LIBRARY

OF THE

MASSACHUSETTS

AGRICULTURAL

COLLEGE

SOURCI

-J

THE

British Bee Journal,

AND BEE-KEEPERS' ADVISER.

EDITED BY
THOS. WM. COWAN, F.G.S., F.L.S., F.R.M.S., &c, and W. BROUGHTON CARR,

VOLUME XXIX

January-December, 1901.

PUBLISHED BY
SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT, & Co., Lmzm,

23, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.G.

I

M^3^HUSETTS

XY

LONDON :
PRINTED BY LOVE AND WYMAN, LIMITED,
GREAT QUEEN STREET, W.C.

INDEX.

(TORULS: Volume Twenty-
ine, 1 ; British Bee-Keepers'
.ssociation : Bee - Keepers'
)efence Fund, 2 ; Formation
f a Cumberland B.K.A.,11;
'he B.B.K.A. Apiary — an
ippeal to Appliance Dealers,
1; Death of the Queen, 31;
:onversazione of the
t.B.K.A., 122, 131; "Royal''
how at Cardiff, 161, 231;
twards at, 261, 271 ; Honey
llasses, 281 ; Review of " Die
lienenzucht im Blatterstock,"
81; "Iilsh Bee Journal,"
he, 191 ; To our Readers :
'ersoual, 202; Honey Show
t St. Helens : Special Notice
o Exhibitors, 251 ; Royal
igricultural Society : Cardiff
leeting ; Awards, 201, 271 :
loney Show at St. Heleu3 :
ixtension of Time for En-
lies, 272 ; Review "Life of
he Bee," by M. Maeterlinck,
?1 ; Creating a Honey Mar-
et^Bee-Keepers and Coming
hows, 331 ; Oue Thousandth
'umber, 332 ; Confectioners'
nnual Exhibition and Mar-
et at the Agricultural Hall,
}1, 371 ;,The Grocers' Exhibi-
lon at the Agricultural Hall,
31, 391 ; Proposed Testi-
lonial to Mr. J. M. Hooker,
)3, 441, 481 (see also General
idex); The British Bee-
Leepers' Association Conver-
azione, 411, 421, 431 ; Sugar
3r Bee-Food, 441; "Dairy
how " Discussions, 451 ;
Lticient Bee-Keeping : Bees
nd Honey 800 years ago, 481 ;
nsurance for Bee-Keepers,
91 ; Seasonable, 501

10CTATION8, B.K. : British. 2,
I, 81, 121, 131, 161, 201,
51, 271, 291, 301, 4nl, 411,
21,431,511; Altrincham, 391 ;
iedfordshire, 351 ; Berkshire,
'!. ; Berwickshire, 333;
Jheshire, 7!, 362, 373 ;
.'ornwall, 141 ; Cumberland,
1, 51; Derbyshire, 51, 372;
)evon, 51, 321 ; Driftield and
district, 71 ; Essex, 01, 241 ;
'"riockheim, N.B., 433; Glas-
;ow, 136 ; Goole and District,
51 ; Hants and Isle of Wight,
ill, 301; Henbury and Dis-
.rict,3ll ; Herefordshire, 392 ;
.rish, 2, 41, 133, 151, 171, 211 ;
Sent and Sussex, 141 ; 413, 423
Shoar at the Crystal Palace) ;
Lancashire, 91, 111, 332,
(74; Leicester, 111, 321, 392;
Lincolnshire, 101 ; Ludlow,
182 ; Neston Park, Wilts, 342 ;
Newcastle, 433; Newcastle-
>n-Tyne, 461 ; Northampton,
101, 351 ; North Norfolk, 151,
til ; Northumberland and
Durham, 181 ; Notts, 61, 363 ;
Jxfordshire, 171 ; Scotland
[South of), 91, 373; Shrop-
shire, 191, 342 ; Staffordshire,
192, 291; Surrey, 201, 341;
Thirsk and District, 211, 458 ;
Warwickshire, 123, 362 ;
Worcester, 71, 332
ipting Board, Mr. Rymer's,
»; Pollen-Clogged Store-
rooms, 115

"Iteration— Fraud or Crime ?
(60

lulteration of Honey, 57
ler the War ■ lit.. -Keeping,
Satal,497

Age of Bees, the, 162

American Bee-Keeping : Wasps
and their Nests, 464

Ancient Bea-Keeping : Bees and
Honey 800 years ago, 431

Ancient Bee Books, 16, 93, 107,
116, 137, 156, 176, 196

Ants and Bees, 263, 276

Apis Melliflca, Oogenesis in
Queen, 273

Apiary Bee House, How to Build
an, 403 ; Robbing in the, 478 ;
Workshop, How to Build an,
394

Apiculture : as a Business, 507 ;
in Chili, 511

April : Raising Queens in, 163 ;
Requeening in, 167, 172, 184

Appliances, New Inventions in,
446, 457, 467

August, Queen Rearing in, 399

Autumn : Making Artificial
Swarms in, 303 ; Queens Ceas-
ing to Lay in, 339; Why do
Bees Join up in ? 138 ; Why
Bees Unite of themselves in,
154

Baggage Car, Hives of Bees in,

199
Bait Sections, 154
Bananas, among the ; or, Bee-
Keeping in Natal, 36
Bath and We3t Show, the:

Auuuil Exhibition at Croy-
don, 221
B.B.K.A.: Apiary, 46, 54; Appeal

to Appliance Dealers, 2, 21 ;

Appeal to Appliance Makers,

98
Bee : Antenna) of the, 401 ;

Brain of the, 458, 467, 476 ;

Eye of the, 15; Legs of the,

221 ; Poison and Sting of the,
I 355 ; Scant Organ in the, 142.

151 ; Sting of the, 144 ; Tongue

of the, 67,89; Wings of the,

274
Bee Associations, the Work of,

419
Bee Books : Ancient, 16, 36, 66,

75, 93, 107, 116, 137, 156, 176,

196, 214, 223, 231 ; Fugitive

Papers on Ancient, 6
Bee Buzzings : Width of Sjj-

tions, 97
Bee Candy, Faulty, 153
Bee Colony, an Old : a Swarm

Fifty-two years in a Window,

181
Bee Demonstrations at Ching-

ford, 263
Bee District, Oxford as a, 467
Bee Doings in Cheshire, 17 ; in

Hampshire, 476
Bee-Escape, Home-made, 172,

204, 236 ; Mr. Rymer's, 214, 226
Bee-Food : Making Syrup for,

390 ; Sugar for, 441, 457 ;

Using Frames of Honey as,

50 ; Using Honey from Diseased

Stocks as, 449
Bee Flowers, Judging at Shows,

414
Bee Forage, 168, 233, 303 ; Epi-

lobium Angustifolium, 304
Bee Happenings ; Bee Houses ;

Bees in Greenhouses ; Moving

Bees in Skeps, 78. 79
Bee-Hive : Birds Hatched in a,

239 j Outrage, 490
Bee-Hives, Birds' Nests in, 236
Bee-Houses and Bee-Escapes,

402 ; How to Build one, 504 ;

Illustrated, 487
Bee-Keeping: a Lady's, 203;

American, 404 ; and Ento-
mology, 57, 77 ; | Bibliography
of, 26 ; Entomology and, 57

Bee-Keeping for South Africa :
after the War, 187

Bee-Keeping, Foul Brood and
Beginners in, 286, 437

Bee-Keeping : in America : the
Pan-American Exposition at
Buffalo, 1901, 453; in Cape
Colony, 407 ; in Corsica, 135 ;
in Distant Lands, 3L ; in
India, 402 ; in Ireland, 179,
256 ; in Natal, 315, 497 ;
among the Bananas, 36 ; the
Seasons in South Africa, 22 ;
in Wale?, 473 ; in Yorkshire,
93

Bee-Keeping : in Schools, 3, 17,
26, 33 ; Teaching, 297

Bee-Keeping : Lectures on, 78,
146, 315, 419; Lectures for
Dwellers in the Country, 56 ;
Village, 38, 97

Bee-keeping near London, 315,
336

Bee-Keeping: New and Old, 166 ;
Scotch, Criticised, 455

Bee-Keeping : Starting, 253, 3S9,
402, 415, 449; Working for
Increase, 459 ; Suburban, 384

Bee-Keepers : Defence Fund,
36 ; Insurance for, 277. 491 ;
Railway Companies and, 460,
477, 495

Bee-Keepers versus People who
keep Bees, 47

Bee, Maeterlinck's Life of the,
291

Bee-Man, an Old-Time— 1. The
Man, 186 ; 2. The Home of the
Baes, 196 ; 3. The Bees, 214

Bee, Nassonoff's Organ in the,
224

Bee-Notes from: Derbyshire,275;
Kincardineshire, 296 ; Wor-
cester, 303

BaePapers, Reviews of Foreign.
232

Bee Pirates, the Sxith African,
353

Bee Plants, 415, 427

Bee Puzzle, a, 337

Bee Season : at Harrogate, 404 ;
Lessons of the Past, 499

Bee-Smokers, 212

Bee Story, a Curious, 173

Bee Story, Extraordinary :
Swarm Enters a Horse's
Stomach, 327

Bee, the Ubiquitous, 281, 295

Bee Work: Mr. Rymer's Method
of, 398 ; the Season's, 437

Bees, Allowing to Transfer them-
selves, 129

Bees and Bagpipes, 435

Bees and Bee-Keeping, Lectures
on, 127

Bees and : Ants, 263, 276 ; Birds,
83, 303 ; Celery Plants, 166 ;
Formic Acid, 257 ; and Spar-
rows, 206, 222

Bees and Cyclists, 256

Bees and Honey Abroad : Honey
all the Year Round, 335, 344 ;
West Indian, 377 ; 800 years
ago, 481

Bees and Offensive Smells, 455

Bees, Arrest of a Swarm of, 410

Bees as Reflex Machines, 108 ;
Building in a Tree, 516 ;
Claims for Damages by : In-
suring Bee-keepers, 244 ;
Clearing Supers of, 468 ; Clus-
tering Place for a Swarm of,
256; Cyprian, 473; Dead, in
M on-Swarming Chamber, 317

Bees Deserting Hives After

I Transferring, 353 ; in March,
119; in Spring, 237, 243

Bees, Destroying ; Offenders
Punished, 270; Disputed

Ownership of, 408 ; Dissimilar,
435 ; Driving, , When Trans-
ferring, 257 ; Dusty, 367

Bees, Enemies of, 88, 396,495,515;
" Fasting " for Curative Pur-
poses, 266 ; Feeding in Skeps,
and Transferring to Frame-
hives, 129 ; Fighting in March,
109 ; From a Farmhouse, Tak-
ing in, 377 ; from Skeps to
Frame Hives, Transferring,
389 ; fromTrees, Removing, 129

Bees, Glass Quilts (?) for, 448 ;
Good-tempered, 293 ; Hazel
Catkins and, 135, 174 ; iu
Damp Hive, 70; iu Double
Hives, 177 ; in Glasshouses,
Wintering, 135 ; in Green-
houses, Keeping, 123 ; in
Observatory Hive, Wintering,
339

Bees in India, Keeping, 397;
in Norfolk, 96 ; in Northants,
155 ; Scotland, 234 ; South
Africa, 322 ; Effects of High
Temperature, 111 ; Enemies
of, 334

Bees in the Army, 490; in the
Channel Islands, 336 ; in the
Isle of Man : a Bee-man's
Holiday in Alanxland, 444 ; in
Tropicil Climates, 474 ; in
Wales, 254, 266 ; in Yorkshire,
475

Bees Invade a Pillar-Box, 279

Bees, Long-tongued, 193; Fad
or Fallacy— which '? 206

Bees, Loss of Through Floods,
19 ; Moving, 403

Bees Near Dwellings, Keeping :
Rural Aspects of the Case, 9 ;
Near London, 337, 384 ; Near
Onion Beds, 228 '

Bees, Non-swarming and Non-
vicious, 323

Bees on the Wing : an Incident
at the Moors, 194

Bees Refusing to Enter Sections,
227 ; to Work in Sections after
Swarming, 317

Bees, Re-hiving Double Stocks
of, 129 ; Removing Dead
Brood, 337 ; Removing, from
Crumbling Down, 307 ; Re-
queeniijg Themselves, 25S ;
Room in June, Giving, 238 ;
Robbing in Spring, 213 ; a
Recent Experience, 193 ; An
"Up-set" in the Bee-garden,
182

Bees, Some Things that Help
the, 393

Bees, Stockade Erected by, 222 ;
Stray Swarms of, 394 ; Swarm-
ing, 279 ; the Age of, 162 ; the
Poets', 314; Tits and, 502, 513

Bees to the Heather, Taking,
302

Bees, Transferring, 90, 138 237,
317 ; Transferring Themselves,
258, 264 ; from Skeps to Frame-
Hives, 470; to FiJUne-HiVe,
216, 326, 348; to New Hives,
110

Bees Turning Vicious, 183, 194

Bees, Wasps, and Bacilli, Life
History of, by Henry W.

. Brice, 461

Bees, Water for, 256 ; troughs
for, 203

Bees-war and Honey, Imports
of, 137 -

Bee3, Wintering, 418, 439

Beet-sugar for Bee-food, 13, 4S9,
495

Beginner's Mistake, a, 119 ;
. Queries, 99, 479

Berwickshire, « the Season in :
Going to the Moors, 347

IV

INDEX TO VOLUME XXIX.

Bibliography of Bee-keeping, 26
Biology of the Honey Bee, 461 ;
Its Development During the
Nineteenth Century, 441, 451 ;
Dzierzon and Movable Frame-
Hives, 484 ; Evolution of the,
492
Bisulphide of Carbon as a
Remedy for Foul Brood, -263,
274
Birdi Hatched in a Bee-Hive,

23"2
Birds' Nests in Bee-Hives, 236
Birds' Visits to Flowers, 384
Birds and Bees, 88 : the Red-
backed Shrike, or Butcher
Bird, 303, 336
Bottles, Machine-made, 416
Breeding, Early, 58
British Heaths, Varieties of, 327
British Honey, Selling, 108
Brood-Combs Pilled with Honey,

Dealing with, 297
Brood-Combs to Prevent Swarm-
ing, Spreading, 149
Brood, Dead, Bees Removing,

367
Brood Nest, Size of, 313

Can Bees Hear? 475

Candy Feeding, 29, 69

Cape Colony, Bee-keeping in,

497
Casioberry Park, Lijpes in, 377
Caution to Stall-Holders, 459
Celery Plants, Bees and, 166
Channel Islands, Bees in the,

336
Cheshire, Bee Doings in, 17
Chlngford, Bee Demonstrations
at, 266

Christmas Hint, Deductions
from a, 513

Clustering-place for a Swarm of
Bees, 256

Colonies : Dividing Strong, 247 ;
Wintering Nucleus, 167

Comb- Foundation, Hand Made,
The Reitsche Press, 483

Comb-Honey, Getting Frames
of Completed, 287 ; Working
the " Wells' " Hive for, 337

Combs, Imperfectly Capped,
198; Length of Time they
Remain Useful, 184 ; Re-
liquefying Granulated Honey
in, 159 ; Rendering Old (Bee
Escapes), 172, 195 ; Renewing,
109 ; Repairing Misshapen,
177 ; Suspected, 139, 253

Comments on Current Topics
(see various items classified in
General Index)

Compensation for Loss of
Swarms in Transit, 297

Conversations with Doolittle :
Preventing Increase, 246 ;
Working for Comb-Honey, 216

Coriander, Honey from, 468

Corsica, Bee keeping in, 135

Crate or Rack as a " Cooler,"
472

Crossgates Flower Show, Honey
at, 374

Croydon, Annual Exhibition at,
221

Crystal Palace Bee-Keepers'
Show, 412

Cyclists and Bees, 256

Cyprian Bees, 473

Cyprus, Queens from, 253

Dairy Show, the: Twenty-sixth
Annual Show, 412; Discus-
sions, 461 ; Honey at the, 133 ;
Judging at the, 420, 447;
Prize Fund for, 146, 161, 184,
202 ; Prizes at the, 212 ; Prize
Winning in Duplicate, 414,
426

Death of the Rev. D. W. Pen-
uell, 206

Defence Fund, Bee-Keepers', 36

Derbyshire, Bee Notes from, 276

De Reaumur on Wasps and
Hornets, 496

Designs, Honeycomb, 183

Devon, the Season in : Early
Honey of 1901, 213

Dividers, 512 ; Metal, 472, 484 ;
Queen Excluder, Zinc for, 89

Do Bees Sting Drones to Death ?
500

Don't Jar ! 473

Dorset, the Season in : Disquali-
fied Exhibits, 243

Drone Bred in Queen-cell, 214

Drone-breeding Queen, 277, 337

Drone ; Brood Cast out after
Manipulation, 228 ; Brood in
Worker Cells, 188 ; Rearing,
172 ; the Early, 158

Drones, Dead, Cast Out: Open-
air Feeding, 178; in March,
168 ; Raising, 204, 212, 222

Dummy, the, 343

Duplicate Prize-winning, 457

Dzierzon and Movable Frames,
493, 502, 514

Early Drone, the, 153

Earwigs about Hives, 29

Egg-laying : by the Queen Bee,
313, 323 ; Queen Mating and,
321

Eggs in Cells, Positions of, 506 '

Enemies of the Honey Bee, 396,
407, 495

Enthusiasm, 34

Entomology and Bee-keeping,
57, 77

Epilobium angustlfolium, 383 ;
as Bee Forage, 304

Essex Bee-Keepers' Associa-
tion : Bee Demonstrations at
Chingford, 266

Essex Notes (incorporated in
General Index)

Evolution of the Bee, the, 492

Exhibiting, Unfair, 275 ; a Pro-
test, 264

Exhibition Honey Exhibit, 164

Exhibition, the Pan-American,
462

Exhibits at Owner's Risk, Send-
ing, 382; Disqualified, 382;
Disqualified : Overlacing Sec-
tions, 375 ; Judging, 457

Experiences, My, after Four
¥ears of Experimenting, 251

Experts' Exams., Second Class :
Publishing Questions and
Answers, 484, 495, 496, 501

Extracting House, 457

Eye of the Bee, 15

Farmhouse, Taking in Bees

from a, 377
"Fasting" Bees for Curative

Purposes, 266
Feeding and Re-Queening, 352
Feeding Bees in Skeps, and
Transferring to Frame Hives,
129 ; Open Air, 178
Final Show for 1901, the, 482, 514
Floorboards, Cleaning, 69
Flour Candy, Making, 49
Flowers : Do Bees Visit Pro-
miscuously, 287 ; Insects and,
366 ; Visits of Birds to, 384
Formic Acid, Bees and, 257 ; to

Honey, Adding, 378
Foul Brood, a False Alarm of,
238 ; Among Wasps, 324 ; and
Beginners in Bee-keeping,
286; Can the Disease Exist
Among Wasps? 313; Dead
Bees and, 208 ; Dealing with,
'99, 197, 228, 274, 358, 493, 504 ;
Bisulphide of Carbon as a
Remedy, 263; Diagnosing,
898 ; Germs, the Nature of,
148 ; in Northumberland, 237 ;
in Skeps, 334, 354 ; In Trans-
ferred Stock, 257 ; Legislation,
283, 295; Remedies, 139; Search-
ing Out : a Good Example, 164

Frame-hive, Bees Transferring
Themselves to, 326, 348 ;
Removing Skep from Top of,
318, 378 ; Allowing Bees to
Transfer Themselves from
Skeps to, 216, 227 ; Bees Trans-
ferring Themselves to, 470 ;
Dzierzon and Movable, 484,
493; My First Year with, 166,
Transferring Bees Fed in
Skeps to, 129, 3S9; Transfer-
ring Bees from Sugar-boxes to,
440 ; Transferring Diseased
Stocks to, 248

Frame-hives, Transferring from
Skeps to, 178, 258, 499

Frames, 192 ; Dzierzon and
Movable, 484, 493, 502, 514 ;
Faulty, 266, 295 ; Propolised,
488 ; Shallow, Sections versus,
13; Should Hang, How, 39;
Spacing, 109 ; Spacing Shal-
low, 66

Freehold Dwellings, Cheap De-
tached : to Encourage Minor
Rural Industries, 7

Fruit, Do Bees Injure? 470

Fugitive Papers: on Ancient
Bee-books, 9 ; Reaumur, 6, 27

Glasgow Exhibition, 136

Glasshouses, Wintering Bees in,
135

Glass Quilts for Bees, 448, 506

Glucose and Honey, " Commer-
cial,'' 14

Glucose and Invert Sugar in
Beer, 433

Granulation, How to Prevent,
416

Greenhouses, Keeping B;e3 in.

128
Grocers' Exhibition, 383 ; at

Newcastle-on-Tyne, 461
" Guide Book," the, 293

Hampshire, Bee Doings in, 476

Harrogate, the Bee Season at,
404

Harvest, Preparing for the, 193

Hazel Catkins and Bees, 135,
174 ; Fructification. 155 ;
Pollen, 114, 124, 127, 148

Heather Honey, Judging, 436 ;
Production of, 448 ; Unripe,
474 ; Working for, 482

Heather Sections, Producing,
463

Heather, Taking Bees to the,
302

Heaths, Varieties of British, 327

Herefordshire, the Season in :
Honey Vield, 302 ; Marketing
Produce, 302 ; Preventing
Swarming, 303

Herts, a Bee Association for, 367

Hive, an Observatory, 12, 56 ;
Bees in Damp, 70; in March,
Bees Deserting, 119; Inspec-
tion, Queen Taking Flight
During, 187 ; Making, About,
398 ; Observatory, Making an,
29; Zinc Covering for Roofs, 69

Hive, Swarm Leaving, 295 ;
Swarm Refusing to Stay in,
267 ; Swarm Returning to
Parent, 267 ; Two or More
Queens in a, 222

Hives, a Peep in the, 116 ;
Aspect for, 368 ; Bees in
Double, 177 ; Curious, 115 ;
Disinfecting, 174, 187, 228.
238 ; Double - queened, the
" Wells " System, 55 ; Ear-
wigs About, 29 ; Home-made,
5s ; in Winter, Rearranging,
469 ; Makeshift : Saving the
Bees, 403 ; New, Transferring
to, 39 ; Non-swarming, and
Swarm-catchers, 378

Hives of Bees in Baggage-car,
199 ; on Hired Land, Locating,
19 ; Re-queening, 408 ; Uniting
Swarms to Parent, 236 ;

" Wells " versus Single,

136; Working " Wells," 3
Homes of the Honey Bee

Illustrations)
Honey, a New Use for,

Adding Formic Acid to,

Adulteration, 57 ; All

Year Round, 335, 344,

397
Honey and Beeswax, Inn

of, 137
Honey and Glucose, " Com

cial," 14
Honey and Wax, 154
Honey, Another Use for,

as a Remedy for lull?

Throat, 306 ; as a Pe

Food, 509
Honey at Shows, Judging

hibits of, 466 ; Tasting,

at the Dairy Show, 133
Honey Bee, Biology of the

461 ; Dzierzon and Mo

Frame-hives, 484
Honey Bee, Enemies of

407 ; Poison and Sting of

355
Honey, Blending, and

Notes, 235 ; Bottlin ,

Clarified, for the Show-h

53 ; Clarifying, 33
Honey - comb Designs,

Thickness of, 47
Honey, Commercial, 34, S'
Honey-crop, the Value of

242
Honey, Dark and Light

Dark, Marketing, 298;

213, 226
Honey Escaping from Co

Pots or Jars, 19 ; Extn

Paper Packages for, 478
Honey from Coriander,

from Deadly Nightshade

from Jamaica, 195;

Skeps, Removing Surplo
Honey, Gool News About

Granulated, Reliquefyii

Comb, 159 ; in Kent.

226; Irish, 40; Jars, Mai

made, 438 ; Liquefying

Marketing, 463 ; Pad

478 ; Plants, Free Seei

378
Honey-press, the "Rymer

489
Honey Production, Extr

from an American Poi

View, 58 ; in Sussex, 3
Honey, Reliquefyinj

Reliquefied or '•Clarified

How to Prevent Granu!

416

Honey, Remarkable Find
Honey Season of 19 i

in Worcester, the 303;

cord '' One Pound v
Honey, Selling, 44, S9, 367

British. 108
Honey Show Management

Cost of Exhibitin-

376; Hints to Seere

and Committees, 352 ;

Charges, 375, 382
Honey Shows, the Big,
Honey, Specific Gravity of
Honey Trust, a Mammoth
Honey, Utilising Low-grad
Honey Vinegar, Making,
Honey, Watercress, 244
Honolulu Newspapers, W
Hooker, Mr. J. M.,TestlB

to. 441
Horse's Stomach, Swarm 1

a, 327
Housing Question, the 31
Hybrids Worse than Wan

India, Keeping Bees in.
Industries, Minor Kural:

hold Dwellings to En"

7 ; Rural, 6, 17
Insects and Flowers. 368

INDEX TO VOLUME XXIX.

Insurance for Bee-Keepers, 277,
491 ; Insurance Fund and
Fixing Prices for Bees, 479

Inventions in Appliances, New,
446, 457, 467

Ireland, Bee-Keeping in, 179,
256

Isle of Man, Bees in the, 444

Jamaica, Honey from, 195
Judging : at the Dairy Show,

426; Exhibits of Honey at

Shows, 466
June, Giving Bees Room in, 238 ;

Snow in, 253

Kent, Early Honey in, 226
Kincardineshire Bee Notes, 206

Lace Edging, 447
Lady Beginners' Queries, 489
Lady's Bee-Keeping, a, 203
Lectures on Bee-Keeping, 146,
315, 419 ; on Bees and Bee-
Keeping, 127 ; on Village
Bee-Keeping, 97
Legs of the Bee, 221
Lessons of the Past Bee Season,

499
Lime Trees, Late-flowering, 366
times in Cassiobury Park, 377
London, Bee-Keeping near, 336,

367, 384
Locusts and Wild Honey : Bee-
Keeping in Natal, 315
" Looking Backwards." 211
Low-grade Honey, Utilising : a
Useful Lesson, 471

Maeterlinck's "Life of the Bee,''

291, 513
Mammoth Honey Trust, 486
March, Bees Deserting Hive in,

119; Bees Fighting in, 109;

Drones in, 168 ; Hive Robbed

Out in, 138 ; Queen Cast Out

in, 139 ; Queenless Stocks in,

Dealing with, 139
Mating Time, Queens Lost

during, 473
Metal Dividers. 472, 484, 497
" Meditations,'' 34; Mr. Lamb's, 3
Mice in Winter Coverings, 515
Midlands, the Season in the,

290
Mid-winter in Wales, 515
Moors, a Day at the, 354
Moors, Going to the : Season in

Berwickshire, 347
"Model Apiary," Holme, M.

Nicholas Schawroff at, 23
Musings in My Bee-garden : a

Winter Day, 106

Natal, Bee-keeping in, 315 ;
Among the Bananas, 36 ; the
Seasons in South Africa, 22

Newspapers, Honolulu, 27

Nightshade, Deadly, Honey
from, 337

" No Pains, No Gains: " Clarified
Honey for the Show Bench,
53

Notes by the Way, 11, 32, 61, 81,
101, 123, 153, 171, 192, 211, 241,
272, 312, 333, 352,374, 424, 443,
462, 476, 491

Notes, Comparing, 462, 476; from
Merioneth, 515; from South
Shropshire, 114 ; from Wych-
wood Forest. 116

Norfolk, Bee3 in, 96

Northants, Bees in, 155

Northumberland, Foul Brood
in, 237

Novelties for 1901 : Abbott
Bros.' Water Fountain for
Bees, 169; Taylor's English-
made Dovetail Hive, 188 ; the
Rymer Honey-press, 21s

Obituary : Mr. John Turnbull,
89 ; Mrs. W. Broughton Carr,
182 ; Rev. D. W. Pennell, 206

Observatory Hive, 12, 56 ;

Making an, 29 ; Unicomb, 506 ;

Wintering Bees in, 389
October, Chill, 435 ; Transferring

Bees in, 148
Onion-beds, Bees near, 228
Oogenesis in Apis melliflca

(Queen), 273
Ovipositor, Use of the Queen

Bee's Sting as, 262
Owner's Risk, Sending Exhibits

at, 382
Oxford as a Bee District, 467

Palace Honey Show, the : Kent

and Sussex B.K.A., 376
Pan-American Exhibition, the,

462
Paper Packages for Extracted

Honey, 478
Paraffin Wax for Bee-keepers'

Use, 416
Pillar-box, Bees Invade a, 279
I Poet's Bee3, the, 314
j Poison and Sting of the floney-

Bee, 355
i Pollen, 104 ; Gathering Late,
155
Preventives, Overdosing with,
j 203

Prize Fund for the Dairy Show,
| 146 161, 184

| Prize Winning in Duplicate, 424,
436, 443, 446

Quarters, Changing : Taking a
I Lesson from the Bees, 195
! Qneen, a Prolific, 263 ; Egg-lay-
ing by the, 313, 323 ; Sting as
Ovipositor, Use of the, 262

Queen Cast Out Dead, 287 ; in
! March, 139

Queen Cell, Drone Bred in, 214

Queen, Death of the, 31 ; Drone-
breeding, 277, 387

Qneen-excluders, 406 ; Zinc for
Dividers, 89

Queen Introduction, 306, 344,
374
\ Queen Killed and Cast Out, 276;
I Laying Several Eggs in One
Cell, 109; Mating and Egg-
laying, 324 ; Rearing in
August, 399 ; Rearing, the
Difficulties of, 267 ; Taking
Flight During Hive Inspec-
tion, 187 ; During Spring
Cleaning, 168

Queenless Stock in January, 19 ;
in March, Dealing with, 139

Queens Ceasing to Lay in
Autumn, 389

Queens, Foreign, 253', from
Cyprus, 253 ; Lost during
Mating Time, 473 ; " Piping,"
402; Raising, in April, 168;
Two or More in a Hive, 221

Queries, a Bundle of,- 388 ; a
Lady Beginner's, 4S9 ; a
Lady's, 198 ; Beginner*', 49,
80, 479

Rack, Crate or, as a "Cooler,"

472 ; Rack v. Crate, 344 ;

Double w. Single, 463 ; Five,

344

Rail Charges, Honey Shows and,

375, 382, 477
Railway Companies and Bee-
keepers, 466, 477, 495, 503, 513
Rainfall in 1900, 28
Reform and Revolution, 34
Reitsche Press and Hand-made

Comb Foundation, 488
Rendering Old Combs, 195
Re-queen, How to, Cheaply, 38
Re-queening, 278 ; Feeding and,
352 ; Hives, 408; in April, 167,
172, 184 ; Stocks, 100, 440
Results, Summing up, 386
Reviews: "Die Beinenzucht im
Blatterstock," 181; " Life of
the Bee," Maeterlinck's, 291 ;
" Poison and Sting of the

Honey Bee," 355 ; Foreign

Bee-papers, 18, 48, 52, 71, 118,

137, 232, 255, 306, 35S, 387, 399,

408, 43S, 497
Robbing, 477 ; Feeding Outside

to Stop, 159; in the Apiary,

478
Royal Show at Cardiff : Lectures

on Bee-keeping, 315
Rural Industries, 6, 17 ; Bees,

Poultry, and Fruit Growing,

43
"Rymer" Adapting Board, the,

146 J Honey Press, the, 489 ;

Rymer's Method of Bee-work,

396

Schawroff, M. Nicholas, Visit
of, 46; Visit to the "Model
Apiary,'' Holme, 23

Scent Organ in the Bee, 142, 151

Scent or Sound? 294

Schools, Bee-keeping In, 3, 17,
26, 38, 297

Scotch Bee-keeping Criticised,
436, 455 ; Bees in Scotland,
284 ; Scottish Notes, 429

Section Racks, 352; Can they be
Improved upon, 102; Form
of, 108 ; Number of, 163 ;
Racks or Crate, 415 ; the Xew
Tall, 253

Sections : Altering Size of— Are
the Advantages Worth a
Change? 104; Bees Refusing
to Enter, 227 ; Changing Size
of— the Cost to Bee-keepers,
113; Cleaning Up Unfinished,
435 ; Early, Spoiled : Neglect
'• Rewarded, 236; Heather, Pro-
ducing, 463 ; Heavy, 315 ;
Light Weight, 512; Miliiib
| of, 512 ; New Sized, 242 ; New
Tall, 443; Overlacing : Dis-
qualified Exhibits, 375 ; Pro-
posed Narrow, 11 ; Remov-
ing, 82

Sections, Size of, 33, 34, 36, 42,

| 52, 53, 55, 62, 72, 82, 87, 95,

102, 103, 112, 123, 126, 133 ;

i Can the Present Size be Im-

! proved Upon? 21, 34, 41;

" Notes" after Practical Trial,

62 ; .Some Practical Experi-

I ences, 83

Sections, Smashed, How to

Avoid, 472; Tall Thin, 93;

Tall V. Square, 428, 447, 456,

467 ; the New, 473 ; the New

| Tall, 434 ; Utilising Unfinished,

357 ; versus Shallow Frames,

43 ; Width of, 97 ; Working

I for, Without Increase of

i Stocks, 79

| Shallow Frames, A Record (?)
Box of, 264, 276; "Record"
Weight of, 297 ; Spacing, 66

Sheffield as a Bee District, 90

Show-Bench, Clarified Honey
for the, 53

Show Mismanagement, 6

Show, the Final for 1901, 432

Shows, Dupli-ate Entries at,
448 ; Judging Exhibits of
Honey at, 466 ; the Cost of
Exhibiting at, 376

Signal Lamp-post, Swarm in a,
297

Single v. " Wells " Hives. 106

Skep, Crumbling Down, Remov-
ing Bees from, 307 ; Feeding
Bees in, 149 ; and Transferring
to Frame Hives, 129 ; from
Top of Frame Hive, Remov-
ing, 318

Skeppist, Helping the, 335

Skeps, Foul Brood in. 334, 354;
Removing Surplus Honey
from, 337 ; Transferring from
Frame Hives to, 178, 258, 389,
493

Smoker Fuel, 294

Smoker, Trouble with, 2S3

Snow in June, 253

Solar Wax Extractors, 477

South Africa, Bee-keeping for,
• after the War, 187 ; Bee-
keeping in, 22 ; Bee Pirates,
353; Effects of High Tempera-
ture, 111, 322 ; Enemies of

.- Bees in, 334

Sparrows, Bees and, 206, 222

Spring, Bees Deserting Hives in,
237, 248 ; Robbing in, 193,
218; "Upset" in the Bee-
garden, 182

Spring Cleaning, Queen taking
Flight during, 168

Spring Feeding, 154, 159; an
Expeditious and Cheap Spring
Feeder, 147

Stallholders, a Caution to, 459

Sting of the Bee, 144

Stockade Erected by Bees, 222

Stock, Foul-brood in Trans-
ferred, 257; Improving the,

- 102 ; Loss of Weight in Skep,
407 ; Queenless in January,
19

Stocks, Best Time for Buying,
19 ; Dealing with Slightly
Diseased, 418 ; Diseased,
Transferring to Frame-hives,
248 ; Dying out, Swarms Ab-
sconding and, 167 ; from
Driven Bees, Building up,
129 ; Re-queening, 100, 357 ;
Single, " Wells " Hives versus,
54 ; Surplus from Diseased,
376; Weak, Placed Wide
Apart, Mating, 326; Winter-
ing Transferred, 459 ; Working
Two, from One Entrance,
178

Stray Swarms, 415

Sugar for Bee Food, 441, 457

Supering, Early, 208

Supers of Bees, Clearing, 468,
496

Sussex, Honey Production in,
363

Swanley, B.B.K.A. Apiary at,
96

Swarm Catchers : Are they
Efficient? 293; Non-Swarm-
ing Hives and, 378; old
Queens Useless, 284

Swarm Fifty-two Years in a
Window, 181

Swarm : A Big, and its Yield
this Season, 503 ; Arrest of a,
410 ; ' Housing a Stray, 257 ;
in a Signal Lamp-post, 297;
Leaving Hive, 295 ; My
English, 3>7

Swarm Refusing to Stay in
Hive, 267 ; Returning to
Parent Hive, 267

Swarming, 242 ; Bees Refusing
to Work in Sections after,
317 ; on the Prevention of,
303 ; Persistent, 340, 464 ; Can
it be Prevented? 456; Pre-
venting, 18, 27, 39, 46, 56, 77 ;
a Prolific Queen, 263; Re-
moving Queen-Cells to Stop,
267 ; Spreading Brood-Combs
to Prevent, 149 ; Undesirable,
156 ; Vagaries of, 248

Swarms, Absconding, 277 ; and
Stocks Dying Out, 167

Swarms and Stocks, Establish-
ing New, 212

Swarms, Dealing with, 228 :
Early, 200; How to Utilise.
4, 38; where Increase is Not
Desired, 28, 44, ■-':>:;

Swarms in Autumn, Making
Artificial, 227, 230, 308; in
Transit, Compensation for
Loss of, 207; Losing Weight
in Transit, 330 ; Lost in Tran-
sit, 312 ; Returning, 343 ;
Stray, 394, 437 ; the Tale of a
Tub, 423 ; Surplus from, on ; to
Parent Hives, Uniting, 230;
Undesirable, 113 ; Virgin
304

VI

INDEX TO VOLUME XXIX.

yrup-Feeding in Late Autumn,

418
Syrup for Bee Food, Making,
390

" Taste," the Vitiated Public,
26

Tasting Honey at Shows, 427

Temperature, Some Observa-
tions on, 294

Testimonial to Mr. Hooker, 413,
481, 5L6 .

Throat, Inflamed, Honey as a
Remedy for, 306

Tits and Bees : A Christmas
Hint, 502

Toads and Bees, S9

Toggles and the Bees, 506

Tongue of the Bee, 67

Towns and Villages, Bee-keep-
ing in, 38

Trade Catalogues Received,
169

Trees, Removing Bees from, 129

Tropical Climates, Bees in,
474

I'nicomb Observatory Hive,
Making a, 506

Village Lectures on Bee-keep-
ing, 97
Vinegar-Honey, Making, 479
Virgin Swarms, 304
Vitiated Public Taste, the, 26

Wales, Bees in, 254, 266; Ex-
perience of the Past Season's
Bee-keeping, 473

Wants, Some, the War, 34

War, after the : Bee-keeping for
South Africa, 187

Wasps, 354; and Hornets, De
Reaumur on, 496

Wasps and their Nests: Ame-
rican Bee-keeping, 464

Wasps, Bees, and Bacilli, Life
History of. By Henry W.
Brice, 461

Wasps, Can Foul Brood Exist
Among? 313 ; Foul Brood
Among, 324 ; How to Clear a
District of. 136 ; Mating in
Confinement, 474

Wasps' Nests, 477 ; Destroying,
340, 354

Watercress Honey, 244

Water for Bees, 256 ; Water-
Troughs for Bees, 203

Wax, 103 ; Making, 511 ; Ren-
dering, 156, 172

Wax-Moths, 198, 273, 477; Ra-
vages of the, 357 ; Wax-Moth
in Skeps, 418

Wax-Smelter, an Economic, 128

" W. B. C." Hive, Making the,
38S ; How to Make It, 503 ;
Simple Remedy for a Fault,
516

Wells' Hives, 154 ; for Comb-
Honey, Working the, 337 ;
in Yorkshire, v. Single Stocks,
37 ; v. Single Stocks, 54 ; why
Bees Unite themselves in
Autumn, 154; Working, 138,
398

Wells' System, the, 42, 47 ;
Double-Queened Hives, 55

Wells v. Single Hives, 87, 138

West Indian Bees and Honey,
377

Window, Swarm Fifty-two Years

in a, 181
Wings of the Bee, 274
Winter, After the, 147 ; Loss of

Stocks in, 407 ; Re-arranging

Hives in, 469
Wintering Bees in Observatory

Hive, 389
Wintering Device, A New, 406
Wintering Problem, The : How

do Bees manage to Survive

the Winter? 92
Wintering Transferred Stocks

459
Worcester, Bee Notes from, 303
Worker Cells, Drone Brood in, 183
Wychwood Forest, Notes from,

89, 116, 226, 396, 502

Yorkshire, Bees in, 475 ; Bee
keeping in, 99 ; East, Bees in,
84 ; Season in : Results from
Wells' Hives, 37

Zinc Covering for Hive Roofs, 69
Zinc, Queen • Excluder, for
Dividers, 89

ILLUSTRATIONS.

" Homes of the Honey Bee '' :
Apiary of Mr. Launcelot Quayle, Olelt-

may, Isle of Man, 5
„ Mr. John Edwards, Callington,

Cornwall, 25
„ Mr. William Scurrah, Well,

Bedale, Yorkshire, 45
„ Mr. G-. S. Newth, Wallington,

Surrey, 65
„ Rev. W. R. Nightingale, East

Preston,Worthing,Sussex,85
„ Rev. Dr. Bartrum, Wakes-

Colne Rectory, Essex, 105
„ Mr. J. S. Shenton, Husbands

Bosworth, Rugby, 125
„ Mr. P. B. Govett, Tideford,

St. Germans, Cornwall, 145
„ Mr. G. F. Barrell, Spalding,

Lincolnshire, 165
„ Mr. Horace J. Jeffrey, South

Godstone, Surrey, 175
., Mr. W. A. Withycombe,

Bridgwater, Somerset, 185
„ Mr. R. Allen, Tusmere,

Bicester, Oxon, 205
„ Mr. E. Middlemass, Stanford

Cottages, Alnwick, North-
umberland, 225
,, Mr. Matthew Paterson, Low

Pleasance1Larkhall,N.B.,245

Home9 of the Honey Bee " (continued):
Apiary of Mr. F. Doubtfire, Wealdstone,

Middlesex, 265
„ Mr. J. Daniels, Chichester,

Sussex, 285
„ Mr. Phil Jones, Chelwick

Valley, Church Stret-ton,

Salop, 305
„ Mr. W. Appleyard, Stalnton-

dale Station (N.E R.), York-
shire, 325
„ Mr. Harry T. March, Horsford,

near Norwich, 345
„ Miss Ethel M. Gilmour,

Rushton, Claygate, Surrey,

365
,, Mr. C. Morris, Stanford-le

- • Hope Station, Essex, 385
,, Mr. J. Cooper, Bunyan-road,

Hitchin, Herts, 405
„ Mr. J. Turnbull,Conisborough,

near Rotherham, Yorks, 425
,, Mr.W. B. Rennie, Rosehearty,

Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire,

445
„ Mr. S. H. Tollington, Hathern,

near Loughboro', Leicester-
shire, 465
„ Mr. George Brown, Little

Dale, Dartford, Essex, 48

" Homes of the Honey Bee " (continued)
Apiary of Mr. Herbert Samways, Llan-
debie, Carmarthenshire

Labourer's Freehold Dwelling, a, 8

Bee-Hives, Curious, 115

Scent Organ in the Bee ; Tip of Distended
Abdomen of the Worker Bee ; Dorsd
Segments ; Veutral Segment and Sting]
Membrane bearing Nassouoff's Organi
142; Nassonoff's Organ as figured bj
Zoubareff, 152

" Mave's" Hives, used by Sir Christophel
Wren, 157

Water Fountain for Bees, Abbott Bros.1
169

Honey Jar, a Novel, 169

Honey Comb, Design in, 1S3

Taylor's English-made Dovetail Hive, 1

Rymer Honey Press, 218

Thorley's Hive, 224

British Heaths, Varieties of, 327

South African "Bee Pirates": PalariiA
and Philanthus, 353

Apiary Workshop, How to Build an, 395 m

Honey Taster for Shows, 427

Bee-Houses : How to Build One, 487.

The "W.B.C." Hive; Simple Remedy foi
a Fault, 510

'

The British

Bee Journal

No. 967. Vol. XXIX. N.S. 575.] JANUARY 3, 1901.

[Published Weekly.

GfrBtorral, $fote, &c

VOLUME TWENTY-NINE.

The fact of our penning these lines on
the first day of a new century marks the
occasion as a memorable one in the annals
of bee-keeping. It carries the mind
backward and we are led to ask — What
was the condition of the bee industry in
1801 ? Had we ten columns to occupy,
how full of interest would be the task
of tracing the history of apiculture for
the past hundred years ! But with only
room for a few lines we must be very
brief indeed. These are go ahead times,
and people have to '• hurry up " in all
they do ; nor is it too much to say
that the real march forward in this
country, so far as bee-keeping is con-
cerned, began with the birth of the
British Bee Journal in May, 1873. In
saying this, we neither ignore nor attempt
to minimise the enormous value of the
work done by Langstroth in perfecting
the moveable frame which now renders
the hive an open-book to the bee-keeper ;
but the establishment among us of a
journal entirely devoted to bees and the
interchange of thought among keepers,
created a bond of union among the
devotees of our craft, and led bee-men to
talk of each other for the first time as
" brother bee-keepers.-'

Little more than fifty years ago bees
were rarely referred to in the Press ;
and books about them were practically
beyond the reach of the bulk of those
who kept bees. Thus, the crude methods
handed down from father to son by
the old time skeppist were almost the
only means of acquiring knowledge on
the subject among the country folk who
constituted the bulk of bee-keepers.

Taking the issue of No. 1 of the B.B.J.
twenty-eight years ago as our starting
point, we find that little more than twelve
months later was held that memorable ex-

hibition of bees, honey, and appliances at
the Crystal Palace, which broughtbee-men
together from all parts of the kingdom,
and opened the eyes of not a few of us
to what could be done by bees when
properly dealt with. The manipulations
with living bees by the then editor of
this journal, Mr. C. N. Abbott, came as a
revelation to many like ourselves who,
while able to handle bees and hives
fairly well, knew nothing of " open
driving" from skeps and throwing the
bees about with bare hands and arms as
if they were so many peas instead of
insects possessing stings and using them.

From that time the bee-tent has
become a regular institution at all our
most important agricultural and horti-
cultural shows, and hundreds of men are
able and willing to do what was regarded
with wonder at the time by many of us
still to the fore. Indeed, it may be said
that Mr. Abbott showed how simple were
the "tricks" performed 150 years ago
by the famous Wildman, supposed to
" charm " the bees so wondrously.

Subsequent to this, we have seen the
institution of the British Bee-Keepers'
Association and its affiliated county
Associations, all of which are engaged
in doing useful work and spreading
knowledge of all that is good in the craft.

Finally, the Bee Journal, with
which we have mainly to do here, has,
we hope, done its share in the march of
progress. It started as a monthly at
10s. 6d. per annum, was then reduced to
6d. per copy, a price felt to be too high
to meet the needs of all classes. It then
came out fortnightly at 3d., was next
issued as a weekly at 2d., and finally,
when it came into the hands of its
present proprietor, he realised his long-
cherished wish by giving to bee-keepers
a journal of their own at Id. per copy,
the twenty-ninth yearly volume of Avhich
opens to-day, and conveys the best
wishes of its Editors to all readers for a
happy and prosperous year.

TITE TmiTLSH EEE JOURNAL.

(Jan. 3, 1901.

BRITISH BEEKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

LEE-KKEPERS' " DEFENCE FUND."

The monthly meeting of the Council was
held at 10">, Jermyn-street, S.W., on Thurs-
day, December 20, Mr. E. D. Till being voted
to the chair. There were also present Major
Fair, Messrs. R. T. Andrews, W. Broughton
Carr, J. H. New, W. F. Reid, E. Walker,
T. I. Weston, F. B. White, and the Secretary.

Letters explaining enforced absence were
read from the Vice-Chairman (Mr. W. H.
Harris) and the Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh.

The minutes of the previous meeting were
read and confirmed.

Mr. Till presented the report of the Finance
Committee, showing a bank balance of £61
lis. 7d., and brought forward a list of accounts
for payment. The report was approved.

It was stated that the papers written by
candidates for Second-Class Expert Certifi-
cates were still under consideration by the
examiners, who hoped to report upon the
result to the next meeting.

An application for the grant of medals, &c,
to be offered for honey exhibited at a Grocers
Exhibition at Leeds duriDg the month of
February, 1901, was brought forward, and the
Secretary instructed to say that as the Council
consider the time of year inimical to a
successful display of bee-produce, they regret
to be unable to favourably consider the
application.

A discussion followed upon the advisability,
or otherwise, of undertaking the opening of a
"Bee-keepers Defence Fund,'' in accord with
the very generally expressed wishes of bee-
keepers. The matter was fully considered,
and eventually it was resolved to appoint a
committee to formulate a complete scheme for
carrying out the object. It was also decided
to intimate to intending subscribers to the
•fund that contributions may be forthwith
forwarded to the Secretary, B.B.K. Associa-
tion, 12, Hanover-square, London, W.

The fund will be in every way a " special ''
one, to be employed solely in maintaining or
defending the interests of bee-keepers and
bee-keeping.

By kind permission of the Editors, a list of
subscriptions received will be published from
time to time in the columns of the British
Bee Journal.

IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the Committee of the Irish
B.K.A. was held on December 20 in Dr.
Traill's rooms, Trinity College, Dublin. Pre-
sent : Rev. J. G. Digges (in the chair),
Messrs. Abbott, Drought, Gillies, O'Bryen,
and M. H. Read (hon. sec). The hon. sec.
presented a report of the interview which the
deputation appointed at the previous Com-
mittee meeting had with the Department of
Agriculture and Technical Instruction, when
the deputation presented a scheme for the ex-

tensive promotion of bee-keeping throughout
Ireland requiring the financial help of the
Department.

Miss M. J. Cahill was allowed the Pre-
liminary Examination for Expert's Certificate.

Mr. Gillies submitted his report as iudge of
honey and wax at the R.D.S. Winter Show,
stating that the prize honey was of rare
excellence, and opened a discussion as to
what should be accepted as the ideal colour
of beeswax. It was decided that pale lemon
was the colour to he aimed at, as wax of
that colour was the most valuable.

Two suggestions to the R.D.S. were ap-
proved of — to add a class at the winter show
for honey trophies, in which each exhibit
would be staged on a 4-ft. square table, de-
corations being allowed ; and at the spring
show to allow of later inventions and objects
of interest being exhibited in the class for bee
appliances.

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications , and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

Communications relating to the literary department,
reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Mihoes, Queries,
Books for Revieio, Sfc, must be addressed only to "The
Editors of the ' British Bee Journal,' 17 ', KingWilliam-
street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi-
cations relating to Advertisements, Jfc, must be addressed
to "The Manager, 'British Bee Journal' Office, 17,
King William-street, Strand, London, W.C."

*** In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents,
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

THE B.B.K.A. APIARY.

AN APPEAL TO APrLTAXCF, DEALERS.

[4 188.] Having lately been staying in Kent,
I took the opportunity of visiting the B.B.K.
Association's apiary at the Horticultural
College at Swanley. After a courteous re-
ception by the Principal, Mr. Wilkinson, I
was shown round the apiary by Mr. Herrod,
the lecturer and bee-expert, and was much
pleased to see how good a use had been made
of the rough shed placed at his disposal when
the apiary was first started. Inspection, how-
ever, discovered various things that were
needed to make the place fit for showing to
the many visitors which the college draws
from all parts of the world. Some of these
the Council were able to deal with at their
last meeting ; others, for lack of funds, must
remain unless some kind friends will assist us.
The chief want is hives to replace dilapidated
ones — purchased second-hand for the sake of
the stocks of bees — to be used at examinations
for third-class experts' certificates held annually
at Swanley. It has always been intended to
rehouse these in good hives, but as yet ws

Jan. 3, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

have not got beyond the stage of "good in-
tentions." There are about eight wanted.
Now, will eight of our leading hive-makers
entrust us with one each, specimens of what
Britain can do in hive-niaking 1 They would
be well cared for and well used, and would
show visitors and pupils the style of hive that
is considered best for general use in this
country. We constantly hear of new designs
in " swarm-catchers " ; here is an opportunity
for any man with faith in his pet invention to
have it tried under favourable circumstances
of supervision. I am sure Mr. Herrod will
be only too glad to give any appliance of the
kind a fair and impartial trial in the Associa-
tion's apiary. At Swanley we ha?e the nucleus
of an instructive apiary in congenial surround-
ings. I do hope a sufficient effort will be put forth
to make it worthy of this country. Who will
help ? — Thos. I. Weston, Member of the
B.B.K.A. Council, WicJcham Bishops, Essex.

MR. LAMB'S "MEDITATIONS."

[4189.] Mr. Lamb is so well known among
us in Yorkshire as a thoroughly capable bee-
keeper, that anything he puts forward as of
importance should, on the face of it, be care-
fully considered.

I suppose that what he says as to the
possible advantage of a somewhat larger
frame for the hive's brood-chamber he only
advances very tentatively. Occasionally, no
doubt, we have all found our ten-frame brood-
chamber hardly big enough for a very
vigorous queen in a good season ; but as a
rule, there is plenty of room, and when there
is not, empty frames can surely be given.
And it would, I think, be such a grave mis-
fortune to introduce another frame in com-
petition with the " Standard," that I hope this
matter may be left severely alone, except in
the w^y of purely theoretical discussion.

But when Mr. Lamb suggests an alteration
iu sections he speaks of something in which
very many of us will be on his side. In York-
shire at any rate, two years out of three,
section-producing is disheartening work ; what-
ever may be the case south of the Humber,
north of it we cannot rely on a honey-flow that
will fill our rack of sections. There can be no
doubt whatever that a section narrower than
the present one (from face to face) would be
taken to and worked out much more easily.
And if three sections could be made to fit
in an ordinary shallow-frame, the thickness
of the section being calculated so that the
increased area might just make up for the
loss in thickuess, I personally should be
very glad to give such sections a trial, and I
think the result would be satisfactory. I go
with Mr. Lamb in asking for the sections to
fit into the present shallow-frame, partly
because the bees like shallow-frames, and
partly because I certainly do not want yet
another appliance in the shape of a new
section-rack.

I write mainly in the hope of starting a
discussion on Mr. Lamb's suggestion, because
it seems to me to deserve consideration. I
recognise Mr. Lamb's old saying — " Success —
and simplicity" — as very valuable. — Sidney
Smith, Wheldralce Rectory, York.

BEE-KEEPING IN SCHOOLS.
[41!)0.] The request made by your corre-
spondent, "D. L. H.." (4103, page 481), in B.J.
of December 6, still remains uncomplied with,
so I should like to say something in reply.
Teachers are, as a rule, rather oppressed by
the multifarious subjects embraced in the
" Code," but bee-keeping cornea in all right in
the new division of Nature knowledge and I
have introduced it th<?re with good effect. I
cannot say much about illustrations, as I take
mine at first hand from Nature and the many
innumerable paraphernalia embraced in a bee-
man's outfit. I know no better book for this
or anv other purpose than the " Guide Book,"
but I prefer to cast books aside in my treat-
ment of the subject and draw on my inner
consciousness. Bee-keeping, thus treated,
makes an interesting and fascinating study for
children. It is useless dealing with the scientific
aspect of the question, and regular set lectures
are of little value for children of school age,
being above their comprehension. I prefer to
treat it in the way of bee-talks. So dealt
with, every ear is open wide, every eye bright
and sparkling, and every face alert and beam-
ing with intelligence, showing that every little
brain is ready to retain the impression con-
veyed by words or the examples shown.
Comb-building makes an excellent theme
quite within their comprehension, and illustra-
tions are ever at hand of this wonderful
process at all stages of its development. They
show no weariness or laxity during a good
long talk, and retain a wonderfully intelligent
grasp of the subject at the end. Another day
I take " From Egg to Perfect Insect." All is
animation. Already familiar with the con-
struction of cells, they evince a keen anxiety
to know tohy the bees have built this
masterpiece of construction. An empty cell
is shown, then one with a newly -laid egg, and
so on one in each the different stages of deve-
lopment. Then the pupa stage is described
and illustrated as well as the early nymph
period. The sealed cell is exhibited, and if
possible a young bee is shown eating its way
out or just emerging, and she is allowed to
march across the palm of the hand. As a
companion picture I have no hesitation in
cutting out a piece of drone comb and assist-
ing the burly fellow who occupies it to make
a premature acquaintance with the light of
day, while, to complete the picture, I exhibit
a nearly ripe queen-cell, gently aiding the
young royal virgin to complete a tryo for
exhibition before the most attentive audience
a lecturer ever addressed. In summer-time
all these illustrations are easily provided,
being always at hand. No pictures, however

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Jan. 3, 1901.

well executed or however bright and vivid
they may be, can match the reality. Show
even young children the above life pictures,
and you leave an impression on their minds
which will never be effaced. The whole is
received with wonder and delight. I find that,
on returning to the subject after a consider-
able interval, I have been astonished at the
result of their close observation. I have got
a good many of them to describe even the
relative position of the egg in its successive
stages until it is hatched ; and they are keen
on the time taken to produce a perfect
queen, drone, or worker. They quickly seem
to appreciate the importance of feeding in
working the magic change which creates a new
creature with new functions, dutie3, and
privileges.

When the swarming season conies round,
what picture can equal the reality, or what
amount of description can convey anything so
vivid as the actual scene open to the observa-
tion of all of them ? Then at honey-taking
scraps of comb are always at hand to serve
better than any picture or word-picture to
show what honey is, how it is stored, where it
is got, and what is its use and function. Every
branch of the subject can be dealt with thus,
and every country teacher who keep3 bees can
show these budding crofters, cottars, small
farmers, or tradesmen of the rising generation
a more excellent way than even our friends in
the Sister Isle have in the " gentleman who
pays the rent " of providing some luxury to
aid in making life more worth living. —
F. E. I. S., Scot., December 23.

HOW TO UTILISE SWARMS

WHERE INCREASE OF STOCKS IS NOT DESIRED.

[4191.] Under the above title your corre-
spondent "D. P. H." (4131, page 439,
November 8, 1900) puts forward a plan in
which he proposes to deal with a swarm in such
a manner as to utilise its energies for the bene-
fit of the parent stock, and finally to return it,
minus the old queen, to the parent hive, the
united forces being then headed by the young
queen. Your correspondent asks for criticism,
and in the editorial footnote the comments of
experienced bee-keepers are also invited ; so
far, however, no one has offered any opinion or
criticism on the scheme.

Had the proposed plan oontained in it
points which an experienced bee-keeper could
see would cause its failure, one would have
expected the editorial note referred to to
have revealed this, if only for the sake of the
many inexperienced ones who might be
tempted to try it ; but there seems no hint to
this effect.

The question of how to deal with swarms
to the best advantage when increase is not
desired is one which has special interest for
the amateur who only wishes to keep a small
and limited number of hives ; and this is
obviously the time to discuss all such matters

— three or four months hence will be too late.
I should like, therefore, to ask (not by way of
criticism) whether it would be better, or not
so good, to have only one entrance common to
both lots of bees 1 It could, of course, be
opened its fullest extent.

From a structural point of view this would
obviously be a very great simplification, and in
order that the bees belonging to the swarm
should not have to pass through two excluder-
zincs to get to their brood-chamber, the crate
of sections presumed to be upon the parent
hive 1 would place above the swarm. The
questions are — (1) Would a swarm hived in a
brood-chamber (shallow or standard frames),
separated from the parent stock by excluder-
zinc, work amicably along with the old stock
using the same entrance (the entrance, of
course, of the parent hive), for the three weeks
or thereabouts specified in " D. P. H.'s " letter 1
(2) Would the fact that the bee3 of the swarm
were obliged to pass through one excluder
zinc in order to get to and from their brood-
nest put a serious check upon their activity ?
— G. S. N, Wallington, Surrey.

(Correspondence continued on page 6.)

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

The two views of Mr. Qaayle's apiary
shown on next page will naturally arouse
more than ordinary interest, because of de-
picting the, actual scene of the most notable
honey-takes from single hives we have yet
been able to record. To those whose privilege
it is to have visited Glenmay it will be a
permanent reminder of the beauties of the
place and all readers will like to see it. We
add nothing to the full notes sent by Mr.
Quayle, who writes as follows : —

"My first remembrance of bee-keeping is
in connection with a dozen or more .skeps
which my grandparents kept in the same
garden where I now keep some of my
hives. I sometimes took part in hiving the
swarms, and well remember the old custom of
rattling- a tin can — or some other ' musical '
device — to cause the bees to settle. I also
assisted at the yearly operation of smothering
the bees with brimstone. A good many
persons in this neighbourhood kept bees in
skeps in my younger days, but the number is
now greatly diminished, the bees having in
most cases died out. I fear that foul brood —
unknown to the bee-keepers themselves— was
the main cause of this, although the bee-
manipulations were almost wholly confined to
the respective hiving and smothering opera-
tions mentioned above. My real interest in
the craft was first aroused by reading an
article on bee3 in the Boys' Own Paper. Later
on I paid a visit to that veteran Manx bee-
keeper, Mr. Henry Corlett, of Ramsey, who
kindly showed me through his apiary, and
explained the method of working the modern
frame-hive. In the spring of 1887 I obtained

Jan. 3, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL

a frame-hive, and put a swarm therein on
June 15 following. This swarm yielded over
50 lb. surplus the first year. I also obtained a
copy of ' Modern
Bee-Keeping,'
and for a begin-
ner I consider
that work an
epitome of useful,
practical instruc-
tion. For my
part, I believed
its teaching, and
implicitly fol-
lowed out its di-
rections, in every
case with more or
less success.

" If I am not
growing tiresome,
1 should like to
tell you an expe-
rience I had with
foul brood, which
may induce other
bee-keepers to
relate their ex-
periences.

"The 'Wells'
h i v e — b e h i n d

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L»ipff!fc M

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wffir

Sfi&^ifJjPj

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KSls

K£MHRH

decided to starve the affected bees and put
them on clean frames. In my attempt to do
s^ the bees (a good strong stock) joined of
themselves to the
excellent colony
which occupied
the other com-
partment of the
hive. A few
days later a large
swarm issued
from that side,
which I hived in
the empty half
and soon after-
wards supered. I
secured a good
yield of honey
from it, and there
is now not a
trace of foul
brood in the hive.
Moreover, this
' Wells ' hive in
the past season of
1900 yielded per
colony more honey
than the average
of any hive in my
whole apiary.

MR. LANCELOT QUAYLE's AHARY, GLENMAY, ISLE OF MAX.

which I am seen standing in photo— was badly
diseased in one of its compartments in the
spring of 1899, and at the end of May I

" My hives are arranged to take twelve or
thirteen Standard frames (parallel with
entrance) in brood-chamber, as I consider that

6

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Jan. 3, 1901.

a good queen requires this number, and by
providing super room in advance of require-
ments I am seldom troubled with swarms. I
do not, however, think this type of hive is the
best possible. My ideal of a hive is one
;ibout 15 in. square on the top and 12 in. in
depth. This would afford the cubic space for
breeding that I consider best, besides affording
a good supering surface for conserving the
heat of the hive. I find that in a changeable
season the outside combs are often more
slowly filled and sealed owing to the larger
surface being less adapted for economising the
heat arising from the brood-nest.

" The honey harvest here does not com-
mence as a rule until the third or fourth week
of June, but continues quite to the end of
August ; thus owing to the late start made I
am enabled to get all stocks ready for the
honey-flow when it comes. This is, I think,
one of the main reasons why I am able to
secure such a good average take of honey. In
the year of my first ' record take ' in 1897
{vide B.J. of October 21, in that year) nearly
all my crop was got from white and alsike
clovers (we have no sainfoin and very few
limes). In the year 1899, when I did better
still, the bulk of my crop was a blend from
clover and heather.

" I have no doubt that there are many
places in the United Kingdom equally favour-
able for honey production as Glenmay ; witness
the famous ' take ' reported by your correspon-
dent 'D. M. M.,' of Ballindalloch, Banffshire,
besides others which have been noted in your
columns. The great point is to have every
colony in readiness for work when the honey
harvest commences, and then to provide ample
storage room for all the bees can get. This
prevents ' loafing ' while honey gathering is at
its best.

" Bee-keeping i3 a science I love. Not only
has it been a source of profit, but it has also
opened out new fields of knowledge to my
gaze, and enlarged my circle of friends,
for T can now count among these many
British bee-keepers with whom I have been
brought into contact personally and by letter.
I have also much enjoyed the visits of brother
bee-keepers who during their holidays have
visited ' our own dear Elian Vannin with its
green hills by the sea.' *

CORRESPONDENCE.

{Continued from page 4.)
SHOW MISMANAGEMENT.

[4192.] Mr. Jno. Berry's letter (4159,
page 479) and that of Mr. H. Waddington
(4167, page 490) in B.J. of December 13
and 20 show that I am not the only dissatisfied
exhibitor at the Industrial Exhibition held in
the Waverley Market, Edinburgh, in October
last

I must say that it was your appeal in B.J.
of October 4 last that made me endeavour to

do my best for the honey-class in that exhibi-
tion. I therefore wrote — and got a prompt
reply each time — and as there was a class for
" Heather-Honey in Bell-Glass," and I had a
very good one at the time, but had sold it.
However, I wrote the purchaser to see if same
e nuld be had for exhibiting at Waverley
Market, and in the end fortunately (or unfor-
tunately) I got it sent to Edinburgh, where it
arrived safely and in time, but the bell-glass
io as never staged. I waited about a week, and
not having any word regarding it, I wrote,
but got no reply. I afterwards wrote other
three letters on the subject, and have never
yet been vouchsafed any reply, the inattention
between the before and after being quite a
remarkable contrast.

The bell-glass arrived here some time after-
wards in worse condition than when it was
sent off, and the result is that I shall most
certainly pass by any appeal which may appear
regarding any future exhibition held in
Edinburgh under the same management. —
Jas. Waddell, Wooler, Northumberland.

RURAL INDUSTRIES.

[4193.] Your correspondent, W. Forbes, asks
(4175, page 498) you to say if it would be
advisable for him to give up his present pro-
fession (that, of an engineer) for the rural
occupations mentioned in his letter. I should
say he must, of course, decide that question
for himself, but from a health-giving point of
view " a drawing office " would not for a
moment compare with work in the orchard or
apiary ; while from a financial point of view, if
run on a business and truly scientific line, the
difference would not be as great as the
uninitiated would imagine. It must be
realised that a considerable amount of skill
and labour, and capital also, to make a succes-
of the undertaking, would be a sine qua non.

The oft-discussed question of poultry-farms
paying is proved, when (as was stated by
the Rev. Butlin in a daily paper recently)
income-tax on £300 per annum net gains has
been paid. Now I do not say that your
correspondent will do this ab initio, still it is
within the bounds of possibility. As I have
had some slight experience on three of the
four subjects mentioned by your correspon-
dent, I do not mind giving him a few hints
either through the B.B.J, or by post, as
preferred. Meanwhile, I conclude by a
reiteration of the advice given by our Editors,
to procure the services of an assistant well up
in one or more of the pursuits mentioned. — A
Norfolk Bee-keeper, Swaffham.

FUGITIVE PAPERS

ON ANCIENT BEE-BOOKS.

No. 9. — Reaumur.
[4194.] In the life of Swammerdam (1735)
prefixed to the folio edition there occurs the

•Ian. 3, 1901. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

following sentence : — " There is now in France
such another bright Sun, who by his light not
only shews, but adds grace and dignity to
every object he is pleased to shine upon. I
mean that prodigy of our age, and glory of
his country, the illustrious Reaumur."

These words very well link the subject of
the present sketch to that of the last.

He was born at Rochelle in 1683, was a
member of the Academy of Sciences at Paris,
and discovered the art of manufacturing
porcelain. He was the first who reduced
thermometer to a common standard, and the
instrument constructed upon his principles
still goes by his name. One of his chief
works was " The History of Insects,'' in six
volumes, 1732-1744. Bevan in his introduc-
tion to "The Honey Bee," 1838, says of
Reaumur: "'To him the genus apis is under
greater obligations perhaps, than to any
entomologist either of ancient or modern
times."

I have not access to his original work, but
I possess a book called " The Natural History
of Bees,'' translated from the French, and
published in London, 1744. It takes the
forui of nineteen conversations between
Clarissa, "the mistress of a family residing
in the country on her own estate,'' and
"Eugenio, the other person of the dialogues is
the Author ; and though he borrows almost all
his facts from M. de Reaumur, though he often
copies his expressions, 'tis still Eugenio, who
is accountable for the use he makes of them.''
The author speaks of Swammerdam as a
great anatomist, but not as one who practised
bee-keeping, whereas De Reaumur not only
gives " a new history of these animals, which
one may consider as the most compleat and
perfect work, in all respects, that can be hop'd
for in this kind ; as well with regard to the
natural history of Bees, as to the new and
easy methods, there proposed, for their increase
and improvement.''

What then do we find of new matter in this
book? Evidently the hive by the side of
which the conversations take place was an
observatory hive very superior to anything
yet met with, for though it is not described,
all the details of the bees work are shown in it,
for instance, the queen-bee laying her eggs.
In speaking of the nurse-bees the author says :
" When a bee continues some moments in a
maggot's cell, it is without doubt there to
disgorge that kind of pap or jelly, against
which the body of the maggot is supported
and with which it is surrounded."

We here see the word "jelly" used as in
modern time3. Propolis is mentioned as a
" rosin with a great deal more tenacity than
wax." The knowledge of wax had advanced
another stage, for " Experience has taught me
that it is not sufficient for the bees to work
up the crude wax (pollen) between their
claws after they have moistened it with some
liquor ; it has showed me it is in the very
body of the bee, in which this crude wax is to

be wrought that the true laboratory is to be
found there.'' Truer ideas prevailed as to
ventilation. " A too close air corrupts daily,
the moist air kills, and even rots them in the
hive. From these considerations several
persons think it safer to let them stay abroad."
A curious custom prevailed of casing the
hives with earth and surrounding this with an
old cask, leaving a flight hole, and having
some protection from the weather above. A
strange " winter packing,'' troublesome in
application, but doubtless of considerable
warmth. One point is worthy of notice,
namely, the wide circulation which Mr.
Butler's book, " The Feminine Monarchy," in
its Latin form must have had, as it is quoted
in this French work with approval. — A. A. H.

CHEAP DETACHED FREEHOLD
DWELLINGS.

TO ENCOURAGE MINOR RURAL INDUSTRIES.

[4195.J I am getting enquiries about the
cottage scheme I referred to in B.J. of Dec. 13
(page 491), and not being able to afford
time to reply I shall be glad if you will print
the enclosed cutting from our local paper
in the B.B.J. It will, I hope, serve the pur-
pose of a reply to all enquiries.
\ I might also add a line to my former re-
marks by showing that the mischief to the
mral dwellers and rural districts resulting
from running up those abominable terrace-
dwellings for labourers, with nothing better
than " air-wells " for back gardens, is incal-
culable. The labourers and their children, for
sheer lack of opportunity, lose the taste for
country pursuits, and cottager industries cease
entirely where they used to thrive. The pig, the
poultry, and the bees go, so to speak, " to the
dogs,'' but even a dog can no longer be kept,
and youngsters in the country grow up without
any of the old-fashioned training they used to
get ; thus cottager industries perish ! Great
is the responsibility resting on the heads of
those who own land and those who build. It
is an absolute fact that in one place in Kent
there is more room and more air given to dogs
in up-to-date breeding kennels than will be
found in many of the cottages in the village ;
indeed, the labourers' cottages are mostly
gardenless and in the main street. All this
misery is caused because in the landlord's
greed he grudge3 every inch of ground, al-
though land is let close by at 103. an acre !

This illustration of the Eynsford cottage
on next page shows the sort of dwelling-
house which is contemplated in the scheme
of the Eynsford Overseers, formulated for
the purpose of enabling labouring men to
acquire their own freeholds. The house
consists of four rooms, viz., living-room, two
bedrooms, and a small kitchen, but as the
kitchen, in practice, is used as a living-room,
the larger apartment originally designed for a
living-room answers a3 an extra bedroom.

8

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Jan. 3, 1901.

This house was built by contract for £102, but
not including fencing, cesspool, well, and out-
house, so that the total cost was about ,£140
to £150, without the land, of which there is
about one-sixth of an acre. Mr. Edmund
Bowyer, of Bloomsbury Mansions, was the
architect.

The experience
gained in the con-
struction of this cot-
tage has shown that
the accommodation
can be improved con-
siderably without in-
creasing the cost. The
following copies of my
letters in the Times
of November 13 and
December 4 show that
plots of the value of
£10 are contemplated
where valuable build-
ing sites are not in
question. The letter
of December 4 clearly
shows what is gained
by affording men good
gardens round their
cottages (not allot-
ments). Had this in-
dustrious man who is
quoted been forced to
continue in his garden-
less house he would
have lost over £100 in
the last seven years,
and his dozen children would have grown up
ignorant of gardening, poultry-keeping, and
bee-keeping.

In conclusion, I quote the well-known line,
but slightly altered : —

" Mischief is wrought by want of thought,
And also by want of heart."
— E. D. Till, Eynsford, Kent.

" A RURAL HOUSING SCHEME.

" To the Editor of the ' Times ' (Nov. 13).

" Sir,— Since you were good enough to
publish my communication on September 28,
and the details of the Carpenter Company's
competition for cheaply constructed dwellings
on September 29, 1 and my fellow-overseer of
this parish have worked out a scheme which I
trust will partially solve, so far at least as this
district is concerned, the hitherto ever-present
housing problem.

" I do not pretend to say that the scheme will
apply except in districts where labour is in
good demand, and men earn, comparatively
speaking, high wages. We have proposed to
our Parliamentary representative, who owns
virtually the whole of the available land in the
parish, the purchase from him of a two-acre
plot at each of the four points of the compass
on the outskirts of the village, where valuable
building sites are not in question, and con-
sidering the purpose of the experiment, he

shall sell it at £50 an acre. (Fents range
from nothing per acre — much being on the
landlord's hands — up to 30s. for the best land.)
We propose to divide this up into fifth-acre
plots for one-story, detached, cheaply-con-
structed bungalows, of which already a good
example exists just
outside the border of
the parish. For £150
a man should be able
to buy his plot and
build his bungalow.
The interest on this
sum advanced at 3
per cent, would cost
Is. 9d. per week;
rates, repairs, water,
fire insurance, Is. 3d.
per week — together,
33. per week.

" To secure repay-
ment of the advance
a man of forty, for
instance, could, if a
good life, insure by
for endowment policy
£150 payable in
twenty years, or at
death if prior, costing
3s. per week. Thus,
for a total charge of
6s. per week — no
more, mind, than is
being paid in the
district for four-
roomed terrace houses
without gardens worthy of the name and
without any prospective advantage, save that
of being turned out at a week's notice, for no
more, I repeat, than men do, and therefore are
able to pay— they can at once buy (supposing,
of course, that we get the land, and ' there's
the rub ') their own freeholds, build their
own cottages, and, what is of the utmost
importance, insure their lives in the bargain !
Many men, alas ! pour 6s. down their throat
every week of their lives ; for such, I need not
say, the overseers' scheme will not avail.

" I maintain that by creating these freeholds
we shall attract, and also attach, a superior
class of labour, desperately needed by our
farmers and fruit-growers, and, I believe also,
that we shall thereby be more independent of
the nomad class of labour which is a most un-
desirable element hereabout in the fruit season.
" The scheme contains nothing novel, and the
wonder to me is that it has not been possible
in the past. It will encourage thrift, and par-
takes in measure of the principle of an old-age
pension, inasmuch as a man will be providing
for a house over his head in his declining
years, or, if he die, for his widow or his chil-
dren.

" Good hands are constantly leaving the dis-
trict for lack of houses. On Friday last, at
the overseers' audit at Dartford, the auditor
remarked to me that ' we were fortunate in

A Labourer's Freehold Dwelling

Jan. 3, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

having no arrears nor any loss of rates during
the half-year,' and with wonder he exclaimed,
'no empty houses!' I replied, 'Unfortu-
nately it was so,' and when he understood my
meaning he agreed with me, as every sensible
man must— Yours faithfully, E. D. T."

" To the Editor of the ' Times ' (Dec. 4).

" Sir, — Adverting to my own and the Car-
penters' Company's letters published in the
Times of September 28 and 29, also the rural
housing scheme in your issue of November 13,
I regret to say that our Parliamentary repre-
sentative, who controls all the land, declines
point blank to sell a scrap of it for the purpose
we propose. In the mean time we remain
under the ban of the Local Government
Board, who recently instituted an inquiry and
pronounced our housing conditions a standing
danger to health !

"Cottages would be built at once if we could
only procure the land. Cottages, moreover,
are an absolute necessity for the welfare alike
of the labourers and the tenant farmers who
employ them. The best hands will not stay
because of the paucity of cottages. In 1893 I
purchased frontage land here that thrifty
workmen might build houses, and several
seized the opportunity. One labouring man
with a large family left a gardenless house to
rent a cottage built on this land, where there
was a large garden, and started. The other
eveniDg I asked to see his books, and, to my
delight and astonishment, I found bees and
fowls had paid the rent. Here are the
figures : —

Bees.

Poultry.

In 1894 the net profit was (not
charging labour)

„ 1895

„ 1896

„ 1897 [Note.— About this time

,, 1898 he hired from me an
additional 20 rods of
ground for his fowls.]

„ 1899

£2 7 8

6 14 4

3 12 9

8 11 4

' _____
£26 9 0

£3 13 4
4 14 4

12 16 1
9 4 7

15 11 10

£64 11 1

£91 0 1

" I have shown conclusively that for 63. a
week a man of forty can buy his plot (no, I am
wrong, I am reckoning without my M.P., I
ought to say 'could, would, or should buy'),
build his bungalow and secure a life endow-
ment policy for £150 in the bargain.

" Land can be obtained in two contiguous
parishes, but imagine an overseer building and
so reducing rates in a parish not his own !
This, unfortunately, is our only alternative,
short of compulsory purchase. What are we
to do ? — I am, sir, yours faithfully,

E. D. T."

<Bihm from tfo pots.

Wooler, Northumberland, December 25. — ■
Christmas day ! and bees flying fairly strong
at 9 a.m. This they continued to do merrily
till 2 p.m., when the wind beoame boisterous
and cold, and bees took shelter from it inside
the hives. We have had some very high wind
of late, but no damage has been done in my
apiary. All colonies are strong so far, with
stores plentiful, although rapidly diminishing,
so, in order to keep all going right, a cake of
candy will not be amiss on some, and they
shall have it. I hope to do better in the first
year of the twentieth century, although I have
no great reason to complain of the last of the
nineteenth. Wishing to our Editors and all
B.B.J, readers a bright and prosperous New
Year, both in bee and non-bee affairs. — Jas.
Waddell.

Chichester, December 31. — The past year
of 1900 will be long remembered by bee-
keepers as one for scarcity of honey, " with
few exceptions." The spring gave every pro-
spect of a good season, but the cold weather
in later spring with wet weather in June put
a damper on our hopes. Then drought set
in, which spoiled all our anticipations, some
stocks scarcely getting enough honey to carry
them through the winter. Indeed, I find
with my own stocks several are getting very
short of stores through the continual run on
them during the very mild autumn. In look-
ing back through Bee Journals I find in
1887 Mr. Simmins advocates dry sugar feed-
ing with Porto Rico sugar, by placing news-
papers over the tops of frames and pressing
sugar firmly down on to paper. Was this
ever tried to any extent; if so, with what
result ? If it is answerable, I take it that it
has a great advantage over feeding with candy
where one has a good number of stocks that
require feeding at this time of the year. With
good wishes to all bee-keepers for a prosperous
New Year. — J. D.

Qn^rfys and Jj^rlttyi.

[2567.] Keeping Bees near Dwellings.
Legal Aspects of the Case. — I enclose a small
rough plan of my bee garden (where I have kept
my bees for eighteen years) which may help
you to answer a few questions. It is on the
other side of the road to my house. You will
notice that a hedge about 8 ft. high
surrounds the garden on three sides and that
one of equal height divides the garden into
two parts ; on the south side towards the
allotments the hedge is 6 fc. high, the whole
garden being about one third of an acre. Up
to last year I had few complaints from the
publican, but last summer the innkeeper wa3
afraid of bees and got stung, and said they

10

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,

[Jan. 3, 1901.

caused annoyance to some of hi? customers,
so from June 7 I worked amongst them from
4 to about 7.30 a.m., which formerly I had always
done by day. This and a present when the
man left quite satisfied him, and I hoped all
difficulties were over. However, a fresh pub-
lican has now come, and he and his children
are also afraid of bees, so I am trying, but may
not succeed, to get a piece of land handy to
remove them to as I do not wish to be a
nuisance to my neighbours. I have about
eighty hives and cannot place them in the
garden where my house stands. I have sug-
gested that I would remove the two, rows of
bees nearest to the " public " to the side of the
garden nearest to the churchyard and put up
a galvanised fence 6 ft. high close to the
bees down the middle of the garden (see
plan, blue dots). The hives would then
be about 16 yards from the back of the
" public," the proposed fence 6 ft. high (close
to them), and the hedge 8 ft. high (close to
back of hive), being between the bees and the
said house. I therefore ask : — 1. If I cannot
get a suitable place to remove my apiary to,
do you think that if I only worked amongst
the bees before 7.30 a.m. all reasonable cause
of annoyance should cease ? 2. Could I be
compelled to remove them if all hives were
placed on side of garden nearest to churchyard,
as I suggest ? 3. In case persons were stung,
am I liable at law I 4. Suppose a horse was
stung and an accident of any kind occurred,
should I be liable at law (mine are the only
bees within half a mile) ? 5. In the country
can a person be prevented from keeping bees
near to a house, and, if so, within what dis-
tance may they be kept? 6. Is there any
chance of a fund being got up (I know it has
been suggested in Bee Journal) for the pro-
tection of bee-keepers ? If so, I would sub-
scribe or insure, if need be, to cover any
expense I might be put to. Any information
or advice would be most acceptable to — Con-
STANtbr, Leighton Buzzard, December 21.

Eeply. — 1. If you are at all skilled in the
art of keeping the bees under control when
manipulating, the precautions proposed should
serve to reduce the risk of annoying neighbours
to a minimum. The result, however, largely
depends on the bee-keeper himself. One man
will do his work almost unobserved, while
another will disturb a whole neighbourhood
when removing honey. 2. This would
certainly be helpful, and leave plenty of
distance between the bees and your neigh-
bour's house. 3. Yes ; if bees are a proved
nuisance and inflict damage, you are liable.
4. Read the "Basingstoke Bee-Case," as
reported in B.J. of. August 16 last year
(page 322). 5. There is no distance " fixed "
by legal enactment. 6. Refer to page 2 in
this issue.

[2368] Specific Gravity of Honey. — Re-
liquefying Honey. — Please kindly inform me :
— 1. What should be the specific gravity of
pure English honey ? J remember during

the " aquarium " fever some forty years ago
using a bulb of blue glass which told us
whether our sea water was of the standard
specific gravity or not. Is such a bulb obtain-
able for honey, and, if so, where ? 2. By what
test (other than taste) can it be known whether
a specimen of clear honey has been " liquefied ''
after having granulated, or has not been
tampered with / My own experience is that
" liquefied " honey doe3 not granulate again,
but throws to the top an oily substance which
can be poured off. Some chemical change,
therefore, must have taken place, the detection
of which ought to be possible. All purists
must be grateful to you for giving us a test for
the detection of glucose in the B.B.J, of
December 20. — C. C James, Wortham, Diss,
December 20.

Reply, — 1. The specific gravity of ordinary
British honey of average quality is 1*350.
2. Only by, chemical analysis, which would
show the effect of heating on any pollen
grains found in the honey. It is a mistake
to suppose that honey is 'seriously, or even
appreciably, damaged by reliquefying, if care-
fully and properly done. In America the
wholesale bottlers of honey nearly always
reliquefy it when jarring off. We hope to
print an article on the subject.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All queries forwarded will be attended to, and thoie only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

G. White (Hillingdon). — Removing Honey in
January. — We shall require more definite
particulars regarding the honey before offer-
ing advice how to remove it. Are the
" three skep3 full of honey " supposed to be
straw supers placed above skep hives as
surplus-chambers, or are they set above
frame-hives 1 On receipt of a line in reply
we will help you if we can.

Bee doings in Cheshire. — A correspondent
writing from Congleton, Cheshire, on
December 31, says: — "A few bee-keepers
in this town would be very pleased to see a
few notes on the doings of bees in Cheshire
if it is possible to get such in the pages of
B.B.J." For ourselves it is only needful to
say that we should .be very pleased to
insert any " notes " sent for publication.
In the meantime we will draw the attention
of the Hon. Sec. of the Cheshire B.K.A. to
the subject. — [Eds.]

' Having had several applications for the
address of Mr. A. Forbes, the writer of the
letter on " Rural Industries " (4175, page 428
in B.J. of December 20), it may be well to say
that if Mr. Forbes wishes us to send his
address to all applicants we will do so, but
pending thid we are not warranted in giving
the particulars apked for.

Jan. 10, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

11

Editorial $Jjrtias, &i.

FORMATION OF A CUMBERLAND
B.K.A.

A meeting of persons interested in bee-
keeping was held on Thursday, Dec9mber 20,
at the Globe Hotel, Whitehaven. The follow-
ing persons attended : — Messrs. John Vicars,
Ghyllbank ; J. Lister, Ravenglass ; W. Barr,
Hycemoorside, Bootle ; R. Chorley, J. Walker,
J. Dixon, and I. Mossop, St. Bees ; J.
Woodall, Waberthwaite ; and Marsh, Waber-
thwaite.

Mr. Vicars explained the object of the meet-
ing, and proposed that a Beekeepers' Associa-
tion for the county of Cumberland be formed.
There were similar associations in connection
with other counties, and what had done good
for other counties ought to do good for Cum-
berland. He explained that he had received
letters from several persons from the north of
the county who were willing to join if the
association was formed,

The motion was carried, and it was agreed
that the association be called " The Cumber-
land Bee-keepers' Association."

Mr. Vicars said his idea was that the
county ought to be divided into districts,
similar to what the County Council were
doing in their technical education scheme.

After several rules had been submitted to
the meeting and passed, it was unanimously
decided tbat Mr. Vicars be appointed the
Secretary up to the time of the general meeting
of the members, which was fixed for April
next. It was agreed that Lord Muncaster be
invited to be President of the Association ;
that the subscription of members be not less
than 2s. 6d. per annum ; and that those
present form a committee to act until the
general meeting is held.

§mxi%pmtom.

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

*»* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents,
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

NOTES BY THE WAY.
[4196] The wrangle of a year ago as to
when the century began has luckily been
reduced to a minimum, and now that we have
crossed the threshold of the year 1901, we can
feel certain of being actually in the twentieth
century. Nor can those of us who have
pa»sed the meridian of life help feeling a

certain amount of sadness when we realise the
to U3, rapid march of father Time as the accu-
mulating aggregate of years that lie behind
recur to the mind. But since no good can
come from contemplating on the past with vain
regrets, rather let us be thankful for the many
evidences of progress in the industry of bee-
keeping chronicled in the twenty-eight volumes
of the B.B.J, now completed. Wonderful
indeed has been the advance in methods of
bee-keeping and the system of preparing the
product for the market. The bee-hive of
1800 was practically a sealed book, only a
very few of the scientists of those days
possessing more than the most rudimentary
knowledge of the interior economy of the
hive. To-day, the modern observatory-hive is
as an open book, type-written in the boldest
characters. The output of honey from a
modern hive is another evidence of progress.
The old straw ekep was, in most instances,
of fixed capacity, and the bees had to
swarm in order to increase the honey har-
vest ; hence the joy and excitement of the
old style bee-keeper at the issue of his
swarms, "smarts," "casts," "chits," and
"maiden swarms." This rapid increase of
stocks raised his hopes of a good honey har-
vest which in some seasons were realised ; yet
the accepted average of good honey years was
one in seven — so that the straw skeppist would
probably see six or seven good seasons during
his lifetime ! How different the case now.
Instead of one good season in seven we get
fair returns nearly every year. Any way, late
volumes of the B,J. show that we have not
bad an all-round season of real failure since
1888. Results differ in contiguous districts, I
admit, but there are other reasons besides the
weather and crops why our hope3 are some-
times not realised more abundantly.

The immediate future also holds out good
prospects and brighter times for bee-keepers,
seeing that the stock of honey in the country
will be cleared out long before new honey of
1901 is available. The same condition of
things exists in America, where stocks are
low and prices ruling higher.

This brings to mind the question, what are
we British bee-keepers doing with regard to
prices ? I notice in the advertisement columns
of B.B.J, that honey is offered at about last
year's prices. Surely there is something
wrong here 1 In my opinion we ought, in
common fairness, to realise a better price for
our produce when it is scarce than when there
is an abundance. I myself have advanced
prices Is. per dozen for sections, and some-
times more for those of selected quality.

Proposed Xarrow Sections. — I notice our
good friend, the Rev. Mr. Lamb, has (on
page 505) broached the subject of a different
shaped section for comb-honey — something
that will fit in shallow-frames. Dees our
friend intend these boxes of hanging frames to
be worked with or without dividers ? If with
dividers, where wouM be the advantage over

12

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 10, 1901.

the ordinary section-rack ? I grant that
shallow-frames are taken to by bees more
readily than the ordinary section-rack, because
the former generally contain ready-built combs
and have no dividers. The dividers, so
necessary to ensuring good work in comb-
honey, must of necessity separate the bees
into small clusters when they are secreting
wax ; but, as I said before, if we place the
proposed new size sections in shallow-frames,
we shall be compelled to use dividers in
order to maintain the present high standard of
bee-work. Therefore, although our reverend
friend's experience as a bee-keeper lends
weight to his suggestions, yet I question if
we should very much increase our output by
adopting a narrower section than the present
2-inch one.' If we examine a colony of bees
located, say, in the corner of a house-roof, or
in any cavity in which there is a super-
abundance of room for comb-building, we will
most probably find (as so many of us have
found in straw skeps) that the brood-combs
are built of the required thickness for brood,
and that the outside or store-combs are built
somewhere about 2 in. thick. Thus it is seen
that, excepting the confined space in the
section-boxes, we impose no unnatural condi-
tions in, as it were, compelling the bees to
build combs for honey of the width in the
ordinary 2-in. section. I myself made a trial
of Blow's narrow sections some dozen years
ago, and I then found that these narrow sec-
tions still further restricted the small
chambers in which we compel the bees to
work. Possibly the result might have been
different had the sections been such as we use
now — or the no-bee-way — and suspended in a
hanging-frame, to which the dividers were
fixed, because by giving a full bee-space they
would be better filled in some bee-keepers'
hands. We should, however, need either
very thick dividers or else some with pro-
jecting pins, which would not impede the free
travel of the bees from section to section
across the super.

I conclude by wishing, with the utmost
cordiality, to all bee-keeping friends a happy
and prosperous New Year ; and it will enhance
my own happiness if any contribution of mine
to the pages of the B.B.J, has helped to pro-
mote the prosperity of those I am delighted
to regard as brother bee - keepers. — W.
Woodley, Beedon, Newbury.

AN OBSERVATORY HIVE.

MY SECOND SEASON'S EXPERIENCE.

[4197.] It may be in the memory of some
readers of the B.B.J, that an account of a
season's experience with an observatory hive
was published in February last. A few notes
of what was seen and done the following
summer are now supplied, and to avoid repeti-
tion I beg to refer any one interested to my
previous contribution, pages fi6 and 76 of the
British Bee Journal for 1900.

As a change on the Ligurians, I established
a colony of English bees in the middle of May,
headed by a very dark queen of the previous
year. They prospered and multiplied, and
soon started what may be termed trial queen-
cells — those that resemble acorn cups, and are
built on the face of the comb. They seem to
afford the bees much pleasure ; the workers
are constantly busy on them, but the cells
hardly ever come to anything. Of a kindred
nature are the obviously futile short holes
made by rabbits, or the nests that some
birds are in the habit of building before
they settle down to regular work. Wrens
especially build such nests, and it is said that
the cock bird inhabits one while the young are
being reared in the family brood-nest. Three
queen-cells of the usual type soon appeared,
and at about the time of hatching the bees
made an effort to swarm. The queen, how-
ever, failed to find the exit. She showed, great
excitement for a while, but by evening all was
quiet. Next morning one queen-cell was in
course of being demolished, and the following
day the other two disappeared. I could not
see that the queen took any part in their de-
struction, but she may have done so during the
night. Six sections only were completed. By
the end of August the colony had become un-
interesting, and as the bees would not work on
fresh foundation, I transferred them to winter
quarters.

I could detect no racial distinction in the
habits of these English bees as compared with
their more showy Italian cousins, except that,
as usual, the capping of their sections was
both smoother and thicker, and in con-
sequence of the latter quality it looked whiter.
The queen was brisker in laying than her
predecessor, her average time in depositing
the egg and getting clear of the cell being
18 seconds as against 30. On the other
hand, she was more deliberate in the
preliminary cell examination, so that the
total difference was not very remarkable.
My conclusion as to the number of eggs
deposited by queens in twenty-four hours
remains unaltered, for the reasons previously
given. This queen also, when possible, turned
her head downwards in laying. Her eggs as
far as observed were always laid singly, one in
a cell.

Fancy combs were again built on the glass
with the same pleasing irregularity, and in one
of these comb-cells I had the good fortune to
be able to watch the gradual development of
a drone-grub into the perfect insect. The cell
was nearly horizontal along the glass, and was
open to view from it3 mouth to a point a little
above where the rhombs angled off to form the
base. The grub when I first saw it had been
sealed in, and was still, as far as I could see,
in a state of rest ; in appearance it was merely
larval. The process of transformation was so
very gradual that it would be useless to
attempt to describe it in detail. It can be
more accurately studied by any one who will

Jan. 10, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

13

take the trouble to uncap larvae at various
ages and examine them with a pocket lens
than is possible when observation has to be
made through two thicknesses, or even one, of
glass. Moreover, an admirable description of
the metamorphosis can be read in Mr. Cowan's
" The Honey Bee," page 158.

The first thing noticeable was a general
wrinkling of the skin, with signs of a neck
and waist being formed. Then very slowly a
vague outline of limbs and wings was formed,
so gradually that you could not say how it was
being done. There was something ghostlike,
something quite uncanny, in this constant
motionless development. Day after day the
pure white nymph lay perfectly still on its
back ; no sign of life, no change of colour.
At last, on June 18, the head began to colour
purple. Next day it darkened a little, and
the body showed slight signs of colour. On
the 20th came the first sign of life. At first
a slight motion of the head from side
to side ; later in the same day the legs began
to move a little. On the 21st the body
had become generally darker ; the wings were
tinged towards the points of attachment, but
the nerves remained quite white. That morn-
ing the insect — for it was by then to all intents
an insect — began to push with its legs, while
the head moved more frequently from side to
side. Life was coming fast. By noon it had
turned itself right over, and for a while lay on
its belly, after which it turned back again and
rested. In a short time these movements
were repeated. The thorax had by this time
become very dark, and hairs were now visible
all over the body. At night the insect looked
very like a drone, and by the next morning,
the 22nd, the tomb was empty, and worker-
bees were busy polishing it up. From the
time the young creature showed signs of life
workers had been very busy at the capping of
the cell, but I could not see that they did any-
thing towards freeing its inhabitant.

The little game of "chiveying'' which I
described in my former letter was again very
popular in my hive, and I was amused to
observe it being indulged in by some bees on
the outside of a swarm-cluster one day when
I was looking for the queen.

I am inclined to believe that bees cannot
continue in health in a hive temperature over
90 deg. Fahr. Last year I noted signs of dis-
comfort when the thermometer showed 92 deg.
This season, when the drone-grub above
mentioned was first descried, I feared that
it might become chilled in its position
against the glass. I therefore kept on the
lined shutters of the hive as much as
possible day and night, and the thermo-
meter was generally in the neighbourhood of
92 deg. IJees began to die, and before long
had done so in such numbers that I had in
the end to take off the glasses from one side
of the hive and remove the corpses, hundreds
in number, the bees being no longer able to
cope with them. This done, and on my ceas-

ing to use the shutters, the mortality ceased at
once and the hive remained perfectly healthy.
The ventilation was good all the time, though
perhaps somewhat interfered with towards the
end by the accumulation of dead bees. I con-
clude, therefore, that these were killed by the
constant heat. When in an ordinary hive the
temperature from any cause rises to an uncom-
fortable heat, say 90 deg., the bees leave the
hive ; sometimes, as many must have noticed,
hurrying out ; and they remain outside until
the heat has become bearable. The construc-
tion of an observatory hive, especially with the
glass - covered exit passage that I have
adopted, makes this exodus inconvenient.
The bees remain to a great extent in the
covered way.

This year arrangements had been made to
secure plenty of drones, and I was able to
study the method adopted to get rid of them.
The first sign of it was that here and there a
worker climbed on to a drone's back and
nibbled at him in a playful way for a few
seconds, generally at the base of the wings.
The drone would shuffle on an inch or two and
apparently think no more of it. In a few days
these attentions* became quite spiteful, and
soon workers could be seen hanging on like
little furies to the poor drones, and dragging
them with many an indignity to the entrance.
Sometimes a drone would force his way back ;
but in the end the unfortunate males had
been so worried and hustled, that they became
disheartened and no longer dared attempt to
return. Doubtless they soon perished from
cold and hunger, for the drone consumes much
food, and is, I should imagine, quite incapable
of procuring any outside the hive. As to
workers stinging the drones, I saw no sign of
it ; not only would it appear to be unneces-
sary, but there would be some risk to the
worker in attempting it. In the unkindly
office just described the same want of unani-
mity to which I formerly alluded seems to
obtain amongst the workers. The greater
number of these do not attempt to molest the
drones. During the period of bitterest per-
secution I actually saw a worker feeding an
expelled drone in the covered way near the
mouth of the hive.

It has often been observed that the drones
pack together in corners of the hive when
their time of tribulation begins ; but the
packing seems to be a habit of theirs at any
time. Early in the season one might see as
many as thirteen or more drones packed
closely together on the comb. Perhaps two
or three workers among them, but all the rest
of the cluster were drones.

Propolis was carried in largely towards the
end of the season, and again I saw a bee
itself laden with it nibble off a piece from the
load of another and chew it as it walked above
the combs.

It is stated in our most valued books of in-
struction on matters apiarian that bees clean
their antenDse by working them through the

14

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 10, 1901.

comb arrangement on the opposite forelegs ;
thus the right antenna is said to be cleaned by
the left foreleg, and vice versa. Far be it
from me to suggest that this is not correct ;
but it is by no means invariable. I have
often seen bees cleaning an antenna by means
of the leg on the same side. This can best be
observed with drones. For obvious reasons
they are very particular in grooming their an-
tenna3, and they are also slower in their move-
ments than the workers. Or if any one will
offer his finger to a worker bee which
has come into a sitting - room in the
spring or autumn, and which has become
somewhat chilled, the bee will willingly climb
on to it. Offer a drop of honey ; out will go
the little tongue like a flash, and in a few
moments the drop will have disappeared.
Then our little friend will begin to clean its
antennae, and with your finger close under
your eyes the process can be clearly observed.
It is quite probable that it will be seen to
take place in the way I have described.

This concludes my observations for 1900.
The observatory hive has again been such a
pleasure to me that I hope some of your
readers may have profited by my advice and
have started their own observations. I have
a fine Cyprian queen ready for next season. —
South Devon Enthusiast.

"COMMERCIAL" GLUCOSE AND
HONEY.

[4198.] In your " Useful Hints" of Decem-
ber 6 (page 475), when referring to
" Cane Sugars for Bee - food," you say,
"The present feeling of alarm roused
in some parts of the country by the agitation
in the Press, on the subject of arsenical
poisoning through drinking beer in which sul-
phuric acid has been used in the process of
manufacture, will, of course, possess no special
interest for bee-keepers beyond other folk."

But I would say the matter does p'ossess
very special interest for bee-keepers, for at the
bottom of it is to be found the cause of the
low price of honey — of pure honey.

I am a regular and most interested reader
of the British Bee Journal and Bee-Keepers'
Record, in both of which papers, the low
prices now ruling for honey have been dis-
cussed and it has always been apparent that
behind it all there was some real causo for
these bad prices for bee-keepers. The cause
is not far to seek — it is the enormous amount
of adulterated honey that is put upon the
market — honey so heavily adulterated with
" commercial glucose,'' that it is difficult to
know where the honey is in the compound.
And to think that bee-keepers should be sus-
pected of this adulteration !

Do we not all read with interest the official
statements supplied to the British Bee
Journal of the quantity of honey imported

into this country ? And do we not all know
that most of the stuff imported as honey is
not honey at all, but a compound of com-
mercial glucose with more or less honey 1 We
have also been warned, more than once if I
mistake not, that this "compound" is not
worth 3d. per lb. There is no doubt also that
great quantities of this same compound are
made actually in this country, and put upon
the market as honey and sold as honey.

This mixture — so-called hooey— is clear
and liquid, varying in colour from dark to
pale golden, and so vitiated is the public
taste, that I have been told by the manager
of a large establishment that the public prefer
this stuff to pure honey — in fac^, he added,
" I prefer it myself." Of course, he buys it
cheaper, and if the public that he caters for
like it, why should he provide the real article
at higher price 1 He does not realise that the
price he does pay for this imitation honey is
more than double its commercial value.

The largest buyers of honey — the wholesale
chemists — who take samples from bee-keepers
direct, know very well what pure honey is
and how to obtain the best. They use it in
various ways, in syrup3, cough mixtures, &c,
and they pay 543. to 60s. per cwt. The
bottling firms also do a large business in the
same way, and I have not been able to trace
any adulteration to them.

It does seem extraordinary that the actual
consumers, i.e., the public, who use honey as a
table delicacy, should be so ignorant and
undiscerning as to prefer the liquid stuff
manufactured in Switzerland, and the other
various compounds of commercial glucose, to
the exquisite flavour of pure honey.

Many persons do not know that honey
becomes solid as it loses heat, but imagine
that there are two kinds of honey outside the
comb, a liquid and a solid kind. They do not
understand that what is liquid in summer
becomes solid in winter.

But now is the time for bee-keepers to
publish abroad the difference between pure
honey and the adulterated article.

It is this competition with the latter that
brings down the price of pure honey. The
bee-keeper is, I think, himself to blame in
this matter. He encourages the misunder-
standing as to pure honey granulating or
becoming solid by warming his honey in order
to clarify it so that it should not be seen in
the solid state. But he thus destroys the
special aroma and flavour, and renders it to the
palate not much finer in flavour than the
adulterated article.

The shows also encourage the same thing,
for by the month of October most pure honey
is solid, and some of the best graoulates the
soonest. If the public prefer liquid honey,
let them melt it for themselves ; it melts
easily, though it solidifies again easily. — A. G.
Leigh, London, N. W., December 18.

Jan. 10, 1901. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

15

THE EYE OF THE BEE.

[4199.] Science teache3 many strange facts
which to the common comprehension seem to
border on the region of fable. Abstractly
considered, they are too technical and dry-as-
dust for most readers, but many of them
are capable of being described in language
" understanded of the people." The eye of
the bee is a case in point. Man has to be
content with two eyes, and might* get on
tolerably well with one if the necessity
should arise. Many insects are more bounti-
fully provided with eyes ; thus, mosl spiders
have eight. Such a wary fellow, ever on the
alert, requires to be well provided. Our
friend the bee has five. The unscientific
reader would open his eyes very wide, I guess,
if I added two cyphers after the five, and
would be apt to use an uncomplimentary
expression if I added another and third,
cypher. Yet such is the plain and simple
fact which science reveals to us.

Let me, however, deal with the five. These
are patent even to the casual observer, and can
be seen without the aid of even a pair of
spectacles. Drones, queens, and workers
alike have two large eyes occupying the
greater part of each side of the head. These
are the compound eyes. They are large in the
drone, smaller in the queen, and smaller still
in the worker. The duties and functions of
the drone require the very highest develop-
ment of these optics, and accordingly we find
his eyes extending so that they meet on the
vertex or crown of the head. In addition to
these two eyes each of the three classes of
bees has also three simple eyes, known as
ocelli. These form something like the points
of a triangle, but in the case of the queen and
worker they are placed on the top of the head,
while in the drone they are more to the front
and much closer together.

In regard to their functions, it is now gene-
rally considered that the simple eyes are used
for the observation of objects close at hand,
and that they are especially suited to the
darkness which prevails inside the hive.

In the compound eyes there are thousands
— as many as 5,000 have actually been counted
— of hexagonal lenses, all really separate eyes,
so that my statement about the number of
eyes a bee has was well within the mark. All
of these separate eyes are joined together, but
look in different directions to all points of the
compass. This is a very important point in
insects like the bee. All of them receive sepa-
rate and individual impressions forming one
distinct picture. One image is formed out of
all the different and diverse scenes depicted.
The image impressed is, in fact, a mosaic, and
the combination of the separate impressions
forms the picture. Thus the field of observa-
tion is comprehensive, yet minute, and there-
fore bees can make their way straight home to
the hive with marvellous exactness from their
most distant points of flight, and can single

one white dot amongst a multitude as that
which bears the magic name home. Straight
as can be — a bee-line has become a proverb —
they fly from the far-away fields where they
have been foraging, make for their ora domi-
ciles with unerring accuracy, and arrive
without doubt or hesitation at their true des-
tination, never making a mistake of even a
yard in the point for which they have
started. Even when we have shifted
their home a yard we find their unerr-
ing course of flight brings them back to
the old spot. Only an organ of the
most perfect mechanism could perform so
important a function, and this we find in
these compound eyes. A bee-line means a
straight line from a given point to another at
a considerable distance, but does not imply
that the insect dashes forward regardless of
whatever obstruction may be in the way.
Woods, heights, and other natural barriers
may intervene, and the wise creature, de-
scribing an elliptical line from its point of
starting, rises gradually, sametimes to a con-
siderable altitude, again descending as it nears
its final print of desire. Instinct, no doubt,
teaches it to some extent where to make for,
but it trusts mainly to its wonderful power of
vision to guide it true to the goal it seeks.

Marvellous as is the power of these com-
pound eye*, the structure and functions of the
simple eyes are no less wonderful. If we con-
sider the fine and delicate operations, manifold
in their duties and varied in their sc jpe, per-
formed by these small and sensitive optics in
the interior darkness of the hive, we cannot
but view them with wonder and admiration.
In that (to us) dark interior, operations of
architecture and construction of the most
chaste and delicate nature are carried out with
mathematical exactness and regularity. Add
to this the care and devotion they bestow on
the young from the time it is an egg till it
becomes a perfect insect, the order and regu-
larity they obierve in every movement
necessitated by the duties incumbent on all by
the regulations of the internal economy of the
hive, and we see a wonderful adaptation of
means to an end in these simple eyes. Observe
the orderly and regular movements going on
in a colony whose hive is quietly opened; light
or darkness seems to bs all the same to these
wonderful eyes which serve so wise a purpose
to their owners.

Note, as I have already observed, the differ-
ence between those of the drone and the other
two orders. The male, as is well known,
performs no function in the internal organisa-
tion of the hive, so then his stemmata are
different and more suited to outside work and
close observation of the queen when the one
duty of hi3 life requires all his energies to be
concentrated. So his " simple eyes " are all
three arranged in front of his head exactly
where they are most required and where they
can perform their duty in the highest degree of
perfection. The term "simple eye'' is however

16

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL [Jan. 10, 1901.

scarcely correct for it has been demonstrated
by several German scientists that they are really
faceted similar to the compound eye3. Verily
the eye of the bee has been strangely and
wonderfully made.— D. M. M., Banff, N.B.

ANCIENT BEE-BOOKS.
[4200.] In thanking you for the insertion of
my letter in B.J. of December 13, I beg to
explain, with reference to your editorial foot-
note, that in my copy that part of the
Rev. A. A. H.'s notes happened to be rather
illegible, and I thought I read that Butler's
first edition appeared in 1604, in lieu of
1609. I am much obliged to you for correct-
ing my error. On this occasion may I point
out that on page 178, B.B.J, of February,
1877 (vol. 4), there appeared a very interest-
ing article on the " Rev. Chas. Butler and his
Teachings,'' by Mr. George Henderson, Ealing.
By giving publicity to my above-mentioned
letter in your esteemed journal, you encourage
me in responding to the request of the Rev.
A. A. Headley to assist him in throwing light
upon several other old books.

I have in my possession Samuel Purchas'
book " A Theatre of Politicall Flying Insects,
1657 '' (which once belonged to William Han-
bury, E?q., of Kelmarsh, in Northamptonshire).
As to the authors cited in this book, and by
the Rev. A. A. H, viz., Hill, Remnant, Muffet
(or Mouffet not Musset), Googe, Levit (?),
Lawson, and Southerne ; I possess the first
two authors cited and perhaps Levit. (This
,; perhaps '' I will explain farther on).
I beg to note hereto :

Hill. — The following is a copy of the title-
page of this book :— " A profitable instruction
of the perfect ordering of bees, with the mar-
vellous nature, property, and gouernement of
them ; and the necessary vses, both for their
Honnie and Waxe, seruing diuerslie, as well in
inward as outward causes ; gathered out of
the best writers. To which is annexed a
treatise, intituled : Certaine Husbandly coniec-
tures of dearth and plenty for euer, and other
matters also meet for husbandmen to know,"
&c. By Thomas Hill, Londoner. Imprinted
at London by Edward Aide, 1593 ; 92 pages.
This book once belonged to Mr. Edward
Scudamore, M.D., Canterbury, from whose
collection I possess six volumes of Manu-
scripts oh Bees, and several books derived
from his apicultural library. On the first page
of the book in question he wrote as follows : —
" This book was written by Georgius Picto-
rius, M.D., anno 1569 ; and translated by
Thomas Hill, of London. (See Butler in his
preface to the Monarchy of Bees.")

On the last page of this book Mr. Scudamore
also writes : " Butler in his preface to his
book on Bees, says : this book of T. H. is
translated word for word from a treatise
written by Georgius Pictorius, a learned
Physician who deserveth best, as having taken
most pains in perusing the ancient authors,

and gathering their Matter into his Method.
T. H. has concealed the Author's name, and
published it in his own."

I find this passage in the preface of all the
four editions I have, English and Latin. It
seems, therefore, that this author (Thomas
Hill) was a mere plagiarist.

Remnant — The following is a copy of the
title-page of this book :— " A discourse or
Historie of Bees, shewing their nature and
usage, and the great profit of them. Where-
unto is added the causes, and cure of blasted
Wheat. And some remedies for blasted Hops,
and Rie and Fruit. Together with the causes
of smutty Wheat : All which are very useful
for this later age. Written by Richard
Remnant, London. Printed by Robert Young
—for Thomas Slater, dwelling in duck lane,
at the white Swan — 1637."

Unfortunately, I was cheated when pur-
chasing this book. Having paid a very con-
siderable sum for it, I found, on receiving it
from abroad, that it only contained twenty-
eight pages, whereas the index shows the last
chapter to be on page 44.

Levit— I presume that the orthography of
this author's name was incorrectly spelt by
Furchas. My book has the title-page as
follows :— " The ordering of bees, or the true
history of managing them from time to time,
with their hony and waxe, shewing their
nature and breed. As also what trees, plants,
and hearbs are good for them, and namely
what are hurtfull, together with the extra-
ordinary profit arising from them. Set forth
in a dialogue, resolving all doubts whatsoever.
By the late unparalleled experience of John
Levett, Gent, London." Printed by Thomas
Harper for John Harison, 1634. Seventy-one
pages.

Finally, I beg to be allowed to return
to Purchas — <!A Theatre of Politicall
Flying Insects." On page 102 of this most
valuable book we find the quotation cited by
the Rev. A. A. H— " The knowledge of bees
was never truly communicated to the world
by any but Englishmen."

I am sorry to have to state that this is not
quite correct. Purchas hUaaself cites amongst
others on page 32, T.Cantipratensis— "Bonum
Universale de Apibus'' — a very celebrated book
written by Archbishop Thomas of Cambray,
born near Brussels in 1186, died in Cambray,
1263. I happen to possess several editions of
this book, as noted below : —

CI.) Thomas Cantipratensis, "Liber de Pro-
prietatibus Apum." Colonia. Gops, 1473.
Folio. 164 leaves.

(2.) Translation iu Dutch. Second edition.
Leyden, 1515.

(3.) " Liber Apum, aut de Apibus mysticis
sine de proprietatibus Apum.'' P.tris, 1530.

( i.) " Bonum Universale de Apibus." Duaci
(Douai), 1597. 586 pages.

(5.) Same title. Duaci, 1605. 597 pages.
Annotationes, 86 pages, and index.

(6.) Same title. Duaci, 1627. 594 pages.

Jan. 10, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

17

Annotationes, 176 pages, and index. —
E. Dhory, 18, Gitsckiner Strasse, Berlin,
December 17.

BEE-KEEPING IN SCHOOLS.

[4201.] I admire the contribution of
" F. E. I. S." (4190, page 3) in last B.B.J. I
am told that in Leeds they are issuing small
cabinets of apiarian objects for illustrating
bee-keeping lessons. It is to be hoped that
these cases will not be hung on the school
walls, as constant familiarity breeds contempt
in the minds of children.

Schools are now presented with trade
exhibits under the flimsy pretext that they are
educational. So they are, in that youngsters
are taught to remember the donor's brand for
life ! It is discreditable that public institu-
tions should thus become a prey to low
advertisement. Were I autocrat at White-
hall I would collect all these " transparent
cases " in a heap, and when the proper day
in the calendar came round, consecrate them
to the memory of St. Guido Faukes, with
nine - tenths of the so - called educational
pictures that disgrace school walls.

" F. E. I. S." is right in the sparing use of
his class-book, but few can afford to do as he.
Present-day teachers are stuffed so full of
"book" that their "understanding is un-
fruitful." It's a fact, and a lamentable fact
too. We now need a man of the " F.E. I. S."
type to run evening continuation classes ;
reading-room, and library (population 1000) ;
there are premises vacant, and snug cottage,
with good garden, all under the walls of our
old Norman castle. A very small salary ; but
it would just suit a large-hearted man —
" A man to all the country dear,

And passing rich on forty pounds a year ! "
I wonder whether this portrait bears any
resemblance to "F.E, I. S." ? Scotch salaries
are generally small. — E. D. Till, Eynsford,
Kent, January 7.

P.S. — We have quite a number of Scotch
lads and lassies hereabout, and they're bonnie
lassies, too. I only add this in case " F. E. I. S."
is young and still unattached ! Unfortunately
for me, I am old.

THE WEATHER.

[4202.] Truly "It's an ill wind that brings
no good." The very mild — I might say
unseasonable — weather prevailing till the end
of December caused many vegetables to get
quite beyond control, and some of them will,
as^ a result of continued growth — instead of
being in a dormant and more hardy state —
perish, now that severe weather has come
.suddenly upon us. But had it been otherwise
— i.e , had the weather in the late autumn and
early winter been cold enough to confine the
bees to their hives — the cause for dreading a
general outbreak of dysentery was never
greater. I say this in view of the fact that

there were very few hives at the beginning of
the winter that had not a quantity of unsealed
stores. After the corn was harvested many
farmers sowed mustard as a " catch crop.''
This was invaluable to bee-keepers who were
fortunate enough to have their hives near the
mustard in October and early November, as
the weather turned cut. Had the weather
turned very cold as well as wet during the
last two months, what was so helpful would
have been a veritable death-trap to the bees.
In other districts the ivy blossom yielded a
quantity of honey in late autumn. We can-
not wrap the bees up a bit extra warm and
feel certain that they will seal over their stores
as we would have them do, because if they
cannot get the newly-gathered honey suffi-
ciently ripened they won't seal it over. In
fact, we cannot take it for granted that bees
will do a certain thing simply because they
have done it before, or because we have given
them the material to do it with. This shows
that in bee-keeping we should not leave any-
thing to chance. I think the very uncertainty
of much pertaining to bee-keeping adds
interest to the pursuit. As bees almost in-
variably use up unsealed stores first, and
having ascertained that unsealed stores would
be consumed by the turn of the day, anxiety
may now be put away.— Wm. Loved ay, Hat-
field Heath, Harlow, January 7.

RURAL INDUSTRIES.

14203.] I notice in this week's Bee Journal
that a correspondent signing himself " A Nor-
folk Bee-keeper " has written a reply (4193,
page 6) to the questions I put in your issue of
December 20 last (page 498), in which he
kindly offers to " give me a few hints " through
the B.B.J. Personally I should be very much
obliged to him for the proffered information,
which, no doubt, would be helpful to other
readers besides myself if he will kindly publish
it in your columns. I also see by what you
say on page 10 last week that several people
are wanting my address. I shall be glad to
leave this to your discretion ; so far as sending
on letters that may be of advantage or useful
to me when I have finally settled what I shall
do in the mattes. — A. Forbes, Wolverhamp-
ton, January 5.

BEE-DOINGS IN CHESHIRE.

SENDING REPORTS.

[4204.] In answer to your gentle hint re
notes on " Bee-Doings in Cheshire," on
page 10 last week, I think it would be more
interesting if individual bee-keepers at
Congleton and elsewhere in the county would
send some " notes " regarding their experiences
in the past season and at the present time for
publication in the Journal rather than the
Secretary of the Association, over whom the
shadow of the annual meeting, with its

18

THE BKIT1SH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 10, 1901.

necessary preliminaries, is now looming ! I
hope that those on whose behalf your corre-
spondent wrote are already members of the
Cheshire B.K.A., or will join in this year. At
present the representatives of Congleton are
not very numerous, and I should be very
pleased to receive the names of bee-keepers
there or in other parts of the county who
would welcome a visit from the expert in the
spring. In my own apiary the bees have been
flying nearly every day, and I fear their stores
must have been doing the same thing. —
E. Charley, Hon. Secretary Cheshire B.K.A-,
Ince, near Chester, January 4.

PREVENTING SWARMING.

[4205.] Mr. A. H. Miller, in the B.B.
Journal of December 20 (page 499), says : —
" It is now six years since I had a natural
swarm from my own bees, nor do I find any
trouble in preventing my own bee3 from
swarming."

Will he kindly give in the B.B.J, the
details of his method for the sake of some of
us youngsters in bee-keeping ? — W. C. N.,
Devon, January 2.

REVIEWS FROM FOREIGN BEE-
PAPERS.

BY R. HAMLYN- HARRIS, F.R.M.S., F Z S.,
F.E S., ETC.

PraUischer Wegweiser fur Bienenzilchter
(Germany). — According to the Leipziger
Tagblatt, a decided decrease in bee-keeping is
to be recorded. During the last twenty years
the number of colonies has decreased by about
300,000. The yearly harvest of honey on an
average amounts to twenty million kilogram
(kilogr. - about 2 lb.), and it is said could be
increased twofold if only more apiarists would
come forward. The demand for honey is
greater than Germany can meet, and the
imports (often of a very questionable cha-
racter) amounts yearly to a gross value of two
million marks (twenty marks = £1.)

The German East Asiatic Aid Committee for
the Sick and Wounded has sent eighty tins of
honey to China, a gift which will be gladly
welcomed by the suffering troops.

In a small village called Plaugwerbach lives
an old bee-keeper who is in the possession of an
ancient skep dated 1767, and which carries the
name of his grandmother. The same colony of
bees is said to have existed in this hive all
the while, as also the combs, now 133 years
old.

The same paper reports that the English
journal, Church Bells, relates a case in which a
woman fifty-eight years of age, who was star-
blind (i.e., half blind), had her sight restored
by an application three times a day of pure,
fresh honey, applied after careful bathing of
the eyelids.

As is well known, Pliny, the celebrated
Roman naturalist of the Ancients, had many

erroneous notions concerning bees. He gives
expression to the idea that bees developed
from the decaying remains (resp. carcases) of
oxen and lions,* and that the bees never
ventured beyond a limit of about sixty yards,
unless compelled by hunger to do so.

The Leipziger Bienenzeitung reports a case
in which an apiary stood immerged for twenty-
four hours under water, to the extent of three-
fourths, at the time of flood, and that although
completely shut off from fresh air and the
outer world, the bee3 not only survived but
suffered no harm.

Paul.—" Auguste, I once knew a man who
could move his ears up and down to such an
extent that he could drive away bees which
settled on his face."

Auguste. — " Oh, that's nothing. I once had
a cousin who could frown to such perfection
that he could catch drones with the wrinkles in
his forehead and give them to his frog to eat."

Deutche Bienenzucht (Germany). — Acco
ing to the new laws of Italy the sale of
adulterated honey is made illegal. Adultera-
tion with water, dextrine, molasses, glucose,
saccharin, and any other organic or mineral
substance are specified.

The PraUischer Wegweiser recommends as a
remedy for the removal of certain flavours in
honey the method of inserting a heated iron
into the same and allowing it to remain in the
honey for some time.

The Gardeners Chronicle says that honey
gathered from the sunflower is spoiled and
rendered valueless by its dark, almost black,
colour.

Not without reason, a writer signing himself
" Mebeszeti Kozlony" complains about_ bee-
keepers who persist in continual artificial
swarm-making, and force colonies made poor
and weakly by prolonged queenlessness to
reaf queens, thereby rendering so many suc-
ceeding colonies weak and valueless. The
remedy is apparent.

^ms and J^pltys.

[2569.] Beet Sugar for Bee-food.— I would
b9 glad of information on the following
points:— 1. When was beet sugar condemned
for syrup-making for bees ? 2. What are the
symptoms of ill effects arising from such use ?
3. What are the causes of the ill effects ? 4.
Is it possible that the causes have been or can
be eliminated from the sugar by improved
methods of manufacturing the sugar ? 5. The
sugar used in jam-making is bset sugar, and
is ft not a fact that bees in the neighbourhood
of jam factories get at the sugar and thrive ?—
B. H., Cambs, January 1.

Reply.— 1. Beet-sugar has been regarded

* As also Virgil in Georgia, Bk..W.— R. H.-H.

Jan. 10, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

19

as unsuitable for bee-food ever since it became
definitely known that injurious chemicals
were used in its manufacture. 2. The out-
ward or visible symptoms of specific poisons
(sulphuric acid, for instance), have, we sup-
pose, not been considered sufficiently important
for any medical scientist to enter into the sub-
ject and define them clearly for the benefit of
bee-keepers. Therefore, we fear our correspon-
dent must be content with our assurance that
bees are for obvious reasons far better when
fed on pure cane sugar. 3. Keply to No. 1
covers this query. 4. This is a question for a
sugar refiner rather than us to answer. 5.
We are not aware that bees "thrive '' on the
" spoils " obtained by robbing jam-factories ;
in fact, we should consider jam-syrup anything
but suitable winter food for bees, and we hope
our correspondent will not try its effect on his
own stocks.

[2570.] Locating Hives on Hired Land. —
I was a bee-keeper some years ago and am
thinking of starting again. In fact, I have
begun making some hives now, but I should
like to make one of the " W.B.C." hives if you
will give me the description and measurement
of same. I am living in town, but I think of
getting a farmer to allow me to put my bees
on his land (out in the country about five miles
from here), for a small rent. Do you think it
needful to have an agreement drawn up for
this, or would it be safe without? — Bee-
KeepeR, Ashton-on-Ribble, January 1.

Reply. — 1. A full description of the
"W.B.C' hive, with plans and measurements
for making, appeared in B.B.J, of November
3 and 10, 1898. These may be had from this
office for 2^d. in stamps. 2. It would, no
doubt, be advantageous to have a written
agreement when hiring land for locating an
apiary on it, and to insert therein a clause
providing for due and sufficient notice of any
forced removal on either side.

[2571.] Honey Escaping from Covered Pots
or Jars. — I extracted some heather-honey
about three weeks ago, putting it up in pots
ready for sale a week later. On reaching a
pot down to sell to a customer, I found honey
running all over the tops of pots, there being
quite i lb. of it on the shelf among the pots.
As this is the second winter that my heather-
honey has served me in the same way, I shall be
glad if you can explain the cause, and give me
a remedy in the next issue of British Bee
Journal. — " Puzzled," Northwich, Cheshire,
January 2.

Reply. — We can only suppose that the pots
have been filled so near to the top edge that
the cover has dipped into or touched the
honey ; this being so, the running over is
easily accounted for, it being well known that
honey will escape by capilliary attraction when
once started to "run over'' the edge of the
receptacle containing it. The remedy is, do
not fill jars so full ; let the cover stand free
from, or clear of, the cover ; and bear in mind

that if kept in a warmer place after bottling
the honey will expand somewhat in bulk.
No escape will then take place if the honey
does not set up fermentation.

_ [2572 ] Loss of Bees through Floods — Best
time for Buying Stocks. — I have lost my bees
through the extraordinary flood we had here
on the night of Sunday, the 30th ult., and am
anxious to replace them. I therefore ask : —
1. What time would be the earliest you would
recommend me to purchase stocks in order to
get them strong for the fruit blossom ? 2. If
I bought now, say, from advertisements in
this week's B.B. Journal, could I examine
bees and comb without danger of chilling
queen and bees ? I have always thought it
was risky to even slip candy under the quilts
at this time of the year, but gather from Mr.
Wad dell's " Echo " from his hives, on page 9,
that it is wise to see how they are doing.
I may add a neighbour also lost his bees
by the flood, as well as some valuable pigeons.
We reckon it was quite 3 ft. deeper than
previous record. — F. H. Brown, Stechford,
January 5.

Reply. — 1. You had better defer purchas-
ing until such time as the " spring condition "
of the bees can be gauged by examination of
the brood-combs. Do not depend on making
the bees strong after you purchase ; choose a
stock already strong in hatching brood at
about the end of March. 2. We should incur
no "risks" of wintering by waiting till winter
is over, unless a thoroughly safe chance
occurred of buying a reliable stock. There is
no risk in slipping a cake of candy under
quilts when done by an experienced hand, but
the less bees are disturbed in winter the better,
and it is only " wise '' to disturb them when
real need exists for doing so.

[2573.] Queenless Stock in January. — I have
a queenless colony in bar-frame hive ; it is
being robbed by other bees. Is it too late in
season to join it up with another hive, as
advised by " Guide Book," or would you leave
it until spring ? They have plenty of store. —
Jas. Povall, Trefnant, North Wales.

Reply. — We should unite the bee3 on the
first fine warm day, as the chances are that
the stock will be "robbed out " if the joining
up is deferred till spring.

(Bilxm from tht Mn%,

Havilland Hill Farm, Guernsey, Decem-
ber 31, 1900. — " Rain, rain, rain" is the order
of the day, which is rather provoking during
the festive season. Bee-keepers, however,
should keep smiling ; they will benefit later
on by what seems a too plenteous supply at
present. Plenty of rain in winter is both
advantageous and essential to the soil, as it
exuses abundance of plant-food to become

20

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 10, 1901.

available for plant life when required. A dry
winter invariably follows a poor summer as
regards vegetation, as these plant foods, being
in solid form, are not available although
abundant, so we should be pleased rather than
despise this daily wet weather, as it all helps
towards a prosperous season next year, which
I wish all bee-keepers. — C. Gould.

Ballindalloch, Banffshire, January 2, 1901.
— I send a brief " Echo '' about the weather.
It has been the wettest autumn I ever
remember, and the last month has been the
windiest. Yet we have had no snow (a
shower does not count), and really no frost up
to date. My stocks went into winter quarters,
excellent as to numbers, with plenty of young
bees, and stores, on the whole, ample. Well,
there is that qualifying phrase, and many
colonies will have to be examined at an early
date, and candy will be at a premium if they
are to be pulled through in safety. Wishing
you a happy New Year, and that 1901 may
editorially be your best and most prosperous.
— D. M. M.

WEATHER REPORT.

Westbourne, Sussex.

Rainfall, 3-57 in.

Heaviest fall, "70 in.,
on 30th.

Rain fell on 27 days.

Above average, "83 in.

Maximum Tempera-
ture, 53°, on 5th.

Minimum Tempera-
ture, 25°, on 22nd.

Minimum on Grass,
20°, on 22nd.

Frosty Nights, 5.

Sunshine, 37 '4 hrs.

Brightest Day, 21st,
5 '5 hours.

WEATHER REPORT

For the Year 1900.

Rainfall, 29-69 in.

Heaviest fall, "93 in.
on January 6th.

Rain fell on 188 days
(av. 167).

Above average, *87
in.

Maximum Tempera-
ture, 83", on July
19 th.

Minimum Tempera-
ture, 18°, on Feb.
10th.

Minimum on Grass,
11°, on Feb. 10th.

Westbourne, Sussex.

December, 1900.
Sunless Days, 16.
Below average, 25

hours.
Mean Maximum,

47-1°.
Mean Minimum,37-5°.
Mean Temperature,

42-3°.
Above average, 4'7°.
Maximum Barometer,

30-62°, on 16th.
Minimum Barometer,

2897°, on 30th.

L. B. Birkett.

Frosty Nights, 69

(av. 76).
Sunshine, 1,789 '4 hrs.
Brightest Day, July

18th, 15'5 hrs.
Sunless Days, 69 (av,

59).
Below av., 77 6 hrs.
Mean Temperature,
47-7°, (below av. 0.2°)
Maximum Barometer,

30-75°, onMar.l3th.
Minimum Barometer,

28-43°, on Feb.

19th.
L. B. Birkett.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur-
chased, or replies giving such information, can only be
inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters,
queries, ayd replies is meant for the general good of bee-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

J. M. C. (Dumfries). — Lantern Slides on the
Natural History of the Honey Bee. — There
are no lantern slides obtainable taken from
the illustrations in Mr. Cowan's work on
the " Honey Bee.'' We never heard of the
firm of Riley Bros., Bradford, as " loaning ''
bee-slides, and have no idea what their
slides are like. The B.B.K.A. have two
sets of slides that may be hired on applica-
tion to the Secretary, Mr. E. H. Young, 12,
Hanover-square, London.

L. Statner (Belgium). — Mr. F. R. Cheshire
died over six years ago, viz., on Sepember 16,
1894.

R. Casson (Darlington). — Disinfecting Hives.
— It i is very refreshing to find one — like
yourself — so anxious to make assurance
doubly sure in matters connected with foul
brood. But after " scraping and boiling
frames, and scorching the hive inside with a
painter's spirit-lamp," a solution of salicylic
acid is useless for ensuring greater safety.
If anything further is done, we should
simply burn the frames, but only in a very
bad case.

"Black House" (Edmondsley).— -Disinfect-
ing Hives. — Without asking for the opinions
of others on the subject, we have no hesita-
tion in assuring our correspondent that if a
suspected hive is carefully gone over with a
" painter's spirit-lamp," applying the flame
to every crack and crevice until the wood
becomes scorched, it will effectually destroy
every trace of foul brood. The spores are
what cause a recrudescence of the disease,
and these cannot stand the application of
fire.

A. E. (Ashby-de-la-Zouch). — Honey Sample.
— Your jar was broken in post through in-
sufficient protection in packing. Enough
honey, however, was left to enable us to say
it is rapidly fermenting ; and the tiny specks
you suppose to be pollen-grains are only
minute air bubbles caused by fermentation.
Before using it for food the honey will need
to be heated to boiling point ; then skimmed
while hot. Many thanks for your good
wishes.

"Weed" (Strabane, Ireland). — Honohda,
Newsivaper. — Our correspondent writes,
asking if we can give him with the name of
a newspaper printed in English published
in Honolulu, Hawaii ? Not being able to
afford the desired information ourselves we
will be obliged if any reader can help us.

Jan. 17, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

21

Editorial $jrtfc«8, &t.

THE B.B.K.A. APIARY.

AN APPEAL TO APPLIANCE DEALERS.

It will be remembered that a letter, headed
as above, appeared in our issue of the 3rd inst.,
signed by a member of the Council of the
B.B.K.A.

In response to Mr. Weston's appeal, we are
very pleased to hear that several leading hive
manufacturers have offered to present a com-
plete hive to the Council to replace the rather
dilapidated ones in which the bees belonging.
to the Association are at present housed.
This is satisfactory so far as it goes, but we
deem it advisable to give farther prominence
here to the appeal, fearing that some at least
of our hive makers have overlooked Mr.
Weston's letter on page 2. If it be true that
five or six hives have been promised, we
venture to think that no difficulty will be
found in getting all that are needed, and that
a dozen can be usefully put into operation.
Apart from the philanthropic aspect of the
case, our hive makers are wide-awake business
men, and it would be difficult to imagine a
better way of bringing to notice the good
points of hives of various types and makes,
shown in juxtaposition and in full operation.

We therefore join with our colleagues on the
B.B.K.A. Council in soliciting the co-opera-
tion of all hive makers, with the view of
making the Association apiary at Swanley
worthy of the parent body and of the bee
appliance industry of the kingdom, so that
visitors, native and foreign, may gain know-
ledge by seeing good British-made hives in full
working order.

While writing on matters connected with
the B.B.K.A., we may also add a timely word
by way of reminding readers who are
interested (and what bee-keeper is not inte-
rested) in the proposed " Bee-Keepers' Defence
Fund,'' that the secretary will be glad to
receive names of intending donors to the fund,
because it will tend to facilitate the labours of
the sub- committee, to whom the matter is to
be entrusted if the amount likely to.be avail-
able is in some measure indicated beforehand.
All sums promised will be duly acknowledged
in our pages.

HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the United
Kingdom during the month of December,
1900, was £1,396. — From a return furnished
to the British Bee Journal by the Statistical
Office, H.M. Customs.

^rmpUtut

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

Communications relating to the literary department,
reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for Review, fyc, must be addressed only to "The
Editors of the ' British Bee Journal,' 17, KingWilliam-
street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi-
cations relating to Advertisements, tlfc., must be addressed
to "The Manager, 'British Bee Journal' Office, 17,
King William-street, Strand, London, W.C."

%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents,
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

SIZE OF SECTIONS.

CAN THE PRESENT SIZE BE IMPROVED UPON 1

[4206.] I am pleased to see Mr. Wm.
Woodley, in his " Notes by the Way "
(page 11), stand up for the present section,
and the more so because he may be considered
— from his past successes — a worthy champion
for it. I will, however, try my utmost to
dislodge him, if possible, from any line of
defence he may take up.

Now, first, he asks whether I intend the
narrow sections to be worked with or without
dividers ? I reply (a) they could be worked
with dividers attached to frames ; so that, being-
narrower, they would be completed quicker ;
and, being hung, they would have the advan-
tage of " W.B.C." frames, the chief of which
is, I suppose, that the sections in the corners
of the box, owing to the warmth of clustering
bees, are more likely to be completed.

Or (b) dividers could be made up of slat?,
about which Mr. Root says:— "We have
no hesitation in recommending these in
preference to the solid separator." Mr. Crane,
an extensive bee-keeper in America, has used
large numbers of these with his old bee-way
sections, and is of opinion that they give him
better filled boxes. As in the case of " fences "
the bees have free communication back and
front, and if there is anything in this inter-
communication idea the slat separator gives it.

Or (c) without dividers. Thus the best
results would be secured by those who could
devote a little time and skill. The key to
the position would be gained by a careful
reconnaissance in order to find out how large
a super any colony could fairly occupy. If
the force was strong enough to work out all
the sections simultaneously, separators would
not be necessary. We should get some fair
sections even from weaker stocks by narrowing
the brood-chamber and regulating, by means of
blocks, the super-space.

Next, Mr. Woodley thinks that " shallow-
frames are taken to more readily than the
ordinary section - rack, because the former
generally contain ready-built combs and have

22

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 17, 1901.

no dividers." I reply, the spacing of combs
is another reason, and the strongest. Just as
the bees are depressed when given too large a
super, so they are also dispirited when the
foundations or worked-out combs are far apart.
Any who doubt this can easily prove it by
giving three colonies of about equal strength
three similar boxes — the first containing ten
frames ; second, eight frames, both fitted with
weed foundation ; and the third with six or
seven worked-out frames. With me the first
has generally outstripped the others in rapidity
of work as well as evenness of sealing. The
last would have the chance of surpassing only
in a hot, dry season, because then the nectar
is thicker, and less time is lost in the process
of ripening.

Again, Mr. Woodley speaks of being " com-
pelled to use dividers in order to maintain the
present high standard of bee-work.'' On the
other hand, I contend that with or without
dividers, but with a narrower section, we can
attain to a higher standard than the present.
But, perhaps, he will be so good as to tell us
what he means by the " present high standard "
— to what does it apply 1 How much does it
embrace ?

Taking the widest survey, I see a very low
standard in the tens of thousands incompleted
sections which have to be extracted or broken
up. If he refers to those placed on the
market, well, generally, they are a very mixed
lot ; some with tarnished combs (not sealing
only) and soiled wood, worked out, no doubt, a
season or two previously, and not carefully
kept since ; others in all stages of completion,
and the remaining half which we will admit
are fairly presentable. As to a "standard" the
salesman knows not how to fix it ; and if he is
a grocer he is at his wits' end in pricing the
honey his customers would exchange for
goods. But probably Mr. Woodley alludes
to the exhibits at shows. I would
rather call them the exception than the
standard of British honey. If so, let us
examine them. Out of every hundred sections
exhibited, very few are really perfect. In
most the centre is nicely sealed, but many
cells adjoining the wood are open if they do
not contain thin honey. But to talk of " the
present high standard," with these only in our
view, seems as reasonable as for a traveller to
describe a country (say East Africa) as glorious
because he had admired a few hills here and
there tipped .with gold ! I think the vast
majority of bee-keepers will agree with me
that it would be a great gain if we could, by
some method or other, have a larger propor-
tion of sections completed — I mean, sealed to
the very edge — even if the surface of some was
not quite so even as at present. The middle-
man would appreciate the boon of handling
fewer leaky, messy sections ; and the fixing of
the commercial standard of honey- comb would
then become practicable. — Richard W. Lamb,
Burton Pidsea Rectory, January 1 2.
(To be continued.)

BEE-KEEPING IN NATAL.

THE SEASONS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

[4207.] Spring. — It is difficult for any one in
this country, especially after a summer like that
of 1900, to realise how farmers in Natal look
forward to the " coming of the rain,'' and not
the farmers alone, for even the townspeople
live in the country, and every house has a
garden, and often an orchard, of its own. It
is no slight shower that comes to soften the
soil, baked hard as concrete by the drought,
but a three days' welcome downpour. In
September the grass, burned off at the end
of the dry season, comes up again a
bright rich green, starred with lilac daisies
and dotted here and there with red
fire lilies. Within recent years hundreds
of ffuit trees have been planted around
Durban, and the orchards are now a
wilderness of blossom in the spring. The
mango tree3 are first to flower, and every-
where the warm colouring of the new leaves
are in deep contrast with the fairy green
of the citrous trees. In the bush, too, Nature
awakens to newness of life. The birds,
thinking of mates, call to each other in the
clumps of short, twisted, flat-crowned trees
that dot the slopes. The frogs croak in the
marsh as though the world was theirs, and
theirs alone ; the crickets whirr almost as
loudly in the drier grass. It is a time of rapid
growth. Cycads, palms, and bamboos grow
amazingly ; many of the weeds lengthen a foot
in a single night. Jack the Beanstalk is no
fairy tale, and the Kaffir legend of a little
people who live buried in the green world
becomes literally true.

Summer. — Each successive rain brings the
summer nearer. Day after day there is the
same cloudless sky, the same heat haze resting
on the hills. The orange trees look their love-
liest, decked in a bridal veil of white, and the
gardens are a blaze of colour. There are rare
feasts of honey for the bees and other insect
guests. All through the summer there is the
ceaseless hum of insect life ; strange glow-
worms, tiny beetles, many-coloured grass-
hoppers delight the collector. It is no mere
metaphor to speak of " the living earth."
The soil teems with life, all manner of creep-
ing, crawling, and flying things, to the
delight of the naturalist perhaps, but often
to the vexation of the farmer. He may agree
with the poet that "the grasshopper is the
only merry thing in a world of sorrowing ; "
but when it rejoices at the expense of his
cabbages, he can scarcely be expected to join
in its mirth ! Summer comes with a rush and
brings with it the task of weeding. The work
goes on in the blazing heat from sunrise to
sunset, with only an occasional chase after a
wild cat or iguana to break the monotony.
The appearance of a snake causes instant
excitement. Tools are instantly dropped,
the natives rush for their sticks, shouting the
while, the dogs are soon barking at their heels,

Jan.. 17, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

23

and, thus alarmed, all hasten to the scene of
danger. "Leta umuto, boy!" exclaims the
farmer, and the medicine is brought. The
sufferer is quickly doctored and lynch law
dealt out to the snake, be it umhlangwana,
green mamba, or deadly puff-adder.

Autumn. — Christmas is midsummer. On
the c.oast the amatingulu hedges are laden
with white blossom as though it had been
snow. A few weeks later bright red berries
— the strawberries of Natal — begin to peep
from amoDg the green, grapes and granadillas
grow purple in the shade, pine-apples yellow
in the sun. The earth yields forth fruit
abundantly. Citrous trees of all kinds grow
and flourish, oranges, naartjes, lemons, and
pompelmouse. There are mangoes and
loquats, papaws and guavas in variety.
Succulent fruits, such as pine-apples and
bananas, predominate on the coast ; while
stone fruits, such as peaches, plums, and
apricots, are almost exclusively confined to up-
country districts.

But in a country where flowers and fruit
grow well, so also do weeds. The cultivated
patch is invariably surrounded by uncleared
bush — a tangled web of greenery. From
thence the birds carry the seed, and, given
space in which to grow, the soil proves only
too congenial. From the long stretches of
waving grass-land seeds float gaily on the
wind into the cleared spaces. Wild asparagus,
cotton grasses, and weeds of all kinds spring
up and flourish, while burrs and black-jacks
work a cunning embroidery on the fleece of
any animal foolish enough to venture among
them.

Winter. — Up-country the willow trees are
bare, the wind is chill, and the people of
Maritzburg boast of seeing snow ! On the
coast, however, no cruel winds, no biting
frosts come to with and scatter the leaves.
The days are cool, clear, and full of sunshine.
Here and there a flowering shrub may be
suggestive of autumn colouring, but as most
of the trees are evergreens, the coast lands
even during the dry season wear a summer
aspect. The bougainvillea drapes the trees in
blossom, and the red leaves of the poinsettia are
bright as the petals of many flowers. The
lilies in their bulbs, the aloes in their leaves,
the cactus and euphorbia plants in their leafy
stems have laid up a water supply against the
long dry season, when for months the drought
binds the ground as hard as any frost and life
in the green world is at its lowest ebb. The
swallows have gone and the mosquitoes
perished. No longer in the gathering dusk do
the fire-flies flit around the orange trees, though
a solitary cricket may still whirr at the
approach of night.

Thus in one continuous round of beauty
the seasons pass from one to another, and so
quickly that ere the berries have fallen the
trees are in blossom again. Here the farmer
sees Nature in her mildest mood. But what
of locusts, rinderpest, and drought? These,

too, mu3t be taken into account, and each
would require a column to itself.

At the same time, "the enterprise upon
which depends the future of the people of the
Colony," to quote the words of the late
Premier, " is in connection with the soil." It
is not townspeople, who for generations, per-
haps, have been estranged from mother earth,
and have inherited an aversion to contact
with the soil, that can be expected to make
successful colonists, but country people who
are already i familiar with the fundamental
facts of life, and are content with the quiet
simple life the country affords. — M. R.
Thomhill, Bellair, Natal, South Africa.

[The above interesting letter is kindly
supplemented by a promise to send us some
particulars about bee-keeping in South Africa,
with photos. We need hardly say how
welcome any further news will be to ourselves
and readers. — Eds.]

M. NICHOLAS SCHAWROFF

AT THE "MODEL APIARY," HOLME.

[4208.] It affords me much pleasure to
comply with the request of our Editors, made
some time ago, for a few particulars regarding
the day spent by the above-named gentleman
at the " Model Apiary."

From time to time many strangers to Holme
and to myself have been met by me at our
railway station, but never before did I so
easily recognise my visitor at first sight, and
from the moment of our handshake I felt my
immediately favourable impression gain in
volume, and more than once I wished some
others of " the craft '' had accompanied our
distinguished Russian friend on the occasion.

Although so late in the year the day was
delightfully fine, "Old Sol'' giving to our
lanes, fields, and woodlands a brightness not
often got in November days, causing my com-
panion to remark in approval of the surround-
ing scenery. Soon we reached the hive
where my " best queen " presides, and contrary
to bee custom with regard to strangers, the
door was opened wide to welcome him in.

Having divested himself of his camera
and accessories, we soon found our way
to the wax and foundation storeroom. M.
Schawroff's main desire at this point was
to see beeswax transformed into sheeted
wax, and accordingly we passed into the
adjoining room, which contains the
old - style smelting and dipping tanks,
together with the new smelting, sheeting,
favossing, cutting off, and packing machinery.
All being in readiness the engine belting was
run on and the machinery put in motion.

Lumps of beeswax in the steam-tubed
smelting trays were soon liquefied and
streamed forth into the pan beneath the
" sheeter," and the cylinder of the latter as
quickly took up the liquid wax and carried
it over into a pressure-chamber. Thus, in a

24.

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 17, 1901.

few seconds, the wax, which was molten and
very hot on one side of the machine, was
coming forth on the opposite side, a perfect
sheet of cool wax, a strip of which was cut off
and handed to our visitor for inspection.

M. Schawroff was not long in realising its
qualities as to cleanliness and texture, while
at the same time testing it3 toughness. Thus,
by a single practical operation it was plainly
demonstrated that beeswax could be put into
the be3t possible form for the bee and bee-
master's ultimate U3es. The visitor's admira-
tion of the process was visible in his face.
" Beautiful ! '' was his exclamation, as we
took the sheeted wax to the favossing mill,
where it was impressed with worker cells, cut
off, and packed at one operation. A parcel of
standard size brood foundation.

Before leaving thi3 department the
operations of sterilising and clarifying were
explained, and as mementoes samples were
taken of the various kinds of beeswax on
hand from many parts of the world, including
British beeswax, also of sheeted wax, and pieces
of the several sorts of British " weed '' comb-
foundation made at Holme.

We next passed into the engine-room, where
our petroleum engine was at work, and ex-
plained how 11 h.p. was got at a cost
of less than 3d. per hour. The engine-
builder's name and address were carefully
taken by M. Schawroff— for future use.

In the joiners' workshop, hives in various
stages of construction were inspected, along
with pieces of worked-wood for frames, sec-
tions, racks, &c, and each machine in the shed
hai its purposes explained by request.

The boiler and steam-engine house, with its
many belongings, were also inspected and
commented upon.

Along the route to " The Model Apiary "
the cattle and poultry came under notice,
and when the hives came into view the camera
was wanted, fetched, and the apiary photo-
graphed.

The multitudinous belongings of the apiary
were carefully examined, and the queen-rear-
ing implements, nucleus hive, and manipulating
house were queried upon, while the charac-
teristics of the different varieties of bees, as
experimented with here at Holme, were
thoroughly gone into.

Next to come in for notice were the
herbaceous plants in the borders, rose3, fruit
and other trees. Here my limited botanical
knowledge paled into nothingness in the
presence of such a master on these subjects as
M. Schawroff. How I wished I was Mr.
Cowan, if only for one quarter of an hour, just
to get a little more even with our Russian
friend !

However, the situation was soon changed, my
visitor asking me to sample for him some bees
into a glass vial, the stopper of which con-
verted the bottle into a kind of lethal-chamber.
Altogether I have got a good deal to think
over from my visitor's varied knowledge in the

interval between now and the visit I may
possibly make, in response to M. Schawroff's
invitation, to see his home in Caucasia Mean-
time I am promised a few Caucasian queens,
all being well, in 1901.

During the discussion of our modest mid-
day meal, mainly consisting of a " Holme "-
grown fowl, M. Schawroff showed his keen
interest in everything that came unde'r his
notice when he observed, "No such large
chickens in Caucasia ! ''

My good wife, I found, was also able to
get her memory refreshed about the several
towfls and parts of Russia she lived in some
twenty years ago.

The repast over, M. Schawroff (kodak in
hand) and myself explored our village for the
purpose of securing some snap-shots of such
bits of scenery as caught his fancy. In this
way a " picture " was got of a farmhouse and
the adjoining foliage, which was observed
clinging to and hanging from some
towering elm trees. Another " bit " he
took was the village main road, including
my own home and the characteristic cottage
homes studding tho wayside ; the church
(interior and exterior views) ; the village
schools with school-children in the foreground
— " the dear little ones," as he called them,
coming for a great share of our friend's atten-
tion. "These pictures," he said, "will call
back to my mind so much of Holme, which
otherwise I should not remember."

The little time left was occupied with a look
round the fruit garden, greenhouse, and my
incubator and poultry - rearing apparatus.
Then came the harne3sing-up for the ride
back to the station ; the return journey being
occupied in chatting on religious, social, and
political questions. In each of these M.
Schawroff is distinctly broad-minded, and on
parting with him I felt that the world would
be all the better for more men such as he.
With more than one hearty hand-grip and
a final good-bye, our friend was off by the
4 p.m. train to London, leaving behind him
only memories of his visit to our village
home. — John H. Howard, Holme.

(Correspondence continued on page 26.)

HOMES OP THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

Judging by the photo of Mr. Edwards's
apiary on next page, it would not occur to
any one that the hives seen were made from
" used boxes " by an amateur joiner ; yet it is
so ; and the "notes" sent to go along with
the picture in print will also be found useful
in other ways to readers ; we therefore add
nothing to them. Mr. Edwards writes : —

" In reply to your request for a few • notes '
on my bee experiences, I beg to say my apiary is
situated at the foot of Llit Hill (the highest hill
in Cornwall, and about half a mile distant from

Jan. 17, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

25

my house). Being a breeder of prize fowls, as
well as a bee-keeper, I have the hives located
in the ' runs ' where the birds are kept', and I
have reared many a winner at our big shows.
I find the bees do not interfere with the grown
up fowls in the least, but I cannot rear
chickens in the runs where the hives stand, as
the bees sting them, and they die. I have
therefore to devote the other end of the field
of about four acres to the latter purpose.

"I began bee-keeping in 1895, after visiting
a local show, where honey was staged and a
demonstration given in the bee-tent. My
interest being aroused, I started the following
autumn by purchasing two stocks in straw
I next offered to exchange some

swarm in the second-hand hive, and, fearing
foul brood, I cut out a piece of comb and sent
it to the B.B.J, office, where it was declared
to be foul brood (as I thought). I treated the
stock as instructed in ' Guide Book,' driving
the bees out and confining them in a box for
twenty-four hours. I then burnt all the
frames and quilts, thoroughly cleaned the
hive and painted it with carbolic acid, and
put the bees back on full sheets of foundation.
All went on well for a time, but at the end
of the year the stock was as bad as ever, and I
had six other stocks affected. I therefore
destroyed the first affected stock, and burnt
the hive. I attribute the mischief entirely to
buying and using second-hand hives. The other

MR. JOHN KDWARDS'S APIARY, CALL1NGT0N, CORNWALL.

fowls for hives, by advertisement in B.B.J.,
and in this way got three (second-hand
ones). I then bought the 'Guide Book1
(Cowan's), and worked according to the
instructions given therein, and with the
assistance of Mr. Jno. Brown, Polyphant,
expert of the Cornwall B.K.A., and Dr. H.
Daveys, jun., Callington, a bee-keeper of
experience, I was put in a fair way of getting
on. The following year I had my first swarm,
which issued in May, and was established in
one of frame-hives already mentioned. I got
no surplus honey that year, but increased my
stock to eight colonies with swarms and
driven bees. In the following spring I
suspected something was wrong with the May

hives that became affected I cleaned out, and
painted the insides with three coat3 of white
lead paint. I have not had a trace of disease
in them since, but I am very careful. I always
use naphthaline in the hives every spring
before supers are put on, and again after the
supers come off. All section-racks and
appliances are placed in a large box at the
end of season, and well disinfected with burn-
ing brimstone. I also paste paper over all the
joints of the box, when using, to make it air-
tight. When feeding the bees I invariably
use naphthol beta in all syrup and candy.

" I find it such a real pleasure to one's ordi-
nary pursuits to get among the bees for an
hour or two that I would recommend all

•26

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 17, 1901.

business men to keep a few hives for pleasure
and profit. For myself, I may add that being
a baker and grocer, I go some rather long
rounds among customers with horse and trap,
and am at all times glad to give assistance
and instruction to those who keep bees. I
can get as many driven bees as I like for
the trouble of ' driving.'

"I am wintering twenty-two colonies, and
twenty of them headed by queens bred in
1900. I therefore expect a good time next
summer, if weather is favourable. The hive
that your humble servant is seen examining in
photo gave me the sections that won first
prize and bronze medal at our Truro show last
season. All the hives seen were made by
myself out of used boxes, and I secured first
prize for best hive made by an amateur at our
annual show (it was made out of two ' Quaker
Oats ' boxes). Besides being a successful
exhibitor at our local shows with honey and
wax I have won a good many first prizes, and
I am specially proud in being the first (and
only) exhibitor in Cornwall who has won a
first for honey or wax at the Dairy Show. We
get our main crop of honey here from white
clover and blackberry blossom, along with a
little honey gathered from heather. I get my
B.J. every week, and recommend all bee-
keepers to do likewise."

CORRESPONDENCE.

(Continued from page 24.)

BEE-KEEPING IN SCHOOLS.

[4209.] Keplying to our friend Mr. Till
(4,201, page 17), I fear that the £40 quadrupled,
with the tempting fair and fertile fields of
Kent and the bonnie Scotch lassies thrown in,
would scarcely tempt me to leave my heather
hills. If I were there, in the Garden of Eng-
land, -I might still have " My heart in the
Highlands,'' and feel a longing for the " bloom
of my own native heather." As for the tender
and tempting allurement, I can sing, " I hae a
wife o' my ain.''

Surely Mr. Till speaks from incomplete data
when he says " Scotch salaries are generally
small." Of course we would all like them
larger, but in the county where I live they
will average over ,£'150 a year with a house.
Very few are under £130 and many exceed
.£200. Can better be said of Kent ? If so,
tell him to send some of the " plums " in the
way of F. E. I. S., January 14.

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF BEE-KEEPING.

[4210.] I beg to be allowed to make some
remarks on the letter of your correspondent,
"South Devon Enthusiast,'' in B.B.J, of
December 20 (4176, page 500), with regard to
" Bibliography of Bee-keeping."

The list of bee books enumerated in John
Milton's "Practical Bee-keeper," 1843, page
141-147, is incomplete and useless for biblio-

graphers, as it only contains the year of publi-
cation and names of the authors — 561 in all.
A more complete list, as to their titles, is con-
tained in the Rev. W. C. Cotton's " My Bee
Book," 1842. Unfortunately, however, only
125 works on bees are therein enumerated.

With regard to the bibliography of bees,
Mr. C. N. Abbott, then editor, published in
the British Bee Journal from June, 1877, to
January, 1878, I am sorry to say I cannot
agree with your correspondent when he says
that this is the most complete list yet pub-
lished of bee-writers and their work, both
English and foreign. The lists referred to
only contain in all the titles of about 776
books. Very unfortunately, as it happened,
the conclusion of this list never appeared,
owing to a fire which broke out in the printing
office of the British Bee Journal on
January 24, 1878, which completely destroyed
all it contained.

To my knowledge, the most complete cata-
logue of bee literature of ancient and modern
times is the " Elenchus Librorum de Apium
Cultura. Bibliografia Universale de Apicul-
tura, raccolta per Augusto de Keller, Diret-
tore del 1° Museo Apistico Internazionale in
Milano. Milano : Ulrico Hoepli, Librajo-
Editore. 1881." 222 pages.

In this famous catalogue, about 2,300
works, pamphlets, &c, on bees are enumerated
in their original language, viz. : English,
German, French, Latin, Italian, Dutch,
Spanish, Bohemian, Hungarian, Swedish,
Norwegian, Danish, &c. — E. Drory, 18,
Gitschiner Strasse, Berlin, January 2, 1901.

THE " VITIATED PUBLIC TASTE."

[4211.] With reference to Mr. A. G. Leigh's
letter (4198, January 10), I may quote an in-
stance of the " vitiated public taste " as regards
honey which came under my notice a short
time ago. I must premise by saying that I
keep bees primarily as a hobby — and what a
fascinating hobby it is ! Secondarily, I do it
for a charity ; that is to say, all the proceeds
derived from the sale of honey, after paying
expenses, are devoted to a special charity I am
interested in. One day last November a
neighbour was calling upon my wife, and I
suppose the subject of " bees " had been men-
tioned, for when I came in my wife playfully
remarked to me before the visitor, " You
mustn't offer Mrs. any of our honey, be-
cause she can get it at half the price you ask ''
(I may say I sell it at Is. a section). I replied
that I should be very sorry to eat any " honey "
which was on the market at 6d. a section, and
I explained why. The upshot of our chat was
' that the friend proposed to send me one of her
sections, and I promised one of mine in
exchange.

The " honey '' in the section she sent was
very pale, very thin, and very tasteless. When
I next met our friend she told me [that " her
children liked my honey, but that she and her

Jan. 17, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

27

husband both thought it rather strong.'' The
youngsters, I think, showed, as they usually
do, the true instinct for discerning between
good and evil.

In the last paragraph of Mr. Leigh's letter
he says, " by the month of October most pure
honey is solid." Surely this is rather too
sweeping a statement, is it not 1 I have
several sections of my last year's harvest left,
and the honey is still liquid. It is true they
are stored in a cupboard in a fairly warm
room, but I take it that most people do the
same with their honey. — G. S. N., Surrey,
January 11.

PREVENTING SWARMING.

[4212. J Referring to Mr. A. H. Miller's
remarks in B.B.J, of December 20 (page 490),
if he would kindly give particulars of his
method of preventing swarming, it would cer-
tainly be of interest to many — if not all — of
your readers. Can you induce him to give
them ? — F. W. Roden, Merriott, Somerset.

[We will invite Mr. Miller's attention to the
above. — Eds.]

HONOLULU NEWSPAPERS.

[4213.] For the information of your corre-
spondent " Weed " (Strabane, Ireland), who
writes on page 20, 1 know three newspapers,
printed in English and published in Honolulu.
The names of these are — the Semi- Weekly
Star, the Hawaiian Gazette, and the Pacific
Commercial Advertiser. — J. Anderson, Sel-
kirk, N.B., January 10.

FUGITIVE PAPERS

ON ANCIENT BEE -BOOKS.

No. 10. — Huber.

[4214.] The last book I can at present
notice is that of the great Huber, and he
might well stand as the last of the ancients
or the first of the moderns, for with him we
pass into a new atmosphere, highly charged
with delicate experiments, and full of astound-
ing discoveries. The 110 years which have
passed since he was at work have verified most
of his discoveries, and have shown what a
marvellously patient investigator he was.

Yet when we remember that he revolu-
tionised many of the ideas of the men of his
time, we can hardly wonder that some (Huish,
for example, writing in 1817) spoke of his
" pretended discoveries,'' and considered that
he drew on his imagination for many of his
facts. He was born at Geneva in 1750, and
one of the most striking facts about his labours
is that having become blind, he had to
depend largely on the observations of his
assistant, Burnens, who worked under his
directions, and from whose reports he reasoned

accurately and thought out difficult problems
and by further experiments solved them.

Huber's book is divided into two part?, the
former being a series of letters to the
celebrated naturalist, M. Bonnet, who died in
1793. The letters are written from 1789 to
1791. The second part of the book was
written some years later. The letters contain
reports of a long series of truly fascinating
experiments as to the fertilisation of the
queen-bee, the formation of swarms, the
existence of fertile workers, and many other
subjects too long for detailed report in such a
paper as this. Schirach had by repeated
experiments undermined the opinion of
Swammerdam and Reaumur that worker-bees
were not only sterile but neuter.

He had shown that bees can " procure a
queen for themselves provided they have
comb containing larvce three days old in the
common cells.'' Huber says " views so adverse
to those generally entertained were received
with enthusiasm on the one hand and with
distrust on the other." He confirmed these
views by experiments which could leave no
room for doubt. He found out that the queen-
bee left the hive on her wedding flight and
thus settled a question which has baffled all
his predecessors. Riem had suspected the
existence of fertile workers. In solving out
this question Burnens actually handled every
bee in a hive ; "eleven days were employed
on it, and during all that time he scarcely
allowed himself any relaxation but what the
relief of his eyes required." Before Huber's time
it had been thought that a young queen
headed a swarm. Reaumur suspected that old
queens sometimes did this ; Huber proved that
they always did so. Very important is his
discovery as to the origin of wax. He says
" it was the general opinion that pollen was
converted into wax, and this was "scrupu-
lously observed by Reaumur, Maraldi, and
other learned men," but is this substance
truly the elementary principle of wax %
Reaumur entertains some hesitation regarding
it from the great difference between the pollen
and the wax ; however, he inclined to believe
that the former, by receiving some peculiar
elaboration by the bees, was converted into
real wax in the stomach, and disgorged under
the appearance of a kind of paste.'' Schirach
discovered that wax was not discharged at the
mouth, but came from the rings of the abdomen.
John Hunter had noticed the formation of the
wax scales, and Huber, by depriving swarms
of access to pollen and feeding some on honey
and others on sugar, conclusively proved that
here was the substance from which wax was
made. He also demonstrated that brood
could not be reared without pollen, the leaf or
book hive which he invented being better for
observation than any used before his time.

Before concluding this article I should like,
Sir, with your permission, to express my
thanks to several correspondents who, like
myself, are interested in the literature of beea

28

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 17, 1901.

for their references to lists of books in the
early copies of the Journal and elsewhere.
The whole subject is, I think, worthy of atten-
tion, if only as showing the evolution of
knowledge through difficult stages and the
debt which we owe to the great masters of our
craft in days gone by for their painstaking
researches. — A. A. Headley, Alresford
Rectory, Hants, January 5, 1901.

RAINFALL IN 1900.

[At Buttermere,

Wiltshire,

847 ft.' above sea-

level.]

Number

Month.

Total
Depth

Greatest Fall in
Twenty-four Hours.

of days on

which -01

or more

fell.

Inches.

Depth.

Date.

January ..

. 3 51

.... 0-96
snow

. . . . 6th

.... 20

February . .

. 4-40

... .. 0-70
snow

.... 2nd

.... IS

. 1-98

.... 0-68

.... 27th

.... 11

. 1-78

.... 0-52

3rd

.... 14

. 1-59

.... 0-42

.... 22nd

.... U

. 2-65

0-38

. . . . 22nd

.... 16

July

.. 1-22

.... 0-36

.... 31st

.... 8

. 3-42

.-. . . 0-76

. . . . 23rd

.... 15

September

. 0-63

.... 0-32

. . . . 30th

.... 6

October . .

. 2-80

0-51

. . . . 29th

.... 16

November

. 3 32

.... 0-72

. . . . 6th

.... 20

December

. 5-14

1-46

. . . . 30th

.... 25

Total.

. 32-44

180

Wm. Burkitt.

RAINFALL IN IRELAND— 1900.

[Observations taken at Enniskillen, 160 ft.
above sea-level.]

Month.

January
February .
March . . ,

April

May

June

July .....
August . . .
September .
October . . .
November
December .

Inches of
Rainfall.

3 70
3-04
0-61
2-67
2-61
3-57
3 '08
4-61
2-29
6-00
5-93
5-12

Number of days
on which '01 in.
or move rain fell.
26

Total

43-23 237

J. T. Abraham.

<f u-^ras and Uppity.

[2574.] How to Utilise Swarms where
Increase of iStocks is not Desired. — Anticipa-
ting an answer to the questions of D. P. H. in
B.J. of November 8 (4131, page 439) and
G. S. N. (on page 4 of last week's issue), I
shall be pleased to have your opinion on the
following :— Owing to a large number of my
hives becoming queenless through, as I think,
excessive feeding with medicated syrup (naph-
thol beta dissolved in best Scotch whisky),
I was obliged to increase my stocks by pur-

chasing a number of driven lots of bees. The
ages of the queens of the driven lots being un-
known, and as they are more likely to be aged
than otherwise, I purpose re-queening the
whole of the hives, giving to each a virgin
queen. Being desirous that there should be
no interval in breeding, as in the case of
swarmed hives, I wish to retain the services
of the old queens. How is this assistance to
be secured ? Bach of my hives consists
of two body-boxes of equal size clamped
together, both being used for breeding pur-
poses. I propose confining the old queen in
the upper box by excluder-zinc, and allowing
the lower one to contain the virgin queen until
the latter is fertilised, then remove the old
queen along with the excluder-zinc. The
question is, will the bees tolerate the presence
of both queens for the time being ? and, if so,
is there any risk of a hive moderately filled
with bees throwing off a swarm ? I may here
state, that before introducing the virgin
queens I intend taking the precautionary
measure of placing some covering between
the two boxes, for, say, twelve hours, so that
the bees in the lower half may feel the loss of
their queen. On this being observed the
virgin queen will be introduced. — John Hall,
High Blantyre, N.B., January 5.

Reply. — In carrying out so complex a bee-
operation as is conveyed in the above query
many things require to be considered and
several risks discounted. In the first place,
before a hive can be safely divided into two
colonies a very strong stock of bees and plenty
of brood will be required, but even with this
condition made safe the proposed mode of
procedure is not the best.

A few of the " risks " we have mentioned
may be enumerated as follows : — (1) Bees
deserting one part of the divided hive for the
other ; because if the brood is put in the
lower chamber while the queen is confined in
the upper one, the bees may desert the brood
to join the queen, or vice versa. In either
case mischief would result. (2) The risk of
the virgin queen passing up through the
excluder (as most virgins can do) and being
destroyed by the parent queen of the hive.
(3) The bees issuing as a swarm along with
the virgin queen when the latter left the hive
on her mating trip. This is very likely to
happen and so spoil the whole plan, for the
fact of covering the excluder for twelve hours
would not be certain to deceive the bees into
supposing their queen was lost.

Referring to our correspondent] attributing
the loss of his queens through " excessive
feeding with syrup medicated with naphthol
beta,'' we can answer for the naphthol beta not
causing death, but we feel hardly safe in taking
responsibility for " excessive " whisky drink-
ing, even though it be " best Scotch." Seriously,
though, we do not think the trouble can be in
any way attributed to medicated syrup, seeing
that the great majority of bee-keepers use it
and have no bad results.

Jan. 17, 1901. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

29

[2575] Earwigs about Hives. — Candy-
Feeding. — Will you kindly give me advice
under the following circumstances : — I
purchased four stocks of bees last October on
bar-frames, I think. They were evidently in
a neglected state, as I found earwigs in
two of the hives and wasps in another.
I took what honey they had in the supers
— still on when purchased — but there was
not much. I did not disturb the brood-
chambers at all, as I had no experience of bees
before, and consequently did not know how to
examine the frames. So I therefore do not
know what honey they have, but I gave them
about 2 lb. of syrup each, and then I put 1 lb.
of candy on each. Both syrup and candy
were made from the recipe in " Modern Bee-
keeping." I looked at them on January 3,
and I found the bees had taken all the
candy.'so I gave them some raw sugar. I
therefore ask :— 1. Are earwigs considered to
be enemies of bees ; if so, how am I to get rid
of them ? 2. Would the bees consume all
the food they had in store before they took
down the candy 1 3. Would raw sugar, as
sample, do for them as well as the candy ? —
Mid-Cheshire, Oreive, January 8.

Eeply. — 1. Earwigs, though by some
included among bee-enemies, can hardly be
regarded as such, seeing that they only
cluster about hive3 for warmth, shade, and
shelter. They are, however, not quite cleanly,
and about well-kept hives may be regarded as
a nuisance, but no actual harm to the bees
results from them. 2. No, the bees may not
use any stores from the combs while consuming
the candy. 3. The sample sent is not raw
sugar, but what is known as refined yellow
crystals. It is not at all suitable for giving to
bees except in syrup-form.

[2576.] Making an Observatory Hive. —
I am desirous of making a hive on the obser-
vatory principle, as I understand the ordinary
observatory hive is not a success out of doors,
owing to the cold nature of the glass. I shall
be glad if you will give me instructions as to
building a hive suitable for a room indoors,
with an outlet through a small aperture in the
window-frame. I therefore ask : — 1. Would
it be possible for me to make an ordinary size
brood -box, with standard frames, and the
super to consist of an ordinary glass frame,
containing say, four or six frames built on
the principle of the ordinary observatory
hive ? 2. Would the bees take to a super of
this kind ? I should be able to make it per-
fectly warm — being indoors in a small spare
room — and cover the glass portions with felt-
covered doors. 3. What width would this
super require to be ? 4. Will you please give
me the recipe for making candy, having
followed one and failed ? — A reply in your next
issue will oblige. — Anxious, Stafford,
January 11.

Reply. — The task of giving clear and full
" instructions for building '' an observatory

hive, such as is contemplated in above query,
is too formidable for our reply column, and
the same may be said of instructions for candy
making. We therefore briefly say in reply to
1. Yes, it is possible. 2 and 3. The bees
would not take well to such a super. 4. We
will send B.J. with full instructions for candy
making from this office on receipt of 2d. in
stamps. See reply to John Edwards (page 30).

BOTTLING HONEY.

In the first place, I aim to put up none but
first-class honey, weighing not less than 121b.
to the gallon, and the same kind year after
year. When 1 have to buy to supplement my
own crop in a poor year, I get honey of the
same kind as my own, or as nearly as I can,
so that consumers will get the same flavour
they are accustomed to. Instead of putting
up a large quantity at once, as some do, I put
up only as fast as needed for my trade. I use
six-gallon lard cans for storing my own crop ; and
when buying I get it in five-gallon square cans
when possible. For liquefying the storing cans
are placed in cans large enough to admit of
having three or four inches of water under-
neath and surrounding the honey. The lique-
fying tanks had better be made of copper, as
tin soon rusts out ; and if the tank gets rusty
the water will cause the honey-cans to rust too.
A wood or coal stove may be used in heating,
but it needs constant attention to keep the fire
just right ; I therefore use a gasoline stove for
the purpose, first heating the water boiling hot
on the kitchen range to save time. It is safe
to start with the water at the boiling point, as
the cold honey lowers the temperature at once.
The gasoline flame can be regulated so as to
keep it just hot enough. In fact, I have some-
times put the honey on to melt at bed time,
and left it melting all night, first lowering the
flame so that the water surrounding the honey
would not rise higher than 150 deg. Fahr,,
for it should be borne in mind that the tem-
perature will rise as the honey gets melted.
It is easy to ruin honey by getting it too hot,
especially honey of delicate flavour, like that
from white clover and all varieties that contain
pollen grains. Pure basswood honey, owing
mainly, I think, to the absence of pollen grains,
may be heated much hotter without damage.

While it is probably all right for an expert
to heat his hoaey to 190 deg., I think the
limit of 180 deg., or even 160deg., is much
safer to give out to the general public. I have
had clover honey that would not stand 190 deg.
without impairing the flavour, and, of course,
would be ruined if allowed to get much hotter ;
and for my part I see no need for heating so
near the danger-point. I think it best to melt
slowly, allowing, say, five or six hours for
clover and two or three hours more for bass-
wood, and not letting the temperature rise
above 150 deg. for clover or 160 deg. for bass-
wood, until it is thoroughly melted. Then the

r.o

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 17, 1901.

temperature should be raised about 20 deg.,
and held there an hour or so,-when the honey
is ready to put up. The tank I use in filling
bottles and tumblers holds about sixteen
gallons, or is large enough to hold either three
five-gallon square cans full or the contents of
two of my regular six-gallon storage-cans.

My clover and bassweod honey is always
light in colour, for, notwithstanding the heavy
expense of large apiaries, every hive is pro-
vided with a queen- excluding honey-board,
consequently, my extracting-combs are clean.
But in buying I often get honey which,
having been raised in dark coloured combs, is
darker than my own, though equal in body
and flavour. In this case I put in two or
more cans alternately, so as to equalise the
colour as well as the flavour.

My filling-tank is placed over a pan of
water, and the whole thing set on the step-
burner of my gasoline-stove, to keep the
honey hot during the process of putting up.
I used to dip out part of the honey from the
can in the melting-vat, and lift out the can
from the hot water and pour in the rest of the
honey. But the five-gallon square cans had to
be lifted out bodily by a slender ring at the
imminent risk of being scalded by the ring
breaking loose ; so I now use a glass siphon
to run out the honey into the filling-can. I
prefer to keep the honey up to 140 deg. or
more until it is sealed up in the glass jars or
tumblers.

I have never used wax in sealing up, and do
not think it necessary if packages can be made
air-tight without it. The main idea is to
cause a vacuum, as in canning fruit ; and to
aid in securing this the packages should bo
filled as full as convenient with the hot honey,
and there will still be a space left when cold,
the same as in canned fruit ; and the smaller
this space is the better, as the honey will then
remain more quiet, which is important.

It may be interesting for customers to invert
a jar of honey and watch the bubble of air
rise slowly to the surface, it may also be an
effective way of showing the body and general
attractiveness of the honey ; but the more it
is disturbed the sooner it will granulate. Just
imagine, if you can, how it would seem to
have honey put up by the nees in their waxen
cells in such a slipshod manner that it could
be slopped about from side to side or from
end to end ! And then remember that honey
rarely candies in the comb unless exposed to
a very low temperature.

The question has been asked, why it will
not do to bottle up honey cold ? I will
answer that by saying, if I were asked to
name the quickest way to make honey candy,
I would say, " Pour it cold from one dish to
another.'' Beside?, it would not stay in the
bottles, as there would be no vacuum ; and
when put in a warm store it would expand
and stream over the sides of the j ar.

I well remember putting up a dozen jars
f jr a grocer who would not wait to have it

heated, saying it would do just as well to put
it up cold. He never wanted any more like
that. The honey in every ghss ran over,
although not filled quite full ; and the worst
of it was, they never stopped running over.
He would wash the jars clean every morning,
yet the honey streamed down the sides before
noon, or as soon as it got warm in his store.

But to return to my process. I have never
used square bottles and corks because of feel-
ing that it would be an imposition on the
consumer to give him a comparatively worth-
less bottle with hi3 honey, when I could just
as well give him something that would be
useful for some other purpose. Formerly I
used jelly-glasses and pint "Mason" jars, but
lately I have got to using the No. 25 jars sold
by the A. I. Boot Company, and like them
best of all. They hold a full pound, and are
the most perfect self-sealing fruit-jar that I
have ever seen — have a smooth surface to stick
on labels, &c. The tie-over jelly-glasses are
much harder to secure against leakage, but it
can be done so that but few will leak by using
two or more thicknesses of paper, putting
smooth, tough waxed paper next the honey,
and some soft, spongy kind on top of that.-=-
Chalon Fowls, in Gleanings (American).

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers,

All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

K. Boyd (Armagh). — Buying Queens in
January. — We know of no one who has
queen-bees for sale at this season of the
year, nor would a queen travel safely by
post in frosty weather.

John Edwards (Callington). — Making an
Observatory Hive. — We are sorry the
number of Messrs. Cassell's paper, Work —
containing working drawings for making
an observatory hive — is out of print, because
without such it would be almost beyond
the power of an amateur joiner to make
one. The handiest kind of observatory
hive for taking to a local show is a single-
frame one, in which the bees may be kept
cool while confined for the day. To make
such you would need either to have a
pattern to go by, or work from the " cut "
shown in an appliance-maker's catalogue.
(See reply to " Anxious," page 29.)

P. B. GovfiTT (St. Germans, Cornwall). —
Portraits of Beelceefers. — We will think
over the matter, and probably print your
letter next week. Meantime, we are much
obliged for your suggestion, and will be
very pleased to have a photo of your apiary
for inclusion in " Homes of the Honey Bee."

Jan. 24, 1901. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

31

Deatb cf tbe (SUteen,

After a few days of anxious strain,
felt not only by her own people but by
the whole civilised world, the end has
come, our dearly loved and venerated
Queen having passed away gently and
peacefully, surrounded by her children
and grandchildren, on the evening of
Tuesday last.

Rarely has it fallen to the lot of a
single being to rightfully claim so large a
share of the affections of humankind
from the highest to lowliest as did the
good Queen now gone from among us.
It is also something to be very proud of,
that from the great Nations of the world
down to the smallest community or
assemblage of men, not a jarring note is
heard in the universal chorus of praise or
the sorrowing expressions of grief at the
loss of an influence for good that has
made itself felt the world over. And so,
while leaving history to record the life
of the Queen who has made her reign
glorious, it will, we hope, not be out of
place for us to express — on behalf of the
community or industry for whom it is our
privilege to speak — the sorrowing grief
of all our readers at the irreparable loss
we among the Queen's loyal and loving
subjects are called upon to bear, and our
heartfelt sympathy with the Royal
family whose loss is even greater than
our own.

It is difficult for us — simple folk for
the most part — to rightly estimate a
personality in which was embodied
such splendid gifts as shone out in
the whole life of Queen Victoria, and
we would rather regard her in the light
of the Mother of her people blessed with
an extreme kindliness of heart and a
keen sympathy for suffering and sorrow
whether felt in palace or cottage. This
is what secured for her "the affectionate
love of all and what constitutes our
claim in all its fulness for our late
Sovereign, the character of a good Queen
and a good woman. A bright example
of a noble and well-spent life which will
remain to all time for men and women
to follow, and it is good for the world at
large that God spared her for so long to
labour without ceasing at what best
befits us for following her " Home."

USEFUL HINTS.

Weather. — For many weeks past the
weather has been of every conceivable
kind other than such as is called season-
able. Of real winter, however, we have
so far had but the merest touch, conse-
quently if there be any truth in the
notion that "what we don't get of
winter now must come later on," there
may be wisdom in preparing all colonies
to endure hard frost before the flying
time for the bees comes. In any
case it will be a wise precaution to
leave nothing to chance, and if the occa-
sion offers on a warm day, when bees
are out on the wing for an airing, it
should be taken advantage of to supple-
ment any deficiency of stores by supply-
ing them at once with fresh made candy.
Bear in mind that they may take readily
to food given them during a warm time
while refusing to touch it when hard
frost prevails. There will be no necessity
for going over all hives in making such
an inspection as we suggest, nor need it
involve disturbance of the brood-nest,
seeing that stores can generally be
judged by the outer combs, and with-
out moving the centre frames at all.

Reliquefying Honey. — The article
headed " Bottling Honey," reprinted in
condensed form from Gleanings on page
29 last week — should serve to enlighten
British bee-keepers with regard to the
prejudice entertained, by some few,
against the practice of reliquefying
granulated honey by warming. We
know that all American and Colonial
bee-keepers melt honey, when solid,
without hesitation and as a regular
practice, but the writer of the article
referred to goes a step further and
actually warms his liquid honey before
bottling it, in order to secure certain
advantages not obtainable if the honey
is perfectly cold when jarred off. He
says (on page 29) : " The question has
been asked, why it will not do to
bottle up honey cold 1 I will answer
that by saying, if I were asked to name
the quickest way to make honey candy,
I would say, 'Pour it cold from one
dish to another.' Besides, it would not
stay in the bottles, as there would be
no vacuum; and when put in a warm
store it would expand and stream over
the sides of the jars."

Mr. Fowls then proceeds to relate a

32

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 24, 1901.

personal experience of his own — in
support of his contention that honey-
should never be " bottled" when cold —
which may be of service in removing a
frequent cause of complaint among our
own correspondents with regard to
" leaking " jars. Our main object, how-
ever, in referring to this reliquefying
question here is to invite readers to
exercise the same amount of care in
heating honey when preparing the pro-
duct for market as our American friend
does. They will only need to bear in mind
that boiling honey will ruin it for table
use, while it will endure a temperature
of 150 deg Fahr. with no appreciable
damage to its quality. But it must not
be forgotten thatjn the reliquefying pro-
cess the honey must be surrounded by
water below as well as on all four sides.
Heating honey by placing the vessel con-
taining it on a stove, or in an oven, spoils
it for table use.

American and Colonial bee-keeper3
cannot understand the objection to warm-
ing honey to reliquefy it after granula-
tion ; and from our personal knowledge
we can testify to its resulting in no
appreciable detriment to its quality. In
fact, we regard it with as little dis-
favour as we should the re-melting for
use of a can of frozen milk.

Bee-keeping in Distant Lands. —
At the present dull time of the year for
all that concerns the bees at home, we
are glad to have readers of the B.B.J. —
who are "British" bee-keepers, though
dwelling in distant lands — contributing,
from time to time, interesting items
about the bees. In this way we
have also had a few descriptions of
striking incidents connected with bee-
keeping in South Africa during war-
time, including Mr. Sewell's account of
the misfortunes of the little colony of
bee-men located on the Klip River, near
Ladysmith, whose bees' were "com-
mandeered " by — those " takers " of
everything portable — the Boers near
the beleaguered town. In the case of
another little apiary of frame-hives,
established on the now historical "Spion
Kop," the bees were "taken up"
on the usual Boer plan of thrusting
burning grass in at the entrance to
smother the bees prior to breaking up
the frames and carrying off the honey as
" loot " along with the owner's household

goods and farm implements. In a third
case it will be remembered we had some
graphic particulars of the mischance that
befell a full-sized observatory hive stand-
ing in a garden inside the town, and the
almost miraculous escape of its owner.
The hive and bees were "blown to
atoms " by a shell that burst close to ;
a fragment actually knocking a cup of tea
out of the owner's hand without doing
him any further injury. Our latest news
of South Africa is, happily, of a more
peaceful and pleasant kind, and the
extremely interesting letter on page 22
last week will, no doubt, be read with
pleasure by all.

" We are also forcibly reminded that
the upset caused by the turmoil of war
seems to be rapidly giving place to the
ways of peace, as evidenced by the fol-
lowing extract (kindly sent by a corre-
spondent) from a letter written by an
officer in Baden Powell's South African
Constabulary, now at Bloemfontein, who
writes : —

"Posts out here are very irregular;
but one thing that never fails to reach
me is the British Bee Journal, be I
at Bethlehem, or Kronstadt, Rustenberg,
Bloemfontein, or Pretoria, it finds me
out, and I am able to study the difficul-
ties and inane questions of would-be bee-
keepers, as also the unfailing patience
and courtesy of the editors."

Wmttyowtevitt

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

NOTES -BY THE WAY.

[4215.] The weather has been very change-
able here during the past fortnight ; we had
bitterly cold winds, several inches of snow,
and a like number of degrees of frost ; then a
remarkably sudden thaw, then a fine, warm,
sunny day or two (which gave the opportunity
for a grand cleansing flight), followed by dull,
wet, and windy days. As I write it has become
bright again, and to-day I noticed a few bees
on the wing, taking advantage of the oppor-
tunity to air themselves, and observed that
some were sipping the drop3 of water on the

Jan. 24, 1901. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

33

grass. This may indicate that the moisture
was required for moistening the candy, or it
may be that some forward stocks had started
breeding. The season up to Christmas, 1900,
was so very mild it may have induced the bees
to start breeding, as it in some instances mis-
led birds into nest-building and egg-laying.

I think we should be thankful to Mr. A. G.
Leigh for his letter on "Glucose," &c. (4198,
page 14). For myself, I may say that last
autumn I sold, a few dozen jars of honey to a
London firm, and they were kind enough to
write congratulating me on its purity, saying
they found it " free from glucose ! " Of
course, I wrote fully with regard to my honey
and its purity. The very idea that my honey
was suspected of being contaminated by any
admixture at all was a great surprise to me.

Clarifying Honey. — Readers of the B.B.J,
know that I have on more than one occasion
deprecated the clarifying process to which
honey is subjected in order to reach the " prize
standard" as interpreted by our "judges''
during the past few years. If honey is ex-
tracted from the comb and strained ever so
carefully, and allowed to stand a few days in
the stove-can or ripener, then put into bottles,
it will not have the ghost of a chance of first
honours on the show-bench, be the quality
ever so good ; it may possibly get an " H.C.,"
but no more. If any one asks why, I answer,
Simply because it has not been " clarified."
Should my assertion not be credited, I say,
Test it, if you do not believe my assertion, at
the next honey show. Fill two dozen jars
with identically the same honey, and make
two entries. Stage one lot in its pure, natural
condition, and clarify the other very carefully
so as not to lose the flavour or cook the pollen
granules ; and the chances are, as I state
above, your clear, transparent lot will take a
"first," to the other lot's " H.C." I would
commend bee-keepers and honey-producers to
read Mr. Leigh's comments ; also Mr. Love-
day's letter in B.B.J, of December 27 (4185,
page 508). Here are some " pointers " for the
bulk of bee-keeper3 to study and put into
practice.

Size of Sections. — I am glad my reference
to Mr. Lamb's letter on this subject has
prompted him to reply on page 21 last week.
Full discussion from the several points of view
must be helpful, not forgetting the proverb re
the " multitude of counsellors." I see Mr. L.
suggests a section of 5 by 4 by 1^. This would
hold when filled in an ordinary way 17 to
18 oz., and if sealed out to the wood, 19
to 20 oz. If Root's " fences '' were used a3
separators, possibly the " Danzy " section,
5 by 4 by 1 1, may approximate to 1-lb.
when filled. The Danzenbaker hive and
sections are apparently making some head way,
as are also the no-bee-way sections in
America, but time will prove if they are come
to stay, or to oust the 4£ by 4£ by 2
section. The fences made of wood appear to
be open to improvement. When these are

made in metal, so that the unfortunates in
the craft can boil their dividers before using
them again to prevent contagion, or the busy
tee-man to quickly remove arjy propolis, then
I think we may see the " no-bee- way " make a
more rapid advance, but as worked at present
I fail to see, after a few trials, any material
advantage in adopting them.

Then, if we discard the separator, our stan-
dard of excellence must deteriorate, because
even if three sections hang side by side in the
shallow-frame, the bees, if not confined to a
certain space or width by dividers or fences,
would build some combs thick and bulgy,
while others would be thinner to give bee-
space. No, sir ; we cannot dispense with
dividers ; and if this peint be conceded, I also
consider that the cluster of bees engaged in
comb-building in each of the three sectional
divisions of the shallow-frame would be more
cramped and confined by the l|-in. wide
oblong section than in the 2-in. wide square
one, if we take as an example the, shall I
say, natural shaped cluster of bees when a
swarm is hived into a straw skep. It would
seem that Mr. Lamb hopes to reach a higher
standard by using a narrower section, but a
bee-keeping friend writes me a day or two ago
to say that a noted British bee-keeper tried
the narrow section in shallow-frames in 1898,
and out of twelve cases did not secure a single
shoio section. — He (Mr. L.) also demurs to
my using the term " high standard." When
I penned that line I had in my mind a
remark made by another rev. bee-keeping
friend, who brought me a parcel of honey two
or three years ago, and praised up the excellent
quality and finish of his produce. I then
showed him some racks of sections just as I
had removed them from the hives, and as I
lifted out the sections for inspection he said,
" Why, Woodley, they are every one perfect !
How do you manage to get them filled so well
all through the racks 1 " I feel I am stating a
fact that a dozen first prize sections could have
been selected from any one of the racks
examined. I contend that it is not always the
bee-keeper's fault that his sections are not first-
class either in quality or finish. There are
other things which militate against a uniform
" high standard " in this country when com-
pared with America, for instance. Our
seasons are fickle, our forage varied and small
in extent and quantity, while the vast tracts of
bee-forage in America enable bee-keepers
owning large apiaries to secure in their less
variable climate large quantities of sections of
uniform quality. Here we have short spells of
honey gathering, following quickly on perhaps
a cold May, when only half the stocks are able
to commence work in supers, the other half
getting properly to work ten days or so later,
by which time there is often a change in the
weather, and consequently the results must be
of a low standard in the majority of cases.

The owner of a large apiary, if he has
everything " ready," may secure section honey

34

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 24, 1901.

of a high standard if the season is favourable
in June, but when July comes the quality
will be mixed, even though the sections may
be as well filled. As regards " perfect
sections " — if we ever reach that standard —
I hope the 17 oz. or 18 oz. of honey each will
contain may bring the producer a better price
than " 6s. per dozen." I admit being prone
to grumble on taking sections off which scale
17 oz. to 18 oz. each, because I shall get
nothing for the over-weight. Again, if we
wait till the bees have sealed all the cells next
to the wood of the sections, we shall stand to
lose a considerable part of the season, and,
though our sections may be fuller, we shall
have a much smaller number at the end of the
season for market. But, after all, cleanliness,
carefulness in handling, glazing the sections,
and Bafe transit will wonderfully improve the
present output and prove stepping-3tones to
success. — W. Woodlet, Beedon, Newbury.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

[4216.] "Meditations." — Let me say a good
word for the reviled section. I know of no more
perfect receptacle for comb honey than the two-
bee-way first grade snow-white basswood
4j in. by 4jr in. by 2 in. section. I have dis-
carded the four-bee-way, and would not have
the narrower one, favoured by a few, at any
price. This is not a mere theoretical state-
ment but the result of past experience. I
grant that more work may be done in frames,
but we must study the market and work for
what sells best. Frames will not sell ; sections
will. Then as to the complaint that bees will
not go up into the sections in far north York-
shire, all I can say is that they do in " further
north " Banffshire, and work actively in five
racks at one time. But to do so you must
have colonies almost at the " boiling'' point.

Reform and Revolution. — Yes, keep an
open mind for the former, but shun all that
savours of the latter as you would a certain
party we are advised to give as wide a berth
to as possible. Any need for a larger frame
has not been demonstrated; and, as such a
change would be a complete revolution, we
must think once, twice, thrice before we accord
it any other place than in the region of " pious
opinions." Granting the premise that now
and again one queen may be too prolific for
our ten frames, cannot we find a way to meet
her wants by taking out some frames of
sealed brood and substituting others with
full sheets of foundation. How simple is the
remedy ! yet it is effective. I trust the rev.
gentleman will not take it amiss if I say
the change advocated would be going on the
principle of legislating for the one sinner,
leaving out of consideration all thought for
the ninety-and-nine who need no change.
Let me nail my contention to the mast. Is it
not a fact that all the largest returns recorded
for years have been the result of working with

the standard frames ? If so, why seek for
change ?

Commercial Boney. — The public have a
remedy for this in their own hands so far.
Let them purchase honey in sections and
there is no fear of buying gluco3e. la regard
to extracted honey, some test cases should be
taken up by the B.B.K. A. and an attempt made
to put a stop to adulteration. It is a sin and
a shame to foist such deleterious trash on an
innocent public. But any man who prefers
the mixture, a3 recorded by Mr. Leigh,
deserves to be " sold.'' How such a depraved
taste can be cultivated is rather a puzzle to a
lover of good honey.

Some Minor Wants. — 1. We want a
gummed label with "Comb-Honey — Fragile,"
or some such words printed on it in prominent
red letters ; or the same words conspicuously
displayed on the address card. I tried three
supply houses for this and failed to procure
it. 2. We want a piece of thin wood cut
exactly to cover the ends of our parcels and
sections when packing comb-honey. 3. We
still want suitable boxes in the flat fitted for
small orders. I use grocers' " empties " but
would prefer something neater and more
presentable.

Enthusiasm. — I highly appreciated the
contribution of a " South Devon Enthusiast"
re his observatory hives and a further instal-
ment of his interesting observations will be
looked forward to eagerly by many a B.J.
reader. Every bee-man should be an enthusiast.
If I wanted a nom de plume and the title
had not been appropriated I would select it
before all others.— D. M. M., Banff, N.B ,
January 19.

SIZE OF SECTIONS.

CAN THE PRESENT SIZE BE IMPROVED OPON 1

(Continued from page 22.)

[4217.] When Mr. Woodley goes on to say,
" 1 question if we should very much increase
our output by adopting a narrower section
than the present 2 in. one," he comes to the
all-important point, which requires thoroughly
thrashing out. The contrary is the whole gist
of my contention. I am convinced that with
a narrower section our chief gain would be a
decided increase in the output of honey-comb,
and that bee-keepers in this country lose tons
of honey annually by using the present
sections.

Ten ploughs can surely turn up a field
quicker than eight ! In a factory with ten
stories more articles can be turned out than
in another of only eight stories. At present,
after supering with sections, two things may
spoil the harvest. First, bad weather ; if that
is favourable, then swarms.

We may delay to give the stock more room
lest, with change of weather, we may have
many incomplete sections on hand and then
when we give more room it may be too late,

Jan. 24, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

35

for the bees have determined to swarm. But
with a narrower section we would be in a
better position to meet either danger, as the
sectious would be completed in two weeks
instead of three. With the continuance of
fair weather, a week or ten days after the first
super was put on another could be given, so
that, if the skies were propitious for three
weeks, there would be a probability of taking-
off two complete supers instead of one or a
little more ; for the second super, if placed
under the first, would not be far behind it. I
.contend that just as skeppists, by not supering
in time, compel their bees to hang out and
" play " and thus lose a large portion of the
harvest, so modern bee-keepers who work with
the present sections by not being able to give
room in time lose an appreciable quantity of
honey because an ever-increasing number of
bees are forced to remain idle during the pro-
cess of ripening and lengthening the cells.

It is for this reason I hesitate to use Lee's
shallow supers as well as Howard's broad
self-spacing shallow frames, unless the honey
season has begun well and there is a promise
of continuance of fine weather. Even with
these, and only during the first week, I esti-
mate the loss at about 20 per cent. I have
proved it in this manner : — After giving four
strong stocks boxes of ten shallow-frames
filled with foundation, I have been able iu the
second week to take out two worked-out
frames from each and make up another super,
and thus have five supers of eight frames, each
in as advanced a state as your supers with
extra broad frames would have been. Here,
then, is a clear gain of one super in every four.
But with sections, when ripening of honey in
ordinary seasons is also taken into account, I
would place the los3 at about 25 per cent.

Next Mr. Woodley points to Nature as if it
were on his side. This appears to me to be
his weakest line of defence. I deny that the
present section holds the average thickness of
natural honey-comb, which varies greatly
(from i in. to 3 in.) I would place the
average somewhere between 1 in. and 1^ in. ;
certainly not beyond. One cannot but smile
at our friend's words when he writes:--
"Excepting the confined space in the section-
boxes, we impose no unnaturar condition in,
as it were, compelling the bees to build
combs for honey of the width in the ordinary
2-in. section." That is, he admits, that what
I call the "puzzle- boxes" are unnatural, but
he is unwilling to modify them — not to lessen
their capacity (for this we do not ask) — but
to alter their shape.

If he holds up his hands in horror at this
minor change, 1 can only say that this is the
latest instance I know of one ready to "strain
at a gnat and swallow a camel." I would ask,
How are we to find out the true average as
regards thickness of honey-comb ? Will other
brother bee-keepers come forward and give us
the results of their observations 1 We cannot,
I think, go to America— whence the present

section came — or some other country where
the climate is more regular ; that would
hardly be fair. Then, if we confine ourselves
to Great Britain, there are different condition?
under which we can study comb-building.
Occasionally, for instance, we come across a
bee-nest built in the open. A friend only this
week showed me one built the season before
last in a hedge and carefully removed by cut-
ting the branches which supported it. The
shape of it is such that it would require a hive
about 1 ft. square and 18 in. high ; and if
we copied it, we should not go in for
thick combs at all, as there was scarcely
any as thick as 1^ in. Nor do I think that
ordinary skep3, unless they are large and flat-
topped like the Pettigrew, can help us much.
In the smaller skep3 the end comb3 are
thickened, obviously in order to fill up spaces,
yet even in these I have noticed now and
again two comb3 — the end one miserably
small and thin— where one might have expected
to find an extra thick comb.

Do not the questions, then, arise — If the
bees, as we see, do nob build combs for honey
invariably of a regular thickness, why, when,
and where do they build extra thick comb3 ?
To " where," I would answer, generally at the
ends ; " when," perhaps mostly towards the
end of the honey season ; " why," not because
they prefer it, but because circumstances
compel them to build it. Partly to fill up
space, but chiefly because needing additional
store-room and not having sufficient number
of bees to spare to build another comb, they
can but lengthen the cells of the last or outer
combs.

I say this because L have found that when a
strong colony, requiring more room, is supered
with shallow frames having strips of founda-
tion, they have worked out the combs evenly ;
but when the same super has been placed on
weaker stocks, and the bees have taken to it,
the result has been a few extra thick and
uneven combs. Whence I have concluded
that, owing to the lack of numbers and heat
or the waning of the season, the bees had only
one course open to them — to elongate some
cells.

, A simple way of discovering the thickness
of comb suitable or natural for bees housed in
frame-hives would be to give a few strong
stocks section-racks minus sections and founda-
tion, but covered with a board, and let the
bees build as they please.

I should be greatly surprised if the result of
such an experiment were comb3 nearer 2 iu.
than 1 in. thick.

Next week I hope to deal more fully with—
or shall I say take to pieces ? — Mr. Woodley's
illustration to say how a narrower section will
affect the heather harvest, and throw out some
suggestions as to the course those who are
ready for a change may pursue. — Richard
M. Lamb, Burton Pidsea Bectory, Yorks,
January 19.

(To be continued.)

36

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 24, 1901.

BEE-KEEPERS' DEFENCE FUND.

[4218.] When this subject was discussed I
was unfortunately prevented by ill-health from
attending the Council. I am in full sympathy
with those who think something ought to be
done to protect the interests of bee-keepers
who may be troubled by threats of legal
proceedings, or by actions at law ; and if no
better means than a defence fund should
ultimately be adopted, I will send a guinea
toward such a fund. I think, however, an
Insurance fund would provide much more
adequate means for the object in view. Such
a fund could be easily provided by those who
joined in the project, paying an annual assess-
ment of a few pence per hive. Then, by an
arrangement with one of the " Accident
Insurance " Companies, it seems to me, a very
strong sense of security might be reached.
Moreover, if the insurance company employed
their own solicitors for the defence of bee-
keepers, there would be the additional safe-
guard of fif»t-rate professional service. — W.'H.
Harris (Vice- Chairman B.B.K.A.), Jan. 19.

SOME ESSEX NOTES.

[4219.] Ancient Bee Books.— The Rev. A. A.
Headley (4214, page 27) in closing his notes
on ancient books, refers, and rightly so, to the
debt that we in this generation owe to those
who in days gone by handed down to us the
results of their labours and researches in bee-
keeping. Thus we see that, while doing their
duty to themselves at the time, they realised
what was due to future generations of bee-
keepers. That this sense of duty and brotherly
love may animate all bee-keepers of to-day,
and be handed down to those who come afcer
us, is the hope of all true bee-men.

With reference to the letters of " G. S. W."
(4211, page 27) and that of A. G. Leigh (4198,
page 14) I think nine out of every ten of your
readers quite understand that Mr. Leigh in
the last paragraph of his letter refers to run
honey only. He does not appear to be dealing
with comb- honey at all, or even thinking of
it, judging by his letter. 'Moreover, he is
quite correct in saving that " by October most
pure honey is solid,'' and that some of the best
granulates soonest. Pure sainfoin honoy will
often be well granulated a month after
extracting. On the other hand comb-honev,
which once sealed by the bees is not afterwards
exposed to the air, may be kept in good condi-
tion for a whole year.

Size of Sections. — As to whether the present
size of section can be improved upon, my own
opinion is that, everything considered, the
present section for comb honey is satisfactory
for all purposes, and when utility has to be
considered, I think the present square section
cannot be beaten. A taller section is more
imposing in appearance, but I think less
useful. Two-pound sections look nice but are
less saleable. I do not think a thinner or

narrower section than the present 2-in. will do
at all. It might please the eye of some, but
oniy to find afterwards that the palate had
been deceived. Same of my customers want
as little wax as is possible with comb honey.
The narrower the section the more wax there
will be in proportion to honey. I agree that
the percentage of perfect sections is small, but
is it not so with everything else 1 As we,
rightly, have no control over the weather,
which has more to do with perfect or imper-
fect sections than anything else, we can only
do our best, but whatever is adopted as a
receptacle for comb honey I dare say our bee-
keepers will get them to as high a standard of
finish as is possible.

The Housing Question. — The thanks of all
cottagers, cottager bee-keepers in particular, are
due to Mr. Till for his efforts to secure for the
labouring population of his neighbourhood
decent accommodation — a,3 shown in your
pages of January 3 (page 7, 4195), for a little
leaven well placed in Kent would by degrees
leaven the whole lump. It is most regrettable
that in this enlightened country many of us
should, even in districts where land is of
comparatively little value, be compelled to live
in a way that makes decency next to im-
possible, to say nothing of keeping bees, or
anything else, in comfort. — Wm. Loveday,
Hatfield Heath, Harlow, Essex, Jan. 19.

AMONG THE BANANAS;

OB, BEE-KEEPING IN NATAL.

[4220.] About the hives there was nothing
remarkable. They were ordinary wooden
hives, such as may be seen in any apiary, but
not so my assistant. He was a tall, strong-
limbed Kaffir " boy," who, when not otherwise
occupied, composing love songs, for instance,
or taking snuff, answered to the name of
" M'Lando.''

By slow and not unpainful processes he had
been initiated into the mysteries of house-
keeping, and had learned many things since he
left his kraal for a white man's " kia " (home),
and seen the bewildering appliances of a
modern kitchen. His mistakes had been
numerous. Hrs first task had been to light a
fire, and with a fine iugeniousness he had found
a cosy place for it in the oven ! Another time
when told to bring in the porridge he had
brought it — porridge-pot and all — and planted
it right in the centre of a clean-laid table-
cloth !

In handling bees he proved equally service-
able. A " still " day had arrived, and with it
hopes of a profitable interview with our little
friends. A heat h*ze shrouded the hills and
lay like a deep mantle on the valleys, but rain
was the last thing to be thought of, aud only
the faintest breeze stirred the broad green
leaves of the bananas.

M'Lando said nothing when I emerged
from the front door in riding gloves and bridal

Jan. 24, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

37

veil, but a few minutes later issued from the
back, his black head enveloped in a green
butterfly net, kept from encircling his neck by
the white brim of an old sun helmet. His
hands were bare, but his knees and ankles
he had swathed in hastily-donned clothes and
protecting rags of all colours. It was the bees,
not M'Lando, who might well feel afraid.

Wreathed in smiles and green gauze he
followed me gleefully down the pathway,
strode with silent courage through the garden
and the orchard, and never faltered till we
neared the bananas and he caught a glimpse
of the hives. Stoppages for the rearrangement
of his " putties '' then became more and more
frequent ; at last, however, I handed him the
smoker, or " little gun,'' and in an agitated
whisper assured him "there was really no
need to be afraid."

The hives looked harmless enough from the
outside, but we " wanted to see how the
wheels went round." The first hive-roof or lid
(it was also the last) proved somewhat stiff,
and M'Lando shook the hive impatiently.
Then the heavens opened on the bees and the
bees on us ! Their world had been stirred to its
foundations. Singly, in companies, battalions,
legions ! they attacked. The air around was
one terrific buzz. I had come out to distract
my thoughts from the Boers, who were
rumoured to be within a day's ride of us, and
the fear that next morning we might be
awakened by a shell, and certainly they were
distracted. Here I was in the midst of a fray
alone, unarmed against an enemy ten times as
numerous as the Boers. All that I had ever
heard or read at that moment I remembered
about the sweetness, meekness, and docdity of
the honey-bee. But it was the life's mission
of every bee in that hive to disprove it.

With one wild leap and wilder yell ! M'Lando
fled. He was followed in hot pursuit. On he
crashed through the bananas, regardless of
thorns and heedless of snakes. Smoker, putties,
helmet, veil, marked the route. At last a
speck in the distance proclaimed a parley.
Here were the hives, yonder M'Lando, a field
of glowing pineapples stretched between.

I was left to replace the lid of the hive or
leave it roofless if I chose. I might obtain any
aid I liked, but not till after many days did
M'Lando venture again among the bananas. —
Mary Ritchie, Thornhill, Bellair, Natal,
South Africa.

THE PAST SEASON IN YORKSHIRE.

SOME RESULTS FROM " WELLS '' HIVES
V. SINGLE STOCKS.

[4221.] The enclosed report for season 1900
may be of some interest to bee-keepers who
consider the " Weils " hive a great nuisance
on account of the bees swarming therefrom. I
have again worked through a full season
without a single swarm from any of my
" Wells '' hives, although five of them were
away in the country about three miles from

my home, and I had to work between the
two places. The only stock in my apiary that
swarmed last year was one single-queened
colony, which I quite expected, because it was
rather neglected and partly on account of a
few cold days coming about the time it should
have had my attention. I have great
confidence now after this test in sending
" Wells " hives away into the country
without fear of swarming, but perhaps I
might be " caught napping " on some extra
good flow of honey. I must say, however,
that three of the " Wells '' hives mentioned
below, and one of the single ones, have not
swarmed for the last three years. I should
like to thank Mr. Peebles, through your
journal, for his kindness towards a brother
bee-keeper in sending me drawings of his
heather-honey press, which I find, after a
few seasons' work, a splendid press. I can
recommend the same with every confidence.

I am pleased to say nearly all my honey is
sold, having only about 150 lb. of pressed
heather honey left, and 26 lb. of beeswax.
All my extracted honey I sold to a chemist,
who told me they had previously bought
foreign honey, but found, now that his cus-
tomers could buy English honey at a reason-
able price, they preferred to do so. I can
assure you these remarks pleased me very
much, and I felt quite proud to be a bee-
keeper.

Total.

i \ w n rr- Extracted Honey 98 l,ro
(a) Wells Hive pressed Heath/r M ) 152

Extracted Honey 118J

Pressed Heather 60

Extracted Honey 4.6

Pressed Heather 49

Extracted Honey 49

Pressed Heather 52

Extracted Honey 85

Pressed Heather 50

Extracted Honey 61

Pressed Heather 47

Extracted Honey 72 \ 126

Pressed Heather 54 J
Extracted Honey 126 1

Pressed Heather 60 )

(b)

(*)

(d)

(fj

(/)
(?)

(h)

Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.

178^

95

101

135

108

186

/■\ a- i XT- Extracted Honey 31 ) KQ
(t) Single Hive pressed Heath/r ^ J 58

(J)

(k)

(I)
(m)

Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.

Extracted Honey 30J "1 dCiX
Pressed Heather 10 J -

Extracted Honey 23

Pressed Heather 18

Extracted Honey 28

Pressed Heather 26

Extracted Honey 23

Pressed Heather 11

I

41

54

34

Total lb 1,309

P.S. — I have great pleasure in sending a
small subscription towards the "Bee-keepers'
Defence Fund.'' I trust we bee-keepers will
not allow another "Basingstoke Case" to be
shelved without a struggle. — J. H. Horn,
Bedale, Yorks, January 21.

38

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 24, 1901.

BEE-KEEPING IN SCHOOLS.

[4222.] I am much obliged to " F. E. I. S." for
his response, on page 20, although regretting
that so able a man cannot be tempted south.
I am obliged to him also for correcting me on
the subject of Scotch salaries. I am told, but
it may not be on good authority, that
" F. E. I. S." hails from Banffshire. Now a
Scotch farmer friend of mine here tells me
that in the north "Go to Banffshire'' is
equivalent to our " Go to Jericho ! '' indeed,
he says, this behest for " translation'' may be
still more forcibly translated. On the subject
of trade advertisements in public elementary
schools (to which I referred) by means of
gifts of so-called educational cabinets, I have
obtained from the Board of Education the
following opinion, viz.: — "That while the
Board have no power absolutely to forbid
managers of schools making use for purposes
of instruction of articles sent to schools with
a view to advertisement, they discourage the
practice as much as possible. In very few
instances," it is added, " are the pictures or
articles sent really suitable, and when they
are not the inspector tells the manager so.'' —
E. D. T., Eynford, January 19.

LECTURES ON BEE-KEEPING

IN SMALL TOWNS AND VILLAGES.

[4223.] I should like to call the attention
of our clergy, ministers, and experts to the
great service they might render to bee-keeping,
and the pleasure they might afford their
neighbours, by giving lantern-lecture3 on api-
culture, especially during the winter season.
This matter has been once more impressed on
my mind by an experience of my own. On
Monday, the 14th inst., I fulfilled a promise
to give, in the Hillingdon Parish-room, a talk
on " The Wonders of the Hive." At the hour
for beginning there was a crowded audience.
The Rev. F. D. Sturgess, B.A., the curate of
the parish, admirably manipulated the lantern
and the B.B.K.A. slides, and I had also the
beautiful diagrams published by the Asso-
ciation from the late Mr. Cheshire's drawings.
For nearly an hour and a half there was a really
rapt attention on the part of my auditors,
and when all was over, and the customary
votes of thanks had been passed, the people
seemed inclined to stay on in the hope that
there was more to see and hear about the
marvellous insects. I know, also, there was a
good deal of talk in the village about the
pleasant time they had spent. Now I should
very much like the councd of the B.B.K.A. to
take into consideration the preparation and
type- writing of a lecture, which could be hired,
with the Association's set of slides, and which
might be safely used even by persons not very
familiar with bees and bee-keeping. I am
convinced that by such a lecture, or similar
ones, delivered in many of our rural districts,
the pursuit of apiculture would be largely '

extended ; the interest of young people in the
natural history of the bee, and the advantages
of bee-keeping would be aroused ; and much
advantage, directly and indirectly, would
accrue to our county associations. — W. H.
Harris, Hayes End, near Uxbridge, Jan. 19.

HOW TO UTILISE SWARMS.

[4224.] I have read the letter from
" JJ. P. H.'' in your issue of November 8
last (4131, page 439), and also the remarks
on the same subject by " G. S. N." (4191,
page 4), and beg to state, for the information
of those gentlemen and any one else
interested, that I have tried the plan pro-
posed, but did not find it a success. In fact,
out of ten stocks, the one experimented upon
last year gave me the least return. One
entrance and two excluders were used, and
the bees were given brood-frames, with
drawn-out comb. Although the mother-
queen was but nine months old, my
observations led me to the conclusion that the
bees just ignored her ancLgave all their atten-
tion to their royal sister.

This is unnatural, but it is " business," and
goes to prove thdt our little winged friends
strongly favour the theory of the survival of
the fittest. This I proved last year in
another way. I fixed a partition in the centre
of a brood- chamber and placed a good laying
queen on either side. They also were mother
and daughter. Result : — Nearly all the flying
bees found their way to the combs presided
over by the younger queen, and it was only
when I temporarily closed the entrance on
that side that the older queen could get a
share of the good things going.

As to applying swarms to the best
advantage, I have found the following
to work well : — Remove old brood-chamber
with young queen to a new position.
Place new chamber on old stand, and put in
it as many combs of sealed brood as can safely
be spared from the old stock. Add to these a
few frames containing starters, place on the
excluder and supers, and return the swarm to
complete the work in hand.

Caution. — Feed the old stock until the bees
are self-supporting. Later on, if an increase
in stocks is not desired, remove the older
queen and unite. — E. Maxwell, Claremont-
road, Liverpool, January 19.

^np$ n& Jj^|li$).

[2577.] How to Re-queen Cheaply. — I
remember readiDg in your pages about a
couple of years ago an article with the above
title by an American bee-keeper, in which
was described a method of queen-raising,
suitable for those who wished to re-queen
stocks, without having recourse to the scienti-

Jan. 24, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

39

fie methods practised by skilled bee-keepers
with plenty of time on hand. I do not pre-
serve my bee journils and so cannot refer to
the article alluded to, but I think it would
be useful to many others besides myself if
you would give the substance of the plan I
have in mind for the benefit of those who
would like to raise some queens by a simple
plan during the coming season. Hoping I am
not asking anything unreasonable, I sign
myself— A Constant Reader, Yorks,
January 19.

Reply. — The article referred to is too long
for insertion in its entirety in this column ; it
will, however, serve our correspondent's pur-
pose to give the following extract, in which
the writer (Mr. Delos Wood) says : —

" I would set apart my two best colonies of
Italians, one for rearing drones and the other
for queen cells. To the one for drones I would
give a large amount of drone-comb. The other
I would stimulate by feeding, to induce the
swarming fever, giving plenty of worker-comb
in two-story hives, so as to get as large a
swarm as possible. This swarm with the old
queen I would put into an empty single-story
hive and let them build comb in as many
frames as possible. After the queen has begun
to lay a small circle of brood in several combs,
I would take her from the hive and give her a
new colony. I would then take each of these
new comb3 of brood and cut around through
the circle of cells, just in the same ring that
the queen lays, leaving the larvae (just hatched)
at the bottom of the piece of comb left in the
frame?, taking off the lower part of combs
containing only eggs. These larvae are hatched
usually the third day from the time the eggs
were laid. The bees are now in their best
condition for all kinds of work, and will build
queen-cells by wholesale and of the best
quality, and will put them on the bottom of
this cut comb, which, being cut in the shape
of the edge of a saucer, will cause the ends of
the cells to spread out from each other as you
can spread your fingers apart. This gives
room to cut out each cell without injury to
any other.

" These eggs were laid within a few hours of
each other, and will all hatch at the same
time, and may all be removed to the nuclei at
one time, and the young queens will all, or
nearly all, begin to lay at the same time.
These queens will be raised in a full colony,
under the natural swarming impulse, and will
be 'the best queens in the world.' If one
chooses to watch the old colony awhile, many
good queens may be obtained from that.
Queens raised in this new comb are, I think,
apt to be brighter than those reared in dark
combs. Advocates of leather-coloured queens
should hive the swarm on old combs."

[2578.] Transferring Bees to New Hives. —
How Frames should Hang. — I should feel
much obliged if you would answer the
following questions : — 1. Will it affect a

colony of bees to transfer them in the spring
from their present hive in which the frames
hang from side to side, or parallel to the
entrance to a new one having frames running
from front to back 1 2. What is the advantage
of adopting the latter system ?— R. L. Barr,
Worcester Parle, Surrey, January 21. •

Reply. — 1. No harm will follow if done
quickly on a warm day. 2. It is considered
by the majority of bee-keepers that not only
is better ventilation secured but the risk of
having entrances blocked by dead bees in
winter is minimised by having frames hung at
right angles to entrance.

[2579.] Preventing Swarming. — I shall be
obliged for your opinion on the following plan
as a means of preventing swarming and gaining
a larger return of extracted honey. When
brood-chamber becomes crowded with bees and
it is time to put on supers, take out two or
three of middle combs — brood, bees, and all ;
place them in another brood-chamber or body-
box, same size ; and put it in as super with
excluder-zinc between, filling up the brood-
chamber with two or three frames of comb or
foundation, and, of course, filling up the super-
chamber with frames of foundation. Thus the
queen would have room for laying, the bees
room for working. In the immediate sur-
roundings there are about 100 good lime-trees
and plenty of clover, &c. To me this plan seems
to have the further advantage of having only
one-sized frame in my apiary. — E. Hayden,
Louth, Lines, January 15.

Reply. — The proposed plan will work ad-
vantageously if care be taken first to leave the
queen in the lower chamber or brood-nest ;
second, to cut out any comb containing drone-
brood, if such is seen on the combs placed
above. Finally, do not omit closing up the
brood-combs left below, and placing the
frames of foundation outside the brood, unless
the bees are sufficiently strong to avoid brood-
chilling.

(ftcfarts from M agists.

Thornton Dale, Yorkshire, January 21. —
The weather here for the past two or three
months has been very bad, although a few fine
days have, fortunately, enabled the bees to get
a good cleansing flight. Owing to the weather
being as a rule, however, very open, stores in
the hives appear to have dwindled down
greatly, and a good candy-cake has been useful
as a refresher. The proverb says, "Every-
thing comes to the man who waits ; " but for a
realisation of its truth one may have to begin
" waiting " when very young and live to be
very old. However, spring will come round
once again with its reviving influence, and
the bees will soon be stirring more often.

40

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 24, 1901.

Meantime, we must content ourselves with
preparing for the busy time by getting new
hives and other " needfuls," made at home or
bought, so a* to have everything ship-shape,
ready for use. Outdoor work in the garden
here is almost at a standstill. So far our old
foe, the tom-tit, has not paid us many visits,
there being, apparently, a chance of his forag-
ing in the hedges and woods during the open
weather, for which I am thaukfully inclined to
feel kinder towards him.

I have been very much interested in the
"Fugitive Papers" on ancient bee-books in
your pages of late, and could have wished for
more of them, or the means wherewith to have
furnished myself with some of the ancient
books dealt with. I was also much pleased to
see that Mr. Rymer's idea of preventing
swarming is going to be fairly tried by bee-
keepers. I imagine it will be well tried in
this part of Yorkshire. Wishing all bee-
keepers a successful season. — G. A. Barnes.

Icklesham, Bye, Sussex, January 21. — What
changes of weather everywhere ! Yesterday
it was very good here, bees flying in all
directions, and the hum made one think of
summer days, which are, I hope, in store for
us. We have primroses in bloom, and snow-
drops already peeping up from the ground
after their long rest. I had a skep of bees
given me the other day, which was blown
over and the combs all tumbled out, but with
the help of two iron pins I fixed them in
again, and yesterday the little workers showed
their appreciation of my fixing them up by
flying quite merrily. 1 will send word how
they fare later on. Wishing all bee-keepers a
successful year, and thanking you for infor-
mation got through the B.B.J, during past
years. — Henry Clarke.

PRESS CUTTINGS ABOUT BEES.

INTERESTING, USEFUL, AND " OTHERWISE.''

Chinese White Wax. — The white wax ex-
ported from China is not beeswax, but is made
by the curious method of using minute insects
in its production. These insects are found in
brown, pea-shaped excrescenoes or galls, some-
what similar to our common " oak-apples,''
attached to an evergreen tree called the
" insect-tree.'' The galls are gathered in May
and carried to the market towns by bearers,
who travel at night so that the heat may not
force the insects to emerge from the gall during
the journey.

They are then placed on the " wax-tree,"
which is a stump varying from 3 to 12 ft. in
height, with numerous branches rising from
the top, similar to the pollard willow.

The wax insects are made into small packets
of twenty or thirty galls, which are enclosed
in a leaf of the wood-oil tree fastened together
with rice straw. These packets are suspended
close to the branches, under which they hang.
On emerging from the galls the insects creep

rapidly up the branches to which they attach
themselves and begin forming a coating of
wax, which, in about three months, attains a
thickness of almost a quarter of an inch.

The branches are then cut off, and, after re-
moving as much of the wax as possible by
hand they are put in a kettle of hot water,
when the remaining wax floats on the surface
and the insects meet the reward of virtuous
industry by going to the bottom ! — Science
Siftings.

Irish Honey. — Peasants in Donegal are
anxious to find a good market for the large
quantities of honey with which the county is
favoured. The honey industry is almost a
new phase in Donegal life. Last autumn
samples of honey were sent to various parts
of the kingdom, and its excellent quality was
everywhere appreciated. But unfortunately
the wholesale buyers and the middlemen
absorbed so much of the profits that the
industry cannot prove so remunerative unless
the consumers are dealt with directly. Those
who wish to give the honey a trial are asked
to write to the Rev. R. Michael, Kilmayrenau,
co. Donegal. — Temperance Caterer.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers,

Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur-
chased, or replies giving such information, can only be
inserted as advertisements. Ihe space devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
qo to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

C. A. A. (Bristol). — B.B.J. Advertisements. —
There can be no objection to replies to
advertisements being addressed to " Care of
B.B.J. Office." All we require is payment
for repostage.

C. H. Maratee (Manchester). — Bees in India.
— 1. But little information is available on
the subject, but such as we have in our
Journal will be forwarded on receipt of
2d. in stamps. 2. Mr. F. H. Taylor, Hon.
Secretary of the Lanes. B.K.A., Old Hall-
lane, Fallowfield, Manchester, will, no doubt,
be pleased to show you his apiary by
appointment.

H. May (Wallingford). — Bee-keepers' Defence
Fund. — Much obliged for your promised
contribution, which has been duly noted
along with others.

F. Kenward (Lewes). — Making Observatory
Hires. — The number of Work in which
the article appeared is out of print, as
mentioned by us recently.

J. Sopp (Crowmarsh). — Write to Mr. Young,
Secretary, B.B.K.A., 12, Hanover-square,
London, or to the Secretary of the Exhibi-
tion re'erred to.

Jan. 31, 1901,] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

41

OMitorai §fotim, fa.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

The monthly meeting of the Council was
held on Thursday, the 17th inst., at 105,
Jermyn-street, S.W., presided over by Mr.
W. H. Harris (Vice-Chairman). There were
also present Miss Gayton, Messrs. W.
Broughton Carr, ;j. H. New, W. F. Reid,
E. D. Till, E. Walker, T. I. Weston, F. B.
White, and the Secretary.

The minutes of the previous meeting were
read and confirmed.

Mr. R. T. Duncan, Dinas Powis, near
Cardiff, was elected a member of the Associa-
tion.

The Report of the Finance Committee was
presented by Mr. Weston, the balance on
December 31 being £46 8s. 7d. A number
of cheques were ordered to be drawn in
settlement of accounts due.

Mr. Ernest Walker gave particulars of the
examiners' awards in connection with the
late examination for Second-Class expert
Certificates, and it was resolved to grant
passes to the following candidates, viz. : — J.
Herrod, F. A. Pay, and W. T. Swainson.

Mr. Weston placed certain offers he had
received from manufacturers and dealers of
hives for use in the Association's apiary at
Swanley, and these were duly considered and
dealt with by the Council.

The Secretary reported upon an interview
with the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, President,
in regard to the Association and its work, and
was asked to communicate further with her
Ladyship in respect to several matters of
importance.

A letter from Mr. Wm. Loveday, re classifi-
cation for old honey at shows, was placed
before the meeting, and it was resolved to
deal with the points raised, when compiling
prize schedules, at a later date.

Amongst other correspondence dealt with
by the Council was a letter from the Chair-
man, Mr. T. W. Cowan, expressing his
continued interest in the welfare and doings
of the Association, and accompanied by a
welcome contribution of £b to the funds of
the Society.

The next meeting of the Council will take
place on Thursday, February 21.

IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION"

A meeting of theCommittee of the I.B.K.A.
was held on the 17th inst. in Dr. Traill's rooms,
Trinity College. Present : Mr. O'Bryen, in
the chair, Messrs. Abbott, WatsoD, and M. H.
Read, Hon. Secretary.

A sub-committee was appointed to revise
the privileges of members. It was also1
resolved that no payment beyond that of
travelling expenses be made to " honorary

experts " for visits to apiaries of members of
the Association.

An encouraging account of the annual
general meeting of the Lough Rynn Associa-
tion was before the meeting, haying been
forwarded by the President, the Rev. J. G.
Digges, at which the following resolution was
passed :— " That this Association desires to
impress upon the Board of Agriculture the
importance and necessity of giving assistance
to the industry on the lines laid down in the
scheme recently presented to the Department
by the I.B.K.A." This was the pioneer local
association affiliated to the I.B.K.A., and has
its own depot, managed by the secretary, which
supplies all bee requisites to members at
prices much below those usually charged. Its
membership has increased to fifty-two, extend-
ing into the counties of Longford, Cavan, Ros-
common, and Gal way.— Matthew Hy. Read
Hon. Secretary,

floroajrmuUttte.

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice trill be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

SIZE OF SECTIONS.

CAN THE PRESENT SIZE BE IMPROVED UPON?

(Continued from page 35.)

[4225.] From the latter part of my article
last week (page 35) it will be seen that I consider
Mr. Woodley's illustration inappropriate. Its
wording is also rather vague. If a swarm has
chosen its own location and furnished it with
combs by its own unaided efforts, I cannot
agree with our friend when he says (page 12),
"that the brood-combs are built of the
required thickness for brood '' if he means
only for brood, for frequently a good deal of
honey may be found above the brood and the
portion which contains the honey is but
slightly thicker than that in which there is
brood.

Nor when he says, " the outside or store-
combs are built somewhere about 2 in. thick,"
can I admit that he has hit upon the average
thickness. I think it lies somewhere about
1| in. ; a small portion may be thicker, but
the greater part is narrower. But supposing,
for argument's sake, that Mr. Woodley's illus-
tration is a fair one to show us the natural
thickness of honey-comb, then I would draw his
attention to the proper position for thick sec-
tions— at the sides of the brood-nest, and not
above it. By putting these sections directly
above he does impose another unnatural condi-
tion. To follow nature closely, we should have at
least two kinds of sections ; most of the sec-

42

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 31, 1901.

tions should be narrow to place above the
brood, and a few of greater width to go at the
outsides. Thus I might claim the illustration
as supporting my view as much as his.

Then the question may arise, How far
we should copy nature 1 to which probably
more than one answer would be given. The
time for copying it in its crude state has, of
course, gone for ever, as much as for the
present ocean greyhounds to copy skippers of
old who skirted the coasts in their voyages.

The late Mr. Pettigrew, I think, was the
last and ablest of the old school who stoutly
opposed modern bee-keeping, and he did so
partly because he sincerely believed it was
contrary to nature. And since then how we
have been going from bad to worse ! How
shockingly unnatural we have all become by
adopting — the foundation to check the building
of curved combs, as well as the raising of a
liberal supply of drones— the excluder, which
forbids the queen to roam all over her
domains ; the various means and methods,
even the destruction of queens in embryo, to
stamp outv their natural propensity of swarm-
ing— and the super- clearer giving them notice to
quit, without giving them a chance to strike a
blow in defence of their own. In comparison
with these, is it very wrong to go a step further
and narrow the section in order that it may
hold an average thickness of natural honey-
comb 1 But, seriously, I would not say that
our apparatus and methods are unnatural. I
look upon them as nature developed — nature
guided, controlled, raised, and improved by
the aid of human intelligence, and our duty is
to go on and, as far as possible, to perfect it.

If Mr. Woodley thinks that a narrower
section is not more natural than the present
I must let him settle the point with Mr.
Cowan. The other day I took up the " Bee-
keepers' Guide-book " to see if beginners were
warned as to the discouragement they might
expect in some seasons if they used sections
in preference to shallow-frames. I am sorry
to say there was no allusion to it. I cannot,
therefore, regard the book as up-to-date in
this respect. But on page 60 (16th edition)
Mr. Cowan says that the frames "in the
tipper storeys may be placed 1| to If in.
from centre to centre," that is, we may con-
consider a receptacle which Is If in. thick as
one of a happy medium for honey-comb in
this country. Let me, then, draw the atten-
tien of all bee-keepers whose minds are open
to this splendid corroboration of the point for
which I am striving. Here is a book which
has been carefully revised over and over again
supporting my view as to what the proper
thickness of sections should be.

The aspect of sections on the moors I must
deal with another time, when I hope also to
conclude these articles.

For the present I would only add, lest any
one should misunderstand me, that I admire
extra thick honey-comb ; long enough have
my aim and ambition been to produce the

thickest. But however high our ideals may
be, we must not forget that we live in a world
in which the environment has to be taken
into account and our ideals have to be con-
stantly, though reluctantly, lowered in order
to become practical. This is true in most
walks of life and my brother bee-keepers must
not imagine they can escape it.

All honour to those who introduced the
2-in. section. I fully believe they took the
best course they could at that time, but since
then a rival has sprung up — the shallow-
frame ; and after many seasons of comparison
between the two we have found the section
wanting. I cannot therefore now regard any
who know how wide and general the dissatis-
faction is in reference to the present sections,
and would yet bolster them up as the best
friends of apiculture. — Richard M. Lamb,
Burton Pidsea Rectory, Hull, January 28.

Erratum. — Page 35, middle of first column,
for "your supers" read four supers.

THE "WELLS" SYSTEM.
[4226.] The results of working hives on the
" Wells" system — given in the report of Mr.
Horn of his takes of honey in the season of
1900 (page 33) — to my mind, possess more
interest as showing the chemist's preference
(along with that of his customers') for British
honey than in demonstrating the superiority
of the " Wells " system over the plan generally
adopted. The figures certainly show an in-
crease in favour of the former system, but not
in proportion to the amount of inconvenience
experienced by the average bee-keeper in
dealing with two stocks at one and the same
time. I, in common with others, look for
Mr. Wells's report each year with interest, and
we all thank him for publishing it (on page
508 of B.J. for December 27 last). The
respective figures of Mr. Wells and Mr. Horn
show about the same average for work on the
double-queen plan, while Mr. Horn's results
from single hives are about equal to my own
for last year, and show about the same amount
of increased yield in favour of the one
"Wells" hive that I worked for honey. I
have, for the sake of comparison, worked two
stocks on the double-queen method since Mr.
Wells brought it to notice, besides turning the
system to account in other ways ; but the
opinions formed of it in the earlier days, viz.,
its unsuitability for general adoption, becomes
more fully confirmed as each recurring year's
experience is added and the figures compared.
To the inexperienced bee-keeper I therefore
say, be cautious in trying the plan. I think
it must be clear to most of your readers
that the sum given in Mr. Wells's report as
"expenses" for the year's working does not
include many items that most of us have to
meet.

Size of Sections. — In his contentions against
the 1-lb. section now in use,I note that the Rev.
R. M. Lamb says (on page 35), " If the bees,

Jan. 31, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL

43

as we see, do not build combs for honey
invariably of a regular thickness, why, when,
and where do they build extra - thick
combs ? " Now, if it is your rev. corre-
spondent's experience that bees do not build
thick combs when instinct shows them that
that comb will be used for storing honey, I can
only say his experiences do not agree with
mine. I have removed many colonies of bees
from buildings, and have noticed that as the
bees need more room — as, for instance, in a
good season following a poor one — such combs
as were built thick in the previous year are
then wanted for raising brood, and are pared
down to the required thickness for brood. In
the hives, too, I notice that when comb is
wanted for honey-storing the cells are
lengthened out, and if at another time those
same cells are needed for brood-rearing they
will be left at the required thickness for the
purpose. Take a small box or a glass super as
an illustration. I have known a bell-glass
4 in. or 5 in. wide to be well-filled with only a
single comb from 3 in. to 3| in. wide, simply
because, it seems to me that the first use the
bees intended to make of it was to store
honey. — Wit. Loveday, Hatfield Heath,
Harlow, Essex.

RURAL INDUSTRIES.

BEES, POULTRY, AND FRUIT-GROWINi,.

[4227.] Reverting to Mr. Forbes' letter" on
page 17 and the promise made to him on
page 6 in B.B.J, of January 3 and 10 respec-
tively, I presume your correspondent will not
" go in " for the rural occupations mentioned
before next autumn ; and in the meantime I
should most strongly advise him to read up
each of the subjects he intends taking up ; also,
if possible, to visit some poultry-farmer, fruit-
grower, and apiarian. He will then get some
idea of managing such a concern.

The locality can also be decided on, and
here he has plenty of choice, as the Thames
Valley, Norfolk, Cambridge, Kent, &c. , are all
fruit-growing districts ; but, of course, near-
ness to a possible market, or station with a
quick and cheap service to a large town,
should be considered.

And now I suppose the first question will
be, how much and what class of land will be
best ? As bees and poultry would be at home
on any soil, excepting a very damp one, that
which is most suitable for fruit should be
selected, and I think most practical men are
agreed that the majority of hardy fruits
succeed best in a rich, deep loam, with a
gravel or clay subsoil.

If an orchard of about five or six acres,
properly planted with good trees, could be
rented, this would be large enough for a start,
and as experience in management is gained it
could be extended as required ; or, if pre-
ferred, unplanted land might be bought or
rented, and then planted with the choicest

sorts for market purposes. Should he decide
on this method, I will give him a list of the
best trees and bushes, methods of planting,
and an idea of the cost per acre.

If Mr. Forbes is well up in apiculture, he
might start with, say, thirty to fifty hives ;
and, in my opinion, the best bee for the pur-
pose would be a Cyprian and Camiolan cross.
The hives should be as simple and light as
possible, consistent with strength and efficiency.
The cheapest way of forming the apiary
would be by getting from sixty to 100 driven
lots of bees, putting two together on eight
frames, and feeding until each hive had about
30 lb. of sealed stores. If in the meantime a
few stocks could be purchased and devoted to
forming nucleus colonies and queen-raising,
— young queens and other things being equal-
flourishing stocks to take advantage of the
first honey-flow would be a certainty.

For egg-production there is no breed of
fowl to equal the common farmyard black
Minorca, while for table purposes an Indian
game and Dorking cros3 cannot be excelled, as
they make fine meaty birds when quite young.
About 200 hens of the former and 100 of the
latter, with two or three first-class incubators,
would make a fair start in poultry department.
If ducks are included— and properly
managed they are most profitable — the pure
white Aylesbury is the best, for the ducklings
can be got to weigh 4 lb. or 5 lb. each when
ten weeks old, and, therefore, before a greater
part of the food is required to nourish the
feathers.

I enclose my card, and will be glad if you
will forward it to Mr. Forbes, as I should like
to give him a few hints that hardly oome
under the category of apiarian topics. — A
Norfolk Bee-Keeper, Swafiham, Jan. 24. .

SECTIONS VERSUS SHALLOW
FRAMES.
[4228.] I have been very much interested in
the recent letters of Mr. Lamb re the thick-
ness of sections, and last summer I had such a
striking proof of the preference of bees for
shallow combs that I think it may be of
general interest. By way of making a trial of
them, I worked one hive last year for extracted
honey with the wide " W.B.C." ends instead
of the ordinary ones spaced at 1| in. My first
super of shallow-frames was given to the bees
with full sheets of foundation. Then they
drew out and sealed so as to make the total
thickness of comb about | in. The space
which was left they then proceeded to fill with
other comb3 built parallel to the vest, and'
attached to the top bars on each side, thus
practically joining every bar together. They
then had a box of frames with drawn-out combs
given them, and then they actually proceeded to
pare down or cut back slightly in order to allow
room for putting in their central thin comb
between each pair of frames. I am absolutely

44

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 31, 1901.

certain that the queen was below, as I had a
standard pattern excluder, and the frames were
examined about once a week, and boxes of
frames removed at intervals all through the
honey-flow. Altogether the bees drew out
four boxes of shallow-frames in this peculiar
manner. I need hardly say that in future I
shall stick to the li in. end, as, if the others
are not good enough for the bees, they are
certainly not good enough for me. I think it
possible that in a good season the bees would
.not have acted as they did, but last year they
were at no time storing at such a pace as to be
in want of room. It seems to me that the
above is a distinct proof of the objection of the
bees to thick combs, and of their preference for
thin ones. — C. A. Atchley, Willsbridge,
Bristol, January 25.

SELLING HONEY.

[4229.] Referring once more to this much
discussed question, it seems to me that some
bee-keepers grumble at the low price of honey ;
others because they cannot sell at all ; and a
third section because they have none to sell.
There is a fault somewhere ! To my mind, it is
ofttimes the bee-keeper's own. Some will say,
" Well, let us take the low prices first in order
to sell out and then try and find out where the
fault lies." Our friend Mr. Woodley says,
" Good honey is scarce this year.'' But a glance
at your advertisement columns does not show
any advance on last year's figures, when
honey was more plentiful and appliances
Gheaper. Who, then, is to blame ? Not the
buyers. We may ask, do bee-keepers co-
operate at all to maintain fair prices ? I say,
no ; at least, they do not round here. About
three miles from where I live is a small country
town, around which are located about ten
apiaries of varying size, the four largest
bee-keepers owning some sixty or seventy
stocks between them. Meeting one of
these last summer, just as the first
sections were ready for removal, I asked
what price he intended to sell sections at.
" Sixpence ! " he replied, adding a remark,
" Last year (1899) I asked 8d., and they did
not sell very well, so this time I shall start at
6d.'' "But," said I, "you had no unsold
sections in January, so they did not hang on
hand very long. Suppose you try 8d. for a
start and see how the season gets on.'' But no,
he would and did keep to his " I shall start at
6d." Now sir, I would not grumble so much
had it rested there, but I met another of
the four a few days after, and he observed,
" Here is **** selling his sections at 6d. I
'baint going to be done by him. 1 shall sell
mine at 5d. " And so that game went on
between them till I actually saw three good
sections sold for a shilling. I contend if these
bee-keepers had met in a friendly way and
agreed upon a fair price and kept to it, it
would have been better for themselves and
the bee-keeping community at large.

In speaking of bee-keepers whose complaint
is that they " cannot sell at all," it means that
the first order for honey is generally the last
from the same customer, simply because they
will not put their produce up properly. To
cite a case : — Having sold out of extracted
honey last year, I asked a neighbour bee-
keeper to let me have a couple of pounds for a
customer, which he did. It was handed to
me in a 2-lb. jam-bottle, its mouth covered
with brown paper with part of an address on,
and tied round with a piece of untwisted bag-
tie, the bottle all sticky with honey, and
dirty-looking. Yet that honey was as good
in quality as ever bees gathered from flower?.
Then, as regards comb honey, I have seen it
sent to customers in sections, soiled, and the
propolis all left on, just as taken from the
hive ; the sections about three parts filled, and
as many cells unsealed as sealed. I really
think it would be better for the craft if these
sort of bee-keepers could be relegated to the
class who never have any honey to sell,
because they not only do themselves harm,
but the bee-keeping community also. As Mr.
Woodley says in this week's Journal,
" Cleanliness and the exercise of carefulness
in handling and glazing sections " is the way
to " improve the present output and prove
stepping-stones to success." — C. T. Edens,
Chmlington, January 26.

HOW TO UTILISE SWARMS.

WHERE INCREASE IS not DESIRED.

[4230.] I have read letter of E. Maxwell
(4224, page 38) on my proposed plan of
utilising swarms (4131, November 8, page 439)
in which he mentions having " tried the plan
proposed, but did not find it a success."
Surely there is some mistake here, or your
correspondent has failed to grasp my idea. I
say this — because in recording his unsuccessful
experience, he says, "one entrance and two
excluders were used."

I never suggested having only " one en-
trance,'' as I require a temporary one in the
shallow-frame box in which the swarms hived
in addition to the original entrance. Thus the
parent stock and its swarm each work
from their respective entrances for about
three weeks. In about that time old
queen is removed from the swarm, its tem-
porary entrance is closed, and the perforated
(not excluder) zinc separator removed from
between parent stock and swarm, thus allow-
ing both lot3 to join up or unite ; and the
young queen, being in original body-box
below, remains to head the united bees.

As your correspondent's experiment may
have some points in common with mine, I
shall be glad to hear more particulars of it. —
D. P. H., Cupar, Fife, January 26.

(Correspondence continued on page 46.)

Jan. 31, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

45

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

The picture below represents a corner only
of Mr. Scurrah's bee-garden and some half
dozen hives. He kindly sent us a well-drawn
pencil sketch of his full apiary of thirty hives
all shown, hoping that we could in some way
combine the sketch and photo. Unfortunately,
however, a " tone-block " can only be true to
nature as shown in the photo and so we must
be content to let Mr. Scurrah's " text " explain
the rest, when he writes us as follows : —

11 In accordance with the promise I made
you at the 'Royal' Show at York to send
some account of our bee-garden, I enclose a
photo, of a few of the hives, which are so

while I quickly saw and appreciated the
advantages secured by the movable frame-hive
and a frame of uniform size for all bee-keepers'
use.

" My son-in-law, H. F. Garnett, becoming
an enthusiast over the bees, joined me, and we
work about thirty stocks for both comb and
extracted honey. Ours is a fairly good clover
district, and being within carting distance of
the heather, we are enabled to secure a double
harvest.

"If it was not for le3s accommodation re-
quired in single wall hives, I should most
certainly make no other pattern of hive
except the ' W. B. C.,' but the extra width
makes a serious difference in the space taken
up by hives with outer-cases and stands

MR. WM. SCURRAH'S APIARY, WELL, BEDALE, YORKSHIRE.

widely distributed that it is impossible to
show more than a tithe of them in a photo.
With regard to my bee-keeping, I have had a
long experience, my father starting on the
old-fashioned plan not less than sixty yeara
ago, and ever since that time we have kept
the same strain of bees, without any attempt
at introducing new blood. Of course, there
is always the possibility of queens meeting
with strange drones in their marital flight,
and over this we have no control.

" I began with movable frame hives about
eight years ago, and after borrowing a hive as
a pattern to work by, I made two from it.
Fortunately I had got hold of one made to
ake the ' standard' frame, and have there-
• ore had no occasion to make any alterations,

when carting to the moors. We have also
worked one hive on the "Wells" system with
great success.

" I may add we have been much indebted to
the B.B.J, and Mr. Cowan's 'Guide Book'
for any success we may have achieved in what
has always been a pleasing hobby.

"There is no doubt about bees paying their
way, and leaving a handsome profit when kept
on up-to-date lines combined with the exercise
of intelligent business habits, both in pre-
paring the produce for sale and in securing a
market for it. I also think that where a man
starts bee-keeping without possessing any
business aptitude at all he might as well give
up at the outset, for he. will never become a
bee-keeper of the right sort."

46

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 31, 1901.

CORRESPONDENCE.
{Continued from fage 44.)
THE B.B.K.A. APIARY.

[4231.] On reading Mr. Weston's appeal to
appliance dealers for a gift of hives to the
apiary of the B.B.K.A. (4188, page 2) I thought
it was a joke, but to my great surprise I find
in this week's Bee Journal an editorial to
the same effect.

As there is no mention of such an appeal
being issued at the last Council meeting, I
take it that there is no official authority for it.

One can hardly imagine a worse advertise-
ment for bee- keeping than for members of the
Council of the B.B.K.A. to acknowledge that
their apiary, in such a county as Kent, does
not pay its way. — G. F. O'Fflahertie, The
Hermitage, NettesweU, January 19.

[Owing, it may be, to some special obliquity
of vision on our part, and after again reading
Mr. Weston's letter on p. 2 we fail to see where
the " joke '' comes in. Anyway, if there be any-
thing humorous in th6 appeal made therein,
it is (as a Scotchman would say) " far ben."
Regarding the editorial referred to, however,
we are quite clear, and our correspondent may
" take it " from us that no statement appears
in the editorial column without official
authority for its being made.

On the other hand— and writing, not
editorially, but as a member of the Council —
we must again plead dulness of vision in being
unable to see any connection between the
appeal made and an acknowledgment that
B.B.K.A. apiary at " Swanley does not pay
its way."— Eds.]

THE VISIT OF MR. SCHWAROFF.

[4232.] In visiting Eynsford Mr. Schwaroff
was desirous to ascertain all he could con-
cerning bee-keeping, poultry-keeping, and
cider-making ; and, as a Government director
of the silk industry of the Caucasus, he was
naturally interested in mulberry culture.
Incidentally he explained the reason why
mulberry trees in England almost invariably
split at the fork of the trunk ; there is a large
example of this fault at the Priory. Mr.
Schwaroff explained that it was a law of
mulberry culture always to have three main
branches— never only two — thus splitting is
entirely obviated. Being asked why, if
mulberries were stripped of foliage for silk-
worms, it was not better to grow bush trees,
he replied that in Russia they had a saying,
that " one must always get two skins off every
-ox " and mulberries denuded by cutting off
about 3 ft. of the shoots to feed the silkworms
are then suitable for vines to be trained
up the trunks and branches. Enormous
quinces are grown in the Caucasus of
different shape to ours and single fruits
weigh as much as 2J lb. This favourite
fruit ia cooked like apples. Mr. Schwaroff

greatly admires English poultry. After
viewing Eynsford Castle he was driven to the
cider works, in which he was much interested,
and saw the whole process from pressing to
completion of fermentation, expressing himself
well satisfied with the quality of Kent cider,
then proceeding to the Horticultural College
he was captivated by the sight of so many lady
students. He knew of no other such insti-
tution abroad. Then passing to the Swanley
jam factory he was exceedingly interested in
the whole process of making peel from citron,
lemons, and oranges imported from the shores
of the Mediterranean in casks filled with sea
water. Pulping fruit was fully explained.
Afterwards visiting Messrs. Cannell & Sons'
nurseries he was struck by the grand
display of zonal geraniums, cacti, and chrysan-
themums. Mr. Schwaroff left Eynsford two
days later for Montpelier, where there are
Government horticultural schools. Our Russian
visitor said Kent village scenery, and particu-
larly at Eynsford, excelled anything of the
same description in the Caucasus, where there-
are great altitudes, vast mountain ranges, and
a variety of climates. Mr. Schwaroff has| a
small farm near the historic spot where, during
the retreat of the ten thousand Greeks,
Xenophon's soldiers were poisoned by eating
honey. Azalea pontica still grows wild there,
and flowers profusely. The honey gathered
by the bees from this blossom is always
poisonous. Mr. Schwaroff is a man of great
intelligence, and likes England and the
English, remarking that it was unfortunate
that the people of Russia and of England
knew so little of each other. Were they
better acquainted, national antipathies would
be dissipated. — E. D. T., Eynsford, Jan. 21.

PREVENTING SWARMING.

[4233.] In answer to our friends " W. C.
N."(4205, p. 18), and " F. W. Roden" (4212,
p. 27), who inquire regarding my method of
preventing the issue of swarms, I may be
allowed to say there is nothing new or novel
in my plan. It certainly requires close
watching and strict attention to what many
would think minor matters, but to me they
are very important. I do not disturb my
bees more than is absolutely necessary after
the first overhaul at end of March or first
week in April, believing, as I do, that
nothing causes bees to swarm more than
rough handling and frequent disturbance of
the brood nest. I watch their movements
from the outside day by day, and if they are
seen to be working well at honey gathering, I
let them alone, but if any hive is observed to
be not up to the mark it is carefully and
quietly examined, and I try to put the bees
right. Then as soon as the hives are getting
full of bees on goes the supers without an
hour's delay, and from that time begins the
art of preventing swarming. A day too late

Jan. 31, 19Q1/] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

47

with supers or a bit of neglect in small
details, and the bees begin to build queen -
cells, and the mischief is done ! I give a look
in at the hive entrances every day, and
if the bees are noticed beginning to cluster on
bottom of the frames, the floorboard is let down
or the hive raised an inoh or so in order that
a current of air can enter on all sides, I find
that by so doing it cools the hive, and soon
causes the bees to shift upwards. Then, if
required, I give more super room, and by thus
paying strict attention to bottom and top I
manage to prevent swarming. The secret is
in keeping the bees well at work, instead of
letting them hang about. Bees, like human
beings, differ in temperament according to
locality and race, and each bee-keeper must
ttudy the ways of his own particular
strain of bees. Bear in mind also that young
queens are less likely to swarm than old ones.
1 seldom keep a queen bee over two years in
my own apiary.

During the summer of 1S00 all my stocks
except two were headed by 189.9 queens
reared the previous year. I had no swarms,
but one of the two older queens mentioned
gave me a little trouble. She was a Ligurian
in her third year.

My own stocks averaged about 30 lb. of sur-
plus per colony ; but in several apiaries under
my care the hives sent out swarms. I only
saw those apiaries once a week, and some of
them once a fortnight, and this, of course,
gave me no chance of preventing swarming,
while it, of course, diminished the amount of
surplus honey. In conclusion, let me say that,
while ready and willing to afford any infor-
mation in my power to help bee-keepers, I
think our esteemed friends, Messrs. Brice,
Woodley, Loveday, Rymer, and others, could
write something of far more value than myself
on preventing swarming. Wishing a prosper-
ous year to the bee industry, and the best of
health and happiness to our esteemed editors.
• — A. H. Miller, Egham, Surrey, January^.

THICKNESS OF HONEY-COMB.

[4234.] The Rev. R. M. Lamb (4217,
page 35) asks if bee-keepers will give the
results of their observations as to the thick-
ness of honey-comb, and in doing so cites
the case of a bee-nest built out in the open.
Now, in the case of the swarm which I took
from an oak-tree (4154, page 467 of last year's
vol.), having the combs still by me, I
measured them and found the brood-combs
J in. thick and the honey-combs lj in. thick.
Mr. Lamb gives a plan of discovering the
actual thickness of honey- comb the bees
would build if left to do as they pleased. I
had occasion in the spring of 1900 to put a
bive in order for a neighbour, which had been
given to him. On removing the roof — an
operation that took me all my time— I found
it filled with honey-comb, not the whole

length of the roof, but in pieces about from
4 in. to 6 in. in length, 3 in. to 4 in. in depth,
and 2 in. in thickness — solid slabs of granu-
lated honey-comb. In the brood-chamber I
found six standard frames instead of ten, and
where the remaining four frames should have
been the bees had built "three'' combs right
down to the floor-board, and filled and sealed
them, so that in this instance Mr. Lamb
has got his surprise, and that in right earnest. —
Arthur H. Homersham, Sturry, near Canter-
bury, January 28.

THE "WELLS" SYSTEM.

[4235.] Writing under the heading
" Some Results from ' Wells ' Hives v. Single
Stocks" (4221, page 37), Mr. J. H. Horn
says : "I must say, however, that three of
the ' Wells ' hives mentioned below and one of
the single ones have not swarmed for the last
three years." Will " J. H. H." tell us in the
B. B. J. why they did not, or what he did to
prevent swarming ? He might also state the
cause of the great difference between two of
his " Wells" hives, viz., (c) and (h); the former
(c) with only 95 lb., the latter (h) gives
186 lb,, very near double.

The advantage of the "Wells'' hive over the
single one is shown very clearly. Sixteen
stocks in eight "Wells" hives average 67| lb. of
honey each, while the five single ones average
only 45 J lb. each. I am much interested in
everything connected with the "Wells," having
made and stocked one last season, my reason
for troubling Mr. J. H. H.— W. C H., South
Devon, January 27.

BEE-KEEPERS

VERSUS people who keep bees.

[4236.] I remember reading in an old copybook
the heading, " A hobby-horse is the best hack
on which to ride through the journey of life,"
Now, it goes without saying that your readers
will regard bee-keeping as A 1 among hobbies.
But, in bee-keeping, as in every " hobby," the
subject is viewed from various standpoints.
With some it is a matter of money ; with
others it means only honey ; and not a few
regard it as combining in its requirements, time,
patience, and money. The last-named item
will do a great deal in promoting the enjoy-
ment of most hobbies, but in bee-keeping it is
of least importance, while in keeping bees —
mark the difference — money is absolutely
necessary ; and people who " go in " for bees on
the plan I have italicised will want a lot of it
to start with, and then expect the bees to do
the rest. On the other hand, a bee-keeper
will be content to "get on'' as his knowledge
increases. We have to do things thoroughly
in bee-keeping. Attending to the bees in due
season ; and taking time by the forelock in
doing the work ; never be in a hurry over
it, or woe betide the workman ; don't lie in

•48

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 31, 1901.

bed till the last minute, then rush up the
garden and attempt to put on or take off a
rack of sections before going to your daily
labour, or it is almost a certainty that every-
thing will go wrong and you will get your
pay in stings ! A few experiences of this
kind, however, will make us inwardly vow to
take more time ; to " go slow " and have every
part about our hives perfect in fit and inter-
changeable. The adage says, " Patience is a
virtue, possess it if you can. It's seldom found
in woman and never in a man." But a good
bee-keeper needs patience, otherwise all else
will amount to nil. Those who lack this
virtue only keep bees. They have no love for
the bees, and sooner or later will give up the
pursuit in disgust. Such, then, is one class we
include among those who are keepers of bees
without being bee-keepers. There is also the
individual who keeps bees from entirely mer-
cenary motives ; who removes every ounce of
honey from the hives, gives the bees nothing
in return, and usually comes to an end minus
both stock and crop. I fully agree with one
of your American correspondents, who said,
" the man who did not spend a penny in bee-
literature was almost always a failure." This
type of individual is usually a bumptious
" know-all," who on closer acquaintance is
found to keep his bees in frame-hives, and
wofk them all on the ancient principle of
"happy-go-lucky." On inquiry as to his
" takes " he generally has a stock or two that
has a few filled frames or sections, the rest had
to be "driven" in order to get any honey
from them. I was rather amused one day at
one of our village oracles who was supposed
to be posted up on this subject. He had kept
bees for forty years, but only began with
frame hives five or six years ago. He had never
read a paper or book on bee-keeping, and
prided himself on the fact. He was completely
at a loss in working on the modern plan, so his
attempts at working for sections resulted in
them beiDg all joined together. " How,'' he
asked, " did we manage to get our sections
built all straight ? '' Asked if he used dividers,
he did not know what they were ; a true case
of penny wise and pound foolish. Another
who " keeps bees," is the man who has them
as a neglected adj unct to something else. He
keeps perhaps fifty skeps or wood hives, and
gets about twenty stone of honey from the
lot ; tells you in an apologetic sort of way
that he has not time to attend them ; his
hives are of every pattern and make known
and unknown ; if in skeps they are rotten,
covered with sacks or not as the case may be ;
if in wooden hives the racks of sections are
put on anyhow and at any time ; then the
season ended he wonders how it is So-and-So
gets twice as much honey from half the num-
ber of bees. Still he keeps on in his " to-morrow
will do " sort of way and always fails.
Finally a word on the instructive person
who keeps bees because he thinks a handsome
hive or two will look well on his front lawn.

He gives a good price for bees, has them
housed in a costly hive, and then settles down
with a full expectation of having plenty of
honey for his table and friends. A bad season
follows, feeding has to be resorted to, neglect
follows and the bees starve off ; the fancy hives
finding a resting place in the gardener's out-
house, and rot there. These failures are so
plainly brought about by neglect or ignorance
that they become lessons, teaching us to look
after our own. We watch and study the busy
bee and so we become bee-keepers.

How pleasant it is to come across the man
or woman who rightly can claim the title of
bee-keeper, who tend the bees almost as part
of themselves. They know the character of
each different lot of bees and of every queen as
they know those of their own children. Then
we have the neatly set out rows of hives ;
clean, well painted, well packed, and snug in
appearance, all tending to show the interest
taken in them by their owner. What planning
the bee-keeper has, what arranging of ideas
for working this hive and for that ! Then the
pleasure it gives him of talking to a brother
bee-keeper about their mutual hobby ! His
interest in the bees deepens always, and the
further he goes the more interesting it
becomes. And when, at the season's end, he
finds not only his mind stored by studying
the bees, but his pocket a bit heavier into the
bargain, he comes to the conclusion that of
all the interesting things in this world the bee
stands on top, and far above all. — Roxry,
Yorks, January 21.

REVIEWS OF FOREIGN BEE PAPERS

BY R. HAMLYN-HARR1S,~F.R.M S., F.E.S.,
, F.Z.S., ETC.

Le Rucher Beige (Belgium). — According to
a French bee-keeper nightingales are very
useful near an apiary. Having closely
watched the movements of some in the
vicinity of his hives he assured himself that
these charmiDg birds hunt drones exclusively.

To be sure of the truth of this observation
he killed about a dozen drones and half-a-
dozen worker bees, and placed these on the
alighting board ; he noticed some nightingales
fly down and devour all the drones, without
touching the workers. In admiring the
wonderful instinct of the birds in taking only
the stingless insects, the question is raised as
to whether swallows and tits do not probably
make the same distinction ''.

L'Apicolton (Italy). — From Pistoia comes
but a poor report of last season's honey harvest
in Italy. Spring cold and strong winds, and,
after six weeks' tolerable weather, a long
drought, which not only prevented the rear-
ing of young brood, but its effects will be felt
in the early spring of 1901, as the farmers
could not sow the rape crop — the most
valuable bee pasture at that season— from
about February 1 to March 20.

Jan. 31, 1901.J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

49

L'Apicoltore, Italy.— " L'Abeille Bouging-
nonne" reports a curious story to illustrate
the dangers of some tropical honeys. A Dip-
lomatic official returning home from Central
Asia brought with him a sample of honey
highly recommended for its delicious perfume
and flavour, and had it served at a family
party. All those who partook were soon after
seized with delirium, dancing and gesticu-
lating like lunatics ! The family doctor, called
in, in haste, after questioning the servants,
concluded that the honey was the cause of the
whole trouble, and thought it his duty to taste
it himself. He was also attacked with a kind
of delirium. After a while the sufferers sank
into a profound sleep, after which they
gradually recovered.

Leipsiger Bienen-Zeitung (Germany) says
that in order to demonstrate to the world
the unity of the United States of America,
American bee-keepers intend holding an
enormous exhibition in Buffalo, State of New
York.

Bienenwirtschaftliches Gentralblatt (Ger-
many).—" Bienenrater " refers to a most inte-
resting subject. It has always been a matter
of some importance to endeavour to find a
remedy for the bite of snakes, but until now
no one, as far as we can tell, has been success-
ful, and it seems as if the poison of the bee
really possessed some counteracting influence.

A well-known French chemist has recently
experimented upon dogs which had been
bitten by poisonous snakes. These dogs were
injected with the honey-bee's poison with the
result that after a slight attack of fever the
animals seemed to have quite recovered.

Leipziger Bienervxitung and Others. — Dr.
Dzierzon is advocating feeding bees with
fresh - boiled milk and sweetened with a
quantity of sugar ; he reports specially good
results from his twin-hives — treated with the

(® ttyiqs and j^uf.

[2580.] Making Flour-candy.— I some-
times find in making flour-candy that it
gradually returns toja semi-liquid state after
setting. I. Can you tell me why this is so I
2. I can never get the flour to mix properly with
the candy. The flour forms itself into a lot of
little balls. In order to get over this trouble
I sometimes throw the flour into the pan off a
a plate in one mass, and then keep stirring to
make it blend, but I fail in my efforts. At
other times I put it in slowly with my hand,
but always with the same result. I attend
fairly well to the instructions in the " Guide
Book," except that I may stir in the flour
before the candy begins to set properly. Please
say where I err?— GladdeI co. Carlou),
January 25.
Reply.— 1. If the instructions in "Guide

Book " are carefully and closely adhered to,
good candy will result. This has been fully
proved. Your failure is apparently caused by
only attending " fairly well to the instructions,
except," &c. We have never before, heard of
candy going back to a semi-liquid state if
properly boiled. 2. The flour should be
lightly sprinkled in by hand — stirring the
mixture rapidly after removal from the tire —
when cooling it off and causing it to turn
white and stiff. This is done by constant
stirring until the candy sets.

[2581.] A Beginner's Queries on Various
Stibjects. — Yesterday (January 17) was the
first really fine day we have had here for a
very long time, and I had a look at my hives.
A few from each of three stocks were flying
around, but the fourth hive showed no sign of
life. I rapped on the alighting-board, but
only one bee came out, crawled round the
door, and went in again. 1. Why do the bees
behave in this way (for I have noticed it
before) ? I thought they were my best stock.
2. Two of my stocks are made up from driven
bees, and within the last two or three weeks
I gave them candy. The bee3 have not con-
sumed the food yet. I suppose I may assume
that they are all right 2 3. Can, or will, a
queen bee sting ? and would not the bees
violently resent having the queen lifted off the
combs and taken away ? 4. How are combs
given to bees to be cleaned after extracting 1
I have had the Bee Journal for a year, and
also the " Guide Book," but have never seen
this particular item of bee-work described,
although often referred to. I will conclude
by thanking you in advance ; and, indeed, I
do not know how any bee-keeper can get on
without the Bee Journal, especially those
who, like myself, are new to the business. —
Slieve Donard, Nexocastle, co. Doion,
January 18.

Reply.— 1. If a particular hive is observed
to be inactive, while others have bees flying
freely from the entrance on fine days, an
examination should be made to ascertain the
cause of difference. There is no known rule
to account for it, and the most experienced
bee-man simply looks inside when anything
unusual is noticed about a hive. 2. So far
from assuming that bees are " all right ' ,
because there is unconsumed candy above the
frames, it is not at all uncommon for stocks to
perish with food overhead. All depends
upon the amount of syrup -food given
when feeding up. If there are well-stored
combs below Lit matters little about uncom-
sumed candy. 3. The queen bee has a sting,
but only uses it on a rival in the combat for
supremacy. Bees become much agitated a
short time after losing their queen, but do not
" violently resent " her removal. _ 4. Wet
combs, after extracting, should be given to the
bees for cleaning up, at dusk, after bees have
done flying for the day. If given earlier in
the day, when bees are busy, it may cause

50

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Ja«. 31, 1901.

" robbing,'' and a general upset in the apiary,
sometimes with disastrous results.

[2582.] Using Frames of Money as Bee-
Food. — 1. Please tell me how to use some
frames of sealed honey for feeding my bees.
It is heather honey, and I have no extractor,
nor do I wish to break up the combs, as
they are new combs built last summer. 2.
What is the best method of keeping a register
of the age of queens ? I have fourteen hives
and cannot remember ages of queens. 3. Is
a member of the county B.K.A. entitled to a
visit from the "expert" once a year? —
K. M. B., Lyndhurst, Hants, Jamiary 28.

Reply. — 1. Uncap the food or bruise the
cappings (by scratching off part of the sur-
face) before inserting a comb, and place it
next to the hive side, removing a frame
to make room. Give one comb of food at a
time, and at intervals of a week or so, or
when the honey has been taken from the
added comb. 2. For 2d. in stamps we will send
a copy of our monthly, the Record, in which
appears a "Register" such as you need. 3. Yes.

<&ifam flwm fht lpB*8,

Chaddington, Oxon, January 24. — To-day,
being bright and warm, and bees flying,
freely, I took the opportunity of having a
peep within the hives to see how things
were as regards food. I found that more
stores had been consumed than is usual
at this season, owing to the open weather,
which allowed too many opportunities for
free flights. Several beekeepers around here
have lost stocks already, owing to starvation,
which no doubt a cake of soft candy would
have saved. I saw the first dandelions in
bloom to-day, but snowdrops and anemones
have been out for some days now, while the
modest little daisy and the laurestinus have
bloomed more or less all winter, and the latter
is now a mass of bloom. The rooks are
starting building, thus heralding spring, when
all bee-keepers will hope to be busy among
the bees once more, and I trust set out on
a prosperous year. — C. T. Edens.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers,

All querieiforwarded will be attended to, and thoee only
of pergonal inter eft will be answered in this column.

S. C (Selkirk). — Honey Adulteration. — In
view of the special character of our corre-
spondent's communication, and the con-
troversy that may arise from its publication,
we will be glad if "S. C" will kindly
conform to the printed rule at head of
correspondence column by sending his real
name and address — not necessarily for pub-
lication— before his letter appears in print.

G. White (Hillingdon). — Removing Surplus
in January. — With regard to the skeps

Used as surplus chambers above top-bars of
frame-hives, we should be very chary of
removing it all without first making quite
sure of there being plenty of food below.
In fact, unless you value the honey more
than the bees, the best course will be to
defer any removal of surplus until the tees
are safely through the risks of wintering, or,
say, till April, and only if the queen is
found breeding in the frames below, and
food enough in them to last till honey can
be had outside.

Thos. Andrews (Salisbury). — Ancient Bee
Books. — We are much obliged by the short
extract from your encyclopaedia, but you will
notice that the ground is about covered by
Mr. Headley's " Fugitive Papers."

P. B. Govett (Cornwall). — Portraits of Bee-
keepers.— Except the certain amount of'
interest attaching to those who have ac-
quired some special prominence in the craft
there seems to be no reason just now for
publishing " portraits " as suggested, seeing
that only a few years ago we had in our
pages a series of portraits accompanied by
short sketches of the bee-keepers repre-
sented.

W. ! Martin (High Wycombe).— -Bee-Show at
the Crystal Palace in 1874. — Much obliged
for your reminiscences of the above-named
show and also for your poetical description
of the " event," although the latter is hardly "
suitable for publication. We also well
remember yourself as a winner of several
prizes on the now historical occasion.

Ren Record (Handsworth, Birmingham). —
Hive-making and Bee-management. — There
are several works which contain instructions
in both branches of apiculture you name,
but since you ask our view as to choice, we
advise the " Guide Book."

Henry Foster (Hockley Heath).— Naphthol
Beta for use in Bee-Food. — We cannot be
responsible for anything supplied either by
your local chemist or by appliance-dealers
sold under this name. That sent out from
this office is specially prepared for us under
Mr. Cowan's direction, and is of the guaran-
teed purity and strength necessary for use
in solution as advised by Dr. Lortet.

C. J. Else (Derby). — Clarifying Honey. —
1. The process of "clarifying honey for
the show-bench " to which you refer, is
simply to slightly heat the honey — if it
happens to show signs of cloudiness or
incipient granulation — by immersing the
jars in warm water until the cloudiness
disappears and the honey resumes its
original brightness. 2. The coloured glass
for grading honey can only be had from Mr.
E. A. Young, Sec. B.B.R.A., 12, Hanover-
sqUate, London.

We have a number of letters and some
queries on hand, but as they are not urgent,
and our space is fully occupied, we reserve
them till next week.

Feb. 7, 1901.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

51

Editorial Itdices, fa.

DEVON BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The third annual meeting of the Devon
B.K.A. was held at the Guildhall, Exeter, on
the 26th ult. The chair was taken by Col.
Walker, President, and amongst those present
were Miss S. Hole, Messrs. Burgess, Catford,
Mark Farrant (Hon. Treasurer), A. Godsland,
F. P. Smith, Townsend, Barton, Blacktnore,
Webber, and E. Scholefield (Hon. Secretary).
The Hon. Treasurer presented and briefly
explained the accounts, expressing his opinion
that although they showed a small deficit, due
principally to the forward policy which the
Council had thought it right to adopt in the
matter of the bee-van, the financial position of
the Association was decidedly satisfactory.

The Chairman moved the adoption of the
report and accounts. The former showed that
the most important work of the year had been
the six weeks' tour of the bee-van under a
special expert, at a cost of £88 9s. Id,
towards which the County Council had granted
£75, the remainder being defrayed by the
Association. The tour had been quite suc-
cessful ; thirty-six places had been visited.
The bee-tent provided in the previous year by
the County Council had been of great educa-
tional value. Courses of lectures hid also been
given in different parts of the county under the
Technical Education Committee.

Tne Council expressed their regret at losing
the services of Mr. Jacomb-Hood, but they
heartily congratulated him on his well-
deserved promotion, and could not forget how,
at the fiigt start of the Association, he had
contributed no little to its success by under-
taking the whole expert work for the first
year. They were glad to think that the loss
of Mr. Tolson, late hon. sec, was to be only
temporary.

The Chairman remarked that although the
number of members, 245, was slightly under
that of last year, new membirs continued to
be enrolled. The fact of a few having resigned:
was of little importance. Some joined for the
sake of novelty, o'hers with the idea that the
Association would take the trouble of disposing
of their honey off their hands. It was never
intended or in any way pretended that the
Devon B.K.A. should enter into commercial
competition. It was obvious that such an
undertaking would be entirely beyond its
powers. What could be done in that direction
would be done as heretofore, while it was
hoped that with the assistance of the County
Council the general work of the Association
would continue to extend.

The report and accounts were unanimously
adopted. The Right Hon. Lord Seaton was
elected President. The Hon. Sec. and Hon.
Treasurer were 're-elected, as were also the
Council, with two additions.

The question of approaching the County
Council for a grant in aid of technical educa-
tion was then discussed at length, and it was
agreed to ask for the same sum as had been
granted last year towards the bee-van tour,
but that it should be applied this year to
working in connection with horticultural and
other societies throughout the county and to
payment of experts. It was also decided that
no exhibitor at the Association's honey shows
should be allowed to make more than one
entry in any one class.

A cordial vote of thanks to the chairman
for presiding that day and for having acted as
President to the D.B.K.A. during the past
three years was carried unanimously.

Colonel Walker, in returning thanks, ex-
plained that though no longer President he
would continue to work in the interests of the
Association.

A vote of thanks to the Mayor of Exeter
for the use of the Guildhall, and also to the
hon. auditor, closed the proceedings.

DERBYSHIRE B.K.A.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The twentieth annual meeting of this associa-
tion was held on Saturday, January 20, at the
Town Hall, Derby (by permission of the
Mayor), Alderman J. L. P. Barber, J.P., in
the chair. The minutes of the last general
meeting having been read and confirmed, and
the usual vote of thanks moved and carried,
the officers for the coming year were elected.
His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, KG., was
elected president ; Alderman J. L. P. Barber,
J. P., chairman ; Mr. R. Giles, vice-chairman ;
Dr. W. G. Copestake, treasurer, and Mr. F.
Walker, hon. secretary. Votes of thanks were
accorded the Derbyshire Agricultural Society,
for their kindness in again assisting the Asso-
ciation by renewing their grant of £10 in
aid of the prize schedule, and to the Derby-
shire County Council for their grant of £50.
Seven lectures had been given during the
season under the auspices of the Association,
and they were well attended and appreciated.
The experts report that foul brood is still
prevalent in the county, the disease having
appeared in several apiaries hitherto free from
it. The experts have visited during the spring
of last year nearly 400 bee-keepers, with a total
of about 1,500 stocks. The number of mem-
bers at present is 247, showing an increase of
56 on the preceding year. ' The report and
balance-sheet being adopted, the meeting
closed with the usual vote of thanks. —
(Communicated. )

CUMBERLAND B.K.A.
A meeting of the above was held at the
Pennington Arm3, Ravengiass, on Saturday
evening, January 12, when a good many of
the officers and committee put in an appear-
ance. The reports as to membership are, we

52

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Feb. 7, 1901.

hear, very satisfactory. Bee-keepers from a'l
parts of the county are joining or have joined.
Mr. Vicars Boot, the Secretary, appears to be
working very hard to make the new associa^
tion a success. — (Communicated.)

REVIEWS OF FOREIGN BEE PAPERS

BY R. HAMLYN-HARRIS, F.R.M.S., F.Z S ,
F.E.S., ETC.

Deutsche Illustrierte Bienenzeitung (Ger-
many).— Bheilfestschrift says that Frederick
the Great was an energetic promoter
of bee-keeping. He decreed that the
clergy, religious institutions, and cloisters,
as well as those persons renting land belonging
to the Crown should keep a certain fixed
number of hives. Every lessee who paid a
rent of less than 150 Reichsthaler (1 Reichs-
thaler=3s.*) had to keep ten, and the others
at least twenty stocks, and that for each
missing hive a fine of 5 Reichsthaler was
imposed.

In districts where the bees could find
sufficient food each peasant had to stock one
or two lots of bees, according to his wealth
and position. Should this not be complied
with a fine of 16 groschen (1 groschen = l|d.*)
was imposed for every hive under the prescribed
limit, whilst those whose apiaries consisted
of over ten colonies received a prize of
16 groschen.

In the case of robbery of bees, punishments
according to the amount of loss was inflicted,
consisting of one to three years' imprison-
ment ; those exposing any honey mixed with
poison in the open, in order to kill bees,
received six years' imprisonment, because,
not only was the Royal decree ignored, but
because the honey might prove dangerous to
man.

The results of this law were such that
Frederick the Great wrote to Voltaire : —

" Apiculture has during this year increased
by one-third."

Praktisher Wegweiser fur Bienenzuc liter
(Germany). — According to the Schleswig
Holstein Bienenzeitung, the number of
apiarists in the United States of America
amount to 300,000 persons, whilst the yearly
income derived from bees amounts on an
average to 80,000,000 marks (20 marks = £1).

Deutche Bienenzucht (Germany). — Prak-
tisher Wegiveiser fur Bienensiichter : — Honey
ointment for sores. Honey and flour mixed to
the extent of half the quantity of honey with
water is stirred into a stiff mass. Linseed oil
and yolk of egg to be added in order to give
the same a tenacious tendency.

Praktisher Wegweiser Warzburg says :—
Compresses made of honey and acetic acid, and
applied in the case of burns have had good
results.

* In taking the value of money into consideration,
the period of which we speak must be borne in mind.—
R. H.-H,

Deutcher Imker aus Bohmen. — Honey from
Mount Hymettus is sold in Greece for 2-2£
gulden (gulden = a florin) per kilogramme
(kilogramme = about 2 lb.). All other kinds of
honey fetch only 50-70 kreuzer. The demand
of honey cannot be met, although the output
of the same reaches a value of half a million
gulden.

(&MmpVL&tML

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents,
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as wel
as the page on which it appears.

SIZE OF SECTIONS.
(Continued from page 42.)

[4237.] In the previous article, after
noticing how Mr. Cowan supported my view
as to the natural thickness of honey-comb, I
ought also to have given the following
quotation from the A. I. Root Company's
catalogue for 1900 (page 6) : — " A tall section
holding approximately a pound weight
permits of the use of a thinner comb — a
comb more nearly approaching combs in
nature. Thin combs are said to be filled
sooner and are far better filled, and it is also
thought that honey ripens better in them."
I can hardly think these statements would
have been inserted if they had not the support
of some successful bee-keepers. This
catalogue, I may say, came into my hands
only at the beginning of this winter, and in it
I have found several ways in which my
experience has been strikingly similar to
those of many of our brethren over the
water.

The next aspect we have to consider is,
" How our present sections affect the heather
harvest ? ''

I would reply in one word — disastrously !
All that has been said against them with
reference to the clover harvest applies with
greater force with regard to the heather.

So that if bee-keepers generally cannot agree
to adopt, shall we say, the " New Century
Section," I would recommend all who go
to the heather to unite together and procure
one and name it — the " Moor Section.''

If heather honey in virgin comb is superior
to that pressed out — as it undoubtedly is — if
there is good demand for such ; if, owing to
shortness of most seasons, the prebent sections
are disappointing ; then a narrower comb, one
which the bees can build, fill, and seal
quickly, seems to be absolutely necessary.
Would that we could take a census of the

Feb. 7, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

53

opinions of all our bee-keepers, but I feel that
the desire for a change is steadily gaining

Let a few examples, however, suffice for the
present. On reading the report of Mr. Horn,
Bedale (4217, page 34), and observing that
his excellent harvest consisted only ot ex-
tracted and pressed honey, I wrote asking if
he had lately supered with sections, and it so,
what proportion were marketable ? He replied,
" Yes ; but only about a quarter were saleable
—the demand was greater than supply. My
hives always return from the moors with
shallow-frames sealed throughout."

The Rev. Sidney Smith (Wheldrake) took
his bees to the moors for the first time last
August. They were in time to take advan-
tage of the few fine days early in the season,
and a good many sections were filled, but he
had patiently to wait week after week lor
their sealing. I, of course, drew his attention
to the necessity there was in his case of a
narrower section.

Mr. Rymer two or three years ago supered
with both sections and shallow-frames ; he met
with fair success with the latter, whereas the
sections were a miserable failure. Yet there
was a demand for honey-comb. How did he
meet it 1 By simply offering his frames. Is
there not room, then, for some reform ?

To secure a fair harvest plenty of worked-
out comb is another important factor. As
towards the end of the season bees are dis-
inclined to build comb, the less work of this
kind we give them the better results we may
expect. At present we extract many sections
and then take them to the heather. But what
should we do if most of those we put on for
clover were completed ? Whence should we
obtain worked-out sections 1 Well, let us see.
Supposing with narrower sections the tables
were turned, and instead of the majority the
minority only were incomplete, then, I sup-
pose, many would do what I, for one, should
be glad to do— purchase worked-out sections
from those who happened to have some. I can
only express my sincere conviction that when
once bee-keepers who frequent the heather
felt confident of meeting with fair success by
means of a worked-out narrower section, there
would be a brisk demand for them.

I might go further, and say that when once
the heather honey harvest was thus placed on
a sounder basis, it would be practicable for
enterprising bee-keepers to hire their neigh-
bours' stocks for a couple of months and take
them for a second harvest.

May I now throw out a few suggestions
which those who think with me might value.
There appear to be three courses open to us:—
(1) If a goodly number were willing to join
the enterprise we might order from 50,000 to
100,000 special sections of such a size that
three would fit the shallow-frame. They
would measure about 5 in. by 4f in. by If in.
(or plain, 1| in.) ; or
• (2) We could make a compromise with the

present section by one measuring 5 in. by 4j in.
by 1| in,, which would fit the present section
racks if they were raised f in. ; or #

(3) We could try the American (Root s), o in.
by 4 in. by 1| in., by packing them in our
frames.

Besides the replies in the Journal, to
which I hope to allude briefly next week, 1
have received kind letters from friends with
some ingenious ideas. I thank them all, and
shall be pleased to receive suggestions, if only
on a post-card, from others who are trying to
bridge over the chasm between our section and
the shallow-frame. I promise to give them
full credit for anything new, and would only
remind them that we are more likely to be
successful the more we follow the motto,
"simple and effective."— Richd. M. Lamb,
Burton Pidsea, Yorks, February 2.

"NO PAINS, NO GAINS."

CLARIFIED HONEY FOR THE SHOW- BENCH.

T4238.1 The above " moral " is the obvious
one to draw from Mr. Woodley's remarks
(page 33, January 24) on " clarifying honey.
If a little judicious manipulation will make
our produce more pleasing to the eye (ot
customers as well as "judges ') without
rendering it less pleasing to the palate, by
all means let us adopt it. On the two
occasions when I have shown honey locally
I have clarified my exhibit, and taken a
"first" prize; not that I think the latter
was wholly, or mainly, because of the
former ; but from the remarks I heard again
and aaain from the visitors to the show 1
learned that its bright and transparent
appearance was emphatically an attraction to
them, and resulted in " business " in not a
few instances. .

I do not believe that judges would give first
place to an inferior clarified sample while re-
jecting a superior unclarified lot ; but if two
equal samples were staged, inasmuch as the
clarified one would have the advantage in
point of appearance and saleability, it would,
in my opinion, rightly be preferred. If we
are to stickle so persistently for a state ot
" nature " in regard to extracted, why not also
for comb honey 1 Why,not reject the glazing,
and especially the lace-edging, and show the
section just in the condition in which we take
it from the bees 1 The adornment of the case
does not improve the contents ; but one friend
would say (and rightly so), "it improves the
appearance and adds to the value commer-
cially,' and therefore the pains taken are not
thrown away," and this is my contention in
regard to extracted when carefully clanhed.

She of Sections.— Bees do nothing invari-
ably This is the conclusion I draw from the
information given by various correspondents
as to the width of combs built by bees under
varving conditions, some natural, others arti-
ficial. Combs from § in. to 3 in. or more are

54

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 7, 1901.

mentioned, but I fancy the average, in nature,
would not exceed, if it reached, 1£ in. With
shallow-frames and plenty of bees, my experience
is that eight frames with " wide " ends, when
fully sealed, will contain more honey than ten
frames with "narrow" ends. But in the case
of section-boxes I think the nearer we keep to
Nature the better. Our object here is not so
much to get weight of honey as to get a per-
fectly drawn out and sealed section. And
this there seems a more reasonable prospect of
doing where a larger number of sections can
be placed over the hive, as would be the
case, if the size were reduced. I am, com-
paratively, only a beginner, and I make the
following suggestion with all diffidence, viz. :
that the width be reduced \ in., and the area
be made 4J in. by 4| in. This size would
enable us to use the present rack by nailing a
i in. strip all round the top, and we should get
in 24 sections in place of 21. The cubic space
would be only about 1 in. less than at present,
and if the section were well filled, the weight
would be full 16 oz , perhaps more. At any
rate I feel, with Mr. Lamb, that a different
size to the present at least deserves a trial,
and I hope some practical suggestions as to
what the size is to be made by those with
larger experience than myself. Where ex-
pense is a consideration (and it ought always
to be so to a practical man), to have a size
that would go into our present racks, with
the slight addition mentioned above, would be
a decided advantage. I trust something
tangible may result from this discussion. —
W. H., Brilley Vicarage, Whitney, Hereford.

THE "B.B.K.A." APIARY.
[4239.] In your issue of January 31 is a short
note (on page 46) referring to the B.B.K.A.
apiary, which at first I thought of passing un-
noticed ; but, containing, as it does, in its
few lines so much misleading matter, I
think it better to write somewhat in
answer. I may take it for granted that
your correspondent is not an appliance-dealer,
or he would have had sufficient business
acumen to perceive that the letter was not
written in "joke," but in deadly earnest ; and
I may here take the opportunity of publicly
thanking those gentlemen who have kindly
come forward to help* us towards that which
we require. Next, as to your correspondent's
unwarranted assumption that, because there was
no mention of the matter in the Report of the
December meeting of the Council, I therefore
had no authority to write to the B.J., I must
inform him that it is not the practice for
any society to publish details of the conver-
sations and arrangements that are made at
meetings to further its interests, and ours is
no exception to the rule. The last para-
graph of Mr. O'Fflahertie's letter assumes that
"the B.B.K.A. apiary does not pay its way."
In my letter (4188, page 2) there is no hint
of anything of the kind ; the stocks there

have furnished us with the article we need,
viz., bees, wherewith to illustrate the expert's
lectures in the bee-tent, and for examination
and lecture purposes at Swanley. To properly
house them in hives fit to exhibit to visitors
was the aim of my appeal, and I am glad to
say it will succeed. Using the hives thus
precludes making such a return in honey or
cash a3 your correspondent seems to con-
sider we should have. But the apiary is not
run on business lines only as a profit-mak-
ing concern ; it is an adjunct of the educa-
tional work which I hope the B.B.K.A.
will always keep in the fore-front of
their labours. With many thanks to our
editors for their kind assistance. — T. I.
Weston, Wickham-Bishojys, Essex.

" WELLS " HIVES V. SINGLE STOCKS.
[4240.] In reply to "W. C. H.," South
Devon (4235, page 47), re my working of
" Wells " hives, I would first recommend your
correspondent to procure Mr. Wells's pamphlet
and study every detail. It should be under-
stood that I make no claim to having " im-
proved " on the "Wells" hive. Some bee-
keepers, no doubt, adopt different entrances,
and others make dummies unlike the
original one, described by Mr. Welh carefully
and accurately. But why try so-called improve-
ment, which in nearly every case brings about
a failure ? If a bee-keeper wishes to try ex-
periments, let him try it at his own expense,
but not at that of Mr. Wells. The above
advice I also give to all who make a start with
the "Wells'' hive; because if the " starter ''
thoroughly masters the system he will succeed,
but neglect in details causes the " Wells "
hive to become a nuisance instead of a
pleasure combined with profit.

In my own practice, let me say, all my
brood-frames are filled with full sheets of
" Weed '' light brood-foundation, each bottom
corner only being cut away to allow for a few
drone -cells. Each of my " Wells " hives
holds ten frames on one side of the perforated
dummy, and nine on the other, besides two
solid dummies. The hive measures 30» in.
inside measure, and being double-walled, the
entrance extends right across the front, with
slides and movable wood-block for use when
required. The surplus-chambers are loose
inside, two covering the full length of brood-
frames, and I also consider it not safe to have
less than six of these for each " Wells " hive,
but four will suffice in most seasons. Cover to
go over all is made of 11 in. wide i-in. pine.

In working shallow-frames I use extra wide
metal ends and full sheets of drone-founda-
tion (" Weed "). Tops of frames are covered
with extra-strong American leather - cloth,
with two chaff-packed bottomless boxes
2^ in. deep to be covered with canvas. These
are much easier removed than quilts and do
not blow about if windy. If weather is warm
I remove these outside until it becomes cooler.

Feb. 7, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

55

I never allow the bees to be cramped for
room in advance, and this is my sole aid in
preventing swarming. Referring to the dif-
ference in the " take " from (c) and (h) as
mentioned on page 37, if he will look up my
report in B.J. of April 12 last year, and call (c)
No. 5 and (h) No. 13 in comparing the two
reports, he will find the explanation.

I have received letters through the post
asking me why I keep single stocks when the
" Wells " hive gives me so much better results ?
My reason is I have two crops to consider, the
clover and heather ; and in carting the bees to
the moors 1 like the single stocks for packing
between the six " Wells " hives, which com-
plete my load and leave nice room for ventila-
tion ; but I could not pack nine " Wells "
hives on the same space and keep the hives all
within the sides of my cart. Bee-keepers that
go to the moor3 on rough roads will under-
stand this.

Mr. Wm. Loveday, on page 42, objects to
the " Welk " hive as being inconvenient. I
think he cannot have had much experience or
else the construction of his " Wells '' hives is
faulty.

Among the advantages I claim for " Wells "
hives for taking to the moors are : — (I) A
double hive for same " standing room ' (one
shilling) as a single one ; (2) saving room in
the cart and time in handling two stocks at
one lift ; (3) the gain in returns compared with
single stocks, even when counting one " Wells ''
hive as two stocks, my own average when
reckoned in this way being 67h lb. from each
division of the " Wells,'' against 'S7h lb. from
single, hives. The gain in " take '' from the
" Wells " hive properly managed, as given
and explained by " W. H. C," just suits the
bee-keeper's purpose. — J. H. Horn, Bedale,
Yorks, February 4.

SIZE OF SECTIONS.

[4241.] To every bee-man whose aim is to
raise comb-honey to the highest possible
standard of perfection the above subject has
considerable interest. I understand from the
writings of your able correspondent, the Rev.
R. M. Lamb, that he is in favour of a narrower
section than the present 2 in. wide one, and
quotes the shallow-frame with its li in. and
If in. centres as being nearer perfection.
Those who have handled shallow - frames,
Stewarton boxes, and such like receptacles
are aware that a larger quantity of honey can
be gathered in a given time compaied with the
use of the present section-rack ; but in the
matter of selling or marketing the crop, I for
one regret to say that the shallow-frame is
" not in it '' when working for comb-honey.

The Rev. Mr. Lamb, in his contentions,
seems to have overlooked the fact that sections
are worked between dividers and frames are
not. The latter, on that account, are no guide
whatever in arriving at the best size or width
of sections. If he spaces the shallow-frame at

If in. centres, the thickness of the comb
produced, without going into decimals, will be
If in. The 2 in. section with divider will
give comb. 1 J in. thick. To raise comb-honey
with a thickness of less than 1| in. to 1-g- in.
would, I think, be a retrograde step. Bee-
keepers are agreed that sections, to be perfect,
must have dividers, although nature does not
provide them.

For years bee-keepers in Scotland have used
the 4j in., 1 lb. section, 1J| in. instead of the
usual 2 in. size. This width is given to the
makers when the order is placed, and only
when the stock runs down is the full 2 in.
size resorted to. For obvious reasons this
narrower make is preferable. For several
years 1A- in. and If in. sections were exten-
sively on trial and were found wanting, and
none can vouch for this statement so well as
appliance- dealers, who were glad to clear out
these sizes at 50 per cent. loss. Perfection in
comb-honey cannot, I think, be accomplished
with a narrower section than from 1| in. to
2 in. centres, and if we are going to raise the
standard of excellence so much desired by
every one, other means must be employed. —
Wm. McNally, Glenluce, N.B., February 1.

DOUBLE-QUEENED HIVES.

THE "WELLS" SYSTEM.

[4242.] Like your correspondent, " W.
C. H.,'' South Devon (4235, page 47), I am
very interested in everything in connection
with the " Wells '' hive, but my own
experience is decidedly adverse to the
" double-queen" system. I have found, after
some years' trial, that however strong both
stocks may be in the height of the season,
one compartment invariably loses its queen,
and the bees perish before the advent of the
next. Then the quantity of surplus honey
from a " Wells '' hive has never in my
experience equalled that from two strong
single stocks. Even from an early vigorous
swarm in a single hive. I have, by using whole
sheets of foundation, taken in the same
season over a hundredweight of honey, a
weight of surplus I have never yet been
able to take from a "Wells,'' however
strong. But the chief objection I find to
the " Wells " system is the difficulty in mani-
pulating one stock without disturbing the
other, seeing that the work is best done at
noon on a bright, sunny day, when many bees
are out ; and if, say, the work to be done is ex-
tracting from the brood-combs, which often
become so clogged with honey that the queen
has no cells to lay her eggs in, with consequent
deterioration of the stock, such work is
necessarily prolonged. Although one may
subjugate the bees in both compartments, the
irritation caused to the manipulator by the
return of flying bees from both stocks is too
great to endure stoically, and generally results
with me in a postponement of the operation

56

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 7, 1901.

sine die, which is, of course, bad bee-keeping*
as everything to be done in connection with
bees must be accomplished at the proper time,
and any delay or procrastination is fatal. So
with regret I have been compelled to abandon
the " Wells " system and adopt only the single
hive in my apiary, nor do I personally consider
the extra harvest said to be derived from the
system to be commensurate with the addi-
tional trouble and vexations involved. I
enclose my card. — Multa Gemens, Essex.

LECTURES ON BEE-KEEPING

FOB DWELLERS IN THE COUNTRY.

[4243.] Among the many interesting letters
in the Bee Journal of January 24, I was
greatly pleased to see the one on " Lectures
on Bee-keeping " (4223, page 38). This is a
subject which, to my mind, is of the utmost
importance, and, along with Mr. W. H.
Harris, I sincerely hope that something will
be done in the direction he points out. As a
dweller in the country, I know from experience
how much pleasure and instruction is conveyed
in a lecture on any such subject ; and with a
lantern and a set of slides on bee-keeping, not
only would knowledge be gained, but a greater
and more lasting interest would be aroused
than in any other way I know of. In fact, all
the surroundings of life in country places at
this season, with our evenings unoccupied and
no outdoor recreations to take up our atten-
tion, with the younger people hardly knowing
how to spend the lime, their minds would more
readily grasp and retain the instruction offered
because of there being nothing else to distract
their attention. In most villages the
announcement of a lantern lecture is hailed
with enthusiasm weeks before the event
comes off, and is talked of for months after.
To an audience composed mainly of cottagers,
farmers, and gardeners, a lecture on any
subject in connection with natural history is
not only appreciated but is fully understood ;
for to many of us Nature is our greatest
teacher, but her worksare ever before our eyes.
A typewritten lecture, or copious and
instructive notes on the different slides, would,
in the hands of a bee-keeper, prove not only
interesting and instructive, but would be a real
boon during the dark winter nights. I
sincerely hope that the Council of the
B.B.K A. will take the matter up earnestly.
We have lantern lectures on horticulture and
agriculture in every phase, from slipping
cuttings to full blooming plants ; then why not
in bee-keeping ?. — G. A. Barnes, Thornton
Dale, Yorkshire, January 29.

OBSERVATORY HIVES.

HUBER's " LEAF -HIVE."

[4244.] In your issue of January 17 (page
27), Mr. Headley mentions that Huber
invented the " leaf-hive,'' can you give me

an idea what the "leaf-hive" is like? I
have a hive, the " W.B.C." style of make, with
plate-glass windows on three sides, through
which I have again and again seen the queen
when on the outer frames. This, of course, is
only occasionally, and I should like to be able
to look at her any time, if this is possible to
be done without taking out the frames and
searching in the ordinary way for her. Can you
assist me in this matter ? — S. Head, Ivybridge,
Devon.

[The "leaf-hive" of Huber was the first
step towards the movable-comb hive and was
practically a hive in sections hinged or
clamped together but capable of being parted
and examined singly. It was of course
entirely superseded by the present hanging-
frame hive invented by Langstroth. There
have been observatory hives made in which
the particular frame on which the queen
happens to be at the time can be examined
without removal from the hive, but such hives
will never come into general use. Moreover,
when they need examining or fixing up for
use, it requires more skill than the inspecting
of combs in an ordinary frame-hive. — Eds.]

PREVENTING SWARMING.

[4245.] I notice several inquiries as to
how swarming is prevented. I may say I
have worked my stocks up from a stray
swarm of s'x years ago to thirty-eight
stocks at present, and have never had a
natural swarm the whole time, though I have
Carniolan hybrids. The following I consider
indispensable conditions : — (1) room in body-
box for twelve to fourteen frames ; (2) porous
quilts, and plenty of ventilation ; (3) inner
brood-box and outer-case, same as the
" Cowan " hive illustrated in the " Guide
Book " ; (4) boarded, felt-lined and metal
covered roof. Then, as the season advances
and brood increases, add in centre frames with
full sheets of workor foundation till you have
at least twelve frames full of brood.

Now examine every frame, and all that
contain an undue proportion of pollen place on
the outsides (for removal later on or other
consideration). Next place a box of four
shallow-frames, either fitted with full sheets
or built-out combs, with dummies on each
side ; that is, a kind of hanging box over-
head, spaced the same as frames beloV, but
leaving a bee-space above the brood-frames.

I generally find my bees take to the small
space- given at once, and in a few days they
will have nearly filled these four frames. And
I then decide whether to take out the
"dummies'' and add more frames, or tier up
with a rack of sections, and when these are
being sealed over add another rack or box of
shallow frames.

I can only say that the foregoing plan
succeeds with me. There is no necessity for
watching the bees, but, of course, they must

Feb. 7, 1901. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

57

be examined from time to time, and when it
becomes necessary to add frames to brood-
nest it is best to alternate them, of course
doing it very gently and slowly.

I was surprised to read in B.B.J, that so
many bee-keepers are unable to control
swarming. It seems a simple matter.

I must, however, say that many of the so-
called " non-swarming hives " seem to be a
snare and a delusion. The " Cowan " hive —
as already mentioned, which gives plenty of
room for a box-feeder, and top packing to keep
an equable temperature, and the elimination
of pollen-clogged combs, and the gradual
addition of more room as needed — contains all
the main points of non-swarming. — A. H.,
Wobum Sands.

HONEY ADULTERATION.

[4246.] I have read with much interest the
communications of A. G. Leigh (4198, page 14)
and of G. S. N. (4211, .page 26) re honey
adulteration, and the vitiated taste which
prefers the adulterated to the genuine article.
But, while condemning the foreigner for
palming off his rubbish in the name of honey,
it behoves us to see that our own hands are
clean in this matter, and I am sorry to say
that, to a certain extent at least, this is not
the case, as within recent years there has crept
in amongst the baser class of bee-keepers the
reprehensible practice of feeding with syrup
while a honey-flow is on and the bees are
storing in supers.

The modus operandi as generally followed
is at such times to liberally supply the bees
with syrup during the night, which, of course,
is mixed up with the pure honey gathered
from the fields during the daytime. The
result of this mixing up of syrup and honey is
a compound wanting both the flavour and
consistency of genuine honey, but when sold
in the comb — as it generally is — it is very
difficult to detect, and yet it is a practice
which, if not put a stop to, is fraught with
danger to the crafc.

Several objections to this method of in-
creasing surplus will suggest themselves ; I
mention the following : — 1. It gives the bee-
keeper who adopts it an increased output to
which he is not entitled, either by the strength
of his hive or his superior management of it.
2. It is dishonest to the purchaser, who
receives an adulterated instead of a pure
article. 3. By lowering both the flavour and
keeping properties of the article it creates a
prejudice against honey as a whole. 4. By
abnormally inoreasing the surplus it reduces
the market price all round. I trust this
question will be taken up by bee-keeper3
throughout the country, and every available
means taken for putting a stop to so unprin-
cipled and reprehensible a practice — a prac-
tice which, looked at either from the point of
view of the purchaser or of the honest bee-

man, is so manifestly unfair to both. — S. C,
Selkirk, January 23, 1901.

[We confess surprise at learning that the
fraudulent plan of feeding bees with sugar-
syrup that existed a few years ago still pre-
vails in Scotland. We hope our correspondent
does not write from recent experience, and so
far as regards the practice of feeding bees in
this way in order to get sections filled, we do
not believe any such practice prevails in
England, if for no other reason than that it
would not pay at the present prices. — Eds.]

ENTOMOLOGY AND BEE-KEEPING.

[4247.] Apart from the singular character
of the " internal evidence " referred to in the
accompanying report, from the Times, of the
Entomological Society's recent annual meet-
ing, the proceedings of so old and important
a society always have an interest to bee-
keepers generally, and particularly to those
who make hymenopterous honey-producers
their special study or hobby. It is a pity we
cannot ascertain who among the numerous
members of the Entomological Society
devote themselves specially to the study
of the hymenoptera, or of that branch
of the order which we as bee-keepers
regard with special interest. There are not so
very many bee-keepers who make the higher
subject of their hobby a special object, and the
question is whether we cannot induce some of
the notable or perhaps the less notable ^of
"Entomolos " to become bee-keepers and honey
producers, and thus impart a little new blood,
in the best sense of the term, into the rank and
file of bee-keeping. Would the "Entomolos"
think it beneath their dignity ? What does
our excellent entomologist, Mr. Sladen, say to
this? Does he, do you think, believe it
possible to interest the members of the
Entomological Society in the direction indi-
cated ?— E. D. T., Eynsford, Kent.

[The special item in the report referred to
occurs in the address of the President, Mr.
George H. Verrall, in which he dealt chiefly
with the abuses and errors which have crept
into entomological nomenclature, and the
reckless manner in which types of various
genera are described from single specimens,
without careful study of the many forms
which a single insect may assume, even in a
limited locality. He especially deprecated the
publication of supposed new species or varieties
before their identity had been certainly estab:
lished, where the object of the author was to
claim something more than a contribution
to material for determination. In reply to
those who have questioned the value of
entomology as a science, he mentioned several
amusing instances of what an experienced
entomologist might do in the way of turning
his knowledge to practical account. Com-
mentators on the work of the late Robert

58

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Feb. 7, 1901.

Louis Stevenson were unable, but anxious, to
discover whether the notes made by him in a
certain book were written before or after he
had taken up his residence in Samoa. A fly
which had been squeezed between the pages
settled the ejuestion, for Mr. Verrall at once
pronounced the remains as those of an insect
peculiar to the Polynesian Islands. — Eds.]

WEATHER REPORT.

Westbourne, Sussex.

Rainfall, 1"35 in.

Heaviest fall, "21 in.,
on 8th and 19th.

Rain fell on 17 days.

Belowaverage, 1 •] 5 in.

Maximum Tempera-
ture, 52°, on 27th.

Minimum Tempera-
ture, 13°, on 9 th.

Minimum on Grass,
5°, on 9 th.

Frosty Nights, 15.

Sunshine, 70"5 hrs.

Brightest Day, 14th,
6 hours.

January, 1901.
Sunless Days, 11.
Above average, 1*5

hours.
Mean Maximum,

41 -3°.
Mean Minimum,30'6°.
Mean Temperature,

•jo t» .
Below average, 0 3°.
Maximum Barometer,

3068°, on 23rd.
Minimum Barometer,

29 40°, on 3 1st.

L. B. BlRKETT.

(floras and mplty.

[2583.] Early Breeding. — On Saturday,
January 12, when renewing the cake of candy
in a weak stock of bee3, 1 was much surprised,
on removing the candy-box, to-see a nice patch
of sealed brood. Is not this very unusual ?
I may add the queen was reared late last year.
— W. Scurrah, Well, Bedale, Yorks,
JoMuary 15.

Reply. — Brood-rearing in January is by no
means uncommon with very strong stocks
headed by young queens. It is, however,
always a sign of prosperity and early breeding
to find sealed brood early in the month.

[2584.] Home-made Hives. — I propose to
make a '' W B. C." hive from an article in
Work, and before doing so beg to ask the
following questions : — 1. Is it advisable to
fasten the floor-board down to the stand ?
2. Would the bees not go up between the
body-box and the outer-case and build comb,
as there is a space of an inch or more above
the entrance 1 3. How would it answer to use,
instead of section-racks, frames made to hold
six sections, the same as ordinary standard
frame, but made same width as sections, and
with slotted dividers between each, like the
" W. B. C." section -box ?— W. H. H., Ban-
bridge, January 30.

Reply. — We are not aware of instructions
for making the hive referred to having ap-
peared in Work, and would be glad to know

in what issue of that paper such instructions
may be found. For the rest, we reply : —
1. The " W. B. C." hive has a loose floor-
board and a detachable stand, and we advke
no departure from this. 2. Means are taken
to prevent the trouble referred to, if your
instructions are correct, by placing a strip of
wood across the sunk entrance in floor-board.
3. The standard frame will not hold 3ix
sections ; but even if it did, there would be
far less chance of getting finished sections in
an ordinary sized brood-chamber than in a
shallow section-box the depth of a single
section.

[2585.] Short Stores in February. — The bees
were flying to-day, so I examined my hives to
see about supplies. In one (a first swarm of
June 3) I was rather alarmed to find only a
little sealed store in one comb. I immediately
prepared and gave a small cake of candy weigh-
ing about 1Mb. I shall make more to have in
readiness, but am unwilling to disturb the
bees unnecessarily, and therefore ask : — 1.
How long will the small cake last ? If I give
about the same once a week, will it be
sufficient 1 I am a beginner and do not know
very much about the quantity of food needed.
The hive I refer to did not gather any surplus,
but I thought it had sufficient for winter. I
tried to give the bees some syrup in the end
of September, but they only took down a very
little — nothing like so much as if it was being
stored in the combs. I did all I could to keep
the food warm when feeding, but at last con-
cluded that the bees knew what they were
about and had plenty of stores. How-
ever, I gave a 2 lb. cake of candy and
covered it warmly down. The stock seemed
very strong in autumn. A second swarm
which came off a fortnight later gathered
nothing at all, only managing to draw out
comb, but I fed the bees liberally and its
stores are now not nearly exhausted ; indeed,
I think I gave it too much. 2. Instead of
feeding in spring will it suffice if I uncap
some of its sealed store 1 3. My original stock
(a straw skep) was fed a little too much last
year, and it weighed 28 lb. on October 3.
Will it be all right?— M. M. M. O, Braehead,
N.B., February 2.

Reply. — 1. A lj lb. cake of candy will
last considerably over a week, but should be
renewed as often as required. If given in a
glazed box it can be seen when renewal is
needed without more disturbance than lifting
the loose coverings above. 2. Yes, so long as
there are sealed stores, which is not at all
certain, so you had better examine early on
and make sure of tbis. 3. We think so.

EXTRACTED HONEY PRODUCTION.

PROM AN AMERICAN POINT OP VIEW.

Some months ago I was writing a series of
articles for the American Bee Journal. I
concluded the series so far as comb-honey

Feb. 7, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

59

production was concerned, and in the issue of
June 21, 1900, I gave the first article on
extracted honey production. Just about that
time I found myself so occupied with other
work I could not continue the articles, hence
this lapse or break in the series. In order,
-therefore, to refresh our memories, I shall
have to sum up or repeat a little of the ideas
in the former article.

In the comb-honey articles I taught the
great importance of having very strong
colonies while section honey was being stored.
When entering on the description of extracted
honey production, I still advocated strong
colonies. I also pointed out that comb-honey
stock would pack brood-combs very closely
with honey, but when extracted was produced,
especially with abundance of store-comb, the
brood- combs were left very lank or thin. I
urged that the apiarist note this difference in
the amount of stores found in the brood-
chambsrs, that run for extracted, having
brood-combs so very scantily stored as to cause
death of colonies from starvation when comb-
honey colonies in like hives had stores in
plenty.

There is also another cause for starvation of
extracted stock ; the very fact that the latter
stores the honey in the extra, leaving plenty
of brood-room, leads to the development of
much more brood. The two colonies may not
seem very different in strength during the flow,
but since the comb-honey colony has its
combs with much honey and little brood,
while the extracted honey colony has just the
reverse, this causes the latter to have a great
force of bees after the flow is over. This host
of bees produces quite a different condition of
affairs from the other.

The great amount of brood and bees with
the extracted honey stock after the flow may,
under certain conditions, be a benefit.
Should there be a later flow that these bee3
can forage upon, they may prove to be just
what we want ; but if there is a dearth of
nectar, and they are in enforced idleness, they
may be of little use. If we know perfectly our
field we will know just what to do, but it is
not always possible to know. However, most
apiarists know fairly well whether they are to
have any nectar yielding late to employ the
bees, and if there is none, then it follows that
there should be provision made for the condi-
tions. I am using for extracting, nine-frame
American hives. This frame being about
12 inches deep, it would be inclined to catch
more honey than a shallower frame, yet I find
these hives run for extracted honey to contain
less honey at the end of the flow than do
Langstroth frame hives of the same capacity
when run for comb.

I have no late flow ; hence the condition on
the hive as to stores at the close of the
summer flow is the condition practically for
winter. As it takes thirty to forty pounds of
honey to carry a colouy through in this field,
I am coinpalled to do more spring feeding of

the extracted-honey stock, or else use a larger
hive for them. I have before given my expe-
rience in this matter, but it will do no harm to
state it again. For several years I lost heavily
of my extracted-honey stock from starvation
and general poor condition in spring, caused
by shortage of stores. Since then I have
given larger brood-cbambers, and, when so,
this stock winters and springs as well as comb-
honey stock, if not better.

Note that the comb-honey stock well provi-
sion the brood - chambers, this very fact
reducing the amount of bees going into winter.
We might reason, as many have done in the
past, that we do not want a big force of bees
to go into winter, that it takes so much to
feed them. That argument is very good if the
bees are cellared, but for outdoor wintering I
believe the big colony the better. It
does consume more honey, but then they
winter more safely. I have wintered a great
many colonies in two-story American hives
right along with one-story ones, and the two-
story hives have rousing big colonies when
the June flow comes, plenty of honey and far
more bees than the one-story ones. The big
two-story colonies will be storing surplus
when the others are barely ready to enter
supers. This testimony will give comfort to
the Dadants, and I am sure that for outdoor
wintering they are right, that the big hive is
the better. I believe the net results to be
better from such.

In producing comb-honey it is true that a
very large brood-chamber colony may get to
swarming before they do section-work, but
this does not apply so much to extracted-
honey stock where a set or two of combs
above, ready to store in, attracts the bees to
them.

Conditions (that is "locality," sometimes)
make a great difference. I call the reader to
note carefully what I am just now to put
before you, for these matters must be under-
stood or you will say the doctors do not agree.

I have been for several years in a field in
which the few weeks just preceding the June
flow were weeks of an absolute dearth of
nectar. Now, reader, suppose you were here
with your bees under such conditions. Sup-
pose they were in eight-frame hives, and
the last half of May and first half of June
there was practically nothing for them in the
fields, and the stores at home very low. Do
you think you would have any swarming %
Or even a proper amount of breeding ? You
would not need to bother your head about how
to keep down swarming — I will guarantee no
swarming-fever under such conditions.

Now, suppose your bees, instead of being in
eight-frame hives, single story, were' in two-
story or sixteen-frame ones, stores to be in
proportion. I cm tell you that such two-
story hives well provisioned, weather warm,
and other conditions favourable, you would
have some swarming before the flow, and
much more after it began. You could, by

60

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Feb. 7, 1901.

careful and judicious management, handle
your one-story hives so as to have good
colonies, but it would have to be done by
close watch, and never at any time allow the
colony to get out of store*, and while they
would have verv little ahead make them
handle what little they do have. One prin-
cipal factor in inducing free laying by the
queen is to have workers with full sacs much
of the time.

Thus it is possible to have bees carried
through the spring in a dearth of nectar,
bringing them up to a honey-flow in good
condition and no swarming - fever. Such
colonies will go into the sections and work for
some time without swarming, many going
through a flow and not swarm if care is used
to give and keep plenty of room in supers.
But, should there be a little nectar from the
fields for two or three weeks just before the
flow, and at no time a scarcity of old stores,
some would no doubt be ready to swarm at or
about the beginning of the flow, if not sooner.

Your two- story hives having a great abun-
dance of two things (yes, three) — stores, empty
comb and house-room — will breed just about
as rapidly under the complete-let-alone plan
as will the other with the coaxing and
encouragement. The large hive is the easiest
to winter and spring, for two reasons — 1st,
because they go into winter with a host of
bees, and can endure the cold, and so have
more bees in in spring to start and care for
brood ; and 2nd, because there is a plenty of
feed at all times, both winter and spring. As
before stated, I find my two-story hives build
up faster in the spring, and make great
rousing colonies by the time the others are in
fair condition. I cannot account for it in any
other way than the great amount of brood
and bees in the fall being a protection against
cold ; earlier and more rapid spring breeding
from some cause ; and a courage and ambition
because of the much empty comb to occupy,
and backed by a rich store of honey.

I wish here to say that there is another
probable reason — perhap3 I should leave out
the " probable." When a colony is wintered
in two chambers, that have been under con-
ditions that find the brood and cluster low
down or in the bottom hive in late fall and
early winter, they work upward in winter and
start breeding in the top hive in the spring.
This leaves honey below the cluster in lower
outer combs, and this they will from day to
day carry up and store above and about the
brood. You see, here is a condition that
causes the workers to handle honey, have full
sacs, also open stores and a well-fed queen
and brood. It all conduces to the welfare
and prosperity of the colony. It is a con-
dition that is very like a flow of nectar, and is
obtained with the least care and labour on the
part of the apiarist.

Now I think I hear E. R. Root hurrahing !
for two-story eight-frame hives, and I think
he ie not far amiss as to the results to be

obtained when they are rightly managed. If
you winter bee3 outdoois, use a larger hive
for the cellar. If you produce extracted, use
larger hives than for comb honey. If you use
eight-frame hives, use two of* them for a
brood-chamber in very many cases ; but you
can contract if you choose, when the flow
come3 on. — R. C. Aiken, in American Bee
Journal.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers,

Letterg or queries ashing for addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur-
chased, or replies giving such information, can oyily be
inserted as advertisements. 2 he space devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

G. Spearman (Colesbourne). — Largest Apiary
in Great Britain. — While unable to say
positively who ha3 the largest apiary in
the United Kingdom, we think, if you
"have over 300 stocks now," the probability
is that yours can claim priority in point of
numbers. Perhaps some readers may know
of a larger apiary, but we do not.

R W. Hewett (Hants). — Suspected Comb. —
No disease in comb sent. The dead brood
in sealed cells has reached the pupa stage,
and is in normal condition.

Ayrshire. — Candy - making. — We see no
defect in candy sent ; it is a very good
sample, smooth in grain and soft in texture.

W. Adey (Cardigan). — Honey Samples. —
Both samples are fairly good in quality, the
one in broken jar being best of the two.
No. 1 is dark in colour and not quite equal
in flavour to the other.

Geo. Burnby (West Kensington). — Starting
Bee-keeping. — We know of no better hand-
book for beginners than the " Guide Book "
issued from this office as giving the full and
general instruction you ask for.

F. Hamshar (Burgess Hill). — Protecting Cattle
from Bees. — With a fence of iron hurdles
and a space of 50 ft. between fence and
hives, there should be no danger to cattle.
It might, however, be a useful precaution,
just when removing honey from the hive^
to drive the cattle to a distant part of the
field, unless great care is taken to avoid
disturbance, or by using the " super-
clearer."

F. Jellico (Mountmellick). — Use of "Ekes''
for UW. B. C" Hives— The "eke" re-
ferred to has no special connection with
honey-production, either comb or extracted.
The particulars already published regarding
the eke and its use will make all clear
regarding it,

Feb. 14, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

61

Editorial ifata &t

NOTTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of this association was
held on Saturday, February 9, in the People's
Hall, Nottingham, Mr. W. S. Ellis, vice-
president, in the chair. Among those present
were Mrs. Hemsley, Mrs. Faulconbridge, Mrs.
Turner, Miss Hunt, Mrs. T. Herrod, Messrs.
G. Hayes, P. Scattergood, G. E. Skelhorn,
W. Smeeton, T. Marshall, A. G. Pugh, T. N.
Harrison, E. Mackender, J. Herrod, W.
Herrod, G. Puttergill, A. R. Hazlewood, J.
Gray, C. Forbes, W. Marriott, J. C. Wads-
worth, Hemsley, J. Mackinnon, and A. E.
Trimmings.

The balance-sheet for 1900 showed total
receipts during the year £62 Is. 4d. The
expenditure, which, after adding value of assets,
reached ,£65 1?. 4d., left a deficit of £1 on the
year's working.

The Secretary read his report, which showed
the membership to be 172. He thought that,
to mark the inauguration of the new century,
the members should exert themselves indi-
vidually and raise the membership of the
association to 200 by the end of the present
year. The committee had decided that the
annual county show this year should be held
at Moorgreen in September next.

The Notts County Council had during the
past year continued their grant of £30 for
technical instruction in bee-keeping, and by
that aid they had been enabled to give
demonstrations in seven centres, besides
lectures at Chilwell, Upper Broughton,
Hucknall, Watnall, and Balderton. The City
Council had again renewed its grant of £2 2s.,
which enabled them to extend their aid to the
bee-keepers in Nottingham.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted
unanimously.

The remaining business was the election of
officers for the ensuing year, Viscount St.
Vincent being again chosen president.

Mr. G. Hayes was reappointed secretary,
and Mr. Scattergood auditor. Messrs. Hayes
and Pugh were re-elected delegates to the
British Bee-keepers' Association, and Messrs.
W. Ellis, A. E. Trimmings, P. Scattergood,
S. W. Marriott, R. Mackender, C. Forbes, G.
E. Puttergil), G. E. Skelhorn, A. G. Pugh, and
T. N. Harrison constituted the committee. —
{Communicated.)

ESSEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The twenty-first annual meeting of the
above Association was held on Thursday,
February 7, at the Devonshire Hotel, Bishops-
gate-street, London, Dr. Elliot in the chair,
and amongst those present were Miss

Aukland, Messrs. G. R. Alder, Kimber,
J. Chesson, 0. Puck, T. I. Weston, Griggs,
Scoggins, and W. J. Sheppard (hon. secretary).
The President, the Countess of Warwick,
wrote regretting her inability to be present,
and stating that " she continued to take great
interest in bee-keeping, and was pleased to see
the flourishing condition of the Association
and the useful work it is doing in the county. '

The hon. secretary read the Committee's
report for the past year, the expert's report,
and the statement of accounts, which were
unanimously agreed to.

The Committee's report, after commenting
on the past honey season in Essex, stated,
among other items of local interest, that
forty-seven new members had joined the
Association during the year.

An examination, conducted by Mr. W.
Broughton Carr, for the B.B.K. A. third-class
certificates was held at Chingford on June 30,
when three of the five candidates passed
successfully, viz , A. Bagley, T. Hammond,
and Bertram Smith.

The spring tour of the expert, Mr. Withy-
combe, commenced on April 10 and terminated
on June 2, during which time 270 members
(owning in all 1,461 stocks) were called upon.
The autumn tour began on August 13, and
was completed on October 4, the expert
visiting 276 members and inspecting 1,723
hivts. Fifty-six stocks in the spring and
thirty-six in the autumn were found to be
affected with foul brood, as against seventy -
four and twenty-nine last year respectively.
Twenty-six stocks were found destroyed by
wax moth, as against fourteen last season,
which seems rather an alarming increase, and
calls for greater vigilance in searching out and
destroying the larvae in the combs.

The statement of accounts showed that the
Association is in a flourishing condition with
a good balance in hand.

The Countess of Warwick was re-elected
President, as also the same vice-presidents
and officers as last year. The committee
elected for 1901 were Miss Aukland, Dr.
Elliot, Messrs. G. R. Alder, J. Chesson, Bruce,
Cook, Kimber, Pack, Salmon and T. I.
Weston. — ( Communicated.)

t&mmpwhui.

The Editor) do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[4248.] February has opened in its cus-
tomary manner by filling the ditches with snow.
Our fields are covered, and some of our roads

62

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 14, 1901.

are filled level with the banks or hedges on
either side of them. My out-apiary is cut off
at date of writing, while the home-apiary is
imbedded in snow. We, however, managed
to get around the latter to-day and brush the
snow from the hive-roofs when the sun shone
and the icicles began to drip. A few bees
were tempted out by the sunshine and most
of them ihus allured to destruction. They
seemed lost in the new surroundings ; nearly
all alight on the white sparkling snow, only to
become chilled and incapable of flight. I
blocked the entrances of some hives by a
shovelful of snow on alighting- boards.

Size of Sections. — The size and width of
sections still appears to hold the field. Mr.
Lamb (4217, page 34) is " convinced we lose
tons of honey yearly by using the present
(2 in. or ly£ in, wide) section " in preference
to the embryo section we hope to evolve out
of our discussion. Perhaps Mr. J. H. Howard
can tell us something of the " Danzy " section
with regard to its being any real advance on
the 4j in. by 4| in. one, so far as affecting the
output, the finish, and the time taken by the
bees in filling and sealing. I appeal to Mr.
Howard because he had a few "Danzy sec-
tions " at the late Dairy Show, and these were
the only completed sections I have seen in
this country of that size, though there has
been illustrations from photos of filled
" Danzy " sections in Gleanings. I fail to see
the relevancy of Mr. Lamb's figurative, " Ten
ploughs." Ploughing a field does not make it
more full ; as we wish our bees to fill the sec-
tions whether there be twenty-one or twenty-
four on the hive at one time in the same rack.
The contemplated requirement* mentioned
by Mr. L. in the third paragraph of his letter
are such as I have been using for many years,
and, given a good spell of weather, a flow of
honey, and strong stocks, I hare removed just
such full supers as Mr. L suggests we may
secure when his narrow sections are adopted.

Regarding boxes of shallow-frames, mine
are all g- in. wide. I possess one solitary wide-
frame presented to me some years ago by Mr.
Howard, filled with wood-based foundation.
It is an excellent strong comb, otherwise it
would have been discarded owing to the incon-
venience of the wide frame being in the way of
the knife when "uncapping '' for extracting.

Mr. Lamb acknowledges that bees build
store combs up to 3 in. thick, and puts the
average thickness when left to their own
devices as between 1 in. and 1^ in. ; but by
measuring the thickness of comb in a 4£
by 4^ section he will find that it is about
lj in., not much thicker than the natural
comb. I contend that we cannot dispense
with separators or dividers in working for
comb-honey, and the thinner the sections
are made the more circumscribed is the space
for the cluster of bees. Mr. Limb over-
looks another important point, viz., the extra
wax required for sealing twenty-four or
twenty-seven as against twenty-one sections.

With a small " starter " of foundation the
bees can cluster for wax secretion better than
when a full sheet is used in the sections,
because in the latter case they are at once
divided up again ; in other words, in a thin
section between dividers the cluster of bees
can hardly be more than J in. thick, and
although they would manage to fill the space
somehow, I do not believe they would do so
in the same time as in the sections now in use.
Mr. Lamb (on page 42) appeals — shall I say
to "Ca33ar'' in alluding to the "Guide Book"?
— as to the correct width from centre to centre
of combs in supers — lh in. to If in. Mr.
Cowan is here referring to shallow-frames,
because farther on he says the best results are
obtained by giving empty combs (to this I
would add that this observation applies with
equal force to supers containing combed
sections). Then, again, Mr. Cowan (" Guide
Book," page 55), says : — " Usually three
stories of sections are used at one time on the
storifying system." In my hands this method
would land me at the end of the season with
a large proportion of unfinished sections. I
rarely have more than two racks on a hive at
one time; the third goes under the second
when the first is placed on the " clearer."
If Mr. Cowan's advice is followed by
our Yorkshire brethren at the moors
possibly we have here a solution of their
difficulty at the end of the heather season in
having so many unfinished sections. Bee-
keepers are noted f jr their hopefulness ; and
piling on three racks of sixty-three sections,
when the weather and season only warrants
them to expect two racks full, may be one
reason for their failure. We have no heather
in my district, so I have had no practical
experience along this line, but I opine I could
give the cue to a solution of one impediment
to successfully obtaining completed sections at
the moors in a fairly good season. I am
thankful to Mr. Lamb for starting the dis-
cussion, and hope it may lead to some tangible
results. The " Danzy " sections are obtainable
in this country, and those who would like to
give them a trial can easily do so by a slight
alteration — or wedging up — in the present
racks, or even in shallow-frames, with some
small blocks to fill spacer — W. Woodlet,
Beedon, Newbury.

SIZE OF SECTIONS.

" NOTES " AFTER PRACTICAL TRIAL.

[4249.] I have been following the discussion
on the siz?. of sections started in your pages by
the Rev. R. M. Lamb with much interest. I
see that Mr. Lamb now advocates not only a
thinner comb in the section, but also a larger
and taller section than our present 4| in. by
4|- in. section.

Having been for some time interested in the
question of tall versus square sections, I
last year gave the tall sections a trial, and

Feb. 14, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

63

selected for this purpose Root's " Ideal "' Plain
Sections, which measure 3f in. by 5 in. by
1£ in. These sections have a thin comb, as
recommended by Mr. Lamb, but when finished
they weigh only about 13^ oz. Owing to the
bad season I got only a few of these sections
finished, but every one who saw them thought
them much better looking than the ordinary
4J in. square sections.

Two improvements in sections have of late
years been introduced in America, viz.: —
Plain sections (ie., without bee-ways) and
tall sections. To my mind the tall section is
the more important invention, and the one that
I think will be best appeciated in this country
when its full merits are known.

Three standard sizes of sections are used
in America. These are : —

(1) 4 in. by 5 in. by 1| in. (plain) ;

(2) 3# in. by 5 in. by li in. (plain) ;

(3) 4£ in. by 4f in. by H in. (plain); or by

l£ in. with bee-way.

The approximate weights of each when filled
and sealed are repectively : —

(1) 15ioz. ; (2) 13J oz.; and (3) 14 to 15 oz.
In this country we have the following : —
4| in. by 4j in. by 2 in. (bee-way) and the
4j in. by 4| in. by l\l in. do.

both weighing when finished about 16 oz.

From the above it is easily seen that (allow-
ing g in. as the difference in width between a
plain and a bee-way section) in two of the
American standard sizes the combs are g in.
thinner than in our ordinary 2 in. section, and
in the third (the 4 in. by "> in.) they are no
less than j in. thinner ; in short none of the
combs in the sections in regular use in America
are as thick as ours. Mr. Lamb's remarks
about the advantage of combs thinner than
those we have at present in our sections are
therefore practically endorsed by the whole of
the American bee-keeping fraternity, and may
well arrest our attention.

" Honey ripens better and sooner in shallow
'section?, and though they contain more wax
they are more likely to be capped over than
thick ones in a poor season." This is what
the editor of a widely-circulating American'
bee journal said last year in favour of thin
combs, and the statement is reasonable enough
to be applicable also on this 'side of the water.
Its truth was very plainly demonstrated to me
in my own apiary last year. An unusually
large number of my sections were only
partly finished, the combs being evidently too
thick for the bees to fill them in the short time
that the honey-flow lasted. Shallow-frames, on
the other hand, were well finished ; with
the result that I had plenty of extracted
honey from shallow- frames and unfinished
sections, but very little comb-honey. I am
sure that this has also been the experience of
many others. So much for the advantages of
a thinner comb. I also agree with Mr. Lamb
in his further demand for a taller section. It

will have been noticed that two of the
standard American sizes of sections are tall.
Mr. Dauzenbaker, a leader among American
bee-keepers, says in favour of the tall
sections, " Nine customers out of ten
will select a tall section, even if it costs
more money. But this is not all the
reason. Our tastes have been educated to
common objects that are taller than broad —
windows and doors in houses ; glass in the
windows. Imagine a house with square
windows, having square window-panes, square
doors, square everything ! " It is also claimed
by many who use the tall sections that they
are easier and quicker finished, the bees build-
ing downwards faster than sideways. After
all, " the proof of the pudding is in the eating,''
and the best evidence in favour of the tall
section is that it is certainly gaining ground
in the favour of American bee-keepers.

The question now arises, if we want a
thinner and taller section than is used at
present, what are its dimensions to be ?
Sections can be made all sizes, and this is a
question for serious consideration.

The weight of the section when filled must
approximate, in my opinion (at least at first),
1 lb., for the consumer in this country has
not yet been educated to take a light-weight
section as he has been in America.

The thickness of the new section should, I
think, be not less than 1-f in. in a bee-way
section (or If in. in a plain one). These points
being settled, it now only remains to decide the
height and width.

I see no particular advantage in adopt-
ing a section three of which will fit a
shallow-frame, as comparatively few bee-
keepers now put sections into shallow-frames.
To have a size that will go into a brood-
frame is still less a necessity. We want a
section that we can use in a super similar to
the supers that are most commonly in use at
present, and if it is unnecessary to alter the
dimensions of the super to take the new
section, so much the better.

A section 5 in. high, 4| in. wide, and !•$£
thick would probably average a full 1 lb., and
would have the great advantage of fitting the
present racks if they are raised f of an inch.
The same section, l|in. thick, would probably
average a light 1 lb.

This is the No. 2 size recommended by Mr.
Lamb on page 53. I believe that a tall 1-lb.
section of these sizes would be as much pre-
ferred to the present square one as the new
tall 1-lb. honey-jar is to the old-fashioned
broad and low bottle. It would have the two
special advantages of being more easily finished
by the bees and nf having g in of comb added
to its height. These tall sections will be | in.
thinner than the l|f sections now in use and
the ordinary section racks which are made to
take twenty-one of the latter will accommodate
exactly twenty-four of the former. Sections
of this size have already been used in America.
I have ordered a supply of them from the

64

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 14, 1901.

A. I. Root Company, which will arrive in
good time for use this year, and I shall be
pleased to hear from any bee-keeper who
would like to try them. — F. W. L. Sladen,
Ripple-court, Dover, February 7. ,

SOME ESSEX NOTES.

" WELLS '' HIVES.

[4250.] In reply to Mr. J. A. Horn (4240,
page 54) let me say my objection to the " Wells ''
hive is its unsuitability for general adoption.
My own results have been equal to those of
Mr. Wells, and I have also succeeded in
preventing swarming, but with some years
experience of bee-keeping on the double-queen
plan in my own and other apiaries, I should
fail in my duty if I did not caution inex-
perienced bee-keepers against courting failure
by keeping bee3 on the Wells system. Having
moved a good deal among bee-keepers, I am
able to say that nothing does so much harm
to the pursuit as the person who gives it up
in disgust, and this is just what is likely to
happen when a beginner starts by adopting
the system in question. I would point out
that bee-keeping on Mr. Wells's plan for
securing surplus honey from the heather in
August may, and should, be successful in the
hands of an experienced bee-keeper in cases
where the troubles of the earlier season are
generally absent, but not otherwise.

Sizi of Sections. — If producers of heather
honey find the section now most generally
used unsuitable for their purpose, I see no good
reason why they should not adopt one of a size
that they find from experience will give a
better result. But it seems to me that instead
of using a smaller section the desired end
would be attained if a rack to hold less of
them was adopted. If racks to hold fifteen
sections were used for heather honey these
would be smaller than the hive, and the heat
from the bees below, being thus economised,
would assist the bees in maintaining the
necessary warmth, while the empty space out-
side the super allows for more warm covering
to the sections. This is a matter of importance
in keeping up the temperature in supers. I
fully realise that smaller supers would mean
extra journeys to the hives at. the heather.
But the result would be better sections, and
more of them completed. I have myself had
no experience in heather-honey production,
but the conditions are almost exactly similar
to those existing when we have an early
spring honey-flow in this district.

" No Pains No Gams." — Your rev. corre-
spondent who writes under this head (4238,
page 53) does not appear to know that at exhi-
bitions held under the management of the
B.B.K.A. and most of the associations affiliated
to the parent society, honey in any stage of
granulation is ineligible in a class for liquid
honey, and vice versa. Under the present
rules all run or extracted honey has to be

shown in clear liquid condition, unless a class
is provided for granulated honey. The ques-
tion arises, what is the most suitable word to
use in speaking of bringing back granulated
honey to liquid form. I think " re-liquefied "
is preferable to " clarified," because the latter
conveys to the mind of the uninitiated
the impression that the honey has been
tampered with in some worse way than
merely warming-up. While quite agreeing
with your rev. correspondent in saying that
granulated honey can be brought back to
a liquid state without rendering it less
palatable, great care must be taken, or any
competent judge will pass it over. I also
agree with Mr. Woodley that, so far as is
possible, honey should be exhibited in the
condition most natural to it at the season
when the exhibition is held, but while there
are customers who prefer clear honey at all
seasons we must meet their wishes. If we can
have the classes for extracted honey more fully
described in the schedules, viz, 12 jars of
granulated honey, 12 jirs of honey gathered in
1901 (to ba shown clear), and 12 jars of re-
liquefied honey gathered in 1900 or any
previous year, I think this is all we require.
Having considered this question of warming
hoaey from all points, I find that the insertion
of ' re-liquefied " in description of the class
for old honey to be shown clear will not
only remove some doubts, but will, by one
word, explain the whole matter to the public.
{Continued on page 66.)

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

The photo reproduced on next page was sent,
not for inclusion in our bee-garden pictures,
but as one of many New Year's " cards '' con-
veying good wishes for the coming year ; and
as it makes a pretty picture we took the
liberty of appropriating it. Mr. Newth, in
consenting to its appearance in print, says : —

" I feel that a picture of my little bee-
garden being honoured by a place in our Bee
Journal puts me in rather a false position,
seeing that in sending it on I had no thought
of its inclusion in your ' Homes of the Honey
Bee ' ; your 'proof of the tone-block, there-
fore, came as a surprise. However, as you ask
for a few ' notes,' I mu3t perforce reply. It
is only two summers ago that I fell a victim
to the bee-keeping mania, so that 1 am quite
a novice in the craft, and any experiences of
mine are more likely to provoke a smile than
to interest readers of the Journal. I
first caught the infection on hearing a lecture
in the bee-tent at a local flower show in 1898 ;
and by the following summer I had become
a bee-keeping enthusiast. My start was a
little interesting perhaps, as showing what
even a late swarm can do under favourable
weather conditions in this neighbourhood.

Feb. 14, 1901. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

61

The swarm issued on July 5 from a friend's
hive at Wimbledon. Ifc was hived on ten
standard frames of foundation (not wired, as I
found later— Mistake No. 1) and conveyed to
my garden, six mile3 away, two days later
(Mist ale No. 2). The depth of my ignorance
regarding bees at that time was so great that
I had never even seen the inside of a frame-
hive, and therefore did not know that Mistake
No. 3 had been committed by the frame-tops
having no other covering than the cotton
quilt ! 1 was told not to expect any surplus,
that the bees would do no more than stock
their comhs for the winter, and that, therefore,
I had nothing to do. As time went on, even
my inexperienced eye led me to think all was

rights, and we got from it a very fair haul, in
spite of all the mistakes enumerated. After
giving me this useful help the expert advised
me to get Cowan's ' Guide Book,' and also to
join the Surrey B.K.A., both of which hints
I promptly took advantage of.

" I consider that one of my best invest-
ments has been a number of bound-up volumes
of the B.B J. ; it certainly has spared our kind
Editors a good many questions, for on perusal
I have found the answers to numberless
queries I had intended inflicting upon them.
I often think it is a great pity that these back
volumes could not be within easy reach of the
hundreds of bee-keepers who are constantly
asking questions which have been fully

MR.

G. s. newth's apiary, wallington, surrey.

not going on right, and therefore, taking
advantage of another bee-demonstration near
by, I determined to consult the expert, who
proved a real friend in need. He examined
my hive the same day, and found the bees had
not only drawn out and filled all the ten
frames, but had bored holes through the cotton
quilt and built a quantity of comb in the roof,
much of which was filled with sealed honey.
The bees had also so clogged the brood-nest
with honey for want of super room (Mistake
No. 4) as to reduce the queen's breeding
space to such an extent that if not remedied I
should soon'have possessed a hive full of honey
and no bees. Had I supered, he said, I
might easily have had 30 lb. of honey. All
this, be it observed, between July 7 and
August 7. However, he put the hive to

answered before, often many times. I would
gladly circulate mine amongst those who
cared to read them, if safe return could be
assured.

" The hives in my garden number seven, and
as my space is very limited, I am carefully
studying the various plans proposed for pre-
venting swarming and avoiding increase. My
hives stand in a little orchard, between the
trees, but with a free flight. The plants seen
about the hives are young cornflowers, which
in the summer formed strong bushy clumps
between the hives, and helping to shade them
from the sun. The rest of the free space in
front is now crowded with crocus bulbs.
During winter I cover the roofs with what I
call my « umbrellas.' Three of these are seen
in the photo. These are made of thin sheet

G6

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 14, 1901.

galvanised iroD, painted (which is much
cheaper than zinc), the edge? being bent over
and soldered. These covers project con-
siderably beyond the roof, so that rain drips
off without being driven back under the roof
by the wind. By way of experiment I am
trying ' umbrellas ' made of ' Willesden '
waterproof paper, tacked on to a light wooden
frame, and given one coat of paint. They
have stood the recent wet winter perfectly.
Personally, I derive much comfort on a wild
night of wind and rain from the certainty
that the little inmates of the hives down the
garden are perfectly cosy and dry.

"Paradoxical as it may sound, my first
sting afforded me the greatest satisfaction, for
it had no uncomfortable effect at all upon me.
Since then I have had many stings. On one
occasion, in hiving a truant swarm for a neigh-
bour, I foolishly went just as I was, in tennis
flannels and armed only with a veil. The
swarm was difficult to get at, and I received a
shower-bath of bees in shaking them down, so
that I had to run up to my friend's dressing-
room and half strip myself to free my clothing
from bees. I bad a whole battery of stings
discharged into me, but they produced no effect
whatever. I am happy to say that although
the members of our household are constantly
about my bee-garden — especially when the
fruit is ripe — no one has been stuDg (except
my little dog, once), nor have I ever heard of
any neighbours being annoyed.

" I cannot conclude my ' notes ' without ex-
pressing surprise never to have seen mentioned
as bee-forage the Ampelopsis Veitchii, now so
familiar as a creeper to cover many suburban
dwellings. The back of my house is covered
with it, and for about a week in the summer,
when it is in bloom, the hum of the bees in it
is audible throughout the house. Pound about
in the gardens there are a number of flowering
trees which the bees visit very freely. A
gigantic acacia next door to me, for instance,
when in bloom is like a veritable orchestra ;
and the green spikes of blossom on the sumac,
which is very plentiful about here, sing a song
which is true music to the bee-man's ear, and
adds one more to the many pleasures derived
from ' keeping bees.' "

CORRESPONDENCE.

{Continued from page 64.)

Spacing Shalloiv Frames. — Your corre-
spondent, C. A. Atchley, who writes in B.B J.
for January 31 (4228, p<ge 3), had a disap-
pointing experience through doing the right
thing in the wrong way.

Had he at first given ten frames in the
space where he gave eight the result would
have been quite different. It is seldom safe
to give empty frames, or frames with founda-
tion only, when using wide " W. B. 0." ends.
It is usual to give ten frames, and when the
combs are half worked out to remove two of

them. Thus, if four hives are supered at one
time, there will in a few days be eight combs
to fill a 5-lb. super. By working the wide
ends, one behind the two on each side of it,
these can be put on at the beginning, and
every other frame can have its ends brought
forward into position when the two spare
combs are removed. The fact of the bees
having built their combs outside the frames,
between every two combs in the first super,
would make it necessary to do the same in the
second super, to correspond with the top or
bottom edges of the thin combs in the first
super, i.e., from the bees' point of view. — Wm.
Loveday, Hatfield Heath, Harlow, Essex.

ANCIENT BEE-BOOKS.

" A Profitable Instruction of the Perfect Ordering
of Bees, &c. By Thomas Hill, Londoner, 1593."

[4251.] Are we to write down Thomas
Hill, Londoner, as a "mere plagiarist V To
support the charge, your correspondent, Mr.
E. Drory (4200, page 16), calls in the authority
of Charles Butler, the father of English bee-
keeping, to whom all reverence. Butler i3
very severe on "T. H." of London, and truly,
on the face of things, "Georgius Pictorius,"
seems to have been badly treated. What a
pity, by the way, that we no longer turn
our names into sonorous 'Latin. Style him
plain George Painter, and the "learned
physician " is not half so imposing.

Let us not forget that whatever Thomas Hill
may have done, his was to all appearance the
first regular treatise on bee-craft in our mother
tongue. " A thing verie rare, and seldome
seen in the English tongue,'' says he in his
preface. Think of that, you twentieth century
weekly readers of the British Bee Journal ;
think of it, and be lenient. At the date given
above, the reign of shrewd Queen Bess was
drawing to a close, and Shakespeare had just
begun to wrice the dramas that were to make
him world-famous. We cannot tell whence
the great genius gained his undoubted know-
ledge of the ways of bees ; but since, according
to his crony, Ben Jonson, Shakespeare " had
little Latin and lesse Greeke,'' it may be that
one of the earlier editions of our author's
treatise was not unknown to him.

Thomas Hill was a maker of books. Many
were his subjects ; he was a laborious, or as
he himself would have termed it " a painful
translator." The first book of his known to
me is " A brief epitomeye of the whole art of
Physiognomie," by Codes — Englished by T. H.
1550. The next is "The profitable arte of
gardening now the third time set fourth." To
this annexed two proper treatises, the one
entitled " The Marvellous Government ....
of the Bees . . . .," and the other "the yerely
CoDJnctures, meete for husbandmen to knowe."
Englished by T. H. London 1568. Thus it
appears that although Georgius Pictorius is
not mentioned in the title, T. H. makes no

Feb. 14, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

67

claim to originality. He "Englished," worthy
man.

An edition of his treatise " Imprinted at
London by H. B. 1608,'' and delightful in its
old world mingling of black letter and Roman
characters lies before me. On the second title-
page is the admission : — "gathered out of
Pliny, Albertus, Varro, Columella " (&c. &c.)
"and divers other singular Authors." Includ-
ing, no doubt, poor Georgius Pictorius. Not
generous to the learned physician, but quite
" on the windy side of the law," even if Butler's
accusation be literally correct. But can we be
quite sure of that ?

It should be remembered that in those days
it was the custom for authors, more especially
those who wrote on the same topics, to
belabour each other in a free-handed way that
would seem to modern readers very startling.
Furthermore, Hill must have been, from his
occupations, a well-lettered mm, well used to
translation. He can hardly have needed
G. P.'s aid in translating the well-known
authors from whom he borrowed. May we
not, therefore, conclude that Butler's " trans-
lating word for word into English, as well as
he could '' (rather spiteful that, Mr. Butler)
may be taken, in the absence of verification,
as somewhat beyond the facts ? With some
confidence then, I venture to submit that the
verdict " a mere plagiarist" be not confirmed
by the high court of readers of the B B J. ;
but rather that — Mr. Drory and, let us hope,
the shade of Georgius coinciding — they will
write down the worthy Thomas as nothing
worse than a keen collector, or, if you will, a
"snapper up of unconsidered trifles.''

Hill wrote at least one other book about
bees. Edmund Southerne, in a most interest-
ing treatise published in 1593, to which I hope
to refer another time, writes as follows, under
the heading, "That it is not good to kill the
Drones '' : — " Many men holde that it is very
necessarie to destroy them, and thereto devise
sundry instruments for the accomplishing of
so great a folly, but above all one T. H. of
London in his booke intituled The
Gardner's Labyrinth sheweth the manner how
it should be done. Saith he, take one of ye
Drones and pull off his legs and one of his
wings, and put him into the Hive againe, and
as soone as the Bees perceive it, presently they
will fall upon the rest and so kill them all."

Having never met with " the Gardner's
Labyrinth " I cannot say whether Hill puts
forward this ingenious and rather gruesome
device as his own ; in a modified form it is to
be found in the treatise.

Little is known of Hill's life. I have it in
my note3 that he was dead by April, 1599, and
that he was taken to task for practising astro-
logy. Possibly the new National Biographical
Dictionary may have more to say about him.
Not much need be said of the treatise : it is
not the work of a practical bee-master. The
following extracts will suffice : " How Bees
do naturally engender. First the Bees pro-

ceed of Bees by the actual doing together,
after which they lay egges, sitting upon them
as the hens do on their eggs. And when they
have sit on them for the sptce of 45 (? 4 or 5)
daies, then do they hatch their yoDg ones,
which yong (at the first) come forth like to
white wormes, except the King, who onely as
he is hatched hath wings. In the time of
their sitting they make much noise to get
them heat withall. And about the sides of
the combs, be sometimes greater bees bred,
which men for their sound and noise pro-
perly name Trumpeters, and they also have
whole homes, of which come the bastard bees.
There be also other bees bigger in bodie, much
like to the kings, but they be idle and have no
sting, because of the heaviness of their body.
All which kinds Guilihelmus de Conchis did
observe in the Hives of a certain Consull of
Rome, which properly were made of a very
thinne and clear home."

Regarding the profit of bees : "As Varro
afiirmeth the same of two head Gentlemen in
Spaine, which onely by the meanes of their
Bees, gained yearly ten thousand pounds (but
I rather thinke five thousand pound, which
also is very much)."

Various recipes are given such as "the
manner of distilling a water of hony, named
the Quintessence.'' " Of the drink Benomel,
which is made of pure wine and hony." The
book concludes : — " Thus gentle Reader I have
(I trust) fully satisfied thy desire in as many
things as are needful to be knowne : where-
fore I commit this my little Booke to thy
gentle judgement. If thou maist receive any
profit or commoditie thereby, I shall be glad
of it : and if not, yet favourably let it passe
from thee to others, whose knowledge and ex-
perience is less than thine herein, that they
may gather such things as to them are strange,
though to thee well knowne before. And
thus briefly I commit you to Almightie God."

I take this opportunity of thanking Mr.
Drory for mentioning the Italian list of bee
books. Can he not supply our editors with
the English portion of it for publication 1 —
South Devon Enthusiast, February 7.

THE TONGUE OF THE BEE.

[4252 ] The tongue of the bee is a piece of
perfection and in every way is admirably
suited to carry out the purpose for which it
was created. It is a wonderful piece of design
and skill. It is complex in its mechanism,
yet simple in its arrangements. Several other
parts of the mouth have to be considered along
with it before its action and proper function
can be fully appreciated or understood. It
really forms a part of the labrum or under lip,
and is encised when at rest by the upper and
lower jaws. Trie mentum, which lies far up
in the mouth, contains the muscles, which by
their expansion and contraction enable the
insect at will to stretch out or draw in the

68

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 14, 1901,

ligula or true tongue. Again, the maxilla?
and labial palpi combine to form a cavity in
which the tongue moves backwards and for-
wards. All these combined really form a tube.
This is an important feature in the design and
serves to make the action of the tongue, as a
honey collector, capable of adapting itself to
any- supply, small or great, which the bee may
find in the flower visited. Another feature
worth noting is that the greater part of the
tongue — especially the spoon or rounded part
at the extremity — is covered with short trian-
gular hairs, and amongst them we find a
number of small pits or depressions which are
generally supposed to be the special organs of
taste. This spoon-part acts really as its name
would imply. It is circular in shape and con-
cave above. Where it is joined to the tongue
it narrows to a point, and this, too, is formed
to facilitate the action. The hairs covering
this part are' different in shape and size when
viewed through the microscope.

When a bee visits a flower in which it
knows honey is to be found, it calls its tongue
into play in a very interesting manner. It
never wastes its time in visiting flowers devoid
of nectar, discovering, no doubt, by its sense
of smell that they are not worthy of having
valuable time wasted on them, however fair
they may look to the eye. I have often given
very close attention to the process while lying
on a bright summer day on some heathery
hillside, or in the midst of a field of white
clover. As far as the closest observation
could divulge, the plants left severely alone
had not for some reason secreted any nectar.
When, however, the bee's sensitive organ of
smell found one redolent of sweet perfume, it
hovered over it lovingly, and, thrusting in its
tongue, it sucked up any liquid found there
in large or small quantity. It is then that
the peculiar tube-like formation I have noted
above comes into play. When at rest the
tongue is drawn back into the mouth, and it
then, with the other parts, forms two cavities ;
but when extended in the act of sipping or
sucking the liquid, all the parts form the shape
of a true tube. The hairs already referred
to as covering the spoon or extremity of
the tongue take up the most minute quantity,
and by capillary attraction convey it by other
hairs to the end of the tube. The groove
hitherto lying below is now raised to the upper
surface. Where it joins the tongue the spoon
is very narrow, and this greatly aids the trans-
fer. As the tongue now takes up the liquid,
the hairs, hitherto loaded, transfer it, and the
tube comes into action and carries up the nec-
tar along the canal down the oesophagus, and
the liquid is forced forward, just as in our own
mouths, into the honey stomach. At the back of
the tongue there is a thick layer of muscles, which
serve to enlarge or contract the tube, thus
making it a true sucking organ. At times the
single tube can, by the action of the various
parts, be converted into two. When fairly
large quantities of honey are found in flowers,

the spoon and groove on the under side of the
tongue, as well as the two tubes, are brought
into action. If the quantity is large, both the
tubes and groove are used, but if the quantity
is very small the central groove only is used.
Then in the latter case it is conveyed by
capillarity and suction to the upper groove
and then swallowed.

This adaptability to suit itself to the amount
of liquid found in the flower is a very wise and
interesting phenomenon. Shakespeare, always
closely observant when dealing with Nature,
shows he distinguishes between the common
notion that the bee sips honey and the actual
process of sucking in the following line,
" Where the bee suclcs, there suck I.''

As might be supposed, the tongue of the
queen is 'not nearly so perfectly fitted for
honey- sucking, the spoon especially being
much smaller ; while in the drone it is quite
rudimentary, and incapable of performing the
duty done by the tongue of the worker.

Frequently we see discussions arise in the
bee papers about the relative length of bees'
tongues, but I think, as far as it is possible to
ascertain, in all races they are much the same.
Bees with a longer tongue would work on
many flowers, notably the red clover, teeming
with honey, which is lost, as the tongues of
our bees are unable to penetrate deep enough
to reach the nectar. Bees with longer tongues
are therefore much to be desired, but I fear
are impossible of attainment.

Doctor (to lady) : " Put out your tongue-
further — further yet — a little further." She :
" Oh, Doctor ! Do you think there is no end
to a woman's tongue ! " I fear there is an end
to the length of that of a bee.— D. M. M.,
Banff, KB., February 11, 1901.

ANOTHER USE FOR HONEY.

[4253.] It is said that a certain lord found
so much benefit from the use of the following
mixture for rheumatism that he paid his
physician ,£300 for the privilege of making it
generally known, pro bono publico.

Recipe : — Sulphur, 1 oz. ; cream of tartar,
1 oz. ; rhubarb, | oz. ; gum guiacum, 1
drachm ; honey, 16 oz. A tablespoonful night
and morning in a tumblerful of white wine
and hot water.

This mixture is called "Chelsea Pensioner,''
and a man of my acquaintance having tried
the same has been benefited.— John Brown-
ing, Woodchester, February 9. •

HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the United
Kingdom during the month of January,
1901, was £1,060. — From a return furnished
to the British Bee Journal by the Statistical
Office, H.M. Customs,

Feb. U, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

69

^tt{xm mi

[2586.] Zinc covering for Hive-roofs —
Transferring Bees and Combs. — Kindly give
me your advice on the following : — I have eight
stocks of bees in frame-hives. The roofs are
of wood, which is showing signs of leakage. I
intend in the spring to cover each roof with
thin zinc and paint it the same colour as the
box. 1. Will the zinc painted absorb the
zinc's heat more than the painted wood, and
so perhaps make the interior too hot in
summer 1 Would you advise me to put a
sheet of thin felt between the zinc and the
wood in order to render the inside cooler ? 2.
A party near here got a stray swarm of bees
in 1899, and, not having a skep or a hive in
which to house the swarm, I put them into a
box about 5 ft. by 3 ft. and 4 ft. deep. The
bees took possession of one end of the box,
and built combs from back to front. He is
anxious to have them removed into a proper
hive fitted with standard frame?, and asks my
assistance. How would the following plan
do : — Attempt operation in beginning of May.
Cut away outside combs till comb is found
contaiaing queen. Tie any combs that are
straight and which contain honey into the
frame (say six). Fill up the others with
full sheets of foundation. Place new hive on
stand of the old, and feed with liquid food ?
3. Another party here hivei a swarm the
summer before last into a box — say, 16 in. by
16 in. by 10 in. deep — without frames. He
put in cress-sticks from front to back and
from end to end. He also wishes them trans-
ferred into a frame-hive. Would the foregoing
plan do, or what would you advise ? The
smaller box and the cross-sticks will, of course,
render the operation more difficult. — Jas.
A. M. Rew, Kinloch, Bannock, N.B.,
January 31.

Reply. — 1. We prefer zinc as being more
rain-proof than wood, and if painted the
comparative absorption of heat need not be
taken into account. 2. The plan will answer
if you have sufficient skill to carry it out
properly, but with so awkward a " hive " to
deal with as a large box it will need an experi-
enced hand to perform the operation. 3. After
getting through the first-named task you will
be able to judge of the chances of the second
one, but we should say the best and safest
course will be to allow the bee3 of your
other neighbour to transfer themselves to
the frame-hive in spring by setting the box
above the frames and allowing the bees to
work down on the plan so often described in
our columns.

[2587.] Surplus from Swarms. — I am
located in the West Riding of Yorkshire and
we have only one honey-crop, viz., that from
the heather in August. Now my idea is that
it would be a good plan to feed the bees

liberally in spring and so get them to swarm
early in the summer. If I succeed in this do
you not think the swarms would be sufficiently
strong to work the honey flow from the heather
and yield some surplus the same season ? I
may say that I desire swarms in order to
increase my stocks as I have only two hives as
yet but I only started in the craft last year.
An answer through your valuable journal
will not only oblige myself but it will be of
interest to bee-keepers about here, as I have
heard some of them tell how they have had to
feed the bees at the heather to keep them
going. Of course, this has been when bad
weather prevailed for a week after getting the
hives to the moors. Last year scarcely any-
one who took bees to the heather got surplus-
chambers filled. Consequently any honey that
was got had to be taken out of the brood-
chambers. This condition of things made
me think of Mr. Eden's letter on page 44, for it
" relegated " us Yorkshire bee-keepers to the
class " who have no honey to sell.'' — Fred
Priestley, Bradford, February 4.

Reply. — There is no doubt that by work-
ing judiciously in stimulating stocks to swarm
early, and feeding such swarms- during
adverse weather or in times of scarcity, the
latter may be got into the best of condition
for storing surplus from the heather And if
they could have been induced to start comb'
building in sections before the heather begins
to yield, it will only need plenty of warm
wrappings, to guard against cold nights, to
secure a good result.

[2588.] Candy Feeding — Cleaning Floor-
boards.— 1. Would you kindly tell me how
much candy I should leave on one hive to
make sure that the bees will not starve while
I am away for a couple of months ? They
have sealed stores, but not very much. I
shall be away all March and part of April, and
I want to be sure that my bees will not starve.
Is a 2 lb. cake sufficient, or should it be 4 lb. ?
I buy my candy, and the bees carry it down
quickly. 2. Please advise me also as to
changing floor-boards. I read that they are
rather a source of infection, so that, I suppose,
it is not a good plan to have one floor-board
and use this while the one from each hive in
turn is being cleaned ? Is it better to have a
spare floor-board and body-box for each hive
and use them only for the hive they belong
to % It seems rather an expensive way. 3.
Should every super be painted for the next
season each year, or are they less liable to in-
fection ? I do not think my supers are painted
at all ; they are a dark colour with use. Is it
better to paint all supers white, and is it
necessary to paint all frames also every
season ? — A Beginner, Abergele, North
Wales.

Reply. — 1. As the bees carry the candy
down quickly, we should give a 4 lb. cake at
least to tide the bee3 over till early in April.
2. There is no need for duplicate floor-boards

70

THE BEITISH BEE JOUENAL. [Feb. 14, 1901.

for each hire. Scrape off all debris into a
newspaper and burn it, returning the floor-
board to hive when cleaned. 3. Do not paint
frames or supprs at all. Only the outsides of
hives need keeping in good condition by
painting, yearly — or, at least, every second
year.

[2589 ] Liquefying Honey. — I should be
glad to have a little further information with
regard to liquefying honey. Mr. Cbalon
Fowls' article on page 29 does not state how
the honey behaves subsequent to re-liquefica-
tion. I and my customers have a prejudice in
favour cf granulated honey, and in order to
secure it in this state with the least possible
trouble it i3 bottled within a month or two of
being extracted. This practice has its disad-
vantages, and I shall be glad to know whether,
and, if so, how soon, the honey re-liquefied in
accordance with the method before-mentioned
would be re-granulated ? 2. Will Mr. W.
Woodley kindly say what he means by
" clarifying," when writing on page 33 ?
He evidently refers to a process which is
something more than clarifying as ordinarily
understood. I am curious to be made ac-
quainted with a practice which results so well
for those who make use of it. — J. Morgan,
Pontypridd, January 28.

Reply. — 1. If customers prefer to use honey
after it has become granulated you cannot do
better than continue the present plan of
jarring it while liquid and allowing it to
stand till solid. Mr. Fowls melts his honey
because his customers want it in liquid form.
If yours prefer it solid, where is the need for
re- liquefying ? 2. The letter headed "No
Pains, No Gains'' (page 53 ante) may tend to
explain what is meant by " clarilying."

[2590.] Bees in Damp Hive. — I should be
glad of your advice on the following points in
the B.B.J. : — I have just looked at my hives
(three in number) and find that wet has got
into one of them through a leaky roof. The
outside combs have mildew on thun, and the
bees — which now only cover three combs —
exude a brownish, evil-smelling liquid. I
therefore ask: — 1. What is the cause of
this ? 2 Will the mildewed comb be of any
use I 3. Will it be safe to unite the remain-
ing bees with either of the other two stocks,
both of which are healthy ? 4. Can I use any
of the stores from the affected hive for the
other hives I 5. What is the name and
address of the secretary of the Essex B.K.A.,
as I should like to become a member 1 —
John M. Paterson, Loughton, Essex, Feb-
ruary 9.

Reply. — 1. The symptoms detailed —
although too briefly for enabling us to form
a reliable opinion — point to the bees being
affected with dysentery owing to the unwhole-
some food and the damp atmosphere of the
wet hive. 2. Dampness would also account for
the mildewed combs, which had better be

melted down for wax or burnt if soiled by the
excreta of the affected bees in addition to the
mildew. 3. If the bees are numerous enough
to be worth saving — which we doubt — it
would be " safe " enough to unite, but to use a
colloquialism — " the game is not worth the
candle." 4. No, the fond is probably to blame
for the diseased bees. 5. Mr. W. J. Sheppard,
King's Head Hill, Lhingford.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letters Or queries asking for addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur.
chased, or replies giving such information, can only be
inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

R. (Quorn). — Starting Bee-keeping. — We advise
beginning with a natural swarm of the native
or ordinary bee. The Ligurian or other
foreign races may be left till a little
experience is gained.

R. B. (Grosmont, Yorks). — Prizes at Shows.^
The difficulty in the arrangement you pro-
pose is the number of volumes that would
be required, seeing that every show in the
kingdom would have an equal claim on us.
The matter has been already considered,
and it was found impracticable in conse-
quence of what we have named above.

Dusty Miller (Boston). — Honey Samples.^
1. Apart from its having begun to lerment,
the honey is very fair in quality. No doubt
the " damp place " has tended to set up fer-
mentation. If heated to about 150 or
180 deg. Fahr. and the scum removed, it
will be safe for your own table use.

Slieve Donard (Ireland) — The "W.B.C."
Section-Box. — We cannot pretend to give
you full instructions for making this ap-
pliance. So much depends on its being
accurately made — so far as regards its effi-
ciency in working — that you should get a
good pattern-box to show what is needed.

L. Q. (I. of Man). — Working for Comb-
Honey. — Beyond the "ordinary section-
rack," which you already use, there is only
the " W.B.C." section - box among the
appliances in what you term ■' the most
popular and best methods of working "for
sections. The dividers in the '' box ''
referred to are of wood and are attached to
the frame in which the sections hang, so
that in working the hanging-frame is
handled just as a shallow-frame without any
tumbling about of separate and loose
dividers.

*** Some Letters and Queries are unavoid-
ably held over till next week.

Feb. 21, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

71

(Mitorral $Jirtitts, kt

CHESHIRE B.K.A.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting was held in Chester on
Monday, February 11, 1901. There was a
moderate attendance of members under the
chairmanship of the Rev. J. F. Buckler,
M.A. The report and balance-sheet, which
had been previously circulated, were adopted.
The Association was shown to be in a
prosperous financial condition, while the
number of members was stated to be the
same as in. the previous year (323). The
expert (Mr. J. Gray) examined 1,638 stocks,
1,500 being in frame-hives and 138 in skeps,
as compared with 1,359 in 1899. The
number of diseased stocks showed a reduc-
tion of forty-four. Six members had gained
3rd Class Experts' Certificates. Shows had
been held at Congleton and Birkenhead in
connection with the Cheshire and the Birken-
head and Wirral Agricultural Societies.

His Grace the Duke of Westminster was
re-elected President of the Association. The
Vice-presidents were also re-elected, and the
following appointments were made : — Com-
mittee : — Rev. J. F. Buckler, chairman ; Revs.
T. J Evans and E. A. Huttou ; Mtssts. Bally,
Bell, Bradburn, Cotterill, Hinde, Lambert,
Little, Lawson, Lynch, Wynne, Forde, and
Den son ; hon. trea&uier, Mr. T. D. Schofield ;
hon. secretary, Rev. E. Charley ; hon. librarian,
Mr. F. H. Taylor ; hon. auditor, Mr. J.
Tonge.

It was decided to engage an additional
expert for a spring tour in order that all
members of the Association might receive a
visit early in the season. — (Communicated.)

WORCESTERSHIRE B.KA.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of this Association was
held at the Guildhall, Worcester, on the 26th
ult. The Rev. Canon Coventry presided,
and there were also present . — Rev. J. B.
Wilson, Rev. E. Davenport, Messrs. L.
Higley, W. H. Hooper, W. W. Hunt, E. A.
Millward, T. Huband, J. P. Phillips, W. E.
Hyde, H. Dickinson, treasurer, A. R. Moreton,
G. Richings, P. Leigh, and C. M. Watson,
hon. secretary. Apologies were received from
Lord Coventry, Mr. A. Baldwin, M.P., and
Miss Vaughan.

The annual report stated that after being in
a state of collapse the Association had re-
covered energy. The county had been divided
into districts, and district secretaries and
experts appointed, and as a result of good
work by these officials the membership had
been raised to ninety -five.

The treasurer's accounts showed that the re-

ceipts and expenditure for the year showed a
small balance of 9s. 8d. on the debit side.

The report and balance-sheet having
been passed, Lord Coventry was re-elected
president. The vice-presidents were re-elected,
with the addition of the Rev. J. B. Wilson
and Canon Coventry. Mr. Watson was re-
elected secretary, Mr. Dickinson treasurer,
and Mr. Phillips assistant secretary.

The chairman presented prizes won by
members of the Association and presented by
the British Bee-keepers' Association. These
were Mr. E. A. Milward (silver medal), Mr.
W. E. Hyde (bronze medal), and Mr. W. W.
Hunt (certificate of merit).

A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded
the meeting. — (Communicated.)

DRIFFIELD AND DISTRICT B.KA.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The third annual meeting of the Driffield
and District Bee-keepers' Association was held
at the Coffee House, Driffield, Mr. J. W.
Wat3on bain? in the chair. The report and
balance-sheet was read before a good many
members. Steady progress was reported, and
the membership had increased. A small
b dance remained in hand. Mr. Harrison
Holt, J. P., was re-elected president ; Mr. J.
W. Watson was appointed treasurer; Mr. W.
E. Richardson secretary. —(Communicated.)

REVIEWS OF FOREIGN BEE-PAPERS

BY R. IIAMLYN-HARRIS, F.R.M.S., F.Z.S.,
F.E.S., ETC.

Deutsche Illustrierte Bienenzeitung (Ger-
many) — The Poison of the Honey Bee and
Formic Acid. — A doctor writes : — "The in-
flammation and other unpleasant symptoms
which usually appear after a bee sting are
often attributed to that sharp acid so widely
distributed in the animal kingdom and known
under the name of formic acid. This fluid,
however, has nothing to do with the swellings ;
its utility to the bees is of quite another
character. Professor Joseph Langer, of
Prague, a little while ago, examined the con-
tents of the poison 'glands' of 25,000 bees.
This he found to be a clear fluid, soluble in
water, tastes bitter, and has a pleasant aro-
matic smell, which, however, soon passes
away ; this scent cannot therefore be the
poison. The formic acid which gives
its peculiar acid reaction to the contents
of the gland is also very evanescent. The
contents of the 'gland' itself retain their
poisonous properties, however, even when
dried and subjected to heat. The poison is,
we therefore suppose, a vegetable base, an
alkaloid, as the most active poisons in the
vegetable kingdom are known to be.

" Professor Langer proved that the poison
has no effect whatever on a healthy skin ; if,
however, injected under the skin, all the

72

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb.. 21, 1901.

symptoms of bee stings set in ; should it reach
the larger veins or arteries it causes a general
disorder of the system which reminds one of
snake poisoning. The weight of the poison
injected into the wound made by a bee's sting
is between Tuuooth and Toiboth part of a
gramme. The largest part of this is formic
acid, which is such an important factor for the
well-being of the bees. This works as a
means of preserving the honey owing to its
acid reaction. The bee allows a little formic
acid to fall into each cell filled with honey
before it is closed or sealed, and this small
quantity is enough to prevent fermentation.
Honey extracted from unsealed combs never
keep long, unless O'l per cent, formic acid be
added, which is all that is required."

It may be added that the above-named
author does not think — like so many others —
that bees necessarily die after stinging, but
only in case of their being knocked off with
the hand or otherwise killed.

L'Apicolture (Italy) gives a wonderful
account of the mildness of Christmas Day last,
when the bees were flying under a splendid
sun in a perfectly calm atmosphere and trying
to find in some late flowerets of rosemary the
honey which was certainly not there. Flowers
at Christmas, bees on the wing, temperature
at 25 deg. C. in the sun are things not to be
seen every year.

Leipziger Bienen-Zeitung (Germany). —
E. Gross gives the following account re killing
of queens : — " I have often read in bee
journals that there are doubts among bee-
keepers as to whether the queen of a hive that
has swarmed undertakes herself the killing of
her rivals, or if the bees make themselves
responsible for the removal of the superfluous
queens. On June 26th of this year a Car-
niolan stock swarmed for the third time.v
About two hours after a loud buzz of drones
arose around the parent hive. Making a closer
inspection I perceived a queen bee on the
alighting board, and I thought perhaps she had
just made her wedding trip. This idea,
however, was not correct, for at the same
moment another queen came out of the hive,
who rushed on her sister-queen and inflicted
two stings, bending back her abdomen like a
working bee does when she stings. The
attacked queen remained perfectly quiet and
offered no resistance. After the deed the
murderess returned to her dwelling, the stung
queen slowly following."

L 'Apiculteur (France). — Melipona fulvipes.
— M. Leon Diguet has presented to the
Museum of Natural History a nest of Meli-
pona fulvipes which he took on the temperate
plateaus of Mexico. This nest was found in
an old stump, which was sawn below and
above the combs, and for careful transporta-
tion placed horizontally in a box, firmly fixed
and covered with wire gauze. The melipones
bore their journey very well, and the only
trouble which threatened was from the
Mexican Customs authorities, who, fearing

yellow fever, were most anxious to disinfect
them at Vera Cruz.

Every day the bees left the nest to explore
their narrow dwelling, and gladly fed on the
syrup laid on their gauze lid ; and about five
in the evening they returned to their nest,
and, after buzzing actively for a while, they
remained perfectly quiet for the night. On
arrival at the end of their long j ourney they were
placed in the laboratory of the Museum and
given their liberty, but many dashed against
the windows, and the numbers were seriously
diminished. The next day they were allowed
to fly abroad ; they fled in wide semicircles,
larger and larger, with their heads directed
towards their nest, as the nest - making
Rymenoptera, of our country do. They flew
in and out, and returned at night.

Two days after they were placed in the
camelia-house, near to the great palm-house,
not far from the glass. They did not come
out much, nor were they attracted by the
honey placed for them, unless laid close to
their hole of exit. They sometimes worked
the flowers in the glass houses. Since this
was written, October 12, in consequence of
the dull, rainy weather the melipones have
been conveyed to the palm-house, where they
mostly continued in a torpid condition, so that
I feared they had succumbed ; but they have
been heard to buzz on fine days. It is there-
fore most probable that they — ardent lovers of
warmth and sunlight — hybernate during the
darker winter period, notwithstanding the
comparatively high temperature of the palm-
house in which they have been placed.

$tfrrapnto£t

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

SIZE OF SECTIONS.
(Continued from page 53.)

[4254.] It remains for me now to reply to
those who have so kindly joined in the dis-
cussion.

Our friend in the far North (" D. M. M.,"
Banff, 4216) is quite satisfied with " tne two
bee-^way first-grade snow-white basswood 4| in.
by A\ in. by 2 in. section.''

As to the colour of the prospective section,
let me assure him that no one has any idea of
adopting one of mahogany or any other
coloured wood, and I believe the American
manufacturers have plenty of excellent lumber
to satisfy the most exacting taste.

Not only shall we procure the best polished
section, but what is more, when a section is
worked more quickly the consumer will also

Feb. 21, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

73

have a better chance of admiring its snowy-
whiteness than he has at present. But perhaps
I have said too much, and even the soiled
section has some advantage. For what do
Messrs. Root, & Co. say ? " Choice honey
shows off to best advantage in a section not too
white, as it is the honey rather than the wood
that the consumer looks at.''

I am sorry our friend's experience with
narrower sections has been so unfortunate, but
until he gives some details — such as size of
section, years of trial, what foundation used,
whether hung or otherwise — how can we
discover wherein the fault lay ?

I however congratulate Banff in possessing
such a successful bee-man. If the five racks
in which the bees work actively at one time
yield in most seasons a good proportion of
completed sections, even Mr. Woodley with
his two racks at a time must be contented to
take a back seat.

But this I must say, that when we are in
search of a better section — we are legislating
not only for the ninety-and-nine, but also for
the hundredth — it will give the most success-
ful individual a lift. If he can now work five
racks, he might then attempt six or seven.

With reference to larger frames than the
standard, I did not advocate them, but only
expressed the desire of some to see the reports
of those who have tried them, as we ha\e had
reports of some who have tried sizes smaller
than the standard. I cannot think this is
unreasonable when we consider the latest
advances in apiculture.

At any rate, such expressions as u Any
need for a larger frame has not been demon-
strated," and " Let me nail my contention to
the mast. Is it not a fact that all the largest
returns recorded for years have been the result
of working with the standard frames ? " are
at present out of place. They may sound
well ; but to me they will have no meaning
until there has been a good discussion on the
subject, or, at least, a fair field offered to both
sides. No, the time is not ripe to form a
decision. But I do think, when a champion
writes so stoutly, it is quite a fit time for him
to put aside his modesty as regards signature
and to give us his full name, so that we may
have the pleasure of knowing him.

With Mr. W. Loveday (4219) I thoroughly
agree when he says " we can only do our
best" (that is just what I am trying to do),
and " I dare say our bee-keepers will get the
adopted receptacle to as high a standard of
finish as possible." But I can tell him who
will not do it — those who imagine the present
section for comb -honey is satisfactory for all
purposes, or that it " cannot be beaten," and
who, when they see imperfections, give way
to fatalism and despair or — shall we say ? —
fold their hands and exclaim, in a spirit of
sublime resignation, " But is it not so with
everything else ? "

There is very little in the objection to
excess of wax in the new section. We would

have to inform our customers that the lj-in.
comb is of a fair thickness, and being worked
out quickly, the wax would be the finest
quality and superior to the old section, in
which it is frequently tough and tarnished ; it
ought, therefore, to be more palatable.

In another article (4226) Mr. Loveday
quotes my question about " extra thick
combs " quite correctly, and then goes on to
tell us that thick combs are used for storing
honey, and thus wastes his strength in beating
the air, because no one disputes it.

His case, however, of a small bell-glass does
not help us much, because another and
probably a better reason may be given for
their conduct. They lengthened the cells of
the one comb because they disliked to attach
another comb to the glass. I have observed
bees similarly situated work upwards from the
brood-nest instead of working down from the
glass ; from which I concluded that bees are
averse to working from the glass.

Mr. Atchley's illustration I regard a fair one
to show what the bees prefer even when
guided with full sheets spaced for the produc-
tion of extra thick combs. This is from the
bees' point of view. On the other hand, when
Mr. Lovedav (page 66) speaks of doiDg '• the
right thing in the wrong way," he takes the
bee-keeper's point of view, i e., how the bees
can be compelled to do as he wishes.

Next comes Mr. Homersham (4234), who
misses the point of the argument by not
noticing the conditions I laid down.

We work on a high-pressure system, giving
the bees only so much super-room as they can
occupy so that the internal heat is well main-
tained. In such a super it would be instruc-
tive to see how thick the combs would be if
the bees started then as they pleased. I
would not be surprised at anything the bees
did in a hive in which they were allowed to
roam into the roof or behind the brood-nest ;
for their work would vary according to the
strength of the colouring, according to the
exposure — to the sun, to cold winds, and cool
nights. His illustration confirms my expe-
rience that where bees have unlimited space
they are more inclined to lengthen the cells,
but where the space is limited they prefer to
build more and thinner combs.

I am glad Mr. W. McNally (4241) has
taken part in the discussion, as his remarks
are generally worthy of careful attention.

But I think he lays too much stress on the
loss of honey in sections being so much due to
dividers. Some say that from a stock which
would give 100 lb. of extracted honey we must
expect only sixty 1-lb. sections. But suppos-
ing the leakage were only 30 lb., I would hold
th« dividers responsible for about 10 lb. of it,
and would estimate that 201b. were lost by the
use of such a thick section. And it is by
studying the work of bees in frames variously
spaced season after season, and noticing the
indifferent work done in those frames which
were more widely spaced, that the conviction

74

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 21, 1901.

has been forced upon me that the great defect
of our present section is its extra thickness.
Thus the frames have guided me to the suit-
able width for sections.

I would remind Mr. McNally that the Ren-
frewshire Stewarton — or improved Stewarton
— retained the li-in. width for end and super
comb bars as tne most suitable for honey
storage (B.B.J., vol. xv., page 306).

He will, I am sure, pardon me if I say that
we are now better equipped than when the
trials were previously made. The narrow
4| by 4| were tried chiefly in 1887 and
1888. In the former year, in some places, the
harvest, though good, was very short, and
1888 was the worst season we can remember.

Moreover, sections holding less than 1 lb.
were not likely to make much headway — the
foundation was not then so reliable, the sec-
tions had not the advantage of being hung;, nor
was the principle of the "fence" thought of;
so that if the narrow section tried before was
found wanting, surely in our present position
we may hope for better success.

I have now the pleasure of returning to Mr.
Woodley again. In article (4215), I think he
places himself in an awkward corner. He
gives as an excuse for so many ill-finished
sections our fickle seasons and varied forage,
and then refers to America as a model country
for producing honey-comb. But are the
Americans satisfied with the 2-in. section 1
No, just the contrary. Mr. W. himself says
the Danzenbaker hive and sections are
apparently making some headway ; and Mr.
Sladen said last week, "None of the combs
in the sections (three standard sizes) in
regular use in America are as thick as ours."

The question then before us is this : — If the
Americans, with their advantages of regular
climate and vast tracts of bee-forage, are not in
favour of the 2-in. sections, is it not time for
us, with our disadvantages, to wake up and see
how they can be overcome ?

The discouragement of producing honey-
comb is so wide and deep, that half measures,
such as the use of the " W.B.C." frames, will
not do ; we must face the difficulty and deal
with it thoroughly. And I see no other course
which promises so much success as the change
to a different section.

Now for particulars : — Mr. W. thinks that
a section 5 by 4 by U is too large. Well,
perhaps .it is ; but I would rather give
the consumer an ounce or two more than a
pound than less, and we could afford to do so
with a better section.

Then, as to dividers. I admit that the
majority of bee-keepers are for retaining
them, and we cannot recommend ordinary
bee-keepers to do without them ; but I think
the principle of the "fence," when it is applied
to shallow-frames, will probably solve the
difficulty.

On the other hand, I believe that specialists
could sometimes produce more honey-comb
without them.

At the Yorkshire Show at Dewsbury some
friends assisted me in showing the process of
extracting to the public. Most of the frames
we handled on that occasion were so per-
fectly even that I was asked whether I had
used separators.

" Amateur Expert " wrote about the
sections in the Canadian Exhibit of 1886,
most of which were taken without separators,
that " they were as good as eye could wish to
look upon." Again, Mr. R. McKenzie wrote :
" Satisfactorily-finished sections may be
obtained by a skilful manipulator when
favoured with a good locality and a rapid
honey flow."

I understand that some narrow sections
worked by means of " fences" were shown at
the Confectioners' Exhibition. Will some
good friends who noticed them kindly tell us
what they thought of them ?

Being a novelty, I half expected our worthy
Junior Editor would have ere now given us
his opinion respecting them.

Mr. W. (4248) does not understand how
my expression, " Ten ploughs can turn up a
field quicker than eight," applies to work in
sections. Well, it is true, ploughing a field
doe3 not make it more full ; but the work of
turning over the soil has to be done all over
the field. If ten ploughs, then, are available
instead of eight, each can be allotted a
narrower strip of ground to work up, and the
task would be got through sooner. So, when
a super has ten frames instead of eight, or
twenty-four sections instead of twenty-one,
the work of filling the narrower spaces with
comb should be done more rapidly.

Mr. W. says he has removed with the
present sections just such full supers as I sug-
gested might be secured by narrower sections.
I do not doubt it, but affirm that he would
have the pleasure of repeating the process
more frequently with a more suitable section.

Yes, extra wax would be required for sealing
the more sections we place in supers ; but that
is a mere bagatelle. If, as I maintain, they
would be taken to sooner, and the honey
ripened earlier, there would be plenty of time
for them to be sealed throughout, long before
the wider sections could be.

With respect to the exact average thickness
of natural honey-comb, I am afraid we must
agree to differ, as no one, as far as I know, has
attempted to fix it. Perhaps it is impossible
to do so, for in '' Outlines of Bee-keeping "
(B.B.J., vol. xv., page 180) beginners are truly
told that " cells (both brood and drone) for
storing honey vary greatly in length." All
that we can, then, do is to determine the size
which will give the best results in our climate.

I do not think there are many in Yorkshire
so foolish as to put on three racks of seccions
at a time when their stocks are at the moors.

I regret being unable to refer to Mr.
Sladen's refreshing paper, but I hope to do
so next week, when I must also conclude. —
Richard M. Lamb, February 16.

Feb. 21, 1901.J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

75

ANCIENT BEE-BOOKS.

" A Treatise concerning the right use and ordering of
Bees : Newlie made and set' forth, according to the
Author's owne experience: (which by any heretofore
hath not been done) By Edward .Sautheme, Gent (Better
late than never).

" Imprinted at London l>v Thomas Orwin for Thomas
Woodcocke, dwelling '.in battle's Churchyard at the
Signe of the Black Beare, 1593."

[tinder " Better late than never" is a shield showing
two hands joined and the letters or word TO above
them. Motto :— By peace plenty, By wisdom peace.]

[4255.] The claim of originality made by
Southerne in his title, and re-asserted later on,
has never, I believe, been disputed. " Mr.
Southerne brake the ice,"J 'says Samuel
Purchas. Levett, too, in his " Ordering of
Bees,'' published in 1634, but apparently after
much delay, has [much to say in our author's
praise. The bright little book before us is a
well-printed 4to in'seventeen pages, mostly in
black letter. It is very scarce, and, as no
notice of it beyond a casual allusion has ever
appeared in the B.B.J., or, as far as is known
to me, elsewhere, I propose, if our editors
will grant me space, to describe it in detail.
It is thus dedicated : " To the right Worship-
full Mistress Margaret Astley, wife to John
Astley Esquier, Master and Treasurer of
her Majesties '' (Henrietta Maria, wife of
Charles I.) "Jewels and Plate, and Gentleman
of her Highnesse Privie Chamber, all health
and prosperitie, with eternall felicite."

The following is from the Epistle Dedica-
torie : " Though I doe not denie but long
agoe many wise men have very learnedly
written of the nature of Bees ; and Virgil in his
Bucholicks hath given us reasonable direc-
tions as any before him or since ; and yet
neither he nor they, no more than they did
imagine by naturally reason, [as within these
fourteene yeares I have fully prooved."

In view of this last extract, it will surprise
my readers to learn that Southerne did not
believe in the existence of any " master bee."
That he should not have credited the hive
with a queen is not to be wondered at, as in
that respect he merely shared the want of
enlightenment of his predecessors. We should
do ill to laugh at them ; rather should we
admire that, with the means available, they
found out so much. But that Southerne, well
versed as he was in the routine of practical
bee-keeping, should have failed to take note
of the peculiarities which distinguish a queen,
may be almost called astounding. Levett
remarks on it with surprise. Pliny, Colu-
mella, and nearly all the old classical writers,
including Virgil, were agreed as to the
presence of a monarch, and their accurate
description of tfip king's appearance were to
Southerner hand nAthe despised pages of
" T. H Londoner." It would seem that either
Southerner vision was imperfect, or that he
was the victim of a too fixed determination to
be original. He argues thus : " Of drones
drones are bred, and other bees accordingly,
and that I am assured of. ... But when
there is a swarm rising, whether it be in the

forenoone or afternoone, there wil divers
Drones go with them, and I verily thinke
that the swarmes are rather led by those
Drones, than one particular master bee,
as some fancy ; for if there should be a
master bee to go forth with the swarme, who
shall rule the olde stocke ? Then thou wilt
say, there is a Master Bee for the stocke, and
another for the swarme, then it is not likely
there is a king : for that love and principalitie
like no equalitie, therefore not two kings ; but
I say, nor king nor master, but certaine
leaders, and so thou must say or else deceive
thyself, or do wilfully think there be many
masters in one hive, for I have seen four
swarmes come out of one hive : so by this I
think thou wilt say with me, there be many
leaders and no one master."

Southerne's hives were to be made of straw
or twigs, of about half- bushel size. He did
not tnink larger hives profitable. The inside
was to b8 made smooth beforehand, otherwise
the bees " will of themselves be so long in
their manner in scratching and biting away
such piltrie, that they might have filled
halfe the Hive with waxe and honey in
that space, if it were done for them " — a piece
of advice that seems to me very sensible.

Could anything be sounder in the main than
the following advice : Avoid noise of any
kind, " especially of bels, hewing of timber,
or other great noyses whatsoever, for that they
will in nowise prosper but decay, especially
in winter time where there is such noyse ; for
you are to note that in winter time sleepe
doth bees as much good as their meate,
because in Sommer they never sleepe, and so
long as they sleepe they desire not to eate,
which they would being always awake, which
maketh them hungrie, and they would not
awake once in three or foure daies were it not
for the noyse."

He did not, as we have seen, advocate killing
the drones. " The bees themselves will kill so
many as they think good . . . and this they
have alwaies done, and so will ever continue
as occasion serveth, without Master Hil's
advice."

From the preface : — " But thou wilt say (I
marie) I would like well to have Honey and
Waxe, but I like not the stinging of Bees, how
shall we doe for that matter I Wilt thou
know ! First there is no commoditie, in
regard of wordly wealth, but hath some dis-
commoditie. The marchant before he obtaine
his desire doth adventure life and goods ; and
it is reason the cat should wet her feete if she
will eate any fish. Well (say you) then of
necessitie we must be stung. I say no : for if
thou use them according to the directions
hereafter mentioned, thou needest not feare
stinging."

In swarming time you were not to "keep
a stirre and lay on with a Bason, Kettle, or
Frying pan." It made the bees " angrie, and
go further to settle. ... I do assure thee,
thy life for mine, that at such time they will

76

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 21, 1901.

not sting. Gne orderly to them, and thou
shalt finde them gentle as sheepe. Yet if by
chance thou shauldst be stung at one time
or other, it would hurt neither life nor limme
I warrant thee ; and for to stint the paine,
which is but momentarie, take but a sage
leafe, cabbage leafe, or piece of a docke leafe,
and rub it ; it will soon cease."

If two swarms came out together, a sheet
was to be hung before one hive, and the
other held up to hasten out the bees. As
soon as half had settled you were to " pop
them into a Hive, and carry them into a
corner a good way off, and though it were
halfe a mile their fellows would find them."

" That two swarmes will not be parted. —
This sometime (in my father's daies) through
my negligence I have proved, and have been
cudgelled afterward for my labour : although
1 knowe some that will face it out with oathes
that they will be easily parted : but how
untruly they speake, I desire no better witnesses
than their own conscience. I remember a
place in Worcestershire within the Vale of
Evesham, called Honeyborne, where dwelt an
old Vickar which tooke great pleasure in
Bees, and they triple requited his curtesie at
his own commaund. On a time there came to
him two of his neighbaurs with cap in hand
and a low curtsie, desiring Master Vickar
to give each of them a swarme of Bees : he
seeing himself so gently intreated, graunted
their requests, and promised them very shortly
to perform it. Within a weeke after it for-
tuned the Vickar had two swarmes rose and
settled together. He with his skill parted
them, and put them into two hives, and in
the evening sent for the two men his neigh-
bours, who dwelt a mile asunder, and gave
them their swarmes : on the next morning
about eight o'clock one of the poore men's
daughters going into the garden to see their
new Bees, perceived them very busie about
the Hive, ran in and told her father their newe
Bees were a swarming : with that the good
man comming to looke, found his Bees readie
to bid him farewell, and so they did. He
followed them, and they brought him to the
other man's house and into the garden, where
they all went into those Bees from whence
they were parted the day before : upon this
the two poore men fell out, knowing
not the cause of the matter. Quoth one,
what a spitefull malitious knave are
thou to bring thy Bees to kill mine, because
thou mightest not have all. Nay, quoth the
other, folkes say thy wife is a Witch, and so
I am sure she is, for she hath bewitched my
Bees to thine, because thou wouldst have all.
When Master Vickar he was made acquainted
with their brawles, he knowing whereof the
matter proceeded, gave him that lost his Bees
another swarme, and so ended the matter
between them. Thus you see, though they
were parted for one whole night, and were
carried a mile asunder, yet they came together :
therefore, at such a time of necessitie, who

would not be glad to prevent such an incon-
venience, which can be done none otherwise
than as before I have showed."

So bees were always bees ; after a lapse of
some three centuries their ways remain much
the same. The homely incident might have
happened last summer in some English village,
and we should have read the worthy vicar's
account of it in these columns without amaze-
ment.

The following method for inducing swarms
to remain in their hiving skep possesses such
small fascination for modern bee-keepers, or,
one would have thought, for bees, whether
ancient or modern, that I should have passed it
over, were it not that Butler and later writers,
to all appearance practical men, advocate the
same treatment without acknowledgment to
Southerne, of whose book, indeed, Butler
never makes mention : — " But if your Bees be
so froward that they will not tarrie in any
hive, put therein two handfuls of Barley or
Pease, but Mault is the best if you have it,
and let a Pigge eat it, turning the hive with
your hands as he eateth that the froth which
he maketh in eating may remaine in the hive,
then wipe the hive againe lightly with an old
cloath, and so the Bees being put in they will
abide without further trouble."

Southerne did not approve of driving bees
because of the loss of brood and incitement to
robbery, while bees would not work " in an
empty house." If done at all it should be at
midsummer. Feeding led to waste of honey
and made bees lazy. But they were to be
kept " strong and lustie," and to ensure this
"smoke them with a groateworth of Olibanum
about the latter ende of March if you perceive
your bees to be faint." Olibanum is an
aromatic resin, and probably a disinfectant.

At Bartholomewtide you were to lift the
hive, sweep the floorboard, and narrow the
entrance to prevent robbing. Lift again in
March and clean the floorboard and let stand
till April, when widen the entrance. " The
signe to know when the Bees will swarme is
a noyse as it were the sound of a little bugle
home."

" Thus hast thou (gentle reader) in briefe,
the effects (whereof) if thou put in practise
shall turne thee to a large benefite, alwaies
provided that thou have care in performing
that which to thee belongeth : and one thing
especially I am to put thee in minde of, that
is, to pay thy tythes of thy profites in Bees
truely, although in most places they hold they
are not tythable because they cannot be tolde.
And indeed I think Bees will hardly be profit-
able to the Parson if he should have but the
tenth Bee : but the tenth part of the money
which thou takest for thy sale of Bees, and the
tenth part of the Honey and Ware which
thou takest thy selfe, in conscience is due to
the Parson : and this if thou pay truly will
accordingly be accepted. Yet I remember
once there was a Gentleman, a very friend of
mine, which had got store of bees, unto whom

Feb. 21, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

77

the parson (who yet liveth, and I feare
is one of Martin Malaperts house) came
and demanded tythe of Bees. Tythe Bees
(quoth the Gentleman) I never yet payd any,
neither is it the custome in this Parish, and I
am loth to be the first that shall bring it up,
and yet I am very willing to pay my due ;
Honey, Honey and Waxe you shall have with
all my heart, but Bees cannot be told, there-
fore how shall I pay them. Told or told not
(quoth the Parson) or due or due not, I will
have the tenth swarme, and you were best
bring them home to my house. Why, then I
might deceive you (quoth the Gentleman)
and bring you a Castling, or an after swarme
for a whole swarme. Well (quoth the
Parson) the Honey and Waxe shall make
amendes for that. But you can never have
profite of those Bees if they be castlings
(quoth the Gentleman) which I bring you. It
is no matter for that (quoth the Parson) bring
them to me, I pray you. Well it shall be
done (quoth the Gentleman). It fortuned
within two daies the Gentleman had a great
swarme, the which he put into a hive, and
towards night carried them home to the
Parson's house. The Parson with his wife
and familie he found at supper in a faire
hall : the gentleman saluted them, and told
the Parson he had brought him some Bees.
I mary (quoth the Parson) this is neighbourly
done ; I pray you carry them into my
garden. Nay, by my troth (quoth the
Gentleman) I will leave them even
here. With that he gave the hive a
great knocke against the ground, and all the
Bees fell out : some stung the Parson, some his
wife, and some his children and familie, and
out they ran as fast as they could into a
chamber, and well was he could make shift for
himself, leaving their meate upon the table in
the hall. The Gentleman went home, carry-
ing his empty hive with him. On the next
morning the Bees were found in a quickset
hedge by a poore man, who since hath had
good profite of them, and is yet living.
Within foure daies after the Gentleman was
cited to appeare before the Ordinary : who
when he came, demanded why he had used
the Parson after that manner. Why Sir
(quoth the Gentleman) I have not misused him
to my knowledge. No (quoth the Parson) did
you not make your Bees sting me and all my
folkes ? Not I (quoth the Gentleman) but you
would needes have a swarme of Bees, the
which I brought you home according to your
owne request, and left in your hall, and since I
saw them not. I but (quoth the Ordinary)
why did you not let them alone in the hive ?
So I would (quoth the Gentleman) if they had
been in mine owne garden. Why did you not
let the Parson have the hive (quoth the
Ordinary) ? I could not spare it (quoth the
Gentleman) for I bought my hive in the
market, and I am sure, covetous as he i3,
he can have no tythe of that which I
buy in the market, according to the

English lawes : but I did by his Bees as he
willed me, and as I have done by all his other
tythes, which I have ever left in his hall, and
so I did these, and yet there was no Bees ever
demanded for tythes in our Parish till now ;
and besides, the statute for tythes in this case
provided is on my side ; but Honey, Honey
and Waxe he shall have with a good will.
And that is not much amiss (quoth the
Ordinary) : so noting the circumstances of
every cause, gave sentence that both of them
should stand to their own charges — So they
were contented, and afterwards became
friends ; and if they doe not well, I pray God
we may.''

Here take we leave of that right merrie
gentleman, and goode Bee-keeper, Edmund
Southerne, the first of our Old Masters. Of
his life or circumstances I regret to know
nothing. He was probably the son of a
Worcestershire squire. I have only to add,
that the copy of his book from which these
extracts were taken is in the British Museum.
It is some five years since I took them, for the
edification of my fellow bee-keepers. — South
Devon Enthusiast.

PREVENTING SWARMING.

[4256.] Referring to the letter of " A. E.,''
Woburn Sands (4245, page 56), giving details
of his plan for preventing swarming. I follow
him all right to " placing a box of four shallow-
frames over the brood-box with dummies on
each side.'' But will he kindly say what is to
be done to the spaces outside the dummies *?
and are the brood-frames below these spaces to
be covered up, " leaving a bee-space above the
brood - frames " — where 1 Below the four
shallow-frames, or all along ?

There is always bee-space between brood
frames and boxes containing shallow-frames.
If the bees are not prevented from getting
into the spaces outside dummies, will not they
build comb there ? And will not a board be
required all along the top of shallow-frame
box, with quilts over to keep warmth in ?
Your correspondent next mentions (2) " porous
quilts " — should these be of any particular
material ? I use carpet. I presume queen-
excluder is placed over brood-frames. — S. E.,
Sandhurst, Kent, February 10.

ENTOMOLOGY AND BEE-KEEPING.

[4257.] In reply to your correspondent
" E. D. T." (4247, page 57), I regret to say
that only a small percentage of entomologists
are hymenopterists. There are thousands of
ardent butterfly and moth hunters, but those
who really make a study of our native ants,
bees, and wasps can still almost be counted
upon one's fingers. Their numbers, however,
are increasing, and this is not to be wondered
at, for the life-histories and habits of the
hymenopterie are much more diverse and inte-
resting than those of the lepidopterre, and there

78

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 21, 1901.

is a greater chance of coming across little-
known and even new species than in the latter
order.

It certainly is remarkable that only com-
paratively few working entomologists are
bee-keepers, but what I think more extra-
ordinary is that it is such a rare thing to find
a bee-keeper Avho knows anything about
entomology, especially about the order^ which
most concerns him — the hyinenopterre. Many
people seem to think that it is impossible for
illiterate people and those who have very little
leisure to take an interest in entomology. I
can only say that this is a great mistake.
Every bee-keeper would find both interest and
profit in the study of wild bees. He would
handle his bees more intelligently, with the
result that he would have less losses and
greater and better returns, and, in addition, he
would find a fresh interest and attraction in
country life. This has bean my experience.
The bee-keeper's neglect of entomology would
be more easily comprehended if the wild bees
were scarce insects, but in their abundance
they are constantly presenting themselves
before our eyes as we watch our honey-bees at
work — turn where we will throughout the
spring and summer. — F. W. L. Sladen,
Ripple Court, Dover.

LECTURES ON BEE-KEEPING.
[4258.] Like Mr. G. A. Barnes (4243,
page 56), I, too, am a dweller in the couutry,
and am familiar with country life in all its
aspects. I also know from a wide experience
how difficult it is to get even the young people
to leave the fireside on a winter's evening to
attend a lantern lecture on any subject. I
have seen an audience of five turn up to a lec-
ture on bees ; have known lectures on horti-
culture abandoned' because no audience
whatever presented itself ; lectures on agri-
culture attended by some half-dozen people,
and those not interested in farming. Poultry
lectures, perhaps, are better attended than any
because everybody nowadays keeps fowls and
want3 to know how to make them lay. It is
true tow and again good audiences present them-
selves and their presence puts life and 'go '' into
the lecturer, but the difficulty certainly lies, not
in getting lantern lectures but in getting the
people to attend them. But this is by the
way, my main object in writing is to protest
against a written lecture, or " copious notes,"
being put into the hands of any one who is
not practically and theoretically master of the
subject. I know from personal experience
how often the harm 'lone by su h " lecturers "
more than counterbalances the good. Neither
is it fair to those who (as well as being prac-
tical bee-ke^pprs) have made a specia study of
the subject and with some trouble and expense
have qualified themselves to lecture without
" copious " or, in fact, any notes, and to answer
the many questions often put to lecturers. —
Geo. Franklin, Kenilworth.

BEE "HAPPENINGS."
[4259.] As a subscriber I regularly look
forward to the weekly arrival of your Journal,
and read its contents with much interest, and
when endeavouring to improve my mind on
any bee matter, I can almost always satisfy
myself on any point by reference to the index
of one or more of your annual volumes. There
are, however, a few minor matters not quite
clear to me, but which, I doubt not, you can
explain, and I therefore ask : — 1. How is it
that swarms, whether natural or artificial, so
soon acquire a different odour from that of the
old stock 1 I have found that even a strong
driven lot of bees, divided and placed in new
hives, furnished with combs from any one
hive, in a few days seem to regard each other
as enemies. It is no doubt a wise ordering of
Providence, but I notice that you are nearly
always able to explain the cause of such
curious happenings.

Bee-houses. — I have a few stocks in frame-
hives set up in a loft over part of my stable.
Each stock has its separate entrance through a
hole in the wall. This keeps the bees dry, and
they are not much affected by the weather.
My stable is in the midst of a country town,
aud we have very little garden room, while the
place where the bees are k-pt is surrounded
with houses. The loft is therefore convenient,
as it enables me to manipulate the hives
unobserved by my neighbours. The bees also
seem to have done very well there, but the
drawback lies in the fact of there being only
one window, and when I am lifting out the
frames for examination a good number of the
bees fly off and escape through the window.
Not only so but after getting outside they do
not fly round to their own hive entrance.
They seem to continue flying in at the window.
If I darken the window I of course shut out
the daylight needed for examination. I have
seen among your illustrations in last year's
volume a picture of a bee-house with a number
of hives set one above the other in a double
row, and the owner explains that in manipulat-
ing the bees that fly off pass out through the
windows and return by their proper entrance,
but mine fail to do this. It may be that this
is because there are a number of windows in
the house referred to, and the place h very
light. 2. Can you or some of your readers
kindly assist me ?

Bees in Greenhouses — I have four stocks in
a greenhouse. I had not seen your printed
disapproval of this to a correspondent until
after the hives were located there. I thought
I should save outer cases, roofs, &c, by so
doing, but I now know by experience that
keeping bees in greenhouses is worse than a
nuisance. In cold weather when the sun
shines brightly for half an hour the heat
induces the bees to fly, and they find it too
cold outside, so that they become chilled before
they can reach the hive again, thus causing a
heavy loss. In consequence they will be

Feb. 21, 1901.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

79

Removed from greenhouse at first possible
chance, and I warn oth^r beginners to profit
by your advice and my experience.

Moving Bees in Skeps — A short time
ago a labourer, leaving the neighbour-
hood, begged me to purchase his three skeps
of bees, and 9aid his brother, " who had
managed bees all his life," would bring them
to my house (about three miles away). I
bought them, but I said I preferred to send
some one who understood packing for removal,
but before I could send, the bee-man (?) brought
them. They were properly inverted, as you
recommend, but the cloth was tied near the top
of skep instead of the bottom. There were no
sticks through to steady the combs. He carried
the skep*, tied together, over his shoulder
more than half a mile, then put them in a
jolting cart for remainder of the journey. You
can well imagine the disastrous result, and the
confused mass of dead bees, comb, honey, &o,
with which I had to contend on arrival.

Holding as I do a public appointment, I get
my share of the worries usually attached to
public offices, but when matters more trying
than usual occur, I take the first Chance of
spending an hour '; among the bees," and find
it quickly allays the troubled mind. For-
tunately, I have working under me a man who
has served in the Royal Horse Artillery, and
who has been for years a constant reader of
your journal, and is a highly intelligent bee-
keeper. When I need any help with my bees
he is always ready to assist and give advice.
He himself has a cottage and garden in the
country, and during the honey-flow his
bees have twenty acres or more of white
clover in the field adjoining, besides
a plantation of lime trees' sycamores, &c. His
cottage is constructed with clay walls and is
covered with thatch, and when there last
summer I was much interested in the wild
bees which had burrowed into the walls and
made their home there. There were numerous
varieties, of different colour and size, and
having read in your journal a description of
some of these, I imagined what an interesting
half hour the writer of the articles mentioned
would have had in securing a collection of so
many kinds. — East Dorset, February 6.

[L It is not possible to define the power
by which bees recognise each other, any more
than we can explain how it is that, amid
thousands of human faces, all possessing the
same features in common, we can so readily
distinguish those known to us ; the power is
there, but in what it consists — beyond that
of instinct — we know not. 2. We rather
think the bees that " continue to fly in at the
window " are not those which have taken
wing from combs under examination. It is
«[uite the rule for bees to return at once to
their own hive entrance. With regard to the
bees in greenhouse, you will do well to remove
them outside at the earliest opportunity. —
Eds.]

&thm from tfo 3Stres,

South Devon, February 12. — My bees were
flying strong and carrying in pollen on Christ-
mas-eve last, and again on January 8 of this
year, after three or four days of fro3t and
snow. Judging by appearances, I should
think they are very strong. On the 8th of
the present month the bees were again flying
in great numbers, but I have not bad the
temerity to look inside any of the hives yet,
such as enabled your correspondent, W.
Scurrah, to report, on page 58, having found
some sealed brood on January 12. I gave a
large cake of candy to each of my stocks in the
autumn, and I find they have still some left.
After keeping bees for some eight or nine
years, I have never kept an account of what
profit they have yielded so far, but I find
them a source of great pleasure to me in spare
hours. I make my own hives, and have tried
the " Wells " pattern, but do not think it advis-
able to work two stocks under one roof, as it
disturbs both lots each time an examination is
made ; besides, the hives are too big to handle.
I can also get quite as much honey from a
single hive, if well looked after, as some can
from a double-queened colony. I remember
in Jubilee year taking nearly 100 lb. of
surplus from a swarm that came off on May 1.
I carried them to a clover field, and from
them I took the amount stated. I rarely take
note of what weight comes from any single
hive — indeed, I do not consider that I look
after the bees as well as I should — but I have
always a ready sale for my honey. — W. H. J.

<ftH|riAS and Jjt^ltf .

. [2591.] Working for Sections without
Increase of Stocks.— Kindly advise me as
under: — 1. I have five frame - hives, each
containing a strong stock, and my desire
is to work for section-honey, and also to
prevent swarming by the simplest plan. My
idea was to make a sort of frame the size
of a dummy-board, and by covering this frame
with a sheet of queen-excluding -zinc I could
insert it in the hive, and thus allow the queen
access to several frames for breeding, but
still confine her to the hive. Do you think
this plan would prevent swarming, while not
hindering work in the supers ? All my
hives have the frames hung at right angles to
the entrance except one, in which latter they
are parallel to the doorway. 2. Which of
these methods do you consider best ? 3. If a
swarm issues and is in the evening returned to
the hive it left, after cutting out all the queen-
cells, would this do away with the need of
killing the queen, or would they swarm again?
Would the old queen be better than one
hatched out from a cell ? I am not an

80

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. ■ [Feb. 21, 1901.

expert at catching queens. 4. A bee-keeper
told me the right time to put on a second rack
of sections was when the bees were just
beginning to put honey in the sections next the
window of the crate. Is this right or would
you wait a little longer 1 5. Do you recom-
mend keeping the sections warmly wrapped
up during the heat of summer, or is it better
to keep them as cool as possible 1 6. I have a
frame-hive, the combs of which I think are
not healthy, so I intend to transfer them to
another hive in spring. What time would
you advise me to do so, and how many frames
would you give them with full sheet-founda-
tion ? The stock is strong, and the queen is
last season's. 7. In feeding a swarm how
much syrup would you give each night if the
weather was fair ? — Constant Reader,
Donegal.

Reply. — 1. Confining queens, as stated,
after many trials is voted a failure. 2. Right
angles to entrance is best. 3. It succeeds at
times, but more often fails. 4. If honey is
plentiful, yes. 5. Keep warm when weather
is cool, and vice versa. 6. Transfer in April
and give two frames of foundation next the
hive sides. 7. About 1 lb.

[2592.] A Beginner's Queries. — 1. I shall
be much obliged if you can tell me of what
kind the accompanying bee is ? It was taken
from a stock whose queen is Italian, mated
with a British drone. All through the
summer I have noticed a very few of these
coal-black shiny bees, so entirely different
from either ordinary Italians or British, and
think they must be due to a strange cross
some generations back. I should like to know
what cross you think it is 1 2. I am soon
going to slip a cake of candy under quilts
of one of my hives ; is it better at this time of
year to try to do this without smoking the
bees, so as to avoid disturbing them, and will it
be safer to smoke them before giving the candy.
3. In the middle of July I propose to prepare
to re-queen some of my stocks by removing a
queen so as to get queen-cells raised, and then
when these are ripe I intend removing old
queens and inserting queen cells. Will the
bees destroy these cells if given when the
queens are removed, or should there be an
interval between, and how long ? I am a
beginner with a few hives, and cannot afford
this summer to sacrifice the honey from a
stock for the purpose of making nuclei. —
Constant Reader, Hall Green, Birmingham,
January 28.

Reply. — 1. Bee sent may be a common
brown one or a hybrid, but being entirely
deprived of all pubescence (or hairiness) it is
not easy to say. It is one of those social
outcasts in bee-life known as confirmed
robbers, living by plunder only. 2. If bees
are quiet slip the candy under quilt without
disturbance. 3. Do not attempt queen-raising
without first reading a guide book on bees.
You will save worry and failure by so doing.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All queries forwarded will be attended to, and thoie only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

W. H. H. (Banbridge). — Working Plans for
Hive-making. — 1. We have endeavoured to
get Work for August 4 last year, but so far
have not succeeded. It is reported " out of
print." Could you lend us your copy for
perusal and return 1 We will then be able,
perhaps, to reply to queries regarding
drawings and plans for making the
" W.B.C." hive. 2. Let the bees transfer
themselves on the plan so often recom-
mended in this journal. 3 Ye3 ; the
shallow-frames can be worked in the same
box as the Hanging-frames of sections by
raising the box up in the manner stated.

Mrs. Dawson (Mullingar). — Sxigarfor Candy-
making. — So far as we can judge without
analysis, the sample is cane-sugar, but most
persons succeed better with loaf-sugar than
the small crystals.

W. A. (Swansea). — Queen Cast Out in Feb-
ruary.—If the queen found belonged to the
skep beneath which she was found, signs of
restlessness on the part of the bees should
be observable ; but if any recent accident
has caused death of the queen, the bees
will be useless as a stock. Had it been a
frame-hive, no difficulty would occur so far
as regards being assured of the queen's
safety or otherwise ; but a beginner could
not very well judge of queenlessness in a
skep. See how the stock gets on when
breeding should be on the increase.

D. D. Bennett (Morpeth). — Moving Bees in
February. — If you will go to the trouble of
altering the outward appearance of the hive
entrances by placing a bushy twig or small
branch of a tree on the alighting-board of
each stock, they may be moved at once with
little or no loss of bees. To carry twenty-
two colonies away for a mile or two and
return them after a fortnight's sojourn
in the new location would involve more
actual risk than shifting the hives 100 yards
at once, besides saving labour and expense.

A correspondent, dating from Zindpoort,
Holland, February 18, writes : — " Please
oblige me, as a regular reader of your
esteemed bee-journal, with information
whether any of the great honey- dealers in
England will undertake to sell pure
extracted honey in quantities of not less
than 100 kilogrammes, delivered free on
shore at Rotterdam 1 " We are also asked to
name a trustworthy firm. On the first
point we have no information as to likely
buyers of Dutch honey. In answer to the
second we might name Messrs. Goodall,
Backhouse, & Co., Leeds, or Messrs. Crosse
& Black well, London.

*#* "Musings in my Bee Garden" and
"Notes from Wychwood Forest" are in type,
and will appear next iveck.

Feb. 28, 1901.] THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.

81

tditorral $totto», &t.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The monthly meeting of the Council was
held at 105, Jermyn- street, S.W., on Thurs-
day, 21st inst., under the presidency of Mr.
W. H. Harris (vice-chairman). There were
also present Major Fair, Messrs. R. T.
Andrews, W. Broughton Carr, J. M. Hooker,
W. F. Reid, J. H. New, E. D. Till, and the
secretary.

The minutes of the previous meeting were
read and confirmed.

Mr. F. W. Cook, London-road, Sevenoaks,
was duly elected to membership.

The Finance Committee's report, presented
by Mr. Andrews, showed a bank balance
amounting to £63 4s. 3d. Several accounts
were brought forward for payment, and the
report approved.

The expert's report on his work during the
year 1900 was presented to the Council.

The secretary was instructed to acknow-
ledge with thanks the gift of a hive and a
'Brice Swarming Appliance," for use in the
apiary at Swanley, by Messrs. Jas. Lee &
Son.

Nominations were made of judges to act in
the bee and honey department of the Royal
Show at Cardiff in June next.

A. report was presented showing the amount
already received in aid of the " Defence
Fund," and some correspondence on the sub-
ject duly considered. A committee consisting
of Messrs. W. B. Carr, W. H Harris, W. F.
Reid, and F. B. White, wa3 appointed to
suggest a scheme of insurance to be afterwards
submitted to the Council.

Thursday, May 16, was fixed for the forth-
coming examination of candidates for first-
class expert certificates.

It was resolved to hold the annual general
meeting on Thursday, March 21, at 4 p.m.,
to be followed, as usual, by a conversazione of
members.

€mt%pUtut

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

NOTES BY THE WAY.
[4260.] The discussion on "Size of Sections"
still continues. Mr. Sladen (4249, page 62)
mentions having worked a few tall, narrow
sections, but owing to the poor season only a
few were finished. May I ask Mr. Sladen

how these sections compared with the or-
dinary 4.1 in. by 4i in by 2 in. as regards time of
filling ? What bee-keepers want is the sec-
tion which will secure to bee-keepers some of
those tons of honey Mr. Lamb holds out as an
inducement to take on a thin section ; if these
new shapes will not increase our output, where
will the advantage come in ? I hope to see a
reply as to the comparative value of the
" Danzy " and the ordinary sections from our
friend, Mr. J. H. Howard, of Holme, as I hear
that they have been given a trial by him. I
also notice that. Mr. H. is the only dealer who
quotes the " Danzenbaker '' section and racks
in any catalogues I have of a year or two ago ;
so that evidently there are bee-keepers in
England who have already given the tall
sections a trial, and if so, these gentlemen
might give us their experience of the "Danzy''
as compared with the old-style square section.
I hope bee-keepers will not consider that
our friends in America and Canada use more
of the taller, narrow sections than the square,
because, as Mr. Sladen places the ordinary
sections last, one would be inclined to think
such is the case. According to Messrs.
Root's catalogue it seems that in the last
few years there has been a tendency towards
a section t tiler than broad, and in consequence
they cautiously added the "Danzy" section
to their regular square size. It has, however,
taken so well that they now make it one of
their regular stock sizes. But when we read
that the Root firm turned out some fifteen
millions of sections in 1889, we must admit
that the old and tried 4| in. by 4| in. section
still holds the field.

As regards honey ripening quicker in 1^-in.
than in 1^ in. combs, I do not believe there
would be" any difference in the same super.
Bees do not seal over honey until it is
ripe. Some of the finest honey I ever
exhibited was on the hive only eight days
from putting super on to taking off for
despatching to a "Royal" Show the same
day. I remember Mr. Blow wrote me from
the show asking me from what source my bees
gathered such splendid honey. Many times I
have removed sections of only seven days'
growth, and during last season my sections
were awarded first prize at every show where
they competed in all parts of England, yet
these were all in the 4j in. by 4| in. size.

Mr. Danzenbaker's sections may sell better
than the square, but when we have all
adopted the oblong size there will be no com-
pirison, and things will remain as at first
except we shall have to purchase thousands of
new racks and make firewood of the old ones.
In any case, if we adopt the size Mr. Sladen
suggests (5 in. by 4j in. by l\\ in.), a new
divider or " fence " must be used.

Reliquejied or "Clarified" Honey— My
objection to this is that the honey is not shown
in its natural state, and the consequence of
heating is that it crystallises very unsatisfac-
torily compared with honey which has not

82

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 28, 1901.

been heated. If the public requires "clear
honey,'' we must endeavour to meet the
demand, though this is something new. If
honey during the winter months of long ago
did not " set " (as our forefathers termed crystal-
lisation), the honey was not saleable.

Removing Sections. — On the question of
using five racks or two at one time, mentioned
by " D. M. M." (4216, page 34), the posi-
tion of apiaries may somewhat vary the method
of working. Our friend's apiary " ayont the
Tweed " may be in a secluded spot, and from
the fact that he is located, I believe, in a glen,
we would expect his hives to be sheltered by
hills. But although I usually work with two
racks only at one time, this does not convey
the idea that my bees would not work in four
or five racks if left on ; nor does it show that
" D. M. M." places five racks on the hive at
the beginning of the harvest and leaves it to
chance to get them filled. If I mistake not,
like myself, he give3 extra room as required,
and leaves his finished sections on the
hive longer than is really required. My
system of removing sections as soon as
sealed and completed has worked so well
for many years that I find no need for change.
One of my reasons for prompt removal is that
when the lime3 come into bloom honey-dew is
often in evidence. Again, when a break
occurs in the weather after sainfoin is cut, the
bees sometimes store honey of a darker colour,
and in this way I have had a fringe of dark
honey placed around the sections (in shallow-
frames also), in either case it spoils the look of
the honey, and in the shallow-frames, the few
cells of dark honey will very materially affect
the beautiful light amber colour of the sainfoin
honey. — W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury.

SIZE OF SECTIONS.

{Concluded from page 74.)

[4261.] I greatly value Mr. Sladen's inde-
pendent testimony (4249, page 62) on the
side of narrower sections. And as we agree
upon most points the task of explaining the
others will be comparatively easy. For the
new section there are three features I have
for some time regarded as essential: (1)
that they should be narrower ; (2) that they
should contain a full pound weight of honey ;
and (3) that three of them should fit the
shallow frame.

I was therefore surprised to read that
Mr. S. thought I only lately advocated a
larger section than our present 4| in. square
one. I cannot understand how he came to
think so, for in ray first article (December 27,
page 506) I gave the very sizes I preferred,
viz. :— 5 in. by A\ in. by \\ in. or 5 in. by 4g in.
by If in. ; again I wrote, "having larger sur-
fa ces they would look handsomer," and also
''now, if a section were selected of such a size
that three of them could just fill the shallow

frame I think our requirements would be
supplied."

In August last I spent a pleasant evening
With the Rev. and Mrs. Sidney Smith, near
Whitley. It was during part of that night
that I turned over in my mind a suitable size
to recommend for a new section, and that vigil
ended in my coming to the conclusion that
5 in. by 4£ in. by 1§ in. was the best size, as
it could be used in the present section racks if
they were raised \ in., and also frames to hold
three would hang well in our 6-in. boxes. At
that time dividers were not entertained by
me. Now that this factor is brought into the
problem, I would go in for If width " plain,''
and to the frames which held them I would
apply the principle of the "fence."

There is a likelihood of the taller sections,
from their very shape, coming into favour. A
Derbyshire bee-keeper informed me that one
American writer compared 4 by 5 sections to
tall American ladies, and 4f square to a squatty
old woman.

Mr. Sladen sees no particular advantage in
adopting a section three of which will fit a
shallow-frame, and he gives as his reason, " as
comparatively few bee-keepers now put sec-
tions into shallow frames." But the reason
why hitherto sections have not been hung is
because we have had none to fib the shallow
frame, and those who desired to hang the
4J in. by A\ in. section have had to make a
special frame. (The " W.B.C.")

Sections fitting shallow-frames have the
advantage of simplicity ; the same frame could
be used for the production of either honey-
comb or extracted honey, i.e., either with or
without sections, or both could be produced
in the same super. And this will be one of
the advantages of the size we have both so
happily hit upon— 5 in. by 4^ in. by if in. (or
plain If in.). The breadth being 4| in. it
would fit the present section-racks if raised
| in. _ And the length being 5 in. it could
hang in the 6-in. boxes in frames, the top and
bottom bars of which were f in. and \ in.
respectively, leaving f in. space below. These
sections would probably be £ in. too high for
most of the ordinary shallow frames, but these
latter, as a friend writes truly, " are too weak
to hold the sections and the wood too narrow
to either hold them in their place or to cover
them entirely so that the bees should not soil
them."

It seems, then, best to have the height 5 in.,
avoiding fractions, and to make frames accord-
ingly. My friend also adds : " Mr. Sladen
does not state in his letter to the B.BJ.
whether the new American sections are worked
with separators or not (I believe they are
nearly all worked with a " fence "). I see no
difficulty in doing without them, as we get
beautiful comb-honey in shallow-frames. I
had last year comb-honey in frames as even as
any section I ever saw, and as true as if it had
been worked with separators. Every frame in
the boxes alike ; none bulged except where the

Feb. 28, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

83

foundation had given way. This proves that
foundation, properly fixed, is an important
factor in getting the bees to work comb true.
I have also found that if a piece of foundation
in a section has given way that the comb is
badly worked. Now, if we can get bees to
work so true in frames, why not in frames of
sections? This, you know, is the original
idea, and which we have discussed at our
meetings."

The same writer would advocate the thick-
ness of lj in. widest part, l| in. narrowest.
We may come to this when we can put aside
separators. Until then If in. (or 1§ in. plain)
seems the proper width. Though Mr. Sladen
thinks this might average a light pound and
would be inclined to decide upon 1H in- 1Q
width, I cannot quite follow him here. He
informed us that 15| oz. is the approximate
weight of the American section measuring
4 in. by 5 in. by If in. plain. But surely the
t-in. breadth will make up for more than the
deficiency of i oz.; so that, by making
the section TV in. wider, shall we not be in
danger of raising the weight to 18 oz. or
more ?

I was, however, agreeably surprised to learn
that sections of this size had already been used
in America, as I did not see them mentioned
in the A. I. Root Company's catalogue. If
so, all who wish to try them cannot do better
than bespeak them at once, and meanwhile
prepare for whichever method they adopt of
working them. To find a simple and effective
way of fixing in and removing out of frames
will require a special study. Then I trust the
season will be such as to allow the conflict to
be carried into the arena of the show-bench,
and to encourage once more those who have
hitherto failed in producing honey-comb.

In reviewing this discussion I have found
nothing to shake my main position that the
fault of the present section is that it is too
thick to give satisfactory results in our
changeable climate.

It may, perhaps, interest some to hear how
and when I came to study the thickness of
combs. About eighteen years ago, I went
from Lynmouth a day's excursion by steam-
boat to Clovelly (N. Devon). There, as I
was ascending the quaint street, made up of
steps, I saw in a window a super of delicious
honey for sale. The colour was perfect, but I
was chiefly struck with the thickness of the
combs. At the end of the day, on returning
from the heights and their splendid view, I
decided to buy the honey, but just then the
steamer's whistle summoned us to come on
board. I, however, persuaded a few friends to
remain with me, whilst others went on to tell
the captain we were coming. I rushed in and
asked for the honey to be packed up, but was
told " I could not have the receptacle as the
owner wanted it returned." Luckily, I espied
a large, round biscuit-box, when the cutting
out, weighing, and paying were matters only
of a few seconds, and I rushed down in

triumph with my spoil. On reaching the boat
I found the passengers most inquisitive as to
contents of my "tin box," as some one had
spread the report that I had secured a young
porpoise !

"Well, I measured those combs, of which
some parts were about 3 in. thick. And for
years the memory of that sight fired me with
ambition, and also a constant problem was in
my mind, "How thick a comb can, and will,
the bees build ? " I tried to coax them gently
by a telescopic method until some combs
measured nearly 3| in., when the weather
stopped further progress. At the Yorkshire
Show at Halifax I exhibited some frames with
combs about 3 in. thick, which some bee-men
could not believe were single combs of two
cells ; they seemed to think I had played
some trick, and cleverly united two combs
together ! My idea at that time was to
produce the thickest and handsomest blocks
of comb and pack them in tin boxes by means
of butter-paper. But I found I could not
produce a regular supply, on account of the
uncertain seasons, of any comb H in. or above
in thickness. Thus, after many attempts,
year after year, with frames spaced at various
distances, I came to the conclusion that in our
climate a medium or average thickness of
comb is the best for both bees and bee-keeper3.
I thank the editors very much for allowing
me to place my views so fully before the
brethren, and trust the discussion has stirred
up some interest. In apiculture, as in other
pursuits, we must, I suppose, expect difference
of opinion as to the best road to success as
long as there are different methods of working
and varying conditions of forage and climate.
I have now only to add a list of the advan-
tages of a narrower section which have
occurred to me. Of disadvantages I can
think of only two— that neither specialists
nor south country bee-men would have the
show-bench quite so much to themselves.

Advantages.
1. Taken to more readily, as bees prefer
thinner combs. 2. With cells worked out
quickly the wax would be more palatable.
3. Honey ripened sooner, being more exposed
to heat of hive. 4. Sealed more perfectly,
especially where combs touch the wood, leaving
no defect to hide. 5. Larger number of
sections finished, and market supplied more
regularly. 6. Less sections to extract. If
some that were uneven were extracted the
honey would be fit for bottling, whereas at
present the honey from unsealed comb is only
fit for feeding bees. 7. Attractive appearance
—on account of shape, transparency, clean-
ness of wood. 8. Darker honey more pre-
sentable. 9. Better for separating and
grading different kinds of honey. 10. Box
full completed and removed, instead of taking
out some completed from the middle, which
involves time, labour, and disturbance of
cluster. 11. Decoy combs not required, which

84

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 28, 1901.

are generally badly finished. 12. Honey-
comb more portable. Mr. Corneil brought
over with the Canadian exhibit 800 tall
sections, of which only one was broken. 13.
The thickness of comb would approach a
truer average. 14. More suitable for our
many short seasons, especially on the moors.
16. Less apparatus necessary, shallow-frames
being available fur either comb or extracted
honey, thus helping cottagers. 16. With
brood-combs less clogged with honey the
queen would have more room for eggs. 17.
Swarming propensity better checked. 18.
Standard of honey-comb created. 19. Be-
ginners and those who had failed before
encouraged. 20. More profitable— the pre-
sent section produced at too great a sacrifice.
— Richard M. Lamb, Burton Pidsea,
Hull, February 23.

BEES IN EAST YORKSHIRE.

SEASONABLE NOTES.

[4262.] I do not think you had a line from
me for B.B.J, last year ; not that my interest
in the bees has relaxed in any way, but as we
advance in years we seem to get more careless ;
besides my time is fully occupied with the
routine of daily work. Well, I have read
friend Rymer's "Hints on Non-swarming
Hives," and although he is located some
twenty miles away, I know him to be an
advanced bee-keeper. His advice, however,
is not intended to apply to all districts nor all
bee-keepers. For instance, my district is
entirely different to his ; in early seasons I
have honey in May and have often secured a
good surplus by the longest day (June 21).
There are people in this district who keep
bees almost solely for the sale of swarms. I
have known my late father (who usually kept
about twenty hives) to sell May swarms fifty
years ago at from 15s. to £l each. In the
autumn he used to unite two or three lots
together, using either flour or fusball when
uniting. Coming back to more recent times,
let me say I had only two swarms last year
from my fourteen frame-hives, but did not
increase the number of my stocks. In working
for extracted honey I use ten frames in body-
box and ten in surplus chamber, with a queen
excluder between. In both cases where
swarms issued I joined the swarms to top lot
of bees and allowed an entrance to both-
chambers for free flight. The frames in upper
chamber were extracted the first week in
August ; there was no brood in the frames
returned to the hives which were despatched
to the heather and they were found to be well
filled on their return. ■ My first swarm of last
year filled a glass super by June 24, and with it
I took a prize at our local show. I have won
prizes with glass supers at Malton gala at
different times for thirty years past. My
prizes at the above gala last August paid the
whole of my bee expenses for the year.
When hiving swarms I give a frame of

brood and place swarm on the old stand ; by so
doing it is very rare for the bees to decamp.
They thus get all the flying bees. I could give
some astonishing honey results from swarms
the same season as hived. In one case a 6-lb.
May swarm in 1889 gave me fifty 2-lb. sale-
able sections and twelve unfinished ones. My
district may be called a fairly forward one ;
there are quantities of crocus in the gardens
and plenty of willow and other flowering
shrubs. In consequence it requires some care
and management to keep the bees from swarm-
ing. My hives have lifts that enable me to
use two racks each holding twenty-one 2-lb.
sections or four racks of twenty-four 1-lb.
sections at one time during a honey-flow. I
have on several occasions topped the coveted
100 lb. of clover honey from one hive.

In conclusion let me add I have heard of
several colonies perishing before Christmas ;
therefore, swarms will probably be in demand
this spring. The ground here has been covered
with snow for the last three weeks, and I have
had to clear the hives from snow almost daily.
I close by thanking your various contributors
for the valuable information in your pages. — P.
Biellt, Fast Yorh, February 18.

(Correspondence continued on page 86.)

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

Our esteemed friend, the Rev. W. R.
Nightingale— whose apiary is shown on next
page— needs no introduction to readers of this
Journal beyond saying that the many in-
teresting contributions to its pages over the
initials " W. R. N. " are from his pen.

Our regret is that for the last year or so
his " Bee Notes from Sussex " have been less
frequent than formerly, and we hope that the
new district in which he has now settled will
result in a resumption of " notes.'' Of himself
Mr. Nightingale writes : —

" Some years ago my old housekeeper — since
passed away— came to me in a huge excite-
ment, and burst out :— * I saw them, sir ; I
saw them ! They came streaming over the
fields ; and they're all gone in ! '

" ' Who have come, and where have they
gone in ? ' I inquired, considerably mystified.
Visitors were rare ; my tiny house was
incapable of holding any number ; and
besides, my study overlooked the garden-path
to the front door. ' Who are they ? ' For I
began to have visions of harriers, or fox-
hounds, tumultously invading my premises
en masse, and doing no end of damage.

"'The bees, sir; the bees ! They came
straight along in the air, and they've all run
into the roof ! '

" ' WHAT! ' And I was outside the house,
and gazing up anxiously at my roof, in less
time than it takes to write it.

" It was quite true. A swarm had sailed
along from the north, had alighted on a corner

Feb. 28, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

85

of the roof, and had run in under the slates,
and ensconced themselves in a very awkward
place, in the eave, outside the main wall of the
house, in the hollow that ran all round the
building, as I afterwards found out to my cos''.

" I was speedily up a long ladder, examining
into the state of affairs. The bees were
buzzing all around a tiny hole — or, rather,
several tiny holes. They were very good-
natured, and in no way resented my exami-
nation ; but there they were ; and fy suis et
j'y reste seemed to be their motto — all in per-
fect good humour.

" I knew absolutely nothing about bees. I
am not sure I then could distinguish between
a worker and a drone. But I could not and

istic topics. Needless to say, he soon enabled
me to rid myself of the intrusion— not, how-
ever, until a good bit of the roof had been
stripped of the slates to locate the enemy.

"But the inquiries I had had to make, the
reading I had done, the great interest Mr.
Lomax had imparted, to the knowledge which
he had conveyed to me, had so excited my
curiosity on the subject of bee-keeping, that
when he good-humouredly said, 'Now the
bees have themselves come to you, why not
keep a few stocks ? ' I readily fell in with
the idea.

" I speedily became the owner of a hive of
bees ; soon after, of two more ; then, of a
violent attack of bee fever ; then of Cheshire's

^-^-^

-tit .-•&- ^ 4BBK- "■"■*
« « <% -\«* ■■ •^

THE REV. W. R. NIGHTINGALES APIART, EAST PRESTON, WORTHING, SUSSEX.

would not have them there, so close to the
bedrooms, perhaps dropping honey through
the ceilings or down the chimneys, or coming
and stinging one to death in one's sleep,
driving one out of the house— and all sorts of
similar dreadful imaginings ! What was to be
done 1 The bees must move on.

" I took a good deal of local counsel from
people who were very positive, but who mostly
seemed to know really less than I did about
bees ; but I got very little useful advice. I
tried various devices with surprisingly little
success. I grew despondent. Suddenly I had
a happy thought. I went off in hot haste to
Mr. Lomax, an old Brighton friend, the well-
known curator of the Brighton Museum, and
the gifted and much-appreciated lecturer on
bees and many kindred scientific and natural-

two invaluable volumes ; then, of others,
including the ' British Bee-Keepers' Guide
Book,' the ' Honey Bee,' the British Bee
Journal, and the Bee-Keepers' Record ; then,
gradually, of accumulations of bee-keeping
appliances of all kinds and descriptions ; then,
of more hives and stocks ; before long, of
swarms, both from my own bees and by
purchase ; finally, of honey galore — and sue
honey !

"Thus was I launched into bee-keeping. I
have found it an immense relief from severer
pursuits. The neighbourhood of Angmering
is one of the most favourable for honey-produc-
tion, the honey being of especial whiteness and
fine quality. So it has always been remunera-
tive, a feature by no means to be despised.

" For some years past I have regularly

36

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb.. 28, 1901.

worked from twelve to fifteen stocks, these
being as many as I could manage, as I was
(and am) a very busy man. Besides the practical
sole charge as resident curate of the parish of
East Preston, with separate church, schools,
and a coastguard station ; I was chaplain to the
Bast Preston Union Workhouse ; co-editor
with my kindliest of vicars, Canon Deane, of
the Chichester Diocesan Gazette/ assistant
secretary to the Chichester Diocesan Associa-
tion ; parish councillor ; president of the local
cricket league of seven adjacent parishes, who
compete for an annual cup ; and my garden
demanded a good deal of personal attention.
But it is indeed true that even the leisure of a
busy man is busy.

" Practically, I am entirely self-taught.
First I read up the theory of bee-keeping ;
then I set to work and mastered by myself
the practical details and the manipulation.
Of course, at times I have paid dearly for my
experience, but the pursuit of knowledge
even under such difficulties has compensating
charms, and once more I have proved that
' Where there 's a will, there 's a way.'

"The one serious drawback to my thorough
enjoyment of bee-keeping has been ' foul
brood,' probably acquired through carelessness
in ignorantly buying from neighbours out of
kindness swarms and skeps and hives they
wished to sell. I have kept it under by the
steady use of the " painter's lamp " upon the
inside of infected hives, burning them out, and
by getting the bees off on to fresh foundation ;
but I have never entirely got rid of it. It
recurs. I fancy it is often temporarily kept
down by a strong stock, but remains latent,
and breaks out again when the stock has from
any cause become weak, sometimes after the
lapse of a year or two.

" Since the photograph was taken I have
removed to the vicarage of East Dean and
Friston, near Eastbourne, whither I succeeded
in easily conveying my dozen or so stocks
without any loss or injury. Time only will
show the capabilities of my new neighbour-
hood, out on the Beachy Head Downs.

" It will be seen that the bees were very
near my former house. But from constant
familiarity, they became strangely tame ; and
it was seldom that they were any trouble.
Occasionally, however, they proved a nuisance ;
and they are now well away from my present
vicarage.

" I cannot easily express my obligations to
Mr. Lomax, to Mr. H. W. Brice, and to the
Junior Editor of the Bee Journal, for much
kindness I have received from them. One
important advantage of bee-keeping is its
freemasonry of kindly interest and helpful
brotherhood. If only for that, I should never
regret the time spent amongst my bees ; but I
am certain I also owe to it improved health,
great relief from the strain of severe work,
and a healthy and beneficial diversion from
the inevitably narrowing influence of constant
engrossment in the ' clerical groove.'

'; One addition only will I make ; and it is
this, for the encouragement and comfort of
beginners. At the outset, I don't think any
one could well have suffered more from bee-
stings than I did. The first few utterly
incapacitated me for three days each, the local
swelling and general ill effects were so severe.
But I have long become thoroughly inocu-
lated, rarely wear gloves, and may receive
twenty stings on a hand without serious
inconvenience. I usually don a veil, but not
always ; and now have little or no trouble even
in delicate and awkward manipulations. I
strongly, therefore, recommend to all would-be
brethren of the craft my own lifelong motto :
1 Never say die.' "

CORRESPONDENCE.

(Continued from page 84.)
SIZE OF SECTIONS.

SOME MORE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES.

[4263.] Being appealed to by Mr. Woodley
(on page 62), I write a few lines from personal
experimental experiences in my own apiary.
In my opinion the 4 \ in. by 4j in. by lie in.
section for comb honey holds a position with
producer and purchaser which it will be a
costly job for British bee-keepers to take
away. The producer would for some time
have to meet with trouble and disappointment
in effecting the sale of any other size section.
At the same time, the object in view is a
worthy one if it tends to prove, by actual pro-
duction, that any other size section will be more
remunerative to the producer and more fitting
to receive the work of the bees in a fully
completed and perfectly sealed condition. To
this end I have experimented for a good few
seasons with sections of a half-pound capacity
and also the one pound of various shapes
and widths ; I have also tried the 1+ and 2
pound sections, each with and without
dividers. In every trial, however, the divided
sections came out best. It is therefore clearly
proved, to my mind, that dividers must be
used for the production of sectional comb-
honey. Under such conditions then, my
experiments show that the A\ in. by 4j in.
by 111 in. section has held its own, in quantity
and finish, against any other 1-lb. size, so far
used in my trials, including the 5 in. by 4 in.
by If in. used with the fence-separator.

In working for sections, I find full sheets of
foundation more helpful than " starters only.''
In using the latter, the bees are apt to build
upward from the brood-nest, especially so
when a section-rack is put on too soon. Com-
paring tall sections with those not so tall, the
latter every time have had bees at full work
sooner than the former. This proved — conclu-
sively to me — that the 4} by 4£- have advan-
tages over taller sections, and to this end I
feel certain that a 4i by 5, or even a plain
section 4 by 5 by If, worked short way up

Feb. 28, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

87

has good claims to consideration. It is a size
which the standard frame brood-body will
accommodate. It is perfectly certain that
dividerless comb- work, as in shallow-frames,
is better sealed and completed than work in a
dividered sectional super, and this arises from
the fact of the more direct and open space in
connection with the brood-chamber. It, there-
fore, remains for the modern bee-keeper to
bring his sectional supers as near to the con-
ditions of the shallow-frame body as is possi-
ble. One way of securing direct contact as
nearly as possible with dividered sections is
to use a section not so tall as long, and there-
by get all the elbow-room possible for the bees
to work in open contact with the brood nest.
After making trials with dividered work so
ordered, I have partly proved it helpful if
dividers be so arranged that the bees (other
than those in the section) can cluster near the
section workers and act as conveyers of material
for the latter while at work. They will thus
ensure sections which would be "prize-
winners," and as such would find a good sale
when the public have been " educated " away
from the old section.

My experiments last year along these lines
were cut short through the poor honey season ;
still the results urge me to resume my trials
in the coming season. Should I be successful
the results, and how seoured, shall be made
known.

The season being still before us, all who
are wanting a better thing than the 4|-in.
section will have a chance of giving, by
actual production, proof of the betterness of
this or that in sections. I would, therefore,
venture to suggest a class at the " Dairy
Show'' for 1-lb. sections which are not the
4| in. by 4j in. size. To my mind writing
one thing down has a first place, but proving
by actual work done has a better. — John
Howard, Holme, Pderboro', February 21.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

[4264.] Weather.— With us here, weather
is the chief current topic. January was a
mild and open month, with no snow, and little,
if any, frost until the last few days ; but
February has fairly " filled the dyke." In up-
land districts the storm has been exceptionally
heavy and prolonged, with hives nearly buried
the greater part of the month ; yet down
nearer the coast — only thirty miles away —
ploughing and other outdoor work has been
going on merrily.

Commercial Honey. — The note from
Selkirk (4246, page 57) in regard to
syrup - feeding opens up a new phase of
this subject. I never heard of such a
practice, and cannot believe it prevails, unless
amongst some of the baser or basest sort found
in every calling. Even with them it cannot be
made to pay, so they will soon drop it. Any
merchant who handles honey in comb would

know the adulterated at a glance, and the
" manufacturer " would soon find himself with-
out a market.

Wells v. Single Hives. — " Bedale " is
evidently an excellent Bee-dale, and Mr. Horn
is to be heartily congratulated on such a
splendid take in a season when most have to
complain of small returns, but I question if
the results of this or last season will aid in
making many " Wells '' converts. Those who
advocate these hives, in recording a large total
from a few of them, seem to " hug the flatter-
ing unction to their souls " that their excellence
cannot be excelled, whereas your page3 year
by year teach us another lesson. Here are a
few extracts from your back numbers, which I
tabulate to make the point3 clearer :—

Total

Owner. Total hives, lbs. Average.

W. H., Hereford 0 single 020 103

Mr. A. Muir, Kirkeowan,

N\B 40 single 4000 100

Mr. Horn, Bedale 8 "Wells" 562 70

Mr. Geo. Wells, Kent 12 " Wells " 1140 95

Looked at from whatever view you please
the Wells hives have to take second place.

Size of Sections. — Like the Rev. Mr. Lamb,
we have all, I doubt not, a sincere desire to
do our best to make bee-keeping a success and
bring our results as near perfection as possible,
though we cannot see eye to eye with him on
this particular point. Recording the results of
experience is surely not doing anything inimi-
cal to this desire. Yet he considers some of
us are not " friends of apiculture," because we
stand up for the present section. Now, leav-
ing out all consideration of frames for the
present, Mr. Lamb's whole contention turns
on whether our standard section, favoured by
the million here and in America, or another
thinner one — say the " Danzy" — preferred by a
few hundreds on the other side, is the more
perfect receptacle for comb honey 1 I would
like to emphasise this point, and then ask your
readers to pause and consider on what founda-
tion your reverend correspondent builds his
whole argument that a thinner is preferable.
It i& simply a matter of theory and all evolved
out of cloudland. Here are a few extracts
from his recent articles showing this : " If so,
the problem is," " I believe," " I think," " I
assert," " I consider,'' " Probably.'' These
and many more are the essence of his argu-
ments used. He never says, " I know because
I have proved it ; " or, " I can certify from
personal knowledge." The entire matter,
therefore, is one of polemics on the one side ;
and the single short note on page 55, sent by
Mr. McNally, quoting his extensive ex-
perience, shatters the whole aerial fabric !
Would we get better results if we make any
change ? Mr. Lamb " thinks " that " pro-
bably" "if" certain things result we "might."
Now, I assert from past experience (limited
to 1,000 sections) that we would get worse,
and Mr. McNally and others from practical
knowledge state the same. If we make any
change who will determine what the change

88

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 28, 1901.

shall be ? For when we examine the multi-
tude of forms and sizes of sections already on
the market, we simply get into a state of chaos.

AmoDgst the many I select the following : —
4j x 4| x 2 in. varying down all the grades
of breadth iy, 1|, If, If, 1£, If, If. And
of the larger sizes we already have : 5 x 4|
x If ; 5 x 4§ x 1 ; 5 x 4| x If ;
5 x4 x If; 5 x 3^ x If; and 5 x 3f x
If. Captain Hetherington favours one size,
Mr. Danzenbaker another, while Mr. Root
recommends a third, and so on ad lib. If we
go to America for a new standard, which of
the many " fads " are we to follow ? All
honour to our brethren across the Atlantic who
have given us many excellent guides in bee-
keeping, but if we run after all the new-
fangled notions prevalent in many corners
there we would always be changing, and
finding too often to our cost that " far away
birds have fair feathers." Mr. Lamb's " low "
standard sections, and '"disastrously," are
surely mere figures of speech. We have not
attained to perfection certainly but we
frequently approach it. What mortal can
say more ? 1 had an idea that some years
ago Mr. Lamb believed utterly in extra thick
comb, and in your pages I find the following
confirmation. He says : " I was successful
in securing combs more than 2 in. thick." . . .
" When people have tried my system they can
produce the handsomest combs.''. . . " Nothing
in honey production can surpass a well-
finished shallow-frame of good honey." " My
aim is to secure such handsome blocks or
bricks of honey-comb that my customers
may prefer them to sections. There would
then be an advantage all round. The
customer would have more honey in propor-
tion to the wax," &c.

The above two short quotations are from
your volumes of 1894 and 1895, and are
dated from Burton Pidsea Rectory. They,
to my mind, largely refute all that has been
adduced since his " Meditations '' appeared.

P.S. — I had written the foregoing before
receiving the Journal of February 21, con-
taining Mr. Lamb's last lengthy article. I
question if it advances the argument one iota,
for though he tells us we should avoid Scylla
in the shape of the 4| by 2 section, he only
consigns us to Chary bdis, as the discussion
has simply shown that a dozen differently
sized sections are favoured by him, or one or
other of the disputants. Which of them is to
be the ideal "Moor" or "New Century " one
is still in nubibus. Several of Mr. Lamb's
phrases and sentences are evidently " writ
sarcastic,'' and I participate in the general
shower. My unimportant personality is of no
consequence, but my full name and address
has appeared in the Journal several times,
and our junior Editor knows all about me,
and can use this discretion in conveying any
information he deems necessary to any inte-
rested party. Meanwhile I prefer to be
known as D. M. M., Banfi, February 23.

SOME ESSEX NOTES.

[4265. J Birds and Bees.— Mr. R. Hainlyn-
Harris, in his " Reviews of Foreign Bee-
Papers," for which our thanks are due, quotes
from a Belgian paper. According to a French
beekeeper nightingales are useful near an
apiary ; this bee-keeper having by watching
assured himself that the nightingales hunt
drones exclusively (page 48, January 31).
This is most interesting, but the nightingale
does not visit England in great numbers, and
when here appears to prefer more solitary
places than an apiary, where, at the time of the
year when the nightingale visits us, the bee-
keeper is moving about the apiary most of the
day. We can but admire the common-sense
shown by the nightingale in its preference for
the more plump of the dainty morsels — the
drones ; and as to whether these particular
birds have learned to distinguish between
those insects that have stings and those that
have not, the probability is that they are
able so to distinguish. I think we have
only to consider the instinct shown
by some of our own British birds in
extracting the stings of bees before eating
them, in order to see that the nightingale may
be expected to find out for itself in a very
short time that the bulky drone has no sting.
Both the large and small short-tailed blue-tit
and the common house-sparrow here are very
fond of bee3, and all three of these birds
appear to invariably extract the sting before
eating the insect, and wipe the sting from
their bills upon the nearest piece of wood.
The sparrow does not interfere with my bees
in winter, but takes to his bad habit again as
soon as the bees become more active. On the
other hand, tits indulge in these luxuries at
our expense when we are least able to spare
the bees, viz., in winter and early spring.
My own observations tend to show that tits
do not take bees in summer. Moreover, the
present winter being so mild, they did not
put in an appearance till January 4, but they
then " came to stay." A few days ago I went
down among the hives. It was a day when
bees would not fly naturally, but I saw that
one stock had been disturbed, as a few bees
were running in and out, and I found twenty
newly extracted stings upon the flight-board.

A large number of bee-stings extracted by
the tits may be seen upon the fronts of most
of my hives. These nimble little birds show
a decided preference for hive bee3, and so far
as I have seen do not pick up dead ones.

Another Enemy of Bees. — On January 4, I
caught the first queen wasp for 1901, the only
one seen so far this year. She was tucked up
under the ridge outside the roof of a hive.
Frost does not appear to do the queen wasp
any harm, for I have found them in spring in
places where one would expect them to have
been frozen through and through during the
winter. On some large estates it is usual to
offer a shilling each for all queen wasps caught

Feb. 28, 1901 .J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

89

before a given date. I think it will repay
bee-keepers to adopt this plan of ridding
themselves of wasps.

Toads and Bees. — Toads were very trouble-
some here last season, and I had, though
reluctantly, to kill several. The habit of
eating bees got such a hold upon them that it
soon became quite useless to either chase them
away or carry them off and drop them down a
short distance away. Toads are useful
creatures in their right place, the garden, but
once they take to bees they are like the tits ;
dead bees are not good enough for them, and
they must climb upon the flight boards of the
hives as the cool of evening comes round, and
swell their great sides with bees, " All alive,
0 ! " stings and all it seems.

The Tongue of the Bee. — The tongue of the
bee along with various other parts of its anatomy
are very interesting to many bee-keepers,
especially to those who are able to obtain the
necessary instruments to properly and fully
examine them, but to the average bee-keeper
it seems of little use talking about one strain
of bees having a tongue tVd oi" an m°h longer
than another, and so on ; but every bee-
keeper, even the poorest, can increase his
stocks or rear his queens from those colonies
giving the best results in both quality and
quantity of work, and in so doing will preserve
the best and secure the " survival of the
fittest." — Wm. Loveday, Harlow, Essex.

NOTES FROM WYCHWOOD FOREST.
[4266.] Englishmen are credited with being
apt to place utility before beauty, and may be
this is right ; but partly through stress of cir-
cumstances and our changeable climate,
together with the fight for bread in this age of
competition, a large majority are chiefly
anxious to produce what will sell, even if it is
not "an ideal thing of beauty." Epictetus,
the stoic philosopher, said, long ago, " Every
matter hath two handles ; by the one it may
be carried by the other not." And so the
bee-keeper uses all his skill to get perfect sec-
tions of comb-honey, because he knows that
they will sell and bring the cash to pay the
rent or other things. But if the thin sections
advocated by Mr. Lamb can be produced in
better form and finish so far as regards sealing,
his difficulty in selling would be made still
more difficult, for the reason that John Bull
likes a thick comb of honey in buying a
section. By all means let the well-to-do bee-
keeper experiment in the direction of improve-
ment, and every step of progress gained as
given in B J. will tend to help the craft to a
higher level, but the rank and file will not
easily be ousted from old tried methods, but
will sit tight till shown a " better way.1'

Success to Mr. Lamb, say I, and to all who
experiment in the interests of bee-keeping, but
some of us must jog along the old path where
the pennies are to be picked up, and that is in
the wake of the old 4^ by 4£ section.

Selling Honey. — Mr. Edens' letter in B.J.
(page 441) from this neighbourhood on selling
honey was interesting reading, and when one
bee-keeper runs round with sections mst off
the hive at 6d. each and others label theirs in
the windows at 5d. each it makes one inclined
to say, What next '? To my mind the best thing
is to quietly let them go on, withdraw from
the competition circle, sell locally, if you can,
at a fair price, and seek a market for the rest
elsewhere by advertisement or otherwise. —
John Kibble, Charlbury, Oxford.

OBITUARY.

We regret to learn of the death — at the ripe
age of seventy-five years — of Mr. John Turn-
bull, late president of the Lauderdale (Berwick-
shire) Bee-Keepers' Association. From some
particulars kindly furnished by the secretary,
Mr. Robson, we gather that Mr. Turnbull
settled in Lauder some twenty-three years
ago on his appointment as manager of the gas
works, and, after a busy life of well-spent
activity, he, only about a month ago, resigned
his position owing to the increasing infirmities
of age, to pass the evening of his days with
his son, who resides at Wisp, near Liberton.
A keen entomologist, he devoted much of his
leisure in earlier days in forming a collection
of insects, of which he was very proud. But
it was as an apiarian he was best known, bee-
keeping being his great delight for many
years past, and there were few publications
or bee-books of note that Mr. Turnbull had
not read and studied. Besides lecturing on
the subject in the Town Hall some time ago,
he carried on a copious correspondence with
bee-men in different parts of the country,
indeed, it was largely owing to his enthusiasm
that the followers of the craft have
increased so much in Lauderdale. We
learn that a few years ago he cele-
brated his golden wedding, when, along
with his wife, he was the recipient of many
practical expressions of friendship and good-
will. His well-known figure will be much
missed in Lauder, but he has gone to his rest
honoured and respected by all.

(furies m& mpfip.

[2593.] Queen- Excluder Zinc for Dividers. —
I note correspondence in B.B.J, re size of
sections and the use of dividers with the
same. One great fault seems to be that the
bees are divided into so many small lots for
the secretion of wax, &c. I would like to ask
if any bee-keepers have tried queen-excluder
zinc used as dividers, and, if so, with what
results 1 I have not yet tried it myself, but
it seems to me that excluder would ensure
straight combs and at the same time allow
free movement for the bees, and the whole

90

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 28, 1901.

rack of sections would be, as it were, one
large cluster of bees. — E. W. Carbines,
Cornwall, February 25.

Beply. — Queen-excluder zinc has been tried
as separators for sections with unsatisfactory
results, the sealing of the sections being more
or less uneven on the face. In consequence
of this fault the plan has fallen out of use.

[2594.] Sheffield as a Bee District— I. Will
you please let me know through the British
Bee Journal if Wortley (near Sheffield) is a
good district for bee-keeping ? It is about
three miles from Wharc cliff e Craigs, where
there is an abundance of heather. 2. Is there
a Yorkshire B.K.A. ? If not, where is the
nearest B.K.A., and the addresses, please?
— W. P., Wortley, February 22.

Beply. — 1. Perhaps some reader, better
acquainted with the capabilities of the district
referred to than ourselves will kindly reply
to our correspondent's query. 2. The Hon.
Secretary of the Yorkshire B.K.A. is Mr.
B. A. H. Grimshaw, 3, Manston-terrace,
Crossgates, Leeds.

[2595.] Transferring Bees. — I bought a
stock of bees in a frame hive last spring and
wish to transfer them to a new hive, because
the one they now occupy is worn out and
rotten ; many of the combs, too, are very old
and in some places joined together. I there-
fore beg to ask : How could I do it and what
would be the most suitable month to operate ?
—J. Greenhalgh, H&rrogate.

Beply. — Your, best course under the cir-
cumstances will be to allow the bees to
transfer themselves to a properly prepare'd
hive. Full details of the work involved in the
operation appear in the " Guide Book," and
brief directions how to proceed in securing the
same object have appeared more than once in
our pages. We may, however, for the benefit
of those who do not keep back numbers for
reference recapitulate the instruction below as
being far preferable to " driving " the bees and
patching old combs into new frames, a practice
now happily falling rapidly into the limbo of
forgotten things in bee-craft. Proceed, then,
as follows : When the bees begin to carry in
pollen freely — say at end of March or begin-
ning of April — stimulate early breeding by
giving a cake of well-made soft candy placed
over the ordinary feed-hole or under the quilts.
Carefully cover all down with plenty of warm
wraps in order to retain the warmth of brood-
nest. Eepeat the feeding as candy needs renew-
ing. Stimulate breeding in this way till the old
hive is strong in bees ; meantime, prepare the
new hive by fitting each frame with full sheets
of comb foundation, and {set the prepared hive
close to the one containing the bees to be
transferred. When the old stock is seen to
be getting well filled with bees, choose a fine
warm day, remove quilts from tops of frames
of the new hive, and after giving a puff or two
of smoke in at entrance, lift the old hive

bodily and set over the frames of the new one.
This done, pack warmly to keep the lower
hive as snug and cosy as possible in order to
entice the bees into it ; replace roof — raised
sufficiently high by means of the usual "lifts "
— and the job is done. A few weeks later,
when the bees are seen to be working from the
lower hive with increased vigour, it may be
safely assumed that they have taken posses-
sion and have transferred the brood-nest to the
frames below. The old hive may then be
examined, and, if the assumption be verified, a
queen-excluder is set over frames and the old
hive replaced to be filled with surplus honey
or removed after all brood has hatched out.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All queriesforwarded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

Errata. — By a printer's error in two last lines
on page 77 the words " Hymenoptera" and
" Lepidoptera " in Mr. Sladen's letter (No.
4257) end with the diphthong is instead of
the letter a. The words are plainly and
correctly spelled in Mr. Sladen's MS.

John Hall (Echt, N.B.). — Honey - Comb
Designs. — For 2id. in stamps we will for-
ward a copy of our monthly, the Becord,
containing instructions for making honey
comb designs.

Gladdes (co. Carlow). — Improving Colour of
Beeswax. — 1. Inquire of your local chemist
for Annotto. 2. If used as directed on
page 482 of B J. for December 6 last, no
harm will follow from sulphuric acid in the
quantity thus stated.

G. F. Gilliland (Harrow).— The " B.BJ."
and Newsagents. — Whatever your local
newsagent may say to the contrary, it will
not alter the fact that the London agent
who acts for your local man can obtain the
Bee Journal from our publishers, Messrs.
Kent & Co., Paternoster- row, on Wednes-
day afternoon each week. On the other
hand, you may obtain it at any of Messrs.
Smith & Son's railway bookstalls by ordering
beforehand.

B. M. Brown (Ware, Herts). — Money Samples.
— The fact of leaving the honey on the hive
till late in the year would have no effect so
far as regards changing its flavour or aroma.
Nor can we account for its rather rauk
flavour and peculiar smell beyond saying
that both have been imparted by the
blossoms from whence the honey was
gathered. There must be some local source
of honey with which we are unacquainted,
for, curiously enough, we had an exactly
similar honey submitted for our opinion as
to its source in 1899, and it was gathered
at Hertford, some couple of miles distant
from Ware. Perhaps some bee-keeper has
local experience that will throw light on the
question. The honey is good in colour,
capital in consistency, and but for the faults
named it would be a very saleable hone/.

March 7, 1901 .J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

91

(BtittsM, IJuta &t

BERKSHIRE B. K. A.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The twenty-first annual meeting was held
in the Abbey Hall, by permission of Messrs.
Sutton & Sons, on Feb. 18. The report referred
to the improvement in the Association finances
(the balance-sheet showing a saving of £30 on
the year), the van tour, and lectures carried
out for the Technical Education Committee of
the County Council. Mention was also made
of a van tour in Devon, undertaken for the
Devon B.K.A., and to the expert work, and
visits to horticultural shows, &c. The report
and balance-sheet were unanimously adopted,
amid expressions of general satisfaction at the
improvement in the finances of the Association.

It was resolved to issue the monthly Bee-
Keepers' Record to members from March.

Miss La Mothe, the Rev. D. A. Doudney,
and Messrs. C. J. Johnson, G. Sawyer,
Wink worth, and S. Knight, jun., were added
to the Council ; Messrs. A. Sandys, of Dray-
ton, and H. W. Seymour, of Henley, were
added to the experts ; and Miss E^ginton and
Messrs. Bishop- Ackerman and Cartland were
elected representatives to the British B.K.A.
Mr. John Simonds (hon. treasurer), Mr. F.
Cooksey (auditor and librarian), and Mr.
D. W. Bishop Ackerman (hon. secretary)
were all duly re-elected.

The Hon. Secretary reported that the Berks
Technical Education Committee had recom-
mended the usual grant of £50, to be expended
on a van tour of eighteen days and an expert
tour of fourteen days.

It was decided to arrange, if possible, for a
third-class experts' exa mination at the end of
May or the beginning of June.

Votes of thanks to the officers for their
work during the year, and to Messrs. Sutton
& Sons for the use of the room, concluded a
very interesting evening. — (Communicated.)

LANCASHIRE B.K.A.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the above Associa-
tion was held in the Preston Scientific Society's
Rooms, Fishergate, on Feb. 23. Mr. George
Rose presided. The annual Report stated
that the first year's work closed with 240
members on the list. This year fifty new
members have joined the Association, but a
number have resigned and the total members
on the list is about the same. After reviewing
the results of the past honey season the report
goes on to say : The County Council made a
grant of £15 in aid of outdoor lectures and
demonstrations, and nine meetings were held
under its auspices. For the means to hold
these meetings the Committee tenders its best
thanks to the Agricultural Committee of the

County Council Technical Instruction Depart-
ment. The County Council expressed regret at
not being able to help the foul brood fund, as
itwas beyond the ssope of the powers granted
by the Act of Parliament. The County
Council had the use of the Association's bee
tent and lecturer for the three days of the
Royal Lancashire Show at Rochdale. The
honey label issued by the Association had met
with great favour, and 2,800 had been sold.
A foul brood fund had been started, and a
large number of donations received. The
balance sheet showed the Society to be in a
very satisfactory state of affairs, with a balance
in their favour of £19 3s. lOd.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted.

A vote of thanks to the retiring officers and
committee was passed.

It was decided to ask Mr. H. W. Worsley-
Taylor, K.C., M.P., to accept the presidency
for the year. The following were elected : —
Vice-presidents, Lord Ashtoo, Mr W. E. M.
Tomlinson, M.P., Sir George Pilkington, Sir
J. T. Hibbert, Sir David Ratcliff-, Rev. Canon
Blundell, Mr. F. SUpleton, Mr. W. Talbot,
Mr. W. Fitzherbert-Brockh'.les, Major Camp-
bell, Mr. Thomas Price. Mr. W. Tyrer, and the
Rev. L. C. Wood. Committee, Dr. Anderton,
Messrs. G. Roberts, W. Tyrer, G-orge Rose,
J. H. Walmsley, A. M. Fielding, Mr. Lloyd ;
hoa. librarian, Mr. F. H. Taylor. The office
of seer* tary has not yet been filled.

In the evening a conversazione was held,
there being a good attendance of members.
Natural history objects illustrating bee-life
and microscopic views were exhibited. A very
interesting lantern lecture on "Fertilisation of
Plants by Insects " was given by Mr. Charles
Turner, F.C.S., of Manchester.

SOUTH OF SCOTLAND B.K.A.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the above Association
was held at Kerr's Temperance Hotel,
Dumfries, on February 20, Mr. S. M'Vie
presiding. The Treasurer's report showed that
the receipts for the past year amounted to
£115 16s. 10d., and there was a balance of
£30 in hand. The Secretary's report, after
commenting on the past honey season in the
south of Scotland, stated that practical de-
monstrations in bee-keeping were given at
Lockerbie and Dumfries in connection with
agricultural shows, and the crowds that sur-
rounded the bee-tents showed the need there is
f,,r practical instruction throughout the country.
Two honey shows were held, one at Dumfries
on August 25, and the other at Glasgow
on September 5 and 6 in connection with the
Glasgow and West of Scotland Horticultural
Society's Show. Both proved very successful.
The balance-sheet and report were unani-
mously adopted, and the following office-bearers
for the year were appointed : — Honorary
Presidents, Sir Mark J. M'Taggart Stewart,

92

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 7, 1901.

Bart., M.P. ; Sir Andrew Noel Agnew, Bart.,
M.P. ; Mr. W. J. H. Maxwell, M.P. ; Pre-
sident, Mr. S. M'Vie ; Vice-Presidents, Mr.
James R. W. Wallace, Mr. W. M. Wright,
Mr. W. Mackie, Mr. W. F. Wadd; Hon.
Treasurer, Mr. James Johnstone ; Secretary,
Mr. James Kerr, Milldamhead. The follow-
ing Committee were also appointed : —Messrs.
W. Beattie, J. Maxwell, J. Henderson, J.
Richardson, P. Jeffrey, J. Brown, D. Sohu-
stone, J. M'Millan, R. Scott, and T. Easton.
Expert to the Association, Mr. James Kerr.
— (Communicated.)

%mxt%pUtut

The 'Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

THE WINTERING PROBLEM.

HOW DO BEES MANAGE TO SURVIVE THE
WINTER ?

[4267.] Choosing this interrogatory as a text,
I propose, by way of reply, to state some
obvious facts connected with the wintering of
bees. Nothing relating to bees is of more
importance to the bee-keeper than the winter-
ing problem. If the bees winter well they
are nearly certain to do well the coming
summer ; while, on the contrary, if they winter
badly, they are apt to die from spring dwindl-
ing, or, if they survive, recuperate so slowly
that the labourers are too few to reap any
benefit from the quickly-passing honey-harvest
— besides the weak colony is always a prey to
disease.

Successful wintering is comprised in the
simple proposition, how to keep the bees
alive, and i3 included in the subject of my
text. By a close study of all the facts con-
nected with the subject, we should be able to
assist the bees in their wintering efforts ;
whereas, through want of a thorough know-
ledge of the subject, our assistance might lead
to results different from those expected.

Cold being the great enemy the bees have
to contend against in winter, we construct
hives to protect them — single- walled hives,
double-walled hives, and chaff-packed hives.
Now, if to winter there be a colony of bees
placed in each of these different kinds of hives,
it will be problematical as to which one will
bring about the best results in the spring.
The supposed advantage of the warmer hives
is counterbalanced by the fact that the bees,
if kept too warm, will fly out and be lost. If

not kept too warm they will stay at home, and
the colder hive may thereby have the greater
advautage.

The hives, however, are not the essential
requisites for wintering, as bees winter in old
chimneys, in the garrets of dwelling-houses and
churches, sometimes under the slates in out-
houses, in cavities of trees and stone walls, and
I have seen a colony survive three successive
winters under a board projecting from a wall,
the colony exposed on three sides to every
rude blast that blew against it. The freezing
cold air surrounded it on all sides. The rain
and snow could not fall between the combs,
built from the board, where the bees were
clustering, but that was all the protection the
bees had to carry them alive through three
winters. How did they manage to survive 1

Bees survive the winter by packing them-
selves in clusters between combs of waxen
cells filled with honey. * - The low temperature
a cluster of bees so situated can resist and
still keep alive is really marvellous, and is
only paralleled, in the other extreme, by the
degree of heat a bacillus spore can withstand
without losing its vitality.

Water, if kept from circulating, is as bad a
conductor of heat as eider-down (see "Ency-
clopaedia Britannica," ninth edition) ; and
honey, for the same reason, contained in wax
cells i in. in diameter and § in. deep, mu3t
be an exceedingly bad conductor. We can,
therefore, presume that although some heat
must be lost, the loss through the combs may be
reckoned as nil. The cluster loses heat around
the outer circle, at the periphery ; the circum-
ference is the radiating and cooliDg area.

Now, if we take a cluster of bees, say,
10 in. in diameter and h in. thick— about the
distance between the combs — we find that the
cluster would be very nearly 40 cubic inches
in volume, and the radiating or cooling area
would be 15^ superficial square inches ; 3 cubic
inches of bees, therefore, only expose to the
cold a little over 1 square inch of surface. If
we take a cluster 5 in. in diameter we find the
volume to be 10 cubic inches, and the radiat-
ing surface or area 7| square inches ; and, if
we take a cluster 4 in. in diameter, the volume
would be 6| cubic inches and the cooling area
6 J square inches. The 10 -in. cluster has,
therefore, three times the advantage of the
4-in. cluster, and, in proportion to volume,
three times more heat will be required to keep
up the temperature of the smaller cluster.

f he relation of volume to cooling area may
be shown thus : It would take the bees con-
tained in four clusters of 4-in. in diameter
to make one cluster 8 in. in diameter,
and the cooling surface of the 8-in. cluster
would be one-half of the cooling area of the
total of the separate 4-in. clusters. The bees,
therefore,' in the larger cluster would only
require one-half the heat to keep up their
living temperature that they would in the
smaller clusters.
If we take a cluster 1 in. in diameter the

March 7, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

93

volume would be the half of 7854, say four-
tenths of a cubic inch, and the cooling
area the half of 3-1416, say H square
inches ; the cooling area is, therefore, propor-
tionally four times greater than in the 4-in.
cluster, and is too large to allow of much fall
in temperature with safety to the bees. So
small a cluster could not exist in winter,
except at the equator or near to it.

The individual bee is very sensitive to cold,
but we must remember that a cubic inch
exposes 6 square inches of radiating surface,
and that the volume decreases or increases as
the cube and the surface as the square. A
bee in mass or volume is less than the sixty-
fourth of a cubic inch, and its radiating,
cooling, or heating surface is more than one-
third of a square inch. Assuming the sixty-
fourth of a cubic inch to be a cube, its surface
would be three-eighths of a square inch. This
cube would therefore expose a radiating surface
proportionally twenty-four times greater than
the 4-in. cluster. The single bee, when incor-
porated in the 10-in. cluster, must be afforded
over sixty times more protection from cold
than it would possess outside the cluster.

The space between the combs is important.
We will consider the distance between the
combs in reference to the cooling area, and at
the same time the supply of food, as these are
closely related. The 10-in. cluster, between
combs i-in. apart, is surrounded by 80 cubic
inches "of honey — supposing the cells to be
full— and as a cubic inch of honey weighs
•05 of a lb., there are 4 lb. of honey within
reach of the cluster for the bees to feed upon.
We will now suppose the combs to be 1 in.
instead of J in. apart ; the bees clustering
equally close would occupy 7 in. instead of
10 in. — the volume is not changed, it remains
40 cubic inches. The cooling area, however,
has been increased to 22 superficial inches,
and the honey within the immediate reach of
the cluster has been reduced to 2 lb. ; in place
of 2 cubic inches of honey to the cubic inch
of bees, we have only 1 cubic inch of honey to
the cubic inch of bees. The food supply ha3
been diminished 50 per cent., and the cooling
area of the cluster increased 40 per cent.
The bees must therefore consume 40 per cent,
more honey to keep up their temperature ;
and this increase of consumption and decrease
of supply would necessitate their change of
quarters in search of food in one-fourth the
time required had they remained at the i-in.
distance. It must be understood, in reference
to increasing the cooling area and the corre-
lative consumption of food, that the capacity
of the bees to keep up temperature by
feeding is limited, and in a badly proportioned
cluster, i.e., a cluster radiating more heat than
the bees can generate, the bees will die with
an abundance of stores around them.

When the depth of the combs allows the
bees to locate their stores above the brood-
cells, they always lengthen the store-cells so
as to leave only I in. space between the

combs. Let us see what the bees gain by
diminishing the distance. Taking the 4-in..
cluster between combs h in. apart, it would
have to extend itself to nearly 5| in. to remain
the same in volume at the j in. distance. The
cooling area would now, from diminishing the
distance, be reduced 30 per cent., and the
honey within the immediate reach of the bees
would be increased, from 2 cubic inches to the
cubic inch of bees, to 5 cubic inches to the
cubic inch of bees — that is, 150 per cent.

From the facts here stated I think it is
evident that the size of the cluster and the
depth of the combs are really the essential
requisites for wintering, and that, as a general
rule, the size of the cluster and depth of
combs must increase with the degrees of
latitude. As the combs increase in size, they
must, of course, be diminished in number and
if the construction of the hives should not
admit of the requisite sized combs for the
latitude in which they are to be used, the
bees will not be able to winter successfully in
them.

The fecundity of the queen, so far as we
know, does not vary with the latitude and
cannot, therefore, be brought to bear on the
subject in regard to the general area of combs
used.

The bees survive through the winter by
preserving as well as they possibly can the
heat of their clusters; and as the general
interior temperature of the hive can only be
raised by the loss from these clusters, it
follows — paradoxically, as it may appear-
that the colder the general interior of the
hive the better are the bees wintering, through
the preservation of heat in their clusters ;
and it also follows that if upward ventilation,
or draught, through the hive is prevented —
which draught the bees dread above all things —
the entrance to the hive cannot be too large.

In the spring, however, when the bees
extend from the cluster over their combs,
warmth in the general interior of the hive has
its advantage ; but if great enough to cause
the bees to leave the clusters too soon, it might
be productive of more harm than benefit.

The controversy concerning the merits and
demerits of cold and warm hives by the pre-
sentation of the above facts is reduced in
importance. The main object to be con-
sidered is their construction to admit of combs
adapted to the size of bee-clusters required in
various latitudes.

If the elucidation of the text has been such
as to prove a want supplied, my object will
have been attained. — An Observer, co. Tyrone,
February 28.

TALL, THIN SECTIONS.
[4268.] I am glad to see that a free expres-
sion of opinion on the question of tall and
narrow versus square and thick sections is
being kept up by practical bee-keepers in the
pages of the British Bee Journal.

94

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 7, 1901.

Those writers who are disinclined to advo-
cate the adoption of a tall section seem, on
the whole, to admit that the strongest point
in favour of it is that it may sell better than
the present square section. Against a trial of
the tall section one of the arguments they lay
great stress upon is that only a small propor-
tion of the sections at present in use in
America are "tall." Your correspondent
"D. M. M., Banff," while overlooking the
fact that millions of sections used in America
are in reality thinner than ours, makes a
similar argument on page 87 in regard to thin
sections. I should like to make it as clear to
readers of the Bee Journal as it is to my
own mind that this kind of argument may
really be against 2)rogress in any shape or
form.

In the days of George Stephenson there
were only a few railway trains compared with
the thousands of stage-coaches that used to
run every day. Was that a proof that the
locomotive " was simply a matter of theory
and all evolved out of cloud-land 1 " No
doubt in those days many were ready to
" assert from past experience " and " practical
knowledge " that railways would be a failure !
The seekers after improvements in George
Stephenson's time were generally — as they are
to-day — thoughtful men, and they had to
qualify their forecasts of future developments
with such expressions as " I believe," " I
think," " I consider," " probably " ; indeed,
they could seldom say, " I know because I
have proved it," or " I can certify from per-
sonal knowledge." Thus, the argument of
"D.M.M." (on page 87) is perfectly parallel
to that of the opposers of progress mentioned
above when he says Mr. Lamb's "whole
aerial fabric" is shattered by a single short
note on page 55, where Mr. McNally, in
" quoting his extensive experience," gives the
reader to understand that he has never even
tried the thin, tall 1-lb. section.

I entirely disagree with the deductions to
be drawn from Mr. "D. M. M.'s" statements,
and I ask, Why should he try to confuse
bee-keepers of less mental capacity than him-
self by enumerating some of the many sizes
of sections that have been tried and abandoned
in America, describing them as " a chaos " ?
Surely nothing can be gained in this way.
Let us select the best of them and say
nothing about the others which have been
proved to possess no value. It is also
manifestly unfair to quote single words and
expressions U3ed by Mr. Lamb entirely
separated from their context as statements for
criticism.

I would not have spoken so strongly in
opposition to our Btnffdhire friend's article
had I not felt that there is something about
the " swing " of it very likely to carry con-
viction to a certain class of bee-keepers if the
arguments on the opposite side are not clearly
and distinctly stated. Against " D. M. M."
himself I have, of course, no grudge whatever,

and I earnestly hope that he will soon show
that he is in the ranks of open-minded
inquirers after knowledge in this question, as
he is in others.

To return to the proposed tall section. I
am very glad that Mr. Lamb considers that a
A\ in. by 5 in. section will satisfy bee-keepers
who want a section, three of which will fit a
shallow-frame. There is no doubt an advan-
tage in having such a section, but to gain this
advantage the British bee-keeper will have
to abandon his ordinary section-rack, which he
is not likely to do for some time. I suggested
the 4^ by 5 section for what I considered more
weighty reasons. Our discussion has therefore
tended to establish the 4j in. by 5 in. as the
best size for a tall section.

As regards the question of dividers or
separators (synonymous terms), ever since
the first introduction of these appliances there
have been bee-keepers ready to declare that
they could secure good results without them ;
but in the production of comb-honey for sale
dividers have been found indispensable to
nearly every producer. We may therefore
venture to say that on this point we are
practically agreed.

While differing slightly from Mr. Lamb on
the question of width of the 4£ in. by 5 in.
section, we agree that it should contain a full
1 lb. weight of honey. The width then becomes
a mere matter of calculation.

We know that in bee-way sections (the bee-
space being here provided in the section, not
the separator) our 4|in. by 4Jin. by 2 in. weighs
not less than 16 oz. when properly filled, and
that our 4£ in. by 4| in. by Iff in. averages
more nearly 16 oz., some weighing more and
others less. Allowing §-in. as the thickness
of the wood, and | in. as the bee-space between
the face of the comb and the separator, the
cubic contents of comb in the 2-in. section
will be 24 cubic inches, and in the lj|-in.
section 23 cubic inches.

A comb of honey to weigh 16 oz.
ought therefore to contain from 23 to
24 cubic inches.* Employing the same
data, a 4j in. by 5 in. section, If in.
wide as Mr. Lamb proposes, is found to be
capable of containing only 21 375 cubic inches
of comb, and would certainly, when filled,
average much less than 1 lb. in weight. If
the sections were 1|| in. wide, the calculated
cubic contents of comb would be 22*5625 and
the average weight would probably be a light
1-lb. If thq sections were If in. wide, the
calculated cubic contents of comb would be
2375 cubic inches, and the average weight
would probably be a full 1-lb.

From the above I think that Mr. Lamb's
section (1$ in. thick) is without doubt too
thick, and I should recommend the 4J in. by

* As a matter of fact, a solid block of honey this size
would probably actually weigh a good deal over 1 lb.,
because pop holes are not allowed for. In comparing
a 4£ in. by 4| in. section with a 4J in. by 5 in., the
average of pop holes would be much the same, so they
need not be taken into consideration.

March 7, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

95

5 in. by l|i to If in. as the size in a bee-way
section which those who are interested in
this question should give a trial during the
coming season.

We have now to consider the no-bee-way
or plain form of the tall, thin section. With
these a specially constructed cleated " fence ''
takes the place of the ordinary separator, and
provides the necessary bee-space between the
combs ; the sections being narrower than those
with a bee-way, while the face of the comb in
the former is raised almost to the level of the
edge of the wood. It is claimed for the plain
sections that they take up less room in a
travelling crate and are easier scraped, besides
looking better than a bee-way section. Just
how much difference there is in width between
a bee-way and a plain section weighing the
same, and of the same outside dimensions, is
still apparently unsettled. It depends, of
course, on the stoutness of the cleats on the
separators. For some little time the A. I.
Root Company have been making cleats T3ff in.
stout. One of these cleats on either side re-
duces the width of the section by £ in. It is,
I believe, stated by the A. I. Root Company
that a plain section to weigh the same as a
bee-way one should be if in. narrower ; but
practical testing by weighing seems to indicate
that the difference should not be so great.
This is, perhaps, partly due to the fact that
the fence separator is composed of slats, with
spaces between them, through which the bees
can pass from one compartment of sections
into another.

Mr. Lamb apparently considers \ in. as the
difference in width between a plain and a bee-
way section, but perhaps he uses a thinner
cleat than that made by Messrs. Root. With
a fVin. cleat the difference seeni3 to lie some-
where between \ and f in., and xo m- ls
probably near enough. This would make If
to lf^ in. the correct width for a plain 4j-in.
by 5-in. section when a jVin. cleat is on either
side of the fence.

I very cordially support Mr. Howard's
request that there should be a class at the
Dairy Show for 1-lb. sections other than those
of the ordinary 4^-in. by 4£-in. size. Like
Mr. Howard, I also have found full sheets of
foundation in sections more helpful than
starters. — F. W. L. Sladen, Ripple Court,
near Lover, March 1.

SOME ESSEX NOTES.
[4269.] Size of Sections. — It is said that
Irishmen alone can claim the right to speak
more than once upon one subject, so if you
allow me to reply to the Rev. R. M. Lamb, I
must regard it as a special favour. I must
congratulate Mr. Lamb upon the ability he
has shown as an advocate, but he has drawn
so largely upon America and things American
—even for his " ladies " — that I must remind
him that America is not England; therefore,
the conditions under which bees are kept in

America are so entirely different to those of
our average seasons as to make comparison
useless in this country for practical purposes.
The American is one to whom showy acts and
tall speeches seem to be indispensable. But
though sober utility takes precedence of
appearance in this country, the value of
appearance is by no means ignored ; indeed,
I think we usually demand or expect I
decently good appearance with any article
purchased, if attractiveness in looks is not
placed before utility and natural neatness ;
but I think utility or quality should have
pride of place. Some years ago a good
exhibit of 1-lb. sections were described as
"beauty unadorned." These words are, to
my mind, just as applicable to-day, but more
so when beauty and utility are in com-
bination. Unfortunately, however, for the
section of " more taking appearance " that
Mr. Lamb would have us adopt, he has failed
to show that there would be an equally well-
proportioned combination of utility and neat-
ness such as we have in the 4| x 4| - 2- in.
section. He says (on page 73) customers
would have to be informed that the narrower
comb is of fair thickness ; but customers
usually want to satisfy themselves that they
are getting a full 16 oz. of honey. He would
also, according to Mr. Lamb, have to mention
the superior quality of the wax in the thinner
section. I think the customer would take
this with a grain of salt. Besides, would he
withhold the fact that, though the wax should
be superior, there is more of it ?

The shallow-frame is much in evidence, to
illustrate Mr. Lamb's contentions in favour of
a new size of 1-lb. section, but the relation-
ship of the shallow-frame to the 1-lb. section
is so distant that I think such a comparison is
of very little value. It is common knowledge
amoDg bee-keepers that the quicker bees do
their work the more perfect their work is — i.e.,
sections of whatever size are both better
filled and better sealed. Now, if shallow-
frames are used, the bees can hang in festoons
from side to side of the super, forming one
single big cluster that fills the super, and
every bee in such super is aided in its work
by the heat generated by the one large
cluster of bees. While, if 1-lb. sections are
used, be they square or tall, the bees are
divided into a number of small clusters, thus
rendering the same amount of heat much less
helpful to the bees in their work of comb-
building and sealing, and progress much
slower as a matter of course. I very well
remember the useful educational work
done by Mr. Lamb at the Yorkshire Agricul-
tural Society's Show some years ago. I, too,
have experimented largely with shallow-frames,
with a view to saving labour, both for the bees
and myself, by getting the bees to build thick
comb3. Unless we adopt the plain, or no-bee-
way section of what use is it to hang 1-lb.
sections in a frame and expect the bees to do
better than now 'I And if the plain section is

96

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 7, 1901.

used there will still to a great extent be three
separate clusters of bees in each frame. The
no-bee-way section finds no favour with me.
When filled it affords the honey no protection
whatever. I have a decided preference for the
two-bee-way section. As to the question
whether dividers hinder the bees, I admit that
anything in the nature of a partition will be
to some extent a hindrance, but I must allow
experiences in the past to caution me against
tempting the bees. I have removed supers of
1-lb. sections for people who keep bees who
have no place for anything, whose dividers are
not to be found at supering time. So the
racks of sections have been put on without
them, and the result has almost invariably
been that half the sections were quite unsale-
able, one being bulged on one side, the next
one having a thin comb weighing 10 or 12 oz.,
the next bulged on both sides, and weighing
about 20 oz., and so on.

Although Mr. Lamb has, in my opinion,
failed to prove the need for a new section
no doubt some good will come out of the dis-
cussion of this subject. For myself, I am more
than ever satisfied that hitherto our bee-
keepers have not done ail that is possible to
secure really good sections of the A\ in. by
4J in. size. Mr. L. can only think of two dis-
advantages in using a thinner section ; one of
them is that the Southern bee-keeper would
not have the show-bench so much to himself.
But "the cap doesn't fit." As a Southern
bee-keeper, I may say that only once have I
exhibited 1-lb. sections outside my own county
and my own district, except on the border
of an adjoining county. Mr. Lamb, among
quite an array of advantages claimed for his
new section, says (No. 15) : "Less apparatus
necessary, shallow- frames being available for,
either comb or extracted honey, thus helping
cottagers." We are thus asked to believe that
a frame sufficiently wide to cover the 1-lb.
section and keep it clean could be used just
as well for producing honey for extracting ;
but in practice a wide frame for the latter
purpose is one of the most inconvenient things
imaginable, because the difficulty of uncapping
such a wide frame would make a combination
frame of this kind a hindrance rather than a
help to the cottager. If our friend can get
a thousand of such sections as he recommends,
and get them well filled, they will supply an
attractive exhibit in the classes for " inte-
resting and instructive exhibits" at the
coming shows. Besides, no better way can
be found to convince bee-keepers that a
thinner section will benefit them. — Wi.
Loveday, Harloiv, Essex.

BEES IN NORFOLK.

MY SEASON'S ACCOUNT FOR 1900.

[4270.] I made my first acquaintance with
bees when in 1899 I purchased eighteen
stocks, and as I have just finished my accounts
for 1900 I send you a few extracts therefrom,

in the hope they may possess interest for other
readers. I lost one stock through starvation
during the winter, leaving me with seventeen
at date of writing. My total take of honey
was 250 lb., all of which was of good quality,
and most of it has been sold at lOd. per lb.
Of course a portion was used at home and
some given away, but to December 31, 190 lb.
had been sold for £7 17s. lid. As I had
difficulty in obtaining appliances last year I
became local agent for a firm, and in this line
have sold £8 15s. lOd. worth of bees and
materials, while the the value of my stock has
increased by £5 16s. 4d. On the other side
the expenses have reached £5 15s. 5d., leaving
a profit of £14 4s. lO^d. Of course I pay
nothing for labour, as all bee-work is done by
my wife and myself. These figures appear
small beside those of old hands, yet to me
they are gratifying as showing that if keen
interest is taken (with no other assistance than
the " Guide Book " and Bee Journal) bees
will pay in money and amply repay with
pleasure any work bestowed on them.

I had three swarms only during the year,
two of which I sold and one was united with a
weak stock. I lost one lot last autumn through
" robbing.'' It was a weak lot in a " Wells "
hive, and, although it rained in torrents at the
time, the marauders persevered until night.

Amongst plants visited very much by bees
I particularly noticed the hyacinths, clarkia,
and Michaelmas daisies. I have a large number
of the latter, and they are well worth cul-
tivating as a bee-plant.

On Wednesday of this week I went to see a
stock of bees ; they are badly affected with
dysentery. I shall treat as per " Guide Book.''
I also called to see a friend's. As soon as I
removed the roof, I found there were no
quilts or covers of any description except the
roof. The sealed stores were scarce, but the
bees were numerous and strong. Such treat-
ment shows the hardihood of bees, I think. It
is fair to say the owner was too ill to visit his
bees, hence the state in which I found them.
May I add I am engaged in the " rural pur-
suits" of which correspondents have been
writing, and find that of fowls, pigs, bees, and
garden, the bees give the most pleasure and
profit compared to the outlay. During the
summer I am busy, as I " give an eye " to
fourteen stocks besides my own at ten different
places. — W. J. Belderson, Lynn, Norfolk.

THE B.B.K.A APIARY AT SWANLEY.

the appeal to appliance dealers.
[4271.] In B.B.J, of January 17 last you
inserted an editorial appeal on behalf of th9
B.B.K.A. apiary at Swanley to bee-appliance
dealers for hives for the apiary, and in re-
sponse I forthwith instructed my works
foreman to dispatch one of my " W.B.C."
hives to the apiary at Swanley. Probably
other bee-appliance dealers responded also. I

March 7, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

97

do not know whether others received any
acknowledgment of their gift ; I have had
none-^not even a postcard. My friends
Messrs. Jas. Lee & Son are, I see on page 81
of last B.B.J^to receive a letter of thanks
from the secretary of the B.B.K.A. I do not,
of course, grudge them that, and doubtless it
is a simple oversight that I was not included ;
but what one is surprised at is that of all our
bee-appliance dealers we two only have re-
sponded to the appeal. — George Rose, Great
Charlotte-street, Liverpool, March 4.

BEE BUZZINGS.

WIDTH OF SECTIONS.

[4272.] I am much obliged to your corre-
spondent Mr. Lamb for bringing this matter
forward, and am inclined to think there are
advantages to be derived from the proposed
change; but let us "make haste slowly." If
we could have wide frames to fit the present
shallow bodies and sections of such a size that
three would fit into the said wide frame,
surely such a simple change would involve no
great risk, more especially as such frames
could be used either for the sections or for
extracting. The only additional outlay would
therefore be represented by the difference
between the cost of an ordinary shallow-
frame and the proposed wider one — an
outlay so trifling that it need not be con-
sidered, even if the new sections proved of no
advantage ; and as both sizes of sections would
no doubt be worked for some years there
would be no need to break up the present-use
racks for firewood, as Mr. Woodley predicts
on page 81.

I admire the positiveness of "D. M. M.,"
Banff (4264, page 87), bat is not that corre-
spondent rather severe on Mr. Lamb ? The
latter, in speaking of the new section,
cannot, of course, do so with the same
certitude that other correspondents can
of the old one. It must not be expected.
And then to twit Mr. L. with what he wrote
some yeara ago is, after all, rather absurd.
Mr. Lamb is wiser now than he was then, and
what is the use of experience if not to give
truer and wiser conceptions of what is most
desirable and right. " When I was a child, I
spake as a child," &c, &c, &c.

I was pleased to read Mr. Rymer's in-
teresting papers on how to prevent swarm-
ing. His experience is another commenda-
tion of the " W.B.C' hive. His system is, of
course, not altogether new, for with the ex-
ception of the slotted adapter, Mr. Cowan has
mentioned ic in the "Guide Book" for years,
though, perhaps, more as a successful system
of honey-production than swarm-preventing.
After all though, the two things go together.
— "Buzzer,'' Glos., March 4.

P.S. — Perhaps John Bull does like a thick
comb in the section, as Mr. Kibble states in
page 83, but does he not also like a section
filled to edges all round ? — "B/

SHEFFIELD AS A BEE DISTRICT.
[4273]. Referring to the query of " W, P.''
(2549, page 90), I would say, Wortley — the
district about which your correspondent in-
quires— is very distinct from Sheffield. The
latter is a very bad district for bees except on
the west side of the town. Wortley, which is
some ten miles away, is, on the whole, a
favourable locality. It is rather cold and
exposed, but there are large woods in the
neighbourhood which are a valuable source of
early supplies in the spring ; while on one
side of the district there it an abundance of
heather. There is also a good deal of white
clover in the pastures which cover the whole
parish. If, however, your correspondent is
situated three miles from the heather districts
I am afraid that source of supplies will not be
of much use to him. — J. J. Baldwin Young,
Claxby House, via Lincoln, March 2.

VILLAGE LECTURES ON BEE-
KEEPING.

[4274.] I was sorry to see by our friend Mr.
Franklin's letter (4258, page 78) that with
regard to lecturing experiences his lines seem
to have fallen in other than pleasant places.
In our village, I am pleased to say, there is no
difficulty whatever in .getting the young people
to attend a lecture, of which we have
had several this winter on various subjects,
all well attended. If we can get a lecture, the
audience is sure to come. Perhaps the resi-
dents in Mr. Franklin's neighbourhood have
heard so many lectures full of copious
" nothings," that they prefer the fireside to the
lecture-room. Mr. Franklin's letter seems to
convey the idea that I advocated the delivery
of lectures by any one — qualified or not — so
long a3 they were furnished with printed
" notes." Nothing was further from my mind
than that.

But I venture to say that it is far better to
have full notes on paper containing some well-
thought-out ideas — along with interesting facts
for a general audience — than to deliver a lot
of copious " nothings " extempore or from
memory. Lantern slides for a single lecture
to a mixed audience should, I think, not be of
a too technical character, which only practical
bee-keepers could understand. They should
be a combination which would include items
instructive, interesting, curious, and humorous
in character, so as to suit all hearers and all
tastes. If the lecture was entirely devoted to
practical and theoretical bee-keeping, none
but a skilled expert should attempt to give it.
Slides of the kind first mentioned would re-
quire some notes attached explaining where
and how and when they were taken, &c. It
would be interesting to have the opinion of
other bee-keepers on this subject. Doubtless
there are many who would not hesitate in
procuring a full lecturing outfit, with notes for
use in lecturing ; and, in conclusion, I again

98

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 7, 1901.

say that I think it would be a real boon if the
Council of the B.B.K.A. could undertake to
provide this. — G. A. Barnes, Pickering,
Yorlcs, February 25.

ANCIENT BEE-BOOKS.

" The Ordering of Bees, or the True History of
managing them from time to. time, with their hony
and waxe, shewing their nature and breed. As also
what Irees, Plants, and Heartas are good for them, and
namely what are hurtfull : together with the extra-
ordinary profit arising from them. Set forth in a
Dialogue, resolving all doubts whatsoever.

" By the late unparalell'd experience of John Levett,
Gent. London, 1634."

[Opposite the title-page a woodcut of a
straw hive on a stand, with bees on the wing
and walking on the board. Also this dis-
tich : —
" He who by bees doth ever thinke to thrive
Must order them, and neatly trim his hive."
4to. ; 71 pages, besides preface, index, &c.
Koman character throughout. — " S. D. E."]

[4275] Judging by dates of publication,
there are certainly two important bee-books
which should take precedence of Levett's.
But, as already pointed out by " A. A. H." in
B.B.J. (4164, page 481), Samuel Purchas
tells us that " Master Levit," the grandfather
of the publisher, had written the book at least
fifty years earlier, so that its place would be
at about the end of the sixteenth century, and
prior to the " Feminine Monarchic" It would
appear, however, from the dedication, that the
author was the publisher's father. "Among
others, the Author of this Booke, Father to
my selfe and it, was a scholler of this schoole,''
writes John Levett.

Levit and Levett are obviously the same
individual. These were the golden days when
every writer spelt as he thought best, and
nobody make mistakes. Shakespeare signed
his name in various ways, and our present
author appears again in a book by Hartlib,
almost a contemporary, as Levets.

The "Posthume Orphling " is dedicated
" to the vertuous gentlewoman Mrs. Dorothy
Kemp, wife to the right worshipful Mr.
Robert Kemp, Esquire, one of his Majestie's
Justices of the Peace in the county of North-
folk." "Most vertuous and kinde," says the
author, " I here present unto your hands and
view, this Treatise not great, of a subject in
seeming small, indeed full of greatnesse and
glory .... the exquisite perfection of this
little Flie,'' &c, &c.

A preface is supplied by " his admirer '' (the
celebrated) Gervase Markham. It concludes :
— " And he that in this Art will looke beyond
this, let him looke beyond the Moone, I will
neither lend him mine eyes nor my recom-
mendation." What more could an admirer
say 1 Markham edited many works on
farriers, agriculture, &c, between 1568 and
1637.

The book before us is not remarkably

interesting. It praises Southerne's book, and
mainly consists of criticism upon it. The
dialogue is between Tortona and Petralba, the
former being the teacher.

Levett agrees in the main with Southerne
as to the breeding of bee3, but thought that
drones mu8t be males " because all experience
doth teach that never any bee3 were, or can
be without Drones ; and therefore without all
doubt nature hath created them for some
principall use : and I nor no man can perceive
any greater than this, or as almost fit for little
or nothing else." He quite knew " the King
or Master Bee,'' and says of Southerne
" wherein he sheweth exceeding ignorance in
that thing, and I therefore imagine that he
never saw a Master Bee." .... "Concerning
the number of them in a hive, I dare not de-
termine anything for certaine : yet do I think
that one has the principal command, if they
agree and prosper well : their young ones or
spat are bred in their own houses or eels, and
not amongst the other Bees, as I have often
seene.'' . . . . " The Master Bee hath a sting
as well as the rest, yet more for ornament than

use He hath a select and particular

guard of choice officers or surpreme Com-
manders, as Generalls, Lieutenant Generalls,
Marshalls, Sergeant Majors, Colonels, and
Captains &c.'"

Levett recommends feeding in moderation
when bees are starving in the spring ; prefers
straw for hives — no use " dressing " a hive ;
had not tried Southerne's plan of feeding a pig
in a skep, but thought there must be some-
thing in it ; considered " ringing of basons, or
such like," to be at best " a very ridiculous
toy." He joined a second swarm or castling
to another like unto it by throwing the second
on to a board and putting the first over it
"late in the night " to avoid fighting ; and he
thought " Master Southerne's " objection to
two self-joined swarms was " a mere conceit."

Poor " T. H. Londoner " comes in for
another scolding. " Master Hill, who indeed
like a forward gentleman published his experi-
ments at first sight, as he did the setting of
wheat, and many more phantasticall toyes,
without due proof, good probability, or sure
ground of reason."

It is interesting to learn that humane ideas
were beginning to be put forward, although
they did not find favour with John Levett : —
" Some hold opinion that it is a great pitty to
kill the Bees that have laboured so for
us. . . . Hath not God given all creatures to
us for our benefit, and to be used accordingly
as may seeme good unto us for our good ? Is
it not lawful for us, to use these silly creatures
in such sort as they may be most for our
benefit, which I take to be the right use of
them, and the very end of their creation ? "

So this matter of fact bee-master of the olden
days drove his bees into a large skep late in
the evening. He shook the bees out, laid a
broad board upon them, and trod upon it,
" and so presently killed them all. "

March 7, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

99

Three hundred years have passed by since
the words I have just copied were written.
And in this our new century of vaunted
humanity I could not reproduce them, know-
ing what I do, without a sense of shame. —
South Devon Enthusiast.

BEE-KEEPING IN YORKSHIRE.

[4276.] As a reader of the B.B.J, for over
four years, I have passed many an enjoyable
half-hour over its pages, and but for being
such a busy man, I would often send on a line
about the bees. I have a large garden with
hives all over it, besides an out-apairy three-
quarters of a mile away. I also manage
apiaries belonging to local gentlemen and
clergy scattered all over the county,
all of which jobs keep me at work
twelve hours a day. In my various per-
ambulations I have removed bees from trees,
house-rojfs, walls, chimneys, and never yet
been unsuccessful when allowed a free hand.
Having read with keen interest the discussion
as to size of sections, I do not think the present
4£ in. by 4| in. section requires any alteration.
Like our old friend Mr. Howard (4263, page
86), I have tried different sizes of sections and
find none answer better than the present one,
and if we have a good thing, why alter it for the
sake of change 1 It would be a costly under-
taking for some of us, so many things would
need altering or renewing ; it is therefore
useful to find so many perfectly satisfied with
the old 4j in. by 4j in. section. — E. J.
Thompson, Goivdall, Snaith, Yorks, March 4,

WEATHER REPORT.

Westbourne, Sussex,

Rainfall, T49 in.

Heaviest fall, "42 in.,
on 4th.

Rain fell on 9 days.

Below average, 45 in.

Maximum Tempera-
ture, 52°, on 25th.

Minimum Tempera-
ture, 20°, on 16th.

Minimum on Grass,
11°, on 12th & 16th.

Frosty Nights, 22.

Sunshine, 58*2 hrs.

Brightest Day, 16th,
6 hours.

February, 1901.
Sunless Days, 9.
Below average, 37 "2

hours.
Mean Maximum,

387°.
Mean Minimum,

28-5°.
Mean Temperature,

33 6°.
Below average, 4°.
Maximum Barometer,

30-57°, on 15th.
Minimum Barometer,

29 08°, on 4th.

L. B. BlRKETT.

<&i\im from tfa Ham

Boyfield House Apiary, Moulton, Spalding,
March 2. — Monday, February 25, being a
delightful day (sun shining and the bees
merrily humming), I had a look in our hives

just to see how they fared for stores. Most of
them were found to be very short, and will, in
consequence, have to be fed to keep them
alive. I saw brood in thirteen hives out of
fifteen, one colony having as many as five
frames with brood in their combs. On the
whole the bees have stood the winter well up
to now. — Sidney Skipworth.

dfto^s mil mplip.

[2596.] A Beginner's Queries. — I would be
glad to receive answers to the following
questions through the B.B J. : — 1. What is.
the width of the " Standard " frame top-
bar ? 2. Is there a limited space between
floor-board of hive and bottom of frames ? and
between side of frames and hives ? 3. Is there
a Bee-Keepers' Association in Durham or
Northumberland ? If so, could you give me
the name of Secretary % Though only a
beginner in bee-keeping, I have learned a
good deal by reading the Bee Journal. I
look forward to its coming every week with
pleasure, there being always something new
and interesting in it. — H. Harmer, Gateshead.
Reply. — 1 and 2. We print your queries as
written, mainly for the purpose of enforcing
the absolute necessity that every beginner in
bee-keeping should provide himself with a
reliable guide-book, if success is to be hoped
for. No one can expect to learn bee-keeping
from reading the Bee Journal, as is shown
by our correspondent's want of knowledge of
the most elementary principles of the art in
his first and second queries, and so, beyond
saying in reply that the space is not only
limited, but must be measured with careful
accuracy, we advise him to procure a guide-
book, and read it carefully through. He will
then know all about hive measurements and
size of standard frames, besides acquiring
other knowledge which is indispensable to
queens. 3. Mr. James Waddell, Wooler, is
hon. secretary of the Northumberland and
Durham B.K.A.

[2597.] Dealing with Foul Brood. — Could
you kindly allow an old reader space for a few
notes in your valuable B.B.J. 1 My stocks
last season showed decided signs of foul brood
and I am anxious this season to eradicate the
disease entirely if possible. To this end I am
destroying all spare combs by melting them
down for wax and using the frames for fire-
wood. Some of the shallow-frames also that
have contained brood are sharing the same fate.
So far, so good ; but how best to treat the
combs now in the hive and containing brood
and bees is quite another matter, for there are
at least three methods by which the desired
end could be attained : — 1. By inserting from
time to time, as room is required, a frame of
foundation, working the old combs to the side
and removing them one at a time as the brood

100

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 7, 1901.

hatches out. But by this method, as both
new and old combs would both be in the hive
at the same time, it is feared the new combs
would run a great risk of becoming contami-
nated before all the old ones were removed.

2. In April or May brush all the bees off the
combs, confine bees for forty-eight hours, and
destroy the combs, putting bees on to full
sheets of foundation. This would be a
very drastic, though perhaps a more
effective, method than No. 1, but it
would involve the loss of a deal of brood.

3. Allow the stocks to swarm naturally, and
to this end, as the season advances contract the
size of hives to eight or ten frames, so as to
cause swarms to issue early in May, or, better
still, in April, if possible. As soon as swarm
is hived remove parent stock and let the swarm
take its place, so as to get with the swarm as
many as possible of the flying bees. At night
the swarm could be confined and treated for
foul brood before being placed on foundation.
The brood in parent stock would then be
allowed to hatch out, and as soon as young
queen had commenced to lay two or more of
such lots could be united or otherwise treated,
as considered best, and the old combs de-
stroyed. Hives would, of course, be scrubbed
and also scorched with blow-lamp. As there
are, no doubt, many of your readers besides
myself anxious to get rid of foul brood,
perhaps you would kindly say which of the
proposed methods you prefer, or whether you
approve of either. Would you also please say
whether, in your opinion, it is an advantage —
when treating bees for foul brood— to place
the bees for a few days on starters only before
giving them full sheets of foundation?—
T. W. T., Glos., March 4.

Reply.— We should at once discard the
first-named method, seeing you cannot hope
to effect a cure while leaving diseased brood
in the hives under treatment. With regard
to the second and third plans proposed, very
much depends on the present condition and
strength of the respective colonies. It is
against all rule to expect stocks to swarm
early if diseased. But if they are so slightly
affected as to be found strong in bees, and could
be reasonably expected to be got up to
swarming point in May, the third plan would
be the most effective and likely to end in
success. If you could send us a piece of
diseased comb, and let us know how many
combs the bees cover at the present time, we
will advise more definitely later on.

[2598.] Re-Queening Stocks. — I intend re-
queening my hives this year by killing the old
queen and allowing bees to re-queen them-
selves. I therefore ask:— 1. Will the first
hatched-out queen become parent of the hive,
or will it be necessary for me to destroy all
queen- cells except one ? 2. When would be
the best time to kill old queen ? 3. Would
bees work as well if queenless during honey-
flow ? 4. Where can I procure phenyle, as
advised in "Guide Book," for spraying combs,

and to what extent should it be diluted ? —
Eex, Mold, March 4*

Reply.-^-I. Yes, the first hatched queen
will destroy the others. 2. Immediately the
honey-harvest draws to a close, and, of course,
before drones are killed off, say about middle
of July. 3. No, they would lose time after
losing queen, and become more or less
demoralised for several weeks. 4. Messrs.
Morris, Little, & Co. prepare solution as
in " Guide Book."

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All queries for warded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

Pax Vobiscum (Surrey). — Moving Bees in
March. — If carefully packed, so that — while
guarding against the escape of bees — the
frames are kept rigidly in position to avoid
rocking, there should be little risk in moving
a stock of bees from Bucks to Surrey this
month. In fact, it is as favourable a time as
any. We should not rely on " cording " the
hive to floorboard ; far safer to fix it down
with a couple of screws. It is also advisable
to put the hive in guard's van yourself, if at
all convenient, and give instructions as to
care in handing over to porters.
J. G. S. (Cranbrook). — Candy -making. — 1.
The sample of candy sent is quite useless as
bee-food, being hard as a stone. It has been
overboiled, and may be truly described as
"hard-bake." 2. Honey sample is coarse
and rank in aroma and flavour, reminding us
of a blend of horse-chestnut and privet
honey. It is not suitable for table use.
F. J. (Mountmellick). — Candy Feeding in
Early Spring. — 1. If the bees are taking
soft candy well, we advise keeping up the
supply until you can examine the combs to
ascertain how the bees are off for stored
food. 2. Liquid food is not suitable so
early in the season as this. Candy is best.
C. B. Collier (Horrabridge). — Foreign
Bees. — 1. We can only refer you to the
particulars given in the advertisement, as
we have no personal knowledge of the
special bees named. 2. There are no
justifiable grounds for saying that " Foreign
bees bring foul brood with them."
S. .J. Bruoks (Finchley). — Bees not doing
voell. — We fear the district is not favourable
for bee-keeping, or else your stocks need
looking to by a competent bee-keeper, to
account for the failure. Perhaps some
reader who has local knowledge of Crouch
End, Finchley, will send a word of reply
regarding our correspondent's failure ?
*>L* Sheffield as a Bee District. — Referring to
query in last week's issue on the above,
Mr. F. Bramhall, Attercliff'e, near Sheffield,
writes : — " Wortley, near Sheffield, should
be favourable for bee-keeping. There is a
deal of white clover about and plenty of
heather within reach of the bees '' (vide
4273, page 97, in this issue).

March 14, 1901. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

101

(Jfrifitorisl 'Ifatim, kt

LINCOLNSHIRE B K.A.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting was held, by permission
of the Mayor, in the Guildhall, Lincoln, on
Saturday, March 2, at 3 p.m., the President,
the Right Hon. Lord Heneage in the chair.
The meeting was fairly well attended, though
the rough weather prevailing doubtless kept
many members away, the country roads not
being in a fit state for the " friendly bike."

Among those present were G. J. Young,
Esq., J.P., Rev. J. F. Lane, Rev. C. S. Nevile,
Miss J. Brewster, Mrs. G. T. Pilkington, Miss
Ada Morley, Dr. Percy Sharp, Messrs. J.
Emerson, H. C. Spain, J. F. Andrews, H.
Pears, J. Hall, R. T. Warrenter, J. W.
Wilson ; Messrs. A. J. Banks, J. S. Pearce,
and D. Seaman, experts, &c, and R. Godson,
hon. sec.

The annual report, which was read, stated,
among other items, that the Association was
still in a flourishing condition the total mem-
bership numbering 554, and that the work of
the past year had been satisfactory, though
the season had not been a good one. The
report also expressed regret that no grant had
been made by the County Councils of any of
the three divisions of the ' county in aid of
bee-keeping, and that foul brood was still
prevalent in several places in the county.

The finances of the Association are, however,
satisfactory, the total receipts, including a
balance of £19 brought forward, amounted to
£159 0s. 8d., and the expenditure to £137
8s. 5d., leaving a credit balance of £21 12s. 3d.
Four new districts have been formed during
the year, there being now forty-nine districts
with local hon. sees, in each. The report and
balance-sheet were adopted on the motion of
the Chairman.

Mr. Percy Taylor, having been compelled to
resign the office of auditor, received a hearty
vote of thanks for his past services. Mr. G.
Booth Walker, Wainfleet, was elected in his
place.

This concluded the general business, after
which Mr. J. H. Howard gave an excellent
and interesting lecture on queen raising. The
meeting concluded with a drawing for prizes
consisting of bee appliances presented by
Viscount St. Vincent and others. — {Com-
municated.)

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE B.K.A.

annual meeting.

The eighteenth annual meeting of the above
Association was held on Saturday, March 2, in
All Saints' Schools, Northampton. Mr. W. L.
Bird presided over an average attendance.
The report, read by Mr. R. Hefford, Hon.
Secretary, stated the past season had, on the

whole, been a very moderate one. The Com-
mittee thank the donors of prizes, also the
gentlemen who officiated as judges at the
annual show on August 6, 1900. Outdoor
demonstrations were given at fifteen places
during the summer by Messrs. Truss, Perry,
Bird, and Hefford, which proved of consider-
able interest. The report and statement of
accounts were agreed to. The election of
officers for the ensuing year then took place,
the appointment of President for the year
being left to the Committee. The retiring
Vice-Presidents were re-elected, with one
exception, J. Jeffery, Esq., being substituted
for C. G. A. Drucker, Esq., M.P. ; R. Hefford
(Hon. Secretary), Kingsthorpe, Northants ;
G. E. Atkins (Hon. Treasurer) ; Hon. District
Secretaries and Committee : — Messrs. J. R.
Truss, Ufford Heath ; W. Manning. Northants ;
J. 'Francis, Northants ; J. Perry, Banbury ; H.
Collins,* Berry Wood ; 0. Orland, Flore ; G.
Page, Holcot; W. Winterton, Welling-
borough ; F. J. Old, Piddington ; C. Cox,
Brampton. It was decided to hold the annual
show of 1901 early in August at Kings-
thorpe. The meeting closed with the usual
votes of thanks.

HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of Feb-
ruary, 1901, was £1,327.— From a return
furnished to the British Bee Journal by
the Statistical Office, H.M. Customs.

^rmpnkut

Tie Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opiniont expressed by correspondent!. Ifo notice loill be
tdken of anonymous communications, and correspondent*
are requested to write on one tide of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarify for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should, be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[4277.] As we are now nearing mid-March,
and shall within a week have the sun above
the horizon for twelve hours, our attention
will be directed more and more to the outside
work in the apiary. I have again started the
drinking fountains for the bees, and whenever
the sun shines these water-troughs are crowded
with bees. I believe that having water within
a few yards of the hives is a great saving of
bee-life just now, when numbers are required
to maintain the warmth of brood-nests and thus
help to build up strong stocks for the honey-
flow. Then, close to, I place artificial pollen
in old skeps containing a wad of fine wood-

102

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 14, 1901.

shavings, on which is sprinkled from a dredger
a mixture of flour and pea -flour. The bees
are revelling in the skeps, dusty as millers,
and carrying off the artificial pollen merrily to
the hives.

Extra wraps may now be added with advan-
tage above the brood-nests, and hive-entrances
reduced to about lh in. wide where stocks are
weak. Strong cofonies with plenty of food
can generally look after themselves, and happy
is the bee-keeper whose apiary is full of such
stocks.

Size of Sections. — I advise those who are
preparing a trial rack or two of the new shape
sections not to discard " fences " or dividers,
as I feel sure they will be disappointed with
the results if they do so. With regard to
thick combs ; some years ago when prizes were
offered for glass supers of honey, I used to
work some every year, and by lining out the
crown of the supers with narrow Strips of
foundation in star pattern I have had wedge-
shaped combs of honey 6 to 7 in. thick at the out-
side of the wedge and no brace combs built from
one comb to the other, but just the ordinary
bee-space between the faces of the combs.
The contents of super weighed about | cwt. ;
this great thickness of combs bees built when
left to tbeir own devices with abundance of
room at their disposal and no dividers in their
way. As an old exhibitor with twenty years'
success — being awarded during that period
more, I believe, premier prizes for comb-
honey in sections than any other bee-keeper in
the British Isles — I can assure Mr. Lamb
that we southerners would be delighted to feel
that an advance was really being made in the
production of comb-honey, and when the new
section has made its appearance on the show-
bench and has once beaten the old style, our
North-country brethren may depend upon it
we shall not be left behind in its adoption.
But to adopt the system of hanging
sections in shallow-frames in the hope of
getting them more quickly or better filled will,
I think, end in disappointment for those who
try it on. Mr. Howard points to another
fault in the tall sections ; those bee-keepers
who storify four or five racks high will find the
tall section still add to the height of the pile
and thus remove the supers further from the
brood-nest.

„ Improving the Stock. — In our excitement
over the adoption of the " new section," do
not let us overlook the improvement of our
stock ; the healthy, hardy, industrious strain,
the long-tongued hustlers after honey, the
strain that can work on red clover and com-
plete the racks of sections or shallow super-
boxes, while other strains are vainly searching
for honey in the drought-ridden fields amidst
the few scattered white clover blossoms.
Then, as other stock-breeders give special
attention to the " sire," let us also not forget
the same item in bee-life, for the very
existence of our craft depends on their vigour
and virility. We ought, therefore, to strive

after producing some of the finest specimens
of drones obtainable in nature, aided by the
wit of man. Yet, year after year, we
preach " full sheets of foundation for
the brood-nest " all worker size, forgetting
that the natural instinct of the bees will
induce them to raise some drones even if they
have to do so in elongated cells of worker
size. How can we expect these puny drones
reared in such cells to extend or increase the
good qualities of our stock 1 I throw out
these "pointers " hoping it will raise a helpful
discussion by the masters in the craft. We
may depend on this fact, that good strong
colonies of hardy, industrious (long-tongued)
bees will do more towards realising our ideal,
" the well-filled section,'' than the alteration or
extension by -f in. in its height, and a few
eighths or sixteenths in its thickness. — W.
Woodley, Beedon, Newbury.

SECTION RACKS.

CAN THEY BE IMPROVED UPON %

[4278.] I have been very much interested iu
the discussion that has been going on in Bee
Journal re tall and square sections. I
certainly think the tall ones would have a
better appearance on the exhibition table than
the square ones, but when the comb-honey is
cut out and placed on a nice glass dish I think
the thick combs would more than hold their
own.

The main reason why I write, however, is to
see if we cannot improve the section-rack now
in use, so that we can get sections of any shape
better filled.

I have been thinking over the matter
for some time, and I now venture to lay before
your readers the result of my meditations, not
without some fear and trembling.

The rack I purpose making will be double
walled on two sides, same as a beehive. The
usual length for twenty-one sections, and
15j in. wide outside measure, with a space of
about § in. between the walls ; the inside
wall to be slotted every 2 in. plus thickness of
divider. I intend to work with four bee-way-
sections and slotted dividers.

To allow the bees to get up into sides of
rack, I will nail the two outside laths — on
which the sections rest — 1 in. from inner wall
of rack, so that they will have two more
passages into sections than they have in the
present form of rack. Advantages claimed —
(1) Heat of hive more evenly distributed
through all sections ; (2) direct road up sides
of hive into sections ; (3) bees clustering at
side of rack will keep it warmer ; (4) bees
entering from sides of rack, the outside
sections are more likely to be filled as soon as
the middle ones ; (5) easier to pack up warm
when two or more racks are on, as there are
no projecting ledges as in those mostly used.

I am aware there are already some racks
made without projecting ledges, in which the
bees can cluster all round sections. I tried

March 14, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

103

one, illustrated in Bee Journal as long ago
as June, 18S8 (vol. xvi., page 300), but the
sections were so soiled with the bees crawling
round them that I did not use it a second
time. With the one I propose the sections
will all be protected, except 1 in. at each side,
and this being on bottom of sections will not
matter much. — James Finlay, Whitehaven,
March 8.

P.S. — I omitted to say that the outside
wall must be § in., or thickness of lath on
which sections rest, deeper than inside wall —
that is, outside 4| in., inside 4] in., assuming
that laths are iL in. thick, but I suppose they
should be a shade less

SIZE OF SECTIONS.

[4279.] I am glad to announce to all who
have taken interest in our discussion that its
first object — to thoroughly ventilate the sub-
ject and draw together those who felt the
want of a better section — has been attained.
I need hardly say I took the initiative in the
debate because I was urged by a strong con-
viction— the result of many years' experience
— that the present section was unsuitable to
our climate, and the time was favourable for
attempting a change.

More than a year ago I came to the con-
clusion that a thinner comb was necessary
for commercial purposes, from my own observ-
ations, independently of the valuable work
done in America. And it was only in December
last that I discovered that many of the largest
and foremost bee-keepers there had come to
the same conclusion. This coincidence seemed
so important that I forthwith decided to try
and open up a discussion, so that bee-keepers
might have the advantage of hearing what
could be said for or against a change
and acting accordingly. I was gratified
to find so much unanimity amongst
those who thought a change desirable and
especially to learn that Mr. Sladen's views as
to the size of the new section for trial were so
similar to mine.

He has the honour of taking the first
practical step in ordering some thousands of
size 5 in. by 4| in. by 1 J in. (bee-way). As I
understand they will reach us within a month,
there will be ample time for all who secure
some from the first consignment to prepare
supers for them before the coming season.
Mr. Boxwell, of Patrickswell agent of Messrs.
Root & Co.), will also probably receive
thousands of the same size " plain " i.e., If in.
thick shortly afterwards. We can therefore
cordially invite all who feel inclined, though
they may have failed before, to take a step
further and give the sections a fair trial.
Together with friends in Yorkshire I hope to
deal with from 3,000 to 5,000.

Next courtesy and justice demand a notice
of the correspondents who have written since
my last article appeared.

For Mr. W. Woodley's benefit I would

repeat that I am positive that at least 20 lb.
of honey is lost by the use of eighty 2 in.
sections, simply because of their thickness :
so that if any one can tell how many tons of
honey-comb is produced in the United King-
dom he can soon calculate how many tons will
be gained by a suitable section.

Then if Mr. W. remembers the present
sections being finished sometimes in seven or
eight days, he may with confidence look for-
ward to a narrower section being finished in a
day or two less under the same circumstances.

When the advantage of a proper change is
fully appreciated, the regret will be not so
much that some old apparatus has to be
burnt, but that they were not burnt years ago.

In Mr. J. H. Howard's experience the
present section has held its own. But know-
ing its deficiencies, he is not going to relax
his efforts to find a better receptacle. He hits
the nail on the head when he says, " It re-
mains for the modern bee-keeper to bring his
sectional supers as near to the conditions of
the shallow-frame body as is possible."

That is the great problem we have both
thought over for some time, and now we are
striving with [che prospect of a good chance
for its solution early this century. I thank
him for his bright, encouraging words and
hope his perseverance will be well rewarded.

Mr. D. M. M., Banff, has still an
opportunity to win his spurs. He told us
how he surpassed Yorkshire bee-keepers in
getting his bees to take to five racks of sections
at a time. This is good as far as it goes,
but we are hungering and thirsting after
further knowledge. How many sections were
completed t If most, did it occur only in a good
season '( For if it was an exception, there would
still be room for the trial of another section. But
if he succeeded in getting most finished in
most seasons he has a strong position and has
every reason to nail his colours to the mast,
and stick to his guns with the hope of victory.
— Richard M. Lamb, Burton Pidsea, Hull,
March 9.

SOME ESSEX NOTES.
[4280.] Wax. — It is pleasing to see the very
considerable quantities of beeswax that have
been offered for sale in the advertisement
columns of the Bee Journal recently. I
sincerely hope this is a sign of more thorough
bee-keeping ; by thorough, I mean necessary
attention to turn supplementary products of
the hive to account, instead of tossing the old
combs and odd pieces of comb into the corners
of the apiary and garden to be an eyesore to
every visitor with a liking for good bee-keep-
ing. Good bee-keeping includes the rendering
of wax and anything else that can supplement
the principal product of the hive-honey, also
keeping the apiary tidy. Rendering wax is
certainly a messy job, and it is a job that
hardly any one likes till it is finished (how
is this for Dutch ?), but when the job is done a
little good wax, compared with honey, makes

104

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 14, 1901.

a good price, and it is taking the money for a
lump of good wax that usually brings a liking
for wax rendering. Another thing that is
worth referring to in favour of wax is that if
the comb and capping are kept as much as
possible from the air, and out of reach of
moths, wax - rendering may be done in
the quiet time during the late autumn and
winter.

Pollen. — I saw the first pellets of pollen
carried in by my bees yesterday, March 10,
quite a month later than is usual in this
district. But it is an ill wind that blows no
good, the bees were unable to rest during the
first half of the winter, but severe weather
has enforced rest, though at a time when the
bees would have preferred gathering pollen.
Rest in winter is beneficial to bees, though,
as we see, they cannot always have what is
best for them just when we would like them
to have it. To be able to realise the value of
the hazel as a pollen-yielding tree, it is only
necessary to place a few twigs of it, clothed
with catkins, in a vase, and the pollen that will
fall from the catkins will, I think, convince
anybody. — Wm. Loveday, Hatfield Heath,
Harloiv, Essex, March 11.

ALTERING SIZE OP SECTIONS.

ARE THE ADVANTAGES WORTH A CHANGE ?

[4281.] Referring to the discussion on the
question of altering the size of sections, before
this is done may I be allowed to ask, Are the
advantages, if any, worth it '( The public has
now been educated to a standard size section,
and before any change is made we should first
of all consider the question of cost in pro-
ducing a special section for which there is at
present little demand. The ordinary 4J x 4|
section is now made by the million ; conse-
quently Americans are able to turn these out
very cheaply ; whereas, with a section other
than the stock size, the cost of production
would be considerably more. Again, a section
— weighing 1-lb. when filled — with a larger
surface would take a larger sheet of founda-
tion to fill, thus again adding to the cost.
Besides, narrow sections when filled with
honey have such shallow cells, that the midrib
of the comb would be particularly noticeable
when being eaten, no matter how thin the
foundation used, and thus the objection of
some consumers to the wax in midrib of comb
would be increased.

I think Mr. Lamb advocates a deeper sec-
tion with no bee-way and worked in special
frames with separators, something after the
style of a "W.B.C." hanging-frame. But
this also will be an expensive way of supering.
I do not think a shopkeeper would give more
for a tall section than for a square one ; while,
with regard to bees taking to a tall 1-lb. section
quicker than the ordinary size, my experience
is that they will take to almost anything when
honey is coming in freely. I should be the

last to throw cold water on any progressive
step in bee-keeping, but in this case, instead of
lessening the cost of production — which we all
wish to do— I am afraid it would do just the
thing we wish to avoid — viz., add to it.

With regard to the B.B.K. apiary at
Swanley, I, like other manufacturers, sent a
hive, and its receipt was duly acknowledged.
I did not wish to advertise the fact, but I
quite agree with Mr. Rose's protest against
only one maker being thanked through the
Bee Journal, which is apt to lead readers to
believe that only one firm responded to the
appeal to reconstruct the apiary at Swanley. —
E. H. Taylor, Welwyn, Herts, March 7.

(Correspondence continued on page 106.)

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

The name of the Rev. Dr. Bartrum — though
less prominent in the B.B.J, now than a few
years ago — will be familiar to older readers,
not only as a valued contributor to our pages,
but as one of the most hard-working members
of the B.B.K. A. Council for many years. We
were very pleased to receive the following full
"notes" to go along with the view of his apiary
on next page, and hope our esteemed friend's
interest in bee-keeping will continue : —

" My friend Mr. Hooker besides being a
bee-keeper is, like myself, fond of fruit-grow-
ing. It may not be known that we are
all indebted to his father for introducing the
famous Diamond plum, so remarkable for its
colour, size, and productiveness. He and I
spent many happy hours this last summer in
irrigating my garden, opening channels, turn-
ing the water into the celery beds, then
turning it off, feeding large standard trees and
so on. But Mr. Hooker's highest enthusiasm,
I think, is just now devoted to photography,
in which art he excels. I was not aware that
he had photographed my apiary, and also
sent the picture to the B.B.J., for (to confess
what I feel) I do not think it a model by
any means. The Editor, however, in sending
a ' proof ' of the photograph, has asked me to
write something to accompany it in print ;
so I comply. First, then, I fear critics
will see several weak points in the arrange-
ments as shown. The hives are too crowded —
but we have no more room to spare. The
demand for Essex honey is great, and the
bees will swarm at times, though we desire no
increase of stocks. It's a mistake of course to
crowd the hives, but life often compels us to
choose between two evils, and the wise
man takes the lesser. Then, to my annoyance,
the grass was too long, but labour in the
country districts last year was very scarce and
time most precious.

" But what is this tree, the stem of which
is so prominent a feature of the foreground ?
When I saw it in the picture, my thought*
reverted to Perudeniya, the botanical garden

March 14, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

105

near Candy, in Ceylon, with its wealth of
palm-trees of every kind ; for I fancied I had
lighted on one of those marvels of the Bast
seen in their perfection in the most wonderful
garden (I should think) in the world. It is
worth one's while to go to Ceylon if only to
see the marvels of Peradeniya. Nay, the tree
is no palm ; it is one of many Early Prolific
plums, planted not so very long ago, as may
be inferred from the leathern band encircling
its stem to prevent injury from friction of
the cord attaching it to the adjoining stake.
Irrigation and lime, together with a good
aspect and a good soil, have worked wonders,
and the tree already bears good crops. The
tree in the centre, surrounded by the hives, is

" We work chiefly^for sections, but since at
times there is a demand for extracted honey
some of the hives are supered with shallow-
frames. The ' Weed ' foundation and two-
way 4| by 4J sections are what we prefer. I
fear that in practising thrift we do not use as
much new foundation as we should. Indeed,
I think that one-third, at least, of the combs
should be renewed each year, and in this way
the risk of foul brood is certainly lessened.
With any number of wild colonies in roofs,
houses, trees, and barns around, I cannot but
believe that there will always be danger of
contagion. The use, however, of naphthaline
inside the hive, and during the robbing
season at the entrances, a most important

•

^THE REV. DR. BARTRUM S APIARY, WAKES-COLNE RECTORY, ESSEX.

a mulberry, which ten years of careful training
have brought into something like good shape.
It is useful not only for its leaves and fruit,
but as affording grateful shade in hot weather,
and a refuge at times from an angry bee. The
aspect of the apiary is south-east ; a belt of
trees behind protects it on the north. The
hives (I am afraid) look rather like a race of
mongrels ; some are old, if not antiquated
friends, and a few possess the serious fault of
having their entrances so shaded that it is not
easy to see what is going on. Nothing, in my
opinion, is more important than being able to
see at once what is taking place at the entrance
of a hive. ' Robbing ' may be in progress
unseen. The love of ' looting ' may spread,
and the consequences be disastrous in spring
or autumn.

precaution, fumigation of the bee-room, with
every article opened and exposed to the
action of sulphur for twelve or twenty-four
hours, and the thorough cleansing of the
hives in winter time, as recommended in the
' Guide Book,' ought to make an apiary fairly
safe. When the weather is warm in
summer we, when needful, set a lad to
watch in case swarms come out unexpectedly.*
By ' we,' perhaps I should say, I mean my
gardener and I. He has been a bee-keeper
(as every gardener ought to be) for years.
We try to prevent swarming, as far as pos-
sible, by expansion — new combs, additional

* I had a fine lecture from a very good lady for
posting a boy-guard one Sunday during service time. He
had a chair and the Sunday at Hume to read, but she
would not take the excuse.

106

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 14, 1901.

racks, extraction of comb-honey, and so
on. No doubt very much may be done by
giving room in advance of the bees' require-
ments, and by the prevention, if possible, of
that excessive heat which often compels the
bees of crowded hives to hang out. This is a
point which some of your correspondents seem
at times to overlook. We also raise the outer
cases by putting flat pieces of wood under the
four corners and giving ventilation at the top.
Do what we may, however, nature will not be
wholly cast out, nor, in my opinion, will
swarming ever be wholly checked. We some-
times join two or three swarms together on
ten frames with a rack of sections overhead,
followed by one or two more in a few days
should the weather be fine. Then follows the
cutting out of all queen-cells but one when a
hive has swarmed. Yet one cannot be always
sure from which hive a swarm has issued.
This process of cutting out queen- cells involves
both time and trouble when several hives
require dealing with. A pail of cold water is
always kept at hand when important manipu-
lations are going on. If the hand be stung, it
is dipped at once (after removal of sting) in
the coldest water we can get ; then the effect
soon passes off. We are great believers in
cold water, inside and outside. If I am stung
on face or neck, after the sting is out a
sponge filled with cold water is applied at
once. This remedy is very simple and very
efficacious. I am fortunate in the annual
visits of my friend, Mr. Jesse Garratt, whose
reputation as a bee-master is well known.
Nor must I omit to mention the excellent
expert of the Essex B.K.A., who has the
sense not to disturb the hives without good
reason, and so is always welcome."

CORRESPONDENCE.

(Continued from page 104.)

SINGLE versus " WELLS " HIVES.

[4282.] Keferring to the letter of " D. M. M.,
Banff," (4264, page 87) on « Single v. ' Wells '
Hives," I fail to see where his remarks prove
that the latter hive must take a second place.
Had the "Wells'' hive been worked on the
same ground and within reach of the crop
secured by " W. H., Hereford,'' and " Mr. A.
Muir, Kirkcowan," and then if the " Wells "
hive failed to give a better result he might
then have had just reason for his remarks, but
not otherwise.

Mr. Wells and myself have, I think, many
times proved that a single-queened stock can-
not give the same return if worked side by
side with a " Wells " hive and collecting from
the same crop.

Having just received Messrs. Boot & Co.'s
Price List, I notice they are open to receive
orders for Mr. Lamb's new tall section. I am
inclined to favour these sections, butjprefer to
leave these and the " Wells " hive to be worked

by bee-keepers who fancy them. I might also
mention it does not pay me to work for clover
sections ; but I am open this summer to take
up clean drawn-out sections from healthy
stocks for the moors. — J. H. Horn, BedaU,
Yorks, March 11.

BEES AS REFLEX MACHINES.

[4283.] In"Comptes Rendus de l'Academie
de Paris," vol. 131 (1900), pages 976-8, Abraham
Netter directs attention to the numerical and
geometrical regularities to be noticed in the
life and labours of bees, and points to a
number of facts, such as the results of shifting
the hive, which point to the conclusion that
they are automatic reflex machines. Amongst
the many curious questions he asks, the fol-
lowing one may be taken as an example : —
" Whether the hexagonal mosaic of the eye
may not be associated with the plan of the
combs 1 " — R. Hamlyn - Harris, Stazione
Zoologica Naples, Italy, March 7.

Note. — The above has been gleaned from
the February number of the Journal of the
Royal Microscojncal Society of London. —
R. H. H.

MUSINGS IN MY BEE-GARDEN.

A WINTER DAT.

[4284.] It seems a poetic fiction to classify
February as one of the spring months. The
truth of the old adage, " When days begin
to lengthen the cold begins to strengthen," has
been exemplified this season, for hitherto the
winter has proved an open and mild one, and
though " November's surly blast laid fields and
forests bare,'' the grey face of Nature has
looked wonderfully fresh, with here and there
an " inlaid mosaic '' of green to brighten the
lone landscape. Multitudes of hardy gowans
have here and there shown their bright dark
eye of pure white or crimson-tipped corolla to
gladden the eye, and in the garden quite a
number of spring flowers have blossomed into
untimely bloom. The true months of winter
have gone without once colouring the ground
with a coat of soft and seasonable snow.

In these days of early February, however,
nature has been suddenly transformed as if by
the hand of an enchanter, and to-day the
landscape is one unbroken expanse of
dazzling white, stainless snow, pure and
unsullied as yet. Hoary flakes, downy and
fleecy, are still falling and covering every-
thing as with a vast winding sheet. The snow,
"the beautiful snow,'' has fallen silently in the
night, and the hitherto bare boughs, down to
even the tiniest twigs, sustain a heaped-up
pile of one or two inches. What things of
beauty even the dull and sombre spruce and
pine have become with their loaded branches
bending down almost to the breaking point
with the weight of powdery white ! Not even
a breath of air disturbs the quiet serenity or
wafts away the soft and slumberous snow

March 14, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

107

which is woven artistically into the shape and
fibre of the branching trees, looking as if the
work of some enchanter, at whose magic touch
what was yesterday the dull and common-
place has been transformed into something
exquisitely lovely, and fit for a scene in a fairy
dream. And the silent snow falls slow but
Bure, adding to the fast accumulating pile.
Great flakes fall with soft and gentle
wavy motions, as if uncertain where to
light and loath to leave the regions of air
for the grosser domain of earth. How they
float and linger aloft, how they sway and
almost pause in their downward course, deter-
mined to continue an individual existence as
long as possible before they ultimately become
one of millions ! There they lie at last, their
pure white forms united in one commingled
mass, all unsullied by contact with things of
earth. Well they deserve, as yet, the appella-
tion of " virgin '' snow, though soon to be
discoloured with a thousandstains. Looking
up towards our "Ben" we see it towering aloft,
piercing the clouds, one mass of pure, stainless
snow, while the lesser hill s roll down in wavy
undulations all spotless, their rough, unhewn
dark boulders, their giant grey precipices,
their deep brown canons and black tarns all
invisible because obliterated by the magic
transformation of the snow god. Even the
poets have taught us to view winter as
''gloomy,'' but on such a morning ase this
who could dream of sadness or gloom when
all around is such artistic loveliness, "all
like a dream, if like a dream to flee ? " —

All the wide land is glittering in a fresh and strange

array ;
Naked trees have got snow foliage— soft, and feathery,

and bright—
And the earth looks dressed for heaven in its spiritual

white.

No sound of busy life is heard, as all the high-
ways are blocked for traffic and silence reigns
supreme ; a gentle hush of calm prevails all
round, and even the tones of my voice at
ordinary pitch reverberate and re-echo in the
still and rarifled air. Yon sheep dog's bark,
though far away, sounds as if nigh at hand,
and the shepherd's whistle sounds clear, shrill,
and ear-piercing, a3 if he, too, were near,
whereas a wide space separates us. Beside
me a gentle " peep, peep " breaks the stillness,
and, quite familiar grown, one of our crimson-
breasted feathered friends, the amiable robin,
hops near. If he warbles now it is with " a
slender note and more than half suppressed."
He, like the other fowls of heaven, finds that
"their pantry door is locked and the key
lost," so he pays to trusted man his annual
visit, coming up frank and free to pick up the
crumbs thrown him by willing little hands for
" Robin knows the children love him when he
comes." Nor is he my only visitant on this
snowy day. Here is a solitary Jenny Wren,
"that shadow of a bird," the heroine of the
nursery tale. More gentle and less pert than
Robin, yet less sociable than he of the red
breast, she keeps more out of reach, seeking for

insect life amid the bare boughs, and will not be
tempted down. There, even 'mid the snow,
she "pipes her perennial lay." Up in the
warm cover of our ivy hosts of sparrows find
shade and shelter all the year round, and
to-day a small flock of them, tempted and
attracted by the crumbs, come down in a free-
and-easy way and help themselves as coolly
as if all belonged to them. This bird seems
so hardy as to bid defiance to frost and snow,
and is ever lively and cheerful. The " impu-
dent" sparrow make3 himself at home any-
where, and wherever fowls are fed he will
make sure of a hearty meal. One solitary
blackbird comes out of his quiet retirement in
the shade of the shrubbery, and perches aloft
on the fence at a little distance, saucy but shy.
What a contrast his black and funereal coat
presents when set off against the pure white
snow, and his bright yellow beak looks quite
handsome as he snaps at the crumbs thrown
towards his hungry grasp. Flocks of black
crows, too, are seen winging their flight along
the vale, eagerly scanning the landscape for
something to make a meal. All else of animate
nature seems to be fast asleep.

So, too, are the bees, for most of the hives
are objects of faith and not of sight. I know
they are there, but the snow has covered them
up as with a mantle. Others are in part seen,
being covered up to well nigh the roof, while
the snow covering it towers up aloft, lying as
it fell, a load of feathery flakes looking wonder-
fully artistic in its construction of domes and
minarets and towers. Of course, the bees are
prisoners, but, I doubt not, they rejoice, as I
do, that no biting blast can reach them, but
that they, like their owner, can sit by the
" ingle neuk," warm and snug, when Boreas
blows his biting blast.

Winter,

I love thee, all unlovely as thou seem'st
And dreaded as thou art,

sings Cowper, and to-day I re-echo the strain.
— F. E. I. S., N.B., February 6.

ANCIENT BEE-BOOKS.

" A new Orchard and Garden, or the best way of
planting," &c., &c. " With The Country Housewife's
Garden for Hearbes of common use," &c, &c. ; " As
also The Husbandry of Bees, with their general uses
and annoyances, all grounded on the Principles of Arty
and precepts of Experience, being the Labours of forty-
eight yeares of William Lawson."

"Printed at London by Bar : Alsop for Roger Jackson,
and are to be sold at his shop neere Fleet-street
Conduit. 1618."

[Accompanying the title is a woodcut of
men pruning, digging, and putting in cuttings
in an orchard. Mottoes : " Skill and paines
bring fruitfull gaines," and " Nemo sibi
natus."

Quarto. Twenty-five pages besides dedi-
cation, preface, and index. The above
twenty-five pages in black letter. — S. D. E.]

[4285.] We may say of William Lawson'a
book that it is practical, and that being

108

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 14, 1901.

addressed especially to housewives it should
at all events be interesting to our lady
experts. It is dedicated to the Eight Wor-
shipful Sir Henry Belosses, Knight and
Baronet. I pass at once to Chap, x., which
deals with " The Housbandrie of Bees.''

"There remayneth one necessary thing to
bee prescribed, which in mine opinion makes
as much for ornament as eyther flowers or
forme, or cleanlinesse, and I am sure as com-
modious as any of or all the rest, which is
bees well ordered. And I will not account
her any of my good housewives that wanteth
eyther bees or skilfulnesse about them. And
though I know that some have written well
and truly, and others more plentifully upon
this theame, yet somewhat have I learned by
experience (being a bee-master myselfe) which
hitherto I cannot find put into writing, for
which I think our housewives will count them-
selves beholding unto me."

"As to the "generation of bees," Mr.
Lawson would not commit himself; — " There
are some conjectures of it. ... I leane not
on conjectures, but love to set downe that I
know to be true, and leave these things to
them that love to divine." As to drones, " I
am of opinion that they are Bees which have
lost their stinges, and so being as it were
gelded, become idle and fat." He recom-
mends catching them by hand.

Lawson is in favour of rows of straw hives
in rectangular bee-houses, and he gives a
sketch of them in compartments containing
three. "Mr. Markham commends hives of
wood — I discommend them not : but straw
hives are in use with us. . . . Let none stand
above three yeares."

To ring in time of casting is a mere
fancie ; violent handling of them is simply
evill, because Bees of all other creatures love
cleanlinesse and peace. Therefore handle
them leisurely and quietly, and their keeper
whom?; they know may do with them what he
will without hurt." . . . "The cleanely Bee
hateth the smoake as poyson, therefore let
your Bees stand neerer your parler than your
Bee-house or kitchen." ..." They say spar-
rows and swallowes are enemies to Bee3 : but
1 see it not."

Many quaint expressions are to be found in
the seventeenth century bee-books, but I think
" the proud stock, pestred with bees," which
is the subject of the following paragraph, is
the very quaintest. It is on " clustering,'' or,
as we should say, "hanging-out." "After
casting time if I have any stock proud, and
hindered from timely casting, with former
winter poverty or evill weather in casting
time, fitted for the purpose, I turne up that
stocke so pestred with Bees, and set it on
the crowne, upon which so turned with
mouth upward I place another empty hive
well drest, and spelkt, into which without
any labour, the swarme that will not depart,
and cast, will presently ascend, because the
old Bees have this quality (as all other

breeding creatures have) to expell the yong
when they have brought them up. There
will the swarme build as kindly as if they
had of themselves been cast. But be sure you
lay betwixt the hives some streight and
cleanely sticke or stickes, or rather a board
with holes to keep them asunder : otherwise
they will joyne their workes together so fast
that they cannot be parted. . . . This
have I tryed to be very profitable for the
saving of Bee3."

The above method of dealing with over-
stocked hives is much the same as will be
found in Butler's " Female Monarchic,"
except that the idea of separating the two
hives by means of a perforated board seems to
be Lawson's own. Priority in this is of some
consequence, because the idea was taken up
later and became the basis of hive improve-
ment up to a comparatively recent date, if,
indeed, traces of it do not still linger with us.
And yet, to conjecture here is somewhat idle,
for at the period we are considering bee-books
had, as it were, just sprung into life, and each
writer had to deal not only with his own rule-
of-thumb practice, but with the traditions of
his forefathers, so that the real parentage of
ideas must remain obscure. Apart from this
question, we must recognise in Butler's work
a scholarly touch and a resultant orderly
clearness that constitute the " Female
Monarchic" for all age3 to come a bee-
keeper's classic ; while to its author belongs
the credit of having furnished the first impor-
tant clue towards solving the deepest mys-
teries of the hive.

Lawson thus concludes : — " And it is worth
the regard, that Bees thus used, if you have
but forty stocks, shall yield you more com-
modity clearly than forty acres of good ground.
And thus much may suffice to make good
Housewives love and have good gardens and
Bees." Finis. Deo laus. — South Devon
Enthusiast.

FORM OF SECTION-RACKS.

[4286.] As Mr. Wm. Woodley is a large
producer of comb-honey, I would like him to
kindly say which rack he likes best in work-
ing for sections — the one that allows i in.
between each row of sections, or that in which
the sections all close together without the
T-rests ?-G. R. K, Yoiks.

SELLING BRITISH HONEY.

[4287.] My rather poor English probably
caused your misinterpretation of my meaning
as recorded in Bee Journal of the 21st ult.
So far from selling Dutch honey, I want to
buy the English product, and knowing your
integrity I asked for kind advice.

You would very much oblige me by naming
a few leading British bee-keepers who may be
wanting to sell their pure extracted 1900

March U, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

109

honey fresh from the apiary. — Kelting's,
Eerste Ned. Handels-Byenstand (Holland)
Zandpoort. Per G. and W. Henrig.

[We gladly give insertion to the above in
view of what appeared in " Notices to Corre-
spondents '' on page 80.

Instead, however, of naming special pro-
ducers we sHggest that bee-keepers needing
a market for their produce might correspond
with Messrs. Kelting themselves, in which
case our " Deposit System " of payment might
be useful to buyers and sellers alike. — Eds.]

[2599.] Bees Fighting in March. — May I
ask for information on the following : 1. I
take it that it is quite possible for bees to use
sealed honey during winter. I do not see this
mentioned anywhere. 2. Saturday, the 9th,
being a sunny day, bees were flying strongly.
Every now and then one or two bees came
tumbling out of one of my hives, and after
what seemed to be a fierce combat, one was left
dead on the ground. What is the cause of this ?
I am enclosing you a few of the dead ones
herewith. 3. Is it too soon to give peaflour
as a pollen substitute I 4. I have only win-
tered four frames of bees in the hive referred
to. All the combs appear to be well filled
with sealed honey as far as can be seen without
lifting the combs. Is it too soon to insert a
frame of foundation in the middle, and if this
is done at the proper time, and the stock
gradually increased to ten frames, will this
prevent swarming I 5. Is there any society from
which a member can get information, attend
lectures, &c. I have applied to the Secretary of
the Yorkshire Bee Keepers' Association, and he
informs me the advantage to be gained by join-
ing is that the entry fee for honey classes at the
Yorkshire Agricultural Show is reduced to
members of the Yorkshire B.K.A. ! This is
not very helpful to one who, as yet, has only
an elementary knowledge of bee culture,
derived from the " Guide Book " and Journal.
I read in this week's Journal of the proceed-
ings of the Berkshire B.K.A., and also the
Lancashire B.K.A., both of which appear to
be conducted on a different and more helpful
basis (to beginners) than the Yorkshire
Society. I understood the subscriptions to a
Bee Association would entitle the members to
a visit from an expert; otherwise it would
seem experience is to be gained by oneself
alone. I quite appreciate the fact that prac-
tical work among bee3 is essential to success,
but I am sure others, like myself, would be
glad of a little advice, and an occasional visit
from an experienced bee-keeper. I must say
the "Guide Book" seems to fill every require-
ment, but after all, knowledge derived from
books is not practical experience. — A. B.,
Huddersfieldy March 1.1.

Kbply. — 1. Sealed honey is the natural
food of bees at all times. 2. The symptoms
described point to " robbing " as the cause, and
you will find this trouble fully dealt with in
the " Guide Book." 3. March is the usual
month when pollen-feeding begins, but the
safest guide for starting is when the bees begin
to gather natural pollen. 4. Yes, far too
early ; a weak stock needs nursing till the
bees cover six frames before inserting sheets
of foundation or spreading brood as proposed.
5. There must be some misunderstanding here,
as the advantage of membership always covers
more than is stated above. Besides, there
are also several active district bee-associations
in Yorks, of whom you could hear by writing
to the Hon. Secretary of the County B.K.A.

[2600.] Renewing Combs. — On looking into
one of my hives the other day I found the
frames of comb are very black and irregular,
and are, I suppose, three years old. The
queen was driven from them in the autumn,
and they must have raised a new one, as they
worked all right and sealed over their stores.
1. When should I begin to get these frames
renewed ? 2. Could I give them frames with
part unsealed honey in them from last year or
sheets of foundation ? 3. When I make the
change, should I give them candy, or syrup,
or some spare honey ? — J. H., Holy wood.

Reply. — 1. When the bees are numerous
enough to cover five or six frames and weather
is warm enough to start the bees foraging. 2.
If the object is to renew comb3, foundation
must be given. 3. Soft candy is the most
suitable in spring, until such time as bees can
fly daily, when syrup-food is best.

[2601.] Queen Laying Several Eggs in One
Cell. — In looking through a three-frame
nucleus hive to-day, which I suspected of
being short of stores, I found two small
patches of brood, but in some cells I noticed
two and three eggs in the same cells, some in
a bunch and in others one at each side of the
cell, and in others the eggs were normal. I
suppose that would denote a virgin queen,
but the capped cells appeared to be perfectly
in order. I noticed this peculiarity last
autumn, but the bees increased in numbers,
and now nearly fill three frames. A reply
through your esteemed paper will be appre-
ciated.— S. Smethurst, Stretford, March 9.

Reply. — The cause of erratic laying is pro-
bably owing to the queen's overcharged ovaries
and there being too few bees in the nucleus
hive to cover all the eggs she desires to deposit
in the cells. If a few young bees could be
added from another stock the mischief would
cease, as it will when more bees have hatched
out to keep the brood warm.

[2602.] Spacing Frames. — A brother bee-
keeper and 1 have a friendly argument on the
under-noted points, and your reply to the
following queries will be esteemed : — 1. In
giving a swarm full sheets of brood-foundation

110

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 14, 1901.

is it nece3sary to space the frames 1 J in. from
centre to centre, using "W.B.C." ends, one
behind the other ? 2. By leaving the frames
in their normal position (i.e., l^in. from centre
to centre) and giving full sheets of brood-
foundation would drone-comb be built?—
J. H., Ayrshire, N.B.

Keply. — 1. It is not by any means abso-
lutely necessary to space frames at the 1£ in.
distance when hiving a swarm, though it is
advantageous to do so when less than full
sheets of worker-foundation are used. It
should also be borne in mind that the narrow
spacing only continues until the combs are
fully built out. 2. Not always, but bees will
at times insist] on having a few drone-cells,
even if they build them on worker-cell founda-
tion. They will,,however, always build drone-
comb in the space left between lower edge of
foundation and bottom bar of frame.

[2603.] Transferring Bees to New Hives. —
I am writing you with reference to four
stocks of bees which I wish to transfer.
They are now in single-walled hives, full of
bees, and are on standard frames, but I am
anxious to transfer to new "W.B.C' hives.
Should I be running any risk by lifting frames
with bees from one hive to the other, pro-
viding this is done before this month is out,
or perhaps you can suggest a better way,
bearing in mind that my object is to prevent
swarming as much as possible ?• — S. Temblett.

Reply. — If a warm day be chosen, when
bees are flying freely and the frames are trans-
ferred without any unnecessary delay, there
will be almost no risk in removal with a little
care. You could lift two frames together and
with very little disturbance.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All queriesforwarded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest mill be answered in this column.

*** Referring to Bee-keeping near London,
Mr. D. H. Durrant, Pine Cottage,
Ealing Green, W., writes : — " In answer
to your correspondent S. J. Brooks (page
100) I should not think Crouch End
very favourable for bee-keeping in these
days of bricks and mortar. The bees
would have to fly too far for their sup-
plies. North End, Finchley (about three
miles farther along the line), would be a
better place. If Mr. Brooks would like me
to see his bees for him I should be pleased
to run over and set him right if he will pay
railway-fare and send me his address.''

F. Beynon (Chester). — Press Cuttings on
Bee-keeping. — 1. We cannot give you the
title of paper from whence the cutting is
taken. Why not inquire of the sender ?
2. It is obviously a non-technical paper so
far as regards bee-keeping.

R. H. (Yorks).— SiCspMttd Comb.— There is
distinct evidence of foul bfood in ctfmb,

and of the hive having been affected for
some time past.

F. Allen (Hants). — Killing Wax - Moth
Larva'. — It might help to clear matters up
if you told the chemist referred to that the
article was copied from an American bee
paper, or, better still, show him the article
in question.

M. W. (N. Leeds). — Bees Found Dead in
March. — The comb contains nothing worse
than old pollen and unsealed food. No
" grubs " as supposed. Regarding the cause
of death, there is nothing in comb to account
for it, but the three dead bees sent are
suggestive in diagnosing the case. One is
the queen bee, another an undersized drone,
and the third an aged worker. The queen
has evidently never been mated, and the
drone has no doubt been reared in a worker
cell. In other words, after swarming twice,
the stock has been headed by a drone
breeding queen, and the " about 200 bees
left " are aged bees, the offspring of the
parent queen which issued with the first
swarm from the old hive.

W. Martin (Ruabon). — Bees Perishing in
Winter. — The bees in comb sent have died
from want of food. They also show signs
of the hive having been far from rainproof.
It is obviously a case of death from famine
and want of needful protection.

T. H. P. (Norfolk).— Moving Bees.— We can-
not estimate rail charges for moving twenty
hives of bees. The company should be
asked about charge for a 10-ton coal truck
such as you propose, which would be large
enough for the purpose if properly packed
and secured.

George Remmer (Yorks). — Nucleus Hives.
— For a three-frame nucleus about 6| in.
suffices for the frames and allows for a strip
of wood at each side to provide lateral space
for lifting frames out easily.

North Yorks. — Honey Sam-pies. — Of the
three samples, No. 2 is by far the best. It
is good in colour, aroma, and flavour. No.
1 is an inferior honey, having a singular
flavour and aroma we cannot account for.
No. 3 is better, but nowhere approaching
No. 2 in quality. A chemical analysis of
honey would probably cost you a guinea.

A. E. H. (Wallington). — Suspected Dysentery.
— It would be unsafe to assume that the
bees were suffering from dysentery without
inspection of the combs in hive, unless the
" brown-looking matter " is excessive.
When bees have a good " turn-out " for
flight in spring, the act of discharging the
faces often causes an amount of "speck-
ing " over hive fronts that would alarm any
but an experienced hand. On the other
hand, if the combs and frames inside show
the same signs, it may be dysentery, but
failing this, there seems no need for alarm.

**.* Several important leittrs awl articles art
in print and v)Ul appear next iveeh

March 21, 1901.] THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.

Ill

(Mitorial, gjti&m, &t. tomttysn&tnit.

LEICESTERSHIRE B.K.A.

The annual meeting of this Association was
held at the Victoria Coffee House, Leicester,
on Saturday, the 9th inst. Sir John Rolleston,
M.P., presided, and there -was a fair attendance
of members. The nineteenth annual report
stated that a moderate number of new mem-
bers had been added to the Society's list
duriDg the year, but unfortunately this had
been more than counter-balanced by loss of
members from various causes.

The Committee desired to point out that the
aims of the Society could only be carried out
in proportion to the financial help received,
and they urged upon the members the duty of
pressing the claims of the Association upon
their bee-keeping friends. It was only by
the practice of strict economy that the Com-
mittee were able to carry on their work — a
work which should commend itself to all
engaged in agricultural and kindred pursuits.

The financial statement showed receipts for
the year amounting to £58 14s. 9d., and an
expenditure which left the Association with a
balance in hand of £11 3s. 9d.

Sir John Rolleston, in moving the adoption
of the report and balance-sheet, said he could
congratulate the Association on the satisfactory
progress it had made. He hoped the Society
would continue to grow in popular favour, and
increase in prosperity as the year3 went by.
The report and balance-sheet were adopted.

The Duke of Rutland was re-elected
President, and the Vice-Presidents were also
re-elected, Sir John Rolleston taking the place
of the late Mr. Brooks, and Mr. Maurice
Levy, M.P., that of Mr. Johnson-Ferguson.
The Committee were re-elected, Mr. Peach
taking the place of Mr. G. 0. Nicholson.
Mr. H. M. Riley was re-elected Hon.
Treasurer; Mr. E. J. Underwood, Hon.
Auditor; Mr. J. Waterfield, jun., Hon.
Secretary. The Association now numbers
something like 190 members.

A distribution of prizes followed, and after
tea Mr. P. Scattergood, of Stapleford, Notts,
gave a practical and helpful lecture on " Foul
Brood," and afterwards an interesting, homely
talk, illustrated by coloured slides, on the
"Relation of Bees and Bee-keeping to Flowers
and Fruits."— {Communicated.)

LANCASHIRE B.K.A.
Reverting to the annual meeting of the
L. B.K.A. (reported on page 91), and the
vacant secretaryship, we are requested to state
that Mr. Mottram has been elected hon. cor-
responding secretary, and M. F. H. Taylor
(late hon. secretary), will undertake the duties
of hon. organising secretary and treasurer for
the present year.

The Editors do not hold themselves respontible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarivy for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

BEES IN SOUTH AFRICA.

EFFECTS OF HIGH TEMPERATURE.

[4288.J A remark of your contributor, Mr.
Woodley, whose articles I have always great
pleasure in reading, that tropical bee-keepers
have summering in lieu of wintering to con-
tend with, is so very appropriate at the present
time that it has induced me, in spite of the
normal temperature of 108 deg. in the shade,
to say something about the condition of
affairs out here.

The heat commences soon after sunrise,
about 6 a.m., and the sun then catches the
hives full in front, and farmers are hard at
work, so I don't think much is done after about
9 a.m. The bees then come out and cluster
below the hive, and as a breeze generally gets
up during the morning, they are comfortable
and often start comb-building there. I
have never seen a queen in the cluster, but
think she must go out, too. As the sun
declines about 5 o'clock, the procession starts
back again, but some remain all night, and the
front is covered with them. Under these
circumstances, of course, very little work is
done, although the bees take in plenty of pollen
in the early morning and evening ; they do
not seem to be able to make wax, as very
little new comb is made.

Insects are, however, much more to ba
feared than the heat ; hornets, spiders, ants,
beetles, deathshead-moths, and th^ wax-moth
make a combined attack on the unfortunate
honey-bee.

These are not only destructive about the
hives, but take a large percentage of the nectar
from flower?, and lurk about the forage to
capture the bees, so that it is quite impossible
to protect them. This is the case with ants,
who so swarm in flowers growing on the
ground that I have seen the bees flying over
them, and trying to get a sip without success,
and spiders are always ready to pounce out
from behind some attractive blossom.

The irritation caused by all this makes it by
no means easy to examine hives, so some get
weak, and then the wax-moth steps in, and
you can write off a summer loss. In the
winter, on the contrary, the bee has a gay and
festive time.

When the hornets have caught the spiders
and the ants retired from business into the
lower regions, the weather is than perfect,
comiortably warm, with cloudless sky and
cool breeze, flowers galore in the fruit trees,

112

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 21, 1901.

and nothing to trouble the even tenor of the
hive life ; work goes with a swing, and they
seem to say, Here, come along with that
" clearer " and let's get on with the next rack !
— A. C. Sewell, Durban, Natal, Feb. 11.

SIZE OF SECTIONS.

[4289.] In his last letter (4279, page 103)
the Rev. Mr. Lamb mentions my name as
about importing — for bee-keepers to experi-
ment with — the new no-way section 4j in. by
5 in. by 1§ in. for use with fence separators,
the object being, if possible, to find a section
in which bees will store as much honey as they
deposit in frames for extracting and so save to
the section-comb producer at least quarter
of his income, now going to waste.

The sections have been ordered and are to
be packed in boxes holding 250 sections and
fifty fences in each box. The fence separators
are to have passage-ways cut through the two
inner upright cleats to give the bees freer
communication laterally from section to sec-
tion, and the openings between slats give
communication from one row of sections to
those on other side of fence, while the un-
broken opening underneath, extending from
one end of row of sections to the other end,
gives the bees almost as much passage-way
from brood-frames to sections as is to be found
between brood and extracting frames.

As Mr. Sladen has observed, this size
section requires no change in the ordinary
section-rack further than to tack on top all
round a f -in. strip, so that every bee-keeper
experimentally inclined can try it and report
his findings.

The price of this section, Mr. Taylor thinks,
will be higher than that of the ordinary 1-lb.
section. This is only for a time, while special ;
when, or if, established, as it is narrower and
requires less wood than the bee-way, it will
be cheaper.

It requires f in. more comb-foundation
than the 4|-in. section. This is now made
with so thin a base that practically there can
be no fish-bone or observable mid-rib, and
the extreme cost is more than compensated
for by the thick side walls of foundation
given to the bees to draw out, and so save
elaborating additional wax as in the thicker
comb . The sections will be sold to dealers to
distribute to bee-keepers, or to bee-keepers
who take a full box of 250 sections at a time,
with their fifty fence separators packed with
them. — Wm. Boxwell, Patricksivell, Co.
Limerick, March 18.

[4290.] In reference to Mr. Loveday's letter
(4269, page 95), I would say that the matter
of proportion in any argument is important,
and his allusion to it fair. He thinks I have
laid too great stress upon the appearance of
the proposed new section. I should be sorry
to do so, as it would lessen the force of my

argument that a change was called for in
order to secure the substantial gain of 20 per
cent, more comb honey. Well, as there will
probably be an opportunity of deciding in a
few months which is the most attractive when
the old and new are placed side by side, our
friends have but to wait patiently. In the
meantime I would ask all whether it is not
just as true in England (and even in Essex) as
in America that most of the things one sees,
such as doors, windows, boxes, &c, are oblong
and not square.

Next we come to something more solid.
Mr. Loveday would have liked me to have
brought more into prominence " the combina-
tion of utility and neatness such as we have in
the 4£ by 4£ by 2 in. section."

Perhaps I can still do so if he will be so
good as to tell me the exact points he alludes
to in the expression, " such as we have." _ For
his guidance he is welcome to take my list of
advantages, or utilities (if he would prefer to
call them), of the prospective section in com-
parison with the old.

I desire, above all things, that the most
experienced of those who defend the present
section should definitely state all they can in
their favour so that the pros and cons, may be
brought face to face.

Then he need not be afraid that the
customers would not get a full 16 oz. of honey,
as we could afford to give them 17 oz. or 18 oz.
in a thinner section better than 16 oz. in the
present. I do not think there is any danger
of our adopting a light section. I, for one,
would not agree to it. Such a one as I am
advocating would be fair to the bees, the bee-
keeper, and the customers. To fussy cus-
tomers I would give all reasonable information;
should any say they would take my remarks
with a grain of salt, I would tell them that
they are at liberty to take them with all the
spices together, but I would recommend them
to be taken with common sense. In order to
get at the exact weight of wax in proportion
to honey in both old and new sections I
would suggest that Mr. Loveday take a good
sample of each to an analyist to deal with, and
let us have the results.

Mr. L. says the shallow-frame is much in
evidence in my argument. That is true, but
it was unavoidable, because it has been the
field of my observations — a field wherein the
bees are less hampered and divided, and
therefore better for the study of their work.
Here, comparing year by year supers of frames
spaced at various distances and finding those
spaced for thickest combs invariably behind
the rest, and in most seasons unfinished and
unsatisfactory I could come to no other con-
clusion than that our climate was unsuited
for the production of the thickest honey-
comb. Let me try and make this plain in
another way :— Had a honey merchant visited
my apiary in the middle of the summer five
or 8ix years ago and after seeing combs of
various thicknesses, had asked me to quote the

March 21, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

113

price at which I would supply as much 2 in.
thick combs in frames as my bees could
produce, my price would probably have been
Is. a lb. Now, however, my quotation
would be rather different. For the produce of
one season I should be inclined to ask Is. 6d.
per lb., but if the order was extended to
three or five seasons the price would be Is. 3d.
per lb. So much have I learnt since about one
of the greatest factors in bee-keeping — the
weather. If, then, the thicker combs cannot
be produced in large quantities regularly in
most seasons in frames where the bees have
greater freedom, may not the thickness of our
present section be detrimental to the produc-
tion of a regular supply of honey-comb, and,
further, may be the chief reason why the
ordinary shallow frames are superior to sec-
tions in both yield and finish ?

There is no occasion for any one to try and
prove the need for a new section except to a
novice. Those who have in moderate seasons
secured a fair harvest in shallow-frames whilst
the sections were a failure know that some-
thing is wrong. The numerous complaints in
the Bee Journal of the last ten or twelve
years, the oft-recurring apologia for the feeble
competition in the section-classes at the shows,
aye, the very attempt at improvements, such as
the " W.B.C/ frame, and the trial of narrower
sections, all point the same way, that some-
thing wants levelling-up. The 4^ by 4£ by
2 in. is, strictly speaking, not the standard
section. Many have only tolerated it for
years. In 1886 an attempt was made to induce
the British Bee-keepers' Association to settle
the question of standard sections, but it was
•wisely postponed. — Richard M. Lamb,
Burton Pidsea, Hull, March 16.

CHANGING SIZE OF SECTIONS.

THE COST TO BEE-KEEPERS.

[4291.] The cost of altering the size of
the 4 \ in. by 4| in. section is a matter for the
consideration of hundreds of bee-keepers who
work their apiaries on commercial lines, and
who have to think, and think much, as to
whether the change contemplated is worth
the labour and expense it will involve. If we
only consider the thousands of hives that
have been spread over the British Isles and
elsewhere by different manufacturers and
appliance dealers in the last twenty years, and
the work of altering racks to suit the new
section for those hives, of discarding dividers
and obtaining new ones, the cost of extra
foundation (as Mr. Taylor pointed out, B.J.,
March 14, No. 4281), and in some instances
an extra " lift " to the hives, also new
travelling crates for those who send honey
away to customers. Is the gain (if any)
worth the change ?

The two points which have been brought
under discussion in the B.J. lately are — (1)
more completed sections, and (2) a slab of

comb-honey of a better appearance. With
regard to the first point, the fault of the bee-
keeper not getting his latter sections filled often
is by having on too many racks at a time.
When the honey-gathering season is passing
away, and the vigour of the bees has begun to
decline, he still persists in his policy of
getting as much honey as he can from his
bees, and does not give up his object
until the fact stares him in the face that bee-
work is done for the year. On the second
point — viz., the appearance of a block of comb-
honey — to my mind, a square block of comb-
honey, 4| in. by 4J in. has the very best
appearance and size of any shape for the pur-
pose it is used for, viz., consumption (its use-
fulness after consumption need not be referred
to here), and I cannot think that the appear-
ance of a display of honey such as was staged
at the Dairy Show last year would be im-
proved by having a section of any kind out
of the square.

I do not write to discourage any person who
feels disposed to conduct experiments for
purposes of change and improvement, but is
the extent of the improvement aimed at suffi-
cient 1 — John Brown, Polyphant, March 18.

UNDESIRABLE SWARMS.

[4292.] In view of the fact that we shall
soon be in the grip of that " hardy annual,"
undesirable swarming, I do not think that any
apology is necessary in drawing attention to a
few points that have not, to my mind at least,
been taken sufficient notice of in looking for
a cure. In dealing with this subject it is im-
portant (having regard to the extensive adver-
tising of them) that the disadvantages of non-
swarming hives should be raised. It is,
of course, usually considered that bees on
supers of shallow-frames are less likely to
swarm than if supered with a rack of sections ;
and yet all of these hives are based upon
giving room by means of such frames in
" underbody '' supers. Now this can only
lead to several evils. If the bee-keeper is
only working, as so many are, for sections,
this will give his bees plenty of employment
no doubt, but not in the direction required.
It will also leave him with a number of frames
of comb, for which he possibly has no
use, not to mention the cost of foundation.
Also it will be invariably found that
such frames contain more or less pollen
so that if raised above body and extracted in
the usual way the honey will, of course, be
mixed with it. The combs cannot therefore
be used, or only parts of same, for eating as
comb honey. The colour of both combs and
honey must of course therefore be darker than
if in " virgin comb." More especially is this
the case where the entrance is at the bottom,
owing to travel stain. It seems to me, under
these circumstances, that the non-swarmers
have not reached the ;point aimed at, viz..

114

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 21, 1901.

how to keep a large colony from swarming
when working for sections. Having this end
in view, as one who has never had a natural
swarm from any of his frame-hives, I am
sending this in the hope that others will work
along the following line this season, and in
due course give us the result of such labours.
I will start upon the assumption, far fetched
as it may seem, that the greatest cause of undue
swarming is the production of drones. This is
usually touched upon but very lightly by most
writers on apicultural topics, but not nearly
so much, in my opinion, as the subject de-
serves, for the following (among other)
reasons : — (1) The recognition that the de-
positing of a certain number of drone eggs is
a natural function of the queen ; (2) the bulk
of the drones ; (3) the unnecessary labour to
the workers. To take these seriatim (1) I fancy
that the veriest novice will say at once that
the remedy is to have young queens only, as
these do not want to lay drone eggs " until
eleven months' old," except, of course, those
sometimes laid previous to fertilisation ; but,
it is also necessary to remember, that the
age of a queen is no criterion of how many
worker eggs she will lay, but only the fact
that her effective life to the bee-keeper is
governed by the number of worker eggs
she is able to fertilise. In regard to (2) it
will be conceded that it is to want of room on
combs that a great deal of the swarming
" fever" may justly be attributed; if, then,
we give room by removing the ineffective popu-
lation, we shall conduce to this, more espe-
cially if it is remembered that we have to
exclude drones, as well as queens, from
supers, so that even if surplus chambers are
added, we still have the body-box more or
less congested. In regard to (3), it will
readily be acknowledged that if we are seek-
ing to get honey, any work not directly con-
nected with this is, to say the least of it, un-
desirable. Having this fact in mind, it is now
necessary, in view of a remedy for swarming,
that in getting such cure we shall reconcile
the apparent contradiction, i.e., the queen
wants to lay such eggs — we do not want the
drones for keeping up heat for brood rear-
ing, and above all we do not want the waste
of time and comb-room given over to drone
production. The remedy (among others) I
therefore suggest, and which with me has
been effective, is to give about the second
week in April a drawn comb of drone founda-
tion. This is soon used by the queen for
depositing drone eggs. In a few days it
may be removed, and the eggs and brood
washed out under a jet of water, so that
the comb may be used again. It
may be necessary to repeat this about
three weeks later in the ca3e of old queens.
The few eggs laid in odd places, on edges of
comb, &c, will be found under this treatment
to be fewer than ever, so that practically no
drones will be raised. I may say that I only
use " W.B.O." hives, and these of course help,

as the double walls give a chance of such
thorough ventilation as few other hives do. The
value of the advice so often given in the B.B. J.
to raise queen after the honey season is en-
hanced, to my mind, by the fact that the next
year they are not old enough by the swarming
season to lay a large amount of drone eggs,
and so also tend to what it will by this be
seen I am a believer of — a more thorough con-
trol of the production of drone-brood. — Will
Hampton, Richmond.

HAZEL POLLEN.

[4293.] I note that Mr. Wm. Loveday, on
page 104, refers to hazel pollen, and rightly
refers to the great amount of pollen a few
catkins produce, as I have shown under the
microscope at scores of lectures on horti-
cultural subjects in Worcestershire and War-
wickshire ; but so far as my personal
observations as a bee-keeper, extending over
fifty years, I have never seen bees at work on
hazel catkins. What is the opinion of others I

If bees would make use of hazel pollen,
what a great help it would be to bees for a
month or two before the willow pollen in the
woods and hedges is ready to work on. The
willow-palm is late this season. — J. Hiam,
Astwood Bank, March 18.

NOTES FROM SOUTH SHROPSHIRE.

[4294.] I have been following the discussion
on sizes of sections with much interest, and I
cannot see any reason why a thinner section
with larger comb surface should not be a step
forward ; but I think that Mr. J. H. Howard
has hit the nail on the head when he mentions
short way up. If we are to have sections
taken to early we must not have them too
deep, or the remedy will be worse than the
disease. Now, if they are worked short way
up — say 5 in. by 4j in., they would go into
racks the other way across, with replacing
slats, without making racks deeper. Does
any appliance dealer stock sections 5 in. by
4i in. by 1 f in. plain ? I rather like the plain
sections, but there is one fault with fence
separator, the fences are too wide, and the
bees are liable to fix the outside row of cap-
pings to fence, and when they are removed,
outside row of cells are uncapped. I think of
bevelling the edges and see if that is any im-
provement.

The Rev. R. M. Lamb asks for information
regarding a larger brood-frame. I beg to in-
form him that I have about forty hives with
large frames (16 in. by 10 in.), and I have
worked that size for over thirteen years and
side by side with standard about eleven years,
and I must at once say that I much prefer the
large size for this district ? I have had no
experience with any other, but I know what I
can do with standard frames in comparison, as
I have fourteen in use now ; each year, how-
ever, I reduce their numbers. My shallow-

March 21, 1901.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

115

frames are 16 in. by 5 in. having broken up
my whole stock of 14 in. by 5| in. two years
ago, so you will see I can just nicely fit three
sections in my shallow- frames with short way
up 5 in. by 4-j- in., or can use 5 in. by 4 in.
with a strip in frame. I am afraid 5 in. by
4 in. by 1| in. plain section would hardly
weigh 16 oz., that is why I previously men-
tioned 5 in. by 4j in. I have also tried wide
spacing in shallow-frames but have abandoned
it for If in. (about). I neither use metal ends
in brood-nests or shallow-frames but regulate
distance by sight and find no trouble. — Phil
Joxes, Chelwick Valley, Church Stretton.

CURIOUS HIVES.

[4295.] Having an hour to wait at Stock-
bridge Station recently, and knowing that
Mr. Alfred Joyce, the Permanent Way In-
spector, lived near the line, I thought I would
call and have a
talk about the
bees. Fortu-
nately, the good
man was at
home, and we
were soon "on ''
about bees,
hives, &c, after
which we had
a stroll round
the apiary, and
I must own
when the curious
hives, of which
I send photo-
graphs, came in
view I was
amazed. My
curiosity soon
drew from my
friend their his-
tory, and the
story of how he
had become pos-
sessed of them.

The tree-
stump on the

right in photo has been standing as it does
now for. the past six years ; it cost its
owner 5s. and half-a-day's hard work. The
entrance is now about 2 ft. from the ground,
but as the tree originally stood is about
6 ft. up the trunk, the tree itself being
about 40 ft. high. Its owner, fearing his
cattle might get stung, consented to have it
felled, taking 53. for the portion containing
the bees. The tree was felled by cutting it
off below the bees' entrance, and then cutting
off the portion now shown, the entrance being
merely stopped with a handful of cotton-
waste, during the operation, on a cold winter's
day. The curious hive was then wheeled
home on a trolley.

Although it does not yield a record take
every season, the combs reach right to the top,

CURIOUS BEE-HIVES.

where in summer a bell - glass super is
placed. But a splendid swarm can be reckoned
on each year, which usually does good work
in a bar-frame hive. The shorter hive was
cut down at Andover, and brought a distance
of eight miles by passenger train. In its
present state its entrance is the hole seen about
central, and it contains a strong stock of bees.
The tops of both hives are usually covered
with sacking and zinc to keep out the rain ;
this, of course, was removed when the photo
was taken. Through the large entrances the
combs and bees can easily be seen. In one of
them I could see two seams of bees quite
close to the entrance even on a cold, frosty day
in January, and in the summer the young
bees can be seen biting their way out of the
cells.

After a long chat I brought away the photo,
and send it on hoping it might interest others,
as the hives have interested me.

I feel I must
add one word
about their
owner. Mr.
Joyce is by no
means oblivious
to the advan-
tages of living
in the country.
Besides his
apiary of about
twenty hives (all
home-made) he
has a nice little
garden, laid out
to the best ad-
vantage, with a
small green-
house, three or
four pigs, a com-
fortable house,
and a good wife.
What more
could one wish
for to make life
happy I — Hamp-
shire Rustic,
Andover, Feb. 1.

MR. RYMER'S ADAPTING-BOARD.

POLLEN-CLOGGED STORE-COMBS.

[4296.] I have been much interested in Mr.
Rymer's description of his successful plan of
bee management, and as I intend applying
some of his methods to my working during
the coming season, perhaps you will allow me
to seek information on a few points through
your columns, if Mr. Rymer will be good
enough to give me a few words of reply.
First, with regard to the " adapting board."
I infer that this is used mainly to prevent
brace-combs and to secure easy removal of
surplus chambers. Is this board absolutely
necessary ? I can see that it will work well
in double-walled hives, but with single walls

116

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 21, 1901.

where this board i8 placed between body-box
and surplus-chambers, the latter will be raised
so much, that the ledges which are placed
round its bottom edge, will not prevent the
rain and wind from driving in around the
exposed edges of body-box. In this case,
would not an adaptor of zinc or tin be better
than wood 1- Of course, made of strong
metal, and cut in the same manner as
the wooden adaptor. Another point

occurs to me, I have in my store-room
to-day somewhere between 200 and 300
empty shallow-combs, with not a cell of pollen
in them ; and I must say that I have visions,
and not pleasant ones either, of 200 or so
pollen -clogged mildewed combs in the place
of these should I adopt Mr. Rymer's plan on
a large scale. Will Mr. Rymer tell us how
his empty combs keep during the winter, as I
do not suppose he melts them all down at the
end of the season ? I invariably find mine
foul and most unpleasant if packed away with
pollen in them. Perhaps I may be too par-
ticular on this point, but I cannot make up
my mind to introduce combs in this state into
the centre of my bees' family circle, and trust
to Providence that they would do no harm
and that the bees would clean them up, more
than I would think of introducing such
unhealthy matter into my own family circle.
As regards swarming, my experience points
to the fact that when the hive is supplied with
new combs in brood-nest, if plenty of room is
given for storing, swarms do not issue ; but if,
through pollen-clogged combs, the queen's
laying powers are retarded, and room is not
.given, above or below, for room to deposit her
eggs, swarms will be the order of the day. —
Bridgefield, Carmarthenshire, March 15.

.NOTES FROM WYCHWOOD FOREST.

[4297.] I should say, by all means let us
have the excellent suggestion of your several
correspondents carried out. Every one would
no doubt like to see some of these tall sec-
tions with thin comb on the show-bench this
year. We have had a full discussion on theory,
now for the practical side of the business. I
notice that " Buzzer " (4272, page 97) asks in
his postscript if John Bull does not like a sec-
tion filled to the edges all round, as well as
thick comb. I reply, yes ; and I think he
gets it as often with the square section as he
will with the tall one with ordinary manage-
ment. This was pointed out by Mr. Woodley
in his letter some weeks back.

I note that Mr. G. A. Barnes asks for
opinions on " village lectures," and I may give
mine by saying that some years ago I attended
a lecture in the town hall here, delivered by a
practical man, well illustrated with limelight
pictures, and what struck me was the thin
audience. Beyond our late vicar, who was
interested in bees, not more than a dozen
people attended. Some explanation may per-

haps be found in the fact that in this age of
meetings — religious, political, parish, and edu-
cational— to say nothing of the various kinds
of recreative items of interest most places are
blessed with, one finds it difficult to attend.
Besides, we must bear in mind the small per-
centage of our villagers who are interested
in bee-keeping. — John Kibble, Charlbury.

A PEEP IN THE HIVES.

[4298.] During the past few weeks I have
been round the district to the majority of my
neighbours' bees, just to see how matters were
going on, and knowing, as a local expert under
the Worcestershire County Council, that many
stocks in the autumn were weak and short of
stores owing to the past unfortunate season,
I found several stocks dead, and others just
on the brink of starvation ; and by a friendly
hint, and a little help, I have no doubt saved
the lives of thousands of bees and several
stocks. I visited about twenty bee-keepers
and about seventy stocks, disturbing or ex-
posing the bees as little as possible, and only
on warm days. — James Hiam, Astwood Bank,
Worcestershire, March 18.

ANCIENT BEE-BOOKS.

"A discourse or Historie of Bees, shewing their
Nature and usage, and the great profit of them.
Whereunto is added the cause and cure of blasted
wheat," &c, &c.,-" all of which are very usefull for this
later age." Written by Richard Remnant. London.
Printed by Robert Young for Thomas Slater, dwelling
in duck lane at the white Swan— 1637.

[4299.] Three editions of the "Feminine
Monarchic" had been issued before the ap-
pearance of the book now to be noticed, and
we can discern the effects of Butler's teaching ;
in so much a3, although neither he nor any
other writer on bees is mentioned, the Queen
Monarch theory is adopted without question.
For the rest, Remnant's work is decidedly
original, and for proof I may point out that
here for the first time do we find the use of
smoke for " stilling " the bees recommended
when handling them : Neither Butler nor any
writer of the period would seem to have hit
upon this plan. Remnant also describes foul-
brood and chilled brood, distinguishing be-
tween them : a matter of extreme interest, as
showing that the curse of foul-brood has lain
upon our land for many generations, and is
not, as has been sometimes said, a modern
ailment brought about by the introduction of
foreign breeds.

I will now give extracts, noting, by the way,
that we have finally bidden good-bye to black
letter, and that the spelling is fast becoming
commonplace.

Says the preface : — " Hearing and reading
the Discourses and Writings of very many
about Bees, and finding most of my country-
men not over skilfull in the way of keeping
and meanes of preserving them .... I have

March 21, 1901. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

117

therefore (though rudely) penned this little
Treatise." . ..." To reveale the whole nature
of Bees is very hard, and to little purpose.
.... I purpose therefore to discover only so
much as may serve for common use among us.''

Remnant, recognising a Queen, considered
the bees to be male and female. " Whether
the Queenes blow the Queenes I am not very
certain, but I take it to be so, because of the
fairnesse and excellency of the creature, and
the difference that is betweene her and the
common Bees. But that there is any odds,
excellency or use of the males one above
another, I find not : neither is there any other
use of the males but for generation and breed-
ing, and helping to bring the brood to
maturity ; and they are great eaters, and
labour not, but play and sport in and out, and
take the aire when it is warm, for their
pleasure, and so clean their bodies, and back
again to eate and sleep : a dainty life, from
which good Lord deliver me."

" The wax is gathered of the flowers or
bloomes, with the fangs of the Bee ; and so
she puts it to her thigh, and rubs one against
another to fasten it on, and then carries it
home.''

In the following passage we come across,
for the first time, the idea that it is unlucky
to pay for bees with money — a superstition
that still survives in out-of-the-way places.
It did not commend itself to Remnant : —
" Therefore regard not old wives fables,'' says
he, " but get them lawfully, though thou buy
them with money, and then thou mayest
expect a blessing. And for my part I have
good store, I thank Go I, yet I have bought
and sold to the value of a thousand pounds by
the yere, for divers yeres together."

Now, if any one should find a difficulty in
accepting this financial statement I must at
once confess that I too have found it a hard
saying, the more so because the general pur-
chasing value of the pound sterling was far
greater in the seventeenth century than is
now the case. But Remnant's whole treatise
is so moderate and straightforward that we
have no right to disbelieve him, and I think
that the following facts should especially be
noted. First, that although the question is
originally one of bees alone, the subsequent
sale of their entire products, swarms, honey,
wax, &c, would be considered in determining
whether the purchase had been profitable.
Secondly, that in Remnant's day cane sugar,
the only sugar in commerce, was a costly
luxury, and that for general purposes honey
must have taken its place. The demand for
the latter must therefore have been not only
considerable, but constant, while in conse-
quence of the as yet poorly-developed system
of production and the probably complete
absence of foreign competition, the supply can
hardly ever have been equal to it. We may
assume that the price was fully remunerative ;
in other words, it was a fine time for bee-
keepers. Lastly, it is not quite clear on

what system the £ 1,000 was reckoned, and
apart from his short statement, we have no
means of estimating on how large a scale our
energetic bee-master did business.

In the matter of joining stocks and swarms,
Remnant here shows himself quite at home : —

" I doe usually sare a poore swarme at the
end of summer : and looking over my Bees in
winter, and againe in the spring, I found a
goode stock that had but a few commons ; and
looking on them againe, I observed another
good stock which had lost their Queen. Then
tooke I my pore one, and stilled the Bees with
Smoak,andknockt down the Bees and workand
all upon a cloath, and so found the Queen, and
put her into the middle of that stock which
wanted the Queen ; and I put the commons to
the other which wanted commons ; and so
both were accepted, the Queen when a Queene
was wanting, and the commons where
commons were wanting ; and so both my
good stocks were preserved ; and onely the
little poore one (thus for necessity) minated,
which at the best was not worth above one
shilling sixe pence. . . . Now if you find a
swarme or stock in summer that hath lost
their Queen, you may preserve it by putting a
little swarme to it : for iu putting a Queen
when a Queene wants, or common Bees where
common Bees are wanting, in both these cases
either Queene or commons will be received :
but else they will fight or kill one another.
But now, if you have no little swarme to save
your swarme that hath lost their Queene, then
put that where the Queene is lost home againe
to the old stocke. Doe it thus. Knocke it
down upon a broad board, and set a little
board for them, whereon to runne up to the
old stocke."

The value of the queen is much insisted
on :— "The Queen is a very gentle and loving
Bee, and will not sting." " Looke carefully
after the Queene in swarming, but trouble not
the swarme." " As I told you before, remem-
ber carefully to looke for a Queen."

"A very approved way of feeding Bees.
First still the Bees with smoake (but not too
early in the morning, lest they take harm by
the cold aire :) then turn them up, and rake
out a comb neare the Bees, wherein is no
honey, and in stead thereof place the hony
combe, and pin it with thin spleets, thrust
through the Hive to fasten it : and set it so
that the Bees may goe between the combs :
and this they will take for their owne, and be
content to stay."

"Experience will make you more perfect
and readie in these things. Be not fearefull,
but patient and gentle, and in case of necessitie
over-rule your Bees with smoak, and so you
may do about them whatsoever is fit."

And now for the foul brood : — " Some
putrefaction sticks fast in the cells or holes,
and is of a browne or deepish yellowish colour,
which should have been brood, but came not
to perfection. Other putrefaction looketh
somewhat white, and was a brood but after-

118

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 21, 1901.

ward took cold and so was chilled, and
perished before it came to maturity, and so
turned to putrefaction.'' He recommends that
the diseased comb be cut out, the bees being
" stilled" by smoke.

"Keepe your Bees sweet and cleane, and
always note and observe what enemies they
have : —

Were it not for the Hornet and the Swallow
Waxe would be as cheap as tallow.

Our author now digresses into a considera-
tion of domestic economy, as shown in the
following lines : —

111 thrives that haplesse family that showes,
A cock that's silent, and an hen that crowes.
I know not which lead more unnatural lives,
Obeying husbands, or commanding wives.

A whole chapter is devoted to a comparison
of bees and women, their merits and demerits.
It leaves no doubt in my mind that Remnant
was a married man. As he signs himself
"Thine in the Lord, R. Remnant," he was
perhaps a clergyman. No bee-keeper who
has read this paper through will deny him a
high place on the roll of our old masters.
— South Devon Enthusiast.

REVIEWS OF FOREIGN BEE PAPERS

BY R. HAMLYN-HARRIS, F.R.M.S., F.Z S.,
F.E.S., ETC.

Leipziger Bienenzeitnng (Germany). —
During the last three years a kind of tobacco
plant has been grown in Nagy-Jecra, Hun-
gary, which blooms very freely and is visited
gladly by bees ; it has, however, been noticed
that immense numbers of dead bees are found
in the blossoms. Last year during the
flowering season of this plant several populous
hives sank into a state of absolute weakness.
It has not been conclusively proved, but bee-
keepers suppose, that the nectar of the tobacco
plant is poisonous, or that their is an odour
which is stupefying to the bees. We are curious
to know how they will winter on this honey.

Dr. Dzierzon, dating from Lowkowitz,
January 18th, writes giving an account
of his ninetieth birthday (February 16) : —
"His Majesty the King and Emperor has
graciously added to the eight orders I have
already received the Red Eagle, on the occa-
sion of my ninetieth birthday."

Pine oil (a preparation from the resin of
conifers) is said to be an excellent preventive
of bee parasites. However, perfect cleanliness
as to the floorboards is the best means, as bee-
keepers on the North German heathlands —
whose cleanliness is proverbial — know nothing
of the bee louse.

An Undesirable Bee- sting. — On May 11 last
a little schoolgirl accidentally swallowed a bee
with her luncheon. The cold wind had blown
the bee on to the bread she was eating where
it remained half - benumbed. When school
commenced the child was noticed to be crying,
but it was thought an unimportant occurrence.
On hearing, however, that a bee had stung her

in the throat, I felt anxious and made her
open her mouth as wide as possible, when the
bee's sting was distinctly observable deeply
set in the back of the tongue. I pressed the
sting out with a pen-knife ; there was not
much swelling, but I feared it might increase.
I let her gargle with fresh water, and when,
after a few minutes, there was no appearance
of further mischief I felt greatly relieved. In
the afternoon the trouble had nearly dis-
appeared. The important and interesting
questions suggested by the above are the fol-
lowing : — 1. Why did not the throat swell ?

2. Was the child impervious to bee-stings ?

3. Or what is more likely, did the flow of saliva
prove an antidote to the poison ?

It is well known that the nectaries of red
clover, so rich in honey, are closed to the
honey-bee, whose tongue measures about
4 millimetres, while the tubes (resp. corollas) of
the red clover vary from'3l7to 9*52 millimetres.
Will the bee's tongue ever elongate sufficiently
to reach the honey ? Many bee-keepers dream
and hope it may, and the question arises,
Could a variety of red clover be raised with a
shorter corolla ? Why should not this succeed 1
But no, the farmer would not go to the great
expense of buying new clover seed for the sake
of the bee-keeper unless it were much more
profitable than the old, even supposing such a
thing possible.

Le Bucher Beige (Belgium). — During the
eclipse of the sun on May 28, 1900, it was
noticed that on the approach of darkness the
drones, which before had been buzzing actively
outside, suddenly returned to the hives for
refuge, and remained there. The worker-bees
also hastened to the alighting-boards, but did
not all go in. They behaved as is usual with a
colony on the approach of a storm. A native
of Frais Wallon gives the same report ; he
adds, " The animals all seemed to be afraid, and
took refuge in their stables, none remaining
outside during the whole period of the eclipse.
Immediately afterwards the bees flew as
actively as if nothing had happened."

Leipziger Bienenzeitnng (Germany) : Bel-
gian Honey Imports and Exports — In the
Progres Apicole is an interesting article on
the importation of honey during a period of
seven years, giving an account of which
countries contribute. Doubtless the port of
Antwerp is the great emporium for a great
part of that from Germany, otherwise the
import would not attain so high a figure,
viz., I lb. of honey per head. In 1893 the
imports amounted to 1,023,507 kilogrammes
(2 lb.) ; in 1894, 1,241,357 kilogrammes ; in
1895 it had risen to 1,421,997 kilogrammes ;
in 1896 it sank again to 1,079,415 kilo-
grammes. From this time it has steadily in-
creased, so that in 1897 it had again risen to
1,176,457 kilogrammes; in 1898, 1,256,060
killogrammes ; and in 1899, 1,328,465 kilo-
grammes. Only the imports for 1899 are given
according to their different countries of
export : Germany, 3,443 kilogrammes ;

March 21, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

119

England, 68 809 kilogrammes ; Cuba and
Porto Bica, 39,948 kilogrammes ; United
States, 546,510 kliogrammes ; France, 361,936
kilogrammes ; from Hamburg (probably mainly
from Russia), 184.564 kilogrammes ; Italy,
52,214 kilogrammes ; Mexico, 15,293 kilo-
grammes ; from the Netherlands, 5,378 kilo-
grams ; Turkey, 29,046 kilogrammes. The
first time Mexico or Turkey have appeared
as export countries. Other countries, 21,324
kilogrammes.

[2604.] A Beginner's Mistake. — I earnestly
solicit your help in the following case : — Two
days ago our gardener noticed an unusual
number of dead bees in front of one of my
three hives. A day later there were several
hundreds of dead and dying bees on the
alighting-board and on the ground in front of
the hive. Unfortunately, I was only told of
this late yesterday, when I at once poured
some warm syrup over the frames. To-day
(Monday) I examined the hive and found the
floor covered about an inch deep with dead
bees, and not more than a hundred live ones.
But the latter were active on the combs, and
I strongly suspect them of being robbers from
one of the other hives. I found the combs
absolutely devoid of honey, though many
cells were occupied by dead bees, head -fore-
most in as far as they could go. The queen
was alive, however, and she seemed quite
active, and I have given the few remaining bees
(which, as already said, I fancy were strangers)
a bottle of syrup, after having cleared out
about two pints of dead bees from the hive
floor. I have bitterly reproached myself for
not having seen to their wants sooner ; but,
being quite a beginner, have profited by this
experience, and I shall see that a similar
catastrophe does not occur to the other
colonies. For the present, however, will you
please advise me what to do % 1 . Since the queen
is present, is there a chance of saving the stock
2. If not, what ought I to do with her ? 3.
Is there any use in giving the bees syrup as
before to build them up again ? I had almost
forgotten to say that in December last, during
a heavy gale, the hive in question was blown
clean over, but the gardener, after examining,
said no harm was done, the frames not having
been loosened. 4. Would the excitement caused
by this account for the rapid consumption of
the supplies? — " Dur Lebendng,'' Dublin,
March 11.

Keply. — 1 and 2. It would appear as if the
bees were in the first instance dying from
want of food, and when syrup was poured
over the frames it attracted robber bees from
other hives, and so put the finish to a bad case
of famine. If there are no more than "a
hundred " bees left they are perfectly useless,

unless it be for keeping the queen alive till
she can be utilised for a queenless stock should
one be found in your apiary. 3. Just give
sufficient to keep the bees alive if queen is
wanted. 4. If any combs were broken down
and contents ran on to the floor-board, it may
have started robber bees to carry off the food.

[2605.] Bees Deserting Hive in March. —
I enclose some comb, which I hope will reach
you safely. I am only a beginner with bees,
and left my four hives all safe, as I thought,
in the autumn. On looking into them yesterday,
however, I found three well filled with bees,
but in the fourth the bees had disappeared,
except perhaps thirty on the quilt at the top
(dead), and one or two clustered at the
bottom of a frame. There were only two
bees alive in the hive. I should be very
pleased if you could tell me l.What has become
of them. Three weeks ago they wereflying about
outside the hive. 2. As you will see by the
comb sent, there is some honey, and although
that which I sent you is crystallised, a lot in
the other frames is quite liquid. What is the
white substance in the cells ; also the brown
liquid ? If it is foul brood, will you kindly
tell me what you advise me to do ? This hive
takes frames 2 in. deeper than the standard ;
should I have it cut off to the proper size,
or have some frames made ? and can I use
these combs (same as sample) again, as there
is some honey in 1 — " Madge,'' Sheffield.

Reply. — 1. We should require some account
of the hive's history to enable us to form a
correct opinion. If the hive referred to
swarmed last year, it may have become queen-
less later od, in which case the bees have
probably joined one of the other colonies.
2. The " white substance in cells " is mildewed
pollen, while the " brown liquid " is not
"liquid" at all, but simply pollen that has
been covered over with liquid honey by the
bees. To alter depth frames would need a
new hive.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All queries forwarded mill be attended to, and thou only
of perianal interest will be answered in this column.

0. S. D. W. (Birmingham). — Preventing
Robbing. — 1. There are several plans of stop-
ping robbing besides the use of carbolic acid,
but the application of each depends largely
upon the circumstances of the case. If
taken at the outset an attack may often be
warded off by reducing the entrance to half
an inch or less in width, and smearing the
alighting-board on each side of doorway
with carbolic acid ; or it is sometimes
stopped by closing the entrance entirely
until sunset and turning the hive round,
after taking care to allow for ventilation.
Another plan is to rear a piece of glass, about
8 in. by 5 in., against the hive in front of
entrance, so that bees may have passage-

120

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 21, 1901.

way at the ends, but not directly in front
of the flight-hole. This disconcerts the
robbers and sometimes causes them to give
up an attack. 2. GiviDg sealed honey in
comb is the best way of feeding a weak
stock when the robbing tendency is about.
It causes less upset and is less likely to
attract marauders than syrup-feeding. 3.
If carbolic acid is used in full strength,
viz., 1 part acid to 2 parts water, the
solution is put on with a brush, as it would
injure the hands to scrub the hive with it.
T. Brownlee (Galashiels). — Suspected Combs.
— The stock is affected with foul brood,
though the disease appears to be only in
the incipient stage if comb sent is a fair
sample of the whole.
H. Smith (Ludlow).— Bees Dying in Winter.
— Of the samples of comb "with bees
attached," as numbered, No. 1 points to
starvation as cause of death. Bees are
usually found head foremost in cells when
dead from want of food. No. 2 is drone-
comb only ; no sign of brood or anything to
enable us to explain why the bees died.
No 3 has no trace of either brood or food in
cells, and as comb is healthy-looking and
not old, we think this lot also has died from
want of food. The bees are the ordinary
variety, and as there is no trace of disease
the combs may be safely melted down for
wax.
East Dorset (Wimborne). — Lists of Bee-
keepers.— After mature consideration we
cannot see any adequate advantage likely
to follow the "filing" of the proposed
" lists " at our office, even if readers were
willing to supply us with them. In any
county possessing a bee-keepers' association
the names and addresses of members may
be found in the annual report, a copy of
which is obtainable from the hon. secretary.
K. H. (Yorks). — Dealing with Foul Brood. —
1. You have acted wisely in destroying the
five affected stocks as stated. With regard
to the other fifteen hives, now healthy, there
is no need to transfer the bees and combs
into clean hives if there is no disease in the
old ones. We should leave them where
they are, and if signs of foul brood appear,
as they soon will if present, we may then
advise you as to treatment. 2. Honey from
the affected hives is quite fit for table use,
but not for bee-food.
X. Y. Z. (Kinloch, N.B.).— Suspected Combs.
— The large piece of comb sent contained
but a single sealed cell, the rest containing
only unsealed food and pollen. The con-
tents of cell mentioned are slightly
suspicious, and it will need to watch the
hatching brood carefully during April and
May. In the meantime use preventives
both in the hive and in any food given.
H. C. (Sussex) —You may congratulate your-
self on the fact of the hive from which
comb was taken not being your own. It is

as bad a case of foul brood as can well be
imagined. Unless precautions are taken
by burning the " old " hive and contents
you will have more than your share of the
disease, which you say has been hitherto
unknown in the neighbourhood.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve words and under, Sixpence; /or every addi.
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

FOR SALE, several cwt. EXTRACTED CLOVER
HONEY. A. J. Noyes, Pewsey, Wilts. E 48

TT OUR strong STOCKS in good skeps ; 1900 Fertile
V Queens, 12s. 6d. each. Woods, Normandy,
Guildford. K 66

ON SALE, a few STOCKS of BEES in standard bar- "
frame hives ; bees and hives in good condition.
L. Bailey, 55, Park-road, Leek, Staffs. E 46

OR SALE, about Two Cwt. EXTRACTED HONEY,

good colour, 50s. per cwt. Sample free. Arthur

Adcock, Melareth, Cambs. E 47

OR immediate SALE several STOCKS of BEES in

prime condition. Rev. REES, Vicarage, Burton

Leonard, Leeds. _____ E 63

S~ TRONG healthy STOCK in'new Taylor's bar-framed
Hive, 22s. 6d. SPARKS, 51, South-street, Wands-
worth, S.W. E 64

IGHT BOUND VOLUMES Bee Journal. Perfect
condition, 4s. each. RUSSELL OAKLEY, Appraiser,

Christchurch, Hants. E 58

XTRACTED HONEY (second quality), in 28-lb. tins,

38s. per cwt. Tins and package free. Sample, 2d.

A. E. ROWELL. Ashdon, Saffron Walden, Essex. E 62

XTRACTED ENGLISH HONEY, lis. 6d. per } cwt.

Tins free. Sample, 2d. Deposit system. Richd.

DUTTON, Terling, Witham, Essex. E 65 _

URE ENGLISH HONEY, second quality, 5d. lb.
Sample, two stamps. Cash or deposit. Albert
Twinn, Apiary House, Ridgwell.Halstead, Essex. E 59

OR SALE, six strong healthy STOCKS BEES (good
workers), on eight Standard frames, 10s. 6d. each.
Logan, Beechwood, Totton. __ E 61

BEES FOR SALE. Good STOCKS of BEES with young
Queens at 10s. each, WM. LOVEDAY, Hatfield

Heath, Harlow, Essex. _ _E60_

nr LB excellent GRANULATED HONEY, 6Jd. lb-
ZD Tins free. NORRIS, Southbrook, Mere, Wilts.
w E49

OR SALE, two good STOCKS in Standard Hives 15s.
each, or near offer. Mason, Limes Grove,

Lewisham. E 54

UEENLESS STOCKS.— Queens (Fertile) from 4s.
APIAKY FOR SALE. Dawkins, Sutton Coldfleld.

E 53

0

T)OrATOES FOR SEED.— " The Schoolmaster," flrst-
1 class white round potato, peek Is. 3d. ; half-
bushel, 23. Wm. Loveday, Hatfield Heath, Harlow,
Essex. _ ___

TWO beautiful 1900 QUEENS, 4s. 9d. each : guaran-
teed. Pure AYLESBURY DUCK EGGS, 2s. ;
sitting. Best sort out. Spearman, Colesbourne,

Cheltenham. K 5-

rTTo —BEE GLOVES, 2s. 2d. per pair, post paid.
Z, Zf Special terms for wholesale buyers. Manu-
factured by Edward Reynolds, Glove and Gaiter

Manufacturer, Andover. '

EN- joiner-made SHALLOW - FRAME BOXES,

Standard size, Is. each. Also worked out combs
quite new 3s. per dozen packed. Hodgkinson, 76,

Valley-road, Spital, Chesterfield. E 56

t r STRONG STOCKS Non-Swarming BEES in brood
1 0 box 25s. ; or with the " Wavendon Swarm-
Preventing' Hive," 42s. 6d. each ; securely packed.
Twenty years' " Bazaar " reference. Albert Harris,
Wavendon, Woburn, Sands. E 60

TO LET. Commodious detached Villa Residence,
Rent £26. South Coast seaside town. Splendid
location for Apiary. Well stocked fruit garden.
Incoming only £50, for lease, glass-houses, frames, &c.
Russell Oakley, Appraiser, Christchurch, Hants.

B 57

March 28, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

121

(ftdttorial, pottos, th-

BRITISH B EE-KEEPERS'ASSOCI ATION.

The monthly meeting of the Council was
held at 105, Jermyn-street, S. W., on Thursday,
March 21, Mr. E. D. Till occupying the chair.
There were also present Miss Gayton, Miss
Epginton, Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh, Major
Fair, Messrs. R. T. Andrews, W. Broughton
Carr, J. M. Hooker, W. P. Meadows, J. H.
New, W. F. Reid, W. J. Sheppard, F. B.
White, and the Secretary. Letters apologising
for enforced absence were read from Mr.
W. H. Harris (Vice-Chairman), Messrs.
G. Hayes, A. G. Pugh, P. Scattergood,
E. Walker, T. I. Weston, and C. N. White.

The minutes of the previous meeting were
read and confirmed.

Lieut.-Colonel H. J. 0. Walker was duly
elected to life-membership of the Association.

The Finance Committee reported that the
receipts and expenditure to March 20 had
been duly examined, aud that a balance of
£41 19*. 6d. stood to the credit of the Society
at the batik. Several payments were autho-
rised, and the report approved.

It was resolved to offer one silver and one
broDze medal, and one certificate of merit, to
be competed for at each of the following
sjaows, viz. : —

The Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society,
at St. Helens, July 25, 26, and 27.

Confectioners' Exhibition, Royal Agri-
cultural Hall, September 7 to 14.

Grocers' Exhibition, Royal Agricultural
Hall, September 21 to 28.

The Secretary was authorised to appeal for
subscriptions to a special prize fund to cover
the cost of the above and of the prizes to be
offered at the Dairy Show in October, in order
to relieve the strain upon the Society's
resources which these annual payments
necessitate. A number of donations were
received in the room, and the total amount
available will be reported at the next meeting,
when the Dairy Show prize schedule must be
framed.

Gifts of hives and other appliances to the
Association for use at the apiary at Swanley
were reported from Messrs. J. H. Howard,
W. P. Meadows, Geo. Rose, F. W. L. Sladen,
E. H. Tavlor, T. I. Weston, and one from
" Colne Station,'' bearing no name on it by
which the sender may be identified. The
Council desire to thank the various donors for
their generosity, by which the educational
work of the Association will be much
facilitated and helped.

A suggestion emanating from the Leicester-
shire B.K.A., that the B.B.K.A.'s medals
should be obtainable in a form suitable for
personal adornment, if desired, was well
received by the Council, who will take steps to
see in what way the suggestion can be
reduced to practice.

An application for the services of .an
examiner uf candidates for Third-Class Expert
Certificates was received from Berkshire and
acceded to on the usual terms.

The Secretary reported upon an interview
with the President in relation to securing the
representation of the industry at the Spring
Show of the North-East Agricultural Associa-
tion at Belfast. The arrangements whereby
it is proposed the work shall be undertaken
by the Irish Bee-Keepers' Association were
approved.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.

The annual general meeting of members
was held in the boardroom of the Royal
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals, 105, Jermyn-street, on Thursday,
March 21, under the presidency of Mr. E. D.
Till. Others present included Miss Gayton,
Miss Egginton, Mrs. Walters, Hon. and Rev.
Henry Bligh, Revs. W. E. Burkitt and
W. H. A. Walters, Major Fair, Messrs. R. T.
Andrews, W. Broughton Carr, R. T. Duncan,
T. S. Elliott, J. M. Hooker, W. P. Meadows,
J. H. New, W. F. Reid, W. J. Sheppard,
G. H. Skevington, F. W. L. Sladen, T. I.
Weston, F. B. White, J. Willard, and the
Secretary.

Prior to the commencement of the ordinary
business the Hon. and Rev. Heary Bligh
moved : " That on the first occasion of meeting
since the death of our beloved Queen, the
members of the British Bee-Keepers' Associa-
tion beg to be allowed to offer their respectful
and sincere condolence to their gracious
Majesties the King and Queen and other
members of the Royal Family on the sad loss
which they have sustained, and with grateful
remembrance of the kind interest which her
gracious Majesty Queen Victoria took in the
Association and its work of establishing the
improved and humane system of bee-keeping,
would venture to express the hope that his
Majesty the King will continue to take the
same interest as he has already shown in
the B.B.K.A., and extend to it his Royal
patronage."

This resolution was carried amid silence,
and ordered to be forwarded to the Home
Secretary.

The Chairman read a letter from the
Baroness Burdett-Coutts (President), regret-
ting that under medical advice she was
reluctantly obliged to refrain from attending
the annual meeting. Her ladyship further
wrote : — " Please assure the committee and
the general meeting that I have followed the
transactions of our Society with never ceasing
interest, and notice with great concern that
our useful institution has shared in the
depression of all industries, and ha3 suffered
a diminution of income. Under the cir-
cumstances, I venture to suggest that the most
prudent course would be to curtail our ex-
penses— to do all that can be well done, and
not seek to further extend operations or
increase our expenditure. Anything to which

122*

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 28, 1901.

a slight assistance would be valuable, and
further the aims of the Socie'y, sh uld be
carefully fostered. The Society has done good
work ; let us cherish what we have done, keep
up our means of information, and be prepared
to recommence a new campaign with con-
fidence and vigour when the proper time
comes."

The minutes of the previous annual meeting
were read and confirmed.

Mr. Till, in moving the adoption of the re-
port and balance-sheet for the year 1900,
directed attention to the fact that subscrip-
tions had dropped considerably, but in view
of the heavy calls upon subscribers to other
funds during the past year, there was reason
for satisfaction that the Society had been able
to stand so well as it had done. The motion
was seconded by Mr. Carr, and carried
unanimously.

On the motion of Mr. Sladen, seconded by
Mr. Willard, a vote of thanks was passed to
the retiring Council and officers.

The Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh moved a
vote of thanks to the Council of the Royal
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals for the gratuitous use of their board-
room for committee and other meetings. Mr.
Hooker seconded the motion, which was
carried with acclamation.

The President, Vice-Presidents, hon. mem-
bers, corresponding members, treasurer,
auditor, and analyst were re-elected, in
accord with the rules, upon the motion of
Mr. Till, seconded by Mr. F. B. White.

The election of Council for the year 1901
resulted in the following selection :■ — Hon. and
Rev. Henry Bligh, Miss Gay ton, Major Fair,
Lieut.-Colonel H. J. 0. Walker, Messrs. R. T.
Andrews, R. C. Blundell, W. Broughton Carr,
Dr. Elliott, W. H. Harris, J. M. Hooker, H.
Jonas, J. H. New, W. F. Reid, P. Scatter-
good, W. J. Sheppard, E. D. Till. E. Walker,
T. I. Weston, C. N. White, and F. B. White.

A meeting of the new Council was held
immediately after the general meeting, when
Mr. T. W. Cowan was unanimously re-elected
Chairman of the Council for the forthcoming
year, and Mr. F. B. White to the vice-chair
in succession to Mr. W. H. Harris, who, to
the general regret of his colleagues, finds
himself, in consequence of ill-health, compelled
to relinquish office.

It was resolved to hold Council meetings on
the third Thursday in each month, August
excepted.

The next meeting will therefore be on
Thursday, April 18.

CONVERSAZIONE.

After a short interval for refreshments, the
members reassembled in conversazione at
6 p.m. Mr. F. B. White was appointed chair-
man, and opened the proceedings by inviting
Mr. Meadows to show and explain some
appliances or objects of interest to bee-keepers
which he had brought with him for exhibition.

Mr. Meadows produced an appliance known
as the " Rymer Adapting Board." He did not
claim that it was his own invention. It was
an idea of Mr. Rymer's, one of the most suc-
cessful bee-keepers in England, who claimed
that it had assisted him very much in obtain-
ing large harvests of honey from his bees.
Mr. Meadows then went on to explain the
use of the adapting- board, regarding which
full particulars from Mr. Rymer's own pen
appeared in B.J. of November 1 last year
(page 430). An illustration of the board
also appears on page 445 of our issue of
November 15 last. Another appliance of
Mr. Rymer's which deserved special mention
was his Heather honey-press. Mr. Rymer,
when at the " Royal " show, held at York, had
stated with the help of his wife and son (a lad
of fourteen), he had pressed out 1 cwt. of
heather honey, bottled, and made it ready for
market in the remarkably short time of one
hour.

A considerable amount of discussion — in
which a dozen or more gentlemen took part —
followed with regard to the merits and
demerits of the appliances referred to, and Mr.
Rymer's system of working, at the conclusion
of which Mr. Carr said he hoped that Mr.
Meadows would not unintentionally mislead
either himself or others by claiming that the
adapting board had of itself produced the
good, results undoubtedly achieved by Mr..
Rymer. The " board' was only one item in
his system of working, full particulars of which
could be read in the B.J. by those who cared
to try the appliance.

In summing up the discussion, the Chair-
man said they were indebted to Mr. Rymer
for sending the board for inspection, and to
Mr. Meadows for his explanations ; and he
was sure they would all agree that besides
being a good station-master Mr. Rymer was a
very good bee-master. He echoed the sugges-
tion of Mr. Meadows to let the board be
thoroughly tested. He hoped all present would
try it and report thereon at a future meeting.
In the meantime their thanks were due to
Mr. Rymer.

Mr. James Lee brought before the notice of
the meeting a method of preparing a frame-
hive stocked with combs and bees for travel-
ling by rail or road. He had been induced to
bring the hive body-box as shown in conse-
quence of a letter which recently appeared in
the British Bee Journal on the best way
to secure frames with full combs and bees for
travelling. He stated that he had made use of
the method many times, and always with suc-
cess. In answer to questions it was explained
that the only requisites were two strips of
I in. by £ in. wood, about | in. shorter than
the inside of the hive (for fixing across the
frames), and six screws, 2 in. long. In all
properly constructed hives there was a stout
fillet of wood, which might be called the
" filling-in piece,'' fixed between the inner and
outer walls, about | in. below the top edge, on

March 28, 1901.1 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

123

the opposite sides of which the ends of the
top bars rest. A screw was driven through
each end of the strip between the two outer
frames, and another in the centre, also between
two frames, and entered the " filling-in piece ''
about | in. deep, moderately tight only. By
their action the frames were gripped firmly to
the edge of the inner walls.

The stock-box was handed round for exami-
nation, and its merits freely discussed con-
versationally. By shaking it there was no
perceptible movement of the frames, but when
jarrod there was a slight springy action, which
was no doubt an advantage.

(Conclusion of Report in our next.)

WARWICKSHIEE B.K.A.

ANNUAL MEETING.

Sir James Sawyer, presiding over the annual
meeting of the Warwickshire Bee-keepers'
Association at the Grand Hotel, on the 22nd
inst., spoke in terms of the highest commenda-
tion of the beneficial properties of honey as an
article of food, and also as a natural medicine.
Honey, he said, was an important article of
commerce ; it was certainly a great and im-
portant article of food, and an important
remedial and medicinal agent. He ventured
to think that the £70,000 worth of honey
which was imported into England might well
be supplied by the cottagers of England, who,
if they could be induced to apply themselves
to its production, would find it a more
profitable industry than, for instance, poultry-
keeping. He firmly believed that a cottager
taking up bee-culture and production of honey
might, with average intelligence, be expected to
pay his rent out of the proceeds. Speaking of
the virtues of honey Sir James said it was
known to him as a nutritious food, as an emol-
lient, soothing inflammation, as a demulcent, a
sweetening and softening agent, and as an
evacuent, which on its entry into the body had
power to promote the evacuation of various
morbid materials which, if retained, might give
rise to ill -health, suffering and disease. Surely,
therefore, it was an article to which more than
a passing regard should be given, and surely
such a food and cure for diseases should be
used in preference to the advertised nostrums
and tinned quackery of the present day. Sir
James then moved the adoption of the report,
which was agreed to. Lord Leigh was re-
elected president, Mr. A. H. Foster was
re-elected treasurer, Mr. Jame3 Noble Bower
continues the secretarial duties, Mr. J. R.
Inglethorp was elected assistant-secretary, and
Mr. Lawrence Hawkes hon. auditor. Sir
James Sawyer having been thanked for pre-
siding, Mr. George Franklin gave a lantern
lecture on " Prevention of Swarming and
Appliances Recently Brought into Use for that
Purpose.'' — (Communicated.)

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the naper only and
give their real names and addresses, nof necessarily for
publication, "but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate piece's of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[4300.] The weather since my last " Notes '
has been cold and boisterous, with stormy days,
N.E. winds, and rarely a bee moving, even at
mid-day. On the 24th we had several hours
of sunshine, and there was a merry time in
the apiary, the bees getting the first food and
much-needed chansing-flight for twelve days
past. With breeding going on at date of writing,
one cannot venture a forecast of the season, but
present appearances point to a late spring.
The willows in this district will, I fear, not be
in bloom by " Palm-Sunday.1' To-day (Lady-
day) it has been snowing, thus giving a wintry
aspect to the hills in the distance.

Size of Sections. — This question still
occupies the central position of interest to
bee-keepers. Mr. Lamb whets one's appetite
for the good time coming when we are to get
racks of sections filled in five days. No,
Mr. Lamb, that is too good a result for this
mundane sphere ! Perhaps some of our friend3
who work mainly for extracted honey will
give their experience of the time occupied in
getting boxes of shallow-combs filled and
sealed over in a good season 1 This would
help to solve the question of the advantage
or otherwise of the taller section beyond extra
expense.

A South Coast bee-keeper writes me on the
way some put up sections for market — soiled
with dirty hands, bedaubed with propolis, &c;
this, too, with sections fairly well filled and
otherwise marketable if offered in a present-
able form. In reply to "G. R. K." (4286,
page 108), the racks I use are of the most
simple form. I have no hanging-frames for
sections. Maybe the bee-keeper with unwashed
hands would find hanging-frames a protection
against propolis and travel-stain of the bees,
but not proof against finger-marks on wood
after removal.

My section-racks are similar to "Abbott's''
Economic," with wood slats on which the
sections rest. Time was when each rack was
fitted with a glass at the end by which to get
a peep to see how work was progressing
during the honey harvest. I have also a few
of Neighbour's racks with tin girder
supports, but I do not like them so well as
the wood slats. I rather favoured the tin
rests at first, but after several years careful
practical tests, I confess there is no advantage,
and I now prefer the wood slats.

There is, however, one great disadvantage in
these racks with girder supports, as in use the

124

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 28, 1901.

sections are apt to get out of square. This
trouble can be remedied by inserting a strip of
wood between the rows of sections, but with
slotted dividers this is an awkward job to fix
up for several reasons. My racks are so made
that the sections when fitted are square.

" Wells" Hives v. Single Bives. — The
"Wells'' hive, I think, ought to show double
the return of a single hive, or equal two single
hives, seeing that it is two colonies in a
twin hive storing in one super. How any
one can contest this passes comprehension.

Hazel Pollen. — Mr. Loveday mentions (on
page 104) the abundance of hazel pollen.
The flowers of plant are not visited by bees ;
the blossoms are vertical and the pollen is
shaken by the wind and falls on the anthers.
Nature, by the superabundant supply of pollen
grains, meets the stray chances of the flowers
becoming fertile and producing fruit. Can
any one tell us why some blossoms produce
one nut only, while another will produce a
bunch of ten? — W. Woodley, fieedon, New-
bury.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

[4301.] Concise Contributions. — How would
the shades of " B. Short" view the length
of several articles lately appearing in our
pages 1 If he still survives, he might repeat
the old advice to " boil it down/' Or perhaps
our editors might issue an imperial ukase
limiting all articles to two columns !

Shading Hives. — Bee-keepers annually lose
a great number of bees by "death from mis-
adventure," because they persistently come out
on bright and sunny days when snow is on
the ground, and fail to return because they
find a snowy grave. Shade-boards should be
in front of every hive to hinder this, and
these should be of sufficient size to practically
overshade the whole hive front. Even then,
where, as in high-lying districts, snow lies
long and deep, confining the bees to the hives
for a considerable period, they will insist on
issuing at unfavourable times in spite of all
hindrances. If the snow is crusted by frost
they get up all right, after sometimes having
a quiet sip, and enjoy a short flight and
return to the hive ; but if the snow is soft
the heat of their bodies melts it very quickly,
and they sink the deeper the more they
struggle, till the snow shows quite a large
number of holes, or pits, each forming the
grave of a bee. This winter has cost me a
considerable loss in this way, in spite of
severe shading.

Glasgow Exhibition. — I have been wonder-
ing whether any united effort is likely to be
made by British bee-keepers to send an
exhibit of honey worthy of the occasion to
this important World's Fair. I have not,
however, yet heard of anything being done.

The Boll-call. — All alive, 0 ! can be re-
corded as yet of every colony, but May may
tell another tale than March. This month

came in like the proverbial lion, but from the
9th onward we have had a good deal of lamb-
like weather, and bees have been having a
lively time. Every available flower has had
to pay tribute, and artificial pollen has been
carried in extensively.

Size of Sections. — Although practically
closed the discussion continues to simmer on
In viewing the results I am forcibly reminded
of the Scotch ballad regarding the indecisive
termination of the Battle of Sheriffmuir :
" Some say that they wan, and some say that

we wan,
And some say that nane wan at a' man."

Messrs. Woodley, Taylor, Howard, McNally,
Brown, Loveday, &c, all men of renown in
our calling, vote for the We. Rev. M. Lamb,
brushing aside these "novice3," sticks to his
own opinion still. He has shown himself so
doughty a champion in what I view as a weak
cause, that I feel confident he would prove an
admirable advocate in a strong one. Even
those who believe that the sins of the A\ in.
by 2 in. section have "not been demon-
strated " will feel pleased that he is to secure a
fair practical trial for his narrow sections,
followed by the still further crucial process of
submitting them to the " test tube " of the
show bench. Let me express one caution !
In America their three "standard'' sections,
by Mr. Sladen's own admission (see 4249,
page G3), are all light weight — (1) 15i oz.,
(2) 13i oz., (3) 14 oz. to 15 oz. Now, the
initiator of this discussion has again and
again ruled out of court all weighing
less than 1-lb., and yet these sizes are
being advertised for trial and experiment.
I would strongly deprecate the introduction
of any light-weight sizes. Mr. Sladen wastes
the greater part of page 94 "beating the air,"
as his friend graphically expresses it, in a vain
endeavour to prove that I am " against progress
in any shape or form," whereas at the very out-
set of the controversy I stated that I had an
" open mind for all reform." I might have
passed this finical criticism unnoticed but that
he winds up with the inexplicable statement
that he owes me "no grudge." As I never
named his name, or even alluded to him or
his arguments, either directly or indirectly,
{Continued on page 126.)

HOMES OF THE HONEY-BEE.

THE AriARlES OF OUR READERS.

The pretty bee-garden of Mr. Shenton,
shown on next page, is a real pleasure to gaze
upon, forming as it does an agreeable change
from the "up-to-date '' apiary where the main
object is profit, and the bee-keeper is all
"hustle" to save time and labour. The bell-
glass super filled with combs that brought
2s. 6d. per lb. is reminiscent of earlier days to
all old hands, and along with the pretty floral
surroundings seen, go to prove that there is
something in a home of the honey-bee whose

March 28, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

125

owner "keeps bees more for pleasure than
profit." Mr. Shenton writes of himself as
follows : —

" In forwarding you the enclosed photo of
my little apiary, taken some time ago, I may
say that when sixteen years old (1840) I was
induced to start keeping bees by an old
gardener who instructed me in the mystery of
their management, which instructions, as I
look back upon them, seem to be of a very
crude sort indeed — little more than that of
hiving swarms in summer, and, when the
harvest was over, how to select the heavy and
light ones to be consigned to the brimstone
pit on the third day of August (why that par-
ticular date I ne7er could quite understand).

correspond, turned on a central screw so
I that when a bell-glass was full I had only
to turn it half-round and the bees were cut
off from the hive below. Then a bit of wood
slipped under the edge of glass enabled the
bees to escape, and they were soon clear of
bee3. The honey in these bell-glasses would
fetch in those days 2s. fid. per lb. In the
photo is seen a remnant of those ' old times '
— the ancient skep, old carpet, overturned
panchon, slate for alighting-board (is that a
Hiberaianism i) — among its more aristocratic
neighbours the bar-frame hives. The latter,
by the by, my dear wife calls my ' labourer's
cottages,' they are all home-made from old
soap and matchboxes, and with the help of

MR. J. S. SHENTON'S APIARY, HUSBANDS BOSWORTH, RUGBY.

But as I kept the bees more for pleasure than
profit, I did not adhere strictly to custom, and
in consequence my stock soon increased to
fifteen or twenty stocks. Having a warm
comer in our garden sheltered from north and
east winds, I erected a shed to hold eight
stocks in two tiers. This shed was open in
front and one end, passage-way at the back of
hives. Thus I was enabled to spend many a
dinner hour and summer evening in watching
the little workers either drawing out comb or
storing their sweets in the bell-glasses. Three
of the hives were made of lj-in. wood, 1 ft.
square and 1 ft. deep, with glass let in on each
side ; in the crown-board on top were
three 2-in. circular holes ; a thin board,
same size as the top, with apertures to

• hints ' in B.B. J., which I have taken for
many years. Ours is not a good honey district,
being high tableland, all uphill work for the
laden bees into the village. I am content to
have for my share what honey the bees store
on the upper deck, and I leave them the rest
for their own table, and I find that division of
the fruits of labour pays me well enough with
the pleasure thrown in. My house is about
15 yards in front of the hives and the little
grandchildren play about in the orchard at
back of hives without fear of being stung.
Nature in bees as in everything else well
rewards its votaries, and with the shepherd
on the hill-side of Judea I can say ' How
manifold are thy works, in wisdom hast thou
made them all.' ''

126

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 28, 1901.

(Correspondence, continued from page 124.)
the use of the word is manifestly absurd.
(The inelegant expression is not mine, but
borrowed from his henchman.) Any idea
of a " grudge " sounds strange coming from
one whom I have ever regarded as the pink
of courtesy, judging by all he has ever
written in the pages of the Journal in the
past. " Sir, when we quarrel in print, let it
be by the book of good manners,'' as Touch-
stone says. Let it be in the "first degree,
viz., the retort courteous." Never let us
\>ee-friends (I like the expression) rush to the
" fifth degree, the countercheck quarrelsome."
It will give me pleasure to respond at some
future time to the Rev. Mr. Lamb's request to
say something on the proper number of racks
to use at one time ; but this must " bide," or
our Editors will be pointing a warning finger
at my opening par, and have me crying,
"Peccavi ! "— D. M. M., Banff.

SOME. ESSEX NOTES.

[4302.] Size of Sections. — One thing that I
omitted to mention in my last contribution
on this subject is that before a standard size
of shallow-frame was adopted, I had in use a
number of shallow-frames 4j in. deep ; these
have since remained doing duty side by side
with the deeper frame, and I have been
forced by this experience, to the conclusion
that a taller 1-lb. section will be disadvan-
tageous, because the increased height will
quite overwhelm the doubtful advantages
claimed for it. In poor seasons my 4|-in.
deep frames will be well filled and
sealed, while the 5|-in. shallow - frame,
now generally adopted, being deeper, is
much less well filled and sealed over.
Last season, for instance, I had an equal
number of supers with frames of these
two sizes in use under exactly the same
conditions, and while 80 per cent, of the
smaller frames were well- filled; many of them
as near perfect as it is possible for bees to do
their work, only 25 per cent, of the larger ones
were at all were filled, and in only one super
was the work of the excellent finish that I
like to see on an exhibition table. I remem-
ber another poor season, when at an exhibi-
tion in a good district, in the class for three
shallow frames, only one exhibit was staged,
and that was my 4j in. frames. As showing
the effect that increasing the weight of supers
may be expected to have, I may mention that
during last season I met two bee-keepers
who use supers of standard frames, and so
far as surplus-honey is reckoned in our suc-
cesses, their bee-keeping was a failure. Some
other bee-keepers whom I met last season
experienced the greatest possible difficulty in
getting shallow-frames finished. I know that
there are seasons when bees will work in any-
thing as a super, be it tall, round, or even the
empty space outside the hive. I think that
one of the things that want considering most

is how to get the best possible results in poor
seasons, and, for reasons given above, I think
a taller section will do much to defeat this
object.

Undesirable Swarming. — Having considered
Mr. Will Hampton's letter on this su bject (4292,
page 113), I am inclined to add to the heading
used by him, and call it " undesirable methods
of preventing swarming." While there is
doubtless a feeling of satisfaction in the breast
of the bee-keeper who is able to avoid the many
and varied exciting experiences of his breth-
ren in the pursuit, such as recovering a swarm
from a tall elm in a neighbour's park,
there are other things that should be
considered before our personal convenience
—things that must have prior consideration
if the best interests of our bees are to enter
into our calculations at all. We may secure
for ourselves a certain amount of certainty in
our bee-keeping by the adoption of methods
that in any case are undesirable, and in pre-
venting swarming by Mr. Hampton's plan I
think we shall do what is both undesirable
and unnatural. It is nature's aim, if I may
put it that way, to secure the survival of the
fittest ; by Mr. Hampton's plan the drones
that are most unfit for their purpose will
survive. There are many ways in which it
is given to us to be able to assist nature, but
if, by taking into our own hands the control
of nature, we secure the survival of the
poorest and most unfit of a species I
think we should stop and allow our personal
convenience no place in the consideration
of the matter. To every creature, however
small, is given the power to aid in the repro-
duction of its species, and I think it is allowed
that bees that swarm to a moderate extent are
stimulated to greater efforts by it. If we to
all intents and purposes deprive our bees of
the ability to swarm, or, to put it another way,
if we breed out of our bees the desire to
increase and multiply, there i^ evidence that
with a disinclination to increase will come
reduced energy and industry. I have not
forgotten that your correspondent may be able
to rely upon the more sturdy and fit drones
from the hives of neighbours, but we should
keep the command of our resources in our own
hands. I recommend allowing every colony
of bees to fill one-third of a standard frame
with drone-comb, over and above odd corners.
— Wm. Loveday, Haffeld Heath, Essex.

SIZE OF SECTIONS.

[4303.] I have followed the discussion on
the above subject with very great interest, and
think that much credit is due to Mr. Lamb
for the able manner in which he has given us
his opinions. Whatever Mr. Lamb's opinions
may have been some time back with regard to
thick combs, I can — from personal conversa-
tion with him when on the moors last year —
believe him to be thoroughly in earnest now
respecting the narrow section. His ideas, like

March 28, 1901. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

127

those of other people under the influence of
wider knowledge, have undergone a change.
The interesting comments from our most
experienced bee-keepers have been honour-
ably dealt with by Mr. Lamb, and it now
remains for the advocates of the narrow sec-
tion to give it a fair trial in the coming season,
and let us compare results.

There is one thing in the interesting dis-
cussion that I cannot allow to pass without my
personal approval, viz., the hanging of sections
in a frame. I should not advocate a shallow
frame to be used for both sections and ex-
tracted honey, there is too much trouble in
uncapping sealed honey in a wide frame ; I
prefer a narrow frame in which the comb
projects beyond the frame, so that the whole
of the capping is removed easily with one
stroke of the knife.

Here are a few facts respecting the average
of five apiaries located for the heather close to
my station, so that I had an opportunity of
seeing the hives every day. The apiaries are
owned by five different gentlemen, and the
"take ''was: No. 1, forty-eight sections per
hive ; No. 2, four sections ; No. 3, nil ; No. 4,
six sections ; No. 5, thirty sections per
hive. Now those five apiaries were work-
ing over the same ground, and it seems
most extraordinary that the average per
hive should vary so much. All were worked
with the 4i in. square section, Nos. 2, 3, and 4
with ordinary section racks, and Nos. 1 and 5
with hanging section-racks. I do not mean
to say that the success of Nos. 1 and 5 are
due to hanging-frames only, as a great deal
depends in managing the stocks so that they
are in the proper condition at the right time.
Yet it seems very strange that the hives with
hanging-frames should be so very far ahead
of those not so worked, and certainly looks as
though there was something in the hanging-
frame for sections. Anyway, the narrow sec-
tions hung in frames or otherwise are worthy
of a trial, and if they succeed, as Mr. Lamb
predicts, I am certain I shall not be far
behind. — W. Rymer, Levisham, Pickering,
Yorles, March 21.

[We have in type another long letter from
the Rev. Mr. Lamb, which will appear next
week, when we propose closing the discussion
on size of sections. The subject has proved of
very great interest to readers and has been
thoroughly and intelligently thrashed out by
competent practical bee-keepers, and we may
now safely leave the matter to be put to a
practical test in the coming season, when we
hope results will be reported. — Eds.]

HAZEL POLLEN.
[4304.] Referring to the letter of Mr. J.
Hiam (4293, page 114) I have seen bees
gathering pollen from hazel catkins on several
occasions in early spring. But as the hazel
blooms very early the bees as a rule miss this
chance of early pollen, and I think it would be

advantageous if our bees had a freer access to
the hazel catkins. The cold spring winds so
frequent with U3 deprive the bees of this
source of early harvest. I am surprised at our
friend Mr. J. H. saying that as a bee-keepar of
fity years' standing he has never seen bees at
work on hazel. It would be interesting to have
some other old bee friends giving their
opinions on the above question. To-day
(March 23) being a fine day, I made an in-
spection of the hives under my super-
vision (about forty-five stocks) and was
pleased to find nearly all in splendid
condition. I found two stocks dead, though
both had sealed stores left, nor was there
any trace of disease in the combs. The
roof of one hive had let in the rain and the
quilts were wet and mouldy, thus causing
death. The rest had, except two, plenty of
sealed stores. These were duly fed with warm
syrup. Weather is very cold here, but there
is a grand prospect this spring for the bees in
the promise of a splendid crop of fruit blos-
som. The willows are very late but promising.
My apiary is in the midst of about two acres
of willows, and I enjoy a walk through the
bushes, and the sight of busy bees on them. —
E. J. Thompson, Gowdall, Mid-Yorhs, 23rd
March.

LECTURES ON BEES AND BEE-
KEEPING.

[4305.] Absence from home and irregularity
of delivering my Journal have prevented my
seeing the articles re above subject until very
recently. I must confess I was rather sur-
prised at the somewhat gloomy and pessimistic
aspect in which Mr. G. Franklin (4258)
regarded the question. Surely it cannot
be quite such a difficult matter to get the
dwellers in country districts to attend lectures
on bees and bee-keeping.

My own experience is not in accord with
that of Mr. Franklin. I have now been lec-
turing in the county of Worcester for some
twelve years, and during that time I have
never had to face an audience of "five," but
taking an average during all these years, my
hearers have been thirty-five at each lecture.
In some instances as many as 150 have
attended, and my smallest audience was in a
sparsely-populated village on a wild wintry
night, the snow lying deeply on the ground,
when fourteen persons attended, including the
rector of the parish. I have found that
dwellers in country districts have been quite
as ready to attend lectures and quite as
appreciative of them as residents in the towns.

So far from being unwilling to attend, I
have frequently had expressions of regret that
the course has ended, and requests for an
extension.

If the supposed difficulty of getting an
audience does exist in any district, I agree
with Mr. Franklin that much of the blame
must be laid on the heads of some who osten-

128

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 28; 1901.

sibly presume to lecture on bees and bee-
keeping before they have themselves learned
even the rudiments of the subject. Apart
from the lack of ability to " say their say " in
an intelligent manner, their want of experience
and imperfect knowledge has been patent to
their hearers, who have gone away disap-
pointed, and perhaps disgusted, at both matter
and manner of lecturer.

In my somewhat lengthy experience I have
met with not a few who have begun to keep
bees, and in a short time afterwards have
heard of their giving lectures on the subject in
the local schoolroom, with what results readers
of the B.B.J, must imagine.

It goes without saying that a lecturer to be
successful must possess two qualifications — in
the first place, a correct and intelligent know-
ledge of his subject, a knowledge gained by
reading and observation and confirmed by
practical experience ; and secondly, he should
have the happy art of conveying in a clear and
attractive manner that knowledge to others.
The day has gone by for an audience being
satisfied by a so-called lecturer reading a
" typewritten " lecture, or stumbling over his
sentences again and again because he cannot
see his '-' copious notes " by reason of the semi-
darkness of the room.

In every department of science and art it is
found that when any one has anything to say
which is worth listening to he will never need
an audience, and surely the theme under con-
sideration is no exception to this rule. I have
always found that whether it be a brief expose
in the " bee-tent" at a local flower show, or an
illustrated lecture in a schoolroom or technical
institute, hearers come and listen and testify
to the interest they find in the subject.

To secure this, however, it is necessary that
the lecturer store his mind with fresh and
well-established facts, and seek to illume his
subjects by illustrations and incidents he has
met with ; whilst naturalists, poets, and
moralists must be laid under tribute to the
same end.

It is surprising how often and to what an
extent an anecdote well told or an apt quota-
tion from one of our poets will give brightness
to the subject and pleasure to the hearers.

As a proof that the residents of an out-of-
the-way district are not unwilling to attend
lectures I may say that on the two successive
Tuesday and Wednesday evenings of the
present and past weeks I have been to give
lectures in a village which is five and a half
miles from a railway station, the entire popula-
tion of which does not exceed 200 all told, and
on each occasion my audience exceeded sixty
persons. No, the people are not averse or
indiffereut to lectures on bee-keeping or any
other subject of practical interest, providing
they are assured that the lecturer can talk
and that he knows what he is talking about.

I am not quite sure that the B.B.K.A.
would be well advised in preparing, as has
been suggested, a " typewritten lecture," to be

lent out to would-be lecturers. Its only
recommendation would be a correct statement
of facts respecting the industry ; but I fail to
see how in the hands of an inexperienced
lecturer it would be the means of improving or
increasing the industry. — E. Davenport,
Worcester.

AN ECONOMIC WAX SMELTER

AND FOUNDATION FIXER.

[4306.] Get two empty syrup-tins, one a
4-lb. and the other a 2-lb. ; the smaller tin
will just drop into the larger one. Make
holes in the inner rim of smaller tin and insert
stout wires, and form eyes for handle and
legs to keep it just even with larger tin. The
smaller one holds the wax, and the larger
is for water, which is quickly heated and
kept hot over a paraffin or spirit lamp.

Three duck-wing feathers bound neatly
together form the very best possible tool for
applying the molten wax. The feathers are
very stiff, besides being pointed and slightly
spoon shaped. When using one can neatly
work the wax into the angle, so that it makes
a perfect attachment of foundation to the
wood. I can fix foundation more rapidly and
make a neater, stronger, and more durable
job as above than by any other way. Out of
many hundreds of sheets so fixed I have not
yet had one go defective. It is far-and-away
better than grooves, kerfs, &c. — A. H., Waven-
don, Bucks.

(ftt^tfiS and Jt$H$5.

[2606.] Keeping Bees in Greenhouse. — I
would be much obliged for a word of advice as
a beginner. My case is this : — " I have a skep
(very weak in bees at present), and after
moving it into our greenhouse I am feeding
with candy. But seeing the warning given
about keeping bees in glasshouses I am in
doubt whether it would be best to leave the
skep in the house or put it outside again (it
wintered inside a large roofed-box well
covered with quilts) as I am afraid the bees
might die owing to the change, I ask : — 1.
Would you advise me to leave the skep in the
greenhouse till middle of April or put it in
the box and let it take its chance ? 2. Also
can you give me the name of the secretary of
the Irish Bee-Keepers' Association 1 I live
in co. Londonderry and am only temporarily
located here. — G. F. Gilliland, Harroiv-on-
the-Hill.

Reply. — 1. Under no condition is it
advisable to keep bees in a greenhouse, there-
fore you should take the earliest opportunity
of removing the skep outside. Take what-
ever precautions you like in the way of keep-
ing the bees warm, but don't delay in moving
as they will soon be taking wing and then
mischief will begin if they are under cover of

March 28, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

129

glass. 2. The Hon. Sec. of the Irish B.K.A.
is Mr. M. H. Read, Clonoughlis, Straffan Stn.
[2607.] Removing Bees from Trees— Could
you or any reader of the B.B.J, kindly tell
roe of the best way of removing bees out of a
hollow tree '? I have kept bees some years,
and have already tried to accomplish the task,
but not with success. — Thomas Evans,
Aylesbury.

Reply. — There is no fixed plan of removing
bees from hollow trees ; it is an operation the
success of which depends largely on individual
dexterity and aptitude for bee-work. The
photo of " curious hives " reproduced on page
115 last week affords a couple of examples
from nature of bees in hollow trees, which
serve well to illustrate the impossibility of
removal without cutting down the trees in
which bees are located. In some cases, no
doubt, the tree trunk may be so much decayed
that the bees could be " got at " by easily
removing the rotten wood, and so exposing
the combs for dealing with by cutting away,
but in the tree-trunks illustrated no such
chance would be afforded, and the only way
of utilising the bees was carrying them off as
described on page 115. On the general
question of removing bees from hollow trees,
however, we consider " the game is not worth
the candle." Driven bees can often be had
from cottagers for a trifle beyond the trouble
of " driving," or driven lots can be bought at
a very low price per pound, so that from the
practical point of view we do not advise any
one to try removal except in cases where the
tree is valueless and can be removed bodily
after cutting down as a stock of bees.

[2608] Building up Stocks from Driven
Bees. — Will you please tell me what has caused
the death of a stock of which I enclose the
queen, a few of the bees, and a piece of comb
on which they died ? The stock was made up
of five pounds of driven bees in November
last, and I fed them at the time till they had
eight frames of stores, after which I put a
3 lb. cake of candy on top. I also put some
naphthaline in the bottom of hive outside of
dummy.— R. Hunter, Carlisle.

Reply. — There is nothing in either bees or
comb to indicate the cause of bees dying. We
may, however, safely account for the mishap
by saying that the month of November is
altogether too late in the year to attempt
building up stocks from driven bees. Mid-
September, or even earlier, is the proper time,
if success is to be counted on.

[2609.] Allowing Bees to Transfer Them-
selves.— I have several skeps of bees which
I propose driving next month, putting the
bees into frame-hives ; but before doing so,
will you kindly tell me what I am to do,
supposing there are eggs and brood in the
skep after the bees have been driven? Is it
possible to transfer the bees in the skeps to
the frame-hives by placing the skeps on
the top of the frames, when the bees would
be obliged to pass through the frame -

hives to find their exit ?— Apis Mellifica,
Bletchley March 21.

Reply. — You had better give up all idea of
transferring the bees by driving in April.
There are sure to be eggs and brood in the
combs which would be sacrificed if not cut out
and tied into frames. This is not an opera-
tion easily performed, nor is it desirable to
have your new frame-hives filled with old
combs from skeps. Allow the bees to transfer
themselves as directed in the " Guide Book,"
where will be found full instructions for
transferring.

[2610.] Feeding Bees in Skeps and Trans-
ferring to Frame Hives. — As a beginner in
bee-keeping I should be glad to be helped
through your valuable journal. A month ago
I purchased a stock of bees in a straw skep
and placed them on a stand. It is my inten-
tion to transfer the bees to a frame-hive and I
should like to know — 1. Whether this should
be done now (and if so, the best way), or
whether the bees ought to swarm first, and
the swarm be placed in the hive 1 2. I notioe
the bees are collecting pollen, and I have just
put a bottle of syrup over hole in the top of
skep. Is this the right way to feed bees in a
skep ? 3. About how much smoke is required
to subdue bees, and what is the best m'aterial
to use to produce smoke ? I have purchased
the B.B.K. " Guide Book,'' but am very
reluctant to proceed without further advice. —
F. H. Holdaway, Wroxall, March 25.

Reply. — 1. As a beginner, possessing only
one stock of bees in a skep, we recommend
you to let the bees swarm naturally — as they
promise to do early, seeing that they are
carrying in pollen well in March — and hive
the swarm as directed in your " Guide Book."

2. If the bottle of syrup is properly adjusted,
and well packed round at its junction with the
straw of skep to prevent escape of warmth,
your method of feeding is quite correct.

3. All depends on the operation to be per-
formed. Usually a half-dozen puffs will
suffice at starting, but more smoke is needed
if the bees get restless and inclined to sting.

[2611.] lie-hiving Double Stocks of Bees. —
I have wintered two lots of driven bees in a
double hive, the latter having a fixed bottom-
board. I now want to let one lot have use of
all the hive, as I consider it too small to
accommodate two lots (it only takes thirteen
frames). I therefore ask— If I remove all
frames from one lot and put them in another
hive, will the bees go back to the double hive ?
Would it be best to put transferred lot to
stand next the double hive, or should I move
it to the other end of the apiary ? The
double hive has two entrances on front, both
on same alighting-board, with a small partition
between them. — C. F., Conway.

Reply. — Place the new hive entrance as
near to the old one as possible, and fix up a
large division-board between the two door-
ways. The bees would return to the old place
if moved away, and so be lost.

130

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 28, 1901.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All queriesforwarded will be attended to, and thou only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

F. A. Tanner (co. Down). — Bees Bobbing
Infected Hive.— 1. The hive in which bees
died is affected with foul brood of long
standing. It was a fatal mistake to allow
the bees of " about thirty skeps " to have
access to the hive referred to. Only time
will show what the probable damage will be,
but meantime we can only advise the use of
preventives. 2. Young queens of laat year
that failed to mate are now useless.

J. G. R. (Crawfordjohn). — Varieties of Bees. —
No. 1, Ligurian-Carniolan hybrids ; No. 2,
slightly marked Carniolan hybrids ; No. 3,
well-marked Cyprians.

M. Beamish (co. Cork). — Painting Hives. —
If the hives are painted after bees have
ceased working for the day no harm will
follow, as paint will be dry by following
morning.

Hawthorn (Leicester). — Honey Samples. —
The difference in colour and flavour is
solely attributable to the different flowers
whence the nectar was gathered. No. 1 is
a good sample. No. 2 fairly good.

*#* We regret being compelled to hold over
several articles, already in type, until next
week, owing to want of space.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve words and tinder, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional'Three words or under, One Penny.

T

WO SKEPS of BEES, 10s. 6d. each, packages free.
Filtness, Devizes-road, Swindon. E 67

Prepaid Advertisements (Continued).

ENGLISH and ITALIAN BEES FOR SALE, in frame-
hives. T. Hill, Scotlands, Cannock-road, Wolver-
hampton. E 81

EES~ FOBTSALE, five on frame hives and four in

skeps ; in good order ; clearing out ; £6 10s.

HoRRELL, i, Craig-street, Peterboro' E 75

r r» LB. rather dark HONEY, 28 lb. tins, id. lb.

O D George Thompson, Helpringham, Heckington,

Lincolnshire. e 80

ITOR SALE, three cwt. SAINFOIN and CLOVER
V HONEY in 14 lb. tins. A. Sharp, The Apiary,

Brampton, Huntingdon. E 68

q /? STONES BEST HEATHER HONEY; 14 lb., 7s.
OO Carriage paid on 6 stone. Thos. Hood,

Pickering. E ' _.

EES.- Twelve last year's SWARMS, plenty of Bees
and Stores, 12s. 6;1. each. E. Long, Fulbourne,

Cambs. E 73

-i r\r\f\ LB. HONEY FOR SALE, cheap. 40 lb.
■ I ,UUU sent on approval. Apply, Johnson's

Apiary, Soham, Cambs.

a/\aLB. SAINFOIN HONEY, best quality. What
4UU offers ? Sample 2d. W. Morris, Apiary,
Litlington, Cambs. E 72

FOR SALE, several yearsof the Bee Journal and Record
in good condition. No reasonable offer refused.
Short, 98, Fore-street, Kingsbridge.

LANT_aNSLIDEST— Lecturers on the Honey Bee will
do well to.add " Enlarged Worker— Under Side," to
their collection, price Is. Apply, Rector, Farndish,
Wellingborough. E 69_

ITALIANS, first-cross, best honey gatherers. Good
tempered. Strong ten-frame stocks, with last
seasou's Queens ; guaranteed free from foul brood. £1
each. O. KNIGHT, Epney, nr. Svonehouie, G-los. E 76

" V \T B.C." HIVES, FEEDERS and WAX EX-
VV • TRACTORS.— Make your own at third the
cost. For particulars send stamp. PRIDEAUX, Whit-
chureh, Salop. E 71

POTATOES FOR SEED.—" The Schoolmaster," flrst-
class white round potato, peck Is. 3d. ; half-
bushel, 2s. SHALLOTS for present planting 3d. lb.,
fine bulbs. Wm. Loveday, Hatfield Heath, Harlow,
Essex.

ADVERTISER, open for Engagement to ASSIST in
or TAKE CHARGE of large apiary. Eully
competent. Fair amateur joiner. Willing to fill time
up in garden or fruit plantation. A. B. Bee Journal
Office. _____

NINE LB. BEESWAX, Is. 6d. per lb. ; Buff Orpington
Eggs from massive, good colour, 9-lb. pullets,
3s. 6d. sitting. Unfertile (if any), replaced. Am booking
orders now for early June natural swarms of my well-
known strain. Whiting, Valley Apiaries, Hundon,

Clare, Suffolk. E 78

T70R SALE, severaFcwt. EXTRACTED CLOVER
V HONEY. A. J. Nqyes, Pewsey, Wilts. _e_4S

GOOD STOCKS of superior BEES for Spring delivery.
John Walton, Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington.
-i q SEED PACKETS of choice popular bee-flowers.
1 0 with cultural directions, post free for Is. 3d.
Guthrie Bros., Seed Merchants, &c, Alio way, Ayr.
q /-TH YEAR.— Reliable STOCKS in hives, or frames
_*-3 only ; also Nuclei. Skeps, 10s. 6d., 12s. 6d., 16s.
Packages free. Alsfqrd, Expert, Blandford _ 41

ON SALE, a few STOCKS of BEES in standard bar-
frame hives ; bees and hives in good condition.
L. BAILEY, 55, Park-road, Leek, Staffs. E 46

EXTRACTED ENGLISH HOJNEY, lis. 6d. per | cwt.
Tins free. Sample, 2d. Deposit system. Richd.
Duttqn, Terling, Witham, Essex. E 65

TWO beautiful 1900~QUEENS, 4s. 9d. each ; guaran-
teed. Pure AYLESBURY DUCK EGGS, 2s. ;
sitting. Best sort out. Spearman, C'olesbourne,
Cheltenham. e 52

O/Q —BEE GLOVES, 2s. 2d. per pair, post paid.
_*7 ,*W« Special terms for wholesale buyers. Manu-
factured by Edward Reynolds, Glove and Gaiter

Manufacturer, Andover.

ANTED a BOY to look after BEES and work in
garden. Board, lodging, and moderate wages.
Apply, stating experience, to ". H. A. H .," Office of this
Paper.

-i /- STRONG STOCKS Non-Swarming BEES in brood
1 3 box, 25s. ; or with the " Wavendon Swarm-
Preventing Hive," 42s. 6d. each ; securely packed.
Twenty years' " Bazaar " reference. Albert Harris,
Wavendon, VVoburn, Sands. • E 60

IDDIES and_.EE37— If combining the two, perhaps
you would like an Incubator and Rearer. Why
not make your own ? A Shilling Illustrated Handbook
of Construction given away. Send stamp for par-
ticulars, Edwards, Shrubshill Apiary, Sunningdale. E 51

COMFORTABLE APARTMENTS for brother bee-
keepers visiting Douglas. Terms : tea, bed, and
breakfast, 3s. 6d. ; or full board, 5s. per day. HoRSLEY,
Merridale House, Top of Castle Drive, Douglas, Isle of
Man. 932

GREAT BARGAINS in everythinguseful inor about
a house (from an Autograph to an Orchid, from a
Toy to a Typewriter, a Mail Cart to a Motor Car, -&c.)
are to be obtained through The Bazaar, Exchange, and
Mart Newspaper, Easily, Cheaply, and Quickly. " Like
all grand conceptions, the process is remarkable for its
simplicity." If you want to sell anythiug for which you
have no present use, you can do so most readily and
advantageously through the medium of the same paper.
In addition the vast amount of interesting and practical
information contained in its pages makes The Bazaar,
Exchange, and Mart an unequalled journal for the
Amateur and Collector. Get a copy and judge for your-
self. 34th year of publication. Price 2d., at all News-
agents and Railway B iokstalls, or specimen copy post
free for 3d. in stamps from the Office, 170, Strand,
London, W.C.

CUMB ERL AND BEE-KEE PERS' ASSOCIATION.

WANTED EXPERT, for tour in May.— State particu-
lars, terms, and references, Hon. Sec, Gillbank, Boot.
Cumberland. _

April 4, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

131

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

CONVERSAZIONE.

(Contimied from page 123.)
Mr. Lee also showed a small cabinet, with
glazed lid, containing a collection of entomo-
logical specimens. It was intended for the
use of teachers and lecturers in schools ; for
lecturing purposes, or indeed wherever
technical instruction in bee-keeping was
given. The box, jthough small, was compactly
arranged and contained quite a large number
of interesting items preserved in spirits in
glass phials. There were also pinned out
specimens of queen, drone, and worker bees
along with eggs and larvas in all stages of
development, a combed section, samples of
foundation, pollen, propolis, &c, with other
useful things for illustrating bee-life. The
cabinet was handed round and highly
approved of by all.

The Chairman expressed the thanks of the
meeting to Mr. Lee for showing his interest-
ing and very useful exhibits, and spoke in
commendatory terms of the travelling box, as
well as the case for entomological demonstra-
tion in schools.

Mr. Sladen showed several cards cut to size
for the purpose of illustrating the compara-
tive sizes of different sections, and spoke in
favour of the tall, thin section as used in
America. He said that the 4^ in. by 5 in.
section had four special advantages. Firstly,
a 1{ in. to If in. comb was more easily and
quickly filled than a lh in. comb. That was
the testimony of practically the whole body of
bee-keepers in America and of many in
Britain. All the standard sizes of sections in
America were thinner than the British.
Secondly, bees could work in a larger section
more easily than in a smaller one. Thirdly, a
large and tall section was likely to sell better
than a small and square one. The new tall
one, while being the same width across as the
square one, was £ in. higher. Not only had it
a larger surface, but it was of a more pleasing
and attractive shape. They had learned to
like the oblong, tall shape of such common
objects as windows, doors, picture frames,
photographs, books, &c. Imagine a room
where all the objects were square. How
wearying ! Most articles for sale in chemists'
and grocers' shops were put up in oblong
packets. This was well instanced in the case
of the tall glass honey -jar, which in many
places had driven the old-fashioned, short,
wide one out of the market, despite the diffi-
culty often experienced of removing granulated
honey from it. Lastly, twenty-four of these
sections would just fit into an ordinary section-
rack- made to take twenty- one of the usual
square sections, by the simple addition of a
| in. rim of wood round the top edge. The
advantages might be summed up thus : easier

produced and easier sold. Of course, that
remained to be proved in this country. The
tall section had not yet been tried here. All
he asked was that they might be given a trial
on a small scale by bee-keepers, and the
results carefully noted.

Mr. Carr said the all-important question
was what consumers liked best.

Mr. Hooker, when in America, saw more of
the 4 j in. by 4 J in. sections than any other
size, but his observations were confined
principally to the neighbourhood of Phila-
delphia. He knew the tall, thin sections were
used. The Canadians also showed them on
their visit to England some years ago. He
(Mr. Hooker) tried them and gave them up.

Messrs. Walker, Reid, Young, Sladen,
Hooker, and Carr continued the discussion.

The Chairman said that, looking at the
matter from a commercial point of view,
customers would not notice that the surface
of the section was larger than ordinary size,
whilst they would be sure to observe that it
was thinner.

Mr. Young pointed out that there would
be extra wax with the larger section ; but
Mr. Sladen replied that the additional per-
centage was inappreciable.

Mr. Belsham advocated the use of the 2-lb.
section, which he had adopted entirely. He
believed more honey was obtained thereby,
and that the bees filled a 2-lb. section quicker
than they did two each weighing 1 lb.
Mr. Hooker also favoured the 2-lb. section,
and recommended those present to give them
a trial in the coming season.

Mr. Reid said he had been asked by several
members, to whom he had shown wax moulded
by a new method, to explain the process. The
object was to get the wax into an agreeable
and artistic form for sale, and avoid the common
square or irregular, uninteresting shapes. The
purpose for which wax was sold retail gene-
rally required that it should be in small pieces.
He would not go fully into the details of
getting wax out of bee-combs. It was said by
some, "what was the good of melting down old
combs V Certainly if done in one way no wax
might be obtained. In old combs there was a
good deal of porous, absorbent material, such
as the accumulated skins of the pupae in the
cells, pellets of pollen, and other things that
would absorb the wax. If the combs were
simply heated to the melting point of wax,
there might be no wax at all, these objects
absorbing it. The same thing might take
place if the combs were put whole into boiling
water — the wax was absorbed by the solid
materials. But if they were broken up into
small pieces — say by means of a sausage
machine — and then stirred into water, which,
when muddy, could be strained off, then the
pup;f skins would be saturated with water and
the result would be plenty of wax out of the
old combs. Even with the Solar wax-extractor
it was always best to get the pollen washed
out of the comb if possible. He extracted all

132

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 4, 1901.

his wax with the Solar extractor, in which
there should always be a little moisture
present. According to Tyndall the vapour of
water was a bad conductor of heat. The
mildness of the climate of this country was
attributed to the vapour blanket covering the
earth, which retained the radiant heat. As a
practical fact he found that with a certain
amount of moisture the wax was melted
quicker than it would otherwise be. The
Solar extractor bleached the wax, and to some
extent diminished the aroma ; but he was not
aware of any purpose for which wax was
used where the retention of the aroma was
necessary, except, perhaps, for judging on the
show-bench. The aroma per se had no
marketable value. The colouring matter in
wax was chiefly due to pollen. Sulphuric
acid was sometimes used to bleach it, and
some of the makers of foundation used this
bleaching agent. It was an easy thing to put
sulphuric acid in, but difficult to get it out
completely. He had seen foundation refused
by bees, which upon examination was found
to contain sulphuric acid in considerable
quantities. He was more inclined to attribute
the refusal of foundation by bees to that
cause, for he had found by experiment
that bees did not refuse foundation
upon which the lubricating liquid used
in making it had been left. It had been
noticed that bees sometimes take to
dark foundation quicker than light, probably
that was because of the chemical process used
in the bleaching of the lighter-coloured mate-
rial. It must not be forgotten that sulphuric
acid might contain arsenic. The colouring
matter in wax was of an acid nature, and
would darken if an alkaline, or even calcareous
water, were used in extracting. Only rain-
water should be used, if procurable. Boiling
the water first might take out a certain per-
centage of lime and iron salts, and thus a
slight improvement in colour might be effected.
Where a large quantity of wax had accumu-
lated the different cakes would generally be
found to vary in tint. To obtain a uniform
product these cakes should be bulked in one
mass, which could be done by melting in an
oven. The next step was to subdivide the
wax into pieces of a size suitable for the
market. This was best done by casting into
a round wooden mould kept constantly wet
by immersing in tepid water. Another
method was to cast a long rod of the
required diameter, and then to cut it up
in pieces at a temperature of about 100
deg. In casting such a rod it was advis-
able to chill the mould at once, and by
keeping the wax liquid at the top air-holes
could be prevented. Having obtained small
circular cakes of wax, the next stage was the
moulding. The simplest implement for this
was a little butter-mould — a ring of wood
about H in. internal diameter, into which
fitted a disc of wood upon which the design
was engraved. The mould was kept wet, and

when in use was placed upon a piece of wet
wood or fabric. The discs of wax and the
mould were warmed to 126 deg. Fahr. by
immersion in hot water. A thermometer was
necessary for successful working. A moderate
pressure then sufficed to impress the wax with
the design, which was much sharper than any-
thing that could be produced by casting alone.
After pushing the wax out of the mould,
it was advisable to dip it into cold water for
four or five seconds ; this chilled the surface
of the wax and facilitated removal from the
engraved part of the mould. The principal
trouble in working was to -prevent sticking.
If the moulds were not heated up to the
proper temperature or made wet enough, there
might be a mishap. Should there be adhesion
to the mould the latter should be immersed in
the warm water, when a piece of plastic wax
pressed against it would remove any particles
of wax adhering to the mould. On a larger
scale a hand-press would be useful, and a
number of moulds of different patterns and
sizes. There was no doubt that elegant and
attractive samples of wax would secure more
favour than shapeless and ugly blocks of it.

Mr. Reid then handed round for inspection
several specimens of wax beautifully prepared
by his own hand in various ornamental shapes ;
they were much admired.

Mr. Weston was delighted to hear Mr. Reid
say that after his experience with the solar
extractor he would use no other ; but with
regard to having a certain amount of moisture
in the extractor he would ask Mr. Reid to
reconsider his advice. The appliance was a
box having a top pervious to the sun's rays,
which were required to raise it to a certain
temperature. His experience was that the sun
would work at the easiest part of its labour,
i.e., the evaporation of the water, and until
that had passed into vapour the wax would
not reach a sufficiently high temperature to
begin to flow.

Mr. Reid intended it to be understood that
there should be moisture in the extractor only
to the extent of it being full of aqueous
vapour. Nevertheless, he had taken a cube of
rather impure wax and found it would not
melt in the extractor, upon which he applied
^ oz. of water, and it soon melted. He had
experimented with a thermometer, which
registered an increase of heat when aqueous
vapour was present.

After some further discussion, in which Mr.
Hooker and Mr. Belchamp took part, the Chair-
man moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr.
Reid in acknowledgment of his clear and able
explanation, for which the meeting was much
indebted to him. Wax was an important
product, and any means that could be adopted
to promote its sale would be an advantage to
bee-keepers.

Mr. Hooker seconded the motion, which
Avas carried unanimously.

A vote of thanks to the chairman for his
presidency closed the proceedings.

April 4, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

13;

IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

A special meeting of the committee of tbe
I.B.K.A. was held on March 9 in Dr. Traill's
rooms, Trinity College, W. J. Delap, E*q.,
J.P., and afterwards Rev. J. G. Digges, in the
chair ; also present Dr. Traill, Messrs. Abbott,
O'Bryen, and the hon. sec. Mr. Henderson's
resignation of the hon. secretaryship for co.
Carlow was reluctantly accepted.

A communication was considered from the
secretary of the British Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion stating that the Baroness Burdett-Coutts
had expressed a wish that the I.B.K.A. should
be represented at the Agricultural Show at
Belfast, and that she was willing to contribute
to the cost. The secretary was instructed to
ask the Belfast Show Committee for the
necessary facilities.

The correspondence relating to the proposed
Irish Bee Journal was submitted, and the
secretary was instructed to communicate with
the Department of Agriculture and the
County District Board. A sub-committee,
consisting of Messrs. Abbott, Digge3, Gillies
and Read, was appointed to arrange for the
publication of the journal should sufficient
grants in aid be promised.

A committee meeting was also held on March
21, in Dr. Traill's rooms, W. J. Delap, Esq ,
J. P., in the chair. The hon. sec. reported
that the Council of the Belfast show had
granted facilities for the bee tent, and for an
exhibition of hives and bee-keeping appli-
ances. The arrangements with the Council of
the Belfast Show were confirmed, and a depu-
tation was appointed to meet the Baroness
Burdett-Coutts on behalf of the Association.

It was resolved that local associations, of
which no report or affiliation fee should have
been received in time, should be omitted from
the ancual report of the Association.

CmT^jjmulattt.

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for fh c
opinion) expressed by correspondents. No notice trill be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

HONEY AT THE DAIRY SHOW I

[4307.] The Council of the B.B.K.A ,
having empowered me to receive subscrip-
tions in aid of prizes to be offered for honey,
&c, at the forthcoming Dairy Show, I shall
be obliged if these of your readers who con-
sider the department should be continued,
and are willing to help in maintaining it, will
be good enough to forward their donations to
reach me not later than Thursday, April 18,
when the schedule must be arranged. To
retain the classification as last year, and to

add prizes for honey in sections other than
4] in. by 4| in. by 2 in. (as proposed) will
require over £20, which the Association can-
not possibly guarantee from the ordinary in-
come of the Society. If less than the amount
named be subscribed, it will, of course, be
necessary to cut down the pr'ze list accord-
ingly.

A few donations have already come to hand,
and a list of these, together with any further
suois which reach me during tbe next few-
days, shall be forwarded for your kind
insertion in the B.BJ. of the 11th inst. —
Edwin H. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-
square, IV , April 2.

SIZE OF SECTIONS.

[4308.] Sometimes the words of one friend
solve the difficulties of another, which then do
not need so full a reply from me. Thus last
week Mr. Phil Jones (on page 114) partly
answers Mr. John Brown's letter (page 113).
1 can assure the last-named gentleman that
nothing he has written will damp the ardour
of those who feel the importance of the sub-
ject, whose aim is nothing less tlan to harvest
an additional 25 per cent, of comb-honey,
which we think ought to be secured. We
have no desire to upset the thousands of hives
in the country, only to invite all who are like-
minded to take another step towards improve-
ment by trying some of the new sections.

The time to fix upon any section as a
" standard'' will come when the vast majority
are convinced about its commercial superiority,
and are willing, after due consideration, to
adopt it. Besides what Mr. P. Jones says
about altering racks, I would suggest another
simple way of experimenting — by inserting in
a ten-frame super five frames holding the new
sections in lieu of the six central ones. Would
that involve much labour and expense 1 Mr.
P. Jones also alludes to Mr. Howard's plan of
using the sections short way up. There may
be some advantage in it. I hope to try both,
but at present I am inclined to favour the
length being vertical in shallow-frames. I,
however, remember how years ago some able
bee-keepers preferred the 4 by 4| in. section.
These had two points to recommend them.
In shallowness they resembled the Stewarton
supers, and the racks for them covered the
brood-frames nicely without the addition of
laths. Mr. Finlay's method (4278, page 102)
of improving section-racks is interesting. He
will probably get a few more sections com-
pleted by it ; but, unfortunately, it does not
tend towards simplification, and the results
may not be good enough to justify its
adoption.

In reply to Mr. Taylor, of Welwyn (4281),
I would say that the " expensive way of
supering " is the one which gives the worst
results. I have longed for years for 1-lb.
sections of such a sizj that three would fit a

134

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 4, 1901.

shallow-frame, and when we have got these,
the section racks can go overboard, and the
separators may follow them as soon as we have
discovered the exact conditions necessary to
place the hanging sections in the position of
shallow-frames, spaced at li or 1$ in. from
centre to centre. In these latter 1 have ob-
served and admired the rapidity and perfection
of bee-work even in moderate seasons. Now,
my friends, who are thoroughly practical bee-
men, and 1 1 have frequently asked each other,
why should not the bees do similar work in
sections ? We believe they can. At any rate
we mean to try and see how near we can
approach this high ideal. When this problem
is solved, the shopkeeper will be only too glad
to have a regular supply of the new section
honey-comb than a fitful supply of the
old. The last season there was a fair
amount of extracted honey. Where were
the sections ! Echo answers where?

In justice to myself, perhaps I ought to
notice the clever article (4264, page 87) of our
masked Northern friend, whose tone is surely
that of one advocating a losing cause. I
would ask your readers whether his style of
argument does not point to a want of confi-
dence in the strength of his position, or in his
ability to defend it ? As he shelters himself
behind Mr. McNally, he can take what cover
he can find in the following quotations : — Mr.
McNally wrote in the Record of February
last : — " From a bee-keeper's point of view,
and taking one season with another, there are
other sizes (than the 4] in. by 4| in. by 2 in.)

that give better results In 1887 (one

of our best honey seasons) I went in largely
for sections 1^ in. wide, and I then proved to
my own satisfaction, at least, that this narrow
make was quicker filled than the 2-in. wide

ones Within the last year or two, tall

sections have also been on trial. These are
supposed to give a better appearance, but my
experience of them — which has only been
limited — did not warrant my adopting them
to any extent. In all probability the coming
season will see a more extended trial of the
no-bee-way section .... and which, it is to
be hoped, will bring comb-honey production
within measurable distance of that 'high
standard ' so much desired by every bee man.''

No ; Mr. McNally, far from imagining
self-complacently that he has attained to the
pinnacle of perfection, is amongst those who,
with banner " Excelsior " in hand, see before
them yet higher heights to conquer. Mr.
D. M. M. thinks he has scored a point by re-
ferring to my former advocacy of extra thick
combs. I have already stated how, owing to
our seasons, I have been compelled reluctantly
to retrace my step3 in this respect. I still
admire the thickest, but for commercial pur-
poses their production I have since found to
be impracticable. Once, when a bee-keeper
modified his conclusions in reference to the
use or non-use of foundation in the brood-
nest, he said, " I shall always proclaim what

I believe to be the truth, even if it does conflict
with my former published conclusions."
Whereupon an editor remarked, " That has
the right ring to it. If there is one thing
that does the pursuit damage, it is the per-
sistent clinging to old notions. A man who
cannot change his opinions occasionally, on
reasonable evidence, should not be trusted too
implicitly. It is no weakness to change your
mind ; but when it is necessary, come out and
say so like a man.''

Next I would turn to one or two questions :
We are asked, " If we make any change, who
will determine what the change shall be?"
I reply, those who are diffident in their own
powers of selection might request the authori-
ties of the various Bee-keepers' Associations
for a little grandmotherly legislation. How
would it do to suggest the appointment of a
special " Section " Committee ? These gentle-
men could hunt up the Bee journals in the
archives of St. Jermyn-street (though I doubt
if they could find all), and carefully weigh the
pros and cons recorded hitherto. Thus primed,
they could intelligently experiment on the
most promising lines, and in course of time we
should be glad to receive their report.

On the other hand, a few enthusiasts may
take the lead, and if they are successful with
any section, others will have opportunities of
comparing the points between the old and
new either in the market or on the show-
bench, and thus the change may be brought
about more or less rapidly.

Again, Mr. D. M. M. says :— " We have not
attained to perfection certainly, but we fre-
quently approach it." What mortal can say
more ? Here are three answers : 1. Try to
approach perfection more frequently. 2.
Prove that you do frequently approach it. 3.
At least defend what you consider a good
cause in a worthy manner.

And now let me ask my opponent a question
or two. He removes certain words from their
context and says they are the essence of my
argument. Can he point to any standard
work or debate which mentions this as a fair
method of argument ? If thus, he proves I
have come down from " cloudland.'' Has he
also reached the aerial mists in the balloon
lately sent up from the Record (p. 35) in-
viting an argument, as I notice the expres-
sion "I think" occurs four times? Again,
does he imagine that those who have outlived
the sneers of the skeppists' "fads," "new
fangled," are now going to be deterred by
their feeble echo ? Once more, when he says
" yet he considers some of us are not friends
of apiculture '' because we stand up for the
present section can he fairly infer this from
my words ? If he thinks he can. he may ask
the youngest Highland village schoolmaster
whether there are not two degrees of com-
parison between my expression and his.

No, I am ready to look upon him as a good
friend of the cause, and how much more will
depend upon himself. For instance, I note

April 4, 1901. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

135

with pleasure a sentence of his in this month's
Record : " The highest authorities state that
the relative proportion of comb to extracted
is something like 30 lb. of comb to 50 lb. of
extracted honey." Here we are happily
agreed, though we may differ as to the cause
of the discrepancy. But I cannot forget what
he was so good as to tell us, how he could
make his bees take to five racks of sections at
a time. Is it unreasonable to ask how many
were completed ? Were any tarnished 1 If
he can get most finished in a moderate season,
all I can say is that it would be worth while
for many of us to visit Banff for an object-
lesson, and the sight would compel us to
regard him as one of the foremost bee- masters
of our time. — Richard M. Lamb, Burton
Pidsca Rectory, Hull.

[As mentioned on page 127 last week, the
very interesting discussion on " size of sec-
tions" is now closed for the present.— Eds.]

SOME ESSEX NOTES.

WINTERING BEES IN GLASSHOUSES.

[4309.] It is not at all uncommon for tho3e
in charge of peach-houses to place a hive of
bees inside these structures, the idea being
that bees, having their hive in the house, will
be better able to work upon and fertilise the
peach-blossom. This is an entire mistake, for it
will be found that such bees as are able to
find their way out by the door or the ventila-
tor return to the old stand outside and are
lost, while those that are unable to find an
exit from the house exhaust themselves in
their efforts to do so. The number of bees
that find their way back into their hive when
the latter is placed in a glasshouse is ex-
tremely small, the more so by reason of the
usual necessity for placing the hive in an out-
of-the-way corner of the house. The artificial
warmth of the house also causes more bees to
leave the hive than would be the case if the
latter remained out of doors. In this way quite
a few days suffice to rob the hive of the labour
of nearly all its best and strongest flying bees,
which, on discovering their confinement, will
at once exhaust themselves by dashing against
the glass, in their endeavours to reach the open
air, without having visited a single flower.
Not only, therefore, is little or no good done
by placing hives of bees in peach-houses, but
much of the brood in the combs will die from
lack of attention and warmth. It then
decomposes and rapidly becomes a source of
danger to other stocks of bees. Such bees as
find their way of their own will into a peach-
house from outside do ten times the work
that confined bees are supposed to do, and
benefit by that work, though, as is well known,
a large number are always lost, being unable
to find their way out of the house.

I recommended the destruction of one of
two hives of bees that 1 found in peach-
houses last spring at once, and the other was

practically valueless. I had intended to refer
to this earlier, and the query of G. F. Gilli-
land (2606, page 12S) last week reminded me
of it. — Wji. Loveday, Hatfield Heath,
Harlow, Essex, April 1.

Erratum.— Page 126, line 13 from the
bottom, for, " weight " of supers read height
of supers. — W. L.

HAZEL CATKINS AND BEES.

T4310] It appears from recent issues of
the Bee Journal some correspondents seem
to have decided that bees visit the catkins of
hazel, while others are certain they do not.
Last week Mr. W. Woodley asked (on page
124), " Why some blossoms produce one nut
only, while another will produce a bunch of
ten X " I offer the following as a solution of
this question : — The hazel belongs to the order
Humamelidacea'. It is a tree or shrxtb with
alternate simple leaves and deciduous stipules.
Floivers in globular heads or spicate, perfect
or polygamous, unisexual or moncecious.
Calyx superior four or five-lobed. Petals
four or five, with an involute or circinate
activation, or altogether wanting. Stamens
eight, half of which are scale-like, sterile, and
placed opposite to the petals, and half fertile
and alternate with them, or numerous.
Ovary inferior, two-celled ; ovules solitary or
numerous ; styles two. Fruit capsular, two-
celled, with one seed in each cell ; seeds
albuminous. As the catkins may either be
perfect or polygamous, unisexual or moncecious,
it will be quite easy of comprehension that in
the former case the ovary may contain many
ovules bearing an equal number of fruits, and
in the latter only a single ovule producing
only one fruit.

Although, as pointed out by Mr. W., the
mode of fructification is accomplished by the
falling pollen from the vertically hanging
flower, it does not follow that one catkin
should bear more than one fruit, because the
catkin may be a unisexual flower with only
a single- celled ovary, which will produce one
nut only. — A. W. Salmon, Waltlxam Abbey,
Essex, March 30.

BEE-KEEPING IN CORSICA.
[4311.] "While driving recently through
certain villages high up in the mountains of
Corsica, I was offered in the daily fare honey
of a very thick brown colour, and, as I think,
of very good flavour. Being interested in all
matters in relation to bees, I asked to be
shown^the hives, and gathered certain informa-
tion about their bee methods. All are unfor-
tunately of a very primitive order. First, the
hives. These are placed on the terraces (for
the most part) where the vines grow, which,
being kept low, do not afford any protection
from the sun, which in summer is very hot.
They are of wood, cut in thick rough lengths

136

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 4, 1901.

from the chestnut-trees, and are about 4| ft.
long by 1 ft. high and 1 ft. broad. Owing to
an accident with my kodak I was unable to
take a photo.

In some cases the ends had a sort of handle
by means of which to draw them out, as this
is the only way of getting at the honey, while
the bees find their way in and out by any
crack they can. At the end of the season
they smoke the bees with paper, &e., stuffed
in one end, and then cut out the comb (which
in all cases I examined hung evenly), put it
into a bag and squeeze out all the honey,
while the wax goes to form the candle3 for
their churches. I explained as well as I C3uld
to the owner of one of these apiaries (about
a dozen hives) how we managed in England,
and although he seemed interested I don't
think he will ever try to improve upon his pre-
sent methods. There is an abundance of honey-
plants all over the country, the chief source
being, I think, the various kinds of heaths
called " maqui." Besides wild flowers, there
are the arbutus, cistus oleander, and myrtle,
all of which I believe are honey-producers.

I do not know if this will be of any interest
to your readers, but write this account on the
chance that it may. Personally, I felt very
envious of the long season they have in the
island (the bees were very hard at work during
the warm days of February) and 1 am anxious
to return to see how mine are getting along. —
D. Mappin, Epsom, March 28.

HOW TO CLEAR A DISTRICT OF
WASPS.

[4812.] It would be interesting to some of
your readers to hear how I cleared this district
from wasps last year.

For many years past we have been sorely
troubled with these pests to gardeners and
bee-keepers, and in my garden, along with
others, they have eaten up or spoiled a great
part of all the fruit. For some years I have
had all nests destroyed about me that we
could hear of, or find, but the more "we
destroyed the more wasps seemed to visit my
garden. Several years ago I had heard of
offering a price for dead queen wasps, so I
arranged with our local post-office to allow a
notice, written by myself, to appear in their
window offering Id. each, or Is. per dozen, for
all dead queen wasps brought in to the end of
May. When the weather became a little
warm, dead queen wasps began to come in,
and by the time they got fairly active we had
dead wasps coming in rapidly, in all to the
number of 478. Some bought tobacco,
newspapers, or chocolates with the pro-
ceeds, while some took the money. A little
mite came in one evening last May, saying,
" Please, I have brought a wa3p, and I was to
have a Daily Mail and a Daily Argus for it"
— the two halfpenny Birmingham evening
papers, with, at that time, the latest war
news ! A friend met me at the post-office one

morning, who said : " I have brought a queen
wasp for my Daily Post. I ha?e had a wasp
for my Post each day this week, and I have
oie in hand for to-morrow ! " One day a
little girl brought in no less than nine on a
piece of cotton.

I do not know how many there would
average to a nest for a season, if like bees,
where those born first would die in a couple
of months and be replaced with others ; and
putting 5,000 to a nest, and allowing a 10 per
cent, loss of queen? from any cause, over
2,000,000 wasps would be accounted for and
prevented coming to life. Anyway, tins
whole district was practically cleared, much to
the satisfaction of many friends, who used
to have their jam-pots raided and cleared,
honey or fruit on the tea-table hardly put
down before the wasps were on it, and many
stings and annoyances prevented. — J. II.
Pakkes, Dor ridge, March 26.

"WELLS" versus SINGLE HIVES.
[4313.] I would recall Mr. Woodley's atten-
tion to his remarks in " Notes by the Way ''
(4300, page 123) on " getting racks of sections
tilled in five days." In the season of 1894
I extracted all honey from one continuous
surplus-chamber on a " Wells " hive contain-
ing nineteen shallow- frames, and just one week
later these frames were all filled, sealed, and
extracted agdin ! These facts should go a
long way to prove Mr. Lamb's remarks on
sections being completed in five days. In
reference to Mr. Woodley's second remark,
about " ' Wells ' Hives v. Single Hives," on
the following page, how any one can contest
this passes my comprehension. If he refers to
ray report, January 24, 1901 (4221), he will
find the result from " Wells " hives and also
from single hives, the " take " of honey from
my best " Wells " hive and from four of my
best siugle hives. My best " Wells'' hive nearly
beat the take from the four best single ones.
Taking three of my best single hives against
my best " Wells " hive, he will find the "Wells "
beats the three best single hives by 25h lb. of
honey. Perhaps after these facts he will kindly
reconsider his remarks. How any one can
contest this passes my comprehension. — J. H.
Horn, Beclale, Yorks, April 1.

SOUTH OF SCOTLAND B.K.A.

THE GLASGOW EXHIBITION.

[4314.] In reply to your correspondent
"D. M. M., Banff" (4301, page 124), will you
kindly allow me to inform him that the South
of Scotland B.K.A, are at present in com-
munication with the Directors of the Glasgow
International Exhibition with a view of hold-
ing an exhibition of apiarian produce worthy
of tbe occasion. It is our intention that this
shall be the finest exhibit of honey ever seen
in Scotland, and if possible we shall arrange
to have an exhibit from our bee-keeping

April 4, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

137

friends across the water. "D. M. M." will,
no doubt, be fully aware that last year we
held an exhibition of honey in Glasgow,
principally for the benefit of Scotch bee-
keepers, yet only five — other than those in
our own district— gave us their support, and
"D. M. M.'' was not one of them. If he or
any other beekeeper would like to participate
in making this exhibition a success, let them
send their subscriptions (which will be duly
acknowledged) to me at once.

How can it be said that there is no Scottish
Bee-keepers' Association, when the S.S B.K.A.
can afford to hold two exhibitions in the year,
namely, at Dumfries and Glasgow 1 — James
Kerr, Eon. Secretary, S.S.B.K.A., Milldam-
head, Dumfries.

IMPORTS OF HONEY AND BEES- WAX.

[4315.] May I draw the attention to the
enclosed press cutting, which gives particulars
from "manifest,'' of the steamship Port
Morant which arrived at Bristol (Avonmouth
Dock) on Tuesday, the 19th ult. This steamer,
which is the first of the Messrs. Elder,
Dempster & Co.'s Government subsidised
line of steamships under Mr. Chamberlain's
scheme for opening up the West Indies,
brought over, as you may see, 28 cask3, 53
packages, and 4 kegs of honey, and 7 barrels
of beeswax. These steamers are due here
at least once a fortnight.

Should it be worth your attention it would
be interesting to me, and perhaps to others of
your readers, to know your opinion of the
effect of this importation on the honey and
wax market, and if it is possible that it can
be kept up all the year round; if so, I expect
to see a great increase in the total value of
imported honey, a list of which you favour
your readers with monthly. The country
must be very favourable to bee-keeping. — E.
Skinner, Frampton, Cotterall, March 26.

[We are much obliged for cutting sent, but
there is, we think, nothing beyond the ordinary
quantity of honey exported from the West
Indies to this country. The honey from the
West Indies is already included in the imports
we publish monthly. — Ed3.]

ANCIENT BEE-BOOKS.

"The Parliament of Bees, with their proper Charac-
ters, or a Bee-hive furnisht with twelve Honey-combes,
as Pleasant as Profitable. Being an Allegoricall descrip-
tion of the actions of good and bad men in these our
dales ; by John Daye, Sometimes Student of Caius'
Colledge in Cambridge." London 1641.

[4316.] From a utilitarian point of view the
"Parliament of Bees" should hardly find a
place in a review of ancient bee-books. But a
column may well be spared to it as a warning
to the practical bee-man should he come
across the short title only in a bookseller's
catalogue ; while to the more leisurely the
poetical beauty of the short extract given
below will be a sufficient excuse.

John Day was a dramatic writer of whose
life little is known. The dainty, whimsical
" Parliament of Bees " was written about 1607,
but was not published in its present form,
if at all, until the date given above. It
is a "masque"; one of those dramatic and
poetical pageants much favoured in the
days of Queen :Elizabeth and her immediate
successors, and it treats of " the doings, the
births, the wars, and the wooings " of bees,
as if they were human beings. The well-
known writer, Charles Lamb, was a great
admirer of this masque, ,: Surely," says he,
'; bees were never so be-rhymed before." For
frontispiece is a quaint plate of bee3 going into
parliament. The artist has ignored the third
pair of legs to which bees are entitled ; a mis-
take not uncommon in the illustrations of that
date.

The opening speech of the parliamentary
Speaker-bee begins' as follows : —

To us who warranted by Ob'ron's love
Write ourselfe Mr. Bee, both hold and grove,
Garden and Orchard, lawnes and flowrie nieades,
Where tb'amorous winde plaies with the golden heads
Of wanton Cowslips, Daisies in their prime,
Some loving Marigolds, the blossom'd Thyme,
The blew-veiud Violets, and the damask Rose,
the statelie Lilly, mistress of all those,
Are allowd ami given by Obron's free areede,
Pasture for me and all my swarm es to feed.

South Devon Enthusiast.

REVIEWS OF FOREIGN BEE PAPERS.

BY R. HAMLYN-HARRIS, F.R.M.S.,
FZ S , F.E.S , ETC.

Leipziger Bienen-.eihing (Germany) : Foul
Brood and Volatile Oils in France. — It is
curious how some things seem to be in the air
and come to the public notice at the same
moment. An advertisement of a firm in Nice
is before me of a preparation called "Loquen-
tine." I have just learned that a leading
bee-keeper in the Palatinate speaks very highly
of volatile oils in the treatment of foul brood,
and a short time ago I received a well-got- up
pamphlet on the therapeutic value of propo-
listin edited by Dr. Goldman, of Vienna. The
remedy is said to possess an aromatic and
antiseptic liquid, or compo3ed of the volatile
oils of several aromatic and balsamic plants.
Goldman gives many instances of the value
of propolistin* — distilled from the propolis of
bees — on treating various diseases. Even the
toughest of all spores were killed after ten
hours' immersion in a six per cent, emulsion at
22 deg. C.

Old Combs, Small Bees. — Sometimes one
meets with dwarfs among bees, knowing that
some maintain that such dwarfs come from
old comb where the larva has no room to grow
to its usual size. Root has examined worker
comb that had been used for twenty-five years,

* From these facts it seems evident to me that " pro-
polistin" is a misprint for propolisin.— B. II. H,

138

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 4, 1901.

and found that truly the comb "floor" was
covered with eight to ten pupa skins, but that
the sides had only two and, therefore, still
plenty of space to develop. Wathelet, editor
of Ruchcr Beige, confirms this opinion and
praises the old combs as tough and useful in
moving hives.

Le Bucher Beige (Belgium) discusses the
value of the silver lime (Tilia argent a) for
bees, as to whether or not the flowers have a
narcotic influence upon them.

Several writers from different parts of
Belgium, who have apiaries in the close
vicinity of lime trees, agree that the only rea-
son why the bees suffer in working on them is
that they are so strongly attracted by the
rich booty offered as to remain abroad until
overtaken by the darkness and coolness of night,
or that they are tempted out in rainy or un-
suitable weather, and thus fall victims to
their zeal. Under ordinary circumstances,
however, the silver lime is an inexhaustible
source of nectar for two or three weeks in
July and August.

A contributor writes from Luxembourg : —
" The honey of certain plants is at times so
strongly narcotic that bees and humble bees (?)
working on the flowers are killed by it on the
spot. This is only an exceptional case, as it is
but once in fifteen years that we have noticed
the flowers of several silver limes yielding a
narcotic honey."

Another contributor remembers eight or
nine years ago, in passing under a beautiful
avenue of the ordinary Tilia Europea in
Derbyshire, noticing numbers of wasps lying
on the ground beneath the trees as if* stupefied
but (so far as memory serves) no worker
bees.

Bucher Beige (Belgium). — Bhilanthus
apivorus. This insect is very common in
the neighbourhood of Ghent, especially in the
railway stations, where it excavates its
galleries under che pavements which are
exposed to the full sunlight. It is difficult
to catch them as they are particularly agile.
Among the philanthzis only male and females
exist, and are solitary. The females place
insects or larva; in the galleries prepared for
their young, some kinds even catch spiders.
They are said to sting their victims producing
insensibility and not death, and thus the body
is kept until the young require it.

One variety renders service to agriculture
in destroying a destructive beetle ; but the
bee wolf does serious mischief in attacking
and carrying off great numbers of hive-bees.

<$tt$rip and J^li^s.

[2612.] Working " Wells" Hives.— Why do
the Bees Join-tip in Autumn ? — A friend of
mine last year bought two " Wells " hives, but
towards the end of the season the bees of one

compartment left their combs and joined
with the other in both of the hives. 1. Can
you tell me how to prevent this ? I have a
" Wells" hive myself that I am going to try
this coming season, and I wanted to prevent
the same occurrence with mine if possible.
2. I enclose cutting taken from the Morning
Leader. Can you give any reason why the
bees mentioned therein should have died ;
would it be a case of foul brood or dysentery ?
— P. 0., Lyndhurst, March 27.

Reply. — 1. The general impression seems
to be that one lot of bees become queenless
from some cause, and when this occurs it is
natural for them to join forces with their
neighbours, with whom they have worked in
a super common to both. Perhaps our friend,
Mr. Geo. Wells will give his views as to the
frequent occurrence of similar incidents to the
above. 2. The superstition referred to in the
cutting sent regarding "telling the bees"
when the owner dies, is a very old one, but
none the less a superstition only, and cer-
tainly not founded on fact. The death of
twenty stocks of bees two months after their
owner, if it occurred at all (which we doubt),
was certainly not owing to their not being
" wakened."

[2613.] Transferring Bees. — As a beginner
in bee-keeping I should like your advice on
the following : — I have an old frame -hive
with fixed floor-board, the bees of which I
wish to transfer to another hive. The frames
in the old hive are 10 in. deep, and the new
one is made to take those of " standard " size.
The combs also look old and dark. Which
would be the be3t way to transfer ? Could I
cut a hole in the bottom and proceed as in
the case of a straw skep, and let the bees
work down, as directed in the B.B.K. " Guide
Book,'' which I have. — William Gravell,
Hull, March 30.

Reply. — It should be an easier task to
remove the fixed floorboard than to cut a hole
in it as proposed. But in any case, we should
manage so that the bees could work down into
the new hive, and thus transfer themselves.
Since you already possess a " Guide Book '' it
will not be difficult to find out from it the
best way of carrying out the operation
mentioned.

[2614] Hive Bobbed out in March.— 1
enclose a piece of comb cut from a frame
whereon the bees were clustered. I noticed
" robbing " going on at this hive, and on
opening it, found no more than about fifty
bees and the queen. They seemed only just
alive when found, and next day were all dead.
The frames were bare of bees except this small
piece in the middle of one comb, but there
were three frames nearly full of stores at the
back. I had given the bees a bottle of syrup
over the cluster a week ago, as I noticed there
was no food near, and fancied the syrup would

April 4, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

139

help the queen a bit. On finding the bees
dead, however, I shut up the hive and now
send on the comb to ask it' it is foul brood. I
removed the hive next day after the disaster,
but in moving I found it quite full of robbers !
How they got in I cannot say, but there they
were ! — S., Lancaster, March 28.

Reply. — The small quantity of sealed larvse
in cells is " chilled brood " only, not foul, the
bees having apparently died from want of
food. It is very fortunate there was no disease
in the combs, or your other stocks would no
doubt have been affected with foul brood had
it been present. Great care should always be
taken to prevent robbers having access to hives
of which the bees have died to guard against
such mishaps as yours might have been.

[2615.] Foul-Brood Remedies.— I. Would a
solution of naphthaline be equally as good to
prevent foul brood as a solution of naphthol
beta 1 I tried three or four chemists, but they
had never heard of naphthol beta. 2. Is it
usual when bees have used honey out of combs
that the latter are left a dark brown colour, or
is this an indication of disease ? — A Beginner,
Derry, March 29.

Eeply. — 1. Naphthaline is of no use what-
ever in medicating bee-food, and naphthol
beta can be had from this office at Is. per packet,
with full directions for use. 2. Combs that
have contained honey only are not discoloured
after removal of the latter. On the other hand
the cell- walls of combs become darker in colour
after brood has been reared therein, and the
colour darkens still more with age owing to the
successive cocoons or skins left behind by larvae
reared in the cells.

[2616.] Suspected Combs. — On going over
my hives, the other day, I found one hive
contained two or three frames with a few
sealed cells, similar to the sample of comb I
have sent you. When I pierced the cells
they appeared to be quite empty. I can tell
foul brood when it is in the coffee-coloured,
pulpy mass, but I am at a loss to know why
these cells are sealed over while the others are
empty. Will you kindly let me know in Bee
Journal if there are any traces of foul brood
in comb sent ? Your bee papers are very
instructive and helpful. — P. C, Granton-on-
Spey, March 26.

Reply. — There is no trace of foul brood in
comb sent, but the symptoms quite justified
you in sending the sample on, seeing that
sealed cells, though apparently empty, often
contain the spores of Bacillus alvei.

[2617.] Dealing with Queenless Stocks in
March. — On examining my stocks yesterday
and finding one queenless, I gave a frame of
brood and eggs trom another hive to enable
the bees to raise a queen. I shall be much
obliged if you will kindly inform me through

the B.B.J, if I have done right ; or is it too
early in the year to do this ? The stock is a
fairly strong one, and I am rather loth to
unite it with another. The weather here is
most unpropitious with strong north-west to
north-east winds. To-day nearly an inch of
snow has fallen. — "Doubtful,'' Heswall,
Cheshire, March 26.

Reply. — If the bees have only recently lost
their queen they will probably raise another
from the larva? given, but if long queenless it
is more than doubtful that any queen-cells
will be started. In any case, however, a
young queen, if raised, would not stand much
chance of being fertilised so early in the
season as when she would be taking her
marital flight. In fact, drones do not usually
appear on the wing in West Cheshire before
mid-May, and in so backward a spring as this
it will be even later. We, for preference,
should utilise the bees by uniting them to a
weak lot if you have one.

[2618.] Queen Cast Out in March. — After
some ten days of bitterly cold weather, with
east wind, we had a 6-inch fall of snow here
on March 29. The following day was cold
and dull, with snow still on the ground, and
by no means a bee-day, but I noticed the
bees of one of my four stocks very active at
2 o'clock. The bees seemed much excited,
considerable numbers rushing in and out and
running over on alighting-board, while some
took flight for a time. I also noticed the
enclosed bee, apparently just dead, on the
ground in front of this hive. It looks to me
like a young queen of a few days old. If I am
right, what can it mean at this time of the
year 1 There was also a good deal of " hum "
in the hive, same as in summer. The bees
were all astir, ready to run out at any point
immediately I attempted to lift the cover.
They were wintered on twelve frames, with
plenty of natural stores, and appear to be
strong. There is not much excitement this
morning (April 1), but the bees seem still
working actively. I will esteem your opinion
on above. Is there any likelihood of the stock
being queenless ?— John Martin, Ballyna-
hinch, co. Down, April 1.

Reply. — The dead bee received is a full-
grown adult queen of good size, and evidently
fertile. It would appear to be one of those
cases of " balling " in spring, so difficult to
account for or explain. If the hive had been
opened or the brood-nest disturbed in any
way, we should have attributed the mishap
to what is called untimely manipulating, but
as no meation is made of this we can only attri
bute the death of queen to misadventure. The
stock will no doubt be queenless, and should
be examined on the first warm day to see if
young queens are being raised from larvse
left behind by the old one. Write us again
after settling this point.

140

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 4, 1901.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Lettert or queries asking jor addresses of manufac
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur-
chased, or replies giving such information, can only be
inserted as advertisements. Ihe space devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

Ans Mellifica (Bletchley). — Bees Dying in
March.— Judging by comb sent, we think
the bees have died of starvation. It is quite
a common occurrence for death to be caused
by want of food while there is plenty in the
outside combs. We find no trace of foul
brood.

An Old B.J. Header (Middlewich). — Sus-
pected Combs. — The comb sent contains
nothing worse than pollen. Some of the
latter is mildewed — hence its white colour.
The dead, queen and bees sent show no sign
of disease, and the queen is a fine one, but
with no details sent we cannot suggest a
cause of death other than from hunger.

Rex (Mold). — Soluble Phenyle. — This can be
had from Messrs. Morris, Little, & Son,
Doncaster, in bottles, price 6d. and Is.

John Vicars (Cumberland). — Size of Hives.
— In deciding on the width of the
" W.B.C V hives you propose to build, the
capabilities of your district should be con-
sidered. The inside width of 16| in.,
given on page 37 of " Guide Book," refers
to a hive to take ten standard frames, but
it may be made to hold more if the district
is suitable for a larger brood- chamber.
So long as you keep the length from front
to back (i.e., as the frames run), right to
take in a standard frame with its 17 in.
top-bar, the width is a matter of choice for
the user of the hive.

J. Palmer (Sussex). — Suspected Comb. — We
are sorry that your letter got mislaid. In
reply, there is foul brood in comb sent, but
it is only in the incipient stage. We should
melt the comb down for wax, and disinfect
the hive before using again.

Henry Clarice (Sussex). — My First Year
with Bees. — If you can afford useful infor-
mation to beginners in detailing your first
year's bee-work we shall be very pleased to
have particulars for publication.

Cymro (Ruabon). — Expert Help Wanted. —
1. Communications for Mr. T. O'Bryen, the
Irish bee expert, will find him if addressed
Congested Districts Board, Dublin. Mr.
R. Godson, Tothill, Alford, is hon. secretary
of the Lincolnshire B.K.A., and could no
doubt recommend a suitable person in Lin-
colnshire for garden and bee-work.

*V* We again regret beinq compelled to
hold over several articles, already in type,
until next week.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve words and under, Sixpence; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

FOUR, strong STOCKS in straw skeps ; 1900 Fertile
Queens, 12s. 6d. each. Guaranteed healthy. Woods,
Normandy, Guildford. E 88

WANTED, well-developed PLANTS " Echinops
Sphoerocephalua." Rev. W. Horsfall, Hiteham
Rectory, Ipswich.

CARNIOLANS, strong Nuclei on tour and six frames,
1900 Queens, 12s. 6d. and 15s. each. Geary,
Stanley-street, Barwell, Hinckley. E 82

FOR SALE, two 10-framed " W.B.C." HIVES, well-
filled and in fine condition. Also two well-stocked
SKEPS. Mrs. HULBERT, The Limes, Kilby, Leicester.

n^TH YEAR.— Splendid STOCKS. 10 wired-frames,
Z/D 32s. Gd., eight (frames only) 20s., six, ISs. Strong
Skeps, 10s. 6d., 12s. 0d., 15s. Packing free. Alsford,
Expert, Blandford.

p r<LB. PURE EXTRACTED HONEY (first quality),
\D\J in one-lb. screw-cap bottles, neatly labelled,
8s. 6d. doz. Gardiner, Junr., Dane way, Cirencester.

E 86

T UST ARRIVED. -Supply of New tall Mb. SECTIONS
J (i\ in. by 5 in.), 4-way and no-way, 100, 3s. ; 3s. 9d.
post free. Separators and Fences, 2d. each. F. Sladen,
Ripple Court Apiary, Dover. E 88

FOR SALE, two STOCKS of BEES in Bar-Frame
Hives ; Windsor extractor, new ; sections, Standard
and shallow frames built out, three skeps, snicker,
veils,! feeder, &c. A. Pennington, The Rookeries,
Ashton-in-Makerfield. E 84

WANTED, for Bees, Appliances, and Bee-keepers,
ACCOMMODATION at abundant heather, near
Eastern counties. State full particulars of railway
station, roads, carting, house, outbuildings, heather.
Address, Heather, Bee Journal Office." e S3

GOOD STOCKS of superior BEES for Spring delivery.
John Walton, Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington.

-i q SEED PACKETS of choice popular bee-flowers,
1 0 with cultural directions, post free for Is. 3d.
Guthrie Bros., Seed Merchants, &c, Alloway, Ayr.

ON SALE, a few STOCKS of BEES in standard bar-
frame hives ; bees and hives in good condition.
L. BAILEY, 55, Park-road, Leek, Staffs. E 46

BEES FOR SALE, five in frame-hives and four in
skeps ; in good order ; clearing out ; £6 10s.
Horrell, 4, Craig-street, Peterboro' E 75

BEES.— Twelve last year's SWARMS, plenty of Bees
and Stores, 12s. 6d. each. E. Long, Fulbourne,
Cambs. E 73

-i r\f^r\ LB. HONEY FOR SALE, cheap. 40 lb.
1,UUU sent on approval. Apply, Johnson's

Apiary, Soham, Cambs.

E 70

ITALIANS, first-cross, best honey gatherers. Good
tempered. Strong ten-frame stocks, with last
season's Queens ; guaranteed free from foul brood. £1
each. O. Knight, Epney, nr. Stonehouse, Glos. E 76

" ~\KT B.C."^ HIVES, FEEDERS and WAX EX-
VV • TRACTORS.— Make your own at third the
cost. For particulars send stamp. Prideaux, Whit-
church, Salop. E 71

QlQ —BEE GLOVES, 2s. ;2d. per pair, post paid.
Ztl Zi» Special terms for wholesale buyers. Manu-
factured by Edward Reynolds, Glove and Gaiter
Manufacturer, Andover.

-I /- STRONG STOCKS Non-Swarming BEES in brood
1 0 box, 25s. ; or with the " Wavendon Swarm-
Preventing Hive," 42s. 6d. each ; securely packed.
Twenty years' "Bazaar ' reference. Albert Harris,
Wavendon, Woburn, Sands. K 60

BIDDIES and BEES— If combining the two, perhapi
you would like an Incubator and Rearer. Why
not make your own ? A Shilling Illustrated Handbook
of Construction given away. Send stamp for par-
ticulars, Edwards, Shrubshill Apiary, Sunuingdale. E 61

April 11, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

141

(BtiiAoM, $jtatitt8, &t.

KENT AND SUSSEX B.K.A.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The twenty-second annual meeting of the
above Association took place on Saturday,
March 30,fat the office of the British Bee
Journal, 17, King William- street, Strand.
The chair was taken by Mr. E. B. Till, and
among those present were Messrs. G. T.
Giddings, M.D., J. J. Beale, H. H. Brice, W.
Broughton Carr, A. J. Carter, C. J. Dow,
Geo. Dow, J. M. Hooker, E. Longhurst, and
H. W. Brice, hon. secretary. The report and
statement of accounts were read by the hon.
secretary, and showed a small increase in the
deficit of last year, arising solely from the
increased expenditure in connection with the
expert work. The spring tours in the two
counties last year cost over £42, nor did the
Association receive any assistance whatever
from the County Council in aid of this branch
of its labour. The work carried out during
the past year was considered satisfactory, but
some curtailment of expenditure was con-
sidered necessary. The secretary was there-
fore instructed to keep expenses down as much
as possible.

The experts' reports showed that in Kent
348 apiaries had been visited, 1,181 frame-
hives and 184 skeps being examined. Among
these 103 stocks were found suffering from
foul brood, against over 200 in 1899. The
reduction in affected stocks is therefore
considerable. In Sussex 112 apiaries were
visited, and 610 frame-hives and sixty-
seven skeps examined. Of these 130 were
diseased. The old grievance was reported
of diseased bees being kept by non-members
as a standing source of danger to healthy
stocks around. Thanks were, however, due,
and accorded to, several members who had
allowed diseased stocks to be treated or des-
troyed as deemed advisable. The reports and
accounts were unanimously adopted with
thanks to the hon. auditor.

Mr. A. J. Baker, of Beckenham, was re-
elected president. The Council for 1901
constituted as follows:— General Sir Stanley
Edwardes, K.C.B., Rev. C. Alder-Stubbs,
Lieut. -Colonel C. E. Beeves, Rev. G. W.
Bancks, Rev. W. R. Nightingale, Mrs. R.
Kynaston Cross, Messrs. W. B. Carr, J. C.
Roberts, G. C. Lyon, G. T. Giddings, M.D.,
John Sterry, M.R.C.S., H. G. Morris, R. C.
Powell, W. Smith, J.P., A. J. Carter, J. M.
Hooker, E. D. Till, E. Clarke, E. Longhurst,
A. D. B. Chapman, J. J. Beale, J. Castleman
Brown, Eric Clarke, and H. W. Brice.

The Hon. Secretary and Treasurer were re-
elected, as were also the representatives to the
B.B.K.A. This concluded the general business,
after which the annual drawing of prizes for

cottager members took place and resulted as
follows : — 1st, Miss E. Andrews, Ramsgate ;
2nd, E. R. Howard, Hythe ; 3rd, A. J.
Bootes, Orpington; 4th, T. Daniels, Burwash;
5tb, C. Willie, Tunbridge Wells; 6th, E.
Hoile, Willesboro'. — (Communicated. )

CORNWALL B.K.A.

ANNUAL MEETIXG.

The annual meeting of the Cornwall Bee-
keepers' Association was held at the Town Hall,
Truro, on March 27, Mr. W. K. Baker pre-
siding. The report — read by the hon. secretary
— was adopted, and votes of thanks accorded the
retiring committee and officers, especially to
Mr. Polwhele for the excellent way in which
he had carried on the work of the society,
and to the Mayor of Truro for the use of
rooms for meetings. The officers were elected
as follows : — President, the Hon. J. R. de
Clare Boscawen ; hon. sec. and treasurer, Mr.
T. R. Polwhele ; committee, Mrs. Tomn, Miss
E. Williams, the Rev. A. Boscawen, Rev. J. A.
Kempe, Messrs. T. W. Cowan, A. Curnow,
A. H. Wenmouth, G. W. Jevons, T. B.
Hender, Lowry, A. Lanyon, W. Gilson, J.
Gill, W. E. T. Bolitho, J. P. Richards, J.
Brown, L. G. Campbell, and W. K. Baker.
The district secretaries were re-elected, with
the addition of Messrs. Jolly, L. G. Campbell,
and A. Lanyon.

Mr. Polwhele, in moving a vote of thanks to
the County Council for their donation of £40,
said they would see by the report that the
members had increased and they had a good
balance in the bank. It was time, therefore,
that they should increase the grants to local
shows from £1 to £2. They also required
two new tents, one for staging honey
exhibits at small shows, the other to
supplement the demonstration tent, as last
year they had two applications for the
same day, and, of course, had to disap-
point one. They also had to convey the
tent from Veryan to the Lizard by night, the
two shows being on alternate days. The
question was how could they meet any of
these requirements unless they got better
treatment from the County Council. Their red-
tape obliged them to keep idle £70 or more,
and last year, with £66 17s. 4d. in hand,
after paying a few small necessary bills he
could not claim more than ,£50, because he
had no mean3 of paying the others, amounting
to £11 4s. 4d., and on presenting these he was
told there was only an available balance of
£7 7s. lOd. The year before last they appointed
a second expert, and he reported it to Mr. Gill,
and also told him they would require £60 a
year in consequence. The estimate was cut
down to £40 for last year, and the same for
this year. They must retrench rather than
increase the expenses. Other counties were
spending ,£100 on bee-keeping, but they who
did all the clerical and financial work,' printing,

142

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 11, 1901.

&c., without cost were hampered by a paltry
sum of £40 for educational purposes.

Mr. Baker agreed to ask the County Council
to give a grant of £60 to the Association, and
pay £40 at the commencement of the season,
as that was necessary to enable the secretary
to meet current expenses. It was resolved,
that a grant of £3 be given to the Redruth
Exhibition, and Mr. Polwhele was empowered
to make what grant he thought desirable to
local shows. — (Communicated.)

A SCENT ORGAN IN THE BEE.

THE SCENT PRODUCED FORMS A MEANS OP

COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE MEMBERS

OP A SWARM OR COLONY.

By F. W. L, Sladen.

Last summer I made a number of experi-
ments with some of the burrowing species
of humble-bees, keeping them in artificial
nests and taking notes as to the way they
behaved from day to day. One nest of
Bombus terrestris I kept under close observa-
tion for about three months. Among several
interesting things I noticed, one that struck
me as being especially remarkable was that I
was able to find no evidence that these bees
were able to perceive ordinary sounds, but
rather the reverse. The sense of smell, on the
contrary, seemed to be very acute, and as
humble-bees do not ordinarily emit sounds in
their nests, neither can they see (the nest
being in darkness underground), it seemed to
me likely that they must distinguish objects
and one another in the nest entirely by the
senses of smell and touch, unless they possess
some other sense which is unknown to us.
In many of my experiments I have been
surprised to notice how keen the sense of smell
seems to be in these humble-bees.

I was led to turn my attention to this
subject in honey-bees. Many writers on bees
state positively that honey-bees can hear, but
I have not yet found any certain proof of this.
Cheshire, in " Bees and Bee-keeping," vol. i.,
pages ( 107 and 108, mentions the "joyful
hum " and the " piping " of queens as indicat-
ing that bees can hear. I have been told
by several bee-keepers that young queens,
when " piping " in the hive before the issue
of a swarm, have been heard to answer one
another, but I have not known them to do
this myself. The phenomenon of the "joyful
hum " is specially interesting. In the " British
Bee-keeper's Guide Book " we read, on page
26, that " the joyful hum of the bees as they
enter the hive will entice others to follow.''
Is it only the "joyful hum3' or is there
something else that attracts the bees? It
was in asking myself this question that I was
led last summer to make certain observations
and to form a theory of which the following
is a summary. If in summer-time a comb be
taken out of a hive and the bees on it be

shaken off on to the alighting-board, several
of them will gather around the mouth of the
hive and stand with their heads towards the
entrance " fanning " their wings and sounding
a peculiar hum. A few dozen such bees have
a magical effect in attracting stragglers,
and the greater the number of hummers
the stronger is their influence over the strag-
glers and the further does it extend. When
humming in this way the worker-bee adopts a
certain peculiar attitude. She stands with
her head towards the hive -entrance or any
other object to which she seems to desire to
attract the attention of her comrades, and she
elevates the tip of her abdomen and exposes
more or less of a narrow white membrane
which is situated at the base of the sixth
dorsal segment (shown at A, fig. 1), and

pig. 1.

Tip of distended abdomen of worker-bee seen from
above.
4 D, 5 D, 6 D.— 4th, 5th, and 6th dorsal segments.
6 v.- 0th ventral segment and sting.
A, b, c— Membrane bearing Nassonoff's organ.

which when at rest lies hidden under the
fifth segment. It is a noteworthy fact that
the elevation of the abdomen brings this
membrane specially into prominence, and it
seems reasonable to suppose that the abdomen
is raised specially for this purpose. It is also
remarkable that when bees are " fanning "
merely for the purpose of ventilation, as they
do at the mouth of the hive on a very hot
day, this membrane is not, or, at most, ia
scarcely exposed.

In the light of the above and other facts
that I have observed, it suggested itself to me
last July that this membrane may contain
scent glands, and these, when the membrane
is exposed, are stimulated to produce a certain
scent which the fanning of the wings helps
to distribute, and which forms an important

April 11, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

143

means of communication, by attraction, be-
tween the members of a swarm or colony.

One may frequently see a few bees standing
on the alighting-board of a hive humming
and protruding the above-mentioned mem-
brane, especially during and after a general
flight on a warm day in spring. If these are
watched it will be noticed that they cease
humming occasionally and walk a few steps
nearer the entrance, where a halt again is
made, and then the protrusion of the mem-
brane and the humming are recommenced
with greater force. These actions are con-
tinued alternately until the bee often only
finally stops them far inside the entrance.
This process is evidently not for the purpose
of ventilation. It is apparently the instinc-
tive action of any bee that has, after more or
less difficulty, found the entrance of her hive,
and while it is evidently an act of pleasure,
it also answers the far more important purpose
of indicating the position of the entrance to
others outside who may be still searching for
it ; and thus the one or two bees that " call "
may be the means of guiding into the hive
hundreds of their comrades that otherwise
might have perished outside. It i3 interest-
ing to note that when a far larger number
of their comrades are in search of the hive-
entrance, as in the case of a swarm, the
" calling '' instinct is much more easily ex-
cited, and its effects are more marked than
at other times. One instance that came un-
der my notice when I first suspected the
function of the above-mentioned membrane,
last summer, struck me as being very re-
markable, but probably many bee-keepers
can recall similar experiences. A large and
restless double "cast" was hanging near the
ground in an old quick-hedge behind my
apiary. The bees had " balled '' two or
three, if not all, of their queens, and seemed
very excited. I did not know from what
hives the swarms had come, so I fetched an
old fertile queen I happened to have in a cage,
and held the cage to the swarm. Twenty or
thirty bees immediately gathered on the cage,
and set up the well-known "joyful hum," pro-
truding the before-noticed membrane to its
fullest capacity. I then tied the cage, with
the bees on it, up in a skep, which I placed
on a large board on the ground close by,
and shook a few bees on to the board.
These also started humming vigorously, every
one of them, and raising their abdomens
they protruded to the utmost the membrane.
I remember being struck with the fact that
they did not immediately run into the skep as
one would have expected ; but they all stood
still, clearly for the purpose of attracting
their comrades composing the cluster. But
this is not the point I wish to illustrate.
As soon as the bees on the board began
" calling," the whole cluster, though over a
foot away, was visibly affected, and the bees
began rushing together, forming " points " in
various directions. One " point " was formed

in the direction of the ground, and the bees
at this "point " (which was nearest the board),
became more excited than those at other
"points." The "point" quickly extended
down the tree and along the ground until it was
only a few inches from the " calling " bees
on the board. The bees at this "point"
then began to " call '' too, and presently
the magnificent spectacle presented itself of a
broad stream of bees pouring pell-mell in the
greatest hurry and excitement down the tree,
along the ground, and up the board and into
the skep. Of course, there were now thou-
sands of bees " calling " on the board around
the skep. I put my nose down close over this
mass of "callers," and I certainly recognised a
somewhat pungent odour, which, though not
unknown to me in my bee-work, I had never
before smelt so strongly. It seemed to bear a
faint resemblance to the odour of formic acid,
made by a nest of Formica rufa (the large
red wood-ants) when disturbed. I was unable
t'o say for certain whether this odour was
produced by the membrane in question, but
I need hardly say I strongly suspected that it
was.*

It i3 difficult to make bees " call " unless
they are put near a queen or the mouth of a
hive to which they belong or want to belong.
This is easily illustrated. Pick up a half-
chilled bee from off the ground near the
entrance of its hive and place her on the
alighting-board. She will crawl aimlessly
about for some time, but directly she seems
to find out that she is at the mouth of her
home she is almost certain to stand still and
" call.1' Except in a case like this bees seldom
"call'' alone. "Calling" is infectious ; when
one begins all those near her are inclined to
take it up if they are sufficiently animated.
This is well illustrated by keeping a queen
with a few attendants in a cage for some time.
At intervals a large number of the bees set up
a hum and protrude their membranes.

Bees that were brought into my honey-house
on combs, where they gathered in knots on
the benches near the windows, under certain
circumstances set up a " call-note " without
possessing either queen or brood. The
" calling " was quickly taken up by those bees
that were standing close to those that com-
menced " calling," and those that were too far
off to join in the "joyful hum" were quickly
attracted by it to the spot.

(Conclusion in our next issue.)

* On March 13, after the above was written, while
dissecting the abdomen of a bee, I perceived an odour
which I at once recognised to be the same pungent
odour that I had smelled last summer in hiving the
swarm and in the experiment with the queen mentioned
above. I immediately separated Nassonoff's membrane,
with as little of the connecting tissue as possible, and
placed it on a piece of card. I placed the whole of the
rest of the abdomen on another card. The card with
the membrane upon it gave out Che odour strongly for
some minutes, but the card bearing all the rest of the
abdomen (the sting had been removed) produced no
perceptible smell. I repeated this striking experiment
with another abdomen, and the result was the same.
To my mind thi3 experiment practically 'proves the
theory stated in the early part of this paper.— JT.W.L.S.

144

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 11, 1901.

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice mill be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested Ho write on one side of the paper onlytand
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

*»* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

THE STING OF THE BEE.
[4317.] The parts of the sting being few are
easily understood and most of them can be
seen, though indistinctly, by the naked eye.
They are the poison glands with the two tubes
in which they are found, the poison sac, the
sheath, the simple and compound levers, the
lancets with a poison channel between, and
the palpi or feelers. The first two require no
special remark, as, like all glands, they but
secrete the fluid which, in this case is the
formic acid or poison of the sting. The tubes
are of considerable length and He coiled up
near the chyle stomach. They combine and
form one channel as they join the poison sac,
which is simply a pouch or bag, acting as a
storehouse for the poison. The lance, or
rather pair of lances, are admirably suited to
their purpose. This is the part which the
insect inserts beneath the skin when it
sends home its thrust in the act of
stinging. Necessarily, the point is very
acute. It can be seen with the naked eye as
a sharp-pointed needle-like figure, and gener-
ally we find a drop of the poison exuding at
or near the end. But when examined under
the microscope new wonders are revealed, for
we find it is really two independently acting
lancelets with a hollow groove between, and
the outsides of the lower part are not sloping
smoothly to a point, but covered with barb3
on either side somewhat resembling those on a
fishhook. These assist the insect in retaining
the sting in the skin until all the poison from
the sac has been pumped into the wound by
the aid of the muscles and levers, which
have a strong and powerful projective action
even after the insect is dead, or the sting
has been severed from it by the retaining
power of the barbs. This action can be
distinctly seen going on for a considerable
time after the severance has taken
place. The levers are perhaps the most inte-
resting part of the apparatus, for without their
action the force of the impact would be so
small that the weapon would lose much of its
efficacy. It would then be capable of making
only a simple thrust, the force of which would
be scarcely capable of penetrating the cuticle ;
but the double pair of levers, acting on a
central pivot, enables it to acquire a vastly
accelerated speed, with a consequently in-
creased force and power of penetration. Their
action, too, opens up the space between the

lances, and, acting on the muscles regulating
the current of fluid poison from the sac,
pumps it down the channel with considerable
force, ejecting it into the wound not only at
the extreme point of the sting, but at several
of the barbed points.

The sheath acts both as a shield to protect
the lances and as a case for retaining them in
place along which they can slide out and in.
At their extreme they are provided with two
feelers to guide the insect in the selection of
the best and most vulnerable spot in which to
insert its weapon. This can be seen if we
closely observe a bee attempting to sting
rough and hairy woollen clothing, for it
doubles and twirls and wriggles to find some
point of vantage, and feels with the palpi
before protruding the sting where it would be
a case of " love's labour's lost," and when it
discovers that the point of attack is unsuit-
able it desists, to try again in some point like
the skin, when these feelers inform it that it
can strike home with telling effect.

" Inoculation " is undoubtedly the best
curative agent, for in course of time, when
familiar grown, a stinging continues to make
less and less impression on us, until with each
successive season we become almost impervious
as far ar any lasting effect is concerned. We
have all felt the sharp stinging pain when the
poison is injected into our system, and even
when we are " seasoned " it causes a sharp
smart momentarily as keen as at the beginning.
In my own case, however, the feeling is
fleeting, and in ten minutes it is almost
impossible to tell where the wound had been,
even when as an experiment I have allowed
the bee or the sting to pump in all the
contents of the sac. The best way of dealing
with a sting is to rub it smartly out with the
thumbnail or brash it sharply against the
clothing with a down ward slope. Frequently the
barbs are so firmly fixed as to cause on« of the
lances to remain in the skin, but this causes no
inconvenience. It is interesting to observe the
action of the levers continue for a considerable
time after the apparatus has been severed
from the insect, and I have persuaded it to
give me a second smarting sting about a
quarter of an hour after separation.

Drones, as is well known, have no sting, and
almost the same may be said of the queen,
for though she has a sting and can use it, she
so rarely does so, unless when attacking a
rival, that we need not take it into considera-
tion when handling queens.

When a bee leaves its sting behind it dies.
Mr. Root doubts this, but the fact was well
known so far back as the days of Mahomet, for
in the Koran he relates that when the bee first
received its sting, in its pride it prayed that
it? effects might cause death. " No ! " came
the reply, sharp and emphatic ; " and since
thou art so ill-disposed, it is thyself who shall
die after having stung.''— D. M. M., Banff,
N.B.

(Correspondence continued on pag& 146.)

April 11, 1901.] THE BEITISH BEE JOUftNAL.

145

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR. READERS.

Mr. Govett, whose nicely located bee-
garden appears below, is another welcome
addition to the list of readers who — from
boyhood — still retain their love for the honey-
bee. We need add nothing to the following
" notes " written at our request, which speak
for themselves : —

" I first became acquainted with bee-keeping
many years ago, my earliest impression being
connected with ' taking-up ' time and
the sulphur-pit. My father (who died in
1860) set great store on his bees, and con-
sidered them very remunerative, even when

needed, and assist my little workers whenever
necessary. Being a joiner by trade, I make
my own hives — in fact, everything in con-
nection with bee-keeping. I prefer the hive as
shown in photo, with flat zinc-covered roofs
telescoped, rather than the ledges, as they keep
much drier inside during the winter, which is
of great importance here in the West of
England, where we get more rain than cold.
I scarcely ever lose a stock, and at present
have seventeen hives, all containing strong
stocks of bees. My apiary is located at the
bottom of my garden, near a nice stream of
water, and about 200 yards from where the
tide flows. There are orchards, fruit-gardens,
and a rare lot of white clover and sainfoin for

- ' '

m ~~ — ■»

*~'~ lm ■ **k

mm: — i«v ■ ii

m **

mm

MR. P. R. GOVETT S APIARY, TIDEFORD, ST. GERMANS, CORNWALL.

kept in the old straw skep ; but what would he
have said if alive now, when we get five or six
times as much honey from a single stock as he
did from a skep ? I have no doubt he would
hesitate before taking it for gospel, just as do
some of our old-fashioned skeppists to-day.
It is only a few years since I purchased my
fir3t two frame-hives, and at about the same
time I bought a ' Guide Book,' which I have
found indispensable. I then began to take the
Bee-keepers' Record every month, and still
anxious for more knowledge, I at the end of
the year became a subscriber to the British
Bee Journal, and this, along with the help
of a bee-keeping friend or two, I was soon
able to find out what requirements bees

the main honey-flow. Oars is a district of
permanent pasture for the use of sheep
and cattle, which greatly assists bee-keeping.
My garden is a large one, where, in addition
to vegetables, I grow all sorts of fruits and a
great variety of flowers, as I think the 'home
of the honey bee ' should be surrounded by
these attractions, even though it may not add
very much to the store of honey. Besides
being a successful exhibitor at horticultural
shows, I have endeavoured to obtain a con-
stant supply of necessaries for the household
throughout the summer, and the pleasure one
receives in other ways by its attractions is
very great. I may also mention that I keep a
lot of poultry for pleasure and profit, so that

146

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 11, 1901.

I am never in the condition of ' having no
work to do.' My success in exhibiting honey
has also been most encouraging. At the
London Dairy Show I have won prizes two
years in succession with granulated honey,
besides many first prizes at our local and
county shows. These honours, however, could
not be won if my bees were not located in a
favoured spot, where the amber honey flows.
Before closing, if I may be allowed to add a
passing remark on the size of sections, I trust,
if an alteration is made, it may contribute to
the safety in carriage from one place to
another. Perhaps a section of oblong shape
would help this, and if thinner they may be
better filled. I think the present section is
quite large enough, as I often find them
2, 3, and even 4 oz. over the pound. This
fact is certainly not an advantage to bee-
keepers. No doubt others of more experience
than myself will decide this question, but
whatever is done may it add to the success of
bee-keeping and assistance to the bees in the
future."

CORRESPONDENCE.

(Continued from page 144)

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

PRIZE FUND FOE "DAIRY SHOW."

[4318.] I have pleasure in acknowledging
receipt of the following subscriptions to the
fund now being raised to provide classes for
honey, &c, at the Dairy Show in October
next : —

British Bee-Journal ... ... £l 0 0

T. W. Cowan 10 0

E. H. Young 10 0

R. T. Andrews 0 10 0

Miss Eggington 0 5 0

Dr. T. S. Elliot 0 5 0

F. B. White 0 5 0

Total

.. £4 5 0

As stated in my communication of last week
(which you were good enough to publish), a
sum of about i>20 is required to enable the
Council of the B.B.K.A. to maintain the usual
classification. The schedule must be drawn
up, according to the amount at disposal, on
Thursday, the 18th inst., by which date I hope
to hear from all intending subscribers.

This intimation is intended as a personal
appeal to every bee-keeper directly or in-
directly interested in the success of the
undertaking. — EdwinH. Youno, 12, Hanover
Square, W.

THE "RYMER" ADAPTING-BOARD.

[4319.] Referring to 4296 (page 115), may I
be allowed to explain that the adapting-board
is, as stated, "used for the prevention of
brace-comb and the easy removal of surplus
chambers," but not "mainly" for this purpose ;
its usefulness does not end here, but to declare

that and to say it is absolutely necessary,
would, perhaps, be saying too much, as either
zinc or tin would answer for above purposes.
With regard to one of its main features, how-
ever, i.e., placing over the brood-frames for
winter-passages, then the board is absolutely
necessary to success, seeing that zinc or tin
would be entirely useless for this purpose.
Your correspondent mentions "the ledges
round its bottom edge.'' This is an error ;
there are no ledges whatever. The board
is perfectly flat. I would advise all
bee-keepers trying them to get a proper
board at the commencement. They are, I
believe, already on the market, and I have
no doubt the maker will supply them made
to fit any hive to order. There is no
"theory only" in the above. I have used
them for eight years, and never to my
knowledge have I lost a stock in winter
unless the queen has died. I have had them
on small nucleus hives, with young queens,
and containing only two seams of bees in
September. Those facts prove to me that to
be successful in the future rests a great deal in
the wintering problem. The value of these
boards cannot be estimated until put to the
test, and this is all I desire. It is attention
to small matters coming under the head of
management that spells success or failure.

As to my combs keeping during winter, I
may say they are never empty, for if any
honey is coming in after July 15, as the
young brood hatches out, the cells are filled
with honey. Generally speaking, the combs
are more or less sealed over ; those unsealed
are disposed of in various ways that will
suggest itself to a bee-keeper at the end of
the season, and all sealed combs not required
for additional stocks are put into the body
boxes — three balls of naphthaline in each box
of combs — then placed in a spare room, one
on the top of the other and paper over the
top, and a flat board on the top of this to hold
all down. The room under my store-room
has a fire burning daily. My combs turn out
as clean in the spring as when taken from the
hives. I may add that in working two or
more lots of wide-frames above each other the
adapting board prevents one lot from being
worked into the other, which is always the
case if some provision of this kind is not
made. — J. R^mer, Levisham.

LECTURES ON BEE-KEEPING.

[4320.] Might I add a few words to the
correspondence regarding the above subject.
There is no doubt that lantern lectures are of
great assistance in spreading a knowledge of
bee-keeping ; as for being unable to obtain an
audience, my experience is quite the contrary.
After having lectured in about a dozen
different counties during the past few years I
have never failed to see a good attendance.
So recently as Wednesday, March 27, in the

April 11, 1901 .J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

147

Town Hall at Eastbourne, when I lectured
at three o'clock in the afternoon, there were
about 150 people present.

Mr. Davenport hits the right nail on the
head when he says people — who try to lecture
—without a thorough knowledge of the subject
are the ones who disappoint the audience and
so prevent them attending subsequent lectures
if a course is being given. The mistakes
made by such are quite ludicrous, judging from
reports which I have se«n of these lectures by
the local press.

Personally, I use as many slides as possible
in illustrating my lectures. In a course of
six lectures I use as many as 400 slides. It
saves much useless talking to do this, besides
giving the audience a better idea of what you
wish to convey, while the fresh slides appear-
ing constantly on the screen keeps up their
interest to the end. Indeed, I am repeatedly
asked to " go on a little longer." Simple
language, free from all purely technical terms,
should be used, such as will enable the most
illiterate listener to readily grasp the meaning.

I do not believe in using outside illus-
trations that have no relation to bee-keeping;
there is plenty to make it interesting to all if
the subject is treated thoroughly. " Moralising ''
in lectures, as I soon found out, is objection-
able to most audiences.

One matter, often overlooked, is the great
amount of interest aroused by practical demon-
strations with live bees given in the spring and
summer months. The bee-tent at local shows
also creates a remarkable amount of genuine
earnestness, as shown by the number of
questions asked at the conclusion of the
demonstration. These questions and answers
often occupy a full hour, and I could name a
large number of successful bee-keepers whose
first connection with bee - craft dates from
these out- door lectures by seeing how easily
bees can be handled when properly subdued.

No doubt a skeleton lecture as suggested
to be issued by the B.B.K.A. would be useful
to those who know all about bee-keeping, as
it would give headings for a lecturer to follow ;
this is a point which some find difficult to
work out for themselves. — W. Herrod, The
Horticultural College, Sivanley.

SPRING FEEDING.

AN EXPEDITIOUS AND CHEAP SPRING FEEDER.

[4321.] After trying several of the appli-
ances sold for " graduated feeding,'' and in
most cases finding them wanting, I evolved
the following method, which to those whose
time is limited as well as their pocket will, I
believe, be a boon. The materials wanted are,
say, for twelve hives 2 doz. screw-cap
bottles, 2 doz. pieces of f-in. wood (each
4 in. square), 1 doz. pieces of wire-cloth (each
3 in. square), and a few shoemakers' rivets
(| in.). Having these materials in hand, we
may now proceed as follows : — Get a piece of
cardboard 4 in. square ; rule lines from

corner to corner (this will give us the centre) ;
then take one of the screw-caps, place it as
near central as possible, mark round with a
pencil, and cut out the circle ; this will give
us the " mould." Now place this on each of
the pieces of wood and mark same, and then
by means of a keyhole-saw or fretsaw cut out the
centres. Now between each two pieces of wood
place a piece of wire-cloth and fasten in posi-
tion by driving four of the rivets through. Our
"stages " are now complete. Now take each of
the (hard) screw-caps, and punch a hole TV in.
by means of a small punch or bradawl. Punch
this from the inside, and file the ragged edge
off outside. The hole may be in any position.
This completes the feeder. To use the same
the twelve stages may be put into position on
hives, and the bottles full of syrup inverted
and left. If we want to renew the supply,
say the next day but one, we can fill the
other dozen bottles, and going round to each
hive take off the empty one and replace by a
full one. It will be seen, of course, that it is
not possible by this system to give a varying
number of holes for access to the syrup, but
of course a few caps might have any number
of holes punched in them, and so used on
any of the bottles. The use of wire-cloth
instead of perforated zinc allows the holes to
be in any position without being in the way
of the bees getting the supplies. It might,
however, be desirable to experiment with one
cap to see how long a certain sized hole would
be passing the bottleful and when this was
found, to increase (or otherwise) the same to
suit the rate of delivery desired. — Will
Hampton, Richmond.

AFTER THE WINTER.
[4322.] My apiary has come through the
most wretched and trying winter-time for many
years. I was surprised to find that there has
been a large consumption of food. The
mortality also has been very great, and many
gallons have been removed from below the
frames. At their first cleansing flight, in
February, the hives were very badly " spotted,''
and although each hive-body was eked 2 in.
above floorboard, the mildew has come out
on many of the combs. We are situated
600 ft. above sea-level. On Saturday a change
in the wind — 58 deg. Fahr. in the shade — was
the first real break-up of the cold. The bees
flew freely and far after pollen. I at once set
to work and removed floorboards, scraped
them, and then scrubbed with boiling water
and soap. What a state they were in ! As I
had got everything ready, it did not take long
to get through twelve hives. Sunday was a
splendid day for the bees. How they fetched
the pollen and water in ! I wonder if the
water-carrying business is exclusively done by
a certain number of bees in each hive ? I never
see any pollen carriers at my sponge-troughs.
The sallows and crocuses are very late here ;
white arabis is not quite ready yet. The

148

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 11, 1901,

clumps of chionodoxa I have in the garden
prove to be very attractive to the bees ; the
blue-coloured ovary of this plant is always
saturated with nectar secreted at its base.

I'm for helping " the tall section" question
by a trial. As there can be no such thing
as a standard density of honey, how can our
friend " D. M. M." [4301] talk of light sections ?
— Suburban Bee, Birmingham, April 8.

HAZEL POLLEN.

[4323.] I note that Mr. J. Hiam (on page
114) mentions that he has never seen bees
working on the hazel catkin. Last year I
had fourteen hives in a plantation surrounded
with hazels, and was delighted to observe the
quantity of catkins so near ; but to my surprise
and disappointment I could never find a
single bee working on them. I was all the
more surprised because I saw several bees at
work on the blossom of the spruce fir, which
yields even more pollen than the hazel, though
not so likely to suit the bees.

Can any reader who has experience give us
the reason why such a harvest should be left
ungathered at a time of the year when there
is little else for the bees to gather from ?— T.
Hood, Pickering.

• [4324.] I have been much interested in the
discussion regarding the bees working the
catkins of the hazel. As a bee-keeper of
twenty years or more, I have never yet seen
a single bee work on them, and being gene-
rally observant as to what flowers bees visit,
I think I should have seen them had such
been the case. Again, the hazel generally
blooms in mid- winter, when bees are, as a
rule, quiet in their hives. The hazel is also
what is termed a " wind fertilised " flower ;
hence there is no need for it to be visited by
insects. Surely Mr. Salmon (4310) is think-
ing of the wych hazel, and not the common
hazel - nut, which latter belongs to the
N.O. Corylacea; and is, I think, the one
under discussion. — Elvey E. Smith, South-
feet, Kent.

[2619. J The Nature of Foul Brood Germs.
— Will you kindly tell me if a hive that has
been occupied by a diseased stock of bees still
retains infection after being put away for two
years ? I mean, does the germ still live ? I
have kept bees now for twelve years and
would be sorry to have to part with them. I
have, however, been troubled with foul brood
among my bees for the last two years ; but I
trust I have got rid of it now as I have
destroyed all the affected stocks and bought
some colonies of the good old Guernsey strain
of bees. I may say that the disease was intro-

duced among my bees through some stocks
purchased from England. On examining them
after arrival I thought they seemed not quite
healthy, but having had no experience of
foul brood I could not be certain till it began
to spread. Five years ago this disease was
unknown in the island, at least as far as I was
able to ascertain, but now it seems as bad as
anywhere else. I shall be very much obliged
if you will answer me respecting the germ in a
hive, through the Bee Journal, as I am
anxious to keep the bee3 free this year and do
not care to trust to disinfectants. I lectured
at our lecture hall this winter on "Bees as
Profitable Pets," and I am glad to say the
local papers reported the lecture as a great
success. — E. M. Robin, Guernsey.

Reply. — Any one aspiring to the position
of a lecturer on bees should make himself
thoroughly acquainted with the nature of
foul brood germs by studying the chapter on
foul brood in the " Guide Book " if a
copy is available. If not, you might re-
fer to a special article on the subject
in the Bee Journal of June 1, 1899
(page 209). For the rest, we may say the
spore of foul brood will retain its vitality for
many years, and it is difficult to eradicate
from a hive by any process short of burning.
You may take it from us that bees in Guern-
sey have been more or less troubled with this
bee-pest just as in other places where it was
supposed to be non-existent.

[2620.] Transferring Bees in October. — Hive
robbed out in Spring. — In July last year a
swarm of bees took possession of an empty
barrel in my garden. I transferred them to
a new frame-hive in October, and they had
five frames filled with food sealed over in
December. In the middle of last month I
gave them a cake of soft candy, and noticed
shortly afterwards that the bees were very
excited, a good deal of fighting going on,
many bees being killed. Yesterday (April 5)
being a warm day I examined the hive and
found two small clusters of bees (one of which
contained the queen) all dead, another, a small
cluster, also dead. All the honey was gone,
and only about half-a-dozen live bees left. I
send you some of the comb — the mildewed
piece was on the frames underneath the candy.
Are the dead bees in the cells young or old ?
I will be glad of any information that will
explain the mishap. — E. A. H., Goole.

Reply. — The real explanation of the " mis-
hap '' is the fact of October being too late in the
year for transferring bees. It should be done
at end of August or early in September, so
that the bees have time to prepare their new
quarters for safe wintering in. Not only so,
but if they have time to rear some brood in
the new " home " it attaches the bees to it, and
prompts them to defend it vigorously if robber-
bees make an attack. In your case it would
seem as if giving food in March has started
" robbing," and the transferred bees have

April 11, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

149

allowed themselves to be overcome by the
marauders, which latter evidently carried off
ail the food in the hive. The position of the
dead bees (head foremost in the cells) is a sure
sign of death from starvation.

[2621. J Feeding Bees in Skep.— About July
last year I purchased a stock of bees from a
distance. The bees arrived in a straw skep,
and were placed above the frames inside a
frame-hive, the roof being raised by lifts and
so increased in height to take in the straw
skep. This was done with the intention of
transferring them later, but the person who
was to come and drive the bees down
for me and fix them up properly for the
winter unfortunately did not turn up ;
so, as I knew nothing whatever about bees, I
had to let them remain as they came, hoping
to get the promised help some time. I quite
expected that the winter would kill the bees,
but I find that they were out a few days ago
thus proving that they are alive. They have'
had no feeding through the winter, and I fear
they had not had time to collect much food
after arrival, but I understand that there was
some honey in the skep. I should therefore
be glad if you will tell me how to deal with
them. 1. In feeding, should I cut a hole
through top of skep and put on a feeding
bottle ? 2. If so, what sort of bottle feeder
should I use ? I know nothing of bees, and
should therefore esteem it a favour if you will
put me on the right track in dealing with
them.— Edmund Butler, Sutton Coldfield.

Reply.— 1. Yes ; cut a hole large enough to
take in the neck of feeding-jar, and allow the
projecting shoulder to rest on the straw of
skep. 2. A common glass jam-jar, holding
about a pint, with a neck 1 in. long, makes a
good feeder. In using, fill the jar with syrup
and cover with muslin tightly stretched in
tying on. Invert the feeder quickly to pre-
vent the syrup escaping, and, after setting it
in feed-hole, wrap the junction well with a roll
of paper or rag to keep the feeder upright
and prevent loss of warmth from the skep.

[2622.] Spreading Brood-combs to Prevent
bwarmmg.—l. When should frames with
foundation be inserted into the body-box of
hive, the object being to give queen more
room for laying eggs, and help to prevent
swarming? 2. What variety of bee would
you recommend for handsome appearance
apart from other qualities ?— H. J. Anderson,
Coventry, April 2.

Reply.— 1. Defer giving frames of founda-
tion for the purpose named till weather is
favourable and there are about five good
seams of bees in brood-chamber. When
these conditions are reached, insert one frame
nght in centre of the brood-nest. A week
t /' ,weather keeP3 warm, a second sheet
ot foundation may be inserted next to the
first one, and so on till the required room for
brood is supplied. 2. The handsomest bee
we know of is the pure Cyprian.

Nptices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur-
chased or replies giving such information, can only be
inserted as advertisements. Ike space devoted to letters
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee',
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre.
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those onlu
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

J. B. Peacock (Darlington).— An Amateurs
Difficulties.— With bees located two miles
away and only a chance of seeing them once
a week, the difficulty of managing hives
well is, no doubt, much increased and needs
extra precautions to prevent loss of swarms,
&c. You should take special care, too, in
leaving the bees an abundance of stores for
winter and early spring. For the rest, we
reply:— 1. The comb sent contains only
mildewed pollen, there being no trace of
brood in cells. 2. The acorn-shaped cup on
comb is an embryo queen-cell. 3. We
prefer frames hanging at right angles to
entrance. 4. Poppies are much visited by
bees in some seasons. The honey from them
is very poor in quality. 5. We have not
much faith in the " long-tongued bee "
theory prominent just now.
R. Morgan (Cowbridge).— Bees Dying in
Early Sjiring.— So far as we can judge, the
hive must let in rain, the dead bees sent
being saturated with moisture. The comb
is quite healthy, with no trace of brood in
cells or any indication of disease. .
W. Hutchinson (Banbridge).— Makinq the
" W.B.G." Hive.— The article in Work you
were good enough to send purports to be
copied from our monthly, the Bee-keepers'
Record, and as such should be correct. The
sketches of the various parts of the hive
shown are, however, very rough and far less
like the originals than the outline sketches
seen in the catalogues of many dealers. For
accuracy of description the plan and draw-
ings to scale printed in B.B.J, is a long way
better than what appears in Work.
A. T. H. (Ealing).— Carbolic Acid Solution.—
1. We have never had any difficulty in
getting Calvert's No. 5 carbolic acid to mix
with water when the latter is made fairly
hot. Try again. 2. The Surrey Bee-
keepers' Association will, we believe, be
holding an exhibition and demonstration
with live bees and lectures in the bee-tent at
the Crystal Palace this season. You would
there be able to see how bees can be handled
and learn oi the methods of management, as
desired. 3. The nearest apiary to Ealing
we know of is that of Messrs. Abbott Bros
at Southall, W.

E. R. C. (Newton Abbot).— Using Last
Season s Sections. — Beyond granulation,

150

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 11, 1901.

which has probably taken place, the honey
in sections will be quite fit for table use
Such of the sections as contain only a little
sealed honey may be used as " baits " for
coaxing the bees into section-racks this
season.
B. A. Mangles (Easingwold). — Suspected
Combs— The two full standard frames of
comb sent were clean and healthy looking,
no single cell being capped over or contain-
ing a trace of brood. A few cells contain
pollen, but the combs are entirely foodless.
If the rest of combs are same as samples,
the bees will probably have died for want
of food.
A Beginner (Ealing, W.).— Syrup Making.—
The sample sent is too thin for bee-food, nor
is its flavour right. We will be glad to
know what recipe was followed in making,
and the kind of sugar used, with proportion
of water, &c. When you briefly ask us to
"let you know on the quality of the
sample," an equally brief reply would be
" poor, and not properly made " ; but if the
particulars asked for above are sent we
might guide you in any future syrup-
making for bee-food.
W. Anderson (Ilford).— A Magician Among
Bees. — We have read with somewhat amused
interest your account of the wonderful per-
formances in the bee line of the gentleman
"who owns a bee-farm near Swaffham."
You must, however, pardon us for declining
to " swallow " such statements with regard
to swarm preventing as " Oh, yes, it's quite
possible ; it takes me about ten minutes to
stop 100 stocks from swarming ! " The same
may be said of his other still more marvellous
"tricks" — to use your own term — with
bees. If you will be good enough to let us
know the name and address of the " magi-
cian" you write of, we will endeavour to
learn more of his extraordinary abilities
from some bee-keeper in the neighbourhood.
"Dummy Board'' (Kent).— M aking a
" Wells " Hive. — Mr. Wells has published a
pamphlet giving all the particulars you ask
for, price 6d., which may be had from his
address :— Eccles, Aylesford, Kent.

E. Wilson (Tullibody, KB.).— Bait Sections.
— A few partly filled sections are very
useful as " baits " for inducing bees to take
possession of section-racks at times when
they would otherwise not enter them.

T. W. T. (Lydbrook). — Suspected Combs. — 1.
Although the bees may have died from
want of food there are unmistakable traces
of foul brood in a few of the cells. Although
the position of the dead bees (head fore-
most in the cells) points to death from
famine, the stock was not worth preserving.

W. P. Kew (N. Devon). — Suspected Comb. —
There is no trace of brood in comb sent, the
cells of which contain nothing but pollen.

Some of the latter is mildewed, but nothing
worse.
T. M. L. (Sheffield).— Nottingham as a Bee
District. — Before moving to the lace county
we recommend you to write to the Hon.
Sec, who would no doubt advise you on
the several questions asked better than we
can ourselves. Address : Mr. Geo. Hayes,
Mona-street, Beeston, Notts.
F. J. (Mountmellick).— Painting Insides of
I£im$. — l. New hives should be painted
outside only. For disinfecting purposes,
however, a couple of coats of paint inside
body - boxes is very advantageous. 2.
Managing Sections and Wiring Foundation.
The wire sent is altogether too thick for the
purpose. But with regard to managing
sections and wiring foundation, indeed, bee
work in general, it would be real economy
for you to invest in a " Guide Book," which
contains full instructions on all the points
named, along with information indispen-
sable for success in bee-keeping. 3.
" Weed " foundation is without doubt
superior to that made on an ordinary
machine.
E. T. Webb (Tottenham).— After perusal of
advertisement referred to along with letters
sent by yourself, we fail to see anything
misleading in the terms stated. The book
is "given away" on certain " conditions,"
particulars of which seem to have been duly
forwarded by post at your request.
A Correspondent resident in Tottenham
writes :— " I would be glad if you could give
me the address of a gentleman in Tottenham
from whom I might ask information about
bee-keeping." Perhaps some reader located
in that neighbourhood is willing to render
the desired help. If so, will he kindly send
on his address.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve words and under, Sixpence; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

FOR SALE, 56 lb. HONEY in 28 lb. tins, rather dark,
4d. lb. George Thompson, Helpringham,

Heckington. K 98

ONEY EXTRACTOR (Raynor) FOR SALE, with
gearing nearly new, 22s. ; or exchange. Cotterill,
31, Pemdevon-road, Croydon. E 97

FOUR strong STOCKS in straw skeps ; 1900 Fertile
Queens, 12s. 6d. each. Guaranteed healthy. Woods,
Normandy, Guildford. E S8

ORTSALE, 48 lb. finest EXTRACTED CLOVER

HONEY, 6d. per pound, sample 2d. tin free. T..
HODQINS, Dangan, Rosciea, Tipperary, Ireland. E 95
TOCKS of BEES FOR SALE in standard frame hives.
Apply, Mrs. Allen, Stockliuch Manor, Ilminster.

THREAT BARGAINS.— Four strong STOCKS of BEES
\JT iu new, painted hives, cover 10 standard frames,
£1 each THOMPSON, Apiary House, Gowdall, Snaith,-
Yorks. ' E" ■

EIGHT good, healthy, strong STOCKS of BEES in
skeps. Good condition. Packages free on rail.
Price, 10s. per skep. Further particulars apply,
R. Brown, Flora Apiary, Somersham, Hunts. K 90
TDLACK MINORCA EGGS (Webster's & Pitt's Strains)".
JD Also Indian Game (Cooks Strain). Either, 3s. 6d.
per sitting. H. WlSBEY, Whittlesford Mill, Cambs.

April 18, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

151

(Editorial, JJaiim, &l

IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual general meeting of the Irish
Bee-keepers' Association was held on the
11th inst. in Dr. Traill's rooms, Trinity
College, J. M. Gillies, Esq., in the chair ;
also present H. Chenevix, Esq., J.P., Vice-
President ; W. J. Delap, Esq., J.P. ; Messrs.
F. Beamish, T. B. O'Bryen, W. X. White,
and M. H. Read, Hon. Secretary.

The minutes of the last annual general
meeting having been read and signed, the
report and balance-sheet for 1900 were re-
ceived and adopted, with a vote of thanks to
the Auditors.

A vote of thanks was also accorded to
Dr. Traill for the gratuitous use of his rooms
for Committee and other meetings.

The outgoing President, Vice-Presidents,
Auditors, Treasurer, and Secretary were re-
elected unanimously. .

A unanimous vote of thanks was pissed to
the Barone8s-Burdett Coutts for her interest
in and promised donation to the Association.

It was resolved that the Committee be em-
powered to appoint as a correspondence com-
mittee two members of the Committee, in
addition to the Secretary, with whom the
Secretary may consult by post on any urgent
matter — its powers to be defined by the Com-
mittee.

The scrutiny of the voting papers was then
proceeded with and resulted in the following
candidates being declared elected : — Messrs.
Jas. M. Abbott, T. B. O'Bryen, G. Watson,
W. J. Delap, Rev. J. G. Digges, J. M. Gillies,
E. B. Drought, Rev. P. Kavanagh, C.C., Rev.
W. Kane, M. J. Doherty, W. A. Clandillon,
J. P. Offlahertie, J.P., Major J. K. Millner,
and J. A. Aiken. Ex-officio members : Lord
Ardilaun, President; Vice-Presidents, H.
Chenevix, J.P., Dr. Traill, the Earl of Rosse,
Rev. Canon Procter, Hon. R. Bellow, Miss
Rutherfoord, W. J. Bramley ; Hon. Treasurer
and Secretary, M. H. Read.

NORTH NORFOLK B.K.A.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the above Associa-
tion was held at the Reading Room, Briston,
on March IS'. Mr. H. W. Woolsey was
voted to the chair in the unavoidable absence
of the Rev. W. H. Marcon, Chairman. Lady
Hastings was unanimously invited to again
act as President. Mr. Justice Cozens-Hardy
and Sir W. Brampton Gurdon, M.P., were
also elected as Vice-Presidents, and the Rev.
C. Q. Knowles and Mr. C. J. Cooke as
Treasurer and Secretary respectively. The
Committee was reappointed en bloc. Mr.

C. J. Cooke was prevailed on to continue in
tbe capacity of principal adviser and expert,
with three members (Messrs. H. Powell, J.
Platt'm, and S. Fisher) now duly qualified as
experts, as his deputies.

The Hon. Secretary, in presenting the
seventh annual report, gave a brief epitome of
the work done in the past year, including a
reference to the annual show at Melton Park
on August 6.

Mr. Cooke also presented his report as
expert for the Association, and alluded to the
excellent way in which the bees of members
were managed.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted,
the latter showing that the adverse balance of
the year had been cleared off, but there still
remains an adverse balance of £3 lis. 7id. in
connection with the purchase of the bee-tent,
which the Committee hope will be paid up
during the year. — (Communicated.)

HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into

the

United Kingdom during the month of March,
1901, was £4 547.— From a return furnished
to the British Bee Journal by the /Statistical
Office, H.M. Customs.

A SCENT ORGAN IN THE BEE.

THE SCENT PRODUCED FORMS A MEANS OF

COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE MEMBERS

OF A SWARM OR COLONY.

By F. W. L. Sladen.
(Concluded from page 143.)

As I thought it probable that communication
of the kind I have been noticing was carried
on chiefly (if not entirely) by scent, and not so
much by sound, I tried to prove this by placing
a strongly scented canvas screen across a -line
of " calling " bees which were standing on the
extended alighting-board of their hive, so as
to cut off communication by scent, but not by
sound, between the party close round the
mouth of the hive and that at a further
distance. Scents such as rose-water produced
very little effect. The smallest trace of
creosote produced a marked effect, but I think
that bees have an aversion to the smell of this
substance, as they are known to have for a
similar smelling substance — carbolic acid.
On the whole this experiment, which was
repeated in various ways, produced no definite
result one way or the other.*

The following experiment, which I quote
from my notes, may be interesting : —

" July 30, 1900. 5.30 p.m. I put a fertile

* A few days later I was fumigating with burning
brimstone some wet combs to destroy some larva; of
the wax -moth that had got into them, and I was sur-
prised to find that robber-bees could smell the honey
quite well through the dense sulphur fumes. No
wonder the above experiment was not successful.

152

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April Us, 1901.

queen from one of my nuclei into a wire-
cloth cage with twelve workers.

"6.30. I went to the cage and shook it.
All the workers hummed and protruded mem-
brane. A very sweet odour was noticeable,
coupled with " seaweed odour '' — sweet odour
more noticeable.

" 10.30. When quiet I fed the bees with a
drop or two of syrup, and opened cage. Four
or five bees were standing round queen with
membranes exposed, wings standing out ; some
vibrating feebly almost Without sound. Some
bees got out.

" 10.45. One bee dropped on to the floor,
and ran about as if searching for something. I
held cage, with queen and workers in it, near
her. She did not notice the cage for a long
time. The bees in the cage hummed occasion-
ally. This did not perceptibly attract her
more. After five minutes' searching, when
the bees were quite silent, she discovered her
proximity to them. She was then fully l£ in.
off. She exposed her membrane, elevated her
abdomen, and hummed. Other bees did not
follow suit. She continued humming for
about ten minutes, gradually working nearer
till she reached cage, then she ran over it and
tried to get in."

The membrane in question appears to have
been first noticed so long ago as the year 1883,
when Nassonoff, a naturalist of Moscow,
described the organ, and an account of his
description was sent by Zoubareff to the
Swiss Bulletin d? Apiculture (translated by
Mr. Frank Benton
in the British
Bee Journal of
Dec. 15, 1883).

The organ is
described as a
canal. " At the
bottom of this
canal a large num-
ber of small glands
open, each one of
which has an oval
cell with a well-
defined globule.
From each cell a
fine duct starts
out and extends
to the bottom oi
the canal.'' Nas-
sonoff further says
that the walls of
the ducts are of
a chitinous tex-
ture. He assigns a
secretory function
to the glands, sug-
gesting that they
produce the per-
spiration. Zoubareff, while not absolutely
rejecting Nassonoff's theory, connects the
existence of the glands with the little drops
of liquid that bees were said to let fall
when they are on the wing, which, he says,

FIC4. 2.

Nassonoff's organ as figured

by Zoubareff in 1S83.

Lettering same as in fig. 1.

represent the excess of moisture which nectar,
freshly gathered from flowers, contains over
ripened honey, and which, he thinks, is col-
lected and thrown off by these glands. These
ideas seem very crude, and would hardly be
believed at the present time, but they are
copied in the present edition of Cowan's
" Honey-Bee, " which seems to indicate that
the organ in question has not been further
investigated since 1883.

I have constructed a special stage to my
microscope which holds a bee's abdomen in a
distended condition, enabling me to examine
the surface of this organ under a high power.
It then has the appearance of being paved
with a mosaic of minute semi-transparent
vesicles (b, fig. 1). At the outer margin of
the vesicular area is a long hollowed-out
depression (c).

From the above notes it seems clear that
the organ under consideration is connected
very closely with the means that bees have of
attracting one another. There is strong
evidence in favour of its being a secretory
organ. This being the case, it seems but
natural to suppose that it produces some kind
of scent by which bees are attracted to one
another. This theory i3 strengthened by the
fact that we know that bees are greatly in-
fluenced by scents some of which we can hardly
perceive. They can smell honey and syrup far
better than we can. There can be no doubt that
the antenna* are the principal organs of smell
in insects generally. Lefebvre so far back as
1838 made experiments on bees which seemed
to assign the organs of smell to certain pits in
the antenna*, and this is the theory now
generally held. On the other hand, no certain
organs of hearing have been found in bees.
Sir John Lubbock (now Lord Avebury) says
in " Ants, Bees, and Wasps " (page 290) :
" The result of my experiments on the hearing
of bees has surprised me very much. It is
generally considered that to a certain extent
the emotions of bees are expressed by the
sounds they make, which seems to imply that
they possess the power of hearing. I do not
by any means intend to deny that this is the
case. Nevertheless, I never found them take
any notice of any noise which I made even
when it was close to them." Lord Avebury
goes on to say that he tried his bees with a
violin, dog -whistle, tuning-fork extending
over three octaves, shouting, &c, all to no
purpose. Lord Avebury was, on the con-
trary, very successful with his experiments
testing the sense of sight and smell in bees.
Forel, an eminent authority on ants, denies
that these insects can hear. My experiments
with bumble-bees have indicated a similar
conclusion in their case. While the evidence
regarding the absence of the sense of hearing
in bees is entirely negative in character, one
must not declare positively that they cannot
hear ; and they are, at any rate, extremely
sensitive to certain forms of vibration. It is
possible that the membrane we have been

April 18, 1901.J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

153

considering might in some way act as a modu-
lator of sounds produced in another part of the
body, or even produce certain sounds itself
while exhaling scent as well. Such sounds
might be inaudible to the human ear (vide
infra)- Sound-producing organs situated on
or between the abdominal segments are by no
means unknown among other hymenoptera. In
the male of Mutilla rufipes a metallic chirping
sound is produced as the abdomen contracts
and expands, caused by the segments rubbing
over finely ribbed surfaces on one another.
This insect is closely allied to the ants. Though
the ants are not known to produce audible
sounds in this way, yet certain of them have
a similar structure to the Mutilla, which
Lord Avebury thinks it " not unreasonable to
conclude may produce sounds even though we
cannot hear them." He figures a section of
the junction of the second and third abdominal
segments in the worker of Lasius flavus (the
common yellow ant), the outline of which is
not unlike that of the organ under considera-
tion. It is, however, chitinous and finely
ribbed, and occurs between all the segments of
the abdomen ("Ants, Bees, and Wasps,''
page 230).

Turning now to undoubted scent-producing
organs in the abdomens of insects, we find that
they are commonly developed, and for a variety
of purposes. The scents may be divided into
two classes : those that are intended to allure
and those that are intended to repel. Certain
sphingids exhale a distinct odour, which was
traced by Fritz Muller to a tuft of hair-like
scales at the base of the abdomen, which fits
into a groove in the first segment, and is
ordinarily invisible. Peculiar white threads
are thrust out of the narrow openings near the
tip of the abdomen of certain moths. Smith
found a peculiar brush of hair-like scales in a
groove between the dorsal and ventral parts of
the basal two segments of the abdomen of
Schinia marginata, a moth belonging to the
family Noctuie. H. Garman found in a species
of locust (Hadencecus subterraneus) r," a pair
of white fleshy appendages protruding from
slits between the terga of the ninth and tenth
abdominal somites, the nature of which was
not clear," but they were thought to be scent
glands.

^rmpn&tut

The Editor* do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

NOTES BY THE WAY.
[4325.] The weather has not improved since
my " Notes " three weeks ago, though the days
are longer and the snowstorms have changed

into rainstorms — not "April showers," but
veritable downpours, which prevent farmers
from tilling the fields, except on light sandy
soils ;, gardeners also are, perforce, all behind
with their work ; while in the apiary bees are
idle from want of forage and suitable weather
in which to work. We have been feeding the
bees a little to compensate in a measure for
the inclement weather. The only satisfaction
one finds in the continued wet is the hope of
a good crop of clover later on. All the usual
early bloom is still behindhand — even the
horse-chestnut trees have not yet unfolded a
bract from the swelling buds ; indeed, the
only indication of spring is the green leaves on
the gooseberry bushes, the bloom on the
white-rock (Arabis alpinus), and the green
sheen on the sward. To-day (April 15) has
been finer, and the bees busy between the
showers. In my last " Note " on hazel pollen
I wrote : " Bees do not visit the catkins of
the hazel to gather the pollen." The word
" catkin " is wrongly printed " flowers." After
watching closely year after year I have never
see a bee attempting to collect pollen from the
hazel catkin, though within a stone's throw
of my home apiary there is a long row of
hazelwood ; the boughs have been loaded with
catkins, and no other natural source of pollen
obtainable. I therefore think friend Loveday
must be mistaken on this point.

The section controversy being closed for the
present, suppose we start a discussion on the
best method of bringing stocks up to the " pink
of perfection ? " Seeing that the bee-keeper's
best hopes with regard to this line lie in the out-
put and the finish of his produce rather than in
the shape of the receptacle in which comb-
honey is stored. Our season is generally so
short in duration that I say first of all study
the forage of your district ; keep an eye, keen
as a lynx, on the capabilities of your sur-
roundings ; then endeavour for all you are
worth to get every stock into the right con-
dition to take advantage of the honey-How.
If sainfoin and clover is your first crop do not
worry the bees and yourself by stimulating to
get your hives teeming with bees a fortnight
before there is a clover bud io be seen in the
fields. By so doing the colony is past the
meridian of its strength, or has got the
s warming-fever before honey is coming in.
Then follow annoyance and loss of time, and
possibly a lost season, or at least the early
part of it.

Another item of importance to the would-be
bee-man is the ordering of swarms. Nearly
all, of course, want early swarms ; but the
district in which the bees are to be located
should decide the purchaser as to the best time
in which to hive his new swarm in order to
secure the best results. An early-May swarm
started in a late clover district is not likely to
do great things that season, for by the
time the honey-flow is on the swarm will be
reduced considerably in numbers, and before
it is able to "build tip'' again in young bees

154

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 18, 1901.

ready for field work the season will be prac-
tically over. The safest plan to secure the
best results, in my opinion, is to have the
swarm started to work as near as may be to
the date when the main honey-flow begins. If
you cannot fix the date ask some neighbour-
ing bee-keeper, or judge for yourself by the
clover bloom around you. Then, having
hived your swarm, give the bees a bottle
of syrup (warmly wrapped) nightly for three
or four nights ; this warms them up, assists
the secretion of wax, and the hive is ready
for supering earlier by some days than if
left unfed.

" Wells '■' Hives. — With regard to Mr.
Horn's mention of this matter on page 136,
I beg to say that I was not referring to his
report re " Wells " hives, but as a reminder
that one " Wells " hive contains two colonies
of bees, and that I consider a fair comparison
is between one " Wells " hive and two single
hives. The facts of any system cannot be
decided except by careful comparisons for
several years, as the general bee-keeper who
pays little attention to his bees occasionally
has some stocks that far outvie any others in
the apiary. The said stocks are most likely
in the "pink of condition," ready to take
advantage of the honey-flow, while the others
may be a fortnight too forward or a week
" behind the fair," which would make a very
considerable difference in the " take."

Imports of Honey and Wax.— Anent Mr.
E. Skinner's letter on imports from the
West Indies (page 13*7), I notice also in the
Melbourne Leader (Australia) that our London
merchants and grocers are accused of re-
christening Australian butter into "best
Dorset," and Australian honey (which fetches
wholesale 3d. to 3|d. per lb.) into " genuine
Narbonne," at Is. per lb. retail. The Leader
goes on to say :— "If a buyer asks for Australian
honey he is assured that no one can touch
such an article on account of the disagreeable
flavour of eucalyptus. ... It is proposed to
open a store in the city where Australian
honey, than which there is no better in the
world, will be sold as such, and at 6d. per lb.
pot."

Spring Feeding. —Mr. Hampton's method
of feeding (4221, page 147) is similar to my
own, except that my bottles are the tie-over
jars, and the " feeders " pieces of zinc, with
the outside edges turned down on two sides,
so that the lip of the jar fits in tight ; then
I punch as many holes as I wish — three, five,
ten, or twenty — and insert over a piece of
board in which a 2-in. circular hole is made
with a centre-bit. When removing the empty
jar I slide a piece of glass over the hole as the
feeder is slipped off, and no bees escape ; or a
full jar takes the place of the empty without
using the glass.

Bait Sections. — With regard to these, any
partly-filled sections given should be un-
capped. Never mind if the honey is solid—
the bees will attend to that ; and notwith-

standing what theorists may say about a
crystal in the comb starting crystallisation of
the new honey, practice and careful attention
will prove it a fallacy, a? I have proved many
times in consecutive years myself. — W.
Woodlry, Beedon, Newbury.

WAV

"WELLS" HIVES.

BEES UNITE OF THEMSELVES IN
AUTUMN.

[4326.] In reply to your request on page 138,
I beg to say, regarding " Bees joining up in
autumn," or at any other time, there are
many conditions within a " Wells " hive
which may tend to bring this about. I
enumerate below a few of these conditions : —
(1) A badly fitting perforated dummy, or
other means by which the two queens have
been enabled to come into contact. This
could easily happen through carelessness when
packing for winter, such as allowing either
queen to slip over the top of the division
board while the quilts were off both com-
partments. (2) The contingencies that all
queens are subject to, either in double or
single stocks. (3) One of the queens being,
for some reason, much inferior to the other.
(4) Allowing too much room for the number
of bees which the hive contains. (5) Not
being properly packed for winter, and thus
allowing the hive to become cold, and perhaps
draughty. When this occurs the bees will be
sure to join forces for mutual warmth. (6)
The combs of one compartment being much
better stored with natural food than the
other, or by one lot of bees being fed with
inferior syrup.

In my own practice I carefully guard against
all the above causes, and in consequence
seldom have a case like the one complained of.
I would also strongly advise all who adopt my
system of bee-keeping to try and keep both
compartments in as nearly even condition as
possible in every respect. By so doing they
will have little trouble in the shape of bees
joining forces of their own accord. It is well
known to bee-keepers of experience that every
queen-bee is liable to accident or mishap,
whether in single or double hives ; but if the
bees dwindle away in a single hive before their
owner realises that the colony has lost its
queen, the stock may be ruined and the bees
lost. On the contrary, when anything of the
kind happens to the queen in a double hive,
the bees will, at the very first opportunity,
join that compartment which retains the queen
as soon as ever there is room for them to crowd
themselves into the adjoining compartment ;
and when there is not room for all, the over-
flow will pack themselves as tightly as possible
on to the combs nearest the division-board ;
thus ensuring mutual warmth, and not only
saving their own lives, but making one
very strong stock for their owner's bene-
fit without any trouble or expense. When

April 18, 1901.] THlE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

155

such a case as I have mentioned occurs in the
spring and the bees are neglected for any
length of time, they will store honey in the
queenle8s compartment instead of swarming.

In conclusion, I hope our Editors will allow
me to say a word directly regarding myself.
Some of your readers who correspond with
me appear to think that I have some kind of
business connection with the Bee Journal ;
others, again, seem to regard me as a bee-
appliance manufacturer or a dealer in bees
and bee-goods. For the information, there-
fore, of all it will be well to make it clear
that I have nothing whatever to do with any-
thing of the kind suggested, either direct or
indirect. My source of livelihood is entirely
apart from bees, and I only keep a few stocks
(all double-queened ones) as a pleasant and
profitable " hobby," with which I have every
reason to be more than satisfied both as
regards the pleasure and the profit. — George
Wells, Eccles, Aylesford, Kent.

BEES IN NORTH ANTS.

[4327.] Though only a poor hand at writing,
I send you a few lines to say my bees are all
alive and working hard, when a chance offers,
on the few flowers about. These comprise
snowdrops and crocus, while I have a large
bed of white-rock (Arabis alpinus) as full of
bloom as I ever saw it. For nearly a month
past it has been flowering plentifully, and
promises to do so for month to come. The
bees are very busy on it, as they are on the
blossom of the box, which, latter is in full
bloom with us. I have eleven ordinary frame-
hives and two "Wells" hive3, besides eleven
stocks in skeps. With regard to my " Wells "
hives, I am like the bee-friend who wrote
about them in B.B.J, of April 4 (26 12, page
138). Like him, I cannot understand why
the bees of both compartments so often join
up, leaving one part of the double hive tenant-
less. One lot did this in the winter of 1900,
and another has this year followed suit.

All my frame-hives have plenty of food at
date of writing, and there are plenty of bees
in most of them ; but the skeps are short of
stores, and I have had to keep them going
with soft candy for some time pa3t. Some of
the skeps are very weak. The season of 1900
was the worst I have experienced since
the memorable one of 1888. My whole
"take" was not much over 150 lb. of
extracted honey, and no sections. But, bad
as this is, I can hear of many bee-men in my
district who have done far worse than myself.
One man, a gardener, owning about a dozen
hives, ha3 lost them all through not feeding
last autumn. Many others have had losses
from the same^cause. My own regular plan
is to leave the bees plenty of their own stores,
not taking all away, as some do, and giving
nothing in, return. I^also think; we ^should
provide the bees with a few flowers to suck at,

and of these there is none, I think, that equals
the white rock, for I often find the bees so
numerous that I could not count how many were
at work on a square yard of it in bloom. It
is also so easy to increase one's stock of the
plant by dividing the roots and letting it
spread of itself.

I often think we bee-keeper3 owe you much
for the kind " hints " given in B.J., so different
to the time when I owned my first skep. I
was twelve years old then, and am sixty-eight
now. We never thought of anything beyond
the brimstone pit in my early days ; nor did
we ever forget to " Tell the bees " when a
relative died. I had strict instructions once
to go to each hive and tap until the bees
came out, when I told them my uncle had
died the day before. I often now smile at
the simple way in which I believed in this old
notion. — Geo. Brealey, Grendon, Northants.

LA.TE POLLEN GATHERING.

[4328.] I saw the bees of my hive3 bringing
in pollen freely on December 16 last. This is
the latest date on which I have ever known
them to do so after over twenty years careful
observation. My previous " record " for late
pollen gathering was November 5, more than
five weeks earlier. At the time first named we
had, a quarter of a mile from my home apiary,
some mustard in bloom which the frost had
not destroyed, and this was evidently the
source from whence the pollen came. The same
stock I noticed commenced taking in pollen for
the new century on February 28. So far as I have
been able to ascertain bee3 in this district are
about a month behind this spring, owing, no
doubt, to the unfavourable weather and the
consequent dearth of flowers. Nor has there
been either pollen or anything to entice the
bees or ourselves into the open air outside.
On the other hand, bee-keepers of some year's
experience know that good stocks with pro-
lific queens at their head, and which have
wintered well, come on with a rush when once
they wake up to the fact that spring is fairly
here ; at such a time six weeks makes a tre-
mendous improvement. I hope all bee-keepers
will be ready for the change when it comes,
and that we may have a prosperous season. —
E. Woodham, Clavering, Newport, Essex.

HAZEL FRUCTIFICATION.
[4329.] In replying, on page 135, to Mr.
Woodley's question on hazel pollen (4300, page
124), I alluded to the mode of fructification
of the hazel, which applies to " witch-hazel "
as well as the common nut-hazel. It will be
seen that no mistake occurred, as suggested
by Mr. E. E. Smith (4324), as it was not
specified which species of shrub was under
discussion. The common nut-hazel is indi-
genous, while the habitat of the witch-hazel is
Canada and the United States ; but the latter

156

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 18, 1901.

is to be found cultivated in the British Isles.
It matters not whether the " witch-hazel " is
visited by bees — in England or America — the
fact remains that the common nut-hazel is
appreciated by Apis mellifica in some localities,
a proof of which is in the fact that a well-
known experienced bee-keeper of this neigh-
bourhood has had his bees busily engaged on
the catkins during the past few weeks. It
may be that the attraction bees get is due to
the district in which the hazel grows. Some-
times insects are attracted by the sweet fluid
secretion of certain flowers, and this may be
a possible reason for bees visiting hazel catkins
if the climatic influences, soil, and environ-
ments are favourable. The pollination is
anemophilous in the flower in point. Certain
structural features are associated with the
mode of transference of the pollen. It is pro-
duced in large quantities, is very light and
dry, and in some instances is provided with
bladders to assist its transport.

It is when the flowers are polygamous
(having male, female, and hermaphrodite
flowers variously mixed on the same plant)
groups of nuts are produced. Where unisexual
flowers — i.e., either all male or female — or
monocious, where the male and female flowers
are distinct but on the same plant, the solitary
nut is the result. — A. W. Salmon, Waltham
Abbey, April 13.

UNDESIRABLE SWARMING.

[4330.] Really, Mr. Editor, what a wicked
individual I feel now that Mr. Loved ay has
found me out ! I suppose I must confess
myself unnatural, and even a little dishonest,
in allowing my neighbours to keep drones for
my " use." But, seriously, is it not somewhat
late in the day to brand as unnatural any
operation in modern bee-keeping ? To get
"back to nature" I suppose we must all
(including Mr. Loveday) take to " curious
hives," such as were seen in the bee-garden
of Mr. A. Joyce (shown on page 115 last
month), i.e., a section of a tree. No sections,
no frames, no feeders, no artificial swarms,
no queen-rearing — but there, why continue 1
Rather would I suggest that any operation
which, while based on natural lines, is con-
ducive to a given end is perfectly legitimate.
I like that touch, a " neighbour's park " ; it
gives one a sort of "lord of the earth"
feeling. In regard to securing the best drones,
I rather fancy that we " humans " consider
ourselves the best judges as to which are
the most desirable insects of that sect,
and this being granted, does it not appear
that we shall get the best results, viz., the
best drones, if we destroy those that do not
come up to our ideas in this direction 1 We
can also allow a larger number of those we
consider best to be hatched. Though we may
lament the fact, yet it is none the less so, that
a great recommendation to many when buying
bees would be that quoted by at least one

dealer in the same, that his bees are " non-
s warmers.'' I am very pleased to have Mr.
Loveday's criticism, but will he tell us how he
gets one-third of a frame only devoted to
drone comb % Does he put in a frame two-
thirds full of worker-comb and allow them to
fill the remainder with drone-comb 1 Doe3
he piece the foundation, or is it pure chance,
and therefore natural ? Finally, may I ask a
question : — Can any reader of the B.B.J.
oblige by telling me of a method by which
the growth of heather on a public common
might be accelerated ? It is a sandy soil. —
Will Hampton, Richmond.

WAX RENDERING.

[4331.] I am rather surprised to learn
that Mr. Loveday, on page 103, finds wax
, rendering "a messy job," and that he keeps
his cappings, &c, for rendering in the
autumn. Does he not find them ferment ?
Since adopting the following plan I find wax
rendering perfectly cleanly and simple. I get
the potato-steamer, and tie a piece of strong
muslin over the bottom. Then stand it in a
large basin, or other suitable vessel, and uncap
combs into steamer over this, and, as soon as
honey-extracting is finished, stand the steamer
over a shallow-tin on a couple of sticks ; place
both in a warm oven, so as to drain out all the
honey (taking care it never gets hotter than
120 to 130 deg. Fahr.). Then take away tin
and pour out honey. Next put some water in
the tin and replace in oven as before, and
allow heat to go up to 150 to 160 deg. The
wax, of course, oozes through and floats on the
water. Wax thus extracted is quite clean,
the water being flavoured with honey. I use
in syrup for autumn feeding. I usually put
cappings in the oven the last thing at night,
when the fire is dying out, and find combs and
cappings quite dry in the morning, and just
right for rendering. — A. H., Wavendon, Bucks.

ANCIENT BEE-BOOKS.

" The reformed commonwealth of Bees." Presented
in several Letters and observations to Samuel Haitlib,
Esq. London. Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-
Spread-Eagle at the West-end of Pauls. 1655.

[4332.] Eleven momentous years have passed
since the " Parliament of Bees ;' was published ;
and now, as a straw may show the wind,
so the title of Hartlib's book tells of a
monarchy upset, and England in the strong
hands of Cromwell, the Protector. The
interest of the book is two-fold. It marks
a decided advance in hive construction, and
it discloses the gratifying fact that in the
seventeenth century, as, indeed, in all ages,
there were men of note and learning who were
interested in bee-keeping.

Hartlib was the son of a Polish merchant,
and came to England about 1628. He was a
man of many hobbies, nominally a merchant,
but a writer on many subjects. At one time

April 18, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

157

in straitened circumstances, he obtained a
pension from Parliament in 1646 for an essay
on husbandry. He died about 1670. His
name appears in the pages of the two groat
diarists, his contemporaries, Pepys and Evelyn.
The latter, who was himself a many-sided and
ingenious man and a great gardener, took -
much interest in Hartlib and befriended him
when in difficulties. He visited him in
London, and describes him as " a public
spirited and ingenious person, who had pro-
pagated many useful things and arts."

Hartlib's book shows that the principle of
using movable wooden hives of the same size
in combination, one above the other, was
recognised at the date of publication. Nadir-
ing was preferred to supering, as being more
in conformity with the custom of bees to build
downwards. Two distinct hives of this kind
are described and figured ; the first, that of
"that zealous publick-hearted and learned
gentleman Thomas Brown, Doctor in Divinity,
and of the Civill Law." His hive bodies were
circular, of bushel capacity, with iron handles,
made out of casks. " Though in some places
they make them square of four boards, yet
because the round Figure is the most perfect,
I rather choose it.'' The hive was stocked by
placing a skep on the top and letting the bees
work down. Three hives, tiered as in use,
are shown in the figure. The upper hives
were to be removed " when you see it most
convenient, without the least trouble to the
Bees or to yourself." The worthy Doctor was
a bit of an optimist.

"And because Bees cannot conveniently
work in such a void space without some sup-
port for their combs, the fittest that I can
think on may be in imitation of such frames as
Gardeners use for their Gilliflowers, composed
of three or four very small hoops, and as many
posts of Fir, with some crosse bars at the top,
and in the middle to stay the combs, and that
these may not be shaken nor moved, in the
bare space at the bottom of the vessell bore
two holes, one opposite to the other, through
the vessell and the frame, and so fasten them
together." Note in this rude device the first
recorded advance in the evolution of the
modern bar-frame hive. There was no further
advance of any importance until 1780 ; when
John Keys, using with his wooden boxes six
parallel bars still rigidly connected, made
them " to take in or out, with the combs fixed
to them, at pleasure.'' (" The Antient Bee-
Master's Farewell." 1796.)

The other hive figured is a " Transparent
Bee-hive," consisting of three octagonal bodies,
interchangeable for tiering, without handles.
Each body had on one side three little
entrances close together, with sliding doors,
and to allow the bees to pass from body to
body, each had a round hole in its top that
could be closed at will from outside by means
of a wire working on a hinged wooden flap.
The top and bottom edges were bevelled to
ensure accurate fitting. On the side opposite

to the entrances a glass window was cemented
in, and protected by hinged shutters. The
bodies were lined with rush matting, and
protected by an outer casing.

This hive appears to have been designed by
a Mr. Will. Mewe, minister at Easlington, in
Gloucestershire. Hartlib terms him the
"Father of that pleasant and profitable in-
vention,'' and publishes two letters from him
written in 1653. It is chiefly for his glass
windows that the inventor claims credit. He
states that he gave a pattern hive to "Dr.
Wilkins, Warden of Waddham, who hath
with great curiosity set up one in his garden,
and as I hear is setting up another with
augmentations," and adds: — "I never kept
twenty stalls, and usually take but half, yet
doe I value my Wax and Honey worth twenty
Nobles at the least."

"Mewe's" Hive.
Used by Sir Christopher Wren.

There follows a letter from Mr. Christopher
Wren, " Fellow of All-Soules Colledge in
Oxford," dated February 26, 1654, who gives
his experiences with the hive. They had put
two swarms together into the tiered up hive,
and the bees had filled the two lower bodies,
but in the top box had built only two little
combs, which they afterwards " quite deserted
contrary to our expectation ; which was that
they would have wrought most in the upper
story, and in the middle most, in which, when
they had wrought enough for their own
spending, that then we might take away the
uppermost from them, and so have continued
still ; but if we find another year that they
fill not again the uppermost it will be all one
still to take away the lowermost from them,
but if that be so, then two Hives will be
sufficient." He desires further light in this
business from Mr. Hartlibb " for as yet you

15S

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 18, 1901.

see ours is imperfect, and we know not what
to make of it."

The brisk young bee-keeper who wrote this
letter grew up to be one of England's great
men, better known as Sir Christopher Wren,
the architect who after the Great Fire in 1666
designed St. Paul's Cathedral and many
other public buildings, and had he been
permitted would have made the new London
a fair and spacious city. At the date
of the letter he was twenty-three, and
intimate with the Dr. Wilkins mentioned
above, Dean of Ripon, and afterwards Bishop
of Chester. Doubtless it was with the
Doctor's hive that the two friends had experi-
mented. Evelyn visited the Doctor at Oxford
that summer, and was introduced to " that
progidious young scholar, Mr. Chr. Wren.''
The visit is thus described in Evelyn's diary : —
" We all dined with that most obliging and
universally-curious Dr. Wilkins's, at Wadham
College. He was the first who shew'd me the
transparent apiaries, which he had built like
castles and palaces, and so order'd themoneupon
another as to take the honey without destroy-
ing the bees. These were adorn'd with a
variety of dials, little statues, vanes &c. ; and
he was so aboundantly civil, finding me pleas'd
with them, to present me with one of ye hives
which he had empty, and which I afterwards
had in my garden at Sayes Court, where it
continu'd many years, and which his Majestie
came on purpose to see and contemplate with
much satisfaction." King Charles II. was
interested in bees, and kept a Royal Bee-
Master, one Moses Rusden, whose book I
possess and hope to be able to notice.

Haitlib's book also contains " A translate of
a Letter written in high-Dutch, communi-
cating a Secret for the better ordering and
preserving of Bees, practised beyond the
Seas." This consists of lateral extension with
circular straw hives resting on planks. It was
to be practised in a garret. There is an
accompanying figure. A short list of English
bee-books is also given. — South Devon
Enthusiast.

P.S. — A discussion was started in the first,
and continued at intervals through the two
following volumes of the British Bee
Journal, as to who was the originator of
the octagonal Stewarton hive. The interest
centred on Hartlib's book, and a figure of Mr.
Mewe's hive, as used by Wren, extracted from
it was given in the number for January 1 ,
1875. Had the disputants consulted Evelyn
the matter would have been much sooner
settled.- S. D. E.

^n\n^ and J^li^s.

[2623.] The " Early Drone."— On the after-
noon of Sunday, April 7, the weather at 3
p.m. was as warm as in the most favourable
spring, and there was quite a " song " of the

thousands of bees flying about the hives ; it
looked as if they were going to swarm. As I
stood by one hive I heard a louder hum than
usual, first near, then further away, then it
came close to, and I observed one of the finest
drones I ever saw alight at the entrance to the
hive I was watching. He walked leisurely in,
but there was no mistaking his burly form.
The bees were working hard and carrying in
small quantities of pollen. Can you account
for this early drone ? — Geo. Brealey, G ren-
d-on, Northants, April 9.

Reply. — A very brief inspection of the
combs would readily account for the drone re-
ferred to. It is either a very good sign of a
prosperous colony, or an equally bad indication
of either queenlessness or drone-breeding
queen. In some seasons a drone at the date
named would be nothing uncommon, but in so
backward a season as this it looks suspicious,
to say the least.

[2624.] Suspected "Fertile Worker?— I
enclose a piece of comb from one of my hives,
and would be glad of your opinion concerning
same. As far as I can judge, the signs in-
dicate the presence of a fertile worker, for on
opening the hive to-day I found that there
were a good many drones. I could not see
any queen, although I made an attempt to
introduce one in September last. You might
also say if there are any indications of foul
brood. There are a good many bees. 1. If
I am right in my surmise regarding fertile
worker, what is the best thing to do with the
bees ? 2. If any trace of foul brood, could they
be safely joined to another hive ? — S. B. C,
co. Antrim, April 9.

Reply. — The brood in comb clearly disproves
your suspicion of a fertile worker in the hive. In
the latter case the brood would be found
scattered, a few cells occupied here and there
with the intervening cells empty. The sealed
cells in comb sent is compact and close, with
no odd empty ones. We therefore deem it
fairly certain that either the queen introduced
in September was unmated and a drone- breeder,
or else the queen in question came to grief
after breeding for a short time, and that the
bees raised a successor too late in the season
for breeding purposes. To your queries we
therefore reply : — 1. Had it been a fertile
worker the colony would have been of very
little value, owiDg to its consisting so largely
of aged bees. 2. If the stock was affected
with foul brood, it would be the height of
folly to risk infecting another colony by join-
ing the diseased bees to it.

[2625.] Faulty Bee-Candy.— I should like to
ascertain the most probable cause of a disaster
which befell two of my stocks of bees from
supplemental feeding in February under the
following circumstances : — I got four driven
stocks of bees last autumn; they were well fed
up, but lest they should run short I put in
candy overhead made from "Lyle'a granu-

April 18, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

159

lated " sugar. 1 used the latter by way of
experiment- instead of the usual lump sugar.
It turned out slightly brown when ready for
use, was very adhesive when cooled, and was
slightly sticky in substance. A fortnight after
putting it in I observed a number of dead bees
about the entrances of the two hives referred
to, and on examination I found that each cake
had melted like glue or treacle, running down
over the combs and destroying a great number
of bees — probably the queen also in the cases
mentioned, as both stocks perished. I had
often fed my bees on home-made candy before,
and always inserted it when packing up the
bees for winter. Do you consider the unfor-
tunate result is attributable to the material or
its method of preparation, or the effect of the
atmosphere on it 1 — R. H., Woodeaton
Bectory, Oxford.

Reply. — We should very much like to see
a sample of the candy referred to, in view of
similar complaints which have reached us.
We have not had any experience of the
particular sugar named, but those who use
only pure cane lump sugar secure far more
uniformly successful results than with any
other kind. Numerous instances have come
to our knowledge wherein improperly-made
candy has liquefied sufficiently while on the
hive as to run over combs and to ciuse the
death of bees. We should be in a much
better position to judge whether or not the
mishap is attributable to the c=*ndy if we had
a sample before us.

[2626.] Belique.fying Granulated Honey in
Comb. — Is the ordinary wax-extractor with
spout a suitable thing for remelting granulated
honey in comb ? That is to say, will the
steam in the perforated basket do any harm
to the honey by making it contain much water
after the operation ? My personal opinion is
that the honey in this way will be more sweet
and nice, seeing that it will not be so long on
the fire a3 when the combs are left on the fire
until the whole is dissolved. — H. P. M.,
Pwllheli, April 9.

Reply. — The ordinary (or "Gerster'') wax-
extractor with spout is an entirely unsuitable
appliance for the purpose referred to, for
reasons which should be obvious to all. The
combs of granulated honey should be cut up
and put into an earthenware jar ; the latter
is placed in a larger vessel, standing on blocks
of wood in order to raise it up from the
bottom. Then pour in cold water so as to
surround the honey on all sides, and heat till
the whole is liquefied. The wax is removed
in a solid cake when cold.

[2627.] Spring Feeding. — I shall be obliged
for information on the following point: — 1.
My two frame-hives have still plenty of sealed
stores. I feared they might be short, to
supplied them well with candy, which they
have eaten and thus saved their stores. Shall
I give any syrup-food, or merely uncap some
of their stores occasionally '! 2. Will it not

upset the bees to meddle so often with them ?
I presume I must use my carbolic cloth when
I uncap, so I fear it may disturb them too
much. I am also feeding my stock in a straw
skep, which seems in a more forward con-
dition than the frame-hive. The bee3 in skep
have been carrying in pollen for some time
whenever we had a fine day. The, other two
colonies were only noticed carrying in pollen
on Friday, the 5:h inst., yet they seem strong
enough. 3. I suppose the end of this mouth
or beginning of May will be early enough to
transfer the bees of skep by putting a frame-
hive beneath, will it not ? 4. Do bees gather
anything from wild mustard (charlock) which
grows freely among the corn in this district ?
1 do not know much about bee-plants and
would be glad to get some information on
that subject.— M. M. McC, Doune, N.B.,
April 6.

Reply. — 1. Uncap sealed stores at intervals
of about a week. If the cappings are bruised
or scratched — -to break the sealing — it does
quite as well as uncapping. 2. A puff or two
from the smoker is more helpful than the
carbolised cloth for the purpose named, and
need cause very little disturbance. 3. Unless
the skep is very strong in bees the second
week of May will be quite early enough to
arrange for transferring in so backward a
season as this, bearing in mind your Northern
location. 4 Yes, charlock yields honey freely.

[2628.] Feeding Outside to Stop Robbing. —
Would you kindly instruct me on the follow-
ing, through the B.B J. :— I have a stock that
is being robbed by the bees of the adjoining
hives. I have tried the method laid down in
the " Guide Book " for stopping it, but without
success. Of course, it has been going on for
some tim9 unnoticed. I have been thinking
if I got an empty hive, and placed it near the
one that is being robbed, and put diluted
honey on a plate with small bits of cork
floating in it, and place it in the hive, and let
all the bees have free access to it, would it
induce the bee3 to discontinue the robbing,
and answer the purpose of stimulative feed-
ing, or would it only encourage the mischief 1
Ot course, I mean to continue the feeding in
this way until the bees can get sufficient
honey from other sources. I again await your
valuable advice. — Robert Parkinson, New-
castle, co. Down, April 8.

Reply. — If the robbed colony is weak in
bees it will be very difficult to protect it|if
attacked by bees from several other stocks.
The probability is that the bees in question
are either queenless or very weak, and in
either case they may not be worth trouble in
trying to save them. On the other hand, if
there is a queen and sufficient bees to make
the effort desirable, we advisa removing the
hive indoors for a few days, leaving its stand
vacant in the meantime. The plan of placing
none near to attract the robbers -will only add
to the trouble.

160

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 18, 1901.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

Mr. Fred. E. Gifford, 10, Ealing Park-
gardens, Brentford, writes : " Referring to
your correspondent, ' A. T. H., Ealing,' on
page 149 in your last issue, if I can be of
any assistance to him I shall be pleased to
place my services at his disposal."

J. Garside (Manchester). — Bees Dying in
Spring. — 1. There is no trace of any brood
in comb, nor are there any sealed cells. A
few of the cells contain pollen, but we find
nothing to indicate disease. Without
seeing a sample of the bee-candy given two
months ago we cannot form an opinion
whether it has contributed in any way to
the death of the bees, but seeing that careful
search among the dead bees failed to find
any trace of a queen the stock must have
been queenless for some time, and the bees
have probably died, as queenless lots often
do, from inanition.

Destroying Queen Wasps. — Referring to the
letter of Mr. Parks (4312, page 136), Mr.
E. Parsons, Tunbridge Wells, writes to say
he himself killed 110 queen wasps one year
(1897), and in other years has also destroyed
a good number, thus helping to clear his
district of these pests to bee-keepers.

Beginner (Edenbridge). — Races of Bees. —
Nos. 1 and 3 are the ordinary brown variety.
No. 2 was flattened out of recognition in
post. We cannot judge of their working
qualities from inspection.

J. C. (Worcester) and Novice (Yorks). —
Suspected Combs. — The hive from which
comb was cut is affected with foul brood of
old standing.

H. Devereux (Shillington). — The dead brood
in comb sent is " chilled " only, there being
no trace of disease.

W. M. Webb (Hanwell). — Illustrations from
Photos. — The photos you refer to are copy-
right, and, in consequence, no one is at
liberty to reproduce them without the con-
sent of publishers.

W. G. t>. (Salisbury). — Packing Susjwcted
Combs. — Comb contains nothing worse than
pollen, some of it mildewed. There is no
trace of disease. The comb was packed
admirably, and we are pleased to see
readers abiding by our instructions in this
respect.

*#* We again regret being compelled to
hold over several articles, already in type>
until next week, together ivith Trade Catalogues.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve tvprds and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

WO 1000 selected ENGLISH QUEENS to spare, 5s,

each. Atchley, Willsbridge, Bristol. F 12

ANTED AT^ONCE, six STOCKS healthy BEES at

wholesale price for cash. State varieties. Dealer,

Office of this Journal. v U

H

Prepaid Advertisements (Continued).

FOR SALE, Three 28-lb. tins splendid bright HONEY,
6d. lb. ; also four lb. wax. W.J.Cork, Tilmanstone,
Dover. F 6

ASPARAGUS, Canovers' Colossal, strong 2-year-old
plants, 2s. 9d. per 100. Carriage free. Patey,
Alpha, Chillington, Kingsbridge, Devon. F 10

r) r STONES best HEATHER HONEY, 6d. per lb.
■& 3 Carriage paid on six stones or over. Thos. Hoop,
Pickering, Yorks. F 1

1 /- STRONG healthy STOCKS of bees FOR SALE, in
1 3 good frame hives. (Abbott's Standard frames).
Apply to Miss GAYTON, Much Hadham, Herts. F 8

THREE STOCKS BEES in frame hives, 15s. each. Six
ditto in skeps, 1 9s. 6d. each. Webb, Station-
road, Swindon. F 2
XTRACTED ENGLISH HONEY, lis. 6d. per \ cwfc-
Tins free. Sample, 2d. Deposit system. Richd.

Dutton, Terling, Essex. F 7

IVES, with BEES, ten Standard frames. Surplus
stock. Guinea each. Beavan, Saffron Walden.
F 9

FOR SALE, nine HIVES of BEES consisting of four
bar-framecomplete, and five skeps. Mrs. J. Ward,
Bowness-on-Solway, Burgh-by-Sands, Cumberland. F 5
r)/-TH~ YEAR^NUCLEI/three, six.or eight frames
ZiO 12s. 6d., 16s., 18s. Skeps, 10s. 6d., 12s. 6d., May
swarms booked. All packages free. Alsford, Expert,
Blandford. f 11
UCLEI and STOCKS of BEES headed by prolific
queens, common, home-bred Carniolan or Italian.
Pure extracted honey. E. Woodham, Clavering, New-
port, Essex. __^ F 3

REALLY strong STOCKS BEES, on Standard frames,
including brood-box, 25s. ; ordinary stocks, 12s. 6d.
or with proved " Swarm Preventing Hives," 17s. 6d. extra.
Twenty years' " Bazaar " reference. ALBERT HARRIS,
Wavendon, Woburn Sands, Bedfordshire. F 4

ON'T BE STUNG. Wear Reynolds' " Burkitt Bee
Gloves." A great success. Unsolicited testi-
monials. Light in substance, useful, durable. 2s. 2d.
per pair, or with self-adjusting gauntlets attached,
2s. lOd. per pair, post paid. Special terms to the trade.
Sole Maker, Edward Reynolds, Andover, Hants.

OOD STOCKS of superior BEES for Spring delivery.
John Walton, Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington.
-i p SEED PACKETS of choice popular bee-flowers,
I 0 with cultural directions, post free for Is. 3d.
Guthrie Bros., Seed Merchants, <fec, Alio way, Ayr.
1 aaa LB. HONEY FOR SALE, cheap. 40 lb.
\-J<J\)\J sent on approval. Apply, Johnson's
Apiary, Soham, Cambs. e 70

ITALIANS, first-cross, best honey gatherers. Good
tempered. Strong ten-frame stocks, with last
season's Queens ; guaranteed free from foul brood. £1
each. O. Knight, Epney, nr. Stonehouse, Glos. e 76
B.C." HIVES, FEEDERS and WAX EX-
• TRACTORS.— Make your own at third the
cost. For particulars send stamp. Prideaux, Whit-
church, Salop. s 71
ANTED a BOY to look after BEES and work in
garden. Board, lodging, and moderate wages.
Apply, stating experience, to " H. A. H.," Office of this

Paper. !

OMFORTABLE APARTMENTS for brother bee-

keepers visiting Douglas. Terms : tea, bed, and

breakfast, 3s. 6d. ; or full board, 5s. per day. Horslf.T,

Merridale House, Top of Castle Drive, Douglas, Isle of

Man. 932

BEES FOR SALE.— I am SELLINGsome good STOCKS
at 17s. 6d. and 20s. each, without hives ; with the
hives, 22s. 6d. and 25s. One 1900 LAYING QUEEN FOR
SALE, 4s. Wm. Loveday, Hatfield Heath. Harlow,
Essex.

UEENS, NUCLEir'STOCKST— Highest quality for

nearly 30 years, and British Emporium for queens

giving unparalleled results. Virgins from Is. 9d.

Warranted fertile young-queens from 5s. Most interesting

circulars free. S. Simhins, Heathfield, Sussex. E 96 -

BUY YOUR BEES from a HEALTHY DISTRICT.
May swarms, 12s. 6d. ; June swarms, 10s. 6d. Six
substantial Hives on splayed legs (new), jj-in. well-
i;easoned pine, 8s. 6d. each ; with shallow-frame lift,
10s. 6d. each (unfurnished). Appliances, bottles, <fec, at
lowest prices. State your wants, to J. Arthars,
Studley, R.S.O., Warwickshire. F, 94

April 25, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

}61

mtorml |tota fo.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The monthly meeting of the Council was held
on Thursday, the 18th inst., at 105, Jermyn-
street, S.W., Mr. F. B. White occupying the
chair. There were also present Miss Gayton,
Messrs. W. Broughton Carr, T. S. Elliot,
W. H. Harris, J. M. Hooker, J. H. New,
W. F. Reid, E. Walker, T. I. Weston, and the
Secretary. Letters apologising for enforced
absence were read from the Hon. and Rev.
Henry Bligh, Colonel Walker, Mr. R. T.
Andrews, Mr. H. Jonas, and Mr. E. D. Till.

The following new members were elected :—
Mr. C. A. Atchley, Oldland Hall, Willsbridge,
near Bristol ; Cumberland Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation, Hon. Sec, Mr. John Vicars, Gill-
bank, Boot, Cumberland.

Mr. Weston, on behalf of the Finance Com-
mittee, reported that the receipts and ex-
penditure to date had been examined by the
Committee, and that a sum of £50 15s. stood
to the credit of the Society at the bank. The
report was approved.

Correspondence invitincr suggestions for im-
proving or extending tne c mpetitions for
honey at the Confectioners' and Grocers'
Exhibitions was referred to Messrs. Oarr and
the Secretary, who were authorised to deal
with the matter. Nominations of judges were
made, and ordered to be submitted to the two
societies interested.

The Secretary reported that as a result of
the appeal in the B.B.J, for donations in
aid of the Dairy Show Prize Fund a sum of
i-8 3s. 6d. had been received. Promises had
also come to hand which would raise the total
to £9 13s. 6d. This was considered to be
insufficient to meet the requirements, and
much below what was anticipated. It was
therefore resolved to keep the list open for a
short time longer, in the hope that further
donations may be sent in.

Communications were received from the
bocietj d'Apiculture and d'Insectologie Agri-
cole du Departmente de l'Aisne, inviting
representatives of the B.B.K.A. to act al
members of the jury at the exhibition to be
field at Laon, July 14 to 23 next. Subject to
aPPr£jal of the nomination it was resolved to
ask Mr. R. Hamlyn-Harris to undertake the
duties referred to. The consideration of an
application for medals was deferred, pending
tne receipt of the proposed prize schedule.

v. i n™xt meetin2 of the Council will be
held on Thursday, May 16.

THE "ROYAL" SHOW AT CARDIFF.

Readers are reminded that the entries for

ie above important show close on May 1, so

that Tuesday next, April 30, is the last day

for posting entries without incurring cost of
extra fees.

The present outlook for early honey is so
promising that we invite entries for honey of
1901, seeing that the usual facilities will be
afforded for withdrawing entries for honey in
oase of the season being adverse at date of
show. Prize-lists may be had from Mr. E. H.
Young, secretary B.B.K.A., 12, Hanover-
square, London.

^mxnpUtut

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one ride of the paper only and
give tneir real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We.
do not undertake to return rejected communications. '

Communications relating to the literary department
reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes Queries'
Books for Review, &c , must be addressed on'y to "The
Editors of the' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William-
street, Strand, London, W.C" All business communi-
cations relating to advertisements, dec, must be addressed
to " The Manager, 'British Bee Journal- Offl.ce 17
King Wilham-street, Strand, London, W.C." ' '

*»* In order to tacditate reference. Correspondents
when speaking of any Utter or query previously inserted,
mil oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

DAIRY SHOW PRIZE FUND.
[4333. ] Please permit me to acknowledge
in your columns, with thanks, a number of
additions to the Special Dairy Show Prize
Fund which have been either received or
promised since the publication of the last
statement. The full list to date is as fol-
lows : —

Already acknowledged £4 5 0

Mr. H. Jonas 1 1 0

Mr. J. M. Hooker 1 0 0

Mr. J. H. New 0 10 0

Mr. L. Belsham 0 5 0

Mr. E. D. Till ." 0 5 0

Mr. E. Walker 0 5 0

Mr. J. C. Harker '.. 0 5 0

Mr. R. C. Blundell 0 5 0

Mis3 Gayton . 0 5 0

Mr. W. H. Harris 0 5 0

Mr. W. F. Reid 0 5 0

Mr. T. I. Weston 0 5 0

Mr. W. Woodley 0 5 U

Mr. W. G. Dear 0 2 6

Mr. H. W. Seymour 0 2 6

Mr. V. H. E. Watts-Silvester 0 2 6

Total £9 13 6

The Council desire to emphasise the fact
that the amount is far from adequate to cover
the demands, and are hopeful that others may
be inclined to contribute to the fund, which
will remain open a short time longer for this
purpose.— Edwin A. Young, Secretary, 12,
Hanover- square, London, W., April 23.

102

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 25, 1901.

TEE AGE OF BEES.
[4334] My interest ia this subject was
aroused by reading in Root's "ABOof Bee-
Culture " (page 353, Doo ii tie's Comments)
that worker bees, owing to their excessive
labours, only live forty-five days in the height
of the honey season. When I read this state-
ment I could not understand how a swarm
continues to flourish if the original bees died
off so soon. The youngest bee in a swarm
when it issues cannot be less than five days
old ; therefore if bees only live forty-five days,
all the old bees will be dead in forty
days after hiving. Now, twenty-one days must
elapse before any young bees could be reared
in a swarm, and fourteen more before they
could be efficient field workers (see below),
making thirty-five days in all. Hence forty
days after a swarm issued, the only field
workers in the hive would be those reared
from the eggs the queen laid during the first
five days after the swarm was hived. These
would be very few, and in the case of a cast
there would actually be no field workers. I
thought perhaps the difficulty might be solved
by the young bees reared in the swarm taking
to field labour at an earlier age than is
generally the case. But to settle the question
I determined to try some experiments. Ac-
cordingly, on the evening of July 12 last
year I introduced an Italian queen to a rather
weak hive of black bees which had been brood-
less for about a week. The young Ligurians
flew on August 8, i.e., twenty-six days
after the queen began to lay. The young
Italians were then five days old. The Italians
did not become efficient field labourers
until fourteen days old, at which age they
worked as late in the evening and gathered
nearly as much pollen as the blacks. They
gathered very small loads of pollen when
twelve and thirteen days old, working only in
the middle of the day. Forty-five days after
the queen was introduced the proportion* of
black bees to Italians engaged in field labour
was three to four. There would not have
been so many Italian field workers in the hive
at this date if the hive had not contained
ready-built combs when the queen was intro-
duced. Thu3 she was enabled to begin laying
at once. Fifty-two days after the queen was
introduced the proportion was one to ten.
Seven days later the few remaining black bees
were bullied, as is frequently the case with
worn-out bees. On the following day the
black bees were practically extinct. Thus they
lived fifty-nine days after the introduction of
the Italian queen. When the Italians were
forty-five days old, I saw an Italian completely
worn out with tattered wings. Other Italian
bees in the hive also looked very old. There
was no doubt that these worn-out bees were
reared in the hive, since there was no other
Italian colony near. This incident is men-

* The proportion was obtained by counting the beea
entering the hive when young beei were not flying.

=

tioned because it show* that Italians can be
wirn out in forty-five dtys. At this date no
Italian in the hive could be over forty-five
days, since the queen, had only commenced
layiDg sixty-six days before.

I ought to add that there is heather in my
district^ so the bees worked hard in August
and September. The Italian queen was very
prolific — nine combs contained brood on
July 26, and eight combs were three-parts
filled with brood in the middle of August.

I was some little time in trying to discover
why bees which accompanied a swarm live
longer than bees in the ordinary course. I
think the explanation is that during the first
three or four weeks after a swarm is hived,
the yonnger bees act as nurses and comb-
builders, and do not wear themselves out in
the fields until other young bees are ready to
take their places. Thus, instead of being
nurses and comb-builders for about fourteen
days, they perform these offices for nearly
twice that time ; consequently their wings are
not worn out so early in life as bees which
become field labourers in the ordinary course.
The youngest bees in a hive seem always to
stay indoors, and never engage in field labour
even if they are of a suitable age. A case
happened in my apiary which illustrates this
fact. On June 20 last year I removed the
virgin queen from a black cast and substituted
an Italian queen. Two days later some more
black flying bees were added to the cast,
which now became fairly strong ; but on
July 2 the Italian queen was found dead out-
side the hive. She had, however, previously
laid about 1,000 eggs, and the bees succeeded
in rearing a new queen. The bees continued
to work hard, and on July 15 a dead virgin
Italian queen was found outside. A few
young Italians were seen flying from the 16th
to the 19th, but after this date the Ligurians
did not appear outside either as ventilators,
sentinels, or field workers. The hive was fre-
quently watched during the day and in the
evening. Four out of every five black bees
engaged in field labour at this date (July 19)
had very tattered wings. The young Italian
queen laid very few eggs — about fifty —
during the whole time she was in the
hive. These eggs produced hybrids. On
July 25 all the worn-out black bees,
which were so numerous on July 19, had
disappeared except a very few, their places
being filled by black bees, not young, but with
perfect wings, who probably had been engaged
in comb-building. On August 15 the hive was
very weak, the black bees getting fewer every
day. Oa that day the stock was united to
another, there being danger from robber bees.
The Italians, now about thitty five days old,
had not decreased in numbers, and since they
were the youngest bees in the hive (except
about fifty hybrids), never appeared outside
except for their first flight in July. They
still had perfect wings and looked quite young.
The old black bees, on the other hand, worked

April 25, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

163

hard outside even in August when hardly any
brood was being raised.

The reason, then, why bees in a swarm live
longer than usual seems to be that the younger
bees of the swarm have to serve as indoor
workers for a loDger time than they would do
in a hive containing constantly-hatching brood,
and they thus are not exposed to the accidents
and hard labour experienced by field workers.
— H. B. Buckston, Hope, near Sheffield,
April 19.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

[4335.] dumber of Section Racks. — The
late discussion on size of sections was timely,
and, as I think, properly closured, as the
Cimmerian Bog of a wordy war, into which it
was degenerating, was neither profitable nor
edifying. So exit " size " ; enter number.
An interrogative note of incredulity has been
reiteratedly sounded since I wrote of Banff-
shire bees working in " in five racks at one
time," but the words were not coined for the
occasion, as the fact has been repeatedly re-
corded in your pages. If the sentence is re-
read as it originally appeared in my " Com-
ments,'' it will be seen that the personal
element has been needlessly interpolated.
Eliminate this, and it follows that the " fore-
most" position it is suggested I claim, or may
seek to claim, is purely fictitious, and but the
creation of a fertile fancy. No ! I am still
a diligent student, and, though very suc-
cessful, many Northern bee-men are more so.
All bee-keepers must acknowledge that
the circumstance of having five racks
occupied is very likely to be a rare one,
occurring only at intervals, like the blossoming
of certain tropical plants in our conservatories.
I never asserted or implied that it was an
every-day event. The sentence was originally
written as a counterpoise to the following from
Yorkshire : "North of the Humber we cannot
rely on a honey-flow that will fill one rack of
sections." I am content to leave them side by
side as two extremes illustrating success and
the want of it. When learning the A B C of
bee-keeping, our junior editor taught me that
" bees do nothing invariably," and experience
has fully convinced me of the truth of the
semi-Hibernianism, so, when speaking of bees
and their management, I give dogmatism a
wide berth, and would never make such an
assertion as that a bee-man would be " foolish ''
in doing or leaving undone a certain thing.
Circumstances alter cases, and so excellent a
bee-keeper as Mr. Woodley, content with two
racks at a time, intuitively grasps my sur-
roundings and comes to the conclusion that I
may be right in using more. Much as I enjoy
bee-keeping, I would give it up to-morrow if
I were restricted to two racks, as such a con-
fined space in the height of the season would
be altogether inadequate.

I give merely an outline of my plan. Some
time about June 10 to 20 I give every colony

one rack, which I replace by a second, say
about July 1 to 10 (dates are only approxi-
mate), and if they are strong and doing well,
a fortnight later a third is given. But I am
contented to have the full sheets of foundation
in each of these fully drawn out. I do not
wish the sections to be completed, though, as
a rule, if they are I accept them as a necessary
evil. Up to this point, though I have had
two or three racks on, according to the season
and the strength of the colony, yet there has
been only one at a time. Till near the end of
July I keep on getting bees, and my one
object is to have colonies at their strongest
with the advent of August and the heather, of
which I have an illimitable sea in close proxi-
mity to my hive3. Toe swarming propensity
is at its most dangerous point during the last
week of July and the first week of August.
Here comes the crucial point where it is
suggested I am unorthodox. One rack, or
even two, would never control the swarm-
ing fever, so I give a new rack, as
a rule, under the one which has
been on for a week or more, as bees
are keen for comb - building then, and
in a very few days I put on one with drawn-
out comb above the other two. Now until the
10th or 12th of August, in the close and sultry
days we generally have then, special care must
be taken to hinder swarming, so I place a
fourth rack above all my strongest colonies,
regardless of whether bees take to it or not. It
is placed there simply as a safety-valve or cooler
to check undesirable swarming, prevent
loitering on the flight-board, and aid in keep-
ing the diligent workers fully employed. But
in a large number of cases it is taken to at
once, and then one of the spare racks with
drawn-out comb is at once substituted. It
will be observed that I endeavour to start the
heather harvest in the position of one who
works for extracting with combed supers, and
I rarely give bees any comb-building to do
after the middle of August, so I can assert
that the percentage of unfinished sections at
the end of the season is very small, unless (aye,
there's the rub !) when a deluge comes and
prematurely washes out all nectar from the
heather bloom. As early in August as possible
I reduce from four racks to three, then to two,
and liter to one, but the fact remains that
during the height of the season bees have been
actively working in fouc(a>id even five) racks,
not from force or necessity, but from free
choice.

Spring at Last ! — The p ist month has been
a stormy one, and we have experienced
" Winter still lingering on the verge of spring
retire reluctant, and with the tyrannous
breathing of the north check all ouc buds
from blowing." What of spring has gone has
proved to a great extent but the " child of
curlish winter, discovering much the image of
his sire." But now the " sweet influences of
the Pleiades'' pervade the air, and we can
say, "Come, gentle spring, ethereal mild-

164

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 25, 1901.

ness, come ! " and welcome the opening
charm3 of leaf and flower. The songsters of
the grove have found their voices, for the
"Time of the singing of birds has come."
The change distils new energy in all lovers of
Nature, and we can exclaim with Browning —

Oh, to be in England, now that April's there,
For the chaffinch singa on the greenwood bough
In England now. ,

At last we can add, in Scotland, too !

Exhibition Honey Exhibit. — T was pleased
to leara from Mr. Kerr's note (4314, page 136)
that the S.S.B.K.A. is to move in this matter.
I trust his appeal for funds for so laudable an
object may have a hearty response, and I
forward my mite with pleasure. In answer to
his little "dig" at me, I may say that when
his Association drops the superfluous "S" I will
at once become a member. I trust the sug-
gestion is a feasible one, and that the admir-
able work done in the South may extend to
the whole of Scotland. The " South " Asso-
ciation is the nucleus; add "frames" (counties),
and we have the full colony. — D. M. M., Banff)
N.B., April 22.

SEARCHING OUT FOUL BROOD.

A GOOD EXAMPLE.

[4336.] While out cycling through the
Derwent valley a few days ago, I was called
in to look over some bees owned by a lady.
There were about thirty stocks in the apiary,
and I went through the lot. I found them all
in fair conditioa until nearing the end, when
I came upon a hive the bees of which had
died during the winter, of what, I am nearly
sure, is foul brood. I will, therefore, be
greatly obliged if you will kindly say in the
next issue of the Journal whether the piece
of comb I send is affected with foul brood or
not. I ask this for the satisfaction of the
owner of the bees, who would then be on her
guard and take step3 without delay to prevent
the disease from spreading to the other
twenty-nine stocks, all of which are, I think,
so far healthy. — " Bamford," Buxton,
April 22.

[The comb sent is badly affected with foul
brood, and if your timely action has the effect
hoped for, you will deserve the thanks of all
bee-keepers , in the district, along with the
gratitude of the owner of the bees. There is
sufficient material in that one hive to infect a
whole district, if robbing bees had access to it.
We trust it is safe to conclude that the
hive referred to was promptly closed against
robbers ?— -Eds.]

SOME ESSEX NOTES.
[4337.] Undesirable Ways of Preventing
Swarming. — In reply to Mr. Will Hampton
(4330, page 156), I may say that if I do not
get drone-comb built as I require it and where
I want it by allowing one-third of a standard
frame for the bees to build drone-comb in. I

always have " drone-base '' foundation by me
which I can use for the purpose. As to the
"lords of the earth, J to whom Mr. H. refers,
I think they are in the position, whether they
realise it or not, of being in duty bound to do
what is necessary for the advancement of any
good cause. So that even if no advance is
possible, we may at least leave things for the
next generation as perfect as we found them.
On the other hand, those of us who are mere
" labourers " on the earth should, and do, find
most pleasure in making a point of doing our
work as well as we possibly can. Mr. Hampton
writes of " modern bee-keeping." Can the
pump (be it the public, or his own private,
pump) be considered a modern bee-
keeping appliance ? I think not ; nor do
I think it either useful or necessary in any
degree to encourage queens to waste their
energy in laying eggs to be operated upon by
what is also known as " the iron-tailed cow."

Pollen from. Hazel Catkins. — Bees do
gather a considerable quantity of pollen from
the common hazel in this neighbourhood in
most seasons, i.e., in late February and through
March. This year, however, the pollen from
that source was all wasted owing to the bees
being confined to their hives by bad weather
while it was available. But the discussion of
this subject has resulted in further proof that
with bees, as with us humans, circumstances
alter cases. I had previously seen a proof of
this by my own bees frequenting a flower in a
new district which I had never seen them
visit where I lived before. — Wm. Loveday,
Hatfield Heath, Harlow, April 22, 1901.

(Corresp>ondence continued on page 166.)

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READER&

The apiary shown on next page belongs to
a gentleman who kept bees in the days when
many of the full-grown bee-men now among
us were in their '• long clothes." To see the
" bee-garden " of one who along with his
friend, the late T. W. Woodbury, of Exeter
(a name dear to all of us "old hands "), has
helped to improve the race of bees in this
country, and know that he is still living and
keeping up his interest in " the bees,'' is indeed
pleasant reading. Not only so, but Mr.
Birrell has all along been a helper to the
industry. As a Vice-President of the Lines.
B.K.A. his influence in the county has been
always used to the advantage of all that is good
in bee-keeping.

We are sure readers will read with pleasure
the following " Notes " sent at our request : —

" My first essays in bee-keeping were made
during the time I lived close to the New
Southgate station on the Great Northern
Railway, my garden being situated partly in
Middlesex and partly in Herts. At that time
I held an important post in the great publish-
ing house of J. W. Parker & Son, my duties

April 25, 1901. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

165

in town leaving but little opportunity to
observe my bees very closely, excepting oa
Saturdays and Sundays and in the early
mornings of the other days of the week. Still
I managed to jog along fairly well, and, in con-
junction with my friend, Mr. Woodbury, of
Exeter (well known years ago under the riom
de plume of ' A Devonshire Bee-keeper '),
was one of the first to introduce the Ligurian
bees into this country. The neighbourhood
of London is not a good one for bee-keeping,
but I think that the crossing of the native
blood with the Italian produced a breed much
better adapted to grapple with the difficulties
of the situation. On one occasion in my ha8te

narcissi, daffodils, tulips, aDd other early
flowers are grown by the acre, and cut flowers
are sent off by tons every night to all parts of
the kingdom. The bees thus get a good start
before the fruit blossom opens, and are gene-
rally in strong condition when this occurs.
Swarming is usually early, the last week in
April being a common time for commence-
ment. Most of the bee3 here have more or
less of the Italian blood in them — an advan-
tage, to my mind. In fact, I consider that,
taking all things into account, a first or second
cross produces the hardiest and most indus-
trious race that we have.

" I have never grown honey for commercial

MR. G. F. BARRELl's APIARY, SPALDING, LINCOLNSHIRE.

in unpacking a Ligurian queen just received,
I dropped the box and was immediately vac-
cinated with formic acid by some thirty or
more " operators." To this I attribute the small
effect that stings have ever since had on me.
About thirty-five years since I left London
and came to reside in Spalding, and here I
picked up some of the apparatus belonging to
the late Thomas Nutt— a distant relative—
and whose well-known book was the first
serious attempt at scientific bee-keeping.
This was before the era of bar- frames.

" We are admirably fixed in this district in
the early part of the honey season, as we are
the headquarters of the English bulb and
spring flower growing industry. Crocuses,

purposes, though I have generally had good
yields, to the delight of my grandchildren and
friends ; and I chiefly adopt sections, as saving
a great deal of trouble in distribution. The
great profit I get is the pleasure of studying
and watching my industrious labourers. I
have taken an active part in disseminating a
knowledge of bee-keeping, and, as the Chair-
man of the first County Council in 1888,
for the Parts of Holland in Linc3, and after-
wards, I gave many lectures and demonstra-
tions in various places, with very gratifying
results. I am an ardent horticulturist, and an
amateur photographer of fifty years' standing.
The accompanying photo of part of my apiary
is one I took last year."

166

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 25, 1901.

CO RRESPONDENCE.
{Continued from page 164.)

BEES AND CELERY PLANTS.

[4338.] The following may interest your
readers, one of whom might possibly be able
to explain the matter.

Last year I grew a number of celery plants,
which in due course were pricked out into
shallow-boxes. Having more than I required,
some remained in an open frame near my
hives until the present time, though, of course,
the winter has killed the plants down. _

Every day that there has been any sunshine
since the bees began to fly the frame referred
to has been visited by bees busily intent upon
sucking something from the soil.

Query, What do the little beggars find
there 1 The soil was composed of old turf,
leaf mould, sand, and manure. I may add
that as soon as I noticed this I put out boxes
of pol'en, which the bees have taken freely,
and there was capped brood in all my hives
on February 28 last.

I notice in the B.B.J, several instances of
bees dying apparently through being trans-
ferred late, so send the following remarks
taken from a card, one of which I keep in
each hive : —

" October 3, 1900.— Bees driven from three
skeps. Put on four frames of honey, four of
comb, and two foundation, and fed.

" October 10.— Stopped feeding. 24 lb. of
syrup taken down.

"February 28, 1901.— Examined. Plenty
of food. Brood also. Bees very strong. Un-
capped honey."

On October 10, 1900,1 helped a friend to
drive three other skeps, with a similar result.

Does not this prove that well-fed driven
bees will winter, though transferred late ? —
C. H. Tomlinson, King's JSeath, April 15.

[We rather think the saline moisture about
the compost has attracted the bees, as it
occasionally does, to unsavoury places. As
regards late transferring being wise or good,
it generally fails, and your success is the
exception that proves the rule. — Eds.]

MY FIRST YEAR WITH FRAME-
HIVES.

[4339] I had been used to skeps all my
life, but often longed for something better, and
in due course one of my bee-friends who
possessed a few frame-hives offered to fit me
up, and sure enough he did so. Then, how-
ever, my first trouble with bees began. The
hive he supplied me with was an old one,
made to take ten standard frames, but it only
contained eight, with combs and bees, and a
rather long price he charged me for it ; but
still he initiated me, I believe, to the best of
his ability. First he told me the bees were to
swarm, and when they had swarmed I was to

super them ; that was one mistake. However,
I bought another hive (more up to date) to
receive the swarm, which duly issued in May,
and everyone agreed it was the biggest swarm
they had ever seen. I often say since, " Save
me from my friends," for my friend prepared
the new hive for me to receive the swarm,
filling four frames with foundation and leaving
the others quite empty ! In due time I got the
bees hived all safe and thought my trouble
was over, so I then superedthe parent hive (as
told), but nine davs after another swarm
is-ued from it. This I hived in a skep, my
brothers mtking great fun of my " manage-
ment.'' When the second swarm came forth
(quite unexpected by myself) my instructions
were to super No. 2. Why, I have always
been at a loss to understand. However, the
summer was nearly over, and I thought my
old or parent hive looked very weak. Then
came the real awakening, for I met a master
of the craft, and he proved a friend indeed.
He made an examination of my old hive, and
the verdict was, " No queen ! " I then gave
him a full history of past events. In the end,
No. 2 hive was driven and the bees returned
to the parent hive. I was next initiated into
the art of syrup-making. I had never looked
into either hive after supering, my instruc-
tions being to " leave them alone and quiet.''
So my friend did so for me, and on opening
them the expression on his face was "a
caution." The super was empty, and of the
frames four were movable, and the others
joined together en bloc. As said already, he
was a friend indeed, for next day he came
with six new frames fitted with full sheets of
foundation and wired in. Bat the mess we
had in putting the hives straight I shall never
forget. We had to use a carving-knife to get
the frames apart. Tnen syrup- making went
on with a vengeance. Since that time, how-
ever, I have never looked back in my bee-
keeping. I always call it my "successful
failure." I still retain the old hive, for in it
and from it I received my first practical
lesson. — Henry Clarke, Icklesham, Bye,
Sussex, April 15.

BEE-KEEPING NEW AND OLD.

SOME MEMORIES OF MY BEGINNINGS.

[4340.] I have never ventured to put any
account of my dealing with bees on paper
before, although I might claim a lifelong
acquaintance with them, having when quite a
youngster (in the early fifties) had to mind
the bees when at home for my father who was
a great (skeppist) bee-man at that time. He
usually saved about thirty stocks for swarm-
ing, &c. It is now about thirty years
since I started on my own account, and many
have been the drawbacks experienced owing
to circumstances of my frequently moving
about. I have kept bees under almost every
imaginable condition — in the country and town;

April 25, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

167

sometime3 on the roof of the house ; in the
shop ; in a small garden ; and on one
occasion, when living at South Norwood, I
had no other place to put the bees in the
roof, though I was near to a blacksmith's
forge. With all these difficulties, however, I
have generally managed to get some honey
each year for our own use, which is very
much enjoyed by all (except " mother ''). I
have taken the B.J. for a good many years
and manage to consume the whole of the
contents each week. Nor do I ever fail to
recommend it to those who do not know of its
existence. Last year I gave away to a person
a full year's copies and he is now a regular
subscriber. When cycling about the country
— wherever I see that bees are kept — I
manage, if I can, to have a chat with the
owner, and more especially when they are in
skeps ; indeed, if time and space would
permit I could tell some funny stories about
the people I have seen. I might say here
that I always keep a skep or two for " old
times " sake. I have now twelve stocks in
frame-hives and four in skeps. Last year my
take was 460 lb. from nine hives — not bad
for a town, I think — and all my colonies are
showing signs of a prosperous season.

I do not know if Mr. J. M. Hooker will see
this letter, .but I should like to say a few words
which may also interest other readers on a
matter regarding skeps. I met Mr. H. last
summer at Mr. Jas. Lee's place in Holborn,
and our conversation turned to the manage-
ment of skeps and the transferring of bees to
frame-hives ; also on getting supers filled on
skeps. Mr. H. spoke of one method which he
had heard of, viz. : Take the skep, turn it
upside down, put on a sheet of queen-
excluder and on top of this a frame of
sections ; cover all up warm. I thought I
would try it, which I did, and I was surprised
at the rate the bees filled the section — I
suppose by bringing up the honey from the
upturned skep. I very soon found it wanted
another one on, which was also soon filled, and
I ventured a third, but I soon found then that
something was wrong, and on examination I
found the crown of the upturned skep was
crammed with dead bees, and some were
quite mouldy from the damp, &c, so I do not
think the plan would answer.

Our esteemed friend at Richmond (Mr. Will.
Hampton) in his letter (4321, page 147) on
feeders the other week, is a step before me
with his wire-cloth. I have used the screw-
cap and bottle with perforated zinc for this
twelve years, but the wire is certainly better.
I fear I must close or I shall tire your
patience ; but there, you possess plenty of that
good quality or you would often cut some of
our discussions short, and take no notice of
the many foolish questions asked from time to
time by those who might certainly think a
little for themselves. Wishing every bee-
keeper a prosperous season. — C. Pay,
Croydon, April 20.

^\x\np aid $$tt$5.

[2629.] Wintering Nucleus Colonies. —
Enclosed is a portion of comb with dead bees
and their queen. They were a nucleus formed
from my best stock last autumn. At the
beginning of winter the bees covered three or
four combs, but in March last they were
reduced to one portion of a small seam,
and died last week from, I think, loss of heat,
being too small a lot to maintain it. They
had stores in the hive, but none on the comb
near which the bees had clustered. My atten-
tion was directed to the hive owing to
other bees " robbing '' it, and on examining
for the cause, I found the bees dead, with
sealed brood and eggs, but no larvie unsealed.
Please say if there is a trace of B. alvei about
them or in comb. The nucleus was made
from the best stock I had, one which filled
five shallow-frame supers in 1899, while
other stocks filled only three. — J. Evans.

Reply. — There is always considerable risk
in wintering nucleus colonies of bees, especi-
ally when formed in autumn from a stock that
has not swarmed earlier on in the season.
Many of the bees will perforce be old and
played out so far as regards the vitality neces-
sary for early foraging, and in consequence
they dwindle so rapidly as to cause a collapse
of their powers of defence against robbers.
There is no trace of disease in comb, and the
pity is to see the bees starved to death from
paucity of numbers, with brood recently
" chilled," but otherwise in normal condition.

[2630.] Jiequeening in April. — Thanks for
your prompt reply on page 139. The hive
referred to had not been opened oi disturbed,
unless the supposed robbing I mentioned may
have had the same effect. Neither have I
yet been able to examine the stock since — as
recommended by you — for want of suitable
weather. 1. I suppose young queens raised
now could not possibly be any use. Is this
soV 2. On the other hand, when will the
weather be warm enough to have a queen
through post, please ? I see none advertised
so far. — John Martin, Ballynahinch, co.
Doxvn, April 8.

Reply. — 1. There would certainly be some
chance of queen fertilisation in the present
condition of the weather. 2. A laying queen
might be sent safely if posted on a warm day,
properly packed, and with a couple of score
bees to accompany her. But queens are not
readily obtainable at this season.

[2631.] Swarms Absconding and Stocks
Dying Out. — A friend of mine had four strong
stocks of bees in the spring of last year. When
I paid him a visit on the 7th of this month
to have a look at the bees ; the whole lot
had departed, and under circumstances which
puzzle me. The stocks went on all right till

168

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 25, 1901.

the latter end of June and early July, when
all four hives swarmed about a day or two
between each, the whole of the four swarms
taking wing and flying off across the country.
In about a fortnight after the first swarm had
issued the bees cleared out of one of the
hives altogether, flew right away same as the
swarm?, and a week later they had all gone
the same way. What could be the reason 1
The place is very healthy and plenty of
forage. There was nothing left in the hives
but the combs. The only place obnoxious
being the smithy. — C. Walch, Hale, near
Liverpool.

Reply. — It is quite beyond us to explain
with any degree of certainty what has caused
the general absconding of the swarms in
question. We may, however, say that such
wholesale " departures " are entirely unknown
in apiaries where any ordinary practical know-
ledge of bees is brought to bear on the
management.

[2632.] Drones in March. — Is it not a very
unusual thing at the present time of the year
to find drones in the hives ? I have a strong
stock of bee3 in a frame-hive. On March 29
I saw one or two drones coming out for their
flight. They were quite young ones. Three
or four days later I picked up a dead drone at
the entrance which had evidently been killed
by the bees. Does the presence of these
drones denote that the queen is old ?—
William Horsfall, Bitcham Rectory,
Ipswich, April 8.

Reply. — See reply to Geo. Brealey in last
issue (2623, page 158). The fact of the bees
in question being " a strong stock '' the first
week leads us to infer that the colony is in a
forward condition, and has a prolific queen.
We should, however, advise you to settle the
question by examining the combs for yourself,
and thus gain an insight into the condition of
brood-nest.

[2633.] Queen Taking Flight during
" Spring Cleaning.'' — While going over the
combs of a hive to-day (spring cleaning) I
found the stock in excellent condition. There
were four frames of brood, two of them more
than three parts full of eggs and brood in all
stages, with every evidence of a prosperous
colony. I could not find the queen, after
examining all the combs, but when I had re-
placed the frames back in the hive and was
just going to put on the quilts, I noticed a few
bees clustering on a quilt, and on examining
them, lo, there was the queen ! I was about
to pick her off and put her back in the hive
when she took flight. She seemed to fly heavily
and clumsily, but still she was too quick for
me to catch her, and went out of sight over a
low hedge. I am not a very old hand at bee-
keeping, but always understood that a laying
queen could not, or would not fly. Will you,
therefore, kindly tell me — Lis the queen likely
to have returned to the hive ? 2. If not, is it

too early for the bees to raise a successor, and
for the latter to be fertilised ? There are a lot
of eggs in the hive besides brood in all stages,
and 1 should be very much obliged if you could
reply in this week's Bee Journal, so that if
necessary I may lose no time in getting
another queen? 3. Will you also tell me
where I can get full description and measure-
ments of the " W. B. C' hive, as I should like
to make one ? — W. S., Doncaster, April 22.

Reply. — 1. If you had remained perfectly
still for a few moments, leaving everything
just as when the queen took wing it i3 quite
possible, even probable, that she would return
to the spot — top of frames — from which she
flew off ; it is far less likely that she would
find the entrance if you rearranged the hive and
replaced the roof. 2. There is every chance
of the bees raising a successor if the queen is
actually gone ; and, should there be drones
on the wing a fortnight later, fertilisation
would be easy. Meantime, look over the
combs for queen-cells ; if none are seen, search
for eggs, which if found would prove the
safety of. the old queen. 3. B.J. with the
desired particulars regarding the " W. B. C7'
hive will be sent for 2£d. in stamps.

[2634 ] Bee-forage. — Are the following
go >d bee-flowers and trees? (1) The red
floweriug (or French) currant, (2) bluebells
(will hyacinth), (3) sycamore, (4) coltsfoot,
(5) Spanish chestnut tree, (6) sweet peas, (7)
blackberry flowers. I have thirty trees of the
flowering currant (1) within 150 yards of
the hives, and bee3 are working them freely
on fine days. — Atlas.

Reply. — Of the flowers and trees named : —
(1) Yields a little honey and no pollen ; (2) no
use to bees ; (3) yields honey freely, but of
rather poor quality ; (4) a little honey and
pollen is at times got from this, but it is of no
appreciable value to bees ; (5) none worth
speaking of ; (6) same as 5 ; (7) the blackberry
yields well of honey at times, but it blooms
too late to b8 of much service except in adding
to the bees' winter store.

[2635.] liaising Queens in April. —
Will you please advise in your columns
on the following : — I have a skep of
bees placed above the frames of a modern
hive separated by queen excluder — zinc. Both
are full of bees and combs. If I took off skep
without queen having had contact with it,
would bees in skep raise a queen ? — Pax
Vobiscum, Camberley, April 8.

Reply. — Surely there is something wrong
in the wording of the above query ? We cannot
imagine any one possessing the most
elementary knowledge of the subject sup-
posing that bees can raise a queen in combs
from which the queen of the colony has been
excluded ! To remove the skep to a new
location would simply cause the bees to desert
it and fly back to the frame-hive left on the
old stand, thus leaving the skep empty 1

April 25, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

169

(Bthati fnm tfo Xtots.

" Honey Cott," Weston, Leamington, April
22. — At last ! And after many cold, wet, and
depressing days the weather, for the last five
or six days, has been simply lovely ; and
amidst balmy sunshine the bees have been
revelling to their heart's content, while at night
they can be heard at the hive entrances
" roaring " away as though it was midsummer.
May it continue, and then ! But we must not
expect too much, only hope for the " good
time." "We shall then not be disappointed. —
John Walton.

iftmtis to (tot

June 26 to July 1, at Cardiff.—" Royal'
Agricultural Society's Show. Bee and Honey Section
under management of the B.B.K.A. Entries close
May 1. Schedules from Edwin H. Young, Secretary,
12, Hanover-square, W.

July 8 and 19, a* Brigg.— Honey, Hives, and
Bee Appliances in connection with the Lincolnshire
Agricultural Society ; Bee Department under the
management of the Lines. B.K.A. Schedules from the
Hon. Sec , R. Godson, Tothill, Alford. Entries close
June 19.

NOVELTIES FOR 1901.

Messrs. Abbott Bros., of Southall, have
sent us a sample of a "novelty'1 for the
present year in the shape of a useful little
drinking-fountain for bees' use. The accom-
panying cut explains itself. As seen, the
stage is of wood, grooved as shown, and when

Abbott Bros'. Water Fountain for Bees.

a glass jar or a bottle, filled with water and then
covered with open muslin tied over the jar
mouih, is inverted on the stage the grooves
fill with water and afford the bees dry stand-
ing ground while drinking. A V-shaped
channel cut across the grooves (not shown in
cut) allows the water to flow into all the
channels without flowing over the edges.

The same firm are also inviting the atten-
tion of bee-keepers to a new make of honey-

jar as a novelty for 1901. As will be seen
the shape is much
the same as for-
merly and similar
to the illustration
attached. But
Messrs. Abbott
claim as chief
points of excel-
lence in this jar
that it is made
by machinery
which secures the
following advan-
tages : — 1. Per-
fectly uniform
in thickness
throughout. 2.
No dangerous
flakes of glass
inside the jars,
no sharp edges
and no bubbles.
3. The screw-
necks are per-
fectly accurate,
round, and of
exactly the same
size outside, so
that every metal
cap fits perfectly
and easily. 4.
They are more costly to manufacture, but at
present no extra charge will be made. 5.
The peculiar " waves " in the glass give a
brilliancy to the contents, especially when
semi-transparent as honey, &c. Messrs.
Abbott Bros, agree with us that it is not wise
to be over sanguine of a new article until it
has been put to every test, at the same time
they confidently advise bee-keepers to procure
a sample and judge for themselves. For
prices or fuller details reference must be made
to advertisements which will appear later or
direct to the firm.

TRA.DE CATALOGUES RECEIVED.

As an outcome of the recent sudden out-
burst of brilliant sunshine and summer
weather, with bees flying in thousands, and,
as a correspondent says, " working for all
they are worth," we expect that — like their
beea — many bee-keepers will have experienced
an awakening of their hitherto dormant
energies. In this way, no doubt, they will
realise the want of " thiDgs " which ought to be
ready at hand when needed, but are not. Trade
catalogues will, therefore, be in immediate
request, and in order to afford an equal
chance to all who have been good enough to
forward their catalogues for 1901, we forego
the usual individual notice of each, in order
to give the names and addresses of those
whose new lists are to hand. In doing this we
may briefly summarise the contents by saying

170

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 25, 1901.

that the trade catalogues for 1901 are in
every way worthy of the firms whose names
they respectively bear. Well illustrated,
comprehensive, and full of up-to-date appli-
ances, many of them new and practically all
capable of fulfilling the various purposes for
which they were dt^ signed. The names,
placed alphabetically, are as follows : —

Jas. Lee & Son, 10, Silver-street, Blooms-
bury, W.C. Illustrated list (40 pages) of bee-
hives and appliances.

W. P. Meadows, Syston, Leicester. New
catalogue of bee-hives and appliances for
1901 (60 pages.)

George Rose, head office, 50, Great Char-
lotte-street, Liverpool, and at Preston. Bee-
appliance maker, nurseryman, and florist.
Full list of bee goods, seeds, and plants.

David Raitt, Celtic Works, Blurgowrie.
Illustrated price-list of bee-goods and poultry
appliances. Comb-foundation a specialty.

The A. I. Boot Company, Medina, Ohio,
U.S.A. List of bee-keepers' supplies for
1901.

R. Steele, Wormit, Dundee. Catalogue of
bee-keepers' supplies for 1901.

F. Sladen, Ripple Court Apiary, near
Dover. "Sladen's Bees and Bee-keeping
Appliances." Sixth edition. (2d. post-free.)
Bee appliances, honey plants, and honey
trees.

E. H. Taylor (successor to T. B. Blow),
Welwyn, Herts. Illustrated catalogue (88
pages) of bee-keepers' supplies and poultry
appliances.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All queries forwarded will be attended to, and thott only
of pergonal interest will be answered in this column.

H. Burgess (Shorne). — Recipes for Bee- Food.
— We know of no better recipes for
making bee-food in all its various forms
than those given in Cowan's " Guide
Book." If the instructions given therein
are carefully attended to, and no deviation
made either in materials used or the manner
of making the various foods required at
different times, the right article will be
assured.

F. J. (Mountmellic). — Allotving Bees to
Transfer themselves to Frame- hives. — 1.
Before setting the skep on top-bars we fit
up the frame-hive complete, with its full
complement of frames all filled with full
sheets of foundation. This done, and the
bees in skep strong in numbers and needing
room for breeding, the skep is placed over-
head, snugly packed all round, and plenty
of warm quilts over the frames of lower
hive. This done, do not disturb the stock
at all till the bees are plainly seen to be
increasing in numbers rapidly. It will then
be time enough to lift the skep and see how
all is going an bslow. To bis constantly

disturbing the stock by addiDg to the
frames as proposed will only retard success-
ful transferring. 2. Thick boiler-felt, as
sample, makes good quilts for hives, and is
sent out as such by nearly all dealers. 3. If
very thin foundation is used we prefer full
sheets in sections to " starters '' only.
E. Stratton (Berks). — Foundation for
Shallow- Frames.— It is a matter of prefer-
ence whether " worker-cell;' or ''drone-
cell '' foundation is used for shallow-frames
in surplus-chambers. Our own practice is
to use the ordinary foundation same as in
brood-chambers. We are glad to hear your
'•bees are breeding now for all they are
worth,'' and if the information gained from
our paper has been "very helpful" as
stated, we are more than repaid.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve words and tinder, Sixpence; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

ORDERS WANTED for natural EARLY SWARMS.
Miss Cooke, Litcham, Swaffham, Norfolk. F 21
EES —FOR SALE, one strong Stock on 10 frames
and two healthy Skeps of Bees. Miss MARGESSON,
Finflo n, Worthing. F 18

SWARMS, headed by Imported Carniolan, Italian, or
home-bred Queens. E. Woodham, Clavering,
Newport, Essex, F 17

ENGLISH and ITALIAN BEES FOR SALE, in frame-
. hives. T. HILL, Scotlands, Cannock-road, Wolver-
hampton F 2'

CANOE FOR SALE in good condition, 55s., or would
exchange for bees and appliances. FORD, Wharf
House, Leek, Staffs. F_23_

F-OR SALE, 40
EXTRACTED
Marlborough.

1-lb. screw-cap bottles pure
HONEY. Marsh, East Wick.
F 16

NAPHTHOL BETA SOLUTION, mads according to
directions in Guide Book, 9d. and Is. 3d. per bottle.

Guthrie Bros., Alloway. Ayr. f 22

ANIvED GARDKN N KITING, 25 yds. by S yds.,
50 yils. by 4 jds., 100 yds. by 2 yds., Ss. Prompt
delivery. L. Wren & SON, Net Merchants, 139, High-
street, Lowestoft. F 14
On LB- of EXTRACTED HONEY (1st duality), in
JO 1-lb. screw-cap bottles, neatly labelled, 8s. 6d.
doz. Cash with order or deposit. GARDINER junior,

Daneway, Cirencester. F 28

-fT^STRONG^healthv STOCKS of BEES, in good bar-
1 Z/ frame hives, 20s. each, or £10 10s. the lot. Mrs.
Ballard, The Reddings, Churchdown, Gloucester.

_^ F 24

rTrTH YEAR.— STOCKS, wired frames, three, 12s. 6d. ;
Z<D six, lbs.; eight, 18s. Skeps, 10s. 6d., 12s. 6d.
Swarms booked. Packages free. ALSFORD, Expert,
Blandford. ' _F_25_

BEES FOR SALE.— Stocks on six to ten combs,
headed by young queens. Prices varying according
to strength of stock; with or without hives. Wm.
Loveday. Hatfield Heath, Harlow, Essex.

WO more 1900 QUEENS FOK, SALE, 4s. 6d. each.

Mv Catalogue of Bee Appliances, Queens, and

Poultry, "post free. Buff Orpington and White Legborn

Eggs, 2s. 6d. sitting. Approval. Spearman, Colesboume.

Cheltenham. F 19

GRANULATED HONEY, VERY FINE QUALITY, in
1-lb. screw-capped jars, 10s. dozen ; in3-lb. tie-over
iars, 8kl. lb. ; in tins reduced according to quantity, 7,
14, or"2S lbs. Siimple 3d. Wm. LOVEPAY, Hatfield

Heath, Harlow, Essex.

\\l ANTED.— Cunvt-nient H<)C>E, with about 6ix acres
vV of land, good honey district, and near market
town. Should not object to already existing npiary.
West or south preferred, Address. " Ftn^DATTON,' Ste
Jmrml Office . f IS

May 2, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

171

(SrtBtorial IJfltim, &t

OXFORDSHIRE B.K.A.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Oxfordshire
Bee-Keepers' Association was held on Satur-
day, March 23, at Oxford. Mr. G. H.
Morrell, M.P., Vice-President, occupied the
chair, and there were also present Mrs.
Herbert Morrell (Vice-President), the Rev.
R. Hutchinson, Miss Hope Campbell, Miss
Nalder, Messrs. A. Humphries, R. Allen,
G. 0. E. Herbert, W. Slater, J. Smart,
H. W. M. Turner (Hon. Secretary and
Treasurer), and others.

The Chairman, after formally opening the
proceedings, read the report for the year,
from which we gather that, in conjunction
with Mr. F. Elford, organising secretary of
the County Council, lectures were arranged
for in various parts of the county. The com-
mittee were glad to have secured the hearty
co-operation of the County Council in carry-
ing out their work, and hoped the present
arrangement would continue.

The Chairman also pointed to the steady
growth of the Association, which now num-
bered nearly 200 members.

The report was adopted, as was also the
balance-sheet.

The election of officers then took place,
her Grace the Duchess of Marlborough again
becoming President for the year.

The Vice-Presidents were re-elected, as
were also the hon. auditors, experts, and
committee, which latter body now comprises
the following gentlemen : — The Rev. R.
Hutchinson, Messrs. E. Goddard, G. Jordan,
A Humphries, J. Salmon, W. Beeson, and
0. Tite. Mr. H. M. Turner was unanimously
re-elected Hon. Secretary and Treasurer.

The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to
the Chairman. — (Communicated.)

IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

A special meeting of the Committee of the
I.B.K.A. was held on April 13, in Dr. Traill's
Rooms, Trinity College, to confer with the
Department of Agriculture as to the lines on
which common action might be taken in the
promotion of the industry of bee-keeping.

Rev. J. G. Digges in the chair ; also present
H. Chenevix, J. P. (Vice-President), Messrs.
Abbott, Delap, J.P., Doherty, Gillies, and
M. H. Read (Hon. Secretary). From the
Department of Agriculture — Professor Camp-
bell, and Mr. W. P. Coyne, Superintendent
of the Statistics and Intelligence Branch.

Professor Campbell explained that the
scheme submitted to the Department last
November could not be accepted by the
Department, not being in accordance with the
Act of Parliament. The whole matter having

been fully discussed, the Committee under-
took to formulate a scheme on the lines
indicated by Professor Campbell.

A meeting of the sub-committee appointed
to arrange for the publication of an Irish paper
to represent the industry was afterwards held,
Rev. J. G. Digges in the chair ; also present
Messrs. Abbott, Gillies, and Read. An esti-
mate of the cost of production and the probable
receipts was gone into, and it was resolved to
publish a monthly journal at Id., its name to
be The Irish Bee Journal, relying on the
support of those interested in the industry.
The Rev. J. G. Digges was appointed editor,
and it was resolved that every effort should be
made to publish the first number on May 1,
1901.

A meeting of the Committee was held on
the 25th at Dr. Traill's rooms, Dr. Traill,
and afterwards H. Chenevix, J.P., Vice-
Presidents, in the chair. Also present Messrs.
Abbott, Drought, Gillies, Watson, and Mr.
H. Read, Hon. Sec. A scheme for the pro-
motion of the industry of bee-keeping in co-
operation with the Agricultural Department
was adopted, and ordered to be forwarded to
the Department for its approval.

The Hon. Sec. reported that the exhibits
of hives and appliances exhibited at the
Belfast Show by Messrs. Abbott Bros, and
Messrs. Edmondson Bros, were most in-
teresting, and fully sustained the reputation
of the firms. Messrs. Edmondson Bros.
were awarded the first prize (the silver medal
of the Association), and Messrs. Abbott Bros.,
Dublin, second prize (bronze medal). Mani-
pulations with live bees and lectures were
given in the bee tent during the Show by the
Rev. A. H. Delap, Mr. Abbott, and Mr.
Read, to interested audiences ; and it is
trusted that the Show will give a great
impetus to che industry in the North-East. —
( Communicated. )

(ftiomtytmUmt

The 'Editor* do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[4341.] Here, in West Berks, we have had
a fortnight of fine weather with some cold
east and north-east winds. The brilliant
sunshine has, however, caused a rapid un-
folding of the blossoms of the wild cherry, and
also of the stone-fruit trees of the garden and

172

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 2, 1901.

orchard. The gooseberries and currants, too,
are providing their quota of bee-forage, and
the fields are now becoming dotted with the
golden blossom of the dandelion ; indeed,
many other sources of income are also
promising to follow in quick rotation, the
sycamore, beech, and horse chestnuts all
expanding their buds, and in warm, sheltered
situations are already in leaf. These indications
that our bee-season has commenced should
rouse us bee-keepers up to a sense of duty
to the craft, and last, though not least, to the
bees. See that there is now no check in the
onward march of the condition of our colonies
from any remissness or neglect on our part.
Should the weather become wet and cold,
attend to the brood-nests by seeing that they
are carefully wrapped ; also that a constant
supply of food is given to meet the require-
ments of the increasing family of bees. If
natural forage is good and weather warm,
Nature will supply every want in such hives
as are strong or fairly so, but with the weaker
ones a little "coddling'' now will probably
bring them into supering condition later on,
when the queen, if old, should be superseded
by a 1901 queen from a good strain.

Drone-rearing. — The swarming season will
soon be with us again, and I would counsel
every bee-keeper who aims at improving his
stock to insert in the centre of his strong
colonies a frame containing a half or a two-
thirds sheet of foundation, thus giving an
opportunity for the bees to build a few rows
of natural drone-cells, which will produce fine,
robust sires for the future race of bees.
Established stocks will, nineteen times out of
twenty, build drone-comb, especially those in
which full sheets have been given year after
year.

Wax-rendering. — The Solar wax-extractor
is a useful appliance, especially for rendering
into wax new, or comparatively new, combs ;
but with old brood-combs, the cells of which
are partially chocked up with numerous
cocoons, the wax is not so easily extracted,
and with such we have therefore to use the
old-fashioned boiling water, the strainer-bag,
and pressure in order to get the wax tho-
roughly out of the debris. The modern, or
"Gerster," wax-extractor, as made in this
country, may meet the requirements of small
apiaries, but with many old combs to deal
with it would not only be a tedious job, but
would also fill the house with an effluvia very
obnoxious — at least, to my olfactory nerves.
I think Mr. Geo. Wells— considering the few
stocks he keeps— makes the largest cake of
wax, year after year, of any one I know of.
Perhaps he will give us his modus operandi
when he can spare time.

Re-queening in April.— I see a reference
is made to re- queening; in April, on page 167,
in reply to a query. In my opinion, how-
ever, re-queening in that month is not calcu-
lated to benefit aDy one, either the purchaser
or the dealer who supplies the queens. The

number of bees in the hive must be small and
aged, and these old bees will make very poor
nurses for the brood the newly-introduced
queen will provide for them to care for,
while the size of the brood-nest will continue
small for want of nurses, and by the time the
young bees hatch out the colony will probably
be in a worse condition than it was at the
introduction of the queen a month before.
The dealer may have sent a fine queen of a
good strain, yet where is the chance of dis-
tinguishing herself or of enhancing the credit
and renown of the breeder 1 The best plan is
to unite any stocks that are queenless in
March and April to some other stock, and
not risk disappointment in trying to do the
impossible by building up queenless colonies
of old bees into good useful stocks in time for
the clover bloom. — W. "Woodley, Beedon,
Newbury.

[We have, of course, no objection to our
friend, Mr. Woodley, holding a different opinion
from ourselves in regard to replies we may
consider fit and good to queries, but, unfortu-
nately, in the above he entirely bases his reply
on what appears on page 167, without troubling
to read up the whole case by referring to the
former query (2168, page 139). By so doing
he would, we think, have left our reply as
given and " uncorrected." — Eds.]

RENDERING OLD COMBS.

BEE-ESCAPES.

[4342.] Last week I had a call from an
old bee-keeper, and as the cause of his visit
effects a good many bee-keepers as well as
himself, I propose to give the two chief objects
of his interview. First, then, he said, " I have
been told you obtain a deal more wax from
your combs than most of us can get. How do
you account for it 1 " " Well," I replied, " your
question seems to have reference to old combs,
and my opinion is that wax from old combs
cannot be extracted by boiling or steaming, or,
atleast, only a very small portion of it. A large
quantity of the wax seems to be absorbed or
held in by the pollen or cocoons in the old
combs, and can only be got out by force ; that
is through pressure in a powerful press. My
plan of dealing with this difficulty is as
follows : The old combs are immersed in soft
water for three or four days. I then select a
day for rendering the combs into wax. I first
obtain a loan of the washing-copper from ' the
wife.' This secured, I fill it three-parts full
of soft water, and light the fire. I next break
up the old combs, and tie them in parcels in
cheese-straining cloth, leaving the corners loose
to take hold of. When boiling, I put four or
five parcels into the copper and allow them to
boil until all wax is melted. I then draw up
my honey-press close to the copper and set
a large bowl under the ' press.' When all is
ready I take a stick, bring one of the parcels
to the top of copper so that I can get hold of

May 2, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

173

the corner left for the purpose, drop it into the
press, and in a moment force down the screw.
The wax (and water) is then in the bowl under
the press ; this is repeated until the job is
finished. It is said that old combs contain
very little wax, but this is not my experience ;
the wax is there and only requires proper
pressure to' get it all out. My ' take ' of wax
for 1900 was 30 lb., sold for £2 5s. The
foundation used in 1900 (23 lb.) cost me
£2 ys. 4d. Thus, you see, the wax sold nearly
pays my foundation bill."

Bee-JEecapes. — " Now," says my friend, " I
am going to give you a ' poser ; ' something
that I cannot understand ! You said in the
B.B.J., when removing additional brood-
chambers, you clear them out in the ordinary
way, but you will always have a few drones
among those additional brood-combs ; do they
not block up the escapes ? " My reply was,
" Yes ; I have omitted to name my ' escapes,'
and I am glad you asked this question, as it
will effect all who may try my method of
working. Briefly, then, there are always a few
drones in those additional brood-chambers,
but 1 have no such thing as my ' bee-escapes '
being blocked up with them. My ' escapes '
are home-made and admit the passage of
drones as well as workers, so you will there-
fore see that mine are not what you would
call the ordinary super-clearers." After inspec-
tion of the appliances my friend expressed
himself highly satisfied, and I trust these
small items may interest others who may not
get the amount of wax from old combs that
they should do, and also those who find any
trouble in clearing any surplus chambers con-
taining drone bees. — J. Rymer, Levisham,
Yorks, April 26.

A CURIOUS BEE STORY.

[4343.] Our busy little friend the bee has
been accredited with many wonderful feats
both intellectual and otherwise, but I think
the following " story '' taken from the current
number of the Strand Magazine somewhat
extraordinary, and that it might interest
some of our friends.

I must confess to not a little incredulity
myself in regard to a few of the statements
made, but probably some of your readers may
be able to enlighten us as to its probability or
otherwise. Of course the " story " comes " from
America " so I give it in its entirety : —

" It appears that while repairing his sail-
boat in the spring he (an admirer of the
Strand) noticed a hole bored in the mast, and
on opening it found this nest of bees. The
mother-bee had bored a tunnel about 8 in. in
length, boring both forward and back, making
the entrance in the middle of the tunnel. She
then laid four eggs, walling up each within a
space by a partition formed of the sawdust
made in boring the tunnel. This partition
was a thin but a very firm and tough mem-

brane. When found three of the eggs had
developed into bees, perfectly formed, but
white ; the fourth was still in pupa form, and
the mother-bee was lying outside the last
wall, dead.

" Shortly the twp oldest bees died, the third
and fourth, the pupa, developed into bees ; they
laidon their backs and slowly changed to brown,
and finally black, beautiful bees. The only
sign of life noticeable for days was a vibratory
oscillation sideways when the stick was moved
or shaken. Each compartment had a store of
little black seed in it when found. When the
remaining two bees were fully grown they
were fed with a little sugar and water, which
they ate greedily. They grew strong enough
to walk, and finally one day were put
out in the fresh air, and on learning the
strength of their wings flew away.

" Several puzzling questions were suggested
during these interesting developments. Does
the mother-bee (I like the expression) always
die and block the entrance to her prospective
family's home ?

" Again, how does the oldest bee, which is
furthest from the entrance, make its way out,
and how does this wonderful mother-bee make
her partition so delicate and yet so strong ? "

Might I further supplement these " puzzling
questions " by asking how this wonderful
mother-bee was enabled to bore a hole 8 in.
long in a boat's mast ? — R. Aitchison, Cor-
bridge of Lyne, April 15.

[We forwarded the above communication to
our esteemed contributor, Mr. Sladen, whose
knowledge of the subject makes his views of
value, and we have received from him the
following reply.- -Eds.]

The above interesting bee»story has evidently
been written by one who is not very well
acquainted with the life-history of the wild
bee, but, taking this into consideration, it has
been told in an unusually clear and correct
manner.

The bees mentioned apparently belong to
the genus Xylocopa which occurs in all the
warmer parts of the world, or to one of the
American genera allied to it. These bees do
not occur in Britain ; but in France and in
most other Continental countries they are very
common. They are popularly called " car-
penter bees " on account of their wood-boring
propensities. It is the female or mother-bee
that forms the cells so graphically described in
the above account, and she does this chiefly
with the aid of her powerful jaws. The
mother-bee seldom or never dies in the nest
she has formed, and I am inclined to suppose
from the description given that the bee found
lying dead " outside i the last wall " was in
reality not the mother-bee but one of the
brood which was in a more mature stage than
the rest.

In the case of a British wild bee named
Osmia aurxdenta, which is not distantly re-
lated to Xylocopa, the cells are formed one

174

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 2, 1901.

outside the other in the tube of a deserted
snail-shell, and, as with the Xylocopa men-
tioned above, the oldest bee being farthest
from the mouth of the shell is unable to escape
until all the others blocking its way have
emerged. Under ordinary conditions this bee
would attain maturity before the rest, and in
this special case, being unable (o make good
its escape, it would probably perish, had not
Nature reversed one of its well-nigh universal
laws by causing the younger bees at the mouth
of the shell to develop first, the older ones
developing after the younger have escaped.

In the case of Osmia aurulenta a further
development of this interesting "freak of
nature " has been observed.

It is a general rule among the wild bees and
many other insects that eggs which are destined
to produce males are laid in advance of those
that are to develop into females ; and this is
because by universal law the males are deve-
loped first and the females afterwards. In the
case of the Osmias imprisoned in the snail-
shell, Nature's general rule is at variance with
her universal law, and in consequence the
general rule is reversed, with the result that
a highly interesting state of things is brought
about — the female eggs are laid first at the
end of the whorl, and the mile eggs are laid
afterwards outside these, so that the males
may emerge first.— F. W. L. Sladen, Bipple
Court, Dover.

HAZEL CATKINS AND BEES.

[4344.] In B.B.J. of April 4, Mr. A. W.
Salmon (on page 135) states that " the hazel
belongs to the order Hamamelidace«>.'' Is he
not confusing the witch hazel with the
common hazel (filbert or wood nut) 1 The
witch hazel belongs to the order men-
tioned above, but the common hazel — which
produces the male catkins supposed to be
visited by the bees during mild weather in
spring — belongs to the order Corylacew , as
the following description (from " Nicholson's
Dictionary") will verify :— Oorylus (from korys
a hood, or helmet, in reference to the calyx
covering the nut). Hazel ; cobnut. Ord.
Corylacea?. Low trees and large shrubs ;
deciduous. Male flowers whitish, in cylin-
drical catkins ; bracts sessile, imbricate.
Female flowers red, in a bud-like catkin
which is developed into a branchlet ; leaves,
simple, alternate, exstipulate. — L. Hopkins,
Nantlos Lodge, Aberystwyth.

{Correspondence continued on page 176.

DISINFECTING HIVES.

[A gentleman in the North of England
who is interested in bee-keeping and has
contributed an article on the subject to a local
paper, forwards the following letter received
by him, and asks us to oblige him by replying
to it.— Eds.]

"Dear Sir, — Having noticed your inte-

resting letter and kind offer in the City
News, I beg to apply for advice. Some months
ago I bought at our vicar's sale two large
frame hives, and commenced to prepare them
for future occupants. It was soon noised
abroad that ' t' schulemester had bowt parson's
hives,' and I was informed he had had foul
brood, and ' I mun mek hives inter chicken
coops.' I determined, however, to try my
hand at curing the infection, and filled the
washhouse boiler with a boiling mixture of
water, soap, Condy's, and carbolic acid. Into
this I plunged every portion of the hives.
After a week's exposure to sun and wind,
I next painted the outsides and sprayed
the insides with Sanitas. I now purpose to
follow with salycylic acid, and lastly to fumi-
gate with sulphur. My neighbouring bee-
keepers are constantly throwing out hints
about the danger of introducting foul brood
into our locality. Will my efforts to eradicate
the bacteria be successful ? What else shall I
try ? Can swarms be obtained seasoned or
salted against foul brood 1 When should I
obtain a swarm, and at what price ? Any
further advice will be welcomed."

Reply. — The measures taken to disinfect
the hives will more than suffice to remove all
risk of infection from anything but the spores
of foul-brood ; the vitality of the latter is,
however, so difficult to destroy completely
that we suggest making " assurance doubly
sure " by scorching the insides of the hives
with a painter's spirit-lamp. This would
effectually put an end to all risk. A good,
but less effectual, remedy is to give the insides
of body-boxes two coats of oil paint.

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

In Mr. Jeffrey we have another welcome
addition to the list of readers who add on to
their chief occupation as gardeners a love of
bees and bee-keeping. We have come across
not a few instances in our past experience
where gentlemen favourably disposed to keep-
ing a few hives in their gardens have had
their wishes so persistently opposed by gar-
deners as to make them give up the idea.
In view of this, we are more than pleased to
insert the apiary-picture on opposite page,
and add a line to urge gardeners to become
bee-keepers. By so doing they add to their
usefulness and value. Why should not the
employer derive equal pleasure from seeing a
comb of delicious honey fresh from his own
hives to a bouquet of flowers from the same
garden 1 We trust gardeners will take a hint
from the following " notes '' : —

"Being a gardener by occupation, and
having my cottage garden to cultivate during
evenings as well as manage the bees, I had not
much time to spare for the latter beyond giving
ordinary attention. I have, however, found

May 2, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

175

them very profitable, and have had no trouble
in disposing of the honey and wax taken from
my hives. Commencing with one frame-hive,
I eventually increased to thirty stocks, a few
being skeps, the bees of which, with the excep-
tion of two skeps — kept for swarming — I
transferred to frame-hives. I have been able
to dispose of frame-hives to five bee-keepers
who had not previously been acquainted with
any hives other than skeps, and all ex-
pressed their satisfaction with the new method.
I gave to each a few hints such as I had
found to be generally useful, and such also as
I had myself gladly received from friends
when starting an apiary. Two of the hives
seen are my own manufacture.

"I exhibited honey at the village horti-
cultural show for several successive years, and
was a prize-winner each time, also at Bedding-

should the hives be placed closer together
than two yards. I also find that good
honey results are largely attributable to strict
attention to the cleanliness of the hives in-
side, and to all accessories: Regularly every
spring I thoroughly clean all floor-boards,
scrape the frames, &c, and, lastly, paint the
hives outside, which, besides preserving the
wood, adds much to the neatness of the
garden. As conducive to the prevention of
swarming, I at the proper time place two
frames of foundation in the centre of each
hive, finding that when the brood-chamber
gets crowded with young bees the heat is
thereby lessened.

"At one time on coming in contact with
an ' old-style ' bee-keeper, I inquired why he
did not take to wooden hives. He replied,
' They arn't no good — yer carn't beat

HORACE J. JEFFREYS APIARY, SOUTH GODSTONE, SURREY.

ton last August. The hive on the left of the
picture, as may be seen, has a lift (my own
making) which I work with shallow-frames,
and find them very profitable. The double
hive in centre of the photo had, when I
purchased it, the doorways in the centre,
but on noticing that the bees seemed confused
when returning to their home, I removed the
doors, putting one at each end, which proved
a better arrangement. I am not in favour of
double hives, having secured better results by
keeping each stock by itself. I may here say
that I find it a good plan to keep the hives
at least 6 ft. apart — I say this because by
observing the bees as they return loaded, it
will be seen that some confusion often follows
from their not knowing exactly where to enter

the skips.' After a little conversation he
accepted my offer to drive five skep3 for him,
and I accordingly started the task of 'driving'
another evening. Four lots were successfully
dealt with, but the fifth would not leave the
hive, and appeared to be nearly all drones. I
had a bee-recruit with me (an early lesson for
him), who got a few stings, and wanted me to
give up the game, but I persevered, and as a
last resource, gave the skep a thump on the
grass, when out dropped all the bees, combs,
and all ! I carefully brushed the bees from the
combs and gathered the latter into a pan,
without being any the worse for the adventure.
The owner was very pleased on getting his
honey without killing the bees, and offered
me what bees I cared to have, so I accepted

176

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 2, 1901.

three lots and put them in a home-made hive,
giving them two frames with honey and four
empty ones, and about 15 lb. of syrup, and
they well repaid me for any trouble I had.

" My young friend had the remaining two
lots, which we dusted with flour and united
to a weak stock of his. They are now doing
well together. At an early opportunity I
consulted ' Modern Bee-keeping ' as to the
reason of so many drones being in the skep,
and found that their presence indicated a
queenless stock. I find it advantageous to leave
plenty of honey in the hives for winter, which
item is very apt to be neglected by those who
are too eager to take as much honey from their
bees as possible, and the latter must thereby
suffer. Those who do not thoroughly interest
themselves in the habits of the busy bees are
likely to ignore the fact that they require
gentleness, care, and attention. Sucb bee-
keepers as fail in these items are those who
do not prove successful in the craft.

" I think there is nothing in Nature of more
interest to an onlooker, or a greater example
to ourselves in our daily active life than the
short and busy existence of that industrious
little labourer — the honey bee.

" PS. — The photo was taken with my own
camera, and developed by myself at Stilehurst,
Capel, Dorking."

CORRESPONDENCE.

(Continued from page 174.)

ANCIENT BEE-BOOKS.

"A New Discovery of an Excellent Method of Bee-
houses and Colonies to free the Owners from the great
charge and trouble that attends the Swarming of Bees,
and deliver the Bees from the evil reward of Ruine for
the benefit they brought their Masters; advantaging
their Owners many-fold above whatever any method
heretofore praictc'd doth. Experienced seven years by
John Gedde, Gent. Inventor ; and approved by the
Royal Society at Gresham-Colledge.

"London, printed for the Author, and sold by D.
Newman at the King's Armes in the Poultry ; and Ship
and Anchor at the Bridg-foot on Southwark-side.
1676."

[4345.] Those who may be following my re-
view of ancient bee literature should note that
the " Theatre of Politicall Flying Insects,'' by
Samuel Purchas (the younger), was published
two years after Hartlib s " Reformed Common-
wealth," last noticed, and eighteen before the
book now to be considered. Purchas was the
last of the skeppists. For a description of his
notable book see Mr. Headley's papers (4164
and 4172) last volume B.B.J.

Gedde's book begins with an "Advertise-
ment,'' that he and his partners had obtained
a fourteen years' Royal Patent for " ex-
ercising and enjoying the new Art and
Invention for the Improvement of Bees"' and
that it cannot be made, used, &c, without
their special licence. He goes on to explain,
that having tried several forms he at last
found one that answered his expectation.
While waiting for further experience, he was

" advertised by an ingenious Gentleman :'
that the Royal Society had published in their
" Transactions " for July 21, 1673, a descrip-
tion of one of his boxes " which they had
gotten from Sir Robert Murray, and he from
Sir Wm. Thompson who had gotten it from
me, together with a written description of its
parts and use," and that they had approved
the same as " the best form yet invented."
Hence the present book, and the patent.

On the strength of this, Gedde has gone
down to posterity as the inventor of the
Octagon Transparent Hive, which held the
field for a full hundred years after. "Warder,
1726, calls him "the first inventor of Bee-
boxes and Houses " ; Thorley, White, and
others have followed to the same effect. But
a study of Gedde's description of his hive and
of that in the R. S. " Transactions,'' together
with the plates that accompany each, clearly
shows that the patented hive is but a combi-
nation of Dr. Brown's and Mr. Mewe's hives
taken from Hartlib. Brown's iron handles,
and his framework for combs, slightly modified,
are added to Mewe's octagonal bodies ; the
number of doors and windows is doubled ; and
an oblong slip, working in grooves and shod
with " Lattin or Iron well sharpened,'' so as to
cut the combs between the boxes, takes the
place of Mewe's revolving shutter.

Gedde's patent was probably obtained in
conjunction with Moses Rusden, the King's
bee-master, who made and sold the hive, and
writes as if he was a partner. All doubt as to
the hive's origin is cleared up in Rusden's
book, published in 1679. In a humble
" Epistle Dedicatory " to the Royal Society we
find it stated, with what must have seemed to
Gedde a sad want of reticence, that "the
transparent hives were first shewed to us by
Dr. Wilkins, late Bishop of Chester, a most
eminent member of your Society." Dr.
Wilkins was their first secretary, and it is a
great pity that he died some few months
before Sir Wm. Thompson sent his hive for
inspection to Gresham College. In a careful
search of the " Transactions" of the Society and
of the record of its meetings I could find no
form of approval nor any mention of a hive
except in the succeeding Secretary's letter in-
troducing Sir Wm. Thompson's hive in the
" Transaction " quoted above. He speaks of it
as " used in Scotland with good success "
refers to Hartlib, and "thinks the Reader
will meet with several improvements of those
attempts that were made before.'' When
some day a man of sufficient leisure, means,
and energy shall be found to write the
Universal History of Bee-Keeping, it is to be
hoped that he will not fail to investigate this
matter for himself, and to bestow the honours
of invention where they are really due.

The extracts given below will show that
Gedde worked his hives in masterly fashion
on the nadiring system. The bee-house was
to be furnished in spring " when Bees are at
the swarming and looking out for a new

May 2, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

177

Lodging.'' You were to place a skep properly
on the top of a box, and " when you find the
first box full of Work and Bees, except it be
very late in the year, take another box of the
Colony, and having prepared it as the former,
lift up the first box with the Hive upon it, by
a Pully fastened to the top of the house, or by
hand, and put the second box under the first
box and hive. So leave the bees to work
down into the second box till they have filled
it also, which is not to be expected the first
summer, except the summer be very advan-
tageous. Then at the usual time of the year
for taking of Bees, take off the old Hive for
use, which will be filled with work but no
Bees, for they will be working in the lowest
box." If all went well there was " no doubt
but two boxes may be taken off one Colony,
being once well stockt with Bees.''

After removing the top box " unscrew the
pinns and let out the inner frame with the
whole Fabrick, in which there will be no
Bees.'' You were to take " what could well be
spar'd of Honey and Wax," and put the box on
again, "as a relief to the Bees, in case the
lowest hold not out to be Provision enough for
the winter. The provision made, you may
even in summer time take off the upper Box
of Honey and put in an empty box under the
lowest. . . . All the vigorous Bees are pre-
served alive, to repeat their industry for their
masters' advantage."

Gedde admits that " the charge of .£5 or £6
in setting them up at first does bring a present
inconveniency upon the Owner," but the ample
profit does abundantly overbalance that
present inconveniency," and you must
" deduct the charge of a person for three
months in Hay and Corn harvest' ' (watching
for swarms) " which can't be worth less than
forty shillings besides trouble and payne."

In 1721 a Mr. Nourse, instructed by certain
booksellers who supplied him with MS. notes
left behind him by Gedde, published "The
English Apiary or the Compleat Bee-Master.
.... being a Collection and Improvement
of what has been written by all Authors
relating to this Subject, as well Antient as
Modern." With this was reprinted the book
we have been considering, all under Gedde's
name. Mr. Headley (4181, last vol. B.B.J.)
is surprised at the virulence of Warder's
criticism of this work. As far as Mr. Nourse's
share goes the criticism was fairly well de-
served. Its virulence is best explained by the
fact that Warder's own hives are, with some
slight alterations— 3uch as a single door, two
crossed sticks only in place of the more elaborate
comb-frames, and a ventilator which would
probably be propolised — a close copy of
Gedde's, though the Doctor would fain have
had it forgotten. He was a peppery man (see
his "Vindication," 1718), and Mr. Nourse's
unfortunate remark : — " It must be confessed
that Mr. Warder has largely transcribed from
others" was quite enough to upset him. —
South Devon Enthusiast.

dittos and ^U^.

[2636.] Bees in Double Hives.— For several
years I have successfully wintered two stocks
of bees in a hive containing twelve frames,
with perforated dummy in centre, and the
bees entering due east and west. Both com-
partments last autumn contained about the
same amount of bees and food. I always
find, however, that the bees on the east side
are a little stronger in the spring than those
on the west ; but this year I was not so suc-
cessful. I find that on the west side there
only remains about 100 bees with the queen,
and she has laid about thirty or forty eggs.
I do not think that any of the bees
have joined those on the east side, because
I found an unusual quantity of dead bees from
some unknown cause. But on the east side
I find three frames full of brood in all stages
and the hive well packed with bees. Do
you think it would be wise to turn the weak
side to east, and thus catch the flying bees of
the strong stock 3 Or would it, by so doing,
weaken the latter to such an extent that there
would not be enough bees to cover the brood,
which would thus be likely to become
" chilled " ? None of my other nine stocks
require a new queen, so I could make no use
of the one now heading the weak lot of bees.
What is the best thing to do ?— W. Holmes,
Coventry, April 22.

Reply. — A hundred worker-bees with
queen are useless, either ot themselves or for
uniting. We therefore strongly urge you not
to waste time and bees in the endeavour to
utilise the weak lot. Probably the queen of
the latter may be at fault, so we should regard
her as of no value.

[2637.] Repairing Misshapen Combs.-'
Having always a desire to keep bees, and last
year moving to a convenient quarter for so
doing, I purchased four stocks in bar-framed
hives, which to reach me had to travel by rail.
I purchased them during December last, and
on arrival at my place could hear by the bees
buzzing that they were alive in each hive. I
therefore considered them safe. On examining
them last month for the first time I found that
I could not get the combs out for inspection
owing to their being broken and knocked
about so much ; |in some the bottom-bar of
frames was broken off altogether. My inten-
tion was to contract the frames by closing up
with division-board, &c, as recommended in
"Cowan's Guide Book" (which I have pur-
chased) for this time of year, and Bee
Journal which I read. I managed to lift
some of the frames out of one of the hives, and
not being experienced enough to judge properly
I thought the cells were empty. Later on, how-
ever, when examining, I found the comb to be
practically full of eggs and larvae. As I con-
sidered the unsealed brood would be chilled

178

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 2, 1901.

by the exposure I did not return it to the
hive. I am acquainting you with this to let
you see that I am unable to take frames out
and close up as directed in "Guide Book,"
owing to the dilapidated condition. I am
feeding the bees with syrup in regulating
bottles. What 1 should be very glad to know
is, how to proceed under the circumstances :—
1. Must I insert full frames of foundation in
lieu of the one I took from, and, if so, how
often 1 2. If I insert foundation will the bees
draw it out crooked to correspond with the
present misshapen combs ? 3. Shall I leave
the others as they are for the present ? 4.
How can I proceed to get straight combs built
in my hives by the quickest and best method ?
The bees seem to be very busy on fine days
taking in pollen, and some are bringing out
large pieces of wax. Is this capping or
what ? Any advice will be greatly appre-
ciated ? — Brock, Wallingford.

Keply. — 1. We infer that you closed up
the frames containing brood after removing
the comb referred to, and that some of the
frames of comb have been got out, as stated
later on. This being so, you might replace
any outside combs by frames of foundation,
and thus get straight combs built in lieu of
the crooked ones. It is, however, of no use
putting frames of foundation next to crooked
combs, as the irregularities in the latter will
be repeated in the newly-built bnes. On the
other hand, do not do any brood-spreading at
this season by inserting sheets of foundation
in centre of brood-nest. 2. This question
is answered above. 3. Yes. 4. Only by
starting a new comb between two straight
old ones, or by taking away about three old
combs from outside of those containing brood,
and inserting full sheets of foundation in lieu
of those removed.

[2638.] Working Two Stocks from one En-
trance.— I have a double hive occupied with
two stocks of bees (swarms last summer). This
hive has two entrances on the side I am using
now, and on the opposite side there is one
entrance only (in centre). Both stocks are
doing well, each lot being on six frames at the
present time. The two compartments of the
hive each holds about eighteen or twenty
frames. I think of spreading the brood-nest
gradually in both stocks as soon as weather
permits. Should I succeed in getting the hive
full of bees I thought of putting queen-
excluder zinc in centre, spraying bees with
scent, then putting large rack of sections on,
and turning the hive round so that all
bees went in and out in centre entrance. 1.
Would this be the right thing to do ? 2.
Other years I have only worked one rack of
sections at a time ; do you consider it the
best plan to have two or three racks on, and
raised one above the other when full, instead of
taking the honey off as soon as sealed ? I have
always removed the honey in sections as soon
as filled, and replaced with empty ones. —
J. H., Norwich, April 17.

Reply. — 1. We should for preference allow
the bees to work in a surplus-chamber common
to both from the two entrances, as at present.
It would cause a good deal of upset to do
away with the back entrance, and compel the
bees to find out the new " front door." Nor
do we see any appreciable advantage in the
change so long as the bees work well from
both entrances at present. 2. If the bees
of two colonies work in unison we should
certainly use several racks of sections at one
time if honey is coming in well. The labour
is spread out over many more workers, so
to speak, by giving a very large colony room
enough.

[2639.] Bead Drones east out: Open Air
Feeding. — A few days ago I noticed one of
my hives casting out what I took to be drones,
a very unusual thing at this season. All I
saw were dead, and I send you a few. I
shall be obliged if you would examine them
and tell me if they are drones ; if they are
young, and how you account for them being
killed and cast out ? I examined the brood-
nest and found young brood in all stages,
spread over a few combs, but there was no
appearance of drone brood or of drones. The
queen was easily found, and looked young and
in fine condition. I have a goodly number of
hives, but I saw no appearance of drones at
any of them. I feed the bees outside, and
have all my hives in splendid condition. I
dare say you do not approve of feeding out-
side. Many bee-keepers in this part of the
country, however, do so ; in fact, one man
who has nearly a hundred hives practices
open-air feeding, and commends the system.
— C. G., Stonehaven, April 26.

Reply. — The dead drones sent are clearly
a stray lot that have been hiding away in
some out of the way part of the hive since the
usual time of " drone killing " at the end of
last season. With regard to "open-air" or
outside feeding, it is useful enough at times in
the hands of competent bee-men, but other-
wise it leads to all sorts of confusion — and
worse — in the apiary.

[2640.] Trans/erring from Skeps to Frame-
Hives. — I again seek your kind assistance,
through the columns of the Bee Jourxal,
with regard to one of my hives, on the
top bars of which I placed a skep of bees
for self-transferring, now about a year ago.
All through last summer I could not get the
bees to go down, brood being constantly seen
in the skep. Just before the honey flow, I
placed a rack of sections between the skep and
frames, and which eventually I took off three-
parts filled, replacing the skep and allowing it
to remain the winter. Upon examination now I
find the skep full of brood and some stores, and
the hive on the whole fairly strong. I do not
want to sacrifice the brood in the skep, and yet
I want to remove the skep entirely at the proper
time for substituting a crate or two of shallow
frames. 1. Will it be best to drive the skep

May 2, 1901. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

179

and find the queen and place her upon the
frames at the bottom, then put on excluder-
zinc and replace the skep to allow all brood to
hatch outj Last year I must have placed
excluder on before being sure the queen had
gone below. 2. If you advise driving, say
when it should be done ? 3. Or if you know
of a better method than driving ? the skep,
being an old contracted one, is unsuitable and
insufficient for surplus chamber. 4. What is the
lowest outside temperature considered safe for
examining any brood combs ? 5. To ensure
non-swarming, what should now be done with
a hive, the frames (nearly the whole) of which
are filled both sides with brood, and just
enough stores to last them ? There is no
more room for placing empty combs in, unless
some of the others are removed. I have an
empty hive if they can so be utilised. Thank-
ing you in anticipation of reply in next issue.
— W. H. Buck, Dawley, Salop. P.S.— All
my stocks have wintered safely, though one
being found queenless, which I have success-
fully united.

Reply. — 1. The risk attending your pro-
posed plan of removing the queen to frame-
hive below and keeping her there, lies in
the probable chance of the poor queen being
deserted by the bees — owing to their attach-
ment to the brood in skep — and perish of
cold and hunger. This often happens in
practising the method referred to. 2. We
advise letting well alone, and trusting to the
bees needing an extension of their brood-
chamber this year. 3. If brood is found
below, then set on the excluder by all means,
but not otherwise. In the latter case the
skep may be removed when brood ha3 hatched
out. 4. A temperature of about 65 deg.
Fahr., with no cold wind, is suitable for mani-
pulation, but when bees are working freely in
sunshine it is quite safe. 5. You might give
a box of shallow-frames either above or below
body-box to increase the capacity of breeding
space.

BEE-KEEPING IN IRELAND.

We gather from the twentieth annual
report of the Irish Bee-keepers' Association
that, although the number of local associations
affiliated during the year 1900 was very small,
yet the membership of the local associations
previously affiliated increased very consider-
ably. The Association reports that it was
able to render assistance to bee-keepers in
different parts of the country in disposing of
their honey, and it has now decided to make
an effort to extend the sphere of its work by
attempting, with the assistance of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture and the Congested Dis-
tricts Board, to establish a journal solely
devoted to the interests of cottagers and
others who engage in the industry of bee-
keeping. A scheme has also been prepared
by the committee and laid before the Depart-

ment of Agriculture for the promotion of
bee-keeping, by the formation of local asso-
ciations throughout the country, to be financed
by the Department and worked by the Asso-
ciation. The decision of the Department has
not yet been communicated, but it is to be
presumed that it will be favourable. Ireland's
annual production of honey could, we feel
certain, be vastly increased if information
were diffused among country folk as to
how they might profitably engage in the
industry. — Irish Independent.

|lt£ $hmrj to &mt

June 26 to July 1, at Cardiff.— "Royal"
Agricultural Society's Show. Bee and Honey Section
under management of the B.B.K.A. Entries close
May 1. Schedules from Edwin H. Young, Secretary,
12, Hanover-square, W.

July 18 and 19, at Brigg.— Honey, Hives, and
Bee Appliances in connection with the Lincolnshire
Agricultural Society ; Bee Department under the
management of the Lines. B.K.A. Schedules from the
Hon. Sec, R. Godson, Tothill, Alford. Entries close
June 19.

September 7 to 14, at the Agricultural
HaL, London.— Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (9th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Eleven classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees-
wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers-

September 21 to 28, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with the
fifth Annual Exhibition of the Grocery and Kindred
Trades. Four prizes for honey trophy, medals, and
diplomas.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur-
chased, or replies giving such information, can only be
inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

*** Referring to page 164 of the B.B.J, of
April 25, Mr. R. H. Coltman, 49, Station-
street, Burton-on-Trent, writes: — If "Bam-
ford '' ( Buxton) will send me the lady's
name aud address, I will arrange that the
Derbyshire expert shall call and give what
help may be necessary to overcome the
disease.

H. Ballington (Matlock Bank). — Naphthol
Beta Solution. — The naphthol beta sent out
from this office is the only kind for the effi-
ciency of which we can answer, with regard
to its use for medicating bee-food, and full
directions are given with each packet. One
tablespoonful of the solution so prepared
medicates 10 lb. of sugar made into syrup.

J. Hamilton (Holy wood).— Pollen in Surplus
Chambers. — There are no means — other than
using queen-excluder zinc — of preventing

180

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 2, 1901.

bees from carrying pollen into surplus-
chambers except by ensuring storage room
for pollen in the brood-combs below. This
is what all experienced bee-keepers attend
to, and it will be effective in your case when
carried out.

A Beginner k(Ealing). — Candy and Syru])-
Making. — 1. It is as unaccountable to us
for any grocer to say he had " never heard
of pure-cane lump sugar" as it would be
to have never heard of lump sugar made
from beetroot. Anyway, there is no
difficulty in getting pure cane sugar in all
forms, i.e., lump, refined white crystals,
yellow crystals, and also raw or unrefined,
but for bee-candy lump is best, and for
syrup-making use refined crystals. 2. You
would have no difficulty we think in
obtaining permission to visit the apiary at
Swanley by applying to the Secretary of
the B.B.K.A., E. H. Young, 12, Hanover-
square, W.

Ivan Sheppard (Glos.). — Bee Associations
and their Members. — We will make inquiry
regarding the seeming want of ordinary
business management of which you com-
plain, and report further after obtaining
official information on the point.

W. H. Wood (Nottingham). — Joining Bee-
Keepers' Associations. — The Secretary of
the Notts B. K.A. is Mr. G. Hayes,
48, Mona-street, Beeston, from whom you
may obtain all information as to member-
ship and securing " expert" assistance.

Suspected Combs.

A. J. B. (Helsby). — We cannot answer for
other combs in hive, but there are no
" brown and rotten grubs " in sample. The
cells contain only " cbilltd brood. ''

E. M. C. (Bognor).— There is foul brood in
comb sent.

D. 0. M. (Ipswich). — No trace of disease or
of brood in comb ; cells contain only mouldy
pollen.

Constant Reader (Donegal). — There is a
very slight trace of " brown scale '' in No. 2,
but in No. 1 we find no sign of brood at all.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve words and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

IIEENS of 1900 in introducing cages, 5s. each.
HARRIS, Wavendon, Woburn Sands. f 35

Q

SPLENDID Retriever DOG FOR SALE. Smooth coat,
ready for breaking, 40s. James Wallace, Bramhall,
Cheshire. f 33

UEENS, STOCKS, NUCLET, and SWARMS 14th
season of queen-rearing as a speciality. Rev. C.
Brereton, Pulborough, Sussex.
URE EXrRAOTElTcLoVER. HONEY, about 200 lb.,
for DISPOSAL at 5d. per lb. Sample, 3d. COLLINS,
Castle Bellingham, Ireland. F 31

BlSEKEEPERTin Wales will hear of something~to
their advantage by forwarding name and address
to Russell Oakley, Christchurch, Hants. f 29

FOR SALE, five healthy STOCKS of BEES in frame-
hives. Will accept reasonable offer. Whitakek,
Victoria- road, Chatham, Kent. F S4

Prepaid Advertisements (Continued).

EXTRACTED ENGLISH HONEY, lis. 6d. per i cwt.
Tins free. Sample, 2d. Deposit system. Richd.

Dutton, Terling, Essex.

1, OR SALE, three-frame Nucleus STOCKS for delivery
JT during May, 10s. each. ; two volumes, as new,
Cheshire Bees and Bee-keeping, cost 17s. , for 12s. ; three
nearly new bar-frame HIVES, cost 14s. 6d. each ; guar-
anteed clean, 7s. Od. each. Avery, Ripley, Surrey.
F 30

FOR IMMEDIATE SALE, a few Lee's " Holborn "
Hives with zinc roofs, in excellent condition, with
excluders, and ten frames of drawn-out combs ready for
swarms, 10s. each. One " Wells" Hive (Meadows' pattern)
zinc roof, 20 drawn-out combs, and two excluders, 17s. 6d.
Add 5s. for box of shallow-combs if desired. All guaran-
teed healthy. Free to rail. Overstocked in poor district.
W. T. Cadness, 131, Balfour-road, Ilford. f 38

NAPHTHOL BETA SOLUTION, made according to
directions in Guide Book, 9d. and Is. 3d. per bottle.
Guthrie Bros., Alloway, Ayr. y 22

TANNED GARDEN NETTING, 25 yds. by S yds.,
50 yds. by 4 yds., 100 yds. by 2 yds., 8s. Prompt
delivery. L. Wren & Son, Net Merchants, 139, High-

street, Lowestoft. f 14

q /- TH YEAR.— STOCKS, wired frames, three, 12s. 6d. ;
£iO six, 16s.; eight, ISs. Skeps, 10s. 6d., 12s. 6d.
Swarms booked. Packages free. Alsford, Expert,
Blandford. f 25

EES FOR SALE.— Stocks on six to ten combs,
headed by young queens. Prices varying according
to strength of stock ; with or without hives. Wm,
Loveday, Hatfield Heath, Harlow, Essex.

NUCLEI and STOCKS "of ~BEES headed by prolific
queens, common, home-bred Carniolan or Italian.
Pure extracted honey. E. Woodham, Clavering, New-
port, Essex. p 3

B.C." HIVES, FEEDERS and WAX EX-
• TRACTORS.— Make your own at third the
cost. For particulars send stamp. Prideapx, Whit-
church, Salop. e 71
T_ WO more 1900 QUEENS FOR SALE, 4s. 6d. each.
My Catalogue of Bee Appliances, Queens, and
Poultry, post free. Buff Orpington and White Leghorn
Eggs, 2s. 6d. sitting. Approval. Spearman, Colesbourne,
Cheltenham. f 19

G~ RANULATET) HONEY, VERY FINE QUALITY, in
1-lb. sorew-capped jars, 10s. dozen ; in3-lb. tie-over
jars, 8Jd. lb, ; in tins reduoed acoording to quantity, 7,
14, or 28 lbs. Sample 3d, Wm. Loveday, Hatfield

Heath, Harlow, Essex.

OMFORTABEE APARTMENTS for brother bee-

keepers visiting Douglas. Terms : tea, bed, and

breakfast, 3s. 6d. ; or full board, 5s. per day. Horsley,

Merridale House, Top of Castle Drive, Douglas, Isle of

Man. _ 932

EALLY strong STOCKS BEES, on Standard frames,

including brood-box, 25s. ; ordinary stocks, 12s. 6d,

or with proved " Swarm Preventing Hives," 17s. 6d. extra.

Twenty years' " Bazaar " reference. Albert Harris,

Wavendon, Woburn Sands, Bedfordshire. f 4

QUEENS, NUCLEI, STOCKS— Highest quality for
nearly 30 years, and British Emporium for queens
giving unparalleled results. Virgins from Is. 9d.
Warranted fertile young queens from 5s. Most interesting
circulars free. S. Simmins, Heathfield, Sussex, e 96

DON'T BE STUNG. Wear Keynolds' " Burkitt Bee
Gloves." A great success. Unsolicited testi-
monials. Light in substance, useful, durable. 2s. 2d.
per pair, or with self-adjusting gauntlets attached,
2s. lOd. per pair, post paid. Special terms to the trade.
Sole Maker, Edward Reynolds, Andover, Hants.

GREAT BARGAINS in every thing useful in or about
a house (from an Autograph to an Orchid, from a
Toy to a Typewriter, a Mail Cart to a Motor Car, &c.)
are to be obtained through The Bazaar, Exchange, and
Mart Newspaper, Easily, Cheaply, and Quickly. " Like
all grand conceptions, the process is remarkable for its
simplicity." If you want to sell anything for which you
have no present use, you can do so most readily and
advantageously through the medium of the same paper.
In addition the vast amount of interesting and practical
information contained in its pages makes The Bazaar,
Exchange, and Mart an unequalled journal for the
Amateur and Collector. Get a copy and judge for your-
self. 34th year of publication. Price 2d., at all News-
agents and Railway Bookstalls, or specimen copy post
free for 3d. in stamps from the Office, 170. Strand,
London, W.C.

May 9, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

181

(gjlitorral Ifcrtos, &£

NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM
BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The eighth annual meeting of the North-
umberland and Durham Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion was held on the 26 th ult. in Lockhart's
Cafe, St. Nicholas's-square, Newcastle, Mr.
J. J. Weighell, Stocksfield, in the chair.
Mr. Wakinshaw, treasurer, read the financial
report, which showed the society to have a
balance slightly on the right side. The general
report, as read by Mr. Waddell, stated that
the condition of the society was satisfactory.
The honey show, which was held last year,
was quite a success, and they had decided to
hold another this year, for which they had the
promise of some additional prizes. The elec-
tion of officers was then proceeded with, Earl
Grey being elected president. Mrs. Coole,
Newcastle, Miss Collingwood, Alnwick, Mr.
R. A. Luck, Durham, and Mr. J. G. Angus,
Newcastle, were elected vice-presidents, and
Mrs. Philip Bedson and Mr. James Waddell
joint secretaries. It was decided to approach
the County Councils of Northumberland and
Durham with a view to the appointment of an
expert to assist in teaching bee-keeping in the
two counties.

Subsequently the secretary read a paper
upon bee-keeping by Mr. J. Rymer, Levisham,
Yorkshire. An interesting discussion followed,
after which the meeting closed with the usual
votes of thanks.

REVIEW.

We have received a copy of the second
edition of A. Alberti's well-known work on
apiculture,* which contains much interesting
information on German methods of bee-
keeping. Although written originally to
advocate a special form of hive, the book in
its present shape is practically a complete
treatise on apiculture as practised by our
German brethren of the craft. The "leaf
hive " invented by the author is a modification
of the usual German hive, which resembles
in construction a small bookcase, the combs
representing the books. The comb3 are
removed from the side or back of the hive
with the aid of a special pair of tongs, and
the top is usually fixed. The " Alberti " hive
is so constructed that the combs can be taken
out from the side, and there is an inner window
through which the ends of the combs may be
inspected without allowing the bees to escape.
The chief advantage of this construction of hive
appears to be that a number of them can be
stocked in a small space. An illustration is
given of a waggon specially constructed to

' " Die Bienenzucht im Blatterstock. " Von A. Alberti.
Berlin : C. A. Schwetschke und Sohn. 1901.

contain fifty hives, which can thus be moved
about the country according to the time of
year. It is stated that in the spring the
honey-flow is so abundant in some districts
that hives containing forty to forty-eight of
the large German standard-frames are neces-
sary to take full advantage of it. Judging
from the remarks made by the author on the
English system of hives, as represented by the
" Cowan " hive, he does not appear to have
had much practical experience of their work-
ing. Among other criticisms they are said to
be unsuitable for wintering stocks. Surely,
however, the North American climate is as
severe as that of Germany, and we are in-
clined to think, from a personal experience of
both kinds of hives, that a well-packed hive
of the English make keeps the bees warmer in
winter than do hives of the usual German
type.

According to German law, the owner of
bees is responsible for any injury his bees may
cause by stinging, &c. ; and many bee-keepers
insure against loss from this cause. The
various associations effect the insurance for a
payment of a few pfennigs per stock. As
100 pfennigs are equivalent to Is., such an
insurance can scarcely be felt by the bee-
keeper.

On the packing and uses of honey Herr
Alberti's book contains some useful hints, and
its perusal may be recommended to those who
are familiar with the German language.

(&atttsigmi&tuti.

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

Communications relating to the literary department,
reports <>f Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books fo'r Review, Jr., must be addressed only to "The
Editors of the' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William-
street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi-
cations relating to advertisements, dee., must be addressed
to "The Manager, 'British Bee Journal" Office, 17,
King William-street, Strand, London, W.C."

%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number <f the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

AN OLD BEE COLONY.

A SWARM FIFTY-TWO YEARS IN A WINDOW.

[4346.] A swarm had taken up lodgings
between the panes and the shutters of the
house of Colonel B. in 1848, and the other
day the Colonel decided that it would now be
about time to ventilate the room from this
side, and call for some one to remove the bees.

The window measured 1 metre 20 in
height and 0 m. 80 in breadth, and the bees
had filled up every inch of space between the
panes and the shutters. Happily, they had

182

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 9, 1901.

built their combs parallel •with the tiny panes,
and differing from 20 to 22 centimetres in
breadth, so the window could easily be
opened, the propolis being the only hindrance.
On the outside most of the small spaces be-
tween one board and the other of the
" persiennes,'' as this style of shutters is called,
had so been covered up with propolis in some
places that the bees had manufactured full
sheets of propolis 1 ft. or more long to protect
themselves from the winds which occasionally
might have blown into the cluster.

To judge by the looks of the combs, the bees
must have had many ups and downs in their
half-century old home, without anybody inter-
fering with them. To begin with, the swarm
had built the greatest part in the first year, as
the regular work from up to down shows, and
gathered honey in consequence. The honey,
however, must have been carried away or
transformed into bees in the following years
by successive swarms, and the stock (weakened
perhaps by too many exits) was reduced to a
young queen and the bees, which diminished
greatly by the time the queen got mated, and
then, may be, a long and dry summer did the
rest ; and so the hive had to struggle on for
more than a year, to look like a recent swarm
again. The ever-ready, bustling, busy little
wax-moths

" Improved each shining minute,

And gnawed all the day,

And laying millions in it,"
as Dr. Miller humoristically said one day.
So, as a consequence, the lower part was all
eaten up, and the inches of excrementa
below the cluster showed the numbers of moths
(galeria) which have been busy destroying the
old combs ; but whenever the bees had a fine
season, the colony got strong again and new
combs were built. The mother-bee now before
me may have been somewhere in the seven-
teenth or twentieth generation since they first
arrived ; she did not seem more than a year
old, and the swarm was once more reduced to
its simplest condition. The group of comb
on which the bees were now living was fresh —
certainly not more than a year old — and had
been built there, after the old had been gnawed
away, either by the bees or by the wax-moth,
or even by both, each in their turn. They
only occupied the fourth part of the whole
space — in the best corner — and the other
three-quarters seemed rapidly to fall once more
a prey to thousands of moths roaming busily
about the falling and decaying bits. On the
sill was a strata of moth excrement at least
2 in. high, and reminded me of the guano of
the bats in the caves of Palestine.

No comb was so old, or rather so thick in
the cells, that it was not just as good as a
newly built one, and in fact the most was
utilised in the transferred-hive. The Colonel
naturally expected heaps of honey and honey-
comb, but it was a plain fact that should bad
weather have stepped in, even in this April
weather, the bees would have starved in less

than two days, as they had nothing but their
stores to depend upon. The swarm will build
up slowly, and in spite of its fifty-two years
undisturbed standing, is not now worth more
than a simple swarm just fresh from the
parent hive. Avis aux amateurs and such
as still believe in the let-'em-alone system. —
Ph. J. Baldensperger, 10, Br. Baimbalds,
Nice, France.

BEES BOBBING IN SPRING.

AN " UPSET " IN THE BEE-GARDEN.

[4347.] With the help of a bee-keeping
friend I cleaned out three of my hives on the
20th inst. I removed the hive in question
away from the others during the operation, as
I required to lift out the frames. The day
was very hot, and a number of bees — many of
them, no doubt, strangers — were flying about.
Some of the latter perhaps got among the
frames during removal and replacement. Be
that as it may, however, after everything was
concluded the hive was replaced on its stand,
and I contracted the entrance to an inch in
width. We finished about 1 p.m. There was
a little fighting on the landing-board, but
not more than on the others, and not to such
an extent as to be alarming.

I then helped my friend to clean his hives.
This done I came back to my own apiary,
after being away about two hours, when I
found a change of scene ! The bees were
rushing all over the landing-board of the hive
first referred to, running up and down the
hive-front, and dancing in the air about the
entrance in hundreds ! From the commotion
and restlessness I feared the queen had come
to grief during the transfer, for there did not
seem to be any more fighting going on. I again
returned to my friend of the forenoon in order
to get his opinion, and as he was of the same
mind as myself we determined to make an
examination. We removed the quilts, ex-
pecting to see an equal commotion inside, but
no, everything was normally quiet. On the
second frame lifted out we saw the queen,
and thereupon at once replaced the covers, but
as the afternoon advanced matters got worse.
The bees kept entering and leaving rapidly,
while the crowd hovering in front showed no
signs of decrease. I then concluded the hive
was being robbed. I reduced the entrance to
a bee - breadth, but the row got worse
than ever, and I thought the bees inside would
be suffocated. I opened the entrance a little
and painted the landing-board and surround-
ing parts with carbolic acid solution. This
checked the disturbance a little, but a con-
siderable cluster then formed underneath the
landing-board. They quietened down about
7 p.m. Yesterday afternoon the performance
was repeated, and during its progress, as on
Saturday, I noticed pollen being carried in. I
could never perceive much fighting, and there
are no dead bees lying about to show that any
has taken place. I noticed that a great many

May 9, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

183

of the bees when they issued turned their
heads to the entrance, and taking wing kept
dancing up and down just as though they were
about to swarm. I noticed above before
carbolic acid was applied. I have read that bees
are wild and savage while robbing is taking
place, but in this case was there no desire on
their part to use their stings ? I have won-
dered what was the reason of their strange
behaviour. — J. A., Perthshire.

HONEY-COMB DESIGNS.

HOW I MADE A SUCCESS OF ONE.

[4348.] At the beginning of the year 1900
I had never seen a honey-comb design in my life.
The first idea I had of such a thing was from
reading an article in one of the illustrated
papers about twelve months ago about the
family of Colonel (now General) Baden-Powell,
and in which
there appeared
an illustration
of a comb-
design in the
form of a bi-
cycle made by
Miss Baden-
Powell's bees.
At the time I
was a bee-
keeper in my
novitiate days,
and so I thought
if Miss Baden-
Powell's bees
could shape a
bicycle in honey
comb, why not
mine work out
a big wheel ?
So I resolved
to try my hand
at the job, and
made a frame
of wood similar
in size to an
ordinary sec-
tion-rack, with
a ] in. rabbet

inside round top and bottom, and within this
space had a sheet of glass cut to fit in at the
top. It then struck me that the bees could
not build comb on the glass without ventila-
tion, as the heat from below would cause
condensation of moisture on the under side.
In order to overcome this difficulty I had two
corners cut off the glass, and let in two strips
of wood for the latter to rest on where the
corners had been removed.

I then cut a piece of stout cardboard — same
shape and size as the glass — for the bottom. The
design was next drawn on paper, then re-
traced on transparent tissue paper, and finally
transferred to the cardboard by laying the
tissue paper on it and drawing a pencil round
the lines originally drawn.

DESIGN IN HONEY-COMB.

I then punched holes for the bees to pass
through the cardboard in positions under the
comb foundation. I next proceeded to cut a
strip of strong cardboard, wide enough to
allow of its being glued to the bottom piece,
and yet not quite reaching up to the glass.
This strip of card was then bent to the shape
required, and glued to the stout bottom-piece
first mentioned ; and when this was com-
pleted I secured it in the box with a few
tacks, filling up the two corners specified with
perforated zinc. All being now ready for the
foundation, I prepared to fix the latter by
placing the " design '' on the table, then laid
the glass over it. I then cat the foundation,
slightly warming to prevent its breaking, in
strips about 1^ in. wide. I fixed the centre
bits first, one at a time, by bending the
edge a little and warming it by a candle,
taking care not to blacken it.

As each piece
was warmed it
was fixed on the
glass over the
pencil marks
drawn on the
design, pressing
it down with
my thumb and
holding till cool.
Then to ensure
still firmer fix-
ing I drew a
piece of wire
made hot along
the edge, taking
care to wipe the
wire each time
it was removed
from the fire so
as not to make
any black marks.
The circle in
centre was fixed
in the same way,
and where I
made a joint I
lapped the
pieces over a
little, then drew
the hot wire up them, thus melting the wax
and fixing them together.

I then placed the glass carefully in the box,
leaving any little irregularity, so that where
the glass did not fit to provide ventilation. All
was then ready to put on the hive.

I placed it over the first swarm of last
season, which was doing well at the time.
Three days afterwards I examined it and found
one piece of foundation had fallen down, but
as the bees were working so nicely on the
parts of the design still intact I decided to
leave them alone, and am glad I did so, for I
think the bees actually improved on my design.
On looking at the photo you will see the place
where the bit fell down ; it formed part of the
left-hand upright of the wheel ; both sides

184

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 9, 1901.

should have been alike. When the design
was found nicely filled and sealed, I raised
it and placed a super-clearer and section-rack
beneath, and thus got the bees out.

My description may not be quite clear to
all, but I hare given the plan followed as
closely as I can for the benefit of other young
bee-keepers who may like to try a honey-comb
design this year. — Richard Allen, Tusmore,
Bicester, April 30.

REQUEENING IN APRIL.

[4349.] Seeing your reply on page 16V to a
correspondent who inquires with regard to
queens mating in April, I send the following,
thinking it may be interesting : — About
March 20 last I accidentally killed the queen
of one of my best stocks ; and as I happened
to want some early queens, I started queen-
rearing at once. All went on well, and I got
the queens hatched out from April 7 to 10 ;
but as I saw no drones on the wing until
near the end of that month, I was afraid my
young queens would not be safely mated.

Of course I could do nothing to assist mat-
trs, and so had to await results. I was
agreeably surprised on making an examination
to-day (Saturday, May 4) to find eight of
the ten young queens raised safely mated, as
shown by there being normal worker brood in
all stages. In one hive I found three patches
of sealed worker-brood, the middle one as
large as a dessert plate. There was just one
sealed drone-cell in the middle of the comb.
Is not this very early for queens mating for
such a backward season 1 — Edwin W. Car-
bines, Cardinham, Cornwall, May 4.

[It is no doubt very early for such a suc-
cessful queen-mating in April as the above
proved, but it verifies the opinion we ex-
pressed on page 167. We shall be pleased to
include your bee-garden in our " Homes "
pictures if a suitable photo is sent.— Eds.]

SOME ESSEX NOTES.

[4350.] Dairy Show Prize Fund.— Judg-
ing from Mr. Young's letter in the B.J. for
April 25, the bee-keeping section of the Dairy
Show this year will be like a full-grown man
in knickers, i.e., cut according to the cloth.
Several announcements of funds being started
for useful purposes in connection with bee-
keeping have appeared in your pages during
the last few months, and all have received
equally poor support. This condition of
things is not a little painful to the feelings of
a follower of the pursuit who would contribute
but is unable to do so. I go among bee-
keepers of all classes, and cannot help noticing
that this same lack of liberality is a main cause
of much of the unsuccessful bee-keeping we
hear of. There was until recently, and for
many years, an old man living within a short
distance of me who has been known to look

carefully all round a sovereign before paying
it away, and say, " Ah ! I shall never see you
again ! " I am not suggesting that bee-keepers
generally are of a like disposition, but the poor
support given to the several funds referred to
above raised up the old man and his money
before my mind's eye.

Length of Time Combs Bemain Useful. —
Although I make it a rule to remove some of the
older pollen-clogged combs from my hives every
year, I have at the present time one frame of
comb in use which I know for certain to be
about twenty years old. Not only so, but
this comb has always during the whole time
been serving some useful purpose. The cells
are regular, clean, and free from pollen, and so
it has been allowed to remain in use, and I
may say that though quite black this comb is
as serviceable as ever it was. The queen of
the stock in which this frame hangs has shown
her appreciation of this particular comb by
completely filling it with eggs at the present
time. I had some thoughts of taking this
frame and sending it on to you as a bit of a
curiosity, but it is just now a complete slab of
brood, and must necessarily remain in the
hive some time longer. The cells are not
perceptibly reduced in size by the many
thousands of bees that must have been reared
in it. — Wm. Loveday, Hatfield Heath,
Harlow.

{Correspondence continued on page 186.)

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

Mr. Withy combe is a well-known ex-
pert in bee - keeping, whose " manner . and
method " in performing the work of county
associations — for whom he has done " bee-
tours " in the past — make him very popular
with all of their respective members. Quiet
and respectful in manner, he never spares
himself time or trouble in doing the right
thing, and consequently his visits are always
welcome. We are pleased to illustrate his
apiary in our " Homes " pictures on next page,
where the quaint old-time cottage, now
shading its rows of modern frame-hives,
looks as if it would harmonise better with
the ancient bee-bench and the time-honoured
skep it may have sheltered 400 years ago.

Of himself Mr. Withycombe writes as
follows : —

"In response to your request to send par-
ticulars of my bee-keeping experiences, I may
say that my first acquaintance with bees took
place when about seven years of age at
At worth, in Wiltshire, where my brother and
myself were sent to a ,' dame school to be out
of mischief ' while there on a holiday. Seeing
some skeps near the school door we tried to
investigate their interior, with the result that
the whole school had an enforced holiday for the
remainder of the day. Strange to say we brothers
both escaped without serious mishap, but were
looked upon as undesirable scholars after the

May 9, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

185

occurrence. Later on, in the summer of 1881,
while still a boy at school, I made a frame-hive
from a pattern lent by a friend, and com-
menced bee-keeping with a swarm, which, I
am bound to add, promptly decamped the
same day. A second swarm enjoyed the
hospitality of the hive a little longer, re-
maining over one evening, but taking flight the
next morning. Not to be daunted, however,
I later on secured some driven bees to stock
my hive, and, after some lively times — in
which the fortunes of war fluctuated between
the bees and the would-be bee-keeper — I at
last got my hive tenanted, and the next season
secured forty-seven 1-lb. sections from the
stock. My apiary gradually increased until it
numbered thirteen hives, when foul brood
appeared, and, being at that time ignorant of

shire, Cheshire, Kent, and Sussex, Bristol,
Somerset, South Gloucester, and Essex, being
also local secretary and adviser for the Bridg-
water district. Though my various engage-
ments keep me away from home almost
entirely through the summer months, I have
occasionally managed to send to kthe honey
shows in the county, having won over ninety
prizes for honey, including the silver medal of
the B.B.K.A. ; the bronze medal of the Bristol
P..K.A., and also their championship prize,
the only one ever offered by that Association,
Referring to the photograph sent, the whole of
the hives (numbering twenty-five in all) were
with one exception made by myself in my spare
time, and are mostly of the " Sandringham "
pattern, but without porches. The figures
appearing in the photo are : — On the left my

MR. W. A. WITHYCOMBE S APIARY, BRIDGWATER, SOMERSET.

its nature and treatment, twelve of my stocks
succumbed to its ravages. This, however,
proved to be the last of my misfortunes, as,
determined not to be beaten, I set out to in-
crease my apiary again, and at the same time
studied all the literature about bees on which
I could lay my hands. As a result of this,
when about eighteen years of age, I entered for
and secured the third class expert's certificate
of the B.B.K.A., having to travel 100 miles
each way to do so. The second class exami-
nation I also entered for and passed in the
same season ; but have not yet mustered con-
fidence to attempt the first.

" In 1895 I was appointed expert to the
Kent B.K.A., and since then have acted as
expert to the various Associations of Lanca-

father, who hives any swarms which may come
off during my absence from home ; in the
centre a young man who, I hope, will one day
possess an expert's certificate ; and on the right
the writer. The house in the background is
over 400 years old, and has an interesting and
eventful history, having been the headquarters
of Monmouth's officers on the eve of the
battle of Sedgemoor, and later having been
used as a meeting place for the sect known as
Princeites. At the present time it serves as a
storehouse and extracting-room for me, and a
nesting place for thousands of wild bees.
Extending behind and on either side may be
seen some of the famous apple orchards of
Somerset, thtre being several hundreds of
acres within easy flying distance of my bees."

186

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 9, 1901.

CORRESPONDENCE.

{Continued from page 184.)

AN OLD-TIME BEE-MAN.

1. — THE MAN.

[4351.] Let me revert to my old friend and
again call up some memories of the vanished
past. Born in the closing years of the
eighteenth century, he had just attained the
age of budding manhood when he helped to
win the Battle of Waterloo. It was his first
and last great battle, for though he had in
turn later visited all parts of our dominions
and engaged in many punitive expeditions,
they were all mere skirmishes. The life was
arduous, however, and left its impress even on
his stalwart frame ; and in the days of our
early intercourse labour was beginning to be
a toil, and he loved best to sit in his rustic
arbour, under the shade of honeysuckle, ivy,
and eglantine, or lie reclined on the tangled
grass basking in the summer's sun, intently
watching the bees as they came in laden with
their odorous loads gleaned from the broad
hill-side or from the fertile fields in the strath
below. Schoolboys have a great propensity
for calling " bye " names, and my old hero had
his full share. " Simon Peter " was given, I
presume, in honour of his skill as a fisher-
man, which won him a name and fame
far and wide. " Simon Lord Lovat " was a
more common title, due to his being a
member of that famous clan. The memory
of his martial deeds got full acknowledg-
ment in the appropriate, if honorary,
appellation of "the Iron Duke." One more
sobriquet was given by ill-natured people —
never by us schoolboys, viz., "Simon the
Cellarer." If this cognomen had any signi-
ficance it was his only weakness, for all his
other failings " leaned to virtue's side."
Taken "for all in all," he was a man every inch
of him, and his inches were not few, for he stood
over 6 ft., and was stout and burly in propor-
tion. Nature made him, if he were judged by
his exterior, rough as a chestnut burr, gnarled
as an aged oak, and unpolished as an undressed
tree trunk. Judged by a knowledge of his
inner man, when the intercourse of years
enabled you to penetrate beneath the crust,
his soft and tender heart, his deep affection
for those admitted to his friendship, his
sterling love of virtue and truth, his regard for
all that was good, pure, and worthy, his admi-
ration for nature and all her works, showed a
heart like that of Douglas, "tender and true,''
and opened up vistas of hitherto undreamt
sweetness and affection. Every flower of the
field, hedge, and woodland had his fond admi-
ration. Every plant in his rustic garden was
loved and tended as if it were a part of his being.
And his knowledge of plants and flowers,
though unsystematic and not according to
Llnnmis, was yet of an extensive and
interesting kind. But it was on animate
nature that he poured forth most of his love
and admiration. His dog, his cat, his poultry

were "his own familiar friends." He
expended his wonderful fund of affection on
them in full and lavish measure, and they
responded with an " adoration " I have never
known exceeded by animals. His bees were,
however, his special pets. He used to
apostrophise them as if they understood him.
And they did ! If not his words then his
gentle deeds and ways, for they were the
quietest bees I ever dealt with. No veil or
gloves were ever worn in that bee-garden, and
no smoker was ever used, yet stings were un-
known. His knowledge of them and their
ways was great. It was all taken from nature,
for of books and book-lore — " ancient " or
modern — he knew nothing. Would that I
could open up before his delighted vision the
inner economy of a modern frame-hive, or the
still greater treat of an observatory hive ; but
that can never be. He wrought entirely
with that " sealed book," the straw skep, and
was in blissful ignorance of the many modern
inventions which make bee-keeping such a
pleasure. Yet he made it a paying concern as
well as a labour of love. These were the
days of fabulous takes and fabulous prices.
How he rubbed his hands in glee as he ran
over the names of one magnate after another
who had sent him orders for honey amounting
often to several pounds.

What a pleasure and delight it was to at
least one schoolboy when he was given per-
mission to spend a long Saturday holiday with
his friend among the bees : when from early
morn till dewy eve he could roam at will by
hill and dale, by brook and stream, with a
congenial spirit who loved nature and all her
works with a love fervid and pure. I have
wandered many a weary foot " sin auld lang
Syne," yet these short rambles are as fresh in
my memory as if they had taken place yester-
day. And no treat of later days can equal
one of these either in reality or as a reminis-
cence. The birds, trees, and plants, as well as
our four-footed friends, formed food for talk
as we drank in the sweets of nature and each
provided a never-ending fund for meditation
and conversation. In thinking he often
forgot that he had a companion near and
soliloquised in his mother-tongue — the speech
in which " Ossian sang.'' At no other
time than in these meditations did I ever hear
him use it ; for long residence abroad made
him thoroughly familiar with Eaglish. Yet
he evidently did his thinking in Gaelic, much
to my regret, for to me it was a foreign tongue.
Though ours is a typical Highland glen the
language is a thing of the past, and only
lingers in place names to show that it once had
been.

A tale is told 'of a Highland chief who had
been sorely wounded in the olden time in one
of the many clan feuds, who expressed his
dying desire to be laid to rest in one of its
burial grounds where no word of Eaglish
" would ever pollute his ear.'' Now no word
of Gaelic is ever heard in the glen.

May 9, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

187

This habit of thinking in Gaelic and giving
utterance to the thoughts in English adds
grace and dignity to the speech of the G-ael.
My friend had this grace of speech, with slow
and deliberate expression and clear enuncia-
tion. The stories of his adventures were
endless and often of thrilling interest, and I
loved to repose with him on a bed of heather
or beneath the shade of the bracken in some
shady corner listening to his tales of

" Most disastrous ohances
Of moving accidents by flood and field,
Of hairbreadth 'scapes i' the imminent deadly breach."

— F. E. I. S., N.B.

(To be continued.)

AFTER THE WAR.

BEE-KEEPING FOR SOUTH AFRICA.

Since Mr. Chamberlain's speech urging
extensive female emigration to South Africa
when things have settled down in that country,
large numbers of women from all parts of the
kingdom have been appealing to the United
British Women's Emigration Association, at
the Imperial Institute, for particulars which
would guide them in their intentions to make
that country their future home.

" We welcome," said the secretary to a Press
representative, ' ' the time which must neces-
sarily elapse before the country will have
settled down to industry, for we do not want to
send out a number of raw, untrained women.
As it is, we are enabled to encourage them to
train for definite occupations. Just now, by
means of a pamphlet written by Lady Knight-
ley, of Fawsley, we are appealing for the
active co-operation of ladies throughout the
country in enabling intending emigrants to
obtain instruction in various departments of
practical life. In some parts of the country
County Council classes for technical in-
struction provide the readiest means of gaining
instruction.

"Bee-keeping seems to promise a great
future in South Africa, for, as has been
pointed out by Mr. Theodore Bent, in a
country where wild bees thrive so well, tame
bees ought to su«eed ; and therefore Lady
Knightley urges ladies who are members of
county bee-keeping associations to obtain, if
possible, for intending emigrants some know-
ledge from the expert usually attached to such
organisations. Butter being somewhat scarce
in South Africa, importance attaches not only
to honey, but to jam, the making of which
should be included in the subjects taught.

" Thus, as this end," concluded the secre-
tary, " we are making great efforts to prepare
the way. Meanwhile much preliminary work
will have to be done in South Africa. Al-
ready a committee is at work in Capetown,
and the formation of others in all the chief
centres of industry will follow in due course.
Their chief purpose will be to welcome the
immigrants and to find them employment." —
Daily Chronicle.

(tymfya and Qtyfyi.

[2641.] Disinfecting Hives. — I beg to thank
you for the information already given me in
your pages. My bees are all busy, and seem
strong and in good condition. Last summer
was my first season as a bee-keeper, and I am
looking forward with interest to the pleasure
I hope to have amongst the bees in the coming
season. The comb enclosed came from a hive
belonging to one of my neighbours, whose
hives (two) have both died out. Starvation, I
presume, is the direct cause of the bees' death,
but I am anxious to know if there is any
disease in combs. They seem to have got
damp and are all mildewed. I have got one
of the hives from my neighbour, and would
like to know if I may safely use it after
thoroughly washing it with carbolic and then
giving it two coats of paint inside and out-
side ? I have burnt the frames and am
destroying the combs, but the hive is a good
strong one. I am so afraid of foul brood. I
am medicating any food I have given to my
bees, and am very careful to do all I can to
keep them right. I may mention that there
was a queen-cell among the comb, so I suppose
the queen must have died, and they had been
trying to raise another. The bees were a last
year's swarm. Apologising for troubling you.
— M. M. M.C., Doune, Perthshire.

Reply. — The comb sent contains brood that
has practically all died of hunger or cold. In
one cell only did we find a suspicious trace,
which on microscopic examination, however,
was found free from disease. The steps you
propose to take for disinfecting the hive will
be quite effectual, as there can be no spores of
bacillus alvei present. We are always glad to
hear from bee-keepers like yourself, who are
rather disposed to " make assurance doubly
sure " than dispense with any effort likely to
reduce the risk of foul brood.

[2642.] Queen Taking Flight During Hive
Inspection. — I am much obliged by your reply
to my query re queen taking flight (2633,
p. 168), and, as therein directed, I have made
an examination of the hive and find that the
queen has not come back. There are no eggs,
but there is one queen-cell with a grub in it.
May I trouble you with a few more questions :
— 1. How is one to be safe in making examina-
tions if there is a risk of the queen flying away
like this one did? 2. I notice in different
books that a virgin queen leaves the hive for
meeting the drone sometimes as early as five
days after hatching out, and sometimes much
later, but does she fly out more than once ?
I mean if she flies out in five days and fails in
mating will she go forth again and yet again
during the fourteen or twenty days in which
fertilisation is possible ? 3. If it happens to
be an unsuitable day the first time she takes
her mating trip and fails to get mated, is that
an end of it, and is she bound to be a drone-

188

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 9, 1901.

breeder 1 4. What do you think of the plan
of getting bees from skep to a bar-frame hive
by letting them swarm, and at the end of
twenty-one days driving and uniting the
remainder to swarm keeping the young
queen ? I mean how does this plan compare
as against that of placing skep on top of
frames and allowing bees to transfer them-
selves by working down into lower hive ? —
W. S., Doncaster, Ayril 30.

Reply. — 1. Laying queens rarely take
flight during examination of comb3 unless
startled, perhaps, by an awkward attempt to
pick them up in the fingers. On the other
hand, virgin queens are liable to fly off at
times, but they usually return to the spot
they took wing from in a moment or two if
the operator stands still and leaves all just as
when she took flight. If the queen in ques-
tion was a prolific laying one, search should
have been made on the ground a few feet
away from the hive, as it is more than pro-
bable she would drop down after flying a yard
or two. 2. Yes, young virgin queens sometimes
issue on several successive days before they
are successful ia their marital flight ; indeed,
at times they fail altogether in meeting
drones on the wing. 3. Mating trips are
only taken on fine days, when the weather is
suitable. 4. The plan you first suggest is an
old one, and works out well enough, but we
consider it does not compare at all well with
the method of not waiting for swarms, but
letting the bees transfer themselves early in
the season on the plan you name last.

[2643.] Bees turning Vicious. — Will you
favour me with your opinion and advice in
the following case : — One of my colonies,
which I have had for over three years, was
perfectly docile and manageable until after
swarming in May last, since which they have
been — as Alice would say — getting "wusser
and wusserer," and are now almost demoniacal.
I managed this morning — about six o'clock —
with time, patience, and what I can only look
upon as indomitable courage, to take off the
body -box and clean the floor-board, &c. ;
but it seems impossible to subdue them.
Subjugating cloths infuriate them ; smoke
they appear to revel in, and " go for "
the smoker like anything ; while huge bat-
talions execute dexterous flank movements,
and even charge onlookers within twenty
feet or so. They have not yet thrown up
entrenchments, but are coming to it. It
is a very strong colony of tremendously
hard workers, but evidently determined to
keep what they get. I suppose they ought to
be supered at once, but — well, I am " think-
ing " about it, and in the meantime contem-
plate getting a veil, although I do not much
like the idea, never having worn one or
experienced the least difficulty in conducting
operations until last autumn in dealing with
this hive, and again now. We had a very
lively time this morning, and I had several

nasty stings, which have put unpleasant
thoughts of bonfires and similar things into
my head, but I shall probably calm down
shortly. — F. W. Roden, Somerset, May 3.

Reply. — When bees become incurably
vicious, as they occasionally — but rarely — do,
there is no remedy but removal of queen.
Since the bees in question are, however,
specially commended for their good working
powers, we should hesitate before taking
extreme measures. An experienced bee-
keeper might find some reason for the change
in the temper of the bees if he could examine
the hive. We do not think anything of your
being compelled to use a veil, as all bee-
keepers find it needful to do so at times.

[2644.] Drone-Brood in Worker-Cells. — I
am enclosing a queen-bee (dead) taken from
one of my own hives under the following cir-
cumstances. The hive did well at the moors
last season, and went into winter quarters
strong in bees, with plenty of food. On open-
ing and going through the apiary last month,
the hive in question was still strong in bees ;
but on seeing some of the worker - cells
extended and capped over, I overhauled the
hive and found not a single cell of worker-
brood, but plenty of drone-brood in the worker-
cells. The queen seemed active, so I closed
up the hive again to await developments. Last
week I examined the hive again and found
the same conditions — an utter absence of
worker - brood, plenty of drone - brood with
hatched-out drones. Yesterday I opened the
hive again and found a similar state of
affairs. I took out the queen this morning
and shall put in a frame of eggs from another
hive to-morrow with the purpose of allowing
the bees to raise a queen. I am enclosing
queen and shall be glad if you will kindly say
what you think is the cause of the queen
laying only drone-eggs. Do you think some-
thing happened to the old queen late last
autumn, and this is a virgin queen raised by
the bees after the drones had been killed off
and unfertilised ?— R. T. T., Thirsk, May 3.

Reply. — Dead bee sent is a full-sized adult
queen, with none of the usual signs of being
" aged'' and worn out. It therefore is pretty
certain that the queen forwarded was raised
too late last year for mating.

NOVELTIES FOR 1901.

taylor's english-made dovetail hive.

This hive, which has been specially designed
for shipping to our colonies in the flat, is
dovetailed accurately throughout, and it is
thus simplicity itself to put it together. For
bee-keepers who have not room at home to
store hives made-up, and wish to buy in the
flat and put them together themselves, this is
the hive par excellence. All elaborate parts
are done away with, only those absolutely

May 9, 1901 .J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

189

necessary retained. The hive consists of some
thirty-one pieces, and can be put together in
a few minutes without a chance of going
wrong.

The hive meets the requirements of bee-
keepers who wish to save heavy railway charges
and prevent hives getting knocked about in
transit, while using their spare time in putting
hives together, are thus saving money and
lessening the cost of producing honey and
increasing the profits.

The description of above hive is as fol-
lows : — Rabbeted floor-board with stout joist ;

Ftg. 1.

japanned hooks for securing body to floor-
board ; deep 9-in. brood-body, with three
outside fillets and entrance in front ; sliding
inside walls, which may be nailed if desired ;

Fig. 2.

deep 9-in. lift, with four outside fillets and
removable inside walls, which will take a
set of standard frames or cover two racks
of sections ; span roof which telescopes over
lift when out of use in winter.

\tt JShimia to (Emm.

June 26 to July 1, at Cardiff.-" Royal"
Agricultural Society's Show. Bee and Honey Section
under management of the B.B.K.A. Entries closed
except for extra fee. Schedules from Edwin H. Young,
Secretary, 12, Hanover-square, W.

July 18 and 19, at Brigg.— Honey, Hives, and
Bee Appliances in connection with the Lincolnshire
Agricultural Society ; Bee Department under the
management of the Lines. B.K.A. Schedules from the
Hon. Sec, R. Godson, Tothill, Alford. Entries close
June 19.

September 7 to 14, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (9th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Eleven classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees-
wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers.

September 21 to 28, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Snow in connection with the
fifth Annual Exhibition of the Grocery and Kindred
Trades. Four prizes for Honey-Trophy, medals, and
diplomas.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letter* or queries asking for addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur-
chased, or replies giving such information, can only be
inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queriesforwarded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

F. W. E. (Holywell). — Renewing Combs. — 1.
It is best to renew combs gradually. When
weather becomes warm and settled, and the
hive body is well furnished with bees, insert
a single frame of foundation in centre of
brood nest, removing an outside comb (con-
taining no brood or eggs) to make room for
the added frame. A week or ten days
later, if the favourable conditions continue,
a second frame may be inserted as before,
and the operation again repeated till super-
ing time sets in, when if surplus is desired
the renewal of combs must be suspended.
We advise allowing the stock "in an old
cheese box " to swarm, and hiving the swarm
in the new skep in which you desire to keep
it. You cannot transfer the old combs and
bees from cheese box to a skep.

G. H. C. L. (Enfield).— Expert Help with Bees.
— The Hon. Secretary of the Middlesex
B.K.A. is Major Fair, 11, Anlaby-road,
Teddington, from whom may be had all par-
ticulars with regard to affording expert help
and terms of membership.

Busy Bee (Caerleon). — Combs Infested with
Wax-moth. — 1. Any comb3 badly infested
and damaged by the larvae of wax-moth are
beyond repair, and must be melted down
for wax. 2. A good fumigation with
burning brimstone will destroy the larva in
its active state, but when combs are, as you

190

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 9, 1901.

say, " occupied by eggs, grubs, and cocoons,"
do not try any remedy but the melting-pot.

W. Wright (Pickering). — JRymer's Heather
Honey Press. — We hope to give an illus-
tration of this appliance shortly, along with
further particulars.

P. J. (Mountmellick). — Using Carbolic Acid
about Hives when Transferring. — Bees will
object very much to the fumes if you give a
coat of carbolic acid to the body-box into
which they are transferred. Don't use the
acid under such circumstances.

Suspected Combs.

J. C. PuiLLirs (Berkhampstead). — No
disease in comb sent. Your idea of the
stock being " fairly strong early in March,"
could hardly have been correct, as the
combs have evidently been infested with
wax-moth for some time past. The few
bees ("about 100") are entirely useless,
and should be destroyed along with the
old combs now in the hive.

A Beginner (Leicester). — 1. There is no sign
of disease in comb. Indeed, no trace of
either brood or food in the cells. 2. The
bees are of the ordinary or brown variety.

Cwch Gwentn (South Wales,). — The bulk
of dead brood in cells of comb is free from
foul brood.

F. W. R. (Som.). — There is no trace of brood
in comb sent, only hard and useless pollen,
along with some food.

A Novice (Abergavenny). — None of the
three samples of comb sent contain anything
worse than pollen and food. There is no
disease about them, but such as are over-
loaded with pollen will be of little or no use
for 'giving to a newly -hived swarm. All
comb with clean cells or food can be used as
desired, but the rest of comb may be cut
away as useless, and the bees allowed to
replace it by new comb. There is no abso-
lute necessity for using full sheets of foun-
dation when hiving swarms.

E. R. (Cumberland). — Comb is badly affected
with foul brood.

A. Hall. — There is foul brood of old standing
in comb forwarded.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve words and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

OR SALE, ten strong SKEPS of BEES. Apply, R.
Holmden, How Green Farm, Hever, Kent, f 40

BEE-HIVES, new, cheap for cash or offers. Must sell.
No. 4, Charles-road, Birmingham. F 46

WO good (15 bars) BEE HIVES FOR SALE ; to be
sold cheap. Price on application. Everton

Watts, Kingston, Yeovil. f 39

XCHANGE pair YORKSHIRE CANARIES, value
'20s., for BEES in skeps. Walker, Peachfleld,
Ampton-road, Edgbaston. F 54

WANTED, cheapT"second-haiid BEE APPLIANCES ;
Books about Bees. Cook, Schoolhouse, Ching-
ford. F 52

FISHING TACKLE, new completeTet7cost 30s. What
offers? C. TiLLEY, Hazlewell-street, Stirchley,

Birmingham. F 43

EVEN STOCKS, Standard frames, zinc roofs, healthy,
21s. each. Marshall, Kingsley Villa, Pateley
Bridge. F 41

Prepaid Advertisements (Continued).

EAL reliable METAL ENDS (not tin) ; will not slip
off the frame ; per lb. of 20, post free, Is. C.
Dyer, Compton, Berks. f 53

TEN zinc QUEEN EXCLUDERS on wood frames,
19 in. by 17 in., 5s. lot. Hodgkinson, 76, Valley-
road, Spital, Chesterfield. F 50
T'WllLVE^STOCKS of healthy BEES in fine condition
for supering, in first-class "W.B.C." hives, FOR
SALE. Mrs. Ashby, 110, Liverpool-road, Birkdale,
Southport.

BEES FOR SALE.— A Gentleman, giving up bee-
keeping, has twenty Stocks to sell ; bar-frames and
skeps. Apply, A. FORNIVAL, Fleckney, Leicester.

- F 45

Q/2 LB. of EXTRACTED HONEY (1st quality), in
JO 1-lb. screw-cap bottles, neatly labelled, 8s. 6d.
doz. Cash with order. Gardiner, junior, Daneway,
Cirencester. F 43

G HARNETT'S original, air-tight, screw-cap HONEY
JARS, six dozen, 7-oz., Ss. 9d. ; ten dozen, 10-oz.,
16s. 9d., cash. Packed free. Garnett Bros., High-
street, Rotherham.

RIZE STRAIN GOLDEN WYANDOTTES, bred from

best layers ; 10 years 3s. 6d. sitting ; genuine.

Morris, Stationmaster, Stanford-le-Hope, Essex, f 38

OOD light coloured HONEY, 1 cwt. at 5id. per lb. ;

1 cwt. 2nd grade, 4kl. ; 2 cwt. of dark. 3d. per lb. ;

all in 32-lb. tins. Samples 2d. ; tins free. W. Hawkes,

Barley, near Royston, Herts. F 51

ON SALE— One bar-frame HIVE of BEES (healthy),
new Extractor, Honey Jars, &c. What offers 1
Apply, A. Pennington, The Rookeries, Liverpool-road,
Ashton-in-Makerfleld. F 49

FOR SALE, three STOCKS of BEES. Frame hives,
supers, doubling boxes, feeders, other requisites.
Sacrifice to clear premises. Rev. G. C. Keiilk, S.
Catharine's Vicarage, Gloucester. F 44
IVE cwt. Hampshire HONEY (clover, sainfoin,
lime), in self-sealing tins, holding about 30 lb. Tins
free. Sample, 2d. Deposit. Hawker, Longparish,
Hants.

WANTED, active, intelligent young MAN, single,
to help in small apiary, look after pony, make
himself useful. Must be able drive. Apply letter,
Hawker, Longparish. F 42

WELLS' HIVE FOR SALE, by Blow, containing
standard two shallow bodies, framed excluders in
splendid condition. Guaranteed healthy. 21s. Also
Brice Swarm Catcher, new condition, 3s. Geary,

Stanley-street, Barwell, Hinckley. F 48

AM BOOKING ORDERS for natural swarms of my

well-known strain. Guarau teed healthy. Three lb.

10s. 6d., four lb. 12s. 6d., five lb. 15s. Packages to be

returned. Eggs from massive Buff Orpingtons 3s. sitting ;

unfertile (if any) replaced. Whiting, Valley Apiaries,

Hundon, Clare, Suffolk. F 44

7TK STOCKS of BEES, Heather Honey-Press,
OU Extractors, Honey - ripeners, Hives, Crates,
Smokers, Feeders ; large quantity of other appliances
for the Apiary, will be sold by auction at Laurencekirk,
on Saturday, nth May, at 2 o'clock. George Ross,
Auctioneer, Laurencekirk, N.B. F 37

PLENDID Retriever DOG FOR SALE. Smooth coat,
ready for breaking, 40s. JAMES WALLACE, Bramhall,

Cheshire. F 33

UEENS, STOCKS, NUCLEI, and SWARMS. 14th
season of queen-rearing as a speciality. Rev. C.
Brereton, Pulborough, Sussex.

Q

NAPHTHOL BETA SOLUTION, made according to
directions in Guide Book, 9d. and Is. 3d. per bottle.
Guthrie Bros., Alloway, Ayr. F 22

T"XNNED GARDEN NETTING, 25 yds. by 8 yds.,
50 yds. by 4 yds., 100 yds. by 2 yds., 8s. Prompt
delivery. L. Wren & Son, Net Merchants, 139, High-
street, Lowestoft. F 14
O r- TH YEAR.— STOCKS, wired frames, three, 12s. 6d. ;
ZiD six, 16s.; eight, 18s. Skeps, 10s. 6d., 12s. 6d.
Swarms booked. Packages free. Alsford, Expert,
Blandford. F 25

NUCLEI and STOCKS of BEES headed by prolific
queens, common, home-bred Carniolan or Italian.
Pure extracted honey. E. Woodham, Clavering, New-
port, Essex. F 3

" \kj B.C." HIVES, FEEDERS and WAX EX-
VV • TRACTORS.— Make your own at third the
cost. For particulars send stamp. Prideaux, Whit-
church, Salop. E 71

May 16, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

191

(BiBAsM, $fato», &i.

"THE IRISH BEE JOURNAL."

We have received a copy of the above-
named journal, the first number of which
has been recently issued as "A Monthly
Journal devoted to the Interests of Bee-
keepers in Ireland." Our new contem-
porary is also " The Organ of the Irish
Bee-keepers' Association."

Except for being somewhat smaller in
size, the new journal bears — in wording
of its title-page and the general arrange-
ment of its several departments — a flat-
tering resemblance to our own journals.
Indeed, we are pleased to see that the
editor of the new bee-paper is not unwill-
ing to adopt arrangements which have in
our case worked satisfactorily for many
years past.

Coming to the actual " contents " of
the first number, we have nothing but
words of approval. The several articles
are in tone and substance such as all
good bee-keepers will approve. And as
the paper is the property of the Irish
Bee-keepers' Association we have no
doubt that its best features will be
retained. We gather from the editor's
introductory remarks that the journal
has been established to "advance the
interests of apiculture in Ireland," and
further on he says : — " It will seek
always to be a help, and it will encourage
telf-help." In view, then, of the admir-
able standpoint thus taken up, we shall
not be misunderstood or misconstrued in
saying that we are not sorry that the
application to the Irish Board of Agricul-
ture for financial aid in carrying on the
new journal cannot be entertained by
the Department. To quote from the
report of the I.B.K.A. (page 9) :— " The
Department, while offering to print
occasional leaflets for the Association,
are not prepared to make a grant
towards the Irish Bee Journal." As
already stated, we do not regret this
refusal. To have a bee journal subsi-
dised, or in part supported from the
public funds of the country, would
be subversive of all precedent in
this kingdom, and would, moreover,
in our opinion, tend to put a damper
on the enthusiasm for the craft by
which all good bee-keepers are ani-

mated. They would, unless we are mis-
taken, feel less interest in a paper for
which they are only asked to pay the not
extravagant sum of one penny a month,
than in one presented to them gratis.
And so we echo the Rev. Editor's cheery
words when he says, " The journal has
come to stay. It must be a grand
success." He also says, "On page iii.
will be found a subscription form. Let
every well-wisher fill up and return the
form, and induce his friends to do the
same." Well, in addition to our "office
copy," we have cut out and filled up the
form for sending the I.B.J, to our Senior
Editor in California ; and we hope Irish
bee-keepers throughout the Green Isle
will follow our example by subscribing.
Can we say more in the way of a hearty
and practical " send off " 1

SHROPSHIRE B.K.A.

The annual general meeting of the Shrop-
shire Bee-Keepers' Association was held in
the Mayor's Court, Shrewsbury, on Saturday,
May 4, when there were present Mias M. E.
Eyton, Miss A. Downward, Messrs. Roff-
Ring, T. R. Horton, W. H. Browne, A. Beale,
J. Bradley, P. Jones and J. Hammonds, J.
Carver, R. Holland, J. Clay, B. R. Croxton, S.
Cartwright, hon. sec, and others. Mr. Roff-
King was unanimously re-elected chairman,
Miss M. E. Eyton, hon. treasurer, and Mr. S.
Cartwright hon. sec. for the year. The
report for last year stated that a most satis-
factory show had taken place in August
last (in conjunction with the Shrewsbury
Floral Fete), both in number and quality of
entries of honey, wax, and appliances of all
kinds. The financial condition of the Associa-
tion was also improved, and the debt owing to
the hon. treasurer had been slightly reduced.
The committee hoped that for thVsake of the
cottage bee-keeping industry in the county
any persons interested in the subject would
give in their names as subscribers or members
of the society to the hon. secretary, Mr. S.
Cartwright, Shawbury, Salop, who will for-
ward all information, &c. The report having
been passed, it was decided to hold the annual
show, as usual, in conjunction with the Horti-
cultural Societies' Great Floral Fete, in the
Quarry, Shrewsbury, in August next. The
following were appointed to serve on the com-
mittee for 1901 :— Miss A. Downward, Messrs.
J. Bradley, W. H. Brown, A. Beale, J.
Carver, J. Clay, B. R. Croxton, P. Graham, J.
Hammond, P. Jones, E. Oakes, and T. Whit-
tingham.

The meeting concluded with votes of thanks
to the officers for their services during the
year.

192

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 16, 1901.

STAFFORDSHIRE B.KA.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the members of this
Association was held at the County Technical
School, Stafford, on Saturday, the 27th ult.,
Mr. W. G. Bagnall presiding. In the course
of a short addres3 the Chairman said the
exhibition of honey at the County Agricul-
tural Show at Stafford last year was one of
the finest ever held in the county. The
balance-sheet showed a deficit of £8, but it
was stated that out-standing subscriptions
more than covered the debit balance. Mr.
A. H. Heath was re-elected president, Mr.
E. E. Crisp hon. secretary, and Mr. R. Cock
the expert. The latter gentleman gave an
address on the management of frame and skep
hives, and on marketing the honey so as to
secure the highest prices. — (Communicated.)

HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the United
Kingdom during the month of April,
1901, was .£3,424. — From a return furnished
to the British Bee Journal by the Statistical
Office, H.M. Customs.

©bftuarg.

Mrs. W. Broughton Carr, wife of the
co-editor of the British Bee Journal and
of the Bee-keepers' Record, died at her
residence, Morlev-road, Lewisham, London,
on the 2nd inst., aged sixty-two years.

Mrs. Carr took the liveliest practical interest
in her husband's bee-work, particularly during
their residence in Cheshire, when for over
twenty years the greater part of his leisure
time was occupied with a large apiary. Nor
is it generally known that the series of short
articles entitled " About Bee-keeping : by
the Wife of a Bee-keeper," written for the
Co-operative News, are from her pen. These
articles took the form of letters to a friend,
and were intended to promote a love of bee-
keeping among women. They were reprinted
by request in the Bee Journal ten years ago,
and aroused some interest at the time espe-
cially among our lady readers.

Though not very strong for over a year past,
it was not till December last that the serious
breakdown in her health occurred from which
she never recovered, the end coming suddenly
at last from heart failure.

A devoted wife, an ideal mother, and an
attached friend, her unobtrusive goodness
made her loved by all whose privilege it was
to know her, and it is an exceeding comfort to
us that after a trying illness she passed gently
and peacefully away in the arms of her
daughter, full of the simple Christian faith
that guided her whole life.

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for tht
opinion! expressed by correspondents. No notice teill be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

Comnmnications relating to the literary department,
reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for Review, dec, must be addressed only to "The
Editors of the ' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William-
street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi-
cations relating to advertisements, die, must be addressed
to " The Manager, 'British Bee Journal' Office, 17,
King William -street, Strand, London, W.C."

*** In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[4352.] The month of May has been so far
fairly good for the bees in this neighbourhood.
After a few days of dull, showery weather, it
has, on the whole, been favourable, two good
bee-days occurring on the 11th and 12th.
Wild cherries, early sycamores, and myriads of
dandelion blossoms have afforded good forage,
and now the hop-clover is coming into bloom,
along with a few patches of turnip or rape left
for seed by the farmers ; the sainfoin fields,
too, never looked more promising. Thus we
are every day getting more into the bee
season. Swarming will be in swing shortly,
and we shall hear of the "early swarm"
coming off in some sheltered nook, and the
local newspaper will record the " First Swarm
in the District" as a month previously it re-
corded the first note of the cuckoo. We who
are located on higher ground have, however,
to " bide a wee " before our first new century
swarm comes off. In thi3 matter, too, it often
happens that those who pay no attention to
their bees will be before us with the first
swarm of the year, and then they do not
forget to give forth the usual "wise" words —
" Oh, bees be best if left alone 1 So much of
this messing about with 'em doant get 'em no
forrader." The painstaking bee-man can only
allow such utterances to pass unanswered, and
look forward to his " take " when compared
with that of the let-alone bee-man's at the end
of the season.

Frames. — Those who would like to prevent
propolis and brace-combs or to avoid risk of
having brood-combs built thick in one part
and thin in another should have the top-bars
of their brood-combs 1£ in. wide. The ordinary
standard frame is, in my opinion, not wide
enough to prevent brace-combs, &c. In
going through my usual " spring cleaning " of
hives I noticed that in nearly every frame
with wide top-bars and side pieces the combs
are nearly as flat as a board, but in frames of
ordinary width it is not so. Another point in
favour of the wide top-bar is the absence of
little " lumps '' of wax on the top of frames

May 16, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

193

which require removing before packing for
winter, or before the racks of sections are put
on. These lumps of wax are, as all bee-
keepers know, in evidence often in quantities
with the standard frame, but those who have
adopted the wider standard frame know that
the bees do not fill up the space between top
of frames and bottom of sections with brace-
combs as when narrow top-bars are used.

Preparing for the Harvest— This is, or
should be, the order of the day where a good
number of section racks have to be got ready.
Do not leave it till white clover is in bloom
before waking up to the necessity of prepara-
tion. Start now, so that when the time
comes all is ready. A few hours will suffice
to place a good number of boxes of shallow-
combs or racks of sections on the hives.
Order new goods if not already on hand ;
get your skeps out of the musty storeroom or
dusty hay-loft ; clear away the cobwebs and
give them an airing in the sun ; this will
sweeten them up ready for hiving the swarms.
We always use skeps to take swarms with, and
in the evening then either put them into
frame-hives, or pack in travelling boxes for
sending to customers. A straw skep is the
handiest receptacle I know of for the job ; the
straw gives a good foothold for the bees — far
better than a wood box — and with care will
last several seasons.

Long-tongued Bees. — This subject has been
discussed in the American bee papers, and I
notice Editor Root has given a note of caution
to "go slowly,' and not expect too much along
this line until more experience has been
gained. The bees with the longest tongues
will undoubtedly gather from red clover, while
those whose tongues are shorter may not be
able to reach the nectar in that particular
blossom, and with very little other forage then
in bloom the long-tongued bee would con-
tinue to store, while those of the short-
ton gued strain would perforce lay idle. Dr.
C. C. Miller also notes in Gleanings that
other characteristics besides length of tongue
may account for one colony doing better
than another, viz., " industriousness '' ;
yes, and that is my own opinion. Let
us leave to the experimentalist and
careful scientific investigator the working
out of the problems how to lengthen the bee's
tongue, and how to shorten the tubes of the
red clover bloom, while we address our-
selves to the improvement of our stocks by
breeding queens (and drones also) from the
most industrious stocks we have — queens from
the early morning " hustlers," and drones from
the untiring evening workers. In every apiary
of any size these stocks are to be found. From
such we may reasonably expect to improve
our strain of bees, and then leave our craft in
a better condition to prove itself a useful
auxiliary to the income, if not the main plank
on which to venture in obtaining a living for
the bee-keeper. — W. Woodley, Beedon,
Newbury.

BEES ROBBING IN SPRING.

A RECENT EXPERIENCE.

[4353.J I note that your correspondent
"J. A." (4347, page 182) refers to "bees
robbing in spring," and after describing an
occurrence in his apiary wondered what was
the reason of the strange behaviour of the bees.
Having had an exactly similar experience, I
believe I can throw a little light on the matter.
On Monday, May 6, I overhauled my thirteen
hives, took off candy-boxes (placed on top of
hives early in March) from which I got 3 lb.
of splendid nexo honey similar to the sample I
sent you in April, 1900. The following day I
paid a visit to the hives, and was surprised to
see the bees of one hive in the centre of the
apiary rushing out as if about to swarm, as I
thought at a first glance, but realising in a
minute or two that this was not the case, it
occurred to me that they were being " cleared
out " or robbed, but on a closer inspec-
tion to see if this was the case, I quickly
concluded (having been in the midst of
similar battles on previous occasions) that
my second thoughts were again beside the
mark. I then put my wits to work to find
out really " what was up," for there could be
no doubt that something unusual was going
on, or why should there be hundreds of bees
hovering in front of this hive while all the
others were in a normal condition l At last I
hit upon it. This hive was one from which
a swarm had issued last year, and, having no
stand ready at the time, was placed on a board
flat on the ground, the swarm being set on the
old stand. The day before, when overhauling
my hives, a new stand was placed under this
one, which raised the entrance about a foot
higher from the ground than it stood pre-
viously. The cause of the tumult now seemed
clear, and, on watching closely, I found that
the bees were much puzzled in finding the
new entrance ; but after a day or two they
located it at once on arrival, and the hovering
in front of hive ceased.

Your correspondent says he " contracted the
entrance to an inch in width," and I have no
doubt had he enlarged it to the same width as
at first instead of still further closing it (pro-
vided he had not moved the hive from its old
position) he would have seen matters quiet
down at once.

Allow me to thank Mr. Rymer for his reply
to my letter re " adapting- board and pollen-
clogged combs," though he misread my
remarks about the plinths. I did not state
that plinths were placed round the adapting-
board itself, but round the bottom of lifts
placed above the body-box in single-walled
hives. I must say that I still think it a
defect in his system to advocate the storing
away of combs full of honey through the
winter. I do not know the number he stores
away, but to take the frames of, say, five hives
only, we have fifty combs, with probably an
average of 3 lb. of honey each at a low esti-

194

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 16, 1901.

mate ; this amounts to 150 lb. of honey lying
idle. I admit these standard frames can be
given to weak colonies in spring, but shallow
frames full of honey cannot well be so utilised.
I am situated near heather, and it is an
unknown thing with me to have weak colonies
in spring through lack of stores, and in all
my hives that I looked through on May 6
the combs were slabs of honey, as I never
extract from body-boxes. — Bridgefield, Car-
marthenshire, May 11.

BEES TUENING VICIOUS.

HOW I CURED THEM..

[4354.] With reference to query No. 2643
(page 188), may I say that only once in eight
years' experience have I failed to subdue a
stock of bees, and I cured the vicious propen-
sities of the unruly hive as follows : —

Providing myself with an ounce or two of
sulphur in an old sardine-tin, I went to work
after dark, also taking with me a lantern and
spare candle-end. Fir3t I spread a sack flat
on the ground three or four yards in rear of
the hive. Then lifting the brood-box as
quietly and quickly as possible off its stand, I
placed it on the sack. I next lighted the sul-
phur, placing the candle-end among it (also
lighted) on a piece of broken tile. Mean-
while the bees had been issuing in
hundreds and attacking my lower extremities
without mercy. As soon as the lighted candle
(on old stand) became visible they went for it
in a cloud, and between myself — armed with a
flat stick — and the burning sulphur several
hundreds soon lay dead on the field of
battle. Every bee that had ventured
to fly at such an untimely hour was
speedily killed, and after clearing away
all traces of warfare I replaced the body-
box carefully on its stand. A very few days
afterwards I found this stock as amenable to
reason as any of the others and they did not
trouble me again.

My own explanation would be that the
process described had brought about the
desired remedy by securing the extermination
of the older and more vicious bees. — A.
Eoyds, jun., Soberton, Hants, May 13.

BEES ON THE WING.

AN INCIDENT AT THE MOORS.

[4355.] As the time again approaches for
taking bees to the heather, perhaps the
following incident, which occurred to myself
and a friend last year, may be of interest to
your numerous readers. First let me say, by
way of preliminary, I am no journalist, only a
farmer, and my friend a shoemaker. We set
out for the moors early on the morning in
question, our load consisting of fourteen
frame-hives, and reached our journey's end
all right. On arrival, however, we found a
man on the ground close to our stand already

unloaded and ready to liberate his bees, and
the first greeting we got from him was,' "Look
sharp ! I don't want to stop here all day
(it was then 6.30 a.m.), and get that horse out
of the way, as I want to liberate my bees."
Notwithstanding the not over politely
expressed "order," we drew our waggon up.
alongside the stand, and got all the hives
safely set up with as little delay as need be,
and this done, I took hold of the horse by the
neck to lead it out of harm's way. It so
happened, however, that I had hung the reins
over the brake at one corner, and as I chanced
to pull rather to the opposite side, it so
tightened the reins as to cause the horse to
step back quickly right into the bee-stand and
thus knock down the whole of the hives ! The
horse tripped itself with the stand and went
down among the wreckage, kicking about
violently. One hive rolled down the hill,
another had its top knocked clean off, and a
third was broken into chip-wood, and from
several others the bees were escaping. My
friend got out his knife, and quickly cut loose
the harness in which the horse (a valuable one)
was entangled, and we got the animal up and
liberated from the waggon and made off as fast
as we knew how. The horse was got into a
cowhouse, and I need not say we shut the door
without loss of time. This done, we had time
to look at the bees, and the sight for a bee-
man was one not soon to be forgotten. The
bee3 wheeled about in the air overhead like a
flock of plovers, and we dare not go near the
hives for a while. However, we ventured at
last to set about puttiug things right after
having donned veils, &c. The air was full of
bees bent on vengeance ! I will not detail the
various items which went to make up a big
total of " stinging " mishaps. The bees vented
their wrath on all and sundry, from the old
collie dog that came to look on, to the small
boy with an "inquiring mind'' and the farm
woman inspired in the same way with a desire
to know what it was all about. They soon
made off without more knowledge of bees than
an acquaintance with their " business ends."
My friend, too, though a bee-keeper himself,
unfortunately wore low shoes, and in conse-
quence exposed his stockings to the bees, and
used language more strong than polite. It
was several days before he could get his boots
on.

The net result of the smash was a total loss
of one hive and its bees. Strange to say, the
horse seemed none the worse, and we could
not tell for certain that it received a single
sting. I may also say the other hives all did
very well, and we hope to again make the
journey to the moors with our bees this season,
when we expect to profit by the above
experience ; for it will be a lesson to us to be
more careful in all we do until the hives are
safely planted down on their stands, so as to
avoid jso unpleasant a predicament a3 I have
endeavoured to describe. — J. J., North York-
shirr, Darlington, 2 fay 11.

May 16, 1901. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

195

HONEY FROM JAMAICA.

[4356] On strolling round the Exhibition
of Jamaican Products (held in Bristol last
month for the purpose of bringing before the
public the variety of goods brought over by
Messrs. Elder, Dempster, & Co.'s new line of
direct mail steamers from Bristol to Jamaica),
Mr. H. M. Chevallier Cobbold, Commercial
Delegate, drew my attention to some samples of
honey. The first things that would strike the
casual observer was the beautiful colour of
the honey and the artistic label on the bottle.
It was not a label covered by flowers in print,
but in bold type printed in three colours on a
ribbon design, making it very attractive. But
the bottles spoilt the whole thing ; these were
in shape like those used for whisky, holding
about H pints. This shape of bottle at once
made the bee-keeper wonder what would
happen later on when the honey became
granulated.

A few large barrels of honey were also sent
over on commission ; these were not welcomed
by our looal bee-keepers, and it was amusing
to hear how they ridiculed the idea of
importing honey from Jamaica. They pro-
bably remembered they had plenty of home-
grown honey that they could not get rid of,
simply, as I thought, because it was not put
up in attractive packages. Bee - keepers'
Associations will, in my opinion, be doing
more good by finding a market for bee-
keepers' honey than by sending out experts
to visit members. Wherever there is demand
supply will follow, and bees will be in the
hands of men who understand them instead
of a lot of novices who get the bee-fever, start
keeping bees, and then give up the Associa-
tion, let their bees get foul brood, and refuse
to destroy them.

The sample herewith was taken from one of
the bottles labelled " Log Wood Honey " and
placed on the table at the last Committee
meeting of our Association. The Council,
after inspecting the sample, came to the con-
clusion that we had nothing to fear if only the
British housewife was educated up to being
able to distinguish between good honey and
an attractive package. We would like your
views on the quality. — James Brown, Hon.
Secretary, Bristol District B.K.A., 31, Bridge-
street, Bristol.

[We have no knowledge of " Log Wood
Honey," and should have named the sample
as mainly from white clover, though lacking
in the distinctive character of clover honey.
Regarding associations and their work, we
shall be glad to hear how the Bristol B.K.A.
improves on ordinary methods ? — Eds.]

CHANGING QUARTERS.

TAKING A LESSON FROM THE BEES.

[4357.] Six whole months away from my
bees have convinced me of the truth of the
saying that "We never know how fond we

are of a thing till we have lost it.5' Happily
my loss was of a temporary nature, caused by
business matters compelling me to leave my
post in Warwickshire last November and to
take up one in Wales. Now, May has come,
and with it my bees, kindly packed and sent
on to me by bee-keeping friends left behind.
I wonder if the bees feel as I did, that they
are " strangers in the land," and that it is
hard— aye, very hard, to " buckle to '' the
work in front of one ! Will tbey notice the
wonderful scenery here — the lofty mountains
kissing the clouds, the endless waterfalls
rushing down to the river far beneath ? I
wonder, too, if they miss "leafy Warwick-
shire " as I do, the cosy looking homesteads
and cottages, and the well cultivated fields !
Just think of their experience — a long and
tiring day's work done, the little labourers are
just settling down contentedly for the night's
rest, when there comes into their midst the
suffocating smoke ! Fright soon gives way
to anger, but skilful hands have done their
work and. the bees are fast prisoners.

At the first dawn of day a' fruitless effort is
made to find a way of escape, but soon they
feel themselves lifted up and driven along a
shaky road ; soon they are in the train. The
air is close and hot ; the bees crowd madly .to
the air-holes ; many are suffocated ; but any-
thing for fresh air and to be free from this
" black hole of Calcutta ! " For two whole
days the same, only the deaths more frequent.

But at last they are in Wales, and soon the
lid is off, and the blessed air of heaven rushes
in. The poor bees are quite peaceably inclined
— no thought of revenge — only one of happi-
ness at again being free, at again seeing the
light of the sun. The corpses— alas, how
many there are ! — are hurriedly removed, and
floorboard swept clean. No useless repining
here ; there is much to set straight. Of what
use to waste time in sorrowing for the past
or for what is left behind 1 The summer is
coming ; there is work to be done ; there
must be no delay in doing that work. Nor
was there any delay. What a lesson to me !
What a lesson to all, when troubles and diffi-
culties come thickly, and we are inclined to
throw up the sponge, to think it is all no good,
and that we may as well give up our efforts !
Let us take a lesson from the bees — their one
idea to " do the work that is nearest." May
one and all of us do our best to imitate them,
" though it is hard at whiles." — Cardiganshire,
May 4.

RENDERING OLD COMBS.

[4358.] I was again amused at Mr. Rymer's
plan of rendering old comb3 (4342, page 172).
Happening to have four pollen-clogged combs
by me, I put them in my " potato steamer,''
as described by myself (4331, page 156), and
herewith send you sample of the wax and
what is left of comb after removal from
''steamer" for your opinion. On carefully

196

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 16, 1901.

weighing, I found about 6 oz. of wax like
sample from the four combs ; the combs, as
you see, falling apart at the midrib. I tried
the "messy job" once of boiling in "the
wife's " washing copper ! The oven plan
leaves no waste and makes no mess. — A. EL,
Wavendon, Bucks, May 13.

ANCIENT BEE-BOOKS.

"Apiarium or a Discourse of Bees: Tending to the
Best Way of Improving them, and to the Discovery of
the Fallacies that are imposed by some, for private
Lucre, on the Credulous Lovers and Admirers of these
Insects. Written by J. W„ Gent.

"London, Printed for and sold by Thomas Dring,
Bookseller, at the Sign of the Harrow, at Chancery-
lane-end in Fleet-street, 1(376."

[Octavo. Frontispiece : a colony of three
tiered boxes in a half-open triangular bee-
house, under an apple tree. Bees flying.

Re-issued in 1678 as part of second edition
of " Vinetum Britannicurn," by J. Worlidge.
Third edition, 1691. Finally reprinted in
1698 as "The Compleat Bee-Master," &c,
price 6d.— S. D. E.]

[4359.] John Worlidge resided at Peters-
field, in Hampshire. The first work attributed
to him is " A Speedie Poste, &c, now pub-
lished for the helpe of such as are desirous to
leatne to write letters, by J. W. Gent," a
curious little book in black-letter, 1629. The
" Vinetum Britannicurn" treats of cider and
home-made wines. Worlidge is best known
for his " Systema Agricultural for some time
a standard work on husbandry.

The " Apiarium " is the work of an old-
fashioned bee-keeper not blind to new im-
provements but favouring the past ; with a
great admiration for Butler, by this time out
of date ; and not disinclined to believe in
ancient fables, such even as the self-generation
of bees in the decaying carcasses of cattle. For
all this, Worlidge had tried a hive after
Hartlib, and now used wooden boxes of his
own device on the nadiring system. These
increased gradually in size, the smallest being
12 in. square by 8 in. high, inside measure-
ment ; open at bottom, a glass window in each
side, and a door 3 in. by £ in. in each of
two adjacent sides. This box being stocked
with a swarm was to be placed on a stand in
a bee-house facing " arras-wise " (arris-wise,
i.e., angle-shaped) towards the South, " so that
when the hive stands with one door towards
S.E. the other may be towards the S.W."
Sticks might be fixed inside the box from top
to bottom for supporting the combs only. " Nor
do you feed yourselves with vain imaginations
that they will fix their combs to frames of
your Fancy, nor work when and where you
please."

The next box, to be placed underneath when
wanted, was bigger, but not higher, with a
hole in the top and twice the number of doors
and windows. " And in like manner other
boxes, always increasing the number of glass
squares and doors proportionable to the
breadth of your sides, and so may you increase

your boxes until you find the Bees at a stay.
And then it is best to take them by the usual
way of Smothering by the fume of Brimstone.
. . . For let not anyone imagine that their
Honey can be taken from them and the Bees
preserved unless by some sort of driving,
mentioned by Butler in his ' Feminine
Monarchic,' which also are not commended."

It should, perhaps, be pointed out that in
the Milanese Catalogue of Bee-books recom-
mended by Mr. Drory (4210) last January,
the compiler, deceived by the initials "J. W.,''
and regardless of dates, attributes Worlidge's
" Apiarium " to Joseph Warder. — South
Devon Enthusiast.

AN OLD-TIME BEE-MAN.

. 2. — THE HOME OF THE BEES.

[4360.] It lay right at the foot of one of
our giant Bens, whose granite form towered
aloft in picturesque grandeur. Some irregu-
larity in the formation on the southern side of
its lower slope, where it debouched on the
great glen lying below, had allowed a deposit
of the latter Sandstone period, and denudation,
acting on this softer strata, had scooped out in
the course of a small stream a deep ravine,
whose steep sides in places were roughened
with grey, worn, and weathered projections of
schist and granite. At one point it towered
in a precipice, with huge boulders " perilously
poised," where the stream, with its ceaseless
excavation, wore down the steep hillside ; at
another erosion had caused a gentle slope, and,
aided perhaps by the action of ice, had planed
down the sides smooth, removing the rough ir-
regularities. All this had happened in prehistoric
times, and now the sides of the den were
covered with a glorious mantle of trees, shrubs,
flowers, and ferns, all combining to make it a
scene of sylvan grace and loveliness. It was
a rustic woodland wild, with the brook ever
winding in mazy convolutions through the
soft, shady dell opening up into a pleasant
valley and a green retreat as it wound its way
to the noble river down in the great 3tralk
below. The mighty Ben protected it from
the north wind, and Boreas dealt kindly with
its charming shades, so that it could be said
of it, as in the case of Craigielea : —

" Winter lightly skiffs thy bonnie bowers,
As laith to harm a flower in thee.''
The sweetest spot in all the little glen was
just the nook which my "man"' had selected
as the home of his honey-bees and his own
home. It was a quiet place far from the busy
haunts of men. Further up the brook had
fretted its way and sent its troubled waters
pouring down a rocky lym, but at this point
it went winding and wimpling adown the
dewy glen singing a soft and amorous lullaby.
Nor was that the only sound which disturbed
the quiet solitude, for the whole wood was
amorous of song.

Mayhap, on the heights above, the wild

May 16, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

197

scream of the curlew broke shrilly on the
ear, and on the further side the corncrake's
solitary, dissonant note was heard, mono-
tonous and harsh to us, but no doubt to its
mate sweet a3 the coo of the most loving
ringdove. These were but interludes, but
down in the " bughted glade " the solitude but
enhanced and added to the many sounds,
forming a " wilderness of harmony." There,
in the lone depths of the deeper thicket, the
" cushat croodles amorously," while up in the
lift aboon at heaven's gate the laverock (lark)
lifts his lovely s*ong " the lee lang day " ; the
mavis warbles her sweetest melody and " gars
echo ring frae tree to tree " ; the blackbird
trills his merry notes ; and the thrush pours
forth a flood of music, singing his song a second
time —

" Lest you should think he never could recap-
ture
The first fine careless rapture."

The eye too, as well as the ear, had its full
flood of admiration as it feasted on a forest of
bloom. The rowan tree decked the steep
slopes with its flowers, which were the
summer's pride, and its " bonnie berries red "
shone gaily, adorning the craggy scaur with
jewels fit for a prince ; the very memory of
them is dear to me '. The gean (or wild
cherry) showered its lovely, if evanescent,
spray all around ; wild apples scented the air
with their charming blossoms ; the wild rose,
" The bonnie briar bush '' of song and story,
spread a perfume equal to that of Araby the
Blest, while its colours rivalled, if they did
not excel, the favoured fruit of man'j culture
in the gay garden parterre. The vivid red of
the holly berries and the rich yellow of the
laburnum tree were intermixed with luxuriant
growths of the prickly gorse (our Scotch whin),
whose " everlasting ' flowers displayed the
same hue as its lovely twin sister, the yellow
broom, profuse in its growth and lovely in its
profusion. Then there was the pure and
delicate white of the hawthorn flowers that
open with the opening summer : —

" And the fragrant hawthorn brambles,
With the woodbine alternating,
Scent the dewy May."

Flowers were, indeed, everywhere. Blue hare-
bells waved responsive to every gentle breeze ;
fox-gloves raised their stately heads and noble
forms ; wild thyme scented the gale. In early
springtime the wild primrose spread a sea of
bloom, and later the buttercup, "the chil-
dren's dower," coloured the green verdure with
its golden sheen ; the blue eye of the violet, as
its odour, was everywhere ; lilies, " fair among
the fairest," nod their sweet heads, and, of
course, the daisy, or gowan, is ubiquitous.
Why dwell on them, further for their name is
legion. But the bees, they must not be for-
gotten. Behind rose the Ben, seamed and
scarred and chasmed, with here and there a
deep ravine, but mainly its huge form rose as

a gradual swell, or rather swell on swell, and
its surface was all one uniform wealth of
glorious purple sheen — a vast and illimitable
sea of bloom, an ocean of heather, leagues and
leagues of it scented like a honeycomb, a joy
to breathe ! What riches were there, and all
allowed to waste it3 sweetness on the desert
air ; for all the wealth of bloom wa3 dissipated
year by year for lack of willing tongues to
suck it up. Then in the earlier days of
summer what a rich profusion of pure and
spotless bloom those fair fertile fields, stretch-
ing for thousands of acres away to the sight,
displayed to glad the eyes of a true bee-man —
a perfect carpet of bloom, smelling sweet, and
redolent of richest luscious nectar ready to
be gathered, manufactured, and stored by
thousands of busy workers as food fit to be
placed on the table of a king ! Yet again
there was a further store. To the right there
lay one of the stately homes of Scotland, a
baronial pile. Little recked our little friends
how fair or grand it was, but well they knew
of one sweet spot, where the lime trees grew
— the Lime Tree Walk. Ah, those noble
lindens ! What a glorious shade they formed
with their grand and stately branches meeting
overhead and forming a cathedral aisle nobler
and more imposing than any work of man !
Especially in those days of late July were
they worthy of a visit. One could saunter
under their leafy shade in bowers of verdant
green, or lie reclined on a carpet of verdure,
content to dream life's fleeting hours away.
And well the bees deemed them worthy of a
visit, for they seemed to " drip " honey for
their busy tongues to suck. What a lullaby
it was to listen to that glorious and almost
overpowering mirth-millioned hum blending
in one sweet harmonious anthem of thankful-
ness and gratitude 1 The spot was an ideal
bee-man's paradise, and it was no wonder
my old friend made his bee-keeping pay.
— F. E. I. S., N.B.

(To be continued.)

(fiipps and Uppity.

[2645. J Dealing with Foul Brood.— Some
time ago a gentleman asked me to examine his
bees. I did so on March 13 last. We found
one hive queenless and containing very few
bees. Those we destroyed ; but as I was told
there had been no disease in the colony, and
the comb3 contained a good lot of honey, we
shut the hive up tight, a3 we thought, to
protect its contents from robbers. Another
lot was affected with foul brood, and in con-
sequence the bees, combs, &c, are burned.
Two out of the other three stocks showed
slight signs of " F. B." of old standing. I was
told the bees were found to be diseased last
summer, and had been treated by the county

198

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 16, 1901.

expert. The stock had also been fed with
medicated syrup last autumn and again this
spring. I removed all signs of disease that I
could find, and thought that as food was
medicated and plenty of disinfectants were
being used, they might come out right. I
then sold the gentleman three stocks of my
own, which I firmly believed to be quite free
from disease. I knew of none, and I should
certainly not sell diseased bees knowingly.
Those three stocks were delivered on March 29.
On April 12 I again examined the whole of
the stocks, and found very slight signs of
" F. B." in two of the original stocks ;
the other four seemed quite free. On the
10th inst. I found five out of the six hives
affected. Three of them I have treated as per
" Guide Book," burning frames, combs, quilts,
&c, and disinfected hives with a painter's
spirit lamp. Two of those that I sold him
were not so bad, and as they are both strong
lots I treated them with phenyle spraying.
There seems to be not more than one cell in
a hundred affected. I have cut out the worst
piece I could find and forward on to you
and will you please say : — 1. Is the stock from
which sample is sent fit for treating with
phenyle ? 2. Could the bees have become
affected with disease and got so far on in the
time (six weeks) ? I find that the bees got at
the honey from the hive found queenless
through the cover being removed in my
absence. 3. How long does it take foul-
brood to reach the bacillus stage? 4. How
long does it take to affect a cure with phenyle,
and how often should I use the spray ?— G. G.,
Cornwall.

Reply. — 1 and 2. Comb sent is full of
healthy-looking larvre in all stages of develop-
ment up to sealing over ; none is turning black
and none yellow. It would appear as if the
brood was alive when comb was removed. We
found no trace of disease. 3. This is the first
stage. 4. Use as directed in " Guide Book.''

[2646.] Imperfectly Capped Combs. — I am
forwarding piece of comb, and shall be glad if
you can tell me what is the cause of the cells
being left so uncapped by the bees ? I have
found the same thing in hives in different
parts of our district this season. — Weyside,
Woking, May 11.

Reply. — The peculiar appearance of the
imperfectly capped cells — full of normal brood
— is most probably due to overdosing with
some remedy used against infection from foul
brood. Send us particulars of what has been
done in this way, and what preventives have
been used, when we will reply further.

[2647.] Wax-Moth.— In your reply to my
query re wax-moths, on page 189, you advised
me to destroy the combs infested by the
moths, but, being only last year's combs and
nicely " wired '' in the frames, besides not
being very " badly infested,'' I ventured to
fumigate them well, and I intend to store
them in a box and keep an eye on them. 1.
Did I do right ? 2. How can I prevent moths

again attacking the combs, as I had stored
them in a box I had thought moth-proof ? —
Busy Bee, Caerleon, May 11.

Reply. — 1. Ye3. 2. By storing the combs
away as soon as removed from the hives, and
making the store-box really moth-proof. With
plenty of old newspapers and a little flour-
paste this is an easy operation.

[264\] A Lady's Queries. — 1. How should
I treat a parent stock after swarming ? Has it
to be fed ? 2. Is it right to put a rack of
sections on to a parent hive immediately after
it has sent out swarm, or, if not, how soon
after 1 3. Should sections be filled with full
sheets of foundation % — Flora, Whitfield,
May 11.

Reply. — 1. No, unless swarming occurs
early and in a season of great scarcity. 2.
No. It is not always wise to give any addi-
tional surplus-room to a hive after it has sent
out a swarm unless there are several weeks of
the honey harvest still in front of the bees.

3. Not necessarily, but most bee-keepers give
full sheets as being advantageous in the line
of yielding more profit.

[2649.] Dealing with Foul Brood.— On
looking through my hives to-day, I found,
to my disgust, that about twenty-five oat of
twenty-nine were more or less affected by
foul brood. It must have developed very
rapidly, as when I examined them a few
weeks ago all the brood seemed quite healthy.
It has attacked two or three hives which I
had cured last summer, and which were quite
healthy in the autumn. Unluckily, I am
starting for Germany on the 14th inst., and
they must consequently be left for two or
three weeks. As many of them seem quite
strong in spite of the disease, I have supered
them on the chance of their gathering surplus ;
also given strong doses of naphthaline.
Under the circumstances I shall be grateful
if you will advise me through the columns of
B.J. : — 1. Whether, on my return about
June 2, I had better artificially swarm all
the diseased lots, starve them, and put in
clean hive and feed on medicated syrup ?
or 2. If they seem strong and likely to gather
surplus, leave them till, say, mid- August, and
then treat as above 'I 3. In scorching with
painter's lamp, should the insides of lifts and
roofs be scorched as well as brood-boxes ?

4. Is it necessary to disinfect all the supers
and queen-excluders, and if so, how, when
one has a large number to deal with ? 5. Is
a microscope, magnifying 420 diameters,
sufficiently powerful to show the bacilli or
spores of foul brood ? 6. What is the best
and cheapest material to buy for cutting up
into quilts, for all the year round — I shall
require a good deal if I destroy so many lots \
— Cantab, Cambs, May 11.

Reply. — 1. Such colonies as have been
supered might be examined on your return,
and if storing surplus, should be allowed to re-
main till the honey season begins to fail. Then
start proposed steps for curing. 2. We should

May 16, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

199

not defer remedial measures a day longer than
the time when the main honey-flow begins to
fail. If lefc till mid- August, bees will be on
the alert for plunder, and so increase trouble
in feeding-up. The point is to give the bees
operated on as long a time as possible to draw
out combs and fill and seal them over with
food before cold weather sets in. 3. Only the
internal parts of brood-chamber and floor-
board need to be scorched. If all outer-
cases, roofs, and stands are washed well with
hot water, in which plenty of common washing
soda is used, it will suffice. 4. Nothing less
than a r\rth objective is of any use in foul
brood investigations. 6. The materials most
generally adopted are the grey felt used as
under-carpeting, or the thick felt used for
packing steam boilers.

HIVES OF BEES IN BAGGAGE CAR
KEEP TRAINMEN SIDESTEPPING.

TRAFFIC ON THE NARROW- GAUGE ROAD TO
SAN RAFAEL TEMPORARILY DERANGED
BY THE AGGRESSIVE INSECTS UNTIL A
SMOKE BRIGADE MADE UP OF CREW AND
PASSENGERS ROUTS THEM.

The above heading alone occupies about as
much space in an American paper sent us as a
full column of the B.B.J. It also affords an
amusing example — for a people who love
brevity, and have no time for " wordiness ''—
of skill in making a very elephant out of a
small mouse. — [Eds ]

Bees held a baggage car against all comers
yesterday on the narrow-gauge road to San
Rafael. Their aggressiveness came near tying
up traffic for the day.

A resident of Corte Madera had two hives
presented to him by a Mr. Norenson, of
Baker-street, who had no further use for
them. The Corte Maderan hired an innocent
party, who did not know bees, to transport
them from the city, where they had been
licking a living off the syrup barrel at the
corner grocery, to the country, where the
orange and manzanita bloom.

The two hives arrived at the ferry in good
condition, but with an ominous humming
inside, which showed that the bees were
putting themselves on a war footing.

A freight clerk, who had experience with
lite stock, refused to take them until the
hives had been surrounded with a bee-proof
net. By the time this was obtained and the
bees secured within it, the man had lost his
boat and the bees their temper.

Arrived at Sausalito, one of the honey -
hunters got out and immediately bad a rear-
end collision with a trainman, who thereupon
refused to take the hives on the cars unless
still further safeguards were put about them.
The result was the loss of another train by the
man and the remainder of their temper by the
bees.

When the train arrived at the station and
the door of the car was opentd, the bystanders

felt like robbers when the trusty shot-gun
messenger gets to work. The bees had the
car and no one could get near it. They
swarmed and buzzed and stung everything in
sight.

The dispatcher finally ordered the train
ahead and the bees rolled out in their private
car. It was useless for train purposes and the
conductor wanted to leave it at San Rafael,
but again the dispatcher, who had a ten-mile
reach of telegraph wire between him and the
bee stings, ordered the car ahead with the train.

Conductor Brown is fertile in expedients,
and advice was plenty. He organised a band
of smokers ; borrowed gloves and handker-
chiefs with which to equip them as defensive
armour, and then every man, with pipe or
cigar alight, hands in gloves, and face masked
with handkerchief, went gaily to the fray.

The smoke of battle and the roar of the
angry bees were terrific. Conductor Brown,
backed up by the smoke-blowing brigade, won
the day, and the bees were put to rout and
their hives bundled out after them.

The consignee is now laying low to avoid
the wrath to come, the train men get mad
when anybody imitates a man swatting bees,
and the railroad has a new rule : " Bees will
not be accepted for transportation.''

WEATHER REPORT.

Westbourne, Sussex,
April, 1901.
Sunless Days, 3.
Above average, 531

hours.
Mean

52-1°.
Mean

38 '50.
Mean

45 3°.
Below average, 1*2°.
Maximum Barometer,

30-36°, on 18th.
Minimum Barometer,

29-45°, on 11th.

Rainfall, 2 80 iD.

Heaviest fall, *76 in.,
on 3rd.

Rain fell on 16 days.

Above average,

1-18 in.

Maximum Tempera-
ture, 67°, on 24th.

Minimum Tempera-
ture, 30°, on 1st.

Minimum on Grass,
21°, on 2nd.

Frosty Nights, 2.

Sunshine, 23T3 hrs.

Brightest Day, 26th,
13-4 hours.

Maximum,

Minimum,

Temperature,

L. B. Birkett.

gee $hauj8 to <&omt

June 26 to July 1, at Cardiff.— "Royal "

Agricultural Society's Show. Bee and Honey Section
under management of the B.B.K.A. Entries closed,
except for extra fee. Schedules from Edwin H. Young,
Secretary, 12, Hanover-square, W.

July ■ 8 and 19, at Brigg.— Honey, Hives, and
Bee Appliances in connection with the Lincolnshire
Agricultural Society ; Bee Department under the
management of the Lines. B.K.A. Schedules from the
Hon. Sec, R. Godson, Tothill, Alford. Entries close
June 19.

July 25, 26 and 27, at St. Helens.— Royal
Lancashire Agricultural Society's Show. Bee-keepers'
Section. For Honey, Hives, and Appliances. Liberal
Money Prizes and valuable Medals in Open Classes fur

200

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 16, 1901.

Sections, Extracted Honey, Honey Trophy, and Appli-
ances. Full particulars in advertisements shortly.
Prize schedules from Edward Bohan, Secretary.
Miller Arcade, Preston. Entries close July 11.

September 7 to 14, at the Agricultural
Hal', London.— Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (9th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Eleven classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees-
wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers.

September 21 to 28, at the Aericu'tural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with the
fifth Annual Exhibition of the Grocery and Kindred
Trades. Four prizes for Honey-Trophy, medals, and
diplomas.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

Jas. Hamilton (Arran). — Dead Bees Cast
Out. — We cannot possibly form any opinion
as to disease or with regard to foul brood
from having half a dozen dead bees sent.
You need, however, have no fear for any of
the stocks examined, seeing that " all contain
brood in healthy condition." A few dead
bees cast out need cause no alarm.

J. Reeve (Tring). — Suspected Combs. — Comb
contains only mildewed pollen and a few
adult bees. The hive has, no doubt, been
packed for winter with a short supply of
food, and the bees have died from starvation.

J. K. (Somerset).— Judging by comb sent,
there has been no brood raised in the hive
for some months past. There are traces of
foul brood in the spore stage in one or two
cells, but the other sealed cells are empty,
all trace of former contents having dried up
and disappeared. The stock has probably
been queenless for a long time.

Suspected Comb.
Veronica (Kitjgsbridge). — We only find

signs of overdosing with some preventive m

comb. IS o sign of disease.
*£* Several queries are unavoidably held

over till next week.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve words and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

FOR SALE, CHEAP, land being wanted, 30 STOCKS
BEES, many near swarming ; will divide ; also
strong natural swarms. Linstead, Garboldisham,
Thetford. F 72

J~~' W. AVERY has FOR DISPOSAL 150 lb. SECTION
, HONEY, at a low price. Ripley, Surrey. F 56

T

WO or three healthy QUEENS to dispose of, 3s. each.
G. Ledger, Weybridge f 63

SWARMS, 10s. 6d. Order now. J. J. W. ROGERS,
Heath Apiary, St. Albans, Herts^ F 62

WXNTED, " Cowan " HONEY EXTRACTOR. Full
particulars to Brayshaw, Aultmore, Keith, N.B.
UEENS.— 1901 fertile and tested Queens, 5s. each.
Virgin Queers, 2s. 6d. each. W. Loveday,
Hatfield Heath, Harlow, Essex. -

FIVE-FRAME CARMIOLAN HYBRID STOCKS, 20s.;
3-frame, 15s. F. Reed, Bee Farms, Portslade,
Sussex.

EXCHANGE rich toned old VIOLIN with bow in
case for 50 lbs. best Honey, or three May Swarms.
Dr. Walker, Kirkby-Stephen. f 55

EIGHT CWT. good, sound HONEY, in 28-lb. tins,
FOR SALE. Sample 2d. H. Penfold, Horton,
Epsom, Surrey. F 68

M

Prepaid Advertisements {Continued).

PROLIFIC QUEENS ; pure imported Carniolans
8s. 8d. each; Italians, 6s. 6d. ; home-bred, 5s,' 6d,
E. Wqodham, Clavering, Newport, Essex.

AY SWARMS, 12s. 6d. ; three-frame nuclei, 10s.
Guaranteed healthy, Avery, Ripley, Surrey.
___ F 66

EXTRACTED ENGLISH HONEY, in 28-lb. tins, 4d.
per lb. Tins free. Sample, 2d. Richd. Dutton,
Terling, Witham, Essex F 64

SECTIONS, GRANULATED, three and four shillings
a dozen. Ling, Shady Camps, Linton, Cambs.
F 70

WANTED, 100 SECTIONS of HONEY, at once. State
price and number, to " S. B." British Bee Journal

Office. F 58

C\ e TH YEAR.— STOCKS, three wireframes, 12s.~6d. ;
ZtD six, 16s.; eight, 18s. Skeps, 10s. 6d., 12s. 6d.,
15s. Swarms, 10s. Cd., 12s. 6d., 15s. Packages free.
Alsford, Expert, Blandford. F 67

PRIME June SWARMS of liealthy"Ki\OLI.SH BEES,
10s. 6d., 12s. 6d., and 15s. each, headed with last
year's queens. Packing and box free. W. WOODLEY,
Beedon, Newbury.

NEW TALL 1-lb. SECTIONS, 100, 3s. 9d. ; post free.
F. Sladen, Ripple Court Apiary, Dover. Complete
catalogue (1901 edition) of up-to-date Bee Appliances
and Specialities, price 2d. post free. F 59

SIX STOCKS BEES FOR SALE ; strong, and well-
wintered, in good standard-frame hives ; all with
Supers, &c, complete. Laird, Kirby Muxloe, near

Leicester. F 57

EEKEEPER'S STOCK FOR- SALE. — Eighteen

modern Wooden Hives ; 15 Supers ready for hives ;

2 Crates, each hold 1 doz. lb. jars ; 12 straw skeps,

waxer, smoker, &c. Price £10 ; cost £40. M. B., South

House, Lancing, Sussex.

XX 7 ANTED AT ONCE, young Man to work in Apiary."
VV Must have knowledge of bee work, but would
always have to work under instructions ; grand oppor-
tunity for a beekeeper's son. PERCY Wilkins,
Wantage. F 65

WANTED, cheap, second-hand BEE APPLIANCES ;
Books about Bees. Cook, Schoolhouse, Ching-

ford. F 52

UEENS, STOCKS, NUCLEI, and SWARMS. 14th
season of queen-rearing as a speciality. Rev. C.
Brereton, Pulborough, Sussex.
APHTHOL BETA SOLUTION, made according to
directions in Guide Book, 9d. and Is. 3d. per bottle.
Guthrie Bros., Alloway, Ayr. f 22
E ES" FOR- SALE.— A Gentleman, giving up bee-
keeping, has twenty Stocks to sell ; bar-frames aud
skeps. Apply, A. Furnival, Fleckney, Leicester. F 45
ARNETT'S original, air-tight, screw-cap HONEY
JARS, six dozen, 7-oz., 8s. 9d. ; ten dozen, 16-oz.,
16s. 9d., cash. Packed free. Garnett Bros., High-
street, Rotherham.

GOOD light coloured HONEY, 1 cwt. at 5Jd. per lb. ;
1 cwt. 2nd grade, 4Ad. ; 2 cwt. of dark. 3d. per lb.
all in 32-lb. tins. Samples 2d. ; tins free. W. Hawkes,
Barley, near Royston, Herts. f 51

ANNED GARDEN NETTING, 25 yds. by S yds.,
50 yds. by 4 yds., 100 yds. by 2 yds., 8s. Prompt
delivery. L. Wren & Son, Net Merchants, 139, High-

street, Lowestoft. f 14

UCLEI and STOCKS of BEES" headed by prolific
queens, common, home-bred Carniolan or Italian.
Pure extracted honey. E. Woodham, Clavering, New-
port, Essex. f 3

,TTJrf~Kc." HIVES, FEEDERS and WAX EX.
VV • TRACTORS.— Make your own at third the
cost. For particulars send stamp. Prideatjx, Whit-
church, Salop. E 71

COMFORTABLE APARTMENTS for brother bee-
keepers visiting Douglas. Terms : tea, bed, and
breakfast, 3s. 6d. ; or full board, 5s. per day. HORSLEY,
Merridale House, Top of Castle Drive, Douglas, Isle of
Man, 932

DON'T BE STUNG. Wear Reynolds' " Burkitt Bee
Gloves." A great success. Unsolicited testi-
monials. Light in substance, useful, durable. 2s. 2d,
per pair, or with self-adjusting gauntlets attached,
2s. lOd. per pair, post paid. Special terms to the trade.
Sole Maker, Edward Rf/ynolds, Andover, Hants.

May^3, 1901.] THE ^BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

201

(fiitorml, pottos, fa.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

The monthly meeting of the Council was
held on Thursday, May 16, at 105, Jermyn-
street, S.W., under the presidency of Mr.
F. B. White, Vice-Chairman. There were
also present Major Fair, Messrs. J. H. New,
T. S. Elliot, W. F. Reid, W. J. Sheppard,
E. D. Till, E. Walker, T. I. Weston, and the
Secretary. Letters apologising for enforced
absence were read from Miss Gavton, Hon.
and Rev. Henry Bligh, Messrs. R. T. Andrews,
W. H. Harris, J. M. Hooker, and H. Jonas.

The minutes of the previous meeting were
read and confirmed.

The following new members were duly .
elected : — Rev. E. R. Iremonger, Goodworth
Clatford, Andover ; John Rowlands, Maes
Apiaries, Pwllheli, North Wales. Northum-
berland and Durham B.K A. (Hon. Secretary,
Mr. Jas. Waddell, The Terrace, Wooler,
Northumberland).

On the motion of the Chairman, seconded
by Mr. E. D. Till, a vote of condolence with
Mr. W. Broughton Carr and family, in the
sad loss they have sustained by the death of
Mrs. Carr, wa3 unanimously passed.

The Finance Committee's repirt, presented
by Mr. New, showed a bank balance of
£99 2s. Several accounts were brought for-
ward for payment, and the report approved.

The Secretary stated that since the last
meeting further contributions to the Dairy
Show prize fund, amounting to £0 5s., had
been received. He also reported that 172
entries had been received for the " Royal ''
Show, Cardiff, being three in excess of the
total for the York meeting last year.

Appointments of Examiners of third-class
candidates for expert certificates were made,
to officiate at Col wick, Notts, May 28 ;
Bodmin, June 12 and 13 ; and at Reading,
June 26. A number of candidates had also
intimated their intention of presenting them-
selves at Cardiff during the " Royal " Show.

It was resolved to make a special effort to
secure the formation of associations in counties
at present without such organisations, and to
assist the development of weak societies in
every way possible.

The next meeting of the Council will take
place on Thursday, June 20.

SURREY BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of this association was
held at the Technical Institute, Redhill, on
Saturday, the 27th ult., when there were
present Mr. E. C. P. Hull, C.C., Messrs. H.
Macan (organising secretarv Technical Educa-
tion Committee), W. Welch, CO., R. C.
Blundell, W. Oram, A. Seth Smith, W. F.

Reid, C. T. Overton, N. Weise, C. E. Cuthell,
T. Armstrong. R. Peter, J. Greenhill, J. A.
Page, F. E. Whitelow, A. Caffyn, C. Bontoft,
A. E. C. Mumford, and Mr. F. B. White
(hon. secretary).

In the unavoidable absence of the president,
Sir Percy Fielding. Mr. E. C. P. Hull, C.C.,
was voted to the chair.

The Hon. Secretary read the annual report,
and, in proposing its adoption, the Chairman
said he was glad to find that the funds of the
Society were still in a satisfactory position ;
he also thought that one of the most im-
portant features of the report was the state-
ment that 129 new members had joined
during the year. With regard to "foul
brood,'' he would say that, being a highly
infectious disease, it was obviously of great
importance that every effort should be made
to grapple with it when found. Therefore,
he thought the attitude of their Hon. Sec,
Mr. White, with regard to the matter was
very satisfactory.

Mr. Macan seconded the motion, and in
doing so said he would like to mention that
the grant to the Association of ,£150 a year
from the County Council had again been
recommended by the Technical Education
Committer. The County C tuncil had once
more considered it right and proper to offer
publicly its thanks to the Association for the
extremely valuable work it had done in the
county. But when the vote of thanks was
being considered a very unusual thing hap-
pened. An amendment was proposed and
carried, and that amendment was that the
name of Mr. White (the hon. secretary of the
Association) should be specifically added to
the resolution.

The motion was carried unanimously.
Mr. Seth Smith, in proposing " a vote of
thanks to the County Council for help in the
past, and promises of help in the future,"
called attention to the fact that whereas the
total subscription in 1896 only amounted to
£73, and their membership to 240, they now
collected £126 and had a list of 550 members.
Mr. W. F. Reid, in seconding the motion,
said he came into contact with other county
bee-keepers' Associations, and that of Surrey
was always looked up to as the premier, both
from the patriotic way in which the County
Council supported them, and the way in which
the work of the Association was carried out by
their indefatigable secretary. They were able
to send their experts all over the county, and
it must indeed be a small district which waa
not visited by one of them at some period
of the year. As to " foul brood," in 1896 83
of every 100 stocks were effected ; they now
found, with a larger membership, that the
percentage was about 4 '6. He hoped that
this disease would soon be rooted out of Surrey.
The motion was carried nem. con.

Votes of thanks were also passed to the
Te ;hnical Education Committee of the borough
of Reigate for the use of the room, and to

202

THE BKITISH BEE JOUKNAL. [May 23, 1901.

the retiring Ex-ecutive Council and Joint
Committee and officers for their services.

The following gentlemen were constituted
the Executive Council for the ensuing year :
Messrs. A. Seth Smith, R. C. Blundell, C. E.
Cuthell, E. Daw, J.P., F. S Fletcher, C. C.
Halahan, J. W. Lewis, A. H. Miller, W. F.
Reid, W. Sole, E. A. Stopford, H. E. Taylor,
E. Walker, A. Watkin, T. Welham, T. H. E.
Watts-Silvester, and F. B. White.

After some practical and useful remarks, in
acknowledging a vote of thanks to himself for
presiding over the meeting, the chairman pro-
posed a vote of thanks to the hon. secretary,
Mr. White, and paid a high compliment to
that gentleman's enthusiasm and interest on
behalf of the society. — The vote was unani-
mously adopted, and Mr. White having
briefly acknowledged the compliment, the
meeting concluded.

TO OUR READERS.

PERSONAL.

The few words on page 192 last week have
brought quite unexpected and gratifying
letters of sympathy from so many readers as
to make it impossible for me to reply to each
as I could have wished It is not given to
every one to experience over forty years of
unclouded happiness with a companion whose
tastes and habits are in such complete accord
as ours were, and when this has become a
closed book, so far as regards this life, kindly
sympathy so abundantly shown as it has
been, is very gratifying to me and mine. But
in view of " work " that cannot be ignored, I
am constrained to ask that this general
acknowledgment will be accepted as ex-
pressing our very sincere thanks to all.

By way of " improving '' the occasion, I
would like to say that to my mind one of the
greatest charms connected with bee-craft is
the readiness with which friendship and
brotherly feeling is generated under its influ-
ence. " Brother bee-keepers '' has become
a familiar term among bee-men, and I can
safely affirm that no pursuit I know of could
have created for me during the past thirty-
five years so many warm and valued friends
as I have gained through "the bees." It
therefore seems opportune just now to say a
word for our craft by way of enlisting recruits
in the army of men who are lovers of nature
and the joys of country life, and, above all, of
their 'home.'' Personally, I have — to use an apt
metaphor— made a point of " striking a bee-
line" straight for "home" so soon as the
day's usual routine work was done. And
this, too, ever since I attained to man's estate.
I may also be pardoned for adding that love
for bee-kteping as a home-hobby has done
much in changing the whole course of my

later life. When some eighteen years ago
mtde my first adventure in amateur bee-
journalism_in the north on the Bee-keepers*
Record^ the idea of ever TTelng Invited"
by Mr. Cowan to occupy an editorial
chair at King William-street was as far
from my thoughts as becoming Prime

Minister. Moreover,
jouular remark of a
(the late Rev. H. R.
" occasionally it took

I had in mind the
former B B.J. editor
Peel), who said that
him all his time to

keep bee-keepers from springing at each other's
throats.'' Consequently, I felt as if embark-
ing on a somewhat troubled sea in giving up
an entirely different occupation in the north
for journalistic bee-work in the south. Most
probably the personality of our present Senior
Editor had made itself felt before my time,
but, however that may be, I can claim it as a
merit for all to bear in mind — when asked to
join the craft and become one of us — that it
has brought me pleasures untold and made for
me troops of friends whom I should otherwise
have never known, and, a? the past week has
shown more, far more, than even I counted on,
but whose kindness I shall never forget.

W. Broughton Carr.

^xmpnkut

The Editors do not hold themtelvei retponiible for the
opiniont expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one tide of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

Communications relating to the literary department,
reports of Associations, bhoivs. Meetings, Hchoes, Queries,
Book* for Review, &c , must be addressed on y to "The
Editors of the' Bri ishBee Journal,' 17, King William-
*treet, Strand, London? W.C." AU budness communi-
cations relating to adoertisements, &c.,must be addressed
to " The Managbr, 'British Bee Journal' Office, 17,
King William-street, Strand, London, W.C."

%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

DAIRY SHOW PRIZE FUND.

[4361.] Will you kindly insert in the B.B.J.

the following statement, showing the total
amount of contributions to the Dairy Show
Fund to date, and oblige : —

£ s. d.

Amount already acknowledged 9 13 6

H. G. Morris 5 0 0

Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh ... 0 10 0

Rev. E. R. Iremonger. .. ... 0 5 0

Jas. Lee & Son ... ... 0 5 0

Rev. R. M. Lamb 0 2 6

J. Edwards 0 2 6

W. Winterton 0 2 6

Total ... 16 1 0
It has been decided to include at the Dairy

May 23, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

203

Show a class for 2-lb. sections of honey, and
one for honey in sections (approximately 1-lb.)
m easuring other than 4£ in. by 4j io. This
information may be useful to those wishing to
experiment during the present season, and
desiring to enter in such classes. — Edwin H.
Young, Secretary B.B.K..A., 12, Hanover-
square, London, May 20.

A LADY'S BEE-KEEPING.

[4362.] I wish to express to you the great
pleasure I have in reading your B.B.J, every
week, and the immense help it is to me. I
have kept bees for five years now, and they
are a source of both pleasure and profit. 1
have had as many as eight colonies at one
time, but am bow reduced to half that num-
ber, having disposed of two stock-, joined two
which were weak in numbers last autumn, and
lost one during the whiter.

It is of this last I wish to write. The queen
of the colony, I discovered last summer, was a
drone-breeder, but owing to illness in our
family I was unable to attend to my hives as
usual ; it was therefore left to take its chance.
There were only a handful of dead bees when
I overhauled this hive two months ago, and
not being able to clean the hive at the time I
closed the entrance after throwing away the
dead bees and some comb.

Now comes the curious part of my story.
When I did turn that particular hive out for
a thorough "spring cleaning" I found a
charming little home inside, in the shape of a
wasp's nest about as big as a small apple, the
cells full of egg?, while a second nest was
begun on the adjacent frame ! It really was
so pretty I was quite sorry to take it away ;
but it rejoiced the heart of our schoolmaster,
who has given it an honourable place in his
museum. How the queen-wasp got in is a
mj stery to us all. The hive is closely stopped
now against all intruders.

Why does one side of a "Wells" hive
invariably do better than the other ? I see
many of your readers echo that question.
Mine is stocked with Carniolans, and the
swarm put in last year is far and away ahead
of the other. To be sure, it is the warmest
side of the hive. [We cannot say. — Eds ]

This is a very fair district for honey, I
should think. First of all comes the gorse,
and I really do not think any other county
has such gorse as we can boast of — acres and
acres near the moors, and such perfume !
Heather, a few miles away, in abundance,
and clover blooms with us about mid- June. Of
course, there are spring flowers all around, and
a few limes later on in the year.

I shall never forget my first experience in
driving bees. I had never seen such a thing
done before, but had diligently read up the
subject until I thought myself letter-perfect.
One day, when hunting for harvest decorations
for our church, a farmer whom I met told me

of some hives he was going to sulphur to get
rid of ; but at my earnest entreaty he con-
sented to let me try my " 'prentice hand " on
" driving " instead. I shall never forget my
terror lest something should go wrong. I
knew so little about the subject, and the farmer
still less. However, the weather was accom-
modating, the bees more so, and everything
went off in first-rate style. In fact, the owner
told me I must have "charmed" the bees, and
in spite of my earnest denial, people around
here say it still.

I turned the bees into their future home
early the following morning, having left them
under an umbrella in the garden iu case it
rained. Next year they rewarded me with
several sections, and so huge a swarm that one
skep would barely contain them. Since theu
I have helped many other people, on one occa-
sion getting the bees out of an old potato-box,
where they had been undisturbed for two
years. I remember we took over 1 cwt. of
wax and honey.

1 use a home-made solar wax extractor, and
would not be without it on any consideration.

We have had a few bee-demonstrations
since I first began my hives, but I consider I
owe all I know to your B B.J. and the " Guide
Book." I have lent them to several people.

Please excuse this long letter. My pen
runs away with me when I get on the subject
of " bees." — (Miss) M. L. King, The Vicarage,
South Molton, North Devon, May 21.

WATER-TROUGHS FOR BEES.

[4363] Possibly the following way of pro-
viding water for the bees may be of use to
some of the readers of the B.B.J.

Underneath a stand-pipe, and distance
about 50 yards from my bees, I have placed
an old washing copper filled with water and
loosely covered with a piece of sacking
material.

At the time of writing the bees have almost
covered an area of about 7 square feet, busy
taking the water. I suppose the sacking acts
as a sort of syphon, for almost half the con-
tents of tie copper are available for the bees
before the vessel requires refilling. So far as
I know I have never seen a bee drown. —
Brackley, May 20.

OVER-DOSING WITH PREVENTIVES.

[4364.] Reverting to your reply to my
query on imperfectly capped combs (2046,
page 198), I now add a line to explain that a
very large quantity of naphthaline was used
about ten days before the sample of comb was
taken from the hive. In another case also it
is possible that the amount of naphthaline
used was rather liberal, arising from the
naphthaline not having been purchased in the
usual form. — Weyside, Woking, May 18.

[The explanation is much ag we expected it

204

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 23,. 1901.

would be. We have each season for some
yeare past had evidence of the same trouble
occurring to readers, either through over-
dosing with the proper remedy, or using
naphthaline in some crude form or other. If
the printed directions are adhered to in using
naphthaline in balls sent out from this office,
no death of brood from over-dosing will occur.
—Eds.]

TWIN BEES.

[4365.] While doing expert work in this
part of Sussex (Horsham and Slinfold dis-
trict), I came across, what to me was a
curiosity, viz., two larvas in one cell. I have
often seen two and more eggs in one cell, but
have never before known the bees allow them
to hatch. These had been hatched I should
say three or four days and were both to all
appearances normal, one being curled up at
bottom of cell as usual, and the other curled
back upwards, fitting on the other something
like the tail of a capital Q. I thought this
might possess interest for your readers. — J.
Herrod, Ecpert, Kent and Sussex B.K.A.,
Horsham.

[Though rarely hatching out in " normal ''
condition, it is, we think, certain that the
twin larvte never reach the imago stage. — Eds.]

RAISING DRONES.

[4366.] Will Mr. Woodley or Mr. Loveday
kindly explain the following ; — When adding
new frames I always give full sheets of worker
foundation. Yet on looking through a very
strong hive on May 16 I found one frame
near centre about covered with drones and full
of sealed drone-cells. I also find in the combs
of all my hives quite large patches of drone-
cells, and although I make no special allow-
ance for drones, they are as large and vigorous
as any one can desire ? My plan is to put
these frames at the outside of hive and later on
extract them, then cut them down for shallow-
frames. Some treated thus have been in use
several seasons, and will no doubt be used
again this year. I saw drone3 on the wing
on the 12th inst. for the first time this season.
With regard to bees turning vicious, my ex-
perience is that it very much depends on the
weather — and the manipulator. If the weather
be at all dull and chilly one must "go slow,''
for many of the old bees are at home then, and
it is they who resent their home being dis-
turbed. But, as you have said, Mr. Editor, it
is foolhardy to manipulate without a veil. —
A. Harris, Wavendon, Bucks, May 20, 1901.

HOME-MADE BEE ESCAPES.

[4367.] In the B.B.J, of May 2 (4342,
page 173) your correspondent, Mr. J. Rymer,
referring to his bee escapes, says: — "My

' escapes ' are home-made, and admit the
passage of drones as well as workers, bo you
will therefore see that mine are not what
you would call the ordinary super-clearer."
If J. R. will kindly tell me (through the
B.B J.) how to make them (his bee escapes)
he will thereby add to my pleasures among
the bees ? I may say my hives are all home-
made.— W. C. H., South Devon.

{Correspondence continued on paqe 206.)

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

Mr. Allen, whose photo on next page
forms our bee-garden picture this week, has
already had some sort of introduction to
readers in the description of his capital honey-
comb design in our issue of May 9. We
therefore need not add to the useful account he
has written of himself and his bee-keeping
in response to our request as follows : —

" The apiary shown in photo belongs to my
employer — a nobleman in the county of
Oxfordshire — whose hive3 had been very
badly managed before my time. As a result,
the bees were so savage that no one could go
near them. On it becoming known that I kept
a few hives and took great interest in my own
bees, I was asked to take charge of my em-
ployer's apiary. My previous experience of
bee-keeping extended over about two years,
during which time I had some rather severe
lessons from the bees in the shape of stings, of
which during my first season I received
enough to dishearten most beginners. I
resolved, however, not to be beaten, and
although far from an expert, I took charge of
this apiary about Christmas, 1890. There
were then eighteen stocks, two in small bar-
frame hives, the others in skeps and boxes.
I then began taking your weekly and monthly
journals, where I saw advertised the ' B.B.K.
Guide Book,' which I at once procured. I
also became a member of the Oxfordshire
B.K.A. I next sent for four new frame-hives
from a well-known advertiser, and painted
them ready for spring. On making my first
overhaul of the hives in February, 1900, I
found five of the eighteen colonies dead— a
result which I believe was c lused by mice and
wax-moth ; at least, I could find no trace of
disease in any of them. I ought to say,
however, that I have never yet seen a case of
foul brood. After disponing of four of my
skeps to a friend from my own stocks, I
united two of them which were very
weak by placing one above the other. The
bees fought a little at first, but soon
settled down. Later on I put a 7-lb. super
on the top of the two skep3, and at the
end of the season removed the top skep
and super both full of honey. The bottom
skep, however, wa3 found to be honeyless,
so I had to feed the bees all the winter.

May 23, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

205

" Not being desirous of aiding to the number
of stocks in my charge, I was at a loss how
to prevent increase, so I studied the ' Guide
Bjok,' and at the beginning of May placed
two stocks in skep3 over the frames of two of
the new hives. I did not like to transfer more
than two stocks in this way, fearing that the
skeps might contain old queens and become
queenless and worthless in consequence, as one
of my own lots did the winter before. I
therefore resolved to try an experiment of my
own in the other two hives. I had them fitted
with full sheets of foundation ready for the
bees. I watched for the first swarm, which
issued on May 21. After having the swarm
in a skep till the evening, I proceeded exactly
as directed in the ' Guide Book ' in the

" I treated the next swarm in the same way,
and there was very little fighting. So far as I
could judge, the latter plan answered best, as
one of the stocks placed over the frames and
allowed to transfer themselves died in the
winter, but the other two are now the strongest
stocks in the apiary. In this way, then, I had
my four new hives tenanted. I got three
swarms from the remaining three stocks. Two
of the latter I joined together in an old frame-
hive ; but although both swarms came off at
the same time — and actually clustered in the
same tree — the bees fought a good deal before
settling down, as they eventually did. Two
of my stocks died in the winter, one in a
skep and the other in the frame-hive. I think
both were queenless, as there was not a pint

mr. r. allen's apiary, tusmere, bicester oxon.

chapter on hiving bees (page 20), and when
I saw the bees marching into their new home,
as shown in the book, it was a sight I
had never seen before. I then moved the
parent skep a little to one side, and set the
frame-hive in it3 place. Next afternoon I
gave the bee3 of swarm and also of the parent
skep a few puffs of smoke, and began to hunt
for the old queen in the new hive. I soon
found and destroyed her. I was sorry to do
this, but I had a young queen to take her
place at the head of the swarm. I then
poured a teacupful of scented syrup into each
hive, the swarm and stock, and left them
about an hour. On my return I quietly lifted
the skep, and placed it on the top bars of
the frame-hive above a quilt in which I had
previously cut a hole about 5 in. square.

of bees left in either. Anyway, I got 25 lb.
of honey from the two hives after the bees
died, so it was not starvation.

" An unfortunate occurrence took place in
January last. The tree beneath which I was
sitting when photo was taken, shown as being
covered with ivy, was blown down in a
storm and overturned the three hives seen in
the picture. They remained exposed to the
cold for twenty-four hours, causing a lot of
bees to perish. I am, however, pleased to say
they were put right again and are doing well
now, apparently none the worse for the
mishap.

" I have not had much experience in
marketing honey ; what I sold last season
averaged 6d. per lb. for extracted and 8d.each
for sections. I did not have a big harvest

206

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 23, 1901.

last season, but am looking forward for a
better one this year. As regards sending
honey safely, I despatched some sections by
parcels post packed in a strong wooden box ;
they arrived all smashed ; so I packed six
more in a biscuit-tin and sent them by train,
and they arrived all right. I sold all my
honey except the above locally.

" I am starting the season of 1901 with
seven stocks in the apiary seen and seven in
my own."

CORRESPONDENCE.

{Continued from page "204.)

BEES AND SPARROWS.

[4368.] Some few days ago, while visiting
the apiary of a neighbour, we were standing
at his gate, when he called my attention to
a number of sparrows* on the spouts and
chimneys of some houses opposite. Every
minute or two one or other of the birds
made a sudden dart, and was generally suc-
cessful in catching a bee making its way home
over these houses ; the sparrow then flew
back, pulled the bee to pieces, and wiped the
sting from its beak on to the spout or chimney
where it was settled, and was ready again for
the next victim. As the bees were, most of
them, returning home laden with pollen or
honey, and tired, they became an easy prey
to their enemies. I have not noticed anything
of the kind near my small apiary, but doubt-
less some of your readers have. I was not
aware that sparrows were guilty of this,
although I have seen it reported in the B.B.J,
that tomtits are. — Ebor, Altrincham, Cheshire.

DEATH OF THE REV. D. W. PENNELL.

[4369.] It is with great regret I write to
inform you of the death of the Rev. D. W.
Pennell, who died on May 4, at 7, St. George's-
terrace, Cheltenham, aged seventy-eight. Mr.
Pennell started bee-keeping at Winchester ; I
think he told me it was in the seventies.
Since then he has kept bees in various towns
in the country, and was ever ready to help a
young beginner in the craft. Many, I am
sure— myself among the number — have much
to thank him for ; no trouble was too great if
thereby he could help with his advice. I
believe he acted as judge at one of the first
honey shows — that held at the Crystal Palace
in 1874 — and also at several local flower shows
he judged the honey. A regular subscriber to
your journals, it was quite a treat to have a
chat with him over the different articles, &c.
He often talked of sending you a photo
of his apiary for inclusion in the " Homes of
the Honey Bee," but increase of years and
feebleness prevented him making arrange-
ments to have it done. A keen lover of
nature, he was never better pleased than when
he could be in the apiary watching his little

friends. Speaking of him as a man, I can
only say, Would we had more like him I — ■
G. Ballinger, Cheltenham.

EARLY SWARMS.

In spite of the backward season, a swarm
came off from a frame hive belonging to
Mr. W. King, Wickham Bishops, yesterday,
May 14, and very obligingly hived themselves
in another hive which had been prepared for
them. On examining them to-day, I found
both stock and swarm in good condition. —
W. A Withycombe, Expert, Essex B.K.A.,
Maldon, May 15.

George W. Kirby, expert of the Bristol,
Som. and S.G.B.K.A., secured two swarms of
bees on Sunday, May 12, 1901. Longwell
Green, Nr. Bristol, May 14.

A line to let you know that " swarming '; is
coming on in swing at this end of the world.
My first " new century swarm " came off on
the 18th inst., and I shall not have to wait
many days for more swarms. — John Row-
lands, Pwllheli, N. W., May 20.

Perhaps it will be interesting to readers
of the B.B J. to have a proof of the
lateness of the swarming season. As a rule,
I get my first swarms the last week in April,
this year May 15 was the date, and now there
is every appearance of a great rush. — J. J.
Alsford, Blandford, May 20.

Not having yet seen any account of early
swarms in B.B.J., I beg to state I had a
very nice swarm on Friday last, May 17, and
another on Sunday, May 19. I also
supered two stocks nine days ago; the bees
are working in them well. — C. Hopkins,
Hampton Levett, Droitwich, May 20.

LONG-TONGUED BEES.

FAD OR FALLACY — WHICH 1

Of late years some of our bee-papers start
off with some new idea, or some old one
revived, and in a little while the heads of all
beedom seem to get twisted out of the
" straight and narrow path," and run off after
an " apparent something," which, a few years
later, is dropped as if it never had an exist-
ence, with hundreds and thousands of hard-
earned dollars wasted over the hobby or fad.

The fad now " on " seems to be " long-
tongued bees," the fad having run long
enough and the excitement become great
enough to warrant asking 10, 15, and 25 dols.
for queens, giving bees having a certain length
of tongue-reach. And our good Editor York
is compelled to fall into line with the
announcement at the head of his advertise-
ment, "Long-tongued bees are demanded

May 23, 1901 .J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

207

now." Of course, the " fad " has caused the
demand, and no one blames the editor for
heading his advertisement in accord with that
truth. But is the fad founded on truth, or on
a fallacy ? That is the question that should
be asked in all seriousness before more money
is wasted on the fad.

Long-tongued bees are either better
workers, or they are not better. Then, they
may work on red clover where that abounds,
and be a great advantage there, without being
any more industrious at gathering honey from
apple-bloom, basswood, or buckwheat, the
nectar from which any bee could reach having
a tongue not more than half as long as the
shortest tongues measured. That being the
case, long-tongued bees would be an advan-
tage only to those residing where red clover
and other long-tubed flowers abound. This
brings me to look into this part of the matter,
for red clover has not blossomed to any extent
in this locality for the past fifteen years,
owing to a " midge " or very small larva which
works in the head just before it would blossom,
thus reducing what used to be field* " red
with clover blossoms '' to fields having a dull
brown colour, which is assumed at blossoming
time from the workings of this pest in central
New York. So, if these loog-tmgued bess
are not better otherwise, their working on red
clover is of no advantage to me. So I turn
to the testimony : —

On page 220 of Gleanings for March 15 I
find these words : — " The movement for longer
tongues is simply to get the red clover crop of
the North, which now is practically all wasted.
The bees no one claims would be any better
except on that account."

The italics are mine in the above quotation,
and were put there to draw attention to the
words, as they point to a fallacy somewhere.
If the above' is correct, then these long-tongUed
bees are of no special advantage to me, nor
to two-thirds of the acreage of North America.
And yet I find parties in the extreme Southern
States of Florida and Texas heading their
advertisements in that very same number of
Gleanings with " Long-tongued queens," just
a3 though such long tongues were the great
desideratum for that Southern country, when
according to the reading columns of the same
paper no one should claim they were any
better. But such claims are being, and have
been, made. Let me quote a few of these
claims : —

" Heretofore I could only assert that the
bees were superior, that they would store
more honey, but I could give no reason why,
except that this trait had been developed by
years of selection and careful breeding ; but
now I can say why, or at least give a reason-
able reason why."

And what is that reason I " They have
very long tongues" {Gleanings, January 1,
page 32). If there was any thought about
red clover in the author's mind, no hint is
given to that effect.

"The fact begins to dawn that bees, in
order to make a better showing in their hive
than the b^es of another, must have long
tongues " (Gleanings for 1900, page 882).
These words are given in connection with bees
living in the State of New Mexico, where no
red clover grows, if I am correct. " It is the
old, old story. In every case where we
have long-tongued bees we have good honey-
gatherers" (page 881, Gleanings). Not the
least hint at red clover here, either. " We
have now learned the secret of their great
honey-gathering qualities. It exists, as I
supposed, in the great length of their tongues ''
{Gleanings, 1900, page 813). " Another
record-breaking queen whose bees have long
tongues" {Gleanings, 1900, page 844).
" Long tongues and good working qualities go
together.'' " The evidence is still piling up,
to the effect that long-tongued bees are the
ones that get the honey.''

And so I might go on giving quotation after
quotation of statements made along this line,
without any special qualification, or, if any
qualifications have been made they have been
so hidden under a lot of rubbish, or so
twisted that the reader is led to believe that
long-tongued bees are just the thing he should
have if he would succeed, no nutter about
red clover, or in what portion of the country
he resides.

Now, as I hinted in the start, long-tongued
bees do have an advantage outside of the red
clover districts, or they do not, and to give
misleading statements, or those actually false,
is something that our bee-papers of the pre-
sent day should not stoop to doing, not even
when the motive of gain prompts its adver-
tisers. I am satisfied that long tongues are
only of advantage to those in red clover
districts, if they are of any special advantage
anywhere, for the reason that I have repeatedly
had colonies that I considered hardly up to
the average during certain seasons (and would
so mark the hive, preparing to supersede their
queens in the future) that the very next season
would go ahead of many others which I had
marked as the best I had in the yard. And
such reports have come to me from many bee-
keepers in other localities.

Then there is another thing which casts a
shadow of doubt on this whole measuring
matter, and that is that many admit that th^re
is nothing of minute exactness about it. Un-
doubtedly, a bee with a tongue only 15-100 of
an inch long can be told from one having a
tongue reach of 20 100; but with the most
exactness, and the nicety of the instruments
used at the Medina establishment, we have
this strange admission by E. R. Eoot, found
on page 579 of Gleanings for 1900 :--

" All the tongues I measured would reach
easily 15-100 inch. By exerting a little pres-
sure on the head of a decapitated bee just
chloroformed I could get most of the tongues
to stretch to 18-100.''
With such an admission as this from one

208

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 23, 1901.

who has all the paraphernalia in his establish-
ment for nicety of work, what can be expected
from the thousands of bee-keepers that Dr.
Miller would have set at this work 1 And so
one of my correspondents can be excused for
asking me the question, "Do you not think
that one of those queens advertised on
page 240 of the American Bee Journal at
10 dols. could, ' by exerting a little pressure,'
have its tongue stretched so as to make a
25-dol. queen of it ? ''

There are times when it is necessary that a
"halt should be called" by some one, and as
no one has seen fit to do this, I have felt it my
duty to do so, that too much money need not
be sunk on this latest fad, even if we do not
call it a fallacy. — ■ G. M. Doolittle, in
American Bee Journal.

<fttqri$5 and $f$lt$s.

[2650] Dead Bees and Foul Brood.— In
your reply to me last week (page 200), you
say, " We cannot possibly form any opinion
as to disease or with regard to foal brood
from having half-a-dozen dead bee3 sent.''
Frank Cheshire, in vol. II. of his book on
bee-keeping, asserts on page 546 that foul
brood attacks adult bees, and adds (on page
547) "Snipping of the end of the tongues of
bees from diseased stocks, and then squeezing
them so as to express blood, gave material
which was found laden with bacilli in most
cases.'' On page 568 of the same book Mr.
Cheshire says: — "A considerable number of
instances occur in which numerous under-
sized, hairless, and greasy- looking bees are
found perambulating the combs, or are
dragged nolens volens to the hive door
and then and there evicted. In other cases
crowds of these abnormal bees die imme-
diately in front of their homes, while many
are usually to be found running about on the
ground, constantly stopping to rub their legs,
antennas, and bodies, with a nervous uneasy
movement, and then, collecting into little
knots, continue these convulsive twitchings
until they die.'' It was by noticing the bees
running about on the ground in the manner
above described that 1 suspected something
was wrong ; I am convinced, however, that it
is not foul brood, as it has now almost
stopped. Perhaps you can give me a reason
why ? Hoping that I am not troubling you
too much. — James Hamilton, Arran,N.B.

Reply. — In referring to what Mr. Cheshire
" asserts," our correspondent surely forgets that
blood cannot possibly be " expressed " from
the tongue of a bee that has been dead some
time, so that even from the standpoint of
the author he quotes our reply on page 200 is
perfectly correct. Besides, Mr. Cheshire's
work was written more than fifteen years ago,

and scientific research in the region of germ
diseases has made enormous progress since
then. In a word, we ask, doe3 any sane
practical bee-keeper believe to-day in Mr.
Cheshire's "assertion" that stocks of bees weak,
queenless, and on comb3 almost rotten with
foul brood can be restored to perfect health
without removal of the diseased comb3 from
the hive ? And this, too, by the phenol treat-
ment now discarded by all up-to-date bee-
keepers ? We also trust it will not be con-
sidered unreasonable to expect that readers, in
asking our opinion with regard to foul brood,
will send, not dead bees, but small pieces of
comb just as taken from the hive, in order to
avoid troublesome microscopic work.

[2651.] Early Sup&ring. — Would you kindly
give me your opinion and advice on the follow-
ing:— 1. Our bee3 are very busy just now on
the sycamore and the fruit trees in the neigh-
bourhood ; would it be of any U3e to give a
rack of sections to a strong colony ? Our
honey-flow is, practically speaking, from the
heather. 2. A colony belonging to a neigh-
bouring bee-keeper being suspected of queen-
lessneas (as no pollen wa3 being carried in) a
friend and I last week examined it. We
looked carefully over the two frames which
held all the bees, and saw neither queen nor
brood of any description. We found, however,
two queen-cells, one of which contained a
larra and the other a live drone at the point of
emerging. Now where did the egg that pro-
duced the drone come from ? — J. A., Perth-
shire.

Reply. — 1. By all mean3 give surplus-room
if honey is coming in well. If only partly-
filled sections were secured now, they would
be most helpful at the heather later on. 2.
May be from a fertile worker. Are you sure
the bee "on the point of emerging" was a
drone ?

u Chains iff (ftffme.

June 12 and 13 at Colchester.— Honey Show-
in connection with the annual Show of the Essex
Agricultural Society. Liberal prizes for Honey, Bees-
wax, and Appliances, mostly open to the United
Kingdom. Schedules from Mr. W. J. Sheppard, Hon.
Sec. Essex B.K.A., Chingford, Essex.

June 23 to July I, at Cardiff.— '* Royal"
Agricultural Society's Show. Bee and Honey Section
under management of the B.B.K.A. Entries clo*ed.

July 8 and 19, at Brigg.— Honey, Hives, and
Bee Appliances in connection with the Lincolnshire
Agricultural Society ; Bee Department under the
management of the Lines. B.K.A. Schedules from the
Hon. Sec, R. Godson, Tothill, Alford. Entries close
June 19.

July 24, at Broughton, Hants. — Broughtou
flower show. Open class for six 1-lb. jars extracted
honey. Schedules from C. Upshall, Broughton, Stock-
bridge, Hants.

July 25, 26 and 27, at St. Helens.— Royal
Lancashire Agricultural Sooiety's Show. Bee-keepers'
Section. For Honey, Hives, and. Appliances. Liberal

May 23, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

209

Money Prizes and valuable Medals in Open Classes for
Sections, Extracted Honey. Honey Trophy, and Appli-
ances. Full particulars in advertisements shortly.
Prize schedules from Edward Bohan, Secretary.
Miller Arcade, Preston. Entries close July li.

August 8, at Kingsthorpe Northampton.—
Honty Show of the Northants B.K.A., in connection
with the Horticultural Exhibition. Twelve classes for
bee-keepers, including special class (six prizes) open to
all (with free entry) for single lib. jar extracted honey.
Six prizes, 20s., 10s. 6d., 7s. 6d., 2s. 6d., 2s., and certifi-
cate. Schedules from Kobt. Hefford, Hon. Sec, Kings-
thorpe, Northants. jantries close August 1.

August 17, at Ammanford (NT. Walesa-
Honey show in connection with the Ammanford Flower
Show. Liberal prizes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar extracted honey, alse classes for three sections
and three 1-lb. jars, light and dark honey.— Particulars
from Mr. Ivor Morris, Hon. Sec, Ammanford &.S.O.,
Carmarthen.

Thursday, August 29, at Montgomery.—
Montgomery and District Horticultural Society's Show.
Two open Classes for Honey— six 1 lb. sections, six 1 lb.
jars and extracted, with prizes of 10s., 5s., and 2s. 6d.
in cash. Schedules from Mr. W. fl. Jones, Hon. Sec,
Montgomery. Entries close August 22. ,

September 7 to 14, at the Agricultural
Hal , Lond _>n. — Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (9th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Eleven classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees-
wax, tpen to all British Bee-keepers.

September 21 to 28. at the Aarricu'tural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with the
fifth Annual Exhibition of the Grocery and Kindred
Trades. Four prizes for Honey-Trophy, medals, and
diplomas.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur-
chased, or replies giving such information, can only be
inserted as advertisements. Ihe space devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queriesfone irded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

*** Referring to Cyprian queens direct from
Cyprus, Mr. F. Sladen, of Dover writes :—
"I have just heard that owing to the out-
break of plague at Constantinople, and con-
sequent mail-bag disinfection, it is at
present impossible to send queens alive
through the mails.''

G. Griffiths (Carnarvon). — Repairing Ex-
tractors. — You had better write Mr.
W. P. Meadows, Syston, Leicester, about
the broken "cog-wheel and bearings."
There is no extractor for which Mr. Cowan
" holds a patent,'' and never will be. Any-
thing to which our senior Editor's name is
attached is free to any one to make or sell
at will.

H. H. W. (Newton Abbot).— Mead.— Your
sample of mead is excellent in colour and
aroma, but it lacks " body " and is not more
than " fair " in flavour. Probably it would

improve with age. We should like to know
what recipe it is made from ?

M. Ward (Leeds) — Feeding Bees Outside. —
On no account do we advise your hanging
combs of honey outside at this season for
bees to feed from. It will not only en-
courage your own stocks to start robbing,
but bring your neighbours' bees to share
the spoils and start further depredations.

W. V. Rowe (Borne, Devon). — Foul Brood
Preventives. — The author of the " Guide
Book," in advising the use of soluble
phenyle, gave his personal experience of the
remedy in dealing with foul brood, and not-
withstanding you name the many and much
more largely advertised remedies of later
days, he adheres to his preference for the
one named in dealing with bees. It can be
had from Messrs. Morris, Little, & Co.,
Doncaster. We will draw the attention of
Mr. Cowan to your request for his views, but
as he is abroad it will be some time before
a reply is received.

M. N. (Colchester). — Dealing with Wax-
Moth. — The point is to know if the moth
you are troubled with is the large and
destructive wax-moth Galleria cereana, or
the smaller moth, the larva of which does
not exceed A-in. in length when full grown.
The latter need not be feared, though it is
somewhat of a nuisance ; but by keeping
colonies strong it never makes headway in
a hive. The large moth, if allowed to work
its will with a weak stock, will destroy the
combs and cause death of the bees. If a
small piece of the infested comb is sent we
will know how to advise you.

H. J. Wisbey (Cambs.).— Exporting Honey
to Holland. — You could ascertain whether
any duty is payable by applying to the
Dutch Consul at nearest port of shipment.
In any case, however, we should think the
buyer would pay duty if levied on the
goods, not the seller.

Jas. Blair (Co. Tyrone).— Temperature for
Opening Hives. — You will make no mistake
by discarding the U9e of a thermometer in
deciding when to open hives. Let the bees be
your guide, and when they are flying freely
and going off foraging to the fields, you may
make any nece3sary examination without risk.
What are kuown as " untimely manipula-
tions," means opening hives in cold weather
and reducing the warmth of brood-nests
by needlessly exposing the combs in the early
breeding season. Just when brood-rearing is
making headway in spring the bees resent
this intrusion, and " balled '' queens is the
result.

R. J. Hinton (Croydon).— Queen Maimed and
Cast Out. — The queen (a tine Italian) has
been badly ruptured by some mishap, pro-
bably in lifting the frame on which she was.
Her ovarie3 are so injured as to destroy her
egg-laying powers entirely, and it could only

210

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 23, 1901.

have been a case of a few hours before death
must have followed.

0. Heaps (Lancaster). — Honey and Wax
Samples. — We have made inquiry, and find
no trace of samples or letter ; it must, there-
fore, have miscarried.

G. Lamont (Ardlamont). — Moving Bees. — 1.
If carefully carried out, the instructions in
" Guide Book '' will suffice to safeguard the
bees as much as possible, but there must be
some risk if the hives are entrusted entirely
to railway porters. If under personal
charge all will go on well. 2. The bees
alone, if driven from the skeps and securely
packed in empty hives as proposed, would
travel as safely as swarms. 3. Do not feed
the bees heavily before packing for transit.

Suspected Combs.

<( Wolsey " (Leicester). — There is a slight
trace of foul brood in comb sent. The pre-
cautions proposed to be taken are, therefore,
wise and judicious, but need hardly be so
drastic as proposed, seeing that the disease
is only in the incipient stage.

J. B. H. (Worcester). — Comb only shows
slight signs of disease ; but from your
description we should suppose other combs
•will show more decided symptoms of foul
brood. In any case the stock is worthless.

T. C. H. (Broseley, Salop) — There is no trace
of any brood in comb sent. The cells con-
tain nothing worse than mildewed pollen.

J. Botes (Cardiff) and J. Adams (Strabane). —
We fiud no disease in combs sent.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve words and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

£5

KODAK for 25s. (bargain), or Exchange Bees.
Williams, 18, Churchill, Walthamstow. f 79
RIME QUEEMS, 5s. each. Frank Reed, Portslade,
Sussex. F 90 _

PRIME healthy .Tune SWARMS, from 4 to 7 lb.,
12s. 6d., 15s. 6d., ISs. 6d., and Zls, Packed free.

S. Bailky, Itchingtield, near Horsham. F 80

RIME SWARMS of superior BEEs, 15s., 12s. 6d ,
10s. 6d. Packed free. Walton, Honey Cott,

Weston, Leamington. F 8L

INE CLOVER HOnEY FOR SALE. One cwt. in
7-lb. tins, 6d. per lb. Smith, Llanellen Court,
Abergavenny. F 75

WANTED, healthy SWARM of good strain of BEES,
and cheap, good Bar-frame Hive. Bolman, 2,
Exning- villas, Church Hill, Loughton, Essex. F 77

"OOD natural SWARMS-" FOR BALE, 10s. each.
H. Holleworth, Manor Farm, Wysale, Notts.

G

I? OR SALE, three strong STOCKS, 10 frames, 25s.
X? each. Miss KING, Vicarage, South Molton, Devon.

F 86

OR SALE, healthy SWARMS, Ss. each, or 2s. 3d
per lb. Cash with order. Whitting, Manea,

C'amhs. F S7

WO0R CWT. EXTRACTED HUM EY in 28-Jb. tins,
J/ 52s. 6d., or lot at 50s. cwt. " EXTRACTOR," Bee

Jawmal Office. F S5

ARLY natural SWARMS, 15s. each. Also " Touch-
wood," for use .in smokers, 2-lb. parcels, 3d., post
fr'et. W. bmE, ExrfeVt, 105, Oraham-iva'd, Wimhleiipii.

F S9

Preoaid Advertisements (Continued^

i, OR SALETTwelve^TOCKS of healthy BEES in floe
IP condition, with supers on. All in " W.B.C." hives.
Mrs. ASHBY, no, Liverpool-road, Birkdale, aouthport.
F 76

NEW TALL Mb. SECTIONS, 100, 3s. 9d ; post free.
All sizes of sections and separators supplied
promptly. F. Sladen, Ripple Court Apiary, near Dover.

__ F 83

r> rTH YEAR.— STOCK S, six wired frames, 16s. ;
Z<D eight, 18s. Swarms, 10s. 6d., 12s. 6d., 15s.
Reliable Queens, 5s. Packages free. Alsford, Expert,
Blamltord. ___ F 88

READY FOR SWARMS.— A few Lee's " flolborn "
Hives, with zinc roots in excellent condition, with
excluders, and 10 frames, mixed drawn-out combs, and
found ition full sheets, 10s. each. Single hive sent
free to rail. All guaranteed healthy, overstocked in
poor district. Cadness, llford^ y 82

FOR SALE.— Five STOCKS; six "W.B.C.'* inter-
changeable HIVES ; Supers and Section Crates,
with comb or foundation ; Extractor, Kipener, Ac. ;
three frame mahogany Observatory. Jlivc ; four extra
Hives. Hutton, Bardon Lodge. Heswall, Cheshire.

F 84 .

K'OR .->ALE, nicely-made ELM BON, containing two
17 trays, each holding 52 sections, with space under
for honey-bottles ; perfect for travelling ; trays can be
used on large hive as supers. Also large Honey
Extractor, Wax Extractor, and Syrup Maker, all in one,
the invention of vendor ; right to make it to be sold
cheap. Address, "X. Y. Z. ' Bee Journal Office.

SWARMSriOsTlid^ Order now. J. J. W. Rogers^
Heath Apiary, St. Albans, Herts. F 62

Q^UEENS.— 1901 fertile and tested Queens, 5s. each.
Virgin Queens, 2s. 6d. each. W. Loveday,
Batfleld Heath, Harlow, Essex. '

I?IVE-FRAME CARNIOLAN HYBRID STOCKS, 20s.;
X/ 3-frame, 15s. F. Reed, Bee Farms, Portslade,
Sussex.

S~ ECTIONS, GRANULATED, three and four shillings
a dozen. Ling, Shady Camps, Linton, Cambs.
F 70

QUEENS, STOCKS, NUCLEI, and SWARMS. 14th
season of queen-rearing as a speciality. Rev. C.
Brkreton, Pulborough, Sussex.
APHTHOL BETA SOLUTION, made according to
directions in Guide Book, 9d. and Is. 3d. per bottle.
Guthrie Bros., Alloway, Ayr. f 22_

FOR SALE7~CHEaP , land being wanted, 30 STOCKS
BEES, many near swarming ; will divide ; also
strong natural swaims. Linstead, Garboldisham,
Thetford. F 72

PRIME June SWARMS of healthy ENGLISH BEES,
iOs. 6d., 12s. 6d., and 15s. each, headed with last
year's queens. Packing and box free. W. Woodley,
Beedon, Newbury.

SIA. STOCKS BRES FOR SALE; strong, and well-
wintered, in good standard-frame hives ; all with
Supers, &c, complete. Laird, Kirby Muxloe, near
Leicester. ___ F 57

GARNETT'S original, air-tight, screw-can H"NEY
JARS, six dozen, 7-oz., 8s. 9d. ; ten dozen, 16 oz..
16s. 9d., cash. Packed free. GARNETT BROS., High-
street, Rotherharn.

GOOD lighTcoloured HONEY, 1 cwt. at 5|d. per lb. ;
1 cwt. 2nd grade, 41d. ; 2 cwt. of dark. 3d. per lb.
all in 32-lb tins. Samples 2d. ; tins free. W. Hawkes,
Barley, near Royston, Herts. F 51

TANNED GARDEN NETTING, 25 yds. by S yds.,
50 yds. by 4 yds., 100 yds. by 2 yds., Ss. Prompt
delivery. L. Wren & SON, Net Merchants, 139, High-
street, Lowestoft; _J4 _

WB.C." HIVES, FEEDERS and WAX E,\ •
• TRACTORS.— Make your own at third the
cost. For particulars send stamp. Prideaux, Whit
church, Salop. E 71

COMFORTABLE APARTMENTS for brother bee-
keepers visiting Douglas. Terms : tea, bed, and
breakfast, 3s. 6d. ; or full board, 5s. per day. HORSLEY,
Merridale House, Top of Castle Drive, Douglas, Isle of
Man. | 932

D" ON'T BE STUNG" Wear Keynolds' "Burkitt Bee
Gloves." A great success. Unsolicited testi-
monials. Light in substance, useful, durable. 2s. 2il.

May 30, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

211

(BtiitoM, $forfkei5, &t

IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the committee of the Irish
Bee-keepers' Association was held on the
15th inst. at Dr. Traill's rooms, Trinity
College, J. M. Gillies, Esq., in the chair.
Also present Rev. J. G. Digges, Messrs.
Abbott, O'Bryen, Watson, and M. H. Read,
hon. sec. The minutes of previous meetings
having been read, and some accounts passed,
it was settled that future committee meetings
should be held every fourth Thursday, begin-
ning with June 6. The sub - committee
appointed to publish an Irish journal to repre-
sent the industry presented their report, and
were able to say that the first issue, that for
May, had met with a very encouraging recep-
tion. It was resolved that the journal sub-
committee be continued in office. A vote of
thanks was unanimously accorded to the Con-
gested Districts Board for their generous grant
in aid of the journal. A communication from
the Department of Agricultural and Technical
Instruction, inviting the committee to draw up
a detailed scheme, to employing £150 in
pioneer teaching of bee-keeping, and destroy-
ing foul brood, was considered, and the unani-
mous opinion of the meeting was that the
proposed sum was quite inadequate for the
work. The hon. secretary reported the forma-
tion and affiliation of two more local associa-
tions, Fanavolty and Milford, since the last
committee meeting, and that he has had
correspondence about the formation of several
others, which he hoped soon to be able to
report.

HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT B.KA.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Hants and Isle
of Wight Bee-keepers' Association was held
on the 7th inst. at the Y.M.C.A. Rooms, Ogle-
street, Southampton.

Mr. E. H. Bellairs, the Hon. Secretary,
sketched the programme of the society's work
for the coming summer. The balance in bank
for 1901 is £44 lis. 5d., showing a slight
falling off from last year. A discussion on the
question of the advisability of the society's
being represented at the Weymouth show
resulted in the decision to exhibit if the grant
is increased to ,£20 from £15, as previously
the case. It was also decided that the Hon.
Secretary should endeavour to procure the
services of a paid expert to visit and advise
bee-keepers who should apply for his services.
Altogether the outlook is encouraging, and
with an increase of subscribers and personal
activity on the part of members, 1901 should
be a very successful year for this admirable
Association.— ( Communicated. )

THIRSK AND DISTRICT B.K.A.

A. meeting of members of the Thirsk and
District Bee-keepers' Association was held on
Friday, May 17, when a paper on "The Pro-
duction of Comb-Honey'' was given by the
secretary, Mr. R. T. Tennant. Mr. J. W.
Hall presided, and after some introductory
remarks called upon Mr. Tennant to read his
paper, which was listened to with great
interest. A lengthy discussion followed, in
which the following took part :— Miss Gill,
Mrs. Hildyard Topcliffe ; Messrs. H. F.
Garnetr, W. Scurrah, A. Meynell, H. A.
Shaw, H. Beckett, C. Moore, R. Garnett, R.
Walton, and the chairman. — (Communicated.)

€oxxt%pUtut

The Editort do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinioni expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondent!
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

Communications relating to the literary department,
reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for Revieiv, dec, must be addressed only to "The
Editors of the' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William-
street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi-
cations relating to advertisements, dec, must be addressed
to " The Manager, 'British Bee Journal" Office, 17,
King William- street, Strand, London, W.C."

%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[4370.] The season for building up stocks
ready for the clover honey- flow is fast fleeting,
and the weather in this district for a fortnight
past has not been at all good for the bees.
Cold north-east winds, with nearly three
weeks drought, has checked growth in the
fields and adverse atmospheric conditions
having prevented the secretion of nectar except
a short time in the middle of each day.
Trefoil (or hop clover) is now in bloom but
not a bee to be seen in the field at 3 p.m.
The flowers of the plant are also stunted
in growth owing to the frosty nights. On the
whole, sainfoin promises to be our best crop.

I am glad our editors have given us Mr.
Doolittle's article from American Bee Journal
on the " long-tongued bees." Let us on this
side of the Atlantic weigh the matter closely,
and " go slow " in adopting this " fad.''

"Looking Backwards.'' — Or, as one might
say, " putting the clock back." I am surprised
to see by Mr. Young's letter on the " Dairy
Show Prize Fund " (page 302) that the British
Bee-keepers' Association Show Committee has
decided to offer prizes for 2-lb. sections. This
is, in my opinion, a retrograde movement. The
schedule will read as did the schedules of
twenty years ago. The class for 2-lb. sec-
tions has been discarded for many years,

212

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 30, 1901.

owing to the unsaleableness of 2-lbs. of comb-
honey in one lump. Older members of the
craft will bear me out in this matter. This
experimenting again with 2-lb. sections will,
to the older hands, be simply a resurrecting
of an obsolete style of sections tried and
found wanting as a marketable quantity for
price. Regarding the class for sections other
than 4 J in. by i\ in. (which we may call the
''Lamb'' or "Sladen" section class), that is
something new so far as dimensions, though the
weight of honey (approximately 1 lb.) remains
the same as the ordinary 4^ in. by 4j in. sec-
tion. In this matter I also counsel bee-
keepers to "go slowly." Give them a fair
trial alongside the ordinary section, and unless
the new size proves to be really better and
more quickly filled, why should we bee-keepers
spend our surplus cash on new appliances and
relegate to the lumber-room our hundreds —
nay, thousands — of slotted-metal dividers 1
We know that the condition of the market is
continually changing, and that we must move
with the times if we wish to be in the front of
the craft.

Raising Drones. — Referring to the letter of
Mr. Harris (4366, page 204), I should expect
that Mr. H.'s foundation sags or stretches;
this would account for large patches of drone-
brood. If full sheets of correct worker-size
foundation are given to the bees they will
naturally build worker-size cells only. In
" sagged " foundation — with out of shaped
cells — or in old combs in which pollen has
dried up and the bees have had to remove
large patches, I grant the bees will occupy
the patches with drone-sizte cells or brood.
The reason why I advised a half or two-third
sheet of foundation was to give the bees space
to build drone-cells of natural size, instead of
compelling them to rear drone bees in elon-
gated worker-cells, thus circumscribing the
growth of the young drones and probably
spoiling the brood-combs for worker-brood
afterwards. If my surmise is correct, Mr.
Harris has no doubt ample drones, both in
size and numbers.

Establishing New Swarms and Slocks.-—
No report of swarms in our local paper yet,
and I have heard of one only from a straw
skep in a sheltered position in a valley of our
district. The season of swarms and esta-
blishing new stocks, however, is with us. In
using " thin to medium " stock-foundation
care should be taken when " wiring '' to put
the wires horizontal and not vertical. The
heat of the colony makes the wax liable to
" stretching,'' and it is easily possible for it to
slip down, but if the wire is horizontal it
supports the new combs very much better.

Bee Smokers. — The " smoker " is apt to be-
come choked with refuse from the fuel. When
this occurs, bee-keepers will find an old worn
bass-broom an excellent thing on which to
dump the nozzle part of the smoker, for by it
the holes are cleared instantly. The time'.to
super your hives is when the bees are

beginning to seal the rows of cells along the
top3 of the brood combs. Strong stocks are
very likely to make preparations for swarming,
and where swarms are not wanted, and the stock
is headed with a last year's queen, the queen-
cells should be cut out and a sheet of founda-
tion given in the centre of brood-nest before
the super it put on. This giving of extra room
in both brood-nest and the super will tend to
prevent swarming. — W. Woodley, Beedon,
Newbury.

PRIZES AT THE DAIRY SHOW.

CLASSES FOR 2-LB. SECTIONS.

[4371.] The schedule of prizes for the Dairy
Show has now been settled, but it will not be
printed or issued for some time. Being
desirous of seeing a good exhibition of honey
in the two new classes for sections, in addi-
tion to the usual 1-lb. 4| in. by 4^ in. sec-
tions, and in order that those bee-keepers
who usually exhibit may procure sections by
the time the clover is in bloom, I would men-
tion that there are prizes for 2-lb. sections
and also for 5 in. by 4^ in. sections. As these
sizes have not been in general use, I think it
would be well if appliance dealers who have
them in stock would advertise them in the
Bee Journal. — John M. Hooker, 25, Tres-
sillian-road, St. John's, S.U., May 22.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

[4372.] May.— The weather of May has
been abnormally fine.

After April when May follows,
And the white throat builds and all the swallows,

we are taught by the poets to look for every-
thing donning an ideal garb of loveliness.
Their descriptions too often appeal to a fairer
and sunnier south than ours ; but this year we
have a poet's May, a flowery May, a genuine,
genial, merry May. Vegetation, long delayed
by the tardy coming of spring, has progressed
by leaps and bounds until what promised to be
a late season is now in every way " up to
date.'' What a wealth of song the woodlands
have become, and how lovely is now their
sylvan shades with the rich and vivid new-
born green ! How fair in a dell I know is that
carpet of yellow primrose blossoms rising above
their crisp and crinkled leaves ! And that
great stretch of sparkling anemones, how they
glad the eye with their wealth of pure white
and delicate crimson pink, forming sheets of
richest bloom ! In the softer ground what mines
of gold are displayed in the yellow celandine,
the marsh marigold, while its twin sister, the
buttercup, adorns the leaf, each flower a
golden gem ; and the no less bright dandelion
shines everywhere amid the verdant grass
like myriads of stars in an unclouded sky.
These and a host of other more modest
flowers are bountifully supplying our bees
with their loads of pollen for weeks back, and
one begins to wonder if the insects have made

May 30, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

213

a mistake in carrying in such heaped-up piles
from early morn till darkening eve. Let us
trust instinct teaches them a knowledge of
when to desist. White clover promises to be
in flower very early, and the signs foreshadow
a rich bloom.

An Interesting Swarm. — The May Strand
Magazine possesses one, and I trust Mr.
Herrod will allow his photo, to appear in the
Journal. Bees at times settle in odd places.
A good few years ago one partly settled on
my hat as I was intently watching the hurly-
burly, and it was only when the added weight
called my attention to the fact that I became
aware I was the centre of attraction for
several thousands of stinging insects — or at
least insects with stiDgs. At that time my
nerves were not strung to the necessary pitch
of perfection, so I quickly divested myself of
my headgear, when, to my regret, the bees
decamped to a neighbouring bush.

A High Ideal. — It is well for us all to aim
high. Some one has written — " Shoot your
arrow, so to speak, at the clouds. You won't
hit them, but you will have aimed higher than
if you had hit at a bush." We want to bring
our stocks to the " pink of perfection '' at the
right time, and according to our success or
want of it, so will be the measure of our ulti-
mate attainment when we garner in our
harvest. We too often miss the psychological
moment, and manage to come in a week or
two before or after the full flow, and so we
just succeed in missing the mark. I agree
with Mr. Woodley (see page 153) that this is
the chief crux of the matter, and I trust he
will yet get his discussion on how to do it.

Prices Current. — This ever-recurrent topic
is never old, for every succeeding season it
renews its youth, and continues one of peren-
nial interest. Here are prices from ten
different bee-keepers living in ten different
English counties, showing an average of rather
over 8s. per dozen for sections : —

per dozen.

1. Twinn Essex 7s. 6d.

2. Woodley Berks 8s. to 10s.

3. Wells Kent 10s.

4. Ling ('ambs

•V Cock Bucks 8a.

6. Garnett Yorka 8a.

7. Pullen Wilts 8a.

8. Avery '. Surrey 8s.

'J. Brown Hunts Vs. Oil.

10. Cotton Hants 8s. 8d.

I think this, or a similar table carefully com-
piled, might be made the basis of some scheme
for getting a more general statement. Scotland
stands high, to judge by the few examples
culled from your pages. Messrs. Guthrie
(Ayr), Muir (Kirkcowan), McNally (Wigton),
report an average of 133. to 153. per dozen,
and in the north we can show fully the same
figures. But these are mainly, if not wholly,
heather sections. Possibly for clover honey
8d. would be a good average in Scotland, as in
England. I cannot but think that here is a
theme worth the serious consideration of all
bee-men in heather districts. If they can get
only 7 id. for clover sections fit to take a prize

at a show, while the purchaser offered to take
any number of heather ones at Is. 3d. — as I
know was the case last season — it follows that
heather men should make it their ideal to
work for that which pays. I know a few do.
I fear the many do not. — D. M. M., Banff.,
N.B.

BEES ROBBING IN SPRING.

[4373.] I am much obliged to your corre-
spondent " Bridgefield,'' Carmarthen (4353,
page 193), for his explanation of the
commotion amongst the bees of the colony,
about which I wrote you (on page 182), but
the two cases are hardly parallel. The box in
question never swarmed last year. It lost its
queen in the early summer. I gave it a frame
of brood and eggs, and it raised a queen for
itself. I wrote to you about it at the time.
On the day on which the disturbance occurred
I removed the box, which is on a stand, to a
short distance from the other colonies,
removed the frames, &c, as stated in my
letter, and replaced the box on its old stand,
facing the same direction and exactly on the
same level as before. The operation did not
take more than ten or fifteen minutes, so I
imagine the riddle still remains unsolved;
With many thanks to "Bridgefield.'' — J. A.,
Perthshire.

EARLY HONEY.

[4374.] On Friday last, May 24, while
visiting members of the Essex B.K.A. in this
neighbourhood, I found a rack of sections on a
hive almost fully completed at Rayleigh. As
the centre sections were quite sealed over
ready for removal, and the owner was in want
of some early honey, I took them and refilled
the rack with fresh sections. This is the first
honey I have so far heard of in the county of
Essex this season. — W. A. Withycombe,
Expert, Essex B.K.A, Southend, May 27.

THE SEASON IN DEVON.

EARLY HONEY 01? 1901.

[4375.] I had the pleasure °f putting on
the second rack of sections on a friend's hive
this past week, the first one being quite two-
thirds full, and some of the sections fully
sealed over except a few cells round the
edges. I think it is very early for this
season's honey, is it not ? My friend has
only this one hive, and knows scarcely any-
thing about the management of bees. — J. E.
Short, Kingshridge.

[In view of the generally late season this
year we think it very satisfactory to have
several reports of finished sections in May. It
augurs well for the early shows, and if the
present fine weather holds out it will, no
doubt, be a very successful show season. —
Eds.]

214

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 30, 1901.

DRONE BRED IN QUEEN CELL.

[4376.] Many thanks for your advice in the
B.J. to hand to-day. I enclose the drone hee
which we found in queen cell, regarding which
I wrote you (2651, page 208). If it was a
fertile worker that deposited the egg it is
strange that there was no drone-brood in any
of the frames, or rather cells, of drone-brood.
There were only the two queen cells with
brood in them. Trusting it will reach you
safely. We are often in a difficulty here, and
there is no one within reach with scientific
knowledge, and it is a great consolation to
think that you are always able and willing to
clear off any doubts. — J. A., Perthshire.

[There is no mistake about the bee sent ; it
is a full-sized drone, apparently just ready for
hatching out. — Eds.]

MR. RYMER'S BEE ESCAPES.

[4377.] May I through your columns ask
Mr. Meadows if he would manufacture bee-
escapes that will allow drones to pass through,
similar to those mentioned by Mr. Rymer on
page 172 of B. J. for May 2. I also notice
that Mr. Meadows makes Mr. Rymer's
" adapting board.'' I know of quite a number of
bee-keepers who are about giving the method a
trial down here in the north, and we are very
hopeful of the success of the plan if properly
carried out. — J. H. Willcox, Haydon Bridge,
Carlisle, May 20.

ANCIENT BEE-BOOKS.

" A Further Discovery of Bees, treating of the Nature,
Government, Generation, and Preservation of the Bee.
With the Experiments and Improvements arising from
the Keeping them in Transparent Boxes, instead of
Straw-hives. Also proper Directions (to all such as keep
Bees) as well to prevent their robbing in Straw-hives,
as their killing in the Colonies." By Moses Rusden,
an Apothecary ; Bee-Master to the King's most excel-
lent Majesty.

Published by His Majesties especial Command, and
approved by the Royal Society at Gresham Coll.

London. Printed for the Author, and are to be sold
at his house next the sign of the King's Arms in the
Bowling- Alley, near the Abby in Westminster : And by
Henry Million, Bookseller, at the Bible in the Old
Bayley. 1679.

[Frontispiece, a Colony of three tiered
boxes, surmounted by the Royal arms. On
the boxes a crowned King Bee, a worker, and
a drone respectively. 8vo. — S. D. E.]

[4378.] Disregarding the teaching of Butler
and his followers, King Charles' Bee-master
asserts and with much intelligence maintains,
that the ruler of the hive is a King Bee, and
not a female. He is the father of all the
denizens of the hive, " which may be com-
pared to three sorts of Doggs for their different
shapes ; thus : the King Bee to a most stately
Buck Cray-hound ; the common Bee to a
little fierce Bull-Dogg ; and the Drone Bee to
a great Mastiff-Dogg."

It was the old puzzle. How could the
drones be the males when breeding went on
successfully without them ? What sane man

could believe that the bees, self-widowed in
Autumn, could produce, say, three batches of
brood in Spring, and then, for their own pur-
poses, bring forth drones by a fre3h conception 1
Their use then was, obviously, to keep up the
heat of the hive ; otherwise " Honeydews
would certainly draw the bee3 out to such a
degree a3 their young brood might perish at
home for want of a suitable heat." The real
source of bee-life was " generative matter
from trees, plants, flowers, &c.," brought in on
the hind legs of the bees, and " put into their
proper cells or matrixes." When the king
failed to " inject his sperm " into any cell so
furnished the matter never " animated,'' but
" stopping up the cells, is by some called
Sandarack, by others Bee-bread." Rusden
explains how, in his garden at Westminster,
he showed a Dr. Hobart and many others a
King-bee "ejecting seeds" upon his hand.
" These seeds at first had some form, as also
hath a drop of liquor falling down ; but
dissolved with the heat of my hand which no
egg or insecb doth. The Doctor presently
affirmed, that if there were but one such Bee
in the Hive, he must of necessity be the Sire
of all the rest."

We are told of what is nowadays called a
demonstration, given by Rusden " at His
Majesties own Bee- House in the Royal Garden
at St. James Park, the King and several
Persons of Honour being present." On
August 28, 1677, he " presented a King-Bee,
with about a score in his company for dis-
tinction, among which His Majestie imme-
diately discerned him ; " and again, to His
Majestie at dinner in Whitehall he presented
a comb of " right Virgin Honey," 8 in. long by
5 in. broad.

No description of Rusden's hives is needed,
for, as may be remembered, he made them
according to Gedde's patent. The directions
for managing his boxes are admiraoly explicit,
and he is careful to show how to avoid
injuring the king when removing a box of'
comb. Once more we meet with the odd
recipe, approved by Southerne and Butler,
that "an Hogg musling in an Hive hath been
the best wae of dressing it." It almost makes
one believe with Levett that there was some-
thing in the idea.

There are three plates besides the frontis-
piece. One represents a swarm of four-legged
bees headed by a crowned King ; the leaders,
commons, and drones in separate ranks.
Rusden's " Further Discovery " was reprinted
in 1687 as "A Full Discovery of Bees." 12 mo.
— South Devon Enthusiast.

AN OLD-TIME BEE-MAN.

3. THE BEES.

[4379.] The way he first became possessed
of bees sounds somewhat like a piece of
romance. It must have been some time in
the "sixties'' when he was atill well able to

May 30, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOUKNAL.

215

ply his piscatorial art that finding the day
unfavourable for fishing, he was resting about
mid-day underneath the shade of some trees
on the bank of the swift-flowing river, when
his ears were saluted by a strange and un-
wonted sound. A runaway swarm of bees
was fast settling amongst the lower branches
of the tree beneath which he reclined. In-
stantly, he said, in recounting the incident,
the memories of more than fifty years came
back crowding on him, and he was a little
boy once more in his father's garden
" minding '' the bees. So vivid was the
impression that he actually seemed to hear
his mother's voice, the very words and tones
sounding distinctly on his ears though half a
century had passed since he had last heard
them. The old instinct, too, came back and
taught him what was necessary to secure the
stray and erring wanderers. " Providence,"
he said to me once, sent him these bees, and
they became a tie to bind him to the spot,
which henceforth for thirty long years was to
be his home. A wanderer all his life, the old
feeling was still strong within him, and
hitherto he did not take kindly to a fixed
residence. That swarm changed his ideas and
became a tie to bind him down to that magic
spot — home. How small a thing often changes
the current of a life ! That swarm must have
flourished, for in two years they had in-
creased to thirteen, and this he ever after-
wards looked on as his lucky number,
and it was the one with which he
generally went into winter quarters, all of
them invariably headed with young and pro-
lific queens which were at their best the
following season. What taught this unlearned
man this secret of successful bee-keeping
which our modern scientific apiarists make
much of as a new discovery which they are
only now making known to the world ? In-
deed, many of his modes of procedure would
even to-day be counted as well " up-to-date."
His start was made long before the days when
Bee Journal, Record, or " Guide Book " had
seen the light of day, and when no apiarian
work was available to keep him in the straight
path, yet he blundered on, and somehow
managed often to find the bight. Everything
about the apiary was the work of his own
hands, and the long winter evenings found him
for several years after his happy "find"
intently busy in manufacturing homes for his
bees in the form of round dome-shaped
artistic straw ruskies of all sizes and shapes.
As his family increased so did the domiciles,
in anticipation of events, so that in the busy
season of swarming he was ready for any
emergency. He could use tools, so the
number of ekes and floor-boards kept pace
with the number of his hives. Generally a
rough block of granite or a piece of a fallen tree
trunk formed an effective stand. As the
straw and wood cost him practically nothing
he established his apiary on a large scale at a
very small cost. Frequently he had about

fifty full hives dotted along the sides of
the steep slope, and as he placed them
down wherever ha found it most con-
venient or where the contour of the
ground best suited, there was I no order,
regularity, or system in the arrangement, and
they looked as if they had fallen in a shower
from the sky and lain where they fell. Thus
again, perhaps by a mere chance, he arranged
them in the best and most favourable position
for the bees, and especially for the safe home-
coming of the young queens on their mating
trip. Many leading apiarists hold this the
best arrangement in laying out an apiary. In
another of his manipulations he kept in view
two of our most prized modern discoveries,
viz., young queens and fresh combs. He
made it a rule to " take down '' all top swarms
— those fifty and sixty pounders we have
heard boasted about by disciples of Pettigrew
— as he said they were never a success
when kept. Two gains were derived from
this practice — he deposed old queens, and
secured all the heaviest and best-paying stools
for sale. He seldom left old stocks any length
of time without clearing them out, thus
securing one of our most modern improve-
ments when we take out and replace frame3
with full sheets of foundation in spring so as
to secure fre3h combs, and renew all frames in
the hive every three or four years. All this,
of course, gave him a chance of keeping down
any signs of disease, though such a thing as
foul-brood or dysentery never troubled him.
As all the bees were descendants of that one
swarm, modern ideas would suggest that they
would deteriorate for lack of new blood, but
they were as sound, healthy and prolific bees
as could be desired. This, however, does not
militate against the commonly accepted
opinion that a change is desirable, for I doubt
not his queens mated with some of the drones
found in the strath below.

His enthusiastic love and admiration for
the bees continued keen and bright up to the
last, for I was told that even in his ninety-
second year he did all the necessary labour
about the hives, and would have no assistance
but when lifting the heavier stocks over the
sulphur pit ; and in the summer of the follow-
ing year he gave " chase '' to a would-be run-
away swarm, and was actually found asleep
beside the bush where they had settled down.
Life up to this time had been a pleasure and often
a delight to him, but from then on it proved
" labour and sorrow." Let me draw a veil
over this period, and leave him to rest in
peace in that quiet and shady spot where
he and the " rude forefathers of the hamlet "
sleep.

The memory of the past drew me to the
once familiar spot during my rambles last
summer, and the scene provided an object-
lesson on the mutability of all earthly things.
The merry hum of the bee was heard no more;
the cottage had disappeared, and where the
garden h((d been a wild tangle of briar and

216

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 30, 1901.

broom, whin and heather, all but obscured any
trace of its'existence : —

A few wild shrubs the place disclose

Where once the bee-man's modest cnttai/e rose.

Let me close this " In Memoriam " with a
stanza from that immortal poem : —

We pass : the path that each man trod
Is dim, or will be dim, with weeds :
What fame is left for human deeds

In endless age 1 It rests with God.

F. E. I. S.

<f^ri$5 m& J^li$s-

[2652] Bees Transferring Themselves to
Frame-Hives. — Will you kindly give me a
little help through your valuable paper ? A
month ago I placed a skep containing a strong
last year's swarm and another strong stock in
a box, respectively, on the top bars of two
"W.B.C' hives, the frames in which were
fitted with full sheets of foundation, as
directed in " Guide Book ; '' but there are no
signs of the bees goiDg down into the lower
hives yet. I have well wrapped them up, and
as it is now the season of the honey-harvest
from fruit blossoms, which are very plentiful
about here, I cannot understand it. I will
be glad to know what I had better do under
the circumstances, as I am afraid the bees will
swarm. — Albert G-. Lockwood, St. George,
Bristol, May 20.

Reply. — You need not have much fear of
the bees swarming so long as they have to
pass through an empty hive — supplied with
frames fitted with full sheets of foundation —
before reaching the outside. If the queen of
either of the stocks placed above needs room
for egg*laying the bees will take possession of
the frames below and transfer the brood-
chamber into the new hive. Until this room
is needed there is nothing for it but waiting
patiently.

<Bthm from tite gtuts.

Chichester, Sussex, May 24. — Cold, north-
easterly winds, everything drying up for the
want of rain, and within a few more weeks the
white clover should be in bloom, it looks a
poor prospect at present for a good honey-
yield. May the change come soon ! All the
weather seems fit for is rheumatism, bad
colds, &c.

This brings to my mind the question,
Are bee-stings good for rheumatism and
toothache ? The wife being unfortunately
laid up, the doctor by chance asked if those
were my bees in the garden. I answered,
" Yes." " Ah,'' says he, " bees' stings (formic
acid) good for rheumatism and toothache 1 "
I then asked if he (the doctor) would like to

have a look round, as the bees were rather
vicious that morning through the wind blow-
ing them about. I had myself just received
three stings gratis — one in the head, another
behind the ear, and a final one in the neck !
I told him he could have some " medicine "
at the same price, but his answer was, " No,
thank ye." He then asked, " What remedy
do you apply when stung ? '' " None," I
answered ; " if a bee stings me on the hand,
I merely suck the poison out with my
tongue." "But,'' he said, "you cannot do
that when stung behind the ear ! " " No,
doctor," I replied ; " but you see we are going
in just now for 'long-tongued bees,' and no
doubt the next thing will be long-tongued bee-
keepers, so that they will be able to get their
tongue round over the ear !" — J. D.

CONVERSATIONS WITH DOOLITTLE.

WORKING FOR COMB HONEY.

" Good morning, Mr. Doolittle. I came all
the way from Iowa (by letter) to have a talk
with you regarding how best to work for
comb honey so as to be sure of securing a good
crop should the season prove favourable.''

" Well, not knowing your surroundings, &c,
I will say that, to be successful, you must have
a simple movable-frame hive of some kind. I
formerly thought that there was nothing equal
to the Gallup form of the Langstroth hive ;
but with years of working with the regular
Langstroth hive at the out-apiary, together
with cellar-wintering, I am quite sure that the
man who adopts the regular Langstroth hive
and frame is making no mistake."

" How large a hive do you use ? ''

" In using the Langstroth hive I make the
bodies to hold ten frames, and work all good
colonies on the ten frames till the honey har-
vest opens, when the colonies are each con-
fined to the number of frames the queen has
brood in at that time."

" But how do you manage to confine the bees
on any certain number of frames, that number
being governed by those having brood in
them ? "

" This is done by division-boards or dum-
mies, as you have frequently read of in the
bee-papers of late. The comb3 not having
brood in them are taken out, and one of these
boards put in the hive in place of each frame
taken out. In this way, the colony having
brood in only six combs is as fully prepared
for the honey harvest as is the one having
brood in eight, nine, or ten frames, and will
store fully as much in proportion to its num-
bers, according to my experience ; while if
the whole ten combs were left in the hive,
scarcely a pound of section honey would be
obtained."

" Does this include all that is necessary in
order to secure a good crop of comb honey ? "

" By no means. But it is one of the very
important factors in the matter.''

May 30, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

217

" Well, what of tbe other factors ?"

" All know that bees gather honey or nectar,
instead of producing it, and that the eggs laid
by the queen produce bees ; consequently, the
more eggs the queen lays at the proper time
the more bees we have on the stage of action
at the commencement of the honey harvest,
and the more bees we have at that time the
more honey they gather."

" That sounds very pretty.''

" Yes. But it is a matter of fact as well,
that the queen is really the producer of the
honey ; for without her no honey could come
about, from lack of bees. Therefore, if we
wish good returns from our bees we must see
to it that we have good queens — queens that
can be so worked that they will give us combs
full of brood before the honey season com-
mences, so that, when the honey harvest
comes, these solid combs of brood, together
with the boards taking the place of any combs
not containing brood, will compel the bees to
place the honey in the sections, as there will
be nowhere else for them to store it."

"Very good. But how shall we secure
combs full of brood and plenty of bees to do
all the necessary labour, to secure the best
results by the time our honey harvest begins ? ''

" As soon as spring opens, our bees should
all be examined by lifting the frames in each
hive ; and any colonies which are weak in
bees are to be shut to one side of the hive by
means of one of the division-boards spoken of
before, so as to economise the heat in the
cluster of bees so far as possible, confining
the bees to as few combs as have brood in
them."

" But suppose there is not honey enough for
food in the combs they are shut on ? "

" In case there is not, I leave a comb of
honey next to the side of the hive, and be-
tween that and the first comb of brood ; and
if a part of the cappings to the cells are broken
a little on the side next to the brood, it will
help on the brood-rearing so much the more."

" How long do you keep them confined to
these few combs ? "

" Till the queen has filled them solid full of
brood, and the bees begin to be crowded out
beyond the division-board."

" What then do you do ? "

"As soon as the queen has filled these
combs and the bees begin to be crowded on
them, they are spread apart, and a comb of
honey having the capping somewhat broken
is set in the centre of the brood-nest, or be-
tween those occupied with brood, and in a
few days' time the queen will fill this also,
and thus we are to keep on till all the combs
the hive will hold are filled, or the honey
harvest arrives, when, as spoken of before, the
queen is now limited to as many combs as are
filled with brood on the arrival of the honey
harvest.''

" Why do you put these combs of honey in
the centre of the brood rather than on the out-
Bide ? ''

" Because the centre of the brood-nest is the
warmest part of the hive or colony ; and this,
with the removal of the honey, which the
bees never allow (at this time of the year) in
the centre of the brood-nest, stimulates the
queen to greater activity at egg-laying than
otherwise would be, so that we are rushing on
with mighty strides toward the army of
workers which are to gather our nectar during
the harvest time. To this one idea of secur-
ing workers in time for the harvest, every
effort of both the keeper and the bees is to be
directed at this time of the year if we would
succeed."

"But do you not help some of the very
weakest colonies in any way ? "

" Yes. As soon as the strongest colonies
have their hives full of bees and brood, or
even when they have eight frames full, I take
a frame of brood just gnawing out and place
it in the next weaker ones, giving the stronger
an empty comb for the queen to fill again, and
so keep on until all are full, if this is possible,
before the harvest arrives."

" But does it not injure the strongest to thus
take brood from them 1 "

" It would were we to do this early in the
season ; but as we do not do this till some of
the colonies have their hives nearly or quite
filled, it does not materially weaken them,
but, on the contrary, stimulates the queen to
still greater activity at egg-laying, and at the
same time tends to check any desire to
swarm."

" How about putting on sections ? When
is this done ? "

" I generally put them on all good colonies
a week to ten days before the honey harvest is
to arrive, so that the beos may enter them on
warm days and get used to going ' upstairs.1
With the weaker colonies they are not put on
till they are ready for them, or till they are
confined to the brood they have at the time of
the opening of the harvest."

" How are the sections prepared '] "

" I now fill each section with the extra-thin
foundation, while three or four sections to
each hive should be those which are full of
comb, or nearly so (called ' bait sections '),
left over from the previous year, the same
being those which were filled hardly well
enough to be saleable. These latter are very
important, as they are the means of getting
the bees at work in the sections at once.''

" Are not these sections filled with comb
finished quicker than those with founda-
tion ? "

" Yes. As a rule these are finished from
three days to a week before the others ; and
where one has the time, I think it pays to
take these out as soon as filled, putting those
with foundation in their places; thereby causing
the bees to work with renewed vigour to fill
up the vacant space left where the full onen
were taken out. But where time is scarce, or
where sections are handled by the full super,
this course cannot generally be taken. This,

21&

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 30, 1901.

in short, is the way I have worked my bees
for the past thirty year?, during which I have
been enabled to take an average of very nearly
80 lb. of comb honey each year from each
old colony in the spring." — Gleanings
(American).

NOVELTIES FOR 1901.

THE " RYMER " HONEY PRESS

Mr. Meadows, who has the exclusive
manufacture of the above-named honey press,
writes us with regard to it as under : —

A somewhat similar press to that shown in
the illustration below has been on the market
for some time past, although now introduced in
its present form for the first time. After
having made a great many honey presses of
various kinds during the last ten years, I
can confidently recommend the " Rymer '' as
the best we have so far manufactured.

It is simple in construction and very easy to
manage and keep clean. The principal parts
are light malleable-iron grates which can be
easily removed for cleaning, &c. All the parts
coming in contact with the honey are
tinned.

Two similar presses are made at a moderate
price, bringing them within the reach of all
bee-keepers.

They are the most effective wax-extractors
on the market. The combs tied up, warmed,

Open for Filling.

and placed in press are cleared in a most
effective manner. For fruit syrups and many
other household necessities they are in-
valuable.

Mr. Rymer's personal testimony with regard
to the press is a conclusive proof of efficiency ;
it reads as follows : — " The inventor, with the

Closed for Pressing.

aid of his wife to assist and a boy to screw on
the caps and label, completed 112 jars in
thirty minutes, a record impossible with any
other press.''

%tt $fami> Iff <&omt.

June 12 and 13 at Colchester.— Honey Show
in connection with the annual Show of the Essex
Agricultural Society. Liberal prizes for Honey, Bees-
wax, and Appliances, mostly open classes. Schedules
from Mr. W. ,T. Sheppard, Hon. Sec, Essex B.K.A,,
Chingford, Essex. Entries close June 4.

June 28 to July 1, at Cardiff.— '* Royal"
Agricultural Society's Show. Bee and Honey Section
under management of the B.B.K.A. Entries closed.

July 18 and 19, at Brigg.— Honey, Hives, and
Bee Appliances in connection with the Lincolnshire
Agricultural Society; Bee Department under the
management of the Lines. B.K.A. Schedules from the
Hon. Sec, R. Godson, Tothill, Alford. Entries close
June 19.

July 24, at Broughton, Hants. — Brough ton
flower show. Open class for six lib. jars extracted
honey. Schedules from C. Upshall, Broughton, Stock-
bridge, Hants.

July 25, 26 and 27, at St. Helens.— Royal

Lancashire Agricultural Society's Show. Bee-keepers'
Section. For Honey, Hives, and Appliances. Liberal
Money Prizes and valuable Medals in Open Classes for
Sections, Extracted Honey, Honey Trophy, and Appli-
ances. Full particulars in advertisements shortly
Prize schedules from Edward Bohan, Secretary
Miller Arcade, Preston. Entries close July 11.

August 6, at Leamington-— Honey section of
Leamington St. Mary's flower show. Three open
classes for six 1,1b. sections, six l-Ib. jars " light,"
and six 1-lb. jars " dark" extracted honey, respectively.
Good prizes. Schedules from the secretary, 2 St.
Marys-road, Leamington. Entries close August 3-

August 8, at Kingsthorpe. Northampton.—

Honey Show of the Northants B.K.A., in connection
with the Horticultural Exhibition. Twelve classes for

May 30, 1901. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

219

bee-keepers, including special class (six prizes) open to
all (with free entry) for single 1-Ib. jar extracted honey.
Six prizes, 20s., 10s. 6d., "s. 6d., 2s. 6d., 2s., and certifi-
cate. Schedules from Robt. Hefford, Hon. Sec, Kings-
thorpe, Northants. .Entries close August 1.

August 17, at Ammanford (N. Wales).—
Honey show in connection with the Ammanford Flower
Show. Liberal prizes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar extracted honey, alse classes for three sections
and three 1-lb. jars, light and dark honey.— Particulars
from Mr. Ivor Morris, Hon. Sec, Ammanford R.S.O.,
Carmarthen.

Thursday, August 29, at Montgomery.—
Montgomery and District Horticultural Society's Show.
Two open Classes for Honey— six 1 lb. sections, six 1 lb.
jars and extracted, with prizes of 10s., 5s., and 2s. 6d.
in cash. Schedules from Mr. W. H. Jones, Hon. Sec,
Montgomery. Entries close August 22.

September 7 to 14, at the Agricultural
Halt, London.— Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (9th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Eleven classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees-
wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers.

September 21 to 28, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with the
fifth Annual Exhibition of the Grocery and Kindred
Trades. Four prizes for Honey-Trophy, medals, and
diplomas.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letter* or queriei asking for addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur-
chased, or replies giving such information, can only be
inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queries forw irded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column,

Mr. J. Palmer, Chichester, writes: — " Ee-
ferring to the mention of early swarms in
last week's B.B.J., we had a good swarm
here on May 19."

L. C. (Hants). — Bees Dying in Spring. —
There is nothing in dead bees sent to
indicate the cause of death in April last.
It is also about certain that they have not
been tampered with by some " evil-minded
person," as suggested. It is more likely
that both colonies have had their stores
" robbed out " by the bees of other stocks
kept in the neighbourhood, and that they
afterwards died of starvation. This is a
common occurrence in spring where hives
are — as in your case— left for some time
without any supervision. A little personal
watchfulness at the time might have stopped
" robbiDg " at the outset, and thus prevented
further mischief.

O. M. (Wimborne).— Ordering Italian Queens
from Abroad. — We think you need have no
fear of queens not being duly sent. The
weather until quite recently has been too
cold for bees to undergo a long journey with
safety. The advertiser is a perfectly reliable
man, and his advertisement will appear in
our pages again as originally ordered.

J as. Palmer (Chichester). — Queens Laying
Several Eggs in One Cell.—l. The bees sent
are hybrids (Ligurian crossed with black).
Queens lay in erratic fashion by depositing

several eggs in one cell either when their
fertility is so great that a weak stock can-
not cover the eggs or generate sufficient
heat to hatch them out ; hence in the few
cells occupied eggs are duplicated in the
way named. The same thing sometimes
happens when queens are becoming old
and. worn out.

T. Daniels (Sussex).— Combs Built Across
Frames. — The task of " setting to rights '' a
frame-hive with combs " built across frames
and joined together" is beyond the powers
of a novice. You should seek help from
the local Secretary of the Sussex B.K.A.,
through the Hon. Secretary, Mr. H. W.
Brice, 100, Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath.

R. Godson. — The insect is Trichiosoma
lucorum, a kind of saw-fly, which is common
at this time of the year in all parts of the
country. The larva resembles a caterpillar,
and feeds on the hawthorn. It passes the
winter in a hard cocoon, which is attached
to the branches of the hawthorn, and the
perfect insect emerges about now. The
specimen sent must have entered your hive
by accident, or it may have been attracted
by the sweet smell emanating from the
entrance. At any rate it is perfectly
harmless, and cannot be regarded as an
enemy of the honey-bee. Another specimen
of this insect, accompanied by a similar
account to yours, has reached me by the
same p?st (see below). Probably the
species is unusually abundant this spring.
— F. W. L. S.

J. H. Willcox. — The name of the insect is
Trichiosoma lucorum. See above reply to
Mr. R. Godson.— F. W. L S.

J. D. (Chichester). — Bee-Garden Pictures.— If
a good photo of your apiary is sent we shall
be very pleased to include it in our " Homes
of the Honey Bee." A clear, sharp picture
is necessary to make a good tone block.

W. Nicol (Inverary).— Wild Bees.— The in-
sects sent are wild bees. They belong to the
Order Andrenidse (subnormal bees), species
Andrena fulva. They gather pollen just
as hive bees do, and are not seldom mis-
taken for the latter.

Ch. H. B. (Newmarket). — Joining B.K.
Associations. — The Hon. Sec. of the Canibs
B.K.A. is Mr. C. N. White, Master, Union
House, St. Neots.

M. T. (Colgate).— Ants about Hives.— The
leaves of plant sent is the herb commonly
known as tansy, which is useful in keeping
ants from crawling up legs of hives.

S. S. H. (Darwen).— Queen Cast out of Hive.
— The queen (a fine Italian) has been badly
ruptured by some mischance, probably in
lifting out the frame on which she was
without sufficient care. Her ovaries are
destroyed.

"Rug" (Westbury-on-Trym).— Qaeen sent
is, we think, not the one that headed the
stock last year, but an unfertilised queen
raised since the death of old one.

220

THE BRITISH BEE JOUENAL. [May 30, 1901.

Sus2)ected Combs.

G. G. (Cornwall). — The two samples of comb to
hand are different from those first received.
No. 1 contains both rods and spores of foul
brood ; No. 2, rods only. With regard to
the time for development of spores, it
depends entirely on circumstance's. For
instance, in warm weather and plenty of
natural food available, spores are seldom
developed

A. P. (Hading, Essex).— The samples of
comb received contain no trace of brood,
diseased or otherwise, nor has there been
any brood raised in the comb this season. The
pollen in cells is sweet and wholesome, so
that no harm could have followed the visit
of bees to it.

E. M. (Royston).— Comb is about as badly
affected with foul brood as it is possible to
be. To purchase such a stock of bees as
the one it came from is infinitely worse than
throwing the money away.

Constant Reader (Conway).— Foul brood
is developing in comb sent.

F, Hamshtjr (Sussex). — There is no disease
in comb, but the queen is clearly a drone-
breeder ; all the worker-cells contain drone-
larvffl.

Anon (Blackpool). — It is very dangerous to
use combs from stocks affected with foul
brood.

Prepaid Advertisements (Continued).

Special Prepaid Advertisements

Twelve word* and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

WANTED, new SECTIONS, first quality, clear, pale
and up to weight. Any quantity prompt cash
W. Chilton, The Apiaries, Polegate, Sussex.

STRONG- 3-frame STOCKS with tested fertile queens
10s. 6d. ; swarms, 10s. 6d. ; delivered June ; guaran-
teed healthy. Avery, Ripley, Surrey.

SUNDRY bar-framed HIVES FOR SALE, cheap, or
exchange for reliable bicycle. Address, 4, Charles-
road, Birmingham. G 5

NYONE requiring ASSISTANCE or REPRESENTA

TION at the coming Colchester Show, apply,

" BAYLEY," 6, High-street, Brightlingsea. Well up in

bees and appliances.

CARNIOLAN HYBRIDS, five frames, 20s. ; three
frames, 12s. 6d. ; queens, 5s. Frank Reed,
Portslade, Sussex.

B.C." HIVES; zinc covered roof, painted. CAKAH,
> 10, Penlee-place, Mutley, Plymouth. F 99

w

BEES.— FOR SALE, one strong STOCK on 10 frames.
Miss I. Margesson, Findon, Worthing. F 98

SIX SKEPSofBEES. Guaranteed healthy.with young
Queens, 9s. each ; three for 25s. For immediate
disposal. Spearman, Colesbourne, Cheltenham, f 95

FINE SWARM, 10s. 6d. Good healthy STOCK,
Manchester hive, complete, 27s. 6d. Jordan, 39,
Badminton-road, Bristol. F 91

FOR SALE, "LITTLE WONDER' EXTRACTOR,
nearly new, 5s. Caterer, Shirburn, Oxon,
NVallingford. G 1

YOUNG FERTILE QUEENS (1901) ; my Prolific Strain
3s. 6d., Virgins, 2s. ; delivered. E. Carbines,
" Apiary's," Cardinham, Cornwall. F 92

BEE HOUSE to hold 8 stocks ; new last year ; price
£2 ; guaranteed free foul brood. W. Long, North-
road, Mere, Wilts. G 2

WANTED, "British Bee-keeper's Guide Book," 1st
Edition, 1881, in fair condition, as issued. Also
Thorley's " Female Monarchy," 3rd Edition, 1772. Col.
Walker, Leeford, Budleigh-Salterton. r 97

BEES of my well-known strain. Guaranteed healthy.
Natural June swarms, 1900 Queens, 3 lb. 10s. 6d.,
4 1b. 12s. 6d., 5 1b. 15s. C. WHITING, Valley Apiaries,
Hundon, Clare, Suffolk. G 3

STRONG STOCK BEES, on ten frames, ready for
supers. Price, 17s. 6d. only, box free. May swarms,
strong, 10s. in new skep, Is. 6d. extra. Russell
Oakley, Christchurch, Hants. K 94

STRONG healthy natural SWARMS, 10s. 6d. and
12s. 6d., with 1900 Fertile Queen ; three doz.
Howards' wide top bar shallow frames, Is. 6d. doz.
Handsome cream coloured Nanny Goat, age IS months,
12s. 6d. Woods, Normandy, Guildford. F 93

MUST BE SOLD at once, 10 STOCKS of BEES in
frame-hives ; extra section-racks and other
appliances ; no reasonable offer refused. Apply to Mrs.
Asher, care of Mr. Mussell, 54, Cambridge Grove-road,
Norbiton, Surrey. G 4_

PROLIFIC QUEENS ; imported Carniolans 8s. 6x1.
Italians, 6s. 6d. ; home-bred, from imported
mothers, 5s.6d. ; also common swarms, from 10s. 6d.
Stocks and nuclei at fair prices. Last year's customers
are ordering again. Comment unnecessary. Wood-
ham, Clavering, Newport, Essex. F 96

SWARMS, 10s. 6d. Order now. J. J. W. ROGERS,
Heath Apiary, St. Albans, Herts. F 62

QUEENS.— 1901 fertile and tested Queens, 5s. each.
Virgin Queens, 2s. 6d. each. W. Loveday,
Hatfield Heath, Harlow, Essex.

QUEENS, STOCKS, NUCLEI, and SWARMS. 14th
season of queen-rearing as a speciality. Rev. C.
Brereton, Pulborough, Sussex.

NAPHTHOL BETA SOLUTION, made according to
directions in Guide Book, 9d. and Is. 3d. per bottle.
Guthrie Bros., Alloway, Ayr. f 22

PRIME SWARMS of superior BEES, 15s., 12s. 6d ,
10s. 6d. Packed free. Walton, Honey Cott,

Weston, Leamington. F 81

OOD natural SWARMS FOR SALE, 10s. each.
H. Holleworth, Manor Farm, Wysale, Notts.
F 78

FOR SALE, healthy SWARMS, 8s. each, or 2s. 3d.
per lb. Cash with order. Whitting, Manea,
Cambs. F 87

IT OR SALE, twelve STOCKS of healthy BEES in fine
]l condition, with supers on. All in " W.B.C." hives.
Mrs. Ashby, 110, Liverpool-road, Birkdale, Southport.
F 76

NEW TALL 1-lb. SECTIONS, 100, 3s. 9d. ; post free.
All sizes of sections and separators supplied
promptly. F. Sladen, Ripple Court Apiary, near Dover.
F 83

nj-TH YEAR.— STOCKS, six wired frames, 16s.;
Z/D eight, 18s. Swarms, 10s. 6d., 12s. 6d., 15s.
Reliable Queens, 5s. Packages free. ALSFORD, Expert,
Blandford. F 88

PRIME June SWARMS of healthy ENGLISH BEES,
10s. 6d., 12s. 6d., and 15s. each, headed with last
year's queens. Packing and box free. W. Woodley,
Beedon, Newbury.

GARNETT'S original, air-tigl t, screw-cap HONEY
JARS, six dozen, 7-oz., ss. 9d. ; ten dozen, 16-02.,
16s. 9d., cash. Packed free. Gaknett Bros., High-
street, Rotherham. _^

GOOD light coloured HONEY, 1 cwt. at 5id. per lb. ;
1 cwt. 2nd grade, 4id. ; 2 cwt. of dark. 3d. per lb.
all in 32-lb. tins. Sample's 2d. ; tins free. W. Hawkes,
Barley, near Royston, Herts. F 51

TANNED GARDEN NETTING, 25 yds. by 8 yds.,
50 yds. by 4 yds., 100 yds. by 2 yds., 8s. Prompt
delivery. L. Wren & Son, Net Merchants, 139, High-
street, Lowestoft. F 14

" \]{T B.C." HIVES, FEEDERS and WAX EX-
VV • TRACTORS.— Make your own at third the
cost. For particulars send stamp. Prideaux, Whit-
church, Salop. E 71

June G, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

221

(B&toml ^jLtttim, &t

THE "BATH AND WEST" SHOW.

ANNUAL EXHIBITION AT CROYDON.

The annual show of the above Society was
held at Croydon on May 22 to 27, on a site
particularly adapted for the purpose adjoining
the Addiscombe - road, and within a few
minutes' walk of the Croydon railway station.
To the Surrey man the show, from a county
point of view, was of great interest. One of the
most important sections was that devoted to an
exhibition arranged by the South-Eastern
College at Wye, an institution which is kept
up by the County Councils of Surrey and
Kent, and is doing good work in the advance-
ment of scientific agriculture. Still more
closely connected with Surrey was the exhibi-
tion of the Surrey Bee-keepers' Association,
who show a collection of modern apiarian
appliances. There were on view three observa-
tory hives, in which the bees could be seen
working on the comb. Information on every
detail connected with the keeping of bees was
willingly given by the Hon. Secretary of the
Society, Mr. F. B. White, of Bedhill, a gentle-
man who has laboured untiringly and with
the most satisfactory results on behalf of the
bee-keeping industry in the county.

Mr. White had arranged for lectures and
demonstrations of bee-keeping in the tent of
the S.B.K.A., commencing each day at twelve
o'clock, and continuing at frequent intervals
till evening. The lectures were attended by
very numerous audiences, who seemed
extremely interested in what they saw and
heard. — {Communicated.)

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
«pinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

Communications relating to the literary department,
reportsof Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for Review, &-c.,must be addressed only to "The
Editors of the' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William-
street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi-
cations relating to advertisements, dec, must be addressed
to "The Manager, 'British Bee Journal' Office, 17,
King William-street, Strand, London, W.C."

»* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

THE LEGS OF THE BEE.

[4380.] We are all familiar with the sight
of the house fly walking on the ceiling with
its legs above its body. It is equally at home
on the wall or window, and can walk with
equal facility whether its course is at an angle,
horizontal, or perpendicular, and with its head

either up or down. Bees perform the same
wonderful feats as they go about their daily
duties, with the added disadvantage that they
do it all in the (to us) dark interior of the
hive. Now, the means to this end are
specially and admirably adapted in both cases.
Bees and flies are provided with six legs, a
necessity to secure stable equilibrium in such
positions as they assume. In the case of the
bee these legs are arranged in three pairs —
anterior, intermediate, and posterior — and
they are attached to the three separate segments
of the body. The middle two are attached to
the middle or mesothorax, and seem to be
mainly balancing appliances. The first point
worth noting is the difference between the
extremity of the fore and hind legs. The
shape of the forward pair so much resembles
hands that they are known scientifically as
palmie, while the hinder pair are spoken of as
the tarsie, or feet. The anterior pair are,
therefore, found to perform duties somewhat
analogous to those performed by our hands —
such as what I may call " washing " the face
of the bee, and in particular cleaning up the
antennse or feelers. The special apparatus for
this purpose is situated at the middle joint
and is known as the sinus. It consists of a
cavity with a large number of hairs surround-
ing it, these forming what is called the pecten
or comb. Bees can often be seen performing
this wonderful operation. Inserting the
antenna operated on in the sinus, it draws it
along, pressing it against the hairs of the comb
which surround the incision. Generally at
least the right is cleaned up by the left and
vice versa. Every one must have observed
how bees form festoons while comb-building,
and how they cling in clusters when out
swarmiDg, so it may be well to note how they
do it. They have strong hooked claws on
their fore feet, and by these they cling to the
roof of the hive, while the next bees hang on
to the hind legs of the first lot. Thus sus-
pended they form a set of chains which are
used as so many roads and bridges by the
comb-builders while engaged in the construc-
tion of these " galleries of art.'' The claws
also aid the bee in walking over a rough
uneven surface, as by digging these into the
hollows or depressions, it is enabled to progress
with comfort and freedom. When the surface
is smooth as glass another part of the foot is
called into play, and does duty in enabling
the insect to walk steadily and prevent it
from slipping, as one would do on smooth ice.
This is the pad or cushion lying in the hollow
of the foot and surrounded by the claw. It is
provided with a kind of gum or glue which
the bee can exude at will and so enable it to
preserve its equilibrium, or, as in the case of
the fly, to walk, so to speak, on its head.
This it can do with wonderful acrobatic ease,
and it seems, in the way of terrestrial locomo-
tion, to be as much at home in the one position
as the other. As the first and second pairs of
legs are, generally speaking, replicas in their

222

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June 6, 1901.

various joints of the posterior pair, it will be
sufficient to name in detail the parts of only-
one set. The legs of worker, drone, and queen
are in this respect very much alike, though
differing somewhat in shape and functions in
particular parts. We have in the leg alto-
gether nine joints — the hip-joint or coxa; the
trochanter, forming a connection with the
next, which is the femur or thigh ; the tibia
or shank ; and the tarsus or foot. The last-
named consists of five parts, all short but the
one at the extreme, which i3 almost equal in
length to the other four. These joints collec-
tively form the tarsus or foot.

The posterior or hinder legs are attached to
the posterior ring of the thorax, and deserve
special study because they contain the
so-called baskets with which the bee carries
home its loads of pollen and propolis. It
will be noticed that the whole leg is some-
times covered with pollen retained there, es-
pecially on the tibia, by long feathery hairf,
but the corbicula proper is placed between
the tibia and planta. The strong closely-3et
hairs surrounding it retain the balls or pellets
firmly and securely in position. These, when
they are carried into the hive, are deposited in
the cells, and packed there by the nurse bees
with the help of their hind feet and head. I
had an excellent opportunity lately of ob-
serving the " loading-up " process going on
when watching the diligent little creatures
working on artificial pollen, and almost as
good a field of observation when they were
engaged on the crocus beds. What deft and
skilful artificers they proved themselves, and
how admirably each appliance they are fitted
with is suited to the particular function it
performs. The feet, especially the " hands,"
play an important part in shifting the wax
scales from the abdominal rings in which they
are secreted, and in depositing and adjusting
them in position when the process or comb
building is going on. So the legs, in addition
to being organs of locomotion, perform a
multiplicity of other functions at which I have
merely glanced.— D. M. M., Banff, N.B.

SOME ESSEX NOTES.

[4381.] Stockade Erected by Bees. — Herewith
1 enclose a wide pillar of propolis which I
found the other day erected in front of the
entrance to a skep (inside) in the form of a
stockade. It is now somewhat reduced in
size through crushing while warm and soft.
As you will observe, the stockade was secured
to the skep above and carried down to the
floorboard, the bees passing in and out of their
hive by a narrow passage on each side of the
pillar of propolis. I have only once before
known of a similar erection by bees in this
country, though, I believe, bees usually do
this in warmer climates, where hornets, &c.,
are troublesome to bees. This is another
proof of the ability of bees to adapt themselves
to circumstances. Moths and other winged

enemies of bees were very troublesome last
year, and I have no doubt that the bees erected
this stockade for their protection when their
enemies began to be so persistent in their
attacks. I do not remember large moths ever
having been so troublesome at night to bees
as they were last year.

Two or More Queens in a Hive. — Another
thing I saw a few days ago in examining a
strong stock of bees is somewhat uncommon,
though I think four cases of two queens
being found in a hive have been brought to
notice during the last twenty years. In the
case of the stock which I examined, the old
queen was carrying on her duties as though
nothing was happening, while a batch of
young queens were then hatching ; two were
already out of their cells, and the weather
was and had been such as would not prevent
a first swarm leaving the hive.

I also found this spring, under the board of
a skep, set directly on the ground, three large
and fat lizards, which I think accounted for
the remains of some hundreds of bees which
I found at the back of the skep, where a sack
reached down to the damp ground. — Wm.
Loveday, Hatfield Heath, Harlow, Essex. -

BEES AND SPARROWS.

[4382] The letter of your correspondent,
" Ebor " (4368, page 206), reminds me of a
similar experience I had last year. My apiary
is situate in the garden, and I noticed after the
young sparrows had flown from the nest, that
they, along with the old ones, spent a good
deal of time near the bee-hives. Afcer watch-
ing them for some time I noticed the old
sparrows perched on top of the hives, and now
and again making a dart caught any bee that
came near ; indeed they sometimes lighted on
the ground in front of the entrance and picked
up any poor bee that had fallen down too
heavy-laden to reach the alighting board, and
carried them off to where the young sparrows
were waiting, and, in the midst cf great
rejoicing, devoured them. I will leave you to
guess what were the feelings I had to see my
workmen so ruthlessly destroyed, and sparrows
are now, and ever will be, classed by me
among the worst enemies of bees. I regard
them as far worse than tom-tits.— W. C. B.p
Montgomeryshire, May 30.

BREEDING DRONES, &c.

[4383.] Referring to "Notes by the Way"
(page 212), Mr. Woodley is quite wrong in
the inferences he draws from my letter on
page 204. My point is that bees will raise
drones, do what we will to prevent them, and,
as with queens, the best drones are raised at
the lower outside corners of the frames. In
the way they elongate the cells, they seem to
radiate them, as it were. I cannot see how
the " sag " cornea in, as, of course, drone-cells

June 6, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

223

will be exactly on opposite sides of the same
frame, even when the frame has drone-cells
from top to bottom and from outside to
outside, as in the case referred to. I always
thought " sag " meant to " droop out " of a
straight line, e.g., telegraph wire between the
posts. Would "buckle" more correctly
express Mr. Woodley's meaning ? But they
do not buckle even enough to account for
drones on both sides of frame.

Under the circumstances, I think it best to
keep to the " unnatural " plan of restricting
the number of drones as much as possible, and
at the same time controlling and preventing
swarming.

Bees with me just now are well covering
eleven and twelve frames, and well up in four
frame supers, and if weather continues fair
shall have section-racks on in eight or ten
days. — A. Harris, Wavendon, Bucks, June 3,
1901.

ANCIENT BEE-BOOKS.

" MEAIS2HAOITA, or, the Female Monarchy." Being
an Enquiry into the Nature, Order, and Government
of Bees, Those Admirable, Instructive, and Useful
Insects. With a New, Easy, and Effectual Method to
preserve them, not only in Colonies, but common
Hives, from that cruel Death, to which their Ignorant,
Injurious, and most Ingratehil Owners so commonly
condemn them. A Secret unknown to past Ages, and
now Published for the Benefit of Mankind. Written
upon Forty Years Observation and Experience. By the
Revereud Mr. John Thorley, of Oxon.

London : Priuted for the Author ; and sold by N.
Thorley, at the Lock and Key facing the Mansion-
House ; and J. Davidson, at the Angel in the Poultry,
Cheapside. 1744.

[Frontispiece, three formidable worker-
bees, full 2h in. long. The two upper are
gathering from a conventional plant ; the third
displays its sting. — S. D. E.]

[4384.] Readers should note that Warder's
"True Amazons'' was published in 1712,
almost evenly dividing the period between
Rusden's book last considered, and that now
before us. It ran through at least nine
editions, and was translated into German and
Italian. For description, see Mr. Headley's
paper [4181] last vol. B.B.J.

Thorley dates the preface of his " Melis-
selogia " (Discourse on Bees) from " my study
at Chipping Norton." He was evidently a
devout and loyal clergyman, and a long list of
subscribers testifies to his popularity. There
were apparently three subsequent editions,
1765, 1772, 1774, the two first edited by
N. Thorley, the author's son. I have not
seen the 1774 edition. A German edition
was brought out in 1765.

The progress of microscopy enabled Thorley
to give a more detailed anatomical descrip-
tion of the bee than could be attempted by
his predecessors. After a long discussion of
the " Sorts, Sex, and Manner of Breeding,"
in the course of which Purchas, Rusden, and
Warder are somewhat severely criticised, he
decides that the queen is the only female of
the hive, and that the workers are neuter.
The drones, in view of the great number of

them and their absence when most wanted,
could not be males. " Bees do not breed by
copulation, and without the Queen they can-
not breed The full decision must be

left to future Time and the Generations which
are to follow.''

Had Thorley's powers of deduction equalled
those of his imagination he would have gained
an enduring fame. Listening at a hive just
before swarming he could hear " the greatest
Lamentation '' among the Branches of the
Royal Family ; notes of woe expressive of the
deepest sorrow as tho' they were taking an
eternal Farewell of one another. It was really
in some measure moving and affecting." He
could imagine " tenderest, most affectionate
Embraces, with Floods of Tears."

And yet, when one day Thorley observed
" the Honeydew descending like an exceeding
fine Rain, and easily discerned it against the
Light of the Sun for many hours," he could not
go a little step further and anticipate the dis-
covery made by the Abbe Boissier in 1763
under similar circumstances, that the fine rain
was a discharge from Aphides infesting the
leaves above him. Another time, " very
desirous and diligent to find out how, or
where,BeesbroughthometheirWax," he caught
one " of an unusual Appearance, as she fixed
upon the alighting Place," and found " upon
the Belly of this Bee, within the Plaits, no less
than six Pieces of solid Wax.'' Here was a
discovery. Yet it went no further, and he
remained under the impression that the wax
was " gathered " from some outside source.
Mr. Cowan tells us in his indispensable little
book, "The Honey Bee," that a German
doctor named Martin John had made a
similar discovery in 1684. I should be very
glad to learn the extent of it ; but, as far as I
know, if Thorley had gone only a little further
he would have scored for himself and country
a credit which has been allotted elsewhere.

He was, however, the first to advocate the
use of a " Narcotic, or stupifying Potion "
(his " Secret unknown to past Ages ''), when
uniting weak colonies in the autumn, in
preference to destroying them. Thi3 was a
large fungus called " Bunt, Puck-fist, or Frog
Cheese," fairly common in meadows, to be
pressed and dried in an oven. A piece about
the size of a hen's egg was to be burnt on the
end of a pointed stick inside an inverted
hive, over which the hive to be operated on
was placed. In about a minute "you will
with Delight hear them drop like Hail into
the empty Hive." The queen was then to be
searched for and set aside, and the other hive
to be treated with the same narcotic. This
done, the bees of both hive3 were sprinkled
with sugared ale, joined into one hive, and
shut up for a night and a day. The narco-
tising system continued in use amongst English
bee-keepers until our modern frame-hive had
been universally adopted, as may be learned
in the early numbers of the British Bee
Journal.

224

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 6, 1901.

i

„\j V

We are thrilled with the tale of what hap-
pened to the reverend gentleman's maidservant,
Anne Herbert, when helping him to hive a swarm
which had settled " among the close-twisted
branches of some Codling-Trees. Having
never been acquainted with Bees, and likewise
afraid, she put a Linnen Cloth over her Head
and Shoulders, concluding that would be a
sufficient Guard and secure her from their
Swords." The bees when shaken off the
boughs got under this covering and clustered
over her head and neck. Happily, both
master and. maid kept their wits, and at
Thorley's earnest entreaty she stood still
while he hunted out and caught a queen.
But the bees still remained ; so he searched
again and found another queen, or perhaps
the same one returned. This one being
lodged in a hive with some companions, " in
the space of two or three minutes the maid

had not a single Bee about her And

ever after she would resolutely undertake the
most hazardous services about these bold,
daring, and undaunted Animals while she
remained (for some years) in my family."

Hearing that Dr.
Warder (author of
"The True Ama-
zons '') was making
" no less than £50
per ann.-' by his
bees, Thorley rode
to Croydon to
"learn if possible
his way of man-
agement " In the
Doctor's absence
his son - in - law
showed the apiary.
Thorley is critical.
" The Front of his
Colonies made an
appearance not at
all agreeable, being
painted with
Lions, and other
Creatures, which
I looked upon as
foreign to their
Improvement. And

when I came to examine his Hives, but
especially his Boxes, I found them so contrary
to common Beport, as proved a greater disap-
pointment .... all the annual profits of his
Apiary could not amount to Ten Pounds. I
afterwards drank some of his Mead, of several
Years old, which was very good."

Our Editors have kindly copied, half-size,
Thorley's plate of his own hive, seen from the
back, four boxes tiered : the Transparent
Octagon Hive in its full glory. Each box had
one window only, as in Mewe'a original hive,
protected by a hinged shutter. The upper-
most shutter has been removed, allowing a
comb to be seen through the glass. The brass
heads of the deal bars to support the combs,
two to each box, crossing, can be seen to right

Thorley's Hive.

and left, as also the box handles, and the dis-
connecting slide at the top.

In another plate are shown six similar
colonies in a bee-house. The mouths of the
colonies were painted with different colours
" that the Bee3 may the better know their
own House.'' A third plate shows a gentle-
man, probably the author, in wig and gown,
sitting in his study and taking notes, while
with his left hand he turns over some bees
"sleeping upon the table." Through the
window six skeps on a bench, and bees
swarming on a bough.

With Thorley's " Melisselogia '' ends my
tale of ancient bee-books. I reserve some
general observations for a concluding paper. —
South Devon Enthusiast.

" NASSONOFP'S " ORGAN IN THE
BEE.

[4385.] The other day I chanced to do a
simple thing in my apiary which demonstrated
so well the scent - producing function of
Nassonoff's organ (described recently in the
Bee Journal) that I should be glad if you
would allow me to explain it in order that
other bee-keepers may, if they wish, dis-
tinguish for themselves the peculiar scent pro-
duced by this organ in the same easy way that
I did.

I simply lifted a frama of brood, covered
with bees, out of the centre of one of my
stocks and carried it into my honey-house.

As soon as I had got into the honey-house
almost all the bees on the comb joined in
setting up the well-known "joyful hum " and,
elevating their abdomens, they protruded
Nassonoff's organ. I at once detected the
peculiar pungent odour produced by this
organ, and on bringing my nose close to the
comb the scent was quite powerful.

No doubt the scent will be recognised by
many as a well-known one, but it is interesting
to be able to observe for one's-self the way it is
produced by such a simple experiment as
this.

The reason why the bee emits this scent is
a subject of still greater interest, which is
touched upon ia the article referred to above.
— F. W. L. Sladen, Ripple Court, Dover.

(Correspondence contimied on page 226.)

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE :

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

Our friend Mr. Middlemasa, seen on next
page, is a reader who, to use an expressive
common phrase, "fills the bill'' as a bee-
keeper of the best sort ; one who loves his
home, his garden, and his bees, and wins prizes
at important shows for honey and flowers ;
who makes his own hives, knows how to pre-
pare his honey for market, and has no diffi-
culty in selling it. Need we say more, except

June 6, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

225

to express our pleasure — after reading his final
par about himself — at his possessing a good
bee-man's " good wife ? "

" In compliance with your request I send a
few particulars of my bee-keeping experience.
I have now used the frame-hive for about
fifteen years, having previously seen a good
deal of the old-fashioned skep. The district
where my apiary is located is not a particularly
good one for clover honey, so that I cannot
come up to the standard of some readers
whose bee-gardens have been depicted. As a
rule I find two racks of sections about
sufficient for my surplus of one season, though
occasionally I do put on three racks for an
extra strong colony. You may therefore say

dues for every ' Wells ' taken. Within the
space inside each row of hives may be seen
flowering plants, such as roses, dahlias,
gladioli, &c, and with these I used to ' go
in ' for a good deal of exhibiting at flower
shows, but now the flowers take second place,
with honey first. During very hot weather,
however, they make a fine shade for hives.
The latter are painted four different colours,
and stand in rotation — red, white, green, and
stone colour. »This plan of using widely
different colours is most useful for young
queens safely mating ; I scarcely ever lose one
now. Strange to say, my red coloured hives
often do best.
" The glasshouse seen on the right of photo

MR. E. MIDDLEMASS APIARY, STANFORD COTTAGES, ALNWICK, NORTHUMBERLAND.

I work on the storifying system. It makes
one wish to be in a district like ' Beedon,'
so that I might, as our friend ' Woodley '
does, take off sections in eight days after
putting on ! It will be seen by the photo
that my hives are placed to look in three
directions, although most of them are facing
south ; the entrances of the others fronting
east and west. The hives are nearly all of my
own make, for I am a bit of an amateur
carpenter. I went into winter quarters last
year with thirty-three hives, including three
on the ' Wells ' system, with which I get on
very well as a rule, for each ' Wells ' hive
generally averages more than two single ones.
Of course I always count each ' Wells ' hive
as two. When at the moors I alio pay double

is a tomato-house which I use a good deal
during the season for bee-keeping appliances.
Of course our main source of honey is heather,
and, in consequence, the hives are all made so
that they can be easily packed for travelling
about nine miles to the moors. They are all
made to take frames of standard size and are
single - walled ; each body- box holding ten
frames. I go in mostly for comb-honey, and
have not only exhibited a good deal but have
been very successful on the show-bench from
the Dairy and 'Royal" downwards to the
smaller shows. Regarding the disposal of pro-
duce, it can be truly said that I never have
any difficulty, although a great many bee-
keepers on a small scale about our district
'cut' prices sadly, not a few selling their

226

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 6, 1901.

clover sections at 6s. per doz., whereas I am
cleared out at nearly an average of 9s. per
doz. for glazed sections. I am always very
careful to grade my sections and put them
into the market in as clean and neat condition
as possible. I sell most of my produce whole-
sale in the northern towns, and having a good
trade among the higher classes I believe in
sending out a good article. By so doing one
may expect orders. I always extract or press
the contents of all unfinished ones.

" The figures seen to the right in photo are
my better-half, oldest son, and myself. I need
hardly tell you that I land most of the glazing
and bottling on to my good wife's shoulders,
and she does it up ' right well.'"

CORRESPONDENCE.

{Continued from page 224.)

A PROMISING OUTLOOK IN HUNTS.

[4386.] We are having splendid weather
here, bees working well on turnip plants and
raspberry bloom. I took off my first twelve
sections to-day, all well sealed over. We have
never had a better season for bees working on
the early fruit blossom, and there is a good
show of plums and gooseberries.

I have just returned home from our local
railway station, where they have put on train
three tons of gooseberries sent to the various
markets. This shows how essential it is to
keep bees for the fertilisation of fruit. We
have very much to be thankful for. — R.
Brown, Flora Apiary, Somersham, Hunts,
June 3.

P.S. — When putting on a box of shallow-
frames on Saturday evening last I found I had
another " colony of bees " between the quilts.
A bumble-bee had commenced a nest of three
cells, finding an entrance through the venti-
lating hole in the roof. I wonder if Mr. F.
Sladen has had this experience 1 — R. B.

EARLY HONEY IN KENT.

[4387.] I see on page 213 of last week's
B.B.J, mention is made of early honey. We
have had a very late season here as in most
other parts, but I think one of my stocks has
done exceedingly well. What is your
opinion 1 It was supered on April 29 with
sections. I raised sections and placed shallow-
frames under about a fortnight later. On
May 25 I had a large swarm from it, weight
6i lb., and the same evening removed the
sections all full of honey and all but half a
dozen sealed over. From the shallow-frames
I have extracted 20 lb. of splendid honey, and
to-day, June 3, I have had a second swarm
weighing nearly 4 lb. The queen is two years
old this June, and last year the same hive
gave me over 80 lb. of honey. Wishing to
increase my stocks, I have kept the swarms
instead of returning them as I generally do,

first removing tho queen. I may add the first
swarms have already filled the brood nest of
ten standard . frames and are at work in the
super. From two other stocks I have already
extracted 20 lb. of honey each. — Fredk. R.
Court, Green-street, Kent, June 3.

[We congratulate you on the promising
start made. — Eds.]

EARLY HONEY.

[4388.] It may interest you to hear that
my bees appear to have done as well as those
in more favourable spots this year. I noticed
seven fully-sealed sections in one of my
hives last Tuesday (May 28). This, I think,
compares favourably with the reports from
Essex and Devon on page 213 of your issue
of May 30. Had I not formed a nucleus, and
also removed a frame of eggs from this colony
some three weeks ago, the result might, per-
haps, have been even better. — G. J. G. J.,
South Norwood, May 30, 1901.

MR. RYMERS BEE-ESCAPES.

[4389.] Referring to the letter of <: W.C.H."
(4367, page 204) I do not see I could do
any good by giving full details of my escapes. ,
Suitable material is bad for amateurs to get. .
I have forwarded a pattern to the manufac-
turer named in Mr. Willcox's letter (4377,
page 214), and as they can be bought for a
few pence it is far better than making your
own. I was bound to make mine in the first
instance as there was no such thing on the
market and I was compelled to have them in
order to clear my additional brood-chambers
when preparing for the heather harvest. — J.
Rymer, Levisham, Yorks, Map 30.

NOTES FROM WYCHWOOD FOREST.

[4390.] The winter we have recently passed
has played sad havoc amongst the bees in this
district. From all sides come reports of loss
of stocks (in some cases valuable ones) by star-
vation. I also hear of instances where nearly
all the bees kept have perished. It thus
becomes plain that the man who thinks that
in order to reap " golden gains " he has only to
fix up a hive, get some bees, and let them take
their chance, makes a mistake. This sort of
bee-keeper (?) will have some hives, &c, to
sell cheap. Sensible men who try to keep
bees will, however, note very emphatically the
fact — often pointed out in your pages — that
for bees to come out well in the spring they
must have ample stores to winter upon. An
empty cupboard means death to mankind
generally, and the same applies to bees.

On the other hand, the honey is now coming
in, and bees are very busy ; those in fettle for
work are going ahead in promising style, while

June 6, 1901. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

227

the failing ones must be pushed ahead with
all speed so as to catch the honey later on.

Though the season is late, with favourable
weather I think there is promise of a very
good one, for though the field blossoms are not
much in evidence yet, honey is coming in, and
the main crop has yet to come.

The other evening we were favoured with a
lecture in board-school room on bee-keeping,
by Mr. Humphis, of Thame. The audience
was small, but very much interested in the
matters relatiog to the craft Mr. Humphis
set before us. A pleasant and profitable hour
was spent, and we are looking forward to his
next visit, expecting a good time. — J. Kibble,
Charlbury, Oxford.

WEATHER REPORT.

Westbourne, Sussex,

May, 1901.
Rainfall, '87 in. Sunless Days, 0.

Heaviest fall, '27 in., Above average, 50'5

on 8th. hours.

Rain fell on 6 days. Mean Maximum,
Below average, 61°.

91 in. Mean Minimum,

Maximum Tempera- 41 6°.

ture, 70°, on 29th. Mean Temperature,
Minimum Tempera- 5 13° (exact

ture, 32°, on 8th. average).

Minimum on Grass, ! Maximum Barometer,

19°, on 3rd. 3052°, on 12th.

Frosty Nights, 1. Minimum Barometer,

Sunshine, 291-3 hrs. 29 36°, on 8th.

Brightest Day, 23rd,

15 hours.

L. B. Birkett.

(ftt^s and l^pli^s.

[2653.] Making Artificial Swarms.— I shall
be grateful for a brief answer in Bee Journal
to the following questions :~-

I had three stocks in frame-hives, and on
May 25 artificially swarmed by taking two
frames of brood and eggs from No. 1, three
ditto from No. 2, and then putting a hive
containing these five frames, plus two empty
frames, on stand of No. 3 stock, moving the
latter to a new position.

On May 29 examined artificial swarm thus
formed, and found several queen-cells started.

With reference to keeping queens in nuclei,
the " Guide Book " says there is a danger of
the whole of the bees leaving the hive when
the young queen leaves for her nuptial flight
unless a frame of brood be inserted. 1. Is there
the same danger with my artificial swarm ?
as by the time the young queen is ready to fly
nearly all brood on frames will have hatched.
I may add that on May 29 I supered the
hives numbered 1 and 2 above, and do not

wish to disturb them if possible, and the third
stock, which has lost all its flying bees, seems
too weak at present to be further robbed ; so
I do not wish to have to take another frame
of brood from the old stocks, unless the
safety of the artificial swarm depends on
having one inserted before queen flies. 2. I
suppose the weakness of No. 3 is more appa-
rent than real, as it will grow stronger by
constantly hatching brood. Would it help if
I feed it — honey seems fairly plentiful now ?
— "Puck," Fareham, Hants, May 31.

Reply. — 1. The conditions are different,
and in consequence there is no such danger as
you fear. 2. If honey is plentiful, feeding
will not be needed ; otherwise it is well to
give a little food to stocks that have been
artificially swarmed.

[2654.] Allowing Bees to Transfer Them-
selves from Skeps to Frame-hives. — I have
just placed a very strong stock of bees in a
skep (apparently nearly ready to swarm) above
the eleven fully worked- out combs of a spare
frame-hive. Two of the combs, I may add,
have plenty of honey in them. 1. Please
kindly inform me in how many, or rather how
few days it is reasonable to expect that they
will have transferred their throne rooms and
nurseries to their new palace downstairs 1 2.
Will it be best to leave them alone till the
end of the season, in the hope of then finding
their upper floor (the skep) well filled with
honey ; or to take it off, say, in a month's
time, and give them sections or shallow-
frames to do their upstairs work in I — O. C.
James, Wortham Rectory, Diss, May 21.

Reply.— 1. The time of transferring alto-
gether depends on the prolificness of the
queen and the number of bees in the hive.
You must allow them to choose their own
time for moving the brood-nest below. If the
stock is strong, you will not have long to wait
now the weather is favourable. 2. This is
entirely a matter of choice for yourself ; but if
sections are given, it must be when honey is
coming in well, otherwise the bees will not
occupy them.

[2655.] Bees Refusing to Enter Sections.— -
On Whit Monday I put a rack of sections on
a very strong stock of bees in a frame-hive.
The sections were all filled with worked-out
comb, but had not been used for two years. I
put a ring of paste to make the rack air-tight,
and packed it very warm around and on top
with flannel and chaff-cushions, notwithstand-
ing which precautions the bee3 had not gone
up on Wednesday, although the bees in two
other hives similarly treated were working
well in shallow-frame supers. I therefore fed
from top of rack with thin honey, but with no
better result. 1. What do you suggest I do
further ? The bee3 were crowding all ten
frames, and every cell was crammed with
honey or contained brood. They had com-
menced two or three queen-cells, one of which
had an egg in it ; I cut the queen-cells away.

228

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June 6, 1901.

2. I should therefore like to know when I
should look for and cut out any further cells
the bees may build in order to prevent their
swarming. 3. I should also like to have your
opinion on the following flowers as honey
producers, as they are very abundant around
here :— Bird'sfoot, trefoil, and common red
perennial clover. I tried to cure my combs
infested with the small wax-moth by tracing
the passages of the grubs with a hot knitting-
needle, and in that way finding and picking
them out. It seems to answer well, but it
wants repeating occasionally to provide for the
eggs that will have hatched by then. Apolo-
gising for length of letter. — Busy Bee,
Caerleon, May 30.

Reply. — 1. There is frequently more trouble
in getting bees to " take " to sections than to
shallow-frames. Try running a little honey
into the open cells of a section or two as
" bait '' to draw them up ; this often succeeds.
2. It may be necessary to look over the combs
once in ten or twelve days. 3. Of the three
flowers named trefoil is by far the best. We
do not attach much value to the others.

[2656.] Dealing with Foul Brood. — Having
found that foul brood is prevalent in an apiary
within 600 yards of where my bees are located
I would ask : — 1. Is it possibly by using
naphthol beta in all food given to the bees, as
well as having naphthaline in hives, to keep the
pest at bay, allowing that all my stocks are
healthy at present time ? 2. Will the evapora-
tion of naphthaline on the floor-boards have
any effect on the flavour of the honey in supers
above brood nest ?— J. H., N.B., May 30.

Reply. — 1. If preventive measures are taken
before the disease has reached the later or
spore stage it is not only possible, but more
than probable, that the " pest " may be kept
under control by the judicious and careful use
of the antiseptics mentioned. On the other
hand, it should be borne in mind how ex-
tremely difficult it is to destroy the qwres of
the disease. To properly understand the
difference between the spore and the bacillus
the article on " Spores and Bacilli, and Germi-
cides and Antiseptics " by our Senior Editor
will be found most instructive. It is in a
former issue of the B.B.J., and can be had
post free for Hd. in stamps. 2. None what-
ever.

[2657.] Bees near Onion Beds. — Will you
be good enough to inform me through our
much appreciated little paper the B.B.J, if it
is at all detrimental to a hive of bees being
placed on or directly close to an onion bed—
a most favourable spot for both ? If so, would
you advise me to shift bees, or pull up onions 1
T. H., Bridgnorth, May 25.

Reply. — The bees take no harm from
proximity to the " onions."

[2658.] Disinfecting Hives. — On examining
my hives this spring, I discovered that three
out of the four had foul brcod in the first

stages (they were apparently free last autumn).
I accordingly destroyed the infected combs,
washed the hives out thoroughly with boiling
water and washing soda, and then painted
them inside and out with a solution of
Calvert'd No. 5 Carbolic, one to one of water.
This has now, however, lefc such a strong
smell of carbolic on the hives, supers, &c,
that I am afraid no swarm of bees would
venture within a mile of them, and this in
spite of thoroughly washing them again.
What would you advise me to do under the
circumstances ? How my colony came to
have foul brood I cannot say, but I pre-
sume by robbing some infected hives in the
neighbourhood. — X. Y. Z., London, June 3.

Reply. — If the hives are exposed to the sun
and air for a few days the smell of the carbolic
acid will almost disappear. This is the only
way in which we have ever dealt with hives
after disinfecting.

[2659.] Dealing ivith Swarms.— I have two
frame-hives and one skep. The skep I meant
to transfer, but have changed my mind, and
mean to keep it for a stock and accept any
swarms I get from it. The two frame-hives
I should prefer not to swarm, but I daresay
they will. I shall do all I can in the way of
giving room, air, &c , to prevent them, but if
they should I mean to deal with them thus, if
you approve of it: — 1. In the evening (after
hiving my swarms in a skep) remove three
or four combs with adhering bees from the
hive it issued from, and place them in a
new hive, closing up with division boards, and
remove co a distant stand (feed afterwards).
See there are no queen-cells on frames lefc,
and fill vacant spaces with full sheets of
foundation, and return my swarm. Will this
work out right 1 2. Would starters do instead
of full sheets ? (They would not be wired). —
M. M. M. C, Donne, N.B.

Reply. — 1. Your proposed plan would
answer very well for the swarm ; but we
cannot say much for its success with regard to
the " three or four combs with adhering bees
removed to a distant stand." Seeing that
the whole of the flying bees " removed " would
return to the parent hive, the probability is
that the new hive — with its few young un-
flown bees left to keep the brood warm —
would want a lot of nursing to work it up into
a good stock. You would, of course, see that
the best queen-cells are left. 2. Yes.

[2660.] Drone Brood Cast Out after Mani-
pulation.— Will you kindly give me your
valued opinion respecting the enclosed grub ?
Is it an immature queen ? I found several
thrown out of a hive in which the queen
accidentally got covered with honey excepting
her head and wings, whilst manipulating a
short time back. I placed her at the time in
the centre of the brood-nest, and owing to the
strength of the colony was obliged to add a
super of shallow frames at once which is now

June 6, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

229

crowded with bees, working well, and I do not
wish to disturb them by manipulation, as the
weather is cold. The queen has access to the
shallow body, as 1 am trying Mr. Bymer's
advice with a few of my hives. I shall be
placing another super on in a day or two, and
will then examine the shallow frames to see if
there is brood in them. Perhaps, also, you
will be good enough to allow me to ask those
of your readers who may happen to be repre-
sentatives to the High Movable Conference of
Kechabites, which meets at Penzance in
August, whether they would join in getting
up a kind of conversazione on a small scale to
talk over bee-matters, &c , as nearly all the
counties of Great Britain and Ireland and
some of the Colonies will be represented
there. I have no doubt some of them may,
like myself, be brethren of the bee-craft as
well. — Bridgefield, Carmarthenshire, Junel.

Eeply. — The " grub '' sent is a drone in
the pupa or imago stage. With regard to
your suggestion tor a conversazione at Pen-
zance, we think it would only be practicable
if a sufficient number of bee-keepers are
available to make it a success.

(Iites front the lines.

Crossinhand Lane, Lichfield, June ]. —
Being a constant reader of your Bee Journal,
and seeing no account as yet of white clover
being in bloom, I send a line to say we have a
field just coming out into bloom here (one
mile out of Lichfield). The clover field re-
ferred to is grown for hay, so that, all being
well, by the time the hay crop is cut we shall
have all clover in the grazing field will be in
full flower, thus giving the bees two chances to
work on clover bloom. I am responsible for
six stocks where I am employed as a gardener,
and I have also two stocks of my own. At
times I get a peep in at several of my neigh-
bours' hives who own bees, but who are not
quite so enthusiastic over them as myself.
Some allow their stocks to perish, I am sorry
to say, merely for the want of a little atten-
tion. These cases of wilful neglect are very
annoying to see strong stocks ruined in this
way. 1 have four stocks now supered and
doing well, one of my own and three of my
employer's. I shall have a photo of the hives
taken this summer, and if they turn out all
right will send you one ; also an account of
my bee-keeping experiences if you would care
to have them. — G. H. Mytton.

[Very pleased to get photo of your apiary.
We are always glad to hear of bee-keeping
gardeners. — Eds.]

Wistaston, Crewe, Cheshire, May 29. — I
was wondering the other day if any

swarms had come off in the country, but on
getting last week's B.B.J. I see notices of a
few early swarms. Well, I may say I had a
big swarm on the 25th inst. about 6 lb. in
weight. I have six stocks in all, and besides
the swarmed hive the bees of two others are
well up in the supers ; the remaining three I
shall super this week, all being well. I think
this is very good progress for this part of the
country. We do not see many " Echoes " in,
your columns now as formerly, but I hope to
see more, as I think it gives us an idea how
the bees are going on the in different parts of
the country. — A. Thorpe, Local Hon. Sea.
Cheshire B.K.A.

\tt pharos ttr <&mt

June 12 and 13 at Colchester.— Honey Show
in connection with the annual Show of the Essex
Agricultural Society. Liberal prizes for Honey, Bees-
wax, and Appliances, mostly open classes. Schedules
from Mr. W. J. Sheppard, Hon. Sec. Essex B.K.A.,
Chingford, Essex. Entries closed.

June 26 to July 1, at Cardiff.— "Royal "
Agricultural Society's Show. Bee and Honey Section
under management of the B. B.K.A. Entries closed.

July 1 8 and 19, at Brigg.— Honey, Hives, and
Bee Appliances in connection with the Lincolnshire
Agricultural Society ; Bee Department under the
management of the Lines. B.K.A. Schedules from the
Hon. Sec, R. Godson, Tothill, Alford. Entries close
June 19.

July 24, at Broughton, Hants. -Broughton
flower show. Open class for six 1-lb. jars extracted
honey. Schedules from C. Upshali, Broughton, Stock-
bridge, Hants.

July 25, 26 and 27, at St. Helens.— Royal
Lancashire Agricultural Society's Show. Bee-keepers'
Section. For Honey, Hives, and Appliances. Liberal
Money Prizes and valuable Medals in Open Classes for
Sections, Extracted Honey, Honey Trophy, and Appli-
ances. Full particulars in advertisements shortly.
Prize schedules from Edward Bohan, Secretary,
Miller Arcade, Preston. Entries close July 11.

July 31, at Henbury, Bristol.— Honey show of the
Henbury District B.K.A. in conjunction with the Hen-
bury Horticultural Society's show. Schedules from VV.
(i. Barnfleld, Hon. Sec, H.B.K.A., Charlton, near
Bristol. Entries close July 24.

August 6, at Leamington-— Honey section of
Leamington St. Mary's flower show. Three open
classes for six 1-lb. sections, six 1-lb. jars " light,"
and six 1-lb. jars " dark" extracted honey, respectively.
Good prizes. Schedules from the secretary, 2, St.
Marys-road, Leamington. Entries close August 3-

August 8, at Kingsthorpe. Northampton.—
Honey Show of the Northants B.K.A., in connection
with the Horticultural Exhibition. Twelve classes for
bee-keepers, including special class (six prizes) open to
all (with free entry) for single lib. jar extracted honey.
Six prizes, 20s., 10s. 6d., 7s. 6d., 2s. 6d., 2s., and certifi-
cate. Schedules from Robt. Hefford, Hon. Sec, Kings-
thorpe, Northants. .Entries close August 1.

August 17, at Ammanford (N. Wales).—
Honey show in connection with the Ammanford Flower
Show. Liberal prizes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar extracted honey, also classes for three sections
and three 1-lb. jars, light and dark honey.— Particulars
from Mr. Ivor Morris, Hon. Sec, Ammanford R.S.O.,
Carmarthen.

Thursday, August 29, at Montgomery.—

Montgomery and District Horticultural Society's Shuw.
Two open Classes for Honey— six 1 lb. sections, six 1 lb.
jars and extracted, with prizes of 10s., 5s., and 2s. 6d
in cash. Schedules from Mr. W. fl. Jones, Hon. Sec,
Montgomery. Entries close August 22.

230

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 6, 1901.

September 7 to 14, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (9th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Eleven classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees-
wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers.

September 21 to 28, at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with the
fifth Annual Exhibition of the Grocery and Kindred
Trades. Eleven classes and liberal prizes for comb and
extracted honey and bees-wax. Open to all British.
Bee-keepers.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letters or queries asking /or addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur-
chased, or replies giving such information, can only be
inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
qo to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queries forv irded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

W. C. H. (South Devon). — Mr. liymer's Bee-
Escape. — Your earlier letter must have mis-
carried. Mr. Rymer's reply to " J. H.
Wilcox '' (page 226) will, no doubt, suffice
for your query.

Suspected Combs.
J. E. (Clynderwen). — There is certainly foul
brood in comb, but only in the incipi< >> r
stage. As the only brood alive in hive
was drone larvse, it is evident the queen
and stock were entirely worthless.

J. H. (Aberdeen). — Comb is diseased, but we
cannot call it a bad case.

A. B. (Cumnock). — No. 1 sample is a very
bad case of foul brood. No. 2 is also
affected, but the disease is only just develop-
ing in piece of comb received.

A. B. C. (Wisbech). — Though only in the early
stage, foul brood is rapidly spreading in
comb.

J. B. H. (Worcester). — The symptoms of
disease are so slight as to be invisible to any
but a practised observer. It would there-
fore be misleading to ordinary bee-keepers
to include them in "^Guide Book," and would
probably lead to confusion.

*jf* Several Queries are unavoidably held
over till next week.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve words and under, Sixpence; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

SWARMS from healthy Stocks, 1900 Queens, 12s. 6d.
to 18s. Thorp, Fairfield, Buxton. G 20

STRONG healthy BEES; swarms, 10s., carriage paid.
D. Bateman, Eglwyswrw, Pembrokeshire. G 9

SWARMS of BEES. — Owing to large number of
Swarms already booked, 1 Beg to say I cannot take
further ord pvr w. WoomjET, Beedon, Newbury:

Prepaid Advertisements {Continued).

WANTED, WAX EXTRACTOR in good condition.
Williams, Bee-keeper, St. Briavels, Glos. g 14

WANTED, HONEY EXTRACTOR, geared; good
condition ; cheap. Townsend, Lydbrook, Hoss.
G 24

SWARMS ENGLISH BEES, 2s. 6d. per lb. ; guaran-
teed safe arrival. Dennis, Kempstone, Lough-
borough. G 17

FOR SALE, SECTIONS, GRANULATED, two and
three shillings a dozen. Ling, Shady Camp, Linton,
Cambs. G 19

STRONG natural SWARMS, 1900 Fertile Queen,
10s. 6d., 12s. 6d. ; second ditto, Ss. 6d. Guaranteed
h ealthy. Woods, Normandy, Guildford. G 12

WANTED, quantity SWARMS, 2s. lb. ; Stocks, 8s. ;
Comb-Honey, August, 30s. cwt. Dawkins, Sutton
Coldfleld. G 11

WANTED, SECTION-HONEY, best quality ; 1901
season. Good cash price for early delivery. T.
Smith & Co., 17, Cambridge-street, London, W. G 10

FIVE-FRAME STOCKS, young Queens, 18s. 6d. ; three-
frame ditto, 12s. 6d. ; fertile queens, 4s. each.
Frank Reed, Portslade, Sussex. G 23

STRONG STOCK BEES, on ten frames, ready for
supers. Price, 17s. 6d. only, box free. May swarms,
strong, 10s. in new skep, is. 6d. extra. Russell
Oakley, Christchurch, Hants. F 94

OWING TO REMOVAL. — MUST BE SOLD, two
strong STOCKS in skeps, not yet swarmed, 24s. ;
packed on rail. A. V. Richards, High-street, Lyming-
ton. G 18

TWO very good FRAME-HIVES, painted white, only
10s. the two ; to be seen Upper Norwood, S.E.
Write, MACFOLL, 10, Upper Grange-road, Bermondsey.
G 16

ADVERTISER open for ENGAGEMENT as Expert,
or to assist in, or take charge of, large Apiary.
Fully competent for clover and heather district. Fair
amateur joiner. Certificate, 3rd class. North preferred.
" A^B.^" Journal Office. a_}!L~

TO LET, for one or more months, COTTAGE, contain-
ing three bedrooms, parlour, kitchen, &c, nicely
furnished. Situated in one of the loveliest Highland
glens. No better place for quiet, health-giving holiday.
Terms moderate. All particulars from MACDONALB,
Buntait, Gleimrquhart, InveVness-shire. G 21

PROLIFIC QUEENS. — Pure Imported Carniolans,
7s. 6d. ; Italians, 6s. 6d. ; home-bred, from im-
ported mothers, 5s. ; others, 4s. ; swarms, from 10s. 6d.
Nuclei, headed by any queen at fair prices. Repeat
orders are guarantee of satisfaction. Particulars,
E. Woodham, Clavering, Newport, Essex. G 22

B.C." HIVES; zinc covered roof, painted. Car ah,
■ 10, Penlee-place, Mutley, Plymouth. F 99

w

SWARMS, 10s. 6d. Order now. J. J. W. Rogers,
Heath Apiary, St. Albans, Herts. F 62

WANTED, new SECTIONS, first quality, clear, pale
and up to weight. Any quantity prompt cash
W. Chilton, The Apiaries, Polegate, Snssex.

SUNDRY bar-framed HIVES FOR SALE, cheap, or
exchange for reliable bicycle. Address, 4, Charles-
road, Birmingham. G 5

SIX SKEPS of BEES. Guaranteed healthy.with young
Queens, 9s. each ; three for 25s. For immediate
disposal. Spearman, Colesbourne, Cheltenham, f 95

YOUNG FERTILE QUEENS (1901) ; my Prolific Strain
3s. 6d., Virgins, 2s. ; delivered. E. Carmnes,
" Apiary's," Cardinham, Cornwall. F 92

NAPHTHOL BETA SOLUTION, made according to
directions in Guide Book, 9d. and Is. 3d. per bottle.
Guthrie Bros., Alloway, Ayr. f 22

PRIME SWARMS of superior BEES, 15s., 12s. 6d.,
10s. 6d. Packed free. Walton, Honey Cofcfc,
Weston, Leamington/, F 81

GOOD natural SWARMS FOR SALE, 10s. each.
H. Holleworth, Manor Farm, Wysale, Notts.

F 78

June 13, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

231

(Btfitorial, Ifatim, &t

THE "ROYAL" SHOW AT CARDIFF.

In view of the forthcoming " Royal " Show
at Cardiff and the local interest in the bee
department of the show, we have been re-
quested to reprint the following useful and
practical article on "Bees and Hives'" from
a recent issue of the Western Mail, Cardiff,
for the benefit of local would-be bee-keepers.

Our contemporary says : —

"For over twenty years Mr. Gay, of Llantwit
Fardre, has been a close student of the ways
and habits of bees, and, feeling that he would
be able to write a good deal that was inte-
resting about bees and bee-keeping, we put
certain questions to Mr. Gay, and the fol-
lowing article is the result : —

' It has been suggested to me that bees will
not attack persons who deal with them con-
stantly. This is a mistaken idea. In my case,
for instance, it is not that the bees know me ;
it is th.it I know the bees. There is nothing
on earth, I suppose, that a man cannot
subdue if he goes the right way to work, and
it is only because I know how to treat bees
that I get on with them so successfully. I am
not afraid of them, and they are not afraid of
me. By adopting different methods at dif-
ferent times I can almost invariably master
them, but there are times when 1 fail to do so,
and when if I did not at once close up the
hive I should be stung severely. It is only
for the time, however, that they beat me, and
they do so then because of my ignorance of
their condition at the particular time when I
go to deal with them. After leaving them for
a period I return and treat them in a different
way altogether. When the honey-sacs of the
bees are full they are always in a good temper,
and you can do almost what you like with
them. You can even take a lot of them in
your hand and throw them about like
currants. After a spell of bad weather they
are always cross, for then they have to use up
a good deal of their valuable stores. The bees
when they are frightened fill their honey-sacs
from a number of open cells in the hive, and
the sac of each bee will hold about three days'
provisions. We frighten the bees by placing a
cloth saturated with carbolic acid around the
hive or by smoking into the entrance, and, after
they have filled their honey-sacs, we can do
what we like with them. You might ask —
how can you avoid being stung when the
weather is bad ? The usual thing is to
sprinkle a little syrup or half a pint of water
thickened by half a pound of sugar in the hive,
so that the bees can suck the liquid up, and
so fill their honey-sacs. I have been stung
hundreds of times, but I have not suffered
any great inconvenience. In many cases,
however, the sting of a bee is dangerous.
Many people have died after being stung, but
whether from the shock or the action of the

poison which the sting contains I do not know.
Now, it may seem strange to you — but I say it
in all seriousness — I believe the poison injected
into my system as a result of the bee stings
has done me a lot of good. Before I took
up bee-keeping I was in very indifferent
health, but ever since my health has greatly
improved. I had rheumatism one time
in my knee until I could not walk about
without the aid of a stick. As an experiment
I one day got half-a-dozen bees out of the
hive and put them in a tumbler. I then got
them to sting me on the knee, and the r< suit
of those six stings was that my rheumatism
has been cured, and I have not felt the slightest
pain in that leg since that time, viz., five years
ago. I have advised some of my friends who
are suffering from rheumatism to try it, but
they have been afraid. My explanation for a
bee's sting having such magical health-restor-
ing properties is this. Rheumatism is caused
by uric acid, and the formic acid that the
sting of the bee injects counteracts the effects
of the uric acid. It is an interesting fact
that once a bee has used its sting it dies.
The sting of the bee is barbed at the point,
and once it has been shot into anything it
cannot be withdrawn, and the bee has to go
away and leave it behind. Thus is a part of the
bee taken away, and I have frequently seen a
long thread dragged out of the abdomen of
the bee and attached to the sling. If you
look at a bee's sting under a powerful micro-
scope you will tind there is a small bag of
poison and an injector left behind with
the sting, and once the sting has been inserted
you can see the pulsation of the injector
forcing the poison through the tube. It will
readily be understood, therefore, that the
sooner a sting is extracted the better for the
person stung, but some people help the in-
jector by taking the sting between their finger
and thumb, and so they squeeze the poison
out of the bag. The proper way to extract a
sting is to take a penknife and scratch with
the point along the skin, sideways. I had
often wondered whether the only use for the
poison-bag, the injector, and the tube was to
enable the insect to sting, but by close ob-
servation I eventually found that it was not
so. After a bee has filled a cell with nectar
she turns round and puts a drop of formic
acid in it to preserve it. The cell is then
sealed over, and the honey does not decay or
ferment, and is kept sweet and pure. So that,
you see, the chief use of the poison-bag is to
preserve the honey, while in an emergency it
is also used as a means of defence.

' The clustering of the bees and the building
up of the cells is a most interesting study, but
it would be impossible in the limits of a short
article of this kind to go into minute details.
I might, however, give a few general particu-
lars about the social life, so to speak, of the
honey bee. Bees might be roughly divided
into three classes — the queen bees, the drones,
and the worker bees. The dronea.are the

232

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 13, 1901.

male bees, and the worker bees are really
undeveloped females. The mission of the
queen bee is to lay egg3 so that the race of
bees may be propagated ; the worker bees
devote their short lives to gathering in honey,
and they are constantly coming and going.
The male principle is represented by the drones,
and once their term of service is over the
workers will not tolerate them in the hive any
longer, but will drive them out. The queen
bee lavs eggs in profusion, and some of them
are deposited in chambers consisting of
three cells turned into one. In these
large chambers the queen-bees are born.
Three days from the time the eggs are
deposited in the large chambers they become
grubs, and these are fed on what for a better
name is called Koyal jelly. They are fed on
an abundance of it to make them develop
rapidly. The object of the large chambers is
that no impediment should be placed in the
way of the development of the abdomen of the
queen-bee. When forming, the queen-bee is
on her head, and her abdomen grows upwards.
The worker bees being hatched in the small
cells have their abdominal growth curtailed.
The period of incubation of a queen bee is
fourteen days, and just before a queen bee
is hatched she makes a noise in her cell — a
sort of piping noise. The mother-bee imme-
diately proceeds to that cell, and if left
alone would rip open the side of the cell
and kill the youDg queen. The bees in the
hive, however, protect the young queen, and
on the following day, if the weather is
favourable, the old queen bee gets around her
a swarm of adult bees, and they leave the
hive to form a new colony. If the hive is a
very full one as many as three swarms might
take place from it, and in this wise : — After the
mother bee has left, the next queen-bee — that
is, the first hatched — runs around through the
corridors of the hive (as the old queen bee had
done), beating up followers and anxious from
instinct to kill the other queen bees who
are "piping" in their cells, waiting to start
their careers. By some strange, natural
intuition the bees that swarm seem to know
how far the hive ought to be denuded.
Small swarms, however, are of very little
advantage to keep, unless early in the
season, and it is almost better to return them
to their hives. As soon as the queen bees are
hatched they have to fight their own battles,
and if there are several queen bees in a hive
they fight for supremacy, and the final victor
becomes entitled to the home. The dead
bodies of those worsted in the fray are carried
out of the hive and dropped in the fields.
There are times when the bees will kill the
queen bee — by " balling " — in order to protect
her. The fertilising influence of the drones
are brought to bear as soon as the queen bee
takes her first flight.

' The question has been put to me, " Could
bee-keeping be made to pay 1 '' The question
is one I cannot answer in a general way, as

it depends so much upon the individual. It
is so necessary that the bee-keeper should do
the right thing at the proper time. In good
seasons bee-keeping could be made to pay,
but in order to make it pay the hive must be
of an up-to-date, modern kind. There must
be a supply of wax-foundation given to the
swarm, so that the time of the bees shall not be
wasted in making the wax. Bees should also be
prevented from swarming, and thereby keeping
the adult bees at home during the honey
flow, and giving them plenty of foundation,
so that they can build their combs and store
honey, which they will do rapidly during the
months of June and July. In spells of fine
weather during these months, when the clover
is in bloom, 50 lb. to 100 lb. might betaken
from one hive.

' The price of the honey may be anything
from 6d. to Is. As there is no man, as far as
I can see, who, taking fifty hives of bees, can
average more than 50 lb. of honey per hive, it
will be readily understood that the profits on
bee-keeping are not great. Bee-keeping is
right enough as an auxiliary, but when you
come to depend upon it for a livelihood you
want something to fall back upon besides
honey. Bee-keepers do live on it, but a living
is made by adding to it the making of appli-
ances, the selling of swarms, &c. I have had
as many as forty hives that never yielded a
pound of honey in the wet season of 1888.
Good farming weather is always good for
bees.' "

HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of May,
1901, was £7,205. — From a return furnished
to the British Bee Journal by the Statistical
Office, H.M. Customs.

REVIEWS OF FOREIGN BEE PAPERS.

BY R. HAMLTN-HARRIS, F.R.M.8.,
F.ZS , F.E.8 , ETC.

L'Apicoltore (Italy, Rome). — " It is a curious
fact that here, the more damp and malarial the
district, the better the bees prosper. In the
end of October, 1900, the greater part of the
hives at Ponte Galera, with 627 frames, were
full of brood in all stages. But there is no
rose without a thorn. Just in the best time of
the honey harvest the rain began. This, how-
ever, would have been nothing but for the
rising of the river. The 2nd of December I
received from Ponte Galera the telegram,
' Come at once, bee3 under water.' After a few
moments' thought I ran to my nephew and
asked him to mount his bicycle and hasten to
the apiary, promising to follow as soon as
possible by train. All the usual roads were
under water ; he had to take a mountain road,
and arrived in two hours instead of forty
minutes as hitherto. He came hardly in time;

June 13, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

233

already the last of the row of hives was under
water."

" Shortly after I reached the spot with
three men to assist, the flood rising most
rapidly. The work proceeded until ten at
night, with the water up to our waists, rising
and rising higher before our eyes. We saved
about 150 hives, carrying them near to the
signal-house on the railway. We needed food
and dry warm clothing, but the flood was
rising higher, with a deep, hollow, intense
Bound, offering to the sight a terribly beau-
tiful imposing spectacle. About midnight we
heard a stronger, deeper, and more alarming
roar of waters ; we looked at one another ; it
must have burst the bridge and the great
dam. In this case we are saved — if the water
does not rise over the signal-house in two
hours' time ! We carried all the hives up to
the signal- house and stacked them one on
the other, and waited. The moon rose over
the scene, reflected in the enormous mass of
waters, which rose higher and higher. At two
o'clock the water was 21 ft. from the signal-
house ; at seven it had sunk nearly double
the distance, and, recovering energy, we re-
arranged the hives. At mid-day, under a
splendid sun, we had the satisfaction to see
the bees flying and gathering pollen, uncon-
scious of the deadly peril from which they had
been rescued."

L'Apiculteur (France). — How far will bees
fly to gather honey ? Do they take their
honey by chance I Do they choose a better
honey to nourish the queen ? Last year I was
able to make interesting observations on this
subject.

I was staying in the He de Lerins (a small
group of islands in the Mediterranean) where
there were no bees, not a hive — the islands
are too small — and notwithstanding the rich
flora, not a bee was to be seen there all the
year, except in June, when a certain shrub
(name unknown to me) blooms on the south
side of the island, and the bees from the
continent visit it for its nectar and pollen.
The nearest land is quite two miles distant.
These bees, I observed, left all the other
flowers untouched, and only worked the shrub
in question, although they had to fly over all
this wealth of sweetness to reach their goal.
How can we think that bees take honey hap-
hazard, when they fly two miles over the sea
and choose exclusively the nectar of one plant
among so many others seemingly more attrac-
tive i The only deduction I could find possible
was that this particular honey was for the
delectation of the queen bee.

The food offered to the queen is quite
different to that given to the worker larvoe ; it
is whiter, purer, less sticky, and, above all,
richer. I therefore conclude that the bees
choose for this purpose a more succulent
honey and more substantial pollen.

There were never many bees at a time, and
they only came in the afternoon. Could it be
a whim of the bees ? They are so economical

of time and so exclusively occupied with the
good of the community ! Now, the com-
munity flourishes or perishes according to the
laying powers of the queen, and these are
influenced by the food given her. It seems to
me certain that the honey and pollen of the
shrub in question must have been highly
nutritive, and doubtless for this reason the
bees undertook this distant and perilous
flight.

La Gazette Apicole de France. — In ancient
times honey was looked on as a gift from the
gods. Hypocrates recommended it to his
patients and attributed his own longevity to
its use.

SociiU d? Apiculture du Tarn. — The French
penal law which came in force in 1889 regards
bees as wild animals. The civil law recog-
nises them as half domestic, but offers very
little protection in case of injury or poison on
that account, although silkworms are placed
on the list of domestic animals. Why this
curious and different treatment ?

Le Rucher Beige (Belgium). — Mutual
Insurance Society against Foul Brood. — Foul
brood has appeared in many parts of Belgium,
and the bee-keepers whose colonies have
suffered immediately send word to the society,
which takes the necessary measures for dealing
with it. The affected hives are sulphured and
then burned. The value of those already
dealt with was probably about 1,000 fr. (£40).
The hives were valued previously, and the
indemnity paid accordingly. Any bee-keeper
suspecting foul brood has to cut out a large
piece of the affected comb in the presence of
two witnesses and send it to the director of
the Bacteriological Institute at Liege, and the
witnesses inform the president of the society.
One or two experts value the hives, and the
previous witnesses must be present at the
destruction by fire. Nothing may escape the
burning. This is then certified to the presi-
dent by the witnesses, and the experts add the
value of the hives at the moment of their
annihilation.

We can only urge bee-keepers to keep
their hives in the best possible health by
maintaining order and the most scrupulous
cleanliness.

The object of the society is to extinguish
foul brood entirely in our country and to help
those who are attacked in spite of precautions
taken.
Notes from the Queensland tropical bush : —
" Very frequent in these parts are the
splendidly-coloured bee-eater, Merops ornatus,
long-beaked birds, the size of a thrush, but of
much slighter build. Their main colour is
green, but this is enlivened in a charming way
by black, reddish brown, yellow and blue
feathers. My guide felt hostile towards these
birds as they render the keeping of bees
very difficult. On the whole the bees
have many more enemies in the tropics,
and their honey is much more in demand
than in Europe and in temperate Australia,

234

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 13, 1901.

Besides innumerable insect-eating birds,
amongst which Merops is the worst, the
plentiful spiders and wasps are a great danger
to the bee. MaDy lizards are likewise intent
on their pursuit, and the plucky and rapacious
ants are frequent visitors to their stores.
Therefore bee-masters have to keep their eyes
open, to destroy every ant-hill and wasp nest
in the neighbourhood, and to kill off the birds
lest they endanger the life of their nurslings."
The above is gleaned from Semen's
"Australian Bush," and is interesting enough
to insert in B.B.J.

The Editors do not hold themtelves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

Communications relating to the literary department,
reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for Review, &c.,must be addressed only to "The
Editors of the' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William-
street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi-
cations relating to advertisements, &c.,must be addressed
to "The Manager, 'British Bee Journal' Office, 17,
King William-street, Strand, London, W.C."

*** In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

ANCIENT BEE-BOOKS.

{Concluded.)

" I question not, but that many will account mee too
full, nay, tedious many times in this discourse ; but I
cannot shut a long foot into a little shooe."— " A
Theatre of Politicall Flying-Insects."

[4391.] Arbitrary as the distinction between
ancient and modern must ever be, there are, I
think, good reasons for drawing a dividing
line between Thorley and his successors.
From the day when, goaded into action as it
would seem by the appearance in good
English garb of Hill's borrowed bee-lore,
Southerne " brake the ice,'' and gave freedom
to the copious stream of literature of which it
has been my aim, following Mr. Headley, to
give an accurate account. From that day to
Thorley 's our old masters were content to set
down what they had learned in their own
practice, indifferent to the progress of apicul-
tural science outside their own country ;
nay, more probably, quite unaware of it.
But from 1734-42 the learned Frenchman,
Reaumur, was bringing out his " Memoirs on
Insects," and two years later, contempo-
raneously with Thorley 's " Melisselogia," they
were published in English, thus conveying to
bee-keepers the result of the researches of
Swammerdam, Miraldi, and others, which
Reaumur had not failed to incorporate with
his own. After Thorley came Thomas
"Wildman ; and in the light of the above it is

not surprising to find his Treatise (London,
1768) founded on the Memoirs of the Royal
Academy of Sciences in Paris, and compara-
tively modern in its general appearance.

Moreover, with Thorley disappears from the
pages of English bee-men the fine old Trans-
parent Octagon Hive, and its place is soon
taken by tiered rectangular boxe3 with parallel
fixed bars. A tendency towards movable
frames can already be detected, that, fostered
by the successive inventions of Huber, Munn,
and Dzierzon, culminated about a century
later in Langstroth's modern bar-frame hive.
For the above reasons I feel justified in
styling Thorley the last of our ancient bee-
masters.

With the exceptions now to be mentioned,
every known treatise in English during the
period covered has, to the best of my belief,
received attention. 1. " The Theatre of
Insects'' was published in 1658 by Thos.
Mouffet, being translated from the Latin
edition of 1634. It was the work of many
writers, and is of general entomological
interest, but can hardly be considered a bee-
book. 2. "The Foure Bookes of Husbandry,"
of which the Fourth Book " entreats of bees,"
newely Englished and increased by Barnake
George, Esqre., London, 1577, is a translation
of classic fables much resembling the joint
production of " T. H. Londoner " and Georgius
Pictorius. I may here mention that since
writing in defence of Hill [4251] I have had
an opportunity of perusing G. P.'s Treatise,
published in 1563, and must confess that the
latter was badly treated. Hill swallowed him
whole, with the exception of a fragment or two ;
chapter-headings and all. On the other hand
some of Hill's chapters were largely increased
from other sources, and three or four new
chapters were added. Also, with deference to
Butler, the translation was ably done. 3. Sir
Jonas Moore, a man of note in the days of
Charles I., wrote on the Husbandry of Bees,
&c. His books were published after his
death, " with large additions ; " "posthumous
orphlings '' must be viewed with suspicion. A
reprint of the Fourth Edition will be found in
Cotton's "My Bee Book,'' 1842, a book easily
obtainable, where may also be found reprints
of other treatises, including Thorley's. 4. In
Thorley's " Melisselogia," allusions are made
to the " Country Gentleman, &c.,'' by
R. Bradley, 1736, Professor of Botany in the
University of Cambridge. He was an
eccentric writer. " In March," says he," your
bees begin to breed. Lay Turpentine near

the Hives, it will help them very much

You should now, August, watch your Bees, to
prevent their battles, which frequently happen
in this month, and can only be prevented by
firing a gun or two when they are fighting in
the air, and which will make them settle and
separate, each' army taking up a different post."
This book is chiefly devoted to husbandry.

It would have been a pleasure to review the
works of writers from the sister kingdoms.

June 13, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

235

But of Irish bee- masters I can tell nothing, for
throughout the period considered, and for long
after, Ireland remains dumb ; and the first
voice from beyond the Tweed is that of James
Bonner (Edinburgh, 1795), a pure skeppist.
Yet, as I have shown (page 176, present vol.
B.B. J.), as long ago as 1673 Sir Wm. Thomson
sent a pattern of a hive " used in Scotland
with good success " to Gresham College ; and
in 1806 a French writer describes his experi-
ences with the Scotch hive {ruche ecossaise) of
M. de la Bourdonnaie. This hive is figured in
Dr. Huish's Treatise, 1815 ; it consists of two
tiered rectangular boxes surmounted by a skep.
So that it would seem as if bee-keeping on
scientific principles had remained alive in the
North, although, unfortunately, it occurred to
no one to record it.

In no spirit of boasting, but as on a matter
of historical interest, I would ask whether in
any other country the grand array of English
bee-masters who wrote in the seventeenth
century can be matched ? I do not speak of
more or less belated translators from the
Latin or of those who recorded the fables of
still more ancient writers, but of practical bee-
men who wrote in their own mother tongue
for the benefit of their fellows — of such men
as Sou theme, the pioneer of 1593, and of the
classic Butler. What book was there in any
tongue equal to the "Feminine Monarchie,"
1609, or even to Purchas's " Politicale Theatre
of Flying-Insects," 1657, and was there any
treatise so full of masterly bee-craft as that
of Remnant, 1637 1 Was there to be found
elsewhere a hive on such sound and advanced
principles as that patented by Gedde in 1721 ?
My own fairly extensive acquaintance with
the works of the old French writers makes
me feel certain that there was nothing to
match these in France. Dr. Huish, who as a
Fellow of many Continental Societies was
well qualified to give an opinion, tells us in
the preface to his treatise mentioned above : —
"The Italians are wholly destitute of any
practical Treatise." There remain in the field
only Germany, and perhaps Holland, and if
any country produced seventeenth-century
bee-masters equal to our own, it is in Germany
that they were to be found, for its bee-litera-
ture has always been extensive. Will some
one capable of drawing a comparison kindly
do so, and will Mr. Doory pardon me if I
suggest that, failing a national champion, he
should undertake the task ?

Limits of space have prevented my bringing
out, and now forbid my discussing, a curious
feature in the works of our old bee-masters,
namely, that in all of them honeydew was
looked forward to as a fruitful and desirable
source of the yearly harvest. No distinction
was recognised between what appears to be a
natural exudation from leaves and the fluid
discharge from aphides, so strongly objected to
by bee-keepers of the present day.

Another curious feature is that while
Remnant so clearly understood the value of

smoke in handling bees, and always used it,
no one seems to have followed him, and up to
quite modern times operations which we con-
sider very simple were spoken of with a sort of
dread.

There remains the question of foul brood.
I think that all practical bee-men will agree
with me that Remnant described this disease,
and yet until well on into the nineteenth
century there is no further mention of it to be
found. A satisfactory discussion of this
phenomenon being quite precluded, I must
content myself with recording it.

My labour of love is now ended. I have
some hopes that here and there a reader of
this journal will be grateful for having had
the doubts, struggles, and successes of our
fathers in bee-craft for the first time gathered
together and put before him. For others I
have only the excuse borrowed from good
Master Purchas as a heading to this last paper.
Although no pains have been spared to ensure
accuracy, I may have slipped here and there.
Correction will be welcome. The too little-
known lines which follow are from the pen of
George Wither, a poet of note in his day and
a fellow-student of Butler, to whom, as author
of the " Feminine Monarchie," they were
addressed : —

Great God Almighty ! in thy pretty bees,
Mine Eie (as written in small letters) sees
An \bstract of that Wisdome, Power, an d Love
Which is imprinted on the Heav'ns above
In larger Volumes, for their Eies to see,
That in such little print? behold not Thee.
And in this Workmanship, oh Lord, of thine,
I praise thy Wisdome, and thy Power divine !

South Devon Enthusiast, June 8.

BLENDING HONEY

AND OTHER NOTES.

[4392] I know that it is usually considered
not a good policy to mix honey, but the result
of some years' practice justifies us in this dis-
trict, at all events, in the belief that it is a
very good one indeed. We have a very large
area covered with fruit trees, practically no
white clover, and then a large number of limes
to get our surplus from. Now it is well known
that the honey from the latter source is very
strong flavoured indeed, this, of course, to a
very great extent it loses by being kept, but I
think that if others who have the same con-
ditions would keep the fruit-blossom honey,
and when the lime surplus is taken mix the
two together, they will find that it is a very
goud mixture indeed. I was lately asked to
go and put a hive in order that had had a
unique experience. Ic was standing on an
allotment in an adjoining parish to this, and
some malicious person had in the night, not
only opened the hive, but had thrown the
frames, &c, in a circle as far as they could
throw them. Strange to relate, although it
was a cold night and the frames with brood,
&c, must have been exposed for some hours,
no very bad effects have followed. I found

236

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 13, 1901.

the queen and the bees carried out a few
chilled larvae in various stages. After I had
put it in order, as they were very strong and I
could not go over again very soon, I took what
was, under the circumstances, a bold course,
i e.t put on the surplus-chamber. But 1
was justified, as on Saturday I took off three
splendid shallow-frames of homey, and re-
mainder were well filled. I also took a com-
plete rack of shallow-frames off one of my
own hives. The prospect in this district is, I
think, very fair for a good harvest, but rain is
much wanted to bring the limes to perfection,
although they give evidence of blooming even
at the present time, which is three weeks
earlier than is general in this locality. — Will
Hampton, Richmond, June 10.

EARLY SECTIONS SPOILED.

NEGLECT REWARDED.

[4393.] About 6.30 this evening I was
returning home from a bee-tour, and unex-
pectedly called in at a farmhouse where I
destroyed a stock of bees last year, the said
Btock being affected with foul brood. The
hive had been cleaned out ready for use, and
a stray swarm took possession after it had
been placed in position again. One of the
farm hands had hurriedly taken ten frames
from a new hive close by and placed them in
the cleaned-out hive, and the bees in due time
became established and passed through the
winter safely. A rack of sections was put on
early this year, and I found the bees had filled
several sections well. I removed one section
and presented it to the mistress of the house.
Unfortunately, the hive had an inclination of
quite 2 in. towards the front, and the rack
had been filled with sections before placing it
in position, but no dividers were used ; con-
sequently the sections had the inevitable
" bulge " in the combs, which spoiled the lot.
This was the most forward colony of bees I
have handled for the year, and with proper
management would have yielded fine section-
honey for early shows with great chances of
winning top prizes with them. — John Brown,
Polyphant, Launceston, June 5.

BIRDS' NESTS IN BEE HIVES.

[4394.] Our friend, Mr. R. Brown, in B.J.
of June 6 (4387, page 226), describes finding a
bird's nest in a bee-hive, and I am reminded
thereby that an expert who has been doing
work for our Association in North Lines,
wrote me about a similar nest found on the
top of the quilts in a frame-hive, and I quote
the following from his letter thinking it may
interest you and others. He says : — " I found
a very pretty sight at Mr. M.'s apairy. On
taking off the roof of a hive there was open
to view a tomtit's nest containing ten eggs !
I removed the quilts and nest en masse and

removed the frames to examine the bees, after
which I replaced them, and yesterday was
delighted to hear that Mrs. Tomtit had laid
an eleventh egg and had hatched them all. I
much feared that I had caused the bird to
forsake the nest, but all went on all right it
seema." — R. Godson, Hon. Sec. Lines B.K.A.
Tothill, Alford, June 7.

UNITING SWARMS TO PARENT
HIVES.

[4395.] Some short time ago a writer in the
B.B.J, advocated the placing of the swarm
over the old stock, with queen excluder be-
tween, and then after three weeks uniting the
two. May I ask for some of your readers'
experience of this plan, and if there is not
great danger of " casts '' about ten days
after the issue of the swarm ? — James Hed-
ding, Gambs., June 10.

[Perhaps some readers will oblige our cor-
respondent as requested ; meantime, if the
page or date of B.B.J, referred to is sent to
this office we might say a word on the subject
ourselves. — Eds.]

BEE-ESCAPES.

[4396.] Would you please allow me through
the columns of the B.B.J to thank Mr.
Meadows for the large bee-escape which he
sent me the day after my letter appeared in
your pages of May 30 ? As bee-keepers, we
owe a lot to such enterprising manufacturers
as Mr. Meadows and others of the craft for
the great help they afford us by the manu-
facture of such specialities as the one in
question. We are not all like Mr. Rymer,
able to turn our hands to tinsmith work.
The escape is all that it claims to be, allowing
both drones and workers to pass out freely
and no return. Again thanking Mr. Meadows
and yourself for help rendered. — Jno. H.
Wilcox, Carlisle, June 7.

^K\xi$ and mplt$s.

[2661.] Making Artificial Swarms. — 1.
Will you kindly tell me whether in making an
artificial swarm from a strong stock in frame-
hive, the following plan would be success-
ful : — (a) Early in the morning of a fine day
place a fresh hive, with buihVout combs con-
taining honey, on the stand of the hive from
which I wish to make swarm ; (b) Remove,
say two frames of brood from the parent
hive (I could also spare brood from another
hive), place in the new hive and leave it to
receive the flying bees, and let the bees raise
a queen for themselves. I want to know this,
because not being experienced in finding
queens, I might fail j in trying to make a

June 13, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

237

swarm in the way described in "Guide
Book." The reason for arti6cial swarming is
that my bees, if left to themselves, invariably
swarm into my neighbours' gardens. The
hive in question now has on a rack of sections
three-parts sealed. Should I put supers on
both hives if I succeed in the swarming? 2.
I have another stock which has worked splen-
didly up to three days ago. It has on two
racks of sections, the top one three- parts com-
pleted, the second given them about a week
ago, as they appeared likely to swarm. Four
or five days later the energy of the bees sud-
denly left them, and now little or no work
seems to be going on. I do not think it is pos-
sible they have swarmed without my know-
ledge, nor can I think it is a temporary cessa-
tion in the honey flow, as my other hive is as
busy as possible. Can you suggest any other
reason and what would you advise me to do ?
I have not examined the hive as I dislike dis-
turbing them unless necessary, except to ascer-
tain that they are still up in the top super,
though it is not so full of bees as usual. —
B. I. D., Acton, W., June 6.

Reply. — 1. Reference to query 2659 on
page 228 last week will show that — in prin-
ciple at least — the reply there given will
apply to your own case. In other words, the
risk would be not to the swarm, but the
stock denuded of the flying bees, which would
nearly all return to the new hive on the old
stand. 2. The only suggestion we can offer is
a possible loss of queen through some injury
during the late manipulation of the hive when
supering.

[2662.] Foul Brood in Northumberland. —
1. Will you kindly inform the various mem-
bers of the N. & D. B.K.A., from whose
hives I have cut the enclosed samples of comb
marked Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, all of which are,
I think, affected with foul brood. Samples
1 and 2 were taken from hives which have
been empty for a month past or more, both
having had their contents robbed out, and the
respective owners await your decision in B.B.J,
before being convinced. The combs from Nos.
3, 4, and 5 were taken from hives and burnt,
after having shaken off bees (about 1 \ quarts),
which I gave instructions to shake into hive
(clean and fresh) after forty-eight hours' con-
finement, and feed on medicated syrup. As I
had to leave the same day for home (sixty
miles off) I hope my instructions are fully
followed out as laid down in " Bee-keepers'
Guide Book." 2. Re Microscope for detecting
bacillus alvei would you kindly recommend
a moderate-priced one ? — Jas. Waddell,
Hon. Secretary, j\r. & D. B.K.A.

P.S. — Since writing above I have come
across another "case" and send a piece of
comb from it. It is from the same apiary as
sample first sent (marked No. 1) This hive
was " robbed " by the others. I also send the
queen- bee from the hive in question. Can
you tell her age ?— J. W.

Reply— 1. Of the five samples sent, No. 1

has not a capped cell or a trace of brood, foul
or otherwise, in comb. The other four samples
are all badly diseased. Nos. 1, 3, and 5 have
evidently been affected for a long time past.
No. 4 is not of such old standing, but the
disease is plainly there. 2. No less powerful
objective than a ■fgth will be of any service in
detecting the bacillus of foul b oo I. Any
optician will tell you the cost of a gla s of that
power. With regard to your " jost script,''
we cannot find any trace of disease in tte
remains of dead larva; in cells. It is, there-
fore, not foul brood that has caused death.
The queen (a full-sized second-cross Ligurian
hybrid) does not bear the appearance of age,
but is plainly a drone-breeder, and, of course,
useless.

[2663.] Uniting Bees. — I read in the May
number of your monthly, the Record, a,
description of several plans of " uniting bees "
by your contributor, " D. M. M.," Banff. I
thought ot trying one of them — the one in
which unit:ng is done by placing one hive
over anocl.er, with a shppt of brown paper
between with a one-bee hole-spice in ir. I
suppose it could be done by placing a straw
skep over a bar-frame hive. After the straw
skep has swarmed, I should prefer to go into
winter quarters without it, so I thought it
would be a good way of strengthening another
hive I should like to send to the heather. I
would therefore like to ask :— 1. Should the
entrance to the skep be closed entirely, and
the bees would need to go down by the hole
into the other hive 1 2. How long after placing
on top would I be safe to lift off skep and put
on super instead % 3. I expect a swarm any
day from skep, as they are crowding out on
board. If I placed it on frame-hive imme-
diately-after swarm issuing, would it prevent
another swarm, or would it be better after all
swarming is over ? If above queries are too
late for answer in next week's Journal, you
might kindly answer at your earliest con-
venience. I may add that I bad a fine
swarm from frame -hire referred to on Friday
last,— M. M. M. C, Braehead, Doune, N.B.,
June 8.

Reply. — 1. Yes, the only exit for bees in
skep must be through the lower hive. 2. The
skep should remain until all brood in its
combs has hatched out, and the bees have
transferred to the brood-nest below. The time,
of course, depends upon the queens ceasing to
deposit eggs in skep. 3. It would cause much
confusion unles's all queen- cells were cut out
from skep prior to putting it on the frame-
hive.

[2664.] Bees Deserting Frame - hive in
Spring. — I left home in February for a two-
months' stay, leafing my one hive fairly strong
in bees, and with plenty of food. I was away
a little longer than I expected — returning at
the beginning of May — when I found my hive
entirely deserted. There was plenty of candy
and two frames of sealed honey left. The bees
had apparently not died, for there were only a

238

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 13, 1901.

few dead bees about the hive, but deserted
completely. There were no signs of mice
or of disease. As far as I knew, they were
headed by a young queen of last season.
The only reason I can think of for their
desertion is that I left them with stout and
warm quilts on and a chaff-box, and also cork
dust round the sides of the hive, to protect
them against the cold of the spring. Do you
think that the few rather hot days we had in
April would raise the hive to such a tem-
perature that the bees would desert ? Or do
you think the queen could have died and the
bees swarmed to join another hive ? Although
they certainly were well and strong at the end
of February, I am told hardly any came out
to enjoy the crocus pollen, as usual. That
hardly looks as if the heat of the hive had
driven them away. I should be so glad if you
would give me your opinion on my misfortune.

2. Would you kindly tell me if I might use
the combs for another hive ? They are rather
old, but I am sure there is no foul brood in
them, and if I buy another swarm they will
waste all the honey season building comb.

3. Also, is it safe for me to use the quilts
again ? or should they be boiled before using ?
They are of stroDg clean felt, and the only
thing I am doubtful about is that there are
slight signs of wax-moth, and I fear there
may be eggs in the quilts. 4. Lastly, would
you tell me how best to utilise the two or
three combs of sealed honey 1 It is not
enough to be worth extracting, as I have no
more. If it is safe to give the built out combs
to a new swarm, would it be wise to put in
those also with the sealed honey ? or if not,
how could I best give it to the bees ? — " A
Beginner," N. Wales.

Reply. — 1. No, the high temperature in
April would not in the least tend to make the
bees desert their hive. It is much more pro-
bable that they were queenless and left the
hive en bloc to join a neighbouring colony.
2. Yes, if they are free from disease. 3 and

4. The same caution applies to quilts, comb3,
and honey ; all may be used again if the hive
and bees are healthy.

[2665.] Disinfection of Hives. — Thanking
you for kindly replying to my query on
page 22^ of your instructive journal, may I
further trespass upon your goodness to inquire

(1) if an application of pure " Condy's Fluid ''
would be an antiseptic of sufficient power to
destroy the bacillus of foul brood in its spore
condition ? My reason for asking being that I
find the odour from the carbolic acid very
difficult to remove from the woodwork of the
hives treated with a solution of the same.

(2) Does the bee obtain honey in any quantity
from the acacia trees which I now see in
bloom in large quantities. — X. Y. Z., London,
June 10.

Reply. — 1. " Condy's Fluid " would have no
effect whatever on the spores of foul brood.
If you desire to rid the inside of hive from
spores, scorching^with a painter's spirit lamp,

or smearing with paraffin and setting it
alight, is the best remedy. 2. The bloom of
acacia is not accounted of any appreciable
value as bee-forage.

[2666.] Giving Bees Boom in June — 1. I
have two hives of bees, each with six frames
in, well covered with bees, and brood in all
the combs ; should I place section-supers on,
or should I put more frames in the brood-
chamber ? 2. If I must put more frames in,
what number must be in before I put on
supers ? — C. T., Warwickshire, June 10.

Keply. — The additional frames to complete
the full number needed for brood-nest (ten or
eleven) should have been given in May if
bees were strong. It will now retard the bees
somewhat in taking possession of surplus-
chambers, but the frames must be given
before supers are put on.

[2667.] A False Alarm of Foul Brood.—
Wid you please let me know if the three
pieces of comb contain foul brood, or is it
" chilled " brood ? I had an expert; over on
Saturday, and he could not say for certain.
His opinion was that the brood was "chilled"
only. I examined the combs thoroughly on
May 6. As they ate in an old hive, and do
not fit well, the bottom-bars of the frames rest
on the floor-board ; there were also wax-moth
gruhs on nearly every frame. The day was very
hot, with bright sun, and there was a rather
chdly east wind, followed by a frosty night.
I lifted out every frame in the hivp, and put
them into a clean, disinfected one. It took me
from ten to fifteen minutes to transfer the
frames, so some of the unsealed brood might
have got chilled in the process.

I have kept bees, with uniform success, for
fully eleven years past, and have never had
foul brood among them at all. The hive re-
ferred to is one I bought at a place sixteen
miles away. I got four others along with it,
and they are all doing well. If it is foul
brood, should you advise destroying the lot, to
be on the safe side ? The bees in one of the
purchased stocks now cover fifteen frames, and
are working well on ten shallow frames in a
surplus-chamber. If the hive is diseased
please send me a postcard ; if not, I shall hope
to see your answer in the Bee Journal. —
H. Pears, Lincoln, June 10.

Reply. — A careful examination shows that
the comb is not affected with foul brood, and
judging by the number of larv* in all three
pieces of comb, the queen is a prolific one ;
we should, therefore, just leave the bees to
remove the chilled brood in their own way
without further disturbing the colony.

<&ihm flwm the |§um

" The Woodbines" St. Brelades, Jersey, C.I.,
June 3. — With fifteen hours of glorious sun-
shine following a couple of days' mild rain, and
this preceded by three weeks of mild and

June 13, 1901.] THE BEITISH BEE JOUENAL.

239

genial weather, it is no wonder to see the bees
hard at work. During the time specified the
hawthorn has burst into bloom, and both
orchard trees and bush - fruit are now
setting abundantly. The recent show of
magnificent blooms enabled the bees to bring
in large quantities of pollen and honey-sacs
full of nectar, which mine are still continuing
to do, with every prospect of an abundant
supply. Most of my stocks are now sealing
over solid slabs of honey, which I have
no difficulty in clearing out at Is. per
lb. out here. That the present glorious
weather may continue is the wish of every
lover of the bees. —William Walker Kay.

PRESS-CUTTINGS ABOUT BEES.

FACTS ABOUT HONEY.

Starch and sugar, when eaten, undergo a
digestive change before they are assimilated.
In honey, this change has been made to a
considerable extent by the bees. It is partly
digested, easy of assimilation, and concen-
trated, and furnishes the same element of
nutrition as sugar and starch — imparts warmth
and energy. As a medicine, honey has great
value and many uses. It is excellent in most
lung and throat affections, and is often used
with great benefit in place of cod-liver oil.
Occasionally there is a person with whom it
does not agree, but most people can learn to
use it with beneficial results. Children who
have more natural appetites generally prefer it
to butter. Honey is a laxative and sedative,
and in diseases of the bladder and kidneys it
is an excellent remedy. It has much the same
effect as wine or stimulants without their
injurious effects, and is unequalled in mead
and harvest drinks. As an external applica-
tion, it is irritating when clear, and soothing
when diluted. In many places it is much
appreciated as a remedy for croup and colds.
In preserving fruit, the formic acid it contains
makes a better preservative than sugar or
syrup, and it is also used in cooking and con-
fectionery.— The Family Doctor.

HIRDS HATCHED IN A BEE-HIVE.

One often hears of birds building their nests
in old hats, pipes, lanterns, and such odd places,
but many will, perhaps, be surprised some-
what to find that birds have taken to building
their nests and rearing their young in a bee-
hive. Such, however, is the case, for on
•Sunday Mr. F. W. Hartwright, Assistant-
Overseer of Fernhurst, was walking in his
garden with a friend when he opened a bar-
frame bee-hive, from which the ventilating
hole cones had been removed, and, to their
surprise, they found inside a black- headed tit's
nest containing six young birds and one egg,
carefully placed upon the top of the quilts. —
Sussex Daily News.

tt Chutes in dtomc.

June 12 and 13 at Colchester.— Honey Show
in connection with the annual Show of the Essex
Agricultural Society. Liberal prizes for Honey, Bees-
wax, and Appliances, mostly open classes. Schedules
from Mr. W. J. Sheppard, Hon. Sec. Essex B.K.A.,
Chingford, Essex. Entries closed.

June 23 to July I, at Cardiff.— " Royal "
Agricultural Society's Show. Bee and Honey Section
under management of the B.B.K.A. Entries closed.

July 8 and 19, at Brigg.— Honey, Hives, and
Bee Appliances in connection with the Lincolnshire
Agricultural Society ; Bee Department under the
management of the Lines. B.K.A. Schedules from the
Hon. Sec, R. Godson, Tothill, Alford. Entries close
June 19.

July 24, at Broughton, Hants. — Brough ton
flower show. Open class for six 1-lb. jars extracted
honey. Schedules from €. Upshall, Broughton, Stock-
bridge, Hants.

July 25, 26 and 27, at St. Helens.— Royal
Lancashire Agricultural Society's Show. Bee-keepers'
Section. For Honey, Hives, and Appliances. Liberal
Money Prizes and valuable Medals in Open Classes for
Sections, Extracted Honey, Honey Trophy, and Appli-
ances. Full particulars in advertisements shortly.
Prize schedules from Edward Bohan, Secretary,
Miller Arcade, Preston. Entries closed.

July 31, at Henb'iry, Bristol.— Honey show of the
Henbury District B.K.A. in conjunction with the Hen.
bury Horticultural Society's show. Schedules from W.
G. Barnfleld, Hon. Sec, H. B.K.A,, Charlton, near
Bristol. Entries close July 24.

August 6, at Leamington— Honey section of
Leamington St. Mary's flower show. Three open
classes for six 1-lb. sections, six 1-lb. jars " light,"
and six 1-lb. jars " dark" extracted honey, respectively.
Good prizes. Schedules from the secretary, 2, St.
Mary s-road, Leamington. Entries close August 3-

August 8, at Kingsthorpe Northampton.—
Honey Show of the Northants B.K.A., in connection
with the Horticultural Exhibition. Twelve classes for
bee-keepers, including special class (six prizes) open to
all (with free entry) for single lib. jar extracted honey.
Six prizes, 20s., 10s. 6d., 7s. 6d., 2s. 6d., 2s., and certifi-
cate. Schedules from Robt. Hefford, Hon. Sec, Kings-
thorpe, Northants. Entries close August 1.

August 15, 16, and 17 ,at Crystal Palace.—
Surrey B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees, Honey, Wax,
and Appliances, <fcc. Twenty-four classes (eleven open
to all). Increased prizes and medals. Schedules from
F. B. White, Hon. Secretary, Marden House, Redhill.
Entries cl^se August 1.

August 17, at Ammanford (N". Wales).—
Honey show in connection with the Ammanford Flower
Show. Liberal prizes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar extracted honey, also classes for three sections
and three 1-lb. jars, light and dark honey.— Particulars
from Mr. Ivor Morris, Hon. Sec, Ammanford R.S.O.,
Carmarthen.

August 28, at Chester.— Annual Show of the
Cheshire B.K.A., in connection with the Cheshire Agri-
cultural Society. Ten classes (four open) for hives, honey
(light, medium, and dark), sections, <fcc. Schedules
from T. A. Beckett, St. Werburgh's Chambers, Chester.
Entries close Aug. 7. (At double fees to Aug. 14.)

Thursday, August 29, at Montgomery.—
Montgomery and District Horticultural Society's Show.
Two open Classes for Honey— six 1 lb. sections, six 1 lb.
jars and extracted, with prizes of 10s., 5s., and 2s. 6d
in cash. Schedules from Mr. W. H. Jones, Hon. Sec,
Montgomery. Entrie • close August 22.

September 7 to 14, at the Agricultural
Hats Londjn. — Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (9th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Eleven classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees-
wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers.

September 21 to 28, at the Agricu'tural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with the
fifth Annual Exhibition of the Grocery and Kindred
Trades. Eleven classes and liberal prizes for comb and
extracted honey and bees-wax. Open to all British
Beekeepers.

240

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 13, 1901.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letters Or queries asking for addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur-
chased, or replies giving such information, can only be
inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

C. H. Smith (Lincoln). — Larva Dying in
Combs. — We cannot venture any definite
opinion with regard to foul brood from
description only. A small sample of comb
must be sent for us to judge by. The few
particulars given lead us to suspect that
trouble arises from overdosing with some
disinfectant. Have you been using such ?

J. B. (Yorks). — Insect Nomenclature — 1. Bees
sent are the ordinary hive bee, the dark
shiny appearance of the ox'y being
characteristic of the confirmed "robber"
bee. There will be less troubl ) in keeping
the marauders at bay now that plenty of
natural honey is obtainable in the fields ;
but it will be well to continue the pre-
cautions taken to baffle the marauders.
2. The small insects commonly known as
the " sand bee " are of our gardens. They
belong to the Andrena species, and burrow
holes in sandy places in the earth wherein
to rear their young. They do no harm in
the apiary.

Suspected Combs.

Special Notice to correspondents sending
queries on " Foul brood."

We urgently request that all letters sent
with samples of suspected com!) be put
outside the box or tin containing the sample.
Also that no more than a couple of square
inches of comb be sent, taking care to neither
crush the comb nor probe the cells before
despatching.

In urgent cases (and where possible) we
undertake to "wire'' replies as to F.B. if
six stamps are sent to cover cost of telegram.
All letters to be addressed "Editor, Bee
Journal," not "Manager."

Bee-keeper (Carmarthen). — There has been
no brood reared in comb sent for some
months past, all remains of the dead larva?
which once occupied the sealed cells having
dried up and disappeared. There is, how-
ever, enough to indicate the presence of foul
brood spores in what remains.

J. Adams (Strabane). — We have examined
the second sample of comb (badly crushed
up in packing) with the same result as in
former case, viz., no foul brood in cells.
Therefore, whatever may be causing the
bees to die off, it is not Bacillus alvei. We
advise you to examine the combs and
endeavour to find — from inspection— some
cause for the bees dying, just as we our-
selves would do if near you.

J. P. (Truro). — Comb badly diseased.

Bees (Belfast). — Foul brood is just developing
in comb.

X. Y. Z. (Essex).— There is foul brood in
comb, but it seems a mild attack, and has
only reached the incipient stage.

P. C. (Grantown). — Though appearances were
somewhat suspicious, careful microscopical
examination shows no foul brood.

H. H. B. (Isle of Wight). — Regret to say hive
from which comb was cut is badly affected
with foul brood.

T. A. W. (Abergavenny) and W. S. (Don-
caster). — In both cases the comb is plainly
diseased, a few cells being full of the brown
ropy mass that is unmistakable.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve words and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

FOR SALE, a quantity of New EXTRACTED HONEY.
R^Whitting, Manea, Cambs. g 34

WANTED, Two (or one) Single BEDROOMS, in or
near Cardiff, during "Royal" Show. Herrod,
Horticultural College, Swanley, Kent.

STRAW SKEPS, cane bound, 18s. dozen ; 9s. 6d.}doz.
Alfred Harding, Straw-skep Maker, Bellingdon,
Chesham, Bucks. g 29

QrTH SEASON.— SWARMS, price 10s. 6d., 12s. 6d„
<D\J 15s., 17s. 6d. Pryor, Breechwood Green Apiary,
Welwyn, Herts. g 26

IVING UP.— Ten Stocks of Bees, Hives, Shallow-
frames, Sections, Crates, &c. RECTORY, Bowers,
Pitsea. g 25

FOR SALE, Bar-frame hives, Skeps, Sections, Comb
foundations, &c, chiefly new. Mrs. Xime,
Mareham-le-Fen, Boston. f 31

0~ RPINGTON EGGS, Black and Buff from handsome
fowls (Cook and Partington strain), 2s. 9d. dozen.
E. Middlemas, Stamford, Alnwick. o 30

FOR SALE, Pure NEW ENGLISH HONEY;, (id. per
lb., in 10 and 28 lb. tins (tins included). GEO.
Reynolds. Eaton Ford, St. freots. g 33

SPLENDID NEW ENGLISH HONEY, 6kl. per lb.
Also SWARMS, 10s. each, packed free". Cash or
deposit. Albert Coe, Apiary Hall, Ridgwell, Halstead,
Essex. g 32

EXPERIENCED BEE-MASTER seeks APPOINT-
MENT (temporary or permanent). Good hive,
foundation, candy maker. Excellent references. Address,

"P." Bee Journal. G 27

VERSTOCKED— 1901 Fertile crossed CAR~NIO~-
LAN QUEERS, 3s. 6d. each, ; 1900 crossed Italians,
3s. Gd. ; a few Blacks, 2s. 6d. Pure 1901 Imported fertile
CARNOLIANS and ITALIANS, 6s. 6d. each. CY.
PRIANS, 7s. 6d. All safe arrival. Post free. SPEARMAN,
Colesbourne, Cheltenham.

WARMS of BEES. — Owing to large number of
Swarms already booked, I beg to say I cannot take
further orders. W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury.

SWARMS ENGLISH BEES, 2s. 6d. per lb. ; guaran-
teed safe arrival. Dennis, Kempstone, Lough-
borough, g 17
FOR SALE, SECTIONS, GRANULATED, two and
three shillings a dozen. LING, Shady Camp, Linton,
Cambs. a 19

S~~ TRONG natural SWARMS7 1900 Fertile-^ Queen",
10s. 6d., 12s. 6d. ; second ditto, 8s. 6d. Guaranteed

healthy. Woods, Normandy. Guildford. g 12

ANTED, bECTION-HONEY, best quality ; 1901
season. Good cash price for early delivery. T.
Smith & Co., 17, Cambridge-street, London, AV. a 10

W "ANTED, new SECTIONS, first quality, clear, pale
and up to weight. Any quantity prompt cash.
W. Chilton, The Apiaries, Polegate, Sussex.

NAPHTHOL BETA SOLUTIuN, made according to
directions in Guide Book, 9d. and Is. 3d. per bottle.
Guthrie Bros., Alloway, Ayr. f 22

June 20, 1901.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

241

(ftirtorial, Jtotfcca, fa.

ESSEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL SUOW.

The Essex B.K.A. held their annual exhibi-
tion of honey and appliances in connection
with the county show of the Essex Agricul-
tural Society at Lexden Park, Colchester, on
June 12 and 13, and it was the most successful
that has been held in the county for many
years past. Owing to the liberality of the
Agricultural Society and the local show com-
mittee, who contributed altogether £30
towards the expenses, a good prize list had
been arranged. One hundred and one entries
were made in twenty-one classes, of which,
owing to the favourable season, only seven
were not staged. In the classes for 1901
honey the competition was very keen, and
some splendid sections, mostly sainfoin, were
shown, and those obtaining the silver medal,
in addition to the first prize, were in every
way worthy of the award. In the class for
appliances Messrs. Jas. Lee & Son were the
only exhibitors, and only four entries were
made in the class for the most complete and
inexpensive frame-hive. Two observatory
hives were shown, and proved, as they always
do, a great source of attraction to the visitors.
In the inventions class Mr. E. H. Taylor
exhibited an incubator for hatching queens,
which excited much attention. It is made
similar to an ordinary incubator, but so
arranged that the temperature can be kept at
about 80 deg. The queen-cells are placed in
separate cages, which fit into shallow-frames
and hang in the drawer of the incubator, and
can thus be easily examined.

Mr. Bunting, the Association's local adviser
for the Colchester District, kindly provided
ferns in pots and flowering plants for deco-
rating the honey tent, and this added greatly
to the appearance of the exhibits, and was
much admired. At intervals during the two
days Mr. Withycombe, the expert of the
Association, gave demonstrations and lectures
in the bee tent. Mr. Lewis Belsham was the
judge, and made the following awards : —

Collection of Hives and Appliances. — 1st, J.
Lee & Son, Silver-street, High Holborn, W.C.

Most Complete and Inexpensive Frame- Hive
—1st, J. Lee & Son : 2nd, E. H. Taylor!
Welwyn, Herts.

Observatory Hive, with Bees and Queen —
1st, W. Loveday, Hatfield Heath, Harlow ;
2nd, J. Lee & Son.

&'xl-lb. Sections.— 1st and silver medal of
B B.K.A., C. Lodge, High Easter ; 2nd, C.
Morn?, Stanford-le-Hope ; 3rd, C. M. Collins,
Tillingham; r., A. Long, Harlow.

Three lib. Sections.— 1st, C. Lodge ; 2nd, C.
Morris ; 3rd, A. Bagley, Brightlingsea ; r., W.
Loveday.

Six l-lb. Sections (gathered in any year). —
1st, W. Woodley, Newbury ; 2nd, W Love-
day ; 3rd, A. Reeve, Woodham Mortimer.

Three l-lb. Sections.— 1st, W. Woodley ;
2nd, W. Loveday.

Single l-lb. Section (gathered within a radius
of five miles of Colchester Castle).— 1st, W.
Woodley; 2nd, A. Long; 3rd, C. Morris;
r., T. I. We3ton, Wickham Bishops.

One Shallow Frame of 1901 Comb Honey for
Extracting.— 1st, C. Lodge ; 2nd, W. Love-
day ; 3rd, A. Long.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey.— 1st and
bronze medal of B B.K.A., W. Loveday ; 2nd,

E. Moss, South Ockendon ; 3rd, C. A. Atch-
ley, Willsbridge, Bristol ; r., G. Heckford,
Felsted.

Three l-lb. -Jars Extracted Honey.— 1st,
W. Loveday ; 2nd, Mrs. Morris, Cranham ;
3rd, E. Moss ; r, F. J. Carter, Galley wood.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (gathered in
1900 or any previous year).— 1st, W. Lovedav ;
2nd, A. T. Pratt, Walton.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Granulated Honey — 1st
and B.B.K.A. certificate, W. Loveday ; 2nd

F. J. Carter. J

One l-lb. Jar Extracted Honey, of any year.
— 1st, W. Loveday ; 2nd, C. A. Atchley ;
3rd, A. Long.

Best and Most Attractive Display of Honey,
in any form. — 1st, W. Loveday.

Beeswax, 2 or 3 lb.— 1st, W. Woodley ; 2nd,
W Loveday ; 3rd, J. Berry, Llanrwst ; r.,
F. J. Carter.

Mead.— 1st, T. I. Weston ; 2nd, A. Reeve.

Useful Invention Connected with Bee-keep-
ing, Introduced since 1898. — 1st, E. H.
Taylor, Welwyn, Herts.

Unpainted Hive, made by a Member of the
Essex B.K.A., not being a Professional Car-
penter.—1st. C. Lodge.— W. J. Sheppard,
Hon. Sec, Essex B.K.A.

€smtyaUmt

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice %oill be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one tide of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra.
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

\* In order to •facilitate reference, Correspondents
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[4397.] The weather is still a current topic,
especially to dwellers and workers in the
country and winning a livelihood from " the
land.1' Farmers and bee-keepers are perhaps
more interested in weather conditions, and the
consequent influence on the crops, than any

242

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 20, 1901.

other members of the community. The week
ending June 8 raised high one's hopes for a
good season ; then came a change, and the next
seven days were dull, cold, and windy, with
continually threatening clouds, but no rain.
The last two days (16th and 17th) have been
a recurrence of the previous week, with baro-
meter at " fair and rising." Thus the bees are
doing practically nothing ; yet the clicking
of the mowing-machines is constant every day,
early and late, one team of horses resting
while another team is working. The old style
of mowing with the scythe took longer than
the machines do now, and that, of course,
meant an extended forage for the bees.

Swarming. — From what I hear the swarming
season is not satisfactory. One skeppist who
lives about a mile and a-half from me has not
had a single swarm from an apiary of several
hives. Others have had a few swarms, but
these have been very troublesome, some flying
straight away without "settling," others re-
turning to the hives from which they issued.
I have myself lost two or three swarms at my
out-apiary and one at our home-apiary. The
last-named one was lost after being in its
travelling-box ready to send away. It wa3
placed where the swarm settled in order to
" gather in '' the few flying bees when, without
warning, the whole lot decamped. As these
annoyances crop-up in fairly practical hands
no wonder they are of ^frequent occurrence in
the hands of novices in bee-keeping. To the
dealer, however, there is not only the loss of
the swarm but also the fact that customers are
waiting impatiently for the very swarms which
have taken flight to homes beyond our ken.

In a recent " Note " I mentioned the utility
of an old bass-broom for cleaning the per-
forated diaphragm of the sniuk^r. I now add
another useful item for those who have trouble
in getting their smoker-fuel to keep alight.
Most of us have experienced the failure of
our " smoker " to belch forth a volume of
smoke when urgently needed, and have
endured much pain in consequence. Now if
those who suffer in this way wdl dissolve 1 oz.
of saltpetre in 1 quart of water and immerse
the smoker-fuel in this solution, then ring
same out and dry the rag, brown paper, or
whatever material is used, it will burn con-
tinuously untd consumed. Some one may
perhaps say, "Pooh! why not tell us of
something new?" I reply, "Whether new
or not it may be useful to the. recruits in our
ranks.''

New-Sized Sections. — I have invested in a
few of these, and have placed a rack containing
twenty-four of them in a strong colony under a
rack already well forward, and I find the result is
that hives that just accommodate two racks of
the ordinary sections will not take the same
number of racks without alteration ; conse-
quently, to use these new-sized sections we
must alter our rack?, buy new dividers, and
make " ekes " for our hives if they are to take
the same number as before. Possibly some of

the new and improved hives may have an
extra couple of inches of surplus room at the
top to spare, and in this case no alteration is
required ; otherwise the change mentioned
will bd needed. There is also, in my opinion,
another fault in the new sections, viz , four
bee- ways. These latter sections I tried side
by side with the "two-bee-way" by the
thousand, and I could discover no advantage
in the filling and sealing of them by the bees.
But the two-bee-way have a decided advan-
tage in the matter of handling and glazing,
while the two sides are good solid rests on
which to place and fix the glass. Then, after
glazing, the customer and dealer can handle
without cracking the glass by pressure, which
often happens with the glazed section with the
projecting corners.

The Value of our Honey-crop. — Bee-keepers
are so scattered and isolated that I fear it i3
useless to expect any consensus of opinion as
to the honey- crop thi3 year. If B.J. readers
generally would write our editor a postcard
stating from week to week the results so far,
he would be able to summarise the reports
and localise the productive districts, and thus
know if the crop was an average one or other-
wise. This information would, I think,
enable those of us who have produce for sale
to estimate its probable value. — W. Woodley,
Beedon, Newbury.

THE "RYMER" HONEY-PRESS.

[4398.] I was rather surprised to see in your
issue of May 30 under the heading of
" Novelties for 1901 " (page 218), that Mr.
Rymer is mentioned by the manufacturer as
the inventor of the " ' Rymer ' Honey-Press," a
mention which sounds almost like a fairy tale
to Pickering people. Knowiog Mr. Rymer as
we do, we can hardly believe that he will care
to wear a " dead man's shoes," and in order to
make the matter clear I may be allowed to
say the honey - press now known as the
" Rymer '' was invented by the late Mr.
Tennyson Gray, a moulder at the Whelton
Foundry, near Pickering, over thirty years
ago. Mr. Gray only made three presses, all
of which are in the possession of Pickering
people. No effort was made to put it on the
market for over twenty years, when Mr.
Rymer and a friend of his borrowed one of
these original presses from its owner (Mr.
Kitching, of Pickering), and, after securing
purchasers for half a dozen, got them made,
the only alteration being that the top-bar was
made to go over the side instead of over the
end. The press, however, still remained
nameless until three years ago, when it was
placed on the market by the proprietor of the
Pickering Bee-Farm, and was then named by
Mr. Rymer himself. I therefore think that
this press must be the one now called the
" Rymer.'' I am very pleased to see that Mr.
Meadows is placing a similar press on the

June 20, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

243

market, as no one has had to suffer more from
the difficulty in procuring those presses than
myself. — Thomas Hood, While Heather
Apiary, Pickering, June 11.

[On receipt of the above communication we
considered it desirable, in the interests of all
concerned, to publish whatever Mr. Bynier
might wish to say on the subject along with
Mr. Hood's letter, and with tbis in view sent
a copy to Mr. Rymer, whose reply appears
below. — Eds.]

Referring "to your letter of 13th inst., con-
taining copy of Mr. Hood's letter re " Honey-
Press,'' I am rather pleased than otherwise to
have an opportunity of giving some particulars
about this press, because the information
afforded by Mr. Hood's ietter is both interest-
ing and new to me. As a matter of fact, I
have made many inquiries, but have hitherto
quite failed in obtaining the information now
afforded, although five years have passed since
I brought the press out. It thus becomes
necessary that I should give you some par-
ticulars regarding the way the press that bears
my name came into existence in order to clear
away any doubt of my bona fides that may be
created by Mr. Hood's letter. Let me then
tell such of your readers as care to know, that
six years ago I made a strong frame of wire-
netting to enclose my " letter-copying press, '
such as is supplied to all railway offices (made
by Durmison & Sons, Newcastle), and in this
form I used the press to get my heather honey
for that season. This trial clearly proved to
me that a machine made like the top part of
my " copying press " and enclosed in a strong
metal case, grated all round and on the bottom,
would form a most powerful and efficient
machine for my purpose, and in order to carry
out the idea I arranged with the late Mr.
Hutton Whitby to make me a press on the
principle I had in mind before another season
came round.

This all happened before I was even aware
of the existence of the old press referred to by
Mr. Hood. Five years ago Mr. Kitching and
I were discussing the subject of pressing of
heather honey, and Mr. H, being an old bee-
man of twenty years'" experience, was, like
myself, deeply interested in the matter. In
the course of our talk I showed him the
" copying press '' in the office which I had used
for the purpose the year before, and not only
told him that I was going to have a press made,
but who had undertaken to try and make it.
Mr. Kitching then said, " Why, I have the very
press you require, and will send you it up.''
This he did, and sure enough this press con-
tained the very principle on which I had decided
to have one constructed ; it was, however,
not only much too small for my purpose, but the
top of the press was not as I wanted it. I have
no hesitation at all in saying that I was not
the inventor of this old press to which Mr.
Hood refers, and, as already said, I never knew
its history till now. I also placed this old

press in the hands of Mr. Hutton as, in some
measure, a guide to go by, but giving him my
own dimensions and instructions regarding my
own alterations, and stating that the cross-
bar and top of the new machine was to be an
exact counterpart of my "copying press.''
Thus the old press in question did play some
part in getting out the new one. It is, how-
ever, positively certain that without my ever
having seen or heard of the press Mr. Hood
mentions, the one bearing my name would
have been brought out all the same. Most
people know the adage about there being
"nothing new under the sun," and in bee-
appliances, along with other machinery of the
present day, the same idea may strike different
people at different times ; and I certainly
have no desire to pose as an " inventor '' to
the detriment of other good bee-men who
have now passed from among us. It merely
shows that, thirty years ago, others possessed
similar ideas to myself in pressing heather
honey. My only desire has been to see the
press manufactured at a price that all my
bee-brethren might share its advantages, and
this I am quite satisfied Mr. Meadows has
accomplished.

I trust you will kindly allow me to men-
tion above facts in the B.B.J, along with Mr.
Hood's letter in order that your readers may
clearly understand my position in the matter.
I desire this because —it may be unintention-
ally— Mr. Hood seems to convey the impres-
sion that I have been doing something to
claim merit which is due to another. At the
same time he certainly knew nothing of my
intentions, but only saw the press when it
was completed. — J. Rymer, Levisham, Picker-
ing, June 14.

THE SEASON IN DORSET.

DISQUALIFIED EXHIBITS.

[4399.] It is some time since I penned a
line to the B.B.J. on bee matters in our part,
so I send a few notes to let you know how
we stand for the season now begun. Well,
my bees have been doing grand work ; hives
" boiling over " with bees, as they say, No
swarms so far, but plenty of honey coming in,
and I have two supers on nearly all my hives.
As ours is a very early district I entered in
two classes at the Southern Counties Agricul-
tural Exhibition at Weymouth, and was much
disappointed, as you may guess, when, on
paying a visit to the honey department, I saw
"1st prize " marked on a sample of granulated
honey, and 2nd prize on some inferior stuff,
and on my exhibit the words, " Too late for
competition." I sent away my honey od
Monday morning by "Pass, train," and from
what I could gather from the secretary it
arrived same day. The time (according to
schedule) for exhibits to be there was on
Tuesday morning. It was delivered to the
" Hants Bee-keepers' Association " instead of
at the show-tent, and I suppose I have to

244

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 20, 1901.

thank the officials of the said Association for
delaying the staging of it until two hours
after judging was over. There can be no
doubt any competent judge would have
awarded me the 1st prize, as it was new honey,
clear, and of as good colour as anyone would
wish to see. It was, in fact, to my mind, the
best honey ever I exhibited since I have kept
bees, and I generally sweep the show-bench
at our local bee-shows. Of comb-honey there
was none staged but mine, but both my ex-
hibits were marked " Too late for competi-
tion." I have sent in claim to railway com-
pany, but do not know if I shall succeed in
getting any compensation. Anyway, I shall
try for it. I wonder what our friends Woodley
and Loveday think about it ? I should like
to see a few comments from them as ex-
perienced exhibitors on the subject. I am
perhaps intruding too much on your space in
this personal matter, but I think this sort of
thing cannot have too much attention paid to
it by the committees of shows. I may say
the honey was plainly addressed to the
secretary of the show, with class and number
added. — Wm. J. Norman, West Bridport,
June 17.

WATERCRESS HONEY.

[4400.] I thought it might interest some of
your readers to know that I get a great
quantity of what I consider very good quality
honey from watercress bloom. The bees store
very fast from this source and will fill a cra'e
of shallow-frames in a few days.

I may mention we are large growers of
watercress plants, having many acres of them,
and as they bloom just after the sainfoin and
trifolium is cut, it keeps the bee3 storing fast
until the limes bloom. I may also mention
that we have a large late-flowering lime tree
which blooms the end of July or beginning of
August. Later on I will send you a sample
of watercress honey, as I should like to have
your opinion of it. I take the B.B. Journal
and Record in regularly, and find great help
from perusal of their respective pages. —
W. A. D. Pern, Emestholme JVursery,
near Basingstoke, June 1 5.

CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES BY BEES.

INSURING bee-keepers.

[4401.] Having, a day or two ago, some
business to transact with the Law Accident
Insurance Society, Limited, and bearing in
mind the recent correspondence in your
columns, in which various readers expressed
themselves as desirous to insure against liability
for damages caused by bees, I took the oppor-
tunity of inquiring if such a system of insur-
ance would be feasible. The above-named
company, which by name, at least, is doubtless
known to most of your readers, is, I under-
stand, willing to form^ate such a scheme

of insurance, and, as a preliminary, has
asked me to state what risks it is desired
to cover ? Whilst the damages to ensure
against would no doubt be all those for which
a bee-keeper could be held legally liable, I
imagine that the chief, if not the only, risks
would be those in connection with stings
inflicted upon human beings, or live stock out-
side the apiary insured. The " Policy '' might, no
doubt, also be framed to include the insurer's
own belongings. At any rate, I should be
glad if your readers would state their views
and (with your permission) freely discuss the
subject in your columns, in order that I may
supply the company with the information
desired. I trust that the result may be a
form of insurance acceptable and advantageous
to all bee-keepers who desire to insure. —
Gerard Jensen, South Norwood, S.E.,
June 15.

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

In our good friend Mr. Paterson — whose
apiary forms our bee-garden picture this week
— we have another bee-man who not only has
been a bee-keeper from early boyhood, but one
who, in the love of his home and his bees,
finds his greatest happiness and immunity
from the " troubles of this world." It comes,
too, as a corrective of our English ideas of
gradually lowering prices for honey when
we find our Scotch friends still able to realise
such prices as Is. 61. per lb. for comb
honey and Is. for extracted. This is especially
true, bearing in mind the impression — which
generally prevails in England— that our Scotch
friends are, as a rule, les3 disposed to be ex-
travagant in their " spendings '' on what some
call luxuries, such as honey. Anyway, the
fact is there, and it is an encouraging one for
those whose bees are located " ayont the
Tweed."

For the rest, we leave Mr. Paterson to give
his own interesting experiences as follows : —

"In sending you a few particulars with
regard to my bee-experiences, I shall have to
go back a good many years to the home of my
grandfather at Balincrief, in the county of
Haddington, for it was from him I got my
early training among the bees. I well
remember the time when as a young boy I
accompanied him with his bee-hives to the
heather hills some miles above Haddington.
We packed the hives on a farmer's ordinary
cart, lent by Mr. George Reid, farmer, of
Balincrief. But, Mr. Editor, how changed are
now the methods of bee-management to those
of the old days, when I look back and
remember how ruthlessly the bees were then
destroyed in the brimstone pit after their
labours at the heather were ended for the
year ; all destroyed except just the few kept
for carrying on the work in the following
spring. Thanks, however, to the British Bee

June 20, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

245

Journal and Mr. Cowan's 'Guide Book'
the gruesome work has all disappeared from
my practice. Much good was also done by
Mr. Baldwin, the well-known expert, for his
practical address on bee-keeping at the High-
land Society's show at Stirling, when he
knocked into the minds of some of our hard-
headed Scotch bee-keepers a proper and prac-
tical knowledge of the bar- frame hive and its
benefits. I claim the honour of being one of
the first to introduce in our part of the
kingdom a bar - frame hive of the most
approved kind, made by Allins, of Stuarton,
near here.

"I am a believer in imported Italian or
Ligurian queens, which I have purchased from

work is carried out for the good of the whole
colony, it affords a wholesome example, and
leads one to higher aspirations. We thus get
get many valuable lessons.

" I have a favourite cat at home here, and
she will go out and sit among the hives for
hours. The bees seem to have got to know
her ; indeed, I have many times seen them
alight and rest on her head or back.
But just let a strange cat come around ; then
you will see some fun ! The bees will attack
the intruder like a regular little army, and
then the stampede is a ' caution ' to watch
I have at times seen them inflict very severe
punishment in this way.

" Coming to the question of marketing

MR. MATTHEW PATERSON S APIARY, LOW PLEASANCE, LARKHALL, N B.

several well-known English dealers. These
foreign queens produce bees that are bardy,
industrious, and good honey-gatherers. With
regard to my love for bee-keeping as a
home pursuit, I can truly say the greatest
happiness in my life next to home comforts
are the hours spent with the bees. It is a real
pleasure in that it tends to make one forget
the troubles of this world. I may add that
the value of bee-keeping as a rural pursuit is
not generally known among the working
classes throughout the country. The value of
a few hives in the cottage garden is great, for
not only is the honey a wholesome food for
children, but it possesses value as a medicine.
To those who love to work among bees, and
watch how wonderfully the system of their

honey, I may say our surplus is easily dis-
posed of at the prices of Is. 6d. per lb. for
comb and Is. per lb. for run honey. The
grocers are usually on the hunt for it, so that
we have no difficulty in disposing of the crop.

" We have a journey of fully twenty miles
in carting the bees from the valley of the
Clyde to the heather, which causes a good
deal of expense ; still, there is some profit for
the bee-keeper.

" In conclusion, I may say the figures seen
in photo sent consist of myself and my better
half, who takes her share of the work in my
apiary, and my daughter, who, I think, will
probably fill my place among the bees in
later years. In closing I wish all a good bee-
season and prosperity all round.''

246

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 20, 1901.

CONVERSATIONS WITH DOOLITTLE.

PREVENTING INCREASE.

"Good morning, Mr. Doolittle. I came
over to have a little talk with you on the
swarming question, as some of my bees are
becoming crowded, so they hang out on the
outside of the hives."

" Well, Mr. Brown, swarming is a large
subject, and one many bee-keepers have
studied over ; but up to the present time no
one has fully stopped all swarming when
working for comb-honey. But I do not wish
to entirely stop swarming, for I believe that
swarms which issue previous to ten days before
the honey-harvest are a good investment ; and
to try and prevent such swarms as are dis-
posed to issue at that time, or earlier, has
always with me resulted in a loss in honey,
and so I hive in a new hive all first swarms
which come ten days or more before the main
honey-harvest commences."

"Very well. And how do you manage
these swarms '? "

" As soon as the hive is half to two-thirds
full of comb I put on sections, or, in cases
where I have furnished the new hive with
empty combs or filled the frames with comb-
foundation, I put on the sections at once."

" I see you are pretty well posted in
managing prime swarms ; but what about
after-swarms ? "

" I have very little trouble with these, as I
generally set the new hive with the swarm on
the stand the parent colony occupied, placing
the old hive on a new stand. This draws
most of the field-bees in with the swarm, so
that the parent colony has little desire to
swarm when the first young queen hatches ;
1 therefore allow her to destroy the other
queen-cells."

" But can you depend on this always ? "
" No, not always ; and for this reason I
look over the combs in the moved hives nine
days after moving ; and if the bees have
destroyed the cells, and no ' piping ' is heard,
I am sure that colony will not swarm. If I
hear ' piping,' or find queen-cells not torn
down, I destroy all but one, saving the best-
looking one, unless I find a cell from which
the queen has emerged, which I always do
where 'piping' is heard, in which case I
destroy all. But my chief concern is what to
do with such colonies as have not swarmed
within five or ten days of the honey-harvest.
To allow them to swarm at the very com-
mencement of the harvest spoils the old colony
from doing anything in sections."

" Well, so far you have been instructing me,
and now I will try to see if I can help you.
My plan to prevent swarming at the com-
mencement of the honey-flow has been to stop
them by way of a moderate increase, by the
following plan : — Shake all the bees and queen
from a populous colony into an empty hive —
that is, a hive having frame3 filled with
foundation, and a super on containing sections

filled with thin foundation, for this shaken
colony will contain a half more bees than
would a swarm from the same hive. The
combs taken, freed from bees but fall of
brood, are arranged back in the old hive,
when I move another colony to a new stand
and place this hive having the combs of brood
in its place, giving them a laying queen,
Thi3 last colony moved may be the weaker of
those which have not swarmed, as any colony
strong enough to think of swarming at all
will furnish field-bees enough to care for the
brood, providing the change is made at a time
when the bees are flying freely. You will see
that I make one new colony from two old
ones, having all in the best possible condition
to store comb-honey by the time the harvest
arrives."

" Yes, I think I understand the plan, and
I will try it. But suppose that I have all the
increase I desire from the swarms which issue
previous to ten days before the honey harvest.
Is there no way of stopping the rest from
swarming, and still have them work to advan-
tage in sections 2 "

" Do you clip the wings of your queens 1 "
" Yes, always."

" All right. Now, if we have decided that
prevention of increase will be more profitable
than further increase, we must, when a swarm
issues, catch the queen as she is found running
around in front of the hive, and place her in a
wire-cloth cage kept on hand for this purpose ;
spread the comb3 a little in the centre of the
hive, and then by means of a wire attached to
the cage suspend it in the centre of the hive,
and the bees will soon return. The first
queen-cell will be due to hatch in seven days ;
but if we wait the seven days and cut off the
queen-cells at that time the bees will have
brood still young enough, so they will start
cells over the larvas, and often cherish these
cells, raising a queen from them and killing
the old queen when liberated, thus destroying
the usefulness of the colony, as a queen reared
from such brood is practically worthless. So
to overcome this difficulty I open the hive in
four days and cut off all the queen-cells which
are sealed, allowing the re3t to remain, which
satisfies the bees, so they do not build any
over brood. I now wait six more days, or ten
days from the time the swarm issued, when all
queen-cells are cutoff and the queen liberated.
The bees will now go to work in the sections
with a will that is almost surprising ; and the
honey that has been stored in the combs while
the queen has been caged, together with that
coming from the fields, makes an aggregate
which booms work in the sections to the
greatest degree."

" But suppose that I do not wish swarms
to issue ; what then 1 Cannot the queen
be caged without waiting for the swarm to
issue 1 "

" Yes, I often hunt them up and cage them,
putting the cage near the entrance in one of
the frames, allowing it to rest on the bottom-

June 20, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

247

bar to one of the frames not having the comb
built fully down near one end. Where you
cage in this way it is necessary to cut the
queen- cells but once, unless you find some
nearly ready to seal, for none will hatch from
those built over brood before the eleventh to
thirteenth day. Therefore, if we cut the cells
on the tenth day and liberate the queen we
are all right. But where a swarm has not
issued, the bees will not always be satisfied
without trying to swarm, if the queen is
released in ten days' time, so on cutting the
cells at this time I put a plug filled with
queen candy in the cage, which is long enough
to take the bees three or four days to eat out
the candy to get to her, thus liberating her."

" This candy is put in a hole bored through
the centre of the plug • ?"

"Yes."

" How long a plug does it take for three
days?"

" If the hole is only § in., 3 in. long is
about right, as they eat out about an inch a
day. But I hear a horn blowing up at your
house. What does it mean ? "

" It means my bees are swarming, and I'm
oftV' — Gleanings (American).

tifchats flnrat Ifo Warn.

Hatfield Heath, Harlow, Essex, June 17,
1901. — Some time back when, after weeks
of wet — the length of which are greater in
imagination than reality— spring suddenly
burst forth upon us, our old friend (not less
the old friend of the bees) John Walton — than
whom, from his experiences during a long life
and as a bee-keeper of more years than the
lifetime of many, none is better able to appre-
ciate what is good for men and bees, and
to know the power of bad things to develop
good as well as ill — friend Walton, as I
say, joining with his bees in a general appre-
ciation of the return of spring and things
good for bees and bee-keepers with it, having
discussed the then present, and the pros-
pects of the future, asks, " And what then ? ''
At that time the weather was such as to
make everything and everybody helpless ex-
cept that it was good to be alive at all.
By the way, I suppose we should try to
feel so in all circumstances. The days were
all that bees and bee-keepers could desire ;
aye, and the nights too. The latter were
warm, and the roar of hundreds of fanning
bee3 coming from the porticos of their hives
made it evident that they individually and
collectively felt the goodness that allowed
them to live, and, standing in the light
of the full moon of that time, listening to
the thrilling songs of the nightingales,
one could but say ditto. Though the hour
was late, even the cuckoo expressed his appre-

ciation of the good things then enjoyed by
giving his usual song at intervals. Then came
piercing east winds, so strong as to make it
difficult for bees to enter their hives, frosty
nights and contracted clusters of bees resulting
in some apiaries I know in much brood being
chilled. Then, again, in the third and fourth
weeks of May, better weather and quite a flow
of honey. A lady bee-keeper in my district
took off a full rack of sections in the last week
of May, and sold them, too. For the present
I must say that drought, stormy days, with a
strong north wind and intensely cold nights, are
bringing bees quite to a standstill. On the
night of Friday last, June 14, we had a severe
frost here which killed a row of runner-beans
near my hives, and that right in the middle of
our season. Bat I note from the papers that
they even had snow in N.B., so I really think
we must get our overcoats. And what then ?
— We Lovedat.

dfto^s and mplip.

[2668.] Dividing Strong Colonies, — I should
be very much obliged if you would give me a
little advice. Last summer one of my stocks
became queenless, and although I introduced
another queen in the autumn, I discovered
they had a fertile worker, and having then
been over two months without a queen, there
were not very many bees left ; but as the hive
contained plenty of stores in all ten frames,
our expert said he would endeavour to get me
some driven bees to unite with the stock in
question. These he secured in the month of
September ; they came from a large old box,
and I believe there were about 9 lb. in weight
of bees, so that they simply packed the ten
frames when we ran them in. They seemed
to keep nearly as strong all the winter, and by
the middle of April this year the ten frames
were almost one mas3 of brood. I thought if
I supered them in the ordinary way they
would swarm, as the queen had nowhere to lay ;
and as I wanted honey most I put another
body-box, holding eleven full-size frames, on
top, giving queen access to both. Before the
middle of May this also was full of bees and
brood in most of the frames. I then put a
box holding eight standard frames filled with
foundation (wired) on as a super, with queen-
excluder under. This is now crowded also, so
that bees now fully cover twenty-nine frames.
1. If I keep extracting from the eight frames,
would that be enough, or would you put
another super on ] What I chiefly wish to
know is, as the queen seems such a prolific
one, what would be the best way of dividing
the stock in the autumn ? I thought of trying
the following plan ! — When the honey-flow
begins to abate, remove the super and then
carry the top body-box to a short distance,

248

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 20, 1901.

taking care that brood and eggs are left in
each. The lot without a queen will, no
doubt, then raise one, but how late in the
year will it be safe to do this so as to be sure
of the qu<ea getting mated ? 2. Would the last
week in July be too late ? This is the only
point I am not sure of, as I would sooner do it
earlier than iun any risk — F. B. Thompson,
Boston, Lives, June 11.

Eeply. — 1. If you remove such of the
frames as are filled for extracting, and replace
at once with either built-out combs or frames
filled with foundation, the super referred to
will need no addition. 2. With regard to
dividing the colony when the honey-flow
begins to fail, it will probably be successful if
carefully carried out. But we should remove
the old queen — with her brood-nest and its
attendant young bees — to the new stand. By
so doing the plan will be safer, because, by
adopting the method you propose, the whole
of the flyiDg bees would desert the hive moved
and return to the old stand. Be careful to
leave eggs and brood in all stages in the part
left on the old stand, and make the division as
early in July as possible. You should also
examine the combs to see that queen-cells
are well under weigh in five or six days after
dividing.

[2669.] Bees Deserting Hives in Spring. — I
am sending you a sample of comb and two
queen-cells taken from hives that were a few
days ago found beeless, and would be glad if
you could explain why ? Also, if I am right
in judging that it is not the result of disease ?
The two queen-cells were cut from a frame-
hive stocked with a last season's swarm, and
which has the appearance of queenlessness,
there being two or three queen-cells in a more
or less advanced state on nearly every comb.
Two only of the cells had been sealed over. I
regret having opened the cells to see if they
contained brood (as I see by B.B.J, that you
like the samples not tampered with), and
found only what I took to be the " royal jelly,"
such as I find in queen-cells removed from
hives after swarming. Sample No. 2 is a
piece of comb cut from a skep which when
examined looked as if the bees had disappeared
from starvation. There was living brood in
the combs, for a few young bees were gnawing
their way out of cells, but (as in sample) the
worker-cells were elongated or drawn out
beyond the usual size. There was no food in
the hive, and only about a dozen dead bees on
the comb. It seemed that the bees had
wintered all right, but were famine-stricken
in the spring. From the description given of
foul brood in the "Guide Book,'' I take it
that these hives were not diseased, but foul
brood seems to be unknown here. Having
ten hives of my own close to the above, I
should be glad to get your opinion. — J.
Seeney.

Reply. — 1. With regard to the hive from

which queen-cells were cut, it had evidently
lost its queen for some time before the bees
deserted. They had apparently tried to raise
a queen and failed ; then, as food became
scarce in spring, the bees probably decamped
and joined some other colony. The drone-
brood in worker-cells will be from eggs laid
by a fertile worker. 2. The dead brood in
piece of comb marked " 2 " is " chilled " only,
but we found one cell full of the brown ropy
matter that clearly bespeaks foul brood ; it is
therefore certain that the hive was diseased,
though it may have by some means been kept
under control.

[2670 ] Transferring Diseased Stocks to
Frame-Hives. — Since you were kind enough
to answer my query re transferring bees, I
have found that one stock has drawn out the
sheets of foundation and stored about 12 lb.
of honey in the new brood-chamber. The
other stock has, however, not started to go
down, and the bees have become very languid
in their working. I have also noticed that
they seem to be getting less in number. I
have carefully examined them as best I can
(they are in a box), and I find what I think is
foul brood. Of course, having no previous
experience of it, I cannot be certain about it,
so I am sending a specimen of the comb for
your inspection. Would jou be kind enough
to tell me through the medium of your
valuable paper whether it is affected or not ? —
A. R. L , Bristol, June 16.

Reply. — It is mo3t unfortunate that the
condition of the bees to be transferred was
not ascertained beforehand, for the comb sent
shows as bad a case of foul brood as can well
be conceived. It is no use allowing the
transfer to go on. We should destroy the box
and bees at once and disinfect the hive below.

[2671.] Vagaries of Swarming. — I have
five frame hives, and was preparing to take an
artificial swarm from one of them (No. 1) but,
unfortunately, was too late, as the swarm
issued just as I started operations, and entered
into another hive (No. 5) which was showing
signs of swarming, and to which I had
attached a swarm-preventing chamber a few
days previously. I have one rack of sections
on this hive, and bees are working
harmoniously together. Are they likely to
remain, or will swarm probably come out
again from No. 5 ? On the first-named hive
(No. 1), which is still very crowded, I have
put a rack of sections and a swarm-preventing
chamber. Is there any chance of any casts
coming out of it. — Highlander, June 15.

Reply. — If the swarm and stock are still
working peacefully and well together, it is
quite certain that one of the queens has been
killed. We should, therefore, give the bees
more surplus-room, and, if convenient, remove
a couple of outside frames from brood-chamber,
replacing with full frames of foundation.

June 20, 1901. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

249

\tt $fom to <&mt

June 23 to July I, at Cardiff.—" Royal "
Agricultural Society's Show. Bee and Honey Section
under management of the B. B.K.A. Entries closed.

July 8 and 19, at Brigg.— Honey, Hives, and
Bee Appliances in connection with the Lincolnshire
Agricultural Society ; Bee Department under the
management of the Lines. B.K.A. Schedules from the
Hon. Sec, R. Godson, Tothill, Alford. Entries
closed.

July 24, at Broughton, Hants. — Broughton
Flower show. Open class for six 1-lb. jars extracted
honey. Schedules from C. Upshall, Broughton, Stock-
bridge, Hants.

July 25, 26 and 27, at St. Helens.— Royal

Lancashire Agricultural Society's Show. Bee-keepers'
Section. For Honey, Hives, and Appliances. Liberal
Money Prizes and valuable Medals in Open Classes for
Sections, Extracted Honey, Honey Trophy, and Appli-
ances. Full particulars in advertisements shortly.
Prize schedules from Edward Bohan, Secretary,
Miller Arcade, Preston. Entries closed.

July 29, at Caergwele Castle Flower Show.
— Bee Lectures, Honey Classes. Schedules from H. D.
Davies, Abermorddu, Wrexham.

July 31, at Henbnry, Bristol.— Honey show of the
Henbury District B.K.A. in conjunction with the Hen-
bury Horticultural Society's show. Schedules from \V.
G. Barnfleld, Hon. Sec, H.B.K.A., Charlton, near
Bristol. Entries close July 24.

August 6, at Leamington.— Honey section of
Leamington St. Mary's flower show. Three open
classes for six 1-lb. sections, six 1-lb. jars " light,"
and six 1-lb. jars " dark" extracted honey, respectively.
Good prizes. Schedules from the secretary, 2, St.
Marys-road, Leamington. Entries close August 3-

August 8, at Kingsthorpe. Northampton.—
Honey Show of the Northants B.K.A., in connection
with the Horticultural Exhibition. Twelve classes for
bee-keepers, including special class (six prizes) open to
all (with frae entry) for single 1-lb. jar extracted honey.
Six prizes, 20s., 10s. 6d., 7s. 6d., 2s. 6d., 2s., and certifi-
cate. Schedules from Robt. Hefford, Hon. Sec, Kings-
thorpe, Northants. jfintries close August 1.

August 15, 16, and 17, at Crystal Palace.—
Surrey B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees, Honey, Wax,
and Appliances, &C Twenty-four classes (eleven open
to all). Increased prizes and medals. Schedules from
V. B. White, Hon. Secretary, Marden House, Redhill.
Entries close August 1.

August 17, at Ammanford (N. Walesa-
Honey show in connection with the Ammanford Flower
Show. Liberal prizes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar extracted honey, also classes for three sections
and three 1-lb. jars, light and dark honey.— Particulars
from Mr. Ivor Morris, Hon. Sec, Ammanford R.S.O.,
Carmarthen.

August 21 and 22, at Shrewsbury. ---Annual
Show of the Shropshire B.K.A., in connection with the
Shropshire Horticultural Society's Great Floral Fete in
"The Quarry." Bees, Honey, Hives, and. Appliances.
Six Open Classes for Honey. Schedules from S. Cart-
wright, Hon. Secretary, Shropshire B.K.A., Shrews-
bury, Salop. Entries close August 9.

August 28, at Chester.— Annual Show of the
Cheshire B.K.A., in connection with the Cheshire Agri-
cultural Society. Ten classes (four open) for hives, honey
i light, medium, and dark), sections, &u. Schedules
from T. A. Beckett, St. Werburgh's Chambers, Chester.
Entries close Aug. 7. (At double fees to Aug. 14.)

Thursday, August 29, at Montgomery.—
Montgomery and District Horticultural Society's Show.
Two open Classes for Honey— six 1 lb. sections, six 1 lb.
jars and extracted, with prizes of 10s., 5s., and 2s. 6d.
in cash. Schedules from Mr. W. fl. Jones, Hon. Sec,
Montgomery. EntrieB close August 22.

September 7 to 14, at the Agricultural
Halt, London.— Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (9th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Eleven classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees-
wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers.

September 11 and 12, at Derby— Derbyshire
1S.K.A. twentieth Annual Show of Hives, Bees, and
H:>neyonthe showground of the Derbyshire Agricul-

tural Society. Schedules from F. Walker, Secretary
D.B.K.A , 64, Gerard-street, Derby. Entries clone
August 30.

September 21 to 28, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with the
fifth Annual Exhibition of the Grocery and Kindred
Trades. Eleven classes and liberal prizes for comb and
extracted honey and bees-wax. Open to all British
Bee-keepers.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letters or queries asking /or addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur-
chased, or replies giving such information, can onty be
inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
beepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

T. W. Sampson (Battersea). — Old', Bee-Boohs.
— The book mentioned, "The Antient Bee-
master's Farewell," by John Keys (1796),
is not by any means scarce as ancient bee-
books go. Its value is probably not more
than about 4s.

R. F. Wheatley (Bromley). — Fermented
Honey.— -The " unpleasant smell and taste "
arises from the honey in sections being
unripe when removed from the hive, and
fermentation has set up in consequence.
But for that the honey would no doubt be
quite palatable.

E. W. S. (Enfield).— Bee - Nomenclature.—
Beyond a slight trace of foreign blood, such
as is seen in nearly all hives, the bees are
the ordinary or common brown variety of
this country. Yours are evidently a good
strain, from the particulars given.

P. Cruickshanks (Grantown). — Trying
Special Queens. — We shall be very pleased
to get your experience of the queens men-
tioned, and as yours is so fine a district for
good bee-forage, it will give the newly-
introduced queens a good chance of showing
the qualities of the bees produced by
them.

S. Head ( Ivy bridge).— Bidding Hives of
Wax-Moth. — Despite the remedies some
propouBd for ridding hives of wax-moth,
we think the best of all methods is to keep
only strong colonies. We never yet heard
of a good praetical bee-keeper allowing his
stocks to be seriously damaged by wax-
moth. If a good look-out is kept and the
larvaj destroyed when found, you will find
it easy to keep the nuisance at a distance.
It is only when combs are left about
unlooked at, or hives are neglected, that the
moth has a chance of getting the upper
hand.

Hartwood. — Honey Samples. — The honey
sent is quite fit for table use, if the flavour
is not objected to. We fancy it comes
mainly from horse - chestnut, but other
sources of supply have been tapped by the
bees, so it is a mixed sample.

250

THE BEITISH BEE JOUENAL. [June 20, 1901.

F. Hamshar (Sussex) — Re-queening Hives. —
It is only wasting brood and eggs from other
hives to give such to stocks 1-ng queenless,
and now having a fertile worker in the hive
producing drones. The bees also are prac-
tically valueless, therefore to ': add a swarm
or cast " to them would do no good in any
way. Better let the colony die out if you
do not care to destroy the bees.

H. H. W. (Newton Abbot).— Mead— Your
sample is an infinitely better mead than any
of the honey beverages called mead in
which spices are used. Indeed, we judged
it on the standard of high- class mead, and
but for lacking a little in body it would
stand very well.

W. H. H. (Banbridge). — Joining Bee-Associa-
tion— The hon. sec. of the Irish B.K.A. is
Mr. M. H. Bead, Clonoughlis, Straff an
Station.

Sus'pected Combs.

Special Notice to correspondents sending queries on
"•'Foul brood."

We urgently r'equest that all letters sent with samples
of suspected comb be put outside the box or tin containing

the sample. Also that no mare than a couple of ■square
inches of comb be sent, taking Care t6 neither crush the
ennil, nor probe the cells before despatch i lift .

In urgent eases (and where possible) we underiake\to
" wire " replies as to F. B. if six stamps are sent to cover
cost of telegram. All letters to be addressed " Editor,
llee Journal," not "Manager."

S. Thompson (Tring). — There is foul brood in
comb, but it appears a mild case.

D. B. (Balnyle Lodge). — There is foul brood
of old standing in comb, and as the queen
is old and a drone-breeder, we hardly think
the colony is worth the effort of trviDg to
save the bees. It is safer to destroy them.

W. K. Baker (Penzance).— Beferring to the
three samples of comb sent, No. 1 is old
pollen-bound comb, useless to bees or bee-
keeper. There is no trace of brood in it,
foul or otherwise, but being useless, we
should destroy it. No. 2, also very old
comb ; two or three cells are sealed over,
but it would appear to have had no brood
in for a very long time, as the larvse in
sealed cells has dried up and disappeared.
No. 3 contains foul brood of old standing ;
no trace of recent brood. All such combs
as samples were cut from are unfit for
using again, and any good bee-man would
promptly burn them.

J. M. Kidd (Stocksfield). — Your neighbour,
apparently, does not often examine the
combs in his hives. The sample sent is so
dry and old that no trace of brood is left in
the sealed cells. We cannot, therefore,
definitely say as to disease, but it looks very
suspicious, and we should not use such
combs on any account for bees.

Tom 0. E. (Llandilo). — Bad case of foul brood.

C. W. S. (Lincoln). — Foul brood is developing
in comb sent.

J. English (High Spen).— Comb is badly
affected with foul brood.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve word* and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny. ■

SPLENDID NEW SEASON'S HONEY, it) 28-lb. tins,
6|d. lb. Tins free. Sample, 2d. Richd. dutton,
Telling, Witham, Essex. <; 38

REMOVING.— BEES, Frame Hives, and Appliances
FOR SALE. Any reasonable price. Inglis, P. O.
Delph, Oldham. G 41

WANTED, EXTRACTOR, HIVES, or APPLIANCES
Exchange three large Aylesbury Ducks and Drake ;
year-olds laying, grand pen. T. Thorpe, Lea, Matlock
Bath. a 42

WANTED, 500 (more or less) QUEEN BEES and
QUEEN CELLS, alive or dead. State lowest
price. Bonner Chambers, Diptford, South Brent,
S. Devon. G 40

WrANTED, second-hand Root's "A. B. C." of Bee-
keeping; also "A Modern Bee Farm,' by
Simmins; also '-The Life of the Bee." Mrs. Hoyden,
Sefton, near Liverpool.

ALUMINIUM CAMERA (by Mayfield), lantern-plate
size, in solid leather case, and walking-stick
stand ; very light and compact ; cost £0 6s. ; take 50s.,
or exchange Bee Appliances. Cotterill, 31, Pemderon-
road, Croydon. G 36

OWING TO DEATH of owner, must clear. 11 strong
ST< >GKS of BEES ; 9-inch bar-framed Hives, with
section crates and sections (nearly full) ; 2-inch straw-
skeps ; two empty bar-framed Hives ; several extra
Frames and Sections. £6 the lot. Hives alone worth
more. Nash, Upholsterer, Taunton. g 37

ROLIFIC QUEENS. — Pure Imported Carnioians"
7s. 6d. ; Italians, 6s. 6d. ; home-bred from im-
ported mothers, 5s. ; others, 3s. 6d. ; swarms, from
10s. 6d. Stocks and Nuclei, headed by any variety queen
at fair prices. Former customers are repeating orders.
Particulars of E. Woodham, Clavering, Newport, Essex.

FOR SALE (owner leaving country), several STOCKS
pure ITALIAN BEES, three to five bands of
yellow, very handsome, gentle, magnificent workers,
30s. a stock. Laige stock of everything appertaining to
bee-keeping. "Wells,'' "Ford-Wells," "Conqueror,"
" W. B. ('.," and other Hives. Flat Drawn-out Store
Combs for brood and supering. " W. B. C." Super and
Combs complete (broad or ordinary), 6s. each ; good
Brood Combs, 7s. 6d. for 10; Observatory Hive, glass on
all sides and top, 14 frames. Everything guaranteed
healthy. Major Campbell, King's Regiment, Woodside,
Ainsdale, Lancashire. G 35

STRAW SKEPS, cane bound, 18s. dozen ; 9s. 6d. § doz.
Alfiied Harding, Straw-skep Maker, Belliugdou,
Chesham, Bucks. g 29

FOR SALE, Bar-frame hives, Skeps, Sections, Comb
foundations, &c, chiefly new. Mrs. Kime,
Mareham-le-Fen, Boston. f 31

RPINGTON EGGS, Black and Buff from handsome
fowls (Cook and Partington strain), 2s. 9d. dozen.
E. Middlemas, Stamford, Alnwick. G 30

FOR SALEr Pure^NEW- ENGLISH HONEY, 6d: per
lb., in 10 and 28 lb. tins (tins included). Geo.
Reynolds, Eaton Ford, St. Neots. g :;:■:

STRONG natural SWARMS, 1800 Fertile Queen,
10s. 6d., 12s. 6d. ; second ditto, Ss. 6d. Guaranteed

healthy. Woods, Normandy. Guildford. G 12

"ANTED, bEOTION-HONEY, best quality; 1901
season. Good cash price for early delivery. T.
SMITH & Co., 17, Cambridge-street, London, W. G 10
ANTED, new SECTIONS, first quality, clear, pale
and up to weight. Any quantity prompt cash.
W. Chilton, The Apiaries, Polegate, Sussex.
r) c TH V KAK- STOCKS on six Wired frames, 16s. Gil. ;
43 Swarms, 10s. 6d., 12s. 6d., 15s. Queens, 5s.
Alsford, Expert, Blandford. F 8S

FIVE-FRAME STOCKS, youngQueens, 18s. 6d. ; threte-
frame ditto, 12s. 6d. ; fertile queens, 4s. each.

Frank Reed, Portslade, Sussex. ft 23

CEENS, STOCKS, NUCLEI, and SWARMS. 14th

season of queen-rearing as a speciality. Fertile

queens, 5s. each, post free. Rev. C. Brereton,

Pulbot'ough, Sussex.

ARNETT'S "original, air-tigrt, screw-cap HONEY
JARS, six dozen, 7-oz., Ss. 9d. ; ten dozen, 16-oz„
16s. 9d., cash. Packed free. Gaenett Bros., High-
street, Rotherham,

June 27, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

251

(ftditorml, Ifcrttoss, kt

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

The monthly meeting of the Council was
held on Thursday, the 20th inst., at 105,
Jermyn-street, S.W., Mr. F. B. White
occupying the chair. There were also present
the Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh, Rev. W. E.
Burkitt, Messrs. R. C. Blundell, W. Broughton
Carr, J. H. New, T. I. Weston, C. N. White,
and the secretary. Letters apologising for
inability to attend were read from Miss
Gayton, Major Fair, Mr. W. H. Harris and
Mr. E. Walker. The minutes of the previous
meeting were read and confirmed. The
chairman presented the Finance Committee's
report, and brought forward a list of pay-
ments recommended by the committee. The
report was approved. The monthly report of
work by the expert was presented and dealt
with. A large number of applications for
services of judges and examiners were brought
forward for consideration, and nominations
made of gentlemen to officiate at Brigg,
Chester, Madresfield, Melton Constable,
Newcastle-under-Lyme, Reading, Southall,
Swanley, and Wakes-Colne, Essex. It was
resolved, upon the recommendation of
examiner?, to grant expert certificates to
Messrs. Leveson Campbell, E. W. Carbines,
J. Paynter, and G. Skillhom. Designs for a
new medal were submitted to the Council,
who asked Mr. Carr to be good enough to
prepare a drawing — in accordance with certain
suggestions made by him — at the next meet-
ing, which will be held on Thursday,
July 18.

THE HONEY SHOW AT ST. HELENS.

SPECIAL NOTICE TO EXHIBITORS.

Owing to an unfortunate error on our part,
the date for closing entries for the above
important show has been forestalled by a
month, and we have only now had our
attention drawn to the mistake. In order,
therefore, to repair, in some degree, the " slip "
made, we now invite attention on the part of
exhibitors to the advertisement on front page of
this issue, by which it will be seen chat entries
close on July 11, not June 11, as we supposed.

We regret to hear that entries have already
been lost owing to the mistake, which is the
more unfortunate because the Agricultural
Society is this year offering especially liberal
prizes in cash, silver medals, &c, for honey
and bee-appliances in open classes. Not many
of our leading Agricultural Societies offer
over £30 in prizes to the honey section of
their shows, but notwithstanding the liberal
way in which the R.L.A.S. deal with bee-
keepers, thty have hitherto met with but in-
different support. If evidence were needed
of this fact, it needs but to refer to last year's
report of the show at Rochester (vide B.B.J.

for August 2, page 301), where it will be seen
that in the appliance- classes one exhibitor car-
ried off all the ten valuable prizes, there being
no other competitor.

We trust that exhibitors will take note of
this, and write for schedule withouG delay.

The Erfiforg do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinion! expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

*** In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

MY EXPERIENCES.

AFTER. FOUR YEARS* OF EXPERIMENTING.

[4402.] As I have now been bee-keeping
about four years and have during that time
devoted myself entirely to experimenting
with different hives, races, and systems, the
following notes and incidents may be of
interest to jour readers : —

I find myself in a poor honey district with
very little clover, an unreliable and limited
heather flow from bog heather, and a consider-
able amount of fruit and sycamore honey,
when conditions are favourable, for about a
fortnight or three weeks in May. As we have
here in Lancashire late frosts almost invariably
extending into June, getting stocks strong
enough for the May honey flow is. a difficult
and risky business. Under these depressing
circumstances it i3 scarcely to be wondered at
that my average "take" has hardly been 20 lb.
per hive. Last year most of my stocks had
two, and some three supers on during fruit
bloom, but the clover season proving a com-
plete failure, this honey was gradually taken
down again by the bees. One fact ha3 im-
pressed itself very strongly on me, and that is
the wisdom of requeening the majority of your
hives every autumn. A young queen fer-
tilised and introduced at the end of August
will, as it is her first chance of egg-laying, soon
lay the foundation of a strong stock next
spring. I would like, further, to put in a
strong plea for Hoffman frames. The absolute
regularity and interchangeability of combs
built ia these frames have surprised
many people who have seen my brood combs.
With care, "W.B.C." standard frames can also
be brought pretty nearly to perfection, but it
is difficult to go wrong with the Hoffmann.
Supering with standard frames is another
point I am personally convinced about, and
I am #lad to see Mr. Rymer'a long experi-
ence tallies with my short one. My arrange-
ments are, however, a little different, and,
perhaps, a litt'e simpler. I use, of course,

252

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 27, 1901.

the " W.B.C." hive, and when my brood-box
is full of bees — say, on five or six frames full
of brood — in the spring, I place another
super of three or four standard frames
above this, filling gradually with frames as
room is wanted, and giving the queen free
access everywhere. I take any frames of
honey that are in the lower body and put
them in the top one, replacing with empty
combs below. This sends the bees aloft at
once, and by the middle of June I expect
to have seven or eight frames of brood in the
bottom, and six or seven in the top box.
This is the commencement of what clover
flow there is. If there has been a good fruit
and sycamore yield, 1 have been able to put on
a third super of standard frames, but have
not as yet found the queen willing to penetrate
so far.

When honey starts coming in in earnest —
say, about June 15 — I take the ten best
frames of brood, sealed for choice, and put
them with the queen in the bottom box, ex-
cluder over, and either distribute the remain-
ing brood to any stocks needing it, or leave
it in the super to hatch out when it is not pos-
sible to find room for it elsewhere. I imagine
that a good strong nucleus could be made
from these spare combs if a few young bees
were left with them, and they were put into a
nucleus hive with a hot brick wrapped up and
laid on top. I give these notes with the greatest
diffidence, as I know how very dogmatic bee-
keepers are apt to become — especially beginners,
among whom I rank myself — but you, Mr.
Editor, will be the best judge as to whether
they are worth publishing. 1 simply give my
experiences and opinions for what they are
worth. One incident which occurred last year
struck me as being very unusual. A hive
swarmed ; I returned the swarm, and two days
afterwards found eleven virgin queens in the
hive — one queen on each of seveu combs, and
two on two different combs. These were all
well matured virgins able to fly, and this I
can assert with the greatest confidence, as I
have practised queen raising with considerable
success, aud have ample experience in that
line. I am glad to say that I was able to 3ave
them all.

I have secured a photo of a queen laying
eggs on my gardener's finger, which should be
an unusual experience. We watched her very
carefully, and the statement of " South
Devon Enthusiast," " that use of the sting is
plainly seen'' (I quote from memory) always
puzzled me very much, for I could swear that
she keeps her sting carefully out of sight. . I
did, in fact, make several drawings of the
exact action at the time.

Another incident is connected with a swarm
last July. A small swarm (a cast) came out,
and without settling made straight off in. a
south-westerly direction. As soon as it had
cleared the treeS near my house the bees flew
close, to the ground for a mile or so at such
a pace that I could barely keep up with

them. They disappeared over a thick fence,
and by the time I got through— perhaps thirty
seconds afterwards — they were nowhere to
be seen, and though I scoured the country
I was unable to trace them, in spite of its
being very flat and open with no other trees
or hedges in sight. Three weeks or a month
afterwards, a neighbour of mine, who has kept
bees for many year3, and is a most observing
man, came to see me and I told him this story.
We agreed to search the country then and
there to see if we could form any idea where
the swarm had gone. Continuing the very
straight line that the bees had taken, we
eventually came upon a small farm house,
whose owner, after being cross-questioned by
my friend, gave us the information that about
a month previously a man had moved (with
some hives of bees) into an empty cottage
farther on. Some of the hives he thought
were empty, the bees having died out. My
friend then remarked that he was absolutely
sure that my swarm must have gone into one
of the empty hives, having located the spot
previous to swarming, as he knew that bees,
when they had previously located themselves,
did not settle, but flew straight to the new
stand and always close along the ground. My
bees are Italian ; the bees belonging to this
man were black ; and sure enough we found a
small swarm of Italians located in one of the
hives.

In the course of my queen-raising experi-
ments I have had several queens eat their way
out of their cells while in my hand, and
some of these were able to fly immediately
after issue. In one nucleus-hive I had a
drone-breeding bee. The stock dwindled away
until there were only a few dozen bees left,
but still the little patch of drone-brood was
kept up, aud the majority of the bees left
were very undersized drones. We looked over
this little lot time after time to see if we
could " spot '' any worker-bee that looked at
all different from the others, but they were all
ordinary workers to all appearance, though
old and shiny-looking. I have imported many
queens since starting my experimental work.
One that arrived for me from America in
November, in cold windy weather, was the
only bee left alive out of the twenty-five or
thirty that started off with her a fortnight
before. She was apparently quite lively, and
next year (1900) headed one of my strongest
stocks. All the worker-bees with her were
quite dead.

In conclusion, I may add that I always use
alighting-boards, and find that they are of
much more real use to the bees when they slope
dotcnwards towards the hive entrance. The
local blacksmith made me square iron frames
out of 1 in. by J in. iron to fit the top of a
" W.B.C." super, and I fiud, with square quilts
cut to the same si'zp, I have the minimum of
trouble in opening hives, especially in windy
weather. When the weather gets hot in June
I prop the body-box up on pieces of stick

June 27, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

2rr3

about 5 in. thick, and so give ventilation all
round. No brace-combs are built. — George
Campbell, Woodside, Ainsdale, June 20.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

[4403.] Suspected Combs. — I am interested
in observing the " barometric " readings in the
column devoted to this subject. They form
profitable reading in many ways. Foul brood
bulks small in our pages, comparing the
present with the past, but I fear it has in no
way decreased, either in the number of actual
cases or in the area of infection. Certainly it
has not in the number of specimens sent for
examination. I trust these last will rather
increase, as thereby many who have no sus-
picion of having the pest in their neighbour-
hood may get their eyes opened in time and
so take the trouble in the incipient stage,
when it can be cured. Our editors' generous
aid in diagnosing these cases must be a " boon
and a blessing " to countless bee-keepers all
over the country. Burns designated toothache,
" That hell o' a' diseases.'- Apiculturally the
phrase is an apt description of Bacillus alvei.
1 know, alas ! the disease when I see it, but
even to a practised eye, a comb when only
superficially examined, may pass muster though
affected. I had a case in point the other day.
When examining a hive, I had just returned a
comb as above suspicion when, on second
thoughts, I again raised it. No perforations
were perceptible, there was no smell, and the
unsealed larva; looked normal, pearly white,
and healthy ; but several sealed cells showed a
dull capping with a slight depression. Picking
out 100 carefully-selected cells, fully half
showed scarcely any visible contents ; one con-
tained putrid matter, and the larv* in all the
others were in an unhealthy state. The comb
was a splendid one, and almost all other cells
were simply perfect ; yet 1 consigned it to the
flames. Soon, if it had been left in the hive,
it would have become a hot-bed of disease.
Therefore I urge that specimens of all sus-
picious combs should be sent to the Journal ;
and when it is declared to exist, prompt and
drastic measures should be adopted and the
pest "not scotch'd, but killed."

Foreign Qtieens. — I touch this subject with
diffidence, but a doubt exists in my mind as
to whether the craze for foreign queens accounts
for a large proportion of hives being broodless
and queenless in spring. I venture to make
two statements: — 1. The constitution of
foreign queens as a rule is unsuitable for our
more rigid climate. 2. Either from this or
from hereditary temperament they are less
tolerant of early manipulation than the home
product, and hence get balled more readily.

Bait Sections. — I was glad to see Mr.
Doolittle standing up so staunchly for these.
Several eminent bee-keepers some time ago
contended that they were fit only for being
smashed up and made into wax. I would

have every single unfinished section carefully
preserved, and one or two placed in the centre
of every rack. But I would have them all nicely
cleaned up by the bees before storing them
away, as I fear any granulated honey they
might contain would be a source of " infec-
tion," and granulate the new crop stored in
them. This seems to be a moot point, how-
ever. I " blue-pencil " all these sections, and
seldom find that they show any defect of con-
struction or finish.

Srioiv in June. — Our weather this year
seems to come in extremes. Rosy June has
witnessed cyclonic disturbances rarely expe-
rienced so late as the middle of the month.
Hail, sleet, and snow showers fell from the 9th
to the 17th over a wide area. The Grampians
were clothed with white almost to their base,
and our local Ben resumed temporarily its
winter mantle.* The thermometer, after making
maximum record readings, fell to t5 deg., which
is a point far below the average. Rain fell
copiously and did much good, as the prolonged
drought was beginning to tell. White clover
is now in bloom and promises well, and hives
are teeming with bees. Swarming has been
going on nearer the coast, but at our higher
altitudes I have heard of none as yet. Supers
are only now being placed on hives, so we are
far behind the Southerners, though I learn
they have been doing badly. — D. M. M.,
Banff, N.B.

QUEENS FROM CYPRUS.

[4404.J It may be of interest to some of
your readers to know that queens are again
coming through safely from Cyprus. 1 re-
cently received one in good condition from
Mr. Dervishian.

The New Tall Section. — I should like to re-
move the impression conveyed in Mr. Woodley's
"Notes by the Way" (4397) last week that
the new tall thin 1-lb. section (4| in. by 5 in. )
is supplied only as a four bee- way section. We
are supplying the two bee-way and also the
"plain'' form of this section, but we find
that the four- way is preferred by most people.
— F. W. L. Sladen, Ripple Court, Dover.

HOW TO UTILISE SWARMS -

WHERE INCREASE IS NOT DESIRED.

T4405.] Referring to the footnote to 4395
(page 236) in B.J. of June 13, i beg to say
the article under the above heading appeared
in B.B.J, of November 8, 1900 (page 439). "I
was much struck myself at the time by th6
ingenious plan put forth by Mr. Cupar, the
writer of the article in question, and although
I have not been able to give the plan a trial
myself as yet, I hope to do so soon. I only

* Totuintoul, the highest village in Scotland, had
6 in. of snoNv on its single street on the morning of the
I3th.

254

THE BEITISH BEE JOUENAL. [June 27, 1901.

wish now to point out a fatal error that
appeared in all the subsequent letters dealing
with Mr. Cupar's plan in your pages, viz., that
queen excluder zinc should not be used on any
account, but perforated zinc, which is quite
a different thing, the holes in latter being
only about TV in. in diameter. I also take it that
the swarm should have a separate entrance as
far as possible from parent entrance, say, at
side or back ; the main object is to keep the
two lots of bees totally separate while allowing
circulation of air so that both colonies will
acquire the same smell when reunited and
old queen removed. — D. Adams, Strabane,
Ireland.

BEES IN WALES.

[4406.] It may interest some of your readers
to know how bee-keepers fare in these regions.
The country around is very mountainous,
and our bees may be termed " hardy moun-
taineers." Early bee-forage is rather scarce ;
we have no lime trees and very little white
clover. Orchards are unknown. But still our
little workers are able to gather a considerable
quantity of honey before the heather season.
The latter is our best source ; my bees worked
on it till the end of November last year. I
placed two lots of driven bees in a skep
the first week in September, and gave them
6 lb. of syrup. It may be said it was too
late for comb-building; however, they managed
to do it, as the weather was fine and heather
plentiful. Now I have the satisfaction of
knowing that I saved two lots of good bees
from the sulphur-pit. I also had a large
swarm from this skep on June 21, which is
now placed in a frame-hive.

The possibilities of the bar- frame hive are
not generally known here. Old skeppists are
strongly opposed to it. It has, however,
<: come to stay." One of its adherents took
120 lb. of honey from a bar- frame hive in
1899, and 92 lb. in 1900, thus proving its
superiority.— J. B. Williams, Gelli Lyden,
Merioneth, June 22.

SOME ESSEX NOTES.

DELAYED EXHIBITS.

[4407.] In reply to Mr. Wm. J. Norman
(4399, page 244), I must say that while sym-
pathising with him, I think his claim against
the railway company is bad, as shown by his
own statement. He says from what he could
gather his exhibit arrived the same day, i.e , the
day previous to the opening of the show, and all
the exhibits should have been in safe hands if
delivered to the Hants B.K.A. But accidents
will happen, and I suppose neither the Hon.
Secretary of the Hants B.K.A.. nor the
''S.C.A." Society can be held responsible.
I have known exhibits of honey (o be
left at the tent of the Secretary of the
Agricultural Society and entirely forgotten

through being put under the table. If, as it
appears, Mr. Norman was able to attend
the show himself, it seems a pity to have
run any risk either of damage or delay
by sending his exhibits alone. Staging
U just one of those things that (though
the committee may do their best) the exhi-
bitor should personally attend to ; he can put
the " finishing touches " which officials
cannot undertake. I notice that Mr. Nor-
ts of the first prize exhibit in a

way that leads one to suppose that he considers
granulated honey unworthy of a prize if clear
honey is staged. The fact of an exhibit of
honey being well granulated is all in it3
favour if other points are also good. The fact
of honey being either clear or new does
not place it above another exhibit which
is granulated. Neither does the fact, as
stated by your correspondent, that he
generally sweep3 the show - bench go to
prove that his unjudged exhibits would have
taken first place in their classes. I suppose
we all hope to be successful when we show,
but still we should not consider our own
exhibits better than others before the judge
has awarded the prizes. "Counting the
chickens '' while the hen is still sitting usually
brings disappointment. I am prepared to
accept Mr. Norman's statement as to the good
appearance of his exhibits, but appearance is
only one of the several points to be considered.
I have sometimes been given a second prize by
a judge at a local show for a first-class exhibit
of sanfoin sections because of their yellow tint,
the first prize being given to a poor exhibit
because the comb was whiter. — Wm. Loved ay,
Hatfield Heath, Harlow, Essex.

<&thm ftm tfa Stots.

Wooler, Northumberland, June 22. — Mr.
Wm. Loveday, in his " Echoes " in this week's
B.B.J, (page 247), remarks about the snow in
N.B , but we have also had snow on this side
the border. On June 12 the Cheviots were
white with snow, and at Wooler, which is
about seven miles from the top of the Cheviot
Hills, it was cold enough for overcoats. Since
then, however, the weather has improved
considerably, the last four days being warm
and genial.

Little has been heard of swarming until
this week, when a few have come off ; but,
generally speaking, swarms are very late this
year, and by no means so numerous as last season.
My hives are all doing pretty well, and will
probably yield a fair amount of surplus should
we be favoured with fine weather, but with
such an experience as that mentioned above
it is advisable to rather under than over
estimate the probable amount of surplus
honey. — Jas. Waddell.

June 27, 1901. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

255

REVIEWS OF FOREIGN BEE-PAPERS.

R. HAMLYN-HARRIS, F.R M.S., F.Z.S.,
F.ES., ETC.

The Leipziger Bienen Zeitung. — The
Mohammedan inhabitants of the Caucasus are
great lovers of honey. For this reason the
wealthy among them are mostly apicul-
turUts, and often possess from 100 to 400
hives. These are woven from osiers and
daubed with clay, and the treatment of the
bees is, like the manufacture of the hives,
extremely simple.

In the spring the Tartar bee-keeper drives
his bees on a long ox-waggon by night
towards the river, for there the first green
appears and the first bee-pasture. Before
swarming time he removes to the steppes, then
lovely with flowers, and arranges his hives in
neat order on the grass. As there are no
trees, he hangs in convenient places pieces of
bark shaped like sugar-loaves, and his swarms
generally take possession of these, from which
they can easily be transferred to an empty
skep. As the Caucasian bee never stings
except in self-defence, smoke and veils are
quite superfluous and are never resorted to, so
that the management of the bees is mere child's
play. After swarming the hives are taken to
the mountains, where the honey harvest is
usually great. When there is no more honey
to be got, the heaviest skeps are sulphured
and Bold in the neighbouring town, and
although honey is very cheap a nice little sum
is usually realised.

There are two varieties of bees kept, and the
small, black, and thievish bee is mo3t widely dis-
tributed, while the other variety is larger, and
uncommonly gentle and industrious. Diseases
of bees are unknown here.

Practischer Wegweiser (Germany). — A
grocer at Dantzig has been condemned to a
tine of £3 15s. for selling manufactured honey
instead of the genuine article.

Practischer Wegweiser. — Bee-keeping in
China. — Unlike our bees, we are told that the
Chinese bee (South Shantung), which has. a
blue shade in head and abdomen, is exceed-
ingly gentle and stings only on strong pro-
vocation. This is of great importance at
swarming- time. When the swarm rises the
natives throw sand over the bees to compel them
to settle. Then a large ladle made of osiera is
taken, and rubbed over with honey. This is
held over the bees. A feather in the other
hand is used to drive them into the ladle. In
a little while they are all congregated in it,
and can then be carried to their new hive.
These are much like our skeps, plaited with
straw but daubed inside with clay. The bee
shelter is also built of clay, and roofed with
straw. Generally a red rag hangs from it to
keep away evil influences.

The honey is very dear, and, like the wax,
is only used for medicinal purp9363. The
honey harvest i-i po:>r, as there are very

few flowers. China has too many people and
too little cultivated land ; there are no
meadows or woods. Meadows are not wanted,
as the domestic animals receive no hay or
clover, but must be satisfied with the leaves
of the native corn, chaff, and straw. In vain
we search for honey-bearing weeds ; the
Chinese allow none to grow — they are hoed
out betimes. The poor man's garden contains
garlic and cayenne pepper, that of the wealthy
vegetables, egg plants, and tomatoes. We see
no flowers, for the Chinaman thinks garlic
more profitable ; he does not even find their
scent agreeable. Thus the Chinese bees have
only the fruit-trees to depend on. There are
plums, peaches, apricots, quinces, pear and
apple, nuts and chestnuts, and the delicious
date plum, whose wood is the true ebony.

Leipziger Bienen Zeitung (Germany). — We
hear that a sugar manufacturer in Brunswick
has applied for a patent for a preparation by
which he proposes to feed up bees, so that they
shall produce linden-acacia or clover honey,
as desired. This is a glaring offence against
the law. The public is to be deceived, and a
comparatively worthless product sold under a
false name, instead of the real thing. The
public is ready to pay a high price for real
honey, but not for a manufactured product.
This has no right to be called honey at all.
The name honey belongs to the bee-keeper,
and not to the sugar manufacturer. We have,
therefore, appealed against the granting of this
patent, and hope to be successful.

Munchener Bztg. — In the district of Renz-
berg, in Bavaria, on December 25, a miner
found a very acceptable Christmas present in
a hollow fir tree. He took from a colony of
bees established there 21 lb. of honey, and,
singularly enough, there was some brood well
sealed over on two of the combs.

Prakt. Wegweiser. — Honey for infants. —
Many young infants suffer from a thick coat-
ing of white mucous which spreads over the
tongue. If this is not removed, small blisters
arise which cause pain in sucking. The best
remedy is a daily dose of honey. This
cleanses the gums and the tongue and has
the be3t possible effect on the general health.

Prakt. Wegweiser. — Distance of bee's flight.
— The island of Lerim in the Mediterranean,
which is three or four miles distant from the
coast, is visited by bees from the neighbouring
land.

Bulletin de laS. d' Apiculture de la Somme.
— Honey removes insomnia. In consequence
of its digestive property and the formic acid it
contains, honey greatly assists digestion and
thus helps to procure refreshing sleep — that
is, of course, supposing there is no special
cause for insomnia. Often too much fatigue
either of brain or of the muscular system
occasions want of sleep ; in either case honey
exercises a beneficent influence. Being
directly assimilated, it is especially carried
into the general circulation and restores to the

256

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 27, 1901.

wearied brain and limbs the lost energy, at
the same time causing sleep.

I? Apiculteur (France). — Preference of Bees.
— Vipers' bugloss, the borage, and phacelie *
appear to equally attract the bees, to the
exclusion of the wild turnip, white or red
clover. Mignonette and leonurus cardiaea
come next in favour, and they have the advan-
tage of a longer flowering season. Cabbages,
the colza and the cruciferte in general, much
frequented in spring, are a great resource.
Bees have very marked preferences. Thus, a
few yards of symphorine, of mignonette, or
sainfoin standing alone will be entirely
neglected, while a little patch of centaurea
( cornflower), with four or five blossoms, or a
few plants of bugloss or borage, will have two
or three workers. A plant of symphorine will
receive no visits, while a tuft of heather will
be covered with bees from morning to night.
A field of sainfoin is only productive when
the whole is in blossom.

PRESS CUTTINGS : USEFUL AND
"OTHERWISE."

WATER FOR BEES.

The colour of honey varies very much in
certain districts. The clearest and most pure-
looking honey is that collected from white
clover. The flower of the tree also yields a
fine-coloured honey. Fruit blossom,1 too, is
very pure, but honey from a great variety of
flowers is often of a dense colour, and heather
honey, although valued as being distinct in
colour, is often quite black. The best colour
is a clear rich amber, but, apart from colour,
the flavour is influenced considerably by the
ingredients, and a great deal of honey is bad
in colour and disagreeable in flavour from the
bees drinking unclean water. Bees are
great drinkers of water in hot weather and
when they are hard at work. They will often
be seen in pools and streams alighting on the
damp stones and the edge of the water. I
know of a situation where there is plenty of
fruit blossom and other good honey-yielding
flowers where the honey is always of a dirty
colour, and, I might almost say, nasty
flavour. Considering the favourable conditions
of the district, those who do not study or
understand their habits would be puzzled to
understand why the honey should be so
inferior ; but the only water available for the
bees in hot weather is from farmyard pools,
which contain a good deal of farm sewage.
They drink this, and convey a good deal of it
to the honey chambers, and herein is the
secret of their making much bad honey when
the reverse would be expected from them.
The remedy, and this has been proved to be
effective, is to place some dishes with pure
water in them near the hives. Few, probably

'I presume " phacelie " (French) to be the French
bean, and known as Phaseohis vuigaria. -R. H,-H.

have ever tried this. Where plenty of clean
water is naturally provided it is not necessary
to give them any, but let those who have not
been satisfied with their honey, and where
clean water is deficient, try giving them an
artificial supply of pure liquid, and I am quite
certain they will find their honey all they
could desire. As honey storing is now in
rapid progress the pure water should be
given them at once, and change the water
every day or so. — Leeds Mercury.

NOVEL CLUSTERING PLACE FOR A
SWARM OF BEES.

A novel incident occurred in Finkle-street,
Thirsk, the other day. Mr. Mark Neesam,
hairdresser, observed a swarm of bees, and was
crossing the road when the queen-bee settled
on one of his legs. With admirable coolness he
remained standing, and allowed the bees to
have their way, with the result that he was
quickly covered from head to foot. Mr. R. T.
Tennant, local manager of the York City and
County Bank, who is an expert apiarist, was
si'i Tor, and he procured a hive, into which
he Ud,nsferred the queen-bee. She was soon
followed by her subjects, and Mr. Neesan did
not receive a single sting.

[We may add that Mr. Tennant is Hon.
Sec. of the Thirsk and District B.K.A—
Eds.]

BEE-KEEPING IN IRELAND.

Bee-keeping appears to be becoming more
papular amongst the small farmers of Ireland,
as according to statistics published by the
Department of Agriculture, the industry is
steaddy gaining ground. • A table included
in the returns recently issued shows that in
the year 1899 — the last for which the official
figures are forthcoming — the quantity of honey
produced in Ireland showed an increase of
over 140 per cent., as compared with the
average of the previous ten years. Altogether,
the quantity of honey produced in 1899
amounted to 745,692 lb., and of this aggre-
gate 221,313 lb. were produced in Munster,
205,947 lb. in Leinster, 197,609 lb. in
Ulster, and 120,823 1b. in Connaught. No
farmer should be without a few stoeks of bees.
— Farm and Field.

CYCLISTS AND BEES.

Cyclists have been telling their experiences
when a colony of bees have swarmed upon
them. One, writing to a contemporary, says
the swarm came so suddenly that he had no
time to become frightened. His remedy was
simple and effectual. " I kept on cycling," he
writes, " but at a much slower rate, calmly
surveying my crawling companions, until one

June 27, 1901.] THE BEITISH BEE JOUKNAL.

257

by one they all left me. The most trying part
was the tickling sensation as they , walked
about my hands and face and neck.1'

[2672.] Foul Brood in Transferred Stock. —
About three weeks ago I transferred a stock
of bees, along with two combs, from a skep
to a frame-hive. On Saturday last I had a
visit from an " expert," who informed me that
the two combs which were transferred, as well
as one of the newly-drawn-out ones, were very
slightly affected with foul brood. In conse-
quence, I burnt the three combs above men-
tioned, and sprayed the rest with a solution
of salicylic acid, as instructed. Will you
please inform me through the B.J. if you
consider the above treatment sufficient to
effect a cure, and if not, I shall be glad if you
will advise me what other remedy to use ?
As the stock is a very strong one, I am
inclined to think that there should not be
much difficulty in getting rid of the disease.
— Geo. H. Ward, Granr/e-over-Sands.

Reply. — It is quite possible that removal
of the affected combs and the remedial
measures taken will get rid of the trouble, but
we advise that a careful look-out be kept to see
if the stock maintains its working powers for the
next three or four weeks, or until the honey
season is ended. Then make a thorough
examination of combs and report result to us,
sending a sample if suspected. We will then
advise further.

[2673.] Housing a Stray Swarm. — I have
lately commenced bee-keeping, but have not
much time to look after my apiary, which
at present consists of five colonies in frame-
hives and a few skeps. Last year a swaim
clustered under the floorboard of one of my
frame-hives, and bad evidently been there for
some time before I noticed it, as the bees
bad built a lot of comb in this outdoor hive.
I thought I would place the bees and combs
above a hive fitted with frames and founda-
tion, and endeavour to get them to work
down into it. The floorboard underneath
which the combs were built had short legs
attached, so that there was a good space
between the bottom of the floorboard and
the top of the frames of the new hive. I
blocked up the open spaces at the sides, and
the bees were wintered in this condition. On
examining them to-day (June 19) I find the
bees have filled up all the space and have
partly worked into the hive below. But the
combs are all joined to the top bars of the
frame-hive, and it appears to me a big job to
put them right, for 1 hardly know how to begin
with it. Will you kindly give me some advice
in your next week's B.B.J. ?— A Beginner,
Soham, June 19.

Reply.— There is nothing really difficult in

the " big job" our correspondent looks forward
to. We should simply allow the bees to work
down into the frame-hive below and use the
combs " built outside " for storing the season's
surplus honey in. Then, when the season is
over, sever the brace -combs— or attachments
to top bars — by drawing a wire between the
junction of the upper and lower parts of the
two hives. It will need some care and a little
skill in this " cutting " process, because of the
weight of honey the upper combs will (we
hope) contain. Before removing the upper
half or surplus-chamber the latter should be
raised about one- eighth of an inch by means of
little wooden wedges inserted at each corner.
This will allow the bees inside to clear away
all running honey from the several brace-
combs without interference from outside bees.

[2674.] Driving Bees when Transferring. —
Would you kindly answer me the following
question : — Tn transferring a stock from a
straw skep I drove the bees into a frame-
hive, giving them ten frames with excluder-
zinc on top. I missed the queen in driving,
but found her on the ground, and at once
picked her up with a piece of grass
and ran her into the frame-hive. When
I got queen safely in I stopped driving,
and put the skep on torx of frames above
excluder-zinc. I now fincf no queen below,
but one in straw skep above. I also find eggs
in shallow frames above excluder. 1. Would
this be a young queen, and would she be
fertilised, seeing that the excluder would
prevent her from flying out ? 2. Would it be
possible for her to mate with drones in super 1
I have now removed the excluder -zinc, and
ask, if not fertilised before, would she fly a
month after hatching for mating purposes '. —
J. Price.

Reply. — The danger of keeping queens
below after driving by using excluder- zinc
is clearly pointed out in the " Guide Book,"
and your case is only another illustration of
the risk incurred in following out that plan.
We therefore reply : — 1. The natural inference
is that the bees passed through the excluder
into skep to look after the brood, and the old
queen, being thus deserted, was left below to
perish from cold and hunger. 2. There is
just the possibility that the queen now in
skep is the old queen after all, and that she
has been able to pass up and regain the skep
through some misfitting in excluder-zinc.
This will be proved by noting whether normal
worker-brood is being hatched in the combs
above frame-hive. If it is a virgin queen she
will be a drone-breeder.

[2675.] Bees and Formic Acid. — Reading
to-day in the B.J. (page 231) that the bees
put a drop of formic acid into every cell they
fill with nectar in order to make the honey
keep well, it occurred to me that some honey
which I extracted yesterday from frames, a few
of the cells of which were not quite full, would
not very likely keep good for long. Is this

258

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 27, 1901.

the case, and, if so, is there any way in which
T can rectify this error 1 The honey appears
rather too thin and light. It may interest
you to know that I have had four or five hives
for four years, and have so managed that I
have never had a swarm, and, so far, have
been very successful with regard to surplus
honey. With many thanks for the interesting
and valuable information and help contained
each week in your journal. — G. Travers
Biggs, Bath, June 13.

Reply. — If the honey when extracted was
found to be of good consistency, i.e., what is
called " thick honey," it will keep well, not-
withstanding the absence of the special " drop "
of formic acid supposed to be added by bees
as a final touch before sealing the cell over.

[2676.] Bees Transferring Themselves. — I
have just transferred a stock of bees from skep
to a frame-hive according to your instructions
in " Guide Book." I had it on the top bars
nearly five weeks before the bees transferred
their brood-nest below, but they have now
been down about a week. A plain square
box, about 10 in. deep, was attached and
fastened to the skep, and it was as much as
I could do to lift it on the hive. The weight
could not have been less than \ cwt. when
put on. 1. The question now is, how long
should I leave it on the hive to allow all
brood to be hatched out ? 2. When that time
has expired, shall I take it away a good dis-
tance from the present hive and allow the
bees that may be in it to join the others ;
then see what value is in the empty skep after
the bees have left it ? 3. If the ten frames in
new hive are worked out with plenty of bees
and brood, shall I put on a section-rack ?
4. Kindly advise me also how best to act as to
water for bees % I sometimes question whether
they need it at all, at least from their owners.
When you gave the illustration of " Abbott's ''
water-fountain I made one, and placed it quite
convenient to bees, but I have never seen
them using it. — F. J., Mountmelliclc.

Reply. — 1. Twenty-one days after queen
ceased ovipositing in upper hive all brood
(except dronep, if any) will be hatched out.
2. Either that or leave on as a super and
remove at end of harvest. 3. Yes, if honey is
coming in. 4. If natural sources of supply
are available it is waste of time and money to
provide water-troughs for bees.

[2677.] Starting Bee-keeping — Transferring
from Skeps to Frame-hives. — I am a beginner
in bee-keeping, and have just begun to take
the B.B J., which I find very helpful. May I
trouble you for a little information under the
following circumstances : — About five weeks
ago I purchased two stocks of bees in straw
skeps. I was told when purchasing that they
were last year's swarms, and that the bees
would be sure to swarm in a few days, the hives
being so crowded, and the bees having been
busy for some time past. I brought th* skeps

home, and placed one of them above the top
bars of a frame-hive and closed up the en-
trance of the skep, so that the bees were
compelled to pass through a hole in the quilt
(made for the purpose) and down through the
frames, and thus work through the entrance
of the lower hive only. 1. Was I right in so
doing 1 2. If so, shall I be able to take the
straw skep off this season 1 If so, when ?
The other skep I put on a stand, and have
been expecting the bees to swarm ever since,
but up to now they have not done so. The
hive is in a very crowded condition, the bees
clustering in the entrance and under the
stand, except during the hottest part of the
day, when they go off to work. They hang
outside all night, for I have seen them clus-
tered after 11 p.m. 3. Do you think the queen
was destroyed in moving the hives ? And, if
so, what will be the best thing to do with
them under the circumstances ? Shall I
unite the bees to another swarm ? — G. S.,
Hardington.

Reply. — 1. Yes, quite right. 2. If the
season continues favourable, the bees will pro-
bably fill the ekeps with honey if left on, and
it may be removed when income begins to fail
— as a super. 3. The best course would be to
deal with the skep as in the first case. You
would then keep the bees profitably employed
instead of their wasting time as stated.

[2678.] .Bees Rc-qveening Themselves. — 1 .Will
you kindly help me with advice regarding one
of my stocks ? It was wintered on seven
frames, and I added two others in May. The
bees then seemed all right, with plenty of
brood in the combs. On June 7 I added
another frame, which made up the ten the
hive holds. I also put on a rack of sections,
although I could see very little brood at the
time other than that which was sealed. I
examined the hive again on June 15 and
found some queen-cells sealed over, I also
noticed drone-brood in worker-cells scattered
all over the combs. This makes me fear the bees
are queenless. I also suspect foul brood, and
am sending a piece of comb for your opinion,
and ask, if diseased, are the bees worth saving,
or should I destroy them ? The stock is
strong in bees, which latter have already
entered sections and are working in them.
The queen, I may say, was an old one. I
always keep naphthaline in hives and medicate
all syrup for feeding up in autumn as per
" Guide Book." 2. If slightly diseased, would
it be safe to let them go for a bit ? — R.
Meadowcrofts, Berks, June 17.

Reply : — 1. There is just a suspicion of
disease in one or two of the larvs in comb,
but it is in the incipient stage. If the sealed
queen-cells noticed on the 15th inst. produce
a queen and the latter is successfully mated,
the stock may recover and be all right later on.
2. We thould therefore leave it to store surplus
while honey is to be had and carefully watch
how the brood hatches out.

June 27, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

259

\u $fam to <&mt.

June 26 to July 1, at Cardiff.— "Royal "
Agricultural Society's Show. Bee and Honey Section
under management of the B.B.K.A. Entries cloied.

July 18 and 19, at Brigg.— Honey, Hives, and
Bee Appliances in connection with the Lincolnshire
Agricultural Society ; Bee Department under the
management of the Lines. B.K.A. Schedules from the
Hon. Sec, R. Godson, Tothill, Alford. Entries
closed.

July 24, at Broughton, Hants. — Broughton
Flower show. Open class for six 1-lb. jars extracted
honey. Schedules from C. Upshall, Broughton, Stock-
bridge, Hants.

July 25, 26 and 27, at St- Helens.— Royal
Lancashire Agricultural Society's Show. Bee-keepers'
Section. For Honey, Hives, and Appliances. Liberal
Money Prizes and valuable Medals in Open Classes for
Sections, Extracted Honey, Honey Trophy, and Appli-
ances. Full particulars in advertisements shortly.
Prize schedules from Edward Bohane, Secretary,
Miller Arcade, Preston. Entries close July 11.

July 29, at Caergwele Castle Flower Show.
—Bee Lectures, Honey Classes. Schedules from H. D.
Davies, Abermorddu, Wrexham.

July 31, at Henbnry, Bristol.— Honey show of the
Henbury District B.K.A. in conjunction with the Hen-
bury Horticultural Society's show. Schedules from W.
G. Barnfleld, Hon. Sec, H.B.K.A., Charlton, near
Bristol. Entries close July 24.

August 5, at Butterneld Park, Hessle,
Hull.— Honey Show in connection with the Hessle and
District, (floral and Agricultural Society. Schedules
from Hon. Sec, Mr. E. C. S. Stow, Hessle, Hull.
Entries close August 1.

August 5, at Melton Constable.— North Norfolk
B.K.A. Annual Honey Show. Three open classes ;
one for single 1-lb. jar extracted honey. Schedules
from C. J. Cooke, Edgefield, Melton Constable.
Entries close July 27.

August 6, at Leamington— Honey section of
Leamington St. Mary's flower show. Three open
Classes for six 1-lb. sections, six 1-lb. jars " light,"
and six 1-lb. jars " dark" extracted honey, respectively.
Good prizes. Schedules from the Secretary, 2, St.
Marys-road, Leamington. Entries close August 3-

August 8, at Kingsthorpe. Northampton.—
Honey Show of the Northants B.K.A., in connection
with the Horticultural Exhibition. Twelve classes for
bee-keepers, including special class (six prizes) open to
all (with free entry) for single 1-lb. jar extracted honey.
Six prizes, 20s., 10s. 6d., 7s. 6d., 2s. 6d., 2s., and certifi-
cate. Schedules from Robt. Hefford, Hon. Sec, Kings-
thorpe, Northants. Entries close August 1.

Aueust 8, at Madresfleld Park.— Annual
Show of the Worcestershire B.K.A., in connection with
the Madresfleld Agricultural Exhibition. Open Classes
for Bees, Hives, and Extracted Honey. Schedules
from Mr. J. P. Phillips, Spetchley, Worcester, Acting
Secretary W. B.K.A. Entries close August 1.

August 15, 16, and 17. at Crystal Palace.—
Surrey B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees, Honey, Wax,
and Appliances, &c. Twenty-four classes (eleven open
to all). Increased prizes and medals. Schedules from
F. B. White, Hon. Secretary, Marden House, Redhill.
Entries close August 1.

August 17, at Ammanford (N. Wales).—
Honey show in connection with the Ammanford Flower
Show. Liberal prizes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar extracted honey, also classes for three sections
and three 1-lb. jars, light and dark honey.— Particulars
from Mr. Ivor Morris, Hon. Sec, Ammanford, R.S.O.,
Carmarthen.

August 21 and 22, at Shrewsbury.— Annual
Show of the Shropshire B.K.A., in connection with the
Shropshire Horticultural Society's Great Floral Fete in
" The Quarry." Bees, Honey, Hives, and Appliances.
Six Open Classes for Honey. Schedules from S. Cart-
wright, Hon. Secretary, Shropshire B.K.A., Shaw-
bury, Shrewsbury. Entries close August 9.

August 28, at Chester.— Annual Show of the
Cheshire B.K.A., in connection with the Cheshire Agri-
cultural Society. Ten classes (four open) for hives, honey
(light, medium, and dark), sections, <fcc Schedules

from T. A. Beckett, St. Werburgh'8 Chambers, Chester.
Entries close Aug. 7. (At double fees to Aug. 14.)

Thursday, August 29, at Montgomery-
Montgomery and District Horticultural Society's Show.
Two open Classes for Honey— six 1 lb. sections, six 1 lb.
jars and extracted, with prizes of 10s., 5s., and 2s. 6d.
in cash. Schedules from Mr. W. H. Jones, Hon. Sec,
Montgomery. Entries close August 22.

August 31. at Dumfries.— South of Scotland
B.K.A. Annual Show. Open Classes for " Sixes,
with Prizes of 20s., 15s., 10s., 5s. ; also for Single Jar
and Section, with Free Entry ; also Wax and
Appliances. Schedules from James Kerr, Hon. Secre-
tary, Milldamhead, Dumfries. Entries close
August 22.

September 7 to 14, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (9th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Eleven classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees-
wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers,

September 11 and 12, at Derby.— Derbyshire
B.K.A. twentieth Annual Show of Hives, Bees, and
Honey on the show ground of the Derbyshire Agricul-
tural Society. Schedules from F. Walker, Secretary
D. B.K.A , 64, Gerard-street, Derby. Entries clobe
August 30.

September 21 to 28, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with the
fifth Annual Exhibition of the Grocery and Kindred
Trades. Eleven classes and liberal prizes for comb and
extracted honey and bees-wax. Open to all British
Bee-keepers.

October 8 to 11, at the Agricultural Hall,
London— Show of Honey and Bee-produce in con-
nection with the British Dairy Farmers' Association.
Numerous and liberal prizes for honey, &c— Schedules
from Mr. Wm. C. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-square,
London, W. Entriej close Sapfcember 9.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers

Lettert or queries asking for addresses of manufaC'
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur'
chased, or replies giving such information, can only be
inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

Whitfield (W. Hartlepool). — List of Bee*
Books. — 1. There are no printed " lists " such
as you mentiou to be had. Besides, the
demand for out-of-date bee-books being
limited to the very few who are collectors,
it is hardly worth while occupying space with
such a list, even if available. 2. If you desire
to try American methods of bee-keeping,
and the various size8 of frames used by
American bee-keepers, it would be well to
procure a copy of the "A.B.C. of Bee
Culture," published by the A. I. Root Co.,
Medina, Ohio, U.S.A. This work gives all
the particulars you ask for.

Adam Ashbv. — Moving Bees in Hollow Trees.
—By referring to B.B.J, of March 21 last
(page 115) you will see an illustration from
nature of a couple of tree trunks (in each of
which is at present located a colony of bees)
cut from the tree in which the bees had
established themselves before removal to the
present owner's apiary. This will serve as
reply to your query.

260

THE BRITISH BEE JOUENAL. [June 27, 1901.

H. Williams (Treslan). — Starting Bee-keeping.
Sowing Seeds for Bee-forage. — It is almost
a waste of time and money to sow seeds in
your own garden for the bee3 you are pro-
posing to keep. They will have to search
the fields and pastures around you for what
honey they gather. What is really needed
before starting bee-keeping is a reliable
guide-book on bees. Without such you
cannot hope to succeed.

"Yokel" (Somerset). — ViciousBees. — There is
no other way of ridding an apiary of an
incurably vicious stock than by destroying
the queen and giving one of a quiet strain
(Carniolan, for example). If unable to
tackle the task of removing queen, you
should suffocate the colony with sulphur
fumes after removing the surplus honey
now on the hive.

Suspected Combs.

Special Kotice to correspondents sending queries on
"Foul brood."

We Urgently request that all letters sent with samples
of suspected comb be put outside the box or tin containing
the sample. Also that no more than a couple of square
inches of comb be sent, taking care to neither crush the
comb nor probe the cells before despatching .

In urgent cases (and where 'possible.) we undertakefo
" wire " replies as to F. B. if six stamps are. sent to cover
eost of telegram. All letters to be addressed "Editor,
Bee Journal," not " Manager."

"Hilperton" (Berks). — Comb is affected
with " F.B.," not of virulent type. The
stock is apparently weak, and the bees lack
the needful vitality which would enable
them to resist infection. It is also evident
that the preventives used have served to
check the spread of the mischief.

G. R. Wynne (Dolgelly). — 1. No disease in
comb. 2. Large cell is probably an embryo
queen-cell, but by probing you have made
it uncertain. The bees were (we judge)
queenless, and have deserted the hive in a
body.

R. Oakley (Hants). — Nothing worse in comb
than fresh-gathered pollen. The half built-
out comb has eggs in every cell not occupied
with pollen.

F. T. R. (Felling).— Comb very old and black,
but has no trace of brood or sign of a sealed
cell in it.

Constant Reader (Poppleton). — Foul brood
is rapidly developing in comb sent.

Glos. — The contents of large piece of comb
entirely dried up. The sealing of
cells points strongly to foul brood, and as
comb is infested with moth larvae we advise
burning. Small piece of comb contains
honey only.

E. Blackmore (Devon). — There is foul brood
in the hive, one cell of new comb being full
of the well-known brown matter that indi-
cates disease.

D. A. Coulburn (Lanark). — Comb is affected
with foul brood.

B
G

*** Several Letters and Queries ar in type ,
and will appear next week.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve wordi and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three words or under. One Penny.

EES. — Strong natural Swarms, in straw hives, 10s. 6d-
_ ('adman, <;odsall Wood, Wolverhampton. Q 49
UINEA EXTRACTOR, used twice, equal new,
cost 21s. ; price 12s. Gd. WRIGHT, Pickering.
G 43

SUPERIOR BEES— Good SWARMS, 15s., packed
free. Walton, Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington.
v. 44

BEES. — Strong natural Swarm, price 10s. Box-packing
free. Guaranteed healthy. Russell, Basket
Shop, Ohrlgtchurch, Hants. Q 50

PURlTm>w~_NGLISH HON EY.lfidTTbTin 66-lb. tins.
Tins free ; sample, 2d. E. Hardy, Oak House, Gt.
Yeldham, Halstead. g 47

GNEY— New EXTRACTED at £2 16s. per cwt.
Carnage forwarded. Owen Browning, The
Apiary, Kingsomborne, Hants. G 51

PLENDID NEW SECTIONS, good colour, well filled
and sealed, 7s. dozen ; glazed, 8s. dozen. Fine
extracted Honey in bottles or tins. Offers wanted.
Garner, Dyke, Bourne.

SPLENlHlTNEW ENGLISH HONEY, 6Jd. per lb.
Sample, 2d. SWARMS, 10s. each, packed free.
Cash or deposit. Albert Coe, Apiary Hall, Ridgwell,

Halstead, Essex. g 46

TRONG, healthy STOCKS BEES, covering 6, 8, or 10
combs, July, 1900, Queens, packed in Gayton Hives
(Abbott's), floorboard, body, and roof, 20s., 24s., 28s. ;
without hives, 8s. less ; 2s. 6d. refunded for travelling
box when returned. Carr, Norwood-avenue, South-
port. _ G 48

TOPIARY FO"R SALE, comprising 13 strong STOCKS
_ _ of BEES, all in bar-framed Hives, each with two
crates for sections and zinc excluders ; seven Super
Clearers and odd bar-frame Hive, and extra Section
Crates and Frames. For Sale in one lot, £1 per hive.

A. Greatrex, Hatfield Broad Oak, Essex. G 45

OR SALE; eleven strong STOCKS^ PURETITALIAN
BEES, with young prolific Queens. Two of the
stocks are in a "Wells" hive, six in "W.B.C." hives, and
three in strong frame-hives, all in good condition and
guaranteed healthy. All the hives are supered and
have good weight of surplus honey ready for removal.
Also large and complete outfit of Bee Appliances.
Purchaser to remove before the 15th July. Apply,
Bryn-Coed, Crescent-road, Chingford, Essex. G 52
TRAW SKEPS, cane bound, 18s. dozen ; 9s. 6d. _doz.
Alfred Harding, Straw-skep Maker, Bellingdon,
Chesham, Bucks. g 29

RPINGTON EGGS, Black and Buff from handsome
fowls (Cook and Partington strain), 2s. 9d. dozen.
E. -Middlemas,. Stamford, Alnwick, ' g 30

OR SALE, Pure NEW ENGLISH HONEY, 6d. per
lb., in 10 and 28 lb. tins (tins included). Geo.
Reynolds, Eaton Ford, St. Neots. a 33

STRONG natural SWARMS, 19Cj Fertile Queen,
10s. 6d., 12s. 6d. ; second ditto, 8s. 6d. Guaranteed

healthy. Woods, Normandy, Guildford. g 1-2

ANTED, SECTION-HONEY, best quality ; 1901
season. Good cash price for early delivery. T.
Smith & Co., 17, Cambridge-street, London, W. g 10

WANTED.new SECTIONS, first quality, clear, pale
and up to weight. Any quantity prompt cash,
W. Chilton, The Apiaries, Polegate, Sussex.

ANTED, 500 (more or less) QUEEN BEES and
QUEEN CELLS, alive or dead. State lowest
price. Bonner Chambers, Diptford, South Brent.
S. Devon. q 40

EXPERIENCED BEE-MASTER seeks APPOINT-
MENT (temporary or permanent). Good hive,
foundation, candy maker. Excellent references. Address,

"P." Bee Journal. __ _^

UEENSTSTOCKS, NUCLEI, and SW__£S. Utti

season of queen-rearing as a speciality. Fertile

queens, 5s. each, post free. Rev. C. Brereton,

Pulborough, Sussex.

ARNETTS original, air-tigf t, screw-cap HONEY

JARS, six dozen, 7-oz., Ss. 9d. ; ten dozen, 16-oz.,

16s. 9d., cash. Packed free. Garnett Bros., High-

street, Rotherham.

ANN ED GARDEN NETTING 7 25 yds-Hay S yds,,
50 yds. by 4 yds., 100 yds. by 2 yds., 8s. Prompt
delivery. L. WREN & Son, Net Merchants, 139, High-
street, Lowestoft. f 14

July 4, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

261

(BSxtoml, pottos, &t

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

CARDIFF MEETING, 1901.

The sixty-second annual show of the Royal
Agricultural Society opened on Wednesday,
June 26, and closed on Monday, July 1. We
have seen many admirable locations on which
this the mo3t important show in the Kingdom
has been held, but none have surpassed, if even
equalling, the one on which this year's show
was held.

The weather up to Saturday, the 29th, was
beautifully fine and warm, while the triple
avenue of trees — nearly a mile long — known
as the "Sophia Gardens," afforded grateful
shade to the thousands of visitors who reclined
on the green sward enjoying the abundant
room everywhere. It is very satisfactory to be
able to record one of the most successful shows,
so far as regards the number of visitors, in
the history of the society, the number who
passed the turnstiles up to Friday night being
very large indeed.

For the bee and honey section of the show
we have nothing but praise. The exhibits were
well arranged and staged and made an ex-
ceedingly good display.

Imperative business needs in towD, which
brooked no delay, compelled us to leave Car-
diff on Friday, and as we have no particulars
regarding either Saturday's or Monday's
weather, or the aggregate attendance, we this
week only insert the prize list, deferring till
our next issue some further comment on the
show generally, along with a few notes on the
more important exhibits.

Messrs. W. Broughton Carr acd Henry
Jonas were appointed judges and made the
following awards : —

AWARDS.

Class 334. Collection of Hives and Appli-
ances (5 entries). — 1st, R. H. Coltman, Station-
street, Burton-on-Trent ; 2nd, W. P. Meadows,
Syston, Leicester ; 3rd, Jas. Lee & Son, 10,
Silver-street, High Holborn, W.C. ; v. h.c. and
reserve No., J. T. Burgess & Son, 10 and 14,
Guinea-street, Exeter.

Class 335. Outfit for a Beginner in Bee-
keeping, price not to exceed £1 10s. (11
entries). — 1st, Jas. Lee & Son ; 2nd, J. T.
Burgess & Son ; 3rd, E. H. Taylor, Welwyn,
Herts ; h.c. and reserve No., W. P. Meadows.

Class 336. Observatory Hive ivith Queen
and Bees (2 entries). — 1st, Jas. Lee & Son.

Class 337. Complete Frame Hive (16
entries).— 1st, Jas. Lee & Son; 2nd, W. P.
Meadows ; 3rd, J. Greenhill, 80, Graham-
road, Wimbledon ; reserve No., T- Lanaway
& Sons, 70, Station-road, Redhill.

Class 338. Complete Inexpensive Frame
Hive for Cottager's Use (15 entries). — 1st,
W. P. Meadows ; 2nd, Jas. Lee & Son ; 3rd,
E. H. Taylor ; h.c. and reserve No , J. T.

Burgess & Son ; h.c, W. P. Meadows ; c,
R. H. Coltman.

Class 339. Honey Extractor (11 entries). —
1st, W. P. Meadows ; 2nd, E. H. Taylor ;
h.c. and reserve No, J. T. Burgess & Son ;
h.c, W. P. Meadows.

Class 340. Useful Appliance connected with
Bee-keeping introduced since 1899 (6 entries).
— 1st, W. P. Meadows (Rymer honey-press
on stand) ; 2nd, Jas. Lee & Son (new section-
case — registered) ; h.c, R. Allen, Tusmore,
Bicester (nucleus and makeshift hive, swarm-
box, &c, combined).

Class 341. Twelve l-lb. Sections (18 entries).
— 1st, W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury ; 2nd,
Richd. Brown, Somersham, Hunts ; 3rd, H.
Seamark, Willingham, Cambs ; h.c. and
reserve No., J. H. Wootton, By ford, Here-
ford ; h.c , G. H. Skevington, Northampton ;
and E. C. R. White, Newton Toney, Salisbury.

Class 342. Twelve l-lb. Sections of 1899 or
any previous year (2 entries) — 1st, W.
Woodley.

Class 343. Twelve l-lb. Sections of Heather
Honey, any year (4 entries). — 1st, J. P. W.
Lightfoot, Pickering, Yorks ; 2od, Jas. Wad-
dell, Wooler, Northumberland ; reserve No ,
John Berry, Llanrwst, N Wales.

Class 344. Three Shallow Frames of 1901
Honey for Extracting (7 entries).— 1st,
E. C. R. White ; 2nd, R. Brown ; 3rd, Geo.
Wells, Aylesford, Kent; reserve No., John
Helme, Weobly, Hereford.

Class 345. Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted
Honey light coloured (14 entries). — 1st, Rev.
E. R. Iremonger, Andover, Hants ; 2 id, Thos.
Blake, Broughton, Hants ; 3rd, W. Woodley ;
h.c. and reserve No., Joseph Boyes, Lion
Hotel, Cardiff ; h.c, R. Brown, F. Chapman,
Wells, Som , and W. G. Dear, Middle Wood-
ford, Salisbury ; c , Andrew Carnow,
Marazion, Cornwall.

Class 346. Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted
medium coloured Honey, other than heather
(13 entries).— 1st, Mrs. H. H. Woosnam,
Newton Abbott, Devon ; 2nd, G. W. Kirby,
Longwell GreeD, Bristol ; 3rd, J. H. Wootton ;
h.c. and reserve No., R. Brown ; c. C. A.
Hatchley, Oldland Hall, Willsbridge, Bristol.

Class 347. Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted
dark coloured Honey, other than heather (2
entries). — 1st, G. W. Kirby.

Clas3 348. Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted
Honey, of 19 iO or any previous year (6
entries). — 1st, F. Chapman ; 2nd, H. F.
Beale, Andover, Hants ; 3rd, J. H. Seabrooke,
Longfield, Kent ; h.c. and reserve No., Rev.
J. R. Bradshaw, Hessay, York.

Class 349. Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted
Heather Honey (4 entries). — 1st, John Berry ;
2nd, E. C. R. White ; reserve No., G. W.
Kirby.

Cla33 350. Twelve l-lb. Jars Granulated
Honey, any year (7 entries).— 1st, W. Woodley ;
2nd, R. Brown ; 3rd, John Hookway, Welling-
ton, Som. ; reserve No., P. B. Govett, Tideford,
Cornwall.

262

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Ji^y 4, 1901.

Class 351. Display of Honey, in any form
(4 entries). — 1st, R. Brown, Sotnersham ; 2nd,
Jas. Lee & Son ; reserve No., R. H. Coltman.

Class 352. Beeswax, not under 3 lb. (10
entries) — 1st, Mrs. H. H. Woosnam ; 2nd and
3rd, John Berry ; v.h.c. and reserve No., John
Edwards, Callington, Cornwall ; c, R. Brown.

Class 353. Beeswax, not less than 3 lb., in
cakes suitable for the retail trade (6 entries). —
1st and 2nd, Jno. Berry ; 3rd, R. Brown ;
h.c. and reserve No., John Edwards.

Class 354. Honey Vinegar (1 entry). — 1st,
C. W. Kirby.

Class 355. Mead (2 entries).— 1st, L. Hill,
7, Falmouth-road, Sheffield ; 2nd, John Brad-
ley, Stoney Stretton, Yockleton, Salop.

Class 356. Interesting Exhibit of a Practical
Nature (2 entries). — 1st, Richard Allen.

Class 357. Interesting Exhibit of a Scientific
Nature (1 entry). — 1st and 2nd, Jas. Lee &
Son (cabinet of specimens illustrating bee-
culture, for use in schools and by lecturers) ;
reserve No., F. W. L. Sladen, Ripple Court
Apiary, near Dover.

{Conclusion of eport next week.)

^armpMmtt

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
dre requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

*** In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

USE OF THE QUEEN BEE'S STING

AS OVIPOSITOR.
[4408.] The writer of "My Experiences,"
&c. (4402, page 251), last week's issue of this
journal, alludes to a statement of mine on
page 67 B.B.J., 1900, to the effect that on the
occasion of a queen bee laying eggs upon my
hand it appeared to me to be clear that her
sting was used as an ovipositor. This, he says,
has always puzzled him very much, and it
appears that in a similar instance of recent
occurrence he failed to get a sight of the sting.
I will gladly try to make my view clearer, and
hope to be excused if, before doing so, I men-
tion that for many years I have been in the
habit of making careful dissections of the stings
of hornets, wasps, and bees, both native and
foreign, and also of the ovipositors of various
insects, for purposes of comparison and for
microscopical preparations, so that Major
Campbell may rest assured that I was not
making a mistake, and really did the sting as
described.

I did not, however, see the sting at the
instant of laying — that is when the egg itself
protruded. The queen had been in my pocket

in a little box for some hour and a-half, so
that she was not in the usual condition of a
laying queen. It was for this reason, perhaps,
that in the intervals between the emission of
eggs she had a kind of spasmodic action, when
the cavity of the passage to the ovary opened
wide two or three times before laying. It
was then that, holding the queen on the level
of my eyes, I could see the sting working
backwards ani forwards, together with the
adjoining parts. It did not protrude beyond
the last section of the abdomen ; but the
thought at once struck me that, curving as it
did, it could not fail to grip and govern the
movement of the posterior end of the egg, and
so affect its deposition. I was able to view
the interior cavity with a platyscopic lens of
good working focus.

It must not be expected that every queen
observed will lay in the same fashion, even
under normal conditions ; nor will the same
queen always lay in her usual manner. Every
now and then she may remain with her
abdomen hidden in the cell for much longer
than usual, and it is quite possible that on
these occasions the spasmodic action may be
occurring. Be that as it may, the unwilling
emission of an egg on to a person's hand is a
very different matter from carefully depositing
and fixing it at the bottom of a cell. In the
former case I should not in the least expect
to see the sting in use ; in the latter I might
hope to do so, although it seems to me that
even in deposition the extrusion of the sting
may be unnecessary. The matter may be
cleared up any day, for I have only just missed
seeing a queen laying in cells built against the
glass of my observatory hive this season.

Touching the flight of swarms and the point
raised by Major Campbell, would it not be
reasonable to conclude that its nature is
governed by that of the country 1 Round
about me there are hills, woods, and many
hedgerow trees, and swarms fly high. Most
bee-keepers have heard and seen swarms
sailing away over their heads, and in the days
when body and spirit still made a decent pair
I have raced straight across country over
them, but never did I see runaway swarms
flying low in my neighbourhood.

While swarms are still frequent, it may be
worth while to relate how I dealt with one
which had settled on the outer branches of a
rather tall horse-chestnut tree where the
boughs would not bear a ladder. Wondering
how I could shift them, it occurred to me that
something might be done with my son's 28-
bore gun, which sends a small charge of shot
very close, and that I ought to be able to cut
through any twigs or small boughs with it.
So presently I took a shot at a small out
cluster, aiming at the very base of the long
leaf-stalk, and to my joy down came the leaf
and the bees. These joined the main cluster,
which was on the end of a thickish bough, and
this I had sawed through from the inside of
the tree, and pushed out so that it slipped

July 4, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

263

down to a point where a 17-ft. bamboo could
bring it gently to the ground, carrying some
bees with it. Not, however, the queen ; so
most of the bees went aloft again. Every
time a cluster formed, off came the twig, and
in a little while the swarm got so disheartened
that it broke up and went back to its hive.
Probably the old queen got lost, for a few
days later the colony swarmed again under a
virgin queen. It was amusing to see how
soon the bees adapted themselves to what they
probably looked on as an eccentricity in vege-
tation ; for after the first few shots the cluster
did not tumble with the leaf, but seemed to
explode at the shock which severed the leaf-
stalk.— South Devon Enthusiast.

PREVENTION OF SWARMING.

A PROLIFIC QUEEN.

[4409.] I was much interested in Mr.
Rymer's plan for the prevention of swarming
(vide B.J. of November 1 last, page 430), viz.,
giving an extra brood-chamber with whole
sheets of foundation, and determined to give
it a trial. For this purpose I chose my
strongest stock, and on May 3 I gave them a
body-box containing ten frames fitted with
whole sheets of foundation. On May 16 I
placed above the latter a rack of sections, a
few of which had worked-out combs with
honey, as " bait sections.' I was therefore
considerably surprised when on June 15 this
hive swarmed. On examining the combs to
cut out queen-cells I found the sections practi-
cally untouched since I put them on, but the
twenty brood-frames underneath were really
an extraordinary sight — one solid mass of
brood — so much so that I carefully went over
each frame and found the cells in every one
packed with brood on both sides, except one
which contained brood on one side only.
I am inclined to think that either this
is a very unusual season or that I
possess an unusually prolific queen, per-
haps a little of both ; but on looking up
the history of this particular queen, I think
Bhe must be rather out of the common. She
is the daughter of a Carniolan-Italian hybrid
queen, and was hatched on June 12, 1900. On
July 23 the colony of which she was the head
swarmed, when the queen was only six weeks
old, greatly to my surprise. I noted at the
time what an immense quantity of brood she
had produced since she began to lay.

This year, on June 15, the colony swarmed,
as already stated, and after cutting out all
queen-cells I returned the swarm and put a
second rack of sections on. To-day (June 28)
the stock swarmed again — a huge swarm —
though the sections are still untouched ; only
a very few of them are drawn out. I removed
some of the frames with queen-cells to raise
young queens from, and then returned the
swarm once more. I wonder if other bee-
keepers have noticed what unusual quantities

of brood are being raised this year ? As a
rule, in my case the two outside frames at
least are used as store combs, but this year
they are solid masses of brood, and yet no
honey is going into sections worth speaking
of. I have not a single section sealed over. —
0. H. Lowe, Rijhtone Rectory, Yorks, June 28.

ANTS AND BEES.

[4410.] While at Vulpera on June 11, I
noticed on a mountain footpath a smallish
black bee, which from its appearance I took
to be rather young and of somewhat immature
experience of the ways of the world in which
she was destined to work. It was weighted
with only a small load of pollen, quite an
insufficient reason for preferring to crawl on
the ground rather than to fly in the sunlit air.
There was another observer besides myself,
and this was one of the smaller of the
numerous ants infesting the path. Master
ant no sooner espied such a tooth-
some morsel of winter meat than quickly
moving forward he, single-handed, attached
himself to the back of the bee and, bending
over, fixed his jaws in the under surface of his
quarry's thorax. The bee continued to crawl
forward for a short distance, vainly trying to
shake off his foe. Finding this impossible,
she rolled over on to her back in order to use
her sting to advantage. Thus constantly
flexing her abdomen and protruding her sting
in a futile endeavour to puncture the ant, the
position of who3e attachment rendered this
impossible. In three minutes the bee was
dead or paralysed, for, with the exception of an
occasional spasmodic movement, no sign of life
was given. Another ant, seeing the conflict,
came into the fray and attached himself to the
protruded sting of the bee, holding on to which
he dragged off the bee with his friend still
hanging on to the thorax. I left them still at
work removing their catch to the colony's
winter store-house. Whatever the relations of
English bees and English ants may be, I had
observed an object lesson in the position of
their Alpine relatives. — L. P., Leamington
Spa, June 29.

DEALING WITH FOUL BROOD.

BI-SULPHIDE OP CARBON AS A REMEDY.

[4411.] Bee-keeping with me being a con-
tinuous struggle with foul brood, it has at
times been necessary to destroy a colony com-
pletely, bees and all. At first sight it does
not seem to be an easy thing to do this, the
usual method being either to lift a movable
body box on to burning sulphur — not a light
job— or to shake the bees into a skep, and then
treating them with sulphur, with the risk of
scattering foul-brood spores all around from
shaking the combs. For the benefit of any
unfortunates who may be in a similar plight.
I venture to describe a simple method of
destroying the bees in a short time without

264

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 4, 1901.

any disturbance : — Close the doors, separate
two frames, and push between them a little
tow, cotton wool, or shavings, on this pour a
tablespoonful of bisulphide of carbon, drop a
lighted match on the tow, and immediately
cover up with the quilt. The unfortunate
bees will be dead in less than a minute.
When the light is applied there is a slight
explosion, but nothing alarming, only care
must be taken to hold one's head away from
the top of the hive. Care must also be taken
not to expose the stock of bi- sulphide to a
flame, as it is very inflammable. — Mark
Farrant, Jun., Exeter, June 29.

UNFAIR EXEIBITING.

A PROTEST.

[4412.] May I be allowed in my own name
and that of several other appliance-makers and
dealers to strongly protest against the awards
in the class for collection of appliances at the
Royal Show, Cardiff. We do this without re-
fleeting discredit on the part of the judges,
but on the first prizj exhibit I failed to see a
single original idea. All were bad imitations
of other makers' productions. My extractors
were much to the front. Machines that I have
worked upon for twenty years, and year by
year improved were shown without a blush.
Many other appliances on the same lines
looked as though original articles, but had been
bought for copying pur poses only. I call this
dishonest in the hignest degree and discredit-
able in every way. It is to be hoped our
judges, and buyers of appliances, will award
honours or credit where deserved. It is, to
say the least, a bit too bad to have to take
second place to another whose goods have
been designed and perfected by oneself, and of
which the first prize taker has had no hand in
designing. I ask, Is this the right way to
secure his honours ?

Let the best goods win by all means, but not
after the above fashion. — W. P. Meadows,
Syston, Cardiff] June 29.

BEES TRANSFERRING THEMSELVES.

[4413.] On May 20 I placed a very full
skep of bees above the frames of a frame-
hive, all with foundation and several of the
combs fully worked out. On June 25 the
bees showed signs of a desire to swarm, so
having ascertained that several frames in lower
hive were crowded with bees I placed a box
of shallow frames under the body -box of lower
hive at 11 a.m., and at 7 p.m. I drove the
bees from the skep, which latter was full of
honey. A little brood was still left on the
five central combs, but no unsealed larva?. I
did not observe the queen during the " drive "
or the subsequent return to the hive, and
only saw one drone. The body-box was
teeming with brood in all stages, and doubtless
the queen was amoDg the combs. I put on a

rack of sections, and poured out the bees from
the skep in front of their old home, into
which they ran eagerly, to find it enlarged top
and bottom, with ample storerooms as well as
nurseries provided. This morning (26th) the
bees seem quite happy and comfortable. I
am now therefore able to give myself and
others an answer to the two questions asked
in your issue of June 6 [2654], viz. : 1. In
May or June, about five weeks ; 2. Then
drive skep, returning the bees, and put on
sections or shallow-frames.

I am much struck this year by the splendid
work done hitherto by swarms, which are need-
ing supers much quicker than usual. One man
brought me a swarm which had come out on
May 21 at 1 p.m. and had remained unhived
through the night until nine the next morning.
Of course, many bees had gone back to their
old home in the evening, and when they were
hived scarcely four frames were covered.
Three or four days later I found to my sur-
prise the whole ten fully occupied. They
must have sent messengers to their friends at
home (one mile off) who had come out with
them and returned, spying what a nice house
they had got, and inviting them to join them.
They are now in full work upstairs. I have
seen very few drone3 about this season. —
C. C. James, Wortham Rectory, Diss,
June. 26.

A RECORD (?) BOX OF SHALLOW-
FRAMES.

[4414.] I do not know whether you will
be justified in heading this letter as above, but
if any of your readers have ever taken off a
heavier box of shallow-frames than the one
mentioned below, I should be glad if he or she
will send weights for publication : — Gross
weight of box, 47 lb. ; weight of box and
frames after extracting, 9j lb. ; net weight of
honey, 37| lb. The heaviest comb weighed
6^ lb., and the box was an ordinary-sized one,
containing eight wide shallow frames. — S. P.,
Soal, Stambridge Apiary, Roc/tford, Essex,
June 28.

(Correspondence continued on page 266.)

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS

Mr. Doubtfire, whose bee-garden is seen on
next page, is another reader whose experience
goes to show that a big weight of honey can
(at times) be taken from a hive not a long way
from London. For the rest, the " notes " sent
are so interesting and all-sufficient as to need
no addition from us. He says : —

" In reply to your request for some parti-
culars to go with my bee-garden picture, I
am afraid I have nothing very remarkable or
much worth relating.

" My apiary is situated at the bottom of a
garden in what is considered a poor district, in

July 4, 1901. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

265

he midst of a population of about 6,000. My
first introduction to bee-keeping took place
about five years ago when visiting a friend, a
bee-keeper at Croxley Green, Rickman3worth.
It was not long, however, after my visit when
I found I had an attack of bee fever, and very
soon became the possessor of a stock through
the medium of above friend, to whom I am
very much indebted for sound practical advice
and assistance during my infancy in the
craft. So, having made a beginning, and
finding no " rosemary growing in our garden,"
I have been allowed my own sweet way,
and am now the happy possessor of eight
stocks, with several other hives for con-
tingencies. Seven of the above stocks are
fairly ' bubbling over ' with bees, the eighth

find, are always taken to in preference to
sections ; so I have to place sections under
shalloiv-frames when more storage room is
required.

"I am by occupation a collector, regularly
doing eighteen to twenty miles daily, but
manage to find time during the evenings to
make some of my hives, section-racks and
shallow-frames, crates, &c, besides giving a
helping hand to less experienced bee-keepers,
several of whom I have started in the craft.

" I find a good deal of ignorance exists
amongst bee-keepers of the skeppist class. I
was introduced to one a couple of weeks ago
who has kept bees for forty years. I found
three out of his six skeps overflowing with
bees, and on my offering to make artificial

MR. F. DOUBTFIRE'S APIARY, WEALDSTONE, MIDDLESEX.

being a cast of last year which I had from a
friend. My best take of honey from one
hive was 120 lb. of 'extracted' last season
from an artificial swarm of the previous year.
This swarm deposed the old queen soon after
they got established, and the young queen
getting mated successfully, the colony be-
came very strong early in the autumn. Above
stock was in a hive of my own construction
and is marked No. 10. Hive No. 12 is a fancy
one 1 had made to exhibit at the flower-
show in the adjoining village of Wembley.
The bees, being shown working, created a deal
of interest. It contains an artificial swarm
made on June 20 last year, and the bees are
well at work in the shallow-frames, which, I

swarms from them, was promptly told he
1 would have no new-fangled dodges worked
on his bees ; when they were ready they
would swarm themselves.' To-day (June 18)
I have again seen the old gentleman, and hear
that the bees have swarmed — and gone !

" Now, as regards the picture. The figure
resting on the hive is your ' 'umble.' The
other one is my son, aged fourteen, an ardent
little bee-keeper, owner of one stock (not seen
in the picture), and great is our pleasure after
business is over to sit amongst our little
favourites, apart from the profit they bring.
I may say that I experience no difficulty in
disposing of the produce at lOd. and Is. per
lb. section or 1-lb. jar of honey.

266

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 4, 1901.

" In conclusion, I may mention that the
photo sent you is my own work, except
makiDg the exposure, which was kindly done
by a neighbour's son, an amateur.

"Wishing you every success (and your
chatty little journal deserves it) and all
brother bee-keepers a prosperous season."

CORRESPONDENCE.
{Continued from page 264.)
BEES IN WALES.
[4415.] Early swarms were conspicuous by
their absence here this season, owing to the
unfavourable weather. High winds, cold
rains, and frosty nights kept them backwards
during the month of May. But now the
weather is more settled, and the bees are
swarming with vengeance. June 28 was a
record day in this respect. The hurly-burly
began early in the morning, and continued
until the afternoon was far advanced. Old
dames with their heads in aprons hurried
forth to the scene of action, beating tom-toms
as hard as they could. My own apiary, which
is in the centre of our village, was surrounded
with onlookers, drawn there by the three
swarms that issued in the forenoon in quick
succession. When the last was hived I
thought that my labour was over, but not so.
A couple of swarms from an adjacent garden
decamped, and flew over my head at the time.
My third swarm got restless, one half joined
the rebels, and the other half settled on a
rhubarb stalk ; it is a mere handful, but
possessing a fine young queen, will they sur-
vive ? — J. B. Williams, Gelli Lijdan, Meri-
oneth, June 29.

ESSEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

BEE DEMONSTRATIONS AT CHINGFORD.

[4416.] Mr. W. Herrod, the B.B.K.A.
Expert and Lecturer at Swanley Horticul-
tural College, has been engaged by the Essex
County Council to give lectures and demon-
strations in the bee-tent at Chingford on the
afternoon of Saturday next, July 6, on the
occasion of the local flower show. In con-
nection with the latter there are several
classes for honey open to the county. — J. W.
Sheppard, Hon. Sec. Essex B.K.A., Chingford,
June 26.

FAULTY FRAMES.

[4417.] I had to-day the most unpleasant
experience which has fallen to my lot since I
commenced bee-keeping in 1898. I wished to
remove a standard frame from the body box of
a hive which was my new one for last season.
On commencing to lift out the end frame on
the left hand side I noticed that the top bar
was coming away from the rest of the frame.
I ceased trying to withdraw that one, and
essayed the end right-hand frame. I had

partly removed it when the top bar parted
clean away from the uprights, with a result
which was good neither for my temper nor
that of the bees. Of course old hands will say,
" Serve you right for not seeing that your
frames are nailed together ; " but never having
seen such an accident alluded to I thought the
experience might be worth recording for the
sake of other beginners. — Ian Anderson,
Coventry, June 27.

WEATHER REPORT.

Westbourne, Sussex,

Rainfall, 3 91 in.
Heaviest fall, 1 87 in.,

on 30th.
Rain fell on 10 days.

Above

2 02 in.
Maximum

ture, 79°
Minimum

ture, 40°,
Minimum on Grass, 0.
Frosty Nights, 0.
Sunshine, 259'7 hrs.
Brightest Day, 27th,

14'5 hours.

average,

Tempera-
on 29th.
Tempera-
on 20th.

June, 1901.
Sunless Days, 1.
Above average, 32 '3

hou's.
Mean Maximum,

62°.
Mean Minimum,

45 4°.
Mean Temperature,

53-7°.
Below average, 4°.
Maximum Barometer,

30-57°, on 25th.
Minimum Barometer,

2973°, on 14th.

L. B. Birkett.

(fu^riw wd |j^jjlt$.

. [2679.] "Fasting " Bees for Curative Purpose*.
— A strong stock of bees, recently bought, was
found to be affected with foul brood. The bees
were then transferred to a skep, tied up with
coarse canvas, and fasted for forty-eight hours.
On proceeding to put them into a clean hive
prepared with comb-foundation, the bees were
found to be dead ! You will greatly oblige by
saying, in the next issue of your valuable
paper, the cause of death. — F. S., Warwick-
shire, July 1.

Reply. — We can only attribute the disaster
to some want of care or forethought on the
part of the operator. The particulars fur-
nished are too brief and scanty for us to tell
from a distance what has caused the death of
bees. On the spot, and with full knowledge
of all that took place, we could probably say
in a moment what was wrong, but not other-
wise. Here is the intelligent or practical view
of the position, which you can, no doubt, apply
to your own case : — Bee-keepers know that
bees driven from a skep which contains food
can be " fasted " for forty- eight hours without
harm, because the bees, when alarmed by the
operation of " driving," immediately fill their
honey sacs with food, as they do before swarm-
ing but bees with empty stomachs when put

July 4, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

267

into a skep will not live for two days if there
is no food within reach. And so the bee-
keeper— in such a case as yours might be —
should take these things into account and keep
a look out, so that if a few bees begin to drop
from the bulk as they hang in skep he knows
what it means, and shortens the hours of
" fasting " to save the bees' lives, and so avoid
death by starvation. In your brief query is
involved an important point in bee-keeping
which all should bear in mind, viz , that most
operations require to be carried out intelli-
gently, and not by "rule of thumb," or they
may miscarry. Hence this long reply.

[2.680.] Swarm Refusing to Stay in Hive.
— 1 should be very much obliged if you would
give me the reason for the following occur-
rence : — On June 4 I secured a large swarm
which had issued from one of my hives. The
bees worked on the comb-foundation till the
following Sunday morning, when they sud-
denly took wing and deserted the hive. I
secured them again after clustering, and put
the skep in a shady place ; but after three-
quarters of an hour the queen and the whole
Bwarm came out and flew off far away. I had
previously given more room in the hive, as
two days after they had been put in, a great
many came out and clustered on a tree near,
but by no means the whole swarm. I returned
them again to the hive. I may say also that
the skep used on the Sunday was not
" dressed." I am therefore anxious to know
why the bees left the hive on the Sunday, and
deserted the skep very soon after they were
secured. The hive stood in a very exposed
and hot part of my garden. I can find no
explanation in the " Guide Book," so presume
it must have been a somewhat exceptional
occurrence. — M. D. Hill, Windsor, June 25.

Reply. — On the face of it there appears to
have been something objectionable in the skep
or the hive into which the swarm was hived.
Such things, however, are very rare in the
hands of experienced bee-keepers, and as only
those on the spot could form a really safe
opinion on the cause of bees deserting, we
must take refuge in the truism, " Bees do
nothing invariably," as our reply.

[2681.] Removing Queen-Cells to Stop Swarm
ing. — Would you kindly answer the fol-
lowing through your valuable journal 1 —
1. On examining one of my hives, two days
before last Bank holiday, I found several
queen-cells, and also plenty of unsealed brood
apparently five or six days old, but none
younger. Some of the queen -cells were
sealed, others unsealed. Thinking that the
bees were about to swarm, I cut all the cells
out in order to prevent them. On looking at
the hive again on Bank holiday, I found more
queen- cells formed, and so searched for the
queen, but finding none, I then thought they
were raising a successor, and just let things go
on ; but I do not think the hive had swarmed,
seeing there were so many bees. However, I

examined the hive again on June 24, and
found a queen, also a patch of worker-brood,
as well as some drone-brood. 2. Do you
think there is a young queen in the hive, or is
the old one still there, seeing that there are
drone-eggs ? I am given to understand that a
young queen lays only worker-eggs up to
eleven months old. By replying, you will
oblige a beginner. — E. D., Devonport, June 29,

Replv. — 1. You may take it forgranted that
the old queen has been either accidentally killed
by some one while manipulating the frames
or deposed by the bees themselves for reasons
of their own. You must be wrong, however,
with regard to age of larvre in the hive after
removal of the first lot of queen-cells, seeing
that the larva is only fed for five days before
being sealed over, while it needs special feeding
and food (i.e. " Royal jelly ") to transform
the worker larva into a queen-bee. Pre-
supposing then that a young queen was
raised and safely mated she would not begin
breeding drones in a few days after being
fertilised. 2. Keep a look out to see how
brood-rearing goes on, and if anything
abnormal follows, such as drone-brood appear-
ing as stated, let us know and we will advise
you further.

[2682.] Swarm Returning to Parent Hive.
— A neighbour's hive swarmed yesterday
(June 26) ; the bees never settled (or
"clustered"), but returned to the parent hive
in about ten minutes. To-day the queen,
sent herein, was found on the ground below
the hive swarmed from. The owner wishes
me to ask you to report on age of queen and
probable cause of her inability to fly or head
the swarm. — Jas. Waddell, Hon. Sec.
N.D.B.K.A., Wooler, June 27.

Reply. — The dead queen sent has either
been crushed in handling after she was found
dead, or else the damage occurred during life
by being trod under foot in some way. In any
case, the evidence seems plain that death has
been the result of some accident, for the
abdomen is all out of shape, and no doubt the
internal organs are ruptured.

[2683.] The Difficulties of Queen-Rearing. —
Will you kindly help me in the following
difficulty with regard to queen-rearing ? 1
removed a queen from a strong stock on
May 25 in order to rear some young queens.
The result was I had seven or eight queen-
cells capped over on the eighth day after
removing the queen. Wishing to re-queen
two other of my hives, I removed the queens
and inserted a queen-cell in each, protecting
the same by means of a pipe-cover queen-
cage. On the fourteenth day the queens
hatched out and were respectively liberated.
The bees took to them kindly, as I noticed
very particularly at the time. On June 21
I examined the above hives, but found neither
brood nor eggs in the combs. Consequently
I thought both stocks were queenles8, and

268

THE BKITISH BEE JOUENAL.

[July 4, 1901.

gave each of them eggs and brood from other
stocks ; but on looking at them on the
27th ult. I did not find any queen-cells
formed ; all I found was the brood-frames well
filled with honey. — A. Thorpe, Wislaston,
Crewe, July 1.

Reply. — If your dates are correct, the
young queens would, in the ordinary course,
have been laying by June 21 ; but since no
attempt was made to build queen-cells, it
seems probable that " mating '' has been de-
layed somewhat. Examine the combs again
carefully, and let us know result. We shall
be surprised if eggs and brood are not found
by the time these lines are in print.

(Btheta from tfa Hlfim.

Wooler, Northumberland, June 27. — Mr.
Woodley's suggestion on page 242 that " re-
ports from various districts be sent weekly to
our Editors '' seems really a practical one, and
would give a fair idea of the honey crop of the
whole kingdom for 1901. Honey has been
coming in rapidly here during the last six days,
and bees are now storing well in sections.
Swarming also is becoming more general now
in various apiaries round about. I have had
none myself so far, owing to checking same as
far as possible. White clover and wild thyme
are now fairly well forward, both being well
visited by the bees, therefore the prospect for
a fairly good bee-keepers' season seems to be
in store for all. — J as. Waddell, Secretary
N. & D. B. K. A.

\tt ^hmtia to <&mt.

July 18 and 19, at Brigg.— Honey, Hives, and
Bee Appliances in connection with the Lincolnshire
Agricultural Society ; Bee Department under the
management of the Lines. B.K.A. Schedules from the
Hon. Sec, R. Godson, Tothill, Alford. Entries
closed.

July 24, at Broughton, Hants. —Broughton
Flower show. Open class for six 1-lb. jars extracted
honey. Schedules from C. Upshall, Broughton, Stock-
bridge, Hants.

July 25, 26 and 27, at St. Helens.— Royal

Lancashire Agricultural Society's Show. Bee-keepers'
Section. For Honey, Hives, and Appliances. Liberal
Money Prizes and valuable Medals in Open Classes for
Sections, Extracted Honey, Honey Trophy, and Appli-
ances. Full particulars in advertisements shortly.
Prize schedules from Edward Bohane, Secretary,
Miller Arcade, Preston. Entries close July 11.

July 29, at Caergwele Castle Flower Show.
—Bee Lectures, Honey Classes. Schedules from H. D,
Davies, Abermorddu, Wrexham.

July 31, at Henbury, Bristol.— Honey show of the
Henbury District B.K.A. in conjunction with the Hen-
bury Horticultural Society's show. Schedules from W.
G. Barnfteld, Hon. Sec, H.B.K.A., Charlton, near
Bristol. Entries close July 24.

August 5 (Bank Holiday) at Lichfield.—
Honey Show in connection with that of Lichfield Floral
and Horticultural Society. Open Classes for Light and
Dark Honey and Wax. Two classes for members of

the Staffs. B.K.A. and two open classes for Cottagers.
Medals and good money prizes. Schedules from F. J.
Hall, City Station Wharf, Lichfield.

August 5, at Butterfleld Park, Hessle,
Hull. — Honey Show in connection with the Hessle and
District Floral and Agricultural Society. Schedules
from Hon. Sec, Mr. E. C. S. Stow, Hessle, Hull.
Entries close August 1.

August 5, at Melton Constable.— North Norfolk
B.K.A. Annual Honey Show. Three open classes ;
one for single 1-lb. jav extracted honey. Schedules
from C. J. Cooke, Edgefield, Melton Constable.
Entries close July 27.

August 6. at Leamington-— Honey section of
Leamington St. Mary's flower show. Three open
classes for six 1-lb. sections, six 1-lb. jars " light,"
and six 1-lb. jars " dark" extracted honey, respectively.
Good prizes. Schedules from the Secretary, 2, St.
Mary's-road, Leamington. Entries close August 3-

August 8, at Kingsthorpe. Northampton.—
Honey Show of the Northants B.K.A., in connection
with the Horticultural Exhibition. Twelve classes for
bee-keepers, including special class (six prizes) open to
all (with free entry) for single 1-lb. jar extracted honey.
Six prizes, 20s., 10s. 6d., 7s. 6d., 2s. 6d., 2s., and certifi-
cate. Schedules from Robt. Hefford, Hon. Sec, Kings-
thorpe, Northants. Entries close August 1.

August 8, at Madresfleld Park.— Annual
Show of the Worcestershire B.K.A., in connection with
the Madresfleld Agricultural Exhibition. Open Classes
for Bees, Hives, and Extracted Honey. Schedules
from Mr. J. P. Phillips, Spetchley, Worcester, Acting
Secretary W. B.K.A. Entries close August 1.

August 8, at FoVs Chetnole.— Yetminster and
District B.K.A. Annual Show of Bees, Honey, and
Beeswax. Thirteen classes (including three open
classes). Entry free for single 1-lb. section, 1-lb. jar
extracted honey. Schedules from G. Leeding, Bradford
Abbas, Sherborne, Dorset. Entries close August 3.

August 15, 16, and 17, at Crystal Palace.—
Surrey B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees, Honey, Wax,
and Appliances, &c. Twenty-four classes (eleven open
to all). Increased prizes and medals. Schedules from
F. B. White, Hon. Secretary, Marden House, Redhill,
Entries close August 1.

August 17, at Ammanford (N. "Wales).—

Honey show in connection with the Ammanford Flower
Show. Liberal prizes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar extracted honey, also classes for three sections
and three 1-lb. jars, light and dark honey. — Particulars
from Mr. Ivor Morris, Hon. Sec, Ammanford, R.S.O.,
Carmarthen.

August 21 and 22, at Shrewsbury.— Annual
Show of the Shropshire B.K.A., in connection with the
Shropshire Horticultural Society's Great Floral Fete in
" The Quarry." Bees, Honey, Hives, and Appliances.
Six Open Classes for Honey. Schedules from S. Cart-
wright, Hon. Secretary, Shropshire B.K.A., Shaw-
bury, Shrewsbury. Entries close August 9.

August 27 and 28 at Solihull.— Warwickshire
B.K.A. Show of Honey, &c, in conjunction with that
of the Warwickshire Agricultural Society. Schedules
from Jas. Noble Bower, hon. sec, Wrarwicks. B.K.A.,
Knowle.

August 28, at Chester.— Annual Show of the
Cheshire B.K.A., in connection with the Cheshire Agri-
cultural Society. Ten classes (four open) for hives, honey
(light, medium, and dark), sections, &c Schedules
from T. A. Beckett, St. Werburgh's Chambers, Chester.
Entries close Aug. 7. (At double fees to Aug. 14.)

Thursday, August 29, at Montgomery.—
Montgomery and District Horticultural Society's Show.
Two open Classes for Honey— six 1 lb. sections, six 1 lb.
jars and extracted, with prizes of 10s., 5s., and 2s. 6d.
in cash. Schedules from Mr. W. H. Jones, Hon. Sec,
Montgomery. Entries close August 22.

August 31, at Dumfries.— South of Scotland
B.K.A. Annual Show. Open Classes for " Sixes,"
with Prizes of 20s., 15s., 10s., 5s. ; also for Single Jar
and Section, with Free Entry ; also Wax and
Appliances. Schedules from James Kerr, Hon. Secre-
tary, Milldarahead, Dumfries. Entries close
August 22.

September 7 to 14, at tbe Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (9th)

July 4, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

269

Annual Exhibition and Market. Eleven classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees-
wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers.

September 11 and 12, at Derby.— Derbyshire
B.K.A. twentieth Annual Show of Hives, Bees, and
Honey on the show ground of the Derbyshire Agricul-
tural Society. Schedules from E. Walker, Secretary
D.B.K.A , 64, Gerard-street, Derby. Entries clohe
August 30.

September 21 to 28, at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with the
fifth Annual Exhibition of the Grocery and Kindred
Trades. Eleven classes and liberal prizes for comb and
extracted honey and bees-wax. Open to all British.
Bee-keepers.

October 8 to 11, at the Agricultural Hall,
London.— Show of Honey and Bee-produce in con-
nection with the British Dairy Farmers' Association.
Numerous and liberal prizes for honey, &c— Schedules
from Mr. Wm. C. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-square,
London, W. Entries close September 9.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letteri or queries diking for addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur-
chased, or replies giving such information, can only be
inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

Donald McGeacht (Oban, N.B.). — The
Profits of Bee-keeping. — While fully appre-
ciating your well - meant desire to assist
neighbours who are desirous of becoming
bee-keepers, we strongly advise you not to
be led into making calculations for them as
to " how much profit can be got from a
stock of bees in a year.'' To do so is
altogether misleading, seeing that so much
depends on the district and season and the
bee - man himself. Let them read what
others have done and judge for themselves.
Above all, make it clear that your neigh-
bour's idea of " taking away all honey
gathered by the bees and giving them
sugar for food in return " is rank folly and
will not pay.

E. J. D. (London, KG.).— Bees Refusing
Foundation. — 1. There must be some cause
for refusal of bees to work on the foundation
while filling contiguous sections with built-
out combs so readily. Send us a sample of
the foundation used and we will reply
further. 2. The number of sections a
colony will fill from " limes " depends
entirely on the weather and the lime-tree
bloom.

W. C. Hannaford (Newton Abbot). — Mead
Making. — We have forwarded your note to
our correspondent " H. H. W.," who will
probably reply direct to yourself.

F. W. Conway (Glos.).— Races of Bees.—
Some of the bees sent are well-marked
Ligurians ; others only show very slight
indications of foreign blood.

F. Harrison (Boston, Lines.). — Honey for
Showing. — Sample sent is good in colour
and flavour, but thin in consistency. It is

also beginning to granulate, and is dull and
cloudy in consequence.

J. A. H. (Linthwaite). — Queen Cast Out. — 1,
The young queen sent is fully developed.
2. The fact of the hive having sent out a
swarm twelve days before your queen
was cast out makes it clear that — unless a
second swarm has gone off unseen — the
stock will not swarm again this year.

A. Nicholl (High Wycombe).— Direct Queen-
introduction. — When introducing queens
by this method steps should always be
taken to make sure the colony is queenless ;
otherwise only one result can follow, viz.,
loss of the alien queen introduced. One of
the two dead bees sent is a queen, no doubt
the one you gave to the stock ; the other is
a worker-bee. The abdomen of the latter
being crushed has misled you into thinking
it was a queen.

M. Beamish (co. Cork). — We can see no
trace of either Italian or Carniolan blood
in queen sent. It has the appearance of
an ordinary brown queen of the native
variety.

A. Bdcknell (Birmingham). — Teaching Bee-
keeping in Schools. — There is no book pub-
lished by the B.B.K.A. from which lessons
"suited to the capacity of children may
be selected." Nor are there any "appro-
priate charts published for illustrating
such lessons.'' An effort was initiated
some time ago by a member of the Council
of the B.B.K.A., but the probability of a
sufficiently large demand for such publica-
tion to justify publication seemed too
remote to encourage the venture.

Suspected Combs.

Special Notice to correspondents sending queries on
"Foul brood."

We urgently request that all letters sent with samples-
of suspected comb be put outside the box or tin containing
the sample. Also that no more than a couple of square
inches of comb be sent, taking care to neither crush the
comb nor probe the cells before despatching.

In urgent cases (and where possible) we undertake, to
" wire " replies as to F. B. if six stamps are sent to cover
cost of telegram. All letters to be addressed "Editor,
Bee Jorirnal," not "Manager."

T. Dawson (Broughton-in-Furness) ; " South
Australia " (Tunbridge Wells) ; and
Doubtful (Stourbridge).— In above cases
the samples sent are affected with foul
brood.

M. Horsley (Nether Poppleton) ; Geo. H.
Ward (Grange-over-Sands) ; and W. Pern
(Basingstoke). — We find no disease in
combs received.

P. Brady- (co. Wicklow).— As the sealed
cells in comb are full of ripe honey only,
while the unsealed ones contain only fresh
pollen, we ask : — Why did' you suspect
disease 1 There is no trace of brood at all
(foul or otherwise) in comb.

John Reece (co. Durham). — The " white
stuff " in your neighbour's sample of comb
is mildewed pollen.

*V* Several Letters and Queries are in type,
and ivill appear next week.

270

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[July 4, 1901.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve words and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

TRONG FIRST SWARMS. Guaranteed healthy, 10s.
T. Hood, White Heather Apiary, Pickering. G 58

S

FINE HEATHER HONEY, 140 lb., from virgin combs.
Offers. Horn, Bedale, Yorkshire. G 62

SPLENDID 1901 HONEY, in 28-lb. tins, 6id. lb. Tins
free. Sample, 2d. Cash or deposit. Dutton,
Terling, Essex. G 64

Q/-TH YEAR.— Reliable Queens, 5s. and 3s. 9d.. in
jC/O introducing cage, delivered. Stocks on wired
frames. Alsford, Expert, Blandford.

VIRGIN QUEENS, 2s. 3d. each. Three-frame Nuclei,
with Virgin Queen, 9s. 6d. SNOWDEN, Westwood-
side, Doncaster, G 61

TX7ANTED, some good CLOVER HONEY, at once.
V V Apply, Robert Cooper, Burrows-lane, Eccleston,
near Prescot. „_„, G 56

WANTED, i cwt. of the best British HONEY. State
price to A. Taylor, Lighthurst Farm, Oswald-
twistle, near Accrington.

HEALTHY STOCKS in Skeps. 1901 Queens, 9s.
each ; two, 17s. 6d. I am overstocked. Hybrid
Cyprian Queens, 4s. each. Spearman, Colesbourne, Chel-
tenham. G 60

NATURAL SWARMS, with 1900 Fertile Queen,
10s. 6d., 12s. 6d. ; second ditto, 1901 Queens, 8s. 6d.
Three-frame Nuclei, 8s. 6d. Guaranteed healthy.
Woods, Normandy. ' G 59

BEES.— Six Stocks from swarms ; all healthy and
strong, of prolific strain, in straw hives. Price
from 14s. Pettet, Member Assoc, Honey-lane,Waltham
Abbey, Essex. G 53

BEE HIVES and APPLIANCES FOR SALE, cheap.
Never been used. For full particulars apply,
Alfred Johnson, Clarence Villas, Swinton, Manchester.
G 57

QUOTATIONS INVITED for ten or twelve lots of
condemned Bees, to be placed on rail or delivered
at Goathland Station, near Whitby, from 6th to 9th
August. Rev. R. M. Lamb, Burton Pidsea Rectdry,
Hull. G 54

SPRING Dwindling and Light Supers are unknown
where White Star Italians are used. Store in all
weathers if flowers are about, and a month later than
Natives and other varieties. Always ready for fruit
blown in spring. Leave all others behind at the heather.
S. SlMMINS, Heathfield, Sussex.

B

EES.— Strong natural Swarms, in straw hives, 10s. 6d.
Cadman, Codsall Wood, Wolverhampton. G 49

SUPERIOR BEE3.— Good SWARMS, 15s., packed
free. Walton, Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington.

____ G 44

HONEY.— New EXTRACTED at £2 16s. per cwt.
Carnage forwarded. Samples, 4 stamps. Owen
Browning, The Apiary, Kingsomborne, Hants. G 51

ORPINGTON EGGS, Black and Buff from handsome
fowls (Cook and Partington strain), 2s. 9d. dozen.
E. MlDDLEMAS, Stamford, Alnwick. G 30

FOR SALE, Pure NEW ENGLISH HONEY, 6d. per
lb., in 10 and 28 lb. tins (tins included). Geo.
Reynolds, Eaton Ford, St.. Neots. G 33

WANTED, new SECTIONS, first quality, clear, pale
and up to weight. Any quantity prompt cash.
W. Chilton, The Apiaries, Polegate, Sussex.

WANTED, 500 (more or less) QUEEN BEES and
QUEEN CELLS, alive or dead. State lowest
price. BONNBK C'hamiikus, Diptford, South limit .
S. Devon. , a 4u

QUEENS, STOCKS, NUCLEI, and SWARMS. 14th
season of queen-rearing as a speciality. Fertile
queens, 5s. each, post free. Rev. C. Brbreton,
Pulborough, Sussex.

SPLENDID NEW SECTIONS, good colour, well filled
and sealed, 7s. dozen ; glazed, Ss. dozen. - Pine
extracted Honey in bottles or tins. Offers wanted.
GARNER, Dyke, Bourne.

Prep a id Advertisements [Continued).

GARNETT'S original, air-tiglt, screw-cap HONEY
JARS, six dozen, 7-oz., 8s. 9d. ; ten dozen, 16-oz.,
16s. 9d., cash. Packed free. GARNETT Bros., High-
street, Rotherham.

TANNED GARDEN NETTING, 25 yds. by 8 yds.*
50 yds. by 4 yds., 100 yds. by 2 yds., 8s. Prompt
delivery. L. Wren & SON, Net Merchants, 139, High-
street, Lowestoft. F 14

COMFORTABLE APARTMENT8 for brother bee-
keepers visiting Douglas. Terms : tea, bed, and
breakfast, 3s. Cd. ; or full board, 5s. per day. HORSLEY,
Merridale House, Top of Castle Drive, Douglas, Isle of
Man. 932

DON'T BE STUNG. Wear Reynolds' " Burkitt Bee
Gloves." A great success. Unsolicited testi-
monials. Light in substance, useful, durable. 2s. 2d.
per pair, or with self-adjusting gauntlets attached,
2s. lOd. per pair, post paid. Special terms to the trade.
Sole Maker, Edward Reynolds, Andover, Hants.

PROLIFIC QUEENS. — Pure Imported Carniolans,
7s. ; Italians, 6s. ; home-bred from imported
mothers, 4s. 6d. ; others, 3s. . 6d. ; swarms, from
10s. 6d. Stocks and Nuclei, headed by any variety queen
at fair prices. Customer writes :— " Received bees this
morning ; very highly pleased with them." Particulars
of E. Woodham, Clavering, Newport, Essex. G 22

LACE PAPER for SECTION GLAZING. White,
Pink, and Green, 1 in. wide, 100, 7d., 200, Is. 2d.,
300, Is. 6d., 500, 2s. 3d., 1,000, 4s. Also something new
in LACE BANDS, 2J, 3, and 3| in. wide, lace both edges.
White, 100, Is. 3d., 200, 2s. 3d., 300, 3s., 500, 4s 0d.; Pink
and Pale Green, 100, Is. 6d., 200, 2s. 9d., 3C0, 4s., 500,
5s. 6d. ; all post free. Sample of each kind three stamps.
W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury.

LANCASHIRE B.K.A.

WANTED, EXPERT for the AUTUMN TOUR

(August and September), to visit all members. State
salary expected and references to Mr. Thos. MOTTRAM,
Mayfield, Leegate-road, Heaton Moor, Stockport.

CUMBERLAND BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

WANTED, an EXPERT to visit the members and
give demonstrations throughout the county. Apply,
J. Vicars, Hon. Sec. C.B.K.A., Gillbank, Boot, Cumber-
land.

TO DEALERS.

ROOT " WEED" FOUNDATION noted for its toughness
and brilliancy is known by these Trade Marks :

4&J? *".'*»>

without which in packages none is genuine.
IMPORTED "WEED" BROOD (medium and slight),

8 to 10 Sheets to the lb.
SUPER, thin and extra thin.
SECTION; plain and split top in quantity.
FRAMES, SEPARATORS, &c.
NO BEE-WAY SECTIONS, & FENCE SEPARATORS.

Goods arrived at London and Liverpool.
Orders Booked for the NEW TALL SECTIONS,
4J x 5 x if. 250 Sections, and 50 Fence Separators to
suit, in each package.

Wm. BOXWELL,

PATRICKSWELL, co. LIMERICK.

The A. I. Root Co. Representative, and Sole Importer

of "Weed" Foundation into the V. K.

July 11, 1901.] THE BKITISH BEE JOUENAL.

271

(Mitorisl, Jtotiaa, fa.

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

CARDIFF MEETING, 1901.

{Continued from page 262.)
After several years, during which the
annual country meetings of the " Royal "
have resulted in more or less of financial loss
to the Society, it is gratifying to report an
unqualified success at Cardiff. From the
official returns now available we learn that
the total attendance of visitors who passed
the turnstiles from Wednesday, the 26th ult ,
to Monday, July 1, will compare favourably
with any previous show of the Society, and
stands second to the greatest attendance ever
recorded, viz., that at Manchester in 1897,
when the attendance reached the enormous
number of 217,980. There was, however, a
third " shilling day " at Manchester, at which
22,621 persons paid for admission, so that the
comparative numbers for the five days at
Cardiff and the same number of days at
Manchester is as follows : —

Cardiff". Manchester.

Five-shilling day 3,155 4,547

Two half-crown days 48,808 43,891

Two shilling days 114,956 146,921

166,919 195,359
The table given above compares the attend-
ance at the two meetings so far as they corre-
spond. The profit at Manchester was £4,074,
but whether it has been more or less at Cardiff
depends on outgoings and receipts not yet
made known, and it is quite possible that the
profit on the recent show will almost, if not
quite, equal that of the " best on record."

The final country meeting of the R.A.S.
will be held next year at Carlisle, after which
the society enters on a new phase of its long
and honourable career by taking possession
of its new permanent show-ground close to
London. In future years, therefore, instead
of the custom hitherto followed of taking the
show to the people in various parts of the
kingdom, the people will be brought to the
show. We trust to see the new departure
result in an all-round success.

Resuming our report of the bee-department
at Cardifi from last issue we may say the
display of collections of Bee Appliances
(Class 334) was not so imposing as at York
last year — when seven collections were staged
against five at Cardiff, the class was a good
one as will be seen by four of the exhibits
staged receiving recognition at the hands of
the judges.

Class 335. Outfit for a Beginner in Bee-
Keeping— -This was a capital class, better, we
think, than any staged since " outfits " have
been included in the schedule. Without
going too much into details we can safely say

that each and all of the exhibits that took
prizes, or received recognition, contained only
good, useful appliances, and were moreover
excellent value at 30s.

We might, in kindness, suggest to future
exhibitors the futility of staging outfits in this
class that do not include a honey-extractor.
So long as makers are able to include that
very essential bee appliance for the 30s. (which
is the price limit) those who omit doing so
stand no chance whatever of a prize.

Class 336. Observatory Hive with Queen
and Bees.— Only two exhibits were staged in
this class, Messrs. Lee & Sons' fine observa-
tory, with feeding stage and magnifying lense
attached, being far and away the best. The
second exhibit was passed over by the judges
for obvious " faults " in make.

Class 337. Complete Frame - Hive for
General Use (16 entries).— Although a well-
filled class, this was not quite satisfactory all
round. Too many of the hives had faults in
construction which plainly showed that the
makers are not practical bee-keepers — supers
that do not cover the frame-tops, but allow
bees to pass into roofs or outer cases ; body-
boxes in which no provision is made to keep
the outside combs properly spaced from hive
sides ; section-boxes with hanging frames
(miscalled the W.B.C. section-box) which are
so faulty in make as to be unworkable ; such
hives may be staged at a " Royal " show, but
until the makers remedy the faults they only
incur trouble and expense in staging them.
The winning hives, however, were all good,
and some not noticed fairly so, but the ex-
hibits were very uneven in merit taken as a
whole.

Clas3 337. Inexpensive Frame- Rive for
Cottag r's Use (15 entries).— A much better
lot of hives, considering the price ("not to
exceed 10s. 6d."), were staged here than in
the previous class, Mr. Meadows' 1st prize one
being both serviceable and capital value for
its price. The 2nd prize hive, too, was very
well made indeed, and when its slight
" faults " are got rid of it will be difficult to
beat. The other hives noticed were also
good ; indeed, we were very pleased with
most of the "cheap" hives staged.

Class 388. Honey Extractor (11 entries). —
A capital display was made here, embracing a
well-made lot of extractors suitable for all
tastes and pockets. We fear, however, that
our best makers are going a bit too strong in
their well-meant desire to introduce improve-
ments in this indispensable appliance for the
apiary. Of course, if price be no object, the
bee-keeper may have a "free wheel" and
" patent brake " attached to his extractor, but
these are "luxuries" in a honey extractor,
however essential in an up-to-date bicycle.
However, Mr. Meadows wisely gives his
customers the option of choosing between
what is useful alongside what is ornamental by
staging both forms of extractor. The machines
which received awards were all very good

272

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 11, 1901.

indeed, and the class as a whole was, we think,
the best staged at the " Royal " for some years
past. .

Class 339. Useful Appliance connected with
Bee-keeping introduced since 1899 (6 entries).
— The Rymer honey-press on stand with
which Mr. Meadows secured 1st prize is a
strong and workmanlike machine, bearing
evidence of complete efficiency in all its parts.
To those whose " moor going '' results in a few
cwt3. of heather honey, this machine will be
invaluable, and should soon repay its cost,
large as that is. The 2nd prize went to an
unpretentious little item in the shape of a
section-case of wood ready "glassed'' on both
sides, and with lace-paper edging fixed on so
accurately as to ensure against disqualification
on the show-bench. Before receiving the
combed section of honey it is exactly similar
to a newly-folded one-piece section, so that
when offered to a honey consumer it is as
attractive looking as it is possible to make a
section of honey appear. For a " high- class
honey trade " this will be a most valuable item
for bee-keepers' use.

A high commend was given to what may be
called a multum in parvo for bee-keepers.
Very ingenious in combining a comb-box for
use when removing and returning frames after
extracting, a travelling-box for swarms ; a
nucleus hive, and a make-shift hive for tem-
porarily housing a small stock of bee3 in.

We hope to see the " inventions " class, as
this may be termed, more largely taken ad-
vantage of by bee-keepers of an inventive
turn. There can be no doubt whatever of its
usefulness to the whole industry, but at the
same time it should be borne in mind that
"simplicity" has so large a share in the
value of inventions in bee-keeping that to
stage an appliance, or give form to an idea
worked out in the study, and not put to a
practical trial beforehand, is often labour and
thought thrown away.

Want of space compels us to hold over the
conclusion of report till next week, when the
honey classes and those for " interesting ex-
hibits " will be dealt with.

^xmpn&tut

HONEY SHOW AT ST. HELENS.

EXTENSION OF TIME FOR ENTRIES.

We are requested to state that entries for
the above important show of bee3, honey, and
appliances will be received up to Saturday
next. Full particulars will be found in adver-
tisement on front page of this issue, and as
many classes are " open to all," we trust that
a good response may be made to the generous
way in which the *Royal Lancashire Agricul-
tural Society are supporting the bee industry
at their annual show. The favourable weather
of the last ten days should enable Lancastrians
to make a more imposing appearance at their
county show than they have hitherto done.

The Editors do not hold themtelvet responsible fort\g
opinion* expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

NOTES BY THE WAY.
[4418.] At time of writing the present
season has, with me, nearly equalled that of
1900, but the barrenness of the fields and
pastures just now doe3 not afford a hopeful
prospect of a good finish for 1901. Fields
which should be white with clover-bloom
among the " aftermath " are sere and brown.
The rain of the 1st inst. was very acceptable,
but the quantity was too small to reach the
roots of the plants, and a week of dry, warm
weather since has again rendered the ground
parched as before. The lime trees about us
promise a good quantity of bloom, while an
abundance of bramble bloom will help to fill
the supers. Given a good soaking rain,
we in this district should have a good
finish to the honey harvest. We therefore
hope and wait, but the weeks slip past;
no racks of sections are filled in seven or eight
days this season. I may here mention that
the new "tall-shape" sections put on at the
same hour as a rack of the ordinary-sized ones
must be relegated to second place. The two
colonics in which the trial for comparison was
made were as equal as possible, while the
respective queens were sisters. The first lot
of ordinary sections were put on same date,
and the racks on both hives were equally well
filled when the second lots were given ; the
latter being the ordinary 4J by 4J size, the
other the "tall section"— one rack of each.
The result of the trial is that the second rack
of 4| sections are already complete and taken
off, and the third progressing, but the " tall
sections" are not quite ready for removal,
though I placed a third rack under them on
Friday last. The rack of " tall sections," how-
ever, holds twenty-four as against twenty-one ;
this I admit, but even then the two stocks are
gathering more honey in the ordinary than the
extraordinary sections. I also grant that it
might have been vice versa if the racks had
been reversed (i.e , put on the other colony).
This point will always crop up, as no two
stocks of bees will be found equal in every
respect throughout a season. The "tall sec-
tions " are not removed from the hive yet, and
any further comments may be deferred until I
can compare the different size sections.

Insurance for Bee-keepers. — The matter of
insurance has again been brought forward by
Mr. Jensen's letter (4401, page 244). My idea
of the risks bee-keepers require covered would
be : 1. Animals injured by being stung, or
which may die from the effects of bee-stinga.

July 11, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

273

2. Loss of time caused to a neighbour's
labourers by reason of not being able to work
in close proximity to the apiary. 3. Loss of
time by reason of injury (to man) from the
effects of bee-stings. 4. Doctors' fees for
professional attendances resulting from bee-
stings.. Even in these cases the chances are
so remote, that probably one mishap would not
happen in a lifetime. A cantankerous or
jealous neighbour may, however, be able to
make things uncomfortable to one's peace of
mind under some circumstances if the bees
are at all troublesome.

Mr. Loveday in issue of June 27 (page
254) answered Mr. Norman's query in nearly
the same words I should have written myself.
It is very annoying ; in fact I have experienced
the same thing myself ; and on inquiry found
that my exhibits were put under the table in
the See's tent by " some one '' (no one knew
who) ; but they were not staged till next day.
In my case, as in Mr. Norman's, the railway
company delivered the honey to the show-
people and their responsibility thus ended.
No one could conscientiously blame the rail-
way company or expect them to compensate
for the neglect of the show committee. Any
one who exhibits honey at shows will have
losses and vexations at times, first one thing
then another. Last season I had returned
from one show a few dirty damaged crystallised
sections, instead of my own which took first
prize. At another show my whole dozen
(first prize again) were stolen, and I got no
compensation, although I wrote and asked
the Secretary to lay the matter before his
committee, offering to take a reasonable trade
price ; but courteous replies, though they may
smooth things down, do not make good a
loss. These are some of the incidents
inseparable from a large experience in
" showing."

Wax Moths. — The month of July is a good
opportunity for capturing these pests of the
apiary. I had a straw skep or two practically
spoilt by them last season. They were good
strong colonies, each giving a swarm and a
" cast." Then (no doubt after the " cast "
left) the colony being reduced in numbers,
the wax-moth got in, and as a result some of
the combs were completely webbed together.
On clearing out the comb I found the larva:
wedged in between the seams of the straw.
The fire soon settled the matter. Until recent
years we had no trouble with wax-moth in
our neighbourhood. The small moths which
are generally around the junction of straw
hive and stand or stool do no damage, but
the large real wax-moth is very destructive.
A few jam jars with some " wine-lees '' or
syrup placed out every evening and removed
early in the morning before the bees start
work will capture a great number of the
moths. Store sections of honey in a dry,
warm place ; never store it in a cool, damp
larder or cellar or dairy. — W. Woodley,
Beedon, Newbury.

OOGENESIS IN APIS MELLIFICA

(QUEEN).

[4419.] In the " Zoologischer Jahrbuch,''
xiv. (1900), Wilhelm Paulcke gives an account
of his research work with special reference to
the relations of epithelial cells, yolk cells, and
ova. The proximal ends of the tubes contain
undifferentiated nuclei embedded in a common
protoplasm.

Following this region is one called the
synapsis zone by the author, from the condi-
tion of the nuclear chromatin ; in this region
the undifferentiated nuclei, which later give
rise to the cells of the follicular epithelium,
are distinguishable from the primitive germ
nuclei, which give rise to yolk cells and ova.
The zones are not separated by any line of
demarcation, so that the synapsis zone shows
the beginning of a process clearly marked in
the next, or zone of differentiation, the origin
from the primitive germ nuclei of the yolk cells
and the ova. In the next region of the tubes,
by the intervention of the follicle cells, suc-
cessive chambers are formed, consisting
alternately of a single ovum and a group of
yolk cells ; it would appear that forty-eight of
these nutritive cells correspond to one ovum.
In regard to the fate of the nutritive cells, an
important point is that for a time they in-
crease rapidly in size, secreting food- material
which is transmitted to the ovum by means of
a prolongation of the ovum, which perforates
the follicular wall, and so enters the yolk-cell
chamber. There is, however, no gradual
diminution in size of the yolk cells, for just
before the eggs enter the oviduct the whole
contents of the yolk-cell chamber is suddenly
evacuated into the egg chamber.

The egg in consequence exhibits within its
cytoplasm the degenerating remnants of the
yolk cells.

In commenting upon his results, the author
notes the rarity of karyokinetic figures in the
zone of synapsis, in spite of the fact that
active cell division is going on there. He
believes that, as already indicated by others,
the yolk cells divide by an amitotic process,
as is generally true of actively assimilating
cells.

The peculiar engulfing of the yolk-cells by
the ovum he explains as necessitated by the
rapid production of eggs in the queen bee.
Further, he is of the same opinion as Weis-
man that the distinction between future yolk
cells and future ova is determined by heredity,
and not by differences of nutrition.

I have gleaned the above from the Journal
of the Royal Microscopical Society (June) for
the British Bee Journal because it con-
tains many interesting facts which serve to
throw light upon many subjects in connection
with the development of the ova, and which
must therefore necessarily help us to under-
stand some problems at least, which are daily
presented to our minds.

Secondly, though I fear a considerable

274

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 11, 1901.

number of your readers will not be able to
enter into the matter, I trust that some will
find it as interesting as I have, and agree with
me that everything new which is published
should find its way sooner or later into the
British Bee Journal.

R. Hamlyn-Harris,

F.R.M.S., F.E.S., F.Z.S., &c.

THE WINGS OF THE BEE.

[4420.] All insects who have to wing their
flight far from home and seek their food over
a wide tract of country have to be provided
with wings equal to the required effort. Some
of these creatures, as butterflies, simply flit
from flower to flower, and flies as a rule cover
only a very narrow area during their lifetime.
Though both of these are almost constantly
flitting about, the wear and tear with them is
nothing like so excessive as in the case of the
bee, who has to fly fast and far for its load,
convey it back again a long distance, often
against adverse elements, keep this up steadily
all day long, and, when weather permits, all
the days of its life. We would therefore
naturally expect these organs would be
thoroughly adapted for the severe duties
they have to perform, and science reveals
to us that they are so in a super-
excellent degree. By their shape, texture,
weight, and range, as well as by the style
of movement, strength of muscle, and the
speed with which they can be manipulated,
they are fitted to secure the highest degree of
attainment in the way of flight. Not forgetting
even the grace and agility of the swallows as
they wing their way through the circum-
ambient air, the speed and power of birds of
prey when bent on predatory attacks, and the
fairy like movements I have read of the
famous birds of paradise, I am inclined to give
first place in winged flight to our friend the
bee, and I would credit it with best realising
the poetry of aerial locomotion.

Inside the hive it admirably adapts itself to
a changed set of circumstances, and when not
put to their proper use the wings are capable
of being so adjusted as to put the insect to
the least possible inconvenience, as they in no
way hamper its movements in the interior of
the hive or even when working in the close
and confined space of a worker cell where
there is little more space than the bare size of
the bee's body.

Bees have four wings, the anterior pair
being attached to the mesothorax, and the
posterior, or hinder pair, to the metathorax.
The wings of drones and queens are much like
those of workers in general form, though the
drones' are heavier and clumsier, while those
of the queen are longer, more tapering, and in
every way more graceful than those of the
others. They are covered with numerous
short hairs, and are all over intersected by a
large number of nervures or veins, which

ramify in all directions and converge into one
at the point where the wings join the body.

Watch a bee as it emerges from its hive
preparatory to taking flight. It takes a short
race, suddenly pauses — though the pause is
generally only momentary — and then flies off
like a dart. It frequently makes a graceful
elliptical curve as it leaves home before it
heads straight and sure right for the desired
goal of the foraging ground. In the momen-
tary pause on the flight-board a marvellous
change has taken place, and the bee has in-
flated its body with air so that the trachse and
air sacs have become so many buoys to aid
its flight and assist it in winging its way
through ether. The process is a most impor-
tant one, and greatly aids the insect in carrying
its heavy loads home. Relative to its size and
weight these are really very heavy, so that
without the assistance of this distension these
would be more than the creature could carry.

A difference of opinion seems to prevail as
to the distance bees can fly, but I think most
agree that they do seldom forage further from
home than about two miles. It seem3 a very
short distance for an insect capable of flying
at the rate of fifteen miles an hour, as I
believe bees can ; but long flights, especially
when taken in rough and windy weather, soon
wear out the wings of the workers, so that in
the busy season they often succumb after a
fortnight's hard work. We often see them
worn and ragged at even an earlier stage of
existence and then we may predict that the
end is near, for a bee without its wings is a
neuter indeed. It has been proved that a bee
can move its wings 200 times in a second.
If this were kept up for any length of time it
becomes evident that the tear and wear must
be immense, but I do not suppose it does any
such thing. Owing to its buoyancy when
inflated with air it can go long distances with
very few waves of its wings, and another point
has to be mentioned which, when combined
with the above, enables it mechanically to
float in the air for a considerable time without
making a noticeable vibration. The posterior
wing is possessed of a number of corkscrew
hooklets, about twenty-three in number, and
the anterior with a corresponding set, which
unite the two as if they were one, and this
gives a very large spread of wing to so small
an insect.

The bee has a very great command over its
wings, and can steer its way as it pleases,
change its course almost instantaneously, and
it can even fly backward with tolerable ease,
speed, and accuracy. — D. M. M., Banff, N.B.

DEA.LING WITH FOUL BROOD.

BISULPHIDE OF CARBON.

[4421.] Under this head (B.J., July 4,
page 263, 4411) a method is described by
Mr. Farrant in which he destroys a diseased
stock of bees by suffocation from the fumes

July 11, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

275

from burning carbon bisulphide. It seems
obvious that when one decides to take drastic
measures and to entirely destroy a diseased
stock, the all-important condition to fulfil is
that every bee in the hive shall die. If some
of tbe bees escape, there is great risk of their
conveying the infection to other hives. Now,
I venture to think that Mr. Farrant's plan
would fail to secure this important end.
However carefully one goes to work, the
operations of opening the hive, separating two
frames, pushing between them a little tow or
cotton-wool, pouring on this a tablespoonful
of carbon bisulphide, and dropping in a
lighted match, can hardly be carried out
without some of the bees flying off. More-
over, if the hive happened to be the very
usual size, a ten-framed hive, and contained
its full complement of frames, the operation
would be still more difficult, as in this case
there could be no separation of frames to
allow of the tow or wool being pushed down.

The following plan is absolutely certain to
destroy every single bee in a hive :— After
dark, when all the bees are home, close the
entrance. Then remove all the wraps except
the cotton one next the frames. If there is
no cotton cover over the frames (and I know
some bee-keepers are content to throw any
dirty old bits of carpet over their bees), one
should be put there the day before this opera-
tion is to be carried out. Then pour over this
cotton cover about a wineglassful of a mixture
of about equal parts of ether and chloroform,
and immediately replace the other wraps.'
The liquid should be poured across the frames.'
A momentary roar' from the bees, and then
dead silence !

When the hive is opened, which may be
done afcer waiting five or ten minutes, a
strange sight meets the eye— every comb is
absolutely cleared of bees, the latter being in
a heap upon the floor-board. The hive should
then be lifted off the floor-board, and the
latter carried to a spot where a good hot bon-
fire has been previously set a-going, and the
mass of dead bees shovelled into the fire.
Then the frames, quilts, and all else that is to
be destroyed is piled up on to the fire. The
hive and all belonging to it which is not to be
destroyed should be removed right away, so
that no bees from other hives can get at it in
the morning. The proper method of purifying
the hive has often been given in the pages of
this journal. I may say that on the one
occasion when I carried out this deadly
operation, so determined was I to run no
risks that I " carbolised," scorched, and gave
a coat of paint to the hive the same night.—
6. S. Newth, Wallington, Surrey, July 8.

BEE NOTES FROM DERBYSHIRE.

[4422.] I often see in the B.B.J. " Echoes "
from different parts of the kingdom, but never
any from this part, I therefore send a few
lines. My three stocks came out at spring

fairly well, having had only 4 lb. of sugar
prior to gooseberry-bloom coming in. The
bees stored a little surplus from apple-bloom,
but nothing since, except plenty of pollen.
Having two hives with a mixed lot of brood-
frames in, I tried Mr. Rymer's plan, putting
an extra brood-box on each hive to get the bees
on the new frames. They soon transferred
themselves in one hive, and filled the old
combs with pollen ! It is crowded with
bees, and they are working in a rack of
sections on top. In a day or two I shall
remove the top brood-box and place another
rack of sections on. The queen of the other
hive did not take readily to the bottom
brood-box, but as it was crowded with bees,
and they had built the foundation out nicely
(besides having the white clover in view for
July), I thought it was time to force her down,
or else she would have the combs full of brood
when the clover was in bloom. On June 5,
finding her still in the top box, I put the frame
on which she was in bottom of hive — with an ex-
cluder on to keep her there— on nine frames of
comb. The top box was full of brood. I have
not examined it since, but by the busy work
going on now the stock is very strong.

We have had no swarms here yet, and
friend Woodley says " the click of the mower
is heard" in his district, as yet it has not
been heard here, there being very little to cut
yet except red clover and rye grass ; the
meadows look little better than pasture fields.
A week since I could see no sign of white
clover, but the rain last week has opened it
out, and to-day there is a nice lot ; Saturday,
June 28, wa3 the best bee-day we have had for
three weeks, been could hardly get in and out
fast enough. How different on Sunday, a cold
west wind ! I had to stand watching ten
minutes to see a bee come out at all.— Tom
Sleight, Pilsby, Derbyshire.

UNFAIR EXHIBITING.

[4423.] Referring to the letter on page 264
in B.J. of the 4th inst., headed " A Protest,''
if Mr. Meadows had any grievance, why did
he not enter his protest at the proper time,
according to the rules of the Royal Agricul-
tural Society. Acting on the advice of my
solicitor, I do not intend discussing the matter
further at present.— R. H. Coltman, Burton-
on- Trent, July 6.

[4424.] We endorse the statements con-
tained in Mr. Meadows' communication on
page 264 as applying equally to several of our
specialities, to. which we have devoted much
time, and spared no expense whatever in
perfecting. If an exhibitor can bring himself
to pirate the best of the ideas, and the par-
ticular specialities of several appliance-makers
(who, we might say without egotism, are
admittedly prominent in the appliance-manu-
facturing trade), in some instances exact

270

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 11, 1901.

copies, in others appliances obtained in some
way unknown to us complete, and who enters
and exhibits them as his own, we would ask:-
Is it surprising that first prizes are awarded to
such an exhibit 1 In fact, as Mr. Meadows
pointed out in your issue of last week, the
judges have no knowledge of the dishonour-
able methods adopted.

Disagreeable as the task is to us, we feel in
justice to ourselves, and others interested who
only wish for fair dealing, to enter a strong
protest against such practices. — James Lee
& Son, 10, Silver-street, High Holborn, W.C.

[4425.] I was surprised at the tone of Mr.
Meadows' letter (4412) in your last issue re
awards for collection of appliances at the
Royal Show. If Mr. Coltman's exhibit was
not in order, I should have thought Mr.
Meadows would have lodged an objection at
the show.

Then, again, Mr. Meadows says the exhibits
in the first prize collection were " all bad
imitations of other makers' productions." In
face of this assertion, how can he say he
reflects no discredit on the judging ? The
judges would surely not award Mr. Coltman's
exhibit the first prize unless it deserved it 'I
I cannot help thinking that Mr. Meadows not
only resents being placed second to a young
and energetic manufacturer, but is also a
" bad loser." He should accept defeat grace-
fully, and " go one better '' next year. I send
my name and address, and sign myself,
" Unbiassed," Derbyshire, July 8.

"KECORD" BOX OF SHALLOW
FRAMES.

[4426.] Referring to the letter headed " A
Record (?) Box of Shallow Frames " (4414,
page 264), may I point out that there is
nothing exceptional or remarkable in such a
box as regards weight of combs. I took two
boxes from a hive on June 27, containing
seventeen ordinary shallow-frames (not wide
frames), from which I extracted 68 lb. of
honey.

To-day (July 8) I have taken seven more
frames from the same hive, but have not
extracted it.

At the end of season I will report exact
weight of honey taken from this hive, the
only one I am taking special note of, and not
because it is the best. — F. Goodrich, Glebe
Farm, Methwold, Norfolk, July 8.

SOME ESSEX NOTES.

[4427.] Ants and Bees. — This heading (above
No. 4410, page 263) reminds me that I found
in a cottager's apiary this spring a very weak
colony of bees in a skep which was being —
I cannot say "robbed," because the food

intended for the bees only to a small extent
entered the hive, so I will use other words
with much the same meaning, and say —
prevented from receiving food supplied to the
bees of the skep in question by a colony of
ants near by. The ants were thriving on the
syrup offered to the bees as food, while the
bees were kept in a state of semi-starvation.

Weight of Shallow-frame Supers. — In reply
to Mr. S. P. Soal (No. 4414, page 264), I may
say that the only really well finished 5| in.
shallow- frame super that I have had this
season (the bees having a poor time here this
year) averaged 5 lb. 2 oz. each for the eight
combs in the box. The frames were new, and
the comb entirely of drone-size cells, so there
would be little waste. By the way, Mr. Soal
and myself are bee-keepers at extremities of
our county — south-east and north-west. — W.
Lovedat, Hatfield Heath, Harlow, Essex.

DESTROYING BEES.

OFFENDERS PUNISHED.

[4428.] I enclose cutting from the Lan-
caster Observer of June 21, 1901. I thought
it might be of interest to you and some
readers of the B.J. if you cared to make use
of it. Heversham is within a few miles of
Lancaster. — Wm, Lloyd, Skerton, Lancaster,
July 8.

[Cutting reads as follows. — Eds.]
" At Milnthorpe Police-court on Monday, a
curious case was heard of malicious damage to
a hive of bees at Heversham belonging to A.
Clarke, the accused being three young men
named Charles Christian, Samuel Guiver, and
John Shepherd. They pleaded guilty. This
was the second time a similar outrage had been
committed. The accused, late on the night of
April 21 (a Sunday), removed the hive, carried
it for nearly 700 yards, threw it over a wall,
and destroyed the hive, the total loss amount-
ing to about £3. Mr. Cartmell, solicitor,
prosecuted, and highly complimented P.C
Goad for the able manner in which he had
tracked the offence to prisoners. The Chair-
man (Mr. J. W. Weston) also complimented
the policeman. Prisoners were ordered to
pay Mr. Clarke £Z, and fined 10s. each,
expenses being also imposed. The Chairman
stated that such offences were too common at
night in the district, and the magistrates
were determined to put them down if
possible."

[2684.] Queen Killed and Cast-out.~l en-
close a queen bee which was cast out dead
from one of my hives yesterday (Sunday)
afternoon. She was introduced with a cast
last year, and " clipped " shortly after. On

July 11, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

277

May 24, when the hive was examined, nine
of the ten frames were found to be filled with
brood (all apparently healthy), so I put on a
second body-box with five frames and two
broad division-boards, on the top. On
June 18 I increased the frames to ten, and
on the 22nd, the weather being fine, I lifted
out the frames of the top box to look for
brood or eggs (I did not lift out frames on the
18th). There were eggs in the lower part of
two frames. Apart from these disturbances
the hive was only opened slightly at the
corners in the middle of the week, without
smoke, to see if the bees were filling the
whole of the frames. Do you think it is a
case of "balling" through too much dis-
turbance 1 Never since May 24 have I dis-
turbed the lower body-box. On one of the
frames in the top on Saturday there were two
queen-cells formed but empty, so I tore them
off. I cannot say if there is another queen
in the hive, but will examine when I get a
chance. The first five frames in the upper
body-box are half filled with honey. I
thought it quite safe to handle them in these
circumstances, nor do I think I can have
damaged the queen, being very careful, and
her abdomen shows no traces of a crush. I,
however, put the two outside frames in the
middle. — James Arthur, Airdree, N.B .,
June 24.

Eeply. — The queen sent is a fine one, and
being "clipped" you can vouch for her age.
An examination, however, shows that the
internal organs are badly ruptured, and the
injury could not help being fatal. We rather
wonder at your not observing the external
evidence of injury which we at once did, and
the post mortem confirmed this. A queen in
" full lay " (as it is termed) is easily damaged,
and plenty of " lateral space '' should be pro-
vided when lifting out frames for inspection.

[2685.] Drone-breeding Queen. — Will you,
through the medium of the B.B.J., tell me
whether the enclosed queen is an unfertilised
one 1 I took her from a hive under the fol-
lowing circumstances : A friend of mine
bought two stocks of bees which were
delivered in September last. On being
requested to examine one of the hives the
bees in which were not working well, I did so on
July 4, with the following results : There
were plenty of natural stores, but not many
bees for so large a hive as it was. I saw no
worker brood, but plenty of drone ditto
scattered about, which led me to the conclu-
sion there must be a " fertile worker " there,
but whilst further examining the hive I came
across the enclosed queen, and resolved to get
your opinion on the matter. My own idea is
this ! The colony in question lost its old queen
when being moved last September ; the bees
then raised the queen now sent from eggs or
brood left in the hive, but, being so late in
the season, there would be no drones on the
wing to fertilise her. 1. Is this so ? The only

difficulty I see in the above theory is, how
did the bees exist so long 1 although my friend
tells me they were noted for being a very
strong lot, and that an enormous lot of honey
was taken from them last year before he
bought them. 2. What do you think? — J.
Davies, Midsomer Norton, July 6.

Reply. — 1. The insect sent bears all the
appearance of a virgin queen, hatched several
months ago. The body is too hard for a post-
mortem examination ; indeed, death might
have taken place a fortnight ago, it is so stiff.
2. There is nothing unusual in a small number
of bees surviving since last autumn. Your
friend should bear in mind that a bee's life is
measured less by its " length of days " than
by the amount of labour it has performed, and
during the winter months the bee is in a
condition of semi-hybernation.

T2686.] Absconding Swarms. — I am em-
boldened by your courteous manner of
answering queries, and sound advice to those
poor amateurs who are floundering along at the
mercy of their bees' peculiarities, to seek a little
advice myself. In this district quite a swarm-
ing fever seem? to have generated, several
swarms having been lost, and I am numbered
among the unfortunates in this respect. Last
year I failed to secure any honey owing to
swarm3 issuing, and this year I intended to
prevent the same failure, by carefully cutting
out all queen-cells previous to adding the
supers, after which operation I judged it to be
unnecessary trouble to continue the practice
after additional room was given. But the bees
refused to conform to the idea, and upon
examination on Thursday last to determine the
reason of the falling off in numbers and their
absence from the supers (which were standard
frames, including two frames of bees and
brood from brood-chamber, lifted to entice the
bees up), I discovered a young queen on the
outside of doubling-box, where I conclude she
retired to avoid slaughter. I secured her and
examined the frames below, and, as I had
suspected, found about ten queen-cells in
various stages of development all sealed over,
and no trace of eggs or brood, except that
which was capped. The bulk of the bees in
the hive were composed of young ones and a
great quantity of drones, from which it seems
very patent to me that the old queen has
swarmed, of course taking the field bees with
her. I made inquiries of my neighbours, and
searched the immediate vicinity, but failed
either to discover their location or any news
of their having clustered at all. Doubtless
they have taken possession of an empty hive
somewhere in the neighbourhood, but up to
the present I have not heard any one confess
to suoh an event. Moreover, I am afraid it
would be of no avail even though I did dis-
cover them, for a brother craftsman has
had an unpleasant experience in a similar
instance, his bees swarming (a double swarm)
into a neighbour's garden, who secured

278

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 11, 1901.

the bees and refused to return them. I
should be pleased, therefore, if you would
advise as to the wisest course to pursup T
returned the queen I secured in a rough c..0t.',
but found her dead the next morning, upon
which I inserted two of the queen-cells I had
cut out, and to-day I examined the hive again
and found a queen established, but as yet not
mated. The bees cover about seven frames,
with a fair amount of brood hatching out now,
and three standard frames in the super half
filled with honey. 1. Do you think I will get
any honey from this stock ? Most of the
clover is cut, and there are not many limes
and no heather. 2. Would it pay better to
break it up into nuclei, or is the season too
far advanced 1 It appears to me that since
natural swarms are issuing so generally, it
ought not to be too late, for there are large
numbers of drones about. In a recent issue
of the B.B.J. I was much interested in the
conversations of Mr. Doolittle, where clipping
the wings of the queen was advocated. 3. What
is your opinion on the subject, and how is the
operation best performed and when ? I was
much discouraged in my unlucky experience,
for I anticipated a little return for my winter's
nursing ; but bee-keepers appear to be par-
ticularly subjected to Dame Fortune's fickle-
ness.— H. Stubbs, Stretford, July 6.

P.S. — Another resource has presented itself
to me, that of uniting it with a stock on five
frames with a young mature queen just pur-
chased, and trying to rear the virgin queen on
a two-frame nucleus. Do you think this
would be better 1 — H. S.

Reply. — 1. There is no doubt of the "top
swarm'' having absconded and being lost.
With regard to securing honey this season,
it is a pity you supered with standards
instead of shallow-frames, because the chances
of the bees completing the super would have
been considerably greater had the smaller
frame been used. Your best course will be to
reduce the number of frames in body-box by
removing all combs that contain very little
honey and no brood, and such as may be chiefly
filled with pollen. You will then crowd the bees
into the super and as no eggs will be laid for a
few days the field- bees will be able to devote
themselves to honey-gathering. Only allow
them three or four standard frames until such
time as the daily hatching bees fill up the
vacuum. The rest depends upon the honey-
flow'j continuance or stoppage, as the case may
be. 2. No ; we do not advise your dividing
the colony. 3. " Clipping " queens is not
favoured much in this country. The opera-
tion consists of deftly removing the main
portion of one wing with a pair of sharp
scissors. Any time after queens are laying is
suitable.

[2687.] Re-queening. — 1. Whatitime should
elapse after removal of fertile queen before (a)
a ripe queen-cell could be given ? or (b) a
virgin queen be introduced ? 2. In the latter

case do you consider it necessary to cage
virgin queen, and for how long 1 — Lubeca,
Chingford, July 8.

Reply. — 1. All things being favourable, the
safest course is to allow the bees to start
queen-cells after removal of queen before in-
serting the cell. The latter need not be quite
" ripe " when given to the bees. If a virgin
queen is given them after they have cells
sealed over, she will usually ba accepted if
allowed to run in at the entrance without
troubling about caging at all.

tifchirts from the Sous.

Market Drayton, July 7. — Bees in this
district are working like Trojans. Boxes
of shallow-frames on all my hives now nearly
full of beautiful clover honey. Limes, too —
of which we have scores of trees within half a
mile — just coming into bloom, so that we are
full of hope for a decent season. — F. E.

The Woodbines, St. Brelade's, Jersey, G.I.,
July 6. — Slight fog and heavy night dews
have moistened the fields and hedgerows
during the past week, and to-day I find the
blackberry-bloom in splendid order. Bees
are simply revelling therein, whilst the heather
is bursting forth in large patches in every
inaccessible spot amongst the rocks and glens,
all Nature responding to the glorious heat of
the midday sun. Supers are filling fast. So
far I have never had a better season. —
William W. Kay.

\tt jSharos to (ftjrme.

July 18 and 19, at Brigg.— Honey, Hives, and
Bee Appliances in connection with the Lincolnshire
Agricultural Society ; Bee Department under the
management of the Lines. B.K.A. Schedules from the
Hon. Sec, R. Godson, Tothill, Alford. Entries
closed.

July 24, at Broughton, Hants. —Broughton
Flower show. Open class for six 1-lb. jars extracted
honey. Schedules from C. Upshall, Broughton, Stock-
bridge, Hants.

July 25, 26 and 27, at St. Helens.— Royal'

Lancashire Agricultural Society's Show. Bee-keepers'
Section. For Honey, Hives, and Appliances. Liberal
Money Prizes and valuable Medals in Open Classes for
Sections, Extracted Honey, Honey Trophy, and Appli-
ances. Full particulars in advertisements shortly.
Prize schedules from Edward Bohane, Secretary,
Miller Arcade, Preston. Entries close July 13.

July 29, at Caergwele Castle Flower Show.
— Bee Lectures, Honey Classes. Schedules from H. D.
Davies, Abermorddu, Wrexham.

July 31, at Henbury, Bristol.— Honey show of the
Henbury District B.K.A. in conjunction with the Hen-
bury Horticultural Society's show. Schedules from W.
G-. Barnfleld, Hon. Sec, H.B.K.A., Charlton, near
Bristol. Entries close July 24.

August 2, at Exeter.- Annual Show of the
Devon B.K.A., in conjunction with the Devon and
Exeter Horticultural Society. Twelve classes for Bees

July 11, 1901 .J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

279

Honey, <ftc. Schedules from B. E. Scholefield, Hon.
Secretary, Devon B.K.A., Heathfield, Chudleigh, South
Devon. Entries close July 27.

August 5 (Bank Holiday) at Lichfield —

Honey Show in connection with that of Lichfield Floral
and Horticultural Society. Open Classes for Light and
Dark Honey and Wax. Two classes for members of
the Staffs. B.K.A. and two open classes for Cottagers.
Medals and good money prizes. Schedules from F. J.
Hall, City Station Wharf, Lichfield.

August 5, at Butterfield Park, Hessle,
Hull. — Honey Show in connection with the Hessle and
District Floral and Agricultural Society. Schedules
from Hon. Sec, Mr. E. C. S. Stow, Hessle, Hull.
Entries close August 1.

August 5, at Melton Constable.— North Norfolk
B.K.A. Annual Honey Show. Three open classes ;
one for single 1-lb. jar extracted honey. Schedules
from C. J. Cooke, Edgefield, Melton Constable.
Entries close July 27.

August 6, at Leamington.— Honey section of
Leamington St. Mary's flower show. Three open
classes for six 1-lb. sections, six 1-lb. jars " light,"
and six 1-lb. jars " dark" extracted honey, respectively.
Good prizes. Schedules from the Secretary, 2, St.
Mary'sroad, Leamington. Entries close August 3-

TAugust 7, at Neston Park, "Wilts.— Honey
Show in connection with the Atworth and District
Horticultural Society's Show. Seventeen classes for
honey and bees (including classes for single 1-lb. section
and single 1-lb. jar, with no entry fee. Schedules
from J. P. Inkpen, Neston, Corsham, Wilts.

At Llanberis.— Honey Show in conjunction with
Llanberis Horticultural Show. Open class for single
1-lb. jar Extracted Honey. Free entry. Prize complete
frame-hive. Schedules from R. Jones, Llanberis.
Entries close July 22.

August 8, at Kingsthorpe. Northampton.—
Honey Show of the Northants B.K.A., in connection
with the Horticultural Exhibition. Twelve classes for
bee-keepers, including special class (six prizes) open to
all (with free entry) for single 1-lb. jar extracted honey.
Six prizes, 20s., 10s. 6d., 7s. 6d., 2s. 6d., 2s., and certifi-
cate. Schedules from JBobt. Hefford, Hon. Sec, Kings-
thorpe, Northants. Entries close August 1.

August 8, at MadresQeld Park.— Annual
Show of the AVorcestershire B.K.A., in connection with
the Madresfleld Agricultural Exhibition. Open Classes
for Bees, Hives, and Extracted Honey. Schedules
from Mr. J. P. Phillips, Spetchley, Worcester, Acting
Secretary W.B.K.A. Entries close August 1.

August 8, at Foys Chetnole.— Yetminster and
District B.K.A. Annual Show of Bees, Honey, and
Beeswax. Thirteen classes (including three open
classes). ELtry free for single 1-lb. section, 1-lb. jar
extracted honey. Schedules from G. Leeding, Bradford
Abbas, Sherborne, Dorset. Entries close August 3.

August 15, 16, and 17. at Crystal Palace.—
Surrey B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees, Honey, Wax,
and Appliances, <fec Twenty -four classes (eleven open
to all). Increased prizes and medals. Schedules fiom
F. B. White, Hon. Secretary, Marden House, Redhill.
Entries close August 1.

August 17. at Ammanford (S. Wales).—
Honey show in connection with the Ammanford Flower
Show. Liberal prizes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar extracted honey, also classes for three sections
and three 1-lb. jars, light and dark honey.— Particulars
from Mr. Ivor Morris, Hon. Sec, Ammanford, R.S.O.,
Carmarthen.

August 21 and 22, at Shrewsbury.— Annual
Show of the Shropshire B.K.A., in connection with the
Shropshire Horticultural Society's Great Floral Fete in
" The Quarry." Bees, Honey, Hives, and Appliances.
Six Open Classes for Honey. Schedules from S. Cart-
wright, Hon. Secretary, Shropshire B.K.A., Shaw-
bury, Shrewsbury. Entries close August 9.

August 27 and 28 at Solihull.— Warwickshire
B.K.A. show of Honey, &c, in conjunction with that
of the Warwickshire Agricultural Society. Schedules
from .Lis. Noble Bower, hon. sec, Warwicks. B.K.A.,
Knowle.

August 28, at Chester.— Annual Show of the
Cheshire B.K.A., in connection with the Cheshire Agri-
cultural Society. Ten classes (four open) for hives, honey
I light, medium, and dark), sections, &c. Schedule

from T. A. Beckett, St. Werburgh's Chambers, Chester.
Entries close Aug. 7. (At double fees to Aug. 14.)

Thursday, August 29, at Montgomery.—

Montgomery and District Horticultural Society's Show.
Two open Classes for Honey— six 1 lb. sections, six 1 lb.
jars and extracted, with prizes of 10s., 5s., and 2s. 6d.
in cash. Schedules from Mr. W. fl. Jones, Hon. Sec,
Montgomery. Entries close August 22.

August 31. at Dumfries.— South of Scotland
B.K.A. Annual Show. Open Classes for " Sixes,"
with Prizes of 20s., 15s., 10s., 5s. ; also for Single Jar
and Section, with Free Entry ; also Wax and
Appliances. Schedules from James Kerr, Hon. Secre-
tary, Milldamhead, Dumfries. Entries close
August 22.

September 7 to 14, at the Agricultural
Hali, London. — Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (9th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Eleven classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees-
wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers.

September 11 and 12, at Derby.— Derbyshire
B.K.A. twentieth Annual Show of Hives, Bees, and
Honey on the show ground of the Derbyshire Agricul-
tural Society. Schedules from F. Walker, Secretary
D. B.K.A., 64, Gerard-street, Derby. Entries close
August 30.

September 21 to 28, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with the
fifth Annual Exhibition of the Grocery and Kindred
Trades. Eleven classes and liberal prizes for comb and
extracted honey and bees-wax. Open to all British
Bee-keepers.

October 8 to 11, at the Agricultural Hall,
London.— Show of Honey and Bee-produce in con-
nection with the British Dairy Farmers' Association.
Numerous and liberal prizes for honey, &c. — Schedules
from Mr. Wm. C. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-square,
London, W. Entries close September 9.

PRESS-CUTTINGS ABOUT BEES.

SWARMING BEES.

On Saturday night an unusual sight was
witnessed in one of the busy thoroughfares of
Neath, upon which a swarm of bees had
descended. The bees had followed a milk-
cart from Cefn Don Farm, and opposite the
Crown Hotel settled in a mass under a cart
which stood on the roadway. A hive was
sent for, and the swarm would have been
safely gathered had not an ignorant person
scattered the bees by striking the cluster
with his coat. There was much indignation
amongst the by-standers at this stupid action.
A crowd gathered, and from a safe distance
watched the industrious little insects that had
been driven out, alas ! not to find a new home.
— The Cambrian.

BEES INVADE A PILLAR-BOX.

A queen-bee crept into a letter-box at
Pointon, near Billingborough, on Saturday
afternoon, and hundreds of her loyal subjects
speedily followed.

Then the postman came to collect the letters.
It took him longer than usual. He had to
resort to a novel device.

From a house at hand he borrowed a pair
of tongs, and in this way extracted the
missives. The bees stuck tenaciously to the
letters, and had to be shaken off.

In the evening the bees crept out again as
cooly and deliberately as they had crept in.
No casualties are reported. — Daily Egress.

280

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 11, 1901.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letter* or queries asking for addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur-
chased, or replies giving such information, can only be
i merted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters,
7 'eries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
t- -epers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
jo to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
ilways be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

John Armstrong (Coanwood). — Races of
Bees. — We have no knowledge of distinct
race3 of bee3 designated " Hungarians,"
" Herzegovinians," or " Dalmatians," and do
not know -who undertakes to supply queens
of the so-called " pure races." There is a
variety known as the " Caucasian," of which
some queens are, we believe, now on their
way to this country as a present to the
British Bee-keepers' Association. When
these queens arrive and are established at
the B.B.K. A. apiary at Swanley (as we
trust they will be this summer), we shall
have an opportunity of speaking with some
practical and personal knowledge on the
subject. Meantime, we will be glad to
know the source of the information to which
a reply is desired from us.

East Cambs (Soham). — Honey for Exhibi-
tion.— All three samples are good in colour
and No. 1 also stands well for consistency ;
2 and 3 are rather thin, but all are good
in flavour and suitable for the show-bench.

" Heather" (Market Drayton). — Varieties of
Heather. — The bunch of heather twigs con-
tains both the honey-producing varieties, but
the flowers are small and withered-looking as
if produced out of season (as they are in July).
Full particulars— with illustrations — of the
various heaths can be had post free from
this office for Hd. in stamps.

Suspected Combs.

Special Notice to corresijondents sending queries on
"Find brood."

We urgently request that all letters sent with samples
of suspected comb be put outside the box or tin containing
the sample. Also that no more than a couple of square
inches of comb be sent, taking care to neither crush the
comb nor probe the cells before despatching.

In urgent cases (and where possible) ice undertake to
" wire " replies as to F. B. if six stamps are sent to cover
cost of telegram. All letters to be addressed "Editor,
Bee Journal," not "Manager."

W. K. B. (Penzance).— Comb sent (newly-
built out) has never contained brood at all.
The suspected cells are full of fresh-gathered
pollen only.

W. J. K. (near Garstang). — Bad case of foul
brood, larvae in comb dying fast.

W. H. C. (Beverley). — Foul brood in both
samples ; comb is also very old and black.
It should be burned.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve words and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

GARDENER WANTED. Used to bees. Constant work.
E. H. Taylor, Welwyn, Herts. 0 69

FOR SALE, clear, transparent SECTIONS, full weight.
C Taylor, Summerhill, Cross-in-fland, Sussex.

G 66

FOR- SALE, four excellent bar-frame HIVES, complete,
6s. 6d. each, cost 14s. 6d. each. AVERY, Ripley,
Surrey. G 73

DAFFODILS.— Can spare few Bulbs from " Lords-
wood's" collection. Send for list. Sands, Rednal,
Barnt Green. G 70

PURE EXTRACTED light coloured HONEY FOR
SALE. Three stamps for sample. DAVID Hancox,
Deddington, Oxon. G 72

WANTED, Geared EXTRACTOR in good working
order. Must be cheap. Deposit system. Apply,
" W. C. H." Office of this Journal. G 67

WANTED, healthy stock BEES, for handsome Setter
Dog, one year old, healthy, excellent companion.
Dr. Walker, Kirkby-Stephen. g 71

^TTANTED, for prompt cash, half gross 1-lb. tie-over
VV Honey Bottles, and half gross 2-lb. do. Also
gearing for Guinea Extractor. Thompson, Apiary
House, Gowdall, Snaith, Yorkshire. G 68

DRAWN OUT COMBS, Sections, 50, 8s. 4d. ; Shallow
frames, 50, 12s. 6d. ; Standard frames, 50, 17s. 6d. ;
Cyprian Queens, 7s. ; Carniolans, 6s. 6d. ; Italians, 5s. 6d.
Imported consignments due. 6th swarms now 12s. 6d.
Spearman, Colesbourne, Cheltenham.

FINE HEATHER HONEY, 140 lb., from virgin combs.
Offers. Horn, Bedale, Yorkshire. G 62

BEES.— Strong natural Swarms, in straw hives, 10s. 6d .
Cadman, Oodsall Wood, Wolverhampton. G 49

SUPERIOR BEE3.— Good SWARMS, 15s., packed
free Walton, Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington.

G 41

HEALTHY STOCKS in Skeps. 1901 Queens, 9s.
each ; two, 17s. 6d. I am overstocked. Hybrid
Cyprian Queens, 4s. each. Spearman, Colesbourne, Chel-
tenham. G 60

HONEY— New EXTRACTED at £2 16s. per cwt.
Caniage forwarded. Samples, 4 stamps. Owen
Browning, The Apiary, Kingsomborne, Hants. G 51

FOR SALE, Pure NEW ENGLISH HONEY, 6d. per
lb., in 10 and 28 1b. tins (tins included). Geo.
Reynolds, Eaton Ford, St. Neots. G 33

BEE HIVES and APPLIANCES FOR SALE, cheap.
Never been used. For full particulars apply,
Alfred Johnson, Clarence Villas, Swinton, Manchester.

« 57

*** We are compelled to hold over some
Letters, already in type, till next week.

O/rTH YEAR.— Reliable Queens, 5s. and 3s. 9d., in
ZiO introducing cage, delivered. Stocks on wired
frames. Alsford, Expert, Blandford.

WANTED, new SECTIONS, first quality, clear, pale
and up to weight. Any quantity prompt cash.
W. Chilton, The Apiaries, Polegate, Sussex.

BEES.— Six Stocks four swarms ; all healthy and
strong, of prolific strain, in straw hives. Price
from 14s. PETTtT, Member Assoc, Honey-lane, Waltham
Abbey-; Essex. g 53

QUEENS, STOCKS, NUCLEI, and SWARMS. 14th
season of queeu-rearing as a speciality. Fertile
queens, 5s. each,' post free. Rev. C. BRERETON,
Pulborough, Sussex.

TANNED GARDEN NETTING, 25 yds. by 8 yds.,
50 yds. by 4 yds., 100 yds. by 2 yds., 8s. Prompt
delivery. L. Wren & Son, Net Merchants, 139, High-
street, Lowestoft. F 14

July 18, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

281

(JMrtorial, $toiitt8, &t.

ROYAL SHOW AT CARDIFF.

{Report concluded from patfe 272.)

THE HONEY CLASSES.

After several disappointing seasons, so far
as regards a display of honey of the current
year at the " Royal " show, it was satisfactory
to see staged at Cardiff some very good
samples of the new season's produce.

When we take into account the early date
on which the show is held, the question of
venturing an entry in the honey classes is
necessarily a critical one for bee-keeping
exhibitors. Indeed the uncertainty told heavily
against entries and led to the adoption of a
" saving clause ,; by means of which the option
of withdrawing entries was wisely conceded
by the B.B.K.A. in order to meet cases where
adverse weather spoiled the chance of getting
exhibits ready in time for the show. This
year a comparatively small percentage of the
exhibits were absent, and the quality of the
honey staged was very good indeed. So good
all round were the new season's sections and
shallow-frames of comb-honey, along with the
several classes for extracted honey, that we
may warmly praise all the exhibits which
received prizes or recognition at the hands of
the judges without specifying the merits of
each, except to express genuine satisfaction at
the favour which bee-keepers are showing
for the " medium coloured honey other than
heather " class. In the classes for " light " and
" medium" coloured honey the entries nearly
doubled those of last year at York. In the
"dark" class, however, only two entries were
staged at Cardiff, and only one prize awarded.
It would also appear that the class for
1-lb. sections " of any year" is dying out, only
two entries being staged at Cardiff and three
at York last year.

The Trophy Class only produced four
entries, the first prize being well earned by
the exceedingly good display of Mr. Richard
Brown. In it comb and extracted of excellent
quality were neatly and tastefully staged, the
whole being — as we thought — of the current
year's gathering. Mr. Brown staged well-
filled shallow-frames and capital sections,
among the latter being a novelty nowadays in
shape of some of the 2 -lb. sections familiar
on the show-bench in former years, but seldom
seen now. Messrs. Lee & Sons got second for
a display more decorative in character than
the first-named one and containing fairly good
samples of honey — new and old — well
arranged.

The remaining six classes were of a miscel-
laneous character, good displays being staged
in the two classes for beeswax. The wording
of the schedule for the first time clearly
defined at Cardiff that in one class, 352,
quality of wax was the main point, while in

Class 253 the chief merit lay in the suitability
of the cakes of wax for the retail counter trade.
In both classes the competition was keen and
the exhibits very good indeed.

It is hard to say why the class for Honey
Vinegar receives such small encouragemenc
from bee-keepers as to produce a single entry
only at Cardiff, while of Head there were only
two entries ; but so it was.

Class 356. Exhibit of a Practical Nature
only brought one entry, in shape of a capital
honey-somb design, staged by Mr. Richard
Allen, and illustrated in our issue of May 9
(page 183). This deservedly took the first
prize on its merits.

In the final class for Interesting Scientific
exhibits, Messrs. Lee & Son won 1st and 2nd
respectively for beautifully arranged cases of
entomological specimens for educational pur-
poses and the use of lecturers.

On Thursday and Friday, the 27th and 28th,
Mr. W. Broughton Carr held an examination
on behalf of the B.B.K.A. for the third-class
experts' certificates of the Association, nine
candidates being examined. On Saturday,
the 29th, Mr. T. I. Weston was the examiner,
two candidates presenting themselves.

When referring to the " Inventions " class
last week we inadvertently omitted any men-
tion of Mr. E. H. Taylor's "Incubator for
rearing queen-bees " shown in this class. We
may now say that the exhibit was carefully
gone over by the judges, and had any evi-
dence been forthcoming giving the results of
practical trials with the apparatus when
applied to the purpose intended, the awards
might have been different ; but it was felt
that a season's trial was necessary before
arriving at a reliable conclusion as to its
merits. If it answers the purpose, it will be
recognised properly and deservedly, no doubt.

^axmpriAma.

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

THE UBIQUITOUS BEE.
[4429.] Its ubiquity is a marvel, for it seems
to find a home in every clime from the Arctic
regions of the Far North to the Torrid regions
of the Equator. Du Challen, in his " Land of
the Midnight Sun," records that when visiting
the North Cape the only living creatures he
saw were a bird and a bee. Even there, on the
very verge of the cold and icy waters of the
Solar Seas, our little friend glads the eye and
charms the ear with its melodious hum amongst
a dense and gloomy solitude. The keenest cold
does not seem to daunt her, and she flourishes

282

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 18, 1901.

under the most intense heat. In the first case,
" The bee with its comb wiles winter away "
(Browning) and enjoys the heat when it comes,
so that in every part of the world we find the
bee " Delight us with thy wandering hum "
(Southey). The sage-scented Savannas are
peopled by innumerable colonies of bees, and
the wide rolling prairies of the New World, as
yet unbroken by the culture of civilised man,
have myriads of both wild and "domestic"
colonies, so that their flowers do not all
" waste their sweetness on the desert air." In
the wild forests of the West, too, bees are
familiar objects, and Bryant, the American
poet, records that they have far outstripped
man as colonisers —

The bee, a more adventurous colonist than man,
With whom he came across the Eastern deep,
Fills the Savannas with his murmurings,
And hides his sweets, as in the golden age,
Within the hollow oak.

It is well known that every country in
Europe is dotted all over with innumerable
bee-hives of all sorts and conditions. Our
Antipodean brothers are spreading them far
and wide in the new lands they are subduing,
and wherever they go they find the ''yellow-
breeched philosopher " everywhere, ' ' Sipping
only what is sweet.'' Its joyful hum is omni-
present ; always merry and looking at the
bright side of things, he is found, as Emerson
says —

Seeing only what is fair,
. Thou dost mock at cark and care,
Leave the chaff and take the wheat.

Perhaps it might be too much to anticipate
that when the North Pole is discovered, with
the proverbial Briton sitting aloft, bees will
be found in its close proximity. This
much I will venture to predict : If a bed of
fog is found growing at its foot there will be
found a nest of humble bees ! An enterpris-
ing firm of distillers advertised their mountain
dew by sowing broadcast a print of a fully-
attired Celt, seated on an imaginary pole,
sampling their ' ' special blend ." My fancy only
goes one step further, and pictures it flavoured,
with honey — a famous mixture well known of
old as Athole Brose.

I have been surprised at the high altitude
where some of the burly Bombus bees are
found. I should judge that some of our
,r foggy'' friends camp as high as 3,000ft.
Away up there, when resting after a long
ramble, where perfect peace prevails, even
there a drony hum suddenly breaks the
stillness of the calm air, and a bumble
dumbledore reveals itself to the attention of
both eye and ear —

No life, but at moments

The honey bees' hum. (Arnold.)

Wordsworth seems to have been there when
he wrote —

A humming-bee, a little tinkling rill,

By each of these the pensive ear was quieted.

And Bryant in the deep solitude of the
primeval forest felt the same —

Should rest him there, and there he heard
The housewife bee and humming-bird.

One of the last places one would expect to
find bees, or the thoughts of them, obtruding
themselves would be the cell of a condemned
criminal. Yet even there the charms of a
long-lost innocence associates the hum of the
bees with idealistic pictures of early youth,
and I have culled the following written in
such circumsSances —

The roses bloom in the garden,
The bee comes wooing the flowers,

The song-bird pipes to his nest mate
All through the golden hours.

Ancient literature shows innumerable re-
ferences to bees and honey. Virgil and
Homer were quite familiar with bees, and if
they were not themselves bee-keepers they
must have had close association with those
who were. In our own Scriptures, bees, or
the product of bees, are named over thirty
different times ; the exact number might form
food for search for the curious. The Talmud
deals with the same subject repeatedly, and a
whole chapter in the Koran is devoted to
bees. It is a most interesting one, and worth
study, though many of the ideas and " facts ''
are scarcely such as we would approve in these
more enlightened times. In reading Dante
lately I found references to bees in both
" Paradise " and " Purgatory," and also what
I scarcely expected, at least one reference in
"Hell." The same may be said of Milton,
but I will devote a whole article at least at
some future time to the poets' bee3.

Bees have frequently been kept in the
suburbs of our large towns and cities, and
lately we have heard they are kept — and suc-
cessfully so — in the very heart of London.
During the siege of Ladysmith colonies went
on quietly collecting stores. The journal has
repeatedly recorded strange instances of
strange quarters selected by bee3 as fitting
Damping - grounds for errant swarms, and
something interesting might be compiled on
this head, but I forbear.— F. E. I. S.

FOUL BROOD.

[4430.] My experience with this disease may
interest others and be helpful to some. Last
year I had six cases amongst, at the commence-
ment of the season, eighteen stocks ; of these
six to-day five are perfectly healthy. I will give
brief account of each, taking the hives as they
stood. No. 1 was a black stock, I requeened
with an Italian in June, having previously
sprayed the combs a few times ; then I placed
Izal powder in a box under the frames. In
the autumn the stock was perfectly healthy,
and now is one of my best stocks. No. 2,
Carniolan-Ligurian queen. They were driven
bees wintered in old skep combs, which may
have had the disease. Stock very weak. Using
no smoke, I gently took each comb, and without
warning shook the bees off, gave some hatching
brood, and the disease did not reappear. No. 3,
Italian stock. These were frequently sprayed ;
finally I destroyed the queen, gave a ripe cell

July 18, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

283

from the Italian-Carniolan stock, and the
disease disappeared. It is now a splendid
stock. No. 4 was diseased the previous
season, and the combs frequently sprayed, and
the stock from time to time fed with medi-
cated syrup ; finally, in July, the stock being
strong, I gave a ripe queen-cell from same
stock as No. 3 received its cell. The disease
soon disappeared. Stock at present strong
and healthy. No. 5 — Cyprians — very weak.
Kemoved the queen in May. They raised a
young queen, but the stock is slightly affected
this season. No. 6. — Italian. Second season
it was affected. Sprayed the combs fre-
quently and fed with medicated syrup. No
trace of disease, but the stock was very weak,
the queen being old, and they were preparing
to supersede her, so I joined a small swarm to
it.

No. 5 was either reinfected, or the fault lay
in raising a queen in the hive.

It may be asked, " Why did you not destroy
the first affected ? " I would have done so,
but I knew I was surrounded byskep3 reeking
with the disease, in fact last autumn my bees
cleared out some badly diseased hives.
Judicious requeening seems to be the best way
of eradicating the disease ; either a vigorous
queen— Italian or hybrid — or a ripe queen cell
from a healthy stock. — Alpha, Hull, July 9.

BEE FORAGE.

[4431.] While strolling in that charming
spot, the Botanic Garden, Oxford, on Wednes-
day, July 3, the aroma of a fine lime tree drew
me towards it, and my surprise was great
when I found there was hardly a bee to be
seen or heard about, although the mid-day sun
was upon it. Going from it, a showy plant on
one of the lawn beds attracted me ; its flower
spikes, rising some five feet from the ground,
were evidently most pleasing to our little
friends, they were busily working on the
pinkish purple blooms for nectar. The name
of the plant is Epilobium angustifolium. It
is a hardy perennial, and I learnt from the
gardener that it was easy to cultivate, bloom-
ing all through the summer. Possibly one of
our horticultural friends could give the readers
of the B.B.J, more information about it. I can
only say the plant is well worth cultivation,
both for beauty and honey producing. — An
Essex Beekeeper.

FOUL BROOD LEGISLATION.

[4432.] Some time ago the question of foul
brood legislation was proposed and discussed
in your pages, and several bee-keepers
thought powers should be obtained for com-
pulsory action against those bee-keepers who
allowed the dreaded disease to become a
source of danger, and worse, to their neigh-
bours. At the time I spoke to a relative — who
is a prominent parliamentary agent, regarding
the best method to adopt to obtain legal

measures. , He has undertaken to bring the
matter before such members of the House as
would be likely to help legislation forward,
and has written to me to know exactly what
we want, and he will proceed to business. As
a matter of fact, I have only a very vague idea
of our requirements; but here is an oppor-
tunity which might be made use of if the
general body of bee-keepers could formulate a
programme of wants. Could a few of our
leaders unite on the matter, saying definitely
what powers we required, to whom are those
powers to be delegated, and anything else
which may be of use in this direction ?

Unfortunately, we are far away from all
Associations and bee-keepers. I have only
had two of the fraternity here in three years.
We are working up a few owners of bees.
There are ten who have bar-framed hives
besides myself. Bees came badly through the
winter ; I lo3t one stock through dysentery
and another from starvation. Swarms have
not been very plentiful amongst skeppists ; I
have had five, but I believe most of them are
not from my own hives. Following the advice
of the " Guide Book," all spare hives have
been fitted with frames or combs, and I had
three swarms hive themselves. I now possess
twenty-one hives ; one is working in three
racks of sections, and one in two racks, with
shallow-frames beneath the standard-body. I
hived a huge swarm for a friend on June 3 ;
put them in a hive with sixteen frames. Last
Monday I gave them a section-rack, and now
they are working in it very well. I have just
purchased a common extractor and taken off
12 lb. to try it. I like it very much indeed. —
W. J. Belderson.

TROUBLE WITH SMOKER.

[4433.] I read in your journal lately that
when the bee-smoker became foul it was best
to wash the perforated diaphragm to keep it
clean to let the smoke pass. Seldom being
able to get the proper quantity of smoke (for
I like a heavy smoke just floated- on to the
top of the bees or frames better than a small
volume blown into them), and so often it was
difficult to keep it alight, repeatedly causing
much trouble and annoyance.

I found washing with very hot water the
best, and whilst doing so lately it caused me
to consider of what use it was at all, for on
holding it up to the light I saw the strips of
metal that cross it each way (to carry it in the
tube) obliterated half the holes. I take it the
supposed use is to stop any sparks from being
blown on the bees, and if so, that is far-
fetched, for I have found since by taking it
out the thing is not needed.

On removing the diaphragm, 1 was more
than surprised at the vast improvement ; it
makes one master of the smoker at once.
When starting, I blew it sufficiently to fairly
well warm the tube ; and afterwards, by keep-
ing the tube erect, there is no further trouble,

284

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 18, 1901.

and you can go on with ease and comfort till
all the paper is burnt away.

I find the best paper to use is the corru-
gated brown paper used by chemists to send
their bottles by post ; the corrugations should
be well rubbed down, the paper rolled up
tightly, and tied with string ; this gives the
right air-spaces to work well. If the corru-
gations are not rubbed down, the air-spaces
are too large, the paper burns away too fast,
and it does not smoke nearly as well as when
the corrugations are well flattened. — J. H.
Parkes, Doddridge, Warwickshire.

BEES IN SCOTLAND.

[4434.] In forwarding subscription for
B.B.J., I would like to say the articles I like
mo3t are those by your able correspondent
"D. M. M.," Banff. I intend trying the
system which he outlined in the B B J of
April 25 (pige 163). The principal bee-
flowers here are white clover and heather,
and " Arran heather - honey " is famed in
Glasgow and the West of Scotland.

May was a splendid month for bee3, but
June was so wet and cold that the bees
<f gobbled " up what honey they had gathered
in May. July has so far been fine, and bees
are at work in the sections, although the
supers of Sfcewarton hives, of which there are
sfiveral here, are further advanced. — James
Hamilton, Brodrick, Arran, July 8.

SWARM CATCHERS.

OLD QUEENS USELESS.

[4435.] I have tried swarm-catchers with
indifferent success. What always happens is
this : the swarm issues in the usual manner,
clusters somewhere near, and then, being
queenless, returns to the hive ; this may
happen once or twice ; then the bees, think-
may be she would not go, " ball " her. This I
have recently proved. A swarm issued, and I
made an artificial swarm, leaving some combs
of brood on the old stand with the queen ;
next day I found queen balled, I rescued
and caged her, releasing her the following
evening, but subsequent investigation showed
many royal cells and no queen to be found.
In two other cases this year the same thing
has happened ; in the last case the swarm
issued, headed by a virgin queen,
which is able to get through the zinc.
I have never once had the swarm cluster
in the " catcher " ; still I consider them
useful only that when a hive is seen to swarm
it should be artificially swarmed as soon as
the bees are quiet, and no brood left with the
queen. Another plan would be to remove the
hive to a fresh place as soon as the swarm has
issued, and whilst the hive was thinly popu-
lated find the queen and cage her over a hive
on the old site ; but of course a hive must be
in readiness. It was interesting to find the

queen balled, as I previously thought the
queens might have been killed by a virgin, as
they had mysteriously disappeared. But the
best plan of all is, if royal cells are found or
suspected, to artificially swarm them at once,
as once they have the " swarming-fever ''
nothing will stop it.

Old Queens Useless. — I am convinced it is
useless to keep a queen, however good, more
than two seasons. Queens that have for two
summers headed strong stocks proved failures
this season, and I have removed them and
given young queens reared from vigorous
stocks. Care should therefore be taken in
uniting stocks to save the youDger queen. The
future success of the colony depends upon it.

Selecting N on- Swarming Bees. — I was much
interested in Mr. Lowe's experiences, which
are similar to mine with Carniolan bees, or
hybrids, when Carniolan blood is on the queen's
side. Last season, to be beforehand with the
Carniolans, I artificially swarmed them May 31 ;
the first week in July the old queen headed a
natural swarm. I am now doing away with
all Carniolans as hopeless ; but, on the other
hand, I find an Italian queen and Car-
niolan drone produce splendid bees, in fact,
the best of all. With respect to pre-
venting swarming, I believe the only plan
is to let the bees feel they have unlimited
scope for comb building, and that can only be
provided for by an additional chamber under
the brood nest, the frames having starters
only, and any combs built being taken away.
Meadows supplies such a chamber under his
guinea hive, the Conqueror does the same.
Perhaps it is that with the empty chamber the
bees feel they have plenty of elbow-room,
whereas even when supers are piled up the
space is continually contracting, and that
when the population is daily augmenting.
Of seven Conqueror hives, only one has
swarmed or shown inclination to do so, and
that had a Carniolan queen crossed with Italian
drone, these did not even wait to fill their
brood-chamber. — Alpha, Hull, July 13.

HOMES OF THE HONEY-BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

We have in our friend Mr. Daniels another
instance among " our readers " of a bee-
keeper whose first recollection of the bees
was the gruesome job of annually killing them
off by means of the sulphur pit when their
season of toil had ended. Luckily, better
times for the "little labourers" now prevail,
and it is pleasing to find so many now con-
verted to better ways. Of himself Mr. Daniels
writes the following interesting notes : —

" Herewith I send photo of our apiary,
which consists of altogether fifty stocks, only
about half able to be shown on the picture,
with yours truly at the back of hives. So far
ns regards the history of my bee-keeping, it
was in 1886 when my father gave me a skep
of bees. He was one of the old-time bee-

July 18, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

285

keepers, as his father and grandfather were
before him, so that I was in a sense born
among the bees. Well do I remember when
about six years of age having to look for the
swarms, and 'ring the bees,' as it was called
here in Sussex in those days, with the door-key
and a fire-shovel. This performance was un-
derstood to give a right of ownership to the
bees wherever they went if followed up. In
the autumn also I remember well having to
help in ' putting down ' from twenty to
thirty skeps, according to the season, with
the help of the brimstone pit — a hole dug
in the ground opposite each hive. My
part of the work was to stand, with a wet
sack left soaking in a pail of water, and as
each hive was lifted off its stand, or floor-

in 1887, and was by him advised to make a
trial of the frame-hive, which I did, and trans-
ferred two stocks I then possessed by placing
the skeps above the frames — an idea which
you now so often recommend in transferring
from skepj to frame-hives. My first trial of
the plan proved all right, for I next year
obtained quite 200 lb. of surplus honey from the
two colonies thus formed, and two swarms,
which issued at the same time one from each
hive, and joined together of themselves. Un-
fortunately I lost the chance of forming a big
stock from this double swarm through the
bungling of the man who tried to hive them,
as I was away from home all day myself.
This was my record year according to
number of stocks and surplus-honey obtained.

if w 9 MP fit flU Mf i£*>»'fiBj| ^^T^^BflH^^^^ss ~c^_ t » ■/v**'

MR. J. DANIELS APIARY, CHICHESTER, SUSSEX.

board, and set over the fatal ' pit,' I was ready
to drop the sack over any bees left on the
floorboard, and with the back of a spade to
rap the sack all over, and thus smash and kill
the unfortunates instead of smothering them,
and so on to the next lot. When the grue-
some work was over I was rewarded, when
• straining ' the honey, with a nice little
corner-piece of comb-honey, commonly called
1 boys' pieces.' I may here add that the
nearest approach my father ever had in the
direction of ' modern bee-keeping ' was in
cutting off the nozzle of the bellows that hung
by the fireplace to make a smoker with.

" Well, sir, to make a long story short, I came
across a bee-keeper imbued with modern ideas

" In the year 1888, so memorable as an
altogether bad season for bees, I was com-
pelled to move to the city of Chichester, where
I came across a real friend in Mr. Bowers, a
bee-keeper in a large way of business in the
district. He explained to me many things
with regard to the management of bees, and
under his friendly teaching I became enthu-
siastic right up to ' bee-fever ' pitch. I com-
menced in earnest, and became a reader of the
Bee Journal and Bee-kee2)ers> Record from
that time forward.

" I often look back to the pleasure I got in
reading the articles written by contributors
whose names I now miss, such as ' X'tractor,'
' Amateur Expert,' and other writers of that

286

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 18, 1901.

day, not forgetting our Editors — who are still
with us — and your answers to ' Queries,' from
which I have learned a good deal.

" The whole of the hives — besides the others
not shown in the picture — were made by
m j self, with the assistance of the friend men-
tioned above in helping to cut the frames out
with a small circular saw erected for that
purpose. This kind of work keeps us busy in
the long winter evenings.

" My good wife — the partner of my bee-
keeping as well as my 'joys and sorrows' —
was, unfortunately, ill in bed when the photo
was taken. Although not very fond of bees
herself, she is a great help in preparing the
honey for market, cleaning sections, polishing
up jars, &c, which last little '&c.' means she
is quite a good hand at taking the cash and
carefully taking care of the latter, too.

" I have often read in our journals letters from
bee-keepers wishing to know if keeping bees
near to a railway is detrimental to success. I
have not found it so. Our apiary is very near
to the main lines of railway from London and
Brighton to Portsmouth, and a good many
heavy passenger and goods trains pass this spot
during the twenty-four hours.

" The house shown at back of the photo is
the residence of the deputy chief constable of
West Sussex ; there are also other houses sur-
rounding the apiary, and I am pleased to say
I have never had a complaint from any of my
neighbours or from men working on the
railway, but — and there is a lot in this — I
always endeavour to choose a proper time for
any manipulation required. If by chance I
get hold of a vicious lot of bees I requeen
them and so weed them out.

" The whole of our apiary has been built up
with driven bees and artificial swarms, not
having had a dozen natural swarms to my
knowledge during fifteen years' bee-keeping.
No doubt much of this swarm-preventing is
through giving timely room in advance of re-
quirements.

" In conclusion, I may say bee-keeping will
' pay ' if properly attended to, and the bees are
located in a fair honey-producing district.''

HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of June,
1901, was £2,404. — From a return furnished
to the British Bee Journal by the /Statistical
Office, EM. Customs.

Fritham, New Forest, July 5. — Bees in this
part are just beginning to store honey in the
supers from the blackberry and heather and a
few limes. Our main source for early honey
is from the holly, but this year it was a failure;

there was scarcely any holly bloom, so there
has been no early sections here. — L. Hickman.
Bishop's Waltham, Hants, July 15. — " A
moderate crop of excellent quality.'' That
about describes the position with regard to
the honey season in this district, so far as one
can at present estimate probable total results.
Strong easterly winds and cold nights greatly
retarded bee-work during a considerable por-
tion of May and June, but the weather so far
has been favourable for the late clover and
lime harvest. Work on our magnificent lime
trees has provided a fine sight for bee-keepers
for some days past, but my bees display a
strange reluctance in sealing over the combs.
My first honey was taken off on June 1.0, and
since then I have only obtained small lots at
intervals from three out of six hives supered.
My best stock have so far yielded forty-five
finished sections, while a swarm hived at the
end of May has almost completed two racks
of sections. — A. Royds, Jun.

(fit^s and mplty.

[2688.] Foul Brood and Beginners in Bee-
keeping.— Can you throw any light in your
journal — to which I am becoming a subscriber,
as I have derived such benefit from two bound
volumes lent me by a bee-keeper near here-
on the following : — I have five stocks of bees
in frame-hives in a very good situation and
partially shaded during part of the day. One
stock has nearly filled two boxes of shallow-
frames with excellent honey (these are ordinary
English bees). Two others were queenless in
April and have since been making up for lost
time, but nothing more. The remaining two
hives contain very strong stocks of Italian
bees, crowding every frame in one hive and all
but one in the other. They have been supered
for a month, but decline to " go up," and when
we examined them yesterday we found that
they had not gathered a particle of honey this
year (i.e., there is none with new capping), no
old honey left, though in March they had lots.
Plenty of brood hatching out, and the hive
very crowded. My bee-friend thought he
" spotted " foul brood in some of the frames,
but if it was, it was only about one in
each frame, and those were only larvas recently
dead or out of their proper position — none in
a later stage — so that would not discourage
the bees. They were very quiet and well-
behaved altogether. Our expert, when he
came round, thought the late season would
account for this, but as he did not open the
hives he was not aware of the entire absence
of any stores. That this is a good honey
neighbourhood is proved by the fact that one
hive has done so well, and of course we are
now at the height of the lime-blossom harvest.
Would such a slight form of foul-brood, if it
is foul-brood, cause this laziness, or how can

July 18, 1901.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

287

it be accounted for 1 I have removed the
excluder- zinc, thinking they may not like it,
but they did not come up any the more for
that. There is a good deal of foul-brood
round Oxford, and my bee-friend advised my
doing away with one hive, but when the ex-
pert saw it his remark was, " Hardly good
enough, not enough to swear by." I burnt it,
however, and have placed naphthol in the
others. It is very discouraging to have such
a poor result from such fine stocks, and I
hope you may be able to advise me how to
proceed. I wonder if Italian bees are lazier
than the ordinary ? I am much interested in
bee-keeping, though I cannot get over my
nervousness in dealing with them, but hope
that will come in time. — M. F. Smith, Oxford,
July 11.

Reply. — The two Italian stocks are in-
accurately described as " very strong '' when
the bees in July do no more than " crowd
every frame of the brood-chamber" (in one
stock they only cover " all the frames but
one "). A really strong colony at this season
should have bees enough to fill three brood-
chambers. We fear the real cause of failure
is foul brood. Send us a small sample of the
comb to enable us to judge. The fact of your
one strong stock doing so well should be an
incentive to further study of " cause and
effect " in bee-life, and we therefore advise
your procuring a copy of the "Guide Book"
in preference to relying on the B.B.J, for
help in such trouble as is detailed above.

[2689.] Do Bees Visit Flowers Pro-
miscuously ? — A lady friend, when inspecting
my hives, asked me an apparently simple ques-
tion which I was unable to answer. She said
that she had frequently read, and wished to
know if it was true, that if, when a bee is out
collecting honey, she only visits one particular
variety of flower on each trip, and does not
mix the honey from different varieties of
flowers. Can you with certainty inform me on
this point in the next issue of the B.B.J. I —
A. F., Ealing, W., July 9.

Reply. — It may be safely taken for granted
that, as a rule, bees, when out foraging, con-
fine their visits to one variety of blossom
during each trip. It is also certain that the
bee has no trouble in " fixing upon '' the
flowers that are yielding best when once it
reaches the forage -ground.

[2690.] Queen Cast Out Dead.— I had a
stock of bees sent me from Gloucestershire
in a proper travelling hive on June 6. On
arrival I placed them on the stand prepared
for them and liberated the bees. They re-
mained like this until the following Monday,
and were then put into a frame-hive. I found
brood in all stages, but no eggs could be seen,
and several queen-cells were sealed over. I
tore down all of these save one, selecting the
best cell, as I thought. I examined the hive
again on June 16, and found nearly all the
brood hatched out and bees storing honey fast.

On the 19 th the queen-bee (enclosed) was
found outside the hive dead. 1. Could you
tell me the cause of the mishap ? The
bees are now queenless, so I took from
another hive a piece of comb containing
eggs and placed it in the centre of the
brood-nest. 2. Will the bees ba likely to
raise a queen for themselves from these few
eggs (about fifty) ? To-day, July 9, I noticed
a queen-cell sealed over, but not on the piece
of comb I gave the bees. Would this be an
egg from the enclosed dead queen, or would it
be a fertile worker 1 I have a Cowan's
" Guide Book" and " The Modern Bee Farm,"
and I study them well, but I am at a loss in
the case in question. A reply in the B.B.J,
will oblige. — C. W. Tilley, Stirchley, near
Birmingham.

Reply. — 1. The fact of sealed queen-cells
being found on the combs four days after the
stock of bees were received goes to show that
the bees were already queenless when the
hive reached you. But with regard to the
mishap to young queen subsequently hatched
out from the ripe queen-cell selected by
yourself, we fear the mischief has occurred
during your examination of the combs on
June 16. 2. An inspection of the combs
will be the safest reply to this question, but
the queen-cell seen on the 9 th inst. is pro-
bably nothing more than an abortive attempt
on the part of the bees to raise a queen.

[2691.] Getting Frames of Comb-honey Com-
pleted.— I should like your advice concerning
the following point : I have now a super of
ten shallow-frames completed. I can scarcely
hope to get the bees of that hive to finish ten
more frames this season. I do not want to
find myself at the end of the season possessed of
a number of half-finished frames. I do not
extract honey myself, as we prefer to eat it out
of the comb. Under these circumstances I
would ask : How many shallow-frames would
you now remove, their place to be taken by
fresh frames with full foundation ? — Ian
Anderson, Coventry, July 15.

Reply. — Seeing that we are past mid-July,
about three additional frames will amply
suffice for what remains of the honey-harvest,
and we should carefully confine the bees to
these three frames by division boards, wrap-
ping up as warmly as possible. Remove the
sealed combs at once while they are safe.

[2692.] Transferring Bees. — I have some
bees in a skep which I purpose " driving " and
putting into a frame-hive, but the latter
cannot be placed on the exact stand now
occupied by the skep, but will be three yards
away. After being " driven," am I right in
presuming that the bees will not go back to
the old stand 1 — X., Andover.

Reply. — The bees will certainly go back to
the old stand. We hope you fully understand
what it means to drive from skeps and put '
them in frame-hives at end of the honey-
season. Unless you do, the operation will
proba'bly fail.

288

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 18, 1901.

%tt $fom to <&mt

July 24, at Broughton, Hants. — Broughton
Flower show. Open class for six 1-lb. jars extracted
honey. Schedules from C. Upshall, Broughton, Stock-
bridge, Hants.

July 25, 26 and 27, at St. Helens.— Royal
Lancashire Agricultural Society's Show. Bee-keepers'
Section. For Honey, Hives, and Appliances. Liberal
Money Prizes and valuable Medals in Open Classes for
Sections, Extracted Honey, Honey Trophy, and Appli-
ances.

July 29, at Caergwele Castle Flower Show.
— Bee Lectures, Honey Classes. Schedules from H. D.
Davies, Abermorddu, Wrexham.

July 31, at Henbnry, Bristol.— Honey show of the
Henbury District B.K.A. in conjunction with the Hen-
bury Horticultural Society's show. Schedules from W.
G. Barnfleld, Hon. Sec, H.B.K.A., Charlton, near
Bristol. Entries close July 24.

August 2, at Exeter.- Annual Show of the
Devon B.K.A., in conjunction with the Devon and
Exeter Horticultural Society. Twelve classes for Bees
Honey, &c. Schedules from E. E. Scholefield, Hon.
Secretary, Devon B.K.A. , Heathfleld, Chudleigh, South
Devon. Entries close July 27.

August 5 (Bank Holiday) at Lichfield.—
Honey Show in connection with that of Lichfield Floral
and Horticultural Society. Open Classes for Light and
Dark Honey and Wax. Two classes for members of
the Staffs. B.K.A. and two open classes for Cottagers.
Medals and good money prizes. Schedules from F. J.
Hall, City Station Wharf, Lichfield.

August 5, at Butterfield Park, Hessle,
Hull.— Honey Show in connection with the Hessle and
District Floral and Agricultural Society. Schedules
from Hon. Sec, Mr. E. C. S. Stow, Hessle, Hull.
Entries close August 1.

August 5, at Melton Constable.— North Norfolk
B.K.A. Annual Honey Show. Three open classes ;
one for single 1-lb. jar extracted honey. Schedules
from C. J. Cooke, Edgefield, Melton Constable.
Entries close July 27.

August 6. at Leamington.— Honey section of
Leamington St. Mary's flower show. Three open
classes for six 1-lb. sections, six 1-lb. jars " light,"
and six 1-lb. jars " dark" extracted honey, respectively.
Good prizes. Schedules from the Secretary, 2, St.
Mary's-road, Leamington. Entries close August 3.

August 7, at Weston Park, "Wilts.— Honey
Show in connection with the Atworth and District
Horticultural Society's Show. Seventeen classes for
honey and bees (including classes for single 1-lb. section
and single 1-lb. jar, with no entry fee. Schedules
from J. P. Inkpen, Neston, Corsham, Wilts.

At Llanberis.— Honey Show in conjunction with
Llanberis Horticultural Show. Open class for single
1-lb. jar Extracted Honey. Free entry. Prize complete
frame-hive. Schedules from R. Jones, Llanberis.
Entries close July 22.

August 7, at Marlow. Show of Honey, Hives,
and Bee Appliances in connection with the Marlow
Horticultural Society. Valuable Prizes. Schedules
from the Hon. Sec, A. D. Cripps, Marlow, Bucks.
Entries close August 3.

August 7, at Macclesfield.— Adlington and
District Agricultural Society's Show. Four open classes
for hives, six sections, six 1-lb. jars, and wax. Schedules
from W. J. Trotter, 4, Church-street West, Maccles-
field. Entries close July 22, or at double fees
July 27.

August 8, at Kingsthorpe, Northampton.—
Honey Show of the Northants B.K.A., in connection
with the Horticultural Exhibition. Twelve classes for
bee-keepers, including special class (six prizes) open to
all (with free entry) for single lib. jar extracted honey.
Six prizes, 20s., 10s. 6d., 7s. 6d., 2s. 6d., 2s., and certifi-
cate. Schedules from Robt. Hefford, Hon. Sec, Kings-
thorpe, Northants. Entries close August 1.

August 8, at Madresdeld Park.— Annual
Show of the Worcestershire B.K.A., in connection with
the Madresfield Agricultural Exhibition. Open Classes
for Bees, Hives, and Extracted Honey. Schedules
from Mr. J. P. Phillips, Spetchley, Worcester, Acting
Secretary W. B.K.A. Entries close August 1.

August 8, at Foys Chetnole.— Yetminster and
District B.K.A. Annual Show of Bees, Honey, and

Beeswax. Thirteen classes (including three open
classes). Entry free for single 1-lb. section, 1-lb. jar
extracted honey. Schedules from G. Leeding, Bradford
Abbas, Sherborne, Dorset. Entries close August 3.

August 15, at G-oole. — Bee and Honey Show in
connection with the Goole and District Agricultural
Society. Six open classes, including one for single 1-lb.
jar (entry free). Schedules from J. Luddington and
H S. White, Sees., Lindum House, Goole. Entries
close August 10.

August 15, at Abergwili, Carmarthenshirp.
— Abergwili Horticultural and Agricultural Society's
Show. Open class for single 1-lb. jar extracted honey
(entry free). Prizes, 10s., 7s. 6d„ 5s., and 2s. Particu-
lars from Thos. Rice, Secretary, Abergwili.

August 15, 16, and 17. at Crystal Palace.—
Surrey B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees, Honey, Wax,
and Appliances, &c. Twenty-four classes (eleven open
to all). Increased prizes and medals. Schedules from
F. B. White, Hon. Secretary, Marden House, Redhill.
Entries close August 1.

August 17, at Ammanford (S. Wales).—
Honey show in connection with the Ammanford Flower
Show. Liberal prizes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar extracted honey, also classes for three sections
and three 1-lb. jars, light and dark honey.— Particulars
from Mr. Ivor Morris, Hon. Sec, Ammanford, R.S.O.,
Carmarthen.

August 21 and 22, at Shrewsbury.— Annual
Show of the Shropshire B.K.A., in connection with the
Shropshire Horticultural Society's Great Floral Fete in
" The Quarry." Bees, Honey, Hives, and Appliances.
Six Open Classes for Honey. Schedules from S. Cart-
wright, Hon. Secretary, Shropshire B.K.A., Shaw-
bury, Shrewsbury. Entries close August 9.

August 27 and 28, at Solihull.— Warwickshire
B.K.A. Show of Honey, &c, in conjunction with that
of the Warwickshire Agricultural Society. Schedules
from Jas. Noble Bower, hon. sec, Warwicks. B.K.A.,
Knowle.

August 28, at Chester.— Annual Show of the
Cheshire B.K.A., in connection with the Cheshire Agri-
cultural Society. Ten classes (four open) for hives, honey
(light, medium, and dark), sections, &c Schedules
from T. A. Beckett, St. Werburgh's Chambers, Chester.
Entries close Aug. 7. (At double fees to Aug. 14.)

Thursday, August 29, at Montgomery.—
Montgomery and District Horticultural Society's Show.
Two open Classes for Honey— six 1 lb. sections, six 1 lb.
jars and extracted, with prizes of 10s., 5s., and 2s. 6d.
in cash. Schedules from Mr. W. H. Jones, Hon. Sec,
Montgomery. Entries close August 22.

August 31, at Dumfries.— South of Scotland
B.K.A. Annual Show. Open Classes for " Sixes,"
with Prizes of 20s., 15s., 10s., 5s. ; also for Single Jar
and Section, with Free Entry ; also Wax and
Appliances. Schedules from James Kerr, Hon. Secre-
tary, Milldamhead, Dumfries. Entries close
August 22.

September 7 to 14, at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (9th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Eleven classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees-
wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers. Entries
close August 26. (See large advt.)

September 11 and 12, at Derby— Derbyshire
B.K.A. twentieth Annual Show of Hives, Bees, and
Honey on the show ground of the Derbyshire Agricul-
tural Society. Schedules from F. Walker, Secretary
D. B.K.A., 64, Gerard-street, Derby. Entries clobe
August 30.

September 21 to 28, at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with the
fifth Annual Exhibition of the Grocery and Kindred
Trades. Eleven classes for comb and extracted honey
and bees-wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers.
Entries close August 31. (See page v.)

October 8 to 11, at the Agricultural Hall,
London. — Show of Honey and Bee-produce in con-
nection with the British Dairy Farmers' Association.
Numerous and liberal prizes for honey, &c— Schedules
from Mr. Wm. C. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-square,
London, W. Entries close September 9.

October 10, 11, and 12, at Crystal Palace.—
Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, and Appliances. Increased prizes and medals.
Schedules from Hon. Secretary, Henry W. Brice, 100,
Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath. Entries close
September 30.

July 18, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

289

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All querietforwarded will be attended to, and thou only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

G. C. (Ayr). — Bees Hanging Idly Out. — 1.
When bees are " all hanging out in front of
the hive" as stated it indicates want of
room and ventilation. You need have no fear
that they will swarm again after swarming
early in June, and since then filling a rack
of twenty - one sections. Probably the
second rack now on will be as much
surplus as the bees will store this season
unless you have heather within reach, in
which case a third rack may be required.
To fill and seal twenty-one sections in
thirteen days is not bad work, but we not
seldom hear of that number being filled in
eight or nine days in a good season. 2.
Two racks of 1-lb. sections and a swarm is
not a bad first year's work from one hive.

" Mona '' (Isle of Man). — Preparing Ex-
tracted Honey for the Show Bench. — Beyond
securing clear glass jars of good type (see
advertisements), there is no " best method
of bottlirjg '' that we can give. The honey
is simply strained after removal from the
extractor, and freed from air-bubbles by
being allowed to stand until quite clear.

H. F. G. (Bedale). — Insect Nomenclature. —
The insect sent is the Giant Sirex (female).
It belongs to the tribe of iojurious insects.

Enthusiast (co. Cork). — Introducing Queens.
— If certain that the dead queen-bee sent
had suffered no injury from rough handling,
we should describe the insect as " aborted,"
the anterior or large wing being crushed
out of form as if improperly developed,
while the posterior, or small wing, is all
shrunken up like a " withered limb." Bees
in the imago stage thus aborted indicates
insufficient warmth for proper or normal
development.

John Duncan (Aberdeen). — Honey Samples.
— Your sample is of good quality, Irom
mixed sources, and quite fit for the show-
bench. As regards prizes, of course all
depends on what is staged in competition.

L. Wren ( Lowestoft). — Bee Plants. — The
bloom sent is from the Bokhara clover, a
very useful bee-plant in some seasons, and
one that blooms for a loug time.

Viator (N. Wales). — Extracting Troubles. —
We will endeavour to give you some help
on the point named in next week's issue.

" Querist " (Guildford). — The bees sent are the
nearly matured pupae of drone-brood, and
the reason of their being cast out is because
removal of queen-cells has caused the bees
to give up all idea of swarming for the year.

D. Jones (Ledbury, Hereford). — Varieties of
Heather. — Both twigs of bloom are of the
Erica vulgaris, or common ling, which is the
best sort for bees.

R. Macintosh (Kingussie). — The queen is
a young unmated one, such as is cast out of
hives after the issue of second swarms.

Geo. Campbell (Ainsdale). — Twin Larv<r in
Queen Cell. — It is " unusual," but not ex-
tremely rare, to find a couple of larvae in a
sealed queen cell, but they always die pre-
maturely. We never saw an instance where
the larva reached the chrysalis stage.

S, A. (co. Monaghan). — Wintering Driven
Bees. — The essentials in this item of bee-
work are — (1) get the driven bees in mid-
August or earlier ; (2) unite two lots in each
frame-hive ; (3) put the bees on full sheets
of foundation, and, without delay, give each
stock at least 20 lb. of sugar made into
syrup ; (4) winter the bees only on as many
frames of comb as are fully drawn out and
supplied with sealed food.

Susp>ected Combs.

Special Notice to correspondents sending queries on
"Foul brood."

We urgently request that all letters sent with samples
of suspected comb be put outside the box or tin containing
the sample. Also that no more than a couple of sqxiare
inches of comb be sent, taking care to neither crush the
comb nor probe the cells before despatching.

In urgent cases (and where possible) we undertake to
" wire " replies as to F. B. if six stamps are sent to cover
cost of telegram. All letters to be addressed "Editor,
Bee Journal," not " Manager."

W. Lowe (Sittingbourne) — Slight signs of
foul brood on one side of comb, other side
contains pollen only.

Edtvin Cope (Atherstone). — Comb contains
" chilled brood " only.

M. S. Nattras (Stocksfield). — Your friend's
hive, judging by sample received, is as badly
diseased as it well could be. Comb is reek-
ing with foul brood.

W. B. P. (Chichester).— We can only give the
very briefest reply in a sixpenny telegram.
The comb being affected with foul brood
(and presupposing that your friend knows
nothing about treating the disease), we
advise his procuring a copy of the " Guide
Book," where very full directions will be
found regarding it.

A. D. (Shandon, N.B.). — Comb sent, though
very old and black, contains no disease, but
is sweet and healthy. The few dead larvae
are " chilled " only.

J. M. (Neilston).— The "wire" sent would
ease your mind as regards " F.B." If the
bees are worth saving and treating as a
swarm, carry out that plan as proposed. If
not strong, burn combs and bees and scorch
inside of hive, as you sugge>t.

J. Jakeman (Bournemouth). — Both samples
are affected with foul brood. If bees are
now on " one comb only " they are worse
than useless.

Clifford Daish (Bishop's Waltham). —
Beyond a fat larva of wax-moth and several
small larvae of the same " bee-enemy," comb
contains nothing worse than honey and
pollen.

290

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 18, 1901.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve words and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

OVERSTOCKED.— 6 lb. thin SUPER FOUNDATION,
2s. 3d. lb. Long, North-rd., Mere, Wilts. G 75

B.C." HIVES FOR SALE ; zinc covered roof and
' painted. Apply " J. S.," Office of this Paper.

W

CATALOGUES and PRICES of APPLIANCES and
BEES to LEONARD Crawshaw, Burnside, Ilkley.
a ___

WILL SELL or EXCHANGE, grand Airedale
TERRIER DOG, for healthy SWAEM of BEES.
J. Nuttall, Netherton, near Huddersfleld. G 84

WANTED, HONEY EXTRACTOR. State lowest
price ; deposit system. Vaughan, Burry Port,
Carmarthenshire. g 76

FOR SALE, first quality SECTIONS ; well finished,
7s. 6d. per doz. ; 6 doz., carriage paid. Davis,
Great Bookham, Surrey. G 82

THREE-FRAME NUCLEI, with fertile Queens from
imported Cyprian, 8s. 6d. Woosnam, Newton-
Abbot. a 80

STRONG, healthy driven BEES, with Queen, end of
July, 5s. per lot. Boxes returned. Moreton,
Expert, Leigh, Worcester. G 81

STRONG 3-STANDARD- FRAME NUCLEI, 1901
Fertile QUEEN, 10s. 6d. Woods, Normandy,
Guildford. G 85

nrlH YEAR.— Small SWARMS with Reliable Queens,
jL/O 5s. 6d. Package free. Queens, in introducing
cage, 3s. 9d., delivered. Alsford, Expert, Blandford.

ONCE TRIED ALWAYS USED. Our Solar Wax
Extractor should be in every Apiary. A perfect
success. No. 1, 128. 6d. Manager, Hardham Apiary,
Pulborough. G 78

WANTED, GEARED EXTRACTOR, in good working
order. Someone who would take woollen goods
in exchange preferred. Apply to J. Jones, Brynkir
Woollen Mills, Dolbenmaen, N. Wales. G 77

SELLING OFF my BEES and APPLIANCE*, includ-
ing 6 Stocks Bees in Cowan hives, Bee House, con-
taining 6 hives, Comb Rack and Table (bolted together),
200 drawn-out Combs, Extractor Ripeners, Honey cans,
Shallow frame, and Section crates. Numerous other
appliances, nearly new ; sell lot or part. Paynter,
Pen-Nevis, Par-station, Cornwall. G 83

FINE HEATHER HONEY, 140 lb., from virgin combs.
Offers. Horn, Bedale, Yorkshire. g 62

DAFFODILS.— Can spare few Bulbs from "Lords-
wood's " collection. Send for list. Sands, Rednal,
Barnt Green. G 70

PURE EXTRACTED light coloured HONEY FOR
SALE. Three stamps for sample. David Hancox,
Deddington, Oxon. G 72

SUPERIOR BEES— Good SWARMS, 15s., packed
free. Walton, Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington.

G 44

SPLENDID 1901 HONEY, in 28-lb. tins, 6\d. lb. Tins
free. Sample, 2d. Cash or deposit. Dutton,
Terling, Essex. G64

FOR SALE, Pure NEW ENGLISH HONEY, 6d. per
lb., in 10 and 28 lb. tins (tins included). Geo.
Reynolds, Eaton Ford, St. Neots. G 33

BEE HIVES and APPLIANCES FOR SALE, cheap.
Never been used. For full particulars apply,
Alfred Johnson, Clarence Villas, Swinton, Manchester.

G 57

WANTED, new SECTIONS, first quality, clear, pale
and up to weight. Any quantity prompt cash.
W. Chilton, The Apiaries, rolegate, Sussex.

QUEENS, STOCKS, NUCLEI, and SWARMS. l'4th
season of queen-rearing as a speciality. Fertile
queens, 5s. each, post free. Rev. C. Brereton,
Pulborough, Sussex.

Prepaid Advertisements (Continued).

COMFORTABLE APARTMENTS for brother bee-
keepers visiting Douglas. Terms : tea, bed, and
breakfast, 3s. 6d. ; or full board, 5s. per day. HORSLEY,
Merridale House, Top of Castle Drive, Douglas, Isle of
Man. 932

DRAWN OUT COMBS, Sections, 50, 8s. 4d. ; Shallow
frames, 50, 12s. 6d. ; Standard frames, 50, 17s. 6d. ;
Cyprian Queens, 7s. ; Carniolans, 6s. 6d. ; Italians, 5s. 6d.
Imported consignments due 6th. Swarms now 12s. 6d.
Spearman, Colesbourne, Cheltenham.

SPRING Dwindling and Light Supers are unknown
where White Star Italians are used. Store in all
weathers if flowers are about, and a month later than
Natives and other varieties. Always ready for fruit
blown in spring. Leave all others behiod at the heather.
S. Simmins, Heathfleld, Sussex.

DON'T BE STUNG. Wear Reynolds' " Burkitt Bee
Gloves." A great success. Unsolicited testi-
monials. Light in substance, useful, durable. 2s. 2d.
per pair, or with self-adjusting gauntlets attached,
2s. lOd. per pair, post paid. Special terms to the trade.
Sole Maker, Edward Reynolds, Andover, Hants.

LACE PAPER for SECTION GLAZING. White,
Pink, and Green, 1 in. wide, 100, 7d., 200, Is. 2d.,
300, Is. 6d., 500, 2s. 3d., 1,000, 4s. Also something new
in LACE BANDS, 2 J, 3, and 3J in. wide, lace both edges.
White, 100, Is. 3d., 200, 2s. 3d., 300, 3s., 500, 4s Od.; Pink
and Pale Green, 100, Is. 6d., 200, 2s. 9d., 3C0, 4s., 500,
5s. 6d. ; all post free. Sample of each kind three stamps.
W. WOODLEY, Beedon, Newbury.

J. W. AVERY, RIPLEY, SURREY,

owing to removal,

has the following BEES and APPLIANCES FOR SALE.

Stocks guaranteed healthy.

Lot 1.— May Swarm, on S drawn-out Frames, with
Section Rack partly rilled, in good Hive, 20s.

Lot 2. — June Swarm, on 8 Frames, in good Hive, 17s. 6d.

Lot 3.— Splendid Stock, with 2 Section Racks, nearly
completed, 40s.

Lot 4.— Very strong Stock in Skep, 10s.

Lot 5.— Good Stock, on 8 Frames, in good Hive, 20s.

Lot 6. — Strong Stock, in good Hive, Section Rack
nearly full, 30s,

Lot 7.— Two good Frame Hives, in 'good condition,
12s. 6d. the two.

Lot 8.— Six Section Racks, fitted complete. 10s. for six.

Lot 9. — Sundry Appliances, cheap. Write for par-
ticulars.

Lot 10. — Double Hive, complete, 7s. 6d.

WHY NOT BUY YOUR SKEPS
DIRECT FROM THE MAKER?

You may buy first-class skeps bound with stout new
cane, at Is. 3d., Is. 6d., Is. 9d., and 2s. each.
Cash with order ; 5% discount. Wholesale prices on
application. S. J. Cox, Bee-skep Maker, 12, Arwenack-
street, Falmouth, Cornwall.

NOTE OUR SPECIAL LINES I

" W.B.C." Hives, from 17/- to 25/- each.

" W.B.C." Non-Swarming Hives, 24/- each.

Improved Cottager's Hive, with Zinc Roof, 12/6 each.

" Interchangeable" Hives, 13/6 and 14/6 each.

These Hives can be worked with Frames Parallel or at

Right Angles to the entrance, as desired.
Best Snow-white Sections, 2/- per 100 : Split Top, 6d.

extra.
Best Quality Standard or Shallow Frames, 1/2 per doz.
"W.B.C." Ends, |", 30, post free, 1/-; 3/6 per gross,

post free.
Zinc Queen-Excluders, 17" by 15", 6d. each ; post free, 9d.
Celluloid ,, ,, ,, 1/4 each, post free.

Best 1-lb. Nickel Screw-cap Bottles and Cork Wads, 20/-

gross.
Improved "Derby" Extractor, 13/6 each; or with

Gearing, 20/- each.
The 20th Century Extractor, 22/- each

,, ,, ,, with genuine Bicycle Chain

Gearing, 32/- each.

R. H. C0LTMAN, Bee Appliance Maker,

49, Station-street, BURTON-ON-TRENT.

July 25, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

291

(Mioral, Ijtotiaa, &t

BKITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

The monthly meeting of the Council was
held at 105, Jermyn-3treet, S.W., on Thursday,
the 18th inst., Mr. F. B, White occupying the
chair. There were also present Messrs. R. T.
Andrews, W. Broughton Carr, W. H. Harris,
W. F. Reid, E. D. Till, Col. Walker, Mr. T. I.
Weston, and the secretary.

The minutes of the previous meeting were
read and confirmed.

The following new members were duly
elected, viz , Mr. C. F. T. Blyth, 22, Tanza-
road, Hampstead, N.W. ; Mr. H. Samways,
Maesybont Board School, Llandebie, R.S.O. ;
Mr. G. Spearman, Colesbourne, Cheltenham.

The Finance Committee reported that the
accounts to date had been examined, and the
receipts compared with the payments to
bankers. The payments recommended in-
cluded the prize and sales accounts in con-
nection with the recent Royal Show. The
report was approved.

Acting upon the advice of examiners of
candidates for third-class expert certificates, it
was resolved to grant diplomas to Misses
Adams, La Mothe, and Willans ; and Messrs.
C. A. Atchley, R. Brown, Chas. Buckel, R. H.
Coltman, David Davie3, J. Grattan, Richard
Greaves, "W. E. Hyde, E. Pitt, J. Rowlands,
H. Samways, G. A. Shaw, and Wm. Thomas.

The report of the expert upon his work
during the month of June was laid before the
Council.

Appointments were made of judges and
examiners to act at St. Helens, Bradford,
Madresfield, ChiDgford, Moorgreen, and Bud-
leigh Salterton.

It was resolved to collect names and ad-
dresses of bee-keepers willing to assist in the
formation of organisations in the counties of
Bedford, Buckingham, Dorset, Gloucester,
Hertford, Monmouth, Rutland, Suffolk, and
Westmorland.

Attention was directed to correspondence
on bee-keeping recently appearing in the
columns of the Daily Mail, to which journal
it was decided to send a communication deal-
ing with the work of the B.B.K. Association
and societies affiliated thereto.

The next meeting of the Council will take
place on Thursday, September 19.

STAFFORDSHIRE B.K.A.

SHOW AT NEWCASTLE-UN DER- LYME.

Referring to advertisement of the above
Show on front page, we must remind readers
that the entries close on Saturday the 27th.
Intending exhibitors should therefore make
their entries at once, to be in time.

REVIEW.

The Life of the Bee. By Maurice Maeter-
linck. Published by George Allen, Charing
Cross-road, London. 5s. net.

Not since the appearance in 1876 of Biichner's
" Mind in Animals " have we had a book
about bees more charming, or one that we
have read with greater pleasure, than Maeter-
linck's " Life of the Bee." It is not a practical
treatise on bee-keeping, nor even a scientific
work on the natural history of the bee, but it
describes in beautiful language phenomena
connected with the hive which are more or
less familiar to those who have kept bees and
observed their habits. The author is a prac-
tical bee-keeper of twenty years' standing, and
from the manner in which he writes he must
have been a very careful observer of the habits of
bees during that time. The book before us is
divided into seven chapters, the first " On the
Threshold of the Hive " is an introduction to
the subject. We have above compared the
book with "Mind in Animals,'' but this is
what the author has to say respecting this
work : " Biichner's treatise is comprehensive
enough, but contains so many hazardous state-
ments, so much long-discarded gossip and
hearsay, that I suspect him of never having
left his library. The book smells not of the
bee or its honey, and has the defects of many
a learned work whose conclusions often are
preconceived, while their scientific attain-
ment is composed of a vast array of doubtful
anecdotes collected on every side."

Our author further says : — " I shall state
nothing, therefore, that I have not verified
myself, or that is not so fully accepted in the
text-books as to render further verification
superfluous. My facts shall be as accurate as
though they appeared in a practical manual or
scientific monograph, but I shall relate them
in a somewhat livelier fashion than such works
would allow, shall group them more har-
moniously together, and blend them with
freer and more mature reflection. The reader
of this book will not gather therefrom how to
manage a hive, but he will know more or less
all that can with any certainty be known of
the curious, profound, and intimate side of its
inhabitants."

Our author with a fluent pen has carried
out his promise to the end, and although
perhaps on two or three points we cannot
entirely agree with the conclusions he arrives
at, more particularly with respect to comb
construction, his facts are in the main very
accurate, and the interesting manner in
which they are related gives the book a special
charm which makes it read somewhat like a
romance.

In the first chapter, after referring to the
bibliography of the bees from Aristotle to
Virgil, he says : " The real history of the bee
begins in the seventeenth century with the
discoveries of the great Dutch savant
Swaramerdam." It was he who invented the

292

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 25, 1901.

microscope, and by means of dissection was
able to describe the different parts of bees,
and also to differentiate the sex. Alluding to
Reaumur and Brunet, he passes on to Huber,
whom he calls " The master and classic of con-
temporary apiarian science." He thus records
the progress made in practical apiculture to
the present time, and gives a description of
the complete mastery the bee-keeper has over
the bees, in which this passage occurs : " For
the destiny once imposed by the seasons he
has substituted his will. He repairs the
injustice of the year, unites hostile republics,
and equalises wealth. He restricts or
augments the births, regulates the fecundity
of the queen, dethrones her and instals
another in her place, after dexterously obtain-
ing the reluctant consent of a people who
would be maddened at the mere suspicion of
an inconceivable intervention." "In a word,
he does with them what he will, he obtains
what he will, provided always that what he
seeks be in accordance with their laws and
their virtues."

The next chapter treats of " The Swarm,"
and here seventy-four pages are devoted to
what he calls the " spirit of the hive," which
actuates the bees in their great emigration,
when they leave a well-provided and prosperous
house for a fresh start in life in an unknown
locality. It is also this " spirit of the hive "
which, he says, causes all the marvellous
actions that we, from our point of view and
with our faculties, fail to comprehend. This
is what he says about the swarm :

"It is the spirit of the hive that gives
the hour of the great annual sacrifice to
the genius of the race — the hour, that is,
of the swarm, when we find a whole
people, who have attained the topmost
pinnacle of prosperity and power, suddenly
abandon to the generation to come their
wealth and their palaces, their homes and the
fruits of their labour ; themselves content to
encounter the hardships and perils of a new
and distant country. This act, be it conacious
or not, undoubtedly passes the limits of human
morality." Also on page 110, "They
have abandoned, not only the enormous
treasures of pollen and propolis they had
gathered together, but also more than 120
pounds of honey, a quantity representing more
than twelve times the entire weight of the
population, and close on 600,000 times that of
the individual bee. To man this would mean
42,000 tons of provisions." He then describes
in poetical language the dreariness of the empty
abode, which the bees take to without " being
cast down by an ordeal before which every
other courage would succumb."

The " Foundation of the City " treats of the
construction of the combs, and the author
thinks, with Lord Brougham and others, that
the bees build hexagonal cells, and not that
they are first circular, and that mutual inter-
ference produces the hexagons, which is the
generally accepted theory of modern times.

Comparing man with these insects, he says : —
"Were we sole possessors of the particle of
matter that, when maintained in a special
condition of flower or incandescence, we term
the intellect, we would be to some extent
entitled to look on ourselves as privileged
beings, and to imagine that in us Nature
achieved some kind of aim ; but here we
discover, in the Hymenoptera an entire cate-
gory of beings in whom a more or less identical
aim is achieved.''

There are also chapters treating of " The
Young Queens," " The Nuptial Flight," " The
Massacre of the Males," and " The Progress of
the Race."

Throughout, the book is written in the
some pleasing style, and we could do little
justice to it without copious quotations. When
we commenced reading it we could hardly tear
ourselves away from it until it had been
finished. At the end, is a copious bibliography,
showing that our author had searched the best
authors.

It need hardly be said that the work is as
well printed and as nicely bound as all books
turned out by Ruskin's publisher. It is a
book that we can thoroughly recommend, and
one that every bee-keeper should read, as we
are sure that he will not fail to be charmed
with it.

[The delay in publishing our Senior Editor's review of
M. Maeterlinck's book is accounted for by the fact of
Mr. Cowan being some 6,000 miles away from London.
— W. B. C]

LINCOLNSHIRE B.KA.

ANNUAL SHOW.

The annual show of the above association,
in conjunction with that of the Lincolnshire
Agricultural Society, was opened at Brigg on
July 18, and, so far as the quality and amount
of honey and the number of exhibits of hives
and appliances on the show-bench, it will
easily rank as a "record." Seventy-eight
dozen pounds of honey in glass jars and
sections were staged, exclusive of two trophies,
and four large exhibits of appliances and
seventeen entries in the two hive classes,
besides the usual classes for wax, observatory
hives, &c. The only class not well filled was
a new one, for honey " other than light." In
this only three samples that came within this
description being staged. The rest was light
honey of such an even colour and consistency
as to make the task of the two judges (Dr.
P. Sharp and Mr. J. R. Truss) a most arduous
one. Lectures in the bee-tent were given at
intervals by Mr. W. Herrod to interested
audiences, but the weather was so tropical that
the audiences were not so large as otherwise
would have been the case. The following is a
list of the awards : —

Display of Honey in any form. Total
weight not to exceed 250 lb. — 1st and B.B.K.A.
Silver Medal, A. W. Weatherhogg, Wil-
loughton ; 2nd and B.B.K.A. Bronze Medal,
D. Seamer, Grimsby.

July 25, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

203

Twelve 1-lb. Sections (open class). — 1st,
Kev. J. R. Bradshaw, Hissay, York ; 2nd,
H. F. Beale, Andover, Hants ; 3rd, W.
Patchett, Caistor, Lines. ; 4th, H. Seamark,
Willingham, Cambs.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (open
class). — 1st, T. Blake, Broughton, Hants ;
2nd, W. Hatliff, Caistor, Lines ; 3rd, H.
Pears, Lincoln ; 4th, Mrs. Pinder, Stamford.

Twelve 1-lb. Sections (members of the Lines.
B.K.A. and Lines. A.S. only). — 1st (and
silver medal Lines. B.K.A.), A. W. Weather-
hogg ; 2nd, W. Patchett ; 3rd, E. Godson,
Alford ; 4th, Rev. H. Goffe, Caistor.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (mem-
bers of above two societies only). — 1st (and
silver medal Lines. B.K.A.), A. W. Weather-
hogg ; 2nd, R. Godson ; 3rd, W. Thompson,
Doncaster ; 4th, H. Pears.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (other
than light-coloured). — 2nd, R. Godson. (1st
and 3rd not awarded.)

Cottagers' Class. Twelve 1-lb. Jars Ex-
tracted Honey (cottagers only). — 1st, W.
Hatliff ; 2nd, 'W. Patchett ; 3rd, J. Frankish,
Grasby.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Granulated Honey. — 1st,
Rev. H. F. Goffe ; 2nd, D. Seamer ; 3rd, E.
Fisher, Wei by, Grantham.

Bee's Wax. — 1st, J. Berry, Llanwrst ; 2nd,
J. R. Herbert, Barton-on-Humber ; 3rd, R.
Brown, Somersham.

Observatory Hive with Queen and Bees. —
1st, D. Seamer ; 2nd, R. Godson.

Collection of Hives and Appliances. — 1st,
W.P. Meadows, Syston ; 2nd, R. H. Colt-
man, Burton-on-Trent ; 3rd, E. H. Taylor,
Welwyn, Herts ; v.h.c, Varty & Co., Col wick,
Notts.

Complete Frame-hive (price not to exceed
253.).— 1st, W. P. Meadows; 2nd, R. H.
Coltman ; 3rd, W. P. Meadows ; v.h.c, E. H.
Taylor.

Complete Frame-hive (price not to exceed
123. 6d.) — 1st, W. ;R. Garner, Bourne ; 2nd,
W. P. Meadows ; 3rd, W. P. Meadows ; v.h.c,
E. H. Taylor.— F. J. Cribb (Steward of Bee
Department), Retford, July 18.

$Mmpn&tML

The Editor i do not hold themtelves responsible for the
opinion! expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

[4436.] The " Guide Book."— The most
casual reader of your " Query " column will
note that there is often manifest need for a
good text-book. Three separate copies I have

had of the " Guide Book " have gone — " lost,
stolen, or strayed " by friends appropriating
them, perhaps, with my connivance and con-
sent. I have just received a new copy
of the latest edition. Mr. Cowan probably
would not like me to use his own paper to
eulogise his own production, so I quote some
words I wrote for the now defunct Scottish
Bee-keeper : — " Get a good text-book. I know
none better than Mr. Cowan's 'Guide Book.'
It is sound, practical, concise, methodical, and
thoroughly trustworthy. Every subject in-
cluded in bee-keeping is handled briefly but
to the point. The sound common sense of
experience illumines every page. You feel in
reading it that you can depend on every state-
ment as coming from a master in the art."

Though quite familiar with every word it
contains, I would not be without a copy
though it cost double, and the very best
advice I can possibly give to every budding
bee-man is — Get a " Guide Book " and read,
mark, and inwardly digest its contents, and
you will find yourself on the high road to
success. A novice starting bee-keeping with-
out a good text-book is like a man blindfold
groping his way and stumbling along with
halting and uncertain steps, when, if the light
were let in, he could walk securely. The
" Guide Book " is such a light to lighten the
dark places of bee-keeping and enable all to
walk along the apicultural path with firmness,
confidence, and comfort.

Good-tempered Bees. — It is, I think, indis-
putable that manipulation has a good deal to
do with the disposition and temper of bees.
Even when they are kept near roadsides I
know of cases where they never show temper.
My own are situated within twenty yards of
the main road, which they have to cross from
the heather, and just alongside of another
much frequented side road, over which they
fly from the clover fields. Add to this that
the playground lies close by, with only an
open fence between, and you have a fair test
case I should think. Yet in all my experience
no child nor any passer-by has ever been
injured. The nearest hive is only five yards
from the doorstep, and close up to a walk
where the children are continually romping
round the corner. The only time I think it
necessary to issue a caution is just about the
close of the heather harvest. For a few days
then they find that discretion is the better
part of valour. I had an object-lesson on the
17th, when no less than five colonies swarmed
between 10.30 and 11.30 a.m., and all joined
on a gooseberry bush within six yards of the
public road. I was able to coax them into
three lots, and separated them into the
swarmed hives in the evening, killing six
queens in the process. If they were vicious
bees the work would have been a dangerous
one. Since the operation I am inclined to
go in for Mr. Jensen's insurance fund.
Perhaps the shield, however, has a reverse
side, as, if such a fund were in existence, it

294

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 25, 1901.

might make careless manipulators more
careless.

Scent or Sound? — When hiving a swarm
lately, my platform not being at hand, I laid
some pieces of wood sloping up to the flight-
board, and threw a sack over these. The
added weight of the bees creased this im-
provised hiving-board, so that there were
some "hills and valleys'' to surmount before
many of the bees could reach the hive mouth.
Nassonoffs organ became prominent in various
corners of the cluster, and bees for a time
scampered hither and thither. Soon, how-
ever, a " sound " came from the hive entrance,
and the stampede in that direction became
general. As the roar increased the race kept
pace with it. Even those bees hitherto resting
in the distant " valleys," out of sight of the
entrance, heard the glad sound and toiled over
height and hollow making for their new home.
The scent was widely diffused ; the sound was
concentrated. So I concluded the latter was
the true rallying " cry.''

The Season. — Since my last comments the
weather has been "ideal ''from a bee-man's point
of view. My best hive has five racks on, four
all but finished, and one off, while my English
swarm, got on June 7, has four racks on, all
occupied by bees, and the two lower ones
sealed, with the exception of the outside rows.
My only accepted swarm is working actively
in two racks, the lower one all but ready to
take off, and the parent hive has two racks
well forward. These are but samples.
Heather was actually in bloom here on July
15th, and bees are working actively on it
now (20th). They seem as yet to share their
regards between it and the white clover, being
reluctant to discard the old love too hurriedly
for the new. If we can get anything like good
weather at the heather, the season will be a
grand one. Truant swarms are a nuisance
this year, and I have had my first ex-
perience in that line. Churches seem to be
favourite rendezvous for these.

Smoker Fuel. — Dipping brown paper in salt-
petre is an excellent means of keeping the
fuel alight, and I am thankful for the sugges-
tion. It, however, fouls the funnel very much
more with a soft, greasy substance not easily
removed. Old moleskin is an excellent fuel
to use, and it never goes out. I am trying
the carbolised cloths as an experiment. I see
our friend at Beedon still pins his faith to
them. I have hitherto used them only when
driving skeps.— D. M. M., Banff, N.B.

SOME OBSERVATIONS ON
TEMPERATURE.

[4437.] The hives of most bee-keepers are
exposed to the direct rays of the sun for at
least some portion of the day ; perhaps it
would not be too much to say that a large
majority of hives are so situated that they bask
in the full sunshine the whole day, therefore

the following observations, culled from a num-
ber which I have been taking during recent
spell of hot weather, may be of use to some
readers of the Journal. Paradoxical as it
may appear, my observations were undertaken
with the object of showing that bees may be
kept comparatively cool during excessively
hot weather by the simple plan of covering
them with plenty of blankets or cushions.
For this purpose I covered my bees first with
a cotton cover, then a thick close felt, and
upon this two cushions, each made of four
thicknesses of " wadding " in calico covers.

These cushions I use because wadding is a
very excellent non-conducting material, and
has the additional advantage over woollen
materials that the wax-moth does not attack
it. One thermometer was slipped under the
felt, immediately above the calico "quilt,"
while the other was placed upon the top of the
cushions. There were at the time two racks
of sections upon the hive, with a space of 6 in.
between the top of section-rack and the roof.
The hive is double walled, with a full 2-in.
air space between the outer and inner walls.
The outer walls and roof are of g-in.
wood, and the hive is painted white. On the
day in question (July 3) the sun was full on
this particular hive by 11 30, and was off it
again about 2.30.

Temp, above Temp, under
Hour of Day. Cushions. Cushions.

Deg. Deg.

9 a.m. (hive in shade) 71 82 '4
10a.m. „ • ... 75-2 824
12 noon (full sunshine) 95 82 4
12.45 p.m. „ ... 968 80 6
1.45 p.m. „ ... 96-5 78-8
9p.m 66 84-5

10 p.m. 60 86

The slight fall of temperature in the hive
during the middle of the day I attribute to
the absence of the "■ foragers,'' and the rise
again at night to their return and to the
active work going on in the sections. At
12.45, when the temperature above the
cushions was 968, I also noted the tempera-
ture in the sunshine upon the outside of the
roof. This was 98 deg. This shows how little
protection from a fierce sun is afforded by one
thickness of wood, as in a single -walled hive ;
and it will be obvious how useless it would be
to try to protect bees contained in such a
hive from excessive sun-heat by covering them
up with cushions. The question may be asked :
What i3 the particular range of temperature
in which bee3 work to the best advantage ?
I do not know, but, curiously enough, I found
three of my hives on the same day had a
temperature of 82 4. Two of them had two
racks of sections about equally advanced,
while the third had a rack of sections below
a box of shallow frames, which were nearly
complete. I have no doubt that the tem-
perature on the top of the topmo3t rack will
depend partly upon its state of completion. —
G. S. Newth, Wallington.

July 25, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

295

THE UBIQUITOUS BEE.

[4438.] After reading the article headed as
above in your issue of July 18 (4429, page 281),
I am tempted to give my experience in that
line. In my wanderings after big game I
have come across bees and honey iu little-
travelled parts of the world. It is only lately
that I have taken up bee-keeping, and the
interest I took in the busy bee was entirely
on account of the resulting honey, of which I
was very fond. I found bees very plentiful
in " far Cashmere '' the natives there going
in for a rather primitive form of bee-keeping.
Their hives were made from short lengths of
tree trunk split in halves and hollowed into
the shape of a cylindrical box with a small
pointed opening or nozzle at one end. This
nozzle is put through a crack or hole in the
log-wall hut of Cashmere dwellings, which
are very much in the style of a Swis3 moun-
tain chalet ; but how the honey is " taken " or
the bees are induced to start in these boxes I
have no idea. In some places food was very
scarce, and, nothing loth, I made the bulk of
my meals off honey pure and simple — eating
it in the comb, and often alone. The combs
were generally round, and were brought by
the natives for sale on plates, two or three
combs lying one on the other. Again I met
the honey bee while on a quest after lions in
East Africa. Here the bees were entirely
wild, and the honey was " taken " by cutting
down the hollow tree they were found in and
smoking the bees. I was led to one tree by
one of those curious little birds called by the
natives the "honey bird.'' My men called me
out of the tent one day to say that a honey
bird was on one of the trees near camp, and
the little brown bird, not so big as a sparrow,
certainly did lead us, flying on ahead short
distances from tree to tree until it arrived at a
small withered thorn, which the men cut down,
building a fire while I bravely retired to a dis-
tance, and eventually producing a small
quantity of very dark honey in the comb. I
notice that great elephant hunter, Mr. A. H.
Neumann, relates how, some way south of the
above country, near Lake Eudolf, he came
across native hives on the same plan as those
I had seen in Cashmere, perched up in the
branches of the trees, and from his account
honey appears to have been very plentiful.
In India the bee is very much feared indeed.
Many instances of fatal attacks by these
insects are known — in fact, it is not at all an
uncommon event. The reason for this seems
to be that this particular kind — building its
nests in the open, by the way — will follow
one for many hundred yards if their nest is
disturbed, and they seem generally to be
extremely pugnacious and pertinacious. I
never had the curiosity to go near enough to
one of their nests to examine it. They do not
allow, apparently, anything to move unchal-
lenged within a considerable radius of their
hives, and I well remember the commotion

that was raised when it was discovered that
there was a nest of these inhospitables within
the belt of forest we intended beating for
deer. — George Campbell, Woodside, Ains-
dale, July 21.

SOME ESSEX NOTES.

" FAULTY FRAMES."

[4439.] Under this heading, in B.B.J, of
July 4, is a letter signed " Ian Anderson "
(4417, page 266). I am an older hand in the
pursuit than your correspondent, yet I do not
say " Serve you right," but would point out to
beginners that they are indebted to Mr.
Anderson, as writer of the letter referred to,
for relating his unpleasant experience, so that
they may have the chance of benefiting by it.
The bee-keeper who has any liking for doing
things well will always be able to learn some-
thing, both from his own failures and the
failures of others. I mentioned this same
thing some twelve months ago in our Journal.
It is not the frames at all that are " faulty,'' I
would say ; frames ? improved " to be a help are
sometimes found to be a hindrance. It is not
only bee-keepers of short experience who use
the " self-fitting " frames without taking the
trouble to nail them together, but others who
should know better make the same mistake
to a considerable extent too. Persons of such
makeshift habits never make good bee-
keepers, and nobody else in the bee-world is
so likely to have vicious bees. I was recently
asked to examine a colony of bees for a person
who has kept a number of hives for some
years, and not a single frame could be lifted
out ; to be removed at all, it had to be done
piecemeal.

Sirarm Leaving Hive. — Your correspondent
M. D. Hill (2680, page 267) seems to have
had a sample of what is sometimes called
"buying one's experience," through doing
something trifling it may be in itself ; indeed,
it may be so small that the doing of it was
unnoticed by himself, but just one of those
trifles that experience enables us to avoid, or
do it a better way. Of course we have to
gain our knowledge, even if we buy it, but
when we put our knowledge into practice it
must be applied intelligently or else it will
not contribute much to the success or failure
of our bee-keeping. A few days ago I met a
beginner who by rough usage had lost the
bulk of the bees forming a swarm. By the
time the bees were settled in the new hive
there were only enough left to cover two
combs. I may add that he does not possess
that indispensable thing for b9ginners " a
reliable text-book."

Foul Brood Legislation. — This seems diffi-
cult to obtain, but if it is impossible at present
to secure the legal assistance we are so much
in need of by legislation, and while biding
our time, why not consider the next best thing
to do? The Council of the B.B.K.A. may
see their way to appoint a sub-committee to

296

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 25, 1901.

take evidence if considered necessary, and
make recommendations, so that if we cannot
have what we want we may at least have more
power than is at present available for dealing
with an enemy the nature of which only those
whose business frequently forces them into
contact with it can fully comprehend. It
seems to me there are several ways in which
the Council of the B.B.K.A. could make more
use of its present powers so far as regards its
affiliated associations, and individuals could
then be endowed with more authority. Per-
sonally, I find it more difficult to make people
understand the serious nature of foul brood
than it is to deal with the disease itself.
Even men who allow themselves to be elected
to prominent positions in connection with the
bee-industry seem incapable of dealing
effectually with foul brood and ridding them-
selves of it. I think every bee-keeping asso-
ciation should be induced to connect itself
with the B.B.K.A. or parent body, the con-
ditions being that the associations shall exist
for the general good and advancement of
apiculture. At present it is quite possible for
bee-keeping to be hindered rather than
advanced by the existence of a so-called
association of bee-keepers. I think we are
fortunate in Essex in having an association
which has continued to do the same good
work that was begun over twenty years ago,
and still recognises that there is the same
work to be continued. Doubtless there are
many small associations which would find it
difficult to pay the affiliation fee ; but to
meet this I think a new rule could be
be introduced admitting such small associa-
tions as associated societies.

Next to the inability of bee-keepers to
grasp the serious nature of foul-brood I find
that keeping more colonies than can be
thoroughly well managed is the greatest agent
in spreading the disease. Of all the apiaries
that I can remember where foul-brood has
been a trouble to deal with, the reason has
been (and most of the owners have freely
admitted the fact) that they had more stocks
than, with their capacity and the time at dis-
posal, they could manage well. Thoroughness
is essential to success in bee-keeping, because
the results depend upon a few short weeks of
honey gathering. If we keep more stocks
than we can work at full pressure, even if
disease has not to be dealt with, the results
from individual hives will be far smaller than
if more thorough management was possible.
— W. Loveday, Hatfield Heath, Harlow,
Essex, July 15.

THE SEASON IN THE MIDLANDS.

[4440. J The bees are doing exceedingly
well here. It is many years since I was
so busy supering and extracting, and I
hav9 only just succeeded (single-handed)
in providing proper super-room, as each day
the bees " roared " for more. I am a " city

bee" myself, and have found that a small
apiary of thirteen hives a good limit for early
morning and evening work, but these are my
happiest hours. The white clover first ap-
peared on June 15, and was well, but briefly,
worked on. Immediately mowing was done
the drought forced a prolific blooming of
" aftermath " flowers ; then came the limes,
which here were in fall bloom the first week in
July (very early), and although the trees were
never more loaded the dry atmosphere gave the
blooms a short life. The willow-herb or rose-
h&y(Epilobium)$eems to have stood the drought
best, and bees have worked largely on this,
which is very common about here. Brambles
flowered well, but are now mostly setting
berries. Some neglected market gardens near
present blue sheets of cornflower, among which
the bees forage in large numbers. Fortunately,
all my queens are yearlings, and having so far
prevented any swarming, I expect a record
"take." Four yeara this autumn my little
apiary was demolished by foul brood, but it is
now entirely free from disease, thanks to Mr.
Berry's plan and the adoption of " W.B.C."
hives, which are the only ones that can be
properly overhauled when suspected. With
this pattern hive I will defy " F.B." — Suburbia,
Perry Bar, near Birmingham, July 20.

KINCARDINESHIRE BEE-NOTES.

[4441.] We have in this county had most
favourable weather for the bees, and there is
every indication that there will be a rich
harvest of clover honey — the best for many
years. Swarming has in many instances been
too prevalent. On the 8th inst. I had three
swarms come off within ten minutes of each
other, with the result that they all got mixed,
and finally settled on one bush. I got three
straw skeps and filled each of them, and as I
wished to put back the swarms I proceeded to
search for the queens. After long and patient
" stirring " I succeeded in securing all three.
I concluded that the respective swarms would
then return to their mother hives, but not so.
One of them went back and joined part of
another swarm which had been left on the
bush where they originally clustered. I had
again to divide, and as it was getting late I
found they were too restless to settle for the
night. I therefore resolved to place a skep
with its contents on each of the hives that
swarmed. This done, I shut all apertures
and forced the bees to go through the brood-
nest before getting out. I left the skep3
thus for two days, and then shook out any
bees in them, and since I have had peace with
the three stocks in question. Did I do right
in so placing the skeps ? If I had left them
till morning, would the bees have returned to
their respective parent hives ? [Yes. — Eds.] I
had several other swarms, and instead of killing
the queens I gave them a small quantity of
bees with some three-comb bar-frames, and this

July 25, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

297

makes a nucleus in a small hive. I hope this
plan ■will prove successful ?

Many complaints are being made in a cer-
tain district of this county where a person has
allowed the bees in his frame-hives to almost
die out, but still keeps the entrances of the
empty hives open, with the result that a
number of his neighbours' swarms have landed
in his hives. No satisfaction can be got from
the person in question, but bee-keepers are
annoyed at this contemptible conduct. Is
there any statute law which would reach this
individual, or is the only redress an action in
the civil court? — " G.," Stonehaven, N.B.

"RECORD" WEIGHT OF SHALLOW-
FRAMES.

[4442.] Referring to the mention in Bee
Journal of record weight for a box of
shallow-frames (4426, page 276) of issue for
July 11, I think there is nothing remarkable
with regard to our friend Mr. Goodrich's seven-
teen shallow-frames containing 68 lb. of
extracted honey. I last week took off two
supers containing sixteen shallow-frames, and
the net weight of extracted honey from the
same was 74 lb. I think this is rather better
than my friend Mr. Goodrich's return. — A.
Thorpe, Wistaston, Crewe, July 16.

TEACHING BEE-KEEPING IN
SCHOOLS.
[4443.] May I add to your answer to " A.
Bucknell (Birmingham) " on page 269 of B.J.
for July 4 that Messrs. E. J. Arnold & Son,
Limited, Leeds, publish a case of natural
history specimens entitled " No. 2, Bee Life."
This case is specially prepared for teaching
bee-keeping in schools. We have been using
one continuously during the past nine weeks
during our van tour with great success. — D. W.
Bishop- Ackerman, Hon. Sec, Berks B.K.A.,
Beading, July 16.

THE HONEY SEASON.

A " RECORD '' ONE-POUND SECTION.

[4444.] I have just taken off an ordinary
two bee-way section which weighs 1 lb. 4 oz.
Is not this almost a record 1 The season with
me will be a very good one as I shall take
over 200 lbs. all in sections from four hives,
nearly all of which is already sold at Is. per
section. — Fred. Gifford, Brentford, July 18.

SWARM IN A SIGNAL LAMP-POST.

[4445.] It may be interesting to some of
the readers of the British Bee Journal to
hear that still another " strange place " for a
swarm of bees to take possession of has turned
up. The distant signal to Linley station is
nearly 40 ft. high from the metals, but in the
lamp of this post a swarm weighing, nearly

6 lb. had made their home, and remained
there several days before being found out.
Luckily, the lamp was on a sliding-rod, which
could be wound up and down ; for on bring-
ing the lamp down the rod it was quite an
easy job to drive the bees into a skep, which
a friend of mine and myself did. I am glad
to say the " lamp alighters '' are doing well
on ten frames of foundation, and working at
the limes " like mad ! " — Thos. Henton,
Norton by Shifnal, Salop, July 12.

dfto^s M& J^It^S.

[2693.] Compensation for Loss of Swarms
in Transit. — Having found you so courteous
in replying to queries I have previously asked,
I am encouraged to apply to you in my present
trouble. My case is briefly as follows : —
Replying to an advertisement in the B.B.J, of
swarms at 12s. 6d. each, I sent an order, with
cash. It was more than three weeks before I
heard anything, when I got a telegram on
Monday, July 15, saying " Fine swarm sent
Sunday." The Bwarm came the same after-
noon, but on examination the bees were found
to be all dead, having been drowned ! in fact,
the box was sodden with water. I imme-
diately went to the Express Company, who
were carriers, and they said that " bees are
sent at owner's risk," but they are going to
write to the consignor to ascertain the facts of
the case. What would you advise me to do ?
Can I make the railway company pay, as it
must have been through some gross careless-
ness on their part ? Or is the advertiser
responsible for having sent them Sunday ? —
A. R. Lockwood, St. George, Bristol.

Reply. — We do not see how you can make
a railway company responsible for bees dying
in transit. Are you sure the bees were
" drowned " ? We ask this because when bees
are insufficiently ventilated, and are in conse-
quence smothering for want of air, they dis-
gorge the contents of their honey-sacs when
falling in a heap to die. This gives them
just the appearance of being soaked in water,
and the point would need settling in fixing
responsibility.

[2694.] Dealing with Brood-combs Filled
with Honey. — I shall feel obliged for your
advice as to what I ought to do under the fol-
lowing circumstances : — 1. I find that my
bees have almost entirely filled several of the
outside combs of the brood-chamber with
honey — indeed, there seems to be very little
space left for the queen to lay. I ought, I
think, to extract these filled combs and return
them, but will the bees not fill them again if
placed outside the brood-nest ? Ought I not
to place them in the centre or so of it ? You
might kindly advise me fully what to do.
The bees are working well in supers, but they

298

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 25, 1901.

are not entirely sealed over. 2. Will the
honey extracted from these combs mentioned
keep ? I have no extractor, but am sending
for one for the purpose of setting matters
right, as I mean to send my bees to the
heather, and fear the population will dwindle
if no more brood-space is given. My swarm-
ing was all over by the middle of June— fully
three weeks before others here. Bees strong,
and one hive that threw two swarmg is storing
well in shallow-frames. I began bee-keeping
last season, but got no honey. Tasted my own
honey last week for the first tiine.— M. M. M'C,
Brae Head, Bonne.

Keply. — 1. In any case we should extract
the contents of outside combs at once. It is
quite a common practice with good bee-men
to put the outer combs of brood-nests through
the extractor if the bees fill them with honey
to the exclusion of brood. 2. Yes, if it is
fairly ripe.

[2695. J Marketing Dark Honey. — A con-
siderable amount of honey has been taken
in this district of a very dark colour,
sealed white. I am afraid it has, to a large
extent, been gathered from the oak trees. My
own sections are full of it. I should be ex-
ceedingly obliged if you would tell me if
there is any legitimate means of disposing of
it, and, if so, what price ought to be asked ?
I can, of course, forward a sample to you if
you deem it necessary. I have just taken
twenty-eight sections, the total weight of
which is 28 lb. 13 oz. It will be most dis-
appointing if such fine sections have to be
wasted. — H. H. K, Ambleside.

Reply. — We could give no opinion on the
honey without seeing a sample.

[2696.] Swarm Catchers : Are they
Efficient ? — My apiary is situated some dis-
tance from my residence, and, like some of
your correspondents, my bees have had the
" swarming fever," and I fear that I have lost
some valuable swarms this year ; therefore I
should very much like to have the opinion of
some experienced bee keeper as to the utility
of " swarm-catchers.'' — J. R., Anglesey,
July 17.

Reply. — We think it is the opinion of most
experienced bee-keepers that no really effec-
tive and reliable " swarm-catcher '' has yet
been devised.

(Bihats from the gises.

Icklesham, Bye, Sussex. — We are somewhat
behind here this season, through the late
spring. By the end of May last year bees
were working in two tiers of sections, and this
year they are three weeks later. Just now,
however, they are in splendid condition. I
never saw the white clover in better bloom
while it remained in flower, but every day

the foraging ground gets less with the mowing-
machines at work. We have very few limes
and not much heather, but the harvest will be
quite up to last year's crop from white clover.
I had a rather ticklish job on June 27, getting
a vagrant swarm from a hollow tree-stump.
They had been there about two weeks, so,
being a woodman, I took my axe and saw
with me. I first tried driving, but there being
no hole in the top of their rustic hive, I soon
had the stump cut down. The bees had built
six very nice slabs of comb, and there was
brood in all stages. The queen I found, and
placed in skep, and the rest soon followed. I
am not quite sure what race they are : the
queen had five very distinct yellow bands. —
Henry Clarke.

§cc $fam to &8mt.

July 25, 26 and 27, at St. Helens.— Royal

Lancashire Agricultural Society's Show. Bee-keepers'
Section. For Honey, Hives, and Appliances.

July 29, at Caergwele Castle Flower Show.
—Bee Lectures, Honey Classes. Schedules from H. D.
Davies, Abermorddu, Wrexham.

July 31, at Henbury, Bristol.— Honey show of the
Henbury District B.K.A. in conjunction with the Hen-
bury Horticultural Society's show.

August 2, at Exeter.- Annual Show of the
Devon B.K.A., in conjunction with the Devon and
Exeter Horticultural Society. Twelve classes for Bees
Honey, &c. Schedules from E. E. Scholefleld, Hon.
Secretary, Devon B.K.A. , Heathfleld, Chudleigh, South
Devon. Entries close July 27.

August 5 (Bank Holiday) at Lichfield —
Honey Show in connection with that of Lichfield Floral
and Horticultural Society. Open Classes for Light and
Dark Honey and Wax. Two classes for members of
the Staffs. B.K.A. and two open classes for Cottagers.
Medals and good money prizes. Schedules from F. J.
Hall, City Station Wharf, Lichfield.

August 5, at Butterfield Park, Hessle,
Hull.— Honey Show in connection with the Hessle and
District Floral and Agricultural Society. Schedules
from Hon. Sec, Mr. E. C. S. Stow, Hessle, Hull.
Entries close August 1.

August 5, at Melton Constable.— North Norfolk
B.K.A. Annual Honey Show. Three open classes ;
one for single 1-lb. jar extracted honey. Schedules
from C. J. Cooke, Edgefield, Melton Constable.
Entries close July 27.

August 6, at Leamington.— Honey section of
Leamington St. Mary's flower show. Three open
classes for six 1-lb. sections, six 1-lb. jars " light,"
and six 1-lb. jars " dark" extracted honey, respectively.
Good prizes. Schedules from the Secretary, 2, St.
Mary's-road, Leamington. Entries close August 3-

August 7, at Weston Park, 'Wilts.— Honey
Show in connection with the Atworth and District
Horticultural Society's Show. Seventeen classes for
honey and bees (including classes for single 1-lb. section
and single 1-lb. jar, with no entry fee. Schedules
from J. P. Inkpen, Neston, Corsham, Wilts.

At Llanberis.— Honey Show in conjunction with
Llanberis Horticultural Show. Open class for single
14b. jar Extracted Honey. Free entry. Prize complete
frame-hive. Schedules from R. Jones, Llanberis.
Entries closed.

August 7, at Marlow. Show of Honey, Hives,
and Bee Appliances in connection with the Marlow
Horticultural Society. Valuable Prizes. Schedules
from the Hon. Sec, A. D. Cripps, Marlow, Bucks.
Entries close August 3.

August 7, at Macclesfield.— Adlington and
District Agricultural Society's Show. Four open classes
for hives, six sections, six 1-lb. jars, and wax. Schedules
from W. J. Trotter, 4, Church-street West, Maccles-
field. Entries close July 22, or at double fees
July 27.

July 25, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

299

August 8, at Kingsthorpe, Northampton.—
Honey Show of the Northants B.K.A., in connection
with the Horticultural Exhibition. Twelve classes for
bee-keepers, including special class (six prizes) open to
all (with free entry) for single lib. jar extracted honey.
Six prizes, 20s., 10s. 6d., 7s. 6d., 2s. 6d., 2s., and certifi-
cate. Schedules from Kobt. Hefford, Hon. Sec, Kings-
thorpe, Northants. Entries close August 1.

August 8, at Madrestleld Park.— Annual
Show of the Worcestershire B.K.A., in connection with
the Madresfleld Agricultural Exhibition. Open Classes
for Bees, Hives, and Extracted Honey. Schedules
from Mr. J. P. Phillips, Spetchley, Worcester, Acting
Secretary W. B.K.A. Entries close August 1.

August 8, at Foys Chetnole.— Yetminster and
District, B.K.A. Annual Show of Bees, Honey, and
Beeswax. Thirteen classes (including three open
classes). Ectry free for single 1-lb. section, 1-lb. jar
extracted honey. Schedules from G. Leeding, Bradford
Abbas, Sherborne, Dorset. Entries close August 3.
August 15, at Groole.— Bee and Honey Show in
connection with the Goole and District Agricultural
Society. Six 8pen classes, including one for single 1-lb.
jar (entry free). Schedules from J. Luddington and
H. S. White, Sees.. Lindum House, Goole. Entries
close August 10.

August 15, at Abergwili, Oarmarth.ensh.ire.
— Abergwili Horticultural and Agricultural Society's
Show. Open class for single 1-lb. jar extracted honey
(entry free). Prizes, 10s., 7s. 6d., 5s., and 2s. Particu-
lars from Thos. Rice, Secretary, Abergwili.

August 15, 16, and 17. at Crystal Palace.—
Surrey B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees, Honey, Wax,
and Appliances, &c. Twenty-four classes (eleven open
to all). Increased prizes and medals. Schedules from
F. B. White, Hon. Secretary, Marden House, Redhill.
Entries close August 1.

August 17, at Ammanford (S. Wales).—
Honey show in connection with the Ammanford Flower
Show. Liberal prizes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar extracted honey, also classes for three sections
and three 1-lb. jars, light and dark honey.— Particulars
from Mr. Ivor Morris, Hon. Sec, Ammanford, R.S.O.,
Carmarthen.

August 21 and 22, at Shrewsbury.— Annual
Show of the Shropshire B.K.A., in connection with the
Shropshire Horticultural Society's Great Floral Fete in
" The Quarry." Bees, Honey, Hives, and Appliances.
8Ix Open Classes for Honey. Schedules from S. Cart-
wright, Hon. Secretary, Shropshire B.K.A., Shaw-
bury, Shrewsbury. Entries close August 9.

August 21 and 22, at Newcastle-under-
Lyme. — Annual Bee and Honey Show of the Staffs.
B.K.A. in connection with the Staffordshire Agricul-
tural Society's Show. Fifteen classes, including open
classes for Honey and Appliances. Schedules from
Ellis E. ,Crisp, Secretary S. B.K.A., 8, Jesson-street,
Coventry. Entries close July 27.

August 27 and 28, at Solihull.— Warwickshire
B.K.A. Show of Honey, &c, in conjunction with that
of the Warwickshire Agricultural Society. Schedules
from Jas. Noble Bower, lion, sec, Warwicks. B.K.A.,
Knowle.

August 28, at Chester.— Annual Show of the
Cheshire B.K.A., in connection with the Cheshire Agri-
cultural Society. Ten classes (four open) forhives, honey
(light, medium, and dark), sections, &c Schedules
from T. A. Beckett, St. Werburgh's Chambers, Chester.
Entries close Aug. 7. (At double fees to Aug. 14.)
Thursday, August 29, at Montgomery.—
Montgomery and District Horticultural Society's Show.
Two open Classes for Honey— six 1 lb. sections, six 1 lb.
jars and extracted, with prizes of 10s., 5s., and 2s. 6d.
in cash. Schedules from Mr. W. fl. Jones, Hon. Sec,
Montgomery. Entries close August 22.

August 31. at Dumfries.— South of Scotland
B.K.A. Annual Show. Open Classes for " Sixes,"
with Prizes of 20s., 15s., 10s., 5s. ; also for Single Jar
and Section, with Free Entry ; also Wax and
Appliances. Schedules from James Kerr, Hon. Secre-
tary, Milldamhead, Dumfries. Entries close
August 22.

September 7 to 14, at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (9th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Eleven classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees-
wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers. Entries
close August 26. (See large advt.)

September 11 and 12, at Derby.— Derbyshire
B.K.A. twentieth Annual Show of Hives, Bees, and

Honey on the show ground of the Derbyshire Agricul-
tural Society. Schedules from F. Walker, Secretary
D.B.K.A., 64, Gerard-street, Derby. Entries cloae
August 30.

September 15 and 16, at Sivry, Hainaut
(Belgium).— Annual show of the Federation Apicole
du Hainaut. Open classes for honey, hives and ap-
pliances, mead, vinegar, wax, teaching, and work.
Jars, bottles, &c Schedules from M. Zenobe Defrenne,
a Sivry.

September 21 to 28, at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with the
fifth Annual Exhibition of the Grocery and Kindred
Trades. Eleven classes for comb and extracted honey
and bees-wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers.
Entries close August 31. (See page v.)

October 8 to 11, at the Agricultural Hall,
London. — Show of Honey and Bee-produce in con-
nection with the British Dairy Farmers' Association.
Numerous and liberal prizes for honey, &c— Schedules
from Mr. Wm. C. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-square,
London, W. Entries close September 9.

October 10, 11, and 12, at Crystal Palace.—
Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, and Appliances. Increased prizes and medals.
Schedules from Hon. Secretary, Henry W. Brice, 100,
Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath. Entries close
September 30.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All querieifortcarded will be attended to, and thoie only

of pergonal interest Kill be answered in this column.

A Novice (Lindley). — Honey Sample. — The
honey sent is of good quality though a little
thin, owing, no doubt, to the warm weather.
It is good in colour, aroma, and flavour, and
is mainly from white clover.

"H." (Glos.) — Honey Sample. — Yours is an
excellent sample of honey, good on all
points. It will do very well for the show-
bench.

G. H. Mitchell (Llandaff). — Keeping Ants
out of Hives. — An effectual remedy for this
trouble is sold by Jas. Lee & Son, 10,
Silver-street, High Holbom, London, W.C.
It consists of an iron " shoe " (for fixing on
hive legs) with a cup, into which latter a
little oil is poured.

John Armstrong (Coarwood). — Foreign
Races of Bees. — Referring to the book you,
name, can you give us the date of publica-
tion ? We fear it is an out-of-date work
and certainly the bees named are not now
imported into this country.

Suspected Combs.

Special Notice to correspondents sending queries on
"Foul brood."

We urgently request that all letters sent ivith samples
of suspected comb be put outside the box or tin containing
the sample. Also that no more than a couple of square
inches of comb be sent, taking care to neither crush the
comb nor probe the cells before despatching.

In urgent cases (and where possible) we undertake to
" wire " replies as to F. B. if six stamps are sent to cover
cost of telegram. All letters to be addressed " Editor,
Bee Journal," not " Manager."

The Rector (Berkhamstead). — There is foul
brood in comb sent.

C. (Cornwall). — Why your friend "cannot
understand the bees' desertion of the hive
because of the quantity of new comb and
honey in it " is a puzzler to us. The piece
of comb sent is not only very old and
black, but it is absolutely rotten with foul
brood.

300

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 25, 1901.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve wordi and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

FINE CLOVERSECTIONS FOR SALE. Also Extracted.
F. Garnett, Well, Bedale, Yorks. O 39

HEALTHY SWARMS during August, 6s. ; packing-
free. Alfred Gould, Henley-in-A.rden, Bir-
mingham. o 96

ONEY LABELS, new design. Send stamp for
sample. Guest, Kings Norton, Birmingham.

H

EPILOBIUM AUGUSTIFOLIUM, hardy perennial,
plant in October, 12s. dozen. BADCOCK, Florist,
Bexhill. H 1

HONEY JARS— 1-lb. screw-cap, 17s. ; tie-over, 12s. 6d.
per gross, on rail. Jas. Dyson, Stainforth,
Don caster. G 98

SELLING-OFF my BEES with Appliances, Bee-house,
Extractor, Ripeners, Drawn-out Combs, &c.
Paynter, Pen Nevis, Par Station, Cornwall. G 92

OVERSTOCKED.— SUPER FOUNDATION, 2s. 3d. ;
WEED BROOD FOUNDATION, 2s. lb. W. LONG,
North-road, Mere, Wilts. G 94

HONEY. — New EXTRACTED, 50s. per cwt.
Caniage forward. Sample, 3d. OWEN Browning,
The Apiary, King's Somborne, Hants. G 90

S'PLENDID ENGLISH HONEY, 6id. and 6d. per lb.
Cash or deposit. Sample, 2d. ALBERT COE, Apiary
Hall, Ridgewell, near Halstead, EssexJ G 88

T~"HREE STOCKS of"BEES~FOR~SALE, in excellent
frame-hives, 20s. each. Also several good HIVES,

6s. 6d. each; Avery, Ripley, Surrey. G 87

UREHONEY FOR SALE in 14 and 30-lb. tins,6*d. lb.,
tins free. Cash or deposit. J. Nightingale", Dod-
dington, Cambs. G 86

W~~ TnTED early in August, 10 or 12 LOTS of DRIVEN
BEES. Quote prices for placing onirail or deliver-
ing at Goathland Station, Whitby, to Rev. R. N. Lamb,

Burton Pidsea Rectory, Hull. a 93

ANTED, a CUSTOMER to take my new Honey
Sections and Extracted. Cash or deposit.
J. Trebble, The Apiaries, Romansleigh, South Molton.
G 95

FEW good heavy HEALTHY STOCKS BEES in Skeps
with 1901 Home-bred Cyprian, Italian, and Carnio-
lan fertile Queens, 10s. each. Spearman, Colesbourne,
Cheltenham.

HOWARD'S NUCLEUlT^IVlTlind QUEEN
NURSERY, perfect condition, 10s. Dozen special
tall Show Jars, 3s. 3d. Glqssqp, Ambergate, Derby.
EES FOR SALE.— Six very strong STOCKS, with
young queens, excluder, and one super, 25s. each ;
five large Skeps, strong in bees, with young queens,
12s. 6d. each ; 3-comb Nuclei, with young queen, in re-
turnable hive, 12s. 6d. Wm. Loveday, Hatfield Heath,
Harlow, Essex.

ROLIFIC QUEENS. — Pure Imported Carniolans,
7s. ; Italians, 6s. ; home-bred from imported
mothers, 4s. 6d. ; others, 3s. 6d. ; swarms from
10s. 6d. Stocks and Nuclei headed by any variety queen
at fair prices. Customer writes :— " The Italian nucleus
I had from you got on quickly. . . . supered June 16th."
— Particulars E. Wqodham, Clavering, Newport, Essex.
HREE-FRAME NUCLEI, with fertile Queens from"
imported Cyprian, 8s. 6d. Woosnam, Newton-
Abbot. G 80

STRONG, healthy driven BEES, with Queen, end~of
July, 5s. per lot. Boxes returned. Moreton,
, Expert, Leigh, Worcester. G 81 ■

q /- TH YEAR.— Small SWARMS with Reliable Queens,
£\J 5s. 6d. Package free. Queens, in introducing
cage, 3s. 9d., delivered. Alsford, Expert, Blandford.

DAFFODILS'— Can "spare few Bulbs from " Lords^
wood's " collection. Send for list. SANDS, Rednal,
Barnt Green. G 70

PURE EXTRACTED light coloured HONEY FOR
SALE. Three stamps for sample. DAVID Hancox,
Deddington, Oxon. G 72
ANTED, new SECTIONS, first quality, clear, pale
and up to weight. Any quantity prompt cash.
W. Chilton, The Apiaries, Polegate, Sussex.

WANTED, EXPERT for Summer Tour in Hampshire.
Apply, quoting terms, to E. H. BELLAIRS, Hants
B.K.A., Christchurch.

Prepaid Advertisements (Continued).

ONCE TRIED ALWAYS USED. Our Solar Wax
Extractor should be in every Apiary. A perfect
success. No. 1, 12s. 6d. Manager, Hardham Apiary,
Pulborough. Q 78

QUEENS, STOCKS, NUCLEI, and SWARMS. 14th
season of queen-rearing as a speciality. Fertile
queens, 5s. each, post free. Rev. C. Brereton,

Pulborough, Sussex.

OMFORTABLE APARTMENTS for brother bee-'

keepers visiting Douglas. Terms : tea, bed, and

breakfast, 3s. 6d. ; or full board, 5s. per day. HoRSLET,

Merridale House, Top of Castle Drive, Douglas, Isle of

Man. 932

SPRING Dwindling and Light Supers are unknown
where White Star Italians are used. Store in all
weathers if flowers are about, and a month later than
Natives and other varieties. Always ready for fruit
blown in spring. Leave all others behind at the heather.
S. Simmins, Heathfleld, Sussex.

DON'T BE STUNG. Wear Reynolds' ;' Burkitt Bee
Gloves." A great success. Unsolicited testi-
monials. Light in substance, useful, durable. 2s. 2d.
per pair, or with self-adjusting gauntlets attached,
2s. lOd. per pair, post paid. Special terms to the trade.
Sole Maker, Edward Reynolds, Andover, Hants.

LACE PAPER for SECTION GLAZING. White,
Pink, and Green, 1 in. wide, 100, 7d., 200, Is. 2d.,
300, Is. 6d., 500, 2s./3d., 1,000,4s. Also something new
in LACE BANDS, 2J, 3, and 3J in. wide, lace both edges.
White, 100, Is. 3d., 200, 2s. 3d., 300, 3s., 500, 4s. 0d.; Pink
and Pale Green, 100, Is. 6d., 200, 2s. 9d., 300, 4s., 500,
5s. 6d. ; all post free. Sample of each kind three stamps.
W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury.

HEALTHY June & July SWARMS,

3 lb. to 6 lb. at 2s. 6d. per lb.

10 lb. Swarms, 22s.

(100 READY.)

SENT ON APPROVAL.

Safe arrival guaranteed.
Stocks, Nuclei, Imported Foreign
Queens (Fertile and Virgin),
English Queens, &c., supplied at

reasonable prices.

Catalogue of Bee and Poultry

Keeping Appliances post free.

SPEARMAN, Colesbourne, Cheltenham.

The Largest and Cheapest Depdt in the South of
England.

WHY NOT BUY YOUR SKEPS
DIRECT FROM THE MAKER?

You may buy first-class skep3 bound with stout new
cane, at Is. 3d., Is. 6d., Is. 9d., and 2s. each.

Cash with order ; 5% discount. Wholesale prices on
application. S. J. Cox, Bee-skep Maker, 12, Arwenack-
street, Falmouth, Cornwall.

NOTE OUR SPECIAL LiNES I

" W.B.C." Hives, from 17/- to 25/- each.

" W.B.C." Non-S winning Hives, 24/- each.

Improved Cottager's Hive, with Zinc Roof, 12/6 each.

" Interchangeable" Hives, IS/6 and 14/6 each.

These Hives can be worked with Frames Parallel or at

Right Angles to the entrance, as desired.
Best Snow-white Sections, 2/- per 100 ; Split Top, 6d.

extra.
Best Quality Standard or Shallow Frames, 1/2 per doz.
"W.B.C." Ends, |", 30, post free, 1/-; 3/6 per gross,

post free.
Zinc Queen-Excluders, 17" by 15", 6d. each ; post free, 9d.
Celluloid ,, „ ,, 1/4 each, post free.

Best 1-lb. Nickel Screw-cap Bottles and Cork Wads, 20/-

gross.
Improved "Derby" Extractor, 13/6 each; or with

Gearing, 20/- each.
The 20th Century Extractor, 22/- each

ti ,i i, with genuine Bicycle Chain

Gearing, 32/- each.

R. H. C0LTMAN, Bee Appliance Maker,

49, Station-street, DURTON-ON-TRENT.

Aug. 1, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

301

EOYAL LANCASHIRE AGRICUL-
TURAL SOCIETY.

SHOW AT ST. HELENS.

The most successful show of honey, &c,
ever held under the auspices of the R.L.A.S.
took place at St. Helens on July 25, 26, and 27.
So numerous were the entries that the space
provided in the honey-tent had to be doubled
a few days prior to the show. There were
137 entries for hives, appliances, honey, and
interesting exhibits. The quality of the
season's produce was excellent, especially so
in the two classes for extracted honey, where
the competition was most keen ; remarkably
so in the " open class," as the liberal dis-
tribution of commend cards attests. Indeed,
it may be truly said that, with one or two
exceptions, every exhibit staged was worthy
of notice. The honey trophies were all neatly
displayed, and tastefully decorated with
flowers and ferns.

Mr. Frederick H. Taylor, officiated as judge
and made the following awards : —

Twelve l-lb. Sections (22 entries). — 1st, Rev.
J. R. Bradshaw, Hessay, York ; 2nd, W.
Woodley, Beedon, Newbury ; 3rd,W. Patchett,
Caistor, Lines. ; v.h.c, R. Dutton, Terling ;
H. F. Beale, Andover ; J. Sopp, Wallingford ;
and J. Pearman, Derby ; c, W. Hambly, St.
Germans ; R. Allen, Bicester ; Rev. E. R.
Iremonger, Clatford.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (47
entries). — 1st, R. Brown, Somersham ; 2nd,
T. H. Plowright, Brackley ; 3rd, W. Hatliff,
Caistor; v.h.c, Miss M. Francis, Andover;
Rev. E. R. Iremonger; W. Petty, Stockbridge ;
L. Quayle, Glen May, Isle of Man ; John
Barrett, Formby; h.c, C. Dunn-Gardner,
Fordham Abbey ; J. Cragg. Great Eccleston ;
W. Woodley and Rev. H. F. Goffe, Caistor ; c,
R. Dutton ; H. Fenney, Lea Green, Lanes. ;
R. Fell, Tarleton ; John Helme, Weobley ; W.
Loveday, Harlow ; P. Blundell, Weedon.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey, gathered
in the County Palatine (24 entries). — 1st (and
Lanes. B.K.A. silver medal), R. Rymer, Hes-
keth Bank ; 2nd, W. Forrester, Huyton ; 3rd,
Clarke Bros., Garstang ; v.h.c, W. A. Cook,
Hesketh Bank, John Barrett ; h.c, T. Shuttle-
worth, Farnworth ; J. Cragg, Great Eccleston ;
and J. Stirzaker, Poulton.

Twelve Ub. Sections, collected in the County
Palatine (13 entries). — 1st (and Lanes.
B.K.A. bronze medal), Geo. Rose, Liverpool ;
2nd, J. Paley, Freckleton ; 3rd, T. Ormisher,
Ormskirk ; v.h.c, W. Forrester ; h.c, J.
Jones, Carnforth.

Trophy of Honey (5 entries). — 1st (and
B. B.K.A. silver medal), Wm. Forrester ; 2nd
(and B.B.K.A. bronze medal), R. Brown,
Somersham ; v.h.c, Wm. Dixon, Leeds.

Collection of Hives and Appliances (3
entries).— 1st (and R.L.A.S. silver medal),

George Rose, Liverpool ; 2nd (and R.L.A.S.
bronze medal), E. H. Taylor, Welwyn ; 3rd,
George Rose.

Suitable Outfit for a Beginner, price not to
exceed £1 10s. (7 entries).— 1st, George Rose ;
2nd and 3rd, E. H. Taylor ; v.h.c, Geo. Rose.

Complete Frame-hive (7 entries). — 1st,
Mottram & Turner, Manchester ; 2nd, George
Rose ; 3rd, E. H. Taylor ; h.c, George Rose
and E. H. Taylor.

Honey Extractor (6 entries). — 1st, E. H.
Taylor ; 2nd and 3rd, George Rose.

Interesting Exhibit in Bee-culture (3 entries) .
— 1st (and silver medal), Wm. Dixon ; 2nd
(and bronze medal), E. H. Taylor.

Lectures and demonstrations were given in
the bee-tent under the auspices of the County
Council by Mr. Frederick H. Taylor (1st
Class Expert B.B.K.A.), Fallowfield, Man-
chester, and drew large audiences.

The weather during the first two days was
extremely disappointing, heavy rain militating
against the attendance, and some damage was
done to exhibits in the honey-tent.

HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT B.K.A.

(SWANMORE BRANCH.)

The annual exhibition of the above Associa-
tion was held at Swanmore Park on July 24
in connection with the Bishop's Waltham
Horticultural Society's Annual Show, and
proved to be one of the best of the long series
which have been held under the auspices of
the Swanmore branch of the County B.K.A.
The quality of the honey was excellent
throughout, and the Rev. W. E. Medlicott,
though a veteran in judging, had no little
difficulty in coming to a decision. A total of
1,070 lb. of honey was staged, being some-
thing like 200 lb. over that of last year.

First prizes for principal exhibits : —

MEMBERS ONLY.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — Mis3 Martin.

Six l-lb. Sections. — F. Sparkman.

Three l-lb. Sections. — E. Ainsley.

Single l-lb. Section. — E. Ainsley.

Display of Honey.— W. G. Hedges.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey {light).
— E. Ainsley and W. G. Hedges (equal).

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (dark).
— E. Ainsley.

Six l-lb. Sections and Six l-lb. Jars. — G.
Hedges.

Three l-lb. Sections and Three l-lb. Jars. —
G. Hedges.

Single l-lb. Section and Single l-lb. Jar. —
Miss Martin.

OPEN TO MEMBERS OP H. AND I. OP W. B.K.A.

Twelve l-lb. Sections and Twelve l-lb. Jars
Extracted Honey.— 1st, E. Ainsley ; 2nd, F.
Sandall ; 3rd, E. Hedges. — Communicated.

[We do not quite understand there being
one prize only awarded in the first ten
classes named above. — Eds.]

302

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Aug. 1, 1901.

^mxt%pUtut

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

TAKING BEES TO THE HEATHER.

[4446.] In taking my bees to the moors
last week I was surprised to find the heather
in such forward condition. The man in
whose charge I left the hives informed me he
had never known the season to be so early.
There was a general show of bloom, some
bunches being nicely out, with an indication
it would all be in full bloom by the time this
is in print. I am afraid those who live some
distance away from the moor3 will be unpre-
pared for such a forward season, and may in
consequence miss the early part of the honey-
flow. I was fortunate this year in having fine
weather for my midnight trip, but last year
everything seemed to be against me, and for
the benefit of those who go in for such
excitement I will relate my experience.
Not having horses of my own, I am
dependent upon friends, and as the horses
are, as a rule, busily engaged during
the day, the journey has to be arranged
some time in advance, so that the work
may be fitted in and the horses pretty
fresh for the distance of over twenty miles.
Having got all ready, a start was made about
9.30 in the evening, in the face of heavy rain
and a strong wind, which, it was thought by
those best competent to judge, would soon
pass over, but which, as events proved, was
not to be. There were two loads, with drivers
and myself, and after we had travelled a mile
our faces seemed to be completely lacerated,
and the feeling thereof anything but pleasant.
All went as well as could be expected under
the circumstances for the first six miles, when,
hearing an immense noise at the rear of the
second cart, on which I was riding, I at once
alighted, just in time to see something glide
into the hedge bottom, which, on close inspec-
tion, proved to be only a hoop off one of the
wheels. I instantly called to the driver of
the first cart to stop, but the force of wind
prevented his hearing me, so I had to
make the best of it, and with the aid
of my tools, at last managed, in the
still driving rain, to get the hoop on
again. Being just on the point of starting, I
heard the rumble of something in front, which
turned out to be driver No. 1, who, having
got some distance ahead whilst my conveyance
was undergoing repair, was eventually obliged
to stop by the prostrate form of a huge tree

laid across the road ; hence his return. For
the moment I did not like this second reverse,
but keeping a cool head and having a slight
knowledge of the road, I thought, by making
a detour through a few fields, the obstruction
might be averted. Being too dark to find the
road myself, I called up the assistance of a
neighbouring farmer, by whose friendly aid
we were soon sent on our way rejoicing. Two
miles further on driver No. 1 got lost by
taking a wrong turn, and leaving my own
cart in charge of the driver, I nearly beat
the mile record before finding him. After this
we arrived at our destination without further
mishap, had removed all the hives on to their
stands, and were busy opening the entrances,
when I heard the biggest shout I think I
ever heard, from No. 1 again, to bring a light !
Hastily going to see what was the matter, I
discovered his horse laid in a heap on the
ground, which, to get into that position, had
found it necessary to knock down the corner
of a garden wall. This trouble was caused
through the sheet he had placed over the
horse's shoulders being blown over its head —
a proceeding the animal naturally resented.
Fortunately no injury was done, and thankful
that such was the case, I completed the open-
ing of the hives and then started for home.
Seven miles on the return journey the hoop came
off again, two miles still further on it left
the wheel for the third time, and about a mile
from home, just outside a village, it parted
company for the fourth and last time by
breaking in two. There was nothing left for it
now but to take the cart to the village white-
smith's shop, unyoke the horse, and leave the
chariot to be repaired. To tear down a bill
that had been newly posted on the wall, and
write on the back a request that this might be
done, was the work of a minute, in the hope
that the smith might see it later — which he
did. To describe my feelings whilst all this
was happening is beyond me to do, but the
knowledge that our brave " Tommies " were
doing as much hard work in South Africa was
a sustaining and comforting influence.— E. T.
Tennant, Thirsk, July 29.

THE SEASON IN HEREFORDSHIRE.

[4447.] Honey Yield.— Judging from my
own and some of my neighbours' experiences
this year, the harvest hereabout will be only a
moderate average ; but the quality will, I
believe, be decidedly above the usual standard.
I shall hold my own stock for good prices, and
I advise others to do the same.

Marketing Produce. — Securing a local
market is, in my opinion, the only remedy for
the " cure " of the low prices revealed in the
study of your advertisement columns. This,
no doubt, requires some energy and business
ability, but then these qualities are found in a
measure in every person calculated to make a
successful bee-man. The bane of our industry
is the large number of happy-go-lucky keepers

Aug. l; 1901.J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

303

of bees, who make little or nothing out of their
own stock, and often cut down to vanishing
point the profits of their neighbours. I am
convinced that much more honey might be
disposed of in country places and small
market towns if producers would only take
some little pains to find out likely customers,
and great pains to secure that the honey sold
was of best quality and in marketable form.
Jars and other receptacles of "all sorts and
conditions " may save initial expense by hold-
ing the honey; but then they also often pre-
vent final profit by holding the honey still
when it ought to go off for consumption.

Preventing Swarming. — From the condition
of one or two of my stocks this year, I am
beginning to suspect that, unless the preven-
tion of the natural swarming impulse of the
bees (with its consequent raising of new
queens) be followed by regular requeening of
non-swarmed hives by the bee-keeper, weak
and profitless colonies will, at any rate some-
times, be the result.— W. H., Brilley, Hereford-
shire, July 25.

ON THE PREVENTION OF
SWARMING.

[4448.] Having now thirty frame-hives, not
one of which has swarmed this summer, and
all of which are working well in their supers, I
think it may be helpful to our brother apiarists
if I describe my plan of campaign. Of my
stocks, twenty-three are in long hives capable
of holding eighteen standard frames, and seven
are square, made to take eleven frames. Each
model has its advantages. I will write in this
note of the long ones only. Skeps almost
always give some days', often weeks', notice
before swarming. On the other hand, frame-
hives very often do not unless you keep a
constant eye upon them. We will suppose
the hive enlarged to twelve or fifteen frames,
on the front of which the super is in position
and occupied by an industrious army. The
back dummy has an opening at the bottom
similar to that in the front of the hive, which
is ordinarily blocked by a small piece of wood.
When super work is going on this block is
moved sideways so as to leave about half an
inch opening. The space behind the dummy is
covered with a cork-dust mattress, as is also
the super. Thi3 I raise at least once a week
to search for wax-moths, which have become a
perfect nuisance in these parts. When the
bees are thinking of swarming I find this
vacant space more or less occupied by them,
and often a bit of comb begun, before there is
any indication on the alighting-board, and I
take measures accordingly, usually by filling
up the hive with frames and transferring the
super as gently as possible to the rear, after
which the front is easily kept under control on
Mr. Simmins' principle. — C C. James,
Wortham Rectory, Diss, July 27.

P.S. — South side beats east side hollow this
year, judging by my own results.

BEE NOTES FROM WORCESTER.

[4449.] Wild Bees.— 4 have lately noticed a
small bee about the size of a house fly work-
ing in the flowers like a honey bee, his legs
heavily packed with pollen to be carried off, I
suppose, for domestic purposes. Has he a wife
and family, or is he merely an outporter or
slave at work for others 1 I rarely see any like
him, and I cannot trace him to his home or
place of business. Can you tell me anything
of his life's history ? [If a specimen bee is sent
we will endeavour to comply with your request.
—Eds.]

Bee Forage. — Upon a hill-side near here, a
piece of neglected arable land — a playground
for all sorts of weeds — the common bind-weed
has mastered all claimants and taken full pos-
session of a sunny slope. Just now its pretty
pink and white convolvulus flowers are in full
beauty, and these afford abundant and profit-
able labour to bees from neighbouring hives.

I never saw them more greedily enjoying
themselves, while the air resounds with their
humming.

It is interesting to see them unconsciously
rub off and carry away the pollen upon their
backs as they bend down and push their heads
beneath the antlers to reach the nectar at the
base of the flowers. This pollen is distributed
in all directions, and cross fertilisation made
easy and certain.

There seems to be no outward indication by
which the bees can tell that a flower has been
already visited and robbed of its sweets, and it
is amusing to see them turn indignantly aside
when disappointed and rush off to try else-
where.

The Honey Season. — Hereabouts we shall
have an abundant honey harvest of first-rate
quality. White clover was never more abun-
dant, and our hives are densely populated
with busy workers. There has been little
waste of power, for swarms have been rare this
season ; and not only shall we have well-filled
sections and shallow-frames to take away, but
supplies in the brood-chamber should be abun-
dant, with strong stocks of bee3 to meet the
winter.

If we lose our stocks under such conditions,
it must be, I think, through the difficulty of
replacing elderly and worn-out queens. Will
you advise us upon this point ? — H. W. C,
Severn Stoke, July 27.

BIRDS AND BEES.

THE KED BACKED SHRIKE.

[4450.] A few weeks ago at my apiary I
noticed a red backed shrike fly several times on
to the alighting-board of a " W.B.C' hive, and
quickly snapping up a poor bee, fly off with it.
I watched where the bird went to thinking I
should find a nest, but instead I found that
the little rascal took the poor bees and stuck
them on thorns in the hedge. I found over ten
bees stuck on branches in this way. Luckily
I had my gun with me, and after waiting

304

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug 1, 1901.

quietly for the "bee-killer" I got a chance and
shot him. I have since had him stuffed, and
mean to exhibit him along with the bees on
the thorns at our coming show at Shrewsbury.
I am a reader of the B.B.J, and also of the
Record, and have several old and modern
books on bee culture, but after searching I
cannot find any trace of the above bird being
included in the enemies of the honey bees.

I should like to know if any other bee
friends have ever noticed similar mischief to
bees done by the red backed shrike (commonly
known as the butcher bird (Lanius collurio). —
W. H. Brown, Clevedon, Shrewsbury, July 25.

BEE-FORAGE.

EPILOBIUM ANGUSTIFOLIUM.

[4451.] I take from Lindley's " Treasury of
Botany " the following :—

' Epilobium angustifolium is not often found
truly wild ; is a common ornament of cottage
gardens, where, if suffered to range at will,
would soon overpower other herbaceous vege-
tation ; can be planted with advantage in
shrubberies where luxurious undergrowth is
desired. In this plant the leaves are scattered
and destitute of pubescence ; flowers are
irregular, large, rose red, and grow in a ter-
minal spike. The Epilobiums are of the order
Onagracea \j grow in all situations — by rivers,
in woods, and on waste ground ; are mostly
perennial. There are several British species,
most of which are unpretending weeds ; but
E. hirsutum, a tall species 4 ft. to G fc. high, is
frequently ornamental to the borders of rivers
and ponds. Flowers are a pale pink, exhaling
a peculiar acidulous scent which has gained
for it the popular title of " codlins and cream."
— T. I. W., Witham, Essex, July 19.

[4452.] In Bee Journal of July 18, a
correspondent writes on page 283, of a plant
he saw in the Botanic Gardens, Oxford.
Having lived there until nineteen years of age
I naturally feel interested in his remarks,
being an old Oxonian. The plant he mentions
(Epilobium angvstifolium) belongs to the order
Onagracea, hardy perennial herbs, natives of
Britain, California, Europe, Peru, Sierra
Nevada ; height 6 in. to 6 ft. ; six varieties,
flowers rose, red, white. Plant, October,
November, or in March ; suitable for shrub-
beries or naturalising. See advertisement in
this week's Journal. — S. T. Badcock,
Bexhill-on-Sea, July 19.

[4453.] Being a weekly reader of the B.B. J.,
and seeing information required by a corre-
spondent regarding Epilobium angustifolium,
as a gardener by profession and also a bee
lover, I beg to send you the following notes : —
These plants are most at home by the water-
side, but will thrive in moisture, sun, or shade.
They are increased by division, and are best
divided after flowering or in early spring.

Epilobium ang., crimson (narrow leaved) ;
Epilobium ang. album, white, height, 2J ft.
to 6 ft. (popular name, French willow). Any
further information that may be required I
shall be glad to answer through your valuable
journal. — A Lover of Bees, Herts, July 19.

VIRGIN SWARMS.

[4454 ] In " Queries and Replies " for July
18, in reply to G. C. (Ayr) (page 289), I note
you say he "need have no fear of his bees
swarming again, since they swarmed in June
and have since then filled one rack of sec-
tions." Well, I had a swarm issue on June
16. I put on hive to receive the said swarm,
queen excluder, and one rack of sections. A
week later I gave a second rack, and, to my
great surprise, a swarm issued from the hive
on July 11. I therefore ask: — 1. Wa3
this an exceptional case ? I think she is a
splendid queen ; the same hive did best for
me last year. I may also add a line to say I
put on six standard frames as a super in
beginning of the season, and wishing to have
a young queen from this stock I did not add
to super. I have now been rewarded with
two swarni3 and one cast. 2. Do you think
the young queen's heading cast and the two
old stocks will be as good as the old one 1 —
A Reader, Conway, July 23.

[Our correspondent has missed the "point"
in comparing the two cases. "G. C' was
dealing with the parent hive that swarmed in
June and had since filled a rack of sections.
On the other hand, " A Reader " apparently
refers to a swarm of June 16, which latter
would, of cour.se, be headed by the old queen.
This makes all the difference. For the rest
we may say : — 1. It is very seldom that a
swarm hived in mid-June will swarm again.
When it does the bees are usually termed a
" virgin swarm." 2. It is impossible to say.
—Eds]

HOMES OF THE HONEY-BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

Mr. Phil Jones, whose curiously-situated
apiary makes up a pretty picture on next
page, is a good bee-man, who has his own
notions with regard to size of frames and types
of hives, and with which we are the last to
disagree. He makes his bees "pay," thus
showing that for his own district he knows
what is best, and we heartily agree with him.
For the rest, the interesting notes, sent at our
request, need no addition from us. He
says : —

" In compliance with your request, I send a
few notes to go with photo of my apiary. I
have been acquainted with bees since quite a
youngster, and have more than once assisted
at the 'sulphuring business.' I commenced
keeping bees myself fifteen years ago, my first

Aug. 1, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

305

stock being in an old hollow stump sawn out
of a tree. This stock I kept till August, 1888,
thinking to get a swarm from them, but the
bees did not swarm at all. I therefore began
some * driving ' operations, and although it
proved a tough job, I secured two skep3ful of
bees ; but I do not think there was a pound of
honey in all the combs, though so strong in
bees. So much for my start. I began with
my first frame-hives in 1887, and the following
year was notable as a year of ' feeding,' not
surplus taking.

"The photo only shows a portion of my
apiary, which contains about fifty hives in all.
As you will see, it is * located on some very
unlevel ground, being an old stone quarry,
from whence the well-known Soudley building

" I am sorry to say we are in this district
not free from foul brood, and I have had a
taste of it myself, but I do not fear it now. I
keep it down chietly by outside feeding in the
spring, and keeping a closa look-out in each
stock handled.

"In feeding 1 uie a trough- feeder of thin
food, medicated 1-400 of absolute phenol. All
honey boiled two hours before using. My
bees have taken over 25 gallons of food so
prepared this spring, not from necessity, but
for stimulating purposes, and I have used
nearly a pound of phenol. I have practised
this plan for the past four years.

" Of course, I have to sell a lot of my honey
wholesale, but have increased my local trade
considerably. All sections are glazed and put

MR. riHL JONES APIARY, CHELWICK VALLEY, CHURCH STRETTON, SALOP.

stone was taken in former times. It is a fair
district for honey, being within reach of the
Stretton Hills, and in some seasons we get
quite a nice lot of surplus heather-honey,
although the bees have to travel quite two
miles to the heather. I have moved a dozen
or so of hives to the heather, but the distance
is about six miles by road, and a rough road
into the bargain, so I have abandoned moor-
going. The large hive seen with square top is
my record one, having yielded 139 1-lb.
sections from it in one season, with fifteen
large frames for brood-nest. The hive on left
of gate is a home-made (' Conqueror '). I have
now had it in work for nine years, and the
bees have never once swarmed.

up as attractively as I can make them, and all
that are not well fitted are put through the
extractor, as worked-out combs often mean
good heather sections. All extracted honey
not up to the standard I boil for bee-feeding
or use for mead-making, and I regret to say I
had rather more left on my hands than I care
for last year, owing to honey-dew.

" I also find another way of selling honey to
the working classes is to attend the local
market provided with a tin fitted with tap,
and draw the honey off to purchasers at a
cheaper rate than Is. for a 1-lb. jar, customers
bringing their own receptacles.

" Wishing all bee-keepers may have a pros-
perous season in 1901."

306

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 1, 1901.

REVIEWS OF FOREIGN BEE-PAPERS.

BY R. HAMLYN-HARRIS, F.R.M.S , F.Z.S,
F.E S., ETC.

L'Apicoltore (Italy). — " If at the entrance or
on the floor of any hive you remark black
grains of cylindrical form, these are the excre-
ments of the wax moth. If in the early morn-
ing there are to be seen — either on alighting
board or on the ground before a hive — dead
larva of the wax moth, or chrysalids of bees
nearly mature, but with injured wings and legs,
thrown out by the worker bees, this denotes
the presence of the moth, and the hive should
receive immediate attention. Sometimes the
bees will entirely leave a hive where they can-
not free themselves from these enemies." —
(From external signs, &c. Theod. Marre.)

Bulletin de la Soc. tf Apiculture de la
Somme. Apple Jelly with Honey. — To a
pint of apple juice (after well boiling and
straining) add lather more than i lb. of honey ;
boil it for an hour and skim from time to
time. After it has boiled an hour try the jelly
by throwing a small quantity into a saucer.
If it does not set continue the boiling until
the result is satisfactory. For gooseberry as
well as for apple jelly (with which we always
use honey) we have found an hour's continued
boiling sufficient.

Le Eucher Beige (Belgium). — Many of the
daily papers have reported that a horse had
been killed by bees not far from Tinlot. The
fact is true, but did not happen as alleged.
Great injustice has been done to the bees;
for they only acted in legitimate defence. The
carter had no business to pass the place where
the apiary stood. He should have taken the
road he was directed to follow. Besides, what
business had he to upset a hive of bees?
Our readers can easily imagine what resulted.
Were the bees to blame ?

Eucher Beige (Belgium). A Short History
of Bee-keeping in Ancient Times. — Allusions
to apiculture abound in the Old Testament ;
bees are also mentioned by pagan authors, in
the mythology, as well as in the Talmud and
the Koran. The first bee-hives were trunks of
trees or holes in the rocks, the Bible speak-
ing of Canaan as " a land flowing with milk
and honey." Later, 445 to 355 b.c, Xenophon,
the Greek philosopher and historian, relates an
adventure which happened to 10,000 Greeks
while retreating across Asia Minor, after
having succoured Cyrus the Younger. These
soldiers, after eating much honey, were for
awhile as those having taken too much wine.
Plato, 429 to 347 b.c, tells us that " to cause
a swarm of bees to settle, you must strike on
brass vessels." This custom has long pre-
vailed, and, in fact, still exists. Aristotle,
384 to 322 b.c, the Greek philosopher,
was interested in apiculture, and speaks
of the honey that made the Greek
soldiers ill, and the locality which produced it.
He knew that in the absence of queens the
workers lay eggs which give birth to drones.

Theocritus (300-220) also speaks of bees in his
"Bucolics." Many eminent men have written
on the work and habits of this wonderful
insect, but, sad to say, most of them have
spread abroad as much error as truth. Virgil,
for instanoe (70 to 19 b.c), in his fourth
Georgic, has given several pages to the bees.
Columella, a writer of the first century a.d.,
speaks, among other subjects, of apiculture in
Greece. Pliny the Ancient (23-79 a.d.) gives
advice to avoid stings, and explains that the
honey to which the Greek soldiers owed their
indisposition came probably from a shrub
called rhododendron. He mentions that a
Roman senator had made a hive of the most
transparent horn. Plutarch (50 to 120 b.c),
in his " Conjugal Precepts," makes allusion to
the habits of bees.

Shakespeare (15G4-1616) describes in
" Henry V." the habits of the bees. Only he
regarded the mother and queen as a " king,"
which was the general idea of the period.
With Swammerdam, the Dutch scientist
(1680), began the scientific and experimental
era. He dissected and produced drawings of
beautiful exactitude, but did not always arrive
at the truth. He thought the bee's tongue
was used as a pump and thought the insect
took in the honey, passing it through its ex-
tremity. Miraldi, an Italian doctor and
apiculturist — 1700 — remarked that the honey
was deposited by the mouth near the man-
dibles. This author, who was the first to con-
struct a glass hive, made many observations,
amongst others the measure of the angles of
cells. About the same time, 1683 to 1757,
Reaumur, a celebrated French physician and
naturalist, made valuable observations on the
habits and labours of the bee. He gained the
conviction that the queen only can give birth
to the three classes of individuals in the hive.
Still, he also made serious mistakes, but left the
whole subject more or less an open question.

Honey as a Eemedy for Inflamed Throat. —
The editor of the Austro-Hungarian bee-paper
has himself experienced the value of honey in
the case of severe feverish sore throat. In his
distress he tried the effect of honey, taking a
small spoonful every quarter of an hour. After
a short time the throat and mouth became
moist and in a few hours the inflammation
had entirely disappeared.

^>Kp$ ani H^li^s.

[2697.] Queen Introduction. — Herewith I
am sending a dead queen, and should be grate-
ful for your valued opinion and advice as to
the circumstances. On Friday, July 5, on my
return home about five o'clock, I concluded
that one of my hives had swarmed, and the
swarm had decamped. The super, which in
the morning seemed nearly solid with bees was
now practically deserted, and on looking about

Aug. 1, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

307

for any signs I noticed a few bees continually
buzzing around a branch of a pear tree near, in
the way, as I have noticed, they usually do
round the spot where a swarm has first settled.
I felt particularly vexed about this because
the hive had on it a rack of the new " tall
sections," about which we had so much discus-
sion in the Journal a few weeks ago, with
which I was experimenting. I had first
supered the hive with a box of shallow-frames,
and when these were well under weigh had
put the rack of tall sections below. This is
how matters were on July 5, the shallow-
frames being then nearly finished. As I had
already got a nucleus hive with a young
queen in it, I thought it would be wise to
put her into the hive in question, and give the
nucleus a queen cell from this hive to rear a
successor from. 1 therefore on Saturday
morning examined all the combs in the hive,
and found only one frame on which was a queen-
cell (sealed over). I removed this frame from
the hive, and I next found the frame in the
nucleus hive on which the young queen was,
and inserted this in the place of the frame
removed, first sprinkling the bees on this frame
and those in the hive thoroughly with flour.
The frame with the queen cell I then placed
in the nucleus hive, also sprinkling all the
bees with flour. I put on the queen-excluder
again, and returned the box of shallow- frames.
The rack of sections I took away for the
present. I jwatched very closely during the
whole of the ensuing day. There was no fighting
at either hive, and I hoped that everything
was going well. On Sunday morning, how-
ever, I found the enclosed queen outside
the hive dead. I should like to know : —
1. Was my diagnosis correct as to the hive
having swarmed ? 2. If so, did I do what was
best in giving them the young queen ? 3. If
the idea was right, did I go the right way to
work to carry it out ? 4. Has the queen sent
been fertilised ? She was hatched nine or ten
days prior to being put into the hive. 5. If
she had not been fertilised, would that account
for her being thrown out by the bees ? I am
assuming that the dead queen is the one I
put in, and that no young queen had hatched
when the bees swarmed. I saw no cell from
which a queen had recently emerged. Be-
sides the one cell removed there were a few
which I judged were either old or abortive
queen-cells. The queen I am sending looks
small, much more so than when I put her
in ; but perhaps some shrinkage has taken
place since her death. Most of the frames in
the hive were solid slabs of brood, and mostly
sealed ; there is even some brood on the very
last frame, which, however, contains chiefly
honey. I concluded, however, that by Sunday
there could hardly be any eggs in the hive
young enough to be reared into queens. 6.
Was this a legitimate conclusion ? So in the
afternoon I cycled over to an expert's apiary
and obtained from him a fine young laying
queen, and introduced her in a cage the same

evening. On Monday evening — i.e., after
twenty-four hours — I raised the cage and
withdrew the celluloid slide at the bottom,
and put the cage back again. Tuesday (to-
day) morning, 9.30, I went to remove the
cage, but found the queen had not gone out,
although the way is quite free. Other bees
were in the cage with her, whether her original
attendants or not I cannot say, and the bees
were clustering upon the cage fairly thickly.
This is my first experience at introducing a
queen, so I don't know whether anything is
going wrong that she has not yet left the cage.
I should therefore be grateful if you would
advise me. — N., Wallington.

Reply. — If the facts are accurately stated
in the details given above, we may briefly say
1. Yes. 2. The hive having swarmed there
would be queen cells left behind, some nearly
hatching out, and, this being so, the bees would
be disinclined to accept an alien virgin-queen.
3. Yes, but queen should have been caged. 4.
The dead queen looks as if mated, but we can-
not be sure, as a post mortem is now impossible,
the dead insect being too hard for examination.
You should have examined combs in nucleus
hive to prove this by the presence of eggs or
brood. 5. Not necessarily under conditions
stated ; but she has evidently been " balled ''
to death by the bees. 6. No ; because bees do
not rear queens direct from the egg but from
larvte a few days old — or, say, from five to six
days after the egg is laid. In view, therefore,
of all the facts, it was not the best course to
follow for the following reasons : — (a) It was
wrong to remove the queen from nucleus with-
out first making sure whether she had been
mated or not; (b) In giving an alien queen to
bees that hadjust lost their own '' mother-bee ''
by swarming, the stranger should have been
Referring to the queen got from the

expert and introduced in the cage as sent, she
will no doubt have been received all right, and
be laying well by the time thi3 reply is read.

[2698.] Removing Bees from Crumbling-
down Skep. — Could you inform me how to
proceed in transferring bees from an old
crumbling-down straw skep to a new and
larger one of the same kind ? I may state
that the old skep referred to above has already
got a small good one on top of it, which was
placed on in the spring of this year, and the
contents of which may be helping to crush it
down worse now. — H. Crawford, Glendarnel,
Argyllshire, July 23.

Reply. — It is hardly advisable to remove
bees from their established and furnished
house — old though it be — and put them into
an empty skep at this late season of the year.
We should, at least, leave them the small
combed skep now forming the super, and
substitute a new skep below for the decayed
old one now in use. Thi3 will not be a very
difficult job as follows : — Remove the small
upper skep, bees and all, and fix it on the
larger new one. Set the latter on a newspaper

308

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Aug. 1, 1901.

with its front raised up a little. Then drive
the bees from the old decayed one and throw
them out in front of the new skep and allow
them to run in. It is not at all certain that the
bees will furnish the new skep with combs,
unless fed very liberally ; and in view of this
it would be far better to substitute a frame-
hive fitted with full sheets of foundation if you
wish to make a success of your transferring.

[2699.] Making Artificial Sivarvis in
Autumn. — Will you kindly inform me if it is
too late in the season to make two strong
colonies into three, according to instructions
ia "Guide Book" (page 94), with or without
queen cells ? — R. L. Sharp., Formby, Liver-
pool, July 29.

Reply. — It will be safe to operate in the
way referred to if a laying queen can be
given to the new hive. It is rather too late
to rely on queens being reared and safely
mated in August.

\tt $Um t0 <&mt

August 5 (Bank Holiday) at Lichfield.—

Honey Show in connection with that of Lichfield Floral
and Horticultural Society.

August 5, at Butterfield Park, Hessle,
Hull. — Honey Show in connection with the Hessle and
District Floral and Agricultural Society.

August 5, at Melton Constable.— North Norfolk
B.K. A. Annual Honey Show. Three open classes.

August 6, at Leamington-— Honey section of
Leamington St. Mary's flower show. Three open
classes for six 1-lb. sections, six 1-lb. jars " light,"
and six 1-lb. jars " dark" extracted honey, respectively.
Good prizes. Schedules from the Secretary, 2, St.
Mary's-road, Leamington. Entries close August 3.

August 7, at Neston Park, "Wilts.— Honey
Show in connection with the Atworth and District
Horticultural Society's Show.

At Llanberis.— Honey Show in conjunction with
Llanberis Horticultural Show. Open class for siDgle
1-lb. jar Extracted Honey.

August 7, at Mar/low. Show of Honey, Hives,
and Bee Appliances in connection with the Marlow
Horticultural Society. Valuable Prizes. Schedules
from the Hon. Sec, A. D. Cripps, Marlow, Bucks.
Entries close August 3.

August 7, at Macclesfield.— Adlington and
District Agricultural Society's Show. Four open classes
for hives, six sections, six 1-lb. jars, and wax.

August 8, at Kingsthorpe, Northampton.—
Honey Show of the Northants B.K. A., in connection
with the Horticultural Exhibition. Twelve classes for
bee-keepers.

August 8, at Madresfield Park.— Annual
Show of the Worcestershire B.K. A., in connection with
the Madresfield Agricultural Exhibition.

August 8, at Foys Chetnole.— Yetminster and
District B.K. A. Annual Show of Bees, Honey, and
Beeswax. Thirteen classes (including three open
classes). Entry free for single 1-lb. section, 1-lb. jar
extracted honey. Schedules from G. Leeding, Bradford
Abbas, Sherborne, Dorset. Entries close August 3.

August 15, at Goole.— Bee and Honey Show in
connection with the Goole and District Agricultural
Society. Six open classes, including one for single 1-lb.
jar (entry free). Schedules from J. Luddington and
H. S. White, Sees., Lindum House, Goole. Entries
close August 10.

August 15, at Aberg-wili, Carmarthenshire.
— Abergwili Horticultural and Agricultural Society's
Show. Open class for single 1-lb. jar extracted honey
(entry free). Prizes, 10s., 7s. 6d., 5s., and 2s. Particu-
lars from Thos. Rice, Secretary, Abergwili.

August 15, 16, and 17. at Crystal Palace.—
Surrey B.K. A. Annual Exhibition of Bees, Honey, Wax,
and Appliances, &c. Twenty-four classes.

August 17, at Ammanford (S. Wales).—
Honey show in connection with the Ammanford Flower
Show. Liberal prizes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar extracted honey, also classes for three sections
and three 1-lb. jars, light and dark honey. — Particulars
from Mr. Ivor Morris, Hon. Sec, Ammanford, R.S.O.,
Carmarthen.

August 21 and 22, at Shrewsbury.— Annual
Show of the Shropshire B.K. A., in connection with the
Shropshire Horticultural Society's Great Floral Fete in
" The Quarry." Bees, Honey, Hives, and Appliances.
Six Open Classes for Honey. Schedules from S. Cart-
wright, Hon. Secretary, Shropshire B.K. A., Shaw-
bury, Shrewsbury. Entries close August 9.

August 21 and 22, at Newcastle-under-
Lyme.— Annual Bee and Honey Show of the Staffs.
B.K.A. in connection with the Staffordshire Agricul-
tural Society's Show.

August 24, at Barnton, "Northwich.— Honey
show in connection with the flower show. Honey
department— seven local classes and one class (open to
all Cheshire) for twelve 1 lb. jars " light" honey. The
Cheshire B.K.A. bronze medal goes to winner of
first prize in this class. Schedules from the Hon. Sec,
Mr. S.' Wade, Barnton, Northwich. Entries close
August 17.

August 27 and 28, at Solihull.— Warwickshire
B.K.A. Show of Honey, &c, in conjunction with that
of the Warwickshire Agricultural Society. Schedules
from Jas. Noble Bower, hon. sec, Warwicks. B.K.A.,
Knowle.

August 28, at Chester.— Annual Show of the
Cheshire B.K.A., in connection with the Cheshire Agri-
cultural Society. Ten classes (four open) for hives, honey
(light, medium, and dark), sections, &c Schedules
from T. A. Beckett, St. Werburgh's Chambers, Chester.
Entries close Aug. 7. (At double fees to Aug. 14.)

Thursday, August 29, at Montgomery.—
Montgomery and District Horticultural Society's Snow.
Two open Classes for Honey— six 1 lb. sections, six 1 lb.
jars and extracted, with prizes of 10s., 5s., and 2s. 6d.
in cash. Schedules from Mr. W. H. Jones, Hon. Sec,
Montgomery. Entries close August 22.

August 31, at Dumfries.— South of Scotland
B.K.A. Annual Show. Open Classes for " Sixes,"
with Prizes of 20s., 15s., 10s., 5s.; also for Single Jar
and Section, with Free Entry ; also Wax and
Appliances. Schedules from James Kerr, Hon. Secre-
tary, Milldamhead, Dumfries. Entries close
August 22.

September 7 to 14, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (9th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Eleven classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees-
wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers. Entries
close August 26. (See large advt.)

September 11 and 12, at Derby— Derbyshire
B.K.A. twentieth Annual Show of Hives, Bees, and
Honey on the show ground of the Derbyshire Agricul-
tural Society. Schedules from F. Walker, Secretary
D.B.K.A., 64, Gerard-street, Derby. Entries clobe
August 30.

September 15 and 16, at Sivry, Hainaut
(Belgium).— Annual show of the Federation Apicole
du Hainaut. Open classes for honey, hives and ap-
pliances, mead, vinegar, wax, teaching, and work.
Jars, bottles, &c Schedules from M. Zenobe Defrenne,
a Sivry.

September 21 to 28, at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with the
fifth Annual Exhibition of the Grocery and Kindred
Trades. Eleven classes for comb and extracted honey
and bees-wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers.
Entries close August 31. (See page v.)

October 8 to 11, at the Agricultural Hall,
London. — Show of Honey and Bee-produce in con-
nection with the British Dairy Farmers' Association.
Numerous and liberal prizes for honey, &c— Schedules
from Mr. Wm. C. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-square,
London, W. Entries close September 9.

October 10, 11, and 12, at Crystal Palace-
Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, and Appliances. Increased prizes and medals.
Schedules from Hon. Secretary, Henry W. Brice, 100,
Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath. Entries close
September 30.

Aug. 1, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

309

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All querietforwarded will be attended to, and thoee only
of per tonal interest will be answered in this column.

Hx. Piburne (Stourport). — Removing Bees
from Frames. — 1. Prepare a good-sized
board and set the skep thereon with its
front raised up an inch or so : lift out the
frames singly, jerk the bees off the combs
with a downward shake, and allow them to
run in to the skep. 2. Uniting Driven
Bees. — You may unite the queenless bees in
second skep to the others by driving the
bees in the usual way and mixing both lots
up in one skep by shaking them up together
as you would so many peas, sprinkling a
little flour over them in the " mixing "
process ; then throw them out in front of
the hive intended for the united bees and
let all run in together.

A. Thorpe (Wistarton). — Queen Rearing. —
We are glad you found matters all right on
examining the combs again.

" Chi Beta " (Ashley). — Sugar for Bee-Food.
— Either of the two samples will be suitable
for bee-food if your grocer will guarantee
them as being " pure cane sugar '' otherwise
we cannot recommend their use for the
purpose.

John J. Alsford (Blundford). — Defunct Bee
Associations. — Much obliged for copy of
report (eighteen years old which shall be
duly returned when done with), and also
for your promised help if called upon.

It. Huston (Yorks). — Honey for Showing. —
Your sample is very nice clover honey, and
quite fit for the show-bench.

Jas. Poole (Stokenchurch). — Errors in
Diagnosing Foul Brood. — It would save
much time and worry to beginners in bee-
keeping if they would start by procuring a
reliable guide book. Without this, con-
stant mistakes are liable to occur. Your
case illustrates the point forcibly, seeing
that there is no trace of disease in either
of the samples received, nothing worse than
pollen. But the pieces of comb sent are in
curious condition. In No. 2 sample there
are no cells built out on one side, though
the bare midrib looks old, and as if the
cells had been pared down to remove hard
old pollen. No. 2 hive has evidently been
rendered queenless, from the three queen-
cells sent, from one of which a queen has
apparently hatched out. There may, there-
fore, be a mated queen now in the hive,
but only an examination of the combs for
eggs or brood will prove this.

H. F. J. (Henbury). — Naming Races of Bees.
— The drones sent are hybrids- -Carniolan
crossed with the ordinary or native bee —
and very fine drones they are.

Money Samjdes.

J. B. (Cardiff). — All four samples are good
but of varying character. No. 1 is best in
colour and of good flavour. No. 2 being so

full of air bubbles would have to be cleared
before showing. Of the more golden
coloured samples No. 4 is best. No. 3
being thin in consistency. If made bright
and clear before staging any of them is fit
for showing.

W. H. (Hereford). — The three samples are
excellent in quality. Quite fit for any
show-bench. No. 1 is most to our taste ;
No. 2 second.

Davies (Carmarthen). — The sample is almost
wholly from white clover and is good on all
points. If the sample not sent is lighter in
colour than that forwarded we should
choose the lighter one for showing, as most
judges prefer a light coloured sample of
white clover honey.

Suspected Combs.

Special Notice to correspondents sending queries on
"Foul brood."

We urgently request that all letters sent with samples
of suspected comb be put outside the box or tin containing
the sample. Also that no more than a couple of square
inches of comb be sent, taking care to neither crush the
comb nor probe the cells before despatching.

In urgent cases (and where possible) we undertake to
" wire ", replies as to F. B. if six stamps are sent to cover
cost of telegram. All letters to be addressed " Editor,
Bee Journal" not " Manager."

J. W., Jun. (Muthill, N.B.).— The comb is
affected with foul brood. You did well to
destroy the stock " on chance " under the
circumstances. We shall be very pleased
to get photo of your bee-garden for publica-
tion, and thank you for good words con-
cerning the B.B.J.

Samples from C. F. (Darlington), W. G.
(Go. Durham), W. J. B. (Norfolk), and
M. F. Smith (Oxford), are all affected with
foul brood.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve wordt and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three wordt or under, One Penny.

rONEY WANTED. —New Sections and Run Honey.
Particulars and price to G. W. Ashdown, Brighton.

Boxes

H 8

H

D

RIVEN lots of BEES with Queens, 3s.
returned. Pullen, Ramsbury, Hungerford.

FOR SALE, first-class SECTIONS, well finished,
7s. 6d. perdoz. Carriage paid on 6 doz. Ernest
E. Davis, Great Bookham, Surrey. h 10

WANTED, DRIVEN BEES, Is. lb., Comb and Run
Honey, 30s. cwt. Dawkins, Sutton Coldfield.
H 12

WANTED, BEES, for high-class Dragon Pigeons.
Approval. Fairall, Newbridge-street, Wolver-
hampton. H 11
OR SALE, GOOD CLOVER SECTIONS, 8s. per doz.
Also Extracted. F. Garnett, Well, Bedale, Yorks.
H 15

FOR SALE, 5 doe Belgian Hares, 9 months' old, pure
bred, 5s. and 7s. 6d. each. Cash with order. Dewdney,

Abinger Common, Dorking. H 5

ANTED, DURING AUGUST, 12 or less lots Driven
Bees. Quote price on rail. Ernest Oetzmann,

Lyndhurst, Slough, S.W.R. H 13

r)f\f\ CLEAN 16-oz. SECTIONS, carefully packed.
4UU What offers to clear ? Davidson, Bee-keeper,

Basingstoke. H 18

RIVEN BEES.— Strong STOCK with Queen, 5s. ;
package returnable. Phillips, Spetchley, Wor-
cester. H 7

VERSTOCKED. — Six strong healthy STOCKS of
BEES FOR SALE in frame hives. Birch, 2,
Station-terrace, Hosforth, Leeds. H 3

HONEY. — Pure New Extracted, mostly clover, 6d.
per lb. ; carriage paid on 56-lb. tins ; samples 3d,
Sections. Mason, Orlelton Schools, Pembroke. H 6

310

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 1, 1901.

H

Prepaid Advertisements (Continued).

WANTED to rent (possibly purchase) Country
COTTAGE within hour of London ; 2 reception,
3 or 4 bedrooms ; rent £20 to £28. "X.," B. J. Office.
H 20

HEALTHY Driven BEES, 3s. a lot ; 5, 6, and 7-lb.
lots, Is. lb. ; safe arrival. Cash order now for
August delivery. Hybrid Cyprian Queens (Nov.), 3s. 6d.
Spkarman, Colesbourae, Cheltenham. H 16

SHALLOW-FRAMES (Lee's wide), drawn-out Combs
(wired), drone base, clean, no disease, 4s. per doz. ;
cash or deposit. Stevens, Latimer Apiary, Chesham,
Bucks. H 9

INEJ PROLIFIC Tested, 1901 Fertile QUEENS, of
my well-known strain, 3s. 6d. each, post free;
guaranteed healthy and safe arrival. Whiting, Valley
Apiaries, Hundon, Clare, Suffolk. H 17

'ITfTANTED, by young man, a SITUATION. To look
VV after bees. Can make the appliances. Would till up
spare time in fruit gaiden. Total abstainer. "J. S.,"
Office of this Journal. H 19

FOR SALE or EXCHANGE (Bicycle preferred), one
3-framed mahogany Observatory Hive, with section
rack ; revolves on turn-table, mahogany ; also a 2-framed
one, made as above ; highly polished mahogany.
Seamark, Willingham, Cambs. h 14

OVERSTOCKED.— Eight new shallow CRATES, 17*
by 15J., with full sheets foundation, 4s. each. ; 30?.
the lot. Also three new strong HIVES, painted, 19.J by
18A, 7s, each ; £1. the three. Appro. Vicar, Sancton,

Yorks. _ ' H 4

ONEY LABELS, new design. Send stamp for
sample. Guest, Kings Norton, Birmingham.
G 97_

HEALTHY SWARMS during August, 6s. ; packing
free. Alfred Gould, Henley-in-Arden, Bir-
mingham, o 96
EPILOBIUM ANGUSTIFOLIUM, hardy perennial"
plant in October, 12s. dozen. Badcock, Florist,
Bexhill. H 1

HONEY JARS— 1 -lb. screw-cap, 17s. ; tie-over, 12s. 6d.
per gross, on rail. Jas. Dyson, Stainforth,
Doncaster. G 98

OVERSTOCKED.— SUPER FOUNDATION, 2s. 3d. ;
WEED BROOD FOUNDATION, 2s. lb. W. Long,
North-road, Mere, Wilts. G 91

THREE-FRAME IN UCLEI, with fertile Queens 'from
imported Cyprian, 8s. 6d. Woosnam, Newton-
Abbot. G 80

STRONG, healthy driven BEES, with Queen, end of
July, 5s. per lot. Boxes returned. Moreton,

Expert, Leigh, Worcester. g 81

<-) £• TH YEAR.— Small SWARMS with Reliable Queens,
^O 5s. 6d. Package free. Queens. Alsford, Expert,
Blandford.

PURE "EXTRACTED light coloured HONEY FOR
SALE. Three stamps for sample. David Hancox,
Deddington, Oxon. G 72

SPLENDID 1901 HONEy, in 28-lb. tins, 6|d. lb. Tins
free. Sample, 2d. Cash or deposit. Dutton,

Terling, Essex. G 64

ANTED, EXPERT for Summer Tour in Hampshire.
Apply, quoting terms, to E. H. Bellairs, Hants
B.K.A., Christchurch.

W" ANTED, a CUSTOMER to take my new Honey
Sections and Extracted. Cash or deposit.
J. Trebble, The Apiaries, Romansleigh, South Molton.
__ G 95

FEW good heavy HEALTHY STOCKSBEES in Skeps
with 1901 Home-bred Cyprian, Italian, and Carnio-
lan fertile Queens, 10s. each. SPEARMAN, Colesbourne,

Cheltenham. __ G_99

NCE~ TRIED A L WAYS USED. Our Solium Wax

Extractor should be in every Apiary. A perfect

success. No. 1, 12s. 6d. AIanager, flardham Apiary,

Pulborough. G 7S

UEENS^T^KSTNUCLETTa^^WARMS:: 14th

season of queen-rearing as a speciality. Fertile

queens, 5s. each, post free. Rev. C. Brereton,

Pulborough, Sussex.

COM FORT ABLE "APARTM Efl TfcT for "brother bee-
keepers visiting Douglas. Terms : tea, bed, and
breakfast, 3s. 6d. ; or full board, 5s. per day. HoRSLEY,
Merridale House, Top of Castle Drive, Douglas, Isle of
Man. 932

Prepaid Advertisements (Continued).

BEES FOR SALE.— Six very strong STOCKS, with
young queens, excluder, and one super, 25s. each ;
five large Skeps, strong in bees, with young queens,
12s. 6d. each ; 3-comb Nuclei, with young queen, in re-
turnable hive, 12s. 6d. Wm. Loveday, Hatfield Heath,
Harlow, Essex.

SPUING Dwindling and Light Supers are unknown
where White Star Italians are used. Store in all
weathers if flowers are about, and a month later than
Natives and other varieties. Always ready for fruit
blown in spring. Leave all others behind at the heather.

S. Simmins, Heathfield, Sussex.

ON'T BE STUNG. Wear Reynolds' " Burkitt Bee
Gloves." A great success. Unsolicited testi-
monials. Light in substance, useful, durable. 2s. 2d.
per pair, or with self-adjusting gauntlets attached,
2s. lOd. per pair, post paid. Special terms to the trade.
Sole Maker, Edward Reynolds, Andover, Hants.
ROLIFIC QUEENST— Pure Imported Carniolans,
7s. ; Italians, 6s. ; home-bred from imported
mothers, 4s. 6d. ; others. 3s. 6d. ; swarms from
10s. 6d. Stocks and Nuclei headed by any variety queen
at fair prices. Customer writes : — " The Italian nucleus
I had from you got on quickly. . . . supered June 16th."
— Particulars E. Woodham, Clavering, Newport, Essex.

LACE PAPER~7or SECTION GLARING. White,
Pink, and Green, 1 in. wide, 100, 7d , 200, Is. 2d.,
300, Is. 6d.. 500, 2s. 3d., 1,000, 4s. Also something new
in LACE BANDS, 2^, 3, and 3| in. wide, lace both edges.
White, 100, is. 3d., 200, 2s. 3d., 300, 3s., i00, 4s. 0d.; Pink
and Pale Green, 100, Is. 6d., 200, 2s. 9d., 300, 4s., 500,
5s. 6d. ; all post free. Sample of each kind three stamps.
W. WOODLEY, Beedon, Newbury.

HEALTHY June & Julv SWARMS,

3 lb. to 6 lb. at 2s. 6d, per lb.

10 lb. Swarms, 22s.

(100 READY.

SENT ON APPROVAL.

Safe arrival guaranteed.
Stocks, Nuclei, Imported Foreign
Queens (Fertile and Virgin),
English Queens, &c, supplied at

reasonable prices.

Catalogue of Bee and Poultry

Keeping Appliances post free.

SPEARMAN, Colesbourne, Cheltenham.

The Largest and Cheapest Depdt in the South of
England.

WHY NOT BUY YOUR SKEPS
DIRECT FROM THE MAKER?

You may buy first-class skeps bound with stout new
cane, at Is. 3d., Is. 6d., Is. 9d., and 2s. each.

Cash with order ; 5% discount. Wholesale prices on
application. S. J. Cox, Bee-skep Maker, 12, Arwenack-
street, Falmouth, Cornwall.

NOTE OUR SPECIAL LINES I

" W.B.C." Hives, from 17/- to 25/- each.

" W.B.C." Non-Swarming Hives, 24/- each.

Improved Cottager's Hive, with Zinc Roof, 12/6 each.

" Interchangeable " Hives, 13/6 and 14/6 each.

These Hives can be worked with Frames Parallel or at

Right Angles to the entrance, as desired.
Best Snow-white Sections, 2/- per 100 : Split Top, 6d.

extra.
Best Quality Standard or Shallow Frames, 1/2 per doz.
"W.B.C." Ends, f", 30, post free, 1/-; 3/6 per gross,

post free.
Zinc Queen-Excluders, 17" by 15", 6d. each ; post free, 9d.
Celluloid ,, ,, ,, 1/4 each, post free.

Best 1-lb. Nickel Screw-cap Bottles and Cork Wads, 20,'-

gross.
Improved "Derby" Extractor, 13/6 each ; or with

Gearing, 20/- each.
The 20th Century Extractor, 22/- each

,, ,, „ with genuine Bicycle Chain

(jearing, 32/- each.

R. H. C0LTMAN, Bee Appliance Maker,

49, Station-street, BURTON-ON-TRENT.

Aug. 8, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

311

$ iitorral, ^jLtiim, tot.

YORKS AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL SHOW AT BRADFORD.

The above show was held at Bradford on the
31st ult., and two following days. The sec-
tion set apart for bee-appliances, honey and
wax is always a centre ot much interest to bee-
keepers. The present season would no doubt
be supposed by outsiders to have been one of
exceptional yield, but it has apparently been
otherwise. There has been ample sunshine,
but the drought has had a prejudicial effect
upon the blooming of flowers, and the exhibits
are in consequence, not very numerous, but
they are excellent in quality. The show of
hives, and appliances is larger and better than
in some previous years, and is a pleasing
evidence of the growing popularity of an indus-
try at once interesting, profitable, and useful.

Lectures given in the bee-tent by Mr. Fred
A. Pay, of the Yorkshire B.K.A , illustrated
very^clearly the great advantages of modern
methods over the old style of keeping bees.

Mr. J. P. W. Lightfoot was judge of the
honey section and made the following
awards : —

Collection of Hives and Appliances. — 1st,
R. H. Coltman, Burton-on-Trent ; 2nd, E. H.
Taylor, Welwyn ; 3rd, W. Dixon, Leeds.

Complete Frame Hive.— 1st, H. Taylor ;
2nd, R. H. Coltman ; h.c. E. H. Taylor.

Observatory Hive with Queen and Bees. —
1st, E. H. Taylor ; 2nd, W. Dixon.

Display of Honey, Wax, &c. — lst,W. Dixon ;
2nd, R. H. Coltman ; h.c. Rev. Sidney Smith,
Whedrake Rectory, Yorks.

Twelve l-lb. Sections.— 1st, Rev. J. R.
Bradshaw, Hessay, Yorks. ; 2nd, Rev. R. M.
Lamb, Burton Pidsea ; 3rd, W. Patchett,
Caistor, Lines. ; h.c, R. J. Dean, Hempholme.

Twelve l-lb. Sections Heather Honey. — 1st,
Henry Waddington, Boroughbridge ; 2nd, W.
Dixon ; 3rd, Rev. Sidney Smith.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
W. E. Richardson, Driffield ; 2nd, Rev. J. R.
Bradshaw; 3rd, Rev. R. M. Lamb; h.c,
Herbert Pears, Mere, Lines.

Beeswax (not less than 3-Z6.) — 1st, Mrs. E,
Berry, Llanrwst ; 2nd, John Berry, Llanrwst ;
3rd, Rev. Sidney Smith. — Communicated.

HENBURY AND DISTRICT B.K.A.

The eighth annual show of the Henbury
Horticultural Society took place at Henbury
on July 31. The weather being very favour-
able, the exhibition was one of the most
successful yet held. The honey exhibits were
under the auspices of the Henbury District
Bee-keepers' Association, and were a " record ''
both in regard to supply and quality. There
were seven open classes, and competitors in
these included some in Oxfordshire, Cam-

bridgeshire, Worcestershire, and Berkshire.
A special prize was given by Mrs. "Waller for
cottagers only, in order to encourage them to
take up bee culture. The judges were Mr.
James Brown and Mr. S. Joidan, of Bristol,
the following being their awards : —

Honey Trophy. — (Open) 1st, G. W. Kirby
Willsbridge ; 2nd, J. Fenner, Henbury ; 3rd,
W. G. Barnfield, Charlton.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, G. W. Kirby ;
2nd, W. Woodley, Newbury; 3rd, W. M.
Turner, Witney, Oxon.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
W. M. Turner; 2nd, W. Woodley; 3rd,
G. W. Kirby.

Single l-lb. Section. — 1st, J. G. Weaven,
Hallen ; 2nd, H. Seamark, Willingham ; 3rd,
J. Seldon, Umberleigh, N. Devon.

Single l-lb. Jar Extracted Honey. — 1st,
H. M. Turner ; 2nd, H. Seamark ; 3rd, Mrs.
G. Matthews.

Three l-lb. Single Jars Extracted Honey* —
1st, Mrs. Waller ; Mrs. T. Hignell, Henbury ;
3rd, J. Fenner.

Beeswax. — 1st, J. Fenner; 2nd, G. W.
Kirby ; 3rd, H. M. Turner.

Queen Wasps. — 1st, H. Noble ; H. Leveson ;
3rd, J. Davies.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st. Ed. Meare,
Brentry ; 2nd, J. Fenner ; 3rd, Mrs. A. Todd,
Westbury-on-Trym.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, J.
Fenner ; 2nd, W. G. Barnfield ; 3rd, Mrs.
Hignell.

Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Fenner; 2nd, W.
G. Barnfield ; 3rd, Edward Meare.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, J.
Fenner ; 2nd, M. A. Butler, Henbury ; 3, Mrs.
Waller and W. Thomas (equal).

Three Shallow Frames of Comb.— 1st, W.
G. Barnfield ; 2nd, Mrs. T. Hignell ; 3rd, Mrs.
A. Todd.

Three l-lb. Sections. — 1st, Mrs. A, Todd;
2nd, J. Fenner ; 3rd, W. G. Barnfield.

(Cottagers) Three l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey.
—1st, W. H. Walker ; 2Dd, C. Thompson.

Novices Classes. — Three l-lb. Jars Extracted
Honey.— 1st, Mrs. Waller ; 2nd, W. Thomas ;
3rd, C. Bilbin, Stoke Bishop.

Three l-lb. Sections— 1st, G. Witchell,
Hallen ; 2nd, W. Orchard, Stoke Bishop ; 3rd,
Mrs. G. Matthews.

Special Prizes. — Highest number of points
(members of Henbury District Association).
— 1st (silver medal), J. Fenner ; 2nd (bronze
medal), W. G. Barnfield. — (Communicated )

NORTH NORFOLK B.K.A.
The annual show of the North Norfolk
Bee-keepers' Association was held in Melton
Constable Park, by kind permission of Lord
Hasting?, on August 5. The honey staged
was superior both in quantity and quality to
that of recent years, the classes for extracted
honey being especially well filled. Comb-
honey, though of good quality, larked

312

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Aug. 8, 1901.

" finish," the bulk of the sections being such
as are met with on the shop-counter rather
than on the show-bench.

Two lectures and demonstrations were given
in the bee-tent, which was also used for hold-
ing an examination for the third-class ex-
perts' certificate of the B.B.K.A. The whole
of the arrangements in the hands of Mr.
0. J. Cooke, the Secretary, worked well and
gave satisfaction to all.

Mr. T. I. Weston judged the honey classes,
and made the following awards :—

Twelve 1-lb. Sections (members only). — 1st,
W. Towler, Edgefield ; 2nd, E. Ramm, New
Houghton ; 3rd, 0. Clarke, Briston ; h.c,
H. W. Woolsey, Edgefield, and F. G. Palmer,
Hevingham.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
H. W. Lingwood, Hindringham : 2od, W.
Towler; 3rd, W. F. Fake, Great Massingham ;
v.h.c, H. Bond, Holt ; h.c, J. Platten, Bris-
ton, and G. W. Woolsey, Edgefield.

Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, W. Towler ; 2nd,
R. Dagless, Edgefield ; 3rd, J. W. Worship,
Hindolvestone ; h.c, E. Mann, Hempstead,
and W. F. Fake.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, G. W.
Woobey ; 2nd, S. J. Mayer, Hemblington ;
3rd, W. F. Fake; h.c, J. Nicholls, Shipbam.

Beeswax. - 1st, J. Nicholls; 2nd, H. W.
Woolsey ; h.c , W. J. Norman, Harpley.

Twelve l-lb. Sections (open). — 1st, C.
Clarke ; 2nd, B. O. Goddard, Reepham ; 3rd,
W. J. Norman ; h.c, W. F. Fake.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (open).
—1st, H. W. Woolsey ; 2nd, S. J. Mayer ;
3rd, W. J. Norman.

Single l-lb. Jar Extracted Eoney (open).—
1st, G. W. Woolsey ; 2nd, W. Towler ; 3rd
W. F. Fake ; 4th, H. W. Woolsey.— Com-
municated.

^mxnpxihut.

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

NOTES BY THE WAY.
14455.] The month of August in which
comes the corn harvest, the "holidays," and
shows, agri — horti — flori — and api — cultural, or
all combined, are being held in counties, towns,
and villages. A. perusal of the schedules
affords evidence of the advance made end still
being made in apiculture in Great Britain.
Those of us who took part in local exhibi-
tions of the seventies and early eighties know

that the produce of the bee-hive was unrepre-
sented on the show bench, except in a few
instances when the straw cap of honey or a
comb from a straw-hive on a dish, or at best a
small bell-glass. Now nearly every " show,''
large or small, has its display of honey, and
oftimes the bee-tent diffusing bee-knowledge
and gathering in new members for the
county associations. The strength of the
County B.K.A.'s, however, nearly always
lies in the one incentive, viz., the County
Councd grants for helping on the pro-'
pagation of apicultural knowledge by bee-
van or experts' visits, winter evening lectures,
&c. All these forms of propaganda show the
healthy growth of our craft, and ought to help
in some degree to stem the tide of the country-
man's flight to the big towns. The future of
our villages will depend on the younger men
who marry and settle therein. In the Union
of which I have the honour of representing one
parish as guardian, we have approximately lost
(since the last census of '91) the population of
two out of sixteen parishes in the hill district
— and this in one decade ! Anything that
interests the labourer in his home, whether it
be his garden, his poultry run, his pigs or
rabbitry, or his apiary, no obstacle should
stand in the way of procuring these things,
and every encouragement should be given to
any minor industry that will enable him to
add to his income during his spare hours.

Foul Brood. — This is ever on the cards.
" Alpha " (4430, page 282) gives his expe-
rience in curing it, and Mr. Balderson, on the
same page, warns legislative powers to stamp
it out. If "Alpha," by the introduction of
fresh blood — via young queens, or the shake-
off method — has cured foul broody stocks, and
they are found free from the disease the
following summer, surely this points the way
out of the mire for those who are unfortunately
in the slough ? Mr. Balderson, in his con-
cluding par., touches another point which has
been discussed before in these columns, riz.,
fitting all spare hives with foundation ready
for swarming time. I do not, however,
believe that the author of the " Guide Book "
ever intended to instruct bee-keepers to place
these said prepared hives in* their apiaries as
" decoys " for swarms from our neighbours'
hives, or shall I say incentives to the neigh-
bours' swarms to go straight to a partly
furnished hive, to the loss and chagrin of the
other bee-keeper.

Swarms Lost in Transit. — The question is,
Who should bear the loss — the consignor, con-
signee, or the railway company over which the
consignments travel (vide Query 2693, page
297) ? The swarm in question was evidently
smothered in transit ; tbe bees would, as our
Editor says, appear as " drowned bees." This
subject is one which I hope to see discussed
by dealers in bees and the purchasers of
swarms. It is fruitless to expect any light
on the subject from the railway company, but
when a number of swarms are sent off in one

Aug. 8, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

313

day, and, say, five travel safely, while the sixth
is smothered in transit, how can the " packer "
be solely responsible ? If all are delivered to
the company in good condition, and at end of
the journey five are alive and one dead, eulo-
gistic letters follow on the careful packing
from the owners of the safe lots, while the
receiver of the sixth grumbles — and who would
not ? Now, brother dealer?, let us hear what
you think.

Size of Brood- Nest. — If our friends who
write of their big " takes ''■ of honey would
give particulars of the age of queen, size of
brood-nest, and style of hive it would enhance
the value of their contributions for novices
who are ever wading through the experimental
stage of bee-keeping, whereas these items may
prove veritable stepping-stones to success.

It is very satisfactory to hear that the season
has been so much better than we anticipated ;
this I gather from letters received from leading
bee-keepers in all parts of the country. I say
leading because the bee-keeper who takes the
trouble to glaze his sections is a progressive
member of the craft, one who hopes by
improving the appearance of his honey to
secure a better price and a constant demand
for his produce. — W. Woodlet, Beedon,
Newbury.

EGG-LAYING BY THE QUEEN BEE.

[4456.] I evidently did not make myself
quite clear on this subject. What I wished to
explain was that I thought it a physical impos-
sibility for the queen bee to use her sting to
guide the egg. I think it is reasonable to sup-
pose that a natural act of this sort is performed
in the same way by queens under any and all
circumstances. There may be some slight
difference as between a young and vigorous
queen and an old and failing one. 1 cannot
suppose that 1 am alone in my experience of
having actually seen the act performed, but
that anyone who saw what I did could believe
that queens use their stings to assist in the
operation, I doubt. The queen's sting we all
know curves downwards, but in the act of
parting with the egg she protrudes her abdo-
men to a position about level with the outer
edge of the last segment of her " shell '' or skin,
and thus automatically forces the sting up-
wards against the top edge of the section, with
the tube opening from the intestines above it,
the base of the sting coming outwards as the
abdomen protrudes, until, when the egg
actually appears, the sting itself is nearly base
foremost. I ought to mention that this queen
was laying apparently methodically and col-
lectedly, and laid the eggs in rows about as
they would stand in the cells, that is to say,
she laid at one time four eggs in a line, then
three in a line just below in the alternate
spaces. Sometimes the egg failed to clear the
cavity, and at the next effort two eggs were
laid together. I did not count the actual
number of eggs she laid while we were watch-

ing her, but at a guess I should think about
thirty. I made several drawings of the opera-
tion at the time, and in a photograph which I
took, you can plainly see the row of eggs
standing on end on the finger.

The photo referred to shows, I think, plainly
what I mean, and the position of the sting.
The sting certainly did work backwards and
forwards during the spasmodic action of
the abdomen which always preceded the
delivery of the egg, the base of the sting
moving through a greater segment of a circle
than the point. It was only at last moment
that the abdomen was extended to the position
shown on the sketch, the spasmodic action
taking place further back, leaving a hollow
large enough for an egg to lie in when, as I
remarked above, there was an unsuccessful
attempt.

The point about the low-flying swarm was
that all the swarms that I had ever seen before
had always flown up in the air, even in the
flattest country, and I was impressed by the
fact that my friend deduced that, as it did fly
low, it had already located itself. It is
generally admitted, I think, that swarms
usually "' bunch up " first, and then send out a
" search party " to look for a convenient
domicile.

The negative of the queen laying eggs is
rather a faint one, but if you would like to try
and reproduce it I will send it along. The
queen was transferred (on a finger-stall) from
my hand to my gardener's for the purpose of
iaving its portrait taken. — George Camp-
bell, Woodside, Ainsdale.

FOUL BROOD.

CAN THE DISEASE EXIST AMONG WASPS?

[4457.] On August 3, while destroying a
wasps' nest, I found in some of the combs
unmistakable symptoms of a disease possessing
all the characteristics of foul brood. There
was a considerable quantity of sealed brood,
and in many places the snow-white capping
had been stained a dark brown colour, and the
viscid contents of the cells possessed the smell
and other indications of foul brood. Many of
the unsealed larva? were dead ; some had
dropped out upon the comb beneath, and, on
the whole, they were drier than would have
been the case with bees. This may, however,
have been due to the porosity of the cell-walls
which were stained dark brown. Foul brcod
has been known to exist for about three years
among bees in the locality in which the wasps'
nest was taken. While bee-keepers may view
with equanimity, perhaps not unmixed with
satisfaction, the destruction of wasps by so fatal
a disease, yet, in view of the fact that wasps so
frequently approach and even enter hives, they
may be the means of spreading foul brood and
render futile all our efforts to get rid of it.
It is from this point of view that I would ask
those of your readers who may be destroying

314

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 8, 1901.

wasps' nests, especially in neighbourhoods
where foul brood is known to exist, to examine
the brood for signs of disease before burning
it. The simplest way to destroy a wasps' nest,
or rather all life in it, is to pour about 2 oz. of
carbon bisulphide into the entrance, which
should then be carefully closed. The vapour
soon kills all the wasps, and the combs can
then be dug out and burnt. The carbon
bisulphide should not be ignited ; its vapour
is much more poisonous than its products of
combustion. — Walter T. Reid, Fieldside,
Addlestone, August 5.

THE POETS' BEES.

[4458.] Few poets, so far as my reading
goes, have devoted a whole poem to the bee, if
we except Southey's " Busy Busy Bee,'' Emer-
son's "Humble Bee," Dr. Evans's lengthy
poem on the bee, and Virgil's long description
of bees in his Fourth Georgic. But many, if
not most, of these " masters of the art Divine "
have made some allusion or reference to the
insects in one form or other. Their homes
homes have been described as " Galleries of art
and schools of industry," their produce as

Combs of golden juice

Not only sweet but fit for use.

The order and regularity in the hive has been
pictured as fit to teach " the art of order to a
peopled kingdom,'' and their domiciles have
been exhibited as models — "Well appointed
commonwealths where each adds to the stock
of happiness for all."

What schoolboy has not had the bees' indus-
try held up to him as a model to follow, and
her persistent energy as an example to " im-
prove each shining hour." The wanderer from
the paths of rectitude has been told that he
might learn " truth and virtue from the bee.''
Without seeking to " point any moral,'' let me
"adorn my tale'' by culling some sweets from
the poets about the bees.

Virgil, " that wellspring from which the
floods of eloquence have issued," as Dante
describes him, seems to have made a special
study of the bee, for his knowledge of the
insect and its habits is wonderfully precise,
and, as I hope at some future time to show,
many of his facts and fancies read like modern
ideas. He must have had a very high opinion
of the creatures, as he asserts that a " bee is a
ray of divinity," and, quoting perhaps the
opinions of others who lived before his time,
he says : —

Some have taught
That bees have portions of ethereal thought,
Endued with particles of heavenly flres.
For God the whole created mass inspires.

He had a very poetic idea of the queen, which,
of course, he describes as king : —

First of the throng and foremost of the whole,
One stands confess the sovereign and the soul.

Shakespeare adopts much the same view : —
They ave a king and officers of (sorts.

And later on he speaks of the

Tent royal of their emperor.
The old idea of queen, king, and emperor ia
exploded, and the ideal has now to give place
to the real. Their monarch of the hive has
been replaced by our egg-laying-machine, with
no thoughts, claims, or aspirations after any-
thing higher than maternal duties and cares.
Their poetic sentiment of sovereignty is gone,
and in this utilitarian age no poet can sing
the praise of one who is only the mother-bee
and slave of the humble worker.

If the poets notice the drone, it is to pour
irony on him. Shakespeare note3 his expul-
sion : —

The sad-eyed justice, with his surly hum,

Delivering o'er to executors pale

The lazy, yawning drone.

And Dr. Evans says of him: —

The unwieldy drones. Their short proboscis sips
To luscious nectar from the wild thyme's lips.

The same author give3 a graphic description
of swarming : —

And swift through ether rise the rushing swarms,
Gay dancing to the beam their sunlight forms,
Till round the fine twig-like clustering grapes they
close.

The completed cells are aptly described : —

Now in finished pride two radiant rows

Of snow-white cells one mutual base disclose,

Thomson, in his poem of the " Seasons,''
deals with the sulphur pit : —

Sudden the dark oppressive steam ascends,
And, used to milder scents, the tender race
By thousands tumble from their honied dome
Into a gulf of blue sulphurous flame.

Flowers have ever been a favourite theme
of song, and the close bond of alliance be-
tween the flowers and bees makes it certain
that the poets will sound the praise of the
latter, and so on this subject we come across
some poetic gems : —

Like new flowers at morning song of bees,
Bloomed and gave up their honey to the lees.

—Keats.
The bees kiss now :
Kiss me as if you entered gay
My heart at some noonday.— Browning.

Scarce less the flowers seem to enjoy
Existence than the winged plunderer

That takes its sweets.— Bryant.

Where he hid you only could surmise
By some Campanula blossom set a-Swing,
Who stammered, " Yes, I love you."

— Browning.
Even bees, the little almoners of Spring's bower,
Know there is richest juice in poison flower.

—Keats.

Trees, too, as well as flowers are visited by
the bees, especially the flowering ones, so we
find their praises sang : —

The wind of May
Is sweet with breath of orchards in whose boughs
The bees make a perpetual murmur of delight.

The linden in the fervours of J uly
Hums with a louder concert.

I bless the unknown hand to Which I owe
This annual festival of bees.— Bryant.

Whittier's " Bare-foot Boy '' was

Rich in flowers and trees
Humming birds and honey bees.

Aug. 8, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

315

The poet wandering in some solitary spot
or mid the " deep umbrage " of a green hill-
side, communing with Nature, is cheered by the
bees' glad hum —

Bees from your garden hither soar

To feed on new blown heath. -Wordsworth.

He calls but he only hears on the flower
The hum of the laden bee.— Bryant.

And to her own green bower the breeze
That instant brought two stripling bees
To rest and murmur there. — Wordsworth.

I wonder if they ever rest when they are out
foraging ?

My last extract for the present is from Long-
fellow. Is it only a poet's fancy ?

All the signs foretold a winter long and inclement ;
Bees with prophetic instinct of want had hoarded their
honey

Till the hives overflowed.

F. E. I. S.

SHALLOW-FRAMES OF HONEY.

A STILL HEAVIER RECORD.

[4459.] Referring to the mention in your
pages of a " Record Weight '' for a box of
shallow-frames containing respectively 68 lb.
and 74 lb. net of extracted honey, may I say
that last week I took off two supers con-
taining sixteen shallow-frames, and the net
weight of honey was 90 lb. I think this is
still better than either of our bee-friends, Mr.
Goodrich and Mr. Thorpe.

I also think the following is worth men-
tioning : — On May 21 last I put a skep of
bees on the top of a frame-hive containing ten
standard frames with full sheets of foundation.
On June 24 I removed the skep and got from
it 32 lb. of beautiful honey. I replaced the
skep by a super of eight shallow-frames, and
this super was taken off on July 27 contain-
ing 44 lb. of honey. If weather keeps good
for another month I hope to get another
super of 40 lb. — Morris W. Jones, Llan-
farian, near Aberystwyth, July 31.

BEE-KEEPING NEAR LONDON

[4460.] Seeing that we rarely have a report
in B.B.J, of bee-keeping in the suburbs of the
metropolis, I thought a brief account of what
has been done this season within six mile3 of
Trafalgar-square might possess interest for our
country cousins. It may also serve to
enlighten some Londoners who have been
reading "About Bees" in the Telegraph and
Daily Mail recently. I not only keep some
hives myself, but take much pleasure in help-
ing others less experienced in the craft when I
can. Among these are some ladies who take
great interest in their bees, one of whom—
Miss Landon, Carlton-road, Putney — appears
to take the lead as far a3 successful results go.
From one hive Miss Landon had already taken
a rack of twenty-one 1-lb. sections, and on
Saturday last, July 27, I removed for her from
the same hive three other racks, each holding
twenty- one 1-lb. sections all completed. The

colony of bees referred to was a swarm of last
year, and the parent hive from which it came
yielded 108 well-finished 1-lb. sections in
1 899. Several others, including myself, have
had excellent harvests of honey this year, all
of good quality. We have adopted the prin-
ciple of the non-swarming hive, i.e., giving
room below the brood-nest, in several apiaries
I know of, and the result is not a single swarm
from the hives so treated, notwithstanding the
hot weather.

I may say we have adopted our Editor's
plan of wedging the hives up a little from
their floorboards while the very hot weather
lasted, so that a free current of air passed
freely below the brood-nest. When this was
done it was surprising to see how it relieved
the bees of the labour of " ventilating" and
started them off working again. — W. Sole,
105, Graham-road, Wimbledon, August 2.

HEAVY SECTIONS.

[4461.] I think I can beat Mr. Gifford's
" record '' section (4444, July 25, page 297).
I have one which scales 1 lb. 5 oz. On
July 19 I removed the three middle frames
from a " W.B.C." secdon-box, replacing them
by fresh ones. The nine sections thus taken
weighed respectively as follows : — 21 oz.,
17| oz., 17| oz., 17j oz., 17} oz., 17 oz.,
and 16 oz., total 160} oz., or the nine sections
weighed just over 10 lb. — G. S. Newth, Wel-
lington, Sumy, July 27.

"ROYAL" SHOW AT CARDIFF.
lectures on bee keeping.

[4462.] I am but a mere novice among the
very many bee-keepers who listened with
pleasure and profit to the lectures given by Mr.
W. Herrod, the B.B.K.A. expert of Swanley
College. His demonstrations and lessons were
marked by simplicity, clearness of expression,
and a complete grasp of the subject. How he
contrived to give an epitome of the " Guide
Book '' in the space of half an hour, was as sur-
prising as it was skilful.

I am sure that all who had the privilege of
hearing the lecturer must join with me in
thanking very cordially indeed, both Mr.
Herrod and the Association for so refreshingly
helping bee-men and bringing the "sweet joys"
of apiculture before the public in a very agree-
able manner. — William Richards, Gabalfa,
Cardiff, July 24.

LOCUSTS AND WILD HONEY.

BEE-KEEPING IN NATAL.

[4463.] In countless myriads they came,
whirling, swirling through the air, their gauzy
wings glittering in the morning sunshine,
their shadows darkening the roadway as they
passed overhead. A solitary horseman
pressed forward through the swarm to the

316

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 8, 1901.

little village that nestled on the hillside,
among fruit trees and bananas. A short time
before he had noted a strange, reddish-
coloured haze, a curious cloud-mist float above
the horizon, a mist that in passing over the
distant hills turned the green of the summer
fields to an autumn brown, and now en-
veloped hirn as completely and bewilderingly
as any snowstorm.

It was Ned Brown's first experience of a
locust swarm. His first inclination had been
to turn back, but as Mr. Martin was hiving a
swarm of wild bees, and he had promised to
assist, he determined to go forward rather
than disappoint his colonial friend.

The road was familiar and fairly good most
of the way. To turn off the main road at the
foot of the red hill and follow the sandy track
across the spruit were easy directions at
another time, more than difficult to-day. Like
a living dust-storm the locusts swept along in
hundreds, thousands, millions ! impelled by one
of the greatest forces in Nature — the force of
hunger.

Martin welcomed Ned from the verandah,
where he stood gazing despondently at a field
of maize. In spite of the waving of flags and
beating of " torn torus,'' in spite of all efforts to
the contrary the locusts were " settling." The
crops were doomed ! As anxiously as Hiawatha,
the young farmer, had watched ' first one green
feather, then another from the ground spring
slowly upward,' till now the grain stood
high in shining robes and silken tresses. But
the locusts had come. At night only a few
tattered stalks would remain to show where
the mealies had been.

After dinner the party set out in search of
the bees. Inyoni led, a stalwart Kaffir,
shouldering a hatchet and walking warily for
fear of snakes. The other boys straggled in
the rear. Diamon, with an empty box to
house the bees, and Saloose, with great expec-
tations of honey, judging from the size of the
bucket she had brought. Expectations that
soon were amply fulfilled, for, after a hot
scramble through the bush, Inyoni brought
them safely to the bottom of the kloof, where,
through the guidance of the honey bird, he
had found a huge hive suspended in the cliff.

Thorny mimosa trees lined the slope, their
overhanging branches bound together by
strong creepers into an even net work of green.
Gay flowers of scarlet orange shone among the
leaves, and at intervals a wild banana plant
raised its graceful leaves above the surround-
ing foliage. Here in the stillness of the
hollow, the wild bees hid their honey, and the
weaver birds built their nests undisturbed
among the trees.

There was no sound. Only once during the
encounter a grey - faced baboon barked
" danger" to his clan. The plunderers listened,
but nothing came of it, and the laggard bees,
returning in the twilight, found their home
had gone ! Ned filled the buckets with the
spoil, while Martin, resting on a mossy

boulder, where the daik leaves of a giant fig-
tree cast a grateful shade, helped himself
liberally to the honey-comb.

A minute later he sprang forward with a
cry of pain.

" Stung again '! " queried Ned.

" Yah, and on the tongue, too," he ex-
claimed, flinging the close of the sentence at
the offending bee.

Ned offered to remove the sting. There was
a drawing pen he remembered on his desk,

and a pair of no matter. Martin assured

him he would be better if only he had some-
thing to drink.

Lessel's place, by the sugar-fields, was
nearest. Martin hurried away, leaving Ned
to hunt round for the puff-ball and follow with
the bees.

Farmer Lessels, looking up carelessly from
the compound of arsenic and treacle he was
mixing for the locusts, noticed some one
panting, hatless and breathless, up the slope.
He set down the bucket, came forward, then
halted abruptly.

Martin's appearance was not prepossessing.
His white suit, thickly peppered with
" ticks '; and embroidered with thorns, bore
evidence of a rough scramble through the
bush. Rents and tears, diagonal and cross-
wise, intersected patches of brilliant colour.
The cliff had left a red streak, the moss had
lent a green, here they appeared singly, there
they combined, suggestive, respectively, of a
child's first map and a landscape after Turner.
His swollen face was crimson with the heat.
His pearl neck-stud showed where the starch
had been and looked as much out of place as
the amber honey-drops that glittered in his
hair.

Martin tried to speak ; to ask something
to drink, no matter what — water, beer, or
pineapple wine, claret or lemonade — but his
smitten tongue refused. He raised his hand
in the motion of draining a cup, but his hopes
fell as he watched the farmer's face grow
grave, heard him conclude it was not sun-
stroke, and mutter something about having
had his suspicions from the first. Young men
were so easily led astray.

Again he strove to speak, almost wild with
the pain, but by this time the farmer was
deep in a dissertation on the evils of intem-
perance, his listener's sorrowful condition
serving as a text.

Martin was too angry to be amused.
Looking round in dismay he spied Inyoni,
and pointed him out eagerly, as much as to
say, "Ask him to explain." But a Kaffir's
liveliest sense is his sense of humour. His
master's appearance and the farmer's mistake
had already proved too funny for Inyoni.
Almost helpless with mirth he rolled over on
the grass, and at the farmer's first question
went off into fits of uncontrollable laughter.

While Martin was endeavouring, by means
of a severe shaking, to bring Inyoni to his
senses, the farmer's wife appeared, a plump

Aug. 8, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

317

little Dutch woman in print dress and kapje
She seemed at once to grasp the situation,
ordered two Kaffirs to hold Martin fast, sent
others off in various directions to do her
bidding. A little " umfaan '' returned with a
book just as Ned Brown appeared on the
scene. He glanced from one to another, each
looking as fiery as the sunset behind, then at
the book. She ran her finger down the index
"page 164, paragraph 1408, How to cure
fits ! " — Mart Ritchie, Thornhill, Bellau,
Natal.

WEATHER REPORT.

Westbourne, Sussex,

July, 1901.

Rainfall, 1"75 in.

Sunless Days, 1.

Heaviest fall, -47 in.,

Above average, 44"3

on 23rd.

hours.

Rain fell on 8 days.

Mean Maximum,

Below average,

69-5°.

•82 in.

Mean Minimum,

Maximum Tempera-

546°.

ture, 80°, on 19th

Mean Temperature,

and 20th.

62°.

Minimum Tempera-

Above average, l-5°.

ture, 47°, on 17th.

Maximum Barometer,

Minimum on Grass, 0.

30-46°, on 17th.

Frosty Nights, 0.

Minimum Barometer,

Sunshine, 268"2 hrs.

29 65°, on 26th.

Brightest Day, 11th,

15-5 hours.

L. B. BlRKETT.

^u^s and mplty.

[2700.] Bead Bees in j\Ton- Swarming
Chamber. — I shall be glad of your help in the
following case: — On April 23 I put in the
supers (with shallow-frames fitted with strips
of foundation) in a non-swarming hive. On
the 22nd inst. I found (to my surprise) that
the bees had put their dead in the non-swarm-
ing chambers to the extent of 9 oz. (the least)
to 14 oz. in the greatest ; there were living
bees as well. But no work had been done on
the frames. In the supers on the top of the
brood-chambers the bees are crowded ; doing
well, considering the season here about.
I therefore ' ask : — Is my experience with
" non-swarming chamber " common or excep-
tional 1 I am thinking (before using these
chambers again) to fit them with entrances in
line with their bottoms ; then, perhaps, the
bees would keep them clear of the dead.
Your opinion or suggestions will be thank-
fully received. — W. C. H., South Devon.

Reply. — April was altogether too soon to
put on a non-swarming chamber in so back-
ward a spring as we had. All carrying out
of dead bees should be done with before
thinking of taking steps to stop swarming ;

therefore, it only needs attention to this fact
to avoid a recurrence of your trouble.

[2701.] Transferring Bees. — Would you
kindly give me a little advice through your
valuable Journal? I only started bee-
keeping last May, when I bought two stocks
— one in a skep, the other in an old cheese-
box. I put the skep on the top of a frame-
hive containing seven frames of worked-out
combs, and three fitted with foundation. I
examined them on June 25. All the frames
were full of brood and honey. In the skep all
trace of brood wa3 gone and the combs filled
with honey, which, when taken off, weighed
about I cwt. As for the other stock in the
cheese-box, I fixed another box round it and
put on a rack of sections, but up to the
present time they are not half filled. 1. Would
you advise wintering them in the box they
are in, or drive them and put them in a frame-
hive 1 I could spare them two or three frames
of sealed honey from other hives. 2. Would
it be possible to transfer some of their sealed
brood into frames and give them ? 3. What
number of frames would you give them 1 —
W. G., Sherborne.

Reply. — 1. By all means winter the bees as
they are. A novice in bee-keeping is so apt
to go a bit wrong in first attempts at trans-
ferring that you will winter the bees more
safely in the cheese-box. 2. Of course it is
possible and easy for an old hand to get
through these operations, but in your case wait
till more experience is gained.

[2702.] Bees Refusing to Work in Sections
after Swarming. — Will you kindly advise me
what to do in the case as stated below ? On
June 18 one of my hives sent out a second
swarm, which I returned to the parent hive
the same evening, and as there was a large
surface of sealed brood in the hive I put on a
rack of sections. The young queen, however,
seems to have been long in getting mated, as
egg-laying did not begin until July 2. Mean-
time a honey-flow set in, and as fast as the
brood hatched the cells were filled with honey.
When the young queen commenced laying I
removed two of the honey-clogged combs and
inserted foundation, and subsequently I gave
them a frame of empty comb ; but while part
of these frames were utilised by the queen,
this was not done nearly to the extent which I
considered a young queen ought to do, the
greater p*art of the brood-combs being filled
with honey, while into the sections the bees
persistently refuse to go. Can you suggest
anything I could do to force the bees into the
sections ? The weather here is very warm and
limes coming into bloom. — Jno. Anderson,
Selkirk.

Reply. — Under the circumstances you can-
not force the bees into sections, nor can it be
expected that a queen only a few weeks mated
can produce eggs in such quantity as a more
matured " mother-bee " would. We should
remove the sections and be content with any

318

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 8, 1901.

surplus (over a full supply for winter) that may
be stored in brood-combs.

[2703.] Removing Skep from top of Frame-
hive. — Could you give me a word of advice on
the above ? I placed a stock of bees in skep
over top-bars of a frame-hive early in June,
for the bees to transfer themselves, which they
have done. At the end of Jane I examined
lower hive and found brood in frames, and so
concluded that the queen was then below ; but
I was mistaken, for on looking again a short
time after, I found her above excluder, and
brood in the skep. I then removed the queen
and placed her below. This is now three
weeks ago, and the skep is very full of honey
and bees. Can you advise me how to remove
skep ? — A Beginner, Stone, Staffs., Aug. 5.

Reply. — There will be no more difficulty in
removing the skep than an ordinary rack of
sections by using a little smoke. If broodless
when taken off and the queen safe below, the
combs of skep may be cut out and extracted.

<&ihm from tfa |pM8.

Abergivili, Carmarthen. — We have had a
splendid season for good honey this year — the
best and heaviest return for some years (I
enclose a sample). Although it was cold and
wet till mid- June, from that time forward we
had excellent weather, and in consequence
bees very bsuy on the white clover and
lime trees from daybreak till sunset. I never
before noticed the bees at work so early and
late. And I can say without prejudice that
some of my strongest hives have nearly com-
pleted 100 lb. each in supers. If we have
another week or two of fine weather after the
rain of last week, my bees will easily exceed
that weight. Hoping all our sister and
brother bee-keepers are having the same luck
as ourselves, I wish them all every success ;
also the Bee Journal and our Editors —
though the latter are answering our questions
and advising us so plainly that there is no
trouble to anybody, Welsh or English, wise
or unwise, rich or poor, old or young, in
becoming a good bee-keeper. — David Davies,
July 29.

The Woodbines, St. Brelades, Jersey, C.I.,
August 3. — Since my last " Echo "• we here
have had some tropical weather, the tempera-
ture in the sun being at or above wax-melting
point. We have had it as high as 112 deg. in the
sun and 90 deg. Fahr. in the shade. Flowers
have withered away and destruction of the
drones by the bees all point to the closing of
the honey season (a good one in my case). A
few hives at the heather are the only remains
of work in hand, and the diminished " hum "
at the " factory " entrance indicates that work
is nearly over for the season of 1901. — With
best wishes to all Bee Journal readerp,
William W. Kay.

\tt J£hmti8 to (ttfltttt.

August 15, at Goole.— Bee and Honey Show in
connection with the Goole and District Agricultural
Society. Six open classes, including one for single 1-lb.
jar (entry free). Schedules from J. Luddington and
H. S. White, Sees., Lindum House, Goole. Entries
close August 10.

August 15, at Abergwili, Carmarthenshire.
— Abergwili Horticultural and Agricultural Society's
Show. Open class for single 1-lb. jar extracted honey
(entry free). Prizes, 10s., 7s. 6d., 5s., and 2s. Particu-
lars from Thos. Rice, Secretary, Abergwili.

August 15, 16, and 17, at Crystal Palace.—
Surrey B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees, Honey, Wax,
and Appliances, &c. Twenty-four classes.

August 17, at Ammanford (S. Wales).—
Honey show in connection with the Ammanford Flower
Show. Liberal prizes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar extracted honey, also classes for three sections
and three 1-lb. jars, light and dark honey. — Particulars
from Mr. Ivor Morris, Hon. Sec, Ammanford, R.S.O.,
Carmarthen.

August 21 and 22, at Shrewsbury.— Annual
Show of the Shropshire B.K.A. , in connection with the
Shropshire Horticultural Society's Great Floral Fete in
"The Quarry." Bees, Honey, Hives, and Appliances.
Six Open Classes for Honey. Schedules from S. Cart-
wright, Hon. Secretary, Shropshire B.K.A., Shaw-
bury, Shrewsbury. Entries close August 9.

August 21 and 22, at Newcastle-under-
Lyme. — Annual Bee and Honey Show of the Staffs.
B.K.A. in connection with the Staffordshire Agricul-
tural Society's Show.

August 24, at Barnton, Wort bwica.— Honey
show in connection with the flower show. Honey
department— seven local classes and one class (open to
all Cheshire) for twelve 1 lb. jars " light" honey. The
Cheshire B.K.A. bronze medal goes to winner of
first prize in this class. Schedules from the Hon. Sec,
Mr. S. Wade, Barnton, North wich. Entries close
August 17.

August 27 and 28, at Solihull.— Warwickshire
B.K.A. Show of Honey, &c, in conjunction with that
of the Warwickshire Agricultural Society. Schedules
from Jas. Noble Bower, hon. sec, Warwicks. B.K.A.,
Knowle.

August 28, at Chester.— Annual Show of the
Cheshire B.K.A., in connection with the Cheshire Agri-
cultural Society. Ten classes (four open) for hives, honey
(light, medium, and dark), sections, &c Schedules
from T. A. Beckett, St. Werburgh's Chambers, Chester.
Entries close Aug. 7. (At double fees to Aug. 14.)

Thursday, August 29, at Montgomery.—

Montgomery and District Horticultural Society's Show.
Two open Classes for Honey— six 1 lb. sections, six 1 lb.
jars and extracted, with prizes of 10s., 5s., and 2s. 6d.
in cash. Schedules from Mr. W. H. Jones, Hon. Sec,
Montgomery. Entries close August 22.

August 31, at Dumfries.— South of Scotland
B.K.A. Annual Show. Open Classes for " Sixes,"
with Prizes of 20s., 15s., 10s., 5s.; also for Single Jar
and Section, with Free Entry ; also Wax and
Appliances. Schedules from James Kerr, Hon. Secre-
tary, Milldamhead, Dumfries. Entries close
August 22.

September 7 to 14, at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (9th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Eleven classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees-
wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers. Entries
close August 26. (See large advt.)

September 10, at Cartmel, Lanes.— Honey
show under the auspices of the Lanes. B.K.A., in con-
nection with the show of the Cartmel Agricultural
Society. Three open classes for honey. Schedules
from W. Cragg, Cartmel via Carnforth.

September 11 and 12, at Derby.— Derbyshire
B.K.A. twentieth Annual Show of Hives, Bees, and
Honey on the show ground of the Derbyshire Agricul-
tural Society. Schedules from F. Walker, Secretary
D. B.K.A., 64, Gerard-street Derby. Entries clone
August 30.

Aug. 8, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

319

September 15 and 16, at Sivry, Hainaut

(Belgium).— Annual show of the F6de>ation Apicole
du Hainaut. Open classes for honey, hives and ap-
pliances, mead, vinegar, wax, teaching, and work.
Jars, bottles, <fec. Schedules from M. Zenobe Defreune,
a Sivry.

September 21 to 28, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with the
fifth Annual Exhibition of the Grocery and Kindred
Trades. Eleven classes for comb and extracted honey
and bees-wax. Open to all British. Bee-keepers.
Entries close A ugust 3 1 . (See page v. )

October 8 to 11, at the Agricultural Hall,
London. — Show of Honey and Bee-produce In con-
nection with the British Dairy Farmers' Association.
Numerous and liberal prizes for honey, &c— Schedules
from Mr. Wm. C. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-square,
London, W. Entries close September 9.

October 10, 11, and 12, at Crystal Palace.—
Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, and Appliances. Increased prizes and medals.
Schedules from Hon. Secretary, Henry W. Brice, 100,
Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath. Entries close
September 30.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All queries forwarded will be attended to, and thoit onlj
of personal interest will be answered in thi$ column.

Trieste (Austria). — Honey Samples. — The
sample is too dark in colour to find favour
here as a table honey. It is also very-
adhesive in character, so that we need not
wonder at combs breaking down in the
extractor. We have little doubt that the
honey comes from the olive trees, as sup-
posed, and it would not, we think, find
favour here for table use, being rather
coarse, such as would be used in making up
honey-cakes or confectionery.
T. E. Hawkins (Chesterfield). — Sowing White
Clover Seed for Bee Forage. — With regard to
the question of it " paying " a bee-keeper to
sow white clover seed for his bees, we don't
think it ever will. The bees should be kept
where white clover is grown by the farmer
for his own profit regardless of bees. A few
shillings spent on seed for such early bee-
forage as is not obtainable free in the fields
may be helpful, but as for bee-keepers
sowing largely for bee pasture, " the game is
not worth the candle."
I. M. (Worthing). — Honey Labels. — We do
not think there will be any difficulty in
getting labels, shown on page 30 of " Guide
Book," by applying to any leading manufac-
turer of bee appliances.
J. Wrench, W. C. J., Edwd. Mann, and
Others. — Coloured Glasses for Grading
Honey. — In reply to your inquiries re-
garding the coloured glasses issued by the
B.B.K.A., we beg to say they can only be
had from the Secretary, Mr. Edwin H.
Young, at the office of the Association,
12, Hanover-square, London.
C. C. J. (Diss). — Fermenting Honey. — The
only explanation we can offer, to account
for fermentation having started in sample
sent is that it may be the thin portion of
bulk which rises to the top because of being
less ripe than the remainder, which by

reason of its greater density sinks to the
bottom. Your sample is badly fermented,
and we had to prick the cover of jar on
arrival to prevent the parchment-paper from
bursting.

J. B. Williams (Merioneth) — Queen Bee
Found Outside Hive. — 1. It is a common
occurrence to find young queens on the
ground below entrance of hives which have
sent out a swarm eight or ten days pre-
viously. You should take an early oppor-
tunity of examining the parent hive a fort-
night or so after the top swarm issued in
order to be sure that the young queen, now
heading the stock, is safely mated and lay-
ing. 2. The mutilated " drone grubs '' you
mention as being cast out need cause no
alarm. It is merely a sign that the bees
have done with swarming for the year.

D. H. (Hassocks). — Bee Nomenclature. — The
insect sent belongs to the Bombus, or
Humble-bee, species.

Rev.E. L. (Ashbourne). — Varieties of Heather.
— The variety commonly known as "Ling
is the best of all heaths for bee-forage. We
hope to illustrate varieties of heaths next
week.

J. Armstrong (Con wood).— Old Bee Works.
— We are obliged to you for sending dates
of books, but it is obvious that, except for
the collector or antiquarian, books on
bee-keeping issued twenty (or even ten)
years ago are of little practical value to-day
in view of the advanced methrds now in
use.

I. S. E. S. (Hythe).— Moth-Infested Rives.—
The compartment of double-hive infested
with moths will need nothing beyond
brushing out well to remove all trace of the
eggs or larvae of the moth. It needs no
disinfecting at all.

F. B. M. (East Acton). — Using Preventives
against Foul Brood. — No harmful results to
bees or damage to flavour of honey will
attend the use of naphthaline in hives as
directed in " Guide Book."

A. Royds, Jdn. (Bishop's Waltham). — Publi-
cation of Prize Awards. — It will suffice to
say that our footnote on page 301 last week
has brought your assurance that 2nd and
3rd prizes were awarded at the Swanmore
Park Show on July 24 last without adopt-
ing the unusual course of duplicating the
list of awards in print ; but please bear it
in mind when again reporting your show.

Honey Samples.

E. W. C. (Cornwall). — 1. Honey is good on
all points, so we need not enumerate them.
It is mainly from white clover and is suit-
able for exhibition anywhere. 2. A judge
would not attach any importance to the
design on metal cap3 of jars when making
his awards.

Constant Reader (Llanidloes). — 1. If you
will allow the honey to stand in a warm
place till the air bubbles rise to surface,

320

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Aug. 8, 1901.

then skim them off, it will do very well for
the show-bench. 2. No one to our know-
ledge " puts up " samples of " honey from
different kinds of flowers."

Suspected Combs.

Special Notice to correspondents sending queries on
"Foul brood."

We urgently request that all letters sent with samples
of suspected comb be put outside the box or tin containing
the sample. Also that no more than a couple of square
inches of comb be sent, taking care to neither crush the
comb nor probe the cells before despatching.

In urgent cases (and where possible) we undertake to
" wire " replies as to F. B. if six stamps are sent to cover
cost of telegram. All letters to be addressed "Editor,

ee Journal" not " Manager."

M. F. Smith (Oxford). — The outward signs of
disease were not so marked as to be readily
discernible to a beginner, but microscopical
inspection shows plainly an abundance of
rods of bacillus alvei in the cells.

David Georgs (Glam.), Young Bee keeper
(Shildon), J. B. (Cardiff). — Samples of comb
sent by above are all affected with foul-
brood.

M. B. (co. Cork).— Comb is pollen-bound, and,
in consequence, unfit for bees' use. The
part of queen-cell seen indicates that the
colony was already queenless.

J. H. (Brodick, N.B.).— Comb is affected with
foul brood. We are sorry for delay in this
reply, but you sent no name with sample of
comb, and it got astray in consequence.

F. W. F. (Trecynon). — The stock from which
comb sent was cut should be burnt at cnce.
During the two years since the purchase
was made it has, no doubt, been a source of
mischief to all the bees in your locality.

John Pratt (Pozznoli, Italy). — There are
slight signs of disease in comb, which was
also badly infested with wax-moth of the
most formidable kind — viz., Oalleria
cereana, so it was wise to destroy it. A
packet of naphthol beta weighs a little over
1 oz. Can it be posted to you at book
rate ?

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve wordt and under, Sixpence ; for evert/ addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

STRONG HEALTHY STOCKS, 10 Combs, young
Queens, 21s. Cark, Norwood-avenue, Southport.
H 26

STRONG HEALTHY LOTS of DRIVEN BEES, 3s.
on rail ; ditto with Fertile Queen, 1901, 4s., guaran-
teed. Address, " 'Expert," Bee Journal Office; h 29

HONEY FoR SALE, Clover and Sanfoin, 56s. a cwt.
Tins and Crates free ; samples 3d. H. May,
Kingston, Blount, Wallingford. H 22

HEALTHY DRIVEN BEES Is. 3d. per lb. Not less
than four lb. lots. Boxes to be returned. E.
Long, Fulbonme, Cambs. __^ h 27

TWO splendid ten-frame HIVES FOR SALE one
super each, 25s. each. DRIVEN BEES, Is. 3d. lb.
packed on rail ; packages free. NORTH, Sidney Cottage,
White Notley, William, Essex. H 21

NEW (33s. 6d.) GEARED EXTRACTOR, little used ;
parted with for no fault. What offers in white
clover, or driven bees ? NEWMAN, 57, Coldharhour-laue,
London. H 24

Prepaid Advertisements (Continued).

GENUINE IMPORTED ITALIAN QUEENS.— Purity
and safe arrival guaranteed. Post free with Intro-
ducing Cage, full instructions for introduction, 6s.
F. Slapen, Ripple Court Apiary, near Dover. H 25

EXCELLENT White Clover HONEY FOR SALE, 6d.
per 11)., in bulk; sample 3d.; also a few dozen
clean Shallow Frames, warranted free from disease.
What offer? Hegley, Expert, Timberhonger, near
Bromsgrove. H 23

WANTED, 200 QUEEN BEES, dead or alive, virgin
or fertile ; 200 Queen Cells, sealed or newly
hatched. State lowest price for this number or any
smaller number. Bonner Chambers, Diptford, South
Brent, S. Devon. H 28

APIARY of 20 STOCKS of BEES, mostly in good
Bar-frame Hives, FOR SALE, as it stands, in-
cluding a liberal assortment of modern Bee-keeping
Appliances, together with a lock-up Shed. Roomy
COTTAGE, with large Garden, TO LET, near by. Good
bee district, W. LOVEDAY, Hatfield Heath, Harlow,
Essex.

RIVEN lots of BEES with Queens, 3s. Boxes
returned. PuiiLEN, Ramsbury, Hungerford. H 8

D

H

ONEY LABELS, new design. Send stamp for
sample. Guest, Kings Norton, Birmingham.

. G 97

EPILOBIUM ANGUSTIFOLIUM, hardy perennial,
plant in October, 12s. dozen. BADCOCK, Florist,
Bexhill. H 1

HONEY JARS— 1 -lb. screw-cap, 17s. ; tie-over, 12s. 6d.
per gross, on rail. Jas. Dyson, Stainforth,
Doncaster. Q 98

r> /- TH YEAR.— Small SWARMS with Reliable Queens,
Z<C) 5s. 6d. Package free. Queens, 3s. 9d. delivered.
Alsfqrd, Expert, Blandford.

DRIVEN BEES.— Strong STOCK with Queen, 5s. ;
package returnable. Phillips, Spetchley, Wor-
cester^ h 7

OVERSTOCKED. — Six strong healthy STOCKS of
BEES FOR SALE in frame hives. Birch, 2,
Station-terrace, Hosforth, Leeds. h 3

HEALTHY Driven BEES, 3s. a lot ; 5, 6, and 7-lb.
lots, Is. lb. ; safe arrival. Cash order now for
August delivery. Hybrid Cyprian Queens (Nov.), 3s. 6d.
Spearman, Coles bourne, Cheltenham h 10

FINE PROLIFIC Tested, 1901 Fertile QUEENS, of
my well-known strain, 3s. 6d. eash, post free ;
guaranteed healthy and safe arrival. WAITING, Valley
Apiaries, Hundon, Clare, Suffolk. H 17

ONCE TRIED ALWAYS USED. Our Solar Wax
Extractor should be in every Apiary. A perfect
success. No. 1, 12s. 6d. Manager, Hardham Apiary,
Pulborough. G 78

QUEENS, STOCKS, NUCLEI, and SWARMS. 14th
season of queen-rearing as a speciality. Fertile
queens, 5s. each, post free. Rev. C. BRERET0N,

Pulborough, Sussex.

OMFORTABLE "APARTMENTS for brother bee-
keepers visiting Douglas. Terms : tea, bed, and
breakfast, 3s. 6d. ; or full board, 5s. per day. HORSLEY,
Merridale House, Top of Castle Drive, Douglas, Isle of
Man. 932

SPRING Dwindling aud Light Supers are unknown
where White Star Italians are used. Store in all
weathers if flowers are about, and a month later than
Natives and other varieties. Always ready for fruit
blown in spring. Leave all others behind at the heather.

S. Simmins, Heathfleld, Sussex.

ON'T BE STUNG. Wear Reynolds' " Burkitt Bee
Gloves." A great success. Unsolicited testi-
monials. Light in substance, useful, durable. 2s. 2d.
per pair, or with self-adjusting gauntlets attached,
2s. lOd. per pair, post paid. Special terms to the trade.
Sole Maker, Edward Reynolds. Andover, Hants.

ACE" PAPER for SECTION GLAZiMo! White ,
Pink, and Green, 1 in. wide, 100, 7d , 200, Is. 2d.,
300, Is. 6d., 500, 2s. 3d., 1,000, 4s. Also something new
in LACE BANDS, 2J, 3, and 3| in. wide, lace both edges.
White, 100, Is. 3d., 200, 2s. 3d., 300, 3s., i00, 4s 0d.; Pink
and Pale Green, 100, Is. 6d., 200, 2s. 9d., 3C0, 4s., 600,
6s. Cd. ; all post free. Sample of each kind three stamps.
W. W00DI.EY, Beedon, Newbury.,

Aug. 15, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

321

(ftittorisl, $totio», to-

DEVON BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The fourth annual show of the D.B.K.A.
was held on the 2 ad inst. at Exeter, in con-
nection with the Devon and Exeter Horti-
cultural Flower Show. The weather was very
fine and the attendance good, especially in the
evening, while the Association display was
quite up to its usual high standard. The
season's honey harvest has been only fairly
plentiful, but the quality is universally very
good, and there seems to have been a total
absence of aphis honeydew. The prizes were
well distributed throughout the county. Col.
Walker acted as judge, and made the following
awards : —

Twelve 1-76. Sections (15 entries). — 1st, C.
Marks, Kingsbridge ; 2nd, C. Squire, Mor-
tehoe ; 3rd, Rev. H. M. Burdett, North-
molton ; h.c, Major H. W. M. Shewell,
Honiton ; c, Mrs. Brealey, Sampford
Courtney.

Three Shallow -Frames Comb-Honey for
Extracting (8 entries). — 1st, J. B. fioule,
Chittlehampton ; 2nd, J. Seldon, Umberleigh ;
v.h.c, E. E. Scholefield, Chudleigh.

Single 1-lb. Section (17 entries). — 1st, C.
Marks ; 2nd, J. Seldon ; 3rd, H. Patey,
Chillington ; 4th, C. Squire ; v h.c , Rev.
H. M. Burdett.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Light- coloured Extracted
Honey (15 entries). — 1st, Miss Susan Hole,
North Tawton ; 2nd, Mrs. Woosnam, Newton
Abbott ; 3rd, C. Marks ; v.h.c. Mrs. M. A.
Phillips, Kenton ; h.c, G. H.Forster.Yealmpton,
and J. B. Houle ; c, J. M. Cann, Brixham.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Dark-coloured Extracted
Honey (13 entries).— 1st, E. E. Scholefield;
2nd, R. Furse, Woodbury ; 3rd, Mrs. M. A.
Phillips ; h.c, Miss M. Pittis, Uplyme, and
Mrs. Woosnam.

Six 1-lb. Jars Granulated Honey (7
entries) — 1st, A. W. Barker, Cockington ;
2nd, Mrs. M. A. Phillips ; c, J. Hookway,
Wellington.

Beeswax (not less than 1 lb.) (9 entries). —
1st, Mrs. Woosnam ; 2nd, E. E. Scholefield ;
v.h.c, Mrs. M. A. Phillips.

Display of Honey, Wax, and Honey Pro-
ducts.— 1st, J. Seldon.

Single-Frame Observatory Hive, with Queen
and Bees (3 entries). — 1st, E. E. Scholefield.

Display of Hives and Bee - keeping
Appliances (no prizes). — V.h.c, J. T. Burgess
& Son, Exeter. J. Trebble, Romansleigh,
South Molton, exhibited, but desired to have
no award. — (Communicated.)

LEICESTERSHIRE B.K.A,
The L.B.K.A. usually hold their annual
show in connection with that of the Leicester-
shire Agricultural Society held in June, a date
too early for showing honey of the current

year in quantity. In consequence a second
exhibition has for several years past been held
at the Abbey Park Flower Show in Bank
Holiday week, and the latter has invariably
proved by far the more successful as a honey
show, for the reason stated above. This year,
for several reasons, it was decided to hold one
show only, which was held at Abbey Park on
August 6 and 7. The result was very satis-
factory, a good-sized tent being well filled
with an excellent display of exhibits. Mr.
Meadows kindly staged a large collection of
appliances (not for competition), thus adding
much to the interest of the display.

The exhibits of extracted honey, especially
those of light colour, were exceptionally good
in quality. Sections, however, were not quite
so evenly filled and sealed as in some years.
The honey trophies were all splendid displays,
and proved a great attraction.

Mr. A. G. Pugh, of Beeston, Notts, acted
as judge, ably assisted by Mr. Rielly, of
Leicester. Both gentlemen gave addresses in
the bee-tent, Mr. Faulkner, o.f Market
Harborough, acting as manipulator. Very
large audiences were present, and favoured
with beautiful weather on both days, the
whole show was a great success.
The awards were as follows : —
Observatory Hive, with Queen and Bees —
1st, S. J. Cooper, Leicester ; 2nd, A. Beads-
more, Woodhouse Eaves.

Twelve 1-lb. Sections— -1st, J. Water field,
Kibworth ; 2nd, H. Dilworth, Shaughton ;
h.c, E. O. G. Head, Market Harbro'.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Light- coloured Extracted
Honey.— 1st, J. Waterfield ; 2nd, A. W.
Garner, Waltham ; 3rd, J. G. Payne, Sutter-
worth ; 4th, S. Spray, Melton Mowbray ; h.c,
H. Smith, Melton Mowbray; H. Dilworth;
S. Smith, Watton Grange.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Dark-coloured Extracted
Honey— 1st, J. Waterfield ; 2nd, G. Proud-
man, Thrussington ; 3rd, G. J. Levers, Lough -
boro'.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Granidated Honey. — 2nd,
S. J. Cooper ; no 1st awarded.

Honey Trophy.— 1st, J. Waterfield ; 2nd,
H. Smith ; 3rd, S. J. Cooper.

Six l-lb. Jars Light-coloured Extracted
Honey (novices). — 1st, S. Smith ; 2nd, J. G.
Payne.

Six l-lb. Jars Dark-coloured Extracted
Honey (novices). — 2nd, G. Hayward.

Six l-lb. Sections (novices). — '2nd, G. J.
Levers.

Honey Beverage. — 1st, J. Wild, Little
Dalby ; 2nd, A. W. Garner.

Honey Cake.— 1st, Mrs. Waterfield ; 2nd,
Miss Cooper. — (Communicated.)

HONEY SHOW AT LEAMINGTON.

At the annual show of the Leamington St,
Mary's Horticultural Society, held at Leaming-
ton on August 6, a very fine display of honey
was made, and the committee are to be con-

322

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 15. 1901.

gratulated on the success of this new feature
of their annual exhibition. The honey section
included three open and two local classes, with
a total of thirty-six exhibits. These exhibits
were so uniformly good that the judge (Mr.
Geo. Franklin) had a difficult task in award-
ing the prizes. In addition to the above,
Messrs. H. Cleaver and J. Tew exhibited (not
for competition) a really fine stand of comb
and extracted honey, including an observatory
hive, which was very highly commended.

The show was opened by the Countess of
Warwick, who takes a keen interest in bee-
keeping, and expressed regret at her inability
to stay for one of the demonstrations which
were given at intervals during the afternoon
in the bee-tent by Mr. Geo. Franklin for the
Warwickshire County Council, and which
attracted a considerable amount of attention
from the numerous visitors.

The prizes were awarded as follows : —

Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, D. Phillips, Wool-
lerton ; 2nd, John Walton, Weston ; 3rd, H.
Cleaver, Leamington.

Six l-lb. Jars Light-coloured Extracted
Honey. — 1st, S. Tumbletts, Andover ; 2nd,
C. Cox, Brompton ; 3rd, W. H. Allard,
Napton Holt.

Six l-lb. Jars Dark coloured Extracted
Honey. — 1st, Mrs. E. Tew ; 2nd, J. Burrows ;
3rd, H. Cleaver.

Six l-lb. Sections (local). — 1st, R. Cleaver ;
2nd, J. Tew ; 3rd, H. Cleaver.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (local). —
1st, J. Tew ; 2nd, W. Faulkner ; 3rd, E.
Cleaver. — [Communicated. )

HONEY SHOW AT CHETNOLE,
DORSET.

The ninth annual show under the auspices
of the Yetminster District Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation was held in delightful weather on
August 8, in the grounds of " Foys," Chetnole,
by kind invitation of Mrs. McCall.

The entries were not so numerous as last
year, but the quality of the exhibits (especially
in comb-honey) were of so high a standard as
to render judging a difficult task.

Mr. M. H. Tilley, Dorchester, and Mr. F.
Chapman, Wells, Som., officiated as judges,
and made the following awards : —

Standard- Frame of Honey. — 1st, G. Deed-
ing, Bradford Abbas ; 2nd, C. Smith, Bradford
Abbas ; 3rd, F. Trott, Leigh ; 4th, T. Bishop,
Bradford Abbas.

Shallow-Frame of Honey. — 1st, A. Buckland,
Thornford ; 2nd, F. Trott'; 3rd, G. Leeding ;
4th, T. Bishop.

Four l-lb. Sections. — 1st, P.C. Bishop, Comp-
ton ; 2nd, T. Bishop ; 3rd, Miss A. M. Ffooks,
Totnell House ; 4th, F. Trott.

Bell Glass (over 10 lb.). — 1st, G. Leeding ;
2nd, T. Bishop ; 3rd, T. Trott ; 4th, P.C.
Bishop.

Bell Glass (under 10 lb.). — 1st, G. L?eding ;
2nd, T. Trott.

Beeswax. — 1st, C. Smith ; 2nd, J. Andrews, |
Thornford ; 3rd, T. Bishop.

Collection of Honey and Wax. — 1st, T.
Bishop ; 2nd; P.C. Bishop.

Champion Collection. — 1st, G. Leeding ;
2nd, T. Trott.

Single l-lb. Section (open). — 1st, H, F.
Beale, Andover, Hants ; 2nd, G. Leeding ;
3rd, F. Trott.

Single l-lb. Jar of Honey (open). — 1st, Rev.
W. A. Allen, Nailsworth, Gloucester ; 2nd, R.
Dutton, Terling, Essex ; 3rd, Rev. W. Head,
Brilley Vicarage, Whitney-on-Wye, Hereford.

Bee Flowers (open). — 1st, Miss Hilda
Leeding, Bradford Abbas ; 2nd, P.C. Bishop.

Light Honey.— 1st, F. Trott; 2nd, G.
Leeding ; 3rd, T. Bishop ; 4th, J. Andrews.

Dark Honey. — 1st, W. Pomeroy, Bradford
Abbas ; 2nd, A. Buckland, Thornford ; 3rd,
J. Andrews ; 4th, Rev. G. Wickham, Bradford
Abbas.

Bee-Driving Competition (members only). —
First competition : 1st, G. Leeding ; 2nd,
P.C. Bishop ; 3rd, J. Hart. Second com-
petition : Equal, T. Bishop and R. Jeans. —
( Communicated. )

*** We are reluctantly compelled to hold
over reports of several shoivs, already in type,
until next week.

HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of July,
1901, was £14,237. — From a return furnished
to the British Bee Journal by the Statistical
Office, H.M. Customs.

(&mts$im&mi.

The Editor* do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinion) expressed by correspondent!. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

BEES IN SOUTH AFRICA.

[4464.] Although it is some time since I
wrote to the B.B.J., I often think of the bees
and friends left behind in the dear old country,
and although only four years have passed since
I came out here, some of the friends have
already passed away, and correspondents un-
known to me have appeared as contributors to
our journal. We have the war curse still
with us, and although not very close to the
seat of hostilities, we see evidences in the
shape of maimed and wounded soldiers from
the front. It makes those who are
near these sights pray the time when some
other way of settling disputes may be found

Aug. 15, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

32:

than the arbitrament of the sword. In my
last note to the B.B.J. I explained how
different were the conditions of bee-keeping in
South Africa, so that it was like starting
afresh. One of your readers out here, dwelling
some distance up country, took exception to
my statement, and wrote me to that effect,
and wished to correspond with me on the
subject, but I have no time for private dis-
cussion, and so will answer him in the Bee
Journal. At the same time, it may possess
interest for readers at home.

To begin, then, the bees are quite different.
Of the kinds I have come across, one is a
very small dark bee, another somewhat larger ;
some have three bright bands round the
abdomen, and these latter are easily subdued.
I seldom require a veil when at work with
them ; the only time they are at all spiteful is
in the middle of very hot days ; they are great
crawlers, especially by night, and are more apt
to get up your sleeves than the English bee.
If you first hive them in a straw skep, as at
home, and then shake them down in front of
the frame- hive to let them run in, they will
often take wing and fly right off. All the
honey I have tasted here is of peculiar flavour,
quite different from British honey. The bee-
flora also — with the exception of fruit trees —
is not the same. A lot of the honey plants out
here are such as I never saw before, and there
is no book or record of their names here to be
had. Then the seasons are not a bit like they
are at home. It is now (July 6) mid-winter,
yet I have the bees working in shallow-
frames and sections, and am expecting to get
more off the hives this winter than I have
had since I arrived here. Fancy having a
natural swarm at Christmas in the middle of
winter ; and yet I have this afternoon hived a
splendid swarm. Several others of our hives
have also swarmed this week. I have found
out that after we have had rain, no matter
what time of the year, you will get honey. In
this way, then, the showers are the salvation of
our honey crop. We have some difficulty in
getting the swarms to stay in frame-hives, and
require excluder-zinc to confine the queen to
the hive until the bees settle down.

Most of our houses here are made of
galvanised iron, lined with board ; indeed,
this is a noted place for these iron buildings,
and the houses generally contain two or three
swarms between the wood and iron. The bees
seem to have a contempt for our new hive, never
having been used to them, I suppose. The
queens are very prolific. I have stocks with
twelve to fourteen frames crammed with
brood. I hope to send you some empty comb,
in which I think you will find smaller cells
than in English combs. I should say the cells
here would run five or six to the inch, but
have never measured them myself. In all the
strong hives drones are found all the year
round. The bees here are splendid workers,
labouring from daylight till dark when fine.
They stop working, however, in the middle of

the day when very hot. Then, as already
said, we have the bee-enemies to contend with.
I shall be sending you some specimens for
inspection ere long. Finally, and after all my
experience since I wrote last, it has only con-
firmed the opinion I then expressed — i.e., that
bee-keeping here is very unlike what it is at
home. The bees need two things, viz., plenty
of air when it is hot (which is very often), and
plenty of room, and no warm wraps to keep
the cold out. — J. Martin, Walmer, Port
Elizabeth, South Africa, July 6.

EGG-LAYING BY THE QUEEN-BEE.

[4465.] Major Campbell, in your issue of
August 8 (page 313), has drawn the attention
of your readers to a very interesting subject,
which I am sure must often have been sug-
gested to the minds of observant bee-keepers.
The whole matter rests upon the following
question : — Does the queen or does she not
use her sting as an auxiliary organ in egg-
laying ? Major Campbell, who, to my per-
sonal knowledge, is a first-rate observer,
thinks not, and I am not at all surprised at
the view he takes regarding the use of the
sting.

I am of the same opinion as the Major when
he says : " I think it is reasonable to suppose
that a natural act of this sort is performed in
the same way by queens under any and all
circumstances." Unquestionably the mode of
laying is the same under all circumstances.

As is well known, the whole stinging appa-
ratus is so exceedingly hard in substance, taking
up, as it does, the greater part of the latter
segments of the abdomen, that it is perfectly
reasonable to suppose, even had it never been
actually witnessed, that the queen during the
process of laying would act as Major Campbell
has observed. I have myself repeatedly seen
the queen-bee while actually laying eggs work
her sting up and down, as if by such an act
the process were made easier. I think it is
simply common sense to suppose that such
would be the case. But must we not seek an
answer to our question from a different and
more fundamental source ?

The question is, what relationship exists
between the sting and the egg-laying organs ?
Surely they both belong to the same system,
and bespeak the feminine sex. The sting is
essentially a part of the female and not the
male. Would it be surprising, then, if one
organ assisted the other, though perhaps in a
very small degree ?

Further, what do we understand by the
sting of the Aculeata being homologues of the
ovipositor of allied species, and does not
phylogenetic development teach us the rela-
tionship one with the other ? Surely we have
the answer to our question. And may we not
conclude from these deductions — which, after
all, are the key to the subject — that it is
not unlikely, though by no means certain,
that the stiDg of the Hymenoptera does play

324

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [A.ug. 15, 1901.

a part in the function of egg-laying, con-
sidering how the ovipositor has been trans-
formed from the sting into the useful adjunct
for the conveyance of the eggs. In zoology
generally no more convincing statements would
be considered necessary. — R. Hamlyn-Harris,
F.R.M.S., F.Z.S., F.E.S., &c, Dairy, Gallo-
way, Scotland, August 12.

FOUL BROOD AMONG WASPS.

[4466.] In this week's issue of Bee
Journal (4457, page 313) Mr. W. T. Reid
writes with regard to foul brood among
wasps, and I am distinctly of his opinion.
My boy was out wasp-nesting last evening
and brought me the queen wasp sent herewith.
He said the cells were badly sealed over and
had a hole in centre just as I showed him the
diseased bees had, and that it emitted a bad
smell. Will you kindly examine the wasp
and ascertain if she really has foul brood 1

I may mention that the nest, which was in
a hedge, was 200 yards from my bees which
are infected, also that last year there was a
great scarcity of wasps, which I then attri-
buted to foul brood. Within the past two or
three years scores of stocks of bees have died
in this immediate neighbourhood from the
same disease. I will be glad of your opinion
in next issue. — Enoch Williams, Bridgnorth,
Augxist 10.

[The question raised by Mr. Reid is a most
important one, and we hope to be favoured by
him with a sample of the "viscid matter1'
mentioned for microscopical examination,
along with your own sample.T-EDs.]

QUEEN MATING AND EGG-LAYING.

[4467.] There is one point in connection
with queens that I am uncertain about, and
regarding which I do not find much informa-
tion in the books — that is, the time that
generally elapses between fecundation and
laying.

My attention was first drawn to it some
time ago when, in examining a nucleus which
had a queen three weeks old, I found no
eggs, which I had expected to find, as
drones were very plentiful. Three weeks
later I again looked through, only to find
no brood whatever, but some honey. I
therefore thought the queen must have failed
to mate, and in consequence caught her and
caged her with the intention of killing her.
On inspection, however, she seemed to be such
a handsome, well-developed insect that it
seemed hardly possible she could be unfertile.
I therefore replaced her, and did not again
examine the hive for about a month, when I
found a large quantity of sealed worker-brood,
and they eventually developed into a very fine
stock.

Calculating from the usual time given for the
limit for fecundation, it appears that about
three weeks must have passed before she com-
menced to lay, and I had a narrow escape of

sacrificing a good queen. 1 should, therefore,
be glad if you could let me know what is con-
sidered the average time to allow.

Fertile workers are very troublesome here in
nuclei, as they start very soon, and on that
account it is not a good plan to leave a queen
too long, unless she is laying.

I have had a difficulty with some of my
hives lately, as I found a number of dead bees
in the morning at the entrance, also some that
appeared to have lost the use of their legs. I
noticed that the dead were curled up and had
the tongue extended, but there was food in the
hive, so that it is not starvation. The winter
has been very cold, so it may be that the hives
were not warm enough, and since I have put
more quilts on they have improved, but as a
rule 1 find a piece of carpet enough. — A. C.
Sewell, Berea-roai, Durban, Natal, S.A.,
July 19.

[The time that " generally elapses " between
successful mating and the commencement of
egg-laying is from three to six days. In the
case detailed above, however, the uncertainty
seems to lie in the date when fecundation
actually took place. Queens usually mate in
three to five days after hatching out, but as
many as thirty days have been known to elapse
between date of birth and mating. — Eds.]

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

The apiary which forms our bee-garden
picture this week is located on the Scarboro'
and Whitby branch line of the N.E.R., where
its owner, Mr. W. Appleyard, is stationmaster
at Staintondale. Here on one side of the York-
shire moor, with his friend, Mr. J. Rymer
(also a stationmaster), on the other, it would
seem that bee-keeping is a profitable home
hobby, for we seldom get more satisfactory
" Notes !-' from our readers than those for-
warded by the two friends named above.
Indeed, it would seem as if Mr. Appleyard,
while perhaps less scienti6c or experimental in
his methods than his well-known neighbour, is
equally successful in securing honey in plenty
and in finding a market for it. This much
will be gathered from the following " Notes "
sent at our request, which go to show what can
be done by railway-men who are fond of bees
and are at the same time bee-keepers of the
right sort. He writes us as under : —

" I commenced bee-keeping about ten years
ago with a late cast, which cost me the
large sum of sixpence. Having bought a new
skep and hived my little swarm therein, I
commenced feeding on all favourable days,
and the bees not only wintered all right,
but next summer built themselves into a
good stock, and the year following I started
with swarms in frame-hives, having in the
meantime had a copy of 'Modern Bee-
keeping ' put into my hands, which I carefully
read. The hives seen are all of my own make,
and although I have seen all shapes and sizes,

Aug. 15, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

325

there are none that I prefer to my own. I
have two ' Wells ' hives, but do not care much
for them'; indeed, at the present time each of
the ' Wells ' has only one compartment occu-
pied. In all my bee-keeping I have only had
one stock die on my hands, and although
I lost one and destroyed another colony,
which was too warm in temper even for me,
you may see by the photo that my apiary
has not grown to large dimensions. Going
in for honey production in preference to
swarms, I find that by keeping ahead of the
bees' requirements, so far as giving super-
room, it seems with me to overcome all
trouble with regard to swarms. My hives
are worked wholly for sections, but each
season two frames are removed from the

price, and in the month of April last I had
not a shilling's worth of honey left on hand.
I find that by dealing fair and having sections
perfectly clean, repeat orders are assured. I
have a show-case holding six sections (these
are glazed and edged with lace-paper) in the
window of my dwelling, and one of Mr. Rose's
1 Honey for Sale ' transparent window bills.
These do the only advertising I find necessary.
I may also say that nearly all my appliances
as well as the hives are home-made. My son,
shown in photo, is a great help in the bee
work at all times, and my wife assists a good
deal in preparing the honey for sale, but not
for the life of me can I persuade her to go
near the bees, so myself and son have all that
job to ourselveF.

MR

W. APPLEYARD's APIARY, STAINTONDALE STATION (N.E.R.), YORKSHIRE.

brood-chamber of each hive, and the combs
broken up, the frames being fitted with full
sheets of foundation and replaced, so that each
hive has the whole of its combs renewed every
five years. I am very fortunately placed for
disposing of my honey-crop, as many
hundreds of visitors in the summer see the
hives from the trains, as this place is
on the Scarborough and Whitby branch, and
holiday seekers are numerous. I got a
shilling each retail for all my sections, and so
arranged it that every purchaser gets for his
shilling a section weighing a full 16 oz. In
order to do this the larger ones are put aside,
and when a buyer wants two the extra large
ones help along those that are under a full
1 lb. Ten shillings a dozen is my wholesale

" Finally, my apiary is located in a capital
district for honey ; I never have to move the
hives for forage. First, we have white clover
in plenty, then brambles (blackberries grow
here by the ton), then the heather, which is
also abundant. I have never kept any record
of what any individual hive has yielded, or
even of a season's aggregate, having no time
for such details, for beyond the bees I have a
30 ft. by 10 ft. greenhouse, which I fill with
tomatoes, besides other time-killers. Mr.
Cowan's 'Guide Book' is my 'guiding star'
in bee-keeping, while the Journal is eagerly
looked for, and its useful articles eagerly read
every week. I am giving a trial to the new
size sections, and hope to report on their
success or otherwise later on."

326

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 15, 1901.

^nqrim and Jj^pIfyB.

[2704.] Non-swarming and Non-vicious
Bees. — Will you kindly reply to the following
questions: — 1. Do you recommend a Carniolan-
Italian hybrid queen (Carniolan drone) as
likely to produce non-swarming bees ? My
apiary is in an exposed situation and I do not
return home till evening, so that if the bees
were determined swarmers I should be bound
to lose swarms. 2. Are Italian-English, or
vice versa, more vicious than the ordinary bee 1

3. Being a beginner, I strongly object to
vicious bees, and in view of this, what variety
or cross would you recommend me to adopt ?

4. What is the advantage of clipping a queen's
wings % 5. Would it be advisable to cut out
queen-cells every week to stop swarming ?
6. If a stock is fed copiously with syrup before
supering, would there be any danger of the
bees carrying the syrup into the supers 1 I
now possess three frame-hives and three skep?,
but want to reduce my stock to two frame-
hives and one skep ; the latter will be kept
for drone-breeding. 7. How can I reduce
them to the number mentioned above ? I have
no spare frame-hive in which to unite two
stocks from two other frame-hives, as directed
in the " Guide Book." Can I unite them
without % I have also one of Meadows' non-
swarming hives, but the bees did not enter tbe
non-swarming chamber placed under the hive
body, and therefore swarmed. 8. Can you ex-
plain why they did not enter ? The frames were
\\ in. apart. 9. If I put them at \\ in., and
the queen had no drone- comb, would she be
likely to utilise it for drone-rearing ? I must
apologise for asking so many questions. —
Buzz, Caerleon.

Reply. — We need hardly say that when so
many questions are asked the replies must
necessarily be very brief. 1. For the cross
you propose in seeking for a non-swarming
variety of bee the Carniolan element must be
left out, for we found them inveterate swarmers.

2. Hybrid bees are, as a rule, much more
vicious than the pure races. The Carniolan,
when pure, is a remarkably quiet bee, but, as
we have already said, its fault is a propensity
to swarm. The pure Italian is also a quiet
bee to handle, but directly you cross it with
the ordinary or native bee it seems to part
with much of its docility, and is usually a bit
vicious. It will thus be seen that you are
proposing to use a swarming bee (i.e., the Car-
niolan) to secure a non-s warmer, and a vicious
bee {i.e., hybrids) when desiring a quiet one.

3. The Carniolan cannot be improved upon
for quietness. 4. Clipping the queen's wing
prevents her from accompanying the swarm,
as, being unable to fly, she falls to the ground
and the bees return to the hive. 5. No.
Besides, you would soon tire of that job. 6.
Bees should never be syrup-fed when supers
are on the hive. 7. It needs no spare hive

when uniting two stocks of bees ; read the
directions for uniting on page 104 of " Guide
Book." 8. If we had seen how you worked
the non-swarming hive we might explain why
it failed. There seems to have been mis-
management somewhere, but we cannot judge
from a distance where it comes in. Why did
you space the frames in non-swarming chamber
1J in. instead of the proper distance, viz.,
lj in. ? 9. If the frames below were fitted
with " starters " only of foundation instead of
full sheets, the bees would doubtless build
some drone-comb therein. The queen does
not regulate drone-breeding ; the bees do
that.

[2705.] Bees Transferring Themselves to
Frame-Hive. — I had a swarm of bees on
June 7, which I put into a new skep, with the
idea of letting them remain in skep for the
winter. The bees did well, but the weather
being so very hot they clustered on the outside,
and this made me fear they might swarm
again, which I did not wish them to do, so I
got a frame-hive on July 14, and put in six
frames, filling the four centre ones with full
sheets of foundation, the other two with
" starters '' only. I then lifted the skep on
top of frames and made all comfortable, and
they seemed to take to the lower hive nicely,
working busily in and out, but on July 27 (I
am away all the week) I noticed a bee bring
out something, and when they were in at
night I found a few unhatched bees fully
formed, but it seemed as if the inside of the
grub was eaten away. 1. Do you think this was
the work of ants ? — there are some about the
hives. I thought of letting the bees remain
for three weeks in the skep, or till all brood
has hatched out, and then driving the bees as
you recommend. So I ask (2) will the six
frames be sufficient to winter the bees on ? As
this is my first frame-hive, an answer through
your much-prized paper will greatly oblige. —
J. Bayliss, Woodstock.

Reply. — 1. The " inside of the grub,'' as you
term it, would not be eaten away by ants or
other insects within the hive, though it might
have ' happened while the immature larvre lay
on the ground after being cast out. We,
however, rather think that the "grubs "cast
out indicate nothing more than the destruction
of drone-brood, so common when the honey
season begins to fail. 2. Yes, quite sufficient
if they contain plenty of food.

[2706.] Uniting Weak Stocks Placed Wide
Apart. — I send you a sketch plan of my
apiary, and I would be very grateful to you if
you would explain to me how I may unite
Nos. 4 and 19, as they are weak and I wish to
get them stronger before the winter. After
uniting, would it be well to feed them, though
honey is still coming in ? All but six of these
hives were driven from skeps in April and
May, yet up till now they have yielded me
already — most of them — ten shallow-frames of
honey ; the others by the end of the month

Aug. 15, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

327

will have yielded another ten frames each.
Would you consider this satisfactory for
a novice ? — Apis Mellifica, Bletchley,
August 8.

Eeplt. — The two colonies you desire to
unite are placed so far apart and with so
many stocks of bees between them that it
would be impossible to join them together
without loss of bees. If they are not weak
from disease or some other mischief, we
should get a driven lot of bees, with a young
queen, to add to each hive. Driven bees are
cheap and plentiful just now, and it would be
economy in many ways to do this. If the
bees are weak from disease, or the combs
happen to be wrong in any way, we should
destroy the stocks, as not worth the trouble
of trying to winter safely.

<&i\um flwm t\it Mm,

Levisham, near Pickering, August 10. —
Heather season just beginning — a full week
earlier than last year. Prospects good.
Weather grand. Honey coming in very fast
to-day. — J. Rtmer.

VARIETIES OF BRITISH HEATHS.
The announcement made on page 280 of B.J.
for July 11 has brought so many applications
for copies of B.J. containing descriptions of
British heaths that we deem it best to reprint
the illustrations, together with authoritative
botanical descrip-
tions of the three
kinds of Erica
(commons or
heaths) usually
found on the
hills and moor-
lands of these is-
lands. We place
them in their order
of merit as honey-
producing plants,
but bearing in
mind that as E.
tetralix (Fig. 3)
grows only on
damp bog-land, it
cannot be regarded
as of any practical
value to the bee-
keeper. The en-
larged blossom of
each variety, to-
gether with illus-
trations of the anther, stigma, pollina, &c, at
sides of each cut, are introduced to make
plainer the structural parts of the flower and
its fertilisation by bees.

1. Erica, or Calluna, vulgaris (Ling), Fig. 1.
— A low, straggling shrub, seldom growing

1.— Erica, or Calluna,
vulgaris. (Ling.)

Fig. 2.— Erica cinerea, or
Bell Heather. ,

more than a foot high. Leaves very small
and short. Flowers small and of a purplish
pink colour, often
pale approaching
to white. Erica
vulgaris is the
mo9t widely dis-
tributed of all the
heaths and very
abundant.

2. Erica cinerea
(Scotch Heath),
Fig. 2.— More
bushy and fuller
than Erica vul-
garis, leaves
finer and more
pointed, usually
three in a whorl,
with clusters of
small leaves in
their nails.
Flowers a red-
dish purple, in

twice terminal racemes. Covering immense
tracts of country on the Scotch, Irish, Welsh,
and some of the Western English moors.

3. Ericatetralix
(Cross -leaved
Heath), Fig. 3 —
Generally lower
than E. cinerea,
bushy at base ;
short, erect
flower i n g
bunches, leaves
in form shorter
and less pointed
than in preced-
ing. Flowers
rather larger and
more pink in
colour, forming
little terminal
clusters or close
umbels. Ranges
all over Britain,
and very com-
mon in the West.

By preserving
these illustra-
tions, readers
will be enabled to distinguish between the
several heathers by comparing a sprig of
bloom with the cuts. Elevation and soil,
however, have apparently much to do with the
quality of heather-honey, that from the
Scottish Highlands being undoubtedly best.

EXTRAORDINARY BEE STORY.

SWARM ENTERS A HORSE'S STOMACH.

An occurrence which, writes a corre-
spondent, could not be described otherwise
than as extraordinary recently took place
at the village of Colliston, near Arbroath.

Erica tetralix.

328

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 15, 1901.

It seems that while Mr. David Cooper,
farmer, Gowanbank, was engaged in a
field at the back of the village furring-up
turnips with a horse and plough, a cast of
bees from a neighbouring garden settled on
the head of the animal. Strangely enough,
the queen of the cast had found its way into
the mouth of the horse, and the workers
immediately followed it, ultimately finding
their way down the throat of the unfortunate
animal and into its stomach. The horse was
consequently put to the most agonising pains,
and wildly scampered hither and thither over
the field with the plough at its heels, the crop
suffering much damage. In a very short
time the animal became exhausted and fell to
the ground. Mr. Cooper afforded it
temporary relief, and succeded in getting the
horse to its feet, and leading it as far as the
village, where the poor beast again fell down
in great agony. After the lap3e of several
hours the owner of the horse was successful
in getting it to its stable, but in the night
it seemed probable that the animal would
succumb. Mr. Cooper was severely stung
about the head and face by the bees. It may
be mentioned that something like a plague
prevails in the village at present from the
extraordinary number of casts which the very
hot weather is bringing about, and many
complaints are being made by the inhabitants
of the village as to their being unable to enjoy
the freedom of their own gardens. — Dundee
Advertiser.

[We have received quite a bundle of copies
of the above very " Extraordinary Bee Story "
from various readers for insertion in B.B.J.,
and we only insert it here in the hope that
some reader " near Arbroath " will be good
enough to send a line by way of letting us
know what really did take place. The
" story " is as hard to swallow as we fancy the
swarm would be to the poor horse, even if it
tried to do so, which we, of course, very much
doubt.— Eds.]

Qtt jShauja to <&mt

August 15, 16, and 17, at Crystal Palace.—
Surrey B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Beea, Honey, Wax,
and Appliances, &c. Twenty-four classes.

August 17, at Ammanford (S. Wales).—
Honey show in connection with the Ammanford Flower
Show. Liberal prizes.

August 21 and 22, at Shrewsbury.— Annual
Show of the Shropshire B.K.A. , in connection with the
Shropshire Horticultural Society's Great Floral FSte in
" The Quarry." Bees, Honey, Hives, and Appliances.

August 21 and 22, at Newcastle-under-
Lyme. — Annual Bee and Honey Show of the Staffs.
B.K.A. in connection with the Staffordshire Agricul-
tural Society's Show.

August 24, at Barnton, Northwich.— Honey
show in connection with the flower show. Honey
department— seven local classes and one class (open to
all Cheshire) for twelve 1 lb. jars " light" honey. The
Cheshire B.K.A. bronze medal goes to winner of
first prize in this class. Schedules from the Hon. Sec,
Mr. S. Wade, Barnton, Northwich. Entries close
August 17.

August 27 and 28, at Solihull.— Warwickshire
B.K.A. Show of Honey, <fec, in conjunction with that
of the Warwickshire Agricultural Society. Schedules
from Jas. Noble Bower, hon. sec, Warwicks. B.K.A.,
Knowle.

August 28, at Chester.— Annual Show of the
Cheshire B.K.A., in connection with the Cheshire Agri-
cultural Society. Ten classes for hives and honey.

Thursday, August 29, at Montgomery.—
Montgomery and District Horticultural Society's Snow.
Two open Classes for Honey— six 1 lb. sections, six 1 lb.
jars and extracted, with prizes of 10s., 5s., and 2s. 6d.
in cash. Schedules from Mr. W. H. Jones, Hon. Sec,
Montgomery. Entries close August 22.

August 31, at Dumfries.— South of Scotland
B.K.A. Annual Show. Open Classes for " Sixes,"
with Prizes of 20s., 15s., 10s., 5s. ; also for Single Jar
and Section, with Free Entry ; also Wax and
Appliances. Schedules from James Kerr, Hon. Secre-
tary, Milldamhead, Dumfries. Entries close
August 22.

September 7 to 14, at the Agricultural
Hali, London. — Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (9th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Eleven classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees-
wax, open to all British Bee-keepers. Entries
close August 26. (See large advt.)

September 10, at Cartmel, Lanes.— Honey
show under the auspices of the Lanes. B.K.A., in con-
nection with the show of the Cartmel Agricultural
Society. Three open classes for honey. Schedules
from W. Cragg, Cartmel via Carnforth.

September 11 and 12, at Derby.— Derbyshire
B.K.A. twentieth Annual Show of Hives, Bees, and
Honey on the show ground of the Derbyshire Agricul-
tural Society. Schedules fmm F. Walker, Secretary
D. B.K.A , 64, Gerard-street Derby. Eatriea cloae
August 30.

September 15 and 16, at Sivry, Hainaut
(Belgium).— Annual show of the Federation Apicole
au Hainaut. Open classes for honey, hives and ap-
pliances, mead, vinegar, wax, teaching, and work.
Jars, bottles, &c. Schedules from M. Zenobe Defrenne,
a Sivry.

September 21 to 28, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with the
fifth Annual Exhibition of the Grocery and Kindred
Trades. Eleven classes for comb and extracted honey
and bees-wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers.
Entries close August 31. (See page v.)

October 8 to 11, at the Agricultural Hall,
London. — Show of Honey and Bee-produce in con-
nection with the British Dairy Farmers' Association.
Numerous and liberal prizes for honey, &c— Schedules
from Mr. Wm. C. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-square,
London, W. Entries close September 9.

October 10, 11, and 12, at Crystal Palace.—
Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, and Appliances. Increased prizes and medals.
Schedules from Hon. Secretary, Henry W. Brice, 100,
Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath. Entries close
September 30.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letteri or queries asking for addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur-
chased, or replies giving such information, can only be
inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

Heather (Wellington), H. Williams (Ladock,
Cornwall). — Refer to page 327 in this issue
for varieties of heather.

C. H. Hogben. — Immature Drones Cast Out
of Hives. — There is no cause for alarm ; it

Aug. 15, 1901.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

329

merely indicates that the close of the honey
season is at hand.

H. Witt. — Coloured Glasses for Grading
Honey. — See page 319 of last week's
issue.

A Novice (Steeple Morden). — Removing
Surplus Honey. — There is little use in
giving more sections at this period of the
year except in heather districts. We should
remove the sections now on without delay,
or their contents will be carried below into
the brood-nest.

Honey Samples.

J. M. K (Congleton). — Honey is from white
clover ; very good in colour, flavour, and
aroma, but it is rather too thin to win if
competition was keen.

A. R. B. (Harrow).— 1. See reply to J. M. K.
for quality of honey. 2. Bees are Ligurian
hybrids. It is quite common to see various
degrees of marking in hybrid bees from the
same stock.

F. W. P. (Crewe) and J. W. Percival
(Walthamstow). — Honey excellent on all
points ; well worth showing.

H. C. H. (Malvern). — Honey is good in
quality, Dut not unusually dense in con-
sistency. There should be no trouble in
extracting it.

E. R. C. (Newton Abbot). — Either sample is
good enough for a local show. No. 2 is
the better of the two.

Suspected Combs.

Special Notice to correspondents sending queries on
"Foul brood."

We urgently request that all letters sent with samples
of suspected comb be put outside the box or tin containing
the sample. Also that no more than a couple of square
inches of comb be sent, taking care to neither crush the
comb nor probe the cells before despatching.

In tirgent cases (and where possible) we undertake to
" wire " replies as to F. B. if six stamps are sent to cover
cost of telegram. All letters to be addressed " Editor,
Bee Journal," not "Manager."

A. P. (Ely).— 1. Comb sent contains no
disease, but is eaten up with wax- moth
(Galleria cereana). 2. You will do well to
get some expert help io dealing with this
bee-pest as suggested. Mr. C. N. White,
Master, Union House, St. Neots, Hon. Sec.
of the Cambs B.K.A., would, no doubt, if
written to, name a suitable man to help
you.

A. Collins (Lee, S.E.). — Foul brood is just
breaking out in both samples of comb sent.
Drone-comb, containing drone-brood, is not
suitable for diagnosiog cases of suspected
foul brood.

D. M. (Kilmartin). — There is a slight trace of
foul brood in comb ; we suspect queen is a
drone-breeder.

"Windmill" (Redditch).— Comb is affected
with foul brood of old standing. No
wonder the stock did not do anything. We
should destroy it.

T. H. B. (Exeter).— Nothing worse in comb
than pollen.

W. Barrow (Leicester). — No disease in comb.

*#* We have received so many samples of sus»
pected comb and samples of honey during
the past week that it is impossible to re*
port on all in this issue.

We are also reluctantly compelled to hold
over reports already in type of several
shows, among them the Lancashire B.K.A.,
Marlow Horticultural Society, Worcester
B.K.A., and the Berwickshire B.K.A.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve word* and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

WANTED, SITUATION on bee and fruit farm.
Total abstainer. " E. X. P.," B.J. Office. H 48

HEALTHY SWARMS, 4s. and 5s. each. Packing
free. Alfred Goule, Henley-in-Arden. H 47

WANTED, SKEP'iof HONEY in Bulk,
Dawkins, Sutton Coldfleld.

s. per cwt.
H 31

FOR SALE, 400 SECTIONS ; also 16 Cut Clover and
Sainfoin Honey. Samples, 3d. Law, Beehive, Litling-
ton, Roys ton, Cambs. H 38

GOOD CLOVER SECTIONS FOR SALE, well-filled
and clean, 8s. per doz. ; 2nd class, 7s. Also
Extracted. Garnett, Well, Bedale, Yorks. H 49

HONEY WANTED. Exchange new Incubators,
Appliances, Wicker Goods. Russell Oakley,
Christchurch, Hants. H 45

HONEY EXRACTED, 47s. 6d. per cwt. : on rail,
Manea Station. Tins returnable. Frei> Pepper,
19, Market-street, KiDg's Lynn. h 46

HEALTHY DRIVEN BEES, 4s. per lot; put on rail
free. W. H. Higley, 15, Mason-street, Kidder-
minster.

FINE young fertile ENGLISH QUEENS Is. 6d. and 2s.
each, if in perfect Introducing Cages 6d. extra.
Spearman, Colesbourne, Cheltenham. h 44

ECTIONS and EXTRACTED FOR SALE. First
Quality. Sample, 3d. Pullen, Ramsbury, Hunger-
ford. h 50

RAYNER EXTRACTOR, with gearing. Used once,
as new, 33s. 6d. Three 50s. " Century " Thermal
Baths, new, 30s. each. Garner, Dyke, Bourne, h 52

TTINEST quality EXTRACTED CLOVER HONEY
V FOR SALE. Sample and price, 2d. Knewstubb,
Longmarton, Carlisle. h 34

FOR SALE. —Healthy DRIVEN BEES and their
QUEEN at Is. 3d. per lb. box. Is. extra if not
returned. E. Garner, Broom, Biggleswade, Beds, h 33

CHEAP TO CLEAR, four, good bar-framed BEE-
HIVES.—4, Charles-road, Smallheath, Birmingham.
H 30

TH SEASON— FERTILE QUEENS, price 4s. each.
Pryor, Breechwood Green Apiary, Welwyn.

H 36

35

FINE EXTRACTED HONEY, 50s. cwt., tins extra,
returnable. Sample, 4d. Rayner Extractor, with
gearing, used once, as new, 32s. 6d. J. Allen, Dyke,
Bourne.

URE ENGLISH HONEY (2nd quality), 45s. per
cwt. Sample, 2d. Cash or deposit. Albert
C'OE, Apiary Hall, Ridgewell, near Halstead, Essex.
____ H 42

STRONG Four-frame NUCLEI, with Brood and
fertile Queen, 8s. 6d. Strong Stocks in Skeps.
1901 Queens, lis. 6d. Guaranteed healthy. W. Woods,
Normandy, Guildford. . h 41

330

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 15, 1901.

1

Prepaid Advertisements (Continued).

HONEY.— SECTIONS, beautifully clean, well-filled,
at 8s. doz. plain, 9s. doz. glazed. Extracted, 28-lb.
tins, 00s. cwt. Tins free and carriage paid.— Soal,
Bochford, Essex. h 43

WANT ED, at Michaelmas, COTTAGE, good garden
and water, in white clover and heather district.
N. Wales preferred. Particulars to W. X. Y., Bee
tfournal Office.
V) BAR-FRAME HIVES, Sandringham pattern.
^v Never been used, FOR SALE, very cheap, to clear.
Owner leaving neighbourhood. Apply, Occupier, 22,
Kynaston-road, Enfield, N. Middlesex. H 32

EALTHY URIVEN BEES in four-lb. lots, price,
Is. 3d. per lb., with young Queen. Boxes returnable.
Also young fertile QUEENS, price Is. 6d. each, post free.
R. Brown, Flora Apiary, Somersham, Hunts. H 35

FI NE~ PROLIFIC Tested, 1901, Fertile QUEENS,"
3s. 6d. post free. Bees Is. 6d. per lb. for 5 lb.
lots or over, Queen included. Packages to be returned.
Guaranteed healthy and safe arrival. Whiting, Valley
Apiaries, Hundon, Clare, Suffolk. H 37
ANTED, first-class SECTIONS or HONEY for
grand Langshaws, White Leghorns, Faverolles,
Dorkings, or Wyandottes. Or would take Honey
Ripeners. Tins. F. Goodrich, Glebe Farm, Methwold,
Norfolk. h 46

WOOD'S .SPECIFIC— Sure preventive of and allevia-
tive for Bee Stings and all Insect Bites, &c.
Non-poisonous. Sold in bottles, Is. 3d., post paid. A
certain cure for Udder Clap or Sore Teats in cows.
2s. 4d. post paid. Postal orders to Wood & Co.,

Manufacturers, Black Hill, Co. Durham. H 40

ROLIFIC QUEENS. — Pure Imported Carniolans,
7s. ; Italians, 5s. 6d. ; home-bred from imported
mothers, 4s. 6d. ; others, 3s. 6d. (and 2s. condemned).
Swarms, Stocks, and Nuclei headed by any variety queen
at fair prices. Customer says:—" Friend has hived two
nuclei. . . well satisfied." E. Woodham, Clavering,

Newport, Essex. H 51

RIVEN lots of BEES with Queens, 3s. Boxes
returned. Pullen, Ramsbury, Hungerford. H 8

D

H

STRONG HEALTHY STOCKS, 10 Combs, young
Queens, 21s. Carr, Norwood-avenue, Southport.
HJ26_

SPLENDID 1901 HONEY, in 2S-lb. tins, 6^d. lb. Tins
free. Sample, 2d. Cash or deposit. Dutton,
Terling, Essex. G 64

P~ URE EXTRACTED light coloured HONEY~FOR
SALE. Three stamps for sample. David Hancox,
Deddington, Oxon. G 72

HEALTHY DRIVEN BEES Is. 3d. per lb. Not less
than four lb. lots. Boxes to be returned. E.
Long, Fulbourne, Cambs. h 27

ONEY LABELS, new design. Send stamp for
sample. Guest, Kings Norton, Birmingham.
G 97

r\ j?TH YrEAR.— Small SWARMS with Reliable Queens,
jL/O 5s. 6d. Package free. Queens, 3s. 9d. delivered.
Alsford, Expert, Blandford.

DRIVEN BEES.— Strong STOCK with Queen, 5s. ;
package returnable. Phillips, Spetchley, Wor-
cester. H 7

ONCE TRIED ALWAYS USED. Our Solar Wax
Extractor should be in every Apiary. A perfect
success. No. 1, 12s. 6d. Manager, Hardham Apiary,
Pulborough. G 78

QUEENS, STOCKS, NUCLEI, and SWARMS. 14th
season of queen-rearing as a speciality. Fertile
queens, 5s. each, post free. Rev. C. Brereton,
Pulborough, Sussex.

GENUINE IMPORTED ITALIAN QUEENS— Purity
and safe arrival guaranteed. Post free with Intro-
ducing Cage, full instructions for introduction, 6s.
I\J5laden, Ripple Court Apiary, near Dover. H 25

WANTED, 200 QUEEN BEES, dead or alive, virgin
or fertile ; 200 Queen Cells, sealed or newly
hatched. State lowest price for this number or any
smaller number. Bonner Chambers, Diptford, South
Brent, S. Devon. H 28

COM FORTABLE APARTMENTiTfor brother bee-
keepers visiting Douglas. Terms : tea, bed, and
breakfast, 3s. 6d. ; or full board, 5s. per day. HORSLEY,
Merridale House, Top of Castle Drive, Douglas, Isle of
Man. 932

Prepaid Advertisements (Continued).

SPRING Dwindling and Light Supers are unknown
where White Star Italians are used. Store in all
weathers if flowers are about, and a month later than
Natives and other varieties. Always ready for fruit
blown in spring. Leave all others behind at the heather.
S. Simmins, Heathfleld, Sussex.

ON'T BE STUNG. Wear Reynolds' " Burkitt Bee
Gloves." A great success. Unsolicited testi-
monials. Light in substance, useful, durable. 2s. 2d
per pair, or with self-adjusting gauntlets attached,
2s. lOd. per pair, post paid. Special terms to the trade.
Sole Maker, Edward Reynolds, Andover, Hants.

APIARY of 20 STOCKS of BEES, raostlyln~good
Bar-frame Hives, FOR SALE, as it stands, in-
cluding a liberal assortment of modern Bee-keeping
Appliances, together with a lock-up Shed. Roomy
COTTAGE, with large Garden, TO LET, near by. Good
bee district. W. Loveday, Hatfield Heath, Harlow,

Essex.

ACE PAPER for SECTION GLAZING. White,
Pink, and Green, 1 in. wide, 100, 7d , 200, Is. 2d.,
300, Is. 6d., 500, 2s. 3d., 1,000, 4s. Also something new
in LACE BANDS, 2 J, 3, and 3| in. wide, lace both edges.
White, 100, is. 3d., 200, 2s. 3d., 300, 3s., 500, 4s. 0d.; Pink
and Pale Green, 100, Is. 6d., 200, 2s. 9d., 300, 4s., 500,
5s. 6d. ; all post free. Sample of each kind three stamps.
W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury.

CLOSE OF SEASON, 1901.

CLEARANCE SALE.— Having a large Stock of the
following still on hand, I am offering at greatly
reduced prices —

" Cowan" Extractors

50/- reduced to 42/6

" Raynor " ,,

32/6

28/6

"Guinea" ,,

22/6

19/-

,, Geared

33/- *

26/-

Small Wax Extractors

2/6

2/-

Large Round Float Feeders ...

2/6

1/8

Small

1/6

1/-

Bottle Feeders

1/3

lOd.

Queen Excluders

9d.

6d.

,, ,,

8/- doz.

5/6

,, ,, Long Sheets (96 X

16) 3/6

2/3

>> (96x

32) 6/6

4/3

Standard and Shallow Frames

1/3 doz.

lOd.

,, ,, ,, ,,

8/4 100

5/6

Sections

2/- 100

1/8

„ Split Top

2/6 100

„ 1/10

,,

20/- 1,000

17/-

Smokers

3/- each

2/3

,, (Meadows')

2 6 „

1/8

"W.B.C'Ends

4/- gross

2/9

,, ,, extra wide

4/6 „

3/-

Tough Wood Dividers

lOd. doz.

6d.

,, ,, ,,

6/- 100

3/6

Metal Dividers

1/- doz.

8d.

,, ,,

7/6 100

5/-

Comb Foundation

21- lb.

1/9

„ ,, Thin for Sections 2/6 lb.

2/1

Super Clearers

2/-. each

1/8

Woiblet Spur Embedders

• !/•

9d.

Section Racks

2/6

1/9

Shallow-Frame Boxes, complete

3/-

2/2

Wire and Net Veils

2/-

1/6

Black & White „

1/ii

V-

Uncapping Knives

21-

16

" Record " Bee Hives

10/6

9/9

1 gross Lea's Dovetail ... 19/

any reasonable offer.

1 ,, ,, ,, Shallow

Honey Ripeners and Strainers

12/6 reduced to 9/6

W. SHEPHERD, Oxton, Tadcaster,

Yorks.

DUMFRIESSHIRE & GALLOWAY
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL SHOW,

Drill Hall, Dumfries, Friday, August 30th, 1901.
UOXEY SECTION'.

Six 1-lb. Bottles of 1 First Prize, Silver Cup, value -62.
Liquid Honey. I Second Prize, Silver Medal.
Six lib. Sections of | First Prize, Gold Medal.
Flower Honey. I Second Prize, Silver Medal.
Entry money in each class, One Shilling.
RULES. — No restrictions as to the Honey being the
Exhibitor's own production.
Screw-Top Bottles. Sections Glazed.
Open to the Woi'ld.
ROBERT G. MANN, Secretary,

" Courier "and "Herald" Offices, Dumfries.

Aug. 22, 1901. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

331

(ftdttorisl $afkti, &t

CREATING A HONEY MARKET.

BEE-KEEPERS AND COMING SHOWS.

The honey season of 1901 has already
yielded results which not only ensures
for it a place among the most abundant
of recent years, but bids fair to produce
so good a return from the heather that
it may turn out one of the best bee-
seasons on record. Our well-known con-
tributor, Mr. J. Rymer, of Levisham,
Yorks — whose honey crop is almost
entirely from the moors — in his " Echo "
on page 327 last week says, "Heather
season just beginning ; a full week earlier
than last year. Prospects good ; weather
grand ; honey coming in very fast
to-day " (August 10). This was a fort-
night ago, and bee-weather has been the
rule since, so that the heather- crop in
the north promises to surpass that from
white clover and other sources elsewhere.
This much may therefore be safely
said so far as regards the bee-season.

But, along with reports of large yields
of excellent honey in many districts and
of successful shows everywhere, there
comes from some quarters less satis-
factory accounts, sent by bee-keepers
who have difficulty in finding a market
for their produce. And it is to meet
this want that we invite attention
to the three important exhibitions to
be held at the Agricultural Hall, London,
during the month of September and the
second week of October next.

The first two of the honey shows
mentioned are connected with the Annual
Exhibition and Market of the "Con-
fectioners and Allied Trades " and of
the " Grocery and Allied Trades "
respectively. Each show extends over
seven successive days, with an in-
terval of one week between them.
And at the two exhibitions over a
hundred prizes will be competed for, re-
presenting about £100 in cash, besides
valuable medals, certificates and trade
diplomas. But this is by no means all,
for we take it to be a most important
advantage to the whole industry of bee-
keeping that so excellent an opportunity
for creating a market for bee-produce
should have occurred in a season when
honey is so plentiful and good in quality.

An opportunity the like of which we
venture to say has never before been
afforded in the history of the craft.

A glance down the " Shows to Come "
column on page 338 will, Ave think, dispel
any doubt as to the truth of this asser-
tion. We have the two shows named
in September • then, between October 8
and 12, there is the ever-popular Dairy
Show at the Agricultural Hall, and the
annual show of the Kent and Sussex
B.K.A. at the Crystal Palace on the
10th and 12th of the same month.
So that in London alone (including
that at the Crystal Palace) four shows
will be held at which many thou-
sand samples of high-class home-grown
British honey will be seen by visitors
probably numbered by hundreds of
thousands in all.

Surely, then, this is an opportunity
not to be lost sight of by bee-keepers,
who have already harvested tons of honey
from their bees this year. Only a few
days ago we were informed by a bee-
keeper (a working man) that he has for
disposal 13 cwt. of first-class clover honey
for disposal secured by him this season.

In view, therefore, of this plenteous-
ness, we invite all who are seeking a
market for their honey to take the York-
shireman's advice to his friend — with
something to sell — " board it, ' i.e., give
it a chance on the show-bench by filling
up the form on page ii. without delay
(entries for the first show named close
on August 26). Bear in mind that a
tradesman may easily be secured as a
customer for honey which has won
a prize at an important show. But,
along with all the ordinary chances of
interesting people in the honey at the
first two shows named above, we believe
that several of our best bee-keepers
have been invited to occupy stands both
at the " Confectioners' " and the " Gro-
cers' " Exhibitions for the sale of honey,
and to show not only live bees in obser-
vatory hives, but also set up " working
exhibits " illustrating modern methods of
bee-keeping. This would be done in the
presence of visitors by showing how
honey is removed by means of the ex-
tractor without injuring or handling the
combs, and by jarring off, labelling, and
preparing honey for market.

If a " working exhibit " of this kind is
secured — and we think it will be—

332

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 22, 1901.

it goes without saying that these
various operations will tend to attract
visitors in large numbers, and thus
arouse the interest in honey and make
consumers. Tradesmen who attend the
show to pick up hints for pushing
their counter trade will also have their
interest aroused by seeing it done, and
in this way, as we have said, will
materially assist in creating a honey
market.

OUR THOUSANDTH NUMBER.

To-day marks the issue of the thousandth
number of the British Bee Journal, an event
possessing, we think, sufficient general interest
for readers to make it worth recording
as showing the continuous progress made since
No. 1 appeared in May, 1873.

At that time the B.B.J, was a monthly paper
published at 10s. 6d. per annum (post free),
and it took till 1881 to reach the hundredth
number. Since then it has been published
fortnightly at 3d., weekly at 2d., and finally
weekly at Id. Every succeeding year has
added to its popularity, and to-day No. 1,000
finds its circulation higher than ever, and we
trust its continued success assured.

LANCASHIRE B.K.A.

BEE AND HONEY SHOW AT MACCLESFIELD.

The Adlington and District Agricultural
Society held its annual show at Macclesfield
on August 7. In 1900 a new department for
hives, honey, and wax was inaugurated, and
owing to the poor season the entries were few,
but the Committee continued the department
this year, and received a considerably larger
number of entries. The quality of the exhibits
was, with very few exceptions, excellent, and
the competition, especially in the District
Class for Extracted Honey, very keen.

The Rev. E. Charley officiated as judge, his
awards being as under : —

Complete Frame-Hive. — 1st, George Rose,
Liverpool ; 2nd, Mottram & Turner, Man-
chester.

Six 1-lb.' Sections (open).— 1st, W. Woodley,
Newbury ; 2nd, W. Ratcliffe, Barthomley.

Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (open).—
1st, J. Pennington, Heswall ; 2nd, W.
Woodley ; 3rd, T. H. Hulme, Macclesfield.

Beeswax (open). — 1st, T. H. Hulme ; 2nd,
J. Berry, Llanrwst ; 3rd, W. R. West,
Northenden.

Six 1-lb. Section* (district). — 1st, Septimus
Wright, Wilmslow ; 3rd, T. H. Hulme.

Six 1-lb. Jars Extruded Honey (district). —
1st, G. Latchford, Hurdsfield ; 2nd, Stanley
Wright, Macclesfield ; 3rd, T. H. Hulme.

Beeswax (district). — 1st, T. H. Hulme ;
2nd, Septimus Wright; 3rd, J. Turner.—
{Communicated.)

WORCESTERSHIRE B.K.A.

ANNUAL SHOW.

The annual show of bees, appliances, and
products was held on August 8, at Madresfield
Court, the seat of Earl Beauchamp. The
exhibits were much more numerous than
usual, and of capital quality for the district.
The beautiful grounds of Madresfield were
thrown open for the day, and, the weather
being fine, there was a very large attendance
of visitors. Mr. T. I. Weston judged the
exhibits, and made the following awards : —

Best Stock of Bees.— 1st, A. R. Moreton,
Leigh ; 2nd, J. P. Phillips, Spetchley.

Complete Frame-Hive.— -1st and 2nd, E. H.
Taylor, Welwyn, Herts.

Tioelve 1-lb. Sections.— 1st, C. H. Haynes,
Hanley Castle ; 2nd, A. R. Moreton ; 3rd,
E. A. Millward, Chaddesley Corbett ; h.c,
Miss M. Vaughan, Whittirjgton, and Miss
Willan, Hanley Castle.

Six 1-lb. Sections.— 1st, C H. Haynes ; 2nd,
Mrs. Crease, Stourbridge; 3rd, E. A. Mill-
ward ; h.c, W. J. Harwood, Whitbourne, and
Miss Willan.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey.— 1st,
E. A. Millward ; 2nd, A. R. Moreton ; 3rd,
Dr. Fitch, Chaddesley Corbett.

Six 1-lb. Jars Light-coloured Extracted
Honey.— 1st, A. R. Moreton ; 2nd, E. Griffin,
Upton-on-Severn ; 3rd, C. H. Haynes ; h.c,
E. A. Millward.

Six 1-lb. Jars Dark - coloured Extracted
Honey.— 1st, W. E. Hyde, Ledbury; 2nd,
Miss Johnson, Malvern ; 3rd, C. H. Haynes ;
h.c, W. J. Harwood.

Shalloio-Frame of Comb-Honey.— 1st, C. H.
Haynes ; 2nd, E. A. Millward ; 3rd, W. H.
Higley, Kidderminster ; h.c, Miss Willan.

Beeswax.— 1st, E. A. Millward ; 2nd, A. R.
Moreton. — ( Com municated. )

Mr. Weston also held an examination of
candidates for third-class experts' certificates
at Spetchley on the following day.

MARLOW HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

BEE AND HONEY SHOW AT MARLOW.

The seventh annual show of the above
Society was held on the picturesque ground
of the local cricket club, close by the Thames,
on August 7 and 8, in lovely weather, the
honey and appliance section being under the
auspices of the Berks B.K.A. The several
classes were fairly well filled, and of excellent
quaUty. Messrs. W. S. Darby and W. Carter,
of Windsor, were judges, and made the
following awards : —

Complete Frame- Hive.— 1st, Sawyer Bros.,
Marlow.

Frame-Hive Suitable for Cottagers' Use. —
1st, Sawyer Bros.

Outfit for a Beginner.— 1st, Sawyer Bros.

Observatory Hive, loith Bees and Queen. —
1st, G. Sawyer.

Twelve, l-lb, Sections (open). — 1st, W.

Aug. 22, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

333

Woodley, Beedon, Newbury ; 2nd, W.
Maskell ; 3rd, J. Greatrix.

Twilcc 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
W. Woodley ; 2ad, W. Maskell ; 3rd, E. S.
Keep.

Six 1-lb. Sections.— 1st, W. Woodley; 2nd,
J. Janes ; 3rd, F. Barber.

Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, W.
Woodley ; 2nd, J. Janes ; 3rd, E. S. Keep.

Honey Trophy. — 1st, G. Sawyer.

Six 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Janes ; 2nd, W.
Maskell ; v.h.c, J. Greatrix.

Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, J.
Janes ; 2nd, E. S. Keep ; v.h.c, W. Maskell.

Beeswax in Small Cakes. — 1st, Mrs. G.
Sawyer. — ( Communicated.)

BERWICKSHIRE B.K.A.

The annual honey show of the Berwickshire
Bee-keepers' Association was held on August
1 on the Agricultural Showground, Mains'
Gate Park, within the policies of Duns Castle,
by kind permission of the lord of the manor.
The season having been an exceptionally
favourable one for the production of flower
honey, the exhibition was fully up to the
standard of former years, both comb and ex-
tracted honey being well shown. Among the
large number of exhibits of comb honey it
would be almost invidious to single out indi-
vidual wins. All were agreed that liquid
honey had rarely, if ever, been a stronger
show. The judging was done by Mr. John
Brown, Kelso, who made the following
awards : —

Six 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, Jas. Blackie, Long-
formacus ; 2nd, James Shiel, Abbey St.
Bathans ; 3rd, G. Davidson, Simprim.

Twelve 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, John Turnbull,
Crumrig ; 2nd, James Blackie.

Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, Geo.
Davidson ; 2nd, J. Blackie ; 3rd, J. Moffat,
Stockbridge.

Single Super (any size). — 1st, R. Greig ;
2nd, J. Blackie; 3rd, T. Henderson, Gavinton.

Beeswax (not less than 2 lb.). — Geo. David-
son ; 2nd, R. Aikman ; 3rd, R. Cockburn,
Howburn.

Display of Honey (not under 20 lb.). — 1st,
A. Falconer, Duns ; 2nd, J. Turnbull ; 3rd,
R. Greig.

Display of Honey (not over 50 lb.). — 1st,
Geo. Davidson ; 2nd, J. Mocat ; 3rd, R.
Greig.

Four 2-lb. Sections, four 1-lb. Sections, and
four 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, Geo.
Davidson ; 2nd, J. Moffat ; 3rd, R. Greig.

12-lb. Honey in Sections (any size). — 1st, R.
Greig ; 2nd, G. Davidson ; 3rd, W. Laidlaw,
Edington.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, G.
Davidson ; 2nd, A. Falconer ; 3rd, R. Cock-
burn.

Two 1-lb. Sections and two 1-lb. Jars
Extracted Honey. — 1st, A. Falconer ; 2nd, R.
Cockburn ; 3rd, W. Laidlaw.

Five 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, A.
Falconer ; 2nd, R. Cockburn.

Three 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, A. Falconer ,
2nd, D. Leitcb, Greenlaw ; 3rd, R. Cockburn.

Six lb. Comb Honey in Sections (not under
10 lb.). — 1st, R. Greig. — (Communicated.)

®>mxt%pnhm.

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

*** In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[4468.] As we "Southerners" have now
finished our harvest for 1901, our interest in
the weather subsides somewhat. We must, of
course, except those fortunate ones who are
enjoying or planning a holiday. These are
naturally still keen on the probable duration
of the warm, brilliant sunshine so enjoyable
to all, and which our friends the farmers, along
with us bee-keepers, are finding so opportune
in garnering the honey and corn harvest res-
pectively. With two large apiaries to manage,
the task of clearing hives, examining stocks,
and introducing queens where required is no
light one, especially as orders come by every
post containing inquiries for bees and queens
or for honey. The much-needed rains of a
fortnight ago have proved the salvation, or, I
might say, a resurrection to the young clover
crop. I have walked over many fields where
the spring corn has been cut, and I notice that
the young grass (1901 spring sown) is a very
satisfactory crop. It has still fully two months
in which it will grow and establish itself before
winter. The aftermath of sainfoin has not
thrown a large lot of blossom owing to the
drought, but every stalk on which a bloom has
been is covered with seed, showing the utility
of the bee to the farmer. I do not remember
seeing so few humble-bees about for several
years as this year. Is it the larger number of
rooks in the neighbourhood who may eat the
young larva? ?

Wasps are not such a plague as in some
seasons, but we have enough and to spare.
Bottles of wine-lees and syrup are alluring
and help in destroying a good number. These
traps one sees hanging at the doors of cottagers,
so that every man's hand is against the wasps,
and yet they thrive. I quite agree with Mr.
Reid's letter on page 313, that the diseased
wasps' nest may be a distributor of foul brood
to other insects such as bees. The disease
may not be the exact Bacillus alvei, but when
we consider that the wasp is a scavenger ready

334

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 22, 1901.

to partake of a putrid carcass, we may not
wonder at the brood fed with these delicate
morsels becoming diseased. I hope Mr. Brice
will examine the diseased wasp-brood and see
if he can isolate the bacteria referred to.

There is, however, another side to the
question ; possibly the wasps were infected by
pilfering from a diseased hive. But even then
the fact that they " rob " so persistently shows
they may carry infection from diseased bees to a
healthy apiary anywhere. Another thing,
however, in favour of the wasp is that it does
not roam far from home for food. One village
grocery may be pestered with wasps, and the
next, a mile or two away, may have only an
occasional wasp all through the season. In
this matter I speak of that I know.

Foul Brood in Sleeps. — This subject may be
taken up with advantage to the craft by bee-
keepers' associations for the advancement of
bee-keeping and the helping of cottage bee-
keepeis. We must not forget that prior to
the introduction of the frame-hive very few
instances of bond-fide disease were known
among bees. In my opinion the chief reason
for this immunity was the yearly "holocaust"
of the "sulphur-pit.'' The new swarms were
those generally selected to keep for the next
season's work, and this continual renewing of
the brood-combs would no doubt be an
important factor in the continued healthy
condition of the bees. Then the wax was
used for commercial purposes, and if it had
any taint of disease, it passed entirely out of
reach of doing harm. But under the present
system our combs are old, tough, black with
age, and when stocks die out what becomes of
the combs ? Are not some sold to or sent to
the foundation maker to be remade into
foundation ? True it is that Mr. J. Howard
guarantees to sterilise all wax before making
it up, but all do not do this. With regard to
work among cottagers, I contend that our bee
associations should endeavour to help cottagers
in every tainted district by giving new straw
skeps for all swarms intended to stand the
winter, and insisting that every old hive after
taking- up time should be scrubbed out with
a good disinfectant. Also warn bee-keepers
against putting the hives out, after removing
the honey, for the bees to clean up. These
and similar measures would, I believe, in a
few years stamp out the disease. — W. Wood-
let, Beedon, Newbury.

ENEMIES OF BEES IN SOUTH
AFRICA.
[4469.J Unlike England, we have no tits or
toads to catch the bees, but we have other
enemies of a most destructive kind. One is a
small fly called the " bee-pirate " or bee-
robber. This is the most formidable enemy of
bees that I have ever seen. In watching the
hives some time after my arrival here I
noticed this fly hovering about the entrances,
and so quick were its movements, I could not

tell at first whether it was the bee catching
the fly or vice versa. This fly will not touch
the bee on the floor -board, although I have
seen them alight close to catch the bee on the
wing, but so quick is its action that the victim
is seized and carried off in a moment ! I have
many times ran after the " pirates," but never
could I locate them or find where they deposit
their victim, nor have I ever seen them except
in the vicinity of the hive ; sometimes I have
knocked down some of them just as the
captured bee was being carried off, and I find
the latter were nearly dead. I thought
that the grip of the fly had either killed or
paralysed them, as I have never been able to
get the bees to sting me when caught, but you
will see by the enclosed letter from the
Government entomologist, that in his opinion
the fly stings the bee to death. They make
their appearance in the beginning of summer
and stay about three months ; you will notice
some of the smaller flies (enclosed) are darker
than the larger ones, those I think are the
younger insects. You will also notice that
they are much smaller than the bee, and one
would scarcely credit that such a small fly
could carry away a bee so swiftly. They are
very tenacious of life and will run readily off
with a pin stuck through the body. I have
only been able to catch them by striking
them when on the ground with a flat piece of
board. If knocked down with your hat they
will at once rise again. It is not too much
to say, I should judge, they will carry away
thousands of bees in a day where there
is an apiary of a dozen hives ; in fact, when
the " pirates " appear about 11am. the work
of the hives is simply stopped, and on a
beautiful summer day, when the bees should
be out in their thousands, you would see all
work suddenly stopped, and not a bee on the
wing for several hours in the middle of the
day. The " pirate fly '' leaves off its destruc-
tive operations about 3 p.m., and then the
bees start work again. Although not of a
vindictive nature myself, I had no compunc-
tions in killing these murdering little pests
whenever I could, but I found them more
than a match for me. Perhaps our friend
Mr. Sladen would be able to tell us something
about this bee-pest? I noticed in the Journal
that Mr. Wells, of Queenstown, South Africa,
sent you an insect from this country which is
something like the Braula cceca at home, so
I need not say anything about it. I enclose
a bird's skin (with plumage) which resembles
the blackbird at home, in colour only, it has
no song, and is called by the Dutch "baee
funger" (in English, "bee-eater"). This bird
also catches the bees when on the wing, away
from their hives. I have often seen them
make a dart after a bee in the air, snap it up,
then fly to a tree and eat it. I have shot most of
these birds about our place, and thus reduced
the mischief. Then we have the wax-moth,
the larva; of which not only eat the combs,
but burrow right through the franieB. How

Aug. 22, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

335

ever, as some one from Africa sent home a
description of its ravages for the B.B.J, some
time ago, I need not write more about it.
Of other bee enemies there is a small ant very
much like the ant at home, but these are not
very troublesome. The large red ant exists in
some parts of South Africa, but I have not
seen him here. I found it at Sundays River,
when in that locality, and it not only cleared
all the honey, but drove the bees out of the
hives ; but there are none about this part.
These are all the enemies of bees that I have
come across since I landed in South
Africa four years ago. The only enemy
of the bee we have real cause to fear
where I am now located is the " bee
pirate " ; the others can be overcome, but we
must try and find out a way to exterminate
so determined a foe to successful bee-keeping,
which up to now I have entirely failed to do.
— J. Martin, Walmer, Port Elizabeth, South
Africa, July 6, 1901.

[In compliance with Mr. Martin's request,
we forwarded a "proof of the above, along with
specimens, to Mr. Sladen, whose esteemed
reply is appended. — Eds.]

" I received your box containing the inte-
resting specimens and nest of the ' bee-pirate.'
I am ' relaxing ' the specimens with a view to
making a thorough examination of them, and I
will return the proof with a few lines of foot-
note in time for insertion next week. —
F.L S."

SOME ESSEX NOTES.

HELPING THE SKEPPIST.

[4470.] " Mornin', mister. How've the
bees done ? " "A small crop, but very good,"
I replied. " I burnt two the night 'afore
last," the inquirer after my bees went on to
say, " an' we got 7 lb. from one and 8'lb. from
'tother.'' After lecturing my friend and
querist on the wrong done to both himself
and his bees by continuing to keep bees on
ancient and altogether out-of-date lines, he
said, " Well, we got some more to 'take.' An'
if you'll come an' drive one to-night you can
hev the bees for yer trouble." "I am not
feeling at all well," I answered, " and I don't
think I can walk to your place to-day.''
" Well," he said, " I'll give you to-night and
to-morrer night, and you can * do ' (drive) one
just to let's see yer actions."

Now, my visitor — by name Stephen — like
the first bearer of this name, seems an all-
round good sort, and a fairly good carpenter
into the bargain, just such a one as could
make substantial bar-frame hives, and keep
bees with pleasure, though the profit* might
vary with varying seasons. But, to use hi3
own words, Stephen said, "Wejes' keep 'em
in the old way — jest as mother use ter do."

Arriving at our friend's cottage a little late
in the evening of the following day I was
greeted as follows : — " I'de 'bout gin yer up."
Then walking down the garden he pointed out

the pit where he had used brimstone to
destroy two stocks of bees a few days before.
I had already noticed the brimstone-pit which
to the eye of a modern bee-keeper is almost
like looking on a gallows with the " brimstone
torch " sticking up above the earth and wait-
ing for the next " condemned " lot.

Proceeding to drive the bees, I found them
a really good lot with quite 15 lb. of honey
stored, and I think I drove every bee from the
skep. When four-fifths of the bees had run
into the empty skep the queen was caught as
she passed upwards ; the first queen-bee that
Stephen and his good wife had ever seen. An
opportunity was here given me to show my
friend that the assertion often made that the
bees follow the queen has no foundation in
fact.

" Well," said Stephen, che expression on his
face showing that he was evidently well
pleased with what he saw, " you've made a
cleaner job on it than I should a burnin' em."

"It shows as you've read about 'um, don't
it 1 " Stephen inquired.

"Well, yes," I replied, but added, "Read-
ing, to be helpful, must be put into practice."

Turning to his wife, Stephen remarked :
" Yer see, missus, they wants understanding
like everything else ;" adding, u I could no more
do what you've done nor my old donkey here."

Having finished my work, and having had
to decline a glass of "home-made" with
thanks, I endeavoured to show Stephen
that even if he must remain a skeppist he
might secure much better honey by super-
ing his skeps. Some of his skeps, as I
pointed out, have a hole in the crown, and I
promised to present him with a piece of
queen-excluder. Before leaving my friend he
mentioned that "We let a man drive some
once, and he driv 'um all over the place, and
made the honey taste so of smoke." He
said no more, but here evidently was the
cause of many useful lots of bees being con-
signed to the brimstone pit rather than see
them roughly treated and the honey unneces-
sarily flavoured with smoke. Stephen and his
family, and his mother before him, have kept
bees in the same ancient way, and though our
friend has seen three-score years, and I dare-
say has never trusted himself behind a railway
engine, or anything else than his donkey (that
is quite incapable of anything above six miles
an hour), I left him hoping and quite believing
that he will realise that it is never too late to
mend.

My reason for giving this detailed account
of a small transaction is that for those who
would help the skeppist to help himself there
is a moral in it. — Wm. Loveday, Hatfield
Heath, Harlow, Essex.

BEES AND HONEY ABROAD.

HONEY ALL THE YEAR ROUND.

[4471.] I have been very much interested
in several articles in the Bee Journal lately

336

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 22, 1901.

about bees in different parts of the world.
There is one thing I would like to ask through
your columns. I was reading a paper on bees,
illustrated by dissolving views, at a Wesley
Guild meeting last winter. When dealing
with the storing of honey and its being sealed
over, a gentleman in the audience rose and
asked if it was not a fact that in the West
Indies bees had become so accustomed to get
honey all the year round that they had ceased
to store any, but depended upon gathering it
as they wanted it ? I naturally said that it
was against their nature not to store and seal
honey, and I could not accept it as being a
fact. The gentleman, however, said, " It was
so, and he had been there and I had not."

Now, although I held to my opinion and
would not give in, some of the audience
accepted his statement. I would therefore
like to hear something on the point from a
practical bee-keeper who has lived there, and
I know there are many such among B.B.J,
readers.

The honey season here has not been very
good this year as far as quantity goes, but all
the honey seems to be of a very good quality
and good colour. Swarms also have not been
very plentiful, although the hives have been
crowded with bees. But there is an instance
near here that 1 know of where three swarms
issued from a hole in the wall under the roof
of a house within a week, all three being
secured, and are doing well. The bees had
been in the wall for several years, but swarms
had never been secured before.

I may say that in this part there are a great
quantity of bees in roofs of houses, chimneys,
and hollow trees, and such like places. — A.
Godslands Bovey Tracey, Devon.

[We are very pleased to hear of your not
" giving in," because the gentleman — though
meaning well no doubt — is quite wrong as to
bees refusing to store honey under the con-
ditions named. We do not believe there is a
place in the world where bees act as stated.
It is in the very nature of bees to perform
the work allotted to them in promoting the
fertilisation of the fruits and flowers of the
earth, and that work they will get through if
the sun shines. — Eds.]

BEES IN THE CHANNEL ISLANDS.

[4472.] Following on my recent " Echoes "
from this part of our islands, a short account
of my results in bee-keeping may possess
interest, so with your permission I will detail
the treatment of an " observatory skep." On
June 10 I placed on this hive two bell-
glasses fitted with foundation. The bees took
possession at once. On the 20 th I put on
another bell-glass, similarly fitted, with the
same results. On the 24th I noted bees were
" hanging out," so I placed the skep on top of
frame-hive (ten frames), made all snug, and
the following day found every bee fully at

work with thousands in the bell-glasses.
On July 6 bees were sealing over the
honey in bell-glasses and also in skep below.
Ten days later T removed No. 1 bell-glass, a
perfect picture of good workmanship. On
AugU9t 5 I removed the two remaining glasses,
the combs being perfectly sealed and filled.
On August 7 I took off the skep from top of
frame-hive and extracted from the skep
38 lb. 14 oz. of ripe honey. The bell-glasses
I reserve for " showing," the rest for use and
sale.

I have already disposed of my surplus at
Is. per lb., all of which was bespoke prior to
extracting. It will be seen by the foregoing
that the skep was six weeks and. two days on
top of bar-frame hive, and was very light
when placed on. Now the bees have fully
established themselves and stored their house
for the winter. The size of observatory skep
is 15 in. diameter, 9 in. deep, flat top. I con-
sider this a record weight from so small a
skep. Perhaps other friends may have ob-
tained more. Hoping they have, and with
best wishes to all. — William W. Kay,
St. Brelades, Jersey, August 17.

BIRDS AND BEES.

THE RED -BACKED SHRIKE OR BUTCHER-BIRD.

[4473.] Referring to the mention of this
bird as a bee-killer on page 303 of B.B.J, for
August 1, I should like to say a word about
the "butcher-bird" and its habit of killing
bees. Last week I noticed one of these birds
on my garden fence watching the hive en-
trances, and whenever a bee came out he
made a dart, and, snapping the bee up,
brought it back to the fence, and as it seemed
to me deliberately picked the sting out before
swallowing it. The bird was so intent on the
bees that it took no notice of me and I shot it,
afterwards showing it to some friends, who
rather doubted its propensity for bee- catching.
In order, therefore, to be quite sure, I made a
post-mortem and found quite a number o|!
bees. I did not trouble to count them, think-
ing it ' would be of no interest to any other
bee-keepers. — F. Knight, Warnham, Sussex.

BEE-KEEPING NEAR LONDON.

[4474], I am pleased to add another report
of bee-keeping in the suburbs. It is, as Mr.
Sole says (4460, page 315), rare for us to get
a report in B.B.J, from so near London.

I am almost an amateur, as this is my
second year of bee-keeping. I am about six
miles from Charing Cross. Last year I started
with one hive, and now have five. I have
taken 15 lb. of honey from my old stock, and
expect to take a similar lot during the
present month. I intend, if possible, to make a
better start in the coming spring, when I hope
to have five strong stocks to start with. I do
not know a single bee-keeper in this neighbour-

Aug. 22, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

337

hood, and as I am anxious to gain experience,
I should be very pleased to hear from any
brother bee-keeper near here. I may mention
that in my young days, when a boy, I used to
help my father dig a hole and destroy our bees
to obtain the honey.— A. Wood, Park-road,
Crouch End, N.

[2707.] Drone-breeding Queen. — I shall be
if you will kindly give me, in an
early issue of the Bee Journal, your opinion
concerning the following case : — I am send-
ing a piece of comb. Its appearance mostly
resembles chilled brood, but the slightly
indented cappings and perforations lead me to
wonder whether it may be a case of foul
brood which is, I am told, prevalent in this
neighbourhood. Though I have been inte-
rested in bee-keeping during the past four or
five years, hitherto I have seen nothing of
foul brood. The bees were transferred in
June from a skep which I bought from a
gentleman in Norfolk. I used no old comb,
but full sheets and half-sheets of " Weed "
foundation. The queen was not particularly
prolific, and when 1 returned from my holidays
on July 16 1 examined the hive, and found it
destitute of eggs or young larvse. There was
a cell from which a queen had lately emerged.
About a fortnight later I found a small batch of
eggs, and I have not disturbed the brood-nest
again until to-day. I have noticed for several
days past that the bees have been casting out
grubs, but this morning I intercepted one, and
found it to be that of a worker. An examination
of the brood-nest revealed the fact that all the
central combs were in a condition similar to
the specimen I send. The colony is in a
" W.B.C." hive, with a fast bottom, and for the
life of me I cannot understand how the brood
could have been chilled, seeing that the bees
have been working in a rack of shallow frames.
During the past two or three weeks the bees
have been loitering about the alighting board,
and have not shown their wonted energy on
days when honey is probably obtainable. Had
there been no suspicion of foul brood here I
should not have troubled you, for I should
have pronounced it a case of foul brood. I
have done no feeding whatever. The present
queen is evidently laying well. — Chas. H.
Heap, Bickmansworth, August 16.

Reply. — There is no disease in comb sent.
It contains only drone brood, some cells capped
over, others partly capped, the white heads
of the pup;r being visible, as often happens
when bees have been overdosed with disin-
fectants. From above details it seems cer-
tain that the original queen of the stock in
skep has gone, and that a successor has been
raised by the bees. But as comb sent contains
drone brood only we fear the young queen has
not mated. You say she is now "laying

well." If her progeny are worker bees, all will
be right ; if drones only, she is worthless.
Make this point clear by examining brood and
let us know ; also say a word as to " over-
dosing " ; we will then advise you further.

[2703.] Removing Surplus Honey from Skeys.
— I caught a swarm of bees about the
last week in June. I hived them in a flat-
topped skep with a small dome-shaped skep
fixed on top as a super. Could I take the
small on the top away for the winter and drive
the bees into the lower skep for greater
warmth, and stop them from entering the top
hive at all ? 2. Will the stock require feeding
for the winter ? I intend getting the bees into
a modern frame-hive in the spring if I can
carry them safely through the winter. — H. J.
Pope, Bristol.

Reply. — 1. If the "super" contains honey
only — no brood — it will be a simple task to
remove it and return the bees to the lower skep
after driving. 2. If the lower hive weighs
less than 20 to 25 lb. when put up for winter,
it will need feeding up to that weight.

[2709.] Honey from Deadly Nightshade. —
Can you inform us whether honey collected
from the deadly nightshade (Akopa bella-
donna) is poisonous to human beings ? On
August 5 1 noticed hive-bees at work on the
flowers of this plant, but whether they were
collecting honey as well as the pollen with
which they were covered I could not tell. It
is well known that the rabbits in the neigh-
bourhood feed on the leaves of the deadly
nightshade without ill effects to themselves,
although I am told the rabbits which have so
dined make a dangerous dinner for human
beings afterwards. — H. C. W., Old . Colwick,
Notts.

Reply. — No alarm need be felt with regard
to honey from deadly nightshade. The nectar
gathered from that plant is so small as to be
perfectly innocuous to human beings, and at
the worst it may, like other poisons, be useful
medicinally. Anyway, no one need fear its
effects in this country.

[2710.] Working the " Wells " Hive for
Comb-Honey. — 1. Could you let me know how
a " Wells " hive is worked for the production
of comb-honey? 2. What is the partition
between the two stocks like ? Would per-
forated zinc do 1 3. What other differences
in structure (apart from size) are essential in a
"Wells" hive? 4. If the partition were re-
placed by a dummy, would the two stocks live
peaceably with entrances so near each other ?
5. How would the following queens usually
be placed in order of merit— Cyprian, Car-
niolan, Italian, all hybrids, and the ordinary
British queen with a strain of Italian in it ?
— A. Robertson, Benview, Dumbarton.

Reply. — 1. We know of no difference in
working the " Wells " from an ordinary hive,
save that in the " Wells " plan the two lots of
bees work in a super common to both. 2 and
3. If interested in the " Wells system," you
should invest six stamps in obtaining Mr.

338

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 22, 1901.

Wells' pamphlet, giving his owd methods.
Perforated zinc will not answer as a Wells
dummy. 4. Yes. 5. We prefer the Italian-
British hybrid. The others are simply matters
of personal preference, and ours is for a good
strain of the native bee.

%n $hom to dtomc.

August 24, at Barnton, "Northwich.— Honey
show in connection with the flower show. Honey
department — seven local classes.

August 27 and 28, at Solihull.— Warwickshire
B.K.A. Show of Honey, &c, in conjunction with that
of the Warwickshire Agricultural Society. Schedules
from Jas. Noble Bower, hon. sec, Warwicks. B.K.A.,
Knowle.

August 28, at Chester.— Annual Show of the
Cheshire B.K.A., in connection with the Cheshire Agri-
cultural Society. Ten classes for hives and honey.

Thursday, August 29, at Montgomery.—
Montgomery and District Horticultural Society's Show.
Two open Classes for Honey.

August 31, at Dumfries.— South of Scotland
B.K.A. Annual Show. Open Classes for " Sixes,"
with Prizes of 20s., 15s., 10s., 5s.

September 7 to 14, at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (9th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Eleven classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees-
wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers. Entries
close August 26. (See large advt. on page v.)

September 10, at Cartmel, Lanes.— Honey
show under the auspices of the Lanes. B.K.A., in con-
nection with the show of the Cartmel Agricultural
Society. Three open classes for honey. Schedules
from W. Cragg, Cartmel via Carnforth.

September 11 and 12, at Derby.— Derbyshire
B.K.A. twentieth Annual Show of Hives, Bees, and
Honey on the show ground of the Derbyshire Agricul-
tural Society. Schedules from P. Walker, Secretary
D. B.K.A , 64, Gerard-street Derby. Entries clone
August 30.

September 15 and 16, at Sivry, Hainaut
(Belgium).— Annual show of the Federation Apicole
du Hainaut. Open classes for honey, hives and ap-
pliances, mead, vinegar, wax, teaching, and work.
Jars, bottles, &c. Schedules from M. Zenobe Defrenne,
a Sivry.

September 21 to 28, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with the
fifth Annual Exhibition of the Grocery and Kindred
Trades. Eleven classes for comb and extracted honey
and bees-wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers.
Entries close August 31. (See page v.)

October 8 to 11, at the Agricultural Hall,
London. — Show of Honey and Bee-produce in con-
nection with the British Dairy Farmers' Association.
Numerous and liberal prizes for honey, &c— Schedules
from Mr. Wm. C. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-square,
London, W. Entries close September 9.

October 10, 11, and 12, at Crystal Palace-
Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, and Appliances. Increased prizes and medals.
Schedules from Hon. Secretary, Henry W. Brice, 100,
Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath. Entries close
September 30.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All queries/ortcarded teill be attended to, and thoie only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

0. Styles (Newport). — Points for Judging
Extracted Honey. — Briefly stated, the
points are : — (1) Colour (combined with
brightness and clearness) ; (2) consistency

(or specific gravity) ; (3) aroma; (4) flavour;
(5) " get-up '' (i.e., uniformity in colour
and attractive appearance for market). On
question of colour (1) judges vary a little,
but not often. Pale golden colour is con-
sidered best. (2) Thin, unripe honey is a
bad fault ; we like the sample to be thick or
fully ripe. (3) This must be fragrant, not
offensive in any way. (4) This is the
crucial point of the whole, and though a
competent judge rarely fails to notice the
" best " when a high-class sample comes
before him, it is not easy to define. Finally,
the " get up " must always be carefully at-
tended to. A dozen jars uneven in colour
and staged in jars not uniform in size or
lacking the bright, clean, " toothsomeness,"
so to speak, that makes the exhibit pleasing
to the eye is always offensive to a keen
judge, and should never be overlooked.
For coloured glasses used in grading honey
vide B.J. of August 8 (page 319).

Novice (Market Harboro'). — Carbon Bi-Sul-
phide for Destroying Bees in Trees. — 1. We
have no doubt as to the efficacy of carbon
bi-sulphide for destroying bees if used as
directed in Mr. Reid's letter on page 313 of
B.J. for August 8. But when you ask if
so deadly a poison can be used with no
detriment to honey or combs we should say
use a simpler remedy for destroying the
bees. Sulphur or chloroform would be
safer and better.

A. Z. (Bristol).— thing Honey from Diseased
Hives as Bee-Food. — It has been proved
that the spores of foul brood will germinate
after boiling for about two hours, though
two and a half hours destroyed their vitality.
On the other hand, if the stock from which
the honey was taken is only slightly affected,
and has not reached the spore stage, boiling
for a few minutes will entirely remove
danger.

Ebor (Dunham Valley). — Mandrake. — Al-
though bees visit the bloom of mandrake,
we do not think it possesses any real value
as a honey produce blossom.

F. G. Short (Kingsbridge). — Foul Brood
Legislation. — A glance over the proceedings
in Parliament will go far to prove the
futility of moving again in this matter just
now ; consequently, bee-keepers will have
to " bide their time," we fear — at least for
the present.

Jas. Hiam. — The circumstances mentioned,
and your position as chairman of the local
bee club, make it desirable to have a reliable
opinion on the question of foul brood in the
district, and as the sample of comb sent is
unsuitable for the purpose of diagnosis, we
should like a better one, i.e., more character-
istic of the general condition of the
stocks suspected. Cut out a piece of comb
3 in. or 4 in. square (with a cell or two that
has been sealed over for some time) con-
taining sealed and unsealed larvae, and do
not probe the cells at all, leave that to us.

Aug. 22, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

339

We will then go carefully into it with the
microscope. There are very slight signs of
disease in your sample, but when we are
supposed to be dealing with a whole dis-
trict, this evidence is not strong enough to
meet the case.

R. Z. Sharp (Formby). — The queen-bee sent
has been fertilised.

Thos. Hood (Pickering). — Insect Nomen-
clature.— The insect sent is a specimen of
fly which has no connection whatever with
the honey bee.

Honey Samples.

W. Wright (Hull). — 1. Sample is almost
wholly from white clover. 2. It is quite
suitable for the show-bench, but as granula-
tion has begun the honey looks cloudy and
dull. It may be " cleared " again by im-
mersing the jars in water and heating the
latter till rather hot for the bare hand when
inserted. 3. It needs no " straining,"
nothing but warming till the honey is clear
and bright.

A Beginner (North Wales). — Sample is good
on all points and very suitable for exhibi-
tion.

H. H. K. (Ambleside). — Sample sent looks
and tastes like honey-dew.

W. H. (Ayrshire). — Sample of honey is excel-
lent on all points.

Suspected Combs.

Special Notice to correspondents sending queries on
"Foul brood."

We urgently request that all letters sent with samples
of suspected comb be put outside the box or tin containing
the sample. Also that no more than a couple of square
inches of comb be sent, taking care to neither crush the
comb nor probe the cells before despatching.

In urgent cases (and where possible) we undertake to
" wire " replies as to F. B. if six stamps are sent to cover
cost of telegram. All letters to be addressed "Editor,
Bee Journal," not " Manager."

" Pro Bono Publico " and W. Oddy. — Foul-
brood is in both cases developing rapidly
in comb sent.

A. E. M. (Worcester). — Comb is affected with
foul-brood.

Green (Larkhall). — No comb enclosed with
letter, and none since received that we can
identify with yourself.

L. H. A. (Sheffield). — There is no disease in
comb sent. It is, however, apparent that
queen is a drone-breeder, your sample con-
taining only drone-brood in worker cells.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve wordt and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

FOR SALE, 20 lots DRIVEN BEES, 3s. per lot, or 9d.
per lb., with Queen ; boxes returnable. J. Barnes,
Burwell, Camns. H 79

STRONG STOCKS in skeps, 1901 fertile Queen, guar-
anteed healthy, lis. 6d. Woods, Normandy, Guild-
ford. H 74

PURE NEW ENGLISH HONEY (second quality),
od. lb. ; in 56-lb. tins. Tins free. HARDY, Oak
House, Great Yeldham, Halstead, Essex. H 59

H

Prepaid Advertisements (Continued).

HONEYSLICE SECTION WRAPPERS, for Show
and Shop, 2s. per 100. Of dealers, or Bell, Beverley
House, East Barnet. H 58

■\X70RKING FOREMAN DISENGAGED. Experienced,
VV trustworthy. Bee-farming a speciality. Address,
" Z.," B. J. Office. H 66

FEW LOTS DRIVEN BEES to clear, guaranteed
healthy, 3s. 6d. on rail, including packing. Higley,
Expert, Timberhonger, Bromsgrove. H 64

SPLENDID HONEY FOR SALE, 6d, per lb., tins and
package free ; sample 2 stamps. George Thompson,
Helpringham, Heckington. H 73

DRIVEN BEES with Queen, 3s. per lot ; two lots, 5s. 6d.
Orders booked in rotation for September. Box
free. MARTIN, Bee-keeper, Wokingham, Berks. H 67

FFERS WANTED for 100 doz. SECTIONS Cambridge
Honey, any quantity SEAMARK, Willingham,
Cambs. H 66

WANTED, GENUINE ENGLISH HONEY. Send
lowest price for large quantities. Symons,
Wyndham Arcade, Cardiff. H 65

WANTED, OFFERS, Bee-hives and Appliances for
26 lots Driven Bees, 1901 Queens, or Sell,
C ADM an, Codsall Wood, Wolverhampton. H 70

ONEY WANTED, also FRUIT. Send samples and
price to Weise Brothers, 41, Selby-road, Anerley.
H 69

PATENTS Procured and DESIGNS Registered for
Bee-keeping Appliances. F. M. Rogers, 21
Finsbury-pavement, London, E.C. H 75

TESTED ENGLISH QUEENS, bred from selected
strain, 5s. each, in introducing cage. W. Woodley,
Beedon, Newbury.

r% ff TH YEAB.— Choice 1901 QUEENS, in introducing
zJO cages, 3s. 9d., delivered ; with Swarm for build-
ing up, 5s. 6d. Package free. Alsford, Expert,
Blandford. h 63

SEVEN BAR-FRAME HIVES, four Skeps, Extractors
and sundries, Bees healthy, good condition, £10 or
offers. Herrop, Trentside Apiary, Sutton-on-Trent,
Newark. H 62

SEVEN strong STOCKS of BEES in " W.B.C." Hives,
complete ; one Stock in Skep , and several empty
Hives ; bargain, £8 the lot ; removing. Jones, Wood-
vale, Ainsdale, Lanes. H 60

TO SELL your SECTIONS try the NEW FOLDING
CASES ; assorted colours ; gold lettering ; very
effective ; 6s. 6d. 100. Sample free. Hewett'S,
Laburnum Apiary, Alton, Hants. H 71

HREE strong and healthy LOTS of BEES FOR SALE,

Carnio-Italians, in Standard Bar-frame Hives,

15s. each. D. Cole, Moor Cottages, London-road, Coln-

brook, Slough. !L7JL.

URE EXTRACTED ENGLISH HONEY, first grade,
in nominal 1-lb. screw-cap bottles of the best
quality, £4 4s. per gros3. Noble, near Sandy, Potton,
Beds. H 55

DRIVEN BEES (healthy), 3s. per lot, including queen ;
also a few strong Stocks in bar-framed hives,
complete, 22s. 6d. each. Willis, Oakley, Wimborne,
Dorset. H 61

WHAT OFFERS ? 300 best quality 1-lb. SECTIONS,
18 dozen square screw-top 1-lb. Bottled Honey,
5 dozen round ditto, all excellent quality. Also quantity
of good quality light HONEY in 28-lb. tins at 6d. per lb.
Apply Hedges Brothers, Bishops Waltham, Hants.

h 77

FOR SALE, 200 Screw-cap bottles HONEY, 7s. 6d.
dozen ; h ton Extracted Honey in bulk at 5£d. lb. ;
also 500 sections Honey at 6s. and. 7s. dozen, all of
splendid quality. Four first prizes this year. Sample
3d J Trebble, The Apiaries, Romansleigh, South
Molton. H 78

FO R SALE, one cwt. excellent ENGLISH EX-
TRACTED HONEY, in customer's own tins, £3 on
rail. This is not foreign manufactured rubbish. A few
doz. first quality Sections, about 14 ounces each, 7s. per
doz, lbs. weight. Wanted, several young Hybrid Queens.
Ernest E. Davis, Great Bookham, Surrey. h 68

340

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 22, 1901.

Prepaid Advertisements (Continued).

BEES. — Special Strain Ligurian Queens(crossedBritish
Drones), quiet, vigorous workers ; nuclei with 1901
Queen, 10s. 6d., Fertile Queens, 5s. 6d., Virgins, 3s. 6d.,
.Fertile 1901 British Queens, 3s. 6d. ; strong layers Clove
Carnations, 2s. dozen. Edenholme Apiary, Longlevens,
Gloucester. H 57

THREE strong STOCKS, two in " W.B.C Hive, one in
Herts hive, all new ; two strong Swarms in Steeps,
all healthy ; also guinea Geared Extractor, a quantity
of drawn-out Sections, Frames, &c. Wanted, cash offers
for lot; inspection invited. Parkin, junr., Bromley
Farm, Wortley. Sheffield. h 72

LACE PAPER for SECTION GLAZING. White,
1 in. wide, in three neat patterns, 100, 7d , 200,
Is. 2d., 300, Is. 6d., 500, 2s. 3d., 1,000, 4s. Also LACE
BANDS, White, 3 in. wide, lace both sides, 100, Is. 3d.,
200, 2s. 3d., 300, 3s., ; Pink, 3 and 3£ in. wide, 100, Is. 6d.,
200, 2s. 9d., 300, 4s. ; Pale Green, 3 in. wide, same price
as Pink ; all post free. The alterations above are owing
to colours and widths being cleared for this season.
W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury.

WANTED, SITUATION on bee and fruit farm.
Total abstainer. " E. X. P.," B.J. Office. H 48

HEALTHY SWARMS, 4s. and 5s. each. Packing
free. Alfred Goule, Henley-in-Arden. h 47
RIVEN lots of BEES- with Queens, 3s! Boxes'
returned. Pullen, Ramsbury, Hungerford. H 8

D

EXTRACTED HONEY, 47s. 6d. per cwt. : on rail,
Manea Station. Tins returnable. Fred Pepper,
19, Market-street, King's Lynn. H 46

EALTHY DRIVEN BEES, 4s. per lot ; put on rail
free. W. H. HiGLEY, 15, Mason-street, Kidder-
minster. 4

INE young'fertile ENGLISH QUEENS Is. edTand 2s.

each, if in perfect Introducing Cages 6d. extra.

Spearman, Colesbourne, Cheltenham. h 44

A YNOREXTRACTOR,with gearing. Used only once,

33s. 6d. Three 50s. "Century" Thermal Baths,

new, 30s. each. Garner, Dyke, Bourne. h 52

TflNEST quality EXTRACTED CLOVER HONEY
-F FOR SALE. Sample and price, 2d. Knewstubb,
Longmarton, Carlisle. H 34

STRONG HEALTHY STOCKS, 10 Combs, young
Queens, 21s. Carr, Norwood-avenue, Southport.
H 26

PURE EXTRACTED light-coloured HONEY FOR
SALE. Three stamps for sample. David Hancox,
Deddington, Pxon. G 72
EALTHY DRIVEN BEES Is. 3d. per lb. Not less
than four lb. lots. Boxes to be returned. E.
Long, Fulbourne, Cambs. H 27
RIVE'S BEES.— Strong~STOCK with Queen, 5s. ;
package returnable. Phillips, Spetchley, Wor-
cester h 7

ONCE TRIED ALWAYS USED. Our Solar Wax
Extractor should be in every Apiary. A perfect
success. No. 1, 12s. 6d. Manager, Hardham Apiary,
Pulborough. G 78

UEENS, STOCKS, NUCLEI, and SWARMS. 14th
season of queen-rearing as a speciality. Fertile
queens, 5s. each, post free. Rev. C. Brereton,
Pulborough, Sussex.

F^fUINFTlMPORTED ITALIAN QUEENS— Purity
and safe arrival guaranteed. Post free with Intro-
ducing Cage, full instructions for introduction, 6s.
F. Sladen, Ripple Court Apiary, near Dover. H 25
EALTHY DRIVENTbEES in four-lb. lots, price,
Is. 3d. per lb., with young Queen. Boxes returnable.
Also young fertile QUEENS, price Is. 6d. each, post free.
R. BROWN, Flora Apiary, Somersham, Hunts. H 35
INE PROLIFIC Tested, 1901, Fertile QUEENS,
3s. 6d. post free. Bees Is. 6d. per lb. for 5 lb.
lots or over, Queen included. Packages to be returned.
Guaranteed healthy and safe arrival. Whiting, Valley
Apiaries, Hundon, Clare, Suffolk. H 37

ANTED, 200 QUEEN BEES, dead or alive, virgin
or fertile ; 200 Queen Cells, sealed or newly
hatched. State lowest price for this number or any
smaller number. Bonner Chambers, Diptford, South
Brent, S. Devon. H 28

OMFOR1ABLE APARTMENTS for brother bee-
keepers visiting Douglas. Terms : tea, bed, and
breakfast, 3s. 6d. ; or full board, 5s. per day. HORSLEY,
Merridale House, Top of Castle Drive, Douglas, Isle of
Man. 932

Prepaid Advertisements (Continued).

WOOD'S SPECIFIC— Sure preventive of and allevia-
tive for Bee-Stings and all Insect Bites, &c.
Non-poisonous. Sold in bottles, Is. 3d., post paid. A
certain cure for Udder Clap or Sore Teats in cows.
2s. 4d. post paid. Postal orders to Wood & Co.,
Manufacturers, Black Hill, Co. Durham. H 40

SPRING Dwindling and Light Supers are unknown
where White Star Italians are used. Store in all
weathers if flowers are about, and a month later than
Natives and other varieties. Always ready for fruit
blown in spring. Leave all others behind at the heather .
S. Simmins, Heathfield, Sussex.

DON'T BE STUNG. Wear Reynolds' " Burkitt Bee
Gloves." A great success. Unsolicited testi-
monials. Light in substance, useful, durable. 2s. 2d
per pair, or with self-adjusting gauntlets attached,
2s. lOd. per pair, post paid. Special terms to the trade.
Sole Maker, Edward Reynolds, Andover, Hants.

PROLIFIC QUEENS. — Pure Imported Carniolans,
7s. ; Italians, 5s. 6d. ; home-bred from imported
mothers, 4s. 6d. ; others, 3s. 6d. (and 2s. condemned).
Swarms, Stocks, and Nuclei headed by any variety queen
at fair prices. Customer says: — " Friend has hived two
nuclei. . . well satisfied." E. Woodham, Clavering,
Newport, Essex. H 51

CLOSE OF SEASON, 1901.

CLEARANCE SALE,— Having a large Stock of the

following still on hand, I am offering at greatly
reduced prices —

" Cowan " Extractors 50/- reduced to 42/6

"Raynor" ,, 32/6 ,, 28/6

"Guinea" ,, 22/6 „ 19/-

Geared 33/- ,, 26/-

Small Wax Extractors 2/6 ,, 2/-

Large Round Float Feeders ... 2/6 ,, 1/8

Small „ „ „ ... 1/6 „ 1/-

Bottle Feeders 1/3 „ lOd.

Queen Excluders 9d. ,, 6d.

, 8/- doz. „ 5/6

,, „ Long Sheets (96x16) 3/6 ,, 2/3

„ ,, „ (96x32)6/6 ,, 4/3

Standard and Shallow Frames 1/3 doz. ,, lOd.

8/4 100 „ 5/6

Sections 2/- 100 „ 1/8

„ Split Top 26 100 „ 1/10

„ „ 20/- 1,000 ,, 17/-

Smokers 3/- each ,, 2/3

(Meadows') 2/6 ,, ,, 1/8

"W.B.C." Ends 4/- gross ,, 2/9

,, „ extra wide ... 4/6 ,, „ 3/-

Tough Wood Dividers lOd. doz. ,, 6d.

„ 6/- 100 „ 3/6

Metal Dividers 1/- doz. „ 8d.

7/6 100 „ 5/-

Comb Foundation 2/- lb. ,, 1/9

„ ,, Thin for Sections 2/6 lb. ,, 2/1

Super Clearers 2/- each ,, 1/8

Woiblet Spur Embedders ... 1/- ,, 9d.

Section Racks 2/6 ,, 1/9

Shallow-Frame Boxes, complete 3/- ,, 2/2

Wire and Net Veils 2/- „ 1/6

Black & White ,. 1/6 „ 1/-

Uncapping Knives 2/- ., 1/6

" Record " Bee Hives 10/6 ,, 9/9

1 gross Lea's Dovetail ... 19/- any reasonable offer.

1 ,, ,, ,, Shallow ,, ,, „

Honey Ripeners and Strainers 12/6 reduced to 9/6

W. SHEPHERD, Oxton, Tadcaster, Yorks.

DUMFRIESSHIRE k GALLOWAY
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL SHOW,

Drill Hall, Dumfries, Friday, August 30th, 1901.
HONEY SECTION.

Six 1-lb. Bottles of I First Prize, Silver Cup, value £2.
Liquid Honey. f Second Prize, Silver Medal. '
Six 1-lb. Sections of "I First Prize, Gold Medal.
Flower Honey. / Second Prize, Silver Medal.
Entry money in each class, One Shilling.
Rules. — No restrictions as to the Honey being the
Exhibitor's own production.
Screw-Top Bottles. Sections Glazed.
Open, to the World.
ROBERT G. MANN, Secretary,

" Courier " and " Herald " Offices, DUMFRIES.

Aug. 29, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

341

(ftdifflrml, Jfcrta fa.

SURREY BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL SHOW.

The annual exhibition of the above Asso-
ciation was held on August 15, 16, and 17, at
the Crystal Palace, and the members of the
executive have every reason to feel proud of
the success which has attended their efforts,
for the show was probably the largest of the
kind held in the county. As an evidence of
the rapid growth of the Association, it may
be mentioned that five years ago, when its
first show was held at Earlswood, there were
less than forty entries. This year there were
upwards of 300. The Association has for its
object the encouragement and support of bee
culture in Surrey, and that it has become, and
will continue to be, a recognised institution in
the county, is assured by the patronage it has
secured within the county borders. The hon.
secretary and treasurer of the Association
(Mr. F. B. White, Redhill) carries out the
work entrusted to him with a thoroughness
that is a compliment to his ability as an
organiser.

Among the exhibits not for competition
were photographs of bee farms in the county,
including those of Messrs. R. C. Blundell, E. W.
Walford, A. Howard, J. Jeffrey, R. Peters, J.
Jeal, and F. B. White.

Messrs. W. Broughton Carr and Walter F.
Reid judged the exhibits, and made the
following awards : —

Twelve 1-/6. Sections. — 1st, H. Sayers, jun.,
Chessington ; 2nd, B. B. Barnes, West
Sutton ; 3rd, R. Peters, B?nstead ; h.c, E.
Bontoft, Caterham, and W. A. Dawson, Cob-
ham ; c, W. Sole, Wimbledon.

Six 1-/6. Sections.— 1st, H. Sayers ; 2nd, W.
Sole ; 3rd, J. Earl, Three Bridges ; v. h.c,
W. W. Drewitt, Guildford ; h.c, R. C. Blun-
dell, Horley ; C. W. Hinson, Wallington ;
J. S. Newth, Wallington ; F. T. Wollaston,
Reigate.

Six \-lb. Sections Heather Honey. — 1st, A.
Seth-Smith, Cobham ; 2nd, W. E. Hackett,
Cobham ; 3th, E. P. Setts, Camberley.

Three Shallow-Frames Comb Honey for
Extracting. — 1st, E. Bontofc ; 2nd and 3rd, A.
Watkin, New Maiden ; v.h.c, F. B. White,
Redhill ; c, F. B. White; J. R. Aubury,
Woking ; and PI. Sayers, jun.

One S/ialloio- Frame of Comb Honey for
Extracting. — 1st, H. Sayers, jun. ; 2ad, A.
Seth-Smith ; 3rd, J. Earl ; h.c, A. Watkin ;
Miss J. M. Smith, Duxhurst, Reigate ; and
T. Earl, Crawley.

Twelve 1-/6. Jars Light- coloured Extracted
Honey. — 1st, W. Hinson ; 2nd, Miss L. M.
Smith ; 3rd, R. Peters ; C. H. Chalk.

Six 1-/6. Jars Lir/ht-coloured Honey. — 1st,
P. W. Worsfold, Shalford ; 2nd, Harry Dann,

Wallington ; 3rd, T. H. E. Watts-Silvester,
Surbiton Hill ; h.c, John Ware, Horley.

Six 1-/6. Jars Extracted Heather Honey. —
1st, W. W. Drewitt ; 2nd, E. P. Betts.

Six 1-/6. Jars Dark-coloured Extracted
Ho„, ?/.— 1st, F. B. White ; 2nd, F. T. Wol-
laston ; 3rd, W. E. Hackett.

Six 1-/6. Jars Granulated Homy. — 1st,
G. E. Langrish, Frensham ; 2nd, W. W.
Drewitt ; 3rd, J. W. Lewis, Farnham.

Display of Honey ami Bee-Products (exceed-
ing 100 lb. in weight). — 1st, E. Bontoft ; 2nd,
F. B. White ; 3rd, C. T. Overton, Crawley ;
h.c, A. Watkin.

Wax.— 1st, Miss L. M. Smith ; 2nd,
W. W. Drewitt ; c, J. W. Lewis.

Articles of Food in which Honey is an
Ingredient. — 1st, A. Seth-Smith ; 2nd, F. J.
Weise, Anerley.

OPEN CLASSES.

Sic 1-/6. Sections. — 1st, Charles Lodge,
Chelmsford ; 2nd, Rev. M. W. B. Osmaston,
Goodneston, Dover ; 3rd, A. W. Underwood,
Sandy, Bedfordshire ; h.c, E. C. R. White,
Salisbury, and John Edwards, Callington ; c,
Messrs. Fox & Vidler, Billingham, and A.
Wright, West Norwood.

Sir 1-/6. Heather Sections. — 1st, J. Wad-
dell, Wooler, Northumberland; 2nd, T. E.
Whitelaw, County Oak, Crawley.

Sir 1-/6. Jars Light- coloured Extracted
Honey. — 1st, S. Temblett, Andover ; 2nd,
John Edwards ; 3rd, J. Merrells, Thetford,
Norfolk ; h.c, Harry Dann, Wallington ; c,
Messrs. Fox & Vidler.

Six 1-/6. Jars Extracted Heather Honey. —
1st, John Berry, Llanrwst, N. W. ; 2nd,
E. C. R. White ; 3rd, W. W. Drewitt.

Three Shallow Frames for Extracting. — 1st,
Rev. M. W. B. Osmaston ; 2nd, A. Watkin ;
3rd, E. C. R. White.

Beeswax. — 1st, John Berry ; 2nd, W. W.
Drewitt ; 3rd, C. T. Overton ; c, Rev.
M. W. B Osmaston.

Interesting or Instructive Exhibit. — 1st,
Jas. Lee & Son, London ; 2nd, G. A. Page,
Reigate.

Observatory Hive, with Bees and Queen. — 1st,
Jas. Lee & Son ; 2nd, T. Lanaway& Son, Red-
hill ; 3rd, E. H. Taylor, Welwyn.

Collection of Hives and Appliances. — 1st,
Jas. Lee & Son ; 2nd, E. H. Taylor ; 3rd,
J. S. Greenhill ; v.h.c, Lanaway & Son ; h.c,
C. T. Overton.

Complete Frame- Hiue for General Use. —
1st, Jas. Lee & Son ; 2nd, J. S. Greenhill ;
3rd, C. T. Overton.

Suitable Outfit for Beginner in Bee-
keeping (/>rice not excieding 2< >*.).— 1st, E. H.
Taylor; 2nd, J. S. Greenhill ; 3rd, Jas. Lee &
Son.

The small bronze model of the Warwick
vase, presented by the " One and All '" Agri-
cultural and Horticultural Association for the
best display of bee-products, was awarded to
E. Bontoft. — (Communicated.)

342

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 29, 1901.

SHROPSHIRE B.K.A.

ANNUAL SHOW.

The annual show was held on August 21 and
22, in connection with the Shropshire Horti-
cultural Society's Great Floral Fete, in the
beautiful grounds of the Quarry, Shrewsbury.
The weather was everything that could be
desire J, and the number of visitors present
during tha two days is estimated at 90,000.
The display of honey was excellent, and the
entries were double those of 1900. Over
3,200 lb. of honey wai staged. The B.B.K.A.
silver medal was won by J. Carver, the bronze
medal by T. Simpson Jones, and the certificate
byE. Brookfield. Messrs. W. P. Meadows,
Syston, and E. H. Taylor, Welwyn, each
showed capital selections of bee-keeping
appliances. The arrangements of the show
were ably carried out by Miss M. E. Eyton,
hon. treasurer, Mr. S. Cartwright, hon sec,
and a Committee, of which Mr. Roff King was
chairman.

The judges were the Rev. F. J. Buckler,
Bidston ; Messrs. A. Watkins, Hereford, and
T. D. Schofield, Manchester, who made the
following awards : —

OPEN CLASSES.

Twenty-four l-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Clay,
Wellington ; 2nd, A. Hamer, Llandilo, and P.
Jones, Church Stretton (equal).

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Carver, Wel-
lington ; 2nd, W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury.

Twenty- four l-lb. Jars Light - coloured
Extracted Honey. — 1st, E. Clowes, Black-
brook ; 2nd, A. Hamer ; 3rd, W. Crellin,
Barnston ; v.h.c, S. Cartwright, Shawbury ;
h.c, T. Simpson Jones, Welshpool.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Light-coloured Extracted
Honey.— 1st, A. G. Preen, Nesscliffe ; 2nd,
Rev. W. Head, Brilley, Hereford ; 3rd,
W. Crellin ; h.c, W. S pence, Newtown, and
J. R. Bennett, Kidderminster.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Medium-coloured Ex-
tracted Honey. — 1st, P. Scott, Broseley ; 2nd
E. P. Hinde, Heswall; 3rd, E. R. C. White,
Salisbury,

Collection of Honey from Different Floivers.
— 1st, J. Bradley, Yockleton.

Honey Trophy.— 1st, J. Bradley ; 2nd, A.
Hamer ; 3rd, W. H. Brown, Shrewsbury.

Complete Frame - Hive. — 1st, W. P.
Meadows ; 2nd, E. H. Taylor ; v.h.c, W. P.
Meadows.

Frame-Hive (price not exceeding 15s.). —
1st, W. P. Meadows, Syston ; 2nd, E. H. Tay-
lor, Welwyn ; v.h.c, W. P. Meadows.

Collection of Hives and Appliances. — 1st,
W. P. Meadows ; 2nd, E. H. Taylor.

Honey Beverage.— 1st, A. Hamer; v.h.c,
J. Bradley and G. W. Buttery, Wheaton-
Aston.

Honey Vinegar. — 1st, W. H. Brown.

Beeswax (Salop only). —1st, J. Carver ;
2nd, R. Holland, Wellington ; v.h.c, E. Oakes,
Broseley ; h.c, A. G. Preen.

Bee Floiver*. -1st, J. Bradley ; 2nd, Mis

E. Humphreys, Stoney Stretton ; 3rd, Mrs.
W. Powell, Cold Hatton.

MEMBERS ONLY.

Twenty-four l-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Carver ;
2nd, J. Clay ; h.c, Phil. Jones.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st. J. Carver ; 2nd,
J. Clay ; 3rd, Phil. Jones ; h.c, Rev. Dan
Philipps, Wollerton.

Single l-lb. Section and l-lb. Jar Extracted
Honey. — 1st, S. Cartwright ; 2nd, Rev. Dan
Philipps ; 3rd, J. Carver ; h.c, H. Venables,
Wem.

Twenty -four l-lb. Jars Light - coloured
Extracted, Honey. — 1st, T. Simpson Jones ;
2nd, S. Cartwright ; 3rd, J. Carver ; h.c,
Rev. Dan Philipps and T. A. Bremmell,
Overley.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Light-coloured Extracted
Honey— 1st, E. Brookfield, Myddle ; 2nd, E.
Clowes ; 3rd, A. Hamer ; h.c, W. H. Brown
and J. Carver.

Twenty -four l-lb. Jars Dark - coloured
Extracted Honey. — 1st, J. Clay ; 2nd, W. H.
Buck, Dawley.

Novelty Class. — 1st, W. H. Brown.

Three Shallow-Frames Comb-Honey. — 1st,
Rev. Dan Philipps ; v.h.c, L. Powell, Cold
Hatton ; c, F. W. Norris, Sheaves.

ARTISAN MEMBERS ONLY.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Carver, jun. ;
2nd, J. Carver, sen. ; v.h.c, J. Clay ; h.c, P.
Jones and J. Churton, Wollerton.

Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Clay ; 2nd, Phil.
Jones ; h.c, E. Brookfield and F. W. Norris

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
E. Brookfield ; 2nd, J. Clay ; v.h.c, J. Carver,
jun. ; h.c, J. Carver, sen.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, A. G.
Preen ; 2nd, E. Brookfield ; 3rd, L. Powell.

cottagers' classes.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — l3t, G.
Croxton, Yorton ; 2nd, G. Lloyd, Overley ;
v.h.c, J. Lewis, Church Stretton.

Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, G. Croxton ; 2nd,
G. Butler, Blore Heath ; 3rd, J. Jones, Church
Stretton.

Six l-lb. Bottles. — 1st, J. Stanton, Besford ;
2nd, Mrs. W. Powell, Cold Hatton ; 3rd, G.
Lloyd, Overley ; v.h.c, John Jones, Shrews-
bury ; c, G. Butler.

Single l-lb. Bottle.— 1st, G. Croxton ; 2nd,
Mrs. W. Powell.

Single l-lb. Section. — 1st, G. Butler ; 2nd,
G. Croxton.

Three Sections and Three Bottles. — 1st, G.
Croxton ; 2nd, Jasper Jones ; v.h.c, G.
Butler ; h.c, J. Stanton. — S. Cartwright,
Hon. Sec.

HONEY SHOW AT NESTON PARK,
WILTS.

The annual show of the Atworth and Dis-
trict Horticultural Society was held as usual
in the grounds of Neston Park on August 7,
and the unanimous verdict of all who visited

Aug. 29, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

343

the show was that it was one of the best yet
held in the seventeen years' history of the
society. In addition to the horticultural ex-
hibits, there was a tent devoted to honey and
bee-culture in charge of Mr. J. W. Spencer.
Mr. Jordan, Bristol, judged the honey, and
made the following awards : —

Observatory Hive, with Bees cmd Queen.—
1st, T.' Swain; 2nd, W. Norris; 3rd, H.
Frankham.

Twelve 1-lb. Sections.— 1st, W. Norris ; 2nd,
H. Frankham.

Six l-lb. Sections.— 1st, F. Swain ; 2nd, I.
Ford ; 3, W. E. Hiscocks.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey.— 1st,
F. Swain; 2nd, W. Norris; 3rd, H.' Frank-
ham.

Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey.— 2nd,
W. E. Hiscocks ; 3rd, F. Pocock.

Collection of Honey.— 1st, W. Norris • 2nd
H. Frankham ; 3rd, F. Swain.

Super of Honey.— 1st, W. Norris ; 2nd,
F. Swain ; 3rd, F. Davis.

Shallow- Frame of Comb Honey.— 1st, W.
Norris ; 2nd, H. Frankham ; 3, F. Swain.

Honey Comb (over 4 lb).— 1st, H. Frank-
ham ; 2nd, W. Norris ; 3rd, F. Swain.

Single 1-lb. Jar Extracted Honey.— 1st. Rev.
W. Head, Brilley, Hereford ; 2nd, ' Mrs.
Brewer, Bath ; 3rd, W. Norris.

Single 1-lb. Section.— 1st, W. Norris ; 2nd,
H. F. Beale, Andover ; 3rd, F. Pocock.

Beeswax.— 1st, H. Frankham ; 2nd, F.
Swain ; 3rd, F. Davis.

Largest Number of Queen Wasps.— 1st, H.
Hulbert ; 2nd, F. Rogers ; 3rd, V. May.

Three 1-lb. Jars and Three 1-lb. Sections of
Honey.— 1st, W. E. Hiscocks ; 3rd, W.
Gibbs.

Members of Wilts Border B.K.A. only,
Observatory Hive.— 1st, F. Davis ; 2nd, F.
Swain. — {Communicated.)

HONEY SHOW AT AMMANFORD,
SOUTH WALES.

The show of honey introduced this year for
the first time in connection with the Amman-
ford Horticultural Society took place on
August 17, and was in every respect a grati-
fying success for a first attempt. As will be
seen from the subjoined list, exhibits were
staged from the best honey-producing counties
in the kingdom, all of which were excellent in
quality.

The following were the awards : —

Single 1-lb. Jar Extracted Honey.— 1st, W.
Hatliff, Thoresway, Caistor, Lines ; 2nd, T.
Blake, Broughton, Hants ; 3rd, W. G. Dear,
Woodford, Salisbury; 4th, A. G. Pugh,
Beeston, Notts ; 5th, W. Woodley, Beedon,
Newbury; h.c, D.Williams, Llanwrtyd.

Single 1-lb. Section.— 1st, A. Hamer,
Llandilo ; 2nd, W. Woodley ; 3rd, A. J.
Beale, Andover; 4th, W. Patchett, Caistor,
Lines ; 5th, Rev. Dan Philipps, Wollerton.

Three 1-lb. Jars Light- coloured Extracted
Honey.— 1st, G. Spearman, Colesbourne ; 2nd,
W. G. Dear ; 3rd, F. T. Evans, Ammanford.

Three 1-lb. Jars Dark-coloured Extracted
Honey.— 1st, A. Hamer ; 2nd, Rev. E. Lloyd,
Ammanford ; 3rd, Thos. Roberts, Garnant.

Three 1-lb. Sections.— 1st, H. Samways,
Maesybont, Llandibie ; 2nd, Jas. Roerick,
The Gardens, Dynevor Castle, Llandilo ; 3rd,
W. Woodley.— (Communicated.)

€om%pUmtt

The Editori do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

*** In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents,
■fin *Pfakl1l9 °f any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.
[4475.] Returning Sivarms. — So many
swarms have united of their own accord this
season that anything like a separation of the
different lots became utterly impossible. They
were therefore parted as equally as the circum-
stances allowed, and returned to their own or
some other hive indiscriminately. When
thrown down on the hiving-board, swarms as
soon as the cry of home is sounded, march in
a solid phalanx right for the entrance. A
curious exception frequently occurs in the
case of swarms returned into another hive
than the one from which they issued. In my
experience these are never rejected, nor have
I ever had any fighting while they are march-
ing in, but I have repeatedly detected a tremor
or thrill pass over the whole body of bees,
and, at some sign or cry, a momentary pause,
simultaneous and universal, takes place, as if
" Halt ! " had been sounded by some high
authority. It looks for an instant as if they
were one and all about to retreat, but the
" Spirit of the Hive " seems to assure them of
amicable treatment, and they soon resume
their march for the entrance. The pheno-
menon was observed on several occasions, and
only under similar circumstances.

The Dummy— -This is one of the most
important parts about a hive, and on its
judicious manipulation the well-being of the
colony very frequently depends. Yet in many
cases its use is unknown. The orthodox nine
or ten frames are there, but no means of con-
tracting the space exists. So, whether the
swarm is large or small, a late or early one, a
top swarm or a cast, they are hived on the
same number of frames. A little considera-
tion of the subject should show that this is a

344

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 29, 1901.

most unwise policy, and militates against a
high degree of success. I prefer as a rule to
use only six frames when hiving a good swarm,
with quarter sheets, and when these are
approaching completion I add others with full
sheets of foundation. I had a theory that
when but five or six frames were given at first
the bees would construct only worker cells.
The strong force of workers in the limited
space enabled them to keep pace with the
requirements of even a prolific queen, and so
they had no desjre for drone or special store
cells. This had become a settled belief with
me, but this abnormal season shakes my faith
a little. What is the experience of others ?

Five. Macks. —My success with this mode of
supering agaiu induces me to refer to it. This
season, in my small apiary, I had four hives
with five racks on at one time. New racks
were given atop of those previously or, rather,
in anticipation of the wants of the bees. Of
course, the lower ones were not left below all
the time, but when nearing completion they
were raised above the others and left there
until fully sealed. Now the curious feature
was that these four were the only hives which
did not swarm ; all the others, with two and
three racks did — several of them again and
again— so that this season I had as many
swarms as I had during the past five years.
Were these particular colonies all non-
swarming bees or was it the management
which induced them to keep so steadily at
work and give me so handsome a surplus ?

Each v. Crate. — The repeated use of the
word rack in the foregoing paragraph reminds
me that in nearly all the dealers' catalogues the
term crate is used. Some years ago I noted
the. fact, and rather favoured their side of the
question, but our Editors expressed so strong
a preference for the other that in writing I
adopt it, though while thinking and speaking
of the article I call it by the other name. It
would be a good thing if all of us could fall
into line and adopt one term. Would a dis-
cussion and resolution at the next Conver-
sazione assist in obtaining this desirable end 1
Queen Introduction. — I havs introduced
five queens lately, and each of them in a
different way. It may interest some to know
how it was done, and, if necessary, further
explanation could be given later . —

1. The cpgd had a feed-hole at one end,
with a supply of candy. It was simply
placed on the tops of the frames under the
corner of the quilt. The bees of the hive
liberated the queen in thirty-six hours or
earlier.

2. The top of the cage was covered with
perforated zinc, and this was laid resting on
the frames. In twenty-four hours the cover-
ing was withdrawn and the queen set free.

3. The queen from a swarm was induced to
walk into a glass tube and carried to the de-
queened colony, when she was allowed quietly
to walk down the frame, the bees being driven
back previously by a puff of smoke.

4. A skep was driven and the bees slightly
floured as they ran into their new home, while
the queen (a virgin) got a dusting and ran in
along with the bees.

5. A forced swarm on being shaken on the
hiving board, accepted the new queen thrown
out of the cage amongst them as they marched
in. In neither case was the queen touched
by the fingers of the operator. — D. M. M.,
Banff. ^^^

BEES AND HONEY ABROAD.

HONEY ALL THE YEAR BOUND.

[4476.] The question raised by Mr. Gods-
land in last week's Journal (4471, page 335)
as to the possibility of bees forsaking the
habits which we should say were stereotyped
in the race, and living from hand to mouth in
countries where the honey supply is perennial,
may deserve a little more attention than has
been yet paid to it.

A few weeks ago I should certainly have
supported * your correspondent in asserting
that such 'a thing was unlikely, and the
Editors' footnote shows us that if we were in
error we were sinning in such good company
that our faults were quite venial. The ques-
tion, however, comes up in that charming
book, so well reviewed in our Journal,
July 25, " The Life of the Bee," by Maeter-
linck, and the author is so careful in most of
his observations that what he says as to this
matter is worthy of consideration and further
research. In the chapter on " The progress of
the race" he says (page 311) :— " And finally
there is yet another fact which establishes still
more closely that the customs and prudent
organisation of the hive are not the results of
a primitive impulse, mechanically followed
through different ages and climates, but
that the spirit which governs the little
republic is fully as capable of taking
note of new conditions and turning these to
the best advantage, as in times long past it
was capable of meeting the dangers that
hemmed it around. Transport our black bee
to California or Australia, and her habits will
completely alter. Finding that summer ia
perpetual and flowers for ever abundant, she
will, after one or two years, be content to live
from day to day and gather only sufficient
honey and pollen for the day's consumption ;
and her thoughtful observation of these new
features triumphing over hereditary expe-
rience, she will cease to make provision for the
winter. In fact, it becomes necessary, in
order to stimulate her activity, to deprive her
systematically of the fruits of her labour."

These statements are so startling, and at the
same time given so unhesitatingly by a great
bee-master, that they open up a field of
research in which it surely should not be
difficult to glean the exact truth. — A. A. H.,
Alresford, Hants, August 26.
(Correspondence continued on page 346.)

Aug. 29, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

345

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

The pretty bee-garden illustrated below has,
we are told, been a continuous ■' home of the
honey-bee " for five generations of its present
owner's family ; and, as such, Mr. March's
neat little apiary will possess more than ordi-
nary interest for bee-men as showing how the
" born bee-keeper " can adapt himself to
modern methods of bee-keeping. Nor can we
wonder at our friend's warm attachment to a
home where the cheery sound of the bees'-hum
has been heard for so long a period of time.
Long may the "industrious little labourer"
occupy a place in so typical an English

days. I had the straw cap shown filled with
beautiful honey last year. My father also was
a bee-keeper, but gave it up some years ago,
and so it devolved upon me to provide the
bee-garden seen below, and from it I derive
a great amount of pleasure. This has not only
been a ' home of the honey-bee,' but a home
for the family for five successive generations
past. How much longer it will so continue I
am unable to say, although when I look back
to the days of my childhood and onward till
now my fondness for the old place seems to
increase, and to me there is no place so sweet
as ' home.'

" The hives seen in picture are all my own
make, and being a carpenter and wheelwright

MR. HARRY T. MARCUS APIARY, HORSFORD, NEAR NORWICH.

village dwelling as the one seen, and long may
Mr. March live to enjoy the " home " he loves
so well. Regarding the same he says : —

" My apiary is situated in the parish of
Horsford, a village about four miles from the
city of Norwich. It is an agricultural district,
of which the chief source of honey available to
the bees is white clover and heather. The
ground where my hives stand is the very spot
whereon my grandfather placed his first skep
of bees, and well do I remember how he would
sit and watch the little workers coming home
laden with honey and pollen. The straw ' eke '
on which my ' smoker ' stands, together with
the skep ' cap ' with a bit of glass let in its
upper pirt (seen in foreground of photo), are
relics of the old-fashioned bee-keeping of past

by trade, I can do all the woodwork myself.
I also make my own frames, for which I have
a block made for the purpose of ensuring that
they are the correct size. My first start with
bees and hives worked on the modem plan
was when a friend explained the system, and
placed Mr. Cowan's ' Guide Book ' in my
hands, which, with the help of the B.B.J.,
soon led me to success. My greatest ' take '
of honey from one hive was GO lb. and one
swarm from the same stock in 1899. I may
say I am a great advocate for the wide
shallow-frame, also the well-known ' W.B.C7
hive, of which I have six. The figures seen
in picture are those of my wife and son, along
with myself. I may say the good wife does
her share of the apiary work in bottling up

346

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 29, 1901.

honey and preparing it for market. She also
makes very good mead for home-use. In
concluding, let me say, in bee-keeping, as in
other things, ' what is worth doing at all is
worth doing well.' "

CORRESPONDENCE.

(Continued from page 344.)

PEK3ISTENT SWARMING.

[4477.] Perhaps the following may interest
B.B.J, readers, and I will be glad if you will
let me know if such a thing is of common
occurrence. One of my hives is exceedingly
strong, with a last year's queen. A heavy
swarm came off on July 21 while I was away
from home, and on my return the following
day the swarm was returned to the parent
hive. To give the bees more room, I put on
two racks of sections ; but bad weather fol-
lowed, and continued till the beginning of
this month, when the bees began working very
hard.

On Friday last (August 16) a huge swarm
came off and settled as usual, but before I had
attempted to get the bees into the hiving skep,
they took wing, and returned to the hive. I
removed the sections (only two of which were
capped in the top rack, but a good many were
full and ready for capping) and cut out all the
queen-cells.

On Tuesday, the 20th, the bees again
swarmed, sending out an equally large or larger
swarm than the previous one, and after clus-
tering for a short time, returned to the hive as
before.

I again examined the combs, and found, to
my surprise, five capped queen-cells (many
others not so). A neighbour who assisted me
put it down to my carelessness during my
previous examinations. We were, therefore,
exceedingly careful to leave not even a trace
of a queen-cell behind.

The bees worked magnificently on Thurs-
day, the 22nd, and I congratulated myself on
the bees having given up all idea of swarming,
when to my surprise yesterday the swarm
again repeated the same tactics as before.
Imagine my surprise, on examining the hive,
to find four capped queen-cells and many
others being drawn out.

I removed them, and then it struck me that
I had seen no larva; in any cells and that there
was nothing but capped-brood in the hive.
To-day, therefore, I again carefully examined
the hive and found, as I dare say you now
suspect, that the hive was queenless and no
sign of eggs or larva;. In view of this I would
ask — 1. If it is common for bees to swarm
when thev have no queen ? 2. If, when they
have a queen, supposing she was only lost on
the last time of their issuing, is it usual for
them to turn ordinary worker larva; into capped
queen-celled ones (!) in a day? 3. As I

had no young queens, I gave them a comb
with eggs from another hive. Is it likely that
they will be able to rear a young queen in
time before winter for her to meet the drones 1
During the whole of last week the bees
have been working " like hatters " at the
heather up to the moment of swarming, many
of the bees on the swarm having their legs
loaded with pollen. If it had not been for the
extraordinary behaviour of this tremendously
strong hive, in which there is still much brood,
though it is just hatching out, I should have
had a grand heather-honey crop, judging by my
other hive, which is not nearly so strong and
has loads of honey in sections " down below.'' —
Kenneth 0. Macleod, Glenfenlan, Shandon,
N.B., August 24.

[We may first say, " bees do nothing in-
variably " ; for the rest, we reply : — 1. No ;
in fact, the bees were not queenless when the
first swarm issued, but queen evidently met
with some mishap, which caused the swarm to
return to parent hive. The subsequent action
of the bees was due to their having made up
their minds to swarm, and being demoralised
by loss of the parent queen. 2. Every bee-
keeper should know that queen3 are raised
from worker larva;, and that it is only the
highly stimulative food known as royal jelly,
given in abundance, that transforms the worker
larva into a queen bee. 3. Hardly so ; the
season is now too far gone for that. You will
need to re-queen the stock. This should be
done with as little delay as possible, in order
that a good batch of young bees may be reared
for wintering. — Eds.]

DESTROYING WASPS' NESTS.

[4478.] Referring to Mr. Reid's letter of
August 8 (4457, page 313), I find the carbon
bisulphide far more effectual than cyanide of
potassium. With the former remedy, a table-
spoonful of the liquid poured into the entrance
of the wasp-nest suffocates the insects effec-
tually in a few minutes, so that the nest can
be dug up at once. Bisulphide is, however,
dangerously explosive. I lighted a lucifer to
examine an entrance, first removing the bottle
to a distance, and although only a very little
had been poured into the hole there was an
explosion instantly, and the saturated earth
burned furiously. How are the males of
Vespa vulgaris distinguishable I Are the
periods of incubation same as with bees ?
Could a nest be taken by chloroforming so as
to remove nest intact and alive ? — T. Angus,
Dartford, August 24.

*V* Reports of several shows are in type
and will appear in our next issue, together
with some letters and queries crowded out
this week.

Aug. 29, 1901. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

347

(BthiH fnrm M £tots.

Gelli Lydan, Merioneth, August 19.— Our
bees for the last three -weeks have been kept
indoors owing to heavy rains, so our season is
shortened considerably. The heathers are in
full bloom, and man and bee anxious for calm,
sunny days. What sections I have taken out
are of beautiful amber colour, weighing from
16 oz. to 18 oz., which sell readily at Is. each.
I notice that a poppy called "Miss Sherwood"
is a grand pollen-producer ; the bees watch
every flower opening. — J. B. Williams.

Ballindullock, N.B., August 26. — Glorious
season. Bright and sunny all day. Mild as
mid-day all night. Bees with three racks
bunching out. Been away holiday-making
from early days of month. Just returned, and
find fourth rack (placed on above to act as a
cooler) all but filled and sealed. Several
wanted supervision badly, as no member of
my family now at home cares to go near bees.
Alas, that our bright sky should have a cloud !
Prices rule low — i.e., to the seller, 6d. up-
wards ; to the buyer, lOd. up to Is. 6d. I quote
Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen prices.
Glasgow is doing splendidly. I spent the
week, 12th to 19th, at the Exhibition. It is
decidedly good. I regretted not seeing any-
thing in our line. In great haste. Hope
enclosed will be in time. — D. M. M.

Levisham, near Pickering, August 24. — The
past week has been the best I have ever known
for the bees so far as regards work on the
moors. Nectar in abundance, and the best
of weather to secure it. Good "takes" of
heather honey in this district are now assured.
— J. Rymer.

THE SEASON IN BERWICKSHIRE.

GOING TO THE MOOR8.

The season's take may be thus summed up :
— Where all stocks swarmed twice, from a few
sections only to 20 lb. ; where about half the
stocks swarmed, 40 lb. ; where no swarming
took place, 65 lb. to 70 lb. per hive ; while a
hive here and there has yielded about 80 lb.

The heather harvest is just beginning, and
the prospect is fairly good, bees which have
been at the moors for ten days have already
made considerable headway, and should good
weather continue the sections will fill rapidly.

The carting to the moors has been going on
for the last ten days or rather nights, and it
has been a source of interest and pleasure to
watch them from one's bedroom window as
they passed. As the midnight hour draws
nigh one heara through the stillness of the
night the steady tramp of a work horse, and
the rumble of a cart, as it wends its way up
the hill ; at no great distance follows a light
lorry, also with its load of hives, then two or

three together. Sometimes as many as five
carts will pass in company. Solitary pony-
carts, carts loaded full and high, carts loaded
with one or two hives only, some marching
easy and steady, others with eager step,
hurrying on to gain the uplands before day-
light breaks. Silently, too, these bee-keepers
march ; one rarely hears a word spoken, al-
though they usually go in pairs, as they bear
a delicate burden, and there is always the
risk of the bees getting out.

Two cases at least have occurred this season
where this has happened, and the journey has
been stopped till daylight. Before daylight
comes, the stream of travellers upwards ceases,
and by half-past four the bee-men begin to
return. The darkness has now gone, so let us
see what manner of men they are who follow
this craft.

Sharp, intelligent men, most of them, fol-
lowing the occupations of gamekeepers,
gardeners, foresters, carters, farmers and farm
servants, tailors, shoemakers, blacksmiths,
joiners, insurance agents, booksellers, school-
masters, stationmasters, and railway porters.
With some the journey is a long one, coming,
as they do, a distance of from ten to fifteen
miles. A boy who has prevailed on his father
to take him to the moors occasionally accom-
panies the carts, and sometimes on the home-
ward journey he is observed to be asleep
among the straw.

A visit to the moors while the bees are
there well repays one, so let us have a look
round while they are thus gathered together.
Mounting our bicycle, after an almost steady
climb of three miles we arrive at the Camp
Muir Plantation, on the Langton estate.
Here, in clusters of from six to twenty, we find
inside and outside the moor over 100 hives. As
the sun has just burst out after rain, the bees
are in full flight, and we see them to advan-
tage. Passing out on to the muir, the air seems
full of them as they pass to and fro, while
the breeze is positively redolent of honey
after the rain. Remounting our wheel, we
pass on another mile to Cattle Shiel, where,
behind a stone dyke, we count no fewer
than 144 hives, going strong all of them ;
while about another mile across the moor we
can see a third colony, which we are told
numbers about fifty hives. Hives there are of
every shape and variety, large and small, home-
made, joiner-made, and factory-made ; hives
with feet, those without feet ; sloping roofs,
ridge-roofs, flat roofs ; single hives, double
hives, octagons, straw skeps, hives made out
of tea boxes, and one — for old customs die
hard — made from a cheese-box. The painting
of them comprises nearly all the colours of the
rainbow.

Here, therefore, within a radius of two
miles, we have 300 hives at work ; while at
Haliburton, three miles west, and at Dron-
shiel, three miles east, also large numbers may
be found. — Lammermuir.
(Condensed from the "Scotsman," August 9.)

348

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 29, 1901.

<$»$rfyB m& Uppity.

[2711.] Bees Transferring Themselves from
tfkeps to Frame -Hives. — Will you kindly advise
me in next issue of B.J. on the following : —
About two months ago I put two stocks of
bees in flat-topped skeps on the top of two
frame-hives fitted with full sheets of founda-
tion, and although the bees had to pass down
through the lower hive to reach the outside,
and had also drawn out the combs and placed
a nice lot of honey in them, yet the queen has
not in either case started breeding in the
frame-hive, but is still in skep with a quantity
of brood. I therefore ask : — Is it too late to
drive the bees and queen from the skep and
place excluder between them and the skep,
and cover warm for three weeks until the
brood has hatched out 1 — Bath, Somerset,
August 26.

Reply. — 1. Had the queen really needed
room for egg-laying, and the bees been
sufficiently numerous to occupy both skep and
frame-hive, there is no doubt that the brood-
nest would have been transferred below. As
it happened, however, many causes may have
tended to keep the queen in skep. The frame-
hive should be made as snug and warm as
possible to tempt the queen below, or, perhaps,
she is not very prolific. Again, honey may
not have come in well ; if it had, the comb in
skep would have been filled and the queen
thus forced below, but we cannot judge the
cause accurately without inspection. 2. if the
combs in frame-hive are built out it is not too
late to do as proposed, but we should not
sacrifice any unbatched brood now in skep,
nor should the latter be left on. After driving
the bees from skep, cut out all brood and
either tie it into frames or fix it up in a box
suitable for placing above for hatching out,
and so save valuable bee-life for the colony
Pack the hive as warm as possible, and feed
up well and quickly so as to get all winter
stores capped over in good time.

PRESS-CUTTINGS.

USEFUL, INTERESTING, AND "OTHERWISE.''

A correspondent writes : —

Dear Sir, — I have lately read in various
journals that bee - keeping is a profitable
industry. I should be glad of the address of
those authors of fiction, in order that I might
personally express to them my idea of their
statement. Will you allow me to give you
my experience of this industry ? Understand-
ing tbat, by judicious management, I could
pay my house-rent and buy a motor-car out
of the profits, I bought a bee-hive ready
furnished. The thing was placed in my
garden, and I was told that the bees
would swarm soon, and then I should have
two lots for the price of one. Tbis idea

appealed to my commercial sense, and I
waited for the swarming. It came when I
was out, and there was no one at home except
my aged grandmother in the parlour, a cow in
the paddock, and a servant in the linen cup-
board. The bees swarmed at twelve o'clock
in the morning. They swarmed on the
cow's left ear. This naturally irritated
the placid animal, who galloped up
the garden, and plunged through the
French windows into the parlour, think-
ing, I presume, that grandmother could do
something. Grandmother, however, thought
it best to faint, while the cow turned and fled
excitedly down the road, and committed
suicide in the canal. She still floats there,
and I am to be summoned by the water
company for making an improper use of their
fluid. What became of the bees I don't
know. But I do know what has become of
grandmother. She is in a lunatic asylum,
babbling fearfully of apparitions and declaring
that she has always led an upright life, and
would like a peaceful end. The rest of the
family declare that I set the cow at her on
purpose. For grandmother has funds, and
made her will in my favour two days ago.
There are a few bees left, I believe, in the
hive, and anyone is at liberty to fetch them
away. I shall keep no bees in future. I
would as soon harbour a shark in my bath-
room.— Yours disgustedly,

Anti-Beemonoer.
[It was your grandmother's fault. She
should have searched the cow carefully,
extracted the queen-bee, and placed it in a
new hive prepared for the purpose. But
perhaps she hadn't time. Sorry all the same.
— Ed.] — Moonshine.

n J&hows to <&mt

August 31, at Dumfries.— South of Scotland
B.K.A. Annual Show. Open Classes for " Sixes,"
with Prizes of 20s., 15s., 10s., 5s.

September 7 to 14, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (9th)
Annual Exhibition and Market.

September 10, at Cartmel, Lanca.— Honey
show under the auspices of the Lanes. B.K.A., in con*
nection with the show of the Cartmel Agricultural
Society. Three open classes for honey. Schedules
from W. Cragg, Cartmel via Carnforth.

September 11 and 15!, at Derby.— Derbyshire
B.K.A. twentieth Annual Show of Hives, Bees, and
Honey on the show ground of the Derbyshire Agricul-
tural Society. Schedules from F. Walker, Secretary
D. B.K.A., 64, Gerard-street Derby. Entries cloae
August 30.

September 15 and 16, at Sivry, Hainaut
(Belgium).— Annual show of the F6de>ation Apicole
du Hainaut. Open classes for honey, hives and ap-
pliances, mead, vinegar, wax, teaching, and work.
.lars, bottles, &c. Schedules from M. Zenobe Defrenne,
a Sivry.

September 21 to 28, at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with the
fifth Annual Exhibition of the Grocery and Kindred
Trades. Eleven classes for comb and extracted honey

Aug. 29, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

349

and bees-wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers.
Entries close August 31. (See page v.)

October 8 to 11, at the Agricultural Hall,
London.— Show of Honey and Bee-produoe in con-
nection with the British Dairy Farmers' Association.
Numerous and liberal prizes for honey, &c— Schedules
from Mr. Wm. C. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-square,
London, W. Entries close September 9.

October 10, 11, and 12, at Crystal Palace-
Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, and Appliances. Increased prizes and medals.
Schedules from Hon. Secretary, Henry W. Brice, 100,
Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath. Entries close
September 30.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letteri or querist asking for addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur-
chased, or replies giving such information, can only be
inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queriesforwarded will bt attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

Hall (Leeds). — Chemists and British
Homy. — Of course, we cannot judge with
regard to the chemist referred to and his
poor opinion of " English honey,'' but as a
matter of fact we know that honey pro-
duced in this country, if properly ripe when
removed from the hive (as all honey should
be), will keep as well as that from any
country in the world. To talk of " Nor-
mandy honey " being superior to English is
to display woful ignorance of honey as a
product. And this can be abundantly
proved if your friend the chemist is anxious
to test the matter.

Albert Sandys (Drayton), — Foul Brood
among Wasjis. — The cake of wasp-brood
safe to hand. When opened many scores of
wasps had hatched out. We hope to print
your letter next week, along with results of
microscopical examination of wasp-brood
in the combs forwarded.

Novice (Stourbridge). — Re-queening Stocks.
— 1. Leave , queen-cells and let the resul-
tant queen head the colony. She may
prove better than a purchased queen, and
you thus will be a gainer all round. 2. No.
3. As the stock is affected you must treat
it as such.

Prince (Yarm). — Abortive Queen-Cells. —
The larva in sealed cell sent had perished
before reaching the pupa stage. It is not
at all uncommon to find such abortive
queen-cells in hives.

W. Smith (Glos.).— Bee Nomenclature; — Bee
sent is of the ordinary or common kind
known in this country.

Honey Samples.
J. Wallace (Brainhall). — Honey is very

good and quite suitable for the show-bench.
Durham.— While not doubting that there is

" white-clover honey " in sample sent, it is

so mixed with nectar from other sources
that the characteristic flavour and aroma of
white -clover honey is gone, and it would
not be accepted by good judges as from
that plant.

Suspected Combs.

Special Notice to correspondents sending queries on
"Foul brood."

We urgently request that all letters sent with samples
of suspected comb be put outside the box or tin containing
the sample. Also that no more than a couple of square
inches of comb be sent, taking care to neither crush the
comb nor probe the cells before despatching.

In urgent cases (and where possible) we undertake to
" wire " replies as to F. B. if six stamps are sent to cover
cost of telegram. All letters to be addressed "Editor,
Bee Journal," not. " Manager."

A Lover of Bees (Oswestry), — There are no
traces of brood — foul or otherwise — in the
bit of old and black drone-comb sent.

J. S. (Aberdare). — No. 1 sample is badly
affected with foul brood. In No. 2 the
disease is just starting.

d. L. (Keighley), J. B. (Kidderminster),
" Hazlewood " (Birmingham). — In the last-
named case the disease is only just starting,

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve words and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

H
D

EATHER HONEY LABELS, 9d. 100., 3s. Id. 500.
QUEST, King's Norton. h 84

RIVEN BEES FOR SALE. With Queen, 4s. Also
several Stocks in skeps. Peters, Banstead. h 81

HEATHER HONEY in sections and shallow-frames.
Address, "A." Bee Journal Office. h 90

GOOD CLOVER SECTIONS FOR SALE, well-filled
and clean, 8s. per doz. ; 2nd class, 7s. Also
Extracted. Garnett, Well, Bedale, Yorks. h 89

SECTIONS and EXTRACTED HONEY FOR SALE.
Good quality. T. Hammond, Great Tothain,
Witham, Essex. H 88

HONEY FOR SALE.— Sainfoin, Clover, 6d. lb. Tins
and crates free. Samples 2d, H. May, Kingston,
Blount, Wallingford. h 87

DRIVEN BEES, 2s. 6d. ; healthy lots. ~ 1901 Queens
for Sale. Cadman, Codsall Wood, Wolverhamp-
ton. H ge

SPLENDID NATIVE and LIGURIAN 1901 tested
QUEENS, 5s. each. Guthrie, Alloway, Ayr.
H SO

HONEY IN BULK WANTED. Send sample, with
price per cwt. carriage paid. Castle's, 23, Oxford-
street, London, W. h 83
EES FOR SALE, owing to removal, 6 strong Stocks
in bar-frame hives, and 4 Straw Skeps ; healthy.
Mrs. Hyde, France Farm Cottage, Botleys, Chertsey.
H 91

WANTED, first-class new CLOVER HONEY (ex-
tracted). Also full weight Sections, any quantity
cash. Sample and price, to A. S. Dell, Leigh, Lanes.

H 82

qaa ONE-POUND BOTTLES EXTRACTED HONEY,
Ov/v_/ 7s. doz. ; sample 3d. Also 500 sections, weigh-
ing over 15 oz., 7s. doz. ; second quality, over 14 oz., 6s.
doz. All splendid quality. Trebble, The Apiaries,
Romansleigh, South Molton. H 85

DWARD'S PEDIGREE~QUEEmS, "record-creating
non-swarming strain ; autumn-raised, 4s. each,
post free, in new introducing cage. Selected Queens,
5s. 6d. Orders now booked. Shrubshill Apiary,
Sunningdale (late " Beecroft," Ashford).

Q~ UEEN RAISING APPLIANCES.— Prepared frame,
10-cell Studs, as exhibited last Dairy Show, is. 3d. ;
ditto, 20 studs, 3s. 6d. post free. Dipping and trans-
ferring sticks, wax cups, cages, &c. Edwards, above.

350

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 29, 1901.

Prepaid Ad vertisements (Continued) .

DRIVEN lots of BEES with Queens, 2s. 6d. Boxes
returned. Ppllen, Ramsbury, Hungerford. H 8

STRONG HEALTHY STOCKS, 10 Combs, young
Queens, 21s. Carr, Norwood-avenue, Southport.
H 26

FOR SALE, 20 lots DKIVEN BEES, 3s. per lot, or 9d.
per lb., with Queen; boxes returnable. J. Barnks,
Burwell, Camhs, h 79

DRIVEN BEES with Queen, 8s. per lot ; two lots, 5s. 6d.
Orders booked in rotation for September. Box
free. MARTIN. Beekeeper. Wokingham, Berks. II 07

TESTED ENGLISH QUEENS, bred from selected
strain, 5s. each, in introducing cage. W, Woodlky,
Beedon, Newbury.

HEALTHY DRIVEN BEES Is. 3d. per lb. Not less
than four lb. lots'. Brxes to be returned. E.
Long, Fulbourne, (Jambs. H 27

DRIVEN BEES.—Strong STOCK with Queen, 5s. ;
package returnable. Phillips, Spetchley, Wor-
cester. H 7

NCE TRIED ALWAYS USED. Our Solar Wax
Extractor should be in every Apiary. A perfect
success. No. 1, 12s. 6d. Manager, Hardham Apiary,
Pulborough. ._ G 78

UEENS, STOCKS, NUCLEI, and SWARMS. 14th
season of queen-rearing as a speciality. Fertile
queens, 5s. each, post free. Rev. C. BRERETON,
Pulborough, Sussex.

GENUINE IMPORTED ITALIAN QUEENS —Purity
and safe arrival guaranteed . Post free with Intro-
ducing Cage, full instructions for introduction, 6s.
P. Sladen, Ripple Court Apiary, near Dover. H 25

cy r TH YEAR.— Choice 1901 QUEENS, in introducing
ZwO cages, 3s. 9d., delivered ; with Swarm for build-
ing up, 5s. 6d. Package free. ALSFORD, Expert.
Blandford. H 63

SEVEN BAR- FRAME HIVES, four Skeps, Extractors
and sundries, Bees healthy, good condition, £10 or
offers. HERROD, Trentside Apiary, Sutton-on-Trent,
Newark. •__ H 62

TO SELL your SECTIONS try the NEW FOLDING
CASES; assorted colours ; gold lettering ; very
effective ; 6s. 6d. 100. Sample free. Hewett'S,
Laburnum Apiary, Alton, Hants. H 71

DRIVEN BEES (healthy), 3s. per lot, including queen ;
also a few strong Stocks in bar-framed hives,
complete, 22s. 6d. each. Willis, Oakley, Wimborne,

Dorset.

H 61

STRONG STOCKS in skeps, 1901 fertile Queen, guar-
anteed healthy, lis. 6d. Well-rooted Strawberry
Plants, " Sir Joseph Paxton,'' 2s. 100. Woods, Nor-
mandy, Guildford. H 74

FINE PROLIFIC Tested 1901 QUEENS, 3s. 6d. each,
post free. Bees Is. 3d. per lb. for 5 lb. lots or over,
Queen included. Guaranteed healthy and safe arrival.
Packages to be returned. Whiting, Valley Apiaries,
Hundon, Clare, Suffolk. H .".7

COMFORTABLE APARTMENTS for brother bee-
keepers visiting Douglas. Terms : tea, bed, and
breakfast, 3s. 6d. ; or full board, 5s. per day. Horslet,
Merridale House, Top of Castle Drive, Douglas, Isle of
Man. 932

BEES.— Special Strain Ligurian Queens(crossed British
Drones), quiet, vigorous workers ; nuclei with 1901
Queen, 10s. fid., Fertile Queens, 5s. 6d., Virgins, 3s. 6d.,
Fertile 1901 British Queens, 3s. fid. ; strong layers Clove
Carnations, 2s. dozen. Edenholme Apiary, Longlevens,
Gloucester. H 57

WOOD'S SPECIFIC— Sure preventive of and allevia-
tive for Bee-Stings and all Insect Bites. &c.
Non-poisonous. Sold in bottles, Is. 3d., post paid. A
certain cure for Udder Clap or Sore Teats in cows.
2s. 4d. post paid. Postal orders to Wood & Co.,
Manufacturers, Black Hill, Co. Durham. H 40

SPRING Dwindling and Light Supers are unknown
where White Star Italians are used. Store in all
weathers if flowers are about, and a month later than
Natives and other varieties. Always ready for fruit
blown in spring. Leave all others behind at the heather.
S. Simmins, Heathfleld, Sussex.

Prepaid Advertisements (Continued).

DON'T BE STUNG. Wear Reynolds' " Burkitt Bee
Gloves." A great success. Unsolicited testi-
monials. Light in substance, useful, durable. 2s. 2d
per pair, or with self-adjusting gauntlets attached,
2s. lOd. per pair, post paid. Special terms to the trade.
Sole Maker, Edward Reynolds, Andover, Hants.

PROLIFIC QUEENS. — Pure Imported Carniolans,
7s.; Italians, 6s. 6d. ; home-bred from imported
mothers, 4s. 6d. ; others, 3s. 6d. (and 2s. condemned).
Swarms, Stocks, and Nuclei headed by any variety queen
at fair prices. Customer says:—" Friend has hived two
nuclei. . . well satisfied." ' E. WOODHAM, Clavering,
Newport, Essex. H 51

LACE PAPER for SECTION GLAZING. White,
1 in. wide, in three neat patterns, 100, 7d , 200,
Is. 2d., 300, Is. 6d., 500, 2s. 3d., 1,000, 4s. Also LACE
BANDS, White, 3 in. wide, lace both sides, 100, Is. 3d.,
200, 2s. 3d., 300, 3s., ; Pink, 3 and 3J in. wide, 100, Is. 6d.,
200, 2s. 9d., 300, 4s. ; Pale Green, 3 in. wide, same price
as Pink ; all post free. The alterations above are owing
to colours and widths being cleared for this season.
W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury.

LANCASHIRE B.K.A.

QUALIFIED EXPERT WANTED AT ONCE.

£3 per week and Bonus on neM7 Members.
Apply, F. H. Taylor, Hon. Sec., Birch Fold
Cottage, Fallowfield, Manchester.

DAIRY SHOW,

LONDON,

OCTOBER 8, 9, 10, 11.

Prizes for Honey, Wax, &c.

ENTRIES CLOSE SEPTEMBER 9th.
Sec, WM. C. YOUNG, 12, Hanover-square, London, W.

CLOSE OF SEASON, 1901.

CLEARANCE SALE.— Having a large Stock of the

following still on hand, I am offering at greatly
reduced prices —

"Cowan" Extractors 50/- reduced to 42/6

"Raynor" ,, 32/6 ,, 28/6

"Guinea" ,, 22/6 ,, 19A

Geared 33/- „ 26/-

Small Wax Extractors 2/6 ,, 2/-

Large Round Float Feeders ... 2 <; ,, 1/8

Small „ „ ,, ... 1/6 ,, 1/-

Bottle Feeders 1 :; ,, lOd.

Queen Excluders 9d. .. 6d.

8/- doz. „ 5/6

,, ,, Long Sheets (96x10).: i. ,, 2/3

,, ,, „ (96x32)6/6 ,, 4/3

Standard and Shallow Frames 1/3 doz. ,, iod.

„ „ S/4 100 ,, 5/6

Sections 2/- 100 „ 1/8

„ Split Top 2/6 100 „ 1/10

,, „ 20/- 1,000 ,, 17/-

Smokers 3/- each ,. 2/3

„ (Meadows') 2/6 ,, ,, 1/8

"W.B.CV'Ends 4/- gross ,, 2/9

,, ,, extra wide ... 4/6 ,, ,, 3/-

Tough Wood Dividers lOd. doz. ,, 6d.

„ 6/- 100 „ 3/6

Metal Dividers 1/- doz. „ 8d.

7/6100 „ 5/-

Comb Foundation 2/- lb. „ 1/9

,, ,, Thin for Sections 2/6 lb. ,, 2/1

Super Clearers 2/- each ,, 1/8

Woiblet Spur Embedders ... 1/- „ 9d.

Section Racks 2/6 ,, 1/9

Shallow-Frame Boxes, complete 3/- „ 2/2

Wire and Net Veils 2/- ,. 1/6

Black & White „ 1/6 „ 1/-

Uncapping Knives 2/- ,, 1/6

" Record " Bee Hives 10/6 ,, 9/9

1 gross Lee's Dovetail Frames 19/- any reasonable offer,

l ,, Shallow ,, ,, „ ,, ,,

Honey Ripeners and Strainers 12/6 reduced to 9/6

W. SHEPHERD, Oxton, Tadcaster, Yorks.

Sept. 5, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

351

(Editorial, $Jotite», &t

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE B.K.A.

The annual show of the Northamptonshire
B.K.A. was this year held on August 8, in
connection with the Kingsthorpe Horticultural
Show, in the pleasant grounds attached to the
residence of Lady Robinson, St. David's,
Kingsthorpe, and was considered on all hands
to be one of the best shows ever held by the
Association. In the open clas3 for 1-lb. jar,
forty-seven exhibits were staged. Messrs. R.
King and J. R. Truss judged the honey, and
Mr. George Hefford the honey cakes, the
awards being as follows : —

Twelve 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, James Adams,
West Haddon; 2nd, Geo. H. Skevington,
Northampton ; 3rd, H. Williams, Overstone ;
4th. Geo. Page, Halcot.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted (Light) Honey.
—1st, T. H. Plowright, Brackley ; 2nd, O.
Orland, Flore ; 3rd, C. Cox, Brampton ; 4tb,
G. Page ; 5th. Mrs. Wells, Oxendon.

Six 1 lb. Jars Extracted (Dark) Honey. —
1st. J. Pollard, Bucks; 2nd, H. Williams;
3rd, James Adam?.

Six 1-lb. Jars Granulated Honey. — 1st, G.
Page ; 2nd, W. Manning ; 3rd, C. Oox.

Three Shallow Frames Honey in Comb.—
1st, C. G.x ; 2iid, G. H. Skevington; 3rd, C.
Wells; 4' h, James Adams.

Beeswax. — 1st, H. Williams ; 2nd, C.
Wells ; 3rd, F. J. Old; h.c., Mrs. Cox.

Six 1-lb. Sections (novices). — 1st, G. S.
Pilgrim ; 2nd, Thos. Norman ; 3rd, W.
Williams.

Six 1-lb Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, C. H.
Smith, Thrapston ; 2nd, Mrs. Reynolds, Over-
stone ; 3rd, W. Williams; h.c, J. Pollard.

Super of Comb Honey.— 1st, W. Allen ;
2nd, W. Williams ; 3rd, T. Norman.

Single 1-lb. Jar of Honey (open).— 1st, Thos.
Plowright ; 2nd, J. Smart, Andover ; 3rd, W.
Hatliffe, Thoresway, Lines ; 4th, Thos. Blake,
Stockbridge ; 5tb, Jas. Buckby, Burton
Latimer ; 6tb, G- H. Smitb.

Single 1-lb. Jar of Honey (open).. — 1st,
W. G. Dear, Middle Woodford, Salisbury ;
2nd, J. Smart ; 3rd, W. Loveday ; 4tb, T.
Plowright ; h.c, Jas. Buckby.

Honey Cake.— 1st, W. Hatliff ; 2nd, Mrs.
SkeviDgton ; 3rd, Miss Whites-ide, Kingthorpe;
4th, Miss Ellard, Queen's Park Parade.

GOOLE AND DISTRICT B.K.A.

The annual show of the above was held at
Goole on August 15 in connection with the
show of the Goole Agricultural and Horticul-
tural Society, when the entries showed an
increase over those of last year, whilst the
quality of the exhibits was superior to those of
late years, owing to the better season.

Mr. R. A. H. Grimsbaw officiated as judge,
and made the following awards : —

OPEN CLASSES.

Six 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, W. Woodley, New-
bury, Berks ; 2nd, W. Dixon, Leeds ; 3rd, W.
Smitb, Preston, Hull.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
W. E. Ricbardson, Driffield ; 2nd, H. Hunkin,
Neath ; 3rd, Rev. J. R. Bradshaw, Hessay,
York.

Two Shallow-frames of Comb Honey. — 1st,
W. Smith ; 2nd, A. Woodhead, Goole.

Single 1-lb. Jar Extracted Honey. — 1st,
Rev. J. R. Bradshaw ; 2nd, Rev. W. Head,
Brilley, Hereford.

Observatory Hive, with Bees and Queen —
1st. W. Dixon ; 2nd, W. Chester. Goole.

Interesting and Instructive Exhibits. — 1st,
W. Dixon ; 2nd, W. Chester.

members' classes.

Three 1-/6. Sections. — 1st, Mrs. Remmer,
Krjedlington, Howden ; 2nd, E. Wainman,
Hook.

Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, T.
Earl, Creykes' Sidings, Rawchffe Bridge,
R.S.O. ; 2nd, A. Woodhead ; 3rd, W.
Chester; 4>h, Mrs. Remmer.

Three 1-lb. Jars Granulated Honey. — 1st,
A. Woodhead ; 2nd, W. Chester.

Beeswax. — 1st, T. Earl; 2ud, W. Ramsey,
Skelton, Howden. — A. Woodhead, Hon. Sec,
Goob .

BEDFORDSHIRE" B.K.A.

A very successful demonstration was given
in Wrest Paik, Silsoe, Beds, on August 5
(Bank Holiday) in connection with the annual
show of the local Horticultural Society.

In a bee-tent, provided by the Beds Bee-
keepers' Association, Mr. L. H. Smith, of
Elstow, near Bedford, had prepared some
stocks of bees in skeps and frame-hives, to-
gether with appliances for an object lesson in
bee management.

After explaining the good points of stocks
in skeps, he showed how to incorporate them
in a frame-hive, and the advantages of having
moveable combs, particularly where an ex-
tractor could be brought into action.

The aolual work of driving the bees was
eagerly watched, especially when the queen
was adroitly captured, put in a glass cage and
passed through the tent for examination by
the company. The bees were next returned
to the stock hive. A bar frame hive was
next opened, and eggs, grubs, sealing of brood,
&c, were pointed out, and much valuable in-
formation was given on general care of stocks.

There was a very good attendance, much
interest was evoked, questions were freely
asked and answered.

The Flower Show Committee were most
kind in giving assistance in erecting the tent,
and the Beds. B.K. Association are to be con-
gratulated upon having organised so satisfac-

352

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. :>, 1901.

tory a demonstration of modern methods of
bee-keeping — Geo. E. Hopkins, Hon. Treas.,
Beds B.K.A., Turret/, Bedford.

The Bditort do not hold themselves responsible for the
opiniont expressed by correspondent!. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communication!, and correepondenti
are requested to write on one tide of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necenarily for
publication, but a! a guarantee of good faith. Illuitra-
tiom should be drawn on leparate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communication!.

Communications relating to the literary department,
reports of Associatioiis, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for Review, A-e.,must be addressed only to "The
Editors of the' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William-
street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi-
cations relating to advertisements, dec, must be addressed
to "The Manager, 'British Bee Journal' Office, 17,
King William-street, Strand, London, W.C."

%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents,
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[4479.] We are now in chill September.
The shortening days — when the evenings close
in with but little twilight, and darkness so
soon follows the setting of the sun — should
call the attention of bee-keepers to the fact
that whatever they have to do in the apiary
should be taken in hand without delay. This
is important if the bees are to have a period
of rest before the commencement of winter, as
they should.

Feeding and Re-qiiecning.—If feeding is
required it should be started at once and the
food given as rapidly as the bee3 can take it
down. If re-queening is intended, do not
leave this operation over till the end of the
month. Procure your queens and introduce
them as early a3 po3sible, and thus breeding
will be started and the colonies go into winter
quarters with a goodly proportion of young
bees. These young bees may prove the main-
stay of the colony next spring, and at the
same time indicate the prolificness or other-
wise of the queen introduced.

Showing Honey, and Hints to Secretaries
and Committee*. — Every show-committee and
secretary, when getting up an exhibition of
honey, hopes to have the classes well filled.
As a rule, three prizes are offered in each class,
and the managers are jubilant when the entry
fees nearly cover the prize money offered.
Bee-keepers who enter the competition also
each hope to wiu. Well, now let us count the
cost of the matter to the exhibitor ! — First we
have entry fees ; second, railway carriage ; and
third, return railway carriage for goods
returned. The first two are reasonable ; the
last item is the item which raises a grumble.
Let me give a case in point : Last week I sent
three small boxes of exhibits to Chester.
Carriage to Chester cost me 2s. 2d. So far,
well and good, but the same three boxes came
back promptly (very well packed, no damage),

but the railway charge for return car was
5s. lid.! Now I ask why this difference in
cost for outward compared with the cost of
return journey ? So far as I could gather it
was because some one had pasted a red ticket
above my conspicuous "Don't jar'' label, and
this red ticket was marked " Glass ; ! And
for this word the railway company at once
charged 50 per cent, beyond the cost of send-
ing an ordinary parcel.

Whenever I send honey to a show it ia?
always at " owner's risk " — i.e., at half rate —
but on its return it is invariably charged full
or ordinary rate, which is double. 1 would
therefore impress on those who superintend
the return of exhibits — requiring to be
despatched per rail at the close of a show— -f
the importance of having exhibits sent at
half rate. I have taken the trouble in some
few instances to fill up a half-rate railway
consignment note and tacking same under the-
address label ; but somehow these have not
been used. I contend that every possible
consideration should be given to exhibitors,
and that the steward of department, or who-
ever has charge of seeing "returns" despatched,,
should see to these matters ; by so doing they
would encourage bee-keepers who were not
successful this year to enter another season,
but when these big sums are charged for'
small parcels it acts as a deterrent to the-;
exhibitor next year.

Section Backs. — I am glad to find so good
a bee-keeper as " D. M. M., Banff "' (4475M
has broached the subject of Crates v. Backs*
His ideas exactly coincide with my own.
Here at home we always call the receptacles
in which our sections are placed on the hivesf
"crates" ; my good wife says she has been
getting the crates ready to-day ! Are you*
going to put any crates on to-day, William ■
And if 1 want more new one3 I write toS
appliance-dealer, make me so many crates, and
if we look through the catalogues I believM
all makers term them crates. If we use the!
word crate in writing to B.J. it invariable
emerges as "rack," though why our EditoqH
should consider it the most suitable or expres-
sive word or name for the article I know not*
When supers were first made sectional the
boxes or sections were held together by wire,
rubber bands, or by thumbscrews at the sides
on strips of wood. I admit it was then simply
a rack, and that was, in my opinion, a correct
name at the time, but now the sections are
placed inside the slated bottom-box I considej
the word crate a far more correct name for the
receptacle than " rack," therefore I hold up
both hands for " crate.'— W. Woodlot
Beedon. Newbury.

[The question raised by our friend.
" D. M. M." was not lost sight of, and we
hope to deal with it fully ere long. Nor do
we despair of converting not only our two
contributors but appliance dealers and all
others concerned to the view we hold as to
which is the more correct term. — Eds.]

Sept. 5, 1901. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

353

THE SOUTH AFRICAN "BEE-
PIRATES."

[4480.] I have examined the specimens of
the " bee pirates " forwarded from South
Africa (vide Mr. Martin's letter on page 334).
They all belong to a group of sand-wasps,
the females of which prey on various insects
with which they provision their nests. The
nest is usually at the end of a burrow in sandy
ground, and contains the female sand-wasps'
dead or paralysed victims, which subsequently
become the food of her young. Six specimens
in all were sent, and on examination they were
found to include two distinct kinds of sand-
wasps, five of them belonging to genus
Palarus, the other one being a Philanihus.
All the Palarus seem to be of one species,
there being three males and two females. The
single Philanthus was a female.

I have made some drawings of the South
African " bee pirates,'' which will enable
Mr. Martin to identify the different kinds.
It will be seen that the Palarus differs
considerably from the Philanthus in general
appearance, and also in the neuration of the
wings. In the male Palarus the extremity of
the abdomen is tridentate ; in the female it
is sharply acuminate, or pointed.

PALARUS

PHILANTHUS
SOUTH AFRICAN " BEE-PIKATES. '

The genus Palarus is somewhat closely
allied to Philanthus, and although fairly well
distributed over the tropical world, it does not
occur in Britain, and there is only one

European species — Palarus flavipcs. Mr
Edward Saunders has very kindly given me
some information about the prey of P. flampes.
He says that Kohl, quoting from Dufour,
states that in a nest of P. flavipes there were
found eighteen species of HymenopUra, in-
cluding several wild bees, but no honey bees.
Most of these were insects about the same size
as, or larger than, honey bees, and many quite
as formidable ; and Mr. Saunders thinks that
honey-bees might be equally acceptable to the
Palarus.

Philanthus, on the other hand, is a common
and widely-distributed genus throughout the
world, and there is one British species (P.
triangulurri) which has the interesting fact
connected with it that it is the only British
sand wasp which makes a practice of pro-
visioning its nest with honey bees. This
insect has of late years become exceedingly
rare. It used to occur in large numbers in
the Isle of Wight, but there have been no
recent captures in England, except one male
two years ago at Folkestone. Mr. Saunders
says, however, that he saw it pretty commonly
in Jersey this July, but he was too early to
see the females with their prey.

In making an attempt to destroy these
pests, it seems to me the only way of setting
to work would be by endeavouring to destroy
their nests. As sand-wasps are solitary in
their habits, it would be difficult to do this on
a large enough scale to be of any practical
value unless they nested gregariously, as the
labour in searching for isolated nests would be
too great to be worth while. Mr. Saunders
says that though the Philanthus does not
actually colonise, many nests can no doubt be
found pretty close together in places where the
insect is abundant, and this is also likely to be
so in the case of Palarus.

In view of the habits of these sand-wasps
I cannot understand how your correspondent
managed to find any males at all, as it is
probably only the females which would attack
and carry off bees.

I remember having received from you about
two years ago some specimens of "bee pirates"
from South Africa, that were stated to have
been caught preying on honey bees, and I found
them to be referable to the genus Palarus.
From the evidence before us, there seems to
be still a question as to which is the true
offender, though, personally, I feel pretty sure
that the females of both Palarus and Philan-
thus are " bee pirates " ; but I should like to
ask, Where were the three males of the
Palarus taken ?

It is quite likely that other sand-wasps
allied to these would also prey on bees in
South Africa, and it would be exceedingly
interesting and instructive if your corre-
spondent would be so good as to send over a
good many more specimens of these depreda-
tors caught in the act of carrying off the bees.
The nests of these insects might be searched
for on sandy slopes not far from the hives.

354

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 5, 1901.

The bunch of cocoons sent with the speci-
mens proves on examination to be that of a
wax moth, and has no connpction with the
"bee pirates.'' — F. W. L. Sladen, Ring-
would, near Dover, August 27.

A DAY AT THE MOORS.

f4481.] As we are in the midst of the
heather season, the following short description
of a day on the moors may possess interest for
brother bee-keepers : Mounting our bikes, the
run of six or seven miles to the moors only
occupies a short time, instead of the weary
old tramp of several hours' duration. Travel-
ling pleasantly along against a gentle breeze,
we were conscious of such a smell of honey
from the heather as is only felt when both
weather and heather combine. We were soon
alongside the bees, and were told to be careful,
as, when working like this, they would follow
for 400 or 500 yards to drive us off. Standing
between the hives, and having the best of the
moor in front of us, we beheld a perfect cloud
of bees, from over forty strong stacks, as busy
as bees only could be.

Before being able to " veil up," I became a
target for three " shots " from " our friends the
enemy." But I hope to be repaid for this bit
of offence on Wednesday next, when I expect
to take my first "lift" of heather sections.
Should the weather keep favourable we are
expecting a splendid crop. Having had a look
at the bees and got the usual baptism of fire,
we started for a ramble over the moor, and as far
as the eye could reach, to north, east and west,
nothing but hills and dales of purple heather
could be seen — the air scented with the per-
fume of the ling, the mass of Erica vulgaris,
varying from purple to pure white. I enclose
you a few sprigs, as the moor-farmer tells us
the white heather always brings good luck.
The "bee-ling" is now at its best, spotted
here and there with large patches of " crow-ling "
{Erica cinerea) and smaller patches of the
beautiful pink waxlike " wire-ling " (Erica
tetralix). I have heard several complaints to-
day (August 19) from moor-men about bees
doing badly in several places, but I think it
is through expecting too much too early
in the season, as the present time weather
and other favourable conditions ought to help
considerably towards heavy supers. When all
is safely packed by and the snowflakes flying, I
hope to give the other end of the tale. Wishing
every success to your valuable journal, — Erica
Alba, Pickering, August 20.

DESTROYING WASPS' NESTS.
[4482] Referring to the question of destroy-
ing wasps' nests mentioned in your columns,
there is no need to use either sulphur, carbon
bisulphide, or cyanide of potassium. A rag
saturated in common turpentine and not
lighted is sufficient. It is only necessary to

wait till the wasps have retired for the night ;
thrust in the turpentined rag and stamp a turf
over the mouth of the hole. In a few minutes,
or as soon as the "hum'' ceases, the nest may be
dug out, or it can be left till morning ; indeed,
I am not sure that the nest requires digging
out at all if the rag has enough turps on it. I
once took a hornets' nest from the roof of a
summer-house by exposing it to the fumes of
turpentine in the same way. I made a kind
of " hod " such as is sometimes used by brick-
layers' labourers, and put rags all round the
edge, and then held it under the nest till the
hornets had succumbed to its effects.

This is the most simple and least dangerous
method I know of, and it is quite effectual. —
F. V. Hadlow, Buxted, Sussex.

SOME ESSEX NOTES.

[4483 ] Good News about Homv- — I have
just been reading in a leading; London weekly
newspaper of a celebrated Eaglish physician
having asserted that the increased height and
weight of Englishmen and Americans in the last
half-century is chiefly due to the increased
consumption of sugar. In confirmation of this
opinion the physician referred to cites the fine
health of date-eating Arabs and the sugar-
cane-eating negroes. In the same paper it is
stated that the average duration of human
life has increased during the last 100 years in
the rate of three years for men and three and
a half years for women. Now while I con-
sider this good news in a general sense, as
an advertisement it seems to me equally good
for honey, and whenever the question, " What
is the best form in which to take sugar ? " is
raised bee-keepers need have no hesitation in
replying, " Take honey."

Foul Brood in Sleeps. — Mr. Woodley, in
B.J. of August 22 (page 834), writes on this
subject. For myself, I have never found foul
brood in a skep owned by any man who could
be properly called a skeppist, i.e , one who
keeps bees on ancient lines, with the " brim-
stone pit " at the end of the last act. But I
have, and still do, every year find foul brood
in skeps owned by some whom I suppose we
must call "modern bee-keepers." I usually
have one or more jobs of removing bees from
the roofs or walls of dwelling-houses, or other
buildings, every autumn, and though in some
cases the combs have been known to be twenty
or more years old, I have never found foul
brood in them.

Wasps. — Unlike Mr. Woodley, we have
almost a plague of wasp3 in this immediate
neighbourhood, and there is very little fruit
for them. But nothing comes amiss to the
wasp. One day recently I saw wasps eating a
sparrow, and the next day I saw a large
number of wasps making a meal off a frog.
I went the other day to take a nest of bumble-
bees, and found the nest destroyed. There
was evidence that the destroyers were wasps.

Sept. 5, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

355

Stories both Amusing and Ridiculous. —
When Press-cuttings reporting the numerous
" bee-stories " reach the B.BJ. on their way
round the papers, I think it would be a good
plan for our Editors to write to some reader of
the B.B.J, who is known to be living near the
place where the story is said to have been
floated, to find out, if possible, whether it is
fact or fiction. Many of these silly stories have
no reality in them at all, and others are so exag-
gerated that serious injury is done to bee-
keepers in the minds of those who are ignorant
of the subject. Some people are amused by
these stories, and some papers will circulate
anything, however ridiculous.

Congratulations. — Hearty congratulations
to the Editors of our Journal on the issue of
the thousandth number of the B.B.J., on Au-
gust 22. We get our Journal to-day for the
modest sum of Id., but it does not seem long
ago since the B.J. was 2d. per week. The time
when it was a fortnightly at 3d. is further back,
while its original price of 10^d. per monthly
number is beyond my day ; but our Id. copy
is evidently going to "stay.'' — W. Lovedat,
Hatfield Heath, Harlow, Essex.

THE POISON AND STING OF THE
HONEY BEE*

A REVIEW BY R. HAMLTN-HARRIS, F.R.M.S.,
F.Z S., F.E S., ETC.

During my stay in Naples, the author of a
paper with the above title, Dr. Joseph Laoger,
was good enough to send me a copy for perusal.
The subject chosen as a theme for research is
of such extreme interest to bee-keepers gene-
rally that I propose to give a detailed account
of the results of Dr. Danger's work. I have
already referred to it in " Reviews of Foreign
Bee Papers" (B.B.J.) some months ago.

It has always been more or less a matter of
contention whether formic acid is or is not the
chief constituent of the poison of the bee, and
we are indebted to Dr. Langer for some light
on this subject.

In fact, may we not a9k, have the chemical
properties of the bee's poison ever really been
decided on to the satisfaction of investigators ?
If the reply is not absolutely in the negative,
we must at least own that our kaowledge on
this point is very imperfect, and that much
must be done to fill up the gaps at present
existing. One great difficulty in the way of
the investigator is the extremely small quan-
tity of poison obtainable, and the immense
number of victims which must be sacrificed to
obtain what, after all, is only a very inade-
quate supply for the use of scientific investiga-
tion. Dr. Langer has, however, overcome this
difficulty to some extent. He adopted the

* Blenengift und Bienenstich Von Med. Dr.
Joseph Langer in Prag. Sonderabdruck aus den
Sitzungsberichten des Deutschen Naturwissen-medicin.
Veretnes fur Behmen. " Lotos," 1899. No. 8.

following methods : — " It was of the greatest
consequence to procure the pure poison as it
exuded from the sting of the bee, and to this
end the bee was carefully taknn between the
fingers and gently pressed, the drop being col-
lected by means of fine capillary tubes.

" An approximate idea of the quantity of
poison, also of the dry residuum, may be
obtained if a bee be made to sting filter-paper
which has been previously well dried and
weighed. A solution of the poison is prepared
by macerating the freshly extracted bee-sting
and poison-bag in water, and passing the liquid
thus procured through filter paper.

"To secure the poison in larger quantities
several thousand poison glands and stings were
collected in 96 per cent, alcohol. This being
filtered, and the dry stings pounded in water
and added to the preparation. After changing
the 96 per cent, alcohol two or three times,
and then using pure alcohol and aether, after
the evaporation of the latter a whitey-grey
substance remained, which came off in flakes
from the bottom of the vessel in which it stood,
and this substance contained poisonous matter
and albumen."

The following details are given regarding
the literature of the bee poison and relative
matters : —

" Will, engaged in the examination of the
hairs of the procession caterpillar, came to the
conclusion by analogy, and considering the
similar conditions of life of ants and bees (as
also John Wray), that they contained formic
acid as a substance capable of acting poison-
ously."

Paul Bert and CloSz were the next to
consider the subject, and to give us their
opinion that the poison of Xylocopa violacea
contained an organic base which stands in
connection with an unknown acid.

Dunhoff ealls the secretion of the aculeata
a solution of albumen in formic acid. As to
the nature and character of the poison itself
(apart from any admixed properties), some
interesting facts are given which appear of
more importance than any hitherto discovered.
"The pure poison is a clear fluid with an acid
reaction, tasting bitter and with a fine aro-
matic odour.

" Under the microscope certain drop3 are to
be observed floating in the fluid, various in
size, strongly refracting the light and of a fatty
nature. On evaporation the pure poison leaves
a sticky, varnish-like residuum which, dried at
a heat of 100 deg., cracks and peels off in
flakes.

" The pure poison is easily soluble in water,
and leaves about 30 per cent, dry residuum,
which is soluble and possesses undiminished
poisonous properties. The small quantity of
poison in a single bee compels the use of large
quantities of material. As many as 120,000
bees have been necessary for the research of
the last four years. Pure poison contains no
bacteria, and hinders the growth of bacteria,

350

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 5, 1901.

without, however, being able to kill them even
after days of contact."

In order to prove that it is on no account
the presence of formic acid which causes the
poisonous effect, Dr. Langer brings forward
the following : —

"(1) Watery solutions of the pure poison,
although having no acid reaction, as also when
the poison preparation has been treated by
carbonate of soda and made slightly alkaline,
still produce conjunctivitis when dropped into
the eye of a rabbit. (2) If several hundred
freshly-taken stings are distilled, the acid
result, containing the formic acid, never shows
the typical reaction in the eye of a rabbit,
while the stings free from the acid are able to
set up the characteristic irritation. (3) Stings
perfectly dried, if the skin be pierced by one,
produce the same effect as if fresh, which,
when we consider the fluid nature of formic
acid, cannot be ascribed to its agency. (4)
Injections of pure formic acid only produced a
slight eruption in the arm, which soon
passed off."

In addition to he foregoing, Dr. Langer's
experiments as to the susceptibility of human
beings show that the majority of persons are
affected by bee poisoD, and only very few are
proof against it.

The author mentions three stages during
the process of inflammation which are tem-
porary and easily distinguished : — 1. The
progressive condition : From the moment of
the bee-sting, and lasting one hour and a half
to two hours, with the following symptoms —
pain, the appearance of a speck of blood,
irruption and swelling of the skin. 2. The
stationary stage (closely connected with the
first, and is characterised by more or less
spreading of the swelling) : Lasts one day to
a day and a half. 3. The retrogressive
stage : This is also closely allied to the last,
and often lasts eight to fourteen days, the
actual time being known by the receding of
the swelling and lessening of the irritation ;
the place where the sting entered becomes
more evident at first and then slowly dis-
appears.

Characteristics of the artificially procured
immunity to bee poison are as follows : —

(a) No appearance of nettlerash and other
principal symptoms, even after numerous
stings, in persons previously susceptible.

(b) Changes in the appearance of local in-
flammation, which affect the duration and the
size. Lessening of all the above three stages
in length and intensity.

A still higher degree of immunity is shown
by the entire disappearance of the second stage,
so that with these persons the third stage
follows directly on the first. The best method of
destroying the poison, or, at least, to weaken its
effects, is considered at great length by Dr.
Langer, and after mentioning various details
as to several reagents, he sums up the subject
as follows : —

" On the strength of the discovery of Celsus

on the harmlessness of snake poison when
taken into the healthy stomach, the same ex-
periment was made with the bee poison, and
the same results obtained. This being proved,
the different gastric juices ('pepsin, pan-
creatin, diastase, papayin, labferment ') were
brought to bear upon the poison, and each of
these showed the power to greatly weaken its
effects."

From these experiments it was found that a
certain quantity of pepsin could neutralise
entirely and instantly a certain quantity of
bee-poison ; but, on the other hand, the
pepsin loses some of its properties by contact
with the poison.

It is remarkable to notice the wonderful
quickness with which pepsin (at a given
strength) works upon the poison. Still, this
is, as far as is known, the first time the
reaction between poison and reagent has been
observed.

There are two ways of treating the stings
of bees, wasps, &c. One outward, as cold
compresses with water, vinegar, &c. ; the other
seeking to neutralise the poison at the seat of
the injury by the application of liquid am-
monia, waterglas, and other alkalies. Sucking
or pressing the wound is as useless as cauteri-
sation with the heat of a cigar or with red-hot
wire.

It is an old and well-known fact that strong
liquid ammonia is considered one of the best
remedies. It will, therefore, be doubly sur-
prising to many to read Dr. Langer's remarks
on this subject, showing, as they do, that
ammonia is not a remedy at all, but, on the
contrary, an irritant and injurious. Here are
his own words : —

"The old medical and bee-books give
ammonia as the best remedy for bee-stings as
neutralising the ' formic acid.' Admitted. It
must, however, be remembered that the pre-
cipitate of ammonia is of a poisonous nature,
and if introduced into the skin only tends to
produce a more protracted working of the
poison."

He goes on to say that chloroform and
hypermanganate of potassium are the best and
most rational antidotes, founded on a scientific
basis.

These, to be really effectual, should be in-
troduced under the skin with a hypodermic
syringe. Here the question arises, Must the
remedy be applied at the spot itself? The
space at disposal in the British Bee Journal
is such that I cannot go on indefinitely refer-
ring to the many interesting details to which
the author refers.

Those who can read German cannot do better
than obtain a copy and study the work for
themselves ; by so doing many new and
hitherto unknown matters will be brought to
their notice. The article in question, having
first appeared in 1899, cannot be considered aa
new ; as, however, I have seen no notice what-
ever, in either the British Bee Journal or
the Record, with the exception of the short

Sept. 5, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

357

to which I have already referred,
and I considered that the subject would
doubtless find some among your readers who
would deem it worthy of attention.

WEATHER REPORT.

Westbourne, Sussex,

Rainfall, 1'64 in.
Heaviest fall, 73 in.,

on 14th.
Rain fell on 1 1 days.

Below
•80 in.

Maximum
ture, 79°

Minimum
ture, 45°

Minimum

average,

Tempera-

on 19th.

Tempera-

on 28th.

on Grass,

32°, on 28th.
Frosty Nights, 0.
Sunshine, 265"9 hrs.
Brightest Day, 21st,

13#S hours.

August, 1901.

Sunless Days, 0.
Above average,

hou's.
Mean Maximum,

696°.
Mean

53 '2°.
Mean

61-4°

Above average, 17°.
Maximum Barometer,

30-60°, on 20th.
Minimum Barometer,

29 62°, on 26th.

L. B. Birkett.

51-6

Minimum,
Temperature,

^n\np and D^plty.

[2712.] Ravages of the Wax-moth. — Will
you kindly advise me in the following case ;
I am at times called in by a clergyman to
assist him with his bees, as they are prone to
resent his intrusion on their domiciles in an
unpleasant way for the reverend gentleman.
Two years ago I was called in to assist, and
left him with eleven strong stocks for winter-
ing. In 1900 I did not make my usual call.
In the spring of the present year I was again
asked to call, and found that the bees had done
nothing in 1900. However, I examined all
his hives and found six of the stocks had been
completely destroyed by the wax-moth. The
other five colonies were clean and strong. I
supered some of them, and early this month I
was sent for to remove the honey, and on
arrival I found three of the five had been
quite ruined by the moth, nothing but a
mass of larvte, cocoons, moths, and debris re-
maining. I advised that a bonfire be made of
the hives and frames in order to exterminate
the pest. This was done, and there are now
only two stocks. Both are strong in bees ; but
the question is, will the moth attack them as
it did the others ? I should say grub3 are as
thick as a wheat straw and about 1 in. long.
Several of the hives were made from old boxes
with lots of odd corners and crannies in them
for the moths to deposit eggs in. Did I do
right in advising destruction, or was it possible
to deal with them in any other way ?

My own bees have done very well this year ;
no swarms and a very good harvest of honey. I

have captured a stray swarm or two during
the past season. — T. Adams, Ely, near Cardiff',
August 26.

Reply. — The wax-moth you have had to
deal with is the genuine QaUeria cereana, and
its extensive ravages in the apiary referred to
afford evidence of what all experienced bee-
keepers are well aware of, viz., that colonies of
bees not well and thoroughly looked after and
kept clean are soon ruined if this bee-enemy
is allowed to get the upper hand. The worm
or grub is so easily distinguished from the
larva of the small moth — so common in weak
hives — that once seen it is never forgotten ;
not only so, but a careful bee-keeper will not
rest a day after he has evidence that the
larva' of G. cereana are hatching out till he
bundles the pest out root and branch. It is
pitiful to read of an apiary of " eleven strong
stocks " reduced to two simply from your not
having paid the usual visit of inspection.
We can only advise more frequent examination
than the reverend owner of the bees seems to
think necessary. There is no remedy or
preventive that will keep the moth away,
nothing but killing the larva' as they are
found.

[2713.] Re-queenvng Stocks. — I have a hive
of black bees, of which the queen is old and
no longer prolific, and I am anxious to super-
sede her by the introduction of a young Italian
queen. I shall not be able to do this before
the middle of September. Would this be too
late, or do you recommend waiting until next
spring ? — Chas. F. Urquhart, Ingatestone,
A vgust 2.

Reply. — It is better to requeen now than
defer it till next spring, seeing that the Italian
queen will have settled down in her new home
before winter sets in. Mid- September is not too
late and there will thus be no check next year.

[2714.] Utilising Unfinished Sections. — As
a novice in the art of bee-keeping there are
many difficulties which present themselves to
me, which other beginners must also encounter.
Your advice on some of them will greatly
oblige. 1. I have about thirty sections of
honey which are not sufficiently well finished
to be marketable, and I do not want to use
them in my own household. How shall I
utilise them to advantage 1 2. I have about a
like number of sections which are not sealed.
What had I best do with these 1 3. On
examining one of my hives a day or two ago
I observed a grub or larva about 1 in. in
length, and similar in colour to a silkworm.
It was making its way along the top-bar of
one of the central frames in the brood-
chamber, and then began to disappear down
by the combs. I killed it with a scraper.
Was this a larva of the wax-moth % The hive
is a new one, in which a swarm was hived
early this summer, and the bees have produced
for me some 30 lb. of super honey. I had
taken the precaution of placing naphthaline on
the floor-board when the swarm was hived.

358

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Sept. 5, 1901.

There are probably other grubs of the same
description in the hive, and so I ask : How
can they be destroyed without injuring the
brood on the same frame ? and how cau I
ascertain whether or not there are worms in
the other frames ? 4. Do you recommend the
transparent celluloid quilts next to top- bars of
frames, with, of course, warm ones over all as
well, for autumn and winter? I think they
would enable one to see how the scock is
getting on without so much reducing the tem-
perature in the winter-time — W. Alfred
Dawson, Cobham, Surrey, August 2.

Reply. — 1. Extract the honey, then return
them to the bees for clearing up before storing
the combed sections away for use next season.
2. These had best be utilised at once for
household use as the honey will not keep well
if extracted. 3. Read reply to T. Adams.
4. Some bee-keepers like the transparent
celluloid quilts very well ; others cannot
tolerate them. Personally, we never use them.

[2715.] Dealing tvith Foul Brood.— Foul
brood reing established throughout my apiary,
I am advised to deal wiih it some time during
the month of September by (1) transferring all
the bees into new hives, or (2) returning the
bees to the old hives after the latter have been
sterilised by fire ; then to feed the bees well
with sogar-syrup till the new combs are built
out. "Will you kindly tell me if the mode
and time suggested is the best or a proper one
to adopt ? —Three Acres, Berkhamstead.

Reply. — 1. Either of the plans proposed
will be useful in effecting a cure if well carried
out ; buc in view of so large an operation as
dealing with a diseased apiary, it is very
advisable to provide yourself with a Guide
Book that deals fully with the subject.

[2716.] Bees Deserting Hive after Transfer-
ring.— Disputed Ownership. — 1 bought a
" condemned " skep of bees, and after having
had them for a week transferred them to
a frame-hive. But the bees refused to stay in
it. In fact, they deserted, and clustered on a
tree outside our premises. From this tree a
person has in my absence carried off the bees,
and either sold or given them away. The
question is, Could I recover their value 1 I
look at it this way. They were a colony or
stock of bees whicn I had purchased. Had it
been a swarm, no doubt I should have lost
them through being away, and thus failing to
hive the bets ; but I think the present case is
different. I will be glad to have your opinion.
~G. H. B., Oxford.

Reply, — We do not think you can substan-
tiate a legal claim either to the bees or their
money value. By deserting the hive as stated
they became practically a swarm. A swarm
deserts its hive to seek a new home ; and if
the owner of the hive from which it issues is
not at hand to follow and claim the bees as his
without losing sight of them, he forfeits his
claim, and the bees are considered as
" vagrant " and the property of any one who
can manage to secure them.

REVIEWS OF FOREIGN BEE-PAPERS.

BY R. HAMLYN-HARRIS, F.R M.S., F.Z.S,
F.E.S., ETC.

Revue Internationale d' Apiculture (French
Switzerland). — "Apiculture in Chili (Serena).
— Each country presents some peculiarity in
the culture of bees ; one of the most remark-
able here is the swarming fever, which is con-
siderably developed. Is it the mildness of the
climate or the length of the honey harvest
which causes this ? In any case, with the
largest of hives and every preventive, it is
impossible to prevent it.

There seems, however, no reason to object
to swarming, because of there being plenty of
time to enable even second swarms to take
full advantage of the honey-flow and produce
a good harvest. Swarming begins in Sep-
tember, while the main honey-gathering
seldom commences before December or
January. One hundred and sixty colonies
were transferred to bar-frame hives, and the
same year 340 swarms issued from the stocks
so transferred, all of which constructed their
combs without the help of comb foundation.
The swarms and parent hives (500 colonies in
all) produced 36,400 lb. of honey.

The plants which produce the most honey
here are horehound, lucerne (which yields nec-
tar in considerable quantities), wild radish, and
wild turnip. In the south of Chili there are
other honey-yielding trees and plants, but here
the horehound gives the best results. In one
place ninety-five colonies of bees gathered
18,000 1b.

Apiculture here is an important industry, all
the honey being exported. The native Chilian
does not eat honey ; he considers it only as a
medicine, to be taken if the doctor orders it,
and discontinued if one is feeling well. The
price here is about £1 10s. per 200 lb.''

Deutsche Illustrierte Bienerizntung (Ger-
many).— Weight of the Bee's Egg. — In an
extraordinarily sensitive scale used by apothe-
caries, in which the weight of queens and
worker-bees had been tested, thirty worker-
eggs were placed and weighed exactly 5 milli-
grammes ; then thirty drone-eggs, with pre-
cisely the same result. The weight of each
egg is therefore ^th milligramme.

Practischer Wegweiserm Wurzburg. — The
hygienic value of queen vegetables is well
known, and many a man might save himself
a journey to Kissingen, Ems, Marienbad, &c,
if he habitually took plenty of "greens,"
especially salad. This is very nourishing and
strengthens the body. It has also a purifying
effect upon the blood. It is a great improve-
ment when the vinegar with which the dress-
ing is made is mixed with honey instead of
sugar ; those who have once tried it will never
again eat salad without honey. Still pleasanter
to the taste and more wholesome than vinegar
is citric acid — procurable at every chemist's in
crystals — to be dissolved in water as required,
according to taste.

Sept. 5, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

359

§ec £hotts to (ttmrtt.

September 7 to 14, at the Agricultural
Hali, London. — Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (9th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. (See page v.)

SeDtember 10, at Cartmel, Lanes.— Honey
show under the auspices of the Lanes. B K.A., in con-
nection with the show of the Cartmel Agricultural
Society. Three open classes for honey. Schedules
from \V. Cragg, Cartmel, via Carnforth.

September 11 and 12, at Derby —Derbyshire
B.K.A. twentieth Annual Show of Hives, Bees, and
Honey on the show ground of the Derbyshire Agricul-
tural Society.

September 15 and 16, at Sivry, Hainaut
(Belgium).— Annual show of the F6de>ation Apicole
du Bainaut. Open classes for honey, hives and ap-
pliances, mead, vinegar, wax, teaching, and work.
Jars, bottles, &c. Schedules from M. Zenobe Defrenne,
a Sivry.

September 21 to 28, at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with the
fifth Annual Exhibition of the Grocery and Kindred
Trades. (Sec page v.)

September 28, at J°dburgh.- Roxburghshire
B.K.A. Annual Autumn Show of Bees, Hives, Honey,
&c. Twenty-three classes (including eight open
classes) for Bees and Bee Produce. Schedules from
Thos. Clark, Pleasants, Jedbuigh, N.B. Entries
close September 24.

October 8 to 11, at the Agricultural Hall,
London. — Show of Honey and Bee-produce in con-
nection with the British Dairy Farmers' Association.
Numerous and liberal prizes for honey, &c— Schedules
from Mr. Wm. C. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-square
London, W. Entriea close September 9.

October 10, 1', and 12, at Crystal Palace.—
Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, and Appliances. Increased prizes and medals.
Schedules from Hon. Secretary, Henry W. Brice, 100,
Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath. Entries olose
September 30.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All queries forwarded will be attended to, and thoee only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

H. C. (Bristol). — Foreign Honey Importers —
How to Clean out Combs. — 1. We cannot
give names and addresses of importers of
foreign honey. 2. Partly filled combs
removed in autumn should have their
contents extracted before storing away for
winter. It is done by placing them on
strong stocks and inserting an empty box
or super between them and the hive below.
The bees will then carry the honey down
to body box below. 3. Pollen-clogged
combs are useless for any purpose and
should be broken up.

A. Bobertson (Dumbarton). — Observatorij
Hives. — The only places we know of where
illustrations and descriptions of observatory
hives can be seen are the catalogues of
dealers in bee-appliances.

A Perthshire Bee-keeper (Limcarty). —
Bee-houses. — We will endeavour to give an
illustration of a bee-house in an early issue,
as desired.

A, Sandys (Kingston - on - Thames).— Foul
Brood among Wasps. — We hope to deal
fully with this question next week, having
obtained some important information on the
subject, which needs dealing with at some
length.

Pendle Forest (Lanes). — Driven Bees
Building Queen-cells. — It is a certain sign
that the queen has " gone " if bees are now
building queen-cells.

Suspected Combs.
X. Y. Z (Edinburgh).— The dead brood in
comb is "chilled" only, but we find traces
of foul brood of old standing in several
cells. It seems to be a recrudescence of the
disease in the present case.

St. George (Sussex). — Comb is slightly
affected with foul brood. The symptoms
point to the disease as being kept under by
the use of preventives.

Honey Samples.

Ayrshire (Kilmaurs). — Both samples are very
good, No. 1 being an exceptionally fine
honey. Either are fit for any show, and
No. 1 will, in our opinion, be hard to beat.

F. S. H. (Surrey). — Sample is very good in
colour, very fair in flavour — but a little
peculiar— and of excellent consistency. The
source of the peculiar flavour is unknown
to us.

*** Replies to several queries and letters on
hand will appear in our next.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve word* and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

SECTIONS and EXTRACTED HONEY FOR SALE.
Good quality. Ed. Bailey, Ch eveley, Cambs. i 4
DOZ white CLOVER SECTIONS, 9s. doz. First
quality. Bennison, Scorton, Darlington. I 6

40

¥

DRIVEN BEES, ready to put on rail free, 4s. per lot.
W. H. Hiolby, 15, Mason-street, Kidderminster.
^OR SALK, 20 HIVES of BBES as they standT
Davenpokt, Sunderton, Shrewsbury. H 95

WANTE dTDRIVEITBEES in Exchange for Appli-
ances. Guaranteed. Guthrie Bros., Alloway,
Ayr. i 7_

GOOD CLOVER SECTIONS FOR SALE, well-filled
and clean, 8s. per doz. ; 2nd class, 7s. Also
Extracted. Garnett, Well, Bedale, Yorks. I 9

WANTED, FOUNDATION ROLLER, second-hand;
cash or exchange Treadle Fretsaw, new. Holmes,
Brunswick-road, Plymouth. H 92

] N Time f . >i- Driven Bees. FOR SALE, several Bar-
1 frame HIVES. H. Kitching, Mellwood, Sharrow,
SheftiekL h 93

STRONG HEALTHY STOGKiTin straw skeps, 1901
Fertile Queen, lis. 6d. ; Fertile Queens, 2s. each.
W^Woods, Normandy, Guildford. H 99

EXCELLENT CLOVER HONEY, 28-lb. tins, 6Jd. lbT;
fine Heather Blend, 7$d. Tins free. Sample, 3d.
Lancelot Quayle, Glenmay, Isle oTMan. i 3

NTJCLEU-TSTOCKS on 3 Frames";" young^Fertile
Queens, 8s. 6d. William Sole, 105, Graham-road,
Wimbledon.

URE EXTRACTED ENGLISH HONEY, first grade,
15 gross, in nominal 1-lb. screw-cap bottles, £4 4s.
per gross ; 3-gross bottles, reduced price. NOBLE, near
Sandy, Potton, Beds. I 5

360

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 5, 1901.

Prepaid Advertisements (Continued).

HEALTHY DRIVEN BEES, Is. 3d. lb., with Queen ;
cash with order. Well-rooted Strawberry Hants,
" Sir J. Paxton," 2s. 100. Woods, Normandy, Guild-
ford. l 1

ANTED, 3 STOCKS of BEES, healthy, in Standard

Bar-framed Hives, in exchange for Organ Accordion

by Busson, in good order; approval. J. Wade, 28,

Craigton-road, Eltham Park, Kent.jUS. H 97

OCTH SEASON.— FERTILE QUEENS, supplied in
OO improved queen-boxes, with plenty of food to
last 14 days. Price for September, 4s. 6d. each. W.
PRTOK, Breachwood Greep, Welwyn, Herts. H 98

H~ EA.THERTHONEY in Shallow-frames, 8d. per lb.,
lid. each allowed if frames returned ; Wax Extrac-
tor, block tin, cost 14s., price 9s. , equal new. William

Wright, Pickering. I 2

T XT-ANTED to HIRE7 OBSERVATORY HIVE and
VV BEES for one week. Bees will be fed and cared
for. State terms, E. N. Brown, 49, Pershore-road, Bir-
mingham.

H

EATHER HONEY LABELS, 9d.
Guest, King's Norton.

100., 3s. Id. 500.
H 84

D

RIVEN BEEi FOR SALE. With Queen, 4s. Also
several Stocks in skeps. Peters, Ban stead* H 81

H~" EATBER HONEY in sections and shallow-frames.
Address, " A." Bee Journal Otftoe. H 91

QPLENDID NATIVE and LKiURIAN 1901 tested
O QUEENS, 5s. each.' Guthrie, Alloway, Ayr.

H 80

ONEY IN BULK WANTED. Send sample, with
price per cwt. carriage paid. CASTLE'S, 23, Oxford -

street, London. W. H S3

TRONG HEALTHY STOCKS, 10 Combs, young
Queens, 21s. Carr, Norwood-avenue, Southport.

_J H 26

ESTED ENGLISH QUEENS, bred from selected
strain, 5s. each, in introducing cage. W. Woodley,

Beedon, Newbury.

RIVEN BEES.— Strong STOCK with Queen, 5s. ;
package returnable. Phillips, Spetchley, Wor-
cester. H <

ONCE TRIED ALWAYS USED. Our Solar Wax
Extractor should be in every Apiary. A perfect
success. No. 1, 12s. 6d. MANAGER, Hardham Apiary,

Pulborough. Q 78

ir\UlENS, STOCKS, NUCLEI, and SWA.RMS. 14th
\) season of queen-reariug as a speciality. Fertile
queens, 5s. each, post free. Rev. C. BRERETON,
Pulborough, Sussex.

7^"ENUINE IMPORTED ITALIAN QUEENS— Purity
VJT and safe arrival guaranteed. Post free with Intro-
ducing Cage, full instructions for introduction, 5s. 6d.
F. Sladen, Ripple Court Apiary, near Dover. H 25
r> cTll^EAR.— Choice 1901 QUEENS, in introducing
ZfO cages, 3s. 9d., delivered ; with Swarm for build-
ing up, 5s. 6d. Package free. AlSFORD, Expert,

Blandford. h 63

*T^O SELL your SECTIONS try the NEW FOLDING
1 CASES ; assorted colours ; gold lettering ; very
effective ; 6s. 6d. 100. Sample free. Hewett'S,

Laburnum Apiary, Alton, Hants. H 71

RI VEN BEES (healthy), 3s. per lot, including queen ;
also a few strong Stocks in bar-framed hives,
complete, 22s. 6d. each. Willis, Oakley, Wimborne,
Dorset. H 61

EDWARD'S PEDIGREE QUEEinS, record-creating,
non-swarming strain ; autumn-raised, 4s. each,
post free, in new introducing cage. Selected Queens,
5s. 6d. Orders now booked. Shrubshill Apiary,
Sunningdale (late " Beecroft," Aahfofrd).

FINE PROLIFIC Tested 1901 QUEENS, 3si 6d. each,
post free. Bees Is. 3d. per lb. for 5 lb. lots or over,
Queen included. Guaranteed healthy and safe arrival.
Packages co be returned. Whiting, Valley Apiaries,

Hundon, Clare, Suffolk. I S

OM FORI ABLE ABARTMEN'lS tor brother bee-
keepers visiting Douglas. Terms : tea, bed, and
breakfast, 3s. 6d. ; or full board, 5s. per day. Horsley,
Merridale House, Top of Castle Drive, Douglas, Isle of
Man. 932

WOOD'S SPECIFIC— Sure preventive of and allevia-
tive for Bee-Stings and all Insect Bites, &c.
Non-poisonous. Sold in bottles, Is. 3d., post paid. A
certain cure for Udder Clap or Sore Teats in cows.
2s. 4d. post paid. Postal orders to Wood <fc Co.,
Manufacturers, Black Hill, Co. Durham. H 40

Prepaid Advertisements (Continued).

S^ PRINGTDwindling and Light Supers are unknown
where White Star Italians are used. Store in all
weathers if flowers are about, and a month later than
Natives and other varieties. Always ready for fruit
blown in spring. Leave all others behind at the heather.

S. Simmins, Beathfleld, Sussex.

AClTPAPER for SECTION GLAZi.NO. White,
1 in. wide, in three neat patterns, 100, 7d , 200,
Is. 2d., 300. Is. 6d., 500, 2s. 3d., 1,000, 4s. Also LACE
BANDS, White, 3 in. wide, lace both sides, 100, Is. 3d.,
200, 2s. 3d., 300,3s., ; Pink, 3 and 3i in. wide, 100, Is. 6d.,
200, 2s. 9d., 3C0, 4s. ; Pale Green, 3 in. wide, same price
as Pink ; all post free. The alterations above are owing
to colours and widths being cleared for this season.
W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury.

CONFECTIONERS' EXHIBITION,

Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington.

J. S. GREENHILL, Graham-road, Wimbledon, will
have a display of Bees, Honey, and Appli-
ances for Sale in the Large Hall (ground floor).
(Row T, Stand No. 90.)

LANCASHIRE B.K.A.

QUALIFIED EXPERT WANTED AT ONCE.

£3 per week and Bonus on new Members.
Apply, F. H. Taylor, Hon. Sec, Birch Fold
Cottage, Fallowfield, Manchester.

DAIRY SHOW,

LONDON,
OCTOBER 8, 9, 10, 11.

Prizes for Honey, Wax, &c.

Sec.

ENTRIES CLOSE SEPTEMBER 9th.
i Witt. C. YOUNG, 12, Hanover-square, London, W.

CLOSE OF SEASON, 1901.

CLEARANCE SALE.— Having a large Stock of the

following still on hand, I am offering at greatly
reduced prices —

" Cowan" Extractors 50/- reduced to 42/6

"Raynor" ,, 32/6 „ 28/6

"Guinea" „ 22/6 „ 19/-

Geared 33/- „ 26/-

Small Wax Extractors 2/6 ., 2/-

Large Round Float Feeders ... 2/6 ., 1/8

Small „ „ ,, ... 1/6 .. 1/-

Bottle Feeders 1/3 ,, lOd.

Queen Excluders 9d. ., 6d.

8/- doz. ,, 5/6

Long Sheets (96x16) 3/6 ,, 2/3

„ (96x32)6/6 ,, 4/3

Standard ami Shallow Frames 1/3 doz. ,, lOd.

S/4 100 ,, 5/6

Sections 2/- 100 „ 1/8

„ Split Top 2/6 100 ,, 1/10

,, ,, 20-1,000 ,, 17/-

Smokers 3/- each „ 2/3

(Meadows') ... ,... '2/6 ,, ,, 1/8

"W. B.C." Ends 4/- gross ,, 2/9

,, „ extra wide ... 4/6 ,, „ 3/-

Tough Wood Dividers lOd. doz. ,, 6d.

,, 6/- 100 ., 3/6

Metal Dividers 1/- doz. „ 8d.

7/6100 „ 5/-

Comb Foundation 2/- lb. ,, 1/9

„ ,, Thin for Sections 2/6 lb. ,, 2/1

Super Clearers 2/- each „ 1/8

Woiblet Spur Embedders ... 1/- ,, 9d.

Section Racks 2/6 ,, 1/9

Shallow-Frame Boxes, complete 3/- ,, 2/2

Wire and Net Veils 2/- 1/6

Black <fc White „ 1/6 „ 1/-

Uncapping Knives 2/- ., 1/6

" Record " Bee Hives 10/6 ., 9/9

1 gross Lee's Dovetail Frames 19/- any reasonable offer.
1 ,, Shallow ,, ,, ,, ,, „

Honey Ripeners and Strainers 12/6 reduced to 9/6

W. SHEPHERD, Oxton, Tadcaster, Yorks.

Sept. 12, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

361

(Mitoral $fcrtim, &i.

THE CONFECTIONERS' ANNUAL
EXHIBITION AND MARKET.

HONEY SHOW AT THE AGRICULTURAL HALL.

The Confectioners, Bakers, and Allied
Traders' Ninth Annual International Exhi-
bition and Market was opened to the public
on Saturday last, and will be continued all the
week, closing on the 14th inst. It will be
remembered that prior to last year the honey
competitions were confined to master grocers
only, and, in consequence, the interest of bee-
keepers in the competitions was naturally
limited ; but in 1900 the schedule included
classes open to British bee-keepers, besides
offering other facilities for assisting exhi-
bitors, and a considerable increase in the
number of entries naturally resulted. This
year the directors, being desirous of still
further extending the popularity of the
honey sectioa of the Exhibition, made
a large increase in the number of classes,
and also in the amount offered in prizes.
So considerable was the increase in value
offered that we fully expected that bee-
keepers— with honey of fine quality in abun-
dance in so many parts of the kingdom —
would have been more appreciative of
the prizes within reach than as it turned
out. Some classes were well tilled, others
very poorly represented — so much so that it
would appear as if valuable money prizes
might be allowed almost to go a-begging for
some one to carry them off.

On the whole, however, the result was a
considerable increase beyond last year's show,
over 200 entries being received, but; this is by
no means what we expected to see.

The judging was unavoidably deferred to a
rather late hour, and, in consequence, the list
classes had to be got through after closing
time, when the visitors had departed. We
must therefore deftr our full report of the
show till next week. Meantime, we hope to
pay another visit, and have a fuller opportunity
of comparing results.

Messrs. W. Broughton Carr, London, and
Walter F. Reid, Addlestone, Surrey, judged
the exhibits, and made the following

Eoney Trophy, or Display of Honey and
Honey Products, staged in suitable form for
a tradesman's window (6 exhibits). — 1st —
£A, with B.B.K.A. Silver Medal and Diploma,
Richard Brown, Somersham, Hunts ; 2nd -
£3, Wm. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury ; 3rd
— £2, Jas. Lee & Son, Silver-street, Blooms-
bury, W.C. ; 4th — £l, J. S. Greenhill,
Graham-road, Wimbledon ; h.c., C. S. Over-
ton, Crawley, Sussex ; c , G. W. Kirby, Long-
well Green, Bristol.

Twelve 1-lb. Sections ' (22 exhibits). — 1st —
£2, with B.B.K.A. BroDze Medal and Dip-
loma, Wm. Woodley ; 2nd— £1 10s., G. W.
Kirby ; 3rd — £1, A. W. Weatherhogg,
Willoughton, Lincoln ; 4th — 153., S. Bailey,
Itchingfield, Sussex ; v.h.c, H. G. Little,
Eastgate-row, Chester ; Wm. Patchett, Caistor,
Lincoln ; h.c, Burrell Bros., Great Barton,
Bury St. Edmunds ; Rev. M. W. B. Osma9ton,
The Parsonage, Goodnestone ; c, James Clay,
Wellington, Salop.

Twelve 1-lb. Sections of Heatlier Honey
(2 exhibits).— 1st— £1 10s., Jas. Waddell,
Wooler, Northumberland ; 2nd — £l, H.
Rowell, Winchfield, Hants.

Three Shallow-Frames of Comb-Honey for
Extracting (5 exhibits).— 1st — £1 10s., Rev.
M. W. B. Osmaston ; 2nd— £1, Wm. Wood-
ley ; 3rd— 15s., H. G. Little; 4th— 10s.,
Richard Brown.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Light- coloured Extracted
Honey (49 exhibits).— 1st— £2, with B.B.K.A.
Certificate and Diploma, S. Temblett, Andover,
Hants ; 2nd — £1 10s., Wm. Woodley ;
3rd — £1, J. Smart, Andover, Hants ;
4th — 15s., F. Sandall, Bishop's Waltham ;
5th — 10a., G. Walker, Windover, Bucks ;
v.h.c, T. H. Ploughwright, Brackley ; E.
Oakes, Broseley, Shropshire ; F. Header, Nails-
worth, Glo3 ; J. Sopp, Crowmarsh, Walling-
ford ; C. H. Poulton, Buntingford, Herts ; W.
Hatliff, Thoresway, Caistor ; Pease Hunkin,
Redruth, Cornwall ; h.c, H. Rowell, H. G.
Lit tip, G. Walker; E. Ainsley, Bishop's
Waltham ; Mrs. M. Francis, Thruxton, And-
over; A. W. Weatherhogg; c, H. Bass tt,
Harlow, Essex.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Medium -coloured Ex-
tracted Honey (20 exhibits). — 1st — £l 10s., A.
Barber, Camberton, Cambs ; 2nd — £1, J.
Sheppard, Chewton Mendip, Bath ; 3rd — 15s.,
Rev. M. W. B. Osmaston ; 4th— 10s., Richard
Brown ; 5th — 5s., C. Skii ner, White Waltham,
Maidenhead ; h.c , G. W. Kirby, G. Walker ;
C. Hart, Stamford, Lines ; c, J. Ed sards,
Callington, Cornwall.

Twelve lib. Jars Dark- coloured Extracted
Honey (8 exhibits).— 1st— £1, G. W. Kirby ;
2nd— 15s, C G. Skinner ; 3rd— 10s., E.
Ainsdey.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Heather Honey (4 ex-
hibits).— 1st— £1 10s., Thos. Richard?, Church
Gresley, Burton - on - Trent ; 2nd — £l, H.
Rowell ; 3rd— 15s., Jno. Berry, Llanrwst,
N. Wales ; 4th— 10s., H. G. Little.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Granulated Honey (6
exhibits). — 1st— £1 10s., Richard Brown ; 2nd
— £1, Wm. Woodley; 3rd— 15s., W. J. Nor-
man, Starpley Mills, KiDg's Lynn ; 4th— 10^.,
H. G. L ttle.

Beesivax (not less than 3 lb.) in Cakes suit-
able for retail counter trade (7 exhibits). —
1st — 25s., Jno. Berry ; 2nd — 20s., R. Brown ;
3rd- 15?., Jno. Berry ; 4th— 10?., G. Walker.
Beesivax (not less than 3 lb.), judged for
quality of wax only (12 exhibits). — 1st, Hugh
Berry, Llanrwst, N. Wales ; 2nd, Jas. Clay ;

362

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 12, 1901.

3rd, Mrs. Woosnam, Rora, Newton Abbot ;
4th, J. S. Greenhill ; v.h.c., E. E. SchoBeld,
Chudleigh, S. Devon ; h.c, E. Oakes, Church-
street, Broseley, Salop ; J. Barnes, Burwell,
Cambs ; c, Win. Patchett, Caistor, Lines ;
Wm. Woodley.

(Remainder of Report next week.)

WARWICKSHIRE B.K.A.

The exhibition of this Association was held
in conjunction with the Warwickshire Agricul-
tural Society's show at Solihull, on August
27 and 28. The honey shown was of excep-
tionally good quality, and some excellent
exhibits of appliances were staged by Messrs.
Taylor, Welwyn, Herts ; Thomson & Co.,
Birmingham ; and Geo. Franklin, Burton
Green, Kenil worth. The following were the
awards : —

Observatory Hive, with Bees and Queen. —
1. Bed Stock of Foreign Bees. — 1st E. H.
Taylor, Welwyn. 2. Best Stock of English
Bees. — 1st, G. Franklin, Kenilworth ; 2nd,
E. H. Taylor.

Complete Frame-Hive. — 1st and 2nd, E. H.
Taylor ; 3rd, G. Franklin.

Complete Hive for Cottagers' Use (price
not to excel 10s.). — 1st and 2nd, E. H. Taylor.

Display of Honey from One Apiary. —
1st, John Walton, Honey Cott, vVeston,
LeamingtoD.

Box of Shalloiv- Frames ready for Ex-
tracting.— 1st, John Walton ; 2nd, John
Corbett.

Twenty-four l-lb. Sections. — 1st, Anthony
Bayley ; 2 ad, John Walton ; 3rd, H. G.
Eveson.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Walton ;
2nd, H. G. Eveson ; 3rd, Thos. Cox.

Twelve l-lb. Jars (Dark) Extracted Honey.
—1st, J. Walton ; 2nd, J. Corbett.

Display of Extracted Honey (not ex-
ceeding 50 lb.) in l-lb or2lb Glass Jars. — 1st,
G. Franklin ; 2nd, J. Walton ; 3rd, B. Mowan.

cottagers' classes.

Display of Super Honey from one Hive
without Destroying the Bees. — 1st, C.J. Grove ;
2nd, J. Blizzard.

Twenty-four l-lb Sections. —1st, J. Lees.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, H. Cleaver ;
2nd, J. Seeney ; 3rd, R. Cleaver.

Twelve l-lb. Jars of (Light) Extracted
Honey. — 1st, R. Cleaver ; 2nd, C. J. Grove ;
3rd, H. Cleaver.

MEMBERS ONLY.

Articles of Food of which Honey is an
Ingredient. — 1st, C. J. Grove ; 2nd, J.
Corbett.

Collection of Hives and Bee Appliances. —
1st, E. H. Taylor; 2nd, G. Franklin; 3rd,
Thomson & Co.

Beeswax. — 1st, John Walton ; 2nd, G.
Franklin ; 3rd, Thomas Cox.

The prizes were distributed near the bee-

tent on Tuesday by Mrs. Dugdale, wife of the
President of the Agricultural Society, who
was supported by Lord Leigh (President of the
Association), Sir Arthur and Lady Hodgson,
and others. Lord Leigh congratulated the
Bee-keepers' Association upon the excellent
display of honey and appliances. The society,
he said, had a higher standing than at any
time in its history. Twenty-two years ago,
when he became connected with it, there were
only five members, and they now totalled over
400. His lordship also spoke of the benefits
conferred upon cottagers by bee-keeping,
especially pointing out that it was not only
an interesting and useful hobby, but might be
made a source of income. The President (Mr.
J. B. Dugdale) and Sir A. Hodgson also de-
livered brief addresses, in which they appealed
to villagers to take up the study of bee-
keeping. — ( Communicated, )

CHESHIRE B.K.A.

A very successful show of honey, hives, &c,
was held in connection with the Cheshire
Agricultural Show at Chester, on August 28.
Both in the number of exhibits and quality of
the honey it was the best show since the
Associations of Cheshire and Lancashire have
been separated. One side and the ends of a
very large marquee were completely filled. A
large proportion of the comb-honey was of
excellent merit, whilst there were few inferior
samples of run-honey. Mr. Little, of Chester,
exhibited a tasteful honey trophy (not for
competition) which well deserved the medal
awarded by the judges, who were the Rev.
J. F. Buckler, of Bidston Rectory, Birken-
head, and Mr. F. H. Taylor, of Fallowfield,
Manchester. The awards were as follows : —

Best Frame-Hive. — 1st, William Cart-
wright Moore, Warrington ; 2nd, George
Rose, Liverpool.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, Rev. T. J.
Evans, Tarvin, Chester ; 2nd, W. Patchett,
Caistor, Lines ; 3rd, W. Woodley, Beedon,
Newbury.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
R. Gray, Hooton, Chester ; 2nd, Rev. H. F.
Goffe, Thoresway Rectory, Caistor ; 3rd, A.
Newstead, Ince, Chester.

Beeswax. — 1st, John Berry, Llanrwst ; 2nd,
W. Ratcliffe, Barthomley, Crewe : 3rd, Rev.
E. Charley, Ince, Chester.

Six Sections (members only). — 1st, W. Rat-
cliffe ; 2nd and 3rd, Rev. T. J. Evans.

members' classes.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
S. Eaton, Audlem ; 2nd, R. Gray ; 3rd, E.
Maxwell, Tallam Green, Malpas.

Six l-lb. Jars Medium-coloured Extracted
Honey.— 1st, R. Gray ; 2nd, C. W. Tomkin-
son, Tarporley ; 3rd, J. Cunnah, Marford,
Wrexham.

Six l-lb. Jars Dark-coloured Extracted!
Honey (other than Heather). — 1st, J. Carey,

Sept. 12, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

363

Bidston ; 2nd, E. Griffiths, Larister ; 3rd,
E. M. Milligan, Frodsham.

Two Shall ore- Frames of Comb-Honey — 1st,
R. Gray ; 2nd, J. Dean, Upton Heath,
Chester ; 3rd, F. Hewitt, Tarporley.

Six l-lb Jars Extracted Honey (district). —
1st, J. Pennington, Heswall; 2nd, E. Griffiths ;
3rd, A. Newstead. — {Communicated.)

HONEY SHOW AT MONTGOMERY,
N. WALES.

In connection with the Flower Show at
Montgomery, on August 29, there was an
excellent display of honey, both in the
" open " and " local " classes.

Mr. T. Pritchard, Bucknell, Shropshire,
assistant expert to the Herefordshire B K.A.,
was the judge, and made the following
awards : —

Six l-lb. Sections (ten entries). — 1st, J.
Carver, Wellington, Salop; 2nd, W. H.
Brown, Shrewsbury ; 3rd, J. Little, Llan-
gollen ; v.h.c, Phil. Jones, Church Stretton,
and W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury ; h.c, W.
Morgan, Forden, and S. Thomas, Llanidloes.

Sir l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (seventeen
entries). — 1st, S. Temblett, Andover, Hants ;
2nd, Simpson Jones, Welshpool ; 3rd, W.
Woodley ; v.h.c, Rev. E. W. Brown, Mont-
gomery ; J. Carver ; J. Pryce, Welshpool ;
h.c, W. Morgan ; c, A. Hamer, Llandilo.

LOCAL CLASSES.

Six l-lb. Sections (five entries). — 1st, W.
Morgan ; 2od, Rev. E. W. Brown ; 3rd, A. C.
Humphreys, Owen ; c, Miss Trelford, Mont-
gomery.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (ten entries).
—1st, W. Stourton, Forden ; 2nd, Rev. E. W.
Brown ; 3rd, W. Morgan ; v.h.c, W. Worley,
Chirbury, and Dr. Morgan, Montgomery. —
( Communicated. )

NOTTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL SHOW.

The above association held their annual
show at Moor Green on September 3 in con-
junction with that of the Greasley, Sehton,
and Eastwood Agricultural Society. Regard-
ing the honey section, it may be said that
while fully up to the standard in point of
entries, the exhibits were considerably superior
to any the society has staged for some years
past, the strongest classes being those for
extracted honey.

Mr. C. N. White, St. Neots, was appointed
judge, and made the following awards : —

Collection of Bee- Appliances. — G. H. Varty
& Co., Colwick, 2nd prize. (As only part of
goods were staged the 1st prize was withheld.)

Complete Frame- Hive. — 1st, G. H. Varty
ft Co. ; 2nd, J. T. Faulconbridge, Bulwell.

Honey Trophy. — 1st, Geo. Hayes, Beeston.

Six 1-lb. Jars Light- coloured Extracted
Honey. — 1st, J. Herrod, Sutton-on-Trent ;

f nd, A. E. Trimmings, Gedling ; 3rd, R.
Mackender, Newark ; h.c, J. T. Faulcon-
bridge.

Six l-lb. Jars Dark-coloured Extracted
Honey. — 1st, G. Marshall, Norwell ; 2nd, R.
Mackender ; 3rd, A. E. Trimmings.

Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, G. H. Varty ; 2nd,
J. T. Faulconbridge ; h.c, T. Cooper, Lynn
Croft.

Six l-lb. Jars Granulated Honey. — 1st,
J. T. Faulconbridge ; 2nd, J. Herrod ; 3rd,
A. G. Pugh, Beeston.

Shalloiv- Frame of Comb-Honey for Ex-
tracting.— 1st, G. Marshall ; 2nd, W. Swann,
Eastwood ; he, J. Herrod.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (novices).
— 1st, Dr. A. Gregor, Sutton-on-Trent ; 2nd,
A. E. Trimmings ; 3rd, J. Brumby, Newark.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (local). —
1st, W. Brooks, Eastwood ; 2nd, G. M.
Bolton, Eastwood ; 3rd, W. Swann.

Honey Vinegar. — 1st, Geo. Hayes.

Honey-Cake. — 1st, Mrs. G. Hayes, Beeston.

Observatory Hive, with Bees and Queen. —
1st, R. Mackender ; 2nd, G. Hayes ; 3rd,
A. E. Trimmings ; h.c, G. Marshall.

Bees^vax. — 1st, A. E. Trimmings ; 2nd, G.
Marshall.

Mr. White also lectured and gave demon-
strations of bee-driving in the bee-tent. —
G. Hayes, Sec.

(&Qmtytm&mt

The Editori do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinion* expressed by eorretpondenti. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communication!, and correspondent
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but at a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents,
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

HONEY PRODUCTION IN SUSSEX.

[4484.] Having now lived in the neighbour-
hood of Beachy Head for nearly a year, I feel
I am qualified and justified in giving some
opinion a3 to its honey-producing qualities.

I came to these two contiguous parishes of
East Dean and Friston, lying at the back
of Beachy Head, at the end of September,
1900, bringing with me all my stocks of bees
and apparatus. My twelve hives (including
a " Wells ") were packed in a one-horse van,
and took two days on the journey by road
from Angmering to East Dean, arriving on
the evening of the second day. Being ex-
ceedingly hard pressed for time, all I could do
to prepare them for the journey was to take
off all supers and tie down the roofs, trusting
to the close-fitting glass quilts to prevent bees
escaping at the tops. Then we closed the

364

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 12, 1901.

wooden doors and nailed them down, and also
nailed the brood-boxes to the floor-boards. I
had no wire gauze or perforated zinc, and
could not get any in time. Naturally, I quite
expected to find the bees suffocated upon
arrival ; but not a bit of it. They were alive
enough to give me the warmest reception I
have ever yet had at their stings, and to make
it very difficult to draw the nails fastening the
doors, and release them. The journey was
accomplished without any mishap.

They were so well provided with stores that
for the first time I put on no candy, and they
went through the winter perfectly. I was
extremely busy settling down in my vicarage
and taking up the threads of work in my new
sphere, and unfortunately did not examine
them later as I ought. The result was that
late in the spring I found, to my intense
regret, that one stock had only just died of
starvation. It was a lesson I shall never
forget. On examination, I found nearly all
the stocks short of food, and during the two
or three weeks thence to the beginning of the
honey flow I fed my remaining twelve stocks
with quite 1 cwt. of sugar in syrup.

The result was that, by the time the honey
flow set in, they were in a first-rate condition ;
and from then until now they have not ceased
storing honey.

Several stocks swarmed, some more than
once, and nearly all who did this were even-
tually found to be queenless. The hives un-
fortunately have to stand quite close together,
giving the queens but a poor chance of regain-
ing their own hives. Altogether J secured
seven swarms. Two of these I put together,
and I believe they will return to me nearly
100 lb. of honey this season. In another case
I put three smallish swarms together, and they
have done nothing, and turned out to be
queenless. With one swarm I strengthened
up a stock already queenless. Another I hived
singly. But I do not care to increase the
number of my stocks. From twelve to fif.een
are all I can manage.

From those that did give a return I took
over 400 1b. of honey before July 9. Since
then I have taken sixty sections, making
ninety off one hive, and there are more to
come ; but having let my vicarage for July
and August, and only going down from Satur-
day to Monday for my Sunday duty, I have
been unable to keep extracting. All I could
do was to put on every super I have — some
three or four to each hive — and several are
again full to the top and awaiting extraction.

My " Wells " hive, having swarmed, went
queenless on one side, as it invariably does
under these circumstances ; and I must throw
in a driven lot or two later, when the supers
are taken off and the two stocks are separated
for the winter. The bees would refuse any
queen now introduced, as, having free access
to both sides, they consider they have one
queen for the whole family, and "would treat
another as an intruder. When the two stocks,

with two queens, are amicably at work in the
supers, I have reason to think that the two
stocks do not work together, nor pass through
each other's hive, but each keeps strictly to its
own side. This only will account for two j
queens being allowed at the same time.

The return is greater than I ever had at j
Angmering, to my intense surprise. The
Downs are now being more and more farmed,
and there are great stretches of clovers, sain-
foin, mustard, cultch, &c. Then the gorse is
not to be despised. But from the early spring
until now the short, springy down turf is
simply a mass of flowers succeeding upon
flowers. For a great part of the summer the
air is laden with perfume. There are masses
of purple thyme and other wild herb3. And
those who think the Downs a bare and un-
interesting expanse are greatly mistaken.

At any rate, this neighbourhood seeni3 un-
rivalled, and to have the reputation of being
so, for honey production in great quantities
and of a rare quality. I for one am fully
content with my take. The somewhat sharp
cold in winter, and the rough winds to be
expected at any time, do not seem, much to
my astonishment, to militate against the bees.
These thrive and prosper, and seem as con-
tented as their owner.

Many skeps are kept, but hardly any bar-
hives for many miles round. 1 have filled up
my queenless hives with driven lots, and a I
are now doing well.

My stocks were duly examined in the spring
by the expert for Sussex, Mr. Herrod, and for
the first time pronounced free from foul brood ;
and I have seen no sign or symptom of it
since. If I have succeeded in eradicating this
pe?t it is due entirely to the use of the
painter's lamp in burning out hives and floor-
boards. I have even treated excluder-zincs in
the same way ; but greit care is necessary not !
to fuse the metal. No germ can live in that
fierce heat, thoroughly and searchingly
applied ; and it obviates all need for paintiug,
varnishing, &c. If another outbreak of foul
brood occurs it is very troublesome to get rid
of the coating of paint ; it gets very dirty in j
time, and is in several ways a nuisance. Since
Mr. Brice has published his researches I have
lost confidence in any antiseptic of which we at J
present know, and I pin my faith to burning
out and destroying all that cannot be burnt
out, saving the bees on fresh combs in a dis-
infected (i.e., burnt -out) hive. — Rev. W. R.
Nightingale, East Dean Vicarage, East-
bourne.

(Correspondence continued on page 366.)

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

We are at all times pleased to illustrate the
bee-gardens of our lady readers, and Miss
Gilmour's apiary, shown on next page, is a
typical suburban " Home of the Honey Bee,''

Sept. 12, 1901.J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

365

whose owner takes pleasure in the bees
though " punished at times with their stings."
The interesting " notes " sent at our request
read as follows : —

" In the spring of 1S95 I purchased a stock
of bees in a straw skep. At that time I knew
absolutely nothing about the practical part of
bee-keeping, never even having seen the inside
of a hive ; but I had read ' Modern Bee-
keeping,' and so had been fired with enthu-
siasm to begin.

" I did no good with my bees that year,
but the following spring a village bee-keeper
came to my rescue. He drove the bees for
me into a frame-hive, and persuaded me to
get another stock, saying, ' Two hives are no
more trouble to look afcer than one.' Under

state of things. All the combs had fallen,
and my poor little bees were suffocated with
their own handiwork. I shall never forget
the sight— it was a perfect nightmare ! Out
of two strong hives I had about a pint of live
bees left (no queen, of course). The ' packer '
came over to see the wreck ; he tied some of
the combs into frames, put them and the live
bees into a hive, told me they would ' be all
right,' and left. I could get no satisfaction
out of him ; he refused even to give me a
swarm from his hives. In despair, I did
what I ought to have done at the commence-
ment of my bee-keeping — I joined the Surrey
Bee-keepers' Association, and asked for an
expert's help. Mr. Miller, of Egham, came,
and a most kind friend he has been to me.

MISS ETHEL M. GILMOURS AriARY, RUSHTON, CLAYGATE, SURREY.

his guidance I got on well till June, '98, when
we ' moved house.' As the distance by rojd
to our new quarters was only e:ght miles, I
wanted my bee-man to bring my hives over
for me in a light cart. This idea he laughed
at., saying they would come quite safely on a
furniture van ; he also assured me that he was
'as good as any expert,' and could pack
them for me quite safe ; and as he had moved
his own apiary of twelve or thirteen hives
successfully that spring I believed him. But
alas ! the 'packing' was of a very primitive
order ; he simply fastened sheets of perforated
zinc over the entrances and fat over the tops
of the frames. The weather was hot, the van
was delayed on the road, and when I went to
• unpack ' my bees I found a heartrending

He started me afresh with three stocks of
healthy bees (which last year increased to five
stocks, as seen in the photograph), and under
his tuition I have learnt to manage my apiary
with pleasure and profit. My advice to
beginners is always, ' Do not trust amateur
guidance to a far.' You learn more from a real
' expert ' in an hour than you do from an
amateur in a week — and do not have to
unlearn the teaching afterwards.

" I find many people have an idea that bees
will not sting those who attend to them. If
this is true, I must be ' the exception that
proves the rule ' ; for my bees punish me
terribly sometimes. For the sake of fellow-
sufferers, may I say I find the best remedy is
to rub the place well with a freshly-cut onion

366

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 15, 1901.

and then keep it well bathed with Pond's
Extract 1

' ' This is a good honey district, there being
plenty of orchards, white clover, and limes
about. And we have had a splendid year to
start the century. I have averaged 70 lb. a
hive (I have never averaged more than 50 lb.
before), in spite of several swarms. Not wish-
ing to increase my stock, I returned all swarms
to the parent hives, though I felt it was a
risky thing for an amateur to attempt. Two of
the swarms settled down more or less quietly,
but the third (the middle hive in the photo-
graph) came out four times at different inter-
vals. So I feel I have this season gained
valuable experience in many ways, and shall
certainly return any swarms I may have next
year. A small garden, with neighbours'
gardens touching it on all sides, is not exactly
an ideal place in which to keep a large apiary."

CORRESPONDENCE.
(Continued from page 364 )

THE BIO HONEY SHOWS.

A NOTE BY THE WAY.

[4485.] Referring to the series of honey
exhibitions at the Royal Agricultural Hall,
connected with the Trades Exhibitions Com-
pany, may I be allowed to make a suggestion
to the executive as regards the space allotted
to the so-called "Trophy Class?" The
schedules of the "Confectioners"' and the
" Grocers' '' Exhibitions both say " the ex-
hibits must be staged on 3 ft. by 3 ft. space."
The word " trophy " in these classes is, in my
opinion, a misnomer. If it is to be a display
in suitable form for a tradesman's window, the
space allowed for staging should approximate
to the shape of a shop window, say 7 ft. by
3 ft., or for so small a quantity of honey as
" about 100 lb." a space of 5 ft. by 2 ft. 6 in.
would be a far better space than the u 3 ft. by
3 ft." of the schedule. The goods could then
be staged as in a window, " best side to the
front," and exhibitors would know exactly in
what form the display should be made, diver-
sified, of course, by each exhibitor's taste and
supply of material.

I also think the committee should decide
to make it clear whether the prizes are offered
for superior quality and uniform excellence of
products staged, or for the display of products
of mixed quality and of different shapes of
saleable packages suitable for the retail counter
trade.

I know this " note " opens up a wide field
for discussion, and if taken up heartily by all
concerned, it would, I feel sure, greatly extend
the " display" class or classes. It would give
the trader in honey a chance of winning if,
say, two classes were open, one for excellence
in quality and taste in display, and another
class for the best display of honey and
products irrespective of quality. This, I

contend, would induce master grocers to
compete and help in the further extension,
not only of the exhibitions, but of the honey
industry also. It may, perhaps, not be too
late for the space to be altered for the staging
of Class 101 at the Grocers' on September 21
to an approximate window's dimensions ; the
small width (3 ft.) restricts display suitable
for a window. If this was altered to 4 ft. by
2 ft. 6 io. it would meet the wording of the
schedule and give exhibitors a freer hand in
display. The same stands would be better
filled, at least from one point of view. — W.
Woodley, Beedon, Neivbury.

LATE-FLOWERING LIME TREES.

[4486.] At one of our council meetings last
autumn some lime-blossoms and leaves were
shown, and the subject of varieties, some
blooming later than others, discussed. It will
be remembered that I promised to note the
different varieties growing in Much Hadham,
where there are so many old lime trees, the
remains of many old avenues.

They have all been unusually full of bloom
this year, and I sent a spray from each of
three trees which seemed to me very distinct
to the editor of the Journal of Horticulture.
In a subsequent issue the following reply to
my inquiries appeared : —

"M. L. G. — No. 1. Tilia vulgaris (syn.,
Europwa), common lime.

No. 2. Tilia platyphyllus var. aurantia.

No. 3. Tilia heterophylla."

A friend has just lent me a curious old
book entitled " The Manner of Raising Forest
Trees, &c. By Moses Cook, Gardener to the
Earl of Essex, 1675, at Casioberry." The
other Hertfordshire residence being Hadham
Hall. Speaking of the lime trees to be
planted at Casioberry, the author says, " They
being trees that I raised from seeds, most of
them, and the rest of layers at Hadham Hall."
Probably all our beautiful old lime trees came
from this nursery, and tell their age, I should
think. Perhaps these notes may interest your
readers. — Mary L. Gayton, Much Hadham,
Herts.

INSECTS AND FLOWERS.
[4487.] Professor Felix Plateau, of Gaud, in
Belgium, has made some experiments bearing
on the subject of the constancy of insects in
their visits to flowers. He comes to the
following conclusions : — 1. None of the
apidse observed — Bombus, Apis, Megachile,
Anthidium, Calioxys— exhibit absolute con-
stancy. Even those which are habitually most
constant may turn from the kind of plant they
have been visiting and tackle a quite different
species. 2. The species of Bombus are very
fickle, rarely remaining constant to one species
except for a short time. 3. In Anthidium
manicatum and Apis mellifica the constancy
is remarkable, but with distinct exceptions.

Sept. 12, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

367

4. Like his predecessors — A. W. Bennett,
Miller, Christy, Bulman, and G. W. Ord —
Plateau found that the inconstant bees pass
from one flower to another quite different in
colour and form ; they seem indifferent except
to nectar and pollen. 5. The difference in
habit between the constant and inconstant
forms does not seem to imply great intelli-
gence ; it is, perhaps, an expression of the
fact that the constant forms are less strong
and save their energy by uniformity of action.
6. The constancy results in greater adeptness
in collecting the nectar and pollen and saves
time, but it is not adhered to in order to secure
these ends.

I have gleaned the above from the August
number of the Journal of the Royal Micro-
scopical Society of London. As, however, the
author of the above, Professor Plateau, has
been good enough to send me no less than six
or seven of his recent publications, I hope in
the near future to give Bee Journal readers
some further details of these experiments. —
R. Hamlyn-Harris, F.R.M.S., F.Z.S., &c,
Dairy, Galloway, N.B., September 4.

A BEE ASSOCIATION FOR HERTS.

[4488.] A short time ago the names of
those willing to assist in the formation of bee-
keepers' associations for several counties were
invited in your pages. Can you tell me who
is endeavouring to form one for Hertford-
shire ? I shall be willing to join it, and I am
also in a position to help such an organisation
forward so far as giving publicity to its doings
is concerned. — A Herts Bee-keeper, Rick-
mansworth, Herts.

[We will forward your name and address to
a gentleman who is taking some interest in the
matter referred to above, and it is more than
probable that he will write you on the subject.
—Eds]

BEES NEAR LONDON.

[4489] As showing the amount of honey
which may be gathered by bees located even
in such a thickly-populated district as East
Ham, it might be interesting to B.B.J, readers
to know that J. Pearce, Esq., of 119, White
Post-lane, Manor Park, has this season secured
180 lb. of honey from two hives in his back
garden. The main source of supply is, of
course, from the limes, but on April 26 I
found his bees storing in shallow-frames from
fruit trees in the vicinity. — W. A. Withycombe,
Expert, Essex B.K.A.

SELLING HONEY.

[4490.] Would you kindly allow me to
convey my thanks to those who replied to my
advertisement in your pages offering to buy
honey 1 So many offers were sent that I cannot
reply to all. We often hear that some bee-keepers
cannot sell their produce, but I think that in

most cases (if not all) it lies with themselves.
I will give an instance. One writes:— "I
have half a ton of very good light honey ; what
are you offering 1 '' Well, I am not a buyer and
seller too, and as no sample was sent do not
know what class of honey it is. As a matter
of fact, we have not bought the lowest-priced,
but from samples we liked best. It may
interest B.B.J, readers to know that first-class
clover honey averages a penny per pound more
this year than last. In this district we have
done well this season. I have taken eighteen
shallow frames and six sections from one hive ;
weight, lowest frame, 3 lb. 14 oz , and highest,
5 lb. 4 oz. ; and a friend forty-eight well-filled
sections. What do you think of this so near
London ? — Weise, Anerley, September 7.

(|u^s and J^tiqa.

[2717.] Dusty Bees. — Would you kindly
enlighten me on the following : - 1. A June
swarm of English bees has increased rapidly
up to present, but how am I to account for a
number of bees now flying which are abso-
lutely white on shoulders and back, to all
appearance as if they were thick with snow-
flakes. It is not pollen, because they leave
their hive in the same condition ? How
Frames should Hang. — 2. What are the
reasons for some apiarists preferring to hang
the frames parallel to the entrance and others
at right angles ? Extracting from Brood
Frames. — 3. My swarm has made no surplus-
honey up to present, but their ten frames in
brood-chamber are filled with honey and
brood. Would you advise me to extract two
frames and feed them up with syrup, or leave
their stores alone to winter on ? I should say
they have over 30 lb. — R. H. Chadwick,
Southport.

Reply. — 1. The substance is pollen, and
your bees have probably been working on
Canadian Giant Balsam, the bell-like flowers
of which yield white pollen so freely that the
bees emerge therefrom like " dusty millers."
2. We suppose the " reasons '' are that " tastes
differ," but we think a large majority of
practical and well-known bee-keepers of to-day
prefer the frames at right angles to entrance.
If evidence of this preference were needed we
undertake to say that at the leading shows
where up-to-date hives are staged, you will
not see one in a hundred (or in five hundred)
where the frames hang parallel to entrance.
At the same time, we quite agree that with
individual bee-keepers and their personal pre-
ferences it is a case of " pay your money and
take your choice.''

[2718] Bees Removing Dead Brood. — I
thank you for reply in B.J. of August 22 to
my query on page 337. I am glad to know
that there was no foul brood in the comb, but

368

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 12, 1901.

the case is, I fancy, of rather more than ordi-
nary interest. I did not notice that I sent
only drone-brood. It was a fair sample of the
rest. I re-examined the hive later and found
some of the brood capped over as worker-
brood is always capped, while some of the
cappiDgs of worker-cells were raised as is cus-
tomary when bees are rearing drones. I also
saw several workers gnawing their way out.
The queen had laid her eggs in regular order
in five or six central combs, but, probably
owing to the large quantity of dead brood still
in the hive, she had to search a great deal for
vacant spaces. I went over the combs twice,
but I failed to find the queen. I noticed that
the colony had become weaker, which was
only natural under the circumstances, and
that some of the workers had two lealher-
coloured bands at the top of the abdo-
men. I had never before seen hybrids in
the hive. They looked like young bees,
which inclines me to think they were not
robbers. You ask whether the bees have b en
overdosed with disinfectants ? As a matter
of fact, I have given them nothing but some
combs (their own) to clean after extracting ;
nor have I used naphthaline or anything else
of the kind inside the hive. It is therefore
exceedingly difficult to account for the death
of the brood. There is, of course, the possi-
bility of the bees having got some poisonous
substance somewhere. 1. Is it usually neces-
sary to remove brood which has died in this
way ? I ask this because up to the present
the bees have made no great progress in
clearing it out. Indeed, some brood in a new
comb they have been building has died since
I first wrote. — Chas. H. Heap, Rickmans-
worth, August 26.

Reply. — Bees will carry out deid brood
unless it is in badly diseased condition, but it
is a rather cruel task to inflict upon them ;
just as it is to leave them to drag out hard
pollen-pellets from the cells. Good bee-
keepers spare the bees this wearying labour
and so release them for honey-gathering.

[2719.] Aspect for Hives. — Your reply to
the following queries will oblige*:— 1. Will a
S.W. by S. aspect suit bee3, as I have no
choice ? 2. They will* be exposed a good deal
to westerly winds, so would it be needful to
put up a board a little distance from entrance
of hives to keep wind from blowing into
them ; or will it do to reduce size of entrance
when such winds are blowing? Rendering
Old Combs into Wax. — 3. Is very old comb
(same as enclosed) worth turning into wax ;
and would you recommend me getting a steam
or a solar extractor 1 Changing Floor-boards.
— 4. Is it needful to change or clean floor-
boards twice a year, autumn and spring ? Hive
Stands. — 5. Do you recommend, say, 3-in.
deep timber skep put under frame hives during
winter ? — F. J., MountmellicJc, August 29.

Reply. — 1. Yes. 2. If exposed to strong
wind a screen-board will be most useful to

enable the bees to alight in gusty weather.
3. The comb sent is so very old and black as
not to be worth the trouble of rendering?
Are you aware that the comb sent is affected
with foul brood ? 4. So long as floor-boards
are scraped clean and all debris removed there
is no need to change them. 5. We prefer a
loose stand such as is used in the " W.B.O."
hive.

(Maes fram th* gihfea.

Levisham, September 7. — Heather season
over in this district. Strong stocks have done
well ; weaker lots only moderately. Nothing
been added to weight of supers since the
severe storm on 26th ult. There are a large
number of unfinished sections on hives, and
these should be seen to at once. With a good
deal of shifting about in this way I have
managed to get a fair lot completed ; but
season is not so good as last year. — J. Rymer.

Fryup, Grosmont, Yorlcs. — We have had
splendid weather here this season. My ex-
tracted honey is of very good quality and
plentiful in quantity. I began taking heather
sections off on August 12, earlier than ever
before. 1 weighed eleven of them, and they
scaled 11^ lb. That was not bad for August
12. I have now plenty more ready to take off.
I have also five shallow- frames sealed over, but
my bees have only about fifty yards to fly
before they are into thousands of acres of
heather.— Robt. Hunton.

tyu Chutes to €am.

September 7 to 14, at the Agricultural
Hali, London.— Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (9th)
Annual Exhibition and Market.

September 15 and 16, at Sivry, Hainaut
(Belgium).— Annual show of the Federation Apicole
du Hainaut. Open classes for honey, hives and ap-
pliances, mead, vinegar, wax, teaching, and work.
Jars, bottles, &c. Schedules from M. Zenobe Defrenne,
a Sivry.

September 21 to 28, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with the
fifth Annual Exhibition of the Grocery and Kiudred
Trades.

September 28, at Jodburgh.- Roxburghshire
B.K.A. Annual Autumn Show of Bees, Hives, Honey,
&c. Twenty-three classes (including eight open
classes) for Bees and Bee Produce. Schedules from
Thos. Clark, Pleasants, Jedburgh, N.B. Entries
close September 24.

October 8 to 11, at the Agricultural Hall,
London. — Show of Honey and Bee-produce in con-
nection with the British Dairy Farmers' Association.
Numerous and liberal prizes for honey, &c— Schedules
from Mr. Wm. C. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-square,
London, W. Entries closed.

October 10, 1', and 12, at Crystal Palace-
Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, and Appliances. Increased prizes and medals.
Schedules from Hon. Secretary, Henry W. Brice, 100,
Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath. Entries close
September 30.

Sept. 12, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

369

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur-
chased, or replies giving such information, can only be
inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queries forwarded Kill be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

D. Lewis. — Driven Bees for Trouble of
" Driving.'' — In times gone by bees could
no doubt be had in many places for the
trouble of driving, but for some time past
so great has been the demand for driven
lots that some bee-keepers make quite a
business of selling. You cannot do better
than consult our " prepaid " advts. in order
to verify this.

M. H. Stokes (Kent).- -Expert Help.— The
cost of an expert's services would certaiuly
not be less than a year's subscription to the
County B.K.A., and this latter would also
include a copy of the Bee-keepers' Record
post free every month.

T. W. (Abergavenny). — Disqualifying Ex-
hibits.— It was no error on your part to
send five 1-lb. jars of honey for an exhibit
described in schedule as " Best-run honey
in jars not less than 4 lb.,'' nor would a
competent judge have disqualified your five
jars, seeing that the only limit was with
regard to the minimum weight. According
to the schedule you might have staged any
weight beyond 4 lb

A Three Years' Reader (Conway). — Curi-
ous Effects of Working among Bees. — It
is a fact that the effects of working among
bees are most curious in rare instances, but
we never heard of so severe a result as to
confine a man to bed and require a doctor's
attendance, as you state. Surely the man
must have been stung to bring about such
a result ? So far as regards doing anything
to avoid such suffering as you describe, we
should advise giving up the bees entirely.

Sandy (Birmingham). — Adding Formic Acid
to Honey. — Whatever use bees may make
of formic acid in preparing their food for
keeping, it is folly for bee-keepers to add
acid to honey for any purpose whatever.

Anxious One (Bognor). — Bees Attacking
Fruit. — It has been established beyond
doubt that bees will not damage fruit, and
the gentleman's threat to " get rid of all the
bee-keepers round about him because of bees
spoiling his apricots" need cause you no
alarm. Bees will, and do at times, suck
the juices of ripe fruit that has been first
damaged by wasps, but they will never attack
fruit not already damaged by other agencies.

W. H. B. (Shrewsbury).— Wax Moth.— The
larv;c sent is that of the genuine and worst
form of wax moth (Galleria cereana). The

small moth usually found in the saw-kerf of
top bar is easily got rid of, but the larvae
of G. cereana will destroy a weak stock of
bees in a very short time. The larvae should
be rooted out at once when found among the
combs of a hive.

Suspected Combs.

Special Notice to correspondents sending q ueries on
"Foul brood."

We urgently request that all letters sent zoith samples
of suspec ted comb be put outside the box or tin containing
the sample. Also that no more than a couple of square
inches of comb be sent, taking care to neither crush the
comb nor probe the cells before despatching.

In urgent cases (and where possible) ive undertake to
" wire " replies as to F. B. if six stamps are sent to cover
cost of telegram. All letters to be addressed " Editor,
Bee Journal," "not Manager."

Ctmraes (Anglesea).— -Nearly all the dead
brood in comb is '' chilled," but we also find
several cells affected with foul broo d. It is
not at all unusual for a stock to do well as
yours did while suffering from foul brood in
mild form, as with the hive in question.
You will, however, need to use preventives
and keep a close look out to see that the
disease is not spreading. We will deal
with the other portion of your letter next
week.

J. W. E. (Halkin). — We fear your sample of
suspected comb has miscarried, as no trace
of it can be found here. Can you send
another piece 1

M. M. McC.— There is distinct and decided
foul brood in every one of the few unsealed
cells of comb sent. Should there only be
a few of such cells in the hive, we should cut
each cell carefully out and remove them for
burning. Do not unite the bees to another
stock, but feed on medicated food and use
preventives for keeping the bacilli under
while in the active state ; then see how the
brood looks in spring, and take drastic
measures if the disease appears again.

H. J. P. — Dead brood in comb is nearly all
" chilled," but in a few of the sealed cells
we find foul brood in the incipient stage.

Honey Samples.

C. H. (Droitwich). — Neither sample is up to
show standard, though of fair flavour. The
honey would not keep well, being thin and
unripe. We shall be glad to insert view of
your apiary if suitable.

Sarum. — The honey sent is of very good
quality. Its deep golden colour is liked
by some better than lighter coloured honeys.
The Hon. Sec. of the Wilts B.K.A. is the
Rev. W. E. Burkitt, Buttermere Rectory,
Hungerford.

*** Our esteemed contributor, Mr. F. W. L.
Sladen, Ripple Court, Dover, writes us to
say that he is leaving on the 14th inst. for a
trip to America, and it may be well for his
numerous correspondents who are B.B.J,
readers to know that letters will find him in
America if addressed c/o Mr. E. R. Root,
Editor, Gleanings in Bee Culture, Medina,
Ohio, U.S.A.

370

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 12, 1901.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve word/ and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

D

SELECTED, TESTED, 1901 QUEENS, 2s. each, post
free. F. Wooldridge, Chippenham, Wilts. 1 17

RIVEN BEES FOB. SALE. With Queen, 4s. Also
several Stocks in skeps. Peters, Banstead. h 81

WANTED, 3-dozen worked-out STANDARD FRAMES
at once. CrAWSHAW, Burnside, Ilkley. i 18

PRIME HONEY FOR SALE ; Sections, 7s. 6d. per
dozen ; Extracted, £2 16s. cwt. Harry Swift,
Churchdown, Cheltenham. __JL1(L

WANTED, cwt. good, light-coloured CLOVER
HONEY. Samples and prices, to Duffield,
Dragon Junction, Harrogate. I 14

HONEYSLICE SECTION WRAPPERS, artistically
designed Label Bands, 2s. per 100. Of dealers, or Bell,
Beverley House, East Barnet. I 16

STRAWBERRY PLANTS, Is. 100, 7s. Cd. 1,000 ; early
variety. Buy hardy northern stock. RAITT,
Blairgowrie. U1^,

HONEY (New Extracted) 50s. cwt. ; sample 2d.
OWEN Browning, Apiarist, Kings Somborne,
Hants. LiL

WANTED, by young man, SITUATION as ASSIS-
TANT in a bee and fruit farm or garden. Bee
expert. Total abstainer. Short, Fore-street, Kings-
bridge, Devon. I 8

ANTED, 100 QUEEN BEES and 100 DRAGON
FLIES, or any smaller number, and largest Grass-
hoppers. Bonner Chambers, Diptford, S. Brent, S.

Devon. OV

UARANTEED pure ENGLISH HONEY 56s. and
50s. per cwt. Sample, 2d. Cash or deposit.
Albert Coe, Apiary Hall, Ridgewell, Halstead, Essex.

I 19

PROLIFIC QUEENS. — Imported Carniolans and
Italians, 5s. 6d. each; home-raised ditto, 5s. ; com-
mon, 3s. 6d. ; Stocks, Swarms, Nuclei headed by any
variety queen at fair prices. E. Woodham, Clavering,
Newport, Essex. 1 13

BEES.— As I am very shortly moving my apiary I
must sell several STOCKS, all on Standard frames
wired. Plenty of brood and stores. Prolific Queens,
15s. per stock, on eight frames, two for 28s. cash or
deposit. The above are quite healthy, and will be sent
immediately in a ten-framed brood box non-returnable.
Or best off ers. Correspondence invited. Edward Robb,
The Apiary, Outwell, Wisbech. I 15

SECTIONS and EXTRACTED HONEY FOR SALE.
Good quality. Ed. Bailey, Cheveley, Cambs. I 4

DOZ. white CLOVER SECTIONS, 9s. doz. First
quality. Bennison, Scorton, Darlington. I 6

HEATHER HONEY LABELS, 9d. 100., 3s. Id. 500.
Guest, King's Norton. H 84

HEATHER HONEY in sections and shallow-frames.
Address, " A." Bee Journal Office. H 91

WANTED, DRIVEN BEES in Exchange for Appli-
ances. Guaranteed. Guthrie BROS., Alloway,
Ayr. I 7

EXCELLENT CLOVER HONEY, 28-lb. tins, 6Jd. lb. ;
fine Heather Blend, 7 Ad. Tins free. Sample, 3d.
Lancelot Quayle, Glenmay, Isle of Man. i 3

SPLENDID NATIVE and LIGURIAN 1901 tested
QUEENS, 5s. each. Guthrie, Alloway, Ayr.

H 80

Prepaid Advertisements (Continued).

40

STRONG HEALTHY STOCKS, 10 Combs, young
Queens, 21s. Carr, Norwood-avenue, Southport.
H 26

ONCE TRIED ALWAYS USED. Our Solar Wax
Extractor should be in every Apiary. A perfect
success. No. 1, 12s. 6d. MANAGER, Hardham Apiary,
Pulborough . O 78

QUEENS, STOCKS, NUCLEI, and SWARMS. 14th
season of queen-rearing as a speciality. Fertile
queens, 5s. each, post free. Rev. C. BRERETON,
Pulborough, Sussex.

ry /-TH YEAR.— Choice 1901 QUEENS, in introducing
40 cages, 3s. 9d., delivered ; with Swarm for build-
ing up, 5s. 6d. Package free. Alsford, Expert,
Blandford. H 63

T^DWARD'S PEDIGREE QUEENS, record-creating,
L.v non-swarming strain ; autumn-raised, 4s. each,
post free, in new introducing cage. Selected Queens,
5s. 6d. Orders now booked. Shrubshill Apiary,
Sunningdale (late " Beecroft," Ashford).

FINE PROLIFIC Tested 1901 QUEENS, 3s. 6d. each,
post free. Bees Is. 3d. per lb. for 5 lb. lots or over,
Queen included. Guaranteed healthy and safe arrival.
Packages to be returned. Whiting, Valley Apiaries,
Hundon, Clare, Suffolk. I 8

COMFORTABLE APARTMENTS for brother bee-
keepers visiting Douglas. Terms : tea, bed, and
breakfast, 3s. 6d. ; or full board, 6s. per day. Horsley,
Merridale House, Top of Castle Drive, Douglas, Isle of
Man. 932

SPRING Dwindling and Light Supers are unknown
where White Star Italians are used. Store in all
weathers if flowers are about, and a month later than
Natives and other varieties. Always ready for fruit
blown in spring. Leave all others behind at the heather.
S. SIMMINS, Heathfleld, Sussex.

LACE PAPER for SECTION GLAZING. White,
1 in. wide, in three neat patterns, 100, 7d , 200,
Is. 2d., 300, Is. 6d., 500, 2s. 3d., 1,000, 4s. Also LACE
BANDS, White, 3 in. wide, lace both sides, 100, Is. 3d.,
200, 2s. 3d., 300, 3s., ; Pink, 3 and 3J in. wide, 100, Is. 6d.,
200, 2s. 9d., 300, 4s. ; Pale Green, 3 in. wide, same price
as Pink ; all post free. The alterations above are owing
to colours and widths being cleared for this season.
W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury.

CLOSE OF SEASON, 1901.

CLEARANCE SALE.— Having a large Stock of the
following still on hand, I am offering at greatly
reduced prices —

' ' Cowan " Extractors . . .
"Raynor" ,,
"Guinea" „

,, Geared
Small Wax Extractors ...
Large Round Float Feeders
Small

Bottle Feeders

Queen Excluders

50/- reduced to 42/6

32/6 „ 28/6

22/6 „ 19/-

33/- „ 26/-

2/6 ,, 2/-

2/6 „ 1/8

1/6 „ 1/-

1/3 „ lOd.

9d. „ 6d.

8/- doz. „ 5/6

„ Long Sheets (96x16) 3/6 „ 2/3

„ (96x32)6/6 „ 4/3

Standard and Shallow Frames 1/3 doz. ,, lOd.

„ „ „ ,, 8/4 100 .. 5/«

Sections 2/- 100 „ 1/8

Split Top 2/6 100 „ 1/10

„ „ 20/- 1,000 ,, 17/-

Smokers 3/- each „ 2/3

(Meadows') 2/6 ,, ,, 1/8

"W.B.C'Ends 4/- gross ,, 2/9

,, „ extra wide ... 4/6 ,, ,, 3/-

Tongh Wood Dividers lOd. doz. ,, 6d.

6/- 100 „ 3/6

Metal Dividers 1/- doz. „ 8d.

7/6 100 „ 5/-

Comb Foundation 2/- lb. ,, 1/9

„ ,, Thin for Sections 2/6 lb. ,, 2/1

Super Clearers 2/- each „ 1/8

Woiblet Spur Embedders ... 1/- „ 9d.

Section Racks 2/6 ,, 1/9

Shallow-Frame Boxes, complete 3/- „ 2/2

Wire and Net Veils 2/- ,. 1/6

Black & White , 1/6 „ 1/-

Uncapping Knives 2/- ,, 1/6

" Record " Bee Hives 10/6 ,, 9/9

1 gross Lee's Dovetail Frames 19/- any reasonable oiler.

1 ,, Shallow ,, ,, „ ,, „

Honey Ripeners and Strainers 12/6 reduced to 9/6

W. SHEPHERD, Oxton, TacJcaster, Yorks.

Sept. 19, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

371

(BaBtoraL Mtiim, &t.

THE CONFECTIONERS' EXBIBITION.
(Report continued from page 362.)

A second visit to the honey section of the
above exhibition made it clear to our mind
that there is still room for improvement with
regard to the way in which the honey and
bee-products are arranged ,^and staged for
inspection by the public, and also by bee-
keepers who are, more than any one else,
interested in the honey department of the
show.

We think it completely spoils a display of
sections and honey in glass jars to have visitors
"roped off" so far from the exhibits as to
prevent a chance of viewing them except at a
distance of four or five feet away. Again, the
exigencies of space compelled the Directors to
stage the honey in several places instead of all
together. For instance, the medium and the
dark coloured honeys had to be relegated to a
position in the gallery, while the six trophies
were arranged on two stages some distance
apart from each other — four trophies being
shown on one stage, and two, along with
shallow-frames for extracting and the exhibits
in the class for beeswax, on the other.

We have little doubt that arrangements
will be made next year for haviog the whole
of the honey displayed in one place, say the
Minor Hall, on the ground floor. If a good
roomy space could be allowed for in this annexe,
and have it mvinly occupied by the honey on
show, together with a large and good " work-
ing exhibit '' — illustrating all the various
phases of bee-craft — it would form one ot the
features of the Trades Exhibition of 1902.

No doubt the somewhat strict requirements
of the County Council stand in the way when
the preferences of individual exhibitors need
to be thought of, but when we bee-keepers —
who are first of all desirous of seeing the bee-
craft show up well — bear in mind that the
Managing Directors of the Trades Exhibitions
and Markets are most cordially anxious to
make the bee and honey section a success, and
give such practical evidence of their anxiety
by the prizes offered for competition ; then we
say it is only a question of a little time before
every reasonable requirement will be met, and
the bee-industry next year, we hope, will be
represented by a " Working Exhibit " and a
show of honey in competition for the prizes
such as will make it one of the most popular
and attractive sections of the whole exhibition.

With regard to the several classes comprised
in the schedule, a few were fairly well filled,
notably that for light - coloured extracted
honey in which nearly 600 jars of beautiful
produce were staged ; next came Sections,
twenty-two dozen of which made a very
decent display in point of numbers, and for
excellence in quality, far surpassing any we
had previously seen this year. The next in

point of numbers came twenty dozen jars of
medium - coloured honey, comprising some
exceedingly good samples. There were also
six Honey Trophies, all of which looked well
and contained very excellent samples of bee-
products, both in comb and extracted honey,
beautiful wax, along with mead, honey-
vinegar, &c. The first prize trophy was
evidently staged by an exhibitor who had
carefully read the schedule, for Mr. Brown's
exhibit could have been carried off en bloc to
a confectioner's window and there would have
formed an attractive "draw'' for converting
customers into honey-consumers.

Mr. Woodley's trophy, which took second
honours, was quite up to his high standard for
excellence in quality of section and extracted
honey, but it hardly met the " conditions " so
well. However, Messrs. Lee & Sons staged a
very attractive exhibit for a tradesman's
window, as did also Mr. Greenhill, who se-
cured fourth prize. Of the remaining two
trophies Mr. Overton's was fairly good, but
that of Mr. Kirby looked altogether too
insecure in its " building up " for display in a
tradesman's window.

In summing up our impressions of the
honey- section of the show as a whole, we may
say at once that what caused us not only
regret, but a considerable degree of surprise,
was to see so miserable an entry in eight of
the twelve classes comprising the schedule.
And it will, we hope, be a matter worth
" thinking over " by bee-keepers who failed
to take advantage of the opportunity offered,
and so missed their chance, to recall a few
instances of money prizes — higher in amount
than at any show we can recall— literally
" going a-begging."

In Class 101 there were six entries for four
prizes, the first being £1 and the silver medal
of the B.B.K.A., together with the handsome
diploma given by the directors of the exhibi-
tion, and the others £3, £2, and £1 respec-
tively, so that all but two exhibits secured a
prize.

Next for remark comes the class for Twelve
l-lb. Heather Sections; and here, forsooth,
four money prizes of 30s., 20s., 15s., and 10s.
respectively, only brought forth two entries !
We congratulate Mr. Waddell and Mr. Bowell
on their luck in having merely to pay their
entry fee and carry off the cash ; but to think
of the other two prizes being unclaimed is
almost humorous in its novelty. The same
may be said of the class for Shallow-Frames,
which are, we suppose, almost as plentiful as
blackberries this year. Five exhibits for four
valuable prizes ! Next in order " of merit ''
comes the class for Twelve l-lb. Jars Heather
Honey — four exhibits for four prizes! So
that every bee-man who made an entry carried
off a prize ! For all the exhibits were good in
quality.

Then we had six entries in the class for
Granulated Honey, and four prizes. For
Dark-coloured Extracted Honey there were

372

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 19, 1901.

eight entries for four prizes, only three being
awarded. For Beeswax " in cakes suitable for
the retail counter trade," seven exhibits for
four prizes ; and in the final Class — Bees-
wax, judged for quality of wax only — twelve
exhibits and four prizes.

We leave the above precis of the entries
to tell their own tale, and if our readers
will be inert and careless with regard to an
opportunity like the one in question we have
nothing to say further on the matter. After
drawing attention to the show several times
in editorials and otherwise, the rest was in
the hands of bee-keepers themselves.

At the " Press luncheon '! on the opening
day of the Show, the Master of the Bakers
Company (Mr. W. W. Ware) presided.

The toasts were confined to three only,
viz., "The King,'' "The Press," and "The
Colonies," and were duly honoured, but the
speech of most interest to bee-keepers was
that of Mr. W. E. Aylwin (one of the
managing directors), who in calling attention to
the chief features of the exhibition laid con-
siderable stress on the honey competitions.
These, he said, were under the auspices and
. partial control of the Council of the British
Bee- Keepers' Association, and this was the
first time British bee-keepers had competed
in all classes of their show. It was also
satisfactory to find that they had 200 com-
petitors. What appealed to his mind was
that honey could be raised for " a mere
song." The industry should also appeal to all
bakers and confectioners. A great point to
be noted in respect of honey put upon the
market under the auspices of the British
Bee-Keepers' Association, was that it must
not be adulterated in any way. A consider-
able quantity of honey was imported annually
into this country ; and he spoke with some
knowledge when he said that a large percent-
age of it was adulterated with glucose. If
any British bee-keeper was known to
adulterate his honey in any way, the parent or
central Association debarred him from again
exhibiting, and he ceased to be a member of
the Association. Bakers and confectioners
buying British honey could therefore be
absolutely assured that they were buying a
pure product.

HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the United
Kingdom during the month of August,
1901, was .£1,965. — From a return furnished
to the British Bee Journal by the Statistical
Office, H.M. Customs.

DERBYSHIRE B.K.A.

ANNUAL SHOW AT DERBY.

The annual show of the Derbyshire B.K.A.
was held on September 11 and 12 on the
show ground of the Agricultural Society.

Compared with last year, the weather in

the country during the present season ha?
been very favourable from a bee-keeper's
point of view ; consequently there has been
an increase of the number of exhibitors at this
year's show. Amongst the exhibits in the
tent was a grand collection by Mr. Walker,
of Derby, the secretary, who had a well-
arranged stand containing samples of honey
from various parts of England and from
several other countries. At intervals during
the afternoon Mr. T. M. Jones, assisted by
Mr. J. Rowland (Holbrook), gave a series of
demonstrations of practical bee-keeping in
the bee-tent, which proved to be a great
attraction.

Mr. C. N. White, St. Neots, undertook the
duty of judging, and made the following
awards : —

Observatory Hive (single frame), with Queen
and Bees. — 1st, J. Pearman, Derby ; 2nd, H.
Hill, Ockbrook ; 3rd, T. Richards, Church
Gresley.

Observatory Hive (two or more frames), with
Queen and Bees. — 1st, H. Hill ; 2nd, S. Durose,
Burton ; 3rd, A. H. Dawson and J. Spencer.

Display of Honey (not over 120 lh.). — 1st,
J. Stone, Cubley ; 2 ad, R. H. Coltman,
Burton-on-Trent ; 3rd, T. Richards ; 4th, H.
Hill ; 5th, T. Austin, Alvaston.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, R. H. Coltman ;
2nd, J. Stone ; 3rd, A. H. Dawson ; h.c, J.
Pearman.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Light-col oured Extracted
Honey. — 1st, S. Durose'; 2nd, J. Pearman;
3rd, A. H.Dawson ; 4th, G. Pallett, Makeney;
v.h.c, J. Stone ; h.c, J. Bakewell, Burton.

Ttvelve l-lb. Jars Dark-coloured Extracted
Honey. — 1st, A. H. Dawson ; 2nd, S. Durose.

Exhibit of Honey Products (including wax,
honey vinegar, mead, <&c.). — 1st, J. Pearman.

Beeswax (not less than 1 lb.) in One Cake.
— 1st, J. Stone; 2nd, J. Pearman; 3rd,
L. Hill, Sheffield.

Exhibit of Extracted Hc>ney (not over 20 lb.).
—1st, J. Pearman.

Ttoelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey and Six
l-lb. Sections (novices). — 1st, J. Bakewell ;
2nd, A. Pollard.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Stone ; 2nd,
A. Bayley, Stourbridge ; 3rd, W. Ratcliffe,
Crewe ; h.c, J. Carver, Wellington.

Singh- l-lb. Jar Extracted Honey. — 1st, J.
Smart, Andover ; 2nd, Rev. H. Goffe, Caistor,
Lines ; 3rd, S. TemVett, Andover.

Twelve l-lb. Jars < iranulated Honey. — 1st,
S. Durose ; 2nd, J. Stone ; 3rd, G. Spearman,
Colesbourne.

Single l-lb. Section. — 1st, J. Stone ; 2nd,
A. Bayley ; 3rd, P. Rawson, Market Drayton.

Single l-lb. Jar Extracted Honey. — 1st,
J. Smart ; 2nd, W. Hatliff, Thoresby Caistor ;
3rd, Rev. H. Goffe.

Collection of Bee Appliances. — 1st, R. H.
Coltman ; 2nd, E. H. Taylor, Welwyn, Herts ;
h.c, S. H. Varty, Colwick, Notts.

Sept 19, 1901.] THE BEITISH BEE JOUKNAL.

373

SOUTH OF SCOTLAND B.K.A,

HONEY SHOW IN DUMFRIES.

The ninth annual show of the South of
Scotland Bee-keepers' Association was held
August 31. The entries numbered over 200,
and there was close upon 2,000 lb. of honey
staged. Exhibits came from various parts of
England and Wales, and the quality all
through marked a distinct advance on previous
years. The judging of the exhibits was in the
capable hands of Mr. R. Hamlyn-Harris,
Tubingen University, Germany (who is a
visitor at Dairy, Galloway), and Mr. W.
Latimer, Waterbeck. The judges pronounced
the show to be an excellent one, and Mr.
Hamlyn-Harris stated that in all his expe-
aience he had never seen such keen competi-
tion. The secretarial duties were admirably
performed by Mr. Jame3 Kerr, Milldamhead .

The following are the awards : —

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, W.
Beattie, Troqueer ; 2nd, J. Harkness, Annan ;
3rd, W. Hogg, Castle-Douglas ; 4th, R. Slater,
Hardgate ; v.h.c, E. Staples, Upper Wood-
ford, Wilts ; Rev. H. F. Goffe, Caistor, Lines. ;
G. Spearman, Cheltenham ; and W. G. Dear,
Woodford, Wilts; h.c, J. Muir, Kirkcud-
bright, and W. Graham, Cummertrees ; c, F.
Hendor, Nailsworth.

Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, W. Woodley,
Beedon, Newbury ; 2nd, J. M'Donald, Loch-
foot ; 3rd, G. Spearman ; 4th, J. Carver,
Wellington, Salop ; v.h.c, W. Patchett, Cais-
tor, Lines. ; and W. Hogg.

Single l-lb. Jar Extracted Honey. — 1st, J.
Harkness ; 2nd, J. M'Millan, Mossknowe ;
3rd, W. Beattie ; 4th, W. Graham ; v.h.c, J.
Muir, Burnfoot, and Jas. Johnstone, Northcote-
place ; h.c, James Kerr, Milldamhead, and W.
Hogg ; c, W. Hatliff, Caistor, Lines.

Singh l-lb. Section. — 1st, J. Muir ; 2nd,
W. Patchett; 3rd, W. Hogg; v.h.c, R.
Slater and W. Woodley ; c, J. Crichton,
Troqueer Cottages, and W. Graham.

Beeswax. — 1st, J. Berry, Llanrwst ; 2nd,
W. Hogg ; 3rd, Jas. Kerr ; v.h.c, W. Beattie ;
h.c, W. Patchett, Rev. E. Charley, Ince
Vicarage, Chester, and J. Harkness.

Complete Frame- Hive for General Use (open).
—1st, E. H. Taylor, Welwyn, Herts.

MEMBERS ONLY.

Display of Honey. — 1st and 2nd, J. Kerr ;
3rd, W. Hogg ; c, S. M'Kie, Dumfries, and
R. Slater.

Super of Honey (15 lb. to 20 lb. weight). —
1st, W. Hogg ; 2nd, S. M'Vie ; 3rd, R.
Carlyle, Gasstown.

Super of Honey (10 lb. to 15 lb. weight). —
1st, J. M'Donald ; 2nd, J. Brown, Milldam-
head ; 3rd, R. Slater ; v.h.c, W. Hogg.

Super of Honey (under 10 lb. weight). —
1st, S. M'Vie ; 2nd, W. Hogg.

Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, R. Slater ; 2nd, J.
Muir ; 3rd, J. Harkness ; v.h.c, W. Graham ;
h.c, J. Kerr; c, W. Hogg.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, J.
Harkness ; 2nd, J. Muir ; 3rd, W. Beattie ;
v.h.c, R. Slater and R. Hastings, Cleughhead
Lodge, Annan ; h.c, J. Crichton, W. Hogg,
and R. Carlyle.

Six l-lb. Jars Light-coloured Extracted
Honey. — 1st and h.c, J. Brown ; 2nd and
v.h.c, W. Beattie ; 3rd, J. Harkness ; v.h.c,
W. Graham, R. Hastings, W. Hogg, and J.
Kerr ; h.c, R. Slater and J. M'Donald.

Six l-lb. Jars Dark - coloured Extracted
Honey.— 1st, S. M'Vie ; 2nd, W. Hogg ; 3rd,
W. Beattie.

Two l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — Silver
cup, J. Harkness ; v.h.c, J. Boyes, W.
Beattie, R. Hastings, J. M'Donald, W. Hogg ;
h.c, J. Boyes, Kellieston ; W. Hogg, and
Jas. Kerr (2).

Two Frames of Comb Honey. — 1st, J.
Harkness ; 2nd, R. Slater ; 3rd, R. Carlyle.

Six l-lb. Jant Extracted Honey.— 1st, J.
Harkness ; 2nd, R. Hastings ; v.h.c, J.
M'Millan and James Hunter, Gasstown ; h.c,
R. Carlyle.

Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Harkness ; 2nd,
Miss Muir, Burnfoot, Kirkcudbright ; 3rd, R.
Scott, Gasstown.

Four l-lb. Sections Heather Honey. — 1st,
W. Hogg ; 2nd and 3rd, W. Ormiston, Biggar ;
c, W. Beattie and R. Scott.

Four l-lb. Jars Extracted Heather Honey.
—1st, W. Hogg ; 2nd, W. Beattie.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st (silver medal),
J. Crichton ; 2nd, J. Muir, Burnfoot ; 3rd,
W. Hogg ; v.h.c, J. Kerr.

Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Muir ; 2nd, R.
Slater ; 3rd, W. Hogg ; v.h.c, J. M'Donald,
J. Harkness, J. Johnstone, and J. Kerr ; h.c ,
W. Beattie and W. Graham.

Super of Heather Honey. — 1st, W. Hogg ;
2nd, R. Carlyle ; 3rd, R. Scott.

Observatory Hive, with Queen and Bees. —
1st, Jas. Kerr and W. Hogg, equal.

Three l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
Jas. Rilley, Maxwellbank, Troqueer ; 2nd,
Jas. Johnstone ; 3rd, Miss Muir ; h.c. J.
Crichton.

Three l-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Crichton ;
2nd, Miss Muir ; 3rd and v.h.c, J. Johnstone.

Super of Honey (under 10 lb.)— Miss Muir.

Special for Best Extracted Honey in the
show (confined to members). — Silver medal, J.
Harkness.

CHESHIRE B.K.A.

HONEY SHOW AT BRAMALL.

The Bramall and Woodford District Horti-
cultural Society held its annual show on
September 7 in the picturesque grounds of
Bramall Hall, by kind permission of Chas. H.
Nevill, Esq., J.P.

The show was a great success in every way,
the entries in all sections being considerably
in advance of previous years.

Mr. Frederick H. Taylor, Fallowfield, Man-
chester, gave a lecture and demonstration in
the bee-tent, under the auspices of the Cheshire

374

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 19, 1901.

County Council, and drew a very large
audience, the weather being all that could be
desired.

Mr. Taylor also officiated as judge, and made
the following awards : —

Twelve 1-lb. Sections (2 entries). — 1st, Wm.
Ratcliffe, Barthomley, Crewe ; 2nd, no award ;
3rd, Septimus Wright, Wilmslow.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (17
entries). — 1st, Arthur Kenstead, Ince, Chester;
2nd, Wm. Ratcliffe ; 3rd, G. Latchford, Mac-
clesfield ; h.c, W. P. Young, Patricroft ; J. H.
Glover, Bramall ; W. H. Terry, Birkdale ;
J. Turner, Bramall; c, Mrs. J. C. Bull,
Bramall.

Beeswax (5 entries). — 1st, Wm. Ratcliffe ;
2nd, J. Turner ; v.h.c, Septimus Wright. —
{Communicated.)

HONEY SHOW AT CROSSGATES
(LEEDS) FLOWER SHOW.

The entries in the honey class connected
with the annual flower show have only been
very few in previous years, but this year there
were fourteen exhibitors. The quality of the
honey was first rate, all being almost uni-
formly good. Mr. W. Dixon, Leeds, acted as
judge and made the following awards : —

Four 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — Equal
1st, A. Heaton, Stanks, Crossgates, and J.
Lancaster, Arthington ; 2nd, Darcy R. Grim-
shaw, Crossgates ; 3rd, Walter Spink, Cross-
gates.

Four 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, A. C. Jamieson,
Dringhouses, York; 2nd, -J. Leatherborough,
Stanks ; 3rd, James Marshall, Garforth.

A special prize was awarded to J. Marshall,
of Garforth, for his exhibit of this season's
heather honey. — (Communicated.)

LANCASHIRE B.K.A.

HONEY SHOW AT CARTMKL,

The first honey show in connection with
this Agricultural Society was held on the 10th
inst., and attracted a considerable number of
entries. Mr. Frederick H. Taylor, of Fallow-
field, Manchester, judged the honey, and also
gave several lectures on bee-keeping, under the
auspices of the Lancashire County Council
during the day.

AWARDS.

Six 1-lb. Sections (open class, 22 entries). —
1st, John Canver, Wellington, Salop ; 2nd, R.
North, Kirkby Lonsdale ; reserve No., Thos.
Walker, Esthwaite ; v.h.c, Thos. Walker, Miss
L. Wilson, Morecambe ; h.c, W. Clark,
Grange ; J. Jones, Carnforth ; and W. J.
Ireland, Kendal.

Six lib. Jars Extracted Honey (open class,
23 entries) — 1st, W. Forrester, Huyton ; 2nd,
John Pennington, Heswall ; reserve No., Miss
L. Wilson ; v.b.c, Robt. Rymer, Hesketh
Bank ; Wm. Cookson, Hesketh Bank ; h.c,
W. A. Cook, Hesketh Bank ; W. Lloyd, Lan-
caster ; A. Fox, Bandsea ; T. J. Burns,

Greenodd ; and J. Jones, Carnforth ; c, W.
Lloyd.

Exhibit of Honey Gathered in the County. —
1st (L.B.K.A. silver medal), W. Forrester ;
2nd (L.B.K.A. bronze medal), Thos. Walker.

Exhibit of Honey Gathered in the District.
— (Prize, frame-hive), W. Clark, Grange-over-
Sands.

Beeswax. — 1st and 2nd, Thos. Walker ;
v.h.c, Thos. Barrow ; c. A. Fox.

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondent!. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[4491.] Selling Honey. — Now that the
seasons honey-crop is gathered in and the
hives are relieved of their burden of surplus
honey, the busy bee-man is intent on market-
ing his produce or preparing it for sale. If
it is in extracted form I would counsel putting
it up in such shape as suits the proved require-
ment of the trade the individual bee-keeper
has secured. If 1-lb. jars are demanded put
the year's crop in that size jar. All our
up-to-date appliance dealers supply these
jars — "tie-overs'' 12s., or "screw-cap" ,£1,
per gross. These, if filled and sold at 9s. or
9s. 6d. on rail, or 9s. 6d. or 10s. delivered, pay
fairly well, but the honey at this price should
be good, ripe, and full flavoured, bright and
clear ; and other qualities at Is. per dozen
less. As time goes on, if the stock is not
sold out, the clear liquid honey will begin to
granulate either in the producer's or in the
retailer's hands, and " granulation '' should be
constantly preached as a sign of pure honey
free from adulteration. The producer should
always call the attention of customers
(wholesale or retail) to the fact that pure, ripe
honey ought to crystallise in cold weather or
at the beginning of winter. He should also ask
all purchasers to store honey in a cool, dry
place. If the demand is for larger packages,
say tins holding from 4 lb. up to 28 lb. each,
place your honey in the sizes most likely to
be required ; this will save a lot of work and
some worry later on, especially in the case of
a man of many jobs. The larger size tins
holding h cwt. or 1 cwt. for sale in bulk
meet the wants of those who sell in bulk for
others to put into glass jars.

Comb-honey in sections should have the
wood of sections scraped clean of propolis and
scraps of wax, such as brace-combs, which are
found mostly in those worked in racks when
the " slats " are too thick, or when the pre-
vious year's accumulation of brace-combs and
propolis combined makes the removal a task

Sept. 19, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

375

rather than a pleasure. This neglect makes
the section-racks practically fixtures, which
require a prising tool to loosen them, and this
often rouses up the bees to a furious condi-
tion, and neighbours may come in for a share
of the stings inseparable from this state of
affairs. It also severs a close " neighbourliness,"
and it will take some of your sections to
mollify matters to the status pro quo. After
the sections are cleaned they should be graded
and stored till required in a dry, clean, warm
closet or cupboard ; if no facilities are at hand
for this purpose the racks in which the sec-
tions are worked make very good storing-
crates for packing them away in till wanted,
if lined with paper after scraping and cleaning
them. When the sections are arranged in
position lay a piece of paper over the top and
down in front of the sections, then insert the
" follower " and the wedge or spring to hold
all tight. Thus filled, the storing- crates can
be placed one above the other without injury
to the sections if the sides and ends are the
same height as the sections. If not, a strip of
thin wood on either side will level up to the
required height to prevent pressure on the
sections.

Queen- Introduction. — This should be at-
tended to at once if not already done ; those
of our friends whose bees have been at the
heather may be excused for not attending
earlier to this important part of bee-
keeping, but it should not be delayed any
longer, for it is in many cases laying the
foundation of next year's success to attend to
queen-introduction as early in the autumn
as possible. Some queens I introduced in
August are now building up strong colonies,
which will go into winter quarters with a
large number of young bees, whose work will
be shown in next year's record. I would also
again impress on the novice to attend to the
autumn examination of his hives, and if all is
well close them down as early as convenient
for the period of rest so necessary to the well-
doing of the bees. Do not forget to keep a
" record " in each hive, and those who possess
a large apiary should number the hives and
place the number on the card. This saves
confusion if records get misplaced.

Honey Shows and Rail Charges. — Keferring
to the red label marked " Glass," mentioned
in my " Notes " on page 352, one of the
stewards of the show in question writes me
that " the red labels were on my boxes on
arrival at the show," so that exonerates the
show committee in this particular case, though
why the railway company's servants should be
so solicitous for the safe conveyance of my
exhibits to this show, when the goods were
sent at " sender's risk," passes my comprehen-
sion. Perhaps other readers who sent honey
from a distance to Chester show will please
say if they received the same attention. I
am inquiring at Newbury end of the journey
if the labels were affixed before despatch, and
why. — W. Woodley, Betdon, Newbury.

DISQUALIFIED EXHIBITS.

OVERLACING SECTIONS AT THE " CONFEC-
TIONERS'."

[4492.] In response to the earnest editorial
appeal, on page 331 of B.B.J, for August 23
last, for support at the coming big honey
shows in London, I sent entries for the
" Grocers' " and " Confectioners' " Exhibitions
respectively. I hear to-day that my twelve
1-lb. sections, in Class 102, were awarded
first prize of £2, silver medal, &c, but were
afterwards disqualified for exceeding by ■£§ of
an inch the width allowed for lace edging. It
is very discouraging to be knocked out at an
important show for such a trivial matter
as 3V of an inch too much on each side of
sections. I am told that there was nothing in
the shape of sections at the show in question
to touch mine for quality, and consequently
I am very much surprised at the " objection "
being upheld. I consider it was what I may
term " unsportsmanlike," and not very credit-
able on the part of my brother bee-men to cut
me out entirely for such a trivial matter. I
still think my sections show 3^ in. of clear
glass, as required by rule in schedule.

I hope to be in London in a few days' time,
when I will measure glass to make quite
sure.

If, from any reason, you are unable to pub-
lish this letter in the B.B. J., I hope you will
kindly make known through its columns that
my sections were awarded first honours, and
were subsequently disqualified for the reason
stated above. — Anthony Bayley.

[There is no reason why we should refuse
to publish the above letter ; indeed, we are
pleased to see it in print, as affording an
opportunity not only for putting our corre-
spondent right with regard to his own exhibit,
but of offering a word of advice to exhibitors
generally on the question of " overlacing "
sections intended for the show-bench.

First then let us say that whoever told Mr.
Bayley that his sections were " awarded 1st
prize, but were afterwards disqualified " and
all the rest of it ; also that there were " no
sections at the show to touch his " for quality,
&c, must have been drawing upon his own
imagination for his statements. As a matter
of fact, when commencing judging, some half
dozen lots of sections were at once observed
to be glaringly " overlaced " with paper-edging
and were immediately put out of the com-
petition. It never went further than the
judges expressing — to each other — regret that
exhibitors should be so inexcusably careless
as to disqualify their own exhibits by leaving,
in most cases, nearly j> in. less of comb surface
clear of paper than the schedule allowed.
The rule lays down that " 3^ in. by 3| in. of
glass must be clear of paper edging," and in
no case in which the sections were measured
was the infringement so slight as -fa or
even iVth of an inch as is stated above.

370

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 19, 1901.

We need say little else beyond making it
plain that any judge possessing the courage
of his convictions would have had no hesita-
tion in disqualifying the exhibits referred to ;
but it is doubly annoying to a conscientious
judge when he finds that exhibitors in their
eagerness to hide every possible defect, will —
as on the occasion referred to — actually cover
up comb-capping that is almost perfect in
finish. The question arises, Why this anxiety
to overdo it ? If a slip is made at all, why is
it always on the wrong side ? The anxiety
should be to err (if at all) on the right side,
and leave more than the clearly defined 3^ in.
clear of paper edging. — Eds.]

HONEY SHOW MANAGEMENT.

THE COST OF EXHIBITING AT SHOWS.

[4493.] In your issue of the 5th inst. Mr.
Woodley makes some sensible remarks in his
"Notes by the Way" (page 352) in regard to
showing honey and the expenses entailed by
doing so. As Mr. Woodley specially mentions
the charge made for the return of his exhibits
from our show at Chester, I may take this
opportunity of saying that, though I have not
asked them, I do not think that the addition
of a red ticket marked " glass '' was due to the
anxiety of the stewards. Perhaps some more
zealous railway official was the offender. As
regards the general question of returning
exhibits at " half-rate," I quite agree with Mr.
Woodley. But whose fault is it that it is not
more generally done 1 In some few cases the
stewards, who have overlooked a return label
marked " owner's risk " or " agricultural pro-
duce rate," may be deserving of blame.

In most cases, however, blame does not
attach to them. During the last two or three
years I have done a fair amount of unpacking
and repacking in connection with our Cheshire
shows, and I have been struck by the fact that
it is only very occasionally that exhibitors
either enclose labels marked for return at the
reduced rate, or endorse the labels supplied by
the secretary to the same effect. Without
such authority, stewards cannot be expected to
undertake the responsibility of sending back
exhibits at half-rate. Suppose that they do
so, somebody's first prize sections are smashed
on the journey, and the railway company
denies any liability, will not the exhibitor have
something to say, not sweet, but strong ? Will
not the stewards have placed themselves in an
awkward position by their well-meant effort
to save the exhibitor's pocket 1

Indeed, the possibility of sending honey at
this reduced rate, which is, I presume, allowed
by all the chief railway companies, does not
appear to be as well known as it might be. I
have been able to point out the advantage
gained by it in the reduction of the cost of
carriage to several bee-keepers within the last
month or two. Station-masters may perhaps
at first deny the existence of the reduced rate,
but the consignor should insist upon it. —

Rev. E. Charley, Hon. Sec. Cheshire
B.K.A., Ince, near Chester, September 14.

THE PALACE HONEY SHOW.

KENT AND SUSSEX B.K.A.

[4494.] May I remind friends that entries
close this month for the Kent and Sussex
annual show which is to be held at the Crystal
Palace on the same days as the great fruit
show of the Royal Horticultural Society,
October 10, 11, and 12 1 All exhibitors get a
free pass, and therefore the peculiar satisfac-
tion of getting " something for nothing." Our
county beekeepers will have the opportunity
of visiting the Dairy Show, and then going on
pilgrimage to Sydenham. It is new for the
K. and S. B.K.A. to hold a show so late in the
season, but the lateness is rather an advantage
except that shallow frames will have to be
kept out of the extractor a little longer than
common. We want to make trophies and
observatory hives special features. Schedules
of Mr. H. W. Brice, Brigstock-road, Thornton
Heath. There are many beekeepers who are
fruit growers — like Mr. Brown, of Somersham
— and they ought to enter their fruit at the
Palace as well as their honey. The Royal
Horticultural schedule, like the K. and
S. B.K.A. schedule, is most liberally framed.
R.H.S. schedules of Rev. W. Wilks, Sec, 117,
Victoria-street, S.W.— E. D. Till, Eymford,
September 16.

SURPLUS FROM DISEASED STOCKS.

[4495.] The hive from which I took the
comb (sent some weeks ago) has worked well
this summer, yielding about 60 lb. of honey
and three swarms. I am rather afraid of two
other stocks I have in frame-hives, but I could
not get any brood from them to send you,
being too timid to venture " down below.''
Another hive this year gave me 89 lb. of
extracted honey and a rack of sections, all
filled. The swarms did not yield any surplus,
but have enough, I believe, for themselves to
winter on. The honey is of good quality —
clover, with a little mixture of heather. I
give most of mine away. But my gardener,
to whom I have given shares in the " concern,"
finds a ready market for it at Is. per 1-lb. jar,
and lOd. for those who bring their own jars.

I wish we could form an Association in this
county, and get an expert to visit us occa-
sionally. I am very much afraid that
ignorance on this subject is one great means
of the spread of foul brood. — Cymraes,
Anglesey.

[Seeing that only a few cells in comb sent
contained diseased matter, it is not surprising
that the colony made a good return in surplus
honey. Nor should we now advise destruction
of the stock by any means. If preventives
are used, and a careful "look-out'' kept on
the hatching brood in the early spring of next
year, it is quite possible that the bees may rid
themselves of the disease altogether. — Eds.]

Sept. 19, 1901.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

SOME ESSEX NOTES.
[4496.] Talcing in Bees from a Farmhouse. —
Six feet high without his boots, Hodge in har-
vest time is a busy man. Lifting a corner of the
window blind he sees the rising sun, and turn-
ing to Mrs. H., says, " Wa, till nivver do ta
burn the daylight ; put the candle out." It
was just then that we — i.e., a friend and my-
self—arrived. I think this explanation neces-
sary, for however good a smoker one may
possess (we were prepared with the good one
that we expected to require), the beeman's
smoker does not with him take the place of
the editor's pen. For though the smoker may
be large and of formidable appearance, it is
comparatively small in ability to assist in
doing good or ill. The day was thus in its
infancy when we made our attack ; the job had
been " put up," as a cracksman would say, some
time before. It was a surprise at dawn on the
strongholds of colonies of bees occupying the
spaces between the inner and outer walls of a
farmhouse. After making a forced march and
camping in the neighbourhood overnight, we
had with us every appliance that could pos-
sibly be needed — at least we thought so ; but,
being somewhat deceived by the bees, our
attack was made in the wrong place. Instead
of just removing the tiles nailed on the upper
half of the house, like scales, and striking our
quarry at once, a hammer and chisel were
necessary, for the bees had the entrance to
their home and store above them. It is due
to the plasterers of other days to say that the
plaster on those walls had to be cut off inch
by inch. Beginning above the bees we laid
open to view combs 6 ft. deep, and containing
about 1 cwt. of honey. As usual, the combs
were worked downward, being added to each
year, and more or less old honey left uncon-
sumed each year till much of it was worthless.
Having reached the bottom of the space imme-
diately available, the brood had lately been
reared in an outside comb. There was a 4-ft.
length of comb occupied with brood and eggs,
and such a colony of bees as is seldom seen in
a hive ; drones, too, at the end of August, in
this case an evidence of strength and pros-
perity. There was food, ample and to spare.
Why turn them out ? But in modern bee-
keeping the presence of drones at the date
referred to is an evidence of indifferent bee-
keeping. When engaged on such a job, I
make it a rule, if possible, to secure the bees
first ; but ] these bees were so numerous, that
the bulk of them found a way to escape into
the next space ; so, driving the bees upwards,
we cut and removed their combs, and secured
the bees afterwards. There was some cutting
and driving too. The effect of the hammer
and chisel had been not only to remove the
plaster but to subdue the bees too, so we put
off our veils ; for with dripping honey falling
in our faces we were glad to do without them.
Then the wasps, of which there were known
to be about a dozen nests within a few hundred
yards of the farmhouse, began to make things

much more lively for us than did the bees. It
gave us great pleasure to find the bees so clean
and healthy, and the only thing that we could
regret was the absence of the " man with the
camera." We had a similar job on two morn-
ings later at the same house. In one case the
combs were again 6 ft. deep, and the other
was a swarm that had entered this year. The
wasps profited by their experience of the first
morning and came in hundreds, both myself
and friend being stung by them. — Wm. Love-
day, Hatfield Heath, Harlow, Essex.

WEST INDIAN BEES AND HONEY.

HONEY ALL THE YEAR ROUND.

[4497.] In relation to the letter in B.B.J.
of August 22 (4471, page 335) and the state-
ment by a gentleman from the West Indies,
who had declared that bees in these islands
had ceased to store honey, it might be of in-
terest to your correspondent and others to be
informed that what is known as " Jamaica
honey " is sold in bulk in London at the pre-
sent time.

Presumably this honey is gathered and
stored by West Indian bees, or is it another
case of manufactured stuff to defraud the
public ?

It is of a deep amber colour, fairly clear,
rather poor in consistency, very little aroma,
flavour undecided, but seeming to me fruity,
especially reminding me of orange pips, and
also slightly of wood and smoke (it is im-
ported in wooden barrels of 3 cwt. capacity) ;
it leaves a decided " tang " in the mouth, and
already shows signs of commencing ganula-
tion. I enclose a sample. Please, Mr. Editor,
correct my description, if necessary. [We
quite agree with you. — Eds.]

Now for the most important point to us as
bee-keepers and honey-producers — this honey
can be bought in London at 27s. per cwt. ! or
less than 3d. per lb. ! and when grocers can
obtain this at such a price, and we want at
least double (and I should be sorry to sell
mine at even that figure) is it likely that they
will purchase from us to supply a public who
are, for the mo3t part, uneducated as to the
relative merits of British and foreign honey ?

It seems to me that the only thing we can
do is to impress upon the public that as the
flavour and food value of home-grown fruit is
well known and acknowledged to be, in
general, so superior to foreign products, so
the honey gathered at home must be greatly
superior to the generality of foreign honies, as
well as far more likely to be free from adultera-
tion. — A. Arnold King, Silverhill, St.
Leonards-on-Sea.

THE LIMES IN CASIOBERRY PARK.

[4498.] Miss Gayton's letter on page 366 of
B.B.J, for September 12 is very interesting.
Last month I was in Casioberry Park, and
remarked the wonderful profusion and size of

378

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 19, 1901.

the seed-vessels on the limes in the great
avenue. The honey gathered therefrom has
that pronounced aromatic flavour common
to lime honey in greater degree than ordinary.
The avenue was planted by Le Notre,
gardener to Louis Quatorze. It is a noble
arcade, but Le Notre did not allow sufficiently
for expansion, a common fault in planting.
There are three trees where one would have
done better. All are of giant size and fairly
sound, but they are past their prime. —
E. D. T., Eynsford, Sept ember 16.

FREE SEEDS OF HONEY-PLANTS.

[4499.] I shall be pleased to supply bee-
keepers with seeds of " Chapman's Honey
Plant " or the " Globe Thistle " on receipt of
a stamped addressed envelope, if you will
kindly make it known through the Bee
Journal. — J. Quartermain, Tenby.

(fu^s atti mpli$s.

[2720.] Non-Swarming Hives and Swarm-
Catchers. — I shall feel obliged if you will reply
in the B.J. to the following : — 1. Am I right
in assuming that a non-swarming hive consists
merely of an ordinary hive having a box of
frames underneath the brood-nest to receive
the surplus honey, with a sheet of excluder-
zinc between the two ? 2. Have you any
knowledge of a " swarm-catcher " in which the
bees must leave and return to the hive through
the chamber containing the sheets of comb-
foundation 1 Do you think the bees when
returning to the hive would be more likely to
cluster with the queen in a swarm-catcher of
this make than in one to which they would have
to return to her by an entrance other than the
one by which they left the hive 1 3. Where
would I be likely to procure the brass springs
such as are used in the "Porter bee-escape " ? —
Veracity, co. Carlow, August 11.

Reply. — 1. A non-swarming hive means a
hive in which the special arrangements of the
designer or inventor are supposed to prevent
the issue of undesirable swarms. The style
of hive you refer to above is only one of many
forms that have been devised for the purpose
stated. 2. Several " swarm - catchers " we
know of are fitted with frames of foundation,
and being fixed in front of the ordinary hive
entrance, the bees must perforce pass through
the " catcher " when going out of and coming in
to the hive proper. 3. An ironmonger could
tell better than us where to obtain the springs
mentioned, but if you place any value on our
advice we say, buy your " Porter bee-escapes."
Home-made ones will probably be worse than
useless when made.

[2721.] Removing Skeps from Frame-Hives
after Transferring. — Will you kindly advise
me in the following case : — On May 30 I
placed a skep (the bees of which I wished
to transfer to frame-hive) upon top bars
of a frame-hive prepared as directed in
the " Guide Book," and left it till the second
week in August. I then lifted the skep and
placed a cloth beneath to sever all connection
with the hive below, and left the bees to go
out through the " cone " in roof, there being a
feed-hole in too of skep. On examining them
the next day, I found the bees still in skep,
and therefore concluded they had gnawed
through the cloth beneath them and so re-esta-
blished communication with the frame-hive
below. On Friday, September 13, I again
lifted the skep, this time placing a super-
clearer beneath. I also stopped the feed-hole
in the top of skep. Next day (September 14)
I fully expected to be able to remove the skep
free of bees, but I found them there as thick
as ever. I have six frame-hives, and so far I
have had no trouble in taking off supers, but
this lot of bees are very fierce, and having had
no previous experienoe in "driving" lam
loath to begin upon so bad tempered a lot. I
shall be glad if you will kindly tell me what I
had better do. — (Miss) E. H., Salisbury,
September 15.

Reply. — Since the bees are vicious, and you
are inexperienced in " driving,'' that operation
may be entirely dispensed with by first assur-
ing yourself that the queen is in lower hive,
then cutting off communication (effectually, of
course) with the lower hive and alio wing the
bees to escape through the "cone" in roof. It is
about certain that there will not be any brood in
skep at this late season, and if the queen is
all right in lower hive, you may let the bees in
skep make their way out and return to the
lower hive at will, and in their own time.

[2722.] Adding Formic Acid to Honey.
— 1. I should like to extract the honey from
some shallow-frames (which are partly filled,
and capped here and there) and keep the
honey. I believe this can be done by adding
formic acid to the honey in very small quan-
tity ; but I should like to know whether you
can tell me the approximate proportion of acid.
2. Also how to mix it up efficiently with the
honey. 3. Kindly give me your opinion of two
samples of honey herewith. — Sandy.

Reply. — 1. It is generally understood that
bees add a minute quantity of formic acid to
each cell-full of honey before sealing it over.
But with regard to bee-keepers doing the same
thing with the object of causing the honey
operated on to keep well, it is a mere fanciful
notion, and not worth consideration. 2. The
above reply covers this question. 3. Sample
A is a nice, well-ripened honey — flavour,
colour, and consistency being all good. The
other sample (B) is fairly good, but does not
equal A. Both are good saleable honeys.

Sept. 19, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

379

<&thm flwm M pots.

Glenmay, Isle of Man, September 14 —
Honey gathering has ceased here since the
the third week in August. Although clover
did not make nearly so good a show this year
as last, yet the splendid weather of July
enabled my bees to store an unusually large
quantity of very light-coloured honey. August
was a poor month for storing honey. The
exceedingly hot and dry weather of July
parched the ground, and consequently we had
the poorest display of heather-bloom I ever
remember. The earlier variety (bell heather)
blossomed fairly well, but the period of flower-
ing was of short duration. The Erica vulgaris
(ling) was a failure. In consequence, our
heather honey crop is below the average and
quality not so good, as usual, owiDg to showery
and cold weather. — Lancelot Quayle.

$lM j&ItffMS to <&omt

September 21 to 28, at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with the
fifth Annual Exhibition of the Grocery and Kindred
Trades.

September 28, at Jfidburgb..- Roxburghshire
B.K.A. Annual Autumn Show of Bees, Hives, Honey,
<fec. Twenty-three classes (including eight open
classes) for Bees and Bee Produce. Schedules from
Thos. Clark, Pleasants, Jedburgh, N.B. Entries
close September 24.

October 8 to 11, at the Agricultural Hall,
London. — Show of Honey and Bee-produce in con-
nection with the British Dairy Farmers' Association.
Numerous and liberal prizes for honey, &c— Schedules
from Mr. Wm. C. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-square,
London, W. Entries closed.

October 10, 11, and 12, at Crystal Palace.—
Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, and Appliances. Increased prizes and medals.
Schedules from Hon. Secretary, Henry W. Brice, 100,
Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath. Entries close
September 30.

November 14. at Town Hall, Ludlow.— Honey
Show in connection with Exhibition of Chrysanthemum
and Fruit Society. Two open classes for hives.
Schedules from J. Palmer, Bon. Secretary, 17, Brand-
lane, Ludlow. Entries close November 5.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letters or gueriet asking for addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur-
chased, or replies giving such information, can only be
inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queries forwarded will b» attended to, and those only
of personal interestwill be answered in this column.

A. Kreigsheim (Bienne, Switzerland) —Inset
Nomenclature. — We forwarded your speci-
men to our esteemed contributor on ento-
mological matters, Mr. F. L. Sladen, who
writes regarding it as follows : — " The insect
sent is so badly crushed that it will be diffi-

cult to identify it. It is interesting-looking,
and I will try to find out what it is when I
get to Medina, U.S.A., where I am now
going for a visit. If your correspondent
could in the meantime secure and send me
some uncrushed specimens and send them in
a little tin match-box, together with any
well-ascertained facts he knows about it, I
will go into the matter as fully as I can,
and if the insect is of sufficient interest I
will send an illustrated account of it to
you."

Apis Mellifica (Bletchley). — Varieties of
Heather. — By referring to B.J. of August 15
(page 327) you will see full illustrated
description of British Heaths, and that the
heather sent is Erica, or Calluna vulgaris
(common ling).

H. F. G. (Bedale). — Bee Nomenclature. — Bees
are well-marked Ligurians. The first lot
sent failed to reach us.

(Rev.) V.S. (Blundford). — Honey and its
Uses. — The pamphlet, " Honey and its
Uses," is published by the Rev. G. W.
Bancks, The Green, Dartford, price lid.,
post free.

C. Heaps (Lancaster). — Wild Bees. — The
specimen sent is one of the native wild
bees of Britain. It belongs to the genus
Andrena (variety fulva).

Maud Marshall (Epsom). — Curious Sounds
in Hives. — Only an examination of the hive
and coverings to frames could afford any
clue to the production of the peculiar noises
you have heard. It may be some spot
under the quilt where a bee can get " fast "
for a time just as when being crushed. You
might re-arrange the quilts and see if that
puts a stop to the sounds.

Honey Samples.

D. A. Whale (Wood Green, N.). — Your
sample is excellent in colour and consist-
ency. It has a slight " minty " flavour,
characteristic of lime-honey.

Suspected Combs.

Special Notice to correspondents sending queries on
"Foul brood."

We urgently request that all letters sent with samples
of suspected comb be put outside the box or tin containing
the sample. Also that ?io more than a couple of square
inches of comb be sent, taking care to neither crush the
comb nor probe the cells before despatching.

In urgent cases (and where possible) we undertake to
" wire " replies as to F. B. if six stamps are sent to cover
cost of telegram. All letters to be addressed " Editor,
Bee Journal," "not Manager."

W. Jobson (Stoke Newington). — There is no
trace of disease in comb sent. The cells are
nearly all half filled with fresh wholesome
pollen, and the one or two dead larvse are
" chilled " only.

L. M. (Abey, Mon.).— Foul brood is develop-
ing in sample No. 1. The other piece of
comb — No. 2 — is free from disease.

Veronica (Devon).— Comb is affected with
foul brood, but the disease seems not to be
of very virulent type.

S. C. P. (N.B.).— Comb is badly diseased with
" F.B." of old standing.

380

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Sept. 19, 1901.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve words and under, Sixpence; for every addi-
tional Three word* or under, One Penny.

SPLENDID HONEY FOR SALE. 6d. per lb. ; tins and
package free. George Thompson, Helpnngham,
Heckington. l 34

CLOVE PINKS, 'pure White, large pink blooms
with black stripe, 100 slips, 2s. Woods, Nor-
mandy, Guildford. I 33

EADOWS' EXTRACTOR, used once, 12s. 6d. ; takes
ections or frames. PYNE, Cloughton, Yorkshire.

I 24

M

PRIMULA SINENSIS, good strain, ready for 48's,
Is. 6d. doz. Carriage extra. CannABY, Ettington,
■Stratford-on-Avon. I 23

HONEY FOR SALE. -Finest quality, 6d. lb. Tins
and crates free. Samples 2d. H. May, Kingston,
Blount, Wallingford. I 35

PURE ENGLISH HONEY, 56-lb. tins, 5d. lb. Tins
free (second quality). Hardy, Oak House, Great
Yeldham, Halstead, Essex. I 30

FINEST EXTRACTED HONEY, in 28-lb. tins, 6d. lb.
Tins free. Sample, 2d. Cash or deposit. DUTTON,
Terling, Essex. _____ I 31

FINE healthy tested fertile 1901 QUEENS, 3s. 6d.
each. Post free. C. Whiting, Walley Apiaries,
Hundon, Clare, Suffolk. I 27

WANTED, SIX pure CARNIOLAN QUEENS. 1900 or
1901. Full particulars and lowest price to
White, Newton Toney, Salisbury. I 22

TWO strong Lots of DRIVEN BEES WANTED, in
exchange for half cwt. of Soiled Sugar. Wallace,
Shinnelwood, Bramhall. I 28

BEST YORKSHIRE HEATHER HONEY ; bulk, comb
or bottles ; any quantity. Hood, White Heather
Apiary, Pickering. I 25

HEATHER HONEY.— 400 lbs. FOR SALE, in screw-
top glass jars, in bulk, or in shallow-frames.
Sample, 3d. post free. Cotterill, Bowdon, Cheshire.

I 20

DRIVEN BEE3, with Queen, Is. 3d. lb. ; strong
Stocks in straw skeps ; 1901 Fertile Queens,
lis. 6d. each ; guaranteed healthy. Fertile tested
Queens, 2s. WOODS, Normandy, Guildford. I 32

nr-IH YEAR.— Small SWARMS, 5s. 6d., package
_}D free. 1901 tested QUEENS, 3s. 9d., delivered,
in introducing cages. Alsford, Expert, Blandford.

I 26

HONEY.— One cwt. good light - coloured clover
HONEY, newly extracted, 56s. Sample, 2d.
Temple, Two Beeches Farm, Hemel Hempstead, Herts.

I 36

PURE WELSH HONEY.— One gross of 1-lb. screw-
cap jars, fine colour and quality, £5 to clear, or
9s. per doz. on rail at Mold. Pugh & Son, Mold,
North Wales. I 21

,-tr\f\ WHITE CLOVER SECTIONS and 150 lbs. run
wUU HONEY. What offers ? 20 Section-racks (Neigh-
bour's), Is. 3d. each, or would exchange for 15 shallow-
frame boxes. Oldham, Stanford Rectory, Worcester.

I 29

FOR SALE, CHEAP (Owner going abroad next month),
Eight good STOCKS of BEES in standard-frame
hives. Have yielded well this season and are now well
provisioned for winter. Inspection invited as to
healthiness and condition. Also Three-frame OBSERVA-
TORY' HIVE, made by Jas. Lee, and can be seen at his
address, 10, Silver-street. " British Bee Journal,"
complete from first issue in 1S74 up to present date;
most of the volumes are well bound and in good order.
Several bound volumes of " American Bee Journal," and
of " Gleanings in Bee Culture " (American). No reason-
able otter refused. Address. John M. Hooker, 25,
Tressillian-road, St. John's, S.E.

Prepaid Advertisements (Continued).

SECTIONS and EXTRACTED HONEY FOR SALE.
Good quality. Ed. Bailey, Cheve ley, Cambs. I 4

HEATHER HONEY LABELS, 9d. 100., 3s. Id. 500.
Guest, King's Norton. H 84

PRIME HONEY FOR SALE ; Sections, 7s. 6d. per
dozen ; Extracted, £2 16s. cwt. Harry Swift,
Churchdown, Cheltenham. I 10

DRIVEN BEES.— Strong STOCK with Queen, 5s. ;
package returnable. Phillips, Spetchley, Wor
cester. H 7

STRAWBERRY PLANTS, Is. 100, 7s. 6d. 1,000 ; early
variety. Buy hardy northern stock. Raitt,
Blairgowrie. , I 18

WANTED, DRIVEN BEES in Exchange for Appli-
ances. Guaranteed. Guthrie Bros., Alloway,
Ayr. i 7

EXCELLENT HONEY, fine Heather-blend, 28-lb. tins,
7Jd. lb. Tins free. Sample, 3d. Lancelot
QuAYLe" Gleumay, Isle of Man. 13

SPLENDID NATIVE and LIGURIAN 1901 tested
QUEENS, 5s. each. Guthrie, Alloway, Ayr.

H 80

ONCE TRIED ALWAYS USED. Our Solar Wax
Extractor should be in every Apiary. A perfect
success. No. 1, 12s. 6d. Manager, Hardham Apiary,
Pulborough. O 78

QUEENS, STOCKS, NUCLEI, and SWARMS. 14th
season of queen-rearing as a speciality. Fertile
queens, 5s. each, post free. Rev. C. Brereton,
Pulborough, Sussex.

117ANTED, by young man, SITUATION as ASSIS-
VV TANT in a bee and fruit farm or garden. Bee
expert. Total abstainer. SHORT, Fore-street, Kings-
bridge, Devon. I 8

WANTED, 100 QUEEN BEES and 100 DRAGON
FLIES, or any smaller number, and largest Grass-
hoppers. Bonner Chambers, Diptford, S. Brent, S.
Devon. I 11

GARNETT'S original, air-tight, screw-cap HONEY
JARS, six dozen, 7-oz., 8s. 9d. ; ten dozen, 16-oz.,
16s. 9d., cash. Packed free. Garnett Bros., High-
street, Rotherham.

PROLIFIC QUEENS. — Imported Carniolans and
Italians, 5s. 6d. each; home-raised ditto, 5s. ; com-
mon, 3s. 6d. ; Stocks, Swarms, Nuclei headed by any
variety queen at fair prices. E. Woodham, Clavering,
Newport, Essex. I 13

EDWARD'S PEDIGREE QUEENS, record-creating,
non-swarming strain ; autumn-raised, 4s. each,
post free, in new introducing cage. Selected Queens,
5s. 6d. Orders now booked. Shrubshill Apiary,
Sunningdale (late " Beecroft," Ashford).

OMFORTABLE APARTMENTS for brother bee-
keepers visiting Douglas. Terms : tea, bed, and
breakfast, 3s. 6d. ; or full board, 5s. per day. Horsley,
Merridale House, Top of Castle Drive, Douglas, Isle of
Man. 932

LACE PAPER for SECTION GLAZING. White
1 in. wide, in three neat patterns, 100, 7d , 200,
Is. 2d., 300, is. 6d., 500, 2s. 3d., 1,000, 4s. Also LACE
BANDS, White, 3 in. wide, lace both sides, 100, Is. 3d.,
200, 2s. 3d., 300, 3s., ; Pink, 3 and 3J in. wide, 100, Is. 6d.,
200, 2s. 9d., 300, 4s. ; Pale Green, 3 in. wide, same price
as Pink ; all post free. The alterations above are owing
to colours and widths being cleared for this season.
W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury.

GARNER'S

BEE HIVES & APPLIANCES.

Best in Quality. Moderate in Price.

HONEY and WAX EXTRACTORS, RIPENERS,

HONEY TINS, BOTTLES, &C.

Quantity of Surplus Stock to be clearer!,
cheap. State wants.

STEAM HIVE & APPLIANCE FACTORY,
Dyke, Bourne.

Sept. 26, 1901,] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

381

<& ditoral, UtotiteB, &i.

THE GROCERS' EXHIBITION.

HONEY SHOW AT THE AGRICULTURAL HALL.

The sixth annual Exhibition of the Grocery
and Allied Trades, following, as it did, closely
on the " Confectioners','' was a marked im-
provement on its predecessor. Not only were
the entries in every class appreciably larger,
but in some classes — notably that for light-
coloured extracted honey — we question if the
number of entries (68) has ever been exceeded
at any show in the kingdom ; and certainly in
all our experience we have never yet seen a
finer display of British honey, comb and
extracted, than is staged this week at Isling-
ton. Another improvement was keeping the
honey altogether. At the " Confectioners' ''
this could not be managed, owing to sufficient
space not being available in one place, and the
display suffered in consequence, but we now
have the whole honey section in the gallery,
and with plenty of room for viewing it. No
complaint could, therefore, be made in this
respect. • The trophy class was an exceed-
ingly good one, forming a " show '' in itself.
Nor could it be said that by debarring winners
at the '"' Confectioners' " from competing here
there was the slightest deterioration in the
trophies staged; and few competent judges
will say that those now under notice suffered
by comparison, good as were those staged at
the " Confectioners'.''

We cannot, of course, suppose that the
" rather strong shaking up of exhibitors," as
a correspondent puts it, on page 371, " had
any effect on the entries ; but there was
this time no case of "two exhibits for four
prizes," or " four entries for an equal number
of prizes." In no class were there less than
ten entries, while the two most important
classes — viz., sections and light extracted
honey— produced between them only one short
of a hundred entries.

We are, therefore, glad to chronicle a solid
success for the show, and it only remains for
" The Dairy " to " go one better," as the phrase
goes, on the 8th of next month, and that we
shall see a good show at the Crystal Palace
the same week, in order to render the London
honey shows of 1901 memorable as a sign that
bee-keeping is making progress.

Messrs. W. Broughton Carr, London, and
T. I. Weston judged the exhibits, and made
the following

AWARDS.

Honey Trophy, or Display of Honey
and Honey Products, staged in suitable
form for a tradesman's window (10
entries).— 1st — £4, with B.B.K.A. Silver
Medal and Diploma — A. Bayley, Woods-
ley, Stourbridge ; 2nd— £3, F. W. Woodley,

Camp Stores, Compton, Newbury ; 3rd — £2,
H. W. Seymour, Market-place, Henley-on-
Thames ; 4th— £1, C. H. Poulton, Aspenden,
Buntingford ; v.h.c, E. Bontoft, Caterham
Valley, Surrey, and G. W. Kirby, Longwell
Green, Bristol ; c, R. Holbourn, Tetbury,
Glos., and C. T. Overton, Crawley, Sussex.

Twelve l-lb. Sections (31 entries). — 1st —
£2, with B.B.K.A. Bronze Medal and Dip-
loma— F. W. Woodley, Camp Stores, Compton,
Newbury ; 2nd— £1 10s., A. Bayley ; 3rd—
.£1, Rev. E. R. Iremonger, Clatford Vicarage,
Andover ; 4th — 15s., R. Barber, Bourne End-
on-Thames ; 5th — 10s., H. H. Mann, Buckpool,
Buckie ; v.h.c., General Supply Stores, Wood-
bridge, Suffolk, J. Jones, Valley View,
Marlow ; P. Cruickshank, Station, Granton-
on-Spey; P. G. Govett, Tideford, St. Germans ;
Cornwall ; h.c, H. W. Seymour, F. C. Clark,
Warnfovd, Bishop's Waltham; W. Challis,
Boro' Green, Newmarket, J. Parkin, Appleby,
Westmoreland.

Tivelve l-lb. Sections of Heather Honey (12
entries). — 1st — £1 10s., J. M. Balmbra, East
Parade, Alnwick ; 2nd — £l, E. Middlemas,
Stamford, Alnwick ; 3rd, 15s., R. T. Tennant,
Thirk; 4th, 10s., W. G. Walton, Central Bridge,
Windermere ; v.h.c, H. Waddington, Kirby
Hall, Borobridge, Yorks ; h.c. M. Dale, W.
Hartlepool.

Three Shalloiv-Frames of Comb Honey for
Extracting (11 entries). — 1st — £1 10s., W.
Loveday, Harlow, Essex ; 2nd — £1, R. Gray,
Bromborough, Birkenhead; 3rd —15s, E.
Bontoft; 4th— 10.'., A. Bayley; h.c. Will
Hampton, Manor-road, Richmond ; F. W.
Woodley ; c, H. G. Little, Eastgate-row,
Chester.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Light-coloured Extracted
Honey (68 entries).— 1st— £2, with B.B.K.A.
Certificate and Diploma — Rev. E. R. Ire-
monger, Clatford Vicarage ; 2nd — £1 10s.,
F. W. Woodley ; 3rd— £1, H. Hunkin,
Green-street, Meath ; 4th— 15s., H. W. Sey-
mour ; 5th — 103., General Supply Stores;
v.h.c, J. V. Gower, Hook, Winchfield ; Lieut.
H. C. Hawker, Longparish, Hants. ; Mrs. M.
Francis, Thruxton, Andover ; C. D. Gardner,
Fordham Abbey, Cambs. ; h.c, H. M. Turner,
North Leigh, Oxon ; W. Thomas, Cardiff ;
J. Morgan, Upperboat, Pontypridd ; A. G.
Preen, Nesscliffe, Shrewsbury ; E. Oakes,
Broseley, Shropshire ; F. C. Clark, Bishop's
Waltham ; P. W. Worsfold, Stonebridge,
Guildford ; A. Scarsbrook, Kirtlington, Oxon.

Twelve l-lb. Jam Medium-coloured Ex-
tracted Honey (31 entries). — 1st — £1 10s.,
Freeman & Son, Wendover, Bucks. ; 2nd — £1,
H. W. Seymour; 3rd— 15s., J. Merrells,
Thetford, Norfolk ; 4th— 10s , F. R. Court,
Green-street, Sittingbourne ; 5th — 5s., H.
Rowell, Winchfield, Hants.; h.c, F. Old,
Piddington, Northants. ; G. Walker, Wend-
over, Bucks.

Tivelve l-lb. Jar-; Dark-coloured Extracted
H»ney (12 entries). — 1st — £1, Jno. Berry,

382

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 26, 1901.

Llanrwst, N. Wau«; 2nd— 15s., H. W. Sey-
mour ; 3rd— 10s., H. M. Turner ; 4th— 5s., J.
Merrells, Thetford, Norfolk; h.c., W. G.
Walton, Windermere.

Twelve 1-lb. Jeers Heather Honey (15 en-
tries).— 1st — ,£1 10a., J. Shaw, Sandsend,
Whitby ; 2nd— £1, W. G. Walton ; 3rd— 15s,
T. Hood, Pickering, Yorks ; 4th— 10s., G. H.
Horn, Bedale, Yorks ; h.c, H. Waddington,
and W. Sproston, Shugborough, Staffs.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Granulated Honey (10
entries). — 1st — £l 10s., W. Loveday; 2nd —
£1, F. W. Woodley ; 3rd— 15s., Lieut. H. C.
Hawker ; 4th — 10s., Rev. H. F. Goffe,
Thoresway, Oaistor ; h.c, H. W. Seymour.

Beeswax (not less than 3 lb.) put up in Cakes
suitable for retail counter trade (13 entries). —
1st— £1 5s., H. W. Seymour ; 2nd— £1, Hugh
Berry, Llanrwst, N. Wales ; 3rd — 15s., Hugh
Berry ; 4th — 10s., H. Attfield, Ascot, Berks.

Beeswax (not less than 3 lb.), judged, for
quality of wax only (23 entries). — 1st — £1, R.
Dutton, Terling, Witham, Essex ; 2nd — 15s.,
Jno. Berry ; 3rd — 10s„ W. Loveday ; 4th —
5s., F. W. Woodley ; v.h.c, H. W. Seymour ;
h.c, J. Nichols, Thetford, Norfolk ; J. Stubbs,
Rickerscote, near Stafford ; and J. Carver,
Wellington, Salop.

We reserve till next week a few observa-
tions and comments we desire to make with
regard to particular exhibits owing to our
space being fully occupied in this issue.

$>ttmtytmkML

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinion* expressed by correspondent!. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondent!
are requested to write on one lide of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but ai a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tion! should be drawn on separate piece! of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communication!.

*** In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents,
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

DISQUALIFIED EXHIBITS.

[4500.] It would further the interests and
good-fellowship of British bee-keeping if Mr.
A. Bayley, who writes in last issue of B.B.J.
(4492, page 375), and any who, like him, have
felt aggrieved at the disqualification of their
section exhibits, were for a few moments to
consider the matter from the point of view of
the individual who has to act as judge. On
being appointed he receives a schedule con-
taining rules and regulations for his guidance.
Should a rule be so ambiguously drawn up
that doubt exists in his mind as to its mean-
ing, he must conscientiously interpret it ac-
cording to the best of his understanding. Where
no doubt can exist, as in the case of the figures
that determine the dimensions of the face of the
comb, there is no choice before him. If he passes

over the smallest appreciable departure from
these dimensions he is acting unfairly, or, in
other words, dishonestly ; and if, again, from
lack of moral courage or other reason he strays
from the straight path, it will only land him
in greater difficulties. Those who have taken
the trouble to conform with the rule will have
a legitimate grievance, while if exhibitor A,
with T^ overlap, has been adjudged the prize,
B, whose overlap amounted to I, and whose
sections, in his own opinion, are not a whit
inferior, was only — worse offender than A,
and so on, no one will be satisfied. It comes
to this, then, that sections that fail co conform
with the rule in the slightest detail must be
disqualified, were they the best that bees have
ever yet produced, and the exhibitor should
take it smiling, like a good Briton, and be
wiser next time.

Why any one should wish to steer so close
to the margin limit is very difficult to under-
stand. One quarter inch of lace will cover
the wood and the rough edge of a well-filled
section ; h in. will not affect the decision of
any competent judge. If the exhibitor who
does his own lacing cannot trust his hand and
eye to hit off an accurate f in., let him aim at
the \ in. As to the trade, few dealers, if any,
now supply cases inaccurately laced ; if any
dealer transgresses the remedy is obvious. —
South Devon Enthusiast, Sejrtember 21.

HONEY SHOWS AND RAIL
CHARGES.

[4501.] Sending Exhibits at Owner's Risk. —
I am glad that at least a warning note has
been sounded in your journal respecting honey
shows and rail charges. It would be well if
bee-keepers in general knew a little more
clearly how honey may be sent to shows in
order to avoid falling into the snare of heavy
charges. Mr. Wm. Woodley is not the only
one who has suffered. The honey I sent to
the Surrey B.K.A. show at the Crystal Palace
cost me 2s. 8d. rail journey to the show, while
the cost of return was 4s. lid. ; my exhibits
sent to 'the Confectioners' Exhibition at the
Agricultural Hall 4s. 2d., return journey
9s. 3d. In the latter case you will notice that
more than double was charged on the return
journey. Was it the word " glass " printed
on red label which caused this glaring dif-
ference of charges ? I had some of these
labels printed and placed on crates before
sending them away. Our stationmaster
here (who keeps a few bees) knows that
I send at " sender's risk.'' And I have sent
many one-dozen bottle-crates this year at
sender's risk at the cheaper rate, though
having the warning " hint " as to contents for
the benefit of all concerned. And I am able
to say I have had no damage done by rail
either to sections or glass jars. I place a red
label bearing the words " with care " on
packages containing sections : and if such a

Sept. 26, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

383

label were placed on bottle-crate3 — or pack-
ages containing honey in glass jars — would
they then become not liable for heavier fee 1
I agree with the Eev. E. Charley that it
would be advisable for exhibitors of honey to
make it clear that they wished their exhibits
to be returned at " owner's risk." Perhaps if
this were done it would put an end to the
matter, even though the warning label " glass "
appeared on consignments.

Epilobium Angustifolium. — I have been
interested with what has been said lately in
the Bee Journal respecting this plant. I
believe that there is no plant which the bees
are more ready to visit than this giant willow
herb during the summer months. In my
estimation, after the Limnanthes Douglasii —
which is often so helpful to the bees in the
spring— there is no plant so useful to cultivate
in one's garden as this Epilobium, which con-
tinues flowering throughout the summer, and
even during the heaviest honey-flow the bees
will not forsake it. It likes a rather damp
soil, but will grow almost anywhere, increas-
ing by throwing out roots, so that it is well
to give it room enough. I have had it grow-
ing from 4 ft. to 6 ft. high this year. Many
have admired the white variety, which is
rarer than the pink, waving as an army of
banners, and lit up at eventide almost by its
own pure whiteness ; where the last of the bees
would linger after 8 p.m. before returning to
their well-earned rest. If any of your readers
would like to test the good qualities of this
plant, perhaps they will turn to your prepaid
advertisement column. — (Rev.) Marcus W. B.
Osmaston, Goodnestone, Dover.

THE GROCERS' EXHIBITION.

[4502.] In making some comments on the
honey section of this show, and bearing in
mind the editorial on page 371, I think our
Editor will be pleased to find the exhibits all
staged in one place, and that we had not to
wait till next year for what all interested in
the honey show wish, viz., the honey all staged
together. At this exhibition the honey forms
something more than a side show, and is quite
worthy to be described as the " honey section "
of the exhibition. I have no doubt that the
Directors will appreciate the greater efforts
made by bee-keepers on this second occasion
to show that the efforts of the management to
give prominence to honey, as an article of food
that should be obtainable at every grocer's
shop, are understood and highly approved by
the craft. In my opinion, we have on view
this week at the Agricultural Hall one of the
best exhibitions of honey and beeswax in
marketable form ever made in this country,
and I hope a photo will be taken and repro-
duced in the pages of our journal, showing
(as it would so well serve to do) a display
of produce from the " Homes of the Honey
Bee."

Personally, I share our Editor's regret that

it should be necessary to " rope off '' visitors
to the show from getting quite near to the
honey. But at the " Confectioners' '' Exhibi-
tion even the " roping off '' did not prevent
thieving, one offender having to be dealt with
at the police-court.

I regret that there should be the necessity
for more careful wording of the rules at these
exhibitions, but at present it seems possible
to evade the requirements of both the spirit
and the letter of the rule which says that one
person cannot take prizes at both these trades'
exhibitions. The means adopted to an end
by several well-known bee-keepers much sur-
prised me, and reminded me of the proceedings
in bankrupt'cy courts, where the person
under examination says, " This is my wife's,"
" These are my son's," and so on. Probably
the directors of the exhibition would withhold
prizes obtained by such means if the matter
were brought to their notice ; at any rate,
these practices set what I will for the moment
call the rank-and-file among bee-keepers a
bad example.

The want of consideration for Mr. Herrod,
who had sole charge of the unpacking and
staging of the exhibits, shown by exhibitors
was very noticeable, amounting in some
cases to the infliction of needless labour and
worry upon a very willing man. The rules
required that all honey should be delivered at
the Hall by noon on Friday, but the judging
could not be commenced till after noon on
Saturday— and still they came. I could not
help thinking that these exhibitors must have
heard Mr. Herrod say, " Let 'em all come,"
for the demands made by some exhibitors
upon his time were astounding — " notes "
enclosed with exhibits, such as " oblige by
putting my numbers on the various parts of
my exhibit," &c. In some cases much more
was asked as a favour, and, oddly enough, these
requests come chiefly from persons who, i
they have not the time themselves, are in a
position to pay some one else to properly
prepare exhibits, yet all this work is expected
to be done gratuitously.

Exhibitors should know that the simplest
form of packing is both the least troublesome
and the most efficient. A plain wood box with
2 in. or 3 in. of hay in the bottom, then place
the honey on a board on the hay and pack
round, is a simple and safe package. But
each glass jar of honey should be slipped into
a roll of corrugated paper, or better still are the
cardboard boxes now on sale for single jars.
The lid of a box may be lined with corrugated
paper, and if the lid is hinged on one side and
fastens on the other with a couple of screws, it
is both efficient and simple for the unpacker
to deal with. If those who send honey packed
in wadding and similar materials would only
think of the great trouble they are giving, if
the exhibit is to look at all well, they would at
once cease to use them. Some exhibits were
sent to the present exhibition with pillows
above them, and one or two I saw with bed quilts

384

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 26, 1901.

folded and placed under them, not, presumably,
in either case to keep the extremities warm,
but to soften any blows to which the box might
be subjected. — Wm. Loveday, Hatfield Heath,
Harlow, Essex.

VISITS OF BIEDS TO FLOWERS.

[4503.] E. Werth, in " S. B. Ges.-Naturf.
Freunde, Berlin, 1900," pages 73-77, discusses
the question whether the JVectariniece (honey
birds) of tropical Africa visit flowers for the
sake of honey or of the insects which feed on
honey, and concludes, from the structure both
of the birds and of the flowers, that the former
is generally the case, although the capture of
insects may also sometimes be the object ; but
the sucking organ is not so much the long
tongue, as has been stated, but the beak.

Professor F. Dahe has investigated the same
problem in the Bismarck Archipelago. He
finds there three species of Papageiea-, two of
Melipkagidea', and two of Nectariniew which
visit flowers. From an examination of the
contents of the stomach he determined con-
clusively that the Papageieo' (species of Ghar-
mosyna) are pollen eaters, while the Meli-
phagidea' and Nectarinieo' are entomophagous.

No evidence was found that the entomo-
phagous birds feed also on honey, and the
flowers which they were observed to visit had
no nectaries.

Werth, in reply, while admitting that an
examination of the contents of the stomach
must be conclusive ai to the nature of the
food, still maintains that the Nectariniece feed
on honey as well as insects, otherwise it would
be impossible to account for their sucking
apparatus.

The above has been gleaned from the
Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society
of London, and may prove of interest to some
of the readers of your paper. — R. Hamlyn-
Harris, F.R.M.S., F.E.S., &c, Dairy, Gallo-
way, IV. B., September 16.

SUBURBAN BEE-KEEPING.

BEES NEAR LONDON.

[4504.] My first commencement in bee-
keeping (in July, 1900) was due to purchasing
a copy of Mr. Cowan's " Guide Book,'' and
knowing that bees could gather enough honey
in the neighbourhood for their own support by
the fact of a stock living in a hollow tree close
by here for the past seven years. In this way,
then, and armed with my newly acquired
knowledge, I made a determined attempt to
get the bees out of the tree into an empty skep
placed over their entrance. With the aid of
a good smoker I gave them a good supply of
smoke under their nest through holes bored in
the trunk. You may guess the result : a
severe stinging of my hands through two pairs
of woollen gloves I wore at the time. I after-
wards made a second attempt with the same
re3ult, and then gave up the task as a
hopeless one, seeing that I could not obtain

permission to cut the tree down. Having,
however, made up my mind to possess a stock
of bees, I purchased one in a thirteen frame
hive ; all the frames of which they quite filled
with brood and honey, but did not get any
surplus last year. This spring I found the
bees were in a very forward condition, and,
wishing to increase my stock, I made an arti-
ficial swarm'(as directed in the " Guide Book "),
having previously made a " W.B.C." hive ready
for their reception. I am pleased to say my first
attempt in this direction was a great success,
for after making the swarm on May 12, on
August 8 I took off a rack of twenty-one
beautiful well-filled sections, for each of which
I obtained Is., and could have sold many more
had I been able to supply them.

The bees in the parent hive filled their
thirteen frames with stores, but yielded no
surplus.

When the present honey season had ended,
I removed three frames from the old hive and
closed up with dummy board, and I then
placed the removed frames in another
" W.B.C' hive of my own make, and next
purchased a driven lot of bees, hiving them in
the same, having previously taken a frame of
brood from another stock to make sure the
driven bees would not take unkindly to their
new home and make off. I also put an empty
frame of comb in middle of nest, and fed the
bees rapidly till the six combs were almost
full of food. I then packed the new stock up
for winter ; also doing the same for my other
two colonies, and making all as comfortable as I
could. I am looking forward to another sum-
mer in 1902 as good as this for bees, and wish
success to the B.B.J., of which I have been a
reader for the past two years. I trust this
little account of my doings may be of interest
to suburban readere, and with best wishes to
all readers. — G. H. J. Macdonald, Warwick
Gardens, Harringay, September 20.

{Correspondence continued on page 386.)

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

We again have the pleasure of illustrating
on opposite page the apiary of a reader who
is a stationmaster, and it affords an opportu-
tunity for drawing attention to the chance
afforded to all railway men similarly
situated of taking up a home-hobby that
will afford them pleasure as well as profit.
Messrs. Rymer, Appleyard, and Wright
make up a trio of bee-men of whom we may
all be proud as showing what can be done
with "the bees," and we shall welcome
among readers as many of their comrades as
decide to follow their example.
Of himself Mr. Wright says : —
" In giving a brief account of myself and
my bee doings, in answer to the request of the
Editor of our valuable little journal, I am
unlike a good many who have already appeared

Sept. 26, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

385

in print, my experiences only reaching over a
period of three years. Well do I remember
my start. I happened to see a man with a
veil on, and, like all folks who are ignorant of
bees, 1 had to ask ' why he wore it ' and
other elementary questions. This seemed to
give me a desire to keep bees, and when oppor-
tunity offered I invested in a stock in a ' Sand-
ringhani' hive. Knowing nothing about them,
and wishing to do so, I bought the "Bee-keepers'
Guide Book," and also the Bee Journal and
the B.K. Record, and have continued to
do so ever since ; but to me at that time it
was like a foreign language ; so in desperation
I wrote to the Association asking for assistance.
This was soon forthcoming in our Essex

been my experience to come across very few
who have demurred, their greatest trouble
being they are afraid the poor things will
starve, and they would know their end if the
bees were burnt, A little persuasion and a
small silver coin, however, soon does away
with these misgivings, and once more I
triumphantly ' bike ' home with my driven lots
of bees. I have to thank the Journal for dis-
posing of the majority of these stocks for me,
and trust I may be able to call upon it to come
to my rescue till the people are educated to
the folly of keeping their bees in skeps and to
the utility of the frame-hive from both a com-
mercial and pleasurable view. I am the local
adviser for our district here and also hold an

MR. C. MORRIS 8 APTARY, STANFORD-LE-HOPE STATION, ESSEX.

B.K. A. expert, who showed me the inside of
a hive, and explained what the combs were
for, and other (to me then) very valuable bits
of information. From that time I fairly
caught the complaint we call ' bee-fever,' and
continue to be in the same state up to to-day.
In fact, nothing gives me more delight than
spending half an hour with my bees,
watching them take the pollen in, or
perhaps water or honey, all according to the
season and the necessaries required by the
little inmates. I have pleasure in saying
that I have saved many a stock from the
' sulphur-pit.' The cruel plan of sulphuring
once explained to the ekeppist, they readily
allow the bees to be ' driven ; ' at least, it has

agency for a prominent bee-appliance firm, so
find myself very much taken up with the bees
in all ways. I should like to do more, but my
profession as stationmaster will not allow me
to wander away much. I may add that I took
seven first prizes last year for run and section
honey, two being against all comers in
eighteen parishes. This, of course, I was
greatly pleased at. Our district here, I am
sorry to say, is not of the best, nothing coming
in till the clover and sainfoin, after which it is
best to close, and let the bees gather from
what they can find and put it to their own
uses. I have found, and decidedly agree, that
bees allowed to keep their own stores are much
more favourable from every point of view, it

386

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 26, 1901.

being my opinion they come out stronger in
the spring, and are more ready to form them-
selves into a strong colony than those arti-
ficially fed, although no doubt this latter
query is greatly governed by the age and
vitality of the queen. At present I have
only tried the English black bee, but on
the recommendation of our esteemed and
hard-working expert, Mr. Withycombe, I
intend to try a Carniolan and to re-queen all
my stocks from her progeny. I may say that
I cannot give any record take, my biggest last
year being 40 lb. and this year 56 lb., the
ordinary takes being much lower. This was
not at all to my liking, but when going
through the district I found some bee-keepers
with none, and even some stocks on starvation
rations, I was obliged to agree we had had
another bad year in this district. The prices
of honey here are very good, sections fetching
Is. each, and run between that figure and lOd.
This, I think, is very satisfactory, and I am
pleased to say T find every one determined to
keep the figure up.

" In conclusion, I must join the majority of
successful bee-keepers in acknowledging that
without the aid of our valuable little Journal
my success would undoubtedly have been a
failure, and must record my sincere thanks to
our esteemed and courteous Editor for being
in a position to say that bees properly
managed do pay, and pay well.''

CORRESPONDENCE.

(Continued from page 384.)

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

[4505.J Summing up Results. — I think no
one will dispute the assertion that for clover
honey this has been the best season since
Jubilee year. The year 1893 comes next to it,
perhaps, but it was partly marred by a
mixture of honey-dew, while this year this
bete noir has been conspicuous by its absence.
Pure clover-honey is the finest sample I have
ever seen, and the finish of the sections (even
though they are 4 J in. by 2 in.) is simply
perfect. That is high praise, but I use the
words advisedly. The heather-honey harvest,
though good as a whole, did not fully realise
expectations owing to several causes, the chief
being the weather. On August 10 we had a
very general thunderstorm, accompanied by
heavy rain, which, though it did not destroy
the flower, prevented the anticipated rich
bloom being fully developed, while it, at least,
tarnished the earlier blossom on which the
bees were doing glorious work. Then, on the
26th, floods came and prematurely washed out
all the bloom left. That date, locally, at least,
was the end of the heather harvest. Another
cause why less pure heather-honey was ob-
tained than we expected was the early date at
which it began to bloom. This was about the
middle of July, when clover covered our fields

with a rich and abundant mantle of white,
and the bees for a considerable time wrought
on both clover and heather. Though the pro-
duct is not pure heather, it has given us a
delicious blend of both produots, which I con-
sider one of the finest I have ever tasted. I
expect a ready sale for it when its excellence
becomes recognised.

Prices Current. — I deal separately with
selling honey, and here confine myself to one
point which is of primary importance to a very
large number of bee-keepers in Scotland,
Wales, and the North of England — viz., the
comparative merits of heather and clover
honey — judging merit by its price in the
market. The price of clover has all along
ruled low, and it seems now to be a drug in
the market. Heather has sold well and at a
good price. I could have sold all my heather
produce in one lot at Is. per section to more
than one firm in both Edinburgh and Glasgow,
but mostly failed to get an offer for clover, as
they were heavily overstocked, and declined
to purchase at any price. The best offer for
very fine clover sections was 6d. Now I
would again urge on heather men to work for
the crop which pays ; and, as the " slack "
season has set in, the time seems opportune
for initiating a discussion in the Journal on
how we can best attain the desired end.
Personally, a limited trial of the Rymer
method did not prove a great success in my
hands, and bees this year rather ran ahead of
me in striving to work out my own plan, thus
giving me more clover and fewer heather
sections than I desired.

Swarms Losing Weight in Transit — This
subject demands some " reading up." The
consigner folds his hands in quiet content
when he has assured the consignee that the
swarm weighed, say, 5 lb. when despatched,
though on arrival they turn the scale at little,
if any, over 4 lb. Right here a little difficulty
obtrudes itself, and my mind is far from clear
as to either the force or justice of the pro-
ducer's contention. I grant that loss of
weight is inevitable, but why should the seller
gain all the profit and share in none of the
loss ? When the subject is examined deeper,
the unfairness becomes even greater and more
marked. The buyer pays for 5 lb. of bees at
3s. 6d. per lb. ; value when dispatched,
17s. 6d. The purchaser receives 4 lb. bees,
value 14s>. Now to the sender the loss would
be only the value of a pound of honey, or
about 6d. If this is so, should not disposers
of swarms give just a little more than 5 lb.,
seeing it would only mean to them the loss of
a little cheap honey, and so enable us to
obtain nearly the weight of bees paid for ?
This is not a personal matter with me, as I
have never had other than fair treatment, but
I know there is a lot of grumbling over the
matter, and often with just cause. The loss
of a swarm in transit, from whatever cause,
should be borne by the consigner. It is rather
hard lines undoubtedly when it may arise

Sept. 26, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

387

from no fault of his, but undoubtedly the
point should never be questioned.

Do Bees Pay ? — My twelve supered stocks
gave me an average of all but 100 sections,
yielding 186, 141, 132, 115, 107, 101, 78, 66,
64, 59, 51, 45, or just over half a ton of honey.
I began the season with fourteen, but the
others were not wrought for sections. I now
enter into winter quarters with twenty stocks.
In addition to these I visited some fifty
colonies during the season, several of which
gave a surplus of over 100 lb., but in most of
these severe swarming hindered a heavy yield.

My English Sivarm. — As the 115 sections
recorded above are its surplus, it will be seen
that it has again come well to the front. It
was got on June 7, and hived on six frames.
At the time the weather was wintry for a
week, so it got 9 lb. of sugar, receiving 1 lb. a
day till the 15th. On the 22nd a seventh
frame was added, on the 27th another, and on
July 1 the ninth. This formed the brood
body. As it was excessively hot, some bees
were observed outside dummy on July 2, so a
rack of twenty-one sections was given ; another
was added as a cooler on the 5th, and yet
another on the 10th. On the 12th, bees
occupied all three. A fourth rack was given
on 18th. Two were taken off on 23rd, and
another (the fifth) put on ; while the sixth and
last was added on 27th. August 1 saw the
third off, the other three remaining until 24th,
when they were taken off, yielding 21, 21, and
10 sections.

Perhaps the following table will make
matters clearer : —

Rack, 21 Sections,

Date taken

No. of

on

off.

Sections

1 ... July

2

.. 1 ... July 23

... 21

2 ... „

5

.. 2 ... „ 23

... 21

3 ... „

10

.. 3 ... Aug. 1

... 21

4 ... „

18

.. 4 ... „ 24

... 21

5 ... „

23

.. 5 ... ,. 24

... 21

6 ... „

27

.- 6 ... „ 24

... 10

Total sections
od, 126.

Total completed

.. 115

A Bee Puzzle ? — Why does a bee continue
for hours until quite exhausted beating its
head against a pane of glass when, after the
first few knocks, it should discover that there
is no thoroughfare ? The point is accentuated
by the fact that both to left and right means
of exit are available. Our sexton, at certain
seasons of the year, collects several hundreds
of our church bees near a certain window of
the sacred edifice, which have thus done
themselves to death in attempting the im-
possible. In some experiments I have lately
been making the bees again and again died of
sheer exhaustion from the insensate efforts
made, when they could have obtained egress
freely by moving to either side. A very
small hole at the top of the window was,
however, discovered by a considerable per-
centage of the bees. As will be seen by the

following, the subject has engrossed the atten-
tion of a poet (?) : —

The bee, who's supposed to be busy,
Has bumped his poor head till he's dizzy,
Just trying to pass
Through a clear pane of glass.
He may be a model of virtue (alas !),
But he's not very clever, now, is he ?

Sir John Lubbock would say: "No; an
ant, or even a fly, would show greater wisdom
by making, not for the light, but for the exit.''
Another savant will help me to a reply : "Good
fortune often waits on the simple, who find
salvation where the wiser will perish." —
D. M. M., Banff.

REVIEWS OF FOREIGN BEE PAPERS.

BT R. HAMLTN-HARRIS, F.R.fcf.S.,
F.Z.S., F.E.S, ETC.

Practiseher Wegweiser fur Bienensucht
(Germany). — A few weeks ago a bee-keeper
and honey dealer was summoned to appear at
Vienna on the charge of selling adulterated
honey to which 40 per cent, of syrup had been
added. He was sentenced to a £10 fine.

From the same paper we learn that a charge
of bee-stealing came before the court at New
Ruppin in February last. The accused was a
workman, who had stolen a hive of bees from
his employer and destroyed another hive. As
he could not succeed in sulphuring the bees
he threw the hive into some water ; the bees
were killed and the honey lost. The loss was
estimated at 50 marks (£2 10s.). Although
the thief pleaded not guilty, the Court
sentenced him to eighteen months' imprison-
ment.

Bees in a Statue. — In Newbitschein, in
Westphalia, on the top of a tall building, is a
statue (over Ufe size) of stone. The " saint ''
had an imperceptible hole in the arm-pit
through which, four years ago, a swarm of
bees passed and took up their abode in the
statue. Every effort has been made to dis
lodge the bees, which must have an extra-
ordinary quantity of honey, but without
success. To gain possession of the swarm it
would be necessary to break up the statue.

B. Gentralblatt (Germany). The Bee's
Tongue. — There seems that little confidence
can be placed in the information as to the
increasing length of tongue in bees of any
kind. Their conformation i3 invariable, beyond
that of any other insect. In no other class do
the fossil insects bear such close resemblance
to those now existing ; and not only in form
but in habits and ways of life, their doings,
customs, and working powerB no difference
can be observed. All efforts to raise a larger
race of bees have failed. Therefore, all
attempts to produce a larger, longer tongued,
or stingless race of bees must be put away
into the land of dreams. Still a careful
choice within given bounds is greatly to be
advised.

388

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 26, 1901.

Remedy for Bee-Stings. — Arnica tincture is
an excellent remedy against the poison of bee-
stings. If applied at the moment it soothes
the smarting pain and prevents any swelling
of the parts. No other remedy can compare
with this. Try it, and you will be convinced.

Leipziger Bienenzeitung (Germany). — A
proposition has been made to use honey
instead of sugar in the manufacture of pre-
serves and confectionery. During great heat
honey-water stills the thirst. Soda water with
honey forms a very refreshing lemonade. Half
Bordeaux or Rhenish wine and half water,
with an addition of honey to taste, is a draught
not to be despised.

Die Deutsche Bienenzucht {Bulletin Mensuel).
Falling-of of Bee-keeping in France. — Accord-
ing to a bulletin of the Minister for Agricul-
ture, there, were in France in the year 1862
24,265,578 hives, of the value of 24,203,014
francs yearly. There has been a decrease of
839,863 hives, and a yearly loss of 8,958,194
francs, in honey and wax. The chief reason
of this is said to be the want of properly
organised apicultural teaching, lectures, and
travelling experts.

L' Apiculteur (France). — As to the propor-
tion of honey consumed to the wax produced,
Sylviac gives as his opinion that it varies from
one to twenty or thirty. The depositions of
wax depends on three principal cause?,
warmth, nourishment and activity. When
these factors are all favourable — -which is an
unusually fortunate condition, only about one
gramme of honey is necessary for a gramme of
wax. If the conditions are somewhat less
desirable, then two or three grammes of honey
are needful. The more unfavourable these
factors, the more honey is required in propor-
tion to the wax up to thirty grammes to one
of wax. After this no deposition of wax
appears to take place.

(fto^ ani mpltyj.

[2723.] A Bundle of Queries. — In thanking
you for replies to my queries last week (2719,
page 368), let me say I was certainly not
aware the comb sent you was affected with
foul brood. The bees of the hive from which
it was taken died out of it last winter. I
burned the hive and frames when I received
your reply. I now enclose you a bit of comb
from a hive that this season gave me between
eighty and ninety sections of saleable honey.
1. Will you please tell me if this is affected
with foul brood ? 2. Spacing Frames in
Winter. — What is the object of spacing the
frames in hives If in. apart during the winter
months ? 3. Using "ekes " in Winter.— What
advantage is gained by using the 3-inch " eke "
sentout with the "W.B.C' hive during winter?
and is it only intended to be used then ? 4.
Contracting Hives in Winter. — My hives are

all " W.B.C. ," with one exception, and I find
they only hold ten frames without division-
boards. Is this correct ? I presume you
intend those to winter on about eight frames
and division-boards, and in the summer work
ten frames without division-boards ? 5. About
how often should the naphthaline balls be re-
newed in the hives, as, of course, it would be
unwise to disturb the bees by taking out or
moving frames to see if the balls have evapo-
rated ? I have just given all hives two balls
split in halves each as directed. Is this right ?
6. Syrup Making. — I made some syrup
according to directions in i: Guide Book," and
as the bees do not seem inclined to take it, I
send you a small sample of it, and would feel
greatly obliged if you would say if there is any-
thing wrong with it. I have just overhauled the
hives, and some of them require food to have
enough stored for winter. Perhaps you would
tell me how to make it palatable, as it is a
10 -lb. lot made from loaf sugar. Hope I am
not too troublesome, but I cinnot get on
without your advice. — F. J., Mount mellick,
Ireland, September 17.

Reply. — 1. No trace of brood in comb,
foul or otherwise ; only fresh-gathered pollen.
Surely you should know this from " Guide
Book?" 2. To allow of more bees in each
seam and so add to the warmth. 3. Space
below frames in winter is advantageous in
many ways, but mainly because of allowing
plenty of air and allowing room for dead bees
without blocking entrance. 4. The " W.B.C."
hive should have room for eleven frames, or
ten and a dummy. Contracting in winter is
a moot point among bee-keeper3. 5. Renew
only when required. 6. Syrup will be all
right if boiled for two or time minutes to
thicken it.

[2724.] Making the " W. B. C." Hive.— I
hope during the coming winter months to
make a few " W. B. C." hives, and I am
anxious to have them " up to date," so I
therefore ask : — 1. Do you prefer the plain
" W. B. C." hives, or would you use a non-
swarming chamber ? 2. If the latter, would
you use the entrance at the bottom of same,
or between non-swarming chamber and brood-
box ? Or, 3. Would you prefer to work the
hives on Mr. Rymer's plan, allowing a shallow-
box for brood and the ordinary ten standard
frame box ? My bees are mostly Carniolan
hybrids, and I wish to prevent swarming in
the future. Your reply will be esteemed.

The season has been a very good one here,
the honey being finer in quality than any I
have ever had. Strong stocks have yielded
from 70 to 80 lb. of surplus each, and swarms
were general during June and July. I re-
turned most of the swarms, having made two
nuclei from brood-nest. Some of these will be
strong enough to stand the winter, having now
been put into Wells' hives. I find the Car-
niolans and hybrids much quieter to handle
in the autumn than natives. I hope to winter

Sept. 26, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

389

forty stocks. — H. Swift, Cheltenham, Sep-
lember 21.

Reply. — 1. This is wholly a question for
the user. Personally we can prevent swarm-
ing without any non-swarming appliance.
2 We should have the entrance at bottom, so
as to accustom the bees to the lower box.
3. Mr. Ryrner's plan is devised to meet his
own special needs, and should be considered
as such ; it is not suitable to ordinary
localities. Carniolans are inveterate swarmers,
and so we think the non-swarming chamber is
specially adapted for them.

[2725.] Transferring Bees from Sleeps to
Frame-Hives. — Seeing that you give all Kinds
of advice and hints to bee-keepers, I beg to be
allowed to trespass upon your good will with
the following questions : — 1. What is the best
method of doing away with straw skeps ? 2.
Can they be got into a frame-hive by having
a queen-excluder placed over the brood-box,
and then placing the skep over that 1 or (3)
place the skeps into the outer box of a frame-
hive during the winter, and when they have
been confined to the skep for some time, then
proceed as in query 2 ? 4. Could you give
dimensions for a good bee-house to take, say,
from sixteen to twenty swarms, or would you
advise smaller ones t — Ottman Pfleiderer,
Wellington, Salop, September 8.

Reply. — 1. Allowing the bees to transfer
themselves from skeps to frame-hives i3 by far
the best method we know of. 2 and 3. Follow
directions given in "Guide Book," and you
will not go wrong. Do nottry any " improved "
plans of your own. 4. For lid. in stamps
to this office we will forward a copy of B.B.J.
containing a description of a bee-house. We
have not room in this column to give such
lengthy pxrticulars as you require. As to size
of house, it all depends on the bee-keeper's
needs.

[2726] Qua it* ('taxing to Lay in Autumn.
— i am quite an amateur in bee-keeping, and
in examining the frames in brood-chamber I
find there are eleven frames well covered with
bees and plenty of honey and pollen, but not a
sign of either brood or queen. The bees were
a swarm I caught last year. I then made
hive according to instructions in "Guide
Book " and drove bees into it. At commence-
ment of spring, 1901, there were only bee3 on
five frames, but they soon filled six more, and
then I put on super of eleven shallow frames,
from which we extracted 33 lbs. of honey. I
was satisfied with this as I had so few bees'to
begin with. I should like to ask you if it is
natural when bees are so crowded and have
not swarmed for queen to cease laying until
spring comes again. I may have overlooked
queen at my last examination, but have seen
her before when overhauling combs. If she
is now dead or in some way lo3t, what should
you advise me to do ? I have taken the Bee
Journal in now for twelve months, and have
to thank that useful little paper for what I

know about bees. — C. Barrett, Selly Oalc,
J Birmingham, Septemher 22.

Reply. — There is nothing very unusual in
queens ceasing to lay when the honey season
is over, especially if they have produced a
large population of bees in the current year.
But make certain the queen is there before
packing down for winter. If the stock is
queenless, re-queen without delay.

[2727.] Wintering Bees in Observatory
Hives. — Many thanks for your answers to
my last questions. I would be much obliged
if you would let me know how many frames
(of bees, &c) are usually considered necessary
for the successful keeping of an observatory
hive indoors through all seasons, so that it
could also be used for supplying queens now
and then. I suppose a one-frame hive would
be too small, although it could be studied best
of all. I could, of course, give syrup when
required. — A. Robertson, Benview, Dumbar-
ton, Septemher 19.

Reply. — It is next to impossible to winter
bees in observatory hives of the ordinary type
— ie., those in which the combs are visible on
both sides at all times. They can only be
wintered in hives having glass sides, with the
frames hanging as in an ordinary brood-
chamber.

[2728 ] Starting Bee-keeping. — This is my
first season as a bee-keeper, i can only say
that it is not only a profitable occupation — my
returns being quite equal to the original out-
lay— but a useful recreation and a fascinating
study into the bargain. If " to labour is to
pray" be true — few will doubt it— how
ennobling is the example set before us so per-
sistently by the bees. The " Guide Book '' is,
of course, my constant study, but there are a
few questions I should be mo3t thankful to
have answered in the B.J., for on these points
the " Guide Book " is, I believe, silent : —
1. Will you please differentiate between
sealed pollen and sealed brood ? 2. It is
advised to allow the bees 2 superficial feet of
honey for wintering. Am I correct in think-
ing that each side of a frame having sealed
honey counts? 3. If more than sufficient
honey be present, what should be done with
it — extracted or left for stimulating in the
spring ? 4. As, unfortunately, my hive has
the frames running parallel to the entrance,
should I crowd the bees together for the
winter by using a dummy, and thus place
them nearer to the entrance of the hive 1
5. How wide should entrances be left during
the winter ? I trust I am not trespassing too
much on the space in your useful journal. —
Beta, Curd iff', September 22.

Reply. — 1. Pollen i3 never "sealed" by
bees only when the cell is filled up with
honey placed there by the bees to keep it soft
and fit for me. For the re3t, examine for
yourself, and once seen it will be always easy
to tell sealed honey from sealed brood at sight,
but not easy to describe it in words. 2. Yes'

390

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 26, 1901.

3. Leave too much rather than too little. That
is the safest guide ; and many of our best bee-
men rarely take honey from brood-chambers.

4. Yes. 5. See " Guide Book.''

.] Making Syrup for Bee Food. —
May I trouble you for opinion by post of en-
closed syrup 1 I have made it exactly as
advised in " Guide Book" (excepting salt) for
autumn feeding, but it seems to me so very
watery, that I fear my grocer has not supplied
me with cane sugar, and therefore hesitate to
feed the bees with it.— F. H. B., Ste«hford,
September 21.

Reply. — The sugar-syrup sent is too thin
and watery for good winter bee-food ; but it
only needs boiliog a couple of minutes to
make it all right. Why did you omit the
salt as advised in " Guide Book '' 1 Our corres-
pondent may rest assured that Mr. Cowan
does not advise the use of salt in bee syrup
without some good reason.

%tt Stoics t* &amt

September 21 to 28, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with the
fifth Annual Exhibition of the Grocery and Kindred
Trades.

September 28, at Jedburgh.- Roxburghshire
B.K.A. Annual Autumn Show of Bees, Hives, Honey,
<fcc. Twenty-three classes (including eight open
classes) for Bees and Bee Produce. Schedules from
Thos. Clark, Pleasants, Jedburgh, N.B. Entries
closed.

October 5 at the Y.M.C.A. Hall, New-
castle-on-Tyne. — Northumberland and Durham
B.K.A. Third annual show of Bees, Honey, and Bee-
produce. Twelve classes. Entry fee, Is. Schedules
from Jas. Waddell, Wooler, Northumberland. Entries
close October 5.

October 8 to 11, at the Agricultural Hall,
London.— Show of Honey and Bee-produce in con-
nection with the British Dairy Farmers' Association.
Numerous and liberal prizes for honey, &c— Schedules
from Mr. Win. C. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-square,
London, W. Entries closed.

October 10, 1', and 12, at Crystal Palace.—
Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, and Appliances. Increased prizes and medals.
Schedules from Hon. Secretary, Henry W. Brice, 100,
Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath. Entries close
September 30.

October 24 and 25, at Kilmarnock— Honey
Show in connection with the Ayrshire Agricul-
tural Association. Eleven classes for honey, with
liberal money prizes. Schedules from John Howie,
Secretary, 58, Alloway-street, Ayr. Entries close
October 11.

November 14. at Town Hall, Ludlow— Honey
Show in connection with Exhibition of Chrysanthemum
and Fruit Society. Two open classes for hives.
Schedules from J. Palmer, Bon. Secretary, 17, Brand-
lane, Ludlow. Entries close November 5.

PRESS CUTTINGS.

WASP HUNTING.

I think " the wasp hunting extraordinary "
you mention in Essex is far from being a
record, as on three nights two of us destroyed
and dug out no less than twenty-eight nests,
making, with four destroyed on other nights,
a total of thirty-two nests.

These were all within a radius of five
minutes' walk of the gardens. They have
been quite a pest, and have done a lot of
injury to the fruit. W. Mabbott.

The Gardens, Doddington Hall,

Lincoln. — Daily Mail.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers

All qv.erictforwo.rded will be attended to, and those only
of personal inter eit will be answered in this column.

An Exhibitor (Durham). — Misdoings at
Shows. — We have had several communica-
tions similar in import to your own, but
it is quite useless to attach any value
whatever to the " talk '' that goes on
among exhibitors after the judging is over.
The unfortudate thing (for the judges) is
that nearly every exhibitor thinks he should
have had a prize, and as this cannot be, it
should be admitted that judges fulfil their —
none too pleasant — duty by endeavouring to
do justice to all without fear or favour. As
for favouring " old hands '' to the disadvan-
tage of " beginners," it is a groundless slander
to suggest anything of the kind, by whoever
made.

Suspected Combs.

Special Notice to correspondents sending queries on
"Foul brood."

We urgently request that all letters sent tvith samples
of suspected comb be put outside the box or tin containing
the sample. Also that no more than a couple of square
inches of comb be sent, taking care to neither crush the
comb nor probe the cells before despatching.

In urgent cases (and where possible) we undertake to
" wire " replies as to F. B. if six stamps are sent to cover
cost of telegram. All letters to be addressed " Editor,
Bee Journal," "not Manager."

J. C. W. (Windermere). — There is nothing
worse in comb sent than pollen and honey
— or syrup — not a trace of brood, foul or
otherwise.

W. B. (Lancaster). — 1. Comb sent is affected
with foul brood. It is truly disheartening
for a beginner to be thus troubled at the
outset by purchasing a diseased stock, but
there is no help for it but having a gua-
rantee from sellers. 2. Drone-brood is
about useless in diagnosing a case of foul
brood. Worker-brood only should be sent.

J. Hall (Aberdeen) and Constant Reader
(Burry Port). — Comb sent is effected with
foul brood. In last-named case the disease
is only in the incipient stage — i.e., only just
breaking out — and may be stopped by the
use of preventives.

*** Some queries — accompanied by stamped
envelopes — still unreplied to will, where
possible, be answered by post ; but we have
been much pressed of late with overwork
connected with the bee-industry outside
editorial duties, and hope to have some
indulgence from readers in consequence.

Oct. 3, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

391

(Mtorral, Jtoticea, &i.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

The monthly meeting of the Council was
held at 105, Jermyn-street, on Thursday,
September 19, Mr. F. B. White occupying the
chair. There were also present Major Fair,
Messrs. W. Broughton Carr, W. H. Harris,
J. M. Hooker, J. H. New, W. F. Reid, E. D.
Till, and the secretary. Apologies for inability
to attend were received from Miss Gayton, the
Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligb, Messrs. H. Jonas,
E. Walker, and T. I. Weston.

The minutes of the previous meeting were
read and confirmed.

Mrs. Mary Bell, Netherhall, Foots Cray,
Kent, was formally elected to membership.

Mr. J. H. New presented the report of the
Finance Committee, together with a number
of accounts recommended for payment. The
report was approved.

The monthly statement of work by the
-Society's Expert was laid before the Council.

A proposal by Mr. W. H. Harris to place
the three grades of experts on different foot-
ings and with greater distinctions than those
now in force, was, after discussion, adjourned
for further consideration at a future meeting.

It being understood that Mr. J. M. Hooker,
one of the oldest members of the Council, is
soon to take up permanent residence in
America, on the motion of Mr. W. H. Harris,
seconded by Mr. W. Broughton Carr, a vote
was unanimously passed recording the esteem
in which Mr. Hooker has been held by his
colleagues, and expressing the thanks of the
members for his past good work on behalf of
the Association, and best wishes for his future
health and happiness.

The Secretary placed before the Council a
statement in regard to the result of the appeal
for names and addresses of bee-keepers re-
siding in districts where there are at present
no organisations in affiliation with the parent
Association.

Acting on the advice of Examiners of
Candidates for 3rd Class Expert Certificates
it was resolved to grant " passes " to the
following, viz. : — Misses Aukland, S. L.
Bond, M. E. Bott, C M. Carlyon, M. Clough,
H. Draper, Y. Forster, M. Macara, M. Mackay,
K. Morrell, E. F. Noel, F. W. Peache, Ella
Read, K. B. Schattner, Dorothy Shove, M. M.
Smith, E. F. Squier, B. D. Thomson, Elsie
Varley, and C. M. Wall:- e ; Messrs. J.
Bollington, C. H. Buck, W. T. Cadness, F. E.
Cory, E. J. Dunn, S. Duro3e, J. Gibson,
W. H. Higley, W. J. Houlden, W. J. Ireland,
L. L. Jacobs, R. G. King, W. J. Lawrance,
T. Ormesher, J. Pearman, A. H. Prichard,
A. W. Salmon, W. 0. Scoggins, W. E.
Smith, W. Snowden and J. Woodward.

The next meeting of the Council was fixed
for Thursday, October 10, to be followed by a
conversazione of members.

THE GROCERS' EXHIBITION.

(Report concluded from page 382.)

In concluding our report on the above very
satisfactory show, we may again say how
marked was the improvement made in the
honey section compared with the display at
the Confectioners' Exhibition a week earlier.
Not only was the honey all in one place, but
cards denoting ownership of all exhibits
noticed by the judges were placed in front of
each, while coloured cards denoted the prize
lots, as is done at the " Royal " and other
important shows.

If exhibitors themselves will only show the
same anxiety with regard to " staging " accord-
ing to the schedule as do the directors of
these shows, there will be no friction between
any of the parties actively concerned in carry-
ing out the work, and all-round good will
follow. Why should there be any overlacing
of sections or such other infringements of the
schedule as cause disqualification 1 Speaking
personally — and as one of the "hardest
worked '' judges of the day — disqualifying is a
hateful task whenever it has to be done, but
when all must admit that the exhibitor alone
is to blame it becomes doubly annoying. Nor
is this bad or careless habit confined to over-
lacing sections and exceeding measurements of
trophy space ; it extends to grading extracted
honey in the different classes for " light,"
" medium," and " dark " coloured honeys.
Some almost farcical "misses" were made here
at the Grocers' Show. Again, the weight in
class for beeswax, not less than 3 lb. was to
be staged, yet the best sample lot only
weighed about 2J? lb., and consequently missed
the 1st prize. Again, with " wax in cakes for
retail trade," some 1-oz. cakes were half as
heavy again as others. What folly it is to
overlook common business tact, and how un-
likely to be a winner if judges do their duty !

Luckily for all, the directors of these exhibi-
tions have a clause in their " rules " which
enables them to allow judges some discretion
in these matters, so that where " equity "
demands some allowance for a non-intentional
infringement unjustified "grumbling " is mini-
mised as much as possible.

HONEY SHOW AT ALTRINCHAM.

There was a splendid show of honey at the
always popular annual show of the Altrincham
Agricultural Society on Thursday, September
26. A glorious September day brought a
great gathering of people, who had an oppor-
tunity of seeing what fine honey the county of
Cheshire can produce in a good season. Good
as it was, however, the display would have
been much more attractive had the honey been
arranged on proper staging, instead of on flat
tables, and it is to be hoped the society will
see their way another year to provide for this.
Comb honey, always a weak class in Cheshire,
provided eleven entries in the open class,

392

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 3, 1901.

and five in that confined to cottagers. In both
classes, i.e., sections and jars, some sainfoin
honey was staged, and as these were confined
to Cheshire, this was much remarked on, as
sainfoin honey is not at all common in
Cheshire.

The open class for extracted honey was very
strong, and out of the twenty-seven lots staged
there was not a single bad sample, a splendid
example of clover honey of great density and
fine flavour taking first prize. The trophy
and hive classes were both poor, and is to be
hoped this will be improved on another year.

The wax was particularly good, and the first
prize went to a beautiful specimen of wax
carefully prepared.

The Cheshire B.K.A. gave two silver and
two bronze medals for the two best exhibits in
the open classes for comb and extracted honey.

Mr. Thomas D. Schofield, Alderley Edge,
acted as judge, and made the following
awards : —

Complete Frame- Hive. — 1st, W. Cartwright,
Moors ; 2nd and 3rd, W. Garner & Son,
Altrincham.

Twelve l-lb. Sections.— 1st, W. Ratcliffe,
Barthomley, Crewe ; 2nd, A. Houlden, Knuts-
ford ; 3rd, Rev. T. J. Evans, Chester.

Tivelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
A. Limestead, Ince ; 2nd, Stephen Eaton,
Audlem ; 3rd, F. Hewitt, Tarporley.

Beeswax (not less than 1 lb.). — 1st, W.
Ratcliffe ; 2nd, Rev. E. Charley, Chester ; 3rd,
Wm. Cartwright.

Six l-lb. Sections (cottagers only). — 1st,
R. Dodd, Tarporley ; 2nd, W. Ratcliffe, Bar-
thomley, Crewe ; 3rd, Jno. Houlden, Tabley.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (cottagers
only). — 1st, A. Limestead, Ince ; 2nd, S. Eaton,
Audlem ; 3rd, Wm. Astbury, .Kelsall.

Display of Honey in any form. — 1st, Wm.
Garner & Son. — (Communicated.)

HEREFORDSHIRE B.K.A.

ANNUAL HONEY FAIR.

Under the auspices of the Herefordshire
Bee-keepers' Association, which claims Sir
James Rankin, Bart., M.P., as its president,
the seventeenth annual honey fair was held in
the Butter Market, Hereford, on Wednesday,
and attracted a good deal of attention. The
show was regarded as the best held for some
years past, the entries being very numerou?,
and the quality of the honey excellent. Mr.
James G. Godwin, of Mayfields, Withington,
acted as hon. secretary. Trade was fairly good,
run honey realising from Sd. to lOd. per lb.,
and honey in sections 8d. per lb.

Mr. J. Palmer, Ludlow, officiated as judge,
and made the following awards : —

OrEN ONLY TO MEMBERS OF THE H.B K'.A.

Exhibit of Comb and Extracted Honey, not
exceeding 100 lb.— 1st, M. Meadham, Hunt-
ington (disqualified, exhibitor being paid ex-
pert to the Association) ; 2nd, Thomas Mead-

ham ; 3rd, J. H. Wootton, Byford ; h.c , C.
Edwards, Kingston, andR. Pearce, Stoke Prior.

Exhibit of I 'omb and Extracted Honey, not
exceeding 50 lb. (novices). — 1st, J. Helm,
Norton Canon ; 2nd, A. W. Burgoyne, Lyons-
hall ; 3rd, J. E. Williams, Moorhampton ;
v.h.c, Mrs. Wood, Thruxton.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, J.
Helm ; 2nd, W. Tompkins, Burghill, 3rd, C.
Turner, Byford ; v.h.c, J. Helm, C. Edwards,
A. W. Burgoyne, and the Rev. W. Head
(Brilley); h.c, Mrs. Blashill, Mrs. Wood,
E. J. Thomas.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (novices).—
1st, J. Helm ; 3nd, A. W. Burgoyne ; 3rd,
J. E. Williams ; v.h.c, J. Helm ; h.c, L. H.
Hill and A. Anning.

Twelve l-lb. Section.— 1st, J. Helm ; 2nd,
J. H. Wootton ; 3rd, C. Turner ; h.c, Mr3.
Blashill and C. Edwards.

Six l-lb. Sections (novices).— 1st, Miss M.
Wootton, Stretton Sugwas ; 2nd, J. Helm ;
3rJ, J. E. Williams.

Three Shallow Frames of Comb Honey (for
extracting). — 1st, J. Helm ; 2nd, J. E.
Williams.

Exhibit of Honey in any Shape (cottagers
only).— 1st, A. Anning ; 2nd, A. J. Burgoyne.
— (Communicated. )

HONEY SHOW AT WOODFORD,
WILTS.

The annual show of the Woodford and Dis-
trict Horticultural Society was held at Heale
Park, Woodford, by permission of the Hon.
Louis Greville (President of the Society) on
the 21st prox. The exhibits staged were well
up to the average in quality, aud in numbers
far exceeded those of any previous year, the
total entries in all sections exceeding 1,000.
In the honey class (open) sections beautiful in
colour of the new size (5 by 4i by 2) were
staged and won first prize.

The following are the awards : —

Six l-lb. Sections (open).— 1st, Mr. Norris,
Bradford-on-Avon ; 2nd, F.Blake.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, W.
G. Dear, Woodford ; 2nd, E. Staples.

Six l-lb. Sections (cottagers, artisans, and
labourers). — 1st, G. Smith; 2nd, W. G.
Dear.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Jlojiey.— 1st, W. G.
Dear ; 2nd, E. Stokes.

Beeswax. — 1st, Mrs. E. Beauchamp ; 2nd,
F. Blake.

LEICESTERSHIRE B.K.A.

This Association held its second Exhibition
of Bees and Honey in connection with the
Show of the Loughborough Agricultural
Society on September 18. This adjunct to
the show has been restored after remaining in
abeyance for some years, and the exhibition
fully justified the promoters in including a
honey section in future shows. The exhibits

Oct. 3, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

393

were very good, the quality being highly
meritorious.

la the course of the afternoon Mr. Kiley,
Leicester, gave lectures on bee-keeping and
also demonstrations in the bee-tent.

Mr. Riley and Mr. W. P. Meadows under-
took the duties of judges, and made the
following awards : —

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, J.
Waterfield, Kibworth ; 2nd, H. Dilworth,
Shangton ; 3rd, J. G. Payne, Lutterworth.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Waterfield ;
2nd, H. Dilworth.

Single l-lb. Jar Extracted Honey. — 1st, J.
Waterfield ; h.c, J. G. Payne, Lutterworth.

DISTRICT ONLY.

Six l-lb. Jurs Light-coloured Honey. — 1st,
W. Baldock, Loughborough ; 2nd, W. C.
Lowe, Rothley.

Six l-lb. Jars Dark-colound Honey. — 1st,
G. J. Levers, Loughborough ; 2ad, W. Bal-
dock.

Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, W. C. Lowe,
Rothley ; 2nd, G. J. Levers, Loughborough ;
h.c, J. B. Jones, Loughborough. — (Commu-
nicated.)

PROPOSED TESTIMONIAL TO MR-
J. M. HOOKER.

We have much pleasure in publishing the
following note just received. — [Eos ]

Readers of the B.B. Journal will probably
have noticed an advertisement in the issue of
the 19th inst., which incidentally notifies that
Mr. J. M. Hooker is on the eve of leaving this
country for America. This fact has prompted
to the minds of some of his friends that the
occasion is one that should not be allowed to
pass without some collective action on the part
of the bee-keeping fraternity, in order to show
its appreciation of the valuable services to the
cause of bee-keeping rendered by Mr. Hooker
over the whole period in which modern methods
have been in course of development. Mr. Hooker
was one of the first to take action in the
formation of the British Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation, and has taken a prominent part in
every important act that has gone to establish
bee-keeping as a practical pursuit. Amongst
these he has assisted in the production of
"Modern Bee-keeping," and its subsequent
revisions ; the well-known Diagrams illus-
trative of the Relation of Bees to Flowers ;
the establishing of the " standard frame," &c.
Mr. Hooker has also been a fertile originator
and maker of hives and their fittings. In brief,
it may be said that he has been one of the
pillars of scientific bee-keeping, and may claim
to be the father of the present Council of
the B.B.KA. That his departure will leave
a great gap will be acknowledged by all. The
hope, therefore, is strongly entertained that
the appeal to all bee-keepers which is hereby
made, to present to him a testimonial, accom-
panied with a gift — the form of which has

yet to be decided— will be heartily responded
to, as an assurance of the warm feelings of
friendship entertained towards him.

The following have agreed to act as a Com-
mittee for the carrying out of the above : —
The Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh, the Rev.
Dr. Bartrum, H. W. Harris, late Vice-Chair-
man of the B.B.K.A. ; Messrs. Henry Jonas,
E. D. Till, W. Broughton Carr, and Jesse
Garratt, the last-named of whom is appointed
Secretary and Treasurer.

Subscriptions may be forwarded to the
British Bee Journal Office, or to the Hon.
Treasurer, Mr. Jesse Garratt, Meopham,
Kent, and will be duly acknowledged in the
columns of the B.B.J.

€amtyan&miL

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions exprened by correspondent!. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

*** In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents,
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

SOME ESSEX NOTES.

[4506] Some Things that Help the Bees. —
The number of bee-keepers who have sufficient
land at their disposal to be able to plant and
sow such things as are certain to be helpful to
their bees is small, and such of your readers as
possess the control of garden-land often shut
their eyes to the fact that, weather permitting,
they have matters in their own hands to an
extent quite unknown to the average bee-
keeper. I believe it is admitted on all hands
that farmers are as a rule bad gardeners, and
my experience of farmers as bee-keepers is that
they are generally poor bee-keepers. What a
number of things the farmer can grow that,
besides working in well in his regular course
of " cropping," would be a considerable help
in securing a large yield from his bees ! I
broached this subject to a farmer — who
has become the owner of a large apiary
recently — but both he and his wife were
down upon me in a moment with the question,
" Who can plant for their bees 1 '' Then the
farmer's good-wife added, " If we haven't got
what they want they can go further afield."
I may say here that this farmer is a poor bee-
keeper.

It is not necessary to go outside the usual
farm crops to grow forage that will be of the
utmost value to the bees, and, therefore, to the
farmer himself. A small breadth of turnips or
any member of the brassica family grown for
seed will yield a quantity of good honey for
extracting in May. In the second half of May
trifolium and trefoil yield well of nectar. From

394

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 3, 1901.

the fourth week of May to mid-June sainfoin
fills the bill and fills it well. From about
June 6 to mid-July the several sorts of white
clover more than occupy the bees' time ; and
in the second week of July the lime-tree often
yields nectar in quantities both pleasing and
astonishing.

Then from mid-July the second flowering
of the early- cut sainfoin will follow on, and if
the bloom of one field is to be left to " seed "
another may be cut now, and will, with
average warm weather, flower a third time at
the end of August. During the month of
August the second crop of red clover usually
yields a quantity of very good though deep-
coloured honey in this district. Having
carried the early corn, the farmer is often
anxious to secure a "catch crop" if possible.
Usually it is something for the sheep that
he is in need of. Acre mustard comes in well,
and if worked right may be had in flower
through September and October. But though
mustard is most valuable as a honey-yielding
plant, the hives require careful working for
this and also for honey from turnips, &c, as
these honeys granulate so quickly. Besides
the plants mentioned, lucerne and vetches,
commonly called " tares " in the country, are
both valuable as bee-plants, and work in well
between other crops. Vetches produce wax of
a most pleasing red colour. I have had many
inquiries in varied form from small bee-keepers
such as, " What can I grow for my bees ?" There
are a number of plants that may be grown by
small bee-keepers for their bees, but judgment
must be exercised in planting and sowing the
seeds. Seeds are bought with directions to
sow March to June, but these directions are
insufficient for the bee-keeper's purpose. If
mignonette, sunflower, and forage seeds and
the like are sown in June and July, they grow
into flowering plants that are so helpful to the
bees from August to October. But if these
same plants are grown in the season common
to them, the bees, have neither the time nor
inclination to visit them. At the present
moment the question is, What can we do now
to increase the forage for our bees ? Well,
we can plant white arabis, or white rock, a
spring flowering bee-plant of the first rank,
and it is not too late to transplant seed-
ling wallflowers. Then there are numerous
bulbs that may be planted now that will please
the eye of the bee-keeper in spring as well
a3 being so helpful to the bees. The present
is the best time to plant bulbs. The snow-
drop to flower in January and February ; the
crocus in variety if desired for flowering in
February and March; and, if luxuries are
obtainable, hyacinths for flowering in April
and May. Of shrubs there are not many that
can be grown in quantity, but the flowering
currant, which may be had both in pink and
white, is most useful for the bees, and, flower-
ing as it does in the very early spring, give
brightness to the garden. There is also the
later flowering berberis, an evergreen flower-

ing shrub yielding both honey and pollen. Of
shrubs for the bees in late autumn and winter,
the common, but evergreen, ivy yields well in
mild weather of both honey and pollen ; and
the laurustinus, besides busying the bees on
sunny days in winter, should be planted for its
own sake. Fruit trees and bushes are all use-
ful as yielding nectar for the bees, but I must
leave bee-keepers to make their own choice of
these.

Garden Notes. — Lift all potatoes. These
must be dried and stored in a cool place, or
may be clamped in the open. Lift beetroot
carefully, also carrots in dry weather, and store
both in sand or dry mould in a cool place.
Apply manure to all vacant ground in need of
it. Trench or dig deeply and roughly, so as to
expose as much as possible to atmospheric
action all vacant ground. — Wm. Loveday,
Hatfield Heath, Harlow, Essex.

STRAY SWARMS OF BEES.

[4507.] As an expert under the Worcester-
shire County Council I meet with swarms of
bees in various positions other than in skeps
and bar-frame hives. In one cottager's
apiary I found several stocks in butter-
buckets, boxes, skeps, and a couple of ill-
formed frame hives, with a bar in places
several inches apart filled between with combs
in all forms. On top of bars and old clothing
the bees had built combs upwards —not sus-
pended— and a beautiful lot of fresh white
comb-honey. At a farmhouse, partly old
timber with bricks and mortar between, a
space about 6 in. wide had been left between
the outer wall and inner plaster wall, in which
a colony of bees had located themselves, it was
said at least twenty years. With hammer
and chisel I took off the brickwork to the
extent of 4 ft. 6 in. long and 4 ft. wide, which
was packed with combs, honey, and bees. I
kept the bees under subjection with smoker
and carbolic cloths for about five hours with-
out veil, gloves, or jacket, without a sting,
except on the hand in laying hold of the
combs in taking out. I estimated the gross
weight at about 1| cwt. Some of the combs
were nearly 5 ft. long, and some of the honey-
comb 5 in. thick. I am feeding the bees and
hope to bring out a stock from them in a
frame-hive. I know of five stocks in hollow
trees, but fear they must stay there. — James
Hiam, Astwood Bank, Redditch, September 23.

HOW TO BUILD AN APIA.RY
WORKSHOP.

[4508.] We have had letters and queries
on almost every subject connected with bees
and, therefore, now that the long evenings of
winter are drawing near, suppose we consider
— by way of change — the strengths and
sizes of timber necessary to build a amall
workshop sufficiently large to enable an

Oct. 3, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

395

amateur joiner to make a bar frame-hive in I
I enclose a sketch giving my ideas of the
subject, to be taken for what they are worth.
Fig. 1 represents the framework in elevation ;
fig. 2 gives the plan (minus roof) as it
appears looking from above ; fig. 3 shows
the front elevation, looking through the
windows, with the framework boarded over,
and strips over joints.

To detail the requirements and to build a
substantial workshop of wood, easily remov-
able, we shall require four posts of red deal
7 ft. long and 3 in. square, planed over and
squared up, as shown at A, figs. 1-2. We now
require ten pieces 6 ft. long, 3 in. wide, 2 in.
thick, nine of these as shown at B, figs. 1-2,
and by a dotted line under the window, fig. 3
These require mortising into the upright po3ts
A, figs. 1-2. The tenth piece is shown at C,

4 ft. 6 in. long, 4 in. wide, 1^ in. thick ; also
one short centre piece F, fig. 1, 9 in. long,
2\ in. square, to mortise the top ends of the
four pieces into, by notching a piece out at the
lower ends, as shown at 0, fig. 1. These will
then butt against the inside corners of up-
rights. A bevel will be required to cut the
ends of these pieces to the correct angle, care
being necessary to have them all the same
length, which will materially add to the
squareness and firmness of the job. Paint the
ends and mortise-holes in centre piece F,
fig. 1, after which drive all tight together,,
when a single 3-in. nail at each corner will
hold down the whole. Our framework is now
complete. We will therefore give it a first
coat of priming paint, and when this is dry pro-
ceed to board over the skeleton with 6h in. by
| in. tongued and grooved boards ; when this is

Fig. 1.

IT

Fig. 2.

li?W

fig. 1, forming the left-hand side of door-frame,
similarly fitted at ends into cross-stays B, fig. 1.
We now require one short piece 3 ft. long,
3 in. by 2 in., as shown at D, fig. 3, for centre
piece between windows. Plane all these pieces
over, and mortise upright posts A, fig. 2, so
that cross-stays B, fig. 2, will be level with
the outside facings of uprights, as seen
on fig. 2. Assuming that all the mortise-
holes have been cut out, and the ends of
all cross-pieces are now tenoned and fitted,
we must first paint inside the mortise-holes
and the tenons with a fairly thick coat of
priming. The next thing to do is to clamp
the framework together, and being careful to
use a hard piece of wood to hammer on when
driving the posts on to the tenons ; this will
prevent marking the uprights with the hammer.
We are now ready for the framework of roof,
for which we require four pieces E, fig. 1,

finished get four pieces of sheet-zinc, 12 in.
wide and 4 ft. 6 in. long, to cover the joints
on roof, as shown at Z, fig. 3. Next fit in
your floor of 1-in. tongued and grooved
boards ; then prime the outside with good
paint made from red lead and oxide with lin-
seed oil, no dryers, no turps. While thi3 is
drying make your door to fit the 2 ft. open-
ing (fig. 1), and prepare the windows, the
exact dimensions of which can now be got by
measuring the framework. Leave the strip-
ping of the joints for a season, as all boards
dry in. You are now ready to fix your vane.
When this is done mind the step, and finish
painting outside. Your workshop is now
built. I will describe my internal fittings
and costs in a later communication, hoping I
have made all so far quite clear. — William W.
Kay, Woodbines Apiary, St. Brdades, Jersey,
C.I., September 26.

396

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 3, 1901.

ENEMIES OF BEES.

[4509.J In the "Guide Book," I see Mr.
Cowan refers to the blind louse (Braula cceca)
as one of the enemies of bees. He remarks
that it is often found clinging to the bees in
large numbers, but it is not known what harm
it does to them. Is this blind louse the same
insect as the harvest bug, which is the larval
form of the silky trombidium (Trombidium
holosericum), order Acarinse ? The harvest
bug flourishes in gardens and grass fields, and
is particularly active in late afternoon and
evening. It is bright scarlet, has six legs, and
short stout mandibles, and is very active, but
so small as to be scarcely visible to the naked
eye. The larva is hatched from the egg, which
is laid in May, about June or July, and is
entirely carnivorous, attaching itself, inter alia,
to mankind and bees. It cannot travel under
the skiD, but travels over the surface with
astonishing rapidity. It bites into the skin
and remains to suck blood and juices, and
when it has had a full meal falls off, much
swollen and quite visible. In August or
September the larva hibernates, and next
spring emerges as an entirely herbivorous
eight-legged acarus. The effect of the bite on
human beings is to produce a small lump,
which is very irritating, as it itches greatly.
To prevent bites on human beings the great
remedy is thick, close-fitting clothing, and
good thick stockings. A good preventative
also is to rub the ankles and lower legs with
essential oils, a mixture of eucalyptus and
some rectified paraffin, such as Dee oil with a
small admixture of peppermint or clove oil.
A very good account of the harvest bug is
given in " Chambers' Encyclopaedia."

Now if these two insects are identical, which
seems probable, as the description given of the
harvest bug seems to agree with that given in
Mr. Cowan's book of the blind louse, the
insect must be very injurious to the bees, as it
feeds on blood and juices. Could any of the
oils mentioned be used in any way in the hive
to get rid of these pests 1

Some correspondence on the subject of the
harvest bug appeared in the Lancet for the 7th
and 14th inst., and in the British Medical
Journal for the 14th inst. It was from a letter
in the latter journal that I have copied the
above information about the harvest bug, as I
thought it would interest, and perhaps be use-
ful to, bee-keepers.— J. Holdown, St. Augus-
tine's road, London, N.t September 28.

[It is very difficult to use " oils '' inside
hives as a preventive of insect pests. Reme-
dies in the shape of oils or liquids can only be
used with advantage outside hives, as when
preventing the inroads of ants. — Eds.]

NOTES FROM WYCHWOOD FOREST.

[4510.] I saw an exhibit the other day at
Woodstock Flower Show which goes far to
prove that we have had an excellent honey

season in this district. The said exhibit was
a large bell-glass, square-shaped at bottom
and rounded at the top. The glass measured
about 12 in. square by 18 in. high, and was
well filled with beautiful honey-comb, weigh-
ing about 70 lb., the glass and board it stood
on weighing 76 lb. altogether. Mr. Turney,
the exhibitor, said he had endeavoured to get
the same glass filled twice before, but failed
until this year. I inquired if the glass had
been workpd on a skep or a bar-frame hive,
but I fai.od to find out. It was worth seeing
as a good example of bee-work, and is, I sup-
pose, a record bell-glass for our district.

The question has been raised in Bee
Journal whether it is advisable to always
use ten frames in a hive when starting a new
colony. For myself, I may say that when
hiving a swarm I start the bees in six or
seven frames, increase the number to eight or
nine. In this way I also often get a nice few
sections off a small lot of bees that would
have given almost no surplus had I kept them
at work on thG full ten frames in the body of
hive. It is also a good plan sometimes, when
supering stocks, to contract the hive by
removing a frame from brood-ne3t, pushing
up the dummy-board ; the bees thus finding
themselves confined for room go aloft and set
to business there.

There must be some queer bee-keepers in
the world according to my experience. These
write asking you to supply them with bees,
and then forget to acknowledge receipt of
same or to answer a letter. Yet a letter to
the chief of police in the locality they reside
gets me a prompt reply : " Address right.

Mr. is a man of independent

means." So one must wait with patience for
return of empties and the cash ! — J. Kibble,
Charlbury.

MR. RYMER'S METHOD
BEE-WORK.

OF

[4511.] I think the time has now come
when those of us who have tried to prevent
swarming by the above method should give
our experiences for the benefit of the craft.
Personally, I must say with me it was a failure
— not that it did not prevent swarming, but
that it was the means of me having two queens
superseded. The queens were both in their
second year, which I consider their best, and
were with their stock on three-year-old frames,
so I put an extra ten frames fitted with full
sheets of "Weed" foundation in a chamber
below them, with the adapter on the top, in
the second week in June, both colonies being
then very strong. All appeared to go well
until the first week in July, when I had the
mortification of seeing the queen of each hive
lying dead on the flight-board. Of course
that was an end to the system, and a different
method had to be tried.

I found that the spare chamber in eacli
case had been taken to by the bees, and the

Oct. 3, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

397

foundation was well drawn out, and in some
of the frames honey and pollen had been
stored, so that the fault must have been with
the queens refusing to enter the lower
chamber. I may say the season here has only
been second-rate, the drought nearly ruining
the clover, and part honey- dew was gathered.
The heather crop was about the same as last
year and not up to the average. I had one
stock which I had nursed up from a very weak
condition in the spring to about " boiling
point " by August 1, which gave me two racks
of sections beautifully filled and sealed in six
days, but these were the only days in which
honey in any quantity was gathered, through
the weather breaking and the rain washing
out what honey remained in the best of all
honey plants, the ling. — Jno. H. Willcox,
Haydon Bridge, Northumberland, Sej)-
tember 27.

HONEY ALL THE YEAR ROUND.

[4512.] I am very much obliged to
" A. A. fl.,'' Hants (page 344), and to Mr. A.
Arnold Kiag (page 377) for their contributions
on this subject. I had hoped that some
member of the craft who had lived in the
West Indies would have given us his experi-
ence of bees in that country and the amount of
his " takes.'' To say, as some have done, that
if bees are taken to a country like Australia
or the West ( Indies they forget or disregard
one of the very laws of their nature and on
which their whole existence depended, is to
me all moonshine. I was going to ask the
same question as Mr. King, from whence,
then, comes the Australian and West
Indian honey if the bees so far forget
to depend on the sting test ; also how they
are bred, whether the queens live several
years or only one season, and do the common
wasps develop into queens the second year if
able to preserve themselves alive ? If so, it
does away with the theory that winged ,in-
sects never grow after the wings are developed,
or do they do as I think is the case : the
queen lays queen-eggs towards the latter part
of the season 1 Then how are they fertilised ?
I know this is a bit foreign to bee-keeping,
but still it is a subject of interest to bee-
keepers.— A. Godsland, Bovey Tracey, Devon:

tf^mnp mi mpluii

[2730.] Keeping Bees in India. — I hope
you will excuse my bothering you for advice
under the following circumstances. I am at
home at present on leave from India, and re-
turn there on October 24 next, and from
reading " The British Bee-keepers' Guide
Book " and one by Mr. Simmins I have be-
come much interested in the subject, and,
though [ have no practical experience what-
ever in bee-keeping, I would like to attempt

the experiment of keeping them in India. I
would therefore be exceedingly obliged for
your valuable opinion as to whether it would
be feasible. I will be stationed for the next
four years at Ootacamund — a hill station in
the Nilgiri Hills, Madras Presidency, 6,000 ft.
above sea-level, and consequently never very
hot, but where flowers blossom in pro-
fusion, arum lilies grow wild, and heliotrope
forms most of the hedges, growing to
a height of about 6 ft. To tabulate my ques-
tions they are : — 1. Do you know whether the
experiment has ever been tried before there 1
As far as I know it has not. 2. Would you
advise me to take out a swarm, or only some
queen-bees and obtain the local wild bees,
which are fairly plentiful in the jungle, as a
nucleus ? 3. Would I be likely to have any
trouble with them on the journey, which
would occupy a little over a fortnight by
steamer and about four days by rail, the last
ten days or so of which would be very hot 1
4. As the experiment would only be for per-
sonal amusement, I do not wish to incur too
much expense and would, therefore, propose
starting with one hive. Could this be done
at an expenditure of, say, £5 ? 5. If I took
out a couple of fertilised queens, would it be
unnecessary to obtain drones of the local
wild bees with the nucleus ? 6. Could you
let me have a complete list of articles
I require, and recommend me where to
obtain them ; also whence to procure the
bees, also species recommended ? 7. Would
sheets of foundation stand the heat of the Red
Sea and j ourney across the plains of India ? The
local wild bees are, so far as I can remember,
rather smaller than, though very much like, the
small English black bee, and seem very quiet,
seldom attacking the natives, even when they
rob their nests. Of course, it will be winter
when I arrive at my station, and I might be
unable to obtain a swarm at once. 8. Would
this much affect the imported queens, and how
long would they live without being joined to a
swarm ] I am confident that there would be
no lack of food for the bees at Ootacamund,
as, in addition to large quantities of flowers,
there are numerous flowering trees, and English
fruit-trees do well there. I will be very
grateful if you would kindly favour me with
an answer, as I sail from Marseilles on October
24 next, and would propose to take the bees
with me in my cabin, which I have to myself.
— G. db H. S. (Major), Central India Horse,
London, S.E., Se2)tember 28.

Reply.— 1. In the first place, there is no
doubt that bees can be, and are, kept in
India. We have not heard of swarms or
stocks of bees being taken out ; in fact, it
would be useless trouble and expense to make
the attempt. The feasible plan would be to
procure a stock of the native hive-bees when
out there and introduce a queen from Europe,
after having managed the "natives'" for a little
while. 2. Simply a queen with a few score
worker-bees to keep her company, and this

398

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 3, 1901.

only if it was certain that a stock of bees could
be obtained immediately on reaching your
station. 3. No ; the cage or box in which the
bees would travel would only need packing
away in a cool airy place if weather was hot.
4. The sum named would quite cover ex-
penses. 5. No ; the queen would already be
fertilised. 6. A visit to a reliable applianca
maker would show you all goods needed and
cost of same. Names and addresses can be
seen in our advertisement columns. 7. Yes,
if properly packed. 8. The queen taken out
should be introduced to a stock (not a swarm)
if possible within a week after arrival.

[2731.] About Hive Making.— May I ask
you a few questions about bees : — 1. Koofs.
Which is the best covering for roofs, zinc or
any of the patent felts, such a paper felt, tar
felt ? Of course felt would be warmer, but
most of them are of dark colour and would not
look so well, besides being more easily broken.

2. Body boxes. Before putting my questions
perhaps I had better describe the usual cheap
hive. There is a movable floor-board to which
is attached an alighting board ; over this is
the hive, which has double walls, back and
front, with single side walls. Ten frames with
metal ends are provided with two " dummies,"
but when all ten frames are in, with the ends
on, there is just room of one dummy which is
close against the side of the hive. The frames
rest on the wood of the inner wall, which has
no metal runners, (a) Does such a hive require
an outside case all the year round or only in
winter ? (6) Should the case be made to fit all
round the hive, or would one for the sides only
be sufficient, as there are already double walls
back and front 1 (c) Could it be worked satis-
factorily by using the dummies so as to have a
space between them and the side wall in which
a quilt stuffed with chaff could be placed ? (d)
Would it suffice if metal runners were fixed
on to the wooden sides as close as they will go
without sinking them flush with the sides ?

3. Should the pieces of wood used to close the
entrance be painted ? I suppose the under
part of the floor-board should. 4. Can section
racks be worked without metal girders or
runners, or will the bees fix the sections to
the wooden bars ? Of course separators are
used. — J. H., London, N. W., September 27.

Eeply. — 1. The best covering for roofs is
zinc. The other materials named are good
and efficient if kept in repair and regularly
painted ; but zinc is always waterproof. 2.
The hive described requires no outer case at
all and is not intended for one, the " dummies ''
forming the double walls and sides in winter.
You cannot improve on the work of regular
appliance-makers by introducing changes such
as merely strike an amateur joiner ; therefore we
advise leaving the metal runners as now made.
3. Yes. 4. We cannot see how sections can
possibly be worked in racks without girders or
runners, either of metal or wood. Do you
suggest placing the sections direct on top-bars

of frames ? If so, we only reply, " It won't
work."

[2732.] Working "Wells" Hives.— WAX
you kindly give your opinion on the follow-
ing?— I bought a double or ''Wells" hive,
one accommodating two queens and two
swarms. I thought the double hive wa3
already fitted up and complete for a season'**
work. At the beginning of August I noticed
the bees of one compartment robbing the
other side, and fearing something wrong I
had a look among the combs, and then saw
plainly what was up, for neither queen nor
brood could be seen in the part being robbed,
and the bees were carrying all stores into
other side. The two stocks seemed to have
joined up owing to their having acquired the
same scent I suppose through perforated zinc
and working in the super together. I there-
fore ask : Would you advise me to get a stock
of driven bees and unite them to the few left
in the queenless half, or should I let them go
with the other swarm and make an extra
strong stock to winter on ? — '■ Sunnyside,"
Gateshead, September 19.

Reply. — It is so common to find the bees
in one compartment — after becoming queen-
less — joining forces with their neighbours in'
the other half that it cm hardly be called
" robbing '' when this occurs ; it is merely an
amicable " flitting " next door, and may be re
garded as such. Any attempt to re-establish a
stock in the deserted compartment just now
would probably lead to real "robbing" and
perhaps worse, so just let the few bee3 left
behind join the others in their own time, and
leave one compartment — after closing it up —
empty till next season.

[2733.] Diagnosing Foul Brood.— -When
looking through my hives yesterday I noticed
in one of them two patches which I did not
like the look of, so cut them out, and now
enclose them to you, requesting that you will
please say in the Bee Journal if it is a case
of foul brood. The pieces were cut out of
different frames, and there were one or two
isolated cells sealed over in the same manner
as the larger piece in other frames in the same
hive. The hive is not a very strong one, but
has a this year's queen, and is being fed with
cdndy. There is no other brood in the hive.
Last time I looked at it it appeared perfectly
right in every way, with lots of young bees
hatching out. Thanking you in anticipation.
— Raven, Bromley, Kent.

Reply. — We advisedly give prominence
here to your query, which in the usual course
would have been replied to briefly in another
column. It was fortunate that the smaller
piece of comb was sent along with the larger
sample. The sealed cells in the latter were,
to an inexperienced eye, clearly indicative of a
bad case of foul brood — cappings concave and
dark in colour, just as are often seen where
brood, and this in many scores of cells. With
so large a number of samples to examine as

Oct 3, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

399

falls to our lot, to say nothing of personal
experience of the disease, the symptoms were
easily reoognised, and when probed every cell
in the sample was found full of thick honey
(or syrup) only. The small sample, with less
than half a dozen sealed cells in all, was found
to be plainly affected with foul brood. In
this way, then, but for having the second piece
sent, we should, of course, have notified the
hive as free from foul brcod.

[2734.] Queen Rearing in August. — In rear-
ing some queens this August I got three all
hatched same day. Two were hatched in the
same body-box, with dummy between. I in-
troduced one of these to a " Wells " hive, and
she has been laying for a couple of weeks past.
The sister to this one, and also one in another
hive, have not laid a single egg, although I saw
them fly on their mating trip, and saw them
return three weeks ago on Sunday next. But
the bees of these two virgin queens have been
turning the drones out for the last fortnight.
What I would like to know is — 1. Do you
think the above queens are mated ? 2. If so,
why so long in commencing to lay ? 3. If not,
why do the bees expel the drones ? I may
add that I have been stimulating for a week
with one hive, and I have sent for a queen for
the other. — H.Walker, Xewton-le- Willows,
Lanes, September 27.

P.S. — A very good crop this season in this
district, chiefly white clover, my own bees
averaging over 100 lb. per stock, with plenty
of natural stores for winter.

Reply. — 1 and 2. We rather think they are
mated. Examine combs again when this ap-
pears in print, and if eggs are found all will be
right, as unmated queens are some time before
starting to lay. 3. This is the one thing that
points to mating having taken place.

REVIEWS OF FOREIGN BEE-PAPERS.

BY R. HAMLYN-HARRIS, F.R M S., F.Z.S,
F.E.S,, ETC.

Bulletin de la Societe d' 'Apiculture du Tarn
(France). — The foot and mouth disease in
cattle is largely treated with honey. The
Government publishes large placards with
following instructions :— " To treat effectually
this disease, first remove the small skins
resulting from the breaking of the blisters ;
then bathe the mouth with water in which
vinegar and honey have been mixed." The
writer himself experienced similar symptoms
in the mouth as the animals, but it was quite
cured in a few days by the use of honey alone.

Gazette Apicole de France. — " For more
than fifty years the inhabitants of Moldavia
and Ukraine have prepared a kind of sugar
(white and solid) from honey, and this sugar is
used by the Dantzig distillers in manufactur-
ing the 'liqueurs so highly esteemed in that
country. The method of preparation is to
place the honey in casks and expose it to

frost during three weeks, and it is with this
sugar that ' rosolia ' is made, which is held in
such high estimation by the Italian confec-
tioners.''

La Nature. — A doctor of Arcachon has
given with much success the following prepa-
ration : — Honey (one part), fresh butter (two
parts). These ingredients are well mixed and
used in lieu of cod-liver oil. The mixture
named forms a pale golden-coloured cream,
fresh to the taste and taken to eagerly by
children.

" Canaries suffer at times from a malady
which causes the plumage to become dull and
lose its colour ; their little claws become rigid,
and they can often hardly stand ; their song
also completely ceases.

As a remedy, it is advised to give every
morning a little breadcrumbs soaked in warm
honey.

The canary refuses this food at first, but
soon takes to it, and improvement 'gradually
sets in. The rigidity of the feet disappears,
and the plumage recovers its lustre and its
colour ; the bird resumes its song clear and
vigorous."

Schiveizerische Beinenzeitung (Atistralian
Bee Bulletin). — "An Australian bee-keeper,
having to supply his bees with water, found
that 200 colonies used up 1,500 gallons of the
precious fluid in sixty-five days.''

A bee-keeper asks how to clear his combs
of bees found head foremost in the cells, as is
usual when they die of hunger. An obliging
confrere gives him several ideas on the sub-
ject. He says : — 1. Mice do this duty with
great pleasure, but they spoil the combs. 2.
By exposing the combs in a very dry place
the dead bees will shrivel up and fall out
with a gentle tap. The third and best
remedy is to winter the bees with sufficient
provisions and so prevent the bees from dying
in the cells.

Bienenivirthshaftliches Centralblatt. — Do
fowls eat bees ? In Oldesloe, in Mecklen-
burg, fifty colonies of bees were kept close to
a fowl-run, where the fowls had full liberty to
roam at will and about the hives. They ate
the refuse thrown out by the hives, but never
touched a live bee. But here (in Doberau) a
dozen fowls kept in a small closed place
hunted after every bee that crossed their yard.
How can we explain the difference ? Pro-
bably the last-named fowls, being shut in,
suffered from want of animal food. Therefore
they hunted after bees, flies, &c. Ennui has a
great deal to do with this. As we see fowls
confined in close spaces plucking each others'
feathers out — clearly want of proper food and
occupation.

L' Apicidteur.— -Elementary instruction in
agriculture is being provided in some of the
barracks with a view to keep up the interest
of the young countrymen in husbandry and
country pursuits in general. The Consul-
General of La Vendee has voted 500 francs
between the 93rd and the 137th regiments of

400

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 3f 1901.

infantry in garrison at Fontenay-le-Comte.
This sum will be used to organise an ele-
mentary course of apiculture, to the purchase
of instruments, books, mural placards, &c. It
is hoped that this example ■will be followed in
the other departments and other garrisons.

Leipziger Bienenzeitung.. Bee Stings and
Rheumatism. — A doctor in Marburg has
tried the effect of bee stirjgs in 100 cases of
rheumatism, and publishes the following con-
clusions : — Bee stings can be applied to all
cases of rheumatism. In light cases, or
sudden and acute disease, it is usually suc-
cessful after a few stings. Chronic cases
usually require some hundreds of them. The
longer and the more complicated the illness
the more useful is the sting cure likely to be.
It brings relief even where a kind of
rheumatic consumption has set in and where
other remedies give little or only temporary
alleviation. Where the disease has affected
the heart, it is especially valuable. Only in
bad cases there must be patience exercised, as
the cure must be continued as long as the*e is
any rheumatic pain. Notwithstanding the
pain of the stings, the patient develops a
better state of general health and a hopeful
condition — a looking forward to a complete
return to normal health, which quite removes
the fear of the sting.

\tt JShmtis ta <&mt

October 5, at the Y.M.C-A. Hall, New-
castle-on-Tyne. — Northumberland and Durham
B.K.A. Third annual show of Bees, Honey, and Bee-
produce. Twelve classes. Entry fee, Is. Schedules
from Jas. Waddell, Wooler, Northumberland. Entries
close October 5.

October 8 to 11, at the Agricultural Hall,
London. — Show of Honey and Bee-produce in con-
nection with the British Dairy Farmers' Association.
Numerous and liberal prizes for honey, &c— Schedules
from Mr. Wm. C. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-square,
London, W. Entries closed.

October 10, 1', and 12, at Crystal Palace.—
Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, and Appliances. Increased prizes and medals.
Schedules from Hon. Secretary, Henry W. Brice, 100,
Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath. Entries closed.

October 24 and 25, at Kilmarnock— Honey
Show in connection with the Ayrshire Agricul-
tural Association. Eleven classes for honey, with
liberal money prizes. Schedules from John Howie,
Secretary, 58, Alloway-street, Ayr. Entries close
October 11.

November 14, at Town Hall, Ludlow.— Honey
Show in connection with Exhibition of Chrysanthemum
and Fruit Society. Two open classes for hives.
Schedules from J. Palmer, Bon. Secretary, 17, Brand-
ane, Ludlow. Entries close November 5.

Hlotices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All querietforwarded icill be attended to, and thou only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

R. A. (Corbridge-on-Tyne). — Expert's Certi-
ficates.— Mr. Edwin H. Young is Secretary
of the B.B.K.A., and as such will afford you
the needful information both with regard to

membership and the steps necessary to
obtain the Expert's Certificates of the
Association. The address of the B.B.K.A.
is 12, Hanover-square, London, W.

A Beginner (Birmingham). — Joining Asso- ,
ciation. — The hon. secretary of Worcester
B.K.A. is Mr. H. Phillips, Spetchley,
Worcestershire.

Ed. O. Bkayshaw (Bradford). — Wool as
Packing for Hives. — Everything in the
nature of wool or cotton is most objection-
able as packing for bees if the latter can
have access to it. They will spend days in
the vain endeavour to carry it out, and
scores of bees will be killed by getting
the shreds about their necks.

F. T. Paul (Liverpool). — Races of Bees. — The
bees (sent in air-tight glass phial) were
apparently alive when put up, as they
were completely saturated with honey
regurgitated from their honey-sacs when
dying for want of air. We could not
possibly say what the markings are under
the conditions when received.

T. J. L. King (Walthamstow). — Honey
Sample. — Sample is from mixed sources,
very good in colour and density, but has a
rather "rank'' flavour, objectionable to
most consumers of table honey.

Suspected Combs.

Special Notice to correspondents sending queries on
"Foul brood."

We urgently request that all letters sent with samples
of suspected comb be put outside the box or tin containing
the sample. Also that no more than a couple of square
inches of comb be sent, taking care to neither crush the
comb nor probe the cells before despatching.

In urgent cases (and where possible) we undertake to
" wire " replies as to F. B. if six stamps are sent to cover
cost of telegram. All letters to be addressed " Editor,
Bee Journal," not "Manager."

Ignorant (Northumberland). — Surely you

must have sent wrong sample of comb.

There is not a trace of sealed brood in it, or

indeed of brood at all. We cannot judge

whether the stock is diseased or not unless

the cells contain brood.
C. B. (Hassocks). — Comb is affected with foul

brood, but not of virulent type, or, indeed,

very pronounced, but it is there.
Sunniside (G-ateshead-on-Tyne). — Not a trace

of any brood in comb ; the few half filled

cells contain only fresh pollen.
J. W. R. (Scarborough).— Bad cise of " F.B.;>
R. Statton (Sanford). — Only chilled brood

in sample sent, but comb is very black and

old — in fact, unfit for use. There may be

disease in other combs.
J. C, sen. (Lancaster). — Foul brood in No. 1.

Disease is also developing in No. 2.
C. Roberts. — None of the four sealed cells

contained anything but honey — or syrup.

No trace of any brood in sample.

*#* Some interesting letters and also replies
to a few queries are in type, but unavoidably
held over till next week.

Oct. 10, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

401

(BtiftaM, Ifcriim, &t

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

A conversazione of members of the above
Association will be held in the Board Room,
105, Jermyn-street, London, S.W., on Thurs-
day, October 10, at 5 p.m., when it is hoped
that many bee-keepers may be able to be
present. Refreshments will be provided.

ftmtsym&mt.

The Editor/ do not hold themselves responsible for tht
opinion/ expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications , and corretpondentt
are requested to write on one tide of the paper only and
give their real name* and addretsei, not necettarily for
publication, but at a guarantee of good faith. lUmstra-
tiont should be drawn on teparate piecet of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communicationt.

Communications relating to the literary department,
reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for Review, Ac, must be addressed only to "The
Editors of the' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William-
street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi-
cations relating to advertisements, <tc.,must be addressed
to " The Manager, 'British Bee Journal' Office, 17,
King William- street, Strand, London, W.C."

*** In ordtr to facilitate reference, Correspondents,
when tpeaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

THE ANTENNAE OF THE BEE.

[4513.] These "feelers," as ancient bee-men
commonly call them, are situated on either
side of a prominent ridge, which stretches
down the centre of the face from the crown of
the head to the nose or clypus. The name
truly describes one duty which they perform,
and, though they contain the seat of some
further sense or tenses, the most casual
observer must have seen how much they are
used as organs of touch. They are real
marvels of construction and design, and carry
out their duties in so admirable a way that
one feels puzzled to find words adequately
fitted to describe them. If a temptation to
use terms approaching exaggeration has now
and again obtruded itself in describing other
organs, in the case of the antenna? these terms
can scarcely be withheld.

But I refrain, as " I have ceased to look for
anything more beautiful in this world or more
interesting than the truth." Just fancy an ap-
pliance, hardly noticed by many bee-men, which
(science reveals to us) contains 5,000 " smell
hollows '' in the case of the worker, while the
olfactory cavities, in the case uf the male,
numbers the almost incredible total of
37,800 for each antenna;, and, if we are to
credit Cheshire's calculation, they are studded
with 12,000 tactile hairs. What sensi-
tive organs of smell and touch they must
be ! Simply defined, these tentacles or feelers
may be described as sense organs of a

cylindrical form, with twelve or thirteen joints
so arranged as to enable the organ to
move in all directions. That, with the above
marvels, which the microscope reveals, studding
their surface, is ali I need say regarding their
shape and construction. But when we inquire
into the subject of their functions and duties,
a wide field for speculation is opened, because
here is one of the many enigmas of the hive
which compel M. Maeterlinck to exclaim,
" We have often to halt before the unknown,
for we know but little compared with what we
have stll to learn." Some have supposed that
the antenna are perhaps the seat of some
unknown sense that fathoms and measures the
darkness in the interior of the hive, and un-
doubtedly they contain many organs as yet
unexplained.

Let me be content at present with noting a few
of the more obvious uses and duties of these
wonderful sense organs. Every bee-keeper
who has closely observed bees arriving in front
of the entrance of a hive must have seen the
"guards" feel these with their antenna?. If the
would-be intruder is a stranger attempting to
enter where she has no right or title to be,
woe betide that bee. For all such there might
be written, in bee-caligraphy, Dante's inscrip-
tion over another place, " Abandon hope all
ye who enter here." On the other hand, how
gentle is the treatment accorded all who are
true sisters of the hive, for these sensitive
feelers caress and fondle all such with loving
tenderness.

View the care and kindness, the affection
and adoration, following the mutual striking
of the antenna by the queen and workers as
they meet on the comb in the interior of the
hive. But insert a stranger queen without
proper precautions, and another tale will be
enacted when these organs "spy strangers"
present in the house.

Withdraw their queen from the hive and
observe what a commotion soon ensues. One
bee runs up to another, and the antennae are
reciprocally crossed, conveying the sad and
melancholy intelligence that " mother " is
gone. Whether the news is conveyed by
smell, touch, or some unknown sense, or by
simple signs is another enigma, but conveyed
it is, and evidently by these marvellous sense-
organs. Grand old Huber's observations on
this head are well worthy of being studied.

Then, in comb building, what an infinity
of shapes the antennae assume, and to what
a multitude of uses they seem to be put. Are
they not the architect's and builder's tape,
ruler, plumb line, compass, square, and cube all
rolled into one, which guides the bees with
such wonderful exactness in the construction of
their palaces of art, those works of perfection,
the hexagonal cells 1

When the swarming fever prevails, what a
hurry and bustle, with agitation and wild
commotion, is suddenly got up apparently by
the free intercommunication consequent on
the crossing and intercrossing of the antennae.

402

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 10, 1901.

They convey by sign or sound the information
that the one great Sunday of their lives has
come to the bees. Whatever it is, some
spiritual communication of immense potency
takes place, teaching these teeming thousands
that the instinct of the race demands that
they should "trek." Where can the seat of
this all-powerful genius of the hive be more
properly located than in these wonderfully
mysterious, awe-inspiriDg, and uncanny organs,
whose depths it has baffled all the devotees of
science fully to fathom 1

Here is a marvel. Deprived of the antennae
the worker ceases to take any delight in
labour, hitherto her god. Love ceases to be
the mainspring of existence in the case of the
queen, and she neglects to propagate the
species. The drone suddenly seems to dis-
cover that life (even a life of ease) is not worth
living, and he ejects himself voluntarily from
the hive. Evidently even the 38,000 eyes on
each side of his head are insufficient to guide
him aright in the interior of the hive with the
antennas cut off. All three — queen, worker,
and drone -find, like Othello, that " their
occupation is gone,'' and with the loss of these
organs they prove neuters indeed. — D. M. M.,
Banf.

STARTING BEE-KEEPING.

[4514 ] I should like to keep bees, having
a large garden and open fields at hand, but I
am rather appalled, on reading sundry bee-
literature and guides, as to the difficulties to
be contended with in successful bee-manage-
ment.

This apprehension is most felt with regard
to "foul brood,'' "wax moth," and other pests,
known and unknown, and I desire to a3k
whether bee-keeping is attended with more
than the usual risks of failure and loss. I
have kept fowls and succeeded ; I have gone
in for gardening and again come off well,
especially in vegetable culture ; but I hesitate
about bees, as there does not appear to be the
same opportunities for supervision.

How often should hives be uncovered and
the internal arrangements examined ? I refer,
of course, to the working portion of the year,
and to the early or swarming season in par-
ticular.— S. Walian, Llandaff.

QUEENS "PIPING."

, [4515.] After reading several books on bees
I became possessed of the idea that the
" piping " of the queen before swarming was
the performance of a young queen just
hatched out ; but on June 29 last my views
altered owing to the following circumstance.
I must first mention that I clip the wings of
the queens as soon as I find that they have
been fertilised. ;A swarm issued on the above-
named date, and upon my going to the hive to
pick up the queen as usual, I was surprised

when at some distance from the hive to hear
" pipmg>" and upon inspecting the ground in
front of the hive I found the clipped queen
standing with her head pointing upwards
towards the hive, piping away as hard as she
could. Unfortunately she stopped as soon
as I got close enough to make a more minute
inspection, and so 1 was unable to form any
idea as to how the sound was produced. The
swarms returned to the hive about fifteen
minutes after leaving it.

Many bee plants have been mentioned lately
in the B.B.J., but I have never seen the snow-
berry (Symphoricarpus racemosus) among them,
though to my mind it is deserving of a place in
every apiary. It began to flower towards the
end of May this year in my garden ; during
the whole summer it has quite hummed with
bees, even when the limes were in bloom, and
even now (September 26) I see a few bee3 at
work upon odd blooms which still appear on
the plants.

Can you give me any information regard-
ing the effects of formalin in foul brood 1
It seemed to me to be a likely disin-
fectant to employ as a preventive, as it is non-
poisonous, and stronger than carbolic acid as a
germicide. I have fed my bee3 this autumn
with syrup containing 1 part of formic alde-
hyde to 4,000 parts of syrup, and so far it has
agreed well with them. It seemed to make
them extremely active, but I noticed no excess
of ill-temper. — Walter Scatchard, Faver-
sham, Kent.

[No ; but, without having had any personal
experience of formalin, we have no hesitation
in saying that, while good, it is no better than
a dozan other preventives that could be named.

—Ens.]

BEE-HOUSES AND BEE-ESCAPES.

[4516.] I am thinking of building a bee-
house this winter, but am a bit puzzled about
the arrangement for the escaping of bees from
the inside of house, at the same time prevent-
ing intruders from coming in. Perhap3 some
of your readers who have bee-house3 would be
good enough to say what they have contrived ;
also any other useful hints in connection with
such a house would greatly oblige. — W.
Knowles-Harland, Hull, September 25.

KEEPING BEES IN INDIA.

[451*7.] I was much interested in reading
the queries about this subject in the B.B.J, of
October 3. As I have spent several years in
India, and studied the habits of the native
bees with a view to bee-keeping upon approved
principles, I think I can give Major G. de H. S.
some useful information.

1. There are bee-keepers in Ceylon who
keep Italian bees, and they get honey all the
year round, so that (2) it would not be neces-

Oct 10, 1901. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

403

sary or advisable to take any bees out from

Europe.

, 3. As the temperature in the Red Sea is

often over 90 deg., I do not think the bees

would stand the journey unless they were kept

in or near the ice-room during the very hot

4. The quiet local wild bees are so very
much smaller than the English or Italian bee,
that I do not think it would be possible to
introduce an Italian queen to an Indian
stock.

One of my brothers, who is a tea planter,
has taken many swarms of the small wild bee
and hived them in 10-lb. tea chests, measuring
about 10 in. by 10 in. by 8 in. He did not
make a great success of his bees, as he knew
nothing about modern bee-keeping, and used
to break the combs away, containing brood as
well a3 honey.

The great enemies of the honey bee in India
are the tiny red and black ants, which can
only be kept away by standing the legs of the
hive3 in saucers full of water. The tops of
these saucers must in turn be protected by
small shades, to prevent leaves or dry gras3
from falling in, as these would in turn make
bridges for the tiny robbers to crosa the
water.

I have seen skeps containing Italian bee3 in
the Himalayas, just above Rajpur, on the way
to Mussoorie, and I should think that Major
G. de H. S. could easily get into correspond-
ence with the owner by writing to any of the
hotel-keepers in Rajpur, or to any of the
Government officials stationed there. — J. M.
Patersox (Rev.), Loughton, Essex.

HOW TO BUILD AN APIARY BEE*
HOUSE.

[4518.] Last week we built (on paper) a
Bmall apiary workshop, and I now describe
the internal fitting up, as promised. A bench
is fixed, for convenience of light, in fiont and
immediately below the window, formed of two
boards 6 ft. long and 1 in. thick, resting at the
ends upon two cross-pieces, and supported in
the middle by a leg placed diagonally, to be
out of the way, as shown in fig. 1, page 395.

Below the bench on right hand side I fix
my tool chest, the front side being a board
6 ft. by 13 in. wide and f in. thick. I
make use of the floor as a bottom to the chest,
and a board 6 ft. by 1 ft. 6 in. wide forms the
lid, which for convenience of opening I hinge
to the side of house, this board forms a table
upon which I stand my hives when in course
of construction, also a seat, as seen by a line
partly dotted on plan fig. 2. I divide the
chest into compartments in which I store my
spare frames, sections, dummies, smoker, and
tools in general. I screw hooks into the top
crosspieces of framework, upon which my saws,
squares, &c, hang, and my hiving and driving
skep I hang in the centre of roof, well out of

the way but always handy. The cost of all
complete is as follows : —

Wood £2 3 0

Nails 1 6

Hooks 1 0

Lock/ 1 3

Paint 5 0

2 7 0

Total

9

£4 18

The cost can be considerably cheapened by
using white deal for frame instead of red, and
by matchboarding outside instead of f-in.
boards ; also by not planing the framework ;
but such work is unworthy of a place in my
apiary. — W. W. Kay, Woodbines Apiary, St.
Brelades, Jersey, C.I.

MAKESHIFT HIVES.

SAVING THE BEES.

[4519.] Hearing of some bees which were
doomed for destruction by sulphur, I set out
on a seven miles tramp in the endeavour to
3ave their lives and give the bees a chance.
On arriving at my destination I was
somewhat disappointed at the prospect of
getting the bees out of their novel domiciles,
but I prepared to make a start. The first
hive from which I lifted the straw hackle dis-
closed an old worn-out zinc bucket, rammed
into the bottom of the improvised dwelling-
place into which the bee3 (a truant swarm of
some one's) had been hived from an apple-tree
in the garden. Experts are supposed to be
ever ready for emergencies, but to push my
driving irons through the sides of a metal
bucket, in order to fix the straw skep ready for
driving the bees up, was a bit beyond me and
could not be entertained, consequently
" close driving '' was my only chance, and
after spending about two hours I suc-
ceeded satisfactorily in securing the first lot
of bees. No. 2— a swarm from the bucket
above-mentioned, had been hived into an
old dilapidated bushel measure with at
least half a dozen entrances or exits round the
bottom edge. To get a hive to fit the rim
when turned up was even a greater difficulty
than the bucket ; but by placing a straw skep
on the combs and covering the exposed
combs with cloths packed around I managed
to " persuade '' the bulk of the bees to
leave, then joined them to lot No. 1, and
thus brought the united bees away for my
trouble. 1 have them now in a frame-hive on
drawn-out combs, and hope to winter success-
fully, although late in the season. No. 1 hive
weighed 24 lb. and No. 2 44 lb.

This, I think, was a good object-lesson to
both the owner and the neighbourhood, as I
used neither veil or gloves, and not one of the
onlookers or myself got stung. It greatly
helps to overcome the timidity of would-be
bee-keepers to see operations like this got

404

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 10, 1901.

through without the bees using their stings,
although I get nothing of any great value —
practically speaking — for a good long day's
work and a tramp of fourteen miles, there is a
satisfaction which only bee-keepers can under-
stand in undertaking jobs of this kind. —
James Hiam, Astwood Bank, Worcestershire

THE BEE SEASON AT HARROGATE.

[4520.] I send you an account of my expe-
riences this season.

The bees wintered moderately well, some
stocks coming through the winter fairly strong.
About the middle of April I began to suspect
foul brood in my best and strongest hive, and
my suspicions proved true, for unmistakable
signs appeared. I commenced remedying this
by burning any combs containing brood and
using preventives. Three weeks later I
examined again, only to find things worse, so
I burned all the combs and internal fittings.
I got the bees off the comb3 and into a skep,
keeping them there three days. I then gave
them a clean hive with five frames prepared as
usual. This ended all chance of surplus from
this hive, but the bees struggled bravely on.
They have been to the moors this season
without supers, and are now fairly strong, and
I have seen no signs of disease in this hive
since. I have, however, not done with it. I
had three stocks working nicely in supers, but
noticing one of them going backward, I
examined and found foul brood. The combs
in brood-nest were full of honey, brood, and
bees from end to end. In due time I cleared
the bees out, extracted the honey, and burnt
all that was left. The bees were returned to
the hive, and now, to my surprise, I find
queen- cells in all stages. Whether they in-
tended swarming or re-queening I know not,
but in my experience of re-queening I have
never known bees raise more than three cells,
whereas this one had at least six. How-
ever, I gave them a temporary lodging for
three daye, and having a " Wells " hive next
to the one I had operated on, I removed
the queen (an aged one) from this, and
joined the bees and queen to this lot.
It was now nearly time to take the bees
to the moors. They have not done much
since, for there is no brood in the hive, though
the honey gathered by both lots makes a full
supply for winter.

The above drawbacks excepted, I have
done fairly well ; one of the hives filled the
box of shallow-frames three times over. I
have had no great "take '' of honey, but that
gathered is of excellent quality ; in fact, it
has never been so fine with me before.

I have been much interested with the letters
from time to time on the late flowering lme
trees. I noticed a peculiar one on the estai e
of Mr. Lane Fox, at Bramham Park (near
Boston Spa). The lower branches of this
immense tree bend down to the ground, then
turn up again like young trees springing

from the ground. The trunk is very large and
fluted. There are many more splendid trees
at this place.

I conclude this letter with a few lines on the
heather season. One of my nine hives gained
16| lb. while the bloom lasted ; some, however,
gained a good deal more than that, but a great
portion was left unsealed ; there will, however,
be enough to pay expenses and a little to
spare ; while bees will go into winter quarters
with plenty of stores. The hive3, however,
are not so strong in bees as I have had them.
It would appear as if the queens had not bred
so freely as usual on the moor this season. I
have had them start breeding again at the
heather the same as in spring, and some stocks
have swarmed more than once. Bee-keepers
here have also had sections spoiled this season
by queen breeding drones in them. In one case
we found queen- cells in a hive when brought
home in the middle of September. I have
taken my bees to the moor now for sixteen
years without missing once, and have had many
an interesting journey up to see them while
honey-storing there, not seldom returning with
10 lb. or 12 lb. of early heather-honey as an
advance sample. During the whole of the six-
teen years' moor-going I only had two seasons
of real failures ; in fact, I look on the heather
season with equal interest to the clover-honey
season at home. With regard to marketing
honey, I am in a fairly good position for dis-
posing of the honey, but there is not a large
demand, and I have therefore to make some
effort, or should not sell much — I mean, it
is not much sought after. Hoping to see other
reports, particularly from our East Yorkshire
bee enthusiasts, in our interesting little
Journal. — Geo. Duffield.

(Correspondence continued on page 406.)

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

The neat and well-kept apiary seen below,
though only started in 1898, will, no doubt,
ere long have assumed larger dimensions,
judging by the progress made and the success
which has attended Mr. Cooper's operations so
far as a bee-keeper. It is at all times pleasant
to hear of the good wife as well as the children
being imbued with the same spirit regarding
the bees as the head of the family, and we
hope other men in the county of Herts —
where once flourished a well-worked B.K.A.,
though now defunct — will follow Mr. Cooper's
example in offering to form a new association
if there is still sufficient bee-enthusiasm stirred
up to warrant the attempt. With regard to
our friend's bee-experiences, the following few
lines speak for themselves. He says : —

" I first began bee-keeping in 1898 by pur-
chasing a swarm, and in the following year
bought two frame-hives, an extractor, section-
racks, &c, from a man who was giving up the

Oct. 10, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

405

hobby. My apiary is situated on the out-
skirts of the town, and the honey is princi-
pally gathered from the clover and limes.
The result of ray first year's experience was
very encouraging, and was the means of deter-
mining me to extend my apiary along with
ray knowledge of hee keeping. I therefore
sought the advice of Mr. Geo. J. Buller, who
was for many years manager to Mr. T. B.
Blow, of Welwyn. Mr. Buller, who is now
living in Hitchin, was always ready to give
me the benefit of his long experience. On
his advice I purchased a copy of the ' Bee-
keepers' Guide Book,' and have become a
regular subscriber to the B.B. Journal,
which I eagerly look forward to each wetk.

great help from my wife, who has been ac-
customed to bees all her life. Her parents
have been bee-keepers of the old style for
forty years in Cambs, and it was while on a
visit there that I decided to become a bee-
keeper myself. I now drive their stocks in
August for them, and bring the driven bees
home with me to increase the number of stocks
in my apiary* My wife does all the extracting,
bottling-off, &c, and looks after the cash we
make out of the honey ; nor does she forget to
keep a plentiful supply of mead for the winter.
The two children seen in the photo are my
son and daughter. The boy (who promises
well for becoming a good bee-man) claims the
hive he is standing up against ; he already

MR J. COOPER'S APIARY, BUNYAN ROAD, HITCHIN, HERTS.

the weekly issues of great
so full are they of practical

I have found
service to me,
information.

" I gradually extended my apiary, experi-
menting with the various makes and styles of
hives, and have now decided to adopt the
well-known ' W.B.C hive. I bought two
of this pattern since the photo was taken, and
have transferred the bees from the hive on the
left into one of them.

" This season I have again done very well in
securing surplus honey, and have nearly sold
out all retail at 8d. and 9d. per 1-lb. jar.
Although foul brood has been prevalent
around Hitchin, I am thankful to say I have
escaped so far.

" 1 also ought to mention that I receive

begins to make himself very useful about the
apiary, not being at all afraid of the bees, yet
he has, so far, only had one sting.

" We have no Bee-keepers' Association in
Herts, and I for one should only be too
pleased to join one if started. In conclusion,
I should like to suggest that the illustrations
of 'Homes of the Honey Bee,' which have
for some years past been published in the B.B.
Journal, be nicely reprinted on art paper
and issued in book-form, bound in cloth,
lettered on back, with perhaps on the side an
attractive illustration relating to bee-keeping.''

[The suggested issue of bee-garden pictures
in book form has been contemplated from the
beginning of the series of " Homes,1' and will,
we trust, be eventually carried out. — Eds,]

406

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 10, 1901.

CORRESPONDENCE.

(Continued from page 404.)
A NEW WINTERING DEVICE.

MACHINE-MADE BOTTLES.

[4521] Jn order to devise a plan by which
the cluster of bees can move over the frames in
all directions at the centre of hive, instead of
following that usually adopted, I two years
ago designed the following apparatus : — The
material required is a few yards of wire, fairly
stiff, say, No. 10 S.W.G., and the tools, a
Btrong pair of pliers. First cut a piece of
wire about 2 ft. 6 in. long, and join the ends
together ; this may be bent round a pail or other
coned circular surface to give it a good shape.
Now cut another piece of wire about 18 in.
long, and having bent it round the outside of
a section (an easy fit) join the ends. We now
have two shapes — i.e., a circle of about 9g in.
diameter and a square of about 4| in. Now
take four pieces of wire about 6 in. each in
length, and fasten one end at equal distances
round the circle ; stand the square in the
centre and fasten the other ends to each
corner of it ; they must be fastened so that the
wire is slightly longer than if the whole was
level. The effect of this will be to raise
the square about \ in. above the circle. Now
carry the ends down about j in., and then
bend eharply towards the centre, cutting
them off about $ in. long. Our device is now
complete. To see how to use it, place it on a
table and cover with a chaff cushion or quilt,
and it will be seen that while they fit the
table closely all round and so keep the heat in
(that is if it was on a hive), yet tnere is a free
space over the whole of centre of frames. If
we are going to feed by means of candy, we
can do so by running it when warm into a
section, and, as our centre is made round one
of these, it will be apparent that the candy in
section will nicely fit our device ; not only
so, but the short ends of wire we bent in the
centre will, while supporting the same, still
leave a " bee space " over frames. I wonder
if others have had the same experience with
the new machine-made bottles that I have
had ? As out of the first gross I ordered, there
were ten broken, and of the second gross
twenty useless, I have come to the conclusion
that they are bad packers, more especially as
they weigh about 3 oz. more than the hand-
made ones, and this when sending by parcel
post is a consideration not to be lost sight of.
— Will Hampton, Richmond.

HONEY SEASON OF 1901.

[4522.] Many of your correspondents have
written about " the excellent honey season of
this year." It may have been such in some
southern parts of the country, but hereabouts it
has been the poorest that I remember. One
generally reckons here upon three months of
good honey collecting — viz., from May 15 to

August 15. Of these the first was entirely
lost through cold and wet, and the last through
drought, which did not allow even white clover
to flower a second time ; so that my yield has
only been five- sixths of that of last year,
though my hives were in better condition to start
with. On the other hand, the honey has been
exceedingly good, and snowed no darkening
from honey -dew, which might have been
eAjjected in such a season. Wax moth has
bten a perpetual trouble, and there have been
few weeks in which I have not hunted it more
or less. Very few sections have been well
filled, though they were placed early upon my
strongest stocks. I got as many swarms as I
wanted from the low-lying fens, about the
end of May and beginning of June ; but
my own hives (I am 164 ft. above the sea)
did not betray any wish to swarm till July 15,
when several talked about it. The fruit crop
has been most disastrous, scarcely any apple
trees deigned to flower at all, resting, I
suppose, after their tremendous exploits of
last year. Pears showed about half a crop,
but these were attacked by wasps weeks
before they were fit to be gathered, while all the
plum buds, except on netted trees, were
destroyed by birds before they could open.
Wasps have been horribly abundant. It is a
great pleasure to observe the pluck with
which a single bee will go at a wasp and
chase him away, though far her superior in
weight, and to see a wasp, which has succeeded
in dodging the sentries at the narrow entrance,
make his exit a deal quicker than he came.
One morning last week my gardener greeted
me with, " The wasps are wholly robbing No.
2," and I found this was the case, and also
that most of the combs were " wholly " in
possession of the " wriggling worms " you
wot of. (We had, as we thought, thoroughly
cleaned both hive and combs only a fortnight
before.) We removed most of the comb3 and
changed the floor, and having observed her
majesty on the discarded floor, replaced her
in her diminished palace of two or three
frames only. She disdained such narrow
quarters, and was shortly afterwards seen
walking across the bare earth in front, while
her subjects came out and swarmed in a fruit
tree opposite. She was replaced and they
all — a terribly diminished court — returned
to the hive ; but two or three hours later
came out again and settled on an apple tree
farther off. My lad tells me he saw them
apply for admission to No. 23, which was
refused, and they had returned to their apple
tree when 1 saw them about 5 p.m. — the
most miserable little swarm I ever saw —
barely a handful of bees, not worth any
further attention. The next morning they
were gone, having probably got taken in in
some " workhouse,'' where possibly their queen
may be now reigning in place of a slain rival.
I have just begun a " frame to frame" visita-
tion throughout my apiary, changing and
thoroughly cleaning every floor-board. In the

Oct. 10, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

407

first hive I examined to-day some comb-
building was still going on near the entrance ;
and there is brood in the frames, but not
much.— C. 0. James, Wortham Rectory, Diss,
October 2.

BEE-KEEPING IN CAPE COLONY.

[4523.] Having been much struck by the
style of hive used in this part of Cape Colony,
I thought it might interest readers to have a
brief description of two shapes of hive, viz.,
the "Box " and " Tub. ' Both of these are
built in with either stonework or brickwork,
and have similar entrances, while some have
flat roofs and others slanting ones. The tub
or box hive3 are 18 in. broad (high box)
and about 24 in. from back to front, are
built in a block of stones or bricks raised
3 ft. off ground and completely surrounded
with them and plastered with mud to keep
them dry ; the front of the hive has a door
with hinges, which latter contains about nine
holes. I saw five in a row at three yards' in-
terval at Garstland Kloofe, Craddock District,
Cape Colony, South Africa. I have noticed
the same in Richmond, Hanover, Murray-
Burgh— Graffe Reinette districts. In the
majority of cases the hives are empty with
traces of comb. I was going to try and
sample the honey, but we had to move away
after the rebels, who had just vacated the
place. The bees I have noticed are much
smaller and more yellow than the ordinary —
the trooper in charge took them for wasp3.

The peach and apricot blossom have been
in flower for a fortnight; pear blossom in
some cases is out. I am afraid I have lost a
good season through being away, but my bees
will, no doubt, have made the best of it, as
they were left in good hands. With best
wishes.— C. B. Elmhirst (Expert), 11th Com-
pany Imperial Yeomanry, Gape. Colony,
South Africa, September 5.

[2735.] Loss of Weight of Stock in Skep.—
I purchased a stock of bees in a skep. They
arrived July 16, and then weighed 20 lb. ; but
now, with the addition of a floor-board, they
only weigh 15 lb. I therefore ask :— 1. Is it a
bad sign for the hive to lose weight like this ?
2. How shall I feed the bees, as the skep has
no feed-hole and is very old ; the combs also
are old ?— L. Illingworth, Acton, W.

Reply.— 1. The skep was bought at the
close of the honey harvest, for since July 16
probably no honey has been gathered ; conse-
quently, the bees have for nearly three months
been living on the stores previously gathered.
The diminution of weight is therefore perfectly
normal and natural. 2. Cut a circular feed-
hole in top of skep sufficiently large for insert-
ing the neck of a glass jar holding about 2 lb.

of syrup-food. This should be filled and set
on at once, wrapping the junction of feeder
and skep with newspaper to keep bees from
getting at the food from the outside. The
syrup must be given warm. About 6 lb. or
7 lb. of liquid added to what is already in
store makes up the desired quantity, after
which a cake of soft candy, pressed into the
feed-hole and covered well with paper, to keep
the bees snug and warm, will render the stock
safe for winter. If details of how to feed bees
up for winter are needed you should procure a
copy of the " Guide Book." Without such or
similar book a beginner cannot make much
headway.

T2736.] Loss of Stocks in Winter.— I send
a sample of syrup made for autumn feeding.
It was, I think, made according to directions
in Cowan's "Guide Book." The syrup will
not be used this year. 1. Kindly let me
know if it is suitable for the bees. Some
time ago an experienced bee-keeper told
me to " dissolve naphthol beta in spirits
of wine." I have recently bought the " Guide
Book," but do not see that it mentions
spirits of wine. 2. I am sending some comb
for your opinion as to whether it is affected
with foul brood or not. The comb has only
been in use for a few months, the bees
having died of famine. 3. Could the combs
be used again, or would you advise me to melt
them down, and would the wax be worth
sending away to be made into foundation ?
4. I do not know of any one so unfortunate as
myself. I lost three stocks last winter, which,
I thought, had sufficient stores, for I took
none from them. It was very disappointing
to me, a beginner — it was all expense and no
profit. Am I to blame ? Now one lot has
foul brood— at least, I destroyed them lately.
I have always been careful, I think, to keep
on renewing naphthaline, and I scrub the floor-
boards with " Izal " solution, and now, as I
have empty hives on hand, I shall be able to
give them clean hives also. I pack the bees
with an abundance of covers and paper. I
keep none in skeps. It is very discouraging
indeed to lose the bees after all my trouble.
It is only recently. I am quite inexperienced,
therefore a word of advice would greatly
oblige. — Beta, Abergavenny, October 2.

Reply.— 1. Syrup would be all right if
boiled a little longer ; it is too thin. 2. There
is no trace of brood at all in comb. You will
find full instructions for treating foul brood in
"Guide Book." 3. Comb, being free from
disease, is quite fit for use. 4. It appears as
if the loss of stocks was due to want of know-
ledge as to food in store. The mishap was so
easy to avoid that you were certainly to blame
in allowing the bees to starve.

[2737.] Enemies of the Honey-Bee.— Are
dragon-flies classed among the enemies of the
honey-bee ? Just lately I have seen several
flying in front of my hives when the bees are
oat strongest, but their movements are so

408

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 10, 1901.

quick it is almost impossible to see if they
carry bees off to devour them. A bee-keeping
friend tells me that he saw a dragon-fly among
his bees, and that it was flying away with one,
when he captured it. I would therefore like
to know if any one else has noticed them
doing this or any other kind of mischief
among their bees. — S. H. Tollinuton.

Reply. Personally we believe that the

dragon-ny never does any harm to bees. Our
apiary, when we lived in the north, contained
over forty hives, and dragon -flies were
numerous in the district, but we always
regarded them as perfectly harmless in the
apiary.

[2738.] Disputed Ownership of Bees.— Will
you please answer me the following : — A man
(whom we will call A) quits his abode and
leaves a hive' of bees, which he gives to another
man (B). The hive is located in a difficult
place to get at, but B has permission to do
what he likes with them. B sells the bees and
hive to me for five shillings, and in due course
we moved them away to another place,
where they remained for a year and eight
months. Then the original owner takes it
into his head to present the bees to another
man, and authorises the latter to fetch them
away, and he has done so. Will you kindly
tell me how to move in the matter ? — A.
Walker, Aylesbury.

Keply. — If the facts are as stated, we should
say the man who took the bees away had
about as much right to do so as he would have
to take your coat away or any other article
belonging to you. Our wonder is that you
allowed the bees to be carried off as stated,
but your remedy lies in the county court
whither you should summon him.

[2739.] Moving Bees. — I wish to move my
four hives of bees to a more sheltered part of
garden, some twenty yards away. As it is
not practicable to move them a few feet each
working day, as directed in " Guide Book," I
should like to know what would be the best
time of the year to move them without losing
any bees, now in the autumn or next spring,
after they have wintered ? — F. H., Warrington,
October 3.

Reply. — The hives may be moved without
fear of loss in bees by choosing a time for
removal when the bees have been confined to
their hives for four or five weeks through
frost or adverse weather.

[2740.] Be- queening Hives. — Will you
kindly answer me the following question in
Bee Journal : — I killed the queen-bee in
one of my hives a month ago and at the same
time ordered a young queen. I hoped to get
the new queen soon, but did not receive it
until thirteen days later. I examined the
hive to see if the bees had started to raise a
young queen, but could see no sign of queen-
cells. I caged the queen for two days and
then released her. There seemed to be no

desire on the part of the bees to hurt her at
all. At the'same time I started feeding the
stock, and a few days afterwards examined the
hive again and found a very small queen, not
the one I introduced as far as I can tell,
because the one I introduced was much larger.
I could not see any eggs or brood in the cells ;
consequently, I looked over the combs again
but not an egg could I find ; therefore, the
best course was to purchase another young
queen. I enclose you the small queen
referred to above and should be glad if you
can say if she is a virgin '( Also if you think
they must have killed the queen I introduced ?
Any information you can give me from the
above I should feel greatly obliged. — Con-
stant Reader, Kidderminster.

Reply. — The dead queen received is a
virgin and consequently worthless. It is
always safest in such cases as yours to secure
a tested queen, the risks of mating safely and
of abortive queen-cells, &c, making queen-
raising risky in the hands of beginners.

[2741.] Moving Bees. — I am compelled to
remove my two hives of bees about 200 yards
across a road any time between now and the
spring, and should like your advice as to the
best time to do so. I always winter the stocks
over ekes, which will make removing them
somewhat risky, unless I screwed the body-
box to the eke. Would you advise removing
before I pack up for winter ? If I placed
skeps on the old stands and collected the bees
that went back, could I unite them with their
respective stocks by merely shaking them out
before the hives ?— W. H. T., Brecken-le-Dale,
Birkdale, Lanes.

Reply. — When packing bees for winter
screw body-boxes to ekes as proposed, and so
soon as bees have stopped flying for a fort-
night or three weeks, temporarily close en-
trances and remove hives to new location and
open entrances at once. We do not approve
your last suggested method. Please note rule
as to name. — Eds.

REVIEWS OF FOREIGN BEE PAPERS.

BY R. HAMLYN-HARRIS, F.R.M S., F.Z.S.,
F.E.S., ETC.

Revue Internationale — Gleanings in Bee
Culture.—There has been much done in
breeding bees in brighter colours, in suppress-
ing swarming and increasing the production of
honey. Why, then, cannot bees be raised
with the tongue long enough to work the red
clover. Michigan experimental station pos-
sesses a colony of Italian bees with tongues a
third longer than that of the black bee and a
fifth longer than ordinary Italian bees. This
result is very encouraging, but could not at
the same time some energy be applied towards
shortening the tube of the red clover, seeking
the plants most frequented by the bees, col-
lecting their seeds, sowing, and fertilising 1

Oct. 10, 1901.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

409

Would not thus in a few years time a plant be
produced that the honey bee could work ?

L' Apiculture (France). — The French
Government has just brought into being a tax
of 50 centimes in every 100 francs value on
every garden or unbuilt upon land in Paris.
This has given rise to wild indignation in the
daily papers which predict that the gardens
will everywhere disappear to make room for
buildings, and were this to take place the
bees of the few colonies which exist in Paris
would have their haunts greatly diminished
and thus a tax made for the benefit of
sellers and drinkers of wine would sadly
react upon the bees.

Revue Internationale d? Apiculture (Switzer-
land).— It was thought that honey had reached
the lowest possible price, but it seems to be
still retrograding. " L'Apiculture " speaks
of 95 francs for 100 kilos (200 lb.) of the
finest honey. This price is so low as almost
to preclude the possibility of successful apicul-
ture in La Beauce, where, owing to the condi-
tions of things, the bee-keepers have to buy
fresh hives each year at an average price of
15 francs. It being impossible to preserve the
bees, or at most a very rare occurrence. Is
the low price of honey to ruin one of the
richest honey districts in Europe, where bees
have been kept and the finest honey produced
for more than a hundred years ?

It has been said that the prices of honey
will come down to those of the United States,
but even then industrious bee-keepers can
make it answer. Nowhere is the honey indus-
try greater than there, where honey sells at
about 3d. a lb.

Independently of the common bee, there are
several other varieties more or less valuable.
The Italian bee is distinguished from the
common bee by two yellow rings, and the
hairs which form a slight down are yellowish,
especially when young ; she is somewhat larger
than the black bee, her scent is more delicate,
and her buzz is gentler. These bees defend
their hives better than the others, and never
permit a strange bee to enter. They are
gentle and easy to handle, and generally
winter successfully. They raise more brood,
than the ordinary black bee, but for that
reason they consume much more food in the
early spring. This race crossed with other
varieties is not so gentle as the pure Italian,
but these workers are very active and robust.

Then there is the Cypriot bee, somewhat
more yellow than the Italian, the queens
smaller, but very prolific. They are very
industrious, but not good tempered, and they
slaughter bees of other races unmercifully and
rapidly. The Syrian is also a yellow variety,
with stripes of the same colour and ashen-grey
down. A little smaller than the Italian bee,
but vigorous and excellent workers. They
winter very well, still there are days when
they will not work, and what is worse, they
are great robbers.

Cypriot and Syrian bees raise a great number

of queens at swarming time, sometimes thirty
or forty young queens in one hive.

The Carniolian, from Austria, is a larger
bee of an ashy-white colour, very gentle, and
little susceptible to cold ; they do well in cool
countries, but in France they swarm too
freely, and are better when crossed with the
Italian.

The Palestine bee greatly resembles the
Syrian, is perhaps yellower, and of small size.
The queens are very small ; the workers are
wonderfully active in summer, but ill-tempered
and thieving. They winter but badly in our
climates, as it is never very cold in their
native haunts.

Of all bees the Algerian race of Kabylean
bees are the most detestable. They are as
black as coal, so much as to be ugly, and if
any one touches their hives, even with plenty
of smoke and with veil and gloves, they are
sure to be stung. They not only attack the
operator, but also any one who may happen to
be in the neighbourhood. They are robbers
in the highest degree, and, like the Palestinian
bees, they winter very ill.

The grey Caucasian bee is difficult to pro-
cure, and very expensive, so it has not been
very closely examined.

The Corsican bee is yellow, like the Italian,
others grey, like our own, but paler in colour ;
they are not so gentle as the Italians. Like
all queen bees from warm latitudes, these bees
begin to lay too early in the year.

WEATHER REPORT.

Westbourne, Sussex,
September, 1901.
Sunless Days, 0.
Below average, 19'4

hours.
Mean Maximum,

64-6°.
Mean

50 6°.
Mean

57-6°.
Above average, 2-8°.
Maximum Barometer,

30-45°, on 28th.
Minimum Barometer,

29 -48°, on 17th.

Rainfall, 2 51 in.

Heaviest fall, 77 in.,
on 16th.

Rain fell on 1 1 days.

Above average,

•16 in.

Maximum Tempera-
ture, 70°, on 29th.

Minimum Tempera-
ture, 40°, on 16 th.

Minimum on Grass,
31°, on 16th.

Frosty Nights, 0.

Sunshine, 162*1 hrs.

Brightest Day, 4th,
12 hours.

Minimum,
Temperature,

L. B. Birkett.

PRESS CUTTINGS : INTERESTING

AND "OTHERWISE."

REMARKABLE find of honey.

A remarkable discovery was made at Burn-
ham, Somerset, on Friday, about mid-day, of
a large quantity of honey in the comb, esti-
mated at about 2 cwt., between the joists of a
house known as Rose Farm, in the occupa-

410

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 10, 1901.

tion of Mr. J. Duddridge. The occupants of
the room could not understand the presence of
so many bees, and the consequence was that
one of the boards in the floor was raised. Out
flew thousands of bees. Mr. J. Day, of
Berrow, near Burnham, who was present at
the time, took the usual precautions to get rid
of the bees, and when the insects were driven
out it was discovered that there was about
2 cwt. of honeycomb, tightly packed in be-
tween the joists. The house was done up
about four or five years ago, and it is thought
that the honey has been collecting for the
past four years, the bees entering the house
through cracks in the wall. — Bristol Mercury.

ARREST OF A SWARM OF BEES.

The officer in charge of Windsor Borough
Police-station yesterday took several thousand
prisoners who had created a disturbance in the
front garden. The intruders were a swarm of
bees, and they settled in the constabulary
grounds. The officer in charge promptly
decided that it was his duty to make an arrest,
so he took a couple of tins and banged them
together while some one went for a bee-keeper
to assist the police. Charmed by the tin-
banging, the bees waited until the bee-keeper
arrived, and then they offered no resistance to
being taken into custody. They were safely
hived, and proved to be a valuable swarm.

dtfatts ft am M gtOtS.

St. Asaph, N. Wales. — The honey season
in this district has been most satisfactory,
honey plentiful and of good quality. We
started with fourteen hives in spring, and
have taken on an average 12T75 lb. per hive,
our total being 1,705 lb., all clover honey.
Our best hive gave 215 lb., our second one
142 lb., while nine others gave over the
hundred. — G. W.

\u JShmtiss to atom*.

October 8 to 11, at the Agricultural Hall,
London. — Show of Honey and Bee-produce in con-
nection with the British Dairy Farmers' Association.
Numerous and liberal prizes for honey, &c— Schedules
from Mr. Wm. C. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-square,
London, W. Entries closed.

October 10, 11, and 12, at Crystal Palace-
Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, and Appliances. Increased prizes and medals.
Schedules from Hon. Secretary, Henry W. Brice, 100,
Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath. Entries closed.

October 23 to 30, at Olympia, Northum-
berland-road, Newcastle-on-Tyne.— Show of
Honey in connection with the Newcastle-oh-Tyne
Grocers, Bakers, and Confectioners' Exhibition. Six
open classes, and four confined to Northumberland,
Cumberland, and Durham. Medals and cash prizes.
Schedules from Jus. Waddell, Wooler, Northumberland.
Entries close October 21.

October 24 and 25, at Kilmarnock-— Honey
Show in connection with the Ayrshire Agricul-
tural Association. Eleven classes for honey, with
liberal money prizes. Schedules from John Howie,
Secretary, 58, Alloway-street, Ayr. Entries close
October 11.

November 14, at Town Hall, Ludlow.— Honey
Show in connection with Exhibition of Chrysanthemum
and Fruit Society. Two open classes for honey.
Schedules from J. Palmer, Bon. Secretary, 17, Brand-
lane, Ludlow. Entries close November 5.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur-
chased, or replies giving such information, can only be
inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

Mark (Anerley). — The British Bee-keepers'
Association have two sets of lantern slides
which they hire to bee-keepers for lecturing
purposes. Particulars can be obtained from
the Secretary, Mr. E. H. Young, 12,
Hanover-square, London, W.

J. Turner (Bramall). — Queen Thrown out. —
Queen sent has been mated. The fact that
the bees are now casting out the drones is
certainly a sign that they have no further
use for them. We should think they have
a mated queen.

R. French (Leamington). — Drone-Brood. —
We cannot say for certain whether quee i
was mated or not, she not having come to
hand. From what you say, however, wo
anticipate she was mated, as it not infre-
quently happens that queens will lay a few
drone-eggs before settling down to their
maternal duties.

Suspected Combs.

Special Notice to correspondents sending queries mi
"Foul brood."

We urgently request that all letters sent with samples
of suspected comb be put outside the box or tin containing
the sample. Also that no more than a couple of square
inches of comb be sent, taking care to neither crush the
comb nor probe the cells before despatching.

In urgent cases (and where possible) we undertake to
" wire " replies as to F. B. if six stamps are sent to cover
cost of telegram. All letters to be addressed " Editor,
Bee Journal," not "Manager."

O. A. (Nantwich). — Very bad ci?e of disease.

Novice (Devon). — One of the worst speci-
mens we have seen. Very foul indeed.

W. R. O. (Keighley). — Comb is diseased.
Not a bad case, but decided 'F.B.:'

Peter Grant (Roslin, N.B.). — There is no
trace of any brood at all in comb. The few
half- filled cells contain only pollen.

Honey Sample.
G. Spearman (Colesbourne).— Sample of
honey sent is pure honey, as is evidenced
by it having partly granulated. It is a
nice colour, but has a flavour and aroma
quite its own.

Oct. 17, 1901.] THE EEITISH BEE JOURNAL,

411

tutorial, Ijtotim, kt

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

The monthly meeting of the Council was
held on Thursday, the 10th inst., in the Board
Room of the R.S.P.C.A., Jermyn-street, W.
The business of the meeting was purely formal,
and on its conclusion a short adjournment
was made for light refreshments, after which
the meeting was transformed into the usual
October

CONVERSAZIONE,

over which Mr. T. I. Weston presided, the
following members and friends being present :
The Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh, Rev. W. E.
Burkitt, General Sir Stanley Edwards, Major
Fair, Miss Gay ton, Miss E. Black, Messrs.
S. Atkin, G. Durrant, H. Dil worth, H.
Edwards, J. Garratt, R. Hamlyn-Harris, J.
Howland, Geo. Hayes, Henry Jonas, W. P.
Meadows, J. H. New, A. G. Pugh, Walter F.
Reid, Allen Sharp, J. Willard, J. Waterfield,
E. Walker, Edwin H. Young, and others.

The proceedings opened with the exhibition
of a travelling crate for removing frames from
an apiary to the extracting house. The con-
trivance was passed round the room for
examination, and rather unfavourably
criticised, Mr. Meadows venturing the
opinion that the inventor was not a practical
bee-keeper, and that his production would
find no acceptance among apiculturists. The
chairman thought that the box was intended
for the transport of sections as well as, in lieu
of that, the conveyance of swarms, and, conse-
quently, like many other inventions designed to
carry out two different objects, did the work
of each rather badly.

Mr. Reid, having been asked to make
inquiries regarding the possibility of arranging
a scheme of insurance for bee-keepers against
damage caused by bees, reported progress. He
said that the idea originated out of a rather
hard case in which a bee-keeper had to pay a
considerable sum in compensation to an owner
of horses. A subscription was got up among
sympathisers in order to partially recoup this
gentleman in his loss, but it was not liberally
responded to. He (Mr. Reid) had been in
communication with two insurance firms on
the subject. One, which promised to consider
it and quote terms, had failed to do so. The
other had written to the effect that they would
entertain the project except as against bee-
keeping employees, who were probably covered
•by the Employers' Liability Act, and the sum
asked was Id. per hive — a very moderate
charge that ought to be acceptable to all.
The only statistics that could be placed
before the agents were the names of sub-
scribers given in the reports of associations, but
these did not form a reliable basis. How-
ever, he had computed the number of members
at 3,000, and gave that to the agents as a

foundation upon which they could make their
calculations. Of course, besides that, it was
reasonable to assume that many bee-keepers
who were not members of associations would
be glad to avail themselves of this offer ; and
if so, that fact would be an incentive to them
to join associations. A further condition was
that 70 per cent, of the total number of
hives must insure. It was obviously out of
the question to suppose that penny policies
could be issued by an insurance company ;
and therefore he submitted that the B.B.K.A.
should take out one policy for all the county
associations which were affiliated. The
branches could pay in bulk for all their
members to the British, which would negotiate
with the company for one policy, covering
every member who had subscribed one penny
per hive.

Mr. Jonas thought the insurance fee of Id.
per hive ridiculously small, and one that
nobody could possibly object to, while the
method of collecting the money and effecting
the insurance through the B.B.K.A. seemed a
perfectly simple and satisfactory arrangement.
He doubted not that County Associations
would readily give their adhesion to the pro-
posal, and insure all their members. He also
believed that when the scheme was adopted
and made known in the provinces it would
have the effect of causing " outside bee-
keepers " to join county associations. The
work would devolve on each county secretary
to collect the subscriptions, and hand up to
the B.B.K.A. the amount for the number of
hive3 owned by the members in his own
district.

A question was asked as to when the hives
should be counted, whether at the beginning
or end of the season ; to which Mr. Reid
replied that the right time would be when
they were alive and in full working order in
the spring ; then " experts " could collect the
fees and thus save the trouble of writing and
expense of postage. In Germany there was a
small insurance scheme, by which only a
pfennig (tenth of a penny) per hive was
charged.

Mr. Hamlyn-Harris knew that in Belgium
the subscription fee was arranged to include
insurance of each hive.

General Sir Stanley Edwards asked how
the lower classes would be affected by the
scheme, those who only subscribed 2s. 6d. to
the county associations. Would they be able
to pay a premium on each hive in addition ?

Mr. Reid replied that fortunately a great
number of subscribers paid the increased con-
tribution, which rendered it possible for
cottagers to be accepted at 2s. 6d., a sum that
was really not sufficient to pay out-of-pocket
expenses in regard to them. Any cottager
out of his bees alone ought to be able to
afford 5s. per annum ; but putting it at the
worst, those who really could not pay would
be no worse off than now, while the great
majority would be benefited,

412

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 17, 1901.

Mr. E. H. Young (Sec. B.B.K.A.) thought
that the counting should be done in June or
July.

Mr. Garratt asked, was there any need for
an outside body to take up this insurance
scheme'? Could not the B.B.K.A. do it
themselves ? Taking 3,000 known bee-keepers
as the basis, and assuming that they average
four or five hives each, the sum would be
between £40 and £50, which money could be
held in trust by the B.B.K.A. to meet any
claims that might arise. The treasurer could
hold the funds as well as any one else. There
would be very few claims.

The Secretary pointed out that there had,
he believed, been two claims made in one
season, and if there were to be a repetition of
that the B.B.K.A., so far as insurance was
concerned, would be bankrupt at once.
Directly insurance became a reality claims
would have a tendency to increase.

Mr. Meadows suggested that the County
Associations might be asked to pay an in-
creased affiliation fee, which would cover the
cost of insuring their members. This would
avoid augmenting the work of branch secre-
taries, which was already heavy enough. This
scheme could be made to work very well up to
ten hives per member, exceeding which a
small extra amount might be charged for
insurance.

Mr. Geo. Hayes feared County Associations
would find a difficulty in increasing their
members' subscriptions to meet the cost of
insurance. As a county secretary he could
bear witness to the trouble there was in
securing the 2s. 6d. subscription, which would
be multiplied if another advance of Is. were
required.

The Secretary remarked that there was
considerable variation in the number of stocks
owned by members, and it would be hardly
fair that one bee-keeper with two hives should
have to pay the same amount as another with
twenty.

Mr. Reid said that another condition of the
insurance at one penny per hive was that at
least 60 to 70 per cent, of the total number of
hives must be insured. That meant that
about 2,500 must take advantage of the offer.

The Chairman thought the Committee
would want to know the minimum amount
for which the company would undertake to
carry out the scheme. No doubt the pay-
ments would have to be collected by the
experts on the occasion of their visits — in the
autumn by preference. He thought the
matter could not be arranged by the counties
paying an extra affiliation fee, because the
liabilities of each county differed ; for instance,
Essex would be represented by about £6 5s.,
while the aggregate for some other counties
would be much less. Besides, how could any
equality be maintained by that system when
one member might have two, while another
possessed forty or fifty hives.

Mr. Reid said that the company would not

accept a subscription as representing a general
number of hives ; each hive must be insured
and capable of identification. Thus it would
not be feasible for a county association to pay
down a lump sum.

Mr. Allen Sharp asked if he had ten hives
and insured only one, what check there would
be against his ascribing damage done to the
insured hive, whilst the real depredators might
have belonged to other stocks 1 to which Mr.
Reid replied that all or none must be insured.

Mr. Jonas thought an easy way of arranging
the matter would be to limit the number of
hives to two for a 2s. 6d. subscription, five for
5s., and ten to twenty for 10s. 6d. He was
afraid he could not agree with Mr. Garratt
that the B.B.K.A. should take the risk. A
point that occurred to him was, how would
the B.B.K.A. be able to ascertain the number
of hives belonging to its members, having no
expert to find out 1

Mr. Reid replied that that duty would
devolve on the secretary, as in the case of any
branch if it were not sufficiently organised to
employ an expert. The insurance would be
renewable every year, so that if found remune-
rative the B.B.K.A. could then take it over,
should they wish to do so. However, the
whole subject would come before the Council
of the parent body for consideration and
decision.

(Conclusion of Report next week.)

THE DAIRY SHOW.

The twenty-sixth annual show of the Dairy
Farmers' Association opened at the Agri-
cultural Hall, London, on Tuesday, the 8th
inst., and continued till the 11th.

Our unexpected absence from town pre-
vented us from visiting the Hall during the
week ; we are therefore unable to give a
personal account of the show or a notice of
the exhibits. We are, however, promised
some particulars from a reliable quarter, which
will enable us to make a report next week.
Meanwhile we append the prize list.

The judges were Mr. Walter F. Reid and
Mr. C. N. White, who made the following
awards : —

Twelve I -lb. Jars Light-coloured Extracted
Honey (43 entries). — 1st, John Smart, And-
over, Hants ; 2od, Rev. Edwd. R. Iremonger,
Clatford Vicarage, near Andover ; 3rd, Wm.
Woodley, Beedon, Newbury ; 4th, A. M.
Woodley, World's End, Newbury ; v.h.c, S.
Temblett, Andover, Hants, and Rev. R. M.
Lamb, Burton Pidsea Rectory, Hull ; h.c,
F. R. Ford, Burwell, Cambs, and H. W.
Seymour, Henley-on-Thames.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Medium-coloured Ex-
tracted Honey other than Heather (20 entries).
—1st, E. C. R. White, Newton Toney,
Salisbury; 2nd, G. W. Kirby, Longwell
Green, Bristol ; 3rd, H. W. Seymour ; 4th,
Rev. W. H. Edwards, Pangbourne, Berks ;
c, D. H. M. Turner, Romanhurst, Witney.

Oct. 17, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

413

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Dark-coloured Extracted
Honey other than Heather (7 entries). — 1st,
G. W. Kirby ; 2nd, H. W. Seymour ; c,
E. C. E, White (3rd and 4th not awarded).

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Heather Honey
(8 entries). — 1st, Thos. Eichards, Church
Gresley, B urton- on -Trent ; 2nd, Wm. Spros-
ton, Shugborough, Staffs ; c, J. H. Horn,
Bedale, Yorks (3rd not awarded).

Twelve 1-/6. Jars Granulated Honey (6
entries). — 1st, H. W. Seymour ; 2nd, Eichard
Brown, Somersham, Hunts ; c, Eev. H. F.
Goffe, Caistor, Lines (3rd not awarded).

Six 2-lb. Sectio7i.< (5 entries). — 1st, Eichard
Brown ; h.c, Edward Bontoft, Caterham
Valley, Surrey (2nd and 3rd not awarded).

Tioelve l-lb. Sections (20 entries). — 1st (and
B.B.K.A. certificate), A. M. Woodley ; 2nd,
Wm. Woodley ; 3rd, Anthony Bayley, Words-
ley, Stourbridge ; h.c, H.W. Seymour ; c, Eev.
E. E. Iremonger.

Twelve l-lb. Sections, other than 4 J in. by
4J in. (7 entries). — 1st, Eev. E. M. Lamb ;
2nd, John Carver, Wellington, Salop ; h.c,
Mrs. B. M. Kirk, Stillington, Yorks.

Twelve l-lb. Sections Heather Honey (7
entries). — 1st, E. W. Patten, Eock, Alnwick;
2nd, H. Waddington, Borobridge, Yorks ;
h.c, J. M. Balmbra, Alnwick ; c, E. T.
Tennant, Thirsk, Yorks.

Display of Comb and Extracted Honey (5
entries). — 1st (and B.B.K.A. Bronze Medal),
Wm. Woodley ; h.c, A. M. Woodley ; c,
Eichard Brown (2nd and 3rd not awarded).

Beeswax (not less than 3 lb.) (13 entries). —
1st, H. W. Seymour ; 2nd, John Berry,
Llanrwst, N. Wales ; v.h.c, E. C. E. White ;
h.c, E. E. Scholefield, Chudleigb, Devon.

Beeswax (not lexs than 3 lb.) in Marketable
Cakes suitable for the Retail Trade (12
entries). — 1st, Geo. Walker, Wendover,
Bucks ; 2nd, John Berry ; h.c, E. C. E.
White; c, H. W. Seymour (3rd prize not
awarded).

Interesting and Instructive Exhibit of a
Practical Nature. — 1st (and Silver Medal
B.B.K.A.), H. Edwards, Sunningdale,
Berks ; h.c, E. H. Taylor, Welwyn, Herts.

KENT AND SUSSEX BEE-KEEPEES'
ASSOCIATION.

SHOW AT THE CRYSTAL TALACE.

It was a matter of great satisfaction to the
Council of the above Association that they had
the good fortune to hold their annual exhibition
at the Crystal Palace on the 10th to 12th inst.,
in connection with the fruit show of the Eoyal
Horticultural Society. The support rendered
the Show Committee by the associated mem-
bers of the twin counties and others, produced
the largest and finest exhibition ever held by
the Association, whilst the quality of the
exhibits staged was of a very high character
indeed. The Palace and grounds during
the days of the show became a popular

rendezvous for bee-keepers from all
parts of the kingdom. Several entirely new
features were included in the exhibits, among
them the stand of the County Cider Company
from Swanley, which, under their able
manager, Mr. Millar, served to considerably
enhance the attractiveness of the general dis-
play. Indeed, it may be truly said the whole
central nave of the Palace was one great
object-lesson on the wonders and beauty of
Nature in the production of food for mankind,
commencing first with flowers, then the bees
and honey and wax, then the fruit, and lastly
the cider. As was remarked, a happier com-
bination was impossible. No show has in the
experience cf the writer produced so large an
amount of interest, the stands being crowded
during the whole time the exhibition was
open.

The weather also was exceedingly fine and
warm, permitting lectures and demonstrations
with live bees twice daily to be given to large
audiences, and the efforts here of the County
Expert (Mr. W. Herrod) were much appre-
ciated, while the clever and concise way in
which the lecturer practically placed bee-
keeping in a nutshell at each lecture was
admitted by all hearers.

The full list of awards will be forwarded for
publication in next issue. — (Communicated.)

TESTIMONIAL TO ME. HOOKEE.

The committee deem it unadvisable to state
the amount of each subscription, but the
ultimate sum received will be announced in
the Bee Journal at the closing of the list,
and each contributor will be provided with a
copy of the complete subscription list.

The committee will be glad to have the
co-operation of hon. secretaries of county asso-
ciations, and trust that no county will allow
its name to be absent from the list.

Subscriptions to be sent to the Editors,
British Bee Journal, 17, King William-
street, Strand, W.C., or to Jesse Garratt, hon.
secretary and treasurer, Meopham, Kent.

The following have given their support to
the proposed testimonial : —

The Hon. and Eev. H. Bligh.

Eev. E. Bartrum, D.D.

Eev. G. W. Bancks.

Eev. Canon Scarth.

Eev. W. E. Burkitt.

Colonel H. J. 0. Walker.

Miss Gayton.

Henry Jonas.

E. D. Till.

F. B. White (Vice-Chairman B.B.K.A.).
H. W. Harris.

John H. Howard.
H. G. Morris.
W. Broughton Carr.
Jesse Garratt.
E. French.
John Walton.

414

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 17, 1901.

HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of Septem-
ber, 1901, was £1,539. — From a return
furnished to the British Bee -Journal by the
Statistical Office, H.M. Customs.

timtsftm&mt.

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

Communications relating to the literary department ,
reports of Associations, Shoivs, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for Review, &c.,must be addressed only to "The
Editors of the' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William-
street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi-
cations relating to advertisements, dec, must be addressed
to "The Manager, 'British Bee Journal' Office, 17,
Ring William-street, Strand, London, W.C."

%,* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents,
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

THE DAIRY SHOW, 1901.

PRIZE-WINNING IN DUPLICATE.

[4524.] The Dairy Show has come and gone
once more, and while it is still fresh in our
memories I should like to say a few words
regarding the same. For excellence of quality
in the produce staged it was, in my opinion,
far ahead of previous shows, and I was very
pleased to see all arrangements carried out by
Mr. W. Herrod in such a thoroughly efficient
manner. The thanks of exhibitors are due to
him for the care in which the exhibits were
staged in the best possible way for effect.

I may now be allowed to say a word or two
with regard to the trophy class and other
classes at the " Dairy," so far as giving my
personal opinion merely for what it is worth,
on the practice now coming into vogue of
making more than a single entry in one class.
I feel sure that these double entries, if not
given up, will " kill " the trophy class. I know
perfectly well an exhibitor can, according to
the rules of the Dairy Show, make three or
more entries in a class, and win all the prizes
in that class if his exhibits are of sufficient
merit. But when a man makes an entry in
the " trophy class," and goes to the show with
the intention of doing his best, and there finds
a noted prize-winner modestly staging one
exhibit for himself and another for his wife, it
is a bit hard on smaller bee-keepers like
myself. I think a man should be content to
win the first prize, and all the honours at-
tached to it, and having done so, leave a little
chance for the smaller fry. For myself, it is
only necessary to say that I refused to stage
the trophy which I bad entered, and I

shall not think of agaiu eutering a trophy at
the " Dairy," or any other large show,
while this kind of thing goes on. It seems
a pity that the trophy classes should
be allowed to fall through owing to one
individual being more grasping than his
brother bee-keepers in the craft. I notice
Mr. Loveday said a few words in B.B.J, of last
week regarding the same kind of business at
the " Grocers' " Exhibition. I hope it is not
too late for the schedules of the next year's
exhibitions to be made more stringent, so that
there will be no chance whatever for any man
to exhibit in his own, his wife's, or his son's
name. Let these " deck -sweepers" make one
entry only, and I would suggest that all first
prize winners be debarred from showing in
the same classes for one year.

I shall be glad to hear the views of other
exhibitors on this subject, as I think it is to
the interest of us all that the question should
be thrashed out in a straightforward manner
in the pages of our Journal. — H. W.
Seymour, Henley-on-Thames, October 14.

BEE-FLOWERS— JUDGING
SHOWS.

AT

[4525.] Mr. Loveday's paragraph in the
B.B.J, of October 3 (page 394) was character-
istic of his writings, in being very practical.
It certainly seems quite possible for anybody
possessing a garden to grow a few flowers for
the bees, although it would be entirely useless
to attempt the cultivation of sufficient bee-
forage to appreciably affect the amount of
surplus gathered by the grower's own bees.
I have noted that Echino-ps ruthenicus is a
flower that always engages the attention of
bees and butterflies when in bloom. This
neighbourhood is trying to compete with
Holland in producing "Dutch bulbs," the
latest venture being the propagation of
hyacinths. During the time the latter are iD
flower the wonderful colours of the balls of
pollen carried by the bees are very interest-
ing to watch. One class of plants omitted by
our friend is the Michaelmas daisies. There
are many varieties blooming from early
August till late in November, and whenever
the bees can fly the flowers are crowded with
them. The plants are also very ornamental,
and produce flowers which appear to defy
antumnal weather.

The discussion on width of lace-edging for
sections, &c, at shows, which have caused
good sections to be disqualified, will, no doubt,
be useful to future exhibitors. As an horti-
cultural j udge, I may say that nothing is more
distasteful than to disqualify an exhibit, and
yet justice to all demands a rigid observance
of rules. If I am allowed to carry off a prize
with an exhibit showing ~g in. too much lace
edging, why should the judges disqualify my
neighbour who still further infringes the
rule by another iVin.? I well remember having

Oct. 17, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

415

to disqualify the best lot of plums I saw staged
during the whole of that season because
eleven fruits were staged where there should
have been twelve. No, I say let our judges
adhere strictly to the schedules as they have
done. Exhibitors may grumble ; but if this
is done they will know what to expect, and at
future competitions it will be quite certain
there is no reason for disqualification. While
speaking of judges, it seems most peculiar to
notice how judges of honey at village horti-
cultural shows are selected. I was recently
talking to one who had judged the exhibits,
and he actually objected to some sections 1
was selling because they were too white ! The
same remark was also passed with regard to
the extracted honey being too light coloured.
After a short chat, it became evident that this
judge knew nothing whatever of honey or
bees.

A friend wrote me on September 27 to say
that at Langham Church, Norfolk, a swarm of
bees had settled under the stone coping, and
had built seven or eight comb3, and at date of
writing the combs were nearly covered with
bees. — W. J. Beldersox, The Apiary,
Terrington St. Clemtnt, Lynn.

SOME ESSEX NOTES.

[4526.] — Starting Beekeeping. — Possessed of
most of what is necessary to successful beekeep-
ing (a desire to keep bee3, a large garden to keep
them in, and open fields where the bees may
roam at their own sweet will), your corre-
spondent, S. Walian (4514, page 402), like the
young man who was told that marriage does
not bring all bliss, is appalled by the difficulties
that may or may not have to be faced in bee-
keeping. But I would assure " S. Walian "
that there is more appearance than reality in
the appalling list of difficulties that a bee-
keeper may at one time or another have to con-
tend with, and that if he continues to be
" appalled '' to the extent of being afraid to
start beekeeping, he may — like the young
man referred to above, who was afraid
to take a certain step — regret it ever
afterwards. A genuine desire to keep bees
will tide the beginner over difficulties appa-
rently insurmountable, and given a good
location for honey-getting and a " beginning on
right lines,'' success is practically assured. By
right lines 1 would be understood to advise
the beginner to be content to start at the
bottom of the ladder ; with not more than
two hives to work with and watch during the
day, and a reliable text book to occupy the
evenings. The number of beginners that I can
call to mind who have not been content to com-
mence at the beginning and have failed as a
consequence is quite appalling. Bee-keeping
is one of the things that cannot be learned in a
day, or from a booming newspaper article,
but the price that the beginner pays for his
experience is largely ruled by his willingness
<-r otherwise to begin at the right end.

Bee Plants. — I agree with Mr. Scatchard
(4515, page 402) that the strawberry shrub
is a useful bee plant (but only from the bees'
point of view), being one of the good things
that it is possible to have too much of. While
the strawberry shrub is useful to the bees
under certain conditions, and the bees are
certainly very fond of it, my experience is
that the honey is bright green in colour ; the
green tint of lime honey is hardly noticeable
in comparison.

Section Back or Orate. — There seems to be
different opinions among bee-keepers on the
question whether it is proper to describe the
1-lb. sectional super as a rack or a crate. I have
been interested in agriculture and horticulture
and allied pursuits all my life, and have had
to deal with the different degrees of boxes, of
which there are three— box, crate, and rack.
The question seems to be, when does a box
cease to be a box and become a crate, and a
ciute a rack 1 In my humble opinion a box
must be capable of enclosing something from
view ; a crate is a light open- worked box ; a
rack a light, open coverless box. — Wm.
Loveday, Hatfield Heath, Harlow, Essex.

STRAY SWARMS.

[4527.J I was interested in reading the
account in B.B.J, of October 3, page 394, on
stray swarms, and as we seem to have a good
supply of such in this district, a few notes
thereon may not be inappropriate. In one
village through which I passed in going to the
moors there was to be seen a captured swarm
in a large sea chest with a gig umbrella spread
over for a shade and to keep off the rain !
while further on in the same village a cement
ca?k, nearly four feet high, contained a
double July swarm, which had evidently
got to work in good earnest, for on
tilting it to one side the combs would
be nearly 11 ft. deep, the whole weighing
considerably over 4 stone. Another man was
the proud possessor of a stock in a skep
supered with a lard bucket and a zinc pail
on the top, to both of which the bees had free
access. Then there was a swarm who had
located themselves in an old disused barrel-
churn, and one bee-keeper actually bought
and had a stock in a washing tub ! in which
he assured me the bees were doing well.
Some people seem to think anything will do
for the bees, hence the common sight of bees
being kept in cheese boxes and soap boxe3.
In one apiary I visited I was shown with
great glee a bar-frame hive, but the man did
not think it any better than his skeps, and no
wonder, for on opening I found that empty
bar3 running "parallel with the front" had been
placed therein, but the bees, being more
modern in their ideas than their owner, had
worked the combs at " right angles." The old
skeppists in the villages are very difficult to
convert, and cling with a sincerity worthy of
a better cause to that mode of keeping bees,

416

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 17, 1901.

but the younger generation are beginning to
see the advantages of modern management,
and though the process of change may be
slow, yet there is no doubt it is coming. —
R. T. Tennant, Think, October 12.

PARAFFIN WAX FOR BEE-KEEPERS'
USE.
[4528.] I enclose herewith copy of an extract
from an article in the Oil and Golourman's
Journal of October 1 on " Composition, Pro-
perties, and Application of the Waxes." The
article was specially contributed, and may be
of some interest to the readers of the Journal.
The writer does not appear to be very well up
in the subject of beeswax, whatever his know-
ledge of other waxes may be. Foundation of
paraffin wax on which the bees can work may
be good enough in theory, but I would like the
writer of the article to make a practical trial of
it. — Wm. Hood, Dairy, Ayrshire.

BEESWAX.

<c Bee-keepers prepare an artificial comb, or
at any rate a foundation of paraffin wax, on
which the bees can work. This lessens the
wax production, and hence the production of
honey. The combs, when full of honey, are
emptied and then replaced in the hives, so
that tame bees produce scarcely any wax ;
that occurring in commerce is from wild bees.''
— The Oil and Colour-man's Journal.

[The Oil and Colourman's Journal evi-
dently needs a little help in the " technical "
department. — Eds. B.B.J.]

MACHINE-MADE BOTTLES.
[4529.] In reply to your correspondent, Will
Hampton (4521, page 406), I beg to say that
I must plump for the machine-made bottles.
They are certs inly rather heavier than the
hand-made ones ; but, in my opinion, are all
the better for this, being stronger and better
able to stand a little knocking about, but our
friend, " Will Hampton," writes of sending by
parcel post. Well, my experience is that,
send what you will in the way of glass by
parcel post, it is not nearly as safe as sending
by rail, especially in rural districts, where all
parcels are put in mail bags and conveyed
from ten to twenty miles in mail cart. I should
like to mention that at the beginning of this
season I had in a consignment of machine-
bottles, and only one broken out of a gross, and
as regards show purposes I must certainly give
them the " biscuit." The peculiar shades in
the glass give such a nice effect to good, clear
honey on the show-bench. I have used these
bottles for show purposes this season all over
the country, and Scotland and Wales, and on
each occasion I have either taken a prize or
been highly commended— and, to top it up,
not one bottle have I had broken, either
sending to or from the shows (but I barred
the parcel post in every case).

Our season here has been a very good one,
and the general quality of honey has been
good. I have been troubled with the old
enemy, " wax-moth," and had to break up
three hives, but I am pleased to say they are
well stocked again with driven bees, after
having been well cleaned out, then washed
in paraffin oil and burnt out. This makes a
capital job of wax-moth hives. — W. G. Dear,
Woodford, Salisbury, October 10.

RELIQUEFYING HONEY.

HOW TO PREVENT GRANULATION.

The bottling of extracted honey for the
wholesale and retail trade to supply a market
which calls for and wants only extracted honey
must necessarily be undertaken on a large
scale, and one somewhat larger than most bee-
keepers have been accustomed to battle with.
Cincinnati, as many know, is a market for ex-
tracted honey from the small ten-cent bottle
to the 500-lb. barrel shipped in by the carload,
and bought by the manufacturer who uses a
large quantity of the darker and inferior
grades. Then comes the grocery trade, each
store with its large or small display of various-
sized bottles containing extracted honey of
the best looks and the best flavour — the very
cream of the bee-keeper's labour. This trade,
although not as large as that of the manu-
facturer, is nevertheless a very important and
delicate one ; for, if the honey is granulated,
it is looked upon with suspicion. A shelf con-
taining glass jars filled with liquid honey, and
one just below it with granulated honey of the
same quality, the latter will stand untouched
while the former is often sold twice over.

This state of affairs has set Mr. C. H. W.
Weber, a Cincinnati honey-merchant, to
thinking ; for, to be continually replacing
honey which granulates so quickly during cold
weather, was a task almost impossible, and
not at all profitable. Mr. W. follows a plan
of putting up honey which he calls the new
way of liquefying and bottling honey, which
is not only a success so far, after the most
severe tests, but also allows the work to be
done rapidly and to perfection. Through the
kindness of Mr. W., who explained everything
in detail, and allowed me to take several
photographs, I will try to impart some of this
interesting knowledge to bee-keepers.

This new (?) method is to some extent based
on the same principle which our mothers and
grandmothers have been practising for years,
and is now still in use, and probably will be
through the present century and the next.
We all know how much care is taken at home,
during preserving time, to have all jars and
cans containing the preserved fruit very hot
just before they are sealed airtight. Fruit put
up this way will keep for years, and the syrup
will never show the slightest trace of granula-
tion. Now, we may ask, why should not this

Oct. 17, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

417

method preserve honey in liquid form ? Well,
as a matter of fact it does it in this case just
as in the first. This is the foundation upon
which Mr. W. bottles honey ; and as most of
the honey which comes to him is already
granulated, his method must be worked on
the wholesale plan ; for, instead of working
with quarts or gallons, he had to consider
barrels at a time.

For this purpose a large tank was con-
structed, which holds one barrel of granulated
honey at a time. This tank is an ingenious
affair ; in fact it is really two tanks in one.
The inside, or honey-chamber, is surrounded
by an outer tank made of copper, with a 3-in.
space between the two for the water. This
surrounding water is heated by a gas-stove of
Bpecial design, which also acts as a support
for the tank. The height of the water within
the tank is registered outside at all times, and
the amount can be increased by turning on the
water connection which is on the opposite
side. Should the water supply become too
great, a turn or two on a small wheel at the
bottom of the tank on the left-hand side
allows the water to escape into a drain, and it
is thus carried away.

When the honey has been reconverted into
the liquid state, and the register on the tank
shows that the proper temperature (180 deg.)
has been reached, or has been so for at least
five or ten minutes, one of the assistants
allows a quantity of the hot honey to run into
a very large coffee-pot, which is found to be an
excellent article for the purpose on account of
the large lip, which makes pouring without
spilling an easy thing. He then proceeds to
fill the empty glass jars ready at hand.
Another assistant, supplied with corks and a
mallet, takes the bottles as fast as they are
filled, and hammers a cork into each. This
method of inserting corks seems rather
strange ; for, to see him rain heavy blows
upon the mouth of each bottle, makes one
believe 'he possesses a wonderful amount
of skill to hit the cork every time without
breaking the bottle, but upon investigation
the secret is found to be in the mallet, which
is made of solid rubber ; and any amount of
hammering on the bottle would not break it.
This mallet does its work well, for it puts the
cork in squarely and rapidly, and has never
been known to break a bottle. The corked
bottle then passes on to Mr. W., who dips the
same into a preparation of melted rosin and
beeswax, which gives the bottle a perfectly
air-tight seal, and also a nice yellow cap, which
is in perfect colobr-harmony with the lighs
yellow honey, and last, but not least, thit
" cap " is cheap.

The bottles then pass to another assistant,
who arranges them near a large block of
ice in order that the caps will harden quickly,
thereby preventing air-bubbles from working
through the cap, which would leave a weak
place in the corking and finallv allow air to
enter.

This part of the work is not yet perfected,
as Mr. W. intends to have a track built, upon
which a small carriage — constructed so as to
hold about one dozen bottles in an inverted
condition — will travel, and this carriage is to
carry and hold the bottles over a tray of
crushed ice. After the caps are hardened,
the bottles are placed on shelves, and after-
ward properly labelled, ready for the traders,
with a guarantee as to the purity of the con-
tents and an assurance that no granulation
will take place in the future.

The rapidity with which the work is done is
really astonishing. Three experienced helpers
can in three hours fill and seal 1,200 bottles.
The success of this method may be seen from
the fact that some honey put up last summer
had been kept on ice since bottling, and, after
passing through the present winter, is just as
clear as it was the day it was put up, and not
a single crate of granulated honey had to be
replaced this winter. The whole operation
described above of bottling honey is done right
in Mr. W.'s large, roomy store, where cus-
tomers and visitors are always welcome to
witness the proceedings from beginning to end.
This many take advantage of, and when they
see a barrel of granulated honey transferred
to the tank, and then, in a short time, ex-
tracted therefrom in the form of a thick golden
liquid, and after following it through the
various operations until the sealed bottle
stands ready to receive the label, little doubt
remains in their mind as to the purity of the
article, and many leave with the proverb that
" all pure honey granulates," badly exploded,
for they have just learned that " all pure honey
will not granulate," which may now be called
the twentieth-century revision of what has
heretofore been pumped into the ears of the
public as a true test for pure honey.

Now, instead of trying to teach people to
accept something they do not want, why not
spend less time, do less talking, and make
more money, by giving them what they do
want, for " a man convinced against his will
is of the same opinion still ; '' and if he asks
for extracted liquid honey, and you talk him
into buying a bottle of granulated honey,
nine times out of ten he will hesitate the next
time, and generally go where he knows he can
get what he wants.

A tank like the one described costs about
100 dols. (£20) ; but this price depends a
great deal on the pocket-book ; for that sum
includes a tank made of the best material, the
gas-stove, and the cost of separate hydraulic
connection. In fact, this price could be
reduced nearly half, and still do the same
work, but, of course, not so rapidly or conve-
niently. Probably in a few years, when the
good points are known, a tank will be placed
on the market for less than half the price, for
it may become almost as great a necessity, if
not as great, as the wax or honey extractor is
to many bee-keepers to-day. — J. K. Schmidt,
in Gleanings (American).

418

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 17, 1901.

<| tutrtys and $j^li$s.

[2742.] Wintering Bees.—l only started
bee-keeping this summer, and now possess
three hives. One of these— a stock of black
Italians— holds ten frames, and all the combs
are well stored with food, some not wholly
sealed. This i3 the strongest stock, and I
ask, 1. Do you advise me to close the frames
up for winter without spacing them wider
apart than the ordinary distance? The
next hive is similar, but there are only five
frames in it, and the queen is a young one. 2.
Will it be safe to try and winter so small a
stock? 3. The other stock is headed by a
''White Star Italian queen," and not very
strong in bees. They are on eight frames,
with plenty of food. The queen is a young
one. Do you think this lot will winter safely ?
I am anxious not to lose any of my queens,
therefore if you could give me any help or
advice what to do for winter I will be obliged,
especially with regard to the weak stocks
coming through safely. I could put them in
a loft above kitchen if such a course is advis-
able—where no sun will reach them, although
it is dry enough. 4. Is it too late to feed
with sugar syrup? I have some frames of
honey on hand ; could these be given to bees
in mid-winter ? — Technical, Crosslie, N.B.

Reply.— By " black Italians " we presume
is meant a cross between those two races, but
your term is a misnomer. For the rest, we
reply — i. It is best for beginners to adopt the
simplest methods involving the least amount
of handling frames, therefore you had better
leave the frames at ordinary distances. Many
of our best bee-men do this always. 2. Yes, if
the bees as well as queen are young and the
stock is healthy. 3. You had better see to
the cause of the colony beiDg " not strong in
bees," as stated, that being the main question
with regard to safe wintering. We cannot
safely judge from a distance on the point, and
we cannot afford any help by way of advice
beyond saying that small stocks of young,
vigorous, healthy bees, headed by young queen?,
make the very best colonies for work in the
following year. 4. Yes. Soft candy is the
most suitable winter food, next to frames of
sealed natural food, which are best of all.

[2743.] Syrup-Feeding in Late Autumn.—
I write to ask your kind help in a great diffi-
culty I am experiencing with my bees. I have
four rather (not very) weak stocks of driven
bees, hived about a month ago. They have
half worked out six frames (which is the
number I 1; eep them to for the winter), and
have good patches of brood in most, but I
cannot induce any of the stocks to take the
syrup provided and seal it up. I make the
syrup exactly according to Mr. Cowan's
suggestions in " Guide Book," and place the
bottles on the frames, but cannot make them
take it at any speed. 1. Can you give me any

suggestions ? I have asked many experienced
fellow workers, but they say they have never
experienced such a difficulty. The hives are
facing south and sheltered from north winds,
and kept warm inside by good and thick quilts.
I am going abroad in about a fortnight, so am
most anxious to hear of some remedy.
Would giving dry sugar (moist) help at all ?
2. Is there any way of feeding all the winter to
keep them alive, for my gardener could attend
to their feeding ? I should like to mention a
good and quick method of stopping robbing
which I tried about three weeks ago. Place
a piece of cloth dipped into carbolic solution
along the flight-board, then place one or two
slices of raw onion right along, especially near
the opening, then place a piece of clear glass
in front, I found this plan answer very well,
and several friends have since tried it, and
always found it succeed.— M. I. A., Sym-
mington, Hants, October 12.

Reply.— 1. Bottle-feeders are unsuitable for
use in building-up stocks from driven bee3 in
late autumn. They do very well (indeed, best of
all) if the work of feeding-up is begun at end
of July or early in September, because better
combs are built if food is not taken down too
fast ; but when nights are cold, as in late
autumn, the case is different, and syrup food
intended for winter stores should be given
warm and in a warmly-wrapped "Rapid-
feeder.'' By so doing, the " feeder " acts like
sunshine to the bees, keeping them warm and
active while carrying down the syrup. 2.
Yes. If your gardener can prepare cakes of
soft candy (see instructions for making in
" Guide Book '') and he keeps up the supply as
often as needed, the bees may be kept alive on
it if some stores now in the hives are also
available.

[2744.] Dealing with Slightly Diseased
Stocks. — The enclosed piece of comb was cut
from one of my hives, and I shall be obliged if
you will kindly let me know if it is affected
with foul brood. I began bee-keeping last
year by purchasing the " Guide Book," and
shortly afterwards I got two swarms of bees,
and have taken about 75 lb. of super honey
from the two this season. Until now the bees
have appeared perfectly healthy. I have
always used naphthaline in hives and naphthol
beta in the food. Thanking you in anticipa-
tion.— P, E. P., Blachheath, S.E.

Reply. — There is foul brood in two cells
only, which goes to prove that the preventives
used have kept the disease in check. Probably
there is a foul brood colony somewhere in the
neighbourhood, from which the disease has
been carried into your own hive. Continue
to use the remedies, and keep a careful look-
out on the hatching brood in the spring of
next year.

[2745.] Wax-Moth in Sleeps. — As an
amateur bee-keeper I want to know the best
thing to do with a stock of bees in skep that
is badly affected with large white maggots and

Oct. 17, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

419

moths. The bee3 are flying about all day
and hang outside the hive at night. Would
you advise turning out the bees and fixing
up the comb after cleaning in a new hive 1 I
have only started bee-keeping this season with
this stock which gave out a good swarm.
An answer in B.B.J, will oblige. — Young
Bee-Keeper, Swindon.

Keply. — You cannot turn bees from a
skep at this season as proposed, neither can
you " clean " combs infested with wax-moth
and " fix them up in a new hive." In fact,
the bees must be allowed to remain in the
skep till next season ; then, if the mischief is
not too bad for the bees to cope with, the skep
and combs will have to be burnt and the bees
utilised in some way. Winter the bees in
their present domicile and write us in spring
with regard to their condition. We will then
advise you further.

LECTURE ON BEE-KEEPING.

A very interesting lecture entitled " A Chat
about Bees " was delivered by Mr. R. A. H.
Grimshaw before the Crossgates (Leeds)
Literary Society on Tuesday evening,
October 8, illustrated by the diagrams of
the B.B.K.A.

At the outset the lecturer proceeded to
point out the difference between the honey-
bee and the humble-bee, showing how the
latter, which was popularly believed to be the
bee of bee-keepers, was no use in the service
of man from a honey-gathering point of view.
He next dealt with the old-fashioned method
of keeping bees in straw skeps, the inferior
and often objectionable qualities of the honey
taken therefrom, the cruel practice of destroy-
ing the bees in autumn, and followed on by
giving an insight into the present method
adopted and showing how much superior it
was.

Then followed an outline of the life of the
bee from the egg to the perfect insect, the
work of nurse-bees, the building of comb and
queen-cells, and, finally, the cause of a swarm.

He next dealt with the cross-fertilisation of
flowers by bees, and showed the advantage to
fruitgrowers from bees being kept in the
district.

After speaking an hour and a half, the
lecturer spent some time in answering various
questions, which, with the usual vote of
thanks, brought the evening to a close. —
(Communicated.)

October 23 to 30, at Olympia, Northum-
berlano -road, Newcastle-on-Tyne.— Show of
Honey in connection with the Newcastle-on-Tyne
Grocers, Bakers, and Confectioners' Exhibition. Six
open classes, and lour confined to Northumberland,
Cumberland, and Durham. Medals 'and cash prizes.

Schedules from Jas. Waddell, Wooler, Northumberland.
Entries close October 21.

October 24 and 25, at Kilmarnock-— Honey
Show in connection with the Ayrshire Agricul-
tural Association. Eleven classes for honey, with
liberal money prizes. Schedules from John Howie,
Secretary, 58, Alloway-street, Ayr. Entries close
October 11.

November 14, at Town Hall, Ludlow.— Honey
Show in connection with Exhibition of Chrysanthemum
and Fruit Society. Two open classes for honey.
Schedules from J. Palmer, Bon. Secretary, 17, Brand-
lane, Ludlow. Entries close November 5.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Lettert or queries asking for addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur.
chased, or replies giving such information, can only be
inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will bt answered in thil column.

H. Walker (Newton-le-Willows). — Greatest
Age at which Queens may be Mated. —
Instances have been given of deferred
mating extending to thirty or forty days
after hatching, but such cases are so rare as
to render it only misleading to mention
them in print. The best thing is to pass
such exceptional cases over altogether in all
practical bee-work. If weather is adverse
during the time a queen should mate, ie.,
three to five days after birth, we must wait
for a sunny, warm day, such a3 brings the
drones out, before any hope of mating can
be entertained. If unfavourable weather
continues for ten to fifteen days longer we
may fully expect to see eggs laid which will
produce drones only. But we cannot be
quite sure on this point till drone-brood is
seen in worker-cells.

R. A. (Bicester). — Honey - comb Design
Damaged in Transit. — We regret very
much to hear that the capital design which
worthily received a prize at the " Royal "
Show, Cardiff, in June was, as you say,
" smashed '' in transit from the show. It is,
of course, difficult to fix blame, but if pro-
perly packed and handled carefully by the
railway company, we consider it should have
reached you in safety. The comb was so
exceptionally well attached to the glass, as
we saw it at Cardiff, that if packed glass
downward so that the combs rested on their
natural base — just as in a skep turned
bottom upward — and if labelled " this side
up with care," no harm that we can see
should have followed.

X. Y. Z. — Feeding Bees in Winter. — First,
let us say you should send name and address
when writing, not necessarily for publica-
tion, but as a guarantee of good faith. For
the rest, the list of queries sent shows that

420

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 17, 1901.

you do not possess even the most elementary
knowledge of bees or bee-keeping, and to
any one who hopes to succeed in the craft a
good text-book is absolutely indispensable.
The " Guide Book " may be had from this
office for Is. 8d. post free, and in it will be
found several pages devoted to the items
you seek information upon.

J. P. Fison (Cambs,). — Honey as Food. — We
cannot imagine any one " mixing something
with honey," if the latter is of good quality,
in order to improve it. Those who object
to the sweetness of clover or flower-honey
should use that gathered from the heather
bloom. The latter would, we think, quite
meet the requirements of the persons you
name.

Edgar Wilson (West Norwood). — Combs
Built on Glass. — Your letter, duly received,
vaguely refers to " the inventor of this
system," without stating any particulars
with regard to the " system '' or where the
interview took place. We will, therefore,
make inquiry of Mr. Till, whose name
you mention, with regard to the matter, and
where the interview took place, before
deciding about giving publicity to your
communication.

Beta (Abergavenny). — Medicating Bee-food.
— 1. The directions in " Guide Book" when
medicating bee-food with N. beta must
be adhered to. Do not vary the quantity
as proposed ; it will nullify the benefit in-
tended if you do. 2. It is altogether too
late to think of transferring diseased bees to
a clean hive this year.

S. G. Stebbing (Beddington). — Swarming
Experiences. — Much obliged for cutting
from Canadian newspaper, but it is rather
long for insertion ; and it savours too much
of the Transatlantic " penny-a-liner " for our
readers' tastes.

G. H. Mitchell (Llandaff). — Queens and
Driven Bees in October. — 1. For informa-
tion concerning names and addresses of
persons supplying driven bees and queens
we can only refer you to our prepaid adver-
tisement column. It is now too late to
procure them unless an unusual chance
occurs. 2. Write to the Secretary of the
B.B.K.A., Mr. Edwin H. Young, 12, Han-
over-square, London, W., on matters con-
nected with resuscitation of County Bee-
keepers' Association.

Wm. Hood (Dairy, N.B.). — Quality of Bees-
wax.— Your sample is very good indeed and
quite fit for the show-bench. It would
stand far in front of a sample " brownish in
colour '' in the view of any competeut
judge.

J, Kearlet (Harborne, Birmingham). — The
" W. B. C." Hive. — Full particulars and
dimensions — with plan and elevation — of
the hive referred to may be had from this
office for 2|d., post free.

Clie Beta (Newmarket). — Insect Nomencla-
ture.— The insect sent is a male hornet.

Viator (Criccieth). — If you will kindly
comply with our printed rule, i.e., "send
name and address when writing, not neces-
sarily for publication, but as a guarantee of
good faith,'' we will write a personal line
explaining delay and other matters.

Suspected Combs.

Special Notice to correspondents' sending queries oil
"Foul brood."

We urgently request that all letters tent with samples
of suspected comb be put outside the box or tin containing
the sample. Also that no more than a couple of square
inches of comb be sent, taking care to neither crush the--
comb nor probe the cells before despatching.

In urgent cases (and where possible) we undertake to
" wire " replies as to F. B. if six stamps are sent to cover
cost of telegram. All letters to be addressed "Editor,
Bee Journal" not "Manager."

W. S. Moody (Driffield).— Comb is affected
with foul brood, not of virulent type.

W. H. Wyatt (Chard, Som.).— Sample of
comb sent is altogether unsuitable for
examination with reference to foul brood.
It was smashed flat in post, of course,
seeing there was no protection at all beyond
the letter envelope in which it was posted.
We require a small piece of comb with
brood (some unsealed where possible), and
packed in a small tin box (an old mustard
tin answers admirably) I to protect it from
injury.

Honey Samples.

B. S. H.— The honey in section is only fair
in quality, being rather thin, and dark in
colour. It is from mixed sources, the only
distinctive flavour being from the lime
blossom. The delay in this reply was
owing to your not leaving name and
address along with sample, as we should
have written a line by post and then dealt
with the section, which, from not being
properly packed, was leaking all over the
place and causing us to wish it " elsewhere."

Brackley. — We will be very pleased to give
our opinion on the "points for and against,
and also the order of merit enclosed samples
of honey will take on the show-bench,"
as requested ; but, before doing so, will be
glad to know if our view is intended to be
used as a revision of the award of the duly-
appointed judge of the show in question.
In the latter case we must decline to express
an opinion, seeing that by doing so an unfair
and objectionable precedent would be esta-
blished which could only lead to trouble
and friction in all directions. Our personal
opinion must at all times be taken only for
what it is worth, and every other judge of
honey who officiates at shows is as much
entitled to his opinion as we are to ours.
Besides, it will be plain to every one that
only inconvenience will arise if "editorial
opinion " is to be brought in whenever a
dispute arises.

Oct. 24, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

421

(Mtoral, IJotiaa, fa.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

The monthly meeting of the Council was
held on Thursday, the 10th inst., at 105,
Jermyn-street, S.W., Mr. T. I. Westou being
voted to the Chair. Thfte were also present
Miss Gay ton, Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh,
Major Fair, Mr. R. Hainlyn-Harris, Mr. J. H.
New, and the Secretary. Apologies for
inability to attend were received from Messrs.
F. B. White, W. Broughton Carr, W. H.
Harris, and P. Scattergood.

The minutes of the previous meeting were
read and confirmed.

Two new members were elected, viz. : —
Rev. J. Batchelar, Dagnall Rectory, Bucks ;
Mr. W. Hood, New-3treet, Dairy, Ayrshire.

The Report of the Finance Committee was
presented by Mr. J. H. New, and agreed to.

Arrangements for the Second Class Exami-
nation to be held on November 22 and 23
were completed and Examiners nominated.

Communications were read from Col. Walker
and Mr. W. H. Harris. It was genera'ly
thought that the many valuable suggestions
contained therein were such as required very
full and careful consideration by tne Council
before action could be taken, and the letters
were accordingly ordered to be held over till
the next meeting.

The remaining business before the Council
comprised the necessary preparations for the
Conversazione of Members held later in the
dav.

The next meeting of the Council was fixed
for November 21.

CONVERSAZIONE.

(Continued from page 412.)
The Chairman, having learned that Mr.
Trimmings, one of the victims of the claim
for damages to horses in what will be remem-
bered es the " Gedling Bee Case,'' was pre-
sent, called upon that gentleman to explain
the details of the accident.

Mr. Trimmings then described at consider-
able length the circumstances. The bees in
question, he said, were kept in a " spinnery ;'
(a narrow space ot land running between two
hedges), and in the adjoining field were two
farm labourers mowing. They had occa-
sionally to sharpen the knives for the machine,
which tbey, without thinking, did close to the
hive entrances, and here they also halted for
rest. The horses were in a perspiration, as it
was a very hot day, and the noise and smell
probably irritated the bees, though not suffi-
ciently to start them stinging had they not
received further cause. Anyway, it appeared
that the bees flew round the heads of horses
and men, the latter endeavouring to knock
them away. No doubt in this commotion one
of the horses was stung, for it began to

rear and plunge. Then the mischief was
irreparably made worse, coat?, hats, Bticks,
and the whip being freely used to drive away
the bees, with the inevitable result that the
horses kicked and became entangled in the
reins, then fell into the hedge-bottom, while
the men had not the courage to try and
liberate them from the machinery, but ran
away and stood looking on at the mischief for
nearly an hour and a half before they sent for
him (the speaker). When he and his friend
(Mr. Mackinnon) arrived they went and cut
the harness away from one of the horses, the
other having got clear and run away. The
poor brute was nearly covered with angry
bees, and was so fixed that in order to release
it the pole had to be sawn in half; ten
minutes or more being occupied before the
animal could be released. A little courage
and common sense when the horses were first
stung would, no doubt, have prevented the
disaster, because at that time few of " the bees
were irritated ; but apart from that it was
clear the accident arose entirely from
ignorance and stupidity on the part of the
labourers. One of the men said ' the bees
came by hundreds of thousands,'' the other
attributing the catastrophe to the fact that
be (the speaker) "had been taking the kings
and queens away the day before."

Readers of the B.B.J, very kindly sub-
scribed, as did also the Notts AssDciation,
towards defraying the claim of about i'70
made against him which was paid ; but not-
withstanding that, some malicious persons
during the following week actually put gas tar
under the hive?, and set fire to them. With
regard to the accident the owner waj informed
that whatever loss he had sustained, if it could
be legally or only morally substantiated, should
be made good. The actual loss according to
his (Mr. Trimmings') calculation was about
£28, and yet £'70 had been paid in settlement
thereof. Both horses died.

General Sir, Stanley Edwardes, who next
spoke, attributed the attack to the objection of
bees to the noise of sharpening caused by iron
and steel in contact. His own gardener always
received notice to quit from the bees, in the
shape of two or three stings, when he sharpened
his scythe near to the hives, although he could
approach the latter with impunity when other-
wise engaged.

Two or three other gentlemen narrated
somewhat similar experiences, one ascribing
the irritation of the bees to the rapid move-
ments during the process of sharpening.

Mr. Mackinnon did not think the noise
alone caused the onslaught. He arrived on
the scene just before his friend, Mr. Trim-
mings, and saw people waving hats, coats, and
handkerchiefs frantically, striking at the bees
as though they had all gone mad. That, in
his opinion, first started the stinging, and not
the sharpening of the scythe. He hoped the
insurance scheme mentioned earlier on would
be adopted, for it wa3 highly necessary as a

422

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 24, 1901.

protection to bee-keepers, especially those who
had the misfortune to live amongst unpleasant
neighbours.

Mr. Reid believed the origin of the attack
was not the noise or the motion, but the smell
of crushed vegetable substances, such as would
be emitted by hedge-clipping and lawn-
mowing. He had made experiments while
hoeing or pulling up weeds, plants, or pota-
toes, all of which vegetable matter if placed
near hives excited the bees, while digging
bare ground in their vicinity made no impres-
sion. A crushed tomato was also a great
irritant.

The Chairman thought that a sweating
horse gave oft' the odour of food that it was
habitually fed on, which was vegetable matter,
and thereby confirmed Mr. Reid's theory.

A lady present stated that her pony when
at work and hot was obnoxious to the bee?,
while if grazing in the field it remained un-
heeded.

Mr. E. H. Taylor doubted that the smell
of vegetable matter irritated bees. He had
150 stocks in his apiary, and his gardener
was regularly at work near the hives, but was
seldom stung.

Mr. Jesse Garratt then referred to the
absence of Mr. J. M. Hooker, which had been
noted by several members, that gentleman
being one of the most regular visitors at
Conversazioni. It was perhaps not generally
known that Mr. Hooker had already sailed
for his new home in America, and that they
had therefore most likely seen him for the last
time. His (Mr. Garratt's) object in speaking
was to say a word in favour of the movement
with which his own name and that of others
had been associated in the Bee Journal, the
object thereof being the presentation of a
testimonial to their old friend. To hold a
conversazione without the presence of Mr.
Hooker was alone a marked event, and he
was sure that everybody who had been accus-
tomed to see that gentleman there would feel
that the cause had suffered a severe loss by
his absence. It was undoubtedly a fact that
Mr. Hooker had been foremost in the move-
ment to establish modern bee-keeping, for,
with the single exception of Mr. Bligh,
nobody now living was contemporary with
him as a colleague on the Committee of the
B.B.K.A. twenty-seven or more years ago.
He had supported the most useful inventions,
and his work had led up to the perfecting of
modern appliances, numbers of which he had
inspired if not actually constructed. All those
who feel they have been benefited by the
establishment of bee-keeping on modern
methods, and those who have been associated
with him in friendship at these and other
meetings would, he (Mr. Garratt) felt sure,
take up the proposal in a warm and hearty
manner. It was probably an open secret that
Mr. Hooker's home circumstances has been
somewhat sad of late yeara. His wife died a
long time ago, and he had been separated for

many years from the other members of his
family, one of whom he was now en route to join i
in America. Nothing would tend to soothe
more the pain he felt .most strongly, in taking j
leave of the bee-keeping community, than the
presentation of a testimonial in the shape of i
a gift accompanied with an inscribed address, I
which would be sufficient to assure him oM
their esteem and respect and high appreciation
of his services. Moreover, he (Mr. Garratt) j
believed that this form of acknowledgment
would afford him the greatest happiness. He i
hoped whatever was decided upon might be ,
carried out speedily, and he also recommended
that the amounts respectively contributed
should not be published along with the names <
of those supporting the movement, although,
of course, every participant would have a i
right to see the subscription list if he wished. ]

The Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh had great
pleasure in supporting Mr. Garratt's sugges-
tion. Mr. Hooker was one of the seven \
gentlemen who met to start the B.B.K.A. He
(the speaker) could not now call to mind the
names of all, but he remembered that Mr,
C. N. Abbott and Mr. Hunter and himself]
were among the number. Ever since that time
their old friend had been constantly active in \
forwarding the interests of the Association, and
he probably knew as much about bees and
bee-keeping as any member of it. Personally
he had not yet seen the subject referred to in
the Bee Journal, but hoped all bee-keepers ]
would join in raising some little tribute to the
good work achieved by Mr. Hooker, and in
recognition of the kindly influence he hadi
exerted over their proceedings.

The Chairman added his commendation ofl
their friend's labours on behalf of the cause.!
Mr. Hooker was a man of strong opinions ,j
combined with great earnestness and good]
judgment, and it would be extremely difficult \
to fill his place. They were therefore anxious *,
to show their respect and regard for him on
his departure for a new home.

Mr. R. Hamlyn - Harris then related aj
flagrant case of improper feeding of bees
which came to his notice a few months ago in.
Scotland. The owner of them was not conJ
nected with any association, and probably had]
never heard that any existed.^ He was the,
chief grocer and a large provision dealer inl
the village, and has a great many hives in his'j
garden, which ran alongside the one where hel
(the speaker) was staying. It was — extraorJ
dinary to say — the custom of this grocer tJ
empty tins and bottles of sweets and syrupj
on the hives and floor-boards for the bees tJ
feed on, and sweets of the commonest character!
too. He (Mr. Hamlyn-Harris) bought of thifl
tradesman a 2-lb. section, which tasted nice!
but was unquestionably the product of thJ
rubbishy sweets on which the bees had beea
fed. He afterwards took a photograph of thfl
apiary, and found to his astonishment largfl
bowls of syrup lying about, which were beingi,
worked busily on by the bees. Evidently thfl

Oct. 24, 1901 .J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

423

so-called honey was practically a fraud. He
believed this syrup - feeding was done in
ignorance, and the reason he mentioned it
was that bee-keepers might see what advantage
there was in the Association's work extending
all over the United Kingdom. Scotland was,
he thought, rather an unprofitable country for
bees except for the heather season, and experts
seldom visited any hives when at the moors.
One reported the district he had inspected as
" raging with foul brood/'

Mr. Reid said he had judged for the Kent
and Sussex Association's Show held at the
Crystal Palace that week, and he saw there
some beautifully white sections that had come
from Scotland, and according to his usual
custom, not being satisfied with colour merely,
he had tasted the contents of these sections.
Fortunately there were two gentlemen with
him, both of whom, as well as himself, could
distinctly trace the flavour of sugar syrup. The
fact was the " honey " was pure syrup and
nothing else. As regards extracted honey
there were also samples of beautiful colour,
which, however, did not yield much aroma,
although if judged for appearances alone they
would have ranked first. But here also the
taste revealed syrup, and upon inquiry it was
found that in both cases the product came
from the same apiary.

Mr. H. Edwards related cases within his own
experience in which bees had been fed on
medicated sugar syrup ; one in the county of
Bucks, where the grocer complained about the
trade in honey falling off, upon which he (the
speaker) tasted a sample, found it to be nothing
but " golden syrup." He hoped such cases
were rare, but the Association might enlighten
people so as to stamp out such practices.

Mr. Trimmings said he had heard in the
Midlands of similar instances.

{Conclusion of Report next week.)

KENT AND SUSSEX B.K.A.

SHOW AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

(Continued from page 413.)
^ Messrs. Walter F. Reid, A. J. Carter, and
F. Brett judged the exhibits, and made the
following awards : —

Observatory Hive with Bees and Queen. —
1st, James Lee & Son, Silver-street, W.C. ;
2nd, E. H. Taylor, Welwyn ; 3rd, James
Lee & Son ; v.h.c, W. Herrod, Swanley.

Twelve \-lb. Sections (members only). — 1st,
Rev. M. W. B. Osmaston, Goodnestone,
Dover ; 2nd, E. D. Till, Eynsford, Kent ;
3rd, W. Herrod ; A. Hounson.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey.— 1st,
Rev. M. W. B. Osmaston ; 2nd, E. D. Till ;
3rd, J. H. Seabrook, Longfield, Kent ; 4th, W.
Herrod ; h.c, W. Killner, Billingshurst,
Sussex ; c, Moreton Lord, Northiam, Sussex.

Three Shallow Frames of Honey for
Extracting.— 1st, Geo. Wells, Aylesford,
Kent ; 2nd, E. D. Till ; 3rd, Rev. M. W. B.
Osmaston ; 4th, Miss Carter, Farningham.

OPEN CLASSES.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
S. Temblett, Andover, Hants ; 2nd, W. Love-
day, Harlow, Essex ; 3rd, J. Kerr, Dumfries,
N.B.; v.h.c, E. D. Till; h.c, J. Smart,
Andover, Hants ; c, T. Hood, Pickering,
Yorks, and J. Sandall, Bishops Waltham,
Essex.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, E. Lodge,
Chelmsford, Essex ; 2nd, Anthony Bayley,
Wordsley, Stourbridge ; 3rd, J. M. Balmbra,
Alnwick, Northumberland ; 4th, W. Herrod.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Granulated Honey (mem-
bers only). — 1st, Geo. Dow, St. Mary Cray,
Kent ; 2nd, R. Court, Sittingbourne ; 3rd, W.
Loveday ; 4th, H. M. Turner, Northleigh.

Honey Trophy (open). — 1st, H. W. Sey-
mour, Henley-on-Thames ; 2nd, E. D. Till ;
3rd, Miss Carter.

Six l-lb. Sections (cottagers only). — 1st, E.
Lodge ; 2nd, W. Loveday ; 3rd, A. Hounson,
Bosham ; 4th, H. Goodsell, Biddenden, Cran-
brook.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (cottagers
only). — 1st, W. Loveday ; 2nd, W. G. Dear,
Woodford, Salisbury ; 3rd, A. Hounson ; 4th,
C. Hall, Sundridge ; h.c, W. H. Leigh, Ide
Hill ; c, E. Kitney, Dartford.

Super of Honey. — 1st, W. Loveday ; 2nd,
F. Moss, Farningham ; 3rd, G. Dow.

Three Shalloio-Frames of Honey for Ex-
tracting (cottagers only). — 1st, W. Loveday ;
2nd, Geo. Dow.

Singh l-lb. Jar Extracted Honey. — 1st, S.
Temblett ; 2nd, G. Walker, Wendover ; 3rd,
J. Smart ; h.c, W. Spence ; c, T. D. Linfield,
W. G. Dear, and Rev. H, F. Goffer, Caistor,
Lines.

Single l-lb. Section. — 1st, Anthony Bayley ;
2nd, L, Bailey, Horsham, Sussex ; 3rd, W. H.
Seymour ; v.h.c, W. Herrod and W. Rowell ;
h.c, A. Hounson.

Beeswax. ■ — 1st, John Berry, Llanrwst,
N. Wales ; 2nd, Chas. Palk, Horsham, Sussex ;
3rd, C. Hall ; h.c, W. Herrod and W. H.
Seymour ; c, W. Loveday.

Honey Vinegar and Mead (open). — 1st?
W. H. Seymour ; 2nd, Mrs. Hammond ; grd,
M. Killner.

Complete Frame Hive. — 1st, E. H% Taylor ;
2nd and 3rd, Jas. Lee & Son.

Complete Frame Hive (price not to exceed
10s.).— 1st, E. H. Taylor; 2nd, Jas. Lee &
Son.

Collection of Hives and AjJpliances,— 1st,
Jas. Lee & Son ; 2nd, E. H. Taylor.

Objects of General Apiarian Interest.-rlst,
Mrs. Bancks, Green-street Green, Dartford ;
2nd, H. Edwards, Sunningdale, Berks ; 3rd,
Jas. Lee & Son ; 4th, E. D. Till.

Medals and certificates were also awarded
for general merit in the exhibits staged, as
follows : — .

Silver medal of B.B.K.A., E. D. Till ;
bronze medal of B.B.K.A., W. H. Seymour ;
silver medals of K.&S.B.K.A, Rev. M. W..B.
Osmaston and Mrs. Bancks ; certificates of

424

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 24, 1901.

merit, Rev. M. W. B. Oirna'aton, James Lee
<s Sod, E. D. Till, and H. Edwards.

*** Bf ports of shows at Kewcastle and
Friockhtiin, X,By are in type, and loill appear
next u-eek.

€mnp\\Amtt

The Editors do not hold themtelvet retpontible for the
opinion! eapreised by eorretpondenti. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communication! , and eorretpondenti
are requested to write on one tide of the paper only and
give their real namet and addretiet, not necessarily for
publication, but at a guarantee of good faith, Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communication!.

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[4530.] Now that the season's hee-work out
of doors is (or ought to be) accomplished, we
turn our thoughts to the past and our hope3
to the future. In this way we find many
things requiring prompt attention at the
right time that were put off or neglected alto-
gether. We now, when too late, realise that
ueglect has probably cost us a quantity of
bouey, bf cause there is no doubt if we had
attended to spring feeding, the few shillings
spent in sugar would have been true economy,
by ensuring U3 an increased " take '' of honey.
Or we may have deferred putting on supers for
a week instead of "giving room in advance,"
and these few days crowding the brood-nest
started the " swarming fever,'' and our best
stocks, in consequence, may have swarmed
themselves useless for honey production, and
ended by being " queenless " at the close of the
season. Should this have been the experience
of some of our readers, let their losses of 1901
prove "pointers " for 1902, and do not forget
to make a " note " for future reference.

Duplicate Prize winning. — Mr. W. Love-
day, m B.J. of September 26 (4502, page
383), makes a rather serious charge (by
inference, at least) against me when insinu-
ating that I took prizes at both the " Confec-
tioners"' and the "Grocers'" Exhibitions.
Presuming, then, that I am the "well-known
bee-keeper " referred to, I beg to say that my
hands are clean in this matter, as they always
have, and will be, so long as any product of
mine graces the show-bench. Our Editor's
remarks on page 371, regarding the " Confec-
tioners'" exhibition, convey his regret at the
small number of entries at the first show, and
then it was seen that when the " Grocers " of
the country joined forces with the bee-keepers
they had a much more satisfactory and more
successful exhibition. Now it happens that
my son, F. W. Woodley, Camp Stores,
Compton, is a master-grocer, and he made the
entries. I sold him the honey from my
apiary, and it wa3 a bond-fide transaction.
But as the staging had to be done on Friday
afternoon or Saturday morning, it was impos-
sible for him to stage the honey himself, as he

could not leave his business to do so. Again,
at the close of the show he could not attend
to the packing up, consequently this work
devolved on me, but I received no pecuniary
bsnefit whatever ; in fact it was a loss
(of time), as I only charged him " out of
pocket expenses." If Mr. Loveday or any
one else, after carefully reading the Schedule
and the " Regulations " of the Grocers' Exhi-
bition, can bring any charge against me or
my customers for unfairly exhibiting honey
(whether they be relations or not, as " winning
exhibits " at all three of the past Grocers'
Exhibitions have been purchased from me), I
shall be prepared to meet it in the most
unequivocal manner. And now, a word with
my other friend, Mr. H. W. Seymour (4524,
page 414), who writes on " Prize-winning in
Duplicate." I ask : Is it not recorded in the
authorised reports of bee-shows (and other
matters relating to apiculture), printed in the
British Bee Journal, that Mr. H. W.
Seymour was awarded 4th and 5th prizes for
dark honey (vide B.B.J., vol. xxvi., page
420) in 1898 1 Also in the following year
(vol. xxvii., page 419) it is shown that the
same H. W. Seymour wa3 awarded 2nd and
3rd prizes in the " Trophy class." Again, so
recently as 1900 we read that H. W. Seymour
was awarded 1st and 2nd prizes for dark
extracted honey (vol. xxviii., page 397). I
think these past successes of my friend clearly
show that the "practice is not coming into
vogue," but is already an established custom.
I believe I am within the mark when I assert
that these are not the only occasions in
which Mr. Seymour has made more than
one entry in the same classes at the Dairy
Show, which are not recorded, as they failed
to get an award. I also fail to see — in the
light of my friend's past successes — how he
can complain of its being hard on him or
"small bee-keepers," and then with any
fairness dub me a "deck-sweeper" in 1901.
He surely forgets that the euphemism was
applicable to himself at the three previous
Dairy Shows. Mr. Seymour also says he re-
fused to stage his exhibit at the Dairy Show,
but he has not told all the truth. My im-
pression is that, being a good general and
seeing the drift of the " show," he made
tracks with his " trophy " to the " Crystal
Palace," and there secured first prize with it.

There is, in my opinion, a greater deterrent
to exhibitors than the " more than one entry "
in the " Trophy clats," and that is the with-
holding of prizes except a certain number of
entries are made. If our friend Mr. Richard
Brown had secured second place at the show
in question, I should certainly have pleaded
with the judges and the steward to have
awarded another prize (after the judges had
done their work, I mean), as it is well within
their powers to recommend that all the prizes
in a class be awarded, irrespective of the
number of entries, if the exhibits are of suffi-
(Continued on page 426.)

Oct. 24, 1901.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

425

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

In Mr. Turnbull, whose bee-garden appears
below, we have another worthy tradesman who
makes a pleasant and profitable home hobby of
his bee-keepiug. Ilia experiences as given
are pleasant and instructive reading to all
interested, ho we need add nothing to the
" notes" sent at our request, except to say his
honey is excellent, and to reciprocate the good
wishes to all expressed in the concluding lines,
when he writes as follows : —

" I had for a long time the desire to keep
bees, but never possessed a suitable place for
the purpose until I took possession of the pre-

tages to be obtained by using the modern
frame-hive, and purchased three hives that had
been the property of a neighbouring bee-keeper
now deceased. I did this notwithstanding the
warning given in old bee lore, viz., that bees
bought under such conditions would be sure to
follow their late master and die ! But the
stocks did not do well with me, which was
not to be wondered at. They were in a very neg-
lected state, the frames all braced so together
as to make it quite impossible to remove them
until the combs had been cut asunder with a
carving kuife. But I will not dwell on that
trouble. Being a fair amateur carpenter I
now make my own hives, of which I have
various styles, but the one I prefer above all

MR. J. TURNBULLS APIARY, CONISBOROUGH, NEAR ROTHERHAM, YORKS.

mises on which my hives are now placed. My
first skep was purchased in March, 1894, from
a skeppist who used the ' sulphur pit,' a prac-
tice which seemed to me like ''killing the goose
that laid the golden egg." As soon therefore as
I got a start, my first move was to look about
for literature dealing with bees and bee-keep-
ing, and in thi3 way first discovered the
British Bee Journal on a railway book-
stall. I bought a copy, and have been a
regular reader ever since. Moreover, by
following the instructions given therein, and
taking to heart the still more valuable lessons
in Mr. Cowan's ' Guide Book,' I am able to
do most things required of a bee- man without,
ever having to seek the advice of an ' expert,'
or any one else. I soon saw the decided ad van-

others is the ' W.B.C I started this present
year of 1901 with thirteen stocks, and con-
sidering how I am handicapped by the whole-
sale sugar-boilers we have in the village, who
burn my bees by the shovelful when they
visit their factories (as bees will do if not kept
out), I have, as I think, done very well.

" This is the result of my work for the
season. I am going into winter quarters with
twenty stocks (having had seven swarms), one
rack of well-filled sections, and have secured
a quarter of a ton of excellent extracted honey
from shallow-frames (a sample of which I
enclose for your verdict), and one rack of well-
filled sections ; this being all the comb-honey
I worked for. Hoping my brother bee-keepers
have all done as well or better.''

426

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 24, 1901.

{Correspondence continued front page 424.)
cient merit. I notice in the chronicles of past
Dairy Shows that all three prizes have been
awarded in the "Trophy Class" when only
five entries have been made. The number of
entries this year was five, but as Mrs.
Woodley was placed 2nd, I could not either
ask or argue on the matter ; but I hope it
will not be lost sight of another year, and
that in the " Trophy Class " all three prizes
will be awarded according to merit. I also
hope that our friend Seymour will be one
of the winners. I think Mr. Young will see
the fairness of this suggestion, for consider-
able expense is attached to this class. The
honey has to be staged by the exhibitor and
removed at the end of the show by the owner
or his agent ; then the railway charges are a
heavy item. Indeed, these expenses altogether
deter many from exhibiting, and when only
one prize is awarded, as my friend observed
after the judging, "it puts the damper on."
"Why,'' he says, "it cost me 25s. for entry
fees and carriage of honey, and then the
journey up to stage it, and only a 'mention.'
No more of it, William ! " — W. Woodley,
Beedon, Newbury.

THE DAIRY SHOW.

DUPLICATE PRIZE-WINNING.

[4531.] I am pleased we have a source
whereby we bee-keepers can air our views ;
hence the value of our Bee Journal. We
need not quarrel (or ought we to) over
" sweet " things, but I must say that I most
thoroughly endorse the remarks of our friend,
Mr. H. W. Seymour (4524, page 414), in
B.B.J, last week, and I fancy all bee-keepers
would be pleased to hear that the Show Com-
mittees of the future intend to take this
matter up seriously and remedy it.

Personally I have been very successful in
my exhibiting this season, and had I adopted
the "grab-all" principle, might have taken
double the number of prizes. I am content,
but none the less confident, that if these things
are allowed to go on without a check the
number of exhibitors at our shows will mate-
rially decrease, a change for the worse which I,
for one, should be extremely sorry to see.
For the sake, then, of " bee-craft " and the
pleasures it brings us, it should be each one's
duty to encourage smaller exhibitors (not to
swallow them up).

As things are at present, it appears that one
family might clear the whole show-bench
■ai prizes. — Stephen Temblett, Andover,
October 21.

[4532.] I was very glad to see Mr. H. W.
Seymour's letter (4524, page 414) in last
week's B.B.J, on the above subject.

Having attended most of the large shows in
London and numerous provincial ones, large
and small, for the last twenty years, I am
convinced that this '* prize-winning in

duplicate" does much harm, and detera
many from competing. Very soon after the
Wiltshire Bee-keepers' Association started
we made two rules: — 1. "That no exhibitor
could make more than one entry in any
class." 2. "That the winners of B.B.K.A.
Medals should not take them during the two
years following.'- — W. E. Burkitt, Hon.
Sec. Wilts B.K A., BuHermerc Rectory,
Hunrjerford.

JUDGING AT THE DAIRY SHOW.

[4533.] Would you kindly allow me space
to offer a word on the judging, &c, at the
Dairy Show, also with regard to the number of
prizes awarded in some classes ? Take, for
instance, the class for '' Heather Honey in 1-lb.
Jars " (eight entries). Only two prizes were
awarded, and most of the exhibitors would
pay an entry fee of 5s. per entry, besides
paying the railway carriage to and from
London. I think it very unfair to withhold
any of the prizes. I was myself an exhibitor
and also a visitor to the Dairy Show, and was
very much struck with the awards in that
class. The first prize lot were far from uni-
form in colour ; not more than two of the jars
could be called alike, while some had nearly
" granulated." The same occurred with the
second prize lot. I might say that I took a jar
from the first prize lot and held it up to the gas-
light, in the presence of Mr. W. Herrod, and
it was so nearly transparent any one could
hardly see any difference between the " dark "
and the " medium " coloured honeys in their
respective classes. I was also showing twelve
1-lb. jars myself, all of which were filled with
pure heather honey, and every jar uniform in
colour. It could also be seen at the first
glance by any one that my dozen jars were
from one source only. I was also informed
that one of the judges at the " Dairy "
officiated at the ,: Grocers' " Exhibition the
previous week, and awarded 1st prize in a com-
petition of fifteen entries to this same honey,
which had never been removed out of London,
whereas it did not receive a mark of recog-
nition of any kind here. Others of the same
colour and uniformity were also left out in the
cold which, in my opinion, were by far the
best heather honey. I might say I could not
find fault with any other class. It seemed to
me that, but for this, the exhibits were
all well judged. Finally, I ask, could not
tinted glasses be provided for heather honey 1
— Jonathan Shaw, Sandsend, Tories.

[We are at all times unwilling to stifle fair
criticism, even concerning judges' awards, if
bee-keepers have a real grievance needing
ventilation. In the above case, however, our
correspondent puts himself " out of court " at
once by making a statement without taking
the trouble to verify it. In other words, let us
say neither of the two j udges who officiated at
the " Grocers' '' Exhibition took any part in
judging at the Dairy Show, as stated. We

Oct. 24, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

427

must also be excused for adding that ex-
hibitors obviously can never be unbiassed
critics on the question of "judging.'' — Eds.]

TASTING HONEY AT SHOWS.

[4534.] Before judges can decide on the
quality of the different samples of honey
staged at a show it is absolutely necessary to
taste them. Not only should extracted honey
be tasted, but an experienced judge will not
pronounce a verdict upon comb-honey until
he has ascertained its flavour. The most
common implement employed for tasting
purposes is a small paper-knife of horn, ivory,
or bone, but I have seen pencils, penholders,
keys, knives, and various other articles used.
The instrument chosen is immersed in the
honey, and with the adherent liquid is placed
in the mouth. After the honey has been
sucked or licked off the more or less sticky
implement is replaced in a more or less dirty
pocket until again required. This
alternate placing of an article in
the mouth and in a jar of honey,
which will be subsequently eaten
by others, is, to put it mildly, not
nice. It has even its dangerous
aspects, forjudges are chosen for
their knowledge of honey, not
because of their freedom from
tuberculous or other contagious
disease. In our homes none of
us would place our dirty spoons
or forks in food that was to be
consumed by others, and should
we see a foreigner doing so we
would consider that he had failed
to learu one of the most ele-
mentary rules of civilisation and
cleanliness. In any case where
knife is used, the honey should
be transferred from the knife to
finger, and the finger to the
mouth, thus avoiding the direct
contact between knife and mouth
that is so objectionable. For
some years, however, I have used
a very simple device, shown in
the illustration, which obviates
most of these difficulties of honey
tasting. It is made of solid glass
rod, about £ in. in diameter, and
3| in. long. One end terminates
in a blunt point, while the other
is drawn out to a thinner point,
about 1} in. long, at the extreme
end of which is a small disc
about | in. in diameter, so that
this end has somewhat the shape
of the head of a wire nail. This thin end
enables a sample of comb honey to be
tasted without injuring more than one cell —
a point of some importance to exhibitors.
The method of using is as simple as the
appliance. For run or extracted honey the

w-

thick end of the taster is immersed in the
honey, which i3 then wiped off upon the finger
or palm of the hand by a rotary movement
which leaves the glass quite clean and ready
for use again. For comb honey it is only
necessary to push the thin, flanged end into a
cell, when it will be found, on withdrawal, to
bring out sufficient of the contents of the cell
for tasting purposes. Of course this small
quantity of honey should also be transferred
to a finger for placing in the mouth.

I think judges and others tasting honey at
shows should adopt this or some similar
method in preference to that which is now in
general use. — Walter F. Reid, Fieldside,
Addlestone, Surrey, October 14.

SOME ESSEX NOTES.

[4535.]— Bee Plants* — Your correspondent,
Mr. Belderson (4525, page 414), refers to the
Michaelmas daisy as a bee-plant. This plant
is only one of a number of classes that could
be mentioned as giving both pleasure and
employment to our bees, though they cannot
rightly be described as " honey - yielding
plants." I have no doubt that it would have
given Mr. Belderson great pleasure to have
seen a group of Michaelmas daisies grown in
" 24 size " pots at the Crystal Palace last week,
These plants were in themselves an object-
lesson, showing to the fullest possible extent
how the hand of man can assist Nature or vice
versa. The group of daisies to which I allude
above were exhibited by a firm which evidently
makes a speciality of this clas3 of plants. For
they showed their ability in bringing to per-
fection what people are generally inclined to
regard as common things, and this perfection
reminded me that we should not look upon
anything as " common."

What a number of useful plants we rid our
gardens of, because in a good season for honey
the bees happened to have no need for utilising
them ! But when we have an adverse honey
season, and the weather prevents our bees
from venturing far afield, they are, in conse-
quence, at a loss for something to do near
home. The bad effects of enforced idleness
upon bees are well known. Indeed, nothing
I know of in this connection makes such a
bad impression as an idle and cross bee. Most
of us have heard of the mischief that remains
for " idle hands " (or shall I say a tail-end of
idle bees ?) " to do."

When planting the garden the tendency to
overcrowd is very noticeable. I frequently
tell bee-keepers that if they were to reduce
their number of stocks by half they would
have more of both pleasure and profit, because
then their bee - keeping would be more
thorough. So it is in the garden. We over-
crowd till it is not only impossible for the

' Errata Bee Plant* (4525, page 415, lines two and
six from top) " strawberry shrub " should read " snow-
berry shrub." Thi3 is a printer's error, for which I may
take a share of responsibility.— W. L.

428

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 24, 1901.

plants to approach anjthiDg like perfection in
growth, but the survival of the hardiest is
only possible with an entire absence of the
clothing of green foliage to noticeable with
the specimen plants staged at the show to
which I have referred to above. Iu fact, the
results of the general overcrowding iu gardens
are mostly long, scraggy, leafless stalks, with
a few small, imperfect flowers on the top.

Foul Brood.— The first case of this disease
that has come under my notice of late was
found iu a skep owued by an old-style bee-
keeper this autumn, and serves to show how
serious it is possible for the consequences of
ignorance to become. A friend of mine, a
beginner in bee-keeping, discovered foul brood
in his hives last spring, and after dealing with
this he obtained permission to examine the
hives in a number of small apiaries round him.
He was also allowed to remove three colonies
from the wall of a dwelling-house, but all were
found to be healthy. Then, at the close of
the season, he got leave to drive the bees from
a number of skeps in these same small
apiaries mentioned above, and at one place —
the skeppist's living nearest to his own apiary
—he found when driving a "cast" that the
bees were affected with foul brood. Here,
then, at last was an answer to the question 1
had previously been unable to assist him in by
advice. The stock this skep had contained
previous to " taking up ' last year was affected
with foul brood. After securing the bulk of the
honey, the old skep, also the odd pieces of
comb, were placed in the garden for the bees
to remove or clean out the little honey left.
My friend's bees helped to do the " cleaning,"
and took home more than they bargained for
— viz., foul-brood ; and probably it was said,
" And serve 'em right, too ! '' However, the
unfortunate "cast" was hived in the skep
occupied by the diseased colony last year. But
even this misfortune was not without its ad-
vantages, for it caused the combs and the old
skep to be entirely destroyed, and as my
friend succeeded by perseverance in freeing his
own stocks from the disease, we may hope that
foul-brood is cleansed out of that district.

I recently removed four colonies of bees
from between the walls of a farm house, and
these were perfectly healthy and beautifully
clean, though I found foul- brood in the four
hives in the adjoining apiary, but this was not
of old standing.— Wm. Lovecay, Hatfield
Heath, Harlow, Essex.

TALL V. SQUARE SECTIONS.

[4536.J In the early part of the year, when
the discussion on the above subject was
closed, I thh)k you promised to reopen it
after experiments had been tried during
summer. Now I am sure many of your
readers have been looking for the result. Is
not the time yet ripe for publication ? With-
out having tried these new shape sections

myself, I am greatly in favour of them from
what I have seen during the past season.
Previously, let me say, I was biassed against
altering the standard — or 4| in. by 4j in.
section — which had taken considerable time
to attain. Eut if wo have been "on the
wrong tack '' all this time, and can produce a
section more pleasing to the eye, and which
will therefore sell better, all the more reason
why we should quickly adopt it.

I would ask, What are we aiming at 1 Is it
to make sections of honey sell better, or to
produce them quicker, or to get better appear-
ance as regards pop-holes, sealing, &c? The
question for bee-keepers is, which section
nearest attains the desideratum ? As regards
time required in production, that will always
depend on the honey-flow, whichever section
is used, but it is admitted on all hands that
bees take better to shallow-frames than to
sections, and the 4£ by 5 by 1| comes
nearer to the shallow-frame than does the
4i by 4£ by 2. I consider the tall section
far superior to the 4j by 4j, and am eagerly
looking for the verdict as to whether the
bees get along with their work quicker than
in the old ones. When my present stock of
4£ by 4J is done, I shall use no other than
the 4 1 by 5 by 1£ no bee-way, with cleated
hanging separators.

The sample I have before me, produced by
the bees of Mr. William Dixon, of Leeds, is a
splendid section, and I have no doubt they
will " sell like hot cakes." The only draw-
back to it is its weight, which is. 1 lb. 6 oz,
— Darcy R. Grimshaw, Crossgalcs, near
Leeds, October 20.

STRAY SWARMS.

THE TALE OF A TUB.'

[4537.] When looking through my Journal
of October 17 I was struck with the article
by Mr. Tennant (4527, page 415), entitled
"Stray Swarms," and wondered how it was
possible to build combs ''nearly 11 ft. deep"
in a cask " nearly 4 ft. high,'' when my eye
chanced to drop on the words: "And one
bee-keeper actually bought and had a stock in
a washing tub.'' My first thought was to
find the name of the writer, but when I saw
it was the Hon. Sec. of the Thirsk and
District B.K.A. I felt that I knew a thing
or two about that wash-tub, and this made me
think the writer's words, "some people seem to
think anything will do for the bees," might be
misleading. 1 do not know what a real live
third-class expert would have done under the
circumstances, but the plain facts of the case
are these : — On June 1 this year I bought the
apiary of a moorside bee-keeper, consisting of
two bar- frame hives, one skep, and one
" wash-tub," all teeming with bees, for none
of them had jet swarmed. To be precise, the
" wash-tub " had been shortened from an
oblong to a square, and was inverted on a

Oct. 24, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

429

kind of floorboard. Well, I packed them up
and brought them home, a distance of eight
miles, and next day we (my partner and
myself) quietly began to operate on the
" wash-tub," and with help of a screwdriver,
a hammer and chisel, succeeded in removing
the top which bad originally been the bottom
of the tub. My partner then went to work
(for he does all the hive making) and fitted a
platform to the tub to take ordinary lifts and
racks, and so converting it into a superable
hive, although to look at it reminded one of a
Chinese pagoda. We next set on a rack of
sections, made in the " W.B.C7' style, and a
fortnight later added another. On July 11 I
removed nineteen well-finished sections, and
on the 16th eighteen more, leaving the
remainder of sections to be fully completed.
On July 30 half the bees and queen were
taken out and united to another stock and
sent to the moors.

The remaining half reared a young queen,
and on September 16 they were driven from
the tub and put in a " W. B. C." hive on seven
well-3tocked combs, and the old combs were
cut out and are now melted down, while the
" tub " has done its last work, for my wife has
used it for firewood. — ET. F. Garnett, Well
Apiary, Well, Bedale, Yorks, October 19.

SOME SCOTTISH "NOTES."
[4538.] I have read with much interest the
letters and notes appearing in the B.J., par-
ticularly the notes from the pen of " D. M. M.,
Banff." While I cannot claim to have had the
same success, still I agree that the past season
has been the best since Jubilee year for clover
honey ; but heather honey has not, in my
experience, been an average one. From some
ten hives I took on an average about twenty-
four sections of heather honey, but last year I
was better. ';D. M. M." suggests discussion
how best to work for larger returns of heather
honey, and I hope his suggestion is not
to be allowed to slip. It deserves atten-
tion for mutual benefit. In my case I
have to send my bee3 seven miles to the
heather, and cannot do so until I am sure that
swarming has ceased. This year I did not
get them away till August 3. At that time
the heather was blooming pretty generally. I
left them till September 3. Between these
dates we had several thunderstorms and many
foggy days, when the bees did nothing, and
the want of continuity in gathering always
tells against good sections and a good return.
I do not see what methods J, and persons
similarly situated, could adopt to increase the
return of heather honey, unless to extract all
clover honey from, say, two crates of sections
for each hive. That might increase the.return.
Glad to hear some other suggestions.

Prices. — The prices for clover honey have
fallen very low this season. In the beginning
of the season I found ready market for clover
honey at lOd. per section, but the price has

fallen to 7d. For heather honey I got lid.
per section, and was offered that price for half a
ton. With regard to bees paying, I am
decidedly of opinion that where ordinary care
and attention are given they pay well. Last
winter I purchased several bar-frame hives
with bees from 13s. 9d. to 15s. each, and some
of these have given me eighty sections of
honey, although, like many others, I suffered
much from swarming.

I shall be glad if " D. M. M." would explain
a3 to the "cooler" crate which he added to
prevent swarming. Was it put on the top of the
other racks, or next the brood nest 1 Did he
use queen excluder ? If we could lessen
swarming there is no doubt bees would pay
well and we would nearly double our returns.
With thanks for your space. — 0. G., Stone-
haven, N.B , October 19.

Qnpqs and $$li<t8.

[2746.] Buying Odd-size Store-combs. — I
have an opportunity of buying 100 shallow-
frames of comb at 4d. each. The frames
app?ar to be good and strong, but they are not
the B.B.K.A. standard siz9. They have been
kept in capital condition, and, of course, these
store-comb3 would be very useful to me, as I
purpose keeping bees on a larger scale. Would
you advise me to buy same ? Please reply
through Bee Journal. — H. G. Williams,
Bilston, October 12.

Reply. — It is merely a matter for yourself ;
if you choose to work store- combs that will not
interchange with those generally used, no one
but yourself will be inconvenienced. Per-
sonally we should make a bid for the combs —
if clean and good — and make the best of
them.

[2747.] Winter Passages for Bees. — I see a
new device for " wintering " mentioned in
B.B.J, of the 10th inst. by your correspondent
" Will Hampton," on page 406. Now, why
should we trouble ourselves to give the bees
passages over or through the combs at all ? I
have never lost a stock because of the absence
of them, and I do not believe your readers can
assert that their bees have been starved with
plenty of store in the hive. True, I have found
them, in very small numbers, dead in the
cluster, but should they not attribute the loss
to want of numbers rather than want of food ?
It would be interesting to hear the experience
of some of your readers. — Jas. Hedding,
Sawston, Cambs, October 16.

Reply. — Unfortunately — or otherwise, as
the case may be — we know for a fact that
scores of stocks of bee3 die annually for lack
of proper passage-ways over the combs in
winter. It is quite common to hear of whole
seams of bees perishing on one side of a hive,
while on the other side— separated, maybe, by
two or three combs only — the remaining bees
are alive and healthy,

430

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 24, 1901.

[2748.] Sexing Eggs. — Wax Moth and
Br aula cceca. — 1. I should be glad if you could
let me know through B.B.J, if the enclosed
eggs are drone or worker ? The queen appears
to me to be the usual size, and some eggs on
another comb are fairly regularly laid, but I
know that she was a virgin about three weeks
ago. 2. I should also like to know when
combs in a store room will be safe from wax
moth. 3. I have read that the Braula cceca
dies off in winter. I had this pest in one hive
last year, and this year it seemed to get into
all my hives. I suppose the mild winter was
not sufficient to kill it. Off one queen I took
thirty-one of these insects ; the same hive, by
the way, that had them in 1900. — A. R.
Barker, Harrow.

Reply. — 1. If cells in comb contained eggs
when despatched, they had dried up and dis-
appeared when received, no trace of eggs
remaining. On the other hand, it must not
be supposed that we, or any one, can " sex "
eggs by other than tedious microscopical work.

2. When " sulphured '' before storing away, and
carefully excluding the moth by good packing.

3. Ordinarily the Braula does die off in winter,
but not always, as your case shows.

%tt ^furais to dtom*.

October 23 to 30, at Olympia, Northum-
berland -road, N"ewcastle-on-Tyne.— Show of
Honey in connection with the Newcastle-on-Tyne
Grocers, Bakers, and Confectioners' Exhibition. Six
open classes, and four confined to Northumberland,
Cumberland, and Durham. Medals and cash prizes.
Schedules from .Tas. Waddell, Wooler, Northumberland.
Entries close October 21.

November 14, at Town Hall, Ludlow.— Honey
Show in connection with Exhibition of Chrysanthemum
and Fruit Society. Two open classes for honey.
Schedules from J. Palmer, Bon. Secretary, 17, Brand-
lane, Ludlow. Entries close November 5.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All queriet forwarded tcill be attended to, and thots only
of personal interest will be antvoered in thit column.

*£* Seeds of Giant Canadian Balsam. — Our
Senior Editor who, as is known, is now
staying in California, has expressed a wish
to have a few seeds of the Giant^Canadian
Balsam. We will, therefore, be glad if any
reader who grows the plant will be good
enough to send on a few seeds to this office
for forwarding to Mr. Cowan as above.

Edgar Wilson (West Norwood). — Combs
Btiilt on Glass. — 1. The inquiries we under-
took to make go to prove that the gentle-
man whose name you mentioned — and who,
being a member of the B.B.K.A. Council,
bears some degree of authority — does not at
all agree with your view on the matter
referred to. Therefore your letter was, on
the face of it, misleading. 2. Though the
Editors — as you state— do not hold them-
selves responsible for the opinions expressed
by contributors to the "Correspondence"
column, they (the Editors) claim the right

to publish only what will tend to the hest
interests of bee-keepers and the good of bee-
keeping generally, and in doing this will
always endeavour to guard their readers
against what can do no good and might do
harm.

H. N. (Sussex). — Prize Winning in Dupli-
cate and Free Advertising. — We should
have been very pleased to publish your
letter, but it contains only personal reflec-
tions on individuals and their motives — to
say nothing of unpleasant personalities
which we could easily prove to be ground-
less— that it is unsuitable for publication.

Novice (Stourbridge). — Making Soft Candy.
— You cannot have carefully "followed
directions in ' Guide Book.' " Sample i3
hard as a stone, has not been boiled suffi-
ciently, and not stirred continuously while
cooling off.

H. von Buttel-Reepen (Freiburg im Breis-
gau, Germany). — Cheshire's Book on Bee-
Keeping. — By giving your full address, as
above, it is probable that some readers who
have one or two second-hand copies of vol. i.
of Cheshire's work will write you with
regard to selling the same. This is all the
help it is in our power to afford.

Adam Vallance (Dunaskin). — Insect No-
menclature.— Your father is right, the
insects are of the Cicada tribe.

Suspected Combs.

Special Notice to correspondents sending queries on
''Foul brood."

We urgently request that all letters sent with samples
of suspected comb be put outside the box or tin containing
the sample. Also that no more than a couple of square
inches of comb be sent, taking care to neither crush the
comb nor probe the cells before despatching.

In urgent cases (and where possible) ice undertake to
" wire " replies as to F. B. if six stamps are sent to cover
cost of telegram. All letters to be addressed "Editor,
Bee Journal," not "Manager."

M. H. (Cuckfield). — Sample sent reveals a
bad case of foul brood.

Hazlewood (Birmingham). — We are sorry
for unavoidable delay in reply, but your
sample was a troublesome one. There is no
foul brood in it, though the contents of one
cell looked very suspicious before putting it
under the microscope. The dead brood is
chilled only.

J. A. B. (Dundee). — Both samples are affected
with foul brood. Please pay attention as to
" packing " in future. Samples not packed
fit for post or for dealing with.

Honey Samples.
J. Berry ( Huddersfield). — Sample No. 1
"from Australia'' is probably " pure " (we
cannot say for certain without analysis), but
quality is not good. The bottle marked
No. 2 — your own sample — was broken
entirely through faulty packing, and con-
tents «in bottom of the tin in which it was
sent. We cannot therefore judge its quality
either for " show-bench " or any other
purpose,

*** Some Letters and Queries are unavoid-
ably held over till next week.

Oct. 31, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

431

GMiforial, §tottos, ta.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

CONVERSAZIONE.

{Concluded from page 423.)
Mr. Reid exp'ained, with regard to the
dark honey at the " Dairy Show," that there
were some exhibits which tasted abominably,
and the judges had to award the prize to the
best of them, that is, to a honey that could at
all events be eaten.

Mr. Perry asked whether the system of
judging usually carried out was not largely
responsible for syrup-feeding ? The majority
of light honeys had neither flavour nor aroma,
but a medium honey generally had both ; and
he considered it a great mistake to give the
prizes to the former class. He noticed, too,
that the first prizes in the " medium " and
also in the " dark " honey classes were
awarded to samples that were only slightly
different in colour, so that, practically, there
might be said to be only two classes, namelv,
" light ■'' and " dark " honey, and no " medium''
colour at all. The majority of light-coloured
honey was, in bis (Mr. Perry's) opinion, partly
syrup.

Mr. Reid contradicted the assumption that
the judges were influenced solely by colour.
He had already stated that it was his in-
variable custom to taste all exhibits. The
finest white-clover honey was always very light
in colour, and any bee-keeper possessing a
delicate palate could very easily detect it from
syrup.

Mr. Perry thought it would be safer to con-
sider a " medium coloured " honey purer than
any other. He considered there was a marked
improvement in the judging of wax at the late
Dairy Show.

Mr. Pugh thanked Mr. Reid for taking the
trouble and precaution always to ta3te ex-
hibits. He himself invariably did so when
acting as judge.

The Chairman agreed with Mr. Reid that a
judge should have a keen palate, and, speaking
for himself as one who had earned a living by
"tasting,'' he was well aware that some people
did not possess that sense in the same per-
fection as others. He now asked those present
to become "judges'' of a shallow-frame of
comb-honey, which came from the apiary of
Mr. H. Sayer, junr., and was exhibited at the
Surrey Bee-keepers' Show. [The sample was
passed round for inspection.]

Mr. E. H. Taylor showed a collapsible
glazed section- case, which could be sent out in
the flat by parcel post, and was a convenience
when transmitting several dozen at a time.
A section could be easily put in and taken out
without damaging the case, which was an im-
provement on many of those offered for sale.
The price was 12s. per gross. Mr. Taylor
also exhibited what was claimed to be an im-

provement on the "Porter Bee Escape.'' It
was fitted with a glass top, so that when the
springs became block* d (which they occa-
sionally did) the obstacle was removed by
shifting the glass, which was made to slide,
back. If the old escape happened to be
"blocked,'' it was necessary to remove it
entirely from the board before the obstruction
could be got rid of.

The Chairman next invited opinions on the
new sized and shaped sections which had been
exhibited at the Dairy Show.

Mr. Taylor gave his opinion that the in-
creased surface-space of the new section was
a great mistake. They required a larger piece
of foundation and there was more " midrib "
found in the comb when being partaken of.
The cost of producing the section would
thereby be increased, while it was doubtful if
a higher price could be obtained for it, and
thus the tendency was to make honey cheaper.
Besides, the ordinary section-racks would have
to be altered to suit the new conditions ; and,
finally, as there did not appear to be sufficient
demand for the new ones, it was undesirable
on all hands to endeavour to create any.

Mr. H. Edwards thought the larger sections
looked nice, but he had not yet given them a
sufficient trial to exprers an opinion on their
merits. He hoped, however, that they would
be well tested before a conclusion was arrived
at. At present everything pointed strongly
in favour of the rectangular section.

Two or three gentlemen having spoken
against the innovation, as being undesirable,
Mr. Reid said that he did not think the
end and aim of bee-keeping was the staging of
exhibits at shows, but the prosperity of it as
an industry. The 2 lb. sections, he thought,
worked better when placed horizontally in the
hive. The chief difficulty was to transport
the weight of such a large surface of honey
without accidents when consigned to the care
of porter?. The risk on that score was always
great.

Mr. Edwards agreed in this objection to the
large surface sections, and said that he heard
one of those dealing with the honey at the
Agricultural Hall say, referring to the consign-
ments of honey, " Only two smashes so far.
Last year I had that pot full ; this year I don't
look like getting it half full ! '' Those remarks
were significant.

The Chairman then called attention to the
increase in the number of honey shows — in fact,
there had been four important ones held in
London alone within the space of four or five
weeks. Whether such a large amount of
"showing " in so short a time was good for the
bee-industry he was rather doubtful. At any
ratG he thought there might be some variation
in the character of the exhibits. It must be
remembered that both the " Confectioners' "
and " Grocers' " Exhibitions were essentially
" trade '' shows, and that tradesmen came to
see what was new in their own line and also
to do " business." Therefore, if bee-keepers

432

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 31, 1901.

could vary their exhibits so as to come more
into touch with the commercial aspect of api-
culture, rather than of showing splendid
specimens of honey, they would be doing more
good to the industry as a whole. Would it
not be possible to carry out this by reducing
the fee from 23. 6d. to Is., and by only asking
for three 1-lb. jars of honey, which could come
by parcel post, instead of a dozen ? He would
also propose that the exhibitor should put on
each sample-tin his name and address, the
amount of honey he had in stock, and the price
he was prepared to sell it at. This plan would
help to enliven the honey market. Prizes
might be offered for the best honey that could
be sold at 7d. or 8d. per lb., or any other
price, and even for imported produce if it was
good.

Mr. Edwards agreed, and further said that
education had increased the number of bee-
keepers, but had done nothing to induce more
people to eat honey ; thus, owing to the
augmented output, the price was gradually
declining.

Mr. Durrant thought that a pamphlet might
be written and freely advertised and circu-
lated showing the advantages of honey con-
sumption, especially in the winter time.

Mr. Reid recommended that, besides adver-
tising in the B. J., which circulated only among
bee-keepers, the latter should make their
wares known in the confectioners' and other
allied trades journals, by which they would be
the most likely to secure a good market.
Confectioners did not produce honey, but
needed to buy it ; therefore the utility of
advertising in the trade papers they read was
obvious. He had even seen honey advertised
in the Methodist Recorder. In Surrey honey
was scarce, and he knew that grocers had
made 100 per cent, profit on the sale of it.

Mr. Edwards thought the Chairman's sug-
gestion an excellent one. At the Dairy Show
there were three trophies consisting' of comb
and run honey. Would it not have been
better if these had represented products of the
hive — for instance, comb, run and granulated
honey, mead, vinegar, wax, and a couple of
racks of sections ; also confectionery made
from honey ? He had acted on this plan at a
recent show, and was surprised at the interest
stimulated thereby, the general public being
ignorant of many of the products of the hive.
He was sure that if they once tasted honey-
vinegar they would never use the common
commercial vinegar.

In reply to an inquiry, it was stated that a
collection of recipes lor utilising hive products
could be obtained from the Rev. G. Bancks,
of Green-street Green, Dartford. Another
interrogator asked how it wa3 possible to sell
cakes made of honey while sugar was only
3d. per lb.

Mr. Harnlyn-Harris was of opinion that
exhibits would be encouraged if none of the
exhibitors were allowed to go home without
some recognition of what they had staged.

j Many competitors at the "Grocers'," the

! " Dairy," and other shows who sent up very
good produce indeed had to take a back place

j because their district could not provide honey

! as good as that from more favoured localities.

j More prizes or certificates of merit might be
awarded. The latter would be a sufficient

! guarantee to purchasers. Germans and other
foreigners were always ready to encourage
competition by this means. Certificates cost

' little, but carried a good deal of weight. Hi*
idea was that this would be a good means of

I stimulating the market.

Mr. Reid said that every judge felt very
sorry he could not give a dozen prize3 instead
of three or four ; but there was no limit to
" V.H.C." or " H.C.," and perhaps that power
in some case3 might be more liberally taken
advantage of. Of course, if done to a very
large extent the commendations would lose
their value.

General Sir Stanley Edwards said the
Dairy Saow was the only one where an
exhibitor was allowed to take more than one
prize in one class, and he thought this
privilege ought to be abolished. Two years
ago there were three prizes taken in one class
for products of the same apiary. It was idle
to say that one sample was produced by the
father, one by the mother, and another by the
son, when they all came from the same apiary.
That was only a subterfuge. The object of
the association was to get exhibits from as
many apiaries as possible, and there should be
some law to ensure that.

The Secretary, B.B.K A , said that there
was a stipulation in the rules of the " Dairy
Show '' that the honey must be the property
of the exhibitor and collected by his own
bees. He was not aware there had been any
infraction of that rule. The Dairy Association
could not be blamed until it had been asked to
alter its rules, which had not yet been done.

General Sir Stanley Edwards replied that
all he wanted to guard against was the pos-
sibility of a bee-keeper nominally dividing up
his apiary, and making exhibits in the names
of members of his own family, when it was
well known that the whole of the apiary was
managed by himself. Under the present i
system he could send up samples in the name \
of his wife and his sons or daughters as well as
in his own, and thus possibly secure all the I
prizes, which was obviously wrong.

Mr. Reid endorsed this view, but admitted
there was great difficulty in determining
whether and which competitors from one family I
should be excluded.

Mr. Edwards had taken three prizes in one I
class at the Dairy Show, but he would not feel j
at all aggrieved if prevented from taking a j
second after taking a first, and he was certainly I
in accord with the opinions expressed. The!
taking of three prizes in one class by onel
apiary was a discouragement to competitors.

The discussion was continued by Mr. Atkin, I
the Chairman, the Secretary, Mr. Reid, and!

Oct. 31, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

433

Mr. Edwards, the result being that the follow-
ing resolution was moved, seconded, supported
and carried unanimously : — "That the Council
of the B.B.K.A. be asked to take steps to pre-
vent products from one and the same apiary
gaining more than one prize in any one class at
the same show."

A vote of thanks to the Chairman for presid-
ing brought the meeting to a close.

GLUCOSE AND INVERT SUGAR IN
BEER.

OFFICIAL PROHIBITION.

[The following notice published in the
Gazette (the official organ of the Government),
is of interest to beekeeper?, and might pro-
bably be applied to the admixture of honey
with glucose. — Eds.j

Treasury, October 14.

Prohibition, under Section 5 of " The Cus-
toms and Inland Revenue Act, 1888," of the
use in beer of certain substances.

Whereas it appears to the satisfaction of
the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's
Treasury that glucose containing arsenic, and
invert sugar containing arsenic, are substances
which are capable of being used in the manu-
facture and preparation for sale of beer, and
that the said substances are of a noxious and
detrimental nature,

Now, the said Lords Commissioners, under
the power conferred upon them by Section 5
of " The Customs and Iniand Revenue Act,
1888," do hereby prohibit the use in the manu-
facture and preparation for sale of beer of any
glucose or invert sugar containing arsenic.

Dated this 10th day of October, 1901.

N.B. — A penalty of £50 is imposed by the
said Section for any breach of this prohibi-
tion.

W. H. Fisher.

H. T. AtfSTRUTHER.

HONEY SHOW AT NEWCASTLE.

The third annual exhibition of honey, &c,
in connection with the Northumberland and
Durham Bee-keepers' Association was held on
Saturday, October 12, in the Young Men's
Christian Association Hall, Newcastle. It
proved highly successful, there being a good
display of honey of excellent quality and a
large attendance of the public to see it. All
the arrangements were well carried out by the
secretary, Mr. James Waddell, of Wooler.
After the judging, Professor Meek, of the
College of Science, gave an interesting lecture
on the natural history of the bee, and referred
particularly to the improved methods of
securing honey by the use of modern
appliances. One of the most interesting
features of the exhibition was an observatory
hive, containing bees and their queen, shown
by Mrs. Coote, of The Minories, Newcastle,
and there were also on view some interesting
photographs of apiaries. The entries, num-

bering ninety-seven, were very satisfactory
indeed, all being of good quality.

Mr. T. Fenwick, Mr. W. Codling, and Mr.
G. Gibson officiated as judges and made the
following awards : —

Six l-lb. Section?. — 1st and 2nd, James
Waddell, Wooler; 3rd, John Scougall, Bed-
lington Colliery ; v.h.c. and h.c, R. W. Patten,
Rock, Alnwick.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
J. M. Balmbra, Alnwick ; 2nd and 3rd, R. W.
Patten; v.h.c, John Scougall; h.c, John
Cuthbertson, Bedlington Station ; c, J. T.
Duncan, Amble.

Six \-lb. Sections {Heather Honey). — 1st,
James Waddell ; 2nd, J. M. Balmbra ; 3rd
and v.h.c, R. W. Patten ; h.c, I. Thompson,
Wooler ; c, S. Dunn, Riding Mill.

Six l-lb, Jars Extracted Heather Honey. —
1st and 2nd, J. S. Dent, Burnhill ; 3rd and
h.c, J. M. Balmbra ; v.h.c, R. W. Patten ;
c, T. Gutherson, Rothbury.

Single l-lb. Section (Heather Honey). — 1st,
James Waddell ; 2nd, E. Middlemas, Stam-
ford, Alnwick; 3rd, I. Thompson; v.h.c,
J. M. Balmbra ; h.c, Robert Huggup,
Glanton; c, John Cuthbertson.

Super of Heather Honey (above 12 lb.). —
1st and 2ad, T. Gutherson ; 3rd, J. R. Guther-
son, Thropton.

Observatory Hive.~lat, Mrs. Coote, The
Minories, Newcastle.

Bell-Glass Heather Honey (not under 10/6.).
—1st and 2nd, T. Gutherson ; 3rd, J.
Waddell.

Three l-lb. Sections (Heather Honey).— 1st,
J. Waddell ; 2nd, E. Middlemas ; 3rd, J. L.
Dent ; v.h.c, Geo. Rochester, Shortley Bridge;
h.c, Mrs. Coote ; c, I. Jobson, Ilderton.

Single lk-lb. Section (Heather Honey). —
1st and 2nd," J. Waddell.;

S)nali Super of Honey.— 1st, J. R. Guther-
son ; 2nd, J. Waddell.

Beeswax. — 1st, J. S. Dent ; v.h.c, J.
Waddel ; h.c, T. Gutherson ; c, Wm. Clark,
Gateshead.— (Communicated.)

HONEY SHOW AT PRIOCKHEIM, N.B.

The annual Show of the Friockheim Horti-
cultural Society was held in a large marquee
on the outskirts of the town. Competition in
the honey department was very keen; all the
classes except heather honey were well repre-
sented and of a specially meritorious nature,
the l-lb. and 2-lb. sections being very fine.

Mr. R. Steele, Wormit, Dundee, officiated as
judge, and the prize list was as under : —

Honey Trophy. — 1st. Alex. Brown, Friock-
heim ; 2nd, Robert Muoss, Friockheim ; 3rd,
Chas. Mitchell, Friockheim.

Six 2-lb. Sections (Floiver Honey). — 1st,
Chas. Mitchell ; 2nd, Ja3. Rennie. Leysmill ;
3rd, Alex. Brown.

Eight l-lb. Sections (Flower Honey). — 1st,
John Low, Friockheim ; 2nd, Wm. Cant,
Guthrie ; 3rd, Chas. Mitchell.

434

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 31, 1901.

Two 2-lb. and Four 1-lb. Sections (Heather
Honey). — 1st, Chas. Mitchell.

Bell-Class (Comb Honey). — isr, John Low ;
2nd, Chas. Mitchell ; 3rd, Alex. Brown.

Straw Super (not under 6 lb.). — 1st, Chas.
Mitchell ; 2nd, Alex. Brown ; 3rd, Win.
C&nt.

Six lb. Extracted Honey in Show-Glass. —
Equal 1st, Wm. Cant and Chas. Mitchell;
2nd, Alex. Brown ; 3rd, Jas. Whyte, Kriock-
heim.

Beeswax. — 1st, Wm. Cant ; 2nd, Alex.
Brown ; 3rd, Jas. Whyte.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
Wm. Cant ; 2nd, Chas. Mitchell ; 2rd, Alex.
Brown.

Nest of Wild Bees (Working). — 1st, Chas.
Mitchell ; 2nd, David Donaldson, Friockheini ;
3rd, Jas. Rennie. — (Communicated.)

^OXXBpUmit

The Editor* do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinion* expressed by correspondent*. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communication!, and corretpondenti
are requested to write on one tide of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

THE NEW TALL SECTIONS.
Mr tear's experience with them.

[4539 ] Readers of the Bee Journal will
doubtless remember the interesting discussion
which recently appeared in its pages on the
suhject of "Tall v. Square Sections." No
doubt other?, like myself, have given them a
trial during the season now closed, and it will
be of general interest to hear the results. Not
much good, however, can come from hearing
general statements as to the readiness or
otherwise with which the bees seemed to take
to them, or the rapidity with which they were
completed ; or even drawing precise conclu-
sions by single comparisons with the square
sections. For example, let us say a bee-
keeper selects two stocks, "equally strong,''
and supers one, with " tall " and the other
with "square" sections on the same day: he
surely would not be justified in concluding
that those first taken to by the bees, or
soonest finished, were most suitable shape ?
I say this, 1st, because of the impossibility of
saying with certainty that both stocks are
exactly equally strong; and 2nd, because
there are so many other variable conditions in
different hives that when two stocks, seem-
ingly " equal in strength,'' are simultaneously
supered with the same size and kind of sec-
tions, they are seldom taken to on the same
day, nor are the sections finished at the same
time. It seems, therefore, obvious that only
an extended series of trials will correctly
answer the question as to which size is best.

In giving the results of my experiments

with them I shall therefore confine myself to
one point, namely, the tveight of sections. I
filled two racks (after making the necessary
alteration) each with twenty-four in place of
the usual twenty-one sections, and gave them
to two different stocks of bees. From one of
these hives no swarm issued. The queen wa3
born in 1900, and the colony was in a very
flourishing condition when supered. The
sections were fitted with V-shaped "starters,"
and the bee3 built them out entirely with
drone comb, not built well to the wood all
round, there being too many " pop-holes."
None of the twenty-four weighed as much as
1 lb. when finished. The sections in second
rack were fitted with full sheets and placed
above a newly-hived and very big swarm, also
headed by a 1 900 queen. This rack was taken
off, completely filled, on the ninth day after
being put on. It had therefore almost ideal
conditions for being well done. All the
sections in question were drawn out into
worker comb and capped with that " pearly "
capping which meets general preference. Six
of them I exhibited in the class for six sections
at the show of the Surrey B.K.A., held at the
Crystal Palace, and they won a "highly com-
mended.'' I mention this as showing that
they were well and properly filled. Now the
point I wish to emphasise is this : to my sur-
prise, not one of these sections weighed a full
pound. I say this because the square — or
4j in. by 4| in. — sections equally well filled
are usually well over 16 cz. in weight. In
fact, the first three dozen square ones which I
disposed of, selected quite at random from
those which I had graded as first-class, scaled
just over 40 lb.

The actual weights of the six " highly-com-
mended " tall sections were as follows :—
152 oz , 15'1 oz., 151 oz., 148 oz., 146 oz.,
137 oz. ; total, 885 oz., or 5 lb. 8£ oz. There
was thus a deficit of 7| oz. on the six sections.

There is, however, a slight " asset " to be
taken into account, owing to difference in the
weight of wood in the two forms of section.
I found that six 4|-in. by 4j-in. sections
(four bee-way) when empty weighed 5'28 oz.,
while six of the tall ones (also four bee-way)
weighed only 4 33 oz. — that is to say, in six
of the former there is almost exactly 1 oz.
more wood than in six of the latter ; but even
so, the tall sections are still unpardonably of
"short weight"

It cannot fairly be attributed to accident,
or mere coincidence, that of forty-eight "new-
shape '' sections which I used not a single one
weighed a full pound, when by far the
greater proportion of my 4^-in. by 4£-in. or
square ones weighed well over 1 lb. The
conclusion, therefore, is that these new sec-
tions are either not quite tall enough or else
are a trifle too thin.

I see from the report of the "Dairy Show ''
in the Bee Journal (October 17, page 413)
that there was a special class for "Twelve
1-lb. sections, other than 4^ in. by 4^ in.,''

Oct. 31, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

435

and that the first prize was taken by the Kev.
R- M. Lamb, who, in your columns, so ably
championed the "new-shape" section in the
discussion referred to. It would be of con-
siderable interest to hear from him and also
from others who sent sections of this form to
that show what were the actual weights of
the sections exhibited, and what percentage
of the tall sections scaled 1(3 oz.

Just a word upon the rerthetic side of the
question. Here, I admit, that my vote is
strongly in favour of the tall sections. I think
they look far more pleasing to the eye than
the square shape, and also look nicer upon the
table. Moreover, when placed side by side
I think most people would suppose the tall
ones were the heavier, for the additional f-in.
in height seems to be more appreciated by the
eye than the slight decrease in thickness. Of
course, so long as they are actually of less
weight than the square oDes buyers would
naturally sacrifice any (esthetic preference in
favour of the heavier section. Indeed, as a
matter of fact, I found by experience that this
was the case. Two dozen tall sections I sent
as a third instalment to a tradesman who was
taking a large quantity from me, pointing out
to him that they were " a new departure as to
shape, but that they were not quite up to the
1-lb. weight'; and I asked him to note
whether his customers took them in preference
to the others? When next I saw my cus-
tomer he said that buyers at once noticed
the difference in shape, and immediately asked
to have them weighed. Then, on finding that
the tall sections weighed less than the old
shape or 4|-in. ones, they naturally rejected
them in favour of the heavier ones. It seems
evident, therefore, that unless the new section
is made of such a size as to weigh a full pound
when reasonably well finished, it would be
worse than useless to attempt to put them on
the market.— G. S. Newth, Wallington,
Surrey.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.
[4540.] Chill October.— The month this
year has belied its name and has been a
delightful time, although in the opening days
we had a slight foretaste of winter, the
hilltops being covered with a white coat.
Bees have since been having a lively time
of it, and have had daily outings, prowling
about neighbouring hives, spying if they
could discover any signs of weakness. One
of my queens failed to mate, so on the 22nd
I got a driven lot from Hunts and joined
them on, thus securing, I hope, a powerful
colony next season. It was a risky thing
to do, perhaps, so late in the season, but
they came out of the swarm-box as lively as
crickets and no signs of dead bees.
_ Bees and Bagpipes— I always feel interested
in any literature where I find complimentary
reference to the bees, and, when a double
compliment to another favourite is paid at the

same time, the interest is added to. While
reading Robert Buchanan lately I found this
gem praising the bees and the bagpipes, and I
set it down as worthy of being submitted to a
wider audience. The extract is from "The
Marriage of Shon Maclean '' :—

" Like the whistling of birds, like the humming

of bees,
Like the sough of the south wind in the

trees,
Like the singing of angels, the playing of

shawms,
Like the ocean itself, with its storms and its

calms,
Were the strains of Shon, when, with cheeks

aflame,
He blew a blast thro' the pipes of fame.''

Cleaning up Unfinished Sections.— Great
care is necessary, when this is being done, to
secure that the operation cloe3 not set up
robbing. If they are set on the hive above
the escape board, or placed outside the
dummy, they are generally cleared, though
frequently it take3 some time. I prefer, how-
ever, to do it outside, as the operation is
generally more expeditiously performed there.
I placa a section or two in a hive which would
be the better of supplementary stores, and,
when a few bees cluster on them, they are
removed gently to a shady corner some dis-
tance from the hives, in the afternoon of a fine
day. The adhering bees, when they have
gorged themselves, make direct for home, and
convey the intelligence to their fellows that
they have discovered a gold mine. Eager to
profit by it, others join them and work
assiduously, with the result that the sections
are quickly only dry comb.

Dissimilar Bees.— It is well known that
bees of all ages accompany swarms, and when
these are forwarded some distance, especially
if the weather is warm and sultry, they assume
a considerable diversity of hue and appear-
ance. A friend informed me that he must
have got a " mongrel lot," as he was able to
pick out at least three separate kinds of bees,
differing in size, shape, and colour. I
explained the circumstance as follows : First,
young bees just able to fly would look smaller
and greyer than the others, because their
pubescence was not then fully developed ;
second, the fully matured bees would appear
in normal condition, much as they do in
general ; third, old bees would naturally look
darker, more shiny, longer, and thinner than
the average bee, and these points would all be
intensified by the close and oppressive atmo-
sphere breathed during the time the mass of
bees was confined in the swarming-box, while
they were all highly gorged with honey.

Hybrids "worse than Wasps.' —My predi-
lections and experience lead me to keep as near
as possible to the pure blacks, but a friend
some years ago had read such glowing accounts
of a certain kind of hybrids that he deter-
mined to invest in a queen and show his

436

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 31, 1901.

neighbours how to get bees and honey. He
got bees the first year certainly and felt glad
and buoyant. In April and May that hive
shot ahead of all rivals, but one fine May
morning he found his queen outside dead.
When supers were being taken off he requisi-
tioned the aid of every bee-man daring
enough to face the " demons." Next year
every living creature near had to keep at_ a
respectable distance until they became a verit-
able nuisance and danger. As he graphically
described the scene, it seemed at times to be a
little foretaste of pandemonium !

Honey Sales.— With the advent of Novem-
ber I will not have a single section for sale.
All from heather sold at Is. each wholesale,
and found a ready clearance at the price. The
blend of " clover and heather " went rapidly at
lOd. per section, and the pure clover languidly
at 6d. up to lOd. — averaging rather under 8d.
each. In regard to weight of sections, I saw a
correspondent remarked lately that "if all
sections were weighed, many fine totals would
shrink rapidly.'' Here is an interesting answer :
One firm which weighs my honey, and pays
by weight, returned 210 sections as scaling
217 1b.— D. M. M., Banff.

THE DAIRY SHOW, 1901.

DUPLICATE PRIZE WINNING.

[4541.] In reply to Mr. W. Woodley's
remarks (4530, page 424), I beg to say it is
quite correct that I have exhibited at the
Dairy Show in duplicate and won two prizes
in one class ; and — as Mr. Woodley says —
quite as recently as that of 1900, at which
show a very old friend said to me, " Well,
Seymour, I do not agree with these double
entries," to which I agreed and replied, " It is
not fair to others, and I will not make two
entries in one class again.'' I therefore beg
to inform friend Woodley and exhibitors
generally, that I do not intend making two
entries in one class at any show at which I
may be exhibitor in the future.

One thing I can honestly say : I have
always made entries in my own name, and
never allowed " the good wife " to enter an
exhibit in hers, especially giving a different
address, as I see friend Woodley has done.
This fact is duly recorded in the B.B.J, (see
page 412), so I do no harm in repeating it,
where I read in class for twelve jars light-
coloured extracted honey, " 3rd, Wm. Wood-
ley, Beedon, Newbury ; 4th, A. M. Woodley,
World's End, Newbury." To my mind this
makes it look as if the exhibits came from two
distinct exhibitors living in different villages.
Of course, this may be quite correct and right,
but it reminds me of a married man saying to
his wife, " What's yours is mine, and what's
mine is my own."

Mr. Woodley seems in some doubt about my
trophies, and infers that I only had one trophy
in London. I wish to inform him that I
entered one trophy at the Dairy and another at

the " Palace Show,'' and had two trophies in
London at the same time. Does Mr. W.
think I should have been wasting valuable
time in London the day before the "Dairy " if
I had only small exhibits to stage ? I went to
the Agricultural Hall fully intending to stage
my exhibit in Trophy Class, and refused to do
so as a protest to his double entries in that
clas3. — H. W. Seymour, Henley-on-Thames.

JUDGING HEATHER HONEY.

THE DAIRY SHOW.

[4542.] Your correspondent, Mr. Jonathan
Shaw (4533, page 426), is evidently a bad
loser. I consider that any one who cannot
take an adverse verdict with equanimity
should refrain from trying their luck on the
show-bench, for all that do must meet with
disappointment sometimes. I have been an
occasional exhibitor for some years and, win
or lose, I have never yet had the temerity to
question the judges' decision. But perhaps I
am so constituted that a slight disappointment
does not so easily upset me, and I also make
it a rule not to "count my chickens before
they are hatched.''

Mr. Shaw seemed to think that because he
was first at the " Grocers' " he would be first
at the " Dairy Show," but, unfortunately, he
had calculated without the winning exhibit at
the "Confectioners'." True, not quite so
many exhibits were staged at the latter, but
the editorial comments in the B.B.J, the fol-
lowing week showed that they were all good.
Mr. Shaw thinks the first was not, and does
not hesitate to say so.

I should not have troubled to reply to our
friend if he had not implied that the 1st and
also the 2nd prize exhibits were not pure
heather honey, like his. I have not seen the
2nd prize exhibit, neither do I know Mr.
Sproston, but I do know that Cannock Chase
and neighbourhood is capable of producing
heather honey second to none, and this is not
the first time that Staffordshire has supplied
the winning exhibits at the Dairy Show. —
Thomas Richards, Church Gresley, Burton-
on-Trent.

SCOTCH BEE-KEEPING CRITICISED.

[4543.] Referring to the report in last
week's B.J. of the Conversazione, I fear that
august body, the B.B.K.A., would not be
favourably impressed with Scotch bee-keeping,
as given before them by Mr. R. Hamlyn-
Harris, on page 422. Cases of improper feed-
ing of bees, to one of which he refers, are fortu-
nately rare in Scotland, notwithstanding the
fact that another speaker, Mr. Reid, has
actually " spotted " another bee-keeper who
had the audacity to send sugar-fed exhibits to
the Crystal Palace Show. Such procedure
certainly ought to be put down with a firm
hand. It is to be hoped that Mr. Hamlyn-
Harris, when at the Dumfries show, brought

Oct. 31, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

437

thi3 matter before the Bee-Keepers' Associa-
tion there, and, if so, the said Association
ought at once to take steps to expose such
malpractices. On one occasion, over twenty
years ago, if I remember rightly, the old Cale-
donian Bee-Keepers' Association took action
against a Glasgow grocer for selling what was
said to be pure Californian honey. On analy-
sis the sample was found to be largely com-
posed of glucose, and so the grocer referred to
was fined. Since then I have only seen two,
or at most three, glaring instances where bees
had been fed on sugar-syrup to produce, so-
called, honey. It is also satisfactory to know
that such fraudulent practices are not confined
to Scotland.

Mr. Hamlyn-Harris is, however, a little
unfair, I think, in his remarks when he says
that " Scotland was, he thought, rather an
unprofitable country for bee-keeping except
for the heather season." I should like to
ask what experience he has had of Scotch
bee-keeping to make this assertion ? The
district in which he was staying, and in
which he found the fraudulent bee-keeping
grocer, is almost entirely given up to sheep-
farming. Therefore from a bee-man's point of
view this is not by any means an ideal place
in which to locate. If Mr. Hamlyn-Harris
had taken the trouble he could have found
districts not 100 miles from where he was
staying, that will compare with the best in
England or any other country in Europe as a
bee-keeper's paradise. In these districts may
be seen the best and largest dairy-farms in
Britain, as well as farms famed for beef*raising.
Several English beekeepers who this year
visited the districts to which I refer said they
never in their lives saw such an enormous
mass of bloom on the white clover.

I have no desire to "boom" Scotland as
being a profitable country for bees, in case Mr.
Hamlyn-Harris might decide to come and
reside amongst us, and thus "share in the
spoils," but I would just like to whisper in his
ear that there are a few who are content to
remain this side the border, so far as honey-
raising is concerned. The prices which they
get annually for large quantities of " pure
Scotch honey ' in London are, I venture to
say, never reached by any beekeeper in
England, Germany, or any other honey-pro-
ducing country in the known world. —
William McNally, Ghnluce, Wigtownshire.

STRAY SWARMS.
[4544.] I was amused that your correspon-
dent, Mr. H. F. Garnett, in last week's issue
(4537, page 428) should wonder how it was
possible to build combs "nearly lift, deep,''
in a cask " nearly 4 ft. high.'' The thing is,
on the face of it, absurd, and I should have
thought your correspondent would have given
a " real live third-class expert,'' as he chooses
to call me, credit foi' knowing that such a
possibility was outside the range of practical

politics. What I said in my copy, and which
the Editor could substantiate if it were
necessary, was that the combs referred to
would be "nearly 3ft. deep." The printer's
error, however, was so apparent, that 1
did not consider the mistake worth correcting.
I think, after citing instances in which bees
had been put into the mo3t grotesque and
unsuitable dwellings, I was quite justified in
making the statement that " some people seem
to think anything will do for the bees," and in
my opinion, from your correspondent's remarks,
it is quite evident he has not grasped the
meaning of the article in question. — R. T.
Ten nan t, Thirsk, October 26.

[After inspecting Mr. Tennant's MS., we
are constrained to admit that the " slip " was
mainly attributable to indistinct writing in
" copy," and as we have sent this on, we have
no doubt he will readily agree with us after
inspection. — Eds.]

BEGINNING BEE-KEEPING.

STARTING ON RIGHT LINES.

[4545.] I thank your Essex correspondent,
Mr. Loveday (4526, page 415), for his helpful
suggestions as to commencing bee-keeping on
" right lines."

Perhaps I may repeat what I asked in my
first letter on page 402, viz., about how often
is it necessary to examine the internal working
of a hive during the time its bees are "honey-
making " for the season 'I In the first place,
time is valuable during summer evenings — I
spend much of my leisure amongst growing
plants ; and secondly, I have no desire to
disturb the bees more than necessary. On the
other hand, I do not wish to neglect them, so
that any pests may get a foothold.

If, therefore, Mr. Loveday would give his
opinion as to how often the hives should be
examined, or looked after, I could tell whether
I had the necessary time to devote to bee-
keeping in order to be " successful.'' I wish
to succeed, and even to excel, if taken up at
all.— S. Walian.

THE SEASON'S BEE-WORK.

A BEGINNER'S REPORT.

. [4546.] Noticing that in almost every issue
of your valuable journal is an account of the
season's work of beginners in bee-keeping, and
having myself been accorded some valuable
help through its columns, I take it not as a
pleasure alone, but as a duty we " young fry ''
owe to its editors to let them know each
ending season how we have fared under their
guidance, whether we have fared well or not,
and it is pleasing to note the successes re-
corded from time to time shown by the large
" takes " of honey mentioned. Much, of
course, depends upon the particular neighbour-
hood for a good yield of surplus, but in my
short experience I have found that so much

438

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 31, 1901.

more depends upon the management of the
hives and their manipulation. We owe thanks
to the a Guide Book " for help ia this direction,
and, taking it all round, I should think it has
been a fair season. Here we depend princi-
pally upon the white clover, fruit blossom, and
heather. I commenced in 1899, when, after
studying the book referred to, I purchased
three swarms in skeps ; one proved to be
queenless, and in consequence soon became
defunct. The other two I successfully trans-
ferred into " W.B.C." frame-hives, according
to your frequently advised plan, the follow-
ing spring. Then seeing another opportunity
of adding to my stock, I bargained for two
additional strong colonies in frame-hives, with
numerous appliances, from a clergyman who
was giving up bees. I got them safely to my
home, six miles away, in my dog- cart. So
you see I had now four stocks (rather more
than you advise beginners to tackle at first)
to begin with, all in good condition by spring,
1900. I decided to work for extracted honey,
so I set about the labour of preparing for the
season, and got my boxes ready for the
shallow- frames (which I made myself) filled
with foundation, and watched for the time
when I could pop them on the hives as soon
as the bees and bee-forage were ready. The
result was I secured 157 lb. of extracted
honey, all of which I sold at Is. per lb. This
present season I have been still more success-
ful, for by stimulative feeding in early spring
I had the hives "boiling over" with bees by
the time the honey-flow began, and I had to
make more boxes of Bhallow-frames for holding
surplus. I also was fortunate in capturing
two stray swarms, which I united in a frame-
hive, and I thus had five colonies, from which
I have taken 276 lb. surplus extracted honey.
1 also ventured on sending an exhibit to our
County- town show last August, and succeeded
in taking a "second" (bronze medal) of the
Shropshire B.K.A, which I have joined. So
far I have had but little difficulty in disposing
of my honey by the time the season is over.
All things considered, then, I think I am
bordering on success in the craft, although I
find there is yet much to be learned. I have
not so far had a single swarm issue from any
of the hives. I owe my success to the
"Guide Book,'' the B.B.J., a keen eye and
careful manipulating, and invariably attend-
ing to matters before the moment they are
required. With best wishes and thanks for
your kind help. — W. H. Buck, Daivley, Salop.

MACHINE-MADE HONEY-JAKS.

[4547.] Wishing to give this new kind of
honey-jar a trial, 1 ordered one gross. Judge
of my surprise, a few days later, to see the
railway man tip a barrel off his cart and
roll it up the entry towards my house, inquir-
ing for me. From the rough handling it got I
fully expected to find at least half the bottles

broken, but, owing entirely to the careful
packing, there was not a single breakage, and
only one jar useless through the cap not
fitting. They were packed by Messrs. Abbott
Bros. — A. F. Crosby, Kidderminster.

DAIRY SHOW AWARDS.

A CORRECTION.

[4548.] Allow me to make a correction by
adding to the " list of awards '' published on
page 413. In addition to the 1st prize and
silver medal duly credited to me, awarded to
my exhibit of queen-raising appurtenances,
I was fortunate enough to also gain the 2nd
prize in the same class for my new " Regis-
tered " swarm-catcher and self-hiver. — H.
Edwards, Shrubs Hill, Sunningdale, Berks,
October 28.

(Several interesting articles arc in type and
will appear next week.)

REVIEWS OF FOREIGN BEE PAPERS.

BY R. HAMLYN-HARRIS, F.R.M.S.,
F.Z S , F E.S , ETC.

Rucher Beige (Belgium). — Making Hydromel
or Mead.— The production of various " hydro-
niels '' has made but little progress during the
last five years ; indeed, it is now very difficult
to produce hydromel of good quality, owing
to the proved fact that the honey gathered is
generally inferior, and the strong taste of
honey is disliked by many people. In order
to give a natural " bouquet " to our hydromel, it
is needful to use a strong ferment, that being
the only way to deal with it. A resume of
the best method of producing good hydromel
is given below : — First, the size of your barrel
must determine the quantity of honey used,
the greatest nicety and cleanliness being neces-
sary with barrel and all other things used. A
rapid fermentation is desirable, and for this
purpose to 100 quarts of hydromel 4 lb. of
raisins should be used. Boil 4 lb. of honey
in 4 quarts of water ; skim, and leave to cool
down to 30 deg. Centigrade. Add the raisins,
and cover with a clean cloth in a warm place.
Stir three or four times a day. In four days
the fermentation should be in full activity.
Then dissolve your honey in warm water, and
when quite melted pour it into the barrel con-
taining the fermented liquid. Leave a space
of 4 in., and cork with a damp cloth folded
thick. In two to three weeks the vinous fer-
mentation will be complete, and the hydromel
must then be drawn off from the dregs.

To heighten fermentation 5 gr. of tartaric
acid may be added to the yeast, and 60 gr.
placed in the barrel — or 10 lb. of barley or
wheat which has already begun to germinate.
After the winter the hydromel should be
bottled off.

Revue Internationale d' Apiculture (Switzer-
land).— In order to judge of the advance

Oct 31, 1901. j THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

439

made in apiculture during the past century it
is of interest to look into an old book
(published in 1790) written by the Abbe della
Rocca, Vicar General of Syra, entitled,
"A Complete Treatise on Bees, with Practical
Method of Managing Them as Practised in
Syra, Island of the Archipelago." The
author insists on the value of the lime and the
white melilotus as bee-pasture, and also men-
tions borage and white clover. No mention,
however, is made of sainfoin nor of the acacia,
but he names many plants supposed to be
useful, but which his experience has proved
to be otherwise.

Della Rocca also tells his readers that in
the islands of the Archipelago, if a poor man
could get together twenty or thirty hives, he
could, with the little he could gain by country
labour added, support his family in comfort-.
Alluding to the great mortality amoDg bees,
the author attributes much of it to cold and
severe frosts. At the same time he advocates
leaving the hives in the open during the
winter, and allowing the cold to penetrate,
while shading them from bright light and
noise.

Delia Rocci invented two hive3 to be made
from a kind of baked clay, which were to be
placed in a niche in a wall, &c, and
covered round with straw ; these were cer-
tainly better than the old skeps, but still
very rudimentary and crude in construction.
Still more so was his general knowledge of
bees. He thought they could travel across an
arm of the sea eighteen miles wide in search
of food, and that they could be attracted by
the scent of honey at a distance of twelve to
fifteen miles ; that the worker-bees lived three
or four years ; that bees collect and bring
home wax oa their thighs as they do pollen ;
that certain flowers contain it, &o. The
chapters on the diseases of bees are perhaps
the most interesting. He says : — " Of all that
has been said or written about the maladies of
bees, nothing is so dangerous as a disease
which attacked ours in the isle of Syra from
1777 to 1780 and destroyed the greater part
of our hives." He then goes on to say : —
"It broke out in the brood-nest, and the combs
were filled with matter entirely corrupt instead
of with nymphs and young bees. As long as
the cells continued sealed there was no sign of
disease, but if the comb were broken open a
blackish, offensive fluid flowed out, carrying
infection to the other hives.

" The bees themselves seemed active as
usual, but the population decreased from day
to day. Sometimes a part of a hive would
escape the malady and a few healthy bees
would hatch out, but too few to make up for
daily losses. We tried several ways of curing
the bees from this scourge, but without
success. At last it was realised that the
disease was epidemic, and the whole contents
of every infected hive was burnt and the hive3
purified by fire ; if any hives were saved it was
through this treatment."

<fto^8 and Itaplty.

[2749.] Wintering Bees— " Guide Book"
Teaching. — I began bee-keeping this year, and
I have Mr. Cowan's book, but somehow I
cannot find instructions on many of the
simplest little things, which, I suppose, every
one who is a bee-keeper knows ; but I have
no one to help me in my difficulties. In the
village here the people only use skeps, and do
not understand frame-hives. I see in your
paper that you answer questions to quite be-
ginners, so that I hope you will not mind
answering mine. I will number them, because
it will probably be more convenient for you.
1. How much covering do the bees need for
winter ? At present there are on the top of
frames two pieces of thin carpet, very porous,
which were supplied with the hive3 ; also two
pieces of wood, which fit in the top and half
cover the hire. 2. I have four hives, three
are doing well, they were only driven this
autumn, and I commenced to feed at once ;
they have had four doses of sugar-syrup made
as directed in Mr. Co van's book. There are
about six frames with bees clustering on them.
In the fourth hive, the bees were driven in from
a box hive, but they all left it and were found
clustering on a geranium about 20 yards away
a week afterwards ; at least about one quarter
of them, the rest I suppose were dead. We
shook them into a little skep and then into the
hive. They only cluster on two frames, but
they have half filled one frame with syrup and
there is a little brood at the bottom. I have
put a frame of honey in this hive from
another which had plenty. Must I kill the
queen and unite the bees with another hive ?
It seems such a pity because the queen is a
good one, I suppose. Could not I feed with
candy, or would not they survive the winter ?
3. Is it absolutely necessary to take away all
unsealed honey ? — H. Neste Girdlestone,
Dorchester, October 24.

Reply, — Notwithstanding the fact of your
not being able to find instructions on the
simplest little things in the " Guide Book,"
we will venture to answer the several queries
enumerated by referring to the book in ques-
tion as conveying the best reply we can give :
1. For coverings to frames in winter, see page
162, beginning 15 lines from top, where it
reads : " 0 ?er all place the quilts or a chaff
cushion. A bottomless box, size of the hive
top, and 4 in. deep, having a piece of calico
tacked on the bottom and filled with chaff, or
a shallow-frame super makes a very good
cover." See also the illustration on page 40
showing hive prepared for wintering bees. 2.
Dealing with Driven Bees in Autumn. — Read
what is stated on page 142 with regard to this
subject. 3. No, it is not absolute, but
wintering bee3 on unsealed food is apt to cause
dysentery (vide page 161). Two or three lots
of driven bees joined together in a hive con-

440

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 31, 1901.

taining frames of comb will, if liberally fed
after hiving, generally make a strong colony."
To which we add : Any departure from the
hints laid down here is risky ; and the farther
they are deviated from the greater the risk.
Thus, it is never safe to rely on driven bees
being able to build new cambs in autumn
and store them with sealed food before cold
weather sets in. Therefore, in having three
of your four hives " doing well " you are
very fortunate so far, but they have not passed
safely through the winter yet. The other
driven lot after deserting the hive — and being
lost for a week — will, we fear, do no good, but
you might usefully exercise your skill in
trying to winter the bees.

[2750.] Re-queening Stocks. — 1. I should be
grateful to know, through the B.B.J., whether
you would advise me to re-queen such of my
stocks of bees as are now headed by queens
which must be three years old ? In asking
this question, I must say they have done well
this season, and I also know it is too late to
think of re-queening so late as this, but can it be
successfully done in the spring of next year,
or would it be better to defer it until the
autumn of 1902, and let them take their
chance for next year's honey season 1 2.
What is the mode of remelting candy, which
through age has gone hard and brittle, so that
it may be used up again ? — W. H. Buck,
Dawley, Salop, October 21.

Eeply. — 1. We strongly advise your letting
all the queens now heading the respective
colonies referred to " take their chance,'' as you
say. At all events, let them show what con-
dition the brood -nest promises with regard to
building-up in time for the honey flow of next
year. You cannot say for certain that the
queens "must be three years old," because
bees so often re-queen themselves — by de-
posing a failing or aged queen — that it is
always unsafe to state age. 2. Old candy
should be used only for syrup-making in
spring, just as sugar is used, by stirring it into
the liquid while on the fire.

[2751.] Transferring Bees from Sugar-boxes
to Framehivrs. — Many thanks for " specimen
copy " of B.B.J, sent at my request. I am
now taking it in, and am thinking cf com-
mencing bee-keeping. I therefore ask your
help on the following : — 1. I can buy stocks of
bees in sugar-boxes very cheaply (10j. each)
by purchasing now, but I want to know if I
ran keep them through the winter, and about
March next place wbole box on the top-bars
of frame- hive3, and let bees transfer them-
selves? 2. Is this a wise course to take, and
how can 1 feed them if short of stores ? A'so
what amount of honey must they have to
safely winter ? 3. Can I safely examine the
bees on a line day th;s autumn t If I pur-
chase, I shall protect each box with a kind of
outer casing to enable the bees to withstand
the cold arc! wet better. I may ?ay lhat
to-day the bees are working well in most of

the boxes. — J. L. Saxby, Cleveland, Som.,
October 25.

Eeply. — 1. The bees, if well supplied with
food, will winter as well in sugar-boxes as
elsewhere, and, if managed properly, wil
transfer themselves to frame-hives as stated.
2. Yes, provided the bees are healthy and
well stored, otherwise they are not " cheap "
at price stated. Cut a feed-hole in top and
place a 2-lb. cake of soft candy overhead if
feeding is required. 3. Only by raising the
boxes from floorboards and examining from
below. It will need the use of a bee-smoker
to enable you to do this.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All querist forwarded will be attended to, and tkoet only
of per tonal inter est Kill be answered in thit column.

F. C. (Kent). — Dry-Sugar Feeding for Bees.
-^The fact of this method of feeding bees
having practically fallen into disuse should
suffice to show that it is not suitable for the
purpose— in other words, it has been tried
and found wanting ; therefore, it will serve
no useful purpose to print " cuttings '' from
non-technical papers on the subject of feeding
bees, or to give any further opinion than
that practical and personal experience
makes us fully concur in the general
verdict.

Edgar Wilson (West Norwood). — Combs
Built on Glass. — Since you are good enough
to consider the course we took was a right
one, we must ask you to believe that we
have good reason for declining to publish
further communications on the subject just
now.

I. T. R. (Anglesey). — Sawdust as Packing for
Double-walled Hives. — For many reasons
we much prefer crumpled up old newspapers
to sawdust, for packing space between hives
and outer cases. Chaff is better than saw-
dust, but both are " littery " and incon-
venient to our mind. Newspapers, on the
other hand, are cleanly, easily removed, and
effective.

B. E. Buckwell (Bedford Park, W.).—
Candy-making. — The sample is of good
colour and not bard, but it is too dry and
" crumbly " (to coin a word) in texture. It
entirely lacks the " buttery " consistence of
well-made bee-candy, which latter resembles
more the fondant sugar iu the sweets
known as "chocolate creams."

B. North (Kiikby Lonsdale). — Seeds of
Giant Canadian Balsam. — Much obliged
for seeds sent, in reply to our request last
week. They will be forwarded to Mr.
Cowan in due course.

H. B. (Halifax).— SwjrecUd Comb— We find
only "chilled brocd'' in comb sent; no
disease. But as there were ro unsealed
larvse in sample, it is not ea«y to judge with
regard to the pctual condition. Perhar s a
sainp'e with unsealed grubs might help 08.

Nov. 7, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

441

(Mtorial, Jfcrtim, fct

TESTIMONIAL TO ME. HOOKER.

The committee in connection with the above
met on the 31st ult. and conferred upon the
progress made and the farther steps to be
taken to carry the project to a successful
result. Letters were read from subscribers
expressing very kindly sentiments and wishes
for a successful result from which the follow-
ing are selected : —

"I have the greatest respect for Mr-
Hooker and am a great admirer of his
determined and straightforward work in the
bee world. '

" I think your proposed testimonial quite
the right thing and I wish it every success."

" What I should especially like to see is a
long list to gladden our old friend's heart."

"I am pleased to hear of the proposed
testimonial. I know of no one more worthy."
"I sincerely hope you will get enough
funds to make the affair a handsome one."

The committee feel that these represent the
feelings which are widely entertained towards
Mr. Hooker, and that there are many who
would respond to their appeal if they were
acquainted with the movement which has
been started. Much as they desire that the
gift should be equally worthy of the givers as
of the receiver, jet they feel that a long and
representative list of names of British bee-
keepers appended to an illuminated address,
which it is intended shall accompany the gift,
would be of higher value and interest to the
eoipient. It is hoped, therefore, that none
may feel they are deterred from giving because
their contribution cannot be a large one.

The following are the names of subscribers
added since the publication of the first list : —

T. W. Cowan.

T. I. Weston.

Ernest Walker.

S. Atkin.

Anthony Bayley.

H. W. Seymour.

W. P. Meadows.

G. Wells.

E. H. Young.

Lee & Son.

R. C. Blundell.
Subscriptions may be sent to the Editors of
the British Bee Journal, 17, King William-
street, Strand, W.C. ; or to myself. — Jesse
Garratt, Hon. Secretary, Meopham, Kent.

SUGAR FOR BEE-FOOD.

The following letter — which we reprint by
request— appeared in a recent issue of the
Bazaar, and will be found interesting to bee-
keepers.—[Eds. B.B.J.]

" Sir, — Adverting to your remarks on my
letter on ' Sugar for Bees,' in your issue of to-

day, I should like to say I generally agree
with them. I am informed by a medical man
that many of the illnesses treated in the
London hospitals are consequent upon con-
stipation caused by the use of beet sugar in
either its raw or refined condition, or in the
preparation of sweets and other popular forms
of nutriment or delicacy which the public
largely consume, whilst sugar-cane sugar, on
the contrary, is a laxative.

" The only difference in Porto Rico and
Barbadoes sugar is one of manufacture, not
otherwise of quality ; this is a simple matter,
and many estates in Barbadoes make as good
sugar as any in Porto Rico.

" The sugar, treacle, and golden syrup you
refer to are abominations, being, as you say,
the refuse of beet and the slaughter-houses.
The molasses of beet are unfit for human con-
sumption, unless very chemically tret ted, when
they become mere chemical substances.

" The molasses of Barbadoes sugar, like the
sugar itself, are most valuable food without
an> chemical ingredient.

"There is no difficulty in obtaining Bar-
badoes sugar in the London market, but the
difficulty is, the public will buy only the
cheap Continental crystals or ' British ' re-
fined beet.

" Much sugar is sold as ' British refined,'
' Pure sugar,' and under other designations,
that is merely foreign beet treated in England,
and thus the public are deceived into imagin-
ing that they are getting British We3t India,
or sugar-cane sugar. I always make use of
the term sugar-cane sugar, as chemists call
' sugar-cane sugar ' and ' beet ' ' cane, and
this helps in the deception practised on the
public, and therefore any cane sugar cannot be
converted into winter food for bees, but any
sugar-cane sugar can. — C. R. Harris (Cap-
tain B K)."

BIOLOGY OF THE HONEY BEE.

ITS DEVELOPMENT DURING THE NINETEENTH
CENTURY.

By R. Hamlyn-Harris, F.R.M.S., F.Z.S.,
F.E.S., &c.

In no period of history has the pro-
gress been so marked, and in all fields of
science have such glorious results been ob-
tained, which have completely revolutionised
our and many other industries. If we glance
back to years long since past and gone, a most
astonishing difference meets our eye. Man
had availed himself of the services of the bee
— and we are able to trace it through the
various periods of time, back to many years
before Christ ; yet for centuries comparatively
little progress had been made. We read of
bee-keepiug forming part of the industries of
the ancient Egyptians and peoples of India,
while there are indications of the existence of
bees and a rude art of bee-keeping as practised
by the Arabians, Greeks, and Romans, also of

442

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 7, 1901.

the Teutonic and Sclavonic people, but it was
not until the end of the eighteenth century
and the commencement of the nineteenth that
real light dawned, and wider interest began
to be displayed.

It would be easy to fill many a book by
relating all we even know in the present day
regarding the ancient arts of this our favourite
industry ; how some of the classic writers im-
mortalised the honey bee in their various
writings, how the Egytian bee has been found
in the earliest hieroglyphics handed down to
us, dating back to 1400 years B.C., carrying us
back to the building of the Pyramids ; no doubt
symbolic of the idea of a people governed by
a sovereign ; how the representation of a hive
has been found on an ancient tomb at Thebes,
showing a somewhat more advanced condition
at this early age. How, about the year 3 B.C.,
the Greeks in the Ionian Isles practised in
some rude form the art of queen-rearing.

Then, on the practical side of bee-keeping,
we could describe the various uses to which
honey was put in years gone by ; thus it is
recorded that about the year 500 B.C. honey
— poured upon the Tyrian purple — was dis-
covered at Susa by Alexander the Great in a
perfectly fresh condition 200 years after. How
the bodies of many illustrious men, including
that of Alexander the Great, were, as
mentioned by Statius, embalmed in honey ;
how about 449 a.d. hydromel — made from
honey — was the first fermented liquor known
to the natives of Britain, and how in the
courts of the anoient heirs to the throne the
" mead-maker " was the eleventh person in
dignity. These few historical facts, picked
out of many, afford an insight into the customs
of the period and the important part that even
in remote days the bee and its product played
in national and domestic economy.

About Shakespeare's time (a.d. 1600) there
began, a . new epoch of bee-keeping, for with
the appearance of Alexander de Montfort
about the year 1646, the craft wis
greatly strengthened. Much ignorance of the
subject no doubt prevailed at this time, but a
deeper insight into the natural history of the
honey-bee was daily gaining ground in spite of
Montford's erroneous idea that the bee was a
"" honey-fly.'' It is interesting to record that
he estimated the writers on bees at the time
as numbering from 600 to 600.

In the early years of the next century the
ability displayed, and the beneficial results of
the works of Reaumer and Swammerdam, can
never be forgotten.

However flourishing and prosperous apicul-
ture may seem to have been in those days, we
cannot overlook the fact that bee-keeping can
only flourish in times of peace, as the present
war in South Africa has demonstrated, and it
leaves no doubt that the troubled times of the
Reformation, together with the Thirty Years'
War and many others, contributed in no small
degree to the partial and temporary ruin of
the industry.

Up to this time the knowledge of the ways
and habits of bees was confined to very few,
mainly, we suppose, on account of their sting-
ing propensities, and this feeling seems to be
almost universal. Nevertheless, the general
interest in the subject continued, and no
wonder need be felt that the celebrated bee-
master Wildman, who kept a colony of bees
on a London house-top as far back as 1772,
having once grasped the real secret in handling
bees, should collect all London and the
country round to witness his wonderful feats
on horseback with live bees under many and
varied circumstances.

With the publication of Francois Huber's
book "Nouvelles Observations sur le3
Abeilles " (an English version of which
appeared in print in 1 806) a new era began
to dawn, for Huber, by his investigations and
researches, did more to promote the science of
bee-keeping than all his predecessors had
effected before him. His remarkable observa-
tions and discoveries are not only of the
greatest importance in themselves but wonder-
ful in the manner in which they were made,
for, though well on in years and blind, this
distinguished man displayed all the energy of
youth and with a perseverance seldom wit-
nessed in one so afflicted. With the able
assistance of his wife, niece, and manservant
he made experiments and discoveries which
have marked this as an epoch in apiculture
destined to remain for all time.

It has been said of Huber: — "Whatever
hesitation may arise in our minds from the
fact of Huber'a discoveries not being the
result of personal observation, no doubt can
reasonably remain as to such of them as have
been repeatedly confirmed and verified by
subsequent observers, and this has actually
taken place and holds strictly true in regard
to the most important of them. His dis-
coveries respecting the impregnation of the
queen bee, the consequences of retarded
impregnation, the power possessed by the
working bees of converting worker larva into
a queen, a fact though not originally dis-
covered by Huber, yet until his decisive
experiments and illustrations never entirely
known or credited ; the origin of wax (dis-
covered by a Swiss peasant) ; the manner of
its elaboration ; the nature of propolis ; the
mode of constructing of combs and cells and
of ventilating or renovating the vitiated
atmosphere of the hives ; these and a variety
of other particulars of inferior moment have
almost all been repeatedly verified by succeed-
ing observers.''

Shortly after the death of Huber in
1831, Dzierzon entered upon his investiga-
tions, and through his observant habits dis-
covered the theory known in the present day
as that of Parthenogenesis. Dzierzon for
some months afterwards continued to express
doubts as to the real facts deducible from his
observations on this particular subject, but it
was not until Von Siebold and Leukart under-

Nov. 7, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

443

took to experiment and prove if possible the
accuracy of Dzierzon's theory that real light
dawned; Baron von Berlepsh placing his large
and well-equipped apiary at the disposal of
Von Siehold.

It has been said by a well-known German
zoologist that, "To enrich our scientific
treasury through new discoveries is glorious,
but not the less important and serviceable to
correct those errors which are continually
finding their way into science and to lay them
bare and open before the face of all." The
importance of this was realised by myself
when, nearly three years ago, I endeavoured
to expose and lay open the errors sought to be
introduced by the hypothesis reared upon an
insecure foundation by one Dickel, of Darm-
stadt in Germany. My views, expressed in
your pages some time back, will no doubt be
fresh in the minds of some readers, when I
drew attention to the errors afloat.

About a year had to elapse before I was
personally able to confirm the correctness of
Dzierzon's theory — papers having appeared in
various scientific journals. Only recently an
article appeared from the pen of Professor
Weissman, in which be confirms my views
as already stated, and shows Dickel's hypothesis
to be quite erroneous and incorrect. Great
stress must also be laid upon the fact that the
material for research was supplied by Dickel
himself.

(Conclusion in our next issue.)

€mttymhnt

The Sditors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communication!, and correspondent!
are requested to write on one tide of the paper only and
give their real names and addressee, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
titns should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

NOTES BY THE WAY.
[4549.1 The past fortnight of June-like
weather has given ample time for finishing
up all such bee- work as packing for winter,
providing winter passage-ways over combs,
and providing quilts large enough and warm
enough to prevent upward draught through
brood-chambers. A record of each stock
should also be made on a card affixed inside
the hive-roof for reference when needed. See
also that all roofs are rainproof ; a sheet of
thin zinc, well nailed under the eaves of the
roof, is the best and cheapest way of keeping
out wet. The tidy, painstaking bee-keeper
will, by this time, have cleared the weeds
from under and around his hives, thus allow-
ing the sun and wind to dry the legs down
to the pieces of slate on which they stand.
All this makes for durability, especially if
advantage has been taken to give them a
coat of paint. Chaff-cuahions are an excellent

addition to winter wraps ; they retain warmth
in the cluster of bees, besides keeping the
quilts close down on the frames. Finally, a
large cake of candy may be given to any
hive which lacks a full supply of natural
stores, or where feeding was neglected in
September.

I was sorry to read (on page 422) the
remarks about sections filled with sugar-
syrup being exhibited at the Crystal Palace
show. And I would ask, can it be possible
that well-known bee-keepers would send such
stuff to an English honey show1? Until it
has been proved by analysis, I must, as a
brother bee-keeper, give the alleged offender
"the benefit of the doubt." This matter cannot
be allowed to rest. What we want are facts.
Was the exhibit " impounded " by the rules, or
was it returned to the exhibitor ']

The new tall section also came in for notice
at the Conversazione, and as these have been
staged side by side with the A\ by 4y one at
the Dairy Show, an opportunity for compari-
son was afforded. I only saw one fairly good
dozen tall sections there, viz., the 1st prize
ones shown by the Rev. R. M. Lamb. What
price these new-shape sections bring in the
market I know not, but it was hinted that " a
low one " would be taken if a purchaser could
be found. My own experience of the new
shape resulted in securing only part even of
second quality, while the bulk were third
grade only. They were also longer in filling
than 4£ by 4|, although put on one of my
strongest stocks, and on what I considered my
best sealing strain of bees. I used the four-
bee-way section and slotted dividers (not
fences), which give free passage-ways in
all directions. Certainly the racks held
twenty-four sections instead of twenty-one,
and this may have delayed the " filling "
somewhat. There are other points against the
tall section, such as extra cost, size, expense
of new racks and dividers. Alterations will
also be needed in our hives, which are made
to take section-racks of certain size3, to say
nothing of altering " lifts," &c. — all entailing
expense and labour. The glass for glazing will
also cost more, as will the " cases " for those
who use them. Packing-cases of a new size
will be needed, bringing more trouble, and
after all these items of expense the new
sections will not fetch more than the present
one, so that, in my opinion, they are opposed
to the be3t interests of bee-keepers.

Prize- Winning in Duplicate. — Like Mr.
Temblett (4531, page 426), when writing of
the " grab-all '' principle (though probably he
is referring to myself) I, too, can say that
had I exhibited at all the shows for which
schedules were sent to me my wins would
have been about doubled even with my
ordinary proportion of success. Mr. Seymour
refers again to the subject of duplicate prize-
winning, but I need only say if those who
bring this " stalking horse'' out every year
will take the trouble to read up the catalogues

444

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 7, 1901.

of past Dairy Shows they will see that the
custom of making duplicate entries and
duplicate prize- taking according to merit is in
conformity with the rules of the Dairy
Farmers' Association. This fact makes one
wonder if there is any contention in other
sections of the show on this point ? Regarding
the address of Mrs. Woodley and also my own
address as given in your pages, both are correct.
I work my Beedon apiary (consisting of some
seventy hives (entirely myself). Our post
office is "Beedon," our post town "Newbury."
My good wife does a great part of the
practical bee-work of every kind at the
" World's End '' apiary, so that Mrs. Woodley
is well within her right as " a bee-keeper " in
exhibiting the produce of her bees. As
regards Mr. Seymour's non-staging of hi3
trophy, I did not say I saw the honey at the
Dairy Show. It was no doubt in London held
ready for the show which offered the best chance
to win, and I congratulate him on his
sagacity and on his success at the Crystal
Palace. I also told him at the " Grocers
that I was showing (and Mrs. W. as well) at
" Dairy," so that he knew before he hegan " to
waste valuable time '' that we were both exhi-
biting.—W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury.

BEES IN THE ISLE OF MAN.
A •' bee-man's holiday in manxland.
' [4550.] Towards the end of August I left
my native heath for a week in the Isle of Man,
partly to see some of those with whom we
have had business relations for many years,
but chiefly on pleasure bent. Who would
deny the busy toiler a trip to the fair isle,
even though the little '■ worker " over whom
bee-men rule has no such item in its short span
of life while " improving each shining hour " ?

Having heard of the beauties of the island,
of its " up-to-dateness" as a holiday resort; of
its inexpensive boarding tariff's, &c, it was
easy to decide on the trip, and that decision
was largely brought about by medium of Mr.
Horsley's well-known advertisement in the
B.B.J, offering "comfortable apartments to
brother bee-keepers."

Stepping on board the smart steamer
Tynwald at Ardrossan, a run of six and a-half
hours or so brought us alongside of the pier at
Douglas. The entrance to the bay has been,
rightly as I think, described as " like that of
Naples.'' We soon were " comfortable " at
Merridale House and felt the warmth of our
welcome agree with the style of the offer ;
showing what a freemasonry of bee-keeping
exists between members of the craft.

Our friend and host has his bees over on
the " mainland '' yet, but hopes to ship them
over beside himself soon. He showed us his
expert's certificate, &c, and "waxed'' warm on
all matters relatiug to the apiary ; the
methods employed there, south ard north, of
our small Kingdom. It gives a chap zest and

inspiration to live for a week in this hive of
industry with its " hum " of human voices and
evening melodies, &c, for the piano and such
like instruments are there to gladden and up-
lift the spirits.

The first morning on the island found us
heading for Subby, or the north. The electric
railway provides a quick and grand run up,
skirting the rough coast line. The weather
was "idea]," and the pace kept all parties
cool. We soon found out Mr. Kelly, a veteran
in the craft, with his 120 or so hives in
full swing and his tons of honey in the
ripening stage, bottled and in bulk.

It is not often one sees a row of sixty hives
in a line. Mr. Kelly has a home and an
" out apiary," as our American cousins have
it. But as the bees provide almost his sole
hobby, he has premises and all sorts of
appliances on a large scale, showing " method "
in all arrangements. In the act of sampling,
&c., our aged friend (for he is well on in the
allotted span), showed how thoroughly and
cleanly he did the necessary work. He
studies the nature of the product, and allows
a certain " ripening " process to go on before
covering down his honey jars or tins. All thin
honey is given back to the bees as food in the
fall. We noted his washing tub3 and
mechanical devices for washing glass honey-
jars, and saw, too, that, like our friends the
Yankees, he rids his jars of splints, or loose
parts, by rattling a pound or so of shot in
each — certainly a novel and good idea.
(Continued on page 446 )

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

The neat and orderly little apiary seen on
the next page belongs to another reader (a
worthy Scotchman, too) who began by keeping
bees in straw skeps. But, along with so many
of his northern countrymen, Mr. Rennie was
not long in finding out for himself— helped, no
doubt, by current bee-literature — that the
advantages of the frame-hive and modern
methods of management were so obvious as to
leave no doubt in his mind. He, therefore,
promptly decided that his skeps "must go"
to make room for the "up-to-date" frame-
hive. It is also apparent that our friend is of
a mechanical turn of mind, as witness the
useful tripod arrangement for weighing the
hives. Judging by the landscape which forms
the background in photo, one would suppose
the far northern heather hills to be in sight
and within reach of the bees ; but this is not
so, for we read that white clover is the only
bee-forage within bee-flight, necessitating the
expense and labour of a journey to the moors,
which ran away with the profit. Mr. Rennie
sends us the following particulars relating to
his bee-experiences, which speak for them-
selves. He says : — "I commenced bee-
keeping in 1890 by purchasing a small cast for

Nov. 7, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

445

5s., and as I had no knowledge whatever about
bees at that time, I kept them in skeps for
some years on the old-fashioned principles of
managing hives. However, I chanced to hear
of your Journal ; then about Mr. Cowan's
' Bee-Keepers' Guide-Book,' and with the
help of these I soon learned how to manage
bees in hives with movable frames. After
some consideration in deciding what hive to
use, I got a carpenter to make me a ' W.B.C
hive from an illustration which appeared in
your monthly, the Record, some years ago.
Then, during the following slack season, when
not busy at my own trade, I made two or
three similar hives the same year; and the
following year a few more, and so on until I
have now replaced all the straw skeps with

trivance ' I am holding — resembling a photo
camera-stand — is for weighing the hives and
contents in autumn. It consists of three
' battens ' hinged to a circular block of wood
fitted with an iron hook through its centre.
From this hook is suspended a spring balance —
two pieces of wood, 15 in. long, with a piece
of sheet iron secured to each end to form three
sides of a square and fit under the legs of
body-box for lifting by. Then a cord from
each corner attached to the spring-balance
draws the battens closer together and lifts the
body-box gently upwards from its floorboard
and you at once see the weight ; thus you can
judge how stores stand for winter.

" The hives face due south and are located
about one mile from the sea, with no protec-

MR. W. B, RENNIES APIARY, ROSEHEARTY, FRASERBURGH, ABERDEENSHIRE.

frame-hives — twelve of them in all— as seen
in the photo. Although only twelve hives are
seen they hold fourteen colonies, all being on
the 'W.B.C plan. I rather prefer a flat
roof, covered with zinc, to the usual shape seen
in the nearest hive, and so most of them are
made so. The topmost hive in the row is, as
will be noticed, a ' Wells,' but it has done
nothing great for me so far. The very small
double-hive to left of the ' Wells ' is also a
double-queened one, holding two small lots of
bees — each having its own queen — for
preserving the latter for use in spring should
any colony be found queenless.

" The square pillar, painted white near top
of the row of hives is a water-fountain for the
bees' use. I may also explain that the ' con-

tion from the north-east winds but the wooden
fence run behind them. The winter and spring
here is also very trying for the bees when
returning home, and cause me to lose a good
few every winter.

" I get about one swarm in every three years,
and am glad to say I have never yet known
what foul brood is, although I use preventa-
tives against it all the same. White clover ia
the only source of honey here. I sent four of
my hives to the heather, but found it did not
pay. This year, 1901, has been a record one
for honey and swarms ; it is indeed the best
bee season since I started. My average is
84 lb. each from my eight colonies — spring
count. In the middle of June I divided my
three best stocks to fill four empty hives I had

446

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 7, 1901.

on hand. The best of these divided lots gave
me 119 lb. of surplus, and my best stock 132 lb.
My two weakest ones yielded 24 lb. each. One
swarm I put back again to let the bees clean
out the comb3 they made in straw skeps. From
the other one I took 25 lb. of honey. The two
last named lots and one other stock were
native Scotch bees ; the rest were an English
strain, which is far superior to ours, I think.
In former years I had always sold out my
honey before the winter, but this year there
rather seems to be a ' honey glut' It is, how-
ever, of good quality and will keep. My prices
are 9d. for extracted and lOd. for sections. I
had 126 sections.

" I conclude by wishing good luck to all in
the craft, and prosperous years to come."

CORRESPONDENCE.

(Continued from page 444 )

Like most loyal bee-men, after " doing " the
bees and poultry we repaired to his " sanctum '.'
and did ample justice to the viands on his
table, By the way, he knowingly reminded
me not to be like the one of whom the poet
said :—

An' fe'th he'll prent it.

I fear I have disregarded his disposition to
avoid publicity, but I know he will forgive me.
We retraced our steps to Ramsey for the car
home, feeling sorry to part with so amiable a
bee-man as Mr. Kelly. I was pleased to meet
his helper in bee-work, Mr, Brooke, on whom,
henceforth, the management of affairs will
chiefly devolve. Getting around in Douglas
itself we noticed that honey — although so
plentiful in the island— was conspicuous by its
absence in the principal windows. True,
some was shown here and there well displayed,
but considering the holiday resort and the
fact some nice honey is suited for " gifting, "
we thought it might have had a better show.
We believe it will stand more pushing, this
honey business. If we do not " stir up/' the
enormous inflow of the foreign product will
swamp the better, for we note some firms are
actually bottling up tons of " selected honey "
for which they pay thirty odd shillings per
hundredweight ! — a fact. Our stay was all
too short to see the many we would have liked
to meet, and also to scale all the mountains
and descend the valleys amid abundance of
wild flowers and bell heather, which, by the
way, yields a honey we Scotch people consider
not in it with the " rale '' heather. We note,
however, a " blend," or a dash of heather and
flower honey, meets with a fair demand on the
island.

If it was within the usual practice in con-
tributing, we might enlarge on the pleasure
we had of seeing the good behaviour of the
people on pleasure bent. True there is the
saloon and all such things to attract, but the
absence of drunkenness and such flagrant

evils was striking and pleasing. Long may
the island flourish and maintain her repxita-
tion as the record holder of the biggest " take"
of honey from a single colony in the British
Isles. — David Raitt, Blairgowrie, N.B.,
October 23.

NEW INVENTIONS IN APPLIANCES.

[4551.] Reverting to your report of the
B.B.K.A. conversazione in the B.B.J, (page
411), I notice in first par, after names of those
present, comes an allusion to an appliance in-
correctly described by your reporter as " a
travelling crate for removing frames,'' &c, &c.
I also note that the appliance was " rather
unfavourably criticised,'' Mr. Meadows ven-
turing the opinion that " the inventor was not
a practical bee-keeper, and that his invention
would find no acceptance among apicul-
turists."

May I ask Mr. Meadows if he means to say
that no invention — satisfactory or otherwise
to the general bee-keeper — would be accepted
if the inventor was not a practical bee-keeper ?

Not being an appliance dealer, I do not
wish to unduly obtrude my invention on
public notice. Nor do I quarrel with the
opinion expressed at the conversazione, but I
cmnot help quoting the words of our Editor
(who also happened to be one of the judges),
in writing of the exhibits at the " Royal''
Show, vide page 272 of B.B.J, for July 11
last, where we read as follows ; —

•' A high commend was given to what may
be called a multum in parvo for bee-keepers.
Very ingenious in combining a comb- box for
use when removing and returning frames after
extracting, a travelling-box for swarms ; a
nucleus hive, and a make-shift hive for tem-
porarily housing a small stock of bees in."

The above rather more generous words of
encouragement to an earnest, would-be bee-
keeper referred to the appliance in question,
and may be taken for what they are worth,
but were much appreciated at the time by
The Inventor, October 28.

DUPLICATE PRIZE-WINNING.

[4552.] When two old friends and com-
petitors on the show-bench like Messrs.
Seymour and Woodley commence a wordy
warfare, the chances are that the friendship of
the past is likely to suffer, and as an old
mutual friend of both I venture to say a word
in the hope that the " your another * line of
argument will be discontinued, and that the
question of duplicate prize- winning will be
discussed on its merits, for our friend Seymour
admits that his conversion dates from only
about a year ago, and if the resolution
adopted at the meeting referred to on page
433 is carried out by the British B.K.A.
the matter will be settled in the most satis-
factory manner. I see no objection to any
exhibitor duplicating his exhibit to what ex-

Nov. 7, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

447

tent he pleases if he can " only take one prize,"
and it sometimes happens that it is a great
help to a show to get duplicate exhibits when
entries are scarce, as I have no doubt most
secretaries have found them to be at times,
and have been glad to fall back on friends for
help in this respect.

I am truly sorry to see the personal tone of
the remarks not only of Mr. Seymour, but
also of General Sir Stanley Edwards at the
Conversazione, who again, as on a previous oc-
casion, made an attack not so much on a
system as on an individual. I have not exhibited
at the Dairy Show for some years, and I am not
acquainted with the rules of the same, but the
point is, do the rules admit of duplicate ex-
hibits from one individual or of members of
the same family ? If so, there is no occasion
for the use of the offensive term, "subter-
fuge,'' to such exhibitors. If the rule pro-
hibits such, they should have been dis-
qualified. I hope that after the matter has
been discussed in your columns the British
B.E.A. will take it up and settle it finally.

Lace Edging. — I was only able to pay
a flying visit to the Dairy Show, and
I was struck, as on former visits, with
the number of exhibits disqualified appa-
rently on account of the insufficient glass
■urface showing. Now, Sir, this, to my mind,
is u more important question than the former,
and I, among many others, would like to see
the restriction abolished, as the punishment of
disqualification is too great for the crime. I
am speaking from practical experience when I
say that it is next to impossible to glaze a
dozen sections without one or more exceeding
the limit laid down, and I fully believe, from
my own observation, that several of the win-
ning exhibits at the Dairy Show did so, and
were liable to disqualification if they had been
objected to. This rule is like the employment
of a steam hammer to crush a fly, and it is not
fair to the judges, who have often to cut out
meritorious exhibits which, apart from this,
are worthy of consideration, and, to my mind,
they are the people to deal with any excess of
edging in this respect by withholding points as
any competent judge would and should do; but
when an exhibitor has gone to the expense of
entering, packing, and sending an exhibit, I do
think it should be allowed to compete even if
its edging does exceed the limit. For my part,
I would place no limit, and leave the matter
entirely in the hands of the judges. I know
of no other show in which such restriction
exists, such as poultry, cat, dog, rabbit, &c.
As long as they are entered in their proper
class, and have not been " faked," they are
allowed to compete, however long or short
their tail, or head, or legs are ; and if it were
argued the excess of edging can be in any way
construed as " faking," I say it must be a very
incompetent judge who is not able to deal
with it, and in the vast majority of cases there
is not the slightest intention on the part of the
exhibitor, but is rather on account of his want

of skill. We in Berkshire have hitherto
excluded this rule from our schedules with
the most satisfactory results, for it has been
felt that our judges' hands ought not to be tied
in this respect, and it is very rarely that an
exhibit is disqualified.

I have not written on this subject from the
point of view of an injured party, as I have
never suffered the penalty of disqualification
on this or any other ground, but I do so
because I believe it is a hindrance to the
success of a show, for it must be that so large
a proportion of disqualifications must place a
restriction on the number of future exhibits.
— A. D. Woodley, Hillcresi, Cavershara,
Beading, October 31.

JUDGING AT THE DAIRY SHOW.

[4553.] Referring to my letter (4533,
page 426) in your last issue, and your reply
saying I " put myself out of court at once in
regard to the judges," I confess I did, but
nevertheless I was told so, but on verifying ic
I discovered my error, having got hold of
the " Confectioners " report instead of the
" Grooers," and not noticing heading at the
time.

As a visitor to the Dairy Show I still
maintain that the judging was bad, although
I wish to show no disrespeot to the judges.
They may be very good men, but I fear they
have had very little experience in judging
heather honey in jars, or they would not have
given the decision they did, bearing in mind
that my jars, which took first honours at the
Grocers' Show, received no recognition of any
kind. It will also be seen that, as you
promise (on page 424) to report the New-
castle Show last week, the same jars
received 1st honours, which is further evidence
of their quality.— Jonathan Shaw, Sands-
end, Yorks.

TALL V. SQUARE SECTIONS.
[4554.] I have given the new tall section a
fair trial, and with me the result has not been
satisfactory. The new sections were put on
strong colonies at the time honey was coming
in fast, but the bees did not fill them so
quickly nor so well as they did the ordinary
4| by 4^ in. in use at the same time. The
tall section, however, looks larger, and has a
nice appearance, and I expected my shop
customers would prefer them ; but no — every
one preferred the old-style sections — " thick
ones," as my customers called them. A few
of the leading bee-keepers I have met at
shows who have given the tall section a trial
have the same objection to them as myself,
viz., they take longer time in filling, and are
not so well filled as the A\ by 4£ in. ones. I
shall therefore stick to the old-style section
until something comes along likely to suit my
customers better. — Anthony Bayley, Stour-
bridge, October 28.

448

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 1, 1901.

MANUFACTURED HONEY (?)

[4555.] Under the heading, "Profits that
Make you Gasp,'' the enclosed cutting from
Pearson's Weekly purports to give us full
information how to make honey (?) from
" glycerine and treacle ! " The price of the
former being 60s. per cwt. in ton lots, while
genuine bee-produce of this country can be
had at 45s. to 56s., foreign at even as low as
28s. I would ask, Who can believe a word
about other matters after reading such rubbish
as this ? — D. Anthony, Cardiff.

[The cutting sent reads as follows : — " Much
of the fine, clear honey which is sold is a
fraud, yielding a big profit. It consists of a
special mixture of glycerine and treacle, and
can be bought in the comb, which is also a
manufactured article of the same class."]

GLASS QUILTS (?) FOR BEES.

[4556.] For the last four years I have used
glass quilts (thanks to one of your corre-
spondents in the B.B J.), and am likely to
continue doing so as long as I have the pleasure
of keeping bees.

The glass is in three pieces, each 16 in. by
5 in., laid not directly on top of the frames
(brood and super), but on four strips of wood,
each about 2 in. wide and -fg m- thick, laid
close to the sides of the hive, thereby giving
the bees a free passage all over the top3 of the
frames.

The side strips are cut into three pieces
(the frames hang at right-angles to the en-
trance to the hive) ; the front and back ones
are left full length ; the pieces of glass are
laid parallel with the frames.

The advantage of this arrangement is, I can,
by simply removing a piece of the glass
together with the two short pieces of wood on
which it rests, one at either end, lift the two
or three frames immediately underneath with-
out disturbing the other part of the hive.

Another advantage of the glass is, when the
bees are ready for supering, they build comb
along the top of the bars and on to the glass,
which is seen at once by simply turning back
the pieces of blanket laid on the top of the
glass.

Four years' experience with the glass has
taught me three things. First, for winter (or
summer) passage it is first-rate. Second, it
permits of the examination of the hive with
the least possible disturbance of the inmates ;
and thirdly, the notice they give when the
time has come for supering. — W. C. H., South
Devon.

PRODUCTION OF HEATHER HONEY.

[4557.] Now that' the busy workers have
ceased from toiling, and the weary are at rest,
I should very much like to see a discussion
started in your columns on the best means of
producing heather sections. I am not in a

position myself to say much upon the subject,
having ouly within the last few years taken up
the fascinating hobby of bee-keeping ; but as
far as my experience goes, I think that partly-
drawn-out sections and warm packing are
invaluable helps. I work largely in the clover
season for extracted honey, and consequently
have not so many of the former to give the
bees for the heather flow, but I extract any
partly -filled and imperfect sections and dis-
tribute them equally among the racks for the
moors, which so far I have found to answer
admirably. I use the " W.B.C." section-
rack exclusively, and adopt the plan of placing
the empty combs towards the sides of each
rack, as the bees will usually take to the full
sheets of foundation in the centre without any
such bait, and by doing this I imagine I steal
a march, as it were, upon the bee3. Then I
make the racks as warm as I can, by packing
the space between them and the sides of the
hive with newspaper, and above the quilts I
place a full newspaper, tucked well in at the
sides, which I consider makes everything as
snug as it is possible to do. The weather at
the moors being so uncertain, I only put a
single rack on each hive, and as I am not
so far away, I journey to the moors two
or three times, and en removing the full
sections, substitute with empty ones filled
with full sheets of foundation, which, I fancy,
is better than having two racks and running
the risk of being possessed at the end of the
season of a lot of partly-completed sections.
On three of my best hives this season I tried
the experiment of placing double racks, with
excellent results ; but the fact of the heather
season in this district being the best known
for the last few years was, of course, all in
their favour. With thirty-two hives at the
moors, my average yield was seventeen good
sections — not so good, you will observe, as
some of the reports you have had. If I had
known that the season would be so favourable,
it would have been better had I given double
racks to more of the hives. One question it
would be interesting to have some light upon
is, whether from long experience it has been
proved that a larger yield can be got from
double racks, rather than from single ones. —
R. T. Tennant, Thirsh, Yorks, November 2.

DUPLICATE ENTRIES AT SHOWS.

[4558.] I am glad to see this subject is
being discussed in the Journal, as it crops
up at nearly all shows and in most societies.
I have always thought it unfair for one
exhibitor to be able to carry off more than one
prize in one class, and the only way to avoid
it is to establish a general rule that only one
entry be made in any one class. I was pre-
sent when the same question came up in
connection with the Devon Bee-keepers'
Association, and after much discussion we
decided to make a rule to that effect.
Then, again, as to the prizes not being all

Nov. 7, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

449

awarded, I think that a mistake, especially in
such an important class as that for Honey
Trophies, the preparing and studying of which
involves so much rime and expense.

Another thing I consider to be extremely
unfair, viz., allowing, a man, his wife, and his
son each and all to make a separate entry in
the same class with the product of the self-
same apiary. I have always been of an
opinion that honey to be shown should be the
produce of the person who shows it.

There is also another thing that cannot be
too strongly condemned. I refer to what was
mentioned at the conversazione in the report
in B.B.J. — the feeding of bees and getting
sugar syrup stored either in the form of section
or extracted honey for sale. Such malpractices
are calculated to do the honey trade no end of
mischief, besides being a downright fraud. I
myself have seen some very suspicious-looking
sections this season, beautiful to look at, and
in colour lighter than I can get by working
honestly, and offering for "63. a dozen, carriage
paid.'' All beekeepers should do their utmost
to put down this practice, be it done either
ignorantly or otherwise ; and I think that all
county Bee Associations should instruct their
experts to report any such cases coming under
their notice. I know I shall do so. — A.
Godsland, Bee Expert, Bovey Tracey, Devon,
October 27.

THE WORK OF BEE ASSOCIATIONS.

[4559.] With reference to the remarks of
Mr. Hamlyn-Harris at the recent conver-
sazione of the British Bee-Keepers' Asso-
ciation, as to the advantage of the extending
of the Association's work all through the
United Kingdom, a very striking example was
given in the judging of the honey exhibits at
the show held in Kilmarnock last week under
the auspices of the Ayrshire Agricultural
Association, and which was advertised in the
Journal. The entries in the honey class
amounted to 126, and came from several
districts in Scotland, and also from across the
Border, so that the show could hardly be
classed as a small affair.

The first prize in class for six 1-lb. sections
of heather honey was given to sections of which
several had paper edging fully an eighth of an
inch deeper than the schedule of the show
stipulated, and on the Judge's attention being
drawn to this matter, he stated that he only
made the smallest possible allowance for " get
up,'' judging the sections almost entirely by
their quality. How the Rev. gentleman
arrived at his decision as to " quality " is not
easily accounted for, as none of the sections of
the first prize lot (which were glazed on both
sides) had been opened by him, so that they
might have contained heather honey, clover
honey, or even some of Mr. Hamlyn Harris's
"sweets," for anything he knew. Certainly
the sections contained beautifully clear honey

when held up to the light and examined, in
fact far too clear to be heather honey.

Circumstances such as these are not exactly
encouraging to exhibitors, and go to illustrate
the great necessity for the further extension of
the Association's work. — W. H , Ayrshire.

Sunless Days, 6
Below average,

hours.
Mean

56 2°
Mean

WEA.THER REPORT.

Westbournb, Sussex

Rainfall, 2 32 in.

Heaviest fall, 04 in.,
on 18th.

Rain fell on 20 days.

Below average,
1 -45 in.

Maximum Tempera-
ture, 68°, on 1st.

Minimum Tempera-
ture, 30°, on 27th.

Minimum on Grass,
24°, on 27th.

Frosty Nights, 2.

Sunshine, 128 9 hrs.

Brightest Day, 19th,
8'8 hours.

0'2

Maximum,

Minimum,

Temperature,

427°.
Mean

49-4°.
Above average, l-8°.
Maximum Barometer,

30-42°, on 27th.
Minimum Barometer,

2925°, on 6th.

L. B. BlRKETT.

^it^a and mplip.

[2752.] Using Honey from Diseased Stocks
as Bee-Food. — 1. I should be greatly obliged if
you would let me know through your journal
whether, after destroying bees affected with foul
brood by chloroform, the honey would be good
for bees' use, or would it have to be destroyed?
2. Would chloroform affect it, or could you re-
commend anything better to destroy them
with ?— D. P. F., Sutton Coldfield, October 4.

Reply. — 1. On no account do we advise the
use of honey taken from diseased stocks for
bee-food. On the other hand, it is perfectly
fit for household use, the honey being entirely
innocuous to human beings. 2. The best and
simplest means we know of for rapidly ending
the lives of diseased bees is practically the
" sulphur pit,"i e., a table-spoonful of powdered
sulphur set in the shallow lid of an old mustard
tin, a live coal dropped into the sulphur.
Give a puff of smoke in at the hive-entrance,
raise it from its floorboard for an instant
while the burning sulphur is set thereon,
replace the hive, stop the entrance, and in a
few seconds "all is over" with the bees.

[2753]. Starting Bee-keeping.— I have de-
cided to commence bee-keeping, and I would
be very pleased if you would give me your
opinion on the following in the B.B.J. : — 1.
Should I buy skeps of bees with stores to
winter now ? 2. What kind of bees should I
buy for South- West Durham1? 3. If purchased
in skeps when could I transfer them to

450

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 7, 1901.

" W.B.C." hives ? 4. What size in hives do
you recommend ? 5. Should the frames in a
hive run parallel with or at right angles to
the front ? — Teesdale, Stockton-on-Tees,
October 28.

Reply. — 1. It is safest to purchase in
spring, when the perils of -wintering are over.
2, Either Ligurians or Carniolans — if pure —
are quieter to handle than are the natives ;
but for bee-work our preference is for a good
working strain of the latter. 3. The most
favourable time for transferring is when fine
weather in spring permits bees to go out
foraging frequently. We also stroDgly recom-
mend allowing bees in skeps to transfer
themselves to frame-hives, in preference to the
now exploded and out-of-date plan of
transferring comb3 and brood into the new
hive, where all combs should be new.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can he pur-
chased, or replies giving such information, can only be
inserted as advertisements. The space .devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All querietforwarded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

Netley (co. Dublin). — Honey and Pollen
from the Ivy. — The honey and pollen which
you say have been " carried in by the
bees in large quantities since the middle of
October '' will be very useful, even though
too late for sealing over. The bees will use
much of it up for present feeding, and ivy
honey is, as a rule, of good consistency, so it
will keep well in the combs even if unsealed.
The pollen, too, will take no harm under
" bee-care,'' and will be useful in early
spring.

A. T. (Linlithgowshire). — Honey Sample. —
Section arrived (smashed up, of course, but
your good packing kept the running honey
within bounds). It is a mild-flavoured
heather honey of fairly good quality. The
aroma and flavour are good, but (as received)
the honey looks rather poor in consistency
for high-class heather honey. The latter is
usually so thick as to allow of the jar being
reversed without the honey running out.

F. C. (Sittingbourne). — Improving Colour of
Beeswax.— Sample No. 1 is of good quality,
and has, no doubt, been got from clean
comb3, or, more probably, from " cappings."
No. 2 is obviously from old, dirty combs,
and a'though, as extracted and cleaned by
yourself, it is fairly good for ordinary pur-
poses, it cannot be brought to approach
No. 1 in quality.

H. G. E. (Hungerford). — Essays on Bee-
keeping.—1. There are no "cheap essays''
such as you mention published to our know-
ledge. 2. The best practical information
regarding bees, their history and habit?, can

be found in the " Bee-keeper's Guide Book,''
which may be had from this Office, as adver-
tised in the B.B.J. 3. If lantern slide*
could be used it would considerably aug-
ment the interest in your proposed paper on
bees. They may be had for hire.

E. C. (Newton Abbot). — Commission on
Honey Sales. — There is no " fixed'' commis-
sion for dealing with honey on " sale or
return '' conditions. If sold at Is. per jar,
we think 2d. per jar ought to be a fair
"commission" to a tradesman.

Croydon.— Bees Carrying out Candy from
Hives. — The inference is that the candy is
granular in texture, not soft and smooth in
grain (i.e., " buttery "), as it should be. If
not made as above, bee3 cannot liquefy the
candy for storing in the cells, and so cast it
out as you state.

E. O. A. (Davenport). — Experts' Exams. — 1.
For information connected with results of
exams., application should be made to Mr.
Edwin H. Young, Secretary, Bee-keepers'
Association, 12, Hanover-square, London,
who alone is empowered to answer officially
for the Association referred to. 2. The
Editors of this journal have no more
authority than yourself in this matter.

D. S. (Grimsby). — Suspected Comb. — The
comb from your friend's " old cheese-box "
hive is affected with foul brood. Sample of
" matter sent on piece of wood " shows no
disease.

H. Goodman (Wing, Rutland). — Wasps and
Foul Brood. — There is nothing in piece of
wasps' nest sent to indicate disease of any
kind.

W. B. K. A. (No. 34).- Honey and Wax
Samples. — Honey is only "fair" in quality ;
it has a " tack " that most consumers will
object to ; it is also of poor consistency and
will not keep well. The wax sent is of fair
commercial quality, and will answer well
for ordinary household use.

T. K. (Eltham). — Pollen-clogged Combs. —
Gomb is pollen-clogged and consequently
useless, but there is no foul brood or any
disease injt^..

Honey Samples.

J. G. Renton (Lanarkshire). — No. 1 is a very
fine sample of white clover honey. Indeed,
your complaint of its " not being so thick as
I should like " is quite groundless. In our
opinion, it is as " thick " as the most fasti-
dious consumer could desire. No. 2 is
equally good as a sample of mild-flavoured
heather honey. '~ We think it is a blend of
flower and heather honey, such as many per-
sons prefer to the strong flavour from
heather alone.

W. R. (Cardiff).— ^With; about \ oz. of broken
comb, sent in a little ^cardboard box (honey
all running, of course), it is quite impossible
for us to gauge either its 'source, quality, or
" chances on the show-bench." It appears
to be from white clover, good in flavour, but
rather thin.

Nov. 14, 1901. j THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

451

littoral Ifatos, Ofet

" DAIRY SHOW " DISCUSSIONS.

It is not too much to say that the
week in which is annually held the Dairy
Show and the Autumn Conversazione of
the British Bee-keepers' Association has
for several years past been a notable one
in the annals of bee -craft — notable
because of the perennial discussions which
have invariably occupied a good portion
of space in our columns for several
weeks following the actual show, and
the subsequent proceedings of the
B.B.K.A. at Jermyn-street.

That this year proved no exception
to the rule, a glance at the last five
issues of the British Bee Journal af-
fords ample evidence. Moreover, it would
seem as if an additional factor will, in the
future, be imported into the discussion
by the additional interest created — and
the tempting opportunity afforded in
shape of comparison — through the
u Trades' Exhibitions " held at the
Agricultural Hall so close to the date
of the Dairy Show that they may be
all dealt with by critics at the same
time.

In dealing with these several exhibi-
tions we have opened our pages freely
to all whose arguments are expressed in
courteous terms and free from objection-
able personalities. To shut out the free
expression of opinion is not only un-
desirable but quite contrary to our own
wish, because we see nothing but good
to the best interests of bee-keeping in
allowing free scope to all who have any-
thing to say worth listening to.

That considerable good has followed
in the shape of great improvement in
the prize schedules is certain, and this
year a source of irritation will probably
be removed that has for some time
troubled the minds of men whose motives
are above suspicion. We refer to the
question of "duplicate prize-winning," a
" bone of contention " sorely troubling a
great majority of regular exhibitors at
shows. The resolution unanimously
passed at the late conversazione will, if
given effect to at all honey shows held
under the auspices of the B.B.K.A., be
productive of great good all round.

The resolution referred to reads as
follows: — "That the Council of the

British Bee-keepers' Association be asked
to take steps to prevent products from
one and the same apiary gaining more
than one prize in any one class at the
same show." This resolution, as will be
seen, entirely removes the cause of com-
plaint, and will, we are quite sure, be
cordially accepted by those who at
present feel that they are perfectly
within their right so long as no rule of
the show is infringed by duplicate
entries. The question has been so fully
ventilated that we have now decided to
close the discussion with the letter on
page 457, from the exhibitor whose
communication in our issue of October 17
initiated it. And we trust that all will
now settle down, resume old friendships,
and agree to co-operate and combine in
making the shows of 1902 and future
years more successful on all points than
the memorable ones of the year now
closing:.

HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of
October, 1901, was £2,004.— From a return
furnished to the British Bee Journal by the
Statistical Office, H.M. Customs.

BIOLOGY OF THE HONEY BEE.

ITS DEVELOPMENT DURING THE NINETEENTH
CENTURY.

By R. Hamlyn-Harris, F.R.M.S., F.Z.S ,
F.E.S., &c.

(Concluded from page 443.)

In the present time, on the Continent
especially, there are many questions connected
with bee life under discussion, and different
bee-keepers are to this day at loggerheads on
account of them. Nor can this be wondered
at so long as we admit the general principle
that, in spite of the increase of our knowledge,
the gaps seem to widen and instead of
gradually filling up we find them growing wider
and deeper. Dzierzon, by his careful observa-
tions and practical ideas, which ultimately
found outlet in the introduction in his apiary
of the movable frame-hive, brought about a
vast improvement on the old skeps of his day.

There can also be no doubt that long before
Dzierzon's time hives of somewhat similar
construction were used by single individuals,
as is shown in the history of the ancients.

Bella Rocca's book, "Traites Complets sur
les Abeilles " (dated 1790), which appeared in
Paris, shows that the movable-frame hive was
not unknown to him, and the conclusion has
been arrived at — consequent upon Delia

452

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 14, 1901.

Bocoa's work — that the discoverers of the
movable-frame were the Greeks, but that
Delia Bocca was the first to utilise the same in
a wooden hive fitted up for the purpose. The
Napoleonic and other wars of the period were,
no doubt, instrumental in causing this work
to be almost entirely forgotten for the time
being, so that we owe to Dzierzon the fact that
during his life, and on his initiative, the
movable-frame hive should have come into
general use.

Kowalewski's embryological studies, pub-
lished in St. Petersburg in 1871, have been
followed in rapid succession by others from
various authors, so that at the present time
our knowledge of the anatomy and physiology
of the honey-bee has reached an astonishing
limit, the results of which have been felt and
appreciated in no small degree by numerous
writers, amongst them Cheshire and Cowan,
whose works on the anatomy and physiology
of this one insect stand unique among our
apicultural literature. But our knowledge is
by no means approaching to completeness or
finality, for the more important the discoveries
the greater the progress and the wider do the
new possibilities become ; nor does this lessen,
but rather adds to, the difficulty of the labours
before the specialist at work in his laboratory.
We must also remember that the knowledge
resulting from laborious research is not gained
in a day, and we stand now in the light where
not so many years ago all was enveloped in
darkness and confusion. Thus, with the
spread of knowledge out of the discoveries and
problems solved, there has arisen a wider
grasp of the possibilities of Nature.

In the sixteenth or seventeenth century we
see how the anatomist had to content himself
with the use of knives and scissors in order to
give to the student an insight into the organisa-
tion of the human body, but in the nineteenth
century the greatest triumphs have been
achieved with the help of the microscope,
microtome, and other instruments. Thus
equipped with every modern improvement, the
zoologist can command with perfect composure
a field vast in extent and immeasurable in
its limits. In this way, then, has man, aided by
science, laid bare a side of life hitherto un-
thought of. About the year 1840 a discovery
was made which is now recognised as one of
the most valuable additions to our knowledge
of biology, viz., that every individual animal
and plant is built up of single cells, each
representing in itself an elementary organism
commonly called an organic unit, and that the
cell — whether animal or vegetable — consists
essentially of "protoplasm,'' that being the
name given by Hugo von Mohl in 1846. This
cellular theory has afforded to the science of
anatomy and physiology as firm a fundamental
basis as the atomic hypothesis has to chemistry.
The fact that certain cells — as, for instance,
the corpuscles in the blood — are packed mas-
ses of living protoplasm with no restricting
cell walls shows that the contents and not the

mere walls of the same, are the real seat of
life. In contradistinction to the living inclu-
sions of the cell, the lifeless portions were
collectively designated metaplasm by
Hanstein.

Having, then, grasped the important posi-
tion which the cell plays in the development
of life and the complicated results which are
obtained, we are better able to understand
how the whole is set together, by what pro-
cesses the desired end is attained, how the
various and complicated organs are developed,
and how in their final structures they re-
semble the same organs of other beings.
Thus has histology taught us to see in the
protoplasm of the cell a formitive substance ;
the individual cells being capable of altering
their structure and position and, working to-
gether for one common end, produce by
differentiation the most remarkable tissues
and organs.

Unless these facts are grasped and correctly
understood we are unable to understand the
real meaning of life as displayed in such a
wonderful insect as the honey-bee ; for, as
Wilson has said, " There is at present no bio-
logical question of greater moment than
the means by which the individual cell activi-
ties are co-ordinated and the organic unity of
the body maintained, for upon this question
hangs not only the problem of the transmis-
sion of acquired character and the nature of
development, but our conception of life itself."
The importance of this fact cannot be under-
rated, for it brings us into contact with the
deeper problems of life. As has been said,
"Every object in Nature must be regarded
and examined in the light of an individual
organism." Therefore, when we realise this,
then, and then only, can we expect to solve
those problems which are the fundamental
principles of zoological biology.

Carl Ernst von Baer once gave expression
to his views in the following remarkable
sentence : — " Science is eternal in its origin,
not restricted by time or space in its efficacy,
immeasurable in its limits, its task endless, its
goal unattainable.'' Who, then, can wonder
that we see further than our forefathers did I
That we are able to bring to bear so much
then unthought of, and that, instead of groping
about in absolute darkness, the light continues
to shine and a bright prospect gladdens our
horizon ?

Time after time, one after another, have new
discoveries been made, new ideas and thoughts
given expression to, problems solved, until the
sum of knowledge has reached a pitch which
is perfectly astounding, and yet, in spite of all,
it becomes certain that we are at the beginning
of a field, as yet only touched, of subjects but
begun ; and, though we have so far got only
an inkling of the vastnesses of creation, the
hope of fuller knowledge stimulates the
earnest seeker after truth to strike out anew,
and with heart and soul to plunge into the
depths of nature and science.

Nov. 14, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

453

In building a house a single stone or brick is
valueless, but when more and more are added,
and with the careful consideration of the
builder, each atom of material occupying its
appointed place, each becomes of the utmost
importance to the whole. So it is in science,
each naturalist who has added his iota to the
building has contributed no mean portion of
that which makes • up the whole. There are,
of course, yet many points on which one
might touch, many subjects which might be
profitably discussed and entered into, but let
us in this first year of another century review
the past, if only to seek understanding and
wisdom for the future. And let us say with
Keith-Brooks : — •

" As for myself, I hope with all my getting
to get understanding, for the heart of him
that hath understanding seeketh knowledge."

€omtytm&tML

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

Communications relating to the literary department,
reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Booke for Review, d-e., must be addressed only to "The
Editors of the' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William-
street, Strand, London, It'.C." All business communi-
cations relating to advertisements, die., must be addressed
tn "The Manager, 'British Bee Journal ' Office, 17,
King William-street, Strand, London, W.C."

%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents,
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

BEE-KEEPING IN AMERICA.

THE PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION AT BUFFALO,
1901.

[45(30.] The universal praise accorded to the
Pan-American Exposition, the unprecedentedly
low and tempting railroad excursion fares to it,
and its easy accessibility were some of the
factors that helped me to decide to visit this
great show during the short tour I have been
making among some of the bee-keepers of
America. Of course there was a bee and
honey exhibit amongst all the other wonderful
things, and it was a warm invitation and
welcome to his house from Mr. 0. L.
Hershiser, who, besides being the manager of
the bee-keeping exhibits, is an extensive and
up-to-date bee-keeper, that furnished the chief
inducement for my spending two happy days
at the exhibition. Tnis subsequently led to my
gaining a great deal of information about the
bee and honey exhibits there, which I am sure
will be of interest to some of our bee-keeping
and honey show exhibitors in Britain.

The idea of the Pan (Greek irav=aX[)
American Exhibition was set on foot five years
ago. It was a magnificent scheme, and it has

been fittingly carried out. It was decided to
hold a great fair representing the present state
of the arts and manufactures, agriculture,
horticulture, &c, of the countries and States
of the two great American continents. No
expense was spared to make the exhibition
the greatest of its kind on record, so that it
rivals and even excelled the great World's
Fair held in 1893 at Chicago. A spot just
outside the City of Buffalo was chosen as
the most suitable site for this gigantic
undertaking, and the proximity of the
world - famous Niagara Falls with their
inexhaustible electrical power supply enabled
the promoters of the Pan-American Exhi-
bition to arrange for a nightly display of
electrical illumination — of which the finest
specimen is the famous Electric Tower — on a
scale which left far behind it anything of the
kind ever previously attempted. A bill was
passed through the United States Legislature
fixing the capital stock of the Pan-American
Exposition Company at 2,500,000 dols., and
this bill also gave permission to float bonds to
a similar amount. These details and the
tragic event that occured in one of the Pan-
American buildings in September last,
depriving America of one of her best loved
and most respected Presidents by an assassin's
hand, are all points in history to which it is
only necessary to allude here, so I will pass on
to matters which are more specially of interest
to bee-keepers only.

The bee-keeping exhibits at the Pan-
American Exposition were situated in the
gallery of the great agricultural building, and
comprised i four fine displays, the two largest
consisting of honey and wax, and the other
two of hives and appliances, or, as they are
called in America, "bee-keepers' supplies."
The honey exhibits were made respectively by
the State of New York and by the Province
of Ontario, and contained honey and wax ob-
tained from districts included in these terri-
tories almost exclusively. They were therefore
hardly representative of the bee-produce of
the two Americas ; this, however, detracted
but little from their interest to me. Each
exhibit consisted of from 4,000 lb. to 5,000 lb.
of honey, besides a small quantity of wax, but
the manner in which each was displayed was
strikingly dissimilar. The New York State
exhibit consisted chiefly of comb-honey in
sections. These were packed in shipping
cases, a form of package unknown to a large
number of British bee-keepers, but universally
used both in the United States and Canada.
The American shipping case is a light and
simply- constructed wooden box, made just
large enough to hold twelve, twenty-four, or
thirty-six sections, as the case may be, and
with a strip of glass let in before the face of
the outside row of sections. Jobbers and
retailers handle comb-honey almost entirely
in these shipping cases. The size that holds
twenty-four sections seems to be most in
demand, and also chiefly in evidence at the

454

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 14, 1901.

honey exhibits of the Pan-American. The strips
of glass in the front of the shipping cases
were, in many cases, less than 3 in. wide,
and they extended the length of all the
sections in the row (usually four), so that
although the whole of the middles of the
combs were visible (from the wood on one side
to the wood on the other), the whole of the
upper and lower portions of the combs to the
extent of about 1 in. were hidden. Owing to
the high price of glass compared with that of
wood, there seems at present to be a tendency
to make the strip of glass in the shipping case
even narrower. Almost all the comb-honey
was in " plain " (no bee-way) sections, and the
new tall (5-in.) sections of various widths
were very well represented. All the comb-
honey seemed to be of very fine quality, per-
fectly finished, and with the capping white
and very even. One group of sections
specially attracted my attention. They were
the exhibit of Captain Hetherington, of
Cherry Valley, N.Y., who has the reputation
of being the largest comb-honey producer in
the world. I was told that Captain Hether-
ington has produced as much a3 100,000 lb.
of comb-honey in one season. I under-
stand that Captain Hetherington manufac-
tures his own sections, and his preference
is for a 5-in. section by about 3-g in. across.
These appeared to be the dimensions of
the sections in his exhibit. Each section was
enclosed in a folding cardboard box or carton
which had a oval hole in the front, through
which a good sized portion of the comb can be
seen. I was told that the hole was covered
with a thin sheet of mica, which was found to
be cheaper and more suitable for the purpose
than glass. The carton was of dull cream
colour, and above and below the oval aperture
a few modest but very effective lines of word-
ing were printed in plain but bold black
letters. Of course, the honey was in " plain "
sections, which brought the surface of the comb
close up to the mica, and the comb was of the
finest looking quality. I could see that every
detail of the package wa3 the work of an
expert, and it specially interested me, because
for a maximum amount of good looks with a
minimum amount of expense in producing
them, it seemed to me that this package was
well ahead of any other exhibit of comb honey
that I had seen. Till one sees it, it is difficult
to realise the very high-class effect produced by
a plain tall section placed in a card show-case
having an oval opening.

The whole of the New York State honey
exhibit was shut up in large glass cupboards,
or show-cases. No attempt was made at a
display of honey, such as we understand it at
our British shows, and the effect produced
seemed to me to be rather disappointing, con-
sidering the large amount of spleadid-looking
honey that was there. In this matter the
exhibit of the Ontario Bee-keepers' Associa- i
tion presented a pleasing contrast. Their dis-
p'ay was really magnificent. It consisted of '

the produce of about twenty- three exhibitors
from different parts of the Province, and of
one from the province of Quebec. A large
quantity of the honey was in glass jars of
various sizes. All the comb-honey was in
shipping cases, a* in the New York exhibit,
but little towers of sections, and extracted
honey in fancy packages, were erected in the
British style, with thick slabs of glacs between
each storey, and the honey being of fine
quality, and well put up throughout, the
effect was specially pleasing. Here and
there the exhibit was embellished with cakes
of beeswax cast in fancy shapes. Some of the
extracted honey was granulated, but most of it
was clarified and looked very well. Mr. John
Newton, of Thamesford, Ont., President of
the Ontario Bee-keepers' Association, was in
charge of the exhibit, and gave me a great
deal of interesting information about Canadian
bee-keeping, much of which, I regret, I have no
room or time to repeat here. I was surprised to
find that nearly all the sections in the Ontario
exhibit were made of four pieces, and therefore
dovetailed at all four corners. I suggested to
Mr. Newton that the Ontario bee-keepers
must be behind the times in this matter, but
he smilingly replied that they considered
themselves in advance of the times, for they
had tried the one-piece sections and had
rejected them in favour of the four-piece,
which they found to be better. I asked on
what grounds they had come to this con-
clusion. I half expected to hear something
pointing to some new idea in comb-
honey production in Mr. Newton's reply.
It was that in folding a one-piece section they
could never get it to stay square, and this was
a particular nuisance in the case of fitting full
sheets of foundations into sections — a thing
they often wished to do. By what I have
seen I should say that no bee-keepers in the
world know how to produce a better-looking
finished section than the Ontario men, and
their opinion is worthy of respect. Owing,
however, to the construction of most of our
British supers, the question of the adoption
of a four-piece section is one that need hardly
trouble us in Britain.

Another position in which the Canadian
bee-keepers stand almost alone is in the matter
of extra light weight sections. The combs
are much thinner than our3, and being no larger
they weigh only about f lb. The tall section is,
however, coming to the front in some parts.

The price of comb-honey seems to be very
high in Canada, 10 J. to Is. being the average
prices realised, while extracted honey fetches
only from 5d. to 6i.

But I am digressing. To the rear of the
New York State honey exhibit Mr. Hershiser
showed me a somewhat unique exhibit, con-
sisting of a working apiary of ten full colonies
of bees, the bees being allowed to fly through
a trellised window arch. This apiary was
established at the time the Exhibition was
opened in May, and during the summer it has

Nov. H, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

455

produced as much as 950 lb. of surplus honey,
or an average of 95 lb. per hive. Mr.
Hershizer felt confident that the yield would
have exceeded an average of 100 lb. per hive
if he had not been somewhat unlucky with
one or two of the colonies. A large number
of tall plain sections that had been fitted on
these hives were shown in the honey exhibit.

The two exhibitors of bee-keepers' supplies
were the A. I. Root Company and the W. T.
Falconer Manufacturing Company. Mr.
Robert Calvert was in charge of the former
firm's exhibit, and kindly explained many of
the articles. A splendid collection of up-tc-
date hives and appliances was shown, and
many of these I should like to describe here,
did not space and time prevent, but I hope to
be able to do this in a future communication.
— F. W. L. Kladen, Ottawa, Canada, Oct, 18.

SOME ESSEX NOTES.

THE B B.K.A. CONVERSAZIONE.

[4561. ] The discussions at these gatherings
of prominent bee-keepers usually make interest-
ing reading in our Journal for those of us who
are unable to attend on these special occasions.
Among the many subjects discussed I note
the question of '■ Insurance for Bee-keepers."
This would be a good thing for the craft,
although I fear it might lead to abuses, such as
carelessness in handling bees. But where
possible and necessary the consequences of
such abuse would, of course, be made to fall
on the head of the bee-keeper himself.

Bees and Offensive Smells. — Having had a
large share of experience of the causes and
effects of bees stinging animals and men, my
experience tends to show that the almost in-
variable cause is an offensive smell, due either
to a heated condition of the body and conse-
quent perspiration, or the uncleanly condition
of the body and its coverings, or both com-
bined. Two or three years ago a serious
accident was only avoided by the exercise
of presence of mind when men persisted
in working horses with a mowing-machine
near my bees in the heat of the day. At other
times I have seen a horse quietly grazing near
the bees for hours undisturbed in the least.
On one occasion an old horse, like the one in
last year's " Bee-Case," lay down for hours
behind my bee3, only a few feet from the hives,
and on higher ground, so that the bees were
continually passing to and fro by the horse,
but being in a cool condition, the animal was
apparently not ia the least offensive to the
bees. Cats and dogs may roam among the
hives unmolested, but if they happen to get in
such a position that the bees can smell the
animals' breath, they will soon get notice to
" move on." Even in the latter case, cleanli-
ness makes all the difference, and I have
noticed that a dog not kept clean is most
offensive to bees. Personally I can usually
do what 1 wish in the garden and about the
hives by keeping cool and clean, but if men

are working in an adjoining field in a
heated and not too cleanly condition, a
bee is sure to be attracted to them now
and again, and the worst of it is that the
men usually " go for '' the first bee that
comes within striking distance. This striking
out with caps, &c, attracts other bees to the
spot, with the very worst results. Sir Stanley
Edwards expressed the opinion that bees
object to the noise caused by sharpening a
scythe or a knife. My experience is that bees
do not notice noises. You may sit by the
hives all day banging a tea-tray or a tam-
bourine, or blowing a trombone, and the bees
will give no sign of hearing it, but they will
at once notice the rapid motions of the hand
that does the banging and will be annoyed
thereby. I am of opinion that the attacks on
General Edwards's gardener were due first to
the movement when sharpening the scythe
added to the smell from the grass when cut.

With regard to the question of insurance, I
notice Mr. Raid said that fortunately a great
number of subscribers to bee-keepers' associa-
tions pay a fee above 2s. 6d. for membership,
which makes it possible to accept cottagers at
2s. 6d. ; but I may be allowed to point out
that in some bee-keepers' associations the bulk
of the members pay no more than 2s. 6d.
Some of those who pay 53., however, expect
to have ten shillings' worth of work done for
them ; and, to my knowledge, it is not un-
common for the hon. sec. to have to wait two
years for a small subscription from the very
members who expect so much for it. One
also, at times, meets with bee-keepers in more
than comfortable circumstances, keeping from
twelve to twenty hives of bees, and yet paying
only a subscription of 2s. 6d , while so-called
labourers are found paying Is. subscription,
and keeping a dozen or more stocks for the
association's expert to see to. These matters
want readjusting in such cases, surely.

Dark and Light Honey. — Though Mr. Reid
admitted (on page 431) that some of the dark
honey at the Dairy Show " tasted abominably,"
I consider the extension of classes for extracted
honey is a step in the right direction and of
considerable educational value. Some dark
honeys are, no doubt, very nice, but exhibitors
should be compelled to grade the colour of
their honey properly. This is not done at
present. The opinions expressed by Mr. Perry
(on same page) on light-coloured honey are, to
say the least, surprising, and should be accepted
just for "what they are worth." I had my
first experiences of modern bee-keeping in the
immediate neighbourhood of Banbury, and
never did I meet a bee-keeper there who held
such an opinion. — 'Wat. Loveday, Hatfield
Heath, Harlow, Essex.

SCOTCH BEE-KEEPING CRITICISED.

[4562.J I am sorry our esteemed friend, Mr.
Wm. McNally, should consider himself
aggrieved by my remarks made at the Con-

456

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 14, 1901.

versazione of the B.B.K.A. in October last. I
certainly had no intention of making any dis-
paraging remarks on Scotch bee-keeping. The
case to which I drew attention was a piece of
flagrant wrong-doing needing publicity, with
which I am sure Mr. McNally will agree.

Bat while admitting that the sentence to
which our friend takes exception does sound a
trifle unfair, I assure him it was never meant
to read in that way. What I said and had in
my mind was the unprofitableness of those
large tracts of land and rock upon which
hardly anything will grow except heather. I
may have regarded Scotland too much from a
geologist's point of view. But be that as it
may, a country is generally easily understood,
botanically and otherwise, by the insects
which abound or not, as the case happens
to be.

Hymenoptera (a speciality of mine) were
exceedingly scarce, and I could at a glance
discern the amount of vegetation by the num-
ber of Hymenoptera on the wing day by day.
I had also ample opportunity of confirming
these ideas. If Mr. McNally is a lover of
insects, in addition to being an entomologist
in the strict sense of the word, I need have no
fear of contradiction with regard to my
remarks, for he will no doubt have experienced
the same thing over and over again. I am
sure my explanation — if needed at all — will
satisfy any who may have imagined that I
had any ulterior motive in making my re-
marks, which, in my own mind at least, at the
time were quite of secondary importance. — R".
Hamltn - Harris, Tiibingen, Germany,
JSovember 10.

PERSISTENT SWARMING.

CAN IT BE PREVENTED ?

[4563.] Your paper gives opportunity for so
many valuable discussions that I venture to
send a few lines on the much discussed subject
of prevention of swarming. Again and again
one sees accounts from correspondents who
assert that they have had no swarms during
the whole season. I do not know whether
in these cases artificial swarming is resorted to
and that no natural swarms have issued ; but
assuming that this is not the case and ordinary
ten-frame-hives are used, I am drawn to the
conclusion that locality, including by this
word the sources from which the bees obtain
their supplies, has more to do with the ques-
tion than actual skill in management. I do
not speak as an expert, but I have kept bees
since 1892, and have tried numerous devices
mentioned in your papers with the same
useless result. My bees will swarm. Take
this year as an example. I started with
five hives, sections were put on before
any honey-flow began, and were taken to
by the bees with no difficulty. On one
hive, in addition to sections, I had a box of
shallow-frames with starters under the brood-
chamber, and another hive had twenty frames

given them, besides two racks of sections.
Yet every hive persisted in swarming, and the
worst was the one with the twenty frames,
the bee3 of which came out four times, in spite
of cutting out queen-cells on each occasion. I
never keep a queen over her second year, and
mostly renew every year. Now it seems to
me that the real reason of this lies in the fact
that we seldom in this district ever have more
than a week's continuous honey-flow, except
in the case of ling. We get snatches of a few
fine days, followed by two or three more
working days, and these " off days " set up the
desire to swarm. The country is all meadow
land — indeed, there are not more than
two acres of ploughed land in the neigh-
bourhood— so that the bees depend for
their supplies on sycamore trees, beeches,
hollies, and natural clovers, &c, in the
grass, along with what they can get out of a few
gardens. Everything depends on the ling. If
that fails we get nothing in the way of sections.
It is, in consequence, exceedingly difficult to
keep the bees going and at the right strength
the whole season. This year I took 170 lb.
from the five hives, all in sections, of which
three-quarters was ling honey. If I have
made the circumstances clear it would give me
much pleasure to have some advice on the
way to deal with my hive3, whether, for
instance, it would be better to artificially
swarm each hive, and join them up when
young queen is proved mated. Giving room
in advance, as regards sections, is, I know, of
no use whatever, and whether they be
Ligurians, Carniolans, natives, or hybrids, they
swarm with a persistence which is very aggra-
vating.— 0. H. Lowe, Bylstone Rectory,
Slcipton, November 9.

TALL V. SQUARE SECTIONS.

[4564.] Being interested in the discussion
on tall versus square sections, which appeared
in the Bee Journal last spring, I thought I
would give them a trial, so I fitted up a rack
half with tall sections and the other half with
square ones. I thought this was a better plan
than putting the different sections on separate
hives. The bees took to the square sections
first, but had sealed honey in the tall sections
first. When the bees were working in all the
sections I put another rack underneath the
first, but a few days after the honey flow
ceased. I then took off the first rack and
found all the sections sealed, except the out-
side rows, which were partly sealed, but un-
saleable, although the tall sections had more
cells sealed than the square ones.

The only thing in favour of the tall sections
is that they look nicer, for although the bees
begin sealing them a little quicker there will
always be some sections only partly full at the
end of the season. Then the tall sections
cost more, the foundation and glass will [cost
more, dividers must be provided, and a lot of
labour entailed in altering racks and hives,

Nov. 14, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

457

and, most important of all, the tall sections do
not sell so well, as customers find there is
more wax in proportion to the honey — what
they want is more honey and less wax. —
W. I. R. S., Bath, November 9.

DUPLICATE PRIZE-WINNING.

[4565.] I beg to thank Mr. Woodley for his
•congratulations" on page 444, and there
seems no need for prolonging this discussion,
but I would suggest that Mr. W. makes a
statement similar to mine on page 414 of B.J.
for October 17, with regard to making no more
than one entry in any one class at any show he
may be exhibiting at. I think one noted
winner in one family is enough. I also see
Mr. A. D. Woodley (page 447) expresses
regret at this " wordy warfare " having started
between old friends. For myself I see no
reason for dropping friendship over such a
trivial affair. All I ask is fair play, not only
for myself, but others, and, judging from the
number of letters I have received from all
parts it seems to be felt as a general grievance.
1 therefore feel I am only voicing the opinion
of honey exhibitors of the United Kingdom. —
H. W. Seymour, 53, Market-place, Henley-
on-T/tames, November 11.

[The above subject having, as we think,
received full and adequate attention in our
pages, the discussion may now be considered
as closed. — Eds.]

JUDGING EXHIBITS.

[4566.] Referring to the exhibits at the
Confectioners', Grocers', and Dairy Shows
respectively, I wa3 very much surprised on
reading through the list of prize-winner3 at
the " Dairy " and not seeing included the
names of any winners at the Grocers' Show. I
wrote Mr. Shaw, Whitby, asking if he was
showing at the latter, and learned that he
was ; not only so, but he told me he was at
the show, and saw the exhibits along with
another competent practical bee-keeper who
figures as an experienced judge in honey.
Mr. Shaw's opinion of the judging of extracted
heather honey at the " Dairy " is that it was
faulty to a degree. At the same time he
spoke very favourably of the judging of the
classes for clover honey. I might say Mr.
Shaw sent me a jar of his heather honey to
compare with mine, which received a simple
" Commended " at the same " Dairy Show,''
and after comparing the two, I consider there
are good grounds for complaint with regard to
the "judging.''

I say, in conclusion, let honour be given
where honour is due. — J. H. Horn, Bedale,
Yorkshire.

[We have somewhat condensed our friend
Mr. Horn's letter as above — ■ first, because
our space is overcrowded this week, and
second, because the matter left out is more or
less a repetition of what appeared in last

week's issue. We also trust that the question
of " Judging at Shows " will now be allowed
to close. In our desire not to do anything
to hinder " free speech,'' we have already in-
serted more criticism than is agreeable to our-
selves or others who have done much judging
this year, but it may now with advantage to
a1! be permitted to end here. — Eds.]

NEW INVENTIONS IN APPLIANCES.

[4567.] Replying to the letter of "The
Inventor" (4551, page 446), I may say my
criticism was directed ,to the article as shown
at the Conversazione, and passed to me for
my candid opinion, which I gave. I think,
after twenty years' inventing, making, and
patenting bee-appliances, I ought to know a
little bit about what is worth " acceptance."
I may also say that similar articles to the one
exhibited by our friend have been on the
market for a long time, and made principally
to comply with the requirements of the " Royal
Show'' schedule for a "swarm-box for travelling
purposes," and a nucleus hive for the same
purpose. These appliances have never been
remunerative to the maker, and are not valued
by the " up-to-date " bee-keeper, and certainly
not purchased at the prices asked for them or
that they can be made to pay at. Those bee-
keepers who use these " fancy articles " as they
may be termed are few and far between, and
as a commercial speculation there is not a
penny to be made out of them.

Besides, the one shown had no bottom
ventilation, and to use it would mean risk of
suffocation and great loss to bee life through
crushing, &c, and I do not think any one
would care to be bothered with the elaborate
" strapping '' arrangement. An article costing
6d. that could be used quickly, and a cord
round to secure would, in most cases, b3 far
preferable. — W. P. Meadows, Syston,
November 11.

SUGAR FOR BEE-FOOD.

[4568.] I was exceedingly interested in
reading the remarks on the above subject in
B.B.J. , November 7, the more so as such fact?
as those to which -Captain 0. R. Harris refers
are of great import to bee-keepers. The care-
ful bee-man cannot pay sufficient attention to
the question with what sugar he supplies his
bees, either for winter or for stimulating pur-
poses.

I, for one, should be pleased to see some
more remarks on this matter. Can Captain
0. R. Harris give us any?— "Musca Vomi-
torto," November 9.

EXTRACTING HOUSE.
[4569.] I am now writing you to ask if
some of your readers could give me any hints
on constructing an extracting shed — or house
— suitable for an apiary containing about
twenty-five colonies of bees. I wish to make

458

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 14, 1901.

one before the season commences next year.
Perhaps I am a " bit previous '' in writiDg so
early, but I thought you might spare a little
space as the quiet season comes on, and also
our brother bee-keepers could awhile to give
us the benefit of their experiences should
you deem the subject sufficiently interesting
to your readers.

We have had a fairly good season in this
district and the honey has been excellent in
quality. One half of my crop is already sold,
so have no fears of old stock by the next
season.

I should be most grateful for any advice on
above if you could publish same in our B.B J.
or Record. — " A Working B,," Staffs.

[The above letter has been accidentally mis-
laid for some weeks, but there is still ample
time for any hints our readers may be good
enough to offer on the subject referred to.—
Eds ]

THE BRAIN OF TEE BEE.

[4570. J The brain is the nervous centre in
which reside consciousness and power over the
voluntary movements of the body. Some
insects show an almost infinitesimal propor-
tion of brain, but I am pleased to say this is
not the case with the bee, because it is gener-
ally agreed that the size of the brain is in
proportion to the development of intelligence,
i.e., the more intelligent the creature, the
larger will be its brain in proportion to its
own size. The bee's brain, in common with
that of all creatures, is the seat of intelligence
or instinct, which guides and directs it in the
performance of the manifold duties existence
calls on it to carry out for its own well-being
and that of the community of which it forms
a part. Judged by the state of perfection in
which it performs these delicate and intricate
duties, we may conclude that a very high
degree of instinct, at least, has been assigned
to the Apidfe. And science clearly and un-
mistakably shows us that our surmise is
correct. Here is an interesting and truthful
item for bee-men to know.

Dujardin, who devoted a large measure of
time and attention to the subject, states that
in the worker-bee the brain is T, T th part of
the body, while in the wise and intelligent ant
it is only -ji^th part ; and, going down the
scale to perhaps the lowest order of animate
creation, the relative proportion sinks to
^Wth in the case of some of the water beetles.
It is comforting, too, to discover that, com-
paring workers, drones, and queens in regard
to brain power, the wise little worker-bee
shows a very much larger proportion than the
" lazy yawning drone.'' This holds good not
only in proportion to its size, but absolutely.
Love seems to occupy all the drone's vital
powers, to the detriment of sense, while the
queen's brains are atrophied to the enlarge-
ment and perfecting of her laying organs.
Therefore, we find, as we might naturally have
foretold, that most brain power has been given

to the worker who builds the cells, nurses the
young, provides the staff of life, guards the
luscious treasure, and generally carries out the
royal will and imperial behests of the spirit of
the hive. " Within this tiny head we find the
workings of the vastest and most magnificent
brain of the hive ; the most beautiful and
complex, the most perfect that, in another
order and with another organisation, is to be
found in Nature after that of man."

I feel well pleased to record that last
important sentence in praise of the Hymenop-
tera, and our pets should rise higher in our
favour and receive a larger measure of our es-
teem when the important truth is fully grasped.

The brain of the bee consists of two parts,
one initiating and regulating all instinctive
acts and movements of the various organs, as,
for example, the eyes, tongue, wings, and legs.
That is, these ganglia originate the nerves of
sensation and motion which regulate the life
and well-being of the insect. All creatures
with any degree of the instinctive faculties
possess a brain of this description ; but where
intelligence dominates mere animal instinct,
then we find the bulk of the other matter —
pedunculated bodies — increases. Let me again
quote Dujardin to make my meaning clearer.
In the hive bee these pedunculated bodies form
one-fifth of the whole brains, while in the
cockchafer it is less than the thirty-three-
thousandth, and, going to the other extreme,
in the ant it forms about one-half of the whole.

The ganglia of the brain is connected with
other masses of ganglia lying along the spinal
column by nerve fibres, and these nerves
serve to administer, say, the genital organs
and the sting ; another set maintain the work
of digestion, and yet another the organic life
of the bee. It may make the subject clearer
if I explain matters by a familiar illus-
tration. The General Post Office is the
main centre for postal and telegraphic
communication. Radiating from that centre
we have a network of " nerves '' passing to the
remotest parts of the country, and even to the
uttermost parts of the earth. Other minor
centres, however, exist all over the kingdom
in the case of our largest cities, such as Man-
chester, which generate another set of nerves
initiating, governing, and regulating procedure
in a certain radius, independent to a certain
extent, but yet in close communication with
the head centre. Such is the ganglia of the
brain, with its ganglionic chain and masses of
ganglionic cells. One set, as I have said,
governs and controls sight and kindred senses,
another set the digestive faculties, and yec
another locomotion. All of these are to a
certain extent self-acting, but yet all depend
on the main centre of the brain. — D. M. M.,
Banff.

THIRSK AND DISTRICT B.K.A.
At a meeting held in the Assembly-rooms,
Thirsk, on Friday evening, the 1st inst,

Nov. 14, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

459

an excellent paper was read by Mr. H. F.
Garnett, of Well, Bedale, on " Wintering
Bees." Mr. C. Moore presided. The paper,
which touched on the necessary treatment for
a stock coming out stroDg in spring, was both
instructive and interesting, and was freely
discussed by Mrs. Hildyard, Miss Gill, Messrs.
E. T. Tennant, R. Walton, E. Pick, H.
Beckett, Sergeant-Instructor Colton, and the
Chairman. A pleasant evening was spent,
which closed with a hearty vote of thanks to
Mr. Garnett.— R. T. Tennant, Hon. Se .

(fto^js and |tyttli$5.

[2754.] Starting Bee-keeping. Working for
Increase.-—! am hoping to start bee-keeping in
earnest next spring, and in consequence am
taking the liberty of writing you for advice.
About six weeks ago a friend gave me a stock
of bees established in a straw skep, and told
me they were " a strong lot and had plenty of
stores to last the winter," so that they would
be all right until spring. Being a working
man, I cannot afford to spend much money on
my new "hobby " in the way of buyiDg
swarms, &c, my chief aim next year will be
to increase my present stock as much as pos-
sible. I therefore ask : — 1. Is it possible,
under the circumstance, for me to have three
stocks established in frame-hives by the end
of next season (the present lot, when trans-
ferred, being one) and get a little surplus
honey as well ? 2. I intend to transfer the
present stock as recommended in Mr. Cowan's
*' Guide Book '' (page 140). Would it be best
performed in early April, as recommended, or
would I be likely to get the swarms earlier by
leaving it until after swarming is over 1 3. I
suppose all brood in the skep would be
hatched out in about three weeks after the
queen went below. Would it be safe to
remove skep at end of that time or should I
leave it a few days longer, say another week !
When skep is placed in position I suppose all
entrance to it is blocked, except through
frame-hive. 4. How soon after removing
skep would it be advisable to commence
supering the frame - hive 1 And about
how soon after hiving a fresh swarm
would the bees be ready for supering /
5. In my ignorance I placed the bees on a
stand about 1 ft. 9 in. high and against a wall.
I now find that I ought to bring them for-
ward about 2 ft. from wall, and lower them
1 ft. It would much simplify matters if I
could leave them where they are until the
time for transferring, as the frame-hive would
be in right position if placed on a lower stand
in front of present one. I would then simply
have to lift skep forward on to top of frames.
Could I manage it in this way, or would it be
likely to confuse the bees ? I am afraid I am
trespassing too much on your gocd nature, but
you must excuse me, as I want to under-

stand everything as clearly as possible. — G.
Geldard, Walton, Liverpool, November 6.

Reply. — 1. To start in spring with a single
colony of bees in a straw skep and expect to
increase to four stocks in frame-hives, while
at the same time secure some surplus honey
the same season, is to expect what is quite
beyond the powers of any beginner. More-
over, it is rather unreasonable to look for such
a result. An experienced bee-keeper cer-
tainly might secure the end aimed at if time,
trouble, and outlay were matters of no moment,
but even in this case he would not follow the
safe and good method recommended in the
"Guide-Book'' (page 140). By that plan the
bees are allowed to transfer themselves, and
increase can only be obtained by dividing the
colony later on into two lots, one of which
would need a fertile queen being provided for
the queenless portion. 2. You would pro-
bably get no swarm from a stock so trans-
ferred. 3. Yes, if broodless and queen safe
below. 4. All would depend on the honey-
income at the time. 5. You can safely leave
them as at present.

[2755.] Wintering Transferred Stocks. — I
shall be very glad if you will tell me what to
do in the following case. I have been from
home since the beginning of August, and my
bees (six hives, three of which I drove out
from the straw skeps after they had swarmed)
have filled all the brood-frames with sealed
honey. They have not gone up into the
sections at all. 1. Ought I to take away some
of these frames and give them fresh sheets of
foundation — I have no comb ready — or must I
leave them as they are until the spring % 2.
How can I make the hives warm for the
winter if they are left as they now are '\ The
bees are still gathering honey. I only started
bee-keeping this summer and will be very
glad of some help. 3. Will you also please
give the address of the Cornish Bee-keepers.
Association ? — M. A. Smith, Trenance, St
Issi)/, Cornwall.

Reply. — 1. It is utterly useless giving
sheets of foundation to bees at this late
period of the year. By all means leave the
hives severely alone till spring if well stored
with food. 2. Only by plenty of warm wrap-
pings above frames, and seeing that roofs are
rainproof. 3. The hon. sec. of the Cornwall
B.K.A. is T. R. Polwhele, Esq., Polwhele,
near Truro, who will afford information as to
membership.

PRESS CUTTINGS.

A CAUTION TO STALLHOLDERS.

An incident that lately took place at an
open-air sale of work may serve as a warning
to those entrusted with the sale of honey. At
Burnley-in-Wharfedale a quantity of honey in
comb had been given, and placed in position
before the sale began. However, when the

460

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 14, 1901.

stallholder arrived, she was quite unable to
approach her stall, which was completely
covered with bees, the air being black with
them. It requires greater courage to attack
a swarm of bees than a gang of burglars,
so the stall had to be abandoned, and
the bees carried away every morsel of the
honey to their hives in the adjoining village.
The flight of a bee is about two miles from its
domicile, and its scent is about as powerful a3
its flight, and the bees can smell honey at such
a distance, and will make for it and carry it
off. Of course, the mistake made was in
leaving the honey exposed instead of covered
up. As the public are tiring at last of buying
perfectly useless articles at sales of work, the
popularity of produce stalls has been great,
and their presence universal, so if any one
wants to make a produce-stall unapproachable
the above will show them how to do it. —
Western Morning News.

ADULTERATION— FRAUD OR CRIME %

Another illustration which may be cited is
in the case of the glucose of commerce. Now,
the glucose of commerce is a mixture of
dextrose and dextrine with a small quantity
of maltose, produced by modifying starch
under the influence of an acid. It is well
known that the starch in foods must undergo
a similar process, under the action of the
ferments of the digestive apparatus, before it
can be assimilated and act as a nutrient for
the body.

From this fact it might be inferred that a
partial previous digestion of the starch, such
as is referred to above, might be of advan-
tage. This, however, cannot be unqualifiedly
admitted. It is a well-established principle
in physiology that the disuse of organs tend to
produce wasting, and, eventually, functional
paralysis. Hence, if the starchy foods are
replaced by artificially digested starch, the
organs which produce the natural ferments to
act on the starch are deprived of a part of
their functions and must suffer from disuse.
It is evident, therefore, from this point of
view, that the use of predigested starch is to a
certain extent prejudicial to the health of the
digestive organs.

Again, there may be objections to the use
of glucose from another point of view. This
substance is, as is well known, largely used as
an adulterant for honey and jelly. Honey
owes its value to the peculiar flavour which it
possesses, due to the aromatic substances
derived from the flowers, and possibly to
traces of formic acid obtained from the
digestive organs of the bee. In other words,
honey is not prized simply because it is a
carbohydrate, but because of its flavour.
Whenever, therefore, glucose is added to
honey, by the substitution of it for the
aromatic substance above mentioned, the
peculiar flavour is destroyed, and the honey
is to that extent made less desirable. —
Science Sif tings.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers-

All querietforwardedwill be attended to, and t\o»t only
of per tonal inter e$t will be answered in tkie column.

J. H. (Cumnock). — Honey Samples.— Of the
fine samples sent, No. 1 is thin but good in
colour and flavour. No 2, better consistency
than No. 1, and equally good on other points.
No. 3, the colour (deep golden) is about that
of medium-coloured honey as properly
represented on the show bench ; the flavour
is only fair. Nos. 4 and 5 are excellent in
colour and general appearance, but we
do not like the " feel '' so to speak, when on
the tongue ; they are much ; too " oily " for
our liking, and we should not be prepared to
guarantee their perfect purity.

W. H. HoorER (Worcester). — Dealing with
Foul Brood in Australia. — Much obliged
for the trouble taken in copying out letters
on foul brood from the "Australian Cul-
turist." We see nothing, however, in the
extracts to make them worth reprinting in
our pages. The writer evidently has no
knowledge of the scientific side of the sub-
ject, and his theories are, in consequence, of
little value. It is well known that "coal-
tar," in its various forms, is the base on
which nearly all antiseptics are built, but
to talk of coating floorboards with coal-tar
to cure foul brood is absurd, as are also
some others of the statements made.

Cymric (Winchester). — Naphthol-Beta Solu-
tion.— Your inquiry dated 30th ult. must
have miscarried in post, and as the question
is not repeated in note dated 10th inst., we
are, of course, unable to replv.

A. J. R. (Suffolk).— New {Patent?) Floor-
board.— If the appliance is forwarded we
will express our opinion on it.

J. S. Lawton (Bridgnorth). — Wasps and
Foul Brood. — The "dark substance" you
refer to in cells of comb from wasps' nest is
simply the dried-up remains of dead larva'
that have become chilled. We see no trace
of disease about it.

Jas. M. Bryce (Oxted). — Management of
Straiv Sheps. — The small pamphlet referred
to is now out of print.

J. E. Greenwood (Kirkheaton). — Expert*
Certificates. — For the particulars required
write to Mr. Edwin H. Young, Sec,
B.B.K.A., 12, Hanover-square, London, as
stated fully on page 450 last week.

J. Hirst (Slaithwaite, Yorks). — Making an
Observatory Hive. — The hive described in
" Work " is not suited for attaching the
" Brice '' feeding arrangement to. Jas.
Lee & Son's catalogue is the only one in
which the latter is illustrated.

Syx (York). — Experts* Exams. — The books
recommended by the B.B.K.A. are " The
Honey Bee, its Natural History, Anatomy,
and Physiology," and the "Bee-Keepers'
Guide Book," by T. W. Cowan. The
other work you refer to is not mentioned.

Nov. 21, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

461

(tfdttoral, |Mim, &t

SHOW AT NEWOASTLE-ON-TYNE.

The management of the Grocers' Exhibition
held their third annual show at Olympia,
Newcastle-on-Tyne, at which medals and cash
prizes were offered for honey, &c, in ten
classes. Although the exhibition under notice
is the third held under the same auspices, bee-
produce was included in 1900 for the first time.
Last year's display, however, though very good,
was easily surpassed by that of this year.

Mr. Thos. Clark, Jedburgh, N.B., officiated
as judge, and made the following awards : —

Display of Honey in anu form. — 1st, Jas.
Waddell, Wooler ; 2nd, T. Gutherson, Roth-
bury ; 3rd, E. Middlemass, Stamford ; v.h.c,
J. M. Balmbra, Alnwick.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extruded Honey. — 1st,
S. Temblett, Andover ; 2nd, J. Smart, An-
dover ; 3rd, F. Chapman, Wells, Som.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Heather Honey. — 1st,
Jonathan Shaw, Whitby ; 2nd, J. H. Horn,
Bedale, Yorks ; 3rd, J. M. Balmbra.

Twelve l-lb. Sections— 1st, R. W. Patten,
Alnwick ; 2od, " General Supply Stores,''
Woodbridge.

Twelve l-lb. Heather Sections. — 1st, J. M.
Balmbra ; 2nd, R. W. Patten ; 3rd, R. T.
Tennant, Thir.-k, Yorks.

Interesting and Instructive Exhibit. — 1st,
Ja?. Waddell; 2nd, W. H. Brown, Shrews-
bury ; 3rd, J. R. Guthers, Thropton, Rothbury.

OTEN TO NORTHUMBERLAND, CUMBERLAND,
AND DURHAM ONLY.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey.— l&t,
Jas. Waddell ; 2nd, J. M. Balmbra ; 3rd,
R. W. Patten.

Twelve ^■lb. Sections. — 1st, Jas. Waddell ;
2nd, R. W. Patten.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Heather Honey. — 1st,
Jas. Waddell ; 2nd, J. L. Dent, Burnhill ;
3rd, J. M. Balmbra.

Twelve l-lb. Heather Sections. — 1st and
2nd, Jas. Waddell ; 3rd, J. M. Balmbra.

BIOLOGY OF THE HONEY BEE.

Our esteemed contributor, Mr. R. Hamlyn-
Harris, writing from Germany, sends the
following note, under date November 16 : —

" I should like it to be generally understood
that the article entitled ' Biology of the Honey
Bee : Its Development during the Nineteenth
Century,' which has appeared in the last two
numbers of the British Bee Journal, was
written by request, and was intended as an
address to be delivered at the annual meeting
of the Bristol, Somerset, and South Gloucester
B.K.A., which meeting was, however, inde-
finitely postponed on account of the late
Queen's death. Alterations in the text were,
therefore, necessary to make it suitable for
insertion in the British Bee Journal.''

LIFE HISTORY OF BEE3, WASPS,
AND BACILLT.

SOME NOTES BY HENRY W. BEIGE.

A few interesting facts have been ascer-
tained and verified by myself since I last
wrote on the above subject which may perhaps
be worth recording in your pages. The first
item to which I desire to draw attention is
the possibility of Hymennptera being fecun-
dated in confinement. — Mr. E. D. Till, of
Eynsford, exhibited at the show of the Kent
and Sussex B.K.A., held at the Crystal
Palace in October last, three large wasps'
nests, placed for protection under a glass
shade. Shortly after the exhibition had
opened I distinctly noticed the act of ferti-
lisation between male wasps and queens whilst
crawling over the surface of the nests. I
drew the attention of several prominent bee-
keepers present to the fact, about which there
can be no doubt. At the close of the show I
had the privilege of taking two of the three
nests home with me, and there fitted them into
a box with glass lid. I then fed the wasps
(queens and males) on honey, &c, keeping
them cosy and warm the while, and have since
been able to study the matter out. It is
impossible here to give full details, but the
fact remains that the queens of Vespa vulgaris
can be and are fertilised in confinement. Not
only so, but they are beyond all question in
the state of nature fecundated within or in
close proximity to the nest, and not of neces-
sity on the wing, as with Apix mellifiCa ; in
fact, the last-named method seems extremely
improbable. In confirmation of my theory
with regard to this, I will give a few details
tending to confirm it.

1. The male wasp does not die after or in
consequence of the act, nor are the genital
organs sacrificed as in the case of the drone
bee. In fact, the male wasp can fertilise
several queens.

2. It is clear that male wasp3 are greatly
in the minority compared with queens at the
mating season.

3. That the males die as soon as food is
stopped or extreme cold supervenes. At the
time of writing (November 15) most of the
male wasp3 are dead, but the queens (perhaps
seventy of them) are still alive, though clearly
passing into the dormant or hybernating con-
dition.

4. The queens, after fecundation consume
food ravenously ; grow very fat, and then
gradually pass into the condition noted above.

5. That fecundation takes place only once.
This I have verified, so far as the older queens
were concerned, as the receptaculum alters
very shortly afterwards, and so prevents the
possibility of a second fecundation. I have
had many queens hatch out under observation,
and only the newly-hatched ones were subse-
quently mated, the older ones passing un-
noticed. In examining a wasp-nest full of
young brood it is curious to mark the great

462

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 21, 1901.

difference between the larvoe of wasps and
those of the bee. It is well known that the
larvpe of the bee feeds by absorption through-
out its larval stage, but with wasps it is not
so, as the larvre of young wasps are fed by the
mouth. It may be that during the first few
days of their existence they may be fed by
absorption, but larv;« three days old and
onwards are fed by workers and queen hy the
mouth, their heads protruding from their cells,
and their little mouths opening and shutting
on the least disturbance, putting one exactly
in mind of a nest of very young birds. This
is one very marked distinction between the
two families of wasps and bees.

My second discovery relates to the Jlagella
of Bacillus alvei. This most difficult part of
the anatomy of the bacillus in question has,
after careful research and numerous experi-
ments, been distinguished, and 1 have now a
number of microscopic slides showing it with
perfect clearness. The flagella, amongst other
offices, no doubt supplies the means of locomo-
tion to the germ, and forms one of the
characteristic features by which we are enabled
to distinguish it from other bacterial germs.
The Jlagella in this bacillus is exceedingly long
and very fine, generally showing as two
branches springing from one end, but not
infrequently again branching off into a fork
towards the point. The flagella is much
finer in B. alvei than in any in other germ I
have had under observation.

I obtained this result from cultivations made
on gelatine medium, as described in my article
on this subject in a former volume of this
Journal, using methel violet as the dye, and
not decolorising or allowing the slide to
remain after being made for some days before
ringing and completing it. This method
allows the balsam to evaporate and forms a
much thinner coating than if it was sealed
down at once. — Thornton Heath, Nov. 19.

^ormpUtut

The Editor* do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinion! expressed by correspondent!. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communication!, and correipondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but ai a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tion! should be drawn on uparate piece! of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents,
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[4571.] Referring to the "Testimonial to
Mr. Hooker '' mentioned on front page of B J.
of the 7th, I trust that your readers will fully
support the effort Mr. Garrett has initiated,
not necessarily with large amounts, but with
plenty of subscribers' names, so that our old

and tried friend Mr. John M. Hooker may
have a souvenir of the friendship of the bee-
keepers of old England in the new England
whither he is gone.

The Pan-American Exhibition. — I also
think we should all say : Thanks, Mr. Sladen,
for your interesting letter re the above-
named in last week's B.B.J. May it be the
earnest of more to come. Meantime I would
ask what kind of rack do our Canadian
brethren use which allows the one-piece
section to "get out of square,'1 as stated?
In this country we never have trouble in
that way with properly constructed racks,
and when using the Root one-piece
section I have no trouble in the folding
beyond a slight pressure of the hand. On a
bench of suitable height for folding I can fores
the " toothed " ends together without any
pressure or hammering of the joint together.
Yet the sections are perfectly square when so
folded — ready for the foundation to be fixed
in by my wife prior to her placing them in
the racks. I may say the latter are made of a
size and height which ensures that the twenty-
one sections in each are square when ready for
taking off. Even when tiered up three or
more racks high on the hive we have no
trouble with <; out-of-square" sections. In
our apiaries, however, we nearly always use
two racks only at one time ; the third is put
on when the first is removed or put on the
" clearer."

I noticed recently a recommendation from
a B.J. reader that the exit of the " clearer '.'
should be near the outside rim instead of in
centre of board a3 at present, because when
cut off from the brood-chamber below, the bees
always run round the sides of " clearer '' board
before they notice the "escape" itself in the
centre. So long, however, as the present
arrangement answers its purpose so admirably,
I, for one, shall not adopt the suggestion.

Comparing Notes. — The long winter even-
ings give time for bee-keeper3 to overhaul
their " notebooks,'' and having done so, the
Bee Journal is the medium by which they
may be ventilated and discussed for the
general benefit of all. If, therefore, you
have something good, some new " dodge "
which has increased the pleasure and profit
of the " hobby " during the past season,
do not shut it up in a musty cupboard or in a
damp mildewed hive ; let the craft know it,
i.e., add it to the other good things chronicled
in the pages of the B.B.J. The aim of all
should be to benefit the greatest number ; to
stimulate others perhaps less well placed as
regards pasturage, or mayhap not so enthus-
iastic in bee-keeping. Let us give the best of
our experience freely, and this brotherly help-
fulness will be an incentive for others to do
the same. We shall thus stimulate some who
may be getting discouraged by a succession of
poor seasons or other untoward circumstances,
and contemplate giving up bee-keeping alto-
gether in consequence. A bit of encourage-

Nov. 21, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

463

ment may renew their old enthusiasm and lead
them to success.

Marketing Hcney— Beginners in bee-
keeping who have just got their first " take "
of honey are often dismayed at the difficulty
in finding a market for it. To such I would
counsel cleanliness in all details in putting up
the produce for customers. If extracted
honey is put up in an earthenware jar of the
old style, see that it is carefully strained, that
no dead flies, or legs and wings of bees, or
even particles of wax disfigure the surface of
the honey when crystallised. See also that it
is tied down with clean " vegetable parchment "
and stored in dry room. If sold in 1-lb. jars
or in those of smaller size, see that they are
clean before filling and well tied down, or that
the caps fit tightly. A small, neat label also
helps the sale ; good honey does not need
hiding with a large label. If dealing with
sections handle carefully, or the delicate
comb-surfaces soon get damaged. Remove
every particle of wax and propolis from
the wood of section before glassing ; the latter
protects the honey from injury and keeps it
clean and saleable. If your house be near a
highway, one of " Eo3e's " window trans-
parencies announcing " Honey for Sale " in-
vites attention from passers-by. Again, a
few samples, sections and jars, with a neat
ticket, will advertise the fact that pure honey
is to be had within. Charge a fair, reasonable
price — at least 2d. or 3d. more than you
charge the grocer, confectioner, or dairyman ;
bear in mind that these retailers need some
profit. If a ready market is not thus ob-
i tained, or if some more " pushful " bee-keeper
is retailing his honey from his trap or go-cart,
do not get panic-stricken. The advertisement
pages of the B.B.J, will most likely find an
outlet for any quantity you may have at
wholesale prices any week you may like to
make known to the trade the quantity and
price. — W. Woodlet, Beedon, Newbury.

PRODUCING HEATHER SECTIONS.

[457 2. J In response to Mr. Tennant's letter
in last week's B.B.J, (page 448), there can,
in my opinion, be no doubt that a discussion
on this subject would be of great importance
to all producers of heather sections. My ex-
perience in the production of heather honey
extends over ten years, and I have always found
that working for extracted heather-honey, when
it comes to the selling, is, well, " not in it,"
compared with sections . I can, therefore,
readily understand that the aim of all heather
men is to obtain as many sections as possible,
and with this end in view I believe there is no
system at present known that can be called
the " best '' means of producing them.

We may make the most careful preparations
we can think of, and the weather at this time
of the year may easily upset— for a couple of
weeks or so— all our calculations. But in

order to be successful preparations must be
made ; then we trust to the weather conditions
being favourable. To my mind there are two
seasons of the year when this preparation
should begin. The first and best time is the
month of September in the previous year ; the
second best about a fortnight before you re-
move the hives to the moors. As to the first,
every colony should be headed by a good,
reliable, and fertile queen. Brood-combs put
into proper condition for next season's work ;
plenty of winter stores ; a passage-way over tops
of comb3, and a sound waterproof hive. Given
this preparation a good colony of bees will,
bar accident, be ready for any honey flow
(including heather) that will take place the
following season. If you fail in complying
with the first conditions, your only chance is
to adopt the second, viz., unite your stocks to
the required strength before starting to the
moors ; I say this because weak stocks will
never pay for the expense and trouble of
moor-going. Having, therefore, your stocks
in the proper condition you can materially
increase your crop of sections. It is also
quite certain that the more sections — ready
filled with drawn-out combs — you have to give
the bees the greater will be your number
completed, and this part of the business should
also be provided for beforehand.

A bee-keeper who has not the heather to
fall back on will naturally cramp his bees
somewhat towards the end of the season, in
order to get all the sections possible completed,
but not so the man who has the heather to
look forward to. The latter, to my mind,
should encourage the bees by all the means
in his power to fill as many sections as pos-
sible with built-out combs, then select the
best only for sale and extract all the others ;
also, if possible, let every hive sent to the
moors be supplied with fully worked-out sec-
tions. If you can accomplish this, the " best
means to obtain heather sections " will, in my
opinion, be secured. Full sheets of founda-
tions come next, then follows plenty of packing
to keep all warm. I prefer six pieces of felt
covering for each hive.

Double v. Single Backs. — This is a question
that can only be ascertained by the "man on
the spot," viz., the manager or the owner of
the bees. It is a well ascertained fact that
certain stocks in an apiary will always show
themselves far in advance in the production of
comb honey than others. It therefore follows
that these particular stocks would do better
with two racks of sections than some others
with one only. Particular notice, too, should
be taken of the way in which the respective
colonies work for some weeks beforehand, you
will then have a pretty good idea how many
racks may be given to each hive with advan-
tage. One thing to always bear in mind is
never give more racks than are likely to be
well filled with bees. In other words, regulate
the number of racks by the strength of the
stock. Only by such calculations as these

464

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 21, 1901.

carefully thought out, can you arrive at a proper
understanding of how to get the best results.

At the time of writing, we in Yorkshire are
experiencing very severe floods. My own
hives have had a narrow escipe, the water
rising to the alighting boards. My neigh-
bours' hives, the water rose half way up the
body boxes. Happily the flood is beginning
to go down. I am afraid we shall hear of some
damage amongst bees. — J. Rymer, Levisham,
Yorks, November 13.

WASPS AND THEIR NESTS.

AMERICAN BEE-KEEPING.

[4573.] Writing to Mr. F. W. L. Sladen
for information about wasps, I find my letter
owned from New Edinburgh, Canada, and as
it contains matter of much interest to bee-
keepers I send it for publication, so that
others may share in the pleasure of reading it.
— E. D. T , Eyusford, Kent, November 11.
" Vine Lynn, New Edinburgh,

Ottawa, Canada, October 15, 1901.

Dear Mr. Till, — I have been away from
home for some weeks, and only received your
letter of September 27 yesterday. I suppose
it is too late now to give any help about the
wasps' nest. I have never tried to preserve
a wasps' nest myself, but I should anticipate
a difficulty in doing this with a nest taken
during the period that it is in full working
order, on account of the large number of larvuj
and pur.se in it. A few days ago I took a
splendid example of a tree wasps' nest at
Trenton (Ontario), which was in an excellent
state for preservation, all the combs being
empty and the nest deserted, yet not the least
injured. I think that if you could defer
taking your wasps' nests until the end of
October or the beginning of November, when
the combs are more or less empty, you would
find no difficulty in preserving it by simply
letting it dry, and then it ought to keep any
length of time under a glass case in a dry
place.

I know of no good book on wasps, but
Saunders' ' Hymenoptera Aculeata,' published
by Lovell Reeve, Heurietta-street, Covent
Garden, gives a full and accurate description
of the five or six different British species.

I have been paying visits to a few noted
American bee-keepers here, so as to get
thoroughly acquainted with American methods
of bee-keeping. I have spent a fortnight with
the Roots at Medina, and I have seen several
prominent men who are making specialities of
comb-honey production, extracted-honey pro-
duction, and queen-rearing. After spending a
few days in this city, I hope to make a tour
through New York State, where several of the
brightest bee-keepers are 'located,' including
Doolittle, Coggshall, Elwood ; Captain Hether-
ington (to whom Mr. E. Root has kindly
given me letters of introduction) ; also to
Frank Benton and Danzenbacker in Washing-
ton. In this way I hope to become thoroughly

acquainted with up-to-date American bee-
keeping. I feel convinced that we have a
great deal to learn from our American cousins.
They are a progressive paople and are fast
coming to the front in almost everything.
The evidences of progress throughout the
country, and especially in the cities, have
simply amazed me. Many of the American
bee-keepers' methods and appliances are un-
suitable for adoption in England on account of
climatic and other differences, but there are
others that ought certainly to be valuable to
us, and it is to be hoped that our people will
give them a fair trial, so that we may not lag
behind the times. — F. W. L. Sladen.''

PERSISTENT SWARMING.

[4574.] I was very interested in reading
Mr. Lowe's article on the above subject on
page 456 last week. I have often felt an-
noyed whoa a couple of section racks were
filling splendidly to lose half the papulation
by the nuisance of a large swarm issuing from
the hive. I say ''nuisance" because, even
supposing that the swarm is returned, after
cutting out queen-cells, and inserting six
frames fitted with starters only in brood
chamber in exchange for others, I find the
working energy of the bees gone. I hope the
matter will be discussed in B.B J. by our
most successful section-producing bee-keepers.
We are told by authorities that swarming can
be prevented, and we know it is done. But
happy is the bee keep ir who possesses the
"knack,'' and can see at a glance what is
needed. One is almost inclined to ask the
question, Are bee-keepers born or made? — .
0. Gould, Havllland Hall Farm, Guernsey.

(Correspondence continued on page 406 )

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OP OUR READERS.

Our friend Mr. Tollington, whose apiary is
pictured on next page, is still another bee-
keeper who, after starting as a " skeppist,"
lost no time in realising the manifold advan-
tages of the modern system of bee-keeping, as
exemplified in the frame-hive and all up-to-
date improvements. We gather from the
note3 sent to go along with the picture that he
also wisely adopts his method of working to
the requirements of his district, and so does
not produce what there he finds no demand
for, viz., comb-honey. For the rest, his
" notes " speak for themselves. He says : —

" I first commenced bee-keeping in the year
1891, when, on hearing of two lots of driven
bees that were on the point of bsing " buried
alive ! " I purchased them for the modest sum of
a couple of shillings. I lost no time in joining
both lots together in one skep, thus making up
a good strong stock. In the following year
this skep sent out a swarm, which I hived in a
bar-frame hive. All went on well, and in the
spriDg of 1893 this same skep threw off

Nov. 21,. 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

465

another large swarm, the bees of which took it
into their heads to decamp, after being hived for
four hours. By this time I had learned to see
the great advantage of working in frame-hives
instead of the old-fashioned skep, so I decided,
if possible, to have no more swarms. This
was in the summer of 1893, since which time
I have had no swarms at all. You will
observe from the photo that I prefer the
' Wells ' hive before single ones, although I
would not advise a beginner to start with the
' Wells.' I have also two other single hives, not
seen in the picture. In this district we are
not so much favoured with big honey-takes as
some of your readers apparently are ; the
largest ' take ' I ever got from one ' Wells '
being 10G lb. of extracted honey. When this

honey at all before the month of July
opaned, so that my crop comes almost entirely
from the white clover, and in consequence it
is of beautiful colour.

" I find that one of the greatest drawbacks
to bee-keeping in my neighbourhood is the
trouble from birds. They are a perfect pest
right along from February to about the middle
of June, The worst offenders are sparrows,
starlings, chaffinches, blue-tit3, and sometimes
swallows, in the order named. This year the
swallows have been worse than I have ever
seen before. About fifty of them could be
seen skimming around and darting along in
front of hives, approaching the entrances to
within about a yard, snapping up the bees so
often that it would be impossible to keep the

MR. S. H. T0LLINGTONS APIART, HATHERN, NEAR LOUGHBORO', LEICESTERSHIRE

result was secured I possessed only a couple of
' Wells ' hives, and from the two I only got
128 lb. altogether. Should I now desire any
increase, I make up stocks either from nuclei
or by artificial swarming. We have no demand
here for comb-honey in sections, all buyers
preferring extracted honey. I make it a rule
not to take any honey at all from brood-
chambers, but this year I had to make an
exception, as two of my ' Wells ' hives were
overstocked with honey, so that I therefore
appropriated four frames of honey out of each.
All honey stored above excluders I ' comman-
deer,' for I find the bees generally keep enough
below for their own use. The chief forage of
our district is fruit trees, large crops of dande-
lion, besides a little trefoil and white clover.
This year the bee3 scarcely gathered any

hives from being depopulated without using a
gun. Sometimes robber-bees are very trouble-
some, partly owing to my having to open
entrances to full width in summer, as the
apiary faces south with a high wall at back ;
the effect of all this being that the high tem-
perature necessitates wide entrances.

"The three persons seen in the picture
(which was taken without preparation and at
a minute's notice) are : — On the right, my
uncle, who occasionally wields the smoker
when wanted, but much prefers to keep at a
distance from the bees ; on the left stands my
mother, who takes the chief share in managing
the honey department of the apiary ; and the
figure in centre is myself. 1 conclude by
hoping that 1902 will be a still more pros-
perous season for the craft than 1901."

466

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 21, 1901.

CORRESPONDENCE.
{Continued from page 464 )
SOME ESSEX NOTES.

[4575.] Judging Exhibits of Honey at
Shows. — Reverting to my concluding " note "
with reference to honey and honey judges on
page 455 last week, I would say : — In most
seasons bees kept in this district regularly
secure a small quantity of honey, in colour
nearly as white as water, but lacking the bril-
liancy either of a good sample of honey or of
good spring water. This honey, however, pos-
sesses very little flavour. But, apart from such
exceptions, hDney of light colour is certainly
admitted on all sides to be generally of good
quality, particularly with regard to flavour.
In this connection I ask, What in the way of
honey can be nicer than well-ripened clover or
sainfoin honey, unless it be a blend of the
two l Doubtless many Northern bee-men will
be' of opinion that heather honey beats all
others for high quality ; but while willing
that they should be allowed to divide the
honours, it must not be forgotten that we are
considering honey as the product is generally
known, not as the speciality of a few districts.
Judging by its jelly-like consistency, heather
honey should be highly nutritious. Can any
reliable information be obtained about this in
the way of comparisons ?

I always feel safe in sending an exhibit to a
show where the B.B.K.A. have been asked to
appoint a judge, because I know that the
honey will thus have its quality proved apart
from good appearance only. The means
adopted by our best judges for testing the
quality of comb-honey is a vast improvement
upon those employed a few years ago.
Evidence of this may be seen by the illustra-
tion of a honey-taster on page 427 of B.B.J,
for ^.October 24. A dozen years or so back
sections were either judged by appearance
only or by cutting out a small piece of comb
from the corner. The latter plan, of course,
practically spoilt the section for sale or the show-
bench. But even then the cutting-out plan
could only be accepted as the lesser of two
evils, seeing that some persons consider the
whitest comb must necessarily contain the
best honey. Thus an injustice is likely to be
done to both exhibitors and exhibits, and the
injustice would be much greater if (through
an incompetent judge being employed) prizes
are awarded to a nice-looking exhibit that is
nothing less than a positive fraud so far as
regards containing only pure honey.

Railway Companies and Bee-Keepers. —
Early this autumn I sent in a claim to
the Great Eastern Railway Company for
damage to a parcel of comb-honey, and after
some beating about the bush I was shown a
reply from the General Manager, in which it
was stated that the company do not take any
responsibility for honey in sections when they

accept it for conveyance over their system. I
can only suppose that they include comb-
honey in any form.

Later on I wrote the General Manager to
say I should be obliged if he would let me
know by what authority the company as
carriers are able to say that they take no re-
sponsibility with regard to comb - honey
accepted by them for conveyance over their
system ? I also added that comb-honey can,
if properly packed, be safely carried anywhere
if reasonable care be taken. To this letter an
acknowledgment was sent by the Superinten-
dent of the line, intimating that the matter
should have his attention. I have now re-
ceived a reply from the last-named official,
in which he says that, owing to the exceed-
ingly fragile nature of honey in section, it is
accepted by all railway companies solely at the
risk of the owner, owing to the great difficulty
in carrying it with safety. He then goes on
to say they are, of course, within their rights
in so doing. I made no reference whatever in
my letter to the parcel of honey for damage
to which I had claimed from the company
some time before; but while the Superintendent
gives a rather evasive reply to my question, he
goes out of his way to point out that his com-
pany were not the contracting carriers of my
parcel of honey, ignoring the fact that
the parcel was carried at " through rate ! ''
I suppose the railway companies have been
putting their heads together over this ques-
tion.

I am myself unable to go further into this
knotty question, but if any bee-keeper possess-
ing more knowledge than myself can inquire
further into the extent of the obligations of
railway companies in the matter of carrying
comb-honey, I think all in the craft will be
under an obligation to him.

In replying further to your correspondent
" S. Walian " (4545, page 437), I may say
that the one hive which I suppose he will
start with may want a little attention three
times a week in June and July, but before
and after that time the bees should not require
assistance at such short intervals. Our would-
be brother bee-keeper will be able to study the
details of bee-keeping from a good text-book
during the quiet time now approaching. I am
rather glad than otherwise for the sake of the
bees that " S. Walian '' will, for the present
at least, divide his leisure hours in catering
for the bees. This question of frequent manipu-
lation calls to my mind a beginner who
apparently had no other " hobby " than " the
bees ; " the consequences were rather serious
for both himself and his bees. This beginner
(he never reached the rank of bee-keeper
proper) used to manipulate his hives every
evening, and, I believe, morning too ; not
only did he open his frame-hive every evening,
but a skep he had was invariably lifted too to
see what progress had been made since the
previous evening ! — W. Loved ay, Hatfield
Heath, Harlow, Esst t.

Nov. 21, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

467

THE BRAIN OF THE BEE.

[4576.] I cannot refrain from making a few
remarks in reply to "D. M. M.'s " paper on the
above subject in last week's Bee Journal
(page 458). Your correspondent says : " Some
insects show an almost infinitesimal proportion
of brain, but I am pleased to say this is not
the case with the bee, because it is generally
agreed that the size of the brain is in propor-
tion to the development of intelligence, i.e.,
the mere intelligent the creature the larger
will be its brain in proportion to its size." I
am aware, as '' D. M. M." suggests, that this is
the general idea of the majority, and one re-
peatedly hears this kind of thing said, and
until almost quite recently was also an idea en-
tertained by scientists. Now, however, it is not
possible to accept such a general statement,
for the size of the brain is not necessarily in
proportion to the intelligence, less so in man
than perhaps in animals. In fact, the anato-
mist will tell you that it has been repeatedly
proved that some of the greatest men of the
past — 3uch as have come to their notice — have
had exceedingly small brains. It seems
natural enough to suppose that it should be as
"D. M. M.;'has said, but the idea is more than
ever losing ground.

In man the windings and complications of
the brain are the more important factors and
play a part in the development of intelligence.
The brain of insects, a3 well as of other
Metazoa, is, ontogennetically and otherwise,
dependent upon the development of other
parts and organs, and this law of correlation
cannot be altogether disregarded on such a
point. It is in the finer build and intricate
composition of the brain such as histology
reveals to us that we must look, I think, for
the difference rather than in size. — K.
Hamlyn-Harris, F.R.M.S., &c, Tubingen
University, Germany, November 15.

NEW INVENTIONS IN APPLIANCES.

[4577.] In answer to the letter of Mr. W. P.
Meadows (4567, page 457), I did not ask him
to further criticise my invention, because I
thought he had given quite "ventilation"
enough to the subject without putting any in
the bottom of my swarm-box. I therefore
hope he will now " elaborately " strap mine
up, and send me an article to answer the
same purpose for 6d., which I will gladly
remit in advance if required. I sent the
contrivance to the Conversazione for the pur-
pose of hearing what the members of the
B.B.K.A. present had to say about it, not for
either advertising or sale purposes. I have
never offered one for sale, and am quite satis-
fied with the result.

Without wishing to occupy your valuable
space unnecessarily, I should, however, like
Mr. Meadows — since he has thought it worth
his while to move in the matter at all, to
answer my previous letter on page 446

(November 7), not for my own benefit, but
for that of other young bee-keepers who have
not been " makers and inventors for twenty
years." My point is this : If a man is not a
practical bee-keeper, must we suppose that
any invention of that man's will not be
received by apiculturists ? Again, what does
Mr. M. call "a practical bee-keeper?" I
confess to being only an amateur (this is my
fourth season with the bees), yet I manage three
apiaries containing in the aggregate over thirty
stocks of bees. Moreover, in the spring of this
year I examined over 100 stocks within three
miles of this place. I am therefore a bit
curious to know how much of practical bee-
keeping Mr. Meadows has himself done in the
same period to constitute the difference
between us? Again thanking you for your
opinion, and the B.B.K.A. for receiving the
article in question. — Richd. Allen, Tusmore,
Bicester, November 16.

TALL V. SQUARE SECTIONS.

[4578.] The new (new to England, that is)
tall sections, I notice, have been getting rather
badly " slated " in the several issues of B.B.J,
for some time past. Personally, and as a bee-
keeper and honey-seller, I do not agree with
your correspondent " W. J. R. S.," of Bath,
who writes on page 456 last week. I find the
tall sections sell quickest, because they look
bigger and more taking. They will also,
according to my experience, be filled and
sealed where the ordinary square will not, and
always are filled and sealed quickest in my
apiary, while I do not find the bees less ready
to take to them than to the square ones. The
extra cost of foundation is also very small,
while the charge for glasses will not be any
more to the bee - keeper. — George Rose,
Liverpool, November 15.

OXFORD AS A BEE DISTRICT.

[4579.J I noticed in B.B.J, not long ago
that one of your correspondents regards
Oxford as a poor district for honey. This
view is, however, hardly right so far as my
experience goes. In the town itself there are
lime trees growing in every quarter, while all
along the Thames (on the south side especially)
there are fields covered with white clover. As
a matter of fact, I have myself taken three
racks — each holding twenty-one 1-lb. sections
— from one hive, established in the middle of
May this year from bees driven from a skep.
From two other stocks I got about 70 lb. of
extracted honey. These la3t named two
colonies were driven and transferred at the
same time as the first mentioned one, and the
honey was all gathered from the limes, as my
bees are too far from any white clover to touch
that source of forage.

There are a few good districts near hear that
I could name, for instance, Shotover Hill and

468

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 21, 1901.

Boars Hill ; indeed, almost the whole country
from here to B inbury contains excellent bee-
forage. — J. E. Collier, Oxford.

HONEY FROM CORIANDER.

[4580.] It will be within your recollection
that, when I called upon you at B.B.J, office
in October last, 1 stated that the peculiarly
rank flavour and smell of one of the samples
of honey I then showed you was due to Coll,
and you gave it as your opinion that " Coll "
was merely a local name. I find you were
right in this. The proper name of the plant is
"Coriander." While on the subject, I cannot
help saying it does not seem fair of farmers to
avail themselves of the services of bees, and,
at the same time, spoil the bee-keeping
industry. From the fact that Coriander plants
are covered with bees when in bloom, it would
seem that the blossoms are fertilised by their
agency. — Riciid. Dutton, Terling, Witham,
Essex.

[The plant is probably the Coriandrum
sativum (or Coriander), described in Bentham
& Hooker's " British Flora " as " An erect,
branching, glabrous annual, 1 to 1J ft. high,
emitting a very disagreeable smell when
rabbed." Flowers white, the outer petals
larger.— Eds ]

CLEARING SUPERS OF BEES.

The editor of the Bee-keeper a Review, one
of the most prominent men in our ranks, has
said that freeing combs from bees is one of the
most laborious parts of the work in producing
extracted honey. Probably all will agree with
him in this, for it is certainly a great deal of
work to brush the bees from each comb sepa-
rately, and for a number of reasons escape-
boards are far from being as satisfactory to
clear full-depth extracting stories of bees a3
they are comb-honey supers. Why this is so
I will not take space to explain, for I wish to
describe the method I practised last season to
clear full-depth extracting stories, also comb-
honey supers, and what I shall say about this
may, in my opinion, be of more practical value
to many who are engaged in our pursuit in a
large way than the subscription price to this
journal would amount to in twenty-five years.

I feel perfectly free to say this, because the
method was not original with me, and I claim
no credit whatever for practising and describ-
ing it. Rambler, of California, is the man to
whom all honour about this is due, and this
matter illustrates not only the value of taking
our bee-papers, but also of reading all there is
in them. For years I have read those
rambles of the Rambler, in many of which
there was little said about bees, or anything
connected with them, and in some of them he
had more to say about girls than about bees —
not that I have any objection whatever to read-
ing about girls (far from it), but if it was

otherwise, I should be many time3 repaid for
reading all he wrote.

If I was offered 50 dols. not to practise this
method for ten years, I would not think of
accepting.

This thing, or method, Rambler called a
"jouncer,'' and having, I trust, given fall credit
to its inventor, I will describe my method of
using his invention.

Min9 is simply a box about 20 in. long,
12 in. wide, and 10 in. high, ends made of
lumber 1 in. thick, and the sides of boards
2 in. thick. That is all there is to it — 3imply
a box, which I may term the "jouncer,"'
without top or bottom. Rambler's was
better, and made somewhat differently, but
mine works well enough.

The method of using it is to set it down in
front of a hive which has a super or extracting
story we wish to clear of bees. After taking
off the cover and giving the bees a few good
strong puffs of smoke, the upper story is taken
off and set down on the "jouncer," so it
rests across the side pieces, which should not
be over ^ in. thick. Now, by the cleat?, or
hand-holes at each end, the super is raised up
an inch or so, and then suddenly dropped on
the thin side-pieces of the "jouncer.'' This is
repeated a few times, and the results are sur-
prising. With full-depth extracting stories a
half bushel or so of bee3 will be on the ground
around the "jouncer.''

As already said, this is set right in front of
the hive, and the bees soon crawl in. Until
one tries it he would not believe the ease and
rapidity with which bees can be jounced
out in this way, after acquiring the knack of
doing it right. It requires more jouncing
to clear a super than it does an extracting-
super. for many of the bees falling from the
combs strike the bottom of the sections, which
prevents them from dropping out. With
extracting-combs there is none of this trouble,
but most of the bees on sections can be jarred
out in this way more easily, in my opinion,
than super* can be cleared by escape-boards.
Besides, what I regard as a great advantage of
this plan over using " escapes '' is, that the
work is done at once, in one operation. I em-
ployed this plan exclusively last season with
all surplus that came off the hives, and con-
sider it one of the most valuable things I have
learned in regard to our pursuit in many years.

Of course, every bee cannot be got rid of in
this way, but I pay no attention to what are
left. The honey house is right in the yard,
with windows arranged to allow bees inside to
escape, but preventing outsiders from entering.

When a large number of supers are carried
in at one time, they are piled crosswise of each
other. This is important, to have the bees
leave the house and supers readily. When the
latter are tiered up .tight in the regular way,
many of the bees will range up and down the
whole tier a long time before feeling convinced
that they cannot find their friends and
" mother'' in some of the super?.

Nov. 21, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

469

I have seen it advised where the honey house
was in or near the yard, to carry in the supers
— bees and all — or at least as many of them as
would not readily leave by the use of smoke.
But this plan, as no doubt those who have
practised it in a large way will be willing to
testify, is a very poor method to practise. It
will work in a small way, but when a good
many bees are in each super, and a large number
of supers are carried in at one time, there is
such a mass of bees inside that they cannot
very soon leave by an ordinary " bee-escape " ;
and when there are such great numbers they
do not, for some reason, seem to wish to leave.
I have had large buuche3 of bees hanging to
the .rafters overhead for days when there was
nothing to prevent their escaping, and after
being throw outdoors many of them would
hover around the door and windows, and
again enter if they got a chance. Some
may think that the young bees are not old
enough to know the location of their hive, but
they are bees of all ages — young, middle-aged,
and old — but the worst part of this method
with section-honey is that much of it may be
consumed and damaged by the bees that stay
in the house and supers so long, for they do not
hesitate to eat what honey they need or rather,
apparently, all that they can consume.

On the other hand, the few bees I cannot
jounce out leave the house readily, and bother
but little, even if extracting is commenced as
soon as the supers are carried in.

One might think it would be hard,
heavy work to rid full - depth stories
well filled in this way. But to a man of
average strength it is easy, and it is a
great pleasure to see the bees roll out. Still,
some who read this and try the plan may
regret doing so, for by this method it is easy to
break extracting-combs, especially new, un-
wired ones. I broke a number before I
acquired the knack of doing it right, and found
out just how hard a jounce new combs could
stand.

Sections the combs of which are but slightly
attached at the top only, can also be readily
broken loose by jouncing ; but I use bottom
starters in sections, which insures the combs
being fastened to the wood more than strong
enough to endure what jarring is necessary to
clear them of bee3. This jouncing does not
need to be heavy and hard — a very quick,
light jounce will accomplish more. The super
should be raised but slightly each time. It is
the quick, rapid jars that cause the bees to
loosen their grip and roll out. — C. Davenport,
in American Bee Journal .

(ttt^iqa and D^rltys.

[2750 ] Re-arranging Hives in Winter. — I
commenced bee-keeping two years ago, but
only intended keeping two or three hives. I,
however, became so enthusiastic that I could

not resist increasing stocks whenever oppor-
tunity offered, and the result is that I am now
wintering eight hives. But as the increase
has always taken place without my having in-
tended or planned it, the hives are not arranged
at all in the best positions for future work in
respect to nuclei, &c., and I should like this
winter to level the ground and set out the
hives in new positions according to a sys-
tematic plan. 1. Would there be danger of
the bees losing themselves or entering wrong
hives if I rearranged them in the midst
of a spell of bad weather when they
had not flown for some time ? After
how long an interval would it be safe to
do this ? 2. My bees this summer persisted
in storing large quantities of pollen in the
shallow-frames and some also in the sections,
and in one hive they continued to do so after
exchanging two combs of brood for founda-
tion. How can I avoid this without dis-
turbing the brood-chamber3 often during the
summer I 3. Every comb in all the four hives
I worked for honey was full of brood, in-
cluding the outer combs, so that there was no
room for storing. Would this prolificacy be
because the queens were in their first season,
mostly all having been hatched la3t year ? If
so, it would be a positive disadvantage to re-
queen each year, as many recommend, owing
to the pollen nuisance in the supers. 4. I
have thought that next year I should like
to follow the plan I have oftGn seen
suggested of putting on a second storey
full of combs of hatching-brood a week
or two before the honey-flow begins and
placing the excluder beneath so as to use
the second chamber for a super when the
young bees had hatched out. Buc I have
read that the honey stored in comb3 that have
reared much brood is not so good as that in
clean combs, and I fear that it would not be
fair to my customers to adopt this plan. Will
you kindly give me your opinion on the
matter ? Before concluding I should like to
add my testimony to that of so many others
a3 to the great usefulness and interest of your
paper to beginners in the craft, and to express
the thanks we owe to you for your great
patience and courtesy in answering our
queries. — A Constant Reader, Birmingham,
November 15.

Reply. — 1. No danger worth taking into ac-
count if removal is deferred until such time
as severe weather — during winter — will have
kept the bees indoors for four weeks or so at a
spell. 2. It is rare to hear of bees storing
pollen in "large quantities'' if queens are
prevented from entering surplus-chambers.
Are we to understand that the use of queen-
excluder does not prevent the mischief com-
plained of? 3. Our invariable advice is to
use queen-excluder between brood-nests (or
body-boxes) and surplus-chambers. We do
not object to any reader who, when producing
section-honey, prefers to risk a few spoiled
sections rather than incommode the bees — as

470

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 21, 1901.

they say — by excluder zinc ; but — when work-
ing for extracted honey, keeping the queen be-
low is with us a sine qua noil. 4. The method
you refer to is called "doubling," and is
fully described in " Guide Book " under that
heading. The honey stored in old brood-
comb will no doubt in some measure be deterio-
rated, but hardly in any appreciable degree
for ordinary use. If high quality is looked
for virgin comb is best.

[2757.] Bees Transferring themselves from
Skeps to Frame-Hives. — I am sending to-day
a sample of honey on which I should much
like to have your opinion. I get your journal
every week, and have been helped very much
by what it contains. The sample is part of
14 lb. taken from a new skep after the bees
had transferred themselves to a frame-hive.
These same bees were a swarm taken by me
at the end of May this year, and hived into a
large new skep, which they quite filled by
July 7. I then put on small skep-super,
which was removed thirteen days later with
9 lb. of beautiful honey in it. I then placed
the lower or brood-skep above the frames of
a new hive, and the bees then transferred
themselves by the first week in September.
The following week I placed a super-clearer
under the parent skep, and when cleared of
bees removed it, and from it I secured the
14 lb. of honey as sample sent, and I thought
it looked very nice indeed. After extracting,
it was put into 2 lb. jars and left open to ripen
for several days. It seems now to be more
like jelly than liquid honey, it is so thick after
standing. Mr. Godson, Hon. Sec. of our
Lines. B.K.A., knows the neighbourhood of
Scotter very well, and he thinks it an excellent
district for honey. Thanking you very much
in anticipation.— G. W. Parkin, Scotter, near
Lincoln, November 13.

Reply. — Your sample is very good indeed.
The jelly-like appearance is owing to its being
chiefly gathered from heather, the honey from
which usually becomes so thick after standing
a few days that it will not run from a jar when
inverted. A mild-flavoured heather honey
like sample should sell very well. We are
glad to find the method of allowing bees to
transfer themselves is so successful with you,
as it usually is when properly done.

<&i\im from tht |ptic8.

Glenmay, Isle of Man, November 11, 1901.
— A dull day. Temperature 50deg. At noon,
during one minute, I counted 170 bees return-
ing to one of my hives, mostly laden — some
very heavily — with pollen from the ivy. This
will, no doubt, considerably help to tide the
bees over the winter season, soon to begin. —
Lancelot Quayle.

PRESS CUTTINGS.

DO BEES INJURE FRUIT ?

The possible iojury to fruit by bees has been
the subject of an exhaustive investigation by
the Californian experiment stations. The
conclusions arrived at are that, although the
mouth parts of bee3 are so constructed that
they might be used for both eating and injur-
ing fruit, all the evidence obtainable points to
the fact that it is very seldom that any injury
is done. — Daily Graphic.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letter/ or queries asking for addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur-
chased, or replies giving such information, can only be
inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre'
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queriesforwarded Kill be attended to, and thou only
of personal interest will be answered in thit column.

Cymric (Winchester). — Naphthol Beta Solu-
tion and Soft Bee-Candy. — 1. There is no
mention of " water " in recipe No. 1 on
page 114 of "Guide Book;" pure methy-
lated spirit alone being used for liquefying
the crystals. The 1-oz. packet, as sent out
from this office, is put into an ordinary
8-oz. medicine bottle, marked off on the
glass, as shown in illustration. Full direc-
tions with regard to the method of making
the solution are given in the " Guide Book "
and also on each packet. In medicating
bee-candy as per recipe No. 4, one table-
spoonful of the solution prepared as
directed is added to every 10 lb. of
sugar used in making the candy. 2.
We can only say that by carefully fol-
lowing the directions given in " Guide
Book " (page 165), soft candy of the best
quality has been made by hundreds of bee-
keepers. But there must be no deviation
whatever from the " directions." If we can
add a word to assist matters in some hands,
it is to say : withdraw the pan quite away
from the fire while testing the candy to see
if it is sufficiently boiled. If left on the
fire while testing it may become overboiled.
3. Continuous stirring, while cooling off, is
also important.

A. Wood (Crouch End). — Bee Association for
Middlesex. — The hon. secretary of the Mid-
dlesex B.K.A. is Major Fair, 11, Anlaby-
road, Teddingtou.

Arthur Fox (Ulverston). — Insect Nomen-
clature. The insect sent is a male wasp.
It is misleading to term the male wasp "a
drone." Drone is used for the male bee.

Honey Sam/ile.
C. Gould (Guernsey). — Your sample is from
" mixed " sources. The flavour is good and
colour excellent for the show-bench in what
is now known as the " medium-coloured '
class.

Nov. 28, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

471

Editorial, $Mtte&, &t

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The monthly meeting of the Council was
held at 105, Jermyn-street, S.W., on Thurs-
day, the 21st inst., under the presidency of
Mr. F. B. White. There were also present
the Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligb, Colonel
Walker, Major Fair, Messrs. W. Broughton
Carr, W. H. Harris, J. H. New, W. F. Reid,
E. D. Till, Ernest Walker, T. I. Weston, and
the secretary. Miss Gay ton, the Be v. W. E.
Burkitt, and Mr. C. N. White wrote express-
ing regret at inability to attend.

The minutes of the previous meetiDg were
read and confirmed.

Mr. John Hooper, Grove Park, Colwyn
Bay, was duly elect* d to membership.

The Chairman, on behalf of the Finance
Committee, reported that the accounts for the
past month had been examined by the Com-
mittee, and the various receipts checked by
comparison with the payments to banker?.
The report was approved.

A letter wa? read from Mr. J. M. Hcoker
reporting his safe arrival in Philadelphia, and
making a present to the Association's apiary
of a stock of bees in an " Alexandra " hive.
The Secretary was instructed to acknowledge
the gift with thanks, and to convey to Mr.
Hooker the kind remembrances of the mem-
bers of the Council.

A discussion took place in regard to certain
changes in the nomenclature of experts of the
various grade?, recommended by Mr. W. H.
Harris. It was thought that some of the
candidates recently coming forward for
examination in the third c!as.s had insufficient
practical experience, and it was resolved to
insert a new regulation that no person with
less than two years' experience in practical
work with bees be eligible as a candidate.

Mr. Edgar Wilson, of Norwood, submitted
to inspection by the Council a frame of comb
on glass, suited to special purposes of observa-
tion. Mr. Wilson was advised to get the
comb filled with brood in various stages for
exhibition at some of the shows in 1902, and
was thanked for his trouble in bringing the
comb under the notice of the B.B K.A.

A letter addressed to the Chairman of the
last meeting of the Council was further con-
sidered. After some discussion it was, on the
motion of Colonel Walker, seconded by Mr.
W. Broughton Carr, unanimously resolved :
" That it is desirable to establish more inti-
mate relations between the parent society and
those affiliated to it, and between the affiliated
Associations themselves. That steps be taken
to establish an annual conference, to be
attended by not more than two delegates from
each County Association. That the con-
ference be held in London at a date to be
agreed upon, and that its, object be to promote
the economy and general welfare of the

County Associations, both individually and
in connection with the parent Association."

The Secretary was instructed to communicate
with the County Associations on the matter,
and if possible, collect from them copies of
the report forms used by experts when en
tour amongst members.

Mr. Reid brought forward correspondence
with the Law Accident Insurance Society,
Limited, and Messrs. C. E. Heath & Co.,
insurance brokers, respecting the proposed
scheme of insurance for bee-keepers. The
proposals of the latter were considered to be
the more favourable. On the motion of Mr.
Weston, the Secretary and Mr, Reid were
authorised to draw up for circulation amongst
the members of the Association and county
societies a circular describing the scheme,
with the object of ascertaining what propor-
tion of the members are willing to join in the
project.

A resolution passed by those present at the
late Conversazione, "that the Council of the
BB.K.A. be asked to take steps to prevent
products from one and the same apiary gaining
more than one prize in any one class at the
same show," was discussed, and adjourned for
settlement at the December meeting, when the
draft schedule of prizes and conditions for
the " Royal " Show of 1902 will be prepared.

The next meeting of the Council will take
place on Thursday, December 19.

(KiamtymHtrnt

The Editors do not hold themielvei responsible for the
opiniont expressed by eorretpondentt. No notice will be
taken of anonymout communication!, and eorretpondentt
are requested to write on one tide of the paper only and
give their real mimes and addretset, not necettarily for
publication, but at a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tion! should be drawn on teparate piecet of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communication!.

*»* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents,
when tpeaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

UTILISING LOW-GRADE HONEY.

A USEFUL LESSON.

[4581.] I have the pleasure of enclosing you
three samples of honey. The section and the
1-lb. jar are from our apiary at Levisham.
The jar of black honey you will find labelled
as to the chief source from whence it came of
heather honey, and shall be glad of your kind
acceptance of the heather honey for use and
the black stuff for examination.

I may say for your information I have taken
fully half a ton of this black honey from my
bees this year— perhaps rather over — and it
may interest some readers to know how I have
turned it to advantage in my past season's
working. I had 200 brood-frames (standard
size) — filled and sealed — of this honey ready
for taking off preparatory to preparing for

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 28, 1901.

Leather h«rvtw'. I removed them all away,
atd went carefully through au iny '• Wells"
hives, and found that they had practically no
honey at all in the brood-chambers when the
bees were commencing to work on the heather ;
so I arranged what little there was close to
the perforated division-board. Then, after
the heather season was over and nearly all
brood hatched out, I set to work, arranging
with the bees to make an exchange of combs,
by taking out six brood-frames filled with
heather honey from each compartment of
every " Wells" hive, and replacing them with
the same number of frames of black honey on
each side. This disposed of 120 frames of the
low-grade honey. I forgot to say nearly the
whole of the 200 frames last referred to were
new, with combs built out from "Weed"
foundation in May last. You will thus
understand that this " exchange " (which was
"no robbery") yielded me a good lot of
heather-honey. The remaining eighty frames
of dark stuff were used, some in supplying
stores for an extra stock or two, while others
were worked into my " W.B.C." hives as an
exchange for heather combs. I think it
will be admitted I have in a commercial
sense made fairly well out of my harvest
of black honey. Some of it I sold locally
at 3d. per lb., or 2s. 6d. per stone (of 14 lb.).
For the rest, when getting all my hives
squared, I gave the bees a field day or two, by
filling shallow-boxes with combs, set out in
the open, and covering the honey with grass ;
and you may depend upon it they soon
cleared all honey from the lot and carried it
"indoors."

The whole of my honey-crop is sold out,
and I am having to buy to fill repeat orders.
In a short time I and wife am having a
holiday at the bees' expense. — J. Eymbr,
Levisham, November, 1901.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

[4582.] Dull November. — This month in
its early days, with its cold and surly blasts,
laid fields and forests bare. Grass lands lost
their bright and vivid green tint and became
dull and faded. The hill slopes, lately so fair
in their gay dress of purple crimson and gold,
fast withered and changed to a brown sere and
uninviting dulness. The black loam following
the track of the ploughshare gave a yet darker
and more sombre hue to the landscape.
Suddenly, and as if by magic, hill and valley,
about the middle of the month, assumed one
uniform covering of pure white, and we were,
even thus early, cast into mid-winter. The
bees, however, were well prepared for the
change, and in their snug winter quarters are
ready for the severest cold which the season
may bring. Thanks to our splendid summer
and autumn, and the abundant forage, they
have all ample stores and are Al in that chier
requisite to successful wintering-bees.

How to Avoid t mashed Sections. — I find
that these are a matter of more frequent
occurrence than is generally supposed, and
consequently it is no surprise that many never
get repeat orders for their honey. I was
somewhat puzzled to get a complimentary
letter from the buyer of a firm who handles
tons of honey every year, praising my packing.
I ventured to ask if it was so rare a thing to
find honey in comb reach him " as if it had
just left the hands of the bee-keeper,'' and his
reply was, "I may say that I generally find
it very much broken when sent by rail, and
most unsatisfactory. Your system of packing
is admirable, and the sections all came to hand
in first-class order." Now this "system" is
not mine, but that of the Journal, which I
learned from it over ten years ago, and have
practised ever since, with the result that my
comb honey never gets broken. I would
gratefully refer any who wish to learn the
lesson to excellent articles on the subject in
recent volumes by our Editors, by Mr. Wood-
ley, and by Mr. Allan Sharp. By the way,
we would welcome some more of the excellent
practical articles from the last named gen-
tleman.

Metal Dividers. — I have been cleaning up
these lately, and have just reason to complain
that those most recently acquired have been
very roughly cut and show a raised edge all
round the slots. This should not be. It
leads to a needless use of propolis which
smears and disfigures the wood of sections
and the metal of the divider, as well as con-
suming valuable time when the bees might be
better employed. In handling them it feels
disagreeable to the touch, and is apt to cut
the fingers unless they are handled with care.
Another year I must hammer them down flat,
but this is labour that the maker might well
have spared me. Amongst the "novelties'"
introduced a few years ago was the " Shep-
pard " perforated divider. I don't think it has
" caught on," though it should be an aid to
fuller and freer intercommunication between
sections, and so save the bees time and labour.
Perhaps some who have used them will
inform us if this is so? Some might also
give us a hint as to how they clean their
dividers when they become stained and fouled
from various causes in a way which scraping
or washing will not remove ?

Crate or Bacl as a " Cooler."— In reply to
" W. C. G," Stonehaven (4538), I may say
that this year all my racks of sections were
added at first above the others, and rather in
advance of the bees' requirements. Only
when these last were taken to voluntarily by
the bees were they removed below the partly-
filled ones. It is more than a theory with me
that this is a great aid to success, and I have
generally practised it in very hot seasons, as I
find that it prevents loafing, acts as a cooler,
assists ventilation, and thus acts as a preven-
tive, or, at least, a deterrent of swarming. I
never used queen-excluder, and I never will !

Nov. 28, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

473

The very rare occasions on which a queen
invades the supers are not worth considera-
tion, compared with the tax imposed on the
free movement of the bees when this needless
impediment is added to the already compli-
cated ''Chinese puzzle "of a box of sections
with dividers. " W. C. G." was late this year
in sending his hives to the heather, August 3,
and in my touring per bicycle through his
county and the neighbouring ones I found
universal regret expressed that hives were not
despatched a fortnight earlier. Heather was
in bloom at an exceptionally early date this
year, and yielded its best before August 10.

Don't Jar ! — All late and early manipula-
tions in and about hives should if at all pos-
sible be avoided. Disturbance of any kind is
detrimental to the bees' well-doing during the
season of repose, and all digging or necessary
work, even in their neighbourhood, should be
done gently and quietly so as not to jar the
hives. Bees, both in late autumn and early
spring, are extra sensitive and careful of the
mother bee. Some instinct informing them
that all their future well - being depends
entirely on ber. Therefore, they often hug
her to death from the very desire to save her life
— thus killing her with kindness — when un-
timely disturbed. The technical term is they
" ball " their queen. When this happens then
good-bye to any profit from that colony. I
lately saw several hives thoroughly roused un-
seasonably, and will be very much surprised if
several of them are not minus their queens in
spring.— D. M. M., Banff'.

BEE-KEEPING IN WALES.

MY EXPERIENCE OF THE TAST SEASON.

[4583.] The Neiv Sections. — I have worked
100 of the new tall sections between separators
this season for trial, as I thought that they
might possibly be finished in two or three days
sooner than the square sections put on at the
same time; but in my case I have not found any
difference as to time of finish. One year's
trial, however, is not enough to decide that
point, because in some seasons the bees will
finish a rack of 2-lb. sections in the same time
as they would a rack of 1-lb. ones. But I
must say the narrow sections were all filled
and finished quite equal to any hundred of my
square ones, and certainly looked more for the
money. With regard to weight, they were all
over lib. — mostly 17 to 17|oz. ; but this
year I had many of the ordinary 4j- sections
1*1 in. wide turning the scale at 1 lb. 4 oz.
In order to test the new or narrower sections,
I had some of the ordinary lib. and 2-lb. ones
cut down to the width of the former, and
alternated these with the wide ones when
putting them in the racks, as I thought it
would be fairer for the same lots of bees to
work both sizes at the same time. The result
was that the thinner ones were finished no
sooner than the wide ones, either in the 1-lb.

or 2-lb. racks. They are also not so easily
handled, and are more apt to get a fall when
glazing them. Then the glasses cost me 6d.
per gross more than the ordinary, but that is
only a small item. I think, however, that the
new sections will never take the place of those
we have at present. Some years ago we had
a similar "run" with a 4i by IJ in. wide
section, the result being dealers had so many
of them left on hand that they offered them at
about the price of firewood.

Cyprian Bees. — In July last year I bought
an imported Cyprian queen which turned out
very prolific, and her progeny were very bright
and pretty. The stock wintered well, and
came out last spring overflowing with
bees, and kept up the same condition all
the summer. Indeed, it appeared stronger
than any colony of bees in my apiary, and
yet every one of my 1G0 stocks yielded me
more surplus than the Cyprians. I really do
not believe that I got 10 lb. of honey from
them ; and only the other day I found the
stock so nearly starving that I had to give the
bees a large cake of candy to keep them going.
On the other hand, they are good-tempered if
handled properly. I do not prefer to use
either smoke or carbolic when manipulating
them. They are also first-class defenders of
their own hives, but will find their way into
other hives and ttay there, but not a single
black bee will be allowed into their hive.
They are also the most inveterate " robbers ''
I have ever seen, and are always the first to
find any " spoil,'' but I do not know where
they put their ill-gotten gains, for, although I
have tried several kinds of foreign bees before,
none have been with me such poor honey-
gatherers, and it is honey we want and not
bees.

Queens Lost during Mating Time. — Last
spring I had about a dozen cases of queens com-
ing out with the bees for an airing, and thus
getting lost. I believe that we lose more queens
in this way than we think, and blame the
winter for it. After being confined to their
hives for some time, the first fine, warm day
that comes they rush out as if they were
swarming, and during this excitement the
queens leave the hive with the bees for an air-
ing and sometimes get lost. I found four
queens last spring on the floor not far from
their own hives, each surrounded by a small
cluster of bees, and the excited condition of these
bees made me suspicious, as I knew by their
condition that their queens were only just lost.
In all these cases I examined the frames, and
found brood and eggs in all stages, so that
the queens could not have been lost
in winter. I have united some of
the queenless stocks found in this condition by
merely putting them on the top of the next
hive without smoke or any disturbance.
Sunday, the 10th inst., being a warm day, and
the bees having a good airing, Mrs. Berry
remarked to me that she " had seen a drone
coming out of one of the hives," and that

474

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 28, 1901.

something must be wrong with it ; but in a
minute or two we both saw that it was not
a drone but the queen that had been seen
as she alighted on the entrance-b:ard as we
watched the hive.

Unripe Heather Honey. — I have forwarded
by this post a sample of unripe, newly-
gathered heather honey, which was as thin as
water when taken off, and yet you will fiod it
quite jelly-like in consistency. It looks to the
eye as if just taken from the hive, being quite
clear, but when warm weather comes again
next summer it will become first liquid and
then thin again. I should like you to warm
the sample and see for yourself the thickness
of it, which will explain what I wrote some
time ago about keeping heather honey from
fermenting by mixing the ripe with the unripe.
I wrote to you some years ago on this point,
but did not send you a sample of it then, and
I have never seen any one making a note of it.
The Past Season. — The honey season here
has been very good and above the average,
but I have not made up my account yet, as I
keep notes of all the weights as the honey is
disposed of (it is now nearly all sold). I
think that this is about the second best season
that I have had for the past twenty years. I bad
four hives in a place by themselves three miles
from here, from which the takings were —

Clover 233 1b.

Heather 112 „

Total 345 1b.

Average for the four 86^ lb., and one swarm.
I believe that several single hives have reached
100 lb. — John Berry, Llanrwst, North
Wales, November 23.

SOME ESSEX NOTES.

[4584.] Wasps Mating in Confinement. — I
am glad to find in the current number of the
B.B.J, (page 461) much that is interesting about
wasps. Being one of those who actually
witnessed the fertilisation of queen wasps
referred to by Mr. Brice, I must say that it
seems wonderful how short a time is some-
times taken up in exploding a theory to which
men of various degrees in the social scale have
clung. I believe that down to the present
time it has been generally accepted that queen
wasps are fertilised in the air, as are queen
bees, but here was a complete explosion of the
accepted theory in less than two minutes. I
had previously noticed that the number of
male wasps in a nest is small compared with
the number of queens, and also that large
batches of queens are reared by wasps in
autumn. I have found ten or more batching
at one time. It is no less certain that wasps
do not usually rear queens till the season is
approaching its end. The specific details
enumerated by Mr. Brice on page 461 regard-
ing the fertilisation of queen wasps will
doubtless set progressive bee-men thinking,

but it must not be forgotten that the ways of
wasps and the ways of bees are two quite
different things. Since my visit to the
Crystal Palace I have pondered over this
recent discovery, and while it is our duty to
see what way it will assist the progress of
modern bee-keeping, I can only conclude by
saying that what is possible with wasps is
practically impossible with bees.

In the particular case of the wasps at the
Crystal Palace I would point out that there
were three nests of wasps beneath the glass
shade, and large numbers of queens and of
male wasps belonging to each respective nest.
It is also a generally accepted theory (verified,
ta my mind, by the results of personal
observation of the smaller creatures uncon-
trolled by man) that females are fertilised
by males other than those of their own family
or colony. That it is so with wasps there
can be little doubt, or there would surely have
long ago been the usual evidences of in-
breeding.

Whether or not it is possible to ensure the
fertilisation of queen bees in confinement is a
question that has now been opened afresh,
and it will probably be tested in some way.
But in adverting to the great difference
between wasps and bees we have only to con-
sider for one moment what the consequences
would be of shutting up three colonies of
bees on their combs along with queens and
drones under a glass shade such as confined
the three nests of wasps in question. Why,
I have seen a young queen bee not only tryiog
to " get at " a rival (on destruction bent)
through the partition between attached cells,
but after breaking out of her own cell ; and
though ravenously hungry, I have seen her
stay in her cell for some time endeavouring
to destroy her rival !

I notice also that Mr. Sladen (No. 4573,
page 464) recommends " taking " wasps' nests
for preservation at the end of October or early
in November, in order to get them free from
brood ; but I find that wasps' nests begin to
get damp and rotten at the bottom quite six
weeks earlier than the date mentioned, even
in a dry season like the one now closing. The
paper-like comb of wasps absorbs moisture
much more readily than the wax comb of the
honey bee. But it is possible to find a
wasps' nest in a straw stack or a straw wall ;
here it would be in good condition at a much
later date. — Wm. Loveday, Hatfield Heathy
Harlow, Essex.

BEES IN TROPICAL CLIMATES.

[4585.] I regret that owing to several of my
B B. Journals having miscarried, I have
not seen the correspondence regarding the
behaviour of the honey-bee when transferred
to the tropics, but the theory that loss of
instinct for storing is the cause of the smaller
quantity harvested cannot be accepted without
demur.

Nov. 28, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

475

Being in a sub-tropical climate here, the
conditions are somewhat similar to those
existing in the West Indies, and I think it
must be admitted that the charges of storing
less and not sealing the combs as well as in
northern climates, have good foundation, but
that the reason for this is as stated is open to
question ; and it seems to me to have been put
forward without considering all the circum-
stances of the case.

The first point to be considered is naturally
the source from which the bee is to gather the
nectar, and here we have a state of things
which has a great effect upon the question, for
although there are flower?, more or less,
throughout the year, they bloom in a series,
so that there is not at any time that mass of
<fflorescence such as the clover gives and
which is so necessary for a honey crop. A
good many, too, although very showy, cannot
be worked by the honey-bee, and many also
flower at night, fadiDg away when the sun
touches them. Further, the heat from 11 a.m.
to 3 p.m. in the summer appears to stop the
flow of nectar.

On the other hand there are flowers that
bloom only at long intervals, and then in great
profusion, and then the bees store in large
quantities, showing that when there is any-
thing to be had they will put it away.

One has only to watch the hives to dispose
of any charge of want of energy. I have
seen them returning with pollen in the early
dawn before sunrise, and in the evening when
it was so dark that I had to put by hand
before the entrance to feel them going in, and
a stock will build up with great rapidity.

The constant breeding that goes on must
also require a large quantity of honey that
would otherwise go into the supers. There is
no long period of rest in winter, but one finds
up country, where the climate is colder, that
the harvest is better, and it seems to me that
in order to get good honey in quantity a
winter sufficiently cold to dry up vegetation
and produce a dormant condition is necessary.
— A. C. Sewell, Berc%-road, Durban, South
Africa, Oc'obcr 28.

CAN BEES HEAR?

[4566.] In your report of the Conversazione
of the British Bee-keepers' Association (page
421, October 24) I observe that several
gentlemen present expressed varying opinions
as to the cause of the attack by bees on horses
and labourers in what was known at the time
as the " Gedling Bee Case." As the report (a
very full one) can be referred to, I need not
repeat the details, but I may say that, while
some speakers attributed the mischief to the
noise caused by the men when sharpening the
machine-knives, others blamed the offensive
smells from the perspiring horses or from
crushed vegetable matter as rousing the anger
of the bees. Mr. Loveday (on page 455) also
blamed offensive smells as the cause of bees

stinging animals and men, and says that bees
do not take the slightest notice of noises near
their hives. Your correspondent, Mr. Sladen,
also favours the latter view, and says that no
certain organs of hearing have been found in
bees (page 152, April 18). He has stated more
than once in the B.B.J, that he is unable to
find any evidence that these bees were able to
perceive sounds. Mr. S. repeats the same on
page 142, April 11, quoting Lord Avebury's
view in support of his contention. My own
experience goes to prove that bees can-
not hear, or else they take no notice
whatever of sounds. I have whistled and
shouted and screamed as loud as I could
within six inches of the flight-board, but
all my efforts to attract attention were in vain.
I made a special effort in shouting loudly one
evening in midsummer, after all the bee3 had
returned from the fields, but the peaceful hum
of a full colony undisturbed still went on. I then
gently touched the alighting-board — an almost
imperceptible touch — and instantly the hum-
ming stopped and a dozen or more bees were
scouting about the entrances to find the cause
of disturbance. Thus, while noise was un-
noticed, the slightest jar was at once detected.
I have watched several times to see the effect
railway trains had on bees when shunting, or
the whistling and rush of an express passing
by, but all passed unheeded. I have also
tried various experiments on humble bees, but
without effect, so that I have quite convinced
myself, and proved to my own satisfaction, that
bees cannot hear. — Arthur H. Homersham,
Slurry, near Canterbury, November 23.

BEES IN YORKSHIRE.

[4587.] In the hope that it may possess
interest for some readers, I again send a few
lines on our bee-doings in this part. Now
that the long nights and dull days are with
us again, most good bee-men will be over-
hauling the appliances used during the pa&t
season, and balancing up to see how matters
stand for the coming season. The late fine
weather has brought winter on us almost
before we were aware, our bees flying on
several occasions as if in summer. Stocks
built up from late "driven lots" and re-queened
colonies will have got a good start for winter-
ing well. My own bees came out this spring
so lively and strong that I hope for equal good
luck in 1902. I only lost two (both found to
be queenless) out of over forty stosks. The
fruit-bloom did not yield so well as in 1900,
our first "take" from that source being fully
a fortnight later. The clover-crop and that
from the limes, however, were well above the
average both in quantity and quality, our best
stocks yielding over 40 lb. each. At the
close of a good clover season, and having all
swarms in a good condition, we moved them
to the moors, seven miles away. For a few
days the weather was all we could wish for,
and the rapid filling of the supers was astonish-

476

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 28, 1901.

ing. Then came the storms of wind and rain
that completely spoiled the heather and
brought the season to a close. The bees,
however, during the short spell of fine
weather gave us an average of twenty well-
filled sections per hive, and never had we less
unfinished ones. Six swarms in less than a
week filled and sealed ten shallow-frames.
One stock gave us ten well-filled shallow-
frames and fifteen 1-lb. sections from the
heather.

On the other hand, many reports in our
district show a less good average than in 1900,
but, as stated above, mine was far better.
Prices also have been better, especially for
sections, which ruled Is. 6d. per dozen more
than in most recent seasons. It makes one
wish that shallow-frames of comb (which are
far easier produced by the bees) would sell
anything like so well as do sections. Indeed,
I often regard it as almost a shame to put
frame after frame of splendid comb-honey
from the heather under the press and crush it
all up. However, the extra quantity pro-
duced in the frames makes up for the lower
price. Finally, then, we may sum up our
season of 1901 as a successful one, and having
got all my hives packed up and ready for
winter, I conclude with best wishes to all for
1902.— G. A. Barnes (Third-class Expert,
B.B.K.A.), Thornton Dale, Yorks.

THE BRAIN OP THE BEE.

[4588.] I think if your correspondent Mr.
R. Hamlyn-Harris (4576) will again read my
article on "The Brain of the Bee ''that he
will see we quite agree. My statement,
quoted by him, is generally correct", even in the
light of the latest facts, as well as theories,
which were well known to me when I wrote.
I find it is fully endorsed by Mr. Cowan. My
article quite agrees with Mr. Harris's ad-
dendum that " the size of the brain of the bee
is not necessarily in proportion to the intel-
ligence," as he will see that I admitted the
force of that very contention in paragraph 4,
where I grant that the ant, with a smaller
brain, is possessed of more intelligence. In
my first article of this series I stated they
were not to be " severely scientific," and this
restrained "me from dealing fully with the
convoluted parts — " the finer build and intri-
cate composition '' — of the brain, though, as
will be seen, I indicated their existence. —
D. M. Macdonald, Ballindalloch, Bavft's,
November 22.

BEE DOINGS IN HAMPSHIRE.

[4589.] In the hope of being useful or of
some interest to B.B.J, readers, I am sending
a few notes of this past season's doings in my
apiary. In the year 1900 I had fifty-four
colonies of bees ; from the whole of these I
only had three swarms, but being unusually

busy that year no account was kept of honey
taken, nevertheless I know that the bees paid
well.

In the autumn I reduced the number to
forty-six by uniting. I afterwards made sure
that each stock had 20 lb. to 25 lb. of food
for winter made up from natural stores. This
done, the bees were covered up warm, and all
roofs made water-proof. When all work of
this kind is done, one can sit down in ease,
knowing that all is done that can be done. We
then come to 1901, and early in the year I
found two stocks had " gone down," one with
moth, the other through being queenless. The
other forty-four, however, came out well, and
started to work in earnest the first chance they
had. I did not get a single swarm this last
season, but it has been the best year for honey
I have had since I first located at St. Cross
about twenty years ago. I began in the craft
in 1861, and have kept bees without a break
since that date. At the start I was in even a
better district than this, viz., about five miles
from Stonehenge.

With regard to size of hives, I would like to
say I consider a hive containing only ten
standard frames is too small. Many of mine
have fifteen, some eighteen, and from hives
with that number we get good returns of sur-
plus. I bought a hive made from an old tea
chest, holding eighteen frames deeper than the
" Standard." For three years this hive has
not swarmed, and the combs are so fixed by
being worked cross-ways, that I cannot move
them to clean it. But the bees work well in it.
This year I secured eighty-four well-finished
sections from it, which, I think, speaks
well for large hives. Another hive holding
seventeen frames gave 93 lb. extracted honey.
I have taken the Bee Journal ever since I
have been in Winchester and greatly value
the writings of its various contributors. I
think they aim at helping forward an industry
that will help the thrifty if worked on right
lines.

Tall sections I have not tried, yet it seems
to me that new things are often advocated
only to fail in practice, and it damps one's
ardour when money is spent to no purpose.
We should help one another when a chance
occurs ; for we can never measure what a kindly
act may lead to. In conclusion, I may say
most of my honey is sold. I have no difficulty
in selling at 7s. 6d., and 8s. per dozen, the
price secured this year. Without having kept a
separate account of hives my gross returns are
good and satisfactory to myself, at least so far
as my apiary is concerned. — F. Mower, St.
Gross, Winchester, November 22.

MORE "NOTES BY THE WAY."

[4590.] Comparing Notes. — Mr. Woodley's
advice (on page 462) with regard to comparison
of notes is very good, provided all bee-keepers
are not like myself. I keep a " note-book ''

Nov. 28, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

477

showing work done day by day, condition of
hives at each examination, quantity of honey
from each hive, when weighed after extracting,
notes of condition of weather, and much that
I thought would be useful. I finished extract-
ing, and after entering up the condition of
hives for the winter, I now find I have lost
this valuable record. Memory must therefore
fill the gap, with the assistance of a few notes
in my garden diary, such as would have been
better if entered in a note-book.

ITasjis' Nests. — The season has been a good
one for wasps. I found a nest being built in
a hive -roof, the ventilating hole in roof afford-
ing an entrance. When discovered the nest
was about the size of an egg. In a week
it grew to be 5 in. through. I then gave
it a sulphur bath, and finally, after carefully
removing the nest without injury, made a case
for it. The entrance was at the bottom, and
there were three layers of cells, and from a
cut an inch wide in the side the walls the nest
is seen to be composed of seven layers of thin
" paper.'' Quite an interest has been created
by its perfect form. I also took a beautiful
wasp nest from a thatched roof, and altogether
had five of these nests intact at one time,
the largest being about the size of a football.
Wasps invaded my extracting room, and
seemed almost to live there ; at night they
hung on the walls. I destroyed these " lodgers"
by making a solution of cyanide of potassium
and sponging the window. Then on making the
wasps fly, every one flew to the light, and in
an incredibly short time the room was cleared,
for all that touched the poison died.

The Honey Season. — My " takes " of honey
have not been large ; the best from one stock
was eighty good sections and 10 lb. of
extracted. Personally, I cannot make much
of the " Wells '' system with my hives of that
type. In the last week of October I found
the bees occupied one chamber only, and in
two other " Wells '' the queens of one side
were dead, I suppose.

Solar Wax-Extractors. — This extractor is
certainly worth having. I have a home-made
one, lined with zinc, with a double sheet of
21-oz. glass as a lid. One day in July the
thermometer inside stood at 204 degs.

Wax Moth. — Early in June I was asked to
visit a hive " needing attention." It was alive
with moth and grubs through brood and sec-
tion combs alike, quilts as well. We had a
fire and burnt them. Later on, two skeps at
two other places shared the same fate. I
hived for a friend a remarkably large swarm
on June 2. Eight days later the bees covered
sixteen frames, two racks of well-filled sections,
and 20 or 30 lb. of extracted honey were
eventually obtained from this swarm.

Robbing. — My hives stand about 4 ft. apart,
and last year I had several cases of robbing.
This year I planted three or four Jerusalem
artichokes between each of the hives, thus
secluding them and giving shade ; result has
been "no robbing." I think the artichoke fine

for bee-hedges ; it is only a summer plant, so
we can get all the light and warmth of winter,
yet have protection and shade in summer.

Railway Companies and Charges. — Mr.
Loveday mentions a great grievance (on
page 466) — one, I fear, we can at present
offer no solution to. I had a friend here this
year who urges the necessity of a "railway
traders' and passengers' protection society."
We all are traders or passengers, and the
society could become national. A small sub-
scription to ensure membership, and then
with the funds maintain an office where all
Acts relating to railway companies are stored,
where the public could fight the companies,
and n good lawyer could be retained to make
that branch his special study, watch railway
Bills through the House, &c. Instead of Mr.
Loveday having to be put down with the loss
of his honey, or, if he " county courts," to have
to pay several times the value of the honey
and then get no justice, he could hand his
case over to the society, which would act as
well for small as large amounts, and the very
fact that such a society existed would settle
many claims differently to how they are dis-
posed of now. Where is the man or men that
will render a national service 1 Here is a
chance for them.

Honey Sales. — Honey still keeps selling.
My prices are : Sections in carboard case, Is. ;
1-lb. glass tie-over jars, lOd. ; 8-oz. tie-ovor
jars, 6id. ; 2 oz., 2^d. The latter are in great
demand and sell well ; they are for those who
use honey medicinally, and thus are handy,
but they are irritating to tie up. I managed
to buy a few gross of 2 oz. jars cheap, and now
shall continue to sell them. I always exhibit
honey in Lynn market on my flower stall, and
effect a sale even when my prices are several
pence above the shops.

This neighbourhood is fast becoming a bulb
country. Hyacinths are now propagated and
raised superior to Dutch. I have just finished
planting a large batch of hyacinths ; these are
useful in the spring for bees. It is very
interesting to note the various coloured
pollens they bring from the hyacinths. —
W. J. Beldersotst, Terrington St. Clement,
L;/nn, November 23.

RAILWAY OO.'S AND BEE-KEEPERS.

[4591.] In reply to Mr. Loveday (on page
466) for information on this subject, I beg to
say we receive and send many parcels of
comb-honey by rail, and when damaged the
company involved invariably tries to shirk
its responsibility, but we always get com-
pensation in the end. It is important that
the sheet be not signed till you are satisfied of
the goods being in good condition ; if damaged,
we refuse to accept them until the station
master or some responsible person from the
company has seen the damage. — W. & S.,
Lowestoft, November 22.

478

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 28, 1901.

ROBBING IN THE APIARY.

HONEY-PACKAGES.

I would like to be allowed to say a few
more words in regard to robbing. Last year I
wrote an article in which I gave some of my
experiences in regard to bees robbing, and
afterwards in some comments that were made
about it, it was said, in effect, that the advice
I gave on the subject was about like advising
one to scatter live coals among dry straw. But
this is a mistake, for I did not advise any one
to practise my methods ; in fact, I remember
that I plainly said that I did not advise any
one to follow my practice. I only gave my
experience in regard to the matter ; but what
I wish to say is that, in my opinion, it
will some time be known, and generally recog-
nised by bee-keeper3, that a colony of bees of
average strength (and, I feel tempted to say,
quite weak colonies if in normal condition)
are naver, as the saying i3, " cleaned out by
robbers," or never molested by them enough to
injure them materially in ony way, no matter
what has been done to induce robbing, or what
the natural provocation to the same may be,
except when they are first set out in the
spring.

I have watched this matter very closely the
last ten years, and, besides, from two different
incidents I have witnessed, I know that a
colony of average strength will, before suc-
cumbing to robbers, make such a fight as few
would imagine them capable of doing. One
of these incidents may be of enough interest
for me to take space to describe briefly.

It occurred in an oat yard during a time of
great scarcity. A hive was in some manner
tipped over, off its stand, so that it lay on one
side, with the whole top and bottom fully
exposed. Two heavy combs of honey were
broken. How loDg it had lain in this position
I do not know.

When I arrived, the air near it was black
with bees, and thousands were dead on the
ground around it ; but the robbers, so far as I
could determine, had secured but very little
of these stores, so gallantly defended, and the
colony was far from being whipped or defeated,
though no doubt they would have been if the
hive had laid in this position long enough. I
know that colonies, sometimes quite strong
ones, are often cleaned out by robbers, but
they are colonies that are not in a normal con-
dition. Usually in such cases they are hope-
lessly queenless, and make but little effort to
resist robbers.

PxVPER, PACKAGES FOR EXTRACTED HONEY.

There has been a good deal of discussion
the last two years or so in regard to the best
package for extracted honey. I have read
with much interest what has been said in
regard to the matter, and I envy those who
are able to make a success of using barrels, for
I have never been able to get any kind of a
barrel that would hold honey in a warm, dry
room without leaking. Even when I coated

the inside \ in. thick with wax or paraffin
it would soon crack and allow the honey to
ooze out between the staves. But my failure
in this line was not because the barrels were
not dry enough ; I have kept both those made
from hard and soft wood in a dry, warm room
for two years, and then after driving the hoops
as tight as could possibly be done, they would
soon commence to leak after honey was put in
them. I have not only tried different kinds,
but a year ago last fall I had three large ones
made to order, which were warranted not to
leak.

I have, however, made what might be called
a success of sacking up extracted honey the
same as one would wheat or other grain. Last
fall at one time I had about 1,000 lb. sacked
up. Possibly in the future extracted honey
may be shipped in sacks instead of cans or
barrels.

The way I came to put honey in sacks was
this : The three warranted barrels mentioned,
which held about 500 lb. each, got to leaking
soon after being filled — two of them badly. I
had nothing on hand to put much of tho
honey into, but I had observed when using
the no-drip shipping cases that if a section
become broken or marred so the honey ran
down on the manilla paper tray in the bottom
of the case, this paper seemed to hold it as
well as a tin tray would ; and I had noticed,
at the place where I board, a number of very
heavy paper sacks in which flour had been
purchased. I found they had a large number
of these laid by, the accumulation of years.
The paper they were made of was very much
heavier and tougher than that used in ship-
ping-cases, but, instead of being glazed or
smooth like the latter, it was slightly rough
or porous looking. So I took a couple of
these sacks and thoroughly coated the insides
with beeswax, and filled them with honey.
They held it all right, and soon afterwards
enough sacks were waxed to hold all the
honey the two worst leaking barrels con-
tained.

The honey remained in some of the sacks
nearly a month, and no leakage whatever
occurred, except with one sack, and this was
owing to a defect in the sack.

My method of waxing the inside was to
pour a large quantity of melted wax in a sack,
then with one hand gather up the mouth of
the sack tight, and with the other hand take
hold of the bottom at one corner, so as to turn
it bottom side up and around in such a way
that the wax would reach and coat all parts of
the inside. This had to be done quickly, or a
good deal of wax would adhere to a sack. It
took considerable to wax them, any way, but
after the honey was taken out, the sacks were
cut up and boiled in water, by this means
getting all the wax back again.

My success with these large sacks led me
later to try small sacks for the retail trade. A
good many who come to the house for a few
pounds of honey never bring anything to put

Nov. 28, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

479

it in ; few of them will buy a pail or jar, and
if I lend them a dish to carry it in all of them
will readily agree to return it and then never
do so. I have many customers in town to
whom I carry a few pounds of extracted honey,
and in this case I either have to wait for them
to empty the dish I carry it in, or else call for
it again, when, if there is any one at home,
we may perhaps find it has been filled
with something else. For instance, last season
one lady ordered 3 lb. ; I had nothing smaller
than a gallon jar on hand, so I delivered it in
that. When I called for the jar some time
afterwards it was full of butter. She said she,
of course, supposed the jar went with the
honey. My experiments last season lead me
to believe that 1 can reach this class of cus-
tomers with a package that will go with the
honey, for it will cost only about half a cent
aside .from some work in preparing it, which
can be done during the leisure time in winter ;
a package that will give satisfaction to the
customer, and be practically as safe to carry
or deliver the honey in as one made of tin. —
C. Davenport, in American Bee Journal.

[2758.] Insurance Fund for Bee-keepers,
and Fixing Prices for Bees.—\. When may
we expect the question of imurance for bee-
keepers aggainst loss for damage by bee-
stings ? 2. May I suggest that you request
bee-keepers willing to pay for such insurance
send in their names to you ? 3. May I aho
inquire if you don't think it advisable to give
readers some advice with regard to realising a
good retail price for stocks, swarms, and
queens ? Wholesale prices must, of course, be
low. About a dozen years ago, I think it was
supposed that good queens could not be
raised and tested for 2s. 6d. each wholesale,
except at a loss. Now we sometimes see
them advertised in your pages at less than
2s. 6d. retail. There is, of couse, no difficulty
in selling at ruinous prices.— W. H. Pri^r
Welwyn, Herts, November 20.

Reply.— 1 and 2. The question of an " In-
surance Fund" for bee-keepers to assist in
meeting claims for damage caused by bees is, and
has for some time been, engaging the anxious
attention of the Council of the B B K.A., and
if a practicable scheme can be formulated it
will, no doubt, be published in our columns.
An opportunity will then be afforded for all
who desire to support such a scheme to come
forward and say so. This will, we think,
be the more satisfactory way of meeting the
case than requesting names to be forwarded to
us as suggested. 3. The question is so entirely
one of personal opinion, and as opinions as to
what constitutes " a good retail price " are so
divergent, it is obviously beyond us to offer
advice likely to bs taken by all readers. No

doubt, a dozen year3 or more ago, bee3, hives,
and honey respectively realised better prices
than they do now, consequently the bee-keeper
and the appliance-dealer of to-day has to face
things as he finds them. With regard to
rearing and selling tested queeus, to advertise
them at less than 2s. 6d. each retail, we are
not aware that such are advertised in our
pages, but if they were we should not be able
to alter the fact.

[2759.] Making Honey vinegar.— I should
feel greatly obliged to you if you would kindly
give me a little information on the making of
honey-vinegar. 1. I think I have seen it
stated that a licence is by law required before
commencing operations. If this is so, what is
the amount of such licence ? I have, perhaps,
100 lb. of honey ; some of it is two years old
and is in a state of fermentation. It is, of
course, useless for sale as honey, but I want to
turn it into money if possible. If, however, I
have to pay a considerable amount for licence
and then my venture prove a failure, it would
be better to throw the whole lot away. 2.
Would 2 lb. of honey per gallon be enough ? In a
previous number of Bee Journal an American
writer recommended one pint of honey to one
gallon of water; this would be about
1 lb. 12 oz. 3. Would it be better to boil the
mixture I ' If so, I could do this by means of
a jet of steam from boiler. The honey is in a
soft granulated state. Any hints as to its
proper management would be thankfully re-
ceived.—Abbot, Staffs, November 20.

Reply.— 1. The manufacture of honey-
vinegar requires no licence. At least we have
heard of such being necessary, and many bee-
keepers make it. You may, therefore, dismiss
this from your calculation?. 2. Yes, according
to most authorities. The American recipe
you refer to is probably that in B.J. of Sep-
tember 17, 1896, page 379. It can be had
from this office for Hd. The best method
of making honey- vinegar is that given in the
book published by Rev. G. W. Bancks, Darenth,
Dartford. 3. Boiling honey will obviously
spoil it for vinegar making.

[2760.] A Beginners Queries.— I intend to
start bee-keeping shortly and as one of your
most recent subscribers will be much obliged if
you will answer one or two questions. I pro-
pose to start by purchasing a stock in a
"W.B.C." hive from a well-known dealer in
this county and ask :— 1. When is the best
time to buy 1 I live about two miles from a
manufacturing town, but I am completely
surrounded by pasture lands. Now, though I
intend to send my bees to the neighbouring
moors, I am naturally anxious to get some
extracted honey before the heather season.
Clover, I am sorry to say, is very scarce, but
there is plenty of whitethorn about, and the
fields are covered with dandelion and crows-
foot, while one field in particular I notice is
yellow with the buttercups. 2. Would my
bees be able to take sufficient hnn^y from

480

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 28, 1901.

these to be even self-supporting 1 3. Is it worth
while sowing in the garden, say, a patch 20 yds.
square of some honey-yielding plant 1 I fear
these questions will have been asked many
times before, but I have not the advantage of
seeing your replies to them in back numbers.
Here is, I believe, a more original question :
The site for my apiary is about 10 yds. from
a drying-ground which " can't be spared." 4.
Would the flapping of the drying apparel
anger the bees, and in consequence endanger
the beauty of the "maiden hanging out the
clothes 1 " — Beeist, Darwen, Lanes, Novem-
ber 21.

Reply. — 1. The best time to buy stocks of
bees is March or April. They can then be
judged after wintering safely, and also by the
promise of " fitness," or otherwise, for a good
season's work. 2. There should be no diffi-
culty in the bees being able to support them-
selves, apart from white clover, if the season is
fairly good. 3. In such a district as we judge
yours to be 20 square yards of ground, filled
with selected plants for a succession of bee-
forage, would be very helpful, pending the
heather season. 4. No ; the risk of angering
the bees may be dismissed, as may also the
danger to the "beauty of the maiden" re-
ferred to. Bat with regard to the " clothes "
and the temper of the said "maiden" we are
less sure, because unless the maiden and the
bee-keeper arranged matters amicably, so as to
avoid " spotting " the clothes by the bees
voiding their excreta in spring when taking
an airiDg flight " naughty cuss- words " might
arise between the parties concerned.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letterg or queries asking for addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur-
chased, or replies giving such information, can only be
inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queries forwarded will be attended to, and thoit only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

T. Eccles (Wakefield). — The Deposit System :
Sending Skeps by Rail in Winter. — 1. Full
particulars of the system will be found on
page iii. 2. Winter - time is the best
season for sending bees by rail, if they are
kept confined till after sundown before
being released.

David Davies (Llandilo, North Wales). —
Neither the British Bee Journal nor its
proprietor issue a catalogue, not being
dealers in appliances or bee-goods of any
kind. Any of our advertisers will forward
a catalogue if written to.

O. Pfleiderer (London, S.E.). — Bee-keeping
in the West Indies. — 1. We have never
heard of any book dealing with this subject.
2. The bee cultivated in Jamaica is the
Apis mellifica, or ordinary hive bee. 3.
Jamaican honey is, we think, about equal
in quality with that from Chili and South
America generally. It also stands on about
the same footing with regard to "finding
a ready market in this country." We are
unable to say how the market is in
" other countries." 4. This query we print
in full as written by yourself : — "I have
heard that during a twelvemonth a single
hive has turned into twenty distinct
colonies. Can this be right 1 The honey
season must last nearly all the year round
to cause this result from a bee of our
ordinary English black type of bee.''

In reply we can only say it is one
more of the absurd stories about the possi-
bilities of what bees can do in this country.

Worker Bee (Langford). — Plan of Bee-
House. — We are having a line-block made
from your sketch, and will insert it in an
early issue. It would, however, be helpful
to readers if a few more details as to con-
struction were sent, to go along with the
plan in print. If not too much trouble,
kindly forward same.

Honey Samples.

E. C. (Newton Abbot). — Of samples sent
No. 1 is only second grade in quality.
There is a disagreeable "tack" in its flavour,
attributable, no doubt, to some plant grow-
ing near by, but which we cannot recognise.
No. 2 is a capital sample of heather honey,
good in all respects.

M. H. (Buckfast, Devon). — The several
samples received are all from mixed sources,
none having any characteristic flavour by
which its source may be traced. No. 1,
though gathered when limes are in bloom,
has none of the flavour or colour of lime-
blossom honey about it. Deep yellow in
colour and only fair in flavour, its quality is
only medium. No. 2, still deeper in colour,
is not quite equal to No. 1 ; it is also granu-
lating. No. 3, nearly solid, much same
as No. 2, but coarser in flavour. No. 4,
though poor in aroma, is by far the best
sample of all for table use. It is largely
from heather, and though granulated al-
most solid, it may be described as a very
fair mild-flavoured heather honey.

John Humphrys (Ruthin). — Sample is good
enough for any show ; excellent in colour
and flavour, while the aroma is quite dis-
tinct and good, although, as you say, the
sample has been reliquetied. We are not
a bit surprised to hear of your having
" already sold every ounce of it at a good
price."

P*c. :>, 1901.] TEE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

481

©ditorisl, $fota to.

ANCIENT BEE-KEEPING.

BEES AND HONEY 800 YEARS AGO.

A constantly recurring and pleasing
phase of the enthusiasm with which the
thoroughgoing and thoughtful student of
bee-keeping regards his favourite hobby
is the keen interest taken in matters
connected with bee-craft in the olden
time. This characteristic comes to the
front plainly from time to time in our
pages, recent notable examples being the
series of articles on the subject in the
closing numbers of our volume for 1900,
and continued for a great part of the
year now ending.

We refer to the " Fugitive Papers on
Ancient Bee-Books." by the Rev. A. A.
Headley, beginning in November, 1900,
and ending in January of this year.
Then followed an equally exhaustive
series of articles on " Ancient Bee-Books,"
by Colonel H. J. O. Walker, known in
print as " South Devon Enthusiast,"
along with papers by other contributors.
All of these useful and interesting papers
breathe the same spirit, viz., an intense
heartiness and enthusiasm on the part of
the several authors in bees "ancient and
modern." Deep research into the
writings of men who lived ages ago and
into the folk-lore relating to bee-keeping
in past ages seem to yield a pleasure
easily understood by those concerned,
and we can imagine the interest with
which they will learn something to-day
of bees and honey in the days when the
Domesday Book was being compiled.

AVe are led to these observations by
an exhaustive review in the Standard
dealing with the latest volume of " The
Victorian History of English Counties/'*
viz., the one relating to Worcestershire,
wherein we find how important a part its
Cathedral and its Monastery played in
those remote times, and how interesting
to bee-keepers as showing the position of
bees and bee-keeping in the old days.

We read that : —

A cartulary, or land book, compiled by
Hemiog, a monk of the Cathedral Monastery,
is said to be among the best of its kind, if not
the very beat. It seems to have been drawn

* "The Victoria History of the Counties of Eng-
land." Edited by H. Arthur Doubledny. A History
• >f Worcestershire. Vol. I,

up about the time of Henry I., and com-
prehends the Cbaiters in existence before the
Conqutst, documents and narratives contem-
porary wi>h tbat evfnt, and a Survey of the
lands held by the Monastery of Worcester at
the time of its composition. The importance
of Worcestershire to ihe student of our
national life and institutions may be judged
of by the following statement : —

" Problems of assessment, problems of juris-
diction, problems connected with the tenure of
land, are in turn raised and partly solved by
the evidence which Worcestershire affords ;
the growth of a feudal system has been de-
tected in its Church lands ; the whole hierarchy
of rural life, from the great theyn and the
free tenant to the swineherd, the bondwoman,
and the serf, receives illustration from its
survey. For Worcestershire alone in England
are preserved the names of the Domesday
Commissioners, in whose presence bishop and
abbot, baron and rapacious sheriff, clamoured
and wrangled alike, whether as spoilers or
despoiled. Indeed, the personal touches re-
vealed here by the records constitute, doubt-
less for most readers, their greatest attraction
and value."

We also learn that : —

" It was one peculiarity of Worcestershire,
and some other counties on the Welsh borders,
that rent was paid in honey, and woodlands
accordingly were valuable, among other things,
for the honey they yielded. From one of his
manors Edward the Confessor received yearly
fifty pints of honey as well as the money rent.
Much of this honey was taken from the wild
insects, who made their hives in the hollow
trees. But tame bees were kept for the same
purpose, and the bee-churl was a well-known
character among the Saxon peasantry. Mead,
of course, was made from honey, and the
Welsh were very partial to that beverage.
But so also were the Saxons, and it seems
hardly a sufficient explanation of the fact that
honey-rents were more common in Wales and
on the Welsh border than elsewhere."

TESTIMONIAL TO MR. HOOKER.

We have pleasure is notifying the following
additions to list of subscribers to the above
fund published in our issues of October 17
and November 7 respectively : —

The Baroness Burdett-Coutts, President
B.B K.A.

Rev. R M. Lamb.

R. Hamhn-Harris.

Abbott Brothers.

Wm. Woodley.

P. Scattergood.

J. R. Truss.

J. Rymer.

Q Newman.

H. Saxelby.

W. A. Woods.

As it is proposed t,o close the list shortly we

482

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 5, 1901.

will be glad if intending donors will forward
names without delay.

Subscriptions may be sent to the Editors of
the British Bee Journal, 17, King William-
street, Strand, W.C. ; or to Mr. Jesse
Garratt, Hon. Secretary, Meopham, Kent.

THE FINAL SHOW FOR 1901.

HONEY SHOW AT LUDLOW, SALOP.

The seventh annual honey show in connec-
tion with the Ludlow Chrysanthemum and
Fruit Society was held in the Town Hall,
Ludlow, on November 14, under the pre-
sidency of Lord Windsor. Excellent arrange-
ments were made by the Secretaries, Mr.
Jno. Palmer and Mr. E. H. Wood. The
entries compared favourably with last year,
and the honey was of splendid quality, both
in the comb and extracted.

Messrs. Alfred Watkins, H. Lloyd, and
H. J. Farmer officiated as judges there, the
prizes awarded being as follows : —

Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
A. G. Preen, Nesscliffe ; 2nd, S. Temblett,
Andover, Hants ; 3rd, T. Salter, Shrewsbury ;
v.h.c, W. Tomkins, Burghill.

Six 1-lb. Sections.— 1st, A. Bayley, Words-
ley, Stourbridge ; 2nd, A. G. Preen ; 3rd,
H. J. Wootton; b.c, T. Salter.— (Com-
municated.)

ditimtym&tML

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice trill be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents,
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

WORKING FOR HEATHER HONEY.

[4592.] It is useless to lay down any hard-
and-fast, cast-iron laws or rules in working for
heather honey, and say if these are observed
a large surplus is certain to be secured. So
many minor features — many of them beyond
the bee-keeper's full control — affect these
general laws that they frequently cease to
operate. Although certain rules may be set
down as fundamental and of primary impor-
tance, others of equal value too often neutra-
lise them. Thus the man is often at the mercy
of the bees ; they in their turn are dependent
on the forage. All three of these, again, are
subject to climatic influences. Consequently
calculations are falsified, preparations carefully
made prove abortive, and our best care and
attention go unrewarded. Still we go on
working, planning, and hoping ; and, thank

goodness, frequently we have a rich and abun-
dant reward. In this spirit, then, I offer a few
thoughts on the subject which may serve to
initiate a discussion, when we may glean some
wisdom from the counsellors who are willing
to give us of their experience.

1. It is a truism that one strong stock is
worth two or three even fairly strong ones.
Our ideal should be to get all our stocks
intended to be worked for heather surplus
raised to this position just before the heather
comes into bloom. If they are not naturally
able to attain to this degree of perfection we
must make them. It is of primary importance
that we should have powerful colonies. These
colonies, when almost at the " boiling point,"
can be relied on, if honey is to be had any-
where near and if weather permits foraging,
to roll in the honey and consign it to the
supers, whereas weaker colonies rarely do
more than fill up the brood-combs with just
sufficient stores for wintering. Here, then, is
our ideal to work for, and as it mainly de-
pends upon the bee-keeper, we have only our-
selves to blame if we fall short of it. Many
other factors are beyoud our control, but this
is not so. We are the bee3' masters, and can
bring each colony up to the pink of perfection
just at the psychological moment. In this
way, then, and working on the hypothesis that
one strong colony is worth three weaker ones, I
myself proceed just before the heather flow to
manipulate all hives to be sent to the heather
(or to be wrought for heather surplus at home),
and brine; them up to this ideal pitch of per-
fection. The opening days of August would
see all these with a limited number of frames
crammed with almost hatching brood and
strong in bees almost to overflowing. In
working for this much- to-be-desired pitch of
attainment several minor points deserve atten-
tion, (a) Too many frames in the brood body
give the queen too much room foi breeding at
a time when we desire our colony to devote its
main energies to honey storing. Also, unless
they are limited the bees store too much
below when we want it all consigned upstairs.
So I would use no more than nine frames.
(b) Swarming at this time would go far to
shatter our hopes of surplus just as they are
at their brightest ; so every device tending in
the direction of hindering it should be resorted
to. (c) It is important that our force of bees
should be of the right kind to take the very
best advantage of the flow and secure us our
harvest in the best condition for yielding the
be3t returns and so as to produce the best
prices. The question of race comes in here,
for it is well known that certain of them are
bad cappers of comb honey, and these should
not be used for working in heather districts,
however excellent they prove themselves as
honey-getters where extracting is practised.
This question of capping is an important one
and deserving of more attention than it
receives, (d) Young queens are a necessity,
for three reasons amongst many more : — 1.

Dec,

1901.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

is;;

They enable us to secure our large population
with little or no manipulation. 2. They lay
few or no drone eggs, as old mothers do, so
their produce are all- workers. 3. They have
little tendency to swarm at the heather. All
these are important factors in securing and re-
taining bur colonies at the point desiderated.

2. I never feed. My theory may be right
or wrong, but it is a confirmed belief with me
that in heather districts, where bees are desired
to be at their strongest about the middle of
August, early stimulating brings the queen to
a premature pause in her egg-laying just when
we want her to be at her best. She has
attained the crest of the wave too soon. The
colony is therefore at its strongest just before
the full flow, and has begun to dwindle exactly
when we want them to be most numerous.
So we just miss the " tide " which in the affairs
of bees, as of men, " leads on to fortune." This
is only one phase of the feeding question, but
a second, not of less importance, has to be
noticed. Heavy feeding between the clover
and heather harvests is " reprehensible." I
waive the question for the present whether
any of it may be taken upstairs, and I may
perhaps grant that it may secure a little more
(pure ?) surplus. It, however, occupies the
cells required by the queen, and so acts to the
detriment of the colony. If it does a little
temporary good, it is at the cost of a great
permanent harm. Why, then, fill these frames
with " pernicious " syrup when you can have
them one solid block of almost hatching brood,
which keeps up the strength of the colony and
replaces the wear and tear consequent on the
hard work on the heather ?

3. The bee-keeper has now, in these days of
cheap, thin, pure foundation, the power to
assist his bees by giving only full sheets in the
sections. Small scraps or " starters," or even
half sheets, should not be tolerated. They are
a severe tax on the bees' time, energy, and
accumulated stores when every day or even
hour counts for success or failure. Even
better, he can by various devices secure that a
large percentage of the sections shall be filled
with ready-built comb. As August advances
bees show a reluctance to do much comb-
building, and surplus is largely augmented
when these ready -built combs are on hand.
All who work for heather honey should make
it their aim to secure as many combed sections
as they possibly can by getting bees to build
them out early ia the season, and clearing out
all that are not well finished at the end of the
clover harvest.

4. The bee-keeper can further aid his bees
in two ways. In hot weather ventilation must
be attended to, and here several of the new
hives lately produced assist him, and, by their
construction and ease in manipulation, aid him
in avoiding that other bugbear — swarming.
But I think where too many err is in leaving
their supers insufficiently wrapped up when
the lengthening nights begin to chill, after,
perhaps, a day of excessive heat, I have

frequently seen bees in sections covered on
top only by one or two layers of very thin
cloth, often badly laid on. As the season
advances, the warmer the sections are covered
up the better for the bees and for the bee-
man's chances of a large surplus. I reduce as
early in August as possible, and carefully
wrap up between the inner and outer cases,
thus allowing no chill by sudden changes of
temperature.

5. Where bees remain at home we have to
be content with our surroundings, but when
they are transported to the heather a choice of
locality, securing the best site, forage, shelter,
and exposure, should be chosen. As a rule
the hives should be planted in the very centre
of the heather bloom. In such places, how-
ever, they may be too much exposed, and then
some temporary shelter is necessary. The
surrounding ground should be dry and porous.
A small valley is the best, with a slope down
from the foraging grounds, so that bees with
their heavy loads shall have no uphill work to
do. If the slope faces the sun it is an added
advantage, as such reaches of heather, facing
south or south-west, yield better returns. The
sun's rays ripen and expand the heather bloom
more fully, and the bees secure more of the
sunshine in which they delight to revel.

6. I am not certain, but this section should
have come under the sub-head of swarming or
young queens, but its importance entitles it
to separate treatment. I take it for granted
that the bee-keeper has a number of nuclei
about his apiary. Now, when he is equalising
his stocks and getting them ready for the
heather-flow, here is his chance to secure with
some degree of certainty that his colonies,
when brought to the " boiling point," don't
boil over ! and, by swarming, make all his
manipulations of no effect. He has a supply
of young queens on hand, and these he can
now give to any colonies with old, worn-out,
over-stimulated, or defective queens. These
young mothers, just newly impregnated, rarely,
if ever, have any thoughts of swarming ; and
while in the hive, the bees under scarcely any
conceivable set of circumstances will think of
starting queen-cells. Here we have an excel-
lent Bafety-valve capable of preventing a
blow-up.

7. In considering the main factor in working
for the heather, viz . powerful colonies almost
overflowing, I have, recognising that too fre- '
quently colonies are not in that happy state'
just when we want them, advised that they
should be made strong. It remains for me to
name several ways of attaining that desi-
deratum, (a) When addiDg the queens from
the nuclei these last will often yield frames of
sealed brood, or young larvae just ready to
seal, which will add considerably to the
strength of our made-up lot coming in as
workers just when required to maintain the
colony in full strength in mid- August. (6)
Later swarmed stocks can have some of their
best comb?, all solid slabs of just hatching

484

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Dec. 5, 1901.

brood, added to others in the same way. Con-
tracting these swarmed lots does not harm them,
while it strengthens and enriches our already
strong stock still farther, (c) Hives not over
strong, and unlikely to yield much, if any,
surplus, can safely spare some of their best
combs, if care is taken to certify that such
frames are immune from disease of any kind.
(d) Late swarms which would do no other good
if increase is not desired can be put to no
better use than to strengthen a stock a1 ready
fairly strong, and thin bring it up to the
desired excellence, (e) Driven bee3 can be got
from the South about the early days of August,
and carefully added to a colony short of the
required strength. We thu3 kill two birds
with the same stone as we add the necessary
bee3 and a young and vigorous queen, if of th3
current season. — D. M. M., Banff'.

SECOND-CLASS EXPERTS' EXAMINA-
TIONS.

PUBLISHING QUESTIONS.

[4593.] Will you allow me to suggest to the
Council of the B.B.K.A. that they could
make your most useful paper still more
interesting to bee-keepers — especially amateurs
and would-be experts — if they would send you
weekly for publication one of the questions
set in the late examination for second class
experts' certificates, together with the answer
considered by the examiners to be the best
sent in. It would not only be of great benefit
to those who purpose entering for the exami-
nation, as they would see iu what way their
answers were deficient, but I believe it would
also lead to making the examinations much
more popular — "Bridgefield,'1 Llandcbic,
Carmarthen, November 26.

" BIOLOGY OF THE HONEY BEE."

DZIERZON AND MOVABLE FRAME HIVES.

[4594.] The recent interesting articles by
Mr. R. Hamlyn-Harris on the " Biology of the
Honey Bee '' contain a reference to movable-
frame hives in connection with the renowned
name of Dzierzon that may be the cause of a
certain degree of misconception. Very recently
I had the privilege of reading Dzierzm's work,
"Rational Bee-keeping," in the translation
published in 1882 by Mr. C. N. Abbott, from
the then latest German edition of 1878 by H.
Diec'r. The hives which Dzierzon there de-
scribes and recommends are not in any correct
sense movable-frame hives, but rather adapta-
tions of the old bar-hive which had been
known in England siace about the middle of
the eighteenth century. Although described
as '• movable," the omb3 are not so in the
sense now understood, a3 they had to be cut
away from the sides of the hive before they
could be taken out. Moreover, as the hives
were made to open at the ends, it was only
possible to reach any interior comb by the
formidable process of cutting away all those in

front of it. The feature, indeed, mo3t likely
to impress a pre3ent-day bee-keeper on read-
ing the work is the utter lack of presciencj
exhibited by so skilled an apiarian and keen
investigator as Dzierzou in regard to the me
of both movable frames and comb foundation.
The latter, in particular, he dismisses as hardly
worthy of practical consideration, while the
former fare but little better at his hands.

I am not aware that he ever modified his
views on these subjects ; but, as movable
j frames had been perfected by both Lingstroth
and B«on von Berlepsoh some twenty-seven
years prior to the date of the edition I have
referred to, it is clear that credit doe3 not
belong to Dzierzon in this connection. — A
Rotds, Jun., Sobertoii., Hants, November 28.

METAL DIVIDERS.

[4595.] Adverting to the reference to
" perforated dividers," your correspondent
" D. M. M." (4582, page 472 last week) may
perhaps be interested to learn that Mr. J. H.
Howard, of Holme, Peterborough, and myself
have been experimenting with dividers made
of wire-cloth instead of perforated zinc. Thj
re3ult3 seem to leave little doubt that they
will be a great improvement on tho-ie in pre-
sent use, and that it will be possible in the
future to produce more sections per hive and
to greatly lessen the chances of swarming
when working for comb honey. It will also
mean a larger percentage of sections more
perfectly filled and better in appearance. The
new dividers will be registered, and Mr.
Howard will doubtle33 be able to pat them oa
the mirket in time for next season's use.
Fuller particulars will be given later on. —
W. J. Sheppard, Chingford, Essex.

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

In the account given by Mr. Brown, whose
apiary is shown on next page, we have one
more example of how to combine honey-pro-
duction with other items of home produce
which it is his business to carry round to hi i
customers. The application of this principle
will be obvious to all who either are similarly
situated or who can enlist the help of some
neighbour willing to undertake the task of
selling on commission. We commend the
following notes, written at our request by Mr.
Brown, to the consideration of oar readers
when he says : —

" As a reader of the British Bee Journal,
I have been greatly interested in the experi-
ences of others a3 given in the ' Homes of the
Honey Bee,' and thought I would like to add
mine to the rest. Enclosed are photos — one
of nine hives and one of three located in
different part3 of my apiary. I first began
bee-keeping in 1900 by purchasing two skeps
from a neighbour. These I placed on a

Dec. 5, 1901. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

485

stand in the garden, and did not think much
about my purchase or the bees until, on re-
turning home from work one evening, my
wife informed me that she had bought some
more bees and hives at a sale. I at once set
about getting them home, and on examining
found that some of the hives had got bees in
tbem, while others were inhabited by mice !
This was in October, 1900. However,' 1
inquired from those most likely to know what
was best to do under the circumstances, and
was told to feed the bees, which I did,
and now wonder that I did not kill the
lot in doing this. Out of six wooden hives
I wintered four, and of the five skeps
four came through all right. This was a fair
result considering that all the honey had been

to stop the bees ; all to no purpose, the bees
getting safely away to fresh fields and pas-
tures new. Hearing of a gentleman wanting
a swarm, I arraoged for him to have the
next that issued, and his coming to fetch the
bees was the means of my getting a lot
of useful information about bee-keeping
on modern principles, he having been
a bee-keeper in Scotland. He strongly advised
me to procure a copy of Mr. Cowan's ' Guide
Book' — which I did— and also took in the
B. B.J. on his advice which I have done ever
since, and found both very useful. He also
explained to my son the jjuse of sections and
how to unite swarms, &c. In fact, he put on
our first sections and united some swarms for
us. Aftar these useful lessons I have driven

ME. GEORGE BROWNS APIARY, LITTLE DALE, DARTFORD, KENT.

removed from the hives before the sale took
place. Not knowing anything at that time
about supering, or about surplus-honey
getting, or the meaning of ' section-racks '
or shallow-frames, the bees began to swarm
when warm weather came round, and then
the trouble began. My first swarm issued on
Whitsunday, and I mustered up courage
enough to secure the swarm in a skep.
During the following week another hive
swarmed, the bees settling on a small plum
tree near by for two hours, my wife and
daughter being afraid to hive them. The
bees hung there all the time, and then made
off, hotly pursued by my wife and daughter
with tea-tray and brush, fire shovel and poker,
making a tremendous noise in their endeavour

bees from my skeps and united them in frame-
hives successfully several times.

" Thus, in spite of many difficulties at the
start, we got on well with our bee-keeping,
and have secured a nice lot of honey this
year. My son, shown in the foreground of
photo, and myself, in the centre at back, now
feel that we can do all that is needed with the
bees, and take great pleasure in the work. My
son does not quite like dispensing with his
veil just yet, though he has only been stung
once. My wife and daughter can each hive
a swarm now without the help of either the
tea-tray or tongs.

" With regard to our results for the year now
ending, 1901, although it is practically our
first honey season, we have taken over a

486

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Dec.

1901.

hundredweight of extracted honey, besides a
good number of sections. I find a very good
sale for extracted honey at lOd. per lb., and
have sold all sections as soon as taken, well-
filled ones at Is. each, and those not quite up
to the mark, lOjd. each. We could have sold
a great many more if we had had them. One
great advantage with regard to my honey
selling is that I have a regular round of cus-
tomers to deal with, selling such of my home
produce, as fruit, vegetables, poultry, eggs,
&c, and I feel quite sure that bees, pro-
perly attended to, are very profitable. Of
course, I have not secured the amount of honey
this year that I should easily have done had I
known how to work the bees properly at the
start. Our district is a very good part of Kent
for bees, being purrounded by fruit trees,
clover fields, &c. and the honey has been greatly
praised for its flavour. I have purchased no
hives except the first lot referred to, my son
having made the others, the one on my left
being one of them. I shall certainly not use
skeps any more except for hiving swarms in.

" I hope to be able to report better results
next year, which we trust will be a good one.''

A MAMMOTH HONEY TRUST.

They do most things " big " in America,
even in (to us) so minor an industry as bee-
keeping. Here is something in " Honey
Trusts " that will be instructive to us British
bee-keepers who confine our operations to the
efforts of the modest County B.K.A. The
writer is editor of the Pacific Bee Journal, a
very go-ahead paper, published at Los Angeles,
California, and his article reads as follows : —

" Yes, why can't we have it ? The time is
ripe. The bee-men have the capital, and the
cash is theirs for the asking. Big meeting in
Los Angeles in October.

" Bee-men do not generally realise the
capital they have in bees and honey, and very
few know this capital can be turned to account.
By utilising the principle of all big combina-
tions— that of uniting or pooling their inte-
rests, forming a copartnership that would
command the cash for managing and control-
ling this great industry.

" There is no other business, for the capital
invested, that gives the Bame returns in the
short space of time like bees and their pro-
duct, still the industry is the least managed
and protected of any business.

" The honey crop (when we have it) is
always over-estimated or decried, while buyers
and consumers combine to set a price low
enough to protect themselves from the expected
flood of honey that does not materialise, but
only gains for us producers the narrowest
margins and the dissatisfaction of a waiting
market, while we might, through combination,
afford protection, with better prices to our-
selves, and protection also to the large con-

sumers against the supposed food of low-priced
honey, the consumers would be better satisfied
with an assortment of grades and guarantee.

" The bee-men of California are in the best
condition financially — many have taken up
other pursuits. The past dry seasons have
taught their lesson — ' depend not on bees
alone.'

" The established law of supply and demand
does not rule prices in honey, for, with this
year's small production of comb honey, the
price is very low.

"California bee-keepers are more than
willing to form an association. I have the
promised support of thirty-five persons, who
own and control 10,000 colonies of bee3, whose
production this year is 500 tons, valued at
50,000 dols. per annum.

"These bee-men will form an association,
by pooling their bees and interests, receiving a
share of stock (par value 5 dols. for each
colony of bees represented). There are to be
no dues or assessments ; the business must pay
its way. The stock will be for sale at 5 dols.
per share for those who wish to invest, and
this will furnish all the working capital neces-
sary for buying all lots of honey offered and
which will be stored for a ready market.

" The association will have a bee and honey
expert, whose duty it will be to examine all
apiaries and honey, placing the association's
seal on honey at time of packing.

,! We would like to have all bee-men of
California interested, and we could then
combine our interests with Colorado and
Arizona. The Pacific Coast States are the
honey-producers of the world, and can control
prices.

" The meeting will take place in October,
time and place to be set later. ' Invitation
notices' will be sent to those of the readers of
the Journal who desire to take part on
application to the undersigned,

" B. S. K. Bennett,
In Pacific Bee Journal (American)."

BEE-HOUSES.

HOW TO BUILD ONE.

In reply to your request on page 480
last week for details of construction to
accompany the sketch plan sent, I am afraid
that I should find it an easier job to build the
house than tell how it should be done. I say
this because I am more used to handling tools
than the pen, so please correct mistakes. First
then we take the floor : — 1. Get two
lengths of stuff 4 in. by 2 in., 7 ft. lOi id.,
mark off 2 in. from each end for mortise 1 in.
thick in centre of 4 in. way. 2. Next take
two pieces 5 ft. 10i in. by 4 in. by 2 in.,
mark 2 in. off each end ; cut tenon to fit
mortises. Knock together. 3. Get two
pieces of li in. by | in. batten ; nail on inside
bottom edge to take the ends of middle joist.

Dec. 5, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

487

Cut three 4 in. by 2 in. to fit between so that
the top edges come level ; fasten all firmly
together. Keep all rounding edges upward.
4. Give a coat of black varnish all over. Lay
on 7 in. by 1 in. tongued and grooved square
edge matchboards and fasten same down.

7 Jf- Plough & Tongue

match hoarcLtnq

Ftg.l. Plan

We now come to the front : — 5. Take two
pieces 2 in. by 2 in. red deal 6 ft. long ; mark
off 2 in. each end and one 2 in. in centre, and
mortise same, then take three rails 2 in. by
2 in., 7 ft. 10| in. ; tenon these ends ; drive
well together/ Our next job (6) deals with
the back of house. For this use two pieces
8 ft. long ; mark off 2 in. each end, 2 in. in
centre. We then need three rails same length

1±_

Zuj.Z. Elc vcisiiori

as front ; tenon and drive these together.
Finally we come to the ends of our house. For
these cut three pieces 5 in. by 6h in. for end
opposite door. On the inside of these screw an
iron square.

Place these latter so that when the back
and front are in place the respective squares
can be screwed to the rails of back and front
end, one which has the door in it. 7. Cut
one piece 5-ft. 6|-iu. board, find centre, and

mark off width of door each side , say door is
four boards wide, i.e., two boards in width off
each side of centre ; mortise for uprights ;
tenon uprights to fit. Bore a small hole in
bottom of uprights (to take an |-in. iron pin)
and bore hole in floor to correspond ; then
screw two more of the iron squares to end of
this rail. 8. Place floor on four bricks where
it is to stand. Fix up the front and back on
same, and stay them in their places. Screw
the rails for ends in position. The framework
will now be all in its proper place. Get some
pieces of 2 in. by 2 in. scantling for rafters ;

Fig. 3. Section at A . 3.

notch them down a little to bear on front and
back (do not nail them down). You will now
need a few cabin hooks and e\ es, and these
must be fastened on so as to be easily hooked
or unhooked. Nail on f .-in. matchboards, let-
ting them project over the frame 2 in. each way

Ficj.4-. Side VXerv

Be careful that an extra rafter is placed 4 in.
from each end of frame, and that the roof-
boarding is only fastened to this so that the

488

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Dec. 5, 1901.

roof may be lifted off if required for the pur-
pose of shifting. Nail f-in. boards on back,
well painting tongues and grooves wherever
the wood bears against rails. Repeat these
directions with the end opposite door, except
that the last board on each side must be
screwed, and on no account must the boards
be nailed to joists. For front get a 4 ft long
by 2 ft. 10 in. high, 3 in. by 2l in. casement
or window-frame, made to be hung in centre
on pivots so as to swing round easily. Rebate
it around thickness of board ; fix in centre of
top half ; board it around. The end for door
is made same, except the two outside boards
being screwed.

If construcled like this, one will be able to
take the house to pieces for moving if required.
The door is made to suit opening, and hung
with 1-in. J-hinges, fitted with rim-lock.
Door is shown as opening inwards in sketch,
but it might be more conveniently opened
outwards to give extra room. Under the
window inside fix a bench, as shown, consist-
ing of three widths of 7-in. by 1-in. tongue
matchboards ; under this two shelves, as
shown, are made of H-in. by f-in. battens ;
nail on to ledges a space between each batten ;
fix bottom shelf 3 in. above floor, the other
midway ; fill up space with strip of wood to
bottom shelf from floor; hang two long nar-
row doors to close openings between shelf ;
fit them nicely, and when complete this makes
a good place to keep extracting- frames and
sections ; a few balls naphthaline are placed
under bottom fhelf ; fix shelves to back on
brackets ; make all inside fixtures removable.

In corner fix up a small platform 1 ft. high,
24 in. square, for extractor to stand on. Two
brackets of 2-in. by 1-in. wood are next wanted.
Hinge them onto a piece of 2-in. by 1-in. stuff,
and screw this against back, letting one be an
inch higher than the other, and fixing them
about 3 ft. 10 in. apart. Then get a piece of
white wood 4 ft. 6 in. long by 17 in. wide, and
in this make V-grooves 2 in. apart, cut length-
ways. Screw some small brass plates on its
edge. When done, place this on the brackets
for a draining-board to stand boxes of shallow-
frames on after being through the extractor.
It can also be used as an "uncapping-stand."
Cover the draining-board with a couple of
coats of pure shellac varnish, and then it will
be able to be kept clean with little trouble.

I fear the above may not be as clear to
readers as it is to myself, but anything not
understood I will be glad to make plainer if I
can. — Worker Bee, Langford, November 2.

<$tt$rija and Jty»lt^s.

[2761.] Propoliscd Frames. — 1. In early
October, when making the usual overhaul cf
my hives, I was unable to get the frames out of
the brood-chamber, so firmly were they fastened

down with propolis by the bees. Indeed, the
top-bars would probably have given way before
I got the frames out. They are ordinary broad-
shouldered frames and have no metal ends.
Can you tell me how I can avoid this in
future ? 2. I lately noticed some query about
frames being hung parallel with, or at right
angles to, the entrance, the question being,
Which is best? My hives have the frames
huDg parallel to entrance. They are of the
same type as the ones chosen by the Govern-
ment for the use of Irish bee-keepers. Is
there any reason beyond fancy which causes
the frames to be usually placed at right angles
to the entrance ? 3. In che case of feeding a
rather weak hive, is it best to feed constantly
during the winter in small quantities or to
feed at end of autumn and early in spring ? —
G. F. GiLLiLiND, Harrow, N.W., Novem-
ber 28.

Reply. — 1. If your hives are properly made
with frames hanging on metal runners or on a
narrow chamferred edge of wood, there should
be no such propolisation as you name. The
broad - shouldered frame, however, is much
more liable to give trouble in this way than
when a metal end is used along with the
metal runners. We are told that such bee-
keepers are advised to smear the under sides of
the broad-shouldered frames with vaseline to
prevent the mischief of which you complain.
Our preference, however, is for something
more cleanly than what resembles " grease " as
a lubricant, so we use metal ends and runners,
which reduce propolisation to a minimum.
2. The question " bow frames should hang "
has been raised so frequently in our pages
that we have ceased to argue it further. Those
who need to buy hives " pay their money and
take their choice.'' On the other hand, there
are no hives " chosen by the Government ''
for the use of " Irish or any other bee-keepers."
In sober English we presume the hives
referred to are those recommended by the
Congested Districts Board of Ireland on the
advice of their expert. And with regard to
this advice we need only say that the best
authorities on this side of the Channel prefer
hive frames to hang at right angles to entrance
for reasons which ha\e been repeated many
times over. 3. All feeding up for winter
should be done by the end of September, or
earlier if convenient. Bees frequently will
starve to death in winter with well-supplied
feeders overhead. When stores are found to
be short, the best remedy is a cake of well-
made soft bee-candy placed just over the
cluster of bees in brood-chamber.

[2762.] Hand • made Comb - Foundation —
the Reitsche Press. — As an old but distant
subscriber, may I ask if you can recommend
the " Reitsche " hand-press, or any other make
for making medium-brood and thin - super
foundation 1 Please state size of plates
usually made and address of the manufac-
turers. I wish to obtain a machine for making

Dec. 5, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

4S9

foundation in small quantities for my own use,
and think a hand-press might be more con-
venient than a roller-machine. — H. R. Roberts,
Cape Town, South Africa, November 13.

Reply. — We think it very probable that
the Reitsche press would answer your purpose
very well, it being the best hand-press for
foundation-making we know of. The process
of manufacture, however, can hardly be so
well regulated as to produce what is known as
"medium brood" and "thin super " founda-
tion, as those qualities or makes respectively
are understood. The operator can regulate
the thickness of the product more or less, just
as on the old plan of '' dipping" the sheets to
the required thickness before pissing them
through the rolling machine. This is all the
Reitsche press does by producing the cell-
foundation through pressure.

[2763.] Beet Sugar as Bee-Food. — Bee-
keepers are cautioned against using beet
sugar as bee-food. Would you, in next issue
of your Journal, kindly give the reason why
beet sugar is injurious, whereas cane sugar
is wholesome for the bees ? — Kelting's,
Zandpoort, Holland, November 26.

Reply. — The advisability or otherwise of
using only pure cane sugar as bee-food has
been questioned — in America especially — for
some time past, and some authorities on that
side have affirmed that beet sugar i3 as
good as cane for the purpose. The latter
statement being brought to the notice of our
Senior Editor — who, as our readers know, is
at present sojourning in California — Mr.
Cowan, who holds strong views regarding
what he considers the injurious nature of beet
sugar for bees, wrote the following letter to
Gleanings on the subjeot : —

" I have just been staying at a fruit-cannery
in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where they use
nothing but guaranteed cane sugar for canning
purposes, and their experience with beet sugar
is very similar to ours in England. It may be
that the humid climate may have something
to do with it, but it is quite certain that beet
sugar is bad, not only for bees, but also for
preserving fruits in England. I suppose in
the laboratory it is possible to get perfectly
pure cane sugar from beets, so that chemi-
cally it would be identical with that obtained
from cane sugar, but in practice it is found
that there are certain potash salts in sugar
from beet which do not cccur in those from
sugar-cane. Leather and beefsteak have chemi-
cally the same composition, but there is a
difference between them.''

[2704.] The Mymer Honcy-Fress. — In using
the " Rymer '* press, is the honey pressed from
the comb sideways through grates or through
the bottom ? An answer in R.B.J, will
oblige.— C. Gibson, Keif/hleg, November 28.

Reply.— The comb when placed between

the grooved plates is forced from the cells by
downward pressure, and it thus escapes into
the spaces between the grooves. It has, of
course, eventually to run down the sides of
grooves into the receptacle placed beneath to
receive it,

[2765.] A Lady Beginner's Queries.— As a
beginner in bee-keeping, I ask your advice
under the following circumstances : — In March
last I bought a stock of bees in skep, and on
May 20 following I bought a swarm. A week
later the first-named skep sent out a swarm
which I hived in a strong box 10 in. square.
Two small casts also came out from the
original skep, and I united and hived them in
a frame-hive. The swarm bought in May
sent out a swarm in July, and I had the bees
driven from first skep (which had swarmed
several times) and united them to this July
swarm in a frame-hive. We also, after
driving, transferred the combs containing
brood and honey to the latter, tying the
combs into three of the frames. In August
we were much bothered by the persistent
swarming out from one of the hives of about
a pint or so of bees. I hived them six times,
but they went back to the parent hive every
time. At last I destroyed them to save
further trouble. I h ave taken no honey at ail
this season except what was got from the
original skep after driving, and so I want
to know (1) if the several stocks will want
feeding. When packing the bees down in
October they seemed to have a good bit of
sealed honey, but when the weather is mild
and warm they come out in good numbers. 2.
Is this because they need food, and should I
examine to see how the stores stand ? I read
the B.B.J, and have Cowan's " Guide Book,"
but do not quite yet know how to act. I have
hung sacks over the fronts of the hives to keep
out wind and rain. 3. Is this right? They
are sheltered on north, east, and west, and only
open to the south. 4. If I require to feed,
must it be with candy or syrup 1 — Laura
Havell, Woodcolc, near Reading, December 2.

Reply. — 1. Nothing but an examination
will show whether the bees need more food or
not. Refer to "Guide Book'' on "Feeding
Bees '' for help in this matter, full instructions
on this point being there given. 2. No, the
bees will continue to come out on fine, warm
days all through the winter if in good health.
3. You will find no instructions to " cover up
the fronts of frame-hives with sacks " in
" Guide Book." The only points with regard
to protection in winter is to shield the bees
from strong winds in exposed situations. To
cover up the hive fronts a3 stated would only
cause confusion through the bees finding a
difficulty in recognising their own hives. A
south aspect is good, and the bee3 will come
out when needing a cleansing flight, so do not
cover up as proposed, but leave all as they
now stand.

490

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 5, 1901.

WEATHER REPORT.

Westbourne, Sussex.

Rainfall, '52 in.

Heaviest fall, 12 in.,
on 12th.

Rain fell on 10 days.

Below average,
3 in.

Maximum Tempera-
ture, 56°, on 11th.

Minimum Tempera-
ture, 20°, on 17th.

Minimum on Grass,
12°, on 17th.

Frosty Nights, 13.

Sunshine, 97'9 hrs.

Brightest Day, 1st,
7*5 hours.

November, 1901.
Sunless Days, 9.
Above average, 28

hours.
Mean

46-8°.
Mean

34-6°.
Mean

40-7°
Below average, 2°.
Maximum Barometer,

30-70°, on 23rd.
Minimum Barometer,

29 10°, on 13th.

L. B. BlRKETT.

Maximum,
Minimum,
Temperature,

PRESS CUTTINGS.

BEE-HIVE OUTRAGE.

In the Forfar Small Debt Court yesterday
proof was led in the action at the instance of
James Whitton, constable, of the Forfar Burgh
Police, against Henry White, mason, Well
Brae Head, and Andrew Pattulo, slater,
Prior-road, Forfar, concluding for £6 15s. in
respect of loss and damage sustained by
pursuer in consequence of defenders having
upset nine bee skeps belonging to him, and
also for loss and damage caused to pursuer's
flowers and fence. Pursuer and a number of
witnesses gave evidence as to the damage and
the loss sustained through the bees having
been disturbed in what had proved to be a
good honey season* After evidence, the
Sheriff said that he had no doubt the pursuer
was entitled to damages, and in such a case he
was disposed to take a generous view. There
was a considerable loss which could never be
repaid. In his Lordship's opinion the amount
of damages claimed was quite a low estimate,
but in view of the evidence he would make a
slight alteration in the last two items —
namely, damage to the garden and fence.
The decree would therefore go for the sum of
£6 2s. 6d., with expenses. — Dundee Adver-
tiser, November 1.

BEES IN THE ARMY.

From Russia comes a suggestion to the
effect that honey bees should be tried as
military messengers in place of homing
pigeons. It is urged that for such purposes
they would be preferable to birds in more than
one way, inasmuch as they could hardly be
intercepted, and it would certainly be out of
the question for the most skilful marksman to
hit such a carrier. As for their size and small
carrying power, a bee could transport a good
deal in the shape of documents, if the latter

were transferred by micro-photography to. a
minute piece of paper. This piece of paper
might be fastened to the insect's back, and on
the arrival of the little messenger at its
destination the writing could easily be
enlarged.

The homing instinct of a bee is as strong as
that of a pigeon, and its method of finding its
way to its hive is the same as that whereby
the bird gets back to its cote from a great
distance. It rise3 high in the air, being thus
enabled to survey a great extent of country,
and travels by recognised landmarks. But
the chief doubt as to the efficiency of the in-
sect as a war messenger lies in the question
whether it would be able to return to its
domicile from very distant points, its cus-
tomary journeys in search of honey not
ordinarily exceeding a mile, or at most a mile
and a half.— Science Siftings.

A NEW USE FOR HONEY.

The Viceroy to-dav visited the Royal
Monastery, where the remains of the late
Buddhist Archbishop will be embalmed in
honey, awaiting cremation. He afterwards
met a vast concourse of yellow-robed monks,
who welcomed him as " a lily to water," and
roared at the discomfiture in debate of the
rival candidate whose pretensions stand in the
way of the appointment of the new Buddhist
Archbishop. Lord Curzon announced that the
confirmation of the latter would be contingent
on unanimity in the election. — Daily Mail,
November 30.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All queriee/ortearded trill be attended to, and thote only
of personal inter ettvill be answered in thlt column.

Anon (Blenheim-walk, Leeds). — Diagrams
for Sire or Loan.— la reply to a letter
from above address (inadvertently unsigned),
the only diagrams we know of are those
published by the B.B.K.A., which are not
loaned or hired out, but may be had, price
4s. 3d., post free, from Mr. E. H. Young,
secretary, 12, Hanover-square, London.

Anon. — Suspected Comb. — A small oval tin
box received here on 29th inst. was marked
"Found open at post-office." The envelope (a
flimsy paper one) had broken open in post,
and letter (if any) had evidently fallen out.
If sender will write an answer will be
returned.

J. P. Douglas (Cockermouth). — Honey
Sample. — We consider sample sent a rather
nice- flavoured honey,' well ripened, and in
good condition as a granulated honey.

fr^* Some Queries are unavoidably held over
till next week.

Dec. 12, 1901.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

491

Miami, Itatim, kt %QrmpMtut

INSURANCE FOR BEE-KEEPERS. '

The question of formulating a scheme
of insurance for bee-keepers against loss
through damage done by bees Avas dis-
cussed at the monthly meeting of the
B.B.K.A. Council, as reported in our
issue of November 28, and, as will be
seen, the proposed scheme has now
reached the practical stage so far as
regards the terms upon which the desired
end may be attained. We use the
term " practical " advisedly, because the
gist of the whole matter at present is the
amount of support the fund will receive
in the shape of insurers. It is all very
well to hear of a few scores of bee-
keepers who, for various reasons, are
earnestly desirous of taking out a policy
of insurance as proposed, but it is, in
our opinion, only by the plan being
taken up by county bee-keepers' associa-
tions with personal heartiness and
energy that there can be any reasonable
hope of a sufficient number of stocks of
bees insured to make the scheme work-
able. In other words, no company or
reliable firm of insurance brokers would
for a moment entertain the idea of
taking any such responsibility as is
necessary unless it were made worth
their while to do so in view of the
trouble involved. We must therefore
patiently await the views of the respec-
tive executive committees of our County
Associations when the scheme has been
matured and put before them in printed
form. Meantime, we earnestly hope
that no County B.K.A. will pass the
matter over without full discussion.

Without being too hopeful as to the
final result of the praiseworthy effort
embodied in the above, we must impress
upon the executive of the various
County Associations the importance of
personal effort in the direction of ascer-
taining to what extent their members
may be counted on, or, in other words,
what amount of support they are pre-
pared to give to the scheme. This is the
gist of the whole matter, and is, indeed,
the only means by which a definite con-
clusion can be arrived at. But it needs
a prompt decision, one way or the other,
without further loss of time.

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinion* expressed by correspondent: No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications. ■

*** In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents,
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[-T>96.] The past month of November has
been an abnormally dry one, and as a con-
sequence of the past generally dry season
many of those who have to depend upon the
rainfall are short of water. The ponds are
low or entirely empty, while the contents of
deep wells are much reduced and in some
cases quite empty, all of which indications
will retard the rising of the springs after the
turn of the days. Many farmers located on
the hills around are at present obliged to send
from a considerable distance to the streams in
the valleys in order to get water for the cattle,
with no prospects of immediate relief from
this heavy expense. This particular shortage
does not affect bee-keepers, but the drought
of the spring and early summer of 1901 has, as
it were, cast its shadow far into the summer
of 1902 in a manner which must affect the
interests of the craft considerably. The
drought of 1901 set in early, just after the
sowing of the spring corn and grass seeds,
which in a good season cover the ground, and
by harvest time the most forward of the young
grass ought to be ready for the scj the when
mowiDg the concurrent crops of barley or oats.
This makes the grass-plant tiller out after the
" cutting," and become sturdy and strong to
withstand the frosts of winter. But this
season I have known several fields which had
been sown with grass-seed ploughed up ; and
in other places, where the crop is allowed to
stand, there is but a half to two-thirds crop.
All this tends to show that the prospects of a
good white clover season in 1902 are heavily
handicapped. On the other hand, the young
sainfoin looks well, as does some late-sown
trifoliuru, which has come up strong and full
of promise ; these two will, weather permit-
ting, help to fill the supers next year ; only
we like a mixture of white clover in with
these two, and then we get " honey fit for a
king."

I can endorse Mr. "D. M. M.'s " observations
re metal dividers, with their rough-cut slots
and edges ; and I would commend another
point to the notioe of manufacturers of this
necessary valuable appliance, i.e., the height
of the divider. Thi3 should be ^ m- ^e8S tnan
the height of the ordinary 4| by 4| section.
If this is carefully seen to, one could scrape
\ off any small particles of propolis or brace-

492

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 12, 1901.

comb from the tops of sections, as the latter
stand in the full racks, just as taken from the
hives. This will effect a considerable saving
of time as against scraping sections singly.
The best dividers I have in use are some
made of very thin zinc I bought many years
ago, when slotted dividers first came out, and,
to my mind, they are still ahead of all others,
notwithstanding the cautions we bee-keepers
received in years gone by regarding the
danger of using zinc in connection with honey
from our friends the chemists. Since then
we have heard of the large galvanized-iron
tanks used in America for the storage of
honey preparatory to canning it.

Black Bees v. Foreigners. — On the question
of races of bees for profitable bee-keeping, our
American brethren have for many years strongly
recommended the Ligurian in preference to
the black bee, though I gather that a colony
of the latter made the best record for honey-
gathering at the Pan-American Exhibition at
Buffalo, U.S.A., in competition with several
stocks of Ligurians. The honey was gathered
during the time the exhibition was open ; the
bees were working in view of the visitors all
the time. I also notice that our friend Jno.
Berry (page 472) has not had extra success
with Cyprian bees ; this is much the same
as the experience I have heard privately
from parties trying them. They do not seem
to be so suitable as our English bee for this
climate, and although only in recent years
have the scientific breeders of queens taken the
subject in hand, yet I think every fair-minded
man will admit that the black (or brown
German, as some call it) bee has not
deteriorated within known history ; so that
either the bees are good judges of their own
requirements when selecting eggs which shall
in future perpetuate the life of the colony, or
else it must be that, given an egg and special
feeding, and, presto ! you have a queen equal
to the best selection that can be made.

Queen Wasp Mating. — Wasps mate in con-
finement, without a doubt. I remember Mr.
Baldwin, formerly expert to the B.B.K.A.,
calling the attention of several bee-keepers,
of whom I was one, to the fact that a wasp's
nest confined under a glass shade at a bee and
honey show afforded positive and ocular proof
of the act of " mating " to onlookers.

Honey Packing.— This subject seems to be
ever with us in one form or other. The
railway companies are often blamed for
damaged honey, and not without reason in
some cases ; but I believe that bee-keepers
themselves are not blameless in the matter.
The many breakages are a great nuisance and
loss, but the best preventive is careful
■packing. Up to the present time I have this
season had only two 1-lb. glass jars of honey
broken out of all the hundreds despatched
to customers far and near. This, I contend,
is entirely owing to my care in packing, and
not to any particular carefulness of my goods
at the hands of railway porters. In one special

case of breakage that came under my notice at
a recent exhibition the sections (nice ones,
too) were simply placed in a box without
packing material of any kind whatever under
them. Consequently they were badly
smashed, and when the owner called my
attention to the damage I fear I was but a
" Job's comforter." 1 did not say, " Serves
you right," but observed that had I packed
my honey in that fashion I should have
expected to find it broken on arrival at the
show, and consequently I should make a poor
witness for any claim on the railway company
for damage. — W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE BEE.

[4597.] Away back in prehistoric times our
ancestors were in habits and modes of life
much like the inhabitants of uncivilised and
savage countries at the present time. They
lived from hand to mouth, having no call for
forethought, and, leading a nomadic unsettled
life, knew none of the j oys of home. Society and
all the higher pleasures of educated intelli-
gence were to them unknown. When history
first lifts the dark curtain, we find them still
a race of savages with few of the comforts
which make life worth living, and of luxuries
none. Combination was on an insecure
footing, though traces of it are to be dis-
covered, as also are some attempts at
making permanent residences. Glancing
at the Middle Ages, we see man making
vast strides in many ways, though still too
often might was right, and the chief law
honoured was, "He can take who has the
power, and he can keep who can." Centuries
later we 3ee him advancing in many of the
more intellectual pursuits and accomplish-
ments, and home became a centre of refine-
ment and comfort. The present ceased to be
his only care, and the future shared his
thoughts and aspirations. Modern civilisation
needs no encomium. Look on the companion
pictures of prehistoric man and that of his
suooessor of the twentieth century. The
savage with few feelings or aspirations higher
than animal instincts has evolved into the
highly intellectual man of to-day, who, if he
has not attained- unto perfection, has climbed
very high up the ladder leading thereto.

Leaving the order Mammalia, let me describe
a somewhat analogous development in the
order Hymenoptera. Away down at the
extreme of the order there is a bee — the
Prosopis, which Darwin* disciples consider
the ancestor of the whole race. We see some
of the family in our gardens on bright, sunny
autumn days, flitting about in an aimless way.
She leads a solitary, unsocial life, which is
perhaps not unmixed with a species of joy ;
propagates her species, and disappears — just as
the savage does.

Rising a step higher, we find another class
of bee, the Dasyjiodir, who unite to form

Dee. 12, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

493

their dwellings, but, having no community of
tastes or desire for combined effort, each unit is
a law unto himself or herself. Nothing like a
family circle can be detected, though friend-
ship and good fellowship seem to prevail. A
certain attempt can also be seen in the forma-
tion of something like a cell, though as yet it
is rough and unshapely.

Still higher, we come on the Panurgi,
which show traces of combined effort. Each
bee makes its own cell — more shapely and
much in advance of the Dasypodcr — and they
have an approach to their dwellings, which is
common to all and formed by mutual effort for
the good of the whole community. The
attempt at cell-formation is far from perfect,
but the idea is germinating, and something
like a house and home has been evolved.

Then we come to our familiar friends the
Bombus, or humble bee. One solitary queen
bee is seen flying about in early spring, at first
in an aimless manner, until she selects a
favourable spot, where she proceeds to make
her nest — a bumbee's bike — the shape, appear-
ance and contents of which are so well known
to every schoolboy. Unshapely as are the cells
of which it is composed, we discover in them
vast strides towards the desired goal. The
mother bee lays her eggs in them, stores her
honey and bee bread, and tends the larvae which
soon become her willing helpers in adding to and
maintaining the home, where several hundreds
of bees are reared during the season. Nothing
like permanency has yet been attained, for at
the approach of winter the home disappears
and all its inmates but the few queen bees die.

A step in advance is taken by the Meli-
ponita; bees found in tropical climes, who arc
social and live in communities. They build
greatly improved cells, and in habits, customs,
and combination approach very much nearer
our hive-bees than any yet named. Apis
dorsata seems a link between the two. At
times it lives in a close community, but it
nature is yet a roving one, and it displays un-
settled and erratic proclivities. Its cells are,
however, true hexagons, and it3 general con-
duct is so closely allied with that of Mellifica
that it is generally classed in the same species.

At last we come to our own Mellifica, with
its separate •varieties of English, Cyprian,
Italian, Carniolan, &c. It is the type of all
that is highest, best, and most " intellectual "
in insect life. Its work is at the same time
the most wonderful and the most perfect
known. Its order of government is a model.
The sweetness of its produce has become a
proverb ; so has its industry. — F. E, I. S.

DZIERZON AND MOVABLE FRAMES.

[4598.] I read with much surprise the
remarks of your correspondent, A. Royds,
jun., in last week's B.B.J, (page 484), and
consider that my reference to movable-frame
hives need be in no way the cause of a certain
degree of misconception, In fact, I fail to see

how your correspondent can succeed in making
a grievance out of what is known to be a fact.

I should be glad if Mr. Royds will take the
trouble to read that part of my paper again,
and to note the following sentence, to which I
again draw his attention : —

" So that we owe to Dzierzon the fact that
during his life, end on his initiative, the
movable-frame hive should have come into
general use." Is he prepared to dispute this ?

There is no reference on my part of
Dzierzon being the inventor of the movable
frame» as so many suppose. On the contrary,
I have pointed out that the Greeks were
probably the inventors. Baron von Berlepsch
was a contemporary of Dzierzon. These two
worked together for so many years, but I
think we can hardly say that Baron von
Berlepsch perfected the movable frame.
Langstroth was born within one menth of
Dzierzon, and the appearance of " Rational
Bee-keeping" was not Dzierzon's first appear-
ance on the stage of apiculture by a long way.
Dzierzon (who is still living) was a very
careful observer in his early days, and it is to
his credit that he used every means in his
power to verify what he thought before
dashing into print — a lesson which some
might do well to learn.

Should Mr. Royds desire, I can name several
German books which would be an eye-opener
to him, and enable him to get an insight into
the matter, which he evidently does not under-
stand at present.

BEE-KEEPING IN THE WEST INDIES.

I note your reply to " 0. Pfleiderer, London,
S.E.," and beg to inform him that the Com-
missioner of Agriculture issues a book on the
above subject written by W. K. Morrison
(Pamphlet Series No. 9). — R. Hamlyn-
Harris, Tiibingen University, Germany,
December 7.

DEALING WITH FOUL BROOD.

HELP FROM SO-CALLED EXPERTS.

[4599.] In B.B.J, of September 6 last year
(page 340) I saw a paragraph which ran
thus : —

" Mr. S A. Ballance (North Finchley) writes
with just indignation regarding the ' doings '
of a so-called bee ' expert ' who was called in
to assist a Somersetshire farmer (who is also a
bee-keeper, owning about fifty hives) in rid-
ding his bees of foul brood. According to the
details given, this ' expert ' must have been
stupidly ignorant of the nature of the disease
he was dealing with ; but before going further
into the matter it would be well to know if
the man referred to was, as he gave himself
out to be, a duly qualified expert ; and if this
is made clear we will be very pleased to follow
the matter up if desirable.''

I have little doubt that I am the bee-keeper
referred to, as a Mr. Ballanoe from North

494

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 12, 1901.

Finchley was slopping at this place during the
summer of 1900, and he very kindly helped
me in various ways about my bees on several
occasions. Indeed, it was soon after he left
here that the above paragraph appeared in
your pages. At the time referred to I had the
fullest confidence in the expert who attended to
my bees, for he is, I believe, a well-known man,
and I have seen his name in the B. B.J. on several
occasions, both as prize-winner and for expert
work. However, I will give you as well a^
I can a brief account of his dealings with
myself. I have been a bee-keeper for some
years now, but met with indifferent success,
owing to many stocks dying off and others
becoming weak and having to be united.
About three years ago I procured Mr. Cowan's
" Guide Book " and became a reader of the
B.B.J. After reading your publications I
began to suspect foul brood as the cause of my
troubles, and, in consequence, wrote to the
secretary of the nearest B.K.A., enclosing a
subscription and wishing to become a member,
and also asked for a visit from an expert, as
I wanted his help. The secretary replied that
it was impossible to send an expert specially
to see my bees at the time, and, in con-
sequence, my subscription was returned.
Naturally enough, I was disappointed, as I had
about fifty stocks on my hands at that time,
and, of course, it was of the utmost importance
if any of them were diseased to take prompt
step 3 in getting rid of it. Later on I received
a letter from a person who stated that he was
expert to the Association whose help I sought,
and offering to come and see my bees, as he
would be in my neighbourhood on business
and would look in if I wished it. I was, of
course, very glad to avail myself of this offer,
as I had seen my correspondent's name in
print several times in relation to bee-expert
work ; so a call was arranged for, and even-
tually he had a look at several stocks of my
bees, most of which he pronounced as badly
affected with foul brood. I asked him what I
had better do, and in reply he said he would
come down in spring and work up the district
and do my bees at the same time. This pro-
mise was duly kept. He came down, and I
helped him to make artificial swarms of all the
stocks which he pronounced diseased, The
way he did it was as follows : —He brushed
the bees from two strong stocks into a skep,
tied up the mouth of the latter with broken
bags, and placed the skep, mouth downwards,
on a hurdle, which was raised 2 or 3 ft. off
the ground on stools, blocks of wood, &c.
I then carried the hives and combs from
which the bees were driven into a dark room
in an outhouse, carefully closing up every
aperture. We went through about thirty
stocks like this, putting two strong lots of
bees into each skep, or three or four weak
ones according to their strength. I asked
whether it would not be more advantageous
to put one Btrong stock of bees into each skep,
as a strong lot, even if diseased, 13 at least '

equal to a good swarm, but he advised me to
go on as we were doing. The bees were kept
in the skeps for two days, at the end of which
time we began to hive them in disinfected
hives ; but to my intense disgust no less than
eight of the lots were dead ! This represented
at least sixteen strong stocks of bees. I
thought then, and I think now, that it was
due to overcrowding, a3 some of the skeps
were nearly full of bees. However, we hived
the remaining lots, and I wanted to feed them
up with sugar-syrup according to the directions
in the " Guide Book," and destroy or bury the
honey from the diseased hives ; but I was told
that the honey would be all right for feeding
back to the bee3 if it were boiled twice, then
diluted with water, and naphthol beta added.
With his help this was done, but to me it was
very uninviting looking stuff — very dirty and
black-looking, and the bees took sugar-syrup
far more readily than this honey ; in fact, they
would not take it at all unless after some days'
wet weather, when I suppose they were almost
starving. Every artificial swarm to which this
honey from diseased stooks was fed contracted
foul brood again very shortly after the brood
was capped over. Acting under the same
person's advice also, I fed some weak stocks,
which he had pronounced healthy, with this
same honey, and every one of these also con-
tracted foul brood badly. This, as you may
imagine, made me rather sick of " experts," so
this last spring I " did " them myself, accord-
ing to the instructions in "Guide Book,"
instead of trusting to an " expert," and, in
consequence, did not lose a single one in
artificially swarming. I am now happy to say
I have only two or three suspicious case3, and
shall get at them early next spring — foul brood
or no foul brood.

Through the losses I have referred to during
1900, and weakness from the same cause last
spring, I have now only twenty hives at
present, in spite of having purchased ten
swarms in 1900 to fill empty hives (thinking
the bees would be all right after the expert
had " operated " on them). This season has
been quite a record one for this district,
and people have been averaging sixty
and eighty sections per hive, and I thus
consider that I am not far short of £100 out of
pocket through the gross mismanagement
detailed above. I am confident that if I had
treated the bees myself in the spring of 1900
I should have started 1901 with at least fifty
healthy stocks. I may also say that the
person referred to took away a large quantity
of my honey to sell for me, and some more in
the following autumn, for all of which I have
not yet had a penny in cash. I have re-
peatedly asked to have back either the honey
or the money, but I get no reply. Can you
help me in this direction 1 It is a hard
struggle with farming as a business on this
little place at the best of times, and I was
looking to the bees giving me a helping hand,
but they have up to now been only a drag to

Dec. 12, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

495

me, though I am hoping for better tirnes to
come. I have made arrangements with
another farmer to let me have a corner of his
land, about two miles away, and I shall use
it as a sort of isolation hospital for foul brood.
If you can advise me what to do in this fix
you will be doing me a great kindness. —
X. Y. Z., Somerset.

[We have, for obvious reasons, omitted
names, &c, from the above, and have also
deleted all personalities regarding individuals,
for the equally good reason that it is not quite
so safe to print such as may be supposed. At
the same time, we think a matter of such
general interest to bee-keepers should be made
public, and in view of this have made such
inquiries as were necessary in order to arrive
at the facts. As, however, there are always
" two sides to a story,'' we shall now endeavour
to get at the other side, and will then be
able to say what advice we can give in the
direction desired. — Eds.]

SECOND-CLASS EXPERTS' EXAMS.

PUBLISHING QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

[4600.] With regard to the suggestion of
your correspondent " Bridgefield '' (page 484)
on the above subject, several serious difficulties
at once occur. It will suffice to mention two
obstacles which appear to me insuperable.
The first is that since the area of knowledge
required from candidates is comparatively
small, and consequently the scope of examina-
tion is very restricted, the publication of one
question a week would speedily exhaust all
that could well be asked. Secondly, as one
aim of the B.B.K.A. Council is to secure that
all Second-class experts shall be able to express
themselves clearly and independently, this
object would be likely to fail of attainment if
it were possible to pass the examination, with
even great distinction, by committing to
memory the selected answers of the most
successful and able candidates.

As to enabling any who fail in passing the
examination to " see in what way their
answers were deficient," a more reasonable
and useful plan would be to ask the Council
to allow examiners to supply, through the
secretary and for an additional fee, a special
report on the work of any rejected candidate
who should request information as to the
reasons of failure.

I may just add that the Council desire
much rather to make their examinations
effective than merely to see them "popidar."
— A Member or Council and Examiner,
December 9.

[4601.] As a probable candidate at next
year's second-class exams., may I be allowed
to strongly support the suggestion of your
correspondent "Bridgefield" (page 484). I
think if carried into effect it would be of in-
estimable benefit, not only to would-be experts,
but to bee-keepers generally.

I believe it is the custom after examinations

for the professions for the questions and
answers to be published for the benefit of
intending candidates. — W. Snowden, Park
Poultry Farm, near Doncaster, December 8.

SOME ESSEX NOTES.

[4602.] Beet Sugar for Bee-Food.— I see that
" Kelting3, Zandpoort, Holland " (2763, page
489), asks our Editor to state reasons why
beet sugar is injurious to bees as food. I may
say that, while some bee-keepers are a good,
deal troubled by dysentery among their bees, I
have never had a single case of that disease in
my apiary. I attribute thi3 to the fact that I
have always used used cane sugar in the pre-
paration of all bee-food. Any one of average
intelligence can realise that in a naturally
damp climate like ours food prepared from
ingredients that are not of the best to begin
with is almost certain to be rendered less
wholesome by a generally damp atmosphere.

A lady well known to me can never succeed
in making really good jam, i.e., in from two
to three months after making it becomes
mouldy on the surfaoe. In reply to questions
on the subject she says, "jam makiDg is
expensive," and I then find that she always
uses common beet-sugar from the village
general shop for her jam, so year after year
there is this great waste of time and materials.

Railway Companies and Bee- Keepers. —
Your correspondents, " Messrs. W. & S.,
Lowestoft" (4591, page 477), are fortunate in
being able to get their claims for damage to
parcels of comb honey satisfied. I have, not
without reason, thought that the higher
officials of the company inquire of the local
station-master through whom the claim is
made with regard to the position of the
claimant, otherwise, how is it that Messrs.
" W. & S. - and myself, being on the same
railway system, are treated so differently ? A
London honey-dealing firm have had the same
treatment meted out to them as myself by
the G.E.R. So that, if the company are
within their rights, as they tell me they are,
in declining to entertain a claim for comb
honey, the letter of " W. & S." shows that
there is something wrong somewhere.

Enemies of Bees. — On October 22 last, I
detected a toad dining at the entrance of one
of my hives, and as he worked his way down a
hole near by, I thought of him as " the last
toad of summer," but yesterday, December 8,
I saw a small toad in the vicinity, tempted to
a walk abroad by the rain, no doubt. In the
first week of November the large tit put in an
appearance here, and I soon found out they
had " come to stay." The tits do not usually
visit my apiary so early in the winter. This
year they came betimes and at once set about
their destructive work at the hive doors with
such energy as compelled me to trap them.
I sometimes admire the tits, but this year Mr.
and Mrs. Tit have brought all the family with
them for a stay till next spring. Recently,

4^6

T?HE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 12, 1901.

when there was tea degrees of frost, I found
that one of my stocks had been disturbed by
the tits picking and scratching about the
entrance, the bees rushing about and flying out
as they would in April. One tit caught in the
trap at the hive referred to fluttered a little in
the effort to escape, and the bees seeing the
rapid motions of the wings, stung the bird. I
found no less than twelve stings in its head !

Clearing Supers of Bees. — I was much
amused by the article on page 468, by C.
Davenport, culled from the American B.J.,
describing how bees are "jounced" by some
American bee-keepers. " Jounce " is a word
so seldom used in this country that it is now
about twenty-five years since I heard it. I
remember, at the time, I was passing two
children on a see-saw, when one remarked,
"Liza, you do jounce so." The word, being
uncommon, struck me at the time. I think
bee-keepers in this country will be best ad-
vised to do as little "jouncing " as possible,
for rough methods, that may be adopted
without fear of the embrace of the law's strong
arm on a prairie, are not suitable for our
country. Had I ever so large an apiary, I
should prefer to use the super-clearer, for
bees that have been "jounced " at night appear
to feel in the morning somewhat like, I am
.told, a man who had imbibed too freely over-
night, and got a jouncing, feels in the morning
—disagreeable to everything and everybody.
There are few bee-keepers in this country who
can have the annoyance caused by imperfect
clearing of supers, taking enough bees indoors,
or into the extracting-house, in a few supers
to form a swarm in the roof. Bub it seems
that we are simply not in it. We have read
of honey-tanks across the herring-pond holding
from one to three tons ; even these gigantic
receptacles seem likely to get promotion
shortly to a " Honey Trust."

Second Glass Experts* Examinations. —I do
not consider the recommendation of " Bridge-
field '' (4593, page 484) to be a good idea. I
think candidates should give their answers
entirely on their own, so to speak. It is my
opinion that if a variety of ready-made
answers were published there would soon be
what I will call a lack of initiative on the
part of candidates who offer themselves for
examination.

Queen-Excluders,-— Mr. Macdonald, in his
" Comments on Current Topics " (4582, page
472), says, " I never used queen-excluders,
and I never will," apparently forgetting that
circumstances alter cases. Here in Essex the
honey-flow often commences in the third or
fourth weeks of May, and if the bees then
happen to be a little unsettled, the queen
very often gets an opportunity to deposit eggs
in the 1-lb. sections upstairs, and takes it.
In my early bee-keeping days I got so sick of
finding brood in the supers that I have for
years used queen-excluders under supers of
every sort. Nor do I find that the bees allow
themselves to be hindered in the least by the

excluders. But I find that many bee-keepers
are not at all careful how they put the said
appliances on. In the year 1900 I put on
some of my strongest stocks two queen-
excluders each, one in the usual position and
one under the second super. These stocks
were not made to swarm by this treatment,
and the quantity of honey stored by them was
second to none of those stocks that had one
queen- excluder. — Wm. Loveday, Hatfield
Heath, Harlow, Essex, December 9.

DE KEAUMUR ON WASPS AND
HORNETS.

[4603.] In view of the attention just now
being paid to the study of wasps, I would
strongly recommend all such as can read
French to get hold of vol. vi. of Reaumur's
" Memoirs for a History of Insects " ; quarto ;
Paris ; 1742. The sixth and two following
memoirs are devoted to wasps of various kinds
and to hornets, the life-history of these insects
being minutely described from the laying of
the egg onwards, while the reader is greatly
helped by an admirable series of plates, many
of them to scale, not only of the insects and
their parts, but to their nests at various
periods of construction. This great and inde-
fatigable naturalist and man of science, whose
memoirs on the hive-bee in the preceding
volume must always take rank amongst the
moat valuable contributions to bee-craft, was, I
believe, the first to transfer wasps' nests to
glass boxes and keep them under observation.
He describes how the larvae are fed according
to their various ages by the queens and
workers, and he tells us how a schoolboy friend
of his reared several larvae by hand as if they
had been young birds.

Reaumur also witnessed and describes the
coupling of the drones and young queens on
the outside of the nest, although he was not
in a position to carry out his observations
quite so far as has recently been done by Mr.
Brice, whom it is a pleasure to congratulate
both on that point and on having at last
succeeded in demonstrating the flagella of
bacillus alvei. His observations as to the
mortality of the males confirm those of
Reaumur, who found that the workers, earliest
to appear, were the first to perish, and then
the males. Out of several hundred queens
only about a dozen survived the winter ; but,
as Reaumur says, perhaps in a more natural
state of existence the mortality might have
been less.

A very much abridged rendering of
Reaumur's " Memoirs on Wasps and Hornets "
was published in 1748 as part of Thomas
Wildman's "Treatise on Bees." In 1868
Messrs. Longmans published " British Social
Wasps," by E. L. Ormerod, M.D. This book
(8vo, xi.-270 pages, and well illustrated, price
10s. 6d.) was lately being offered for much
less ; it will be found useful to those interested

Dec. 12, 1901.] THE BRIflSfl BEE JOtJR^AL.

49?

in wasps, except on the subject of generation,
which is scantily treated. — H. J. O. Walker,
Lieut. -Colonel late R.A. (" Soufh Devon
Enthusiast ").

METAL DIVIDERS.

[4604.] With reference to Mr. Sheppard's
letter on dividers in your last issue (page 484),
it may be of interest to state that I had two
supers made to my specification in March last
by Messrs. Lee & Son, in which the sections
were hung in frames and wire dividers were
supplied and used.

They were in use last season, and the two
hives on which they were placed certainly
compared very favourably with my other ten
which were supplied with the ordinary rack,
especially in the matter of perfectly sealed
sections. This, I think, is due to wire
separators allowing the air to circulate more
freely and thus keeping the temperature more
even, and as my sections are in frames they
can be removed when finished, which prevents
swarming, and at the close of the season the
unfinished sections, being put into two or three
frames and the super reduced in size by a
dummy, were well sealed. I will be glad to
send up a frame and separators if you care to
see them. I should add that each frame has
wire separators on both sides. — A Dumfries-
shire Bee-keeper, December 5.

[While thanking our correspondent very
much for offering to forward frame, &c, we
will get one from Messrs. Lee & Son, whose
place of business is not far from our
office, thus saving trouble and cost of postage.
—Eds.]

AFTER THE WAR!

BEE-KEEPING IN NATAL.

[4605.] The hives stood where I left them.
After two years' absence, I was quite prepared
to find them either stolen or deserted ; but
there they were among the bananas, half
hidden in the weeds. The first I looked at
was silent and empty. The bees had gone !
The white ants, alas, had taken possession.
Everything was destroyed, honey, honeycomb,
woodwork, and all, the frames broke like
pasteboard at a touch. The hive was filled
with tunnellings of soil ; instead of wax it
was honeycombed with clay.

The white ants and their kin were not the
only plunderers. The deserted hive seemed
to have been a common lodging-house, not
only for beetles and moths, but worms, grubs,
and shell-less snails, all the hidden, hateful
insects of the bush. There was a general
stampede when I lifted the lid. Grey lizards
darted off, and hideous spiders sidled after
them — ugly things, right in seeking some-
where to hide themselves out of sight. The
crickets, singers, and their friends remained
motionless, but no less on the alert, though as
still a3 a snake as long as observed. The

quilt, or what was left of it, was overgrown by
a curious fungus. The roof might have been
opened as a natural history museum of webs
and cocoons. The whole made a pitiful picture
of " absentee landlordism," neglect and decay.

The other colony had been more fortunate.
The hive buzzed with life, and the super was
full of delicious honey gathered doubtless
from the mangoe blossom. Though the
"boys" had done their best to keep the weed
from the house door, it was evident they had
kept far enough away from the hives. The
front was so overgrown it seemed impossible
that the bees could find an entrance. It
required quite a gymnastic performance on
their part to get in, and coming out they
turned an ariel somersault over the roof, then
away !

But in spite of weeds, against moths and
ants, white, black, red, and grey, big, little, and
middle-sized, the bees had held their own.

Not only have they ants and moths, but
bird enemies as well. One fine morning I
surprised a honey-buzzard sitting on the
ground, close by the hive, evidently at break-
fast. My coming startled him, and he flew to
an overhanging branch and stared down at my
green veil as if he had been quite " upset." I
sincerely hoped his appetite was spoilt at
least for that day !

A few nights later, with a friend's help, I
divided the frames. It was a brilliant moon-
light. The whole slope twinkled with fire
flies, and the moonlight made silver lances of
the weeds. We put a new hive in the old
place with a queen -cell, and the hive with the
old queen on a new site. Now both seem
prosperous, I am glad to say. — Mary Ritchie,
Thornhill, Bellair, Natal, South Africa,
November.

REVIEWS OF FOREIGN BEE PAPERS.

BY R. HAMLYN-HARRIS, F.R.M.S.,
F.Z.S., F.E.S., ETC.

Deutsche Illustrierte Bienenseitung (Ost
Ungar B. Zeitung) — Treatment of Hives in
Case of Fire (Germany). — While trying to
subdue a village fire, the men of the fire
brigade were attacked by angry bees and thus
prevented from performing their duties. A
well close by, the water of which would have
been available, was rendered practically use-
less, no one venturing near it on account of
the bees, while the men at one fire engine
stampeded after several had been stung.

The question arises how to avoid such re-
grettable occurrences in future, and thus neither
hinder the men in theirwork nor cause destruc-
tion of the bees. To stop the hive entrances
would most probably cause suffocation to the
bees, especially in warm weather. If the fire
occurs at night the best plan is to throw wet
sacks or rags over the hives, thus cooling the
bees and avoiding reflection of the flame, the
light from which would bring out the bees

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 12, 1901.

only to perish in the flames. If a cool cellar
were available they could of coarse be put in
it, but as a rule no such precautions are
thought necessary.

Bienenwirthschafliches Centralblatt (Angal,
Chili). — Some one remarks that " Chilian
honey is the pressed juice of palms." Does
the writer imagine that palms here grow as
thick as wheat- stalks do in the old country ?
Except grown as ornaments, palms are seldom
seen here. In a small place between Valpa-
raiso and Santiago, it seems, there is a small
factory for the preparation of " palm honey,"
but this is far more likely to be adulterated
with honey than to be itself an adulteration.

A few words on bee-keeping in Chili might
be interesting. The climate is perfect for bees.
The summer lasts from six to eight months.
Often for months at a time there is only sun-
shine, but, the nights being cool, it is not
oppressively hot by day. In summer the wind
is cool, but in winter it blows from the tropics
and is therefore comparatively warm. Lucerne,
white clover, the vine, besides other flowers,
some of which bloom in winter, provide good
bee-pasture.

Chilian hives are square without top or
bottom, 30 centimetres wide and 20 centi-
metres high. A board placed over the top
compartment or surplus-chamber forms the
roof. To secure the honey the board is
removed and the bees smoked gently until
they have all gone below ; the compartment is
then severed with a wire and the board
replaced. If more room is wanted it is
supplied from below.

From the same. — The Bee-Wolf (Trichodes
ctpiarius). — A wide stretch of sand used as a
military exercise ground at Stade, in Germany,
presented a curious appearance a little while
ago. The whole surface looked like a garden
ant-hill, everywhere the fine grains of sand
thrown upwards, and everywhere the small
black ant in evidence. Their burrows were
found to be full of the Trichodes apiarius, and
among them a kind of ichneumon fly un-
known to the writer. The bee-wolf belongs
to the club-horned beetles. At first sight
there is some resemblance to a hornet, but it
is not so large. It is of a shiny blue colour
and hairy (in tufts) ; the elytra are red, with
blue tips and wide blue bands. Up to this
time I had thought that the larva only were
injurious to the bees, and that by their
presence in the hives ; but the experience of
the " sand " was completely new. The bee-
wolf takes bees to its nest, and sucks them
dry. Several dozen of dead, bees lay around
on the sand. I was told that the Trichodes
laid its eggs in the dead bees, but it appears
rather that the ichneumon seen in the same
burrows takes possession of them, and that
its legless and headless larvse live in them as
parasites, singly or several together. The fly
itself only takes a little dew or juice from
flowers.

The bee- wolf has been noticed on this spot
in previous years, but was said to have be-
come more numerous and destructive. It
would be very desirable to know of any
method of destroying them. Is it likely that
heavy rain would have this effect? The
drought so long continued last summer may
have greatly contributed to their increase.

Le Bucher Beige (from "La Science pour
Tous '')• — A curious experiment is mentioned,
in which a doctor of medicine (wishing for
immunity from the effects of bee-stings)
inoculated his own arm with the bee-poison.
He began with the sting of one bee, and then
continued with three stings at a time, until at
the end of a month (the effect of the poison
lessening from day to day) he had scarcely
any more symptoms of poison or any un-
pleasant results whatever.

L'Apiculteur (France). — In a recent number
of the " Allgemeine Zeitschrift," Ent. page 298,
Dr. L. Sorhagen gives some interesting
details on the caterpillar of the wax moth
(Oalleria mellonellaj. He believes that
this creature prefers to live on the brood itself,
and only takes the wax as better than
nothing. M. Legrain, of the " Socidte
Zoologique Agricole," thinks, on the contrary,
that the voracious larva lives entirely on the
wax, but when about to pupate attaches itself
to the partitions of the hive, using any woody
fragments to work into its cocoons. Several
generations of Galleria mellonella have been
raised in captivity with only pieces of wax or
empty combs, the female laying her eggs in
the cells. A few moths were consigned to the
killing bottle and forgotten, but several months
later the cocoons proceeding from caterpillars
of these moths were found in a cupboard in
the midst of some labels which they had torn
to fragments and used for their cocoons.

L'Apiculteur. — Some drones have been
found in a French apiary with white hairs on
their heads. The writer says " the origin of
this peculiarity is said to be as yet unknown."

Le Bucher Beige (Belgium). — The use of the
veil in all apicultural work is strongly urged,
and a curious incident cited as what may
result from not using it : — " Visiting my
apiary with a friend, suddenly a bee fled
directly at him and succeeded in getting into
his right ear. In a moment he had fled far
from the hives, striking out wildly towards the
menaced ear, and crying out, 'The bee is in
my ear. Quick — get it out ' ! Neither hearing
nor seeing anything, I thought he must have
given himself a blow in trying to defend
himself. But no. He complained that he
" had a cascade in his head,'' and begged for
some instrument to dislodge the bee. Such
was procured, and imagine our surprise to see
a bee emerge from the passage of the ear,
which seemed far too small to admit her
entrance ! She appeared to have lost her
sting, or the incident might have led to very
serious results.'

©ec. 12, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,

499

LESSONS OF THE PAST BEE SEASON.

The following artiole from the local cover of
oar monthly Record— 'as issued to its members
by the Kent and Sussex B.K.A.— is so well
worth perusing by all bee-keepers that we
gladly give it the wider circulation afforded
by the B.B.J. :—

" December is the month that marks the
period of hive inactivity ' inside and out.'
Bees and bee-keepers are at rest, so far as
operations in the apiary are concerned. But
the waning of the year brings us to the turning
point — a new period then opens with its
pleasant prospect, and another season's work
looms into view. December is the month in
which we are prone to indulge in retrospect.
Sometimes looking back is profitable and
sometimes it is the reverse.

" Let us consider from a bee-keeping point
of view how we are the richer for the year fast
coming to an end ? How much has been
enjoyed ; how much practical wisdom has been
acquired, provided, of course, that we have
used experience aright? People repine at
lapse of time, but if we have to debit our-
selves with loss of days, the loss is far more
than balanced by ripened thought and maturing
of character.

" How much fine honey has been harvested.
How many, too, have learned something more
and something new about our bees ?

" If we carefully ' take stock ' introspec-
tively, how we find ourselves the richer for
being older, and the happier for being ever so
little wiser, leaving altogether out of account
what is only secondary in importance, the
mere acquisition of £ s. d.

" The season has afforded enjoyable experi-
ence, particularly that of a show at the
Crystal Palace. Not entirely a new experience
to some of our older bee-keepers, but even to
them many of the features were novel and
instructive. There was a measure of risk in
the venture of holding an exhibition of bees
and honey so late in the year, and concurrently
with that of so old and well-established a show
as the " Dairy/' but it is now proved that
there are plenty of exhibits going for Syden-
ham and Islington too. Though this concur-
rence may have detracted in some little
measure from the wealth of the displays, any
loss in that respect has been more than com-
pensated by the fact that country and long-
distance visitors have had the opportunity of
seeing two shows instead of one.

" The exhibits at the Crystal Palace were of
a high order, and the honey, the bees, the
wasps, the appliances, as well as many useful
and novel exhibits, attracted hundreds of horti-
culturists who came to the great show of
British fruit.

" The experience indeed was altogether
satisfactory, and, if all be well, a similar show
will be held at Sydenham again next year.
The secretary of the Royal Horticultural
Society has very kindly expressed his pleasure

at seeing so interesting an exhibit of bee-
produce brought together at the same time and
under the same roof as the Boyal Horti-
cultural Society grand display of British fruit,
He tells us that the Royal Horticultural
Society have decided to hold their show
earlier next year, and suggests that British
fruit and honey shall be found again side by
side. This is a gracious suggestion, and one
which we shall endeavour to carry out.

" Some who exhibited honey in frames at
the shows held late in the year, such, for
instance, as that at the Crystal Palace, have
melted down the comb3 in an earthen vessel
with hot water, and have strained the honey
while hot into a ripener, and then bottled off
the honey straight away from the tap of the
ripener without waiting for it to cool. The
flavour has not suffered in the least, but has
been rather improved by bottling before the
wax has been allowed to cool. It is necessary
to desist drawing off the honey some little
while before reaching the dividing line of wax
and honey, so as to treat the surface residue
by cooling and separating in the usual way.
The honey thus treated seems to us richer
and denser and of somewhat finer flavour than
the honey of identical origin thrown out by
the extractor in August.

" We mention this to show that there is no
disadvantage in keeping frames of comb over
until very late for winter exhibitions, and it is
to be hoped that our friends will not fail to
store frames plentifully in advance, so as to
have a grand display of them at the Palace
next September."

dittos and mpltp.

[2766.] Transferring from Skeps to Frame-
Hives. — May I ask your advice on the follow-
ing through the B.B.J. : — 1. I have a stock
of bees in frame-hive purchased in July, 1900.
They wintered well, and I did not put on
sections till June, thus all the " fruit-blossom
honey" they had for themselves. I have
never examined the combs in brood-nest as they
are so firmly stuck down with propolis (not
having metal ends, only broad-shouldered or
wooden ones). If the bees again winter well
I should like to transfer bees or combs to a
clean hive giving some new frames fitted with
foundation. Do you advise this, and what
time should I make this change I The old
hive requires painting badly. Can I
loosen the fixed combs with a chisel ? 2. I
have had given me two swarms in straw
skeps with plenty of honey for wintering,
and they are placed on stands near
the frame-hive already mentioned. One of
the skeps contains a very good May swarm,
and I would like to transfer this to a new
" W.B.C." frame-hive in the spring by placing
skep above hive. Would you advise this, or

500

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 12, 1901.

shall I allow the skep to swarm, and put the
parent stock in frame-hive because of the
queen being a young one after the swarm has
come off? I do not know the age of present
queens in skeps. I may add I keep the bees
in a small orchard near the house where we
spend each summer — near Chelmsford. The
extracted honey I exhibited at the local show
(Boreham) last year took first prize and my
sections second prize, so I feel encouraged. I
manage the bees myself, with the help of the
coachman now ; at first I got a bee-man to
assist me, — (Miss) B. Purvis, West JJamp-
stead, N. W., December 9.

Reply. — 1. "We should on no account
advise transferring the skep- combs to the new
frame-hive, but leave the old combs in skep
and allow the bees to transfer themselves into
the new hive as described in " Guide Book "
(page 140). The propolised frame-ends will
not be difficult to prize up if a screw-driver is
used to force them apart. Avoid jarring the
frames when doing this or the bees may
resent it. 2. It will be a very safe way to
stock the new hive with an early swarm as
proposed, but the plan first named is also safe
and simple.

[2767.] Do Bees Sting Drone* to Death ? —
It is stated in Nature Notes for December
that "the honey-bee kills off the drones by
stinging them.'' If that be so, it is news to me.
Do you think they do ? I thought that bees
were much too careful of their sting to part
with it over a drone. — F. L. Rawlins, Rhyl,
December 5.

Reply.— -It is seldom safe to rely on non-
technical books where bees are concerned. The
following view of the matter, taken from the
" British Bee-keeper's Guide Book," by our T.
W. Cowan, is more to the point. Referring to
the drone, on page 10, we read :— "They are
called into existence on the approach of the
swarming season to fertilise the young queens.
At the end of summer, when the honey-flow
ceases, or when no longer needed, food is
withheld from them by the workers, and they
are driven forth from the hive to perish."

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All querietforioardedvill be attended to, and thote only
ofperional inter tit tcill be antwertd in th.it column.

A. L. (Linton, Cambs).— Soft Candy.— The
sample sent is excellent in all respects. We
are glad to hear of its having been " made
exactly according to the instructions in
Cowan's 'Guide Book,'" it being un-
accountable to us why some — with the
same book to guide them — fail to make a
good soft candy. It, however, renders plain
the fact that the makers, not the book, are
at fault when failure follows.

G. W. (Worcester).— Folding Section-Cases.—
Mr. Sladen, having now returned from his

American trip, will no doubt be able to
afford information regarding the folding
cardboard boxes mentioned by him on
page 454 of our issue for November 14. A
London firm some time ago devised a
folding cardboard box with a small piece of
glass let in one side, but we do not think it
met with any favour.

D. R. (Blairgowrie). — Preventing Leakage in
Honey Jars. — 1. We do not think there
need be any fear whatever of leakage from
glass jars when the corks used are dipped
in molten wax, as advised on page 91 of
" Guide Book." To add resin to the wax
prepared for " dipping " would make the
removal of corks a matter of much difficulty,
and we fear often end in a broken jar. 2.
Screw-cap jars are less easy to make leak-
proof, as the thin cork-wads are so often
full of holes that the honey will get oat
somehow. In this case also it lessens the
risk if wads are dipped in hot wax before
laying on the jar and screwing down.

R. F. Patton (Luncarty, N.B.). — Plans of
Bet-houses. — We deferred reply to your
query, having in view the publication of
such a plan as is desired, and have no doubt
the excellent article on " How to Build a
Bee-house,'' page 486, with working drawings
and full details, will suffice for your purpose.
In our issues of October 3 and 10 there is
also a plan of a smaller house, intended as
an apiary workshop, with measurements of
material and cost of same. This latter
could be readily adapted to hold four or
more colonies of bees if needed.

G.E. K. (North Wales).— Suspected Combs.—
There is no doubt as to the comb sent being
affected with foul brood. The disease is of
old standing in sample, only the almost
dried-up contents of a few cells remaining
for examination. Nothing can now be done
in the way of safeguarding the healthy
colonies which may have carried the infec-
tion to their own hives when given the
diseased combs to clean up after extracting.
You must keep a careful watch on the
hatching brood of the healthy stocks in the
months of April and May next, and take
steps for curing, if diseased, as directed in
"Guide Book.''

Honey Samples.

L. Higley (Bromsgrove). — Sample is rather
coarse in flavour, caused probably by being
chiefly from Trifolium incarnatum, or crim-
son clover. It is also beginning to show
signs of fermentation.

W. H. Benwett (Manchester). — The light-
coloured sample is very good, and would
stand well on the show-bench as a granu-
lated honey. The dark sample is not
nearly so good in any respect, and it is just
starting to ferment.

E. C. (Newton Abbot). — No, the disagreeable
"tack" in your sample is not from the
Chapman honey plant.

Dec. 19, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

501

(Bfitoral, Ifrtitea, fat

SEASONABLE.

Seeing that before our next issue
appears Christmas-day will have been
numbered with the past, we take advan-
tage of the time-honoured custom by
wishing to our readers good health to
enjoy the festive season, in whatever
direction the bent of their thoughts leads
them toward what is good and healthful.
Nor do we doubt that all the truly
good amongst us, who are Britons —
whether at home or abroad — would have
felt their thankfulness immeasurably
enhanced had we been able to add to our
season's thanksgivings the news that the
Christmastide of 1901 had brought with
it, and for us, "Peace on earth," along
with the "Good-will to men" that we
hope all who read these lines will feel in
their hearts.

HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of
November, 1901, was £2076.— From a return
furnished to the British Bee Journal by the
Statistical Office, H.M. Customs.

(fcurraspcmdeittt.

The Editors do not hold themielvee responsible for the
opinion* ezpreaei by correspondents. No notice will b$
taken of anonymoui communication!, and correspondents
are requested to write on one tide of the paper only and
give their real namet and addresses, not necettarily for
publication, but at a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tion! should be drawn on teparate piecet of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communication!.

%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents,
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as well
as the page on which it appears.

SECOND-CLASS EXPERTS' EXAMS.

PUBLISHING QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

[4606.] Allow me to thank a "Member of
Council and Examiner " for his remarks
(4600, page 495) in your last issue, but I am
sorry to see that he is not in sympathy with
my suggestion.

With regard to area and scope of the
examinations, the syllabus of which lies be-
fore me, and also the questions set at the late
examination for second-class certificates, I
think that they pretty well cover the subject
of apiculture, about which the writings of our
respected Senior Editor, Mr. Cowan, alone

are, to say the least, not very restricted, and
in his preface to "The Honey Bee" (220
page3) he remarks that " much time has been
spent to make the book as concise as possible
to bring it within reasonable limits." My
idea in suggesting that only one question and
answer should appear weekly was not to
encroach too much on your valuable space,
and applied to the questions set at the late
examination only, which would not in any
way exhaust the subject.

Agiin, while admiring the aim of the
Council at securing independence of expres-
sion, I fail to see why any question should
appear in exactly the same form, as to enable
a candidate to use an answer committed to
memory, should evei one be found so foolish
a? to do so, and that the subject is not so
barren of questions as this, I think the query
column of the BB.J. will amply prove. In
my letter I did not refer to any who had
failed in passing the examination, but am of
opinion that a better guide as to the scope of
the examination and the standard of attaio-
ment required could not be obtained than the
questions set at past examinations, together
with " model" answers to the same.

With regard to the examination being
"effective'' rather than "popular,'' I would
submit that being "popular" would no1;
necessarily make them less "effective," and,
for example, I do not think that even
"Member of Council and Examiner" would
suggest that the great popularity of our
worthy Editors' query column detracts in the
slightest degree from the effectiveness of the
replies, but, on the contrary, adds considerably
to their good effect.

I concluded that the second- class examina-
tions were not at present very popular from
seeing in B.B.J, the long lists of third-class
experts' certificates granted by the Council.
In the issue for October 3, 1901 alone, forty-
one appear to have been granted.

In the last report of the second-class exam.
(vide B.BJ., January 31, 1901) three cer-
tificates only were granted. I am not aware
of the number who sat, and perhaps should
not refer to the amount of fees received, as
thi3 may be, and most probably is, only a
secondary consideration with the Council of
the B.B.K.A. ; but I cannot refrain from
imagining that I should hear a quiet chuckle
of satisfaction issuing even from the Council-
room of the B.B.K.A. if the entrance-fees of
fifty or a hundred candidates were received
instead of half a dozen ; £50 would add not a
little to the effectiveness of the B.B.K.A., of
which I am a member.

My suggestion was put forward to meet
such cases as that of " W. Snowden" (4601,
page 495) in your last issue, and I should
like to see all those who wish the suggestion
carried out making their wishes known
through the B.B.J. ; otherwise I am quite
willing to let the matter drop.

That it has been the custom in at Ica-t one

502

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 19, 1901.

profession for many years the enclosed cuttings
will show, and I should like to have your mo3t
reliable editorial opinion as to whether they
would tend towards the good or the harm of
the subjects they deal with. — " Bridgefield,"
Carmarthenshire, December 16.

[Seeing that both Editors of this journal
are, and have been, members of the B.B.K.A.
Council for many years past, it should be
obvious that our opportunities for forming an
accurate opinion, with regard to publishing
questions and answers as proposed, are excep-
tional. In view of this experience, we con-
sider that the method of dealing with the
question is the best that can be devised. Nor
have we any hesitation in saying that this will
be the general opinion of those who have
secured the second-class certificate. Those
who have failed will probably differ from us.
This, however, does not alter the fact ; and,
with regard to those who complain after the
examination is over and results made known, it
merely shows that they are not " good losers."
—Eds.]

DZIERZON AND MOVABLE FRAMES.

[4607.] I am obliged to Mr. Hamlyn-Harris
for his comments on my remarks with refer-
ence to Dzierzon and movable frames. I
observe that he reproduces his former state-
ment that " we owe to Dzierzon the fact
that during his life and on his initiative the
movable frame-hive should have come into
general use." I cannot find that he is sup-
ported in this belief by - any British or
American authority, and Dzierzon's own work,
"Rational Bee-keeping," appears to me to
offer a direct negative to any such assumption.
I did not raise the question of the invention
of the movable frame, but I may remind
Mr. Hamlyn-Harris that Langstroth himself
generously admits the equal and contemporary
claim of Baron von Berlep3ch in regard to the
invention, while Neighbour informs us that
'•in 1853 Baron von Berlepsch, by a distinct
inventive process, added the frame to
Dzierzon's bars.''

If your correspondent is able to bring for-
ward any tangible evidence in support of his
contention he will find no one more willing to
be enlightened on the subject than myself. I
should like, however, to suggest to him in
that spirit of friendly candour which should
animate all followers of our craft that dis-
courteous personal remarks do not lend force
or weight to any argument.— A. Royds, Jun.,
Soberton, Hants, December 16.

TITS AND BEES.

carefully noted the habits of the various tits
round my hives ; yet I can truthfully declare
that I have never once seen a tit kill bees at
the hive entrances. That they pick up dead
bees, or those tint are numbed on the snow, I
admit ; also that under such circumstances
they carry bee3 off to some convenient spot,
pull them to pieces, and feed on the edible
parts, for I have watched tit3 doing this scores
of times, and so far they are welcome to the
food they get in this way. Bat when your
correspondent, Mr. Win. Loveday, on page 496,
tells us how he deals with them, it is to my
mind cruel in the extreme. He says : " One
tit caught in the trap set for it at the hive
referred to flattered a little in the effort to
escape, and the bees seeing the rapid motion
of the wings, stung the bird. I found no leas
than twelve stings in it3 head."

I fancy I see the poor little tit, with wings
extended, fluttering for liberty, and in its
struggles disturbing the bees far away up in
the combs in their snug winter cluster, and
brought them down to the hive-entrance to
see whit the fuss is about, and, instead of the
setter of the trap, they fiad only a helpless
bird on which to wreak their vengeance.
Now, if other bee-keepers really find the tits
destructive to bees in their apiaries, I shall be
please! to give a hint as to a more humine
method of getting rid of them -. — As Christmas
is so near at hand, the boae3 of cooked meat
will be plentiful, and rough fao also ; let me
therefore advise all readers to hang up some
of these waste morsels for the birds. It will
interest the children, at any rate, to watch
these beautiful birds clinging and pecking off
the scraps of meit from the bone3 offered
them, enjoying life, instead of having to
endure such suffering as I have referred to. —
James Hiam, The Wren's Nest, Ashwood
Ban\ Worcestershire, December 13.

A CHRISTMAS HINT.

[4608.] It must be somewhere about twenty
years ago since I used to write an occasional
note on "Enemies of Bees " in the B.B.J., and
for about double that length of time I ha^e

NOTES FROM WYCHWOOD FOREST.

[4609] Like Mr. Loveday, who writes on
page 486, I should like a little light on the
matter of railway companies' liability for
damage to honey taken at " through rate.''
How i3 it that when one refuses to " take
joyfully the spoiling of one's goods" the
general manager can say his company can
undertake " no responsibility for consignments
of honey in sections " ? They get many
claims for damige, perhap3, yet why do they
not compel porters to use reasonable care ?
Bose3 niay be picked as well as hands can
do it, labelled distinctly "Don't jar" and
other warning words, yet the honey gets
smashed in transit. One box is piled above
another on a barrow, and the lot is sometimes
shot off to fall where the boxes chance to
drop. A relative of mine had £j worth of
honey smashed on rail, and people who send
honey suffer more or le3s, in spite of every
care and pack how they will.

Dec. 19, 1901.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

503

Mr. Sladen in his remarks about the Pan-
American Exposition speaks of "shipping-
cases" with a strip of glass in sides. I
wonder if there were any springs or other
means of any kind by which to soften off the
sudden jar caused by dropping a box or jar ?

The -article by Mr. Davenport iu B.B.J, of
the 28th ult. (page 478) as to " sacking " up
extracted honey after granulation seems to
need taking with a little salt before it will go
down. When I read it aloud here one voice
said, li That sounds like Ameiica.'' Still every
new idea is welcome and one must cull the
graiu and reject the chaff. — J. Kibble,
Ckatlbury, Oxford, November 30.

A BIG SWARM

AND ITS YIELD THIS SEASON.

[4610.] It is said hereabout that " A swarm
in May is worth a load of hay ; a swarm in
June is worth a silver spoon ; a swarm in July
is not worth a fly." In B.J. of Novembsr 28
(page 477) your correspondent Mr. Belderson
mentions a large swarm that did well. Seeing
that I had a still larger swarm, and one that
did better, I am forwarding particulars, also
enclosing a small photo of said swarm. They
came out on June 26, and as it was impossible
for me to shake the huge swarm into the
hiving skep, I hung the latter, bees and all, in
the tree after having filled it with bees. The
photo was taken a few minutes after the bee3
had clustered, and when scaled they weighed
full 10 lb. net. I put them into a large
hive on the " W.B.C." plan, containing

thirteen frames (fitted with ' starters") in
brood-box, and on top of this a State! rd-
frame super with eleveu frames of empty
comb. In less than a fortnight after hiving,
I had to give the bees in addition a rack of
sections, and on July 19 (a very hot day) I
fouud honey running out at the hive entrance.
I, of course, made an examination at once to
find out what was up, and had to remove the

eleven standard frames from the super, and
these eleven weighed 77 lb. of pure honey.
Moreover, the brood-body was almo3tfull, and
the combs being new and built from starters
only, they could not bear the strain, and three
of the combs had broken down. In con-
sequence of this mishap L had to clear
away from 12 lb. to 15 lb. of good honey.
This swarm has since given about 25 lb. of
extracted honey and a rack of twenty-one
sections ; not only so but the honey from this
same hive has been in the prize list every
time shown. *

I had another swarm next day (June 27),
just six, and although it got similar treatment
and was standing side by side with the 10 lb.
and I only secured about 50 lb. of surplus
from it. In view of these results methinks,
"Big swarms pay, come when they may." —
E. W. Carbines, Venn, Cardinham, Dec. 2.

THE "W.B.C." HIVE.

HOW TO MAKE IT.

[4611.] In the Bee Journal of November 3
and 10, 1898, there appeared an illustrated
article entitled 'The 'W.BC Hive," with
plans and measurements, by Mr. Robert
Peebles, India-street, Edinburgh. On reading
the particulars I decided to make two hives
from the directions given, and not having pre-
viously seen a " W.B.C." I was entirely in the
dark about it. However, I found the measure-
ments veiy simple, and having made two hives
as a triil, found theai to answer so well this
last season that I have resolved to make all
my hives on this plan in future. I remember
Mr. Peebles, in his article, mentioned the
Editor's being asked if the inner hive-body
could ba pushed up to front of inner case to
prevent bees getting up into the space
between. I thought this of importance, and
have since seen in catalogues of hive-makers
that a piece of wood is used to keep the bee3
down. Having a piece of perforated zinc in
which the holes were rather large, I tacked a
strip of this across each of the bottoms of the
inner case, and found this answered the pur-
pose admirably without stopping ventilation,
so that it seems to be a little improvement to
add to the " W.B C." hive. I offer it for what
it is worlb, and I hope it will receive the
consideration of more experienced hive-makers
than myself. — Thomas Norman, Queen'A
Park, Northampton.

RAILWAY COMPANIES AND BEE-
KEEPERS.

[4612] Referring to Mr. W. Loveday's
" note '' (4602, page 495). As no mention
has been made by that gentleman, or other
correspondents, as to the way their honey was
consigned, viz., at company's or owners' risk —
apparently bee-kespers generally are not aware
that railway companies have two rates in

504

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 19, 1901.

operation for the conveyance of honey. If the
st-DcIer signs an " owner's risk '' note, agreeing
to relieve the company from liability in the
event of loss, damage, or delay, the honey is
charged at one-half the ordinary parcels rate,
but it the full parcels-rate is paid, the com-
pany are liable for any loss, damage, or delay
to the honey that may occur whilst in their
hands.— W. A. H., Berks, December 14.

DEALING WITH FOUL BROOD.
[4613.] I see you have published my letter
on page 493 last week, and I beg to thank you
for taking so much trouble on my account and
devoting valuable space in the B.BJ. to the
story of my misfortunes. I also quite agree
you are right in withholding names, as I have
no wish to do the person referred to any harm,
and if he had paid me for the honey taken
away with him even just before I wrote to you,
no complaint on my part would have appeared
in your pages at all. I should have been con-
tent to " grin and bear it,'' so far as regards his
" doings " to my bees, and used the experience
I have so dearly bought to prevent such a
misfortune happening again. But your foot-
note at the end of my letter shows me cleirly
that it was my duty to report it in the interests
of bee-keepers generally. Permit me,
however, to correct a little inaccuracy
which appeared in my letter as pub-
lished. It occurs eight lines from the bottom
of page 494, and reads thus : — "I have
repeatedly asked to have back either the
honey or the money, but I get no reply."
The words in italics should be — but 1 cm get
neither. As a matter of fact, I have had two
or three replies, and each time professing great
willingness to pay me, but payment has been
continually put off on various pretexts, which
I do not consider at all satisfactory. The last
letter (received about two months ago) con-
tained an offer to pay for 288 lb. of honey,
when I am perfectly certain the weight was
more like 4 cwt. However, being quite weary
of the trouble I was having, I thought it better
to take that than nothing at all, and so I wrote
expressing this much, and saying that, if so
willing to pay me, to do so without more
bother. This was about two months ago, and
I have not heard from him since. I did not
mention this in my letter, being anxious to
make it as brief as possible, and confining
myself strictly to the points of which I had
most to complain.

Again thanking you for the trouble taken.
— "X. Y. Z ," Somerset, December 16.

[4614 ] Referring to the letter of " X. Y Z ,"
Somerset, in last week's Bee Journal (page
493), will you kindly allow me. as one of the
very few experts residing in the county men-
tioned, or within a reasonable distance of the
same, who answer to the description given, to
disclaim any connection whatever with the

affairs therein mentioned. I acted as expert
to the Bristol, Somerset, and South Gloucester
B.K.A. (which I take to be the nearest
B.K.A.) until the end of 1899, but certainly
had no dealings with the writer, whoever he
may be, though if within reasonable distance I
should be pleased if possible to help him to
overcome his repugnance to " expert '' help. —
W. A. Withycombe, Old Taunton-road,
Bridgwater, Somerset.

BEE HOUSES.

HOW TO BUILD ONE.

[4615. j As a constant reader of the Bee
Journal, allow me to tender my thanks to
your correspondent " Worker Bee, Langford,"
for the pains he has taken in giving such full
instructions in your issue of the 5th inst. on
the building of a bee-house, in ans «ver to my
appeal. I am sure it will ba appreciated by
your readers.

Could I trouble him further to ask, how far
the " mortise hole '' in 7 ft. 10| in. by 4 in. by
2 in. (6) is intended to go from the 2 in. mark
towards the end to make corner of floor ?
Should it be cut right through to the end,
i.e. , 4 in., or only half way, i e , 2 in. ?

Also, referriug to the print (8) on page 487,
are the uprights intended to be fastened to the
floor by corner-plates (or " squares ") 1

Apologising for intruding on your space. —
G. W. Buttery, Whea'on Aston, Stafford,
December 12 (" Working B").

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

We are more than pleased to present a view
of Mr. Samwajs' bee-garden on next page,
for the owner is one of the active workers
(doubly welcome as helpers) at the craft who
are engaged as teachers, and make a special
point of instilling into the minds of the boys
under their charge a love of bee-keeping.
Not only so, but they are instructed in all
the practical details connected with the
management of frame-hive3 on modern
methods. It goes without saying how helpful
such teachers are to us. For the rest, we leave
the following " notes " to speak for themselves.
He writes: —

'• My first recollections of bee3 go back to
boyhood, when the interest then created by
my brother's bees led me when the oppor-
tunity came, about thirteen years ago, to lay
the foundation of my present apiary, my first
stock being obtained by exchanging a violin
for a straw skep of bees. I had a lively time
at first, but persevered, and, as my stock*
increased, I commenced to study the subject
by reading ' Modern Bee-keeping,' ' fi.B.
Guide Book,' Cowan's ' Honey Bee,' and
taking the B.B. Journal. I progressed in
the theory and practice of apiculture until
I felt sufficient confidence to try for the
B.B.K.A. Expert's Certificate at the examina-

Dec. 19, 1901 .J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

505

tion held in connection with the late Royal
Show at Cardiff. Having succeeded so well
there in the handling of live bees, the
written examination was next attempted
in November last. Being the master of a
Board school (exempted from examination),
I have, with the approval of H.M.
inspector, placed apiculture in my scheme
of work in school, to illustrate which I
have the B.B.K A. diagrams, a school
museum, in which specimens of objects and
apparatus relating to apiculture find a place,
in summer one of Messrs. J. Lee & Son's
three-frame (£5 15s.) observatory hives of
bees in the school window, with arrangements
for flight — a very interesting and instructive

' W.B.C ends, all sections are secured in the
' W.B.C hanging frame-section box, all un-
capping is down with ' W.B.C knives, and the
apiary is worked by a ' W.B.C expert.
(W.B.C, E-sq., having been my ' examiner ' at
the Cardiff Snow). Every super is interchange-
able throughout the apiary, and all hive3 hive
flat zinc-covered roofs. I have tried the
Ryrner plan, with adaptors made of tin, but
the four hives in the left hind corner are
swarm3, so the plan has not been a complete
success with m?. I have about 400 shallow
frames of comb, ani work chiefly far extracted
honey, but when I get a good swarm, I put on
a ' W.B.C section box, I sometimes exhibit,
and hold the Welsh Industries Association's

MR. HSRrrtRT SAMWAYS' APIARY, LLANDEBIE, CARMARTHENSHIRE.

object to the children. To judge also from
the looks of astonishment and intelligent in-
terest depicted on the faces of the scholars
when they hear such simple facts as that the
bee's body is covered with hair, that it
breathes through openings in its sides, that it
his a brain and a heart, that its blood is
white, and that it can fly backwards, the sub-
ject must be a very beneficial one, in arousing
in them a desire for information and assisting
in making them, after their school days are
over, keener obiervers and in greater sym-
pathy with their surroundings and the enjoy-
ment of country life.

" My apiary could well be termed a 'W.B.C
apiary, as all my hives are worked on the
' W.B.C principle ; all frames have the

first-class diploma of rmrit for honey, and
also took the first prize for sections in
an important local show this season,
where the renowned Woodley sections had
to take a lower place. I have never been
troubled with foul brood. My apiary is
nicely situated at the bottom of one of our
own fields, facing south, on a low terrace
erected for it, with a small brook flowing in
front. Our honey season extends from early
ia April to late in October, though the surplus
is mainly from white clover and heather,
which is situated about three quarters of a
mile to the south. About half a ton of
surplus is generally secured in seasons like the
past one, and this season's has all been sold
out some time ago. I do nearly all my work

506

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 19, 1901.

amongst the bees in the evening?, and my
twenty hives do not now cause the annoy-
ance to neighbours that one used to do
years ago. With regard to the p?rsons in
the picture, the figure in the centre is myself,
my wife stands on my right — and is, let me
say, an ideal right-hand tupporter to a bee-
man ; she can melt the wax, bottle the honey,
label it with her own printed label, pack it,
and does not forget to ask me for the cheque
that comes by post in the mornings. On my
left is my friend Mr. Bevan, a neighbouring
bee-keeper and farmer, a splendid mani-
pulator and a most successful exhibitor, who
is ever ready to give me a helping hand when
needed. He has accompanied me on my bee-
driving excursions this autumn, and if the
distance is great, puts his horse in the trap,
and a pleasant drive soon brings us to the
homes of the skeppists. We have saved
between U3 forty stocks this autumn from the
sulphur pit. I have induced ten skeppists to
purchase and adopt the frame-hive this season
alone, and hope to do a little more yet towards
spreading a love for apiculture, which you,
Sir, through the valuable B. B. Journal,
so very ably advocate."

<$u{riqs and gs§\\^.

[2768] Positions of Eggs in Cells. — On
page 10 of Mr. Cowan's book on " The Honey
Bee " is the following paragraph : — "• It will be
noticed that the egg (fig. 1, A) stands in a
position parallel to the sides of the cells, and
this position it retains the first day. On the
second day it is inclined at an angle of 45 deg.
(fig. 1, B), and on the third day it assumes a
horizontal position (fig. 1, C), resting perfectly
flat on the base of the cell." Would you
kindly explain why this should be so ?— J B.,
Polyphant, Devon.

Reply. — Your query was so fully answered
by our esteemed contributor, Mr. H. W.
Brice, in his article on " The Metamorphosis
of the Bee," in BB J., vol. xxid., p. 507, that
we cannot do better than quote therefrom as
follows :— " On examining a cell just after an
egg is laid we find a small white speck stand-
ing on end, attached to the base of the cell,
and slightly on one side of the apsx thereof ;
it is fixed in this position by a watery,
semi-sticky substance, which at this period
envelopes the whole of the egg. Within
a few moments, however, one of the nurse-
bees enters the cell — head first, of course—
and, after a few seconds of activity, with-
draws and hurries away to the next cell to
'go on' a3 before. Now, let us examine
the cell agaiD, and we find that the nur=,e-bee
has carefully pkced the new-Ia;d egg down
on its side and iu its orthodox and proper
position at the bottom of the cell. The egg
from this time forward is a matter of constant

care and attention on the part of the nurses,
who are persistently examining it, probably to
see how it is 'getting on.' On the second
day we find the bees have shifted its position
to an angle of about 35 deg. ; on the third
it is again moved to an horizontal position ;
and on the fourth day it hatches out."

[2769.] Glass Quilts for Bees. — In your
issue of November 7 (4556, page 448) a corre-
spondent, " W. 0. H., South Devon," writes in
favour of " Glass Quilts for Bees." I would
quite agree with him as to glass being suitable
for winter and summer passages. But could
you inform me — 1. Is glass suitable for the
purpose ? Would it not retain the moisture
in the hive ? It seems to me it would be more
suitable if the glass could be perforated with
small holes, like perforated zinc? 2. Is TVin.
not too small a space between |glass and tops
of frames 1 or would not \ in. or •/„ in. be
better ? — George Grant, Waulkmill, Alvah,
Banfi\ N.B., December 12.

Reply. — 1. Our querist cannot be aware
that the suitability of glass as a covering for
bees in winter has been discussed at great
length in former issues of the B.B.J., and it
was clearly demonstrated by the advocates of
glass for the purpose that it had no ill effects
such as are mentioned. The question will,
therefore, remain a moot point, and the best
way in which to test the matter is to try it on
a hive. To do this without condensation of
moiscure, plenty of warm woollen covering is
needed for the glass. 2. The thickness given
for the strips of wood on which the glass rests
is quite right, and will give passage-way, as
stated.

[2770.] Making a Unicomb Observatory
Hive. — I want to make a small observatory
hive to contain one frame of comb with queen
and bees for exhibition. Will you kindly tell
me what space I should allow between the
glass on either side ?— T. K, JYorthants,
December 12.

Reply. — As a general rule, ^ in. is allowed
between the face of the comb and glass. It
sometimes happens that the upper portion of
bruod-conibs, when filled with sealed honey, are
too thick to allow a bee-space between the
comb and glass ; consequently, it is quite
common — especially with home-made observa-
tory hives — to see the bees fast between the
glass and comb, and the sealing being
industriously nibbled away by the bees
too, proved the needful space for passage way.
It would assist you very much to have a well-
male observatory as a pattern to work from.

TOGGLES AND THE BEES.

A STORY WITH A MORAL.

In the beginning Toggles had been very
much afraid of bees, and when he heard a
" buzz-buzz " coming nearer and nearer to his
head, he had wanted to strike with his hat or

Dec. 19, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

507

run away into the house. Bat that was when
he first came to the farm. Grandpa explained
to him that the bees could hurthioo, of course,
but they did not want to. They were only
very busy afthis time of the year, and did not
like to be interfered with ; and when once
Toggles had learned that, he and the bees
became great friends.

They usually went to work before he was
up, but sometimes he was awake early en nigh
to see the last of them setting off, and how-
ever far he might wander during the day, he
was almost certain to meet some of them
flying home with their loads or balancing
upon the clover blossom?.

After tea, when their busy day was over,
Toggles would walk down among the hive3,
all so quiet now, with not a worker in sight
except the little bee-3entry pacing back and
forth in front of the entrance, and it was as
interesting as anything he had ever seen.

He was not afraid of them any more.
Escept when he was helping grandpa, he
never wore a " bee veil ; even then his
hands were always bare. Grandpa would
open the hives and show him about them,
until he could tell what was honey-comb and
whit brood-comb; ha also knew pollen, or
bee bread, and could pick out at a glance the
queen with her little train of attendants, who
never left her, and the great lazy drones, who
did no work at all and are just as much as
other bees.

Wheu grandpa was somewhere else, he
would hammer together the little honey-boxes,
called sections, which grandpa paid him six-
pence a hundred for making. That was fun ;
but when the day was warm and grand p i was
not watching, it was work, too, and to make a
hundred boxes took a good while, no matter
how industriously he worked.

But Toggles was learning much those days,
so much that when grandpa went away to the
city, he left the bees partly in charge of the
gardener and partly in charge of Toggles, and
that is how there came to be a story for me to
tell you.

They had been cutting some bits of comb
from the bottom and outsides of the hive3,
where bees ought not to build comb to put
honey in, and the gardener said, " Whab doe3
he do with these 1 "

Toggles thought, but could not remember.

" L si's put them down ia front of the
hives,'' he suggested. " Then the bees can
take the honey in and put it somewhere else.''

They did it, and the bees wen1; to work,
taking it once.

The next day after dianer, Toggles went
down among the hive?, and the very first
thing tint happened was a bee flew straight
in his face and stung him right on the end of
his nose. He had out the sting in a second
and rubbed on some ammonia, but it seemed
such an outrageous thing for a bee to do that
he put on his veil and went back to see, if he
could, what wa3 the matter.

A bit of honey in comb in front of one of
the hive3 was covered with bees, and all
around it were bees struggling and fighting,
locked together and rolling over and over in
the grass. Around at the back some others
seemed to be trying to get in where the cover
fitted loosely, and inside the buzzing was an
angry roar. Toggles went from hive to hive,
and in several there seemed to be trouble.
What it all meant he could not guess.

Grandpa came at two o'clock, and driving
up from the station Toggle3 told him all about
it. Grandpa did not say much, but as soon as
he reached home he changed his clothes, and
they went out to the bees. Toggles watched
him while he scraped the honey from in front
of the hive?, stopped up the cracks with bits
of rags, moved the blocks in front to make the
entrances smaller, and quite closed some of
the hives. Then they walked off together.

" What was the matter, grandpa?" asked
Toggles.

'• They were stealing from each other."

" But what made them steal ? " said Tog-
gles.

Grandpa sat down and lifted Toggles to his
knee.

" I think,'' he said, " that some little boy
put some honey down in front of a hive, and
the bees came out to get it, and then the bees
from another hive came to get it, and the bee3
from the other hive went inside to get more,
and then other bees did the same things, and
by and by they were all robbing and fighting.''

"Bat, grandpa,'' exclaimed Toggles, " I only
did it to help them ! I thought it would be
easier for them. '

" Yes,'' said grandpa, " so it was. But I'll
tell you something worth while to remember.
It isn't a good thing for bees or for boys to
have things too easy. Now, some boys, when
they want money, think the best way is to go
to their mamma3 or their grandpas and ask for
it. Now I think it's a great deal better for
them to earn it making honey-boxes."

" Yes," said Toggles. " So do I."

— Scotsman.

APICULTURE AS A BUSINESS.

At last W. Z. Hutchinson has come to the
decision that the business that best combines
with bees is more bees. He has yielded to the
inevitable — to the march of specialism. We
may theorise, and plan, and prospect, but to
succeed and even make a respectable living
from any biuiaess in these times, we must
specialize. By this I mean that we must
select one line of business and push that one
thing. Even what a few years ago would be
counted as one line of business, we find now
divided into ssveral different and special
branches. One man's speciality i3 extracted
honey, another comb, a third queen-rearing,
and such division and sub-division. It is
possible for one man or firm to handle success-

508

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 19, 1901.

fully several lines, but to do so requires a much
larger outlay of capital. The thought is, the
specialist, giving his time and enemy to the
one thing — mastering all the details and facili-
tating his production or conduct of the busi-
ness— is able to discount all competitors who
are less well prepared. The specialist having
acquired the knowledge and facilities for
handling the business, adds to its volume at a
very nominal additional outlay, and it is this
increased volume of business handled from ap-
proximately the same basis of equipment used
in the smaller business, that enables the
special and extensive operators to discoun the
lesser.

It is the argument in favour of great com-
binations, that the multitude of small factories
or businesses, when combined under one
general head and management, can be run
more cheaply than when all run separately and
independently. Combination gives power,
and an unjust use of this power becomes op-
pression and extortion. The fact that com-
bination gives a power that often is used for
extortion, does not invalidate my argument,
but strengthens it — there is no disputing the
faet that in union there is strength. The
general benefits of co-operation or combina-
tion I will not now discuss, nor the wrong use
of power which comes of combination ; I have
introduced the thought here because special-
ism and combination are things that must be
considered in our business calculation?. My
aim in this series of articles on " Apiculture
as a Business '' is to get our ideas down to a
business basis. The thing most of all that
has prompted thss discussion, is the fact that
there is an epidemic bee-fever in Colorado,
and very many are rushing into the business,
apparently only to make financial failures.

I am going to take the proposition of one
going into apiculture as a money-making pro-
cedure, calculating cost of equipment and all
necessary expenditures, and analyzing the
business in its details to the final outcome.
This will include a consideration of locality,
market conditions, ability of apiarist, and
methods to obtain results.

One of the very first and most common mis-
takes made by all classes is a failure to con-
sider the cost, final chances of success, and,
whether there is room and opportunity for
their proposed venture. Suppose someone has
a longing to embark in the business in my
territory here. He thinks 1 am making money,
and surely he is as smart as I am — if Aikin can
succeed so can he. He does not stop to think
that I am already established in the business,
that I have spent years of study and hundreds
and hundreds of dollors in investigations,
experiments and advertising ; have built up a
trade — in short, have spent years laying the
foundation for a business. Few stop to con-
sider that it is not a question simply of mere
personal fitness, but of preparation and be-
coming fitted by practice and familiarity with
the thing we arc to deal with.

I note that many of these investors are pay-
ing 5 dols. a colony for their stock to start
with. They, being no judges of the condition
of the stock, get good, bad and indifferent,
various sized hives, ill-fitting supers, queenle3s
colonies, foul stock — many undesirable things.
In order to have a basis I shall take the 5 dol.
a co'ony price, considering that this price gets
regular hives and two supers to the hive. I
shall also consider that 200 colonies will be all
the prospective apiarist can handle, and that
some experience has been had to enable the
owner to begin with a fair foundation know-
ledge of the management of bees.

The 200 colonies at 5 dols. is 1,000 dols ;
honey and storage-room (small), 100 dols. ;
smokers, knive3, veil?, cart or barrow, solar or
other wax-exiractor, saws, hammers, and tools
to make or repair hives, &<3., 20 dols. ; total
investment, 1,120 dols.

A 25 lb. yield from the 200 colonies would
give 5,000 lb. — but suppose a 50 lb. crop —
10 000 lb. According to a former estimate
(see article No. 2) 10,000 lb. costs in founda-
tion, sections, and cases, 200 dols. The bees
assessed at 1 dol. a colony and at a general
total tax of 2h per cent, is 5 dols. — a total out-
lay of cash for the 10,000 lb. of honey 205 dols.
At the average price noted in article No. 2,
this crop of honey being 416 cises and a frac-
tion (we will drop the fraction) brings 915'20
dols Take from this the 205 dols cash paid,
and 710"20 dols. remains to pay interest on the
investment, and for the apiarist's labour and
living.

Now let usrun the calculations through on
an average yield of half the foregoing. We
have 208 cases at 2'20 dols.— 457'60 dols.;
taking from this 105 dols. for sections, founda-
tion, cases and taxes, leaves for the labour and
interest 352 60 dols. A glance at these figures
shows at once that if the owner cannot handle
the stock himself and alone, if for any reason
he has to have hired help, very little will be
left of the income.

But I know many will say, " What of the
increase 1 That is worth something.'1 Let us
see what it is worth. A fair increase for 200
colonies would be 100, when handled at all
with a view to getting the surplus yields I
have allowed in the foregoing estimates. One-
hundred new hives, two supers each, will cost
in the flat about T50 dols. each.; nailed and
painted, with starters in the brood-frames, the
apiarist doing the labour, the hive3 cost about
2 00 dols. each. I allowed at the start 5 dols.
a colony for the stock purchased to begin with,
but it would not be a safe price on the
increase. There is a limit to all things. You
do not expect to go on increasing and selling
your increase to your neighbours to go into
business and be your competitors ; and not
only competitors, but to overstock your
pasturage and cut down your yields. Even if
you did expect to sell the increase, there would
soon be no market for it — you could not con-
tinue that line of policy very long. I should

Dec. 19, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

509

say that 3 dols. a colony would be a good, big
allowance for the increase.

So far, we have gone on the assumption that
the original stock remains intact, no losses in
winter from queenlesrness or any other cause.
A small annual increase is necessary to make
up for the unavoidable losses ; it is a rare
thing to ge through the winter without a few
losses from queenless colonies at least. This
necessitates, then, some additional capital
invested in hives. If we must, in order to
keep up the stock, have some extra hives for
increase, our capital put into the business is
greater than the 1,120 dols. given at the start.
To have a really safe basis to keep up the
original stock, one should have about twenty-
five extra hives, making so much increase in
them to be doubled back or substituted for
the unavoidable losses.

There is still another item not yet considered.
No matter whether the yield be 5,000 or
10,000 lb. , there will be of necessity a surplus
of sections and foundation, for one cannot time
to an exact count. The unfinished sections
left over when you have cleaned up 5,000 lb.
of marketable honey, or any other amount,
will be from 10 to 20 per cent., sometimes
reaching 40 or 50 per cent. This represents
only the sections used or placed on the hives,
while there must, of necessity, be an additional
stock carried in order to have enough. If we
anticipate a 10,000 lb. yield, we can scarcely
do less than buy and put up at lea&t 10,000
sections, even though we do not get half of
them filled. And, if one expects to do the
work and care far the stock himselt, it becomes
a necessity that all prospectively needed hives,
sections, and all supplies except cases, be pur-
chased ahead and prepared, enough to hold
the biggest crop expected, for 200 colonies will
keep one hand hustling during the honey-flow.

These extra supplies needed and carried in
stock, must be added to the investment in
bees, honey-house, and tools. Two hundred
colonies in one apiary are too many — they
should be in two places. If in two yards, a
horse and wagon will be needed. Without
any more itemising, I am going to put the
necessary money capital to be invested in a
200- colony business, where S^dols. a colony has
to be paid for the bees, at 1,500 dols. Ordi-
narily it is not done for less.

In the foregoing estimates I have put the
figure much higher than any green hand could
accomplish. I have taken it for granted that
all the product was No. 1 honey, whereas the
inexperienced would have from & to % No. 2
and culls. For the past ten years I put my
own general average at 40 lb. My general
average price has been, for all grades, about
2 dols. a case — 8^ cents a pound. Sections,
foundation, and cases cost 2 cents, or 80 cents
a colony. Investment for 200 colonies and
equipment being, as per previous tables,
1,500 dols., I allow on this 10 per cent, for
interest, and 10 per cent, more for wear and
tear— 20 per cent, of 1,500 dole, is 300 dols.,

or 1 50 dols. a colony. A 40-lb. yield at
81 cents makes the gross income per colony
3 33 dols. Deduct from this the C03t of
sections, foundation, and cases, interest, and
wear and tear — the 20 per cent, on capital
invested — 2 30 dols. a colony, leaves me
103 dols. a colony, 200 colonies giving me tne
sum of 206 dols. for my labour and caring for
them.

If this is the way it turns out with one of
so large an experience, what must be the result
when an inexperienced person is doing the
monaging I There is no money in the business
here except in the hands of practical apiarists.
— R. C. Aikin, in American Bee Journal.

PRESS CUTTINGS.

HONET AS A PERFECT I'OOD.

Few people know that honey possesses great
value as a food on account of its ease of diges-
tion ; for which reason it is especially desirable
for those with weakened digestive powers.
The nectar of flowers is almost entirely cane
sugar. The secretions added by the bee 3
change this to grape sugar, and so prepare it
that it is almost ready for assimilation without
any effort on the part of the stomach. The
unpleasant symptoms from which some suffer
after a surfeit of honey may often be removed
by drinking a little milk. And yet so
valuable a food as honey is daily adulterated
with glucose, to which we refer in our opening
paragraphs. — Science Sif tings.

WHAT NEXT 1

Under the heading, " Traps for Food
Cheats," we read the following tit-bit in
Answers of November 30 : — " The purchaser of
honey vainly imagines that swindling is im-
possible if frame-honey is bought. The fact
is that clever bee-keepers now make perfect
imitation combs out of paraffin-wax, and put
these into the hives for the bees to fill and
seal. To test it, pour a drop or two of sul-
phuric acid upon the comb which is on trial.
Good beeswax will char and blacken under the
acid, but upon paraffin no effect will be per-
ceptible.''

CHURCH- GOING BEES.

Not long since an extraordinary quantity of
honey was taken out of the roof of Huggate
parish church, Yorkshire. How this came
about is" explained by the rector's daughter,
Miss Jolley, who indulges in bee-keeping as a
hobby. It seems that some two or three
summers ago a swarm of bees was seen to
leave one of the hives." They eventually dis-
appeared under the church roof. Three
attempts were made to fasten them in, twice
with mortar, which they broke away, and the
third time with cement, when they found an
exit into the interior of the church.

Eventually the colony of bees were becoming
so strong that it was deemed necessary to
starve them out. When the slates were

510

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 19, 1901.

removed under the lath and plaster wag seen
the brood-chamber, which curiously resembled
the interior of a bar-frame hive, as the combs
were built in straight lines, one behind
another, each attached to a lath and long piece
of plaster, and were handed down like
ordinary frames. On the other side of a
partition was found the honey-store ; beauti-
ful white combs, filled with white- clover
honey. One comb was nearly 2 ft. long and
about 6 in. deep. Close upon a hundred-
weight of honey was taken out, in addition to
a number of empty combs. — Hull Daily
News.

AN ENTOMOLOGICAL CURIOSITY.

Mr. S. Knight, junior, the local bee expert,
made an interesting discovery while examining
a lock at the Newbury Workhouse recently.
A " leaf cutter " bee had built a perfect nest
under the levers of the lock, thus preventing it
from working properly. The bee had carried
the whole of the material of the nest through
the keyhole, which only measured ^-m. in
diameter. Mr. Knight states that "mason"
bees have been found building in locks before,
but he had never discovered a " leaf cutter "
bee so situated. This is an object of interest
to entomologists. — Marlborough Times.

EXPORTED BEESWAX.

Several hundred thousand pounds of bees-
wax are produced every year, and much of it
goes into commonplace uses. Shoemakers,
dentists, and thread manufacturers use it.
Glassworkers, too, require it for moulding
purposes ; but the interesting part of the
beeswax business comes when it is exported
to Russia. The Greek Church uses nothing
but pure beeswax for its candles ; this, ap-
parently, is an ecclesiastical law. So beeswax
is exported in enormous quantities to burn in
Russian churche3. When the price is low all
that can be procured is bought up for exporta-
tion.— Glasgow Evening Citizen.

T1IEFT OF HONEY AT NEWHILLS.

In Aberdeen Sheriff Court recently —
Sheriff Henderson Begg presiding, Alexander
Milne, sawyer, Kingshill, Peterculter, was
charged with having, on November 30 or
December 1, in the garden in front of the
dwelling-house on the farm of Bellfield, New-
hills, occupied by Robert Mann, mischievously
removed or destroyed 25 lb. of honey from a
bee hive. Accused pleaded guilty.

Mr. Cbarlis Wilson, procurator- fiscal, said
probably the accused had thought honey was
good for the cold.

The Sheriff : He did not require 25 lb. of
honey for a cold.

Accused said he was the worse for drink at
the time he committed the offence.

A sentence of £1, with the alternative of
seven days' imprisonment, was imposed. — ,
Aberdeen Journal,

Notice 8 to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letten or queries asking for addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur-
chased, or replies giving such information, can only be
inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queriesforwarded will be attended to, and thou only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

Special Notice to Readers.

*** In view of the Chriscmas holidays —
which necessitate our going to press with next
week's B.B.J, on Monday, the 23rd inst. — we
will be much obliged if correspondents will
forward " copy " to reach the office not later
than the morning of that day. Advertisements
also should be received by same po3t. By
attending to the above request, communica-
tions dealing with subjects under discussion
during the current year will have the advan-
tage of being included in the same volume,
along with the context. This will obviously
tend to the completeness of vol. xxix. as a
whole for binding.

G. F. O'Fflahertie (Netteswell). — Second-
Class Experts' Examinations. — Our corre-
spondent surely is not serious in asking us
to publish his letter on the above subject ?
We cannot understand the offer to lend
the "papers of late second-class examinations
if ' Bridgefield ' and ' W. Snowden ' will
return them after reading." Does Mr.
O'Fflahertie mean to say that he was
examined for the second-class certificate,
and retained the papers used on the occa-
sion ? If so, we will be glad to be informed
of the fact.

T. Ormesiier (Ormskirk). — Mead-miking. —
For l^d. in stamps we will post you copy of
B.B.J, with an old recipe for making mead,
but you would do better with the Rev.
G. W. Bancks's pamphlet on the subject.
This can be had, price sixpence, from the
author, addressed to Darenth, Dartford,
Kent.

J. T. Harveyson (Finchley). — Ancieni Bee-
Books. — Warder's book, " The True Ama-
zon ; or, The Monarchy of Bees" (172(3), is,
of course, a "scarce book" in the ordinary
sense of the term, but it is to be met with
not seldom in shops where old books are
made a speciality of and on bookstalls, so
that it cannot be clas.ed as a "rare book."

Honey Sample.
R. Winter (Aneriey). — 1. The honey is from
mixed sources ; quality fairly good, but a
long way from first class. 2. It is quite
usual for pure honey to granulate if kept
for a time.

Dec. 26, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

511

<& iitoral, $fcrtim, to.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

The monthly meeting of the Council was
held on Thursday, the 19th inst., Mr. F. B.
White occupying the chair. There were also
present Miss Gayton, Hon. and Rev. Henry
Bligh, Messrs. Broughton Carr, J. H. New,
W. F. Reid, E. D. Till, T. I. Weston, and the
Secretary. Letters apologising for enforced
absence were read from Col. Walker, Mr.
W. H. Harris, and Rev. W. E. Burkitt.

The minutes of the previous meeting were
read and confirmed.

The following new members were elected : —

Wm. Richards, Gabalfa, Cardiff.

E. J. Burtt, Stroud-road, Gloucester.

The Chairman presented the report of the
Finance Committee, giving particulars of in-
come and expenditure to date. A number of
payments were authorised, and the report
approved.

Among the correspondence brought forward
for consideration were a number of letters
relating to the proposed "insurance" scheme.
An offer by Mr. Carr to insert in the next
issue of the British Bee Journal a supple-
ment giving particulars of the scheme was
accepted with thanks.

The report of the Association's expert upon
the condition of the apiary at the close of the
season was received.

In regard to the question of "duplicate
prize-winning " at shows, adjourned from the
last meeting, it was resolved to insert in the
regulations a proviso that " No exhibitor may
take more than one prize in any one class."

The next meeting of the Council will be
held on Thursday, January 15.

€om%pviAtut

The Editor i do not hold themielvts responsible for the
opiniont pepretted^by correspondents. No notice will be

tiktn of augnymous communications, and correspondents

art rtquettedTlo writ* on one tide of the paper only and !

give their real namee and addretiet, not nfcetiarily for j

? Publication, lut ae a guarantee of good faith, lllurtra-
ione should be*irairn on eeparate pieeet of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communication!.

%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondent*,
when speaking of ana letter or query previously inserted,
veXll oblige by mentioning the number of the letter at well
at the page on which it appeart.

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[4616.] The weather at present is of the
kind we associate with Christmas ; in fact, the
landscape is one vast Christmas card — every
bough and twig incru3ted with rime. For-
tunately, we have had no heavy fall of snow,
bo that, with frost and dry weather, our roads
are in good condition, and skaters are looking
forward to a good time, as are also the ehildren j

with the prospect of sliding. Quietude reigns
in the apiary, not a bee venturing forth even
when the sun shines on the hive-entrance
except when disturbed by the tits, which are
again to the fore in their usual numbers, and
busy, as usual, devouring the bees as oppor-
tunity occurs. On the top of one hive I
counted twenty-seven stings which " Thomas
Tit " had extracted and wiped off his beak in
one afternoon. Now, if these stings were from
dead bees, I ask, Would there have been
enough moisture left in the dead carcases so
that the extracted stings should adhere to the
wood cover of the hive ? I myself believe the
tits prefer to be their own butchers rather than
act as scavengers in clearing up the dead bees
off the ground.

Wax Making. — I feel sure that some
practical articles on wax making would be
acceptable to many readers of the B.B J., and
trust some one amongst the uniformly suc-
cessful wax makers (say Mr. Jno. Berry or
Mr. W. A. Seymour) will in their spare
evenings during the winter give us their
methods of cleansing the wax and making it
into the perfected article ready for the show-
bench. We also require a better wax extractor
than the old style " steamer " system ; an
article by which pressure can be exerted
on the hot mass of old combs, &c ,
and force the wax from the cocoons
and other debris. Who amongst our
manufacturers will produce the thing wanted 1
Then, again, we want a better solar wax-
extractor ; now is the time to set about
making one so that it shall be ready when
required another season. I have no doubt
our Editors will gladly give space for any
descriptions of these useful labour-saving
appliances in these columns. When all the
coal and peat is used up, if electricity doei
not step in to warm up the dwellings of our
successors they will still have the sun's rays,
and the man who can bottle them up for
everyday use will be a great benefactor to the
genus homo, and the man who can invent a
really practical solar wax-extractor will be a
benefactor to his brother bee-keeper of this
day.

There are other things which we want, and
others which will bear improvement, but space
forbids to-day, as it is Christmas time, and
others will, no doubt, be sending the old-time
greetings to the bee-keeping friends who
peruse these pages. Therefore, I will close
another year's correspondence with the wish
to every one that they may spend a joyous
Christmastide. — W. Woodlev, Beedon, New'
bury.

APICULTURE IN CHILL
[4617.J ^The article contributed by Mr.
Hamlyn- Harris, as an extraot from the Bevui
Internationale d' Apiculture, in your issue of
September 5 last (page 358), calls for some
comment, for -the purpose of showing how
diverse are the elim&tw conditions to be met

512

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 26, 1901.

with in Chili, and a3 of interest to the apicul-
turist.

I should think the region of Serena must
be pretty near the northern limit of practi-
cable apiculture in this country — latitude
29 deg. 54 min.

I am situated near 38 deg., while the whole
territory extends from 18 deg. 40 min. to
55 deg. 59 min. In the extreme north rain
never falls, and consequently no place for bee-
keeper nor bees ; whereas in the region south
of this — about latitude 40 deg.— rain is con-
stant all the year round, not the most
desirable location for the bee-keeper either.

It may interest some readers to know that
the mean rainfall varies from 12 millimetres in
latitude 27 deg. to 2 '860 millimetres in lati-
tude 40 deg. ; further south, to latitude
53 deg. 10 min. (Punta Arenas) the rainfall
decreases to 550, of which one-fifth is snow.
My own experiences extend to regions from
latitude 33 deg. to 39 deg , and I flatter myself
in thinking my own situation about the happy
medium as to extremes of temperature,
moisture, &c. After twelve years' experience
here, I am prepared to say that the swarming
fever referred to in the " Revue '' is by this
time so much eliminated with me, that I can
work under quite as high pressure as at home.
When I first commenced the bees would
swarm in spite of extractor or unlimited
working room, and, of course, to work for
sections was out of the question. Now I get
2-lb. sections worked with greater certainty
than the 1 lb. are at home. Of course, I use
the " B.B.K. A.'' standard frame. All the bees
I meet with in apiaries here are the Italian
race.

With me, swarming begins about latter part
of November. Honey begins to come in as
surplus in December, the heaviest months
being January and February.

The statement that the produoe of 500
colonies amounted to 36,400 lb. of honey goes
to confirm what I have been trying to drive
into the heads of some of the bee-keepers
here — to wit, the mistake made in laying down
apiaries of over 100 colonies ; the vogue here
is 500 or 1,000 and upwards. Notice what
follows in the article referred to, " ninety-five
colonies gathered 18,000 lb." I have taken
250 lb. to 300 lb. in my own apiary from one
hive when no swarm has issued, and over
150 lb. from a swarm hived in December. The
statement that the native Chilian does not eat
honey is not my experience. — J. R. W. Hole,
Ercilla, Chili, November 5.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

[4618.] Mid-rib of Sections. — To secure a
perfect section this objectionable feature of
comb honey must be entirely eliminates The
foundation should melt down in the mouth so
that its presence is incapable of being detected.
This is generally obtained owing to the
superior grade of super foundation now pro-

duced. As a result of the keen competition,
inferior kinds are being jostled out of the
market, with the result that soon we will
arrive at the happy time when we will have
only the survival of the fittest. Small dealers,
however, still invest in inferior grades, and
keep it from year to year until, when sold,
bees at times decline to work it out, owiDg, I
think, to its being contaminated, while lying
by, with offensive odours imparted by other
goods stored in close proximity. This
can be avoided by purchasing first-
hand from the maker, or a recognised
agent, who will warrant its freshness.
Even foundation of a superior make at times
deteriorates so much that from some cause a
distinct midrib results. I had proof of this
during last season when visiting a friend who
had purchased a pound of such foundation.
Every single section built from it showed dis-
tinct midrib. In 1900 some of my own sections
showed the same objectionable feature from
another cause. The foundation contained some
sheets appreciably heavier thin the others.
Where the extra wax lay at the base of the
cells the bees did not seem to hollow it out,
with the result that there was an appreciable
midrib ; but, where the extra wax formed the
cell walls, this had been used by the bees in
the lengthening out and finishing off of the
cell 3. I am not certain, but a third cause of
midrib may be named. The added toughness
in foundation made by the new process is an
excellent thing in the brood-chamber, but in
the case of super foundation there may be a
danger of its being carried too far.

Light weight Sections. — I overlooked a
question on this subject by a " Birmingham
Bee," who queried some time ago, " As there
can be no such thing as a standard density of
honey, how can our friend ' D. M. M.' talk of
light-weight sections V I had no thought of
density when I used the words, but spoke of
sections, favoured by a few, with a cubic
capacity less than our " Standard " one, which
holds, as a rule, just 1 lb. of honey. When
sealed, these smaller one would weigh less
than a pound, and, .therefore, would deserve
the designation of light - weight sections.
Society righteously brands such weights with
even a stronger and harsher name. I trust
that whatever innovations may be intro-
duced a pound section will be made to weigh
the full number of ounces.

Dividers. — Anything which will be a means
of giving the bees freer intercommunication in
a rack of sections may be set down as a " boon
and a blessing " to the craft. So I for one
would hail the introduction of some such device
as Mr. Sheppard (4595, page 484) mentions is
under trial ; and if so excellently practical an
apiarist as our friend of the " Model Apiary "
considers them a likely success, they deserve
at least an extensive experimental trial all
over the country. I am glad to see that a
Dumfries bee-keeper is already able to speak
favourably of a somewhat similar innovation,

Dec. 26, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

513

though those he uses appear to be more com-
plex than I think it would be desirable to work
for. Our editor, however, after examining them,
may be able to give a favourable opinion of
their working. I sincerely trust he will.

"The Life of the Bee."— I have nothing
but words of praise for M. Maeterlinck's
book, and I look on it as a prose poem on the
bee of the very highest order. I would, how-
ever, much prefer if it had not coatained a
single word of the moralisings of his physio-
logist friend. This is an excrescence pure and
simple which could well be lopped off.

Section 94 in particular is a blot on the fair
fabric, and tends to mar a noble work. The
whole reasoning, to my mind, ends with a
questionable deduction from an unsound
premise. " The short but simple annals of the
poor '' are not lying, deceit, hypocrisy, and all
uncharitableness ; for " certes in fa;r virtue's
heavenly road the cottage leaves the palace far
behind." Living amongst a " virtuous popu-
lace" of peasant?, and knowing their weakness
as well as their goodness, I must enter my
caveat against any charge of " general malevo-
lence." No other section of the community
so fully carries out the Divine injunction to
" weep with those who weep ; no other so
whole-heartedly shares in the joys and sorrows
of their fellows. Love, reverence, affection,
devotion, to our peasantry, are not mere
names, but actual realities forming vital parts
of their very being.

Finis. — Yes ! everything must end, and to-
day we shall all add the last stone to the
" cairn." Our last contribution to vol. xxix.
has been written, and for good or ill it is
there — a " lasting monument of words ! '' I
fear a small percentage of it only will ever be
re-read. But when I recall my own novitiate
days and the avidity with which I read every-
thing tending to guide me straight in the
crooked and thorny maze of bee-keeping, and
then reflect how many novices enter our
ranks each successive season, I take heart and
think that, perhaps, some of it may have been
a benefit to somebody. Indeed, I have re-
received many assurances that what I have
written has not all been labour lost. — D. M. M.,
Banff.

SOME ESSEX BEE NOTES.

TITS AND BEES.

[4619.] Deductions from a Christmas Bint.
—In reply to Mr. James Hiam (4608, p. 502)
I would, with all due respect to your corre-
spondent, point out that circumstances so
completely alter cases that to say outright
that what birds do in one district they will
not do in another under entirely different
circumstances is only a one-sided argument.
I feel it to be quite a misfortune that enough
and to spare of the dainty morsels of the
festive season (to which, in Press phraseology,
ample justice had been done) only come this
way in such small quantities that humble folk

like myself are compelled to adopt the only
alternative course, and my children are de-
prived of the amusement that they otherwise
might enjoy. Those best able to judge know
how much I admire * even the smallest
creatures, and if circumstances allowed I
would probably build a tower full of holes and
chinks where the starlings and tits might find
nesting places, which even Mis3 Jenny Wren
could not despise. I would have this tower
on a kopje that would be a stronghold for
bunny. Bat I am enabled to assure your
correspondent that the tits here are not con-
tent with picking up the dead cast out bees, but
that hundreds of bees are brought down to the
entrances of the hives by the picking and
scratching of the tits at the entrances, and
snapped up by them. Nor do they leave the
hive for the trees to eat the bees ; this is
notably the case in early morning when the
tits are hungry, they then remain, if un-
disturbed, till their breakfast is over, and if
unable to count the bees as snapped up,
it needs only to go to the hives and count the
bee-stings left by the tits wiped on the edges
of the porches and flight-boards. It is their
rule to extract the sting before eating the bee,
and wipe it from their beak on the nearest
piece of wood. Driving the birds away has
no effect, once they have acquired the habit
of eating bees. After reading my " Note,''
Mr. Hiam seems to have drawn largely upon
his imagination for the sufferings of the
trapped bird, which latter was stung by the
bees it had disturbed. Caught by the neck
in the trap and stung by a dozen bees, the
bird only lived a few seconds. Nor is the
actual loss of bees eaten by tits the only
damage, there is the loss of bees by the dis-
turbance, bees at such times take wing, never
to return, thus causing greater loss than by
those eaten.

Bees have fewer enemies when the bee-
keeper is fortunate enough to be able to carry
on his work near his dwelling-house, and
things are then more comfortable all round.

Raihvay Companies and Bee-keepers. — When
concluding my first note on this subject I did
not make my meaning quite clear. What I
wished was for someone with more time and
means at his command would do. When a
company is formed to construct and work a
railway they have first to obtain an Act of
Parliament, which secures to them the neces-
sary powers. Having obtained the necessary
powers they become carriers of the produce
of the districts through which their railway
runs, and pledged themselves to do this work.
I therefore think that the company cannot
legally, say, later on refuse or decline
responsibility later on. I was told by a
representative of the Great Central Railway
that they were so busy they did not care
whether or not they carried honey. In
thanking "W. A. H." for his letter (4612,
page 503), I may say thatjl did not refer to the
half-parcel rate at owner's risk, because I

514

THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 2C, 1901.

thought that every beekeeper knew of it. I
usually send my honey at that rate, and I
have before me as I write a consignment note
for such. On the back of these notes the com-
pany give3 all particulars as to their liability
and non-liability ; but if a parcel is carried at
full rate the railway company is liable for
damage if the fault is theirs. The parcel
referred to in my first note was sent at half
rate, the honey took first prize in its class at
the Crystal Palac?, and, as is often the case,
the show committee did not fill in the form
for return of the parcel at half rate. It was
returned at full parcel rate. I was entitled
to the amount of my less, the honey being
well packed.

" The Final Show of the Year.'' — Such is
the heading of an account of a show in the
B J. of December 5, p. 482. But why should
this be the final show of the year ? Are the
public for ever to be left in the belief that
honey, like bees, is only to be had under cir-
cumstances that are quite exceptional in
winter ? There are expenses which are neces-
sarily incurred in arranging a honey show, and
from November till March the number of
other attractions to which a show of honey
could be added is small, I know ; but I think
that these difficulties are not insurmountable,
though we have the best conditions for hiber-
nating with us in frost and snow. The Rojal
Horticultural Society hold a show of flowers
and fruit fortnightly for the greater part
of the year at the Drill Hall, Westminster,
and I think the bee-keepers of the United
Kingdom could very well make a considerable
show monthly through the winter.

Flower3, fruit, bees, and honey are in-
separably connected. I think that it is of the
greatest importance that we should have every
possible opportunity to make a display of
British honey, and to educate the public to
the fact that we can supply honey in any
form in good condition all the year round.
Large displays of honey could not be expected
in winter, but if arrangements could be made
with a society holding shows at short interval?,
the several classes coull be sandwiched
between other exhibits in a way that would
be beneficial and pleasing to all concerned. If
the Council of the British Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation can accept this suggestion and make
the necessary arrangements for next winter, I
believe they will have the support of bee-
keepers generally. — Wm. Loveday, Hatfield
Heath, Harlow, Essex, December 21.

DZIERZON AND MOVABLE FRAME-
HIVES.
[4(>20.] The question raised by Mr. Royds
(4594) is of so much importance in the history
of bee- keeping that I hope I may, without
offence, attempt to elucidate it. There can, I
think, be no doubt that although Dzierzon
was the first bee-keeper of note on the Conti-
nent to adopt movable comb-bars in his hives,

and that he used them with great skill and
success, he was opposed to frames, especially
in brood-nest?, on the score of their limiting
the natural expansion of the combs by the
bees to the walls of the hives. It must be
remembered that as his hives opened at the
back, and that the combs were to be drawn
out one by one horizontally, it was a much
easier matter to cut through the comb attach-
ments with a thin sharp knife, than would be
the case in our modern frame-hives.

As regards the creation of the Berlepsch
frame, there can be no better authority than
Professor Von Siebold, who was intimately
acquainted not oidy with both Dzi>rzin and
BerlpjHcb themselves, but with their respec-
tive apiaries. The following passage — a foot-
note from page 45 of Siebold's " True Patho-
genesis?," English translation, 1857 — settles the
matter : " As the lateral adhesion of the
combs built down from the sticks frequently
rendered their removal difficult, Berlepsch
tried to avoid this inconvenience in a very
ingenious way, by suspending in his hives
instead of the sticks small quadrangular
frames. ... by which the removal and sus-
pension of the combs are greatly facilitated,
and altogether such a convenient arrangement
is given to the Dzierzon hive that nothing
more remains to be desired." Hence, as
Messrs. Dudant tell us in their revised edition,
1 890, of " Langstroth on the Hive and Honey
Bee," the German frame-hive is known as
Berlepsch's. It soon became very popular on
the Continent, where the observant traveller
may still see it in common use, especially in
bee-hou3es, and it found its way to America.
Thus much, at all events, in the matter of
movable frames do we owe to the-" initiative ''
of Dzierzon.

To what extent Langstroth, who, as Mr.
Hamlyn-Harris informs us (p. 493, B.J.) was
born within one month of Dzierzon, was
spurred on by the initiative of the latter to the
invention of his well-known movable hive-
frame, only his intimate personal acquaintances
could say ; but we learn from the book just
mentioned that Langstrothe took out his
patent " a short time '' before Berlepsch in-
vented his frames. And as far back as 1837,
Major Munn, a well-known English bee-
keeper and writer, invented solid wooden
frames, both square and triangular, for use in
his ingeniously devised hives ; and, to use his
own words, "a lawsuit in America quite
decided the question of the bar-frame hive
being the invention of an Englishman, and not
French, German, or American, as had been
supposed." It is probable that both these in-
ventors were as much indebted to Huber, and
the frames of his leaf-hive, as to any other
source of inspiration.

In the fifteenth chapter of the Fourth Book
of his Treatise on Bees, Delia Rocca informs us,
on the authority of an Italian writer, Contardi,
that the practice of making artificial swarms by
means of transferring combs (fixed on movable

Dec. 26, 1901.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

515

bars) from one hive to another obtained
amongst the ancient Greeks, and as ]>ella
Rocca assumes, was transferred thence to
Germany ; but that in his time (Delia Rocca's)
1790, it was restricted to the Isle of Candia.
If so, it was probably revived ; for John Milton
tells us in his "Practical Bee-keeper," 1843,
that "a few years ago about a hundred Grecian
hives well stocked with comb3 and honey,
reached a mercantile firm in London, to whom
they were consigned for sale." They came
from Athens, and Milton bought one, of which
he gives a figure. It is a pointed skep, to be
used big end upwards, with the door below,
near the point, and has the wooden bars for
comb attachment. " From the appearance of
these combs .... the bees had worked them
parallel with the bars on the top.''

The Grecian hives and the system of work-
ing the movable comb-bars was fully described
long before Delia Rocca's day by Sir George
"Wheeler in his " Journey into Greece in the
Company of Dr. Spon, of Lyons'' (London,
1682, folio), parts of which were quoted by
Mills and other English bee-men ; and, with
all deference to Mr. Hamlyn-Harris, Delia
Rocca was not the first to apply movable
comb-bars to a wooden hive. One, John
Keys, was before him, as his " Practical Bee-
Master,'' written (in 1780) after " long experi-
ence," shows that he used three bars of wood
let flush into the top rims of his boxes, but
"so that the bars may be taken out sepa-
rately." Each of these bars was to take two
combs, but afterwards ("Ancient Bee-Master's
Farewell," 1796) he increased them to tix,
each for a separate comb, adopting, I am
sorry to say, the retrograde practice oi
fastening them together by a fillet of wood.
For the matter of that, the bars in the Grecian
skeps were fastened down by clay. It is not
quite clear how Delia Rocca's were secured in
position, but he covered the top of his hive
with nine. I do not think Delia Rocca's hive
was at all generally adopted, and Key's bars
seem to have met with little favour. The
credit of reintroducing the movable comb-bar
system belongs chiefly, if not altogether, to
Dzierzon, but his fame, which will endure as
long as bees are kept by bee-keepers, rests on
a far grander and more solid foundation. —
H. J. O. Walker (Lieutenant-Colonel),
(" South Devon Enthusiast ''), Budleigh Salter-
ton, December 22.

NOTES FROM MERIONETH.

MID-WINTER.

[4621.] I write these lines on the shortest
day of the year, when the ground is thickly
covered with snow. This part of the country
may be rightly called the "Highland of
Wales." Our neighbourhood is surrounded by
lofty mountains, very steep and rocky. All
of these have been covered with snow for the
last fortnight. We are well accustomed to
hard weather, but the present one is more

severe than any I can recollect for some years
past. First of all we had a terrific gale,
driving the heavy rains into the dwellings of
bee-keepers as well as bee3. My baes suffered
a great deal, notwithstanding all precautions.

I buy my hive3 from two well-known adver-
tisers in B.B.J. But I am sorry to say that
the hives of one firm do not withstand the
rain3, while the make of the other is a veritable
rainproof. Hive-makers, please note. One
night I went to my garden about one o'clock to
see how were my hives, and found one blown
over, with scores of bees dying on broken
combs. They belonged to a strong lot of
driven bees, and I am afraid I cannot bring
them safely through the winter, as the better
part of their stores is gone. Is there any hope
for them to survive when they must depend
entirely on candy1?— J. B, Williams, Gelli
Li) dan, December 20.

ENEMIES OF BEES.

MICE IN WINTER COVERINGS.

[4622.] I am a good deal troubled with
mice in my hives, and in consequence I place
trap3 on the top of the quilts to catch the
intruders. I have in this way caught about
half a dozen mice this year. Through my
own neglect last year Mrs. Mouse made her
nest in one of my hives, and in forming the
latter tore the quilts to shreds, and the fluff of
the woollen material so choked up the space
between the frames with the do'oris as to make
passage-way between the comb3 impossible for
the bees.

About a fortnight ago, as I was going
my rounds among the hives, gently removing
the hive-roofs, I came across a hive that had
no trap on the top of the quilts, and I
found in this case that Mr. Mouse had been
assisting his good lady by committing similar
depredations to her own. He tried to climb
out of the hive, but failed, and then he darted
all over the hive, and finally made his way
down among the frames of the body-box.
Much as I disliked the idea of the mouse
remaining among the combs, there was no
help for it, for I did not care to lift out at this
season to get rid of the " bee enemy." I
therefore fixed a trap on the top of the frames,
and lefc it for twenty-four hours. On again
inspecting the hive I found the trap sprung,
but no mouse was inside. On turning down
the top quilt I saw the " enemy " trying to
hide away in the coverings. I shook it on to
the top of the frames, only to see the disturber
dart across and try to climb out ; but the
disturbance had aroused the bees and their
temper, and they all cime to the top of the
frames. Mr. Mouse tried to climb out ; nine
or ten darted at him. Hs curled himself up
and dropped on to the frames again ; ha ran a
little way again ; they stung him so sharp, he
curled himself up again ; he got up again and
ran, and tried to climb out again. They
darted at him again. He dropped down

»16

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 26, 1901.

again. He ran a little way, and put his head
down. The bee3 then made an attack on me
as well. I ran into my house, and gave the
bees flfteen minutes to see what they would
do with him, and returned to them again.
They made another vigorous attack on me.
There was a patch of bees on the top of the
mouse. I made bees all go down to their
proper quarters ; and there lay Mr. Mouse,
dead. I gave them a lump of candy abont
\ lb., and covered them down.— A. L., Linton,
Vambs. ^^

BEES BUILDING IN A TREE.

AN INTERESTING PHOTO.

[4023 ] I send herein a photo showing a
swarm of bees in a high tree. The negative
was given me by a friend, an amateur photo-
grapher like myself, who knew of my interest
in all pertaining to bees. It is especially inte-
resting to me because particulars of the same
swarm have appeared in your pages over a
year ago — vide letter of our friend " Tom
Sleight" (4138, page 447) in the B.B.J, of
November 15, 1900. Mr. Sleight wa3 misin-
formed with regard to the said swarm flying
five miles before settling in the tree " in a wood
on Lady Carnarvon's estate," &c. The friend
to whom I have referred lives on Lady Car-
narvon's estate ; and as I know the B.B.J, likes
if possible to be accurate in its printed state-
ments, I beg to say the swarm in question was
supposed to have issued from one of Lady
Carnarvon's own hives, located about 400
yards away from the wood. On Taversal
Manor (not " Loversal," as stated in your
pages) one of her ladyship's gardeners cut the
bees and the six combs from forked branch
of the tree, and no doubt to see them so built,
with combs 15 in. deep by 12 in. wide, would
certainly be an attraction at the show referred
to. — Richard Allen, Bicester.

[We regret that, owing to the distance from
the considerable height from the ground at
which the swarm had clustered, the photo
is not sufficiently sharp and clear to be
suitable for a tone block, otherwise we should
have had a reproduction of it, for it is inte-
resting for several reasons. — Eds.]

THE " W. B. C" HIVE.

SIMPLE remedy for a fault.
The letter of Mr. T. Norman last week
(page 503) was accompanied by a sketch of

our correspondent's simple method of removing
*bftt is, s9m« eoneiderj a fault la th« hiv«

referred to. We did not attach much im-
portance to the sketch, deeming the descrip-
tion alone sufficiently clear for anyone to
understand it. It appears, however, not to be
so plain to others as to ourselves, therefore
we now reproduce the sketch in question, and
it will be seen how the strip of zinc (perforated,
of course) answers the purpose of preventing
bees from entering the space between the
inner body-box and the outer case.

TESTIMONIAL TO MR. HOOKER.

The above fund is now closed, and the final
arrangements with regard to the form the
testimonial is to take will appear in an early
issue of the Bee Journal or so soon as the
committee have arrived at a decision thereon.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur-
chased, or replies giving such information, can only be
inserted as advertisements. Ihe space devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the gener.al good* of bet-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Corre-
spondents io bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to
go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot
always be replied to in the issue immediately following the
receipt of their communications.

All queriesfprwarded will b* attended to, and thou only
of personal interest will be answered in thii column.

Our Senior Editor, Mr. Cowan, desires to
thank those readers who, in response to the
request (on page 430) for a few seeds of the
giant Canadian balsam, were good enough
to send some on to this office. A sufficient
supply was forwarded from the seed re-
ceived from several readers, and has been
safely received by Mr. Cowan in California.
They will be sown and tried about 6,000
miles away from where grown.

J. B. (Llanrwst). — You are quite right in sup-
posing that the exhibit referred to on page
391 as under weight. Class for beeswax
was yours, and it was no doubt a hardship
for you to only get second prize instead of
first (judged by quality only). But those in
charge of the show benches could not be
" all over the place " at one time, and, as we
now know, boys of the class known in
London as " lifters " were only too numerous
at the show in question ; one was caught in
the act and dealt with, but no more were
detected. We are glad to know that
although the exhibit was returned to you
less the two wax-cakes that were stolen,
you are content to accept the result as one
for which no one but the thief was to
blame.

Richd. Allen (Bicester). — Interesting Photos.
— We are obliged for the two photos, which
are interesting from several prints, and we
may if approved by yourself have a tone-
block engraved of one or both of them hi
publication later on*