better guide : it embodies the most recent discoveries
and inventions. Cook's Manual gives an interesting
accouut of the hives that from time to time have
found favour with bee-keepers. Langstroth's Hive
and the Hone;/ Bee furnishes dimensions of various
hives, and the hive-maker woidd find much assistance
from its pages. We would, however, counsel you,
after having consulted the works on hive-making, to
adhere to those hives which have met with most ac-
ceptance from the British public.

W. H. C. — Feeding with syrup containing salicylic acid
followed by that 'containing phenol. — As the two acids
are chemically allied no ill effects are likely to follow
their admixture.

Geo. Stocks. — The colour of the cleanest and most
valuable wax is of a bright yellow, not too dark.

P. Eccles. — The present weather would not be too cold
for bees in an Observatory hive for the purpose of ex-
hibition.

.Mrs. L. Wigram. — The flat straw covers mentioned in
our ' Useful Hints' of last issue are to be procured
from Messrs. Neighbour, Regent Street ; and possibly
from other dealers in bee-appliances.

J.H. Howard. — You will find your inquiry as to the
arrangement termed ' the Quincunx ' dealt with in our
' Useful Hints,' page 313 ; we reserve the remainder of
your queries till next issue.

Student. — Replies to your questions are postponed to
our next number.

REDSHAW'S SPECIALITIES:

MY 'CLIMAX' REGULATING FEED-
ERS are giving universal satisfaction for Skeps and
Frame Hives. 21b. size, feeds 0 to 9 holes, Is. <id. each,
post 6d., 6 for 10s., 12 for 18s. 1 lb. size, feeds 0 to 7 holes,
Is. each, post &d., 6 for 5s. 6<i, 12 for 10s. This is good for
Cottagers, and is the Eest and most Perfect Is. Feeder
in the Market.

DRY SUGAR FEEDERS, 8<7. each, 3 for Is. 6rf.

post free.

WINTER DUMMY and DRY SUGAR
FEEDER combined, with winter passage, tilled with
cork-dust, Is. 3d. each, post (id. These make capital front
Dummies for Combination Hives.

ONE GALLON SYRUP CAN, best make,
is. 6d. post free.

HONEY JARS. (Have bad 3 large shipments of
Jars from abroad this season , the demand has far exceeded
our expectations, and have sold out of A-lb. size, and only a
limited supply of 2-lb.) 1-lb., Best Shape in Market, 20s.
per gross, lis. half-gross, 2s. (id. per doz., in good case free.

BEST SCREW-CAP JARS, 30s. gross, 16s. half-
gross, 3s. per doz., packages free.

CLEAR GLASS TUBES for Samples of Honey,
with Corks, Is. 3d. per doz., post free; 10s. per gross, post
free. To hold about a teaspoonfid of honey.

HONEY LABELS.— The neatest and prettiest
Colours, 100 post free 7%d. Blue and Gold, 100 post
free Is. Oid.

REDSHAW'S CELEBRATED COLD-
BLAST SMOKERS are now made with unbreakable
Springs, powerful Bellows, &e., is. Gd. each, post Gd.
Satisfaction guaranteed.

'LITTLE WONDER' EXTRACTORS (Im-
proved and Best Quality), lis. each.

CYLINDER EXTRACTORS— Empties Two

Combs at once, Strains |Honey as it is thrown out, and
holds about J-cwt. under moving parts. Japanned, 30s.
each. A most substantial machine.

HONEY KNIVES, Best Make only.— Bingham
Uncapping Knives, 2s. 6rf., post 3d. Scraper Knives, ls.6d.
and 2s. 3d. , post 3d. each. Two Knives for cutting Combs
from Skeps, 3s. pair, post 6d.

CORK DUST.— Best Winter Packing.— 3d. per lb.
(about 1 gallon) ; 7 lbs. at 2d. per lb. 1 lb. (less weight of
bag), post free Id. ; 7 lb. (less weight of bag), post free 2s.

Illustrated Priced Catalogue, post free.

Address, The Apiary, South Wigston, Leicester.

4459

FOUR STRONG STOCKS in Double -walled
HIVES. Particulars on application. Address Willlui
Maltson, Covenbam, Louth, Lincolnshire.

BEE-KEEPERS' GUIDE; or, Manual of the
Apiary. 12th Thousand. More than fifty pages, and
more than fifty costly Illustrations, were added in 8th
Edition. The whole work has been thoroughly revised,
and contains the very latest in respect to Bee-keeping.
Price 5s. , postage 6d.

BEE JOURNAL OFFICE, KINGS LANGLEY.

THE HONEY BEE : Its Natural History
and Management from a South African point of
view. By Dr. Stroud, Cape Colony, S. A.

APPENDIX and GLOSSARY of TERMS.

TWENTY-TWO PHOTOS on Cards, descrip-
tive of the general Anatomy of the Bee.
Together, 5s. ; separately, Is. ikl. each.
No. of Copies limited.
To be had of J. HUCKLE, Kinos Lanoley, Herts.

J"

=^JtsdU±^t~-

Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Strangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c'

[No. 180. Vol. XIII.]

OCTOBER 15, 1885.

[Published Fortnightly.]

€tAtaxml, Sottas, #r.

Bees and Bee-keeping, Scientific and Phac-
ticai.. By F. R. Cheshire, F.L.S., E.R.M.S. (London :
L. Upcott'Oill. 170 Strand, W.C.)— We have to call
our readers' attention to the ahove work which is being
published in monthly parts. The First Part is on our
table, and from its perusal, and knowing that Mr.
Cheshire has lately given much time to working out
especially the anatomy of the honey-bee, we think it
likely that the work will prove a valuable addition to
our bee literature. Since Langstroth's work appeared
more than ten years have elapsed, and in that time many
problems have been solved which have not appeared in
any work in the English language. There is the work of
the German, French, and Italian scientists to chronicle
as well as their discoveries, especially of such men as Drs.
Cohn,de Planta, Grassi, and others who stand on a level
with Siebold and Leuckart. There are not many of our
readers who have heard of Dr. Planta's work in connexion
with pollen, the cause of the different colours of wax, or
of the substance of royal jelly, or of the manner in which
nectar is converted into honey. Dr. Grassi's work re-
lating to the development of the bee larva in the egg is
also quite unknown. The value of Mr. Cheshire's work,
we think, will be greatly enhanced if these and other dis-
coveries are described, as we hope they will be. The im-
provements in the microscope of late years have enabled
us to see something more than those who have gone
before us did ; and knowing as we do that Mr. Cheshire
possesses the best instruments as well as the ability to
use them, we expect his work to contain something far in
advance of anything we have on bees. It is impossible
to review the work at present, but as the work progresses
we shall have the opportunity of criticising it more fully.
Mr. Cheshire is already well known to our readers as a
contributor to our pages on bees and bee-keeping, and
we are sure that the subject will be ably treated by him
in this new work which he has been so many years in
preparing. It is well written, and the engravings, are all
that may be desired; but we regret that nineteen months,
at least, must elapse before the work is completed.

and among their own friends. The County Secre-
taries, it must be remembered, are already much
burdened with the task of supplying the necessities
of their Associations ; and main- of them, whilst
sympathising deeply with the cause, express their
inability, for this reason, to render any assistance.
Any one who, in grateful memory of Mr. Peel, is
willing to undertake this office, is requested to com-
municate at once with the Hon. and Rev. H. Bligh,
Hampton Hill Vicarage, Middlesex.

BUITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The next Quarterly Conversazione will be held
on Wednesday, October the 21st, at 105 Jerniyn
Street, London, S.W., commencing at six o'clock.
An alteration in the usual method of procedure
will be observed on this occasion. The usual
paper will be dispensed with ; in place thereof dis-
cussions will take place upon various matters of
interest to bee-keepers. Mr. Otto Hehner, analyst
to the Association, will bring forward some useful
information in regard to experiments which he is
now making with honey. Various novelties and
inventions will also be on view for examination
and discussion. The Secretary will be glad to
receive notice from any members who may be
desirous of contributing microscopical or other
objects.

WEEKLY ISSUE OF THE JOURNAL.
In reply to the numerous communications which
we have received from those who take an interest in
the progress of the Jotmittl, advocating its issue
weekly, we beg to state that arrangements are
being made to effect that object, the purport of
which we hope to aunouncc in our next issue.

PEEL MEMORIAL FUND.
It is much to be desired that those who arc in-
terested in the success of this Fund should under-
take to seek contributions in their own neighbourhood

THE BLIGH COMPETITION.

In the British Bee Journal for November, 1881,
there appeared a letter from the Hon. and Rev. H.
Bligh, urging the promotion of cottage apiaries,
and offering to the Committee of the British Bee-
keepers' Association the sum of 10/. to be awarded
in prizes according to a scheme the main object of
which was to prove to cottagers the advantages of
advanced bee-culture, and to furnish them with
the information which would most probably induce
them to adopt the improved system. This scheme
has been styled the Economic Apiaries Competition,

328

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[October 15, 1885.

or, more generally, the Bligh Competition. Mr.
Bligh's aim was that by the assistance of the fore-
most bee-keepers, — who, he hoped, would take a part
in the competition, — we should have placed on record
the method, cost, experiences, and results of the
management of an apiary economically conducted,
together with valuable comparative tests of the
various hives and systems.

After much consideration the rules were framed
for the governance of this scheme.

The first competition can scarcely be said to have
fulfilled the intentions of the originator. The com-
petitors were not so numerous as had been antici-
pated ; seventeen entered their names for the
competition ; but the majority of these succumbed
during the trial, and of those who persevered to the
end sevei-al found themselves disqualified through
non-observance of some of the rules, so that only
four were left as recipients of the prizes.

There was also some degree of disappointment
that the advocates of the skep and the Stewarton
.systems took no part in the competition. The
advocates of these systems seemed to have no heart
for the contest. It was, therefore, left wholly in the
hands of bar-framists; but as each of these conducted
the contest according to his respective ideas and
experience, the competition proved of great educa-
tional value and of considerable practical teaching.

The diaries were exceedingly interesting ; and it
was easy to follow the competitors in their day -by-
day work. The lessons thus acquired were of the
greatest service, not only to the cottager, but to the
bee-keeping community generally.

It was evident to those who had taken au interest
in the scheme, that the germ of the idea was so
excellent and so pregnant of beneficial results to
bee-keepers, that it was considered desirable to
have a repetition of it.

The rules were again considered by the Com-
mittee, and subjected to public criticism. Various
suggestions were made, and several improvements
were proposed and accepted. The second contest
has now come to the close, and the results are given
in this issue. The diaries and balance-sheets are
full of useful information. We consider that the
secoud competition has advanced considerably be-
yond its predecessor. The experience gained by
the first had not been lost. Thirty-three entered
their names as candidates, but only nine continued
to the close. The profits gained by each com-
petitor have been larger than on the first occasion.
The pm-pose of the originator has not been without
result, or his labour thrown away. There is a
hope that, if it should be considered desirable to hold
another competition, a larger number will take a part
in it, and that the various county associations may
see their way to institute similar trials of skill in
their respective localities, [t would furnish an
interesting addition and a pleasing novelty to the
ordinary routine of their operations.

USEFUL HINTS.
The cold, wet, and stormy weather experienced
since our last advice, has been most unfavourable

for procrastinators, scarcely a single day fit for
manipulating hives having offered itself. The first
suitable opportunity should be eagerly seized, by all
who have hitherto delayed, for completing the winter
preparation of their hives. Unbleached calico,
when used over frames, should be washed, to take
out the ' size.'

The ventilation of hive-covers should not be
overlooked. Three one-inch circular holes, at each
end of the cover, with a piece of perforated zinc
tacked over them, will cause a current of air to
pass over the quilting, keeping all dry and pre-
venting accumulation of dampness and mouldiness.

Entrances may be opened now, since all fear of
robbing has passed away. The advantage of wide
entrances during the winter months is that there
is less danger of the blocking up by dead bees,
which has often caused suffocation. If narrow ones
are preferred, dead bees, when accumulated, must
be repeatedly removed.

Alighting-Boards are better when made to slope
slightly from the hive -front, and so to prevent
water lodging upon them. A very good alighting-
stage is one of fine perforated zinc, on a wooden
frame-work, extending along the whole front of the
hive, and from eight to twelve inches in width.
This may be placed horizontally — an advantage to
the bees in summer and winter — since there can be
no accumulation of water upon it, and the bees can
pass over it with greater ease than over a sloping-
board, up which, when heavily laden, they ascend
with difficulty, often slipping backward.

Stands, Covers, and Plinths should be examined
occasionally, to ascertain that all are sound, firm,
and weather-proof — able to withstand the most
violent storms.

The Skep may advantageously be covered by a
' cheese-box,' minus its bottom, over which an
earthenware 'milk-pan' forms an excellent roof.
Or it may be enshrouded in hay-bands, bound
closely around, which forms a great protection
during the winter and spring months. When all
preparations are completed, disturb the hives no
more during the next four months.

Let well alone. Best and be thanlful. Lice in
hope ; and allow your bees to do the same.

Storing Appliances. — The present affords an
excellent opportunity for clearing up ' odds-and-
ends,' of which, in our own apiary, at least, a con-
siderable number, of all shapes and sizes, are
scattered about. Feeders of all sorts should be
washed, cleaned, thoroughly dried, and stowed away
until spring, when the necessities of the bees will
call them forth again.

Old Combs, and all broken bits, together with
discarded strips of foundation, should go to the
melting-pot at once — or rather to the ' wax-ex-
tractor,' for description of which see Cowan, p. 78.

Especially let all section-racks, cases, or crates, or
by whatever name they may be called, be scraped
and cleared of propolis, together with unfinished
sections, although tilled, or parti}' filled, with comb.
These latter form a decided inducement to the bees
to begin work, when placed in the centre of a rack,
and surrounded by empty ones. It is the practice

October 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

329

of many apiarists, ourselves amongst the number,
to complete their section-racks during the autumn
and winter, even to the insertion of foundation,
making them quite ready for use ; tying up, as
a parcel, in a strong sheet of brown paper, and
storing them in a dry room or closet. The con-
venience ami saving of time in having these in
readiness at a busy period of the year, when so
much other work presses, can hardly be realised
until experienced. Empty 'body,' or 'brood'
frames, should be similarly treated before being-
laid aside.

Honey and wax extractors must be thoroughly
cleaned, dried, and repaired where necessary. ' A
stitch in time,' &c.

Remember also the planting of bulbs — crocuses,
snowdrops, &c, for the use of the bees in early
spring.

And now that the necessity for ' Useful Hints ' is
no longer urgent until, —

' Taygete simul os tern's ostendit honestum
Pleias, et Oceani spretos pede repulit amnes,'

to what shall we turn our attention ? Shall it be
permitted to us to give what appears to us a very
Useful Hint to our masters, the Central Committee,
or 'Council,' of the B.B.K.A. 1 As a prefatory
form let us quote from the American Bee Journal.

In a report of the annual meeting of the Ontario
Bee-keepers' Association, assembled in the City
Hall at Toronto, on September 10th last, the
President, Dr. J. C. Thorn, remarked that : ' The
Colonial and Indian Exhibition to be held at
Kensington, England, next year, aflbrded an ex-
cellent opportunity for the display of Canadian
honey.' Further on in this report we read that :
' The recommendation of the President, in regard
to the exhibition of Canadian honey at the Ken-
sington show next year, was discussed at some
length, and a resolution past appointing a com-
mittee to wait upon the Ontario Government to
secure their co-operation, and endeavour to make a
creditable show of Canadian honey on that occasion. '

Now, we entertain no doubt whatever that other
Colonies of ' Greater Britain ' will follow suit — Aus-
tralia, New Zealand, Tasmania, South Africa, West
Indies, &.c. ; all honour be to them, and a hearty-
welcome will they all receive. Judging from the
magnificent and enormous displays of honey, of
the very finest qualities, at the Canadian Honey
Shows and Fairs, there will be little chance of
victory to other competitors. But, is the mother
of these great colonies to make no effort to meet
her children by a display of her own produce, or, at
all events, by a collection of her own appliances, to
which she may introdvice and welcome her stalwart
sons 1 Surely the occasion will be one on which she
will be called upon to render hospitality with no
niggardly hand. Let our 'Council ' then take early
action in this matter, and let those who, wisely and
justly, keep so tight a grip on our purse-strings, pro-
vide a separate fund, if necessary, for giving a worthy
reception to our brethren beyond the seas — that
' Greater Britain ' upon whose development the
weal or woe of this mighty Empire so greatly
depends.

HONEY FAIRS.
We note that the establishment of the various
Honey Companies has in no way diminished the
ardour of our old friend, ]!. P. Godfrey, Esq., of
Grantham, in assisting the bee-keepers of his
county in disposing of their honey, but rather it
has inspired him with new strength and fresh vigour,
seeing that instead of their being only the one fair at
Grantham, he has determined on instituting three,
at the principal centres of Lincolnshire — Boston,
Louth, and Grantham. We hope that he may be
as successful on this occasion as he has been in the
past, and that he may have the satisfaction of dis-
posing of all the honey that may be consigned to
his care.

STOCKS'S SHOW CRATE;
This crate, which took first prize for 'new inven-
tions' at the Altrincham Agricultural Show, will
prove of great assistance to judges of honey at
shows, as it enables them to see both sides of the
sections at a glance. It occupies rather more space
than the ordinary section crate. It consists of two

divisions, each holding six sections, sufficient space
being allowed between them to view the honey.
The glass draws upward through a groove at the
top and is easily and quickly taken out. These
crates will hold on either side six \\ x 4|- or
4 x 4J sections ; but of course they may be made
to suit any other size. When nicely painted and
varnished it is a very handsome arti.de, and would
show off the sections to the best dvantage.

THE 'RUSHTOX' COLLATERAL BAR-FRAME
HIVE.

This hive has been designed by Mr. William Rushton
of Felmersham, near Bedford, and is the result of a series
of experiments during the last three years. The hive,
single-walled and well-painted, is oblong in shape, three
feet long, sixteen inches from front to back, and stands
forty-two inches high. It has a very handsome appear-
ance, and is therefore at the same time ornamental as
well as useful. The lower part of the hive is fixed to
the floorboard, supported by crossed legs, and consists of
three compartments separated by fixed division-boards,
with passages underneath, to be closed or opened as
required hy means of slides working from the front below
the porch. The central box contains ten frames of the
Society's Standard dimensions, and two dummies, hanging
parallel with the front, and is used for the brood-nest, a
hole in the quilt or crown-board allowing the workers

S30

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL

[October 15, 1885.

access to the upper storey during the busy season. Each
of the side boxes contains six Standard-sized frames,
which hang at right angles with the front, and one
dummy. These lateral divisions may be used in various
ways, such as queen-rearing, wintering, and for obser-
vation purposes, there being a shuttered window at either
end. The upper chamber running the whole length, and
fixed, is filled from end to end with shallow frames
15jXo| in size, the bars being 1A inches wide for ex-

ASSOCIATIONS.

tracting purposes. All the frames are wired either for
strips of comb-foundation or for whole sheets, which
latter is preferable. There are two dummy division-
boards in the upper storey, so that any number of the
shallow frames up to about twenty may be used at one
time. Sections may be used in the roof above, or in place
of the whole or part of the super-frames. Each lower
compartment has its front bevelled entrance, with a pair
of wooden slides, by which the size of the entrance in
accordance with the requirements of the season may be
regulated. The porch-board runs the whole length of
the front and is supported by four brackets. The roof,
which is entirely moveable, is gable, and is set off by a
finial at either end. — W. R.

FIXING FOUNDATION TO BAR-FRAMES.

Having a most reliable method for fixing foundation
in bar-frames, and believing all patents in bee furniture
hut indirect hindrances to the common good of bee
culture, I give you section of my top bar arrangement.

FOUNDATION

Section A is a moveable strip bradded into position,
giving a most reliable grip to foundation, at the same
time saving use of wax-smelter or any other arrangement
for exclusion of wax grubs. I shall be happy to answer
any queries concerning same, believing such will be
readily adopted by some who are still perplexed in
foundation-fixing. — John H. Howard, Holme, near
Peterborough.

SUSSEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The Fourth Annual Show of the Sussex Bee-keepers'
Association took place at Horsham on September 3rd, in
connexion with the Horsham Flower Show. The
weather was fine and all that could be desired, and there
was a large gathering of visitors. There was a very
good exhibition of hives and bee-keeping appliances, and
the entries were numerous. S. J. Baldwin carried off
the 1st prize for an excellent collection, Abbott and
Overton following with 2nd and 3rd honours respec-
tively. Abbott was awarded 1st prize for the best
moveable comb hive ; 2, Baldwin : 3, Overton. The
same order of merit was maintained on the competition
for the best 15s. hive. For the best 10s. hive : 1, Abbott
Bros. ; 2, Baldwin ; 3, S. Sprinks, Barn's Green, Hor-
sham. Best stock of Ligurian bees: 1, Baldwin; 3,
Overton (the 2nd prize was not awarded). Best stock of
English bees: 1, Overton (2nd and 3rd prizes not
awarded).

The Honey Show was fair, but not so good as in past
years, some of the hone)' being of a very dark colour and
of inferior flavour. K. Norman of Chailey won the
silver medal and 1st prize for his exhibit of 2-lb. sections
of honey ; A. Hounsom, of Bosham, and C. Lucas, Esq.,
of Waniham Court, taking 2nd and 3rd prizes respec-
tively. For the best 1-lb. sections: 1, R. Norman; 2,
J. Stodhart, Pagham, Chichester; 3, M. Freeman, Slin-
fold. Best extracted honey in 24 1-lb. or 12 2-lb. jars :
1, It. Norman ; 2, S. Sprinks; 3, Lord de Blaquiere.

In the Cottager Class the following awards were
made : — Best exhibit of honey in the comb : 1, and
bronze medal, M. Freeman ; 2, J. Reed, Lamberhurst ;
3rd prize not awarded. For extracted honey : 1, Stephen
Bailey, Itching-field ; 2, M. Jenner, Chailey ; 3, M. Free-
man, Slinfold. Best exhibit of honey in 1-lb. and 2-lb.
sections: 1, M. Freeman; 2, S. Bailey; 3, G. Alee,
Groombridge.

In the classes open to all comers : — Best 2-lb. or 1-lb.
sections : 1, F. Woolaston, Dovers, Reigate ; 2, G. Alee ;
3, C. J. Lucas, Esq. Best extracted honey: 1, F. Wool-
aston ; 2, R. Norman ; 3, M. Freeman.

The Rev. F. C. Sclater, Hon. Sec. Bucks B. K. A., most
kindly and efficiently acted as judge, assisted by the
Rev. N. Andrewes, Hon. Sec. Sussex B. K. A.

HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

ROMSEY.

An exhibition of hives and honey was held in Broad-
lands Parks, Itomsey, on Sept. 9th,"l0th, and 11th. The
show was held in connexion with the fifth annual ex-
hibition of the Romsey and South Hants Horse and
Poultry Society, whose executive granted a respectable
sum in aid of the expenses of the bee-show. The show
itself was under the auspices of the Hants and Isle of
Wight B. K. A., and in the unavoidable absence of the
Hon. Sec, who was in Scotland, the whole of the arrange-
ments were left in the hands of II. P. Baigent, Esq., who
performed his task in the most devoted and energetic
manner, and to his indefatigable exertions must be attri-
buted the credit of making the show a great success.

The exhibits of honey were neither so numerous nor so
large as might have been expected from so large a county
as Hants; but what was lacking in quantity was made
up in quality, there being some splendid samples of honey
on exhibit. The prize for the 'largest and best exhibit
of honey in any form ' was taken by Mr. Thirlby, head
gardener at Broadlands. This exhibit consisted of some
hundreds of sections enclosed in neat cardboard cases of
different colours and glazed, alternated wilh bottles con-

October 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

331

taining 1 lb. or 2 lbs. of honey. These wern arranged
in the form of an immense pyramid, whose corners and
apex were adorned by beautiful plants and flowers from
the green-house ; and as this exhibit faced the principal
entrance to the tent it proved a great attraction and was
greatly admired.

An observatory hive, well stocked with bees, belonging
to Miss Juliet La Tour, was a sourco of great delight to the
crowds that constantly surrounded it. The exhibits of
of hives and appliances were fairly good. Mr. Baldwin
and Messrs. Abbott had each a splendid collection of
hives and f urniture ; but owing to a serious attack of
illness which happened to Mr. J. Abbott, and which pre-
vented him from leaving his hotel, many of his articles
were unpacked, and his entire exhibit was at a gTeat
disadvantage.

The circular tent of the Hants and Isle of Wight
B. K. A. was on the ground, and at intervals during the
three days lectures were given, and practical demonstra-
tions in driving, uniting, &c, were shown by Mr. Daven-
port, of Stourport, Worcestershire, to large and interested
audiences.

Mr. Davenport acted as judge, and the following is a
list of awards: —

Class I. — Best 12 lbs. of super honey, in sections not
exceeding 2 lbs. each. 1, Mr. G. Horner, The Villa,
Swanmore, Bishop's Waltham ; 2, Mr. H. W. West,
Swanmore Park, Bishop's Waltham ; 3, Mr. E. Ainsley,
Swanmore Park, Bishop's Waltham. II. — Best 12 lbs.
of super honey, not exceeding 1 lb. each. 1, Mr. W.
Woodley, Newbury; 2, Miss Juliet La Tour, Broad-
lands; 3, Mr. J. Giles, Cowsfield, Salisbury; extra, Mr.
W. W. Baigent, Priory Road, St. Denys, Southampton.
III. — Best 12 lbs. of super honey, not exceeding 1 lb.
each. (Cottage and artizan members only.) 1, Mr. W.
Woodley; 2, Mr. J. Giles; 3, Mr. James Downton,
Abbotts Ann, Andover. IV. — Best 12 lbs. of extracted
honey, in vessels not exceeding 2 lbs. each. 1, Mr. H.
W. West ; 2, Mr. G. Horner ; 3, Mr. H. Hughes, Long-
stock Manor Farm, Stockbridge. V. — Best 12 lbs. of
extracted honey, in vessels not exceeding 2 lbs. each.
(Cottage and artizan members only.) 1, Mr. W. G.
Horner ; 2, Mr. A. Rond, Warren Cottage, Sherfield ; 3,
Mr. W. Woodley. VI. — Largest and best exhibit of
honey in every form. (Members only.) 1, Mr. F.
Thirlby, Broadlands ; 2, Mr. J. Giles ; 3, Mr. W. C.
Babb, for Mrs. Best, Bed Rice, Andover. VII. — Largest
and best collection of hives and appliances. 1, Mr.
Baldwin, Kent ; 2, Messrs. Abbott Bros., Southall.
VIII. — Best and most complete bar-frame hive, price
not to exceed 40s. 1 , Mi. Baldwin ; 2, Messrs. Abbott ;
3, Mr. G. Forward, Newton, Christ church. IX.— Best
cottager's hive, price not to exceed 10s. Gd. 1, Mr. G.
Forward; 2, Messrs. Abbott;, 3, Mr. Baldwin. XL —
Best section rack prepared for putting upon the hive.
1, Mr. Baldwin ; 2, Mr. G. Forward ; 3, Mr. E. Ainsley,
Swanmore Park, Bishop's Waltham. Extra prize for
beeswax —Miss Grimes, Bramshott.

HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT ASSOCIATION.

CHRISTCHUIICH.

On Tuesday, October 6, the third annual exhibition
of hives, honey, See, at Highcliff, near Christchurch, the
seat of Louisa, Marchioness of Waterford, was held as
heretofore, under the auspices of the Hants and Isle of
Wight Bee-keepers' Association, of which her Ladyship
is a vice-president and zealous supporter. The weather,
unfortunately, was unsettled, and although there was not
sufficient rain to interfere seriously with the proceedings
it undoubtedly prevented a great many visitors from
attending, following as it did a very stormy and wet
Monday. This was the more to be regretted as numer-
ous cottagers and others had brought honey in the hope
of securing purchasers, this show being very popular
with the wealthy classes. Highcliff is a very beautiful

mansion, sometimes termed ' Castle,' standing on the edge
of the cliff, about three miles east of Christchurch, and
five miles from Holmesley station. In a field between
the house and the sea, from which views of the Isle of
Wight and surrounding country are obtained, we found
the handsome new marquee and the bee-tent of this
flourishing little Association. In the latter the lion,
secretary, Mr. E. II. Bellairs, of Wingfield House, de-
livered one of his usually clear aud explanatory lectures,
displaying a thorough mastery of the subject, at the
same time conducting a ' drive ' of bees from a full hive
into an empty one. Mr. Bellairs also explained the
secrets of the ' bar-frame hive' system, and alluding to
the case of two Hampshire cottagers who had made 20/.
and 2GI. respectively last year by their bees, he explained
that such results were not open to everyone, but that
thrifty poor people might expect better returns for bees
than from any other kind of live stock. In the marquee
was displayed an unusually fine collection of honey, See.,
far larger and finer, indeed, than on former years, testify-
ing to the good results achieved by the Association. The
prizes were chiefly confined to cottagers and artisans re-
siding within a radius of six miles, it follows that the
impetus given to the new system amongst the poor must
hare been very great. The work has been fairly started,
and it remains for the public to encourage thrift among
the poor by purchasing their products. We noted that
the prevailing price was about Is. a pound, so that honey
may compete favourably with jam as a domestic economy.
There was a magnificent pile of honey in sections, bottles,
and tins, amounting to about 3 cwt., exhibited by Mr.
Bellairs, and there was an interesting display of the new
tins made by the Patent Tin Box Company. For por-
tability, security from leakage or breaking, these tins
promise to become very popular, and will remove one of
the difficulties bee-keepers labour under in marketing their
wares. Dr. Blake, of Bournemouth, acted as judge on
the occasion, and he exhibited some interesting specimens
of Egyptian bees, collected by him there during the
spring of this year.

The prizes were distributed at 5 o'clock, in the great
hall, at Highcliff, by Lady Waterford, who expressed a
hope that each season would see more and more cottagers
come forward to win prizes. Very general satisfaction
was expressed by those present at the interesting and in-
structive exhibition as a whole. The following were the
awards : —

I. — Hives. — G. Forward, Newtown, Christchurch, 1st.
II. — Section honeycomb. — T. Hiscock, Winlrton, 1st;
E. H. Bellairs, Wingfield, 2nd ; G. Ogg, Sopley, 3rd.
III.— Extracted honey. — E. H. Bellairs, 1st; G. Forward,
2nd; G. Ogg, 3rd; Arthur Stephens, h.c; W. Burgess, c.
Mr. Bellairs handed on his prize, so that Forward took
first prize, Ogg second, and Stephens third. IV. — (For
artisans and cottagers.) Section honeycomb. — G. Ogg, 1st;
H. W. Strickland, 2nd ; W. Burgess, 3rd. V.— (For
ditto.) Super honey in anv other form. — W. Burgess, 1st;
E. Watts, 2nd; H. W. Strickland, 3rd. VI.— (For
ditto.) Beeswax. — W. Burgess, 1st; 2nd and 3rd not
awarded. VII. — (For ditto.) Home-made hives. —
Arthur Stephens, 1st; T. Hiscock, 2nd; Allen Broom, 3rd.
VIII. — (For ditto.) Wasps' nests. — G. Forward, 1st;
T. Hiscock, 2nd ; A. Stephens, 3rd. — From the Hamp-
shire Advertiser.

RUTHERGLEN FLOWER SHOW.
The second exhibition of the Rutherglen Apiarian
Society was held in connexion with the Horticultural
Society in the Town Hall buildings on Saturday, Sept.
12th. Notwithstanding the weather was anything but
propitious there was a very successful show. The
Lesser Town Hall was arranged as the bees, honey, and
vegetable departments. The chief attraction in this hall
was the splendid array of honey in all its different forms.
Messrs W. and R. M'Nally, Glenluce, showed no fewer

332

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[October 15, 1885.

than 700 lbs. of the purest honey, while our own local
apiarian, Mr. E. M'Nally, exhibited a large quantity of
honey as well as an observatory hive at work, and a
special stand of hone}' as applied to food, medicines,
confectionery, and beverages, such as fruit, wines, honey
nectar, honey lemonade, Sec. A special feature in the
honey fair was the competition of honey-comb designs.
The first prize design was wrought in bold letters with
the words ' Aberdeen,' ' Stranraer,' and ' Dundee,' and
the second award bore the motto, ' Rutherglen Show,
1885/ third award ' Beatrice,' with an ornamental star.
These were bona fide the work of the bees themselves
and show the important advance now made in honey-
producing appliances and the wonderful ingenuity of
these little workers. In a collection of bee-keeping ap-
pliances, Mr. M'Nally showed his cottager's hive, which
lias been considered by the most eminent judges a great
boon to amateur apiarians ; also his patent skep union
which has secured the first award for inventions at
Aberdeen. Mr. E. M'Nally, the secretary, exhibited his
model bee farm, which the judge considered, without
hesitation, as being worthy a special prize ' as showing
how it may be laid out to be both useful and ornamental.'
During the day a very large quantity of honey was dis-
posed of and orders booked for further supplies. This
honey fair is a new feature at our local floral fetes, and
during the past two years the greatest interest has been
manifested by those who have had the honour of wit-
nessing the marvellous effects shown by the exhibitors in
their labours with the bees. The public have created in
Rutherglen a market in this luxury hitherto unknown, and
shows what a little energy and publicity can do.

BONNYBRIDGE ANNUAL HORTICULTURAL
SHOW.

This show was held within the beautiful grounds of
"Wheatlands, kindly granted by Mr. George Ure, on the
afternoon of Saturday, 5th September. There was also
space given for an apiarian display. The Caledonian
Apiarian Society kindly lent their manipulating tent for
this occasion. The ease with which Mr. Sword and Mr.
Johnstone handled the bees quite astonished the natives.
Mr. Johnstone exhibited an Observatory Hive, which
was a great source of attraction, and, it is hoped, will be
the means of doing much good in the district in coining
year's.

DUNGLASS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

This Society held its annual Show on Saturday, 12th
September, in the public Hall, Cockburnspath. The
exhibition of honey, which has been associated with the
show for some years, seems to be yearly growing in im-
portance. The present season has not been so highly
favourable as last year for honey-gathering, but generally
bees have done fairly well, and the quality of the honey
is very satisfactory. Mr. James Pringle, clotliier, Cock-
burnspath, who has long been an extensive and successful

bee-keeper, again took the first honours with a much-
admired super. Mr. Pringle exhibited twelve tops of the
Stewarton hive, as well as several sectionals, and fourteen
jars of run honey. The tops, remarkably well filled,
contained from 15 lbs. to 20 lbs. each of beautiful honey.
Mr. Pringle has already this season taken 400 lbs. of
honey from his hives, and expects to lift 100 lbs. more
ere the honey harvest closes. The other exhibitors of
honey were Mr. Thomas Laing, Cockburnspath (who
took second honours), and Mr. James Renton, both of
whom also showed tops and sectionals well filled with
the finest honey.

BLIGH COMPETITION, 1884-85.

The results of this Competition, which closed on August
•31st, show that :

Out of 33 who originally entered 14 only continued on
to the second year, and of this number not more than 9
have held on to the finish, all of whom adopted the
system of bar-frame hives. The 0 swarms, which
weighed in the aggregate 30 J lbs., have during the 15
months of the Competition collected no less than 1170
lbs. of honey, or an average of 1.30 lbs. per swarm, and
at the finish leave 11) well-established stocks, hired and
ready for wintering, in addition to which 1 swarm has
been sold.

The value of the honey as settled for competition pur-
poses is, according to the balance-sheets, in excess of its
present market-price, but putting a value of (say) Qd.
per lb. on both section and extracted honey, we still have
a sum of 43£. 17s. (id., received for honey," or 41. 17s. 6d.
per swarm, besides a very considerable increase in the
value of the stock and appliances.

The weight of honey produced cannot fail to prove
the success and skill of the competitors, and it is hoped
will encourage many to try their hand at bee-keeping on
modern principles.

The balance-sheets as prepared by the several com-
petitors show an exaggerated money profit, owing to the
excessive nominal value put on the honey, and also to
the over-estimate of value which has been set upon most
of the stocks in hand. The judges have not, therefore,
accepted such balance-sheets and values as final, but
have, after most careful consideration and comparison of
the different accounts, reduced them all as far as possible
to one and the same scale, and have given their award of
prizes as follows: —

1st prize 6/ T. Owen.

2nd, ol. W. Woodley.

4/ P. Woodley.

4th „ .,

5th „ ..

6th „ .,

The following

3^. W. Seabrook.

2/ H.E.Roberts.

1/ J. Arnold.

table shows iu cumparison the results

gained by the different competitors, as shown by their
several diaries : —

Honey Taken.

Swarms

Name.

Weight
of Bees

Total

Sold.

No. of

Valuation of

Balance Sheet

Sections.

Total

in lbs.

Expenses.

Weight iu
lbs.

Weight in
lbs.

number of
lbs.

Weight
in lbs.

left.

Stocks.

Profit.

£ .v. ,/.

£ s. d.

£ s. d.

Mr. J. Hedding . .

4?

3 10 7

5G

56

112

2

2 10 0

5 15 7^

„ F. Woodley ..

3

2 1 G

73

63

136

2

5 G 6

12 3 3

4

3 9 4

134

6

140

H

5

6 7 6

14 3 2

„ W. Seabrook . .

4

2 5 11

150

150

1

3 4 4

9 0 11

„ J. Arnold ....

2

2 2 1

74

12

86

2

4 5 0

8 15 9

„ A. Cooper ....

4A

2 10 0

18

60

78

2

2 0 0

4 11 6

„ W. Woodley..

oi

1 17 9

15G

28

184

1

3 8 0

14 14 7

„ H. E. Roberts

2

2 10 6

1

158

159

2

3 5 6

9 r, 11

„ T. H. Cudd . .

4

2 10 2

60

65

125

••

2

2 4 4

7 13 5

October 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

333

Balance Sheet.

£ s. (I.

£ s.

<!,

.200

As per last Account

. 3 4

8.',

. 2 11 0

Sugar

.0 4

7

. o li 4;

Foundation, &e. ...

.. 0 10

:'.},

. 1 13 0

Capital refunded

..2 0

0

. 2 9 10

Balance profit...

.. 5 15

7*

. 2 10 0

£11 IS 2J

£11 15

2}

Mr. J. Hedding, Sawstone, Cambridge, took 34 1-lb.
sections and extracted 5^ lbs. in 1884, and wintered his
bees (divided September 10th) as two stocks. March 18th,
began to feed. April loth, spread brood. April 21st,
spread brood in both hives. April 28th, put in frames
of foundation. May 7th, do. May 23rd, little progress
made. May 28th, put in two frames of foundation into
each hive. June 0th, put super on No. 1. June 18th,
No. 2 hive swarmed, cut out queen-cells and returned
swarm. June 2!)th, put on doubling box and added
frames to No. 2. July Gth, took C sections. July 7th,
extracted 20 lbs. August 4th, took off 14 sections.
August loth, 8 sections taken off. August 22nd, took
off doubling box and extracted. August 26th, extracted
from No. 1.

Valuation of stocks certified by Secretary of the
Cambridge B.K.A. Two hives, 1/. ; 20 frames of comb,
with brood on 7 combs, bees, &c, but little honey, 16s.;
doubling box and 10 combs, 9s. ; sundries, 5s.

Capital

36 Sections

10} lbs. Extracted
22 Sections in baud .
4Slbs. Extracted do.
Valuation of Stock .

Mr. F. "Woodley, Chilton Steventon, Berks, took in
1884 ."'8 sections and 8 lbs. extracted, and wintered his
"bees as one stock. April lst-21, 1885, fed. April 20th,
spread brood. May 1st -8th, fed. May 18th, gave
frame of foundation and fed. May 20th, removed feed-
ing bottle and put on crate of 21 1-lb. sections. J une 2nd,
bees well up in sections. June 4th, bees swarmed ; put
them, 4 lbs. weight, in hive made of tea-chest on 2 frames
of brood from No. 1 hive and 5 frames foundation; cut all
but one queen-cell out of No. 1. June 6th, gave another
frame. June 8th, gave another frame. June 13th, had
fed up to this date ; found all frames worked out ; put on
crate of 14 1-lb. sections. June loth, No. 2 working well
in sections. June 18th, No. 1 swarmed again, returned
swarm. June 21st, took off 14 sections from No. 2
<mite finished, and put on 21 1-lb. sections, and took 7
sections from No. 1 , leaving 14 still unfinished. June 27th,
two queens thrown out of No. 1. June 20th, extracted
15 lbs. from No. 1, and took off crate of 14 unfinished
sections. July 8th, No. 1, bees killing drones. July 15,
sealed honey and brood in No. 1. July 17th, removed
crate from No. 2 ; 14 sections finished^ extracted from
remaining 7 and the 14 off No. 1, 8 lbs. July 24th, ex-
tracted from No. 2, 6 lbs. August 1.3th, extracted 6 lbs.
from No. 1, and 20 lbs. from No. 2 ; fed till August 30th.

Value of stock as certified by the Secretary of the
Berks B.K.A. Two hives, &c, 14s. 9d. ; 6A lbs. of
bees, 1/. 6s. ; 0 lbs. brood, 18s. ; 40 lbs. honey, 21. ;
comb, 7s. 9d.

Balance Sheet.

As per last Account
35 1-lb. Section ...
55?, lbs. Extracted
Valuation of Stock ,

£ s.
5 5

2 12

3 0
5 6

£16 4 9;

£ s. d.

As per last Account ... 1 6 7

Tea-cbest Hive 0 4 85

Foundation, Sugar, &c. 0 10 2}

Capital refunded ... 2 0 0

Balance profit 12 3 3}

£16 4 9;

Mr. T. Owen, Corsham, Wilts, took 27 lbs. in sections
and 6 lbs. extracted in 1884, and wintered his bees as
two stocks. March 6th, 1885, spread brood in both
stocks. April 17th, spread brood in both stocks.
May 11, made artificial swarm, 2 frames with bees and
queen-cell from No. 1 , and 2 frames with bees from No. 2.
Spread brood in No. 1 and 2. May 26th, put on 14 1-lb.
sections on both No. 1 and No. 2. May 29th, put on 14
1-lb. sections on both No. 1 and No. 2. June 2nd, put
on 14 1-lb. sections on both No. 1 and No. 2. June Gth,
as No. 1 seemed likely to swarm cut out all queen-cells

but one, and took queen with 2 frames and made new
swarm (No. 4), and added to it 2 frames with foundation.
Spread brood in No. 3, where young queen was laying.
June 23rd, natural swarm, 4| lbs., came from No. 1
which I sold. This swarm came out at 10.30 a.m., and
remained clustered on a pole till 7.30 p.m. before I found
it. Took off 24 1-lb. sections. June 25th, natural swarm
came from No. 2; put them on 6 frames of foundation
(No. 5). Took 40 1-lb. sections. July 1st, put 21 sec-
tions on No. 3. Took 18 sections off No. l,and 2 sections
from No. 2. August 8th, took 21 sections from No. 3.

Valuation of stock certified by the Secretary of the
Devon and Exeter B.K.A. No. 1 hive, 8 frames, strong
with bees, about 20 lbs. honey, 1/. 10s. No. 2 hive, 0
frames, very strong, about 30 lbs. honey, 11. 12s. Qd.
No. 3 hive, 6 frames, fair condition, 1/. Is. No. 4 hive,
4 frames, good lot of brood, excellent queen, very clean
combs, 1/. 3s. No. 5 hive, 7 frames, good stock, very
strong with bees, 1/. Is.

Balance Sheet.

As per last Account . . .

Swarm sold

97 lbs. Sections

Sections undercharged
Valuation of Stock

£ s.

d.

4 6

S

11 IS

0

7 5

6

II 15

(1

6 7

6

19 12

6

£ s.

a.

As per last Account

.. J 18

7

Three Hives

.. 0 15

I)

Sundries

.. 0 15

9

Capital refunded ...

..2 0

0

Balance profit ...

.. 14 3

2

£19 12 6

Mr. W. Seabrook, Sutton, took in 1884 33 lbs. of ex-
tracted honey, and wintered bis bees as one stock on 6
frames. Feb. 28th-May 3rd, fed slowly by one hole.
April 26th, gave back 1 empty comb. May 3rd, gave 2
more empty combs. May 0th, gave back 1 comb. May
16th, doubled hive, putting five frames with brood into
doubling-box, replacing them with 4 frames of comb
placed alternately with brood in lower box. May 23rd,
gave frame of foundation to upper box. May 30'th, ex-
tracted 8 lbs. from ."> frames. June 5th, put frame of
foundation in upper box, extracted 10 lbs. from 4 frames.
June 13th, extracted 27ilbs. from 7 frames. June 20th,
extracted 14A lbs. from 4frames, and exchanged 2 frames
brood from lower box for 2 frames of comb from upper,
added another frame of foundation. June 27th, extracted
9 lbs. from 3 frames, bees still crowded, put in another
frame of foundation. July 4th, extracted l-ii lbs. from
4 frames. July 18th, extracted 13§ lbs. from 3 frames.
July 27th, extracted 12 lbs. from 4 frames. August 15th,
extracted 7\ lbs. from 3 frames.

Value of stock as certified by the Secretary of the
Surrey B.K.A. Hive, &c, 13s.; 6 lbs. of bees, 0s. ; 18
frames of comb, 13s. Qd. ; 22i lbs. of honey, 1/. 4s. id. ;
sundries, 4s. 6c?.

Balance Sheet.

Per last Account
116} lbs. Extracted
Valuation of Stock

£ s. d

3 16 3

6 6 2

3 4 4

£13 6 10;

As per last Accouut
Foundation, &c. ...
Capital refunded
Balance profit...

!. d.
0 0
5 11.'.
0 0"
0 11

£13 6 10}

Mr. J. Arnold, East Molesey, Surrey, took no honey
in 1884, and wintered his bees as one stock. March 31st,
took out 4 bars, from which he extracted honey, and fed
it back through 1 hole, and fed till April 13th ; on that
day put hack 1 bar. April 15th, put back another bar.
April 17th, put back another bar. April 20th, put back
another bar. April 21st, bees hanging out, put on 7 1-lb.
sections. May 7th, bees not in sections, gave A pint of
syrup. May 13th, divided stocks, putting 2 bars with
brood and queen and 4 bars with strip of foundation in
back part of Twin hive, and then turned it right about
back to front. Fed both stocks. May 14th, gave another
bar to swarm, No. 1. May 16th, fed original stock,
No. 2. May 20th, found queen-cells in No. 2, fed No. 2.
May 21st, gave another bar to No. 1. May 22nd, fed
both stocks. May 25th, put 14 1-lb. sections on each.
June 9th, took off 7 full sections from No. 1 , and replaced
with empty ones. June 13th, took off 1 section from

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[October 15, 1885.

No. 1, replaced, took out and extracted 2 lbs. from bar in
No. 2, and replaced witb bar of foundation. June loth,
took off 4 sections from No. 1, replacing with empty ones.
June 17th, gave bar and foundation to No. 1 . June 18th,
put 7 more 1-lb. sections on No. 1. June 20th, took off
o sections from No. 2, replacing -with 12 empty ones.
June 24th, took off 3 sections from No. 1, replacing with
empty ones. June 27th, put on 7 more empty sections
on No. 1. July 6th, took off 1 section from No. 1, and

2 from No. 2, replacing empties. July 11th, took off 2
sections from No. 2, replacing empties. July 14th, took
off 5 sections from No. 1, and 2 from No. 2, replacing
empties. July 10th, took off 2 sections from No. 2, re-
placing empties. July 17th, took off 3 sections from
No. 1, replacing empties. July ISth, put on 7 more sec-
tions on No. 1. July 20th, took off 14 sections from
No. 1, replacing empties. July 21st, took off 11 sections
from No. 2, replacing empties. July 25th, took off 3
sections each from No. 1 and No. 2, replacing empties.
July 31st, took off from No. 1 3 full, 0 unfinished, and
19 empty ; from No. 2 2 full, 8 unfinished, and 4 empty,
leaving 7 unfinished on each. August 3rd, extracted

3 lbs. each from No. 1 and No. 2. August 9th, took off
all sections, 3 on No. 1 and 1 on No. 2 being full, fed
gently till 31 August.

Value of stocks certified by Nominee of Surrey B.K.A.
Hive, 12s. ; bees, 7| lbs., 22s. ; 17 frames, one eighth
filled with brood, remainder honey, 00 lbs., 2/. 8s. G(/. ;
sundries, 2s. Qd.

Balance Sheet.

As per last Account .
74 Sections sold ...
12 lbs. Extracted sold .

3 Sections unsold ... .

4 lbs. Hone.T unsold .
Valuation of Stock

£ s. i.

2 0 0

5 11 0

0 13 0

0 4 6

0 4 4

4 5 0

£12 17 10

As per last Account
Sections, food, &c. .
Capital refunded
Balance profit .. .

£ s. d.

1 11 11
0 10 11 .'.

2 0 0

8 is y

£12 17 10

Mr. A. Cooper, Normanton, took in 1884 14 lbs. of
extracted honey, and wintered his bees as one stock.
March 2nd-Ma'y 29th, fed slowly. April 17th, put
American cloth over frames. May 29th, gave back 2
combs. June loth, gave back 2 more combs. June 17th,
put on crate of 18 sections. July 14th, took off 18 full
sections, extracted 19 lbs. from 10 frames. July 28th,
extracted 27 lbs. from 12 frames. July 30th, divided by
placing 8 frames of brood and bees in new hive (No. 2),
and replacing with 3 frames of foundation in No. 1.
August 25th, removed 2 combs from No. 1, and 1 comb
from No. 2, leaving (i frames in each.

Value of stock as certified by the Secretary of the
Derby B.K.A. Two hives, 17s. Gd. ; bees, about 5i lbs.,
1/. 2s. ; combs, 7s. Gel. ; sundries, 2s.

As per last Account

1 Section

3 lbs. Extracted ...

Uncappings

17 Sections in band
43 lbs. Extracted do.
Valuation of Stock

Balance Sheet.
£ s. d.
2 15 2
0 16
0 3 3

0 0 6

1 5 6

2 6 7
2 9 0

£9 16

As per last Account .

Hives, &c

Sundries

Capital refunded
Balance profit ..

£ s. d.

1 IB 10
0 8 9
0 4 44

2 0 0"
4 11 6.1.

Mr. W- Woodley, World's End, Newbury, took 72
sections, and extracted 13 lbs. in 1884, and wintered his
bees as one stock. April llth-May 25th, fed slowly.
May 11th, brood on all combs except the outside ones.
May 30th, put on crate of 21 1-lb. sections. June 4th,
put another crate of 21 sections underneath the first.
June 12th, swarmed, returned swarm, captured and de-
stroyed queen. June 14th, swarmed, late swarm returned
of its own accord. June 18th, took off crate of 21 full
sections, put on another under that left on. June 24th,
swarmed, swarm returned, cut out 10 queen-cells, put in
2 frames of foundation, took off 21 sections well filled,
put another crate under that left on. July 10th, took off

crate of 21 perfect sections, and put outside sections of
the other crate into the centre, still leaving one crate on.
July 20th, took off crate of 21 sections all well filled, but
some a little dark. August 19th, extracted 16 lbs. from
4 frames.

Value of stock certified by Secretary of the Berks
B.K.A. Hive, dec., lis. ; bees,'olbs.J/. ; brood, 1 lb., 2s. ;
honey in hive, 30 lbs., 1/. 10s.; comb, •'5s.

Balance Sheet.

£ s. d.
As per last Account ... 8 1 0

84 Sections 6 6 0

16 lbs. Extracted 0 17 4

Valuation of Stock ... 3 8 0

£18 12 4

As per last Account
Foundation, &c. ...
Capital refunded
Balance profit...

£ s. i.

1 10 04
0 7 8i

2 0 0
14 14 71

£18 12 4

Mr. H. E. Roberts, Gosmore, Hitchin, took in 1884
32^ lbs. of extracted honey, and wintered two stocks in
his Twin hive. April 9th, 1885, commenced feeding.
May 2nd, finding No. 2 queenless put in frame of brood
from No. 1. May 5th, introduced a queen into No. 2.
May 13th, can find no queen, and fear she is killed.
May 27th, put 5 new frames with foundation in No. 1,
taking out 2 frames of brood and put them in No. 2.
After all found brood in No. 2, so queen could not have
been killed. June 4th, put 5 new frames in No. 1, and
transferred 2 frames of brood to No. 2. June 10th, put
sections on No. 2. June 12th, No. 1 swarmed, put back
swarm, cutting out all queen-cells but one. June 18th,
extracted 2 frames of honey out of No. 1 . June 22nd,
extracted 3 frames of honey from No. 1. June 24th,
extracted 3 frames of honey from No. 2. June 26th,
extracted 5 frames of honey from No. 1. June 27th,
No. 2 swarmed, put back after removing queen. June
28th, No. 2 swarmed again, put back again after re-
moving young queen. July 2nd, extracted 2 frames of
honey from No. 1. July 4th, extracted 5 frames of honey
from No. 1. July 9th, extracted 3 frames of honey from
No. 2, and 1 frame of honey from No. 1. July loth,
extracted 5 frames of honey from No. 1. July 17th, ex-
tracted 5 frames of honey out of No. 2; he thinks he must
have lost a swarm from No. 2. July 25th, took off sec-
tions from No. 2, and also extracted 2 frames of honey ;
extracted 6 frames of honey out of No. 1. Both hives
seem to be queenless. July 29th, put old queen which
came out of No. 1 back into No. 2. Julj' 31st, extracted
4 frames of honey out of No. 1. August 1st, extracted
2 frames of honey out of No. 2. August 0th, extracted
8 frames of honey out of No. 1. August 8th, put young
queen, which came out of No. 2, into No. 1. August
10th, saw brood in No. 1. August 20th, saw brood in
No. 2.

Value of stock as certified by the Secretary of the
Herts B.K.A. Twin hive, 6s. ; two stocks of bees on 11
frames, 11. 17s. Gd.; 21 empty frames, crate, sections,
&c, 1?. 2s.

Balance Sheet.

As per last Account
125 lbs. Extracted
Valuation of Stock

£ s. d.

3 15 3

6 15 81

3 5 6

£13 16 5J

As per last Account

Sundries

Capital refunded
Balance profit ...

£ s.

1 11
0 18

2 0

£13 16 51

Mr. T. II. Cudd, Stately, Chislehurst, took 10 sections
and l'Sflbs. extracted in 1884, and wintered his bees on
5 frames in one hive. April 15th, added 2 frames.
April 22nd, added 2 more. May 4th, put frame of
sections at back of hive. May 20th, took out frame of
sections, replaced them, and put on crate of sections.
June 2nd, bees swarmed; put them, 4 lbs., into bar-
framed hive. June 3th, put super on No. 2. June 17th,
took 10 sections from No. 1. June 26th, took 7 sections
from No. 2. June 30th, extracted 5i lbs. from No. 1,
and 17 lbs. from No. 2. July 9th, extracted 14 lbs. from
No. 1, and took 5 sections from No. 2. July 20th, took
5 sections from No. 2. July 28th, took 7 sections from

October 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

33;

No. 2, and 4 from No. 1. August 4th, took 2 sections
from No. 2. August 14th, took 7 sections and extracted
12 lbs. from No. 2, and 5 sections and 4 lbs. from No. 1.
Valuation of stock countersigned bj' Mr. G. Twitchen.
Two hives, 15». 6d. ; 20 combs, with honey and brood,
15s.; 6 lbs. bees, 12s.; sundries, Is. lOtf.

Balance Sheet.

As per last Account

50 Sections

52 lbs. Extracted ...

Wax

Valuation of Stocks .

£
3
3 15

2 15 0

0 1
2 4

£12 3 75

As per last Account

New Hive, &c

Capital refunded
Balance profit ...

£ s. a.

1 16 10*
0 13 34

2 0 0
7 13 5}

£12 3 75

Mr. A. J. King, who has for twelve years edited the
Bee-keeper's Magazine, has retired. The new editors
are Messrs. J. Aspinwall and W. B. Treadwell.

The Kansas Bee-keeper, of which five yearly volumes
have appeared and which started as a weekly from
the 1st January last, has ceased to exist since July
last. It had to be given up for want of patronage.

A Scotch Bee Case.— In the Sheriff's Small Debt
Court, here, October 7th, — before Sheriff Nicholson —
James Allison, Glenluce, sued Andrew Lochrie, game-
keeper, Cairntop, and Archibald M'Kie, grocer, Kirk-
cowan, for the sum of 1/., the value of bees, belonging
to the pursuer, taken possession of by the defenders. Mr.
Rankin appeared for the pursuer, and Mr. MTadyean
for the defenders. From the evidence it appears
that the pursuer, who is in rather feeble health, re-
sides with his mother, Mrs. Allison, in Glenluce.
He was from home on the morning the bees hived,
and his mother, who is an old woman, was watch-
ing the bees. She saw they were working as likely
to hive. Her garden, in which the bees were, runs
along the side of the public road. She went into
the house and was there for perhaps ten minutes, and
when she came out she saw the defenders standing on
the road, besides a horse and cart. Her bees during the
time she was in the house had come off, and the two
men were putting them into a skep. She went forward
to the men and told them the bees were hers. They
said she was too late of coming, and she replied she was
here now. She did not see the bees leave the skep, but
she knew they had come out of her garden. The de-
fenders stuck to them and took them with them. Other
evidence was given to show that when the bees were
being skepped, there were bees still flying backward and
forward between this hive and the skep in the garden,
and that it was the habit of bees when they came off if
they alighted in the neighbourhood of the place to keep
coming and going in this way. There were no other
bees hived in Glenluce that day. The evidence of the
defenders was to the effect that they were passing into
Glenluce when they discovered this hive of bees hanging
to a branch on the side of the road. They were on the
opposite side of the road from Mrs. Allison's garden.
There was no one there looking after them ; and they
considered they had a right to take possession of them.
M'Kie remained with the bees and Lochrie went for a
skep. After they had got them into the skep and were
putting the cloth over them, Mrs. Allison came and
looked over the bank and said, ' Men, these bees are
mine.' M'Kie replied that she was too late of coming
and that she had been rather careless about her bees.
He was detained about half an hour over the bees. Mr.
M'Fadyean contended that according to the law, as laid
down by Erskine, when bees hived and got away they
recovered their natural liberty, and became the same as
wild birds, the property of the person who first captured
them again. The Sheriff said he had a great respect for
Erskine, and would be sorry to upset the law of Scotland,
but he would be still more sorry to allow an old woman's
bees to be taken in this way within five vards of her

own door, because they had swarmed when she was
absent for a few minutes, and she had not instantly
pursued them. Ho thought this was a barefaced ca.-c of
appropriation of another person's property. It was a
case that should never have been defended. For two
respectable men to appropriate another's bees in this
way was disgraceful. It was all very well to quote an
old law that when bees got away they became wild; but
he could not hold that they had got away or were wild,
so long as they were within a few yards of the house
they belonged to. He gave decree for 1/. with expenses.
— Galloway Advertiser.

The Drowning Bee. — Mr. Spurgeon writes as follows
in the September number of the Sword and Trowel : —
A poor bee had fallen into the pond, and was struggling
as well as her failing strength would allow. We seized
a pole, and placed the end of it just under her. She took
firm hold, and we lifted the pole and the bee. A little
while was spent in drying herself and pluming her wings,
and then our worker made a straight line for the hive,
and doubtless was soon at her daily task rewarding us
with honey. May not many a human worker be found
in a sinking condition? A little sensible help might
save him. Who will give it ? He who does so shall
receive the blessing of him that is ready to perish. Poor
hearts are often in deep despondency, sinking for lack of
a sympathetic word. Do not withhold it. Rescue the
perishing. Be on the watch for despairing minds; if no
other good comes of it, you will, at least, be more grate-
ful for your own cheerfulness. But good will come of it
in unexpected instances, and it will be heaven's music in
your ears to hear sighs turned into songs.

Testing Beeswax. — When beeswax is chewed
it should have no disagreeable taste and must not
stick to the teeth. In the adulterated wax, the
nature of the foreign material can generally be de-
tected by the taste; the addition of fat can generally
be readily detected. If it sticks to the teeth, the
presence of resin may be assumed. A simple method
of detecting the presence of fat in wax consists in
melting it, and placing a drop on a piece of woollen
cloth. After it is perfectly cold and solidified, pour
on a few drops of 00 per cent of alcohol and rub the
cloth between the hands. The wax will be converted
into dust, and will easily separate from the cloth if it
contains no fat, and will leave no stain ; when it contaias
fat it will leave grease-spots.

Analysis op the Exceeta of Bees. — Various
opinions are held respecting the composition of the
excrement of bees. While most persons regard the
contents of the rectum as composed of the indigestible
remains of pollen, Dr. Alefield recently declared them to
be uric acid. An analysis of the excreta has shown the
following ingredients: — 1. Remains of Pollen. — I boiled
the excrement in caustic potash lye, slightly diluted.
After filtering, I washed the residuum in hot dilute
muriatic acid. What was left after again filtering
would, from its insolubility, be only the remains of
pollen. It appears, under the microscope, like an in-
distinctly granular mass. 2. Uric Acid.— I immersed
the excrement in concentrated sulphuric acid, in which
uric acid remains undecomposed. After carefully de-
canting the liquid from the resulting carbonaceous mass,
I added water, and then washed the precipitate matter
in water. I now added one drop of liquor ammonia; and
one drop of muriatic acid. On heating, the mass assumed
a purplish hue — the characteristic of uric acid. 3.
Hippuric Acid. — I boiled some excrement in caustic
potash lye. After filtering, I added dilute muriatic acid,
and obtained a precipitate which proved to be composed
of uric and hippuric acid. According to an approximate
estimate, the excreta of bees consist of about one-third
uric and hippuric acid, and the rest of indigestible
portions of pollen. — Canada Farmer.

33G

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[October 15, 1885.

€axx£&$avtimv£>

*»* All Correspondents forwarding Letters for insertion in
the Journal, Reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes
from, the Hives, Queries, <tc, are requested to direct their com-
munications to ' The Editor of the "British Bee Journal." c/o
Messrs. Strangeivays <fc Sons, Tower Street, Upper St. Martin's
Lane, W.C

RACES OF BEES.

I see by a report in the American Bee Journal that at
the annual meeting- of the Ontario (Canada) Bee-keepers'
Association, the President, Dr. J. C. Thorn, advocated
the establishment of an experimental bee-farm in which
the various races of bees could be thoroughly tested.
'After having- the Asiatic races inflicted upon us/ he
said, ' we are now threatened with the Carniolan.' He
expressed the opinion that the Italian race should be
cultivated as the best bee America has yet obtained.

The Rev. W. F. Clarke said personally he thought
the Cyprians had been an injury. He had seen such a
man as D. A. Jones, who boasted of his ability to handle
all sorts of bees without veil or gloves, run into the
bushes on opening a Cyprian hive; and smoke even
from a Bingham ' Conqueror' had no effect upon them.
He was of opinion that a dash of Syrian or Holy Land
blood was a decided improvement to the best Italians.
He had given every race of bees that had come before
the public a fair trial, and he had obtained a Carniolan
queen for that purpose.

Mr. D. A. Jones some time ago, assisted by Mr. F.
Benton, went to Cyprus and to Palestine for the purpose
of obtaining pure Cyprians and other races of bees, and
has since established apiaries in several of the islands on
the Georgian Bay (where no other bees were to be
found), and in this way he has been able to breed pure
queens of the various races.

Mr. Jones said, ' In his own apiary he was weeding out
all trace of the Cyprian race, and breeding from best
Italians, with, perhaps, a third of Syrian or Palestine
crossing. He found that the best " business bee " for
this country' (Canada).

After this admission from a gentleman who was at
the expense and trouble of travelling from Canada to
Europe and Asia and back to procure Cyprians, it will
"he quite sufficient corroboration of the experience of
those who have bad this vicious race to warrant their
discarding them altogether in favour of Italians, Car-
niolans, and black bees. — John M. Hookeii, Sevenoaks.

BEE-KEEPING IN SOMERSET.

In the spring of 1883 I was requested by the late Rev.
II. R. Peel to hold (as he called it) a 'Bee Mission ' in
Somerset, with a view to the formation of a County Bee-
keepers' Association. A provisional committee was
formed, and it was arranged that I should give an even-
ing lecture at five different centres, visiting and assisting
bee-keepers during the day. The last place visited was
Wells, where Mr. Peel met me. The Lord Bishop of the
diocese presided at my lecture in the Town Hall, and
most kindly consented to become the President of the
Association, in which he has ever since taken much
interest.

Last year, at the invitation of Mr. F. J. Clark, the
district hon. sec, I paid a second most pleasant visit
to Street near Glastonbury ; and at the end of last
month he again invited me, bee work in Wilts having
made it impracticable earlier in the season, or to spend
more than three nights under his hospitable roof. I
believe I am right in saying that all the members of the
firm of C. and J. Clark and Co. are practical and ad-
vancing bee-keepers, and are doing their best to encourage
those in their employ (and other neighbours also), in the
pursuit, both by their own example, and by helping to

procure from the best makers good hives and other
appliances for all who desire them. Mr. F. J . Clark met
me at the station on September 29, and immediately after
lunch the visitation of bee-keepers commenced. Then a
pleasant drive to Butleigh, where Mr. Clark had arranged
for me to do some 'expert's' work, and give a lecture in the
schoolroom, at which the Rev.C. Anderson, County Hon.
Sec, attended to advocate the claims of the Somerset
B. K. A., and some new members were enrolled. The next
day expert work went on busily from 8.30 a.m. till 5 p.m. ;
then a beautiful drive through Glastonbury and Wells
to Wookeyllole, to dine with J. Hodgkinson, Esq., J.P.,
who kindly took the chair at my lecture in the school-
room.

( )n Thursday morning another visit was paid to Butleigh
at the request of some who had attended the lecture
on Tuesday, to put stocks in order for winter ; but heavy
showers much impeded the work. In the evening a third
lecture was given at Street in the Friends' meeting-house,
(Captain Butt, J.P., in the chair), attended by most of
the local bee-keepers, many of whom begged for my help
before leaving the next day.

Bee-keeping has advanced most satisfactorily in Street
and the other villages I visited on this occasion; and if in
other districts Mr. Anderson has such an able and
energetic assistant hon. sec. as Mr. F. Clark, he is much
to be congratulated. Altogether I visited fourteen bee-
keepers owning seventy-three stocks in bar-frame hives,
and four in old-fashioned skeps. Many of the frame-
hives were good ones by our best makers (though some of a
very ancient type), but far too many too roughly made
for satisfactory working. Till a man has tried it, he
never would believe the saving in time, trouble, and
sometimes temper, with thoroughly well-made hives and
accurately fitting frames — it amply repays extra cost,
when ' time is money ' at all events.

I was rather sorry not to see any attempt at work-
ing sections on skeps by those who cannot afford (or
Will not) frame-hives. Some cottagers in my own
neighbourhood have done remarkably well on this
plan ; some of the best sections I have seen this season
were, worked on a skep belonging to a cottager, — ■
40 lbs. from one hive, 36 from another, 12 2 -lb.
sections from a third. Most of the stocks I examined
were strong and well provided for winter, and the
honey of first-rate quality. AVithout exception, all 1
visited seemed anxious to gain all the hints I could give
them, and also to improve in bee-culture (for which, in
many cases I had ample room). With a little encourage-
ment and advice from the hon. sec, I fancy several
promising candidates for third-class expert certificates
might be secured next year from Street and the neigh-
bourhood.

Messrs. Clark employ in their factories some 1200
hands, whose welfare is evidently never overlooked by
them, but most generously attended to, as is shown by
the neat and substantial workmen's dwellings, clubs,
coffee-rooms, co-operative stores, and school of art, all
originated by them ; and, lastly, by the splendid pile of
buildings now erecting by one of the firm, which will
be opened in the course of this month as a Workmen's
Hall and Institute.

My visit was a most pleasant one, and I hope it may
lead to greater care and neatness in the apiarj-, and result
in many joining the Association, who as yet do not
seem to realise the advantages of membership so much
as could be desired.

Bee-keeping in this district, has increased and im-
proved so much since the formation of the Association
(only two and a half years ago), considering the little time
that Mr. F. Clark can devote to it, that I feel bound to
send this report to the B. B.J.,ior the encouragement of
other district secretaries.— W. E. Bubkitt, Hon. Sec.
and Expert of Wilts B. K. A., Buttermere Rectory,
Hungerford, Oct. 8, 188o.

October 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

337

BEE-KEEPING IN MERIONETHSHIRE.

Being a bee-fancier, and having- kept bees for ten
years, perhaps some of your readers -would like to know
what progress bee-keeping is making in the hilly county
of Merioneth.

Two years ago there was only myself keeping bees on
the bar-frame principle, and although I managed to get
honey without killing my bees, yet I felt that I had but
a very imperfect knowledge of the bar-frame system, for
I had not seen nor even heard of the B. B. Journal, or
any of the modern bee-books. At that time I considered
a -'SO lbs. super taken off a stock hive, leaving stock hive
plenty of stores to winter upon, a good take of honey.
But now during these last few years apiculture has made
rapid progress, there being several other persons keeping-
bees on the bar-frame system. We have no Association
here, or is there one near us, but by studying books
and taking in your valuable Journal we get on very
well. We have nearly put an end to the cruel practice
of killing our bees over the brimstone-pit ; and although
cottagers do not seem inclined to adopt the bar-frame,
yet they are pleased for us to take the bees for them. I
noticed as I drove the bees out of cottagers' skeps that
there were a great many of them queenless, and a few of
them had fertile workers. This was invariably the case
with skeps that had swarmed several times. Some of
them had sent out five swarms. We have had a good
honey harvest in this county this year till the end of
August, when it turned wet and cold, and has been so
■ever since.

As I was removing frames from one of my hives I
was astonished to find drones on several frames. This,
of course, led me to think that the stock was queenless,
as this was on the 3rd of October ; but on taking out
the central comb I found brood in its various stages,
also eggs. The queen is not a young one, but one of
last year's. Also on opening a hive on September 24 I
noticed a small patch of eggs, but no brood in any other
stage. On September 30th I opened it again, but found
no brood in the frame that contained the eggs last time,
but found eggs in another frame, and have opened it
since, but found no brood. Can it be that the workers
eat the eggs, or what becomes of them ? If any of
the readers of the Journal have seen similar occurrences,
please state in your next issue. — H. P. Jones, Llanerch,
Dinas Maicchri/.

THE SWANMORE BEE CLUB.

\A e must all have read with very great pleasure of
the excellent doings of this little club, possessing fifteen
or sixteen hives, and harvesting over 1000 lbs. of honey
tkis season, besides running off with sixteen prizes. The
interesting letter from your same correspondent, ' A
Hampshire Bee-keeper,' on his first year's experience, is
pleasant reading throughout, and I do not think sufficient
importance is usually attached to the point he makes, viz.
the solid pleasure and recreation he has derived from his
bees. Anything productive of contentment to those
classes to whom so few pleasures belong, must surely be
of moment to the community at large. But I am tempted
to contrast his letter with the growl from the same parish
(perhaps the same club ?) in your September 1st issue, the
purport of which is that our Association ought not to con-
fine cottagers to one-pound ;;ections in our prize schedules ;
that the prizes ought to be of the same amount as in the
' open ' classes ; that exhibitors should be barred for
putting (through ignorance) their names on exhibits; and,
lastly, that it is a great mistake to allow a short notice for
entries. The latter complaint refers to one show only,
and I do not think our friend would have raised the ob-
jection had he known all the circumstances of the case.
The Romsey committee very naturally wished to embody
the entries in their official catalogue, and through the
loss of our most excellent local secretary there, together

with delays in drafting and subsequently printing the
schedule, the time given us was all too short to allow of
further ' notice.' It is only scantily fair, however, to us
to add that post entries would be accepted for another
fortnight upon payment of a fee of one shilling, wliich
fee I may say was not enforced ! As to the other com-
plaints we now know that Swanmore took nearly all our
prizes in the open classes, and it sounds a little greedy
when your correspondent complains about the cottagers'
classes having prizes of less value offered. The judge
(Mr. J. M. Hooker of London) considered the exhibit
complained of as having a name attached of such sur-
passing excellence, that he, as I think very properly, passed
over the first offence of a genuine cottager in so doing, as
it was done through evident ignorance, the man being
utterly unknown to him. The suggestion that cottagers'
prizes ought not to be confined to one-pound size is
thoroughly practical, and as soon as the cottagers them-
selves sufficiently support, us, I have no doubt will be
given effect to ; but your correspondent, and 1 hope I
may add my friend, must understand we have only a
limited amount to give away, and we have found it un-
fair to class one-pound and two-pound sections together.
But as Swanmore men are so capable of beating us all in
' open ' field, I hope they will prefer to choose ' open '
classes, and not avail themselves of an advantage limited
to those struggling under adverse circumstances. — E. H.
Bellairs, Hon, Sec. Hants and I. W. B. A". A.

MY FIRST YEAR'S EXPERIENCES.
By a London Bee-Keeper.
In December last I was given two straw hives of bees,
and with these I commenced bee-keeping within three
and a half miles of Oxford Street. 1 knew nothing of
bees, and did not even know a drone by sight, and it was
not until August that I saw any one haudle bees. In
the following month the bees in one of the hives died
of dysentery. There were very few bees, and nearly all
their stores were gone.

On the 28th of March 1 transferred the bees from the
other hive into a frame-hive, and I found that there was
brood in three of the combs.

On the 27th April I found there was a great quantity
of drone brood, and I cut out over 1000 cells full of
drone brood from two of the combs, leaving a little in
two other combs.

About once a-week I placed a sheet of foundation in
the middle of the hive feeding the bees regularly, and
on the 13th May nine frames were full of brood and the
bees were at work in the section frame at the back of the
hive.

On the 14th May 1 bought an Italian queen with a
large retinue. I took from my old hive a comb of
hatching brood, replacing it with a sheet of foundation.
After brushing off every bee I placed the comb in a new
hive, together with one sheet of foundation. I then
opened the queen's box, which meanwhile I had put in
a warm room. The weather was cold, and the queen
had been long on the road, and on opening the box I
found about two dozen bees rolling about on the bottom
quite dead with the cold. The others could only just
crawl, and they would not come out of the box, so I put
it in the hive with the hatching brood and sheet of
foundation, put on some warm syrup and hoped for the
best. I should mention that the queen's box was about
the same size and shape as a section frame. Unfortu-
nately it got colder and colder as night drew on, and
I resigned myself to losing not only the queen, but also
the hatching brood. Luckily I thought of a stone hot-
water bottle. I filled one with hot water and put it in
the hive on the top of the frames, covering it with wraps
to keep the heat in and prevent its being too hot at
first. Next morning it was still warm and the bees
were all alive. On the 20th I put in another comb of

338

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[October 15, 1885.

hatching brood from the old hive, replacing it -with a
sheet of foundation ; and I continued the hot-water bottle
every night until the 25th, when there were plenty of
bees to keep the hive warm. The weather was cold
during the whole of May, and the fruit-blossom was
quite over on the 28th.

To return to the old hive. I cut out several queen-
cells on the 20th and 25th May, and on the latter day
I put on a super of twenty-one sections. On the morning
of the 2nd of June I found and cut out several more
queen-cells, and fearing the bees would swarm as the
day promised to be very warm, I took out all the combs
except two and put in five sheets of foundation and two
section frames and replaced the super. In spite of this
the bees swarmed, the day being very hot, and in the
evening I returned the swarm to the hive, adding three
new sheets of foundation in the place of the two section
frames and returning the super. I also wedged up the
hive in front, as also the cover, and shaded it for two
or three days. The swarm was captured for me in my
absence by a friend's gardener, who said it was one of
the largest he had seen.

On the 13th June I took out the back frame of
foundation, which was now quite worked out, and re-
placed it with a section frame. I did so as the bees
had deserted the back frame on the night of the 11th,
when the thermometer went down to 89°. The bees in
the old hive were hybrids, most of them were black,
but a good many had one or two yellow bands. These
yellow bees did not appear till late in the spring. On
the 10th of June the first section was completed, and
two more on the Kith, and I then placed a second rack
of twenty-one sections under the first, and on the 29th
I extracted 1 lb. 2 oz. houey from a frame to leave more
space for brood.

From the 7th to the 14th of July I took twenty more
sections, and on the 21st I took forty-one. Some of
these last were not sealed, but I wanted to leave plenty
of room as I was going to the seaside for a month.
On the 21st August I took twenty-four more sections
(some only partly sealed), making ninety-one in all, and
I have since extracted over 7 lbs. from the frames ; total
extracted 8| lbs., and I have taken out another frame
three-quarters full of sealed honey, which I have kept in
reserve.

As soon as I had done extracting (9th September) I
began stimulative feeding as I found there was no brood
sealed or unsealed. I also bought an Italian queen,
thinking the hive might possibly be queenless. If not
the queen was two years old and the hybrids were
sometimes very savage. They were also inclined to be
vindictive for two days or so after being put out of
temper by removing brood, &c, and would attack me
when I went near the hive.

As I could not find the old queen I put in the Italian
queen on September 12th iu a pipe-cover cage without
removing her. On the 16th I let loose the new queen,
when she was at once seized savagely, and I recaged
her in a fresh place. I noticed young brood and not
being able to find the queen I shook all the bees out
on a sheet in front of the hive intending to pick
the queen out as they crawled back, but it began to
get dark almost as soon as they were all out, and I
had to give it up and get them back as soon as I could.
About three-quarters of a pint got into the garden roller,
which was on one corner of the sheet, and would not
come out, and the queen must have been with them. I
put an empty hive for them, but they did not go in. I
could not attend to them iu the morning, though they
were still in the roller, and they went off like a swarm
in the afternoon and I saw no more of them. On the
19th and 20th I cut out several queen-cells and released
the queen, but both days she was at once seized. On
the 22nd i cut out more queen-cells, but did not release
the queen, as the cage was covered thick with bees as it

had been hitherto. Next day there were not so many
bees on the cage and I released the queen, and she was
well received and has since been laying. This hive is
now ready for the winter with plenty of bees to cover
seven frames.

To return to the new hive. On the 20th of June it
consisted of ten frames covered with plenty of bees, and
I put in a comb with a good deal of honey, which I took
from the other hive on the 13th. On the 27th June I
found and cut out three queen-cells which much sur-
prised me. I put in a sheet of foundation and extracted
3 lbs. G oz. from the four back frames. I put in two
more sheets of foundation on the 2nd July, but on the
7th I found the hive was queenless, and on the 9th I
introduced an Italian queen in a pipe-cover cage, re-
leasing her on the 11th, when she was received very
well and began laying before my eyes. From the age
of the brood I think I must have accidentally killed the
queen on the 27th.

On the 7th and 11th July I extracted about 9 lbs.;
4f lbs. on the 21st July, and 3 lbs. 14 oz. between the
23rd August and the 2nd September, making a total of
over 25 lbs. This hive is now ready for the winter with
plenty of bees to cover eight frames.

All the honey was of very good quality, mostly white
clover and some lime, but part of that taken after July
was darker in colour, and it was very difficult to extract.

Amongst other things I noticed that if the foundation
came within about a quarter of an inch from the sides or
bottom of the frame the bees joined it on to the frame-
one sheet was joined nearly all round. I have also noticed
that bees are like the ants mentioned by Sir John Lubbock,
which run away when alone, but defend themselves
bravely when supported by friends. Thus writh bees, if
you take out the frames, or take away a rack of sections
and then separate all the sections, they become cowed
and subdued, but if you merely move one or two sections
while in the hive they will boil over to the attack.
Carbolic acid solution I have found useful to sprinkle
over spilt syrup, it even kept away wasps.

I think that my experience may be encouraging to
beginners, as I managed my bees entirely from books. I
began the season with one stock which I have increased
to two, and I have taken ninety-one sections and
34 lbs. of extracted honey in spite of the loss of a queen
in the middle of the season; and this, I think, is not bad
for Cockney bees. F. L.

< LABOUR LOST— A PROTEST.'

Mr. Thomas AVildman, after he had given some in-
structions as to the proper management of bees, concludes
the chapter in words which were intended to parody the
reply, as he tells us, of 0. F. Cresinus when arraigned be-
fore the Curule Edile. ' These, Britons ! are my instru-
ments of witchcraft ; but I cannot show you my hours
of attention to this subject, my anxiety and care for
these useful insects ; nor can I commnnicate to you my
experience, acquired during a course of years. Very
true is the impression here conveyed. We can teach, if
neighbours show those who desire demonstration, and by
other means we can assist others to attain that measure
of success to which we have ourselves attained, but we
cannot relieve them if we would of anxiety or after-
attention which a careful management necessitates. We
cannot give them that practical experience so necessary
to prove the value of the teaching we desire to inculcate;
but if only those who desire to obtain assistance will
strictly carry out the instructions given them in the
articles in various books and periodicals, the result will
be that a success, probably greater than their most san-
guine expectations lead them to hope for, will follow
from an experience gained by putting theory into
practice, and proving by actual experiment the truths
they are in their novitiate obliged to accept, not being
' in a position to refute.

October 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

339

Here lies the essence of the advice I desire to give, for
there is evidently great need for an emphatic protest
against the course taken by so many of our friends who
are desirous to learn from the Journal of Horticulture
.and the Bee Journal the way to manage their apiary and
to conduct the different operations necessitated by the
possession of a few stocks of bees, if the greatest amount
of pleasure and of profit is to be obtained from the study
and care of these insects. To give an instance : Our
country friend desires to unite the bees driven from a
stock to the one standing by its side. He accordingly
refers to back numbers of tliis Journal, and finds exactly
what lie requires. He reads the instructions most care-
ully through, and proceeds to put them into practice;
but as ' the town ' is some distance away he has no essence
of peppermint or other strong-scented substitute, so, for-
getting what he has read about the different odours
peculiar to each stock, he reckons ' it doesna' matter,' and
thinking to get done in good time, about four o'clock in
the afternoon he proceeds to unite. An hour makes no
difference, and as for that ' bit o' essence ' it will matter
nothing he seems to think — and in skilful hands it might
not be of much moment. In other respects he carries
out the instructions, but is amazed in the morning to
find that a serious fight has taken place, and that
thousands of bees lie dead upon the floor, and that in-
stead of his stock being strengthened by the union, it is
reduced to a most deplorable plight. Everybody knows
the sequel. Hot abuse and vituperation of new-fangled
ways of books and book-learning, vows never again to
venture out of the ruts of custom into the paths of know-
ledge. He never blames himself for omitting the essence.
Not he. He never thinks that evening is the time when
he is told to perform the operation; but thanks the
person who was kind enough to instruct by abusing him
and all his ways. This is no exaggeration. It is in one
form or another of far too frequent occurrence. Let me
ask, is it fair ? In the name of common sense is it
reasonable, first of all, to neglect instructions, then abuse
the instructor when failure follows the departure from
the rules giveu for guidance at such times ?

There is no more common abuse prevalent — not onty
amongst bee-keepers, but amongst gardeners and other
classes — than this, shall I say impertinent misuse of
books? Books and papers are written to instruct. Some
use the instruction ; many abuse it. Few are so clever
as to need no instruction. More there are who are
ashamed to acknowledge ignorance, and many are to be
found who may, if they will to do so, gain from the
writings of others a knowledge of the subject they wish
to understand, which even if it be but a poor apology
for practical knowledge, is still a great assistance and a
material help when, instead of years, but a few months
only can be spared to gain an efficient idea of how to
manage even so apparently simple a business as bee-
keeping. It is in such cases that a feeling of despair
comes over the minds of those who, at no little trouble
to themselves, try to assist others. How many times
does ' A Lanarkshire Bee-keeper ' draw attention to the
most salient features conducing to success, and yet getting
up from reading this advice, and going to some cottage
bee-keeper who reads his Journal regularl}', there seems
to be an absolute determination not to take advantage of
the excellent opportunities offered for improving the
value of his stocks and doubling and trebling their annual
yield? On the other hand, how gratifying to see the
result as shown in the apiaiy of a wise man who, follow-
ing the teaching he thinks most profitable, carries it out
until he feels able by experience to improve upon the
teaching he has followed, and at last Ls able not only to
manage his own hives, but to give sound advice to those
around him.

Five hundred years of bee-keeping will teach some men
nothing, while as many days will give others a know-
ledge of no superficial kind. To conclude, let me ask

one and all who come to books or to papers for advice,
to carry out the instructions there given in toto until
they feel confidence in their own power. Then always
remember, in case of failure, that it is not the books at
whose door the fault must be laid, but at the door of ex-
perience, a hard taskmaster, who often requires many
failures ere the highroad to success is reached, and even
then often throws across the comparatively smooth path
of the wayfarer obstacles of so serious a kind as to need
more than one attempt to surmount them. It is then
time to blame instructors when their instructions have
been carried out, not in letter only, but in spirit also, and
failure has been the result. Condemnation before fair
trial disgraces those who utter it, and fails to strike
those who do not deserve it. Criticism is indeed a bless-
ing, and is necessary, but to criticise some knowledge of
the subject under consideration must be possessed ; and
as one who feels he is not either better informed or who
cannot see some transparent fallacy in the advice given
for his assistance, is entitled, before trial at any rate, to
deride the means pointed out to him as the surest wajr
of successfully performing a necessary operation.

Men who know most condemn least ; those who know
little condemn much. — Felix. (Journal of Horticulture.)

PAINTING HIVES.— INSTINCT OF BEES.

I notice in ' Jottings ' of last issue a reference to the
colour of hives, and the argument used is so inconsistent
with reason and facts that I hope you will pardon me
for offering a short reply. We are asked whether
queens often leave the hive, and then told that without
she does the same as the worker bees it is of no use
painting hives of different colours, as her majesty woidd
not be able to distinguish 'green from white.' The
strongest argument that could be used in favour of
painting hives of different colours is here used against
it. I think that it is quite clear that queens have their
time occupied at home, and that they seldom leave their
palaces, and it is known to more than one apiarian that
they get lost occasionally when they do leave, but this
cannot possibly happen without a cause, and that cause
is what we want to know. (I should like to know whether
a larger proportion of queens are lost in large apiaries
than in small ones during their wedding tour.) Ilow-ever,
I argue that the less a queen flies out the more con-
spicuous her hive should be, for if a row of hives stand
like so many houses, and are all one colour and shape,
and a queen leaves for the first time, although she does
survey the hive for a few seconds it seems to me there is
a probability of her mistaking the hive on her return, and
so getting lost, whereas, if each hive bears some charac-
terising,mark, it is more readily distinguished, and the
dangers consequently diminished. Why, even human
beings are unable to find their homes in long roivs of
houses until they have got somewhat accustomed to
them by going in and out without they have some
guide or other, such as a number or colour of door or
window ; and if we get lost, why not our friend the queen
bee under similar circumstances?

I next noticed the words, ' And as we know worker
bees fly to the same spot by instinct.' Now, I would
like to ask your correspondent, who are meant by ' we ?'
I for one beg to withdraw from that plural number.
The true definition of the word ' instinct ' in many cases
is — Don't know. It is remarkable that if men notice the
actions of animals or insects which for want of obser-
vation or other causes they cannot quite understand, they
at once attribute them to instinct. What is instinct
when applied to bees coming back to their hives ? How
is it that ' instinct ' only brings bees back just as far as
they have been in the habit of gathering food ? Take
them outside that area, and where is instinct ? Take a
hive of bees a distance of three miles, and place them on
a stand, but don't let them fly out for, say, twelve hours,

340

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[October 15, 1885.

then go to the hive and take out a hundred bees, and
after putting them in a box, and the box in your pocket
— no escape-holes mind- -walk half a mile, and then let
them go, and see how many instinct will bring you
back. The fact is there is none of that almost unin-
telligible word ' instinct ' in connexion with bees coming
back to their hives. They come back because it is a
natural necessity they should do so. And they can find
their way back simply because before they start from
the hive, or rather its vicinity, they thoroughly ex-
amine not only the hive, but its surroundings, and, in
fact, the whole course of their journey, — hence their
return. — Corrigexda, The Apiqry, Sehton, Alfreton,
October 8th.

OBSERVATIONS UPON DRONES.

Bevansays that the drone hatches on the 24th or 25th
day after the egg is laid. I knew of nothing more definite
on this point.

To get more precisely the facts, on the 10th day of
last July, a drone-comb was put, at 7 a.m., centrally in
a strong colony, which had been fed for several daj'S, as
the drones were being expelled from many hives. At
9 a.m. the queen was found on that comb, having laid
three eggs. She had just begun laying. At 9 a.m., on
July 17, it was removed to a strong colony, without
queen, eggs, or larvw. On July 27, many cells were
capped, and on July 28, at 2 p.m., some 200 were
capped, many eggs having, for some cause, disappeared.
On Aug. 9 none had hatched. On -Vug. 10 examinations
were made every hour. At 5.30 p.m. none had crawled
out; at 0.30 two had hatched, and a third was hatching.
If these drones came from the first eggs laid, they took
about twenty-five days and 8| hours to develop.

At G a.m., on Aug. 11, many more had hatched, and
at G a.m. on Aug. 12, all but seventeen had hatched. At
6.30 p.m. all but two had hatched, and at G.30 a.m. of Aug.
13, the last one was found with the cap off, trying to
crawl out; it was strong and perfect. Now if the egg
producing this drone was laid just before the comb wras
removed, then it took nearly twenty-seven days to
mature.

During the whole time of these observations the
weather was of the most favourable kind — the ther-
mometer ranging nearly every day above 80° Fahr., and
being only once as low as 62°. The colony was kept in
good heart by daily feeding, and I can think of nothing
which could have retarded in the least the development
of these drones, unless possibly the fact that from so
many of the eggs having disappeared, they were not as
compact in the comb as they otherwise would have been.
In this observation, although there could not possibly
have been more than twenty-four hours' difference be-
tween the laying of the first and the last egg, there was
about two days and a half between the hatching of the
first and the last drone.

It is quite interesting to watch the different actions of
just hatched workers and drones. The worker, true to
her name and office, begins to crawl over the combs as if
to feel her legs, stops occasionally to clean herself up,
and before long helps herself to honey from an open
cell. The drone, ou the contrary, is a born dependant.
The first act is to touch the nearest worker he can reach
with his flexible antenna?, and, begging to be fed, he is
at once supplied with honey disgorged from the proboscis
of his attentive nurse. And so he goes on all his life,
seeming to prefer to be fed, although perfectly able, if
needs be, to help himself.

A very bad name has always been given the drone.
Virgil has his fling at him, stigmatizing him as having
no proper office in the economy of the hive — seeking
only to devour the stores which he had no share in col-
lecting. I wonder what the poet thought he was made
for; or as he says that the bees collected their young

from the flowers, being too chaste to breed them, what
motive he could have thought they had to gather in such
useless consumers ! And yet without any special plead-
ing how much can be said in his defence. It is only too
evident that his proboscis is too short to suck honey from
the flowers; that his legs have no pollen-baskets; and
that he can secrete no wax. Great as his bulk is, he
has no sting, and can do nothing for the defence of the
commonwealth; but then without him that common-
wealth could have no existence. The sole object of his life
seems to be, at the proper time, to fertilize the young
queen — and this he is always ready to do. Now why
should we blame any creature which fulfils the special
object of its creation ? And yet I fear that in spite of
all that can so justly be said in his favour, our poor dron&
will always be cited as an incorrigibly idle reprobate, who
meets with only his just deserts when after a life of
pleasure he is killed without rnercy by the industrious
workers. He will always be known as Shakespeare V
' lazy, yawning drone.' — Rev. L. L. LANGSTitOTir,
O.vford, Ohio. — (The American Bee Journal.)

GIANT BALSAMS— WASPS AND BEES.
I thought it would interest some of your readers to
know that I have noticed numerous wasps (one of
which 1 enclose) gathering honey from the blossoms of
giant balsams, which I planted in somewhat large quantity
for ni}' bees, who just now are thoroughly appreciating my
consideration. You will notice upon the shoulders of the
wasp the peculiar pollen as seen upon the bees when
working upon this plant ; the whole of them are there
continually, and work quite as industriously as my bees.
During the past season I have had a fairly good return of
honey from my bees, and in addition have increased
them from eight to fifteen stocks, most of which aiv
going into winter on ten frames thickly covered. — C. H.
Bickley, Small Heath near Birmingham.

TREATMENT OF CONDEMNED BEES..

On reading your article in the last issue of the
Journal on ' The Treatment of Condemned Bees,' it
struck me that I should like to give you my first expe-
rience of them, as it does not seem to me essential that
so many lots as you advise — ' the contents of four skeps,
or three if very good ' — should be united to form strong-
stocks for the following year, providing you do not mind
the trouble of feeding to induce late breeding.

I made up four bar-frame hives last autumn from six
skeps : No. 1, the contents of one skep, driven on Sept.
8th ; No. 2, from one skep, driven Sept. 12th ; No. •'!,
from two skeps, driven Oct. 2nd ; and No. 4, from two
skeps, driven Oct. 6th. I gave No. 1 one stored frame
and the others two each ; and fed until No. 1 had five,
and the others six frames each built and stored, then
closed up for winter.

This year I only got 20 lbs. of honey from No. 1 hive ;
the bees would not work in sections. They swarmed
twice : the first swarm I lost, through being away when
they left the hive ; the second swarm have plenty of
sealed stores to carry them through the winter, are
strong in numbers, and with their young queen will, I
hope, do well next year.

No. 2. — This hive gave me G6 1-lb. sections, and
10 lbs. of honey from the body of the hive.

No. 3. — I took an artificial swarm from this hive, and
20 lbs. of honey from the body of the hive. The swarm
gave me 19 1-lb. sections and 12 lbs. of honey from hive.

No. 4. — This hive gave me G4 1-lb. sections, and 8 lbs.
of honey from hive.

So that from the four lots I have had two swarms,
and lost another, 149 1-lb. sections, and 70 lb. of honey
from the hives; which I think shows that good stocks
for the following year may lie made even from sintrle

October 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOUENAL.

341

skeps. I believe I should have done better still if I had
had more experience, but this is only my second year of
bee-keeping. Evidently I did not put the section-boxes
on to No. 1 soon enough, hence their swarming ; and
No. 3 would have done better if I had not taken a swarm
from them. — Lynt*n.

[Our correspondent was extremely fortunate with his
condemned bees. It does not at all follow that every
one would meet witli such success. October 1884 was
very mild and open, so that the bees could store and seal
their food. It is very doubtful if a similar lot, so treated
this present October, would turn out as well. ' Keep
strong stocks ' is good advice, and ' Make strong stocks '
from condemned bees is as good. — Ed.]

foreign.

Italy, and with favourable results. There are now on
the water two or three dozen queens consigned from
Bologna to Adelaidians. 1 anticipate dealing with eight
of them early in September. We have a Bee-keepers'
Society here, and profitable meetings are held. It seems
that it will be but a question of time before South
Australian comb-honey is placed in your London market,
and for quality I feel sure will not be surpassed by any
other. 1 read in your issue of June 15 last a letter from
a Victorian apiai ist, and 1 thought it high time to let 3'ou
know that Victoria's sister colony — South Australia — is
dive to value of ' the busv bee.' — F. A. Joyner.

ITALY.

The ' Assoeiazione C'entrale d'incoraggiamento per
l'Apicoltura in Italia ' has just had a large and interest-
ing meeting in connexion with the exhibition held in
Milan on 20th to 27th September. The opening meet-
ing took place on Thursday evening, September 24th,
when, owing to the absence of the President of the
Association, Count Gaetano Barbo, Dr. Angelo Dubini
took the chair. There was a large number of members
present from all parts of Italy; and the visitors who had
responded to the invitation were M. Ed. Bertrand,
editor of Bulletin d' Apiculture de la Suisse Romande,
and Mr. T. W. Cowan. Mr. Hamet, who was expected,
did not make his appearance. After welcoming the
visitors, the meeting proceeded to discuss the various
questions put down on the agenda paper. The various
points were discussed in a most interesting and animated
manner, the principal speakers being Dr. Dubini, Dr.
Bianchetti, Professor Barbieri, M. di Jovio, Professor
Chiappetti (editor of Le Apt ed i fiori), Professor
Sartori, M. Moria, M. Bertrand, and Mr. T. W. Cowan.
The next day the members visited the exhibition of bees,
hives, and honey, which was a very large and good one.
There were several novelties, such as an improved solar
wax-extractor, an automatic honey-extractor, an ap-
paratus for uncapping honey-comb for extracting, and
an apparatus for making comb-foundation. The show
of honey, as well as of articles in which honey forms an
ingredient, was also very good. As we intend to give
an account of our visit to Italy, and of bee-keeping
there, we will reserve until then a full description of the
meeting and exhibition.

In deference to a desire unanimously expressed by the
bee-keeping community, that an official representative of
the Central Association of Italy should be present at the
festivities organized in Germany in order to celebrate the
Golden Jubilee of the great master Dzierzon, the Board
of the Association has deputed Professor G. B. Grassi to
undertake the mission. The Professor was, moreover,
entrusted with the duty of presenting Mr. Dzierzon with
a diploma of honour on behalf of the Italian Bee
Association. It is understood that Professor Grassi will
in due course send in a report of any observation, he may
have been able to make during his stay in Germany
likely to interest the bee-keepers of Italy, and for this
purpose it will be duly published in the Journal of the
Association. — Apieoltore.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

It may be interesting to your readers to know that the
Colonies are far from backward in the pursuit of bee-
keeping. Here, in South Australia, bee-keeping on the
new system is in full swing. ' The Langstroth ' seems to
be the favourite hive, and Ligurian bees bid fail' to be
the favourite occupants. Several bee-keepers in Adelaide
have lately been procuring Ligurian queens direct from

quite al

(£dj0£S from % ||ibxs.

South Cornwall, October 10(7*. — Really nothing to echo,
except to repeat the notes which were last heard all
round. Broken weather now for two months, with only
occasionally a day or two for bees and bee-keepers' work.
These opportunities have been used in these parts, and
much work has been done. Our local expert has manipu-
lated some sixty or seventy hives. We have driven,
united, cut out, &c, for one and another, and after-
storing a large produce hives ought to winter well. In
numberless cases bee-bread has been covered with honey,
and it is a wonder where the bees have stowed them-
selves. There has not been much room for eggs of late,
so uniting seems a promising mode of treatment for these
parts, where as a rule brood-raising continues till late. —
C. R. S.

Killarney. — I have had a most successful year's honey-
getting, thanks entirely to the instruction I have been
receiving from the ' Useful Hints ' in your Journal. — J.
McDough.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS

D. P. Davies. — Cork-dust and Ventilation. — Cork-dust
will do as well as chaff for packing. It should not be
pressed too tightly. If the entrance is low the slides
can be opened one to two inches. There would be
quite sufficient ventilation.

J. S. Hawkins. — Salicylic AM Solution. — The pro-
portions are given on page 161 Bee-keepers Guide-
book. They are, — Salicylic acid 1 oz., soda borax 1 oz.,
water 4 pints.

S. P. R. — Late Swarms. — Your small swarm had better
be united to another lot as you cannot safely winter
only enough to cover two frames. If the queen is a
good one keep her in preference to the old one.

J. II. Howard. — l.Quincunx,- -The term ' Quincunx,'its
application to the arrangement of hives and to comb-
building, was so fully described in our last issue under
' Useful Hints,' that further reference is unnecessary.
We must, however, remark that, holding a second-class
expert's certificate, the examiners might fairly as-
sume that you were acquainted with a good English
Dictionary, and that in these days of Free Libraries,
mechanics' institutes, reading rooms, and numerous
other educational advantages, you would be at no loss
to obtain information on the above subjects. In the
cheap edition of Walker and Webster's Dictionary of
the English Language, published by Tegg, 1864, you
will find the term 'Quincunx' thus defined: — 'A
square of five trees, or other things, with one in the
middle, thus : — such an arrangement of

trees in rows, that any one in the second

row is opposite to the middle of the space

between any two in the preceding row.' 2.

Specific Gravity. — The same authority defines 'Specific
Gravity ' as ' the ratio which the weight of the matter
of any* body or substance bears to the weight of an

342

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[October 15, 1885.

equal bulk of pure water.' Specific gravity may be
stated as the comparative weights of equal bulks of
different substances, the assumed standard being 1,
and sometimes 1000. This standard is — for liquids
and solids — pure distilled water. In England the
specific gravity is always taken at fi0° Fahr. The
specific gravity of refined, or clarified honev is given
as 1-261 on page 87, Vol. XL of B.B.J., but of
average honey, in its unrefined state, it may be put at
l'.loO ; and a syrup of the same specific gravity may
be prepared by dissolving 7 lbs. of cane-sugar in 3 lbs.
of water. Information of this kind may be obtained
from any Encyclopaedia, access to which we must
credit you with, as an educated expert. To save you
trouble, however, we give you the specific gravity of
wax as '900 to -<J6o, and its melting point as 145° to
lo0" Fahr. The process of bleaching raises the specific
gravity and the melting point very slightly. 3.
Koehler Process. — The Koehler Process is a German
method of procuring the fecundation of queens by
selected drones. It is given fully on page 141, Vol.
XV. new series of the Journal of Horticulture, and
more concisely by the Kev. G. Kaynor in his pamphlet
on Queen Introduction (J. Huckle, price 3d.) 4.
British Bees. — Kirby and Spence's Introduction to
Entomology ( Longmans, Paternoster Row ) is a
standard work. Any good encyclopaedia will give you
the ' Indigenous bees of Britain.' You might also
consult Shuckard on British Bees, F. Smith's Apidae,
and W. Kirby's Monographia Apum Anglice,
Magister. — Heath. — The species of heath enclosed is
technically called Calluna vulgaris, the most common
of all the heather family. All our native species of
heather are more or less visited by bees. The Ling is
an excellent honey-secreting shrub.
New Subscriber. — 1. Treatment of Condemned Bees.
— As you gave five sheets of foundation to the con-
tents of two skeps, and have fed them well, and they
have much sealed brood, you cannot do better for
them than you have. 2. Zinc Tunnel between Inner
and Outer Hive. — We should prefer it of wood if you
can conveniently alter it.
E. E. Lloyd. — Candy. — The sample you send is too
hard and too large in crystal, approaching the tex-
ture of loaf sugar. The reason is you boiled it too
much. He-dissolve it and remove it from the fire,
when a sample cooled on a plate is a little soft. Stir
until beginning to set, and pour into plates lined with
paper.
G. P. A. — 1. Ascertaining the presence of a Queen. — If
you do not see her, try and discover brood or eggs.
Normally none would exist at this season, but as you
have been feeding for three weeks, there may be
some. If there is, the presence of the queen is proved,
but if none, that does not prove that she is absent.
2. Whether to give another Comb. — As you, no doubt,
examined the hive at midday, when the bees were
active, there would be some on the division-board, but
at night all will be on the combs. Do not give any
more. 3. No. 4. Amount of Syrup to give to six
pounds of Condemned Bees on Foundation. — Twenty
pounds.
W. II. C. — Peppermint, and Lacender Honey. — The best
part of the honey season is over by the time pepper-
mint comes into flower, therefore, if the flavour of the
peppermint nectar is objectionable, all the honey
gathered up to the middle of July may be removed
from the hive, thus preventing the bees mixing the
peppermint honey with that previously collected.
Peppermint begins to flower late in July, and con-
tinues to bloom through August and September. The
honey secreted by lavender is agreeably palatable.
I. Wildman. — Hmeg Preiser. — Young's honey presser
is like Mr. Thomson's (see drawing in Essay on

Bees by ' Pan '). The length of tube is 8i inches,
3^ inches diameter, with perforations about one-
sixteenth part of an inch, similar to what is used for
gravy or gruel strainers.

C. K. — Queen with Parasites. — These will disappear
during the winter, but you may, if you please, remove
them by tweezers. Hold the queen by the wings, be
careful not to squeeze her in any way.

T. T. L.— Unsealed Syrup.— See reply to C. A. The
same treatment is suitable to syrup.

C. A. — Unsealed Honey. — As in your case you cannot
extract, the honey being heather, you had better re-
move the combs containing- most unsealed honey to
the back of the dummy, crowd the bees on to the
remainder, put porous quilts on the top of the frames
(either several thicknesses of carpet or a box with
canvas bottom rilled with chaff), and keep the bees
warm, they will carry in the unsealed honey from
behind the dummy, store it and seal it.

Golden Syrup. — Bees kept at a distance fromresidence. —
1. There is no certain method of preventing bees
swarming, but if they have plenty of room, they are
not so likely to do so. When you visit them and find
them getting crowded, give a rack of sections on top,
fiistexamining the frames and removing any queen-cells
which you may discover. You may also, as you propose,
give space laterally behind an excluder, but we should
not make another entrance. In Epping Forest you
will find plenty of honey coming in from sycamores,
limes, clover, &c, before the heather comes on. 2.
Blacks or Ligurians. 3. Golden Syrup. — Golden syrup
is not good food for bees. Syrup made from best
crystal sugar is better and cheaper.

B. — Candy or Dry Sugar. — In your case the best plan
would be to give frames of sealed honey or syrup on
both sides of the brood-nest. Failing these, we prefer
dry sugar feeding, in similar form to candy over the
frames. The latter often melts from the moisture and
warmth, and trickling over bees and combs, the former
perish in a sticky mass. Simmins' dry sugar feeder
will answer your purpose. Mr. Hewitt speaks highly
of candy given inside the hive in frames, a plan which
seems feasible, but one we have not tried. Candy given
on the top of the frames, under the quilt at spring, is
a very different thing from giving it in the same manner
in autumn.

L. Williams. — Position of Frames. — The reference in
' Useful Hints,' to which you allude, was in regard to
hives with frames ranging from front to back — the
cold system. In your arrangements, the warm system,
the plan advised of moving the frames to the back is
the one usually recommended by the advocates of that
system. All our hives, with the exception of two, are
on the cold system. In these two, when making
winter preparations, we make the entrance under the
front division-board the width of the hive, to admit of
free ventilation. Hence the advice to make it at least
six inches, although in our own case we take the
whole width. Certainly do not again disturb the bees.
With double walls we prefer your method, and have no
doubt the bees will winter well. We use no shade
either in winter or spring, except during bright
weather when snow lies on the ground. At such times
it is a good plan to shade the entrance from the direct
rays of the sun by placing a board in front of the hive
to prevent the bees from flying.
W. J. T. — Granulated Honey. — Honey, either comb or
extracted, as a rule, can be kept from granulation by
storing it in a dry room at a temperature of about
Co° Fahr. There are, however, some kinds which will
granulate at even a higher temperature. Comb-honey
cannot be brought back to a fluid state except by
melting. If melted, both comb and extracted shoidd
be brought up to 100° Fahr. ; and in the case of the

October 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

343

former, the wax, which will float on the surface,
should be skimmed off. 2. Granulated comb-honey is
unsaleable; but granulated extracted is not depre-
ciated in value, indeed, it is often preferred. 3. About
65° Fahr. will generally prevent granulation. 4. If
unripe honey be raised to a temperature of 100° Fahr.
and allowed to cool gradually, the watery particles
will evaporate; but when thus artificially ripened, it
loses at least a portion of its aroma and fine flavour,
and becomes of less value in the market. 5. Ripe
honey may be known by its ' consistency,' t. e., its
specific gravity, aroma, flavour, and freedom from
acidity.

II. W. D. — Open Entrances. — Yes. Our own entrances
are left open through the winter to the extent of 6 ins.
by j iu., and we find it answer even in the coldest
winters. Some, however, object to this, and close up
to 1 or 2 ins. Use, therefore, vour own discretion. See
< Useful Hints.'

A Beginner. — Sleep full of Drones. — Take advantage of
a tine da}', and drive the bees from your skep, when
we think you will And no queen and very few workers
but plenty of drones. In fact, there is no doubt that
your hive is queenless, and your best plan is to utilise
the honey and wax. The queen was lost on her
wedding flight. Destroy the few bees and drones.

W. E. B. — Limwmthes, — The young seedlings of Lim-
nanthes Douglasii may be planted out now one foot
apart if the soil is good; plant firmly, to prevent worms
from drawing the young- plants out of the ground.
Limnanthes is quite hardy and will stand the winter
with impunity.

Spruce. — 1. Number of Frames. — For extracting, ten or
twelve frames, two of which should be separated by
excluder zinc. For supering, twelve frames will give
good results. 2. Keeping Honey. — Earthen-ware is
better than metal for the purpose ; whatever vessel is
used it should be quite full and closely covered to ex-
clude the air. 3. Pollen, or bee-bread, keeps through
the winter in the hive, even if the cells are uncapped.
4. Sealed Honey Comb will keep well for twelve months ;
for keeping-, choose that which is thickly sealed; a warm,
dry place, such as a cupboard in a sitting-room, is the
best place for keeping honey.

Student. — The Mouth of the Stomach, andthe Conditions
of Hibernation. — We would suggest that you should
study Pastor Schonfeld's elaborate paper on the
mouth of the stomach, a translation of which has
appeared in our pages (Vol. xi. 78, et. seqq.). The
conditions of the hibernation of the hive-bee, and
those of the humble - bee, wasp, hornet, &c, are
essentially different, as the first, by means of the
instinct implanted in her, makes provision for her
winter life, whereas the existence of these last closes
at the commencement of winter, the queens alone
surviving to the ensuing spring. '2. Proportion of
Sexes of Ants and, Bees. — Among white ants there
is only one male and one female in each society. In
a wasps' nest there are about equal numbers of males
and neuters, amounting in some cases to several I
hundreds. In the humble bees' nest there are several j
males and two kinds of females, one kind being much |
larger than the other. Among the common ants the
males are very numerous, and are winged like the
females, the former dying after impregnating the
females. We know of no reason assigned for any
stated proportion of males to females. 3. Drones. —
The drone gathers no honey. The reason why there j
are so many drones in a hive is that the mating of
the queen may not be delayed, and that her nuptial \
flight should not be protracted. The intelligent bee-
keeper can limit the number of drones in a hive by
the use of worker foundation. 4. Capped Cells in
Sections. — We should like to examine a specimen of a

capped empty cell in a section, as we have never seen
it. 5. Jlrasps Carnivorous. — Wasps and hornets feed
their young grubs with sugar, honey, &c, but also
provide flies, caterpillars, &C, for the older grubs. It
is quite possible that wasps do feed upon aphides, but
we have never noticed them doing so, though we have
constantly seen them eating flies, caterpillars, &c.
(i. Wasps and Bees. — It is only when hives get weak
that wasps do any serious damage to bees, and no
doubt by keeping down the number of flies, &c, they
perform their part in the economy of nature. 7.
Artificial Ventilation. — We do not believe in artificial
ventilation ; the bees, as in their natural state, can do
it for themselves. The hole in a bee-tree varies in
size and position. 8. Wintering Bees. — We have
never used broad-shouldered frames. Our great object
in wintering bees is to keep them dry, moderately
warm, and plenty of food. We always reduce the
combs to five or six, so that they are well crowded
with bees. When there are more combs than the
bees can cover, they are apt to get mildewed and
destroyed by the larvas of the wax-moth. We use
dummies and fill up the space with chaff-cushions.
'■>. Ants. — In the nest of the white ants or termites the
royal pair are enclosed in a cell with an opening
large enough for the neuters to pass through, but
which prevents the egress of the male and female.
The fact of the male ant living in this royal
chamber pre-supposes that all the eggs are not im-
pregnated at once. 10. Fancy Work in Combs. — The
Scotch apiarians have shown great ingenuity by
making their bees build their combs of various shapes
and patterns ; and in the reports of several of the
recent shows — for example, see Ilutherglen Apiarian
Show, p. 331, — you will find accounts of them. 11.
Drone Massacres. — The hive -bee is unique in its
drastic mode of dispensing with undesired vitality at
the close of the season. The hornet (Vespa orabro) is
the largest species of the wasp found in Britain. Its
life is similar to that of the wasp. The males and
neuters perish on the approach of winter, some of the
females alone surviving. The winged ants mostly
perish before the commencement of cold weather, a
few surviving to found new colonies and to perpetuate
the race. The neuters pass the winter in large
numbers in a torpid state, and resume their activity
on the return of spring. Our columns are at all times
open to the discussion of any points relating to the
economy of the hive-bee, or the cognate races.

Sunrise. — We will prepare a drawing as desired, which
will be ready for our next issue, when a reply to the
other queries in your letter will appear.

T. L. — Unite now, by so doing you may save one lot,
whereas two weak lots kept will most likely both die.

0. Ohappell. — Bees building irregularly although sup-
plied with foundation. — You will find that the founda-
tion has fallen down, hence the irregular building and
the building upwards. At this late season you had
better give them ready-built combs from other hives
if you have any, or if not let them work as they are,
and in the spring cut out and straighten the crooked
combs.

A. E. F. B. — The comb forwarded does not exhibit any
signs of foul brood. The best sugars for dry feeding
are Porto Kico and the finer grades of Demerara.

Corrigendum.— In report of the Falkirk Bee and
Honey Show for ' Class 2, super of honey not less than
10 lbs., 1st, William Sword ; 2nd, Mr. W. Smellie ; read
1st, Wm. Baird: 2nd, \Ym. Sword.

%* Several queries and communications are held over
till our next issue.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 15, 1885.

Grand Special Offer. Reducing Stock.

THIRTY Strong Stocks of BEES (including about twelve docile home-
bred Italians), Young Queens, on Wide Shoulder Standard Frames.
Well provisioned for Wintering in Double-walled, Cork-stuffed, Standard
Hives, with Legs, well Painted. Some Hinged Roofs, others Double
Roofs for packing. Also twenty-five Strong Heavy Skeps of BEES.

The 55 Lots for £39, worth £70.

Or Six Frame Hives, Bees, and Honey - ... for £5 15 0

„ Six Strong Skeps ------ - „ 3 0 0

„ One only Frame-hive, Bees, and Honey - - - - - „ 12 0

„ One only Strong Skep - - „ 0 11 0

A Good Makeshift Regulating FEEDER with each Bar-hive. Sole terms, Cash with Order.
Do not miss this chance, and please order early. The Bar-hive lots are well worth double
the price asked, but my Apiary is overstocked. All Inquiries Answered. Address —

G. STOTHAKD, Hive Factory, WELWYN, HERTS.

(FIEST-CLASS EXPERT B.B.K.A.;

4525

Special |)vtpib ^bbcrtiscmcnts.

For Sales and Purchases of Bee Appliances, Honey, Books,
Pamphlets, Diagrams, &c, Exchanges and Situations.

Terms : Twelve words and under, Fourpenee ; for every ad-
ditional three words, One Penny extra; no reduction can
be made for continuous insertion.

THE SIMMINS' METHOD OF DIRECT INTRODUC-
TION. Enlarged to 32 pages. Price 6i(Z. Post free,
of the Author, Rottingdean, Brighton ; Messrs. Neighbour &
Sons, 149 Regent Street; and Mr. J. Hockle, Kings
Langley, Herts. (53)

MODERN BEE-KEEPING. An Illustrated Handbook
for Cottagers. Fourth Edition, considerably enlarged.
The soundness of its information, the simplicity of its
instruction, combined with cheapness, make this Hand-
book invaluable to all intending Bee-keepers. Price Id.,
post free. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.

THE MANAGEMENT OF STRAW SKEPS. De-
signed to teach the Cottager how to obtain the best
results at the least possible cost. By attention to its teach-
ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto. Price One Penny.
Six copies and upwards, post free. J. Huckle, KingsLangley.

FOUL BROOD ; The Means of its Propagation, and
the Method of its Cure. By Frank R. Cheshire,
Esq., F.R.M.S. Price 6rf. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.

BEE-KEEPING, Plain and Practical : How to
Make it Pay. By A. Rusbridge, Is. 6<t, post free,
Is. 8d. Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts. 3932

WANTED. — Driven Bees in any quantity. Apply to
Thomas B. Blow & Ellis, Welwyn, Herts.

PLANTS FOR BEES. — 6rf. per 100, to clear out.
Limnanthes Douglasii ; Forget - me - not, 200 free ;
Wallflowers, Is. per 100, free. Address Jeanes, Kilmington,
Devon. d 86

F

OR SALE. — Cylindrical Extractor, 10s. 6<i Observatory
Hive, 30s. Address Mr. Chitty, Pewsey. d 87

ITIOR SALE. — Two Large Square Supers, 14 x 14 x 8 and
' 12 x 12 x 6. Glass sides, and wood top and bottom ;
beautifully finished and of splendid quality, both having
secured Prizes. Weight of larger, 61 lbs., and of smaller,
39 lbs. Price £3 and £2 respectively. Apply The School-
master, Gretton, Kettering. d 87

FOR SALE. — Four strong Hives of Bees, Bar Frames,
Extractor, Supers, Smoker, and lot of appliances ;
also two Neighbour's Hives, price £6, packed on rail.
Address R. Billings, Chelmsford Road, Woodford. D 88

FOR SALE.— Sixty 1 lb. Sections, well filled, splendid
quality, price 9ld. each. Address John Bull, Ring-
stead, Thrapston. d 89

OR SALE.— 100 lbs. Extracted Honey, 6d. per lb.
Address F. Goldsmith, Bolney, Sussex. d 90

F

SOME excellent Stocks of Bees, strong and healthy for
wintering in straw ; can recommend. Securely packed
and put on rail to any part. Price 16s. each. Isaiah Gadd,
Wokingham, Berks. D 68

1 N. WHITE, First Class Certificated Expert, B.B.K.A.,
; . The Schoolhouse, Somersham, Hunts, supplies
English and Foreign Stocks and Queens. Reliable answers
to Queries on Bee-management, by return, three stamps.

SIX HEX CANARIES in Exchange ; three Cinnamons
and three Green (good). Will take Honey Extractor
in exchange, Cock Bullfinches, or Cock Goldfinches, or any
Bee appliances. Apply Charles Cox, Brampton Station,
Northamptonshire. d 85

ENGLISH and LIGURIAN BEES for Sale. Apply
T. Hill, Scotlands, Cannock Road, near Wolver-
hampton, d 91

SEVERAL Strong Stocks of BEES for Sale, in Bar-frame
Hives full of Honey ; giving up keeping them. Address
Mrs. Authur, Hilton Park, near Wolverhampton. d 92

PLANT AT ONCE.— French Honeysuckles, 6 plants, to
bloom next season, and 20 Marjoram plants, Is. free.
Variegated Arabis, a quantity to make 40 or 50 plants, Is. 3d.
free. Address W. Hollins, 9 Tillington Avenue, Stafford, d 93

MR. FRANK CHESHIRE'S new and exhaustive work,
Bees and Bee-keeping, is now publishing in Monthly
Parts, price Id., post free. Address L. Upcott Gill,
Publisher, 170 Strand, London. 113

Vs

7"ANTED, an Expert for the Gloucestershire Bee-
keepers' Association. He must hold a Second Class
Certificate and reside in the County. Apply, stating re-
muneration required, to the Hon. Sec, Rev. John Turner,
Coin Rogers Rectory, Cheltenham.

FOR SALE.— Sixty lib. Sections; 1 cwt. Extracted
Honey. What offers ? Address J. Beer, Nonington,
Wingham, Kent.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stiungeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c'

[No. 181. Vol. XIII.]

NOVEMBER 1, 1885.

[Published Fortnightly.]

(Sbitorial, ijfolxrjes, #r.

PROPOSED WEEKLY ISSUE OF
BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

THE

In our issue of April 15, No. 168, page 125, we
placed ou record our views as to the desirability
of the Journal being published once a-week. Our
reasons for this were based on the difficulty we had
experienced from the limited space at our disposal for
ventilating the constantly varying aspects of apicul-
ture , on the increased attention which has been
given in this and other countries to the culture of
bees ; on the greater demand for honey in its varied
forms and applications ; and on the formation of
several honey companies. On that occasion we
invited the free expression of the opinions of our
subscribers, and we courted suggestions from them
as to any improvements which might be introduced
into the Journal. In reply we have been favoured
with numerous communications, the majority of
which indicate the writers' approbation of the
alteration proposed, and express their belief that
it will be conducive to the progress of apiculture.
Strengthened and stimulated by this support, we
have considered it a duty incumbent upon us to
comply with these expressions of opinion, feeling-
assured that the publication of the Journal weekly
will allow us more completely to fulfil the mission
on which we have entered, viz., ' the free discussion
of all theories and systems in bee-culture,' and more
heartily to advocate the progress of all matters
beneficial to bee-keepers and promotive of bee-
keeping.

The Journal has now been established for above
twelve years. It commenced as a monthly publi-
cation, it developed into a bi-monthly, and now it is
proposed that there should be a further advance
and that it should be published once a-week.

This more frequent publication will enable us to
be more abreast with 'the views of Continental and
American bee-keepers ; it will bring us into closer
contact with our subscribers ; it will permit us to
be more prompt in our replies to the queries of our
correspondents ; and we shall be able to introduce
many new features which we are precluded from
entertaining in consequence of the small amount
of space in the Journal in its present mode of
publication.

We trust that in commencing this new phase in
the history of the B<e Journal we shall have the
cordial support of all who have patronised us in

the past, and that they will render their willing
aid in increasing the usefulness of the Journal and
in augmenting the number of its subscribers. We
desire to take advantage of the present oppor-
tunity of thanking all our friends who have
favoured us in the past with their communica-
tions, and we hope that they will continue to
employ the Journal as their vehicle for giving voice
to their views on every system of bee-keeping.

The arrangements required by this alteration of
publication are not quite complete, but we hope to be
able to give full particulars in our December issue.

In the meantime we beg to announce that the
first number of the weekly issue, price twopence,
will be published on Thursday, January 7th ; and it
is our hope that the circulation will be so increased,
that we may be enabled, at no distant date, so to
reduce its price that it may be procured by the
humblest bee-keeper.

Subscribers who have already paid their subscrip-
tions in advance of the present year will be credited to
such date as will be in accordance with the amount
paid. They may still continue to have the Journal
direct from our office on the following terms, viz. :
one year, 10s. 10</. ; six months, 5s. 5d. ; three
months, 2s. Sid., payable in advance. The Joiirnal
will be posted in sufficient time to be delivered either
by the first or second post on Thursday morning.

BENTON'S SHIPPING - CAGES.— EASTERN
RACES OF BEES.

[I should be greatly obliged if you could give a sketch of
the queen- cages that are used by Mr. Benton to send
Palestine queens to England, or a description of them in
the /;. II. Journal. Secondly, I should like to know what dif-
ference there is between Syrian and Palestine bees, and which
are considered the best honey collectors ? Thirdly, I wish to
know whether the Carniolan bees are good honey-gatherers ?
Kindly answer through the B.B. Journal. — Sunrise.]

' In reply to the above request we have much
pleasure in giving an engraving of the cage used

by Mr. Frank Benton for shipping queens from
his apiaries in Cyprus, Syria, and Bavaria, to
America and Great Britain.

Since the autumn of 1S79, when Mr. D. A. Jones,

346

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[November 1, 1885.

of Beeton, Ontario, Canada, accompanied by Mr.
Frank Benton, — then a graduate of Michigan
Agricultural College, — inaugurated the enterprise of
securing and introducing into America, and other
parts, those Eastern races of bees -which gave
promise of superior excellence, a considerable
amount of attention has been bestowed on per-
fecting cages for shipping queens to distant parts
of the globe. We consider the cage we have
engraved (called 'The Benton Shipping-cage') the
most perfect we have seen ; it is the result of
the experience of many years, and appears to
provide for every emergency that could possibly
arise in the transference of queens. When Mr.
Benton elects to write his auto - biography, —
which we feel assured would be eminently interest-
ing,— we shall fully know all the difficulties and
obstacles he has met with in investigating the
peculiarities of the bees he has seen in his many
and adventurous explorations, his successes in over-
coming the various post-office and quarantine regu-
lations of different countries and governments,
and the various experiments he has made before
arriving at this most perfect cage. We trust
that, having succeeded in surmounting tliem all,
he may in future rest and enjoy the fruits of
his labours.

The present cage is made of a block of light dry
pine-wood. It is 3jJ inches in length, by 1| in
width, and ;ths in depth. There are three holes,
two one-inch, and the third 1 x § ; these are bored
within one eighth of an inch of the bottom ; the
centre hole is connected with the two end-holes by
a half-inch passage. The smaller oval hole is the
larder ; it having first been waxed to prevent mois-
ture from escaping, the necessary amount of food
is deposited in it ; this consists of Benton candy,
winch is composed of pulverised sugar and honey.
In the other end-hole there are pierced ten holes
in either side by means of a bradawl, through the
thin part of the wood, for the admission of air.
The sides of the cage are grooved to allow the air to
pass in through the holes, in the event of it being
placed on any flat surface.

This arrangement enables the confined bees to
shift their quarters as they may feel desirable. If
too warm and air is required, they can pass to the
compartment where the air-holes are drilled ; if
found too cool, they can occupy the centre part,
where they have ready access to their food.

It will be seen from the above that every care
has been taken to provide for that which is now
a most important branch of bee-culture — the
mailing of foreign queens.

The description which we have given is that of a
cage for forwarding a single queen with about six-
teen attendants ; Mr. Benton has cages for sending
two queens with attendants : these arc constructed
on the same principle.

Si/rian ami Palestine Bees: — Syrian bees are found
on that portion of the mainland lying opposite to
Cyprus, — northward from Mount Carmel ; the
Palestines, southward from Mount Carmel, in the
Holy Land proper. Mr. Benton, after five years'
experience, is of opinion that the ' Cyprians are the

best bees, all things considered, yet cultivated;'
and that the Syrians, whose qualities are very
similar to those of the Cyprians, are second to
none, unless it be to the Cyprians. The two races
are very similar in disposition, and he contends
' that with gentle treatment at the proper time
either can be manipulated with little or no
smoke.' The Syrian queens are large, beautifully
striped, and very prolific.

The Palestines are smaller than the Cyprians ;
and from their stinging propensities, Mr. Beaton
is of opinion ' that he knows of no bees, unless
possibly it be the Egyptians (which the Palestines
resemble), that are so difficult to manage as the
race coming from Palestine.'

The Cyprians, Syrians, and Palestines, hav<
largely introduced into America and this country :
and while it is possible that these bees are more
pacific in the countries of their birth, the opinion
seems to be gaining ground that, whatever their
high, vigorous, and prolific qualities may be, their
vicious disposition renders them well-nigh un-
manageable. In our last issue there is a commu-
nication from the pen of Mr. J. M. Hooker, a bee-
master of great experience and high repute, giving
the experience of American bee-keepers with these
Eastern bees; in which he arrived at the con-
clusion that bee-keepers are justified in 'discarding
them altogether in favour of Italians, Carmolans,
and black bees.'

Carniolrm Bees. — The appearance and character-
istics of the Carniolan bees have been described
with much minuteness in the Journal from time
to time (see vol. xii. pp. 110, 123). Those who
have had the greatest experience with them prefer
them to the Italians. They are undoubtedly the
gentlest bees known ; their honey-gathering quali-
ties are quite equal to those of the Italians, and
they are very prolific and hardy.

USEFUL HINTS.

Another fortnight of cold, sunless weather lias
afforded few opportunities of opening hives, or of
manipulating in any shape or form. During the
last few days heavy rain has fallen in most parts i if
the country, and in all probability there will be no
further opportunity of completing winter prepara-
tions where they have been hitherto delayed.

Sunday last, with us, was a brilliant, cloudless
day, reminding us of mid-June rather than of late
October, and the brightness and warmth of the
sun's rays enticed forth the bees in large numbers,
the air resounding with their joyful hum.

Winter Coverings. — Where the enamel cloths
have not been removed we are inclined to advise
their being allowed to remain, other quilts of felt
or carpet being laid over them, a straw cover, where
possessed, being laid over all. A feed-hole through
the centre of all, with a medium-sized flowerpot in-
verted over it, to lie occasionally replaced by a clean
dry one during the winter months, will effectually
prevent internal dampness of the hives by the ab-
sorption through its porous material of the arising
moisture. This arrangement will be found to afford

November 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

347

a good substitute for the quilts recommended on
former oeeasions.

Removal of Hives. — A fortnight ago, partly for
convenience sake, and partly for experiment, we
removed some half-dozen colonics in skeps to new
stands, at a distance of from ten to fifty yards. On
the few days on which the bees have been able to
fly we were agreeably surprised to find that scarcely
a dozen returned to the old stands. On Sunday
last, when these colonies were airing themselves in
crowds, there was no returning, and we do not think
that half-a-dozen bees have been lost through the
removal. When removing hives let it be done late
in the evening, without shaking or disturbance of
any kind, and remove all traces of their former
stands and surroundings.

Mice. Spiders, Tomtits. — These are all enemies
to the bees. On removing the cover of a skep, a,
few days ago, Ave wore startled by the bounding
forth of four large field-mice. One nest in the
crown of the skep was completed, and another was
in course of construction. The comb would soon
have been reached and the coL my destroyed, had
we not discovered the interlopers.

As to spiders, we arc sorry to differ from Father
Langstroth, who pleads eloquently on their behalf,
but we find them very destructive of bee-life.
Spinning their webs all around the entrances, the
Bees when flying on bright days are caught in
numbers and speedily devoured. With Virgil we
class the spider —

' La. i os inforibus suspendit aranea casses,'

with the direst enemies of the bees, equally, indeed,
with the ' dirum tinea- genus,' — the dreadful race of
moths, which is by no means so destructive in our
climate as in warmer regions of the earth.

And here let us say one word in praise of the
Italians. In many parts of America where moths
abound, and are most destructive to the bees, it is
found almost impossible to keep the black race at
all, since it almost universally falls a prey to these
much-dreaded insects ; but there is scared}- a case
on record of an Italian colony having succumbed
to their attacks ; so perfect is the watch and guard
kept by the golden-banded race, that the enemy-
is never allowed to gain an entrance at their
doors.

Amongst birds the blue titmouse — Parus major —
is the most destructive during the winter ami
spring months. Mr. Purchase, an old 'writer on
bees, tells us that ' she will eat ten or twelve bees
at a time, and, by-and-by, be ready for more.
When she comes to the hive and finds none, she
knocks with her bill at the door, and as soon as
the bees come out to inquire the cause, she eateheth,
first one and then another, until her belly be full.'
Upon this passage Mr. Payne, a later authority,
remarks, ' I have observed the same thing in an
apiary of about twenty hives, in a neighbouring
village, for the last two winters ; the entrances to
the hives, by the end of winter, having the appear-
ance of being gnawed through by rats, which has
all been dome by these birds. Shoot and trap
them in winter, and destroy their nests in breeding

time.' In our own experience, sparrows may be
placed in the same category as the most persevering
enemies of bees, both in winter and summer. The
depredations of these birds are too often laid upon
the swallow, which, as a rule, preys upon smaller
insects than bees, and, at all events, cannot be
credited with their destruction in winter.

Feeding, so late as November, will sound strange
to those whose colonies are well provisioned, and
comfortably settled in winter quarters. To hives,
however, with plenty of bees and but little food —
which may be the case with many apiarists who
have had no opportunity of completing their
feeding, owing to the inclemency of the weather — it
is advisable to give thin strips of candy between
the frames, at the bottom, on the floor-board. In
skeps the food may be pushed in between the
combs ; and although in cold weather the bees will
be unable to reach it, nevertheless in warm days
they will descend and feed on the candy thus
placed.

By this plan there is less fear of colonies being in-
jured by deliquescence of the food than by placing it
above the frames — the best system as spring ap-
proaches. Pieces of honey-comb, taken from un-
finished sections, or from frames of comb, may be
given below, when combs are not fully built out.
Wintering of colonies of this class is only useful
with a view to preserving the queens and bees for
uniting to queenless stocks at spring, of which, in
a large apiary, there are general!}- some to be found
at a time when it is almost impossible to procure
queens at any price.

Keep a keen eye upon covers, stands, ifcc. If the
former are blown off daring storms, and the hives
become saturated with rain, the bees must perish,
for at this time it is next to impossible to dry them
again, bearing in mind that prevention, at all times
and under all circumstances, is better than cure.
We may consider now that winter is upon us. May
our colonies pass safely through the trial, and come
out flourishing at spring.

REPORT OF EXAMINERS.

Report of the Hoard of Examiners on the Examination
for First and Second Class Certificates, heldon May 16th,
188o, at South Kensington.

Six candidates submitted themselves for examination,
four of whom held second-class certificates, and the
remaining two third-class only. The result of the exami-
nation showed that of these candidates three only suc-
ceeded in obtaining first-class certificates, viz.: —

1. White, C. N., Somershain.

2. Fewtrell, F. Reading.*

3. Webster, W. B., Wokingham.*

We regret to state that, speaking generally, failures
occurred chiefly in the viva voce and the lecturing portions
of the examination, although several candidates failed to
satisfy us in the general knowledge of the subjects of
examination, displayed in their written or paper-work;
and we would express a hope that future candidates will
bestow more attention on the general subjects as set
forth in the Syllabus, and upon lecturing in public,
where terseness, hut at the same time clearness and

* These candidates held third-class certificates.

348

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[November 1, 1885.

simplicity, with a thorough knowledge of the subject,
are of the utmost importance.

Thos. Wm. Cowan, F.G.S., F.R.M.S., &c,
(Chairman.)
E. Bartrum, D.D.,
Henry Blioh,
George Raynor, M.A.
Mr. H. Dobbie, of Thickthorn, Norwich (to whom we
are indebted for several interesting papers on honey and
pollen-yielding plants), was awarded a second-class cer-
tificate at the second-class examination held at Norwich
previous to the date of the examination held at South
Kensington.

ASSOCIATIONS.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The monthly meeting of the Committee was held at
105 Jermyn Street, on Wednesday, October 21st. There
were present — T. W. Cowan (in the chair), the Hon.
and Rev. H. Bligh, Dr. Bartrum, the Rev. F. S. Sclater,
Capt. Campbell, R. J. Hinton, J. M. Hooker, D. Stewart,
G. Walker, and the Secretary. Letters were read from
Capt. Bush, the Rev. F. G. Jenyns, and the Treasurer,
regretting their inability to be present. The minutes of
the last meeting were read and confirmed. The atten-
tion of the Committee having been called to the fact
that the Royal Horticultural Society proposed to renew
their provincial shows as held in former years, it was
resolved that the Secretary do communicate with the
Secretary of the Royal Horticultural Society, and ascer-
tain if the B. B. K. A. could hold an exhibition of bees,
hives, honey, &c, in connexion with the Royal Horti-
cultural Society's Exhibition upon favourable terms.
It was resolved to issue a leaflet on ' Honey as Food.'
The Rev. Dr. Bartrum and the Rev. F. S. Sclater were re-
quested to prepare such a leaflet, and submit the same for
the consideration at the next meeting of the Committee.

It was resolved to issue a new edition of the pamphlet
' Wintering Bees,' and the Chairman was requested to
revise the same previous to its publication.

The next Committee meeting was fixed for Wednes-
day, November 18, and the Committee having transacted
some routine business resolved itself into the usual
Quarterly Conference with the representatives of County
Associations; there were present, Mr. J. Bowly (Berks),
the Rev. Astley Roberts and Mr. R. T. Andrews (Herts),
Mr. W. N. Griffin (Devonshire), Mr. A. H. Martin
(Worcestershire), the Rev. W. E. Burkitt (Wilts), the
Rev. E. K. Clav (Bucks), Mr. C. II. Haynes (Worcester-
shire), Mr. F. 'H. Meggy (Essex), the Rev. V. H. Moyle
(Berks), Mr. T. Waterer (Surrey), and Mr. Jesse Garratt
and the Rev. T. Sissons (Kent).

The consideration of ' Suggestions for the Manage-
ment of County and Local Shows ' was resumed. On
hives, it was moved by Mr. Garratt, and seconded by
the Rev. W. E. Burkitt, ' That each part capable of
being detached should be marked by the exhibitor
previous to its being sent for exhibition, with the
number of the exhibit and the class in which it is to be
exhibited ;' the object of such an arrangement being to
prevent any portion of the hive being lost at the show.
It was further considered advisable that all hives should
be packed as simply as possible, securely in a crate open-
ing at the top, the top of the crate being screwed down
(not nailed) with as few screws as possible. When
hives are not forwarded in crates the legs should be
braced together, the cover and other parts of the hive
being kept firmly together by a strong cord or otherwise.
No hive should bear any label or trade-mark that indi-
cates ownership previous to its being judged.

In reference to comb honey a very lengthened dis-
cussion took place, the following being the chief points
debated upon : —

(1) Whether it was not advisable for all sections to
be glazed on both sides.

(2) If glazing was insisted upon, should paper edging
be allowed ?

(3) Whether it was advisable to compel an exhibitor
to glaze so large a number of sections as are often ex-
hibited in the larger classes ?

It was pointed out, that if glazing sections on both
sides was insisted upon, it would prevent them being ex-
hibited in the small fancy boxes with glass fronts which
are now so largely used. On this point it was contended
that the judge ought to be able to see both sides of the
section clearly, without having to remove them from the
crate or box ; and, further, if sections were glazed on
both sides, the honey was protected from the bees, the
presence of which often kept a very large number of
people from visiting the bee departments of the various
shows. Ultimately it was resolved, ' That all sections
should be glazed on both sides in order that they may be
removed fiom the crate, or box, previous to the inspec-
tion by the judges.'

The remaining portions of the suggestions, namely,
those relating to extracted honey, and rules for the
guidance of exhibitors, were adjourned to the next
Quarterly Conference.

A Conversazione was held at 6 p.m. There was a
large attendance of members, including several ladies,
the County representatives, and Mr, Stewart, the Hon.
and Rev. Henry Bligh, Mr. Hooker, Captain Campbell,
the Rev. F. S. Sclater, Mr. Otto Hehner, Mr. Zehetmayr,
Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Henderson, Mr. Drinkwater, &c.

On this occasion the usual custom of reading a paper
on a specific subject was departed from in order that the
attention of the meeting might be drawn to various
topics relating to bee-culture, which were submitted for
discussion by different members. The proceedings
assumed, therefore, more of the style of a Conversazione
than heretofore.

Mr. Stewart presided, and said he would first call upon
Mr. Hehner to give a description of some recent dis-
coveries he had made in respect to the analysis of honey,
&c, after which there would be an exhibition of in-
teresting objects under the microscope, and also some
new appliances in relation to bee culture.

Mr. Hehner said he only intended to make a very few
somewhat disconnected remarks, which would be chiefly
replies to questions that had been addressed to him from
time to time as analyst of the Association. He had been
asked whether it was not possible to give wax specific
colours. It was easy enough to mix a solid colouring
matter with wax, but in the case of wax candles a solid
colouring matter would concentrate in the wick, and pre-
vent the light from burning. It was therefore necessary
to have only colours which were volatile, like arsenical
or mercurial colours for instance. It was impossible to
dissolve in wax any colouring matter with which he
was acquainted. The only way of obtaining a colour-
tinted wax was to dissolve organic colours, preferably
aniline colours, in substances capable of mixing with
melted wax. lie used either aniline or nitro-benzole for
this purpose. Of this solution a few drops used with the
wax imparted any desired heat to it, without materially
interfering with the properties of the wax. This he had
done, and brought samples for their _ inspection. [Mr.
Hehner then handed round several specimens of different-
coloured wax.] He thought probably this question had
been raised by those who were desirous of improving the
colour of bad wax.

They would remember that on a previous occasion of
his addressing them on the composition of honej^he
had hinted at the possibility some day of an imita-
tion of that commodity being manufactured so success-

November 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL

349

fully that it would be next to impossible by analytical
means to discriminate the genuine from the spurious
article. He stated that cane sugar could, by the action of
an acid — preferably oxalic acid — be converted into a mix-
ture of dextrose and levulose, which were the constituents
of honey, and the acid might then be so completely re-
moved that no evidences might be left of its ever having
been there. Unfortunately he was injudicious enough to
explain this matter too much in detail, for the manufacture
of such an article had been, no doubt, hastened by these
remarks. An enterprising firm had manufactured some
honey on the lines laid down on that occasion. That
firm had, however, with considerable honesty, labelled
their production ' manufactured honey.' [The speaker
then exhibited a bottle of the particular honey referred
to.] He was, however, exceedingly glad to be able to
announce that he had discovered means of most readily
distinguishing between this artificial product and natural
honey. In order, however, not to defeat his own ends as
Public Analyst, he w-ould ask the permission of the
meeting to abstain from describing or detailing the dif-
ferences and the mode of analysis.

In the course of his experiments it had occurred to
him that a product which had been formed by a plant
and passed through the body of an animal must contain
some of the universal salts which went to build up the
skeleton of that animal, and he had found, in accordance
with that idea, that there was a notable proportion of
phosphoric acid in honey. The amount of this acid
varied to a great extent with the colour of the honey.
It generally ranged between -^^ and T-J^ per cent.
The colour of genuine honey was generally proportionate
to the amount of phosphoric acid it contained. The more
mineral phosphate it contained the darker it was.

There was, no doubt, a great difference between the
taste of genuine honey and this particular manufactured
article, but in mixtures such difference might not be dis-
tinguishable.

A very simple test for glucose honey, which had not
been previously described, was also given by the speaker.
It consisted in burning a quantity of the honey to be ex-
amined until nothing but a white ash was left. In the
case of glucose honey this ash was strongly alkaline, in
that of glucose, or honey adulterated with glucose, it
was quite neutral.

He had been asked to state what temperature honey
should be heated to in order to prevent its crystallising.
Ho could only say that he had never yet heated a sample
of honey which would not crystallise after heating as
bard as it had ever done before. He had before him
four specimens of the same sample of honey. He had
heated them up to different temperatures — one to 05°
Centigrade, which was about equal to lo0° Fahrenheit,
and after three or four' days this had again become quite
solid. Others, which had been submitted to 75° and 80°
Centigrade, were just beginning to become hard, and one
which had been raised nearly to the temperature of boiling-
water had commenced to thicken, He did not believe
that the heating of honey had any permanent effect at
all. This matter opened a question of considerable im-
portance to bee-keepers, which was, Should honey be
kept clear at all by heating ? His own opinion was that
it was inadvisable to use artificial means to pi-event
crystallisation. They all knew that genuine honey
would crystallise, therefore why interfere with the
course of nature? The fact was, the public had been
wrongly educated to believe that unadulterated honey
should always be clear. The enormous amount of good
done to bee-keeping by the bee and honey shows was not,
in his opinion, unalloyed with mischief in that respect,
because at shows only bright and clear honey had a
chance of a prize, and therefore exhibitors had often to
keep their exhibits clear by heating or other artificial
means. He thought it a question, which should be
earnestly discussed, as to whether it would not be de-

sirable to place crystallised honey on the same footing
as clear honey.

To the subject of crystallisation some attention should
be paid. Honey should not be allowed to crystallise
anyhow or as it pleased. It should not contain hard
lumps of crystals, or have a sediment of crystals with a
layer of thin fluid honey above it. He had made some
experiments on this subject and related how smoothly
crystallised butteiy honey could be obtained from any
honey that was inclined to crystallise at all. In fairly
cold weather a little crystallised honey should be mixed
with that to be candied, and the whole gently stirred
with a rod or spoon. Crystallisation soon sets in — often
in a few minutes — generally in a day or two, when an
occasional stirring would result in an even, smooth mass,
similar to Narbonne honey. He thought by some such
innocent means crystallisation should be regulated, and
candied honey would again come into repute and into
use. The ardent desire to have nothing but clear honey
worked directly into the hands of manufacturers of
spurious compounds. No doubt crystallisation could be
prevented, but he deprecated any manipulations to that
end.

During this year a great deal of dark honey had been
produced, which was of small value in the market, and
he had been asked whether it would not be possible to
add something in order to bleach the honey, and make
it fighter. In answer to that he must say that it was
quite easy to bleach the honey, but simultaneously with
the colour the flavour was bleached also. By adding
from two to four per cent of perfectly innocuous hydrogen
peroxide solution to such honey the colour was much im-
proved, but the aroma had vanished.

He would be glad to hear the opinions of the members
present as to how far any artificial treatment of honey
wras permissible. In conclusion, he thanked the audience
for the patient hearing they had given to the few cursory
remarks he had made.

The Rev. E. K. Clay said he was sure every one present
agreed with Mr. Hehner respecting the undesirability of
tampering with honey. Any artificial means of altering
its colour or flavour should be avoided. There was a
great deal of ignorance among people outside the bee
world as to what good honey was. They thought it
ought to be liquid all the year round, and they never con-
sidered it pure when granulated. On one occasion he had
the greatest difficulty in persuading a lady that it was
natural for genuine honey to granulate. He was of
opinion that exhibits of old honey should be encouraged
at the local shows, and that the Association should
establish a special class for that purpose. He was glad
to hear that any attempt to alter the colour of honeyr
would affect its flavour, because he was opposed to
adulteration for any object.

Mr. Zehetmayr thought the fact that all matters
passing through an animal body contained phosphate of
lime would, with further investigation, enable Mr.
Hehner to distinguish to a certain point between honey
gathered from flowers and that collected from the
deposits of the aphides, because it seems evident that
honey collected from these deposits, having passed twice
through an animal body — first through the aphides and
then through the bees — must contain a greater percentage
of phosphate of lime than honey gathered from blossoms
and flowers. He is quite aware that it will be difficult,
if not impossible, to draw an exact line ; but it would be
very interesting, and useful too, to know the limits of the
quantities of phosphate of lime that are usually contained
in both honey from flowers and honey gathered as far as
possible from only the deposits of the green fly.

"With regard to crystallized honey he agreed perfectly
with Mr. Hehner, viz., that it should be put on exactly
the same level as that in a liquid state. As crystalliza-
tion does in no way deteriorate honey — the fact that
crystallized honey is much better adapted for travelling

3»

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[November 1, 1885.

■with far less risk for loss — will commend itself to those
who have had experience in this way.

Mr. Hehner said he had examined some honey-dew
which had been given to him by a well-known bee-keeper,
and had found therein a relatively large quantity of phos-
phoric acid — about thirty-five thousandths per cent.

The Rev. V. H. Moyle having risen in response to an
invitation from the chairman, expressed the great pleasure
with -which he had listened to Mr. Hehner's very practical
remarks in common with others present, and narrated cases
of early and late granulation of honey which had come
under his notice ; turnip honey seemed to granulate very
early. He thought it would tend to educate the public
more in this matter if granulated honey were shown
more at bee-keepers' exhibitions, as there was a too pre-
valent error that granulated honey was honey mixed with
flour. He would suggest to practical scientific men the
thought whether they could not invent a ' mellometer,'
to guage the adulteration of honey as they had a 'lacto-
meter ' to test the adulteration of milk.

Mr. Andrews said it had been stated that the crystalliza-
tion of raw honey could be accelerated by the mixing
with it of some honey crystals. If that be so perhaps the
same result could be brought about by the addition of
flour or other meal to run honey, which method if success-
ful probably many would adopt. Of course the Associa-
tion wished to guard against such an evil. He thought
the exhibition of crystallised honey should be encouraged,
but he would be glad to know how it would be possible
to judge it at shows.

Mr. Hehner thought that, the addition of flour or meal
to liquid honey would not hasten crystallization.

The Rev. E. K. Clay did not intend to suggest that
old honey could be put in competition at shows, but
merely sent there for exhibition, so that the public might
see that honey would keep for several months.

The Rev. F. S. Sclater quite agreed that old honey
should not be sent to show-s for competition, but merely
as a matter of educational importance, so that the public
might see how it was preserved, and its appearance
under such circumstances. They would then understand
that honey must crystallise sooner or later, and their
prejudices on this subject would fade away. He thought
that the authorities should provide a case at all shows
in which specimens of old and peculiar honey should be
exhibited. Also it would be desirable to publish a short
account of some of the most simple tests for finding out
whether honey was adulterated or pure.

The Rev. T. Sissons stated that on entering a grocer's
shop at a popular watering-place last year he saw some
liquid honey in pound jars. The grocer informed him
that the public liked honey to be liquid, and the charm
of the particular honey he had was that it never
crystallised. Some of it had been in his possession
he stated twelve months, and there had been no change
in its consistence during that time. Undoubtedly
the popular idea was that the only pure honey was
liquid. He thought it was the duty of the Committee
of the Association to protest with all its power against
any interference with the products of nature in the case
of honey and wax. There was no need to bleach or
alter the colour of either, and he believed it would be
fatal to the interests of the Association to countenance
any such tampering.

Mr. Garratt said it would be very desirable if bee-
keepers could be educated with regard to the way of
treating honey while in the process of thickening, so !
that there might be a proper and regular granulation. J
Shop-dealers considered the Narbonne honey stood '
highest in that respect, and might be taken as a
standard. He thought there must be some simple plan
of controlling honey in that state — perhaps by keeping
it always in a certain temperature. Perhaps Mr. Hehner
could tell them whether there was any mechanical or
other means of dealing with honey so as to induce a

regular white crystallisation. He had heard that by
rapid stirring and the introduction of plenty of air that
end was attained. He confirmed the observations of
previous speakers regarding the ignorance of the public
respecting honey, and mentioned a case in which the
squire of a parish was under the impression that crystal-
lised honey was adulterated with flour.

Mr. Hehner was sure that if plenty of air were stirred
into honey a light colour would be obtained, because the
crystals would become smaller, and the greater the
number of crystals the greater the number of points for
reflection.

Mr. Baldwin said that no doubt the Association and
the judges Were somewhat responsible for the feeling of
prejudice against thick honey. Prizes were given for
liquid honey only. He thought there ought to lie some
method of testing the honey, and prizes awarded with-
out reference to whether it be thick or thin. Let them
consider the anomaly of the present system. An ex-
hibitor could produce samples of liquid honey and set
honey from the same hive, yet the one which has been
kept warm, and prevented from granulating, took off
the prize, while the other was not noticed. They all
knew that honey would granulate, therefore it was not
worth while to attempt to disguise the fact any longer.
In that condition it was much more portable, and easy
to send about from place to place, which was a fact not
to be ignored.

Mr. Hooker said, in reference to Mr. Baldwin's re-
marks, that he was one of the judges at the York Show,
and with the concurrence of another judge he awarded
the third prize to an exhibitor for a sample of crystal-
lised honey. It was a production of the same year. If
they were to have only run honey on exhibition, they
would exclude all the honeys which set quickly, such as
those produced from rape mustard, which become thick
often at the beginning of July. In a moderately warm
place he had kept honey through the year, without
crystallisation ensuing, and lie had known of cases
in which it had been preserved three years without
crystallising.

The Rev. E. K. Clay asked Mr. Hehner whether
unripe honey would granulate quickly.

Mr. Hehner thought not, but was of opinion that it
would ferment rapidly. No doubt hone}' heated nearly
to temperature of boiling water would keep longer.

Mr. Griffin said that one sample of honey which he
had heated to 194° remained perfectly liquid, whilst
another, an Irish honey, heated to 198° had crvstallised.
Mr. Meggy quite agreed that prizes should be offered
for set as well as run honey, but the fact could not be
gainsaid that in the liquid state it was more pleasant to
eat, and that being so he thought they might while de-
siring to tamper with honey as little as possible, try and
find out some means of preventing crystallization.

Mr. Hehner admitted that it was possible by scientific
means to prevent crystallization, but deprecated any
tampering with honey, because when once the thin edge
of the wedge was sanctioned manufacturers would not
know where to draw the line. He saw no reason why
liquid and set honey should not stand on an equal foot-
ing. If they were to encourage the show of crystallized
honey the spurious productions would soon vanish,

The Chairman thanked Mr. Hehner for his valuable
assistance. That gentleman was really one of the
worker bees, for he was at work like them day and
night in favour of the objects of the Association. They
would all remember Mr. Godfrey's show of crystallized
honey at the Health Exhibition. Specimens of that
kind were well known at the Lincolnshire shows, where
the honey set quickly.

Mr. Gairatt described an experiment he had recently
made with a straw sleep turned upside down and pro-
duced the reversible steep for inspection. He said tin-
idea occurred to him during that spring when he found

NoTcmbcr 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

351

that the bees laid out and did not swavm. lie could
of course have made them swarm, but it was not con-
venient, and he preferred to have a big swarm when they
did come out. lie thougl it t hey had been idle long enough,
and he would try an experiment with them. It was an
experiment so far as he was concerned, because he did not
know till recently that something- similar had been tried
in America, lie found the bees as described, and he
decided to make a bed for the hive and invert it. This
I iiing satisfactorily done, he at first supered without an
excluder. As soon as the bees began working out the
sections he found in consequence that the queen imme-
diately went up and spoilt several of the sections. He
remedied this by putting on the excluder. In inverting
he took the precaution (if passing two skewers through
the hive. The combs retained their perpendicular position
! were immediately attached to the adaptor. The result
if this was that he was able to take forty-eight completely
finished sections, although the experiment was made com-
paratively late in the season. The bees were satisfied
with their new quarters, and they worked rapidly. He
thought that system was a certain way of getting bees
into the supers at once. On removing the supers be
found that the bees did not appear to have been impeded
in their labours in consequence of the inversion of the
hive. The conditions seemed in every way normal, and
he had not discovered anything that might be regarded
as a drawback to the plan described. The experiment
was not confined to one stock of bees, but several were
treated in the same way and with equivalent results.*

Mr. Hooker said he had on many occasions seen Mr.
Garratt's bees working under the conditions described.
They appeared to he vigorous and healthy. He had no
doubt that the queen was rearing brood at the top of
the hive. It was his opinion that the inclination of the
cells was altered by the bees during the time that the,
grubs were hatching out.

Mr. Andrews thought Mr. Garratt's system would be
of no advantage to the cottager. From his own experi-
ence of skeps in their normal condition, he believed as
much honey could be obtained as by the new method.
The latter might be an improvement, but there seemed to
him to be several objections to it. It interfered with the
natural working of the bees; it upset their house, it
altered their cells, and compelled them to put the brood
in a different place ; it also obliged them to move their
stores. Besides, the cottager had no time to try such
experiments with his bees. lie was occupied from early
in the morning till the evening at his work, and conse-
quently could not give the time and attention necessary
to carry out successfully such a plan. Nevertheless he
was much obliged to Mr. Garratt for bringing the subject
before the meeting.

Mr. Hooker and the Rev. T. Sissons admitted that the
-ystem in question gave the bees some extra trouble in
regard to their household arrangements, but if more
honey coidd be obtained thereby, that was the important
point to consider.

Mr. Meggy feared there were manifest disadvantages
in leaving the hive reversed for the winter. Its base
was so small that it would run the risk of being blown
over, besides which he should think it would lie very
cold in that condition.

Mr. Garratt said no doubt the bees would be caused
extra work by his system, but that was not a quest! in
for them to consider. Bees delighted in work, and the
object of bee-keeping was to obtain as much honey as
possible. By his method the bees were got to work in
the, supers without any delay.

Mr. Baldwin asked what the bees would do for the
winter food if upon the skep being reversed they removed
all the honey from the comb and put it into the supers.

* Mr. Garratt has undertaken to supply us with illust-
rations and describe more fully, in our next, the details of
his plan and the working thereof. — Ed.

Mr. Hooker said the hive would be in no worse con-
dition than in a ease where the honey had been all
extracted, and that the bees must be supplied with food
during the winter.

Mr. Garratt was glad to see the ami unit of interest
taken in the matter, and promised to make further in-
vestigations in reference thereto.

Mr. Andrews exhibited several very accurate draw-
ings he had made of various kinds of bees, as well as of
different portions of their bodies. He also showed a
specimen of a death's head moth which had been found
in a skep. He understood such occurrences were common
in different parts of the kingdom. He believed these
moths found their way into hives for the sake of the
warmth and the honey, and he could not but think that
these insects had some special power of resisting bee-
stings.

Mr. Zehetmayr said be had been told of a case in
southern Italy in which sixty-two death's-head moths
had been found in five hives, eighteen being discovered
in one hive alone. His informant had seen these moths
go in and out of the hives almost without molestation by
by the bees.

The Chairman thanked the different gentlemen who
had initiated subjects for discussion, and also those who
had kindly brought their inventions and drawings for
exhibition. Mr. Simpson had been kind enough to
bring his miscroscope and several objects for examina-
tion. Among other objects brought for exhibition were
Mr. F. Benton's shipping-cage, Mr. Stocks' show-crate,
Mr. Nicholson's skep-union, Mr. Redshaw's feeders, Mr.
Simmins' amateur feeder, &c.

The Eev. T. Sissons proposed a vote of thanks to Mr.
Hehner and the Chairman. He thought it would be
very interesting if members would bring to the meetings
photographs of their apiaries from time to time, so that
friends might be able to view the position and arrange-
ments thereof, which could not fail to be instructive.

The Rev. V. II. Moj-le seconded the motion, which
was briefly acknowledged by Mr. Hehner and the Chair-
man.

DORSETSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The annual show of the above Association was held
at Dorchester on October 21st, in connexion with the
Agricultural Show. The Association were this year
obliged to confine the schedule to honey only, through
last year getting the balance on the wrong side. The ex-
hibits occupied 00 feet of staging, and the quality was
everything that could be desired.

The first prize for exhibition of honey in comb was
awarded to Mr. .1. Antell, who had a very nice collec-
tion. Mr. Dunman, who was second, had an exhibit
four times as large in quantity, but not so good as regards
quality. Several other collections were worthy of com-
mendation, especially one sent in by the Rev. N. W.
Greslev, of Milbome St. Andrew. Mr. Antell also won
the champion prize, the silver medal given by the
British Bee-keepers' Association, but only after a very
severe contest with Mr. Dunman. For something like
half-an-hour the judges were deliberating before they
could come to a final decision as to the presentation of
this award. The run honey was of all colours and
shades : the first prize eventually was given to heather
honey, clover this year having fallen off considerably in
merit. It was a source of great ^regret cottagers did
not exhibit as was hoped, but the two lots of honey sent
in by Mr. James Woodland were considered deserving of
the prizes offered, and they were consequently awarded
to him.

The following are the awards : — Honey. — Exhibition
of honey in the comb — 1st, 10s., Mr. J. Antell, Puddle-
town ; 2nd, os., Mr. W. II. Dunman, Troytowu. 241b.
section of comb honey — 1st, silver medal and 10s., Mr.
J. Antell; 2nd, 7s. Cxi., Mr. AY". II. Dunman ; 3rd, §*.,

352

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[November 1, 1885.

Mr. R. M. "Williams, Cranborne. 241b of run honey —
1st, certificate and 10s., Mr. R. Coles, Wareham ; 2nd.-
5s., Mr. J. Antell. Labourers' classes : 121bs. of honey
in comb, the produce of bees bond fide the property of
the exhibitor — 1st, bronze medal and 7s. Gd,, Mr. J.
Woodland, Troy town. 121bs. of run honey, the produce
of bees bond fide the property of the exhibitor — 1st,
certificate and 5s., Mr. J. Woodland, Troytown, Dor-
chester.

MONMOUTHSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

Abmgavssky.

At Abergavenny, on the 27th of August, the above
Association held their show in connexion with the
Abergavenny Floral and Horticultural Show. The
Association had their tent on the ground, when the
expert, Mr. M. Meadham, manipulated the bees. Un-
fortunately, it was a very wet day, and consequently very
bad for driving, and therefore not so remunerative as
other meetings held at Newport and Maindee had
proved. The following prizes were given : —

Class 1. — The best complete hive on the moveable
comb principle, price not to exceed 15s. ; 1, J. R. W.
Hole ; 2, M. Meadharn ; 3, not awarded. Class 2. — Best
hive as above, price not to exceed 10s. ; 1 and 2 equally
between J. R. W. Hole and M. Meadham ; 3, not
awarded. Olass •". — Best hive made for general use,
made by an amateur or cottager ; a hive value 10s. given
by Mr. M. Meadham, expert to the Association. The
very wet weather prevented any exhibitors attending.
Class 4. — Best exhibition of super honey; 1, silver
medal and 10s., Major-Gen. Gillespie ; 2, Miss Jackson ;
•'I, Mrs. James Oakeley. Class 6. — For best exhibition
of twenty-four bottles of run or extracted honey ; 1 ,
bronze medal and 10s., Major-Gen. Gillespie; 2," Mrs.
James Oakeley ; 3, Mrs, R. Phillips. Class 6. — For best
super of honey ; 1, Mrs. James Oakeley ; 2, Miss Clark ;
■i, Mrs. Carlisle. The exhibit in this class taking first
prize was a bell - glass containing 30 lbs. of honey.
Class 7. — Best exhibition of comb honey taken from
one hive without destroying the bees, the exhibitor
being a cottager; 1, certificate of merit given by
B. B. K. A. and 5s., Mr. Sparrow ; 2, not awarded.

LlFE-DURATION OF MlCKOBES. — M. DuclaUX has

written a paper on the duration of life of the germs of
microbes, lie has studied some organisms preserved
since the first researches of M. Pasteur, in 1859, under
the most varied conditions — in various liquids, sheltered
from or in contact with the air, also dry, in darkness
and in light. The germs sheltered from the air and
in liquids slightly alkaline show the greatest vitality.
Out of sixteen flasks in these conditions, fifteen have
shown fertile germs after twenty-three or twenty-four
years. The limit of life under these conditions is not
known ; but it must be added that they are rarely
realised in nature. In all the flasks wherein the liquid
had an acid or a strongly alkaline reaction, the germs
had perished. The species which showed most re-
sistance are:— Among the mucedines, asj>ergillus niger ;
among the microccoci, urococcus vivax ; among the
bacilli, tynilliri.c tenuis, tenuior, tenuissimus axxifili/ormis.
These species, at the same time, resist most the action
of heat. The spores of many can support a temperature
of 110r'-115° C. without perishing. In the adult state
these same species are less resisting, both as to time and
heat. In a liquid exposed to the air the resistance is
observedly inferior. Bacilli and yeast are still more
resisting than micrococci. Further, the germs weaken
rapidly in these conditions. It is known that M.
Tasteur utilised this action of the air in order to obtain
the attenuation and transformation in vaccine of many
ormidable pathogenic microbes. But it is when dry

in the air, and especially exposed to the sun, that the
life of germs is much shorter. The aspergillus niger of
M. Raulin was alive (in the spore condition) after being
twenty-two years in a liquid sheltered from the air ; but
has always been found dead after being kept three years
in a closed tube, dry, and in the dark. The tyrothrhs
filiformis, whose resistance in a liquid sheltered from air
is not less, perishes after thirty-five days' exposure to
the sun. 'This testifies,' says M. Buclaux, 'to the
special action of sunlight ;...". and the old physicians
had ground for regarding the rays of the sun as powerful
hygienic agents.'

Pollen.— Mr. A. S. Wilson (Bot. Soc. of Edinb.)
found that an anther of wheat contained 68G4 grains
of pollen : that 390,000 of them weigh one grain'; and
that an acre of good wheat produces about oOlbs. of
pollen, while an acre of rye produces about two cwt.

The Poison of Hymen'optera.— The denticulated
sting of bees, wasps, and hornets, is charged with poison
secreted by two glands. According to M. Carlet, of
Grenoble, the secretion of one of the glands is acid, and
that of the other alkaline. The poison only produces its
customary effects when both acid aud alkaline fluids are
present in the poison, which is, however, acid in re-
action. In wasps and hornets the venom is injected by
means of a vesicle with contractile walls. In bees the
poison-bag is not contractile, and there exists a kind of
piston that works in the fang as a syringe, so that the
syringe is charged and emptied with "each stroke by the
piston.— English Mechanic, October lGth.

jforricpr.

SWITZERLAND.

Is it possible to force the Queen to lay at all seasons of
tlie gear? — In September, 1883, we examined in the
neighbourhood of our apiary a number of moveable
comb hives, and as the weather had been very moist,
fresh flowers had given the bees a small daily income of
honey. There was, notwithstanding this, very little
brood, and generally but a small quantity of capped
brood. In October of the same year, we went to Tou-
raine to help a friend, who possessed fourteen colonies in
large frame-hives, to gather in his harvest of honey-
There was a large quantity of wild mustard in the neigh-
bouring vineyards ; the weather was damp, the tempera-
ture mild, and the bees collected honey daily, for it was
visible in all the hives. However, when we examined
the honey about the middle of October, it was quite the
exception to find any brood ; most of the colonies had
none at all, one or two only had capped brood and very
few eggs ; notwithstanding the small quantity of honey
coming in daily ought to have stimulated the queen to
lay. None of the hives had given a swarm, and nearly
all the colonies were strong for the season. These
observations seem to prove to us that the queen, after the
principal laying season, has need of rest, and that even
the daily natural income of honey does not force her
always to lay, as is generally supposed. — G. de Layens,
Bulletin (TAjriculture de la Suisse Romaude.

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

We have much pleasure in taking a few extracts from
the first report of this very promising Association : —

' Your Committee think that the fact of this being the
first Association of the kind organized in Australia is a
matter for congratulation, aud shows that this colony is
at present ahead of her neighbours in apiculture.

' There are now thirty-nine members in the Association,
and it is expected that this number will be increased as
soon as the weather becomes warmer.

' Two shows of bee-keeping appliances, honey, aud bees

November 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

353

have been held, one in connexion with the Flower Show
at the Town Hall on November 27th, 1884, and the other
at the Royal Society's Autumn Show in the Exhibition
Building on March 5th, 18851

' South Australia, with its mild climate and numerous
honey-producing trees, is eminently suited for bee-culture,
and it is therefore not surprising that some large returns
have ahead}- been recorded. As far as is yet known, the
common red and blue gums are the best sources of honey,
and it is to these trees that Messrs. Coleman and May,
of Mount Barker, are indebted for their bountiful harvest
of last season. They report as follows : " Number of
hives at commencement of season, 27 ; present number,
100 — none were bought after the season commenced.
Comb honey taken, 4879 lbs. ; extracted honey taken,
041.') lbs. ; total amount of honey, 14,202 lbs., or 6 tons
7 cwt. 2 qrs. 12 lbs. Average from eacli of the original
twenty-seven hives, 520 lbs. Most extracted honey taken
from one hive, 414 lbs. ; most comb honey from one hive,
164 lbs." This splendid average of over 500 lbs. of
honey per hive is certainly very satisfactory, and gives
cause for speculation as to the possibilities which may
yet be reached. Your Committee trust that the inex-
perienced will not be led away with the idea that any-
one can secure the same results, and that in modern bee-
keeping there is no such thing as hard work.

' Messrs. Coleman and MajT are not only skilful and
experienced apiarists, but they have an aptitude for the
work which is not possessed by all persons. Moreover,
they are situated in one of the most fertile districts in the
colony, and are surrounded by a variety of beautiful gum
trees. They use the standard Langstrotli hive, and speak
very highly of those obtained from Messrs. Bagnall Bros.,
of New Zealand.

' Your Committee feel that this report would not
be complete without a notice of the introduction and
establishment of Ligurian bees in South Australia. The
Hon. R. D. Ross, who has always taken a deep interest
in bee-keeping, when speaking at the annual meeting of
the Chamber of Manufactures on August 2nd, 1883,
urged the advisability of introducing the Ligurian bee,
and pointed out the advantages possessed by this superior
variety of the honey bee. The Chamber promptly took
action in the matter, and ordered a hive of these bees
from Queensland. They came from the apiary of Mr.
Chas. Fullwood, and arrived safely in Adelaide about the
end of November. Several pure colonies were reared
from this stock, and two of them were sent to Kangaroo
Island, where they appear to thrive well.'

BURMAIL

Apis Dorsata Once Mohe.— The colony of Apis
dorsata, mentioned on page 208, after staying' for twelve
days -with me, has absconded, and I hasten to give the
results of my first experiment with this bee. 1. Why
did the bees abscond r On examination of the comb I
found about half a pound of brood had been jammed
hit' ' a fold of the comb made when putting the comb
into the basket for transportation from the hills. It was
smelling very rank, and of itself was enough to drive
them off, doubtless. 2. I am not sure they had a queen.
Before I got them into shape, about a quart of old bees
swarmed up on a limb of a tall mango-tree, and after
two days they left. At first the entrance to the hive
was too small, and I think they could not readily find
their comb, and so left. The queen might have been
among them. 3. Perhaps this bee cannot be made to
stay in a hive at all, yet I am not at all satisfied that
this is the case, and shall not be without much more ex-
perience.

V\ e have gained some knowledge by this experiment.
The young bees, when first hatched, are long and slender,
very graceful in their shape and movements, of a soft
dark yellow, approaching brown, which changes as they
grow older. The abdomen grows fuller, and black band's

appear, until the bee appears much darker, not only on
the abdomen, but all over. The head, however, at first
changes to jet black. As there was a very little unsealed
brood when I got them, and all hatched out in twelve
days, I judge the time from egg to bee is about twenty-
one days, as with common bees.

The comb of the Apis dorsata left wit h me measures
about 2ft. long by lift, deep. The honey-comb and
and brood-comb are quite distinct. The honey-comb is
placed always highest up on the limb of the tree on which
the nest is built. From this, which is on the right in
my comb, the brood-comb extends to the left, new comb
being added along the whole edge, from the honey-comb
around to the limb again. The honey-comb is three
inches thick in its thickest part, but built in a cylindrical
form. The natives say they have seen this honey-chattei
6in. in diameter. The cells are Hin. inches deep, and
less as the slope changes. There are three honey cells to
the inch. This comb is beautifully white, and the walls
of the cells are almost transparent. Honey is also de-
posited among the brood, but it seems to be of a different
kind from that in the honey-chattei.

The brood-cells are from i to f of an inch deep. The
number to the inch varies from 4 to 4i, or 23 cells to
5 square inches. The brood-comb varies a little in thick-
ness, and is about lfin., and is a light brown in colour.
These bees on the comb form one of the most beautiful
sights in nature I ever saw. During their stay they built
comb and brought honey and water, but they' did not at
any time work as if they were, happy. "Just before
leaving, there was great running to and fro, and preening
of wings and legs, preparatory to flight. Not more than
half-a-dozen bees were left. "l put one, just hatched out,
on the alighting-board of an Apis indica colony, and it
immediately marched in like a queen, and the bees all
made way for it. I suspect they got over their surprise
and_ slew it, but I have not seen any results of such
punishment. So much for experiment No. 1 with Apis
dorsata. — A. Bunker, Toungoo, Biirmah, March 18tA,
1885.. — (American Gleanings?)

PFARRER DR. DZIERZON.

A BIOGRAPHY WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.

I was born on the lGth January, 1811, at Lowkowitz,
near Kreuzburg, Upper Silesia, "my present dwelling-
place, where my parents, Simon and Maria, owned 'a
farm. They had two more children, a daughter two
years older than I, who is dead, and a son my junior by-
three years, who is still alive. I attended the School of
Lowkowitz until I was ten years old, when my parents
sent me to the town school of Pitschen, one German
mile distant; and a year afterwards to Breslau, where I
finished my studies at the University. I was fortunate
enough to be first in every class of my College, and left
the University in the autumn of 1830, having passed No. 1,
and obtained a certificate, which was very flattering
indeed.

From early childhood I had a great fancy for bees, of
which my father kept a few colonies in hives made of
logs of wood mostly placed in an upright position, which
were at that time in general use in Silesia. I always
found my greatest pleasure in the contemplation of the
indefatigable industry of bees and the wonderful way in
which they build their comb. While I studied at the
University I generally took my walks where I knew an
apiary to be or a colony of bees in a hollow tree, in order
that I might enjoy, if only for a moment, the sight of
these industrious insects and their joyful humming.

My partiality to bees even determined my choice of
a vocation. Life in an office or at the desk seemed unbear-
able to me. I experienced the greatest possible pleasure
in the study of nature, but more especially in the observa-
tion of bees and the investigation of their wonderful
economy; and I therefore chose a calling in which it

354

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[November 1, 188E

would be possible for me to follow my inclination. As
a priest, I hoped, like Schirach, Christ, and others, to
find, leisure to continue ray observations on bees and to
throw light on the confused opinions then prevailing in
regard to the economy of bees; and in this hope I was
not disappointed. After being ordained on the 10th
March, 1804, and having acted as Chaplain in Schal-
kowitz District of Oppelu till July 1805, I received the
offer of an appointment at Karlsmarkt. Although it
was but a small living with not much pay attached to it,
I accepted the offer, and it never occurred to me to
seek a better endowed living, because it suited me
entirely.

Of course I arranged a place for bees in the garden of
my parsonage. This garden was a pretty large one,
though quite in a state of wilderness, and I stocked it
with a few colonies in ' Christ Magazine hives ' from my
father's apiary. These were at that time considered the
best bee-hives, and during the Easter holidays I trans-
ferred some log-hive colonies into these hives.

The bees did very well in them, especially after I had
changed the wooden cover (crown-board) for one made
of straw, as I found the former absorbing too much
moisture. In order to enable me to turn up this straw
cover, and remove it conveniently without damaging the
combs, I provided a grate at the top, placing on it as
many liars, an inch in width, as the number of combs
there was room for in the hive. A hive about ten inches
square would therefore take seven bars. I fixed a guide-
comb to each of the bars in the hive, as I got a great
number of most beautiful combs from my log-hives when
trimming them in spring, which I did not like to melt
down.

This was the beginning of hives with moveable combs,
for when the cover was removed, or only partially rolled
up, it was possible to take out a full brood-comb or honey-
comb and insert it in another hive. But as it was some-
what difficult to detach the comb from the sides of the
hive, I constructed hives which opened at the side, in
order to enable me to loosen the combs from the sides of
the hive and to take them out with ease. At the
commencement I used single hives, partly 'Standers' and
partly ' Lagers,' but afterwards I constructed hives to hold
two, three, six, or eight colonies, in order to economise
material as well as space, for, thanks to the moveability
of the combs, the number of colonies increased in a few
years from 300 to 400, and I was obliged to be al-
ways making new hives and to put up additional
apiaries in the neighbouring villages in order to dispose
of all the stocks of bees.

As my distant apiaries were in a tolerably good position
I obtained such an amount of honey from them in favour-
able years that I was at a loss to know how to store and
dispose of it. My Karlsmarkt apiary, although not in
a particularly favourable situation, contained a very large
number of stocks, and was chiefly used for observations
and experiments; and, after the introduction of the
Italian race, for breeding|tkese beautiful, gentle, and in-
dustrious bees, and to keep them pure. It was always
open to anyone interested in bees and was visited by
numerous people, desirous of increasing their knowledge
of bee-keeping, move particularly by schoolmasters, es-
pecially about thirty years ago when the fame of the
new method was spreading farther and farther. Among
the visitors were Vogel, Hucke,'Fritsch, and others, mostly
by desire and at the expense of the government. Yon
Berlepsch alse paid my apiary a visit, but incognito.

I did not only communicate my experience aud its re-
sults to my visitors orally, but felt compelled to make
them known to a larger circle, and this I did chiefly by
a few articles in the Frauendorf Journal, which enjoyed
a large circulation at that time. These articles were
afterwards collected by a private gentleman, Mr.
Bruckisch of Grottkau, who published them in the form
of a pamphlet entitled Pfarrer Dzierzon's Improved

method of Bee-keeping. But as this work was not
complete and properly arranged I published a book on
bees myself in 1848 entitled Theory «nd Practice of the
new Bee-master, to which a supplement was added in

1852. From 1854 to 1856 I published The Bee-master
of Silesia, a monthly periodical. However, as the in-
vention of the twin-stock hive — in my opiuion the most
suitable bee-hive — was a considerable step in advance, and
as the introduction of the Italian bees had cleared up
many points advanced by me, but which were disputed
by the followers of the old school, in 1861 I was in-
duced to write a new work on bees, which was published
under the title of Rational Bee-keeping, the latest and
most complete edition of which appeared in 1878.

But I published most of my observations and ex-
periences in the Bienenzeitung. This journal was started
by Mr. Andreas Schmid, principal of the Training College
for schoolmasters at Eichstedt, and was made the organ
of German bee-keepers at their first Congress at Arnstadt
in 1850, Mr. Beck of Nordlingen being the printer. My
new theory, which advances the proposition that the
drones originate from unfertilised eggs aud that the
queen as the mother of all the bees in the hive has the
power to determine the sex by preventing the impregna-
tion of the eggs to be deposited in the drone-cells, met
with the most violent opposition. Mr. Briining, an old
contributor to the Bienenzeitinvj. said in one uf his articles
that he was at his wits' end when lie read my proposi-
tion. My theory, however, has passed the ordeal of
science, and its correctness has been proved under the
dissecting knife and the microscope by the great
physiologists, Professors Dr. Von Siebold and Leuckardt.

Even Baron Von Berlepsch greatly opposed my theory,
being, like many others, of opinion, that tin eggs which
produce drones were laid by distinct bees, the so-called
drone-mothers ; and he did not acknowledge his error
until I had sent him two Italian queens in the autumn of

1853, and not only yellow-workers, but also yellow drones
appeared as early as March in the following year.

He declared my whole theory to be a calamity, and
prophesied, that as people were now exclaiming ' Ilosanna'
so they would soon join in the cry of ' Crucify.' I replied
that his prophecy might be fulfilled some day,

When the Rhine would flow back towards its source,
When the frost, instead of the sun, would melt the snow.
When the swarming season in our country would commence

at Christmas,
Then, but not till then, might bis prophecy be realised.

I further replied that my hive, with the exception of
the long grate carrying the bars, which could not
possibly do any harm, was an imitation of the log-hive
which had been in use for a thousand years. Soon after-
wards Von Berlepsch confessed himself completely
beaten, and convinced of the correctness of my theory,
and openly declared he would come over into my cam])
with bag and baggage; his letters on bees which ap-
peared in the Bienenzeitung did much to make my theory
and practice of bee-keeping more widely known.

It is evident that my new theory, according to which
the drones, or male bees, originate from unfertilised
eggs, had found adherents and recognition among men of
science, as Dr. Kieser, the President of the Imperial and
Koyal Leopold Carol. German Academy of Science,
forwarded me the diploma of membership of this body.
Hardly a year has passed since without my having
received a diploma of honour from one or the other
learned society. One of the first which 1 received, and
which I value most, is that signed by Archduke John
(at one time Regent of the empire) in his capacity as
President of the Agricultural Society of Graz. It was
no less an honour to nie to have had conferred upon
me the honorary title of Doctor by the University
of Munich.

It was quite beyond my expectations to receive honour

November 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

355

and distinction even from reigning sovereigns, by being
decorated with orders. At the Bee-keepers' Congress
at Darmstadt, the then reigning Grandduke of Hesse
invested me with the order of Ludwig; from the
Emperor of Austria I received the order of Francis
Joseph; at the Congress at Rreslau I was decorated
with the Prussian order of the Crown, fourth class ; the
Emperor of Russia conferred upon nre'the order of St.
Ann, which was handed to me by Councillor Professor
Von Butlerow at the meeting in Prague, and a short
time after the King of Sweden sent me the Older
of 'Wasa.

Put lest I should be exalted above measure through
the abundance of honours and distinctions conferred
upon me, there was given to me, to use the words of St.
Paul, a messenger of Satan to buffet me. This Satanic
role towards me was performed by the blindly-believing
and blindly-obeying Ultramontane fanaticism. Pecause
I had taken as my guide the words of the Apostle Paul,
' Prove all things ; hold fast to that which is good, and
let your obedience be in accordance with reason,' and
because I would, not allow my reason to be surrendered,
and myself to be degraded into an automaton, and
consequently was unable to subscribe to the new dogmas
of the infallibility and universal episcopacy of the Pope,
I became the object of the hatred and spirit of perse-
cution of the fanatics. Even the ecclesiastical authorities
described me as an apostate, and the Prince Bishop. Dr.
Forster, ordered the stoppage of the small pension which
after my resignation in 1869 had been regularly paid to
me for some time by reason of the payments I had con-
tributed towards the Pension Fund; but, being con-
demned in all the courts of law, he was compelled to
account to me for all arrears with interest to date of
pa3rment. ^,

(To he continued.) t f-j^

ferrtspoiTHCiicc.

*** A 11 Correspondents forwarding Letters for insertion in
the Journal, Mejmrts of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes
from the Hives, Queries, the., are requested to direct their com-
munications to 'The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," c/o
Messrs. Strangeways it- Sons, Tower Street, Upper St. Martin's
Lane, W.C

OUR HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the United Kingdom
dining the month of September, 188o, amounted to 1516/.
[From a private return sent by the Principal, Statistical
Office, H.M. Customs, to E. H. Bellairs, Wingtield House,
near Christchurch].

FLOWERS WITH REGARD TO HOXEY.

It is with the object of obtaining the choicest honey
that we should, from time to time, consider the sources
from which our honey yields are derived in the British
Isles. I have, with great interest, read the articles and
letters that have appeared in the pages of the B. II. J.
regarding- bee-plants ; as to the varieties that would pro-
duce the largest quantity of pollen and those that would
yield the best harvest of honevr. As to the former I
would say but little, as provided a particular flower
furnishes the bee with large quantities of farina it
being only for their exclusive use, cannot matter to the
bee-master whether it be white, brown, yellow, or even
black ; but when we consider the kind of honey produced
it becomes a question which requires some careful con-
sideration. We not only wish for large quantities of
honey, but also that the quality of the nectar should be
good ; in many cases the yield from a certain flower may
be large, but the quality so very inferior that it would be
of far more advantage to have less quantity and of
choicer quality.

There are a Large number of plants from whose
blossoms the bees obtain large harvests of honey, but
very inferior, and some, no doubt, injurious. It is not
my* intention to enumerate these, 1 simply throw out the
hint ; S9 that, prior to cultivating any particular variety
of flower, we should ascertain what kind of honey it pro-
duces. I have already, on a former occasion, alluded
briefly to some of the different kinds of honey.

The Rev. T. Scott has very kindly sent me a sample,
gathered in the vicinity of the Kent cherry orchards, the
flavour of which resembles the choicest cherries, aroma
not unlike the scent from heliotrope, and the colour all
that could be desired. Whilst I am indebted to the
kindness of Mr. R. 1'. Kitson for sending me some honey
from blackberry blossom, the flavour as of treacle, aroma
very like blackberry jam and colour dark chocolate ;
when eaten, even in a small quantity, it acts as a
narcotic, causing drowsiness, and producing symptoms
as from slight poisoning. The varieties of honey are
so great that it is a subject which requires the closest
examination.

It is well known that some people cannot eat honey ;
producing a rash with some, and affecting others in
various ways. I quite believe that this arises in a
measure from the kind of honey eaten. We well know
that some kinds of honey are actually injurious, and I am
strongly of the opinion that other varieties possess
virtues" which at present we are not aware of. In my
short experience I have found that some kinds of honey
are most beneficial for sore throats, whilst others would
produce no good effect. I am very anxious, pro bono
publico, to investigate this matter more fully ; and, to
enable me to do so, would esteem it a kindness if
those interested in the subject could send me a sample
of the kind of honey peculiar to their respective neigh-
bourhoods, stating the flowers from which, in their
opinion, the honey was obtained, and I trust to give
the results to the Journal later on. — W. N. Giuffin,
Freshford, Somerset.

BLIGH COMPETITION".
Allow me to say that more confidence would be felt in
the award of the judges in the above competition if they
would be so good as to state, in a supplementary report
or otherwise^ the principles upon which their awards
were based. They admit, I am glad to see, that errone-
ous values were placed on both honey and bees by those
who framed the rules for the competition, but I would
suggest that their report would have been more interest-
ing, and more satisfactory, if in the published balance-
sheets real values had been substituted for those which
are purely imaginary, or if the judges had at least
informed us what their scale was upon which their
calculations and comparisons were made. I have tried
to form some opinion upon this point, but confess to
being unable to arrive at any conclusion which will
account for the actual decisions. Thus, tried by the
scale of prices fixed by those who framed the rules, I
find that J. Arnold, with a total expenditure of 21. 2s. Id.
made a profit of SI. 15s. Od., and W. Seahrook, on an
outlay of 21. 5s. lid. makes 0/. 0s. lid. The former is
awarded the sixth prize, and the latter the fourth. Then
W. Woodley expends 1/. 17*. 0d., and gains 14/. 14.?. T\d.
T. Owen is placed before him with a profit of 14/. 8s. 2d.
on 3/. Us. id. I do not say that the judges may not have
had a reason for these decisions, but I do say it would be
more satisfactorv if we knew what these reasons were.
Possibly, in one case, they may have been influenced
by the "belief that at present prices increase of stocks
may be more profitable than the collection of extracted
honey, which could not really be sold at Is. Od. per lb. But
I need hardly point out that it is grossly unfair to give
competitors one set of rules and prices to work by and
then to judge them by another. As I endeavoured to
point out, eighteen months ago, the rules, not the com-

35G

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[November 1, 1885.

petitors, are to blame. If the competition lias en-
couraged the least sound and remunerative system of
bee-keeping-, again I would point out that the figures
given in the balance-sheets are not so accurate as to
command implicit confidence. At what price, for
instance, is 125 lbs. of honey reckoned in order to
bring Gl. \Ss. 8|-rf. — mark the farthing, or 52 lbs. to
make 21. 1 os. ?

I observe, too, that Mr. W. "Woodley, in his diary,
notes that his bees swarmed June 4th, again on the
18th, and that on the 27th they cast out two queens.
Can Mr. W., or any bee-keeper, explain to me the
history of those two queens ? Had I been one of the
judges, I should certa'.nly have suspected that Mr.
Woodley was in error in supposing that the swarm of
June 4th came out of hive 1 at all, but rather that that
of the 18th was a first swarm, the two queens could
then have been easily accounted for ; but Mr. Woodley 's
place in the competition might, in that case, have been
different.

The results are no doubt as a whole satisfactory, and
I have no doubt that all the competitors managed their
bees with considerable care and skill, but unless bee-
keepers and the public generally have confidence in
these trials, their value is nil. Perhaps if in future the
rules are made a little more consistent with common
sense, and the principles by which the judges will be
guided are made more fully known, there will not be
always so marked an absence of the names of all the
leading and most experienced bee-keepers from the list
of competitors in these interesting trials. — Geokge
Shipton, Brampton Vicarage, Chesterfield.

MY REFERENCE BOOK.

While reading the bee-papers, it is generally to be
noted that nearly all writers tell us about thing's which
are past ; this, put with the time it takes the article to
get to the publisher, and the same to be placed in our
hands through the mails, together with the printing,
makes nearly every valuable article which we read a
month or more behind the time most appropriate for its
use. I am not finding fault with the correspondents of
the bee-papers regarding- this state of affairs, for it is
quite natural that this should be so. There is no time a
person feels more like telling what he has done, and how
he did it, than just after doing it successfully. There is
a certain inspiration on a person at such times which
allows of their story being told better than it could
possibly be at any other time after several months have
passed away, as must alwaj's be the case where the story
is kept so that it can appear before the public in its ap-
propriate season. Thus it happens that all of the best
articles on wintering have appeared in the spring ; the
best article on securing a large yield of honey, after the
honey harvest is over, and the same is true of nearly
every other subject pertaining to bee-culture. Now, our
bee-papers are of value to us only in proportion as we
remember and put in practice the valuable points they
contain ; and as my memory is not sufficient to keep
track of all that is of value, appearing out of season, 1
must have some means of reminding me of the valuable
points just when they are of use. Again, much of the
matter in the bee-papers is of little value to the ex-
perienced bee-keeper, except to add a little to the ' spice
of life ' by adding variety to our reading-matter.

There is only now and then an item or an article we
wish to look at the second time, so what we want is some
plan by which we can get at that which is really valuable
when wanted at another time. To do this I struck on
this plan. "Whenever I sit down to read a fresh paper,
I havo a pencil with me, and when I find a new idea, or
an old one I wish to further experiment with, I mark it.
In some instances the marks will embrace a whole article,
while others call attention to only a few lines. In future

years, or at any time I wish to find that which is really
valuable in my store of bee-literature, all I have do is to
read the marked passages, and thus get the cream of a
whole year's numbers of Gleanings, or other paper, in a
little time. Now, the above would be all that would be
necessary, were it not for the matter of most articles
being out of season, as spoken of at the beginning of this
article, but for this reason I want some arrangement
which will cite me to all the valuable points so that I
can practise each in its appropriate season. After further
studying on the matter I decided on what I call a
' Reference Book,' which is simply a small blank book
bound in leather. Any memorandum or account-book
will answer the purpose, providing it has at least twenty-
four leaves in it. This book I arrange similar to an as-
sessor's book, which has the letters of the alphabet from
A to Z on the outside margin of the leaves. Out the
leaves just as you would to letter them ; but instead of
lettering them, write on the little square of the first,
'Jan. 1st;' on the second, 'Jan. loth;' on the third,
' Feb. 1st,' and so on, giving one leaf, or two pages, for
each half-month, to the end of the year. Having the
book thus fixed it is kept near the chair which I usually
occupy when I read, together with a pencil, so that when
I come to any passage, part of an article, or an entire
article, that I think will be of any service to me, either
as something new that promises to be valuable, or some
new plan of using something already familiar to me, I
mark it with vay pencil, and then jot it down in my book
under the date to which it is applicable. Thus I get all
the matter which I consider valuable, contained in what
I read regarding apiculture, arranged with reference to the
time it is to be used, in this book.

"When Jan. 1st arrives I look over all there is on this
page, and, for instance, try fixing one of my saws so as
to make it saw smoothly, as described on page 408 of
Gleaninijs, by way of experiment, if I chance to find a
note regarding that in this little book. To explain more
fully, on page 53:3 I read how to cut up foundation by
using kerosene oil and a butcher-knife, so that thirty or
forty sheets can be cut at a time. As I had always used
the Carlin wheel, or a stamp-cutter like those used by I).
A. Jones, for cutting my foundation starters for sections,
I thought this might be better, so the plan was marked.
As the first half of May would be the time I would most
likely want to use it, I turn to May 1st (by putting niy
thumb on that date when opening my reference-book)
and write Gleanings, 1885, page 533, ' How to cut
foundation.' "When this date (May 1st) arrives I look
over all that is written there, and, as I come to this, I
turn to page 533, and there is just what I want, at the
right time ; for in a day or two I must go to work cutting
foundation into starters for nry sections. So I go to work
and cut a part by the new way, and some by the old. If
the new proves the more valuable I mark these words on
my reference-book with a star; or, if worthless, I draw
my pencil across the whole line, thus crossing it off.

If I have made it plain, and 1 think I have, it will be
seen that I have all the real worth of many volumes in
this little book, while the matter which was worth only
once reading is left out. Different persons would make
different selections from what I should: but the plan is
a good one, in my opinion, and one which will be of
great service to any one who will follow it. — G. INI.
Doolittle. — (Gleanings in Bee-Culture.')

BEE-HOUSES.
In the last two or three numbers of the B. B. J. I
have read some inquiries made and some answers given
on the subject of bee-houses, I have seen the same subject
noticed in some numbers a year or two since, but always
unfavourably spoken of, and that, too, without giving
anj', to me, apparent reason. Some two years ago I
attended a lecture on bee-keeping, given by Mr. T. Blow,

November 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

357

when I asked hiin the question, 'Why bee-houses were
objected to ? ' In his reply he said, ' I can see no objection
to a bee-house, and that he considered a bee-house, if
properly arranged, was the best way of keeping bees,
because it was much less expensive for a number of bees
than having- so many separate hives, and gave as a suit-
able size 12x12 feet. Would your correspondent in
B. B. J. for Sept. 15th, kindly give your numerous
readers some reason, i.e. valid reason, for speaking against
bee-houses ? I think a bee-house a great advantage
especially if in a good district you are cramped for garden
room. — C. Trvscott, The Apiary, Shaftesbury.

AVERAGE WEIGHT OF SECTIONS.

Out of curiosity I weighed some seventy of this 3rear's
sections, and it occurred to me that perhaps others might
be interested in the result.
Sections (4J x 4^ x 2) :—

.'> weighed less than 16 oz.
11 „ between 16 oz. and 17 oz.
;i4 „ „ 17 oz. „ 18 oz.

22 „ from 18 oz. to 18$ oz.

70 gave the average weight of 17j- oz.

— F. Crewe, Stone, Staffordshire.

JOTTINGS FOR THE JOURNAL.
By W. Crisp.

Strange treatment for bees! I had often promised
to visit a bee-keeper, and see his bees, and this spring
met this person near his home, and went to see his
stock. Judge my surprise to find the entrances all
carefully guarded by a piece of toilet-comb, plastered
round with lime, so that not a bee could get out. I
inquired, ' How long have you had them fastened up
like that ? ' ' All winter,' was the reply. ' Well,' I re-
joined, ' mind if they are not all dead.' Opened up the
hives, half of what had been fine stocks smothered, a
few alive and glad to get out. Opened without leave
all his hives, amid blank looks, and ejaculations such as,
' Dang it all ! who'd a' thought it ? ' and I pointed out that
if he had been barred up in his bed-room all winter,
what a state he would have been in. He at once saw
the force of the simile.

I notice various dealers advertising tins for honey.
Now, honey that has been stored in tin is not fit for
food, as the action of the acid contained in the honey
on the tin makes it more or less poisonous, and if tinned
for long time, highly dangerous. See the poison in
tinned fruits, honey is much worse.

From time to time one reads in the pages of the
Journal remarks from interested persons about the
possibility of honey being produced at '.id. per lb. What
grand harvests those people must have from the sugar-
cask !

Introducing queens it la Simmins, a few weeks ago,
in introducing a Ligurian queen, all unintentionally she
escaped. I threw open the hive from which I had
taken the black queen a few minutes previously, and
near which I was working. In a few minutes the
Ligurian was down amongst the combs, but so active
that she again took wing, and amongst so many hives
I had small faith of her coming again to the right one.
However, I left it partially open in hopes, watched for
about an hour ; some time after that she came and
joined the hive and was duly accepted.

Do bees hear ? is a moot question amongst bee-keepers.
I think they do. Instance the glorious hum during the
swarming, and watch how the stragglers concentrate
around those who have selected a suitable place. Now,
for the proof that it is not sight that guides them.
During last season a brass band was playing near to
where a swarm rose, and I watched them with con-

siderable interest; and if ever I saw lost bees during the
twenty and more years I have had to do with them, it
was that swarm. During an interval of the music, a
part clustered, and the queen joined them, but as soon
as the music commenced again, those bees on the wing
became lost and confused, forming several small clusters,
many going back to the sleep they swarmed from. It
was headed by an old queen. Finally, when the music
ceased, all the small clusters gathered into one. I may
mention that, during the performance, I threw the
cluster containing the queen up into the air, but they
went back on to the same branch, although another
cluster was only a few feet off.

EXPERIENCE WITH SKEPS.

I have been much struck this year with the small size
of the cottagers' hives in various parts of the west of
Somerset. Frequently in the month of August, when
the heather was in full bloom, and within easy flight, I
noticed whole rows of stocks apparently at a standstill
for want of storing room, bees hanging out or flying
listlessly around. Swarming was unnecessarily frequent
earlier in the year, one bee-keeper in West Somerset
having increased his stocks by natural swarming this
year from one to nine in number. It surely must be
a waste of honey-weather for an ordinary bee-keeper
to devote so much of it to the increase of stocks. I have
been also very much impressed by my own experience
this year and last with the importance of providing
roomy, warrnly-covered supers for straw skeps. Last
year, about the beginning of July, I provided my only
skep with the ordinary small straw super sold with the
skep. The bees first built one deep comb in the centre
of this super and then crammed the space with ever-
increasing numbers. They seemed to loiter about list-
lessly for several days, and, finally, about the end of
July, sent off a large swarm, which I lost at the time,
but found again after three days. The surplus honey
produce of the hive was nil. This year, after reflection
on last year's experience, I fitted up the same straw skep
with a top-board to take an eighteen-section super, and I
have had the following result : I have taken off three
crates of sections, amounting in all to 4-'! lbs. of perfectly-
sealed and pure delicious honey. The skep itself weighs
now about 25 lbs., and is, without feeding, in a splendid
state to pass the winter. I have had no swarms. The
skep thus treated with crates of sectional supers, and
kept thoroughly warm with treble thickness of felt, has
run my Abbott ten-frame liive a very close race — the
Abbott having yielded 45 lbs. of section honey from the
super crates. Ours is not considered a good honey
district, but I am very proud of my bees this year. —
Fred. Stock, Burton Bank, Mill Mill, K. 11'., October
lQth.

DEES DESTROYING THEIR EGGS.

I note the inquiry of Mr. II. P. Jones in your issue of
the 15th October, whether bees are in the habit of
destroying the eggs laid by the mother bee very late in
the season ? Such, no doubt, is the case. Their reason
(I don't like to write ' instinct ' after ' Corrigenda's '
letter in the same issue) evidently tells them that the
young bees which would be hatched almost into Novem-
ber would be of very little use to the community; also
the larvse would consume stores which perhaps would
be wanted during the winter. I am led to these in-
ferences by an instance in my own apiary. One hive so
destroyed their eggs, whilst another one I was feeding
reared the larva;, they evidently supposing, on account
of the stores coming in, that winter was not quite so
close at hand as the first hive, which was not being fed.
Bees seem to be, like mortals, rather fond of new-laid
eggs, when dropped on the floor-board or improperly

THE BEITISH BEE JOUENAL.

[November 1, 1885.

laid, as when two are laid in one cell. I have purposely
placed eggs on the floor-board, and have seen them eaten
■with evident gusto.

In the issue of the 1st October, ' W. J. T.' complains
of his foundation stretching when returning swarms.
Such would, I am sure, have not been the case if his
foundation had been pure bees-wax. There is a lot of
foundation on the market with hardly 25 per cent of
bees-wax in it; such a lot I got hold of. It was
splendid colour and nose ; but talk about drone-comb,
why, some of my cells were about the same, shape as the
perforations in excluder-zinc. No more foundation at
cheap rates — by taking a quantity — for me. I invested
in a mill ; I knew then 1 should get it pure. Will
' W. J. TV try his foundation — if he has any left of the
same sort — by the simple means advised by Mr. Otto
Ilehner in a recent issue of this Journal, and advise me
of the result, and whom he bought it of 'i We might then
compare notes as to who to avoid in purchasing it. —
W. B. Webster, Mrst Class 'Expert, Wokingham,
Berks.

THE CARNIOLAN BEE.
It is with great pleasure I see that Mr. Blow is on a
visit to Carniola, and we may hope to hear something
interesting about the Carniolan bees in their native
habitat. For myself I am a great admirer of these bees;
there is only one drawback to being an enthusiast, that
is, that he is apt to favour his pet bees more than the
other kinds : it may be beauty, as in the case of the
Ligurians or Cyprians, or it may lie docility, as in the
Carniolan, or some other valuable quality; but one thing
is certain, men have to be enthusiastic in any pursuit to
succeed in it, and nothing requires this more so than bee-
culture. It is most interesting to note the various
distinctive traits of character displayed in the different
races of bees. The Carniolan, as Mr. Cowan so apt]}'
describes it, is eminently a ladies' bee, not a toy bee, but
one which combines all the good qualities — something of
the nature of a Christian bee. It might even belong to
the Society of Friends for quietness on the let-me-alone
principle, and yet it exhibits all the vigour of the Italian
in defence of its hive when attacked by robbers either
Apis or Homo, but a puff of smoke shatters its courage to
the winds and no more trouble. The Carniolan exhibits
some distinctive traits from any other race of bees; first,
its appearance, at the first glance one would be inclined
to suspect ages back a cross with the Ligurian, for the
first ring of the abdomen is more or less distinctly copper-
coloured ; with this the resemblance ceases. The next
peculiarity that claims your notice is the peculiar shade
of grey colour and the downy appearance of the young
bees as they play on the alighting board ; if you examine
the interior, the hatching-brood are almost silver-coloured
like white moths, and gives one a start of surprise the
first time seen ; they are most prolific bees and not more
given to swarming than any other bee. I had a very
large hive of hybrids cross Carniolan with black drone,
which were simply splendid bees. The pure race are
better workers than any other, but this quality is
neutralised by a peculiarity of the bee, that is, they will
not face cold windy weather, but stay at horn", conse-
quently do not suffer from spring dwindling; nor will
they venture out early on cold mornings, in fact they are
a sort of take-care-of-myself bee, yet when sunshine does
come they work hard and amply make up for lost time.
Last season I sent two hives, pitted against each other
(one pure Carniolan, young queen ; the other, hybrid
Italian, also young queen, both about the same weight,
and covering, eighteen frames, about 4000 cubic inches
contents) to the heather; when brought away the two
hives were about alike — gross weight seventeen stone.
Until that time I had fancied that no race of bees could
touch Italian hybrids. The next point in their favour
s their length of flight. An American friend states that

he is nine miles from the bass-wood, yet they bring
honey home from it, and certainly my bees went to the
heather, and in a bee line about five miles. Many came
home, and note, not a single Italian hybrid or black
found its way back. This calls to my mind another
peculiarity, viz., they do not fraternise well with any
other race. This lot that came home from the moors, a
good cluster, I added to a hive left at home, and early
the next morning I found the same cluster of Carniolan
bees under the cover of a hive-top left at home, but not
on their old stand. I joined them again, and all day they
sat upon the corner of the hive-cover grouped by them-
selves basking in the sun. I noticed a similar behaviour,
when first liberated, in my first lot, which for some days
grouped about the hive ; the queen was found, too, on
various points of the hive-cover. The next point is
their method of hybernating during the cold winter
months. During last winter my Carniolaus were only out
twice, and then, why the alighting-board was simply
filthy with excrement, but no trace of soiled comb inside;
the hybrids behaved in a similar manner, and although
I fed this hive all winter, it did not suffer from dysentery,
and only twice relieved themselves, until spring came,
when they were the first to occupy their supers and
threw two first-class swarms, and still did not desert the
top box. — W. Crtisp, The Apiary, Caszleton, near Gros-
mont, Yvrlcs.

COTTAGERS' AND COUNTY SHOWS.

At the outset, allow me to thank Mr. Bellairs for the
congenial way in which he has taken mv remarks, p. 280,
on ' Cottagers and County Shows.' Certainly he may
class me as one of his ' friends,' as my notes were
penned in a friendly manner, and not in a carping spirit,
whatever. I wished to ventilate 'matters which I
consider require readjustment in connexion with
cottagers and their exhibiting ; and I venture to say that
a number of individuals placed under similar circum-
stances to myself, will say, ' Hear, hear,' to my ' growls,' as
he terms them. From the admissions which Mr.
Bellairs makes, he must be of the opinion that there was
occasion for a ' growl,' by him admitting that cottagers
ought not to be confined to one pound-sections ; but then,
is this the way to encourage the cottagers to support the
Society F Mr. Bellairs should give us his reason for
altering the size of sections in the cottage classes. Why
was this done, and such a short notice given ? The first
intimation any of us had of that intention being, when
we received the schedule not more than three weeks
before the first show of the County Association, and too
late for such of us as had not been working' one-pound
size, to get any ready for that show. If this was not
placing the cottager at a disadvantage, what is F and does
that tend to induce him to support any society which
makes such radical changes at such short notice F I
take it that the Association was mainly formed for the
encouragement of bee-keeping amongst cottagers; and
why should not the prizes be the same in the classes
devoted to them when other conditions, as to size of
sections, are the same as in the open classes F (as they
ought to be). I fail to see why the Swanmore men
should not compete in the classes devoted to cottagers
the same as cottagers mother districts; if they are able
to beat all in the ' open ' classes in addition, that is all
the more to their credit, and I do not see that this
neighbourhood is any better placed for the production of
honey than others.

Because the Swanmore men took nearly all the prizes
in the 'open' classes, I cannot see how Mr. Bellairs
strengthens his argument by saying that it sounds a
little ' greedy,1 when I complain as to the value of the
cottagers' prizes. Perhaps Mr. Bellairs will explain ' why '
they should not he equal in value with the open classes,
when other conditions are the same. As to the same
weight of honey, &c., I contend that the Association

November 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

559

admittedly being principally for the benefit and en-
couragement of cottagers, that the prizes ought always
to be equal, even if they are small ones ; or, if one has
ti> suffer, it should be the man who can afford to show in
'open' classes, and not the cottager. I have yet to
learn what is the use of having rules without their being
enforced, as apparently the one regarding the post-
entries was not. Now, by such proceedings, what is to
prevent any 'lie from staging their honey on the morning
of the show, without being entered, as was done at
Romsey, and which exhibit gained first prize in Class
VI. ? Now post-entries, if allowed at all (and I have not
a word to say against them), should have a fixed time for
closing, and that time should certainly not be later than
the evening b fore the show.

What I contend is, that if a rule is required at all, it
• uight to be enforced, or exhibitors will soon find loop-
holes, which in the end may turn out unfavourable to
some other exhibitors. One great benefit derived from
holding shows is the stimulus given to exhibitors to excel
each other. This can only be done properly by treating
all classes fairly alike. As early notice as possible should
lie given i if 8 li shows, and particularly when any great
change is contemplated in altering the sizes of sections.

In conclusion, I will give one fact to illustrate the
hardship of the change of sections this year on cottagers.
One cottager here sent to the first show of the year
(through not understanding the schedule) a crate of six
2-lb. sections, in first-rate condition, both as to finish and
colour ; the consequence being that he was debarred
competing, although his honey was 'far and away' the
best which would have been in the class, and I fail to see
the justice of one cottager like this being debarred,
where another, for instance the one Mr. Bellairs has
quoted, being looked over. I may also state that this
same honey has taken since that three or four prizes,
including both cottage and open classes. — Oesekyee,
Swanuwrc, Bishop's Jl'altham, Hauls.

W< HIKING SUPERS ON SKEPS.

I was ph ased to see the report of the Rev. W. E.
Burkitt's visit to Street, for which some of us are very
thankful. I have been a member of the Bee-keepers'
Association for two years, and it is the first time that I
have been visited by an expert. Mr. Burkitt said that
he was sorry that there was no attempt to work sections
on skeps here ; last year I took forty of my best sections
off straw skeps, this year I have no straw skeps
here, but I have worked sections on skeps at Compton
Dunden, where there are nearly all skeps. I should like to
know what conditions there are to.pass for certificate of
experts; if Mr. Burkitt or Editor would kindly say, he
would be conferring a benefit. — Thos. F. IIi'isii, St reel,
Somerset.

[The candidates for third-class certificates are examined
by word of mouth as to their knowledge of bee-keeping,
and are required to show their skill in driving, mani-
pulating, &c. They are not required to give a lecture or
to answer questions in writing. They are expected to
produce testimonials as to character. Candidates are
recommended to study Modern Bee-heepinff, Cowan's
Guide Book, Hoot's A. B. C, and Cook's Manual. —
Ei».]

THE SEASON OF 1885 IN MID-COBNWALL.

I wintered seventeen colonies ; united two in April,
and began the season with sixteen fairly strong colonies,
but shortly found two of my hives without queens.
First I sent off for an Italian queen ; she arrived in a
very weak state on the :.'4th May, and was put in one
of my hives, but soon died. By this time I had hatched
four queens in nucleus hives, put oue in each of the
two queenless hives, and soon found they were doing-

well : one gave me 82 lbs., the other 80 lbs. of run honey.
The sixteen hives which were nearly all •'! feet long,
containing twenty frames, yielded an average of almost
107 lbs., or 1707 lbs., on the whole. I worked prin-
cipally for run honey ; sections were put on two hives
only, one brought forth sixty-three 1-lb. sections, and
70 lbs. of run honey ; the other forty-two sect ions, and
54 lbs. of run honey, both very good* : should do more
with sections if I had a sale fur them, which I have not.
I have had only one swarm for the season from my.
sixteen hives, and that one moved off without a queen,
in consequence of the very hot weather, and my in-
attention to that hive. I made four nucleus colonies,
purchased some young' swarms, and made several
colonies from driven bees, and now have twenty-eight
colonies, which, I hope, are in fairly good condition. —
Min-C'onxwALL.

PACES OF BEES.

I am in want of a book in which there are descriptions
of the varieties of our honey bee: Blacks, Italians, Cy-
prians, Syrians, Carniolans, &c. Is such published, or
where could I get the information ? If it is to be found
in any of the back volumes of the Bee Journal 1 will
gladly pay postage to and fro if any one would kindly
let me have the loan of it. Unfortunately I do not
possess an}' of the volumes of the Bee Journal, having,
till this year, only had a passing ' read ' of the current
numbers.

And I am also writing to have two or three dead bees
of each of the foreign races, and hope some of your readers
will be good enough to place them at. my disposal ; for
them, too, I shall be glad to pay postage if required. —
H. W, Lett, Ardmore Glebe, Lurrjan.

[Alley's Twenty-two Years' Experience in Queen-Hearing
contains an essay on the Races of Bees by Silas M.
Locke, of Salem, Mass. ; Mr. Frank Benton has published
several leaflets on Eastern bees; and in the indices of
the Bee Journal will be found numerous references to
foreign bees. In the present number the subject of
Eastern Bees is mentioned, see p. 346. — Ed.]

A YEAR'S RESULTS.

About this time last v'ear you inserted in the B. B. J.
the result of my first year's experience in bee-keeping, —
viz., that I started with one bar-frame hive (into which
I had put three driven lots the previous September) and
one skep, and that I finished the season with three bar-
frame hives, having taken ninety-four sections and
ninety-two pounds extracted honey. I then put three
more lots of driven bees into a new bar-frame hive.

This year, therefore, I started with four bar-frame
hives, with the following results : —

Hives. Swarms. 1-lb. Sections. Extracted lbs.

1 2 0 16

2 10 314
i! 1 16 27
4 0 100 Oi

tv- ("5 (2 swarms united

3*"-l June PS) 7 30|

hives. ) P ,i t o\ r ..i

{{> (1 swarm June 2) o .14

7 (skep ; 2nd swarm from No. 2, Junel4) 1 2

I have thus taken altogether —

1-lb. Sections 134 lbs.

Extracted 160

Total 303

No. 4 1 prevented from swarming by giving full bars
out of it to new hives, and by putting on forty-two
sections at a time.

On September 14th I drove twelve skeps for cottagers
in the neighbourhood, and next day transferred them all
(or rather, those of them that survived their stay in three

3 GO

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[November 1, 1885.

skeps, for I had only that number with me ; but a good
three parts of them were all right) into a double hive
with two entrances, and (at present) a space between the
two lots as well as on each side of them, giving them
ten frames with honey, two with comb only, and
sy rup. Having driven my skep back into the hive from
w\\ich the bees came, in August, I have now eight strong
lot , as I supplemented the three weakest with driven
bees well packed away for the winter. I reckon I hav^
cleared over 25/. in the two years. — Scintillje.

A CANADIAN HONEY LEAFLET.
Some Reasons why Honey should be Eaten.

Why people should freely eat honey can be put briefly
in one sentence, to wit: Because honey is wholesome,
palatable, and comparatively cheap food. This fact in
itself ought to be sufficient to ensure its general use, and
no doubt will when the fact is generally known. Owing
mainly, perhaps, to the fact that honey yields such
exquisite pleasure to the human palate it is for the most
part regarded as a mere luxury, and its valuable qualities
as a food and even a medicine are generally overlooked.
Now, corn meal porridge is a wholesome and cheap food,
but it is not sufficiently palatable to catch many mouths
watering for it. There are many excellent articles of
diet that are quite neglected simply because they do not
commend themselves to our perverted tastes, everybody,
however, admitting their wholesomeness. But because
honey is so superlatively pleasant to all tastes — both
normal and abnormal — the hasty conclusion is forthwith
reached that it is merel)- a luxury to please the palate,
having no special value as a regular article of diet. This
popular conception is very erroneous, and must be cor-
rected before this rich product of nature can take its
proper place on the tables of all classes of people as
a common article of diet. True, occasionally a person is
found who cannot eat honey. It disagrees with a few,
or, as they put it, ' acts almost a3 poison ' to them. But
this fact no more proves that honey per se is essentially
injurious than the fact that potatoes ' act like poison '
to some people proves that potatoes are essentially
unwholesome. The fault is not in the honey or potatoes,
but in the subject himself. In some peculiarity of con-
stitution or abnormal condition of the svstem may
always be found the true cause of the difficulty.

The dietetic elements which honey contains are quite
indispensable to first-rate health in this and more
northerly climates — indeed to all outside the torrid
zone. The carbonaceous, no less than the nitrogenous,
elements of food are required by the human system in
these zones ; and as we go north from the tropic of
Cancer, more imperatively required than the latter.
Now, as honey furnishes these indispensable, heat-pro-
ducing elements in greater purity than almost every
other article of human diet, it therefore stands at the
very head of the carbonaceous ingesta. If the animal heat
of the system is produced and maintained by the com-
bustion in the blood of the oxygen of the air taken in by
the lungs and certain elements of the food, as the most
eminent authorities maintain, then it is absolutely certain
that for six or eight months of the year in this climate
there is no more wholesome or necessary food than pure
honey. True, in our ordinary dietary we can get the
necessary heat-forming materials from'other sources, but
we also get at the same time from these other sources
disease-producing impurities — fat pork, for instance, and
other oleaginous substances so common on our tables.
The conclusion is therefore as plain as it is logical, that
during the seasons of autumn, winter, and spring in these
latitudes, honey is the very best food of its class which
we can get. Let there be less pork, butter, and the
dirty unwholesome syrups used in the families of our
land, and more honey, and the certain result will be the
greatly improved health of the people. Siclmess and the
common ailments of life will be greatly diminished.

Considering the relative wholesomeness, purity, and
nutritive properties, pure unextracted honey at 10 to
12J cts. per pound is much cheaper as a regular article
of diet than pork or the average quality of market butter
at the same price. In nature's materia medica honey
has also valuable properties as a curative agent. In
pulmonary complaints, common colds, sore throats, and
that class of diseases, honey has frequently proved most
efficacious. Many instances are recorded of remarkable
cures by honey in such cases when other medicaments
had utterly failed. That honey possesses restorative and
remedial properties of an important character is already
well known by the bee-keeping denizens of country
places and their neighbours, who freqneutly call upon
them for honey in cases of sore throats, colds, croup,
&c. ; while the bee-keeper knows well that every
druggist in every country town, as well as in the city,
lays in a stock every year for medicinal purposes.

We may also lay honej' under tribute in the production
of one of the most wholesome beverages in existence ; to
supersede tea and coffee on the family table. We give
the formula and process and advise all to try it :

Take three quarts of good, clean wheat bran and bake
in the oven till it becomes quite brown. Then add one
quart of liquid buckwheat honey and stir thoroughly; put
it back in the oven to bake still more, stirring it frequently,
until it gets dry, granulated, and very brown — a little
scorching will not hurt it. Draw it the same as coffee, and
use with milk and honey or milk and sugar to suit taste.

This makes a perfectly wholesome and palatable drink,
and the sooner it takes the place of tea in every family
the sooner ,the public health will improve. In the
writer's family this wholesome and really palatable
beverage has been on his table for years, with the best
results ; and were a ton of tea and coffee unloaded at the
door gratis, we would say, 'No, thank you,' so far as
drinking either is concerned. The bucko-heat honey is
preferable to the clover in making this beverage, for the
double reason of its brown colour and more pungent
taste. — Allen Pringle.

Exteaokdinaiiy Takes of Honey. — Two extraor-
dinary takes of honey have been made in West Surrey.
For the last sixteen or eighteen years a colony of bees
has taken possession of a niche between the walls of
the Hautboy and Fiddle public-house at Ockham, near
Ripley. The outer walls of the building aye about three
feet in thickness, and the bees made choice of their
storehouse at the very top of the building, which is three
storeys high. The landlord and landlady, with their
daughters, resolved this year upon finding out the exact
whereabouts of the colony. A diligent search was made
one morning under the roof of the house, and a piece of
comb was found immediately below the slates, but in
such a position that it could not be reached. Mr. Smith
the landlord, then descended to the bedroom, and with
chisel and hammer removed a number of bricks from the
wall, where the whole stock of bees was found. More
than two feet square of the wall had to be removed, when
a wonderful sight presented itself . A large mass of comb,
about two feet in thickness, filled with hone}-, was exposed.
The bees were fumigated, after which large pieces of honey
were cut out, until dish after dish was filled with a total
quantity of about 120 lbs. The bricks have not been put
into the wall again, but a glass door has been inserted, so
that any one interested in bee-culture may have an
opportunity of seeing them. Another and still more ex-
traordinary take of honey has been secured at Winter's
Hall, Bromley, the seat of Mr. George Barrett. Some
men were sent to take some bees which had got between
the ceiling of the coachhouse and the granary. They
succeeded in taking three hundredweight of honey. The
bees had been engaged in their novel hiding-place several
years. It was a very interesting sight to see the way in
which they had worked.

November 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

301

(Etljocs front % gibes.

Bishops Waltham, Hants, Oct. 2-4. — On the whole this
has not been an unfavourable month for the bees ; they have
been able to get out and fly well, and I have seen them
carrying in pollen (driven lots) and bee-bread, especially
on October 1st, loth, 16th, 18th, and all seem very
strong ; it is worth while looking to see the way they
kill off wasps which I have seen trying to get into the
hives. I would suggest that the present is the best time
of all to stop up any cracks which the summer's sun
may have caused and to well paint all hives. Weather
now rather unsettled and wet.— A Hampshire Bee-
keeper.

Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington, '27t7i October. —
Here we are again, at the end of another good season —
so good that the question is bow to dispose of the honey
at a fair price. I have just introduced a couple of Car-
niolan queens (one of them some time ago) to infuse fresh
blood. I have been making entrances smaller to skeps
to keep out mice, and, just for a little contrast, putting
straw hackles to them. Most other stocks are well pro-
visioned and packed for winter. — John Walton.

Port Mahon, Minorca, Oct. 10th. — Our bees are now
quite busy with the ivy, some kinds of which are now
very fragrant. Since the September rains we have
plenty of wild flowers in the fields, and the air seems
full of honey. Pear-trees are white almost as in spring,
but I don't see that the bees visit them much. Late
white figs now opening with the rains, and ripening on
the trees in the hot sun (thermometer 75° in the shade)
they are very fond of. Also rosemary which blooms
every month, &c. In a week more we shall have saffron
flowers. I think the hardest trial for bees here is during
our hot, dry summers — some three months without rain.
Now we shall have wild flowers till next summer. Our
bees fly the year round, though we have some terrible
northers in winter, which are hard on them. I have
been much troubled lately with the death's-head moth,
which the Bee Journal speaks of. I have taken away
some fifteen or twenty. At first they got into the hives,
but the bees did not let them do any mischief. Now the
bees have so intrenched themselves with ' casemates and
bastions ' inside the entrance that the sliding doors are
of no account. My hives are so full of propolis — black
as Erebus — that I fear the metal ends will not be pro-
tection enough, and that they will at last thoroughly
fasten the frames. Every time we look them over (once
a-week) the blankets are so glued down to the frames
that we can hardly tear them off. I tried carbolic acid,
and mean to try again. We often go through the entire
hive without using smoker— bees quite gentle. Wish
you would send us an expert, or pay us a visit. — F. C.
Andhen.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-

C. R. S. — We have no knowledge of what the honey
obtained from Bartsia is like, but think it very probable
that it was the source of the honey stored in the sec-
tions. Honey secreted by lousewort (Pedicularis
palustris) has a medicinal flavour, but not objection-
able. The two plants belong to the same natural
order (Scophularinece), therefore it is most likely that
Bartsia odontitis secretes honey of a similar character
to lousewort. Blackberry and hard-head (knapweed ?)
produce honey of very fair quality, certainly not like
that described.

0. Puck. — Storing Combs. — Fumigate the frames of
comb with sulphur, and tie up each frame, separately,
in a sheet of paper, and store in a dry room or closet.
Combs thus preserved are kept free from moths, and

will be found most useful another season. Allow the
pollen to remain. The bees will make use of it, or re-
move it, as suits their convenience, when given to
them.

G. A. R. — Equalising Colonies. — Remove the outside
frames from the colony requiring food — say two from
each side — by gently blowing in a little smoke to drive
away the bees, and brushing off any stragglers remain-
ing. Perform exactly the same operation upon the
well-provisioned hive, and give two of the frames of
sealed honey to the former Live — one upon each side
— and close up the division-boards on both sides.
Give one frame of comb — taken from the weak stock
— to the other colony from which the honey has been
removed, and close up the division-boards. Cover both
hives with warm winter quilts, and leave them till
spring. The operation should be performed at mid-
day on a fine, warm day.

A. II. Blomfield. — 1. Ventilation. — As we do not know
to which of Mr. Neighbour's hives you refer, we are
unable to answer your question. If by ' doors ' you
mean ' entrance ' — i.e., the opening by which the bees
depart and return — we refer you to ' Useful Hints.'
2. Syrup. — If the syrup was made of cane-sugar and
boiled, with vinegar added, granulation would not
follow, as you represent. Tartaric acid, added to the
sugar and water, and boiled, prevents the formation of
crystals, and even after the acid has been thorough^
neutralised by chalk or carbonate of lime, no crystals
can be obtained. Duncan"s granulated sugar is the
best for bee-food. The crystallised syrup would not
be injurious, but the difficulty is to induce the bees to
take it, which, of course, they are unable to do from
a bottle. Syrup feeding is next to impossible at this
late season and during the extremely low temperature
we are experiencing.

R. E. C. — Cleaning Combs. — It is better not to disturb
bees now by giving them extracted combs to clean.
Had October proved a tine mild month instead of almost
the coldest on record — up to date at least — it might have
been done by placing the combs inside the division-
board, close to the brood-nest. The present severe
cold prevents the bees taking the honey from unsealed
combs, except in the brood-nest.

Apis. — Preserving Queens through Winter. — It is im-
possible to keep the queens through the winter, in
small boxes, each with a score of attendants. The
bees quickly die and the queen perishes. Queens can
only be kept in fair-sized colonies. 2. — It is too late
by far to raise queens. If it were possible to raise
them they could not be fecundated at this late period.

Tudor. — Candied Cal;e. — The sample of candy sent is
too hard and crystalline, treat it as advised in reply
to ' R. E. Lloyd,' p. 042, current vol.

E. A. — Combs containing partly sealed Honey. — Remove
the two combs containing most unsealed hone}- to the
"back of the dummy, and keep warm. The bees will
probably even now seal the remainder of what is un-
sealed, and perhaps carry in and seal the other. It de-
pends greatly upon the weather, leave the dry sugar
feeder as it is. Your second queiy is the same as asked
by ' E. L.,' and replied to on p. 325, current vol., to
which please refer.

J. G. — Treatment of Honey which has fermented. — Before
using fermeuted honey for food it must be boiled and
skimmed. Add while boiling salicylic acid in the
proportion recommended by '_T. J . D.,' p. 32-'!.

H.T. — Choice of Hive. — We prefer along hive in which
the frames run across, i.e., parallel with its front as
heing most convenient both for wintering and general
management. If your present frames are of different
sizes, by all means transfer the combs next year to
those of uniform (standard) size.

362

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[November 1, 1885.

B. J. W. — 1. Hive-making. — The plan you propose may

answer, but we advise you to procure a ' prize hive '
from a good maker as a pattern to work from. If
you wish for hives to be worked on the doubling
system, the upper and lower boxes should correspond
exactly in shape and size so as to be interchangeable.
Ordinary frames and section-frames may be used in
the same box or hive. We do not use excluder-zinc,
as we find in practice that when sufficient breeding
space is allowed in the lower box the queen very rarely
ascends to the upper ones. Fourteen standard frames
would be sufficient guarantee against this. 2. We
prefer the thin fiat-bottomed wired foundation — Van
Deusen's, we believe — by which the combs are much
strengthened for extracting.

S. Harding. — Removing Bees by Hail. — The plan you
propose of placing your hives in a cellar for a time
previous to their removal by rail, will no doubt
succeed if the cellar is darkened and ventilated. The
bees must not be confined to their hives, but their
usual entrances must be left open. Remove them to
the cellar late in the evening. After the railway
journey, place your hives in the open air, so that the
bees ma)- tiy after the excitement of travelling. After
a day or two, when all are quiet, they may be again
placed in a cellar until your house is ready to receive
them. Ventilate freely on the journey.

A. P. Howes. — Removing Hine. — You may safely move
your bees a distance of thirty or forty yards at this
time of year without fear of loss. Do it on the
evening of a dull, cold day, and place a board in front
of the hive after removal to cause the bees to mark
the spot when the first fine day entices them to fly.

D. V". D. — 1. Chief Features of Country for an Apiary. —
The three principal sources of honey are the fruit-
blossom, the clover, and the heather. The first comes
in so early that it is only the best managed hives
which are strong' enough to gather it, and the weather
is often unpropitious. In localities devoted to fruit-
growing there is hardly any other source of honey.
The second, the clover, is generally the most pro-
ductive, and the weather generally favourable for its
collection. The heather, although giving large results
in the north, is net found to be very profitable in the
south. On the whole, pasture land, from its bearing
considerable amounts of clover, is the best and most
reliable feature to be looked for. 2. Bee Flora. —
No special manual on bee flora has been published,
but a reference to the indices of previous volumes of
the Journal will show how large a portion of it has
been devoted to honey and pollen-yielding flowers.

O. W. — Suspected Dysentery. — What you take for
dysentery is most probably the natural cleansing of
the bees after the confinement and excitement of the
journey. Do not open the hole at the top of the skep.

To create a thorough draught through the hive is the
way to set up dysentery, by causing undue consumption
of food. Keep the skep dry, and leave well alone.
The small entrance has been large enough as yet, and
will certainly be large enough now.

II. 0. M. — Small Harvest of Honey. — From your letter
it appears that in March, when you examined your
hives, and found plenty of stores, you forgot that bees
regulated their proceedings not so much according to
their posses-ions, but to their income. Had you fed
them slowly with thin syrup, you could have built up
large populations ready to gather the honey when it
came. Possibly you were too fond of examining your
pets, and so you got a better result from the straw-
hives, which you could not interfere with, than from
your bar-frames. You had better now remove the
combs not covered by the bees, close up the dividers,
and put a box with canvas bottom filled with cork-dust
or chaff upon the frames. If you fear not to leave
sufficient food, give a dry sugar feeder at the back of
the frames, or a cake of candy on them. At the
beginning of March, commence to feed gently with
thin syrup, or keep the dry sugar feeder going. Do
not open the hives at any time unless you really must
know their condition.

Shoeburyness. — Condemned Bees building very thick
Combs. — It is very often the case that condemned bees
when hived on foundation and liberally fed build one
or two combs out thick; sometimes they are so heavily
stored as to break down. They should have been
frequently examined and the thick combs pared down
and placed against the hive side or division board, so
that they might be sealed of the proper thickness. It
is too late now to interfere with them. Next season,
they can be treated so as to become straight.

Bee ix ins Bonnet. — 1. Making Observatory Hive. —
We do not think you will be pleased with your proposed
plan when carried out. Mr. Abbott exhibits an observa-
tory hive in which the combs are in their natural posi-
tion, not separated by glass, but can be separated and
brought against the glass sides of the hive for examina-
tion. You will at once see the principle by looking at
the illustration in Abbott Brothers catalogue. It
would occupy too much space to describe it in detail.
Messrs. Neighbour have also a very good one in which
any comb can be raised into a glass sided box for
examination. 2. Candy. — The sample you send is
correctly made, but it would be better to use refined
sugar. 3. Moving Bees short distances in June. — When
swarming, either naturally or artificially, takes place
you may readily move the bees by placing the swarm
upon the old stand until the evening for the flying bees
to join , removing the stock to its new position ; at night
move the swarm to its new position. See page 53 of
current \ olume,

TIHIOIIVL^S B„ BLOW

And ELLIS,

MANUFACTURERS OF BEE-KEEPING APPLIANCES

OF EVERY DESCRIPTION,

BEG TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE HIGH QUALITY OF THEIR PEODUCTIONS.

ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE, full of useful and interesting information, sent free on application.

THE WORKS AND APIARY (THE LARGEST IN EUROPE) arc at all times open for Inspection.
•Wm^-W-YTV, HERTS.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stkanoeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c'

[No. 182. Vol. XIII.]

NOVEMBER 15, 1885.

[Published Fortnightly.]

editorial, Dtotirrs, &t.

TIN IN HONEY AND OTHER ARTICLES

OF FOOD.

By Otto Heh.ver.

In the Bee Journal of November 1st Mr. W. Crisp
warns against the employment of tin canisters for
the storing of honey, and states that ' honey that
has been stored in tin is not fit for food, as the
action of the acid contained in the honey on the tin
makes it more or less poisonous, and, if tinned for a
long time, highly dangerous. See the poison in
tinned fruits ! — honey is much worse.'

As I believe I was the first to make an extended
series of observations on the action of food matters
on tin, and physiological experiments as to the effect
of the metal on the animal body (published in the
Analyst, 1880), a few remarks on the subject may
not be unwelcome to the readers of the Journal.

I examined the following articles, obtained at
random at various shops : French ami American
asparagus, peas, tomatos, peaches (3 brands), pine-
apple (2), cherries (2), marmalade, corned beef
(5), ox-check, ox-tongue (3), collared head, tripe,
bers, sardines, salmon (2), lobster, shrimps, cur-
ried fowl (2), boiled rabbit, boiled mutton, roast
chicken, roast turkey, ox-cheek soup, gravy soup,
sausages, condensed milk (3).

With the exception of the sausages, the whole of
these samples contained more or less tin. The
amount in the vegetable products was, in some
cases, exceedingly large, the tins being positively
1 cm ii led ; in the animal products the tin was present
i mly in very small amounts, or traces even.

After reading Mr. Crisp's answer, I obtained
from Mr. Hackle two samples of honey that had
been in contact with tin for several months. They
showed no deterioration as to quality as far as taste
-and aroma were concerned. On analysis they were
found to be practically free from tin, the slightest
possible traces only being detectable.

Ah 1 here 1 may say that owing to the exceedingly
slight acidity of pure honey — much slighter than is
generally supposed — not any notable action of
honey upon tin was to lie expected. The action is
proportional to the acidity ; hence, pine-apple,
tomatos, peaches, <fec., corrode the metal strongly;
animal substances but to an insignificant extent ;

and honey may in this respect safely be classed with
animal matters. Mr. W. Crisp's warning notwith-
standing, I can see not any more objection to the
storing of honey in tins than in the case of sardines
or shrimps.

I am no advocate for the use of tin for any food
matter whatever, and strongly object to it for the
storing of fruits or other acid vegetables, and I
would welcome any new process of keeping pre-
served provisions in a non-metallic vessel ; but no
adequate or convenient substitute has as yet been
devised. Glass or china are breakable and bulky,
though otherwise perfect. But I do deprecate any
alarm being raised and a prejudice being created
without necessity.

Tin is not innocuous; in some forms it is positively
poisonous, but considering the enormous consump-
tion of canned goods, especially in America, cases of
illness arising from their use arc very rare, and then
may generally be traced, not to the injurious effect
of the tin itself, but to the presence in the tin of
lead or of soldering fluid, or to the fact that dis-
eased and poisonous animals cannot always be ex-
cluded from the millions that are preserved in
canisters.

I would say, therefore, 03* all means use tins for
the storing of hone}-. The method is not perfect.
Mr. Crisp should devise a better one ; a fortune
would surely await him.

HONEY AS FOOD.
The serious fall in the [trice of honey during the
last few years, and .more especially perhaps during
the present year, has naturally caused dismay
amongst bee-keepers, and we have received many
letters on the subject, advocating various remedies,
to maintain former prices. We maintain that anj'
of these will of necessity fail, unless founded on
true commercial principles, and the less the State
interferes the better for the producer as well as the
consumer. Whether it is known by the name of
Protection, Fair Trade, Reciprocity, Countervailing
Duties, <fcc, 'the trail of the serpent is over them
still,' and the true remedy is to do all in our power
to increase the consumption of honey by proving
to the public the great advantages of honey as

food.

Our readers will remember that in the Bee

Journal of April 15 there was a translation of Herr

3C4

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[November 15, 1885.

Dennler's pamphlet on ' Honey as Food and Medi-
cine,' and we would refer our readers to the ex-
cellent recipes it contains. We understand that a
later edition of this pamphlet has been published,
and is to be translated into English for the benefit
of our bee-keepers. The B. B. K. A. also are pre-
paring a pamphlet on the subject, which will be of
great use for gratuitous distribution at honey shows
and fairs, and will be supplied to the local secre-
taries at less than cost price.

It is by these means that we shall be able to
advantage bee-keepers by constantly bringing
before the public the great value of honey as
food, and the mure honey we can sell the less
relative profit we shall require. For instance, if a
tradesman only turns over a small amount every
year, his profits will have to be much larger than
if he turned over twice the amount. And it is
partly for this reason that a chemist's prices are so
high compared to the actual value of the drugs he
supplies.

So in the same way, if we can greatly increase
the consumption of honey by proving to the public
its great value as food, and more especially for
growing girls and boys, even if the price of honey
falls lower than if is at present, the bee-keeper will
be the gainer by the increased demand. For-
tunately honey is relished by the young, and
though we 'children of a larger growth' have not
the same liking for sweet things as in our younger
days, we are confident that if honey entered more
generally into our diet, it would be of great advan-
tage to us all. For honey is one of the most easily
assimilated of all foods, ami like all sugars, is very
fattening, and as a. consequence extremely useful
for its heat-producing qualities. The human body
is a kind of steam-engine, which requires fuel of
some kind or other, and of the necessary fuels for
the human frame hardly any occupies a higher
place than honey.

To every genera] law there arc exceptions.
Son • people cannot eat honey, as it acts like a
poison, just in the same way that eggs, or milk, or
cheese, etc., do not agree with certain individuals ;
but we who are more favoured can enjoy the food
of the Ancients — butter and honey.

USEFUL HINTS.

November, thus far, has fully maintained its
character as a cheerless month of fog. Nights have
been frosty, and a large quantity of rain is reported
from all parts. Several bright days, however, have
occurred — notably Friday, the 6th, on which the sun
shone forth brilliantly, and enabled us to complete
sundry operations which had been delayed from
stress of weather. We drove from a sleep a small
colony, with fine young Italian queen, which we
caged in a strong queenless stock, separated the
frames, and shook in the driven bees, closed up and
smoked slightly. Towards evening we opened the
hive and released the queen, which was joyfully ac-
cepted. There was no fighting, and, indeed, scarcely
a bee perished throughout the entire operation, and

the colony is now as strong and well-provisioned as
any in our apiary. Small colonies — after-swarms
— are often of great service when utilised in this
and similar ways, and we do not like to pass a
winter without a considerable number of them in
stock. With judicious feeding, and protection for
warmth, there is little difficulty in successfully
carrying these small colonies through the winter
months, and their value at spring is great. On
this splendid day we also managed to complete our
winter packing, by removing outside frames, closing
up division-boards, and giving extra quilts, &c, all
of which ought to have been done long ago, but
which, from imperative demands upon our time,
had been neglected.

Removal of Covers, on fine days, is advantageous
for several reasons, e.ffJ, circulation of air — dryness
— clearing away of spiders' eggs and webs — destroy-
ing earwigs — and, by direct contact of sun's rays,
causing the bees to take an airing conducive to
health. 1 )i >n"t/or<yrf,however, to replace them in case
of a shower, and towards evening, otherwise it might
have been ' better to leave well alone.'

Dysentery. — In our experience nothing tends
more to ward off this scourge, and to keep the bees
in perfect health during the winter months — this
disease is always contracted in winter — than a dry,
sheltered situation, with a southerly aspect. A
thoroughly dry interior of the hive is a sine </'><<
non, and this can only be attained by perfect
ventilation — gentle, insensible, upward ventilation,
through porous material over the frames, and, in
our opinion, by means of wider entrances than arc
generally allowed. We have never known a fairly
populous colony to perish from cold — dry cold —
during ( air coldest winters, but internal dampness
soon kills. Air is necessary to bee-life, and a narrow
door-way, especially where pervious quilts are not
used, interferes very much with its entrance, and
hinders the outflow of vitiated air from the hives,
for it must lie borne in mind that the bees are
unable now to ventilate by fanning of the wings,
as they do to perfection in the summer. Dysentery,
formerly, was supposed to have the same origin as
foul brood ; and although the late discovery of the
bacillus theory has disproved this idea, nevertheless
it must be allowed that a dysenteric hive is a far
better seed-bed for the propagation of bacilli than
a dry, healthy, and well-ventilated one. Sealed
stores of well-ripened honey are also a necessity in
the perfect wintering of bees. Unsealed stores,
fermentation of honey, or syrup, particularly when
mixed with pollen, are a most fertile source of
disease.

Direct Upward Ventilation of hives — as by holes
or crevices at the top — must on no account he per-
mitted ; otherwise the vapours will condense, the
combs will he covered witli moisture, soon to change
into mouldiness, the bees will be obliged to consume
large quantities of food in the endeavour to keep up
the heat of the hive and their bodies; ami, if un-
able to fly and exude their faeces, will die in the
hive, and, bursting from the fermentation of food
in their bodies, will render the entire atmosphere of

November 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

355

their domicile fetid, foul, and disgusting in the ex-
treme. When such a stage has been reached in
midwinter, there is no cure. How necessary, then,
by timely precautions, to guard against so terrible
a scourge. Closing of division-boards, thus con-
fining the bees to a small space in which they can
cover the combs, and shutting oft' the unoccupied
colder parts of the hive, conduces towards a smaller
consumption of food, and successful healthy winter-
ing. Hence, these latter remarks apply with ten-
fold force to small colonies. For winter condition,
then, let our motto be, ample ventilation with as
little escape of //"if as possible i itlverfrom sides or top
of hive. When using a flower-pot over the central
hi lie let it lie filled with hay, or other dry material,
which must be changed when damp.

Consumption op Stores. — At present the drain
upon stoves has been moderate, caused, no doubt,
by the weather being sufficiently cold to put a stop
to all breeding, hut not so much so as to cause the
bees to feed largely in defence against severe and
protracted cold. Where bees are short of stores,
clean dry combs, of sealed honey, inserted outside
the brood-nest, are of untold value. No injury will
result from doing this, with as little disturbance as
possible, on a tine, warm day.

Reversible Frames. — As many apiarists are at
this time engaged in hive-building, the subject of
reversible frames becomes interesting. That a
kind of mania for these has seized larg6 numbers
of enthusiastic bee-keepers, especially in the United
States, is a fact which cannot be gainsaid. To our-
selves it has always appeared so contrary to nature
and common sense, that at present we have given
it no trial. The subject was mooted in this
country four years ago, when our present Editor,
Mr. Cowan, in the discussion on a paper by the
Rev. C ltaynor, on 'Bee-houses and Hives,' read
on January IS, 1882, thus remarked, 'During last
year he had seen that the Americans had tried the
plan of inverting the frames so as to place the top
of the frame containing the honey to the bottom,
and the brood to the top. He did not know if
there was much in this ; but if there was, a rect-
angular frame would be much more easily adapted
to this purpose than a tapered one. He had tried
two frames, and, certainly, from these two frames,
when inverted, the bees carried all the honey from
the bottom into the supers, as the top was filled
with brood, and brood was raised in the bottom
part.' Added to this testimony, that of Mr.
Garratt, during the present season, who, by in-
verting a skep, induced the bees to carry up the
honey to the super above, goes to show that in
working for comb-honey the system may prove
advantageous.

Our contention has always been, however, that
the extra labour caused to the bees, by cutting
down the cells and rebuilding them with upward
inclination, during a copious influx of honey from
the fields, and from the general disarrangement of
the combs of the hive, breeding, Sea., would not be
compensated by the increased gain which in some
cases has been claimed in the shape of honey for
this system.

Bearing these facts in mind, we have carefully
watched the reports in the various American
journals respecting the results of inverted frames,
and herewith quote, from the last number of the
American Apiculturist, the following answers, by
the most prominent apiarists in the States, to ?_h*3
question, 'Are practical honey-producers generally
using reversible frames 1 ' Answers : —

(1.) 'I have made inquiries sufficient to enable
me to answer fully, and my impression is that they
are not. For myself, I can only say, that I have
not found them so particularly advantageous as at
first I thought they would prove. This is one si
those matters that sound big in theory, lint turir
out rather right in practice.' — /. E. Pond, .Tun.

(-2.) 'I think not.'— E. E. Hasty.

(3.) 'Not yet : the frame is new, and new things,
even when good, come into use slowly, it is a good
thing, and must grow rapidly in favour. — Profeuar
J. A. Cook

(4.) 'We guess not.'—//. Alley, author of Twentjf-
two Years' Experience in Queen Rearing.

(5.) ' No.'— L. C. Boot, Mohawk, N. Y.

(6. ) ' No, sir, not " generally " so, by a great deaL
— G. W. Demaree.

From these answers, therefore, it would appear
out of six skilled apiarists five give a verdict
against the reversible frame — or, at least, against
its having come into general use during the five or
six years it has been on trial — whilst one only — ■
Professor Cook — speaks in its favour.

It would be interesting, sir, if you could procure
a similar consensus of opinion from those Eaglish
apiarists who have tried the system, for publication
in your columns for our enlightenment during this
dull season.

Brain of the AYoitKEn-BEK. — The size of the bradn
is a gauge of intelligence. In the worker-bee the Ijf aui is
,ijth of the whole body; in the red ant, ^.'irth; die
Melalontha, ;.J,7^th : the Dytiscus beetle, jjVjtli. .U-,
we proceed I shall have to show that the queen, is
not superior to, hut greatly the inferior of, the worker;
aud the brain hears evidence to this position, as tint
of the queen is relatively small, as is also that of the
drone. The amazons, who support the political fabric af
the bee-hive, supply its food, bring up its young, furnish
its architecture, defend its property, administer justice,
and determine the how, when, and where of new colonies,
require greater endowments than the males and truss
female, who is largely aborted, so as to be almost inclu-
sively limited to the faculty of reproduction. — Cheshibbs
Bees and Bee-Keeping.

Indian Bees. — Mr. Herklots, a coffee-planter oic
the Neilgherry Hills, South India, writes as follows: —
' About Sept. 24th last I went out with a friend ia
visit some property some three miles distant. We want
to a steep hill-side to lay out a trace for a new roiid.
While the men were cutting the track, or, rather, clear-
ing the brushes away, my friend and I were Itmi.
about to see which would be the best line for the road-
I took up the staff, and went with, it to a small rock,
when the overseer, who was by, said, " Sir, there, ire
bees about." I did not perceive the force of this sta.te-
ment at once ; but, to my surprise, I found the coolies
gliding away with great caution and unusual rapidity,
and leaving me. The bees, which were of a larg*
varietj' (Apis indica) were now riving angrily about is',

3G6

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[November 15, 1885.

and occasionally coming straight at my face. I had let
go the tracing staff, and held only a small riding-cane.
With this I was soon actively engaged in hitting at the
bees. I probably knocked down three or more of them
with my cane. This must have enraged them ; and I
was soon made to feel the effects of their venom. They
settled on the back of my hands and wrists, and all over
my face, in every case piercing me with their stings.
Wild with pain, I rushed to a bush, crept under it, and
covered my face with my hands, coat-collar, and hat as
much as possible, endeavouring to remain motionless. I
could not endure this more than four or five minutes; so
I got up, and climbed the hill-side, at the top of which
were a plateau and a road. This was a very steep climb
of at least 150 ft., through boulders and jungle, with
precipices; so that I had to struggle on through a
regular maze, having again and again to retrace my way.
All the time the bees were at me. I was soon so^ much
exhausted that I could only move a few yards (eight or
ten) without having to stop for breath. I had to use
my hands as well as my feet in making the ascent.
Whenever I stopped the bees settled upon and stung me
more than when I was moving on; my face was covered
with them. I had the sensation that they were crawl-
ing on my face over each other's backs, as if they were
fully two and three deep in number. They made the
most persistent efforts to sting me in my eyes—that is,
to force their stings between my fast closed eyelids ; but
they stung my lips most, and several went up my
nostrils, and more than once I had to eject them from
the latter place by a forcible expiration, closing one
nostril with a finger. All this time my sufferings were
severe, and it was with the greatest difficulty I managed
to reach the road on the plateau. When there I had a
plain path all the way down the hill, to where my pony
was, quite half, cr, I should say, three-quarters of a
mile. I was then able to protect my hands_ by placing
them in my breeches' pockets. From the time of com-
mencing to 'ascend the hill I had not retaliated on the
bees, but, judging it the best policy, had allowed them
their way with me. Soon after I reached the plateau,
as far as I can say about, half an hour after I had com-
menced to be stung, I felt very ill. I had sudden slight
indications of rigours, and felt very sick. But I had to
struggle on, and to get home somehow. I reached my
pony, which is a spirited animal, and mounted him at
once. The bees, though in less number, were still at
me; and I imagined they would attack my pony, but
they did not. I took the shortest route home, a very
bad cross-country track. The bees followed me some
distance, and gradually left me ; a few came almost to
the house with me. Soon after I was in my saddle I
was vomiting very severely, though I did not bring up
much, and this was followed by severe purging of the
bowels, the feces being quite green. I felt very ill, and
had to hold on by the pommel of my saddle. I was
retching all the way home, and had two actions of the
bowels. When I was able to open my eyes I could see
that my face was covered with stubble, which I knew
were the stings of the bees; I took care not to touch
them. On reaching home I went to my own room, and
threw myself on the bed. The doctor was then sent for.
I continued to be very sick, and was constantly purged.
The stings were extracted by my wife and others, and
for several days subsequently the doctor found and
extracted others. My wife tells me she thinks there
must have been quite 300 stings taken out. Food was
most abhorrent to me, and for some nights I could not
sleep ; but within a week I was up again, though very
weak. I have felt the results of this adventure in
weakened health for months since, and have lately taken
a short sea-trip to Calcutta for a change, since which I
have somewhat improved in health. The medical treat-
ment consisted of the removal of the stings, and the
external application of the following: — Castor oil one

part, steel drops one part, collodion six parts ; with the
internal administration of full doses of steel drops (the
affected parts presented an erysipelatous blush), minim
doses of ipecacuanha wine to relieve vomiting, solution
of morphia to relieve pain and to induce sleep. When
the morphia had the former effect only, full doses of
bromide of potassium and hydrate of cliloral acted as
efficient hypnotics.' — The Lancet.

The Production of Wax. — A correspondent of the
New England Farmer writes as follows on this subject :
— ' Before the habits of bees had been studied, it was
supposed that wax was collected from flowers, but later
investigation shows that wax is a natural secretion of
the bee. It exudes from the body, between the rings,
in minute scales. This the bee takes in its ' hands,'
works it like a piece of dough, and places it where it is
needed. If comb-building is in process, it deposits the
piece of wax on the edge of a partly built cell ; another
bee then attacks it, gives it a twist or a pinch, and
smooths it with its mandibles. Sometimes three or four
bees will find something to do with that particular
crumb of wax. The workers are so many, and work
with such rapidity, and do individually apparently so
little, that the eye hardly perceives, in a "Short interval
of time, that the structure, the comb, increases in size ;
but close the hive and examine the same cell in an
hour, and its greater length is seen at once. Evidently
wax is present when it is wanted, and absent when
there is no use for it. This may not be the case, but
appearances favour it. If there be no more room in a
hive for comb, no wax, or very little is needed ; but if
an empty frame be placed in this hive, the bees begin at
once to fill it with comb.'

California Honky Crop. — ' Eeports from all
quarters of Southern California agree that while the
bees are in good condition, they have not stored much,
if any, surplus honey, and in some localities they have
actually reduced their stores very materially. The cool
nights and windy days of the past month have not been
favourable to the development of honey-producing flowers
or the secretion of nectar. Both sorts of the sages are
in bloom, but they afford little honey as yet, and what
is stored is not in any respect equal to the honey obtained
in the same sections last year at this date. The low
price of honey quoted in all the markets is not encourag-
ing, but the value of other commodities is about on a
par with honey. Sugar competes somewhat with honey,
and the price of that article points still downwards in the
principal marts of the world, and it is not reasonable to
suppose that honey will advance in price very materially
until sugar regains its lost ground to some considerable
extent, not only in the United States, but in European
countries, where a very large quantity of our last year's
crop of honey found customers, who paid better prices
for our produce than coidd be obtained at home, or on
the east of the mountains.'

Bee Law in Germany. — 'Some years ago we had a
bee lawsuit in Germany. There were two landlords,
brothers, in our province of Prussia, who had a sheep-
pasture that was covered with Erica vulgaris'fiT common
heath. The bee-keepers of the surrounding country would
take their bees (many hundreds of colonies) to this place,
in a neighbouring wood, from which they could reach the
heath. The landlords woidd not endure this, claiming
that the bees drove the sheep from their feeding-place.
In order to stop it, the landlords ordered one of their
servants to make some wooden boxes, and besmear them
on the inside with honey ; as soon as thousands of the
bees filled the boxes, he killed the bees witli sulphur. In
a short time all the bees were dead. The bee-keepers
then made the landlords defendants in a suit, the result
of which was that the landlords had to pay all the
damages and the cost of the suit — about $1500.' — C J. II.
Gravenhorst, Gloicen, Prussia, August 5.

November 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

367

ASSOCIATIONS.

LINCOLNSHIRE HONEY FAIRS.

These honey fairs, held under the auspices of the Lincoln-
shire Bee-keepers' Association, closed with the Grantham
Fair on Saturday, October 31, and, upon the whole,
have proved fairly satisfactory. The fairs at Boston and
Louth being to some extent new ones, it was not expected
they would be so successful as the Grantham Fair, which
has been so long established, and which, notwithstand-
ing such an unfavourable day as Saturday, was well
patronised, large sales and good prices being effected.
The total weight of honey on sale was 2 tons 1 cwt.
3 qrs. : the largest consignments being from Mr. J. H.
Brown, Swineshead (1400 lbs.), Mr. J. R. Truss, Bainton
Heath (304 lbs.), Mr. Walton (16G lbs.), Rev. R. Hollis,
Whaplode (-220 lbs.), Miss J. M. Deedes, Hevdour (120
lbs.), Mr. Rippon, Sudbrook (105 lbs.), Mrs. White, Cav-
thorpe (165 lbs.), Mr. Nix, Aisby (100 lbs.) Rev. C. P.
Plumptre, Claypole (140 lbs.), and Rev. M. A. Thomson,
Thistleton (170 lbs.). Only one entry of heather honey
was pitched, and that by Mr. Henry Yates, of Grantham,
and, being so rare, it commanded a high price. The
more clear lots of honey, in one-pound jars, sold readily
at from ninepence and a shilling, whilst lots in bulk were
slow of sale, at from sixpence to eightpence per pound.
There was but a limited supply of wax, and it was soon
cleared, prices ruling at from one and ninepence to two
shillings per lb. The show of honey in the comb was
not so large as at former fairs, and moderate sales were
effected at from one shilling: to fifteenpence for good one-
pound sections, whilst inferior sections could only rind
buyers at ninepence and tenpence. We noticed that the
larger portion of honey pitched was more or less in a
crystallised condition, and appeared not to be so much in
favour; whilst that in a liquid state had a great sale.
We would here remark that honey, although in crystallised
state, should not be looked upon as inferior in quality to
that in a liquid form, but, the contrary, if sound and dry,
and wanted to keep. At some of the principal shows in
England the highest honours have been awarded to
crystallised honey. The British Bee-keepers' Association
offered three silver and three bronze medals, one to be
competed for at each of the three fairs. At the Boston
Fair, Mr. J. Walton was awarded the silver medal, and
the Rev. M. Thojnson the bronze one. At Louth, Mr.
H. A. Smith secured the silver medal and Mr. G. R. Truss
the bronze decoration, and at the Grantham Fair the
silver medal was awarded to the Rev. C. P. Plumptre
and the bronze medal to Miss Kemp. At the Grantham
Fair, the judges for the medals were Mr. John Bolton,
Mr. J. R. Truss, and Dr. Eaton. The staging and arrange-
ments at the Grantham Fair were under the direction of
Mr. John Bolton, at the Boston Fair Dr. Small, and at
Louth Mr. H. O. Smith, whose labours must have been
great, seeing that all was so well carried out. Great
credit is due to them for their voluntary work in doing
their utmost for the benefit of members, and to the Hon.
Secretary of the Association (Mr. R. R. Godfrey) for
organizing the fairs.

LINCOLNSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.—
GRIMSBY EXHIBITION.

REPORT OF THE JUDGES.

We have much satisfaction in reporting to the Council
of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society the marked
interest in the bee department of the Society's Show
at Grimsby. We consider the arrangements were all
that could be desired, hence the success which undoubt-
edly followed. We would specially note the well tilled
classes of bees in Observatory hives : such classes are

always interesting and instructive, affording as they do
the opportunity to any one versed in the science of bee-
keeping of explaining to visitors the marvellous workings
of the honey bee.

Honey Classes. — Classes .'! aud 4 were not well filled,
and we suggest for the consideration of the Council the
desirability of discontinuing them unless under special
rules. Glasses 5, 6, and 7, brought together a grand
display; the quality of honey was unusually fine, and
the saleable way in which it was put up and staged was
most satisfactory in every respect.

Hive. Classes 8 to lrt, which were very extensively
filled (exhibiting the keenest competition), combined all
that modern service in bee-culture could desire ; whilst in
the class for Extractors no less than eight machines were
in competition and some of great merit.

The Manipulating Tent as usual drew thronged
audiences, and the practical demonstrations given could
not fail to produce good in furthering the object of bee-
keeping.

Your Secretary's labours must have been great indeed
in this department of your exhibition to have brought
about such a successful show. — Henry Yates, Grantham ;
Wm. Carr, Newton Heath, Manchester.

STAFFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSO-
CIATION.

The Annual Show of the above Association was held
at Tamworth on August 25th and 20th. Bee-keeping is
making good progress in Staffordshire, as was exemplified
on this occasion by the very excellent show both of comb
and section honey, said by the Judge, the Rev. J. Lingen
Seager, to have been the best he had seen this season.

There were no less thau twenty-one entries of comb
honey in sections, and the first prize was taken by Thomas
Leese, Aston, Stone, who informed us that he had taken
fifty-eight sections from one hive this season. At the
ballot, some months ago, by members of the County
Association, Leese won a hive, which he has already
made good use of. He placed a swarm in it on June 4,
and it progressed so rapidly that he has already taken
twenty-one well-filled sections from it, and extracted
honey from five frames, while there are eighteen sections
still remaining. For run honey in glass jars,Elihu Clowes,
of Black Brook, won first prize with an exceedingly good
sample. For the best exhibition of honey in any form,
II. Wood, of Lichfield, was well to the fore with 250 lbs.
in all, 130 lbs. extracted in bottles, and 120 lbs. in sections,
the latter enclosed in neat cardboard boxes with glass
lids. This was a most creditable exhibit. In the similar
class, but for honey made by bees belonging to an artisan
or agricultural labourer, John Ilandley, Fazeley, was
first with good samples in supers, sections, and jars. The
prizes in this class were given by Mr. A. H. Heath, the
energetic honorary secretary of the local Association. For
beeswax, of which there were many good samples, F.
Harper, Uttoxeter, was the best coloured, and took first
prize.

We next come to the bee-keeping appliances, which
are now legion ; in fact, at the present time the bees
have so many aids that we may safely say that their
productive capacities are doubled. Chief among these is
the wax comb-foundation, which saves the bees an
immense amount of trouble in the construction of their
combs. The collections of hives and bee furniture shown
by three leading makers were an interesting feature. The
first prize for the best collection was awarded to Mr. S.
J. Baldwin, Bromley, Kent. Amongst the many useful
hives and appliances shown in this collection we may
mention the moveable comb straw skep, fitted with bar-
frames, with wooden super. Abbott Brothers, Southall,
London, obtained the second prize. The third prize col-
lection was that of Mr. Rollins, of Stourbridge, the expert

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[November 15, 1885.

ol the Staffordshire Association, and was, like the others,

i i ahle one, containing- some serviceable-looking hives
auxi many useful appliances. The prizes offered for the

md most complete bar-frame hive, -with necessary
appliances for winter and summer use and for supering,
ihe price not to exceed 10s., did not bring out anything
specially new. The first prize was awarded to Mr.
1-iaM-wiii for a hive he has named the ' Bridgwater,'
v.lie;v it took a silver medal. It seemed well put to-
getber,and made of good seasoned wood. Messrs. Abbott
Brothers were second with their ' Copyable ' hive, con-
iuining space for sections at back, which is a very im-
portant feature if any quantity of honey is to be gathered.
This hive no doubt is a serviceable one, though not so
otat-Jooking as the first prize one. The third award
went to Mr. E. G. Parker, Altrincham, for a hive very
aBiHsu- to Mr. Baldwin's, but all fixed together — stand,
bare, and roof. Mr. Baldwin took the first prize for

est, neatest, and best super with one he calls the
■ Telescopic,' from its being able to be contracted to any
axe n the removal of full sections. Messrs. Abbott's,
ihe ' Economic,' was second.

For stocks of bees exhibited in straw skeps, J. K.

Critchlow secured first honours, Elihu Clowes beisg

secondhand II. Wood third. These bees were used for

dation during the show by Mr. Baldwin, the

-in-chief of the British Bee-keepers' Association,

lectured at intervals during each day. The two
-prizes for English or Ligurian bees exhibited in observ-
dves were taken by Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Rollins
ssspectively with the Italian variety.

Cnrrcsponocna.

*»* AH Correspondents forwarding Letters for insertion in

ihc Jmirnal, Reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes

■ He Hives, Queries, &c, are requested to direct their com-

Nations to 'The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," cjo

Mams. Strangcways ife Sons, Tower Street, Upper St. Martin's

laxe, W.C

HONEY AS FOOD.
Sfcr. Griffin's remark in the last number of the B.B.J.,
I h ;. ; ' it is well known that some people cannot eat honey;
facing a rash with some, and affecting others in
rarions ways,' ought not, I think, to pass unnoticed.
Way I ask him whether he has ever in his own experi-
Eiee met a case in which honey, which he knew to be
■pine and good, produced a rash ? A similar remark has
bees .'/iade once or twice to me, but I have replied that
lie ush was probably the result of sulphuric acid, or
m some other acid used in the process of adulteration.
hi my household we consume some cwts. of honey each
t«st; and I am convinced that there is no better food
for young and old than bread and honey. None of my
paity has ever had any symptom of the_ rash too
tfunmuiily imputed as the consequence of eating honey.
The public have been accustomed for so many years
to purchase bright-looking adulterated stuff sold under
(he 3emblance of honey that pure English honey is often
f barged with crimes and misdemeanours which should
.in rare properly be imputed to its bastard brothers. So good
im& genuine a bee-keeper as Mr. Griffin will not, I hope,
allow the faults of the one to be laid to the charge of the
«rtler. — E. Baetbum, BerkAamsted, Herts.

IN A BEE-HOUSE.

Bnfo

lie

fore giving you my sixth year's report I will finish
dventures of the eccentric bees begun in the Bee
Juvenal of July 1st.

These bees swan 1 again on June 23rd and 24th, and

to- tie last time on the 2C>th. They mixed themselves
up -with a swarm from No. 0, but in the evening they
hid apparently separated ; one swarm inside the sleep

and one outside. I got the outside swarm into another
skep and hived each swarm in its own hive. Well, I
thought I had done this very nicely, but the next
morning I found the majority of bees had left No. 7
and gone into No. 6, when finding the hive too full they
swarmed before I could put on enough supers. Hived
again and put on four supers which were crowded with
bees.

The revolutionaiw bees were at last conquered. The}r
found themselves under a good queen, who made them
work to such purpose that I took 78 lbs. weight of
section honey from this hive. No. 7 tl;
twelve times, upset five other hives, and gave only
80 lbs. of comb honey themselves.

This year is remarkable for the length of the honey
season or rather want of any distinct season. For two
months the bees kept bringing in a little honey, bm bhere
was no rush of it as usual. June began with rain and
ended with cold. July very dry. The curious thing is
that one hive gave me the largest take I have yet had,
so that I am somewhat puzzled as to whether the season
caused the bad result or whether it may not be owing to

those eccentric bees.

1S85. Comb. Erfcr. Total.

No. lbs. lbs. lbs.

1. English, swarmed three times ... 17 12 29

2. Ligurian, swarmed five times ... 10 13J 23$

3. English, swarmed three times ... 5 12 17

4. Hybrid 37 11 IS

.">. Dead — — —

6. English, swarmed four times ... 78 6} 8iJ

7. Ligurian, swarmed twelve times 30 6 36

8. English, swarmed six times ... 28A 12 40J

9. Hybrid, swarmed once 101" 21 122

Total 306 i 94 J oi II

Again the black bees seem behindhand as No. <'> was
helped by the Ligurians. The bees swarmed thirty-four
times, a rather large order when it is divided over only
seven hives. No. 4 was a teaeupful of bees nursed
through the winter. They had not filled the hive till
June 17, but they have gone into winter quarters as
strong as any of the stocks. A curious incident occurred
with this hive. On July 26 I took off the super and put
on quilt. After I had finished I saw the queen on the
ground inside the house. As I had not touched the
frames it was a puzzle how she got there. No. •") lost the
queen, started a fertile worker, and was destroyed. This
is my second experience of a fertile worker. The quan-
tities" of honey given are carefully weighed. May I
again suggest to your correspondents the advantage of
giving weights instead of number of sections?

Honey has become increasingly difficult to sell ; and
what is to prevent it, at this present rate, going down to
3d. per lb. ? A large grocer in my town will not buy
English honey, but prefers that adulterated mixture
called Californian ! It seems to me a cruel kindness to
persuade the labourers to keep bees which cannot
possibly pay for the labour devoted to them. — G. 0. E.,
November 2.

COLOUR OF HIVES AND INSTINCT OF

BEES.
Kindly allow me a short reply to 'Corrigenda' on the
above subjects. In his reply he animadverts on my

inconsistency of argument and fact. Now, sir. where will
he go for his facts? I admit my argument may appear
perverted from ' Corrigenda's ' standpoint, re the colour
of hives. Now premising, as ' Corrigenda' admits, that
queens rarely leave their hives, I ask of what utility
colour of any shade can possibly be to a queen -bee.
Say she leaves the hive on her wedding trip, probably
the first time in her lifevthat she has emerged from
nearly total darkness into the bright sunshine, is she to
In- credited with supernatural powers of observation,
with an extraordinary memory that can take in :it a

November 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOUKNAL.

;;09

I retain the remembrance of the colour of the
hom ' No, sir, most certainly

not; she returns to I by instinct implanted in

her progenitor by the Creai ir and transmitted from i ■
generation I - an ither.

1 may inform yonr correspondent that having kepi
bees Ei several years 1 have never to my knowledge
lost a queen during her wi ddiug trip, and I have paid
some attention to the matter. All my bivta are of one
v., nil i f one i lour, viz., stone, and stand in rows
quite olosi together. tne diffidence in

og them side by side till Mr. Bli to Cyprus

and told us how the I lyprian apiaries were arranged like
drain-pipes in stacks with fronts all pi istered like a wall,
ami simply holes made in the piaster while soft for
entrances.

I have no doubt queens have got lost in th( past, and
will again in the future, on their wedding trip, but the
loss may very probably occur from other Causes than
the one under discussion ; in fact, I am inclined to think
that when it does occur, it is from contingencies over
which we have no control. She may be caught by
a swallow or a swift skimming along at lightning speed,
or may fall a prey to the tit or sparrow, and be carried
off as a dainty morsel to their voracious progeny. Then,
even supposing worker-bees can and do distinguish
colours, and that they may — as Sir John Lubbock con-
tend-— have a preference for the colour blue, we must
not overlook the fact that worker-bees are constantly
out in the sunshine in quest of the needful, Hitting from
flower to flower among the beautiful colours of flowers
and may have the intelligence to distinguish colour.-;
but not so our queen-bees, they leave the hive for
fecundation, then, perhaps, return to the darkness and
obscurity of the hive to emerge another year at the head
of a swarm.

How is it possible in the interior of a hive or
bee-nest for a queen to know anything of colour? I
don't think if she could answer the question herself
) colour she would give any better answer than
the blind man who thought, or rather said, that the
colour scarlet was like the blast of a trumpet.

And now, sir, a few wi irds on ' instinct.' in using the
plural number in my jotting, I admit I was under the.
impression that it is a g. uerally received axiom that
bees do return to their hives by instinct, that instinct
teaches them to gather and store food in summer for
consumption during the winter; 'natural necessity'
would only prompt them to gather food for present
needs.

Then 'Corrigenda' advises me to apply a test to my
bees' instinct that I submit would stagger and confound
the superior (?) intelligence of the genus Homo. He
says, ' Move a hive of bees three miles, but don't let
them fly for twelve hours, then take a hundred bees, put
them in a box and the box in your pocket, walk half-a-
mile, let them go, and see how many instim Cwill bring
vou back.' I sa_y none except by chance ; but the chances
are much greater that a large percentage will find their
way hack to their old stand by instinct (that is, pre-
mising the hundred bees taken from hive should happen
to be fielders).

Now, sir, let us apply a similar test to ' Corrigenda,'
with his superior intelligence, his reason, his mind.
Let me suppose some strong giant take his house bodily,
just rendering it perfectly dark (as one would the hive
of bees), and place it in a strange district, then slip
'Corrigenda' into a sack or box (with no peep-holes,
mind), and take him a distance and release him. I opine
he would n it be v< ry ] inch in advance of the poor little
insignificant bees in finding his way back to the new
po itii.n in which the giant had placed his house, or
even to the old spot, unless there were some features in
the surrounding country that would prove a guide to
him. I consider the clia ; ■■>■ would be very remote of his

the ' i herea :- m s of hi i tl - uotwith-

ling his superior physical powers of endurance giving
him a great a '.. ■-. n the poor bees, placed in

similar circum itanci

Oh shade of Darwin, and Hess) . Romanes, Fabre,
Mivart, and Lubbock, listen! i : ' instinct,' it is

'natural necessity' thai brings back the industrious
little labourer the bee after it has collected its load of
food.

I ask ' Corrigenda,' is H natural necessity or instinct
teaches the phi (a wasp-like insect), after it has
laid its eggs in a hole, to sei pidi t which it paralysi s

by stinging it in its mai m i entre, then tn bury
the body of the spideT with the eggs, still alive, th iugh
paralysed, and consequently ii n tna the

grubs of the sphex t a ■ he i ' it h ■

If 'Corrigenda' admits that may be en I

maintain that our little friend the bee returns with its
load of pollen or honey for the verj ■ Ii -same purpose,
viz., providing food for future generations of bees by
instinct.

The question of'how the sphex learned to sting the
spicier in its main nerve-centre remains, I think, un-
answered. Darwin suggested that having observed by
their intelligence that their prey (food) was paralysed
when stung in a certain part the action became ' in-
stinctive,' i.e., memory transmitted from one generation
of sphexes to another.

It is palpable that if each generation or individual
sphex had to discover that their food could be kept in
an edible condition by being paralysed by stinging in a
i ertain part, the genus would have bi come i xtinct long
ages ago; and so, also, if bees had not that instinct of
providing food in summer for winter- consumption they
must also have become extinct ; and I still believe that
bees-know their hive by instinct, that they fly straight
back to their hive with their gathered treasures by
instinct, that they work: for the good of the community
(of which they individually are as mere cyphe I by
instinct. — "Woodleigh. -

FOUL BROOD.

Some time ago I observed that you . i :om mended one,
of your correspondents to use carbolic acid with food
given in the usual way. My experience is that at no
time of the year will tiro bees take it in that way. even
when only lialf as strong as Mr. ( Iheshire prescribes. If
poured into a comb and placed inside they will forsake
that part, of the hive at first, but they do clear it out
after a time. The effect is then very good; the queen
lays freely, and both brood and bees have a healthy
appearance, but later on you find foul brood again, and
this after having destroyed the bad combs and well
sprayed the rest with what Mr. Cheshire calls foul-
brood solution or one in twenty. T have tried this
many times with Mr. Cheshire's and Calvert's No. 1, 2,
and i, and always with precisely the same result. But
though the bees will not take it from a bottle feeder
inside the hive they will take it very freely indeed
when placed outside,' near or at a distance from the hive,
in fact, they set to work and rob vigorously. Some
time ago I went to see a very successful skepman, he
had over 100 hives, some of them splendid, hut, much
to his surprise and disgust, 1 told him he had got foul
brood.

I drove them and took them away for experiment,
and they turned out just the same as before. Queen
laid well, brood and 'bees looked healthy, but after a
time foul brood again. I shall be curious to see how
the poor man gets on next yi ar.

This is not encouraging, but 1 intend to persevere. At
present. I can control the disease, but not cir- it. I
never could see. why such a mystery was mad: about

370

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[November 15, 1885.

the drug. You had to get it from Mr. Cheshire's agents
instead of being told to get Calvert's No. 1, 2, •'!, or 4.
Mr. Cheshire's is Is. (id. an ounce. ; Calvert's No. 4 is
2s. Qd. the Hi oz. bottle. The effect of all is precisely
alike. I shall always keep No. 4 by me if only to spray
empty combs, hives, and quilts : for this purpose one in
twenty is not a bit too strong.

I have several hives of Syrians, and as these creatures
insinuate themselves everywhere, of course they took the
disease, but I observed them make much greater efforts
to get rid of it. I have heard these Syrians spoken
of as pests, but I cannot quite view them in that light.
Thev certainly require somewhat different handling than
either blacks or Italians, but it is to be done, for I have
constantly manipulated them one after another without
much trouble, though I should not recommend a nervous
or clumsy person to try. Smoke is of no use whatever.
They are in many respects different from ours, wonderful
breeders, and vastly more active, and should never be
moved from one hive to another, or in fact disturbed at
all, except in fine warm weather. I am not quite sure
that thev could be driven out of a skep in the ordinary
way. — M.

WIRED FOUNDATION.

I see from time to time in the Bee Journal that there
are bee-keepers inquiring about wired foundation, and
wanting to know whether to use it or not.

For the last two or three years I read in the American
Bee Journal about this wired foundation and of its great
success when used by the apiarists of that country. Last
spring I therefore determined to try it, and I sent an in-
quiry to the editor about it, who was kind enough to
supply me with full information through the Journal (as
per spring numbers of same).

I purchased about a hundred and eighty sheets of the
kind known as Van Deusen flat-bottomed wired foun-
dation : and as I have upwards of a hundred and fifty
combs built on this foundation during the past season I
am able to speak witli some degree of experience. This
was a warmer summer than we have had for a long time,
at least, such was the case in the north of Ireland; and
I had not one single case of a sheet of this foundation
either sagging or breaking down. I have inserted sheets
into hives of 10 and 20 frames perfectly crowded with bees
and where the heat would be great, and every sheet so
inserted was built in the most perfect manner.

I had over a hundred of the above combs almost com-
pletely tilled with brood, and in no case was there a re-
fusal to rear brood on the cells through which the wires
passed, and I did not notice a case of brood reared on
such wired cells not hatching.

This Van Deusen wired foundation has a flat base,
and the wire is incorporated in the wax forming the
foundation in such a perfect manner as to be exactly in
the centre of the base and does not therefore come in
contact with the brood. I have used it in the top storeys
of hives for extracting, and also in the back compartments
of long 20-frame hives, and I have extracted four and five
pounds of honey from each frame after being but newly
built and never damaged a cell by so doing. I have
nothing against this foundation and only the highest
praise in its favour as the best foundation I have ever
used for the brood-chamber and extracting. I cannot be
accused of having an axe to armd as I am in no way in-
terested in bee-keepers' supplies, my sole reason being the
good of bee-keeping. In use, this foundation is no more
expensive than the ordinary kind, as its cost is about three
shillings to two shillings and nin«pence per pound, accord-
ing to quantity, and you have eight to nine sheets stand-
ard size to the pound. I used nine, exactly as advised
by the editor in his reply to my queries, and the eros-<
wire to hold the same in perpendicular was of No. -'>2
size.

If this foundation is not properly secured to top bar,

or this cross wire not used, then they who fail by so-
using it improperly need not blame the foundation, but
their own stupid blundering. I make a groove in the-
underside of the top bars of all my frames and run the
foundation in fast by the use of melted wax containing
one-fourth resin and melted and used by the wax-spoon
process described long since in the Journal by Mr. Hewitt.
I would not have a frame having top bar cut through, as-
often advised, because it weakens the frame, looks un-
sightly, and is a harbour for eggs of insects and dirt.

By way of experiment I wired a frame myself with
this No. :'>2 tinned wire sewn up through top and bottom
bar of frame two inches apart between the wires, and the
ends of wire kept fast by being rolled round a little tack
driven into bottom bar of frame. I cut a lap bottom to
fit inside of frames and nail this on to a board larger
than frame, so that the little lap-board will come just
half thickness of the depth of the frame. I then run in
the foundation, not the above wired foundation, but the-
sample I used was Abbott's flat-bottomed foundation j
as soon as this is done, hold the frame of foundation — top
bar down — before a brisk fire or store until it gets a little
soft, and then immediately press the wires into the mid-
rib of the foundation with a putty-knife. The founda-
tion should be kept next to the lap-board, and the wires
will then, of course, lie close on to the foundation, and
when the foundation is heated a little stroke with the
point of the putty-knife along the wire beds it into the
foundation. I did eight frames in this way the past
season, and eight nicer or firmer built combs the eye could
not wish better. They woidd stand any amount of
tossing about, as I put two of these frames into the ex-
tractor before being built out and turned very hard, and
after being so knocked about they were quite sound, just
as I put them in.

1 hope the above hints may interest and instruct some
of your readers, which is my apology for trespassing on
your valuable space. — Wm. Ditty, June., Neivtownards,.
Ireland.

P.S. — To save correspondence, I may add I obtained
the above wired foundation from E. C. Walton, Xewark.

THE PECTBN OR COMB OF THE BEE.

Not the least wonderful feature in the anatomy of the
1 bee is that artistic contrivance, which, from its con-
! formation and use, may very properly be termed the bee's-
com!). As the perception of the bee depends upon the
sensibility of the antennas, it is obvious that those organs,
to fulfil their various functions, must be kept perfectly
clean, and hence the Great Mechanician, in organizing
and creating the bee, anticipated its necessities in this
respect, and provided an effective instrument for its
relief.

On a pleasant day, if we take our position near a hive,
while the bees are passing out and in, we shall most
likely notice more than one bee stop a moment upon the
alighting-board, raise one of its forelegs, and appear to
wipe the autenna? with it; and as the leg is covered with
bristles, we might conclude that these answered the
purpose of a brush, to cleanse the antennae; but,
' watching more carefully, we shall observe that only a
particular place in the leg is applied to the antenna?, and
examining this place with a microscope, we shall find,
i just below the articulation of the two longest joints, a
I semicircular notch, lined with teeth, and just above,
a thumb-like appendage, which, upon the leg Hexed,
extends across the opening of the notch : this thumb
presses and retains the antennas within the notch,
and wipes the under side of it, and may serve at other
times as a brace to support the joint.

The number of teeth is about fifty, placed close
together and even. The right leg has its comb for the
right antennae, and the left for the left antennas; the
combs are used either alternately or botli are applied at

November 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

371

the same moment, while the bee is poised upon its
middle and hind legs. During the nuptial season, when
the drone sallies from the hive, it would be extra-
ordinary if he did not pause a moment at the entrance
to comb down his antennae. The queen, equally with
the worker and drone, i< provided with a similar pair of
combs; and some other insects furnished with antenna;
have a similar arrangement for keeping those organs in
perfect order. — Bee-keepers' Mayazine.

AN AMATEUR'S REPORT FOR 188.".

In continuance of my reports furnished you for the
past two years, I now send you one for the season 1885,
which to me has, I consider, been a very successful one,
fully realising my expectations, and far exceeding the
ideas of my friends and neighbours as to the amount of
honey that can be obtained from bees, especially with the
limited time I can afford to give them, as during the
whole honey season I am away from home from morning
to evening, except for an occasional day that I try to
absent myself from business on pleasure, a portion of
which I devote to my bees: and in the spring, up to the
middle of Ma}', I am unable to give them stimulative
feeding, being away from my apiary all the week; but
although I have succeeded so well, I cannot at all com-
pare with my brother bee-keepers in England, whether
it be for want of attention or in consequence of the
English climate being more suitable for the production
of honey. If can hardly be from the fact that I live
close to the seaside, and consequently acres of what
■would otherwise be growing honey-producing plants are
lost, as those who live more inland have not the same
produce as myself ; but then I suppose a great many in
England, whose experiences are not in your Journal,
have as small, or perhaps a smaller, produce than I
have. I am, however, otherwise fairly well situated, as in
early spriug a hill adjoining my apiary is covered with
gorse (furze) in blossom, which yields an immense quantity
of pollen ; and to those who have not this, I would
strongly recommend the planting of Arabia albida, as the
small quantity I set is constantly covered with bees
while in blossom, and it commences to bloom in the
end of February or beginning of March, and continues
in blossom for a long time. I have a great many fruit
trees in the garden, and lime-trees near, also white-
thorn. Aconites I find blossom rather earlv, and do
not last long.

I trust the report I send will not take up too much of
your space, but as I read with interest the reports of
others, I hope some of your readers may see something
that may interest them in mine.

Commenced season with four bar-frame hives (Nos.
2, 3, 4, and 5), all of which can be worked with sections
on top or at back. Three are Association standard frame
size, and one (No. 2) is made to be worked with frames,
containing four 2-lb. sections in each, at the back of
brood-nest. I worked this at back and top, No. •'! on
top, and 4 and 5 at back only.

March 1st.— Fed each hive with 1-lb. phenolated
candy cake on top under quilt. loth. — Uncapped about
two square inches of one side of back comb in No. 3.
22nd. — Put another 1-lb. box of phenolated candy on
No.o, and uncapped about one square inch of comb
in No. 3. 20th. — Uncapped about one and a half square
inches of comb in No. 3, and about one inch in No. 5.

April 3rd. — Uncapped a little comb in No. ■">. 6th. —
Examined all hives, and found a little brood in each.
27th.— Gave No. 2 a frame half filled with comb partially
worked out last year, No. 3 two frames, and No. 5 one
frame of old comb.

May 10th. — Put super of twenty-one 1-lb. sections,
eight of which had comb from last year, on top of No. 2,
and the bees worked in them immediately. 10th. — Gave
3 and 4 one frame of sections each at back, and No. 5
two frames of sections. 25th. — Found sections given to

No. 3 not worked in, took them away and put crate of
twenty-one 1-lb. sections on top (bees did not work in
these for two days, when I put carpet round crate, and
they went up immediately), and gave frame of sections
to No. 4.

June 4th. — Gave two frames, with foundation, in
front to No. 4, one to No. 5, and frame of sections to-
No. 2 (2 lbs.) Frames were put in front so that old
frames of comb may be removed occasionally from back,
and by thus renewing each year at front none of the
comb will become too old. 12th. — Took six 1-lb. sections
from No. 2, gave them six instead, and an empty frame,
and put crate of twenty-one 1-lb. sections under former-
super on No. 3. 18th. — Took twelve sections from body
of No. 6, and gave empty ones. 23rd. — Took thirteen,
sections from No. 3, and replaced them with empty ones.
27th. — Took eighteen sections from No. 2 ; cut out queen-
cells from No. 5, and returned swarm (doubt if it came
from No. 5, but they united amicably), and gave them
two frames of foundation in front instead of two frames
of comb weighing 4 lb. (! oz., which I took out. 30th. —
Took 12 lb. 14 oz. in twelve sections from No. 4.

July 6th. — Took one section from No 2, four sections
from No. 4, and three sections from No. 3. 14th. — Took
two sections and 10 lb. 10 oz. comb from No. 2. 18th.
— -Took two frames from No. 2, one from No. 3, and one-
from No. 4. 21st. — Took twelve sections from No. 5.
30th. — Took super (from straw skep in which I had put
two swarms, one on 24th and one on 2fith July and fed)
weighing 15 lbs. 12 oz., and took two sections from No. 4.

August 8th. — Took six sections from No. 5 and six
sections from No. 3.

September 10th. — Took 0 lb. 12 oz. comb honey from
a swarm in skep.

October 7th. — Took 0 lbs. comb honey from another
swarm. 12th. — Took 10 lbs. from two others, and 28 lbs.
1 oz. from a lame skep (swarm of No. 2, which issued
11th June), besides 1 lb. 13 oz. taken on 23rd July.
This was a very large swarm, and was fed for three or
four days after swarming.

The skep from which I took the super of honey on
.'10th Juty was also fed, and they were the only skeps-
that gave me any quantity of honey, so that I would
strongly advise uniting swarms if possible, and feeding
them. September and October very wet and cold, so
was unable to unite some of the swarms in skeps with
stock in bar-frame hives, and as I could not manage all
that I was l'eluetantly obliged to smother them. Beesv
especially No. 2, were very wicked — they are all blacks
— and other bee-keepers say the same of theirs this j'ear,
especially in the end of the season.

SrMMAHY OF PnODUCE.

lb. oz. lb. oz.

No. 2. Sections 2G (i

Comb and run honey including

swarms 52 4

78 10

No. 3. Sections 10 7

Comb and run honey exclusive

of swarms G 7

25 14

No. 4. Sections 10 2

Comb and run honey exclusive

of swarms 5 2

24 4

No. 5. Sections 30 0

Comb and rnn honey exclusive

of swarms 4 0

34 6

Comb from skeps, swarms of Nos. 3, 4, and 5... 38 2

Total produce of four hives 201 4

Of which 04 lbs. 15 oz. was in sections, and 100 lbs. 5 oz.
comb and run, besides an additional stock which I sold.

372

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[November 15, 1885.

The only feeding I gave in spring, snmttier,or autumn1, is
mentioned above, except •>' lbs. of syrup to the st. -el. I
sold this autumn, and from which I took 15 lbs. 1- 03.
honey as mentioned above. 1 did not feed last autumn
or winter either, as I prefer leaving sufficient honey for
food rather than run any risk, and as I have not time to
look after feeding. — Boz, Cork.

FLOWERS WITH REGARD TO HONEY,
In your last Journal Mr. YV. X. Griffin refers to the
above subject. If he think it possible to grow flowers
sufficient for a crop of good honey, I consider he is mis-
taken, that is,flowers and flowers only. The bee-keeper
that requires to grow flowers for a harvest must grow them
by the acre, and he should go in for fruit or vegetables ;
then he would have a double chance, for if honey fail he
might get fruit or vegetables. Or if he is in the farm
line he could go in for clover, which would give him three
chances, namely, honey, seed, and hay, which would
pay him well if he get a good crop of either; and, better
-till, if lie :/el besides white Dutch clover for black bees
and red for Ligurians. At the same time, all bee-
keepers should grow a good batch of honey and pollen-
producing plants as well. No matter if you have no more
than one hive of bees; it saves hundreds of bees from
perishing in the spring and autumn in going a long
distance to look for flowers, and in the bad weather in
the summer they will stay close at home if they have
flowers that they like;- and for that it does not much
matter, as the bees use the hone}'. Bee plants act in
spring and autumn as stimulants better than any man can
give. — H. Jeaxes.

YORKSHIRE ASS< (OIATION.

If you think the following of sufficient interest to
insert in thi Bee Journal, I shall be glad to see you so
make use of it, as I have no doubt many bee-keepers
here in Yorkshire are, like myself, altogether in the dark
as to the doings of the County Association.

But before I say more, I beg to thank you, Mr. Editor,
for your courtesy in answering the questions I have put
to you during the past season as to the management of
my hives, and to express my pleasure at the prospect of
having the Journal weekly when the new year comes in.

Now to come to the Yorkshire Association. I should
like first to know who is the Secretary, and what is his
address, and also what the Association is doing. I heard
of its holding a show at Harrogate, but the news reached
me some time after the event. I am informed that a
quantity of honey was sold at the show. Well, I am
sure there are a many Yorkshire bee-keepers like myself
who would be very glad to hear when and where such
shows are to be held, as not only should we be glad to
compete, but would readily take advantage of such an
opportunity for disposing of our honey. Why doesn't
the Association report its business in the Journal? If it
has some other means of letting bee-keepers know of its
existence, I should like to know what they are, for
excepting the conversation I had with a friend about the
above show, I have heard nothing of it for months. It
may be said, ' Join the Association.' So I intend to do ;
but even then, judging from two or three letters that
have appeared in the Journal this year, I am afraid I
shall be in no better position than I am now. Hence I
feel sure that were the Association to let us know what
it is doing, there, would be many join who now hardly
know that it exists at all. Does the Yorkshire Associ-
ation examine candidates for certificates, and will it
allow members the use of the various books recommended
to be studied for such examinations ?

Some time ago, Mr. Editor, you gave us your method
of doubling hives during the past season, and kindly
promised to give the results in a later number. I anl
interested in this, and I find from the accounts in j]le

Bligh competition that those who worked their hives
for extracted honey did not do so well as they who took
it in both forms, and should like to know how your
results compare with these, seeing that another year I
intended to work for liquid honey (sections being 'so bad
to sell here) unless the comparison is very much in
favour of the 'dual ' system.

I began last season with four bar-frame hives ami
three skeps, and have taken honey to the value of over
'201. I have driven between thirty and forty skeps for
cottagers in the neighbourhood, who I find consi ler the
cost of starting the new system too great for them to
incur. I sent eight hives to the Moors, but this year
they have done very poorly indeed, no honey in fictions,
and most of that in the body of the hive uusealed wl
I got them home. I have packed up twenty-three hives
for winter, all in fair condition. — Black Bee.

[Mr. Huckle, secretary to the B.B.K.A., will i le happy ti i
furnishyouwit.h the information required of the Yorksh in
B.K . A. The report of doubling hives will be forthcoming.
— Ed.]

PAINTING HIVES.

How is it that the cottager seldom loses a queen.
although you can often find fourteen or fiftei n hives, or
rather .-(raw skeps, almost close to each other, and ci n-
tinual swarming going on all through the season? If
you go to a cottager's apiary you will see that he do
not prepare for swarms ; and as they come off they are
hived in skeps, boxes, old flower-pots, and anything that
comes first; and then come, the coverings — old bags,
worn-out. coats, buckets, &c. Some have hackles kept
in place with iron hoops, old frying-pans on top of some
of the bags to keep the wind from blowing them off ;
and others with si ites, tiles, bits of wood, coal scuttles,
saucepans, and a dozen other things, so that the queen
has no trouble in finding the hive she left, there being
too much difference in them. I have often seen thirteen
skeps almost touching each other, and although they have
swarmed two or three times each they all have queens
in the autumn. The bees do not fight, although they
are so close. It therefore seems desirable that bar-frame
hives should be paiuted, so that the difference may In-
marked, it being best for the workers as well a? for the
queen. — II. JeajSES.

THE USE OF SKEPS.
I see lately one or two correspondents have been
giving the yield of honey obtained from skeps, perhaps
it might, interest your readers to hear of the result from
a skep in my apiary. In the summer of 1884 I stocked
a large flat-topped skep, measuring 18 in. in diameter, by
7 in. deep, outside measurement. I put top bars along
the crown of the .skep, and sewn fast there with strong
cord. I attached little strips of foundation half an inch
deep to said top bars. I placed a fair-sized swarm of
hybrid Ligurians in this skep, and in 1884 they com-
pletely filled out the skep with combs, and stored enough
honey, on which they wintered. In spring I gave
them three or four feeder-fulls of syrup, which they
took through the 4-in. circular hole in the crown of the
,-kep. They increased at a great rate, and by 1st of
.1 une were like swarming, when I placed a box on top of
the skep, containing eleven standard frames of comb. I
had a very thin bottom to this box, and cut a O-in. square
bole in the centre of same, which I covered with excluder
zinc, and the zinc thus came over the hole in the
crown of the sleep. In a few days, the whole eleven
combs were crowded with bees, and storing linn \
therein. I afterwards placed eleven more frames on top

of the others, and soon had the whole twenty-two fra -

covered with bees. I was extracting I >j quite

frequently at this time, and had taken 40j bis., but
unfortunately they sent off a swarm ( bad luck to them ! )

v\\V

,^>

November 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

373

and so my arrangements von- foiled, as theyeeased then
store uracil honey in the top store ,ona icountof the
hatching brood below giving them empty colls. This is
the great failure with sleeps, as you are unable to inspect
the brood-chamber to try and hinder the swarming-.
Tin 3 sent off a second swarm, which I sold for las;, and
I lie firsl -'.'.arm I retained. After the second swarm
came off, I took away one sei of the combs used for
honey-storing; and when the young- queen commenced to
lay they began again to deposit some honey above, but
the weather turned in bad. and I soon had to take away
the remaining eleven combs ; and when the beeson these
were brushed into the skep, it has left me a very strong
skep, which I only had to feed very little syrup.
Altogether I got 6S lbs. of extracted honey, and two
very strong swarms from this skep; and if they had not
swarmed I would have gotten twice as much honey, as
the season was in its glory when they east that unlucky
first swarm. This will give your readers an idea of
what can be done with a skep under proper treatment,
and not any bother with winter packing, spring treat-
ment, and little or no expense in purchasing expensive
hives, foundation, &c. If spared to next year, I may
possibly give the result from the same skep in 1866,
which for the Bee Journal, the editor, and his numerous
. readers, I hope may be prosperous, and full of pleas.:!]'.
and profitable recollections. — Wm. Ditty, Jim., Nevi-
townards, Ireland.

BEE-KEEPING IN SOUTH WALES.

The past season has been a most excellent one. In
some parts of our country bee-keepers did not do as well
in the early part of the summer as they did during the
same months last year, but on the whole the last season
has been the best we have had for some years. Some
very early supers were taken, I saw several in full work
in May. Several bee-keepers have succeeded in dis-
posing of their houey at satisfactory prices, but others
have still a quantity on hand. Cannot you assist us, by
publishing in the Journal, from time to time, recipes for
utilising- honey at home ? It is used now in a variety of
forms, but bee-keepers generally do not know how. I
have not met any one who thinks much of any benefits
to be derived from the Honey Company or expresses any
friendly feeling towards it; indeed if the prices it offers
are to become the market prices of honey many if not
the majority of bee-keepers will give up the business in
disgust. The interest taken in bee-culture continues to
increase among all classes not excepting the cottagers in
whose behalf the various Associations labour.

The Carmarthenshire Association commenced this year
with an adverse balance in consequence of which the
committee thought it advisable to hold no annual show.
The bee tent attended at I'embrey on the 11th June, the
Carmarthen Flower Show on the 30th July, and
Llanelly Flower Show on the 18th August. Permission
was also granted to erect the tent in the show yard of
the Llandilo Agricultural Society on the ICth September;
but at the eleventh hour this permission was withdrawn,
as an intelligent member of their Committee predicted
that the cattle would be all stung to death. Prizes, how-
ever, were given in the garden produce department for
honey, which I am'sorry to say were taken by Mr. Thomas
Jones, Llandilo, and myself. I say sorry, because neither
Mr. Jones nor myself would have competed against bond
fide cottage members had they entered. I hope another
year they will put in an appearance.

On the 12th August I acted as judge in the honey de-
partment of the Monkton and South Pembroke Horti-
cultural Society's Show, held in the Market Place,
Pembroke. The number of exhibits was not large, but
very good, especially the 1-lb. sections. On the follow-
ing day I attended, in the dual capacity of judge and
expert, the annual exhibition of the * Pembrokeshire
Association, held in the Market Place, Haverfordwest, in

connexion with the Haverfi rdwest 1 [.'riieulnn.il Society s

a'. The exhibits in the honey classes were
go id, the- extracted honey in its turn excelling. Mi ssrs.
Abbott took the firsl prize for appliances with their
usual complete collection. The makeshift bee tent that
had been erected was well tilled for each display. It
would be much to the advantage of Pembrokeshire bee-
keepers generally, if those in the smith part of the
county would come forward to assist the County
Secretary, Mr. Hicks, to develops the Association so as
to iv -eli " I pers in all districts. The county is

a large one, ami the railways few, consequently united
action is necessary for thorough work. While staying
with friends on the north coast, the only bees I could
find were a stray lot which had located itself in the roof
of an nuthouse. This lot, alas ! I was the means of de-
stroying. Being pressed to remove the ' horrid ' bees, I
had the slates taken off, and removed the combs, but
unfortunately could not save the bees. The only friend
the bees appeared to have was one young; lady of five
years of age, who offered to give up her share of the honey,
to be returned to its legitimate owners, when she was told
that they would otherwise starve. Bee-keepers are on
the increase throughout Pembrokeshire, and the tour
undertaken by Mr. C. N. White for the B.B.K.A. last
August is bearing fruit. The 3rd Sept. again found me
back in the county, this time to attend with our bee tent
the St. Bride's Cottage Garden Show, at the request of
Lord Kensington, on whose grounds the show was held,
and by whom the prizes were given, no charge of any
sort being made for admission. I here received the
istance of Mr. E. Lees of Dale, formerly a member of
the B.B.K.A., and who will, I am sure, willingly assist
any of his neighbours who wish to improve their system
of bee-keeping. Great interest was taken in manipula-
tions, but to almost all the spectators advanced bee-
keeping is a thing unknown. Prizes were offered for
honey, the exhibits being by no means well put up,
comprising chiefly slabs of combs from skeps, and strained
honey in glasses. On my way home I called to see
the honey department of the Llanboidy Agricultural
Show. The exhibits were numerous for a district show,
and very good, the exhibitors showing that they under-
stood how to put up their produce in an attractive form.
The prizes here were given by. Mr. and Mrs. Powell of
Maesgwynne. On the 21st August I attended with bee
tent the Cardigan Horticultural Show. This district
also seems to have caught the bee fever somewhat
sharply. One of the best lots of comb honey I ever saw
was exhibited at this show, viz. a large Pettigrew skep
almost filled with honey, the brood nest being contracted
to a very small space. The colour of the comb provedit to
be the work of a swarm of this year. The gross weight
was I think 87 lbs.

Kecent Journals have contained accounts of swarms
crossing- one and a half miles of sea. This summer, while
crossing in a boat from Ferryside to Llanstephan, at
the mouth of the Towy, I noticed two or three single
bees on the wing. The distance at high tide cannot, I
think, be less than one and a half miles. These were
presumably either on their way to, or return from their
feeding ground, which could not possibly have been
less than two miles from their hives, probably much
more.

I must congratulate you on the proposed weekly issue
of the Journal, which will, I am sure, be gladly welcomed
by all, unless I except the poor secretaries who have to
circulate it among county members, and whose work
will thus be greatly increased. I hope members will
endeavour to assist us by seeing to the regular trans-
mission in future, if so, the past shall be forgiven, much
as they have offended. — L. Oswald Lewis, lion. See.
Carmarthen, B.K.A.

P.S. — I hear of no movement in Glamorganshire to-
wards starting an Association. Cannot any one be found

374

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[November 15, 1885.

to take it in Land ? I am sure that if any one would
undertake the work of secretary, a number of the local
bee-keepers would assist.

CRITICISM DESIRED.

I would like to give one or two observations con-
cerning bees in the next issue of the Journal. To begin,
I find bees very difficult to handle in chilly weather or
when it is gloomy, and it would save many a hasty
expression, afterwards regretted, if left until the sun
shone.

Natural swarms do much better than artificial, the
latter seem discontented, and very inclined to sting, and
the stocks from which they are taken do not rally so
quickly as those naturally swarmed, and instead of being
beforehand, much valuable time is lost.

Feeding swarms is certainly a great advantage, and by-
doing so, a much larger amount of honey can be obtained,
as the syrup goes^ to build the comb, and the honey is
stored in the cells instead of being used for comb-building,
the small outlay in sugar being greatly surpassed by the
larger yield of "honey.

I have found Mr. Alfred Eusbridge is correct as to
the best way of supering, on top of frames being by far
the most profitable either for sections or extracting", the
sections being also of much finer appearance. The bees
seem greatly to dislike going through the excluder at
back of hive, but do not object to it on top, and I prefer
using it than not, as then I feel quite easy as to the safety
of the queen when shaking off the bees.

Bees with a dash of Italian in them are far beyond
the common blacks, they are better workers, defend their
hives more resolutely, "withstand disease a great deal
better, are much handsomer; I also do not find them
' better stingers.'

The hive to give the best results should have accom-
modation for a brood-nest of thirteen or fourteen frames
rather than for nine or ten frames, so that one section-
crate on top, with such room below, would be more
likely to check swarming than less room below and two
sectipn-crates on top, and also much less bother in re-
moving sections. Such is my experience in bee-keeping,
and I would like for others to criticise my remarks in a
friendly spirit. I would also be glad to know how the
Honey Company is progressing. — Apiarian.

INVERTED SKEPS.

I guess, as our Yankee cousins say, you had a most in-
teresting meeting at the last quarterly conversazione of
the B. B. K. A. I note especially Mr. "Jesse Garratt's in-
troduction of the question of inverting skeps. Our
friend from Herts, Mr. R. T. Andrews, who probably
knows personally more cottage bee-keepers than any other
county representative present, was not aware the experi-
ment had been tried in his own county when the subject
of ' reversible frames ' was broached.

We are all on the alert for something new, but there
is ' nothing new under the sun.' True, reversed skeps are
not ' as old as the hills,' but our caustic friend, the
' Lanarkshire Bee-keeper,' has ' furraged' out a fossilised
wood-cut of an inverted skep, which he says appeared in
a Dumfries paper a quarter of a century ago.

Oh, Scotland ! we are nowhere beside you ; you beat
us every way : in ideas, in inventions, iu hives, — nay,
more, in badly-treated bee-keepers too, which is all the
more grievous considering what public benefactors they
have been to our fraternity : — but this is digression.

Some of your readers will want to know more about
inverted skeps. Does ' A. E.' recommend the practice ?
Well, yes and no. I do lots of things myself that I only
recommend to a very select few of my friends— bee-
keeping friends, I mean, of course. To recommend this
practice wholesale will be probably to cause wholesale

failure and disgust. They were wise counsels of 'Felix's'
you quoted from the Journal of Horticulture : and in the
hands of a painstaking bee-keeper skeps may be inverted
with success.

As Mr. Garratt pointed out, we will suppose the bees-
are hanging out idle, you super them over the top in the
ordinary way, and if they start to work, well and good ;
leave them alone. If the sun is blazing hot screen them
well with shade ; that is the cause of their swarming and
leaving an unfinished super. There is a point it is well to
bear in mind : bees will not tolerate over i>o° Fahr. in their
hives for very long ; if they cannot fan it down, out they
boil. But we all of us know, for some unexplained cause,
bees sometimes refuse to take to the super ; you see it,
but cannot avoid it. They still hang out, the sun is-
blazing hot ; you know the bees will soon get the
swarming fever, and you have got it already : and enough
to give it you. What is to be done ? Invert the skep.
Don't plug up what was the top hole, allow them to work
through that. Fix an adapting-board over the skep;
leave plenty of access to the super ; stop up what was
the flight-hole, and await the results. The bees will
soon carry up their stores, as they do not care to travel
over it at the entrance of their hives, which previously
was their larder ; and as soon as the super is full, unless
there is an exceptionally good glut on, the sooner you
restore the skep to its original position the better for the
bees. There is a drawback to the practice ; the queen is
very prone to enter the super, and often excluder zinc
will not keep her out. If a straw skep is used for a super
she is, I believe, more liable to do so than if a sectional
super and adapting-board is used. The practice is bar-
barous; I have often intended to write about it, but
hesitated. Mr. Garrett, being more courageous, deserves
more credit.

I think Mr. Marshall, of Buncefield, could tell us some-
thing also, if he will. He has large experience, and
having proved all things, makes a practice of only sticking
to what is good.

And now, indolent, slovenly bee-keeepers, who are
' ever learning but never coming to the knowledge of the
truth,' if I thought you woidd try this practice and leave
the hives inverted until November before you restore
them to their original positions, you would never have
known in these columns the experiences of — Amateur

EXPERT.

FEEDING BEES ; INVERTED HIVES.

A bee-keeper in this town has been feeding his bees in
the autumn and spring on linseed meal and Demerara
sugar, equal parts, which answers capitally. I have
never read or heard of this manner of feeding before.
What is the opinion of the readers of your paper on it ?
And have any bee-keepers tried the inverted straw skeps
with bees ? I inverted one and put seven frames, which
were three centre ones, partly filled with comb and honey
from another hive, tied up with tape. On 20th Septem-
ber I put three condemned lots of bees in it, and they are
now looking very health)'. I think this to be a capital
plan for such lots, and shall adopt it in future. — Bee-
Keeper.

BEES AND HONEY IN A TREE.

AVe had a very interesting occupation this afternoon
in felling a Spanish chestnut in Ockham Pari;, Surrey,
and taking the honey from some bees that had taken up
their quarters there for the last seven years. They had
found an entrance thirty feet up the tree, and were ex-
tremely strong this summer. We soon brought the tree
to the ground, and, having subdued the bees, proceeded
to cut it up in three-feet lengths, there being no less
than five ere we came to the end of the honey, so
malcing in the total some fifteen feet of comb.

It was a rare and interesting sight to see piece after

November 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

375

piece split open displaying masses of comb, and, strange
to say, in the very heart of all a bird's nest entirely
hemmed in with it. The body of the bees' nest has been
taken by the agent, who intends introducing one of his
swarms into it next year ; no doubt it will make com-
fortable quarters for them, — a rustic bee-hive, and an
ornament when decorated with creepers.

I enclose a few of the bees ; are they not Ligurians ?
[Yes. — Ed.] If so, the theory of one of your corre-
spondents a few weeks back, in a letter stating that
this class of bee preferred and did better in elevated
positions, is somewhat confirmed. — Wu. K. Jenkins.

MEAD.— STINGS.

I should feel obliged if you would publish this old
receipt for making white mead. Those who try it, I
think, will try it again.

How to make White Mead. — Take a gallon of
honey and eight gallons of water, and boil it well, till it
comes to six gallons ; then pour it into a large vessel of
earthenware, let it stand till it is almost cold, and then
put into it a little yeast, to work it. When it has
worked a while, put it into a rum cask, and stop it
close. Let it stand two months ; then bottle it off, and
put into every bottle two cloves and a little lemon-peel.
This receipt is almost one hundred years old.

Stings. — I have found tincture of myrrh rubbed on a
sting to take away the pain in a few minutes. It must
be rubbed on immediately after being stung. — Sunrise.

BLIGII COMPETITION.

Our vicar here takes a very great interest in bees, and
has inserted in the Parish Magazine for this district a
condensed account of the Bligh Competition ; but he
would very much like to have been able to state the
'time ' spent by competitors, as that may induce many to
go in for bee-keeping who at present think they have not
sufficient leisure time.

I was surprised at not seeing any mention made of it
in B. B. J. for Oct. loth, as it is one of the rules that all
time spent must be stated. — J. Arnold, East Molesey.

PFARRER DR. DZIEEZON.

A BIOGRAPHY WRITTEN BY MYSELF.

Translated from ' Gkavenhorst's Deutsche Illusteikte

BlENENZEITUNG,' No. 12, 1885.

(Continued from p. 355.)

My successor in office, Pabel, informed against Pfarrer
Kursawa of the neighbouring parish of Bankwitz, with
whom I had been on terms of friendship ever since the
commencement of our studies, sixty years ago, and in
whose garden I kept a considerable number of colonies,
— the information stating that Pfarrer Kursawa had
paid me a visit on my seventy-first birthday and had
even taken dinner with me. Although several times
punished with imprisonment, this fanatic again and again
annoyed and insulted me. The last time I went to the
church at Carlsmarkt, where I had been officiating for
thirty-four years, he did not pause as he stood near me,
sprinkling the holy water as is customary during high
mass, to exclaim audibly to all the congregation, in re-
ference to me, who am twice his age : ' This person still
bas the impudence to come here where he has no right
to be.'

In order never again to expose myself to such insults
I decided to leave Carlsmarkt for ever, where I had
spent forty-nine years of my life, and I removed to the
place of my birth, where I am living in undisturbed
quietness with my nephew, the youngest son of my
brother, my time being wholly taken up with looking
after my bees. "We live indeed a hermits life here. At

first we lived in the village near the school and church,
but we have lately removed to a new house, the building
of which was commenced last year and has just been
finished. It stands some distance from Lowkowitz near
the boundary of the neighbouring village of Matzendorf,
where rape and white clover are pretty extensively culti-
vated and where the bees therefore are much more
favourably situated.

My brother had already commenced laying out the
garden here for an apiary and had planted it with fruit-
trees, but my nephew has enlarged and improved it a
great deal. The area of the orchard is about a couple of
morgen,* but that of the apiary proper scarcely exceeds
half morgen, and only by arranging the stocks in piles of
6, 8, 12, to 16 colonies under one common roof, has it
been possible to place about 200 colonies there. In the
village itself we have two other apiaries containing a
little over sixty colonies. The hives being piled up in
various parts and corners of the garden, it is difficult to
give an illustration of the apiary, and, unfortunately,
when the photographer came here after a pretty long
journey from Kreuzburg, the weather was very un-
favourable, the branches of the trees laden with fruit
moving to and fro which rendered it difficult to take a
good photograph.

The view all round is open and pleasant, and, in spite
of my being so isolated here, I am quite contented, sur-
rounded as I am by my bees, which will transform even
a desert into a paradise for him who has a receptive
mind for the works of the Almighty and the wonders of
Nature. — Dr. Dzierzon, Loickowitz, Ath August, 1885.

Jforcign.

SWITZERLAND.
Cure of Foul Brood. — We gave on page 304 a
method of treating foul brood by means of camphor in
solution, described by M. Adele Jarrie in L'Apiculteur.
In this description M. Jarrie omitted to mention the
proportion of camphor used to syrup. In the November
number of the same journal this mistake is to a certain
extent rectified. We are still in the dark as to the
exact amount of camphor to put into the solution, for a
pinch does not represent an}' definite quantity. The
proportions are, four pinches of powdered camphor to
one litre of syrup a little above tepid temperature, to be
well shaken and given to the bees.

FRANCE.

In France there are two classes of bee-keepers, the
finistes, or those using straw hives or hives with fixed
combs, and the mobilistes, or those using hives with
moveable combs. The finistes are far the greater in
number; they have been led by M. Hamet, who for
twenty-nine years has conducted L'Apiculteur. In this
journal he took every opportunity of denouncing move-
able comb hives, and attributed foul brood to their use.
He was a man quite after Mr. Pettigrew's heart, and
has done quite as much against moveable comb hives in
France as ever Mr. Pettigrew did in England. Our
readers will therefore be surprised to hear that he has
at last, like M. Joly (another prominent French bee-
keeper), been converted to nwb-Hstii. In the report
given in the Bulletin de la Sociitc d' Apiculture d'Eure-et-
Loire of a meeting of bee-keepers, held at Chartres, we
read with surprise and pleasure the following words : —
' M. Hamet continued the discussion, and said attention
must be paid to having large populations in hives,
preferably the frame-hire, which appears to give the
best results.' We congratulate Mr. Hamet and his
readers on his conversion from n'nism to mobilism ; and
have no doubt that if he brings the same energy to work

* One acre=a little more than 1\ morgen.

376

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[November 15, 1885.

in favour of moveable comb hives as he has for twenty-
nine j'ears used to oppose them, that great progress will
be made in bee-keeping in France. We hope that many
of the readers of L Apicidteur, if not the "whole of them,
will follow his good example.

SOUTH AFRICA.
Notes on Bee-Keeping.

Just recently I have had an opportunity of seeing
for the first time a few numbers of your excellent
periodical, a casual inspection of which was sufficient to
assure me of its extreme value as well to the incipient
bee-keeper as to the more advanced bee-master. The
numbers I refer to were the later ones of 1884, containing
a copious index to the complete Vol. XH.. and including
the highly instructive papers of Mr. Cheshire on the re-
productive organs of the queen bee.

In England, having been for many years a bee-keeper
and bee-observer, a humble disciple of the old school of
Langstroth, Dunbar, Golding, and others, since my
residence in South Africa, of more than fourteen years,
bees have naturally received from me a considerable
share of watchful attention from pure love of the occu-
pation. A bee-paper such as yours would have added
considerably to my interest in the pursuit, and have
probably opened up fresh avenues of thought to one
entirely dead to progressive bee-literature, being isolated
from all but the most antiquated notions and for the
most part given to think out bee-problems for himself.

The climate of the Cape is so remarkably genial that
but for extreme droughts which prevail occasionally in
some districts it would be unparalleled for bees. As it
is, wild bees are very abundant; they multiply very
rapidly, and where honey is to be gathered there is none
lost.

Bee-keeping is but little practised, and then for the
most part in the rudest manner. Personally I have
endeavoured to inaugurate a bee-keeping movement,
but, with one or two exceptions, there is very little
disposition to give it a trial. The few hives I keep are
for mere pleasure's sake, though, but for certain dis-
advantages of locality, &c, they might readily be made
ten times as many.

But to return to the British Bee Journal. I have
been much interested in looking through the columns of
the index, and noting the various thoroughly practical
matters referred to, and the numerous subjects discussed,
and one woidd sa}r already exhaustively treated, in your
pages. . Many of these subjects have long claimed my
close attention, and I am very desirous to learn the
various expressed opinions of your correspondents, and
the well-ventilated experience of your constant con-
tributors.

On page fS3 of The Honey Bee, and in the Appendix
and Glossary thereto, page 10, you may observe that
under the head ' Colony,' reference is made to a very
large number of bees under one roof working together in
perfect harmony, the offspring of several separate fertile
queens, each daily contributing her quota of strength to
the hives. By my system of hiving, which I take it is
to this extent at least original, I can at any time
establish such a ' colony,' the numerous advantages of
which I need not expatiate upon. I have had as many
as four such queens under the same roof, and, but for
the contracted limits of my situation, in the centre of
town traffic, the number might be still further increased.
As it is, such a hive becomes so strong in bees, and
their stores and brood make tliem so jealous, that I am
periodically obliged to divide them up and remove the
brood-sections one after the other out of the way, each
constituting in itself at once an artificial ready-made
stock. I see no allusion in your index to any similar
method, and since I have seen the B. B. Journal am
anxious to know if any such desideratum, or rather
desiderandum, has ever been tried with success.

To ' foul brood ' (technically Bacillus alvei, I think) I
notice that considerable reference is made. Happily,
since I have been in the Colony, I have seen no instance
of this serious plague, though, judging from the index,
&c, to Vol. XII., I should conceive that it was already
brought within the limits of successful treatment. My
own personal experience of this disease in England was
in the worst case consummated in a radical manner by
breaking up the contents of the hive, burning all the
foul comb and boiling the honey, isolating the bees on
pure honey slightly impregnated with weak solution of
hyposulphite of soda, which, in this disease, from results
of syringing and feeding in milder cases, deserves, I
think, a fair and thorough trial in severe ones.

As before said, 1 have happily seen no 'foul brood' in
the Colony, and during my entire experience of bees,
ranging over twenty-two years in England and else-
where, I do not remember ever seeing foul brood in any
other than frame-hives; not but that the plague may
break out anywhere under efficient cause, but it has
always appeared to me that the history of its progress
among bee-keepers is associated with bar-and-frame
hives. Not, again, that bar-and-frame hives necessarily
produce the disease, but that man, by his meddlesome
interference or his ignorance of how to proceed, not
grasping all the consequences, occasions at times, and
heedlessly transfers, a malady among his dumb servants
that he finds great difficulty in contending against, and
does not always succeed in effectually stamping out.
From these few remarks it may be gathered that I do
not believe bees so naturally liable to this and other
diseases, and that the very few affections with which
they are visited are mainly due to conditions which have
been forced upon them, and against which they have
no power of resistance. For more than twelve years I
have been in close contact with the honey bee in its
wild state, and though I am far from thinking it could
never occur, I have never yet seen or heard of an
instance where every species of Vandalism is periodically
practised for the sake of honey, of foul brood in a wild
bees' nest. I know the ready reply will be that the
Bacillus alvei of the distemper has never yet been intro-
duced to the Colony. It may be so, but on the other
hand I feel satisfied that if bee-keeping were to become
genera], such a contingency would, without the intro-
duction of germs, occur, and the evil influence would
rapidly spread. I say this because I am convinced that
though frame-hives are in every way preferable to any
other kind of hive, even in the matter of brood, yet
knowledge has still to be bought by expeiience, and
until that knowledge -of manipulation and the habit of
self-denial is gained, foul brood, through a variety of
so-called accidents, would be more than likely to show
itself.

Bee pestilence, or ' foul brood,' though it would seem
to originate in the brood, is, I am inclined to believe,
propagated in a variety of ways by the inmates of the
hive. The disease is, perhaps, a form of Septicemia, a
condition of altered blood-plasma, or corpuscle, or both,
commonly known as blood-poisoning, and I scarcely
think ' primarily ' due to microbes or bacilli, beyond the
fact that micro-organisms become vehicles of trans-
mission, or carriers, and probably also intensifiers, of the
disease.

The bacilli alvei, which seem to be regarded by
your contributors as the specific causes of the affliction,
and I write only with a very imperfect knowledge indeed
of what has been said on the subject, are, I imagine, but
proximate causes, and simply media of infection, the
poison itself being degenerate bioplasm, or degraded
particles of living matter, which may appear de novo
whenever and wherever adverse surroundings arc
sufficiently potent to occasion it.

In such retrograde matter microscopic bacilli constantly
luxuriate, and though all forms of healthy life would

November 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

377

appear everywhere interpenetrated by such microbes
or their spores, awaiting, as it were, the moment of
action, yet the special mission of these microscopic
creatures is apparently to reduce organic substances to
their primitive elements, and in this way prepare
pabulum in a convenient form for the development of
higher life. In the discharge of this mission they are
instrumental in disintegrating not only organisms in
which life has ceased entirely, but they multiply in the
tissues of animals and plants, the moment vital energy
falls below par or disease sets in. Hereupon they
develope, and with the sinking powers of the individual
through failing life, they grow and flourish in countless
multitudes, and continue to do so as long as these
conditions exist, which alone support their activity. As
all the Bacteriaceee, one division of which is known as
bacillus, in the course of their life-history assume
different forms possibly according to the nature of their
pabulum, or from other causes, so it would appear next
to impossible to pronounce anything definite concerning
them, much less to classify them until more is known
concerning them. I would not, however, have it sup-
posed that I desire to speak ex cathedra in this matter.

I am here tempted to repeat afew remarks written some
time ago in reference to the diseases of bees, hut not pub-
lished, which ma}r he omitted or not at your discretion.

Among the very few maladies which my experience
has taught me afflict bees in a state of domestication,
though I have never yet witnessed a case in the Colony.
none, perhaps, is more easy of prevention than so-called
dysentery.

Bees at all times suffer when exposed to dampness,
and in their wild state instinctively avoid damp as well
as noisome situations. Their hives, therefore, should
always be placed in a dry and well-sheltered locality,
and be thoroughly ventilated without being cold. This
will prevent any moisture from accumulating through
evaporation from the unsealed honey and from the
bodies of the bees themselves, which might be the case
where the surrounding atmosphere was damp, the stock
weak, and the hive badly constructed. On no account
should sugar-water be given them, but either candy,
barley sugar, or preferably pure honey, and these latter
only when food is actually needed, a circumstance which
should be very rare indeed under judicious management.
Unless these little matters, to counteract dampness, are
carefully attended to, and the hive is kept dry and
comfortable, the bees are apt to get disgusted, and as
soon as the brood have left the cells, to seek some other
habitation more to their liking.

Not unfrequently, through neglect of such precautions,
where the season is damp, or through improper food, or
fresh-gathered honey, which is apt to ferment in the
stomach and cause distension, a severe diarrhoea or
dysentery overtakes them, and the hive and combs
become covered with dark offensive excrement, which
has thus a tendency to aggravate the disease. The bees
arc soon scarcely able to help themselves, and wear a
weak and unsightly appearance and die in great numbers.
The best remedy, perhaps, is to give them a thoroughly
clean hive with fresh sealed comb (breaking tlie seals),
and place them on a new and dry site, worrying them
as little as may be. until the purging ceases and they
rally. They may then be rehabilitated and started
afresh with everything pure. The old hive should be
thoroughly washed with carbolic soap, and when dry
fumigated, if necessary, with sulphur in a closed box.—
J. W. Stroud, M.D., Port Elizabeth, S. Africa.
(To be continued.)

SwaxmobeBee-eeepebs'Soceety. — The first annual
meeting of this Society was held ou October -24, at Swan-
more A icarage. A most satisfactory account of the year's
work was given, both financially and in competition, the
members of the club having taken sixteen prizes and the
silver medal of the B. B. K. A.

*lcbicfo.

Foul Brood, its Management and Core. By D.
A. Jones, Beetou, Ontario, Canada.

in this little pamphlet the author, who is well known
as one of the largest and most advanced bee-keepers in
Canada, gives his experience of the treatment of foul
brood by the starvation method. In his introductory
remarks Mr. Jones says that ' much has been written and
said on the matter.' This is quite true, and perhaps more
has been written and said on this very method of treating
foul brood than on any other. As far back as 1767 we
find J. Or. Seydel, and in 17r-"> J. C. Yoight, recommend-
ing a similar treatment. Then still later, in 17iS'J, we
find Bonner, and in 17!t0 Della-Rocca, both practising it,
and Quinby, in 1665, in his Mysteries of Bee-keeping
Explained, gives it as the only effectual cure. Since that
time to the present the same remedy, with very little
variation, has been recommended over and over again.
Although we have very little that is new to learn in the
method, the pamphlet contains several interesting para-
graphs which describe the appearance of brood dead from
different causes. They are headed, Chilled brood, Neg-
lected brood, Over-heated brood, Drowned brood, Bead
larvae or brood, and lastly Foul brood. The descrip-
tions are so clear that even a novice can distinguish be-
tween any forms of dead brood and true foul brood. Of
chilled brood he says, ' The appearance of this chilled
brood, however, differs materially from that of foul brood ;
the larvae are frequently found dead in all stages, from
the egg to the perfectly -formed bee just ready to gnaw
out,' also, ' that bees, almost fully developed, are found
dead in the cells, retaining their shape and appearance,
never sink back into that brown ropy matter which so
plainly marks pure foul broad.' Of drowned brood, he
says that it occurs when colonies are placed on low
ground, and when a sudden rise in the water overflows
the bank of the stream and the apiary is submerged. This
brood differs from chilled brood, and, if not removed,
becomes much more loathsome and sometimes turns, he
says, to foul brood, or to ' what looks and acts so much
like it that it must be at least a first cousin to it.' He
relates an instance of a man having 100 perfectly healthy
colonies submerged during the months of August and
September, and a large quantity of brood was drowned.
The weather after this hood was warm and muggy, and
all the colonies from which the dead brood was not re-
moved became badly diseased. Salicylic acid and other
remedies failed to cure, and Mr. Jones concludes that
spores of the disease were in the honey, and states that
■ Honey from the combs, when given to a healthy colony,
produced the disease.' He believes that ' some* diseases
are started de nova spontaneous' (?), a belief that we do
not share, as experiments by Tyndall and others have
shown conclusively that there is no such thing as spon-
taneous generation, and that disease-germs must exist
before they can be propagated. In describing foul brood
the author says that it 'is a disease in the honey, or
rather that is where it appears to lurk.' We confess
that even under a powerful microscope, with a r\th oil
immersion objective, we have never been able to detect
the spores of foul brood in honey, nor has Mr. Cheshire:
and although honey has usually been supposed to be the
medium through which foul brood has been propagated,
we are not prepared to endorse the opinion that it is
the only way. Mr. Jones says ' that combs containing
foul brood cannot be used, at least I have never been
able to use them ; no amount of doctoring that I could
do would disinfect them.' He says freezing even at as
Iowa temperature as 36° below zero did not kill the
spores, and combs and honey after this freezing, when
given to a hive, produced the disease, and wains bee-
keepers never to attempt a cure by that method. Roiling

378

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[November 15, 1885.

the honey, however, for a few minutes, he says, failed to
transmit the disease, and concluded by saying that, 'after
many trials, 1 proved beyond doubt that heat ivill kill the
germs by which the disease is generated.' To understand
the error of this reasoning it is necessary to know some-
thing of the nature of the disease. Iu 1674, Dr. Cohn,
than whom there is no greater authority, and whose
classification of bacteria has generally been adopted, first
jxiinted out that foul brood was caused by a bacillus,
and subsequently Professor Schiinfield and others, as well
as the recent experiments of Mr. Cheshire, have con-
clusively corroborated Dr. Oolm's statement. Now we
know that freezing destroys most bacteria, except the
spores of bacilli which, according to Dr. Klein, survive
exposure to as low a temperature as — 15° C, but that no
spores survive a temperature of 120° C, so that we can
quite believe that at an ordinary Canadian winter tem-
perature the spores still survive. On the same authority
we also know that most bacteria are killed if they are
exposed for several hours to a temperature below 50° to
00° C. But here again the exceptions are the spores of
bacilli, which require, according to Dr. Cohn, an exposure
to the heat of boiling water for as much as half au hour
before they are destroyed. Therefore ordinary boiling
for a few rninutes, as recommended by Mr. Jones, does
not destroy the spores. AVe have no doubt that, in the
hands of such an experienced bee-keeper as the author
this method has proved sufficiently satisfactory, and it is
certainly an improvement on cremation or total destruc-
tion of bees, hives, and combs, which Mr. Jones, having
paid dearly for the experience, so severely condemns,
having, if our memory does not deceive us, when foul
brood first appeared in his apiary, sacrificed two or three
hundred stocks in this way. But we would go a step
further and save not only bees, but also combs and hives.
Knowing as we do that the disease is caused by bacilli,
we have simply to destroy these or prevent their develop-
ment. Cold and heat will not do it, but salicylic acid,
thymol, phenol, &c, prevent, even in great dilution, the
growth of the micro-organisms, and practical experience
has proved that by using them we can save whole
colonies. We have known large apiaries, where foul
brood was raging fearfully, cured entirely by means of
salicylic-acid fumigation according to Hilbert's plan in
one season with much less trouble than any process of
starvation could have done. Phenol, likewise, first re-
commended by Prof. Butleroff in 1874, and subsequently
by Gravenhorst, and latterly b}r Cheshire, has also been
proved to cure the disease. In face of these facts we
cannot counsel our readers even to destroy the combs.
In the last paragraph Mr. Jones recommends fasting, and
describes his modus operandi.

His method is to shake the bees from the combs of the
infected hive into an empty box, and to place a wire
screen over the top, to close the entrance, and then carry
them to some dark repository (a cellar if possible),
turning the box on one side so as to have the screen at
the side to allow the air to pass through. Darkness and
a cool temperature are important, as also that all the bees
should be equally filled with honey. They are to remain
in the dark repository until they show signs of hunger.
This they will do in from four to six days, and they must
he carefully watched three times a-day after the third
day, or they are liable to die very quickly. When
sufficiently starved, which is known by some of them
dropping down and crawling about in a slow, quiet
manner, they are shaken in front of a hive prepared with
some combs, and are allowed to run in just the same as
a swarm. If there is no food in the combs they should
be fed. The combs of infected hives should be melted
into wax, and hives and frames boiled for a few minutes.
The honey should also be extracted and boiled for a few
seconds, and can then be given to the bees. The author
further says he has never known the disease to be con-
tracted by either queen or drones. Mr. Cheshire, how-

ever, has found both, as well as the workers, to contain
bacilli ; and Hilbert in 1870, at the meeting of the
German National Bee-keepers' Association held at
Strasburg, in describing his method of treatment, stated
that bees and queens exposed to the vapours of foul
brood contracted the disease, and that the fungus
(i.e. bacillus) of foul brood could generate in the body of
the bee. Even the ovaries of the queen have become
infected. In twenty-five hives treated by Hilbert he
found three such queens. We have ourselves found the
juices of workers, when examined under a high power of
the microscope, teeming with bacilli. We, however,
recommend the pamphlet to our readers. It is written
in a pleasant style by one of the most able bee-keepers
in Canada ; and they will find in it much to instruct,
more especially the paragraphs describing the different
appearances of brood dead from various causes. W«
thoroughly sympathise with his concluding remarks, that
' Destroying colonies afflicted with foul brood by fire,
or otherwise, we consider a wanton destruction of
property.'

<grj)0£S ham % Jfilies,

Torquay, November 9th. — This has, on the whole, been
a good season here, though the weather was bad, and
the bees did not go out much when the fruit-trees were
in blossom. But the clover and lime were good, and the
bees worked busily-. After July the hives were com-
paratively idle, as we have no heather within reach.
The last two or three fine days, I have noticed the bees
carrying pollen into each of my hives. But the weather
is colder to-day, and they are wisely keeping in. — R. P.
Kitson.

Harborne, near Birmingham. — On November 1st my
bees were taking in a quantity of pollen of a reddish
hue, from chrysanthemum flowers I expect, and have
also collected a great quantity from balsams, also honey
I hope. One of my hives, the best I had, killed their
queen as late as September and reared a young one,
which was mated all right about the middle of that
month, and has since laid a few eggs. I noticed they
kept the old queen alive till the young one was mated,
and then starved her to death. I am very pleased to
see the Journal is going to be published weekly, it will
be a great boon, especially to beginners. I remember
how 1 used almost to count the days between each
number, and a fortnight is a long time to an enthusiastic
bee-keeper. — Loiidswood.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-

T. X.— 1. Largest Harvest of Extracted Honey.— The
doubling system gives the largest results. Twelve
frames in the lower hive, and twelve in the upper, woidd,
if you have a queen vigorous enough to keep up the
population, give a large harvest. 'J. Single or Double-
toalled Hives. — We certainly prefer double-walls. •').
Honey-ripener. — Used in conjunction with the doubling
system it enables honey to be extracted more often,
and relieves the bees of much labour in evaporating down
and sealing. We cannot but think, however, that the
heat applied must, to a certain extent, injure the aroma
upon which the value of honey so much depends. 4.
Uniting at the Present Season. — Bring the two stocks
to be united together by a yard at a time. Crowd the
bees of the weak lot on to as few frames as possible.
< Ipen the hive which is to receive the other, separate
the frames with as little disturbance as possible.

BEE-XEfiLEcxciii. — 1. WUlesden Cardboard/or Separators
and for Quilts. — Although it contains copper, it would
not be likely to poison bees, as when they nibble away

November 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

373

any substance it does not enter the mouth. They
have been found to nibble this cardboard away, and
most likely would do so if it were used for separators.
It is too stiff and unyielding for a quilt ; the propolisa-
tion between it and the frame9 would be great. 2. The
Steioarton Hive. — You cannot have a better tractate on
the Stewartonhive than Dr. Bartrum's The Steioarton :
the Hive for the liusy Man. It gives in a concise form,
and in a lucid manner, the history of the hive and the
advantages derivable from its use. The Carr-
Stewarton hive is a combination of the Stewarton
hive and that of Mr. Carr, of Clayton Bridge, Man-
chester. The Carr-Stewarton hive is fifteen inches
square, and consists of two body-boxes, each being six
inches deep, and a honey-box four inches deep.
Descriptions of it may be found in the early volumes
of the Journal. It found a warm advocate in Mr.
C. W. Smith, of Totteridge, Herts.

II. G. M. — Substitute for Tea.— We do not thiuk it prob-
able that the substitute for tea recommended in the
Canadian Honey Leaflet has asyet found its way into this
country, but we hope it may ; possibly some of it may
be exhibited in the coming Indian and Colonial
Exhibition. 2. Buckwheat honey is the produce of the
blossoms of buckwheat. The silver-hull buckwheat is
the best, being very productive. It is cultivated
extensively for its varied uses in France, Germany,
and America. It is generally so sown as to keep the
bees employed on it till the arrival of frost.

C. \V. H. — Price of Beeswax. — 1. This depends upon
whether you sell it to a dealer or to a consumer. Good
beeswax should fetch, wholesale, Is. 3d. to Is. -id. per
lb. ; the retail price is generally lid. per oz., or 2s.
per lb. 2. Hydromel. — You can make any quantity
you wish, proportioning your materials to the size of
your cask. See back numbers of Journal for instruc-
tions. 8. Recipes where Wax is an Ingredient. —
(1.) Furniture Polish. — 1 oz. of white wax ; 1 oz. of
Naples soap; 1 pint of turpentine; 1 pint of soft
boiled water. Boil the water ; let it get cold ; shred
the wax and soap into it ; stand it in the oven until
all is melted ; add the turpentine slowly, stirring as it
is dropped in; stir it until cold; bottle and cork it
tightly. It is fit to use the next day. (2.) Furniture
Paste. — ;3 oz. of common beeswax ; 1 oz. of white
wax ; 1 oz. of curd soap ; 1 pint of turpentine ; 1 pint
of boiled water. Mix the ingredients together, adding
the water when cold. Shake the mixture frequently
in the bottle, and do not use it for forty-eight hours
after it is made. It should be applied with a piece of
flannel ; the furniture polished with a duster, and then
with an old silk rubber.

Virtuoso. — Hives, Uniting, Feeding, 8fc. — 1. Opinions
vary respecting the best wood for hives, l'ine is more
durable than deal, indeed, almost as durable as oak.
But hives of good, sound deal, if the outer walls or
cases are painted, will last a lifetime. We have now
in use hives made of deal twenty years ago, by the late
Mr. Pettitt of Dover, as sound as the day they were
made, which have always been in use and have never
been painted. These hives, however, have a rough
outer case of deal which is rendered weather-proof by
a thick coating of tar. We are inclined to think,
therefore, that it is immaterial whether pine or deal is
used if the hives are well protected. 2. The union
and feeding of your stocks shoidd have been performed
a month earlier. If you think they have not sufficient
stores to last till February, give candy or barley-sugar
at the bottom of your skeps, as they are not combed
down to the floor-board, and on fine days the bees will
descend and feed. Do not give syrup in any shape
before spring, 3. The use of vinegar in syrup is to
prevent granulation. Tartaric acid is preferable. We

imagine you have used vinegar too freely. See Mr.
Cowan's recipe in his Guide Hook, page 151.

W. C. James. — Extracted Combs. — All combs from
which the honey has been extracted should be re-
turned to the hives to be cleaned by the bees. This
should be done immediately after extracting, when
the bees will clean and polish the combs in, at most,
a couple of days, and render them in excellent con-
dition for storing until another season. Extracting
honey and giving back combs should be completed by
the end of September, or not later than the first week
in October. At this time it would be worse than
useless either to place the partially extracted combs —
clammy with heather-honey, pollen, &c. — in the hives
or in a ' corner of the garden.' The best course to
pursue will be to melt them down. By no means
disturb your hives which are packed for winter.

A.W.Wallace. — 1. The usual signal for swarming
is the sealing over of a queen-cell, which takes place
on the ninth day from the laying of the egg. On the
sixth or seventh day after the sealing the young queen
issues, and, weather permitting, she is fecundated
from the fifth to the tenth day of her age. 2. The
general rule for opening hives is do it at any time
during the day, when there is no fear of robbing, but
in spring and autumn, when bees are flying freely and
little or no honey is coming in — just the time when
robbing prevails — manipulate hives in early morning
or late evening — before and after the flying time of
the bees. 3. Honey keeps well in tins, as a rule.
(See communication from Mr. Hehner, p. 363.) Greater
part of the Californian honey is hermetically sealed
in tins, and we have never heard of any ill effects
arising. 4. Directions for spreading brood are fully
given on pp. 101 and 154 of Cowans Guide. The
time for doing it depends upon the state of the
weather and the strength of the colony. Generally
speaking these conditions do not occur before the
middle of April in, this country. Uncapping honey
stimulates breeding. 5. The teaching of apiculture
in our schools has been exhaustively treated in a paper-
on ' Bee-keeping in its Educational Aspect,' read at
the quarterly meeting of the B. B. K. A. on July 23rd,
1885, by the Rev. F. G. Jenyns, and published in our
columns. We do not agree with your suggestion
as to the place which the editor's name should
occupy.

S. K. — Drones flying at this Season. — It is certainly re-
markable that drones should exist at this season in a
stock in which you saw the queen and worker brood
when closing for the winter. That being so you
need not fear queenlessness. No doubt one of the lots
of condemned bees which w^ere united to make up the
7 lbs. was queenless and contained drones, but why
they have been allowed to exist until now is a
mystery. 2. The sample of honey forwarded has
been gathered from legitimate sources ; its taste
would suggest mignonette.

J. B. S. — 1. Keeping bees at a distance. — You had
certainly better keep bar-frame hives than skeps, as
you will be more able to control swarming, and there-
fore less likely to lose swarms during your absence.
2. Feeders. — You will find the dry sugar system of
feeding, which only requires attention about once a
week or even less often, the most suitable. Simmins's
Champion Feeders might serve your purpose. 3. Trans-
ferring. The best time is twenty-one days after swarm-
ing, when there is no brood to damage, but you may do
it, with care, at any time when the weather is warm
enough. Be careful not to get the brood chilled, and
keep it away from the bees as short a time as possible.
4. Broad-shouldered frames. — These broad-shouldered
frames find much acceptance with bee-keepers. One
objection to them is, that the shoulder being on one

380

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[November 15, 1885.

side only of the frame, all the division boards and the
fronts of the hives must have reoesses j inch deep cut
to receive the shoulders. If shoulders are used,
it is preferable to have them on each side. 5.
Smoke. — It is not absolutely injurious to bees, but you
should accustom yourself to use as little as possible.
The more carefully you handle the bees the less smoke
you require.

PiEv. TV. E. Buekitt. — rapier Preservateur. — This is
paper impregnated with an impure carbolic acid. If
used for lining- hives the bees would most likely nibble
it away, and moreover the small amount of acid
would soon evaporate. We do not think it would
be a . preventative of either moth or Bacillus alvei.
Washing the interior of the hives with a weak
solution of carbolic acid would be preferable. If
placed between woollen quilts, it would, being im-
pervious, confine the vapour and render the quilts
da mp. For wrapping combs iu, to preserve them from
moth, it might do; but if the combs are kept in a dry
place and a piece of camphor put into the box con-
taining them, they will not be attacked by moth, and
we should prefer that plan to using- the paper.

Bee in his Bonnet.— 1. Abbott's Observatory Hive. —
You will find this fully described and illustrated in
Aid. vii. pp. 133 and 1,34. 2. Sine of Sections to
Adopt, — We should advise 4! x-tjr in preference to
any other shape. •'). Number of Frames in a Stock. —
This varies according'- to the vigour of the queen, the
season, and the locality. Some queens will keep
twelve or more frames tilled with brood, others will
hardly supply eight. In the suburban locality from
which you date, ten frames will be as many as you
can reasonably expect a good queen to keep going-.
4. Preventing Swarming by Queen-Excluder. — If the
queen is confined by excluder, no swarming can take
place. If the bees issue, they will return, having no
queen with them. Drones will, of course, be confined,
if produced, but the included combs should consist
entirely of worker-cells. Queen-cells must be cut
out. Young- queens are often small enough to pass
excluder, and therefore if allowed to hatch may lead
off a swarm. 5. American Cloth. — The object in
using this is, that being impervious, it confines the
vapour, and so renders the atmosphere of the hive
moist and warm, as it should be when brood is being-
reared. When dry-sugar feeding is practised, it is
also useful to condense moisture to be used by the bees
to liquefy the sugar. 6'. Wintering on Sugar Syrup.
— Bees winter equally as well on syrup at on honey,
and as, at the present price of sugar, syrup costs 2d.
per lb., it pays to extract honey and feed on syrup.
7. Crystallisation of Syrup. — By using cream of tar-
tar instead of vinegar, crystallisation of syrup, made
with five, or even six pounds of sugar to the quart,
may be prevented. The sample of candy you sent
was darkened in boiling- down, which gave it the
appearance of having been made from raw sugar. To
use syrup for candy-making, add more sugar to it, so
as to avoid such prolonged boiling.

M,, Bathedmond. — Sale of Swarm. — 1, Under the
circumstances, as you state them, the seller would
certainly be liable, but unless you had stipulated that
safe delivery should be guaranteed, so great is the un-
certainty of the law, and so ignorant are juries on
subjects of apiculture, that we should not advise to
commence an action befor consulting a solicitor. 2.
Eggs are secured at the bases of the cells by a
glutinous substance so that inversion would not cause
them to fall. For 'Inverted Frames' see 'Useful
Hints,' p. 365.

A Beginner. — Hives for Extracting. — JDovJbing.—l.

Hives for doubling- should have the top bars of their
frames Hush with the sides. The bottom bars of the

frames should have a \ inch space beneath them. For
applying excluder-zinc between two hives, a light frame,
exactly fitting- the size of the hive, £ inch thick, should
be made, and on one side of this the zinc should be
tacked. AVhen this frame is placed between two
hives, such as described above, a ]-inch space on each
side of it will be secured, and this is usually considered
sufficient to enable the bees to work freely through the
interstices of the zinc. 2. A plain hive, as described
above, containing twelve standard-frames in a good
county, or ten in a poor one. There should be no
flanges or mouldings — no adornment — but each hive
must be exactly of the same dimensions and must
correspond in every respect so as to be thoroughly in-
terchangeable. •'!. Use flat-bottomed wired founda-
tion in which a vertical wire is fixed at a distance of
every two inches, and you will have no twisting or
falling. Fill your frames, leaving only J-inch space
round the bottom and sides, and let the foundation
into the saw-cut in the top-bar.

J\."- Several ( 'ommunications and Qui ries have ecu ret
too late to be attended to in this Number. Mr. Garratt, on
Inverting Sleeps, will be inserted in our next. We desire to
return our sincere thanks for the many land c\
as to our proposed Weekly Issue.

BXiS IE* Ii «> "5757" IE 3E5, £3 .

PLANT OUT NOW for Early Spring.— Arabis,
Limnanthes, Wallflower, Ac. Strong Plants, Is. 6d.
per 100, free. Address S. S. Golds:,iith, Boxworth, St.
Ives, Hunts. 112

EE FLOWERS.— Plant now Thyme (lemon),

Marjoram, Lavender, Horehound, Is. Sd. per 25, 5s.
per 100 ; Figwort (large plants), 6s. per 100 ; Wallflowers
( Harbinger, the earliest variety), is. per 100 ; Yellow Crocus
roots, 2s. per 100 — all the above free at prices quoted.
Address Hexry Dobeie, Cringleford, Norwich.

LIMNANTHES' DOUGLASII, dd. per 100,
post free, riant now. Apply to A. G. Fleming,
Denhain, Uxbridse.

BXi^.CZS: B£!S£S CE»1TE5,:ES),
IN HELL-SHAPED HIVES.

Most numerous, at moderate rate. TO EE SOLD by
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Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stbangeways' Pbinting Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c.'

[No. 183. Vol. XIII.]

NOVEMBER 15, 1885.

[Published Fortnightly.]

€tniomlt Itotias, $£*

REVERSING FRAMES AND HIVES.
One of the questions which is at present agitating- the
minds of bee-keepers is that of the advisability of
reversing the combs in a hive. Although the idea of
reversing hives is not new, the practice, we believe, is
confined almost exclusively to the bee-keepers in Gatinais,
a province in France, where the honey flow is of very
short duration, and where, by reversing the hives, they
obtain enormous harvests of honey. The system was
fully described in L'Apiculteur, in 1858, by M. Ilamet,
and later in the German-Hanoverian Central-blatt of
1st September, 1874, by Mr. L. Pellenee. As many
of our readers are not able to get access to Vol. III. of
B. B. J. we reproduce the translation which appeared in
that volume on the 1st March, 1870.

' The masterpiece of bee-keepers in " Gatinais " is to
have very strong and populous hives, as early as the honey
glut takes place. When the Esparsette (Onobrychis Sativa,
or Hydysarum Onobrycliis) blooms, they turn their hives
(straw skeps) upside down, so that the crown stands upon
the floor-board, the open part uppermost. Upon this open,
they place perforated sheet-iron (No. 3,5), and upon that a
second hive, already partly built up, with empty comb.

' The holes of the sheet-iron allow only worker-bees to
pass ; it is therefore evident that the bees soon fill with
extra fine honey, the upper hive, which has already clean
new comb in it, so that they have not much hard work to
perform. To prevent the queen leaving the lower hive, and
to ascend into the upper one, the sheet-iron is left about
three inches projecting outside the entrances of the two
hives. All bees returning home from the fields, laden with
honey, ascend into the upper hive and go into the entrance
of this hive, whilst those that nurse the brood enter the
lower entrance, whilst the queen, feeling quite comfortable
in the midst of her young descendants, does not attempt to
escape.

' As the lower hive has been turned bottom up, all the
cells have now a downward inclination in it, viz., reversed,
of course, and in these downwards-turned cells, the queen
does not deposit any eggs, so that in the shortest time, all
the bees are gathering, which increases the weight of honey
stored materially.

' When the top hive is filled with honey, which in a good
season is possible in about a fortnight's time, it is taken
away, and the lower one returned into its original position ;
the queen has not deposited any eggs during the time above
referred to, and this original lower hive has now plenty of
empty cells vacant for storing the honey still to be gathered.
It is also evident that as the season for turning the hives
upside down, falls during the best time of breeding, that
the number of bees are very materially reduced, the bee-
keepers in " Le Gatinais " therefore generally join up to
five swarms to get one good, strong hive, and these collect
a rich harvest from the clover, &c. &c. ; and the latter out

of bloom, they are taken first to the buckwheat fields and
afterwards to the moors ; but these people are always obliged
to buy from their neighbours those bees intended for the
sulphur pit, to restock and join to then- own in autumn,
because their numbers have dwindled down during the
months of hard work of collecting when they have ceased
to increase.'

We do not entirely agree with the statement that the
queen does not deposit eggs in inverted combs, for we
have found by experience that the contrary is the case,
and have to look for another reason why in the Gatinais
when hives are reversed the queens cease laying. The
reason has been suggested by Professor Tseke and M.
Toelke, who state that the queen ceases breeding because
the worker bees are all, more or less, busy in honey-
gathering, therefore mostly in the upper hive, and the
nursiug bees are so greatly reduced in number.

In the February number of B. B. J. of 187<> there
appeared an article under the heading ' A New Method
of Supering.' The writer stated that in September 1875
he visited the exhibition and manipulation with live bees
at Stamford, where he made the acquaintance of the
promoter of the exhibition, Mr. J. G. Desborough, who
was then a veteran bee-keeper, and had devoted all the
leisure of a long life in the study and cultivation of bees.
Amongst the many curiosities which were brought under
the writer's notice was a skep in an inverted position,
its crown resting upon the floor-board, and its adapter
and super upon what was originally the bottom of
the hive; in other words, the super had been placed
on the hive after the latter had been turned bottom
upwards. Excellent results were obtained. "We were
very much struck with this idea of carrying out the
Gatinais system in England that we ourselves tried the
plan and succeeded in working an excellent super over
queen-excluder zinc, which we at that time advocated.
Subsequently, on visiting Stamford, we had the oppor-
tunity of ourselves seeing this hive of Mr. Desborough's,
and having the explanation from him. Mr. Garratt has
also in the present number described his success with this
method (see page :J86).

We believe that the first idea of reversing frames
originated with Mr. II. Jenner-Fust, Jun., in the March
number of B.B.J, for 1876, where he suggests that
instead of reversing the whole hive, the central combs
only in a bar-frame hive should be reversed, leaving the
two outer ones on each side in the ordinary position, so
that the bees may store honey in them, and thus avoid
the danger of being left without food. Since that time,

382

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[December 1, 1885.

until 1881, the subject received very little attention; but
in 1881 the advisability of reversing- the frames was
beginning to be talked about in America. It will be
remembered that in January 1882, when the question of
a ' Standard ' frame was being discussed at a conversazione
of the British Bee-keepers' Association, which followed
the reading of a paper by the llev. G. Kaynor on ' Bee-
houses and Hives,' we mentioned that we bad been
making experiments with reversible frames, which had
been talked of in America. We strongly advised a
rectangular frame being adopted in preference to a
tapered one in view of the possibility of reversible
frames coming into use. The exact words we used are
quoted by the writer of ' Useful Hints,' in last number of
B. B. Journal, page 365.

In 1884 a number of devices were illustrated and
described in the American journals, one of the best being
that of Mr. Baldridge, which was illustrated in the March
number of Gleanings, and is similar to the one devised
by Mr. Neighbour, and described in the B. B. J., on 15th
July last. The difference in the two being that Mr.
Baldridge has his ends made like Novice's metal corners,
whereas Mr. Neighbour adopts the metal ends with pro-
jecting shoulders, as will be seen in illustration. Both

neighbour's frame.

by

these appliances can be adapted to existing frames
cutting off the projecting ends of top bars.

On 1st January last Mr. Ileddon described his rever-

HEIWON S FRAME.

sible frame in the American Bee Journal. It consists of
an ordinary frame, having the bottom bar and a portion
of the side bars removed; the top bar and enough of the
side bars being left to allow a rectangular frame being
pivoted to them so that it may revolve, as shown in
the illustration.

On the 1st February Messrs. Mason and Buchan de-
scribed in the B. B. J. a very similar frame, for which
they took out a patent. The difference being that they
make their inner frame revolve in a complete outer frame
instead of in three sides like Heddon*

"We do not think either of these two frames practical
and advantageous. In the first place we have two
frames instead of one, and the cost for frames is conse-
quently doubled; and in the second place — and this is a
much more serious objection to them — by having another
frame within the present Standard frame it greatly
reduces the spaces for comb-building, and the hives woidd
have to be increased if we wished to preserve the present
breeding space. Our,Standard frame, taking both sides of
the comb,has a superficial area of 21(3 square inches ; but if
we place another frame within this with bare of even
only quarter of an inch in thickness, the superficial area is
reduced to 105 square inches, and in a hive of ten frames
there would be a loss of -'i 250 worker-cells. This loss is
considerable, and we believe, if reversible frames are ever
to come into use, a simpler and a less extravagant device
must be employed. We are glad to see that Messrs.
Mason and Buchan have not proceeded with their patent,
as some of the first reversible frames we tried five years'
ago were made in this way, but we gave them up for
the reasons we have just stated. If reversible frames
are to become general, a simple appliance must be used
that will utilise our present frames, and in no way inter-

fere with its size. Two such devices we have mentioned,,
but the one we think even preferable to either is the
one we adopted in 1881, as being the simplest and
most convenient. The illustration explains the idea; the
ends are made of tin or zinc, and have straps reaching
to half way down the side bars, to which they are
pivoted.

Last February we received a letter from Mr. J. Hall,
and subsequently from Mr. Whittington, who had both
hit on the same idea. We have no reason for supposing
that either of these gentlemen knew what the other one-
had devised, or that thev knew that we had tried the

* Since writing the aboye we have received from Mr. C.
G. Mason, of Dalkeith, a specimen of the reversible frame
which lie has been supplying to readers of the li. ]!. J. In
this the bottom bar of the outer frames is done away with,,
and that of the inner rectangle does service for it. He
writes : ' The space between inner and outer frame can be
used as winter passages ; or if thought too much space, it can.
he partly filled up with a strip of wood in winter.' — Ed.

December 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

383

same plan years ag'o, so that this is another instance, as
in the invention of the moveable-eomb hive, of the same
idea occurring to different persons at the same time.

Now, having' described the various contrivances for
reversing' frames, we will in our next, turn our attention
to the advantages and disadvantages of the system.
(To be continued.)

USEFUL HINTS.

After a fortnight's absence of rain again we have
a deluge. Hives arc dripping — moisture inside,
and alighting boards covered with dead bees and
wax chips, which have been extruded by the bees,
the weather being sufficiently warm to enable them
to descend from their combs, and to perform their
dirties as scavengers. Assist the bees by removing
accumulations from entrances and permitting a free
current of air to enter the hives.

Dysentery. — Where there arc symptoms of
dysentery remove the damp and foul floor-board, and
supply its place with a clean-scraped, well-dried
warm one, and repeat the operation occasionally
during fine weather, with as little disturbance as
possible. To our ideas a great desideratum in case
of dysentery occurring in the winter months would
be found in a floor-board of zinc made, after the
fashion of a railway carnage foot-warmer, capable
of containing hot water, and exactly fitting the
hive. Such an appliance, filled with water, heated
to the temperature of, sa}-, 120° Fahr. and placed
beneath the hive, on a fine sunny day, or at any
time when the air was sufficiently warm to prevent
chilling the bees, would entice them forth for flight
and evacuation of faxes, and would prove a far
more practical and useful proceeding than carrying
the hive into a warm room in order to secure a
similar result. The entrance would require to be
opened to its full extent, or the quilts and cover-
ings of the hive might be removed altogether for a
short time until the desired flight was accom-
plished, when the quilts, thoroughly dried and re-
turned warm, would have a most beneficial effect.

This is a suggested remedy for dysenteric colonies
only, of which, from the mild, damp weather we are
experiencing, and the consequent large consumption
of stores, we anticpate a prevalence, especially if
severe cold succeeds. Many colonies in warm
situations are now breeding, which we do not con-
sider a healthy sign, or perhaps we should say,
prognostic of health hereafter.

American New Disease. — During the autumn of
the present year, what the American apiarists term
a ' new disease,' has made its appearance in that
country. It is described in their Bee Journals as
follows : —

' About two thovisand bees from one hive are badly
affected. They are constantly cleaning themselves by
rubbing their bodies, legs, and wings. Their abdomens
are shining, and the black portions intensely so. They
are shrunken and pointed. The dead and dying bees are
taken from the hive in a string or path extending six
feet from the hive. The first indication was about a
quart of dead bees. They have a fine queen, and have
preserved their drones.'

To this statement Professor Cook replies : — ■

'This is just what I have often heard this fall. It

seems to me a new malady. As yet I cannot suggest
any cause, and so, of course, no remedy. Most bee-
keepers write me that the affected bees seem young,
and are black from being bald.'

The editor of the Apiculturut remarks : — ■
' By the ,\,bove it will be seen that there is no mistake
about a new bee disease. This new malady is not conta-
gious, and there is little cause for alarm. The worker bees
may be seen crawling about the entrance of the hive, and
on the alighting-board. The bees do not die off rapidly,
but the colony gradually decreases in numbers, and the
hive after a while becomes depopulated. The healthy lieea
continue to do the work of the hive, to gather pollen,
and to remove the dead and dying bees.'

Referring back to our bec-lorc, we find the late
Mr. Woodbury describing a disease — from wliicb
his bees suffered in 1861-2, and which he designates
' dropping ' — in these terms : ' Symptoms, great
enlargement of abdomen, which becomes so dis-
tended with watery fluid that the bee is unable to
fly, in which state it betakes itself to the floor-
board, where, in cold weather, it dies, but in warn
weather it wanders from the hive, and falling on
the ground, crawls about until it expires. All
through the spring, and during the finest summer
weather, the ground in front of the hives was per-
petually covered with disabled and dying bees,
which crawled about in all directions with feeble
vibration of their wings. In two instances the
queens escaped, and their breeding powers seemed
to be stimulated by the presence of the disease,
since their fecundity not only overtook the mortality
which constantly prevailed, but theirs became two.
of the strongest stocks in the apiary.'

In another case of the malady the queen, swollen
to an enormous degree, perished together with the
colony. Eight years afterwards another writer,
referring to Mr. Woodbury's case, describes a similar
attack amongst his own bees, and mentions in
addition that the diseased bees had a ' glistening
appearance.'

The only treatment found to be successful by
these writers appeal's to have been the removal of
the hive to a short distance, where the bees were
shaken off the combs upon a sheet, each comb, as
it was cleared of bees, being returned to an empty
hive placed upon the original stand. By these
means the healthy bees were able to return to their
hive, but diseased ones — supposed to be chiefly
young bees — perished on the ground, being unable
to fly.

In the year 1881 we had a similar experience in
our own apiary. An imported Italian queen, in
her second year and extremely prolific, led off a
large swarm in the early part of July, the colony
having previously filled two racks of sections, and
being apparently in the healthiest possible con-
dition. The swarm was placed in a frame-hive,
which, by the end of the month, was well stored
with comb and sealed honey where brood was not
deposited; but about the beginning of August
symptoms of the above disease began to appear.
The colony was working splendidly at the time
upon a field of red clover adjoining the apiary, and
pollen was daily carried in in large quantities,
when numerous bees, to the number of 200 or 3Q0

384

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[December 1, 1885.

per day, unable to fly, were noticed crawling over
the alighting-board, and covering the ground sur-
rounding the hive. The mortality continued to
increase, and finally, about the first week in Sep-
tember the colony with its queen perished. The
combs were given to other colonies and were pro-
ductive of no ill effects. But mark the sequel.
Early in February of the present year the parent
colony, from which this swarm had issued, located
in a distant part of the apiary, headed by a young
and most prolific daughter of the above-named
queeu, began to show signs of the same disease.

The hive was extremely populous — literally full
of bees — and the mortality daily increased, although
the queen continued breeding freely, and the
healthy bees worked with redoubled ardour, until
about the middle of March, when we found, upon
a close inspection of the hive, that the queen,
although ovipositing, was affected by the disease,
iiaving lost her pubescence, and assumed that
' glistening,' ' shiny ' appearance spoken of above.
By this time, the bees had dwindled to such an
extent that they barely covered two combs, and
the best hive in our apiary, from which we had
expected to reap the most bountiful harvest, had
now become the worst.
' Seu .' Quid facerem ?
Quojletu manes, qua numina voce moverem ! '

Suddenly it occurred to us that Bacillus depilis
(aut Gaytoni) was the author of all this mischief,
and on reference to page 317 of our vol. xii. the
suspicion became a certainty. Immediately we
applied Mr. Cheshire's remedy of phenolated syrup,
as recommended for foul-brood, having closed up
division-boards and removed outside combs. The
syrup was freely taken, and soon we had the
pleasure of inserting into the brood-nest a frame of
empty comb, then another, and another, until the
colony attained its former prosperous condition,
and the queen .resumed her plumage, her bright
glossy look, and sprightliness, and the dread
mortality gradually ceased. By the third week in
May our colony received its first super — soon
another was placed beneath it, and in due course
fifty-six 1-lb. sections were removed, and by the
end of September about 30 lbs. of extracted honey
to boot, an abundance of winter store being left for
the bees' consumption.

The ' new disease ' of America, therefore, and
the ' dropsy ' of our venerated Woodbury, are
surely none other than the Bacillus clejiilis of Mr.
Cheshire. And in our case, at least, the disease
apparently was transmitted from mother to daughter,
and has been entirely eradicated by the phenol
remedy, since the colony is now in perfect health,
and up to the present time has exhibited no further
symptoms of the malady. The disease, in our case,
appeared chiefly to attack the young bees, but the
brood, befoie emerging frcm the cells, seemed
healthy. There was no unpleasant odour in the
hive, and one decided and well-marked effect of the
disease was the extreme irritability of the bees.
No other hive in our apiary was attacked.

Sale op Honey. — The remarks in an article in
he last issue of our Journal that ' the serious fall

in the price of honey, especially during the present
year, has caused dismay,' is certainly true, and we
hear reports from more than one quarter of enthusi-
asts giving up bee-keeping as unremunerative.
Whether ' the trail of fhe .serpent is over Fair
Trade, Reciprocity, &c.,' is a disputed point, and
one upon which there is room for two opinions.
We must, however, deprecate the introduction of
politics into the columns of the Journal, and this
is certainly a question of politics, England standing
alone amongst nations in perseveringly maintaining
a one-sided system of Free Trade. The products
of our colonies — all are agreed — we ought to wel-
come to our shores, and of these, in the shape of
honey, we are likely to have an abundance, judging
from the following statement, taken from a Cana-
dian contemporary : —

' Canadian bee-keepers are organizing for the purpose
of having a monster display of honey at the Colonial and
Indian Exhibition to be held in London next season. A
display is desired of such magnitude and so rich in
quality that it will attract universal attention and not
without an object.

' For some time we have felt the want of a larger market,
and we have acted the part of paralytics; we felt the want,
knew that our remedy lay in Europe, but, as individuals,
■we have felt powerless to put forth any effectual efforts to
open it. Now we have before us the opportunity of
sending our honey free of charge, and probably some one
to take care of it, and it is to be hoped no one will lose
the opportunity of doing all in their powers to make the
enterprise a success. Once let us secure a foothold in
England and Germany with our honey, and we can defy
these small, ignorant honey-raisers who have done so
much in the past to injure our market. If we cannot
secure a fair remuneration here, we ship, and the result
will be an important one. Employment for an unlimited
number of colonies (of bees), thereby increasing the
wealth of Canada; directly, by the production of honey
and bees — indirectly, by an increased yield of clover seed'
fruits of all kinds, &c, wherever additional bees are
kept.'

Certainly it is high time that we should teach
our people to consume ' honey as food,' seeing that
English honey is already a drug in the market,
and that we are threatened with inundations of the
foreign article at the same time. It would be in-
teresting to know the amount of English honey
now in the hands of producers unable to obtain a
remunerative price for their produce. We can
only hope that our Canadian cousins will abstain
from sending us glucose with a 'spice' of comb-
honey floating in its centre.

ASSOCIATIONS.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

A committee meeting was held at 105 Jermyn Street
on Wednesday, November 18th. Present : lion, and
Rev. H. Bligh (in the chair), Rev. Dr. Bartrum, the
Rev. G. Ravnor, the Rev. F. S. Sclater, R. J. Hinton,
J. M. Hooker, H. Jones, D. Stewart, W. O'B. Glemiie
(Treasurer), and the Secretary. Letters were read from
Captain Bush, Captain Campbell, and Mr. Walker, re-
gretting their inability to be present. The minutes of

December 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

385

the last meeting: were read and confirmed. The finance
committee presented their report recommending certain
bills for payment, leaving; a balance in hand of •">/. 16s. 2d.
The secretary wns requested to make application for
payment of subscriptions in arrears, and all outstanding'
accounts.

A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. W. B. Carr, of
Higher Bebington, for his kindness in presenting a copy
of the Association's certificate, in a neat frame, suitable
for hanging in Committee-room.

The MS. of leaflet, Htmeij as Fond, was submitted.
Resolved that proof copies be sent to each member of
the committee.

At the monthly meeting of the British Bee-keepers'
Association, held on November 18th, it was resolved
that the nest Quarterly Conversazione should he held on
Wednesday, January 20tb, and that subjects for dis-
cussion should be invited through the medium of the
British Bee Journal, It is requested that persons willing
to submit subjects for discussion should forward the
same to the Secretary if possible before December 16th.
The subjects to be discussed will be published in the
British Bee Journal previous to the date of the Conver-
sazione. Secretaries of County Associations are reminded
that motions for discussion at the next quarterly meeting
of County Representatives must be sent in on or before
Wednesday, December 23rd.

It was resolved to hold the nest Quarterly Meeting on
January 20th, and the Annual General Meeting of the
Members on February 17th, subject to the approval of
the President of the Association.

CALEDONIAN APIARIAN SOCIETY.

Minutes of meeting held in Mclnnes' Temperance
Hotel, 12 Hutcheson Street, Glasgow, on Thursday,
22nd October, 1885. Present: Messrs. Sword, E.
McNally, J. McNally, Cameron, Nunn, Smith, Young,
Paterson, Johnstone, Hutchison, Thompson, Watson,
and Bennett.

On the motion of Mr. Bennett, Mr. Sword, of Falkirk,
was called to the chair. The Secretary read the minutes
of last meeting, which were approved of. The financial
statement was then read, showing that the Aberdeen
Exhibition was a loss to the Society of 8/. 12«. Bd.

The Secretary said the loss was to be regretted, as it
was one of the finest shows we had yet held. Nothing
coidd excel the quality of finished honey-comb that was
displayed on the tables, and the wonder was where such
quantities had been gathered, seeing that until the middle
of June we had little honey-gathering weather.

Mr. Young said the difficulty was in getting the
people to come into the show when they found there
was sixpence to pay. He hoped that the Dumfries
show next year woidd be as successful as it proved to be
in 1878.

The Secretary said the prizes gained at the Aberdeen
Show had all been forwarded to the winners, except the
Hig-hland Society's two medals, which would be ready
in November.

The Dumfries prize schedule was then gone into and
revised. Mr. Smith, of Dumfries, was added to the
committee.

A discussion thereafter arose regarding the past season.
The Secretary said he had made some notes on the
past season, which, with the permission of the chairman
and the members, he would now read.

Apiarian Notes in Argyllshire during 1885.

The year 1884 was a wretched season all through,
little produce being secured, but the hives, when put up
for the winter in October, were all in good condition as
regards stores, brood, and bees.

January and February being mild, the bees were often
on the wing, and, until the crocuses and snowdrops were
in bloom, we assisted their pollen-gathering propensities
with peas-meal, which they soon discovered, and simply
revelled in it.

March was cold and bleak, with occasional heavy falls
of snow. Bain fell for nearly twenty-four consecutive
hours on the 24th, which did much to retard progress in
our apiary, and caused the bees to fall back upon their
winter stores. We began stimulating feeding in all the
stocks so as to prevent the strong from attacking the
weak.

April. We had eighteen fine days. On the 13th, the
best day of the season, we transferred into nice clean
hives. This is perhaps the greatest satisfaction the
bee-keeper has in having his bar-frame hives all inter-
changeable, for in a few minutes you can remove a
whole colony into a new home, examine their state, and
reject anything that is not tit to go into their new abode.

May began with cold days and still colder nights, and
breeding was greatly retarded.

June began well, and our hopes rose with the ther-
mometer. Although the early part of the 3-ear had
been bleak and cold, we felt our troubles were all over
for the season. Stocks being strong, we only waited
now for swarming time. On the 5th, business led me to
visit Perthshire, when I availed myself of calling on
Mr. Paterson, of Struan, and examining his stocks, which
were all in fair condition and had wintered well, those
in his favourite plaster-of-Paris hives having remained
strongest and began breeding earlier than the others.
He was kind enough to accompany me to Blair-Athol,
where we spent a happy evening with Messrs. Cameron,
Robertson, &c, examining stock and interchanging views
on the best methods of wintering, &c. Swarming began
towards the end of the month, and continued till well
on in July, the difficulty being to keep them from
swarming.

July was the finest we have experienced for years, in
fact the heat some days was unbearable. With the
exception of Glasgow Fair Saturday, which rained from
morn till night, I never remember a July like it. Stocks
were rapidly doubled, and supers quickly filled. On the
23rd I paid a visit to our mutual friend Mr. Raitt, of
Blairgowrie, and found him busily extracting honey.
He, too, like other bee-keepers, was in great glee over
such a successful honey season. On the 27th I arrived
at the show-yard in Aberdeen. At no show, during the
ten years we have held exhibitions, have we ever had
such a display of beautiful honey, put up in a marketable
form, as this one. Such a year as this shows (given
the season) that we have men in all parts of our country
with abundance of brains capable of conducting the bee-
farming or any other industry. Why, then, I again
ask, allow the foreigner to supply our markets with
either honey or wax ? The amount of wax imported
into this country', and the sums paid for it, are of such
magnitude that it behoves us to see if we do all we can
to equalise the trade. In 1882 there were 35,538 cwts.,
value 126,026/. imported, and in 1883, 28,102 cwts., value
07,142/. We are not yet in possession of the statistics of
1884-85, but hope to get them by our next meeting.
The following are a few notes of honey imported, taken
from the B. B. Journal: —

1833. 1884. 1885.

£ s. d. £ s. il. £ s. d.

January... 1.G12 0 0 ... 2,034 0 0 ... 804 0 0

February.. 2,175 0 0 ... 2,234 0 0 ... 5,385 0 0

March 1,535 0 0 ... 2,545 0 0 ... 5,404 0 0

April 1,518 0 0 ... 4,962 0 0 ... 9,939 0 0

May 4,781 0 0 ... 5,245 0 0 ... 9,960 0 0

June 3,534 0 0 ... 15,387 0 0 ... 6,848 0 0

July 7,496 0 0 ... 10,089 0 0 ... 12,116 0 0

22,651 0 0 42,496 0 0 50,456 0 0

38G

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[December 1, 1885.

£ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d.

Bfft. fad. 22,651 0 0 42,496 0 0 50,456 0 0

Atignst ... 6,262 0 0 ... 1,010 0 0 ... 2.331 0 0

September 972 0 0 ... 6,453 0 0

October ... 725 0 0 ... 5,388 0 0 £52,787 0 0

Xovember. 1,908 0 0 ... 4,272 0 0

December. 1,200 0 0 ... 2,729 0 0

£33,718 0 0 ,£62,357 0 0

August. The heather began to bloom early, and hopes
were raised for a second liarvest. The weather broke
about Lammas, and the 12th was a perfect deluge.
A cold snap then set in, which lasted till the end of
September, and thus the second harvest was doomed.
Heather honey has been scarce all over the country, but
on the whole it has been a favourable year. Our best
stock yielded over 80 lbs., and left the body-boxes with
ample supply for the winter. On the 19th they were
all out like a day in June, and we again rejoice that
they go into winter quarters in splendid condition with
plenty of stores to tide them over till next April. I
learn that many other bee-keepers have been more
successful in different parts of Scotland. As much as
120 to 150 lbs. have been obtained from single hives.
This is the more surprising, considering the cold weather
we had in the north, frost during every month of the
year.

Mr. Cameron rose to propose a hearty vote of thanks
to the Secretary for bringing the notes of his apiary
before them, which he was sure they were all pleased
with. He urged that the members should keep a similar
register in their own district during the next twelve
months. He was sure a great deal of useful information
would be gained, and help in over good work.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman brought the meet-
ing to a close.

[We heartily join in Mr. Cameron's proposition, and
we wish other secretaries of Associations would follow
tie good example set by Mr. Bennett, and send a similar
interesting apiarian note of their various districts. — Ed.]

SOUTH AFRICA.

Notes on Bef.-Keeping.

(Continued from p. 377.)

Of all the evils that can attack a bee establishment,
bee pestilence, often known as ' foul brood,' is the most
terrible. This disease,, in its malignity, so far at least
as 1 am aware, is happily unknown in the Colony.
Besides being dreadful in its ravages and most infectious,
rapidly spreading from hive to hive, it is very difficult
to eradicate. The disease is mostly confined to larva
and pupahood, and sets in on the young in their birth-
cells.

From being suddenly chilled, or affected with damp-
ness under peculiar conditions, or punished by adverse
treatment or unwholesome surroundings, the brood
become affected, and speedily perish away to a dark-
coloured mass, rotten and sticky, like putrid glue, and
emitting a pestilential odour not readily forgotten. As
the stench from any offending substance is but part of
the decomposing substance itself, its degenerate particles
spread and sow the poisonous disease wherever there
are eggs or brood to receive the infection ; and although
the adidt bees themselves are not so amenable to con-
tagion, yet they doubtless carry the noxious elements on
tieir legs, mouth-organs, and antenna?, and spread the
corrupting malady from cell to cell. Few young bees,
therefore, are reared, and worse than all the queen her-
self, confined to the close and foetid atmosphere of the
liive, and continuing to lay not unfrequently in corrupt
ceDs, contracts probably the disease in her ovaries, and
so perpetuates the mischief. Thus the bees from slaviug

anxiously to subdue the calamity, grow gradually de-
spondent, and, but for timely assistance, collapse.

Some of us well remember how Virgil in his inimi-
table Georgics, after recounting the numerous afflictions
of his little favourites amidst their many enemies,
briefly refers to their ailments and to his method of
cure : —

' Now, inasmuch as Life has burdened bees with the
same ills that fall on us, should they by chance be
languishing with fell disease, you may at once discover
it by symptoms unmistakable. The sick at once change
colour, and a squalid leanness makes them look de-
formed ; anon, they bring out from the hive the bodies
of the dead, and pay the mournful obsequies ; or hooked
together by the feet they hang thick-clustering at the
door ; or tarry all within their close-shut home, through
hunger listless, and cramped with numbing cold. Thereon
you'll hear a grievous sound, — a long drawn murmuring
wail, as when the chilling south wind in the forest
howls ; or moans with refluent waves the troubled main ;
or in the closed-up furnace roars the rapid flame.

' In such a strait as this I would advise your kindling
sweet-scented gums, and introducing to the bees honey
in hollow reeds, coaxing the invalids, and gently wooing
them to their familiar food. It will be well to bruise
and mix with it the stringent gall-nut, rose-leaves dried,
some well-boiled thickened must, or raisins from the
j Psithian vine, with Attic thyme and heavily-scented
| centaury. There is, moreover, in the meadows a flower
named "starwort" by the husbandmen, the plant of
which is easily found, growing a wealth of stems and
leaves from a single sod. The centre of the flower is
golden, but amidst the numerous petals radiating round
there gleams a purple light beneath the darker violet.
With wreaths of it the altars of the gods are ofteu
decked.

' Its taste is harsh in the mouth. In the close-cropped
valleys herdsmen gather it, and also near the streams
of winding Mella. Take of this plant the roots, and
boil them well in fragrant wine, then serve them to the
sickly bees as food, in basketsful close to the entrance
of the hive.'

Though the observations of the ancient bee-master
and his power of action were necessarily limited by the
structure of the hives then used, yet the principles
involved in his method of treatment would appear to be
sound, and his practice, where disease breaks out, to be
still worthy of attention.— J. \V. Stkoud, M.D. Port
Elizabeth, S. Africa.

Cnrrtsponknxc.

*»* All Correspondents forwarding Letters for insertion in
the Journal, Reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes
from the Hives, Queries, etc., are requested to direct their com-
munications to ' The Editor of the " British Bee Journal," c/o
Messrs. Strangeways <£• Sons, Touvr Street, Upper St. Martin's
Lane, W.C.'

OUR HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the United Kingdom
during the month of October, 188o, amounted to ■)'>.'Al.
[From a private return sent by the Principal Statistical
Office, II. M. Customs, to E. H. Bellairs, Wingfield,
Christchurch.]

THE INVERTED SKEP SYSTEM.
In part fulfilment of the undertaking given in my
name in a previous number of the Journal, I have
much pleasure in supplying fuller details of my working
upon this novel plan, but I regret my inability to make
good my complete intention, having been disappointed
in getting the necessary block ready in time for pro-
ducing the promised illustration. However the arrange-

December 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

387

inent being- so simple I think it will be understood by
the simplest intelligence, in fact, its simplicity is one of
the chief excellencies that 1 claim for it. The notice
which you gave to my personal description of the
method renders it unnecessary for me to make any
■explanation of the reasons and object of the experiment.
I will, therefore, content myself by placing my modus
operandi on record plainly and simply, confining myself
to the one stock of bees first selected.

The precise date I find upon reference to my hive-
card was May 2!lth ; for some time previously the bees
had been in such a condition that swarming was to be
expected at any moment. The skep was a small one,
and of the common land, having a rounded or convex
top ; the first thing, therefore, was to prepare a suitable
cradle in which it might rest perfectly secure, this was
easily accomplished b}r taking two short lengths of 0 x |ths
inch deal, 18 inches long, placing them side by side, and
fixing them by nailing a bearer or ledge at both ends ;
in the centre of this floor a 10-inch circular hole was
cut, thus providing the rest or cradle required. The
next step was to ascertain the direction in which the
-combs were built and to fix them by means of two rather
broad skewers to prevent their falling over to either side
pending their being secured by the bees. The hive being
now inverted the adapting board with a centre hole cut
out, of the same size as the floor-board, was then put
on and a rack of eighteen 1-lb. sections laid thereou.
This appearing to make the arrangement complete there
remained nothing more to do than to leave the bees to
their own resources.

I find I have made a very important omission.
It should be stated that after ascertaining the precise
"position in which the top of the hive would rest in the
•cradle a flight-hole of about 1 inch square was cut, so
"that the bees could walk directly in from the floor-board,
and the original entrance to the hive was stopped. The
hive being in a closed bee-house there was no necessity
"to provide any super cover or other protection from the
weather.

During the next few ensuing days the bees were
left quiet, but observation was made that the clusters
previously upon the hive melted entirely and rapidly
away, and evidently serious work was commenced.

On June 9th an examination of the super was made,
.and it was found that three sections were filled and the
remainder progressing rapidly. Here then at once was
tbe realisation of my anticipations, but I found to my
-chagrin that the queen had ascended and was appro-
priating more than one section to maternal purposes.
The queen excluder zinc was, of course, at once resorted
to, and the queen caught and replaced in the hive ; the
■excluder being placed between the super rack and the
adapting board. Subsequent to this the sections were
rapidly tilled, and, in order to meet the requirements of
the bees, another rack of sections was superadded. At
the end of the honey season the record showed that
thirty-nine 1-lb. sections had been taken and 8 lbs. of
honey obtained from those which were left uncompleted.

Upon examining the hive after removing the super I
•discovered that the bees had attached their combs to the
excluder zinc, and it became evident that I had com-
mitted a mistake in placing the latter upon, instead of
beneath, the adapting board, as upon removing the
.adapter the combs protruded beyond the bottom of the
hive to the extent of the thickness of the board, and
prevented the hive from being reinstated in its ac-
■customed position unless the additional length of comb
were sacrificed.

Beyond a superficial examination of the stock I have
not gone, and so far I can only say that the condition of
the bees, both in this and several other hives similarly
"treated, appears quite normal. The combs which were
lengthened out to connect to the adapter were found, as
"was to be expected, tilled with honey ; and, judging by

the weight of the hive, it appeared amply stored for
winter use.

As far as one season's experience justifies me in
saying it I believe this method of management has
capabilities for profitable bee-keeping far superior to any
hitherto adopted with the skep-hive. It yet remains to
be seen what its effect upon the bees may be by the time
the spring is reached. At the present time the bees
seem fairly numerous, and the hives are heavy — pre-
sumably with honey. They are, in the several hives,
being wintered variously as regards the position of the
hive, some remaining inverted and others returned to
their original position. If, therefore, their condition in
the spring is equal to other stocks, treated in the
ordinary way, I shall regard the result as highly satis-
factory, and shall adopt the system into the apiary
under my management: not in any way to supersede the
bar-frame system, for this I hold to be the only really
scientific method, but as a simple, economical, and reliable
plan. As such I recommend it strongly to the notice of
cottagers and those seeking their welfare. To any who
may be disposed to try it I would advise caution in
choosing the time for commencing, but probably the
best time would be when supering is usually started or a
little earlier ; and I should recommend, until further
experience is acquired, that the hive should be reinverted
as soon as the honey harvest is over.

Trusting you will pardon me for intruding so much
upon your valuable space, and anticipating a favourable
reception by intelligent bee-keepers of this narrative of
a somewhat crude experiment, but which I believe con-
tains the germs of much practical advantage. — Jesse
Garratt, Off// J'alley Bee Farm, Hoekenden, St. Mary
Cray, V2th libs., LSSo.

REVERSIBLE FRAMES.

When writing on the above subject to the British Bee
Journal on September 1st, I stated that I would give my
future experience in the reversing principle experimented
so successfully with this summer. Before taking my
trial hive to the hills, I obtained twenty-four 1-lb.
sections ; and on August lTth I took off sixteen beauti-
fully-finished sections of mixed clover and heather
honey. On September 4th I took off other twenty-
eight sections of fine heather honey, making the total of
sixty-eight 1-lb. sections (not bad for a J une swarm in
this part of the country). Now I come to what at first
sight would appear to be a failure in the reversible
principle. On examining this hive I found every frame
nearly filled with honey (and these reversed combs), the
queen not having more than two or three inches of space
on each comb for breeding purposes; The cells which
once opened downwards were drawn out or rebuilt in a
natural position again for containing the honey. I can
only imagine that this was brought about for want of super
room ; the bees finding they had no available space for
storing honey above, converted the reversed cells into a
natural form to receive the honey as gathered. On
bringing this hive home, I found that the ten frames
weighed 51 lbs. 4 ozs., the average being ■> lbs. '2 ozs. per
frame. I consider this a loss of 4-r> lbs. of good heather
honey, which loss I believe would not have occurred had
I placed a double super on the hive.

I firmly believe that the reversing principle will yet
prove to be one of the great advances made in modern
bee-keeping. As a proof that the idea is finding favour
with many, I may mention the fact that I received 210
applications from bee-keepers in all parts of the United
Kingdom for a specimen of the reversible frame I have
in use ; and from a great number of these 1 have received
letters approving both of the principle, and of the sim-
plicity and working of the frame.

I was pleased to see in the Journal for November 1 st
that Mr. Garratt approves of the principle of reversing,

388

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[December 1, 1885.

even though it is but the inverted skep. In the
Journal of November 15th the subject is again broached,
I think this time somewhat unfairly. ' Why mention
one American journal only when speaking of prominent
bee-keepers in the States P ' Any reader of Gleanings
can iind the names of at least a dozen prominent
apiarists who own in the States of America hundreds of
hives worked on the reversible principle. There is one
thing that strikes me as being strange, viz., why British
bee-keepers are so diffident about giving their opinion on
this subject. The question, I think, should be well
ventilated this winter. — Chas. G. Mason, Lothian Hani;,
Dalkeith, N.B., November 17th.

[We shall be pleased to have this questiou ventilated
by British bee-keepers during the coming winter. We
give our views in an article in this number (page 381),
and also show that the principle of reversion is not new,
although recently applied to frame-hives. In the Ga-
tinais it has been carried out as a system for upwards
of three quarters of a century, and is still extensively in
use there. We do not find the largest honey producers
in America adopting reversible frames; although we
admit that the craze for them has developed more fully
in America than here. We hope they will have a fair
trial before they are extensively adopted or finally re-
jected.— Ed.]

RAYNOR DIVISIBLE SECTION RACKS.

On the just principle of suum euique I must ask you,
Mr. Editor, for a corner in which to describe my
' Divisible Section Backs,' which, I notice, is being ad-
vertised in your columns under other names. In March,
1881, Mr. Neighbour made for me two sets of these
racks, one to take 2-lb. sections and the other 1-lb. sec-
tions, entirely in accordance with my own ideas and as
my sole invention, since no rack on this principle had ever
been devised up to that time. I used the racks with great
success during the summer of '81, and I exhibited two
sets made by Messrs. Dines, of Maldon, at the great
Annual Exhibition of the B. B. K. A. at South Kensing-
ton commencing on July 26th, 1881, which obtained a
High Commendation, and to which one of the judges
assured me that he should have awarded first prize if the
price had placed them within the means of the ordinary
bee-keeper.

They were exhibited in Class IX. under 1113- own name,
Nos. 56 and 57 ; and described in the Catalogue as
' Complete in three Hacks ; to be used as one Rack, or
Divisible ; ' and the accompanying engraving is taken

from a photograph of the original 1-lb. rack so exhibited,
and which is still in my possession. Their price, in the
Catalogue, was put at 12s. each set, which I am aware
was far too high, but it was the price charged to me, and
they are now produced at half that price, or less. The
rack was not registered, and it has now become, as I
wish it to be, public property.

The next public appearance of the rack was at the
Knightsbridge Show in July, 188:!, where Messrs. Abbott
obtained for it, under a different name, first prize, their
catalogue price being 6s. : the only alteration from the
original rack being a slight difference in the shutters,

and the introduction of a spriug to tighten the sections,
which I consider no improvement on the moveable end
of the original invention. Since that date it has taken,
in various hands, perhaps more prizes than any other
rack ; and very justly so, since, in my opinion, it is, all
points considered, the best rack we possess. Messrs.
Neighbour, Dines, Meadows, and, I have no doubt, other
firms, manufacture the racks, and will, I trust, continue-
to find a large sale for them.

Messrs. Dines, however, so far as I know, are the only
manufacturers who give the honour of the invention to
the inventor, by styling the rack ' The Raynor Divisible-
Section Back.' — George Raynob, Hazeleigh Hectori/,.
Nov. 10.

THE BLIGH COMPETITION AWARDS.

On October loth you published a list of the judges'
awards for the ' Bligh Competition.' May I, as a com-
petitor and prize-taker in the competition, make a short
comment on the subject P

I have read the rules very carefully, and as far as I
am able to understand the spirit and meaning of the
same, I have come to the conclusion that the competition
was instituted by the Hon. and Rev. H. Bligh tc-
teach and prove to cottagers that the modern system
of bee-keeping was far more profitable than the old
antiquated system of straw skeps and sulphur pits, and
that the rules were framed after a full discussion irr
the pages of the B.B.J, on fines to encourage the com-
petitors to produce the largest possible quantity of honey,
and that I opine is what cottagers have in view when
they embark in bee-keeping (they and their fathers
before them knew how to produce stock ad lib.), and-
what they want to know is how to make the largest
profit on the smallest outlay.

Now, sir, that has been my endeavour during the
competition, and the diary, pages 332—5 of B.B.J.r
show that I was prominently successful in my attempt,
yet Mr. T. Owen, with 54 lbs. less honey, is awarded
first prize, and I have to play second fiddle, whereas the
rules of the competition state that the prizes will be
awarded in order of merit to those who shall derive the
greatest profit between May, 1884, and August 31st,
1885, presumably the greatest weight and value of
honey.

Now, let me show by a very simple calculation the-
relative proportion of expenses to balance-sheet profits
as per tabulated form, page 332, by simply reducing,
outlay and profits to shillings, thus : —

T. Owen. W. Woodley. F. Woodley.

69)283(4 37)294(8 nearly. 41)243(6 nearly.
276 296 246

r. Seabrook.

H. Roberts.

J. Arnold

45)180(4

50)185(3i

42)175(4

180

175

168

10 7

Your readers will see by above that my profits were
nearly cent per cent more than T. Owen's, and that F.
Woodley was nearly fifty per cent more than his. Then
I notice Mr. Owen is credited with 10 lbs. more honey
in tabulated form than his diary shows.

Then another item of Mr. Owen's diary passes all
calculation, and also is beyond my comprehension, viz.,
the wonderful doings and results of his No. 1 hive, vide
page 333 of B.B.J, as follows: May 26, put a crate of
fourteen sections on No. 1 ; May 29th, put on another
crate of fourteen sections; June 2nd, put on another
crate of fourteen sections; June 6th, likely to swarm,
he cuts out all queen-cells except one, took old queen
and two frames from No. 1, and made new swarm No. 4.
Where did the bees come from to work out the foundation

December 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

389

and establish No. 4 ? Was No. 4 placed on the position
of No. 1, and No. 1 moved to a new position ? If so I
am sorry to have to say the following entry in his diary
is an impossibility, re the large swarm. No. 1 is now
queenless (June 6th), and must remain so till young
queen hatches out and fecundation has taken place,
consequently there must have been a very large falling
off in the population of the hive by the fact of the hive
supplying hive JNo. 4 with bees, and no breeding going
on for a week or ten days after the removal of the old
queen and the time the young queen began to lay, yet
he states in his diary, June 2-jrd, seventeen days after-
wards, that a natural swarm issued from No. 1, weighing
4i lbs. Incredible ! Really, it requires more than the
proverbial yranum salts to swallow such assertions.

I ask observant bee-keepers who are readers of the
B.B.J, if ever such an extraordinary feat was before
accomplished, and if anything- approaching it is known,
to kindly give us, through the pages of the B.B.J., an
account of the same.

When the ponderous swarm of 4n lbs. of bees, con-
sisting of from 20,000 to 30,000 bees, issued from No. 1
on June 23rd, it must of sheer necessity have been left
by the young' queen practically void of brood in any
stage. Strange that a swarm of that size should have
beeu in No. 1 at that date, and stranger still that she
should leave a prosperous colony behind, as later entries
show was the case, for we find that by July 1st, a week
afterwards, that all the forty-two sections are removed
from No. 1. I, with all due deference, submit the above
to the judges, and ask them, in justice to myself, to re-
consider their awards. — W. Woodley, World's End,
Ker:bury.

WINTERING BEES.

I think it well to caution bee-keepers that it is now
too late for syrup-feeding. \ am feeding the past few
winters with bee candy, and find it suits well. I have
the candy run off into 4-lb boxes, and have only to place
it over cluster by inverting the box. I also cut out top
of skep and place it thereon. This candy can be renewed
during winter where stocks are wholly destitute of
honey. Farmers and farm-labourers should cheer the
monotony of their daily labour by keeping a few hives
of bees, as the profit from them will help at a time like
the present, when every source of income is sorely
needed. We had a splendid honey season, and I sold off
all — skep at 0(7. and section at Is. ; no difficulty in finding
a market, as I built up niy own. Plenty of bee-keepers
want you to be 'a good fellow,' and sell theirs. —
J. Thaynor, Bee-keeper, Tinahely, Co. Wicldow.

BEE-STINGS.— MOVING BEES.

1 . My wife during the summer came down the garden
unknown to me to gather nasturtiums while I was
manipulating at a hive near. She found a few bees
round her, and removed into the kitchen, where one
stung her. She ran back to me to relieve her of the
bees. Of course she was besieged. I should think I
took twenty stings out of the hair of her head, and I
had a hot time of it myself. I could not tell whether
she would live or die for two or three days. Now, what
are the best means to be adopted in a case of emergency
like this? She is still nervous if she hears the sound
of a bee.

2. I have purchased four stocks of bees in wood hives
seventy miles distant, and have requested the lady to let
them remain until spring. I am now thinking these
hives will be expensive to come by passenger train, so I
thought of sending some light boxes similar to swarm-
boxes, only with slips of wood fully 5 of an inch apart,
screwed upright on the sides of the boxes, so remove
the frames and bees into the grooves of the boxes to

come by passenger train, and let the wood hives come by-
luggage train. May I ask your advice on the above P
Would it hurt to move them home in March, if so I could
then feed them ?

.' [1. As your wife suffered from nervous shock, you
should have given her sal volatile, about twenty drops in
a dessert-spoonful of water, which might have been re-
peated every half-hour or so till she had taken five or
six doses; afterwards less frequently, together with
strong beef-tea, and raw eggs beaten up in milk. In
severe cases it is best to call in at once that necessaiy evil
— the doctor. 2. You may move the bees as you suggest-
Fix in the combs by wire rakes, or stay tape, taking
only those which have any brood. It will be better if
you nail strips of wood on to the floor-board, so as to fix
the bottoms of the frames. You can cover the top with
a piece of strainer, and tack two pieces of perforated
zinc, about 1| in. wide, nailing it on to each bar, and
bending each piece over the sides of the hive and nailing
it. The end of March or early in April would be a.
suitable time, choosing a warm day, so as not to chill the
brood. — Ed.]

DROWNING BEE-HIVES IN THE ANCIENT
TIMES.

In reading an account of ' The Scottish Troops under
the King of Denmark,' I came across the following
incident, related by Munro, an officer of Mackay's
regiment : —

' Being quartered a mile from Lauemberg in a dorp,
where the boor had quitted his lodgings from fear, we
were forced to send our suttler, John Matheson, to that
town for provisions. In his absence our boys made use
of his rug to cover their faces in drowning of bee-hives.
The rug being rough did lodge a number of bees, which,
when the boys had drowned the bee-hives, they threw
away. The suttler coming late home, we being a-bed,
went to rest, and putting off his clothes, drew his rug to
cover him ; but as soon aa the bees found the warmness
of his skin, they began to punish him for his long stay;
so that he was forced, roaring like a madman, to rise
and throw off his rug, not knowing (though well he felt)
the smart of his sudden enemies. We called to him,
asking if he was mad. He made no answer, but still
cried the devil had bewitched him in piercing him in a
thousand parts ; still rubbing and scratching, crying with
pain, not knowing the reason, till a candle was lighted,
and seeing the bees, threw his rug in drawwell.'

It would appear from the above that it was the
custom to drown bees 250 years ago to get their honey.
The campaign here alluded to took place about the
year 1626. — Henry Dobbie, ThiclMorn, near Nonoieh.

BEES IN TREES.

I see in last Journal, dated loth Nov., notes respect-
ing bees in a tree. We have at the present time, at
Ottershaw, three trees occupied by bees. Two swarms
have taken up quarters in the white poplar and the
other in a very large birch. One, I should think, must
be a very strong colony : it has to my knowledge been
in its present quarters fourteen years. — A Surrey
Bee-keeper.

UNITING BEES WITHOUT TIFE USE OF
SCENTED SYRUP.

As we have all lands of subjects at this season
published in the Bee Journal, will you kindly allow
me to say a few words on the above subject? As
I have succeeded in uniting several lots of bees very
successfully, I think it will be of service to others, par-
ticularly to those that like to experiment. It._having-
answered so well with me, I think it will be the only

190

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[December I, 1885.

method that I will make use of in the future, as I think
scented syrup is often a means of attracting other bees,
and causes robbing and fighting1, not exactly at the time
that it is made use of, but on the following days. I find
that it is much better when its use can be dispensed
with altogether, there being then nothing to attract the
attention of other bees. The following is my mode of
procedure:— "When I have a stock of driven bees that I
wish to unite to a frame hive, I let them remain in the
straw skep till the other bees are settled down for the
night. Then I open the frame-hive and take out two or
three, or as many frames as will be required, and brush
the bees off into the hive, and place the beeless combs in
behind the division board. When sufficient combs have
been taken out, close the bees and combs up with the
division board, and leave the back part of the hive open
sufficiently to empty the driven bees in; they will then run
in among the combs, and very few will take if not put
in till close on dusk. Assist them with a feather, and
as soon as they are all in among the combs, cover them
up with only a very light covering, so that they can get
sufficient air. Let them remain till the following even-
ing. The hive is then opened. Slip back the division
board to make room for the combs that are to join them ;
put the combs alternately among the other combs and
"bees, close up the hive, and all will be well. If frames
of brood can be given to the driven bees out of the same
hive that they are to be united to, so much the better.
As the brood is continually hatching, they become
naturally mixed in twenty-four hours. With the same
combs and the hatching'brood, they have then got the
same scent with them. When I wish to unite two
frame-hives, I take two that are close neighbours. I
lift the frame-hive off the stand, and replace it with a
large thin board. A straw hive is put on this, and well
propped up at the front to give them plenty of room to
run in. Have a good-sized platform in front to brush
the bees on to. This can be done during the day. As
I get the bees and combs separated, I place them in a
comb-box. Any that contain brood is put in behind
the dummy (for a few minutes) of the same hive that
the bees have to be united. Cover them up to keep the
cool air off till there is time to put them in among the
-other bees and combs. Those should not be given to
the driven bees that are to join them, but put in the
centre of the hive in place of those removed. —
R. Philipson, Keswick, Cumberland.

THE COWAN HIVE.

In your Guide-book you state, in describing the
* Cowan ' hive, that it is made of one-inch pine, and
that the sides are rabbeted to receive ends of frame.
The rabbets cannot well be more than half-inch, and
and this would allow the top bar to be only 15A inches
instead of 17 inches as given for the ' standard ' frame.
If I have mistaken the direction, will you be so good (if
I may trespass on your valuable time) as to correct me ?
My hives are made on the plan of the ' Cheshire ' hive,
consequently my frames have a top bar of 16| inches.

Now, I propose to make a ' Cowan ' hive and a
' Combination ' as well, and transfer the frames and
"bees in the spring. As far as I can at present see, I
shall have to reduce the length of the top bars. I am
making my new hives early, because I propose to give
J shortly a lecture on ' Bees ; their habits, houses, and
honey,' illustrated by diagrams and apparatus.

I shall be glad to have your advice in next Journal,
if possible. I have begun bee-keeping only this year. I
am glad to hear that the Journal is to be published
weekly, and wish it all the success it deserves. — T. B.

[You are quite right, our top bar is only lo| inches
long. You will see that we use Novice's metal corners,

a description of which is given on page 83 of Guide
Book. There is also an illustration of these corners and
part of one of the rabbeted edges given, drawn full size.
If you wish to use your frames in a Cowan hive you
would have to cut off the ends of top-bar so as tj reduce
it to lo| inches, which would leave a projection of
three-quarters of an inch at each end. These frames
could be used equally as well in the Cheshire or Com-
bination hive. The answer to your other question you
will find in ' Notices to Correspondents.'— Ed.]

HONEY AS FOOD.

Dr. Bartrum must not, I think, be too hasty in
criticising Mr. Griffin's remark in reference to honey not
agreeing with some people. I have no doubt Mr. Griffin
had good reasons for saying what he did, and I for one
can prove the truth of his statement, as I have a sister-
in-law, who, if she eats the most pure, genuine, and
unadulterated English honey, is almost immediately
covered with rash. I have also known other people
suffer in various ways from eating pure honey. — James
Arthur Kempe, St. Breward Vicarage, Bodmin,
Cornwall.

DRONE AND WORKER-CELLS.

I am pleased to observe that you intend in your next
issue to insert a communication from Mr. Garratt ' on
inverting skeps.' This communication may throw some
light on an interesting problem in apiculture. For
many years past I have been endeavouring to ascertain
the cause which induces the bees at one time to build
worker-cells, and at another time drone-cells ; and I have
long held the opinion that the air, or the absence of the
air, fa the factor in the case. Thus, when the cluster of
bees in the hive is very dense, and the centre of it is
impervious to the air, worker-cells are formed; and that
when the bees are diffused, they then feel the effects of
the air, and drone-cells are produced. I am in hopes
that Mr: Garratt will mention if, in the inverted hives,
when the positions of the worker and drone-cells have
relatively been changed, the bees will have made any
change in those cells, viz., whether the drone-cells at the
top of the hive will have been converted into worker-
cells, and the worker-cells at the bottom into drone-cells.
It would also be interesting to know, assuming that no
change is made in the drone-cells at the top of the hive,
whether those cells in their original state are used as
receptacles for honey ; as I believe it is not usual for
bees, under ordinary conditions, to use the drone-cells as
storehouses, but only for their primary purpose of
rearing drones. — W". B. Hunt, Fryerne, Caterhum,
November ~\$>th.

[This new_ theory of our esteemed correspondent does
not agree with our own experience. We have found
drone-cells built when there has been a glut of honey
and in which only honey was stored as fast as collected,
and such cells had never been used for rearing drones.
We believe that drone-cells are built both for storing
honey and rearing drones, and that they are only con-
structed when bees experience a need of them for either
of these purposes. We recollect an instance where the
bees in a straw skep built a semicircular piece of drone-
comb six inches in diameter and continued the rest of
the comb with worker-cells. These were used for breed-
ing, as was plainly visible by the colour of the 'cells, but
the drone cells remained a pure white and were never
used for any other purpose than for storing honey. This
comb was right in the centre of the hive and where,
according to our correspondent, there would be an
absence of air, and the cluster of bees would be very

December 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

SOI

dense. We would also point out that a cluster of bees
can never be so dense as to be impervious to air, or the
bees could not exist. They require pure air as much as
any human being does, and would speedily perish in the
absence of it. — Ld.]

TITOH OF CELLS.

To my surprise I find from the last number of the
Journal, that most of your correspondents are some-
what in the dark about the inclination or pitch of the
cells in both honey and brood-cornb; so perhaps the
following facts from my own observations may not be
without interest.

In the brood-comb the pitch is very slight, the cells
being nearly horizontal ; and as the cells are short (half-
inch only) and mostly worker-size, they do not show the
same amount of variation as longer cells and drone-size
do, when used merely for honey storing, as in sections.
In the latter case I have found cells, the body of which
was curved in such a manner that the mouth of the cell
was of a totally different pitch to the bottom. If I
remember right, I have even had instances of the outer
half of the cell being joined to the inner at an obtuse
angle which was plainly perceptible.

I have also found three distinct pitches in a 4A x 4
section ; towards the top, and also towards the two
sides; 'such that, if I may say so, the cell-mouths
radiated outwards from the centre in every direction,
downwards excepted. I can send you instances of this,
if you wish ; and if, as it appears, it has not been ob-
served before.

I don't know why the bees build cells with this out-
ward pitch unless the following be the reason. In
working full sheets of foundation, whether in sections or
frames, I find the bees secure them at the top and work
out the cells in the centre of the sheet first, owing
perhaps to the heat at the top being too great. Now it
may be that they increase the diameter of these centre
cells veiy slightly as they get to the mouth ; if so this
would at once account for the outward pitch. Accurate
measurement would be required to test the correctness of
this explanation, which I cannot affirm to, as I have not
tested it yet. If it is correct, I think the outward pitch
would seldom, if ever, be observed in cases where the
bees have had to supply the midrib themselves ; but
where they have had f oundation given them, it would be
more common.

In my sections, too, the drone-cells often appear
flattened so that the horizontal diameter seems greater
than the vertical, when seen from a point at right angles
to the comb-face. When seen from above, so as to look
down the cells, they seem to be true hexagons. I am
rather doubtful as to their correctness in shape. As I
said before, drone-comb used for sections shows these
points most clearly, but they can be observed even in
brood-comb worker-cells as well, though to a very much
smaller extent.

Now the foregoing observations appear to me to point
to the conclusion that reversing brood-comb does not
matter, but that with thick slabs of honey-comb re-
versing, large pieces would be objectionable if the pitch
is very pronounced ; inasmuch as I find the bee gives the
latter a much greater pifck of set purpose.

In my own apiary I have not tried reverting frames,
as mine are not adapted to it ; but any small pieces of
clean comb available, such as new drone-comb cut out
of a frame before being used for breeding I use as
starters for sections, and these I place in the boxes any
side up so as to give me the most convenient attachment.
As I do not have occasion to completely reverse large
pieces of full thickness I have no trouble in this way.
For those who wish to reverse honey-cells with a pro-
nounced slope, it might be advisable to pare down the
comb to half thickness in a few cases.

Have any of your correspondents had a comb with the
rows of cells horizontal on one side and vertical on the
other ? A year or two back I had one, the peculiar
part, was about the size of my hand. The patch was, I
think, horizontal, the rest of the comb, at each side,
above and below, being vertical. This was built on found-
ation I don't know if it is still in existence, if so it is
now in one of my hives in actual use. This foundation,
I think, had the rows of cells vertical, and it was altered
by the bees as not quite suited to their ideas ; for, I
think, the rows are horizontal in a natural comb. 1 find
that cutting down a brood-comb to the midrib and
using as foundation, results in white cell-walls being
built ou a black midrib, as they do not clear out the
cocoons, &c, in such a case, as I had expected.

Referring to Mullenhoff's theory of the origin of the
hexagon, quoted on page 7 of the present volume, I find
it stated that the bee can only build round cells when
occurring singly, as a queen-cell ; and that the hexagon
is obtained by the equal pressure of each one on the
other. Well I thought this correct till the other day
taking up Wood's Homes without Hands, and reading
chapter 30th about the 'Icarias and ltaphigasters,' I
came on a staggerer; as in the first case, we have
isolated cells joined together by one, two, or three sides
only, and yet each hexagon is as true, and the angles as
sharp as possible. In the second case round cells are
joined side by side somewhat after the manner of a
wasp's comb.

My own observations hardly bear out the assumed
roundness of the cell-wall at the edge of a comb, but
these are not sufficient for a decided opinion. However,
I think, the involuntary origin of the upward pitch of
the cells is sufficiently disproved by what I have pre-
viously stated, inasmuch as the bee varies her pitch
to serve the varying purposes for which the cell is
designed.

As for instinct, or the divine intuition, among
animals by virtue of which the}' mechanically do what-
ever is necessary, and without any mistake or possibility
of such, I must frankly confess that, although I am
pretty intimately acquainted with certain individual
animals, I cannot find a trace of it. So far from it
indeed, the better I learn to understand the ways of any
animal, the more clearly do I find thought and reason
instead. This reason has no conception of abstract ideas,
but concrete only, and is more like a young child's
intellect in most points and quite as liable to mistakes.
I find the bee of a true-blue Tory turn of mind, and un-
willing to try new methods of work. Instinct for me
means merely habitual and partly involuntary actions.
What does ' Woodleigh ' mean by it? Till he and his
opponent define their meaning they won't get on much, I
doubt.

Do bees perspire ? In opening some of my colonies
when in best condition, I notice at times a sort of oily or
greasy appearanco ; I cannot describe it, but it looks
almost as if they did, and yet it seems an absurd idea.
Has any one else noticed it ? — Student.

[The pitch of brood-cells is generally slightly inclined
upwards, from 4 to 5 degrees ; drone and honey cells,
which vary in size and are longer, are inclined still
more in an upward direction; but they do not radiate
as suggested by our correspondent, neither are they
flattened. Drone as well as worker cells are hexagons
(not flattened), but they may have a flattened appear-
ance if looked at at an angle. — Ed.]

CONDEMNED BEES AND HOW TO MAKE THE c ,
BEST OF THEM.

In British Bee Journal of August 15th, 1884, under
the above heading your correspondent gaveajjood deal
of information as to the treatment of condemned bees,

392

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[December 1, 1885.

and also gave his plan of bumping instead of driving.
There was an objection made to this plan in B. B. J. of
September 1st by Mr.G. J. Buller, and that gentleman con-
sidered it an error, and condemned the plan altogether,
and so did Mr. W. S. Joyce. I considered it a good
plan, and, accordingly, tried it last year and found that
it answered well in all respects, as your correspondent
had stated, as regards time and other advantages. I have
not driven a single hive of bees this year, although some
have been only casts which have not filled the hive with
comb, and then the comb is very tender. If there are
sticks in the hive they should be twisted round before
being pulled out, and then they will come clean from the
crown of the hive. I cannot help thanking Ft Lyon for
his good instructions, and should like to know if any of
your readers have tried the plan, and the result. My
advice to all that take condemned bees is to bump, and
not drive; and for this reason besides the valuable
advantages that F. Lyon gives, you can see if the combs
are free from foul-brood, which you cannot do if you
drive. This is a great advantage, as a bee-keeper may
spoil all the hives he has by bringing home condemned
bees that are infected. Those that try the plan can
manage it much better without gloves and the stinging
is much less than with them. I have taken six of a
night without a sting. — II. Jeanes, Kilmington.

CURE OF FOUL BROOD BY BRIMSTONE.

I have read with interest in your valuable Journal the
subject of foul brood and various methods of cure, but I
have not seen brimstone mentioned as a means of cure.
I had a stock in a bar-frame hive that was beautiful and
healthy to the latter end of June, when I found a little
foul brood. Not having time to attend to it just then I
let it go for a week, when I put a piece of camphor in
behind the bars, but at the end of a fortnight, to my
disgust, I found it very bad, so I thought I would take
the queen away, which I sent to Mr. Cheshire, who
could find no trace of disease in her. In about a week's
time I inserted two queen-cells, after destroying several
in the hive, but I suppose I missed one as the bees tore
them both open during the next two days. When I
examined the hive a fortnight after I found a young queen,
but'she bad not begun to lay, and the other brood that
was alive when I first took queen away had all hatched
out, so I shook all the bees off the combs into an empty
skep and tied them up. The bars of comb as they were
I put back into the hive (eight), four each end of hive ;
then I took a red flower-pot saucer, witli some lighted
touchwood, with about 1 oz. of brimstone broken up on
top and put in the centre, putting a piece of sheet-iron
over the top of bars to prevent the quilt scorching,
which I put over all, closing up the hive, thinking of
leaving it for forty-eight hours, but to my surprise next
morning I found the bees had eaten their way out of the
skep through the cloth it was tied up in, and were flying
about pretty mad, so I opened the hive, took out the
saucer, rearranged the bars, and tossed the bees back
into their hive. When about a fortnight later I found
brood in all stages with but a few bad to be seen
here and there, but at the end of August there was
not a trace of foul brood to be seen, all a most pearly
white.

-Jf this has not been tried I hope it may be of some
value to brother bee-keepers, as it is very simple and the
cost, I might say, is almost nothing. I could give
numbers of cases where I have been asked to attend to
foul-broody stocks when it was too late, they were so
weakened.

I have also cured another stock of my own with
camphor, That I took at the commencement, by putting
a piece of tamphor behind the frames wrapped in a
piece of_£alico about the size of a small walnut, and
about the same quantity broken up and put on a piece of

perforated zinc over the feeding-hole, well covered up.
— John Hocnsom, Leigh, Tunbridge, November \Qith.
[We are not surprised to hear that our correspondent
has cured foul-brood by burning sulphur (brimstone).
It is well known that the product of combustion of
sulphur is sulphurous acid gas, and that this is highly
destructive to all life. Did we only require to destroy
the bacteria iu the combs and hives, this sort of fumi-
gation might be admissible, but a very small dose of
this gas would destroy also every bee in the hive. The
gas has a suffocating odour of burning sulphur and a
sour taste, and if breathed even in a diluted state, causes
cough and headache, and in a concentrated form it is
fatal to life. The liquid acid evaporates with such
rapidity at an ordinary temperature as to generate a
very great degree of cold capable of freezing mercury.
Sulphurous acid arrests fermentation and putrefaction,
and is a much more powerful germicide than either
salicylic acid, phenol, thymol, or camphor. L. Bucholtz,
who has experimented and observed the effect of various
substances in destroying the power of reproduction in
bacteria, found that a solution of one part sulphurous
acid in 666 parts of water was only required, whereas
it required of salicylic acid a solution of one in 312, of
thymol one in 200, of phenol as much as one in twenty-five.
Of these substances it will be seen that sulphurous acid
is by far the most powerful, but at the same time it is
more dangerous to use. Salicylic acid stands next in
order, and is perfectly safe, even in very much larger
doses than are necessary for a cure, and when used for
fumigation, penetrates every cell and crevice, and even
the bodies of the bees. In considering the effect pf
various substances on the destruction of the bacteria of
foul-brood, we must not forget that we have bees in a
hive, and also brood in various stages of development,
which we wish to preserve, therefore the results of the
experiments on the germicidal properties of these sub-
stances must be taken with caution. They prove the
power to prevent the development of bacteria, but
cannot be absorbed in sufficiently large doses to act
effectually, and without themselves destroying organic
functions. In this instance it seems to us that this must
have been a case of disease in the brood only, as the
queen was healthy, or most likely there would have been
a reappearance of it in the hive. We think that the
absence of disease in a queen makes all the difference
between an easy and a difficult cure, and we believe
constitutes the difference between the two kinds of
foul-brood named by Dzierzon and others mild and
malignant foul-brood. — Ed.]

INSECT FERTILISATION OF FLOWERS.

The following article is extracted from 'The Text-
book of General Botany ' by Dr. W. J. Behrens of
Gottingen. Translated for the Pojmlar Science Monthly.
Revised by Patrick Geddes, F.R.S.E.

Of insects the Coleoptera, the Lepidoptera, the Diptera,
and the Ilymenoptera, are the orders most concerned in
the fertilisation of flowers. More rarely, fertilisation is
effected by one or other species of Hemiptera, Neuro-
ptera, and Orthoptera, but these are not of sufficient
importance to demand further attention here. We shall
therefore confine our remarks to thfcorders constituting
the former group, and consider the various physical
peculiarities by which insects belonging to them are
enabled to effect the end in question. Such peculiar-
ities chiefly take the form of "Special structnres (in-
variably confined to the bead,) by me»ns of which the
insects are enabled to reach and abstract the honey
contained in the flower. We shall also have to consider
the organs concerned in the transport of the pollen.

The order Lepidoptera comprises many species of
great importance in effecting the process of fertilisation.

December 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

393

Their large wings are well adapted for rapid flight from
flower to flower, and their long proboscis enables them
to reach the honey even when the nectary lies at the
bottom of a very long and narrow corolla-tube.

The position assumed by the butterflies when engaged
in abstracting the honey deserves notice. The wings,
which during flight flutter to and fro with a rapid
motion, are folded together perpendicularly over the
body, in which position they are maintained so long as
the insect remains poised on the flower. The butter-
fly is thus enabled more readily to escape detection by
its many enemies (e. g. birds) than if, when resting its
brilliant wings were outspread. The under surface of
the wings is usually of a much less striking colour than
the upper, and consequently does not prove so attractive.
It even happens in many instances that butterflies only
visit such flowers as are of the same colour as their own
wings, this precaution, of course, rendering detection
extremely difficult. Many blue butterflies show a
marked preference for blue meadow flowers, while in the
Alps the scarlet lilies and many of the orange-coloured
Composite are visited almost exclusively by butterflies
of like hue. The moths, while extracting honey, do not
assume a position similar to that of the butterflies, but
hover over the flowers, their wings rapidly vibrating
meanwhile.

The butterflies are excellent honey-hunters, because,
as already said, their proboscis is very highly developed.
It arises from the head midway between the eyes, and
frequently exceeds the entire, body of the insect in length.
When not in use, it is kept coiled up like a watch-spring,
but can be uncoiled at will, and thrust deep down into
the nectary of a flower. The proboscis is hollow, and
the honey is sucked up by the extreme tip.

In the butterfly the proboscis is the only part of the
mouth that is fully developed. In many insects the
mouth is very complicated in structure; but in the
butterfly a number of the parts are almost entirely sup-
pressed. The labial palpi, however, are usually pretty
well marked. They are long and narrow, and are densely
covered with hairs. To these hairs the pollen adheres,
while the butterfly is eDgaged in sucking the honey, and
by them it is carried to the stigma of the next flower
which the insect enters.

The proboscis is usually from three to seven centi-
metres long, but in many tropical moths it attains a
length of over twenty centimetres. It is by the great
length of their proboscis that many butterflies are en-
abled to suck the honey from flowers having very long
and narrow corolla-tubes, where it would be quite inac-
cessible to other insects. We need scarcely say that
this feature is a great advantage to the butterfly order,
for it means that they have the monopoly of the honey
of flowers with a long, tubular corolla. The honey-suckle
(Lonicera Periclymenum) is a good native example of a
flower with a tabular corolla, in which the nectary is so
situated as to be beyond the reach of the various bees
and butterflies with short proboscides, likely to be
attracted by it in the daytime. In this case the honey is
entirely reserved for one of the evening moths {Sphinx
ligustri), which possess a proboscis of almost exactly the
same length as the corolla of the flower, i. e., about forty
millimetres. Attracted by their fragrance, the insect
will hover over a cluster of flowers for a time ; finally
selecting one, it uncoils its long proboscis, thrusts it deep
into the innermost recesses of the corolla, and, at its
leisure, sucks the sweets denied to less fortunate mem-
bers of its kind.

As fertilisers the beetles are not so important as the
butterflies and moths. Only a small proportion pay
regular visits to flowers, the greater number deriving
their food from quite other sources. Many species which
do frequent flowers only effect injury, devouring, as they
do, some of the most important organs, e.g., the stamens
or the ovary. Others, however, and especially those

whose small size admits of their creeping into the interior
of \he flower, frequently promote cross-fertilisation, the
viscia pollen adhering to the general surface of their body,
from which it is brushed off by the stigma of the next
flower they enter. Such flower-beetles as Anthrenus,
Meligethes, Malachias, and certain smaller sorts, are ex-
tremely useful in this way.

In other species certain parts of the body are specially
adapted for obtaining food from flowers. Thus, in the
crown-beetle (Cerocuma Schafferi) the middle of the
antennae is characterised by very strong and well-de-
fined expansions, and is partly covered with hair. The
palpi are very long, and the tongue is provided with two
tufts of hair. These form together a large yellow crest
on the anterior portion of the head. In midsummer this
beetle is occasionally to be met with on the flower of the
milfoil and corn marigold. If one of these beetles be
caught and examined with a lens, the crest is usually
found to be covered with a multitude of little yellow
pollen-grains. Among the long-haired beetles the
Ltptwidee are specially well adapted for procuring food
from flowers. The anterior part of the body (head and
thorax) is narrow and elongated, so as to enable the in-
sect to push its way pretty deeply into the ulterior of
the flower. The mouth-parts are well developed, and
stand straight forward from the head. The labium is
usually hairy, and is thus extremely useful in extracting-
honey.

Compared with the beetles, Diptera or flies take a
very prominent position as promoters of cross-fertilisa-
tion. One great advantage which they have over the
former class is their power of free and rapid motion.
While the beetles are almost without exception compelled
to adopt a slow mode of locomotion, the movements of
the flies are among the most rapid known in the insect
world. The number of native species of Diptera is very
large ; of those which frequent flowers we shall here
consider but a few. One of the largest and most rapid
flying of the Diptera is the humble-bee fly (Bombylius
major). In this species the proboscis, which is situated
on the anterior portion of the head, is of considerable
length, so that the insect can reach the honey even when
it is secreted some way down the corolla-tube. The
manner in which Bombylius hovers over a flower while
extracting the honey closely resembles that already de-
scribed as characteristic of the moths among the Lepi-
doptera.

The Empidte are easily distinguished by the peculiar
formation of the head and proboscis. The latter is not
directed forward, but almost perpendicularly downward,
and the head itself is round ; the whole thus bearing
some resemblance to the long-beaked head of a crane.
Many of the Syrphida are also honey-suckers. In struc-
ture they resemble the common house-fly more than the
Diptera we have just considered. The posterior part of
the body is mostly distinguished by a number of bright
and dark coloured bauds and specks. As typical
examples we may mention the large Syrphus, the allied
Erutalis tenax and arbustorum, and the cone-fly (Rhingia
rostrata). The latter may easily be recognised by its
peculiar proboscis, which is kept coiled up under a small
conical projection on the anterior part of its head. The
sucking apparatus of the Diptera consists of a suctorial
proboscis, resembling in a general way that of the
common house-fly. It is tubular, short and thickened at
ite extremity, so as to form a disk, upon which are
furrows and hairs. It is by means of this disk that the
honey is taken up. The proboscis of the Diptera being
almost always short and blunt, they can only extraet
honey from such flowers as have an open corolla. In-
sects of this order, then, need only be sought for on flat
flowers, and there indeed they may be seen on any sunny
day, rapidly creeping about, and greedily imbibing the
nectar. The Umbelliferce are special favourites with
them, the nectar being found on the disk in the centre of

39-4

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[December 1, 1885.

the flower, which can very easily be reached. The
Diptera are never found on flowers with long corolla-
tubes. Only such forms as the humble-bee flies, Sgrphidce,
Empidre, and a few others, have a proboscis large enough
to enable them to obtain honey from flowers of slightly
tubular form. The proboscis of Bombglius is about one
centimetre long. It is strong and stiff, cleft at the ex-
tremity, and thickly beset with hairs. Certain other
structures entering into the formation of the mouth {e.g.
the lip, the mandible, and the maxilhe), almost equal it
in length. The cone-fly (Mhingia rostrata), in common
with many other broad-headed flies, possesses the power
of coiling up its proboscis, the length of which is about
twelve millimetres. That anterior portion of the cone-
fly's head is prolonged forward so as to form a sort of
beak. When not in use, the proboscis is kept coiled up
beneath this prolongation. When required, the ex-
tremity of the proboscis is first inclined downward, and
the organ is next suddenly shot out to its full length.
When fully extended the proboscis projects far beyond
the beak-like anterior portion of the head. The extrac-
tion of the honey is effected by means of the cleft tip.
The cleft extremity is used in sucking.

We have already seen that many flowers are ex-
clusively visited by Lepidoptera, their honey not being
within the reach of insects belonging to any other order.
Such, for instance, are honeysuckle and privet. Aery
few flowers, however, are frequented solely by Diptera ;
for the length of the proboscis, even in those Diptera, in
which it is best developed, is attained, if not surpassed,
by many of the Hymenoptera (humble-bees, honey-bees,
&c). The latter class, therefore, share with the Diptera
the privilege of frequenting certain species of flowers.
We shall now pass on to consider them for a little.

Of all insects the Hymenoptera (Bees and Wasps) are,
on account both of their physical structure and their
peculiar instincts, the best adapted for the task of ex-
tracting and collecting honey from flowers. The species
comprised in this order, and more especially the bees,
are all characterised by a superior share of intelligence,
not only as honey-hunters, but in many other respects.
Their mode of living together in large, well-ordered
communities, presided over by a queen, has long been a
subject of marvel and of study. Out of the wax, which
exudes at the joints of the abdominal segments of their
bodies, they construct a ' comb,' consisting of a number
of united cells. The cells, when finished, are filled with
honey or ' bee-bread,' a substance composed of a mixture
of honey and pollen. This bee-bread forms the food
upon which the young larvaj are reared.

The bees are the greatest promoters of cross-fertilisa-
tion, not only among the Hymenoptera, but among all
insects whatsoever.

Over two hundred species of our native bees (Apidce)
are known as frequenting flowers, the most familiar being
the common honey-bee. The task of collecting and
storing honey is performed exclusively by the neuters
(workers). The humble-bees do not fall far short of the
honey-bees in the assiduity with which they frequent
flowers, and they surpass the latter in size and in length
of proboscis. Our most common species are the earth
humble-bee (Bombus terrestris), the garden humble-bee
{Bombus hwtorum), the moss- bee {Bombus muscoruni),
and the stone-bee {Bombus lapidarius}. Aery similar
to the humble-bees in appearance and structure are the
hairy bees. They are readily distinguished, however, as
we shall presently see, by the formation of the hind-legs.
There is also a sand-bee {Andrena Schrankella, a species
representing one of the largest genera), which may be
seen in early spring on catkins and other spring flowers.

We have already said that, over and above their high
intelligence, bees are remarkable for having certain points
of their body specially modified in connexion with the
acquiring of honey and pollen. We will now further
consider the structures concerned in effecting this end.

viz., the suctorial apparatus and the apparatus for col-
lecting pollen.

The suctorial apparatus is in most bees developed in
very great perfection. In many the proboscis is of con-
siderable length, in some cases being as long as the body.
It consists of the long vermiform tongue (f) as in the
butterflies), the upper surface of which is mostly well

TONGUE OF THE HONEY-BEE.

provided with oblique rows of long bristles. The
maxillee {I) and part of the labial palpi {7c) are modified
into flat, leaf-like, linear processes, which are arranged
around the tongue (/), and thus complete the suctorial
proboscis. While, therefore, the suctorial apparatus of
the butterfly consists simply of a coiling or suctorial
tongue, it must be noted that in the bee other parts are
concerned in the formation of the tubular sucking appa-
ratus. In many bees, besides, the tip of the tongue is
peculiarly modified, so as to enable the insect to taste
the honey before beginning to collect it, an arrangement
by which honey of unpleasant taste can be rejected.

APPARATUS FOE, COLLECTING POLLEN.

Of all insects the bees alone have certain parts of
their body specialised for the collection of pollen. The
structures developed for this end are in their way perfect

ANTERIOR LEO OF A WORKER BEE.

They may be found either on the ventral surface of the
posterior portion of the body or on the legs. Accor-
dingly, bees may thus be divided into two groups: 1.
Bees having structures for the collection of pollen on the
ventral surface of the body ; and, 2. Bees having such

December 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

395

structures on their legs. To the first group belong the
mason-bees (Osmia) and the leaf -cutter bees (Megachile).
In these species the ventral surface of the abdomen is
furnished with long, stiff, retroverted hairs, by means of
which the pollen is brushed from the anthers as the
insect passes im or out of the flower. The grains get en-
tangled among the hairs, from among which the bee
afterwards dislodges them by means of its legs.

This contrivance is admirably adapted for obtaining
pollen from flowers having a flat corolla, but not for
such as have the anthers concealed in a deep tube. Our
most highly developed bees (bumble-bees, honey-bees,
&c.) have, therefore, an apparatus suitable for collecting
pollen from flowers of all shapes.

The pollen, once removed from the anthers, is next
transferred to the hairs, or to the surface of the tibia, to
which, being viscid, it readily adheres. After the pro-
cess of collecting has been carried on for some time, the
pollen forms thick yellow masses, which completely en-
velope the legs. Laden with the fruits of its toil, the
insect wings its way homeward, and deposits them in
the bee-hive.

"While our native flowers are many of them entirely
dependent on insects for the transference of pollen, the
process of cross-fertilisation is, in many tropical species,
always effected by birds, which visit the flowers on
account of their nectar.

In America the humming-birds and in Africa the
honey-eaters are the great promoters of cross-fertilisa-
tion.

The honey-birds are found in the tropical regions of
Africa, Asia, and Australia, while the humming-birds
belong to tropical and South America. The former
suck tie honey with their long tubular tongue, which is
brush-like at the tip. Their relations to flowers have
not yet been sufficiently investigated, but a good deal is
known respecting those of humming-birds.

The humming-birds are small (the largest species
attaining to about the size of a swallow, the smallest
not much larger than a humble-bee) and of delicate
structure. They are famed for their magnificent
plumage, which almost always displays metallic tints.
Their flight does not resemble that of our native birds,
being maintained by rapid vibrations of the wings,
which enable them to remain apparently motionless in
one spot for a considerable time. Their passage from
place to place is effected by a series of rapid darts,
almost too swift for the eye to follow. Their fligit
might perhaps be best compared to that of a moth.
Like these insects, the humming-birds hover long over a
flower, sipping the honey with their long, thin bill, and
in other particulars also — in colour and form, for ex-
ample— humming-birds and moths offer some remarkable
parallels. Representatives of each may be found, to
distinguish between which needs a close scrutiny, and
which, when on the wing, might perplex the best
observer. To all outward appearance the humming^
birds are birds when at rest, but insects when in motion.

We thus see that in the tropics there are not only
wind and insect-fertilised rlow-ers, as with us, but also
certain which are bird-fertilised, i.e., plants in which the
transference of the pollen is effected by humming-birds.

$ebieixr.

Ptschelovodsti-o, jwsvjastchjaet.ya sjelleshim outrshi-
teljam, by A. Zoubareff, St. Petersburg. This is a
new work of 271 pages, and, as its title implies, is
devoted to the instruction of Russian village school-
masters in bee-keeping. The author is a well-known
Russian bee-keeper, and as he has travelled a good deal
in Europe he has been able to gather much information
on bee-keeping in other countries besides his own.

He first describes the primitive methods of keeping

bees in Russia, and then goes on to explain the improved
methods of Germany, Switzerland, England, Italy,
France, America, Denmark, Spain, and Belgium. Al-
though formerly an advocate of the German system of
hive his travels have opened his ej'es to the great ad-
vantages to be derived by using hives such as are
adopted in England, America, and in the French-
speaking portion of Switzerland. The Dadant hive,
with which he became acquainted whilst staying in the
latter country, is illustrated and described, as well as a
number of inventions adopted by Swiss bee-keepers.
Nor are our appliances and methods forgotten, for he
speaks of them in complimentary terms, and the British
Bee-keeper's Guide-book and its illustrations are laid
under heavy contribution ; although in this case, as
it frequently happens with some Continental authors,,
the sources from which information is derived are not
always acknowledged.

Bee-keeping in Russia has hitherto been carried on
principally for the supply of wax, because a very large
quantity of this is used in the manufacture of candles,
as the ritual of the Greek Orthodox Church (the Russian
Church) requires that these should be made of pure bees-
wax only, and the priests are very particular with regard
to this. Mr. Zoubareff points out that, as the honey
resources of Russia are very great, by adopting the im-
proved methods of bee-culture much more coidd be
obtained. Even close to St. Petersburg, on the Lake of
Ladoga, he is able to get great quantities of very fine
honey. He says that he sent some of this honey to M.
Bertrand, at Nyon, and that it was pronounced second
only to the honey coming from Grion at a height of
3707 feet above the sea. This honey, which was said to
have been gathered from jEchlum vidgare (Common
Viper's Bugloss), a weed which abounds in the plains near
St. Petersburg, we had an opportunity of tasting and
found it very good, although the flavour was not to be
compared to that of clover or esparcette.

The honey supply of the country falling far below the
demand, he recommends village schoolmasters to take up
the subject and add to their income by keeping bees.

It appears that there are many more enemies of bees
in Russia than with us. Amongst those mentioned are
bears, who are very fond of honey, and will frequently
destroy a hive if they can get at it, and the only remedy
is to have the hives in houses. Storks are also mentioned,,
as well as gad-flies, as enemies of honey bees ; but
Russian gad-flies must be different to ours, for, with
us, in their larva state, they are parasitic on herbivorous
animals, and in their perfect state we have never seen
them attack bees and suck out their honeyed sweets, as
the author describes.

A whole chapter is devoted to the diseases of bees,,
vertigo, constipation, dj'sentery, and foul brood, being
minutely described, and the remedies for the latter,,
camphor, eucalyptus, and salicylic acid recommended..
We were surprised to find no mention of the phenol
treatment which a fellow-countryman of the author's,.
Professor Boutlerof, of St. Petersburg, and author of
Ptschehi, a work now in its fifth edition, introduced in
1874. Notwithstanding that a Russian winter lasts fre-
quently for six months the author prefers wintering bees
in the open to a cellar, as recommended by some ; and
we feel greatly flattered by finding our directions
given in the British Bee-heejiers' Guide-booh literally
reproduced as being the best for successful wintering,
even in a climate like Russia. The book, on the whole,,
is well written, in a fluent and easy style ; and we have
no doubt that, if the schoolmasters, for whom it is
specially prepared, study it and adopt the improved
hives opening at the top, there is a great future for bee-
keeping in Russia, and that, instead of importing honey
and wax to supply the present demand, she will be able
to supply other countries where, owing to inefficient
hives and appliances, bee-keeping is on the decline.

396

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[December 1, 1885.

Jfnzxiglt,

FRANCE.

Writing to the Bulletin (V Apiculture de la Suisse
Komandc, M. Andre Parpaite, of Chateau de Carignan
(Ardennes), says : ' The Carniolans have slightly de-
ceived us, nearly all their honey turned into brood, one
queen laid in June 3251 to 3272 eggs a-day ! But when
the Italians were inactive, the Carniolans made up for
lost time and filled several frames with honey, found I
do not know where. The Italians this year have
satisfied us completely, but it is very difficult to get satis-
factory queens from breeders.'

In the same Journal we find Brother Henri, of
Chateauroux (Indu), writing to say he had completely
cured foul brood by fumigating with thyme. Three
hives very badly diseased were submitted to fumigation
with thyme for eight days, and all traces of foul
brood disappeared. The remedy is as simple as it is
effective.

SWITZERLAND.

M. Ed. Bertrand, editor of Bulletin <V Apiculture de
la Suisse Romande, and President of the ' Societe
Romande d' Apiculture,' lias this summer given a course
of lectures and instruction in bee-keeping. The course,
which took place at Nyon, lasted six days, and was
attended by forty-seven persons. In all fifty-seven
persons entered their names, but ten withdrew owing
to the bad weather. The audience was a very miscel-
laneous one, consisting of land-owners, agriculturists,
tradesmen, professors, gardeners, farm servants, a watch-
maker, an engineer, a doctor, an architect, a chemist, a
forester, and several ladies. With the exception of three
persons, who came from France, they all belonged to the
cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Neuchatel, and Berne.

Instruction commenced at half- past seven every morn-
ing with lectures and the theory, and the afternoons
were devoted to practical work in the apiary.

M. Bertrand gave all his descriptions in such a clear
way that they were within the comprehension of those
even who knew nothing about bees. Notwithstanding
the rainy weather every pupil had the opportunity of
manipulating the hives in his turn. M. Bertrand was
assisted by M. Auberson, of St. Cergnes, who drove the
bees and transferred combs for the instruction of those
present.

A visit was also paid to Allevays, M. Bertrand's
apiary (described on page 20, British Bee Journal for
1884), situated in the Jura.

GERMANY.

Two Methods of Detecting Adulteration of
Wax. — In one of the last numbers of the Bienenzeitxmg
you gave us some information about ceresine. I was at the
time engaged on a similar inquiry which, however, from
want of time, I was unable to complete, but some notes
I made concerning ceresine may perhaps still be of interest
to you. Its melting point varies between 40° and 80°
(Reaumur), according to its origin. Its specific weight
is quite as varying, but does not exceed 0'91,in every
case, therefore, it is specifically lighter than bees-wax,
the specific weight of which is 0'96. The solvents
for ceresine are the same as for bees-wax. Ceresine
dissolves readily and completely in benzine, petroleum,
ether, ether and bisulphide of carbon. Fuming sul-
phuric acid (so called Nordhausen Acid) acts very
differently upon the two kinds of wax. Ceresine
heated with fuming sulphuric acid is not decomposed
into carburetted hydrogen, the mixture at most assum-
ing a dark colour from the presence of organic substances.
If the solution be diluted with water and shaken with
petroleum ether, the wax passes into the latter, and on

evaporating the solvent, is left behind in the shape of
white flakes. Bees-wax when similarly treated effer-
vesces violently and is so completely decomposed that
no portion of it passes into the petroleum ether. By this
means it is easy to detect adulteration of bees-wax with
ceresine.

Another method, the so-called floating test, is easily
applied to ascertain the purity of wax. A little pure
wax being melted a few drops of the melted wax are
dropped upon a slip of glass ; a few drops of the wax to
be examined being prepared in the same way. Some
spirit is now poured into a tall narrow glass the small
pellets of pure wax are thrown in, and, while stirring the
liquid, water is added until the particles of wax are
floating in it. As spirit and water, when mixed, cause a
rise of temperature in the liquid, the particles on cooling
will rise to the top, because the liquid has become
specifically heavier. More spirit should then be added
until the wax particles are floating in the liquid again.
If the particles of the wax to be tested are placed in this
liquid they should likewise float, if pure — if adulterated
with ceresine, paraffin, &c, &c, the particles will rise
towards the surface, as all substitutes for wax are
specifically lighter than pure bees - wax. It being
essential that the wax pellets should be absolutely free
from air the wax should first be melted and any air-
bubbles adhering to it in the liquid should be removed
by stirring with a glass rod. A spirit and water mixture
of exactly the specific weight of wax may be kept in
well-stoppered bottles for testing at some future time.

I have been examining artificial combs by both
methods and have found that they consisted, if not
entirely, at least chiefly, of ceresine. I refrained from
publishing the results of my examination because the
combs I experimented upon were not obtained by me
from the manufacturer direct, but were given to me by
a friend. I think, however, that all adulteration has
now effectually been put a stop to, and we ought to be
grateful to Mr. Hilbert for calling our attention to it.
It is to be hoped that the control which is about to be
established will prove an effectual check on adultera-
tion of wax in future. — A. Korndorfer, Pharmaceutical
Chemist.

Bees and Bee-keeping. — On the 7th November an
interesting essay was read before the Wakefield Paxton's
Society meeting by Mr. Frank Eccles, of Newmillerdain.
The essay was accompanied by numerous bee-appliances
and specimens of different species of bees. The essay
was much appreciated by those present, and will, no
doubt, give an impulse to bee-keeping in the district.

Antiquity of Bee-Keeping. — The earliest Semitic
and Aryan records, the Book of Job, the Veda, Egyptian
sculptures and papyri, as well as the poems of Homer,
confirm the early cultivation of bees by man for domes-
tic uses ; and their frequent representation in Egyptian
hieroglyphics, wherein the bee occurs as the symbol of
royalty, clearly shows that their economy, with a
monarch at its head, was known. A hive, too, being
figured, as Sir Gardner Wilkinson tells us, upon a
very ancient tomb at Thebes, is early evidence of the
domestication of the bee there, and how early, even
historically, it was brought under the special dominion
of mankind.

Varieties of Bees. — How numerous are the varie-
ties of bees may be conceived when it is stated that of
bees found in Great Britain alone, Kirby, in his mono-
graph, has enumerated 220 species, and other mure
recent observers have increased the number to 2."0. The
species, however, which by its commercial importance,
as well as by its remarkable habits and social organiza-
tion, presents the greatest interest, is the hive -bee. —
I Dr. Lardner.

December 1, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

397

€t\pt$ front % H'lbcs.

Alton, Hants. — This is my second 3'ear of bee-keeping
on the new principle. This year I took from six hives
about five cwt. — having four hives doubled on Mr.
Cowan's principle, the others were worked for comb
honey. I had one stock to begin with, then bought one
swarm, made all my hives out of old packing-cases, and,
for my part, like the look of them as well as any I have
seen. They are made Association standard size and
double wall. I have now nineteen of them all full.
Most of them are made up of driven stocks of last year
and this year. I think as a young beginner I have done
very well witli them. I might have taken more honey,
as I have made up twelve driven stocks with the last
gathering honey, each lot having two, three, and four lots
put together. There is round about this neighbourhood
a large number of bee-keepers all on the old principle,
that is, to destroy the bees when they take the honey.
I am trying lny utmost among them to get them to take
to the new principle, but cannot succeed. I have told
them how much I get from one hive ; the answer I get
is, ' Your bees come and rob my bees.' This autumn I
showed some of them the way to drive their stocks and
unite them with the ones they were going to save.
That seems to please them a little. — A Young
Beginner.

Honey Cott, Weston, Leaminyton. — The weather here
from about the 15th to 20th was very severe, with
very sharp frosts, and has continued very raw cold ever
since, so that not a trace of a bee has been seen on the
wing, though on looking round the entrances I see here
and there a few dead bees that have been carried out,
that have fallen victims to the cold or old ace. I have
begun to look round to get things ready for another
season, which, as every bee-keeper hopes, will be better
than the last. I shall be glad to see a weekly issue of
the Bee Journal. — John Walton, November 26th.

Nov. 23rd. — I have lately returned to this part of the
country (in the neighbourhood of Bournemouth) after a
short stay in London, and I expected to find my bees
snugly hybernating — for there had hardly been an}' day-
light in London, in many places the gas burning all
day ; but I found here bright sunshine and warmth, and
the bees out in thousands, busied about the abundant
flowers of the arbutus, which, judging from their
fragrant scent, seem to be particularly full of honey
this year. I watched carefully about many of the
arbutus trees (it grows large and freely here), but I
could not see any bee collecting pollen. They seemed to
be gathering honey only. I do not remember seeing the
arbutus included in lists of honey-giving plants. — II. F.

Hunts, Somersham, Nov. 25th. — We are now having
rather mild but dull weather. For several days previous
to this week the very sharp frosts we have had have
kept the bees in their hives. Nov. 7th was a very fine
day, and I was very glad it was because I had five lots
of bees to drive for a cottager, who had been obliged to
defer taking his honey and would have them up then
either by his own system or mine. I have driven very
little better lots earlier in the season, and never have I
seen the bees run so well, or had the skeps clear of bees
in less time in all but one lot. As I did not expect more
driven bees after the beginning of October, I bad no
combs of sealed food ready. I do not altogether regret
this, as I shall be able to carry on experiments in
wintering on empty combs, as I did last year with bees
I got under similar circumstances, with this difference, I
shall not trust solely to candy. How I winter these,
and with what results, I shall be glad to communicate
next spring. — C. N. White, Ron. Sec, Hunts B. K. A.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-

T. B. — Principle of Extractor. — The principle is similar
to the Amateur extractor, but it is not as convenient
to use as-it has not got the multiplying gear or move-
able cages for reversing the combs.
Student. — Mr. Cheshire, in Part III. chapter 5, of
' Bees and Bee-Keeping,' deals at some length on the
stomach-mouth of bees. You will be able to deduce
from it the information you seek. Queens aud drones
have a mayenmunde in less development than that of
workers.
South Warwickshire. — 1. Whether to Work for
Extracted or Section Honey. — At the prices you
name as offered for section honey and extracted
respectively, we think it would pay you better to
work for extracted. 2. For Extracted Honey. — The
doubling system, which has often been described in
our columns, will give you the largest results.
J. T. C— The conditions being as stated by you, we
do not concur in the decision of the judges. But we
confess we always have a diffidence in coming to such
a conclusion respecting judges' awards, for while
writing we hear a voice saying, 'Audi alteram partem.'
T. H. A. — Bees with Insufficient Stores. — You can only
give candy now. Lay a cake under the quilt on the
top of the frames. In the case of skeps, if you lay the
candy over the feed-hole be sure that you cover up
closely so as to prevent a through-draught through the
hive. Give it now : do not wait until the stores are
exhausted.
W. H. Hughes.— Ste icarton Hive. — Dr. Bartrum's ex-
haustive treatise on the Stewarton Hive is published
by Mr. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts, price Qd. ; and
you will from it gather the proper mode of working
this hive. We are not aware that Mr. Blow's principle
deviates from that of Br. Bartrum.
D. II. B. — 1. Unclimbable Fence. — Please refer for makers
of this to advertisements in the Field and Ayricultural
Gazette. 2. Clover. — White or Dutch clover may be
sown early in March on ground previously raked fine,
then raked again after the seed is sown to ensure_ its
being sufficiently covered with soil. All that is required
afterwards is to see that all coarse weeds are pulled
up. Railway banks are not the best positions for the
cultivation of bee-flowers, especially white clover, being
often too dry and sterile to bring this valuable plant to
perfection, at least, as far as the secretion of honey is con-
cerned. Alsike cloverand broad red clover may be added
to the above, requiring the same cultural treatment.
South Cornwall.— 1. 'Ripe' Honey— You ask for the
simplest definition of ' ripe ' honey. We answer,
Honey which has attained the specific gravity of
1-350, which is the specific gravity of average honey.
2. Granulation. — Yes. L'nripe honey, or honey con-
siderably below the specific gravity of 1-350, will
granulate. Granulation, indeed, depends more upon
the source from whence the honey is obtained than on
its 'ripeness' or 'unripeness.' 3. The application of
heat — say 200° Fahr. — to granulated honey will reduce
it to a fluid state. Honey so treated evaporates its
watery particles, and, when cooled, its specific gravity
will have been rather increased than diminished from
the point at which it stood previous to granulation.
A Surrey Bee-keeper. — Transferriny. — When trans-
ferring from skeps to frame-hives at spring, it is usually
considered best to allow the skep to swarm, and three
-weeks afterwards to transfer bees and combs from
skep to frame-hive. It may, however, be done at any
time from the middle of March to the end of April, a
fine day being chosen for performing the operation.
F. Eccles. — 1. Neic Feeder. — Since you ask for our
candid opinion of your idea of a New Feeder, of which
you send us an elaborate sketch, we give it you.
i. Although very ingenious we think it far too com-

398

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[December 1, 18S5.

plicated ever to come into general use. ii. It would
tie expensive, iii. The holes and plug's in the hive
side are decidedly objectionable, iv. It would never
supersede the principle of bottle feeding- through the
feed hole, now well established and skilfully applied
in several of the modern feeders, v. Inside feeders,
both for fluid and dry food, much simpler and less
expensive than yours, and answering exactly the same
purpose, — minus the disturbance caused by removal
for refilling — are already in the market, vi. Valves,
taps, and troughs, might not work smoothly, especially
if the syrup became granulated. 2. Zinc Floor-board.
— We have no knowledge of the floor-board you
mention and see no necessity for the application of
perforated zinc to this purpose. '■'>. Removing Quilts.
— The plan of removing quilts on a fine day in spring,
thus enticing the bees to fly. from the open top of the
hive, would lower the temperature of the hive in-
juriously, we think, and would, undoubtedly, lead to
robbing. If entrances are opened to full extent, and
floor-boards are kept clean, there is no necessity for
any such practice. 4. Open-air Feeding. — We neither
recommend nor practise open-air feeding, as it is
decidedly conducive towards arousing the robbing
fever, and intense commotion throughout the apiary.
Besides, however kindly disposed towards our neigh-
bouring brother apiarists, we neither like to feed their
bees, nor to throw their apiaries into a state of mania.
5. Cheshire's Work. — There are already published four
numbers of Mr. Cheshire's work on Bees, which may be
obtained at the office of the Bazaar, 170 Strand,
London, at 5£rf. each for cash, the published price
being 7d. It is published monthly. We are unable to
give a decided opinion on a work of which only a small
portion is published. At present it appears more
scientific than practical, and is ably written. 6. Tins.
— We cannot answer your query as to the 'cheapest

tins.' See our advertising columns. 8. Caging Queen.
— The recommendation to which you allude in your
supplementary query, refers only to cases of dysentery
in which it may be advantageous. We prefer pre-
vention to cure. There would be no necessity for
caging the queen, nor do we think the tents you speak
of would be of use, or desirable in such case.

Eiihatum.— Page 378, line 20, for 'below 50° to 60°,
re ad ' between 50° and 00°.'

Our next Number will contain Title and Index to
Vol. XIII.

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Also, ' DEB PBAKTISCHE IMKEE.' Compendium of
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'S PATENT

REMOVABLE FRAME ENDS

Are an Improvement upon the original invention known as
'DR. PINE'S' REMOVABLE. FRAME ENDS.

LYON'S PATENT ENDS require NO CUTTING OF THE TOP BARS,

J^JSIJD -A-IEIE ABSOLUTELY IPZEIR.IF'IECT.

ORDER ALL YOUR HIVES TO BE FITTED WITH THEM.

Every End bears the words, < F. LYON, PATENT/
Price to the Public, 7/- per Gross. (Post Free, 8/--)

Twenty ENDS sent post free for 1/4 by the Patentee,

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OK BY ANY DEALER IN BEE-KEEPING APPLIANCES,
TO WHOM A LIBERAL REDUCTIOX IS MADE.

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the:

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Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stbangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane, w.c.

[No. 184. Vol. XIII.]

DECEMBER 15, 1885.

[Published Fortnightly.]

I&toxtaxfol, Delias, fe

THE BRITISH BEE JOURXAL.

As we have intimated in previous numbers, the
time has now arrived when it has been deemed
desirable that the Journal should be published
"weekly. Though its more frequent appearance is
but a development of the previous stages through
which it has passed; yet in some degree this may
be considered a new departure ; and being' so, we
have takeu into our best consideration whether, in
the interests of that science which the Journal has
been established to uphold, some improvements or
■some fresh arrangements may be entered upon,
which it is presumed its weekly issue will enable
us to carry out.

During the coming year, we propose to devote a
portion of our space to a department to be
entitled ' Selected Queries,' replies to which will be
given by the most prominent and successful bee-
keepers. All the leading bee-keepers whom we have
invited have kindly signified their readiness to con-
tribute to thte, cither by asking questions or by
replying to the qxieries. The ' Selected Queries,'
which should be brief, to the point, and of general
interest, will be forwarded to some of these gentle-
men; and the question with their several replies will
appear in the Journal: and these replies should be
concise and clear. We believe that this department
will be of great value to those concerned in bee-
keeping, for in it they will find, and will be able to
compare, the opinions of many practical honey-
producers on the same point. We believe also that
;x greater degree of consideration will be bestowed
on the replies, seeing it will be known that others
will be answering the same questions. It will be
very interesting to note the different views on the
same subject, and our readers will be afforded an
opportunity in our correspondence columns to
criticise the replies, and to supply fresh queries for
future numbers. By this means, the opinions of
the most practised apiarians will be, as it were,
focussed on the subject ; and we trust that this
arrangemeut will prove, not only interesting, but
instructive. Only questions of general interest
will be accepted ; and none concerning the manu-
facture or sale of goods, or that might, partake of
the nature of an advertisement, will be admitted.

To facilitate reference all communications and
queries will be numbered, and correspondents are
requested to mention the number when referring
to any letter or query.

Queries, also, of general interest will be inserted in
one number and readers invited to answer them
in our next. Any unanswered in this way will be
answered by the Editor or others. Those of only
personal interest will be answered, as hitherto,
in our ' Notices to Correspondents.' All queries
forwarded will be attended to, and we will do our
best to supply the information desired. It is
necessary that our correspondents should bear in
remembrance that as it is necessary for us to go
to press in advance of the date of issue, they can-
not always be replied to in the issue immediately
following the receipt of their communication.

While admitting correspondence and soliciting
free discussion we do not hold ourselves responsible
for the opinions expressed by our correspondents,
and we desire that all communications should be
addressed to the Editor, c/o Messrs. Strangeways,
Tower Street, Upper St. Martin's Lane.

Under the heading of ' Gleanings ' we propose
from time to tirr.c to give a summary of the views
of, or any improvements introduced by, the prin-
cipal foreign bee-keepers, which will enable us to
keep abreast with the onward march of bee-keeping
in Europe and America.

We have frequently been requested to publish
the market prices of honey and wax. This we
have had a difficulty in complying with ; it has
hitherto eluded us, seeing the produce of these
articles has not been sufficiently large to warrant
us in quoting a market price ; but such has been
of late the progress of apiculture, as evidenced
by the establishment of honey companies, and by
the interest taken by the public generally, that the
prices of honey and wax have become in a great
degree established, and we shall have much
pleasure, to the extent of our ability, in giving the
market prices from time to time.

It is also our desire to improve our present
method of publishing notices of Shows by giving
place, date, and name of secretary, and date of
closing entries. Wheu advertisements of shows
have appeared in the Journal, the above inform-
ation will be published free of expense ; in other
cases a small charge will be made for their inser-
tion. We believe that this plan will meet the views

400

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[December 15, 1885.

of exhibitors and the managers of shows. In a
similar manner we also propose to devote a portion
of our columns as a business director}-, giving
names and addresses of manufacturers and dealers
in apicultural appliances, honey, &o.

We hope, also, to give biographical notices of
' famous bee-keepers, both of former and of present
times. We shall also be pleased to give descrip-
tions of noted apiaries in our own and in other
countries.

We trust that the above arrangements will meet
with the views of our subscribers, and will prove
conducive to the best interests of bee-keeping. We
shall at all times be pleased to receive suggestions,
and to give them our best consideration.

We desire to express our gratitude and our in-
debtedness to the Secretaries of Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciations for all the trouble they have taken in the
past in the circulation of the Join-mil in then-
respective districts. May we call upon them to
continue their kind efforts on our behalf, so that
by their aid, and that of our numerous subscribers,
our publication may obtain a greater degree of
usefulness, and maintain and increase that position
which it holds in the estimation of the bee-keeping-
public 1

We take this opportunity of tendering our sincere
thanks to our subscribers and contributors for the
warm interest that they have taken in the progress
of the Journal; and we have good reason to rejoice,
when we consider the increased number of those
engaged in apiculture, — when we note that honey-
production is rapidly becoming a new industry, —
when we see that the value of honey as food and
medicine is being so generally acknowledged, that
our labours in the promotion of bee-keeping have
not been fruitless or unavailing.

Our next issue will be published on Thursday,
January 7th. We have selected Thursday as our
publishing day for the weekly issue in order that
subscribers who receive the Journal through their
local bookseller may receive it without fail on
Saturday. Advertisements intended to be inserted
in our next issue must reach us not later than
Monday, January 1th.

It only remains for us to express a hope that the
wining year will be equal to the desires of all our
friends, and to wish that one and all may have
a pleasant Christmas and a happy New Year.

11EVERSIBLE FRAMES AND HIVES.
( Continued from paye 383.)

In our last article we described the various devices
brought out for reversible frames. Wo will now consider
the advantages and disadvantages of the system.

Of course, if the same object can be accomplished with
our present frames, there would be no use in adopting
reversible ones, unless, indeed, the use of them effected a
great saving of time and labour. Now what are the ad-
vantages claimed for this system?

1. The comb is stronger than in the old style, being
fastened to the wood, and less liable to break out.

It is perfectly well known that even although we use
comb-foundation the bees will only fasten their combs to

the top and side bars and not to the bottom bar; and
that they invariably treat the bottom bar as though
it were the bottom of the hive, leaving a space of nearly
half-an-inch. This can to a certain extent be remedied
by allowing the sheets of foundation to hang down to
within half-an-inch of the bottom, the bees woidd then
draw it down, and fasten it to the bottom bar, but even
then they leave large passages between the bottom of
the comb and frame. By reversing the frames the bees
continue to build the comb up to the bottom bar which
is now turned to the top, and in this way the comb is
firmly fixed to all the four sides of the frame. Twenty
years ago we perceived that the passage left at the bottom
of each frame was so much wasted space, and we tried to
make the bees fill up this space. We at last succeeded
without reversing the frames by cutting the combs out,
and allowing them to rest on the bottom bar. They
were then tied into the frames with tape just as in trans-
ferring. In twenty-four to forty-eight hours the combs
were fixed to the sides and bottom bars, and the bees had
also continued and fastened them up to the top bar. The
tapes could then be removed in the usual way without
taking out the frames. In this manner we have always
had solid slabs of comb fixed to the frames on all sides
without having recourse to reversing them. There is a
very great advantage in having combs fixed in this way,
as it makes them very much stronger, and they are not so
liable to break out in the process of extracting.

2. By reversing the combs the honey is carried up
into the sections above the frames.

Usually the bees place their honey above their brood so
that the frames in stock-hive contain as a rule some honey
in the upper part of the combs. In working sections, our
object is to limit the lower hive to the production of brood
only. We do not require any honey in the frames, but
would prefer it all in the sections instead. Sometimes it is
very difficult to induce the bees to go into sections, espe-
cially if they are not put on at the proper time. By re-
versing the combs, the brood is brought to the top and the
honey to the bottom, a most unnatural position, and the
bees set to work at once to clear the cells of honey and
carry it up to a more natural position above the brood.
Here they find no combs available, and «re therefore
forced to carry the honey into the sections placed above
them. At the same time this stimulates the queen to
greater activity. We have hitherto accomplished the
same object by uncapping the honey-cells above the brood,
without removing the combs from the hives, although we
have frequently been obliged to extract honey from the
combs in the brood-nest to give the queen room to lay,
a process which reversing the combs is said to obviate,
and is a point in favour of reversible frames. We,
however, do not see that all these advantages are suffi-
cient to induce us to alter our existing frames and
arrangements, and go to the expense and trouble of re-
versing our combs in the brood chamber, as we can obtain
the same results by other means.

But there may still be some advantage in using rever-
sible frames in the upper storeys destined for extracting.
For extracting purposes, we place a hive the same size
as the body hive, and filled with frames of empty comb,
on to the stock-hive. We do not use perforated zinc,
as we consider it a hindrance to the active work of the
bees. When the bees require more room another hire
is placed on to this, and in this way we have had bees
working in four storeys. If the frames are left to them-
selves the queen passes from lowest hive into the second
storey, and the lower parts of the combs become filled
with brood. The combs in whieli worker brood is reared

December 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL

401

are about gths of an inch in thickness, and if they were
much thicker the queen would not lay any eggs in them.
The bees only require g ths of an inch space between the
combs for passage, consequently, if the combs are placed
15 inches apart, as they are bound to be where frames with
broad shoulders or distance-pins are used, the combs can
be constructed 1 ^ inches in thickness. They are in
fact drawn out to this thickness at the top, and are
used for honey; sometimes even they are thicker; and if
honey is coming in fast the bees content themselves with
less space between the honey combs ; but as the queen
ascends into the upper storeys, she finds the cells drawn
out to about the proper length and at once deposits her
eggs there. If now the frames in the second storey are
reversed, it brings the wide comb to the bottom,
and the thinner comb to the top which, as soon as
the brood hatches out, is used for storing honey. The
greater thickness of the comb is as an effectual queen-
excluder as perforated zinc, and she is henceforth con-
fined to the lower chamber. In our experiments, we get
the combs in the second storey built out at the top to
nearly H inches thick, and we found b}r reversing these
that the combs were drawn out to this thickness through-
out, and at the same time the queen was kept to the
lower compartment. In our own hives we use neither
broad shoulders, nor distance-pins, as we have always
found these a hindrance to quick manipidation, and
without them we have the bees more under our control ;
we can have combs built of any thickness we may desire,
so that the reversible frame does not present the same ad-
vantages to us as it would to those who are not able by
broad shoulders or distance-pins to control their bees in
the same way that we are able to do. To these reversing
the combs will enable them to accomplish in the brood-
chamber what we do by merely bringing the frames closer
together, and putting them at a distance of If inches
from centre to centre, namely, to use the whole of the
comb for brood-rearing. It would also enable them in
the second storey to restrict this to storing honey only, a nd
would at the same time do away with the necessity of
using queen-excluder zinc. "Whether reversible frames
will soon come into general use we are at present unable
to state, but it does not appear to us that they at all
simplify manipulations. Our object should be to bave
hives as simple as possible, and to do with as few com-
plicated appliances as we can ; and, notwithstanding the
statements of Mr. Ileddon and others, we confess we do
not yet see the enormous advantages to be derived from
adding to the complication of our hives by adopting
generally the principle of reversible frames.

We are also supported in our views by the fact that
the reversible frame has not come into general use in
America. Practical bee-keepers do not use it, and
we may be sure that if reversing frames were of such
great advantage, they would not be long in adopting
them. Our correspondent, Mr. Mason, it will be seen on
page 388 objects to the writer of 'Useful Hints' selecting
the American Apirii/turist to illustrate that practical
honey-producers in America are not generally using re-
versible frames. We think the selection was a very
fair one, for we find a similar consensus of opinion in
the other American Bee Journals; but as our corre-
spondent has alluded to Gleanings, we are sure he will
pardon us if we point out for the benefit of our readers
that the subject has, even in this periodical, been practi-
cally dropped. In the early part of the year many
devices for reversible frames were illustrated and de-
scribed, and although Mr. Boot took up the matter
warmly, he gives no report, and dropped the subject in
March last. Ileddon still remains their champion, but
has his last say in July. He is supported by one other;
two are against their use, and two are doubtful as to
their advantage. The subject was also dropped in the
American Jlee Journal in May last, so that this does not
show that these frames, after five years' trial, are gaining

favour in America. We hope that English bee-keepers
who have used them will send us their reports for publi-
cation.

Although we do not see much advantage to be de-
rived from reversing combs in moveable comb hives,
because we can obtain the same results with our present
frames, it is very different with hives having fixed combs,
such asskeps. If these are reversed and racks of sections
can be placed over them, they would be accepted by the
bees much more readily than if they could only get at
them through a hole in the crown of the skep.

In the Journal of Horticulture, ' A Lanarkshire Bee-
keeper ' gives an illustration of a reversed skep which
appeared iu a Dumfries paper some twenty-five years
ago, but even before this time the plan was adopted and
carried out as a system by the bee-keepers of ' Gatinais'
now for more than three-quarters of a century; and we
hope before long to give a detailed account of bee-keeping
as practised there.

That an interest in the subject has been created we
have little doubt, if we may judge from the number of
letters we have received. We realise with our corre-
spondent, 'Irish Novice,' the difficulty there is in inducing
cottagers to adopt moveable-comb hives, and apart from
the greater knowledge required, the first cost is a con-
sideration with them. As we cannot induce them to
adopt moveable-comb hives, let us by all means help
them to improve upon their present system by showing
them that the}' can, if they nave the inclination, even
with their skeps, obtain a greater yield of honey in a
saleable form.

The accompanying illustration will show how a skep
can be worked when reversed. The top of the stand A
can be made by nailing together some one-inch boards,
so as to make a square about twenty inches, and iu this
cut a circular hole a little smaller than the bottom of the
skep. To prevent the board from warping, nail two
clamps, as shown, one at each end, on the under side, and
about two inches wide. The legs can be made of wood,
one and a half inches square, tapered and rounded off at
the upper ends so as to fit into holes one and a quarter inches
in diameter. If the holes are bored at an angle, the legs,
when driven in, will spread outwards, as seen in the
illustration, and make the stand very firm. Before

driving the legs into their places, if we put a saw-cut
into the small end, and after they are in position, drive
a wooden wedge into these saw-cuts, they will be very
securely fixed. The legs will have to be cut to the
proper height we require them to stand above the
ground. The skep C can then be reversed and placed
in the hole so that the upper ring of straw stands above

402

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Dectmber 1.5, 1885.

the board, and on a level with this push in a few wire
nails, to prevent the skep slipping through when filled
with bees and honey, and also when the weight of
the sections and roof are upon it, and blocking up
the entrance. As an additional precaution, we should
place a brick or two, D, on the ground, under the crown
of the inverted skep, for it to rest upon. Next cut the
opening E, at least three inches wide, so that the bees
may not be impeded in their progress in and out of the
hive. Now, on the inverted skep, place a rack of sec-
tions, with an adapting-board F fixed to it, having
a hole a little smaller than the hive, which can be
covered with perforated zinc. Such an adapting-board
can easily be fitted to any existing rack with very little
trouble. Over this place an outer case G, with a roof as
shown. In our illustration the outer case is shown deep
enough to hold two storeys of sections, and the roof is
separate, but it can be made all in one, and only deep
enough for one rack of sections, if the bee-keeper prefers
it so. If even this expense be an object, the stool can be
dispensed with by placing the inverted skep into an
American cheese-box, and fitting a small alighting-board
below the entrance, and a rack of sections, with a simpler
roof, can be placed over it. To prevent the roof and
sections being blown over, they should be fastened to the
stand. Now these are all the appliances that the cottager
requires to work this system for sections.

With stocks the method of working would be this : — ■
In the spring, as soon as the hives are full of bees, and
they show signs of swarming, or there is a glut of honey,
reverse the skep, and place the sections on at once, and
as soon as there is any sign of the bees being crowded,
put on another rack of sections if necessar}'. Should
the hives not be strong enough when honey comes in
abundance, lose no time in uniting two lots by driving
the bees from one of the skeps and joining them to
another. The empty skep, containing brood, can be
placed over another inverted hive, or given to a swarm,
which can then be treated as a stock hive, and inverted,
placing sections on at once. "When the honey harvest
is over, the hives should be returned to their natural
positions. This is always done in ' Gatinais.' Of course,
if extracted honey is required, no excluder zinc will be
required, and it will be only necessary to place a skep of
empty combs over the inverted hive, or a plain super
if the bee-keeper have one.

We do not recommend skeps containing swarms being
reversed unless they contain old combs, in which case
they can be treated as recommended above. New combs
would be liable to fall over from the heat and weight of
the bees upon them.

We hope that these instructions and illustration will
supply the wants of our correspondent, ' Irish Novice,'
and others, and will enable them to try, as well as to
induce cottagers to try, this method; and we shall be
glad to publish the results in the Journal.

USEFUL HINTS.

Winter in earnest, at last, with every appearance
of continuance. Our longest and most sevei'c frosts
have generally set in immediately before Christmas,
notably on Christmas evo. From Scotland, we hear
of 20 degrees of frost, with mountains and valleys
inches deep in snow. This ' seasonable weather ' (1)
is travelling southwards, and we are enjoying in
midland and south-eastern parts, at least, a foretaste
of the coming ' blast.' It behoves all bee-keepers,
therefore, to look well to roofs and stands, and to
see that all are sound and weather-proof.

Snow should be brushed off covers, roofs, and
hives daily, as occasion requires, and should never
be left to thaw upon — and probably to penetrate

— the hives, rendering them damp and cold, and'
in the event of returning frost, a frozen mass. Let
this be done carefully without shaking or dis-
turbing the hives and bees.

Feeding. — Owing to the mildness of the weather
during the early winter, colonies, not well pro-
visioned, may starve for want of food. Barley
sugar, or candy, is usually prescribed as winter
food, we, however, have used successfully •yrup
made from the ' Heddon recipe,' which is as follows:
— ' In a boiling-pan put three pounds of water, heat
it until it boils, and with a wooden spoon stir this
boiling water as you sift into it ten pounds of
granulated sugar. When it is all dissolved, and the
syrup is boiling, pour into it half a tea-cupfull of
water, in which has previously been dissolved a
large teaspoon, level-full, of tartaric acid. Stir it a
moment longer, and then remove it from the fire.'

This syrup will not crystallize, if the acid is used
in the proportion mentioned, and is of full strength
■ — the syrup being boiled as directed. When
cool it is of the consistency of the ripest honey, and
should be given warm — not hot — in a top feeder,
immediately over the cluster of bees, the feeder
being well covered with chaff cushion or heat-
retaining material. Excellent recipes for candy will
be found in Mr. Cowan's book, p. 151.

Quilts. — If by any chance quilts have become
damp and mouldy from leakage, or other cause, a
change will be found most beneficial to the bees.
Let such be replaced on a fine bright day, by
thoroughly dry ones, which may be placed warm
upon the hives.

Dead Bees, Ventilation, ifcc. — Clear all dead
bees and refuse of any kind from the entrances, in
order to afford full ventilation, and be careful to
keep the entrances clear of snow, for — although
colonies emtombed in a snow-rick for weeks will
survive owing to the porosity of the frozen particles
— it is best to keep a clear and free passage for the
air. The danger to colonies in sheltered positions,
when newly fallen snow lies on the ground, is, that
being enticed from their hives by the bright beams
of the mid-day sun, and settling upon the fleecy
material, they sink to rise no more. The dauger is
less when the snow becomes frozen, but it is best to
shade the entrance by placing a board in front of
it. By no means close it, or the agitation of the
bees, and their crowding at the entrance, may cause
the loss of the colony.

Removing Hives. — From the present time to the
middle of February is a good time for removing
hives or apiaries to near or distant places.

Skeps should be packed for travelling thus : — Let
the skep be gently raised from the floor-board and
turned bottom upwards, when a piece of coarse
canvass must be securely tied over the mouth, the
combs having been first secured from side-motion
by pieces of cork pushed in between them — three
or four between ever}7 two combs. Next, place the
skep — still bottom upwards — in a box without a
lid or cover, with hay, chaff, or other soft material,
underneath and around it. Colonics in skeps thus
packed will travel securely almost any distance.

Frame-hives require different treatment. They

December 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

403

must not l»c inverted, but should have a floor-board,
upon which strips of wood — about half an inch
thick, and of sufficient width to fit in between the
bottom bars of the frames — have been nailed. The
hive being placed upon this board and secured in
position by a few screws, its frames being incapable
of lateral motion, and its entrance closed with
perforated zinc, may then have its quilts replaced
by a wooden framework, upon which has been
nailed a sheet of perforated zinc, impassable by the
bees, but affording sufficient ventilation, and
allowing them to pass beneath it, over the top bars
of the frames. The securing of this frame-work in
its place by long screws, driven into the sides of
the hive, will keep the hive frames in position, and
will prevent upward or downward motion. Canvas
may be used in lieu of zinc, if preferred, and will
answer equally well. By taking these precautions
we have moved hives repeatedly hundreds of miles
without a single failure.

Nomenclature — defined as a 'system of naming'
or the ' peculiar terms of a science ' — has scarcely
obtained sufficient notice amongst English bee-
beepers. Consequently, we have a considerable
amount of confusion in terms. The word 'crate,'
for instance, is generally applied to the case, or
frame, for holding together sections upon a hive,
and the same term is assigned to the travelling-
case which conveys the sections to market, or
exhibition. For the former the proper word is
'rack,' for the latter 'crate.'

The following words are constantly misused or
misapplied, and in some of them the accepted
nomenclature is utterly wrong ; apiarian, hatching-
brood, fertile-ivorker, fertilise, rabbet, midrib, worker-
eggs, drone-eggs, queen-eggs, — by the way, are not all
eggs queen-eggs, being laid by a queen, just as hen-
eggs are laid by a hen ] — hybrid, &c, &c. Indeed
a host of others might be named.

Perhaps the worst of all is the word bee-culture,
the first part of which is English, the second part
Latin, and, being decidedly macaronic, reminds
us of the well-known verses beginning —

Felis sedit by a hole
Intenta she cum omni soul
Premiere mice.

In this book-making age will no one give us a
' Dictionary of Practical ApiculturaJ Terms V

In his letter on Reversible frames, in last issue, Mr.
Mason blames us for not reporting on his pet
subject from Gleanings, and asks 'Why mention
one American journal only f To which we reply
that we simply quoted the opinions of ' prominent
apiarists' which chanced to be given in the Api-
culturist, in answer to a query put by a corre-
spondent. We had no wish to prejudice the con-
troversy, but simply asked for publication in our
columns of the opinions of those who had tried
the system. Really, we cannot see that we are
open to the charge of unfairness any more than
he who should quote from the Times might be
said to be unfair because he did not quote from
the Daily Neios as well, or in lieu of ! So far
from taking a partisan view of the subject we
hope to give it a full trial in our own apiary

next season, and, therefore, were much pleased
with the leading article in last issue, and the
promise of another from the same pen. 'Measures,
not men,' has hitherto been our guiding motto,
and we intend strictly to adhere to it in future —
pace Mr. Mason.

Adulteration. — A correspondent sends us the
following quotation, taken as a cutting from the
Stamford Mercury, and upon which he comments
in severe terms. A portion of it appeared in the
Times of the 18th lilt., and, doubtless, in other
papers also, upon which we had some remarks in
' Useful Hints ' for last issue, but which were
crowded out from want of space : — ■

' Spurious Money. — The Medical Press and Circular
says, " The falsification and adulteration of honey is
carried on iu an unusually barefaced manner. Large
quantities of what is sold as honey is neither more nor
less than clarified treacle and simple syrup, worth about
2d. per lb. Glass jars are exposed for sale labelled
' New Honey,' the only portion of which taken from the
bee-hive is the piece of honey-comb occupying the centre,
from which the honey has been previously extracted.'-

' Probably ' (the Stamford Mercury proceeds to say)
' it is not generally known, however, that enormous
quantities of what is sold as honey is nothing
more than a saccharine syrup, which has been passed
through bees, and is as " innocent as a babe unborn" of
the remotest derivation from flowers. Some bee-keepers
buy cheap sugar by the hundredweight, boil it into
a syrup, place this " stuff " into a feeder over their hives,
stop up the ordinary modes of egress, and thereby set
the bees to work to till their combs with transmogrified
syrup. Sugar at a penny a pound thus " converted " into
" honey" is sold at lOrf. or Is. per pound. This sort of
" honey " very quickly candies, whereas honey from
flowers does not set for many months, if at all.'

The sentence referring to ' Glass jars, labelled
" New Honey," the only portion of which taken
from the bee-hive is the piece of honey comb occu-
pying the centre,' is evidently in allusion to a well-
known American firm who exports largely to this
country, but is careful to omit from its labels any
such statement as Guaranteed Pure Honey, since
in our experience (which is considerable, from
having visited shows iu all parts of the country)
we have no knowledge of a single jar of English
honey ever having been put up in this form. Mr.
Cowan, in his Bee-keeper's Guide-book, p. 81, refers
to the same practice when he remarks, ' Cut comb-
honey in jars is usually adulterated in this manner,
a piece of comb-honey being placed in the centre
and surrounded with glucose.' And he goes on to
quote from the American Bee Journal, ' It is sur-
prising that a common swindle, as practised by
New York and Chicago honey-dealers of putting
a piece of comb-honey iu a glass jar, and pouring
over it pure glucose, conld last as long as it did.'
For the italicised wrords we would supply can and
does, since the practice undoubtedly still prevails.

But the plan referred to in the Stamford Mercury,
of feeding bees upon the coarsest sugar syrup, and
confining them to their hives (!) until they have
transmogrified, the said syrup into so-called honey,
needs no refutation at our hands, save to assure
the novice that in a few short hours, under such a
course of treatment, every bee would have perished,
and the hoped-for ' honey' would be nil. The author

404

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[December 15, 1885.

evidently knows nothing of the subject on which he
writes, and has — as our American cousins would
say — 'got considerably mixed up' between English
and American honey, and in attempting to describe
that about which he may have read something, but
of which he himself is in total ignorance. His
statement that ' this sort of " honey " quickly
candies,' is of a piece with the rest of his assertions,
since we all know that granulation is the one mark,
most certain of all others, of the'purest honey. The
moral to be drawn from all this is to purchase only
guaranteed English honey. We cannot resist
calling attention to our merry friend Punch's com-
ments on the subject.

HUM OF BEE.
'Spumous Honey. — The adulteration and falsification of honey

is carried on in an unusually barefaced manner.' — Medical
Press and Circular.

How to cheat you of your money,

Friends, the latest dodge beware,
Lest you purchase bogus honey,

And the vendors have you there.
Clear-drawn treacle, in addition,

Simple syrup — that is all,
There you get the composition

Which impostors 'honey' call !

' Best New Honey.' In the middle

Of a jar a comb }'ou see,
Drained, and meant your eye to diddle,

All that's from the humming Bee,
Humbug, that for honey passes

With the simple, soft, and green,
Credulous, confiding classes,

Sold, besides, with ' butterine.'

Punch.

THE PRICE OF HONEY.
We arc glad to note that the price of good Eng-
lish honey has improved during the last few weeks ;
1 lb. sections now realise fully 2*. per dozen in
advance of the price which ruled during the height
of the season. Good extracted honey is also in de-
mand at slightly advanced rates.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

Secretaries of County Associations are reminded
that motions for discussion at the next quarterly
meeting must be sent to the Secretary on or before
Wednesday, December 23rd.

Persons willing to submit subjects for discussion
at the next quarterly Conversazione, to be held on
Wednesday, January 20th, are requested to com-
municate to the Secretary without delay.

KENT BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Council of the above Association met on
December 9th ; and amongst other matters with
which it had to deal, the announcement of the
resignation of its energetic Secretary, Mr. Jesse
Oarratt, at the end of the year 1885, formed an
important item. The difficulty of finding a suc-
cessor to such a post is in the nature of things
great, and the meeting was unable to see its way
to decide upon any step; but it entirely agreed

with a suggestion made by Mr. Garratt, ' that the
position should be stated in the Journal, and the
invitation given to apply for the vacant office.' It
would undoubtedly be a great advantage to the
Association if some one residing in the county
would offer himself in an honorary capacity, but
the Council is prepared, if necessary, to offer a small
salary.

The annual meeting of the Association will
be held on or about January 13th, when the
Council will be pleased to announce Chat a suitable
successor to Mr. Garratt has presented himself for
the office. Applications should be forwarded to
Jesse Garratt, Esq., Hockenden, St. Mary's Cray,
Kent.

fcitspontrma.

*** All Correspondents forwarding Letters for insertion in
the Journal, Reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes
from the Hives, Queries, ttc, are requested to direct their com*
munications to ' The Editor of the " British Bee Journal," c/o
Messrs. Strangeways <£• Sons, Tcncer Street, Upper St. Martin's
Lane, W.C

THOSE REVERSIBLE FRAMES.

For the second time, English bee-keepers have been
considering the advisability of adopting a reversible
frame. The late craze seems to have been brought
about by the recent discussions in American papers, and
so far the matter has been commented upon almost
wholly by those who have no knowledge of the letters
which appeared upon the subject in the early numbers of
the British Bee Journal.

It must be admitted that in the production of
extracted honey, a reversible frame, with its com-
plications, is something worse than useless ; and for ob-
taining comb-honey, permit me to say that all, and more
than all," the advantages claimed for an inverted frame
can be gained by a simple, and more substantial, non-
inverted one, providing that from June 1st the brood-
nest be limited in proper proportion to the number of
actual workers brought into existence previous to that
date. Let bee-keepers bear in mind that any complicated
method which adds to the labour and expense of pro-
duction, and, moreover, which has no special advantage
to recommend it, will not be adopted by those who are
now compelled to reduce their working expenses to the
finest limit, to enable them to compete with the present
low prices.

Nevertheless, this discussion has been of benefit to
those cottagers and others who use straw skeps, and it
will be a mistake for any such to think of supering hives
of that kind unless first inverted — not that the inverted
cells are any advantage in regard to the amount of
honey collected; but the bee-keeper is the gainer simply
because a much larger supering surface is offered, and
therefore the bees have better access to the same, which
of necessity induces them to store more above than they
possibly could do with the usual small hole embracing a
portion of two, or at most three, combs only. For the
same reason, of course, more honey will be collected by
such hives thus treated, because the brood-combs will
not be clogged with honey at the commencement of the
season, as is usually the case, and thus a larger population
at the right time is the result.

The foregoing is the true, and the only reason, why
inverted skeps have done well; and it will be to the
advantage of all bee-keepers if they will but consider that
a simple and substantial non-reversible frame, when
properly managed, gives us every advantage required from
a moveable-comb hive. — S. Simmins.

December 15, 1885.]

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

405

REVERSIBLE COMBS.

Being aware that a very infinitesimal amount of
practice is worth a vast quantity of theory makes one
lather diffident in offering any theoretical ideas as to
the correctness or not of the problem of reversible
frames or hives, but your desire for a thorough ventila-
tion of that subject in the columns of the British Bee
Journal, and the seemingly great interest taken in it by
bee-keepers of all nationalities, has overcome my scruples,
and given me a desire to place my mite at the disposal
of those who are interested in this recently-revived
idea.

Amongst the foremost thoughts occurring to my mind,
on reading the various letters, is the total absence of
anything like an enhanced gross aggregate being given
at the end of a season of any apiary, or part of an
apiary, conducted on these lines. That, to anyone, must
be the chief point on which to base our calculations.

By reversing the combs when filled with honey at the
original top, and so placing the stores at the bottom and
underneath the brood, must of necessity give a sudden or
early return in the supers, but only simply for the time
being — that is, until the bees have emptied the bottom
cells, and, with a va.st amount of labour — and, above all,
time expenditure — placing it in its natural position above
the brood : the time so occupied by the bees in doing so
is short, as compared to the time and labour expended in
reversing the pitch of a large portion of their cells — or,
in other words, nearly rebuilding their combs. Now,
while the bees are so occupied, the}', or a considerable
portion of them, must be neglecting the in-gathering of
the honey, which must be a total loss to the bee-keeper,
whilst up to this point the gain has been nil. But in
emptying these cells room is made for the mother-bee to
la}' her eggs. In this particular must rest the success,
if any, of this principle. Now, wrhat do we find if we
super a hive in its normal position at the right time ? A
large proportion of the bees go up into the super and
store the incoming honey there, whilst the nurse bees
use the honey stored above and next the brood-nest for
the nourishment of the larva?. In these cells, as they
are emptied, which at this time is very rapid, the
mother-bee lays her eggs, and our stock in a fortnight
or so is in as good — I should be of opinion in a better —
condition than the reversed one, as our bees in this hive
have not performed the amount of work that those in
the reversed hive have. It is a physiological fact that
the more work you impose upon a subject the quicker
the decay ; consequently, there will be a heavier death-
rate for a time in the reversed hive. This may be a
minor disadvantage, but still it must be taken into
account.

I can quite understand the advantage gained by the
bee-keepers of the ' Gatinais ' working this system, as,
their honey-flow being of so short a duration, their hives
at this important time would be occupied by brood, and
if any surplus is obtained at all it must be "done at once
or their season is lost. This is not so with us.

I am led to the above inferences by a trial I made
with a straw skep this last season, which, by supering
and doubling, and then gradually reducing the capacity
of the crates, obtained forty-two 1-lb. sections : I did not
reckon the unfinished ones. Mr. Garratt did not obtain
this amount with his reversed skep. I am not by far in
the best of positions here for honey-gathering, being
located in the middle of the town. Mr. Garratt may be
so placed.

There are isolated instances when the supering of a
skep after reversing can be done with great advantage,
and that is, when the bees hang out in huge clusters,
idling their time away; but as soon as I got them to
work in the sections, I should again reverse the order of
things to their proper position.

' Amateur Expert ' writes, in your issue of the LOth
November, that the mother-bee is very prone to enter the

supers of reversed skeps. Mr. Garratt experienced the
same with his, and both had to use excluder zinc. In
this there is a very considerable disadvantage. Excluder
zinc is an abomination, as most bee-keepers who have
experimented with it will agree. It may prevent the
mother-bee's entrance into the supers, but it very con-
siderably obstructs the worker-bees' passage. I only use
it as a diaphragm when supering at the back, the
greater freedom and speed with which the bees work
without it more than compensating for a spoilt section
now and then. With frame-hives there appears to me
less advantage than with skeps. It is a poor bee-keeper
who cannot make his bees (if good ones) go up in the
super, or keep his combs free from stores. To such as
cannot, let them try the reversible system.

The above are only my theories. Let us hear some
others, and try and deduce some facts from them.

I shall pit two skeps against each other next season ;
also am fitting up some frame-hives, and will note
result. I trust it will be favourable to the reversed
ones, as I have noticed that any new advantageous dis-
covery is sure to stimulate the lagging ones. — W. B.
Websteb, Wokinyham, Berks.

BEVEB.SIBLE FKAMES.

1 must apologise when asking for space for the
following letter, but as there are two or three points
in the Editorial of the British Bee Journal for December
1st which 1 should like to dilate upon, you will no doubt
excuse me. Some persons may fancy that Mr. Buchan
and myself, when making the frame for which we took
out a provisional protection at the beginning of the year,
had seen Mr. Heddon's frame. For my own part I can
answer that I had neither seen this frame, nor any
description of this or any similar frame. It is another
coincidence of the same idea originating in the minds of
more than one person about the same time. The frame
I am using at present is simply a standard frame without
bottom bar, with a smaller rectangular frame revolving
inside, allowing a quarter-inch space between the inner
frame and top-bar. By doing away with the outer
bottom bar I gain so much extra space for comb-
building ; this seems to be the greatest objection to
this reversible frame. The standard size contains 216
square inches, mine 19.3 squares of comb, taking both
sides of the frame ; loss, 21 square inches on the two
sides of frame of comb ; but as the cells for breeding
are in the centre of the comb, the space lost is where
honey is usually stored. But as reversing is intended
to compel the storing of honey in the sections, I cannot
see that the extra inner frame takes up valuable space.
My opinion is that with a young and good-breeding
queen, the population of a hive may be raised much
faster under the principle of reversing than by any other
mode. For example, the hive which I have exclusively
worked on this principle, holding ten frames, contained
a much greater proportion of breeding cells per frame of
comb than any other I have ever seen worked in the
ordinary way. And as a proof of this I may mention
that tliis stock is now wintering crowded on eight
frames.

On page 365, the writer of 'Useful Hints' objects to
reversing on the ground that the bees have to re-
construct the cells for the storing of honey. This is
contrary to what I have found from actual experience.
If the frames are reversed where honey is being carried
in fast by the bees, they will not wait to reconstruct the
cells, but will carry all the honey gathered into the
section. This I have found to be' the case during the
whole of the summer, and I believe, after mature
thought, that the reason reversing did not succeed with
me at the heather gathering was, that the bees finding
the cold weather already upon them, confined them-
selves to the hive proper, because of the extra warmth

406

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[December 15, 1885.

in that part, and reconstructed the cells to prevent the
honey from running.

Next season I intend to try the following plan, viz.,
after using; the frames reversed during the summer, on
the decline of the honey flow to return the frames to
their normal position, and then feed up for winter by
using a fast-feeder; this can be done in a few days. I
can then remove my hives to the hills, with every
prospect of obtaining the whole of the heather honey
flow in the sections.

In respect to breeding, in reversed cells, I have not
found it to make any difference. I wire the whole of
my frames and have not found as yet that the wire in
the base of the cell is at all detrimental to breeding; in
fact, I exhibited this year a frame of comb that con-
tained three queen-cells, the base of each directly on the
wire, and each cell producing a perfect queen. — Chas.
G. Mason, Lothian Bank, Dalkeith, N.B., December 8th.

[We do not think our standard frames any too large
that we can afford to lessen the size of their breeding
space by even reducing three sides. The space lost is
much too valuable, as it can be utilised for breeding in
the way we point out in our article in the present number
without having recourse to reversing the frames. — Ed.]

BLIGII COMPETITION.

I think Mr. "Woodley is not correct in his view of the
rules, that it means the greatest weight and value of
honey alone. I think the rules very plainly state for the
greatest profit, sale of swarms, &c., but not queens. Mr.
Woodley goes on to cast great doubt on Mr. Owen's
diary. I have heard bee-keepers doubt Mr. Woodley's,
but that does not prove Mr. Woodley to be incorrect. 1
think people hereabout that know Mr. Owen would as
soon believe him as they would Mr. Woodley, and as a
bee-master they would not think him inferior to Mr.
Woodley. Mr." Woodley mentions the 10 lbs. of honey
credited to Mr. Owen. 1 must say I felt a bit curious
about that, but I believe the judges were chosen for
their integrity and superior knowledge of bee-culture,
and quite competent to deal with the matter, and I felt
quite sure that what they did was in the interest of
justice; and it appears to me that they took a great
deal of pains to decide the matter fairly between the
several competitors. And now Mr. Woodley asks them,
after the settlement of the matter, to reconsider their
decision, Reconsider what ? Has Mr. Woodley sent
a supplementary diary, or what have they to recon-
sider ? Does he wish gentlemen who have already
given their awards to sit in judgment on themselves,
and to sentence themselves to death in order that
Mr. Woodley ma)- put the rope round their necks
while he runs off with the first prize, and deprive
Wiltshire of the little honour due to her ? Some facts
about valuation Mr. Woodley carefully left out. His
one stock with 30 lbs. of honey was valued at HI. 8s.,
whereas M. Owen's No. 2 hive, with the same quantity
of honey as Mr. Woodley's was only valued at 1/. 12s. Ctd.,
and his No. 2, with 20 lbs., 11. 10s. The two, with
50 lbs. of honey between them, only valued at 3/. 2s. Qd.
Now, I think, in all fairness, Mr. Woodley should have
mentioned this. — Charles Eyles, Bo.r, Wilts.

BUMPING v. DRIVING.

Krply to II. Jeanes, Dec. 1.

My experience both last year and this has been much
in favour of bumping. The very day I heard of the plan
last year in B. B. J. I operated on thirteen stocks between
11 a.m. and 4 a.m. Of these I drove three, and after the
first was much plagued with robbers — the garden not
admitting of getting far from the other stocks. In one
of the three, the combs, which were heavy with honey

and very tender, gave way during driving, and caused
much trouble. So I determined to try bumping, and
was quite satisfied with the result. Altogether, the three
drivings, including cutting out combs aud finishing the
job, took up just one hour.

By the bumping process I polished off the three next
in twenty minutes. I had a little difficulty with one of
the ten, as the sticks, which cottagers will persist in
using, were so rough and crooked that two heavy combs
were cracked across in removing them, and much honey
ran out.

This year I have operated on at least double the num-
ber, with only two partial failures, caused again by the
sticks. I now always take with me a tine 'key-hole' saw,
with which I cut through the sticks between each comb
if I foresee any difficulty in drawing them out. I replace
each hive on its own stand as soon as the combs are re-
moved, and leave till evening ; and then do all uniting
before tying up to take home. One is not any more
likely to be stung in bumping than in driving, and two
hours out of three are saved. — W. E. BriiKiTT.

COUNTY ASSOCIATION FOR GLAMORGAN-
SHIRE.

The question of the formation of an Association for
Glamorganshire has often been written of in the Journal,
but hitherto that much-desired object has not been
accomplished (although it was stated in the report of
the Neath show this year that the prizes for bee-produce
at that show were contributed by the Glamorganshire
Association). I have ascertained from the indefatigable
Hon. Sec. of the Carmarthenshire Association, L. Oswald
Lewis, Esq., that there are a great many gentlemen
who would join, but they all live in the western portion
of the county, at Swansea and neighbourhood. I don't
think that he mentions a single name from Bridgend to
Cardiff. There are also a great many bee-keepers in
the Neath district; here, there are something like a
dozen.

To communicate personally with all would entail a
great deal of expense, I would therefore ask the bee-
keepers of the county, through the medium of the
Journal, to send me replies to the following queries : —

1st. The names and addresses of bee-keepers who will
join ?

2nd. The place to hold a preliminary meeting ?

3rd. The date and hour to suit them for such
meeting? — D.P.Davies, \7 Commercial Street, Aberdare.

[We should be pleased to hear that this endeavour to
establish an Association for Glamorganshire has met
with success; and that the bee-keepers of the County
have rallied round Mr. Davies, and assisted in its promo-
tion.— Ed.]

NOTES ON THE PAST SEASON.

On page 378, Nov. 15, 1 see the Honey Company is
found fault with on account of low prices. The (Jompany,
no doubt, is influenced by supply and demand, like any
other business, and must buy so as to sell again. It is
not likely that ridiculous prices like Is. (id. to 2s. G(/. per
section can be maintained. The bee-keeper now has two
chances, he can sell all he can privately, and the Company
will take the surplus off his hands.

For instance, I have sent the two Companies 810
sections, about half my crop, which, being unable to
dispose of, I should have had to melt and sell as extracted
honey at a considerable loss. They also deal very fairly
in the matter of broken sections.

The swarming period here was the most protracted
one I ever knew ; the weather was very variable, and a
fine day was the exception. The bees defied all attempts
to keep a record of the ages of queens, as they swarmed
most unaccountably, some settling, as was natural, whilst

December 15, 1885.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

407

a great number entered other hives, and a few days after
would start up again and make other changes, so that
queen record as well as bees got pretty well mixed. A
branch or two stuck in the ground opposite the hives
was a great attraction, and kept them from the tree-tops.
One swarm, that had alighted on the ground amongst
potato stalks, was overlooked and stayed there nearly
two days and a night, and were spread on the ground in
a circle of, say, eighteen inches diameter, when found.
How long would they have stayed there ?

One cold evening I found nearly a pint of bees on the
ground that had fallen from a cluster of a skep, which
had been hanging out for some time. The bees were to
all appearance dead and looked shrivelled. They were
taken in a tin, and covered over near the fire. A
little honey given them, and in fifteen minutes were in
first-class stinging condition. They were taken back to
the hive, the tin inverted, and left for the night over the
feed-hole of the skep.

Can you, Mr. Editor, give your readers a description
of the. best form of spring, suitable for honey crates 28
inches by 10 ? I have used pads, but they do not give
protection enough. If the dynamite scare extended
more generally among railway porters the results would
be very beneficial to honey producers and consigners.

I have been very successf ul with the Simmins' method
of direct introduction with a large number of queens
raised in nuclei.

The yield of honey has been very fair, of good quality
and appearance. As a climax I moved forty-four hives
to the heather, and on account of bad weather lost all
expenses.

Moral. Moving to the heather is a doubtful privilege,
unless in exceptionally dry summers. — J. C. Lambert,
Sunk Island, Hull.

[Any crate with springs must of necessity be large
and clumsy in comparison to the contents. When we
were experimenting with crates, we constructed one
having an outer case 6 inches longer and G inches deeper
than the one to hold the sections, which was suspended
by indiarubber door-springs fixed from the 4 outer
corners of the inner box to the 4 inner corners of the outer
box. This leaves a space of 3 inches all round, and the
inner case, of course, does not require to be glazed. An
American named Hoge brought a lot of section honey
from America for Messrs. Thurber in double crates
with indiarubber balls placed at intervals between the
two cases. After making a number of experiments we
came to the conclusion that the ordinary crates, as usually
made with glass sides, were the best for general use.
The railway people being able to see the comb honey
through the glass are much more likely to handle it
carefully, more especially if the receiver declines to take
it if damaged, and makes the railway company pay for
the breakage. — Ed.]

COLOUR OF HIVES AND INSTINCT OF BEES.
Would you kindly allow me a few words in answer
to 'Woodleigh,' as I think it is of some importance
to bee-keepers, since at least a majority of apiarists
go to the trouble and expense of giving to their hives
different colours for the purpose of assisting their bees,
but more especially the queens in finding their respective
hives. After very carefully reading ' Woodleigh's '
letter I am greatly strengthened in my opinions against
this much-used, but little-understood wrord ' instinct '
as applied to bees ; more especially, and I hope ' Woodleigh
will pardon me when I say that his letter contains no
evidence in favour of his argument, whereas it does con-
tain evidence against it. ' Woodleigh ' asks what utility
any colour can be to a queen that has just emerged from
darkness; and then later on admits that worker-beet may
be able to distinguish one colour from another because of
the practice they get, but not so with queens. I cannot

agree with ' Woodleigh ' in supposing the queen to be
inferior to the worker. If a worker can distinguish one
colour from another, why not a queen ; and what differ-
ence does it make about her majesty coming out of dark-
ness for the first time ? Does not the worker-bee have a
first time of coming out of darkness, and who ever saw
one single bee try to gather honey from a brick wall or
oak post P

When a queen leaves the hive on her wedding-trip
she is fully developed, and I think there is no doubt her
eyesight is as good as at any time after, for she no sooner
leaves the alighting-board than she begins to survey the
whole position — noting the colour of this and the form
and position of that, and this is continued until she is
satisfied that she will know the place again when she
gets back— and not only the apiary but the hive and its
entrance. After she is thoroughly impressed with the
outward appearance of her mansion she rises above all
obstructions, and no doubt marking objects on her way,
flies away on her happy mission.

But suppose the queen left herself in the hands of in-
stinct, and instead of taking the trouble to ascertain the
colour and position of her dwelling, she left recklessly as
it were, thinking of nothing but matrimony and its
blessings, what would become of her ? Would instinct
bring her back to her hive ? Certainly not. She had
left home without preparing for the return, and therefore
having no guiding stars, no impressions of colours and
forms, she flies about in search of home until she becomes
exhausted and ultimately is lost.

I contend that if bees came back by instinct to their
hives, such a thing as getting lost would be out of the
question, and instead of stopping to make a note of every
little particular, they would fly straight off from the
hive and instinct would bring them back again. It is
simply cause and effect. I hold that bees emploj' exactlu
the same means in finding their homes as human beings
do in finding theirs ; and without ' Woodleigh ' will admit
that he himself finds his home by instinct, he has before
him a difficult task.

In my last I gave ' Woodleigh' a test which 'staggered
and confounded 'him, simple and harmless as it was, and
yet after recovering he frankly admits just what my
test was intended to prove — viz., That if a hundred
bees were taken 3i miles from their hive the number re-
turning would be in proportion to the number of 'fielders' —
and if so, where is ' Woodleigh's ' instinct ? 'Woodleigh'
next wants a giant to carry me off in a sack — I hope he
won't — and turn. me up in a strange country, and then
' Woodleigh ' intimates that I should not be able to find
my domicile. I quite concur. I should have no guid-
ing marks and consequently should be lost, just as bees
would under similar circumstances for want of instinct. —
Corrigenda, The Apiary, Selston, Alfreton.

Y. S. — In reply to ' Student' I must ask him to be kind
enough to refer to his oion words, as they define in a
nutshell, as it were, my views on instinct, or rather as to
what it is ; and it is against instinct of this description
that I am arguing with ' Woodleigh.' I do not know of
any other definition for instinct.

FLOWERS WITH REGARD TO HONEY.
I see under the above heading, in your Journal for
November loth, what I consider to be a misrepresenta-
tion of Mr. W. N. Griffin's views relative to the above.
I think Mr. Jeanes is wrong in supposing that Mr.
Griffin meant to grow flowers enough for our favourites,
but to notice what flowers our locality mostly consisted
of; that is, as I take him. Again, Mr. Jeanes states,
You should grow a good batch of flowers, both honey
and pollen-yielding, to save the bees from going off on
cold and bad weather. I have noticed that bees will, as
a rule, leave the flowers grown at home for some at a
distance, and therefore I think our garden flowers are of

408

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[December 15, 1885.

but very little use to them. Although I grow some in
my garden for them, still 1 do not think it is of such
great advantage to bee-keepers as Mr. Jeanes would have
us suppose ; and I quite concur with Mr. Griffin's ideas,
and I wish him every success. — Wm. B. Jones, Tipton,
St. John's.

FIXING FOUNDATION.
I beg leave to call your attention to a far more
reliable system of fixing comb foundation in bar-frames

PLAN

RIPENESS OF HONEY.

I am obliged to you for your reply to my inquiry
respecting ' ripe ' honey and the closely-related subject
of granulation, and I venture to think that the matter
is worth some consideration. I am aware how soon
some honey granulates, especially that from mustard,
which is said to crystallise sometimes in the cell. If so,
another question arises : Do bees ever seal unripe honey?
If certain tests are accurate, and your standard of ripe-
ness that generally accepted by authorities, I am inclined
to think they do. What then ? Have the}' sealed, pre-
sumably for long storage, honey which will not keep
sound, but which may ferment and produce disease?
It is impossible to think so. Then it follows that honey
which will keep — perhaps for months, perhaps till
another honey season — may be labelled ' unripe.' And
what is this, to put it briefly, but that good honey, fit
for anyone's use, and therefore fit for the market, may
be labelled ' unmarketable ' ?

Assuming that bees only seal duly prepared honey, I
see no flaw in this series of reasoning. But I think I
see an obvious result of it, viz., that as a conventional
standard has been adopted it should be at once modified,
and that a lower density than 1*360 should be taken.

As far as I see, granulation or crystallisation, if they
be the same, occurring, say, in October or November, is
a test of a good rich honey, likely to keep good as long
as required. "What more can be wanted ? Yet I have
known such an article extracted from tough combs of
body hives, and on the surface of which a small quantity,
evidently the unripe from a few unsealed cells, had
settled, not able to reach the specific gravity of 1*350,
even after being melted and cooled.

As the question bears on the sale of honey, it appears
important — especially now, when much, I fear, remains
undisposed of; and seeing how bee-keeping has spread
among all classes, and remembering that stores have
been gathered during the last two years, is it — I ask

081*0 rOUNDA TIDN

than the one illustrated in the Bee Journal of Oc-
tober 15th. Section A works on a wire hinge that
goes through the top bar, as in the plan, at B. When
fixed for use, it is fastened into position by a wire pin
at 0, — F. A. Goodall.

with fear and trembling — is it rank heresy to hint that
we may be within an appreciable distance of the end of
the work for which our Association has been started ? —
South Cornwall.

[Before this subject can be fairly discussed we must
lay down a clear definition of the word honey;. Let this
definition be : — ' The nectar of jlowers gathered and stored
hi/ bees.'' Bees, when unable to obtain the nectar of
flowers, will undoubtedly collect and seal up in their
cells honey-dew, juices of fruits, molasses from grocers'
shops, and, in fact, any other kind of sweets which they
are able to appropriate. But, that either these substances
or syrup made from the purest cane sugar, after passing
through the honey-sac of the bee, and being stored in its
cells, should be dignified with the name of honey, we
deny in idto. Honey varies much in its composition,
different varieties being secreted by different plants
The composition also varies with the age of the honey,*
a portion of the cane-sugar being gradually changed into
' inverted ' sugar by the action of a ferment contained in
the honey. Under the action of this ferment the honey
gradually becomes opaque, and ' granulation ' or ' crystal-
lisation ' is completed. The Paris Codex states the spec,
grav. of honey as low as 1*261 ; and in various works on
natural philosophy it is placed as high as 1*450. Now
the ' mean ' of these two quantities is 1*355 — a very near
approach indeed to the spec. grav. of clover honey —
collected and sealed during a dry season, which is found
to be 1*370. "We must maintain, therefore, that, as a
conventional standard spec. grav. for average honey,
1*350 comes very near the truth. The granulation and
the keeping of honey depend very much upon tempera-
ture, moisture or dryness of atmosphere, circulation of
air, &c. There may be pure honey that will not granu-
late, owing to the small quantity of ferment contained in
it, and it would be an easy matter — pace Mr. Hehner —
to prevent granulation, or to cause it, in all pure honey.
Our esteemed analyst, we believe, maintains that the
fluidity of hone}' does not depend on the amount of
water it contains. We ourselves possess extracted honey
which has been kept in glass jars for a period of three
years, and which we defy any connoisseur to distinguish
from honey of the present year. ' Depression ' — to use
the modern term — and low prices, prevail, not in the
honey-markets only, but in those of all other commodi-
ties. Let our esteemed correspondent, therefore, lay
aside his ' fear and trembling,' for the ' end ' is not yet.
Old England will shake off the incubus, as she has shaken
off so many others in days gone by, and will stand forth,
welded together with her colonies, a ' Greater Britain,'
and more admired, but, perhaps, more envied than of old
by the nations of the world. Fully believing, therefore,
in the future of this great empire, we hesitate not to fore-
cast a great future for the industry of apiculture already
firmly established and increasing in our midst. — Ed.]

UNITING.

Seeing an article on uniting in the Dee Journal of
December 1st, will you kindly allow me to give you my
experience on the subject ? In my plan no scented syrup
is required. Arriving home at evening with the con-
demned bees I smoked the bar-frame or skcp (that I
wish to unite them to) enough to drive them to feed. I
don't stop for them to do so, as "I know when they have
begun. Throw the condemned bees on to a cloth, and
stand the bar-frame or skep over ; block up one side
about two inches, and in about ten minutes the bees
have all gone up. I then place the hive on its stand
without any fear of fighting.

Another way for bar-frame is to take off the covering
from the top of the hive, smoke the bees a little, throw
the condemned bees on to the top, and drive them all
down together with smoke. Cover up, and the work is
done.

December 15, 1885.]

THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.

409

I find both wags to answer very satisfactorily without
the least flghtingr, and it is very quickly done. I always
unite them in the evening or early morning', before the
bees begin to fly. — \V. Edwards, Mousehill, Mi/ford,
Surrey.

INVERTED SKEPS.

In common with many other persons (who desire to
help cottagers in their bee-keeping, but whose intimate
knowledge of their circumstances precludes the idea of
introducing bar-frame hives), I was much interested by
your all too short mention in a recent number of the
Journal of a reversed skep with crate of supers, and see
in it some glimmer of a hope of helping Irish cottagers
to produce more saleable honey. The bar-frame hives
require some capital, some knowledge of the natural
history of bees, also time, patience, neatness, and at-
tention, the latter of which are qualities not altogether
often found in an Irish cottager. On the other hand, if
Paddy and his wife are not promising materials for
advanced bee-keepers, they live in a country well
adapted for bees, with a mild climate and abundance
of flowers, and bee-food of every -sort, including large
stretches of heather, and they handle a swarm or a skep
with tolerable courage and confidence. So if the native
skep can be reversed and supplied with sections, it would
be a great gain to numbers of cottagers, who, like your
English skepists, find it almost impossible to sell their
honey in districts like this, well provided with section
honey-producers; If your Jnurnal can give further
information to us about the reversible skep, with simple
instructions how to proceed («), in the case of a stock-
hive ; (//), in the case of a swarm, it will be only deep-
ening the debt of gratitude we already owe it. And we
will carry out the directions as well as we are able, and
in due time let the result be known. — Irish Novice.

LECTURE ON BEE-KEEPING ON THE HIGH

SEAS.
I send you an extract from the Arawa Gazette, pub-
lished on board the R.M.S. Arawa during a passage from
London to New Zealand, in August and September, 1885,
a reissue of which has since been printed at the Daily
Tunes office, Punedin, N.Z. It has come to me from a
lady, a member of the North-East of Ireland Bee-
keepers' Association, who was a passenger on board,
and is extremely interesting as being the first instance
on record of a lecture on bee-keeping delivered at sea.
The ship's log gives the position as in lat. 4(5" 25', long.
68° 55', which would be in the Indian Ocean, about half-
way between the Cape of Good Hope and Tasmania,
somewhere near St. Paul's Island, that is marked on
most maps. — II. W. Lett, Ardmore Glebe, Luryan,
December Wth.

From the 'Arawa Gazette,' No. 4, Sept. 21st, 1885.

'Bees and Bee-cvliuiie. — On Tuesday, September 15th,
1885, an interesting and instructive address was given by
the Rev. R. Williams to the passengers on bee-culture.
Mr. Williams touched on the medicinal value of honey, and
its increasing use as a remedy for consumption. The
lecturer commended bee-keeping as a most interesting
and profitable study. In confirmation of the latter point
he had last year gathered 92 lbs. of honey from one hive,
realising Is. 6rf. per lb. The queen-bee lays some 2000 eggs
per day during the season ; the working bees exist only
from four to nine months ; the drones enjoying a summer's
existence, and then, as idlers, ejected from the hive. The
method of selecting and rearing the queen-bee, and the way
to produce swarming, were fully described. Other most
interesting facts were minutely explained, and a very hearty
vote of thanks, proposed by the Bev. Mr. Murray, concluded
the lecture, ably presided over by Mr. Sorby.'

Lecture on Bees.— A lecture on the above subject
was delivered on Wednesday evening, November 18th, at
Hampton-in-Arden, by the Rev. W. K. Suart,of Moseley,
near Birmingham. The lecture was illustrated by large
microscopic drawings made by T. Prince, Esq., of Brad-
ford. The series consisted of above forty illustrations on
the anatomy of the honey-bee, and are the original result
of long microscopic research. Each drawing showed
not only that the trained eye of the scientific micro-
scopist had been called into requisition, but also the
hand of the skilled draughtsman. As most noticeable
among the illustrations we may mention one on pollen-
grains and wax-plates or pockets, three on the sting,
four on the spiracles or breathing-holes, and two on para-
sites, the whole forming an excellent series on the internal
anatomy of this most wonderful and interesting insect.
In explaining the different parts of the structure of the
bee the lecturer interspersed useful and helpful sugges-
tions on the practical and profitable management of the
apiary. The audience was most attentive and fully
appreciated the lecture. The Vicar, the Rev. T. Morris,
who spoke upon the great industry of bees, and urged
the cottagers to commence bee-keeping, proposed a vote
of thanks to the lecturer, which was seconded by Mr. J.
X. Bower.

Ether and Chloroform have been used by some
with success while introducing queens, uniting colonies,
&c. At the Toronto Convention of the North American
Bee-keepers' Society, Mr. Jones said that he used a
smoker containing three sponges, that in the middle
having a few drops of chloroform upon it. By fumigat-
ing the hive with this, all the fight was taken out of the
bees, and they accepted the queen given them, and made
no attempt to injure her, even after they recovered from
the effects of the chloroform. This method, he said,
was simple, safe, and the cost for chloroform only one
cent for each queen introduced. Mr. Langstroth caused
a good deal of laughter by describing some experiments
he had conducted in feeding bees with sugar moistened
with brandy, in order to be able to safely introduce a
new queen. Said he : ' It's no harm to make bees drunk,
I guess. If some of you want to see some fun, get some
bees drunk, and watch them. You never saw such a
consequential creature as a bee.' His experiments, how-
ever, were a failure, for as soon as the bees ' sobered up,'
they destroyed the queen given to them. P. Bach
etherizes bees when he wishes to unite them. He places
the sponge, moistened with the anaesthetic, in the hive.
As soon as the bees fall to the bottom of the hives, they
are united, and soon revive upon receiving fresh air.—
American Bee Journal.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-

B. Elatman. — The bees sent appear perfectly healthy
within. No bacilli exist. Cause of death is almost
certainly cold. They clearly are a mixture of Car-
niolan, Ligurian, and probably black. The Carniolan
blood is most evident, and the yellow patch at the
angle of the first abdominal segment is traceable to the
Ligurian. — F. C.

IxquisitivePat. — 1. Qucen-E.rcluder in Body of Hive. —
This is necessary when sections are worked at the rear
of the brood-nest, and to divide the brood-nest from
frames used for extracting. 2. Italian Queen for a stock
doing fairly well. — If you have no Italian queen you
would do well to have at least one to infuse fresh
blood into your bees. Cross-bred or hybrid bees
are generally considered better than pure bred,
although rather apt to be irritable. Italian and
Ligurian bees are the same. -j. Why should Honey-
comb inserted in Spring be uncapped. — Because the
scent of uncapped honey attracts the bees ; they
carry it into their brood-nest, and so stimulate the

410

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[December 15, 1885.

queen to lay. 4. When should Supers be put on Hives
When it is crowded with bees. Sections hung in the
body of the hive are often accepted, while those on the
top are refused. "When they are accepted and partly
■worked out, they should be removed 'without disturbing
the bees in them to the racks on the top of the frames.

Chippenham. — Removing Bees thirty yards in consequence
of Floods, — The first fine day many bees will no doubt
fly back to the old stand. As the old position is liable
to be flooded, you had better leave them in the new
one. If you put a hive on the old stand, many of those
which return will enter it, and you can return them in
the evening to the hive, and so lessen the loss. The
reason that bees when moved a mile or more do not
return to their old stand is, that in their flight they do
not get within sight of their known landmarks, and so
are not attracted to the old spot. 2. The Bumping
System. — "i'ou will find this system described in pages
275 and 27G, vol. xii.

Young Beginner.— 1. Dead Bees in Hive. — So long as
the entrance is not obstructed by them, you need not
trouble about them. The first fine day the bees will
bring them out. 2. Spiteful Hybrids. — You may next
year, when your blacks swarms, re-queen your hybrid
stocks by making use of the surplus queen-cells in the
swarmed stock : but unless you are far removed from
any bee-keeper keeping Ligurians, the young queens are
very likely to mate with Liguriau drones, and their
progeny will be hybrids. With care and experience,
you will not be afraid of them. '■). Inoculation with
Sting Poison. — All who are in the habit of handling
bees must get to some extent inoculated, so that stings
affect them not at all, or only slightly. Dr. Walker
some years ago treated himself to a course of stings on
the wrist, increasing the dose from one up to ten or
more in a day, each dose affecting him less. It is
always as well to protect the face by a veil.

S. J. C. — Candy. — The sample you send is rather too
hard and crystalline. There is no particular time for
boiling. Test the syrup by dropping a little on a cold
plate, and remove from the fire when the drop sets so
that it can be touched with the finger without sticking
to it. Then stir the pea-flour into it, and when about
to set pour out. Refined sugar is better for the pui-pose
than Demerara.

Ignoramus. — Doubling.--'\\e have never found it neces-
sary to place excluder zinc between the hives, and with
fifteen frames in each hive there is little danger of the
queen ascending if the lower combs are kept free from
sealed honey, especially the outer ones. The space
between the lower frames and the upper ones should
not be more than half inch, and the two hives should
exactly correspond in dimensions, and should be inter-
changeable. Since a prize is offered for the ' best hive
on the doubling system ' at the next show of the
R. A. S., to be held at Norwich, we advise you not to
go largely into hive-making on this system at present,
since no doubt new ideas will be forthcoming. The
upper hive with all its frames is placed upon the
lower. See Cowan, p. 54. Secretary for Norfolk. —
Rev. J. Blake Ilumfrey, Great Dunham, Swaflham.

F. Eccles,— 1. Tl'ire Netting.— There could be no objec-
t ion to the use of the wire as you propose. It would in no
way interfere with the flight of the bees. 2. Feeder.
— Our opinion respecting the feeder — the description
of which we thoroughly understood — remains un-
changed. Your best plan will be to exhibit it at some
leading show, where its merits, if any, will be certain
to be appreciated. WTe cannot undertake to recom-
mend any particular feeder.

William McNali.y. — We shall be pleased to make
arrangements with you as to the reproduction of any of
the blocks which have appeared in previous numbers of
the B. B. Journal.

J. MoonE.— See reply to W. McXally. By referring

to indices of this and previous volumes you will be able
to find the information you seek respecting honey-
producing plants.

J. D. McNaixy. — Observatory and Pyramidal Hives. —
The B.B.K. A. neither adopts nor recommends any par-
ticular hive. The most it has done in this direction is
to adopt a standard frame. Abbott's observatory hive,
consisting of a rectangular box with glass sides and
top, and taking ten frames, which can be separated for
observation, would probably suit you. Bees cannot be
expected to winter well in any glass hive. We con-
sider the ordinary unicomb-hive the best for purposes
of observation and experiment. It usually takes two
frames only, one above the other, the sides of both
combs being open for observation. Pyramidal Hives.
— Hives of this class have become obsolete. They
were storifying hives, and were not on the moveable-
comb system. We do not see any object to be attained
by reviving them. We are not aware that any modern
bee-keeper uses them. The Stewarton is the best
storifying hive we possess. The pyramidal hive most
in use in days gone by was that of M. Ducouedic, and
was very popular in France. It consisted of a conical
skep mounted upon one, or more, square boxes.
Madame Vicat, a Swiss lady, was the inventor of a
celebrated hive, named after herself, which consisted
of pyramidal boxes worked upon the collateral system,
similar, but superior to, the well-known Nutt's hives.
But these are all exploded, and for generations
have been relegated ' to the moles and to the bats.'

G. T. — -We have not lost sight of our promise; the en-
gravings will be given in an early number.

A. B. — 1 . Hive for the Doubling System.- — See reply to
'Ignoramus.' 2. Wired or Ordinary Foundation for
Doubling System. — Wired foundation is less likely to
break out in extracting, but plain is quite strong
enough unless you are very rough and careless. The
method of fixing wired foundation has been recently
explained in our columes. 3. Best Kind of Frames. —
Distance-pins are the worst ; broad-shouldered frames
better; and metal ends, of proper construction, the
best of all. See our advertisement columns. 4. Best
Kind of Bees. — A first cross between blacks and
Ligurians for choice. Next pure Ligurians. 6. Heavy
Stocks by Bail. — You can safely send any stocks by
rail if you fix the combs; if in a skep, by putting one
or two sticks through them a few da}rs before sending
off, and pack them upside down ; in frame hives by
fixing the frames so that they cannot swing, and
giving plenty of ventilation. See ' Useful Hints.'

6. Probable Result of Swarms. — If you feed until they
have built out their combs, you may extract a surplus
if the weather is propitious. (From }'Our question,
' Whether they will work up into the top frames,' you
do not seem to understand the 'doubling system.')

7. Filing Foundation. — A saw-cut is the best method,
but if properly wired on both sides it is not likely to
break down. When it does, the cause is generally
that the wax is not used hot enough.

Raynoii Divisional Section Rack. — As we were
going to press we received a letter from Mr. C. N. Abbott,
too late for insertion, pointing out a misapprehension
into which the Rev. G. Raynor has fallen, in stating
that at the Kuightsbridge Show in July 1883 Messrs.
Abbott obtained first prize for a divisional section rack.
Mr. Abbott did not, it appears, exhibit the section racks
on that occasion ; the prizes for the best and neatest
divisional racks being awarded — 1. Dr. Benthall; 2. Dr.
Benthall ; '■>. S. J. Baldwin. Mr. Abbott has always
manufactured Dr. Benthall's racks, and he considers he is
justified in advertising them in the manner he does.

\* Covers for Volume may be had from J. Huckle, Kirujs
Langley, Herts.

BffflSH

^^Jiv^,.,"' .

HEGISTERED AS A NEWSPAPER FOR TRANSMISSION ABROAD ]

[ENTERED AT 8TATI0NERS' HALL

EDITED BY THOS. WM. COWAN,

F.G.S.,

F.R.M.S., Etc.

[No. 184. Vol. XIII.] DECEMBER 15,

1885.

[Price M.; post-free, 3Jrf.]

GATHER H ON BY FROM YOUR FLOWERS!!!

NEIGHBOURS' CELEBRATED BEE-HIVES.

SILVER and other MEDALS awarded at the following Exhibitions: —

London,\8ol, 1862, and 1873; Paris, 1855, 1867, and 1878 ; Philadelphia, 1876 ; Dublin, 1853,1865; Cologne,lSSO;

Edinburgh Show of Caledonian Society, Silver Cup, 1877; at a'l Shows of the British Bee-heepers1 Association; ami

International Health Exhibition, 1884, Sillier and Bronze Medals' for Bee. Hires and Honey.

Inventions Exhibition, 1885, Silver Medal fir Bee-keeping Appliances.

Established in the Year 1815.

THE

GUINEA FRAME HIVE,

With Metal Ends to Standard Frames,
and extra space at the sides to admit of
chaff or other packing ; also a Double
Quilt for the crown and a case of 1-lb.
Sections with Cover are herewith included.
Price, unpainted, 21s.

THE

FIFTEEN SHILLING FRAME HIVE,

Called the 'BUNCEFIELD HIVE,' has
been designed to supply a want long felt
by those who desire a Hive at once tasteful
in appearance and moderate in price. The
walls are built of Straw, neatly bound
with Cane. Price 15s.
For further particulars, see pp. 1C anil 23 '
of current Catalogue.

0ARLY SPRING BEE BLOWERS.
LIMNANTHES DOUGLASII & ARABIS ALPINUS.

We have now ready for transplanting a quantity of these excellent Honey-yielding Plants, grown
at our Bee Farm, Hemel Hempstead ; and as this is the right time of year for sending them out, we
shall be glad to supply Strong Plants at the following prices :— Per 1000, 7s. 6d. ; per 100, Is., packing
included, and forwarded from Boxjioor Station, L. & N. "W. Kail.

EXTRACTORS, COMB FOUNDATION, and all other Requisites Supplied.
8©= CA TALOG UE of BEE HIVES and APPLIANCES may be had on application to

GEO. NEIGHBOUR & SONS, 127 High Holborn, W.C. ; and 149 Regent St, W, London.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 15, 1885.

Editorial, Notices, &c.t— page

The British Bee Journal 399

Reversible Frames and Hives 400

Useful Hints: — Winter in Earnest-
Snow— Feeding— Quilts— Dead Bees,
Ventilation, &c.— Removing Hives—

Nomenclature— Adulteration 402

Hum of Bee 404

The Price of Honey ... 404

British Bee-keepers' Association 404

Kent Bee-keepers' Association 404

Correspondence : —

Those Reversible Frames 404

Reversible Combs 405

Reversible Frames 405

Bligh Competition 406

Bumping *». Driving1 406

CONTENTS.

Correspondence [contd.) :— page

County Association for Glamorganshire 406

Notes on the Past Season 406

Colour of Hives and Instinct of Bees... 407

Flowers with regard to Honay t07

Fixing Foundation 408

Ripeness of Honey 40S

Uniting 403

Inverted Skeps 409

Lecture on Bee-keeping on the H;gh Seas 409

Lecture on Bees 403

Ether and Chloroform 409

Notices to Correspondents :—
Cause of Death — Queen-Excluder in
Body of Hive— Italian Queen for a
stock doing fairly well — Why should
Honey-comb inserted in Spring be
uncapped — When should Supers be

Notices to Correspondents (contd.):—
put on Hives — Removing Bees thirty
yards in consequence of Floods —
The Bumping System — Dead Bees
in Hive— Spiteful Hybrids— Inocula-
tion with Sting Poison — Candy —
Doubl'tug — Wire Netting — Feeder —
Engravings— Observatory and Pyra-
midal Hives — Hive for the Doubling
System — Wired or Ordinary Founda-
tion for Doubling System— Best kind
of Frames — Best kind of Bees— Heavy
Stocks by Rail— Probable Result of
Swarms— Fixing Foundation 4091

Title.

Index.

SUBSCRIPTIONS and
ADVERTISEMENTS.

All Communications relating
to Subscriptions and Advertise-
ments to be sect to John Hdckle,
King's L.ingley, Herts, not later
than the 11th and 26th of each
month.

Annual Subscriptions, twelve
months 7s.t sis months 3s. 6ft.

Remittances should be made
by Post-office Order, Cheque o?
Postal Order, if Stamps are sent
Halfpenny ones are preferred.

Post-office Orders to be made
payable at the King's Langley
Post Office. Cheques to be crossed
* Bucks and Oxon Bank.* Postal
Orders should not be crossed.
Special terms tc Bee-keepers*
Associations.

SCALE OF CHARGES FOl
ADVERTISEMENTS.

Single Column —

£

s.

d.

Three lines

Per line afterwards

Inch of space

Quarter column
Half do.
Whole do.

0 1
0 0
0 3
0 8

0 15

1 5

6
6
G
0
0
0

Double Column —

Page

Half do

Third do

Quarter do

2 10
1 7
1 0
0 17

0
6
0
G

Special Terms for Displayed
and Continuous Advertisements.

] Bee-keepers' Associations and
Shows are charged at reduced

I rates.

NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent A Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents : —

ABBOTT, BROS., Southall.

BALD^WIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.

BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.

BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.

DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.

EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.

EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.

HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.

HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.

JOHNSTON, A. B., Brickhall, Ballywoolen, Killy-
leagh, Co. Down.

McNALLY, R., Glcnluce, N.B.

NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.

OVERTON C. T., Three Bridges, Susses.

REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.

RICE, J. J., Wensum Street, Norwich.

SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.

WALTON, E. C, Muskham, Newark.

WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.

WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
Subscribers who may wish to have the Journal sent direct from our
Office by post may do so by payment of their Subscriptions in advance,
and may rely upon its being promptly despatched bv the next post
niter publication. An Order Form for the renewal o"f Subscriptions
accompanies the Journal at the expiration of the Subscription. The
Expiry is also indicated by the Journal being sent in a Coloured
Wrapper. It is indispensable that a renewal of the Subscription
should be made pievicus to the issno of the next number.

Sixth Edition. Eleventh Thousand.

BEE-KEEPERS' GUIDE BOOK. Containing Manage-
ment of Bees in Modern Moveable Comb Hives, and
the "Use of the Extractor. By Thos. Wii. Cowan, F.G.S.,
F.R.M.S., &c. With numerous Illustrations. Feap. 8vo.,
price Is. 6d. ; or in cloth gilt, 2s. G<i. Postage 2d. To be had
of Houlston & Sons, Paternoster Square, all Hive dealers,
Secretaries to Bee-keepers' Associations, and of J. Huckle,
British Bee Journal Office, Kings Langley, Herts.

BRITISH BEE-FARMERS'

Improved Bar-frame Hives,

Made of 1-inch well-seasoned wood ; eight Frames, with
wide sides, waxed ; space between the top bars to examine
at any time without disturbing the Bees ; Excluder Zinc,
to prevent Queen laying eggs in the last three frames, and
Workers storing pollen in them ; Walker's Division-board
Feeder, to make hive smaller in winter. Hive complete,
5s. each. Directions for Management, lrf.

ISAAC HALE, Maker, Horncastle, Lincolnshire.

BALDWIN'S

Hives, Supers, Comb Foundation, &c, are far

ahead of all others, both in Materials and Workmanship.
Awarded Six First Prizes and Medals, and One Second
and Medal, Ball's Bridge Show, Dublin, April 1S85.
Silver Medal, International Inventions Exhibition, 1885.

Send 2d. for ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE.
THE APXAXtV, BBOMLEV, KENT.

FIFTH JOURNEY TO THE ORIENT.

THE undersigned starts in a few weeks for CYPRUS
and SYRIA, visiting also CAENIOLA,
ITALY, and TUNIS. Orders booked now or choice
Queens from these countries, if prepaid.

10 per cent. Discount on Regular Prices.

Send at once for Circular to
FRANK BENTON, Schwabing, Munich, Germany.

Strong Black Mosquito Net,

72 inches wide, Is. 6<7. per yard.

Black Net Bee Veils, 1/2 each.

(Carriage Paid.) Address R. R. Godfrey, Grantham.

F

OR a 36 page ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE

OF

HIVES AND BEE FURNITURE,

APPLY TO

£. G. WALTON, Muskham, Newark.

1886 Catalogue ready first week in January, 50 Pages
and 80 Illustrations. (116)

SXiS T» 3C O -VC7- EK 23 .

PLANT OUT NOW for Early Spring.— Arabis,
Limnanthes, Wallflower, &c. Strong Plants, Is. Grf.
per 100, free. Address S. S. Goldsmith, Boxworth, St.
Ives, Hunts. 112

Dec. 15, 1885.] ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

CLARK'S PATENT
'CLIMAX'

Onhj to be obtained of the

SOLE LICENSEE,

W. T. GREEN,

Climax ' Bee Hive Works,

SUDBURY, SUFFOLK.

r^HIS Celebrated Hive does away with the necessity of
JL smoking Bees. It has a diamond-shaped Body and
Frames, Metal Ends to same, and are hung above the
centre of gravity. As they cannot be propolised, there is
no jarring to irritate ; and when quilts are removed, the
bees are fully exposed to both light and air (the essential
point in working without smoke), and finding

themselves thus, are at first very much surprised. That
will subside in about half-a-minute, when the manipulator
can at once proceed to do anything required, and the bees
will in this manner be more tractable than when smoked.

The entrance is arranged to exclude light, driving rain,
draught ; no place is left for traps, and robber bees are
hindered.

PEICES for CASH with ORDER.

No. 1, as per illustration, with hinged roof, with bracket
to support ornamental ridge, fourteen 4-lb. frames, founda-
tion fixed. Two wood dummies, one glass ditto, two quilts,
two section crates, complete. Entrance as above, painted
with impenetrable paint in light tints with pleasing out-
line, £2 2s.

No. 2, with plain hinged roof, and bracket to support,
twelve 4 lb. frames, foundation fixed. Two wood dummies,
one glass ditto, two quilts, two crates, complete. Entrance
as above, well painted, £1 12s.

No. 3, with hinged roof and bracket, ten 4 lb. frames,
two quilts, one fixed and one moveable dummy. Entrance
as above. Two crates, with sections, complete, painted,
£1 6s.

Either of No. 2 and 3, without roof, for bee-house, 4s. less.

N.B. — W. T. Cf. has designed and registered a Bee-glass
for use in crates instead of sections. At the present he has
encountered difficulty in getting it made ; he trusts to be
able to do so at a very reasonable price, and put in crates
of each hive the full amount of value to same filled with
sections and metal seperators. Should he fail, which he
does not think will be the case, he will put in sections, so
arranged that each one shall be complete in itself, to be put
on over quilts, which must have a hole cut in for each one,
thus avoiding the necessity for smoke in taking them off, to
say nothing of increased ease.

In order to prevent disappointment in the Spring, the
Licensee, W. T. G. , would urge intending purchasers to
forward their Orders at once, and same will be executed
strictly as received.

Cheques crossed Gurneys, Alexanders tG Co.

Packing Crates 3s. 6<7. each, allowed for in full if returned,
carriage paid, at once in good condition. 4616

The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the
renowned C. F. H. Gravenhorst, Brunswick.

DEUTSCHE ILLUSTRIERTE BIENENZEITUNG.

Organ for the united interests of Bee-culture. By its con-
tributions from the principal Bee-keepers, and its brilliant
Illustrations, this publication has already had an extra-
ordinary circulation. Sample copies sent on request.

Also, ' DER PBAKTISCHE IMKEB.' Compendium of
Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst. Third en-
larged and improved edition, with fifty-two new original
Pictures, and a frontispiece. Price 4 marks (4s.), stitched ;
well bound, 5 marks.

C. A. Schwetscbke & Son (M. Brchn), Brunswick.

HOLE'S APICULTURAL APPLIANCES

For 1885.

New and Descrii>tive Catalogue. Contains much Valuable
Information for all Bee-keepers. Post free l£rf.

CANDY (Salicylised).— 6(7. per lb.

CANE.— For sewing Straw Skeps. Coarse, 1/3 per lb. ;
fine, 2/3 per lb. Post free.

COMB FOUNDATION, manufactured of Pure
Bees-wax, at current prices.

DOVETAILED SECTIONS, made any size to
order. Samples and prices on recoipt of postage, 2d.

EXTRACTORS, taking from one to four combs at
once, 10/- each and upwards.

FEEDERS.— THE DUMMY or DIVISION -BOARD
FEEDER is giving the greatest satisfaction. Number-
less Testimonials received as to their {treat practical
utility for Frame Hives. Now is the time to provide
Hives with a good Feeder, so that Stocks may be fed up
to condition before October. Two or three holes in this
Feeder, used during August and September, will have
the best effect possible, not requiring attention more
than two or three times a week, and saves all after
trouble and risk with candy feeding late in the season.
When not necessary as a Feeder it takes up no more
space in the Hive than an ordinary division-board. The
cheapest Feeder made, considering its utility as a
practical appliance. Post free 1/3 each. N.B. — When
two or more are sent to same address, they are made
more stoutly than for single orders. A cheaper Top
Feeder, on the inverted bottle principle, holding 2 lbs. of
Syrup, feeding slow or fast ; complete, with stage suitable
for use on Frame Hives or Skeps, 9J. each, post free.

HIVES of best construction, with important and practical
improvements, and without complicated arrangements.

PLANTS for Bee-forage generally in stock.

QUEENS. — Natives, Carniolans, Cyprians,- and
Ligurians.

SELF-CLOSING TINS for Honey. 1 lb. and
2 lb. sizes, best for safe transit of Extracted Honey ;
closes securely, and easy to open without damaging
the tin. Sample, five 1 lb. size, free, 1/-.

SMOKERS. — Cold Blast, best and cheapest in the
market, 2/6 each ; postage 3d. extra. The springs of
these Smokers cannot be broken with the hardest wear.

VEILS. — My Blued Woven Wire Veils have had a large
sale this season. Comfortable to the eyes, cool to wear,
durable and not liable to rust. 2/- each, post free.

WIRE for Veils, as above, 1/3 , post free.
Address —

HEREFORDSHIRE SCHOOL OF APICULTURE,

TARRINGTON, LEDBURY. (92)

The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World.

THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL

Established in 1861.

Edited by Thomas G. Newman, at 925 West Madison Street,
Chicago, Hlinois, U.S.A., sent to European Subscribers at
6s. 6d. per annum, including Postage. The money mayj be
sent by International Postal Money Orders on Chicago.
London Agents: Messrs. Geo. Neighbour & Sons, 149
Regent Street, W.

Catalogues RAYNOR FEEDER *«*««?* ""^
^ £ see Bee Journal & medals^ <
_ \Jt<ree may isr i384 188+^-^.

I- SYSTON. nr.Leiceste

^IV ■■-\WHOLESALE MANI/FACtA^///^.

BEE APPLIANCES

mm

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 15, 1885.

ABBOTT BROTHERS, Southall, London,

BEEHIVE MANUFACTURERS, WAX ANU HONEY MERCHANTS.

Ornamental Hives. Price on application.

See 84, Catalogue.

No. H. — Abbott's Copyable or Improved
Irish Hive.

.Recently Improved.

Abbott's Benthall Crate. Price 5s.

CO

E.

3

a.

No. F. — The Combination Hive.
The best Hive in the World.

Trice, complete for any system of management,
30s. and 27s. Qd.

Abbott's New Cylinder Extractor.

Price 30s. complete. Case 2s., or returnable.

MASKKALL'S PATENT SAW-BENCH.- After trying nearly every machine in the market, we

conclude that this is the only Saw-bench of practical utility to Bee-hive Makers. Price, complete, £14 .
We lave used it for the past 10 years. Further particulars ou application. Abbott Bisos. are the sole Makers.

All the above are kept in Stock, and are ready for immediate delivery.
TERMS NET CASH BEFORE DELIVERY. CATALOGUE FREE.

Dec. 15, 1885.] ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,

E. C.WALTON, Muskham, Newark.

Sections.

Foundation.
Smokers.

Hives.

Feeders.

Extractors.

Honey Bottles.

Bee Veils.

Foundation
Fixers.

BAR-FRAME HIVE,

Price 10s. complete.

Double walled back, and front, Tongued
and Grooved Floor-board moveable,
ninths, Porch, Entrance-contractors,
Legs, Hinged Roof, Ten Frames,
with E. C. Walton's Improved
Metal Ends (these Ends are in-
terchangeable with those of Blow,
Pine, Edey, or Harrison), and
saw-curf down the middle of
iar for foundation. Moveable
op sides for filling with chaff,
cork-dust, &c. ; two Spring
Dummies, two Quilts, and
Crate of 21 1-lb. Sections,
vith Glass at each end
and Separators.

Knives.

HALF MILLION SECTIONS \ gee Books.

Ready January 1st.

Honey.

This HIVE has taken
'irst and other Prizes
at Lichfield,
Doncaster, Oxford,
Coventry, Stone,
Ledbury, &c,
the past two
years.

And every Requisite
for Bee-keeping.

Write for Catalogue.

|

S~W"-A_33JVCS= — Orders taken now for the Season.
TRADE SUPPLIED WITH EVERY REQUISITE.

WRITE FOR WHOLESALE PRICES.

ADVERTISEMENT TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 15, 1885.

A NEW ERA IN MODERN BEE-CULTURE.

OWNING the largest Apiaries in the Kingdom, I can offer great advantages to
those who wish to study the true economy of Practical Bee-keeping.
Besides many Time and Labour-saving Inventions introduced by myself, I
have now two original methods for the Total Prevention of Swarming while working'
for either comb or extracted honey. No other bee-master has yet succeeded in so
managing that the bees actually have no desire to swarm, and the process being-
carried out with vo extra, manipulation, at the busy time, the knowledge of this
system alone will prove invaluable to all who intend to make a business of bee-
keeping, as it is well understood that the act of swarming during the height of the
season is a loss of at least 50 per cent, to the apiarist.

FOR FURTHER PARTICULARS AND TERMS, APPLY TO—

8. SIMMINS, Great Sussex Bee Farms, Rottingdean, Brighton.

Spetml fhtpatij glulm'tiscmmts.

THE SIMMINS' METHOD OP DIRECT INTRODUC-
TION. Enlarged to 32 pages. Price 6i& Post free,
of the Author, Rottingdean, Brighton ; Messrs. Neighbour &
Sons, 149 Regent Street; and Mr. J. Huckle, Kings
Langley, Herts. (53)

MODERN BEE-KEEPING. An Illustrated Handbook
for Cottagers. Fourth Edition, considerably enlarged.
The soundness of its information, the simplicity of its
instruction, combined with cheapness, make this Hand-
book invaluable to all intending Bee-keepers. Price 7<i,
post free. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.

THE MANAGEMENT OF STRAW SKEPS. De-
signed to teach the Cottager how to obtain the best
results at the least possible cost. By attention to its teach-
ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto. Price One Penny.
Six copies and upwards, post free. J. Huckle, KingsLangley.

FOUL BROOD ; The Meaxs op its Propagation, and
the Method of its Cure. By Frank R. Cheshire,
Esq., F.R.M.S. Price Gd. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.

BEE-KEEPING, Plain and Practical : How to
Make it Pay. By A. Rusbridge, Is. Gd., post free,
Is. 8d. Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Hflrts. 3932

CN. WHITE, First Class Certificated Expert, B.B.K.A.,
• The Schoolhouse, Somersham, Hunts, supplies
English and Foreign Stocks and Queens. Reliable answers
to Queries on Bee-management, by return, three stamps.

LIMNANTHES DOUGLASII, strong growing Plants,
6d. per 100 ; 4s. per 1000, Carriage paid. Apply to
Mrs. A., Upper Long Ditton, Surrey.

WILL exchange Little Wonder Extractor ; Apianj,
Neighbour's ; Hunter's Manual ; Gleanings from
Popular Authors ; Vol. III. History United States ; Ameri-
can Humour; Cassell's Algebra Eaelid; Twenty Thousand
Leagues under Sea; Athletic Training: Amateur Photo-
graphy ; for Bees, Giotto Hives, Cylinder Extractor, or
offers. Address Frank Eccles, Newmillerdam, Wakefield.

AVERY nice Metal Cylindrical Extractor for Sale.
Holds Frames of any kind. Price 21s. Address
Mr. Chitty, Pewsey. e 22

ON SALE.— Felt Quilts, equal to four-fold of flannel,
174. x 17J in. Price Is. 3d. each. Address T. Wood,
Hatherlow, Bredbury, Stockport. 4623

G^ ESNER'S History of Four-footed Beasts, Serpents,
T Insects (Bees), and The Theatre of Insects or Lesser
Living Creatures (Bees), by Thomas Mouffet. Bound to-
gether, 1130 large pages. Very Rark. London, 1648. What
offers? Addres Thos. Marriott, Sandbach. e 23

BEE FLAirTS !

LIMNANTHES, 5s. per 1000. MELILOTUS
LEUCANTHA, 10s. per 100, £4 per 1000, packed on
rail. Wigelea Rosea, Berberis, Mahonia, Veronica, Buddlea,
Eschallonia Macrantha, Cistus, and others, 8s. per dozen,
free ; mixed if desired ; half quantities 6d. extra. White
Martagon Lily, rare, 2s. (id. each ; Purple, 5s. per dozen.
Melilotus, 2s. 6d. per dozen; Limnanthes, Is. per 100; half
quantities 3d. extra, free. Cash orders to John Joyce,
Ballinacurra Post-office, Co. Cork. 4626

BEE FLOWERS. — LIMNANTHES DOUG-
LASII, strong plants, Is. per 100, post free. Plant
now for Spring. Illustrated Catalogue of Hives, etc., ready
early in new year. Address M. Meadham, Huntington
Hive Works, Hereford.

LIMNANTHES DOUGLASII, Good Plants, only
4s. per 1000, free ; 300 for Is. 6<7. Address W. Hughes,.
Marazion, Cornwall.

Expert B.B.K.A.

Manufacturer, THE APIARY, HOLME, PETERBOROUGH.

By authority — Simmins' Hives, Crates, Sections, &e.
ASSOCIATION STANDARD SAW-CUT BAR FRAMES, 1/- per doz.
Send for Illustrated Guide and Catalogue, Post Free. (98).

ADVERTISEMENTS

can be put into the

Report of the Leicestershire Bee-keepers'
Association,

At the rate of 1/. per page, clo.se print ; 10.«. displayed-

Prepaid. Apply to

EDWIN BALL, "Waltham, Melton Mowbray.

BEE-KEEPERS' GUIDE; or, Manual of the
Apiary. 12th Thousand. More than fifty pages, and
more than fifty costly Illustrations, were added in 8th
Edition. The whole work has been thoroughly revised,
and contains the very latest in respect to Bee-keeping*
Price 5s., postage 6d.

BEE JOURNAL OFFICE, KINGS LANGLEY.

Dec. 15, 1885. J ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

EDEY "&~SON

HAVE ON HAND

A LARGE STOCK of BEE-FUENITTJRE,

Including SCREW-CAP GLASS JARS, at 2/6 per dozen ; COMMON DO., 1/3 per dozen ;

Packing extra.
FEEDERS, cheapest and safest to use, from 4d. to 2/-

AT.T. KISIDS OX* TIM" -\KrA-H,IS FOR HOBIETT.

Wc are now in correspondence with American Manufacturers of SECTIONS for 1886. The
quality of our last shipments is well known to he superior to any imported, and we shall he ahle
to quote low prices on orders of 5000 to 50,000.

To secure lowest rates, orders should be placed at once.

Steam Joinery Works, ST. NEOTS.

THOMAS B. BLOW,

MANUFACTURER OF BEE-KEEPING APPLIANCES

OF EVERY DESCRIPTION,

BEGS TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE HIGH QUALITY OF HIS PRODUC110NS.

ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE, full of useful and interesting information, sent free on application.

THE WORKS AND APIARY (THE LARGEST IN EUROPE) are at all times open for Inspection,
ggjp IRrOTICIS.— Wanted immediately, 500 to 1000 ORDERS for

AMERICAN ONE-PIECE SECTIONS

V-Cut, 4} by 4£, to contain 1 lb. Best quality, in original cases, at the unprecedented low price of

24s. per 1000, by

.A.. T_ -A.JDJ±.Js/L&7 Hive Manufacturer,

THE VINE APIARY, CRICK, RUGBY,

Less quantities 2s. 9d. per 100. Special terms for 10,000 and upwards.

Order at once to secure this offer, as the above price is not guaranteed after the end of DECEMBER.
A. T. A. guarantees the best goods, and has based his price on direct supply. The Sections have opening-
full width, top and bottom, thus giving full passage to Bees, and greatest facilities for glazing.
Notice of Receipt of Consignment will be given in B. B. J.

FIRST PRIZE HIVES, SMOKERS, FLAT-TOP SKEPS, WAX EXTRACTORS, FOUNDATION, FRAMES, <k to

CATALOGUE EARLY IN NEW YEAR.

TEEMS : CASH ZBZEZFOZKIE DELIVERY.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' PRACTICAL
NOTE BOOK. By Thomas W. Cowan, F.G.S.,
F.R.M.S., &o. Crown 8vo, boards, Is.; postage Id.
Indispensable for every Bee-keeper. Published by J.Huckle.
Vebxo'ii., Maixe-et-Loibe, Fbaxce. 4545 Kings Langley ; may also be obtained of all Hive-dealers.

IN BELL-SHAPED HIVES.
Most numerous, at moderate rate. TO BE SOLD by
LAUMONIEB, Proprietaire

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 15, 1885.

THE BRITISH HONEY COMPANY, Limited.

CAPITAL £20,000 in 20,000 SHARES of £1 each.

Payable 2s. 6d. per Share on application, 2s. 6d. per Share on allotment, and the remainder

as and when required, in calls not exceeding 5s. per Share, at intervals

of not less than three months.

DIRECTORS.

THE HON. FRED. S. A. HANBURY TRACY, 116 Queen's Gate, South Kensington.

THOMAS B. BLOW, P.L.S., Manufacturer op Bek-keeping Appliances, Welwyn, Herts.

THOMAS W. COWAN, F.G.S., F.R.M.S., Chairman of the Committee of the British Bee-keepers'
Association, Comptons Lea, Horsham.

DUNCAN STEWART, Barrister-at-Law, 69 Hareourt Terrace, South Kensington.

GEORGE WALKER, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., Lingfield Road, Wimbledon.

FERDINAND FRANCIS ZEHETMAYR, Merchant, 1 Linden Villas, St. Margaret's, Twickenham.
The Company has been established to supply Pure British Honey, and to develope the industry of Bee-keeping
throughout the United Kingdom. It has the support and patronage of the President of the British Bee-keepers'
Association, His Grace The Duke of Sutherland, The Earl Spencer, The Lord Sudeley, Col King Harman
M.P., &c. &c.

Copies of the Prospectus may be obtained on application to the Secretary, Mr, J. HUCKLE, 17 King William Street, Strand, W.C.

To whom all Communications should be addressed.

SAMPLES only (not PARCELS) to be forwarded to 17 King William Street, Strand.

Depot : Columbia Market, Shoreditch, where all Goods should be forwarded.

ZEZDZETZ" & SOIsT'S

NEW CATALOGUE will be ready early in Spring, and sent Post Free to all applicants requiring

BEE FURNITURE, Swarms, or Foreign Queens.
STEAM JOINERY WORKS, ST. NEOTS.

LYON'S PATENT

REMOVABLE FRAME ENDS

Are an Improvement upon the original invention known as
'DR. PINE'S' REMOVABLE FRAME ENDS.

LYON'S PATENT ENDS require NO CUTTING OF THE TOP BARS,

-A-nSTDD ABE ABSOLUTELY IrPEIR.IF'ZECT.

ORDER ALL YOUR HIVES TO BE FITTED WITH THEM.

Every End bears the words, ' F. LYON, PATENT.'
Price to the Public, 7/- per Gross. (Post Free, 8/--)

Twenty ENDS sent post free for 1/4 by the Patentee,

F. LYON, 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E.

OB BY ANY DEALER IN BEE-KEEPING APPLIANCES,
TO WHOM A LIBERAL REDUCTION IS MADE.

LOn1nntheroun^ n the Parish of .St. Giles's-in-tho-Fields,

in the County of Middlesex ; and Publii for the Proprietor by Kent & Co. 23 Paternoster Row. in the same county -Dec. 15, 1885.

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