LIBRARY

OF THE

MASSACHUSETTS

AGRICULTURAL

COLLEGE

SOURC

RARY_

ipmrn of

CTTS

.iherstTmass-

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 CARE.

VOLUME XXX.

January-December, 1 902.

PUBLISHED BY

SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT, & Co., Limited,

23, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C.

INDEX.

■a

Adulteration of Honey : The
Law Against it in the U.S. A,
194
Advice, Excellent, 332 ; to Bee-
Keepers, 439

Africa, Native Bees in, 296

Africa, South, Bees on the
March in, 245 ; Packing Bees
for, 67 ; 'laking Bees to^59

Agricultural Hall : Confec-
tioners' Exhibition, &c, 361 ;
Grocers' Exhibition at the,
381

Albino Drones, 217

Alderley Edge, Honey Show at,
322

Alfalfa Honey, 497

Alpine Flowers, 353

Altitudes, High, Bees for, 318

Amateur's Experience with
Bees, 253

American Bee Exhibit, an, 645
Hives of Pees on Show, 261

American Hives, British v. 102

Ammanford, Honey show at, 364

Ants, Bees and, Lord Avebury
on, 10 ; in Hives, 297

Apiaries of Our Readers (see
Homes of the Honey Bee)

Apiaries, Out, 63, 113, 124 ;
Decoy Hives for, 96 ; How to
Work Them Profitably, 53 ;
Management of, 42

Apiary, Starting an, 106

Apicultural Notes, 63

Apiculture in the United
States : Recognition by the
United States Government,
159

Apis Dorsata, Fabr., Considered
in the Light of Domestication,
38

Appliance Makers and Foul
Brood, 386, 394 ; Makers, Care-
less, 404; Competing, 484 ;
Foul Brood and, 394

Appliances and Comb Founda-
tion, Moot Points in, 266

April, Bees -Uyiug from Famine
in, 157 ; Immature Drones
Cast Out in, 178

Arnold, Sir Edwin, on " The
Harvest of the Hive," 388

Articles, Contributed, 208

Associations, Bee-Keepers' Dis-
trict, 35

Associations for Helping Be-
ginners in Bee-Keeping, 17

Australia, Honey in, 20

Australian HoneyinLond on ,469

Autumn Feeding, 388, 398

Bacillus alvei : Is it the Bacillus

mesentericus vulgaris ? 514
Basswood(7\7i« Americana), 497
Bee Associations for Helping

Beginners, 17
Bee Books, Ancient, 278 ; Prices

of, 47
Bee Candy, 452 ; Cast Out of

Hives, 449
Bee District, a, Second to None,

337
Bee Doings in 1901, 771
Bee Dress lor Women, 169
Bee Driving Experiences, 395;

Incident, a, 98
Bee Exhibit, a Great American,

261
Bee Experiences, 385, 465. 474,

485
Bee Fable, a, 373; Fallacies,

50 ; tanning fur Ladies, 196
Bee- Food : Dark Honey for

Winter, 368 ; Over-Dosing

with Naphthol Beta, 128
Bee Foraue, Planting Shrub

Fence for, 118

Bee, Hairs of the, 15 ; Nerves
of the, 97 ; Scent Organ, 61 ;
Venom, 284, 294, 303
Bee Hive : a Novel, 455 ; Curi-
osities for Lantern Slides,
447 ; Curiosity, a, 395

Bee-Hives in Battle, Some
Historical Reminiscences,
466 ; Mice in, 47 ; Most Suit-
able Colour of Paint for, 59

Bee-Houses, 2i ; How to Build
one, 13

Bee Jottings from Hants, 23S

Bee Journal, Vol. XXX., l ;
Bee Journals and Text Books,
185 (see also " Libel ")

Bee-Keepers and Foul Brood,
453 (see also " Foul Brood ")

Bee - Keepers' Associations :
District, 35, 78, 95 ; and
Associated Effort, 234

Bee-Keepers, Good Advice to,
489

Bee-Keepers, Helping, 403

Bee-Keepers in Central India,
378

Bee-Keepers, Insurance for, 2,
11, 13, 17, 23, 41, 56 ; How it
Works in Germany, 67

Bee-Keepers, Irish, and the
Cork Exhibition, 176

Bee-Keepers, Railway Com-
panies and, 14, 26

Bee-Keeping, Ancient, 211

Bee-Keeping : a Promising
Start in, 439 ; as a Rural
Industry, ;18 ; Beginning, 35 ;
Bee-Keeping for Profit, 467 ;
for Women, How to Begin,
148 ; Robber Bees, 225

Bee-Keeping, Help for Begin-
ners, 439

Bee-Keeping in California, 129 ;
in Canada, Starting, 357 ; in
China, 305, 316 ; in Frame
Hives, Starting, 288 ; in
Glamorganshire, Resusci-

tating the County B.K.A.,
171 ; in Hants, Good Work by
Swarms, 293 ; in Ireland, 419 ;
in Liverpool, 305; an Appeal,
146 ; in Natal, My First
Swarm, by Mary Ritchie, 95 ;
in Northamptonshire, Experi-
ences of a Novice, 510

Bee-Keeping, International
Exhibition of, at Vienna in
1903, 181

Bee-keeping, Lectures on, 294 ;
My Year's : Taking Bees to
the Moors, 34

Bee-keeping, Real "Facts"
About, 374 ; Sir James Saw-
yer on, 151 ; Some Facts
About, 345, 353, 366

Bee-keeping, Starting, 13 ;
Statistics in Ireland, 50 ; the
Joys of, 46 ; Theoretical v.
Practical, 326

Bee Nomenclature, 338

Bee Notes, from Derbyshire,
284 ; Queen Introduction,
386; from Herts, 42S ; from
Leicestershire, 434 ; from
Oxon, a : Feeding Needy
Stocks, 213

Bee Paralysis, 358

Bee Parasites, 398

Bee, Products of the, and the
Uses Thereof, 94

Bee-spaced Woven Wire Divi-
ders, 323

Beestings, Immunity to, 469;
«nd Immunity from Infectious
Diseases by a Cumberland
Bee-keeper, 183 ; and Immu-
nity from Infection, 147 ; and
Infection, 153, 166 ; Mr.
Reid's Remedy for, 143 ; Per-

sonal Injury from : Heavy
Damages, 137 ; Remedies for :
Medical Opinion, 254, 263

Bee Tent, Performances in the,
409

Bee, the Drone, 44 ; the Hairs
of the, 15: Venom, 284, 294,
303; " Wrathful Bee," the, 513

Bees and Ants : Lord Avebury
on, 10

Bees and Flowers, 81 ; and
Poisonous Flowers, 34 ; and
Potato Blossom : Some old-
time Reminiscences, 324

Bees, a Prolific Strain of, 337

Bees and Queens, Utilising
Driven, 387

Bees and Roundheads, 20

Bees as Fertilisers : Improving
the Fruit Crop, 33 ; as Postal
Messengers, 30

Bees, Birds and, 349

Bees Breeding in Candy Boxes,
184, 214

Bees, Brood Bearing by : Is the
Larva Fed by Absorption '?
114

Bees Building in the Open, 302

Bees, Buying, 68 ; Buying Dis-
eased Stocks of, 16, 236 ; Buy-
ing Worthless Stocks of, 227

Bees, Damage Through : Case in
the Dublin Court of Appeal,
98

Bees, Dead, Cast Out, 7 ; De-
serting Hives, 3S7 ; Destroyed
by Rats, 440 ; Destroying-
Diseased, 378 ; Destroying Vi-
cious, 306

Bees Disappearing from Skep,
198

Bees, Driven, Building up Stocks
from, 378 ; Dying during Win-
ter, 108 ; Feeding up. 368

Bees Dying in April from
Famine, 157; Dying in Win-
ter, 99 ; Dying off in " Wells "
Hive, 188; Dying on the
Ground in Spring, 108

Bees, Enemies of, 12. See Bul-
letin d' Apiculture, 204

Bees Fighting Among Them-
selves, 306, 398

Bees for High Altitudes, 318

Bees for Sale, Advertising Stocks
of, 248

Bees for South Africa, Packing,
67 ; for Winter, Preparing,
409 ; Four Miles, Moving, 206 ;
from Hollow Trees, Removing,
273; from House Poofs, Re-
moving, 58, 439 ; from Trees,
Removing : a Word of Cau-
tion, 166, 512 ; from Sections,
Clearing, 418 ; from Skeps,
Transferring, 324

Bees, Glass Quilts for, 14

Bees Hear? Can : the New Scent
Organ. 61

Bees, Hives, and Frames, Some
Notes on, ss

Bees, Honey of, 354

Bees, Hiving Driven, 384

Bees, Humble, as Attitudinisers,
20

Bees' Hearing Powers, 26, 36, 44,
46

Bees in a Rabbit Hole, 453

Bees in March, Uniting, 138;
Italianising : the Time of
Swarming, 235

Bees in Cheshire : Marketing
Honey, 144 ; in Essex, Among
the : A Short Tour with the
County Expert, 164 ; in Forfar-
shire, 3 ; in Mid-Shropshire,
246 ; in Natal, Hiving Vagrant,
176 ; in Oxfordshire : a Week's
Notes from a Diary, 182 ; in

the Highlands, 193; in War
wickshire, 425, 446
Bees in May, Starving, 201, 218

Bees in Skeps, Feeding, 168 ; in
Trees, Burning, 264

Bees Leaving Hive in May, 218

Bees, Lectures on, at the
People's Palace, 459 ; Legal
Damage Done by, 277 ; Les
sons in Heredity from, 307 ;
Moving, 100 yards, 79, 89
Moving to New Location, 357

Bees, Native, in Africa, 296

Bees near Meadows, 287 ; not
Working in Sections, 236
the "Hum," 223; on Shares,
188 ; on the March in South/,
Africa : a Commandeered;'
Swarm, 245

Bees, Over-dosing, 284 ; Pollen-I
laden; iu Swarm, 248 ; Queen- j
less, Uniting Swarms to, 238 j
Queen, Sending by Post, 146 ;|
Raising Queens in March, 153

Bees, Refusing to Enter Supers,
278; Refusing to Work '
Section, 287

Bees, Removing, 206 ; Removing
from House Roof, 265 ; Re-
moving Skeps after Transfer-
ring, 367

Bees, Re-queening Driven Stocks
of, 37S ; Re-queening Them-
selves, 388

Bees Returned from the Moors,
Feeding, 418

Bees, Robbing by, 337 ; Robbing
Diseased, 84 ; Robbing inj
June, 23S, 256 ; Legal Protec-i
tion Against, 318

Bees, " Soot " Gathering by, 36,
44, 57

Bees, Starving in May, 214 ;
Starving in J uly, 327

Bees Storing Fast, 263

Bees, Subduing Vicious, 468

Bees, Suspected Store Combs for
Feeding, 25S

Bees Swarming after Removal of|
Surplus Honey, 338

Bees, Swarm Hived in a Bucket,!
349

Bees, Tackling the : An Ama-I
tern's Experience, 253

Bees, " Tanging," 352

Bees, the Weather and, 46; thej
WorKiug Powers of : the Song-
tongue Theory, 487

Bees, Tits and, 3, 12, 23

Bees to Canada, Taking, 128 ; t
Hong Kong, Taking, 316 ; t<
South Africa, Taking, a Find]
of Honey on the March, 59
to Forage, Taking, 226 ; tc
Frame Hives, Transferring—
Glass Quilts, 70 ; Transferring
109; to Hives, Confining, 423 i
to the Moors, taking, 43, 66 '

Bees to Transfer Themselves
Allowing, 199, 2S7

Bees, the Poets', Collated b^ .
F. E. I. S. : (1) Shakespeare1')
177 ; (2) Thomson, 186 ; (.
Hood, 186 ; (4) Shelley, 207
(5) Campbell, 208

Bees, Transferring and Swarrr
ing Vagaries, 277 ; Tranferrin
from Box to Frame Hive, 119
from Defective Hive, 157 ; t
Clean Hives, 179; Inducin
Early Swarming, 156 ; Tran
ferring Themselves, 298
Transferring, 16S, 237, 24;

' 265, 294, 347, 368

Bees, Tunisian, 274 ; and Supe;
fluous Queen Cells, 257

Bees, Uniting Driven Lots o:
429 ; for Wintering, 27 ; Queer
less, 357 ; Suspected, 388

INDEX TO VOLUME XXX.

in

Utilising Diseased Lots of,
206

Bees, Vicious, 352 ; Curing, 333 ;
Dealing with, 265, 303 ;
Destroying, 306 ; Treatment
of, 323

Bees, Wintering, 429

Bees v. Poultry ; Comparative
Profits, 125

beeswax, Clarifying, 398 ; Clean-
ing, 479 ; for the Show Bench :
Criticising Exhibits, 474 ; Im-
proving Colour of, 28, 39 ; in
Small Cakes, Marketable
Shape for, 449 ; Showing, 499 ;
Value of, 257

Beginners and. Swarms. 2SS

Beginners, Associations for
Helping, 17, 238

Beginners Queries, 168, 217, 297;
Report, 477 ; Troubles, 103,
247

Berks B.K.A. : Annual Meeting,
123 ; Show at Reading, 372

Birds and Bees, 349

Bishop's Stortford, Show at,
351

Bisulphide of Carbon for
Destroying Wax Moth, 356

Blight, the, 282

Blow, Marriage of Mr. T. B., 31

"Bogie Man " Work a Miracle,
Can a, 434 ; Curing Vicious
Bees, 517

Borage, 415

Bournville and District B.K.A. ,
26

Bradford Abbas, Honey Show
at, 331

Brief Reports (Incorporated in
General Index)

Brimstone Fumes and Foul
Brood, 7

Bristol, Somersetshire, and
South Gloucestershire B.K.A. :
Honey Show at Clutton, 322

British Bee-keepers* Associa-
tion: Its Relation to County
Associations, 461 ; Its
Affiliated Associations, 343 ;
Conference of County Repre-
sentatives, 411, 421; Dairy
Show and Conversazione, 391 ;
Annual Meeting and Conver-
sazione, 121, 131, 401 (See also
pages 31, 82, 161, 202, 251, 291
381, 431, 441, 451, 471) ; the
New Show Yard, 451

British Bee-Keepers' Insurance
Scheme (see " Insurance ")

Brood Chambers, Temperature
of ; Amount of Honey in the
Brood Nest, 478

Brood-Combs, Syrup in, 277

Brood in Candy Boxes, 233

Brood in Spring, Spreading, 216

Brood Nests, Frames for, 277

Brood Raising Applied to
Frames, Some Laws of, 292 ;
Rearing by Bees : Is the Larva
Fed by Absorption ? 114 ; to
Queenless Stocks, Giving, 189

Cage, a New Postal and Intro-

- duction, 147

Canada, Starting Bee-keeping

in, 357 ; Taking Bees to, 128
Can Bees Distinguish Colour '( 98
"Can Bees Hear?" 26, 36, 44,

46 ; by W. A. Varian, 97 ; by

H. J. O. Walker, 92 ; by H. J.

Sladen, 61, <fec. ; the New

Scent Organ, 61
Candy Making, 477
Carbolic Acid for Foul Brood,

465
Cardiff, Royal Show at, 102, 114 ;
,.. Conversazione at, 441
•jearlisle, the "Royal" Show at,

151, 271, 281 ; Honey Classes,

291
'"Carpentry, Amateur, 92
.Celluloid, Inflammability of,
c -JL26, 163

CQ

Cheshire, Bees in : Marketing
Honey, 144 ; Bee-Keepers'
Association : Annual Meeting,
72; Annual Show, 363, 382;
Honey Show at Bebington, 372

China, Bee-keeping in, 305, 316

Cod Liver Oil Emulsion, 34

Colonies in Spring, Building Up,
206 ; Strong, 92 ; the Value of
Strong, 57, 76, 87

Comb Building in Candy Boxes,
193

Comb Foundation, Appliances,
aud Moot Points in, 266

Comb Honey, Marketing, 155 ;
Working for, 264 '

Combs, Clearing up Wet, 347,
367

C nibs, Pollen-clogged, 246. 303

Combs, Surp us i-ollen in, 337

Combs, Using Mouldy, 79

" Confectioneries " Exhibition :
the Confectioners' Show, 371

Confectioners' and Allied Trades
Annual Exhibition and Mar-
ket, 361

Conference of Bee-keepers :
Some General Notes thereon,
482

Conference, Proposed, at War-
wick Castle on Rural Indus-
tries, 111, 141

Conversations with Doolittle :—
Bee Paralysis, 358 ; Bees for
Wintering, Uniting, 27 ;
Queens, Replacing, 317 ;
Swarms, Prime, 187; "Wheel-
ing " Experiences in America,
31 ; Worker Comb from
Starters, How to Secure, 406

Conversazione, the B.B.K.A.,
401

Cork Exhibition, Irish Bee-
keepers and the, 176

Cornwall B.K.A. : Annual Meet-
ing, 142

Correspondents, Hints to, re-
specting their Communica-
tions, 201

Cottagers with Foul Brood,
Helping, 206

County Experts and Foul
Brood : Use of Crude Carbolic
Acid, 485

Counties, Grouping, 444

Covers for Hive Hoofs, 174

Cowan, Mr. T. W., on British
Columbia, 442

Crowd Boards for Hives, 463

Cruelty on the Show-Bench : an
Appeal to Bee-keepers, 452

Crystal Palace, Annual Show at
the, 391

Cumberland B.K.A. : Annual
Meeting, 171

Dadant, Mr. Charles, death of,

351
Dairy show, the, 401
Dairy Show and Conversazione,

391
Damage : Legal, done by Bees,

277 ; through Bees— case in

the Dublin Court of Appeal,

98 ; to Honey, Claim for, 47
Damp in Hives. 109
Dawson's Combined Feeding

Stage and Water Passage, 117,

136
Decoy Hives : are they Illegal ?

197 ; for Out-Apiaries, 96
Decoy Places for Attracting

Swarms, 126, 163 ; for Swarms,

143
Delegates, Conference of, 427,

446
Denver Convention, the, 486
Derbyshire B.K.A. : Annual

Meeting, 141 ; Annual Show,

382; .Notes from, 2^4 ; the

Season in, 426
Devon Bee-Keepers' Associa-
tion : Annual Meeting, 61 ;

Annual Show, 321

Disease, Spreading, by Want of
Care, 429

Diseased Lots of Bees, Utilising,
206

Diseased Stocks : Dealing with,
237 ; of Bees, Buying, 236

District Bee-Keepers' Associa-
tions, 35, 58, 78, 95

Divider, the Sheppard-Howard
Bee-spaced Woven Wire, 105

Dividers, Bee - spaced Woven
Wire, 323 ; Metal, in Sectional
Supers, 463

Dividing, Stocking " Wells "
Hive by, 259

Donors, Anonymous, 294

Doolittle (see " Conversations
with Doolittle ")

Doub iug and Storifying, 49

Drone Bee, the, 44

Drone breeding and using Foun-
dation in b'ull Sheets, 178

Drone breeding Queens, Dealing
with, 198

Drone breeding Queen, re-
placing, 189

Drone Rearing, Preventing, 109

Drones, Albino, 217

Drones and Virgin Queens : an
unusual experience, 283 ; Im-
mature, Cast Out in April, 17S ;
Cast Out of Hive after Swarm-
ing, 287

Drones, Limiting, 60 '

Drones, Maeterlinck and the, 22,
64

Dubini, the late Dr. Angelo, 462

Dwellings, Labourers' Freehold,
116

Dysentery, Suspected, 59

East Kent Honey Show, 331 ;
Notes, some, 173, 417, 456

"Echoes from the Hives," Mr.
Darcy R. Grimshaw and, 26 ;
see also Weekly Numbers.

Eczema, Honey and, 459

Education, Technical, a New
Departure in, 399

Edwards's Swarm Catcher, 105,
163, 437

Effort, the Need for Associated :
A Case in Point, 221 ; Another,
Case in Point, 232

Enemies of Bees, 112; see also
Notice re Bulletin d'Apicul-
ture, 204

Entrances, Perforated Zinc over,
34

Ericas as Honey Plants, 471

Essex Bee-Keepers' Associa-
tion, 112; Annual Meeting,
82 ; Extension to Suffolk, 123

Essex and Suffolk B.K.A., 285

Essex, Bees in : Short Tour with
the County Expert, 164

Essex, West, Notes from, 116

Examinations, Candidates and,
224

Excluder Ziuc, Queens and, 453 ;
Queens Passing Through, 439

Experts, a Plea for the, 172

Experts' Certificates, 476 ; Can-
didates and Examinations,
224 ; Examinations for, 42S

Experts and Foul Brood, 427,
447, 484 ; A Case in Point, 465

Fair Flora's Favours, 172
Famine, Bees Dying in April

from, 157
Feed ! Feed ! Feed ! 393
Feeding, Autumn, 388
Feeding Stage aud Winter

Passage, Dawson's Combined,

117, 136
Feeder, a Simple Home-made,

212
Feeders, Home-made, 222
Feeding in Bad Weather, the

Present (June) Need for, 243
Fertile Worker, Dealing with,

227

Fertilisers, Bees as : Improving
the Fruit Crop, 33

Festina Lente : a Word of
Warning to Beemen, 172

Firemen and Hiving Bees, 369

Flowers, Alpine, 353; Bees and,
81 ; Insects and, 224 ; Insecti-
vorous, 273; Poisonous, Bees
and, 54 ; Some Spring, 125

Food for Winter, Amount of,
512

Forage, Taking Bees to, 226

" Ford- Wells ' Hive, Experi-
ence of a, 136 ; Another Bee-
keeper's Experience, 145

Foul Brood, about, 55, 86, 103,
112, 124 ; and Bee-food, 516

Foul Brood. Action of Formalin
on, 24

Foul Brood, and Appliance
Makers, 386, 394 ; and Compul-
sory Powers, 162 ; and Legisla-
tion, 37, 41 ; Bee-keepers and,
453; Brimstone Fumes and,
7 ; Carbolic Acid for, 465 ;
County Experts and : Use of
Crude Carbolic Acid, 485 ;
Dealing with, 128, 144, 218,
254, 266, 294 ; Dealing with :
an Unfortunate Purchase, 456;
Diagnosing, 226, 237, 256;
Experts and, 427, 447, 484 ; a
Case in Point, 465 ; Facts
about, 417 ; Foundation and,
263

Foul Brood, Helping Cottagers
in Dealing with, 20(5

Foul Brood in Berks, 243

Foul Brood Legislation, 417,
427 ; Locating, 455 ; Recru-
descence of : an Object Lesson,
238

Foul Brood, Remedies, 327, 334 ;
Stamping out, 267 ; Suspected,
458 ; Troubles, 267, 276

Foul Brood, Troubles with :
Compulsory Inspection, 79

Foul Brood Troubles in Wales :
Buying Diseased Stocks, 244

Foundation and Foul Brood,
263; Foundation Fixing, 515

Foundation aud Larva? of Wax
Moth, Freeing from, 205

Frame Construction, 473, 499

Frame Hives, Skeps verms, 157 ;
Starting Bee-keeping in, 288 ;
Transferring Bees to, 19 ;
Transferring Bees from Box
to, 119 ; Transferring Bees
from Skeps to, 198, 266, 296 ;
Transferring to Glass Quilts,
70; Transferring from Skeps
to, 34

" Frame Holder," how to Make
a 77

Frame, Wanted, a, 463, 473, 484,
508, 518; the Frame Found, 504

Frame Question, the Size of, 484

Frames, British and American,
Diagrams of, 71

Frames for a " W.B.C." Hive,
Number of : when to give
Supers, 89

Frames for Brood Nests, 277

Frames, Hives, and Bees, some
xNotes on, S8

Frames, Improvements in, 75

Frames in Use, Size of Various,
205 ; Large, 37 ; Size of, 81,
8S

Frames, Some Laws of Brood
Raising applied to, 292

Frames, •' Standard " versus
Larger, 44

Frames, the B.B.K.A. "Stan-
dard," 83

Frames, Wiring, 479

Fruit Crop, Bees as Fertilisers
of, 33

Fruit Show, Koyal Horticultural
Society's, 391

Germs, the Transformation of
490

INDEX TO VOLUME XXX.

Glamorganshire, Bee-keeping
in : Resuscitating the County
B.K.A., 171 ; Public Meeting
at the Grand Hotel, Cardiff,
251 ; Annual Show, 311 ; Con-
versazione at Cardiff, 441 ;
Resuscitating the B.K. Asso-
ciation, 241

Gleanings from Foreign Bee
Journals, by R. Hamlyn
Harris, F.R.M.S., F.L.S.,
F.E.S., 6, 68, 104, 139, 184,
196, 203, 246, 276, 347, 386,
397, 442, 457

German Bee-keeping, 67

Gorse or Whin, 91

Granulation of Honey, 189

Great Tit, the, 159

"Groceries," Honey at the,
394 ; Honey Show at the Agri-
cultural Hall, 381

Hairs of the Bee, 15
Hampshire Notes, Some, 212
Hants and Isle of Wight
B.K. A , 331

Hants, an Echo from, 484 ; Bee
Jottings from, 23$ ; Bee-
keeping in, Good Work by
Swarms, 293

Hants, South, Notes from, 283
Harvest of the Hive, by Sir

Edwin Arnold, 389
Heather, a Waste of, 47 ; Going
to the, 143

Heather Harvest, Re-queening
for the, 465

Heather Honey, and Honies in
General for Market, 509

Heather Honey : Erica cinerea
on Bog Land, 499 ; in Ger-
many, Varieties of, 69

Heather, Re-queening for the,
476

Helsby, Honey Show at, 312

Henbury District B K.A., An-
nual Show, 311

Heredity, Lessons in, from
Bees, 307

Hereford and District B.K. A.,
Annual Meeting, 73

Herefordshire B.K. A., Annual
Honey Fair, 364 ; Annual
Meeting, 72

"Heroes and Gentlemen," 212

Herts, Bee Notes from, 428

Highlands, Bees in the, 193

Hive, a New Patent, 192 ; De-
fective, Transferring Bees
from, 157 ; Experience of a
"Ford Wells," 136; Another
Bee-keeper's Experience, 145

Hive, an Observatory. Colonel
Walker's " Observations," 51,
73 ; Observatory, Making an,
29, 44 ; Unicomb, 305

Hive Roofs, Covers for, 174

Hive, Two Queens in a, 146, 417

Hive, " W B.C ," Number of
Frames for a, 89 ; Points in
the, 156

Hive ' Wells," stocking by Di-
vi I in j

Hi es oiu Novelties, Mze of :
Nothing New Under the Sun,
184

Hives, Bees, and Frames, Some
Notes on, 88

Hives, British v. American, 102

iJives, Clean, Transferring Bees
to, 179 ; Confining Bees to,
428; Crown -boards for, 463;
Damp in, 1U9 ; Decoy, are they
Illegal ? 197 ; Decoy, for Out
Apiaries, 96

Hives, Disinfecting, 179 ; Driven
Bees Deserting, '387 ; Frame-
Skeps versus, 157; Transferring
Bees to, 109

(lives in January, Examining,
28; painting, 28; patent, 213,
223 243 ; Paucity of, 252 ;
Queenless, 193; Re-queening,
218, 287, 379; Skep, Coverings

for, 368; Substantial, 337;,Huber on the Harmony of

Swarmed, Dealing with Swarming, 112

Swarms and, 237 ; Swarms Humble Bee, Drunken, 353

Deserting, 257
Hives, Ventilating, to Prevent

Swarming, 179
Hives, Wax Moth in, 21
Hives, Weighing : Daily Gains

and Losses in Weight, 437
Hiving by Entrance, 451
Hiving Extraordinary : a True

Story, 417
Hiving Swarms, 252 ; Vagrant

Bees in Natal, 176
Homes of the Honey Bee (see

Illustrations)
Honey, Adulteration of ; Law
Against It in the U.S.A., 194
Honey in Africa, Birds as a

Guide to, 30
Honey a Nutritive Laxative, 259

Honey and Eczema, 459
Honey Bee, the : Its Friends and
Foes, 333

Honey Bird, the, 4

Honey at "Owner's Risk" by
Rail, 285

Honey, Claim for Damage to, 47

Honey Classes at the Royal
Agricultural Society's Carlisle
Meeting, 291

Honey, Corrugated Cardboard
Packages for, 154, 163

Honey Crop for 1902, the, 282

Honey, Dark, for Winter Bee-
food, 368

Honey Exhibit, the Ontario, 345

Honey, Extracted, Sections
versus, 16

Honey: Australian, in London,
469 ; at the "Groceries," 394 ;
Highland Heather, 314 ; Hy-
mettus, 13, 23, 46, 314 ; Hybla,
314 ; Narbonne, 314

Honey Flavours, Marketing, &c,
Something on, 268

Honey fromOrange Blossoms, 149

Honey Gathering, Splendid, 273

Honey Glands, 373

Honey, Granulation of, 189

Honey Guides, 373

Honey Imports, Heavy, 92 ;
Total for the Year 1901, 41

Honey in Australia, 20

Honey in Sections, price of, 425

Honey in the Brood Nest,
Amount and Temperature of,
478 ; in Lard Buckets, Keep-
ing, 518

Honey, Jamaica, 158

Honey Jar, a New Leakage-
proof, 189

Honey Market.Creating a, 321, 515

Honey Marketing, 439, 483;
Bees in Cheshire, 144

Honey Plants, Ericas as, 471

Honey Poisoning, 280 ; Poison-
ous, 332, 366

Honey, Preserving the Flavour
of, 453 -

EToney Press: a Cheap Home-
made 354: the •• Kymer,'' 94,
153

Honey, Price of, 446

Honey, Ripening and Limiting
Drones, 60

Honey, Selling, 418, 443, 456 ;
a Honey Market 120 Years
Ago, 444

Honey Show at Alderley Edge,
322; at Chilton, 322; at the
Agricultural Hall, 361

Honey showing, 443

Honey Shows of 1902, the, 464

Honey Shows, Promoting, 37

Honey, Some Famous Kinds of,
314

Honey Surplus, 262 ; Bees
Swarming after Removal of,
338

Honey, the Composition of, 314

Honies, Some Famous, 496

House Roofs, Removing Bees
from, 58, 266, 439

Humble Bees as Attitudinisers,
20

Hunts B.K.A. and its Work,
Past, Present, and Future,
447 ; Annual Meeting, 101

Hymettus Honey, 13, 23, 46

Increase, Utilising Swarms with

no, 128 ; Working for. 49
India, Central, Bee-Keepers in,

378
Infection, Bee Stings and, 153,

166
Increase, Dividing Stocks for,

256
Insectivorous Flowers, 273 ;

Plants, 301
Insect Nomenclature, 236, 327,

334
Insects and Flowers, 224
Inspection, Compulsory, and

Foul Brood, 79
Insurance Scheme, 181 ; For

Bee-Keepers, 2, 11, 13, 17, 23,

24, 41, 56, 67, 143, 201, 222, 231,

354 ; How it Works in

Germany, 67
International Exhibition of

Bee-Keeping at Vienna in

1903. 181, 513
Introduction Cage, a New

Postal and, 147
Ireland, Bee-Keeping in, 419;

Statistics in, 50
Irish Bee-Keepers' and the

Cork Exhibition, 176
Italianising Bees : The Time of

Swarming, 285

Jamaica Honey, 158

January, Examining Hives in,

28
Jars, Leaking, 14
Joys of Bee-Keeping, the, 46
June, Bees Robbing in, 238, 256
July, Bees Starving in, 327 ;

Queen-Rearing in, 277

Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual
Meeting, 136 ; Annual Show
at the Crystal Palace, 391

Kent, the Season in June, an
Encouraging Report, 244

Kent, Well Done ! 212

Labourers' Freehold Dwell-
ings, 116

Ladies, Bee Farming for, 196

Ladies v. Gentlemen, 451

Lake District, Notes from the,
453

Lancashire B.K.A., 112 ;
Annual Meeting, 91

Lantern Slides, Bee-Hive
Curiosities lor, 447

.Larvae of Wax Moth, Freeing
Foundation from, 205

Laxative, Honey a Nutritive.
259

Leaves from my Note Book,
byD. D. M., 46

Lectures on Bees: Technical
Education at the People's
Palace, 459

Leeds Annual Show of York-
shire Agricultural Society at,
311

Legal Protection Against Rob-
bing Bees, 318

Legislation, Foul Brood and,
37, 41

Leicestershire, Bee Notes, 454

Leicester B.K.A.. Annual Show,
321 ; Annual Meeting, 101

Leicester Hero, a, 465

Libel Action againstthe British
Bee Journal, 481, 491 ; Ver-
dict for Defendants, 496

Library, a Bee, Lost, 134 ; a
Derelict, 172

Lime Honey, 497

Lincolnshire B.K.A., Annual

Meeting, 151 ; Annual Show,

301
Liverpool, Bee-keeping near,

305
Llangollen, Honey Show at, 352
Lord Avebury on Bees and Ants,

10

Maeterlinck and the Drone, 22,

64
Manipulations, 272
March, Bees Raising Queens in,

153 ; Uniting Bees in, 138
Market for Honey, Creating a,

521
Marketing, Something on, 26S
Marriage of Mr. T. B. Blow, 31 ;

of Mr. F. W. L. Sladen, 401
Mating, Queen, Delayed. 265
May, Bees Leaving Hives in,

218 ; Starving in, 201, 214
Meadows, Bees near, 287
Medical Opinion Concerning

Bee Stings, 254, 263
Merioneth, Notes from : Hopes

and Anxieties, 48
Methods, Modern, Starting on,

263
Mice in Beehives, 47 ; in Hives

and on Tops of Skeps, 462
Middlesex, Bee-keeping in : an

Appeal, 146
Mid-Shropshire, Bees in, 246
Montgomery, Honey Show at,

364
Moorgreen, Aunual Show at,

372
Moors, Feeding Bees Returned

from the, 418 ; Taking Bees to

the, 34, 43, 66
Moth Wax, in Hives, 21
Music of Paradise, the, 379

Naphthol Beta, Overdosing Bee-
food with, 123

Natal, Hiving Yagrant Bees in,
176

Nerves of the Bee, 97

Newcastle-on Tyne, Exhibition
at, 486

New Year's "Note," a, 11

Norfolk (North) B.K.A , Annua;'
Meeting, 101

Northamptonshire, B.K.A. :
Annual Meeting, 161 ; Annual
Show, 342

Northants, the Season in ; a
Remarkable Report for 1902,
416

Northumberland and Durham
B K.A. 242, 419

" Note," a New Year's, 11

Notes by the Way (incorporated
in General Index)

Norfolk (North) B.K.A. Annual
Show, 312

Northumberland and Durham
B.K.A., 378; Annual Meet-i
i'ng, 137

Notes from Derbyshire, 284;]
Some East Kent, 173; fioml
Merioneth : Hopes and"
Anxieties, 48; from South
Hants, 283 ; from West Essex,
116 ; from Wychwood Forest ;
From Yorkshire, a Few : Bees
Storing Fast, 263

Notts Bee-keepers' Association :
Annual Meeting, 83 ; at Moor-
green, 372

Novelties for 1902 : Edwards's
Swarm Catcher, 105 ; Covers
for Hive Roofs, 174, 249;
Davison Combined Feeding-
stage and Winter-passage, 117

November, Robbing Diseased
Stocks in, 488

Obituary Notices, 127, 402, 511
Object Lesson ; Recrudescence

of Foul Brood, 238
Observatory Hive : Colonel

INDEX TO VOLUME XXX.

H. J. O. Walker s Third Sea-
son's " Observations," 51, 73 ;
Making au, 29, 44 ; .Unicomb,
305

Ontario Honey Exhibit at Wol-
verhampton, 345

Oat Apiaries, 63, 113, 124 ;
Decoy Hives for, 96 ;
Management of, 42 ; How to
Work them Profitably, 53

" Owner's Kisk," Honev by
Hail at, 285

Oxfordshire, Bees in, 182

Uxon, Bee Note from : Feeding
Needy Stocks, 213

Packages for Honey, Corrugated
Cardboard, 154, 163

Packing Bees for South Africa,
67

Paint for Bee-hives, Most Suit-
able Colour of, 59

Paradise, the Music of, 379

Paralysis, Bee, 358

Parasites, Bee, 398

Parthenogenesis : Lessons in
Heredity from Bees, 307

Passages, Winter, Making, 397

Passing Events, Some Notes on,
402

People's Palace, Lectures on
Bees at, 459

Performances in theBee-tent,409

Personal Injury from Bee-
Stings : Heavy Damages, 137

Plants, Insectivorous, 301

Pollen, Early, 134

Pollen-clogged Combs, 246, 303

Pollen in Combs, Surplus, 337 ;
in Early Spring, Giving, 109 ;
Pollen-laden Bees in Swarm,
248

Postal and Introduction Cage,
a New, 147

Postal Messengers, Bees as, 30

Post. Sending Qeeen Bees by,
140

Potato Blossom, Bees and, 324 ;
Plant, Foul Brood Germs and
the, 489

Poultry, Bees versus : Compara-
tive Profits, 125

Preston Guild Merchant Week,
the, 376

Prices of Honey, 462

Products of the Bee and the
Uses thereof, 94

Prokopovitsh : a Pioneer in
Supering, 423

" Quayle" Call, Notes of a,
There is a Happy Land, 336

Queen, a Prolific, 274

Queen Bees by Post, Sending,
146

Queen Breeding by Selection,
42, 63, 65, 89

Queen Breeding Under the
Swarming Impulse, 282

Queen Cast Out in November,
489 ; in Spriug, 227

Queen Ct-lls, Superfluous, 304 ;
Tunisian Bees, and, 257

Queen, Dead, Cast Out, 205, 217,
318

Queen, Drone-Breeding, replac-
ing, 189

Queen Introduction, 212, 345, 353,
386 ; Facts Connected There
with, 365 ; Deferred Breeding
After, 459 ; Failure in, 387

Queen, Loss of, 278; During
Winter, 118 ; Replacing Lost,
198 ; Suspected Loss of, 418 ;
Vagaries, 245

Queen Mating, 254 ; Delayed, 265

Queen Rearing in July, 277 ;
Rearing : Doolittle's Method.
113, 144 ; Moving Bees from
House Roofs, 58

Queens and Excluder Zinc, 453

Queens, Bees and, Utilising
Driven, 387

Queens, Deposing Prolific, 205

Queens, Drone-Breeding, Deal-
ing with, 198

Queens, Fertile, to Swarmed
Stocks, 92

Queens in March, Bees Raising,
153 ; in Spring, Loss of, 163

Queens, Introducing, 323; Loss
of, 327 ; Loss of, During
Winter, 223 ; Passing Through
Excluder Zinc, 439 ; Prolific,
285 ; Replacing, 317 ; Select-
ing Stocks for Raising, 127

Queens Ten a Shilling, 400 ;
Two in a Hive, 417 ; Vagaries
of, 402 ; Virgin, Drones and,
283

Queens, Some " Facts " About,
and Some " Fancies " con-
nected therewith, 383

Queens, the Elusiveness of
Young, 415

Queenless Bees, Uniting, 357

Queenless Hives, 193 ; Stocks,
Dealing with, 259 : Giving
Broods to, 1S9

Queries : A Beginner's, 168, 217,
297 ; a Novice's, 468

Quilts, 222 ; Glass, for Bees, 14 ;
and Transferring Bees to
Frame Hives, 70

Rabbit Hole, Bees in a, 453

Railway Charges, 274

Railway Companies and Bee-
keepers, 14, 26

Rainfall in 1901, 14

Random Notes, 34

Raspberry as a Nectar Vielder,
496

Rats, Bees Destroyed by, 440

Reading, the " Royal Counties
Show at, 151, 241, 372

Re-queening Driven Stocks of
Bees, 378 ; for the Heather,
Harvest, 405, 476, 501

Re-queening Hives, 218, 287

"Resa," the New Remedy, 174

Robber Bees, 225 ; Do They
Sting ? 303

Robbing by Bees, 337

RobbiDg Diseased Stocks in
November, 488

Robbing in Spring, 174

Roof, Honey in, 100

Root Company, a Visit to the,
234

Ross-shire, the Season in, 436

"Royal" Show, Carlisle Meet-
ing : Sixty-third Annual Ex-
hibition, 151, 271, 281 ; Honey

Ol'USSGS —01

Royal Show of 1902, the, 21, 44 ;
Interesting Incident at the,
272 ; Show Yard, the New,
472

Royal Show at Cardiff, 1901,
102, 114

Royal Counties Show at Read-
ing, the, 151, 241

Royal Horticultural Society's
Fruit Show, 391

Royal Lancashire Agricultural
Society : The Guild Merchant
Show at Preston, 361 ; a Mean
Theft, 377

Rural Industries : Proposed
Conference at Warwick Castle,
111, 141 ; Bee-keeping as a, 18

"Rymer" Honey Press, the, 94,
153 ; Method, the, 500

Sainfoin and Honey, 496

Sawyer, Sir James, on Bee-
keeping, 151 ; on Honey, 502

Scarecrows, 503

Scent Organ, the New, 61

Season, a Disappointing, 313; a
Trying, 242 ; an Unseasonable,
193; Fall of the, 451 ; in
Hants, the Past, 484

Section Case, Lee & Son's Im-
perial, 199

Section Extracting, 365, 416;
Extractor, a New, 352

Sections v. Screw-cap Jars, 484
Sections, Bees not Working in,
236 ; Bees Refusing to Work
in, 287 ; Clearing Bees from,
418 ; Extracting, 367, 402 ; Ex-
tracting Unfinished, 354
Sections, How to Get Bees to
Work in, 232 ; Price of Honey
in, 425 ; Removing, a Tough
Job, 407 ; Selling, 9 ; Tall v.
Square, 21 ; Unsealed, 182 ;
Utilising Half-filled, and Giv-
ing Mouldy Combs, 179
Sections versus Extracted
Honey, Working for, 16 ;
Weight versus Count, 9 ;
When to Place on, 211
Selection, Queen Breeding by,

63, 65, 89
Shallow Frames, Working, 16
" Sheppard - Howard " Bee -
Spaced Woven Wire Divider,
105
" Shook Swarms," 504
Shows, Donations to, 214 ; and

Showing, 514
Shows of 1902, the Early ; the
the "Royal "at Carlisle, and
" Royal Counties " at Reading,
151
Shows, Some Important, 341
Show Yard, the New Royal, 472
Shropshire B.K. A., 159; Annual
Meeting, 117 ; Annual Show,
341 «
Shrub Fence for Bee Forage,

Planting, 118
Skep Covers, 471 ; Hives, Cover-
ings for, 368, 497
Skeps, Feeding Bees in, 168 ;
Feeding Swarms in, 298, 302 ;
Removing, after Transferring
Bees, 367
Skeps to Frame-Hives, Trans-
ferring from, 34, 266, 296
Skeps, Transferring from, 303,

324
Skeps versus Frame-Hives for

Bees, 157
Sladen, Marriage of F. W. L., 401
Smoker Fuel, 456
Smokers, 272
"Soot" Gathering by Bees, 21,

36, 44
South Africa, Bees on the

March in, 245
South Africa, Taking Bees to,
A "Find" of Honey on the

South Hants, Notes from, 283

Spring, Bees Dying on the
Ground in, 108 ; Building up
Colonies in, 206

Spring Flowers, Some, 125

Spring, Loss of Queens in, 163,
197

Spring, Queen Cast out in, 227 ;
Robbing in, 174 ; Spreading
Brood in, 216

Staffordshire B.K. A. : Annual
Meeting, 211 ; Annual ohow,
363

Standard Frame, the, 71 ; the
B.BK.A.,83; "Standard" v.
Larger Frames, 44 ; Can it be
Improved? 497 .

Starters, How to Secure Honey-
Comb from, 406

Starting on Modern Methods,
263

Stocks, Diseased, Buying, 16,
236, 244; Dealing with, 237;
Supering, 238

Stocks Dwindling, 256 ; Feed-
ing Needy, 213 ; for Increase,
Dividing, 256, 327

Stocks from Driven Bees, Build-
ing Up, 378

Stocks in Early Summer, Deal-
ing with Weak, 236

Stocks of Bees, Buying Diseased,
16 ; Worthless, 227

Stocks of Bees for Sale, Adver-
tising, 248

Stocks, Queenless, Dealing
with, 259 ; Giving Brood to,
189
Stocks, Selecting, for Raising

Queens from, 127
Stocks, Swarmed, Fertile

Queens to, 92
Store Combs, Suspected, for
Feeding Bees, 258; Wax
Moth and, 408
Storifying, Doubling and, 49
Strong Colonies, 92 ; the Value

of, 57, 76, 87
Summer, Early, Dealing with

Weak Stocks in, 236
Supering, 173 ; Diseased Stocks,
238 ; Prokopovitsh, A Pioneer
in, 423
Supers, Bees Refusing to Enter,
278 ; Serving on all Winter,
324 ; Removing, 347 ; Un-
finished, Dealing with, 318
When to Give, 89
Surplus Chamber, Number of
Frames in, 99 ; Management
of, 213 ; Slightly Diseased,
297 ; to Swarms, Giving, 278, ;
Surrey Bee-Keepers' Associa-
tion : Annual Meeting, 191 ;
Show at Crystal Palace, 392
Swarm Catcher, Edwards's, 105,

163, 437
Swarm Catchers, 152 ; Experi-
mental Trials, 499
Swarm, Hiving a First, 227
Swarm in 1902, the First

Recorded, 174
Swarm : in September, a, 437 :

Pollen-laden Bees in, 248
Swarming, 261 ; Early, in 1902,
183 ; Good Work done by, 293 ;
Huber on the Harmony of,
112 ; Immature Drones cast
out of Hive after, 287; In-
ducing Early, 156; Natural,
243 ; Prevailing, 198 ; Season,
the, 282 ; the Time of, 285
Swarming Time, an Electrical

Notifler, 209
Swarming Vagaries, 267, 258,
262, 282 ; Transferring Bees
and, 277
Swarming, Ventilating Hives to

Prevent; 179
Swarms, Artificials, 243 : Be-
giuners and, 288 ; Claiming
Runaway, 197 ; Coming Off
Unseen, 239; Dealing with,
284 ; Decoy Places for, 163 ;
for Attracting, 126, 143; De-
serting Hives, 257
Swarms, Early, 184; Dealing
with, 118; giving Surplus
Chambers to, 278; Hiving,
252 ; Hiving Themselves, 314 ;
in Skeps, Feeding, 298, 302
Swarms in Transit, 232; Ma-
naging, 306 ; Packing, 262 ;
Prime, 187 ; Returning, 288 ;
Returning Undesirable, 17 ;
Selling, 222
Swarms to Queenless Bees,
Uniting, 238; Truant, Reco-
vering: an Unfortunate Brush
up, 2S6 ; Virgin, Dealing with,
267 ; with no increase, Utilis-
ing, 128
Syrup in Brood Combs, 277

Technical Education, a New

Departure in, 399
Temperature of Brood Cham-
bers, 478
Text-Books and Bee Journals,

185
Theft, a Mean, at the Royal

Lanes. Show, 377
Thoroughness and Capability,

337
Thirsk and District B. K. A.

Annual Meeting, 102
Tit, the Great (Parus Major),

159

INDEX TO VOLUME XXX.

Tits and Bees, 3, 12, 23 ; Tit's
Nest in a Beehive, 228

Top Bars, the Saw-cut in, 473 ;
Wide, 503

Transferring Bees, 168, 247, 265,
294 ; and Swarming Vagaries,
278; from Box to Frame-Hive,
119; from Defective Hive,
157; from Skeps, 324; from
Skeps to Frame-Hives, 198 ;
Inducing Early Swarming,
156 ; to " Well's " Hive, 13S

Transferring from Skeps, 303 ;
from Skeps to Frame-Hives,
266, 296

Trees, Burning Bees in, 264 ;
Removing Bees from : a Word
of Caution 166; Hollow, Re-
moving Bees from, 273, 512

"Trophy Class" at Shows, 516

Tunisian Bees, 274 ; and Super-
fluous Queen Cells, 257

Unicorn b Observatory Hives,

305
United States, Bee-Keeping in,

159

Veils, 272

Vienna Exhibition for 1903, the

International, 181
Violets, Spring, 193
Virgin Swarms, Dealing with,

267
Volume,. Our Thirtieth, 1 ; a

Closing Line for, 513

"W nted, a Frame," 463, 473,
484, 504, 50S

Warwickshire, Bees in, 425, 446

Warwickshire, B.K.A., Annnal
Show, 37i ; Sir James Sawyer
on Bee- Keeping, 151

Warwickshire Notes and Echoes,
202

Wasp, a Good Word for the, 29

Wasps, 182 about, 3, 8 ; Gene-
ration of, 12

" Waste of Heather,'' a, 47

Wax Classes, 444

Wax Moth and Store Combs,
408 ; Bisulphide of Carbon for
Destroying, 356 ; Freeing
Foundation from Larvse of,
295 ; Larva3, Supposed, in the

Cappings of Honey Combs,

344
Wax Moth in Hives, 21
"W. B. C." Hive, Number of

Frames for a, 89 ; Points in

the, 156 ; Working the, 28
Weather and Bee Work, 191 ;

Effects of, on Bees, 46
Well Done, Kent ! 212
"Wells" Hive: Bees Dying off

in, 188; Stocking by Dividing,

259 ; Transferring Bees to, 138
West Malvern as a Bee District,

325
"Wheeling" Experiences in

America, 31
Whin, Gorse or, 91
Winter: Bees Dying in, 99;

Driven Bees Dying During,

1< 8 ; Loss of Queen During,

118, 223
Winter Passages, Making, 397
Wintering Bees, 429 ; Amount

of Stores Needed, 459 ; Uniting

Bees for, 27
Wolverhampton Exhibition :

The.Ontario HoheyExhibit,345

Women, Bee Dress" for, 169 ;
Beekeeping for, How to
Begin, 148 ; Robber Bees, 225

Woods, Fancy Stained, for Bee-
keepers Use, 249

Worcester B.K.A., 41; Annual
Show, 342

Worker-comb from Starters,
How to Secure, 406

Worker, Dealing with Fertile
227

World's Fair Bee Exhibition. 261

Wychwood Forest, Notes from,
262

Year's Bee-keeping, My : Taking

Bees to the Moors, 34
Yeovii and District B.K.A., 211
York and District B K.A„ 91
Yorkshire, a Few Notes from,

263, 4n4, 435: Home-mad

Feeders, 222
Yorkshire Agricultural Society's

Annual Show at Leeds, 311

Zinc, Perforated, Over En-
trances, 34

ILLUSTRATIONS.

; Homes of the Honey Bee " :
Apiary of Mr. E. Carbine, Venn,
Cardinham, Cornwall, 5

,, Mr. John Hepworth, New-
millerdam, Wakefield,

Yorks, 25

,, Mr. J. Tew, Lillington.
Leamington Spa, Warwick,
45

,, Mr. William Clarke, Gates-
head-on- lyne, Northumber-
land, 65

„ Mr. J. Dennler, Mutzig,
Alsace, Germany, 85

„ Mr. W. Loveday, Hatfield
Heath, Harlow, Essex, 115

„ Mr. H. Andrews, Egham,
Surrey, 135

,, Mr. Edward A. Millward,
Chaddesley Corbett, Kidder-
minster, 165

,, The Rev. Samuel Wild, Dun-
holme Vicarage, Lincoln,
175

,, Mr. David Raitt, Blairgowrie,
Perthshire, 195

,, Mr. A. Finch, Caterham,
Surrey, 215

,, The A. I. Root Company,
Medina, Ohio, U.S.A., 235
. „ Rev. E. H. Oldham, Stanford
Rectory, Worcester, 255

" Homes of the Honey Bee " (continued):
„ Mr. W. Boon, Braddocks Hay,
Biddulph, near Congleton,
Cheshire, 275
,, Mr. Arthur E. Ford, Hemel

Hempstead, Herts, 295
„ Mr. H. May, Kingston,

Wallingford, Berks, 315
,, Mr. C, Hopkins, Hampton
Levett, Droitwich, Wor-
cester, 335
„ Miss M. Elsie Bott, Chelms-
ford, Essex, 355
,, Mr. John Doyle, Kellystown,
Adamstown, co. Wexford,
375
,, Mr. Robert Hastings, Mount-

annan, Annan, N.B. , 405
,, Rev. W. Head, Witney-on-

Wye, Herefordshire, 445

,, Mr. Walter Standring, near

Blackpool, Lancashire, 475

„ Mr. Thos. Wells, Colchester,

Essex, 507

Bees and Wasps, a Curious Combination,

395
Bees Building Combs in the Open, 302
Body-box and Frame of Cover, 408
Boxes for 1-lb. Jars and 1-lb. Sections, 154
Cardboard Cover for Hive Roof, 155
Chelifer Cancroides, or Bee Parasite,
502

Corrugated Cardboard Packages for
Honey, 154

Device for giving Candy-food to Bees in
Winter, 398

Divider, the Sheppard - Howard Bee-
spaced Woven Wire, 106

Feeding-stage and Winter-passage, the
Dawson Combined, 187

Frame and Section of Top Bar, 503

Frame Holder, Instructions for making
a, 77

Frames, British and American, Plans of,
71

Frames for Brood -raising— Deep, Stand-
ard, and Shallow, 293

Lace-edged Wood Section Case, 199

Leakage -proof Honey Jar, 189

Novel Bee-hive Made from an Ash Tree,
455

Observatory Hive, Showing Process of
Comb-building, Queen-cells, |&c, 51,
74

Postal and Introduction Cage, a New,
148

Prokopovitsh's Supering Hive and Acces-
sories, 423, 424

Section Case in the Flat and Folded for
Use, 154

Section-extracting Cage, 416

Skep Covers, Sketch Showing Method of
Cutting, 497

Swarm-catcher, Edwards's, 105

London: Printed by Love & ' Malcolmson, Ltd., Great Queen-street, W.C.

The British

Bee Journal.

No. 1019. Vol. XXX. N.S. 627.] JANUARY 2, 1902.

[Published Weekly.

VOLUME THIRTY.

The unfamiliar heading which appears
but once a year at the beginning of a
new volume will, no doubt, be seen for
the first time by many beginners in bee-
keeping, who are now readers of the
British Bee Journal. It also heralds
a new year. The year just closed will
long be remembered by dwellers in this
land as one which brings few recollections
other than those of sadness, and this
notwithstanding the many blessings
vouchsafed to us, for which we ought
all to be truly thankful. The Nation's
loss in the person of our great and good
Queen, and the thousands of homes filled
with sad hearts owing to gaps in the
family circle through the war, should
teach us useful lessons, while adding
greatly to the personal sorrows, in a like
direction, which come to us in the
ordinary course of life.

But in spite of all that the now big
family known by the name of Britons
has endured — and has still to endure
— we seem to go on " pegging away " in
the cause of what we deem to be equal
justice to all who dwell under the sway
of the British Crown. Bearing our
reverses as men should, and without any
turning back or faltering, neither dis-
heartened by mishaps nor losing any of
the " grit " that makes a man " come up
smiling" after a knock-down, we go
ahead, never doubting that all will come
out right in the end.

This may be our assurance, or smug
complacency, or anything else objectors
please to call it — certainly it is not bee-
keeping ; but we claim for it the same
spirit that makes bee-keepers what they
are to-day. Who, we ask, meets with so
much of what our American brethren
facetiously call " blasted hopes " as dpes
the bee-man of the British Isles 1 Why,
the very weather, on which honey
gathering depends, is not weather at all !

Nothing — so our friends the critics say —
but " samples " of all that is good, bad,
and indifferent in that line. But we don't
become misanthropes on that account !
Not a bit of it! Do we not "keep on
hoping"? Of course we do, our idea
being that of the old song : —

" Would summer be prized for its fruit and its flowers
If winter ne'er followed with storm, wind, and showers';
And do not the brightest of pleasures appear
Still brighter when chequered by moments of care ? "

That is what creates and maintains "en-
thusiasm" in the true bee-man always.

Some good folks who, as W. S. Gilbert
says, "mean well but don'fc know"
would make people believe that bees,
when transplanted to lands where per-
petual summer reigns, give up work
altogether. But bee-keepers only smile
at these wise ones; we know that when
the sun shines and there is honey about
the bee will be up and doing if it is within
a mile or so of its hive. Moreover, we
who dwell in a land where it is not all
sunshine, are content to take our chance
while still hoping for the best.

In conclusion, we must express our
heartfelt acknowledgments of the good
wishes for the new year that come with
so many of our daily batch of letters. It
is indeed gratifying to receive such
kindly remembrances; may they never
grow less in number, and always be
cordially reciprocated by the Bee
Journal's Editors, whoever they are at
the time. One enthusiastic friend writes,
"May the old B.B.J, never die." Alas !
we fear it will one day go the way of
everything earthly, but we hope it will
be many years ere it reaches the stage of
" senile decay " which is the fate of all
things mundane. And when the in-
exorable hand of Time causes its present
Editors to drop into the rear, no doubt
young and ardent spirits now among us
will be ready to take their place.

A good and prosperous New Year to
all is the earnest wish of the Editors.

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Jan. 2, 1902.

^ormpvikut

The Editon do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinion* expressed by eorretpondenU. No notice will be
taken of anonymout 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 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 relatinq 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, ice, 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.

INSURANCE FOR BEE-KEEPERS.

[From a number of letters — addressed in
error to this office instead of to the Secretary
B.B.K.A. — we select the following as voicing
the opinions of B.J. readers on the question
of insurance for bes-keepers. — Eds ]

[4624.] I have read the "supplement" in
the B.B.J, of the 26th inst. with reference to
the insurance scheme, but note that it does
not seem to provide for bee-keepers who do
not belong to an association. Of course, if
there is an association in the neighbourhood
it can be argued that they must join it or fail to
participate in the insurance scheme. On the
other hand, if there is no association for them
to join it is hard lines that the benefits of
insurance should be withheld from them.

Might I suggest that we should have an
association of unattached bee-keepers, whose
headquarters would be your office 1

I believe a somewhat similar scheme obtains
at the headquarters of athletic associations for
the preservation of the amateur status of men
who wish to compete in sports, but who do
not belong to a club. — Oliver Moubant,
Undercliff, St. Aubins, Jersey, December 28.

[The Council of the B.B.K.A. are most
anxious that the advantages of tha scheme
referred to should be extended to all bee-
keepers, whether members of county associa-
tions or not. — Eds.]

[4625.] I am very glad you have agreed to
send out a supplement as to insurance. It
will wonderfully help to get the thing started.
I will fill up mine as soon as I know whether
it would do good or harm to insure for more
hives than we have. My number just now is
about twelve, my average about fifteen, my
ideal twenty-five.

I want also to know what i3 the lowest sum
that small farmers, gardeners, &c, can pay to
become members, as I suppose only members
can insure. I know two persons of this claas

that I could, I think, influence, but they
cannot do as I do. Could you send two more
forms for insurance ?

I have long felt a difficulty in finding out
when hives are supplied with naphthaline,
unless I open the hive. I now make a hols
through the lower part of the back of hive, a
metal perforated cage to fit it holding just two
balls, and a wooden shutter working like a
treacle-tap. This I can inspect any time
without disturbance, and, if it is desired, I
would describe it fully.

Wishing you a happy New Year. — F. V.
Hadlow (a Bee-keeper since C. N. Abbott's
time; now seventy -five years old), Buxted,
Sussex, December 28.

[4626 ] I enclose the form issued with the
B.B.J, of December 26, and as there is no
active bee association here I add a line to say
I shall be pleased to do all in my power to
help the scheme forward. The only risk that
strikes me is when people who think they
have grounds for compensation know of the
insurance, it will be a great temptation to
induce them to come down on the bee-keeper
in the hope of getting a little cash easily.

You will, no doubt, probably remember me
calling on you at King William-street about
twelve months since, and our conversation
with regard to regulating hive temperatures
by new kind of thermometer. Well, I had a
good lot of work away from home about that
time and a busy season later on, and, in con-
sequence I was unable to get the apparatus
fixed and at work in the hive for this winter,
but it i3 now almost complete, and will be
ready as soon as we can open the hives with-
out doing any damage. I hope to be able to
take records under all conditions, and with
the hive in natural condition outside.

I am wintering five stocks, had a good
season, about 240 lb. from three of them.
Wishing you a happy New Year. — F.
Culpan, Cambridge, December 30.

[4627] I think this insurance scheme
should prove a boon, especially to bee-keepers
whose apiaries are in or near populous places.
Some years ago a swarm in this town settled
on a donkey harnessed to an invalid chair ;
the inevitable took place, and the occupant
of the chair (an elderly lady) was much in-
j ai el. With best wishes for 1902. — A.
Macindoe, M.D., Old Hayes, Sidmouth,
December 30.

[4628.] I observe with favour the insurance
scheme mentioned in your " supplement,"
but what about the many beekeepers who do
not belong to any association, to whom are
they to apply 1— Slieve Donahd, Co. Down,
Ireland, December 28.

[See reply to Oliver Mourant.-^EDs.]

Jan. 2, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

TITS AND BEES.

[4629.] I am but a novice in the art of
keeping bees, but, none the less, I have been
keenly on the watch this winter for enemies.
The B.B.J, comes to hand weekly, and has
been most helpful. The letter of Mr. Hiam
(4608, December 19) was certainly a surprise
to me, as I knew from more sources than one
that tits were fond of bees.

My hive3 are situated in a little glade that I
have cleared amongst some oak trees, and, as
Mr. Hiam writes from Worcestershire, where
tits are very well-behaved, and Mr. Loveday
from Essex, where they do damage, I thought
perhaps a word from Hampshire might be
acceptable.

In order that the tits might have no excuse
for visiting my hives (which are only 150 ft.
from my dining-room window) I made a large
double crossbar and table for other birds, from
which hang two pieces of fat and two halves
of a cocoanut. Now, I thought, I shall be all
right, but to my great annoyance, last Sunday
week, I found, outside my strongest stock,
only a few inches from the alighting-board,
■some 200 to 300 mutilated bee3.

I could not, then and there, say whether
mice or tits were to blame, but finally set a
double-ended mouse-trap just by the alighting-
board. On visiting the hive in the afternoon,
sure enough I found Master "Cole Tit " caught
and drenched through and through.

Now I am not prepared to say that the tits
caught the bees as they came out, as I did not
see them, but that they visited the hive I am
positive. I send you some of the bees here-
with. Can you tell me from their present
condition whether they were caught alive and
killed, or whether they were eaten after they
were dead ?

It seems to me an extraordinary thing that
200 or 300 bees should be found dead from
natural causes outside a hive that has plenty of
stores.

I am inclined to think that tits, like human
beings, occasionally desire a chaDga of diet, so
after regaling themselves on a meat course of
suet and pudding course of cocoanut, they
finish up with a dessert of bees.

I am intensely fond of birds, and have never
discharged a gun on my place, but I shall
certainly protect my bees against the attacks
of tits, seeing that the latter are so bountifully
provided for.

I may say in conclusion that I liberated
Master Tit, and saw him safely into the bushes,
in the hope that he might communicate the
fact of his capture to his fellows, and so stop
the raids on my hives. — R. Beck, Bitter ne
Park, Southampton, December 28.

P.S. — May I add that I consider the wood
of many of the hives supplied by the makers
is a great deal too thin, and be as careful as
you may in canvassing and painting your
hive-roofs, nothing can beat zinc. One of our
leading makers has acknowledged as much,

and his letter is before me as I write. He
says thi3 will be remedied next year.

[The dead bees sent afford indisputable
evidence of the work done by tits, all the
flemy parts being eaten, and only the wings
and shell of abdomea left. — Eds ]

ABOUT WASPS.

[4630.] On the subject of waspj, I send you
extract of letter, dated from Stepney Borough
Museum, November 23, addressed to Mr. H. W.
Brice : — '. . . . The ne3t you kindly spared to
me for this museum is still flourishing, and an

object of great interest to our visitors

Nearly all the male3 and, I believe, all the
workers are now dead, but the queens are feed-
ing well, and show no disposition to hibernation.
Last Tuesday week, the 12tb, the nest was
particularly lively, and we think quite 100
queens were out. I should very much like to
hibernate some of the queens, and make an
attempt to get them to build in the spring. I
am not certain what surroundings would be
best or possible to give them. We have fed
our wasps on sugar, Swiss milk, and a sample
of Virol we had sent us."

With regard to queen wasps surviving for
another season, I remember keeping a number
of queens in a nest without feeding them
during the period of hibernation. They re-
fused the honey I gave them when they
showed activity in the spring, and every one
of the queen3 died. I was told that I should
have given them a flesh diet. I should add
that the nest was kept in an attic, under a
glass shade, and the wasps were, of course,
subject to changes of temperature in a way
that would not have been the case, to the same
extent, in a ne3t underground, I name this to
elicit comment from any of your readers who
may have had experience of the question.—
E. D. T., Bynsford, Kent, December 26.

BEES IN FORFARSHIRE.

[4631.] I send you a short account of our
bee-doings for the year 1901. We started the
season with four stocks, three in fair condition,
one weak. Having decided to try the method
advocated by Mr. J. Rymer, we gave to one
stock, on May 29, ten standard frames with
ready-built comb (not foundation, as Mr.
Rymer does) above adapting-board. The bees
quickly took possession of upper chamber.
And on June 8 we put on a rack of 1-lb.
sections fitted with starters. On June 29 the
queen wa3 confined to lower chamber by
excluder zinc,- at which time eighteen of the
twenty frames were full of brood. July 7 —
we put on a rack of 1-lb. sections, with
starters. July 22— removed ten standard
frames containing 60 lb. of honey, all _ well
sealed. July 24 — removed rack of finished
sections.

After removal of these the old queen was

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Jan. 2, 1902.

last out, and on examination we found a
young queen in hive. July 26 — removed
another rack of finished sections, and put on
two racks fitted with full sheets of foundation
before removing ; shifted hives to the heather
same night. The other three stocks swarmed.
In the case of two the queens were removed
and the swarms returned after cutting out the
queen-cells so as to prevent second swarm?.
In the other case a nucleus was formed by
taking two frames of brood and bees and a
couple of queen-cells, placing them in an
empty hive, and stopping up the entrance
with grass ; the swarm was then returned.
The nucleus has since built into a good stock.
Our take of honey from the four hives was as
follows : —

Clover. Heather. Total,

lb. lb. lb.

No. 1 . . 102 . . 42 . . . . 144
No. 2 . . 63 .. 63 .... 126

No. 3 . . 53 . . 53 106

No. 4 . . 42 . . 42 84

260 200 460

No. 1 wa3 worked on the Rynier method.
The clover season in thi3 has been considered
very good. The heather rather under the
average. Those who took their bees to the
heather on or after August 2 got no finished
sections, the greater part of the crop being
gathered the previous week. — Watt & Mid-
dleton, Brechin, N.B., December 23.

A PLEA.SANT PARTING WORD.

[4632.] Please stop my B.B.J, at the end of
this year (1901). I have, alas ! to give up
my bees, as I am leaving this neighbourhood.
I beg to thank you for your courtesy in
answering questions and giving help during
the eleven years I have kept bee?, and I con-
s'der I owe my success in bee-keeping in a
great measure to the help I have received
from your Journal. In my most successful
year I cleared £50, besides buying a new ex-
tractor, a honey ripener, and a , lock-up rail-
way churn for travelling honey in bulk (not
taking into account my labour), from twenty-
one stocks (spring count). Wishing you every
success for the New Year. — H. C. Hawker
(Lieutenant), Longparish, Hants.

[We are more than pleased to have in some
measure contributed to the success of our
correspondent as a bee-keeper, and trust that
if again a favourable chance occurs he will
still find pleasure and profit in " the bees." —
Eds.]

THE HONEY BIRD.

[4633.] I enclose cutting from a letter in the
Times of August 23, 1901, written by a
correspondent with the Abyssinian Field
Force, and dated May 20 of the present year.
The facts may interest readers of the B.B.J. —

E. D. T., The Priory, Eynsford, Ken*,
December 23 : —

" On our way I made the acquaintance of
the Morris or honey-bird, of which one has
often read in travellers' books, but of whose
existence and powers I had personally always
been sceptical. I encountered the bird as I
was wandering one morning along the hills
skirting the valley in search of any game that
might present itself. A bird settled on a tree
in front and began to chatter volubly. The
Somalis with me explained it was Morris, the
honey-bird, with tales of whose wonderful
doings they had often regaled me. The bird
seemed to be about the same size as a thrush,
with a grey breast and yellow beak and long
tail. We followed it a3 it fluttered from bush
to bush, and if we halted even for a minute it
came back urging us to move on. The
Spinalis kept whistling and talking to the
bird, which seemed to make it more talkative
than ever. At last it stopped and would lead us
no farther. The men began to search in the
jungle to see if it was a lion it was taking u*
to, for the Morris is just as likely to do so as
to show you honey ; but there were no signs
of any dangerous animals. On examining the
trunks of the trees near by, I found a tiny
crevice in the stem of a dead trunk, cut of
which exuded some moisture which, on being
tasted, was found to be honey. To avoid the
attacks of the bees a fire was first lit, in the
smoke of which the men could take refuge,
and then the shikari, climbing up the stem a
few yard*, discovered a large hollow running
down the length of the trunk. We imme-
diately set to work with our hunting knive3
and cut out the front of the tree sufficiently to
allow a man to reach down to the depth of
the hol'ow, whence he pulled out four long
pieces of excellent comb honey. The bees,
curiously enough, did not attempt to molest
the thief. The honey-bird sat by all the
time, eagerly watching our doings, and when
we lefc we placed a piece of the spoil on a
branch of the tree, which Morris at once
attacked greedily, and we left him there.

" These birds are an interesting study ; the
Somalis affirm that they will lead you to
honey, lions, or large snakes indiscriminately,
and also ascribe to them the power of ferret-
ing out in a village an evildoer, when the bird
will, they say, haunt the neighbourhood and
constantly settle on the roof of the man's hut
to whom it wishes to direct attention."

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

Mr. Carbines, whose apiary is depicted on
next page, is a reader who may be called a
professional bee-man, in so far as he deals in
queens, swarms, and honey on business lines.
We also know that he makes the business pay
him as an adjunct to his other pursuits. His
" Notes," sent at our request, are useful and
interesting reading, so we add nothing except

Jan. 2, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

5

to emphasise the last ''word of caution'' \o
those who contemplate makiDg a start in the
craft. Only those with some aptitude should
start at all.

"I started bee-keeping in July, 1895, by
the purchase of a skep at a sale. At that
time I only knew that bees had stings and
gathered honey. However, having got my
skep, I went to a bookseller's shop and
inquired for the lest 'bock on bee-keeping.'
Asked if I meant in skeps or in box-frame
hives, I replied ' skeps,' as I ' knew nothing
about frame - hives.' Result ; Pettigrew's
' Handy Book of Bees,' which I thought at the
time was a grand book.

''• In the autumn of same year I b)ught
three condemned lots of bees, driving them

for my district I find it better to make it
take twelve frames instead of ten.

" When the photo was taken I had twenty-
one stocks away at the heather, but somehow
they did not increase their stores much this
season, although there was plenty of blossom.
Oars is a very fair district for honey, but I
find it tells against a big average take when
one goes in for selling swarms and queens, of
which latter I rear a good many, and have
sent them about all over the country. Still I
have managed to get about 15 cwt. of honey
for each of the past three years. My best
stocks have given me over 100 lb. of surplus
honey each year for now four years running.
The number of my colonies varies from fifty
to ninety, as I sell a good many stocks during

MR. E. CARBINES' APIARY, VENN, CARUINHAM, CORNWALL.

myself from Pettigrew's directions. By some
means my original stock in skep died in the
winter that followed, but I succeeded in
bringing the three driven lots safely through,
and they did well the following summer.
From those three lots practically the whole of
the bees and bee-produce 1 now possess has
been obtained.

"In the second year of my bee-keeping I
first learned of the B. B. J., then of Mr.
Cowan's ' Guide Book,' and, of course, soon
wanted to know what the frame-hive was
like, so bought one from a well-kaown maker.
Since then I have made all my own. And
after having tried almost all shapes and sizes
(keeping always to the ' Standard ' frame) I
much prefer those on the ' W. B. C. ' plan, but

the year, and then increase by m aas if nuclei
usually.

" Nearly all my honey is sold wholesale at
from 7d. to lOd, nor have I had much
difficulty in disposing of my crop till this
year, when I find myself with about 600 lb.
on hand for disposal .

" I have this year staged honey at our local
shows in eight classes, and from this number
have secured one 1st, three 2uds, and three
3rds, which I think very good. I have also
this year obtained the ' Expert's Certificate '
of the B.B.K.A.

" Unlike many of our bee-men, I possess no
' better half to bottle up the honey and pocket
the money, but have a sister as housekeeper
(who, by the way, worked the shutter for the

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Jan. 2, 1902.

photo, as I am a bit of an amateur photo-
grapher). Unfortunately, my sister does not
like bees, so I have pretty well all the work
to do single-handed.

" Now, having said all this about myself
and the bees, I would conclude by adding a
line to say, if my advice is likely to be of any
use to any reader who is a beginner to the
craft, I would say : Read first the subject up
well ; next buy a good hive from a reliable
maker, and make yourself thoroughly
acquainted with all the working part3 ; then
get a strong swarm of bees of a good working
strain, give them a good start after hiving, and
deal very gently with them in handling. Go
slow ; learn to understand the bees, and by
treating them! well, get them to understand
you ; they will treat you well, as I find they
do me.

" Finally, and as a word of caution, let me
say : There are a number of people who start
bee-keeping without possessing any natural
aptitude at all for it. In these cases I con-
sider it would be the greatest kindness to the
bees themselves and to bee-keeping generally
if they would drop it again at once, or as soon
as they find out their mistake."

GLEA.NINGS FROM FOREIGN BEE
JOURNALS.

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

Le Bucher Beige.— M. Person says :— "At
the end of August last I was hastily sum-
moned to examiue a hive of bees said to have
died off with foul brood. I suspected rather
that it was queenless. On investigation we
found a few hundred bees running wildly
over the comb3 ; this was all the population.
Removing the second frame, an uuexpected
sight presented itself to our view ; one might
have thought that all the spiders in the
country had held rendezvous and spun their
webs there ; but the presence of great grey
grubs escaping from all corners betrayed the
presence of the wax moth.

From one end to the other of the hive the
combs were fastened together by a mass "of
white threads that could be torn off by hand-
fuls. Never had I seen such a thing. I
could have drawn away the whole by raising
one comb, and the grey grub3 came out by
hundreds, and cocoons were fastened to every
available nook ; the hive was full of them —
enough to people a province. The comb3
were a black mass of threads and dirt ; there
was nothing to save. Everything was placed
in a bucket of water, and the hive thoroughly
cleansed and put away for the next year's use.
Nearly the same experience has happened to
myself, and it requires care and constant
supervision to be sure that this pe3t has not
attacked any part of the apiary. It is wise
to sulphur any combs which are to be kept,

and in case of any olonies being weak or
small, not to give more comb than the bees
can well cover. The wax-moth eats wax,
pollen, propolis, and also the wood of which
the frames are made."

Bucher Beige. — Digestive Lozenges can be
made by melting in a bain-marie 3 oz. of
pure gelatine in 3 oz. of water; then add
carefully, while stirring thoroughly, \ lb. of
honey previously warmed. When well in-
corporated add a little cochineal and five or
six drops to every 3 oz. of English essence of
peppermint. This is then run into lozenge
moulds or thinly on to a plate, dried in the
cool, cut into shapes, and finished drying for
eight hours in a dry placa.

A Hexling Balsam, really valuable in case
of wounds or injuries to the skin, is prepared
in the same way in a bain-marie : — Take of
wax from the cell capping? 1 oz. ; of fresh
propolis, 2 oz. ; of the finest honey, 7 oz.
After all is well mixed pass through a close
cloth, and pre33 out well ; replace in the
bain-marie ; add a little cochineal and a few
drops of essence of lavender; then beat the
mixture well with a fork, and fill into small
pots, which fasten down closely.

L' Apiculture. — M. Legros, of Bayonne, Bas
Pyrenees, offers gratuitously to the readers of
this paper specimens of the excellent bee-
plant Vitis Davidii. The Vitls Davidii is a
deliciously-scented, ornamental plant, of which
the abundant flowers are eagerly visited by
the bee3.

Bulletin de la Society d'Apiculteur de
Tunisie. — A new paper is being published
quarterly to encourage bee-keeping in Tunip,
bees having long been kept in a primitive
fashion by the natives, and the importance of
the industry ha3 not yet been realised by the
colonists. The climate seems naturally formed
for the production of honey, which has been
successfully carried on by the natives notwith-
standing the simplicity of their methods. The
paper touches on the great value of the bee, as
fertilising the vine and other fruits ; then it
describes the hive and its inhabitants, the
queen-bee and her life-history, and that of the
drone and worker. It give3 an estimate of
number of hives and amount of honey pro-
duced in Algeria in 1898 as an encourage-
ment to the bee-keep8rs of Tunis, who have
the same climate and vegetation.
• Schweizerischc Bienenzeitung. — A bae-
keeper makes the discovery that a hive of
bees placed in a shady situation and facing
north succeeded better than those which
stood in the full sun facing south. The bees
began work a fortnight later than the others,
but worked on steadily and produced twice
as much honey a3 the others, and sufficient
for their own winter supply besides.

Deutsche Illustrierle B. Zeitung. — A bee-
keeper of thirty years' standing writes that
for some weeks his bees had taken to col-
lecting goot ! Hundreds of them flew out of

Jan. 2, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

the stove flue in his study, and their appear-
ance proved that they had risked the danger
of smoke and heat. They were quite black
with the soot, and mostly were carrying loads
of soot back to their hives. So far as could
be known they had all they needed — natural
pollen in abundance, and artificial flour was
offered them, and remained untouched.

Can any readers say if they have had a
similar experience, or give any idea of the
reason for so strange a proceeding 1 i

Deutsche Bienenzuckt (Stettin). — A strong
colony in a good hive was greatly troubled by
lice. The queen showed at least fifteen. I
gave a fresh queen, but after a few weeks the
condition was as bad as before. Smoking
with tobacco and oil of thyme had no effect,
rather injuring the bees than their parasites,
and although wintered with 201b of honey,
the whole colony succumbed to disease duriog
the next following winter.

Deutsche Bienensucht. — Linameggi, near
Werro, in Livonia, May 5, 1901. — In this
excessively cold climate the hives have to be
so constructed as'to take thick layers of " torf ''
(dried peat), and higher than the ordinary
hive to admit of placing over all a very thick
straw mat. Over the while a wide lid is
placed as roof. The bees are often kept shut
in by severe weather for as much as eight
months. On April 7 this year they had their
first flight, after which cold set in again uatil
the 14th, so that no bee could fly. Until
May 3 a cold north win! lasted, never below
1 deg. of fro3t by day, and a strong frost by
night. On April 17 they were examined ; all
had still a good store of honey, and most hives
had young brood in different stages. Although
sometimes flying, they could gather nothing,
as the nut and aspen catkins were frozen. At
the present moment (May 5) there is 1 deg. of
frost and it is snowing heavily, but the bee3
have plenty of honey, and can attend to their
brood nes'.s meanwhile. There is no need for
anxiety respecting them.

Apicoltore. — Signor Passeri, from near
Teramo, in Italy, gives an account of how his
apiary had been continually robbed during a
period of two years without his being able to
trace the thieves. The thefts were so constant
and so cleverly managed that two honey har-
vests were almost completely lost, while pre-
vious years they had been exceedingly
abundant.

One morning, returning home after a short
absence, Signor P. discovered that the thief,
among other traces of his visit, had left "behind
a pair of old military gloves, marked and
stained with propolis and pollen. The police
traced them to his tenant, and in his house
they found other proofs of his guilt, and he
was arrested, and, after a long debate, was
condemned to a year's imprisonment, to make
full compensation, and to pay all the law
costs. The injury done is not easy to com-
pensate. Not only has there been no honey
harvest for the last two years, but the bees

have been cruelly ruined, and a few thousand
lire (a lire, lOd.) entirely lost.

Bulletin de la Soc. d'Ap. de la Somme. —
You can make a good imitation Madeira wine
as follows : — Take ten quarts of good white
wine ; dissolve in it one pound of sugar and
the same quantity of honey ; add a little pure
spirit — 35 per cent.; add two handfuls of
hops. At the end of eight days, filter and
bottle.

(ftt^s and" Jt^ltqa.

[2771.] Brimstone Fumes and Foul Brood.
— In this straw-plait district it is the common
custom, in order to improve the colour of
straws U3ed, to make plait and expose them in
a chamber for several hours to the fumes from
a vessel of burning brimstone placed also
therein. Will you please to tell me if hives,
frames, and other bee-appliance infected with
foul brood, being first scraped and otherwise
cleaned, and treated a3 above, would thus
be disinfected ? The process is simple,
inexpensive, and could be easily repeated.
Information will be gratefully received.—
" Threakers," Berkhamsted, December 27.

Reply. — The fumes of burning brimstone
are known to be an excellent disinfectant
agaiast germs of all kinds, but so far as regards
the spores of foul brood they are of no more
use than smoke from burning rags. The nature
of foul-brood germs has been dealt with so
often in our page3, besides being described in
the '* Guide Book," that it seems odd to hear
of any reader not being conversant with the
fact that while the bacilli of foul brood is
easily killed by chemical agents, the spore will
stand an hour's boiling without destroying its
vitality.

[2772] Dead Bees Cast Out— To-day
(December 30) 1 noticed an unusual amount
of dead b3e3 about the entrances of my hives
— I should think fr jm thirty to forty at each
hive. 1. Do you know of any reason for this ?
When I packed the hives up for winter about
the end of September the bees looked strong
and healthy, with plenty of stores. 2. I also
gave them some candy made according to
" Guide Book " recipe, of which I enclose
sample. Is it all right I I also send a few
dead bees for you to see. 3. Do you think
fighting would be the cause 1 If so, how
would you stop it 1 I shall be pleased if you
can help me through the B.B.J, this week ;
also as to sample of candy enclosed. — Nitram,
Wokingham, December 30.

Reply. — I. There is no cause for alarm in
dead bees being cast out ; they are the old
and worn-out bee3 which die off in the course
of nature and are cast out of the hive. 2.
Your candy is very good indeed. 3. No ; the
mortality is just normal.

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Jan. 2, 1902.

<&thm from M Hbm

Starry, near Canterbury, December 30. —
After an enforced confinement to the hives
for several weeks, owing to wet and boisterous
"weather, we had a welcome change on Satur-
day, the 28th, and after a rainy night, Sunday
morning dawned with a clear sky and a warm
south wind, consequently the bees had a
grand cleansing flight, and well did they avail
themselves of it. From about 1 1 a.m. until
2 p.m. the bees revelled in the warm sunshine,
the flight-boards being covered and the air
aHve with bees careering around overhead.
Nor did they spend the whole of the sunny
time in flight, if one may judge by the dead
bees thrown out. I, too, tiok advantage of
the bright morning by lifting off the roofs
before going to morning service, thus giving
the winter coverings a good airing. I always
make a point of doing this during the winter
months whenever the weather is favourable. —
Arthur H. Homersham.

Chichester, December 29. — Echces ! Yes,
echoes ! Although the word almost teems
to have died out in your pages, time
was, and not so many years ago, when
one could sometimes count on seeing a
dozen echoes in the B.B.J., all very
interesting and instructive reading, at the
time our old friend John Walton used to
echo a few lines of his bees' doings from the
hive3. I suppose it is thaf< bee-keaping has
become so much of an £ s. d. consideration
that bee-keepers cannot find time to echo
their doings. Well, to-day for about two
hours the weather ha3 been quite spring-like,
and bees have had a good cleansing flight,
which, no doubt, has done them good, in
changing their quarters and getting iato closer
proximity to sealed stores. I only noticed
one stock where dead bees were being carried
out in any quantity. These, no doubt, were
from the outside of cluster, too far away from
food during the late frosts. Young beginners
should not be alarmed at this ; only this is the
time when the entrance will become blocked
if not seen to, and cause suffocation later on if
not cleared away. Wake up, ye Echoites,
and re-echo again ! — Wishing all a happy and
prosperous New Year. —J. D.

ABOUT WASPS.

From the recent voluminous correspondence
in the Standard on the subject of wasps and
their depredations, we select the following as
being both interesting and useful to B.B.J,
readers : —

" To the Editor of the Standard.

" Sir, — Let me assure the Rector of Mitton
Of my sympathy in having his fruit destroyed

by wasps during last autumn, a complaint that
has been universal throughout the country.
Few gardens but have suffered from these
insect pests. Having the management of a
large garden, where all sorts of fruits are
grown in quantity, it becomes necessary that
everything should be done for their destruction.
Our efforts in thi3 direction have been suc-
cessful. The loss sustained by wasps has been
small, whilst many gardens in our district
have suffered severely.

"During the autumn every known nest
around us was destroyed. This prevents the
queens of the future leaving their nests. One
caution is necessary. Never interfere with
the nest during the day. Simply place a
small branch near the entrance as a guide.
After dark go round with a lamp and a water-
pot of gas tar (easily procured at the nearest
ga3 works), pour about a quart of the liquid
into the hole, place a piece of turf on the
entrance to seal it, or tread with the foot, and
the work is complete. Should the entrance
be in a bank, with the hole going upwards,
use a pieca of cotton rag with a tablepoonful
of sulphur, light the raw, and blow the sulphur
fumes into the nest with a bello vs. There are
numerous other methods ; but the two men-
tioned are simple and efficient ; never a single
failure.

" In April the young queers are on the
wing. Let every one seen bi caught and
destroyed. A net, such as used for catching
butterflies, is useful. In glass-houses a few
twigs of birch is the best thing ; but I regret
that I cannot tell your correspondent any way
to entice them into a greenhouse, or of trap-
ping them. There are some shrubs that the
queens have a likinar for, notably the myrtle.
A few yean ago 200 were destroyed during
April and Miy on these shrubs. Then, again,
a mild and genial April, succeeded by a wet
and cold May, destroys great numbers. Ic
may be considered a duty on every lover of a
garden to destroy these p33ts, thereby saving
their fruit, and ofttimes preventing serious
illness from their stings. — John Gilmour,
Seacox Heath, JSawkhurst, December 27."

"Sir, — In answer to your correspDndent, I
consider the best way to destroy queen wasp3
is to fold up an old curtain or blanket in a
summer-house or outhouse in the early
autumn, where it is not exposed to the cold.
The queen wasps will creep into the folds for
shelter, and are easily taken. On one occa-
sion I found nine queens hidden amongst a
pile of blankets in a disused room ; on
another, four queens in the curtains of a be<l
Every winter I find some hidden amongst the
coverings for my frames in an old stable. — I
am, Sir, your obedient servant, A. M.
Norgate, Formosa, Paignton, S. Devon,
December 28."

Jan. 2, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

SELLING SECTIONS.
weight versus COUNT.

For some little time there has been an effort
made to sell comb honey by the case and count
of sections instead of by the actual weight of
the honey contained therein. There is before
me as I write two letters from parties desiring
to sell their honey in this way — namely, so
much per case of tweDty-four sections, without
reference to the actual weight of honey con-
tained in the case. Both of these parties (who
are car-load shippers) were requested to name
their price per pound. In reply to that letter
one of them writes : —

" In reply I will state that it is not possible
to quote any honey by the pound, for the
reason that the different honey producers use
different weight cases, and it would be an end-
less task to arrive at the net weight of 1,000
or more cases.''

The other one writes : —

" In reply to your favour of the 26th inst.
I beg to say that we make it a rule to sell by
the case only, as selling by the pound would
put a premium on the non-separatored honey,
which is not as satisfactory to the dealers as
the nice separatored article, which is much
more even in weight and less liable to injury
by careless handling. We hope that selling
by the case wi'l soon come into more general
use."

We hardly care to make any comment on
the foregoing quotations, but merely introduce
them so that the reader may know that there
is more or less honey in the comb being
offered for sale in this way. To say that by
selling by count is more satisfactory than buy-
ing by the pound brings to our memory the
old adage so often repeated, that " It is never
wise to buy a pig in the bag,'' for, in all pro-
bability, it is a pig, yet when the bag is re-
moved it may not at all meet the expectations
of the buyer.

It may be conceded that some, if not many,
of our expert bee manipulators can get the
bees to store in each section a given quantity,
filling each section with no more or no less
than is contained in all the neighbouring ones.
Now if thi3 were the case generally, the use of
scales might well be abandoned ; but if it
takes the bees longer to put 16 oz. of
honey into a section than it does 12 oz., and a
correspondingly longer time to put in 12 oz.
than it would 9 oz , is it not reasonable to
infer that some man less scrupulous than his
neighbour would manage it so that he could
get a little less honey in the section, and thus
a greater lot of sections filled in a given time
by the bees than his neighbour could ? He
would then be able to get as much money for
the number of sections as his neighbour pro-
duced, and, having produced a fourth or a
third more filled sections, he would be that
much better off financially than his neighbour,
and the purchaser would have that much less
honey for an equal sum of money; therefore,

it would be only a little time before a case of
twenty-four so-called 1-lb. sections, instead of
weighing from 22 lb. to 24 lb., as was supposed
to be the case at the beginning of this method,
we soon find that the cases, while containing
twenty-four sections, in many instances weigh
from 17 lb. to 191b.

Although this method of selling honey in
any quantity has not been in vogue more than
three or four years, already we find a twenty-
four-section case to weigh nearer 19 lb.
to 20 lb. than 23 lb. to 24 lb., yet
there are some producers in a collection of
a thousand case3 of comb honey, whose cases
weigh from 23 lb. to 24 lb., while others run
from 17 lb. to 19 lb , there being no apparent
difference in the grade of honey when viewed
through the glass exposure, but there is, when
sections are compared with one another, a
noticeab'.e difference in the thickness of the
comb.

If all men were evolved up to one standard
there would be little need of checking one's
account? against another ; but inasmuch as we
are not yet, as a whole, at the stage where we
will not practise deceit for the sake of per-
sonal gain — x false gain, to be sure, but, never-
theless, one that is daily practised by a
very great number of us — and the desire so
prevalent to excel our neighbour in getting
the best of a bargain is so constantly in mind,
that this method of selling honey by the case,
without reference to the net weight of the
contents, is a great temptation to a moral
nature not over strong. It wouldbe as fair
to buy our sugar and tea by the bagful with-
out weighing it because the merchant says,
" My bags hold just so much in weight, and it
is unnecessary to weigh the goods I serve you
for so much ; '' while it is true that since
paper bags are made by machinery they vary
but little in size, the machinery being so nicely
arranged that it cuts the paper with great
accuracy, folds it with corresponding accuracy ;
thus the bag when complete, if properly filled,
will each time contain almost exactly the
same amount of sugar, tea, or coffee. But
there are some merchants who want to sell a
bag of tea, coffee, or sugar for a little les3 than
their competitors, and to enable them to do so,
and yet make a profit, they arrange for a bag
that will hold a little less than the so-called
5-lb. or 10-lb. bag they have previously been
using and their neighbour is using, and by
this means they are able to draw those who
formerly bought of their neighbour to buy
their goods, for the most of us consider it
necessary to buy where we can buy the
cheapest.

It seem3 to us that it would be just as
reasonable to abandon weighing one of the
commodities we have mentioned as it would
the other, for in either case we would be
putting a temptation in the way of a weaker
brother by giving him an opportunity to cheat
without fear of detection.

It has been said in support of buying honey

10

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Jan. 2, 1902.

by the case that nearly all the retailers sell it
by the section and not by the weight. Let us
grant this to be the fact. The sections are
taken out of the cases, or they are arranged in
such a way that the buyer can see what he is
getting — if it is sold to him as weighing a
pound, and if he doubts, he can ask to have
it weighed ; if the merchant refuses to do so,
it would be a tacit admission on his part that
he was deceiving his customer. Now there
are very few merchants who would take that
risk, for the reason the patronage of the
customer would be worth much more to him
than the little he could make on a section of
honey ; for how many of us would continue
to trade with any one whom we found de-
liberately trying io cheat us ?

We could cite many other reasons that to us
are logical against buying or selling honey in
what seems to us a very primitive way, namely,
of guessing at what the weights might be.
When nowadays scales are cheap, and business
is done so closely that the guess is no longer
admissible, if for no other reason than the ill-
feeling it is liable to arise between the parties
buying and selling, it should be dispensed
with.

Our purpose in the foregoing is to call the
attention of bee-keepers to this subject,
especially when we find that organisations of
bee-keepers in some instances are advocxting
the abandoning of weighing their honey and
selling it by the case.— R. A. Burnett & Co.,
jn American Bee Journal.

PRESS CUTTINGS.

LORD AVEBURY ON BEES AND ANTS.

The Mayor of Stepney recently presided
at the Free Popular Science Lecture in the
Museum, when Lord Avebury told some
charming stories of his many experiments
to test the intelligence of animals. How his
dog " Dan " learnt to distinguish between
plain cards and cards with the words " food "
and " out '' printed on them, and to bring
them to his master — the " food " card when he
was hungry, and the "out" card when he
wanted a walk. Lord Avebury's fame as a
student of bees, ants, and wasps i3 widespread,
and the large audience listened eagerly to the
details of his experiments with these animals.
There was a pretty experiment by which he
discovered that bees prefer the colour blue to
orange. Wishing to see how ants would treat
drunken members of their community, he
tried to induce twenty-five ants from one nest
and twenty-five from another to take sufficient
alcohol to make them intoxicated, but they
refused, so they were bathed in whisky till
they were drunk. Then the fifty intoxicated
ants were placed in one of the two nests. The
inhabitants, after examining them, carefully
picked out the drunken strangers and dropped
them into a neighbouring water-butt. The
twenty-five drunken friends they carried

carefully to a remote part of the nest, there
to sleep themselves sane. To test the ants'
susceptibilities to music the lecturer placed
some honey on a musical box, which, much to
the distress of the household, he kept playing
" I dreamt that I dwelt in marble halls •' for a
fortnight. Alas ! the ants found the honey on
the box just as well when it was silent. Lord
Avebury did not make any definite distinction
between "instinct'' and " intelligence,'' but it
is to be concluded he would apply the word
"instinct'' to the processional caterpillars,
who can only find their way back by means of
the silk they have woven in their journey, and
" intelligence " to the dog, who can learn to
recognise the appearance of a card which, when
taken to his master, will induce him to give
the dog food when he is hungry. The Mayor
proposed a vote of thanks to the lecturer,
which was enthusiastically given, and Lord
Avebury, who was greeted with loud and pro-
longed cheering, briefly replied. — East London
Observer.

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 querietforwarded will be attended to, and thou only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

J. Geary (Binckley) — Henry Alley's Books
on Bees. — We know of no place in England
where the above works may be had, bat so
far as a copy of " The Bee-keeper's Handy
Book ; or, Twenty-two Years' Experience ii
Queen-Rearing,'' by Henry Alley (pub-
lished at one dollar), we can supply you
with a clean second-hand copy, bound in
cloth, for 2s. 3d., post-free.

E. 0. Brayshaw (Bradford). — Bei Associa-
tions in Yorkshire. — The hon. sec . of the
Yorkshire B.K.A. is Mr. R A. Grimshaw,
3, Manston-terrace, Cro3Sgates, Leeds.
There are also several district associations,
such as the East Riding B.K.A.., the York
and District B.K.A., and others. We will
send names and addresses of secretaries of
the latter if desired.

Jos. Chapman (Belfast). — Coloured Glasses
for Grading Honey. — The glasses referred
to can only be had from the secretary of the
BB.KA. If you failed to send on the
cash when writing Mr. Young, it would
account for his non-CDinpliaiice with your
request. Write again, and enclose 6d. in
stamps, and we have no doubt the glasses
will be forwarded.

Jan. 9, 1902."

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

11

<& Hitirml $tttitt%> kt

INSURANCE FOR BEE-KEEPERS.

The letters in our last issue, dealing with
the question of insurance, have been sup-
plemented by some inquiries for particulars
from those who are favourably disposed
towards the scheme. It is also notable that a
good proportion of those who are interesting
themselves in the subject are not members of
any County B.K.A. We are not yet aware
to what extent the circulars sent out — as a
supplement to our issue of December 26 — have
been used by the various county associations
for distribution among their members, but
we must impress on readers generally the
fact that unless a considerable addition be
made to the number of names received so far,
the scheme will be in danger of falling
through from sheer lack of support.

It should, therefore, be realised that the
effort, if it is to be effectual at all, must be
made at once. And we again urge our
readers to make up their minds without
delay, and send their application direct to
Mr. Edwin H. Young, Secretary, B.B.K.A.,
12, Hanover-square, London.

The Editor* do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondent!. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communication/, 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, 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.

A NEW YEAR'S "NOTE."
[4634.] I have thought that, amid the many
"notes" reaching the B.B.J, office from all
parts, you may possibly find room for one
from Mid-Shropshire. First allow me to con-
gratulate you, Messrs. Editors, and your
numerous correspondents, upon making the
Bee Journal so very helpful and interesting
to us bee-keepers during the year just past —
certainly brighter and more interesting than
any year since I have known it. Is it because
a large number of correspondents have helped
the Editors to swell the columns of our journal,
or is it because 1901 has been such a wonderful
year for bee3 and honey ? The yield in this
part, aa in most others, as regards quantity

and quality has been altogether nearly 1 cwt.
per hive, but " takes " of over that weight have
been common with some, while all of it has
been of the best quality. Sales, too, have been
remarkable. As far as I can gather very few
in our district have any honey left on hand.
Of course, we can never get samples of
extracted honey to equal in colour that obtain-
able by southern friends. I do not suppose
that a single plant of sainfoin could be found
in the whole of Mid-Shropshire. But as re-
gards white clover honey, I don't think that
many can beat us. In this one respect, at
least, by what I can observe, those who are
located in sainfoin districts have a partial
monopoly of the prizes on the show-bench. A
great quantity of comb honey is produced in
this district, and we can hold our own in sec-
tions, even against those from the sainfoiD. I
might here say that Shropshire beekeepers on
the whole are " a bit slow." They rather lack
the enthusiasm which is so desirable in a go-
ahead, or up-to-date, beekeeper. I regret to
say that of the hundreds of beekeepers in
Shropshire we can scarcely keep our county
association above water. They all appear to
be doing so well with their bees individually,
that there seems no desire to be connected
with associations. This feeling is deplored by
a few of us who have the welfare of the
association and of bee-keeping at heart.

In conclusion, and with your permission, I
should like to add a few words re the " tall
section," about which so much has been said.
I did not take part in the very exhaustive dis-
cussions re these sections in the B.B.J. last
spring. I decided to put them to a stiffer
test than paper argument would allow, so I
ordered 300 of them by way of trial. Most of
these were used on the hives, and the results
were everything to be desired — so much so
that I intend trying more of them this next
season. They were in strong force at our
Shrewsbury Show held in August last. The
"tall sections" belonging to myself and one
other bee-keeper very nearly " swept the
deck " of first and second prizes. Our friend
Woodley implied, in his " Notes by the
Way '' in one issue of B.B J., that he had not
seen a really good tall section. Well, Sir, I
can only say that some of us have. I saw the
sections that beat Mr. Woodley at Market
Drayton, and those that placed him second at
Shrewsbury, and were first at several places
besides. I entered twenty - four sections
from one rack in the " open class " at Shrews-
bury and won first with them. Some very
old bee-keeper3 said of my prize lot referred
to that they were the best sections they had
ever seen.

Now a word about how the tall section does
for sale purposes, and my note is ended. My
experience is that they sell splendidly. We
have had no need to " go a-begging " for cus-
tomers, and at top prices too; 10s., 12s., and
even 15s. per doz. has been paid this season,
so all are satisfied. The stock is sold out and

12

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Jan. 9, 1902.

we start afresh for 1902. To those who have
not tried tall sections I say, Don't be too
unkind in your criticisms until you have by
practical experience given them a chance.

May you, Mr. Editor, and all our brothers in
the craft have a bright, happy, and prosperous
New Year. — James Clay, Albert-road, Wel-
lington, Salop, January 6.

TITS AND BEES.

[4635.] I have read with much interesc the
controversy re tits and bee?, and should like
to say a few words upon the subject.

My residence is about twelve mile3 from
your correspondent, Mr. J. Hiams, where, it
would appear, the tits are more highly edu-
cated than in some other parts, and as the
hives are not nore than three yards from my
dining-room windows, I can readily observe
everything which goes on.

Just before the late severe weather, a pair of
coal tits came regularly night and morning
and cleared the alighting-board of dead and
dying bees, but not one instance did I see of
their catching or waiting for those bees who
were upon business thoughts intent.

Now, in my estimation, the real fault lies in
the hives themselves.

If bee-keepers, instead of using the flimsy
things made of wood, about § in. thick, with
for doorways simply a hole, and in many cases
large enough for a fair-sized rat to enter —
which I constantly see about — would have
them made of 1-in. wood, frames at right angles
to front, double walls back and front, and the
entrance let into floor board on the Cowan
principle, the actual door would be underneath
the front, 2\ in. (2f in. in my case) from the
extreme outside ; then Tom and his wife are
unable to use the knocker to fetch the bees out.

Birds of numerous kinds build in my
garden (nearly an acre), are never disturbed,
and will not be until I have positive proof of
their evil intentions towards my greatest pets,
" the bees."

I was very pleased to read your remarks
anent insurance, for I am convinced if this is
to be successful it must be extended to all. —
C. H. Tomlinson, Solihull Lodge, King's
Heath, January 4.

ENEMIES OF BEES.

[4636.] My first thoughts of becoming a
bee-keeper came through reading Mr. Cowan's
" Guide Book," and the only paragraph in this
useful work that somewhat held me back from
venturing on the idea was found under the
heading of "Enemies of Bees," for there it
states that tits are amongst the malignants.
Being a lover and encourager of all bird life,
and having 'got two pairs of tits established
and nesting in close proximity to where I
thought of placing my first hive, made me
doubt as to any success in my venture, but

taking up the hobby for outdoor pleasure,
and not for a financial reason, I purchased
my hive and swarm, and resolved to watch
intently if my feathered pets were as black
as painted. Daily for hours together did I,
unobserved, watch their every movement
right through the breeding season, when each
pair were occupied with a constant carrying
in of food for the hungry nestful of young; and
seen the sycamore tree when in bloom (where
I had one nest in a box I have provided)
swarming with bees, but never once did I see
the tits kill or molest a single bee or trouble
my hive. So after this thorough, constant
observation I erased their name from among
the enemies of bees, and a feeling of deep
regret is within me when I see such able
writers on the craft as Messrs. Loveday and
Woodley willing to hang, draw, and quarter
these beautiful little creatures ; but I am
fully convinced that if these two gentlemen
will take the trouble to watch tits under
ordinary circumstance?, they will, like me,
find that they have been wrongly classified,
and it is only another case of give a dog a
bad name, &c.

Mr. Woodley, in his "notes," admits that the
face of the earth was one of Arctic desolation
when he discovered the stings wiped off Tommy's
beak, but hunger is a sharp thorn, even in
bird life, and a meal was found in a few bees,
but not from choice, and had Mr. W. taken
Mr. Hiam's seasonable Christmas hint (4608,
page 102), and hung up a few bones, he would,
I am sure, have looked in vain for the sting3.
I have now every season about half-a-dozen
nests of tits around my apiary, which has
grown to a dozen hives, and in 1899 took nine
stones of section-honey from one colony situated
right under, and only a yard or so away from
a nest of tits, so with this excellent confirma-
tion I blotted them out for ever as robbers, and
to all bee-keepers this must be proof positive
that tits are not enemies of bee3.

Accept a Northern wish for a prosperous
and plentiful honey-year in 1902 to you all in
the South. — W. E. Richardson, Secretary,
Driffield and District B.K.A., Driffield, East
Yorkshire.

P.S. — There i8 one animal I have discovered
to be a lover of bees "dead or alive,'' viz, the
hedgehog, and one summer evening I watched
three of these prickly creatures mount my
alighting boards and make short work of the
busy inhabitants, and there is also one bird
fond of a dainty drone or two, but I am too
much in their confidence to "give them away."

GENERATION OF WASPS.
[4637.] With regard to the contributions on
this subject by Mr. H. W. Brice and Mr. W.
Loveday in your issues of November 21
and 28 last, I think the following quotation
from Reaumur may be of interest. It is
taken from a translation of a portion of
Reaumur's great work, "Histoire des Insectes,"'

Jan. 9, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

13

contained in Thomas Wildman's " Treatise en
the Management of Bees,'' second edition
(1780) :—

" The courtship and the nuptial rites
between the eeses are mysteries that have
been revealed to me " (says Reaumur) " by
means of my glass hives. About the middle
of October I saw the females and the males
come upon the outside covering of the nest
and keep there whilst it was heated by the
rays of the sun. I could perceive their
coupling performed pretty much in the same
manner as that of other flies. I sometimes
saw a male wasp in love, moving, as I may
say, with a discontented air, now going for-
wards, then suddenly turning back ; so soon
as he saw a female, he ran, he fled with all the
wings of love.''

Wildman does not quote beyond this point,
but from the information contained in the
above quotation it will be seen how completely
Reaumur succeeded in drawing aside the veil
that had hitherto obscured this portion of the
life history of the wasp.

The quotation is from vol. vi., page 200, of
Reaumur's work, which was produced between
the years 1734 and 1742. — A. Royds, jun.,
Soberton, Hants, December 24.

BEE HOUSES.

HOW TO BUILD ONE.

[4638.] In reply to your correspondent
G. W. Buttery (4615, page 504), I beg to say
the mortise is from the 2-in. mark to end of
7-ft. 10|-in. piece. The 4-in. by 2-in. piece
stands on its edge, so that the mortise will be
the 2-in. thickness of stuff each way and
1-in. thick. The frame of house rests with
bottom-rails on floor ; frame-work to be made
so that the outside of frame is flush with
outside of floor. The |in. boards will then
cover frame and sides of joists, and also keep
the whole thing rigid. The floor carries the
whole weight of house. I hope this will
make all plain ; if not, write again. I would
like to call attention to an^ error, 8 lines
from bottom of 1st column on page 487.
For " 5 in. by 6| in." read " 5 ft. 6£ in." I
think " W. B." will find that he will have to
put a 2-in. piece on back to take one end of
square for top-rail of end. — Worker Bee,
Langford.

INSURANCE FOR BEE-KEEPERS.

[4639.] I am pleased to think an insurance
scheme is now likely to become fully estab-
lished, and that, contrary to the general
impression derived from your " Supplement,''
non-members of county associations will be
able to join in all advantages the scheme may
have to otter. I believe I am the only member
of a county association within a radius of
three miles, and that within that radius there
must be upwards of 200 stocks of bees beside

my little lot of twenty. No doubt there are
other members similarly situated, and the
question is, "how is this scheme to be brought
to the notice of all these non-members ? " I
should like to suggest that every village
possessing a few bee-keepers should form a
Bee-Keepers' Club and combine the whole
amount of stocks under one policy, and I feel
sure this would bring four or five times as
many stocks under the insurance system as
the county associations will be able to do, and
at the same time effect a considerable saving
in the working expenses of the scheme, which
I think would tend to make it a greater
success.

A bee-keepers' club has many more advan-
tages to offer, such as co-operation in purchase
of supplies, the spreading of knowledge on
up-to-date methods, loan of bee books, &c,
from County Councils, and last, but not least,
the good fellowship and interesting chats of
its members at periodical meetings.

Tits and Bees. I look on the tit as a very
useful friend to the gardener and fruit-grower,
searching every part of a tree in quest of moth
or other insect pest. I have seen him pick up
hundreds of dead bees from front of hives, but
I have never seen him attack a live one, and I
trust none of your readers will begin a warfare
against him till they have satisfied themselves
that he does kill the bees, and the evidence
up to the present does not, in my opinion,
prove him guilty.

"Wishing you and all your readers a Happy
New Year. — John Arthars, ShuUeij,
Warwick, January 3.

HYMETTUS HONEY.

[4640.] A friend of mine ha3 been visiting
Greece, and has brought home for me a tin of
genuine Hymettus honey, which I propose to
open and sample at our next B.B.K.A. meet-
ing. Meantime, he informs me that the
locality from whence this honey is supposed
to come is covered with a small white daisy-
like flower, probably camomile. I was under
the impression that what is known as
"Hymettus honey'' was derived from the
flower of wild thyme. My tin is soldered up,
and therefore I have not yet tasted it, hence
I cannot speak as to flavour. — E. D. T., Eyns-
ford, Kent.

STARTING BEE-KEEPING.

[4641.] Last September I started bee-
keeping with one small swarm, which a friend
transferred for me into a new frame-hive.

A week or two later, under his advice, I
began feeding with syrup.

We soon had one or two sharp night frosts,
and about same time I noticed that the bees
deposited on alighting-boards and on two
garden frames liquid excrement of a rusty
brown colour. Fearing this was a case of
dysentery, I took away the syrup and replaced

H

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Jan. 9, 1902.

t with a block of candy. Two of these blocks
(1 lb. each) were cleared up before the cold
was sufficient to make the bees hibernate.
Beyond seeing that there was candy under
the quilt I have left them alone. The last
time I opened the hive (roof only) was a day
or two ago, when I took off the thick quilt
(home-made, many thicknesses), brought same
into the house, and had it before the fire for
hours, replacing same after dark while quite
warm. Hope this is right. — Carshalton,
January 3. — [Quite right. — Eds.]

SOME ESSEX NOTES.

[4642.] Leaking Jars.— There is a reply by
the Editor to D.M., who inquires on this sub-
ject in the B.B.J, of December 12 (page 500).
He actually also refers to this question in the
current number of the Bee-Keepers' Record.
Last season I used the new wads for jars
brought out by Messrs. Lee & Son, and found
them far superior to the common cork wads.
In fact, I had no trouble with leaking jars
last season.

Glass Quilts for Bees.— This subject has
been referred to several time3 recently on
pages 506 and 448. I favour a non-porous
covering for bees, but find glass suitable for
quilts only for those who keep a few hives of
bees merely as a hobby. The man who has to
live by his bees wants a quilt that can be
rolled back with as little noise as is possible.
There is so much " Snap, bang ! Here we are
again ! " in using glass as quilts, that the bees
naturally fix bayonets and prepare for a charge
the moment the glass is lifted. Glass prevents
the escape of both heat and moisture above
the bees, and my experience is that moisture is
not only beneficial to a colony of bees in good
condition, i.e., strong in numbers, but that
moisture is really necessary to the well-being
of the colony. I refer to colonies of bees in
good condition advisedly, for moisture that is
beneficial to a strong colony would be nothing
but dampness and death to a weak one. I
hope readers will understand that I refer to
such moisture as condenses in the hive, for in
no case can moisture be allowed to enter the
hive from outside through cracks. Such
moisture is death to bees. Personally I use
neatly folded newspapers over a calico quilt
to cover my bees. Paper neither holds dirt
nor harbours vermin, and will last for years. —
W. Loveday, Hatfield Heath, Harloiv.

RAILWAY COMPANIES AND
BEE-KEEPERS.

[4643.] Referring to the note of " W. A. H."
(4612), B.B.J, of December 19, I have already
given my experience of the two rates the rail-
way companies charge. We have a specially
cheap rate for farm and garden produce to
London — 4d. for 20 lb. I paid for horjey by
this rate, sometimes broken, at others it

arrived safely. I received an order for a dozen
1-lb. jars, and packed them with corrugated paper
and wood wool, filling the box tightly. I sent
at company's risk, and paid Is. 4d. carriage.
One bottle was broken, and after several
letters were written to the officials and I had
waited six months, I received Is. compensa-
tion. I should advise bee-keepers to send at
" owners' risk " and save the extra expense. —
W. J. Belderson, Terrington, Norfolk.

RAINFALL IN 1901.

At Buttermere,

in the County of Wilts;

Rain gauge : — Diameter of

funnel, 5 in .

height of top — above ground,

3 ft. ; above

sea level, 347 ft, :-

Number

Total

Greatest Fall in of Days on

Month. Depth.

Twenty-four

Hours, which -01
or more
fell.

Inches.

Depth.

Date.

January .... 1'06 .

. .. 0-33 ....

16th .... 19

February 2-25 .

. . . 0-68 ....

4th

... 13

March 2-03

... 0-35

30th

... 10

April 4 87 .

. . . 0 37 ....

10th

... 11

May 1-33 .

. .. 0-30 ....

30th

6

... 09S ....

3oth

... 12

July 2-21 .

. .. 0-51 ....

25th

... 7

August 2-23 .

... 1-05 ....

14th

... 10

September . . 2'81 .

. . . 0 96 ....

16th

. .. 10

October .... 1*98 .

... 0-51 ....

18th

... 15

November .. 0"87 .

. . . 0-39 . . ...

13th

... 7

December . . C'81 .

. .. 1-56 ....

12th

... 18

Total .. 27-20

144

w.

E. BtJRKITT.

Buttermere Rectory, January

4.

RAINFALL IN IRELAND— 1901.

[Observations taken at Enniskillen, County
Fermanagh.]

Number

w^-rt, Total Greatest Fall in °fh^S:n°1n

Month- Depth. Twenty-four Hours. W*2JJ

fell.

Inches. Depth. Date.

January .... 397 .... 0'48 .... 25th .... 23

February.... V3S .... 0-34 .... 1st .... 19

March 3'29 .... 0-58 .... 2nd .... 10

April 320 .... 0"92 .... 2nd .... 18

May 2-47 .... 077 .... 6th .... 13

June 3-71 1:70 .... 22nd .... 16

July 2-07 .... 0-71 .... 23rd .... 14

August 4-81 .... 1-62 .... 10th .... 21

September .. 4-00 .... 0-49 .... 19th .... 21

October .... 3'48 0'79 .... 18th .... 23

November .. 4-45 1-18 11th .... 17

December .. 4-13 0-56 7th 25

Total.. 40-96 .... 226

The rainfall was 2 27 inches less, and was
much more evenly distributed throughout the
year than in 1900. This year, as is shown
above, the greatest fall for any one month was
4*81 in. in August, and the least was 1-38 in.
in February. In the previous year the highest
monthly total reached six inches, and the
lowest was little more than half-an-inch. In
1900 the rainfall of the four wettest months
was more than that of the remaining eight ;
but in 1901, the total for the five wettest does
not much exceed that of the other seven.

Jan. 9, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

15

The mean temperature for the year was
476 deg. The highest temperature registered
in the shade was 78 '3 deg. on July 17, and
the lowest 18-4 deg. on March 26.

J. T. Abraham.

Rainfall, 444 in.

Heaviest fall, "49 in.,
on 12th.

Eain fell on 19 days.

Above average,
1-35 in.

Maximum Tempera-
ture, 54°, on 7th
and 8th.

Minimum Tempera-
ture, 20°, on 23rd.

Minimum on Grass,
13°, on 23rd.

Frosty Nights, 1 9.

Sunshine, 70 hrs.

WEATHER REPORT.

Westbourne, Sussex.

December, 1901.
Brightest Day, 17th,

6 '50 hours.
Sunless Days, 12.
Above average, 10"2

hours.
Mean Maximum,

44 9°.
Mean Minimum,

326°.
Mean Temperature,

38-7°.
Below average, *5°.
Maximum Barometer,

30-49°, on 1st,
Minimum Barometer,

28-55°, on 24th.
L. B. Birkett.

WEATHER REPORT FOR THE YEAR
1901.

Westbourne, Sussex.

Rainfall, 2596 in.

Heaviest fall 87 on
June 30.

Rain fell on 153 days
(average 172).

Below average, 2 87
in.

Maximum tempera-
ture, 80° on July
19 and 20.

Minimum tempera-
ture, 13° on Janu-
ary 9.

Minimum on grass,
5° on January 9.

Frosty nights, 88
(average 75).

Sunshine, 2,007 6

hours.
Brightest day, July

11, 15 5 hours.
Sunless days, 57

(average 61).
Above average, 147 5

hours.
Mean temperature,

47-2°.
Below average, 0 2°.
Maximum barometer,

30-70* on Novem-
ber 25.
Minimum barometer

28'55° on December

24.
L. B. Birkett.

THE HAIRS OF THE BEE.

The body of the bee is covered all over with
a compact coating of soft feathery and some-
times downy hairs. Their purpose is no
doubt to perform the usual duties of hairs or
feathers on live creatures, viz., to conserve the
internal heat and thus keep the insect warm.
But a great part of this pubescence, as it is
called in the case of the bee, performs other
marvellous functions. In the newly hatched
bee it shows as a soft grey downy covering,
but later on it assumes a darker hue, differing
in shade, however, according to the variety of

the bee. After weeks of hard work it wears
off, until from various causes, including old
age, the body shows shiny and black with the
the pubescence mostly if not altogether gone,
and the whole body has become bald.

In addition to this common hairy coating
many of the organs of the bee are covered all
over with tactile and tensory hairs — many of
them organs of touch, and several others per-
forming very important duties in the bee's
life and labours, both in and out of the hive.
Many of them, indeed, spring from a bulbous
growth on the skin directly connected with
certain nerves or nerve fibres ; and these
nerves collect in bundles and convey the im-
pression or sensation to the true nerve centres.
The tongue, all over, is somewhat closely
studded with numerous hairs of various
shapes and sizes, which form organs of taste
and touch. Many of them are provided with
a tiny opening like a mouth at their ends,
and several have minute channels runniDg
down the centre. The tip of the tongue forms
a kind of spoon, and it has a very large num-
ber of tasting, touching, and sucking hairs
which aid the insect in securing its load of
nectar. Several of them are branched, and form
so many sucking organs absorbing and carrying
forward by capillarity to the tongue the most
minute particles of nectar found in the
flower. Yet another set of intercrossing hairs
form, with a groove in the tongue, a true tube,
along which the newly-gathered sweet is
carried forward towards the honey stomach. I
have already, in treating of the antennas, stated
that these mystic organs are studded all over
with an almost innumerable collection of
tactile hairs all undoubtedly organs of touch of
the most sensitive and delicate order. Many
of them are conoid and hollow, and have a
nerve fibre, especially those found near the
end. They are far more numerous in the
worker than in either the queen or drone. On
the back the hairs are generally curved, but in
front many of them are straight and longer,
and are each connected -with a nucleated cell.
Enlarged sections of these hairs show a
wonderful diversity of formation, and a mar-
vellous adaptation of means to an end.

The pollen baskets are really formed by a
hollow in the leg covered in with a number of
very stiff, bristly, recurved hairs, which act as
gatherers of pollen grains, brushes to press it
together in a compact mass and as a covering
of the pocket to keep it in place until the
worker reaches the cell where the bee bread is
to be deposited. These hairs differ in shape,
texture^ and length, according to position and
the duties they perform. It will be remem-
bered that bees can walk upside down. The
pulvillus is found to contain on its under
surface a number of minute hairs terminating
in a bulb, and these have the power of exuding
an oily or gummy secretion, which steadies the
bee and enables it to perform this feat of
legerdemain with confidence and perfect ease.
All the trophies or organs of the month

1G

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Jan. 9, 1902.

are provided with sets of hairs. The
jaws and lips are thus furnished, and the
palpi or feelers of the maxillse are furnished
at the end with peculiar hairs. A great part
of the tongue, as has already been noted, ia
bristling with hairs. When we examine even
the internal organs, such as the intestines, the
true stomach, and the honey sac, we find each
of them with a diverse set of hairs, not for
ornament, but use. Taking as an example
those at the lips of the honey stomach, we find
them pointing downward in such a way that
any pollen grains which may find their way
thus far amongst the honey cannot be re-
gurgitated when the honey is deposited in the
cells. I suppose very few bee-keepers ever
dream that the hairs of the bee perform so
many different offices, and it will be a surprise
to many to find that they are of any other use
further than acting as a covering. But we
have seen that another set are true organ3 of
touch ; others act as suckers ; some form
tubes, some brushes ; others form baskets,
some sieves, others feelers. Another series
are regular oil- cans, self-acting and self-
regulating ; while those on the sinus act as
combs, polishers, and cleaners. — D. M, M.,
Banff.

^ri^i and mpltp.

[2773.] Buying Diseased Stocks of Bees. —
I am sending a piece of comb for your inspec-
tion, and will be glad if you will tell me
through B.BJ. if it is affected with foul
brood 1 I have just found out that the stock
from which the comb comes has perished,
leaving very few dead bees lying about the
hive. Do you think they have joined another
colony 1 I am a beginner in bee-keeping and
I bought the hive referred to last September,
and was given to understand that it was a
swarm that went in of themselves and took
possession of the old combs in the hive at the
time. I recently noticed that bees were
robbing the stock, and upon examining found
the swarm of bees had deserted the hive.
There was plenty of stores left, but I think
the comb is very old and ought to have been
burnt years ago. The floor-board was
covered with larvae of the wax-moth. — A
B.B.J. Reader for Three Months, Bath,
January 3.

Reply. — We regret to say that you have
made a very bad start in bee-keeping, for
your purchase of the above-named stock ia
September last was about as disastrous a thing
as could have been done. The comb sent is
perfectly rotten with foul brood, and as it
'contained plenty of stores," the robbing
noticed will probably have carried the disease
into your other hives. This trouble, though
not yet actually realised, is pretty certain to

follow. The old combs in the hive when the
swarm hived itself therein would no doubt be
diseased, and as the hive now stands it should
be burnt ; combs, quilts, and frames, not a
vestige of it left. You had better make
yourself acquainted with the nature of foul
brood before taking any steps towards remedy-
ing the unfortunate start made.

[2774.] Working Shallow-Frames. — 1. In
working shallow-frames for honey, placed one
above the other, please say what space should
there be between the two sets of frames ? I
want to suspend them from the sides of the
hive, instead of using a box. 2. Do the bees
like shallow-frames best without the bottom
bar, so that they can seal their honey right
down on to the bottom of the comb 1 The hive
is made in ona piece. — W. Johnson, Biriley,
January 3.

Reply. — 1. The proper space to allow
between bottom bars of super frames and top
bars in those hanging below is a bare fin.,
or, as a joiner puts it, ] in. full. 2. The bees
have, we think, no particular " likes " in this
direction, but the bee-keeper, if he is wise
will — for obvious reasons— have his combs
built in a complete rectangle, i.e., a frame with
top, bottom, and side bars. We may also add
a word of advice to our correspondent, to
work his shallow-frames in boxes, instead of
suspending them from the hive sides.

[2775.] Working for Sections versus Ex-
tracted Honey. — Because each issue of our
weekly, the B.B.J., and its monthly, Bee-
Keepers Record, illustrate the gentle and
fatherly treatment courteously meted out to
us querists, I feel emboldened to trouble you
with another query, seeing that, although
there are within reach of me many who allow
bees to keep themselves, there are none —
so far as I know — sufficiently experienced,
to whom I might go in confidence for advice
in the following case : — I recently purchased
from a " model" apiarian a well-made hive — a
" W. B. C," of course, for, like " ping-pong,"
this hive seems to be the rage at present. It
had but ten frames, with no room for a
dummy, and as I wish to use eleven frames in
brood - chamber, please say, through the
medium of the B.B.J. : — 1. May I place the
outside frames \\ in. from centre to centre,
for by that means I could easily get in the
eleven and a dummy, and at the same time
still permit the rearing of drones in the several
inner frames 1 The opinion of the inventor of
the hive on this point will be a helpful and
reliable guide to me, because I am having
several "" W. B. C." hives made at home
immediately. Just another question : — 2. If a
hive is worked for sections, and we suppose
that one hundred 1-lb. well-filled sections are
obtained in a season, how many pounds would
it probably have yielded if worked for ex-
tracted honey ?— William Richards, Qabalfa,
Cardiff, January 6.
Reply. — 1. If the (( outside frames '' happen

Jan. 9, 1902.

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

17

to be well stored with food (as outside combs
usually are), it would hardly do to place them
only I; in. apart, seeing that the faces of upper
parts of combs might be too close for a bee-
space ; consequently, the bees would require
to eat their way upwards by cutting down the
depth of cells. We should preferably remove
one frame and space out remainder to take in
the dummy. But why not make the hive
to take eleven frames in lieu of ten ? 2. It is
generally supposed that when ready- built
" store combs " are preserved for use each
j e.ir the bees will yield at least 30 to 35 per
cent, more honey for extracting than when
sections are worked for.

[2776.] Returning Undesirable Swarms. —
I am a novice in the art of bee-keeping,
having started in September with one frame-
hive and a driven lot of bees. Since then I
have been a regular subscriber to B.B. J., and
also have Mr. Cowan's "Guide Book." Next
season I am anxious to obtain section honey
from my hive, and shall do all I can to prevent
swarming. But in case I had a swarm, could
I return them to the hive ? I cannot find
information on thi3 particular point in the
" Guide Book." Is it simply a matter of
destroying the old queen which issues with
the swarm, and returning same to the hive on
the evening of the day on which they come
out, keeping them in a skep in the meantime ?
If you will kindly enlighten me, I shall feel
extremely obliged. — E. T. Griffin, Bolsall
Hea'k.

Reply. — You should first read up what is
said in " Guide Book " (page 62) with regard
to prevention of swarming. Then go back to
page 20, where a short chapter appears on the
same subject. The knowledge thus gained
will be helpful on the general question of
swarm prevention. For the rest — and in reply
to your suggested destruction of the old queen
and returning the swarm — it would not prevent
the bees coming off again eight or ten days
later, headed by the most forward of the young
queens due for hatching. Your best plan
would be to hive the top swarm, and the old
queen at its head, on four frames of founda-
tion, and give them all the unfinished surplus-
chambers from the parent hive to complete.
When the honey season is over — if it is only
intended to keep one hive — the bees of the
parent colony may be added to the swarm
after removal of the old queen.

[2777.] Bee Associations for Helping
Beginners. — I am quite a beginner at bee-
keeping, having commenced by studying
-! Modern Bee-Keeping," and buying a stock
hive last April from a bee-keeper in the
neighbourhood. He gave me all possible help
and advised me to take your Journal, which
I have done ever since. In July, I had the
satisfaction of seeing thirty-six beautiful
sections taken from my one hive and then
decided to divide my bees into two hives. I
fed them until the end of September, and

am now waiting most anxiously to see how
my first attempt at wintering will succeed.
So far all appears to be going well, and my
fears of last week at seeing many dead bees
outaide the hives, are removed by reading in
your current issue that this is an ordinary
occurrence at this time of year. I should like,
if possible, this summer, to manage my bees
alone, but I feel so much a novice that I shall
be glad if you will tell me if any knowledge i3
to be obtained by belonging to an association,
or what are the advantages ; also if there is one
sufficiently near Mitcham to be of any use to
me. — (Mrs) Clara Davison, Mitcham,
Surrey, January 4.

Reply. — You happen to have in your county
one of the most active and useful bee-keepers'
associations in the kingdom. The Surrey
B.K.A. has its local experts in every district,
and by writing to the hon. sec, F. B. White,
Esq., Marden House, Redhill, and becoming a
member, we have no doubt he will put you in
the way of securing all the help needed.

[2778.] Insurance for Bee keepers. — I see
this is against acsidents or damage caused by
owners' bees outside apiary ; but what doe 3
this mean ; claims by strangers for damages
after robbing you of a few stings? How can
any one fix the responsibility ? — T. K., Gar-
shalton, January 3.

Reply. — The onus of fixing responsibility
lies on the plaintiff who sue3 the bee-keeper
for damages in the county-court. All that the
proposed scheme of insurance doe3 is to assist
the bee-keeper in meeting the amount of
damages awarded, together with the legal costs
incurred.

<ft thxres from tht gum

Homy Cott, Weston, Leamington, Janu*
ary 3. — Echoes ! Yes, echoes ! friend "J. D.,"
though I cannot remember you personally,
I do not think it is all £ s. d. that keeps
some of us from "echoing" occasionally —
a3 stated on page 8— but time now moving
on with such irresistible swiftness makes one
more inclined to shirk even sending a few
lines for an Echo to the B.B.J. However, I
am now writing to say the last few days have
been very mild, with the bees flying in great
numbers, and by the looks of my hive-
entrances and fronts of floor-boards, and on
the ground very few dead bees have been cast
out, considering the sharp frost we had, even
in November, when the thermometer registered
18 deg. of frost one night, and 12 deg. and
14 deg. several times. But, for myself, I rest
content and am satisfied the bees will be all
right, as they had a good supply of food when
packed up for autumn. I can fully endorse
what has been said about "Mr. Tom Tit."
My opinion of him is that he is a great rascal,

18

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Jan. 9, 1902.

deserving no mercy when flying down to the
entrances and snapping up any bees that
appear there ; even going so far as to pull
away loose blocks that had been laid to partly
curtail the space of some entrances and throw-
ing them on the ground. While I have
my pen in hand I should like to ask where
are our old friends Alfred Rusbridge (near
Chichester), Friends Baldwin, Martin, Tom
Sells, Grimshaw, and many others that I
cannot remember their names now 1 Wish-
ing all readers a happy and prosperous New
Year. — John Walton.

Icklesham, Rye, Hast Sussex, January 6. —
Yesterday (Sunday) the bees had a grand
flight ; how they hummed ! and what a
pleasant sound it was», one which only bee-
keepers or lovers of Nature can thoroughly
understand. Such sounds when heard in
winter carry us back to the summer that has
departed, and fill us with hopes for the
future. Last year was a good one here for the
bees, and may the coming season be as good,
or even better ; but there, as our friend " J. D."
wrote in his echo last week, £ s. d. is the con-
sideration nowadays. Well, one needs some
return for their trouble, even if to make the
labourer worthy of his hire ; but if I only got
enough honey for home uses I would keep bees
as a hobby. To-day I gathered wallflowers
and stocks and pansies. Wishing you a
happy New Year and a prosperous one. —
Henry Clarke.

Hill House, Canterbury, January 6. — My
Bees were kept in the hives here for thirteen
days during the late frost, but all my colonies
had a good turn out to-day ; and so far as
numbers outside and. about the hives allow of
reporting of their condition at present, they
appear to promise well for 1902. — Edward P.
Betts.

Lancaster, January 1.— Just had a peep at
my stocks (eighteen) ; found all alive and in
good condition. — W. Liddell.

BEE-KEEPING

AS A RURAL INDUSTRY.

The following useful article on " Bee- keeping
as a Rural Industry " from the pen of our
esteemed contributor, "D. M. M., Banff,''
appeared recently in a Banffshire paper, and
is so full of interest to bee-keepers generally
that we have obtained permission to reprint it
as follows : —

Many of our minor rural industries receive
far less care and attention than they deserve,
and this is largely true of bee-keeping. In
these times of agricultural depression, when
farmers have to do their utmost to keep their
1 eads above water, any aid to rent-paying
is eagerly seized on. Here ready at hand is
tie kindred subject of apiculture, which,

properly studied and carried out on modern
and scientific lines, yields excellent returns
for the time and expenditure necessary for its
successful initiatory start. The bee itself,
with its wonderful example of industry, is a
fascinating study, and the interior economy of
the hive deserves our hearty admiration. The
exactness of the comb-building is a model of
perfection in architecture ; the internal govern-
ment of the hive might teach " the art of
order to a peopled kingdom " ; and the pro-
duce of the bee is the sweetest of Nature's
gifts — of old described as "food fit for the
gods."

As a home hobby or pastime no other more
pleasurable or health-giving can compare with
it, while it has the further important recom-
mendation of being a paying one. Especially
for those leading a sedentary life no better
can be found, as the time devoted to it is spent
in the open air, with Nature and all her works
for a study. The bee3 lend a new meaning to
the flowers, and we take additional interest in
their beauty and grace when we look at them
accompanied by the sweet murmur that comes
to us heavily ladeu with the perfume of honey,
for the bees are fed on Nature's purest and
richest offering — the soul of the flowers. " Bees
summon man to the gladness of June, to the
joy of the beautiful months, for the events in
which bees take part happen only when skies
are pure. To him who has known and loved
them a summer where there are no bees
becomes sad and empty as one without flowers
and birds.1' The care and attention requisite
to the successful keeping of bees continue only
during a short time in each year ; but when
the ''bee fever" seizes on one, the nece33ary
time for manipulations is considerably added
to by pleasant observation of the habits of the
insect, and much agreeable time may thus be
spent profitably. If the bee-keeper has a turn
for amateur carpentry, additional pleasure and
profit may be derived from this branch of the
pursuit, and, with suitable models in hives and
appliances to work from, most of the articles
required may be home-made, and this always
adds zest to the pastime.

The old skep is fast becoming extinct, and
frame-hives are wisely taking their place. The
former was a sealed book whose interior was
never open to observation, and so, once run in,
the bees wrought their own sweet will. Modern
frame-hives enable men to become the bees'
masters ; and their owners can manipulate them
as he pleases, and, certain laws being observed,
can make them obey his will. Without
slaughtering them in the old barbarous way
over a gulf of "blue sulphurous flame,'' he
can take their spoils and make them his own,
leaving them only sufficient to live on. Honey,
too, comb or extracted, can be secured of the
purest, instead of the conglomerate compound
got from the skeps, which was formed of pro-
polis, old comb, bee bread, and young
larvae. In the way of surplus takes modern
methods far exceed the old in quantity

Jan. 9, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

19

as well as quality. A gentleman near
Forres (Mr. Archibald, of Firlands) frequently
secures about 200 lb. from his best hives, and
from an extensive apiary he generally has an
average of about 100 lb. A lady bee-keeper
in this county (Mrs. Anderson, Cushnie,
Gamrie) records a harvest of over 1,000 lb. from
ten hives, and in the far south Mr. A. Muir,
Kirkcorwan, has had "takes" of 4,000 lb. from
forty hives in one season. A bee-keeper from
the upland parts of Banffshire reports just
over half a ton of surplus honey from twelve
hives during 1901. These high returns (quoted
from the British Bee Journal) might be
multiplied, but as they are altogether ex-
ceptional it would be folly to lead new
aspirants in the pursuit to think otherwise.
An average of 30 lb. to 40 lb. per hive may
be set down as a very good return for a series
of years.

Many parts of Scotland besides Banffshire
can boast of a fair supply of two out of the
four chief sources from which bees gather
honey, and an excellent and most abundant
supply of the other two. Fruit blossom in the
early season yields well in certain favourable
years ; but all over the weather is so uncer-
tain that most seasons it is lost to the bees.
Here and there in our county lime or linden
trees, where grown in sufficient numbers, yield
a copious supply during the latter days of
July. In certain years they almost drop nectar,
and no more welcome sound to a bee-man's ear
can be heard than the bees' multi-millioned
hum in an avenue of limes. Such favourable
spots are, however, rare. The main source of sup-
ply here, and perhaps all the world over is
white or Dutch clover. This prince of bee plants
adorns our fields all June and July, and the
courses of rotation followed by most of our
farmers are admirably suited to a prolific
growth of this excellent honey-yieldiDg plant.
But the king of bee flora is our own native
heather, and nowhere is the supply more
liberally scattered than all over the greater
part of our county. Leagues and leagues of
it stretch in an unbroken expanse of rich
purple bloom, yielding honey of the richest
and most delicious kind, forming food fit for
the table of a king. Too little of it is secured
for man's use, and too much of it is allowed to
"waste its sweetness on the desert air" for
want of willing bee tongues to suck it up.
Apiarists rejoice in a large return, for this
luscious sweet finds a ready sale, and at a
price generally about double that obtained for
clover or flower honey.

Bee-keeping has an extensive literature of
its own. Away as far back as Homer's
time it received due recognition ; and Virgil
devotes his Fourth Georgic to bees and bee-
keeping. The number of "bee guides," " bee
manuals," and " books on bees " published in
France, Germany, the United States, and
Great Britain is legion, but only one or two
need be named. In America the standard
book is Root's !< A B. C. pf Bee-Culture." In

this country Cowan's " Guide Book," a prac-
tical work of special excellence, and his
" Honey Bee,'' dealing with the scientific side
of the subject, are recognised as indispensable
to any one desiring to prove successful
in modern bee-keeping. There are two
papers specially devoted to bees published in
London — one, the Bee Record, a monthly
at 2d., and the other, a weekly, the
British Bee Journal, at Id. Many maga-
zines and a host of newspapers devote a
special column to the subject. The papers
above named, written by bee-keepers for bee-
keepers, should be taken by all who wish to
go in for up-to-date bee-keeping. Local bee
associations exist all over the country, making
it their object to foster and extend the pursuit.
Scotland possesses several doing excellent
work, though the Central Scottish Bee-
keepers' Association has become defunct.
England, and even Ireland, fare better, as
they have active and efficient parent associa-
tions in London and Dublin. The majority of
English counties possess county association?,
most of them doing good work. The English
central association, known as the British Bee-
keepers' Association, has offices in London,
with a paid secretary and an influential
body of gentlemen forming an active
working Council, with the Baroness Bur-
dett - Coutts a3 President. It does a
large amount of admirable work in advancing
the best interests of the cause, disseminating a
knowledge of the best bee practices and litera-
ture, aiding members in finding a market for
their honey, holding a number of show,
annually in London and the provinces^
examining and testing experts and lecturers,
and, with the aid of a model apiary, teaching
advanced apiculture. Many of the County
Councils give £50 to £150 a year for lectures
and bee-van work. At the shows valuable
money prizes and medals are given for
honey, honey products, and bee appliances. In
October alone four important honey shows
were held — at the Agricultural Hall, London, in
connection with the Grocers', Confectioners',
and Dairy Shows respectively ; and one at the
Crystal Palace. The South of Scotland can also
boast of several important honey shows. We
in the North are not so well organised. We
have a few excellent bee-men, who make bee-
keeping a success financially, and consider-
able quantities of the very finest honey, com-
manding the highest price in the market, are
sent from our county every year. Yet, large
as the quantity may now be, it is only a tithe
of what could be secured. It is safe to say
that tons might be produced where the bees
now gather stones. What the industry wants
is organisation and combined effort. A county
association, under the fostering care of several
of our county families would do a vast amount
of good in developing and extending the
pursuit. It is undeniably one of the best-
paying of our minor home industries, and
many a small farmer, crofter, cottar, labourer,

20

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Jan. 9, 1902.

and tradesman might not only pay his rent,
but secure for himself and his family many
small luxuries from the produce of a few hives
of bees.— D. M. M„ Banff.

Notices to Correspondents & fnquirers*

PRESS CUTTINGS.

BEES AND ROUNDHEADS.

A curious old farmhouse in the neighbour-
hood of Camelford has lately been destroyed
by fire. It had once been the mansion of the
old Cornish family of Trevillian, long since
extinct. In the days of the Parliament wars
a party of Roundheads came there to seize the
squire, well known as King Charles's man.
"Begone," he shouted. "If you dare come
on I will send out my spearmen in your
teeth." They laughed, and they did come on.
He flung a beehive among them ! Next day
Sir Bevil Grenville gave the Roundheads a
great deal to think of at the battle of Stam-
ford Hill ; therefore it came to pass that
they troubled Trevillian no move.- -Modern
Society.

HUMBLE BEES AS ATTITUDINISERS.

Humble bees are commonly supposed to
carry the palm in attitudinising. It is wonder-
ful to see the grotesque motions of these
irascible insects when their nest is approached,
elevating their abdomens and two or three
legs at a time, so that they resemble a troupe
of acrobats balancing themselves on their
heads or hands, and kicking their legs about in
the air ; and to impress the intruder with the
dangerous significance of this display, they
hum a shrill warning or challenge, and stab at
the air with their naked stings, from which
limpid drops of venom seem to exude. — From
The Naturalist in La Plata,

HONEY IN AUSTRALIA.

The genial climate of Victoria makes it
essentially a land of flowers, which bloom all
the year round. As a consequence, bee-
keeping is carried on in the State under
exceptionally favourable circumstances. Up
to the present no special attention has been
given to the export of this, but its cheapness,
purity, and excellence when tried by con-
sumers will, it is believed, eventually lead up
to a large demand for it in Great Britain. The
bees require no artificial feeding during the
winter, so that the honey produced is of the
finest quality. It can be imported to the
United Kingdom at such prices as would
enable it to be sold to consumers at lower
values than those which have been realised for
the product of northern countries (where con-
ditions of production are not so favourable),
andja guarantee can be furnished regarding its
absolute purity.

All queriesfortcarded will be attended to, and thote only
of per tonal inter e$t will be answered in this column.

*#* Special Notice to Correspondents and
Subscribers. — It will greatly tend to assist us
in the new year if correspondents will kindly
attend to the instructions printed on inside
page of cover with regard to addressing com-
munications properly, i.e., to "Editors" or
" Manager," as the case may be, and write all
letters for print on one side of paper only.
Business letters should also be written on
separate sheets from those intended for
Editors.

We also ask subscribers to note that; as
names and addresses are now printed (not
written, as before), we have to discard the
" coloured wrapper " for notifying overdue
subscriptions, and in lieu thereof substitute
a couple of blue pencil marks on the postal
cover, These marks will be continued on
every issue till the arrearage is cleared off.

By attending to these matters much mis-
understanding will be avoided.

Northern Scot (Glasgow). — Inverness to
Foyers as a Bee District. — We forwarded
your note to a B.B.J, reader located at
Inverness who is conversant with the
locality referred to, and he has been good
enough to say in reply : — " Referring to the
note sent, Foyers is about eighteen miles
from Inverness, and for about eight miles
of the way I should say it is a grand dis-
trict for bees ; but when you get to Loch
Ness there is only one side to be counted as
forage ground, the Loch being too wide for
the bees to cross with advantage. From
that point I should think heather was the
only crop from which benefit could be ex-
pected. I rather think that the reason so
few bees are kept between Foyers and about
five miles of Inverness is the generally ex-
posed situation, and the few sheltered spots
that are to be found out of the reach of the
high winds, not only for protecting the
hives, but where the bees can work from
their hives to the nectar."

J. R. W. H. (Chili).— Bees in Chili— We
shall be very pleased to publish any contri-
bution of interest you may favour us with
on bee-keeping in Chili.

Working Bee (Langford). — Bristol, Glouces-
ter, and Somerset B.K.A. — You will obtain
information re (secretaryship of the above
association on application to Messrs. Brown
& Son, Seedsmen, Bristol.

A. Whittaker (Walsall). — The only " com-
plete list " of our bee publications appears
in the advertisement pages of Cowan's
" Guide Book."

Jan. 16, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

21

<& total, $otim> &t

THE " ROYAL " SHOW OF 1902.

On another page of this issue we print the
prize schedule for the Bee Department of the
" Royal" Show at Carlisle, wherein it will be
seen that the date on which the show will
be held — Monday, July 7, to Friday, July 11
— is later than for several years past. This
welcome fact will tend to remove, in some
measure at least, a cause of just complaint by
bee-keepers, viz., that a honey show held at a
time requiring removal of surplus-honey from
hives by the second week in June spoiled the
chance of nine-tenth3 of would-be exhibitors
of the current season's produce.

We therefore trust readers will note the
fact, and prepare their entries accordingly.

HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of
December, 1901, was £1.039. — From a return
furnished to the British Bee Journal by the
/Statistical Office, H.M. Customs.

The Editor) do not hold themselves responsible for the
opiniont expressed by correspondents. No notice Kill be
taken of anonymous communication!, and eorretpondentt
are requested to write on one tide of the paper only and
give their real names and addrettet, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tion* 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, <Scc.,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.
[4644.] A fortnight of mild weather has
given the bees ample opportunities for cleans-
ing flights, and a re-arrangement of the food
requirements, or a move of the cluster to the
adjoining combs of honey. It has also afforded
a chance to the beekeeper for inspecting the
condition of wraps and cushions, and drying
the same if wet, or replacing damp quilts
with dry one3 while renewing the cakes of soft
candy as needed. All these job3 can be done
without disturbing the bees, after which
entrances should be cleared out with a piece of
bent wire to remove any accumulation of dead
bees not carried out by their living comrades
during the late inclement weather.

Whenever the sun has been shining of late,
the apiary has resounded with a merry hum,
and the " spatting '' on the roofs of hives after
the first flights plainly attested the necessity
of a climatic change for the bees' sake.

Wax Moth in Hives. — I always consider
Mr. Hamlyn Harris's " Gleanings from Foreign
Bee Journals " one of the most interesting
features of our journal, while the experiences
mentioned are familiar to most of us who have
worked among the bees for a long period. In
this district we are troubled with the wax
motb. Only last season my advice was asked
by bee-keepers living from three to six
miles distant from each other, and each about
the same distance from myself, about wax
moth, and in every case the hives I saw were
one mass of larva' and cocoons of the moth
webbed together. In one case a few straggling
bees just inside the entrance of a straw skep
on a piece of new comb of honey ; in another
a frame-hive, the combs of which were a mass
of wriggling moth-grubs, while the frames
were firmly fixed together by layers of
cocoons woven in between the sides of frames
and the sides of hives. When the mass of
cocoons were forcibly pulled away, grooves
could be seen eaten out of the wood as though
it had been marked with a tree-cutter's
scribiDg-iron. The remedy is " fire '' for all
the parts except the hive, and it is safest to
remove the inside walls, as the moths may
have deposited eggs in the crevices, and the
resultant larva: may develop between the
outer and inner walls.

" Soot "-gathering (?).— I have many times
noticed bees carrying in pollen as black as
soot. I have also frequently seen bees, three
or four at a time, flying about the tops of our
chimney-pots ; indeed, I have known them
find their way down the "copper" flue and
fly to the inside window of the wash-house.
These bees were seen to be dusty with soot ;
but their first job was to brush the dust off
their antenna' and out of their eyes. I do
not, however, believe they ever gathered soot,
but have inclined to the view that the moving
smoke irritated them, and that they were in a
pugnacious mood.

A. few years back I purchased some honey
from a bee-keeper who was also a wheel-
wright, and after he had painted a van with
very dark - coloured paint the bees were
observed collecting the paint as it was drying,
and they used this stuff as propolis ; conse-
quently, the sections were " travel-stained "
considerably with their dirty feet.

Tall v. Square Sections. — I notice that
Mr. Clay (4634, page 11) has a good word to
say re the tall sections. I had already heard
from a friend that the first prize went to tall
sections at the Shrewsbury show. Possibly the
new style took the fancy of the judges, and
thus secured a point or two as against the old
style. As regards the new section "selling
better," possibly they may, seeing that, com-
paratively, they appear to be a bigger quantity

22

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Jan. 16, 1902.

for the money, especially when staged side by
side with the no-bee-way section. But when
the public comes to consume these tall, thin
sections — in which full sheets of the advertised
tough foundation is used — they will find a
larger " gob " (as our American brethren
term the lump of wax left in the mouth
after eating). Another point which I trust
will be borne in mind is this : If
all bee-keepers adopt the tall thin section,
where will any advantage to the craft come
in ? We may spend a goodly sum of money
in purchasing new appliances, or in adapting
our present racks to produce these sections,
only to find that we are not adding anything
either to the pleasure or profit of beekeeping.
My contention is that by the proposed change
we shall add somewhat to our annual expenses
every year, with no prospect of any corre-
sponding gain to compensate for the increased
outlay. In the first place, the sections will
be higher, comb-foundation will cost more,
and glazing, or box-making will also cost more.
Besides, " Tate's cube sugar boxes " will not
take three layers of tall sections, and will con-
sequently require alteration entailing further
expense and time. In my opinion, therefore,
the general adoption of the tall section will
still further reduce our profits, and this, with
the possibility of keener competition and over-
stocking of the market. I notice in print
that there is a good market in England for
Canadian section-honey, and have no doubt
this arrives under the "favoured nation " rate
of freightage. . Let us, as bee-keepers, look
the matter squarely in the face, consider it in
all its bearings, and decide in the interests of
our craft to support the best system for the
benefit of all. — W. Woodley, Bccdon, New-
bury.

MAETERLINCK AND THE DRONE.

[4645.] It is not surprising that Maeter-
linck's "The Life of the Bee" should have
been received with approval both within and
without the circle of bee-keepers. The book
is indeed delightful reading. On the other
hand, the novice in bee-craft may well be re-
minded that its author, to whatever extent he
may have devoted himself to the study of
bees, is, first and foremost, a dramatic poet,
and that dramatic colouring, however effec-
tive, is not conducive to accuracy.

For instance, on page 35 we read of " the
ladie3 of honour who wait on the queen, and
never allow her out of their sight." This
implies a permanent guard ; whereas the
queen picks up attendants as she moves along,
and these seldom follow her beyond the limits
of the comb on which she attracts their atten-
tion— a fact well pointed out in the Edinburgh
Philosophical Journal by the Rev. W.
Dunbar, who was the first to keep bees in an
observatory hive on modern principles in the
year 1820. He called it the " Mirror Hive."
Any one who cares to take the trouble can

satisfy himself of the correctness of the obser-
vation.

In the account (page 192) of the hatching
out of the young bees, Maeterlinck endows the
workers with a feeling of sympathy that I do
not hesitate to say is at variance with fact.
" On the young bees attempting to gnaw their
way out,'' he says, " the nurses at once come
running ; they help the young bee from her
prison, they clean and brush her, and at the
tip of their tongues they present the first
honey of the new life. . . . She instantly
makes her way to the cells that are closed,
and proceeds to beat her wings and to dance
in cadence, so that in her turn she may
quicken her buried sisters." But in truth, the
young bee very seldom gets any help in
emerging. It is often trampled upon and
impeded, and when it has struggled out, is
left to shift for itself. It doe3 its own clean-
ing and brushing. If it puts out its tongue
for honey it generally gets it, but more usually
it helps itself from the nearest cell. The
latter part of the quotation must pass as a
poetic flight of fancy.

On page 149, the worker is made to "seize
with mouth and claws one of the eight scales
that hang from her abdomen," the admirable
pair of pincers with which the worker alone
is endowed for this purpose being thus
ignored.

I pass on to the drones, and had it not been
for the treatment they receive from Maeter-
linck I should not have thought it worth while
to pen these criticisms. This is how he
describes them : " Three or four hundred
foolish, clumsy, useless noisy creatures, who
are pretentious, gluttonous, dirty, coarse,
totally and scandalously idle, insatiable and
enormous." In the black-lettered pages of
past centuries, when little was known of the
economy of the hive bee, and writers loved to
point a moral and adorn a tale, you will find
no such abuse of the poor drone as this.
Scene-painting it may be ; a heavy black back-
ground, to bring out the immaculate worker in
a full and shining light ; or perhaps to justify
the woeful retribution on the drone that our
author conjures up on page 287, when " the
envoys of justice " (obviously a gang of hornets
hired for the job) " vigorously proceed to cut
off his wings, saw through the petiole that
connects the abdomen with the thorax, ampu-
tate the feverish antennae, &c." But is the
wholesale abuse justifiable on any grounds,
especially from a modern bee-keeper. The
drone does what nature has fitted him for,
perhaps, and as Mr. Brice has suggested, there
are more uses for him than we have been able
so far to divine. He feeds well to keep him-
self robust and healthy. Is a stallion grudged
the good oats he consumes ?

The ultimate origin of Apis mellifica is one
of Nature's secrets. No philosopher shall
tell us how many thousands of years it has
taken to produce such a marvel as our hive
bee. Can Maeterlinck adduce another in-

Jan. 16, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

23

stance of the sexes becoming so differential in
a species that all the good qualities are to be
found in one sex only l And if not, then
how has such marvellous perfection been
reached in a race saddled throughout the long
years with a male element so utterly vile as
the drone he pictures to us %

On page 113, our author brings a specific
charge against the drones, which has much
astonished me. Having said of the workers
that "they will perish by thousands of a
terrible bowel disease rather than sully the
hive," he proceeds : " The males alone are in-
curably careless, and will impudently bestrew
the surface of the comb with their droppings,
which the workers who hasten behind them
must systematically remove." Searching
through many treatises, I have found only
one other author who brings thi3 charge
against the drones — namely, Messrs. Dadant
in the 1890 edition of " Langs troth's Hive
and Honey-Bee," On page 83 it runs : " The
comparatively large volume of the male
organs, in connection with the gluttony of the
drones " (Oh, man, proud man, dress' d in a
little brief authority I ), " explains why they
void their dejections in the hive, while the
workers retain them until they are on the
wing.'' Messrs. Dadant are a good authority ;
but when I quote against them from Mr.
Cowan's "The Honey Bee" most readers of
this Journal will be satisfied. Page 112 we
find : " The fceces of the drone are also
ejected on the wing, and are of greyish colour,
from the nature of his food." Also means as
in the case of the workers.

The point, although not such as one would
select for discussion, is of some importance in
the physiology of the bee, and it is not very
creditable to bee-keepers that it should be
open to doubt. I will therefore further refer
them to vol. i. of " Bees and Bee-keeping,"
page 148, by that most painstaking author,
Mr. Cheshire, where we find : " The queen is
an exception, so far as her capability of re-
moving the intestinal residua is concerned, as
her ovaries occupy the space taken by a pair
of large air sac3 in the worker and drone, so
that she on foot, and for an obvious reason,
possesses the power the others only acquire
when on the wing." To this I will only add,
as bearing on Mr. Dadant's opinion, that
although the generative organs of the drone
are large, his abdomen as compared with
queen and worker is large in proportion. It
contains one additional segment and two more
spiracles, and the tracheal apparatus is alto-
gether more fully developed. Hence the
inflation of the air sacs, obtainable only when
on the wing, and without which the desired
muscular pressure to effect evacuation cannot
be exerted, is quite as indispensable to the
drone as to the worker ; and, to carry the
argument a little further, it is more than pro-
bable that if the drone were to neglect to fill
his pouch with honey before leaving the hive
in pursuit of the object which is at once the

crown and the ending of his existence, he
would, when the moment arrived, be unable
to effect his purpose.

So much for theory. I hope that readers of
the B.B.J, will give their practical experience.
There must be many who, like the writer, are
in the habit of working for comb-honey without
excluder zinc. Have they found their sections
denied ? For myself, I may say that during
the last two seasons I have specially observed
drones in my six-comb observatory-hive. I
have watched them for hours clustered on pure
white comb, but never then or in motion have
I seen them foul the hive, nor have I seen
any sign of Maeterlinck's army of worker
scavengers. It might be thought that, in
moments of excitement, the drones do what
is charged against them, but I have often seen
them running excitedly in the white-floored
passage leading from the hive, and nothing of
the kind has happened.— H. J. O. Walker
(Lieut. -Col.), Leeford, Budleigh Salterton,
South Devon, January 10.

SOME ESSEX NOTES.

[4646.] Tits and Bees. — I hope your several
correspondents (who write on pages 12 and 13,
4635, 4636) will allow me to assure them that
I fully satisfied myself that tits catch large
numbers of live bees before taking the steps
referred to in my previous notes. My bees
are in just such hives as are recommended by
" C. H. Tomlinson,'' with the combs 2| in. or
3 in. from the front of hives and entrances
vr in. deep let in the floorboard, yet the tits
pick and scratch at the hive entrances till
the bees come to see who is there. Mr.
Richardson says he " watched the tits
that had nests in his apiary for hours.''
This shows that your correspondent fails to
fully understand the subject under discussion.
I never saw tits touch bees in summer even
when they rear their young in the apiary.
The tits only take live bees from October to
March inclusive, they then pair and do not
afterwards catch bees, for there are other insects
of far less trouble to catch to be had for the
picking up. I hope those readers of the
B.B.J, who are not satisfied that the tits are
enemies of bees have read the " echo " from
Mr. John Walton in last week's Journal.

Insurance for Bee-keepers. — Many bee-
keepers seem to be under a misapprehension
about this ; apparently thinking that it is in-
tended only for those who have tried to help
themselves by joining a bee-keepers' associa-
tion. I did not take it so, but have no doubt
that there are others who, like myself, thought
that bee-keepers' associations were expected
to report to the B.B.K.A. how far their
members support the scheme by filling in the
form enclosed in the B.B.J, and sent it off to
the hon. sec. of their county or local B.K.A.

Hijmettus Honey. — With reference to the
letter onhymettus honey (4640, page 13), pro-

24

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 16, 1902.

bably Mr. Till has the genuine article ; but a
few years ago a clergyman in Ireland adver-
tised phoney for sale in the B.B.J, as " Mount
Hyruettus honey." There may be several
places with this name.

Bee-houses. — These have been referred to in
the B.B.J, nearly every week of late. For my
part I would say, bee-house3 can be useful in
right hands, but they so very often get into
wrong hands. Nine out of ten of the bee-
houses that I come across are occupied more
by the refuse of the apiary and the garden
than by bees. More attention to general
cleanliness is necessary if bees are kept in a
house than when the hives are in the open.
A day or two after reading an inquiry of the
Editor of the B.B.J, about bee-houses last
autamn I went a few miles from home to in-
spect an apiary, most of the hive3 being in a
house into which a joiner had put some good
work, but I should say the joiner wa3 not him-
self a bee-keeper, for the moment that I
placed a foot inside the door there came a long
buzz from every hive. In that house were
mice, wax-moths, and hundreds of their
larva?, some colonies of bees being destroyed
by the latter, and the combs so webbed to-
gether that all of them could be lifted out in a
lump. There were also wasps and numerous
pairs of big spiders in this house, and to these
might be added all the broken appliances of
the apiary. Last, but most serious of all, there
was foul brood in the hives. — Wm. Loveday,
Hatfield Heath, Harloiv, January 13.

INSURANCE FOR BEE-KEEPERS.

[4647.] As I do not belong to any Bee Asso-
ciation I am enclosing the form (duly filled in,
&c.) to you. I am sure every bee-keeper is
under a great obligation to all who have brought
about this scheme. I hope that every bee-
keeper will avail himself of, to my idea, a
remarkably cheap rate of insurance. I siall
do all in my power to make the scheme known
amongst non-readers of Journal.

The past year has been the best for honey
I ever had, having procured about 1,000
sections.

It was quite a grand sensation, taking off
crate after crate of prime sections, well sealed,
and the wood very clean.

It was also a problem how to sell it, and
that at a good figure, seeing that the market
was glutted with honey. One large firm sent
word they were buying at 5s. 6d. doz.

I gave myself a good shake, and with one of
my best sections nicely got up and very clean
I took train to town, nothing doubting, and
with the exception of two oalls, I sold over
20 doz., getting 9s. per doz. I have had
many repeat orders, and to-day I am practi-
cally sold out.

Some of my customers told me the price
was a bit high, but on account of the cleanli-
ness they preferred to have them. Some sec-

tions I saw exposed for sale were a disgrace to
a British bee-keeper. The edges dirty and
wood all propolis and stains. As long as they
turn sections out in this unbusinesslike manner
so will their prices suffer.

I wonder how these 'prentice hands would
like their bread wrapped up in a dirty paper.
I guess they would soon change their baker ;
and yet it is on the same lines.

Re subject of packing, &c, and carriage, a
customer told me he had sent to him a crate
of sections by rail, simply wrapped up in
brown paper and at owner's risk (to save 61).
The consequence was that honey was all
spnlt and a dead loss, and bee-keeper not
able to claim. I suppose this bee-keeper will
grumble at the railway company.

I am convinced of the fact that if British
bee-keepers turn out their honey clean and
nicely got up there is a bigger future than ever
for the profession. I am a very successful
bee-man from a financial standpoint (making
all my own appliances), and I confess with
pleasure that I owe my success chiefly to the
Bee Journal and " Guide Book." As to
the pleasures of the craft, the half has never
been told.

At some future time I hope the subject of
marketing honey will be gone into with profit
to all concerned. — Yorkshire Drone.

ACTION OF FORMALIN ON FOUL
BROOD.

[464S.] Professor B. Galli-Valerio has
found that hives infected with Bacillus Alrei
may be effectively purified by the action of
formalin vapour. The applications are fre-
quent and continuous. The formalin is
applied by means of a spray apparatus,
specially constructed for the purpose.

Those wishing to study the subject must
refer to " Centralblatt. B*kt. ltc Abtheilung,"
xxix., 1901, pages 127-9, 2 fig.

The above is gleaned from the Journal of
the Royal Microscopical Society of London. —
R. Hamlyn-Harris, Zoological Institute,
Tilbingcn University.

{Correspondence continued on page 26 )

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

Beyond welcoming Mr. Hepworth — whose
apiary and himself are depicted on next page
— as a bee-keeper of the right sort, and one
of ■whom we cannot have too many among our
readers, we need add nothing to the practical
notes sent to go along with the picture of his
bee-garden in print, which read as follows : —

"As I am purely a child of Cowan's
' Guide Book ' and British Bee Journal,
no expert help being attainable in this dis-
trict, the enclosed photo and accompanying

Jan. 16, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

25

notes on my experience may be of interest to
yourself and readers.

"The 'fever' took possession of me in
1889, and I started by purchasing four empty
hives and one rather weak stock, which
swarmed the following year. One way and
another, by purchase of driven bees and
swarms, I increased my stock to about forty
hives (since reduced to thirty-two), ten of
which I have located about two miles away on
a farm belonging to a brother, where capital
forage is accessible in the way of white clover
and limes.

" I have during my experience not escaped
that arch-enemy of the bee-keeper, , foul
brood— more through the negligence of a
neighbour than carelessness on my rar^'for 1

hives. This was ju3t at the end of the honey
season, so that the bees had ample time to get
well established in their new quarters before
winter. Next season I examined the hives
with fear and trembling, and found to my joy
only two stocks slightly affected. I adopted
the same plan, and with eminent success, for
not a trace of the disease have I discovered
since. I am a pretty busy man— make all my
own hives, frames, &c. My immediate neigh-
bourhood cannot be called one of the best of
bee districts ; howe rer, during the past season
my stocks have averaged 50 lb. apiece.

" I have a ready sale locally, disposing of my
honey over the counter of a small grocer's shop
which my good housekeeper and a little niece,
who appear in the photograph, manage for me.

MR. JOHN HEPWOimi's Al'IAEY, NEWMlLLEBDAil, WAKEFIELD, YORES.

love my be6S, and they are ever my first con-
sideration.

"It may interest jour readers if I relate
how I in two seasons radically rid my apiary
of the pest. I first tried the plan of running
the bees into skeps, keeping them without
food for a time. The stocks, however, were
so strong and the weather so warm, that on
examining them later I found three lots
smothered ! As fifteen hives were affected,
and even a danger of the disease spreading, I
adopted the plan of running the bees off one
hive on to a few clean combs into a
perfectly clean hive, allowing the bees to
starve for a day or two. I then shook them
off on to new foundation and fed up. I re-
peated the operation in the case of all fifteen

"The windows appearing in the picture are
those of my workshop — I am a shoemaker by
trade. I have a large expanse of glass, under
which I grow tomatoes and plants of various
kinds for sale.

" All my success I owe to a careful study of
the ' Guide Book,' and to the many valuable
hints I have gleaned from your most interest-
ing Journal.

"I always look forward with pleasure to Mr.
Woodley's 'Notes by the Way'; he is so
practical, and ever ready to share with your
readers whatever he has himself found useful
in the management of bees.

"I will conclude by wishing yourself and
readers a happy Christmas and a good time
for the bees in 1902 ! "

26

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 16, 1902.

CORRESPONDENCE.

{Continued from page 24.)
RAILWAY COMPANIES AND
BEE-KEEPERS.
[4649.] Having a claim for damage to honey
against a railway company, I am naturally
interested in the correspondence in the B. J.
upon that subject ; and, as my claim was
allowed, I thought some others might like to
know the particulars, which are as follows : —
About the middle of September last I pur-
chased a gross of sections from a bee-keeper in
Cambridgeshire, and they had to travel by
rail from Newmarket by G.E.R. to Bexhill,
B. and S.C.R. The first consignment of fifty-
six sections arrived on September 24 con-
siderably damaged, the honey running out of
the crates. The goods manager at Bexhill,
whom I went to see, informed me that sections
of honey ought not to be sent by goods train,
being too fragile to stand moving by any kind
of conveyance at all. He also expressed his
" fear " that my claim for compensation would
not be entertained, but I could send in a bill
<( if I liked." Well, I did like, and sent in
my claim, together with a notice stating that
if it was not paid in a month I should take
proceedings in the County Court. In this I
acted on the advice of a friend experienced in
such matters. I received a reply to the effect
that the company refused compensation on
the ground of the goods being duly signed for
as delivered in good condition. However, I
happened to know that it was entered in the
company's books as damaged and leaking, so
I wrote again demanding payment, and this
time increasing the amount of my claim to
three times the sum asked in the first instance,
for in the meantime the other eighty-eight
sections had arrived, and these latter were
damaged far worse than the first lot. I
received a reply saying that my claim would
be considered, so I decided to await the deci-
sion in patience. I was, a few days ago. on the
point of sending another loving epistle, when
I received a letter from the company, accom-
panied with cash in full settlement of my last
claim, while still refusing to give any compen-
sation for the first damage done. But I do
not intend giving up my first claim, and
am making another attempt to recover for
that. Should I succeed I will be very pleased
to let you know. I suppose, however, it will
be some time before it is settled. — W.
Roberts, Ninfield, near Battle, Sussex,
January 9.

"ECHOES FROM THE HIVES."

[4650.] Referring to the mention of my
father by Mr. John Walton (who writes on
page 18), I am fortunately able to tell where
" Friend Grimshaw " is, as I see him (and work
with him) every day except when he is
travelling. Hia time is now too much occupied
as senior partner in a nail-making firm to give

much attention to literary work. However,
he is still interested in bees, and has this
winter already given two lectures on the
subject, and has two more to deliver this
month, one at Pateley Bridge and the other at
Benley in Wharfedaie. His friends will see,
though, that when he has his business to
attend to, it leaves very little excess energy.

We both embarked in the hobby together
in the spring of 1886, and I have always had
a " few " bees since, with the exception of
about a year or so, when I left the paternal
roof and got married.

I know my five stocks are amply pro-
visioned, &c, so I am leaving them severely
alone, anxiously looking forward to the return
of spring flowers and work " amongst the
bees.'' — DARcr R. Grimshaw, Crossgates, near
Leeds, January 10.

DISTRICT B.K. ASSOCIATION.

BOURNVILLE (BIRMINGHAM) AND DISTRICT.

[4651.] I think there is a great need for a
more active association in this district, and
will be glad if those interested in the subject
will kindly forward their names and addresses
to me, with a view to the formation of a bee-
keepers' association for Bournville and district.
I have now several friends wishing to join,
provided sufficient numbers can be got
together. We consider there is little of either
interest or advantage in belonging to an
association whose centre of working is at
Worcester or Warwick. — Frank Tilley, 44,
Beech-road, Bournville, Birmingham, Jan. 10.

"CAN BEES HEAR?"

[4652.] Referring to the article in the Bee
Journal of November 28 last (on page 475),
in which your correspondent, Mr. Homers -
ham, comes to the conclusion that bees cannot
hear, I shall be glad of an explanation of the
following points :— 1. When you pinch a bee
it utters a discordant note, which soon brings
more bees to the rescue. How did the pinched
bee communicate with the others if not by
hearing? 2. Before a "cast" comes off, say, on
the seventh or eighth night after swarming,
you can distinctly hear the cries (or, as bee-
keepers call it, "piping") of the queen.
Now, if bees cannot hear, how do they know
the meaning of her cries ? 3. When a swarm
is thrown down upon the floor board, you can
distinctly hear the queen's cries and locate her.
If the bees cannot hear, what is the use of
sound given them for 1 Any information upon
the above will be acceptable. — Geo. Richard-
son, Cowbit-road, Spalding, January 8.

[We print the above in this column rather
than as a query for editorial reply, because we
could only give our individual opinion for
what it is worth on the question, " Can bees
hear ? ': This would be in no way conclusive,
seeing that it is a moot point among the

Jan. 16, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

27

highest authorities. We, therefore, hope to
see the question discussed in our corre-
spondence column, trusting that some useful
and practical information may be evolved
thereby. — Eds.]

CONVERSATIONS WITH DOOLITTLE.

UNITING BEES FOR WINTERING.

" Good evening, Doolittle. As the even-
ings are getting quite long now I .'came over
to have a little talk with you about uniting
bees, so as not to bother you during the day,
as I know you are very busy getting your
honey ready for market."

" For what reason do you wish to unite your
bees, neighbour Smith1?"

"I have several weak colonies and young
after-swarms which I thought would, by
placing two or more of them together, make a
less number strong enough for winter ; and I
believe that such strong colonies can stand the
winter, while the weak ones, if left to them-
selves, would most likely perish. Am I right
in this matter 1 ''

" I think you are ; and if more of our bee-
keepers so understood things we should hear
of less loss of colonies in the spring than we
do now. The novice is apt to think that, the
greater the number of colonies he begins
winter with, the more he will have the next
May ; but a careful examination of results
shows that such reasoning is fallacious. Two
or more small colonies placed in one hive,
with the right amount of stores, stand a fair
chance of probably coming out in the spring
a good working colony ; while, if left separate,
the empty hives and combs will probably be
all that remains the following month of May."

" That is my view exactly. But you have
not told me how to unite my bees."

" I will tell you of a plan that I have used
successfully for a score or more years. The
first thing to do is to place an empty hive
where you wish a colony to stand ; and if
where the stronger of the weak colonies is now
standing, so much the better, as in this case
the bees from this one will have no desire to
go to any other place, this being their old
home.''

" But how can I set an empty hive there
when the stand is already occupied ? "

" Quite easily ; on some day when the bees
are not flying, and yet not cold enough to chill
bees generally, say, when the mercury stands
at from 50 deg. to 55 deg., you will have no
trouble in setting this stronger colony to one
side of its stand, and taking your time in
arranging the empty hive thereon."
" Yes, I see now. But go on."
"Having the empty hive arranged, go to
the several hives having the colonies which are
to be operated on, and blow a good volume of
smoke in at the entrance, at the same time
pounding with the doubled-up hand, or with
a stick, on top of the hive."

" What do you pound on the hive for 1 "
" Because the ' pounding ' causes the bees to
fill themselves with honey, and upon this
filling depends the successful uniting of bees."
" How long should I pound ? "
" I continue it for about a minute ; some-
times two, should the weather have been cool
for some time before, so the bees are quite
compactly clustered, as in this case it takes
them some time to cluster and fill them-
selves.''

" Do you keep on smoking the bees while
you are pounding the hive ? ''

" I smoke only enough to keep them from
coming out after the first few good puffs.
When you are through with the last one, take
a wheelbarrow and wheel the hives to where
you wish your united colony to stand, which
wheeling helps, by its jarring, to augment the
fear of the bees, thus causing them more
effectually to fill themselves with honey. Do
not delay in opening the hives, or the bees
may disgorge their load of honey back into
the cells again."

" Would not an assistant be useful at this
time?''

" One would do no harm ; but I generally
work alone. Having all requirements near to
the hive they are to go in, open the hives, and
take a frame of comb and bees from one hive
and place in the empty one ; then take a frame
from the next hive, placing it beside the first,
and so keep on alternating the frames from the
different hives till the empty hive is filled. In
doing this, select such combs as you desire,
either for brood, honey, all worker comb, &c,
thus putting the united colony on the best
combs. Having the hive filled with comb,
close it, when you will next take a frame from
the first hive opened, and Bhake the bees off
from it down in front of the entrance, holding
close down so the bees are in or as near the
entrance when leaving the combs as possible.
" Why this close holding and shaking ? "
" In order that the bees will take wing as
little a3 possible, and none need fall so far
from the hive but that they can readily run in
with the majority. After having got them off
the first frame, next shake the bees from a
frame on to the next hive, and so on, alter-
nating in the shaking the same as in filling the
hive, thus mixing the bees from the several
hives all up."

" Why do you wish them mixed up I "
"Because it takes the disposition to fight
and kill one another all out of them when
filled with honey as above, for when each bee
touches another it is a stranger, so that the
individuality of each colony is lost, and the
combined two, three, or four colonies unite
within two or three hours to make one indi-
vidual colony again, which will protect itself
from all intruders, the same as the separate
colonies did before.''

" Is that all there is of it % "
M Not quite. As soon as the bees are all
shaken off their combs gently blow a little

28

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Jan. 16, 1902.

sinoke on the outside bees to make them all
enter the hive should any be slow in doing so ;
and as soon as all are in the hive place a
board about half as wide as the hive, against
it, standing the bottom out a piece from the
entrance, so it stands slanting up over it."

" What do you do that for ? "

"This is done so that the next time the
bees fly they will bump against it, as it were,
this causing them to know that it is a new
location they occupy, when they will mark
the place the same as a new swarm does, after
which they will adhere to it instead of going
back to the old location they used to occupy
before uniting. And to help in this matter
further it is always best to remove everything
from the old stands, so that nothing homelike
remains to entice them back."

" What about the queens ? Do you put
them all together 1 ''

" Should there be a choice of queens in any
of the colonies to be united, kill or dispose of
the poorer ones, so that the best may be pre-
served. This hunting-out of the queens is
better done some day before the uniting, for in
the smoking and pDund'mg process the queens
will not be where they are readily found when
uniting. If there is no choice in queens, and
the extra queens are of fo value, the bees will
attend to the matter, killing all but one of
them." — Gleanings (American).

Qnpqs aiut J^litps.

L2779.] Improving Colour of Beeswax. — I
have been told that there is some plan of
improving the colour of beeswax by the use of
chemicals during the process of melting. Is
this so 1 And do you know anything of the
method, as I have some wax that needs
improving in colour 1 — " Cheshireman,''
January 10.

Reply. — We suppose there will be as much
practical experience in cleaning or improving
the colour of beeswax at the works of the
A. I. Eoot Company in America as anywhere
we know of, and Mr. E. Eoot says with regard
to the process : — " Sometimes a 5 per cent,
solution will do the work ; then as strong as is
required — that i3 to say, 1 part raw acid to
10 parts water ; bub if the wax is very dirty
or black, you may require to use as high as
25 per cent. Use acid enough to get the
yellow colour. It is cheap ; and when you
have secured the proper colour you can make
your wax enough more valuable to more than
pay the expense of the acid.''

[2780.] Working the " W.B.C." Hive.—l.
Where can I see the proper working of a
" W.B.C." hive ? 2. As, I understand, you
are the originator of the hive, you could advise
me how to work it for section honey only. I
never work for extracted honey, and therefore

do not require Bhallow-frames such as are sent
out with the hive by dealers. Could I put
sections in the box made to hold the shallow-
frames ] 3. When you start working in the
spring, do you put this frame on the floor-board
and then place the brood-chamber or body-box
on that ? I also note that a box containing
sections in hanging frames is used with this
hive. How are they put on 1 4. The frame
or " eke,'' 2 in. deep, also sent with hive — is
this only used in winter ? 5. I find there
is only £ in. space between end of frames
and the hive-sides. Do you consider this
enough, as some people say it should be i
or i in. ? I want to work the hive right,
and therefore would be obliged for any infor-
mation to enable me to do so. — F. Jellico,
Mounlmdlick, Queen's Co., Ireland, January 4.

Reply.— 1. If by "proper working" you
mean a properly constructed " W. B. C." hive,
such may be seen at the works of any good
hive-maker in England. No doubt there are
dealers in Ireland who supply the hive, and if
yours is one of these the maker will surely be
able to explain the working of its various
pirts. 2. Bee-keepers who work solely for
sections surely will not order boxes of shallow-
frames, but purchase only the " W. B. C." section-
boxes with proper hanging-frames therein for
holding the sections. 3. We do not quite
understand this query as written. 4. The
"eke '' is 3 in. deep (not 2 in.), and is useful
for several purposes other than for space
below frames in winter. 5. A J-in. space
between side-bars of frames and hive sides is
perfectly correct.

[2781.] Painting Hives.— 1 have just com-
menced bee-keeping this new year, and have
purchased seven "W.B.C' hives with bee3
in, and seven empty ones. Also one lot of
bees in a skep to keep for swarming. I got
the lot for £10. I should like to paint them
all over with two coats of paint, but would
first like to know if you think it would do
any damage if I paint the hives while the
bees are in them ? As I am doubtful, please
give me your opinion in B.B.J. The man I
bought the bees from gave me a copy of the
" Guide Book." I am a signalman on L.N.W.
Railway. Wishing you and all bee-men a
happy and successful new year. — J. B.

Reply. — By painting the hive3 in cold
weather, or in the evening, all entrances may
be closed during the oparation and until the
paint has dried. In this way no harm will
follow.

[2782.] Examining Hives in January.-'
During the last few days the weather has
been so mild here I have opened my hives
and given to each a large cake of medicated
flour-candy. Each hive appeared strong in
bees, and during the short glimpse I had I
fancied I could see plenty of young ones. 1. I
send some bees I picked up outside the hives,
and should be much obliged if you will kindly
tell me the strain, whether they are young or

Jan. 16, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

29

last season's ? 2. In making my flour-candy
(according to Recipe No. 3 in the "Guide
Book "), I was not quite clear as to quantities
Is it intended that 1 1 lb. of wheat flour or
1 lb. of pea-flour should be used to each 6 lb.
of sugar, which is the amount of sugar men-
tioned in No. 2 recipe ? 3. Is this too early
in the year to give flour-candy ? — " Gladys,"
Devonport, January 14.

Reply. — 1. Bees sent (Ligurians) are last
season's adults, not young ones. 2. By reading
the " Guide Book " carefully you will not go
wrong in making flour candy. We cannot
improve on the directions there given. 3. The
month of January is too early for any dis-
turbance of bees, either by feeding or other-
wise, unless the real necessity arises. Hives
are best left " severely alone " at this time.

[2783.] Making an Observatory Hive. — Can
any of your readers oblige with details of con-
struction to make an observation hive, and say
which is the best size for watching the bees at
work ? I thought of one to take two standard
frames, or two frames and three 1-lb. sections ;
but would not mind if it held three frames or
more The Bee Journal containing plan
and details for making the " W.B.C." hive
has been very useful to me — along with others
I am sure — and I should like similar particu-
lars regarding an observatory, if such are
obtainable.— W. C, Cleckheaton, January 10.

Reply. — " Details '' of how to make an
observatory hive, with plans such as you refer
to, could only be supplied by a practical hive-
maker, who could hardly be expected to do
this to the injury of his own trade. For
watching bees at work a four-frame observatory
is quite small enough.

Brook Hall, Londonderry, January 7. — The
weather here has been mild, but wet and
windy, with little frost and snow, and conse-
quently favourable to the bees. My bees, during
the short spells of winter sunshine, indulge in
what we bee-keepers call " cleansing flights,''
otherwise the bees are at rest. I always keep a
cake of candy under the quilts, as I believe the
bees should have some within their reach, even
if they are not destitute of stores. I also take
care not to disturb them except on a sunny
day, and then only to examine how the cake
of candy is getting on. I am busy making
ready for the coming season, cleaning and
repairing supers and hives, and making
new ones during the long evenings. The
winter is about half through now, so let us
hope the spring will be an early one, with
plenty of blossoms and flowers.— G. F, Gilli-

LAND.

Hatfield Heath,, Harlow, Essex, January 13,
—I took advantage of the recent mild

weather to give to all stocks that may possibly
want their stores supplemented a full 2 lb.
cake of soft candy. I make these cakes three
or four at a time, so as to be able to give them
to the bees warm. I also gave additional
coverings to all stocks at the same time.
Now, whether it snows, rains, or blows, the
bee-keeper need care little, and the bees less.
I found the bees strong in numbers and lively
too ; so much so that several of them made
an " impression " on me in the "usual ''way,
I fancy the wind irritated the bees and made
them a bit vicious, for it was very windy,
though mild. Did I examine the combs for
brood ? No, and had no desire to ; but I
took the opportunity to drop naphthaline in
at back of all hives, also to add to the candy
a solution that it is hoped will prevent the
baby bees being found indisposed when it is
safe to examine them. Saw the first bee in
search of water on January 5, and have seen
a number since. To-day it is 15 deg. colder,
so I quite expect that — to use a common
country saying — as the days lengthen the cold
will strengthen.™ Wm. Loveday. — —

PRESS CUTTINGS.

A GOOD WORD FOR THE WASP.

To the Editor of the Standard.

Sir,— The above heading, no doubt, explains
why nothing has been said in defence by the
queen wasp to the charges made against her in
the correspondence you have been good
enough to print. The widowed queens are all
asleep, most of them in such an unconscious
state that you will find their motionless bodies
simply anchored to some substance which they
have seized with their jaws. When they wake
up in genial spring weather, and, perhaps, gain
access to some file of the Standard to select, if
they can, something to mix and chew up with
the scrapings from the gates and palings, they
will be highly amused at some of the ideas
prevalent concerning them and their life
history, and indignant that, amid much abuse
and plans of murder and destruction, not a
word has been said on their side, not a single
vote of thanks accorded to them for the im-
mense amount of indirect benefit they bestow
on your ungrateful correspondents.

Wasps are omnivorous ; in addition to the
supply of their own daily wants, they have to
collect food for an innumerable number of
grubs as they hatch out in quick succession
from the eggs the queen lays. Nothing seems
to come amiss, and in the early spring insects
are rare, and the pollen and honey of the few
blossoms about probably provide the only
available nourishment. The quantity of food
carried to a thriving colony may, perhaps, be
imagined when we find Sir John Lubbock
telling us that a marked wasp paid ninety-four
visits to a store of honey in one day. If you
stand at the entrance of a wasps' nest you will
find the workers going out and returning in

30

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 16, 1902.

quick and regular succession. Little of the
carried food -will be visible, for the wasps
masticate and disgorge it for the grubs' food.
Later on in the year insects swarm ; the
butcher has all he can do, and more, to pre-
vent his meat getting fly-blown ; the grocer
has his sugar and other goods defiled with
numberless pilfering flies ; the gardener's roses
and other choice plants are infested with green
fly and other pests. Your own study becomes
uninhabitable from the annoyance of the
ubiquitous fly ; some of the ten thousand
species of European flies attack your fruit,
doing almost as much damage as the wasps.
In spite of the fly's purpose in Nature, which,
we are told, "is to consume various sub-
stances which are given out by the human
body, by articles of food, and almost every
animal and vegetable production when in a
state of change, and given out in such small
quantities that they are not perceptible to
common observers '' — a most useful purpose,
no doubt — we cannot help disliking the " in-
trusive, buzzing, pilfering, boozing, tickling
varlet," and common gratitude demands our
thanks to the industrious wasps.

To a nest, say, 2,000 workers, in their
ninety-four daily visits, are carrying some
198,000 execrated pilferers and tormentors, or,
to 100 nests, in a radius of two miles, are
carrying 19,800,000 a day. Think of life
without this protection! This number will
allow, if you please, a liberal discount without
ruining the plea. We have a keen perception,
and so has the sparrow, of what the destruc-
tion of hawks, owls, weasels, and other
adjusters of the balance of power in Nature
has done. Who can picture the results
attending the extinction of the wasp family 1
Shall they not be welcome to a share of our
fruits, and may not an occasional sting be
borne with patience, when we remember our
comparative freedom from the irritating attacks
of other insects 1 — I am, Sir, your obedient
servant, John H. Hocking, F.E.S., Oopdock
Rectory, January 9.

" THIS WAV TO THE HONEY."

One of the African birds performs a very
pleasant duty, as its name of honey guide
shows. They lead the natives to the bees'
nests in the woods and elsewhere, in the hope
that they may be allowed not only a share of
the honey, but also full freedom to feed on the
larvae, or grubs, and eggs in the nests. Some
folks have accused them of being wicked
enough to guide men not to the honey, but to
the dens of savage beasts. This is, however,
totally untrue ; although the birds have, like
the cuckoo, the bad habit of laying their eggs
in other nests than their own, giving strangers
the trouble of hatching them and rearing the
chicks. — Science Siftings.

BEES AS POSTAL MESSENGERS.

It is said that a great English apiarist has
succeeded in turning to account the homing

instincts of bees for the conveyance of
messages. He took some bees a long way
from their hive, gummed to their wings a tiny
micro-photographed letter, and set them loose.
They all found their way safely home. In
time of war these postal bees would have this
advantage over oarrier pigeons — it would be
impossible to shoot them ! — Picture Postcard.

Notices to Corresponden ts & 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 tht
receipt of their communications.

All qutriesf or warded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

O. M. (Stanford-le-Hope).— The "Standard"
Frame. — Our correspondent writes : — " We
bee-keepers — who belong to Associations —
look up to you as our guide in things con-
nected with bee-craft." He then goes on to
say:— "I have received circulars, &c, ad-
vocating the use of a hive much bigger than
the ' Standard,' and running the latter
down," and finally asks : — " Is there any-
thing in it beyond bunkum ? because I am
half inclined to try a larger hive than the
' Standard,' but want to hear your opinion
before I do so."

In replying, let us first say there is no
such thing as a " Standard hive," and no
fixed rule regarding size or capacity. The
hive we advocate may be made to hold any
number of frames according to the district
or the desire of bee-keeper. But when we
are asked for " guidance " on the desira-
bility or otherwise of doing anything tending
to lessen the enormous advantage conferred
on the pursuit by the adoption of the
B.B.K.A. "Standard" frame, we repeat
what we have said scores of times in this
journal, viz., that any advocacy of either a
larger or a smaller frame than that now in
general use must come from other quarters
or other journals than the B.B.J. In other
words, we should regard a change as rank
folly almost approaching to absurdity. How
any one can shut their eyes to the enormous
advantage gained by the adoption of a
uniform frame, fit for use, and interchage-
able with those now hanging in any hive in
the kingdom, is a mystery to us. So long,
therefore, as readers are good enough to
" look to us for guidance," we shall advocate
no other.

*#* A few Queries, not urgent, are held over
till next week's issue.

Jan. 23, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

31

(Miami, $jtotite», fo.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

The monthly meeting of the Council was
held at 105, Jermyn-street, S.W., on Thurs-
day, the 16th inst, Mr. F. B. White occupy-
ing the chair. There were also present Major
Fair, Dr. T. S. Elliot, Messrs. W. Broughton
Carr, H. Jonas, J. H. New, W. F. Eeid,
W. J. Sheppard, T. I. Weston, and the Sacre-
tary. Letters apologising for inability to
attend the meeting were read from Miss
Gayton, Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh, Messrs.
R. T. Andrews, W. H. Harris, P. Scatter-
good, and E. Walker.

The following new members were elected,
viz.: — Mr. Jas Arthur, jun., Greengairs,
Airdrie, N.B.; Mr. R. W. Brimacombe, Cole-
brook Lodge, Putney Heath, S.W. ; Mr. S.
Darlington, Charing, Kent ; Mr. Joseph
Thomas, Whitehorse-street, Hereford.

The Chairman presented the Report of the
Finance Committee, giving account of receipts
and expenditure to date, and brought forward
the list of accounts presented for payment.
The report was adopted.

A letter was received from the Nottingham-
shire Association, and after discussion, the
secretary was instructed to reply thereto in
accordance with the decision of the Council.

Amongst other correspondents was a letter
fram the Agricultural Commissioner of the
Royal Hungarian Government, requesting the
co-operation of the Association in acquiring
different types of English bee-hives for the
exclusively educational purposes of the Royal
Hungarian Agricultural Museum, and the
secretary was directed to ascertain whether
models of ancient or " up-to-date " appliances
were desired, and tj deal with the application
accordingly.

A very lengthy discussion ensued on the
proposed Insurance scheme, and a number of
letters on the subject were dealt with, notably
one from Mr. W. H. Harris, who suggested the
following salient points for consideration : —
1. The desirability of making quite clear the
scope of the insurance — just what risks will
be covered. 2. The inclusion of non-members
of associations in the benefits of the scheme,
at an increased premium. 3. The formation of
village bee-clubs, the members of which might
pay individual fee3 or a lump sum from the
club funds.

The replies received to date were considered
satisfactory, and included a large proportion
from bee-keepers who, from various causes, are
not connected with Associations. The Council
will, upon ascertaining approximately the
number of bee-keepers desiring to join in
the scheme, proceed to draft a schedule of
': Rules and Regulations " for circulation, and,
in doing so, will take into account the valuable
suggestions to hand from all quarters.

The next meeting will be held on Thurs-
day, February 20.

MARRIAGE OF MR. T. B. BLOW.

NOTICE OF MARRIAGE.

On January 15, 1902, in London,

Before the Superintendent Registrar,

Thomas Bates Blow, of tin Chalet, Welwyn,

to

Shoko Koyalce, of Kyoto, Japin.

The above — in some respects novel —
" wedding card" reached us on the 16th inst.,
and we take the earliest opportunity of cor-
dially wishing every happiness to Mr. and
Mrs. Thos. B. Blow.

Those who have been readers of this journal
for any length of time will remember Mr.
Blow as one of the best-known and most
successful of our bee-appliance manufacturers,
besides being a practical bee-expert, owning a
large apiary at Welwyn, Herts.

After disposing of his extensive hive- works
a few yearj ago, Mr. Blow has travelled a
good deal in the East, particularly in Japan,
to which country he made several journeys,
hh visits extending over long periods. Those
who, like ourselves, have kept in touch with
Mr. Blow will not be surprised at his con-
necting himself permanently with Japan and
its people as announced above. Familiar with
the language, and wearing, a? he did, the
native dress when there, he was, we suppose,
as much at home in Kyoto, Japan, as at
Welwyn, Herts. Indeed, we have many times
heard our friend express his appreciation of
the many admirable traits of character apparent
among the educated classes of that interesting
country. In again expressing our good wishes
for Mr. Blow and his Japanese " good wife,'' we
shall no doubt be joined by a large number
of our readers.

(Sioxmpnkut

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.

A CONVERSATION WITH MR. G. M.
DOOLITTLE.

" WHEELING '' EXPERIENCES IN AMERICA.

[4653.] While staying with Mr. F. A. Salis-
bury, in the city of Syracuse, N.Y., I heard
that Mr. Doolittle lived in a somewhat inacces-
sible spot eighteen or twenty mile* away over
the hills. Now was my chance to see one of
the most famous bee-men living. It was an
opportunity not to be missed, and I determ'n^l

32

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Jan. 23, 1902.

to take it, although I had no definite invita-
tion from him, nor had I any certain know-
ledge that he would be at home. Mr. Salisbury
kindly lent me his " wheel,'' and I got a lift
•' on the cars " for about half of the way, as far
as a village called Skaneateles. The village
lay at the head of a beautiful blue lake, which,
though no more than about two miles wide,
extended for some twelve miles in a southerly
direction. I found out that Mr. Doolittle
lived at a place called Borodino, about eight
miles from Skaneateles, near the eastern shore
of the lake. I was advised to take the lake-
shore road. Although it was the gloomy
month of November, the morning was superb.
The sun shone brilliantly on the somewhat
hilly but very fertile and unusually interest-
ing and prosperous-looking country on my
left, and on the clear, smooth lake on my
right. I was unable to fully account for the
very marked degree in which I experienced the
feeling of exhilaration and buoyancy of spirits,
that is usually associated with morning rides
in a bright and cool atmosphere, until 1 learnt
(a3 I afterwards did) that the district I was
in was many hundreds of feet above the sur-
rounding country, and that the lake was fed,
not by mountain streams, but by springs, the
contents of which welled up into the lake from
great depths. As a consequence the water is
so pure that the whole of the city of Syra-
cuse, twenty miles off, is supplied with the
water of this lake ; and the citizens are justly
proud of their splendid water-supply. Though
the road was quite dry, it was in a very bad
state for cycling. It was, of course, only an
ordinary American mud-road, but it was a
new experience to me to drive a bicycle
through dust and sand 6 in. thick, hard ruts
2 in. deep, hole?, loose pebbles in the sand,
and, on some of the steep hills, ledges and
step3 of rocks protruding from the sandy dust.
My opinion of American bicycles has under-
gone a complete change, for no bicycle has
ever before received, with me, rougher treat-
ment from the roads than Mr. Salisbury's did
that day. It was an old, hard-worn looking
machine, but it stood the test splendidly, and
I came to the conclusion that either British
cycle agents have been deceiving us about the
durability of American machines, or else the
American manufacturers have been supplying
the British market with their cheap "junk,''
and have thus earned for themselves a reputa-
tion that they might easily improve.

Of course, I had a good look at the country
as I passed through it, and was particularly
interested in the crops. It was chiefly grass
land, but there was a good deal of corn
(maize) and one or two fields of cabbages. I
was specially struck by some particularly fiae,
thick-trunked specimens of what I supposed
to be the Lombardy poplar, or an allied
species having the same tall, upright, Irish-
yew-like habit of growth. There were no
neatly-trimmed hedges of hawthorn, nor was
there any ivy to be seen. Both these plants

would, I understood, be " winter-killed '' by
the severe snaps of hard frost to which this
part of the country is liable. Wooden fences
generally took the place of hedges, but in
some places I saw some very tall hedges of the
thorny locust-tree (honey-locust) as I neared
Borodino. This tree bears numerous thorns
about 2 in. long. Near the tops of some of
the best-grown specimens several large clusters
of long chocolate-coloured bean-like pods were
hanging ; they were quite hard and dry, and
made a weird rattliDg sound a3 they rubbed
together in the light breeze which had now
sprung up. Compared with our sturdy haw-
thorn, the honey-locust seemed to have a
weak and straggling habit of growth. This
must be a great apple-growing district, for
there were several well-grown trees laden with
good eating apples, of that deep tint peculiar
to most American apples, standing on the
roadside between the honey-locust hedge and
the road. Evidently the apples were public
property, and, being thirsty after my ride, 1
climbed one of the trees and refreshed myself
by eating a good many of them, and I pub
some more into my pocket. At last I spied,
in a valley a short way off, a neat white house,
which I took to be that of Mr. Doolittle. I
was soon there, and I found it was occupied
by Mr. Doolittle's sister, who told me that
her brother lived next door. He had been out
fishing in the lake, and he intended driving to
the village in the afternoon, but, she said, I
might find him at home then. Fortunately, I
did find Mr. Doolittle at home. He emerged
from his workshop as I walked into his apiary.

I knew him by his picture in the " A.B.C.
of Bee Culture," and 1 hastily introduced my-
self. Doolittle, as I saw him, is a elderly, well-
built man, with sandy hair and moustache. He
is somewhat fleshy, and he laughingly said, in
allusion to this, that bicycles were not made
for him. He had an unusually powerful
voice. Hi3 thoughts and words flowed so
rapidly that I had some difficulty in keeping
pace with them, and sometimes of compre-
hending his meaning. He was, however,
exceedingly explicit whenever I requested him
to repeat anything he had said. The first
thing we did was to look at his bees. Mr.
Doolittle took a small piece of touchwood and,
fixing it on the end of a wire skewer, set it
well alight. He then dropped it into his
Corneil smoker with some more pieces of the
same material, and, armed with this and two
bee-hats, we sallied forth to the bees. Mr.
Doolittle has about ninety colonies of bees. He
uses a small, square frame, the " Gallup,"
measuring llf by 11^, and he spaces the
frames with his fingers. For sections he seem3
to prefer a four- piece tall section, the size of
which ib 3j in. by about 5| in.

The sections were placed in a hanging frame,
and tin separators were attached to the frame.
Mr. Doolittle gave me a message for British
beekeepers, which I will repeat here while I
remember it. " If you tell them nothing else

Jan. 23, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

33

from me," he said, " impress on them the im-
portance of having a full force of working bees
in the field at the right time." I told him I
would have much pleasure in doing so, for I
knew that the advice he gave was one of the
greatest secrets of success in honey-production,
and though realised by all, it is seldom acted
upon to the full.

Mr. Doolittle is, of course, chiefly famous as
a very prolific writer on bee-keeping and as
the author of " Scientific Queen-rearing," in
which work he described his famous methods
of queen-raising and the artificial queen-cell
cup which was invented by him and bears his
name. His method of queen-rearing was one
of the first really successful ones, and his ex-
perience in dealing with queens and in doing
all kinds of queen-work is almost unique. He
described to me an absolutely safe method of
introducing a queen to a nucleus, which may
be new to some of your readers : —The nucleus
is, of course, first made queenless, and then in
the evening a large number of the bees are
shaken off the combs into a box covered with
■wire- cloth, through a large funnel placed in a
hole in the top of the box. Next morning the
queen is given to the bees in the box, and the
following evening the bees are returned with
the new queen to the nucleus.

Mr. Doolittle winters his bee3 in a cellar,
which he has constructed in the side of a hill
behind his house. On the hill behind the
cellar he showed me a grove he has of young
basswood trees. The basswood, i.e , American
lime, or linden (Tilia Americana), is one of the
best sources of honey in America. The honey
is of excellent colour and consistency, and
there is a peculiar pungency about the flavour
which causes those who once learn to like it to
be always afterwards very partial to it.

Mr. Doolittle was most kind in explaining
to me all kinds of appliances and methods ;
he showed me the little room where he did all
his writing, the walls of which were well
decorated with a large number of newspaper
cuttings. The four hours or so I spent with
him passed like a moment, and the sun was
already getting low when he wished me good-
bye. It was, in fact, too late for me to catch
the last train that day from Skaneateles, so I
set out for Marcellus, a station much nearer
to Syracuse. Night fell long before I got to
Marcellus, and the road being very bad and
hilly, I ventured to ask a passer-by how far it
was to Marcellus. He said I had five miles
more to go, and in answer to question I asked
as to whether the road was good, he replied,
" Well, not bad." This sounded ominous, and,
as I expected, the sandy dust soon got deeper,
and before long I found myself being brought
to numerous sudden standstills by what I
believed to be pebbles in the sand. At last I
had to walk. Then the road suddenly got
smooth and firm. I mounted my ''wheel''
again, and was going along splendidly in the
dark (I had no lamp) when I was suddenly
almost thrown off by a new and more

serious danger than any I had previously
encountered. In the gloom I could just
perceive what seemed to be some six or
seven narrow, straight grooves in the' road,
each of them about a foot apart and running
parallel with one another from one side of the
road to the other. They seemed to vary from
1 in. to 2 in. in depth. Apparently they were
narrow buggy-wheel track', but why they
should have covered the road and been so
straight and equidistant from one another I
could never make out. I was indeed thankful
whsn I got to Marcellus Station, or, as it is
called in America, the "railroad depot,''
although it was here that I had perhaps the
worst experience of all. The station was in a
valley at the bottom of a steep bill, and the road
crossed the railway track without any barrier.
The darkness was too great for me to see the
railway track until I actually reached it,
and then I was going at so great a speed,
acquired going down the hill, that I could not
stop my machine in time to prevent its
bounding over the two rails which, like those
of this country, projected high above the
sleepers. How I stuck to the machine and
how the rims and tyres of the wheels remained
whole are mysteries that I cannot explain.
And when I got into the " depot " I heard
that the train was " on time,'' and that it was
due in two minutes ! However, I had almost
ten minutes to wait for it. — F. W. L.
Sladen, Jan. 20, 1902.

BEES AS FERTILISERS.

IMPROVING THE FRUIT CROP.

[4651.] The following " Note" regarding my
beginning with bees and the result thereof
may be of interest to some who, like myself,
grow fruit. I started last April, without any
previous experience, only having studied the
"Guide Book'' got from you. I had two
stocks of bees, each in a hive holding ten
Standard frames.

From one hive I took a frame containing
9 lb. of pure honey on May 30, but this was
all the surplus this colony yielded, as the bees
never took to the supers. They swarmed on
June 18 with an empty section-rack on, and,
later on, swarmed again and lost their queen,
a mishap I did not find out till September. I
then got another queen and safely introduced
her so that she had started breeding before I
closed the bees down for winter.

From the other stock I got twenty-five 1-lb.
sections and 12 lb. of extracted honey. Then
on June 18— as in the case of the first-named
hive — a swarm issued and the two swarms
united of themselves. I took from this lot
12 lb. of honey in shallow-frames.

I got the bees in the first instance for the
purpose of fertilising the fruit blossom in our
garden, as for several years we have noticed
the absence of insects at that time though they
are plentiful in July and August. The result
was in every way a success, for this year we

H

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Jan. 23, 1902.

had a record crop of Victoria plums, and our
pears were much better than usual. Apples,
gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries, and
blackberries were not appreciably different ;
but, of course, the season for fruit has been
good all round, and one cannot say for several
years what is to be placed to the credit of the
bees.

My district, in the heart of tbe blackest
part of the West Riding, can never be a first-
class place for bees. I only know of one other
bee-keeper within about seven miles. —
Wilfrid Orosland, Oldfieldnoolc, Cleckheaton,
Yorks, January 18.

RANDOM NOTES.

[4655.] Cold outside and warm within ! The
desire to scribble takes possession of one ;
hence the following random notes, which I
trust may be found useful : —

Cod - Liver Oil "Emulsion? — A receipt,
doubtless not new, for cod-liver oil " emul-
sion.'' Take honey, 1 lb., cod-liver oil, I lb.,
and the juice of one lemon ; mix, and shake
well. Dose, one and a-half times the quantity
of oil usually taken alone.

Perforated Zinc over Entrances. — Referring
to the mention of this for " W.B.C' hive3 in
B.J. of December last, on pages 503 and 516,
I may say, having used this device for some
time, I should like to point out that it is
niuoh better if the zinc is not fastened in any
way to the hive, but simply laid on over or
above the entrance. It will be found, however,
that the body-box will slide over the edges of
zinc. To obviate this turn up the edges about
\ in. ; this will form a shallow tray and so
prevent its doing so. There is also another
advantage than that justly claimed by Mr.
Norman, viz., it will be found that when the
bees are flying they will nearly always walk
out of the hive over the bridge thus provided,
and this, in the busy days of surplus-gather-
ing, leaves the alighting boards and entrances
freer for the incoming bee3. The bee3 will
sometimes propolise the zinc, but not often,
especially if the holes are fairly large.

Transferring from Sleeps to Frame Hives. —
I have found a reliable method to do this is,
when the skep is strong in bees, to drive it
in the usual manner until the queen is seen to
run up. The driving may now be stopped.
Go to another frame hive and take out a
frame containing brood, &c. ; insert this in
the frame-hive proposed to be stocked, and
rill up with frames of foundation, or, better,
drawn-out combs ; place a sheet of excluder
zinc over frame3, then put skep on same ; cover
zinc all round skep with quilts except at one
corner, where a feeding- stage should be put ;
fill the bottle of same, and put the cover over
all. Now throw the driven bees down at
entrance, when they will, of course, run in.
At the end of three weeks remove skep, or
leave same on to form a super if required.

The advantage of this plan is that by putting
in the brood, enough bees stay below to feed
the queen, and it will be found that if the
feeder is kept going they will very quickly
take full possession.

To Ensure Candy " Candying." — If a piece
of candy, made at a former boiling, is broken
up and put with the sugar, it will be found to
candy much more readily when it is boiled.
I do not know why, but have always found it
so. — Will Hampton, Richmond, January 20.

MY YEAR'S BEE-KEEPING.

TAKING BEES TO THE MOORS.

[4656.] One day while at his usual work,
some twelve or thirteen years ago, my father
chanced to secure a stray swarm of bees, and,
as luck would have it, managed to catch
another stray swarm th9 next day. It was
real swarming weather at the time, and run-
away swarm3 were unusually numerous. Bat
this wa3 the beginning of our bee-keeping,
which was, of caurse, on the s'raw skep
system.

For the first year or two a local bee-keeper
in the district used to drive the bees at the
end of each season at honey-taking time, but
afterwards a brother and myself learned to do
the driving ourselves.

Three years ago I changed my p^ce of em-
ployment, and the first day 1 entered on my
new duties one of the workmen inquired if I
knew anything about bees. I told him that
we had seventeen skep3 and one frame-hive at
my home, and that I was in the habit of
driving the skep3 at the end of each season.
He became interested, and we had a regular
bee-chat. And this chat was the rising of the
sun as far as my active and real interest in
bee-keeping was concerned.

Working, as I do, in Aberdeen, eleven or
twelve miles distant from home, I managed
to go there every week during the past year,
from March till November, and I am well
pleased with the results. I started the season
with twelve stocks, one of which I used for
queen-rearing. Four of the hives sent out
swarms, one of which I sold. I thus went
into winter quarters with fifteen colonies of
bees. From the whole I got 560 lb. of clover
honey, and later on I took eleven hives to the
"Hill of Fare," about nine mile3 away, and
secured 400 lb. of heather honey from them,
making a total of 960 lb. I also had 29 lb.
of beeswax, for which 1 got Is. 6d. per lb.

I disposed of nearly the whole of the clover
honey in one lot. The price here in Aberdeen
was low in 1901, viz, 6id. and 7d , and there
was some difficulty in getting that.

I do not know if the "Rymer" heather-
press i3 a good one or not, but the " Garstang "
is, to my mind, a slow-working machine.

I would like to ask the opinion of your
readers who have had experience of taking
bees to the moors, with regard to the best and

Jan. 23, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

35

most speedy way of closing up the hives and
securing the bees when taking them to the
moors, as this operation last year caused me
the " warmest reception " from the bees of the
whole year. — William Reid, Greystone,
Skene, Dunecht, Aberdeenshire, N.B.

BEGINNING BEE-KEEPING.

A GOOD AND A BAD START.

[4657.] About the monthof July, 1900, one of
my neighbours (a small farmer) secured a fine
stray swarm of bees which clustered on his
premises, and as no claimant appeared for the
bees, the swarm was duly hived in a straw
skep. Being a little elated over his " find,"
the farmer purchased a new frame-hive, cost-
ing 16s., and I was asked to put the bees
therein, which I did, after fixing starters of
comb- foundation in the frames. Two days
later, another stray swarm made its appear-
ance, and still no owner ; this time, however,
the bees were allowed to remain in the straw
skep. All went well till the close of the year,
when both stocks were examined, and I found
the frame-hive could spare one frame of good
comb-honey, while the skep allowed for the
removal of a small side-slab of comb as a
tempting reward of the year's produce. This
done, both skep and frame-hive were packed
up for the winter.

Upon examining the hives in the spring of
last year, I found the skep in good condition
andiealthy, but the frame- hive was so badly
affected with foul-brood that I advised com-
plete destruction of the contents, and, with
the assistance of the farmer, the said "con-
tents " were burnt and buried. The hive was
well scrubbed out on the next washing day
with hot water and soda, then dried ; I after-
wards painted it inside with benzoline, and I
set it alight to scorch the wood. After being
left for a fortnight, it was again painted over
with carbolic solution (one to two). This skep
sent out a swarm at the end of May last, and
the swarm was put into the disinfected hive
with new frames and starters ; a little syrup
was also given to the bees in June when the
weather was unfavourable. This swarm
yielded two racks of good sections, and the
bees are now packed up for the winter on ten
frames with sufficient store.

The results in the above two cases are so
entirely different that it makes one wonder,
Why did the one lot become diseased and the
other continue healthy? — J. B., Polyphant,
Launceston.

DISTRICT B.K. ASSOCIATIONS.

[4658.] It is very gratifying to hear that
bee-keepers in Bourneville are anxious to
form a district association (4651, page 26).
Bourneville is, I fancy, in Worcestershire.
The association of this county has recently
adopted a system of local secretaries to look
after the interests of each district, and this

practically give3 to every part an association
of its own, with no limit to any special com-
bination and activity that may be desired
locally. This offers all the advantages of a
district association, together with those of
a county B.K.A. Does Mr. Tilley wish for
more than this ? I shall be happy to answer
any inquiries from him or his neighbours. —
John P. Phillips (Acting Secretary, Wor-
cestershire B. K. A.), Spetchley, Worcester,
January 20.

[4659.] Your correspondent, " Frank
Tilley " (4651, page 26), in last week's issue,
in writing of District Beekeepers' Associations,
most certainly strikes the right note, and if it
could be put into practice (and there are no
great difficulties) would be beneficial to the
craft generally, and to the objects of the
B. B.K.A. itself, viz , the encouragement, im-
provement, andjthe advancement of bee-culture,
particularly among cottagers and the working
classes. As he very justly states, it is of very
little interest or advantage to belong to an
association whose centre of working is pro-
bably twenty or more miles away ; and many
are in a similar position to mine, that is, un-
able to spare the time and cost of attending
meetings at that distance. This being so, I
would ask, why not encourage the formation of
village or town associations with a five or six
mile radius limit (or more if the district needed
it), and which would, of course, affiliate with
the county B.K.A. for the annual subscription ]
By so doing, it would keep in touch with and
under the ruling of the parent association, the
local members sending delegates to each
county meeting.

The advantages enjoyed by members of the
local branch would be numerous, and, if pro-
perly managed, the latter could be carried on
for a small annual subscription, in order to
include the poorer enthusiast. The secretary
would have little difficulty in inducing a few
of the local gentry to become patrons, honorary
members, &c, which would assist considerably
in keeping the branch in a good financial
state. It is safe to say there are plenty of
people in every suitable locality who would
gladly take up bee culture if they could have
the assistance of an expert in the way of
advice, and a practical illustration of the
methods of handling the bees.

The association could have for its objects
the following, amongst others : — (1) Distribu-
tion of bee literature ; (2) free instruction to
new members ; (3) arranging (where possible)
for a bee tent and expert at the local flower or
agricultural show ; (4) purchase of the more
costly appliances for the use of members ;
(5) the services of certified experts for the
guidance of members ; (6) arranging for free
lectures on bees, and the advantages of
keeping, &c. ; (7) periodical meetings to
transact the business of the branch, and to
discuss the merits and demerits of the
different methods and appliances, and to

■ >\i

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Jan. 23, 1902.

" enthuse " generally on the best means of
extending the interesting hobby of bee-
keeping.

I am afraid that in this locality, on the
borders of the Black Country (where bee-
keepers are few and far between), the time i3
hardly ripe for such a step, but in lots of
places these local associations could be of the
greatest service. — " B. Mad/' Walsall,
January 20.

[The difficulty which presents itself to those
located in districts where few persons keep
bees is, to our mind, the trouble of maintain-
ing the enthusiasm necessary to keep a local
bee-club on the move. For this reason,
affiliation with the nearest County B.K.A.
seems preferable. — Eds.]

CAN BEES HEAR 1

[4660.] In reply to the questions asked by
Mr. Geo. Richardson (4653, page 26), I have
to say : — 1. I am unable to give a satisfactory
answer to this query, as I have never pinched
a bee to see what effect its cries would have
on the others. 2. As I have only had three
swarms since starting bee-keeping six years
ago, and never a " cast," and have heard the
,: piping '' but once, I am hardly qualified to
answer the second question. But it surely
does not follow that, because the queen utters
the cry termed " piping," the bees should hear
and know the meaning of her crie3 '? Does it
not rather show that she utters the shrill,
piping sound as an angry cry, as she desperately
a tempts to destroy her rivals in the cells,
which she is prevented from doing by the
bees? 3. With regard to the swarm thrown
upon the floor board, I am inclined to think
that the sudden precipitating of the bees from
the skep may cause the queen to cry out in
alarm, but never having heard the queen make
a sound as stated when running iu with the
swarm, I for one can offer no opinion or say
why she does it. — Arthur H. Homersham,
Sturry, near Canterbury, January 20.

[4661.] Having noticed the controversy on
the above subject in the B.B.J, from time to
time, I am on the present occasion expressing
my experience, haviDg been a bee-keeper for
something like twenty years.

My opinion U that bees are undoubtedly
gifted with the sense of hearing. I formed
this opinion soon after purchasing my first
skep. I remember standing near it one even-
ing when there were distant peals of thunder,
and each time the thunder was heard the bees
set up their buzz precisely in the same way
they do when the hive is smartly rapped. I
have tested them in the same way many
times since then. Pees appear to have a
great dread of thunder, and at the first sound
of it hurry home from the fields in no
uncertain manner.

Many of your readers will no doubt have
noticed that immediately after a thunderstorm

has passed away, the bees (as a token of
rejoicing, I presume) leave their hives and
circle over their homes, at the same time
sending forth a merry hum, the like of which
is, perhap?, not heard at any other time. —
John Huby, Welbech, Worksop, January 17.

,( SOOT "-GATHERING BY BEES.
[4662.] Referring to Mr. Woodley's remarks
last week under this heading in his " Notes by
the Way " (page 21), about bees flving round
the tops of chimney-pots, I have on a few occa-
sions seen them " go '' for my wash-house
chimney (a cast-iron pipe about 7 ft. long),
but only on washing days, and when very hot.
One day in July, 1900, when I came
home to dinner, the bees were attack-
ing the chimney-pipe, not three or four
at a time, but without exaggeration I may
say twenty or thirty. They appeared to be
very angry, the smoke emitted from the pipe
seeming to irritate them, for they whirled
round the smoke and then darted at the pipe
and tried to sting it. Being unable to make
any impression on the pipe, the bees vented
their rage on my wife as she wa3 pegging
out the clothes, and my two youngsters,
playing in the garden, all three getting
stung, and having to stay indoors
until the bees were in a better temper. They
quieted down, however, as soon as the "copper :'
firo went out, so that I concluded it was the
smoke that the bees took exception to, as they
were constantly passing by the chimney*, at
work on a field of sainfoin close by. — Arthur
H. Homersham, Slurry, near Canterbury,
January 20.

[4663.] Referring to Mr. W. Woodley's
mention of bees "Soot-gathering," on page 21,
I may say that during my experience as a
bee-keeper I have never known bees gather
soot ; nor do I for one moment believe that
they do— at least, not with the intention of
carrying it into the hives. What I have
known is this. Near swarming time I have on
uiony occasions seen bees spying about chim-
neys for a suitable place to take possession of
when the time arrives for the swarm to leave
the parent hive. In this manner they often
get smeared with soot, because when once they
take a fancy to any particular place they are
very persevering. I remember some few years
ago watching some bees (perhaps balf-a-dozen
to begin with) who found an opening in a wall
near a chimney. They carried out small
pieces of mortar and everything they could to
enlarge the space. Each day their number
increased till at least 200 were busily employed.
About ten days after I first noticed them a
swarm came and took possession of the place.
There can be no doubt, in my opinion, that the
queen was guided there by the bees who had
been so busily engaged making preparations
during the previous ten days. I have seen the
above done on three or four different occasions.
— JohnHudy, Wilbeck, Worksop, January 17.

Jan. 23, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

FOUL BROOD AND LEGISLATION.

[4661] I believe a good deal has been done
by the different bee-keepers' associations in
the endeavour to bring the matter of foul
brood before the Government, but apparently
without success. There are a great many bee-
keepers who are not members of an associa-
tion (I am a non-member myself), and I would
ask, Could not every would-be bee-keeper
throughout the country combine, and, backed
up by the associations, petition Parliament to
introduce a law compelling the destruction of
all foul brood ? On the other hand, if we
cannot combine, how would it do for every
district to collect together its different bee-
keepers and petition their Member of Parlia-
ment for the district ?

With the destruction of foul brood, bee-
keeping would go ahead in this country, but
as it at present stands I do not see how it cm
ba otherwise than stagnant, and never ad-
vance, as it should do in the3e progressive days.
It is very hard on the bee-keepers who wish
to make apiculture a business to be continually
confronted with this terrible bee-scourge in
spite of all precautions taken to prevent it,
and, moreover, caught generally through the
carelessness of some neighbour.

It really seem3 almost laughable to be well
up in the subject of honey- production, and yet
not be able to put one's knowledge to practical
use, for that is what it amounts to.

In America, where they are more practical,
they appear to have stringent laws about foul
brood (vide " Dadant,'' page 456), and it
should b9 so in this country if we could only
wake up, and what a boon to agriculturists
would bee-keeping without foul brood be
in these depressed days ! — F. W. Moore,
Upton House, Somptmg, January 20.

[We have no desire to shut out from our
columns the free expression of opinion on the
question of foul brood legislation like the
above ; but our correspondent is obviously a
beginner in bee-keeping, or he would have
known that a few years ago the most strenuous
efforts were made, involving heavy expense, to
secure compulsory powers for dealing with
bee-pest or foul brood. A large and influen-
tial deputation of bee-keepers, supported by a
goodly number of M.P.s, were received by the
President of the Board of Agriculture, Mr.
Herbert Gardner, the deputition being intro-
duced by Sir John Gor3t, now Minister of
Education, and every effort was made to have a
short Act of Parliament passed through the
House with the above object in view. It was,
however, all to no purpose, because of the
number of more important measures demand-
ing all the time of the House. It is, therefore,
futile to talk of petitions to Parliament for
securing the desired end. If Members of
Parliament can be got to take an interest in
the subject, it would at least educate them
into a better understanding of the heavy
grievance bee-keepers labour under in having

the industry damaged as it is, but this is all
we can hope for at present. — Eds.]

PROMOTING HONEY SHOWS.

[4665.] Thanks mainly to your kindness in
inserting notice of our show, with its prizes for
honey, under " Shows to Oome,''we had a most
successful honey exhibit last year in connection
with our Ammanford Horticultural Society.
Many experts said that it was the finest show
of honey that has ever taken place in Wales.
We had over 130 entries. We are going to
repeat the prizes at our show on August 16,
1902, but hope to avoid some of the mis-
takes we made last year.

Although we did our best in the matter of
appointing judges, there wa3 some dissatisfac-
tion among the exhibitors, and, in consequence,
it is intended to ask you to nominate the
judge for the show of 1902.

We intend this year to have the judging
done on the day before the exhibition, so as to
give the judge plenty of time.

Please let me know whether you will kindly
agree to select the judge for us .'—Ivor
Morris, Hon. Secretary, Ammanford,
January 16.

[We are very pleased to have been useful
in contributing to the success reported above,
and will be glad to assist again, but we can-
not take upon ourselves the task of selecting,
or even nominating, judges. You should
apply to the B.B.K.A. for assistance in this
direction. — Eds.]

LARGE FRAMES.

[4666 ] Like your correspondent, " C. M ,"
Scanford-le-Hope (page 30), I am thinking of
trying a larger-sized frame than the " Standard,"
knowing fully that by doiDg so I isolate myself,
but as a mere amateur this is a matter of little
moment. The importance of all using a
uniform frame cannot be questioned ; at the
same time the fact of a fixed standard being
universally adopted in no way proves that it
is the best. Few who remember the old broad
gauge of the Great Western Railway will deny
that they saw it go with regret, or that they
considered it better than the present one now
used all over the country. What I think
" 0. M." asked for, and what I should certainly
like to hear, is an impartial opinion as to the
actual merits or otherwise of a larger frame
than the present one in use, apart altogether
from the expediency of adopting it.

You, Sir, in your reply say " that any
advocacy of either a larger or a smaller frame
than that now in general usa must come from
other quarters or other journals than the
B.B.J., but thi3, I hope, does not mean that
you bar discussion on the subject, or that you
will refuse to let me appeal to any of your
readers who have had actual experience of
these larger frames to give their opinion of
them in your paper. I make this request as a
seeker after truth, let it take me where it may.
— E. Walpole-Simmoxs, Sidbunj, Worcester.

38

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Jan. 23, 1902.

APIS DORSATA, FABR.,

CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF DOMESTICATION.

By R. Eamlyn-Earris, F.R M.S., F.Z.S.,
F.E.H.

It is now some years since the idea was
first conceived that by the introduction of
Apis dorsata (known as the Giant Bee of
India) a valuable addition to our fauna would
be obtained, yielding a larger quantity of
honey and wax, and generally more profitable
than our honey bee. Apis rnellifica and its
different varieties — var. ligustica, var. ari-
rnolia, &c. According to Dalla Torre : —
"Apis dorsata, Fabr., occurs in Assam, India,
and Java (?<??). Var. bicolor, Klug, occurs
in Assam, India, Ceylon, and Java. Var.
iestacea, Smith, occurs in Assam and Borneo
( <j? $ ). Var. zonata occurs in Assam, Celebes
(?) and Philippines.'' The var. zonata also
occurs in India, which is not mentioned by
Dalla Torre.

About three years ago a special inquiry
was set on foot to ascertain whether or not the
Giant Bee of India was really a suitable sub-
ject for domestication. At that time I was
permitted to look over various reports at the
India Office, and all these agreed that Apis
dorsata, mentioned generally under native
names, could not be domesticated on account
of its intractable character. The chief points
noted are :— 1. It is said to be exceedingly
vicious, often attacking man or fceast on the
smallest provocation. 2. It preserves the same
habits and appearance wherever its habitat.
3. It has never been known to build its nest
under shelter, but mostly on isolated lofty trees
or overhanging rocks. 4. After the honey season
they will desert their nests, and often travel
for long periods and great distances, even
crossing such mountain chains as the Nil-
gherris in their course. 5. They build single
combs. 6. And are used to approach from
north, south, east, or west. 7. They rarely
remain in one locality for more than three
weeks. 8. Emigrating as flowers become
scarcer.

We will consider these points more in detail
to make the subject better understood. Among
the hillmen, near Darjeeling (Eastern Hima-
layas), this bee is known by the name Cargoo,
and is generally an object of fear and dislike —
according to Sladen. It will be readily seen
that the risk of introducing such a bee, even
were it possible, into a thickly populated
country would be too great. Not only the
hillmen of Darjeeling find Apis dorsata an un-
desirable neighbour, but all are agreed on the
subject who have had any experience in the
matter. Interesting, however, is the way in
which the natives of the Malay Archipelago,
for instance, take the combs and honey, show-
ing much courage on their part. Perhaps, also,
the Apis dorsata may be somewhat less
dreaded in the islands than on the mainland of
India. The native, having located the nest
(built some 70 to 80 ft. from the ground, some-

times even more*), repairs by night to the spot,
and after a wearisome climb, sometimes lasting
an hour, with only the smoke fumes of a torch,
he drives the bees away from the combs, which
are then severed from the boughs and let
down by cords to his helpers below. Such a
rough-and-ready style of proceeding must
necessarily aggravate the bees, and stings, as
one may suppose, are plentiful ; still the
tribesmen do not seem much concerned. It
is well known that one of the greatest
obstacles to the domestication of this bee is its
natural wildness and its inability to settle
permanently in one spot. When we consider
that Apis dorsata usually makes its nest in
wild and rocky country, only remaining in one
locality so long as flowers abound, we shall
better realise why it moves from place to
place, and the importance of so doing to its
general welfare. Therefore we see that only
in completely altering its natural habits could
we hops to domesticate this bee, or bring it
into use under other circumstances to those
in which it has always lived. Also on
account of its size and the power of its
flight the Giant Bee will travel a3
much as 100 miles before again settling
down to home life.t It is not so much
the honey gathered by these bees which is
valuable to the natives, but the large quanti-
ties of comb they produce, which is meltod
down into wax, which iorms a valuable article
of industry in India. The hillmen do not
trouble much about the honey, but are said to
eat the young bees and larvae with great gusto.
Another hindrance to domestication is the
way they build their nests, quite in the open,
entirely unprotected, and always single combs
from about 5 ft. to 6 ft. in length, and about
2 ft. to 3 ft. in depth. Some fine specimens
of these combs are to be seen in the South
Kensington Natural History Museum.
When a species of insect has been used to
certain habits for generation after generation —
in fact, has never known any others— it will be
readily understood how difficult would be the
problem presented to us did we attempt to
keep such a refractory creature in confinement.
The only attempt made seems to have been a
failure. A queen bee was tied by a thread to
a stick and placed in the hollow of a tree, and
after two or three months a very small piece
of comb was found, and the experiment,
proving useless, wa3 abandoned. Since this a
writer to the last Government reports says
that " he had seven hives all well and fed for
the winter," but in the spring the "little
brutes" decamped by twenty and thirty a
day, until each queen in turn left; the hive in
disgust. Clipping the queen's wings, as done
in modern bee-keeping, would prove fatal to
Apis dorsata. On account of her uncontrol-

* This is a protection against the bears, which are (as
is known) fond of honey, and would climb the trees in
search of it.

t Apia dorsata is, however, inclined to fly somewhat
clumsily, and to visit flowers somewhat listlessly.

Jan. 23, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

39

lable character she would probably be lost.
The question arises, if we cannot domesticate
Apis dorsata itself, could we by judicious
crossing attain the desired end 1 The best
answer to this question will, I think, be found
in the fact that European bees exist which are
closely allied to a species found in Northern
India, which never crossed with Apis dorsata.
All these facts considered, there only remains
Apis Indica, very similar to our European
bee, with which domestication might be a
success, but if any real advantage would arise
therefrom or not is doubtful, and no doubt can
remain that the facts relating to Apis dorsata
must for ever bar the way to its domestication.
— The Entomologist's Record and Journal of
Variation (vol. xiv., No. 1, 1902).

(Bthm from tU §»*?.

Think, Yorks, January 18, — The weather
in this district, with the exception of about a
fortnight last month, has been very mild so
far this winter, which has allowed the bees
the privilege of a flight when the conditions
have been favourable. Last Thursday they
had a grand day, and with the sun shining in
its best style, and the birds making love in
the trees near by, one was almost inclined to
feel that spring had actually arrived. It was
nice to think so, but to those of us who have
seen so many of what my little girl pleases to
call "berf days, we are not by any means
clear of the rocks, and the breakers ahead may
be much nearer than we expect or care for.
My thirty-seven stocks entered on their winter
vocation with plenty of natural stores, and
strengthened, where necessary, with driven
bees headed by young queen?, and I am there-
fore perfectly happy to sit still and leave the
bees severely alone beyond an occasional
quiet poke at the entrance with a hooked
wire to remove any dead bees that may be
impeding the traffic. The only hive that
gives me any anxiety is a nucleus stock
on four frames, which, for extra warmth,
I have placed inside the shell of a " W.B.C'
hive with free egress, packing the nucleus all
round with plenty of felt carpeting, and
cushions on the top. It is in the nature of an
experiment, and up to now all is well. If I
am successful I shall have a young queen to
give to any stock that may be found queenless
in the spring, or to replace one whose presence
is no longer desirable. — R. T. Tennant.

Liberton, N.B., January 20. — After some
very wintry weather lately, hard frost and
snow, we are again having it mild, and the
bees show a restlessness to be about. The
16th was quite a spring-like day, and for an
hour or two the bees were in full flight, their
merry hum putting one in mind of a summer
day. So far they have come through the

winter very satisfactorily, and hive still an
abundance of stores. Should open weather con-
tinue, strong colonies, even thus far north, will
soon begin brood-rearing.

Wishing our Journal, which has just
entered its " thirties,'' continued success, may
it equal, if not excel, all it has already come
through, and may our editors and all our bee-
keeping friends have a prosperous and happy
year. — W. R. Luca.

dfto^s atti |typlt$s.

[2784.] Improving Colour of Beeswax. —
Relative to improving colour of beeswax,
would you kindly inform me what " raw acid "
is ? Is it procurable at a chemist's, or where 1
I melt my wax with an extractor or steamer
procured from Steele. Is the acid, therefore,
to be added to the boiling water in the lower
chamber, and does the steam affect the wax
enough to colour it ? I have a lot of wax
which I sold for Is. 61. per lb., but it got
dulled and injured in colour waiting for |-lb.
moulds, which I thought I could have pro-
cured in Dublin. However, after waiting
nearly three months, the firm I applied to
failed me, and my wax is affected by damp.
I would also be very much obliged to you or
any reader of B.B.J, who could advise me
where I could procure J-lb. moulds. My
order is from a grocer to supply beeswax made
up in neat £ lbs. — (Miss) M. Beamish,
Muckross, Glonakilty, eo. Cork, Ireland.

Reply. — With regard to the question of
improving the colour of beeswax, we read in
the "ABC of Bee Culture " as follows : —
" The difference in colour is largely due to the
amount of impurities the wax contains. To
refine this wax, or to reduce it to a lemon
colour, melt it in a vat of hot water, slightly
acidulated with sulphuric acid, in the pro-
portion of anywhere from 1 part acid to
from 50 to 200 by weight of water, depending
on the amount of impurity in the wax. In all
the years we have been in the business we
have found no practical or satisfactory way of
bringing the wax to a yellow colour — that is,
to its original state of purity — except by
treating it with sulphuric acid."

[2785 ] Improving Colour of Beesivax. — ■
Would you kindly oblige me by naming the
acid used for "improving colour of beeswax."
as mentioned in reply to Query 2779 (page 28)
in this week's B.B.J. ? 1 have a lot of wax
very dark. Should like to brighten it up a
bit. — F. R. Court, Sittingboume, January 17.

Reply. — The reply to Miss Baamish answers
your query fully, but we may add that where
a simpler method of effecting the desired end
is preferred, that of Mr. G. M. Doolittle may
be adopted, viz , a pint of strong vinegar in
one quart of water for every 10 lb. of wax.

40

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Jan. 23, 1902.

[2786.] Size of Hives for a Beginner. — I
am going to start bee-keeping this year, and
am puzzled as to the size of hive to use. I
have heard an expert recommend one taking
fifteen frames, but find that ten-frame hives
are generally used, and makers adopt this size
as a rule. But if a fifteen-frame one is better,
why use a ten-frame one 1 From the figures
given in the " Guide Book '' I have calculated
that ten frames are insufficient to take full
advantage of the full laying powers of a prolific
queen without reckoning for stores. 1. I
should be very much obliged for your advice
on this point. 2. I should also like to know
if bees store pollen in supers. — ''Earnest,"
Sutton Coldfield, January 17.

Eeplt. — 1. Our advice is, Be guided not by
the opinion of the "expert " referred to when
it is contrary to the general opinion of prac-
tical bee-keepers of long and extensive ex-
perience. If we knew the name of the
11 expert " mentioned, it might enable us to
gauge the value of his opinion better than a
mere beginner can. When u makers " adopt
a hive holding a certain number of frame3
you may safely assume they are right, not-
withstanding the opposite view you quote.
2. Yes, at times, but they rarely do so when
skilfully managed.

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 querieifortearded will be attended to, and thou only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

Arthur P. Skepheard (East Sheen) — Bee-
Candy. — There is no one we know of who
makes "sugar-candy for bees from Bar-
badoes sugar," unless the latter is refined to
prepare it for bee-food. Bee-candy should
be made, preferably, from pure cane lump
sugar, and when made it should be quite
soft and smooth in grain. In this issue of
B.B.J, we notice several advertisements of
soft bee-candy, with prices per lb. Please
refer to these for reply to your inquiry.

E. S. (Leatherhead). — Medicating Bee-Candy.
—It is impossible for us to judge whether
or not the sample of candy sent is " too
strongly medicated or not." The maker of
the candy alone knows the proportion of
naphthol beta solution added to the mixture,
and if the printed directions on the packet
were adhered to it will be right. On the
other hand, you must pardon us for saying
your candy-making is a complete failure,
the sample sent being entirely unsuitable
for bee-food. It is hard and coarse-grained,
instead of soft and buttery) In fact, the

greater portion of it will be cast out by the
bees as hard, dry granules, through their
inability to liquefy it. Read the directions
in " Guide Book '' on candy-making, and the
result will be similar to the small sample
we send you by post to show what good
bee-candy should be like.
Jas. Thomson (Hants). — American Bee,
Journals. — We do not stock any be9
journals published in America, but if the
amount of a full year's subscription to either
Gleanings or the American Bee Journal be
sent to us we will supply them to order for
postiog direct the from U.S.A. to any address
given. The subscription for either of the
above is Gs. 6d. per annum, payable in
advance.
" A Grumbler " (Northants). — Anonymous
Communications. — We cannot be justly
charged with either want of attention or
lack of courtesy in taking no notice of
anonymous communications, or those signed
with nom de plume only. The printed
notice at head of our Correspondence
Column clearly defines our position in
respect to your complaint, and it should be
understood as such.
H. L. K. Kempton (Birmingham). — Wet
Quilts on Hives. — If the upper quilts are
dry the wet cannot well arise from rain
coming through a leaky roof. We imagine
the bees are not strong in numbers, and, in
consequence, the cluster occupies only the
lower portion of comb3, in which case the
warmth arising from the bees would con-
dense overhead and cause dampness. Dry
the wet quilts and see if the trouble is
repeated.
P. C. J. (Sutton). — Lantern Slides on Bee'
Keeping. — The slides referred to may be
hired from the B.B.K.A. on application to
the Secretary, Mr. Edwin H. Young, 1?,,
Hanover-square, London.
*^* A correspondent writing from Ambergate
says : — " Will you please say if the following
two books are valuable, as I think they are,
but am not an authority?: No. 1. 'An
Enquiry into the Nature, Order, and
Government of Bees, with a New, Easy, and
Effectual Method, &c. Written upon
observation and experience by the Rev.
Jno. Thorley, of Oxon. Fourth edition ;
8vo ; sewn ; plates.' Date, 1774. Illustrated.
No. 2. ' The Practical Bee-Master, in which
will be shown how to manage bees either in
straw hives or in boxes, &c. By John
Keys, bee-master.' 8vo. Illustrated. Date,
1780." We shall be glad if any reader
well up in prices of old bee-books would
send a line as to value of the above. For
ourselves, we may say the books mentioned,
though possessing more or less value to the
collector, are not specially rare. We have
more than once known Thorley's and Keys>'
books to be bought for a half-crown eaeh ok
1s3s at a London bookstall.

Jan. 30, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

41

(Mitoral, |totim, &t

INSURANCE FOR BEE-KEEPERS.

Reverting to our mention of the proposed
scheme of insuring bee-keepers agamst loss
from damage done byth'ir bees on page 11,
and the subsequent discussion on the subject at
the meeting of the B.B.K.A. Council reported
last week, we believe that a sufficient amount
of support has now been promised to warrant
the Council in drafting the full details
and formulating the "rules and regulations''
for working the scheme. So far, then, all
is satisfactory, but it is not a little curious
to note that the great majority of applications
received since the supplement to cur issue of
December 26 was published hare come from
readers of the B.B.J. who are not members of
any bee-keepers' association at all. If, then, the
response from members of a county B.K.A.
is at all commensurate with those from bee-
keepers v>ho are not, the result will exceed
Ihe most sanguine anticipation?. We there-
fore hope that the executives of such associa-
tions as have taken the matter in hand will
not allow their energy to slacken until it is
de6nitely known how and in what way the
effort will end.

TOTAL

HONEY

IMPORTS

FOR

THE

YEAR

1901.

January

value

... £1,060

Pel ruary

,,

1,327

March

4. ".47

April

•. i

3,434

May

)>

7,205

June

>)

2,404

July

JJ

... 14,237

August

»

1 965

Septem1 er

))

... 1,539

October

2,004

NoverLber

... 2,076

December

calue

JJ

... 1,039

Total

...£•42.837

Lord Coventry was re-elected president, and
the vice-presidents were re-elected with the
addition of Dr. Corbett and Mr. A. H. Martin.
Mr. Howard Dickinson was elected treasurer,
Mr. J. P. Phillips hon. secretary, and Mr. A.
R. Moreton, assistant secretary for the Show.
On the proposal of the Rev. J. B. Wilson, the
secretary was instructed to inform Colonel
Watson of the great satisfaction felt by the
Association at the continued progress of
Lieutenant Watson, the late hon. secretary,
towards complete recovery from hi3 serious
illness in South Africa.

The insurance scheme of the B.B.K.A. was
discussed and referred to the committee.
Eighteen members, with a maximum of 144
hives, handed in forms of request to be
included in the scheme. .

It was reported that an attempt to establish
an agency for the disposal of members'.honey
wa3 being made, and much satisfaction was
expressed by those present. — Johx P.
PiiiLLirs, Hon. Sec, January 27.

ftormpnAtita.

WORCESTERSHIRE B.K.A.

The annual general meeting was held on
January £5 at the Guildhall, Wojcester, the
Major of Worcester, Walter Holland, Esq.,
in the chair. There was a fair attendance of
numbers.

The npoit of the committee stated that
the progress of the Association Lad been
gocd ; there vas an increase of thirty-one
members, and tie balance-sheet of accounts
stowed a small sum in hand. The season had
been an unusually good one as regards the
take of horey, and ttere had been a remaik-
able decrease in foul biood throughout the
county. The newlv-adoptcd system of lecal
secretaries and local expeits was a decided
success, and there are now nice certificated
expeits employed.

The Editor t do not hold them'ehes 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
jive their real namei and addressee, 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.

Communications relating to the literary department,
reports of Association*, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books fur Review, <ic , must be addressed only to "The
EDITORS of the' Bri'ish Bee Journal,' 17, King William-
street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi-
cations relating to advertisements, dr., must be addressed
to " The Manager, 'British Bee Journal' Office, 17,
King William-street, Strand, London, W.C."

•#* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents,
ichen speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
Kill oblige by mentioning the number of the letter as veil
as the page on which it appears.

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[4667. j The month of January now closing
has been abnormally dry, and so mild, that
biids have started nest building. Early
flowers are bursting into blossom. I hear of
violets and primroses being gathered outeide.
Ou the 25th I saw an tzaha tree in full
bloom. The last two nights, however, have
been frosty, and a3 I wri<e we are having a
slight fall of snow. Many op poitunities of
flight have been afforded to the bees, and on
the 24th they were busy at the watering
place, probably needing water to liquefy the
cake of candy, but 1 have no doubt that
breeding has started in strong colonie?.

Foul Biood and Legislation. — Your corre-
spondent, Mr Moore (4664, page 37), would,
nc doubt, hope to stamp out the pest promptly
if we could wield the strong arm of the law,
but I gather from American bee journals that
though they have obtained that power, yet

42

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Jan. 30, 1902.

even across the Atlantic the foul brood inspec-
tors year after year report the work done, yet
not one of them has found "his occupation
gone." They are still fighting the insidious
foe, much as our sanitary inspectors here are
grappling with contagious diseases of all kinds.
This in no way reflects on the good work done
by inspectors, but even if empowered by Act
of Parliament to deal with foul brood, it
would be probably many years before it was
stamped out. If compensation was given
by the State for stocks of bee3 destroyed " by
order," many bee-keepers would, no doubt, be
willing to receive the inspectors, but if I
were asked the value of a foul-broody stock
I should say no value at all to the owner, but
possibly of considerable value to neighbouring
bee-keepers, if total destruction of the infected
stock will safeguard the healthy bees in the
locality. In less troublous times, no doubt,
our Parliament will find time to meet the wishes
of bee-keepers. I observe Mr. Moore refers
to bee-keeping as being "stagnant." Surely
our friend should himself " wake up," when in
the very number of B.J. in which he writes
there appears the advertisements of fourteen
firms of hive-makers ; and if he could only tot
up the aggregate number of hives turned out
every year by the said fourteen firms he would,
I fancy, be rather surprised. Why, in the
past decade the number of hives made must
be legion. I think we may safely say that,
though apiculture does not move by leips
and bounds, yet it is making substantial pro-
gress. The pages of the B.B.J, from time to
time give examples, and point the way, if not
to cure, at any rate, keep the disease under
control so that it loses its terrors — and I
expect the work of F.B. inspectors in America
and Canada do no more. We are told that
Mr. McEvoy, the inspector for Ontario, has
cured hundreds of colonies by the well-known
and old method of shaking the bees from their
foul-broody combs, and giving them starters
only in another hive. lie certainly supplies
them with a second set of "starters" a day
after, but he takes no trouble to disinfect the
hives, and here we disagree with him.

Management of Out Apiaries. — A friend
writes asking me for information anent
managing out-apiaries profitably. This sub-
ject hag already been discussed in the B.B.J.,
but perhaps our friends R. Brown o r Allen
Sharp will be able to give useful information
on the point. For myself, I would say much
depends on locality and more on ability in the
bee-keeper. Location, too, will require con-
sideration. If too near dwellings, or close
to the high road or a farmyard, it may prove
a constauce source of anxiety all round. On
the other hand, in sparsely-populated dis-
tricts a tumble-down cottage with garden mav
be rented cheaply, and gives at once an ideal
place for bees ; but they will require
" self-hivers " in hot weather, or some
one near to watch for and hive swarms.
Some means of communication with the out-

apiary will also be needed now, and as time is
money the out-apiary mu*t not be four or five
milei away. Whea my friend aks : Does it
pay ? I can only say of my home-apiary, as
also my out-apiary, the good wife and I
mike then pay if we get fairly good
seasons. But I have another string to my
bow besides bee-keeping, and I can keep
the wolf from the door by my usual trade, so
thiC the moderate profits of bse-keeping,
taking a series of years, are reserved as " Old
Age Pensions " for the miter and myself. — ■
W. Wood ley, Beedon, Newbury.

QUEEN-BREEDING BY SELECTION.

[4668.] There is nothing new in the selec-
tion of special mothers for the breeding of
future queens, all bee-keepers of repute and
intelligence having given their attention to this
matter for years pist. From letters received
by myself during the past twelve months, I
have been more than ever impressed with one
point which has become a certainty in my
mind, viz., that we can do a great deal more
by selecting our breeding queens than mo3t
bee-keepers imagine. Whatever system is
adopted in cultivating or working our bees, we
must possess the right kind of queen at the
head of every colony relied on for yielding a
good return, or all our plans will prove
failures. Once we become, in a sense, master
of the bees, why should we not be able to
direct them as we think fit ? It is not difficult
for us to repair some of their failures when
such occur ; we may, for instance, unite
weak lots, equalise stores, restrict the
birth of the queens, dethrone faulty ones,
and substitute another, after forcing
the reluctant consent of the bee3 to
receive an alien mother. We cm also restrict
the number of drones, approprute the fruits of
their labour, and I might say (with the aid of
super-clearer) without their knowledge of what
we are doing. We receive a fair amount of
obedience in all those operations. Viewing,
then, all these advantages, I ask, Why should
we not go a step further ? Suppose we wish to
curtail or to prevent swarming, why should we
not select our breeding queens from colonies
that show the least disposition to swarm ? I
believe we should be as successful in our
efforts in this direction as in any other, if we
do but go rightly to work. It is quite certain
that over-swarming is fatal to success in honey-
gathering. The number of hives to provide
(all of which must be fully furnished before
any surplus can be secured) takes the gilt off
the ginger-bread, and the year's profit is bound
to work out on a very small scale. But some
will say, " Hoar about the man who is build-
ing up an apiary ? " Well, he would either
need to buy swarms or build up a few stocks
from driven bees in the autumn of each year,
whichever he found to be the most satis-
factory in his practice.

Jan. 30, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

43

I am writing for those who, like myself, do
not require swarms, and are continually
thinking out various plans for preventing the
issue of such. Let us for a moment consider
each stock in our apiaries sep irately, and
what do we find 1 We can point, may be, to
one hive that has been " boiling over with
bees " all through the summer ; we may have
seen them hanging out at the entrance in a
great cluster for days in succession, yet the
bees have absolutely refused to swarm. They
have, on the contrary, kept plodding on in the
even tenor of their way, and given you a
splendid return in section-honey. Another
colony — treated possibly " next door " to the
non-swarmer — has never appeared to be
nearly so full of bees, and swarmed out at the
first opportunity. I venture to say this sort
of thing has happened repeatedly with every
bee-keeper who keeps a fair number of hives
and works in the direction mentioned. The
only feasible explanation to be arrived at was
that the first hive either lacked the inclination
or it was never in a condition to swarm when
the proper time arrived, but whatever the
cause, I should prefer to use the non-s wanning
for breeding my future queens from. On the
other hand, it is believed by some that the
most prosperous hive3 are those that throw
one swarm only. It is said that "the bee3
have fulfilled their mission and left behind
them a succession of young queens,'' but even
then it is a question whether or not they have
left the best queens for our purpose. Per-
sonally, then, I strongly favour the view of
breeding queens by selection, and I feel sure
that swarming would in this way be greatly
restricted, and by slow degrees this trait
would establish itself in our native strain of
bees, and in the near future, so that we might
secure a non-swarming British bee in our midst.
In this way swarming would be much re-
duced and the bees allowed to devote all their
energy to honey-gathering and brood-rearing.

Reverting to the days of the straw skep, it
may be asked, has not swarming been
encouraged by the system adopted by our
forefathers in " taking up" — or sulphuring — •
at the end of each season all their best and
fullest hives, and leaving only those with just
sufficient stores to carry them over winter ?
If we admit the reasonableness of this idea,
there is no reason why this should be the case
now ; for with frame-hives, modern appliances,
and up-to-date knowledge, we possess facilities
which our forefathers could not even dream of,
and so the situation is quite changed. Man is
now master of the bees, not the bee-keeper
only. It is well known swarming is here-
ditary, and far more pronounced in some
species than others ; therefore if we wish to
reduce swarming we must eliminate this trait
by breeding from a strain of bee3 which have
almost no inclination to swarm under any
circumstances. Nothing can be more annoy-
ing to the bee-man than to see stocks swarming
just when not wanted, and thereby spoiling all

his carefully-laid plans for securing a good
harvest. And in order to avoid this irritation
and loss we should select our breeding queens
on the plan I have stated above, without
losing sight of the other qualities required in a
good queen.

I feel sure this method of selection, if care-
fully carried out, would do all I claim for it,
and that it could be relied upon to a very
great extent for securing the end in view.
And in order to show that in the hands of our
best bee-keepers this very thing has already
been accomplished, I would refer to what Mr.
Cowan says in the " Guide Book'' on the
selection of queens for breeding from. The
chapter on "Queen Rearing " is exactly in
accordance with what I have said as to the
selection of mothers for future queens ; and
again on page 1 36 we read of a certain race of
bees, " Their principal failing is a propensity
for excessive swarming," and goes on to say
the propensity " may be moderated or entirely
prevented by giving them plenty of room and
ventilation." This clearly shows a case of the
need for selection. Again, no doubt many
readers will remember Mr. Lancelot Quayle's
" Glenmay Queen," whose progeny holds the
record for weight of honey from a s;ngle
hive in one season. We are also told that only
one young queen was obtained from that
colony in its "record" season, and that cne
was, I believe, purchased by Mr. S. Simmins
for breeding from. Now, why was such au
effort made to get hold of this young queen by
a well-known queen-breeder ? Simply because
the latter had proved to himself that good
qualities can be transmitted or handed down
to the offspring, and certain it is this particular
queen was not possessed of a prospensity for
swarming, and this was taken into account by
the purchaser. Just one more proof nearer
home. Mr. W. Woodley,in B.BJ., Nov. 7
last (page 443), referring to the new tall sec-
tion, says, "Although put on one of my
strongest stocks, and on what I regard as my
best sealing strain of bees, &c." Now it is
certain Mr. Wood ley has proved that certain
colonies of bees can be relied upon to keep at
work, and not given to swarming. A good
" sealing strain " in the true sense of the word,
musb require careful selection so far as regards
counteracting the tendency to swarm. There is
more in this chance sentence of Mr. W.'s than
some would imagine in first reading it over,
and I for one should be glad if our friend
would give a " Note by the Way " on selec-
tion to lessen swarming. — J. Rymeb,
Levisham, Yorks., Januaiy 23.

TAKING BEES TO THE MOORS.

[4669.] I should recommend your corre-
spondent, Mr. Reid, who writes on page 34
in last week's issue, to close the hive entrances
after the b^es have finished flying for the day,
and not, as he appears to have done before.

44

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Jan. 30, 1902.

By adopting the former method there is no
waste through any bees being left behind,
and the risk of being stung is reduced to a
minimum. The course I adopt is to go to
the hives when everything is quiet in the
evening, and, by placing the carbolic cloth in
front of the doorways, prevent the
escape of any of the occupants. I then
draw out the entrance-slides, slip the per-
forated zinc behind the plinth in which the
slides run (which has been prepared in the
manufacture of the hive), and with two or
three tacks everything i3 complete. In this
way I can close up twenty hives in about
fifteen minutes without any possibility of the
bees getting out. I choose a moonlight night,
if possible, for the journey, and by travelling
at night, run no risk of any flying bees sting-
ing the horses, fihould an accident occur ;
besides, there is not so much fear of suffocating
the confined bees that there would be in
travelling daring the day.

On arriving at my destination I first put all
the hive3 on their stands, then go to the first
one located, place the carbolic cloth in front of
the entrance, draw the tacks, tike out the
z'nc, push in the slide?, finally removing the
cloth, and the work is done. I then light my
pipe, and in travelling homewards occupy my
mind in counting how many sections I shall
get, where I shall send them, and how long I
shall have to wait for the money, which items,
by the way, are not always accurate !

As to the "Rymer" press to which your
c irrespondent refers, I can testify that it does
its work quickly and effectively, and in my
opinion, wUl hold its own against any nuchine
on the market. — R. T. Tennant, Thirs'c,
Yarks, January 27.

SOME ESSEX NOTES.

[4670.] " Stamford '' versus Larger Frames. —
It is now a good many years since a number
of the most prominent and experienced
bee-keepers of their time decided, afcer careful
experiment and observation, upon the 14 in.
by 8h in. frame, now in general use, as the
most suitable for a standard size in this
country ; yet the amount of evidence since
accumulated in favour of a larger frame is very
small. Of course, it is well known that any
bee-keeper can use a frame of whatever size
and shape that takes his fancy, but if this bee-
keeper, at a future time, wants to sell his bees
their value is very considerably reduced by
reason of the frames being an odd size. Only
about half our bee-keepers so work the standard
frame as to get the comb really well filled
with brood at the commeucement of the honey-
flow. My experience of frames larger than the
i tmdard is that proportionately more honey i3
stored in the body of the hive, and the same
may be said of box and other hive3 with large
combs. It is quite possible by good manage-
ment (md we should all give this un-

grudgingly) in anything like a good district
for bee-keeping, to secure surplus honey from
single hives, running in number of pounds into
three figures. So while we are doing very
well I think we should " let well alone."

The Drone Bee. — I was glad to see Colonel
Walker's defence of the drone bees in the
B.B.J, of January 16 (4645). During twenty
years of practical bee-keeping, I have never
seen the drone bee foul the hive. The male
bee fills the place that it is brought into
existence to fill, and is quite incapable of
doing more than he does. It becomes more
and more clear, as time goes on, that the male
bee's name should not be "drone."' Why not
drop a name that is not only wrong, but wrongs
that to which it is applied 'I

The Royal Show. — So the last " Royal,''
destined to travel afield to distant couuties, is
within sight. Referring to the prize list in
B.J. for January 16. Everything has its
advantages, but with the show-ground of the
"Royal" fixed to one spot, we shall mis?
the opportunity of stirring up enthusiasm and
makiDg new beekeepers in a fresh field every
year. This, in my opinion is a serious disad-
vantage, and I think other departments of the
show will experience the same disadvantages.

Can Bees Hear ? — Personally I have no
doubt that baes can hear. That they do hear
it is only necessary to watch the effects of
sounds made by one bee upon others. Bat I
bel:e/e bee3 are deaf to most, or all, the
sounds that are made by u?.

Sool-galhering by Bees. — Knowing, as I do,
how bees will adapt themselves to circum-
stances, I consider it quite possible for bees to
make old soot — that nas lost its strength by
exposure — a substitute for pollen. Some years
ago a bee-keeper told me that his bees some-
times made pallets of fine sawdust on thei;
legs at his sawmill, and carried it to their
hives as they did pollen. I remember some
oae else writing to the B.J. a few years back
about bees carrying pellets of sawdust from a
mill. — W. LovaDAY, Hxtfieli Heath, Harlow,
Eisex.

MAKING AN OBSERVATORY HIVE.

[4671.] Your correspondent " W. C. "
(C.eckheaton), whose query appears on
page 29, will find the particulars he requires
on Observatory Hives in Work, published by
Cas3ell & Co., La Belle Sauvage, London,
E.C. I have no doubt he could get the back
numbers from them. Both illustrations and
measurements are given in No. 567 (vol. xix).
If he wants to make an ordinary hive, with
observation flaps, in No. 578.

Trusting this may be of service to a brother
bee-keeper. The back numbers are, I believe,
Hd. each. — H. Priddis, Winchester, Jan. 27.

{Correspondence conHnued on page 46 )

Jan. 30, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

45

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

In the owner of the apiary shown below
we have still another bee-keeping gardener, a
class of reader whom we always welcome in
our ranks. We do this for the good reason
that not a few gardeners have a rooted
objection to bees in any shape, and such men
sometimes do harm to the craft by turning
the miuds of their employers against having
a hive in the garden. For the rest, we need
add nothing to Mr. Tew's notes, as follow : —

" As a reader of the B.B.J, for several years —
and I have always been much interested in the
' Homes of the Honey Bee ' and the general
correspondence concerning bee-keeping — it is

easy to manipulate, besides being superior
honey gatherers. The bive seen in the picture
— with a stone pebble on the roof — yielded me
98 lb. of honey in the season of 1901, which is,
I think, a ' record ' weight from a single hive
in this neighbourhood. My total weigh!; of
surplus for the past season averaged 55 lb. per
hive. With regard to the difficulty some bee-
keepers experience in getting bees to take
to the supers, I may say mine were
all hard at work in the supers when
my neighbours were complaining that they
could not get their bees up at all. The chief
honey sources of our district are beans, white
clover, and limes. The little chap seen in the
picture is my son and heir (aged three), and
he makes himself very busy when there is

J. TEW'S APIARY, LILLIXGTON, LEAMINGTON SPA, WARWICK.

therefore with pleasure that I forward photo
of my apiary, also a few ' notes' on my bee-
keepirjg experiences to go along with the
picture in your pages. I purchased my first
stock of bees in the spring of 1895, and from
this I got a good swarm the same year, in
addition to thirty six saleable sections, which
I sold at Is. each ; so my first venture yielded
a good profit. I find no difficulty in selliag
my honey at Is. a section, or per 1-lb. jar., aud
bee-keeping has proved to be, in my hands, a
very interesting and profitable h^bby. I am
by profession a gardener, aud find it a nice
pastime for the long winter evenings to make
my own hives, and this reduces expenses. I
began with hybrid bees, bat have since gone
in for Ligurians. I find them very gentle, and

j honey about, and I feel sure he will make a
j good bee-keeper in time. Anyway, he is not
I at all afraid of the bees, although he has
already had his first sting. My wife a^o
takes considerable interest in the work of the
apiary, and helpj me very much. She hives
] the swarms when I am away from home,
| assists in glazing the sections, bottling the
honey, aud is a good hand in findiog cus-
tomers. I have, of course, had my failures ;
j but every failure only urges me on to ' try
a^air?.' Without being an exhibitor at the
big allows, I hxve been very successful on the
locil show-bench. Several beginners in this
neighbourhood have been supplied with their
first stocks of bees from my apiary, and it is
my rule to assist th^ni for the first season free

46

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 30, 1902.

of charge. I find this pkn gives them a good
start, and am very pleased to say they have
all proved successful. I always look forward
to the valuable and interesting information
derived from the British Bee Journal, to
which I heartily wish every success."

CORRESPONDENCE.

(Continued from page 44 )

CAN BEES HEAR?

[4672.] Referring to the question, " Can
bees hear?" (mentioned last week on pige 26),
is it not possible that sounds may be perceived
•without what is usually understood a3 " a
sense of hearing " ? I have read that glass
has been broken by the sound of the voice of
a singer. Again, is it not a fact that goldfish
in a small globe have been killed by a loud
noise ? — Worcester, Sjietchley, January 20.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

[4673.] Weather — The opening weeks of
last year and the opening ones of the present
were here wintry in the extreme, and we ai d
the bees had to endure a prolonged snowstorm
during wli ch, happily, they were closely con-
fined to the warm precincts of their domestic
hearth. Later we have had very considerable
variations of temperature. A good few days
were mild as May, but they were closely fol-
lowed by keen frost, severe gales, and periods
of rain, sleet, and snow showers. 'J he pale
snowdrop, " born of the breath of winter," has
made repeated efforts to blocsom into full
fl>wer, rising even from amid the covering of
white which first gave it a name. That ever-
flowering gem of crimson and white, the
gowan, persists in blooming, and the tips of
the crocus growths show like so many spear-
heads abeve the dark loam. All these are
emblems, foretastes, predictions of a fuller
fruition of Nature's floral bounties.

Some Current Topics. — Mr. Loveday (4646,
page 23) must take with a very large grain of
salt any advertisement from Ireland, even if
signed by a ch-rgj man, offering "Hymettus''
honey produced in the Emerald Isle. There
can be only one Hjmettus. It lies in Greece,
near Athens, and was famous among the
ancients for its honey and its marble. The
honey is still said to retain its reputation. I
note that he reminds me (page 496) of the
truism that " circumstances alter cases."
When the circumstances alter, I have no
doubt I will be ready to take the question to
avizandum, and, if necessary, make the
required change. Here I use no excluder zinc.
Very possibly in Essex I might. Now I work
for sections only, but in another set of circum-
stances 1 would work only, or at least mainly,
for extracted. So, in making the statement I
did, I deemed it unnecessary to make any
reservation, or modify my assertion by even

one single saving clause. While working here
I never W'll use excluder zinc, because, like
Colonel Walker, I rind it a superfluity. In
regard to fouling of sections, location, with soil .
and the kind of forage, must have something
to do with soiled and travel-stained comb-
honey, as with me such sections are almost —
I might say altogether — unknown. Fouling
from the c.uise nam d in 4645 is a thing I
have never .-een. It is, perhaps, a bare possi-
bility, but the occurrence is highly improb-
able. I vote f>r tits and sparrows being
murd rers of bes, as I have had ocular
demonstration of the fact. The insurance
scheme should be made a success. Why does
not the BB.K.A. advertise their lantern
slides 2 I was unaware until the other day
they possessed such a boon. The only other
full set so far as known to me, though con-
taining some good slides, is behind date.

The Joys of Beekeeping. — A love of Nature
cannot fail to be generated in the heart of
every true he-man. He lives so much on her
favours, and enjoys so much of her beauty and
bounty, that his life must become permeated
by the fascinating chirin of her universal
loveliness, and his heart must suck in some of
her sweets. Ho cannot fail to be ennobled,
elevated and bettered by her charms, animate
and inauimate, which surround him in garden,
grove or field, and even on the heathery hill-
side, while he pursues his avocatioa. " The
hives lend a new meaning to the flowers and
the silence, the balm of the air and the rays of
the sun. We come to the school of the bees to
be taught the pre-occupations of all-powerful
Nature, the harmonious concord of the three
kingdoms, the indefatigable organisation of
life, the lesson of ardent and disinterested
work, to appreciate the somewhat vague
savour of leisure, and to enjoy the almost un-
speakable delights of those immaculate days of
summer."

Leaves from My Note-booh. — In our mis-
cellaneous reading we frequently come across
references to the bee which may be well worth
reproducing. I would suggest that a note
should be made by any such, and the extract
forwarded at leisure on postcard to the B.B.J.
office. I think a number of these appearing
weekly or monthly (as present Press Cuttings,)
would prove of considerable interest to many
of our readers. It is well known many
flowers are un visited by the bee simply be-
cause they supply neither honey nor pollen.
One of these is the daisy : —

1. " The vagrant bee but sings

For what he gets thereby ;
Nor conies, except he brings

His pocket on his thigh ;
Then let him start aside,

And woo some wealthier flower ;
The daisy 'a not his bride,

She hath no honey-dower."

2. An epigram :—

" The qualities rare in a bee that we meet
In an epigram never should fail ;
The body should always be little and stout,
And a sUng should be left in the tail."

Jan. 30, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

3. Ktats has a line bearing that certaia
bees

" Found their sweetest spoils in poison flowers;' '

Given that that juice, imbibed by man from
the flower, would be poisonous and hurtful,
could the bees, by putting it through their
" factory,'' convert it into nectar innocuous if
partaken of as honey usually is ? Can any
one make an authoritative statement on the
subject 1

Mice. — I see that these have been figuring
lately, aod finding their way into contributors'
hives, as ihey do each successive winter. If
proper precautions are taken they should not
be able to obtain entrance into a modern
bar-frame hive and nest in the coverings on
the top3 of frames. My summer passage is
fully §• in. deep, and if left so during the
winter months they would be a nice tempta-
tion to such vermin ; but when contracting
the slides to about a 3-in. or 4 in. entrance, I
tack a piece of perforated zinc over the
entrance with an opening of about \ in. by
g in. This effectually excludes all such in-
truders. The other day, however, I dis-
covered that one of these " excluders," not
tacked on, had been ingeniously tilted, and
on removing the roof there was Mrs. Mouse,
snugly enscouced in a warm downy nest,
which at considerable pains and trouble she
had cut and teased out of the woollen
wrappings. I could not find it in my heart
to kill the " wee, timorous-hearted beastie.''

Personal. — So many letters have recently
reached me through the B.B.J, office and the
post insufficiently directed, that to save our
Editor I wish it to be known that my full
postal address is : — " D. M. Macdonald, The
Schoolhouse, Morinsh, Ballindalloch, N.B." I
have, however, written so much over my
initials that I still prefer to use them and
continue signing my contributions — D. M. M.,
Banff. __

CLAIM FOR DAMAGE TO HONEY.

[4674] Referring to my claim for damage
to honey (page 26, January 16, 4649), which
the railway company had refused to allow,
I now write to say that, after sending in my
claim again on the 8th inst., I received the
full amount on the 18th. This leads me to
believe, what I have often been told, viz ,
railway companies will not pay for damages
if they can help it;, and I should advise any
bee-keeper having a genuine claim to re-
member the adage, " if at first you don't
succeed, try, try, try again !" for I could very
easily have lost mine if 1 had taken any notice
of refusals. — W. Roberts, Ninficld, near
Battle, Sussex, January 27.

PRICES OF BEE -BOOKS.
[4675.] Having for some years past been
interested in bee-books, English and foreign,
and their market value, I am pleased to

answer your correspondent's question in last
issue B.B.J, (pag^ 40), There seems to be
much uiiscouception iu the matter of pric s.
Some few bee books of the eighteenth century
are not easy to get when wanted, but hardly
any caa be called valuable, and as not one of
them is likely to be put up as a sepirate lot
at any public auction, there cannot be a
sharply defined price. Neither of those
named by your correspoadent is sctrce.
Keys' " Practical Bee-Master ' can be found
in the lists of second- baud booksellers at from
3s. to 5s. 6d. Tne first edition of Thorley's
bock, known by it3 first title as ''Melisselogia,"
is often to be had at from 5s. tf) 7s. 61. The
third and fourth editions seem to be scarcer
(I advertised in the B B J. some time ago for
a copy to complete a series, and had no
answer). A bookseller would make no dis-
tinction unless asked to find a special edition,
when Is. or 2s. more might be charged. His
buying price would be about half those men-
tioned above. As our Editor remarks, book-
stall prices are cheaper.

Sixteenth and seventeenth century bee-
books fetch much, higher prices when they
also treat of other subjects, such as gardening.
For instance, a rather expensive London book-
seller is now offering a very good copy of
Remnant's " Historic of Bees" (1637), one of
the most interesting of eaily bee-books, for
24s., while for a copy of Lawson's " New
Orchard and Garden, &c, with the Husbandry
of. Bees " (1638), his price is more than
double.

I shall be happy at any time, with the per-
mission of the Editors B.B.J., to give any of
its readers the benefit of my experience ; but
in many c*ses it is nece.*siry to see the actual
copy before passing judgment. — H. J. 0.
Walker (Lieut.-Col.), Leeford, Budleigh
Salterton.

"A WASTE OF HEATHER ! >'

[4676.] The words still linger in my memory,
though uttered many years ago. They were
called up from the vasty deep of forgetfulness
by something lately written in the Journal,
and, curiously, concurrently with them there
ran through some mazes of the brain lines of
that lover of Nature, the poet Wordsworth —

A primrose by a river's brim
A yellow primrose was to him,
And it was nothing more.

There are men constituted like Peter Bell —
'Tis true, 'tis pity ; pity 'tis 'tis true.

To-night, with a heavy coating of snow on the
ground, I can see that glorious hill side, not as
it showed itself to the southern city tourist as
a waste of heather, but as it can b9 seen
glori6ed and eunobled by a thousand realities.
I can recall what I have witnessed times with-
out number in the lovely autumn when I
roamed on the mountain afar and found the
very breath of its life-giving ozone an intoxi-
cation of delight. In the mind's eye I can see

48

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Jan. 30, 1902.

a vast stretch of heather bloom, its illimitable
expanse covered with an infinite number of
fair flowers, grand and glorious in their rich-
ness and profusion, covering the mountains as
with a carpet ; gladdening the eye with the
magnificent grandeur of their colouring, and
the nostril with the wealth and sweetness
of their perfume. I can to-night feel its sweet
breath pervading the air, as it did on the fair
hillside, when its almost overpowering odour
was wafted on the gentle zephyr sweet as the
breath of a honeycomb. And then what an
infinity of light and shade that hillside con-
stantly displayed, adding grace and beauty to
the fair scene ! There were such browns and
pinks, such crimson and gold, such purple and
amber among the blooming or withering
heather as nowhere else can be witnessed -
especially when the red sun's sinking rays,
with their golden glow, lingered on its purple
sheen. Monotony !— seek it where you will,
it is not here. For Calluna vulgaris is not
the only plant we see. In its wide ocean are
there not continents of cinerea and islands of
tetralix, with their bell-flowers of varjing
hue, from light lilac, pink rose, or crimson to
amber or dark red — the immortal heather-bells
of Scottish song and story 1 The bilberry and
cranberry, with their vivid shiny leaves, make
a mosaic of verdant hue here and there ; the
brake-fern shows in green, brown, or golden
patches as the season changes its hue ; the
mazy nodding heads of myriads of moss- plants
display a breadth of glowing, downy, snow-
white, shining pure and spotless as the new-
fallen snow ; and many a bank whereon the
wild thyme blows adds beauty and diversity
to the scene.

Fruits abound in profusion. Wild straw-
berries grow at a high altitude with their red
ripe luscious fruit ; cranberries in extensive
beds adorn the fair slopes with their crisp
green leaves, sweet flowers and tasty fruit ;
blackberries lush and tempting, call up
memories of youth's merry time ; crow-
berries black as their namesake are found
singly and in clusters. Juniper bushes abound,
all one mass of grey, dun or green berries.
Bog myrtle with its rich perfume, and its
friend with its wealth of autumn berries, is
strongly in evidence. The fair rowan tree
with its bonnie berries red adorns the rocky
dell ; the wild rose with its hips and haws,
food for many a bird ; the bramble bush
spreading its tempting fruit to schoolboys'
eager hands ; and the wild rasp are all found
in countless thousands in many a bosky den.
A waste of heather ! Why I could name a
hundred fair flowers fair amongst the fairest
of Flora's daughters which meet you, per-
petually adding grace, beauty, and variety to
the scene. Low down, the yellow golden cup
of the marsh marigold forms extensive beds ;
anemones grow in wild profusion, vetches in
great variety are seen in bud, bloom, or pod.
An occasional graceful spirea waves its many
seeded spikes ; the lovely grass of Parnassus,

which is not a grass but an exquisite flower,
adorns many a marshy spot, an occasional blue
speedwell, bluer violet, or Scotch bluebell
brightens the duller shades. Higher still, the
Alpine gentian, silene, a catch fly, can be
seen if looked for, while the glorious furze and
bonnie broom stand out prominent. Sedums,
mosses, rare ferns, wild grasses, are with us as
we mount towards the higher heights.
Gay eyebright raises its vivid corona, stariDg
the sun without once winking at its fiercest
rays. The fair white downy crest of the moss
plant waves its snowy heads innumerable —
nodding like Wordsworth's daffodils — in the
gentlest breeze. The Alpine Veronica dis-
plays its lovely blue corolla even on the verge
of dissolving snows ; the forget-me-not of the
mountain summit, whose tints far excel those
of its namesake of the brooks ; the woodsia,
with its tufted frond, adorning the clefts of the
roots ; the sunny gentian, concealing its eye
of blue in the ledges of the steep crags ; the
Alpine astralagus, enlivening the turf with its
purple clusters ; the lychnis, choosing the
Btony and dry knoll for the evolution of its
pink petals ; the sonchus mulgedium, raising
its stately stalk and azure head in spots which
try the enthusiasm of the adventurous col-
lector ; the pale flowered mountain sorrel ;
the azalea, forming a carpet of the richest
crimson ; the saxifrages, with their yellow, or
white, or pink blossoms, clothing the sides of
the streams ; the saussurea and erigerro,
crowning the rocks with their purpJe and pink
heads ; the purple cinquefoil, blending its
yellow flowers with the white of the alpine
cerastiums and the bright blue of the stony
veronica, the stemless silene giving a pink and
velvety covering to the decomposing granite ;
the yellow hawkweeds, whose varied tran-
sitions forms have furnished such a fertile
source of dispute among botanists ; the slender
and delicate grasses, the chickweeds, the
sedges, and the rushes, which spring up on the
Alpine summits, the graceful ferns, the tiny
mosses, with their urn-like sheaths, and the
crustaceous dry lichens.''

All these and many more add a charm to
the heathery hillside. Here, and not on cur
well-tilled fields or even our fair meadows, is
the place to botanise. To one who has the eye
to see, the waste become a living picture of
some of nature's fairest fauna and flora. —
F. E. I. S. '

NOTES FROM MERIONETH.

HOPES AND ANXIETIES.

[4677.] When I penned my last "Notes"
the weather was very severe, and my bees
suffering much, and the adverse circumstances
made me very anxious about their welfare.
The present winter will be a memorable one
in these parts. The Bala and Festiniog Rail-
way was blocked by deep snawdrifts twice,
even a powerful snow-plough was made a
prisoner while attempting to r.'.ise the

Jan. 30, 1902.J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

49

blockade. The heavy snowfall was followed
by heavy rains and strong floods, which
carried large stones and trees with
them. I read in a local paper that the
village of Bangor-is-y-Coed was isolated,
the cellars of public-houses being overflooded
and the beer-barrels therein being thus disen-
gaged, went for a cruise on their own account.
In the second week of this month another
change came in the shape of mild and misty
weather, and our bees came out for a flight,
and the crocuses made their appearance as the
harbingers of spring. A gentle breeze from
the south cleared the mist and revived the
dying embers of hopes.

The above favourable weather prompted the
bees to carry out the dead, which, alas ! were
many. The quilts were dried or replaced by
new ones, also fresh cakes of candy were given
where needed. As soon as these operations
were over, another change came. Now the
snow is foiling fast. — J. B. Williams, Gelli
Lydan, January 25.

d$\i\n\% m& mplitys.

[2787.] Doubling and Storifying — I have
an ambition- to try my skill with the
"Storifying" operation this coming spring,
but the process as explained in the " Guide
Book " is not, I am sorry to say, understandable
by my, I fear, dull comprehension on several
points. I would therefore be very grateful
to you if you would kindly help me. First,
then, on page 62 it is stated : '' Outer cases
are put on to protect the hives from the
weather." 1. Does this mean that one wooden
covering should enclose the whole four hives
as they are placed one above the other ? Then,
again : " As the populations are enormous
the fronts have to be raised, as in fig. 34, by
means of wedges about an inch high, to give
the bees access on three sides." 2. Fig. 34 does
not seem to me to show how the wedge3 are
placed. Finally, "The outer casing is also
raised to allow a free circulation of air, and the
separate cases placed as in fig. 35.'' 3. This
seems to imply that each hive as placed one
on the top of the other should have a separate
case. If that is so, it is difficult to see how
the wedges are to be used, and at the same
time manipulate these outer cases, as in fig. 35.
In anticipation of your kind indulgence in an
early issue of the B.B.J., I beg to offer you
my best thanks. — Apis Mellifica, Wough-
t m-on-the-Green, Bletchlei/, January 27.

Reply. — 1. Yes ; what you term " wooden
covering " is in sections as shown in fig. 34,
and four of these, which are properly called
" outer cases,'' cover the four hives shown in
ihe cut. By referring to fig. 13 (page 38) it

will be seen that two sections of the outer case
cover the brood-chamber and a rack of sections.
There is thus no difficulty in understanding
what is meant by outer cases. In fact, if our
correspondent could see either a " Cowan '' or
a " W. B. C7' hive, both of which have these
outer cases, his trouble would disappear. 2.
The " wedges " being simply used for the
purpose of raising the hive up in front an inch
from its floorboard, the mode of inserting
them will be obvious when the actual hive is
being dealt with. 3. Our correspondent will,
we hope, pai'don us for again assuring him that
no difficulty whatever will arise in under-
standing the plain and simple directions in
" Guide Book '' when the actual hive referred
to is before him.

[2788.] Working for Increase. — Many
thanks for your help in my last question.
Will you kindly help me again in the follow-
ing ? I have one stock of bees, well estab-
lished in a frame-hive, and I want to increase
my stocks as much as possible this year. I
therefore ask :— 1. Would it be safe to make
two artificial swarms from this one hive ? 2.
When is the earliest date on which I may
safely make the first transfer, and when the
second ? 3. Must I re-queen the queenless
hive, or can I trust them to rear one them-
selves ? 4. If I make two swarms from the
one hive, shall I get as much surplus honey from
the three hives together as I should from the
original if untouched I I intend to work for
sections (if I get any surplus at all this year).
I live on a hill overlooking a valley filled
with pasture, orchards, and gardens ; a few
yards away is a hill covered with about 1,000
acres of gorse ; within a radiu3 of a mile are
thousands of lime and chestnut trees, also
gardens which in summer are very gay with
flowers. In the autumn there is any amount
of ivy bloom. I think I am in an ideal place
for bees. What do you think ? 5. When do
you think I must put on supers after I have
swarmed the hive ? — J. L. Saxby, Clevedon,
January 22.

Reply. — Instead of giving replies to each
of the first four queries enumerated above, we
think it will be more helpful to say that in
view of our correspondent possessing one
stock only, and being also desirous of obtain-
ing surplus-honey in the coming season, he
had better make up his mind beforehand
whether he prefers a moderate increase and
some surplus, or to " increase stocks as much
as possible.'' We put the question because
he cannot have both. If we are informed on
this point it will save U3 trouble in giving
advice that may not be acted on. There is
ample time to make this clear before the date
of starting operations by way of dividing
stocks or making artificial swarms. With
regard to the final question (5) we may at
once say that we think it improbable that the
hive will " require supers '' at all after having
had a couple of artificial swarms made from it.

50

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 30, 1902.

(ftthacs from thi ^tm

2Vcwton-le-WiUows, Lanes., January 25. —
Last Saturday (January 18), the weather being
very mild and bees flying, I took a peep
to see how they were off for stores ; although
greatly diminished, food will last till near
spring. While looking through one hive
(queen hatched last September) I noticed
a patch of sealed brood, also some egg*,
though I was not looking for same. Like
your correspondents " 0; M.'' and Mr.
Walpole-Simmons, I should like to see a dis-
cussion on large frames, as I intend trying
some during this next summer. Of course, my
present extractor would be useless for extracting
the honey from them, but as I intend making
some frame3 14 in. by 11 in., and using the
3-in. eke under the ordinary brood-body. It
will not interfere with my supers for extract-
ing, as the large frames will only be for
breeding purposes. 1 shall be pleased to join
the insurance scheme ; paper enclosed. — H.
Walker.

Alderley, Wotton - under • Edge, Glos.,
January 25. — Bees have come through the
winter well, so far ; no losses among mine.
They have also had a few good cleansing
flights during past week. Weather changed
again yesterday. Snowdrops, winter aconite,
crocus just coming through the ground ;
catkins of hazel well in bloom. Everything
outside now covered with snow ; and sharp
frosts ; changeable, but seasonable. — Hugh
Lance.

Terrington, St. Clements, Lynn, January 26.
—The hives have been "singing'' well this
week, and no mistake. The mild weather and
dry days having given the bees an opportunity
of a flight, every wallflower has been visited in
search of pollen. A useful plant growing here
is Petasites fragrans (syn. Tussilago fragi'ans),
it has been covered wiih bees every day this
week. It will grow anywhere ; indeed, it is a
rank weed in the open garden, but under trees
or in shade, will produce luxuriant growth
during summer and a wealth of flowers at this
season of the year. A fortnight ago I gave a
fresh lb. of candy to some driven bees. This
week have been re-arranging some of the hives
and examining candy of driven stocks. I
found the glazed section emptied of its candy,
and in its place a fine white piece of worked
comb cons-tructtd right across the section-box
I use for the candy, and some of the cells half
filled with honey. Is this not unusual acti-
vity at this time of the year ? [Unusual, but
not rare.— Eds.]. — W. J. Belderson.

PRESS CUTTINGS.

BEE-KEEPING STATISTICS IN IRELAND.

The inquiries made in the preceding fifteen
years relative to the extent to which bee-
keeping is followed in Ireland, and the degree

of success attained in this special branch of
rural economy, were repeated last year with
reference to the season of 1900. According to
the returns received, the quantity of honey
produced in 1900 was nearly double the
average quantity for the preceding ten years.
It was, however, 16"4 ppr cent, below the
quantity for the year 1899, the returns for
which showed an increase of 41 7 per cent, as
compared with the quantity in 1898. The
quantity of honey produced, according to the
return, was 623,559 lb. ; of this, 143,368 lb.
were produced iu the province of Leinster,
211,8211b. in Munster, 155,9621b. in Ulster,
and 112,408 lb. in Conuaught. Of the
623,559 lb., 403,207 lb. were produced " in
hives having movable combs," and 220,352 lb.
" in other hives." It was stated that 260,074 lb.
was " run honey," and 363 485 lb. " section
honey.'' According to the returns collected,
there were 6,743 lb. nf wax manufactured in
1900, of which 3,3941b. were from hivea
having movable combs, and 3,349 lb. from
other hives. The returns received in 1900
gave th* quantity of honey produced in 1899
as 745,692 lb. ; the number of stocks brought
through the winter of 1899-1900 as 31,045 ;
and the quantity of wax manufactured in 1899
as 4,873 lb. — Northern Whig.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers-

Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be pur-
chased, or replies givhg sitch 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*
tpondents 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 cn'y
of pertonal interest will be answered in this column.

Ohas. O'Bara (Belturbet). — "Our Wild
Bees."— -The numbers of the B B.J. in
which Mr. Sladen's articles on this subject
appeared will be given in next week's issne.

Ignoramus (Wandsworth, S.W.). — Starting
Bee-keeping. — The best time to purchase a
stock of bees — for securing the advantage
of the early fruit-bloom in your neighbour-
hood— will be about the first week in
March. You will thus reap the benefit of
the "spurt" of energy bees always develop
on changing their location. Be surej how-
ever, to yet a strong, healthy colony to start
with, and purchase from a reliable man who
knows how to pack the hive for transit.

G. F. (Kenilworth).— " Notes" and "Echoes."
— "We shall be very pleased to have a
" Note " or an " Echo " from your locality
for publication whenever you have anything
of use or interest to communicate. It goes
without saying that contributions from those
whose practical experience of apiarian work
is so extensive as we know yours to be are
always of value to readers.

Feb. 6, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

51

(Editorial $tiim, tot

FREE DISCUSSION.
We are rather sorry than otherwise to note
a tendency to revive the perennial notion that
this journal -will not allow what is termed
" free discussion '' on the question of the
desirability of adopting a frame for use in
hives other than the " Standard " frame of the
British Bee-keepers' Association. The letter
of our correspondent "J. D." (4685, p. 57)
is only one of several that have recently
appeared in our pages, and we have refrained
from expressing any opinion thereon by way
of a line or two of " footnote.'' We hope to
deal with the matter at some length next
week. Meantime we only refer to it here in
order to show that we have no intention of
allowing it to go forth tbat free discussion,
where useful, is debarred in our columns.

AN OBSERVATORY HIVE.

MY THIRD SEASONS " OBSERVATIONS.''

By Col. H. J. 0. Walker.
Previous observations have been recorded
on page 66, vol. xxviii., and page 12,
vol. xxix., B.B J., to which I beg to refer
any one desiring a description of my hive.
Repetition will be avoided as far as possible.

The past year's experience was very remark-
able, owing to the free way in which fancy
combs were built
June 21. on the glass. In

A ©s*vs» these combs two

queens and
twenty drones
* £- C and workers went
through their
developments,
and no less than
forty queens in
all were reared
in the hive, which
was stocked on
May 18 with part
of a colony under
a young imported
Cyprian queen. I
do not recommend
Cyprians for ob-
servatory pur-
poses. I found
F's- 1- them nervous and

excitable, espe-
cially if exposed for long to the light. While
being handled they are just what they were
in past years ; that is, very quiet and peaceable
as long as nothing is done to annoy them,
but when shaken or brushed off the combs
they begin to fight, and once aroused their
fury knows no bounds. Yet I owe so much
pleasure to these little strangers that I am
unwilling to speak evil of them.

By June 21 the hive was full of bees ;
brood hatching freely ; three queen cells being

sealed, and more in progres?, the queen laying
at the average rate of seventeen seconds, eggs
and brood (mostly drone), in two combs on the
glass. There was also a third comb, and in this
I noticed for the first time that day small drops
of fluid in seven cells, so I at once took the
tracingreproduced
and marked A (fig. B JuQe 26.

1). The five drops
each marked a
were of almost
translucent fluid ;
the other two,
shown dark in the
two cells QC were
bright milky
white ; no larvae
were discernible
in any of them.
I much regret
that I cannot say
from observation
whether the cells
now thus occupied

were empty on the 20th. My attention had been
fixed on the other combs, in which breeding
had been going on. The comb was a small
one, and bad been empty for some time, and I
had not observed it minutely although I had
seen it daily. But it should be mentioned
that it is not always
possible to see eggs Ci
laid in cells built on
the glass, as they may
be hidden in a hollow.
The milk-white drops
were a little larger
than the trans lucent,
and they increased in
size very quickly,
while the translucent
remained almost the
same, and on the next
day (22nd), I suddenly
realised that the cells
marked Q C were inci-
pient queen cells. On
the 23rd the base of the
queen cells was com-
pletely covered with
cream, as fully so as
appears in the illus-
tration B from a photo
not taken till the 26tb.
On same day, 23rd,
semi-translucent fluid
was visible in cells A A
(fig. 2). On 24th all
the larva? not in queen
cells were visible,

having, so to speak, grown out of their fluid.
The 25th, both queen cells sealed. The 26tb,
the larvoe just under top queen cell had
vanished, the rest sealed, except b larvae, to
be seen still curled up, whilst the others are
stretched lengthways in their cells, spinning
their cocoons— some head outwards, some

d

52

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Feb. 6, 1902.

head towards the base of the cell. On the
27ih b larvae also sealed.

Now all the larvae except those in the
queen-cells were drone, and would take a day
longer in sealing than the queen-larvae, the
respective time in larval state being usually
about six and five days, respectively ; so we
may take it for granted that all the eggs were
laid on, or very near the 17th, and that when
the fluid was first noticed on the 21st the
larvae were about one day old. From the
fact that the fluid in the queen- cells was from
the very first of the same bright white cream-
ike appearance that it afterwards maintained,
and that the fluid in the other cells was never
cream-like at all, but comparatively trans-
lucent, I gather that drone-larvae are not fed
until weaned with the same royal jelly as is
given to queen-larvae, but with a fluid de-
cidedly less rich in quality.

Another observation confirms this. While
watching a very young larva at the bottom of
its cell, in which no liquid food was discern-
able, I saw a worker enter. The glass
happened to be very clear, and with my
binocular glasses I could see its movements
very plainly. It placed its head near to but
not touching the larva, and then worked its
mandibles vigorously, until in a few seconds
a drop of almost clear fluid appeared between
them. It then lowered its head so as to touch
the larva, over which the drop spread. Shortly
afterwards the worker left the cell. The work-
ing of the mandibles would appear to indicate
the pressure necessary to produce the secretion
from the sub-maxillary gland, System No. 1,
to be mixed with the chyle food on which very
young larvae are fed. I consider myself very
fortunate to have been able this once to watch
the process of feeding.

Happening, on the 24th, to have on hand a
surplus queen, a fine young Ligurian, and being
reluctant to destroy her, I introduced her
through the feed-hole at 7 p.m. I failed to
detect any unusual movement in the hive that
night ; nor could I see either queen, the hive
being very full ; but I had seen the old queen
laying at 5 p.m. Next morning, to my great
astonishment, both queens had vanished ! There
is no mistake. No queen at all was to be seen
for several days, and the hive, in due course,
swarmed under a young one.

On the 27ih and 28th the royal jelly in the
qiieen cells, shown cream-like in the photo, had
turned golden yellcw ; it wrinkled and cracked
across, shrinking towards the sides of the cell
basis, so that the nymph in the upper cell, the
clearer of the two, was visible. On July 2,
the young queen in the upper cell was moving
about, her body a fine yellow with d irk stripes.
Her last moulted skin lay at the base of the
cell in tbe form of a loose pellet. On that day
I first saw how young queens are fed while
prisoners in their cells, a fascinating per-
formance which was frequently repeated. The
only writer who has hitherto described it, as
far as I know, is Huber, who, indeed, managed

to see most things ; he says he saw it by
chance.

While watching a queen-cell I saw the fine
point of the young queen's tongue pierce
through the crust of the cell at the lower end,
where, it should be remembered, the workers
always pare away most of the wax as soon as
the larva takes on the form of a nymph. A
worker fed this little tongue from between its
mandibles, and soon after it was withdrawn,
leaving a little pin-hole, the sides of which
shone with some of the liquid supplied. In a
second a worker had closed up the hole with
wax scraped from the cell. In this way the
workers can keep young queens in confine-
ment for as long as may be convenient, and
they probably do so in every hive where two
or more queens are reared simultaneously.
Although there is always a surplus of food
remaining at the bottom of the cell, it is of
no use to the prisoners. Not only is it too
dry and hard, but the queens cannot reach it ;
they appear not to be able to turn in their
cell. At least, in the two cases under obser-
vation, the movement was always up and
down, the head always towards the point of
the cell, as in the case of drones and workers.
One of these two queens was fed as described
from July 2 to the 8tb, when she came out
and went off with a swarm ; the other till the
13th, when I broke the cell in removing the
glass to clean it. She was thus twelve days
in confinement.

After the mysterious disappearance of the
two fertile queens on June 24, several more
queen-cells were built. It was impossible to
determine the order of their construction as
the hive was now crowded with drones and
workers. On the 29th the first young queen
appeared, and spent the day in running about
the hive, unheeded by the workers. At noon
on the 30th some of the imprisoned queens
began to " pipe." Four different cries were
plainly to be heard ; the general effect was
curiously like that of as many foghorns from
steamers feeling their way into harbour on a
foggy night. At 2.15 two queens were run-
ning about excitedly ; they appeared to be
seeking each other, but would not close in
fight. Sometimes one would clutch at a
worker. Once the two closed, only to sepa-
rate and pass on. This continued for some
minutes, the beea remaining iudifferent, except
when hustled by one of the queens as she
hurried by,

Suddenly a kind of shiver passed over the
comb on which both queens were running ;
an excited tumult arose, and the bees quickly
gathed into knots around each queen. I saw
one pressed against the gla?s and a worker
hanging on to her hind leg. Then both queens
were free. Then one was clutched by two
bees, whose bodies curved in towards her in
threatening fashion. Presently I saw a queen
deep in the centre of a knot away from the
glass ; the bees crowded in and hid her from
my sight. Then the other queen ran about

Feb. 6, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

53

with an occasional scuffle till she too dis-
appeared. And all the time their imprisoned
sisters were sound ing their quaint foghorns.
Once, too, I heard a balled queen "piping"
shrilly.

The next day was fine and sunny ; one of
my outdoor hives swarmed. Indoors one
queen only was at liberty ; the other probably-
balled to death and thrown out. The survivor
was calmer. She took honey from open cells,
no attention being paid to her. July 2, wet
and dull ; the 3rd, a swarm under this young
queen. It was secured and joined to a queen-
less hive. Another swarm on 6ih, another on
the 8th with three queens, and on the 10th one
with two queens. On the 13th I took off the
glasses to clean them, several queens coming
out under cover of the disturbance. On the
15th five queens were on the move ; the 17th
only one queen was left in the hive, and no
queen cells.

Many struggles and much " balling " took
place before all the forty young queens were
disposed of. Balling with an intent to kill is
a distressing sight ; but the workers often
" ball " merely to catch the young queens and
keep them quiet. These wild maidens race
about without ceasing and without caring
whither. In their impetuous excitement they
plough along the bee-covered combs, leaving a
furrow of excitement plainly visible behind
them, until the workers, jostled out of all
patience, turn upon them, and, keeping them
in friendly durance, win a few minutes' peace.
I saw but one dead princess ; there the knot
had separated, and the workers were licking the
corpse.

(Conclusion in our next issue.)

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.

OUT-APIARIES.

HOW TO WORK THEM PROFITABLY.

[4678.] In answer to our friend Woodley
(4667, page 42) on the management of out-
apiaries let me say, I find no difficulty at all
as I have every facility for moving bees to
and fro from Somersham, possessing a good
horse and cart, which is essential. I have a
good friend and neighbour who helps me.
My out-apiaries, three in number, contain
respectively thirty-four, twenty-two, and
eighteen colonies of bees, are located on good
roads. They are situated eleven, sixteen, and
eighteen miles from Somersham. One (a dhused
gravel-pit) is on the Cambridge road ; No. 2
is located in a garden about five miles faither
on, and the third (about two miles farther on)

stands in a cottager's garden of about half an
acre. In the last-named place I have a good
large manipulating house to hold a full stock
of frames, foundation, &c. ; and here I can
rig up a bed and stay the night. I call it " my
summer residence." When I camp out there
for the night I usually have a good time ; a
small barrel of mead occupies a corner of
my " residence,'' and after the day's work is
over labourers on the estate come and sample
the same and smoke a pipe with me. On
these occasions I always give them some
honey and answer any question on bee-culture
that they may want information on. I also
usually relate the latest political or war news.
I must also tell you these men are seven miles
from a railway station, and until quite
recently had to pay a halfpenny extra on
every letter brought to them. With regard
to my methods of working these out-apiaries
the hives each hold twelve frames — I generally
reduce the number to ten in the winter. The
two frames of honey removed from each in
this way I use for building up " driven stocks"
from bees headed by yourjg queens. In the
following spring I give back to each stock two
frames with full sheets of foundation to make
up the twelve frames again, and in the
month of May I put on my section-
racks. When the sections are about half
filled with honey I raise them up, and place
a box of shallow - frames underneath (not
forgetting to put on a sheet of excluder zinc
between brood and surplus chambers. About
a week later (if weather is good) I take off
sections and give another box of shallow-
frames below the first one. In fourteen days
from that I can extract the top one, and simply
lift the bottom one up and put extracted one
underneath (the shallow - frame boxes each
hold twelve frames), I do not extract any more
until the honey harvest is over. I do this not
wishing to disturb the hives unnecessarily, as
I find that bees are always better tempered
with full supers on than when they have empty
comb3. By taking these precautions one not
only keeps good friends with the farmer, but
the honey has improved in ripeness and
quality by remaining on the hive.

On September 5 last year my neighbour and
myself went up and extracted 12^ cwt. of
honey in two nights ! It was a beautiful clear
moonlight night, and we both worked for "all
we were worth " until 2.30 a.m. My friend
then said M we ought to have a five minutes'
rest." We had rather a long five minutes
(." the spirit was willing, but the flesh weak ''),
for we had dropped asleep and did not wake
until 5 a.m.," then at it again, and all cleared
off before eight o'clock. Then we loaded up
and started for Somersham, eighteen miles
distant. The good wife had everything in
readiness, the honey was bottled up in time
for the " Confectioners' " Show in London.

My advice to bee-keepers who wish to start
an out-apiary may be enumerated thus : — 1.
Be prepared for hard work and have hives that

54

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Feb. 6, 1902.

will hold eleven or twelve frames. _ 2. Let
each be headed by a queen, if possible. 3.
Super in advance (sections preferred). 4.
Have a good caretaker to look out for swarms.
5. Have all your supers fitted and in readiness
for use beforehand with skeps to hive your
swarms. 6. Leave addressed post-cards with
the caretaker, and do not forget to give him a
" sweetener " now and then, something rather
more " solid " than honey. 7. Do not annoy
your friends, the farmers, by over manipula-
tions. If these points are attended to your
out-apiaries will become a pleasure and a profit
securing you health and wealth while keeping
you " far from the madding crowd.'' The bee-
flora in the districts where my apiaries are
situated consists of white clover, sainfoin,
beans, and also trefoil, which latter, I consider,
is the most dense honey of any.

I may say in conclusion we are haviDg
rather severe weather here, but I know the
bees are all well supplied with food, and their
" master " is preparing a lot of work for them
in the summer to come. I am busy getting
sections, hives, and frames ready. Wishing
all brother bee-keepers a prosperous season. —
R. Brown, Flora Apiary, Somersham, Hunts.

P.S. — I am very pleased to read of a scheme
for insurance for bee-keepers against accident
with bees. I hope people that are not bee-
keepers will not take advantage of it. I most
willingly insure all my stocks in my out-
apiaries, and it behoves every bee-keeper to
do so, as people very often are careless with
bees in small apiaries through over manipula-
tion.

BEES AND POISONOUS FLOWERS.

[4679.] In reply to that very interesting
article (4673) in Bee Journal of January 30,
on page 37, in which your correspondent
" D. M. M." quotes a line from Keats and
asks for an authoritative statement concerning
the effect of eating honey obtained from
poisonous plant3 I would offer the following
remarks : — I have had an extended experience
in the cultivation of the most poisonous plants
it is possible to produce under natural condi-
tions in England and I feel I have had special
facilities for observing the amount of patron-
age poisonous plants receive from the honey-
bee. Firstly, I feel justified in endorsing the
quotation (that bees find their sweetest spoils
in poison flowers), a3 during the flowering
seasons of the Hyoscyamus niger, Atropa
belladonna, Datura stramonium, Aconitum
napellus, Papaver rbceas, Papaver somniferum,
Digitalis purpurea, &c , from which is obtained
the following poisonous substances respec-
tively : Hyoscyamine, atropine, daturine,
aconitine, rhceadine, morphine, and digitoxine.
I have constantly observed the bees in great
numbers busying themselves among these
flowers, and it happens, indeed, too frequently
in the gathering that an unseen bee is taken
into the hand together with the blossom.

And as the poisonous plants above referred to

mostly belong to the natural orders, Solanacese
and Scrophulariacte, the flowers are more or
less bell-shaped, and consequently offer good
shelter for the bee whilst at work, and if the
honey is in proportion to the sweetness
observed when the base of the petals is placed
to the lips, they must be honey-givers of no
mean order (the foxglove, especially, illustrates
this). With reference to the poisonous juice
referred to in Mr. Macdonald's article, I should
like to point out that it is an invariable rule
that roots contain a much greater percentage
of the active poison than the stem or leaves,
and the flowers even less than the latter. And
as the poison characteristic to a plant is not
found upon the surface of the flowers, but
beneath the epidermis or skin, it is necessary
to submit the flower to a pulping process
before it can be extracted, so that it is im-
possible for the bee to take into its " factory "
more than the very faintest trace of poison, if
indeed any.

I mention " the very faintest trace,'' pre-
suming that it may find its way to the surface
in the process of respiration or transpiration
of the flower, but even this theory is most
unlikely. Another point which may be of
interest to many readers is the fact that
poisons of the most virulent nature do not
affect living creatures alike ; for instance, the
heather grub can be found living in the root
of the Hyoscyamus niger, and is, in my
opinion, its favourite food. Again, the dried
roots of belladonna and aconite are frequently
found to be densely populated with grubs,
which have every appearance of being healthy ;
likewise in the fruit of the hemlock (Conium
maculatum) we find these pests, although it
was by this poison Socrates met his notorious
death 400 b c.

In comparison with the above, it may appear
striking that parsley, which is a constituent of
many dishes, should be deadly poison to the
parrot. Contrary to the above theory, we are
told that poisoning did occur in California
through eating honey gathered from poisonous
plants, and also we read of the destruction of
the Grecian army under Xenophon from that
cause ; but from the above proofs the extrac-
tion of the characteristic alkaloidal poison of
the plant by the bee from the nectariferous
gland is impossible, and to any who wish to
still believe in the above cases I would ask
them if the poison has as yet been isolated, or
would they wish us to believe in French and
Italian history, as many do, which states that
poisons used by Catherine de Medici, the
Marchioness de Brinvilliers, and others are
unknown to scientists to-day? To them I
would say the poisons then used were few,
the methods of detection practically none.

Finally, I wish to thank Mr. William
Heming, of North Littleton, Evesham, in
whose medicinal gardens my principal obser-
vations on the above subject have been made.
— H. S. Shorthouse, M.P.S., F.C.S., Bir-
mingham, February 1.

Feb. 6, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

55

SOME ESSEX NOTES.

[4680.] About Foul Brood. — A peculiarity
of the season of 1901 was its effect upon foul
brood. It is pretty generally known that a
good season for surplus honey is the greatest
possible help in ridding us of this pest, but I
cannot remember a season prior to 1901 in
which bees were, with so little help from the
bee-keeper, able to rid themselves of this
disease. I am afraid, however, that even that
bit of good fortune may have had its dis-
advantages, disguised, no doubt, in the rapid
filling of empty cells with honey before the
dried scale of foul brood could be thoroughly
removed by the bees.

This being the, more than probable, case,
it becomes more than ever necessary to keep a
watchful eye this spring upon all stocks that
are known to have been effected with foul
brood last year, seeing that the disease germs
at present buried at the base of cells of honey
will come in contact with the brood a little
later. Judging by what appears in the B.B. J.,
foul brood seems to have been in season all
this winter ; therefore, by referring to several
cases seen by myself last year my remarks
cannot be considered out of place, and some
lessons may possibly be learned therefrom.
To begin with case (A.) This was one of two
stocks owned by a widow. The two hives
were on one stand, and only stood apart by
inches. The combs were old and the stock
weak in bees, the disease having reached the
last stages, but the other stock remained
healthy. I had a free hand, so fire consumed
everything. In talking about bees afterwards,
the old lady said, " Poor Harry '' (her late
husband), "put the bees in that hive
afore he died, and I dessay they ain't
been took out since.'' So these bees had been
kept on the let-alone system for fourteen
years. Later in the spring I found another
bad case three-quarters of a mile from this
one. (B.) In this case the owner is a good bee-
keeper, though almost a beginner. Finding his
dozen or so stocks nearly all badly diseased, he
was naturally downcast, but sought help and
spared no trouble till a complete cure was
effected. Not only so, but he scoured the
district till the stock from which his bees
imported the disease was found. In this case
the disease did not reach the foul stage in any
of the stocks affected.

(C) Here I found one of four stocks packed
close together, very badly affected. The
owner was away from home, and I was asked
to do what was best. But though I went a
long way out of my way to destroy this stock,
and thoroughly scorch the inside of the hive —
a new one — nothing at all was done by way
of carrying out instructions by the people in
charge, and later I found another stock
affected. (D.) Here the affected stock was
the only live colony the owner possessed,
though a number of empty hives were standing
in corners of the garden (this always makes

one feel suspicious), but this stock was healthy
in the previous year. I was unable to get per-
mission to do anything for these bees, but I
put in a dose of napthaline, and the bees
appear to have set to work to clear out the
diseased brood. In the autumn I expected to
find the bees had either died out or been
robbed out, but they were strong, and I could
only find one diseased larva.

(E ) In this case also, no permission was
given to treat the stock, which, though badly
diseased and weak, had a young queen, and.
the disease was not of old standing. These
bees did what they could to help themselves,
and by the aid of a dose of napthaline and a
good season, were free from foul brood in the
autumn.

(F.) Here half the stock of a fairly large
apiary were diseased, and I understood that
foul brood had been in the apiary, more or less
for some years. This being so, I fear that,
through lack of thoroughness, the owner will
never get rid of it. He will find that a few
well-kept hives will yield real pleasure for his
leisure hours.

(G.) In this case the owner admitted that
he had many more stocks of bees than he can
keep well. Many of them were badly
diseased, and I found that the wrong kind of
naphthaline had been used when any was used
at all. Some attempts were made to assist
the bees during the summer by using pre-
ventives and the bees were in much better
condition in the autumn.

(H.) This bee-keeper seems to have had foul
brood from his start in the craft. I had been
, afraid he would have it till the end, but he woke
himself up last season and cleared the
disease out, and got his bees into quite good
trim. The one stock found to be slightly
affected in autumn he decided to destroy for
the sake of the others.

(I.) Here the owner has several irons in the
fire— more than he can look after. There was
disease of old standing in the hives — some
might truly be said to be rotten. I left him a
copy of Leaflet No. 32 issued by the Board of
Agriculture, and he made an effort to rid him-
self of foul brood. The result was quite
encouraging, for in the autumn only two or
three stocks were found slightly affected. But
here I feel sure the efforts of last season will
be of little use unless followed up by strong
measures and a watchful eye for'years to come,
as the disease was not only bad in individual
cases, but was also of old standing. I learned
in conversation that So-and-so's bees, a mile
away, had " gone wrong with some disease.''

(J.) Here I was informed on arrival that
one lot of bees were dead, so we examined
this (skep) last. This was a bad case of foul
brood, and the bees had been robbed when
they became weak. As there are two other
apiaries quite near the consequences may be
serious.

(K.) This was another bee-keeper who seems
quite unable to realise the serious nature of

56

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Feb. 6, 1902.

foul brocd, and who, having had the disease in
his hives for several years, I am afraid will
have it as long as he has bees.

(£.) This bee-keeper being an enthusiastic
beginner, I felt sorry, as he was striving
against tremendous odds. Another owner of
bees quite near had some stocks in a bad way.
They died out, and bees of L. could rob the
hives. If the owner of the dead stocks knew
anything of the nature of foul brood, he was
quite indifferent to the consequences, for the
hives were emptied of their rotten combs on
the garden as one would empty a barrow load
of manure, and the combs were left exposed
in this way for some time.

(M.) (Another beginner) I felt sorry here,
too, for. a bad start is discouraging. The
hives within half a mile of (L.) probably the
bees, a swarm, imported foul brood from the
same source as L.'s stock.

(N.) Here I found a stock badly diseased,
gave instructions to the owner, and handed
him a copy of the leaflet on foul brood. In
the autumn I found that nothing had been
done, and, as the hive in which 1 found foul
brood in the spring was minus bees, the bees
from the hives of two cottagers, who keep bees
quite near, had probably helped the bees from
the owner's other hives to rob the diseased
stock, so it may prove a serious matter for the
cottagers. For N., a gentleman of good posi-
tion and education, any excuse offered could
only be a lame one. -Wm. Loved ay, Hatfield
Heath, Harlow, Essex.

INSURANCE FOR BEE KEEPERS.

[4681.] I do not know whether what I have
to say on this matter may seem to you worth
printing, but I do know that it represents
what is in the mind of many bee-keepers.
Before pledging ourselves to join in the pro-
posed scheme, it seems to us that particulars
of what risks are to be undertaken, should
be given, or, at any rate, an idea of the
kind of risks.

I will enumerate three typical cases, and
inquire whether, for instance, compensation
for accidents like them is comtemplated. 1.
A passer-by is stung badly as he goes along
the road, which borders on a garden in which
is an apiary. 2. A yoke of horses are stung,
ploughing or reaping, in a field adjoining the
said garden. 3. Though carefully packed,
bees escaping from hive3 on their way to the
moors, stirjg the railway company's servants at
the station.

There is also another point. In each of
these three cases, smooth words and a timely
present of cash would probably settle matters.
But would the insurance scheme come in under
such an arrangement or would only damages
be paid as awarded by a court of law 1

If you could see your way to making
matters of this sort clearer, it would help
many of us to determine to fall in with the
Council's scheme, I feel sure. Our own

servants we naturally protect by an insurance
under the Employers' Liability Act. But we
should, mo3t of us, be very glad to make
ourselves safe as regards outside risks.

It is possible that some particulars have
been published which have escaped my
notice, and in that case I must apologise for
troubling you. — Sidney Smith, Wheldralce
JRertory, York, February 3.

[The only particulars published so far
appear in the report of the meeting of the
Council of the British Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion on page 31 of our issue for January 25.
And — seeing that the whole scheme is being
dealt with by the Council — it could not be in
better or more appropriate hands. So soon,
therefore, as the Council are sufficiently
informed as regarding the probable amount
of support likely to be extended by bee-
keepers the proposed " Rules and Regula-
tions " will be formulated for approval, and
published in our pages. — Eds ]

[4682.] When I purchase my weekly Tit
Bits I obtain therewith an insurance coupon
entitling me to a sum of £200 if I am killed in
a railway accident. Other " weeklies" have fol-
lowed suit, and some insure for much higher
amounts. The thought ha?, therefore, passed
through my mind why should not the proprietor
of the B.B.J, insure his bee-keeping friends
against claims which may be made on his
subscribers to the journal ?

If an insurance society can take the risks of
bee-keepers for Id. per hive per annum, I
should think a small sum paid down annually
by him would clear readers who subscribe
to the paper. Such a scheme would doubtless
add some thousands to the circulation when
it became known, and thus prove a mutual
benefit to one and all ; whilst the bees, which
are said not to hear, would know nothing at
all about it. — W. W. Kay, Woodbines Apiary,
St. Brdades, Jersey, February 3.

[With reference to the above, we have only
to say that the Bee Journal, unfortunately
(or fortunately, it may be), cannot insure its
readers against " risks " connected with their
bee-keeping in the easy way suggested, how-
ever nice and easy it might be for the said
readers, seeing that there is little or no
analogy between the cases. This will, no
doubt, be so obvious to the bulk of those
who subscribe to our journal that it is
hardly needful to say more unless it should
be thought necessary to explain the difference,
in which case we will be very pleased to do
so. —Eds.]

BEE FALLACIES.

[4683 ] Lieut.-Colonel Walker's interesting
letter under the heading "Maeterlinck and
the Drone " in your issue of January 16
(4645) recalls other equally inaccurate theories
regarding not only that much-despised, though
indispensable occupant of a prosperous colony

Feb. 6, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

57

— the drone, but also regarding the queen,
the workers, and those products which are the
result of their united efforts. At the time
this letter appeared I happened to be reading
Oliver Goldsmith's account of bee life as it is
given in " A History of the Earth and
Animated Nature'' (London, 1822, four vols.).
The author's -writing, however, was obviously
guided by the great French physicist and
naturalist, Reaumur, and the following
erroneous ideas may, therefore, be regarded
as those of the "Pliny of the eighteenth
century,1' who was undoubtedly the best
authority of his time on the subject. Speaking
of the " numerous retinue " which compose
the queen's train, he says these bees " are
thought to be males, which serve to impreg-
nate her by turns." How incorrect this theory
is all modern bee-keepers know. He i?, how-
ever, less hard on the drones than recent
authorities, such as Maeterlinck, for he merely
says "These are .... without stings and
without industry," and does not — though a
close and, to a great extent, accurate observer,
as we shall see — saddle them with a long list
of evil habits, the existence of which Lieut.-
Colonel Walker so zaalously — may we say
justly ? — denies.

That ReaUtnur was remarkably accurate
may be seen from the fact that he held the
opinion relative to the monopoly of fertility
of the queen, whereas later authorities, as the
writer quoted says, " assert that the common
bees are parents themselves ; that they
deposit their eggs in the cells which they
have prepared : that the females are impreg-
nated by the males, and bring forth a progeny
which is wholly their own." Is it not very
probable that this error arose from the obser-
vation of what we now know as " fertile
workers ? "

The error regarding the production of wax
obtained as late as the beginning of the nine-
teenth century. According to Goldsmith,
" This substance is gathered from flowers,
like honey. It consists of . . . dust or
farina . . . and is moulded into wax by the
little animal at leisure." And again, " The
meal of flowers, of which their wax is formed,
is one of their most favourite repasts."

Propolis, also, is called a "wax," and in
respect of this objectionable substance the
remarkable opinion tbat " it ha3 generally an
agreeable aromatic odour when it is warmed'"
will surely find few advocates ; and how many
are prepared to endorse the statement that
" by some it is considered as a most grateful
perfume 1 ''

The following curious theory regarding the
decrease of cell capacity is entirely new to me,
and if it has any foundation in fact (there is
no mention of it in any handbooks I have
seen) I should be very glad to know if it is
an accepted theory at present, and, if not, to
what possible source it owes its origin.

" Every worm before it i3 transformed into
an aurelia hangs its old skin on the partitions

of its cell ; and thus, while it strengthens the
wall, diminishes the capacity of its late apart-
ment. The same cell, in a single summer, is
often tenanted by three or four worms in
succession, and the next season by three or
four more. Each worm takes particular care
to fortify the panels of iti cell by hanging up
its spoils there ; thus the partitions being
lined six or eight deep become at last too
narrow for a new brood, and are converted
into storehouses for honey." — Denbigh,
Dublin, January 28.

SOOT- GATHERING BY BEES.

[4684.] If in human affairs which seem
inexplicable there is any value in the maxim,
Cherchez la femme, there is in bee matters
which seem difficult of explanation an equally
forcible point to be kept in view, viz., Cui
bono ? Now, I, for, one, cannot believe our
intelligent insects would trouble them-
selves vainly to "beat the air" about the
smoke issuing from a chimney. Then I am
quite sure that they would no more attempt
to substitute the entirely carbonaceous sub-
stance, soot, for the nitrogenous pollen of
flowers, as food for their larvaa, than a sensible
paterfamilias would offer " selected cobbles,"
or a fine dish of " Derby brights " or " best
Wallsend," to his young children as a " nice
change" from roast beef and plum-pudding.
When such an event happens I shall rub
my eyes, and wonder if, after all, friend
Loveday's suggestion may not be correct. As
to gathering sawdust, there is a little more
probability in that, especially if the material
is derived from coniferous trees, the resin of
which furnishes propolis. There appears much
likelihood in Mr. Huby's theory that in
certain cases bees become smeared with soot
when prospecting in chimneys for snug swarm-
ing places. I venture to throw out the inquiry
whether "gathering" is a suitable word in
connection with sooty bees. Would not " be-
smeared " or " dirtied " be more correct ? Any-
wav, let us have more observation before
rushing to theories. — W. H. H., Hayes End,
February 4.

THE VALUE OF STRONG COLONIES.

[4685.] Mr. G. M. Doolittle's message to
British bee-keepers, mentioned by Mr. Sladen
on page 33 ; " If you tell them nothing else
from me, impress on them the importance of
having a full force of working bees at the right
time,'' deserves to be written in letters of gold,
because the success or failure of bee-keeping
in a large measure depends on this. But have
we in England found out the best way to do
this, in the least time, and with the least
trouble, and still prevent swarming ? I doubt
this. Is it all a question of management,
or is it not also a question of appliances 1

Now, how does Mr. Doolittle put into

58

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Feb. 6, 1902.

practice this great secret of success 1 Our
friend, Mr. Sladen, says, when visiting Mr.
Doolittle, he noticed all the frames were
11 1 in. deep in the ninety hives there. Now
is the great bee-keeper's success in spite of or
in consequence of the use of this deep frame ?
I am led to ask this because of the editorial
answer to 0. M. on page 30 : — "Any
advocacy of either a larger or a smaller frame
than that now in general use must come from
other journals than the B.B.J. In other
words, we should regard such a change as
rank folly, almost approaching to absurdity."
Do you not think this is rather too emphatic,
seeing how the leading bee-men of the world
differ in opinion and practice 1 In fact, it is
not very complimentary to Mr. Doolittle.

But surely this need not be a question of
opinion, since the utility of any particular
size of frame can be tested by placing various
sorts under the same conditions, and offering a
prize for the best. Or, seeing that an 8-in.
frame is easier of manipulation, have we to
sacrifice efficiency for convenience ? I should
like those who write to let us know what
large yields they have ; also, let us know what
size of hive they use, &c. Is it possible to
attain Mr. Doolittle's ideal in a better way
than by using the " Wells " hive with a deep
frame 1—3. D., Pendh Forest, Lanes., Jan. 25.

[We hope to refer to the above in " Useful
Hints " next week.

DISTRICT B.K. ASSOCIATIONS.

[4686.] As your correspondent Mr. John
P. Phillips, who writes on page 35, will be
glad to answer any inquiries on the above, I
beg to thank him for his encouraging remarks.
He tells us that his Association has adopted a
system of local secretaries to look after the
interest of each district. We trust they will
be in reality, and not secretaries in name only.
There must be something lacking in our local
secretary, as I, for one, do not know who or
where he is. But as so much of the life of
the Association depends upon the local man,
I would recommend him, if a B.J. reader,
to peruse the letter of your correspondent
"B. Mad" (page 35), which was a fitting
reply to Mr. Phillips's remarks. If that
gentleman can offer (through the local sec-
retaries) the advantages he sets forth on page
35, we will lay the matter before the meeting
to be called at an early date. The number
of bee-keepers in this district is increasing
yearly, but they need something more than
" spring and autumn visits " by the experts.

I notice that at the last monthly meeting of
the B.B.K.A. a large proportion of replies re
the " Insurance Scheme " came from bee-
keepers not connected with Associations, and
I ask : Can Mr. Phillips explain why such a
state of things exists ? I am afraid I am
coming dangerously near the mark, and pause
to ask if the W.B.K.A. are working in con-
nection with the B.B.K.A. or the Worcester-

shire County Council. I hope that if the
Bournville District Bee-keepers' Association
should become an accomplished fact, bee-
keepers will rally round (remembering that
" Unity is strength " in everything pertaining
to bees) and give it a good start off. — P.
Tilley, Beech-road, Bournville, January 30.

WEATHER REPORT.

Westbourne, Sussex.

Rainfall, 1 08 in.

Heaviest fall, -42 in.,
on 1st.

Rain fell on 10 days.

Below average,
1-35 in.

Maximum Tempera-
ture, 52°, on 1st

Minimum Tempera-
ture, 21°, on 15 th.

Minimum on Grass,
13°, on 15th.

Frosty Nights, 13.

Sunshine, 59'6 hrs.

January, 1902.
Brightest Day, 30th,

7*1 hours.
Sunless Days, 12.
Below average, 9"5
hours.

Maximum,

Minimum,
Temperature,

Mean

45 9°.
Mean

35-4°.
Mean

40-6

Above average, 3 9°.
Maximum Barometer,

30-98°, on 15th.
Minimum Barometer,

29 31°, on 25th.

L. B. BlRKETT.

Qtt^rfys and Htyrttp.

[2789.] Queen-Bearing : Moving Bees from
House Roofs. — 1. Should esteem it a great
favour if you will give me the fullest directions
for queen-rearing, as I should like to re-queen
twelve to fifteen hives. I have Mr. Cowan's
" Guide Book " and other works on bees, but
don't think the instructions are quite explicit
enough to one who has had no experience in
this department of apiculture. 2. Perhaps
Mr. F. W. L. Sladen would give us Mr.
Doolittle's method of queen-rearing ? 3. Will
you also tell me the best way to remove a
colony of bees from between the ceiling and
bedroom floor in house into a bar-framed
hive, and when would be the best time to do
it 1 — Fred Woods, Wisbech, January 29.

Reply. — If you will point out what parts
of the chapter on "Queen Rearing,'' as de-
fined in the " Guide Book,'' are not " explicit
enough," we willbe very pleased to clear up any
uncertainty, if such is found to exist. At the
same time, it should be understood that any
one who attempts so advanced an operation in
bee-beeping a3 rearing queens by the dozen or
more, must have had some previous practice
on a small scale. Anyway, we venture to
assert that if the chapter in "Guide Book"
(page 121) is carefully studied, along with
the particulars regarding the " Metamor-
phosis of Bees " (page 11) no intelligent bee-
keeper can go wrong, the words used being as

Feb. 6, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

59

brief, plain, and simple as can be used to express
what is intended. 2. Mr. Doolittle's method
of queen-rearing i8 published in book form,
and costs more than the " Guide Book,'' 3.
The flooring-boards would need removal so as
to expose the combs, which — when the bees
are properly subdued — will have to be cut
away one by one and tied into frames if worth
saving. It might be well to read the account
of moving bees from house roofs in our
monthly B.K. Record of November last
(page 169).

[2790.] Taking Bees to South Africa : A
" Find " of Honey on the March.— Mr. R.
Godson, of Tothill, Hon. Secretary of the
Lines BK.A., has kindly given me your
name, as being likely to assist me with advice
in the matter of packing bees to take or send
to South Africa. My husband is in Pretoria,
and I am packing up in order to follow, per-
haps in March, and a friend residing near
London has given us two frame-hives stocked
with bees. The hives are still at East
Finchley, and I want to know if it will be
too late to move them in March. Also,
can you tell me how they should be packed
for the voyage, or suggest a practical man
who would be able to go to the place where
the hives now are, and pack them and convey
them to London for me ? "Would not most of
the combs have to be removed altogether, or
secured in the frames in some way ? I should
be much obliged for any information you can
give me, also, if possible, the names of shippers
who would take bees and understand the care
of them on voyage. I think Cape Town
would be the best port. It is about three
days' journey from Cape Town to Pretoria,
and ordinary traffic is fairly started now, so if
I wrote my husband (who is a medical man) to
have a place ready to receive them, we might be
able to get the bees out before swarming time.
I am told there are not many bees kept in the
country, and they would be profitable to keep.
I shall, of course, take out spare hives, &c,
and suppose in the first year it will be best to
feed them well, and get as many swarms as
possible, and thus start a small apiary or bee-
garden. The bees in question are said to be
of a good strain and very prolific honey-
gatherer?. Anything you can tell me in con-
nection with them will be appreciated.
In 1900, when my husband was on the
march with Lord Methuen, he managed to
get over 8 or 9 lb. of honey out of an upturned
wooden box on a deserted farm. This honey
he carried in his tea-kettle and a paraffin-tin
found on the place, and that was the only
honey they saw any sign3 of in over 2000
miles trekking. It was, however, very much
appreciated by those who got some of it. —
E. L., Hatfield, Doncaster, January 28.

Reply. — By a fortunate coincidence, we
have an engagement on Thursday (the day
this appears in print) with a Bee Journal
reader who has kept bees for several years in

South Africa, and who, being on a visit to
this country, is calling on us for a bee-chat.
We will take the opportunity of bringing your
query to his notice, and will send you his
views of the chance of getting stocks of bees
out. Our own opinion is that stocked hives
cannot be safely got out, but we will not press
the point till we get our friend's views.

[2791.] Suspected Dysentery. — To - day
(January 20) my bees took a fancy for a
flight from their hive, and I was surprised
that all of them that took wing, after flying
abouc a few minutes, dropped on the ground
and seemed to have no power to rise again.
I also noticed that they seemed to part with
a substance something like boiled linseed oil.
As I have them well wrapped up, I do not
care to open the hive and examine the combs
this cold weather. The bees seem lively
enough just when they issue forth, but in a
few minutes they seem to chill and die. I
left them all the honey gathered last season
for the winter stores, as I value the bees more
than the honey, but I am afraid they will
dwindle away. 1. When should I expect the
colony to be hatching young bees, as ours is a
very cold district ] 2. What can I do to remedy
the mischief? I do not know of any bees
but mine being kept in this neighbourhood,
and I am very anxious to winter my only
stock safely, as I am just getting the bee-
fever. Thankiog you for such help as you can
give me. — H. Milner, Ectleshall, Bradford,
January 20.

Reply. — 1. If the stock is very forward
young bees may be hatching out in January,
and if this is so it is quite possible that such
" baby bees '' as venture on flight in cold
weather might chill and fall to the ground as
stated. All the same, we rather think the
mischief more probably arises from dysentery,
and consequent weakness of adult bees. 2.
First ascertain the cause by examining the
combs to see if they are fouled by the excreta
of bees, and, if so, treat for dysentery. If all
is well in the hive interior do nothing, beyond
seeing that the bees have food, until later on.

[2792.] Most Suitable Colour of Paint for
Bee-Hives. — I have been a reader of the Bee
Journal now for about eighteen months, and
have found a great deal of instruction in it, as
I also have from Mr. Cowan's " Guide Book."
I commenced with two skeps of bees, and now
have eight stocks in frame-hives and one in a
skep. Being desirous of giving my frame-
hives a couple of coats of paint, I am led to
ask : — 1. What coloured paint is most suitable
for the purpose ? I have failed to find any-
thing in the " Guide Book " on this point, and
as I make all my own hive?, I have need to
think about painting them. I need hardly
say they are made tor the Standard frame,
each hive backing. 2. Which is the best way
ten frames made to hang, at right angles to
the entrance? The stands and floor- boards
are attached together, while the hive is loose.

60

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Feb. 6, 1902.

All my eight hives are double-walled at sides,
and as I shall be commencing to make some
new ones, I will be glad of the reply to
question 2. — M. H. Jones, Adivy, Wrexham.

Reply. — 1. It is generally agreed that light
stone-colour is the most suitable for hives ;
but many bee-keepers adopt striking contrasts
in colour for contiguous hives in order to
assist young queens in finding their own hives
when returning from the " mating trip." 2.
Our decided preference is for frames which
stand at right angles to entrance, i.e., the top-
bars running from front to back.

[2793.] Ripening Honey : Limiting Drones.
— Will you kindly answer the following ques-
tions : — 1. I have nine colonies of bees. How
many of the whole number would it be advis-
able to stop from breeding drone3 % 2. When
working for extracted honey, and the super is
left on till the combs are sealed over, will the
honey be sufficiently ripe to keep if stored
away in tins or jars when extracted ? 3. If
not — and as I have no " honey-ripener "—
would the honey ripen if the tops of jars are
left open, and how long would it have to
stand in order to become thoroughly ripe?
4. Could I get the hack numbers of the B,B J.
(through my newsagent) that gives the best
method of packing comb and extracted honey
for rail, and if so, please state the dite of such
numbers, and oblige.— J. J. H., Trindon,
February 1.

Reply. — 1. Do not entirely prevent drone-
breeding in any hive ; it is advantageous to
allow a few inches of drone-cells in each
colony, but remove all beyond that quantity.
2. If the bee-keeper deals judiciously by not
removing surplus honey before it is ripened
by the bees, all trouble in the direction men-
tioned may be avoided. 3. It is good practice
to leave the " caps " off jars of honey for a few
days after extracting because of its allowing
all air-bubbles to rise to the surface and
making it easy to skim them off. 4. Informa-
tion on packing honey for rail appears in the
B.J. for December 2, 1897, to be had, post
free, for ljd. in stamps from this office.

Chichester, January 27. — I am very
pleased to hear the "Echoes" resounding once
again. Our old friend John Walton (on page
18) inquires after another old friend in the
person of Mr. Alfred Rusbridge, who in years
gone by was a frequent contributor to the
B.B.J. I am glad to say he is still living, but
does little in the way of bee-keeping now,
although the district of Sidlesham, near this
city, is a regular bees' paradise for hawthorn
and clover honey in a favourable season. The
crocuses are now coming into bloom here ;
laurustinus, too, makes one begin to think of

spring ; but the weather is still very change-
able ; birds sing one day as in April, and the
next it is freezing ! For myself, I prefer tha
cold in January ; it keeps the bees indoors
and out of harm's way. With the exception
of an occasional cleansing flight, I have not
seen much of the bees for past fortnight.—

j. d . - * -

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 oar 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.

A.II queries forwarded toill be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be antwered in this column

*#* Owing to press of important matter this
week, we are obliged to hold over several
articles already in type. Among them
" Apicultural Notes,'' by Allen Sharp ;
" Taking Bees to the Moors," " Maeterlinck
on the Drone," " Buying Bees," and some
Queries, along with " Useful Hints."

W. W. Prtop. (Breach wood Green). — In-
surance for Bee-keepers. — Your suggestion
that "all bee appliance makers should, in
their catalogues, advise customer-J to sup-
port the insurance scheme," must be taken
for what it is worth, but we should thiuk it
is a matter which must be left entirely to
the dealers themselves.

Novice (Throapham) —Making Bee Candy.
— Sample has not been sufficiently " worked
up'' by continuous stirring while cooling.
The grain is coarse and rough, instead of
fine and smooth. We are sending a sample
of candy made from same receipt (in
" Guide Book ") to show you what bee
candy should be like.

T. K. (London, S.E.). — Waterproof Covers for
Hive Roofs.— If the covers (made as sample
sent) can be relied on as thoroughly water-
proof, we have no doubt they will meet
with favour at the hands of readers. The
price is in their favour, and if durable, as
stated, it should prove a success. We will
be glad to have another sample cover in
just the form they are to be sent out before
giving our final opinion on the subject.

T. P. (West Norwood). — "Homes of the
Honey Bee.y — We cannot name the dates
on which the "Homes" of particular bee-
keepers who have been good enough to send
photos for publication will appear. After
sending a " proof '.' of each tone-block when
engraved, we are compelled to let the pic-
tures take their fortnightly turn in the
order received. Yours will appear before
long, and when it does a copy of the pape r
will be sent you to ensure your seeing it.

J. L. Saxby (Clevedon). — Working for In-
crease.— Your second letter repeating queries
will be replied to next week.

Feb. 13, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

61

Auditorial SBotttM, &r.

DEVON BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual general meeting of the D.B.K. A.
wa3 held at Exater, in the Guildhall, on
January 24. Letters of regret from the
President, Lird Seaton and others having
been read, the chair was taken by Col. Walker,
Chairman of the Council.
. The report of the Council showed a good
general progress, although the present number
of members (241) washes by twenty-four than
at the last annual meeting. The honey show
iu August had been a great success, and it
was satisfactory that no complaints of any
kind had been made by exhibitors or others.
There had been one successful candidate for
third class experts' certificate. To meet the
yearly expenses it had been necessary to draw
upon the reserve fund, leaving a small debit
against the Association. Full use had been
m.ide of the bee-tent at various shows, and
lectures had been given in many places.

Jn moving the adoption of the report and
accounts, the Chairman said that the means at
the disposal of the Association were not and
never could be sufficient for the thorough
development of the bee-keepiDg industry
throughout the county. He had never con-
cealed hi3 opinion that no county association
could do its proper work without assistance
from its County Council. Th.it body had
already recognised the importance of the
industry by allotting grants to be expended
with the assistance of the Association. But,
with the consent of the latter, limitations a3
to the mode of expenditure had been settled
on, which had been found in practice to be a
bar to satisfactory progress ; and a scheme
was now under consideration, modelled on one
that had proved very satisfactory in another
English county, and which he had great hopes
would be adopted in Devon. A critical point
in the affairs of the Association had been
reached. Should the County Council decide
that they were able to manage the work inde-
pendently, there was every prospect of their
being left to do so. In that case the current
year would be the last year of this
Association's existence, and they would
retire with every feeling of goodwil,
.and with such hopes as they could summon
up that the County Council might be aole to
do the bee-industry full ju tice. Tne work
done would not have been in vain, inasmuch
as it hid nude evident to the Council tne im-
portance of the industry, and the nec-ssity of
doing something to foster it. Mr. Tolson, in
•seconding, said that if the Cuunty Coancil
could see their way to dealing properly with
the bee-induttry it would be an example
throughout the country. To do so singly was
a big busiies?, and it must surely be more
advantageo is and economical to make ure of

the machinery to their hand in the existing
D*?von Be-keepers' Association.

The rep >rt was adopted.

The Right Hon. Sir John Kennaway, Bart.,
M P., was elected President. Vice-Presidents
and Council were elected and re-elected, as
were also the Hon. Secretary, Mr. Schole-
field, and Hon. Treasurer, Mr. Farrant.

Votes of thanks to the retiring President,
the Auditor, and the Mayor of Exeter for use
of the Guildhall closed the proceedings.

*#* The Conclusion of Colonel Walker's
article on p%ge 53, along ivith " Useful Hints"
are unavoidMy held over till next week.

CAN BEES HEAR ?

THE NEW SCENT ORGAN.

By F. W. L. Sladen.
The question, " Can bees hear ? " is one in
which I have been particularly interested
Bince my discovery that the peculiar mem-
brane which lies between the fifth and sixth
dorsal segments of the worker honey-bee, and
which has long been known as Nassanoff's
organ, is in reality a scent-producing organ,
and that the scent emitted by this organ forms
an important means of communication between
bees during swarming and at other times (see
my account in B.J., vol. xxix., pp 142 and
151). It was in asking myself this very question,
" Can bees hear V that I was led to investi-
gate the function of Nassanoff's organ and to
make the discovery above alluded to. . Tne
ground I took was that I had no evidence to
show that either humble-bees or honey-bees
can hear ordinary sounds except; that furnished
by tha well known "joyful hum"; and I
knew from observation that bees are often
attracted in an unmistakable and remarkable
way, especially in swarming time, by a group
of bees that is tgiving expression to this so-
called "joyful hum" ; and not only that, but
they commence to give expression to it them-
selves, and thus a large body of bees may be
attracted into the hive or made to go in any direc-
tion to which the leaders may call their attention.
I asked myself, " Is it really the hum that
attracts the bees, or is there any other attrac-
tive force associated with the outward indica-
tion of humming V The circumstances seemed
to me to be sufficiently suspicious to warrant
this question being asked. Not only had my
observations gone to show (though by no means
conclusively) that bees are deaf to ordinary
Bounds, but the poiture of the at ractive hum-
ming bees seemed to me to be very remarkable,
and to indicate that they were doing some-
thing more thin merely d.tf isiug sound around
them. There were especially two peculiar
things about their attitude. Oue was that the
tip of the abdomen was elevated high in the
air ; the other, which was much more remark-
able, wa3 that a narrow white membrane was
at the same time invariably exposed between
th3 fifth and sixth d'Tjal segments, quite close

62

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 13, 1902.

to the tip of the abdomen. The idea of this
being a scent-producing organ at once struck
me, and the very humming or fanning seemed
to lend support to it, for I asked myself,
" Would not the disturbance of the air caused
by the vibration of the wings distribute the
scent far and wide ? '' In no way could the
bee distribute the scent better than by elevating
the portion of its body from which the scent
issued, and fanning the scent by a vibration of
wings. The more I studied the attitude of
one of these " calling " bees, the more con-
vinced I felt that the object of the bee in it
was not to give voice to an attractive sound,
but to distribute an attractive scent I
detected the true scent produced by Nassanoff's
organ soon after I suspected it, by putting
my nose close down over a swarm of bees
entering a hive, but not so that I was certain
of it. It was not, in fact, until last Maroh,
after I had sent the account of my observa-
tions and suspicions to the British Bee
Journal, that I actually proved that the
scent I had smelt in the swarm of bees the
previous July was really produced by the
organ in question. The discovery was made
quite unexpectedly by a simple experiment
which can be repeated by any one. The
dorsal segments of several freshly-killed
worker - bees were separated from the
abdomens, but not from one another, and were
stretched out on cards by means of pins so
that the connecting membrane between each
segment was fuily stretched and exposed to
view. A good view was thus obtained of
Nassanoff's membrane. I think 1 was pre-
paring the third or fourth of these specimens
when I suddenly smelt the odour that I had
noticed in the swarm, but much more
pronounced. It came from the specimen I was
preparing. I immediately separated Nassanoff s
organ with a pair of dissecting-scissors from
the rest of the specimen, aud placed it on a
card by itself. It continued to give off the
scent quite strongly for some time, while the
card containing the rest of the specimen soon
lost it altogether. This is a most interesting
experiment, and it can easily be verified. The
student must not, however, expect every
specimen to produce the scent. Dr. Hunter,
of the London Hospital Bacteriological Labora-
tory, before whom I repeated the experiment,
said that he thought the scent was produced
only in those specimens which had been torn
or injured in such a way as to excite the
glands that secrete the scent.

Besides being valuable in swarming-time
the scent organ is put to almost daily use
during the summer by individual bees who,
when they reach the entrance of their hive
after having had some difficulty in finding it,
almost invariably protrude the organ and set
up a humming, and remain thus engaged for
some time before they pass in, even though,
as is often the case, they may be half paralysed
with cold. No doubt such action gives the
bee pleasure, and it has rightly been inter-

preted as an act of joy on reaching home, but
it also has the effect of indicating to other
tired bees, which may have alighted in the
grass or on the ground near by, the position of
the entrance, and thus, as I have often seen
myself, of arou-ing them, and they are enabled
to reach the shelter of the hive, while if it had
Dot been for the attractive force exerted by
their comrades in their pleasure at entering
the portal they would certainly have perished
from exposure outside.

I do not mean to coDvey by these notes that
I disbelieve that bees can hear. On the con-
trary, I think it is quite probable that sound
as well as scent makes a bee that is performing
the "joyful hum " attractive to its neighbours.
Still, I now know that the production of
scent plays a very important part in an act
that was formerly thought to be one of pro-
ducing sound only, and which was considered
to be the chief point of evidence in favour of
the supposition that bees can hear. It adds
interesting evidence and great weight to the
fact long known, that bees have the power not
only of perceiving smells, but of distinguishing
between them so as to be attracted by some
smells and repelled by others.

I am very glad to see the question, " Can
bees hear ? " raised for discussion in the Bee
Journal, and I hope that it may set many
bee-keepers to work in what is, in my opinion,
one of the most interesting and promising
fields for investigation that our pursuit offers.
I do not think that any of your correspondents
have given evidence to prove that bees can
hear. It is quite natural, for instance, that
bees should be affected by a peal of thunder
which causes vibration, to which it is well
known that bees are peculiarly sensitive. It
by no means follows that because an insect is
capable of producing certain sounds, that it
can hear those sounds. If it can hear them,
some effect ought to be noticeable. One of
the most interesting sounds produced by bees
is the piping of queens, and it would assist
greatly in answering the question, " Can bees
hear ? " if some careful observations were made
and recorded as to the effect, if any, that
follows piping, and also to investigate the real
reason for it.

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions impressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and eorreepondenti
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.

[4687-] During the past fortnight we have

been in the grip of winter, frost, snow, cold

north winds, and bitterly cold days, alternating

with a few hours' sunshine at times. The day

Feb. 13, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

63

of St. Valentine, when, according to folk-lore,
our feathered friends choose their mates, is at
hand, ■' pairing " having already begun here,
and my fruit crop will be sadly deficient next
summer, for a pair of bullfinches have
made sad havoc of the buds on the plum and
bush-fruit trees. For past week we have been
busy fillirig orders, and in consequence my
usual strolls around the apiary have been
missed ; but when I got a look round my
attention was at once called to the destruction
of the buds by the refuse sprinkled over the
snow-covered ground. The birds have paid
forfeit, but the damage is done. I think the
ancient adage —

Of all the months in the year,
Curse a fair Februer,

applies with equal force to a fair January.
The mildness of January forced on the growth,
and consequently the budding birds have
started their depredations earlier than usual.
This " note " may draw the attention of fruit-
growers to the matter so that they may be on
the alert for the enemy, not only of the
fruiterer but also of the bees, by restricting
the breadth of early blossom so useful in
building up our stocks for the main harvest in
June.

Queen,- Breeding by Selection. — It has been
my endeavour for many years to breed queens
from those mothers whose offspring have
shown the greatest number of points of
general excellence. Non-awarming has, per-
haps, had less attention at my hctnds than
formerly, because I find that by practice the
bee-keeper who is continually working among
his bees gets but a small percentage of swarms.
An occasional colony will, no doubt, swarm
themselves out and become useless, but for
several years we have not had more swarms
than we wanted. The great difficulty to the
queen-breeder is the impossibility of con-
trolling the drone. For years past the
tendency has been to restrict drone-
breeding to as few ai possible, and the
bees — driven by instinct for the perpetua-
tion of their species — have perforce raised
drones in enlarged worker-cells in out of the
way places, such as in the extreme corners of
the frames, where on chilly nights in July
the hatching drones have not been reared in
the even temperature required for their full
development. The breeder of stock of all
kinds is ever selecting the finest male specimen
for hi3 purposes, yet bee-keepers generally
have done very little in that direction, so far
as I can gather from their writings. They
are ready to admit the potency of the " sire,''
therefore ought we not rather to try and
improve our stock of drones for the same
reason ? Probably a large proportion of
drones bred under the adverse conditions
named above are impotent, and thus our
youDg queens bred with such care from non-
swarming mothers may mate with drones
from straw skeps in which the swarming strain
of bees has been housed successively for genera-

tions. Thu3,if we admit the stronger influence
of the sire on the offspring, our labour is
lost so far a3 non-swarming is concerned.
Mr. Rymer (on page 43) thinks our fathers en-
couraged swarming, which they certainly did,
otherwise they had no harvest at taking-up
time. Their system required swarming. The
modern plan does not, where honey is worked
for ; but I think that under present conditions
it will be a very long time before we shall have
a fixed strain of non-swarming bees to offer.
Regarding my remark some time back re tall
sections being put on one of my best stocks,
my " notes " will bear out what I said on my
system of weeding out the poor sealing traits.
Years ago I had bees which were not capable
of doing first-class sealing work. Possibly the
material they were collecting at the time was
not of very excellent quality, but I always
made a point of re-queening in these cases
with either a queen-cell or a young queen
from one of my best stocks, and by so doing I
believe my stock is improved all round. I
have also for years past allowed in my best
stocks a good patch of natural drone-cells in
one of the central combs, this securing a supply
of drones raised under the best conditions, and
thus improving my strain both maternally and
paternally.

Section Glazing. — I am asked if my offer of
a year or two ago to send a glazed section as
sample is still open. Yes, my friends ; send
in your orders in the slack time, and they
shall have prompt attention (see advertise-
ment pages). — W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury.

APICULTURAL NOTES.

[4688.] Out- Apiaries. — In his " Notes by
the Way '' on page 42 in Bee Journal of
Jan. 30, Mr. W. Woodley is good enough to
refer to me for information respecting the
above. It i3 now eight years since I estab-
lished my out-apiary a good many miles
from home. The said apiary consists of from
thirty to forty stocks managed entirely by
myself. I am, therefore, in a position to
speak with some authority on the subject.
The question, however, is such a vast one that
to deal with it adequately in reply to a query
would be impossible. Two years ago 1 had
the honour of reading a paper on " The
Growth of Bee-keeping '' at the annual meet-
ing of the Hunts Bee-keepers' Association,
and although I only dealt with the salient
points, leaving minor matter untouched, my
paper was a somewhat lengthy one. The title
of the paper included as a sub-heading, " The
Necessity for Out-Apiaries, and How to
Manage Them.'' When time admits I will
revise my paper, briDg it up to date, and deal
with the matter fully in all its bearings.
When this is done probably our Editors will
publish the same iu the B.B J.

I will, therefore, not deal with the matter at
any length at present. I may, however, state
that any one who contemplates establishing

u

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Feb. 13, 1902.

an out-apiary should first become fairly cf rtain
that the hives located there would yield at
least 40 per cent, more honey than if kept at
borne ; or secondly, that the bee-forage of the
locality yields homy of superior quality to
that produced at home. Unless one or both
those two conditions can be secured the game
will not be worth the candle.

Another thing to bear in mind, if the out-
apiary is to be a success, is the necessity of
being a thorough master of practical apicul-
ture in all its bearings, so that when the
out-apiary is visited he may know exactly
what to do, and how to do it, in order to be
quite sure that his work will be effectual.
The out-apiary cannot be visited every day,
therefore nothing must be left to chance ; in
fact, we must be sure that all will go on
well, and be perfectly safe until the next visit.
An out-apiary is not the place for experi-
menting ; neither should it be undertaken by
the inexperienced. Only those possessing a
long and varied experience at home should
start an out-apiary ; otherwise the bee-man
will pay dearly for some lessons he will get.

Mr. Woodley says that an out- apiary
involves the use of either a swarm-catcher
or the employment of some one to watch for and
hive swarms. For my own part I neither use
the one nor employ the other. I have relied
on my own resources during the eight years my
apiary has been going, and I only remember
having had two swarms. One of these was
lost, the other secured. It is, of course, pos-
sible that I may have lost swarms by them
decamping, but I do not think it probable, for
on leaving my out-apiary I generally have a
pretty clear idea of the "ccndition,'' and if any
stocks show indications of swarming, they are
the first to be inspected on my next visit. I
may add that as most of the stocks are, in
the swarming season, on upwards of thirty
combs, a swarm from such would leave a void
not easily made good in a week. The great
things to aim at is avoiding undue interference,
while manipulating the whole of the hives in
such a manner that swarming is either pre-
vented or reduced to a minimum. How to do
that will be explained later on. In conclusion,
I need only add that one and the same
methods are not always adopted, nor do I lay
down any hard and fast rules. I let my eye be
my guide, and acquired knowledge the ground-
work for my operations. — Allen Sharp,
The Apiary, Brampton, Huntingdon, Feb. 3.

P.S. — I believe 1 was the first bee-keeper to
establish a permanent out-apiary at a long dis-
tance from home. Several others have since
followed my example.

MAETERLINCK ON THE DRONE.

[4689.] In response to Colonel Walker's in-
vitation to bee-keepers to give their ex-
periences as to the habits of the drone with
respect to cleanliness inside the hive, I may
say that my own observations entirely corre-

spond with his own as given in his interesting
communication to the B. J. (4685).

A few times when depriving the bees I have
noticed a little fresh excreta spattered over the
sections, but so f.ir as I could judge this had
been dropped by the workers themselves, and
wa3 attributable to the effects of sudden fright
caused by the smoke and disturbance incident
to deprivation. I should add that excluder-
zinc has never been used in my apiary, so that
the drones have free access to the supers.

In my opinion, Colonel Walker has done
good service in calling attention to what every
practical bee-keeper must regard as weak
points in Maeterlinck's very striking work on
the bee. I should say that the greater portion
of his figures are open to criticism, and this is
a circumstance the more to be regretted, inas-
much as the work is one that is evidently
obtaining a wide general circulation. What,
for instance, is to be said of statements that
convey such ideas as the following: — 1. That
the common size of swarms is from 12 lb. to
14 lb. (page 38) ; 2. That bees on swarming
commonly leave behind them a compact mass
of honey and pollen reaching about 1 cwt.
(page 39) ; 3. That drones visit and sleep on
the nearest flowers (page 287) ; 4. That the
queen bears in her flanks close on two million
lives (page 84), &c, &c. 1 Such statements
might be multiplied almost indefinitely, but I
think the wildest flight of poetical licence, or
whatever it may bp, is reached in the follow-
ing, with which I conclude, although I cannot
pretend to be quite certain of the author's
prec.se meaning : — " .... immense fields of
flowers that have been visited daily one or
two thousand times" (page 293) Does, M.
Maeterlinck really mean to saddle our poor
little servant with the task of a laborious
journey during every half-minute of a long
summer's day '?— A. Royds, Jun., Soberton,
Hants, January 28.

{Correspondence continued on page 66 )

HOMES OF THE HONEY-BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

The apiary illustrated on next page is
situated on what are known as " The Half-
mile Field Allotments," which we take to
mean allotments occupied by various holders
who fill up their spare hours by gardening.
This adds considerably to the interest our
readers will feel in the bee-garden shown.

We also learn, through the hon. secretary
of the County B.K.A., that Mr. Clarke has
been a member of the Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion since he commenced bee-keeping, and in
1898 he was elected one of our " local
correspondents," while thi3 year he was
chosen as a member of the executive com-
mittee. The hon. secretary also says : —

" He has done much towards creating an
interest in bee-keeping by having made for
himself an observatory-hive, and exhibiting
same at various shows in and around Gates-

Feb. 13, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

65

head, and has secured several ' firsts ' for the
same. He is a sincere enthusiast, and I am
sorry to say that the ground on which his
hives are now seen has been sold for building
sites. However, we sincerely hope he may be
able to procure another location near at
hand."

. Writing of himself at our request, Mr.
Clarke sends the following notes : —

" In the year 1894, having at the time a
small garden about 22 yds. square (one of the
Half-mile Field allotment gardens), I had a
great desire to keep bees, and after getting
from friends such information as I could gain
about them I heard of Mr. Cowan's ' Guide
Book,' of which I soon purchased a copy.
Having read it carefully through, I made two

practice by making an artificial swarm, and
the stock also sent out a ' cast,' which latter
I returned to the parent hive after cutting
out all queen-cells. I may say that I got
much other valuable information from the
'Guide .Bjok,' without which I could not
have got on. As you will see from the photo,
I have now increased my apiary to eight
colonies, viz , one ' Wells ' hive and seven
single ones, all of which are now occupied, the
others standing empty ready for use when
wanted. The photo shows the hive3 and a
general view of part of the garden, with your
humble servant in the background. I hive
also other photos showing ' A swarm of bees
on the beanstalks,' ' Hiving; the bees in one
side of a " Wells " hive,' ' Showing the queen

MR. WM. CLARKE S APIARY, GATESHEAB-ON- TYN'E, NORTHUMBERLAND.

hives from the directions given in the book.
These hives when complete I sent away to a
friend living about fourteen miles away, and
he gave me a swarm of bees in exchange for
one of them. When I got the hive and bees
I found the inside in an awful nie^e, the
combs all broken down and a lot of the bees
smothered. However, I got the kinily help
of a fellow bee-keeper, who made, the best
of a bad job by bandaging up the combs,
washing the hive out, &c, so that I was
able to get the bee3 into a fairly good
condition for the winter. As it was August
when I got them home, I was unable to
secure any surplus honey that season. In
the following year I put my reading into

to my eldest son,' ' Examining the brood-nest,'
and also ' The bees at the moors.' I am
situated in a very poor district so far as honey
is concerned, the gardens being surrounded by
houses on all sides, while the nearest bee-
forage is Sakwell P .rk, about a quarter of a
mile distant. I *m compelled to feed the
bees plentifully in the spring-time in order to
get them in g >od condition for the honey
sea-on The clover bloum is ready early in
July and las's about a month. I take the
bees to the moors early in August, and have
to hire a horse and cart for the twenty-five-
mile journey. As the moors are so far away,
the expenses are heavy, so it needs a fairly
good heather harvest to pay my expenses and

66

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Feb. 13, 1902.

leave a small balance over. Needless to say,
I look forward with much pleasure to my
annual trip to and from the moors. I gene-
rally leave home about 8 p.m., and usually
arrive at my destination at 2 or 3 o'clock
next morning, the bees remaining at the
heather for about six weeks. I have had
good and bad seasons, but have no difficulty in
rinding a ready sale for the honey, getting 81.
per 1-lb. section for the clover and Is. per lb.
for the heather, wholesale, which I cousider
fairly good — 'could easily sell double the
quantity.' I make nearly all my own ap-
pliances, which enables me to keep expenses
down. I conclude by wishing for all bee-
keepers a good season during the year 1902.''

CORRESPONDENCE.

{Continued from page 64.)

QUEEN-BREEDING BY SELECTION.

[4690.] I have read again and again Mr.
Rynier's contribution on the above subject on
p. 42, and, while I agree that "we should
endeavour to perpetuate the distinguishing
characteristics of desirable stocks '' (Cowan), I
am not fully persuaded that it is a desirable
thing to try to eliminate the swarming im-
pulse altogether. There is, as every bee-man
knows, a close connection between fecundity
and swarming. The " principal failing '' of
Carniolans, says Mr. Cowan, " is a propensity
for excessive swarming, the queens being
exceedingly prolific." If it were possible to
get rid of the swarming instiuct altogether by
selection in breeding, I fear it would only be
at the cost of prolificness. So long as a queen
does her duty in laying a full number of eggs,
the natural result, in due time, will be (unless
proper steps aro taken by the bee-man) an
overcrowded hive, followed by an impulse to
swarm on the part of the worker bees, for,
according to Maeterlinck, "Life of the Bee,"
p. 43, " all things go to prove that it is not the
queen, but the spirit of the hive that decides
on the swarm." For " spirit of the hive '' in
the above quotation I prefer to read "the
natural instinct implanted by the Creator."

The attempt of the queen to frustrate the
workers' object by striving to destroy the cells
containing embryo rivals would seem to show
that she herself has no desire for swarming so
long as her position is secure, and that when
she does at leugth leave the hive it is in
obedience to a stronger will than her own. As
this indicates that the progeny have by nature
a disposition which the mother does not
possess, it is not clear to me how, by carefully
selecting the mother, the disposition can be
eradicated. Perhaps some of our older
" hands " will throw a little light upon the
matter.

I do not agree with Mr. Rymer as to Mr.
Cowan's chapter on " Queen-rearing," at any
rate, so far as eliminating swarming goes.

Any one not acquainted with the "Guide
Book " would think, from Mr. Rymer's article,
that Mr. Cowan had dealt with the subject,
and shown "that in the hands of our best bee-
keepers this very thing has already been
accomplished,'' when as a matter of fact he
never mentions the subject in the chapter. Mr.
Cowan does, however, speak of the " disposi-
tion to swarm " being " moderated, or even
entirely prevented,'' even in the case of
those excessive swarmers, the Carniolans,
but the remedy is not in queen-selection. On
the contrary, it is " by givirjg them plenty of
room and ventilation.'' And here I beg to
call Mr. Rymer as a witness to the complete
efficacy of this remedy in efficient hands. By
his system of management he says (p 419,
vol. xxviii.) he has " totally overcome swarming,
and greatly increased " his amount of surplus.
Now this witness seems to me to flatly con-
tradict what he says on p. 43 this year, where
he observes, " It is well known that swarming
is hereditary, and far more pronounced in some
species than others ; therefore if we wish to
reduce swarming " (the italics are mine) " we
must eliminate this trait by breeding, &c."

My idea is, breed from your most prolific
queens, and control their progeny by timely
and judicious management. I only had one
hive that swarmed last season, and that I
" forced '•' by limiting their space when pro-
viding ample room on the other hives. The
'' W. B. C." hive is a valuable auxiliary in
moderating the swarming impulse, on account
of the ease with which it can be ventilated
and kept cool. — W. Head, Brilley Vicarage,
Whitney-on- Wye, Herefordshire.

TAKING BEES TO THE MOORS.
[4691 ] In reply t:> Mr. Reid (4656, p. 34)
and ail bee-keepers who take bees to moors, I
will give my method of closing entrances,
which is very simple and effectual. It does
away with tacks, which to my mind aggravate
the bee3, especially when being drawn out of
a hive that has had several coatings of paint.
My first journey to the moors was with a neigh-
bour, whose hives were closed up with zinc
and tacks, and I can only say if we had not
been well protected with veils, gloves, smoker,
&c, like Mr. Reid, we should have had a warm
time of it. I remarked then if ever I started
bee-keeping I would try to devise something
more effectual. The spring following (1900)
I began by getting three stocks of bees and
Cowan's " Guide Book," then in 1901, I com-
mpneed taking the Bee Journal, bothof which
I find very hel pfuLand, being determined to carry
out my object properly, I adopted the follow-
ing method which, as stated above, answered
the purpose in evfry way : — I first got a piece
of wood 4 in. or 5 in. longer than entrance,
same thickness as plinth of slide, and same
oepth as the slides ; plane it to slip in and out
easy ; cut a piece out of the bottom -| in. deep
same length a3 entrance. Over this put per-

Feb. 13, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

67

f orated zinc. Cat the zinc 1 in. deep and
allow 1 in to lay over each end of holes ; cut
out and fix on slide (level with the bottom)
with thin atrip of wood % in. deep, level with
top of holes ; three or four small nails will
secure them together, and the slide is com-
plete. I then draw out one entrance-slide,
and, by pushing the perforated slide in, push
the other entrance-slide out, and all is secure.
I can fix this ready when bees are flying, an
hour or two before I finally close them up,
which is a great saving in ti ne, and no danger
of escape. — D. Raisbeck, Baldtrsby, S. York-
shire, February 3.

INSURANCE FOR BEE-KEEPERS.

HOW IT WORKS IN GERMANY.

[4692.] I follow with much interest the
correspondence in your pages on the question
of insurance for bee-keepers, and from your
editorial footnote on page 41 I suppose the
scheme is likely to soon materialise.

In this vicinity, I may say, bee-keepers are
insured with the Zurich Insurance Company
(premium, ^d.). Some of the papers advocate
a plan like that of the B.B.K.A., but we in
Germany are blessed with small local clubs
established in various parts of the country, and
these are united to provincial organisations.
Of these latter we also have a great many, but,
unfortunately, these are not united to a
national organisation. We have also by far
too many papers devoted to bee- culture ; con-
sequently, they are not supported as they
should be. Our strength is too much divided ;
concerted action not to be expected. If I am
right in my supposition that you have county
associations all over the country, and these are
united to the central body known as the
British Bee-keepers' Association, you are in a
position to guard and promote the interests of
bee-keep9rs more effectually than we can.
With proper support, the insurance scheme is
bound to be successful.

By making the premium low (a halfpenny
per hive would surely be ample), and paying
perhaps a couple of pennies for the receipt in
addition to the premium per colony, you
ought not to lack patronage. I should con-
sider it a serious impediment to success to pay
a stated amount up to a certain number of
stocks. If the insurance scheme is carried out
it will strengthen the B.B.K A. and bring it
many new members. If you have a large
membership you can surely secure, if it seems
advisable, an Act of Parliament to enable you
to combat foul brood more effectually, and that
the Government would establish and maintain
an inspector, &c. You might even have an
insurance against damages from foul brood, so
that at least expert help could be hud free,
and perhaps half of the actual value of stocks
that would have to be destroyed might be
paid. Such things are possible only with a
national organisation, but where there are
scores of independent organisations there are

usually at least half the number of different
opinions, besides other impediments.

The risks of the insurance are so small that
even with a halfpenny premium you will in a
few years have a reserve fund. I know of a
beehouse containing twenty colonies situated
in the corner of a cros3-road, and the flight of
the bee3 is direct over the road. A wooden
fence about 7 ft. high protects passers-by and
also horses in vehicles. Sach a protection would
need to be provided by any one whose stocks
are near a road before he could insure. Early
spring count as a bc»sis, I believe, would give
satisftc ion. I hope you will soon have a
flourishing insurance fund connected with the
B B K.A. — J. A. Hkberly, Stortten, Bavaria,
February 7.

THE INSURANCE SCHEME.

[4693.] I am a reader of your journal, and
my father and myself are bee-keepers. We
should therefore like to join in the insurance
scheme of the B.B.K. A. If you send us two
policies we will fill up and forward subscrip-
tion when Council of British Bee-keepers'
Assoaiation scheme is brought out. — Wm.
Wood, Brownhills, Walsall, February 10.

[Communications regarding the above must
be sent to Mr. E. H. Young, Sec. B.B.K. A.,
12, Hano7er-square, London. — Eds.]

PACKING BEES FOR SOUTH AFRICA.

[4694] In reply to the query of "S. L.,
Hatfield " (2790, page 59), in Bee Journal
of February 6, may I be allowed room to say
I have had some experience in packing bees
for South Africa, and, after trying several
different methods, have found nothing better
than a specially-constructed travelling-crate,
with a proper system of ventilation, which can
be increased when warmer latitudes are
reached. These crates have a simple arrange-
ment whereby the frames are so securely held
in position that no movement can be caused by
the rolling of the vessel. A few weeks
ago I received a letter from Mr. G. H.
Stanley, of Durban (a correspondent of the
Bee Journal, I believe) to say that "bees sent
by me had arrived safely after thirty days
from London to Natal." The bees in question
were packed in crates as above described.

If a passenger can take bees out with him
and keep the hives in their berth, and by so
doing give them personal attention, so much
the better. On the other hand, to send bees
(however well and carefully packed) in their
hive3, is almost sure to end in disappointment.
— -E. H. Taylor, Welwyn, Herts, February 6.

[4695] Seeing that a lady correspondent
(Query 2790, page 59) has written you about
two stocks of bees she wishes to take to South
Africa, I write to say that I feel confident that
I could pack them in such a manner that they

68

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 13, 1902.

would arrive at destination safely, and would
neither be suffocated nor crushed. I would
give the bees free access to the alighting-
board without losing a bee, and there woald
be little or no trouble on arrival. If my
services are availed of I shall be pleased to
interview the lady, being able to pack the
bees and safely ship them. — P. J. Norris,
Aldenham Park, Elstree, February 9.

[We will see tbat both the above com-
munications are brought to the notice of our
lady correspondent, who will no doubt
require some guarantee of the ability of the
person willing to undertake the "packing"
refeired to. We say this because it is only
those who have had some experience of the
task who can know what are the difficulties to
be overcome. — Eds]

BUYING BEES.

[4696.] I am constantly seeing in the B.B.J,
accounts of mice being found in hives, to the
following story (which is strictly true) as a
variation may possibly interest and amuse
some of your readers. Early in May, 1900, a
well-known bee-keeper in this locality lost a
very fine swarm (his first), and the same day
one equally good was hived in a skep by a
neighbouring farmer. The rightful ownership
was pretty clearly demonstrated to him, but
Hodge declined to part, and seemed mighty
proud of his prize. However, not having
made much headway with the bees, and hear-
ing that spring was the " best time to sell,"
he made up his mind early last year to turn
his stock of bees into cash, so asked the
same bee - keeper who had claimed the
swarm if he would buy the stock of bees
in question, stating that they were "a rare
strong lot ! " and he had seen them going in
and out of the hive in great numbers. He
also endeavoured to get an idea a? to value.
My friend declined to trade, but sent him to
another man who was wanting a stock of
bees. Eventually these two came to terms,
with the result that in a few days the would-
be purchaser drove over fully equipped for the
job. Upon going to the hive, however, to take
possession, not a bee was to be seen, and on
raising the skep (to use the farmer's own
words) out jumped a " bloomin' big rat," and
he (the farmer) was at once cured of the bee-
fever.— 0. H. Tomlinson.

GLEANINGS FROM FOREIGN BEE
JOURNALS.

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

Praltischer Wegweiser fur Bienmziichter
(Germany). — The examination of the diseases
of bees will be taken up by the biological
faculty of the health department, in the
^bacteriological laboratory. A small apiary

will be arranged with room for the hives.
This is expected to cost 1,500 m. (£75).

The same. — It is little known that the frog
is a dangerous enemy to be?s. A bee-keeper
who, having no room for his bees, kept them in
a neighbour's garden, complained to a friend
of the constant dwindling of his hives. After
careful observation, the riddle was solved.
Near where the hives were placed a large
ditch ran through the garden, and this
abounded in frogs, green and brown. Frogs
equally carry on a war of extermin >.tion
against the bees. They wait like a beait of
prey until a bee is near enough, and then with
a sudden dart seize and devour it, ngardless
of the sting. In the stomach of one frog were
found no fewer than eleven bee3.

Bucher Beige (Belgium). — Digestive lozenges
can be made by melting in a Bjin Marie 3 oz.
of pure gelatine in 3 oz. of water. Then add
carefully, and stirring thoroughly, £ lb. of
honey, previously warmed. When well mixed,
add a little cochineal and five or six drops of
English essence of peppermint. This is then
run into lozenge moulds or spread thinly on a
plate, dried in a cool place, cut into shape,
and finished drying for eight hours in the
shade in a dry place. A healing balsam, really
valuable in case of hurts, wounds, or graze i of
the skin, is prepared in the same way in a bain
Marie : Wax from the cell-cappings, 1 part ;
2 parts of fresh propolis ; and 7 parts of the
best honey. After well mixiDg, pass through
a close cloth and press out well. Replace
in the Bain Marie. Add cochineal and a few
drop* of essence of lavender. Then beat up
the mixture well with a fork and fill into small
pot3. Fasten down closely.

Prahtischer Wegweiser. — In France honey is
very low in price, as low as 5d. per lb., and in
America beekeepers sell honey cheaply. Tne
industry flourishes, although 4d. pjr lb. is a
fair price. A writer to the Apiculteur pro-
poses that honey shall be sold at so low a
price as to drive all other sweets out of the
field, and thus take its due place of
superiority.

From the same. — Cakes of sugar which can
be laid on the frames are much to be recom-
mended for winter feeding. Placed under
the coverings, it will absorb some of the
winter moisture of the hive. The bees eat
the sugar more eagerly than the honey, which
they require for the nourishment of the young
brood. The beekeeper can easily feel with his
hand if the cake is still there, or if another is
wantpd.

Bulletin de la Sociite d'Apicultnre de la
Somme. — History of a cask of hydromel. — On
May 6, 1893, a cask of "dry'' mead was
made, and after six weeks of rapid fermenta-
tion was bunged down and left to take care
of itself. In December, 1893, it was tasted,
and, to our great surprise, it revealed a flavour
of liquid farmyard manure. Once more left to
itself, in July, 1894, it wa3 tasted by con-
noisseurs, and judged to have become hon9y

Feb. 13, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

69

vinegar. A third time left alone until
December, 1895, when, in despair, it was
drawn off, clarified, and bottled, and left in
the cellar. After five years and a half it is
now almost delicious.

Praktischer Wegweiscr. — Moistening the
press for the making of comb-foundation. The
lower plate of the press should be damped
with brandy, the upper one with a mixture of
honey, water, and brandy. This is an excellent
means of loosening the sheets of comb. The
wax must be qui'e pure ; the best comes from
the solar wax-melter, where it has to be run
through a linen bag. The purer the wax the
less the foundation will stretch, and the easier
it is to separate it from the press.

Bulletin de la Sociite d' 'Apiculture de la
Somme. — Receipt for making honey soap: —
5 oz. best yellow soap, 5 oz. honey, 1 oz.
benzoin, and £cz. of borax. Mix well in a
mortar, then melt in a bain Marie. Strain and
run into moulds. These can be made of cards,
cut and fitted to a suitable shape.

Deutsche Illustrierte Bienenseitung from the
Bienenvater aus Bohmen. — The two daughters
of a Swedish clergyman sent a honey cake to
an agricultural show, in hopes of gaining a
prize with which to purchase a Christmas gift
for thtir father. The family was seated at
dinner when a large staled paper was brought
in from the post, the contents of which ran
thus: "The judges of the 7th class (stables
and building-material for the same) have
awarded to Miss Minny and Miss Betty
Hansen a gold medal for their specimen of
Tiling for the floors of stables and dairies.
Although the composition of the mass is not
stated, the judges feel called upon to reward
this excellent production, as even unshod
horses could not injure a stable floor composed
of tiles made of this composition.''

From the same. — Swallows and the so-
called bet -catchers are maligned as among the
bees' worst enemies. For a long time the
latter were carefully watched by an observant
bee-keeper, and if seen to catch any prey near
the hives, were shot and examined. Two of
these birds had drones in their crops, and the
others (perhaps a dozen birds in all) had,
besides a beetle, large flies, striped black and
yellow, such as are often seen near the hives.
No sign of a bee in one of them. Only once,
after days of cold, rainy weather, when food
was hard to find, a bird, hardly pressed by the
needs of her little ones, seized upon a bee,
and after carefully taking out the sting and
dividing the insect, she fed the young ones
with it. These birds are wonderfully useful
in destroying insects, and the charge of bee-
eating is quite unfounded-

The same. — The, following incident proves
the value of honey in the treatment of
domestic animals. The wiiter had a valuable
milch cow, which, immediately after calving,
became difficult to milk, and the veterinary
surgeon performed a slight operation. She,
however, became worse ; hard swellings formed

in the udder, and the milk fell off from five
gallons daily to less than one. Everything '
was tried, but without success. As a laBt
resource the honey -cure was attempted, the
udder being well and carefully rubbed with
honey three times a day. There was soon a
marked improvement ; the swellings became
softer, and after about ten days disappeared
entirely, and the yield of milk returned to
about four gallons daily. The case speaks for
itself.

Leipziger Bienenzeitung. — A very interest-
ing experiment lately carried out proves a
power of recollection in bees. A number of
paper flowers of all colours were sprinkled
with honey, and hung near a row of dahlias,
which the bees were working. They took no
notica whatever of the paper flowers until one
was held so close to a bee that she smelt
the honey, and went to work to collect
it. This bee and a few others which had
worked the paper flowers were marked with
red colour and returned to their hives ; the
piper flowers were removed. Some little time
afterwards strips of the same coloured paper
were hung about the garden, when the marked
bees were seen examining them closely seeking
for honey. It is evident they had some recol-
lection of honey associated with the various
colours.

[2794.] Varieties of Heather Honey in
Germany. — I would be pleased if you would
answer following in Bee Journal : — 1. Is
heather honey considered finer than that from
clover, sainfoin, or lime trees 1 2. What is
the botanical name of the heather, and where
dots it grow most abundantly 1 Does it grow
on moorland or on sandy land ? 3. I have
seen white Dutch clover spoken of in con-
nection with the rotation of crops ; is it sown
as a forage plant ? What is its botanical
name ] 4. Can heather honey be extracted ?

From the excellent article of " D. M. M." I
infer that the heather he speaks of might be
the Erica vulgaris, as it grows especially
abundant in the Ltineburger Heide, Han-
over, which begins to bloom about August 1.
Some one mentions that he sells the heather
honey higher than that from clover, and I was
not aware that the honey from the Erica
vulgaris was especially fine, but that the
Erica cinerea, blooming very early in spring
(as soon as the snow disappears), yielded very
tine honey.

The honey from the Erica vulgaris, as we
have it in Germany, could not be extracted,
but recently it is claimed that a Mr. R. Dathe
had succeeded in extracing the honey from
tie Eri-a vulgaris. Thanki: g you in advance
for your kiudutss.— J. A. Heberlt, Stortien,
Bavaria, February 7.

Reply.— 1. Heather honey— as known in

70

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 13, 1902.

this country — is so distinct in aroma, flavour,
colour, and consistency from all other honeys
gathered here that it cannot be judged along-
side aDy of those you name. So generally is
this recognised that at all our shows heather
honey has separate classes for itself. 2. The
respective varieties of British heaths are
Erica, or Calluna, vulgaris (ling), Erica
cinerea (bell heather), and Erica tetralix.
The latter grows only on damp bog-land, and
is useless for bee-forage. 3. White or Dutch
clover (Trifolium repens) is regarded here, as
in most countries, as the chief of all bee-
plants. The seed is sown in spring mixed
along with that of ryegrass and other seeds for
hay and forage. 4. Not in the ordinary
cylinder extractor. It needs a special press
for forcing the honey from the combs.

[2795.] Transferring Bees to Frame-Hives.
— Glass Quilts. — 1. Kindly state what you
think would be the best method of pro-
ceeding in the month of April with a skep
under the following conditions ; — I brought
the bees from the south in skep ; it was packed
in a frame, as recommended by Mr. Cowan
(in fact, an improvement, having a broad
bottom so as to stand firm), but I found that
through being put in a warm porter's room all
the combs were broken off ; so after putting
in pieces of cork attached to bits of divider
wood, I put it down inside an Abbott's com-
bination hive. I much regret not having put
it on frames of comb, but all I had were
very old. . 2. Also kindly give particulars of
glass quilts. After having been a successful
bee-keeper with fifteen hives, making money
out of it, I have for about seven jears had
nothing but an empty bar-frame bive. 3. Can
you tell me if the Willesden paper is still to be
had and where, and would it not be good to
cover cheap hives ] I was once a constant sub-
scriber to the Journal, and hope to be so again.
I have read Dzierzon, Langstroth, Cook, Cowan,
and Simmins. — F. Eccles, Milnthorpe, Wake-
field, February 3.

Keply. — 1. After examining the rough
sketches sent we advise your setting the skep
— with combs as fixed on a wood skewer —
above the top-bars of a frame-hive, and allow-
ing the bees, as they require room, to work
down into the latter. Of course, the frames
will need fitting with full sheets of comb
foundation, as directed in ': Guide Book."
2. Gla-s quilts (so called) are simply sheets of
strong glass laid next the top-bars of frames
for observation purposes. They need a cir-
cular feed-hole cut by a glazier. 3. The
Willesden Paper Company, London, supply
it, but we prefer other materials for the
purpose named.

<ftt tores from tto %wi>.

■Margoville Apiary, Lanarkshire, Feb'
ruary 8. — Yesterday, although the air was
somewhat keen, the sun shone brightly all

day, and by mid-day the apiary was alive with
bees taking their first cleansing flight. After
three months' enforced confinement they took
full advantage of their opportunity (and when
do bees neglect an opportunity ?), and the bee-
keeper following their example had all quilts,
packing, &c, exposed to the sweetening
effects of the warm sun. To-day, 5 in. of
snow covers the ground, but my mind is easy.
The bees have food enough and are snug
enough. So far all is well. — G. H.

Wooler, Norihu mberland, February 4. —
The snow has disappeared once more, and I
find that most of the hives are in good con-
dition, both with regard to quantity of bees
and stores. — Jas. Waddell.

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 Is
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 tht
receipt of their communications.

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

Amateur (Penryn, Cornwall). — Copper Bee-
smokers. — There is no reason to suppose
that any barm will follow the use of your
"nicely finished'' copper bee-smoker. In
fact, most bee-men will probably rather envy
you its possession. We never heard of
" bee-smokers '' made of " aluminium," or
even of brass, as stated.

A. Gordon (Huntly, N.B ). — Transferring
from Skeps to Frame-hives. — To place a
skep of bees above the top-bars of a frame-
hive in the month of January will only
have the effect of delaying the bees of skep
from transferring the brood-nest to the hive
below. We should at once replace the skep
on its own floor-board, and defer any further
operations until the bees are getting strong
in numbers in spring. It will obviously
delay this desirable condition to compel the
bees to travel through an empty frame-hive
in working, besides reducing the warmth
which assists them in building up early in
spring.

J. P. Dench (St. Austell). — Insurance for
Bee-keepers. — The full particulars of the
insurance scheme will be duly printed in
our pages when ready for publication. The
matter is being dealt with by the B.B.K.A.
Council, and no time will be lost in making
all who are interested fully acquainted with
the details.

Erratum. — On page 55, first column,
seoond line above case 0.$ for " foul '' stage,
read " spore " stage.

Feb. 20, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

71

dMttoral, |fcr&£8, &t.

USEFUL HINTS.

Weather. — Up to about a fortnight
ago the weather this winter, from the
bee-keeper's point of view, had been in
no sense "wintry," but as we write
the whole kingdom is frost-bound,
after severe snowstorms, and our morn-
ing papers come out with special articles
headed " The Severe Frost."

In the reliable Weather Report of the
Standard we read of a temperature as
low as 14 deg. Fahr. in Leicestershire,
and other low temperatures of 18 deg. in
London, 19 deg. at Oxford, and 24 deg.
at Liverpool, Shields, and Dungeness.
The report then goes on to say : —

At Greenwich the thermometer in the screen
registered 14.3 deg. during Saturday night,
and the lowest temperature during Sunday
night was 20.1 deg. The thermometer in the
sun's rays at Greenwich on Sunday rose to
80.3 deg., which is 73.4 deg. warmer than the
temperature, 6 9 deg., registered by the ex-
posed thermometer on the grass ia the early
morning. In the East of England the thermo-
meter only rose 2 or 3 deg. above the freezing
point. In Ireland the weather continued much
warmer than at the close of last week. At
several places the thermometer during Sunday
night did not fall below 40 deg., and yesterday
the readings ro3e to 50 deg. and above. The
barometer was rising in most places last
evening, and the fro3t seems likely to continue
for the present over England.

The Standard Frame.— As time rolls
on we seem to have at intervals of from
three to five years a uniform and regular
recrudescence of the complaint against
the size of the B.B.K.A. " Standard "
frame. It has been declared by some to
be too small, and by others too large —
which should be some testimony to the
value of a frame that comes midway
between the extremes ; but be this as it
may. it is certain that as a rule the com-
plaints come from earnest, and no
doubt well-meaning, beginners in the
craft, anxious to " go one better "
than the older hands. It is, however, a
curious but certain fact that the great
majority of us " old hands " had the very
same ideas ourselves at some period
during our novitiate days. We can speak
for one, anyway ; our " fault," however,
was with the original Woodbury frame

— which most nearly resembles the
present B.B.K.A. "Standard" frame.

But when we come to facts as they
face us to-day, we affirm that none of
our recent correspondents who write on
page 30 (January 16), page 37 (Janu-
ary 23), or page 57 (February 6) can
point out instances of heavier weights of
surplus honey gathered in this kingdom

American Frames.

British Frames.

1U

C. N, Abbttt's ,J
Taper-Frame, Sj
1874.

No. 1.

Original &
Woodbury.

No. 2.

14

B.B.K.A. a

Standard. H

No. 3.

14

Shallow-Frame. ,E

•

No. 6.

Hi

" Gallup'
Frame.

No. 4.

'Heddon'
Frame.

No. 8.

(from hives fitted with frames larger or
smaller than the " Standard ") than the
well-authenticated yields secured by the
use of the B.B.K.A. " Standard " frame,
which yields have been duly recorded in
our pages. Until this is done it would,
as we have said over and over again,
be sheer folly to ignore the enormous
advantage of a uniform-sized frame for
use in the whole kingdom.

Having said this much, we repeat our
declaration that this journal, while offer-
ing no objection whatever to every man
using his own discretion in choosing a
frame for use in his own apiary, claims
the privilege of recommending young
hands at bee-craft to begin where we
left off. To do otherwise is a retrograde
step we cannot consistently encourage.

HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of
January, 1902, was £724. — From a return
furnished to the British Bee Journal by the
Statistical Office, H.M. Customs.

72

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Feb. 20, 1902.

CHESHIRE B.K. ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of this Association was
held in Chester on Saturday, February 8.
There was a moderate attendance of members,
which would, no doubt, have been better had
not the weather been most unpropitious. The
Duke of Westminster was re-elected Presi-
dent. Vice-Presidents also were appointed,
and the following members will form the
Committee for 1902 : the Revs. J. F. Buckler,
T. J. Evan?, and E A. Hutten, Messrs. J. A.
Bally, H. Bell, W. Bradburn, E. B. Hinde,
G. Lambert, P. H. Rawson, F. Lynch, W. H.
Forde, J. Lyon Denson, H. Potts, and F.
Hewitt. Mr. T. D. Schotield was re-elected
Treasurer ; Rev. E. Charley, Secretary ; Mr.
F. H. Taylor, Librarian, and Mr. J. ToDge,
Auditor.

It was resolved that the services of a paid
assistant secretary should be obtained, and at
a subsequent meeting of the Committee Mr.
A. P. Smith, Grosvenor-chambers, Newgate-
street, Chester, was selected from a number of
applicants. At a later hour an address was
given by Mr. Robert Newstead, A.L.S.,
Curator of Chester Museum, to a somewhat
limited audience on "The Classification and
Anatomy of the Honey Bee."
^ The Report for 1901 showed that the Asso-
ciation continued to make progress. There
was an increase of fifteen in membership, and
the balance in the bank was larger than at the
end of 1899. The services of the Association's
Expert, Mr. J. Gray, had been supplemented
by Messrs. E. Venables and H. Edwards,
so that all the members had received an
Expert's visit early in the season. Eleven
lectures and bee-demonstrations had been
given in the county under the auspices of the
Technical Committee of the Cheshire County
Council, and a very successful show was held
at Chester on August 28 in conjunction with
the Cheshire Agricultural Society. Possibly
the most important statement in the Report
is contained in the following extract : — " Foul
brood : — It is satisfactory to observe that there
is a further decrease in the number of apiaries
which have been reported by the Experts as
being affected with disease, although the area
covered by the Experts' work was somewhat
enlarged in 1901. Apiaries aud stocks
affected with foul brood: 1899, 46, 118;
1900, 40, 74 ; 1001, 32, 51."

The total number of bee-keepers visited by
the Experts was 359, whose stocks amounted
to 1,344, 103 being in skep--.— E. Charley,
Hon. Sec. C.B.K.A., February 12.

HEREFORDSHIRE B.K.A.

ANNUAL meeting.
The annual general meeting of this Associa-
tion was held at Clarence House, West-street,
Hereford, on Wednesday, February 12. Sir
James Rankin, M.P,, presided, and among

those present were Captain Verschoyle,
Messrs. J. Helme, J. G. Godwin, P. MacCabe,
Alfred Watkins, M. Meadham, J. H Wootton,
C. Edwards, S. Williams, &c.

The Hon. Secretary, Mr. J. G. .Godwin,
presented his report, which, after giving an
account of members visited and stocks
examined, went on to say : — At the honey
fair held in September there were fifty exhibits,
the competition being very keen, and the
honey (with one or two exceptions) was of
high class. Sales were very satisfactory. The
season's take of honey had been above the
average, both in quantity and quality. The
Secretary regretted to report that the financial
position was disquieting. Although the
balance-sheet showed a small sum in hand, it
did not represent their true position, as they
had liabilities to the extent of nearly £9.
The membership had also decreased by
twenty-five or so less than last year, the
number now being 100.

Mr. Watkins proposed the adoption of the
report and balance-sheet, and the Chairman,
in seconding, said he regarded bee-keeping as
a most useful culture, for the promotion of
which he did all he could. He regretted the
withdrawal of the grant from the County
Council, but the Technical Instruction Com-
mittee were desirous of giving the grant if
they could, but the finances were very limited.
It was therefore decided to withdraw the
grant for a time, but he hoped that it would
be renewed ere long. He was voicing, he
thought, the sentiments of the Committee
when he said they greatly valued the good
work of the bee-keepers' associations. He
should like the society to tabulate statistics as
to bee- culture in the county, because it would
be satisfactory to know if such culture were
increasing or decreasing. He was sorry there
was a faliing-off in the membership, because
bee-keeping meant a great addition to the
income of the working man. He hoped every
effort would be made to get new subscribers
in 1902.

The resolution was carried.
Sir James Rankin was re-elected president,
and the following ladies and gentlemen were
appointed vice-presidents : Mrs. Glinn, Mrs.
Bull, Sir Joseph Verdin, Captain Freke Lewis,
and Mr. H. C. Moffatt. The executive com-
mittee of eleven comprised the following :
Mrs. Glinn, the Rev. W. H. Head, Messrs. C.
Edwards, A. Hill, W. Tomkins, Alfred
Watkins, J. Helme. M. Meadham, and the
local secretaries. Mr. J. G. Godwin was re-
appointed hon. secretary and treasurer, and
Mr. Joseph Thomas auditor.

Mr. Godwin (hon. secretary) then introduced
the subject of insurance for beekepers, and
said he did not know whether the British
Bee-keepers' insurance scheme would be taken
up much in this county. The idea, he under-
stood, was to cover loss which persons sus-
tained through bees stinging horses or cattle
and causing injury or death. In various parts

Feb. 20, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

r/j

of the country, at intervals, accidents have
occurred ; in one instance, some years ago, a
horse died through being stung by bees, and a
considerable sum in damages had to be paid.
The insurance societies would take the risk at
a penny per hive per annum, provided suffi-
cient bee-keepers joined to justify their taking
such a step.

The Chairman thought that accidents of the
kind referred to were a remote contingency.

The meeting passed no resolution on the
matter, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman
terminated the proceedings. — {Communicated.)

HENBURY AND DISTRICT B.K.A.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual general meeting of the above
Association was held in the Boys' School-room,
Henbury, on Wednesday, February 12. The
Treasurer's accounts for the past year showed
a good balance in hand.

Major- General Sampson-Way, C.B., was
re-elected President, Arthur Baker, Esq.,
Vice-President, W. G. Barnfields, Hon. Secre-
tary and Treasurer.

Committee : — Herbert F. Jolly, Esq., Chair-
man, J. A. Waller, Esq., Professor A. F.
Stanley-Kent, M.A., Messrs. Rugman, W.
Board, J. Fenner, W. Orchard.

Ten members, with a maximum of 105
hives, expressed their readines3 to participate
in the insurance scheme. I believe, when full
particulars of the scheme can be explained to
all my members, many more will join. I am
pleased to state that during the past year we
have not had a case of foul brood in our
district. The honey season a good one, and
no trace of honey dew. — W. G. Barnfield,
Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, Charlton, nr.
Bristol.

AN OBSERVATORY HIVE.*

MY THIRD SEASONS " OBSERVATIONS.''

By Col. H. J. 0. Walker.

{Concluded from p. 53 )

Huber, from whom many writers since his
day have taken their facts, has described the
anxiety shown by young queens, for the
moment single in a hive, to destroy the queen-
cells that contain possible rivals. Other
observers have told a different story ; it is
evidently a point on which bees vary ; I saw
nothing of the kind. Some of the young
queens that were loose showed an interest in
the queen-cells, but they did not attempt to

* It was not intended to allude to or insert the
illustration— fig 3 — in the portion of Colonel Walkers
article on his Observatory Hive that appeared in the
Bee Journal of February 6, page 51, and the word
" larvaj " occurring on fourth line from bottom of
page 31 (also on second line of page 52) should be tarva
in both cases, referring to one in the cell opposite to
and just above the lower queen-cell in figs. 1 and 2,
where the lettering was omitted. In fig. 2, AA should
not have been opposite to the queen-cells, in which
the fluid was never "translucent."

injure them. One especially often climbed
upon them, the workers who were guarding
the cell making no attempt to prevent her.
These guards remain on watch for long
periods, and are fed by other workers while
on the post.

Besides the swarming recorded, there were
attempts to swarm, the queens in some
instances being unwilling. There seems no
doubt that they have, to be hustled out by the
bees. In one case I saw a queen being hauled
along by the leg, and another queen " piped" as
she was being swept through the passage way.
The queens once out and the swarm started,
many of the workers would hurry back into
the hive in what seemed to my fancy a shame-
faced manner, having achieved their object.
The too numerous drones helped to get up the
excitement and generally hurried back again.
I was disposed to be annoyed with them for
this, but on second thoughts their remissness
seemed sensible enough. Drones must be
kept well fed, and the vague chances of a
swarm would not at all suit them. Their
work is better done by staying where food is
stored, and, realising this, drones will shift
their abode in numbers to hives where they
may be wanted, but only a few of the more '
adventurous accompany swarms ; and the
others, the stay-at-homes, may it not be that
instinct bids them stay and lend their welcome
warmth to a hive depopulated ?

The queen who, surviving the stress of
natural selection, remained on July 17 to be
the mistress of the hive, owed her success in
some degree to an ingenious stratagem. After
the fashion of an old sea-captain, whose wont
it was to " turn in " when the stormy winds
did blow, with strict injunctions that he was
on no account to be disturbed till the weather
moderated, this wise princess secreted herself
in a deep and empty cell ; where, sheltered all
but the .end of her abdomen from a troubled
world, she would remain for more than an
hour at a time. The habit is worth noting.
It was my lot about that time to hunt up
virgin queens in a swarmed hive. There were
three, and one of them would certainly have
escaped notice had not my now experienced
eye fallen on a tiny tail-tip protruding from a
cell.

On the 18th, the queen, with some hesita-
tion, left the hive at 2 p.m., and returned after
ten minutes' absence, running in very fast.
The next morning she spent some time
meditating in a cell, head downwards, so that
her abdomen and wings could be plainly seen.
She was there at noon, but could not be found
at 1.30. At 2.30 she was back in the hive,
having met with a drone and lost a piece out
of her right wing in the adventure, and during
the rest of the day she wandered uneasily
from cell to cell, some workers attending her.
On the 20;h, she was laying freely and being
made much of.

It was not long before every available cell
held an egg in the few combs that the colony,

74

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 20, 1902.

reduced as it was by swarming, could cover.
Eggs kept accumulating. In many cases
there were four or five ; in one cell we were
able to make out ten ; in another our estimate
was fourteen or more strewn at random.
Still, anxious to fulfil her duty, the young
matron continued to lay, and still — whether
to keep up appearances or not, who shall say1?—
she gravely made her inspection of each cell
before depositing the egg. And the workers,
with the same cheery optimism that induces
them, when queenless, to rear a princely palace
over an egg that they must know can bring
them nothing better than a disappointing
drone, quite fell in with the idea. Not for
them to give away the " little mother.'' So
they took the conventional peep within, made
belief to set things straight, winked a friendly
eye, and proclaimed "all's well." This sad
waste of material continued until the hive was
finally cleared ; truly a grand object-lesson
for a bee-keeper of the let-alone school.

An able contributor to thi3 journal (see
vol. xxiii., p. 507) believes that egg3 are moved
from time to time, and finally placed in a hori-
zontal position by the workers. That the
movements take place no one will deny ; but
direct evidence must be furnished before we
can quite determine the agency. May they
not be produced by the gradual development
of the larva within its membranous covering,
the chorion ? It does not seem probable that,
amongst all the litter of eggs in each cell that
I have described above, one egg in each cell
was selected and moved in the directions
required, the other eggs still remaining in the
cell. How they eventually disappeared I
cannot say ; finally, only one larva was "reared
in each cell, Huber proved that the assistance
of the workers was not needed for the due
hatching of the larva. Watching his oppor-
tunity, he removed that portion of a comb in
which he had just seen a queen depositing
eggs, and having enclosed it within a box so
wired over that no bee could obtain access, he
placed it in the warmth of a strong hive, with
the result that the larvae hatched out as usual.
Fancy combs were sometimes built on the two
glass ends of Huber'd leaf hives, although he
was not so fortunate as to see bees reared
therein, and haviDg observed that bees entered
these cells to seek repose, he accounted in that
way for the constant visits paid by workers to
cells containing eggs and young larvae. I, too,
have seen workers remain perfectly motionless
for many minutes in empty cell?. Once I saw
one wake up with a suddeu start and hurry off
on some particular errand it must have re-
membered—the effect was very comical. I am
not sure whether I ever noticed a worker in
a cell that I was sure cDntained an egg, but I
have watched them hundreds of times in those
containing larva?, and whether the latter were
just hatched or had newly filled the cell the
procedure was identical, except in the instance
where I saw the larvae being fed. The worker
enters, waves its antennae for a moment over

the larva without touching it, devotes an
uncertain length of time to polishing up the
sides of the cell, and then departs. They are
always polishing, and I believe it is just the
same when the cell contains an egg. It is
quite true that a worker generally looks into
the cell in which a queen has just deposited
an egg, but in many cases the peep is quite
brief, and may well be put down to curiosity.

June 20.

Fig. 3.

Fig 4.

The illustrations (C aid D) are from photos
of a typical comb, taken at five days' interval.
They contain honey, eggs if you could see
them, and drone and worker brood in various
stages of development ; taken together they
well show the changes constantly occurring ia
a healthy hive. At the lower end of C, on the
right hand side, we find two unsealed drone
brood (a, a) ; and above them a blank eel',
three sealed workers, a blank, two sealed
workers (though they happen to look like
drones), a blank, a very small sealed worker
(w), three apparent blanks, a small drone (d)
in fluid ; the rest apparent blanks. Taking
same side of D we see the two lower drone
arvae (a, a) sealed, and then three blanks, for
two sealed workers have bsen removed, and fol-
lowing upwards we miss a third sealed worker.
The upper drone larvae (d) is also sealed. It
seems odd that the little worker nymph,
almost an abortion, should have been left to
bite its way out on the 26th, while larvae well

* Honey disappears from cells marked h, and grubs
from those marked <j.

Feb. 20, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

75

grown and apparently quite healthy were
removed.

On the left of C, the cells marked h con-
tain honey, of which the surface outlines show
as whitish lines at angles that vary strangely
in inclination, owing probably to their respec-
tive densities. The lowest of the three con-
tains the most fluid honey recently gathered,
and it is obvious that, as now constituted, its
particles have not sufficient cohesion to permit
of the bees filling the cell to the brim and
closing it. Evaporation is needed ; the honey
must ripen. Bees are working in b and in
the four cells above it. The bottom cell con-
tains a drone larva curled up and still un-
sealed.

Turn now to the left of D. The drone larva
just mentioned was sealed on the 17th ; it has
spun its cocood, and is stretched out straight
and motionless. The honey has quite disap-
peared, and in its place, if you could see them,
are eggs. On both sides of D some of the
larvae had turned into nymphs, and their heads
are beginning to colour. In the cell just above
the worker, iv, a little deposit of fluid marks
the hatching of a larva, and the same, showing
white, may be detected on the opposite side of
the comb, one side higher up. Some of the
cells in ttr's comb have other cells behind
them, and so fine are the wall partitions that,
by careful focussing, the movements of bees
and larvae may be seen through them, espe-
cially when a front cell is filled with honey.

The three unsealed drone larvae, shown at
the lower end of C, are four to five days old.
Curled up vertically, they almost float in fluid
— fat, flabby grubs of uncertain outline. Along
their backs, which are turned towards jou, is
a dark band, in reality of a beautiful orange
hue. This is the stomach, as Swammerdam,
the great anatomist, first showed us in his
treatise finished in 1673, and its bright colour
is probably due to the pollen on which the
larvae at this age are partly fed. The size of
the mature insect is determined by the growth
that takes place in the six days or so between
hatching and sealing. There is no time to
lose, and the larva is taking in nourishment
by both mouth and skin. I suggest that it is
to facilitate osmotic absorption that a clear
space is left over the stomach, in the fat that
elsewhere covers the larva. The orange band
is clear of fat, the skin appears transparent,
and the two irregular outlines of the fat on
each side keep closing in and retracting like a
pair of lips. As the larva grows the fat closes
in upon the band, till, changing also in hue,
the latter becomes a thin slate-coloured line.
The food has now all been absorbed, the body
has become firm and pearly white, the outline
of its segments is clear, and mouth, eyes, and
spiracles are vkible. The larva has ceased to
grow, and the undigested refuse of its food, of
a red orange colour, covers the bottom of the
cell. All the above features are more marked
in the drone than in the worker, owing to the
larger size of the former, and, doubtless, also

to the more nutritious quality of the food
administered.

It is not probable that such opportunities of
observation as were this year vouchsafed will
ever be given to me again, and with this
comes the regret that I have not made
more of them. But to get full benefit a relay
of careful observers, day and night, and a
special arrangement of artificial light are
necessary, and neither of these were at my
command. 1 shall be satisfied if I have con-
veyed to my readers a small fraction of the
pleasure that my hive has brought me. Any
want of clearness in the illustrations is
entirely due to defective photographs. For
various reasons it is very difficult to achieve
success in this, and our Editor has made the
very best of the photos furnished to him. —
H. J. 0. Walker, Lieut-Col. (" South Devon
Enthusiast "), Leeford, Budleigh- Salter ton.

(S/ormpn&mtt.

The Editor t do not hold themnelves responsible for the
opinion! expressed by oorretpondenti. Ifo 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 at a guarantee of good faith. Illuttra-
lions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

IMPROVEMENTS IN FRAMES.

[4697.] With reference to J. D.'s letter in
this week's B. J., I should say that to get a
full force of working bees at the right time is
a question not only of management and appli-
ances, but also of bees — their strength, and the
age and strain of queen. I should put
management first in order of importance, bees
second, and appliances third.

With regard to my account of my visit to
Mr. Doolittle's apiary, "J. D." misquoted my
words in saying that I " noticed all the frames
were 11^ in. deep in the ninety hives there.''
Mr. Doolittle does a good deal of experimenting
and no doubt has several sizes of frames in his
apiary. He, however, gave me to understand
that he preferred the " Gallup " frame (llj in.
by 11 j in.), but this was probably for purposes
of queen-rearing more than for honey produc-
tion, as I judged that Mr. Doolittle does much
less of the latter work now than formerly. I
do not think that the " Gallup " frame would
be at all suitable for honey-production in
England, and I do not regard it as uncompli-
mentary to Mr. Doolittle to say this, first
because he probably prefers it for the special
purpose of queen-breeding, and second because
climatic and other conditions are quite different
in New York State to those prevailing in
Great Britain, and the frame that has been
proved to be the best for honey-production in
the one place might not be the best in the
other place. I say " might not '' because, of
course, bee-keeping is bee-keeping both in

6

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Feb. 20, 1902.

America and Europe, and a frame that has
been used successfully on the one continent is
likely to produce good results on the other.

I am very glad you think of opening a dis-
cussion on " frames." The dimensions of the
Standard frame are very convenient, and
there must be very pronounced merit about
any other size to improve upon them. When
I was in America I was surprised to see the
great diversity of sizes of frames used, and all
were claimed by their advocates to be better
for their purpose than any others.

Any improvement on the dimensions of the
British Standard frame that might be brought
forward would certainly take the form of a
larger frame. The general opinion in this
country seeim to be that it should be
a deeper frame, but in the light
of the recent tendency in America for
shallow brood-chambers it would seem that
increase of length is quite as important as,
or even more so than, increase of depth.
Those who investigate this tendency for
shallow brood-chambers will, I think, see that
the chief reason for it has been to increase the
area and size of the super relative to the
brood-chamber, and the length of frame is to
a great extent dependent on the size and
number of sections that are to be accom-
modated over it. The matter of suitable size
and shape of comb for wintering and building
up in the spring seems to be of less moment.
I do not mean to say that it is not of the
greatest importance, but properly-managed
bees appear to do well on any reasonable-sized
combs. Of course the fewer and larger the
combs there are the better it is both for the
bee-keeper in manipulating and the bees in
brood-raising. The exact size of frame that I
should recommend as the best for trial
depends on size and number of sections and
other things, and must be the subject of
another article.

I think that there is a decidedly ineful line
for investigation in improvement of the cjn-
struction of the top - bar of the British
Standard frame. For instance, it could be
thickened from f in. to 4 in. or | in. with
advantage. The thickness of the top bar of
the form of Langstroth frame used to-day in
America is f in. (!), but then, of course, this
top bar is slightly longer than the top bar of
our frame.

One of the most radical differences between
the British and American styles of bee-keeping
is indicated by the width of the top bar. In
the British frame the top bar is I in. wide, but
in most American frames the width is 1& in.
The bee-space between these wide top bars is
only j; in., and there is also a space of \ in.
above the top bars — i.e., between the frames
and the hive-cover or roof, there being no
quilts lying on top of the frames, as in the
British hives. This may be quite a new idea
to some British bee-keepers, and they will
wonder what is the reason for it. It is that
all "brace-" and "burr-combs" on and

around the top bars are practically done away
with, and the top bars are not stuck to the
cover or to one another ; the \ in. space above
and around them being just large enough to
enable the bees to pass through it easily, and
yet not large enough to let them deposit wax
anywhere on the top bar. This plan greatly
simplifies roof-construction, and quite does
away with the necessity of bee-nibbled,
moth-harbouring quilts, the frequent renewing
of which may be quite an expensive business
in a large apiary.

In the Langstroth frame the lugs or pro-
jecting ends of the top bar are very short.
The long lugs in the British Standard frame
are a great advantage, making manipulation
much more easy and pleasant than it can pos-
sibly be with the Langstroth frame. This
ease of manipulation results not only from the
long lug, which is large enough to be easily
taken hold of, but also from the fact that the
bees are excluded from the lugs by means of
the metal-end. No metal-ends are used with
the Langstroth frame, and the bees are inclined
to propolise the little lugs over and down, so
that it is mo3t difficult and unpleasant to take
hold of them. In fact, the frames are not
supposed to be handled by them at all, but in
a part nearer the middle of the top bar. Of
course, it is quite possible to make a no-hurt-
comb top bar with long lugs, and I am at
present experimenting with some hives fitted
with frames made like this. Altogether, there
are many pros and cons, in this question
of frames, which is of the deepest interest and
importance to bee-keeper3. It is a subject I
have spent a good deal of study and experi-
ment upon, and I shall follow the discussion
that you have promised us with the keenest
interest, — F. W. L. Sladen, Bipple Court,
Dover, February 6.

THE VALUE OF STRONG COLONIES.

[4698.] If it will not be in any way antici-
pating your promised editorial remarks in
reply to the letter in last week's B.J. (4685,
p. 57), I am sending in a few thoughts
which occurred to my mind when leading
your correspondents article in this week's
Journal on "The Value of Strong Colonies.''
Your correspondent, "J. D.'' cannot, I
imagine, have had the good fortune to read
that fascinating book to bee-keepers, " Doo-
little on Queen Rearing," or he would therein
have found an answer to his questions con-
tained in his article. As I happen to possess
both a copy of his book and also a sample of
his famous strain of bees, perhaps you will
allow me to quote a few passages from the
book for the benefit of those readers who do
not possess a copy, and later, if it will be of
any interest, will forward my experiences with
the bees. In dedicating the book to Elisha
Gallup, the inventor of the frame Mr. Doo-
little uses in his ninety hives, he says that

Feb. 20, 1902. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

Mr. Gallup truthfully claimed " that around
the queen centre? all there is in apiculture."

In the second chapter, which should impress
on all the importance of good queens, he com-
mences with : Upon no other one thing does
the honey part of the apiary depend so much
as it does upon the queen. Give me a good
queen, one which can be brought up to the
highest production of eg^s just when we want
them, and I will show you a honey crop if the
flowers do not fail to secrete nectar. Again,
when asking why one colony does so well and
another not half so well, he states simply
because one had a large working force of the
right age and at the right time to take advan-
tage of the honey-flow when it came.

Nowhere throughout the work do I find that
he claims any of hi3 success is due to the use
of any particular hive or frame.

The December number of Gleanings in Bee
Culture contains his review of the season 1901,
and a comparison of the trials he had made
with queens he had purchased, and his own
strain which he had been tryiDg to perfect for
thirty years ; this colony gave more honey by
65 lb. than the three other colonies combined,
which had queens purchased from other
breeders. Now, sir, I hold no brief for Mr.
Doolittle, my object in writing this is to
hinder the idea gaining ground that his success
is due to the use of a larger or different frame,
for I believe it is stated that Mr. Gallup
himself used to say that a good swarm of
bees would store almost as much honey in a
half barrel or nail keg as in the most elaborate
or expensive hive made, other things being
equal.

If my experience is worth anything, it will
not be, I venture to say, by the adoption of the
" Gallup" or any other frame different to our
Standard siza which will secure us the largest
yields of honey. Did not that colony of bees
•which made the record at the pan-American
Exhibition at Buffalo this year have for their
home a Danzy hive with frames only 7h in.
deep, and I believe there is a tendency in
America to a frame shallower than their
standard. The Langstroth, therefore, nearer
our Standard size, 1 have for several years
tried, adding a shallow-body with frames
below the brood nest early in the summer, and
when the bees built brace comb between the
two frames, thus making a frame about 13' in.
by 14 in., left them to winter upon, i'did
not find the bees wintered any better this way,
and next summer they would persist in storing
honey in the body-boxes instead of in the
extracting super. In my opinion, that if we
keep the British or brown bees, a hive contain-
ing ten or eleven B.B.K.A. Standard frames
is large enough.

But for Italian or Carniolians a hive that
will take thirteen or fourteen Standard frames
is better ; these queens, being more prolific,
require a larger brood-nest.— J. G., Hinckley,
February 8.

HOW I MADE A « FRAME-HOLDER."

[4699.] When examining the combs of a
hive, a '' holder,'' on which to hang the first
frame taken out, is a great convenience. One
I made for myself has acted so well that I
thought some of my young brethren at the
craft might like to know how to make one.
The materials required are three rivets and
four pieces of strip iron, the latter J in. wide
and rather less than x^ in. thick. Two of
these pieces are 12i in. long, one piece 11 in.,
and the other 7 in. In each of the latter
pieces punch or drill two holes, one \ in. from
one end, the other £ in. from the opposite end,
as shown in fig. 1.

(r

D

Fig. 1.

Rivet together the two pieces at A, B,
leaving the joint loose enough to allow the
pieces to fold together. Next bend the re"
maining two pieces to the shape of fig. 2, first
punching a hole in each 1 in. from one end.

The dimensions of the
parts are A, 3^ in. ; B,
3f in. ; C, Jin. ; D, 2 in. ;
E, lin. ; F, Hin. ; and 1,
I in. Before bending the
angle between A and B,
each of these " ends ''
should be riveted to
the " back,'' care being
Fig. 2. taken to pass the rivet

through the latter first ;
the joint being left " workable :' as before.
When the rivets are secured, the angle
A— B should be bent so that A at top
comes inside the bend F I. It will be found
that there is a " springy " action at this point,
so that when the " holder " is hung on the
hive side, or back, it will remain quite firm
and secure. When not in use it folds up cjm-

All

=qsr

Fig. 3.

pactly, as fig. 3. If this description is not
sufficiently clear, I shall be glad to further ex-
plain any obscurity. — W. H., BriUey
Vicarage, Whitney-on- Wye.

MY "BEE DOINGS" IN 1901.

[4700.] The bee-season of 1901— and so
much as we have had of the year 1902 — was
in this district remarkable for three things : —
1st, a high death-rate among stocks during the
winter ; 2nd, an entire absence of dark honey ;
and 3rd, the great number of truant swarms.

78

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Feb. 20, 1902.

Having the care of nearly all the hives in the
parish, and some just outside its borders, I
may say nearly one-half of them were lost
before the early spring of 1901 arrived. " Bad
management," you will say. "Well, it may be
so in some degree, but not altogether correct,
for many of the stocks that perished had an
abundance of natural stores, and were well
prepared for wintering. I put it down to the
long-continued low temperature in the early
months of the year 1901, following on the very
mild weather that prevailed at the end of the
previous year. Many bee-keepers outside our
borders lost even more heavily than myself.
Nor was the outlook at all bright for a good
harvest when I saw that the bees were slow in
getting strong a3 the honey-flow got nearer.
However, our parish is rich in flowering trees
and shrubs, which are much admired for their
luxuriant growth. The late Marianne North,
the well-known painter and botanist, whom I
remember living at Mount House, painted
many lovely views of this place. The same
dear, kind lady established an apiary here in
1886 or 188V, the bees being in a portable bee-
house, with separate compartments for six
colonies. The bees did very well in honey-
storing, but it was thought that the' jarring of
all the hives whenever one of them was dis-
turbed led to bad temper and the bees
becoming vicious. There are still two stocks
in this same bee-house, still noted for honey-
gathering and stings ! They are, however,
splendid section-fillers.

It seems to be an invariable rule, for a season
of bad wintering to be immediately followed by
a swarming year, and of truant swarms ; the
bees seeming to resolve on making up for
winter losses in this way. About the month
of June last I saw myself no les3 than twelve
vagrant swarms, and, as I make it a rule to
clean out my vacant hives and fit them up
ready for swarms got by purchase or other-
wise, I got a few of these by swarms taking
forcible possession, though the hive-entrances
were closed. I always do this because I con-
sider it is not honest to prepare hives as
" decoys " to entice swarms into them. Several
lots got " possession " by entering through any
cranny or crevice the bees could find. One
swarm entered the hive through a badly-fitting
floorboard ; another by a small hole in the
roof, working their way to the combs below
through the loosely laid-on quilts.

By the end of August all these swarms were
in fine order for wintering ; not an ounce of
food needed. They also yielded a fair crop of
surplus, bearing in mind that our harvest comes
on by mid June, after which time the meadows
are mown for hay. The quality, too, was so
good that it was all sold out at a fair price,
and I have had to buy more to meet the
demand.

Insurance for Bee-keepers. — I am deeply
interested in the insurance scheme now being
advocated, my bees being located in two small
gardens surrounded by meadows in which

valuable animals graze all through the summer
months. Should one or two of these animals
be attacked and killed by my bees, it would
mean ruin to me, for I am only a working
gardener, and have to look to my bees for
some return for labour and capital invested ;
but I have not made enough to pay heavy
damages. This being so, I think the sum of
Id. per hive insufficient ; 3d. would not be
too much. I am rather afraid that a sufficient
number will not take interest enough in it to
make Id. per hive pay. And I for one would
gladly pay the higher amount if it could be
arranged that way. Others in this neighbour-
hood would, I think, a'so do so. Not having
seen our secretary, who called when I was
away fmm home, t do not know whether any-
thing will be done through him, but I will
gladly send on my money if asked, and get
what other bee-keepers to join I can.

Thanking our Editors for past favours and
advice in difficulte3, and for the valuable help
I receive from your always welcome journal,
I send hearty good wishes to all bee-keepers
in our favoured isles. — W. Hulince, Wotton-
under-Edge, Glos.

P.S. — I am glad to report a still clean bill
of health. No foul brood in all these years
in this parish.

DISTRICT B.K. ASSOCIATIONS.

[4701.] Referring to the discussion pro-
ceeding in your valued pages anent District
Associations, I note that none of the County
B.K. A. Secretaries have taken any part,
beyond Mr. Phillips (on page 35, 4658).
I would therefore ask : Cannot some of the
county secretaries give U3, through the medium
of your columns, some assistance in the way of
advice and suggestions of what cm be done to
help forward this laudable object ? I am
rather afraid there is more enthusiasm among
non- members than among those who are
members of associations, as instanced by the
manner the outsiders have taken up the
Insurance scheme.

The Editors— in a footnote to my previous
remarks on page 35 — were of the opinion that
there would be some difficulty in maintaining
the enthusiasm necessary " to keep a local
bee-club on the move " in districts where few
persons keep bees. I would say, in reply, that
in this locality the interest taken in anything
pertaining to bee culture, and the desire to get
into closer touch with each other to secure the
benefit of each other's experiences, &c., is
pretty well up to " boiling point," although it
is at present the " long vacation " so far as
bee manipulation is concerned.

The purchasing of supplies such as sections,
foundation, &c, in bulk for members' require-
ments, thus effecting a saving in carriage and
also the advantage of lower prices for the
larger quantities, would be one point where a
local club would score over the county body,
as in their case the cost of distribution would
be entailed— -a decided advantage.

Feb. 20, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

79

With an expert as secretary and a few
willing helpers, these locil associations would
soon develop into really useful institutions,
provided the county associations encouraged
and gave them assistance where possible. — B.
Mad, Walsall, February 8.

P.S. — In case of a local branch being
formed in this neighbourhood, a parcel of
back numbers of B.B.J, would be helpful.
Could this be arranged? At present I can
only trace six copies ooming into Wa'sall
weekly.

[We will ba very pleased to forward a
parcel of back numbers of B.B.J, free on
receipt of stamps to pay cost of parcels post. —
Eds.]

[2796.] Troubles with Foul Brood: Com-
pulsory Inspection. — 1. Can you give me
address of the Secretary of the Bee-keepers'
Association for Derbyshire ? I wish to become
a member. I am but a new starter at bee-
keeping, and am willing to go in also for
insurance. 2. There are some half-dozen bee-
keepers in this town, but we are much bothered
to know what to do as to one bee-keeper here
has some five hives, all of which are full of
foul-brood, which gives it to ours. He will not
take any steps to eradicate it, and is deaf to
all personal and friendly representations or
persuasions, probably through indifference and
ignorance. How can we deal with him 2
Would the Derby expert call with us and try
and persuade him to get rid of his hive3 and
start fresh ones ? 3. I understand there i3 no
legal remedy against him. Is this so 1—
Buxtonian, Buxton, February 5.

Reply. — 1. The Hon. Secretary of the
Derbyshire B.K.A. is Mr. F. Walker, 64,
Gerard-street, Derby, who will, no doubt,
render what help he can to a member. 2 .
You have no remedy at law for the action of
obstinate bee-keepers of the kind referred to.
Compulsory powers were sought for some time
ago, but Acts of Parliament are not easily
obtained in these days. 3. An influential
deputation waited on the President of the
Board of Agriculture at the time (Mr. Herbert
Gardner), but no good could be done in the
then congested condition of Parliamentary
work, and it is doubtless far worse to-day.

[2797.] Moving Bees One Hundred Yards.
— As a reader of your valuable Bee Journal,
I beg to ask an answer to a few questions
through the same. I am a bee-man of about
two j ears' standing, and possessing only at
present six stocks, all worked on the
" W. B. C" hives, which I wish to remove
from my present house to another, about
100 yards distant. I am naturally very
anxious to know :— 1. How soon can I remove
my bees ? 2. How far is it necessary to take
them away temporarily, if at all? 3. How

long must they remain away before bringing
them back to my new residence, which I
enter in March next ?— J. Charlton, Weston-
super-Mare, February 15.

Reply. — 1. But for the short distance the
hives might be moved at once, and if the
present frost keeps the bees indoors for a
couple of weeks longer, it will, be fairly safe
to move them, provided that means be taken
to alter the outward appearance of the hive
fronts, so that the bees may note the change.
2. If removed at all temporarily, about , two
miles. 3. Till they have flown freely for from
ten to twenty days.

[2798.] Using Moiddy Combs. — Would you
kindly tell me what the effect would be if
mouldy frames were put to a good stock ?
Would the bees clean away the mould 1 My
experience is that once combs have got mouldy
they are no longer fit for use. I have at pre-
sent some mouldy frames which I am keeping
in a dry atmosphere, hoping to be able to
brush off the mould and to see once more if the
bees will make use of them. — W. Horsfall,
February 13.

Reply, — The bees will clean away the
mould, but it is false economy to allow them
to waste time and labour in doing so. Melt
the mouldy combs down for wax, and sub-
stitute full sheets of comb foundation as being
better and cheaper in the long run.

<&d\m flnrm M $w&.

Hitcham, Ipswich, Suffolk, February 13.—
So far my bees have fairly successfully
weathered the storms of winter. I commenced
the cold season with six hives. With one it
was a foregone conclusion that it would perish
— only a handful of bee3 and an old queen. I
have had to feed one stock. The remaining
four have been well supplied with stores, and
have remained undisturbed all winter. I
introduced a hybrid Carniolan-Italian queen
into one of my stocks on September 21. About
Christmastime I found young bees flying
freely with the familiar yellow bands ; all
the other bees are the ordinary black. When
the present snows have disappeared and the
crocuses are in bloom, I expect there will be a
joyous " hum." I have no difficulty in getting
my bees to take artificial pollen (pea-flour).
I begin by putting the pea-flour into our
earliest crocus blooms, and when once the
bees taste the substitute for pollen they will
soon find it in boxes, wherever placed ; in
fact, it is surprising to see the quantity they
will take into their hives. Our chief honey
source in this neighbourhood is the bean crop.
— W. Horsfall.

Beadley Park, Epsom, Surrey, February 17.
— Just a line to add to your '* Echoes from
the Hives.'' Here — four miles from Epsom —
we have been having snow for the last three
days, while it has been quite clear of it there.

80

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Feb. 20, 1902.

On Sunday last the sun came out for a short
time, and some of the bees came out for a
cleansing flight. There are few bee-keepers in
the district— only three cottagers keep them.
Only one, however, "believes in'' bar-frame
hives. I have just got a magic-lantern, and
naturally my first slides are on bee-keeping.
If there is anything which impresses the
modern modus operandi of the bee keeper on
one's mind it is showing and explaining the
slides to one's friends, as otherwise you have
to fly to the " Guide Book " for the desired in-
formation, a performance of difficulty by the
aid of the lantern ! Do you know where I can
procure a slide representing " a bee getting the
honey from the flower" — to show where the
honey is ?— D. Mafpin.

[We are not aware of any photo from
Nature representing the bee in the act of
gathering nectar from a flower. Perhaps some
reader may have heard of such, aud, if so, will
kindly communicate the fact. — Eds.]

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All quartet forwarded mill be attended to, and thou only
of personal interest will be answered in thit column.

T. H. (Chesterfield). — Advertisement Disputes.
-—However desirous those who buy and sell
through our advertising pages may be to
accept our services as arbitrators in matters
of dispute (and we value highly the con-
fidence placed in us), it is impossible for us
to arbitrate regarding goods bought, sold,
or exchanged. With reference, however, to
the case in question, we have gone through
the voluminous correspondence forwarded,
and our opinion is that — unless an amicable
arrangement can be arrived at — it is clearly
a case for a County Court Judge to decide,
after hearing witnesses on both sides. It
would do no good for each party to deposit
£5 with us till the matter is settled, without
some way out of the difficulty was in sight ;
but certainly an inspection of the hives is a
sine qua non for those who are to judge
from the expert's point of view. We return
letters by post, as desired.

J. L. Saxby (Clevedon). — Working for In-
crease.— 1. No date can be given as the'
"best time of the year'' for making
artificial swarms. They should only be
made when the hives to be swarmed are
nearly full of bees, with weather settled
and warm, and when drones are flying
freely. 2. If a good queen is available you
may requeen the swarmed hive, but the
bees will requeen themselves if the artificial
swarming is properly done. 3. A swarm,
natural or otherwise, cannot be expected to -
store surplus till the bees are well on to-
wards the completion of conib-building in
the brood-chamber. 4. There is no risk in
artificial Bwarming if properly done. Do
not mind the " head-shaking '' of your " old-

fashioned " bee-friends, read the " Guide
Book " carefully, and carry out the instruc-
tions given therein, and you will not
need to ask us to tell you how to "hive
swarms '' or " give supers," or answer any
of the other queries put. Without a text-
book to guide you, mischief will surely
follow ; that is the least we can say.

J. W. (Northumberland).— Respionsibility for
Show Mismanagement — You need have no
fear of any kind of " exposure" being pub-
lished in our columns without our being
furnished beforehand with the views of both
parties in the case. Nor do we see how
Bee Journal readers can fix responsibility
on any one but the officially - recognised
manager of the exhibition in question.

J. P. (Stokenchurch, Bucks). — Candy-making
— Gas-tar for Hive Legs. — 1. The sugar sent
(unrefined moist sugar) is not suitable for
making bee-candy. It will deliquiesce, or
melt down (as your sample had already
done when received) and run among the
bees and combs. Loaf-sugar makes the best
candy, and, but for the faulty material used,
yours is fairly well made, but not quite
boiled long enough. 2. We have no faith
in the remedy for foul brood you mention.
3. You need have no fear that gas-tar will
do harm to the bees, and it will tend to
keep ants out of the hives as desired, if the
hive legs are re-tarred when necessary.

" W." (Wolverhampton). — Soft Bee-randy. —
Sample of candy is by no means bad, but it
is rather too hard. Soft candy should,
when scraped with the finger-nail, readily
become soft and " buttery," i.e., almost of
similar consistency to the fondant sugars
found in chocolate creams.

W. M J. (Aberystwyth). — Bee Journal by
Post. — The B.B.J, is posted to all sub-
scribers on Wednesday of each week, and
delivery only on Friday is, therefore, owing to
some fault at the "other end." Please in-
quire into it and note date of London post-
mark.

" Chi Beta '' (Newmarket). — Bee-candy. —
Your sample is too hard in txeture ; it is
also apparently not made from loaf sugar, as
it should be. Otherwise it is smooth in grain
and fairly well made.

E. Pateman (Llanbadarn Fawr). — Honey
Sample. — Honey to hand is of very good
quality ; it is almost wholly from white
clover, and is a good table honey.

W. F. Burkhill (W. Hartlepool).— Hartle-
pool and District B.K.A. — The Hon. Sec.
of the Northumberland and Durham
B.K.A., "Mr. Jas. Waddell, Wooler," will
no doubt be able to furnish the information
required, if written to.

Suspected Combs.

F. K. (Farmboro', Bath) and T. P. (West
Norwood).— There is nothing worse than
pollen in either sample of comb sent—not »
traee of disease.

Feb. 27, 1902.'

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

81

dMitorfal, $tttim, kt

USEFUL HINTS.
{Continued from page 71.)

Size of Frames. — The several letters
in this issue on the question of frames
differing in size from the B.B.K.A.
standard, tend to show how difficult it is
to clearly define the attitude taken by
the British Bee Journal on this — to
some minds — vexed question. It may
seem — to those who never thought of bees
or bee-keeping three or four years ago
— very dogmatic for editors to even
attempt to stand firm on a matter which
has come before them repeatedly in the
course of their editorial experience, and
when we in the slightest degree deprecate
discussion on what has been repeatedly
thrashed out already, those — who only
begin to think now as we and many others
thought years ago — will surely agree
that it is not too much to remonstrate
gently by again advising those who are
making a start now to " begin where we
left off." On this point the diagrams,
with measurements, of various typical
frames, shown last week, are instructive.
It will be seen that No. 1 C. N. Abbott's
taper - frame is about of the same
capacity as the one that meets with
most favour among those who desire an
increase in size; and yet this frame has
to-day practically fallen into disuse.
This being so, it seems idle to bring
forward a frame of that size, and expect
that it has the smallest chance of coming
into favour. If, then, in addition, we
remind readers that Mr. Abbott — who
was the founder and first Editor of the
B.B.J. — had the wisdom to drop even his
own pet idea of a large-sized taper-frame,
and associate himself with those who
thought out and discussed the subject in
all its bearings ; while in the end he
became a strong supporter of the B.B.K.A.
Standard frame. Personally we tried
the frame (No. 1), as shown in our last
issue for several years, only to give it up
in favour of the "Standard" (No. 3).

As regards size of brood-nest, where
does the " limit " come in 1 A man may
have his hives made for ten frames or
any number, and thus provide egg-room
for the most prolific queen ever hatched.
In concluding our " Hints " on this sub-
ject we repeat the argument used last

week with regard to the size of frame
used in securing the best recorded results
in weight of honey. We cannot get away
from the facts.

Bees and Flowers. — A very animated
and interesting discussion has been going
on for some time past in a Devonshire
paper on the question, " Do bees visit
several species of honey -yielding blossoms
promiscuously, or do they confine their
visits to one species only on one journey V
As in the matter of frames, " opinions
vary,'' but if we ask a practical bee-
man — one who, probably, has closely
observed his bees at work for ten or
twenty years — he has no hesitation in
declaring that " Bees don't wander about
among various species of bloom when
foraging." At the same time, he knows
that instances do occur when they may
seem to depart from this rule, and it will
be useful here to give an extract from the
letter of one of the stoutest champions of
the bee-man's theory. He says : —

"I will quote the opinion of Darwin on this
subject, which, it wi$ be seen, largely coin-
cides with that of Lubbock, and, as will be
observed, has received the support of Muller,
the great German botanist, besides other lesser
known observers. I quote from chapter xi. of
Darwin's book on ' Fertilisation in the Vege-
table KiDgdom ' : —

1 All kinds of bees and certain other insects
usually visit the flowers of the same species as
long as they can before going to another species.
This fact was observed by Aristotle with res-
pect to the hive-bee more than 2,000 years ago,
and was noticed by Dobbs in a paper published
in 1736 in the Philosophical Transactions. It
may be observed by anyone, both with hive
and humble-bees, in every flower garden ; not
that the habit is invariably followed. Mr.
Bennett watched for several hours (" Nature,''
June 4, 1874, p. 92) many plants of lamium
album, L. purpureum, and another labiate plant,
nepeta glechoma, all growing mingled together
on a bank near some hives, and he found that
each bee confined its visits to the same species.
The pollen of these three plants differs in
colour, so that he was able to test his observa-
tions by examining that which adhered to the
bodies of the captured bees, and he found one
kind on each bee. Humble and hive -bees are
good botanists, for they know that varieties
may differ widely in the colour of their flowers,
and yet belong to the same species. I have
repeatedly seen humble-bees flying straight
from a plant of the ordinary red dictamnus
fraxinella to a white variety ; from one to
another very differently coloured variety of
delphinium consolida, and of primula veris ;
from a dark purple to a bright yellow variety
of viola tricolor ; and with two species of

82

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 27, 1902.

papaver from one variety to another which
differed much in colour ; but in thi8 latter case
some of the bees flew indifferently to either
species, although passing by other genera, and
thus acted as if the two species were merely
varieties.' "

We think that a perusal of Darwin's
weighty words will convince most prac-
tical bee-keepers that, whatever entomo-
logists of varying degrees of eminence
may say on the subject, the " bee-man "
is about right.

Insurance for Bee-Keepers. — We
continue to receive inquiries and sugges-
tions, good, bad, and indifferent, regarding
the proposed scheme ; but when it is
known that as soon as the Council of the
B.B.K.A. have mastered the practical
difficulties standing in the way, and have
drawn up such rules and regulations as
they think Avill best meet the case, full
particulars will be published in this
journal. Meantime, wc assure those who
are anxious that no time is being lost.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

The monthly meeting of the Council was
held on Thursday, 20th hist., Mr. F. B.
White occupying the chair. There were also
present Miss Gayton, Messrs. W. Broughton
Carr, W. F. Reid, W. J. Sheppard, E. D.
Till, T. I. Weston, C. N. White, and the
Secretary.

Letters apologising for enforced absence
were read from Messrs. W. H. Harris, P.
Scattergood, and E. Walker.

The minutes of the previous meeting were
lead and confirmed.

The following new members were elected,
viz. : —

Miss Adelaide Bailey, H irsington, Bath.

Mr. D. M, Macdonald, Schoolhouse,
Morinsh, Ballindalloch, Banff.

Mr. Fredk. Sworder, Post Office, East
London, Cape Colony, South Africa.

Mr. Reginald Wood, Bottishani Lode,
Cambs.

The Report of the Finance Committee as
presented by the Chairman gave details of
income and expenditure to date, and was duly
approved.

In accordance with the recommendations of
the Examiners of Candidates for 2nd Class
Expert Certificates, it was resolved to grant
diplomas to Miss C M. Wallace, Messrs.
L. L. Jacobs, H. Samways, A. Sandys, G. E.
Skelhorn, and E. Pitt.

The secretary laid upon the table a state-
ment giving a summary of the replies received
from members and non-members wishing to
join in the Insurance Scheme. Letters were
read from the Editor of the Irish Bee Journal
and the Secretary of the Irish B.K. Associa-

tion, asking that members of the I.B.K.A.
should be admitted to the benefits of the in-;
surance on the same terms as British bee-,
keepers, and the secretary was instructed to
say that the right to participate in the scheme
could be secured by the affiliation of the Asso-
ciation with the B.B.K.A. On the motion of
the Chairman, seconded by Mr. C N. White,
a committee — consisting of Messrs. W.
Broughton Carr, W. H. Harris, W. F. Reid,
T. I. Weston, and the Secretary — was ap-
pointed to draft the further rules and regula-
tions necessary for putting the proposals into
effect.

Nominations of judges to officiate in the
hive and bee department at the Carlisle Show-
were made, for approval by the R.A.S.E.

Gifts of the following appliances for use in
the Association's apiary were reported and
accepted with thanks : —

From Mr. W. Dixon, bar-frame hive.

From Mr. H. Edwards, swarm-catcher.

Applications from the Secretary of the
" Confectioners '' and " Grocers '' Exhibitions,
for the grant of medals and diplomas as last
year, were considered and agreed to.

A large number of letters on various sub-
jects were read and dealt with by the Council.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday,
March 20.

ESSEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING.

The twenty-second annual meeting of this
Association was held in London on Thursday,
February 20, under the chairmanship of Mr.
T. I. Weston. The report, which had been
previously sent to the members, stated " That
steady progress continues to be made. The
first year of the new century proved favour-
able to bee-keepers, and a fair average yield
of honey has been the rule in Essex. It has
also been of good quality, with an absence of
honey dew. An excellent exhibition of
honey and bee appliances was held at Lexdon
Park, Colchester, in June, in connection with
the annual county show of the Essex Agri-
cultural Society, which attracted 100 entries
in twenty-two classes (for full report of the
show vide B.K.J, of June 20, vol. 29).

Seventy-seven new members joined the
association during the year, bringing up the
total membership to 334.

A new portable bee-tent has been pur-
chased, and was in use at six shows.

The expert commenced his spring tour on;
April 9, and finished on June 8. His autumn
visits commenced on August C, and lasted
until October 14, the total number of
stocks of bees examined being 3,541. Foul-
brood ahows no sign of diminution, and calls
for extreme watchfulness and care on the part
of bee-keepers to prevent the disease from
further spreading to healthy stocks.

The demand for the Association honey
labels continues to increase, 2,875 having
been sold during the year.

Feb. 27, 1902.'

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

83

The statement of accounts shows the Asso-
ciation to be in a sound financial position,
with very few subscriptions in arrear.

The report and balance-sheet were unani-
mously adopted.

The Countess of Warwick was re-elected
President, and Vice-Presidents were ap-
pointed. The following members constitute
the Committee for 1902 : Miss Aukland, Dr.
Elliot, Messrs. G. R. Alder, J. Chesson, Bruce
Cook, A. H. Dearden, F. G. Kimber, 0.
Puck, A. W. Salmon, T. I. Weston, T. W.
White, and A. Milne. Mr. W. M. Tufnell
was re-elected Treasurer, Mr. 0. Puck
Auditor, Mr. W. J. Sheppard Hon. Secretary,
Mr. W. A. Withycombe Expert and Col-
lector.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the
Association is doing useful work in the
interests of bee-keeping. — W. J. Sheppard,
Hon. Sec , Chingford, February 22.

NOTTS. BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the above associa-
tion was held on February 15, at the People's
Hall, Nottingham. The Mayor (E. N. Elborne,
Esq , J.P.), presided over a numerous attend-
ance. The Mayor said he wished to show his
sympathy with the association which was
doing good work. He did not know much
about bee?, but he thought that in the three
or four thousand gardens in the city bees
would be very helpful. He hoped that at the
fehow at Colwick Park next year the bee-
keepers' association would be represented. The
Secretary read the annual report, from which
we learned that sixteen members had been
enrolled, and the association had come out of
the year better in regard to finances than they
had expected. The debt of £3 had been
reduced to £l lis. 4d. Last season had been
a fairly good one all round for the yield of
honey, and for quality it had been excellent.
The shows held during the year had been very
successful. In regard to instruction in bee-
keeping the County Council had increased
their grant from £30 to £40, and by its aid
the association had been enabled to give
lectures at various places in the county. The
Nottingham City Council had revived their
grant of £2 2s., and it was proposed to have a
lecture and a demonstration. The report and
balance-sheet were unanimously adopted, and
the officers for ensuing year were elected as
follows : — President, Viscount St. Vincent ;
Vice-Presidents, the Duke of Portland, Earl
Manvers, W. S. Ellis, Esq., S. H. Sands. Esq.,
J.P. ; Mrs. J. Hind, Rep. H. L. Williams,
M.A. ; A. E. Trimmings, Esq., H. W. Cooper,
Esq., W. D. Warwick, Esq., and J. Bowes,
Esq. Committee, Messrs. G. Smithurst, T. N.
Harrison, T. Carlin, S. W. Marriott, A. G.
Pugh, G. E. Puttergill, G. E. Skelhorn, W.
Swann, and J. C. Wadsworth. Hon. Auditor,
Mr. P. Scattergood. Secretary and Treasurer,

Mr. Geo. Hayes, 48, Mona-street, Beeston,
Representatives to meetings of B.B.K.A..
Messrs. A. G. Pugh and G. Hayes. — {Com-
municated )

(Kiamtyim&tMt

The Editon do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinion! expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and eorretpondentt
are requested to write on one tide of the paper only and
give their real name* and addressee, 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, Correspondent!,
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.

[4702.] The hard frost ha3 at length broken
up, and been followed by "a cold thaw, so
that very few bees have left the hives for a
cleansing-flight. On the 15th inst. I noticed
the entrances of a few hives fouled somewhat,
showing that the long confinement had had
its usual effect, as on ordinary flights the
excreta is dropped by the bees when on the
wing. We are hoping for some warm sun-
shine, so that every colony may have a good
airing-flight, and get a chance of re-storing
their larder near the brood-nest.

Bee-keepers generally will feel indebted to
Colonel Walker for his interesting article oa
" An observatory hive." His observations
have verified the truism that "bees do nothing
invariably." It seems strange, however, that;
the three sealed worker larvre should have
been removed. Are we to suppose that bees
are cannibals in order to account for this ?
The photographs show it was not for want of
food, and yet these three future workers were
cleared out ! Therefore, unless we regard
them as " weaklings " or sickly, we can give
no reason for them being sacrificed. On the
other hand, as the larvre were sealed in, how
could the bees know they were such ? And
seeing that the small, undersized larva? were
allowed to mature, this looks as if the instinct
of the attendant bees was at fault.

The B.B.K.A. u Standard" Frames.— These
are once again to the fore, and for myself I
beg to suggest that those who use the " Com-
bination " hive, or hives on that system, have
the power of increasing the size of brood-nests
without any change in the size of the frame.
The "Standard1' frame is a great advantage
when transferring bees and combs from hive
to hive ; interchaugeability rendering the
work easy and satisfactory to the bee-keeper,
and although in some districts I believe a
frame, say, 10 in. deep would be an improve-
ment, possibly in other districts the " Stan-
dard'' is large enough for all requirements.
There are so many things in which some pro-
gress has been made since the B.B.K.A.
''Standard" frame was adopted, such as

84

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Feb. 27, 1902.

formed of outside appearances, I felt sure
by what I saw that a great change had come
over those few colonies. I next peeped at
supers which I had put on as safety valves,
and here again was a surprise, for some were
full and all had some surplus. So after
taking supers off I made a careful examination
of each colony, but not a trace of disease could
I find anywhere. In June the cells contain-
ing foul brood in these colonies averaged
about one cell to the square inch each side of
the comb, but in the autumn, the patches of
brood were perfectly healthy and clean, save
an occasional empty cell from which young
bees had recently emerged. Of course, this
entirely changed my plans, and glad indeed
was I to be spared (at least for a time) the
sickening work of destroying stocks of bees
with brimstone fumes. I confess I do not think
these stocks are entirely cured, but for such an
effect there must be a cause which is not
found in what is generally expressed by the
term " a good season." I think it would be
useful to have an exchange of ideas on the
question : — Why a good season is helpful in
ridding us of the pest. I am pleased to say
that my home apiary of over forty colonies are
free from disease, and I am already looking
forward with pleasure to next month when I
usually commence real business. — Owen
Browning, Kingsomborne, Hants.

(Correspondence continued on page 86 )

HOMES OF THE HONEY-BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

On receiving from M. Dennler photo of the
beautifully situated apiary reproduced on next
page, along with the expression of a desire to
have it included in our " Homes of the Honey
Bee,'' we gladly agreed, and knowing of the
cordial friendship existing between our Senior
Editor and Mr. Dennler, wrote Mr. Cowan
asking him to deal with the notes sent to go
along with the picture, which he has done.
Mr. Dennler wrote as follows : —

" You will receive by this same post a photo
of my apiaries, which I think you may like to
publish in jour Bee Journal. My name is
no doubt well known to you, as it is to Mr.
T. W. Cowan, whose old friend I am. I am
the ' Redacteur ' of the Elsass Lothr. Bienen-
zuchfer, and a reader of your valuable paper,
in which I am still remembered, for I always
read my name in the advertisement (' Bees-
wax,' by J. Dennler).

" We do like, in Alsace, the nice and interest-
ing pictures of your English apiaries, and I am
thinking that your English bee-keepers would
be interested, too, to look at a foreign apiary.

" I shall consider it an honour if you grant
it a place in your Journal."

Mr. Cowan sends the following interesting
notes regarding his friend, M. Dennler : —

About a year ago M. Dennler left Enzheim,
and is now residing at Mutzig, a lovely little
town situated in the Bruche Valley of the

"packing bees for winter'' earlier than our
bee-masters of twenty-five years ago. There
is also the advance made in candy-making as
a winter food, and the system of using more
super-foundation than formerly, thus inducing
the bees to store more in the surplus com-
partment of the hive. All these things
help to increase our total output of honey,
and as we feed earlier to replace stores
consumed, we get the early gathering all
stored in the supers. In using the "Standard"
frame, present-day bee-keeper3 have adapted
their management to the hives on hand,
and it will only be by unbiassed competition
in apiaries located side by side that this
matter will be successfully demonstrated. I
have no doubt that our late editor, Mr. C. N.
Abbott, had good reasons for his advocacy of
a deeper frame, and he had also some good
points in his " Taper " frame. This idea was
to prevent killing bees when lifting a frame,
as often happens with nervous bee-keepers
with the rectangular oblong frame. I have
from time to time advocated a wider top bar ;
in fact, have now in use a gross or two of
Abbott's wide end 1^ in. wide top-bars, and
these bars effectually prevent brace - combs
being built. These frames are also more free
from propolis than top-bars of ordinary width.
If a conference of bee-keepers should ever be
held to discuss the question of altering the
present " Standard " frame I should advocate
the alteration I have named above. — W.
Woodley, Eeedon, Newbury.

ROBBING DISEASED BEES.

[4703] Your correspondent, " Wm. Love-
day," in "Essex Notes'" (4680, page 55),
brings to my mind a thing that happened last
year which I will relate, not because of the
value of the circumstance in itself, but more
especially because the recording of such
instance} nuy lead to free expression cf
opinion as to cause and effect, &c.

Four years ago this coming March I started
an out-apiary of twenty colonies, which in the
second year after establishment contracted
foul brood through robbing a diseased stock
situated about half a mile from them. The
disease spread so rapidly that I despaired of
saving a single colony. In the four seasons I
had, by driven bees and swarms, added eight
stocks to my first instalment, but in June of
last year I had only thirteen left, and all these
I found on examination to be more or les3
affected, six of them very bad, which I cleared
out, leaving the remaining seven to try their
luck until the autumn, it being my intention
to make a clean sweep as soon as the honey-
flow was over. As the autumn drew on every
preparation was made to carry out the deadly
work, and I set out for the purpose. On
reaching the spot and glancing along at
the entrances, I was surprised and almost
startled at their apparent strength, and as a
pretty correct idea of what is inside may be

Feb. 27, 1902.] THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.

S5

Vosge3 mountains, not far from the well-
known ruins of Girbaden and Burg Niedeck.

The apiary stands in the garden at the foot
of the Felsberg, which is w%ll seen in the
picture. This mountain is covered with
acacias, vines and other fruit trees, heather,
and pine forest. As a whole, the country is
favourable to bee-keeping, and M. Dennler
tells us that the harvest of honey from acacias
and lime trees last season was a grand one.

The large bee-house in the centre has one
story, and accommodates eighteen colonies of
bees. On the right stands another bee-house
containing six colonies (Bastian system), and
the others are all single hives.

On the left of the picture stand M.

used in that country. But the honey harvest
was always very poor, so that from 1854 to
1867, during fourteen years, they only obtained
a surplus of 180 lb. in all. The largest
quantity in one year was 55 lb., and this was
in 1867. In 1860 they only got 50 lb. from
twenty-six hives, but in the five consecutive
years, 1860 to 1865, they did not get a single
pound of honey, although they always had
from fifteen to twenty hives. Such an ex-
perience would have disgusted many a
would-be bee-keeper, but M. Dennler was
made of better stuff, and his energy and
perseverance have enabled him to become not
only a master of the situation but of the
science also. It is perfectly true that the

M. J. DENNLERS APIARY, MUTZIG, ALSACE, GERMANY.

Dennler and his wife, who also takes a great
interest in the work.

As M. Dennler only gives U3 a description
of the picture, which we have much pleasure
in reproducing, we supplement it by giving
more particulars about him, feeling sure that
our readers would like to know more of a man
who has done so much for bee-keeping on the
Continent.

M. Dennler commenced bee-keeping when
he was only ten years old. On May 26, 1854,
a schoolfellow of his made him a present of a
swarm, and his father rather encouraged the
son by building an apiary, and he became
interested in bee-keeping himself. Four years
later, in 1858, the father and son had already
thirty-one stocks in straw skeps, such as are

neighbourhood surrounding M. Dennler's
former residence was not an El Dorado for
the bee-keeper, as we can ourselves testify,
having visited him at Enzheim ; but it was
not the worst place that could have been
chosen for bee-keeping. For a year past M.
Dennler has resided at Mutzig.

The first important work that M. Dennler
commenced to Btudy was " Le3 Abeilles,'' by
Frariere, but it was not until 1868 that a new
era in bee-keeping began to dawn in Alsace.
M. Bastian, pastor of Wissenbourg, intro-
duced bee-keeping with movable combs. M.
Dennler was one of the first to adopt the
new method and to become a discipline of
M. Bastian, and to propagate these methods.

In 1873 M. Bastian started the journal

86

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 27, 1902.

called the Elsass-Lothringischer Bicnen-
zuchter, and made M. Dennler editor, giving
him as a colleague M. Z willing, and appoint-
ing these two gentlemen as lecturers in Alsace
and Lorraine. Both French and German are
spoken in Alsace and Lorraine ; therefore it
is necessary for the lecturers to know both
languages, and it is for this reason that the
journal is printed partly in French and partly
in German.

From this time scarcely a year has passed
without M. Dennler's visiting some exhibition,
and he has generally been successful in
securing prizes, so that he has a fine collection
of medals and diplomas. He thus has suc-
cessively visited Germany, Austria, France,
England, and Switzerland. He considers that
he has been specially favoured by being able
to study the various methods in the apiaries
of the leading bee-masters of Europe : — In
Germany, with Dr. Dzierzon at Karlsmarkt,
Schmied at Eichstadt, Huber at Niederschopf-
heim, &c. ; in Switzerland, with M. Bertrand
at Nyon, and J. Jeker at Olten ; in France,
with the Abbe Collin in Nancy, Hamet in
Paris ; and in England, at our apiary in
Horsham, and Mr. Abbott's at Southall. M.
Dennler always speaks with particular grati-
fication about his visit to Eogland, as it was
at our late country residence in Horsham that
he met some of the leading bee-keeper3 in
England, as well as Mr. Gravenhorst, of
Germany, and Mr. Newman, of Chicago.
It was also there that he, Mr. Gravenhorst,
and Mr. Newman were each presented with a
silver medal of the British Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation as a souvenir of their visit to this
country.

M. Dennler has had very great experience,
and, after having tried all the different races
of bee3 known to this day, he has gone back
to the common native bee, and is convinced
that, as far as regards energy and mildness of
temperament, it deserves preference before all
others. The principle which he adopts is
summed up in a few words. It is, to have
only young, vigorous queens of one year old or,
at the most, two years. These produce strong
colonies, ivhich only can give good results, and
are able to winter under the best conditions.
With such queens the hives must be very
roomy, and capable of enlargement according
to requirements.

As a writer, M. Dennler was at one time
well known to our readers, and his reviews of
Continental bee-papers, which used to appear
in the B.B.J, from time to time, were read
with much interest.

M. Dennler has also written a number of
pmphlets. "Der Honig als Nahrung,'* and
"Le Miel et son Usage,'' of which nearly
100,000 have been circulated. " Das Bienen-
wachsund seine Verwertung" we have trans-
lated into English under the title of " Bees-
wax ; its Economical Uses and Conversion
into Money.'' It is a pamphlet well worthy of
study Jt>y any one interested in wax. "Die

Wachsmotten '' is another useful pamphlet on
the wax-moth.

M. Dennler i3 in the prime of life, and we
hope he may lang continue in health to work
for the advancement of bee-keeping.

CORRESPONDENCE.

{Continued from page 84.)
SOME ESSEX NOTES.

ABOUT FOUL BROOD.

(Continued from page 56.)

[4704."| (O.) This bee-keeper told me at the
outset that he had taken a dislike to bees,
and already advertised his apiary (which was
of considerable proportions) for sale in the
B.B.J. Therefore, when he inquired whether
I would endeavour to assist him in effecting a
sale, I had in mind that the owner was we" I
up in the social scale, and knowing also that
he had had some years' experience with bees,
it did not occur to me to ask any particulars,
as I was told that the bees were all right. But
a few days after, when about to carry out the
request made to me, I thought it would be
best to examine the hives myself before doing
any selling. I found foul brood in all but
one of the hives in question, and on examining
the latter a few days later the disease was
seen to be rapidly developing in the comb3.
Several of these hives were in the worst possible
condition ; in one the bees had apparently been
dead for months, while the combs it contained
had evidently been robbed of the honey left in
them after the stock had died out. Anyway,
it was evident that none but robber bees had
been in the hive for a long time past. Thi3
outbreak might easily be disastrous in a
village where there are at least half a dozen
small apiaries. I pointed this out and
offered to assist in destroying the diseased
stocks, but all to no purpose, though I
have since heard that an abortive attempt
was made in a rough and ready way to
suffocate a few of them. Three weeks after,
while I was ten miles away in another direc-
tion, I found that parties there were acting
as agents in selling the appliances used upon
these diseased stocks of bees through the
season ; though I was assured that the bees
themselves were being destroyed.

Judge my surprise a little later when I saw
the whole of the stocks included with other
goods in a sale by public auction. I wrote
the owner privately, making a final effort, and
to prevent a serious wrong. The reply I re-
ceived was that the bees could be cured if the
necessary step3 were taken, He also wrote,
" How am I to know that those who buy these
bees will not take the needful steps ? " So the
hives were sold, and though they hardly made

Erratum. — On page 55, first column,
second line above case C, for " foul " stage,
read "spore" stage.

Feb. 27, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

87

firewood price, likely buyers were told that
these hives of bees were " worth a pound a-
piece." The person who bought the whole
lot lives near the original owner, and I am in-
formed that tie hives were moved to the
buyer's garden a little distance away. He
knows nothing of bees, sd there is a perfect
hotbed of disease. Need I say more except to
add that in a little time it was found in four
of the other apiaries in the village before the
close of the season.

(P.) Here was a case where the bee-keeper
found one of his stocks dead in early spring,
and, suspecting foul brood, he cut out and sub-
mitted a sample of the comb to a friend with
some experience, and, finding his suspicions
confirmed, dealt with the case thoroughly.
Preventives were used in the other hives, and
no more foul brood was seen in the apiaiy.

(Q ) A lady bee-keeper, who has for some
years found that sort of pleasure in bee-keep-
ing that comes in the eventide of life, though
there was foul brood in every hive she was not
without some experience of the disease some
years ago, but she never had the bees tho-
roughly overhauled as when I took them in
hand.

(B ) Here we came across what is (for this
country) a large apiary added to more work
in another line than the owner can do com-
fortably. When I had been at work among
his bees for some time, he came, and after
asking in what condition they were, he related
the same story of buying the bees and the
hives at a sale, with the inevitable result of
want of knowledge. Tnis is the third out-
break of foul brood clearly traceable to the
sale and purchase of infected hives. Many
sellers know that the bees are diseased ; great
want of care, no doubt, is also shown by the
purchasers.

But all this proves how necessary it is that
some sort of compulsory power should be
possessed by which these evils could be
stopped in order to make foul brood notifiable,
and have diseased stocks properly dealt with.

(S.) Here was another bee-keeper who began
on being told that bee-keeping was " little or
no trouble." He was also induced to buy a
second-hand hive from a person who tried his
hand and failed in the craft. A swarm was
put in the empty hive, and was soon in a
bad state with foul brood. Being advised to
" burn the lot,'' he burnt part, but the most
important items were preserved, and tucked
away under the garden hedge. As a matter
of course, the bees from his own healthy stock
soon found out the " tucked-away " things,
and later on, when I saw this healthy stock, it
was foul with disease.

(T.) Is an artisan bee keeper, who cares
nothing about bees, but says " The children
like a bit of honey." He had three stocked
hives given him a few years ago, and since
that time in some winters half his stocks have
died. When this occurs the empty hives have
been left outside, decoying thus other people's

swarms to them in spring. Last year he had
only two stocks, both in frame hives set up
close together. One of them (in a very old
hive) was badly diseased, and the other
healthy. I left him a leaflet (No. 32) on foul-
brood, and gave him a day or two to think it
over ; I afterwards made a special journey
and burnt the lot.

_ (U.) Here I found a stock in a nearly new
hive, and although it was thought that some-
thing was wrong with the bees there was no
attempt at examination till the stock was
past cure. Then everything possible was
done.

(V.) This bee-keeper, a man of intelligence
and education, with previous experience of
foul-brood, asked whether I did not think the
disease was caused by damp !

I am afraid B.J. readers will tire of a sub-
ject that can never make pleasant reading,
though it may to some extent be instructive,
so I will leave it. — Wm. Loveday, Hatfield
Heath, Harlow, Essex.

THE VALUE OF STRONG COLONIES.

[4705.] The more open mind of the average
American gives him a considerable advantage
(as we find to our cost) in the great markets
of the world. This attitude our pushful
cousin brings into every industry, and he
seems to have no contempt for the novice. An
employe of the once famous Alexandre, who
was, I suppose, the premier manufacturer of
harmoniums in the world, discovered that an
organ-like tone could be got from a reed, but
his employer would have none of it, and in
consequence the invention was carried to
America, and now we have the "American
organ" everywhere, while the famous firm
mentioned above ha3 ceased to exist. This
attitude of mind, no doubt, has led Mr. G. M.
Doolittle to experiment with various sizes of
brood-frames, and after all the years of testing
he gave our friend Mr. Sladen to understand
that he preferred the " Gallup " frame (llj in.
by 11 j in). Bat this frame might not be best
on this side of the Atlantic. I say might not,
seeing therefore that some doubt exists on the
question. Why not put it to a test along
with other sizes of frame ? Since more pro-
lific races of bees have been introduced into
our midst, a larger brood-nest one would think
is needed, or excessive swarming results unless
the bee-keeper is always on the watch. I
think, therefore, Mr. Sladen is right when he
says, "any improvement in the dimensions
of the British " Standard " frame that might be
brought forward would certainly take the form
of a larger frame. The general opinion in the
country seems to be that it should be a deeper
frame .... since the fewer and larger the
combs there are the better it is for the bee-
keeper in manipulating and the bees in brood-
raising.'' We all aim at securing a permanent
yearly average of profit from our bees, and to

88

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 27, 1902.

be sure of this, we must follow Mr. Doolittle's
advice, and "have a full force of working
bees at the right time.'' But we are told this
can be done with a small frame. I reply,
Yes, but only by incessant manipulation and
in robbing one stock in order to furnish
another with brood. Now, if the same end
can be obtained by having a more cube-
shaped brood-nest instead of a long tunnel-
shaped one the advantage is, to my mind,
shared by bees and bee-keeper. An Irish
bee-veteran in speaking of his remarkable
success in the B.B.J., March 22, 1894, says :—
" I disclaim all credit for my success, except
that of providing room and material (he used
the Langstroth frame) for the bees to work
upon, as I have neither fed, nor stimulated,
nor re-queened, nor done anything to promote
greater activity among my bees.''

Will some one who has used a larger frame
for a number of years give us the benefit of
their experience ? — J. D., Pendle Forest,
February 21.

SIZE OF FRAMES.

[4706.] Having read with much interest the
discussion on size of frames, and the mention
in our Editor's "Useful Hints" on page 71
last week, I should like to give my experience
for what it is worth. I cannot call myself a
beginner, having kept bees for sixteen years.
I also commenced by making five hives to
take larger frames than the " Standard "—they
were about "Langstroth" siz9 (see page 71)
— which I copied from those of a bee-keeping
friend ; and after reading up some old numbers
of the B.K. Record, I was inclined — as our
Editor says, " anxious to go one better " — by
adopting frames of the " Standard " size, to
accommodate which I made about twenty
hives. Fortunately, however, I kept my five
old hives, and every year found them to
more than hold their own against my new
" Standard " frames. About ten years ago I
made another " retrograde step," this time a
modification of my first and 16 in. by 10 in.
size ; and I am now convinced this size is
more suited for honey-production in this
district than the " Standard."

I do not think it makes much difference
what size frame is used when working for
extracted honey, if we dispense with excluder
zinc ; but with a good queen such as " J. G."
mentions in his letter on " The Value of
Strong Colonies,'' on page 77, and a cramped
brood-nest, the thing is different. How can
we secure the best results from a good queen
if we have, say, only two-thirds of the cell-
room she is capable of filling with eggs ? When
" J. G." quoted Mr. Gallup — referring to a
swarm in half barrel — I understand that to
mean an unlimited brocd-nest with unlimited
scope for egg-laying, and that is just my idea
in advocating a larger brood frame. I fancy
your other correspondent, " J. G." (4698,
page 76) had not his good queen when he

found his bees storing in brood boxes and
not in supers. Anyway, let me say at once
I am not troubled in that direction ; when
the queen is right and honey coming in, bees
always " go up " with a rush. " J. G." also
mentions keeping brown bees, but who at
the present day has got a pure strain of
brown bees ? I think our editors have said
more than once that very few bees in this
country are free from a trace of foreign blood.
I am very pleased to see that your able corre-
spondent, Mr. Sladen, is experimenting with
frames, and shall be on the look-out for
results. The top bars I use are § square, and
I have often wondered if they would do a
little wider. I hope, however, that bee-
keepers who have had practical experience
with different sized frames will give their
views. It is not for any one who has never
tried any other size than "Standard" to say that
is " best " because they happen to be satisfied
with it. I am fully convinced of the advan-
tage of a frame of uniform size for general
use, but the one now adopted is too small for
best results in this district. I find with
using twelve or fourteen " Standard " frames in
brood-nests I do [not get as good results as
with nine or ten frames of the larger size ;
there always seems more power in the latter
when honey begins to come in. In conclusion,
I have still thirteen " Standard '' frame hives,
including one " Wells," or double-queen hive,
to compare with those holding the 16 in. by
10 in. frames. — Phil. Jones, Rose Gardens
Apiary, Church Stretton, February 24.

SOME NOTES ON BEES, HIVES,
AND FRAMES.

[4707.] The past winter in thi3 district has
been a cold and dull one, so that the bees
have not flown much. This may prove bene-
ficial later on, through not wearing the old
bees out, and thus helping to give stocks a
good start at brood-rearing in the early spring.
The bees of one stock I discovered on
December 1 to be restless and humming a
good deal, which made me conclude that they
were queenless. I happened to have two
nuclei wintering in a " W.B.C." hive, with a
perforated dummy between, so one queen was
removed and given to the queenless hive.
I at the same time removed the perforated
dummy which had separated the two nuclei,
and thus both lots, now united, will make a
good stock. My stocks at the time of writing
seem all right, but, of course, we are not quite
through the winter yet. My Carniolans,
generally, seem very bad - tempered when
swarming, and I would like to know whether
this is usual with this race of bees, because at
other times they are very quiet, and can be
handled without the use of either smoker or
veil. The Carniolan bee has, in my opinion,
some very good qualities. I believe the
queens are more prolific than our natives, and

Feb. 27, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

89

I have certainly had much larger swarms from
the Carniolans than from blacks.

I note in the B.B.J, recently some cor-
respondence on the subject of larger frames
than our present " Standard " frame. For my
part, I believe that any alteration in this
respect would be a great mistake. Apart from
other reasons, we should require to use deeper
brood-chambers, &c, which would cost much
more, as 11 -in. board costs more in proportion
than the ordinary 9-in. stuff, and is rather
difficult to obtain free from shakes, &c. Those
who prefer more than ten frames in the brood-
nest can easily make new hives to hold as
many as they desire, or they could use a
shallow-frame chamber either above or below
the broodnest. This would give a broodnest
equal to the laying capacity of the most prolific
queen.

I have this past season given the " Wells "
hive a good trial, and found it fairly satis-
factory ; but with me it does not give more
surplus-honey than two ordinary stocks. I
have six more ready for the coming season,
and hope to give this system a good trial. I
have also just finished making up six non-
swarming " W.B.C." hives, which I shall give
a trial in the coming season ; also three ordi-
nary "W.B.C." hives. These are all fitted
with Mr. Walton's floorboard feeder. This, I
think, is a good idea to save time, as it is not
necessary to remove roofs, quilts, &c, in
feeding. — H. S., Churchdown, near Chelten-
ham, February 19.

QUEEN BREEDING BY SELECTION.

[4708.] Referring to the letter of Rev. W.
Head (4690, page 66), it appears that some
misapprehension, or otherwise a wrong im-
pression has got abroad with regard to my
remarks on " Queen-breeding by Selection.''
It may tend to make the matter clear if I refer
your correspondent to my letter, from which
he quotes (4111, p. 420, vol. xxviii.) ; he will
there find that all my stocks are not located
in single hives. In order, therefore, to prevent
any further misunderstanding, let me say my
apiary consists of three separate divisions,
each worked for a separate object. The system
adopted in one division cannot possibly be
applied to the other. Each must be treated
to meet the object in view.

The " W.B.C' division, which contains
only hives of that particular type, is worked
for section-honey from the heather bloom —
the only source of saleable honey this district
produces. In my " Wells '' division — i.e., the
one containing double-queened stocks only —
each queen is confined on ten brood-frames
always. These " Wells '' hives are not worked
for honey in the same form, and for obvious
reasons must receive totally different treat-
ment. When I tell you that those ten
" Wells " hives (containing twenty of the best
queens I can produce) have never given me a
single swarm for eight successive reasons, the
most sceptical mu*t admit there is something

here in the shape of a definite practical result.
The question is, What is it 1 With this ex-
planation I think my letter will be more
clearly understood than the remarks of your
correspondent appear to convey. — J. Rtmer,
Levisham, Yorks, February 19.

[2799.] Number of Frames for a "W.B.C'
Hive. — When to Give Supers. — During these
winter months I have been making a "W.B.C."
hive from dimensions taken from an old
Bee Journal, and should be obliged if you
would give me the following information
through your paper : — 1. What do you con-
sider the best number of frames to work in
the shallow-frame boxes sent out with the
" W.B.C." hive ? Some manufacturers show
ten in their catalogues. 2. Providing that
stocks of bees are strong in numbers by the
first week in June, should the shallow-frame
boxes be put on then, or is it best to wait until
the honey is actually coming in ? I may say
this makes the second time I have started an
apiary, owing to my having to leave the
country, and as my first experience was not
altogether successful, I wish to be in a position
to start well this year. My bees have, so far,
wintered well, and to day turned out in large
numbers for a cleansing flight. Thanking you
in anticipation of your help in this matter. —
H. W. Ford, Suffolk, February 21.

Reply. — 1. Our preference is for ten Stan-
dard frames and a dummy in each hive. In
dealing with some races of bees it will, no
doubt, be useful to use eleven frames, espe-
cially if the district is an early one for bee-
forage, but, as a rule, ten frames in the hands
of a Bkilful bee-man are, in our opinion, " the
best number'' for the brood-nest, and, this
being so, it follows that ten frames must go in
the shallow-frame box for surplus, seeing that
body-box and surplus-chamber must be made
to fit over each other flush on all sides. 2.
The time for putting on surplus-chambers can-
not be fixed by rule-of-thumb, but is timed by,
first, the strength of the colony ; second, the
bee-forage in the district ; and, third, by the
weather at the time. In other words, if the
bees cover all frames in lower-chamber, and
the bee-forage is yielding nectar, with suitable
weather to gather it in, the combs, as seen
just below the quilts, will show whitened
edges caused by the bees lengthening out the
cells ; and, when this is seen, no time should
be lost in giving supers.

[2800.J Removing Bees 100 Yards.— 1. Re-
ferring to your reply to my query last week
(2797, page 79) on moving bees 100 yards, am
I to understand that I can move my bees to
my new residence at once ? The qualifying
word, "but," raised a doubt in my mind,
hence my again troubling you on the matter.
I may add that yesterday I examined all my

90

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 27, 1902.

stocks, and found them (with one exception)
very strong. The weak one, however, had
only sufficient bees left to cover about two
frames. I suspected queenlessness, but
eventually found her. 2. The last-named
colony was a swarm of June, 1900, from
which I took 70 lb. surplus honey, and last
year I got from the same hive 95 lb.,
and as there was no swarm, would it be wise
to try her another season 1 These bees have
been flying rather strongly on two or three
fine days recently. — J. Charlton.

Keplv. — It will make the reply clearer if
we say, but for the fact that the distance
(100 yds.) to the new location is so short, the
hives might be removed at once. On the
other hand, if cold weather keep3 the bees
indoors for two or three weeks at one spell, the
hives may be moved on the expiration of that
time if the precautions mentioned on p. 79
are adopted. 2. On no account would we
retain the queen. She is evidently worn out ;
hence the weakness of the colony.

Honey Gott., near Weston, Leamington, Feb-
ruary 22. — After a long and severe fro3t,
during which we had on some nights a tem-
perature of 19 deg. Fahr., the weather has
changed ; it is from 38 to 40 deg., or higher
to-day, with promise of much milder weather,
and bees are rather busy carrying out their
dead comrades along with the usual debris.
Fortunately, we have had but little snow in
this locality. Snow-drops are peeping out. —
John Walton.

Chichester, February 24. — At last we seem
to be in for the ,! February fill-dyke " after a
week of hard frost. Up to now we have been
free from snow this side of the Southdowns.
Saturday morning last was very mild, and the
be e3 turned out of hives with a joyful sound.
Speaking of sound, brings one's thoughts to,
Can bees hear 1 Of course, they can, or why
did our grandparents run after the swarms
and kick up such a din with the fire-3hovel and
front door key, if they could not hear ? But
joking aside, Messrs. Editors, could you not give
U3 bee-keepers a list of the colour of honey in
relation to the source it is gathered from ?
For instance, we have white clover honey,
which bears a white flower, this being very
light honey ; also hawthorn, lime blossom
honey, with more colouring in the flower
contains more colouring in the honey, and so
on, till we come to heather, which has a large
amount of colouring in the blossom, as also in
the honey. Does this agree to other honey-
producing plants not mentioned ? If not,
why not 1 — John Daniels.

Woodbines Apiary, St. Brelades, Jersey, G.I.,
February 24. — After a somewhat long spell of
east winds, with sharp snatches of frost,
keener than what we usually get here, a very

desirable change has now taken place, and
marvellous results have been produced in
twenty-four hours, coupled with a few hours
of bright sunshine. The skylarks have carolled
forth their sweetest songs ; the magpies have
followed in the furrow of the plough of the
new potato planter ; whilst the bees in thou-
sands have been released from their hiberna-
tion, and have made the apiary hum like a
top, to the delight of the anxious keeper, who
always wants to know how many have passed
through in safety the late wintry weather. I
am thankful to say mine have all turned out
strong and well, free from disease, with every
prospect so far of success. Best wishes to all
concerned, and continued prosperity to the
B.B.J.— William W. Kay.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All queries/or warded will be attended to, and thot* only
of per tonal interest Kill be answered in this column.

A. L. Grimshaw (Ashton-on-Mersey). — Sugar
for Bee Food. — If your grocer guarantees
the sample sent to be pure cane-sugar, it
will do very well for bee-food.

S. Darlington (Charing). — Caterpillars in
Hives. — 1. We cannot say what insect the
caterpillar sent would develop into, but it
certainly is not (as you suppose) the larva
of wax moth. 2. Mr. H. W. Brice, 100,
Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath, is Hon.
Secretary of the Kent and Sussex B.K. A.

G. Geldard (Liverpool). — Making Bee-Candy.
— 1. Both samples are fairly good in grain,
but they are too hard ; evidently from over-
boiling. If the instructions in " Guide
Book " are closely followed, a soft, smooth-
grained candy will result. Your other
queries will be replied to in our next.

*** Mr. W. H. Mario w writes as follows :—
"Referring to lantern-slides, in your issue
of February 20, Mr. D. Mappin, in his
c Echo ' (p. 80) asks if a lantern-slide can
be procured snowing bee gathering nectar
from the flower. I do not know of such a
slide, but there is an illustrated article in
Harmsworth's Magazine for October, 1900,
and one of the illustrations shows the bee
gathering nectar and fertilising the flower at
the same time. Perhaps this may meet the
requirements of D. Mappin. If so, there is
no doubt that permission could be obtained
to copy the pictures for the purpose of
making slides.

"P.S. — I have no objection to lending
copy of the magazine if it cannot be ob-
tained, and the subject is thought suitable."

*#* A number of interesting letters, &c, in
ti pi are unavoidably held orer ; among them
Articles on " Comments on Current Topics";
l' Can Bees Hear?" by Colonel Walker;
"The Products of the Bee"; " Bee-keeping in
Natal" and several Queries — all of which M'dl
appear in our next.

March 6, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

91

(MtoriaL $atim, tot

LANCASHIRE B.KA.

ANNUAL MEETING.

Held at the Preston Scientific Society's
Rooms, Fishergate, Preston, Saturday,
February 22, 1902. Mr. George Roberts,
Liverpool, in the chair. There were also pre-
sent, Messrs. George Rose, A. M. Fielding,
J. F. Williamson, W. A. Cook, Robert Rymer,
W. H. Johnston, F. H. Taylor, J. E.
Andwich, W. Lloyd, J. Jones, P. Shackleton,
and many others from various parts of the
county. The minutes of the last annual
meeting having been read and confirmed the
chairman moved the adoption of the report
and balance-sheet, •which was seconded by Mr.
Rose, and carried unanimously. Votes of
thanks to the officers and committee were
passed and responded to by Messrs. F. H.
Taylor and George Rose.

The election of President was left in the
hands of the committee.

The following gentlemen were elected Vice-
Presidents : — Lord Lilford, Sir J. T. Hebbon,
Sir Daniel Radcliffe, Sir George A. Pilkington,
Rev. Canon Blundell, Messrs. F. Stapleton-
Bretherton, W. Talbot Bretherton. W. Fitz-
herbert Brockholes, Wm. Carr, W. E. Tom-
linson, W. Tyrer, Rev. L. C Wood, T. T. L.
Scarisbrick, R. R. Rothwell, George Roberts,
Rev. Dr. Porter, Sir Alfred Jones. Hon.
treasurer and hon. librarian, Mr. Frederick
H. Taylor, Fallowfield, Manchester. Hon,
auditor, Mr. Alfred Wood. Committee : —
Messrs. Tyrer, Rose, George Robert?, A. M.
Fielding, J. H. Walmsley, W. Lloyd, Luke
Collinge, P. Shackleton, Dr. Anderton, R.
Rj mer.

The question of appointing a paid secretary
was left in the hands of the committee.

Mr. Fredk. H. Taylor was reappointed
lecturer to the association.

A general discussion then took place on
various matters connected with the welfare of
the Lanes B.K.A., after which the members
adjourned for tea. In the evening a social
meeting was held, when microscopic objects
relating to bee- life were exhibited by Mr.
F. H. Taylor, and curious nests of wasps and
wild bees by Mr. Heathcote.

A committee meeting was held, at which
Mr. Tyrer was appointed chairman, and Mr.
George Rose vice-chairman.

YORK AND DISTRICT B.KA.

This Association held its annual general
meeting at the Church Institute, York, on
Saturday, February 22, when a large number
of members was present.

The Rev. Sidney Smith, M.A., occupied
the chair. The committee's annual report was
presented by the secretary, and contained the

following interesting references to the work of
the Association : —

The committee have pleasure in reporting a
membership of ninety-four, as against sixty -
seven a year ago.

The Bee-keejjers' Record has been distributed
month by month to all the working members
of the Association. A large proportion of the
members have received a visit from a certifi-
cated expert of the Association, and on July 3
a bee demonstration was given by the chair-
man (the Rev. Sidney Smith) at Wheldrake
Rectory, which was well attended and much
appreciated.

The committee have during the year under-
taken the honey classes at Fulford, Haxby,
and Acomb Agricultural and Horticultural
Shows, and subsidised the honey class at the
York Fat Stock Show.

Accounts of the funds of the Association for
1901, submitted with this report, showing a
balance in hand of £1 15s. 5d.

The adoption of the report was followed by
the election of officers, Lord Wenlock being
re-elected President, with the following ladies
and gentlemen as Vice-Presidents : — The Hon.
L. de Yarburgh-Bateson, Miss Lucy Bethell,
Mrs. Oliver, Lord Deramore, the Rev. A. T.
Field, Captain M. D. Jefferson, Captain W. H.
Key, Major Sutton Lowe, G. Hotham Newton,
Esq., J. H. Preston, Esq., R. Richardson, Esq.,
Viscount St. Vincent, G. Whitehead, Esq., and
W. Bentley, Esq.

The committee, as now elected, comprises
Rev. Sidney Smith (chairman), Rev. J. R.
Bradshaw, Messrs. Dunn, Goode, Jemeison,
and Midgeley. Mr. F. A. Pay was re-elected
as secretary, and also appointed treasurer,
vice Major Sutton-Lowe, who is going to
Africa.

The meeting paid a warm tribute of
appreciation of the energy and kindness of
the chairman, and special expressions of
thanks were tendered to him for the delightful
afternoon's outing at Wheldrake Rectory.
The Association is undoubtedly doing a useful
work, and is yearly becoming more and more
popular in the district. — {Communicated.)

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for tht
opinion* 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.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

[4709.] Gorse or Whin. — Just lately, in
the very middle of winter and immediately
after a heavy snowstorm had cleared off,
several bushes of this hardy plant showed
a considerable number of blooms at an

92

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 6, 1902.

altitude of 1,500 ft. -above sea level. This
shows that if the gcrse, or whin, is not
actually a perpetual bloomer, as the proverb
declares, it is at least amongst the hardiest
of flowers. It is recorded that Linmeus saw
1 he furze in bloom for the first time when he
was well on in years, and the grandeur of the
sight affected him so much that he knelt down
and offered up his grateful thanks for the
glorious vision. The picture is touching, but
I refer to the plant now chiefly to say that I
cannot credit it with being such a source of
honey as many bee-men maintain. The " gorse
of golden hue, with heavy perfume round it
shed,'' does not give anything like an appre-
ciable quantity of honey. It yields an abun-
dant supply of pollen, and bees frequent it
much at times, but my observation leads me
to say that nine out of every ten visiting it do
so for its pollen alone. I am inclined to take
much the same estimate of " broom" as a honey
plant. I saw in the Scotsman once a report of
a bountiful return of broom honey, written by
some one in the county of Fife, but I fear the
source at least is a mythical one. I make the
statement fully conscious of the fact that
almost all single flowers yield at least some
nectar which, if sucked up by bees, is con-
verted into honey. But that either the whin
or the broom gives a copious or bountiful flow
under even the most favourable circumstances
is more than I am prepared to admit.

I have to return my grateful thanks to Mr.
Shorthouse for the very interesting information
he supplies (4679), in answer to my query re
poison plants. The subject deserves further
reference at some future time.

Fertile Queens to Swarmed Stocks. — An
interregnum takes place during which no eggs
are laid, lasting at times two or three weeks,
•when bees swarm. Even when the bees are
returned minu3 their queen, with the object
of checking swarming, valuable time is lost,
and the force of workers much reduced during
this interval. When young fertile queens are
on hand it saves this loss in time and numbers
if one of these is given to the stock with the
returning swarm, first destroying all queen-
cells. Moreover, it frequently checks all
further preparations for swarming, eliminating
all desire for raising young queens. The bees
intuitively perceive that they have attained
the desire of their heart and appreciate the
end attained as much as if it were the con-
summation of their own efforts. It may be a
moot point whether it would be best to delay
the introduction of the alien queen for twenty-
four or double that number of hours.

Amateur Carpentry. — At this season of the
year, when bee-keeping, properly so-called, is
at a standstill, it adds largely to the pleasure
and profit derived from the pursuit if all take
a turn at this pleasing pastime who can handle
tools, as it adds a new charm to the hobby.
A man who sees hives of his own construction
adorning his bee-garden has a new interest in
the business. Eacks, lifts, and a number of

small necessities are at his command when
required. With saw, plane, and hammer,
many happy hours cao be passed, which tend
to sweeten life, as the exercise braces up the
nerves. Especially is this the case with those
who lead a sedentary life. The exercise
should prove invigorating, and help in giving
added health and strength.

Profits ! — Yes, the labourer is worthy of
his hire, and it is by no means taking a low or
sordid view of our hobby to say that it should
be made to pay. The man who does not
strive to make (bee) income more than balance
expenditure, giving a margin of profit at the
end of the year, is not a successful bee-keeper
but a faddist, who will most likely soon dis-
appear from the ranks. Every pursuit, even a
hobby, should be founded on a sound business
basis.

Strong Colonies. — The excellent advice we
got lately from America deserves to be hung
up in the most prominent position in every
bee-shed and manipulating house. But I must
demur if it is pretended that it is anything
new now discovered. In my humble way I
have lately, again and again, urged the very
same point. But, further, it has been the
" watchword r' of both our B.B.J, and Record for
many years, as a hundred extracts could show
were it necessary. Here is what that prince of
bee-keepers, Mr. Cowan, says in the " Guide
Book" (page 108) : — " The great secret of suc-
cessful bee-keeping lies in having strong
colonies always ready to gather surplus when-
ever a good honey -flow comes." Mr. Doolittle
simply subscribes to the above doctrine. So
will every true bee-man. But how to get
every colony in the apiary into the pink of
condition at the right time is not so easy a feat
as many would lead us to believe. I think I
gave all my hives about the same care and
attention last year, yet my strongest gave me
four times the amount of surplus supplied by
my weakest. Why ? The man who solves
that problem may become a millionaire.

Heavy Money Imports. — Nearly £15,000
of foreign honey was landed on our shores
during the month of July. There is still a
field for the home product it would seem. —
D. M. M„ Banff.

CAN BEES HEAR?

[4710.] It is to be hoped that your corre-
spondent Mr. Sladen (who writes on page 61),
will be encouraged to persevere in his efforts
to determine the full use of Nassanoff's organ
in the honey-bee. It cannot well be held to
compete with the sense of hearing as an agent
of communication outside the hive, since
various sounds produced by bees can be heard
at a considerable distance, whereas the slight
odour diffused by the glands in question might
be wafted away in any current of air, and
would then be of use in a particular direction
only.

There are good reasons for believing that

March 6, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

93

! bees can hear, and the same may be said of
i all insects that have the power of emitting
sounds apart from those produced in locomo-
tion. Such sounds are sometimes sexual, as in
the locust and cricket families, where the
i males have special organs for producing their
I rasping or chirping calls, and both sexes are
j provided with organs of hearing, situated, as
I entomologists tell us, in their forelegs — " small
• depressions or pits on opposite sides of each
| tibia, with a thin membrane stretched across
the bottom of each depression." In the case
, of the hive-bee sexual calls are not needed ;
! one would look rather for emotional sounds
1 from members of a large community. And
j these there are in plenty, from the plaintive
" let me out " of a bee in the folds of a hand-
I kerchief to the fine, full harmony of a swarm.
To quote the well-chosen words of Maeterlinck
and his translator, the bees have " a whole
j gamut of sounds that we can distinguish,
ranging from profound delight to menace,
distress, and aDger ; they have the ode of the
I queen, the songs of abundance, the psalms of
I grief, and, lastly, the long and mysterious
war-cries the adolescent princesses send forth."
I do not look on the so-called " piping " of
the imprisoned queens as war cries, for if
they were we should hear them sounded by
j the princesses later on when wandering about
i the hive, whereas neither then nor when
| engaged in fighting do queens of any age
give forth a sound. What, then, are they ?
Huber attributed them to a device of Nature
to enable the workers to distinguish the ages
of the prisoners, so that they could be
liberated in due succession. Modern reason-
ing will hardly support this suggestion. I
am convinced that the cries represent the
impatience of young creatures full of life and
anxious to eDJoy it, and, above all things,
hungry. It should be remembered that from
the time the larva stretched itself out to
undergo its transformation in stillness, and
during the period of nymph-hood, no food
could be administered. Doubtless it was not
then needed, but, together with fresh life and
movement, would come the natural cravings
of the perfect insect. How keen these are is
manifest when the young worker, hardly out
of its cell, extends its tongue for food or
hastens to a neighbouring cell for its first
long draught of honey. But the young queen,
hungrier still in proportion to her size and
vigour, finds herself foodless and hemmed in
by the tough silk netting that she wove in a
former state, so tough that it will cost the
workers many a bite and many a strong pull
before they can tear away the hinge of the
cap, by lifting which she will have escaped
from the cell. How long it may take her
to realise the position, and how much
longer to work her little tongue through
the webbing we cannot say ; but
what wonder that in her hungry
impatience she should clamour for food ? I
will not now put forward aa an " observation "

what comes to me as an afterthought, but I
well remember that when there were so many
captive princesses in my observatory hive, as
recently described, their outcries were forcible
and continuous when they were first coming
into life, and that later on, while many were
still in confinement, but being regularly fed,
the piping was intermittent and less noticeable.
It is probable that when only one fresh queen
is raised there would be no piping at alL

Sounds uttered by queens at any period
after emerging may be attributed to im-
patience and fear under bodily restraint, and
sometimes, perhaps, to jealousy. According
to Huber, a young queen can produce a sound
on hearing which the workers bow their heads
and remain motionless, while she herself
advances on the cells that contain possible
rivals, with intent to destroy them. No
subsequent observer has confirmed this, and it
is just possible that for once he may have been
misled. He does not attempt to describe the
sound.

It wa3 lately stated in this journal that
a queen will " pipe " on being shaken from a
frame. This I have never heard, but during
manipulation I have heard sounds very like
" piping '' that must have been produced by
workers. It will be admitted, at any rate,
that the sounds produced by hive-bees are
numerous and peculiar, and the question now
to be considered is, "What grounds are there for
believing that the bee3 can hear them ?
Practical bee-keepers can give many reasons
for such a belief, but I should prefer to
answer the question on broader grounds.
Nature, prodigal as in many ways she may
seem to be, does not specialise for nothing.
Tbe locusts and grasshoppers call to far-
away lady loves from the leafy recesses of
trees or from forests of grass stems. I do not
want to be shown their organs of hearing. I
am sure that they can hear. I cannot point
out any special organ of hearing in the hive-
bee, but I know that it would not have been
endowed with spiracles admirably devised for
the production of emotional sounds of varying
tone and intensity had the power thus
acquired not been valuable to the insect ; and
of what possible use could it be, were not the
fellow-members of the community capable of
hearing these sounds and appreciating them ?

What concerns us is not whether bees can
hear, but whether they can hear the sounds
that bees make. Fiddles have been played at
hive doors in vain ; loud and violent language
has been hurled at the inmates, and they have
remained unmoved. Haply their " receivers "
are not attuned to such noises, or, like human
beings, they hear, but do not heed. The
country-side rings with sounds, some of which
we cannot hear, while of many, although we
hear them, we are unconscious ; if more than
a small fraction of the noises that constitute
the uproar of big cities were to be registered
on the brains of the inhabitants life would be
intolerable.

94

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 6, 1902.

It has been shown that Huber was per-
suaded that bees can hear. In his private
correspondence published not long ago there are
passages relating to the harmony of swarming,
of which I hope shortly to be able to supply a
translation. — H. J. 0. Walker (Lieutenant-
Colonel), Leeford, Budleigh-Salterton.

THE PRODUCTS OF THE BEE

AND THE USES THEREOF.

(Offered as a suggestion.)

[4711.J As a constant and enthusiastic
reader of your weekly paper, I have invariably
noticed that whereas many contribute articles
on bees, diseases, appliances, &c, all of which
papers must be vastly interesting both to the
elementary bee-keeper and others. But, so far
I have seen very little practical matter has
been written on the subject named in the
above heading ; with the exception perhaps
that honey is recognised by all growers to be a
highly nutritious and most acceptable addition
to the table, and that beeswax when mixed
with turpentine and elbow-grease is a down-
right good thing for polishing. I have, there-
fore, no hesitation in suggesting that it might
be worthy of consideration if the Journal
were to invite its readers to contribute prac-
tical formulae for preparations in which bees-
wax or honey are largely contained, or in
which either is an important and necessary
constituent ; and if it should be that the
subject met with the enthusiasm which I
think likely, perhaps, Sir, you may see your
way to offer a prize for the recipe most
worthy of merit.

By so doing I think we should all find that
(1) honey and beeswax have more uses (house-
hold) than the majority of bee-keepers
imagine ; (2) we should interest ourselves in
the compiling of these published formulae,
realise their values, and adopt them ; (3) it
would be an inducement for our lady members
to step forward with methods for the produc-
tion of dainty dishes ; (4)' we should be
making use of and enjoying the products of
the bee under the most advantageous con-
ditions ; (5) and finally, it would throw open
such a field for experiment that some enthusi-
astic research might introduce a sweetmeat, or
whatnot, of tuch marvellous therapeutic pro-
perties that would, perhaps, speedily annihi-
late " Cureall's Balsamic Cough Candy," and
establish for itself a reputation hitherto un-
heard of.

At present, under the heading of "Glean-
ings from Foreign Journals " — by Mr. Hamlyn-
Harris — we have from time to time a few
specimens of these so-called formulae, many of
which, to my mind, do far more credit to the
expansive imaginative powers of the several
writers than to their practical experience with
bee-products. These must, therefore, neces-
sarily prove intensely disappointing to anyone
attempting their preparation, and constitute

an additional reason why many published
formulae should be left unread. Thi3 being
so, I would suggest that the Editors should
inaugurate a monthly or quarterly competi-
tion, and specify an article, the principal
ingredient of which must be honey or bees-
wax, and receive from competitors (under
certain conditions) a sample of the article,
together with the formula from which it was
prepared, and having had the same duly
criticised by some one capable of judging,
announce the results in the following issue of
the Journal.

This method, I may add, has been success-
fully carried out by other journals to encourage
perfection in the particular industry repre-
sented, and it goes without saying that it
affords an extra reason why we should make
ourselves more familiar with the contents of
our Journal.— H. S. Shorthouse, M.P.S.,
F.C.S., Birmingham, February 20.

THE "RYMER" HONEY-PRESS.

[47 12. J It will probably be fresh in the
minds of your readers that some rather dis-
paraging remarks regarding myself were made
in the Bee Journal of June 20, 1901 (page
242), and in fairness and justice to me, I now
think it right that your readers should know
the sequel to this matter, which is as follows :
The writer of the letter in question then wa°,
and is now, the " Sole agent of the Pickering
Bee Farm," and you may guess my surprise
two months after the letter appeared to find
an order for a dozen small presses had been
given to an agricultural implement maker at
Malton. These presses were said to be re-
quired for pressing " sections," and in a short
time afterwards two of those new 8 in. by
10 in. presses (an exact model of the old
press) were standing in front of the agent'd
residence for sale under the name of the
" Pickering Bee-Farm Press." Let me here
say this new press does not in any way
resemble my own in either size or working.
I had expected that this stepping into the
" dead man's shoes " talked about would have
brought your correspondent forward again
with renewed vigour ; but no, perhaps it
makes a difference when a person is " sole
agent " for this second invasion. What we
are to think of a critic like this it is beyond
me to say, so I leave your readers to draw
their own conclusions. I content myself by
simply stating the above facts.— J. Rymer,
Levisham, Yorks.

BEE-KEEPING IN NATAL.

MX FIRST SWARM.

[4713 ] My first hives had been placed for
me, under a flat-crowned mimosa tree among
the bananas, where I paid them short, fearful
visits, from time to time, obtaining honey but
no bees. Doubtless they had swarmed many
times during the hot summer days, when the

March 6, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

95

sun-mist lay on the hills and the humans
stayed indoors because of the heat. There
was no one to see where they flew over the
miles of grass and bushland on hill and valley
that lay around them. In every instance they
had gone off unobserved (though there was one
swarm at the Kaffir store at the foot of the hill
I always regarded as a lo3t possession) until
one sunny afternoon in December (midsummer
here) a swarm arrived and came inside.
Almost before we knew what was happening
they hurried pell-mell under the floor of the
passage, through an opening the white ants
had made in the skirting. A few odd bees had
been hunting about the place all the morning,
but I had paid no heed, beyond wondering in
a vague way what they are doing. It wa3
interesting to speculate from whence they had
come, but the main question now they were
in was how were they to be got out again ?
That evening I smoked them till my eyes
ached, rousing them furiously, but to no end.
Next day I tried again, but though a few
hundreds came out the majority remained.
For a day or two they went happily out and
in. Meantime I sought assistance. One
friend agreed with me, bees were delightful —
especially seen through a field-glass! He
would not mind handling them himself if he
was sure they would not bite 1

I thought of a neighbour next — a kindly,
well-disposed man — who not unlikely might
help. We talked, to begin with, about things
in general. He was a great talker and rattled
along merrily about market prices, fowl sick-
ness, and the failure of the mangel crop, but
at the first word on bees he instantly shied.
Somewhat disheartened, I mentioned the
matter to another friend. " Bees ! " he
exclaimed ; he had a great liking for bees ;
they had always been a fancy of his ; and so
on, giving me the impression that here was an
exceptional man, whose arrival was most
opportune. Alas ! On bees in general he
was eloquent, but when it came to these par-
ticular bees he assured me I must not inter-
fere with them on any account. I concluded
it was honey he liked and bees he knew
nothing about. I knew it was common up-
country to have bees under the floor and
remove a flooring board when in search of
honey, but these boards were 20 ft. long and
could not be removed ; besides, the method
was decidedly too primitive in these days of
movable bar-frames with metal ends.

There was an advertisement in the news-
paper that week, offering a swarm of bees for
sale, almost the first time, too, for three years.
No, I would not give in, and buy bees when
these bees were there, and again I listened
helplessly to their ceaseless pattering under-
neath. Experienced bee-keepers will doubtless
smile and mutter, " What a fuss ; bees swarm-
ing don't sting ! " &c, &c. And yet away
back in the recesses of their memory there
may be records of a time when they were
equally courageous.

In the text-book* on bees there were
chapters and chapters about hiving swarms —
always how to get them down, never, by any
chance, how to get them up. Of what use
wa3 a ladder or a garden hose when the bees
were under one's feet1? Mr. Root advised
enticing swarms with a frame of brood. Mr.
Cowan, in changing bees from one hive to
another, advised " rapping." Armed with a
frame of brood and a wooden mallet, I set
to work. Rap, rap, tap, tap, tap— till the
echoes rang in the long hollow floor. A few
bees hurried up to see what was happening,
a few more to remonstrate, a crowd to declare
it wa3 insufferable, more and more till the
passage buzzed like the insida of a hive. At
first they clustered on the window, finally,
amid great commotion, on the basket contain-
ing the frame of brood. Hopeful the queen
was amongst them, I carried all to a hive
(which had been set up on glass founda-
tions safe from ants), put the frame inside,
and emptied the bees on a white board in
front of the hive. They straightened them-
selves out, and there, in the centre of a
little cluster, wa3 the queen. They were
raising her up, it seemed, and then, very
slowly and gracefully, she walked over the
layer of bees towards the entrance of the hive.
No sooner was she within than they followed
quickly in good order, like a regiment of
soldiers, with a strange, joyous sound, as
though delighted with their new home under
the loquat trees. — Mary Ritchie, Trevose,
Bellair, Natal, January 21.

DISTRICT B.K. ASSOCIATIONS.

[4714.] I am pleased to see a further com-
munication from Mr. F. Tilley on page 58. It
is a fact that his corner of Worcestershire has
not had all the attention it might have had
from the County Association. This deficiency
is one of those which usually crop up on the
adoption of a new system ; it was under con-
sideration before Mr. Tilley's former letter
appeared, and will probably soon be made
good. Our expert, however, paid many visits
to members in and around Bournville last
season, and any reader of the B.B.J, could,
through it, without trouble, have obtained all
information regarding our work. No doubt,
our local secretary would be pleased to attend
the proposed meeting at Bournville, ani I
should like to do so myself, if we may. I
agree most cordially with every part of " B.
Mad's " letter (on page 35), which Mr. Tilley
considers a " fitting reply " to my remarks.
This states emphatically that a District Asso-
ciation would, "of course, affiliate with the
County B.K. A." I am asked why the names
of non-member3 of associations preponderate
in the list of those accepting the insurance
scheme. Personally, I think the reason is
that so large a proportion of the country is
outside the existing associations ; also, pro-

96

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 6, 1902.

bably the matter is being held over in many
counties until the annual meetings. If the
question is meant to imply that the officials of
the W.B K.A. have been remiss in supporting
the scheme, I may state that the B.B.K.A.
form was posted to every member, together
with a circular from myself asking for the
favourable consideration of the scheme and
the return of the signed forms. The insurance
scheme was also brought up for discussion at our
annual meeting. It is no wonder that Mr. Tilley
should pause before asking such an amazing
question as whether a county association is
working in connection with the B.B.K.A.
Surely, a reply is not needed. In answer to
the other query, the W.B. K.A. does not work
"in connection" with the Worcestershire County
Council, but co-operates with it in different
ways, and seven of our experts are employed
by the County Council as local instructors in
bee-keeping.

I trust that a strong district association
may soon be formed at Bournville, and that
it will not, by remaining unaffiliated with the
W.B.K.A., show its disregard for Mr. Tilley's
excellent maxim " Union is strength." — John
P. Phillips (Hon. Sec, Worcestershire
B.K.A.), Spetchley, Worcester, February 10.

" DECOY

HIVES" FOR
APIARIES.

OUT

[4715.] I note Mr. Hulance's report of his
"Bee-doings for 1901" (4070, page 78). He
mentions the use of " decoy hives " in the
apiary and rather disparages the practice, but
I consider it the " safety-valve " of an out-
apiary. I omitted to make mention of this fact
in my report on the subject of managing an
out-apiary, but I have used " decoy hives "
ever since 1890, when I first started this
branch of bee-keeping. I shall never forget
the sight of the white clover fields (consisting
of about forty acres), one on either side of the
road, and I look back on that as an ideal
spot for a plenteous honey gathering. The
cJover was being left for seed, and one could
not walk without crushing the blooms by
dozens. I also knew there was not an apiary
within two miles of this splendid forage-
ground. My bee-keeping neighbour, who was
my companion at the time, fortunately had a
friend in the occupier of the fields adjoining
the forty acres mentioned above, so I asked to
be introduced. We found him at home, and
after a little talk 1 got his ready consent to
my bringing twenty hives of bees into the
fields mentioned. 1 was that day on my way
to a village (close to Cambridge) to fetch
home some bees I had bought, but instead of
taking the hives home, as intended, I depo-
sited them in the garden adjoining the white
clover fields. I then pushed on to Somersham,
brought back another load of bees from my
home apiary and four hives belonging to my
neighbour, along with three empty makeshift

hives, fitted with frames, as " decoys." I
established that apiary and had the hives at
work within twenty hours, and the bees were
hard at work on the clover in less than as
many minutes after being planted down on the
new ground. When we had finished our work,
and while partaking of a little refreshment, I
walked to one part of the field and my neigh-
bour to the other, and we both found there
were bees galore all over the clover-bloom,
thanking me, no doubt, for the "shift." I
then fitted up the three " decoy " hives and
left them. My neighbour was working three
of his hives with shallow-frames and one with
sections.

We did not see them again for a week, and,
on arriving, the first thing my friend looked
for was " some sections " ; but the bees had
swarmed ! "Just my luck'' he said, and was
much depressed, but I told him to cheer up,
and have a look at the "Decoys" ; and there,
sure enough, we found that a bouncing swarm
had taken possession, and, being limited to
eight frames, the bees were hanging outside
for want of room and air. We moved the
partly-filled sections from the parent hive and
put them on the swarm with an additional
frame in the brood-chamber. That swarm
completed sixty-three 1-lb. sections the same
season, and they were worth calling sections
too ! In fact, they took first prize on every
show-bench where they were exhibited — in the
cottager classes. This shows the usefulness
of a " Decoy Hive '' in an out-apiary. I could
cite a dozen cases almost similar where swarms
were caught. I never use them in my home
apiary as I consider it very unfair to entice
neighbour's bees, I only use them on the
conditions stated above. Apologising, Mr.
Editor, for taking your space in your valuable
paper and wishing all brother bee-keepers a
good honey. — Richard Brown, Flora Apiary,
Somersham, Hunts.

CAN BEES HEAR?

[4716.] Mr. Sladen's article on the above
subject, in B.B.J, of February 13 (page 61),
is a delightful contribution. I have intended
to write on the same question for some time
past, and now send a few lines for insertion, it'
of sufficient interest. But first, I would say,
when Mr. Sladen's letter on " A New Scent
Organ in the Bee " appeared in April last year
(page 142) 1 became interested in " Nassanoff's
Organ " referred to, and distinctly smelt the
odour when examining a small swarm or cast
in my sister's house, here in Dublin, in order
to show my nephews and nieces the queen
bee. I had the swarm in a skep, with cheese-
cloth tied over the bottom. I carried the bees
on my bicycle, and when I inverted it under a
bright gaslight the bees began to mount the
sides and fan, showing Nassanoff's organ, as
described, and they gave off the odour, which,
I was interested to notice, did not in the least
resemble that of the poison of the sting.

March 6, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

97

As to the question, Do bees hear ? In my
Colorado experience, with a large apiary, I
have brought a gun out among the hives and
tired it at hawks and the king birds or bee
martins, which were marauding too near my
chickens and bees ; this loud report did not
cause the slightest stir among the bees. I
have also suDg at the top of my voice while
working at tbe frames of an open hive; and
the loud sounds seemed not to disturb them,
nor did sadden calling to another person
when 'so occupied ; but digging with a spade
or pick 6 in. or 1 ft. to one side of the hive
brought the bees out in dozens at the hive
entrance. This evidence tends to show that
the bee is insensible to sounds, but the follow-
ing tends the other way, and seems to prove
that they are susceptible to some sounds.

When a swarm has settled on a bush or tree,
instead of shaking the bees off into a hiving-
skep directly from the branch ; shake them on
to a newspaper spread on the ground. Place
a hive or empty box a foot or so from the
mass of bees, with the near edge of it raised
on two small stones. Tap or drum on the side
close to them with a switch or the handle of
your knife. Not only will they at once start
towards the sound, but its continuance will
quicken their travelling, fanning, and entrance.
This is also the most thorough way of hiving
swarms, scarce one bee being left to find its
way back to the parent hive. I have so often
used this plan of hiving swarms in my work
in America, and never found it to fail. The
noise immediately causes the bees of the swarm
to start running in the right direction, fanning
and showing " Nassanoff's '' organ long before
the first bee has entered the hive. 1 think
that when bee-keepers who try this plan
observe the prompt response to this sound,
made as I have described, will be convinced
bees do hear. — W. A. Varian, Dublin,
February 22.

THE NERVES OF THE BEE.

[4717.] In all articulated insects the
nervous system i8 pretty much the same,
though it differs considerably in its degrees
of perfection. Naturally there is a very
marked contrast in many ways between such
tiny creatures as most of the Insecta are, com-
pared with the larger and more developed
Vertebrata, but I think that in the former
the nerve system is in its way as interesting,
and, indeed, as perfect. The body of the bee
is covered all over with an intricate network
of radiating nerves branching out and
ramifying from a series of centres to every
part of the insect's body. These nerves are
composed of bundles of tubular fibres sur-
rounded by tissue which forms a sheath,
whose duty it is to protect the delicate tubes.
It will be remembered that the bodies of all
articulated animals are made up of a number
of segments, each of these formed of rings.
The centre of the nervous system consists of

a number of ganglia arranged in a chain
along the central line of the body on the
under side. We find one or more of these
ganglia in each ring or segment all united by
a double connecting cord.

In considering how these act, let me again
refer to and amplify the illustration I used in
treating the brain. We will consider that the
Postmaster- General has profited by the late
experience he has had in the breakdown of
the telegraph system, and that he has laid
down the contemplated new double trunk line
of tubes, each containing a set of wires con-
necting the Metropolis, say, with Birmingham,
Manchester, Carlisle, Edinburgh, Dundee,
Aberdeen, Inverness, and Wick. Here and
there a plexus is formed, carrying more wires
to Bristol, Liverpool, Newcastle, &c. From
these, again, further wire3 radiate. Not only
from London (the brain), but also from Bir-
mingham (the thorax), from Manchester (the
mesothorax), from Carlisle (the metathorax) ;
from Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen, and
Inverness (the abdominal ganglia), and from
Wick (the sting) a further set of wires (or
nerves) stretch out in all directions. Such is
the brain, with its ganglionic chain and set of
ganglia, connected by a double set of nerve
fibres, which radiate from one extreme to the
other of the insect's body ; for the bee has
just such an arrangement of nerves, nervures,
and nerve fibres and fibrils, starting from the
brain and capable of transmitting instantaneous
messages to the most remote parts of the
bee's body. A pin pricks the point of our finger.
One of these nerve fibres, which like a network
cover every inch of our system, immediately
telegraphs to the brain, and a message is
flashed back to every nerve and muscle of the
forearm, which thus brings them immediately
into play, with the result that the finger is
withdrawn from further danger or molesta-
tion. Attempt to trifle with a bee, and
instantaneously a nerve sends the brain
a notice of the fact, and promptly there comes
back instructions to the part affected, or to
the body as a whole, how to act. Concur-
rently it may be an independent centre
(Wick) informs the muscles of the sting, with
their full control of the poison sac, the sting
lances and their powerful levers, to act not
only on the defensive but the offensive. I
have supposed that, radiating from the centres
on the main trunk line I have named, there
are innumerable branches stretching to every
large town in the kingdom ; these in their turn
connect with every small town, village, and
hamlet, and even in country districts wherever
population is gathered together the system
extends, so that our Editor, if necessity arose,
could have a reply to any message in the
shortest of time. At the same time another
message could reach me, say, from Edinburgh
without interfering with the first. So the bee
can often act independently of any message
from the brain. Let us picture her hovering
over a flower, We perceive her keen sense of

98

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 6, 1905.

smell unconsciously (shall I say 1) discovers
that it has a supply of nectar secreted in its
corolla. Without troubling the main centre,
the ganglia of the sesophagus informs the
different members of the trophi how to act so as
to secure the coveted sweet, which accordingly
they suck up and deposit in the honey sac.
Again, the bee wants to walk or fly. A message
is at once forwarded by the thoracic ganglia,
and all the nerves required to put the leg or
wing muscles in action are informed they are
required to do their duty. All this time the
ganglia regulating digestion are acting quite
independently of what is going on in other
centres, and quite unconsciously perform the
necessary duties required to keep the insect
in the health and strength which fit it for its
manifold duties. The sympathetic nerves
seem to regulate — almost independently of the
will— the organs of respiration, circulation,
and digestion. The nature of the reflex nerves
may be best seen in the action of the sesophagus
in sucking up the honey from the tube in the
tongue, and forcing it down to the honey sac,
or in regurgitating it into the cells. — D. M. M.,
Banff.

A BEE-DRIVING INCIDENT.

[4718.] On September 10 last, I journeyed
out about three miles from here on a bee-
diiving excursion, taking with me my son, a
youth of fourteen, who it quite as fond of the
pursuit as myself. Our first venture was per-
fectly successful ; but the second skep was
evidently queenless, and in consequence the
bees would not " drive,'' and so we very
reluctantly had to leave them. About a mile
farther on, however, we met with some more
utocks for driving, and this forms the sub-
stance of my story.

There happened to be staying in the house
a bright American girl, and a very inquisitive,
excitable and stout old lady (English) both of
them very desirous of seeing " the fun '' !
As it was getting late in the day, and
the bees were not in the best of
tempers, I advised the ladies to don their
veils (which the younger did), and then
placed them in an advantageous position to
view the whole proceedings.

Hardly had I commenced operations, how-
ever, when I heard a shout, and the exclama-
tion, " Oh, I shall be stung, I know I shall ! "
from the dame, who at once commenced to
throw her arms about in the usual style. Her
hostess endeavoured to calm her fears, telling
her that beating off the bees in that fashion
was the very way to get them to sting her ;
the next instant there was a perfect yell ! A
bee had pinned her on the face. Without
waiting further risk of damage she whipped her
akirts up over her head and ran screaming
into the house. I would have given almost
anything at that moment for a " Kodak " snap-
shot, the back view being exceedingly fine.

The American girl stood it out without any

sign of retreating, indeed, seeming both
interested and highly amu«ed.

The two lots of bees I united and fed
liberally. They started breeding at once, and
when packed down for the winter had every
appearance of making a good stock for the
forthcoming season of 1902.— C. H. Tomliu-
son, Solihul Lodge, King's Heath, Feb. 20.

CAN BEES DISTINGUISH COLOUR?

[4719.] A3 the varied colour of flowers is
attractive to bees, and as the scent arising
from them must be also of great use to the
bee, saving its time in food-gathering, is it not
reasonable to suppose that the hives or the
entrance to them for some distance round should
be painted some bright distinctive colour that
would guide the bee to its own hive ? Even
men who live in streets where houses are
much alike sometimes get to the wrong house
unless they are careful in looking for the
number. I have no personal evidence on this
subject. I should like to know if any of
your readers have. — A Reader, Doncaster,
February 17.

DAMAGE THROUGH BEES.

COURT OF APPEAL (DUBLIN).

(Before Lord Justice FitzGibbon, Lord Justice
Walker, and Lord Justice Holmes.)
This was an appeal from an order of the
King's Bench Division changing the venue
from Dublin to county Clare. The action
was brought by Patrick Gorman, a farmer's
son, residing at Gortoralougha, county Clare,
who complains of defendants, Peter O'Gorman
and Michael O'Gorman, farmers, both of the
same place, for wrongfully, negligently, and
injuriously keeping on the lands and premises
of the defendant, Peter O'Gorman, a certain
swarm of bees, well knowing that the said bees
weie of a dangerous and mischievous nature
and accustomed to sting mankind and
domestic animals, which said bees, whilst the
defendants kept the same as aforesaid, at-
tacked and swarmed on a horse of plaintiff's
and whilst the plaintiff's father and plaintiff
were in charge of said horse, and while en-
deavouring to protect the horse and to save
and extricate him from the said swarm of bees
the plaintiff was severely stung and injured by
the said bees and knocked down and dragged
along the ground by the said horse, and sus-
tained grievous personal injuries to his spine
and otherwise, and was thereby and is still
prevented from carrying on hi3 business, and
has sustained and incurred great expense for
surgical and medical attendance. The de-
fendants pleaded specially contributory negli-
gence, and that the plaintiff had brought the
horse too near the bees and thus provoked
them. The plaintiff now appeals against the
order of the King's Bench Division, and asks
that the venue be at least altered to Limerick.

March 6, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

99

Mr. Bushe, K.C., and Mr, P. Lynch
appeared for the plaintiff.

Mr. Brereton Barry, K.C, and Mr. Phelps
appeared for the defendants,

Mr. 'Bushe opened the appeal and said that
the influence of the defendants was such in
the county Clare that no fair trial could be
had there, and that one of them was a
member of the United Irish League and was
appointed recently a delegate to attend a
meeting of that body in Dublin. It was true
the witnesses resided in county Clare, but he
suggested that Limerick would be convenient
as a medium venue, and he proposed it
instead.

Mr. Brereton Barry, K.C, said that so far
as the remarks about the United Irish League
being an obstacle to a fair trial in Clare, the
same remark applied to both parties, as they
were all members of the United Irish League
in Corofin, ia their district.

Mr. Phelps, who followed, observed that the
defendants would have a special jury for this
action and there could be a fair trial had in
Clare, where all the witnesses, seven in num-
ber, resided.

In giving judgment, Lord Justice Fitz-
Gibbon said : It is a common case here that
the United Irish League has large influence
in co. Clare. It is sworn to that there cannot
be a fair trial in Clare. I think the city of
Limerick would be a fair place to have the
venue laid. It has been stated that old Mr.
O'Gorman, father of the defendant, cannot
attend at Clare, but that he could attend at
Limerick. A lucid picture, his Lordship con-
tinued, had been drawn by Mr. Barry of the
inconvenience of people travelling to and re-
maining in Limerick in lodgings overnight.
Jurors are on the spot in Limerick and have
nothing to do but come from their shops.
The town of Ennis was not a place where such
accommodation could be got. From my ex-
perience going on circuit, I know this. A
special jury of the co. Clare would be probably
very different and not so intelligent as a jury
in the city of Limerick, to which place we
will change the venue. Costs to be costs in
the cause. — Freeman's Journal, February 15.

[2801.] Bees Dying in Winter. — I enclose
four bits of comb from a stock just found
dead. There are plenty of stores, including
one frame half full of sealed syrup. There
were about 500 dead, so I conclude the cause
of death to be want of bees to maintain
warmth, but would like to be sure. The
frame of syrup will come in handy for one of
my other stocks, if you can assure me that
there is no foul brood about the comb. I will,
therefore, be glad to know if it will be safe to
use it as bee-food. My other two hives are
very strong in bees. In the middle of

December the stock now dead seemed healthy,
as did the others. — R. Wey Crqsland, Clec%~
heaton, March 1.

Reply. — 1. "We find no trace of disease in
combs— the few sealed larvae in cells being
chilled to death apparently through lack of
warmth. 2. Such of the combs as contain
mouldy pollen — as in one sample — are not
suitable for giving to your other stocks, and
will be best destroyed, but the others may be
given as food.

[2802.] Number of Frames in Surplus
Chamber.— In reply to H. W. Ford (2799,
page 89) regarding the number of shallow-
frames in the surplus-chamber in a " W.B.C.1'
hive containing ten frames in brood nest, you
say you prefer the same number of shallow-
frames in the surplus-chamber. I presume
you mean by this to use ordinary "W.B.C."
ends. My experience, however, is that eight
frames with wide ends give better results,
because of yielding a greater weight of honey.
They are also less trouble in several ways. If
your advice is right, I ask, What are the
lf-in. ends to be used for ? — Isijmael Girling,
Suffolk.

Reply. — The main object we had in view
when replying (on page 89) was to point out
that the surplus- chamber must be as large
(outside measure) as the brood-chamber on
top of which it is placed, so that then the
outer edges of both would be " flush " on all
sides. The question of using the ordinary (or
If in.) ends in surplus-chambers is a moot
point with experienced men (including our-
selves). Personally, we prefer to use only the
ordinary "end" for both brood and surplus
chambers, except specially heavy combs are
needed for " show '' purpose*. And there are
good grounds for this preference. It ensures
uniformity in the stock store-combs ; less
chance of " breakage '' when extracting ; and
a greater certainty that the combs will
" uncap " easier from being built beyond the
wood of the frame.

<&t\im flnrat tfa |pM8.

Clevedon, Shrewsbury, March 3. — I am very
pleased to say the weather has changed for the
better in Mid- Shropshire and, since the
23rd ult., we have been enjoying a sight of
the sun. On going down the garden to where
my hives stand the air was filled with a happy
throng of flying bees. I thought at first it
might be a "hunger-swarm" coming down,
but no, it was only the bees from my own
hives out for a cleansing flight. I have had
an opportunity of going through my forty
colonies and, excepting one (a driven lot),
they are all breeding and strong, and I saw
hand-size patches of eggs and brood, so
the queens are already making up for the
loss of the worn-out workers of the colony.

100

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 6, 1902.

Of course this is largely 'due to keeping only-
young fertile queens. I am looking forward
to the work of raising early queens next
month in carrying Doolittle's method of
queen-rearing in some of my strongest stocks,
and so I hope later on to give results. There
has been a good sale here for honey this
winter. Just a word to my Shrop3hire
brother bee-keepers. Do not forget to turn
up on Saturday and help our hard-working
Association here. We are going to try and make
a record honey show in 1902 and make it the
largest honey show in the Kingdom. — W. H.
Brown.

Pilsby, Chesterfield, March 3.— After about
nine weeks indoors, the bees had a regular
turn-out on February 28, but as the sunshine
only lasted a short time and a cold "sou'-
wester" was blowing, many bees got down on
the ground only to perish. I gathered a lot
up, and after warming them before the fire
they flew back home. I hid been anxious
about a small lot of driven bees, but they
turned out well, though on examining I
could only see a small patch of honey in one
frame of the six ; so I gave them a 1-lb.
section over feed-hole to help them along a
bit. The crocuses will be in bloom in a day
or two. I shall try putting pea-meal in the
blooms. I tried giving pea-flour among some
shavings last year, but the bees never touched
it. Mr. John Walton, in his " Echo " on page
90 last week, says they have had little snow at
Leamington. In this locality we have had a
long winter and a lot of snow ; in fact, it has
been a " collier winter," for they have worked
full time all through it here. — Tom Sleight.

Yorlctown, Surrey, February 24. — I am but
a beginner in bee-keeping ; I only started last
August, after the visit of the Surrey B.K.A.
expert to a local flower show. I purchased
Cowan's " Guide Book " and got the Bee
Journal, and I am looking forward to a good
time with the bees this summer. I usually
have a look at my hives every day to clear
away any dead bees from entrances, and on
doing so to-day I noticed at one hive, among
a lot of dead bees, the part of insect enclosed.
At first glance I was a bit alarmed, thinking
it might be the remains of a dead queen. If
it is, what shall I do ? I may say it came
from my strongest colony. — J. T. Hurdwell.

[The small part of dead insect sent affords
almost no clue to enable us to recognise it by,
but it is not a bee at all. — Eds.]

PRESS CUTTINGS.

HONEY in house roof.
For sixteen years past two swarms of bees
made their home in the roof of Strawberry
Hall, the residence of Alderman T. W. Banks,
at Tydd St. Mary, Lines. That gentleman
offered the honey to any one who would
remove the bees and make good the roof.
Mr. Carbutt, a builder, did so, and obtained
twenty stones of honey.

l\lotios8 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
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.

Under date February 28, Mr. D. Mappin
writes as follows : — " Allow me, through the
medium of your journal, to thank your
correspondent, Mr. Marlow, for his infor-
mation respecting lantern slides. I have,
however, heard from another gentleman — •
who saw my query — and have got the slides
I require."

M. A. K. F. (Guildford). — Syr up -Feeding in
February. — Liquid food is unsuitable for
bees at this early season, and will cause the
trouble you complain of, viz., " Bees coming
out to die on the ground in the cold." Soft-
candy is the proper thing to give at this
time, and for some weeks to come.

A. McDonald (Glenurquhart, N.B.). — Soft-
Candy. — Sample sent would be excellent
but for a little roughness in the grain. It
only needs more stirring while cooling off in
order to make it smooth and "buttery,"
similar to the fondant sugars used in
ch;colate creams.

T. Marshall (Nottingham). — Honey Sample.
— Your sample is clover honey ; and is
good in colour and flavour, but shows
slight indications of incipient fermentation.
We fear it will be " out of condition " for
the show-bench this season, as the earliest
show is some months off. Remainder of
your queries will be answered next week.

(Miss) D. B. (Torquay). — Joining Bee-
Keepers' Association. — By writing the Hon.
Sec. of the Devon B.K.A., Mr. J. Schole-
field, Bickington, Devon, you will get full
particulars of membership, and we have
no doubt the Hon. Sec. will assist you in
obtaining expert help with regard to
starting bee-keeping.

C. R. (Glos.). — Suspected Combs. — Comb is
badly affected with foul brood. On no
account should the honey be used as bee-
food. It is, however, quite fit for table use.

P. L. Aldridge (Oxford). — Insect Nomencla-
ture.— The insect sent is a queen wasp, not
a hornet, as supposed.

*#* We are again compelled to defer
Replies to a few Queries {not urgent) till
next week, when we shall hope to have more
space for full replies. We have also deferred
our intended notice of Trade Catalogues till
next issue.

March 13, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

101

$£ttoral, $Giim, &t.

LEICESTERSHIRE B.K.A.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of this association was
held at the Victoria Coffee House, Leicester,
on March 6. There was a good gathering. In
the absence of Sir John Rolleston, M.P., Mr.
W. P. Meadows was voted to the chair, and
amongst those present were Messrs. Riley,
Wright, Palmer, Roper, Bedingfield, Levers,
Thompson, Fewkes, and J. Waterfield (secre-
tary).

1 The twentieth annual report of the committee
congratulated the members upon the fact that
the affairs of the association continued to pro-
gress satisfactorily. The number of subscribers
on the books was 199, as against 185. The ex-
pert visiting was carried out chiefly by the Dis-
trict Secretaries, who were qualified experts,
and Mr. G. Munday. The number of members
visited was 187, the number of frame-hives
examined was 610, and the number of skeps
seventy-seven, making a total of 687 stocks of
bees examined and advised upon. The re-
ceipts for the year totalled £57 Is. 8|d., and
after payments the Society at the end of the
year had a balance in hand of £11 14s. 5d.
The adoption of the report and balance-sheet
was carried nem. con., as were votes of thank*
to the retiring officers. The president — the
Duke of Rutland — and the vice-presidents,
including the Marquis of Granby, Lord E
Manners, Sir John Rolleston, M.P., Colonel
Curzon, and Mr. Maurice Levy, M.P., were
re-elected, and the committee was also reap-
pointed. The treasurer and auditor respectively
were, re-elected, as was also the hon. Sec , Mr.
J. Waterfield. After tea, Mr. Peter Scatter-
good, of Stapleford, Notts, gave a couple of
short lectures on " A Year's Work in the
Apiary " and " Notes by the Way,'' illustrating
his remarks by a series of lantern slides. —
(Gommv?ii:ated.)

HUNTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association was held at
the Fountain Hotel, Huntingdon, on Saturday,
March 1, the Earl of Sandwich, President, in
the chair. There were also present Sir Arthur
Marshall, Mr. J. Linton, Mrs. Allpress, and
Messrs. E. Allen, R. Brown, J. Howland, H.
J. King, A.Sharp, S. Watts, and C. N. White,
hon. secretary.

The minutes of the last meeting having been
approved and signed, the prizes awarded at
the Annual Show were distributed by the
President.

The hon. secretary then suggested that, with
a view to increasing the interest being taken
in the work of the Association, four meetings
Bhould be held duiiag the year, in January,
April, July, and October respectively, April

and October meetings being held at members*
apiaries.

After discussion the suggestion was adopted
unanimously. In order to lessen expense the
President kindly offered to arrange for the
Huntingdon meetings to be held at the
Montague Institute. Invitations from Messrs.
Sharp and Howland for the April meeting to
be held at Mr. Sharp's apiary, Brampton, and
from Mr. R. Brown that the October meeting
should be held at Someraham were accepted.

The President inquired respecting the con-
dition of bee-keeping in the county. Mr. R.
Brown said that it was never more satisfac-
tory. He had sold from his own and other
apiaries over three tons of honey during the
past season. Mr. Sharp also stated that he
found no difficulty in disposing of the produce
of his own apiary, in fact it was practically
sold before it was produced.

The Hon. Secretary remarked that in honey-
production, in honey exhibiting, in the bee-
tent or lecture-hall, and in the manufacture of
bee-keeping appliances, as the result of the
work of their little Association, the county of
Hunts equalled any in the kingdom.

In order that the meetings might be of more
value educationally, it was decided that Mr.
Sharp should be requested to read his paper
on " Out-apiaries " at the Brampton meeting.

The scheme of insurance for bee-keepers,
now being formulated by the council of the
B.B.K.A., was then discussed, and it was re-
solved to recommend bee-keepers generally to
take advantage of it : and on the motion of
the President, the hon. sec. was instructed to
send out copies of the scheme as soon as the
rules and regulations were definitely settled.

The meeting closed with the usual vote of
thanks. — (Co mmunicated. )

NORTH NORFOLK B.K.A.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the North Norfolk
Bee-Keepers' Association was held on March 3,
in the Reading Room, Briston, the Rev. W. H.
Marcon, Edgefield, in the chair. The Hon.
Secretary, Mr. C. J. Cooke, presented his
eighth annual report, according to which we
learn that the membership of the Association
is gradually on the increase. Twelve new
members have been enrolled, the total
membership being now seventy-nine.

Mr. Cooke also presented his report as
expert to the Society, which stated that the
season has been a record one, both in the abun-
dance and the quality of the honey gathered —
quite a pleasant contrast to the grumbling
and disappointment which were so frequent
during the bad seasons of the last few years.
In all apiaries I visited I found most colonies
in excellent condition, and doing credit to
their owners. There are a few cases of foul
brood, and unless the beekeeper is more care-
ful in thorough cleanliness of the hive and
appliances it is liable to increase.

102

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 13, 1902.

Lord Hastings was re-elected President, and
R. E. Horsfall, Esq., added to the list of
Vice-President?. The Rev. C. Q. Knowlej
was reappointed Treasurer, and the Rev. —
Plattin, Hindringham, was elected to the
Committee in lieu of Mr. J. Frost, who has
left the neighbourhood.

The meeting closed with the usual votes of
thanks. — (Communicated. )

THIRSK AND DISTRICT B.K.A.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The first annual meeting was held in the
Assembly Rooms, Thirsk, on March 5, and
was well attended. The chair was taken by
Mr. A. Meynell, Otterington, who, after a
brief introduction, called upon the Hon. Sec,
Mr. Tennant, for the report and balance-
sheet, both of which were considered satisfac-
tory— the former showing a membership of
twenty-seven.

During the year two demonstrations in bee-
keeping were given in connection with the
Horticultural Show at Thirsk and Topcliffe,
which seemed to be much appreciated.

The officers for the year were elected as
follows : — President, Mr. J. Grant Lawson,
M.P. ; Vice-Presidents, Colonel I'Anson, J.P.,
Major Bell, J.P., Mr. E. R. Turton, J.P., Mr.
A. J. Walker, J. P., and Mr. G. S. Thompson ;
Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. R T. Tennant ;
Committee, Messrs. J. W. Hall, C Moore,
C. Trueman, H. F. Garnett, A. Meynell, and
H. A. Shaw.

A profitable discussion followed on " Spring
Management," which was opened by Mr. J.
Lawn, and continued by several of those pre-
sent.— (Communicated.)

ROYAL SHOW AT CARDIFF, 1901.

We have received a communication from
Mr. R. H. Coltman, enclosing a copy of the
following apology : —

4f COLTMAN V. MEADOWS.

"Syston,

" December 2, 1901.
" Dear Sir,— I desire to express to you
my regret at having, in June last, published
in the British Bee Journal a letter reflect-
ing upon the means of your obtaining the first
prize for your bee-keeping exhibits at the
Royal Agricultural Show at Cardiff.

" I withdraw such reflections, and under-
take not to repeat them. — Yours truly,

(Signed) " W. P. Meadows.
" Mr. R. H. Coltman, Burton-on-Trent."

[Tn view of the above letter being dated
December 2, 1901, it is due to ourselves as
Editors to say that the delay in publication is
not ours, seeing that Mr. Coltman's commu-
nication only reached us on the last day of
February, 1902.— Eds.]

The Editors do not hold themielves 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.,mu$t 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' 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.

BRITISH V. AMERICAN HIVES.

[4720.] Having seen various letters discuss-
ing the question of size of frames in the Bee
Journal, I should like to get a little informa-
tion on one or two points. I have myself
kept bees for a number of years in British
Columbia, and hope to start bee-keeping in
England shortly. I should like to know from
some of your readers who have had practical
experience what are the supposed advantages
of the British Bee-keepers' Association stan-
dard frame (size not taken into account) over
the close-ended " Hoffman " frame now used
in the States and Canada to a great extent.
Also, what are the advantages of the long end
for deep rabbet in the " standard " frame 1
Also, what is the idea of having so complicated
a hive as is generally used in England ? Would
not the ordinary American single-walled hive,
i in. thick, all parts interchangeable, be a
great deal better and cheaper ? It stands out
and winters well in lots of places in the States,
with just a packing in the section-crate over
the brood-chamber, and it is a great deal
colder there than in England. — H. Ltsons,
Wellington, Salop, March 3.

[We shall be very pleased to publish anything
in the shape of practical information our readers
may be good enough to supply Mr. Lysons
with prior to his making a start in bee-
keeping in the United Kingdom. But we
venture to offer a word of advice before he
invests either in American hives or adopts
American methods in this country, viz., to
procure a Guide Book on British Bee-keeping,
and study it well. As Mrs. Gamp says,
" Comparisons is ojus," and, a3 a rule, we
studiou-ly refrain from comparing our methods
with those of our bee-keeping brethren across
the Atlantic. At the same time, we are
ready to affirm — without any offence — that
our methods and our hives are more suitable
to British bee-keeping and British bee-keepers
than those practised and used in America.
Moreover, the Senior Editor of this journal
is perhaps as well acquainted with Trans-

March 13, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

103

atlantic bee-keeping — in all its varied styles
and forms — as any bee-keeper in America.
Moreover, his knowledge has been acquired
on the spot, being the outcome of many visits
to bee-men in the States — visits covering
thousands of miles of travel in various States
and long sojourns with American bee-keepers
at their own homes.

The " Hoffman Frame '' is no stranger to
this country — indeed, one leading manufac-
turer here has included it in his catalogue
for years past ; yet it makes no headway
with our bee-keepers. Cheap single-walled
hives are also well known and used here.
While, as regards "wintering'' bee3 safely,
we venture to say the percentage of loss is —
in the hands of what we may call our bee-men
who make a business of bee-keeping — very
much below that of our American friends. —
Eds.]

FOUL BROOD.

[4721.] In reading the article (4703, p. 84)
by Mr. 0. Browning about the appearing and
disappearing of this disease, I am reminded of
an experience which happened to me four
years ago. I attended the " Royal " Show at
Birmingham, and while waiting in the train
on the return from Four Oaks to Aston
station the conversation was turned on bees,
in which, of course, I joined. After some talk
on foul brood an elderly gentlemen, who had
not spoken to us before, asked me if I would
send to him a piece of comb affected with the
disease if he paid postage. This I readily
promised to do. He gave me his card and 1?.,
and next day I duly despatched a piece of
comb to the address given. In due time he
sent me his report on the same, after he had
had the comb under careful examination a
fortnight. A copy of this report I sent to you
at the time, and it was duly published in the
B.B.J., but the editorial footnote did not
quite agree with it. However, I did, and
what I may now be allowed to explain will
show my reasons for so doing. In the first
place foul brood was unknown in this district
till all at once, on May 2 of that year, I found
several of my stocks affected, and within a
month so firm a hold had it got that I had
burned twenty-two stocks of bees. Having
done this I thought that the hives ought to
be spared, so whenever the disease appeared
in any other hive the bees, quilts, frames, and
dummy were burnt ! The hives I took about
half a mile way to my home, where I scorched
them well out with a " painter's blow-lamp."
The hives were then well scraped, and given two
good coats of thick paint, and are now in use
again. I always keep a piece of naphthaline
in each hive, and all food is medicated.

The question, therefore, is where did the
disease start from ? I will give you my
opinion, and you and your readers will then
be able to form their own. The gentleman I
met in the train, to whom I have referred

above (whose name I withhold), proved to be
a specialist, who, I believe, is well known by
his works on the subject. And his view is
that the microbe of the disease came from
foul decaying animal matter near my apiary,
or, perhaps, from old thatched roofs near.
Now it happened that both of these sources
of disease did actually exist, and that within
a few yards of my nearest hives, for the yards
joining the orchard in which my hives were
standing bad that spring been taken by a firm
of butchers, who kept a lot of pigs in them,
and these animals were fed almost entirely
on animal offal from the slaughter-houses
occupied by the same firm up in the village.
This offal was brought down two or three
times a week, and left about in the most
careless manner on the ground anywhere.
The sheds to these yards were also thatched,
and so old and decayed that they were
falling in.

The gentleman closed his report by saying,
" Find this out, and remove it, and the disease
will disappear." But I could not remove the
yards, so I removed the bees, and, as he said,
the disease entirely vanished the year follow-
ing, and I have not seen it since.

I now repeat what I have already said, let
all enjoy their own opinion ; I give this for
what it is worth, but it is based upon absolute
facts.

I am looking forward now to a good early
spring and a plentiful yield to all. I am
anxious to get to my apiaries, the nearest is a
mile away and the other four miles, and as I
am only just able to get out of doors again
after a month of the flue, I am afraid my bees
will miss their candy cake3. — A. Collett.

[That our correspondent's communication
is interesting, readers along with ourselves,
will no doubt admit, but unfortunately for
bee-keepers, and for the theory advanced,
there is a hard fact in front of us which we
cannot get away from, viz., that Bacillus alvei,
or foul brood, cannot be generated in the way
suggested by the " specialist " observer whose
report forms the subject of our correspondent's
argument. If we had the name of the gentle-
man met in the train it might in some
measure assist us in gauging the value of his
views, but in the meantime we see no reason
for changing our own. — Eds.]

A BEGINNER'S TROUBLES.

[4722.] I have for the last four years been
struggling hard trying to keep bees. I suc-
ceeded well so far as bees were concerned, but
that was all ; I seldom got any surplus honey
at all. Last year I had six strong hives, and
goodness only knows how many swarms came
off them, so numerous were they. I always put
the swarms in makeshift hives. At the end
of the season it was all bees and no honey. If
you or any of your numerous readers would
kindly inform me how to keep my bees from

104

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 13, 1902.

swarming I would be thankful and would
then, no doubt, get on better.

My bees came out few days ago very strong
in the sun. The whole of them more or less
soiled their hives by "specking." Some of the
bees alighted on the ground, never to rise again.
Is this a sign of disease ? To-day (March 7)
they were out again, very strong, but I failed
to see any sign of the specking, as previously.
— Archibald MacTsaac, Dalmally, March 8.

GLEANINGS FROM FOREIGN BEE
JOURNALS.

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

Leipziger Bienen Zeitung (Germany), gives
an interesting paper on the reason why bees
visit pools of liquid manure during the brood
time, as they are often seen to do. An
analysis of 6 lb. of this against 2 lb. of freshly
killed bees shows as follows : —

Liquid Manure. Bees.

•Hydrogen 3150 gr. ... 30 10

Potash 5'70 „ ... 5-00

Soda 1380 „ ... -80

Lime -60 „ ... '40

Magnesia -60 „ ... 1-10

Phosphoric acid 540 „ ... 5-60

Sulphuric acid 120 „ ... Hardly a

trace.
Hydrochloric acid... 15 00 „ ... Hardly a

trace.

We may therefore conclude that the bees
take the liquid as help in nourishing the
young brood, and probably also the queen-
bee. Honey is sufficient nourishment for the
full-grown bee ; it is only at brood time they
are seen to visit these haunts. The question
arises whether by providing them with a suit-
able mixture they might be prevented from
taking to themselves this unpleasant ,form of
nourishment

The following is offered as a suggestion : —

Chlorate of soda 4 gramms.

„ lime 1 „

„ ammonia 3 ,,

Sulphate of soda 1 „

- » lime 1 „

Phosphate of soda 2 „

,, chalk 1 „

„ lime 1 „

„ magnesia ... 1 „

Water 1 quart.

The queen is said to require hydrogen and
mineral salts to enable her to produce healthy
brood.

From the same. — The question is raised
whether bees can see, the writer maintaining
that they cannot, but that they do everything
by the other senses of feeling and smell.
Another correspondent, however, has a very
different view of the case ; he says that if a
bee is brought outside the hive at night (even
by moonlight) it will flutter around and can-

not find the entrance. Why this, if not from
want of light. A bee taken into a room will
at once fly to the window, but if its eyes be
painted over and darkened it will remain
quite still, or if forced to move flies anyhow
upwards and hangs to anything in its way, or
falls helplessly to the ground. One sees that
it is blind.

It is also evident that the senses of touch
and smell do not help the bee outside the
hive. The conduct of a drone deprived of his
feelers will prove this, and also that within
the hive these senses are quite indispensable.

A bee deprived of its feelers is not capable
of continuing its existence, as it can no longer
even find its own nourishment.

Revue oV Avignon. — A society has been
formed in France, we are told, to resist the
adulteration of bee-products by every means
in their power. Especially that of comb
foundation is strongly denounced, and it is
said that if the unprincipled conduct of manu-
facturers continues it might lead to the
abandonment of the movable-hive system
altogether. Those who prepare their own wax
and make their own foundation are in the
best position ; they have then no complaints
to make.

Revue Internationale cV Apiculture (Swit-
zerland).— The difficulties for bee-keepers in
some of the higher districts are very great, as
in the valley of Laas in the " Haut Valois " in
Switzerland. Last winter being long and
more than usually rigorous, with heavy snow-
falls, many of the hives in this valley were
entirely destroyed. The bees were shut in so
long that they never recovered from their
winter sleep ; others died of dysentery, which
raged in the district. Some, deceived by the
glare of the snow, perished in numbers on its
cold bosom. The curates of Zermatt and other
places have lost nearly or quite all their hives.
Of a large apiary at Fea there was only one
hive left. A supply of 26 lb. of honey psr
hive was allowed, but when — as has happened
three times in the last thirteen years — the
winter lasts from the end of August to the
next June 50 lb. of honey per hive would not
be too much. In these bad years the honey
harvest is absolutely nil, lasting only two or
three weeks. The larch, which is a great
resource when flowers do not bloom, gave its
honey liberally, but the bees could not gather
it on account of the heavy rains. Larch
honey is slightly brown in colour, has a rather
curious taste, and is of medium quality.
Rhododendron honey, on the contrary, is very
fine and much sought after.

Bulletin de la Socie'te d' 'Apiculture de la
Somme. — A simple way of destroying wasps'
nests consists in steeping a rag in turpentine,
and to stuff it into the nest or into the hole
that leads to it. The next day the whole
colony of wasps will be found suffocated.

Bulletin de la Socie'te d'Apiculture de la
Tunisie.—Oa March 18, 1901, several hivea

March 13, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

105

belonging to a bee-keeper in Tuni8 showed a
disposition to send off secondary and tertiary
swarms, the young queens making themselves
heard in an unusual way. A thunderstorm
hindered them for several hours, but at last a
spell of sunshine brought out a strong swarm,
and at the same instant a clap of thunder and
a sudden shower caused them to settle in little
clusters on the apiary wall. As, when the
rain ceased, the bees did not move, I fetched a
ladder and examined the first group of bees,
and found three beautiful queens ; so on with
all the clusters. Having been asked for queens,
I wished to capture some ; so taking a bottle, I
put eighteen together into it. In a few
minutes, however, I perceived that a fight
a Voutrance was proceeding, and all thes9
queens perished. Then, having learnt by ex-
perience, I placed each queen separately in a
small screw of paper. The clusters of bees
then united. I found thus forty-five magnifi-
cent queens, and the next day twelve more
outside the hive, where the swarm had been
placed.

NOVELTIES FOR 1902.

edwards's swarm catcher.
(Design Registered.)

The " Novelty for 1902 " shown below has a
special interest for readers just now, and we
are glad to give it a word of approval from a
thorough personal inspection. It seems to us
a distinct advance on anything yet introduced.
For the rest, we, in accordance with the usual
custom, leave the inventor to describe the
appliance in his own words. He says : —

"A thoroughly reliable swarm-catcher has
been a long-felt want ; and although much
time and thought have been bestowed upon

abiding place among bee-keepers has bo far
been placed on the market. ' Catchers ' have
come ; catchers have gone— more nuisance
than use has been the general verdict. But
the latest bid for favour promises to succeed
where others have failed ; and in the swarm-
catcher and self-hives here illustrated the
inventor has provided an appliance in which
the bees have a free and unimpeded entrance to
the hive, there being no obstruction of any sort
to negotiate. At the hive entrance a sharp
angular projection, seen at the centre, divides
up the stream of home-coming bees, and
deflects them into side tunnels, which, open at
both ends, extends about half way into the
hive ; and whilst it is possible for bees and
queen to find an exit through these tunnels, Mr.
Edwards is emphatic in his assurance that they
do not do so, their natural instinct leading them
towards the stronger light at the front of the
hive. Unladen workers pass readily through
the excluder zinc guarding the front — though
they make no attempt to find an entrance
there — but queen and drones are guided
towards the apex of the triangle, imme-
diately over which is a cone leading to the
' hives ' chamber above ; and a3 the queen is
trapped so close to the entrances, it is almost
impossible for the bees of a returning swarm
to fail to find her. The appliances had trial at
Mr. Edwards's hands last season, and he claims
that it answered his every expectation, working
without the slightest hitch, and capturing
swarm after swarm in every instance.
Whilst not complicated in construction — there
being nothing to get out of order — the
1 catcher ' is ingeniously contrived to take
advantage of the bees' natural instincts, and
as it eliminates faults inherent to those
' catchers ' gone before, we are inclined to
think — so far as can be gathered without a
personal trial— that the appliance bids fair to
fulfil expectations. We welcome it a3 a care-
fully thought-out attempt to settle a thorny
question — how to prevent the loss of swarms
during the absence of the owner. A circular
giving further particulars can be had in
return for a stamp, addressed H. Edwards,
Shrubs Hill, Sunningdale.''

attempted fulfilment of this want, nothing
sufficiently satisfactory to secure a permanent

THE " SHEPPARD-HOWARD '' BEE-SPACED
WOVEN-WIRE DIVIDER.

(Patent Applied for.)

The new device for enmring perfectly filled
and sealed sections seen in the " cut " on p. 106
is the joint production of Mr. W. J. Sheppard,
Hon. Secretary of the Essex B.K.A , and Mr.
John H. Howard, Holme, Peterboro'. It may
not be quite easy to fully realise the advan-
tages which are secured by the use of the
device from a glance at the " cut ; " we, there-
fore insert the following details written by the
inventors themselves : —

"The principles of the device will commend

106

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 13, 1902.

themselves to all bee-keepers. It has long
been evident that the present style of dividers
has been mainly responsible for much of the
trouble at present existing through the
excessive swarming of stocks supered with
-sections, and the comparatively small per-
centage of perfect sections obtainable from
each hive. By the use of the Woven Wire
Bee-spaced Dividers the bees will have a clear,
uninterrupted passage-way direct from the
brood-nest between each row of sections, and
the heat therefrom will be more evenly dis-
tributed through the bees having more room
to form larger clusters, they will be able to
secrete wax quicker and better, resulting in
more honey being stored and more perfect

The " Sheppard-Howard " Divider.

sealing and finish. Unfortunately, these
dividers are at present rather expensive, but
as a set-off to this they will with care last a
lifetime, and if by their use more comb-honey
and more perfect sections can be produced,
the extra cost will be a secondary considera-
tion. The dimensions of the divider are
12fin. long by 4fin. deep, five doubles and
two singles for either end being required for
an ordinary section-rack. Eighteen sections,
however, can only be accommodated instead of
twenty-one as formerly. As they are4|in.
wide, it will be seen that they cannot be used
with J_-shaped girders. Four-way sections
are recommended to be used as being most
suitable."

All particulars can be obtained from J. H.
Howard, the Model Apiary, Holme, Peterboro'.

STARTING AN APIARY.

. The novice in making a start should not
plunge too suddenly or too heavily into what
are to him unknown waters, as he may get
beyond his depth, and into difficulties beyond
his powers, which at the very beginning may
cause a feeling of dislike to the pursuit. It is
far better to begin with one or two stocks of
bees, and, after acquiring a knowledge and
liking for apiculture, to add gradually to
outfit, appliances, and number of hives. It is
only as a pastime, or at mo3t as a slight
adjunct to one's income, that nineteen out of

every twenty bee-men start an apiary. Yet it
is one of our minor industries which deserves
every encouragement, as, rightly managed, it
is the best paying of them all. As a hobby
pure and simple, no other that pays so well
can be named, and as a healthy outdoor pur-
suit none more invigorating to mind and body
can be placed on an equality. In making a
start it is best to begin with a swarm ; and, in
regard to appliances — hives, frames, foundation,
quilts, smoker, veil, crates, sections, dividers —
should all come direct from an appliance
dealer. The latter days of May or the first
week of June is the best time to order the
swarm, just at the opening of the white clover
bloom. If got from a distance they travel in
a swarm-box. On receiving them, remove the
top and shake out the bees on the flight-
board, which should be temporarily enlarged
with a large box-lid, covered with a news-
paper or a sheet of brown paper. It may be
well to have the smoker alight as a reserve
force if required, and the veil should be in
position or handy when the bees are shaken
out of the box, though they rarely volunteer a
sting. Pay particular attention as to "the
queen, for if she is seen to run in the bees
will speedily follow her. Indeed, their one
aim, as soon as they perceive the entrance, is
to make for it, and a loud and pleasant hum
of satisfaction is set up while they scamper in
a solid body for their new home. It it is
decided to start with an established stock in
either a bar-frame hive or a skep, early
April is generally the best time to do it.
The shifting at this time rouses up the bees,
and gives them new energy, which makes
the most of the strange fields and pastures
new where their lot is cast. If the purchase
is a skep, and bought from a neighbour,
some care and discretion is necessary, or the
bargain may turn out a " pig in a poke." Turn
up the skep on a mild day, giving it a puff or
two of smoke. *^fote the number of seams of
bees ; if the stores are ample ; if the combs
are well or ill built ; if they are fresh, or too
black and old ; if they look pollen-clogged,
mildewed, or showing any old sealed cells
lying here and there, spread indiscriminately
over the face of the comb, with flabby, de-
pressed, and occasionally punctured sealing.
Beware of purchasing then, as it is a hotbed
of disease. If, however, the hive is clean,
not too old, the bees fairly numerous, and the
works fresh, it may be safe to invest at a fair
price. In taking it home carry it mouth up,
first covering it With a piece of cheese cloth.
Keep the skep only as a medium for filling
up your bar-frame hives. This is the only
use of a skep in modern bee-keeping. If the
purchase is to be a bar-frame hive, examine
the interior minutely, and see that it has
plenty bees, ample stores, fresh combs, and
bars of the true standard size. Where it is
necessary to purchase anything second-hand,
a novice should secure the aid of a practical
and experienced bee-keeper to make a

March 13, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

107

thorough examination before investing. If,
however, the seller is a man of probity, a
guarantee from him that the bees are sound,
healthy, and free from disease may be sufficient.
Experienced, apiarists will understand why all
this caution is advised.

A proper start in any line of life helps
largely to attain success. In bee-keeping it
means winning half the battle. If a beginner
buys a diseased stock of bees, invests in a
badly-constructed, ill-fitting hive, purchases a
poor half-starved, lot of bees, failure follows at
the very start. His enthusiasm get3 spent, his
fancy for the hobby evaporates, and he gives
up in despair before he has well begun. If
hives of all kinds, shapes, and sizes are bought,
just because they are got a so-called bargain,
he lays up for himself at the outset a load of
care. If the hives are provided with different
sized frames he supplies himself with an end-
less amount of worry. Hundreds do all this,
get into a quagmire, and end in throwing up
bee-keeping as a failure. Therefore, in making
a start, several things are of first importance if
success is to be assured.

First. — Get a good text-book. The writer
knows no better than Mr. Cowan's "Bee-
keepers' Guide Book." It is sound, practical,
concise, methodical, and thoroughly trust-
worthy. Every subject included in bee-
keeping is handled briefly, but to the point.
The sound common-sense of experience
illumines every page, and the reader feels that
he can depend on every statement as coming
from a master in the art.

Second. — A good bee paper is indispensable.
Every bee-keeper who desires to keep abreast
of the times must subscribe to one or other of
the Bee-keepers' Monthly Record or the weekly
Bee Journal. They supply articles in each
issue on every conceivable subject connected
with bee-craft. All the latest in bee news,
and facts connected with the pursuit, are
recorded in their pages ; and the editor, with a
qualified staff, answers all questions pertinent
to the industry.

Third. — Try, if possible, to get the services
of a friendly practical bee-man in making your
start. Kely on him for initial guidance. You
have no idea what an amount of needless
blundering you may thus save yourself. As a
class they are very clannish, and always glad
to give the benefits of their knowledge to
novices. Learn what you can from these, but
do not draw too much on their good nature, or
you may become a keeper of bees but never a
bee-keeper.

Fourth. — Endeavour to see most of the
principal manipulations performed by an
expert — never mind though he has no certi-
ficate. You will learn more in a single lesson
than you yourself might discover in a hap-
hazard way in years. Note the quiet and
confident air with which he goes about the
work of opening and examining a hive, and
contrast it with your own fussy and excitable
mood. Note the half-puff of smoke thrown

across the hive rather than at the bees, and
contrast it with the clouds a novice aims at
them, half suffocating both operator and the
insects operated on. Note the quiet, gentle,
gliding motion — cool, deliberate and precise—
and contrast it with your own rapid, jerky,
banging commotion. Note, too, the temper of
the bees. You will see them going on with
their work, marching in and out of cells,
depositing honey and pollen, tending the
young larvae, while the queen goes about her
maternal duties quietly and deliberately.
Contrast this with your own frequent expe-
riences when you find a seething mas3 of
infuriated insects, each armed with a poisonous
weapon, rushing madly at you as soon as you
lift the quilts or coverings from the frames.

Fifth. — Never, if possible, buy anything
cheap or second-hand. Good articles are best
and cheapest in the end. Second-hand hives
and appliances are generally the worse of the
wear, and may be the depositories of disease.
— D. M. M., in Banff Journal.

HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of
February, 1902, was £247.— From a return
furnished to the British Bee Journal by the
Statistical Office, H.M. Customs.

WEATHER REPORT.

Westbourne, Sussex.
February, 1902.
Sunless Days, 12.
Below average, 17'6

hours.
Mean Maximum,

39 9°.
Mean Minimum,

311°.
Mean Temperature,

35-5°.
Below average, 1*5°.
Maximum Barometer,

30 62°, on 1st.
Minimum Barometer'

2927°, on 27th.

Rainfall, 2 06 in.

Heaviest fall, -43 in.,
on 24th.

Rain or snow fell on
15 days.

Above average, '13 in.

Maximum Tempera-
ture, 50°, on 28th.

Minimum Tempera-
ture, 19°, on 16 th.

Minimum on Grass,
7°, on 16th.

Frosty Nights, 16.

Sunshine, 747 hours.

Brightest Day, 16th,
8*5 hours.

L. B. Birkett.

(Btkm flwrat ike §pM8.

Eatfield Heath, Barlow, Essex, March 10.
— So mild was the weather in the middle of
January that bees were breeding well then.
And on January 21, when Lord Rookwood
was buried here, I saw bees working upon
the violets and hyacinths in the wreaths
and crosses of flowers placed upon the

108

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 13, 1902.

grave. But there is evidence in most hives at
the present time that this early breeding was
nipped in the bud, for there i3 here and
there a cell with chilled brood in them. I saw
hazel catkins in bloom, too, in the third week
of January, and these also were nipped and
withered by frost and wind ; but like the bees,
the catkins have been in preparation for the
coming season since last August, and like the
bees have mostly stood the test of severe frost
very well. — Wm. Lovedat.

Salford Priors, near Evesham, Worcester,
March 10. — I am quite a beginner in bee-
keeping, having only one stock, which consists
of two lots of driven bees from skeps, and
united in a bar-frame hive last autumn. This
stock, I am happy to say, is a very strong
one. Reading in the " Guide Book " of giving
pea-meal as artificial pollen I tried it last
week, but the bees would not take it. Yester-
day, however — it was a glorious day — I placed
some pea-meal in the cups of some single
daffodils in close proximity to the hive, and
in a few minutes the bees had discovered it
and took it greedily. I had to fill up the
flowers several times during the day. I
thought this might interest your readers, more
especially when I say that the flowers were
plucked and tied on sharpened sticks, which
I stuck into the ground. — J. R. 0.

Brent Eleigh, Lavenham, Suffolk, March 1.
— After severe frost and snow for a few days,
the weather has once more allowed the bees to
get a cleansing flight, and I took advantage of
the opportunity to take a peep under the
quilts. I find my seventeen stocks have so
far come through safely. The tits have been
very bu^y around my hives all the winter,
and have made sad havoc amongst my currant
bushes. There are scores of them around
here, so a bone or two would not be much
amongst them. I am looking forward to a
busy season, and hope it will be a good one
for all bee-keepers. If it would be of in-
terest to any one, I would send comparisons
between eleven hives of bees and thirty -two
hens during 1901, both of which received the
best attention of my wife and myself during
the year. — Walter Turner.

[We will be glad to have particulars men-
tioned for publication. — Eds ]

<tttp{8 awl $$li48.

[2803.] Bees Dying on the Ground in
Spring. — Will you please tell me in next
week's issue what is the best plan to prevent
the bees from venturing out at this time of
year the moment they get a bit of warm sun-
shine, and perishing in numbers on the ground
in front of the hive by finding the weather too
cold for them '( Having only commenced bee-

keeping last spring, I was naturally anxious
about my bees' first wintering, and great was
my joy yesterday to see both my hives sur-
rounded with a cloud of happy humming bees
enjoying the south wind and gleams of sun.
They evidently thought, as I did, that spring
was near at last — the thermometer registered
50 deg. at 10 a.m. ! It made me, however, a
little anxious to see that a number were
crawling on the ground ; so I put boards for
them to climb up to the entrance. But, alas t
in the evening the ground was strewn with
corpses, and I have lost even more to-day from
the same cause. So this i3 evidently not the
" cleansing flight " of the guide books that
should rejoice the bee-keeper's heart, and I
cannot afford any more " Spion Kop's " among
my bees ! Now, which would be the wisest
course, to keep the perforated zinc slides of the
entrance closed, as I have now done 1 or (1)
to place an upright board in front of the hive
door to shade it from the sun, and leave the
entrance open for ventilation ? 2. In one hive
the bees have finished their candy-cake.
Should I now give them candy or syrup ?
Here in the Peak of Derbyshire we are always
late and cold. Is it risky to give syrup so
early in the year ? An answer to these queries
will greatly oblige. — A Beginner, Ashbourne.

Reply. — 1. It will not do to keep the bees
confined to their hive on such days a.% the
warmth and sunshine tempt them forth for a
needed cleansing flight. A shade board placed
some little distance away, while keeping off
the bright sunshine, is almost the only remedy.
2. On no account give syrup-food at this
season ; only good soft candy is suitable, and
even this should be dispensed with wherever
stores are plentiful, as all artificial feeding
from the outside tends to bring the bees out
more than when only natural stores are relied
on for food.

[2804.] Driven Bees Dying during Winter.
— As a reader of the Bee Journal I
should esteem it a favour if you will answer
the following in your next i3sue : — Aboat
a fortnight ago, being suspicious that one of
my stocks (a stosk made up from driven bees
last autumn) was short of stores, I examined
and found this so. I then placed a box of soft
candy on top of the frames. Upon examin-
ing them again to-day (27th), to my surprise
I found the whole of the bees dead. At first I
thought it a case of starvation, but upon
examining the combs I found all the bees
clustered on several frames at the front of hive
close to entranse, which frames contained no
food. The two back frames, however, were well
filled with food, but the box of candy was only
partly consumed. I therefore would ask
whether it is usual for bees, rather than leave
the cluster, to obtain food at the back of the
brood next on the last frames to starve 1 They
were a fairly strong stock. A great number
of the bees I found head first in the cells.
Can you suggest a reason for them dying in

March 13, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

109

this manner ? — Nasanoff, Stafford, Feb-
ruary 28, 1902.

Eeply.— One of the disadvantages attached
to hives with the frames hanging parallel to
entrances is the risk of bees starving to death
near the entrance after consuming all the food
in the first two or three frames. The cluster
naturally moves towards the entrance ; why,
we cannot say, but our experience is that they
do ; and as they do this the stored combs are
in the rear of the hive, necessitating a long
journey to reach the sealed food. Thus, if the
temperature is too low for free travel the bees
perish of hunger. The fact of the dead bee3
being " found head foremost in the cells " is a
sure sign of death from famine.

[2805.] Damp in Hives. — This last week of
almost summer weather which we have ex-
perienced up north has made the bees quite
lively. Accordingly I have profited by it, and,
following instructions from the " Guide Book,"
I on Saturday cleaned the floorboard of my
hive. It is a " W.B O," new last summer,
wherein I placed a swarm in July. 1 . Is it
usual to find the floorboard in a very damp
condition ? The wood was so wet as to be
spongy when I scraped it. The enamel quilt
had beads of water on the under surface in
places, all of which, I suppose, are due to con-
densation. 2. Can this be as healthy for the
bees as if some porous material was placed im-
mediately above the frames for the winter
months 1 Dampness, I read, is fatal for them,
but my stock seem to be numerous and
healthy, from the short look I had of them. I
shall be much obliged if you will kindly give
me your opinion of the above. — Robert H.
Chadwick, High Park, Southport, March 3.

Reply. — 1. No, and if there are plenty of
bees in the hive, damp in spring does no
damage. 2. We have known bees winter
with an enamel quilt overhead and not a sign
of dampness seen. It is as the late Mr. Raitt
used to say, " the best winter packing for bees
is bees I ''

[2806.] Preventing Drone-Rearing. — I shall
esteem it a favour if you could enlighten me
on a few points on which I am not quite
clear. 1. Would it be desirable, seeing that
I only possess one hive at present, to prevent
drone-rearing 1 I ask because of being given
to understand that drones are useless, except
for fertilising purposes ; and as I already
possess a fert le queen, would it become
detrimental if the bees are not allowed to
raise drone brood at all ? 2. Would it tend
to stop swarming if, at the same time, I cut
away all queen-cells as constructed ? 3. Does
fertilisation take place before or after the
swarm has been hived ? 4. Kindly give me
your opinion of the enclosed sample of syrup.
Please also say if this will be suitable for
spring feeding if I add some more water. Am
I to add boiling water or cold 1 5. How can
I preserve drawn-out combs? 6. On p. 19
you say: " The issue of all swarms beyond the

first may, if desired, be prevented by de-
stroying all queen-cells, and introducing
another queen." If the young queen is
already hatched out, would she not do if you
destroyed the remaining cells 1 Of course, I
understand it would be some time before she
commenced laying. — H. E. Wilkes, Birming-
ham.

Reply. — 1. It is inadvisable to prevent drone-
rearing entirely. Restrict it by all means,
but allow a few inches of drone comb on a
couple of frames, and you will find the stock
all the better for it. 2. "Cutting out all
queen-cells as constructed '' is a nuisance,
and often fails in the object aimed at. 3. The
queen of a second swarm is mated after being
hived. 4. Syrup is not very good ; you
should mix that now on hand when boiling up
more sugar for food, and let the syrup be
fairly thick when given to the bees. Watery
food in early spring is not good for bees.
6. Yes, certainly.

[2807.] Transferring Bees to Frame Hives.
— Last August I started bee-keeping. I
bought a swarm advertised in the Exchange
and Mart, which, when swarmed, had been
put into a box 13 in. by 13 in., and allowed
to work in same. The weather was very
hot when it was sent to me, with the result
that combs were broken down and smothered
fully two-thirds of bees. A friend, who is
a bee-keeper, put what was left (and, fortu-
nately, the queen was among them) into one
of his empty hives. I had to start at once to
feed them. Now, my friend's hives are not
fitted with "Standard" frames. As the hive
was only lent me, I sent away for a modern
one, and when it arrived I put the old frames
with bee3 into it. Now, I am desirous to put
bees on to " Standard " frames with clean
foundation, and would be pleased to have
your advice, or any readers' of the B.B.J., as
to the best method to adopt. — One Anxious
to Learn, Darlington.

Reply. — Under the circumstances — and if
the frames on which the bees now are fit into
your new hive — we advise you on no account
to attempt transferring the combs to " Stan-
dard " frames. Leave the bees on their present
combs, but remove all frames not covered by
beep, and as the bees increase and need room
give a frame fitted with full sheet of comb-
foundation. A week or ten days later give
another frame, and so on till the full number
is made up. The other odd-sized frames may
be gradually replaced by " Standards " as a
chance occurs of removing one or more when
empty.

[2808.] Giving Pollen in Early Spring. —
The last few days having been fine and sunny,
with crocuses and gorse in full bloom. I put
some pea-flour in the crocus-blooms, and also
in an open place, on Friday. This seems to
have over-stimulated the bees, for to-day I
see dozens of dying bees on the ground around
the hive. I have now stopped giving the
pollen. 1. Taking into consideration the fact

110

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 13, 1902.

that Jersey is about a fortnight ahead of
England generally, what ought I to do to
prevent or reduce this alarming mortality ?
The hive is well supplied with honey, and
seems strong in bees. 2. Did I do wrong in
giving pollen so soon ? — Oliver Mourant,
St. Aubins, Jersey, March 2.

Replt. — 1. We have always stated that the
best time to give artificial pollen is when bees
are seen to be gathering natural pollen. If
this is attended to, the evil you complain of
is minimised as much as possible. 2. You
only did wrong so far as stimulating the bees
to work more actively than if they were not
tempted outside in cold weather by the arti-
ficial pollen given.

TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED.

John H. Howard, Holme, near Peterboro'.
— Mr. Howard in his latest list for 1902 sends
out a very full and complete catalogue of
everything in "up-to-date" bee-keeping.
While making, as usual, a speciality of founda-
tion- makiDg (and, by the way, including
samples of " British Weed " foundation which
do infinite credit to him), nothing of real service
to bee-keepers is omitted. He also supplies
very concise and useful directions to customers
so that no mistake can arise in his methods of
trading. His catalogue also contains a full
illustrated description of the " Reitsche "
hand-press for those who desire to make their
own comb-foundation.

E. H. Taylor (successor to T. B, Blow),
Welwyn, Herts. — Mr. Taylor seems to have
" caught on ',' to the American fashion of
manufacturing on a large scale, and establish-
ing agencies or depots in different parts of
the United Kingdom. He also supplies goods
wholesale for sending abroad as a " manu-
facturer and shipper." It was a special
feature of Mr. Blow's bee-trade to exhibit at
important Continental exhibitions, where he
gained the highest awards. Mr. Taylor
can also claim the credit of being the first
British bee-appliance manufacturer to make
hives on the dovetail principle, as is now the
fashion in America. We hope to see this
principle generally adopted in this country.
The list before us is very full and complete ;
it is well illustrated and contains " Hints on
Successful Bee-management.''

R. Steele, Wormit, Dundee. — Another well-
got-up list, nicely printed and illustrated. It
is essentially a " Scottish " catalogue, as shown
by the names by which many of the hives are
designated. No less than eleven hives are
described and illustrated by admirable wood-
cuts, along with bee-goods of every kind and
fashion. There are also engravings of poultry
houses and appliances, such as incubators, &c,
along with dog-kennels and various buildings
for garden use. Mr. Steele also adds " Hints
and Instructions to Beginners in Bee-culture "
for those who desire to make a successful start
in bee-keeping, which is well written and
reliable.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers

Letters or queriet 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,

G. W. J. (Cornwall). — Transferring from
Sleeps to Frame Hives. — If your proposed
plan of transferring means allowing the
bees to transfer themselves to the frame-:
hive, let us know, when we will give par-
ticulars, unless you possess a copy of the
" Guide Book," which latter contains full
particulars. There is ample time yet before
thinking of any transferring operations.

J. Hill (Walton, Liverpool). — Money Comb
Designs. — The usual way is to have a " top-
side " of wood to which the comb-founda-
tion is fixed ; but in some cases the founda-
tion is affixed to glass, as in the capital
design in honeycomb shown on p. 183 of
B.B.J, for May 9 last year.

Inquirer (Suffolk). — Some Queries on General
Bee-work. — 1. If a swarm comes off unseen
from one of several hives, the fact that it
has swarmed can only be ascertained, first,
by the depletion of bees in the swarmed
stock ; and second, by listening for
" piping " seven or eight days after the
swarm issued. 2. When two queens fight
for supremacy, the "fittest" usually sur-
vives, but it cannot be "safely concluded"
that this will result. 3. Giving surplus-
room alone will never " effectually prevent
swarming ;" it is only one means to that end.
4. There is no advantage whatever in pro*
viding water-troughs for bees if a running
stream or a lake is close by.

F. J. (Mountmellick). — Giving Soft Candy in
Spring. — 1. If food is short you can con-
tinue giving candy with advantage until
natural food is obtainable outside. 2.
Syrup-food should not be given till natural
pollen is being gathered by the bees.

Suspected Combs.

Special Notice to correspondents sending queries on
"Foxil 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."

T. W. (Colchester). — The sealed brood in
comb sent is "chilled" only. There is no
disease about it. The small sample, how-
ever, shows -serious signs of dysentery,

R. Little (Beattock, N.B.).— Comb sent .
contains only pollen (some of it mildewed)
and food ; no trace of brood or of disease.

March 20, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

Ill

(ftiitoral, lottos, &l

RURAL INDUSTRIES.

PROPOSED CONFERENCE AT WARWICK
CASTLE.

We have much pleasure in acceding to the
request of the Countess of Warwick — as con-
veyed in the following communication — by
inviting the attention of our readers to the
conference, on May 1, at Warwick Castle,
especially as her ladyship takes great interest
in bee-keeping as a branch of agriculture
suitable for ladies, and has established an
apiary at the " Lady Warwick Hostel,''
Eeading, which is being successfully managed
by the lady students. — [Eds.]

" May I ask for space in your valuable
paper to lay the following suggestions before
your readers : —

" The great growth of the past century
indicates that co-operation and co-ordination
is especially needed in things agricultural.
Co-ordination is lacking, not because of the
innate dislike of people to co-operate, nob
because of jealousy between societies and asso-
ciations, but chiefly because of the lack of op-
portunities of learning what others are doing.

"Taking the subject of village industries,
for instance, it is most difficult to get definite
information either as to what is being done in
certain localities, or where special industries
flourish.

" Again, there are many possibilities for the
promotion and establishment both of the
lighter branches of agriculture and of many
of the rural industries in villages and districts,
but the individuals who have the will to start
them either have not the power, the training,
or the knowledge to see the possibilities
within their reach. This lack of training and
knowledge, of course, reacts upon the rural
population, and contributes to the rural
depopulation.

"Then, again, many local industries are
cramped through not being more widely
known, and many an individual started upon
an independent career suffers through lack of
a market ; thus associations and individuals
need the stimulus of friendly competition and
mutual co-operation.

"It is proposed to hold a conference at
Warwick Castle on May 1 next, to provide an
opportunity : —

" (1) For those directly engaged in any
other lighter branches of agriculture or rural
industries to make known their work.

" (2) For those who are interested in the
things pertaining to the welfare of our country
districts to learn what is being done to stay
the rural depopulation.

"(3) For an interchange of ideas and
sympathetic suggestions between those engaged
in allied industries.

" (4) For those who need teachers or trained

workers to meet those who are fully trained
and capable of teaching others.

"(5) For the binding of all these in one
strong organisation for co-operation and
co-ordination.

"It is, therefore, hoped any who are inte-
rested in the objects for which the conference
is called, and who wish to learn fuller details
of the programme of the discussion, as also of
the hospitality to be offered for the occasion,
will write for particulars to the Warden,
Lady Warwick Hostel, Reading, or to myself.
— Yours faithfully,

"Frances Evelyn Warwick.

" Warivick Castle, March 14."

SHROPSHIRE B.K.A.

annual meeting.

The annual meeting was held in the Mayor's
Court, Shrewsbury, on Saturday, March 8,
Mr. Roff King, Chairman.

The Chairman mentioned that, as a gratify-
ing result of his attendance along with Mr.
W. H. Brown as delegates to the Shropshire
Horticultural Society, on behalf of the
S.B.K.A., it was decided to pay off their
debit balance of £12, and, in addition, to
present the association with a donation of
£20 extra to commence the season of 1902
with.

The 1901 show was referred to as being
one of the most successful which had been
held, the entries being 122 in excess of 1900,
while the whole display was regarded as one
of the best in the kingdom for quality, size,
and attractiveness.

The report and balance-sheet were agreed to.

In proposing the election of Lord Inchiquin
as President for the current year, the Chairman
stated that Lady Inchiquin was an enthusiastic
bee-keeper. Trie motion was seconded and
carried mm. con., as was also the election of
Miss Eyton as hon. treasurer, and that lady
formally thanked for her generosity and
valued services to the association for many
years past. Mr. Cartwright (secretary) was
likewise thanked for the way he had executed
his duties, and reappointed to office.

The Chairman then called upon Mr. W. H.
Brown, who, on behalf of the members, asked
their Hon. Secretary, Mr. S. Cartwright, to
accept an honorarium of £5 as a small
acknowledgment of his unfailing courtesy and
the painstaking way in which he had fulfilled
hi3 duties as Hon. Secretary of the Associa-
tion in connection with the very successful
show of 1901.

It was also agreed, on the motion of the
Chairman, that Mr. Cartwright be presented
with an illuminated address to commemorate
the occasion.

The Exeoutive Committee for 1902 was
then elected, and comprised the following : —
Chairman, Mr. Roff King ; Messrs. Beale,
Brown, Bradley, Clay, Carver, Croxton,
Griffiths, Graham, Jones, Holland, Hammond,

112

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 20, 1902.

Prein, and Scott ; Hon. Secretaries, Miss
E. M. Eyton and Miss A. Downward ; Hon.
Treasurer, Miss Eyton ; Hon. Secretary, Mr.
S. Cartwright. — (Communicated.)

ESSEX BEE-KEEPERS1 ASSOCIATION.

A general meeting of members of the above
association has been called for Friday,
March 21, at 6 p.m., at the Devonshire Hotel,
Bishopsgate-street Without, E.C., to decide
the question of extending the work and
benefits of the association so as to embrace the
county of Suffolk, in addition to Essex. — W. J.
Sheppard, Hon. Sec. Essex B.K.A., King's
Head Hill, Chingford, March 13.

LANCASHIRE B K.A.

We are requested to draw the attention of
Lancashire bee-keepers — and all in the county
who are interested in bee-keeping — to the fact
that Mr. J. F. Williamson, Crystal-terrace,
Byron-street, Fleetwood, has been appointed
Secretary of the Lancashire Bee-keepers'
Association, and that in future all communi-
cations should be addressed to him.

€amtyimkML

The Sditort do not hold themselves responsible for the
•pinions empressed by correspondents. Jfo notice will be
taken of anonymout communication) , and eorretpondenti
are requested to write on one tide of the paper only and
give their real names and addretsei, not necessarily for
publication, but at a guarantee of good faith. Illuttra-
tieni 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.

HUBER ON THE HARMONY OF
SWARMING.

[4723 ] " Can you detect any discords in
this harmonious concert of numbers ? The
sweet humming is to my ears composed of
true notes only. Aerial music that goes
straight to my heart ; and whether or not it
be that what seems to me expressive, touching,
and melancholy — I will even say solemn —
comes from within myself or freni my
imagination, I have never listened to it coldly.
. . . Whence comes this music and the
impression it produces on me ? I will try and
tell you. Do not reject the idea too quickly ;
for a physical law comes to support the
feeble perception, and seems to lend it
authority."

(Huber here explains that although one
note only may be sounded on a musical
instrument, or may appear to be produced by
a swarm, a series of harmonic tones in perfect
accord is produced, all capable of being dis-
tinguished by a trained car.)

" Who knows, and, above all, who can say
what a swarm feels in the midst of such a
harmonious atmosphere. Think you that
I may believe, and say that this mass
of sentient beings surely feels, if in a
modified fashion, something of the effect
that the sweet harmony produces on myself ?
When you, too, shall have breathed the
balsamic and honey-laden air that is the
atmosphere of swarms, the idea of the
happiness of all these beings will surely take
hold of you. You will be glad to think that
it has been accorded to them. Penetrated, as
you are, with gratitude for all the good things
that have been lavishly bestowed upon you,
you will thank the great dispenser (Nature)
for not having forgotten what makes for the
happiness of the least of her children."

" Bees, by nature very irritable, seem to be
not in the least so when it comes to swarm-
ing; at that time they show no sign of
frowardness, not the least wish to retaliate
for the ill-treatment that is too often bestowed
upon them. It i3 this gentleness that then
enables us to take possession of them ; and as
the benefit to us is beyond doubt, let us try
to be worthy of it — let U3 treat these good
bees not as slaves, but as members of our
family and good workmen, whose well-recog-
nised services observe reward."

The above extracts are from " Lettres
Ioedite3 de Francois Huber,'' published in
Switzerland by Ed. Bertrand in 1897. They
have been slightly condensed in translation,
but are as near the original as was possible.
The letters were written by Huber in 1829,
when in his eightieth year, to a young lady
nearly related to him and learning under his
directions to become a bee-keeper. — H. J. 0.
Walker (Lieutenant-Colonel), Lee Ford,
Budleigh Salterton, S. Devon, March 14.

SOME ESSEX NOTES.

[4724.] About Foul Brood— I think the
letter of Mr. Owen Browning (4903, page 84)
in the B.B.J, of February 27 supports my
views as expressed on page 55, i.e., that a good
honey season is of great assistance in ridding
us of foul brood. At one time or another I
have done a good deal of expert work, and
my experience is as stated above, though I
have not been able to decide why this should
be so, or why in a poor season the disease in-
creases and spreads so much more. Neverthe-
less, such is the case, without any doubt. Mr.
Browning very wisely destroyed stocks in
which the disease was in the advanced or
spore stage, and because these stocks were
probably in a condition quite beyond the bees
in coping with it. But in the case of the
slightly affected stocks the bees are apparently
able to deal with it in a good season if assisted
by the bee-keeper. So continually is foul
brood proving its power as an enemy of bee-
keepers in new districts, that the only way to
derive pleasure or profit from the pursuit is to

March 20, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

113

keep only just so many colonies as can be
thoroughly well managed. And those who
value these points will use preventives regu-
larly in their hives at all limes.

Since writing my last "notes'' two bee-
keepers have already informed me of recent
outbreaks in their apiaries. In one case the
bees, located a few hundred yards from my
informant's own hives, had foul brood last
year. They are in the care of an old labourer
on the place, and he (in ignorance, of course)
threw the discarded combs out upon the
garden ground when the bees died out. In
the other case, the bees of a neighbour — whom
it would be a misnomer to call a bee-keeper —
have for some time, with good reason, been
suspected of being in a bad way, but the owner
is quite unapproachable on the question of
bees. The owners of the recently-infected
apiaries are both cottagers who devote their
leisure hours to intelligent modern bee-keep-
ing, and it may truly be said that th*y are
suffering through the ignorance and indiffer-
ence of others.

It has recently come to my knowledge that
a bee-keeper who, a few years ago, owned a
large apiary in the North of England, and lost
the whole of his stock — involving a loss, I am
told, of about £200 through foul brood — has
packed up his hives and appliances and come
south. I have no doubt that the bee-keepers
of the district he has left (to whom I am told
he was nothing short of a nuisance) were glad
enough to be rid of him. But he clings to
those hives and appliances still. It was sheer
inability to see the necessity for destroying by
fire the source of mischief that brought ruin to
his bee-keeping. Another bee-keeper known
to me, who never could treat his diseased
stocks in a thorough way, has recently removed
into a district where ho is unknown, and it
makes one feel truly sorry for those who are
now his neighbours, for it will probably be a
sore trial to their pleasure or profit in bee-
keeping.

Out-Apiaries. — In thanking Messrs. R.
Brown and Allen Sharp for their contributions
on this interesting subject last month, I must
say that the necessity not only for a summer
residence, but also for the command of a horse
and cart, in extensive bee-keeping operations is
made more plain than ever. Friend Brown
relates how himself and a friend sat up the
greater part of two nights and extracted
12£ cwt. of honey. Well, I shall not be sur-
prised if the next Somersham native that I
meet says, " Kichard Brown ! Oh, 'e's as
strong as a hoss ! " — Wm. Loved ay, Hatfield
Heath, Harlow, Essex.

DOOLITTLE'S METHOD OF QUEEN-
REARING.
[4725.] While thanking our Editors for
inserting my "Echo" in B.B.J, of the 6th
inst. (page 99)— and my mention of the fact
ihat I purposed trying Doolittle'o method of

queen-rearing — it would almost appear as if
your readers had never heard of Mr. Doolittle
before, seeing that I have received no less
than thirty- one letters from readers asking for
an explanation of the " method." To reply to
all these would be a task quite beyond me.
I thought the best way out of the difficulty
would be to ask you to insert the following
details of the Doolittle method in the B.B.J.
It would look better in print, and would be
for the benefit of those thirty-one enquirers
along with other readers.

Doolittle's system is artificial in a sense,
yet he endeavours to make this method, or
methods, conform to Nature's ways. The first
prominent importance in the rearing of queens
is to bring about the necessary conditions,
that will present themselves during the
swarming season, especially at a time when
the bees supply the cell-cups lavishly with
royal jelly ; thus, the first requisites are
strong, powerful colonies. Secondly, a light
honey-flow, or a condition nearly analogous ;
very stimulative feeding if no honey is coming
in (say, half a pint of syrup daily).

Mr. D. was, I believe, the first who con-
ceived the idea of making artificial cell-cups
in which to rear queens. He takes a piece
of wood, and rounds it off to the size and
shape of the bottom of the cells ; two or
more are likewise fashioned. Preparatory to
forming the cells he has a little pan of bees-
wax, kept liquid by a small lamp, also a cup
of water. Seating himself down, he is ready
for work. Taking one of his little sticks, he
dips it into the water, after which he plunges
it about i\ in. into the melted wax. He then
lifts it up, and twirls it at an angle (waxed
end lowest) in his fingers. When cool he
dips it again, but not quite so deep ; thus oa
until the cup is dipped seven or eight times,
but each time dipping it a less depth. The
main thing is to secure a cup having a thick,
heavy bottom, but which will have a thin,
delicate, knife-like edge at the top. After
the last dipping is quite cool, a slight pressure
of the thumb loosens the cell-cup slightly.
Thai; brings me to the point that Mr. D. has
his cell- cups fastened in rows on a stick,
this stick being fastened in a brood-frame,
and the cell-cups look, when completed, like
a rake's head.

The next operation is to insert a small par-
ticle of Royal jelly in each cell, say, about the
size of a " B " shot, but a lesser quantity will
be found to answer. Out of a queen-cell we
should get enough for twenty cups. This
Royal jelly should be taken from a queen-cell
ready to seal. The jelly should be well stirred
to bring it all to the same consistency, after
which dip it out of the cell by means of a
stick the shape of an ear-spoon or a toothpick
bent to that shape.

The next operation is to take a frame of
young larvse just hatched from the egg laid by
our most prolific breeding queen (even if the
larvse be one to two days old it will do). Each

114

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 20, 1902.

grub should be very carefully picked up and
gently laid in one of the cell-cups, and when
all are supplied they are to be put into a cell-
building colony.

Then, after the insertion amongst the brood-
combs of the tiers of cups, we are all ready for
the bees to begin where man left off.

Having quilted up, &c., we begin giving it
daily feeds at once, as this is the prime re-
quisite for the best results in cell-building,
either with a queen or without one. It will
be best not to give this colony more than, say,
eighteen cups at a time. Allow it to finish up
one batch, and then, if necessary, give it
another, and be sure and be careful to remove
each lot before they hatch, for a virgin queen
would very soon play havoc with the other
cells unhatched, and besides would get the
colony out of the notion of trying to supersede
the old queen.

Just how far supersedure bees will continue
to build out batches of cell cup3 one after
another I am not able to say, but if fed with
half a pint of syrup daily they appear to be
willing to keep up the work indefinitely, in the
hope that some day they will be able to rear a
virgin that will supplant the old queen that
appears to be failing. Hoping all bee friends
will understand this epistle. — W. H. Brown,
Clevedon, Shrewsbury, March 15.

BROOD-REARING BY BEES.

IS THK LARVA FED BY ABSORPTION ?

[4726 ] I sent Lord Avebury the letter
published in your monthly, the Record, for
March, in which Mr. H. W. Brice (on page 39)
gives the result of his experience of the wasps
he has had under hi3 observation. His lord-
ship's letter in reply to mine is annexed, and
as it raises an interesting question I send it in
order that the point may be discussed and
general profit result therefrom. — E. D. Till,
The Priory, Eynsford, Kent, March 17.

6, St. James'-square, S.W.
March 16, 1902.
Dear Sir, — I have read Mr. Brice's letter
with interest, but is it really clear that the
larvae of bees are fed by absorption ? The
question is one of much interest. I hope that
Mr. Brice will continue his observations. — I
am, yours truly, Avebury.

E. T. Till, Esq.

"ROYAL" SHOW AT CARDIFF.

[4727.] Referring to the editorial footnote to
my communication on page 102 of B.B.J, for
March 13, may I be allowed to say that when
accepting the apology from Mr. P. Meadows,
I stipulated that the same should be published
at the beginning of March. Therefore the
Editors are in no way to blame for the delay.
— R. H. Coltman, Burton-on-Tnnt, March 14.

{Correspondence continued on page 116.)

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

We have peculiar pleasure in presenting to
readers the " Home of the Honey Bee '' seen
on next page, and the owner thereof. Mr. W.
Loveday is so well known by his useful and
practical articles dealing with bee-craft in this
journal that he needs no introduction from us.
In every sense a "cottager bee-man" — as he
insists on being designated — Mr. Loveday is
typical of the best of his class, and our only
regret is that — owing to the physical weakness
resulting from the unfortunate breakdown in
his health mentioned by himself — he has been
prevented from doing so much for bee-keeping
as he would have done under happier circum-
stances. Starting in life from the humblest
beginning he has under great difficulties stuck
to his bee-keeping, and his writing on the sub-
ject is backed up by practical results such as
few can show. For the rest his " notes " speak
for themselves. He writes : —

"I have been brought into contact with
bees more or less from my earliest days, but
it was not till well on in my teens that I had
any desire to possess a hive of my own. My
first active bee-experience was when 1 had
nearly reached the mature age of four years.
I was then staying with a relative, and
noticing the busy insects issuing from the
little hole at the bottom of the skep, it
occurred to me that nothing else but a stick
to stir up the bee3 would do for the occasion,
and I stirred them up accordingly. As to
what the bees thought of my idea, the wonder
is that I am here to-day, so deeply did those
bees force their impressions into my mind
and body. This is the first thing that I can
remember ! and in my mind's eye I can see
those bees leaving the skep, that little stick
about a foot long, and the first two or three
whirls round in the skep that I gave it just
as clearly to-day as when it occurred. Born
just before the close of the days when school-
going was 'optional,' my father being an
agricultural labourer, and I the eldest of the
family (there have been fourteen of us), I
began going to work regularly at nine years
of age, sometimes threshing with a flail with
my father all through the winter. Had my
father's several attempts at bee-keeping been
more successful, what a number of little face3
around our family table would have smiled
when the honey-pot was added to the fare !
which at the best of times could never be
over-liberal. But those were days when the
belief in bad luck in connection with bees was
more common than now, and it required quite
an effort on the part of a cottager to buy sugar
wherewith to feed a colony of bees that might
be in need of food ; the cheapest sugar in
those days was 4d. a pound. When fourteen
I was engaged at indoor work at a gentleman's
school near London, and here had the good
fortune to have employers of the kind who
are so valuable to the young of both sexes —
who realise that the moulding of the character

March 20, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

115

of the future man is in the hands of those
under -whom he is placed when he first goes
out into the world. Indoor employment,
however, was objectionable to me from the
first, though I kept at it for a few years. I
then gladly accepted an opportunity to leave
the house for the garden. I thus first became
actively interested in bees, but it was some
time before I had a garden where I could keep
a few hives of my own. Having studied the
little handbook, ' Modern Bee-keeping,' I was
able, with the help of many useful hints
from the B.B.J. , to assist several bee-keepers
who I knew, with my own limited know-
ledge, were in need of assistance with their
bees. Unfortunately, about this time I got
very wet one day in early spring, took a chill,
and was a thorough cripple all the following

in the bottom corner of an open field, facing
north-east and east. Here hundreds of chilled
bees may be gathered up on a treacherous
spring day. Eight years ago I had the mis-
fortune to injure my spine, and through the
years of weakness and anxiety which followed
1 have derived the greatest possible comfort
from tending the bees. And truly the ' little
labourers ' teach us much in industry, cleanli-
ness, and in making the most of things as they
find them.

"In 1891 I was able by the kindness of
my employer, who afforded me every reason-
able opportunity to study apiculture, to pass
the B.B.K.A. examination for third-class ex-
perts. I have also since passed a special
examination on foul brood. I find that it is
generally supposed that I have quite a large

MR. W. LOYEDAY's APIARY, HATFIELD HEATH, HARLOW, ESSEX.

summer and autumn from rheumatism. A
medical man ha3 since given me his opinion
that my bee-keeping — or rather the numerous
and unavoidable stings I got now and again —
have played an important part in preventing a
return of the rheumatism. From these early
days I became convinced that bee-keeping
well carried out would yield both pleasure
and profit, but while otherwise employed
my bee-keeping was mostly of an experi-
mental kind in order to ascertain the truth or
otherwise of what I read. But even then it
was profitable in the generally understood
sense. But I can safely say I have never had
the pleasure of keeping bees under good and
comfortable conditions. At one time they
had to be located in a narrow strip of town
garden. Now, as seen in the photo, they are

apiary, but I keep only so many stocks as I
can thoroughly well manage, usually working
about eight for honey, and the same number
for queen-rearing and other purposes. I have
never from my first year of bee-keeping had
enough honey to fill orders, and though I sell
very little honey at home, I usually help other
bee-keepers to dispose of their produce. I
may add that a customer for my honey in my
first year is still one of my best patrons. I
am expert to the Bishop's Stortford and Dis-
trict B.K.A., and have been for some years an
hon. district secretary of the Essex B.K.A.
Realising my indebtedness to those who have
gone before, I am glad to be able to assist the
inexperienced bee-keepers of to-day by con-
tributing to the pages of what by the courtesy
of the Editors we call ' our journal.' ''

116

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 20, 1902.

CORRESPONDENCE.

{Continued from page 114.)

NOTES FKOM WEST ESSEX.

[4728.] The past winter has been a very
good one for bees in this locality, considering
the satisfactory condition of most hives I have
seen during the past few weeks. ,Where the
stocks were strong and containing a vigorous
young queen, breeding commenced early.
Without disturbing the combs it was easily
observed that brood was plentiful, and
sufficient stores still in reserve for the spring.
One case of death to a stock had occurred
where the number of bees was small, ap-
parently having frozen to the combs duriDg
the severe frost (20 deg.) due to starvation,
although quite 12 lb. of honey was obtainable,
some being uncapped, and bees buried head
downwards in the cells when they were over-
come by the intense cold.

It has given one a great amount-of pleasure
to be with the bees on mild, sunny days,
when they were merrily humming tunes
during musical drill and enjoying the vernal
warmth flitting to and fro to the crocusep,
snowdrops, monkshood, and hazel catkins,
where they vigorously worked for pollen. It
will be noticed that I have mentioned bees
collecting pollen from hazel catkins, which was
a subject for a good deal of discussion last
year. This week I was in an apiary where
the hazel was plentifully grown, and there I
saw, while talking to the bee-keeper, bees
gathering pollen from the catkins, which were
large and plentiful. I was very pleased to see
in the Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society
of Great Britain a paper which was read
before a meeting of pharmacists on bee-keep-
ing, recommending them to become practical
bee-keepers wherever opportunity afforded for
so pleasurable and profitable a study, which
is to be obtained by having a hive or two of
bees.

One has recently met people who said their
bees do not produce much honey and never
swarm. On inquiring when the stocks were
requeened it was found to be not for years,
which undoubtedly was the cause of the
trouble of which complaint had been made.
It would seem that this is often the cause of
bee-keepers saying that the modern frame-
hive does not seem to have a great advantage
over the old fashioned skep. Then again the
bees are very often neglected at the essential
time for feeding, supering, and taking of
honey. One case I have in my mind at the
present moment occurring last year where
sections and foundation were needed for
refilling the supers which was delayed long
enough to find the season for honey-gathering
in the past. If only proper attention were
given to these important matters there would
be a greater yield of honey and a much more
satisfactory balance-sheet at the end of the
bees' financial year.

My own average per hive last year was

50 lb., the largest quantity from one hive
80 lb., which I thought a very good one con-
sidering the chief source to be clover. — A. W.
Salmon, Cashfichl, Sewardstonc, Chingford.

LABOURERS' FREEHOLD DWELLINGS.

[4729] My friend Mr. Brice told me that
my contribution some time since on the sub-
ject of cheap bungalows ought to have been
published in the Builder instead of the
B.B.J, (vide page 8 of last year's vol.), and
that another letter I sent you should have
gone to the Matiimonial Gazette. I like
criticism, especially from M H. W. B.,'' and
therefore I am about to give him a further
opportunity. The Local Government Board
granted my petition in 1899, and conceded
the right to build wooden bungalows where
building by-laws exist in rural districts ; but
the Dartford R.D.C., being pig-headed, did
not adopt the concessions. I, in ignorance of
this, built a six-roomed bungalow for £100.
The Dartford Councillors contend it is against
the law, and have ordered me to demolish or
remove it (see copy of correspondence at foot
hereof). This is a most important question
for bee-keeping, because an urban style of
housing is becoming the fashioD, without
any gardens, is eatiDg the heart out of country
life. Cottage industries cannot exist without
cottage gardens. With bungalows costing
£100 on cheap half-acre plots, our rural
parishes would " blossom as the rose." Rural
Councillors oppose the scheme (see enclosed
letters). Nevertheless I believe it will prosper.

The Local Government Beard's new "Rural
(Advisory) Code of Building By-laws " is a
model of perfection (6d. Eyre & Spottis-
woode). All who are interested in rural
housing should get it. — E, D. Till, The
Priory, Eynsford, Kent, March 17.

The correspondence referred to is as fol-
lows : —

Dartford, Kent, February 27, 1902.
Dear Sir, — Will you be kind enough to
inform me whether you require the District
Council to serve you with a formal notice to
pull down the house you have built, in accord-
ance with their resolution of Tuesday last 1
This will not be necessary if you will under-
take to remove it. — Yours faithfully,

J. C. Hayward,
Clerk to the Council.
E. D. Till, Esq., Eynsford', Dartford.

The Priory, Eynsford, Kent, March 1, 1902.
J. C. Hayward, Esq.,

Rural District Council, Dartford.

Sir, — In reply to your last letter I have
this week appealed to the Local Government
Board, who have not only conceded the
original permission in response to my petition
in 1899, but they have quite recently issued a
new model set of by-laws for rural districts, in

March 20, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

117

which the whole of the urban clauses your
Council retain in their building regulations
(and on which you base your objections) are
entirely swept away. You cannot, therefore,
be surprised if I refuse to destroy a structure
that meets with the approval of the L°cal
Government Board, and at the same time the
dire need of our district. — Yours truly,

E. D. Till.

NOVELTIES FOR 1902.

THE DAWSON COMBINED FEEDING-STAGE AND
WINTER- PASSAGE.

I herein forward an illustration of a little
bee-appliance, devised by myself to form a
combined winter-passage and feeding-stage
over the frames. Fig. 1 shows the contrivance

,fH

i^^

by itself, and in fig. 2 it is seen in position
above the top-bars of a ten-frame hive.

It is made from strips of wood § in. wide
by | in. thick, properly joined at the corners
and braced together by thin pieces of metal,
as shown at B fig. 1, and by screws at the
extreme ends. The small slides at A A in

Fit>.

the same figure are movable, and serve to
restrict the passage-way to just so many
seams of bees as it may be deemed necessary
to give access to the food.

When using, the appliance is placed directly
on the top-bars of the frames, the latter being
covered by a quilt, with the feed-hole imme-
diately over the square portion marked 4 in.
by 4 in. This square part is the feeding-stage,
and is so made that an ordinary section filled
with candy will just rest on the top of it. It
also serves to support an ordinary stimulating
feeder. The space between A and A, fig. 1,
when covered by the quilt forms the winter
passage.

I have tried this appliance in my own
apiary since last autumn, and found it very
convenient ; it enables me to give either syrup
or candy with great ease and the least possible
disturbance to the bees, while affording not
only a good winter passage to their own stores,
but also to any food given them from time to
time. The glass-cover to candy allows free
inspection of food.

Having found the contrivance useful to
myself, I think it may possibly be so to others.
— W. Alfred Dawson, Loversall, Cobkam,
Surrey March 11.

(Bthsm from lite liws.

Aultmore, Keith, Banffshire, March 7. —
Bees flew freely here on January 20 for the first
time since November. Then again on Feb-
ruary 23 and on most days in current week.
On the 5th inst. our first spring local flower,
Tisilargo (specimen enclosed) bloomed. I
take this to be Coltsfoot. It was the first
flower in 1901 that my bee3 "worked "for
pollen. Snowdrops just in bloom. Crocuses
about 1 in. out of ground. Odd blooms of
primroses and polyanthuses in "cosy"
corners only — a bleak, cold, windy, exposed
situation this ! A marvel how bee3 can live
here.— A. Brayshaw.

Yeovil, Somerset, March 3. — I have two
hives which did very well last year. They
are headed with queens two and three years
old respectively. To-day has been a lovely
day, and with the two hives in question I have
six stocks in all. I saw a number of drones.
The bees were carrying in plenty of pollen, so
hives are not queenless. Drones were killed
off last year. Other hives not so busy, but
pollen was being carried in all of them. I
have not examined interior of hives yet. Is
not this exceptionably early for drones 1 —
G. W. Perry. [Yes, if the stock is in normal
condition. — Eds.J

Gadderden Row, Hemcl Hempstead,
March 14. — I am very pleased with tne ten
days' spell of beautiful weather we have just
passed through. It has been a glorious time
for the bees ; they have been flying freely
during the whole time, gathering pollen from
the hazel and willow, and visiting the early
flowers of the nettle, chickweed, and wall-
flower. While walking in the fields to-day I

118

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 20, 1902.

saw the first wild violets and primroses ; in
sheltered woods and dells I also noticed daf-
fodils ready to open in full bloom ; so that
even now should the cold weather set in the
bees will be all the better for this flight and
the nitrogenous food they have been able to
gather. During one bright sunny afternoon
last week I examined my hives, and was very
pleased to find them in strong and healthy
condition with the exception of one hive, in
which there was plenty of bees and food, but
no brood as yet. The other stocks had patches
of brood on from three to five frames. My
hives each take ten frames, but the bees
were wintered on eight only. The
supers were all removed early in Sep-
tember, thus allowing the bees time to fill
up the brood-chambers, as there was a lot of
seed sainfoin standing in the fields adjoining.
It has been a mild winter in this district,
though we have had several sharp snap3 of
frost, though not of long duration. I may say
there has been an exceptional demand for
honey this season. In fact, I have had to
refuse many orders both for sections and
extracted honey, as was the case last year. It
seems a great shame that there are not more
bees kept in this part of the country, seeing
how good the forage is. Within two miles of
my apiary there are over 100 acres of sainfoin,
besides fields of beans, cherry orchards, both
lime and chestnut trees, and white clover.
Again, almost every field is yellow with the
blossoms of " charlock " whenever we have a
"turnip year." But unfortunately there is
no association for Herts, which is a great help
to bee-keepers generally. Some of my best
hives gave me 120 sections, besides extracted
honey, notwithstanding the fact that I am
unable to give my bees such proper attention
as I should like, or I might have more. —
Arthur E. Ford.

Lower Broughton, Manchester, March 17. —
I venture to send ;m "Echo" from Derby-
shire, where my hives are located at Cress-
brook, near Buxton. I started with one stock
in 1895, and have increased it to ten. I
make my hives myself, they are all of the
" W.B.C" pattern. Two years ago my work
took me away from home, so that my apiary is
now an " out-apiary.'' I pay a visit to the bees
once a week during the honey-season. Last
season was my best, the average yield being a
half cwt. per hive. The honey was of good
quality, beiDg a blend of clover and heather,
although the latter forage is two miles away.
The bees have required no feeding-up for the
last three winters, havirjg plenty of natural
stores. The winter of 1901-2 has been
notable for three heavy falls of snow,
after each of which my hives were completely
buried, but — save an occasional peep under
the quilts — they have not been disturbed
since October until March 2, when I over-
hauled them, cleaning all floorboards and
reducing the number of frames to as many
as the bees could just cover. All queens were

aying, and several stocks had sealed brood
on four frames. In one hive I noticed an egg
in a cell that was nearly full of pollen. In
another, although there was plenty of cell-
room, the queen had laid six or seven eggs
in each cell for a space of about 5 in. square.
I think bee-keeping a pleasant and paying
hobby. I am looking forward to a good
season, and wish all brother bee-keepers the
same. — W. H. Bennett.

(Stu^s and Uppity.

T2809.] Dealing with Early Swarms.^I
would like your advice on the following v—
There are a good number of fruit trees, &c, in
this neighbourhood, so I will probably begin
supering early. In case of a swarm issuing
when supers are on the hive, I intend to hive
swarm on four to six frames, and give them
super from parent hive to finish. 1. After
super is finished, can I keep bees to same
number of frames and continue supering until
end of honey season ? 2. If so, what about
winter stores ? Would the frames they are on
hold sufficient for the winter, or should I add
frames of foundation until body-box is full ?
And when should the frames be added ;
immediately supering is over, or when I
commence rapid feeding 1 — G. Geldard,
Walton, Liverpool.

Keply. — 1. You can, of course, do this, but
it is not advisable. By all means get the
brood-nest furnished with at least eight frames
of comb while the comb-building impulse con-
tinues. This is the best course for many
reasons. 2. " Winter stores " is one of the
reasons we have in mind, but by no means
the most important. Therefore give a frame
of foundation in centre of brood-combs ten
days after hiving, and a second after removing
the full super. Then, if honey still comes in,
add two more to make up ten for winter.

[2810.] Loss of Queen During Winter.
— 1. I enclose piece of comb, and would like
your opinion about it. It was taken on
Thursday, the 6th inst., from a hive that has
all the appearance of being queenless, and the
little brood there is (same as sample sent), has
all the appearance of being the offspring of a
fertile worker. 2. Is this so, or is there any
foul-brood in comb sent ? The hive is fairly
strong in bees, and there are no signs of
hatched-out drones, so the queen must have
disappeared in late autumn or winter. — H. M.,
Harrow, March 8.

Keply. — 1. The drone-brood in worker-cells
clearly indicates loss of queen and one or other
of the results named — i.e., either an unmated
queen or a fertile worker. 2. There is foul-
brood in comb sent.

[2811.] Planting Shrub Fence for Bee-forage.
— I destroyed a stock of bees last year that

March 20, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

119

was affected with foul brood ; my other six
hives seem healthy, but as it is possible they
may become diseased, I ask : — 1. Can I do any-
thing to stop infection, and when ? 2. One
side of my garden has a stone fence 3 ft. high,
and I would like to plant a shrub fence to
reach, say, 6 ft. high. Can I help the bees by
planting shrubs that would yield honey or
pollen in early spring ? 3. Does what we call
the red and white " flowering currant " yield
honey or pollen, or do you know of a better %
Does honeysuckle yield honey or pollen % The
fence is about 50 yards long. 4. Will the
insurance scheme be in working order before
a lot of us are in for damages % — Tarff
Water, Kirkcowan, Wigtownshire, March 8.

Keply. — 1. Use naphthaline in each hive as
a preventive and medicate all food given in
autumn. 2. If space is no object, a fence of
the willow commonly known as the palm
willow (Salix caprea) will afford an abundant
supply of pollen in early spring, 3. No. The
flowering-currant is useless for bee-forage. 4.
You will be duly informed in this journal
when the insurance scheme is in working
order.

[2812.] Transferring Bees from Box to Frame
Hive. — I propose to begin bee-keeping, and a
neighbour, who keeps them in a primitive
fashion in boxes, has given me a box full of
bees. What shall I do with it? Shall I
transfer direct to a frame-hive, or put the box
(14 in. square) on the top of a hive in the
expectation that the bees will work down and
store their honey in it 1 In this case, I sup-
pose there would probably be no swarm ? I
suppose there is no B.K.A. branch in this
remote county. — E. Withington, Baldwin's
Moor, Manorbier, Pembrokeshire.

Keply. — Put the box and bees on the top-
bars of a frame-hive— properly prepared and
fitted with full sheets of foundation — and
allow the bees to transfer themselves to it.
Cutting out old combs and tying them into
new frames is a practice now nearly obsolete,
and the sooner it is completely so the better.
Full directions for transferring as recom-
mended appear in the " Guide Book." We
are not aware of any B.K.A. in Pembroke-
shire.

TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED.

W. R. Garner, Dyke, Bourne. — Mr.
Garner's list for 1902, though not so volumi-
nous as some, is concise and well arranged.
He illustrates seven hives in all, at prices
varjing from 253. to 103. 6d. Among his
specialities we notice the registered tin
dividers for use with no-bee-way sections, and
a new material for covering hive roofs, &c. It
is called " Ruberoid " felting, of which—
judging from sample sent — we think bee-
keepers will do well to take note, so good does
it seem to us.

R. H. Coltmax, 49, Station- street, Burton-
on-Trent. — The first thing that strikes us on
opening Mr. Coltman's new catalogue is the
entire revision it has undergone for 1902 ; size,
illustrations, and general arrangement are en-
tirely different from former lists. It is well
printed and illustrated, and contains all need-
ful requirements for the apiary, including
" Hints " on bee-management, which, as the
writer is a " certified expert of the B.B.K. A.,"
may be relied on.

Wir. Boxwell, Pairickswell, Limerick. —
Mr. Boxwell's catalogue is really the list of
" Bee-keepers1 Supplies'' issued by the A. I,
Root Company, of Medina, Ohio, U.S.A., for
which company he is the " Wholesale Repre^
sentative for Great Britain and Ireland." We
need hardly say it is a very comprehensive list
of bee-goods of all kinds — such as are used in
America — and in this sense it has a special
interest of its own, being different from all
other catalogues of appliance manufacturers
located in this country.

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 J 'or 'warded will Is attended to, and thou only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.

H. S. S. (Birmingham). — Treatment of Bee-
stings.— We are not cognisant of any special
paper dealing with the treatment of bee-
stings. Remedies and antidotes of various
kinds have been advised and recommended
from time to time, but no special one seems
to meet with general acceptance, in view of
the fact that what may afford relief in one
case is utterly useless in another. As a
general rule, those who take to bees and
bee-keeping use no remedy whatever, they
simply remove the sting by scraping it from
the wound with the finger-nail, take no
further notice, and in five minutes, probably,
forget they have been stung at all.

Everton Watts (Yeovil). — Starting Bee-
keepers' Association. — There is no B.K.A.
for the county of Dorset. But as Yeovil is
in Somerset, why not write Mr. Jas. Brown,
Bridge-street, Bristol ? That gentleman is
hon. secretary of the Bristol, Glos., and Som.
B.K.A.

George Dow (St. Mary Cray). — Drones in
March. — It is most unusual to have drones
in a "very strong" stock in March. We
should take first chance to overhaul the
combs, as it is rather probable something is
wrong.

120

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 20, 1902.

Badly-made Hives and Appliances. — A cor-
respondent writes as follows : — " I have
been very unfortunate in the purchase of
bee appliances, and shall be glad if you can
help me in this matter. I have only kept
bees a year and a half, and up to now have
made my own hives, but not being able to
do so any longer, I ordered a ' W.B.C.'

hive from ■ . It was badly made, and I

wrote to say so, and it was changed for
another, which is not much better. The
roof does not look water-tight, while the
entrance is only \ in. high, and the body-
box is very rough indeed. The ' W.B.C
section-racks also are badly made, there
being no wedges at side of sections, and not
sufficient space round ends of the hanging
frames for bee-passage. Then the tin sepa-
rators or dividers are badly nailed on, so
that they bulge out, and the dummy has no
border-piece, but is flat, thus allowing no
bee-space next the sections. I shall be glad
if you can tell me where I can get reliable
hives, as I cannot afford to throw away
money on such as I have described. Thank-
ing you for your help in other matters
which you have given me through your
valuable paper."

[We omit name of manufacturer, of
caurse, though it appears in the "copy,''
but it is very regrettable that appliance
makers will send out hives to which the
above description can possibly apply. It is
unjust to all concerned, including " W.B.C."
himself, to have appliances designed to
meet certain requirements, yet utterly fail
to do so, owing to bad workmanship.
Though quite against our rule of not naming
specific dealers to the exclusion of others,
we have in the above case sent privately the
name of a reliable firm who can supply the
right article.]

J. E. H. (Aldridge). — Open-air Feeding in
Spring. — 1. On no account do we advise
open-air feeding for bees in spring. In the
hands of beginners this method of feeding
tends very much to induce "robbing," a
thing to be very carefully guarded against
when bees begin foraging in spring. 2. It
will be quite safe to place the combs con-
taining unsealed honey in the brood-nest
for present use.

T. Marshall (Nottingham). — Bees Leaving
Hives in Wintry Weather. — It is advisable
to prevent the direcb rays of the sun shining
in at hive-entrances when snow is on the
ground. A shade-board placed sufficiently
far way as not to impede the bees' flight,
is the best remedy for preventing them
coming out to perish on the snow. Turning
the hives right round would only increase
the mischief.

*** Replies to several Queries arc unavoidably
held over till next week.

Q'

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve word* and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three wordt or under. One Penny.

T7INEST HONEY, in 28-lb. tins, 50s. cwt. F. Wool-
17 DRIDGE, Chippenham, Wilts. L 20

STOCKS of BEES FOR SALE, 2s. per frame. F. Wool-
DRIDGE, Apiarist, Chippenham, Wilts. L 25

GUARANTEED pure HONEY, 1-Ib. jars, 7s. 6d. doz.
George Thompson, Helpringham, Heckington.
L 23

FIRST-CLASS SECTIONS, glazed and wrapped,
packed in cases of 4 or 5 dozen. What offers 2
Bartlett, Witney. l 22

WANTED, EXTRACTED HONEY (English) in bulk.
Sample and lowest price to Shorthouse, Pershore-
road, Birmingham. L 34
lUEENS, 5s7f NUCLEI, 7s. 6d. Introductions for
weak, Queenless Stock3. DAWKINS, Sutton Cold-
field. l 32

WiiAT OFFERS, 50 lb. Sections Heather Honey?
William Pitt, Embleton, Christon Bank, R.S.O.,
Northumberland. l 30

F"OR-SALXlmre~ENG~LISH HONEY, 6d. lb., in 10-lE
and 2S-lb. tins. G. Reynolds, Eaton Ford, St.
Neots. L 35

CHAMPION BREED COLLIES, or Lady's GOLD
WATCH, EXCHANGE for Bees, Honey, or Appli-
ances. Ross, Barkerland, House, Dumfries. L 24
W" ANTED immediate OFFERS for 2 cwt. excellent
CLOVER HONEY. Cash or deposit ; sample free.
W. Bennett, 11, Grecian-street, Lower Broughton,
Manchester. h 31

QUEENS FOR SALE.— 1 shall have for sale at the
end of March, some GOOD LAYING QUEENS at
~ 3s. each. Wji. Loveday, Hatfield Heath, Harlow,
Essex. L 33

EXCHANGE pure ANCONA COCKEREL (Chance's),
value 10s., for Standard Frames and Foundation,
or Gearing for Guinea Extractor. P., Kettlewells, St.
Albans. L 23

SECTIONS, 5s. dozen. Light colour, SOFT CANDY
in glazed-top Boxes, 6d. lb., 6 lb. 2s. 9d., 12 lb. 5s.
in G.E.R. crates, eight 2-lb. or four 4-lb. cakes, 4d. lb.

Ling, Shady Camp, Linton, Cambs. K 30

TROx\G STOCKS IN STRAW SKEPS, 1901 Queen,
12s. 6d. each ; ditto in 8 and 10 Standard Hives,
1901 Queens, 27s. and 30s., with super; guaranteed.
Woods, Normandy, Guildford. l 2S

FOR SALE, 8 STOCKS of HEALTHY BEES ; 4 in
skeps and 4 in boxes, well provisioned with food.
Must be cleared by 25th inst. Price 10s. each ; safely
packed. Further particulars, R. Brown, Somersham,
Hunts. L 27

BREACHYYOOD GREEN APIARY, Welwyn, Herts.
Established 1866. Queens; Fertile, English, and
Italian, raised as advised by the most prominont bee-
keepers. Price from 5s. to 123. 6d. Order Swarms now
for May, .Tune, and July. Bottled Honey in £ lb. 1 lb.
2 lb. and 3 lb. Comb Honey in 1-lb Sections. Split Cane
for Straw Skep making. Prices on application, W. \\.
Pryor.

1~^TVE good STRONG STOCKS of BEES FOR SALE,
. Standard frame hives. Must be sold ; offers.

Stabler, Sunnydale, Shildou. L 20

T17ENSLICYDALE PRIZE HEATHER and CLOVER
VV HONEY in bulk ; offers. Horn, Bedale, Yorkshire.
L 17

PURE ENGLISH HONE V, 7s. per J cwt. Tins free.
Sample, 2d. Cash or deposit. Richd. Dutton,
Terling, Essex. K 56

PLANTS and TESTED SEEDS of Honey- Yielding
FLOWERS from private gardens. Splendid collec-
tion. List free. Russell Oakley, Christchurch. k 87
UPERIOR BEES.— Good STOCKS for soring delivery.
Also SWARMS in their season. JOHN WALTON,

Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington. K 80

ANTED, SECTIONS, best quality, perfectly clear
and saleable. W. Chilton, Polegate, Sussex.

K 69

W

HOW to Secure LARGE YIELDS and the Greatest
Profit from BEES. Post free of S. Simmins,
Heathfleld, Sussex. J 9

BUFF ORPINGTON EGGS, from good birds on grass
run, 5s. for twelve ; carriage paid. W. J. Sheppard,
King's Head Hill, Chingford, Essex.

March 27, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

121

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The monthly meeting of the Council was
held at 105, Jermyn-street, S.W., on Thursday,
March 20, Mr. T. I. Weston being voted to
the chair. There were also present Miss
Gay ton, Major Fair, Rev. W. E. Burkitt,
Colonel H. J. 0. Walker, Messrs. R. T.
Andrews, D. W. Bishop - Ackerman, W.
Broughton Carr, W. H. Harris, J. H. New,
W. J. Sheppard, and the secretary. Letters
3f apology for non-attendance were read, from
Mr. F. B. White (Vice-Chairman), Hon. and
i Rev. Henry Bligh, Dr. Elliot, Messrs. H.
I Jonas, W. F. Reid, P. Scattergood, E. Walker,
land C. N. White.

I The minutes of the previous meeting were
read and confirmed.

The following new members were elected,
J?iz: — Mr. J. J. Forster, Glen Apiary, Laxey,
lisle of Man ; Mr. 0. Pack, Darenth Lodge,
Uhingford.

The report of the Finance Committee gave
: particulars of receipts and expenditure to date,
j A number of payments were authorised, and
the report approved.

The Insurance Committee reported that they
| had met on several occasions since the last
(meeting of the Council. The mass of corre-
spondence and other details to be dealt with
had occupied considerable time, and a further
!j meeting was contemplated, after which they
H proposed to lay their proposals before the
;i Council for approval or otherwise.

A request for a grant of medals and for the
^ services of a judge and examiner on the occa-
jsion of the Royal Counties Show at Reading
!»in June next was received and agreed to.
Q ' Correspondence between the secretary and
i the principal of the Horticultural College was
fcread to the meeting, and dealt with by the
Council.

The next meeting of the Council was fixed
for April 17.

ANNUAL MEETING.

At the annual general meeting of members
n which followed Mr. T. I. Weston was again
U voted to the chair, and in addition to those
ii named above there were also present among
I others Mr. T. Bevan, Mr. G. H. Morrell, M.P.,
I and Mr. H. G. Morris.

A letter was received from Mr. Cowan con-
i veying his kind regards to all present, and his

good wishes for a successful year to bee-
f keepers. Letters were also read from Mr.

F. B. White (Vice-Chairman) and Mr. J. H.

New, declining nomination as members of the
i new Council. The resignations were received
I with many expressions of regret, and thanks

for the past services rendered by both the
1 gentlemen named.

In moving the adoption of the report and
[•'. balance-sheet for 1901, the Chairman referred

to the valuable work, especially that of an

educational nature, carried on by the Society,
which he thought deserving of greater support.
He urged upon every member the duty of
making an effort to secure additional sub-
scribers. The motion was seconded by Mr.
Andrews, and carried unanimously.

A vote of thanks to the retiring Council
and officers was passed on the proposition of
Mr. AckermaD, seconded by Mr. Bevan.

Colonel Walker moved that the thanks of
the Society be accorded to the Council of the
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals for the gratuitous use of their
boardroom for committee and other meetings.
This was seconded by Mr. Carr, supported by
Mr. Weston, and carried unanimously.

The President, Vice-Presidents, hon. mem-
bers, corresponding members, treasurer, auditor,
and analyst were re-elected in accordance with
the rules, upon the motion of Mr. Weston,
seconded by Colonel Walker.

The following were duly elected as members
of the Council for the year 1902-3 :— Mr. T. W.
Cowan, Mr. R. T. Andrews, Hon. and Rev.
Henry Bligh, Mr. R. C. Blundell, Mr. W.
Broughton Carr, Dr. T. S. Elliot, Major Fair,
Miss M. L. Gayton. Mr. G. H. Morrell, M P.,
Mr. H. G. Morris, Mr. W. H. Harris, Mr. H.
Jonas, Mr. 0. Puck, Mr. W. F. Reid, Mr. P.
Scattergood, Mr. W. J. Sheppard, Mr. E. D.
Till, Lieut-Colonel H. J. 0. Walker, Mr. E.
Walker, Mr. T. I. Weston, and Mr. C. N.
White.

Mr. G. H. Morrell, M.P., thought it was
desirable, if possible, to formulate a standard
for honey, in view of the fact that the industry
now suffered materially in consequence of the
great quantity of deleterious stuff now sold as
honey. An improved market was wanted. It
was not enough to produce honey, but a means
should be devised to secure an increased con-
sumption. In Oxfordshire it was hardly
possible to obtain more than about 9d. per
section for comb-honey. He would also like
to see in future reports of the Society
recognition of the work being done by County
Councils.

In the opinion of Colonel Walker, the sale
of members' honey could hardly be undertaken
by associations. He agreed with Mr. Morrell
that the County Councils, or some of them,
were accomplishing much in promoting api-
culture, and he thought the future of bee-
keeping very largely depended upon the
support accorded by these public bodies.

Mr. Carr foresaw great difficulties in any
attempt to secure that only pure honey, or
honey of one standard, should be offered for
sale. The analysis of honey was a very diffi-
cult and expensive matter. He welcomed
Mr. Morrell as a member of the new Council,
and thought they would all be glad to have
his advice and help on matters affecting the
welfare of the industry in which so many were
now interested.

CONVERSAZIONE.

The members and friends reassembled at

122

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 27, 1902.

5.30 for the usual conversazione, and after
partaking of light refreshments Colonel
H. J. 0. Walker was voted to the chair, and
opened the proceedings by calling on Mr. H.
Edwards, of Sunningdale, to show his "swarm
catcher and self-hiver."

Mr. Edwards then rose, and, in intro-
ducing to the notice of the company his new
swarm-catcher and self-hiver, explained that
the particular appliance on the table did not
actually represent the " catcher " as it would
be sent out this season. Instead of providing
three parallel strips which, attached to the
floorboard, raised the hive proper, so as to
accommodate the "catcher," to put which in
place it was necessary to lift away the body-
box, he, acting upon suggestions offered at the
Dairy Show, was now providing two wedges
(exhibited) — one for either side of the hive —
the use of which demanded that only the front
of the hive need be raised in order to enable
the hive to receive the " catcher," which slid
in, and was kept in position by rebates cut in
the wedges. In order, then, to bring the hive
level, blocks, corresponding in thickness to the
thickest end of the wedges, had to be inserted
under the back legs. Whilst this was perhaps
an advantage from the user's point of view,
it imposed a little more difficulty upon the
manufacturer, seeing that it was necessary
for the "hiver" box to stand quite level.
Another alteration he had made was that,
instead of equipping the "hiver" box with
four shallow depth frames, the utility of which
was, perhaps, doubtful, he was now merely
providing plain bars, with a groove in which
a starter of foundation could be fixed. Pro-
ceeding to describe the action of the appliance,
he drew the attention of the company to the
sharp angular projection at the front, which
served a double purpose. It deflected or
guided the incoming bees into the side tunnels,
^through which entrance was obtained into the
hive, and which, as would be noticed, were
entirely open at both ends, the nether end3
reaching about halfway into the hive. Com-
menting upon the utility of this " free and
open '' feature, he said the company would
readily appreciate how difficult it was for a
laden bee to squeeze through the openings cut
in excluder zinc, whilst with the free entrance
now provided, the obstruction to incoming
bees was practically nil, seeing that, though
the nether ends of the tunnels were compara-
tively small in size, it should be remembered
that the streams of bees were in one direction
only ; consequently, no congestion of traffic
could occur. The second purpose served by
the triangular projection was that it served to
guide queen and drones to its apex, above
which a cone-protected hole communicated
with the " hiver '' chamber above. The front
slide was for the purpose of releasing the
captured drones if desired, also for allowing a
young queen to leave the hive for mating
purposes ; and in connection therewith he
mentioned a peculiar feature he had noticed

as indicating the likelihood of the issue of a
swarm. Whilst when swarming was not
anticipated, the drones caught in the " hiver "
chamber were allowed to perish, he had
noticed that when their services were about to
be required for the fertilisation of young
queens, either in the case of swarming or of
supersedure, the worker bees would feed and
care for the drones in their prison house. This
feature, then, was an indication, generally, that
a swarm might be expected. The use of the
sheet of glass covering the frames in the
" hiver '' box was for the purpose of ascertain-
ing whether the queen hid actually been
trapped when a swarm issued. If the roof of
the appliance was removed as a swarm was
issuing, the queen, being attracted by the
stronger light, would soon be seen running over
the frame tops in her eager search for an outlet ;
but as soon as her presence was manifest,
the roof should be replaced, which would
have the effect of sending her to seek an
avenue of escape at the excluder-protected
slide, where, being so close to the actual
entrance to the hive, the bees of the return-
ing swarm could scarcely fail to find her.
A failure in this or any other respect had yet
to be recorded. Replying to questions, Mr.
Edwards said it might be desirable for out-
apiaries, where a swarm might be left to itself
for a week or more, to equip the hiver box
with four or more standard frames, but that
was a mere detail of manufacture. His aim
had been merely to ensure that the swarm
should not be lost, and to this end the ap-
pliance had been kept of a size that was neither
bulky nor ugly. It was possible to make the
" hiver '' of any size or capacity required.

The great advantage of the wedges over the
fixed bars was that in the former case the
catcher could be fitted on without lifting
the body-box.

Messrs. Carr and Weston approved the
contrivance, the latter expressing an opinion
in favour of fixed bars instead of wedges,
notwithstanding the benefit pointed out by
the constructor.

A general conversation ensued, during which
Mr. Edwards said he did not intend to exploit
the appliance himself, but to have a few made,
and then let bee-keepers enjoy whatever ad-
vantage there was in it.

The Chairman and Mr. Eeid, in compli-
menting Mr. Edwards, remarked that the
invention was a near approach to a perfect
swarm-catcher.

Mr. Dawson — on being called upon by the
chairman — showed his new " feeding-stage
and winter- passage." He apologised, as a
comparative novice in bee-keeping, for
addressing " past masters " in the art ; but
sometimes even a good suggestion emanated
from a beginner, and he wished to show his
idea of what a feeding-stage should be. He
thought that during the winter time, and, in
fact, at all times, bees should be disturbed as
little as possible for feeding or other purposes,

March 27, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

123

i I and he believes that his plan would secure
[4 that. At any rate Mr. Carr and Mr. Lee,
|! who had both seen the invention, thought it
fej was not quite a foolish thing. The speaker
p then exhibited his combined feeding-stage and
b and winter-passage, and explained the details
: i thereof, a description of which, accompanied
by illustrations, appeared in the B.B.J, of
I March 20, page 117.

Messrs. Reid, Weston, and others discussed
J the merits of the " Feeder," and ageed with
y the Chairman in acknowledging its simplicity

I and usefulness, while thanking Mr. Dawson
H for showing the appliance to the meeting.

Mr. Knight, who was next called upon by
■ the Chairman, said that through the courtesy
v of Mr. Carr he had the privilege of being pre-
tij sent at the meeting, for he was not a member

I I of the Association. He was, however, a be-
tij ginner in bee-keeping, and had designed a
(i simple thing in the shape of a cover for hive-
il roofs, samples of which he produced for in-
|f spection. It was made of a kind of card-
fc board, and only required to be tarred or
I painted, when it would resist the roughest
\i weather and afford a perfect protection from
ti rain or wet. The covering could be lightly
|a tacked to the roof, or by passing a cord over
h the top of it, with a weight at each end, both
ij cover and roof would be made quite secure.
'i The latter course would, no doubt, be prefer-
ji able, because, while equally secure, it was
I more easy of removal.

Mr. Knight also showed samples of boxes,
{j along with one for sending 1-lb. jars of ex-
I tracted honey by rail, made from corrugated
cardboard, holding respectively one, two, four,
or six sections. He, in addition, described a
tl folding box (for sending out in the flat) made
; in cardboard with a sma'l unbreakable window
[ of transparent celluloid to show the comb.

These several articles being designed for
'i the use and advantage of bee-keepers were —
i through the courtesy of the Editors of the
a Bee Journal — to be included in the
I " Novelties for 1902."

The compartments in the several boxes
I shown were removable, so that the boxes
i could be sent in the flat. Mr. Carr specially
approved of those folding boxes with the
-I transparent celluloid or mica windows ; he
I understood they could be sold very cheap, and
I would fill a known want.

The Chairman also expressed his thanks to
the inventor for showing the exhibits.

(Remainder of Report in our next issue.)

BERKS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting was held in the

reading-room of the Abbey Hall, Reading,

: on February 24, F. B. Parfitt, Esq., J.P., in

the chair. A good number of members were

present.

The annual report, read by Mr. D. W.

Bishop-Ackerman (hon. secretary), showed
that the year 1901 had been a very successful
one for the Association. The membership had
increased, additional expert work had been
done, and the bee-van had been engaged for
a longer period than in 1900. By the latter
means, along with more ecomical management,
the finances of the Association were now in a
better condition than had been the case for
many years past. The statement of receipts
and expenditure showed that the deficit of
£25 at the commencement of the year had
been converted into a balance in hand of
nearly £7.

The chairman proposed the adoption of the
report, and congratulated the members on the
healthy condition of the finance*. He locked
forward with much interest to the future work
of the Association.

The report and balance-sheet having been
adopted, the president, H.R.H. Princess
Christian, and the vice-presidents were re-
elected and the council elected for the
ensuing year.

A discussion took place on the proposed
insurance scheme for bee-keepers now being
formulated by the British Bee-keepers'
Association, in which many members took
part, the general impression being that the
scheme at present was in a crude state, and
did not sufficiently differentiate between large
and small apiaries.

The hon. secretary sketched out the work of
the coming season, including the " Royal
Counties" Show at Reading, on June 10, 11,
12, and 13 next ; the proposed bee van and
expert tours for the Berks T.E.C.A. County
Council and the general expert work among
the members of the Association. A cordial
vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the
meeting.

Mr. H. Edwards, Sunningdale, Berks,
afterwards exhibited and explained his queen-
raising apparatus and " swarm-catcher," in
which the members present were much
interested. — (Communicated.)

ESSEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

EXTENSION TO SUFFOLK.

A general meeting of the members of the
Essex B.K.A. was held at the Devonshire
Hotel, Bishopsgate-street- without, London,
on Friday, March 21, under the chairmanship
of Mr. T. I. Weston, to discuss the question
of extending the Association so as to include
the county of Suffolk. Owing to the fact that
it has long been a subject of remark that the
county of Suffolk, possessing as it does a flora
and climate favourable to the production of
some of the best honey in the kingdom, and
that it has not for some years past possessed
any association to encourage and direct its
bee-keepers, the meeting was called to en-
deavour to arrive at the best means of
effecting this object.

124

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 27, 1902.

After discussion, it was proposed and
carried that the title of the Essex B.K.A. be
altered, and that it be known in future as the
Essex and Suffolk B.K.A., and that any bee-
keeper residing in the county of Suffolk
should be eligible to join and participate in
the advantages of membership, under the
existing rules and regulations of the Associa-
tion, for an annual minimum subscription of
5s., and cottagers 2s. 6d.

It now only remains for the bee-keepers in
the county to come forward and send in their
names as soon as possible to Mr. W. J.
Sheppard, hon. secretary, Essex and Suffolk
B.K.A. , Chingford, Essex, so that arrange-
ments may be made for the expert to com-
mence a round of spring visits to the apiaries
of the members as early as possible, it being
understood that such visits can only take place
when a sufficient number of subscriptions are
received to pay the expenses in each locality.
— W. J. Sheppard, Hon. Sec. Essex B.K.A.,
Chingford, March 22.

<8)0mty0VLkMt

The Editors 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-
tion* 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 welt
as the page on which it appears.

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[4730.] With the last week of March we
pass the vernal equinox, and, according to the
almanack, have entered into spring. But how-
ever comforting to our thoughts, unfortunately
the weather is anything but spring-like ; frosty
nights with cold and showery days have pre-
vailed during the past week or ten days, and
for a fortnight previous the weather was —
though dry — dull and foggy as November, so
far a very poor month for the bees. The
crocuses have passed away almost unvisited
by bees. The arabis and palm- willow is, how-
ever, bursting into bloom, and yesterday
(Palm Sunday) I noticed village lads with
buttonholes of palm in full bloom. It
is gratifying to read in " Echoes '' that
the weather has been ideal for bees
in some parts, and those who live in fruit
districts should be prepared for the opening
harvest which will soon be with us. Here, in
our comparatively late district, we have no
prospect of any surplus before June, so that
although in the south of England we have no
incentive to hurry our bees into abnormal
activity by stimulative feeding. Those located
in earlier districts should endeavour to get

their bees in the pink of condition ready for
the first honey-flow. No one can write to
meet all the various requirements of individual
bee-keepers ; the best we can do is to give
general instructions and hints of where and
what to do, and how to do it the application
must be left to the individual.

Foul Brood. — The fact that bees, if fairly
strong in the spring, with a good fertile
queen, may overcome foul brood (if not too far
gone) in a good honey season arises, I think,
from the continual incoming of pure untainted
honey from the fields, with which the brood is
fed. Pure natural food would, no doubt, give
greater robustness to the young bees, and
ensure greater immunity from disease. The
only drawback to this "self-cure" is the
chance that another spring the bee3 may use
honey for feeding brood from cells imperfectly
cleaned out by the bees the previous season,
and by this means develop the disease the fol-
owing year. The plan I consider most likely to
complete the cure would be the removal of
the outside combs, and giving full sheets of
foundation as the season advances ; then, if
the natural income is insufficient, feeding with
medicated syrup in the required quantity to
carry on the work of comb-building and
brood-rearing, but not to store. By this
means a new set of combs can be obtained
with the minimum risk of infection. No
doubt each stock would require careful
watching. All old combs removed should be
melted down, and any honey in them should
be thoroughly boiled before being used as
bee-food. The frames also might be boiled
before using again, or, better still, burnt, and
new ones used.

Out- Apiaries. — I am sure all bee-keepers
are indebted to our friends, R. Brown and
Allen Sharp, for their " notes " on above.
My own out-apiary consists of some seventy
hives — an increase of about twenty during the
past few years. " Does it pay ? " Well, I
keep it going year after year, so my readers
may rely on it that it does pay. I do not
" bike" (I am almost ashamed to say), neither
do I keep a horse and cart to work it. I fear
the latter would absorb a goodly portion of
the profits. I manage to ge£ all my racks
of sections taken to the apiary, and the same
conveyed home, when full, by our carrier's
van. By this means I get a load of
honey home for Is. 6d. or 2s. when the
carrier is going my way. Sections intended
for use at the out-apiary are got ready by my
good wife at home, and tied in parcels ready
for the carrier. These are taken up in the
morning, and I go myself to see they are
handed carefully, and, perhaps, put the lot on
the hives. In the swarming season I employ
a man to watch for and hive swarms in straw
skeps. These swarms are carried to my place
some two miles, ready for dispatching to cus-
tomers. I myself attend to all hives that
have swarmed, as required, shortly afterwards.
— W. Woodley, Beedon, Ne.ivbury.

March 27, 1902.]' THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

125

BEES v. POULTRY.

COMPARATIVE PROFITS.

[4731.] Replying to your footnote to my
" Echo " (B.B.J., March 13, page 108), I now
send account of my bees and fowls. I began
the year 1901 with thirty-two hens and three
cockerels, and kept a strict account of all ex-
penses for meal, corn, &c. Being no novice at
poultry-keeping, I determined to do my best
to see what profit I could make from it in the
year. I have a capital range for my fowls,
and by the second week in May had 140
healthy chickens. These were sold to the
" Higgler," who takes most of my eggs. I
also hatched a few more chicks in August.
Then, having kept account of all eggs used in
the house, I reckoned up and found my
receipts for eggs and chicks amounted to

Expenses for food

£18 6 8
15 1 5

Total profits £3 5 3

My bees I joined up to eleven stocks, i.e.,
nine single and one "Wells" hive, which
latter I count as two. These hives received
the best attention 1 could give them, with the
result that they yielded over 700 lb. of excel-
lent surplus-honey, in about equal quantities
of comb and extracted honey. As regards
quality, I only sent thirteen exhibits to shows,
and was awarded eleven first prizes and two
seconds. I have also sold every pound of it,
except what is reserved for our own table. I
could also have disposed of much more if I had
got it. I pay carriage on most of my honey, so it
makes expenses appear rather high ; but it was
a pleasing task to count up my receipts, which
are as follows : —

£ s. d.

Total sales of honey 22 6 3

Outlay (foundation, honey-
jars, &c.) 7 18

Net profits

15 4 7

From the above statement it will be seen
whether bees or poultry are the most profitable
for a working man like myself to keep. Both
departments were kept on strict business
lines, but prices for eggs and fowls were low,
as I have to sell to a " middleman '' who
collects them for selling again. With honey,
0d. per lb. is the ruling price, but some of my
best I sold at 8d. per lb. The value of my
prizes were not counted in, nor were my
expenses of the shows, so these items have to
balance each other.

With a good season I hope to do some
more exhibiting this year. I must also add
that I owe my success in beekeeping entirely
to the B.B. Journal and the " Guide Book.1'
I think it is folly to try to keep bees without
the help of the Journal. — Walter Turner,
Brent Leigh, Lavenham, Svffolk, March 24.

[We are much indebted to our correspon-

dent for his excellent results as a bee-keeper.
It should afford a useful lesson in comparing
poultry farming with bee-keeping when both
pursuits are conducted on such simple lines as
are available to every working man who is
located in a suitable district for bee-forage. —
Eds.]

SOME SPRING FLOWERS.

" A flower is not a flower alone ;
A thousand thoughts invest it."

[4732.] Flowers are always beautiful, and
should we ever fail to appreciate the grace and
loveliness of even the meanest of them it is
only because Nature is too bountiful of her
beauties, and scatters them before our
overburdened sight with too lavish a hand.
Perhaps this is why spring flowers are doubly
prized. Not only are they lovely in them-
selves, many of them being exquisitely beau-
tiful, but they come at a time when Nature is
only just wakening from a long period of
torpidity, and their number and variety are
not so overpowering as when later they are
almost countless. The merry trill of the lark
when it first finds its voice is we know but a
prelude to those " profuse strains of unpre-
meditated art " we soon shall hear ; and the
opening love-taught warblings of the thrush
thrill us with a joy which its later "floods of
melody '' can scarcely impart. The first
swallow skimming over the pool ; the
cuckoo's welcome monotone when first
heard ; the appearance of the first white
butterfly as it dances by in the bright
sunshine ; the bees' merry hum as they
undertake their first prospecting tour ; the
earliest buds opening, even though imper-
fectly— all these cheer the heart of old and
young, because we know they are prophets of
delight and mirth, harbingers of spring's joys,
and heralds of yet gayer hosts. They all tell
us that winter's stern rule has closed, that
spring's mild radiance is with us, and that
soon summer's full fruition will once more be
ours. Now we feel the cheering power of
spring, as Nature responds to her balmy
presence and opens up to a new birth. The
ethereal mildness of the vernal air acts on
animate and inanimate creation, for once again
it is full of life and vivifying soul. " Smiling
nature's universal robe of green " brightens the
sweet face of the landscape late so brown and
sere, and fair-handed spring — flowery-bosomed
spring — paints the meadows with delightful
bud and bloom, so that in our walks the
"rapturous eye" hurries from 'joy to joy,
while the delicious breath of the lambent air
makes life a pleasure —

" Green leaves and blossoms, and sunny warm weather,
And singing and loving— all come back together.''

Perhaps no flower that blooms has received
more laudatory notice from poets than the
day's eye, or daisy — our Scotch gowan, and the
fair Marguerite of the French. From Chaucer
downward, each seems to have vied with the

126

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 27, 1902.

other in singing its praises. Two points in
particular have engaged their attention — its
modesty and its continuous blooming. It is a
" wee|modest crimson-tipped flower," a " simple
rustic maid" which "lifts its unassuming head
in humble guise." Chaucer fondly sings of
it—

" Then love I most those flowers white and red
'Such as are called daisies in the town."

In regard to the second trait countless bards
declare " The daisy never dies," for it " Smiles
upon the lap of May and twines December's
arms." " That constellated flower that never
sets" blooms all the year round. "It opens
with perennial grace and blossoms every-
where," and we find " It welcomes every
changing hour and weathers every sky."

March is generally a month of boisterous
wind, so it has a flower which emphasises this
circumstance, for the anemones got its name of
wint or " wind flower " from an old supersti-
tion that it could bloom only when the breezes
loud and shrill were blowing hard. It appears
in March, but more frequently it is a fit crown
for April's fair but changeful brow. Then it
makes each slope a garden glen, and grows
abundantly by banks and braes. The flowers
are sometimes a pure white, though they
generally shade off into a pale pink, and at
times into a delicate crimson ; but the Alpine
variety has a flower of a brilliant blue and
grows far up the slopes of some of our tower-
ing pens — a gem when found, but that is
seldom.

Two flowers are inseparably connected in
my mind with Wordsworth — the Pilewort or
Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) and
the " dancing Daffodil." The first grows pro-
fusely in March, as soon as the gentle breezes
bring news of winter's vanishing. It is a gem
as the sun shines on its star-like form. It
spangles the lea with its bright glossy golden
blossom, and raises its head gracefully but not
glaringly, for it has a touch of modest gentle-
ness. It comes as a prophet and herald of a
mighty band. It is spring's harbinger amongst
flowers, and comes before even the thrush has
a thought about its nest, so that we can say of
the little humble celandine, " Spring is coming,
thou hast come." Wordsworth praised it
perhaps more than any other flower, and in
naming it his flower I have high authority,
for he himself wrote of it : —

" There's a flower that shall be mine,
'Tis the Lesser Celandine."

The daffodil, his second favourite, is another
fair flower of early spring, which Shakespeare
says " comes before the swallow dares, and
takes the winds of March with beauty." At
times they grow in great profusion, and
Wordsworth sings of seeing " ten thousand at
a glance." The picture should be read in its
entirety, and then we also cannot but feel gay
in such a jocund company —

" For then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils."

The snowdrop is the herald of spring flowers—

" Already now the snowdrop dares appear,
The first pale blossom of the unripened year,
As Flora's breath, by some transforming power,
Had changed an icicle into a flower ;
Its name and hue the scentless plant retains,
And winter lingers in its icy veins."

F. E. J. S.

INFLAMMABILITY OF CELLULOID.

[4733.] Allow me to call your attention to
some experiments on the inflammability of
celluloid lately carried out at Aberdeen Uni-
versity, and which are commented on in a
leading article of the present issue of the
Queen, from which it appears that this sub-
stance takes fire at a low temperature, burns
with almost explosive force, and is most
difficult to put out. The above is of interest
to those bee-keepers who use celluloid queen
excluders, as by using a smoker they run a
great risk of losing their stocks by fire, not to
speak of personal injury to themselves. — A
Dumfriesshire Bee-keeper, Thornhill, N.B.,
March 17.

DECOY PLACES FOR ATTRACTING
SWARMS.
[4734.] I would like to ask any reader
whether he has been able to adopt or find out
a simple method which he can recommend of
iuducing or attracting swarms to settle in
such a place or position as will render the
swarm easily accessible for hiving purposes ;
or, if after swarms having settled in some high
tree they have adopted any device for taking
them down which does not necessitate
climbing ? I have read of American bee-
keepers hanging up a scented bush to attract
swarms, and would like to know if any of your
readers have found a similar device efficacious.
I am anxious to know, because when my bees
swarm they have a habit of going iuto the
top of high trees, and the hardest task I have
to do in my apiary is to have to climb these
high trees and draw up a weight of 175 lb. to
a height of 40 ft. or 50 ft. to take down a 4 lb.
swarm. — L. Quayle, Glenmat/, Isle of Man,
March 16.

IS HONEY POISONOUS !

[4735.] The enclosed cutting is from the
Worcester Daily Times of the 12th inst., and,
I think, is most unfair on our local bee-
keepers. It is headed " Poisoned by Honey,"
and reads as follows : —

" There was a lengthened inquiry at the
Bird-in-Hand Inn, Hagley, on Tuesday, before
Mr. Alfred Hebbert (Deputy Coroner), touch-
ing the death of Albert Mann, aged fourteen,
who was employed as a stable-boy at Pedmore
Hall. Mrs. Mann, the boy's mother, said
when her son came home on Monday evening,
the 3rd inst., he told her he was ill, and in
reply to her question said he had given
Woodcock, the coachman at Pedmore Hall,

March 27, 1902.

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

127

2id. for some honey, and that he ate it all and
it'made him ill. Woodcock gave an absolute
denial to having sold or given the deceased
any honey. Dr. Lowe, who was called in,
paid the lad told him he had partaken of about
half a big-cup of boney on the previous
Monday. There were some people who could
not take a teaspoonful of honey without being
knocked up by it. Cases also had happened
where the bees had gathered the honey from
poisonous plants and it had caused toxin
poisoning. Dr. Lowe also added that on
Saturday, the day he died, the lad underwent
an operation to save his life, if possible. The
operation was for peritonitis, but the post-
mortem showed the lad had appendicitis.
This had been latent, and if there was any-
thing likely to induce sickness and diarrhoea
it would intensify the disease and cause death.
The jury, after a rather long consultation,
returned a verdict of ' Death from natural
causes,' and said they did not think Woodcock
or Prosser had anything to do with the lad's
death."

I am anxious to answer it in the papers,
and should feel much obliged if you could
help me with any facts of value on the fol-
lowing points : — 1. Is any poisonous honey
gathered in England ? or abroad ? 2. Are
there really any people with whom honey
does not agree 1 I would thank you for any
hints thatVould help me. — John P. Phillips,
Spetchley, Worcester, March 14.

[1. While not going so far as to declare
that all honey " gathered in England " is free
from deleterious properties, we unhesitatingly
assert that no one was ever poisoned through
eating honey gathered by bees in this country.
2. There is no doubt that honey does, though
perfectly wholesome and health-giving, not
agree with many persons, just as is the case
with various other articles of food. With
regard to the Press cutting quoted above,
it is altogether misleading to use the heading
quoted, when the verdict was "Death from
natural causes." — Eds.]

Major George Campbell, 1st Liverpool
Regiment, whose death occurred from dysen-
tery, at Middelburg (Transvaal), on the
4th inst., had recently completed his forty-
first year. He joined the 8th (King's),
January 14, 1880, his successive steps being —
Lieutenant, February 9, 1881 ; Captain,
November 5, 1887 ; and Major, November 27,
1898. Recently he had been Adjutant of
the Southport Volunteer Battalion of his
regiment.

Major Arthur William Pack-Beresford,
Royal Artillery, who died from enteric at
Bloemfontein on the 5th inst., wa3 in his
thirty-fourth year. He joined the service on
February 16, 1887 ; became Lieutenant on the
same date in 1890; Captain, September 1,

1897 ; and Brevet-Major, November 29, 1900.
He went out early in the war as a Special
Service Officer, serving successively with the
South African Light Horse and Roberts's
Horse, and at this period was severely
wounded, but also mentioned in despatches.
He had been subsequently employed with the
South African Constabulary since November 4,
1900.

[The above obituary notices —from a recent
issue of the Standard — have a melancholy
interest for readers of the Bee Journal in
the coincidence of both gallant officers passing
away within one day of each other and both
being good bee-keepers and regular readers of
the B.B.J. Major Campbell will, no doubt,
be well remembered by many for his useful
and practical contributions to our pages, the
last of which appeared in our issue of June 27
last year (page 251), and was headed "My
Experiences After Four Year3 of Experiment-
ing." A most useful article it was, too, well
worth reading. In the same issue Major
Campbell advertised his bees and bee-
appliances for sale — " Owner leaving the
country." This was just before he left for
South Africa, but his B.B.J, was regularly
forwarded by post. The same with Major
Pack-Beresford ; indeed, it was only the other
day the paper was returned through the post
marked " Deceased."

We tender the sincere sympathy of all
readers of this journal, along with our own, to
the sorrowing relations of the deceased officers,
who died in the performance of a patriotic
duty and in a worthy cause. — Eds.]

$tu}rit}8 and mpltp.

[2813.] Selecting Stocks for Raising Queens
from. — 1 should be very grateful if you could
give me some explanation as to a few points
on which I am not quite clear. 1. Is it a sign
that those colonies which are strongest at pre-
sent are the best for queen-rearing and drone-
breeding purposes ; or should those which
gave the greatest weight of surplus last year
be chosen, notwithstanding their being weaker,
on account of their having an old queen 1 2.
Should the drone-brood be divided into the
several nuclei, or can it remain in the hive
selected for drone-breeding, and this even if
the nucleus was placed some distance, say,
100 yards from the other hives ? 3. I am
sending you with the same some samples of
candy. Would you kindly give me your
opinion of them ? No. 1 is made without
flour. No. 2 is mixed with pea-flour as pre-
scribed in the " Guide Book '' sample and con-
tains a little honey. No. 3 is made with five
parts of sugar and one of honey, with the rest,
as prescribed in first edition of " Guide Book."
4. In the sixteenth edition of " Guide " I find
no mention of salicylic acid. As I have still

128

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 27, 1902.

\ lb. or so at hand, I should, of course, wish
to use it. — The Procurator, O.S.B., Buck-
fastleigh, South Devon, March 15.

Reply. — 1. The colony that makes mo3t
progress in building up to a full colony ready
for early work in honey-gathering is, as a
rule> headed by the best queen, and should
therefore be selected for queen-rearing pur-
poses. 2. The selected drones are reared in
the parent hive. 3. No. 1 sample is good in
colour and grain, but has been overboiled,
and is too hard in consequence. No. 2 is a
very good sample of soft candy. No. 3 is not
suitable for bee-food at all compared with soft
candy ; it is neither more nor less than
" hardbake,'' as hard as a stone. 4. Salicylic
acid is not mentioned in the later editions of
" Guide Book " because other and better
remedies have been recently discovered. 5.
Soluble phenyl as advised for use on page 167
of " Guide Book," may be had from Messrs.
Morris, Little, & Co., chemists, Doncaster, at
6d. per small bottle.

[2814.] Dealing with Foul Brood. — I have
sent you two pieces of comb for inspection.
My own idea is that there is no foul brood in
samples sent. Will you kindly let me know
if I am right ? I have been three years trying
to make a proper start in bee-keeping, but find
myself as far off to-day as ever from making
any. headway, although I spent about £ 10
last year on bees, appliances, &c. I had a so-
called bee expert to put things in order for me
at the end of last season (this was after another
" bee-master '' (?) had made a mess of it), and
everj thing has been left as the first-named
expert gave orders for me to leave it. To-
day being warm, and not seeing so many bees
on the wing as I fancied should be, I made an
inspection, and, to my astonishment, I found
that instead of having seven good stocks as
expected, there were not enough bees to make
one decent colony ; so I shall have to make
still another start. This time, however, I shall
manage the hives myself and take no notice of
those so-called bee-masters. I feel sure I can
keep things right with the aid of the " Guide
Book " and the B.B.J. I am a member of the

Bee-keepers' Association and get the

monthly journal from the Association as well.
Hoping I am not giving too much trouble and
waiting an answer in the B.B.J. — F. J.
Richards.

Reply. —We have, advisedly, omitted the
name of the bee- keepers' association sent,
being unwilling to see, perhaps, undeserved
blame put upon it, knowing, as we do, that the
executive of the county B.K.A. referred to
are beyond reproach. We therefore ask : —
(1) Has any complaint been made to the
hon. secretary with regard to the alleged
mischief ? and (2) What are the names of the
"so-called experts'' or "bee-masters" to
whom our correspondent alludes ? If we are
informed on the above two points we shall be
in a better position to judge with regard to

the mischief complained of. For the rest, we
may say there is sufficient foul brood in the
two large pieces of comb sent to infect a whole
district; in fact, both pieces are absolutely
rotten with disease.

[2815.] Taking Bees to Canada. — I purpose
going to Canada soon, if I can dispose of my
farm and home here, and I should be glad to
know if it is possible to take a lot of bees
with me, or do you think I could get them
in Canada ? 1. My intention is to locate in one
of the North- West Provinces, and shall stay at
Winnipeg until I have found a location likely
to suit me. I thought it might be possible to
take, say, three or four frames of bees, with a
queen, fixing the frames in a box with per-
forated zinc at top for ventilation on the
voyage out ; or would I be able to get a stock
of bees there? I shall have a good bit of
luggage with me, in addition to wife and two
small children. Can you give me the address
of any bee-man out there ? It will help me
very much. 2. 1 shall greatly miss the Bee
Journal, but hope to still have it sent if at
all possible to afford extra postage. I have
been greatly benefited and helped by the
cordial spirit of brotherhood in which Editors
and contributors write. — A. A., Colgate,
Faygate, Horsham, March 17.

P.S. — 3. I notice that some of my bees have
on their bodies small red insects. Last
autumn I noticed the queen had four or five
clinging to her, and I had quite a difficult job
to get them off her with a match. I was
afraid it would have destroyed her fertility,
but she is laying all right, I see.

Reply. — 1. In view of the fact that bees
of every strain can be readily procured in
Canada, it would be entailing needless trouble
and risk to attempt taking " a lot of bees '
to the far North- West. We are posting you
a copy of the current number of the Canadian
Bee Journal, which will doubtless help you.

2. The B.B.J, is posted to Canada at same
rate as at home — viz., 6s. 6d. per annum.

3. The "red insect" noticed is a bee- parasite
known as the Branla cceca, or blind louse.

[2816.] Overdosing Bee- food with Naph-
thol Beta. — When making 4 lb. of sugar into
flour candy to-day I accidentally poured too
much naphthol beta solution (No. 1 of " Guide
Book" recipes) with it, a bare tablespoonful.
Will you kindly tell me if this would do harm
to the bees if I gave it to them, or is there
anything I can do with the candy ? — Gladys,
Devonport, March 15.

Reply. — You should use the overdosed
canay by melting it down in the next boiling,
and thus bring the proportions into something
like the proper quantities. Do not give it to
the bees as it is.

[2817.] Utilising Swarms with no Increase.
— In Simmins's " Modern Bee Farm " he
advocates the following line of procedure
when not desiring increase of stocks through

March 27, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

129

swarming. " When a swarm comes off
remove all the stock combs (but one or two)
and place them in a new hive, then hive your
swarm on the remaining two (of course, seeing
that no queen -cells are left on them), filling up
the hive with frames fitted with full sheets of
foundations then after the young queen in the
removed comb is hatched and laying, join both
together, first deposing the old queen." 1. I
would ask, Is this a safe method to follow ?

2. Mr. S. also advocates forming nuclei (if
wanted) with the remaining combs of the old
stock, with queen-cell to each, on the eighth
day after swarming. I purpose doing this
with one of my swarmed stocks this season,
and propose making up three nuclei of three
combs each out of the removed combs, leaving
the tenth comb for swarm to start with. Do
you think this plan would work all right ? 3.
Please say if on separating the combs to form
the three nuclei they could be placed alongside
of other hives (with the view of uniting to
them later on) without danger of the bees de-
serting|the nuclei to go back to old stand where
they had been for the eight days previously ?
4. Is there any other plan to mark a queen
than by clipping off a part of the wing ? —
J. H., Old Cumnock, Ayrshire.

Reply. — 1. We see no reason to doubt the
safety of the method. 2. Knowing Mr.
Simmins to be a thoroughly practical man, we
think that, if properly carried out as instructed
by him, his plans of working will accomplish
what he claims for them, even though our
personal experience of his methods may be nil.

3. If carefully watched (as all nuclei need to
be) no harm will follow, but small nucleus
colonies are far best when kept apart from
strong colonies in a warm corner quite by
themselves. They are so easily " robbed " out
when being fed if prowling hungry bees are
close at hand.

[2818.] Bee-keeping in California. — I am
informed that you could give me useful in-
formation respecting bee-keeping for profit in
California, where I purpose settling as a fruit
farmer shortly. I would there ask, What are
the prospects, and what outlay would
guarantee a profit of £100 a year at prices
ruling there ? I have never kept bees, but
am very much interested in them, and shall
make myself quite conversant with the sub-
ject before leaving England. I have a friend
at Edgware who has fifteen to twenty hives,
and seems to be very successful with them.
I should like to know of any good bee-
literature which you think will be useful, so
that I may feel somewhat independent when
I get right away. Thanking you in antici-
pation.— H. Williams, Haverstock Hill,
March 3.

Reply. — Instead of venturing upon any
" guarantee " with regard to the profits of bee-
keeping in California — of which occupation we
have no personal experience whatever — we are
posting you a copy of a Californian bee-journal

of the most " pushful '' and up-to-date type.
In it you will see what is possible in some
parts of that very wonderful and interesting
part of the world, which, among its many
beauties, possesses miles upon miles of bee-

dfchots from flu Mm.

Icklesham, Bye, East Sussex, March 21. —
Up to to-day (21st) the month of March has
been all that a bee-man could wish. Except for
one or two days, the sun has shone brightly for
several hours, and all day at times. To-day,
however, has been very rough indeed. Snow-
drops and crocuses are nearly over, but
birdseye and purpureums are in full flower,
and in some places the palm willow (Salix
caprea) is fully out, and bees are very busy on
it and hazel catkins. Unless we have a return
of cold weather, the hedges, woods, and fields
will be one grand garden of bee-flowers, such
as delights the hearts of the young who have
not yet tasted the cup of bitterness. How
delightful it is to watch their smiling faces
and hear their merry chatter at such a time as
this ! Yesterday my old bee-friend — the one
who first put me on the road to success — paid
me a visit, and I think it was a treat for both
of us, for the bees were at their best, carrying
in loads of pollen, and we wondered where
they could get such an abundance of pollen
from. As we chatted my friend asked with
a smile, " Do you remember your first frame-
hive ? " " Rather ! " I replied. I have never
seen bees so strong in numbers in March as
they are this year, but I believe in leaving
them all ten frames in brood-chamber. —
Henry Clarke.

Myers'- road West, Great Crosby, Liver-
pool.— In the beginning of 1901 I lost all
my three stocks of bees, like a great many
others in this district. I started in the fol-
lowing Easter week with two fresh stocks,
and they have done very well. One hive,
which did not swarm, gave me just 60 lb. of
extracted honey, and the other sent off a good
swarm early in July, and I also had from it
32 lb. of extracted honey, besides a second
swarm, which issued nine days after the first.
I returned this swarm, after cutting out all the
queen-eells, and in February of the present
year I found this stock was turning out dead
bees for nearly three weeks. They have
plenty of candy, in boxes with glass tops, so
that I can see the bees without disturbing
them. 1. I am sending some of the dead bees
cast out for your opinion as to the cause of
death. This old stock (headed by a last
season's queen, of course) is in a " Wells "
hive, and the swarm is in the other compart-
ment of the hive, but the latter is only casting
out a very few dead bees.

I take the B.B.J, and also the Beeord, and

130

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 27, 1902.

find them most useful. I have sold £5 4s. 2d'
worth of honey and wax in 1901. I do not
think that amiss for two stocks. — Jessie

ROWLANDS.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All queriet forwarded will be attended to, and thou only
of perianal intereetwill be answered in this column

B. Walker (Kirkby Stephen). — Naphthol
Beta Solution for Bee Food. — One table-
spoonful of the solution (No. 1 in " Guide
Book ") is the right quantity for medicating
10 lb. of sugar made into syrup*. The
solution should be stirred into the syrup
while the latter is still hot. Full directions
for making the solution are printed on the
packets as sent out from this office.

W. WiLLTAMS*(St. Briavels). — Bee Nomencla-
ture.— The bees sent are of the common or
native variety. It is as usual to see bees
more or less differently marked in one
hive, as it is for children of the same family
to have hair of different shades.

A Beginner (The School, Bromsgrove). —
Starting Bee-keeping. — Your query is
rather difficult to make out. But if, as we
suppose, your question means " Is it best
to start with a stock of bees in a skep and
transfer to a frame-hive in April, or begin
with a swarm in May 1 '' our advice is
choose the latter course, i.e., begin with a
swarm and do no transferring at all your
first season.

Chi Beta (Newmarket). — Making Bee Candy.
— Sample No. 1 is best and is fairly good.

J. Goldthorpe (Shipley).— Home-made Ex-
tractors.— If the cylinder you have by you
allows of a cage large enough to take the
" Standard " frame, it will work if the
outer face of comb is two or more inches
away from spindle. It is advantageous,
however, to have the comb being extracted
as far away from the central pivot as may
be. Your letter was mislaid, hence delay in
reply.

Bury (Oaerleon, Mon.). — Cross-built Combs —
" Clipping" Queens. — 1. There is no remedy
but cutting out the cross-built combs and
tying them into the frames with tapes. This
is a job requiring some experience of bee-
work before it can be safely undertaken, as
there will be some brood now in the cells,
besides having to secure the combs from
falling out of the frames after straightening.
2. The heath sent is the commong ling. 3
We do not advise "clipping" queens,
except under special circumstanc?s. In
your case, however, it would be advan-
tageous.

T. S. Hoole (Sutton). — Drones Living
Through Winter. — If the drones have been
" tolerated in the hive all winter/' as stated,
and the colony has a young and fertile
queen at its head— with worker-brood on

four combs in March — it is a very unusual
and interesting instance of the truism that
" bees do nothing invariably."

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 ivhere possible) we undertake to
" wire " replies as to F. B. if six stamps are sent to cover
cost of telegram. All letters to be addnssed "Editor,
Bee Journal," not "Manager."

A. Robertson (Dumbarton). — Dead bees
(only two in your case) are of no use in
diagnosing foul brood. The three cells of
sealed brood contain healthy larva? in the
proper stage, so that we are enabled from
the latter to say there is no disease in the
hive referred to.

D. R. (Yorks). — There is foul brood in the
incipient stage"in sample of comb sent.

Henry Russ (New Southgate). — There is not
a trace of brood, foul or otherwise, in comb
sent, and consequently no cause whatever
for alarm.

T. Crook (head gardener, Hall Court, Botley).
— The piece of worker comb sent is perfectly
clean, wholesome, and quite free from any
trace of brood or disease of any kind.

B. B. (Yorkshire). — There is neither " dead
brood '' nor " foul brood " in comb. In fact,
nothing in cells but pollen ; some of it
mildewed or mouldy.

W. B. P. (Lancaster). — The remains of dead
larvae look suspicious, but with such a small
amount of material (i.e., small portions of
a couple of dead larvae) to judge from, a
tedious microscopical examination is neces-
sary. We will, therefore, give result next
week.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve words and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

FOR SA.LE, 3 strong STOCKS BEES in Skeps, 12s.
each; take 35s. lot. Bruce, Ely, Cambs. l 56

FOR SALE, 6 STOCKS BEES (3 hives, 3 skeps), strong ;
£4. Raplet, Sole-street, Cobham, Kent. L 49

FIVE STOCKS BEES, Skeps, cheap to clear. J.
Meppem, Burgess Hill, Tonbridge. L 41

HONEY FOR SALE (light colour), EXTRACTED, in
30-lb. tins, 6d. lb., on rail. M. Philipps, Enstone,
Oxon. L 36

PURE EXTRACTED HONEY, sample, 2d. Also
STOCKS of BEES for disposal, prices moderate.
E. Woodham, Clavering, Newport, Essex. l 56

GUARANTEED PURE HONEY. Tie-over Jars, lib.,
7s. 6d. doz. G. Thompson, Helpringham, Hecking
ton. I 55

STRONG STOCKS in Straw skeps. 1901 Queens,
12s. 6d. each. Guaranteed healthy. Woods,
Normandy, near Guildford. l 46

URE CYPRIAN and HYBRID STOCKS on frames.
Strong, healthy. Also QUEENS, 5s. Woosnam,
Newton Abbot. l 43

THREE STOCKS of BEES in bar-framed hives,
accessories. £2 or offers. Parkin, Bondgate,
Helmsley, l 39

April 3, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

131

(Mitoral $jtotiaB, kt

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

CONVERSAZIONE.

{Continued from page 123.)

Mr. Reid called attention to a remedy he
had discovered for bee-stings, and that, he
submitted, would be interesting to all who
had to deal with bees. He was quite aware
that everybody would say, " Oh, here's another
of 'em ! " for there certainly had been several
specifics of the kind, most of which were
partial failures. He had tried his own cure
very carefully, and thought he could claim
success for it ; but there had been such a run
upon him for the article from his neighbours,
friends, and acquaintances that he hoped no
one would come to him for it. Nevertheless,
he quite realised that, after mentioning the
subject, he ought to give his brother and sister
(especially his sister) bee-keepers an oppor-
tunity of profiting by the " find.'' The anti-
dote in question was a very simple material,
prepared for rubbing on the skin. The poison
of the bee consisted mainly of two constituents.
One of these, which caused the intense pain
of the sting, was of an acid nature, mainly
formic acid, and the application of a little
ammonia, or a moistened crystal of soda some-
times gave relief. The other substance in-
jected by the bee when stinging was a strong
physiological poison of an albumenoid nature,
and closely related to the poison of venomous
makes. It was this poison which caused the
swelling, and was the source of danger.
Any remedy which would render the sting
largely, if not entirely, innocuous would be
hailed with satisfaction. In his own house-
hold there were two members who strongly
objected to bees because of their aggressive
powers. Since last summer they had used it,
and the swelling hid subsided in their case ;
but he was bound to say that the action of the
jubstance was not invariable, because in two
ase3 where it had been applied the swelling
sontinued, in spite of the rubbing. He did,
however, claim it as an almost certain remedy
for the bites of gnats and midges. He gave
some of it to a friend who was visiting Norway
for fishing, and he declared that he would as
joon think of travelling there without his rod
ind line as to go minus the anti-sting specific,
phich rendered the mosquitoes harmless.

He (Mr. Reid) had been stung several times
shis spring. Ten minutes' rubbing and the
iwelling was gone, while formerly he suffered
leverely. He had had the ingredients made
ip in a form (like a menthol cone) suitable for
bee-keepers to carry about. He could not
limself supply it, but Messrs. Sanger and
Son, of 2, Winsley-street, Oxford-street
.druggists' sundriesmen), who had worked it
ip from his (Mr. Reid's) formula, were pre-
pared to do so. It would be known as

" Resa," and all he now asked was that bee-
keepers would let him know the result of their
experience of it.

Mr. Carr rejoiced at the discovery, which
had a personal interest for him, because some
members of his household — while heedless of
bee-stings — were martyrs to the bites of mos-
quitoes and gnats, plentiful each year in the
neighbourhood of Blackheath.

Mr. Dawson hoped Mr. Reid would do all
he could to promote the circulation of his
remedy a3 soon a3 possible. It was, in his
mind, " worth a guinea a box ! " He knew the
terrors of Norway and Lapland in the summer
owing to mosquitoes.

Mr. Reid reminded them that gnats would
not appear for another month or two.

At this point, Colonel Walker — owing to a
prior engagement — retired from the chair, and
Mr. Reid assumed the presidency.

Mr. Edwards then exhibited samples of a
new " postal and introduction cage " for queen
bees, which he called his "observatory'' cage.
In construction it was simply a small block of
wood with two transverse and one longi-
tudinal holes bored completely through it.
There was more wood left at one end of the
cage than at the other, and the longitudinal
hole at this end served as the candy-chamber,
the end of the hole being closed with a wafer
of cork. The hole at the opposite end was for
inserting queen and attendants, and this was
then also closed with cork. Bored in the side
of the cage, covered by wire cloth, would be
seen a small hole which communicated with
the candy-chamber, and this to some extent
was the " essence of the invention." The cage
containing the new queen was placed on the
hive, and once there need not be touched for
a week, and whilst the bees of the hive had free
access to the candy at once, the smallness of
the hole was such that, as soon as the candy
was eaten away to a certain depth, the body
of a single bee sucking at the sweets blocked
up the opening ; consequently, some time
must elapse before the food was eaten away,
and in the meantime bees and queen were
getting familiarised. He believed that by the
use of this cage queen-introduction could be
made almost a certainty — in fact, he was
offering for this year what no one had yet
attempted — namely, to guarantee safe intro-
duction for a nominal fee of 6d. The
" observatory " feature — a piece of mica se-
cured to the back of the cage — allowed the
progress of matters to be watched without
any interference with or disturbance of the
hive — the cause, probably, of many failures
in queen-introduction.

Tne Chairman thanked Mr. Edwards on
behalf of his hearers, and said that the remark
of that gentleman regarding the insurance of
safe queen - introduction brought another
subject to his mind which concerned the
insurance of bee-keepers against damage com-
mitted by their bees. The Council of the
B.B.KA. were engaged in working out a

132

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 3, 1902.

scheme of that kind. They were spending a
great deal of time on the matter, especially in
getting information from Germany on schemes
already in existence. He would, therefore,
give a short outline of the position of affairs
at the present moment. The idea was that
bee-keepers should be insured up to a mode-
rate sum, say £30, against damage done by
their bees outside their own apiaries. Conse-
quently, it was not proposed to include in the
policy compensation for damage done to the
insurer or his domestic animals, which would
be too much to expect. The Council had
reason to believe that this insurance to the
maximum extent of £30 could be effected at
the rate of Id. per stock with a minimum
payment of 6d., which all would agree was a
nominal figure. The way in which it appeared
possible to effect this was through the
members of the county associations, who
should hand in their names to the local
secretaries stating the maximum number of
stocks in their apiaries or which they expect
to have at any time during the season. The
association secretaries would then forward to
the B.B.K.A. their lists of members with the
numbers of stocks, and, last but not least, the
amount of the insurance fee. That is the
only plan on which for so small a premium as
Id. per hive the proposal could be organised
at all. The scheme he had sketched appeared
to be a feasible one, and the Council had
already, he thought, received sufficient names
in support of it to guarantee it3 adoption. A
great number of letters had reached Mr. Carr
and Mr. Young from bee-keepers throughout
the country, who were not members of county
associations, but who felt an interest in the
proposal. It might be said that these persons
ought to be members of associations, but it
must be remembered that some counties had
no associations, and the conditions were such
that it was not easy to form any. It would,
therefore, manifestly be hard lines if the local
bee-keepers were not allowed to participate in
the insurance scheme ; besides, the larger the
number of insurers, the more likelihood there
was of a low premium being maintained, or
even reduced. It had been debated as to
Whether the Council could not admit such
outsiders (he used the term inoffensively) to
the scheme for a definite minimum payment
of Is., or, say, perhaps, double the fee of
a county association member. That point
was, however, a difficult one to deal with,
and the Council were still engaged in
discussing it. He believed also that some
Irish members, in spite of their predilection
for managing their own affairs, were anxious
to come in, but as they would not be
affiliated with the B.B.K.A. they therefore
could not participate in these benefits. It
was much better for the generality of bee-
keepers to pay a small premium, and receive
reasonable compensation. Mr. Weston had
done excellent work in getting information
together bearing on this subject from all

quarters, and he would add any details which
he (the Chairman) might have inadvertently
omitted. At any rate, they would both be
pleased to answer questions or listen to sug-
gestions. He had not been deputed by the
Council of the B.B.K.A. to address the
audience on this matter, but nevertheless felt
sure that that body would be glad to have the
views of the conversazione.

Mr. Bishop-Ackerman (representing Berk-
shire) said that the insurance scheme had been
discussed at the annual meeting of the Berks
B.K.A. the other day, and the majority
thought there was not enough distinctio:
made between keepers of one or two hives an
owners of large apiaries. It was considere
that if the owner of two hives paid Id. fo:
each, the possessor of 200 ought not to pay si
much proportionately, on the ground thai
large apiculturists knew how to, and did, tak
more care of their bees than small ones, am
consequently their stocks were not likely t
be so troublesome as in the case of small ones.

Mr. H. Edwards said one member at the
meeting in question was very strong on this
question. Jt was calculated that Mr. W.
Woodley would have to pay something liki
16s. 8d. per annum, while there was very littl
risk of any outside damage arising from his
bees, he being thoroughly up in the art of
controlling them. On the other hand, another
bee-keeper owning a single hive of very
irascible bee3, cases of which he knew, the
penny would not cover his risk.

The Chairman pointed out that 6d. was the
proposed minimum amount of any one pre-
mium, and asked how many apiaries of even
100 hives existed in Berkshire. '

Mr. Ackerman said there were some, but
apiaries of even fifty or sixty hives were con-
templated by the objectors. However, if the
minimum amount of premium was to be 6d.
the case was different, and would, no doubt,
modify the impression entertained of it by
their members.

The Secretary (Mr. Young) said the maxi-
mum benefit and minimum premium were
stated on the circular sent out.

Mr. Edwards asked how he could declare
the number of his hives when he split his
surplus queens up into nuclei 1

Another gentleman asked, Must a bee-
keeper with fifty hives insure all the lot, or
would he be allowed to insure one half of the
number 1

Mr. Weston, as a member of the committee
appointed to deal with the subject, rose to
answer the questions put. He prefaced his
remarks by thanking the B.B.J, for its world-
wide circulation of information on this subject.
A Germ in gentleman had written a letter in
reference to a bee insurance scheme existing in
his country. Upon being communicated with,
thi3 gentleman put him (Mr. Weston) in
touch with various insurance societies over
there, who had forwarded particulars of their
modus operandi. In Germany all bee-keep-

April 3, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

133

ing had to be conducted according to
certain regulations, as was the case with
most things there, so that persons who
undertook the insurance of apiaries knew
beforehand exactly the conditions under which
the bees were being kept. It must be
borne in mind that in England no regulations
of the kind existed, and that everybody kept
his bees as near the public highway as he
chose, and in every other respect as it suited
him. Obviously, under conditions of the
kind imposed in Germany insurance premiums
could be much loss than they must be here.
In his hand he held particulars of the rates
charged in Switzerland and Germany, which
were 4 or 5 pfennigs per hive, or about the
twenty-fifth part of llfd. — an average
of about |d. per hive. It was evident
that this could not be worked except
through the bee-club3 in Germany, which
were scattered all over the country. Every
man belonged to his club, and each club
insured, perhaps, twenty or thirty members,
each member owning perhaps twenty or
thirty hives. The club took out a single
insurance, which saved an infinity of trouble,
and paid a lump sum per annum. In one
case they had to take out an insurance for
five years, and then any claims that were
made were settled by the club, which was
afterwards reimbursed by the insurance com-
pany. The latter was generally a company
that made a specialty of insuring agricultural
material and farm produce, the bee-keeping
being a little " extra " tacked on. He thought
the minimum of 6d. proposed for this country
was too small, because the printing and
postages incurred would consume a portion of
that fee. He thought the B.B.K.A. would
have to add a little item on each transaction
towards covering the postage and office
expenses— say 4d. plu3 the Id. per hive. The
parent body was, unfortunately, not in a posi-
tion to bear the extra strain upon their
funds in carrying out the scheme ; and it was
clear that additional expenditure would be
involved. Another point as regards Con-
tinental systems was that trivial damage had
to be borne by the insurer and not the office.
Supposing, for instance, a working man lost
a couple of day's pay ; therefore " trivial
damage '' might be •interpreted as any loss up
to 5s. On that question he would like to
know the sense of the meeting.

Mr. Edwards said he thought such a con-
dition would be fatal. Why not make the
premiums 6d. and multiples of 6d., which
would leave a margin ?

Mr. Weston (continuing) said, in reply to
the Berkshire representative, that so much
per hive, whether the apiary be large or small,
must be paid. He admitted that the scheme
would be of more benefit to the small than the
large man. He himself would rather pay his
6d. or Is. and be insured. With regard to the
number of hives to be insured, that must be
settled by the maximum summer count on a

certain day to be fixed — he thought Mid-
summer-day.

Mr. W. T. Joyce said that swarming very
often did not begin till Midsummer-day, after
which the bees increased very much. If at
the end of the summer the bee-keeper should
have a good many more stocks than he insured
for, what would be the result, seeing that no
bee-keeper could tell what swarms he would
have after Midsummer-day 1 Besides, the
difficulty would be still greater if he had
several nuclei on hand for preserving young
queens.

The Chairman fully _ appreciated the per-
plexities mentioned, but bee-keepers must
endeavour to surmount them by allowing a
reasonable margin for possible increase of
stocks, or the scheme could not be carried out.
This would be no great hardship, as the
premium was so trifling.

Mr. Joyce suggested the end of August or
at Michaelmas as the starting date when the
swarming season had passed.

Mr. Weston did not think that would meet
the difficulty, because some bee-keepers would
then have more, and some less, stocks than
at Midsummer. Those who were likely to
have additional swarms should pay an extra
2d. or 3d. on their premiums.

Mr. Dawson imagined that if any particular
date were fixed, it might be still open to him
to send in extra pennies should his apiary
become enlarged.

The Chairman again pointed out the danger
of trying to introduce too many stipulations in
the policy, which would vitiate its inception.
There were a large number of bee-keepers who
did not increase their stocks and had no wish
to do so, and many of these would be paying
the minimum of 6d. — a greater sum propor-
tionately than that contributed by large
bee-keepers.

Mr. Carr said the Committee had most
exhaustively studied this subject, and, not-
withstanding what had been said that evening,
he believed had arrived at the only sound
solution of the problem.

The Chairman thanked the members for the
expression of their views, which should be
taken into consideration by the Committee
when discussing the matter further.

A general and somewhat lengthy discussion
followed on the subject of technical' education
in bee-keeping, and the assistance given to
bee-keepers' associations by County Councils
as "grants in aid " for furthering that object.
The general opinion of those present seemed ,
to be that bee-keepers' associations should
endeavour to get into closer touch with
County Councils than was the case at present,
for — except in a few notable instances — the
money spent in promoting the bee-industry
— as one likely to benefit the rural cottager
or agricultural labourer — was not always
expended judiciously, owing to lack of
knowledge on the subject on the part of
County Councillors themselves.

134

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[April 3, 1902.

The Chairman summed up this part of the
proceedings by observing that, to his mind,
the correct thing to do was for County Councils
to work through the bee associations, and where
the latter were properly established and orga-
nised, no doubt Technical Instruction Com-
mittees would recognise that as the safest and
easiest way of advancing the work.

The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks
to the Chairman.

The Sditors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinion* expressed by correspondent*. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondent*
are requeeted to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addressee, not necessarily for
publication, but a* a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tion* should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

%* In order to facilitate reference, Correepondentt ,
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 appear*.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

[4736.] The First Flight— The bees seem to
enjoy this annual event with a species of
hilarious glee. They play high jinks, acting
as if they were out for a holiday and meant
to make the most of the shining hour. As
yet business and sober prosy work are far
from engrossing their thoughts. With sportive
fun they dance through space as if intoxicated
with the joy of once more breathing the free
air of heaven. They spin and wheel about in
mazy undulations, circling and careering in
ever-varying spiral or ellipse. What graceful
curves they describe, as they sail aloft in
slow and rhythmic cadence, and, anon, what
wild gambols they play as, with sportive
spurt, they dash on headlong in meteoric
career, weaving a network of most intricate
gyrations. One bee simply hooks its wings,
fills its trachee with the buoyant air, and floats
away without an effort. Another darts off
with lightning speed, as if it meant to outrival
the swallow in its flight ; while yet another
makes futile and ineffective efforts to soar,
for its flying days are over for ever. Care-
fully observed, the conduct of each colony in
the early flights form? an index to its strength
and vitality, as the romping, ranting lot is
sure to be in a prosperous condition. I also
test their strength at this season by the
amount of debris they eject, especially re-
moved capping. During their earliest flights
they take advantage of the mild weather for
re-arranging their stores, and shifting the
position of the cluster. On observing a good,
fair amount of this matter thrown down near
the entrance, I conclude the stock is strong
and likely to be a success. The absence of it,
however, does not always indicate the con-
trary, as it may only imply that they have
already abundant stores in the right place.
Still, the entire absence of debris, accom-

panied by dull and lethargic movements,
would set the stock down in my mind as one
which should be examined on the first favour-
able opportunity.

Lost! A Bee Library. — The S.B K.A. during
its short but not inglorious existence accumu-
lated about seventy volumes of bee books,
embracing some of the best literature on the
subject. It should be of immense advantage
to the pursuit in Scotland if this collection
were available for reading or refereuce. The
late secretary hoped to secure them, but I
never heard that he had succeeded. Who has
them now ? and who is entitled to retain them
in his possession1? It is regrettable if so
much excellent bee-literature is to be per-
manently shut up in some unknown cupboard,
" food for worms ! "

Quotations. — The first two are from Marcus
Aurelius, a philosophic writer of ancient times
— (a) " That which is not for the interest of
the whole swarm is not for the interest of a
single bee " ; (6) " A fleet horse and greyhound
do not make a noise when they have done
well, neither a bee when she has gathered a
little honey." The second two are from a
modern writer, Mr. Stephen Phillips, whose
latest drama "Ulysses" was published only
the other day. Speaking of Calypso's Isle he
says : —

The odorous amorous isle of violets,
That leans all leaves into the glassy deep,
With brooding music over noontide moss,
And low dirge of the lily swinging bee.

And later, where the hero, cloyed and wearied
with the amorous charms of the goddess,
begins to pine for Penelope and home he
exclaim.3 : —

I am an hungered for that human breast,
That bosom a sweet hive of memories.

Base Ingratitude. — Mice, like men, display
tbi3 reprehensible trait, and return evil for
good. I am led to this reflection by finding
that my tenderheartedness in saving the life of
Mr. Mouse, as mentioned in January com-
ments, has led to the destruction of my one
remaining skep. In autumn it was placed
inside a bar frame-hive partly to shelter it
from the winter's storm and rain, but
principally with the object of establishing a
powerful colony in the frame-hive some time
in June from the combined swarm and flying
bee3 The other day I found a pair of mice
had made a nest in some wrappings on the top
of the skep, and they evidently feasted royally
on the honey, a3 a good part of the works had
disappeared. On this occasion I played
executioner without the least feeling of
remorse.

Early Polkn.—This is scarce with U3 in
March, but the bee3 are enjoying excellent
spells on some thousands of crocus blooms.
The coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) is aho
abundant, and on bright, sunny days bees work
oa it diligently. It is a profuse bloomer on
soil containing a large percentage of lime.
{Continued, on page 136 )

April 3, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

135

HOMES OF THE HONEY-BEK

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

Mr. Andrews, whose neat little apiary is
depicted below, sends us the following notes
concerning his bee-keeping : —

" I have been a reader of your Journal for
the past thirteen years, and take a deep inte-
rest in all that pertains to the craft. The
• Homes of the Honey-Bee ' pictures, showing
the apiaries, have been very interesting to me,
and I have enclosed mine, hoping you wili
deem it worthy of a place among them.

"I commenced bee-keeping in 1888, when
a friend gave me a swarm in June of that
year. I hived the bees in a modern or flat-
topped skep, from which I took a rack of
sections in the first season. The following
year I got from that stock a top swarm, fol-

third hive is ' yours truly.' I take a very great
pleasure in the bee-keeping hobby, and am
pleased to say that, in addition tothe pleasure
it affords, I find bees always pay for the labour
bestowed on them. But I never look forward
to getting 100 or 200 lb. of honey per hive,
like some of your readers do. I am well satis-
fied with an average of 30 lb. per stock.
I have always managed to keep free from
foul brood till last year, when one of my
stocks was found to be affected, and it was ia
consequence destroyed at once. This is not a
good neighbourhood for honey, as we have to
depend almost entirely on the limes for our
surplus. I have found it does not answer to
keep old queens, and I therefore re-queen
egularly every two years. I seldom lose a
rtock through adverse weather in winter.

MR. H. ANDREWS APIART, EGHAM, SURREY.

lowed by a second swarm or ' cast ' a few days
later ; and that same ' cast ' made the best
stock I have ever possessed before or since.
At that time I knew no more about bees than
they knew about me, but after they had
damaged my eyes in the way of ' putting up
the shutters ' a few times, I found, if I kept
bees, I must learn something about their
management, and this I did by reading up the
subject. I then commenced to make my own
hives, all of them built to take the standard
frame. Five of the hives made at that time
are seen in the picture ; they are all double -
walled. I had nine stocks when the photo
was taken, but have now reduced them to six.
The individual seen between the second and

" I note that many readers complain of their
bees getting the swarming fever, but I am
never troubled in this way. My bees seem to
be well satisfied with their old home as long
as they have room for their labours. I
believe in giving them plenty of room. I
give that a little in advance of their require-
ments, and this stops swarming with me.
What little knowledge I possess in the craft is
always at the service of those who seek it, and
this seems to afford equal pleasure to giver
and receiver.

" In addition to my apiary I have a large
fowl run at the back of my hives, so the fowls
and the bees together add a welcome few
pounds to my annual income,"

136

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[April 3, 1902.

(Correspondence continued from page 134.)

The catkius of hazel and alder are now in
bloom, but I have not seen bees working them.
Most early spring flowers, however, are not good
pollen- bearers. The first pollen seen carried
in was on March 16 — a good average date.
Weather is again extremely cold and wintry,
with showers of sleet and rain. Hill top3 are
once more robed in white. — D. M. M., Banff.

MY EXPERIENCE OF A " FORD-
WELLS" HIVE.

[4737.] The British Bee Journal com-
mends itself very highly to me on account of
the articles being, in the main, written by
practical bee-keepers, so that all your readers
have the benefit of their varied experiences.
Ih that connection I trust a few " notes " on
the above subject may not be without some
value, although I do not pretend to write as an
expert : — I first began bee-keeping forty-seven
years ago, but there have been two breaks
during that period when circumstances pre-
vented me from indulging in that pursuit,
which, in my case, is a recreation. Being
rather credulous, I became fascinated with the
glowing accounts given in your pages of the
results obtained from the style of hive known
as the " Wells " or double-queened hive, and I
became the possessor of a " Ford- Wells " three
years ago, getting it from a first-class maker.
Its arrival was the beginning of troubles.
First of all it was damaged in transit and had
to be repaired. On putting a swarm in each
compartment of the hive respectively the bees
of half of the swarm put in last joined the first
one, whereby the remainder became propor-
tionately weak in bees. Next, when the first
rain came, I found the roof leaked so badly
that quilts and combs were soaked. I then
made the roof watertight and thought my
troubles were over, but I was mistaken. In
due course it, with others, was taken to the
heather, and, on cycling there some time after,
I found that the roof and quilts were blown
right off by the wind.

The swarm first put in were working as if
nothing had occurred, but in the second lot
one-half of the bees were non-existent. How-
ever, as the frames of the deserted division
contained several drawn-out combs and some
honey, I put therein a driven lot of bees and
gave the latter a supply of food, but on
examination in the following spring I found
the bees dead. They had apparently
succumbed through rain getting in at the
roof-fillets, To remedy this defect I had new
and deeper fillets put on, and hived another
good swarm in the empty compartment in
June. This was the season of 1900 and a
bad year. The bees did not do much good
though they gathered sufficient stores for
wintering. In the spring of 1901, however,
I found the bees dead from the same cause as
before, viz., water again getting in. The first

swarm had also suffered severely. As soon as
possible I moved the bees and comb3 into a new
hive, and they did splendidly last year. I may
say that among other faults the dummy board
at the back also got warped, causing a draught
between it and the door, and in consequence
the bees did not winter well, the mortality
during the winter being out of all proportion.
From first to last I did not get a single
pound of honey from the hive, and my loss
was not less than £6. The moral is obvious.
- " S.," Nairn, N.B., March 29.

THE "DAWSON" FEEDING-STAGE.

[4738.] As many readers of the B.B.J.
(since its appearance in print* on page 117 of
your issue of the 20th ult.) have written
asking me to send them the above-named
appliance, will you be so kind as to allow me
to state, through your journal, that although
the inventor of this little contrivance, I do not
make or sell it. Messrs. James Lee & Son, 10,
Silver-street, High Holborn, W.C., are the
makers and sell them at 6d. each. — W.
Alfred Dawson, Loversall, Cobham, Surrey,
March 27.

KENT AND SUSSEX B,K.A.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The twenty-third annual meeting of the
above Association was held at the office of
the B.B.J., 7, King William-street, Strand,
W.C., on Saturday, March 22, Mr. E. D. Till
in the chair. The attendance was not so good
as usual, owing, no doubt, to the inclemency
of the weather. The usual formal business
was carried out, comprising the election of
officers, Council, and representatives to the
B.B.K.A. The report and balance-sheet dis-
cussed and adopted, regret was expressed
that the County Councils for the two counties
of Kent and Sussex had not yet seen their
way to assist the Association with grants in
aid of technical instruction in bee-keeping— a
decision which has greatly added to the
expenses thrown on the Association, and, in
consequence, ha3 increased its indebtedness
whilst limiting the Association's sphere of use-
fulness. Satisfaction was, however, expressed
with the work done during the past year,
especially with regard to grappling with foul
brood. The disease has been appreciably
reduced it/ both counties, but in Kent, where
its work has extended over a longer period,
only eighty-seven stocks of bees were found
affected —a fact that was considered excellent
evidence of the usefulness of the K. and S.
B.K. A.'s work. In view of the heavy expense
devolving upon the Association and its limited
means, it was decided that the strictest
economy would have to be exercised in order
to remove the debt, which had existed now
for some years past, and put the Association
on a sound business basis. Referring to

April 3, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

137

the work they were endeavouring to carry
out with regard to the debt, the chairman
jocosely remarked the debt was a legacy
left by those responsible for the Association's
management before the present officers took
its affairs in hand ; and, in fact, the Associa-
tion reminded him of the servant who, when
her mistress discovered a Guardsman in the
coal-cellar, replied to the inquiry "How he
got there 1 '' by gently hinting that " He was
left by the last cook ! "

The meeting concluded with the usual votes
of thanks. — {Communicated.)

NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM
BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Northumberland
and Durham B.K.A. was held in the Young
Men's Christian Association Building, Blackett-
street, Newcastle, on March 22. Mr. Fenwick,
of Netherwitton, occupied the chair, and
there was a good attendance.

Mr. James Waddell, Hon. Sec, submitted
the report for the year 1901, in the full
assurance that it contained evidence of the
continued usefulness of the Association in the
support and promotion of apiculture. The
Weather during the past year had on the whole
proved favourable to the production of honey,
for which there had been a fair demand. Earl
Grey had consented to accept the office of
president, and the Marchioness of Londonderry,
Mrs. Coote, Mrs. Gurney, Mr. W. A. Watson-
Armstrong, Mr. H. Crawford Smith, M.P.,
Professor Middleton, Mr. R. A. Luck, and
Mr. J. G. Angus had consented to become
vice-presidents. The Association's finances
had come out on the right side. They had at
present a credit balance of £5 Is. 2d., and over
twenty new members had joined during the
year. The report was adopted and officers
appointed.

Mr. J. N. Kidd, of Stockfield, then read an
interesting paper on " Bee-keeping, Old and
New." Mr. Kidd was heartily thanked for
his paper, and the meeting concluded with the
usual vote of thanks.— (Communicated.)

, PERSONAL INJURY FROM BEE-
STINGS.

HEAVY DAMAGES.

At Limerick Assizes, on March 13, before
Mr. Justice Johnson and a city special jury,
the case of O'Gorman v. O'Gorman was heard.
It was an action brought by Patrick O'Gorman,
a farmer's sod, residing at Gortnalougha,
Corofin, County Clare, against Peter O'Gorman
and Michael O'Gorman, farmers, of the same
place, to recover damages for personal injuries
sustained in the month of September, 1900,
through bees belonging to defendants.

Mr. Seymour Bushe, K.C., and Mr. Lynch
appeared for plaintiff.

Mr. M. J. Bourke, K.C., Mr. Brereton
Barry, K.C., and Mr. E. J. Phelps appeared
for the defendants.

The plaintiff deposed that the defendants,
who are father and son, reside next his place,
and kept bees. In September, 1900, he was
engaged in front of his father's house tackling
a horse, when the bees of a hive belonging to
the defendants attacked the horse and himself.
Witness was badly stung, as was the horse
also, and the animal in consequence began to
plunge, with the result that he was rushed by
the horse against a low wall a couple of yards
off. He was terribly stung about the face and
hands, and his back was injured through the
eontact with the wall. After getting free
from the wall he was again knocked down
by the horse. Previous to the accident
witness assisted his father on the farm, and
was the only son there to do the work about
the place. He was obliged to go into Ennis
Infirmary, and subsequently to the Mater
Hospital, Dublin. The accident rendered
him incapable of work : his sight became
weak, and his head got shaky and dizzy.

In cross-examination by Mr. Bourke, the
witness denied that he had met with an acci-
dent in the hayfield, nor was it true that
when building a rick of hay with a man
named Regan he fell from the rick.

The plaintiffs mother and sister gave corro-
borative evidence.

The father of the plaintiff said he had often
complained to the defendants about their bees,
which prevented his men from working, but
he was only laughed at.

Dr. Fogerty, Limerick, described the
plaintiff's condition, and said he was prac-
tically incurable, and incapable of any physical
work. The man could not stand or walk
without assistance, which was due to the
spinal cord being injured. From witness's
observations and from what he had been told,
the accident was capable of producing these
symptoms.

For the defence, Mr. Michael O'Gorman,
jun., defendant, deposed that the bees be-
longed to his sister Bridget, and on the day
in question, owing to her illness, he was
engaged taking honey from the bees, and
used all precautions in doing so, having had
twelve years' experience in such matters.
After he had removed the honey the mother
of the plaintiff told witness that the horse had
been stung by the bees. She did not say a
word about her son being hurt ; neither did
her daughters. He did not see the plaintiff
that day. He got no complaint from the
plaintiff, or anyone on his behalf, till April
27, 1901 — seven months after the accident
took place — when he got Mr. CullinanV
letter. He noticed that in the month of
August previous the plaintiff was not in his
usual health ; he seemed to be " yielding to
his back,'' and he was not working as
regularly as before.

Cross-examined by Mr. Bushe — He had not

138

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[April 3, 1902.

heard that Mr. Oorry and hia men had been
driven away by the bee3. He denied that the
plaintiff's mother called on him to look at her
son. He and the plaintiff had not been very
good friends for some time before this
occurred.

Mrs. Hynes, sister of the last witness, denied
that she saw the plaintiff on the ground on
the day in question, neither did he or any
member of his family say he had been injured
that day by the horse, and she saw him a week
afterwards drawing turf. She first heard that
plaintiff was injured some time after he had
gone to the County Infirmary.

Miss O'Gorman deposed to having seen
plaintiff drawing turf a week after the alleged
occurrence. But in the month of August,
previous to the accident, she noticed that the
plaintiff was weak in his gait.

Michael Began, junior, deposed to having
been loading hay with the plaintiff in August,
1900. Plaintiff was on the cart, and his leg got
entangled in the rope and he fell down on his
side. Before this, witness noticed that he was
not steady in his limbs. That was the second
fall he got off a cart.

Dr. Faris, medical officer of the Clare In-
firmary, deposed that plaintiff was admitted
on November 27, 1900, and remained there to
December 22. He complained of being very
dizzy and could scarcely walk. Each leg was
equally affected. Witness regarded the case
as being disease of the spinal cord of some
months' standing. He could find no disease
of the spine or any trace of external injury.
He looked upon the boy as being incurable.
The symptoms he observed were not, to his
mind, consistent with any injuries caused on
so recent a date as September 20, 1901.

Mr. Justice Johnson summed up and put
several questions to the jury, who found that
injuries were caused by the bees having stung
the horse and the plaintiff. They found that
the bees were the property of Michael
O'Gorman, and were negligently kept. They
found plaintiff had not been guilty of con-
tributory negligence, and awarded him £20fr

Mr. Barry, K.C., applied for a stay of
execution to the next sittings of the Divisional
Court. ,

His Lordship granted the application and
gave judgment for plaintiff with costs.

tfcftats flwm tfo Mum.

Oldbury Wells, Bridgnorth, March 28. —
I examined my ten stocks on Good Friday,
and am pleased to say 1 found they had all
wintered well, and are healthy and strong,
with a good lot of brood in all stages, with
every prospect of being ready for a good
season's work. In one hive I found a new

queen cell with an egg in it which, I think,
bids fair for early increase. Wishing all bee-
keepers a prosperous season. — J. S. Lanton.

$up}s and $$1^55.

[2819.] Uniting Bees in March.— I had a
stock of bees in which only drones were being
reared. On examining the combs I could find
no queen, but saw patches of sealed and un-
sealed drone-brood, much of it with cappings
off. Having by me a " cast " of last season on
two frames, rearing brood and doing well, I
united the two on Friday last, flouring them
well and making a swarm of the queenless lot.
They seemed to unite well — no sign of fighting
or of any disturbance whatever ; but on
Sunday, about midday, the enclosed bee was
found in front of the hive. 1. Will you kindly
tell me if enclosed bee is the fertile queen or
drone-breeder 1 2. If she is the fertile queen,
will the bees be likely to raise a queen from
her eggs (there are drones in the hive) 1 3.
Or would it be better to divide the stock
among my other four ? Could this be done
without risk of losing the other queens 1 — W.
Rodwell, Driffield, Yorks, March 31.

Beplt. — 1. The dead queen sent, which
had evidently been "balled" and roughly
pulled about before death, was too dry and
hard for post-mortem examination. We can-
not, therefore, answer your query. 2. Most
probably yes, but you must examine the combs
of the " cast " for queen-cells in order to
decide the point. 3. We should not upset the
other stocks by running any risk in order to
save the few bees and the small amount of
worker-brood referred to. It will be an inte-
resting experience for you to see if a queen is
raised and can be fertilised in April under the
conditions stated. Of course, the drone-
breeding queen and the bees of the stock are
of no use whatever in any case, so we should
make no effort to save them.

[2820.] Transferring Bees to " Wells'' Hive.
— Though a bee-keeper for sixteen years, I
have only been a constant reader of the
British Bee Journal and Record for twelve
months, and I am often much amused with
the letters of some who have only been in the
craft a fourth of that time writing about
"queen rearing,'' and dealing with other ab-
struse subjects quite beyond my reach. I have
a " Wells " or twin hive, one compartment of
which " went down'' about two years ago, and
I have worked it as a single hive ever since ;
and having bought a healthy stock in straw
skep, I wish to transfer the bees into vacant
end of the "Wells" hive, putting in perforated
partition. How early may I proceed ? Both
stocks are strong. I would like to still retain
stock in skep. — J. W., Yarn, Yorks,
March 29.

Reply.— If you wish to stock the empty

April 3, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

139

compartment of the H "Wells " hive and " still
retain the stock in sleep,'' as stated, there can
he no " transferring.1' The only plan is to
make an artificial swarm by " driving '' a
portion of the bees and queen from the skep,
and hiving them in the " Wells " hive in the
usual way. The bees left in skep will then
raise a queen and go on as before.

GLEANINGS FROM FOREIGN BEE
JOURNALS.

BY E. HAMLYN-HARRIS, F.R.MS., F.Z.8.,
F.E.S., ETC.

Le Rucher Beige (Belgium). — Last year a
great many death's-head moths (Sphinx
athropos) were seen. One was taken whose
proboscis did not measure less than seven
centimetres in length. Maeterlinck is of
opinion that they get into the hives by means
of their cry, which much resembles that of a
young queen. Experienced apiculturists
affirm that bees (in skeps) build little pillars
of propolis to reduce the entrance if the
winter threatens to be severe ; they do this
only to protect themselves against the in-
trusion of this huge gourmand, which would
soon appropriate a great portion of their
winter store. At the close of July a large
libellula (jfischua), a kind of dragon-fly,
made its appearance. It has an immense
head, and seizes the bees on the wing. This
insect is eight centimetres long, and has very
powerful mandibles.

Praktischer Wegweiser (Germany). — A
straw hive, still in good condition, was stand-
ing empty in the corner of an apiary intended
to receive a swarm when swarming time
arrived. In the early summer the owner
noticed some bees busily employed, as if
gleaning and tidying inside this hive ; at night
they had flown. This continued for several
days. At last, as he was sitting in his garden
one day, he suddenly heard the rushing sound
of a swarm overhead, which flew direct to a
large chestnut tree overhanging the before -
mentioned empty straw hive, of which they
quietly took possession. Some time after-
wards the owner found out that a neighbour
more than a mile distant had lost a swarm
mysteriously, which doubtless had already
found out the good empty hive and taken
possession as above related.

Leipziger Bienen Zeitung. — Humble bees
(Bombus terrestris) have been classed amongst
the enemies of bees. One may well ask why 1
The writer, in many years of bee-keeping,
never found that they do any harm in any
way to hive bees, while, on the other hand,
wasps are exceedingly injurious. They are
most numerous in autumn, just when the
hives have less strength and vigour, and they
take advantage of this to rob the bees of their
honey. Some years they appear in great
numbers and carry away a considerable

quantity. Humble bees, on the contrary, are
strongest in July and August, when they
would have small chance for pillage. In
autumn only the queen bombus remains,
These might now and then try to creep into
hives for shelter, but the bees could always
turn them out again without themselves
suffering any injury. We often speak of the
benefit to fruit trees of the visits of bees to
their blossoms ; the same is true of the humble
bee, and she ought to be carefully protected,
lest injury and even extermination should
attend her, as is greatly to be feared.

The Same. — " In the month of July,'' aays
L. Nieseu, of Dubweiler, " passing by a wood
near a coal-pit, I was witness of an interest-
ing spectacle, though to a bee-keeper's mind a
very saddening one. A large number of insects,
looking at first sight much like common wasps,
were flying over a piece of ground about 200
yards square. On closer inspection, however,
I soon recognised the bee wolf (Philanthus
triangulum), and could see under their
yellow bodies a black mass hanging, which, on
nearer observation, proved to be a honey-bee.
The creatures floated over the above-named
space of ground, and then dropped suddenly
and disappeared. On examining the soil, I
found it was composed of coal-dust, left
orginally in the form of mud from the
washing of the coal, and it was loose and easy
to form the excavations in which they
live. They are very difficult to kill, and if
knocked down they leave their prey and
escape. They appear to be armed with
powerful forceps, with which it is thought
they kill their victims. They do not seem to
have any sting (?). They are said to take
bees from the very flowers they are working on,
or to overpower them when wearied with
labour and ^heavily laden. I saw how con-
tinually fresh robbers appeared, each carrying
his prey, and on examining the soil I found
an immense number of dead bees lying on the
black coal dust. No wonder then when
hive3 do not thrive ! And this explained the
mysterious weakening of our stocks. Next
day, armed with a spade, I sought the mur-
derers in their holes. In all their passages were
found numberless dead bees — their bodies eaten
out entirely, others partially, and in each
passage we found four to five maggots of
different ages ; in some places they were
already pupated, and surrounded by quite a
heap of the chitinous remains of the bees.

" It is thought that the insect lays its eggs in
the body of a bee, the young maggot first
consuming that, and afterwards the other dead
bees which the careful mother lays up around
them.

" As the nests are only a few inches under
the soil, could not they be sought for and the
maggots dug up and destroyed with some
strong fluid as carbolic acid or chlorate of
lime ? ''

From Die Biene unci ihre Zucht. — Adul-
terators of honey grow bolder and bolder, even

140

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[April 3, 1902.

offering to bee-keepers and advertising in bee
journals "Table honey or sugar-honey 10 lb.
for 5s." In a Brunswick paper we read : —
" Fir honey made from the tips of tir trees and
the finest beet-sugar, 2§d. per pound." Here
no secret is made that there is no honey in the
preparation, and yet the word "honey " is dis-
played. The Leipsziger Bienen Zeitung men-
tions an advertisement of a " Table honey ! "
that never crystallises and has a very inviting
appearance ; price per 100 lb. 55s. Of course,
the public imagines this to be real honey, and
this evil will continue until the word " honey"
is protected by law.

Bicnenwirtschaftliches Centralblatt. — A
bee-keeper of thirty years' experience draws
attention to the fact that last summer (being
hot and dry) the bees worked a large field of
red clover with great success. What reason
can be assigned for this unusual conduct,
unless, the season being so dry, the clover may
have been much shorter than at other times ?

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All queries/ orwarded will be attended to, and thoie only
of personal interest will bt antwered in thi$ column .

S. M. Beaumont (Byde Park, W.). — Profit-
able Bee-keeping. — Our knowledge of the
district of Suffolk around Bury St. Edmunds
is that good bee-forage is plentiful, and fairly
good results are secured But when you
state that your " average profits have reached
£2 6s. per hive '' in your former location in
the Channel Islands, we cannot venture to
promise anything like so good a return in
Suffolk.

M. D. P. (Chislehurst). — Prevention of
Swarming. — The " Kymer " method of pre-
venting the issue of undesirable swarms
(described in B.B.J, of November 1, 1900)
was specially adapted for the heather
district in which Mr. Rymer is located, but
not suitable for Kent. You had best,
therefore, use the shallow-frame box below
the brood-chamber when the hive begins to
show signs of crowding ; and, as soon as the
bees have started building out the founda-
tion and worked down into the box, with-
draw the latter and set it above the
brood-chamber with a sheet of queen-
excluder between. Then, if honey is
coming in freely, add a second box of
shallow-frames below the first one. This
is the simplest plan of stopping swarming,
but it needs to attend to ventilation in
hot weather by raising the body-box
slightly up from the floor-board to allow
a free current of air, and so keep the bees
from being over-heated.

Jas. Mercer (Feltham). — Arranging for Bee
and Honey Shows. — Major Fair, Anlaby-
road, Teddington, Hon. Sec. of the Middle*-
sex B.K.A., will, no doubt, afford the
desired information with regard to a demon-

stration with bees in a properly-designed
bee-tent, if applied to.

Ratio (Leicester). — Queen-rearing by Begin-
ners — You will be saved much labour and
probable disappointment by deferring any
attempts at queen-rearing and nucleus
forming until such, time a? you have read
up the subject fully. It is useless relying
upon the few words we can give in this
column ; a text-book is a sine qua non if
success is to be hoped for. The " Guide
Book "deals with queen-rearing on ordinary
or simple methods, but if the artificial
" cell-cup '' method is to be followed, Doo-
little's book on " Queen-rearing," or the
B.B.J, containing Mr. Brice's articles on the
subject, should be obtained prior to making
a start.

W. P. Lloyd (Bideford). — Transferring to
Standard Frames. — As the frames of your
home-made hive are old sized ones we
should not attempt to transfer the combs to
"Standard" frames. It would make a
patchy job at the best, and is beyond the
power of "a beginner." Remove the skep
now on the top-bars of your frame-hive and
examine the latter to see if the queen is
breeding well below. If she is, set the
skep and bees therein on one side and
allow the bees to fly back to the frame-
hive, then place the latter on the top-bars
of your " Standard " frame-hive, and let the
bees transfer themselves by working down
into the latter as room is required.

F. Hamshar (Cuckfield). — Dealing, with
Starving Bees. — -The brood in comb has
died from " chill " owing to the bees desert-
ing it in moving on to other combs in
finding food. The dead bees found head-
foremost in cells have obviously perished
from hunger.

Ignorant Beginner (Taunton). — Securing
Surplus from Skeps. — If the skeps have flat
tops you will only need to get a catalogue
from one of our advertisers in order to see
how surplus-chambers for working on skeps
are made. The method of managing these
appliances is fully detailed in "Modern
Bee-keeping," price 7d. post free from this
office. ,

E. Oliver (Agneash, Isle of Man). — A Be-
ginner's Queries. — 1. Seeing that you do
not possess even the most elementary know-
ledge of bees or bee-keeping, it is wasting
time even attempting to give any adequate
help by brief replies in. this column. A
reliable guide book must be got and read,
otherwise it is useless to hope for success.
2. The feed-hole fixed top of the wooden
boxes mentioned will admit bees to the
surplus-chamber placed overhead, but it is
infinitely better to know how modern bee-
keeping is managed than by trying to work
on such crude methods.

W. C. (Southport).— Your article on " Doo-
little's Method of Queen Rearing" will
appear in our next.

April 10, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

141

(ftditorral, UtoticeB, kt

RURAL INDUSTRIES.

CONFERENCE AT WARWICK CASTLE.

In our issue of March 20 last we published
a communication from the Countess of
Warwick giving particulars of a conference it
was proposed should be held at Warwick
Castle on May 1. The object was, as stated,
to afford an opportunity for persons engaged
in — or connected with — any of the various
minor rural industries included in the lighter
branches of agriculture, to meet in friendly
discussion and make known their views on the
subject. Thus far the matter had only
reached its initiatory stage, but we now learn
that the response to Lady Warwick's appeal
has been so generally favourable that the con-
ference is not only definitely arranged, but
promises to be well attended.

We have just been furnished with the
" Provisional Programme of Conference "
(subject to alteration), which is arranged as
follows : —

Morning Sitting, 11 am.

Paper read by Lady Warwick on " An Organi-
sation which shall bind together the
Rural and Village Industries throughout
the country.''

Discussion.

An interval of one hour for lunch.

Afternoon Sitting, 2 p.m.

Paper on " Rural and Village Industries."
Discussion.

Papers read : (a) Motor Cars.

(h) Markets.
Discussion.

As the demand for tickets is considerable,
and the space in the conference-room at the
Castle is limited, forms will be issued on
which applications should be made ; on receipt
of these the claims of applicants will be duly
considered, but no tickets will be issued until
April 21.

Lady Warwick will provide hospitality for
the night, in the town, for those attending the
conference. The Castle will also be open to
view to the members on May 1. Tickets of
admission and tickets for hospitality will not
be issued until April 21. — Edith Bradley,
Organising Secretary, Lady Warwick Hostel,
Reading.

Each and all of the four papera mentioned
above have more or less of special interest for
our readers, seeing how much the "rural
industry " of bee-keeping has, perforce, to rely
upon " organisation," along with favourable
railway rates for ^transit of produce and bee
goods, and the importance of arriving at the
best means of finding a ready market for
British honey. It is to be sincerely hoped
that the favourable [opportunity now offered

will be taken advantxge of, and that the
generous and thoughtful hospitality provided
for those located far away will be appreciated,
and early application made for such tickets as
remain unallotted. Our desire is that the bee
industry may be worthily represented in view
of the important and varied items of interest
directly connected with bee craft which are
included in the above programme.

DERBYSHIRE B. K. A.

annual meeting.

The twenty-first annual general meeting of
the D.B.K.A. was held on March 1, at the
Town Hall, Derby, J. L. P. Barber, Esq., in
the chair, R. Giles, Esq., vice - chairman.
Among those present were Messrs. S. Poul-
son, H. I. Morris, G. Pallett, H. Hill, J.
Rowland, S. Durose, H. Bollington, J. Bake-
well, R. H. Coltman, J. Stone, T. W. Jones,
E. Glossop, G. Burfin, E. Swain, and J.
Meakin.

The minutes of last general meeting were
read and confirmed, after a " rider '' regretting
that no report on expenditure for dealing
with foul brood in the Northern division of
the county had been presented as desired.
The report showed a fairly prosperous year for
bee-keeping.

The total number of beekeepers visited by
the experts was 39S ; 1,251 frame-hives and
239 skeps having been examined. Total, 1,490
against 1,460 in the previous year.

Unfortunately several bad cases of foul
brood were reported in the northern division.
On the other hand, the southern division
shows a decrease of fully ")0 per cent, in the
number of stocks affected.

The annual show was held on September 1 1
and 12 in conjunction with the Derbyshire
Agricultural Show, and was in all classes well
up to the mark.

The election of officers then took place, the
president and vice-presidents, with one or two-
exceptions, were re-elected, as were also the
chairman, vice-chairman, and committee. Mr.
J. Rowland was re-elected expert for the
southern division, while Mr. Bollington takes
the place of Mr. Handby (resigned) in the
northern division. Mr. R. H. Coltman was
appointed hon. secretary, Mr. F. Walker
having resigned office.

The chairman then presented the challenge
cup and medals won by exhibitors during the
year, and the meeting was adjourned till
March 27 in the Town Hall as before.

The adjourned meeting was held at 2.30 p.m.
The hon. sec. (Mr. R. H. Coltman) presented
the balance-sheet, which was adopted. The
hon. sec. pointed out that several members
had not paid their subscriptions for 1901, the
amount due being over £9, thus showing a
very unsatisfactory state of things. On the
other hand, there had been an increase of
sixty new members during the year.

142

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 10, 1902.

Lectures were arranged to be given at five
centres, with a sixth in reserve, Mr. Jones
being appointed lecturer.

The local secretaries were then appointed,
and the meeting closed with a hearty vote of
thanks to the chairman.— {Communicated.)

CORNWALL B.K.A.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Cornwall Bee-
keepers' Association was held at the Town
Hall, Truro, on March 26, Mrs. Tomn presid-
ing. Among those present were Miss Tomn,
Miss E. Williams, Messrs. T. R. Polwhele
(hon. sec. and treasurer), John Brown, expert,
and W. Gibson.

The annual report stated that during the
past year twelve new members had joined, and
about the same number had fallen off. A
demonstration and competition for prizes was
held at the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Show
at Bodmin, but as it was early in the season
not much new honey was shown. The bee-
tent purchased by the committee was used at
Launceston, Callington, St. Veryan, North
and South Meneage, Constantino, St. Columb,
Redruth, and Mevagissey, and gave great
satisfaction. An examination for third-class
experts' certificates, under the auspices of the
British Bee-keepers' Association, was held at
the Royal Cornwall Show, Bodmin ; four
members entered and three received certifi-
cates. The increased interest in bee-keeping
in the county is shown by the greater demand
for the use of the bee-tent by local flower
shows. Several applications having been made
to the secretary for grants to agricultural and
flower shows, it must be remembered that the
grant from the County Council is strictly con-
fined to educational purposes, and therefore
cannot be used for prizes. The association,
however, is prepared to send its tent and a
lecturer to all agricultural and flower shows
free of cost, but grants for prizes cannot be
made unless applications are received before
the annual meeting.

The financial statement showed balance,
December 31, 1900, £91 15s. 5d. ; grant from
County Council, £40 14s. 6d. ; subscriptions,
£27 13s. ; total, £160 8*. lid. The expendi-
ture included £53 10s. 3d. paid to experts,
and the credit balance amounted to £75
2s. lid. The reports and accounts were
adopted.

The following officers were elected for the
ensuing year : — President, Viscount Clifden ;
Committee, Mrs. Tomn, Miss E. Williams,
the Revs. J. A. Kempe and A. Boscawen,
Messrs. S. H. Lanyon, W. Gibson, A. Curnow,
A. H. Wenmoth, G. W. Jevons, T. B. Hender,
J. W. Lawry, W. E. T. Bolitho, J. P. Richards,
J. Brown, L. G. Campbell, and W. K. Baker ;
Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. T. R.
Polwhele.

The meeting closed with the usual vote of
thanks. — {Communicated.)

HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of
March, 1902, was £2,598.— From a return
furnished to the British Bee Journal by the
Statistical Office, H.M. Customs.

The Editort do not hold themselves responsible for the
opiniont expressed by correspondents. No notice will b*
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.

%* 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.

[4739.] With the month of April has comi
the usual showers and sunshine, though wii
north and north-west winds bees have not
ventured far afield to visit distant woods.
Spring in this district is cold and late, and
thus the bee-forage available is much restricted.
I have supplied artificial pollen dady to supple-
ment the natural income available, and it has
been taken to with avidity. I mention this
as being stimulative for brood - raising, and
when these lines are read a " warm wave "
may have caused our bees to revel in an
abundance of natural pollen. This may
already be plentiful in other and earlier
districts. Indeed, there are apiaries within
a few miles of me which have an abundance
of the palm willow growing near from
which pollen is freely gathered, and also
some honey on warm days, but such apiaries
do not shine for productiveness, though the
owners are "experts.'' I visited an out-
apiary the other day some five or six miles off,
and found half the hives infested with wax-
moth and foul-brood. With regard to wax-
moth, it was the worst case I iuve ever seen.
The bees had died out in the early autumn of
last year, and the wax-moth hid possession
in the larval stage. No doubt the large
number of moths which matured spread
abroad, and must have left a legacy
for the bee-keepers of the district to
deal with in the coming season. I pity the
poor cottager who lives near such centres of
real pestilential mischief, and the cottager
skeppist is not habitually overhauling h"
hives, nor does he often know of the havo
these destructive creatures make. Whe:
" taking up time " comes a fresh army of mot
will have passed on to wreak destruction
other hives not teeming with bees. Our onl
hope is in vigilance and prompt burning
hive and colony when found. When our frien
the Rev. Dr. Bartrum some years ago referre

April 10, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

143

to this pest a3 likely to make bee -keeping
unprofitable, if not impossible, I had no idea
of the mischief it could cause.

Decoys for Swarms. — Mr. L. Quayle some
time ago asked if it is possible to attract
swarms to certain easy hiving places ? At my
out-apiary I have light brushwood " bavins "
placed in a leaning position against a forked
stick, the fork of the stick being rubbed with
beeswax. These contrivances attract some
swarms every year and are excellent places for
securing the bees. I also tie pieces of old
worn quilts, waxed and propolised ad lib. on
some of the low branches of the surrounding
trees. I call these " bee-bobs," and they also
attract swarms. A straw skep which has been
occupied by bees is very useful for the purpose
if hung on a strong stake or on the above-
mentioned " forked stake "' with the short
wood bavin leaning on it. But sometimes
our " best laid schemes " fail, and the swarm
will in " sheer cussedness '3 betake themselves
to the church roof a couple of miles away or to
the top of a tree beyond reach of either ladder
or "climber."

Insurance Scheme. — I notice Mr. Edwards,
at the late conversazione, referred to my
remark, at the Berks B.K.A. annual meeting,
on the disparity in the amount guaranteed in
comparison with the premium paid by the
insurer. In my case I should have to pay
16s. 8d. to get £30, but my neighbours, with
half-a-dozen hives, get the same amount for
6d. If so, I shall take my own risk, as I have
no doubt many others will also who own large
apiaries. The outsider will, no doubt, argue
differently, and say that bees in a large apiary
are more likely to do mischief than in a small
one. But is it so in practice ? I consider that
the bee-keeper who wishes to insure should,
for a stipulated sum, secure up to a certain
sum as compensation. But the whole thing is
so complicated that it will, no doubt, be best
to wait till the committee who are dealing
with the matter have formulated their scheme,
and then bee-keepers will be able to make
their own comments upon it. — Wm. Woodley,
Btedon, Ncivbury.

SOME ESSEX NOTES.

[4740.] In reply to inquiries I have had
respecting my apiary (shown on page 115), I
may say the ground on which the hives stand
is what is usually called short land, caused by
a crooked hedge at a corner of an arable field.
The land I occupy is harp-shaped, and on the
open side I grow a row of scarlet-runners,
which serves the purpose of a screen, and also
causes the bees to fly higher than they other-
wise would in summer. This helps to prevent
flying bees from coming in contact with horses
when the field is being ploughed, &c. This
year the field is "fallowed," or rested — if
frequent turniDg and harrowing the ground
may be called " resting " — but to me it means
that horses will be working on the land about

every three weeks during the coming summer.
I have sometimes got the men to begin work
an hour or two earlier than usual in warm
weather by a trifling gift, such as a little honey
for their breakfast, or a bottle of mead. When
they have finished work, this goes a long way
towards removing trouble. It is known that
horses perspire a good deal when at work in
warm weaiher,and this is sure to cause trouble
if bees are about. From personal observa-
tion, I can say that bees do not attack animals
when the latter are cool and grazing quietly.

One correspondent alludes to his intention
of closing the hive-entrances while horses are
working near them, but to confine a dozen or
twenty strong stocks of bees to their hives on
a hot day is a " large (and very risky) order."
Besides, if the farmer sends word overnight
that his horses will be at work near the apiary
on the following day, the weather may alter
his plans, or " the grey mare may want
shoeing," or a dozen other things may happen.
Of course, it is possible to confine a few stocks
for a day without harm, if attention is given
to shade and ventilation.

Letters in the daily Press about what may
be done by cottagers and others in the country
are often not only misleading and amusing,
but not seldom annoying, and the cause of
serious trouble to cottagers like myself. When
my health failed and 1 had to rely upon my
knowledge of bee-keeping for the support of
myself and family, I experienced the greatest
difficulty in hiring a piece of land on which
to place my hives. The very small garden
attached to my cottage is of no use for bee-
keeping.

Going to the Heather. — I recently adver-
tised some spare queens for sale in this
journal, and of the very large number of
applications for them the bulk came from
heather districts. I think this proves that,
like all other good things, the production of
heather-honey has its disadvantages. Any-
way, it shows that a large number of queenless
stocks and colonies with drone-breeding
<jueens in the heather districts in early spring
may be largely attributable to the late and
necessarily great disturbance of the hives in
autumn. I daresay readers will note that
the queens advertised are already sold, but
applications for them continue to come in.

The B.B.K.A. Conversazione. — Having
seen the " swarm-catcher " exhibited by Mr.
Edwards last autumn, I must say that the
appliance referred to is an improvement on all
1 had previously examined, but there is to my
mind still a good deal left to chance in the
" catching." It may secure the swarms of
bee-keepers who live in towns or their
suburbs, but personally I prefer the more
reliable live swarm-catcher — i.e., the bee-
keeper himself.

Mr. Beid's Remedy for Bee Stings. — I once
heard it said that the best cure for bee Btings
is to " get used to them,'' and there is, no
doubt, some truth in this ; but if we take

144

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 10, 1902.

stings themselves as a remedy for the after
effects, may we not regard the result as an
actual cure for bee stings ? No doubt we
should have to get stung pretty regularly and
often for a year or two before the cure is
complete.

Technical Education in Bee-keeping. —
While bee-keeping associations would do
well by getting into closer touch with the
county councils, it appears to me that owners
of large estates have it in their power to do
much for the advancement of the craft in the
locality where their lands lie. It sometimes
makes one wonder that this is not done, for
both employer and employees would benefit.
To teach modern bee-keeping must enlighten
those taught, and tend to uplift the scholar.
In this direction it is gratifying to learn that
a Member of Parliament has been elected
upon the Council of the British Bee-keepers'
Association. — Wm. Loveday, Hatfield Heath,
Harloiv, Essex.

QUEEN-KEARING.

doolittle's method.

[4741.] With our Editor's permission, I
should like very much to advise those thirty-
one bee-keepers who wrote to inquire of Mr.
W. H. Brown (4725, page 113) about
Doolittle's method of raising queens to buy
the book as written and illustrated by Mr.
Doolittle, which can be had, I think, in
paper cover for 1 dollar, i.e., 4s. 2d. and
postage. In it they will find directions down
to the minutest detail, as well as heaps of other
good things, which are a real " gold mine " to
the bee-keeper.

It is utterly impossible in a short article
like the one in question, and at second hand,
as it were, to do justice to this important
subject. I like to re-queen my stocks every
year, seeing that everything depends on having
a young and vigorous queen at the head of
every colony. I have followed Doolittle s
method, with a slight modification, for some
time. Being on the wrong side of sixty and
having to wear glasses, I find it difficult to
transfer larvaa. This being so, I start my celh
in a queenless stock for from eight to ten
hours, after which they are put in the upper
story of a strong stock with a queen over one
year old below a la Doolittle.

Each of my queen-cells is built on a
separate peg, and can be handled separately at
any time, yet I do not make any artificial
cell-cups, nor transfer larvpe, nor do I put
" royal jelly " in the cells, as this is done for a
start by the queenless bees during the first
eight or ten hours referred to above ; at the
same time, each cell is built on a peg and con-
tains a selected larva of the right age from
my best queen.

When about fourteen days old from the
laying of the egg I take each cell from the
peg on which it was built and completed, and
put the cell into a queen-nursery cage, in

which it is hatched. The " nursery " in my
case is in the form and size of a Standard
frame, and contains twelve cages. The
nursery containing the cells is then placed in
the middle of a queenless stock until the queens
emerge from the cells. If desired, you can
put the nursery in an upper story, with a
queen below, excluder zinc being between ;
but I find the bees do not feed the young
queens, so you will need to put food in the
cages in order that the young queens may
not starve.

The beauty of this nursery is that you can
handle each separate cage and examine the
queens, and reject any you think small or
faulty ; but if carried^out correctly you will be
surprised at the queens you will get. All
these and more details will be found in the
book. It is impossible for me to do justice to
this .important matter, so to every one inte-
rested I would say, buy the book. Twenty
shillings would not buy mine if I had no
chance to replace it.

I have sixteen stocks, and hope to raise
twenty or more queens this coming season,
get them mated and laying, and after the
honey gathering is over, give them to my
stocks ready for another year.

I have only touched on a very tiny part of
this enthralling and fascinating subject, a3 I
fear you, Mr. Editor, would object to my
length if I went on to describe the whole
process as I carry it out from beginning to end.
— Wm. Carr, 6, Norwood-avenue, Southport,
March 26.

BEES IN CHESHIRE.

marketing honey.

[4742.] As I never see any reports with
regard to bee-keeping in this part of Cheshire,
and, a3 our Junior Editor is aware, there are
capable bee-keepers here (some of whom he
was persoaally acquainted with when resident
in Cheshire), it seems to me strange that one
or other should not be able to send an occa-
sional report. I therefore now forward a line,
which may be useful as bearing on the question
of selling honey.

I am pleased to say my four stocks recently
cheerfully answered the " roll call '' when
examined, and are in first-rate condition,
being strong in bees, stores, and have brood in
all stages. The bees of the original stock
with which I started two years ago now cover
ten frames, and seem as strong as at any
period last summer. Two of the other hives
contain " driven lots " I got last September
and put on eight frames. I fed the bees up
rapidly, and they are now in splendid condi-
tion. The other stock is on the full ten
frames, and of these the bees cover eight ; in
this case also they are in good condition and
working well. I first saw pollen carried in on
February 28, but earlier in the day I had
noticed some hundreds of bees working on
cut blooms exposed outside a fruiterer's shop

April 10, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

145

in the town. I wa3 therefore not surprised
on arriving home at noon to see mine busy.
On Ea3ter Monday they fairly rolled the
pollen in, nearly every bee carrying home its
load.

I have occasionally seen it stated in your
pages the great difficulty some correspondents
have in disposing of their honey. Perhaps
my experience may therefore be of some use
to such. Two seasons ago (my first year with
bees), owing to getting them late in June and
not understanding how to super them, J got
only 6 lb. of honey from my one hive, and as this
was dark in colour I only sold a small
quantity and used the remainder.

Last season, however, I got 70| lb. of
surplus from my two hives, i am employed
at a shop, and every morning have to call at
the houses of the neighbouring gentry for
orders, and it was my custom to carry a couple
of bottles of honey with me and ask the maid to
let her mistress see it, and say it was for sale.
I had not often to carry the honey back ; in
fact, on some mornings I got as many as 10 lb.
ordered. The consequence was in about a
month I had not only sold my own lot, but
also some 89 lb. for two friends of mine. I
then ceased to push sales, but having a repeat
order for 6 lb., I got another three dozen 1-lb.
jars from a friend. That was in February,
and I have only half-a-dozen left of them, and
expect an order for these next week.

I think this shows if it has to be sold it is
no use sitting expecting customers to come
for it, but let it be known you can supply
pure honey from your own bees, and sale3 will
ensue. What pleases me most, one of my
customers had been used to buyiDg foreign
honey from her grocer's, but after trying one
of my jars I have had repeat orders to date of
22 1b. from her. — " Ebor," Dunham Valley,
Cheshire, April 4,

DEALING WITH FOUL BROOD.

[4743.] I beg to thank you for your " wire "
of yesterday — "Foul brood and drone-breeding
queen " — surely a double-barrelled piece of
calamitous news for me ! It has filled me
with intensest distress and pain. But in-
stantly reoognising my plain duty to other
bee-keepers, as well a3 to myself, I proceeded
to the garden within half an hour of the
receipt of your " wire." The bees were sul-
phured, for although it was unspeakably
painful, I felt that nothing short of the most
drastic measures would meet the case. The
quilts, frames, and combs have been burnt,
and it but remains to have the brood-nest
scorched with a painter's lamp, followed by a
few paintings with solution No. 10 in " Guide
Book." The scourge is too terrible to admit
of either leniency or procrastination, for I
dread it like the plague.

I was made very uneasy not long ago when
reading last year's volume of the B.B.J, to
find that one adopting the initials "J. B.," of

this town, sent you a sample of comb affected
with foul brood. I know not what the rule
of the Editors is in these matters, but I do
think that the full name and address of such
persons should be supplied to those who apply
for them — for reasons obvious enough to
enthusiastic bee-men — that there might be
"something attempted, something done," as
the song says.

I trust these lines may be read by Mr.
Loveday (we all wish him better health), for
in his "Notes " on page 115 he told us he had
" passed a special examination in foul brood."
He would probably be permitted more space
than could be afforded in the column headed
" Queries and Replies." If he will be good
enough, I should like to know : —

1. What measures of precaution, if any,
against bee-pest he would advise, other than
those mentioned in the " Guide Book " (medi-
cated food, naphthaline, strong colonies,
cleanliness, &c.) ?

2. What race of bees is least susceptible to
attack ?

3. How long has the disease been raging
before the spore stage is reached ?

4. As inexperienced bee-men are ignorant of
foul brood until the indented, dark, perforated,
irregular brood is found, what are the sure
signs to the trained expert ?

5. How long, as a rule, does the rod stage
last?

I should be glad for enlightenment on the
above, and, may be, others of your readers
may also obtain the same. — William
Richards, " Gabalfa,'* Cardiff, April 7.

THE " FORD-WELLS " HIVE.

ANOTHER BEE-KEEPER'S EXPERIENCE.

[4744 .J The " notes " by your correspondent
" S." (4737, page 136) of his experience with
a " Ford-Wells '' hive may be of some value if
only they give other bee-keepers the oppor-
tunity of stating the results that have been
obtained from this hive.

Being the possessor of a " Ford- Wells " my
experience may interest some B.J. readers, and
especially your correspondent who has failed
so lamentably.

I purchased my " Ford- Wells " in the spring
of 1898 from Mr. E. H. Taylor, Welwyn, who,
I believe, is the sole maker of this hive. The
hive arrived undamaged, having been well
crated before despatch it was impossible for
it to get broken in ordinary traffic. After
unpacking, I thoroughly examined it and
found neither flaw in the material nor fault
in the construction ; in fact, it was built of
excellent material and the workmanship was
of the best.

As soon as the hive was painted (I painted
the roof inside as well as outside), I trans-
ferred two stocks from single hives into it,
and after four successive summers' experience
I can say that the hive has worked admirably,

146

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 10, 1902.

and afc no time has one lot of bees left
" their compartment, and joined the other."
Neither have I found " one lot dead," while
the roof, after four years' trial, is still water-
tight. My lowest " take " from this hive in
one season was 80 lb., and that was in the
bad year of 1900. I have introduced queens,
and raised queens in both compartments,
always with success. I have also only once
had a swarm, and that was my own fault in
neglecting to put the supers on. I find the
stocks build up quicker in the spring in a hive
of this type, owing to the heat produced by
the two colonies enabling me to spread the
brood without fear of being chilled. I thus
get a strong force of workers ready to take
advantage of the first honey-flow.

On examining the hive on April 2 I found
seven frames of brood (not patches) in one
compartment and six in other, so that there
are thirteen frames in all, and only the per-
forated dummy in centre to separate them,
so that it is, therefore, reasonable to think
that with April-like progress the bees will be
ready for the shallow-frames by the time the
apple-trees are in bloom.

If your correspondent will tack a piece of
zinc on the roof and make it watertight, and
tie the roof on if in an exposed position, get
a new dummy board (sliding back wall I pre-
sume he means), to stop the draught. Then put
a couple of stocks in that have some " go " in
them, tier up with shallow frames at the right
time, and the bees will fill them if there is
honey to be found within two miles — Arthur
H. Homersham, Slurry, Kent, April 5.

TWO QUEENS IN A HIVE.

[4745.] Mr. Withycombe (E.B.K. A. Expert)
to-day examined my stocks, all of which were
found healthy and in good condition ; but one
hive had already hatched out a new queen,
and had also some drones, while the old
queen was in the hive and still laying. There
was a very good patch of brood on two comb3
and a fair quantity of eggs. He thought this
might interest your readers. Is this the first
queen to be hatched out in Coronation year 1
— G. R. Alder, Essex, April 3.

BEE-KEEPING IN MIDDLESEX.

AN APPEAL.

[4746.] Having been appointed Honorary
Local Secretary to the Middlesex Bee-
Keepers' Association for the Harrow division
of Middlesex, I wish to obtain the names of
bee-keepers in this district, in order that, if
possible, we may hold a local show for honey,
&c, this year.

Will you, therefore, be so kind as to allow
me to request any bee-keepers in Harrow,
Wembley, Pinner, Wealdstone, Mill Hill,
and thereabouts, to send me their names as
soon as possible.

The annual general meeting of the Associa-
tion will be held very shortly, and if any of
your readers would like to join the Society at
once, in order to participate in the drawing of
prizes, I would mention that the annual
subscription is 5s., and that this subscription
entitles the contributor to two visits from the
paid expert of the Association each year. —
J. B. Lamb, Bathgowry, Harrow View,
Harrow, April 7.

WEATHER REPORT.

Westbourne, Sussex.

Rainfall, 1'92 in.

Heaviest fall, -58 in.,
on 14th.

Rain fell on 11 days.

Average exactly.

Maximum Tempera-
ture, 59°, on 31st.

Minimum Tempera-
ture, 28°, on 24th
and 26th.

Minimum on Grass,
12°, on 26th.

Frosty Nights, 8.

Sunshine, 125'3 hours.

Brightest Day, 21st,
10 hours.

March, 1902.
Sunless Days, 6.
Below average, 27'8
hou^s.

Maximum,
Minimum,
Temperature,

Mean

51-7°.
Mean

37 3°.
Mean

44-5°

Above average, 4'4°.
Maximum Barometer,

30-45°, on 17 th.
Minimum Barometer,

29 15°, on 24th.

L. B. BlRKETT.

<&ihm from tht 3§tM8.

Brook Hall, Londonderry, April 6. — First
let me say mine is a beginner's echo. The
weather for the last five davs has been favour-
able for the bees. The previous fortnight not,
heavy rain and hail falling frequently. My
bees are now gathering pollen in large quanti-
ties. To-day I made my spring overhaul. I
have two stocks in bar-frame hives and one
straw skep as a parent stock. In the two wooden
hives there is plenty of capped brood, and in
one I saw a queen- cell nearly finished. I also
saw newly hatched bees on the combs. I
think the bees are strong for the time of year
and locality. We mainly depend on wild-
flowers and fruit trees for early forage, then
lime trees, with heather for a finish up. The
willow catkins are just over, but the early
spring flowers, buttercups and wood anemones,
are a substitute.— E. F. Gilliland.

(fiuiruis mi Jj^Iuis.

[2821.] Sending Queen-bees by Bost. — As a
reader of the B.B.J. I beg to ask :— 1. When
sending a queen by post, say from Ireland to
England, how many attendants should be put

April 10, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

147

in the cage with her and how much food ? 2.
When introducing queen, should the attendants
be placed in introducing cage with her ? I have
the " Guide Book" and Cowan's "Honey
Bee," and in neither can I find an answer, so
I should feel obliged for an answer to the
above questions in Bee Journal. — John
Smith, Springfield, co. Kilkenny, April 5.

Reply. — By procuring an up-to-date queen-
cage we fail to see how you can go wrong on
either of the points named. The space for
attendant bees is, of course, restricted by the
size of the compartment, as is the amount of
food in the same way. We therefore reply : —
1. The number of attendant bees is a matter
for the bee-keeper's discretion or convenience.
To mention six or a dozen bees as the needful
number would only tend to " worry '' a
beginner in filling in the stated number. It
only requires that the bee-keeper should use
his intelligence, which tells him that a few
attendant bees are required to keep the queen
warm and feed her as required. You must
fill the aperture with properly prepared soft
candy. 2. Some bee-keepers remove the
attendant bees ; others do not trouble to do
so ; it^is a matter of choice. In your case we
should leave them, to avoid risk of queen
escaping from the cage when freeing it of
attendant bees. The " Guide Book " has a
whole chapter on introducing queens, with
six illustrations and description of various
types of queen-cage and methods of intro-
duction. Surely this should help you ?

[2822.] Suspected Queenlesmess. — About a
week ago I found one of my stocks apparently
queenless, for there was only a little drone
brood in the centre of the hive, which I
supposed was from the eggs of a fertile worker,
so I drove the bees from .a skep and ran
them into the hive on Friday, but found the
queen had not gone from the skep, and I put
her into the hive on a piece of comb as soon
as found, about half an hour later. To-day
(Monday) I looked to see if she had started
laying. There were no eggs, but I saw a queen
cell. I could not see a queen, but I am not
good at spotting queens, so I gave them some
brood and eggs from another hive. 1. Will
you kindly advise me what to do ? I have
another skep, or could buy a queen. 2. Do
you think there is a queen in the hive now I
— " Disappointed," Warminster, April 7.

Reply. — 1. If the queen-cell seen is newly
built, it is pretty certain that the queen of the
driven bees has come to grief. You had
better see if a queen is raised from the eggs
and brood last given, for although it is early
for any chance of a queen being mated, if one
is reared, it will do no harm to wait before
buying a queen to take the place of the one
lost. 2. If a queen- cell is raised as mentioned
above, it is safe to say the hive is now
queenless.

[2823.] Bee Stings and Immunity from
Infection. — Do bee stings protect one from

infection 1 We know that formic acid is one
of the most powerful disinfectants known to
chemists. It would be interesting to know if
any bee-keeper ha3 been attacked with small-
pox, for instance. I was recently vaccinated,
but, much to my surprise, was not incon-
venienced even in the slightest, whereas on
both previous occasions — the last, seventeen
years ago — I have had a very bad time of it.
As I have been asked by a medical man, who
is a personal friend of mine, to inquire if bee
stings have had a similar effect on other bee-
keeping friends, I shall be greatly obliged to
hear the experience of others. — " Formalin,''
Essex, April 3.

Reply. — We are very pleased to hear you
can even suppose that your bee-stings have
had a beneficial effect as stated. It is a well-
known fact that good results have followed
inoculation by bee-stings in cases of rheu-
matism, but we should want strong evidence
before crediting the formic acid in the sting-
poison with securing any immunity from small-
pox. Any reliable information, however, from
bee-keepers on the point would, of course, be
welcome.

NOVELTIES FOR 1902.

A NEW POSTAL AND INTRODUCTION CAGE.

This new queen-cage was one of the novelties
shown at the B.B.K.A. Conversazione on
the 20th ult,, and attracted considerable
attention. The form of the cage, together
with the method of using it, will be made
clear by the accompanying cuts (figs. 1 and 2),
along with Mr. Edwards's description as given
by himself at the meeting referred to. He
said : —

" In construction it was simply a small block
of wood, 4^ in. by If in. by f in., with two
transverse and one longitudinal holes bored
completely through it. There was more wood
left at one end of the cage than at the other,
and the longitudinal hole at this end served
as the candy-chamber, the end of the hole
being closed with a wafer of cork. The cor-
responding hole at the opposite end was for
inserting queen and attendants, and this was
then also closed with cork. Bored in the
wire- cloth covered side of the cage would be
seen a small hole which communicated with
the cand> -chamber, and this to some extent
was the ' essence of the invention.' The cage
containing the new queen was placed on the
hive, and once there need not be touched for
a week ; and while the bees of the hive had free
access to the candy at once, the smallness of
the hole was such that, as soon as the food
was eaten away to a certain depth, the body
of a single bee sucking at the sweets blocked
up the opening ; consequently, some time
must elapse before the candy was all eaten
away, and in the meantime bees and queen
were getting familiarised. He believed that
by the use of this cage queen-introduction

148

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 10, 1902.

could be made almost a certainty. The
'observatory' feature — a piece of mica se-
cured to the back of the cage — allowed the
progress of matters to be watched without
:my interference with or disturbance of the
hive — the cause, probably, of many failures
in queen-introduction.

"iFig. 1 is a general view of the cage, wire-
cloth uppermost, and fig. 2 is a part-sectional
view serving to make its construction clear,
the cage here being shown as it would be used

Fig.

on the hive, mica uppermost. The letter
references are as follow : — A, circular cham-
ber for queen and bees (ventilated by a
saw cut S across the end of the cage) com-
municating by 0 with a non-ventilated
chamber B ; C is that portion of the longitu-
dinal hole serving as the candy compartment,
and E is the eating-out ' hole communica-
ting therewith ; PP are the plug3 of cork ; W

Fig. 2.

is the wire-cloth, and M the mica. When in
transit by post, a piece of corrugated paper
wrapped longitudinally round the cage covers
the cork plugs and minimises any risk of
damage."

BEE-KEEPING FOR WOMEN.

HOW TO BEGIN.

If you are going into bee-keeping as a busi"
ness you should begin at the very beginning,
and know something about bees.

When I first commenced driving I did not
drive a herse until I knew how to harness and
unharness it. I wanted to learn enough about
the harness, so that if anything went wrong
about it I would know what it was that was
wrong, and how to remedy it ; and more than
once I have been glad I knew something about
the harness, as I should have been in a bad
plight if I had not.

A beginner of to-day has such an advantage
over a beginner of, say, forty years ago.

Almost everything then had to be learned by
actual experience, and some of the experience
was costly. I venture to say that some of
the veterans would have paid a good price to
have had some of their questions answered
forty years ago. Now, all the beginner has to
do is to send the question to the American Bee
Journal, and back comes the answer. And just
think of working with bees without a smoker
and all the modern conveniences we have to-
day ! So, beginner, whoever you are, count
your many blessings, and do not for-
get under what bright prospects you
are starting your venture, and don't
you dare to get discouraged. If
you are tempted in that direction,
just think back what it would have
been forty years ago, and all your
discouragements will vanish like
smoke.

Who knows what bright prospects
the bee-keeper of forty yeare from now may
expect 1 With bees with long tongues and a
non-swarming strain (I certainly hope they will
reach that point during my lifetime), bee-
keeping forty years from now may be a perfect
dream of bliss, even if at present it is not.

There are so many and such good books
and bee-keeper3 that a thorough study of
them will give you a pretty good foundation
to start on. But there are some things that
you must get directly from the bees them-
selves.

Suppose you start with a very few
colonies. That will give you a chance
to experiment with the bees, and gain
experience. Then, if you do have
some loss in learning your lesson, it
will not be as heavy as if you had a
larger number.

I don't* see why a woman is not in
every way qualified to keep bees as
well as a man, if she has the brains and
knows how to use them. To be sure, in the
matter of strength man has the advantage,
but it is usually more than balanced by a
woman's power of endurance, patience, and
perseverance.

Let us hope that if you are going to keep
bees you are in a good locality. That has so
much to do with your success or failure. It
seems to me that in bee-keeping more than
any other business there are so many elements
entering into it over which you have no con-
trol. You may have your colonies ever so
strong, all ready for the harvest, and yet not
get any crop, because there is no nectar in the
Howers ; or the weather may be too cold ; or it
may be too wet, or too dry, or there may not be
any clover, &0. Well, I always feel better
reconciled to a failure of that kind than I
would to have an abundant flow of nectar and
not have the bees ready for it.

Unless you have some capital to fall back
on it is well to make the bees pay their own
way. I am not sure but it is a good
plan to make them do it any way,

April 10, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

149

capital or no capital. You may not in-
crease your colonies quite so fast, but you
are on pretty safe ground. If you keep a
strict account of what your bees cost you, and
what they bring in, you are a good deal more
likely to make money on them than if you run
on the haphazard plan, because you will be
more careful of your expenditures, and buy
only what you really need.

Another very important item is that you
have good stock. It costs just as much to
keep a poor colony of bees as a good one.
They may be equally strong, and one colony
give you 50 lb. of surplus honey, and the
other only 15 lb. You will readily see that
the 15-lb. colony is not a profitable invest-
ment. What will you do about it ? The first
thing to do is to kill the queen of the poor
colony, then give them a queen reared from
your best colony. You may not get as good a
queen as its mother, but you are not likely to
get as poor a one as the one you killed ; and
by breeding from your best queens and killing
your poor ones, in time your stock must be
improved ; and good queens mean more dollars
and cents every time.

What do we mean by good queens ? We
mean the ones that produce workers that are
hardy and are good honey-gatherers. When
we have queens that will produce that kind
of bees, we call them "good queens.'' We
do not care whether they are yellow, leather-
coloured, or black ; whether their bees are
three-handed or not, only so they get the
honey.

To be sure, if we could have their good
qualities, and the golden yellow bands com-
bined, we would like it ; but we are not going
tJ give up the good workers for the sake of
having yellow bees, no matter how pretty they
are. It is honey we want. I would pay three
times as much for a tested queen that had
been tested as to the quality of her bees as
honey-gatherers as I would for a tested queen
that had been tested merely as to the number
of bands her bees had. — Emma M. Wilson,
in American Bee Journal.

TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED.

George Rose, Liverpool, Preston, and
Ormskirk, — Mr. Rose, who is nothing if not
original, again sends us a big catalogue, which
is this year in most particulars unlike any one
else's in size, shape, and contents. It is, in
fact, a combined list of garden seeds, plants,
trees, and general nursery stock, with
'■ cultural directions for every month in the
year," along with a full line of bee appli-
ances and everything pertaining to or con-
nected with bee culture. The 82 (long quarto
foolscap) pages are literally bubbling over
with illustrated descriptions of the many
things dealt with. Among them bee goods
have a prominent place, and we find the best
known appliances made at home and abroad
handled wholesale and retail in big lots. The

great value, however, to bee-keepers of Mr.
Rose's list is its usefulness for hanging up in
the bee-house as a book of reference regarding
the price, size, and style of every possible
requirement in the apiary or garden. We
therefore cannot do better than advise readers
to write for a copy, and let Mr. Rose speak
for himself and his methods of doing
business, which he does with no uncertain
sound, and in the manner of one who " knows
whereof he speaks."

Jas Lee & Son, 10, Silver -street, Bury-
street, Bloomsbury, London,. — Messrs. Lee's
list has again been thoroughly revised for
1902, several novelties being introduced for
the coming season. The firm have also made
arrangements for the prompt supply of selected
queens, stocks, and swarms of bees, so that
6very branch of the business is now fully
equipped for the coming season. No goods
save such as have had a practical trial — in
order to test their efficiency — seem to have a
place in this catalogue. It is also refreshing
to see so many appliances listed which were
originally devised by themselves. The senior
partner, Mr. James Lee, has probably had a
longer and more varied experience as a
hive-maker than any one in the trade,
besides being himself a practical beeman,
so that his work is reliable.

PRESS CUTTING.

HONEY FROM ORANGE BLOSSOMS.

We get many fine quality fruits from
Jamaica, foremost amongst which are oranges,
bananas, pineapples, and mangoes. Now there
is every prospect of a boom in Jamaica honey.
Why this dainty should be of such choice
quality can hardly be explained at present,
though it is clear that bee3 being very partial
to orange blossoms, and there being plenty of
these flagrant flowers in the Colony, Jamaica
honey ought to be transparent, daintily
flavoured, and of the highest quality. The
samples of Jamaica honey that have been
marketed in this country are of a light
amber colour. Some are exceedingly clear
and pale, and when the quality of this honey
becomes generally known there will be little
chance for its Californian competitor in
EDgland. Now, imported honey is not free
from glucose, as a rule. Glucose is certainly
of an injurious nature. There can be no doubt
about that. As honey from Jamaica is abso-
lutely free from glucose — they have no glucose
factories there — it is admitted by every one
in the business that Jamaica honey is abso-
lutely pure, and far more wholesome and
delicate than any foreign importation. As
a matter of fact, Jamaica honey con-
sists of what are termed " water-white "
and " light amber - coloured " qualities,
the former making the highest price.
That the high quality of the Jamaica honey
is recognised in the trade is evident from the

150

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 10, 1902.

fact tbat though New York consumes Cali-
fornia honey freely, yet, solely on account of
superior quality, large quantities of honey are
shipped from Jamaica in barrels for the New
York trade, and the dealers there testify that
this houey is absolutely "straight." We have
no doubt that Jamaica honey, labelled as such
and put up in an attractive and specul style
of jar, would command a ready sale in prefer-
ence to the doctored samples that are sent us
by foreign shippers. The above facts have
induced us to " boom '' Jamaica honey. — Fruit
Trade News.

%tt thorns to (ttomc.

June 10 to 13, at Reading.— " Bath and West"
Agricultural Society. Bee and Honey Department
under the management of the Berks B.K.A. Full par-
ticulars shortly.

July 5 to 9, at Carlisle.- " Royal " Agricultural
Society's Show. Bee and Honey Section under the
management of the B. B.K.A. Entries close
April 30. Schedules from Edwin H. Young, Secre-
tary, 12, Hanover-square, W.

July 26. at Buttfleld Park, He'sle, East
YorKS.— Honey Show in connection with the Hessle
and District Horticultural Society. Good prizes for
Honey-Trophy, Sections, and Extracted Honey.
Schedules from Ernest C. S. Stow, Hon. Sec, Thornton
House, Hessle, East Yorks.

Notices to Correspondents A Inquirers.

All querist forwarded will b* attended to, and thou only
of perianal inferettwilt bt answered in thil oolumn.

C. W. Kehrer (Bloemendal, Holland). —
The B. B.J. and " Politics? — We are sorry
that the words " a worthy cause," in our
footnote to the Obituary Notices on page 127,
have given offence to our Dutch friend,
who is, we are pleased to learn, " a regular
reader" of the B.B.J. It is our rule to
carefully exclude "politics" along with
other unsuitable matter from our pages, and
we did not suppose the simple words in
question transgressed this rule ; but to in-
sert such expressions as our correspondent
uses with regard to this country and its
methods in dealing with the enemy with
which its soldiers are now fighting would,
to put it mildly, rather endanger the
security of the building in which the Editors
sit. We must, therefore, be pardoned from
saying more than that our correspondent
thinks our "cause'' in South Africa "an
utterly unrighteous and accursed one '' — if it
will relieve his feelings — and be content to
leave the rest to the judgment of posterity.
Meantime a quiet perusal of Dr. Oonan
Doyle's little book on " The Transvaal War
and its Conduct " (price 6d.) might be use-
ful to our friend.

Thos. Hood (Pickering) — Honey Presses. —
We are not overlooking your communication
on the above, but it so happens that we are

also withholding (or deferring) publication of
a letter from Mr. Rymer on the same sub-
ject as being perhaps too " personal " in
character. We will, therefore, consider
boh letters, and, if convenient, will pro-
bably print them simultaneously in justice
to the parties concerned.

A Constant Reader (Doncaster). — A
Beginner's Difficulty. — 1. If " the bees appear
quite healthy and are very hungry,'' as
stated, it needs but to see them carrying in
pollen freely on fine days to make you easy
with regard to the queen. Only inspection
of the frames will, however, put the matter
beyond dispute. 2. You must on no
account " give food on a board in front of
the hive." Such a practice will assuredly
lead to mischief from other bees than your
own. Your letter got mislaid, hence delay
in reply.

John Griffiths (Ringswood). — The B.B.K.A.
Insurance Scheme. — The "full particulars"
asked for will be published in this journal
without delay, when the " scheme " has
been decided on by the special committee
now dealing with the matter. This should
be quite clear to those who have read what
appears in our last issue.

A. FrjLLTLovE (Tamworth). — Beginning Bee-
keeping.— You will need a guide book a3 a
preliminary to any operations with bees.
Our journal can make no pretence to teach
beginners what to do and how to do it, in
reply to the query you put. A good text-
book (costing Is. 6d.) is indispensable to all
beginners who hope to succeed.

Buzz (Caerleon) — " Clipping " Queen. — Bee-
Smokers — 1. Beyond saying that " clipping "
queens' wings i3 a practice that meets with
little favour in this country, we cannot
see any advantage in discussing the pros
and cons, of the method, as you suggest. 2.
Personally, we prefer the smoke from burn-
ing rags or brown paper used in the ordinary
bee-smoker to the fumes of carbolic or
creosote as a bee -subjugator.

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
covt of telegram. All letters to be addressed "Editor
Bee Journal" not "Manager."

J. W. W. (Shrewsbury). — Comb sent is in
very foul condition from mould and damp.
It contains only mouldy pollen, and the
filth arising from being left for the free use
of vermin such as live on offal of all kinds.
There is nothing to use the microscope on.

A. L. (Yorkshire). — Comb sent contains
chilled brood only — no disease.

*+* Several Queries (not urgent) are to
hand and will be replied to next week.

April 17, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

151

(ft ditoriaL |tata &t.

THE EARLY SHOWS OF 1902.

THE " ROYAL " AT CARLISLE AND "ROTAL
COUNTIES " AT READING.

In view of the near approach of the date »
April 30, for closing entries for the " Royal "
show at Carlisle, it may be well to remind
readers that the same facilities are offered, as
in former years, for the withdrawing of entries
for honey of current year, and the return of
fees paid, in case of the season being so back-
ward at date of show as to prevent honey of
the present year being staged. It must also
be borne in mind that the " Royal " show is
held this year a fortnight later than usual,
which fact is of the utmost importance to in-
tending exhibitors.

We have just received the prize list for
" Hives, Honey, &c.'' for the " Royal Coun-
ties '' show at Reading on June 10 to 13. The
entries for this close on Saturday, May 17,
and here also the authorities of the exhibition
issue a " special notice," to the effect that in
the event of intending exhibitors of comb and
extracted honey of the current year being
" unable to send their exhibits owing to un-
favourable weather for honey-gathering," the
entrance fees will be returned if " six clear
days' notice of withdrawal is given of their
inability to send their exhibits.''

WARWICKSHIRE B.K.A.

SIR JAMES SAWYER ON BEE-KEEPING.

The annual meeting of the Warwickshire
Bee-keepers' Association was held at the Grand
Hotel, Birmingham, on the 10th inst., Sir
James Sawyer (who was accompanied by Lady
Sawyer) presiding.

The Committee had pleasure in reporting
the continued prosperity of the Association,
which now has a membership of 400. The
income amounted to £117, and the expenditure
to £129, leaving an adverse balance on the
year's work of £12. Great benefit had been
derived from the depots provided for the sale
of members' honey, and the fact that 9,450
labels supplied by the Society were sold
showed than an enormous quantity of honey
had been disposed of. The Committee were
arranging with the Warwickshire Agricultural
Society to hold their show this year at War-
wick in conjunction with that body. The
report was accepted on the proposal of Sir
James Sawyer, seconded by Mr. A. H.
Foster, who remarked that the increase of
membership had enabled the Committee to
fulfil an old promise to give exhibitions of
honey and appliances at the various local
shows. Lord Leigh was re-elected president,
Mr. A. H, Foster hon. treasurer, Mr. J. L.
Hawkes hon. auditor, Mr. J. N. Bower hon.

secretary, Mr. J. R. Ingerthorp assistant
secretary, and Mr. George Franklin expert.

On the conclusion of the business part of
the proceedings, Sir James Sawyer had some-
thing interesting to say on the value of bee-
keeping. He had long, he said, taken an in-
terest in the Warwickshire Bee keepers' Asso-
ciation and the excellent work it was doing.
He had thought a great deal about the agri-
cultural difficulties which had so long weighed
upon the nation. One of the pressing diffi-
culties was that of getting labour. That
difficulty also partly arose from the attraction
offered by towns, as against the country, as
a residence for working people. He, how-
ever, saw two attractions for inducing cottagers
to stay in the country — the keeping of a pig
and the introduction of bee-keeping. " Find
the cottager a pig,'' said Sir James, " and he
has a great inducement to stay in his cottage.
Let his wife take up bee-culture and the pro-
duction of honey, and she will find not only
an interesting and instructive pursuit, but
something which brings grist to the mill.1' A
cottager, he declared, could pay the rent of his
house by bee-keeping. It might, therefore, be
pressed forward, either from a political or
economic standpoint, and, in his judgment, the
Association was doing excellent work in im-
proving the lot of the cottager or agricultural
labourer. It also undertook the sale of mem-
bers' honey, and gave a guarantee as to its origin
and purity. As interesting to bee-keepers, Sir
Jame3 incidentally mentioned that the Council
of the British Bee-keepers' Association had
under consideration a system of insurance, by
which bee-keepers might insure against acci-
dents caused by their bees outside their
apiaries. The maximum amount of compensa-
tion would be £30 for each apiary, providing
a certain percentage of members joined in the
scheme. The insurance premium had been
fixed at the moderate amount of one penny per
stock, payable on the maximum number of
stocks in the apiary during the year. Sir
James afterwards discoursed on the consti-
tuent parts of honey, declaring that it was a
nutritious food, capable of administering to
every activity of the body and mind, of
muscular action, and of resistance to disease
and cold. It was also valuable as an emollient
and demulcent. Indeed, concluded Sir James,
we have gone rather too far in letting the use
of honey become old-fashioned, and the time
has arrived when its virtues should be more
recognised.

An interesting meeting closed with the
usual votes of thanks. — (Communicated.)

LINCOLNSHIRE B.K.A.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting was held in the Guild-
hal', Lincoln, by permission of the Mayor, on
March 22. The President of the Association,
the Right Hon. Lord Heneage, presided, and

152

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 17, 1902.

in. moving the adoption of the report and
balance-sheet, his lordship remarked that he
had just returned from Southampton from
seeing the 3rd Battalion Lines. Eegiment off
to South Africa, which regiment was a credit
to the county, the officers, and itself, the
embarkation being carried out with perfect
discipline and order. Turning to the business
of the meeting, his lordship said that the
membership was still on the increase, as was
also the income of the Association. But there
had been an increased expenditure, the balance
of £10 being the smallest for several years.
The report and balance-sheet were adopted.
The President and other officers of the Asso-
ciation and Committee were all re-elected.

The medals competed for at Brigg Show
were then presented by the Chairman to their
respective owners, viz., B.B.K.A. Silver Medal
for display of honey, and Silver Medals (two)
of the Lines. B.K.A. for sections and extracted
honey respectively, to Mr. A. W. Weatherhogg,
Willoughton, Lincoln ; the B.B.K.A. Bronze
Medal to D. Seamer, Grimsby.

Mr. W. Herrod, expert of the B.B.K.A.,
gave a most interesting and instructive address
on " The Production of Honey and its Pre-
paration for Exhibition and Sale," which was
fully appreciated by all present, Mr. Herrod
saying it had never been his pleasure to
address a meeting of a County Association at
which so many ladies were present.

The meeting closed with the usual drawing
for bee- appliances.

There were a considerable number of
members and others present from nearly all
parts of our large county. — (Communicated.)

$>srmpn&tntt.

The Editor* do not hold themielvet responsible for the
opinion! expressed by corresponder.fi. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communication!, and correspondent!
are requested to write on one ride of the paper only and
give their real name! and addreisei, not necessarily for
publication, but a! a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tion! should be drawn on leparate piece! of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communication!.

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, <Scc.,must be addressed
to "The Manager, 'British Bee Journal' Office, 17,
King William-street, Strand, London, W.C."

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

SWARM-CATCHERS.

[4747.] I have been labouring for the past
three years to find an appliance that fills the
requirements of a " swarm-catcher" and does
not give the bees the trouble of passing
through the excluder when loaded with pollen,
and at the same time be relied on as a safe
"catcher." I see in the B.B.J, of last week

an illustration of the "Edwards" swarm-
catcher, and consider it a very good idea, but
to my mind a " catcher ' that does not cover
the entrance to the hive would be of much
more value. For myself I have always used
the appliance known as the " Brice," but there
is one objection to it, viz., the bees will not
tolerate captive drones in the hive ; they first
kill them and then try to draw their dead
bodies through the excluder. By so
doing they not only waste a lot of
time, but block up the excluder, and
thus stop the passing in of pollen-loaded
workers. I have now found a means of doing
away with this trouble, and send on par-
ticulars of my plan with sketches. The
entrance " cuts back '' 6 in., and comes to a
point in the centre. The floor-board— as
sketched — shows the excluder as placed inside
the hive, on the floor, over entrance, is fixed fin.
from the back of entrance, leaving § in. for the
loaded bees to pass through. The floor with
two entrances 3 in. wide is now level. The
body-box has three holes (larger inside than
they are out) cut in its front side ; this assists
the queen in finding her way to the " catcher,''
and once in she is not so likely to make her
way back again. The catcher is fixed over
the entrance in a way that allows the bees to
pass in and out quite freely without being
troubled with the excluder at all. This must
be a great saving of time when the honey-flow
begins. Fig. 5 shows the catcher, made after
the " Brice,'' except the bottom, which latter
is wood instead of excluder, so that when the
bees cluster they cling to the catcher instead
of hanging on to the entrance. I think myself
it will be a fine thing for out-apiaries, as by
giving foundation in the " catcher " the
swarm can be left for a week or two without
any fear. I have tried it myself, and like it well,
but wish to have your opinion on it, as you
are willing to offer information to those that
need it. I trust my description is clear
enough for you to make it out. Thanking you
for the information I have gained from your
B.B.J. — H. Eveleigh, Wood Green, N.,
April 7.

[While your appliance, as sketched, shows
some points of novelty, it is evident that you
have drawn pretty largely upon the salient
features, of course, of the "Edwards" swarm-
catcher, which being legally protected cannot be
drawn upon at will by any one who chooses.
Your ideas are also somewhat crudely worked
out, and the requirement of a special floorboard,
together with the mutilation to some extent of
the hive front, tell, we think, against its
utility, even if it should be found on trial to
be a success. Perhaps our correspondent Mr.
Edwards — who we know has been studying
and experimenting with swarm-catching
appliances for several years — will write a few
lines of criticism in reply to your communica-
tion and thus assist in gauging its value. By
so doing he would also settle the question
of keeping clear of any infringement of his

April 17, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

153

rights, prior to which settlement w8
need not incur expense in providing line-
blocks from sketches sent. — Eds.]

THE

■RYMER" HONEY PRESS.

[4748.] I enclose herewith a letter from Mr.
Rymer withdrawing certain statements which
he has made in a letter published in the Bee
Journal of March 6, and shall be much
obliged if you will kindly insert same in your
next issue. — J. P. W. Lightfoot, Pickering,
Yorks, April 11.

Levisham, April 1, 1902.

Dear Sir, — I desire to express to you my
regret at having published in the Bee
Journal of March 6 (page 94) the statement
that the press in question was " said to be
required for pressing sections."

i now withdraw such statement and under-
take not to repeat it. — Yours truly,

(Signed) J. Rymer.

Mr. J. P. W. Lightfoot,
Pickering.

[Reverting to our reply to Mr. Thos. Hood
(Pickering), on page 150 last week, the above
correspondence renders it unnecessary for us
to insert either of the letters alluded to, and
which we purposed publishing later on. We
are, therefore, glad that the subject in dispute
may now be considered closed. — Eds.]

BEES RAISING QUEENS IN MARCH.

[4749.] Saturday, the 12th, being a lovely
day I have just looked through my stocks of
bees, and they all answered to " call," being
clean and healthy. Several of them, however,
are not so forward with brood as I should
have liked. Two of the best had each four
frames of brood sealed and five others with
only three frames. The remaining hives,
save one, showing no more than two frames
sealed. The hive last named is " a puzzler "
to me. I make it a rule to take a good look
at the entrance before opening any hive to see
how the bees are working in order to form an
opinion on their condition before disturbing
the frames. In looking at this particular
hive I saw two queens lying upon the ground,
one quite dead, the other nearly so, only a
faint movement being visible. I forward the
two dead queens for your inspection, I
thought this very strange, because the weather
has been bitterly cold for seventeen days past
and scarcely a bee to be seen outside, nor had
I seen any drone3 on the wing. I, therefore,
concluded _that after covering them up in
October something had caused the death of
the old queen, and the bees had raised several
cells from which queens had hatched, but
being unable to mate they became drone-
breeders and were cast out as worthless. In
this way I judged the hive to be of no good,
but, to my surprise, I found on examination

three frames partly filled with sealed
worker-brood and about eighteen sealed drones
and a quantity of quite lively drones
running over the combs. I examined all the
combs carefully, but found neither eggs or un-
sealed brood, but saw a fine young queen
running actively about on one of the combs.
There had been six queens raised altogether,
but several of the cells were partly cut down,
but two still had the caps on. "What is your
opinion of the remaining queen 1 Do you
think she has mated, and what about the
queen from which I have cut one wing ? Do
you think it was the old queen or are
they both young virgins 1 My opinion is that
the queen left mated during the day and
on her return killed and the bees cast the
other out. It was about 4 p.m. when I started
upon this hive. I shall keep a close watch
upon this hive and will let you know later on.
Have any of our brother or sister bee-keepers
had the same experience so early in the year ?
— A. H. Miller, Egham, Surrey, April.

[One of the two dead queens sent, though too
dry and hard for po&t-mortem examination,
was evidently the old queen. The other one
(" nearly dead " when found outside the hive)
is a young queen to all appearance recently
hatched. It seems, therefore, clear that the
old queen was either deposed by the bees
themselves or died from age or accident. With
regard to the " fine young queen '' now in the
hive having been mated in March, we doubt
this very much, but time will soon clear up
the uncertainty. — Eds.]

BEE STINGS AND INFECTION.

[4750.] In reply to your correspondent
" Formalin " (2823, page 147), Do bee stings
protect one from infection ? I should say this
opens up a most interesting subject, and I
should be pleased to see replies from bee-
keepers generally. I can sincerely say that
since I have been " inoculated '' by bee stings
I have neither been attacked with influenza
nor suffered from any contagious disease,
though influenza has twice been through the
\ house, excepting my boy, five years old, and
he has been stung many times almost ever
since he could first toddle. He has also been
entirely free from all children's complaints.
I have not been revaccinated myself, but my
little boy was when over four years old,
and the four inoculated places " took " well,
with not much inflammation, and he suffered
but little from the result. I have asked
several neighbouring bee-keepers their opinion
on the subject, and they join unitedly in saying
they have never had any infectious disease, or
been in any way inconvenienced when revac-
cinated. Until suggested by " Formalin " I
did not attribute this exemption to inoculation
by bee stings, though previously I suffered a
good deal from rheumatism. I forward name
and address, Avhile signing myself " Gade,"
Herts, April 15.

154

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 17, 1902.

NOVELTIES FOR 1902.

CORRUGATED-CARDBOARD PACKAGES FOR
HONEY.

The "novelties," of -which we give illustra-
tions below, were shown at the late conver-
sazione of the B.B.K.A. and attracted a good
deal of favourable attention to the several
items shown. They are manufactured by the
Safety-paper and Box Manufacturing Com-
pany, and may be had from dealers in bee-
appliances at very cheap rates.

With regard to the various boxes and case3
depicted, we gather from the makers that being
made in corrugated cardboard they are recom-
mended for efficiency and strength, while the
cost is small. Fig. 1 is described as a strong

Fig. 1.— Box for 1-lb. Jar.

and safe postal box for a single 1-lb. jar of
extracted honey, similar boxes being made to
hold two, four, six, and twelve jars at a slight
increase in cost.

Fig. 2 shows a light, cheap, and convenient
case for sections sold over the counter. It
hi s, as shown, a tape handle for carrying by,
and a small " window " in one side, either of

shown on the left of the cut. It therefore
travels cheaply in bulk and takes up little
room when stored away in that form.

Fig. 3 is intended for a single 1-lb. section
of honey. This is also made in larger sizes,

3.— Box for 1-lb. Section.

as fig. 1. No fear need be entertained with
regard to the strength of these boxes, for we
have personally tested the point by standing
on one, and a weight of twelve stone made no
impression whatever.

The main trouble in sending sections by post
is caused by bee-keepers forwarding those
obviously unsuitable for transit ; and to obviate
this trouble a small printed label is fixed in
every box, which reads thus : "Only those
sections with combs attached to the wood on
all four sides are safe for conveyance by
parcels post." Any one ignoring this precau-

\

Fig. 2.— Section Cas: in the Flat, and Folded for Use.

mica or transparent celluloid, through which
the comb may be seen. But its chuf lecom-
mendations are (l3fc) cheapness, (2nd) the
convenience of bemg sent out in the flat, ai

tion will therefore have themselves to blame if
a breakage occurs.

The other item shown (fig. 4) is a cardboard
cover for hive-roof*. This is stated to need

April 17, 1902.]' THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

155

only a coat of paint or tar to make it perfectly
watertight and effective. It is made to suit

Fig. 4.— Cardboard Cover for Hive-Eoof.

any size of roof, the points B, C, and D being
made pliable by pressure without danger of
cracking the cardboard.

MARKETING COMB HONEY.

Your editorial scoring honey-producers for
their sluggish (and in part it may be called
corrupt) practice is timely, and ought to have
a wide circulation, because it is of great im-
portance to honest producers and in stimula-
ting the markets. I am not a large producer,
nor one who has had large experience in bee-
keeping, dating back for only three years.
When I began three years ago I had to
" Peddle " out my honey in order to realise
15 cents per lb. for nice -white comb; 10 to
12i cents was the market price, so considered,
for all classes of honey. The second year
nearly all my honey was sold at my own house
at an average of 17| cents per lb., which very
much encouraged me, and was a source of
pleasure.

On May 8, 1901, my number of colonies
had increased from seven in 1899 to sixty,
with full supers of nice white honey. I was
compelled to try again the markets. " Ped-
dling " was out of the question. I crated my
honey under the rules laid down in Gleanings,
in three grades ; loaded my waggon, and called
on our best groceries, offering to leave a crate
with them. Most of them already had honey
from commission houses, and did not want any
at 15 cents when they could buy it at 11, to
which I replied that I simply asked their per-
mission to deposit a crate of my honey by the
side of what they had ; and if they could not
sell it in a reasonable time and pay me 15 cents
for it I would take the honey back, and pay
them storage if desired. My address with
guarantee was written on the crate with that
understanding. All my honey was soon
deposited in this way. I went about my
work, and, bless you ! two days afterwards a
grocery waggon came in front of my yard
with an order for 200 lb. of just such honey
as I had left with them, with an invitation to
come and get my pay, and 16 cents was agreed
upon for fancy white and No. 1 of any kind
of my grading. Four houses got all my honey
this season, and I had to make but one trip to
the city to sell my whole crop.

But here comes what I wanted to tell :
Other producers came and asked me to sell

their honey, saying they could get but from 10
to 12^ for theirs, and wanted to turn it over
to me at that price, to which I finally con-
sented. But I soon learned that it would not
do at all to attach one's name to another man's
product, for I had to take back a large part of
the honey I had undertaken to sell for friends.

One consignment from an old friend was, I
am sorry to say, an outrageous conglomeration,
clearly exhibiting an intention to deceive,
regardless of honour or repute.

Our market at present is flooded. Agents
with consignments arrived, and are drumming
it out in all parts of the city at from 10 to 12^
cents ; but my customers will not handle it at
any price. One of my customers, who has
been in the grocery business all his life, told
me a few days ago that he had not the least
idea that so much honey could be consumed
provided a fine article put up in nice condition
was offered. His experience showed him
that such will bring fancy prices and largely
increase the consumption. He said, " Your
honey sells at the rate of one crate per day,
while with commission-house honey three to
four crates last a whole season ; and I must
say that, if you bee-keepers were more honest,
your markets would vastly improve, and the
consumption of honey would displace the so-
called fancy syrups which are a manufactured
poison at the best."

Now, Mr. Editor, being only a small pro-
ducer, my argument — provoked by your recent
editorial— cannot be of much weight in cor-
recting existing evils. But it does seem to me
that, if a little more honesty was practised,
together with more intelligence, all would be
vastly benefited in the end by producing a
larger consumption and a more uniform price.
Every poor or bad section of comb-honey put
on the market acts as a drawback instead of a
stimulant. The actor in the drama may be
profited at the time, but when he again has
honey to sell he has to seek another buyer ;
but what does he do toward increasing the
consumption of honey, and improving the
market ? What they have done is this : they
have disgusted the consumer by placing an
inedible chunk of honey before him ; dis-
couraged the merchant, flooded him with com-
plaints from his customers, and actually
caused him to lose trade by the sale of unus-
able honey treacherously concealed in crates,
and unsuspectedly foisted on them.

Now, Mr. Editor, I have no interest in this
matter ; my own produce will always find a
good market ; but the wilful inclination to
deceive others in this manner is rampant, and
is damaging to the interests of men of honour
and integrity ; besides, it largely tends to
demoralise the markets, which affect3 all pro-
ducers ; and I for one would advise those who
practise that habit to quit the business and do
something for which they are better fitted.

Another matter that interests me is that of
statistics. I see the thing is now in evidence
and ought to have been so long ago ; but I

156

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 17, 1902.

would say that the National Bee-keepers'
Association should, in my opinion, be the one
authority to undertake the question of honey
statistics for this country, if bee-keepers are to
derive any benefit from it. It will not be
difficult for our journals to locate the pro-
ducers and send them proper blanks to be
filled out and returned at a given date to the
i secretary to be compiled and published under
the authority of the organisation. You will
find it more reliable than anything else you
can get. My reason for making this statement
is that I have been a statistical correspondent
for more than twenty years, and have enjoyed
the honour and the profits of the position,
which would average about 10 cents a year in
seeds. I do not wish to cast any reflection
upon the head of the division ; on the con-
trary, Mr. John Hyde is doing wonders with
the means at his command. Suppose the
department would add a honey column to its
blanks now sent out, not one in 500 sent out
would be filled out practically, intelligently,
and with reliability. A statistical correspon-
dent should be a practical as well as expe-
rienced man, and not seldom will have to lose
time to procure correct information on certain
subjects. I made many trips, and lost time
and horse hire thrown in, for the benefit of the
good and generous public ; but I do not
believe there are many who will lose time to
procure correct information to give to the
good public, just for the honour of the thing.
On the other hand, if the National Bee-
keepers' Association sends out blanks to
practical bee-keepers, nine out of every ten
will make a correct report ; will take pleasure
in returning the best information obtainable,
because they will all be interested in the
reports, and it will not all or nearly all be
guesswork and exaggeration. — M. Brown in
Gleanings (American).

[Those who make a business of buying and
selling know only too well that the great mass
of bee-keepers do not understand the impor-
tance of putting up a first-class article. The
great bulk of the comb-honey that goes on to
the market is unscraped, a great deal of it is
travel-stained, and much of it is poorly filled
out, and, as a consequence, it goes begging ;
but a really first-class, gilt-edge comb-honey
will sell on sight at good prices.

Yes, we do need reliable statistics, and I
hope things may shape themselves in such a
manner that the National Association can take
hold of it. — Editor Gleanings.]

<f iu$ru]s and mpltp.

[2824.] Points in the " W.B.C." Hive.—
Will you please give me a little information
with regard to the " W. B. C." hive ?— 1; Do
you generally use the shallow-frame box with
your hives during summer placed under the

brood-nest 1 And is it left there untouched
until the honey- flow is over and then taken
away ? 2. Does the queen enter the shallow-
frame chamber and breed there ? As it gives
the bees a good deal of extra room, it ought to
help in preventing swarming. 3. May I sup-
pose that the shallow-frame chamber can be
put on when the honey-flow begins and the
hive is ready for supering ? For myself, how-
ever, I work entirely for sections. 4. When
hive3 are placed in a line, with entrances, say,
5 ft. or so apart, do you think it needful to
put a distinct mark on the hives ? And if so,
would it suffice to paint the roofs of the
porches a distinct colour, or would it be better
to paint the whole roof of hive ? 5. I enclose
a sample of syrup left over from last season.
Please say if it is perfectly good for present
use ?— H. J., Mountmellich, Ireland.

Reply. — 1. The hive in question, as
originally designed and used by the writer,
was not provided with any convenience for
working a box of shalloAv-frames below the
brood-chamber, as stated ; nor should we
suppose that any user of this particular hive
follows the plan you suggest. Our own
method of working the hive is to have all
surplus -honey stored above the brood-nest in
the orthodox way. On the other hand, we
admit the usefulness to some, who, from
lack of experience or of aptitude for the work,
find difficulty in getting bees to take posses-
sion of sections or surplus chambers, in being
enabled to overcome their trouble by means of
a movable box made to slide in below the
brood-nest. The same arrangement will also,
no doubt, be helpful in preventing swarming ;
but the older plan of giving timely room in
advance, with shade and ventilation, quite
meets the case in our hands. 2. The box of
shallow-frames (or the section-rack, as the
case may be) is only left below till the bees
have started comb-building therein, when the
box — bees and all — is removed to its proper
position above the brood-chamber. The
queen is, therefore, never allowed to begin
ovipositing in the shallow-combs at all.
3. Yes. 4. We have found a space of 6 ft.
between each hive is sufficient for the purpose
intended, without troubling to paint the hives
in different colours. 5. The syrup is too
thin, and would be all the better for boiling
up again to rid it of superfluous water.

[2825.] Transferring Bees. Inducing
Early Swarming. — Would you kindly reply
to the following questions : — 1. What would
be the best time and way to transfer bees from
skep to frame-hive ? 2. To induce bees in
frame-hive to swarm early, when ought stimu-
lative feeding to be given, and would it hasten
the 'jswarming to keep the brood-nest con-
tracted ? 3. Tomtits have been seen eating
the bees. Is there any way to prevent them
except by shooting ? I much eDJoy reading
your journal, and prefer it to any other paper
of the kind. At present I am re-reading

April 17, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

157

some old numbers with pleasure and profit. —
" Shamrock," Milford, Co. Donegal.

Reply. — Seeing how much better it is to
have a new frame-hive furnished at the start
with straight, newly-built combs than with
patched-up old ones, we never advise trans-
ferring combs from skeps at all. The best
month in which to take preliminary steps for
transferring is April ; and the safest method
of ensuring success is to allow the bees to
transfer themselves. They will do this if,
when the skep is getting full of bees, you lift
it bodily on to the top-bars of the frame-hive.
Pack it nice and snug all round to prevent the
escape of warmth from the brood-chamber
below (when the bees have taken possession
and it has become the brood-chamber), then
leave the bees to transfer themselves below to
frames fitted with foundation beforehand
already prepared for the brood-nest. When
the queen needs room for egg-Jaying the bees
will draw out the foundation, and the newly
built combs will be filled with eggs, while
the skep overhead will have its combs stored
with honey for removal later on. 2. April is
the usual time to stimulate for early swarming,
but the hive should have its full complement
of combs. 3. Trapping and shooting are the
only remedies we know of.

[2826.] Transferring Bees from Defective
Hive. — I obtained a swarm of bees in May
last year, and hived them in a bar-framed
hive. On making an inspection a short time
since I was surprised to find that the wooden
roof of hive was not water-tight. The winter
packing overhead and floorboard below were
alike saturated with water, while two or three
of the combs were mouldy. The weather on
the 31st ult. being fine and warm, I therefore
transferred the bees and frames to a new hive,
which I had in readiness for a this year's
swarm. I wish to ask : — 1. Have I erred in
transferring the bee3 at this time of year, and
is injury to bees likely to result ? 2. Will the
bees cleanse the mouldy combs, or should I
replace them with foundation 1 3. Is there
any possibility of the queen being lost in
transferring to the new hive ? — David
Francis, High Wycombe.

Reply. — 1. No. Nor will any injury have
occurred unless the operation has been very
badly performed, which is, we think not
likely. 2. The bees will do all that is needed
in cleaning them up, seeing that the combs
are only one year old. 3. Nearly all things
are possible, but you should not be needlessly
alarmed. If work goes on as usual all will be
right, and if not, an inspection of the combs
for eggs and brood will settle the point.

[2827.] Skeps versus Frame-hives for Bees.
— I am thinking of starting an out-
apiary in the Vale of Taunton Deane, where
there are extensive and rich pasture - fields
along with the cultivated flowers of the
aristocracy, some of the most fertile land in
England I am told. I therefore ask, do you

think it will be a good place for bees ? I am
quite a young beginner (aged twenty-two), but
have noticed that sturdy "Hodge,0 with his
strong, large skep and thick reed "cap" for
supers does well with his bees, while the
village clergyman with modern frame-hives
appears to get no return for his outlay. —
Evalixe, Chard, Somerset.

Reply. — We fear your information is faulty
so far as regards the comparison between the
skep system and modern {bee-keeping with the
use of frame-hives. When both methods are
worked with equal intelligence, the usual
result is two or three times the weight of
surplus is got from a frame-hive than can be
secured from a skep.

[2828.] Bees Dying in April from Famine.
— As a beginner in May, 1901, I commenced
with one frame-hive. I allowed the bees to
swarm, and took about seventy sections of
clover and sainfoin honey. I had a few
stings, of course, but now, on April 14, the two
stocks are on ten frames each, and strong in
bees. About five weeks back I bought two
more stocks, one (a "cast'') on six frames, the
other a hive which I find is unfortunately not of
standard size. On examining the "cast" to-day
I find the bees dead. I therefore ask: 1.
Would you advise me to let the other lot swarm
and keep them as a parent stock (they are
healthy), and so stock my spare hive ; or, 2,
could I put a skep of bees on top of frames,
and so stock it early next month ? It is a
clear case of being " famished " out with the
cast, as the dead bees were crowded on brood
which is clean and healthy. 3. Was it too
early to remove them into new quarters ? —
C. R. Hopkins, Sulperton, Cheltenham,
April 12.

Reply. — 1. Yes. Let the odd-sized hive
swarm, then remove all queen-cells save one —
selected as the most forward and promising —
twenty-one days after swarming. Shake the
bees from the combs and let them run into a
hive (made for " Standard " frames), with
about five of the frames fitted with full sheets
of foundation beforehand. The parent hive
will be broodless, and may be dealt with as
desired. 2. You can adopt the alternative if
preferred. 3. The removal would have
nothing to do with death of the bees ; it was
one of the frequent cases of starvation so
regrettable when a young queen is a victim.

(fttfatts from tftt lpM8.

Ussie Valley, Conon Bridge, Boss-shire,
April 7. — Bees in this district are rather
backward. The winter was severe and spring
very wintry-like, though now a change for the
better has set in. Our best colony is covering
eight frames, with brood in seven of them.
None of the other stocks have more than four
frames of brood, some less. I do not know

158

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 17, 1902.

how it is that this one stock is so far ahead of
all the rest, as, though they did very well at
the heather last August, they were no more
populous than several of the other stocks
when closed down for winter. I think the
queen must be an extra prolific one, or else
that her bees possess the desirable trait of
longevity. I will use her for queen-rearing. —
J. M. Ellis.

The Gardens, Wentworth Castle, Bamsley,
April 4. — I caught a swarm of bees in the
grounds here last June, and have managed to
keep them alive through the winter in an old
straw skep. I have been interested in the
Bee Journal during the last six months, and
hope to be able to keep the bees alive from
what I read, which is all the help available, as
I am not aware of anybody near here who is a
bee-keeper. — Geo. Batley.

JAMAICA HONEY.

At a time when every effort is being made
to improve the position of the West Indies by
reviving the ancient sugar industry, it is
appropriate to call attention to a scheme
which is on foot to place the production of
Jamaica honey on a more successful and re-
munerative footing. Mr. Dickson, of the
Jamaica Bee-keepers' Association, has recently
arrived at Bristol, and has brought with him
samples of honey to place before buyers in the
United Kingdom, the idea being to deal as
directly as possible with consumers, and so
save intermediate profits, which at present fall
to the broker, merchant, and wholesaler.
Hitherto the market price has been governed
by the law of supply and demand at public
auction, and, so far as the public are concerned,
Jamaica honey is practically an unknown
article, as it is not suited for table purposes.
It is all consumed in manufacturing processes,
and it is difficult to understand, therefore,
what Mr. Dickson is to do in order to get
better values for Jamaica honey. It has been
one of the cheapest articles sold in Mincing
Lane during the past twelve months. At each
successive auction since April, 1901 (when the
new crop arrived), large quantities have been
offered, and, although there has been a good
demand throughout, prices have been the
lowest on record, owing to over-production.
Last year the shipments of honey to the
United Kingdom were estimated roughly at
13,000 cwt, and we understand this quantity
will be greatly exceeded during the coming
season, as already some 5,000 packages of
25 gals, each are booked, so that the prospect
of better prices for the farmer is not bright.
Apiculture is one of the oldest industries in
Jamaica, but, owing to various reasons, no
great measure of success has attended the efforts
of those interested in the business. The greatest
drawback appears to have been uncertainty in
the quality of the honey and the method of
packing, but the Jamaica Bee-keepers' Asso-

ciation now claims to have effectually over-
come these difficulties. The Association was
formed for the mutual protection of buyer and
seller, and the object is the guaranteeing of
every package of honey shipped by it to be
absolutely pure and of standard quality. A
board of examiners has been appointed, com-
posed of practical apiarists, and every package
of honey sent by members of the Association
for shipment is to be graded by these experts
on its merits, and if found to come up to the
required standard it is to be branded with the
Association's stamp. The Association includes
practically all the bee-keepers of Jamaica,
numbering over 400, and these represent
something like 5,000 colonies of bees. The
bee-keepers have hitherto been working at a
disadvantage, having been compelled in many
cases to mortgage their honey before produc-
tion, and thus to accept prices below what
they might obtain if they were better off.
The Imperial Department of Agriculture in
the West Indies has recently taken an active
part in bringing bee-keeping under the notice
of the people of the Lesser Antilles. They
have engaged an expert, Mr. W. K. Morrison,
formerly connected with the United States
Department of Agriculture, who has visited
Barbados, Dominica, Montserrat, Antigua,
Grenada, St. Vincent, and St. Lucia. Duiing
his visits he has advised and assisted the bee-
keepers to obtain honey of high quality. His
opinion is that the outlook for bee-keeping in
the West Indies is very encouraging, as there
is an abundance of honey-bearing flowers all
the year round. Mr. Morrison's work appears
to have aroused much interest, and every effort
is now to be made to encourage the industry by
establishing model apiaries, granting assistance
in obtaining hives, bees, &c, at cost price, and
obtaining practical information. Of course,
the result will largely depend on the care and
attention which bee-keepers are prepared to
give the subject. It need hardly be said that
Jamaica honey is as highly esteemed as any of
the imported honeys on this market, and it is
undoubtedly true that the prices obtained for
it have been largely governed by the need of
the bee-keepers to realise as quickly as pos-
sible. If Mr. Dickson wishes to secure the
intermediate profits which accrue in the
present method of placing the honey as quickly
as possible in the hands of consumers — i.e.,
wholesalers and manufacturers — he must be
prepared to sacrifice the superlative advantage
of prompt cash, for he can only get that by
the Mincing-lane methods of business or by
giving buyers such inducements in quality and
price as will compensate them for the existing
familiar methods of doing business. It appears
to us that West Indian bee-keepers would do
better if they would not disturb their existing
connection at all, but keep up the supplies as
hitherto, and also place on the market through
wholesalers and retailers exclusively the best
selected honey as table-honey in the comb or
in glass jars. There may be more money in

April 17, 1902.] THE BRITISH BED JOURNAL.

159

that, and if experience were to prove it, the
new departure could be pushed without
j eopardising the existing trade. — The Chemist
and Druggist, April 5, 1902.

THE GREAT TIT.

(Parus major.)

Referring to the question of "Tits and
Bees," a correspondent sends us the following
as possessing interest for bee-keepers. — [Eds.]

As for his strength, for so small a bird I do
not know his equal ; indeed, it is wonderful
the power concentrated in his little body.
Confine him in a cage, he will force his way
through the wires or eat his way out somehow.
His beak is a hammer and chisel combined,
and he can chip very hard wood with it. His
worst fault is that he is very fond of bees, and
where these are kept in straw hives he does
much damage by pecking and tearing away
the entrances to get at the inmates ; he can
likewise chip the wooden slides used as doors
to frame-hives, but it is to the bees themselves
he does the most damage, for he will not
interfere with the hives except in the winter
months. At other times of the year he can
get plenty of other insect food ; in the winter,
however, when food is scarce, he pays daily
visits to the bee-hives, picking up the dead
bees thrown out ; but should there be none
thrown out, he pecks at the entrances, and
when a poor, half-torpid bee comes to see what
is the matter, he snaps it up, flies to the nearest
tree, extracts the sting carefully, and puts it
on the branch, then eats the bee, or part of it,
and goes for another, and a score or more of
these tits will be frequenting an apiary all the
winter, and living almost exclusively on the
bees, and the owner probably never knows it,
so sly is this bird when at this work. Now,
this habit of the great tit was known to the
old bee-keepers centuries ago, yet it is not
even mentioned in our standard works on
ornithology, excepting Harting's " Handbook
of British Birds " (second edition). As a bee-
keeper who has often wintered fifty hives of
bees, I can speak from an experience of many
years, and whac is very remarkable is that
bee-keepers often make the mistake, and say
it is the blue tit which pecks at the hives, yet
in all my experience I have never known a
single instance of the latter bird doing so. — F.
Botes (Beverley), Field, March 22, 1902.

APICULTURE IN THE UNITED

STATES.

RECOGNITION ST THE U.S.A. GOVERNMENT.

Our readers will be pleased to know that
the United States Government has given
apiculture an actual recognition by creating a
special commission, that of Apicultural
Investigator in the Department of Agricul-
ture. The man who has been advanced to
this position is Professor Frank Benton, who

formerly was Assistant Entomologist in the
Division of Entomology. This position he
held from 1896 to August I, 1901, when the
new commission was created.

Professor Benton has been doing some
good work in the vigorous way in which he
replies to these comb-honey canards that have
been published in various papers. I have
taken pains to ask the editors of all papers
giving circulation to these lies to write to
the Department of Agriculture, adding that
there was a man in the employ of the De-
partment who made apiculture his specialty,
and who could give full information, and it is
evident the suggestion in some cases has been
heeded.

No one can really estimate the good this
new commission has done us already.—
Gleanings (American).

PRESS CUTTING.

SHROPSHIRE B.K.A.

The members of the Shropshire Bee-
keepers' Association have decided to set up
an apiary close to Shrewsbury. Mr. Scott, of
Broseley, and Mr. W. H. Brown, of Shrews-
bury, have each promised to give a stock and
hive of bees, and it has been left to Mr*
Brown to choose a site. By the establishment
of an apiary the Association will be able to
hold expert examinations at a convenient
centre, for which any bee-keeper in the county
may enter. — Shrewsbury Chronicle.

\tt JSkMS to <&BM.

June 10 to 13, at Reading.— Royal Counties
Agricultural Society. Bee and Honey Department
under the management of the Berks B.K.A. Schedules
from D. W. Bishop-Ackerman, Hon. See. Berks B.K.A,,
131, King's-road, Reading. Entries close May 17.

July 5 to 9, at Carlisle.—" Royal " Agricultural
Society's Show. Bee and Honey Section under the
management of the B.B.K.A. Schedules from Edwin
H. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-square, W. Entries
close April 30.

July 26, at Buttfield Park, Hessle, East
Yorks.— Honey Show in connection with the Hessle
and District Horticultural Society. Good prizes for
Honey-Trophy, Sections, and Extracted Honey.
Schedules from Ernest C. S. Stow, Hon. Sec, Thornton
House, Hessle, East Yorks.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All queriti/orwardtdwill be attended to, and thou 0*1/
of per tonal interest will be anewered in thi$ column.

*y* New Edition of the British Bee-keepers'
Guide Booh — Readers who have ordered
copies of the "Guide Book" will please
note that the sixteenth edition is com-*
pletely sold out j hence delay in filling the
numerous orders received. The new edi«
tion will be ready in a few days, and copies
sent without delay to all from whom orders
have been received.

W. J. Gibbs (York).— Uniting Bees in Green-
house.— Your former letter has failed to

160

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 17, 1902.

reach us, but with regard to "joining-up"
bees in a greenhouse, it can be done there
in the evening, when darkness removes all
chance of bees flying. The joined-up lots
would then require to be placed on their
own stand outside, so that they would not
get lost on taking wing the following morn-
ing. It goes without saying that united lots
should be from contiguous stands. If bees
were united in a greenhouse in daylight, all
that took wing would at once fly to the
glass, and be difficult to "gather up " again.

C. R. (Kent). — Bee-Syrup for Spring Use. —
The syrup made some months ago will be
all right for present use if boiled again for
a moment or so.

A. E. Ford (Hemel Hempstead).— Profits of
Bee-keeping. — We are obliged for "Press
cutting" sent, which is creditable to your
skill as a bee-keeper, though not quite
suitable for reproducing in our pages. We
will, however, be glad to have a photo of
your apiary for our " Homes of the Honey
Bee," when the details now sent would be
useful as "notes" on your bee-keeping, to
accompany the picture in print.

E. Butler (Sutton Coldfield).— Joining Bee
Associations. — The annual meeting of the
Warwickshire B.K.A. appears in this issue.
Mr. J. Noble Bower, Knowle, is Hon. Sec.
of the Association.

J. Rhodes (Greenhithe). — Transferring Bees.
— 1. In allowing bees to transfer them-
selves the entrance to skep is entirely
stopped when placing it above top-
bars, so that the bees are compelled to
pass through the frame-hive in going and
coming. 2. We are not quite clear with
regard to your wishing to *' work the three
stocks (intended for transferring) for
sections." This can only be done if the
skeps are removed when the bee3 have
worked into the lower hive and established
it as the brood-chamber. But steps must
be taken to save any brood found in the
skeps before removing the latter, otherwise
many thousands of bees would be sacrificed.
One of the three stocks, however, might be
reserved for hatching out all the brood
found in the other two, while the latter
were worked for sections. This would, in a
measure, overcome the difficulty.

J. Ling (Linton, Cambs.). — Re-queening to
Supersede Laying Workers. — If you can
safely introduce a fertile queen, it will soon
stop the trouble with laying workers.

Leamingtonian (Leamington Spa). — Section-
glazing Machine. — 1. Not having been able
to visit the Dairy Show last year, we cannot
say whether or not Mr. Woodley exhibited
the section-glazing machine he referred to
in B.B.J. of November 2, 1899 (page 432),
as quoted by yourself. If he did so, it
would not be in competition, as Mr.
Woodley's name does not appear in the
catalogue as an exhibitor in the class for
such exhibits. 2. Views of Apiaries.

While always glad to receive good photos of
the apiaries of our readers for inclusion in
"Homes of the Honey Bee,'' it is under-
stood that all tone blocks from such photos
are regarded as " copyright," and we do not
give or sell electros of the blocks for use
either as honey labels or in any other way.

R. C. Osborne (High Barnet). — 1. Wax-moth
Larva} in Quilts. — If, as stated, the bees in
your hive are " very strong, and now cover
well nine frames, with brood in seven of
them," there need be no alarm at the " two
or three grubs of wax-moth found on the
ground outside the hive." The very fact
of the grubs of the moth being so found
shows that the bees are well able to deal
with the intruders ; and as none were seen
in the combs examined it is safe to say the
two grubs found in quilts will be all that
are left. 2. Uncapping Store-combs for
Stimulating in Spring. — The method fol-
lowed of uncapping a little of the sealed
combs periodically is very useful at times
for the purpose stated. 3. Insurance for
Bee-keepers. — There is no B.K.A. for the
county of Herts ; but letters on the in-
surance scheme may be addressed to Mr.
E. H. Young, Secretary, B.B.K.A., 12,
Hanover-square, London.

A. Brayshaw (Keith, N.B.).— Doolittle on
Queen-rearing. — The book may be had
direct from the author for 1 dol. and
postage. Address — G. M. Doolittle,
Borodino, Onodago Co., N.Y.

W. Niven (St. Andrews). — Buying Bee-
Appliances. — We ■will be glad if you will
refer us to page of our Journal in which
the firm named in your letter advertised
bee-goods for sale. Meantime there may, of
course, be some valid reason for non-
delivery ; otherwise, to hold the sum of 35s.
for many weeks for goods urgently needed is
neither just nor excusable. We will return
receipt sent if desired.

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 xvhere 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."

F. J. (Mountmellick).— There is nothing
whatever wrong with comb sent. A few
cells contain wholesome pollen, the rest
being entirely free from any trace of brood,
foul or otherwise.

J. M. K. (Congleton). — Nothing worse than
mouldy pollen in comb. No sign of
disease.

Honey Samples.

D. W. B. A. (Reading).— Your samples are
both good and will do very well for the
show-bench as granulated honey.

April 24, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

161

(BitittM, $atim, &t

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The monthly meeting of the Council was
held at 12, Hanover-square, W., on Thursday,
April 17, Mr. E. D. Till being voted to the
chair. There were also present Messrs. W.
Broughton Carr, T. S. Elliot, W. F. Reid, E.
"Walker, T. I. Weston, and the Secretary.
Letters apologising for inability to attend were
read from Miss Gayton, Hon. and Rev.
Henry Bligh, Rev. W. E. Burkitt, Colonel
Walker, Messrs. W. H. Harris, 0. Puck, and
W. J. Sheppard.

The minutes of the previous meeting were
read and confirmed.

Three new members were elected, viz. :
Mr. Stroud, The Gables, Eastbourne ; Mr.
E. J. Keeble, Great Oakley Hall, Harwich ;
A. Hamer, Llandilo Bridge Station, Llandilo.

The report of the Finance Committee was
presented by Mr. Weston and gave full
details of receipts and expenditure to date.
The report was approved.

It was resolved to hold the First Class
Examination in London on Thursday, May 15,
and the Examination for Second Class
Certificates in November, as usual. In
accordance with the recommendation of
Examiners it was decided to hold the latter
in two Sections, with an interval of one to
two hours between Sections " A '' and " B.''

On the motion of Mr. Reid, seconded by
Mr. Carr, Council meetings were fixed for the
third Thursday in each month (August
excepted) commencing at 4.30 p.m.

Mr. Weston gave an account of the work of
the Insurance Committee during the past
month, together with particulars of an inter-
view with the principal of the firm under-
taking the risks in connection with the scheme.
The Committee's draft proposals were con-
sidered, and after slight revision approved by
the Council, the Secretary being authorised to
have the amended rules and regulations put
into type preparatory to publication in the
British Bee Journal for the information of
those desiring to join in the bee-keepers' in-
surance scheme.

The Council proceeded to the discussion of
arrangements for a re-issue of " Modern Bee-
keeping," and had before tb em several tenders
for the printing. Suggestio ns were made with
the object of improving and bringing the book
up to date.

Several members of the Council, having
other engagements, were compelled to leave at
an early hour, and, consequently, a number of
matters requiring attention had to be adjourned
for consideration at the next meeting, Which
will be held on Thursday ? May 15.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE B.K.A.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The nineteenth annual meeting of the
Northants Bee-keepers' Association was held
on April 12 in All Saints' Schoolroom, North-
ampton. Mr. W. Manning presided, and
among those present were Messrs. Old,
Pilgrim, Buckland, Bubb, &c. The report
read by the Secretary stated the past season
had been, on the whole, a favourable one for
bee-keepers ; a good average quantity of
honey had been harvested, of very fine
quality. The County Council were thanked
for the grant, which enabled demonstrations
to be given at various shows during the
summer. The report was adopted, and the
accounts, showing a balance of £7 in favour
of the Association, were duly passed. Votes
of thanks were accorded to the retiring
officials for their services during the year.

The election of officers for the ensuing year
then took place. Mr. R. B. Loder (Cottes-
brooke) was unanimously chosen President,
and the old officials were re-elected as follows :
— Vice-presidents, Earl Spencer, E.G., Mr.
E. P. Monckton, the Hon. C. R. Spencer,
M.P, Lady Knightley, the Hon. E. S.
Douglas Pennant, Mr. H. Labouchere, M.P.,
and Mr. J. Jeffery ; hon. treasurer, Mr. G. E.
Atkins ; hon. secretary, Mr. R. Hefford ; hon.
district secretaries and committee, Messrs.
J. R. Truss, W. Manning, C. Cox, J. Francis,
J. Perry, H. Collins, 0. Orland, G. Page, W.
Winterton, andF. J. Old. It was decided
to hold the annual show at Kingsthorpe on
August 7. The meeting concluded with the
usual votes of thanks.— {Communicated.)

fammpvikvitt.

The Editor* do not hold thmielvtt 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.

•**Jn order to facilitate reference, Correspondents,
when speaking of any Utter 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.

[4751.] The chief topics for bee-keepers are
generally the weather and the well-being of
the bees. Considering, then, how intimately
these two points are dependant on each other,
their importance can hardly be over-estimated.
The growth of our colonies may be made or
marred by a warm or a cold spell — as the case
may be — lasting for a week or two just at the
critical time, and the success or failure of our
season's work largely depends on the continued
growth of the brood-nest during the next
month or so. This is well known to all old

162

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 24, 1902.

hands in the craft, but the wish to help our
less experienced brethren must be my excuse
for opening my " notes " with a reference to
the climatic conditions. Every observant
bee-keeper knows how great is the loss
of bee-life in cold, windy weather ; the
numbers of pollen-laden bees, which come to
grief in their battle with the tempest in
the home journey, must greatly reduce the
working population and retard the growth of
brood nests for lack of nurse bees to feed and
cover the tender larvae, while lessening the
number of food-gatherers from the daily
enlarging breadth of bee-forage every sunny
hour is producing.

These matters are in a measure beyond the
control of man, though by careful management
he may greatly preserve bee-life by supplying
water near the hive. A small cask, set on a
box, with a leaking tap — allowing the drops of
water to fall on a piece of sacking on a slant-
ing board — or a shallow vessel containing water
in which some sliced cork or stones are put for
bees to stand on (tealeaves will do), in fact,
anything to give a safe foothold while procur-
ing water is most useful in this way.

Bee Stings and Infection. — The suggestion
of your correspondent " Formalin" (on
page 47) may have some foundation as
regards rheumatism and bee stings. I have
stated more than once my belief that the
poison of the bee sting has a curative effect
in this direction. I, too, have escaped
"influenza," although it has been prevalent
in our district several times — especially
amongst our club members. Yet I have not
connected " bee stings ;) as the exemptive
cause ; for this reason : generally speaking,
these "influenza" visits occur when bee
stings are few and far between — i.e., during
the winter months — so I would caution our
craft against rushing to the conclusion that
injections of formic acid (with probably other
more active poisonous substances contained in
the bee sting) is a protection against such
insidious foes as influenza and other con-
tagious diseases.

"Novelties for 1902." — I see these include
a post-box for sections (shown on page 154).
Perhaps our friends who have safely con-
signed sections in these boxes will give others
the benefit of their experience. The secretaries
of shows may also be able (if willing) to give
their larger experience on the subject.

Marketing Honey. — I am glad to see our
Editor has given Mr. M. Brown's article from
Gleanings. Older B.B.J, readers will re-
member my repeated urgings oh our honey-
producers the importance of grading their
comb-honey, instead of facing their consign-
ments with the best while the bulk is of an
inferior quality. I have seen uDglazed sections
in grocers' and dairy-shop windows — fly-
specked and dirty in summer, damp and
" weeping " from every cell in winter, un-
adorned except by fringes of unscraped pro-
polis, the purveyors longing for customers to

clear the messy stuff out of their way, and j
vowing never to stock it again. This
is the greatest bar to the rapid growth of
our honey trade, and the unfortunate
thing is that producers of one of the
most palatable foods should by crass negli-
gence spoil the trade. During the past two
months I have sent out many specimens of
glazed sections, and I hope they will have
some influence in the coming season. The
various devices of boxes, cases, &c, which
are now offered by our appliance dealers are
useful and save labour, but to the progressive
bee-keeper who is endeavouring to extend his
sales and augment his profits, I say : — " Grade
your sections and glaze them yourself, and
act up to the golden rule of selling to others
a3 you would have them sell to you ."-
Woodley, Beedon, Newbury.

-W.

SOME ESSEX NOTES.

[4752 ] Foul Brood and Compulsory Powers.
— Only those able to fully realise what foul
brood is, can understand the feelings of a
bee-keeper on finding his hives affected with
that dread bee disease. The feelings of his
position are portrayed in the letter of Mr.
Richard?, of Cardiff (4743, page 145), whose
case may be taken as one more proof of our
need of compulsory powers for dealing with
foul brood.

As Mr. Richards asks me to reply to the
several questions enumerated on page 145, 1
do so as follows : — 1. There is little worth
knowing with regard to this disease and its
treatment that is not mentioned in the " Guide
Book," but I may add a word to say that in all
our efforts in the way of curing affected bees we
should aim at perfection ; then, though we
miss our mark, we shall have some reward left
us for our labours. This may be applied
to everything connected with bee-keeping,
seeing that all our efforts for eleven months of
the year revolve, as it were, round the one
other month. 2. No one race of bees is lesa
susceptible to foul brood than another. An all-
round good strain of bees is, of course, better
able to fight any enemy than a poor strain, for
these latter usually lack vigour of every sort.
3. The time required for foul brood to reach
the spore stage varies at different seasons
from three to six weeks, but as the few affected
larva: that are first attacked with the disease
in a hive usually remain unnoticed by the
novice, these may reach the spore stage before
the bee-keeper know3 that his bees are in-
fected.

4 and 5. The reply to No. 3 pretty well
covers these too. It is very unsafe to give
" signs " for the guidance of novices in bee-
keeping, as only the man who has had practical
experience with foul brood can read or under-
stand the signs that afford reliable evidence of
the disease. The inexperienced hand should
study well a good text-book and lean upon
it for support in his efforts. But a text-book

April 24, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

163

is of no use to a bee-keeper who does not
follow the advice given in its pages. He is
like a doctor to a patient, when the patient
empties the medicine — prescribed by his
doctor — down the sink ! as one I knew did.

During the past week two further cases have
come under my notice in proof of the disastrous
effects resulting from a really bad case of foul
brood in the spore-stage upon the imme-
diate neighbourhood. In both cases a badly
diseased stock was carefully destroyed in order
to guard against risk, hoping that other healthy
stocks had not been infected, but after several
months a latent germ made its presence felt,
and it was the " old story '' of disaster.

Decoy Places for Swarms. — With reference
to Mr. L. Quayle's inquiry (4734, page 126),
I may say that I gather from photographs of
Mr. Quayle's apiary that his bees are kept on
the roof of a building, and that — as there is
usually an inclination on the part of swarms
to rise — circumstances often make this neces-
sary. Thi3 tends to cause the swarms to cluster
in high places where they can only be secured
with difficulty.

Inflammability of Celluloid. — A Dumfries-
shire bee-keeper (4,733,. page 126) quotes
from an article in the Queen on this subject.
1 have since spoken to a cycle fitter about it,
and he said, "Yes, I quite believe that
celluloid would fire if exposed to the sun for
. any length of time on a very warm day."
And he demonstrated the inflammability of
celluloid by picking up a cycle handle made
of this substance and bringing it near a small
naked light, when the flaring of the celluloid
handle was like that of a small lamp. — Wm,
Lovm)AY,Sffatfield Heath, Hai low, Essex-.

LOSS OF QUEENS IN SPRING.

[4753.] In reply to Mr. A. H. Miller, who
writes on page 153 of last week's Bee
Journal, I have had queen-cells raised this
spring through the loss of queen. I noticed
the loss of queen almost at once by the action
of the bees, but left the hive alone for eight or
nine days when, on examining the combs, I
found several queen-cells. I united the bees,
however, to another stock, as it was too early
for the queen to get mated.

I have lost five queens this spring, mainly, I
think, through the excitement of bees when
taking an airing flight after being confined to
their hives for some time through cold weather
(as noticed by myself in giving " My Experi-
ences of the Season of 1901," vide B.B.J, of
November 28 last, page 473). I believe that
Mr. Miller's is a similar case. His old queen
may have been lost twelve to eighteen days
when found outside the hive. If the young
queen seen in the hive was raised from a three
days old larvae, the old queen might have
been lost about twelve days, but if raised from
an egg, sixteen to eighteen days. I believe
that the capped brood (both worker and drone)
were from the old queen, and the fact that

there were no eggs or unsealed brood proves
that the hive had been queenless for nine or
ten days at least. If, however, Mr. Miller
will watch the hatching out of the last brood,
he might then suppose the loss of the old
queen had occurred about twenty-one days
prior to the date of hatching, supposing that
worker brood would be the last to hatch, or
about twenty-five days if drone brood.

With regard to the young queen found on
combs, I believe it was unmated at the time of
his writing to the Journal, but with a
quantity of drones in the hive as stated she
might get mated before getting too old. Of
course, I quite agree with our editor's reply,
but what made me write is Mr. Miller's
enquiry if any reader had had a similar
experience. — J. Berry, Llanrwst, N. Wale*,
April 19.

"NOVELTIES FOR 1902."
[4754.] Under the above heading in the
B.B.J., April 17, page 154, I notice a short
description of a cardboard cover for hive roofs.
I see also that this cover was shown at the
recent B.B.K.A. conversazione by Mr. Knight
(B.B.J., March 27, page 123), where it is stated
that he " had designed a simple thing in the
shape of a cover for hive roofs." I should
like to point out that at the " Bath and West "
Show held at Croydon May 22 to 27 last year,
I exhibited a hive roof-cover which I had
designed, made of Willesden waterproof paper
tacked over a light wooden framework. This
paper is itself u waterproof," therefore paint or
tar is not necessary, although I consider it an
advantage to give it a coat of paint. I de-
cribed these roof-covers, which I called
"umbrellas," in the B.B.J., February 14, 1901,
page 66, and I have had them in use for over
two years. Besides forming a perfect protection
from the wet during the winter months, they
may also be used in the hot weather as " sun-
shades " by raising them a few inches from the
hive roof by means of small blocks of wood.
I do not know what is the cost of Mr. Knight's
" novelty " (?), but the cover which I exhi-
bited last year can be made for a few pence. —
G. S. Newth, South Kensington, S. W.,
April IS. _____________

THE "EDWARDS" SWARM- CATCHER.

[4755.] I trust you will kindly allow me
space to announce that, in consequence of
expert engagements, I shall be unable to
supply any more " catchers " for use this
season ; but that I have made arrangements
for three appliance dealers to supply a limited
number to fit hives of their own manufacture
only. An advertisement on another page in
this issue gives particulars.

May I also remark that the report of the
B.B.K.A. conversazione seems to convey the
wrong impression that the appliance will be
free and open for any one to make. This is
not so. I expect next season (if reports
justify that course) to allow every appliance-

164

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 24, 1902.

manufacturer to make " catchers " for use with
hives of their own make (correct fitting being
a sine qua nori), but subject to a small royalty
to me, which will be continued until I have
recouped myself for the time, trouble, and
expense of perfecting the appliance and placing
it on the market. The labourer is worthy of
his hire, and, being neither millionaire or
philanthropist, the amount of time and money
that I can spend without looking for some
return is comparatively small ; and, if the
appliance proves to be the boon I fondly hope
it may be shown to be, I think it will not be
unreasonable to expect those whom it will
benefit to "foot the bill." With that I will
be content, — H. Edwards, Shrubs Hill, Sun-
ningdale.

AMONG THE BEES IN ESSEX.

A SHORT TOUR WITH THE COUNTY EXPERT,

[4756,] As our county expert, Mr. Withy-
combe, is making his spring tour, it has been
my privilege on one or two days to cycle
round with him on his visits to apiaries.
Sometimes, the weather was so cold, hives
could not be opened at all ; at others only
during the short duration of sunshine which
helped to warm the atmosphere.

Generally speaking, the bees were in good
condition. Some were wanting food, and also
hive3 were badly in need of new blood to
make the industry a successful one. Several
were queenless, but contained brood and no
eggs ; an exception wa3 that of a hive with
four frames almost full of drone brood with a
virgin queen. As the owner had no fertile
queen to replace the virgin, the latter was
taken away and a frame of brood and eggs
was given from another hive to afford the bees
a chance of- raising a new queen. A queenless
skep had a triangular piece of comb with
brood and eggs inserted into one of the combs
cut for the purpose. Another skep was queen-
less with only a few bees, which was placed
over a skep with which they might unite.
Br aula cceca and Galleria cereana frequently
came to the front ; the latter was doing its
best to destroy comb and larvte by tunnelling
through the cells, while the former was con-
tent to be perched on the back of a bee and
enjoy a switchback ride. One case of foul
brood was found in the incipient stage.

It must be very discouraging to an expert
to see the neglected condition of the bees
sometimes. The owners pay for advice by
subscribing to the County Association, and
very frequently do not heed it when given.
There is a case where foul brood has broken
out each year, being detrimental not only to
the bees and their master, but to other bee-
keepers too. Mr. Withycombe has, by his
kindness, very often done a great deal more
than his usual work of manipulation, and I
think all the members of the association
should recognise that fact, and endeavour to
enhance the good work being done by the
associations in the country, not only as a duty

to themselves, but to their neighbours. I saw
many floorboards cleaned, and other items
attended to, where some could not do them
for obvious reasons. But notwithstanding the
carelessness of a few, there were many who
were very enthusiastic ; in some cases the wife
did a good deal. One good lady, who was in
company (limited) with her husband, not only
helped in bottling honey, extracting wax, and
selling them, but manipulated the hives, which
were numerous. She had also managed to
dispose of all the honey and wax of the
twenty-one hives at good retail prices.
(Continued on page 166.)

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

The owner of the apiary depicted on next
page has brought back to our mind "a day
among the bees '' very pleasant to recall, though
we have since then bad a second and similar
experience in the same picturesque Wor-
cestershire bee-garden. There, amid scores of
hives scattered about on a hillside so steep
as to make foothold no easy matter for an
"examiner" not so young as he once was,
and a " bee-chat " held during the interval for
so homely a lunch as Mr. Millward describes
— with " dessert " of luscious plums dropping
from the laden trees beneath which we sat — and
the " oral exam." held in the'veteran bee-man's
workshop, constitute a "memory" among
many such we hope to retain long after our
active bee-work has ended.

For the rest, we need add nothing to Mr.
Millward's "notes," as follows : —

" In my childhood I remember my father
kept bees in straw skeps, and patronised the
sulphur pit with painful regularity. My
interest was aroused in modern bee-keeping
by accidentally reading a book on the subject
while at Saltley College in 1884. In 1886 I
became located as country schoolmaster at
Chaddesley Corbett, and during the summer
of that year I was taken in hand by Mr.
Edward Corbett, a bee-keeper with a large
experience, a large heart, but hiding his bee-
keeping light under a bushel of modesty.
Passing through mo3t of the failures and dis-
appointments of beginners, I was persuaded in
a lucky moment to join the Worcestershire
Bee-keepers' Association, and from that time
my success with bees has been constant.
Pleasant chats with other members, visits to
other apiaries, hints from the expert, and
experience gained at the shows all served to
stimulate enthusiasm and improve my acquain-
tance with bees, and culminated in my obtain-
ing the coveted third-class expert certificate.

" The photo, which is by Mr. Harold Pratt,
one of my old scholars, shows my eldest son
assisting me with the work. He is an apt
pupil, and as I am so much occupied now in
expert work for the association, he has a con-
siderable amount of our bee-work at home to
do. Unfortunately he suffers terribly if stung

April 24, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 165

— aggravated, I fancy, by my lack of sym-
pathy, as it is many year3 since a sting had
any terrors for me.

"We have no difficulty in selling all the
honey we can produce. Some day I may be
tempted to inflict my advice on the readers of
the Journal on this subject.

"As regards the financial aspect of bee-
keeping, my opinion is that any industrious
person of ordinary intelligence can make bee-
keeping a paying hobby in more than the
ordinary sense, but I do feel that it is detri-
mental to the best interests of bee-keeping
when people spread fairy tales about the vast
profits that can be made by investing in hives
of bees and staring at them. My neighbours
are fully aware that I am getting money out

here, may come under the Editorial ban as
' merely personal,' but on the off-chance of its
possessing sufficient interest to keep it from
being consigned to the w.p.b. I will relate it,
as I am not the only one who looks back on
that day's experiences with great pleasure : —
" The event occurred at a picturesque out-
apiary, located in a fruit orchard a mile or two
north of Worcester, on May 29, 1897. You
were examining several of us hopeful candi-
dates for our 3rd Class B.B.K.A. Certificates,
and dinnertime arrived before we could finish
the practical part of the work among the bees.
There beiDg no house near to which we could
adjourn for refreshment, some one produced
bread and cheese and a brown jar. I par-
ticularly remember the Rev. E. Davenport's

MR. EDWD, A. MILL WARD S APIARY, CHADDESLEY CORBETT, KIDDERMINSTER.

of my hobby, but I fancy they sometimes
doubt whether it is worth all the long hours
of hard work. But then they are not all
enthusiasts.

"In conclusion, if I am to select my most
delightful experience as a bee-keeper, it was
the ' chat ' we had when eating bread and
cheese, and drinking a certain brownish fluid
under a hedge, with the genial ' W. B. C.,'
who presides at present in the Editorial chair.
Gentle Reader, do not despise us. It was
homely fare, and all we had or could get. We
were hungry and thirsty with our work, and
the anxious excitement of the day in that
out-of-the-way apiary, but we talked ' bees '
and were happy. I fear the incident, if told

look when the latter was brought forth. How-
ever, he modified his views slightly when our
examiner consented to partake of the homely
glass of beer along with the rest, and we
offenders went so far as to start a volunteer off
to get the jar replenished. I must, however,
free our worthy examiner from participation
in this dreadful performance, except that I
have a distinct recollection of his being an
accessory after the fact.

" He may, however, be interested to learn
that the particular group of bee-keepers whom
" W.B.C." earnestly addressed that day are now
the backbone of the Worcester B.K.A., and
have raised it from its dying ashes of 1898 to
vigorou.3 life in 1902."

166

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 24, 1902.

(Correspondence continued from page 164.)

As one would expect, we saw hives of
patterns galore. One rustic hive was very
interesting ; it was part of the trunk of a tree
cut transversely, and with the centre of the
stem cut out for the frames. The top of the
hive was made to taper to a point, thus repre-
senting a house somewhat like an Icelander's
hut. Many of the members treated us most
hospitably, and unless it were accepted we
felt that we had gone away without adding to
the warmth of the friendship already evident.

The weather has now become much warmer,
and bee-forage is getting more plentiful. —
A. W. Salmon, Cushfield House, Chingford,
April 19.

REMOVING BEES FROM TREES.

A WORD OF CAUTION.

[4757.] During the last few days a quite
unique experience, so far as I am concerned,
has come under my notice. A friend of mine
who has just started bee-keeping told me of a
stock of bees being located in a hollow tree
some 30 ft. from the ground. He expressed a
desire to have the bees hived in a frame-hive,
and requested my assistance in the operation.
We went to the tree in question fully armed
with the necessary implements to secure the
bees and remove the comb, then fix up those
with brood in the frames. All went well
while the outermost combs were being re-
moved, but I was suddenly assailed by a most
disagreeable smell which I felt sure must pro-
ceed from " foul brood." The removal of the
the next comb proved the truth of this belief,
for in it I found brood in the most advanced
stage of the disease. Five other combs were
equally affected. Needless to say, my friend
did not get the bees hived. Judging from the
combs I should say the bees had been in the
tree for four years, as I could plainly mark
each year's growth. The combs were about
30 in. deep, and contained about 40 lb. of
honey.

During my residence of over two years in
Cornwall I have frequently come in contact
with skeppists, who have told — with great
pride — that " during all the years they have
kept bees, they have never had foul brood in
the apiary." In fact, they say " it is impos-
sible for bees in skeps or places other than
frame-hives to be affected."

The question is, " Would these conservative
bee -men know, even if every hive in the
apiary were badly affected with the disease % "

The above experience will surely prove the
folly of the skeppists' statements. At the
same time, it would, perhaps, be interesting to
know if any others of the readers of the
B.B.J, have ever found foul brood under
similar circumstances. — Wm. Gibson, Truro,
April 18.

P.S. — I enclose sample of comb.

[The cells of comb sent (a small piece only)

contain no dead brood in what is known as
the "advanced" stage, -but foul brood is
rapidly developing in the unsealed larvje, —

Eds.] ______

BEE- STINGS AND INFECTION.

[4758.] The letters which have appeared in
your journal on the above subject (pages 147
and 153) are interesting. Personally, however,
I do not think that there is any possible
ground for supposing that bee stings can have
any effect whatever in preventing attacks from
infectious diseases. The latter are the direct
result of the invasion of the body by specific
living organisms, which differ from each other
according to the disease they produce. On
the other hand, though the poison of a bee-
sting may be a powerful antiseptic, it is
generally administered in such minute
quantities as to be useless when distributed
throughout the whole human body, and is,
moreover, probably removed in a very short
time by the excretory organs. I have, how-
ever, had considerable confirmatory evidence
of the benefit acruing to sufferers from chronic
rheumatism by being stung, and have
experienced such benefit myself.

As regards the conditions mentioned by your
correspondents, viz., smallpox, vaccination and
influenza, I suppose I get as many stings as
most folks, and have not had smallpox. I
suffered severely, however, when I recently
re-vaccinated myself, and I am a martyr to
influenza, as no sooner do I get a few cases — or
many — on my books than I contract the
disease myself. It is a notorious fact that
vaccination and re-vaccination are the only
known preventives of smallpox, but the
vagaries of the latter operation are extraordi-
nary, and very difficult to explain or account
for, and are not, perhaps, a suitable subject
for discussion in your columns. — (Dr.) Percy
Sharp, Public Vaccinator, Brant Broughton,
Newark, April 21.

GLEA.NINGS FROM FOREIGN BEE
JOURNALS.

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

Le Rucher Beige (Belgium). — Hornets are
dangerous enemies to bees ; they catch them
while at work upon the flowers, or just as they
are returning heavily-laden to the hives. They
show great agility, and seem to distinguish
those bees which are carrying the largest store
of honey. They have even been known to
penetrate into the hives, taking both bees and
honey. The best time to destroy this insect is
in spring, when every hornet that remains is a
fertilised queen and will become the founder of
a nest. Last year the writer had a good
opportunity of observing the ravages com-
mitted by some hornets located in a hollow
tree, about 500 yards distant from his apiary.

April 24, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

167

There would often be as many as half a dozen
at the same time about the hives, catching the
bees just as they were about to alight, and
then flying off with their victims to their nest
in the hollow oak tree. A few lighted sulphur
splints thrown into the hollow and the
entrance-hole securely closed, eventually put
an end to these audacious thieves.

lllustrierte Bienen Zeitung (Germany). —
The summer of 1901 in East Prussia has been
especially hot and long, and marked by irrit-
able conduct of the bees in this locality
towards man and beast. This has often been
proved to result from the exposure of comb
from which honey has been extracted near the
hives. Besides several unimportant cases,
two of some consequence took place. The
bees belonging to the schoolmaster in a village
in Eylan attacked two valuable young horses.
One died in consequence, and the other was
blinded, and, of course, of no further value.
The owner of the bees had to pay £30 com-
pensation. About the same time the bees of
another schoolmaster attacked tbree horses
belonging to a neighbour. The misfortune
was soon remarked, and the horses were taken
away to a place of safety ; still, for some time
they were unfit for work, and the cost
of veterinary advice and the loss of value
of the animals led to a claim of £6 7s. Hap-
pily, this bee-keeper was insured, and re-
ceived the whole sum from the insurance
company. The account ran thus : —
First account. — 2h days at 10s. per

day ....". ,£1 5 0

For better food and care 10 0

One quart of spirit to rub the in-
jured parts 0 1 0

Second account. — Loss of value
through bare places in the ihair,

&c , 1 10 0

For better food to bring the horses

round 2 5 0

For vet. surgeon and certificate 0 6 0

Total £6 7 0

Bulletin de la Socie'te d' Apiculture de la
Somme. — A receipt for a gargle much recom-
mended for ulcerated sore throat or mouth : —

Tincture of myrrh , 1 oz.

Tincture of camphorated opium... \ oz.

Honey \\ oz.

Barley water 7i oz.

Mix well, and use several times a day.

~Persicaria — Polyganum sakhalinense,
otherwise known as Asiatic knotgrass, is an
excellent forage plant in dry seasons. It is
propagated by dividing the rhizomes in spring
or autumn. The stalks die down in winter,
but the stock resists winter frosts as well
as the summer drought. The growth in spring
is rapid, and the plant requires no attention
whatever. The young shoots, something like
asparagus, are edible, and the flowers are good
pasture for the bees.

Leipziger Bienen Zeitung. — Propolis a
remedy for corns. — Spread the propolis thick

on a piece of linen, and lay this on the corn.
After a fortnight's application the corn will
have disappeared.

The same. — The war office in Belgium has
advertised for 1,200 lb. of honey, white or
pale in colour. A guarantee of 700 fr. is
required with the offer. What does the war
office want it for ? is an interesting question.
Can any Belgian bee-keeper gratify our
cmiesity ?

Revue Internationale d'Apiculteur. — There
is to be an international exhibition of apicul-
ture in Madrid during the whole of the month
of May, 1902. Prices of honey and wax at
the market in Barcelona in December, 1901,
were as follows : — Native wax, 2s. 5d. to 2s. 6d.
the kilo. (2 lb.). First-class (Arragon) honey,
by 100 kilos., about 42s. to 45s. ; second-class
(Catalonian) honey, 100 kilos., about 38s. to
42s. _

Bienenivirthschaftliches Central Blatt (Ger-
many).— Under what conditions the bees work
red clover. The tube of the corolla of red
clover has a length of 9 to 10 millimeters, and
the bee's tongue only measures about 6 mill.
So the bee can only reach the nectar when it
fills the tube to a height of 3 or 4 mill.
In rich pastures this occurs when warm fine
days succeed heavy showers of rain. The
same may be said of the blossom of the
common lilac. When small beetles have per-
forated the corolla tube of the red clover the
bees can work the honey it contains. In
examining the flower closely, it may often be
observed that a very small beetle has bored a
tiny hole in the tube to emerge from it. The
humble bee also bores holes in the clover tubes
and in other plants, thus showing herself to be
the true pioneer of the honey bee. It may be
remarked that the same family of plants does
not yield the same amount of honey every
season, and this may account for the fact that
bees are not found every year to be working
the red clover.

Elsass - Lothringischer Bienen Zeitung. —
The Nahhla gives some interesting particulars
as to the honey-bee in Guadeloupe (Great
Antilles). Bees have been imported into the
island more for their influence on the fertilisa-
tion of the cacao and coffee plantations than
for their honey, although they gather honey
in abundance. Great numbers of blossoms
are fertilised by them, which would otherwise
be lost. The coffee plantations, where bees
are active, often bear double the quantity of
berries and yield regular harvests. Before
the introduction of bees flowers were pro-
duced abundantly, but little fruit.

Praktischer Wegweiser. — Among the ex-
ported products of the Japanese islands is
the fruit of the wax- tree, much used there in
the manufacture of candles. The tree re-
sembles the crab-apple, and grows on the edges
of cultivated land, especially in the province
of Kinchin. The tree loses its foliage in
autumn, but in October it is covered with
berry-like fruits. These are gathered, dried

168

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 24, 1902.

in the sun, and then sent to a factory where
the wax is extracted ; but before this can be
done the berrie3 have to be kept at least two
years. The longer they are kept the better
wax they produce. This wax is much used to
adulterate bees'-wax in the manufacture of
wax-candles, comb-foundation, &c.

<|ttptss and HtySp.

[2829.] Transferring Bees. — Having
followed your kind advice given me last
winter, I yesterday placed a '' cast " of last
May (in a skep) on top of a " W.B.C." hive,
packing the latter warmly and finally putting
the roof over skep and all. As bees in skep
seemed to have hardly any honey, I afterwards
placed a feeding bottle with about | pint of
syrup (medicated) over skep, having first cut
a circular hole in it. 1. Have I done right, and
would you advise me to continue feeding till
fruit blossom is all out 1 Weather is dull and
rainy. 2. The bees in other skep (a large
swarm of last May) do not seem very flourish-
ing. I inverted skep and looked among
combs, but as I am only a beginner, am not
much the wiser. There was no honey that I
could see, but I found a small patch of sealed
brood, the capping* not being flat but
bulging. Is this usual? The other comb3
were so full of bees T could not see very far
up. There are plenty of bees in the skep, but
they are not so industrious as my two other
colonies. I placed this skep also on top of
another frame-hire, previously prepared, but
have not yet fed them. Should I do so 1
They had heaps of honey last autumn.
Would they raise a queen now if they are
queenless ? 3. In my old hive there is a
slight touch of foul brood, so I put naphthaline
on floorboard, and fed them with medicated
syrup, which they took at first, but now refuse ;
they took about h pint. I should like to give
them two new frames fitted with full sheets
of foundation. When shall I do this, and
where place them in brood-nest ; and which
combs shall I take away to make room for
new 1 The hive has ten frames, and bees
cover nine. This is a good district for fruit
blossom. The bees are working well.
Thanking you in anticipation. — B. Purvis,
Old Hall, Boreham, Chelmsford, April 21.

Reply. — 1. Whether you have done right
or not depends entirely on the condition of
the bees in skep. If they are very strong in
numbers all will be well, otherwise it would
have been better to defer operations for two
or three weeks. What you have done will
tend to retard the transferring of the brood-
nest below, if the colony is not beginning to
need more room for brood-rearing. 2. If the
cappings of brood seen in the other "not
very flourishing" skep appear as stated —
" bulging out " — you must make sure it is not

drone-brood being reared in worker-cells,
because in the latter case the stock will be
worthless. 3. If the third stock mentioned
is diseased, even slightly, you should give no
additional frames of foundation while en-
deavouring to cure it.

[2830.] Feeding Bees in Sleeps. — I have a
stock of bees in a straw skep, and have been
feeding them with syrup sines April 3. This
evening on removing bottle to refill I found
that during the day the bees had commenced
building comb on the muslin which covered
mouth of bottle, as you will see by the
enclosed. I will be very pleased if you will
tell me what it is a sign of, and what had I
better do. I gave them the usual dose of
syrup this evening, but if the same thing
occurs to-morrow I will discontinue feeding
until I hear from you. I believe this hive gave
off two swarms last year and was then left to
itself, so that it had all the honey gathered for
winter stores. I have only had it since
September. Fearing that they might possibly
be short of stores and being very anxious to
winter them, I gave them some soft candy on
February 28, and they consumed almost 2 lb.
during March, and then on April 3 I com-
menced feeding with syrup. They appear
very strong in numbers, and have been
bringing in large quantities of pollen for some
weeks. 1. What do you think is the cause of
them building comb in this manner ? F>o you
think they can possibly want more room
already 1 2. As they seem so anxious to
commence comb-building, would it be any use
giving them a rack of sections fitted with
foundation to draw out, as I want to take
advantage of the fruit blossom, which will be
out soon now. I am only a novice, and very
anxious to be successful. — G. Smeddles,
Liverpool, April 10.

Reply. — 1. It is quite common for bees to
build comb at this season in any vacant space
where they are in the habit of feeding. In
this way the vacuum left after a box of candy
has been consumed is found " full up " with
newly-built comb. They do not often attach
cell- walls to the muslin covering of the feeding
bottle — as in your case — but it merely shows
that bees in April are possessed of the " comb-
building impulse." 2. Do not give sections
till honey is obtainable from natural sources.

[2831.] A Beginner's Queries. — Please
oblige me by answering the following through
the B.B.J, which I am reading weekly : — 1.
Is a " Doolittle long-tongue Ligurian '' superior
to other varieties of bees ? 2. Is the
galvanised wire netting used for fencing and
pea-guards hurtful to honey if used for cages
for an extractor1? 3. Would it damage the
honey if the frame which holds the cages is
made of iron 1 I have read the " Guide Book "
and think it is excellent for a would-be bee-
keeper. I have worked the bees well since I
have had it. — A Beginner, Havant, Hants,
April 17.

Reply. — 1. We do not quite know what bee

April 24, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

169

is meant by the term " Doolittle long-tongued
Ligurian." Our impression is that Mr. G. M.
Doolittle has little faith in the " long-tongue "
theory with regard to bees ; and we agree
with him in that respect. 2. The wire netting
used in extractors is usually galvanised and
does no harm to the honey. 3. The same re-
mark applies to the iron frame ; these are
made of iron galvanised.

BEE-DRE3S FOR WOMEN.

There is no disputing the fact that in bee-
keeping men have a decided advantage over
women in the matter of dress. It is so much
easier for them to dress cool and comfortable,
and also protect themselves from stings, than
it is for women. I have envied Dr. Miller
more than once, on a sweltering hot day, as
he walked around attired in a pair of painter's
white overalls, the latter tucked in his socks,
as a protection from stings. He looked so
cool and comfortable — perhaps he did not feel
so — but he looked tantalizingly coo', at any
rate.

But women can do much to make their
dress comfortable by a little thought.

Do not wear heavy skirts that take about
all your strength to carry around. I have
found a light-weight worsted skirt the most
satisfactory. Duck skirts are comfortable,
but they soil easily, and are not very easily
laundered. A worsted skirt and a shirt-waist,
however, make a very satisfactory rig.

A large denim apron covering you com-
pletely from head to toe is indispensable.
Make it long enough to reach the very bottom
of your dress, so that if a little honey drips
on your apron it will not lodge on the bottom
of your dress-skirt on its downward course.

Denim is the be3t material I know of for
aprons. I formerly used ticking, but I like
denim better, as you can get it in plain
colours. The last ones I made of plain brown
denim were very satisfactory. Either denim
or ticking wears well, and neither allows the
honey to soak through readily. And when
you slip out of your apron, after your day's
work is done, you present quite a creditable
appearance, which is something dear to the
heart of a woman, especially if you are at
work in an out-apiary and have a long ride
home before you.

My aprons are cut by one of the Butterick
patterns (No. 3696), and they are ideal aprons
for the apiary. After thoroughly testing them
for years I would feel lost without my big
aprons, with their generous pockets. I wish
dressmakers would give us some such pockets
in our dresses, they are such a comfort ; but
no, Dame Fashion has doomed us to go
pocketless. What do I use those pockets for ?
Well, I am not going to tell you all I put
into them, but one thing I do use them for is
to carry my hive-tool. I think it would be
often lost but for those pockets.

One very important item in your outfit is
gloves. I have tried a good many kinds, and
wear a pair of light-weight buckskin at present.
For quite a while I wore a common white
glove. I do not know whether it is sheep-
skin or hogskin, but it had a very disagreeable
odour. But for that it would be a good glove;
as it is, I much prefer the light-weight buck-
skin.

I sew a pair of white sleeves around the top
of the gloves, having the sleeves long enough
to come well up on my shoulders. I have a
strap sewed from one sleeve to the other
across my back. A similar strap across my
chest is sewed to one sleeve, and buttoned to
the other. This is a convenient arrangement ;
it takes very little time to slip my gloves off
or on, is perfectly bee-proof, and keeps the
sleeves of my dress clean.

The reason for having the white sleeves are
preferable because bees will rarely sting any-
thing white. I have about half a dozen pairs
of sleeves, and as fast as one pair becomes
soiled I rip them off and sew on a clean pair.
The gloves themselves can be washed any time.
It is more convenient to have two pairs, as
ensuring one pair ready always for. service.

A comfortable pair of shoes must not be
overlooked. Never get shoes with high heels.
Those with rubber heels are extremely com-
fortable. If you cannot get these you can
have the rubber heels put on by your shoe-
make for 50 cents a pair.

I am very fond of wearing low shoes and
slippers, and many an unnecessary sting I get
in consequence.

We must not forget the bee-hat. I like a
broad-brimmed straw-hat with a veil of net
sewed around the brim, and a rubber cord run
in the hem around the bottom of the veil ; a
safety-pin caught through the hem passing
over the rubber cord in front, ready to pin
down securely to my apron, pulling it down
tight enough so the rubber cord will be drawn
taut, then I feel sure no bee will be able to
get under my veil.

One advantage a woman has over a man is
that she can use a hat-pin to pin her hat on,
and that is a comfort. You are sure your hat
is not going to tumble over your eye3 at a
critical moment when both hands are full.
Let us score one for the women on that point.

One trouble I have is to get a hat with a
crown small enough so that the hat will not
rest on my ears. I don't see why some ac-
commodating soul doesn't make a few hats
especially for women. — Emma M. Wilson, in
American Bee Journal.

TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED.

F. Sladen, Ripple Court Apiary, near
Dover. — Mr. Sladens Catalogue for 190U
(fifth edition) is, as usual, a tastefully and
admirably got up list, the greater portion
being devoted to his own specialities rather

170

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 24, 1902.

than in the way of special strains of bees
and queens raised in his own extensive apiary
on the south coast, and imported ones of his
own selection. Several pages are also devoted
to " honey plants," embracing farm crops for
bees ; honey plants for apiary and garden ; and
suitable trees for bee-forage. Altogether it
may be said that the list before us is u special
one, reliably written, and compiled by one
who is thoroughly well versed in the several
subjects dealt with.

J. S. Greenhill, 80, Graham-road, Wim-
bledon.— Mr. Greenhill terms his list an " up-
to-date " catalogue, and, although consisting of
but twenty pages, it fully bears out the title.
Nothing is included that can in any sense be
termed " out of date," for the maker's expe-
rience of twenty-seven years with Messrs.
Neighbour made him fully acquainted with all
that is best in the trade, and his exceptionally
long experience as the practical bee-expert of
that firm will give confidence to those who
need help in bee matters. The list, though
short, as stated, contains all that is needful in
bee-goods of every kind.

\u Climes tff €mt.

June 10 to 13, at Beading.— Royal Counties
Agricultural Society. Bee and Honey Department
under the management of the Berks B.K.A. Schedules
from D. W. Bishop-Ackerman, Hon. Sec. Berks B.K.A.,.
131, King's-road, Reading. Entries close May 17. '

July 5 to 9, at Carlisle.—" Royal " Agricultural
Society's Show. Bee and Honey Section under the
management of the B.B.K.A. Schedules from Edwin
H. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-square, W. Entries
close April 30.

July 26, at Buttfield Park, Hessle, East
Yorks.— Honey'Show in connection with the Hessle
and District Horticultural Society. Good prizes for
Honey-Trophy, Sections, and Extracted Honey
Schedules from Ernest C. S. Stow, Hon. Sec, Thornton
House, Hessle, East Yorks.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All queriei/orteardedteill be attended to, and those only
of pergonal inter ett mil be aneieered in tkie eolimn.

R. L. S. (Formby, near Liverpool). — Damp-
ness in Hives during Winter. — The damp-
ness complained of probably arises from the
sparseness of bees in the hive. It is a
well-known truism that the best packing
for bees is bees, and you may take it from us
that if there had been enough bees to cover
the combs on which they were wintered the
amount of condensed moisture on the hive-
sides _ would be infinitesimal. This is
especially the case when space is provided
below the frames in winter. Your mention
of " dead bees and maggots on the floor-
boards " shows that the dead bees must
have lain there for months past, seeing that
the "maggots" referred to have no con-
nection with bee-life. They are the larvte of

insects that generate in decomposing animal
matter of any kind. We advise you in
future to leave only so many frames as the
bees cover well when packing for winter,
and do not open the hives at all in early
spring unless some special need should arise
for so doing.

S. H. Foster (Swinbrook Vicarage). — 1.
Bees Deserting Hive. — The comb sent con-
tains nothing worse than mouldy pollen.
Probably the bees have left the hive and
cast in their lot ' with the robbers that
carried off the food. This is what not
seldom happens under such circumstances.
2. Preventing Swarming. — Various appli-
ances have been devised for preventing
swarming, particulars of which may be seen
by any reader of our pages-some in present
is3ue — but a bee-keeper to succeed must
possess a guide-book on the subject wherein
all the be3t plans are fully dealt with. We
cannot occupy space with instructions that
nearly all readers possess, and, as already
said, success depends on knowing what to
do at the right moment.

J. Thomson (Ayr). — DoolittWs Book on
" Queen Rearing." — When replying to a
former inquiry on this matter we were not
aware that the book could be had in this
country ; we now learn, however, that it is
stocked by Mr. Geo. Rose, Bee- Appliance
Manufacturer and Seedsman, Great ^Char-
lotte- street, Liverpool.

J. B. Hamilton (Bury, Lanes.). — Buying
Honey. — It is against our rule to give
names of correspondents who write under a
non de illume. We will, however, be very
pleased to forward a letter from you to
"Ebor" (4742, page 144) if sent to this
office, sealed.

Constant Reader (Kendal). — Suspected
Combs. — 1. Foul brood is rapidly develop-
ing in the unsealed larvae, but, so far from its
being in the spore-stage, as supposed, it is
only just breaking out. The symptoms
shown in comb are so plainly described in
"Guide Book'' that no mistake can be
made by any one reading them. 2. Soluble
phenyl may be obtained from Messrs.
Morris, Little, & Co., Wholesale Chemists,
Doncaster, price 6d. and Is. per bottle. 3.
If the stock is strong in bees, and other
combs in the hive show no worse form of
the disease than your sample, you may with
advantage take the steps proposed to save
them.

E. N. (Abergavenny). — Foul brood is rapidly
developing in comb sent. Unless the bees
are strong in numbers it will be useless
trying to get them to build out combs from
comb-foundation at this early season. Nor
should you make an attempt to cure, in any
case, without making yourself acquainted
with the nature of the disease and its very
infectious character.

H. W. Wellington (Undy Magor, Mon.) —
There is no disease in comb sent.

May 1, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

171

CUMBERLAND B.K.A.

ANNUAL MEETING,

The first annual meeting of the above Asso-
ciation was held at Workington in the St.
Michael's Parish-room (by permission of the
Rector) on April 12. Lord Muncaster was
re-elected President, and the Vice-Presidents
elected were as follows : — The Earl of Lons-
dale, the Bishop of Carlisle, Rev. Canon
Rawnsley, Archdeacon Sherwin, Rev. H, V.
Elliott, the Hon. Colonel Stewart, Sir Wilfrid
Lawson, Bart., W. Lowther, Esq., M.P., Jas.
R.Bain, Esq., M.P., R. D. Marshall, Esq., J.P.,
C.C., D.L., T. Hartley, Esq., J.P., C.C., the
Provost of Eton, Thos. Carey, Esq., C.C.,
A. Mitchell-Dawson, Esq., C.C., and Prank E.
Marshall, Esq.

The Executive Council for 1902 was also
tformed, with Rev. Canon Rawnsley, Chair-
man ; James Thomson, Vice-Chairman ;
George M. Saunders, Hon. Sec. and Treasurer;
Jos. F. Hope, Hon. Auditor ; and J. Gray,
Lecturer and Expert.

Hon. Local Secretaries were also appointed.

The reports for 1901 gave a membership of
109. Mr. Gray made a successful tour (visit-
ing 114 apiaries), but most of his time was
taken up in treating stocks for foul brood,
which had been introduced into the Keswick
district nearly five years ago, and seemed likely
to ruin bee-keeping altogether. Of fifty -six
apiaries inspected, thirty-five were found to
be infected, and of 150 stocks, eighty-five
were diseased. There were an additional
thirteen infected apiaries in districts round
about. It was mentioned that the Associa-
tion will act liberally in the way of helping
any bee-keeper who, not having yet joined,
may have stocks badly infected.

The thanks of the Association were also
offered to the Technical Education Committee
of the County Council for their grant, and to
those County Councillors who have gone to
personal trouble and expense in assisting the
Association.

Also to the Cheshire B.K.A., who, through
the courtesy of the Rev. E. Charley, their
hon. secretary, have kindly allowed the
Association to practically adopt their rules,
and in other ways. Cordial acknowledgment
was made of the help given by Mr. John
Vicars, who originated the Association in re-
sponse to an appeal from Mr. J. Branthwaite,
of Arlecdon, in the British Bee Journal
(vol. xxviii., page 195). Mr. Vicars went to
considerable trouble and initial expense,
which he has generously born himself in
starting the Association.

The meeting closed with votes of thanks to
the Rector for use of the room and to the
Chairman. — George M. Saunders, Hon. Sec,
Cumberland B.K.A., April 23.

BEE-KEEPING IN GLAMORGAN-
SHIRE.

RESUSCITATING THE COUNTY B.K.A.

Mr. R. T. Duncan, of Barry, writes as
follows to the Western Mail with regard to
the resuscitation of the Glamorganshire Bee-
keepers' Association : —

" The visit of the « Royal ' Show to Cardiff
last year appears to have revived interest in
apiculture in this part of the county, so much
so that I find a keen desire existing to resus-
citate the above association. The objects of
the association would be : — 1. To encourage
and develop the production of honey in
Glamorganshire. 2. To co-operate with the
Technical Instruction Committee of the County
Council for the promotion and delivery of
lectures and practical instruction in bee-
keeping. 3. To advocate the more humane
and intelligent treatment of the honey bee.
4. To better the condition of cottagers in the
agricultural districts by the encouragement,
improvement, and advancement of bee cul-
ture. 5. The detection, stamping out, and
prevention of foul brood (now reported to be
very prevalent in the county). 6. To arrange
for the attendance of the association's
experts, with bee-tents, at the agricultural
and horticultural shows held in the county.
7. To arrange for the appointment of com-
petent judges of the honey classes at the
different shows. An association with these
objects, amongst others, should command the
support of those who desire to see our rural
industries improved and encouraged. The
Board of Trade returns show that in the
month of July last year we imported honey
to the value of £14,000. It is estimated by
Professor Cheshire that during the honey-fiow
two tons of honey are allowed to go to waste
within a radius of two miles in certain cul-
tivated areas. Surely this is sufficient evidence
that we are allowing this, one of the most
lucrative of agricultural industries, to be
neglected. I should feel much obliged if you
would allow me to use your columns to ask
all those interested in this subject to send
their names to me as soon as possible, so that
a meeting may be convened in Cardiff at an
early date. It has been suggested that each
district should be represented on a general
committee. I am, therefore, particularly
anxious to hear from experienced bee-keepers
in the different districts. Several well-known
and influential ladies and gentlemen have
promised their support, and I have already
received the names of over thirty intending
members."

[We are very pleased to learn that the
visit of the "Royal" Show to Cardiff
promises to bring about so gratifying a result
as the above communication indicates. Our
experience — gained by personal intercourse
with bee-keepers who visited the show of last
year — proves that Mr. Duncan's keen desire

172

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 1, 1902.

is shared by numbers of others in the county.
Moreover, bee-keepers of the best sort seem to
be plentiful there. — Eds.]

€mwpm&m&

The Editors do not hold themselvit retponeible for the
opinion) expressed by correspondents. JVo notice mill 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.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

[4759.] Festina Lente. — la bee-keeping this
sententious saying (or its equivalent in good
broad Scotch, " Ca' canny '') is an excellent
motto. Early manipulation is one of those mis-
takes too often made, especially by beginners,
which result in detriment to the stock and loss
to the bee-keeper. An almost irrepressible d esire
seizes on many bee-keepers to examine prema-
turely into the condition of their best stocks,
and disaster too often follows. Many readers
seeing it stated that queens should be super-
seded every second year, decide to depose
theirs, however well they may be doing, and
they often replace them by others who fall far
behind the deposed queen in laying powers.
A certain race is " boomed " for a time, and
in their eagerness for change, which is the
fault of many bee-keepers, these are secured
only to prove a delusion and a snare. Hives,
guaranteed by their inventors to be pieces of
perfection, marvels in the way of manipu-
lative improvement, and containing a com-
bination of countless advantages hitherto
undreamt of, prove, when put to the test of
practical experience, hindrances and not helps.
Certain appliances, say some new section, is
written up as something which is to revolu-
tionise bee-keeping, and add some score of
improvements to any hitherto on the market.
But experience proves that it has at least that
number of drawbacks and disadvantages when
tested side by side with what has come to be
recognised as the standard. I do not now,
and never did, throw cold water on any honest
attempts to advance apiculture in every pos-
sible way by taking advantage of every new
invention, even supposed to improvements, on
those hitherto in use. What I did, and now
do, is to advise that, in introducing innova-
tions, we should " hasten slowly ! " Doolittle
the other day put the matter pithily in the
following sentence :— " It is always well to go
slow in any new thing till we have proved' it
a success— then we can enter into it largely
with confidence."

A Derelict Library. — Perhaps the above
description of the B.BK.A. Library is not
technically correct, as the secretary knows
where it is located and some of the Council
may know something about its contents. I
fear, however, few of the members are aware
there is such an institution. No catalogue of
the books exists and I have no hesitation in
saying that this is a state of matters which
imperatively demands to be remedied. Is it
to be a second case of a bee library "food for
worms ? "

A Hundredper Gent. — How many bee-keepers
I wonder succeed in pulling their full com-
plement of colonies safely through the winter
year after year 1 I never did, for each suc-
cessive spring shows some dead, or, at least, a
number so weak that I set them down as
unfit for being reckoned on as honey-making
machines during the current year, and they
are accordingly joined up. Perhaps in heather
districts this is almost an evitable result of the
high pressure at which bees are wrought with
a prolonged heather harvest closely following
on a good and lengthy clover season. In such
circumstances it is a matter of the utmost
necessity that every queen should be tested
and her laying powers gauged before the hives
are packed down for winter. Even then
accidents happen in the best regulated
families.

Fair Flora's Favours. — These are now being
showered on us in no stinted fashion, and
meadow, woodland, and hedge-row are fast
becoming gay once more with all sorts and
conditions of flowers. In the floral world we
now see the proud beauties of the field in
" gay but quick succession shine." ' Here is a
firmament of starry wood anemones, there a
sea of yellow bloom where the wild primrose
spreads its myriad flowers. The light lilac of
the fair sweet cuckoo flower, harbinger of
the bird whose name it bears, raises its lovely
petals to view, while the more modest sweet
violet hides its perfumed blossom. Thousands
of others are just emerging from the clenched
hand of the buds, and bees are revelling in a
wealth of bloom and levying a tax from count-
less styles and stigma. Few, if any, flowers
yet in bloom, unless the dandelion and fruit
blossom, yield any honey. Weather during
the first half of April was cold and wintry,
vegetation being checked considerably by the
icy touch of winter which held a grip of the
chill air. Now a magic change is taking
place, genial spring mantling the whole land-
scape in a dress of fresh and verdant hue. —
D. M. M., Banff.

A PLEA FOR THE EXPERTS.

[4760.] As the experts of various County
B.K. Associations will now have started on
their rounds, it is a very appropriate time to
bring forward, for the kindly consideration of
the members who are visited, the " don'ts 1
and " do's " in connection with the work. I

May 1, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

173

have always had a desire to pen a few lines on
the subject of my heading, but have refrained
because, being an expert myself for the last
eight years, it might savour of " axe grinding."
This year, however, not being able to under-
take a tour, I feel justified in contributing a
few lines to your pages in order to help, if
possible, my fellow craftsmen.

First, then, I would say to members, Don't
keep the expert waiting in order that you may
accompany him in his round among the hives.
If busy yourself, let him go on examining the
bees and join him as soon as you can. An
intimation of probable day of visit is gene-
rally given, but do not forget that warm days
and sunny hours in spring are often annoy-
ingly few and far between. One experience of
my own will illustrate what I mean. I was
kept waiting for fully three-quarters of an
hour on a beautiful day, while the gentleman
finished his lunch ; then, instead of joining me
in the work himself, as I supposed was in-
tended, he sent the gardener (which he could
have easily done at first) — this, too, on a day
when, being anxious to make hay while the
sun shone, I did not stop for lunch-taking
myself. This gentleman, too, was on the
council of the county association for which
I was then working. In this way,
and from sheer thoughtlessness, I lost,
or wasted quite a couple of days. Do not
expect the expert to do the '; spring clean"
of your hives, put on supers, and "just make
an artificial swarm " for you. Help the expert
;is much as possible by giving him as little
extra work as you can. Assist also by hold-
ing smoker, or if a windy day by holding the
roof to shade the bees as much as possible
during manipulation. Do not ask him to
" call again in an hour's time.'' You may be
the last one to be visited in the district, and
this will mean his time wasted. Should the
expert not turn up on the day you expect, do
not write off hand next post to the secretary,
grumbling and asking when the expert is
coming 1 Remember you are only one of a
large number of members to be visited ; also
bear in mind that control of the weather is
not among the expert's capabilities.

If disease is discovered amongst your stocks
do not look disgusted and say disagreeable
things. Be thankful that he has enabled you
to take measures for its eradication without
delay.

If it is meal time, do not overlook the fact
the expert needs some refreshment ; nor think
him ungrateful if he rushes off immediately
the last mouthful is swallowed. It is difficult
to get meals in the villages, and a little
consideration in this way is real kindness.
Should he call late in the day and it is at all
convenient, offer to put him up for the night.
He will be more at home with you than in the
village inn ; it will also help him by saving
expense. It is a great mistake to think that
experts are making a fortune. The salary
paid usually does little more than just cover

expenses. During my eight years' respective
" tours " I have not had £10 clear profit for
the whole time I laboured on expert work.

To secretaries I would say, Treat your men
with kindness and consideration ; do not be
constantly writing and saying, " You must
get on.'' Showers, cold and windy days all
hinder his work and prevent getting on. The
weather varies in different parts of the
county, so that it may be warm and fine
where you are (especially if you are in an
office with a nice fire in the grate), and may
be raining hard just where the expert is
working. Even if fine, it may be very hard
work cycling. I have myself often ridden
against a strong head wind all day, and when
finished at night have been too worn out and
tired to undress, but have slept in my clothes,
this because of being anxious to get through
as quickly as possible. The result is I am
now suffering for my overwork. I should
like to say very much more, but am afraid I
have now exceeded bounds. — W. Herrod,
The Horticultural College, Swanley, Kent,
April 26.

SOME EAST KENT NOTES.

[4761.] The weather during the past fort-
night up to Thursday, April 24, has been all
that the most exacting bee-keeper could wish
for. Calm, sunny days, followed by warm
nights has produced an abundant supply of
pollen, and the new honey drawn from the
nectaries of the daily and hourly opening
flowers has stimulated the bees in a way that
no artificial supply can equal. For myself I
cannot call to mind the time when brood-nests
have been extended so rapidly.

But on April 25 there came a very unwel-
come change for the worse, the wind veering
round to north-east, and for the two following
days it was blowing a perfect gale, knocking
about and destroying the early fruit bloom ;
while the loss of bee-life in the battle with the
elements must be considerable.

I find some personal consolation in know-
ing that in my little apiary the heavily-
laden home-coming bees can enter their hives
in comparative calm, as I have a screen at
the back of the hives, 7 ft. high, made of
riddled hurdles thatched with broom. This
screen breaks the force of the wind, and
helps the bees to reach the entrances. It
also saves me from trouble with neighbours
by causing the bees to rise high in the air.

Supering. — As soon as the weather again
becomes settled I shall put supers on my
" Ford- Wells '' and two single 10-frame hives
and a 12-frame one of the "W.B.C."
pattern ; in fact, I should have supered on
the 26th, but for the change in the weather,
as the brood-chambers have the full comple-
ment of combs all well covered with bees and
brood. There is an abundance of fruit-
blossom close at hand, and I am most anxious
to avoid swarming. My other four colonies

174

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 1, 1902.

are not so well advanced, being made up of
driven bee3 I got for the driving, but having
them late I did not get the " autumn raised
bees '' so essential for building up in spring.
From these stocks there will be no possibility
of any return until the sainfoin blooms. Even
then it often happens that just as the plant is
coming into flower one hears the rattle of the
mower being drawn to the scene of opera-
tions.

" Resa.'' — I have no doubt this new remedy
for bee-stings will be well tested during the
next few weeks, and if proved effectual will
be a great boon to many a timid bee-keeper.
Personally, I take but the slightest notice
of the pain, it is the subsequent swelling that
I fear, especially if stung on the face. I shall
not soon forget the first two stings I got near
my eyes, as I had to lay in bed the next day,
simply because I could not see. If Mr. Reid's
remedy will allay such swellings as I suffer
from, he has made a most valuable and timely
discovery. — Arthur H. Homersham, Sturry,
near Canterbury, April 28.

OUR FIRST RECORDED SWARM IN
1902.

[4762.] One of my hives sent out a splendid
swarm to-day (April 24). Is not this extra-
ordinarily early ? Not having seen any men-
tion of any swarms of 1902 in Bee Journal,
I thought this may be of interest to your
readers. [Yours is our first report. — Eds.]

I may also say I have three hives full of
bees with supers on. Of course, we are sur-
rounded here by acres of plum plantations,
which are now in full blossom. This no doubt
accounts for them being so forward. — H. E.
Spiers, Defford Station, Worcester, April 24.

ROBBING IN SPRING.
[4763.] For some years the bees have win-
tered well, and in the month of March all
have answered the roll-call. April or May
has thrust a dark cloud over these promising
prospects. Meantime there has been a con-
tinual warfare with " robber bees," and when
the honey-flow opens the number of stocks
has become sadly diminished. As this ex-
perience is not singular, it may be of service
to suggest the cause and the cure. That
March comes in like a lion and goes out like
a lamb or vice versd is as much now the rule
as in our forefathers' days, so that beautiful
sunny weather usually visits the land before
April begins. Consequently the bees or the
bee-masters seek to enlarge the brood-nest en-
couraged by the appearance of so many spring
flowers. The succeeding wet washes away
the nectar, or the frosty nights check its
development. The too early promise of bee-
weather has caused the production of many
hungry larvae, and for want of honey-flow the
bees make onslaughts upon the stores of their
neighbours, and robbing becomes rampant.

The glass shutter, carbolic cloths, and such
remedies do not obtain full confidence.
Supplies of sweetened water placed at a dis-
tance from the hives go far to reduce the evil,
possibly acting as an artificial honey-flow. If,
however, the robbers are identified, the
surest remedy is to carry the disturbance
into their hive, by dividing them or by
removing them to the position of the robbed.
In districts where April and May are cold
months, and the hoar frosts lie late on the
ground, it is found beneficial to reduce the
entrance of every hive to admit of only one
or two bees at a time until the frost has said
" Good bye." Less inducement seems in this
way held out to rob, and the heat of the hive
is maintained throughout the nights, an im-
portant point in hatching young bees, as well
as chickens. — W. H. A. W, Trefgam, Pern.,
April 25.

"NOVELTIES FOR 1902."

COVERS FOR HIVE-ROOFS.

[4764.] Referring to the letter in your
issue of last week (4754, page 163), no doubt
Mr. Newth will pardon my name appearing in
connection with the roof-cover when he
learns : — 1. That the term "Novelty" was not
applied by me. 2. I only started bee-keepirjg
in September last, and had not heard of the
B.B.J, till later. 3. The idea of a cover
occurred to me by seeing the need of such in
B. B.J., and having the necessary material and
machinery for manipulation in my factory it
did not require much invention on my part.

Mr. N.'s cover seems to be a simple piece
of paper nailed on to the roof. The on/ I
offer is put through a niche (without break-
ing), and shaped according to the roof. I hear
that Mr. N. was a resident of Wallington, and
should he return I shall esteem it an honour
if he will accept a " cover " for practical te3t.
In our neighbourhood they must be very
securely fastened. Tar or other paint must be
used. For quantities they are offered down
to 6d. each, carriage paid. — T. Knight, The
Beeches, Garshalton, April 2.

(Correspondence continued on page 176.)

HOMES OF THE HONEY-BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

The Rev. S. Wild, whose bee-garden forms
our " Homes " picture this week, is, we think,
too modest when writing of himself in the
following "notes" of his bee experiences. So
he must pardon us for adding a line to say that
he is one of those active local secretaries to the
County Association who are " helpers " in
more than name only. We say this on the
authority of the County Secretary, Mr. Godson,
who tells us that no would-be bee-keeper, be
he a parishioner or a dweller outside the vicar's
district, needs to ask for assistance in vain ;
practical help of the right kind being at once

May 1, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

175

forthcoming. There are no more valuable
friends of our industry than the local clergy-
men, and we need only add, would there were
more of them. For the rest, the following
" notes " speak for themselves : —

" Having been asked to give a short
account of my bee-experiences for the ' Homes
of the Honey-Bee,' I do so with pleasure. I
have lived in the county for some ten years
past, but not until the spring of 1898 was I
converted to this delightful pursuit. Previous
to this a friend of mine often tried to induce
me to start bee-keeping, and supplied me with
literature on the subject, but I took no
interest in the matter until I chanced to
attend a bee-lecture given under the auspices

little or no effect. This remark may possibly
give encouragement to some beginner who
suffers in the same way ; for I believe it to be
a fact that in time the sting ceases to have
any objectionable effect.

" I make my own hives ; and here again I
have derived much pleasure, for during the
winter months one can pass some of the long
evenings very profitably in making a hive
ready for the coming season. All my hives
are the ' W.B.C principle, as I consider
them the best.

" Beginning with one stock of bees, which
I purchased from a friend, in a good bar-frame
hive, I have now ten stocks, and I am looking
forward to a good season this year.

THE REV. SAMUEL WILD'S APIARY, DUNHOLME VICARAGE, LINCOLN.

of the Lincolnshire B.K.A. The whole sub-
ject was then so clearly described, and the
wonders of the hive so captivated me, that I
determined to become a bee-keeper. It also
occurred to me that in my capacity as vicar of
a country parish I might be able to help my
cottagers in the management of their bees,
and I am thankful to say this has been the
case. Not unfrequently in my rounds have I
hived a swarm, but often I have had a pleasant
chat on the subject of bees, and often given a
word of advice.

" My experience as a beginner was far from
pleasant, as I many times got most unmerci-
fully stung, and suffered intense pain ; but
now that I can manipulate the bees better I
am rarely stung, and in any case the sting has

" Of the profitableness of bee-keeping there
can be no doubt, even when, as sometimes
happens, one has a difficulty to dispose of
one's honey. I never rush the market, but
wait until there is a demand, and before the
next honey-flow last year's produce is sold.

" I do not wish to weary your readers, and
it will suffice to say that each year I have,
made a substantial profit, and at the same time
derived intense pleasure, from watching and
studying the habits of the ' busy bee.' Almost
from the beginning I have acted as secretary
for our local branch of the B.B.K.A., which
is in a flourishing condition.

" May I also add that I always welcome the
advent of your Bee Journal, which contains
much valuable help and advice."

17-6

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 1, 1902.

CORRESPONDENCE.
{Continued from page 174.)

IRISH BEE-KEEPERS AND THE
CORK EXHIBITION.

[4765.] At a meeting of the Cork bee-
keepers, last week, a letter was read from the
Hon. Secretary of the Irish Bee-keepers'
Association stating that the Department of
Agriculture, in addition to giving free space
for bee products at the Cork Exhibition to the
I.B.K. Association, will have a working apiary
with daily lectures and demonstrations in bee-
keeping during the continuance of the exhibi-
tion. The I.B.K. Association has undertaken,
on behalf of, and under the auspices of, the
Department of Agriculture to erect a
" Monster Bee Skep '' on the exhibition
grounds, in which exhibits of all bee goods,
flowers, and requisites will be staged. This
mammoth straw skep will be 20 ft. in height,
and lighted by electricity. It will be the
biggest thing of its kind ever seen in Ireland.
The Cork bee-keepers are heartily thankful to
the Department for the very lively interest it
is taking in pushing to the front this profitable
and interesting branch of rural industry. The
Department is sparing neither expense nor
trouble in this direction. — W. T. McCarthy,
Caroline-street, Cork, April 22.

HIVING VAGRANT BEES IN NATAL.

[4766.] The sigh was one of indecision. It
was 95 cleg, in the shade, and the Malvern
road was shadeless. Should I go 1 Doubtless
the bees would remain, but my courage to
take them might not if I postponed going till
a cooler day. The heat was intense, even for
midsummer. The landscape lay in a shimmer-
ing heat haze, and the line of graceful
syringas that fringed the roadway afforded no
shade from the blazing sun. Here and there
a white roof showed about the trees, but the
road was deserted. With the exception of a
string of Kaffir girls carrying calabashes and a
group of Indians laden with pineapples on
their way to the Durban market, I saw no one
till I reached my friend's house at Malvern.

The bees had taken possession of the stable.
They had built between the outside iron and
the inside wood, and were going out and in at
the stable door. None of the Kaffirs, it. ap-
peared, would go near them, not even Songo-
lollo, the stable boy. I had no sooner started
operations, however, than he offered his assist-
ance, procured a hammer and chisel, and set
about removing the lining boards in quite a
workmanlike fashion. The space behind the
first two was empty, the removal of the third
promised better ; the next and the next and
the next revealed one magnificent sheet of
comb, hanging from the cross-beam just above
our heads, down almost to the ground. It
was a picture, but alas ! we had no camera.

The bees clustered thickly under the remaining
boards — a soft brown velvet mass.

We worked for an hour cutting down the
comb and securing the bees. It was 95 deg.
in the shade, did I say 1 What the temperature
was under that iron roof I had no means of
knowing, but under a bee-veil, manipulating a
smoker, it was very hot.

An " umfaan," carrying a small timepiece,
appeared on the outskirts to say that tea was
ready, and show me I must " chacha " (hurry),
as it was nearly train time. No one else
would venture near.

Songolollo roped the boxes while I said
" Good-bye.'' My friend remembered once
having a swarm of bees in her wardrobe. She
was younger then and less afraid. It was in
the early days of the colony, when all the
transport was by ox waggon. A memorable
storm came, the rivers were swoollen, and the
waggons could not cross. It was impossible to
get stores from town. The neighbours shared
with each other as long as things lasted — when
the sugar was done they divided the honey in
the wardrobe !

Songolollo accompanied me to the station
and stood on the platform fanning the boxes
with a banana leaf against stray bees until
the train arrived. I thought the other pas-
sengers looked somewhat nervous at first, but
the journey was short and uneventful.

The day had been breathlessly hot and no
cool breeze came with the night. It was so
dark, too, I was forced to wait till the moon
rose, before carrying my new friends to the
hive I had set up for them on the slope. The
way lay through a maize field and a patch of
pine-apples. There is nothing more delightful
than wandering out and in among the mealies
in the sunshine, and as for pine-apples, when
it is light, one can avoid the pricks. At night
it is different ! Pine-apple tops seem every-
where, and the mealie stems looked tall and
ghostly in the moonlight. Their dry leaves
rustled at the faintest touch. A lantern
proved but a will-o'-the wisp and made the
outlook, if possible, more bewildering. I
stumbled hopefully over the shadows. Crickets
whirred in the grass and fire-flies twinkled
past. The cry of an owl made me start, then
a big moth with dusky wings that in passing
brushed my face. A grey frog jumped on a
sheet of the honey-comb and winked at me in
the moonlight ; he greatly resented being told
to " hamba'' (go) and actually returned bring-
ing a friend !

But fire-flies, crickets, moths, and frogs were
of small account at present compared to the
bees. After preparing the hive, I emptied
them on a white sheet in front, according to
the rules laid down in the text-books, and
waited patiently till the last stranger was safely
inside.

It was still cruelly hot. The house stood
open, every door and window wide as though
gasping for breath. The inmates lay about in
deck chairs on the verandah and moaned.

May 1, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

177

There wa3 no locking of doors, fixing of bolts or
sash-fasteners that night, bees, bats, or burglars
might come that liked ; fear itself wa3 lost in
the longing for a breath of cooler air.

Next morning I set out early eager to see
the bees in the new hive going happily out and
in, more especially as this was my first attempt
at hiving stray bees, and I had always regarded
the undertaking as much more difficult.

Other friends had bees they were anxious to
be rid of, and as I walked I set about planning
how I might secure these additional swarms.
The next consideration was where to locate
them. There was the garden and the orchard,
the land leading down to the river and the
bushland beyond. It was easy to imagine the
hives spreading down the valley, through the
orchard and the mealie field, along the shady
banks of the Umlaas. I could see all the land
from the hill top on which the house stood,
and bees were plentiful it seemed for miles
around.

What about hives 1 There was the local
carpenter, but colonial workmen received very
high wages, hand-made hives would be expen-
sive, still, he might be going ahead until
machine-made ones came from Maritzburg or
could be imported direct from England.

Of course, there were many difficulties to be
foreseen, the gravest, that in such a lonely
place, the coolies would steal the honey.
Something might be devised to prevent them,
strong metal clasps for instance or a chain and
padlock. These could be wrought in quantity
in Durban I And so-a3 I picked my steps
through the pineapple field each difficulty
was met and answered.

There was the question of supering too, of
tiering up for section honey. The local
demand would for some time probably exceed
the supply, section honey at present was rare,
and if not, the surplus could very easily be
exported. I had passed the pine-apples and
was parting the mealies. By the time I came
within sight of the hive, I had reached the
subject of bee literature and the desirability
of forming a Bee-keepers' Association in
Natal ! Here stood the hive, in all its snowy
newness, that was to form the nucleus of this
extensive apiary. I approached it cautiously.
There was really no danger, but it is best to
be careful. I stepped softly and avoided
making any noise of a jarring nature, that
might alarm the new tenants.

There was no need. As an angler silently
draws in his line and slowly and silently
rewinds his reel, when the fish he thought his
disappears down stream, so I recalled that
chain of hives, that stretched through the
garden and the orchard right down to the
shady banks of the Umlaas. In short, I
lifted that hive-lid and counted the bees, one,
two, three, four ! It was true, they had gone
— actually gone and left no address ! I shall
wait, I think, next time, till a cooler day. —
Mary Ritchie, Trevose, Bellair, Natal,
April 3.

THE POETS' BEES.

No. 1. — Shakespeare.

Collated by " F. E. I. S."

So work the honey-bees ;
Creatures that, by a rule in Nature, teach
The act of order to a peopled kingdom.
They have a king, and officers of sorts :
Where some, like magistrates, correct at

home ;
Others, like merchants, venture trade abroad ;
Others, like soldiers, armed in their stings,
Make boot upon the summer's velvet buds ;
Which pillage they with merry march bring

home
To the tent-royal of their emperor :
Who, busied in his majesty, surveys
The singing masons building roofs of gold ;
The civil citizens kneading up the honey ;
The poor mechanic porters crowding in
Their heavy burdens at his narrow gate.
The sad-ey'd justice, with his surly hum,
Delivering o'er to executors pale
The lasy, yawning drone.

* * *

Kill me a red-hipped humble bee on a
thistle, and bring me the honey- bag. Have a
care the honey- bag break not, I would be
loath to have you overflown with honey.

* * *

The sweetest honey
Is loathsome in its own deliciousness,
And in the taste confounds the appetite.
Therefore love moderately.

* # *

I, of ladies most deject and wretched
That suck'd the honey of his music vows.

* * *

Thou shalt be pinch'd
As thick as honeycombs, each pinch more

stinging
Than bees that made them.

* # *

Who, with thy saffron wings, upon my flowers
DiffuseBt honey-drops, refreshing showers.

* * *
Where the bee sucks there suck I,
In a cowslip's bell I lie.

* * *

Injurious wasps ! to feed on such sweet honey,
And kill the bee3, that yield it, with your

stings.

* * *

The honey-bags steal from the humble-bees,
And for night tapers crop their waxen thighs.

* * *

So bees with smoke are from their hives
driven away.

* * *■

Drones suck not eagles' blood, but rob bee-
hives.

* * *

Some say the bee stings : but I say 'tis the

178

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 1, 1902.

bee's wax ;" for I did but seal once to a
thing, and I was never mine own man

since.

* * *

The king hath found matter against him,
That for ever mars the honey of his language.

* * *

When that the general is not like the hive
To whom the foragers shall all repair,
What honey is expected ?

* * *

My Lord Pandarus : honey sweet lord !
Well, sweet queen, you are pleasant with me.

* * *

But for your words, they rob the Hybla bees,
And leave them honeyless.

Not stingless, too.

* * *

Good wax, thy leave. Bless'd be
You bees, that make these locks of counsel.

* * #

With words more sweet, and yet more dan-
gerous
Than baits to fish, -or honey stalks to sheep.

* * *

Be bold in us : we'll follow where thou lead'st,
Like sting bees in hottest summer's day,
Led by their master to the flower'd fields.

* * *

The fox, the ape, and the humble-bee
Were still at odds, being but three.

* * *
(Shylock) Drones hive not with me.

* * *

Since I nor wax nor honey can bring home,
I quickly were dissolved from my hive
To give some labourers room.

* * ■*

If I prove honey-mouthed let my tongue

blister.

* * *

A most sweet girl — as the honey of Hybla.

* * *

They surfeited with honey, and began
To loathe the taste of sweetness.

* # *

'Tis seldom when the bee doth leave her comb
In the dead carrion.

* * #

Thus may we gather honey from the weed
And make a moral of the devil himself.

* * *

When like the bee, tolling from every flower

The virtuous sweets,

Our thighs packed with wax, our mouths with

honey,
We bring it to the hive ; and, like the bees,
Are murdered for our pains.

<$tt4rtys and ^li^i.

[2832.] Drone-breeding and Using Founda-
tion in Full Sheets. — Being a beginner in bee-
keeping, kindly through your valuable Bee
Journal, explain a point I am in doubt
about : — I have made a hive holding nine
"standard'' frames. I propose filling them
with full sheets of foundation (also wiring
them). By doing so, will this interfere with
the breeding of drones ? A line of instruction
on this point will oblige. I am a constant
reader of your journal, and possess your
" Guide Book," which is very comprehensive.
—A. S., Brechin, N.B., April 23.

Reply. — If you take the usual precaution
of leaving a space about •£ in. between lower
edge of sheet of foundation and the bottom
bar of each frame it will allow of the bees
building a few drone-cells in the vacuum left,
if they desired to do so, so that no other
precaution is needed.

[2833.] Immature Drones Cast Oat in
April. — I would feel greatly obliged for your
advice re the following : — I have a stock of
Italian bees (Sladen'a strain). The nine frames
are now all thick with bees, stores, and brood,
in fact they are and have been for weeks
working fully twenty times harder than any
of my strongest blacks. This morniDg
(April 23) I found the enclosed twenty drones
dead outside the hive. 1. Can you tell me
the cause of death? 2. What is meant by
good ventilation in a bar-frame hive ? I can-
not see how you can have it without draught,
and I know that should not be. 3. I am a
member of a local Bee Association which is
affiliated to the I.B.K.A., and see by your
Journal that the I.B.K.A. will not get
affiliated to the B.B.K.A. Am I debarred
from all the benefits of the new insurance
scheme 1 — Italian Drone, Bandon, co. Cork,
April 23.

Reply. — 1. The usual cause of immature
drones — in various stages of development —
being cast out at this season is either a sudden
stoppage of income from natural sources or a
scarcity of food in the hive. The same thing
also happens at times from a sudden lowering
of the temperature for several days in succes-
sion in each spring. You will be better able
to judge regarding the probable cause of death
than an outsider who has no knowledge of
what the respective conditions are. We there-
fore advise inspection of the hive to make sure
of there being plenty of food in the combs.
2. Good ventilation does not necessarily mean
a through draught for the hive ; in fact, we
always advise plenty of warm coverings above
the frames of brood nests in early spring. 3.
By waiting till the scheme of insurance — now
being formulated by the B.B.K.A. — is pub-
lished in our pages (probably next week), you
will find the terms for non-members of asso-
ciations.

May 1, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

179

[2834.] Utilising Half-filled Sections, and
Giving Mouldy Combs. — I have got several
sections left over from last year only half-
filled with honey, and would like to utilise
them, so ask— 1. Will there be any harm in
putting them in the section-rack when the
time comes for putting on the surplus 1 If I
cannot do this, what use can I make of them 1
I have no extractor, and do not want to go to
the expense of buying one. 2. When should
the supers be put on ? 3. I have a frame of
comb (taken from the hive when contracting
it for the winter) which has gone slightly
mouldy through being placed in a damp cup-
board. Will this be injurious to the bees if
put back in the hive 1 — F. E. W., Bromley,
Kent, April 23.

Reply. — 1. If the honey in sections has not
granulated or started fermenting, they may
be utilised as proposed ; but we should only
use one or two in each rack as " bait " sections
for inducing the bees to take possession.
2. As soon as honey is obtainable outside, and
the hive is fairly fu^l of bees, i.e., all frames
fully covered except the outside ones. 3. If
the mouldiness is only slight, as stated, the
bees will soon clear it away, and no harm will
follow its use.

[2835.] Ventilating Hives to Prevent
Swarming. — It is often stated that in order
to prevent swarming it is necessary to give
ventilation in hives. With ordinary hives
having no outer-cases it is easy enough, and
the object is attained by raising the front of
the hive, but with " W. B. C" hives I do not
see that this is possible, as if the cases are
raised the bees crowd between them and the
body-boxes, and, similarly, the same thing
happens if the body-box is raised. It seems,
therefore, that in a " W. B. C' hive the only
way to ventilate is by leaving the mouth of
the hive open to the fnll extent. 1. Am I
right in this ? 2. With regard to the requeen-
ing of stocks, I presume a " second year's
queen " is meant by one which is two summers
old, not one which has lived two years ? —
Amateur, Ingatestone, April 23.

Reply. — 1. Your fear regarding bees
crowding the space between outer-cases and
body-boxes is more imaginary than real. In
practice — with the hive referred to — we find
it easy to give ample ventilation as follows : —
Raise up the outer-case about f in. from floor-
board by placing a slip of wood across each
corner. (This " raising-up '' remains till the
swarming season ends). Then with the point
of a screwdriver prise up the body-box in
rear and insert a wedge £ in. thick. This
allows a free current of air right through the
hive, while bees pass out freely in the rear
when working. In very hot weather we raise
the body-box on all four sides and give free
exit for the bees all round. This keeps the
very strongest stocks from becoming over-
heated. 2. Yes.

[2836.] Disinfecting Hives. — When disin-
fecting hives which have had in them bees
infected with foul brood, you advise, I believe,
to " scorch the hives with a painter's lamp,"
I, therefore, ask : 1. Is a mere application of
the flame sufficient, or must the wood be
slightly charred all over ? 2. Must hives be
so treated inside and out ? 3. I painted the
insides of some of my hives last year with a
thin preparation of tar — tar-varnish, I think,
it was called. Must this be burnt off, for it
boils under the flame, and does not seem
affected in the same way as paint ? 4. Would
washing such hives with a strong solution of
carbolic acid (Calvert's No. 5) be effective
as a thorough disinfectant 1 — K. 0. Macleod,
Shandon, N.B., April 26.

Reply. — In applying the flame of lamp
referred to, it needs but to know what it is
intended to accomplish — viz., burn up the
spores of foul brood. " Scorching ? the wood
fully secures this end, and the intelligence of
the user does the rest. 2. No, we may trust
to paint for the outside of hives. 3. We think
not. 4. It is because of the distinct statement
— made so often in our pages and emphasised
in the " Guide Book '' — that no disinfectant
has any effect on the spores of foul brood that
burning is recommended.

[2837.] Transferring Bees to Clean Hives.
— A friend of mine bought a bar-frame hive
of bees at a sale, and on examining them last
week he found bees and combs in a very
filthy state. He therefore wants me to trans-
fer the bees into a clean hive with full sheets
of foundation only. 1. Can this be done with
safety 1 2. Must any of old comb be put
into clean hive 1 & Will it be necessary to
feed the bees ? 4. Which is the best method
of transferring them 1— H. J. Pannell,
Sayer-de-la-Haye, April 14.

Reply. — We can best reply to all four of
your queries by advising the purchase of a
" Guide Book," in which will be found full
details of a method by which bees will transfer
themselves from any unsuitable hive into a
clean one. You cannot hope to make a suc-
cessful first attempt at an operation of this
kind without fuller details than we can give
in our Query column.

u $hm to (tttrote.

June 10 to 13, at Reading.— Royal Counties
Agricultural Society. Bee and Honey Department
under the management of the Berks B.K.A. Schedules
from D. W. Bishop-Ackerman, Hon. Sec. Berks B.K.A.,
131, King's-road, Reading. Entries close May 17.

July 5 to 9, at Carlisle-—" Royal " Agricultural
Society's Show. Bee and Honey Section under the
management of the B. B.K.A. Schedules from Edwin
H. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-square, W. Entries
closed, unless with late fee.

July 26, at Buttfleld Park, Hessle, East
Yorks.— Honey Show in connection with the Hessle

180

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 1, 1902.

and District Horticultural Sooiety. Good prizes for
Honey-Trophy, flections, and Extracted Honey.
Schedules from Ernest C. S. Stow, Hon, See, Thornton
House, Hessle, East Yorks.

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 queriesforwardtd will bt attended to, and thai* only
of personal interest will bt answered in this column.

*** Keferring to our reply to J. B. Hamilton
(on page 170), our correspondent " Ebor "
(4742, page 144) writes that he has no
objection to his name and address appear-
ing. We, therefore, print it here : — L. Hill,
Two Gates Farm, Oldfield, Altrincham.

0. K. (Mailing, Kent). — Queens Laying
Several Eggs in a Cell. — 1. When so many
as two, three, or four eggs are found in
single cells it is a sign of something being
radically wrong with the queen-bee, which
is probably old and failing. 2. In your
case the fact of nothing but drone-brood
being reared in the other hive mentioned
shows that the queen is worthless, and the
obvious inference is that the stock is of no
value at all. 3. The hon. secretary of the
Kent and Sussex B.K.A. is Mr. H. W.
Brice, 100, Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath.

W. C. H. (S. Devon).— Using Old Comb-
foundation. — If, as stated, the foundation
" looks all right," even though three or four
years old, it can be made quite fit for
present use by warming to render it pliable.
Some bee-keepers dip old foundation in
warm water before using, and so remove
the brittleness, and prevent its cracking
when fixing in frames.

E. K. H. (Brondesbury-park, N.W.).— Starting
Bee-keeping. — The present is a most favour-
able time to make a start. Full informa-
tion with regard to dealers who will supply
you with bees and appliances will be found
in our advertisement pages. The hon.
secretary of the Middlesex B.K.A. is Major
Fair, 11, Anlaby-road, Teddington, and you
would no doubt get such expert help as is
needed by applying to that gentleman, and
joining the association.

J. B. Williams (Gelli Lydan). — Trans-
ferring Frames of Brood to a Distance. —
The only way of doing this with safety is
to wrap the comb of brood in several thick-
nesses of flannel (warmed), and take every
precaution to keep it warm on the journey.
Care must also be taken not to bruise or
damage the cappings or the comb in any
way.

G. E. K. (North Wales).— Sees Building
Comb and Breeding in Candy Boxes.— 1. It

is common to find bees buildiDg comb in the
vacuum left after candy has been consumed,
but we very rarely hear of the queen de-
positing eggs therein. It is an interesting
case, and we should like to hear if others
have had a similar experience. 2. We re-
commend queen excluders to be used always
below boxes of shallow-combs. 3. Syrup
food given in spring should be much thinner
than that for autumn use.

J. E. Short (West Norwood).— The B.B.K.J .
Apiary at Swanley. — It is usual to make an
appointment beforehand with Mr. Herrod,
the apiarist at Swanley College, before
visiting the apiary. This is necessary
because only the official expert of the
B.B.K.A. has authority to open the hives
there.

J. K. Talbot (Romford). — The Horse Chestnut
as Bee Forage. — This tree is useful to bees
as a supply of food, but the honey gathered
from it is too poor in quality for table use.

J. Valentine (Collooney). — It is quite safe
to use any " weed killer '' made from
ca rbolic acid about hives.

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."

" Wing " (Alfreton, Derbyshire). — Brood
entirely dried up, no sign of larvae left.
The cell-cap pings, however, indicate plainly
a bad case of foul brood.

M. P. (Devon). — Fortunately, there is no cause
for alarm in a couple of cells having perforated
cappings. They are not " perforated " in
your case, but have never been completed.
The dead brood in comb is " chilled " only,
no doubt through shrinkage of the cluster
of bees, owing to a lowered temperature and
consequent exposure to cold.

T. W. (Colchester). — There is foul brood in
comb, but yours is not at all a bad case.
We only found two cells in which there was
any disease. Regarding the queen " flying
about your garden " recently, the fact of only
fifty bees being found in the hive when
examined shows plainly that the stock is
worthless, and, the condition being alto-
gether abnormal, the queen left the hive on
this account. The small patch of worker
brood found shows that but for the sparse-
ness of bees breeding would have gone on
all right.

W. G. H. (Wolverhampton). — No disease in
comb. The dead queen received is an adult,
and was probably aged and worn out. The
weak lot of bees left in hive — if worth
saving — may be added to the next hive ;
but, being all old, they are of little or [no
value.

May 8, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

181

(ftiitoral, Eirtim, ki.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' INSURANCE
SCHEME.

We are now enabled to place before our
readers the form of receipt to be given to each
insurer under the scheme formulated by the
British Bee-keepers' Association, on the terms
of a policy issued, as stated below, by under-
writers at Lloyd's.

It is desirable that bee-keepers taking
advantage of the scheme will carefully read the
form of receipt which follows — and also the
"other conditions" enumerated, 1 to 6 — in
order that no misunderstanding may arise
with regard to the liability of the several
parties concerned.

Copies of this receipt will be in the hands
of the various County Association Secretaries
within the next few days, and these gentlemen
will then be authorised to accept premiums
and to issue guarantees.

Received of , of ,

in the county of , the sum of

£ a d., being a premium at the

rate of Id. per hive on the maximum number

of hive3* kept in his apiary at

(minimum premium, 6d. ; and for non-
members of British Bee-keepers' Association
or of affiliated associations, 6d. additional).
In consideration of this premium the British
Bee-keepers' Association have caused the said

to be insured under a policy

issued by underwriters at Lloyd's, dated

against all liability to third parties for

damage to persons or property occasioned by
bees from the above-mentioned apiary outside
the apiary, such claims in any one year not to
exceed the sum of ,£30 (thirty pounds) in the
aggregate, and not to include any claim for
injury to the assured or persons or live stook
under his control.

This guarantee covers the period from
August 1, 190 (noon, to August 1, 190
(noon).

Dated 190 .

Hon. Sec. of B.B.K. A.

* The number of hives now kept is

(For other conditions see below.)

1. The minimum premium is 6d. Parsons
not being members of the British Bee-keepers'
Association or any association affiliated there-
to may insure on payment of an additional
fee of 6d. per annum.

2. All premiums must be paid to th« Secre-
tary of the B.B.K. A., or the Secretary of the
County Association affiliated thereto, before
June 24 in each year.

3. The policy will not come into force with
regard to any intending insurer until his or
her premium has been received and accepted
by the B.B.K.A.

4. If the assured shall increase the number
of hives kept beyond the number covered by
the premium paid, the assured will only re-
cover such proportion of the amount of any
claim as the number of hives paid for bears to
the number of hives in the apiary at the date
of the injury being sustained.

5. It is a condition precedent to any claim
under this guarantee that in the event of
injury caused by bees from the above-men-
tioned apiary, notice thereof shall have been
given by the assured in writing to the
B.B.K.A., at its office, 12, Hanover-square,
London, within seven days from the date of
such injury, together with full particulars of
the nature of such injury and its causes, and
further that no liability to third parties shall
be admitted by the assured without the
written consent of the B.B.K. A.

6. Definition. — By " apiary '* i3 understood
that portion of ground set apart for the accom-
modation of the bee-hives.

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF
BEE-KEEPING AT VIENNA IN 1903.

In compliance with a request, signed by the
President and Secretary of the Austrian Bee-
keepers' Association, we have pleasure in
publishing the official notice of next year's
International Exhibition at Vienna as
under : —

" Dear Sirs,— We beg to send you herewith
a preliminary notice regarding the Interna-
tional exhibition in bee-keeping at Vienna,
1903, for insertion in your esteemed Journal: —

" An International exhibition of bees, hives,
appliances, honey and bee literature, arranged
by the Central Association of Austrian Bee-
keepers, will be held at Vienna during the
festival of Easter, 1903. Full information and
all particulars regarding exhibits, &c, may be
had on application to the Centralverein fur
Bienenzuchc in Oesterreich, Vienna, Austria,
I. Schauflergasse, No. 6."

The Editor* do not hold themselve* respontibLe for th*
opinion* eapretted by correspondent*. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communication*, and eorreipondent*
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real name* and addrettei, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tion* should be drawn on teparate piece* of paper. Wi
do not undertake to return rejected communication*.

•«.* In order to facilitate reference, Oorretpondenti,
when speaking of any letter or query previouily interted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter a* well
a* th* page on which it appear*.

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[4767.] The merrie month of May is with
us again, and our bees are improving every
shining hour, or parts thereof, in spite of the
sudden storms which overclouds the sunshine

182

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 8, 1902.

and sends them hurrying home pell-mell for
their very lives. The breadth of bee-forage is
enlarging every day, old "leys'J being yellow
with dandelion, and the hedges white with
blossom of the thorn. The hawthorn in the
hedgerows will soon be opening its flowers,
along with the sycamores and horse-chestnuts,
each offering their wealth of blossom to the
busy bees. All these things point to a good
time (from the early forage) for our myriads
of workers, while the splendid growth of
sainfoin promises a good harvest if we are
favoured with good weather in which to gather
it in.

The mixed grass crops to be counted on in
my locality are mostly hop and rye ; the dry
season last summer having prevented free
germination of the white clover seed, conse-
quently unless the small amount of plant-
growth which survived the drought wonder-
fully increases we shall not have a large
breadth of white clover for bee-forage in our
district. Trifolium, however, is looking well,
as are also the vetches, and the hybrid alsike
clover give promise of a good harvest.

Our district, as a whole, is high and dry,
Beedon Hill being one of the highest points
above sea-level in Berkshire ; so that our
situation is a bleak one, and, in consequence,
a rather late district for swarming compared
with the sheltered glens and valleys in fruit
districts.

Referring to the question of waterproof
hive-covers, now rather prominent in B.B.J,
pages, I should think it must be nearly twenty
years since the Rev. W. E. Burkitt exhibited
(I believe he exhibited them) cheap home-
made frame-hives suitable for the cottager,
with roof-covers of "Willesden Paper." It
makes one ask, " Is there anything new under
the sun 1 "

Unsealed Sections. — I have no wish to usurp
the place of our esteemed Editor in replying
to Query 2834 (page 119), but if he will
bruise the capping of any sealed cells in the
sections, then place them flat over the feed-
hole of quilt, the bees will clear them out,
even if crystallised. A day or two later turn
the sections over ; lay a square of glass over
them, so that the bees can move freely over
the face of the comb ; then when cleaned out
(as only bees can do it) these sections can be
taken away, and will be useful to place in
centre of your first section-rack, when
supering, to induce the bees to take pos-
session. New combs mean renewal of the
brood-nest ; more bees, and, consequently,
more honey — this month and next are the
best for their production. When doing spring
cleaning, mark the old clogged, black, crooked
combs, and place same on the outside of the
brood-nest, or if you use combination hives
you will now appreciate the elasticity of the
brood-nest by the movable dummy. These
undesirable comb3 can be brought to the rear,
any cells of honey opened, and the sheet of
foundation placed in the centre of brood-nest

when weather is warm and honey is coming
in. A few hours later the sheet of founda-
tion will become a new comb, and if queen is
prolific, it will be filled with eggs. From two
to four new combs built every year in this way
will keep brood-nests in the best of condition
for securing strong colonies. It also acts as a
combatant of disease, seeing that weak colonies
most readily fall a victim to foul brood. If
one-half or three-quarter sheet is given you will
raise some fine drones in natural built cells.

Wasps. — Queen wasps often pass the nights
early in May as "casuals" in the roofs of
hives. I have already killed several this
season, and we should bear in mind that every
one destroyed now prevents a nest later on.
Wax-moths should also engage the attention
of every bee-keeper. If these pests exist
about the apiary do not let one escape ; they
are in the warm quilts or wraps over the
brood-nest, and the larvae in the saw-cuts at
top of frames. A nail point or bradawl will
soon make short work of these destructive
creatures in these crevices. Weak colonies
should be united to others. They rarely pay
for time and trouble of trying to build
them up, because often when they recover
and build up into fair colonies it is too
late for present season's work, except in
heather districts. Get your bees into good
condition ready for your harvest ; the time of
flowering of the principal source of nectar
varies in different districts and latitudes.
Colonies require to be full to overflowing with
bees of the right age for field work and the
combs full of brood ready to hatch. This
condition will force the bees into the supers,
and when they have made a good start all
they require is room just in front of their
requirements. These are the stocks which
bring up the totals and break the records.
Our A. B. C. class of section-glazing must
now close till after the busy season. We
have sent out a large number, which I hope
may act as an incentive and pattern to those
who wish to succeed as bee-keepers. — W.
Woodley, Beedon, Newbury.

BEES IN OXFORDSHIRE.

a week's notes from my diary.

[4768.] The past week was a very trying one
to the bees, so cold and stormy has been the
weather. Sunday, April 27. — A rough north-
east wind blowing all day, though the sun
shone brightly ; this tempted the bees out,
and in consequence many got chilled and lost,
especially where they had to cross a bleak high-
way to get back home. Monday. — Very cold
and windy in the morning, but much warmer
ia the afternoon, and the bees, taking advan-
tvge of the better conditions, worked for all
they were worth. Tuesday. — Very similar to
Monday — cold in the morning, then warmer
about midday ; the wind, however, was
calmer, giving the bees a better chance of

May 8, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

183

working. I saw the first apple blossom to-
day. The trees look very promising this
year, all fruit trees being laden with bloom.
The plums, pears, gooseberry, and currant
are all in full " working order," and the black-
thorn is one mass of white. With suitable
weather the bees would come along and get
strong ready for the main honey flow, which
with us is sainfoin and white clover. Wed-
nesday.— Still rough, but I saw the bees
working on willow palm for the first time to-
day ; but the blossoms were blown and tossed
about so that the bees could hardly find a
footing. Thursday. — Weather calmer, but
still trying to the bees ; saw them working
the beech to-day. I never knew till last year
that the beech was of any service to them,
when I noticed them working on it for the
first time. Friday. — Stormy most part of the
day, high winds prevailing in gusts every hour
or two, which all bee-keepers know is very
destructive to bee life. Saturday. — The bees
had no chance of work at all. We had a
thunderstorm about 10 a.m., and then a gleam
of sunshine, followed about 11 by a terrific
downpour of hail and rain, which must have
meant death to thousands of bees that had
ventured out.

We may sum the past week up as being of
little use to the bees or bee-keepers in my
district ; in fact, I believe that with us the
brood-chambers will be contracted more at the
end than it was at the beginning of the week,
which all bee-keepers know is not getting
forward very fast. Trusting we shall have
better weather in the coming week. — B. T.
Eden, Chadlington, Oxon, May 5.

BEE-STINGS AND IMMUNITY FROM
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

[4769.] As a reader of your valuable journal
for the last fourteen or fifteen years, I have
often thought that had I been able to write I
should like to say a few words in your columns,
but you will see at once that I was not born in
the times of compulsory education, yet none
the less do I feel that I ought to give my ex*
perience with regard to bee-stings and immu-
nity from infectious diseases. I have been
caretaker of a hospital since 1884, so if I live
till June 27 next shall have completed eighteen
years' service, during which time I have had
to deal with every form of infectious disease,
except cholera. I have had to work about
patients suffering from typhoid, typhus,
enteric, and scarlet fevers, besides cases of
smallpox and many other minor diseases, and
in this way I generally undertake the most
dangerous part of the work with regard to
male patients, in severe cases attending to
them myself. I also do all the disinfection
and burning of the clothes worn when brought
into the hospital, and a lot of similar work
when they leave. My present wife has
laboured for ten years at work of the same

kind and never contracted any disease except
once when she took diphtheria through
examining a patient's throat. But you may
say, what has all this to do with bee-
keeping, bee-stings, and infectious diseases 1

Well, my bee-keeping dates from 1885, when
my first wife bought a skep for 6 a. Now I
possess nine bar-frame hives, and try to make
the best I can of them ; and with regard to
immunity from infection through the help of
bee-stings, we may take what credit we like
to the bees, but there is no doubt that
Divine protection has something to do with it.
But at the same time I think there may be
something in the bee-sting theory, and that is
why I have given my rather exceptional ex-
perience in hospital work. There may be
something in the nature of an antidote in the
poison of the bee's sting, of which but little is
so far known. There can in any case be no
harm in getting information from B.B.J.
readers like myself, who have been more or
less in contact with infectious diseases. I can
only say that during the time I have been a
bee-keeper I have had my full share of stings,
though they do not affect me at all now.

I send you my name and that of the hospital
where I am engaged for reference in case of
need, while signing myself — A Cumberland
Bee-keeper.

EARLY SWARMING IN 1902.

[4770.] As an instance of early swarming,
it may interest your readers to learn that a
very fair-sized swarm issued from one of my
hives on the afternoon of April 30.

This stock was aupered on the 23rd of that
month with a rack of sections, the weather
being then very mild and honey coming in
fast from the cherry-bloom, we being situated
in the centre of one of the largest fruit-growing
districts in Kent.

I was preparing to give room below the
brood-nest to this particular stock, but the
weather two days after supering unfor-
tunately turned very cold, with easterly
winds, which delayed my doing so. It sur-
prised me, however, on hearing that the bees
had swarmed, for at the time of supering 1
gave them, in addition to the sections, an empty
frame, fitted with full sheet of foundation in
the centre of brood-nest.

All my eleven stocks are well forward this
year, a condition which I put down to the
mild spring and to slow feeding since about
the latter part of March. I hope, if weather
continues favourable, to get all stocks supered
in a day or two in time to get some finished
sections from the cherry and apple bloom.

I hope all apiaries in this district are like-
wise well up to time, in which case we only
need a continuance of fine weather (but not
without a few warm showers) to anticipate a
record honey crop for the Coronation year. —
W. F. Lowe, Borden, Sittingbourne, May 1.

184

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 8, 1902.

EARLY SWAEMS.

[4771.] I notice in last week's B.B.J. (4762)
H. E. Spiers reports that he had a swarm on
April 24. I made an artificial swarm myself
on the same date, and the young queen took
her first parade on the 26th and became chief
ruler of the household. Both hives are doing
all right ; we shall now be hearing of plenty
of swarms from all parts. — J. S. Lauton,
Oldbury Wells, Bridgnorth, May 5.

BEES BREEDING IN CANDY-BOXES.

[4772.] In reply to " G. E. K." (North
Wales) in B.B.J, of May 1, page 180, you say
you would like to hear of cases of the queen
laying in the empty unremoved candy-boxes.
I have had such an experience three days ago
in this village. I was supering a hive for a
policeman, and in the candy-box I found
drone-comb had been built, and was peopled
with full-grown larvae. — W. H. Harris, The
Shrubbery, Hayes End, Uxbridge, May 2.

[4773.] In your " Notices to Corre-
spondents" column of May 1, page 180, I
notice reply to "G. E. K." it is said you
should like to hear from others who had had
a similar experience with regard to queen
laying in comb built in the vacuum left after
candy has been consumed. I enclose you a
comb taken from the empty candy box from
my only hive on Sunday, April 20, in which
you will see the queen had laid eggs in nearly
every cell of a piece of comb built in the box.
I had looked at the bees a week earlier, when
there was a fair quantity of candy, but on
going to the hive on the 20th, I found a lot of
yellowish stuff on the alighting-board, which
I could not understand. On opening the hive
I found the candy all consumed, and the bees
had partially destroyed the cardboard box
into which it (the candy) had been run, and
the yellowish substance turned out to be the
fibrous part of the box, which had fallen
between the frames and been cleared out.
The bees appear to have used some of this in
building the comb, as you will notice some of
the material is worked up with the wax.
Trusting this may be of interest to readers. —
C. S. Wildblood, Gravelly Hill, Birming-
ham, May 5.

SIZE OF HIVES AND NOVELTIES.

"nothing new Under the sun."

[4774.] I would be very loth to make any
change in the size of the Standard frame, now
so universally used, and of the hive that suits
it, even where one appears to get a greater sur-
plus from another sized hive ; but some
enthusiast who may have more time for experi-
menting than I have may wish to try, and as

you say you have no objection to have the
matter discussed, I give you my experience of
a non-Standard frame. In my "Year's
Report " in B.B.J, of December 1, 1884, I
stated that I had one hive 16| in. long by
14 in. wide by ll£ in. deep. The length,
however, does not signify, because some of it
is empty behind the division-board, as I only
use eight frames in it. These are kept apart
by nails, as distance pegs, between which the
bees came up and propolised the ends of the
frames to the outside board of the hive side
— the walls being double — but some of the
frames are something more than the regulation
distance apart ; and whether it is this, or the
size of the hives, or what, that seems to in-
crease the surplus I cannot tell. I have the
same breed of beea in the other hives, but,
though these frames have not been disturbed
since 1882, this hive has always, except two
years, given more surplus than any of my
others. In 1897 it gave 82 lb. as against
42 lb. and 18 lb. respectively of two others ;
in 1899 it gave 901b. as against 691b. from
the next largest yield ; in 1900, 56 lb. as
against 39 lb. from another ; but in 1901 it
only gave 41 lb. as against 441b., 31 lb., and
24 lb. of three others.

In B.B.J, of March 27 (page 123) Mr.
Knight said he designed a cardboard cover
for hives.

In B.B.J, of April 17 there is a description
of one, and Mr. Newth, on April 24 (4754),
says he has had them in use for over two years,
made of Willesden paper tacked on a light
frame.

It may be interesting to bee-keepers to
know that the Willesden cardboard is even
more lasting than Mr. Newth is aware of, and
that his design has been in use a good many
years and is a success.

In September, 1885, 1 covered two wooden
hive-roofs that were leaking with " Willesden
paper '' (four- ply), and in 1886 I made a cover
of the same material on a frame, as described
in B.B.J, of 17th inst., tacked on a light frame,
as described by Mr. Newth. These three
covers are still in use and in good condition,
having cost nothing since except an occasional
coat of paint, which is advisable, though
perhaps not required.

In bending the cardboard sharply it should
first be soaked a short time in hot water.—-
Boz, Go. Cork, April 30.

GLEANINGS FROM FOREIGN BEE
JOURNALS.

BY ».

HAMLYN-HARRI8, F.B.M.0., T.Z.B.,
F.E»S., ETC.

L'Apiculteur (France). — Several superstl"
tious customs still prevail in the department
of Saone et Loire. Such as putting a piece of
crape on the hives on the death of one of the
family of the owner, making a deafening noise
with pots and pans at the exit of a swarm.

May 8, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

185

In hiving a swarm sticks of hazel are placed
across the basket hives, no other wood will do,
and the inside of the hives is often rubbed
with hazel leaves. Many bee-keepers in this
district transfer their hives from less favoured
localities to parts of the country where buck-
wheat is cultivated during the flowering
period of that plant.

L'Apiculteur. — Dr. H. V. Thering — the
careful observer of the social bees of Brazil —
has discovered a biological fact of great inte-
rest. A species of Melipone (Irigona helleii),
lives in Symbiosis in the nests of certain
termites. The Indian name of this species is
Cupira (a contraction of " ira," honey and bee,
and " cupini," termite), which shows that the
natives had noticed this singular symbiosis
before it was remarked by zoologists. Further
particulars are at present unknown.

Bulletin de la SociiU d'Apiculteur en
Tunisie. — The native bee of Tunis is the
most suited to withstand the sudden changes
of temperature, the great heats, and violent
winds, and still more the very primitive treat-
ment she receives in the greater number of
hives, European or native. 1. She is accused
of being aggressive. 2. Too much given to
swarming. 3. Slow in constructing new
combs and in the secretion of wax. 4. She is
smaller than the European bee, and therefore
naturally brings in less. Now for her de-
fence : If she is irascible, the fault is usually
in the management and want of needful cool-
ness. The natives, who have hundreds of hives,
•ut out the combs at will without being stung.
Eighty strong stocks are kept in a small yard
surrounded by habitations, and they can be
visited and manipulated without any precau-
tions but a veil. Even the Italian bee is not
more gentle. 2. Larger hives and a system of
movable frames will reduce the danger of
swarming, which only shows it to be a vigorous
and prolific race. 3. Our bees, if apt to
swarm, can also construct swiftly the needful
combs. 4. The bees reared by the natives are
truly very small, on account of their using the
same comb again and again in the rearing of
the brood, but under proper management
they increase in size. Foul-brood in mild form
exists everywhere in the native apiaries ; but
the Tunisian bee can be cured of it. She flies
abroad at the earliest dawn of morning, and
in the hottest sun or even in a violent tirooco
she may still be seen working on.

TEXT BOOKS AND BEE JOURNALS.

I have always been a poor hand at paying
compliments to any one, but 1 must com-
pliment the editor on his advice to beginners,
where he recommends getting a text book,
and letting the bee-paper go, if the reader
cannot afford both. This unselfish advice is
certainly sound. Too many people go into a
business without learning how to manage it,
and thereby make a failure. A Chicago man

some two years ago bought a large farm in our
vicinity, and settled upon it with the inten-
tion, as he said to me, to " play at farming "
a while. This playing proved an expensive
venture. Two bad seasons in succession,
joined to absolute lack of knowledge of the
management of a large farm, have so
thoroughly disgusted him with the "play''
that he is seeking a purchaser at a much less
price than the original cost, and will probably
have to make a sacrifice.

It would be about the same with a man
who makes a start in bee-culture without
some knowledge of the habits of the bee. He
must know how to distinguish workers from
queens and from drones ; how to rear queens ;
how to ascertain how much food the colony
must have to winter on ; or to reach the crop
if winter is over. If feeding is necessary, he
must know how to do it properly ; how to
prevent robbing, and stop it if it begins. He
must be informed that the appearance of the
first blossoms is not indicative of a constant
supply of honey for his bees.

In this connection, I will cite the instance of
a man who had purchased half a dozen colonies
of bees in spring, and had brought them home
during fruit-bloom. Ho had seen our success
with bees, and had concluded that all he had
to do was to buy a few " for a start," and that
they would go on increasing without his
having to attend to them in any other way
than taking away their surplus honey. As a
matter of course, he expected to ask us for a
little advice once in a while.

He brought his bees home, as I said, while
the apple trees were in bloom, and came to
me to tell how strong the colonies were, and
wanted to know whether he had not best put
on the supers. I went over to his yard, and
we examined the colonies together. The
weather was rainy and rather chilly, and the
bees were getting nothing from the fruit
bloom ; they were also rather short of stores.
So I told him that he had better keep the
supers off for a while yet, as the bees would
probably need feeding before clover bloomed.
This thoroughly disgusted him with my
advice. " What ! Feed them when there are
blossoms all round '? " It probably looked
very suspicious to him, for he asked no more
questions, and did not feed, the result being
that he lost a portion of them, and the
remainder reached the clover crop in poor
condition. But there is no end of things
needed to be known in bee-culture that cannot
be learned unless it be through a protracted
experience, or through a book.

But the book is not alone needed ; and
here, Mr. Editor, I think you might have said
something a little more pointed as to the
necessity and usefulness of a good bee paper.
The text books give the digested knowledge
acquired -by the leading bee-keepers and
scientists of the world ; they give it in a form
that i3 at once exhaustive and elementary,
because they not only explain details, but give

186

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 8, 1902.

reasons for all advice. But a text book
cannot follow progress except through re-
peated revisions, and these revisions are only
made from time to time, while the weekly or
monthly publication keeps us posted on the
present improvements. These improvements
are of all kinds, both in the domain of
scientific discoveries and mechanical appli-
ances. Without the magazine that reports
these improvements we are bound to get
belated in the race for progress, and it is not
only local improvement that we want, but a
general information of what is going on the
world over. Those who do not read find
themselves distanced within a few years.

I never was so much struck with the idea
of what steady progress meant as when Father
Langstroth visited us after having retired
from the bee business for some fifteen years.
It seemed to me as if we had been following
his teachings almost to the letter, and that
we could hardly show him anything in the
bee-line that he had not already seen ; yet,
after witnessing our extracting crew at work
for a few hours, he said : "It is of no use for
one to think that he can, after fifteen years of
absence, find an industry just as he left it, for
he is sure to be away behind."

And so, if we read a text book, we will get
knowledge acquired at the date when the text
book was printed; but if we do not take a
bee paper we are sure, after a few years, to
find ourselves " away behind."

Yet practical bee-keepers are very careful
not to accept new theories or new implements,
or new methods, until they have been
thoroughly tested, and it is well to warn the
beginner against taking hold of any new thing
which he has not seen recommended in the
text books, unless it has been previously
tested on a sufficient scale to make it reason-
ably sure of success. Many and many an
implement or a new method has been lauded
to the skies, *to be found afterwards only an
imposition, usually introduced in good faith
by some self-deluded individual. — C. P.
Dadant, in American Bee Journal.

THE POETS' BEES.

Collated by " F. E. I. S."
No. 2. — Thomson.
Nor is the mead unworthy of thy foot,
Full of fresh verdure and unnumber'd flowers.
Here their delicious task the fervent bees,
In swarming millions tend : around, athwart,
Thro' the sweet air, the busy nations fly,
Cling to the bud, and, with inverted tube,
Sucks its pure essence, its ethereal soul ;
And oft, with bolder wing, they soaring dare
The purple heath, or where the wild thyme

grows,
And yellow load them with the luscious spoil.
*- * ■*

Thou like the harmless bee may'st freely
range,

From mead to mead bright with exalted

flowers,
From jasmine grove to grove, may'st wander

Thro' palmy shades and aromatic woods.
And see where robb'd and murder'd in that

pit
Lies the still heaving hive 1 at evening

snatch'd
Beneath the cloud of guilt-concealing night,
And fixed o'er sulphur ; while not dreaming

ill,
The happy people in their waxen cells,
Sat tending public cares, and planning schemes
Of temperance for winter poor ; rejoiced
To mark, full flowing round, their copious

stores.
Sudden th« dark oppressive steam ascends ;
And used to milder scents, the tender race,
By thousands, tumble from their honey'd

domes,
Convolv'd, and agonising in the dust.
And was it then for this you roam'd the Spring
Intent from flower to flower ? for this you

toil'd
Ceaseless the burning Summer-heats away ?
For this in Autumn search'd the blooming

waste,
Nor lost one sunny gleam ? for this sad fate ?
0 man ! tyrannic lord ! how long, how long,
Must you destroy ? Of their ambrosial food
Can you not borrow ; and in just return,
Afford them shelter from the wintry winds ;
Or as the sharp year pinches, with their own
Again regale them on some smiling day ?
* * #

By flowering umbrage shaded ; where the bee
Strays diligent, and with the extracted balm
Of fragrant woodbine loads its little thigh.

No. 3.— Hood.
And lo ! upon my fixed delighted ken

Appeared the loyal Fays — some by degrees
Crept from the primrose buds that opened
then,
And some from bell-shaped blossoms like

the bees.

* # *

They made soft music at each little stir,
But something louder than a bee's demur
Before he lights upon a bunch of broom.

* * *

The squirrel gloat3 on his accomplished hoard,
The ants have brimmed their garners with
ripe grain,

And honey bees have stored
The sweets of summer in their luscious cells.

* * *

On honey I could feast like any fly.

* * *

But he will sip it first — before the lees.
'Tis his to taste rich honey, ere the bees
Are busy with the brooms.

* # *■

Jasmine is sweet, and has many loves,
And the broom 's betrothed to the bee.

May 8, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

187

WEATHER REPORT.

Westbourne, Sussex.

Rainfall, 1*12 in.

Heaviest fall, *28 in.,
on 21st.

Rain fell on 12 days.

Below average, '54 in.

Maximum Tempera-
ture, 61°, on 25th.

Minimum Tempera-
ture, 28°, on 7th.

Minimum on Grass,
15°, on 7th.

Frosty Nights, 4.

Sunshine, 197*8 hours.

Brightest Day, 28th,
13-3 hours.

April, 1902.
Sunless Days, 3.
Below average, 4*4

hours.
Mean Maximum,

52-2°.
Mean Minimum,

38-3°.
Mean Temperature,

45-2°.
Below average, ,9°.
Maximum Barometer,

30-41°, on 7th.
Minimum Barometer,

29 65°, on 22nd.

L. B. BlRKETT.

CONVERSATIONS WITH DOOLITTLE.

PRIME SWARMS.

"Good morning, Mr. Doolittle. I am
interested in the swarming of bees, and feel
that I know very little about the principle on
which swarming is conducted, so I came over
to have a little chat with you regarding the
matter."

" All right, Mr. Brown. But what started
you off on this swarming matter now 1 Bees
are not likely to swarm here in Central New
York to any amount under nearly three
months."

" Yes, I know that is so, but I have been
looking over my back volumes of Gleanings
during the stormy days which we have had
along back, when I came across this in Dr.
Miller's Stray Straws, page 511 for July 1,
1895 : ' A prime swarm,' says Doolittle,
page 484, ' is often erroneously called a first
swarm. Why erroneously 1 ' I copied it off
so that I could ask you if you ever answered
that question."

" I do not remember whether I ever did
or not 5 but I think it can be answered
satisfactorily."

" But I always thought a prime swarm was
a first swarm, and all of those coming later
on from this same parent colony were after-
swarms."

" You are correct in thinking that a prime
swarm is a first swarm, for such is always the
case ; but that is not the question Dr. Miller
raised, if I understand him correctly."

" Well, then, I do not understand Dr.
Miller as well as I thought I did. What
do you understand to be the question he
raises ? "

" He wishes to know why it is erroneous to
call a first swarm a prime swarm. A prime
swarm must of necessity be a first swarm, but
that does not necessarily make it that a first
swarm must be a prime, swarm."

" Well, what is the difference ? "

" I think we can get at this matter by

turning to the dictionary. Here it is. 'Prime,
n. 1. . . . 2. The period of full perfection in
anything.' "

" Very well. Is not the first swarm a
perfect swarm 1 "

" No, not always."

" Please tell me wherein not."

" A first swarm, to be a prime swarm, must
be in a normal or perfect condition, which is
as follows : The parent colony must have
an old or laying queen, generally reared the
season before, or of longer standing, though
this is not strictly necessary with a prime
swarm. But it is necessary that this queen
should have been laying long enough to fill the
hive with brood, laid the eggs in the drone
and queen cells, while the younger bees are all
of her own production. Then, upon the
sealing of the first queen-cell (in some cases
before), this old or laying queen goes out with
the bees when they swarm, so that they can
establish a perfect colony in their new home
at once. Here we have not only a first swarm,
but a prime swarm as well, because in every
way the whole thing is in accord with perfect
or normal condition."

,( But I never knew a first swarm to issue
under any other conditions. Did you ? "

" Oh, yes. Very many of them. And this
is especially the case in very poor seasons.
Two years ago I had only three swarms in
both apiaries, and none of the three were prime
swarms — that is, swarms like what we have
just been talking about — yet all three were
first swarms."

" Please explain."

"In each of these three hives or colonies
the laying queen which was wintered over
commenced laying the same as did all the
others, and the bees had no more desire to
swarm while these queens continued to lay
than did any of the other ninety odd colonies ;
but just before the season arrived when most
colonies would have swarmed had the season
been good, from some reason or other these
three queens died right at a time when the hive
was well filled with brood and bees of all ages.
The queen having died, the bees set about
raising them another ; and, not being content
to start only one queen-cell, as is almost
always the case, they started from four to a
dozen, which queen-cells were perfected over
the larvae they had chosen for the purpose.
Here, you will see, is quite a difference from
the prime-swarm method. In the one case
the bees and queen were all agreed in the
matter, in order that a perfect swarm should
go out ; so she laid the eggs in the queen-
cells for the queens, they being perfected
from the egg ; while in this latter case the
bees took larv?e of their own choosing, and
built queen-cells over them. You see the
difference 1 "

" Yes, I see. But go on."

" When the first one of these emergency
queens came out of her cell, there were several
others just ready to come out, and the bee3

188

Ttt£ BRITISH fcEti JOURNAL.

[May 8, 1902.

hesitated what to do till the first out began to
pipe and the others to quawk, so fiaally con-
cluded to send out a swarm to keep peace in
the family, and soon out they came — a first
swarm, to be sure, but was it a prime swarm,
a perfect swarm, or a normal swarm ? "

"From your line of reasoning, I shall be
compelled to say no.''

*' No. It issued, to all intents and pur-
poses, just the same as an after-swarm
would, except that it had more bees, and
the queens were what is called ' emergency,'
queens, instead of those reared where the
queen laid the egg in the cell for them at
the start. They had no laying queen, and
the swarm must be queenless so far as aay
egg-laying was concerned, till this young
queen went out to meet the drone, and had
eggs perfected, or from three to six or eight
days ; while the prime swarm had a queen
ready to lay eggs in the first comb built as
soon as the cells were deep enough. I think
Dr. Miller must have failed to comprehend
just at the moment he asked that question,
that prime meant in a normal or truly
perfect condition in every way." — Gleanings
(American).

<$tt^8 and Htylip.'

[2838.] Bees Dying Off in " Wells" Hive.
—I have a " Wells " hive stocked in both
sides ; the bees of one compartment are
suffering from a disease of which I have had
no previous experience. The brood — of which
there is a fair quantity on five frames — looks
perfectly healthy, compact, and normal in
every respect, but the bees are dying off in
great numbers. The dead bees, as you will
see by the few which I send herewith, are
nearly, and in some cases quite, hairless ;
many are dwarfed in appearance, but not all.
Not a few have the abdomen much distended,
from which, if pricked, exudes large quantities
of pale yellow watery matter. The bees are
dying, or being killed off, at a great rate, a
hundred or more being found dead or dying
on the ground on most days. The stock in
question was a late swarm last year which
was sent to the moors, where it did fairly well.
I wintered the bees on ten well-stored combs,
and they were not doctored or physicked in
any way ; they were also strong in number in
the early spring, and have not been fed. The
colony, as you may well suppose, has got no
stronger, but rather the reverse, since mid-
March. Notwithstanding all this, I may say
the bees are quite as active as any of my
other stocks, and the queen looks a fine
healthy one. I therefore ask : Do you think
it possible that scarcity of pollen in the hive
may have anything to do with its present con-
dition ? There has been no robbing going on
in this or any of my other hives. I shall be
grateful for any advice you may be able to

give me in the Bee Journal, and should be
greatly interested to hear if any others of your
readers have at any time had a similar experi-
ence to my own. — Mellifica, Buxton,
May 5.

Eeply. — The dead bees sent have the black,
shiny appearance — denoting the total loss of
all pubescence or hairiness — characteristic of
persistent robbers. It is known that cases
have occurred when a colony will possess a
good few of these " robbers," who practically
" thieve for their living," but they are luckily
rare. We also know of still rarer instances
where bee3 take to fighting among themselves
for some reason, and many hundreds are slain
before the trouble ends. We incline to the
belief that this is the case with the colony in
question, if you are quite certain that there
has been no robbing going on. Should our
view be correct, the trouble will probably stop
in a short time, when honey begins to come
in. An examination of the combs and watch-
ing the entrance will assist \ou in diagnosing
the case, as there must be fighting going on
inside the hive if it is as we suppose.

[2839.] Bees on Shares. — May I ask your
valuable opinion on the following matter : — ■
I own and farm here, and take great interest
in bee-farming, and have now fifteen colonies
of my own. But I am desirous of having
enough to yield a large quantity of honey. In
addition to this, there is no other apiary for
some miles of me. I would like to meet some
one who wants to get a number of colonies out
to a good honey district. I would undertake
to summer and winter the bees on my place,
and am a fair amateur carpenter, having made
all my own hives. The idea crossed my mind
that, as it is a splendid district for bee-forage,
with early-blooming flowers and willow- palm
in abundance, along with fruit trees and
growing crops of vetches, field-peas, and beans,
besides white clover and trefoil all round,
someone might be willing to join me in bee-
farming. I thought that, as you are closely in
touch with the business, you might kindly
give me your opinion whether thi3 scheme
would be practicable, and likely to prove
fairly remunerative for the persons concerned.
If you think it workable, what would be the
best means of carrying it out % I would be
glad of your help in the matter if you
have time. — W. H. S., JMenbridge.

Reply. — The custom of working bees " on
shares,'' as the term runs, is quite common in
America, but we cannot say it would be quite
satisfactory in this country, unless both parties
to the contract are so placed as not to be
dependent on the bees for their livelihood, and
agreeable to take good and bad seasons with
equanimity. Your district must be a very
good one for honey if the description of its
bee-forage is accurate — and we have no reason
to doubt it — and should make bee-keeping
more than fairly remunerative if well carried
out on modern lines.

May 8, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

189

With regard to the best means of carrying out
your scheme successfully, we must first sup-
pose that you possess either sufficient practical
experience to " know what to do and how to
do it," otherwise a good text-book is about the
first thing to invest in, and after oareful
reading you will yourself be in a better posi-
tion to form an opinion on. the subject.

[2840.] Giving Brood to Queenless Stocks. —
Many thanks for your wire saying " No foul
brood in comb,'' and I need not tell you the
" clean bill of health '' gave me much pleasure.
I propose giving my queenless stock a frame
of brood and eggs from another hive, and thus
try my hand at queen-raising. In doing this
is it necessary to clear the frame of bees
before transferring it, or may I place the
adhering bees in brood nest of queenless stock
and thus help to increase its numbers ? — W.
Geo. Horobin, Gombermere, Wolverhampton,
May 1.

Reply. — Though not absolutely necessary
to remove the bees from comb when transfer-
ring brood and eggs to an alien stock, it is
better to do so. It only needs a sharp down-
ward shake to jerk the bees back into their
own hive or on to the floorboard, when they
will at once run in. The adhering bees, if left
on the comb when inserting it in the queenless
lot, would return to tbeir own hive on the
first chance, and they incur risk of being
killed as strangers if left on comb.

[2841.] Granulation of Honey. — 1. 1 should
be much obliged if you would say in B.B.J,
why my extracted honey has become quite
opaque and evidently candied 1 I have kept
it in screw-cap jars since the autumn in a
storeroom of very moderate temperature. The
honey is from white clover, and was drained
from the cells by putting the comb in a muslin
bag, and no heat was used to make the honey
run. 2. I should like to know whether the
honey is eatable and wholesome when in this
condition. — C. H., Northallerton, April 30.

Reply. — 1. The granulation of honey is
known to bee-keepers as one proof of its
purity, and it is perfectly natural for it to be-
come solid sooner or later. The time occupied
in granulating, however, varies considerably,
owing to several distinct causes. Among them
we may name climatic conditions when
gathered ; temperature in .which it is kept ;
and, chief of all, the source whence it is
gathered. 2. We thought the veriest tyro in
bee-keeping knew that honey was as whole-
some when solid as in liquid condition.

[2842.] Replacing Drone-breeding Queen. —
On examining one of my stocks of bees to-day
I found a quantity of brood, a great deal of
which appeared to bo drone-brood in worker-
cells, as the cappings stand out quite one-
eighth beyond the proper surface. So I came
to the conclusion it contained a fertile
worker. On further examination I discovered
a fine queen-cell, which is, I think, almost

ripe. I then decided to find the queen, if
possible, and after considerable time I
managed to capture her. On examining I saw
she was somewhat disabled, having a portion
of one leg gone, so I killed her, and left the
queen-cell to hatch. I enclose dead queen
for inspection. Under the circumstances I
ask : — 1. Have I done right, or should I give
a cell from another colony ? 2. I happen to
have by me a virgin queen a few days old.
Would it be better to let this take the place of
old queen ? I may add there are four frames
of bees, all workers, not miniature drones,
which latter are, I believe, the result of
fertile workers. Hoping for early reply in
B.B.J.— J. Charlton.

Reply. — 1. Quite right, because, in the first
place, the queen sent is suspiciously like an
unfertilised one, in which case she would, of
course, be worthless. If not too dry for post
mortem we hope to decide this point, and will
report next week if we can. 2. You had better
keep the virgin queen till certain that the
queen-cell is hatched out and the resultant
queen is in the hive. If seen there the chances
are better for her being mated— when drones
are out later on — than for the other, which
may already have started laying while still
unfertilised.

NOVELTIES FOR 1902.

A NEW LEAKAGE-PROOF HONEY- JAR.

Messrs. Abbott Bros., Southall, are sending
out a new honey -jar with metal cap, screw-top,
and rubber ring — each separate as shown in
cut — for which is
claimed the merit of
being the only screw-
top jar absolutely
proof against leakage.
After examining the
sample, we think the
firm are fully justified
in making this claim,
seeing that both " cap ''
and " top '' are of hard
metal so well made
and strong, with the
" screw thread " in
glass jar and metal top
such as binds the parts
down so firm and
rigid that leakage is
impossible. The jar,
as will be seen, is good
in shape ; the glass is
thick and very strong,
and being moulded by
machinery, is free from
air-bubbles and risk of
sharp, flake-like par-
ticles of glass being
found in the honey.
The peculiar wavy appearance in the glass is
rather an advantage than otherwise, for it

190

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 8, 1902.

imparts a brilliancy to light-coloured honey
that improves its appearance very much.

Messrs. Abbott also supply a galvanised
iron boiling-pan, primarily for boiling bottled
fruits, &c, but very useful for liquefying
granulated honey in the jars.

\tt £ft<rai8 to (Same.

June 10 to 13, at Reading:— Royal Counties
Agricultural Society. Bee and Honey Department
under the management of the Berks B.K.A. Schedules
from D. W. Bishop-Ackerman, Hon. Sec. Berks B.K.A. ,
131, King's-road, Reading. Entries close May 17.

July 5 to 9, at Carlisle.—" Royal " Agricultural
Society's Show. Bee and Honey Section under the
management of the B. B.K.A. Schedules from Edwin
H. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-square, W. Entries
closed, unless with late fee.

July 26, at Buttfleld Park, Heasle, East
"STorks. — Honey Show in connection with the Heasle
and District Horticultural Sooiety. Good prizes for
Honey-Trophy, Sections, and Extracted Honey.
Schedules from Ernest C. S. Stow, Hon, Sec, Thornton
House, Hassle, East Yorks.

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.

*** Starting Bee-keeping. — A correspondent
writing (under the nom- de-plume of
"Mot") from Parkfield - road, Willesden
Green, N.W., kindly expresses his willing-
ness to assist "E. K. H.,'' Brondesbury
Park, N.W., whose request for assistance
appears on page 180 last week. If, there-
fore, help is desired we will po3t the request
to " Mot " when received.

C. H. Tomlinson (Hollywood). — Spreading
Brood. — The reference to spreading brood
has been omitted from later editions of the
"Guide Book" advisedly, because of the
amount of mischief, coming to our know-
ledge editorially, caused by the misuse — or
careless use — of the instructions given on
the subject. Spreading brood is useful if
carried out with care and intelligence, but
most mischievous if badly or injudiciously
done.

David Brown (St. Andrew's, N.B,). — Swarm-
Catchers and Patent Rights. — We are obliged
for cutting from The Australasian sent, and
will try to find the original letter that
appeared in Gleanings, and thus get a
clearer notion of Mr. Frick's drone-trap
from the original cuts. Meantime we may
remind you that the catcher in question is

not "patented" at all, but only "regis-
tered," and that there can, in our opinion,
be no doubt as to the rights of any one to
make and use the trap referred to as a
swarm-catcher if desired.

D. Airlie (Lesmahagow, N.B.). — Young Bees
Cast out in Spring. — 1. We can only account
for the "baby bees" being not "thrown,"
but tempted to leave the hive, by the warm
temperature at the time, and being unable
to withstand the colder atmosphere outside,
they have become incapable of flight. This
is not a rare occurrence, as most experienced
bee-men know that very young bees are lost
in this way from no other known cause but
the one we give. 2. Bees Refusing Food in
April. — The food (if given as it should be)
is not taken because the bees are clustered
too far away to cause them to search it out.
It is. often found necessary to " coax " bees
to the food at first by giving it warm, and
allowing a few drops of the syrup to fall
on the cluster of bees before inverting the
feeder over them.

Rueben Andrews (N. Broadway, Wor.)—
The hon. sec of the Worcestershire B.K.A.
is Mr. Phillips, Spetchley.

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 ivhere 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. P. — Comb sent is plainly characteristic of a
bad case of foul brood, not a recent out-
break, for the dead larvae is in the last stage
of ropiness. We cannot understand an
" expert " reporting your hives as " all
right " less than a fortnight ago. The hive
in question cannot have been examined if
the " expert " knows his business. We are
keeping your sample for forwarding to the
said expert, if you will favour us with his
name and address. Or we will return it to
you for the same purpose, if desired.

J. Leeny (Stratford-on-Avon).— No disease
in comb.

H. J. P. (Layer-de-la-Haye).— Foul brood is
developing rapidly in comb sent.

J. Orpen, jr (Wrothank). — You should read
the instructions with regard to sending
comb for inspection. Your sample, simply
enclosed with letter in ordinary envelope,
was, of course, smashed flat, and, in conse-
quence, we cannot express any opinion at
all as to its contents.

Goatfell (Arran). — We feel almost certain
there was no disease in comb, but having a
slight doubt, put your sample aside for
a chance of microscopical examination, and
it was inadvertently destroyed. You need
not do more than keep a watchful eye on
the stock from which it came.

May 15, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

191

USEFUL HINTS.

Weather. — It has not seldcm been
made the subject of jocose remark,
,: Why do bee-keepers so often begin
their articles with the weather 1 " The
writer of " Hints " — from the time when
the familiar heading appeared fortnightly,
till to-day when he is content to give
place to perhaps more " useful " matter
—has been a special sinner in this
respect. " Weather " is his first word,
and well it may be, for there is no single
word in our language more fraught with
meaning or of more real import to the
bee-man. Weather of the right sort
means life and work to the bees and
success to the bee-keeper ; while if
adverse, it means enforced idleness to the
one and failure to the other.

It would be difficult to find a more
forcible application of this truism than
we have with us to-day. We are in mid-
May, the month of flowers, and sunshine,
and " swarms." Early bee-forage is
luxuriously abundant everywhere, and
for ten days or so at the end of April
the outlook was full of promise for a
glorious month for the bees when May-
day arrived. Surplus-chambers were
reported as filled with bees storing honey
fast ; breeding going on rapidly, and
many hives full to overflowing*; indeed,
i few swarms were reported as having
issued during the last week of April.
Nothing could be brighter than the
prospect, but Saturday the 26th brought
with it a storm in the southern counties,
ind left behind a bitterly cold north-east
ivind that has hardly ceased to blow ever
since. Anyway it put as sudden a stop
to work and progress, so far as regards
see-life, as if a tap had been turned to
stop running water. Hardly a day of
he present month, so far, has been a
forking day for the bees, and on Friday,
he 9 th inst., a tremendous hailstorm —
asting about fifteen minutes n one

district of Kent — left the ground covered
nearly an inch deep with what looked
like a solid sheet of ice, so solid and hard
were the large heavy hailstones.

Feeding Needy Stocks. — The first
consequence of the foregoing remarks is
the need for prompt attention to stocks
not actually known by inspection to be
plentifully supplied with food. It is no
use saying to oneself, " they had plenty
in March," becausethe intervening time
between then and now may have brought
about such a depletion of stores as will
astonish those who have not had practi-
cally experienced the effect of a couple
of months' adverse weather in spring no
strong colonies of bees. The consump-
tion of stores in feeding tens of
thousands of larvae daily is simply enor-
mous, and we therefore strongly urge,
every reader to make a personal exami-
nation without delay, and give warm
syrup-food (not candy) to every colony
not well supplied with stores. There is
no sight more distressing to a bee-keeper
than to find a strong stock — with per-
haps half-a-dozen frames nearly full of
sealed brood — entirely destitute of food,
and every bee dead ! Yet this will
certainly happen if our word of warning
is not attended to.

(Conclusion of Hints next week.)

SURREY BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual general meeting of the above
Association was held at the County Hall,
Kingston-on-Thames, on Apiil 26, Major
E. F. Coates (Vice-Chairman, County Council)
in the chair ; and among those present were
Mrs. Watts, Miss E. M. Gilmour, Rev. C. S.
Rowland, Messrs. A. Seth-Smith, H. Macan
(Organising Secretary), W. A, Dawson, A. H.
Miller, G. Walker, E. A. Stoppford, E. Walker,
T. H. E. Watts-Silvester, M.R.C.S., P. W.
Pocock, N. Drake, W. F. Reid, W. Welch,
0.0,, J. Kachler, H. Letford, W. Hartingham,
W. Sole, and F. B. White (Hon. Sec).

The Hon. Sec. reported the absence abroad
of the President of the Association, General
Sir Percy Feilding, K.C.B. ; and Mr. E. J.
Halsey (Chairman of the County Council) was
unable to preside. Several gentlemen wrote
expressing their inability to be present.

192

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 15, 1902.

In moving the adoption of the report and
balance-sheet, the Chairman said the Associa-
tion had been doing a good work, and he was
glad to see that not only had they been able
to make both ends meet, but carried forward a
good balance. It was also satisfactory to note
that 120 new members had joined during the
year, especially when they looked back six
years to the time when the Association was
reorganised, and, he believed, had a member-
ship of only about 150, while to-day they
could congratulate themselves upon a very large
membership. The amount of foreign honey
coming annually into the country was valued
at £50,000, not a very large sum, but £50,000
per annum meant the rent of 10,000 cottages.
Besides, many cottagers held allotments in
addition to their own cottage gardens, and
bee-culture would be of great assistance to
them in adding to their incomes.

The motion was seconded by Mr. Welcb,
CO., and supported by Mr. H. Macan, both
gentlemen warmly eulogising the good work
done by the Association.

The motion was carried unanimously.

A vote of thanks to the Surrey County
Council for the grant of £150, made in aid of
certain educational work carried out by the
Association, was proposed by Mr. A. Seth-
Smitb, who said the success of the Association
was largely due to the generous way in which
the County Council had helped it ; but for
this help, the Association would not now be
the success it was. Not only the County
Council as a whole, but some members had
assisted them very much, particularly Messrs.
Halsey, King, Welch, and Macan.

The motion was carried nem- con., as was also
a vote of thanks to the retiring executive
council, joint committee, and officers.

The Executive Council was appointed as
follows :— Messrs. Archibald Seth-Smith, F. J.
Bernau, E. C. Blundell, W. A. Dawson, F. S.
Fletcher, G. C. Halahan, J. W. Lewis, A. H.
Miller, W. F. Beid, Rev. C. S. Rowland, W.
Sole, E. A. Stopford, H. E. Taylor, E. Walker,
A. Watkin, T. H. E. Watts-Silvester, and
F. B. White.

Mr. Maurice Marcus, High Trees, Redhil),
was elected a Vice-President.

Mr. White said that the best way to pro-
mote a honey market was by holding an exhi-
bition. The one held at the Crystal Palace
last year had proved very successful. It had
been decided to again hold the annual show at
the Crystal Palace on September 18, 19, and
20, the Kent and Sussex Honey Show and
the Royal Horticultural Society's Fruit Show
being also fixed for the same date, so that the
three shows would be held side by side, and he
hoped members would support them.

Hearty votes of thanks were accorded the
chairman for presiding, seconded by Mr. E.
Walker, and to Hon. Sec. Mr. White, after
which the meeting concluded. — (Cornmuni'
cated.)

HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of
April, 1902, was £4,431.— From a return
furnished to the British Bee Journal by the
Statistical Office, H.M. Customs.

ftmttym&txtt

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will b*
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'
lions 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 c«mmuni
cations relating to advertisements, &c.,must be addressed
to "The Manager, 'British Bee .Journal' Ojjice, 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.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

[4775.] A New Patent Hive, — It has long
been the dream of beemen, gifted with the
benign power of invention, to originate a hive
providing under the shadow of one roof all the
best features hitherto in use in hive-making,
with several added improvements which they
deem will make their invention approach
many stages nearer perfection than any
hitherto on the market It was my fortune
lately to have a private view of such a hive
— containing several undoubtedly novel and
ingenious contrivances — which its inventor,
Mr. A. Reid, Urray, Ross-shire, believes are
improvements and advances on anything
hitherto embodied in even up-to-date hives.
He claims that by its means he can fully
check or control swarming. He can trap
his queen when he wishes it ; yet he can
allow the free exit and return of a young
queen on her marital flight. He is enabled to
dispense with additional nucleus hives, as he
makes provision under the same roof for the
formation of these, and his plan enables him
to unite the small lots with their young queen
to the parent colony without any loss of bee
life, while he contends that the close proximity
of the brood nest makes the question of
nuclei-forming a matter of simplicity and cer-
tainty. As all his three or four tiers of
frames are uniform in size, he has secured
interchangeability (of course, at the sacrifice
of the standard frame), and he can use his
frames in the brood-boxes or in the surplus
chambers as ordinary frames for extracting, or,

May 15, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

193

by a simple device easily added, as section-
frames. By a new and novel style of entrance
he* contends tuat he has secured at least three
improvements. He can provide ventilation
ad lib., he can entirely dispense with shade
boards, and they are a great saving of bee-life
in cold, windy, or snowy weather. He claims
further that he has greatly simplified manipu-
lation, and made hives much less of a sealed
book. Without fully sharing a parent's esti-
mate of his offspring, it may be conceded that
several of the ideas embodied in the hive may
may be set down as deserving of commenda-
tion. The inventor deserves encouragement
in his attempts to further elucidate several
features, especially those touching on manipu-
lation of queens and swarm-preventing. Mr.
Reid is already known as an inventor, having
lately placed on the market a new sheep-
dipper which is proving highly successful.

An Unseasonable Season. — A cold wave ba3
swept over this corner of our island, and the
almost summer heat of the closing days of
April has been rudely dispelled by a wintry
temperature accompanied by snow-showers,
heavy rain, and floods. In many districts two
or three inches of snow lay for days without a
break. With us the 1,000 ft. line was clearly
marked, for all above for a week lay one clean
unbroken expanse of virgin white ; up to the
tops of our highest Bens. As a contrast, over
a fortnight ago a short holiday trip through
five northern counties showed vegetation look-
ing remarkably well and luxuriant for the
season. Bees were then busy carrying in both
pollen and honey, and when examined they
showed a fairly good spread of healthy brood,
with numerous young bees in evidence. Here,
for over a week, not a bee has been able to
look outside. Considering the wide spread of
brood in some of my own hives before the
change, I will be anxious on the first fine day
to examine and note if much of it has been
chilled. Later. —-Bees have already got over
their period of depression, and are once more
rolling in the pollen as if they wished to make
up for lost time.

Spring Violets. — Amongst the many flowers
now adorning the landscape one of the most
interesting is the sweet violet ( Viola adorata).
Unexpectedly we discover their presence
when we feel the sweet breath of the south
" upon a bank of violets stealing and giving
odour." Some of the other varieties, such as
the dog violet, the marsh violet, and the Viola
tricolor, with its varied colour, the origin of
all our garden pansies, are even more beautiful,
and deserve the praise of the poet, who de-
scribes them as "sweeter than the lids of
Juno's eyes." Later in the season we have
two of the species adorning our moorlands.
The yellow violet {Lutea) is an ornament to
our dry heaths, and the marsh violet is even
more so in our softer bog lands. None of
them, however, are first-class bee plants, but
surely we can admire beauty even when utility
is lacking.

Queenless Hives. — In my last comments I
remarked on these, and I have since had infor-
mation leading me to conclude that this
spring there is an unusual number of these.
As a rule the best possible plan is to join on
the bees to neighbouring hives. So much
time is lost before queens can be reared, and
the bees have dwindled and aged so much,
that the value received bears no fair ratio to
the trouble incurred. At times a good queen
may be purchased, but, as a rule, such queens
are not on the market at this time of the
year ; and in a large percentage of cases, those
purchased now will prove weak or aged and
not worth spending good money on. — L\ M. M.,
Banff.

BEES IN THE HIGHLANDS.

[4776.] In sending my subscription for
current year, I have to express my great
pleasure at the many interesting pieces of
information your paper has afforded me. I
wish it what it deserves, very great success.
I am sorry that up in these Highland parts
the spring has been so very late and cold, and
I envy those who have already had swarms,
as instanced in your columns. However, we
make a good thing off the heather, which, I
suppose, in England you have only in detached
patches. I have got six good stocks, but 1
mean both by purchase and otherwise to
increase them considerably. I have ordered,
and they have come to hand, six frame-hives
for this summer's increase. Perhaps I am too
sanguine in my expectations ! However,
should nothing come of it, I have at least this
satisfaction, that I have enjoyed many peace-
able hours amongst the bees, which of itself is
a fair reward for slight expenses incurred. —
William Stuart, Tombae, Olenlivet, N.B.,
May 9.

COMB-BUILDING IN CANDY BOXES.

[4777.] Referring to the letter of your
correspondent, "G. E. K." (North Wales), I
put two 1-lb. boxes of candy on a hive about
a month ago (one above the other), and last
week, on removing them to examine the hive,
I found the bees had filled them with honey
(well sealed), also two patches of drone-brood
sealed. I also cut out three queen-cells from
brood- chamber, and gave them a crate of
shallow frames. — J. Botes, Cardiff, May 6.

[4778.] In reply to your request on page 180,
re bees building comb and breeding in candy
boxes, I beg to say that when examining my
bees at the beginning of April I found several
of the candy boxes full of comb, with eggs, I
daresay, in half of the cells (mostly drone-
cells). There was also honey and pollen
stored in others. — F. R. Court, Green-street,
Kent, May 7.

194

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL [May 15, 1902.

ADULTERATION OF HONEY.

THE LAW AGAINST IT IN THE U.S.A.

It may be useful to British bee-keepers—
for reference in case of need — to have in print
the text of the law against adulteration as
recently passed by the State of New York,
and now the law of the land in that State.
The full text of the Bill, as given in the
American Bee Journal, reads as follows : —

" An Act to amend the agricultural law rela-
tive to prevention of disease among bees, and
to add two new sections thereto relative to
honey, to be known as Sections 80a and 80b.

" Section 2. — Said Chapter 338, is hereby
amended by inserting therein, after Section 80
thereof, two new sections, to be known as
Sections 80a and 80b, and to read respectively
as follows : —

" Section 80a. — Defining honey.—- The terms
1 honey,' ' liquid or extracted honey,' ' strained
honey,' or ' pure honey, ' as used in this Act,
eh all mean the nectar of flowers that has been
transformed by, and is the natural product of
the honey bee, taken from the honey-comb and
marketed in a liquid, candied or granulated
condition.

" Section 80b. — Relative to selling a com-
modity in imitation or semblance of honey. —
No person or persons shall sell, keep for sale,
expose or offer for sale, any article or
product in imitation or semblance of
honey branded as ' honey,' ' liquid or
extracted honey,' ' strained honey,' or ' pure
honey,' which is not pure honey. No person
or persons, firm, association, company or cor-
poration shall manufacture, sell, expose, or
offer for sale any compound or mixture branded
or labelled as and for honey which shall be
made up of honey mixed with any other
substance or ingredient. There may be
printed on the package containing such
compound or mixture a statement giving
the ingredients of which it is made ;
if honey is one of such ingredients, it shall
be so stated in the same size type as are
the other ingredients ; but it shall not be sold,
exposed for sale, or offered for sale as honey ;
nor shall such compound or mixture be branded
or labelled with the word ' honey ' in any form
other than herein provided ; nor shall any pro-
duct in semblance of honey, whether a mix-
ture or not, be sold, exposed, or offered for sale
as honey, or branded or labelled with the word
' honey,' unless such article is pure honey.

" ABSTRACT FROM THE AGRICULTURAL LAW
RELATIVE TO PENALTIES.

"Section ST. — Every person violating any of
the provisions of the agricultural law shall
forfeit to the people of the State of New York
the sum of not less than 50 dols., nor more
than 100 dols., for the first violation, and not
less than 100 dols. for the second and each sub-
sequent violation. When such violation con-
sists of the manufacture or production of any
prohibited article, each day during which or

any part of which such manufacture or pro-
duction is carried on or continued, shall be
deemed a separate violation of the provision^
of this article. When the violation consists of
the sale, or the offering or exposing for sale, or
exchange of any prohibited article or substance
the sale of each one of several packages shall
constitute a separate violation ; and each day
on which any article or substitute is offered or
exposed for sale or exchange shall constitute a
separate violation of this article. When the
use of any such article or substance is pro-
hibited, each day during which or any part of
which said article or substance is so used or
furnished for use, shall constitute a separate
violation, and the furnishing of the same for
use to each person to whom the same may be
furnished shall constitute a separate violation.
" Section 2. — This Act shall take effect
immediately."

HOMES OP THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

The apiary at Blairgowrie, part of which is
shown on next page, recalls to mind the only
time we saw it, on a very sad occasion, when
we made the long journey northward to
accompany to hi3 last home all that remained
of our dear friend the late William Raitt,
whose sudden death some dozen or more years
ago will be remembered by our older readers.
We are glad to find his son David still in the
bee-trade, and the hives on the old ground at
" Beecroft,'' and have no doubt our bee-
garden picture this week will recall pleasant
memories of one who was in his day one of
the ablest and most worthy among the bee-
men among us at the time. The following
notes will possess interest for readers of the
older school as being from the son of a worthy
father : —

" I fear I cannot wield the pen as did my
late lamented father, for whatever form the
falling of his mantle took it was not literary-
wise. Part of the hives shown in photo, are
come down from ' Beecroft ' days as far back as
thirteen years ago, since their late master bade
adieu to this mundane sphere. Like every
true enthusiast, he infected his ' laddies ' with
a love for the little labourer so dear to him
(he used to fetch us ' up ' with imported
queens under his pillow overnight), and so
we caught on to the ' hum,' and deep down
in my being — partly because of his great love
for them — I find myself in the true suc-
cession.

" Of course, business has claimed most of
my time these past five years since taking
over the concern, and hence I will not pretend
to pose as an authority, but in a natural way
will give my experiences, and in so doing I
think you will not readily consign this lot to
the W.P.B. : — It is only fair, and the Creator
meant it so, to work for profit as well as
pleasure, and all business folks like to ee

May 15, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

195

things stand on their own individual legs,
and so I have, I confess, worked the bees for
profit. In a district like ours it can be done,
but the man at the helm must be lively. We
get supers well filled with rasp and clover
honey here from June to July, but there is no
great abundance of forage, and I fancy the
multitude of apiaries around lessens appre-
ciably the nectar available. We do not have
out-apiaries yet, but intend to, when we can
' hitch up ' our steed to our buggy and off some
fine morning to the four or six mile distant
lot, with extractor and all, and fetch home
the spoil. Last year, in the outskirts of the
town, we had several stocks yielding us easily
84 lb. surplus honey each, left to themselves
almost so far as attention goes, and altogether

At present we send out a lot with plain cheap
jars, with cork wads and tinfoil covering, which
took clean and neat, and a change from the
stereotyped screw-cap jars, &c.

" From our show-room we sell the 1-lb. sec-
tions in card cartoons with tape, so that dainty
ladies have no waiting, and little objection to
carry same, and the printed name, &c, adver-
tises the produce.

"Mr. Calvert (business manager of the A. I.
Root Company, U.S.A.), when over here in
1900, expressed himself as surprised at the
attention paid to the get up of honey in this
country ; but as we do not handle in ' carload
lots ' as they, it becomes us to do so, and get
' gilt-edged ' prices.

" Well, I must pull up. I might have en-

MR DAVID RAITT'S APIARY, BLAIRGOWRIE, PERTHSHIRE.

we reckoned we had from fourteen stocks
about 670 lb., giving a value of about £24.
Had the heather season been fair the lot of ten
we had up some fourteen mile3 up the glen
would have swelled the coffers of their
master. It seems farcical to hear the cry
' Bees don't pay.' I think it is seldom heard
nowadays in these parts.

"As to disposal of crop, it is an easy
matter. We grade sections, and offer best
finished ones at 6d..to Is. a dozen extra, and so
on ; and besides our own we handled a ton or
more for others last season. At present we
are bottling up and sending out a large con'
signment to Cape Town, as there are some
Scotchmen there who prefer the ' rale heather.'
We strongly believe in attractive 'get up.'

larged on my ' experiences ' with tall sec-
tions, &c, if room permitted. Suffice it
to say, the less innovations along that line the
better, in my opinion, for it is absolutely
essential to success that a standard size, as in
frames, &c, fixed on by all producers, especially
seeing that our ' sphere of influence ' is inside
our rugged coast-line and of so few hundred
square miles.

" In closing, let me, in introducing myself
through this picture, thank all who are
personally unknown, yet whose business rela-
tions are highly valued and set down as an
earnest of the dream of the poet when he sang
of the time coming —

" ' When man tae man the warld owre
Will brithers be an' a' that.' "

196

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 15, 1902.

BEE-FARMING} FOR LADIES.

Amongst the smaller varieties of farming
there are perhaps few which provide a more
suitable industry for women than that of bee-
keeping. The stock required to begin with
is by no means expensive — probably about
£2 103., covering the whole — hired labour is
not necessary, and, provided that a sufficient
harvest is to be found in the immediate neigh-
bourhood, the difficulties are greatly mini-
mised. It may frankly be stated that, unless
the bee-farm is run on a very extensive scale,
it is scarcely likely to prove sufficient as a sole
source of income ; but worked in conjunction
with other branches of agriculture it becomes
a valuable adjunct. For instance, bees and
poultry can be made quite complimentary to
each other, for the tops of the bee-hives can
be so arranged that incubators stand on them ;
they receive thus just the right amount of heat
for the hatching of the eggs. A great number
of ladies are interesting themselves in the
keeping of these interesting little creatures,
and many young girls living in the country
are able to m ike quite a nice little annual in-
come by keeping bees without in any way in-
terfering with the farm or garden, or what-
ever their surroundings may consist of. One
of the first steps is to get an insight into the
absolutely practical management of the hives,
and this is generally possible since most
apiarists are very glad to give advice to in-
tending bee-keepers. Another necessity is to
procure a good manual on bee-keeping, and
this done and read, marked, learned, and
digested, the bee-keeper, provided she be pains-
taking and energetic, is already on a fair way
to success. Certain counties are naturally
better than others for the cultivation of these
industrious little insects, but it is possible to
own a thriving hive or two in almost any
neighbourhood. There are several harvests for
the bees besides the always desirable fragrant
flower garden — the fruit blossom, for instance,
is excellent, and such crops as sainfoin, cinque-
foil, and white clover — but perhaps the best
honey source of all is the trees — the oak, the
sycamore, and the lime. The price fetched by
honey generally varies from about Is. to Is. 6d.
per lb. May is the best month in which to
begin with a swarm. The old rhyme tells
us that a swarm of bees in May is worth a
load of hay ; a swarm of bees in June is worth
a silver spoon ; but a swarm of bees in July
is not worth a fly. Of course, there is the
objection in bee-keeping of being stung ; but
the owner "who can keep herself quiet soon
wins the respect of her hive occupants, and
there is no attempt at this most unpleasant
expression of their ill-feeling. When possible,
surplus honey should be taken off early in the
season, when it can be sold at a much higher
price than obtains later in the season in the
market. Of late years many of the larger
agricultural societies and associations have
encouraged the apiarist, and prizes are offered

for honey at the shows. The British Bee-
keepers' Association has greatly encouraged
ladies to take up this work, and a number of
them have become members ; indeed, it is
almost essential to join some society affiliated
with any special farming, since information
and advice and the services of an expert are
placed at the disposal of the associates for
very moderate fees. One lady — Miss Gayton,
of Much Hadham, Herts — has been most
successful with her bee - farm, and she
acknowledges that her entire education in
the matter came from reading books and
pamphlets on the subject, and by asking
questions of every apiarist she met. She had
the honour of supplying honey to her late
Majesty. — Laura Alex Smith, in the Belfast
Northern Whig.

GLEANINGS FROM FOREIGN BEE
JOURNALS.

BY R. HAMLYN-HARRIS, F.R.M.S., F.2.S.,
F.E.S., ETC.

Revue Internationale d'Apiculture quotes
from the Schweizer Bienenzeitung : — "One
often hears that in old combs the partitions of
the cells are so thick that the young bees
cannot develop naturally for lack of room.
Dr. Branich assures us that this is quite a mis-
take. He found that the thickness only
varies from | to A millimeter, whereas the
floors of the cells are sometimes 10 milli-
meters in thickness ; but in this case the bees
will lengthen the cells that the contents may
remain the same. Invariably four to five
cells can hold 1 gramm of water. So he
judges that the old comb may be used with-
out fear for the brood-nest.''

The Same. — Bee-keeping in Algiers. — In this
beautiful country apiculture might do wonders
and will, doubtless, but at present the outlook
is not favourable. The import of honey is
enormous, whereas the export ought to be
immense. Algerian honey is the best the
world can produce in perfume, colour, and
quality. The soil rich in oderiferous plants
yields an incomparable honey harvest, per-
petual spring reigns in many parts of Algeria.
Apiculture is, as yet, very little developed ;
there are said to be about 24,776 bee-keepers
in the country. The native population, as
well as some of the colonists, use the Arab
hive — cylinders of cork bark or a box woven
from the dried stalks of fennel, but since the
Apicultural Society ha3 existed many modern
hives have been in use. The honey harvest is
of variable duration, generally short, from
March 15 to May 15 in the mountains, longer
in the wooded regions and those planted with
eucalyptus, which lasts nearly all the year in
the lower parts of the country. The Arab
hives give about 5 lb. to 6 lb. of honey, but
the frame-hives will yield from 20 lb. to 100 lb.
each. The consumption of honey by the Arabs
and Jews is very great, and Algeria does not

May 15; 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

197

as yet produce enough for its own use. Prices
vary from about Is. per kilo (2 lb.) wholesale
to 2s. to 2a. 8d. retail. Eucalyptus honey is
much sought after by the invalids who winter
in Algeria.

The Algerian bee is dark in colour, very
active but irascible, and has the fault of
swarming too freely, as many as a hundred
royal cells have been found in one brood
nest.

The Same. — There i3 to be an international
apicultural exhibition in Madrid during the
month of May, 1902. The prices of honey
and wax on the market at Barcelona on
December 15, 1901, were as follow : — Native
wax, per kilo (2 lb.), 2s. 5d. to 23. 6d. First-
class (Aragon) honey, 100 kilos (200 lb.), about
42s. to 45s. ; second-class (Catalonian) honey,
100 kilos (200 lb.), about 38s. to 42s.

L'Apiculteur. — A bee-keeper writes from
the Argentine Kepublic that the wax-moth
(Galleria cereana) is there a great pest to the
apiary. He succeeded in destroying enormous
numbers of these and other noxious insects by
means of a small lamp standing in a large
shallow receptacle filled with oil, and placed
in the centre of the apiary. The moths, flying
against the lamp, fell into the oil, and on a
calm night the receptacle would contain so
many insects as to form quite a solid mass.

tifchus from M Mm.

Pilshy, Chesterfield, May 12. — Since my
last "Echo," written some two months ago,
we have not improved very much in the
weather line— in fact, I think it has been
colder this last week than it was in March.
What with blinding snowstorms during the
day and the crisp hoar frost seen in the early
morning the aspect has been wintry enough
to damp any bee-man's ardour. He sees
hundreds of damson-trees around white with
bloom, and sometimes white with snow
alternately two or three times a day. The
bees have had an odd hour's work on the
bloom when the sun got a chance, but a peep
at the combs tells its tale ; we found stocks
that had, a month before, three whole combs
well stored with honey, and, as we then sup-
posed, amply provisioned until natural food
could be had in the fields and orchards, when
looked at last Friday showed hardly as much
left as would sustain them for three days. That
condition meant giving syrup-food at once as
a matter of course.

It did not take my bees long to clean honey
out of sections that had partly granulated
during the winter. I have put eight or nine such
sections on during the last few days, and they
were soon cleaned out. I have found them
very useful for feeding purposes, seeing that
when I opened one stock they had hardly a
bit of food left in the hive. I find the dande-

lion blooms plentiful in the meadows about
here are capital pollen-yielders, every bee
coming in now is loaded up with pollen from
that source. I doubt we shall see no May
bloom on the hawthorn this year, as the
hedges are not in full leaf yet, and the apples,
too, do not look like blooming before June.
We have a nice lot of clover-fields close to,
and if the weather will only take up, we shall
have a bountiful harvest from it ; but I hardly
expect honey to be as plentiful as last year,
seeing that the brood-boxes will be empty to
start with. — Tom Sleight.

<fto^8 anil §^fys.

[2843.] Loss of Queen in Spring. — I began
bee-keeping last July with a swarm which
seemed to do all right till October, when I
noticed that drones were still present, and in
consequence I suspected the colony was queen-
less. I was, however, told it was too late to
do anything then, but on examining the frames
this spring I found brood in them, also two
empty queen-cells on bottom of two frames.
I concluded that the bees had re-queened
themselves last back-end. Three weeks ago,
however, on examining frames I found a large
queen-cell on side of one frame, although there
was plenty of room in the frames for queen
to lay in. Anyway, I gave them another
frame of partly worked- out foundation, and
I examined hive again a week ago, and
found a queen-cell nicely capped over. I
therefore kept a close watch on the hive, and
last night, on again examining, I found a
queen-cell empty, but it had a large hole in the
bottom and one at the side. On looking for
young queen I found enclosed bee on the top
of the frames. I also at the same time found
eggs in cells, and therefore conclude, if I find
an egg in three days' time, the old queen is
still in the hive. I forgot to mention that I
saw about half-a-dozen drones on the frames
and about sixty more in cells capped. I wish
to ask : — 1. Is the enclosed a youDg queen ?

2. Do you think the bees intended swarmiag ?

3. Did I do right in putting another frame in ?
— Beginner, Ramhill, May 8.

Eeply. — 1. No ; an adult. 2. There i3
nothing to show any intention to swarm. 3.
It can do no harm to try them in queen-raising,
but it will not be likely to succeed.

[2844.] Are Decoy Hives Illegal ? Claim-
ing Runaway Sivarms. — 1. Is it illegal to put
empty skeps or hives in the apiary to decoy
swarms ? My bees are located some distance
away from where I work, consequently I am
not able to watch them. I am told it is
against the law to do this. Besides, I have no
wish to decoy other people's bees into my
hives ; and the nearest neighbour's bees to me
are three-quarters of a mile away. 2. I also

198

THE, BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 15, 1902.

ask, can I follow my own swarm and take them
if they go into other people's premises ? I am
informed that if my bees swarm and settle, or
" cluster,'' on another person's land, garden, or
premises, I cannot take them if the person
objects. Please answer these queries through
the B.B.J., to which I am a subscriber. —
W. P. Lloyd, Buckland Brewer, JV. Devon,
May 8.

Reply. — 1. No ; the question is merely a
moral one, and in your case it may well be
excused. Should it be proved that a neigh-
bour's swarm has been decoyed into one of
your hives, give him a swarm in return. 2. If
the swarm is seen to issue from your hive
and is not lost sight of by the person who
saw it go, the bees can be claimed by law if a
proper demand is made at the time.

[2845.] Dealing with Drone-breeding Queens.
— When I got the B.J. of May 1, and read
your reply on page 180 with reference to my
query on drone-breeding queens, I was not
surprised. I have, in consequence, cut out all
the brood from the combs and removed the
queeri, which latter I enclose herewith, and
have given to the bees a frame of eggs, brood,
and bees from a very good stock. Is this the
best thing to do under the circumstances 1 —
C. R, Mailing, Kent, May 7.

Reply. — Yes, but it is not certain that a
queen will be raised and safely mated from
the eggs given. Having given the bees the
means of re-queening themselves, you can only
await results.

[2846.] Preventing Swarming. — 1. I have
sixteen hives and am anxious to prevent
swarming by a surer method than giving more
room than required. Do you approve of
the plan of cutting the wings of queens, and
when swarming take queen out and replace
bees in swarmed stock, then after seven days
cut out all queen cells but one 1 This was told
me by one who works this method every year.
If I do this I must sacrifice all my queens as
they swarm, which I do not like as one gets
attached to queens. I do not wish to augment
my number of hives, so swarms will be little
good to me except for strengthening weak
stocks in autumn. I have supered all my hives.
2. What is the best way to stop robbing ?
Mine rob in spite of my trying all suggestions
in Cowan's " Guide." What fuel do you
suggest as best for smoker ? 3. Do you con-
sider run honey or sections the most profit-
able ? — Lymington, May 12.

Reply.— 1. We do not like your friend's
plan of preventing swarming, nor is there
any better and safer means of attaining [that
end than are plainly set forth on page 20 of
" Guide Book." 2. If once robbing has been
allowed to go on either unseen or through
carelessness, it is past the wit of man to stop it ;
and when an apiary is once demoralised — as
we fear yours is — the task is almost hopeless
in the hands of an inexperienced or an injudi-
cious bee-keeper. Patience and perseverance

may stop it, and the methods you already have
in your text-book cannot be improved upon.
3. All depends on the demand. If extracted
honey can ba sold well, it pays be3t.

[2847.] Replacing Lost Queen. — Six weeks
ago I had up from the country several hives of
bees, one of which when examined a fortnight
afterwards had only a little patch of drone-
brood on two frames. I made two subsequent
examinations at intervals of a week and found
more drone-brood, and on no occasion was
there any worker-brood at all, nor could I
discover the queen. The stock appears con-
siderably lessened, and I shall be glad if you
will kindly say :— 1. If re-queening would be
probably successful after so long a time since
the queen mu3t have been missing ? 2. How
many frames — or rather how few — frames, of
bees would make success probable? 3.
If the result should ba doubtful, what should
be the proper course to adopt ? I have ordered
a queen and am not sure whether I have done
rigat. Your kindly reply in this week's
B. B.J. would very much oblige and help me ?
— Wm. Smith, Dulwich Village, May 12.

Reply. — I. The probability is the queen
has been missing for a much longer period
than six weeks, and in consequence the stock
is not worth re- queening.

[2848.] Bees Disappearing from Sleep. —
Would you be bind enough to explain the
following ? A friend of mine had a good
stock of bees in a skep which last year yielded
about 10 lb. of honey in super. A second
super was left on, to which the bees had free
access. He now finds about 8 lb. of honey in
the super, but the bees are gone — not a single
bee lett. Can you explain the probable cause
of their disappearance ? I may say that the
stock of bees covering four frames in Novem-
ber, 1900, about which you kindly advised me
through the B.J. some time ago, is now my
best stock. It was kept alive by means of
candy and warm wrappings of chaff and cork-
dust. — " Puzzled," Uxbridge, May 7.

Reply. — The details given are too vague
for us to form a reliable opinion. The
skep may have become queenless, and the
bees have left the hive and joined on to
another lot. An examination of the skep — to
an experienced eye— would probably clear up
the mystery of the bees deserting it, but one
cannot judge from a distance.

[2849.] Transferring Bees from Skeps to
Frame-Hives. — Could you kindly tell me
through Bee Journal the best way of dealing
with some bees in skeps % I bought them a
short time ago. I was advised to put the
skeps each on the floor-board of a modern
hive holding ten frames. I have done so, and
they each seem very strong stocks. I should
therefore like to know the best thing to do
now. Would it be wise to put supers on the
top of the skeps or to let them swarm, and
then at the end of the time to drive them out
of the [skeps and put those into frame-

May 15, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

199

hives ? I take your Bee Journal regularly
and also have your " Bee-keepers' Guide
Book," but am only a young beginner with
bees. — P. W., Atherstone, May 7.

Reply. — Prepare your modern hive by
filling the frames with full sheets of founda-
tion, and when ready set the skep on top-bars
as directed on page 140 of "Guide Book." The
bees will then transfer themselves. By so
doing you will secure the best results as a
beginner.

[2850.] Allowing Bees to Transfer Them-
selves.— 1. In August last year I discovered
that the bees in one of my hives had built
their combs across the frames through having
had no starters of foundation to guide
them. I therefore placed the body-box con-
taining the cross-built combs above another
set of frames properly fitted with sheets of
foundations. Unfortunately, however, I was
away from home when the bees Were packed up
for the winter, and, in consequence, the two
body-boxes have remained joined together
ever since. Will you kindly tell me when
will be the best time to remove the top lot
of frames with the box, bearing in mind that
in this part of the world swarming begins the
first week in June ? 2. I am only partly
successful with supers, and not at all with
sections, although I procure the best founda-
tion I can get from England. I have tried
putting honey on the comb-foundation to
attract the bees to it, and thereby induce them
to start working in the surplus-chambers.
I therefore ask, Would you recommend
putting the rack of sections below the regular
frames for a day or two previous to placing
them on the top \ I am very careful to keep
my bees warm when working supers for
extracted honey or when sections are on. I
use the " Cowan '' hives, and find them very
good. — P. J. B., Vienna, Austria, May 10.

Reply. — 1. Should the bees have got well
at work in the lower body-box, and the queen
have made it the brood-nest of the colony, you
may remove the upper box any time if there
is no brood in the combs. Or, if preferred,
the upper box may remain on as a surplus-
chamber for removal when full (or when the
season is over) for extracting. 2. Unless your
hive has been properly prepared for getting
sections started below the brood-chamber, we
should not advise trying the plan named. It
is a troublesome method to carry out with
makeshift hives, but simple enough if the
hive is specially built for it.

NOVELTIES FOR 1902.

lee and son's imperial section- case
(registered).

This novelty sis a folding wood section-case
made on the same principle as an ordinary
one-piece section. It is, as seen in the cut,
glassed on both sides, and is correctly lace-

edged for show purposes, so that there need
be no fear of disqualification for being over-
Jaced. It is also considered by the makers
that this is the perfection of casing for high-

Lace-edged Wood Section-Case,

class sections, the perfect cleanness of the
wood making it very attractive, while not too
costly for general use. It may be had of all
the principal dealers in bee-goods, or from
Messrs. Lee themselves.

%tt $tows to <&mt

June 10 to 13, at Reading.— Royal Counties
Agricultural Society. Bee and Honey Department
under the management of the Berks B.K.A. Schedules
from D. W. Bishop-Ackerman, Hon. Sec. Berks B.K.A.,
131, King's-road, Reading. Entries close May 17.

July 5 to 9, at Carlisle.— "Royal" Agricultural
Society's Show. Bee and Honey Section under the
management of the B. B.K.A. Schedules from Edwin
H. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-square, W. Entries
closed, unless with late fee.

July 26, at Buttfield Park, Hessle, East
Yorks. — Honey Show in connection with the Hessle
and District Horticultural Society. Good prizes for
Honey-Trophy, Sections, and Extracted Honey.
Schedules from Ernest C. S. Stow, Hon. Sec, Thornton
House, Hessle, East Yorks.

August 5, at Leamington.— Ninth annual show
of the Leamington St. Mary's Horticultural Society.
Three open classes for Six 1-lb. Sections, Six 1-lb. Jars
" Light," and Six 1-lb. Jars " Dark " Extracted Honey,
respectively. Good money prizes. Schedules from
P. W. Smith, Secretary, 22, Leam-street, Leamington.
Entries close July 31.

August 7th, at Kingsthorpe, Northants.
—Honey show of tne Northants B.K.A. in connection
with the Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Three
open classes with special prizes, including one for
single 1-lb. jar of honey. Entry free. Prizes 20s , 10s.,
7s. 6d., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from_R. Hefford, Sunny-
side, Kingsthorpe, Northampton. " Entries close
August 1.

September 1 to 6, at Preston.— Annual show-of
the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society in connection
with the Festival week of the Guild Merchant (which
recurs only once in every twenty -one years). In honour
of the occasion a largely increased list of money prizes
is offered for honey along with silver and bronze medals
of the B.B.K.A. and also of the Society. Open Classes
for Honey Trophy Sections, Extracted Honey, Beeswax,
Instructive Exhibits in Bee-Culture, &c. Schedules
from Edward Bohane, Secretary, Miller-arcade, Pres-
ton. Entries close August 2.

200

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 15, 1902.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All queriesfoneardedvill be attended to, and Host onlg
of personal interest will bt answered in this column.

A. F. G. H. J. — Joining Bee-keepers Asso-
ciation.— For information regarding advan-
tages in membership of the B,B.K A. and
its affiliated county associations, acd also
for particulars of examinations for ex-perts'
certificates, apply to the secretary B B.K.A.,
Mr. Edwin H. Young, 12, Hanover-square,
London.

"Hardbake'' (Cranbrook). — Removing Pro-
polis from Excluders. — 1. The propolis may
be dissolved with methylated spirits (alco-
hol), but we never care to use it, preferring
to scrape it off with a blunt knife having a
pliant blade. Irritable Bees ! — 2. The cause
of irascibility is no doubt largely attribut-
able to the bottom-bar of the frames being
stuck fast to the floorboard, as stated. We
should lift out each frame singly and remove
the bottom-bar, then cut away about half
an inch of comb at bottom edge, and replace
the frame minus bottom-bar. Or an alter-
native scheme would be to remove the
frames temporarily into a hive of proper
depth, i.e., 9 in., then tack a ^-in. strip of
wood to bottom edge of the home-made
body-box, and thus make it 9 in. deep.
When this is done, return the frames with-
out disturbing the present bottom-bars.
Mica for Sections. — 3. Mica is not cheaper
than ^lass, as you suppose, if cut to 4£ by
4J size section. It is dearer.

John Dance (Berks). — Birds and Bees :
Using Firearms near Roadways. — 1. The
fact of " having a licence to carry and use a
gun," as stated, will not free anyone from
the legal consequences of injury to passers-
by from the careless use of firearms. At
the same time, we cannot quite see where
the risk comes in if you have 30 yards space
between the bee-hives and the roadway.
Any fear on the subject may, however, be
removed if you frighten the offending
sparrows by using blank cartridge. 2.
Italianising an Apiary. — To introduce an
Italian queen into an apiary of seventeen
colonies of bees can hardly be termed
" Italianising." We should call it hybrid-
ising, and no doubt the whole of your
stocks would show more or less of the
Italian strain in a year or two if drone
offspring of the foreign queen are allowed to
become plentiful. 3. We cannot assure you
with regard to the temper of resultant
hybrid bees, but you might make a point
of weeding out viciousness in temper, if
such occurred, by re-queening. We recom-
mend a trial of one Italian queen, and be
guided by after results.

H. W. C. (Worcester). — The Hop-plant as
Bee-forage. — 1. We have never heard of

bees working on the blossom of the hop-
plant, and it is quite certain that no honey
is gathered from it, in view of the fact being
unknown to bee-keepers located in the
midst of the hop gardens of Kent. 2.
Field beans are known to yield a plentiful
supply of honey in some seasons. Bean
honey is rather dark in colour, and of
medium quality.
(Rev.) 0. O. J. (Diss).— 1. The sample of
honey sent is poor in quality, and has not
been well ripened. It has granulated with
a very coarse grain, and, o wing to its dark
colour and the other fault mentioned above,
it looks very uninviting to the eye. 2.
There is no accounting for granulation
generally, but a little stirring of the bulk at
intervals of a few days while granulation
was proceeding would have tended to make
the honey more smooth in grain when it
became solid.

Suspected Combs.

0. C. (Norwich). — Oomb is slightly affected
with foul brood.

0. Collins (Lee, S.E.). — Comb is in a bad
state. There is foul brood in it, and the
fact of drone-brood being reared in worker-
cells shows that the queen — if there is one
in the hive — is old and worn out.

X. Y. Z. (Cornwall). — All three pieces of
comb are diseased.

Fras. J. L. King (Walthamstow). — Comb
contains nothing worse than hard mouldy
pollen. We see no trace of the "small
insects " mentioned as being in some of the
cells. Delay in reply was unavoidable.

J. T,, Junior (Notts.). — Foul brood is develop-
ing in comb sent, and as drone-brood is
being reared in some of the worker cells,
we advise entire destruction of the stock.
The combs are old, the queen worthless, and
with seventeen healthy colonies liable to
infection, to attempt a cure would be folly.
We therefore say stamp the mischief out at
once.

"Number 4'' (Kidderminster). — There is foul
brood in a few cells of comb sent ;, but it
cannot be termed a bad case by any means.

J. L. (Linton, Cambs.). — Comb is badly
affected with foul brood.

Hazlewood (Birmingham). — Foul brood is
plainly developing in a few cells of comb,
but it has all the appearance of being kept
under partial control, seeing how few cells
are really affected with the disease. With
regard to former specimen sent for inspec-
tion, there was at the time such an accumu-
lation of samples that some "mixing up"
evidently took place to account for our
replies.

F. Hurdwell (Yorktown). — Comb contains
chilled brood only. No disease about it.

"V* Several Queries are unavoidably held
over till next week.

May 22, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

201

(BAtteM, $atim, tot

USEFUL HINTS.
(Concluded from page 191.)

Starving Bees in May. — The need
for a word of warning, such as we ven-
tured to offer last week, has been amply
verified by accounts since received of
strong colonies of bees found quite
recently in famine-stricken condition, and
that, too, within a month of Mid-
summer's day ! We have been inquired
of — by one who finds his bees absolutely
starving — as to "the best means of
affording immediate and full relief in
case of stocks being found almost desti-
tute of stores." Our reply is : A comb of
food from another stock if such be avail-
able. But failing this, the best substitute
will be found in a comb half-filled with
good syrup-food made slightly warm,
and placed close up against the cluster
of bees. It is a simple matter to lay the
frame — face up — on a dish and pour the
syrup into the comb in a thin stream, so
that the air is allowed to escape as the
liquid runs into the cells. In this way
about a pint of syrup may be poured
into each side of a comb. Should many
stocks require feeding in this way, several
combs may be filled simultaneously by
standing them up in a large pan (a fish-
kettle does nicely for the purpose) and
pouring the syrup slowly into the pan. The
liquor gradually flows into all the cells,
expelling the air as it rises, and thus
every comb is completely filled with the
syrup-food. One standard comb thus
charged will be ample provision for a
stock for three weeks, or until natural
food is coming in from the outside.

The Insurance Scheme. — Bee-
keepers will have now had plenty of
time in which to read and inwardly
digest the details of the plan of insur-
ance— as presented in our issue of the
8th inst. — very carefully and fully
thought out by the committee of the
B.B.K.A., to whom was entrusted the
task of framing a workable scheme. It
is sincerely to be hoped that the scheme
and the "conditions" attached will meet
with cordial and general acceptance, for
however easy it may be to suggest what
are thought to be improvements, we
venture to say it will be extremely

difficult, if not impossible, to get a reli-
able firm of underwriters to accept
responsibility beyond that involved in
the conditions printed on page 181. The
permanence, or otherwise, of the scheme
is now in the hands of bee-keepers them-
selves, and we trust the response, in the
shape of bee-keepers insured, will repre-
sent an ownership far exceeding the
5,000 hives which have been counted
upon as the minimum number wherewith
to make a beginning. Nor do we for a
moment suppose that any demur will be
made with regard to the sum of sixpence
per annum fixed upon as the minimum
premium. Anything below that sum
would not be worth dealing with, and
for the rest, our personal opinion is that
the bulk of insurers will need to pay no
more than from sixpence to a shilling
per year in order to secure all advan-
tages conferred by the scheme. We say
this in view of the comparatively few
bee-keepers in this country who own
more than a dozen hives of bees.

To Correspondents. — While the
busy working bee-season is still young,
we respectfully desire to ask for the co-
operation of correspondents in saving
time and trouble all round, and not a
little annoyance to by no means under-
worked Editors in particular. We refer
to the editorial and business departments
respectively of this office, and to the way
in which these departments may be
helped or retarded by correspondents,
according to the manner in which in-
structions devised for mutual benefit are
attended to or disregarded. In the first
place, letters to the Bee Journal for
the editorial department should be ad-
dressed to " Editors," and to "Manager"
if on business matters, the respective
" copy " for each being written on sepa-
rate sheets. Editorial letters for the
Record should be addressed to "W.
Broughton Carr," and business letters to
"Manager, B.K. Record." It frequently
happens that letters for Bee Journal
reach us addressed, "W. Broughton
Carr, 17, King William-street." These
letters are, in consequence, often filed as
Record copy, and may thus mis3 inser-
tion in the paper for which they are
intended. A bad habit has also been
growing of late, viz., the, no doubt in-
advertent, failure to send name and
address when writing under a noni de

202

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 22, 1902.

plume. We hope this omission will be
remedied if publication is to be assured.

We must also refer to the neglect of
proper care in sending samples of comb in
cases of suspected foul brood. The bulk
of our correspondents, we are glad to
say, read the standing par. giving direc-
tions how to send samples, but some few
are still so regardless of our wish as to
forward comb so smashed in post, and
letters so filthy and unfit for perusal
without washing, that we have the
samples promptly burnt without any
attempt at perusal or inspection. Finally,
we invite attention to the blue, pencil
marks on wrappers which now serve to
indicate overdue subscriptions, in lieu of
the coloured wrapper formerly used.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The monthly meeting of the Council was
held on Thursday, the 15th inst., at 105,
Jermyn-street, S.W, Mr. W. F. Reid being
voted to the chair. There were also present
Miss Gay ton, Major Fair, Dr. T. S. Elliot,
Messrs. R. T. Andrews, W. Broughton Carr,
W. H. Harris, H. Jonas H. G. Morris, E. D.
Till, E. Walker, T. I. Weston, F. B. White,
and the Secretary. Apologies for enforced
absence were read from Messrs. P. Scattergood
and C. N. White.

The minutes of the previous meeting were
read and confirmed.

Three new members were elected, viz. : —

Edwin Adamson, High-street, Yarm-on-
Tees.

G. Bennett, Sketchley Farm, Hinckley.

James Kerr, Milldamhead, Dumfries.

On the motion of Mr. Jonas, seconded by
Mr. Harris, Mr. Cowan was unanimously re-
elected as chairman of the Council, and Mr.
T. I. Weston to the vice-chairmanship for the
ensuing year.

The finance committee's report, presented
by Mr. Jonas, gave a summary of the receipts
and expenditure during the past month, the
balance to the credit of the society on May
14 being £89 2s. 5d.

Mr. Weston reported that the guarantee
forms to be issued as receipts for insurance
premiums were in preparation, and, on his
recommendation, the insurance committee's
proposals were unanimously approved.

The Secretary made a statement in regard
to the entries for the " Royal Show," which,
in view of the unfavourable season for honey
production, was considered satisfactory.

Nominations were made of judges to offi-
ciate at the " Confectioners' " and " Grocers' "
Exhibitions respectively, and the prize schedule
for the honey department of the Dairy Show
was revised for approval by the British Dairy
Farmers' Association. The Secretary reported

that in an interview with the Baroness
Burdett-Coutts (President), her ladyship had
been good enough to promise £10 towards
the prize fund. A. proposal that a Coronation
Challenge Cup should be offered for competi-
tion at the Dairy Show met with great
favour, and was approved subject to endorse-
ment by the authorities. It was decided to
make an appeal in the British Bee Journal
for further donations.

Messrs. W. H Harris, E. D. Till, and T. I.
Weston were appointed as a Sub- Committee
to revise the matter for inclusion in a new
edition of " Modern Bee-keeping," with power
to take such step3 as may be necessary to
expedite publication. Mr. W. Broughton
Carr and Mr. W. F. Reid kindly agreed to
act as corresponding members of the Sub-
Committee.

Mr. L. L. Jacobs, an aspirant for the first-
class expert certificate, attended the Council
and delivered an impromptu lecture in
support of his candidature.

Certain letters addressed to the Council
were read to the meeting, but it was decided
that no action be taken thereon.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday,
June 19.

(famxttymfom.

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' Bri'iah Bee Journal,' 17, King William-
street, titrand, London, W.C." All budness 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.

WARWICKSHIRE NOTES AND

ECHOES.
[4779.] The expert's lot is not at all times a
happy one. Especially does this remark apply
when he experiences such weather as that
which has prevailed so far through this month
of May. He waits and watches for finer and
warmer weather, and on the first morning that
a less keen wind is blowing or a little more
sunshine is promised (and knowing that the
bees are generally to be found in a sheltered
corner of the garden) off he goes with his
" bike," telling the good wife to expect him
home again when she sees him, and journeys,
perhaps, to some distant part of the county, to
be driven home again after an hour or twos'

May 22, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

203

work among the bees in the soakiDg rain,
or chilled to the very core by the biting
wind. He may be fortunate enough to be
sheltered and hospitably entertained by the
owner of the bees (he gets heaps of kindness
shown to him), or he may have to seek shelter
at a wayside inn or by creeping into a tool-
house, stable, or cowshed. And when he is
doing his level best to get on, not only for his
own sake, but also for the sake of those
members yet to be called upon, he gets
grumbled at sometimes for calling late or for
not bringing more genial weather with him.
And yet the remark is often made to him,
" What a pleasant life yours must be ! " But
is this suitable matter for our Bee Journal,
Messrs. Editors ? Let it be my excuse that it
is peuned (or rather pencilled) in an aforesaid
toolhouse during a three hours' enforced
"rest."

And what of the bees 1 Well, I have found
them the last fortnight at a standstill — or
worse ; even where feeding has been going on
the immature drones have in some instances
been cast out in large numbers, and so many
of the adult workers have left the hives never
to return, that there has been no increase in
the strength of the colonies. And where food
has not been given, whole colonies dead on the
floor-board or buried head-foremost in the
cells, or else a complete cessation of brood-
raising, as disastrous to the chances of getting
honey this year as the former condition.
When will bee-keepers learn the necessity of
feeding according to the weather, or the needs
of the bees 'i Many discontinue it on a certain
fixed date, or when the fruit-blossom appears,
generally at the same time removing all winter
packing, or, worse still, putting on the supers !

This is the darkest side of the picture,
Messrs. Editors. There are hives crowded
with bees only waiting for fine weather to
crowd up into the supers and give a good
account of themselves. May it soon come !

Why are so many queens lost during the
winter and spring months ? We know, of
course (or can guess), the why and wherefore
in some cases, but queens are lost when they
are not old — when there has been no manipu-
lation of the hive, no lack of food, of bees, or
warmth. I am much puzzled at times to give
the definite answer that is expected to the
question, " What has become of her ? " —
Geo. Franklin, Kenil worth, May 17.

GLEANINGS FROM FOREIGN BEE
JOURNALS.

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

Revue Internationale d' Apiculture. — Melli-
ferous flora of Canada, extracted from a report
of the Entomologist and Botanist of the
Government Experimental Farms, Canada : —

April. — Snowdrops, scilla, maple (two
varieties), willow (two varieties), dandelion.

May. — Tulips, plum and pear trees, wild
cherry, hyacinth, daphne, periwinkle, ane-
mones, Alpine poppy, pheasant's eye, daroni-
cum, dwarf cherry, currants, lilacs, Jacob's
ladder, peony and iris, honeysuckle, barberry,
mountain ash.

June. — Strawberry, buckthorn, forget-me-
not, maples, rhubarb, centaury, bugle (ajuga),
white Dutch clover, alsike clover and sainfoin,
raspberry and blackberry, lotoneaster (two
varieties), alliums, rose, spirea (two varieties),
laburnum, geraniums, wild vetch, large red
P°Ppy, potentilla, lupin, wild mustard, fraxin-
ella, acacia, horse bean, campanula, bugloss
(anchusa).

July. — White melilotus, asparagus, field
pea, vetch, sedum, thalictrum (wild rue), lime,
lilies veronica, mullein, woodruff, flax,
asclepias, agrimony, mignonette, St. John's
wort, echinops, lychnis, golden rod.

August. — Late beans, pumpkins, campan-
ulas and rudbeckias, sunflower.

September. — Wild asters, marigolds.

October. — Gaillardias.

L'Apicoltore (Italy). — An interesting attempt
has been made to spread the practice of bee-
keeping among the officials of the various
railways in Austria. Taking into consider-
ation the moral benefit as well as the material
advantage, and the adding a pleasant interest
to the lives of railway employes. Two years
after the introduction of bee-keeping along
the Austro-Hungarian lines many of the men
had six, eight, and in some cases as many as
twelve hives. A circular addressed by the
inspector-general to the employes offered to
provide a bar-frame hive, well stocked, to any
of them wishing to keep bees ; also an ex-
tractor and wax-melter to be sent to the men
in turn by the railway administration. Other
equally liberal offers were made. To help the
men in the sale of their honey, the providing
all needful appliances at the lowest possible
cost ; distributing popular directions on bee-
keeping ; and providing amply for instruction
on the subject.

Elsass-Lothringischer Bienen Zuchten. —
An excellent remedy for severe catarrh is a
tisane of the common mill foil, or yarrow and
honey. At the beginning of the cold the
patient should drink a large cup of yarrow
tisane with a teaspoonful of honey dissolved in
it, and the cure is soon accomplished.

It is good for weakly, pale children and
young people as a permanent beverage.

The Same. — In Darlisheim, Elsass Loth-
ringea, in 1901, eight hives yielded about
l^cwt. of honey, but only one swarm. The
owner, however, added three other swarms in
a curious way. Working among his vines on
a lovely May morniDg, he found a strong
swarm of bees hanging in a vine. Lighting a
ci^ar, he collected them in his apron and
carried them home, where they were success-
fully hived. A second swarm was found
under the floor of a garden house and was
safely dug out ; while the third was discovered

204

THE, BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 22, 1902.

in a hedge of wild roses. They have all de-
veloped into fine healthy colonies.

L'Apiculteur, France. — Many observers
have described the existence (sometimes in
great numbers in some hives) of bees with
partially-developed, crumpled, or even entirely
atrophied wings. An observant bee-keeper
(at Monceaux) says that these bees are often
found [on the ground before the hives, from
which they are pitilessly excluded by the
workers. As to the cause of the malforma-
tion of the wings, it is thought to be brought
about by the chilling of the cells containing
the young brood. Also apterous bees are
said to be more numerous in weak hives.
More information on this interesting subject
would be gladly welcomed, and any bee-
keepers' observations on this point would be
gratefully acknowledged.

Die Deutsche Bienenzucht. — Statistics from
Wiirtemberg. Information from the Wiirtem-
berg Board of Agriculture, January 9, 1902.
The number of hives in the different districts
is as follows : —

Weekar Kreis district...... 125,770

Black Forest „ 35,605

Jagst „ 39,060

Danube ,, 50,551

Total ,. 150,886

There has been an increase of 34,691 hives
since 1892. The total honey harvest in 1900
(excepting what was used in wintering the
bees) was 1,057,974 kilo. ; that in the old skep
hives amounted to 212,188 kilo.; that in
frame hives to 845,786. Truly a cause for
satisfaction to the Swavian bee-keeper.

Leipziger Bienen Zeitung. — A bee-keeper
near Carlsruhe describes a giant sunflower
from Bussia which has given wonderful
results, both as to the production of seed
(which yields a fine salad oil) and also as bee
pasture it is excellent, giving honey the whole
day long. Each flower produces from 2,500
to 3,000 seeds.

Rucher Beige from Revue de Noyon. — A
cheap apifuge. It has been remarked that
bees have a great aversion to the smell of
naphthaline. The following mixture has
proved a perfect protection to ungloved hands
in manipulating even the most irritable
bees : — Take two parts of vaseline, and melt
in a bain marie ; then mix well with it one
part of naphthaline in very fine powder. Bub
on the hands before manipulation, which can
then be undertaken without fear.

Elsass Lothring B. Zuchter. — The question
as to whether bees attack ripe grapes has been
often discussed, and a recent writer says : —
" My hives are surrounded by vines, and the
neighbours were disposed to accuse the bees
of taking the ripe fruit. The following experi-
ments prove that bees are perfectly harmless
in this respect :— On September 25 we placed
before the hives (which had not much honey
at the time) twenty- eight varieties of grapes,
perfectly ripe and sound, and not one bee even

settled upon them. The next day they were
sprinkled with honey-water, and at once they
were eagerly visited by the bees, and the sweet
fluid was all sucked up, but not a berry was
injured. On the 29th the grapes were changed,
and the fresh ones were sprinkled as before,
and a few grapes in each bunch were pricked
with a fine needle. By midday the bees had
taken the honey-water and devoured every
punctured grape. Next day ten more berries
on each bunch were pricked and emptied by
the bees, but the sound grapes remained
untouched. The experiments were conclusive,
and the neighbours had to confess that bees
never injure sound fruit."

Bulletin de la Socie'tJ d'Apiculture de la
Tmiisie. — In May most of our enemies make
their appearance. The most troublesome and
best known are : —

The common wasp.

The philanthus, which subsists entirely on
bees. It resembles the wasp, but is longer,
and the abdomen smaller. It is of a bright
yellow colour, with black bands.

The thistle bug, a black beetle of some size,
will get into the hives, and gorge itself with
honey.

The Death's-head moth will also introduce
itself into the hives, and eats large quantities
of honey.

The wax moth, of which there are two
varieties, and which in ill-kept and neglected
hives will soon cause their utter ruin.

Spiders, which must not be permitted to
spin their webs near the apiary.

Ants are very fond of honey, and often make
great havoc in the combs. The best way to
exclude them is to paint the legs of the stand
with petroleum or place them in vessels of water.

Lizards and tarantulas hunt the bees on
the ground.

And the beautiful bee-eater is a dangerous
enemy. The best way to get rid of them is to
frighten them away with the noise of a gun.
As they are entirely insectivorous it would not
be right to destroy them.

Swallows also must not be encouraged to
nest near the apiary.

L 'Apicoltore. — There were very few swarms
last spring and summer either in Italy, France
or Germany, Belgium or Switzerland, and it
seems difficult to account for it, as though
there were intervals of rainy and windy
weather, still the honey harvest was remark-
ably good. It is thought that when the
spring is favourable and much pollen is
brought iD, and a strong brood raised, so that
the colony has reached its full development by
the time of the honey flow, the bees give all
their energies to collecting stores, and do not
swarm. But if, on the contrary, the flowering
season is late and the great masses of bees do
not find enough to employ their activity, the
instinct is to divide, and swarming takes place,
and the largest hives will not hinder. These
are some reasons for the few swarms of last

May 22, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

205

(|tt^s m& Uppity.

[2851.] Size of Various Frames in Use. —
In Bee Journal of February 20 (page 71)
you published diagrams of the various sizes of
frames in use in this country, comparing them
with several American frames. 1. Will you
kindly inform me if the measurements given
are outside of frame or just the comb space
only ? I ask because I am thinking of trying
the American " Quinby '.' frame for this
district, as I have one hive holding eleven
frames, nine of which are now covered with
brood, and also on each outside frame from top
to bottom and side to side. 2. I should also like
to ask if any of your readers can inform me how
to construct a good slide for hive entrances, as
I do not use porches, nor do I believe in them.
Your valued help will greatly oblige. — Fumi-
gator, West Hartlepool, May 16.

Reply. — 1. The measurements given are in
all cases to outside of rectangle. If it were
otherwise, the dimensions shown would
obviously be of no use whatever in providing
the proper space between frames and hive-
sides, or between bottom-bar of frame and
floor-board. 2. You had better use the loose
slides that do not work in grooves.

[2852.] Deposing Prolific Queens. — In
looking through my bees recently I found one
queen two years old, with her wings very
much jagged, as if she was getting "aged and
worn-out." But this same queen did splen-
didly last year, and has now seven standard
frames nearly filled with slabs of brood. I
therefore ask : 1. Do you advise me to
re-queen the stock, or let her remain for this
summer ? 2. Kindly say in next issue if the
enclosed queen-bee has been fertilised I I
might say I have taken the Bee Journal for
three years past, and it is one of my greatest
pleasures. In reading it I have many time3
wanted to know something about my bees,
and, sure enough, I often take up the paper
and find in it the very information I want.
— A. B., Barford St. Martin, near Salisbury.

Reply. — We should on no account re-queen
the stock till the close of the present honey-
season — say, end of July. Are you q'uite sure
the queen is so old as stated 1 We ask this
because appearances are often deceptive, and a
queen so very prolific as the one in question
seems to be is worth preserving so long as the
results are so good. 2. The queen sent is a
well- developed adult bee, and has assuredly
been fertilised.

[2853.] Dead Queen Cast Out.— Would
you be so kind as to tell me about this queen
in next issue of B.J. ? I found her cast out
of one of my strongest hives to-day. I there-
fore ask : 1. Is it the old one 1 2. Or is she
a virgin ? 3. Is there anything I can do in
the way of examination of the hive, or by re-
queening ? About three days ago I received

a nucleus colony of Italian bees. They were
hived beside the hive which has cast out this
queen. I suppose she is what you call a black
bee, not the Italian 1 Some of the newcomers
have been trying to get into the latter instead
of their own hive, and have been turned out
dead very quickly. 4. Has this had anything
to do with the killing ? With thanks for all
kind help in the past. — F. Hamsher, Cuclc-
field, May 16.

Reply. — 1. The dead queen received is, we
fear, the mother bee of the stock from which
she was cast out. Only an examination will
definitely decide the point, but the queen in
question is not an Italian. 2. She is certainly
not a virgin. 3. If the stock is now rendered
queenless, as inferred, the bees will have
started queen cells, and it is for yourself to
decide whether you will give the bees a good
laying queen instead of allowing them to
re-queen themselves. It will certainly tend to
increase your take of honey to introduce a
good queen at once. 4. Very probably the
inroad of alien bees into the stock of natives
may have been the primary cause of the
mischief, seeing how slight an upset in spring
will sometimes result in " balling " of the
queen of a strong colony.

[2854.] Freeing Foundation from Larvc of
Wax Moth. — Some comb foundation that has
been lying by me for some time has now got
moths' eggs in it and has become " webby "
externally, but the sheets of wax are not
penetrated in any way. 1. What shall I do
with it before using 1 Would No. 12 solution
(1 oz. carbolic to 12 oz. water) be safe to
use 1 I got two stocks in November, very
strong ones. The expert reports that they
are free from disease. It was very cold when
he called, and I find, on putting the bees
into new hives, that the old hive3 have
grub3 in the cracks, and the timber is slightly
gouged out by them. I suppose these
grubs are partly wood-eaters. 2. Will No. 12
solution, followed by boiling water, kill them ?
3. Is " Jeyes' perfect purifier " ever used for
hives 1 Canary breeders use it in solution to
paint cages. 4. Some sections of drawn-out
foundation have a few moth eggs and webs
in them. Must they be melted down ? —
Advice, Stockport, May 15.

Reply. — 1. Carbolic acid should not be used
about comb foundation, it will give the bees
a distaste for working on it. Moths' eggs and
also anything " webby '; — as your term has it
— can be easily removed by a soft brush, and
nothing more is required before using. 2. It
is evident the old hives in which the stocks
referred to were infected with the small wax-
moth (not Galleria cereana), a fact which does
not quite bear out the idea of the stocks being
" very strong ones," because bees, when very
strong, usually manage to keep their hives free
from the pests mentioned. Anyway, the latter
must be got rid of by brushing away or killing
the moth larvte by hand, not by applying solu-

206

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 22, 1902.

tions or disinfectants as proposed. 3. All sorts
of " purifiers " and disinfectants — good, bad
and indifferent — are used by bee-keepers as we
suppose they are by bird fanciers. 4. If badly
infested melt them down ; if slightly so, let the
bees deal with them. They will soon get rid
of the moths' eggs, but the moth " web " is a
bit beyond their powers.

[2855.] Moving Bees Four Miles. — I pur-
pose removing a stock of bees a distance of
four miles in about a week. Would you
kindly say in the next issue of the B B. J. if it
would be any disadvantage to do so ? Would
the mere fact of removal to a strange locality
now interfere in any way with the honey
prospects from this stock ? — S. B. Clarke,
The Manse, Caimcastle, Lame, May 16.

Keply. — Provided always that the bees are
properly packed for the journey ; and so care-
fully carried as to arrive at their new location
without damage of any kind, it will be rather
advantageous than otherwise to remove them
on to fresh ground. Our personal experience
fully proves that it tends to impart increased
vigour to the working energies of a colony of
bees when they find themselves in "fresh
fields and pastures new."

[2856.] Utilising Diseased Lots of Bees.
— Would you be good enough to favour
me with your advice in the following cir-
cumstances : — One of my hives has, I regret
to say, become affected with foul brood, some
of the cells containing the dead brood with the
cappings perforated. There are ten frames in
the hive fairly crowded with bees, and the
combs are full of brood in all stages, much of
which hatches. It seems a pity to have to
destroy so much brood, but I should certainly
do this and put the bees in a fresh hive on
new frames if you think such a course desir-
able. I have this week destroyed another
weak stock similarly affected. I should feel
grateful if you would be kind enough to let
me have an early reply. — E. W., Tavistock.

Keply. — We regret you did not forward a
sample of comb from the hive in question,
because the expediency or otherwise of trying
to save diseased bees largely depends upon the
length of time the colony has been affected
with foul brood. If the disease is of very old
standing, we should not advise trying to utilise
the bees. On the contrary, if a recent out-
break, the chances of saving the bees without
risk of spreading the disease are very favour-
able at this season.

[2857.] Helping Cottagers in Dealing with
Foul Brood. — I am enclosing a small piece of
comb for your verdict as regards disease. I
am doing this, for a fellow cottager who keeps
bees about 100 yards from me. J have eleven
stocks myself, and he asked me to have a look
at his, and I am not satisfied with the appear-
ance of the combs, so I have enclosed a piece
cut from one of my friend's hives. All are
affected the same. It seems to tally with

what is said in the " Guide Book." The
larvse is not " plump and pearly white " ;
some are getting smaller, while others have
turned out of the natural position in the cells,
and I see some few are turning yellow, but I
cannot find any resembling the "coffee-
coloured mass." I notice, however, that some
of the cell-cappings are perforated. I might
say that all his stocks are weak, and he has
had no swarms for several years past. The
bees of all the five lots I suspected would only
make one decent stock. He seems very willing
to do anything that would make them prosper.
I myself have offered to give him a hand if you
think the comb is affected. I am thankful to
say I have not noticed any in my own, but I
medicate all food, and keep naphthaline in the
hives, and I am looking for your answer with
fear for myself as for him, and if you will
please put the answer in the B.B.J, you will
oblige my friend and also one, myself, a3 a
Six Years' B.J. Eeader, Isle of Wight,
May 12.

Reply. — Foul brood is only just developing
in comb sent. It is, therefore, a favourable
case for treatment. The five lots of bees would
make up a good stock, and, as you already
possess the " Guide Book,'' there is no need to
give you any directions here with regard to
utilising the bees.

[2858.] Removing Bees. — I shall be glad of
your advice in the next issue of B.B.J, as
to the following : — Finding it necessary to
remove a stock of bee3 about 100 yards, I
have taken them into the country some two
or three miles, and would be glad to know
how long it will be before I can bring them
to the 100-yards spot from where they
originally stood ? This has not cropped
up before in my bee experience, and will
greatly oblige. — C. H. Cloughton, Maldon,
Essex.

Reply. — The bees may be removed any
time without loss.

BUILDING UP COLONIES IN SPRING.

The past winter has been a serious one for
us, and from my correspondence I find it also
has been so in other parts, involving quite a
loss of bees, and I am receiving inquiries
regarding the feasibility of a rapid increase in
order that the combs from the lost colonies
may be stocked with bees again, as quickly as
possible, I therefore propose to give a full
answer in the American Bee Journal as
follows : —

After trying everything I have ever heard
of for rapid increase I prefer the nucleus -box
plan to auy other, for the purpose. To carry
out this building-up process, all want one or
more boxes similar to the shipping-cases used
in marketing section honey, only having
wire-cloth sides in place of glass, and a hole
in the top which will admit a large funnel,

May 22, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

207

such as is used in putting up bees by the pound.
This hole should have something like a door
to close it with easily, and one of the wire-
cloth sides should be tacked to small wooden
strips, like a slate frame, and thus made easily
removable.

As early in the spring as you can do so
without loss by cold spells, begin to stimulate
your strongest colonies by spreading the brood
and feeding, so that one or more of them may
swarm early, thus giving you queen-cells ; or,
what is still better, have queen-cells built, by
the plan given in my book, " Scientific Queen-
Rearing," so that you can have plenty of
queen-cells to use as you wish, unless you
prefer to purchase queens. Having the queen-
cells nearly mature, or having queens on hand
by purchase or otherwise, go to any colony
that can spare bees without damaging their
building up as fast as you desire, and take out
two frames having about a half-pound of bees
on them, taking care that the old queen is not
on these combs. Set them down in an empty
hive, and tap gently on them so as to cause
the bees to fill themselves with honey ; then
shake them down through the funnel into the
box, removing the funnel and closing the door
or hole.

Having the bees in the box, return the
comb3 of brood to their hive, marking the one
having the most emerging brood so you can
get it in a moment when wanted. Now set
the boxes of bees in a cool place, where little
light will reach them, and leave them till near
night, just time enough so you can finish your
work before it is dark.

At the right time — a little after sundown
— go to the hive from which you took the
bees, take the marked comb, shaking the bees
from it in front of the entrance, and put a
frame of comb from which the bees have died
in its place. Now take the comb of brood
and a frame of honey from the dead colonies,
and place them in a hive where you wish a
colony to stand, putting in a division-board
so as to make a small hive for the two combs.
Now go to the hive having queen-cells, and,
taking one of them, fit it into the comb
having brood, placing it near or at the upper
edge of the brood, where it will be warmest.
Next close the entrance to the hive. Get the
box of bees, and put it with the funnel-hole
next to the combs. Then open the door over
the hole, and if the box is within j$ in. of the
brood the bees will immediately run out of
the box on the combs.

As soon as they begin to run out, close the
hive, and leave it so till the next morning,
then open an entrance large enough to admit
three or four bees at a time, on the opposite
side from where the two combs stand. Then
towards ni^ht of the same day, take out the
box and adjust the division-board, when you
have a nice nucleus colony started in that hive.

As soon as the young queen from the cell
given gets to laying, you are ready to insert
the combs from the dead colonies till the hive

is filled, giving the combs, one or two at a
time, as fast as the bees can occupy them.

In the above I have given the way of mak-
ing one little colony, and you can make as
many and as often as you have stocks that can
spare the bees, and queen-cells to give them,
using about half a pound of bees for each
colony made during the month of June, one
pound during July, and two pounds during
August. Where we have plenty of combs to
use, there should be no trouble in making ten
colonies from one old one in the spring, if said
colony has wintered fairly well.

If you prefer to purchase instead of rearing
queens, proceed as above, but, instead of
putting the bees in the hive at night, place the
queen in a provisioned cage, go to the box of
bees, and, by setting it down suddenly on the
floor, drop all of the bees to the bottom; quickly
open the door and hang in the caged queen, so
that the bottom of the cage nearly touches the
top of the box. Leave the bees till next morn-
ing, the hive fixed as before, less the queen-cell ;
and, instead of opening the funnel-hole for
the bees to run out of it, the movable side is
taken off, and the bees hived like a swarm,
releasing the queen from the cage so she can
go in with them.

In this way I have made hundreds of little
colonies and nuclei, and there is nothing that
pleases me anywhere nearly so well for the
purpose as this. But, if any one thinks other-
wise, then let the colonies left after a bad
winter, swarm as fast as they will, and six
days after a swarm issues from any hive,
divide the old colony into nuclei, using two
combs with bees, brood and a queen-cell to
start a separate colony, and build up these
nuclei with the combs not occupied with bees,
the same as by the first plan, after the young
queen is laying. In this way I have suc-
ceeded in making from five to six good
colonies by fall from one good colony in the
spring, and in good seasons obtained quite a
little surplus from the new swarm. — G. M.
Doolittle, in American Bee Journal.

THE POETS' BEES.

Collated by " F. E. I. S."

No. 4.— Shelley.

And hither come, sped on the charmed winds,
Which meet from all the points of Heaven, as

bees
From every flower aerial Enna feeds.

# * #

Bees, keep your wax ; give us the honey,
And we will plant while skies are sunny
Flowers which in winter serve instead.

* * *

The meadow with fresh streams, the b*«a

with thyme,
The goats with the green leaves of budduig

. spring
Are saturated not-— nor Love with tears.

208

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 22, 1902.

A drone too base to have a sting,
Who gluts and grimes his lazy wing
And calls lust " luxury."

Honey from silkworms who can gather,
Or silk from the yellow bee ?

But the bee and the beamlike ephemeris,
Whose path is the lightning's, and soft moths

that kiss
The sweet lips of flowers, and harm not.

Her feet ever to the ceaseless song

Of leaves, and winds, and waves, and bird*,

and bees,
And falling drops moved to a measure new,

yet sweet.

# * #

Were not the crocuses that grew

Under the ilex tree
As beautiful in scent and hue

As ever fed the bee 1

The sweet child Sleep, the filmy-eyed,

Murmured like a noontide bee :
Shall I nestle near thy side ?

* * *

Daylight had awakened all things that be,
The lark and the thrush and the swallow

free ;
And the milkmaid's song, and the mower's

scythe,
And the matin bell, and the mountain bee.

The wind in the reeds and the rushes,
The bees on the bells of thyme,

The birds on the myrtle bushes,
The cicale above in the lime.

The clearest echoes of the hills,
The softest notes of falling rills,
The melodies of birds and bees,
The murmuring of summer seas.

No. 5. — Campbell.

The Swedish sage admires in yonder bowers
His winged insects and his rosy flowers.

■* # •*

Aerial notes in mingling measure played
The summer wind that shook the spangled

tree,
The whispering wave, the murmur of the bee.

* * *■

'Twas transport to inhale the bright, sweet

air.
The mountain-bee was revelling in its glare,
And roving with his minstrelsy across
The scented wild weeds and enamelled moBS.

Star that bringest home the bee,
And sett'st the weary labourer free.

And murmuring tribes from me derive
The ambrosial amber of the hive.

Unheeded spreads thy blossomed bud
Its milky bosom to the bee.

With all thy rural echoes come,
Sweet comrade of the rosy day,

Wafting the wild bee's gentle hum,
Or cuckoo's plaintive roundelay.

* * *

Oh, I bring these heartless, hapless drones
Down in a trice on their marrow bones
To call me king and lord.

CONTRIBUTED ARTICLES.

1 have lately been reading reports of foul
brood, and of the number of colonies treated in
different States by a number of foul brood
inspectors. The last in my hands is the
Colorado report, made to the Secretary of the
State Association by a number of county
inspectors, and published in the Rocky
Mountain Bee Journal for January, 1902.
These reports make me feel very much be-
hind the times, for after some thirty-three
years of active bee-keeping, and a good por-
tion of the time on a large scale, I have yet
to see the first case of foul brood, not only
in our own yards, but also in any yard that
I have visited from time to time. My
father^ whose experience goes back some
twenty years farther, also says that he has
never seen a case of foul brood. It is true
that we have had occasionally, especially in
early spring, a case of dead brood, generally
caused by spring-dwindling, or by the desertion
of the bees, but this accidental dying of
brood was easily ended by the prompt bury-
ing of the dead brood, which removed all
danger.

But here is a report that astounds me. Ac-
cording to this report, in the State of Colorado
in 1900, out of 7,952 colonies inspected, 799,
or a little over 10 per cent., were found diseased.
In 1901, out of 13,131 colonies inspected, 804
were found diseased, or a little over 6 per
cent. Just think of it !

I take it for granted that not all the bees in
those counties were examined, for that would
be a terrible condition if that per cent, of all
the bees were infected with foul brood. But
the report does not say anything about the
probable number of colonies in the country,
and we are led to infer that the number men-
tioned covers all the bees in that portion of
the country. It seems to me that a more de-
tailed statement ought to be published. For
instance, the report ought to state in how many
apiaries the disease is found, where they were

May 22, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOUENAL.

209

located, how many apiaries were found im-
mune ; and, if any apiaries were not examined,
how many of these, and the reason why they
were not examined. The probable number of
colonies in the State ought to be embodied in
the foul brood report, so that strangers
reading such a report may not be led to
believe that this contagion is spread all over
the State.

The reason that prompts me to ask this, is
that the plain report, as printed in the journal,
will give foreigners a very bad idea of the con-
dition of bee-culture in the States where such
reports are printed.

It seems to me that it would be well, also,
that the localities where the disease is raging
with the greatest vehemence be mentioned in
the report, so that bee-keepers should avoid
buying bees, or honey for feeding, from those
localities until the disease has been conquered.

A contagious disease should be treated as
all contagions are — by a prompt and effective
quarantine. This quarantine will be in the
interest of the affected apiaries themselves, be-
cause it is necessary that the disease should be
confined in as small a space as possible.

This is very much like battling with small-
pox. Our little town was invaded by that
dread disease last November. Just as soon as
it was detected, the facts were published by
the Mayor ; the houses of the sick were
quarantined, and the public houses were closed.
The town put itself under strict quarantine for
some forty days, and at the end of that time
the disease had disappeared. In a neighbour-
ing city they kept the light under a bushel,
for fear of losing trade, and the result was a
much longer and much more extensive siege of
the disease.

But while we are carefully guarding against
foul brood, let us not be hasty in declaring
the existence of foul brood at the first sight
of a cell or two of dead brood. Foul brood is
a special disease, which has been described
often enough to make everybody familiar with
it, and when a case of dead brood is found,
one ought to make absolutely sure that it is a
case of malignant foul brood before resorting
to the extreme measures which foul brood
demands.

At two different times in my experience I
have had samples of dead brood sent me by
bee-keepers who thought they had the dread
disease in their apiaries, and in both cases I
had the pleasure of informing them that I did
not believe that the disease was the true con-
tagion. In both cases the subsequent disap-
pearance of the disease proved that this was
correct.

But in the modern methods of rearing and
shipping queens all over the country, there
lies a great danger, and, for that reason I
believe that the State inspectors, after making
absolutely sure of the existence of the disease
in a locality, ought to publish the fact in their
report. After the disease is cured, it would
be their duty publicly to mention that fact

also. Can we not hear from some foul-brood
inspectors in regard to this matter? — C. P.
Dadant in American Bee Journal.

PRESS CUTTING.

WHAT NEXT ?

An electric contrivance has been invented
which obviates the necessity of keeping a
watch on bee-hives at swarming time. The
basis of the apparatus is the conversion of the
wing motion of the swarm into power. As
the bees swarm out they cause two small,
easy swinging doors to open outward. A
little metal hammer, which rests upon these
doors when closed, and is connected with a
battery, drops, as the doors swing open, upon
a small metal leaf, and the electrical circuit
thus completed rings a bell in the bee-keeper's
house.— Gassell's Journal, Ma\j 14.

TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED.

David Raitt, Celtic Works, Blairgowrie,
N.B. — Mr. Raitt, in sending out a re-issue of his
capital catalogue, includes nearly every up-to-
date appliance known to bee-keepers, besides
a good many useful things for amateur joiners.
He this year also encloses a neat and well-
illustrated list of pure-bred poultry (kept on
his own runs), and eggs for hatching, along
with' pieces and sizes of poultry-houses, incu-
bators, &c, all of which are priced very
moderately indeed.

Edwd. J. Burtt, 24, Stroud-road, Gloucester.
— This is a neat 32-page list for 1902, and, as
usual, we find Mr. Buttt's special make of
hives retain their old well-earned places. Not
to be behind, however, a few nice tone-block3
are added to the illustrations of former years,
including one of the machine shop with saw-
benches, planers, &c, which accounts for the
importance of Mr. Burtt's trade in boards,
cut and planed to size for bee-keepers' use.
It is altogether a neat and useful list.

\tt $kuis to (&amt

June 10 to 13, at Beading.— Royal Counties
Agricultural Society. Bee and Honey Department
under the management of the Berki B.K.A. Schedules
from D. W. Bishop-Ackermau, Hon. Sec. Berks B.K.A.,
131, Kings-road, Beading. Entries closed.

July 5 to 9, at Carlisle— " Royal " Agricultural
Society's Show. Bee and Honey Section under the
management of the B.B.K.A. Schedules from Edwin
H. Young, Secretary, 12, Hauover-square, W. Entries
closed.

July 17 and 18, at Boston, Lines— Show of
Honey, Hives, and Bee-Appliauees in connection with

210

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 22, 1902.

the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society. Bee Depart-
ment under the management of the Lines. B.K.A.
Thirteen classes, with liberal money prizes and silver
medals. Schedules from R. Godson, Hon. Sec. Lines.
B.K.A., Tothill, Alford, Lines. Entries close
June 18-

July 26. at Buttfield Park, Heisle, East
Yorks.— Honey Show in connection with the.Hessle
and District Horticultural Society. Good prizes for
Honey-Trophy, Sections, and Extracted Honey.
Schedules from Ernest C. S. Stow, Hon. Sec., Thornton
House, Hessle, East Yorks.

August 5. at Leamington.— Ninth annual show
of the Leamington St. Mary's Horticultural Society.
Three open classes for Six ,1-lb. Sections, Six 1-lb. Jars
" Light," and Six 1-lb. Jars " Dark " Extracted Honey,
respectively. Liberal money-prizes. Schedules from
P. W. Smith, Secretary. 22, Leam-street, Leamington.
Entries close July 31.

August 7th, at Kingsthoroe, Northants.
—Honey show of tne Northants B.K.A. in connection
with the Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Three
open classes with special prizes, including one for
single 1-lb. jar of honey. Entry free. Prizes 20s . 103.,
7s. ed., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from B. Hefford, Sunny-
side, Kingsthorpe, Northampton. Entries close
August I.

August 28, at Montgomery, N- "Wales.—
Honey show in connection with Montgomery and Dis-
trict Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Two open
classes for six's, sections, and extracted. Prizes 10s.,
5s., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from W.iU. Jones, Secretary,
Church Bank, Montgomery. Entries close August
21.

September 1 to 6, at Preston.— Annual show of
the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society in connection
with the Festival week of the Guild Merchant (which
recurs only once in every twenty-one years). In honour
of the occasion a largely increased list of money prizes
is offered for honey along with silver and bronze medals
of the B. B.K.A. and also of the Society. Open Classes
for Honey-Trophy, Sections, Extracted Honey, Beeswax,
Instructive Exhibits in Bee-Culture, &c. Schedules
from Edward Bohane, Secretary, Miller-arcade, Pres-
ton. Entries close August 2.

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 interestwill be answered in this column.

C. Reed (Wickford).— Bees Dying Off.— We
have been at some trouble in endeavouring
to find out the cause of bees dying off as
stated, and as there are no apparent signs
of disease in dead bees forwarded, we only
suppose the mortality to be due to wet
getting into the hive from above the frames.
The bees had all the appearance of being
drenched with moisture if not drowned out-
right. We should examine the hive in view
of what is said above and see if we are
right in our conclusions.

F. Matthews (Oambs.). — Joining County
Association. — The hon. secretary of the

Cambs. B.K.A. is Mr. C. N. White, Master,
Union House, St. Neots.

E. K. H. (Brondesbury-park, N.W.).— Help-
ing Bee-keepers — We have forwarded your
letter to " Mot," Willesden Green, as
requested.

F. Evans (Market Drayton). — Willesden
Paper for Hive-Roofs. — A letter addressed
" The Willesden Waterproof Paper Com-
pany, London/' will no doubt reach the
firm in question.

B. J. (Aylesbury). — Brass Wire for Honey-
Strainer. — There is nothing detrimental in
using brass wire -gauze for straining honey.

C. T. E. (Chadlington). — Postage of Press
Copy. — If sent in an unsealed envelope
and marked on outside " Press Copy
Only," MS. for publication will go at book-
rate, viz , 2 oz. for |d. stamp.

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."

B. Morgan (Glam.). — Both samples are badly
affected with foul brood. Since the stock
from whence No. 2 sample was taken is
strong in bees, " has eight frames full of
bees," and you are desirous of trying to
utilise them, we advise you to follow closely
the directions given in " Guide Book "
(which you already possess). We cannot
be responsible for anything said by other
writers on the subject, and it goes without
saying that our own views as regards what
is best are expressed in the book referred to.

G. M. L. (Cardiff). — Comb is affected with foul
brood. We make no charge for wiring
replies beyond 6d. for cost of telegram.

T. Hawkins (Chesterfield). — No disease in
comb sent.

P. L. F. (Leeds), A. R. (Acton), and J. H.
(S. Devon). — All three samples are bad
cases of foul brood of old standing.

W. Hulme (Burton-on-Trent). — Comb con-
tains chilled brood only; no disease at all
in comb forwarded.

B. M. P. (Chelmsford).— The small piece of
old drone-comb sent has no trace of brood
in it, either foul or otherwise. Comb-like
sample should be burnt as utterly useless in
the hive.

M. I. A. (Symington). — Foul brood rapidly
developing in comb sent.

T. S. (Guinear). — A bad case of foul brood.

May 29, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

211

(ftditorml, $$tim, &t

STAFFORDSHIRE B.K.A.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Staffordshire
tee-keepers' Association was held in the
lecture Room at the County Technical Build-
og, Stafford, on Saturday, May 3. Mr.W. G.
3ftgnall presided. The balance-sheet showed
hat the year's deficit was £14, the amount of
he loss on the show at Newcastle-under-
jyme. The chairman said that if all the
aenibers had paid their subscriptions the ac-
ounts would have about balanced. The re-
lort sho wed that there were 169 members on
he books. Mr. A. H. Heath was re-elected
'resident, and Mr. W. G. Bagnall, vice-presi-
ient. The retiring committee were re-ap-
ointed, and Lord Harrowby and Mr. R. P.
Jowper were added to the list of patron?. Mr.
'ock was re-elected expert, and the Rev.
r. 0. Brutou, vicar of Great Haywood, was
lected honorary secretary and treasurer. —
Communicated.)

YEOVIL AND DISTRICT B.K.A.

A meeting was held at Hendford Manor
«oclge on Thursday evening to consider the
dvisability of forming a Bee-keepers' Associa-
on for Yeovil and the neighbourhood. Dr.
garland was voted to the chair, and the
ttendance numbered between twenty and
lirty. The advantages of such an Associa-
,on, which were placed before the meeting,
rere those of buying appliances wholesale
ad supplying them to the members at co3t
rice, the use of an extractor, expert advice,
lembers being able to show their honey and
nd a market for the same, insurance, and being
ble to take combined action in matters which
ifected bee-keepers in general. After some
iscussion it was resolved that an Association,
) be called " The Yeovil and District Bee-
eepers' Association," should be formed, and
ie following officers were chosen : — Joint
ecretaries, Mr. Everton Watts, Mansion
ouse, Yeovil (who was also elected Treasurer),
id Mr. G. W. Perry, 81, Middle-street,
eovil ; Committee, Messrs. V. F. Thring,
. Webb, Trew, Dicks, Hooper, and Cook,
ith power to add to their number. A
amber of Vice-presidents were also appointed,
id the Association will be affiliated to the
ounty Association. The meeting closed
ith a vote of thanks to Mr. J. B. Paynter
ar lending the room, and to the Chairman for
Hding.

The Hon. Secretaries write to say they will
9 glad to hear from bee-keepers in the district
JVered by the Association who are desirous
f joining with whom they are not already in
)uch. The area covered by the new B.K.A.
i that included in the Yeovil Union.

%mt%pUtut

The Editors do not hold themtelve* responsible for the
opinion* expressed by corretpondenti. 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 name* and addreeses, not necetiarily for
publication, but a* a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tion* thould be drawn on teparate piece* of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communication*.

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.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

[4780] Ancient Bee-keeping. — "That great
husbnndm.n, Mr. Carew, of Anthony, Corn-
wa 1," advised hives to be stocked as follows :
The body of a steer one year old was to be
buried for about ten days. " Then take it
forth of the earth and, opening it, lay it under
some hedge or wall where it may be most
subject to the sun, by the heat whereof it
will turn into maggots. After a while, when
they begin to have wings, the whole mass
should be carried to the place where the hives
stand ready, to which, being perfumed with
honey and sweet herbs, the maggots, after
they have received their wings, will resort."
The device is as old as Virgil, who, in his
fourth Georgic, gives us a lengthy description
of the magic change : —

" Till, shooting out with legs and imped with wings,
The grubs proceed to bees with pointed stings."

The price of the " sturk or steer " deters me
from practising the experiment, even though
Mr. Carew advises it after trial, and pur-
veyors of swarms need not fear that their
"occupation is gone." I notice that the
advertised price of swarms is coming down,
possibly to keep in touch with the reduced
price of the product they supply us with. A
few years ago retailers rarely offered them
under 3s. 6d. per lb., now 2s. 6d. is quite a
common price. Purchasers should never
invest in swarms where they are not guaran-
teed to weigh so many pounds of bees. When
are we to get a vendor who will advertise that
an ordered 4 or 5 lb. swarm shall weigh that
number of pounds on it3 arrival, after a
journey of, say, two days 1 He only loses
from 10 to 16 oz. cheap honey. We lose at
present that number of ounces of dear bees.

When to Place on Sections. — White clover
starts blooming with us early in June ; but it
is seldom in good form until after the middle
of the month. Bees have been increasing
steadily for the last two or three months, and
generally a stock in good heart will show all
but the outside combs one mass of brood or
eggs. Often till well on in the month, how-

212

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 29, 1902.

ever — especially at any altitude above sea-
level — the nights are yet chilly ; and any en-
largement of the internal space causes a
vacuum serving no good purpose, as it reduces
temperature just when the young brood
requires a high degree of heat to secure its
successful development. Many err here by
over-haste in putting on supers, and check the
progress of the colony by chilling a proportion
of the young brood lying on the outer edge of
the cluster. Bees at this early date are all
required for foraging, or to keep up the internal
heat, or tend on the larvae. All their energies
being thus employed, it is a fatuous policy to
give them more room when they have as yet
nothing to store. Every ounce of honey yet
obtainable is required for the rising genera-
tion. After a period of settled warm weather,
however, if a peep is taken at the outside
frames, a white rim of fresh comb may be seen
along the upper cells. This is a sure index
that storing has begun, that the bees are
willing to build comb, and that further space
may be given wich some reasonable expectation
that it will be appropriated. Then is the time
to place on the supers, and no time should be
lost in doing so, and thereby guarding against
a new danger, as bees, finding themselves
cramped for room, begin at once to make pre-
parations for swarming, and our aim now is to
check any such thoughts.

" Heroes and Gentlemen." — This is the name
of a new book on the South African ex-
periences of an Army chaplain well-known in
the bee-keeping world, Rev. Robert McClel-
land, the Manse, Inchinnan, Renfrew. He
will be remembered as a frequent contributor
to our pages a few years ago. The book has
many intrinsic merits of its own certain to
push it well to the front even amid the
countless works on the same subject rapidly
being issued from the Press, but the fact of
its being written by an enthusiastic bee-keeper
should secure it a place in the homes of many
readers of the Journal and Record.

Well done, Kent ! — The splendid programme
outlined by Mr. Brice in last Record deserves
the most cordial co-operation of all bee-men in
Kent and the neighbouring counties. Only a
county " full of riches " and with a population,
" liberal, valiant, active, wealthy," could think
of imitating such a scheme ; but, gifted with
so many of the virtues and blessed with so
very many prominent and eminent bee-keepers,
the present wave of enthusiasm now sweeping
over that corner of the island should insure
for it a triumphant success. The commenda-
tory words I have quoted above are from no
mean source, being Shakespeare's ; and their
application seems so pat and the occasion so
appropriate that they will bear being given in
full : —

•' Kent, in the Commentaries Csssar writ,
Is termed the civil'st place of all this isle ;
Sweet is the country, because full of riches ;
The people liberal, valiant, active, wealthy."

D. M. M., Banff.

SOME HAMPSHIRE NOTES.

[4781.] A Simple Home-made Feeder. — The
very unfavourable weather makes it necessary to
keep feeding well to the front, and this being
the case I thought it may be helpful to many
to bring before their notice a very simple
feeder, one which I have used for years and,
with me, approaches perfection. Many will
say, " I wonder I have missed such a simple
thing." Well, the feeder is a Lyle's " Golden
Syrup " tin, to hold 2-lb. Perforate the lid
with about a dozen small holes, as in an
ordinary slow-feeder, and when filled with
syrup place the lid on tight and invert over
feed-hole. It will be seen that the indented
part of lid when inverted gives about the
proper bee-space, so that all is easy, for the
bees have free access to all the holes in the
lid when taking the syrup. There is no drip
beyond a drop or two as the feeder is turned
over the feed-hole, and what little syrup
escapes then is exactly what is required to
give the bees a start in feeding. If the bee-
keeper is assured that every colony in the
apiary is healthy, the simple way to use these
feeders is to have one for every colony in
the apiary and one to spare ; fill the spare
one and commence by removing the empty
and replacing with the full one, and so on
through the lot. If rapid feeding is required use
four or six to one colonv. But feeders should
never be mixed up and changed about where
disease is known to exist among the bees.

Queen Introduction. — The following method
of introducing queens may be worth recording,
but, as a word of warning before attempting it,

1 should explain that the colony must be got
out of what is called " normal condition." For
instance, when bees — either by accident or
anything else — chance to lose their queen, the
loss is soon discovered, and immediately this
happens the bees are seen to be in a state of
great agitation, running up and down the hive-
front and over the alighting-board. Symptoms
like these show that the bees are not in normal
condition, and then would be the most favour-
able time to carry out my plan, but should the
colony have been allowed to start queen-cells,
they would be then as much in a normal con-
dition as though they had a queen. I should, |
therefore, never advise introducing queens
when there are newly-built queen-cells in
the hive. With these few preliminary words
let me say the plan is as follows : — When
desiring to introduce a new strain of queen, or
young one in place of old queen, first remove
the latter and wait until the colony has
reached the stage of agitation mentioned
above. Cage the queen to be introduced in
any common cage of, say, perforated zinc (size

2 in. by 1 in. will do), and place her on the
alighting-board ; in nine cases out of ten she
will be favourably received by the bees at
once ; and they will show it by starting a
joyful hum and by marching round and
over the cage, the number increasing every
moment. Now is the time to release the

May 29, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

213

queen without moving from alighting-board,
and, when at liberty, she will quickly run
into the hive along with the bees without
further trouble.

Management of Surplus-Chambers, — I hope
the time is near when this part of the season's
work will keep us busy, though we are not
much encouraged by the present weather con-
ditions, it beiog now nearing the end of May,
and feeding has had to be kept going to keep
bees alive, while snow, hail, and rain storms
have been almost continuous for a month.
But, as the honey- season is nearly with u?,
we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that we
must talk of supering, and as a great many
are desirous of preventing swarming, a word
as to my plans in this direction may help some.
The management of surplus-chambers is one of
the most important things connected with
bee-keeping. It is closely connected with
non-swarming, and has taken some of us many
years of much practice to carry it through in
anything like proper form. To prove this, one
only has to read the doleful tales of too much
swarming that are so often prominent in our
Bee Journal. Why is it ? The question is
not easy to answer. Suppose we say it is the
bee-keeper's own fault ; but it may be his
misfortune, or shall we term it ignorance or
lack of experience ? Most probably it is the
latter, or, to put it in a milder form, it is want
of knowledge and practical experience in the
craft. In my opinion, the chief fault lies in
the fact that the hives are allowed to almost
boil over with bees before supers are put on.
The experienced bee-keeper readily detects his
most promising colonies in early spring, and
can see pretty clearly which of them are
going to do well, so that he can almost
see the end from the beginning ; there-
fore, as soon as the spring is advanced enough
for one to form a correct idea of which lots
will make a good colony, the super should be
put on, taking care to use plenty of coverings,
of course. My reason for supering early is
that as the bees increase they naturally
take the super to be part of their hive
proper, and when this is the case they have,
as a rule, no thought of swarming until their
home becomes inconveniently crowded. I do
not use excluder zinc ; if I did, I should leave
the super on the hives all the winter, and for
early sections this plan of letting supers
remain cannot be beaten, as I find the bees
begin storing in them as soon a3 surplus honey
is being gathered. They do this instead of
being obliged to place all honey not required
for food in the outaide combs, and this causes
the brood chambers to be left very much to the
queen for egg-la\ing, instead of being blocked
with honey. This plan may be new to many
who may fear trying it on account of the
general idea that colonies must be crowded
before putting on surplus chambers. Others
may also think that leaving supers over the
brood-nest at such times of the year may be
detrimental to the well-being of any stock.

Such an idea is, however, altogether erroneous.
I have practised this plan for years with great
success, and my best colonies at present are
those which have had boxes of shallow-frames
on all the winter. Another point is I have
never had a swarm issue from a hive wintered
in that way, while, although as regards strength
at present, they are in condition to swarm now,
they refuse to do so. Not only is this so, but I
know that such hives will give me the first
" takes." I do not draw conclusions merely
from one or two instances, but as I run an
apiary of fifty colonies (winter count), I have
had ample room to prove the truth of my
assertion that colonies do not suffer through
having an upper story on all the winter, and
also that by this method I can work through
the whole season without a single swarm, or
only let such hives swarm as I choose accord-
ing to the number I require. — Owen Brown-
ing, AshUy, Kingsomborne, Hants.

PATENT HIVES.

[4782.] I would like to ask : Are the words
of your contributor "D. M. M." in Bee Jour-
nal of May 15 to be taken seriously when he
writes respecting a patent hive ? Because, if
so, I wish to call attention to the fact that for
the past two years I have been using a hive
answering all the purposes claimed for that of
Mr. Reid, as described by " D. M. M." in his
" Current Topics " on page 192, with this
difference — the standard frame is used in
the brood-nest and nucleus, and the supers
will take the usual shallow- frame. Comb
and extracted honey can be taken from the
same super ; swarming is controlled ; nuclei
are provided for under same cover ; ventilation
and feeding is simplified ; and the stock can
be packed and sent 100 miles for heather, if
desired, without loss or damage.

My aim has been to design a simple, com-
plete, handy, and efficient hive. I have done
this, and as I have freely received so I freely
give. If, then, it is of sufficient interest to
your readers, I will at a less busy period of the
year give your readers the benefit of my
labours.

Trusting that I may have the pleasure of
shaking hands with " D. M. M." at the
"Royal" Show at Carlisle in July, — J. Gray
(Travelling Expert of the Cheshire and Cum-
berland B.K.A.s), Long Eaton, Derbyshire,
May 20.

A BEE-NOTE FROM OXON.

FEEDING NEEDY STOCKS.

[4783.] Since my last note the weather has
been very variable, but mostly adverse — one
day wet ; next day cold storms, with frost ?t
night. Recently we had 9 deg. of frost at
night, and have had only two good bee-days
for the last three weeks, viz., on the 10 th and
11th. The first swarm of 1902 that I heard
of in our district came off at Sanden-cum-

2H

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 29, 1902.

Churchill, where the bees are in a hollow, so
they have escaped a good lot of the rough
gales we have had lately. Your warning on
page 191 as regards feeding stocks was sound
advice, as several have lost stocks around here
this last week, though it was chiefly their own
fault. I had advised them to feed, but no —
it was too much trouble ; and they say the
bees work well carrying in yellow stuff, as they
call it, on their legs. One gentleman wrote to
me from Little Lew, and he says : " What
weather we have had for the bees. I nearly
lost three or four lots for want of food. I
have been feeding up till last Saturday, when
the weather turned for the better, I hope ; at
any rate, we had a grand bee- day yesterday,
and to-day (Monday) the best are just in their
element amoDg the sycamore, chestnut, and
apple blossoms ; the apple trees are a grand
sight just now. I noticed the bees busy on
the oaks to-day ; also heard of another swarm
coming off yesterday (Sunday) — that is the
first we have had here. The fields are yellow
with the dandelion and buttercups now, and
bee-forage everywhere. I already have one lot
working in the sections ; so, as the old adage
says " All things come to him who waits." —
E. T. Eden, Chadlington, Oxon, May 26.

DONATIONS TO SHOWS.

[4784.] "Will you be so good as to own an
anonymous donation received by me for our
Crystal Palace 1902 Prize Fund of 3s. from
" Sussex Bees '' 1 I have many others, but I
am able to acknowledge all but the above-
named.

One bee-keeper, however, has sent bick my
appeal without either his name or his cheque.
Should this meet his eye, perhaps he will
think to send the cheque later on ! I dislike
beggiDg, especially in this Coronation Year,
when everybody is begging of everybody
else; and as for local appeals for this, that, and
the other, they are legion. Those of our
friends who have not yet sent in their con-
tributions for our K. and S.B.K.A. Crystal
Palace Prize Fund will greatly oblige me by
remitting all they can— the smallest sums will
be acceptable, I am not proud. — E. D. Till,
Eynsford, Kent, May 26.

REGISTERING DESIGNS.

BEES BREEDING IN CANDY-BOXES.

[4785.] Referring to the mention of bees
breeding in candy -boxes in your recent issue
(page 184), I may say this happens every year
in my apiary in at least two or three hives. I
generally crowd to as many frames as the bees
will cover in the autumn, but do not always
find that it happens in the hives so crowded ;
as often as not it is in those with ten frames.
I think it occurs because the candy-box is a
nice warm place right over the cluster.

With regard to your reply to " D. Brown r'
(page 190), he will find at the end of Messrs.

Thompson's hand-book on " Patent Rights " a
short chapter on " Registering Designs," and
from this it appears that " to register such a
thing as a swarm- catcher, or anything in
which a principle is sought to be protected, is
just a waste of money, and confers no protec-
tion, as long as in copying the principle the
appearance is altered, and it is even doubtful
if this is necessary, as it is not legal to register
a prmcipU."

Such an article as Messrs. Jas. Lee & Son's
show " section case '' is a good instance of a
subject for registering, as the design of it is
the essence of the thing, and no principle is
involved. — George M. Saunders, Hon. Sec.
Cumb. B.K.A., Keswick, May 24.

BEES STARVING IN MAY.
[47 86. ] Will you kindly impress upon the
readers of the B.B.J, this week the great
need there is of feeding their bees at once 1
During the past week (while visiting has been
possible) I have found bees to be generally in
a starving condition. Many have already cast
out a large quantity of immature brood, others
have been found with only sufficient vitality
to cling to their combs and quiver their wings.
Some hives with sections already on were
found quite dead of starvation, the owner
being quite astonished, as there was plenty of
bloom around. — W. A. Withycombe, Expert
of the E^sex and Suffolk B.K.A., Southend-
on-Sea, May 20.

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

In Mr. Finch, whose apiary appears on
next page, we have another worthy bee-man
of the artisan class, who, being a joiner by
trade, of course makes his own hives. That
he makes them well goes without saying, but
it needs the assurance of the maker himself in
order to understand that the neat and trim
hives seen are made from "Quaker Oats''
boxes and packing-cases. It bespeaks the true
workman — who is also a bee-keeper — when we
learn that he stops short at the roof-pieces,
when using second-hand stuff, and provides
suitable wood for these.

• B.J. readers, along with ourselves, will sym-
pathise with our friend in his trouble with
" F. B.'' among the bees, and trust that the
plan he has foreshadowed for dealing with the
pest will be as successful as it deserves. At
all events, he has got hold of the right ideas
with regard to treatment, and the time is
seasonable for carrying it out.

For the rest, his " notes,'' written at our
request, speak for themselves : —

"In response to your request for a few
notes to go with picture of my apiary, I fear
there is very little to tell which will interest
your readers, but if a ' plain, unvarnished
tale ' will suffice, I will write it with pleasure.
I started bee-keeping about 1882, being then

May 29, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

215

sixteen years old, and living in Acton, Suffolk.
The vicar of the parish and also the school-
master were bee-keepers, and made the
subject so interesting to me that I soon
became the possessor of a swarm, which did
not live to see the next summer. This first
mischance with the bees was probably due to
my insatiable curiosity leading me to examine
it more or less morning, noon, and night, and
at intervals all through the winter. However,
having sown my wild oats, so to speak, I
settled, down into more practical ways, and
gradually built up an apiary of thirteen stocks.
In 1887 I was obliged to leave the county,
and in consequence had to sell out, and for
three years had no opportunity of riding my
hobby. In 1900 I came to Caterham, and

" I had hoped during this summer to pay off
all the expenses connected with my bee-keeping
incurred from the start that had not already
been cleared off, besides getting a bit of profit
for my trouble ; but owing to an outbreak of
foul brood which has affected most of the
stocks, if I can manage to get them all clean
and healthy at end of the year I shall be satis-
fied. I am feeding the bees with medicated
syrup with a view of getting them into swarm-
ing condition, then, three weeks after swarming,
to destroy all old comb3, quilts, &o, and give
them a fresh start. The disease does not seem
to be of the very virulent type, and the effect
of the medicated syrup has been most marked.
After thirteen years' interval between my first
and second period of bee-keeping, the changes

MR. A. FINCH S APIARY, CATERHAM, SURREY.

bade adieu to life in London, and sought
'fresh fields and pastures new.' It was a
difficult job to get a cottage with garden
suitable for bee-keeping at Caterham, but
eventually I secured the one I now occupy, a
part of the garden containing the bees being
shown in the photo. Starting with three
purchased stocks, I have in the intervening
two years increased to nine. I also secured
190 lb. of honey last year. My wife does the
bottling and selling, and she does it very well,
too ; but I cannot quite get her to ' face the
music 'when it comes to handling the bees,
though, as she has pluckily promised to hive
all the swarms this year, I have great hopes
for her bee-keeping in the future.

and inventions which struck me most were the
' W. B. C ends in place of the cumbersome
lead ones, ' weed foundation,' ' shallow-
frame supers,' and the 'Porter' bee escape, all
of which I consider great improvements. I
am a joiner by trade and make my own hives,
those shown in the photo being made from
" Quaker Oat " boxes and packing cases, with
three good pieces of wood for the roof. I
should like to add that I have profited greatly
by the sound advice and reliable information
given in the Bee Journal and B. K. Record,
and I hope the two papers will continue to
flourish exceedingly. In conclusion, I wish
you and all the craft a good and prosperous
season."

216

THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 29, 1902.

SPREADING BROOD IN SPRING.

Several subscribers to the American Bee
Journal wish me to give an article on
spreading the brood in the beehive in spring,
and what is to be the object to be obtained. To
this I will say that it is a common trait in our
American people — that of desiring to get all
that is possible into the "now" of life — they
are not willing to wait till another year
for what, with a little extra exertion, can be
gotten this year ; and so it comes to pass that
in almost every pursuit in life we see a
reaching forth for the fruits of to-day, and
the bending of every energy and nerve to
accomplish great results during the present
season. And bee-keepers are no exception to
this rule.

The old and natural way was to allow the
queen bee from four or five years in which to
lay her 700,000 to 800,000 eggs Nature had pro-
vided her with, but the Yankee " pusher " says
she must lay all of these eggs in from one to
three years if the thing is possible, and if the
science of apiculture is to demand our atten-
tion. Hence many plans have been devised
to stimulate the bees in spriDg, so that they
in turn would feed and coax the queen to lay
the greatest j possible number of eggs, the said
eggs really meaning the labourers in the
harvest field.

Without going over the many plans de-
vised to accomplish the object sought, I will
simply say that after trying nearly all, I con-
sider the mode of stimulating known as the
" spreading of brood " the best of any, for by
it the queen can be coaxed to lay to a greater
extent than by any other which I have tried.

Before describing the plan, I wish to say
that it requires great care and considerable
experience to be successful with it, for an
injudicious move will often make the colony
worse off than it would have been had it been
let alone.

As soon as we can reasonably expect warm
weather has come to stay, which in this
locality is at about the time the cherry and
plum trees bloom, we go to a colony of bees
and lift out the combs to see the shape the
brood is in. If it proves to be a good colony
we will find brood in five or six combs, the
two central ones being well filled, while the
outside ones have little more than half a
frame full. Finding a colony in this condition
at this time of year, we do what is called
"reversing the brood nest," that is, we put
the two central combs, or those having the
most brood, at the outside, and those having
the least brood iD, in the centre, between the
full ones. Now the six combs of brood
occupy the same place in the hive that they
did before, except that those having the least
are in the centre of the brood nest. This
places the most advanced brood near the out-
side of the cluster of bees and the youngest
in the centre, and allows the queen to lay her
eggs in the warmest part of the nest instead
of the coldest part, as she was doing before.

The bee3 are also averse to an empty comb-
space in the centre of their nest, so see that it
is filled in the shortest time possible, thus
coaxing the queen to fill those empty cells
with eggs in less than one-half the time she
naturally would.

If the weather keeps favourable, in about a
week we go to this hive again and take one of
the combs from the next outside of the hive,
one having considerable honey in it, and after
moving the combs along till we come to the
centre of the brood-nest, we insert this comb,
after having broken the sealing to the cells
containing honey, by passing a knife over
them flatwise. The bees go at once to re-
moving this honey, and in doing so are
stimulated to feed the queen to a greater
amount, and the heat of the colony is in-
creased so that the queen fills the cells with
eggs almost as fast as the bees remove the
honey, through this still greater incited
activity.

In this way we keep on inserting combs till
all in the hive are filled with brood. Should
it so happen, before we secure brood in all the
combs, that the queen does not keep up her
egg-laying in the outside combs as the brood
hatches, this can be remedied by again rever-
sing the brood-nest.

As the season advances, so there is no
danger from chilling, through a greater
number of bees and warmer and more settled
weather, two frames can be inserted in the
centre at a time, every week, if need be.

If all has worked well the hive should be
filled with brood in a little over one-half the
time it would have taken if let alone, so that
double the number of workers will be ready
for the harvest, if we have planned our time
of commencement wisely, than otherwise
would have been.

If the honey harvest comes very early in
your locality you will want to commence to
spread the brood five or six weeks before this
harvest, in order to meet the harvest with the
maximum number of bees. If you have a late
harvest, then govern yourself accordingly ;
but remember that the earlier you commence
the more care is needed.

To show the harm that may arise, let us
suppose that you have a moderate-sized
colony which is carrying all the brood it can
keep warm in moderate weather. We go and
insert a comb in this nest, and by so doing
cause the colony to spread out so as to keep
just so much more comb-space warm. Now
it turns cold, and after a little the bees are
obliged to contract the cluster to keep from
being chilled, in doing which they leave the
two outside combs of well-developed brood to
perish in order to protect themselves and the
centre combs containing eggs and the youngest
brood. Without explaining further, all will
see that much harm, instead of good, would
result. Therefore I said at the outset " care
and experience " are necessary. With these,
great gain can be made by spreading the

May 29, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

217

brood. Without them, the colony is much
better off undisturbed. — G. M. Doolittle in
American Bee Journal.

dfto^a and ItypJi^s.

[2859.] Dead Queen Cast Out.— I. After
reading your words of warning to bee-keepers
on page 191 of Bee Journal for May 15
to overhaul stocks without delay, I to-day
looked through my two hives, and the result
makes me very thankful to you for your advice.
I gave to No. 1 stock the only frame of
sealed honey I had by me (about 4 lb.) ; No. 2
stock had to be content with syrup made as
per " Guide Book.'' No. 1 was the first hive I
overhauled, and whilst manipulating this, I
happened to glance at entrance of No. 2, and
was a bit startled to see a worker-bee trying
its best to haul away the enclosed dead queen.
I therefore lost no time in getting to work on
the hive in order to see about its queen, and
was very pleased to find brood in all stages ;
also when examining the last frame I found
a splendid queen — much larger than the dead
one enclosed — and you may guess how relieved
I was at finding her. I am puzzled to account
for this state of things. I will therefore be
glad to have your opinion as to cause of this 1
I cannot say I saw any fresh queen-cells on
the combs. 2. Please also give probable age
of dead queen, and say if she is fertilised. — J.
Davies, Midsomer Norton, May 20.

Reply. — 1. Having made sure that the
queen of No. 2 was present in the hive, your
next fear should be with regard to the queen
of No. 1, seeing that the probability is that, by
some misadventure in handling the combs of
the last-named hive, the queen may have
taken wing and entered No. 2 in mistake, and
so been promptly killed by the bees of the
latter. We advise immediate inspection of
combs in No. 1 to see if any eggs can be
found or queen-cells are formed. Should
there be eggs the queen will no doubt be all
right. On the other hand, the formation of
queen-cells will reveal the nature of the mis-
hap. 2. The dead queen received is a well-
developed adult queen, and certainly has been
fertilised.

[2860.] Albino Drones. — I herewith en-
close a dead drone for your inspection, and
shall be glad to know if you have ever met
with any similar— i.e., with a white head.
Can you give any reason for its curious con-
dition ? Is it owing to any particular cross '!
I shall be obliged for reply through the
Bee Journal. — J. S. Lawton, Bridgnorth,
May 23.

Reply. — The dead bee sent is an Albino —
or white-eyed — drone. Though not common,
it is by no means rare to see such, and few
bee-keepers of much practical experience have
missed coming across these curious and

abnormal specimens of bee-life. Our experi-
ence is, of course, somewhat exceptional, but
we have seen many dozens of such at various
times. They are mentioned in our Senior
Editor's work on " The Honey Bee : Its
Natural History, Anatomy, and Physiology "
in the chapter on Hermaphrodite Bees, and
also in Cheshire's book, " Bees and Bee-
keeping." When examined microscopically it
is found that the eyes are quite destitute of
pigment, and, in consequence, the Albino
drone is, though not stone-blind, unable to
do more than just distinguish between light
and darkness. Not only the large or com-
pound eyes — which in the drone meet at the
top — but the ocelli or small simple eyes, are
perfectly white, as in your specimen.

[2861.] A Beginners Queries. — I began bee-
keeping last year, and secured about 35 lb. of
honey from one frame -hive, which was con-
sidered good for this district (North Dorset).
I have now several more stocks, one of which
was in a terribly dilapidated hive, but which
was reported as having always been very
profitable. I have transferred the frames of
this stock to a new hive, in which they have
settled down all right, but occasionally I have
found a few almost fully developed brood cast
out, chiefly drones. I therefore ask :— 1. Is
it chilled brood, or does it arise from improper
spacing of the frames in the hive ? They are
very wide combs, nine of them occupying, I
believe, the space for eleven frames. 2. I
have since found some brood cast out from
another hive with frames properly distanced,
but without super on. I enclose some brood
found outside, and ask your opinion on this.
3. I leave the hive-entrances open about 2 in.
at night, and increase the width during the
day if weather fine and entrance crowded.
Should this be done ? 4. Do you recommend
the use of unbleached calico (painted or un-
painted) for placing on tops of frame-bars
and ordinary woollen felt above ? 5. I had
drones flying more than a month ago. Was
this unusual ? The bees are busy carrying in
quantities of pollen. I have had section-racks
on for nearly a fortnight, but they are not yet
taken to by the bees. 6. I presume hives
with floors fixed to brood-chamber should, in
your opinion, be superseded by those having
separate floors. — New Reader, Sherborne,
Dorset, May 21.

Reply. — 1. The "brood'- sent consists of
drones which are almost fully developed.
Their being cast out at this season indicates
scarcity of food. 2. The improper spacing of
frames has no bearing on the casting out of
brood, the cause being the same in both cases.
3. It is sometimes advantageous to reduce
the width of entrances during the prevalence
of such cold winds as have prevailed lately,
but not otherwise. 4. Unbleached calico (un-
painted most decidedly) makes a good first
covering for frames, with woollen quilts above,
as [stated. 5. No. G. No good bee-keeper

218

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 29, 1902.

will tolerate fixed floors to body -boxes for a
moment in his apiary. The remainder of
your queries regarding superseding old queens
and on queen-raising are best answered by
our advising the purchase of a " Guide Book,''
for without such a help to beginneis success is
next to impossible. No one can be taught
bee-keeping in our "Queries and Replies"
columns.

[2862.] Re-queening Hives. — I have read
with great interest your articles on queen-
lessness in our journals, because about the
end of last March I suspected one of my
stocks being queenless, so on April 8 I took a
comb of brood from centre of another hive and
placed it in centre of queenless one. In about
ten days I examined this comb and found that
a queen-cell had been built and was sealed over.
I examined again later, and found the queen-
cell empty, and saw there was still other sealed
worker brood in same comb. I find now that
there is no brood in this hive nor yet any
signs of a queen. Will you therefore kindly
tell me what you think about the present con-
dition of the stock which has lots of bees. 1.
How long after being hatched does a queen
begin to lay eg^s, and what would be the best
course to take ? 2. I also enclose piece of
comb from a skep which has been robbed to
such an extent as to be useless. Will you be
good enough to tell me if it is quite healthy ? —
F. Hall, Nuneaton, May 15.

Reply. — 1. Seeing that a queen had hatched
out from cell found empty, and that the said
queen, if alive, would now be about a month
old, at least, the probability is that she has
left the hive and been lost. Otherwise, she
would have started breeding, for a queen
usually begins laying eggs a couple of days
after being safely mated, and if unmated
drone-brood would appear. 2. The comb sent
is pollen-bound, old, and dirty ; such combs
are only fit for burning.

[2863.] Bees Leaving Hive in May. —
Would you kindly give me a little information
tending to explain the following incident :
On Saturday last my bees came out from the
hive in a body. I thought it was a swarm, as
they clustered in the usual way, but, on
looking into the hive, found the bees had
deserted it completely, leaving young brood
and food behind. I got them back into the
hive, but they left it again shortly after, so I
have now put them into a clean hive, trans-
ferring food and brood into the latter ; but as
they still appeared inclined to leave, have
placed a piece of excluder over entrance to
stop the queen from getting out with the
bees. Was this the right thing to do ? Your
valued help will greatly oblige — One in
Trouble, Finchlcy, iV., May 25.

Reply. — We can only suppose that the
desertion of the hive, as stated, was what is
termed a " hunger swarm," though it hardly
accords with your statement that they left
food and brood behind. It may be that the
internal condition of the hive was in some

way offensive to them, but of this we cannot
judge from a distance, and you give no
explanation to help us. If you had a bee-
keeping friend of any experience near at hand,
he could probably explain the cause of bees
leaving, after inspecting the hive. You had
better take away the excluder zinc without
delay.

[2864.] Dealing with Foul Brood— -1. After
studying Mr. Cowan's " Guide Book,'' a book
which — if I could not get another — I would
not sell for five times its cost, I believe the
enclosed piece of comb contains foul brood.
I should therefore be much obliged if you will
say if I am correct. Also if you advise
destroying combs entirely. 2. Have you an
application form for the B.B.K.A., as I am
desirous of joining 1 Hoping for reply in
your valuable Bee Journal, I enclose card, and
sign myself — Subordinate, Bury St. Ed-
munds, May 23.

Reply. — 1. The comb sent has foul brood of
old standing in two cells only. The larva? in
many of the other cells are affected, but
apparently only quite recently. Seeing, then,
that the combs have in them foul brood in
the spore stage, we advise total destruction,
as you cannot hope to keep the stock free
from the disease with such combs for breeding
in. 2. Applications for membership forms of
the B.BK.A. can only be had from the
secretary, Mr. Edwin H. Young, 12, Hanover-
square, London.

[2865.] Starving Bees in May. — Noticing
to-day that one of my hives seemed deserted,
my husband and I examined and found the
bees all dead but a mere handful. The frames
were choked half way up with dead bees, and
floorboard heaped up on taking frames away.
There seems nothing the matter with frames
except total lack of food. I saw plenty of
healthy brood patches. I did not think of
cutting out foundation or sending to you
then, but now feel I should like to be sure
whether starvation, or cold, or disease is
the cause of the poor bees' death. On
April 20 last this stock of bees was
supered, the expert considering it ready
and very strong on his viait shortly before.
I may say he complimented me on the
clean, warm, and well-cared-for condition of
my hives, so I am the more disappointed at
the probability of this misfortune being due
to neglect. The very bad weather set in
directly the bees were supered, and perhaps I
should have taken off supers and. continued
feeding a little longer. Illness in the house
has prevented the usual careful watching that
the bees generally get, for we spend a con-
siderable amount of time observing our in-
dustrious family. I have put a little syrup in
a feeder above the small surviving cluster.
Do you think that worth while, or would it be
better to take away the hive and frames at
once, cleaning and disinfecting ? I hope the
bees are not too decomposed for examination,
and should appreciate an opinion on the

May 29, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

219

disaster. All the other stocks are strong. —
Nelly Morris, Upminster, Essex, May 25.

Reply. — There seems to be no doubt that
the bees have succumbed to famine and died
entirely for want of food. Reference to several
reports in this issue go to confirm the urgent
need for watchfulness in a time of such
adverse weather as has been thus experienced
during the whole of May ; and with abundance
of bee-forage in full flower everywhere around,
one can hardly be surprised when inex-
perienced bee-keepers fail to note how great
is the consumption of food in brood-rearing at
this season. It is quite certain that thousands
of stocks have perished while in what may be
truly called the full tide of prosperity, for
want of a quart of syrup costing only a few
coppers.

Terrington St. Clement, Lynn, Norfolk,
May 21. — Echoes from the hives, indeed !
I have just walked past mine at midday ; not
a bee flying, the wind keen, bitterly cold, not
a bee-note heard at any hive entrance, yet the
apples in full bloom, the wallflower, cabbage,
and turnip-seed plants producing abundance
of pollen, but so far as bees are concerned,
there is practically no activity at all. They
were remarkably busy during April, whenever
the sun shone, and while the hyacinth? were
in bloom, but I fear stores are now short, and
the brood-nests small. To make sure I have
been feeding my own bees for the past month,
but feeding alone will not maintain the normal
temperature of the hive when we are having
sharp frosts every night, a cold " north-easter "
blowing a perfect hurricane at times, and the
ground sprinkled with snow and hailstones !
At present it appears that the editorial advice,
so often given to beginners, not to rely entirely
upon the profits of bee-keeping for a living, is
about to be severely enforced this year. I am
already needing honey. I have only two
dozen sample jars left of my last year's 5§ cwt.,
the greater part being disposed of retail.

Yeovil, Somerset, May 22. — The weather
here has been anything but bee-weather,
barring a few spasmodic attempts to be fine.
Consequently work in hives was practically at
a standstill. Forage, especially apple blossom,
very plentiful, but is being wasted day after
day. Notwithstanding all this, I saw a
swarm a day or two ago, and have heard of
two others. I wrote you on March 1 last re
two hives having drones. I find in one of
these hives I have a drone-breeding queen in
her second year. The other hive is my
strongest stock, being now crammed with
bees. Would a young queen bo likely to get
fertilised if there were no drone3 in one's own
apiary, provided there are others in a range of,
say, a quarter of a mile ? [Yes. — Eds.] —
Geo. Wm. Perry.

P.S. — As I write I am in receipt of a

message to say that the hive spoken of above
as being very strong has thrown off a magnifi-
cent swarm, extending nearly a yard down the
trunk of an apple tree. Let us hope that this
is the beginning of better things.

get $h<rws to Otoe.

June 10 to 13, at Reading.— R.oyal Counties
Agricultural Society. Bee and Honey Department
under the management of the Berks B.K.A. Schedules
from D. W. Bishop-Ackerman, Hon. Sec. Berks B.K.A.,
131, King's-road, Reading. Entries closed.

July 5 to 9, at Carlisle.— "Royal" Agricultural
Society's Show. Bee and Honey Section under the
management of the B. B.K.A. Schedules from Edwin
H. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-square, W. Entries
closed.

July 17 and 18» at Boston, Lines.— Show of
Honey, Hives, and Bee-Appliances in connection with
the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society. Bee Depart-
ment under the management of the Lines. B.K.A.
Thirteen classes, with liberal money prizes and silver
medals. Schedules from R. Godson, Hon. Sec. Lines.
B.K.A., Tothill, Alford, Lines. Entries close
June 18-

July 26, at Buttfield Park, Hessle, East
Yorks.— Honey Show in connection with the Hessle
and District Horticultural Society. Good prizes for
Honey-Trophy, Sections, and Extracted Honey.
Schedules from Ernest C. S. Stow, Hon. Sec, Thornton
House, Hessle, East Yorks.

August 5, at Leamington.— Ninth annual show
of the Leamington St. Mary's Horticultural Society.
Three open classes for Six 1-lb. Sections, Six 1-lb. Jars
" Light," and Six 1-lb. Jars " Dark" Extracted Honey,
respectively. Liberal money-prizes. Schedules from
P. W. Smith, Secretary, 22, Leam-street, Leamington.
Entries close July 31.

August 7, at Kingsthorpe, Northants.
— Honey show of tne Northants B.K.A. in connection
with the Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Three
open classes with special prizes, including one for
single 1-lb. jar of honey. (Entry free.) Prizes 20s., 10s.,
7s. ed., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from R. Hefford, Sunny-
side, Kingsthorpe, Northampton. Entries close
August I.

August 28, at Montgomery, KT. Wales.—
Honey show in connection with Montgomery and Dis-
trict Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Two open
classes for six's, sections, and extracted. Prizes 10s.,
5s., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from W. U.Jones, Secretary,
Church Bank, Montgomery. Entries close August
21-

August 28, at Llangollen.— In connection with
the annual Flower Show. Open classes for Six 1-lb.
Sections, Six 1-lb. Bottles Extracted, and Beeswax.
Schedules from Frank Little, Llangollen. Entries
close August 14.

Seotember 1 to 6, at Preston.— Annual show of
the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society in connection
with the Festival week of the Guild Merchant (which
recurs only once in every twenty-one years). In honour
of the occasion a largely increased list of money prizes
is offered for honey along with silver and bronze medals
of the B.B.K.A. and also of the Society. Open Classes
for Honey-Trophy, Sections, Extracted Honey, Beeswax,
Instructive Exhibits in Bee-Culture. &c. Schedules
from Edward Bohane, Secretary, Miller-arcade, Pres-
ton. Entries close August 2.

September 6 to 13, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (10th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Numerous classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees
wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace. — Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition
of Bees, Honey, and Appliances. Specially increased
prizes and medals for Coronation year. Further par-
ticulars shortly. Schedules from Hon. Secretary,
Henry W. Brice, 100, Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath.

September 20 to 27, at the Agricultural
Hall, London— Honey Show in connection with the
sixth Annual Exhibition and Market of the Grocery
and Kindred Trades. Numerous classes for comb and
extracted honey and beeswax. Open to all British
Bee-keepers.

220

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[May 29, 1902.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All queriesf or warded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interestwill be answered in thie column.

W. J. Smith (Tottenham). — Pollen- clogged
Combs. — There is no known or easy method
of cleaning pollen-clogged combs to render
them fit for use. We have heard of the
possibility of washing out the pollen by
leaving them under a water-tap kept running
on them for some hours, but personally we
should not think the game worth the candle
so far as regards trying this plan. If the
combs are old, in addition to being pollen-
clogged, as stated, we should burn them out
of sight as not even worth melting down for
wax.
Wargrave (Romford). — Moving Bees Twenty
Yards in May. — The distance named is an
awkward one at this season. It is rather
too far to move the hive " a yard or so at a
time," as is usually recommended, yet not far
enough to render temporary removal for a
couple of miles an imperative necessity in
order to avoid loss of bees. As a middle
course we advise moving about three or
four yards at each move, and using an
empty hive as a" decoy ' to lure the bees
for half the distance between the old and
new position as each " move '' is carried out.
And only operate on warm days when the
bees are flying freely.
H. K. (Selly Park). — Pi-eventing Swarming.
- — We should be very pleased to advise
with regard to prevention of swarming, but
when you tell us your hive contains " a
great deal of healthy brood," and then say,
" I found six or eight young queens, but
only about a dozen drone-cells with brood
and no drones flying," we are rather at a loss
how to reply. If by "young queens" you
mean queen-cells, it will stop the issue of a
swarm for a time if all these cells are cut
out ; but you must keep on doing this if the
bees are bent on swarming.
C. E. Etchells (Nettleton).— Wax-Moth.— -
The grub sent is a larva of the true wax-
moth (Galleria cereana). The only remedy
for this bee-pest is watchfulness and
destroying the larvae whenever found.

Suspected Combs.

H. S. L. (Ilford, Essex). — Comb sent, judging
by the cappings, is a characteristic specimen
of a bad case of foul brood, but every
trace of the dead larvas has dried up
and disappeared we know not how long ago.
It is, therefore, a mistake on your part to
say, " I have never had foul brood since I
started bee-keeping about eight years ago,"
seeing that the hive your sample was taken
from must have been affected for a long time
past. Your best course is to enlist the help
of the county expert, who will, no doubt,
help you.

Cui Bono (Abingdon). — Comb contains
" chilled brood " only.

J. 0. (Thanet). — There are slight signs of
incipient foul brood in comb which contains
almost wholly " chilled drone-brood." Why
send whole comb in a box measuring 17 in.
by 18 in. when a couple of inches in a tin
box and a penny stamp will suffice ?

M. W. (Liphook) and R. E. (Llanbedr).— Bad
cases of foul brood.

M. P. (Devon). — No disease in comb sent.
The contents of one cell certainly had a sus-
picious look, and only microscopic examina-
tion could decide the point. We are there-
fore glad the expert drew attention to the
matter, instead of passing it over as some
might have done.

F. W. P. (Plymouth).— Regarding the six
samples of comb sent, Nos. 1 and 4 contain
"chilled brood only," 2, 3, and 5 no brood
at all, and 6 is drone-comb that has never
had brood in it.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve wordt and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

STRONG Natural SWARMS, 1901 Queen, 12s. 6d. ;
second ditto, 1902 Queen, 8s. 6d. Guaranteed
healthy. W. Woods, Normandy, Guildford. m 85

WILL EXCHANGE PURE WELSH TERRIER BITCH
for BEES, Orpington or Andalusian FOWLS.
Rowlands, Maes Pwllheli. m 93

SIX STRONG STOCKS BEES, in new Frame Hives.
Warranted free from foul brood. No reasonable
offer refused. Mrs. PASSINGHAM, Beaumont, Chelten-
ham. M S4

ENGLISH EXTRACTED HONEY, guaranteed pure,
40s. per cwt. ; delivered on rail at Manea Station,
carriage forward. Empties returnable. F. Pepper,
Victoria-street, Chatteris, March. M S"

ORDERS for June SWARMS. Executed in rotation.
4 lbs. 12s 6d., 5 lbs. 15s., 6 lbs. 18s. Guaranteed
healthy and safe arrival. Whiting, Valley Apiaries,
Hundon Clare, Suffolk. 31 92

A FEW guaranteed HEALTHY STOCKS BEES in
Sleeps, ' 10s. Gd. each, packed ; 2 young fertile
Laying Queens, 4s. 6d. each. SPEARMAN, Oolesbouine,
Cheltenham. M 89

TWO good HIVES FOR SALE; contain nine
standard frames and zinc roofs, 5s. each. Also Two
new SKEPS, four second-hand ones; what offers'?
North, Hungary Hall, Faulkbourne, Witham, Essex.
M 88

WASTED BEES or APPLIANCES. EXCHANGE
Dragon Pigeons, winners of medals and many
prizes ; 8 pairs for disposal ; giving up fancy. Par-
ticulars, or sent on approval with pleasure. FAIRALL,
27, Newbridge-street, Wolverhampton. M 91
LACK ORPINGTON COCKEREL second prize
winner, 17 in class, exchange Bees, modern hives,
or appliances, sell 25s. Eggs off winners, 3s. 6d. duck
eggs, Aylesbury Pekin, 2s. Gd. Thomas Thorpe, Lea,
Matlock, Bath. M 94

SWARM CATCHER; Meadow's Guinea Extractor,
(cog-gearing) ; Wax Extractor ; large Ripener with
lift ; quantity slotted Separators ; all as new. What
offers in cash or exchange ? Chaundy, 25, High-street,
Margate. M 95

EXTRACTOR (Honey) FOR SALE, cheap. Excellent
condition ; cost 15s. ; Smoker, Is. 6d. Also fine
hardened Plants, French Marigolds, Canterbury Bells,
mixed Sweet Williams, Pyrethrum, 4d. doz. ; Phlox
Drummondi, Ageratum, Lobelia, 5d. ; Single Petunias,
7d. H. Moore, Sherborne, Dorset. _M 86

SWARMS FOR SALEr(i90rQueens). A. HOUNSOM,
The Apiary, Bbsham, Chichester, Sussex. M 68
EES.— Stronghealthy natural SWARMS fromskeps.
12s. 6d. Cadman, Codsall Wood, Wolverhampton,

M 74

June 5, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

221

(BfttaM, $atxm, kt

THE NEED FOR ASSOCIATED
EFFORT.

" A CASE IN POINT."

There has from time to time been a con-
siderable amount of what may be called
" expressions of opinion " regarding the value,
or otherwise, of bee-keepers' associations to
bee-keepers themselves.

As is well known, there are in various
counties throughout the Kingdom a number
of associated societies, the members of which
are bee-keepers whose object is to work
unitedly for the common good of the craft.
But it is less well known — save to the hard-
worked secretaries — how much of difficulty
there is at times, in collecting the small
annual subscriptions that have so important a
bearing on success or failure — as the case may
be — in promoting the objects for which these
associations are established.

It is no less regrettable than true that
there ako exists a class of bee-keepers whose
view of associated effort is bounded by the
limits of their own apiaries, or by what affects
their own actual profit from the season's bee-
work. To talk to them of labouring for the
greatest good of the greatest number is so
much time wasted. It is more after their
manner, when applied to for an overdue sub-
scription, to reply by the oft-recurring question,
" What do I get for my money ? ' You don't
sell my honey for me." Well, there is no need
to go over well-trodden ground in trying to
show such men how utterly one-sided and
selfish is the view that unless one " sees his
own back and a bit over" he gets no advan-
tage from membership. Surely the benefit to
the industry, as a whole, which is bound to
come from well-directed effort on the part of
bee-keepers' associations' should be acknow-
ledged by any fair-minded man. Rut to bring
the matter home, let us say a notable " case in
point " has just come to our knowledge which
can hardly fail to prove an incontrovertible
argument in our favour, unless those we have
in view are determined not to be convinced.

We refer to a letter received a few days
ago from a bee-keeper in Wales, whose case is
not only distressing, but instructive to a degree
in pointing the moral we desire to enforce.
He writes as follows : — " Will you kindly in-
form me what is the matter with the comb
sent ? I rather suspect it is affected with foul
brood, and so I ask, What is the best method
of dealing with it at this time of the year 1 I
have eighty hives, most of them more or less
affected in the same way. I will gladly pay
for your advice on the matter, which 1 should
like to have as soon as time admits. I enclose
stamps for reply by telegraph in the mean-
time.''

Beyond name and address (which are for

obvious reasons omitted), the above is all we
know of the writer or his bees. The eighty
hives may be all skeps or all frame-hives, and
the writer may be a farmer or follow another
occupation ; we do not even know how long
he has kept bees, or if a reader of the Bee
Journal. We do, however, know that our
badly -stricken bee-friend knows nothing
whatever about foul brood, for the sample of
comb sent was absolutely rotten with disease
— almost every cell reeking with it. Conse-
quently, there are at present some four score
of hives (for we cannot suppose the exceptions
will be other than few in such a hot-bed of
disease) standing in one spot — enough to con-
taminate the whole of Wales in a season or
two, and there is, unfortunately, no associa-
tion of which we have any knowledge in the
county.

Of course, we did not intend our friend to go
unassisted, so we at once wired reply, " Very
bad case of foul brood ; letter follows." In our
letter we recommended that no attempt
whatever be made at dealing with the hives
himself or through correspondence with any
one ; the only safe course being either to
engage a competent expert to inspect the
hives and advise further after doing so, or
else to burn the lot !

Now, if the above simple statement of fact
does not form a case in point strong enough to
prove the need for a county B.K.A., and for
the associated effort which is so desirable, we
should like to know what will ? And if these
lines have any effect in stirring up fresh
energy on the part of associations, and of
infusing a sense of more generous and public-
spirited views from those whose failure to help
is so depressing to men who spare neither time
nor money in working for the good of the
industry at large, we shall be more than repaid
for inviting the attention of readers to the
usefulness of the B.B.K.A. and its affiliated
county associations.

%mxt%pUmt

The Editor* do not hold themselves responsible for the
opiniont expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communication*, and correspondents
are requested to write on one tide of the paper only and
give their real namet and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but ai a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate 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 appear*.

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[4787.] The month of roses, leafy, sunny
June, is with us again. We have rapidly
passed from wintry weather to the humid
warmth of summer. A fortnight ago ice
might be shovelled up into heaps, to-day I am

222

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June 5, 1902.

— like the patriarch of old — at " the door of
my tent " (my manipulating-house at the out-
apiary) under a natural verandah of may-
blossom. I pen these " Notes '' within sound
of the merry hum of the bees working with
all their might in making up for lost time in
the so-called " merrie month of May;'' We
have now a fair breadth of forage, trefoil in
full bloom, trifolium just starting to flower,
sainfoin in bud, along with a sprinkling of
white clover. In the woods and parks sycamore
and chestnut, holly, and other trees, all promise
goodly forage for the ingathering.

Swarming is late this year, but a few lots
came off from straw-skeps in the valley of Pang
between Saturday and Monday last. Vegeta-
tion has made rapid strides during the late
few warm, rainy days. To-day the barometer
is rising slowly, this giving good hopes of a
spell of fine weather in which our bees will
assert themselves in swarming and work and
engage our whole attention.

The Insurance Scheme. — The Bee Journal
is silent, so far, as to the way this matter is
being taken up, and I trust I shall not be
considered a carping critic in giving my
opinion on " the scheme." 1. I trust many
more than 5,000 hives will be insured, other-
wise the 5,000 Id. (not quite ,£21) will be a
poor start for any insurance company to deal
with. 2. My view of the matter is that these
insignificant amounts of Gd. are not worth the
trouble of booking and issuing policies for, even
if the clerical work is given gratis. 3. There is no
relative proportion in the premiums and the
sum insured. A three-stock to six-stock
apiary pays the ridiculous sum of 6d.,' and is
for this infinitesimal sum entitled to £30.
The twelve-stock apiary pays Is., the sixty-
stock 5s., and the bee-farmer with his 120
stocks 10s., yet the apiarist who pays twenty
times the amount of the former only receives
up to £30 in case of accidental loss through
stinging. Is it a benefit insurance scheme
without the graduated scale ? 4. My idea is
that bee-keepers would gladly pay a premium
of 2s. 6d. to insure for a certain sum, say, up
to £25, and for 5s, up to £50, this to be the
limit for any one apiary, and where a bee-
keeper owns more than one apiary, he would, to
be entitled to any compensation, insure each
apiary, and the location of each apiary insured
should be described on the policy. If the in-
surance company would undertake the risks
on this 10s. per centum scale, the matter
would appear to me much more simple. Pos-
sibly the risks may be so assessed by the
insurance company that they would be pre-
pared to augment the amounts mentioned
above. I know thatched buildings, cottages,
&c, are insured against fire at 5s. per £100,
and probably the risks of stinging bees would
not be considered greater than fire in thatched
cottages, as the cottages are open to twelve
months' risk each year ; whereas the stinging
of bees would not extend to more than three
months in each year, except in cases of run-

away hives or straying cattle getting into the
apiary and overturning the hives.

Quilts. — A bee-keeper writes : Tell me what
you use for first quilts 1 I reply, hempen stair-
carpet, 16 in. to 17 in. wide, at 2|d. per
yard.

Selling Swarms. — May I be allowed to say
a word or two on the " comment" of our friend
"D. M. M." (on page 211) with regard to
price and weight of swarms. I expect the
downward price of swarms are in a great
measure caused by the difficulty many have
in disposing of their crop of honey ; hence
their desire to have another string to their
bow, and by selling their surplus-swarms they
increase their profits in bee-keeping. As to
the price being lower than formerly, it, no
doubt, arises from competition, or, perhaps,
by the excess of supply over demand.
Those newly embarking on sales of swarms,
offering at a lower price to secure sales
or as an incentive to establish a name
by " cutting prices," as the trade-term is.
Mr. "D. M. M.'s" advice to demand
full 16 oz. to the pound on delivery after a
two or three hundred mile journey, sounds
rather like further "cutting '' somewhere. Those
ounces of so-called " cheap honey " are the
very essence of life to the travelling swarm,
for if not well provisioned on dispatch, in what
condition would the swarm arrive ? Dead I
have no doubt, or if not dead, so weakened in
condition that days might elapse before they
would be in condition to work with a vim as a
swarm should. No, my friend, the " cheap
honey " is a sine qua non to a good swarm,
and a 4 lb. swarm which would turn the
scale at 64 oz. on arrival must weigh 4| lb. to
4| lb. On dispatch. Now I ask, does any other
vendor give overweight? If a buyer lives
over the way he brings his hive, sees the
weight, pays, and is satisfied, and the 12 oz.
of cheap honey is converted into comb. But
the purchaser at a distance must expect swarms
to lose somewhat in transit ; that is his misfor-
tune in not living near the market, especially
as the vendor has to lose the swarm if suffo-
cated by careless railway management. — W.
Woodley, Beedon, Newbury.

NORTH YORKSHIRE NOTES.

" HOME-MADE FEEDERS."

[4788.] I can endorse every word Mr.
Browning says on page 212 (4,781) with re-
gard to home-made feeders such as he des-
cribes. I have myself used them for ten years,
but made slightly different. I have, however,
never set them directly on the top of frames,
but use a simple feeding-stage, viz., a i in. or
| in. piece of board, 6^ in. square, with a 3 in.
hole cut in centre. Three wire nails are driven
in triangle-shape, just so that the syrup tin
would go in and out easily. This holds the
tins in their places. I have never tried them
for rapid feeding, as I always use the
" Canadian " for that purpose.

June 5, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

223

" Loss of Queens During Winter? — As so
many bee-keepers suffer loss of stocks through
the death of queens in winter and early
spring — before the bees can possibly provide
themselves with a successor — it is advisable
to make arrangements beforehand! to meet
such cases. This can be done by every bee-
keeper at a very small expense. To do this
provide yourself with a few small hives
holding six or seven frames. These can be
made from old boxes obtainable from any
grocer at a cost of about 3d. each ; if you
cannot get them the right size knock them
to pieces carefully (and take care of the
nails). Make up your small hives to
take exactly the same size of frame
as those you use in all your hives. The
present time, just as the season is opening, is
the best to prepare for the issue of any small
" cast " you may chance to get during the
summer, and put into those small hives, giving
them a frame or two of honey. Or if any
hives swarm and you do not require any
increase, make up a couple of nuclei, and
return the swarm after cutting out all queen
cells you do not require, and fill up the parent
hive with full sheets of foundation. If at all
possible set those young queens away in some
quiet corner of the apiary, and give a look
occasionally to see they all get safely mated.
Then at the end of the season use such of them
as you need to replace old queens with, and
leave as many as you estimate will be
required to meet cases of queens dying the
following winter, and as many more as you
require for queen-rearing during the summer.
This can only be ascertained by the size of
your apiary. I reserve one for every six
colonies, and this meets all my requirements.

My plan in re-queening with those small
lots is to take four or five frames out of the
hive to be re-queened ; then remove the old
queen. Put the remaining frames to one side
of the hive. Put in a "Wells" perforated
division-board close to the combs, and if there
is. any chance of bees getting past the board
other than at the entrance, pack with rag of
paper, so that in order to get from one side to
the other of the division-board all bees must
do this on the alighting board. Let the
queenless hive stand for twenty-four hours,
then lift the whole of the nucleus colony into
the empty part of the hive, and take the small
hive — from which they have been removed —
indoors. In twenty-four hours afterwards pull
out the packing put in at the entrance, and the
division-board may be removed on any con-
venient day afterwards, and all will go on
well. I have never had or seen any failure
by this means yet, and even if you forget for
a week no harm will be done.

The Outlook. — The weather in this part up
to the present has been so cold and wet that
the present prospect is very poor. Indeed, it
is very doubtful a large percentage of stocks
will be lost in this neighbourhood for want of
attention. I hear of one poor man losing

eleven stocks out of sixteen. Others have
told me they have had a swarm, but, unfor-
tunately, when the swarm issued, they left
nothing behind them but empty comb. Bees
should be attended to at once in this part,
or some grand stocks will perish through
hunger. A few pounds of syrup will well
repay you later on. Now is the time to keep
your stocks in good heart. This, to a very
great extent, means success or failure when
the honey-flow arrives. — J. Rymer, Levisham,
Yorks, May 31.

PATENT HIVES.
[4789.] Referring to the letter of Mr. J.
Gray (4782, page 213) on "Patent Hives,'' as
one of the amateur hive-makers, I shall look
out for the particulars therein promised with
a great deal of interest. Your issue of May 29
is to me an exceedingly interesting one. —
W. C. H., South Devon, June 2.

BEES ON THE "HUM."

[4790.] Along with receipt of the joyful
news of the cessation of hostilities in South
Africa, which reached us this morning, I can
report a record " hum " from my five hives of
to-day. We ceased work at our manufactory
mid-day to follow suit of the larger and more
important industries around us in order to
celebrate the nation's gladness. I made up my
mind for a few hours to go down home and
" hum it '' with my bees. Indeed, it seemed as if
they, too, were joining in the revels of the
Nation's gladness. The first real fine day for
some weeks. They seem bent on making up, if
possible, for lost time. I have been jealously
watching them for some weeks, seeing that
they did not want for food, thanks to the few
" standard " combs of honey I had carefully
preserved from last season. I work one super
(on the strongest hive) of standard frames
solely for feeding, and keep seven or eight of
them carefully wrapped up until required. I
have been constantly watching each hive on
occasional fine days during April and May ;
watched the gradual growth of the brood
nests ; systematically stimulated them, drop-
ping in a comb of food, as required, after
bruising the cappings ; kept plenty of quilts
on, and gradually enlarging the brood nests
until the full complement of frames were in ;
and I am glad to say that each one is in the
pink of condition, and already hard at work
in the shallow-frame supers I put on a week
ago. I have, of course, stopped all feeding,
seeing that they are now filling the supers
fast. All the hives seem about equal in con-
dition, and all very strong. Woe betide those
beemen who have not fed their little friends
during the very trying past two months. It
is their own faults if they have lost any of
their bees. I had an attempt at robbing
whilst feeding a few weeks back, but soon
' quelled it with smearing carbolic acid on the

224

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June 5, 1902.

alighting board. I have not had a single swarm
since I started bee-keeping. "Giving room
a little in advance of their requirements " is
the great factor with mine. — W. H. Buck,
Dawley, Salop, June 2.

INSECTS AND FLOWERS.

[4791.] In a recent brochure by Professor
F. Plateau, Gand, Belgium, on "Mistakes
Made by Different Hymenopterous Insects in
Visiting Various Flowers," he expresses his
opinion that the vision of these insects is not
very clear. He says they pass from flower to
flower, often returning to flowers which they
have already worked, even trying flowers
already partially or completely faded, lastly
they will attempt to work buds whose very
shape should have warned them off had they
been able clearly to discern it.

Dr. Christian Schroder, on the other hand,
objects to this view, and maintains that the
young bee makes no mistakes.

The only way to make sure on the question
is to repeat the observations carefully, and
Professor Plateau resolved to give a few
minutes every day during the month of
August of last year, sometimes in his own
garden, sometimes in the old botanic gardens
some distance from his home.

The results, in short, were : —

Nos. observed. Errors.

Apis mellifica 46 87

Bombus hortorum 39 60

„ mascorum 14 31

„ lapidarius 2 2

Megachile centunicularis 1 1

„ ericetorum ... 1 1

Odynerus quadratus 4 4

Other insects also make mistakes. The
Macroglossa stellatarum was plainly seen, in
visiting the Ohlos paniculata, to plunge her
trunk in flowers she had already worked a few
seconds before, and also to try blossoms which
were manifestly faded.

This is only a very short notice of this
paper referred to above, but suffices to explain
the chief results arrived at, especially as con-
cerns the honey bee. Many other hymenoptera
are considered, but the mention of these in
detail would be out of place in the British
Bee Journal. — R. Hamlyn-Harris, Zoo-
logical Institute, Tubingen University, Ger-
many, May, 1902.

A GOOD REPORT.

[4792.] After the melancholy accounts of
starved and starving bees in your issue of
May 29, which reports I know, from personal
observation during Whit-week, to be under
rather than over drawn, I am happy to send
you a report of a more cheery nature, for I
know of the present excellent condition of
swarms of 1902, of completed racks of sections,
and of others well on in the neighbourhood of

London. No sooner did old Sol show his
cheery face on the morning of Saturday,
May 24, than out came two excellent swarms
at the apiary of Miss W. Curtis, Kingsclere,
Nightingale-lane, Balham, one of which was
placed on ten fully drawn-out frames of comb
which the bees already fully cover, and sections
have been transferred from the old hive. I
have this morning visited an apiary at Putney
Hill and at Roehampton, and found a rack of
sections all but completed, the greater part of
which were fully sealed over. At another
apiary at Wimbledon Park sections are well
on the way, so that in this part of Surrey, at
least, we are well out of the wood. — W. S.
(3rd Class Expert), Wimbledon, S. W., June 2.

EXPERTS' CERTIFICATES.

CANDIDATES AND EXAMINATIONS.

A correspondent who is commendably
anxious to secure the 3rd class expert's
certificate of the B.B.K.A under the nom de
plume of "Light * Liner," writes as follows: — >

"lama bee-keeper, with as much love for
the natural, in addition to the financial, part of
the business as any one could have, and I
am eager to acquire a 3rd class expert's
certificate. Those in this neighbourhood
whose bees ' I look after strongly advise me
to go in for it, saying they are sure that with
my knowledge of and interest in the subject I
should succeed ; but I am not so confident,
although extremely anxious to get the certifi-
cate, and intend to try. Therefore, I am
writing to ask if you could give me a brief
outline of what one is required to do ; and
whether it is necessary to have a practical
knowledge of foul brood ? The latter is really
the thing I am afraid of. I know full well in
theory what it is and how to deal with it, but
in my several yeara of bee-keeping I have not
yet met with any of it — thus I lack the
practical part. In the other parts I think I
am fairly well up, but, of course, if I go in for
it I should not remain idle in the meantime,
but should endeavour to improve."

In view of the fact that each examiner
appointed to conduct these examinations for
the B.B.K.A. pledges himself to entire secrecy
as to the instructions under which he acts, it
will not be expected that we can afford much
information on the point on which our corre-
spondent requires help. We may say, how-
ever, without any breach of the proper reserve
necessary, that the examination is divided into
four heads — viz., (a) driving bees ; (b) mani-
pulating a frame-hive stocked with bees ;

(c) oral or vive voce examination in regard to
the candidate's general knowledge of practical
bee work and the use of appliances ; and

(d) foul brood. The last-named is an im-
portant item, and, though not a sine qua non
that the candidate should have practical
knowledge of the disease, it is very desirable.
We therefore advise candidates to see diseased
combs if possible.

June 5, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

225

GLEA.NINGS FROM FOREIGN BEE
JOURNALS.

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

Leipziger Bienen Zeitung (Germany).— A
bee-keeper from Gira-Reuss writes that the
Redstart cannot be reckoned among the
enemies of the bee.

For five successive years a pair of these birds
nested in the middle of an apiary of thirty
hives (a closed building). The nest was about
27 in. above the entrance-holes of the hives.
Their flight to and fro was so rapid, one could
scarcely follow it with the eye— probably to
avoid being molested by the bees. There was
good opportunity for watching the birds, and
they were never seen to take a bee on the
flight or in any way whatever. On the con-
trary, they were the greatest benefactors, for
they kept a large plantation of gooseberries
free from the injurious gooseberry caterpillar.
They rear three broods in the year, and,
reckoning only twelve young ones from each
pair, what a mass of injurious insects are
destroyed during the summer, which man
would be powerless to encounter !

At the breeding time of the Redstart, thou-
sands of bees are to be found on the ground
unable to fly, and which eventually die there,
but it has never been seen that these birds
have ever taken any of them.

The Same. — A curious mistake of mutual
help among bees is related. A very strong
hive was standing side by side with a very
weak colony which had been wintered in a
cellar, but which had scarcely energy for work.

The owner expected a swarm from the
former, but none came. What, then, was his
surprise to see a great number of bees from
the strong hive marching in at the door of its
weak neighbour. He suspected pillage, and
as it was too late to interfere the hive was
left to itself.

A few days later there were fine new white
combs in the hive, which soon became very
strong, and threw off two fine swarms in the
course of the season.

The same thing occurred about two years
afterwards, when the weather was remarkably
changeable. A strong hive showed an in-
clination to swarm in intervals of sunshine ;
but it was observed that the bees joined those
from a very weak stock which stood near,
entering their hive with them.

This went on for several days, until the
whole swarm had settled into the weak hive.

In a very short time both the hive and a
super were well filled.

L'Apicoltore (Italy). — The country people
of this district (Alessandria, Italy) are not all
ready to adopt the modern hives. In some
places the bees are hived in petroleum cases,
the ill- joined walls of which give ready ingress
to the wax-moth and other enemies.

BEE-KEEPING FOR WOMEN.

ROBBER- BEES.

There are some things in bee-keeping that
can be fully learned only by experience.
Among these is the danger from robber-bees.
No matter how much the beginner may be
told about the danger, she will go on in bliss-
ful freedom from anxiety until she has one
serious case of robbing, and then she will know
what robbing is a3 no book or bee-paper can
tell her ; and after that she will always be on
the alert.

During the time of a good honey-flow there
is little danger in that direction. Honey may
be left standing exposed for some time without
causing any trouble ; the bees pay no attention
to it. They can get all the nectar they want
from the field. But in early spring, or at any
time during the season when there is not abun-
dant nectar coming in, look out for robbers.
There is danger. My, what a commotion a
bit of honey carelessly dropped at such a time
will cause ! It would seem as if the bees had
gone crazy. The apiary that a little time
before seemed all peace and quietude is
suddenly changed into a howling mob of
angry, stinging bees. It would seem as if
the entire apiary were engaged in the uproar,
when in reality there may be only one or two
colonies engaged in robbing. But it affects
the whole apiary, for when that bit of honey
is gone the robbers set out in quest of more
spoils, and every hive in the apiary is likely
to be tried. Every colony is alert and on the
defensive. If any are weak, or poorly pro-
tected, look out for them. If the robbers
seem to be getting the better of them, stop up
all cracks where a bee can get through, and
close the entrance, leaving only room for one
or two bees to pass at a time. Then throw an
armful of hay or straw over the entrance and
soak thoroughly with water. That will
dampen the ardour of the robbers, as they do
not like to crawl through the wet hay, and
they will most likely give up the fight. Under
no consideration open any hive at such a time,
lor the robbers will be ready to pounce in if
you do.

You can very easily start robbing working
with the bees without leaving any honey ex-
posed when there is a dearth of honey. If you
are inexperienced they can get quite a start
before you realise that they are robbers. If
on opening a hive you see some bees flying
with quick, darting motions, trying to get in ;
or if you see a bee alight on a comb, and it is
promptly seized by one or more of the bees of
the colony ; you may be sure they are
not honest bees ; and if at the same time
the bees of the colony you are working at are
angry and excited, stinging without apparent
provocation, you may be sure robbers are at
work, and you would better close up opera-
tions, no matter how anxious you are to work.
The only safe way to work at such a time is
under a tent, where no outside bee can get in

226

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June 5, 1902.

its work. Sometimes, by leaving the apiary
undisturbed for a few hours, things will qaiet
down and you can go to work again. But you
must be on the alert, and at the first sign of
robbers you must be ready to close up
promptly.

If a frame of brood or any honey has been
left exposed, and the bees have got started
on it, do not take it away from them and
leave nothing in its place. If you do they
will probably pounce on the nearest hive
and there will be a royal battle. You can
take it away and put a comb without any
honey in its place, or one that has a very
little in it. That will satisfy them.

Dr. Miller often tells me that I am not as
afraid of robber-bees as I should be. We
have never had a very bad case of robbing —
at least, none that ended very seriously. The
most we have suffered from robbing is having
weak colonies robbed out in the spring. But
they have got started enough a number of
times to show what they might have done if
we had not been able to control them.

A year or two ago Dr. Miller was called up
in the middle of the night, and asked if he
would not come and straighten up a man's
bees. The man lived some six miles away.
It was his hired man that came for Dr.
Miller. He said that several hives had been
knocked over, and the man had been so badly
stung that he had had to go to bed, and send
for the doctor, and there was no one else that
could touch the bees. Dr. Miller told him
that he could not do anything until daylight,
but that he would come early in the morn-
ing.

I assure you it was a scene of desolation
that we looked upon when we reached that
apiary the next morning. He had quite a
little apiary, had kept bees for years, but I
imagine he had never had such an experience
before. He had tied a young calf, with a rope
long enough to reach the bees, to an apple
tree near the apiary. The bees stung the calf,
and the calf commenced a mad race among the
hives, as far as the rope would allow him to
go, overturning hive after hive. In some cases
the combs had been thrown entirely out of the
hives, and it looked as if the calf, in its mad
career, had run over them several times.
Broken brood-combs filled with nice brood,
combs of honey, bees and sections, were in a
sad mix-up, and the bees were fast waking up
to the fact that there was plunder to be
had.

We straightened things up as best we could,
got the hives back on their stands, and when-
ever it was possible we tied the brood or honey
into the frames that were left whole ; put the
bees back into the hives where we thought
they belonged, &c. Fortunately, there was
not much honey in the sections, so that simpli-
fied that part of it somewhat, but it was a
little the worst wreck I had ever had anything
to do with.

I think that man has had his lesson. I do

not believe he will ever tie any animal near
his apiary again. But it was expensive. —
Emma M. Wilson in American Bee Journal.

[2866.] Talcing Bees to Forage. — As a con-
stant reader of your valuable paper, the Bee
Journal, for the last ten years, I beg to
request an answer to the following : — 1. I am
very anxious to obtain some trifolium honey,
there being a splendid plant of about 14 acres
within a mile from my apiary, and, as I have
the chance of placing three stocks in a friend's
garden about a hundred yards from the field
mentioned, with acres of sainfoin and some
16 acres of red clover adjoining, do you think
I should gain anything by taking the hives
there, thus saving the bees the flying distance ?
2. Should I be likely to get it pure if I had
the three stocks just right for supering at the
time the trifolium was coming out in bloom,
being earlier than either the sainfoin or clover ?
I should, of course, give worked-out shallow
frame3. 3. Can I move them now the dis-
tance without losing many bees, as they have
not been flying very strong for the last ten
days, being so cold1? 4. Is trifolium honey
considered good enough for the show-bench,
or is it better mixed with sainfoin or red
clover ? 5. Do bees get much honey from
red clover ?— W. Norms, Bradford-on-Avon,
May 19.

Reply. — 1. You will certainly add to the
weight of surplus-honey by planting the bees
right on the forage-ground ; the point is, will
the expense of carting the bees to and fro not
more than counterbalance the value of the
extra honey obtained ? It, therefore, becomes
more a question for yourself to consider than
outsiders like ourselves. 2. Yes, if the plant
is yielding freely the bees will work almost
exclusively on it, so long as the bloom lasts.
3. Yes. 4. Trifolium yields honey inferior in
quality to either sainfoin or white clover, the
last-named plant being the best grown in this
country for high-class flower-honey. 5. No.

[2867.] Diagnosing Fovd Brood. — I am
sending, under separate cover, two samples of
comb believed to be affected with foul brood.
The whole of the frames are similarly affected,
but the stock of bees from which samples were
taken are very strong, and they are building
queen-cells. 1. The samples smell very bad, but
the capped brood seems healthy enough ; it is
the unsealed larva^ that appears to be affected.
I should be glad to have your opinion on this
through the Bee Journal. 2. Is this a
case of foul brood, and if so, would you
advise treating according to instructions in
"Guide Book" or destroying same? — Foul
Brood, Bucks, June 2.

Reply. — 1. We are surprised at your de-
scription of brood in hive referred to, if the

June 5, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

227

pieces of comb sent are fair samples of what
were examined by yourself. So far from the
capped brood being " healthy enough," we find
that not a few sealed cells contain unmis-
takable signs of foul brood in an advanced
stage. There would surely have been no
mistaking the " brown, ropey substance " so
characteristic of the disease if the cells had
been probed. On the other hand, the unsealed
larvce was in a much earlier and less pro-
nounced stage of the disease. 2. If the bees
are really so strong as stated, and building
queen-cells as if about to swarm, we should
let them swarm. If they do so, keep the
swarm in the hiving-skep for twenty-four hours
before putting the bees in a frame-hive on
foundation (starters only). Then remove the
worst of the combs in parent hive and burn
them, leaving the bees on about five combs
until twenty-one days after issue of the swarm.
All brood not diseased will then have hatched
out, and the bees and young queen (if safely
mated) may be united to the swarm, and all
old combs burnt.

[2868.] Buying Worthless Stocks of Bees. —
A beginner who obtained a stock a month ago
has had the misfortune to lose the bees. The
hive was carried by rail ten miles to its present
position. It is a single- walled standard frame
one. I examined them the day after arrival,
as the bees did not come out much, and found
them weak, with little or no brood, but some
honey, which I uncapped and placed on top of
frames. On two days this week I was told
there was great commotion, " as if the bees
weije about to swarm," and sometimes three
bees were seen struggling with one. On being
told the hive was empty (I live some miles
away) I examined it and found the bees gone.
There were none dead, neither in nor around
the hive. The enclosed piece of comb contains
half the brood found in the hive. The heavy
rains had gained entrance and nearly soaked
the quilts. The combs were dry. The bees
were supplied with syrup, which was not taken
very well till the last day, when it was seen
that other bees came and devoured it. 1.
From this evidence, is it a case of robbing 1
2. What brood does comb contain ? And is
it free from disease ? 3. Does comb always
become so dark coloured as sample ? 4. If not
a case of desertion, did the queen most likely
die during removal ? Pollen was carried in
last week. What does this show, if queen was
dead ? 5. Is there any association in this dis-
trict ? I have read the " Guide Book " since
January, with the Journal every week, but,
like my friend, have only had the bees for a
month.— E. M. Marshall, Howood, N.B.,
May 31.

Reply. — 1. A clear case of " robbing out "
a weak and practically worthless stock. 2.
Only drone-brood in worker- cells. There is
no worker-brood at all in comb, nor is there
any trace of disease. 3. Comb always becomes
dark with age. 4. There could have been

only a worthless queen or a fertile worker in
the hive. 5. None that we know of.

[2869.] Dealing with Fertile Worker. — I
have four stocks of bees in frame-hives. No.
1 very strong ; No. 2 covering five frames ;
No. 3 covering two frames ; and No. 4 cover-
ing only half a frame. I find No. 2 contains a
fertile worker (according to the " Guide Book"),
there being brood standing out very pro-
minently and not compact, while a number of
drones are hatching out. I have seen the
queen of No. 3, but there is no brood. In
No. *4 is an imported Italian purchased last
year in this country as a 1901 queen. There
is no brood in this, although queen seems all
right. Will you kindly say how I can best
deal with No. 2, seeing that Nos. 3 and 4 are
each in a weak state. I have just supered
No. 1 and do not care to interfere with that
as it seems like doing well. Nos. 1, 2, and 3
hives stand 3 ft. apart, while No. 4 is 12 ft.
away from No. 3. — G. W. F., Wolverhampton,
May 29.

Reply. — We really cannot advise you to
utilise the queens of either Nos. 3 or 4 in re-
queening No. 2. The queens of both stocks
named must be practically worthless if they
have not started breeding yet, so we should
buy a good fertile queen for No. 2.

[2870.] Hiving My First Swarm. — I am
a beginner in bee-keeping, and to-day tried to
hive my first swarm. They settled on a
currant-bush a few yards away from the hive,
but only stopped a minute or two, and then
rose and clustered again on a straight upright
branch at the top of a tall thorn hedge about
100 yards off. I sawed the branch off, but
two-thirds of the bees dropped from it during
the operation and fell into the hedge and
clustered in three different places. I put the
bough with remainder of bees close to mouth
of skep, and they went in, the other bees
joining them after a time. I then carried
them to my new frame-hive — fitted with full
sheets foundation — and about 4 yards from
parent hive, and hived them by throwing the
swarm out in front. The bees marched in at
once, but were no sooner in than they poured
out again pell-mell and returned ; all entered
the original hive from whence they had
swarmed. I should be obliged if you could
explain why they did not stop in the new hive.
— •' Disappointed," King's Lynn, May 30.

Reply. — The probable reason is that some
mishap has occurred to the queen after issuing
with the swarm. It may, however, be that the
queen did not leave the hive with the swarm,
in which case the bees would be sure to return
to the latter as stated.

[2871.] Queen Cast Out in Spring. — Will
you please tell me through the B.B.J, whether
enclosed bee is a queen ? I found it outside
the hive this morning, with five or six bees
clustered on it. The hive in question is in a
. bad way owing to scarcity of food. Three

228

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June 5, 1902.

weeks ago, when examined, there was plenty
of honey in the frames, but on Wednesday,
21st, I found the bees nearly all dead, and not
a drop of honey in the hive. If enclosed is a
queen, would it be advisable for me to unite
remaining bees with the first swarm I get, as I
have one hive that will swarm very soon.
I thank you very much for your " wire " re
foul brood. It was a relief to me to know
that I was free from that pest. Hoping for
an early reply. — T. Mitchell, Eastbourne,
May 26.

Reply. — The bee sent is a queen, and the
deplorable condition in which the bees were
found is due to the exceptionally adverse
weather for several weeks past. With regard
to the few bees left alive, it is hardly worth
troubling to save them. You may, of course,
shake them on top of your first swarm when
hiving the latter, but, unless the swarm is
located on the stand the few bees you propose
to utilise have occupied, most of the latter
will return to the old place and, finding no
hive there, will be lost.

<6tkm flwm tht Sims.

The Woodbines Jpiary, St. Brelades, Jersey,
0.J., May 24. — Every bee-keeper in the
Channel Isles doubtless is more than thankful
for the rise in temperature and an increase of
sunshine, which (after a very wet and bois-
terous spring, the coldest on record for many
years) has now brought forth the bees in energy
to make up for lost time, and as the foliage
and flowers have largely increased during the
past week, so has the machinery in the hives
been speeded up to its utmost pitch to cope
with the greater quantity of raw material
brought in to be manufactured into honey, so
much so that the hives of the happy workers
has been heard till late at night, overtime
being willingly made, whilst the master has
been obliged to add at least one, and in some
instances two, stories, to the fabric to accom-
modate the accumulating stock of the finished
article now being sealed up for future orders
which are to balance the books when stock-
taking time comes round again. May it never
fail to do so.— W. W. K.

Ballindalloch, N.B., June 2. — May has been
a miserable month all through. Only on two
days have bees got any pollen-carrying done.
Breeding must be almost at a standstill for
want of this indispensable commodity, but
weather is still so chill and wintry that hives
cannot be opened for examination. It is safe
to predict that we must have a late season, as
colonies are now little in advance of what they
generally are at the end of April. What a
contrast to the delightful month of May we
had last year ! Let us keep up our hearts,

however, for " to-morrow the sun may be
shining, although it is cloudy to-day." June
has opened most inauspiciously, with a cold,
wintry nor'-easter blowing strong, accompanied
by heavy rain. For " imitating " in last par
of last " Comments " read " initiating." —
D. M. M.

PRESS CUTTING.

TITS NEST IN A BEEHIVE.

A few days since, the expert of the Oxford-
shire Bee-keepers' Association was examining
a frame-hive containing a fairly strong stock
of bees, in a member's apiary at Shennington,
when he found a tit's nest, containing ten eggs,
built behind the division-board. The top of the
hive was a little defective, and the birds had
gained access thereto through a very small
aperture.

\tt $hm& to <&amt

June 10 to 13, at Reading.— Royal Counties
Agricultural Society. Bee and Honey Department
under the management of the Berks B.K.A.

July 5 to 9, at Carlisle.—" Royal " Agricultural
Society's Show. Bee and Honey Section under the
management of the B.B.K.A.

July 17 and 18, at Boston, Lines.— Show of
Honey, Hives, and Bee-Appliances in connection with
the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society. Bee Depart-
ment under the management of the Lines. B.K.A.
Thirteen classes, with liberal money prizes and silver
medals. Schedules from R. Godson, Hon. Sec. Lines.
B.K.A., Tothill, Alford, Lines. Entries close
June 18.

July 26, at Buttfleld Park, Hessle, East
Yorks.— Honey Show in connection with the Hessle
and District Horticultural Society. Good prizes for
Honey-Trophy, Sections, and Extracted Honey.
Schedules from Ernest C. S. Stow, Hon. Sec, Thornton
House, Hessle, East Yorks.

July 30 to August 1, at Leeds —Honey show*
in connection with the annual show of the Yorkshire
Agricultural Society, at Roundhay Park. £2,115 in
prizes, including liberal cash prizes for honey.
Schedules from John Maughan, secretary, Blake-street,
York. Entries close June 28-

August 5, at Leamington. — Ninth annual show
of the Leamington St. Mary's Horticultural Society.
Three open classes for Six 1-lb. Sections, Six 1-lb. Jars
" Light," and Six 1-lb. Jars " Dark " Extracted Honey,
respectively. Liberal money-prizes. Schedules from
P. W. Smith, Secretary, 22, Leam-street, Leamington.
Entries close July 31.

August 7, at Kingsthorpe, Nortnants.
— Honey show of tne Northants B.K.A. in connection
with the Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Three
open classes with special prizes, including one for
single 1-lb. jar of honey. (Entry free.) Prizes 20s., 10s.,
7s. 6d., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from R. Hefford, Sunny-
side, Kingsthorpe, Northampton. Entries close
August 1.

August 13, at Bradford Abbas, Dorset.—
Annual Show of the Yetminster and district B.K.A. in
the Vicarage grounds. Three open classes, including
one for Single 1-lb. Jar of Light and one of Dark
Honey (entry free). Prizes: 10s., 6s., 4s., in each class.
Schedules from G. Ludwig, hon. secretary, Bradford
Abbas, Sherborne, Dorset. Entries close Aug. 9.

August 28, at Montgomery, N. Wales.—
Honey show in connection with Montgomery and Dis-

June 5, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

229

trict Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Two open
classes for six's, sections, and extracted. Prizes 10s.,
6s., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from W.fcU. Jones, Secretary,
Church Bank, Montgomery. Entries close August
21.

August 28, at Llangollen.— In connection with
the annual Flower Show. Open classes for Six 1-lb.
Sections, Six 1-lb. Bottles Extracted, and Beeswax.
Schedules from Frank Little, Llangollen. Entries
close August 14.

September 1 to 6, at Preston.— Annual show of
the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society in connection
with the Festival week of the Guild Merchant (which
recurs only once in every twenty-one years). In honour
of the occasion a largely increased list of money prizes
is offered for honey along with silver and bronze medals
of the B.B.K.A. and also of the Society. Open Classes
for Honey-Trophy, Sections, Extracted Honey, Beeswax,
Instructive Exhibits in Bee-Culture, &c. Schedules
from Edward Bohane, Secretary, Miller-arcade, Pres-
ton. Entries close August 2.

September 6 to 13, at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (10th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Numerous classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees
wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers. Special
attention is directed to the new Honey-selling
Classes. Schedules (now ready) from H. S. Rogers,
Secretary, 27, Leadenhall - street, London, E.C.
Entries close August 26-

September 6, at Bramhall, near 3tocV-
port. — Honey Show in connection with the Bramhall
and Woodford District Horticultural Society. Liberal
prizes. Schedules from J. Turner, Glenwood, Bram-
hall, near Stockport. Entries close August 30.

September 10 and II, at Hull.— Honey show
in connection with the Hull and District Horticultural
Association, at the Artillery Barracks. Seven open
classes, including one for Honey Trophy, prizes £2
and £1 ; also classes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar of extracted honey, with free entry.
Schedules from F. W. Thompson, hon. sec, 8, Albert-
square, Ella-street, Hull. Entries close Septem-
ber 3.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace. — Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition
of Bees, Honey, and Appliances. Specially increased
prizes and medals for Coronation year. Further par-
ticulars shortly. Schedules from. Hon. Secretary,
Henry W. Brice, 100, Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath.

September 20 to 27, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with the
sixth Annual Exhibition and Market of the Grocery
and Kindred Trades. Numerous classes for comb and
extracted honey and beeswax. Open to all British
Bee-keepers. Special attention Is directed to the new
Honey-selling Classes. Schedules (ready shortly)
from H. S. Rogers, Secretary, 27, Leadenhall-street,
London, E.C.

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 he
inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters,
queries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our 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.

Watlingtost (Downham Market). — Begin-
ning Bee-keeping. — Bees Fighting in
" Patent Hive." — We cannot quite tell
what is meant by your having " about two
months since bought a patent hive well-
filled with bees." If, as we expect, a " bar-

frame hive " is meant, you must not suppose
that the hive has anything to do with the
bees being found fighting and killing and
turning ! out some like sample sent. The
latter are full grown and lusty drones, killed
and cast out because food is scarce ; that
is all. If intending to become a good bee-
keeper, you must get beyond your present
very crude and elementary knowledge by
procuring a text-book on bees which will
explain fully what just now seems a puzzle
to you.

F. J. G. (Devon). — Bee-keeping Neighbours
and Foul Brood. — It does appear hard, almost
beyond endurance, when neighbours are
found to talk and act as yours do. But at
present bee-keepers seem to be helpless so
far as regards enforcing destruction of
diseased colonies of bee3. If the second neigh-
bour mentioned" can," as he says, " cure his
bees, no matter how badly they are diseased,''
you might reasonably ask, Why does he
not do it 1 In any case, however, we advise
you to 'write jthe hon. sec. of your associa-
tion, and endeavour to get that gentleman to
bring moral influence to bear upon the
neighbours who are doing their best to
make successful ^bee-keeping impossible in
the locality. The expert mentioned will, no
doubt, report the facts as stated in due
course.

G. W. Fairall (Wolverhampton). — Joining
Bee-keepers' Association. — The Rev. G. C.
Bruton, Vicar of Great Haywood, is hon.
sec. of the Staff* B.K.A.

C. R. (W. MalliDg). — Time before Queens Lay
after Hatching. — The time occupied varies
considerably, seeing that mating may take
place in a week or so after hatching, or it
may be delayed three or four weeks owing to
bad weather. Once mated, however, a
queen usually begins to lay in a couple of
days. The only thing you can do is to wait
patiently for a few days longer, then
examine the comb for eggs or young larvae,
which, if seen, will prove queen to be all
right.

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) toe 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."

R. H. (Salop). — There is foul brood in comb
sent, and as this is the most favourable
time of the year for getting the bees on to
newly built combs by removing them from
diseased ones and treating them as a swarm,
we advise that course. Full directions are
given on page 152 of " Guide Book.'' On
the other hand, if, as stated, there are now

230

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 5, 1902.

twelve frames covered with bees, " eight of
which are full of brood,'' and only three
frames show patches of brood like sample,
you might remove these three frames and
give medicated food until honey is coming
in from outside, as proposed. You do not
say if you have any hives beyond the one
mentioned. If not, the latter might be the
best course to follow, but if healthy stocks
are in the same garden we should avoid risk
to the latter by destroying all combs and
food in the diseased stock.

G.M. (Newport, Mon.).— 1. Foul brood is just
developing in comb sent. We are glad to
hear your seven hives are now " all strong
and full as they can hold with bees." Nor
do we doubt that the preventives used have
had some share in keeping them free from
disease, as it may also be the means
of checking the mischief in the affected
hive. Beyond keeping a strict watch on
the hatching brood to see that the disease
is not making headway, we advise no further
measures at the present juncture. 2. The
red insect seen on the bodies of some of
your bees is the parasite known as the
Braula cceca, or blind louse (vide " Guide
Book," page 160).

(Mrs.) 0. D. (Surrey). — Comb is affected with
foul brood of old standing. Whether it
dates back " more than twelve months " or
not it is impossible to say, but it is a bad
case, and certainly not " a recent develop-
ment."

(Mrs.) H. M. P. (Hertford).- 1. The dead
brood — most of it in the pupa stage — is
chilled only. We find no disease in comb.
2. We share your regret that there is no
B.K.A. for Herts, but you are not debarred
from participating in the insurance scheme
in consequence, non-members being ad-
mitted to its benefits.

A Learner (Cambs.). — Foul brood is develop-
ing fast in comb. There is also some drone-
brood in worker-cells, so the stock is evi-
dently worthless. ,

A. G. S. (Newport, Mon.).— We find foul
brood of long standing in comb. Refer to
your " Guide Book " for directions how to
deal with it.

Prepaid Advertisements (Continued).

s

*%* Several queries and letters, received late,
will have attention in our next issue.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve u>ord$ and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three word* or under. One Penny.

SWARMS FOR SALE, (1901 Queens). A. Hounsom,
The Apiary, Bosham, Chichester, Sussex. M 68

FEW guaranteed HEALTHY STOCKS BEES in

Skeps, 10s. 6d. each, packed ; 2 young fertile

Laying Queens, 4s. 6d. each. Spearman, Colesbourne,

Cheltenham. N 8

1 rlfl YEAR.— Still cheapest and best. Garnetts
1 O original English Screw-cap HONEY JARS. Six
dozen 7-oz., 8s. 9d. ; ten dozen 16-oz., 16s. 6d. Free on
rail ;cash. Garnett Bros., High-street, Rotherham,

N

WARMS FOR SALE at 10s. 6d. each or 2s. 6d. lb. F.
Barks, Rempstone, near Loughborough. N 2

STRONG natural SWARMS, 8s. 6d. each, boxes free.
Hewett's, Laburnum Apiary, Alton, Hants, n 7

LOR SALE, 60 lb. PURE ENGLISH BEESWAX,
1/ Sample, 2d. Miss Collin, Kirtling, Newmarket,
Cambs. N 4

FOR SALE "Little Wonder" HONEY EXTRACTOR,
worked^ by cog gearing, equal new, a bargain.
Wilkes, Sycamores, Pelsall, Walsall. N 1

A FEW excellent SWARMS FOR SALE, 2s. 3d. per
lb. ; guaranteed free from disease. HlGLEY,
Expert, Timberhonger, Bromsgrove. N 6

ATURAL SWARMS, 8s. each, packing. 2s. or
returnable. Lixstead, Garboldisham, Thetford.

N 5

DRONE FOUNDATION MACHINE cheap, or Ex-
change Honey ; offers. Holmes, Brunswick-road,
Plymouth. M 99

LITTLE WONDER EXTRACTOR FOR SALE, 4«.
Also WAX EXTRACTOR, 4s. 6d. F. R. COURT,

Green-street, Sittingbourne. N 3

ILVER ENGLISH LEVER WATCH, cost £4 10s.
will EXCHANGE for THREE SWARMS of BEES.
Also Prize Collies exchange for Bees. Ross, Barkerland
House, Dumfries. M 97

PRIME NATURALSWARMS of English BEES from
my selected strain, 10s. 6d., 12s. 6d., and 15s.
Travelling boxes free. W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury.
^T NEW BAR^FRAME HIVES, complete, thoroughly
O well made ; also all necessary appliances. List on
application. Giving up bee-keeping. What offers cash?
KiTCHiNG, Kenwood-road, Sheffield. N 9

WOSTRONG STOCKI-TBEES. Good Hives, wired
Frames, new Section-crate, £1 each. Two Swarms
on Wired Frames, 14s. each, warranted healthy. Three
Young 1902 Queens, with cage, 3s. 6d. each. Miss
Maud Barret, Gevington, Polegate, Sussex. >; 12
ARGAINS ! ! One Wells HIVE, complete with lifts,
&c, well painted, Taylors, cost £2 5s. Will take
£1 10s. Strong STOCKS on frames, 15s. Three com-
bination hives, 7s. 6d, each,. £1 the lot. SWARMS,
very strong, 12s, 6d. LlLLYWHlTE, Westerton, Chiches-

ter. M 96

OR SALE, Four Strong Healthy STOCKS BEES in
bar-frame hives, in good condition, ready for
season's work. A few Swarms, healthy, strong, 10s. 6d.
to 12s. 6d. each on rail. Quantity worked-out Shallow
Frames for supering. Cuttings of White Arabis, Is. 3d.
per 100, post free. Bailey, 55, Park-road, Leek, Staffs.

M98
ED CLOVER QUEENS.— I am rearing queens by
best known methods of select breeders obtained
from most celebrated raisers in America, whose bees
have stored honey in large amount from red clover. I
guarantee them healthy, prolific, and to arrive in good
condition ; price, 5s. 6d. each. J. Geary, Barwell,
Hinckley. N 10

GOOD natural SWARMS FOR SALE, 10s. each. H.
Holleworth, New Inn Farm, Widmerpool,

Notts. M_72 _

QTRONG CANE BOUND SKEPS, Is. 3d., Is. 6d.,
O Is. 9d., 2s. each; 13todoz. Cheaper make, Is. each.
J. Cox, Armenack-street, Falmouth. M 71

FINEST ENGLISH HONEY, in i cwt. tins, 6d. lb.
Sample 2d. Screw-cap Bottles, 9s. doz. Cash or
deposit. Stevens, Latimer Apiary, Chesham, Bucks.
M 77

SIX STRONG STOCKS BEES, in new Frame Hives.
Warranted free from foul brood. No reasonable
offer refused. Mrs. Passingham, Beaumont, Chelten-
ham. M 84
ENGLISH EXTRACTED HONEY, guaranteed pure,
40s. per cwt. ; delivered on rail at Manea Station,
carriage forward. Empties returnable. F. Pepper,

Victoria-street, Chatteris, March. M 87

RDERS for .Tune SWARMS. Executed in rotation.
4 lbs. 12s 6d., 5 lbs. 15s., 6 lbs. 18s. Guaranteed
healthy and safe arrival. WHITING, Valley Apiaries,
Hundon Clare, Suffolk. M 92

STRONG Natural SWARMS, 1901 Queen, 12s. «d. ;
second ditto, 1902 Queen, 8s. 6d. Stocks, New
Frame Hives, 30s. Guaranteed healthy. Woods, Nor-
mandy, Guildford. M 85

June 12, 1902.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

231

Atonal, $«tim> &t.

THE INSURANCE SCHEME
For the information of bee-keepers
lesirous of taking advantage of the
nsurance scheme, defined on page 181
f our issue of May 8 last, we beg to
otify that copies of the form of receipt
-issued in lieu of an ordinary insurance
olicy — are now in the hands of all
ecretaries of county bee-keepers' asso-
iations who have applied for them. It
aerefore now only remains for members
) pay the necessary amount over to the
jcretary of the County B.K.A. without
elay in order to become possessed of the
iceipt, which will entitle the holder to
le advantages detailed on the said
;ceipt, which practically becomes his
)licy of insurance.

Non- members of associations must
)ply direct to the Secretary of the
ritish Bee-keepers' Association, 12,
anover-square, W., and as the date
hen the yearly premiums are due and
lyable is "before June 24 in each
jar," early application should be made,
order that the guarantee may "cover
e period from August 1, 1902 (noon)
August 1, 1903 (noon)," as stated.

QbsmtyxmUMt

Vhe Editori do not hold themselvet responsible for the
nioni expressed by correspondents. No notice tvill be
'■en of anonymous communications, and correspondents
i requested to write on one tide of the paper only and
e their real name* and addressee, not necessarily for
iUcation, but as a guarantee of good faith. Ulustra-
m should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
not undertake to return rejected communications.
'ommunications relating to the literary department,
torts of Associations, Shoivs, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
oks for Review, <kc.,must be addressed only to "The
ITOKS of the' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William-
:et, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi-
ions relating to advertisements, &c.,must be addressed
"The Manager, 'British Bee Journal' Office, 17,
ig William-street, Strand, London, W.C."

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

INSURANCE FOR BEE-KEEPERS.
[4793.] With reference to the criticism by
r. W. Woodley of the B.B.J, insurance
heme in page 222 of the Journal, I can
sure him that all the points he mentions had
en raised, more than once, at the -various
setings held at Jenny n-atreet. The task
fore the committee was* to form a scheme

combining the smallest reasonable payment
from the cottager, the minimum of work from
the secretaries, and the largest risk that under-
writers would take for the premium charged.

To guide them they did not take this or that
man's unsupported opinion, but the experience
gained by the actual working of Associations
in other countries. They are confident that if
the small bee-keepers of the United Kingdom
will all pay the " insignificant sum " asked, the
scheme will be a distinct success. The members
of Associations sometimes complain that little
is done for them, but now by merely filling up
correctly the 'printed forms and once a year
remitting the counterfoils with the cash to the
secretary of the B.B.K., the secretaries of
county associations can do a real service to
their members, which the members indeed
ought to expect them gladly to do.

As to the proportion between the premium
and the risk taken— i.e., the Id. per hive and
the £30 aggregate claims per annum for each
apiary insurer — that is entirely a matter of
business calculation for the underwriters to
settle. The Committee have obtained, they
consider, very liberal term3. It remains now
for all who have the welfare of the craft really
at heart to push forward the scheme to the
best of their ability. It is a new departure in
this country, and when our bee-keeping friends
have given us a living foundation of supporters
upon which to build, it may become possible
to carry out other and. important ideas, which
at present we have not the strength to under-
take. The insurance scheme is the nucleus,
let it be made into a strong stock. — Thos. I.
Weston, Vice-Chairman B.B.K.A., June 6.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

[4794.] Here and Th ere.— Since the advent
of rosy June, imitating Gray's "Kindred
Spirit " — " His length at noontide would he
stretch " — I delight to recline on the verdant
carpet now mantling the earth. I do not
waste my time in posing " upon the brook that
babbles by," but spend it profitably in study-
ing the ways and habits of the bees. I love to
listen to the bee hives' busy hum while I drink
in the incense of the sweet perfume wafted
from their heavy loads as the countless army
of bees industriously ply their busy and loving
task. It is altogether delightful, and gives
life an added zest and pleasure. I wish I
could give a picture of the joys of a country
life, as described by our present Poet Laureate
in his exquisite poem of " Is Life Worth
Living ? " but copyright forbids. All who can
should read it in its entirety, and, as an accom-
paniment, Robert Buchanan's —

Oh to be a-roaming

In an English dell,
Every nook is wealthy

All the world looks well.

Then compare this with a companion picture
taken from " Darkest Africa " :— " Measure
but your length on the ground, seat your-

232

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June 12, 1902.

self on a fallen branch, and then you will
understand what venom, fury, voracity, and
activity breathes around you. Open your
note-book, the page attracts a dozen butter-
flies, a honey-bee hovers over your hand ;
other forms of bees dash for your eyes, a
wasp buzzes in your ear, a huge hornet
menaces your face. And yet it is all beauti-
ful— but there must be no lying down on
this seething earth. It is not like your pine
groves and your dainty woods in England.
It is a tropic world, and to enjoy it you
must keep slowly moving."

Stray Straws. — The Insurance Scheme
seems a fairly good workable proposal.
Single hives should not be dealt with ; they
should be treated in tens or fractions of tens
— the charge for the smallest number being
Is. If you wait, however, till everybody is
satisfied, you may as well at once throw it
into the W.P.B. Just fancy a man (query
No. 2851) who does not know the true
dimensions of a standard frame setting up as
a critic of its capabilities, being dissatisfied
with it, and anxious to start a new-sized one
imported from America ! Truly a little
knowledge is a dangerous thing ! The
"Foul Brood" column shows a steady num-
ber of queries, and I fear more flow in than
see the light.

How to get Bees to Work in Sections. —
Unless bees are so numerous that they occupy
every comb in the hive, it is folly to expect
that they will take possession of surplus-
chambers. Many bee-keepers grumble be-
cause their bees do not take to sections, but
when the hive is examined the marvel gene-
rally would be if they did so. At times, how-
ever, the complaint may have a slight founda-
tion— in fact, as certain races or strains of
bees would rather swarm repeatedly than use
the super space so temptingly laid out for
their acceptance. Several aids may be named
to secure this desired end. 1. Keep all
sections extra warmly covered up with an
abundance of wraps. Even in mild weather
this is advisable, but when the nights are
chill these are an utter necessity if bees are
expected to leave the warmer precincts of the
brood ne3t. 2. What are known as bait
sections help very considerably in getting
bees aloft ; and where they show a reluctance
to enter supers one or two partly completed
sections — held over from the former season — are
a great attraction. Once got into the habit of
ascending they quickly perceive the advan-
tage of storing surplus above in order to give
the queen the whole space below. 3. Full
sheets of foundation should be inserted in every
section, and such scraps of starters as are fre-
quently seen should never be used. Quarter or
even half sheets scarcely give the bees a chance,
especially as the season advances. This
foundation, being made from the finest and
purest wax, is a great help to the bees, and it
can now be obtained so fine and thin that even
the most fastidious taste can scarcely detect any

mid-rib when the section-honey is being eaten.
4. Contracting the body box by removing
some of the frames throws a large force of
workers under compulsion into the supers, but
it is not recommended unless in skilled hands.
It succeeds at a sacrifice of breeding space,
which sometimes reduces the population over
much ; and it may tend to make the bees
prepare for swarming just in the height of a
honey glut. 5. But the one chief means of
getting bees into section racks and keeping
them there is to start the honey season with
strong colonies. That is a sine qua non if
success is to follow the keeping of bee3. Fine
hives, appliances, abundant forage, settled
fine weather are all excellent in their place,
and are all important, but none of them will
secure a large harvest of surplus-honey unless
the stock is a strong and powerful one. Such
a colony requires no coaxing or art to induce
it to accept and store in any surplus space
which may be given, and the bees of such a
hive may be relied on if honey is to be found
anywhere near, and, provided weather is
favourable, to roll in the nectar at a rate
which will astonish any who have hitherto
been content with weak or even medium
colonies.

Swarms in Transit. — Perhaps it is onlj
natural that Mr. Woodley, as a purveyor ol
swarms, cannot endorse the view I take of the
question as a purchaser. He grants a los3 oi
j lb. as a minimum on a 4 lb. swarm. Thii
in honey might mean 3d. to the vendor, bul
to me it would mean a loss of Is. 9d. ii
shrinkage of weight of bees. What I contend
is that both parties should share the loss,
Though I noted the fall in the retail price oi
swarms, I may mention that of the three
English swarms ordered this year two cost
me 3s. 6d. per lb. and one 2s. 6d. per lb. I
recognise that bees are not everything in a
swarm.— D. M. M., Banff.

NEED FOR ASSOCIATED EFFORT. |

ANOTHER "CASE IN POINT."

[4795.] In reference to your editorial in
this week's B.B.J, (page 221] I would mention
the case of our Association, a3 reported in
B.B.J. May 1, and from which I quote our
expert's report, abbreviated as follows : — -

" Mr. Gray made a [successful tour (visiting
114 apiaries), but most of his time was taken
up in treating stocks for foul brood, which
had been introduced into the Keswick district
nearly five years ago, and seemed likely to
ruin bee-keeping altogether. Of fifty-six
apiaries inspected, thirty-five were found to
be infected ; and of 150 stocks, eighty-five
were diseased. There were an additional
thirteen infected apiaries in districts round
about. It was mentioned that the Associa-
tion will act liberally in the way of helping
any bee-keeper who, not having yet joined,
may have stocks badly infected."

Now this disaster was all the result of one

June 12, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

233

bee-keeper's carelessness, and had our associa-
tion been formed at that time, the moral force
it would have brought to bear on that person
could hardly have failed to stop matters at the
start. As it is, stocks far and wide have been
wiped out.

I would mention in reference to what you
say as regards " a class of bee-keepers whose
view of associated effort is bounded by the
limits of their own apiaries," &c, that whilst
quite agreeing with what you say, I think it
would be impossible for you, familiar with the
advantages of association work to realise or
put yourself in the place of a man who has
kept bees for years with moderate success, on
old-fashioned lines, no disease having — it so
happened by chance — ever come his way ; or
in the place of a man who has only kept bees
for a few years, but on modern lines as taught
by the "Guide Book," B.B.J., &c. The
former will never be converted to the advan-
tages of an Association until he has joined and
seen them for himself, and if he does not join
and disease comes his way, he will terribly
regret not having done so. The latter also
needs to join before he can really see its ad-
vantages. He probably is quite willing and
ready to give help to his brother bee-keepers,
but these bee-keepers are often of long stand-
ing, and do not want his help. And so he
refrains from offering it, thinking that, being
bee-keepers of long experience, they have
nothing to learn, but on his joining an associa-
tion, and his brother bee-keepers doing the
same, he will be surprised to find what a lot
of help he has obtained from his "Guide
Book," &c, and with which he can assist
others. There is also the obvious advantage
to himself in joining if only to keep his own
apiary free of disease.

Referring to your reply to F. J. G. (Devon)
(page 229) our own association has similar
cases to deal with, and in one bad instance,
where we know there is disease, the bee-
keeper will neither join the association nor
allow our expert to cure his bees, free of
charge, and he will do nothing himself. He
has no knowledge of how to treat foul brood,
and does not want to knoiv. He had seven
stocks last summer, and he now only has two,
and he had heavy robbing at his apiary last
autumn.

He is watching his own bees go down, and
cares nothing for his neighbours, or as to
undoing all the trouble and expense the asso-
ciation has been put to. If every bee-keeper
joined an association, foul brood would be
stamped out in two years. — George M.
Saunders, Hon. Secretary, Cumberland
B.K.A., Douthwaite, Keswick, June 7.

BROOD IN CANDY-BOXES.

[4796.] Referring to the cases reported in
the Bee Journal of brood being found
in candy-boxes, I may say that since writing
you anent this having occurred in the hive of

a friend, and also in the hive of a farmer near
here — where the candy-box was full of brood
when taken off —

With regard to my own hives, I found in
two of them, when examined some days ago,
that the candy-boxes had brood (both drone
and worker) in them. On Saturday last one
of these hives sent out a fine swarm, and on
Monday, the 2nd inst., the other gave me a
very fine swarm indeed. Nothing uncommon
in all this, you will say ; but on the following
day, when putting a box of shallow-frames on
each hive, I first examined all the frames of
each body-box in the swarmed hives, and
although I found the ten frames in both well
covered with bees, there was very little brood,
and not more than a couple of pounds of honey
in either of them. I send my name and
address for reference, while signing myself
F. M. A., N. Wales.

BEE JOTTINGS FROM HANTS.

[4797.] I have for some time past read with
great pleasure the gossipy and instructive
letters of your correspondents, and I am now
endeavouring to make some return by sending
you a few jottings of my bee experience of
this and last season, and trust a new-comer
will not be unwelcome.

The distressing accounts of the loss of so
many stocks, owing to lack of food during the
recent inclement weather, caused me an
anxious moment or two concerning my own,
but on reflection I was reassured by the recol-
lection of the state of the hives on my last
examination ; but to make doubly sure I had a
look into all the hives and was glad to find
sealed sections or shallow frames in supers, so
there was no starvation there.

This wet weather suits our very light, sandy
soil, and I have never seen such an abundance
of early blossom, from the opening of the
croci to the present splendour of the hawthorn.
That the bees take full advantage of every
bright interval is evident from the sealed
stores. I am more hopeful of a good harvest
this [year than last, which will be a startling
statement to many of your readers. Last
season we were simply dried up, and I got a
very poor return — about 15 lb. per hive,
which was in excess of the take of many
neighbouring bee-keepers. This year, how-
ever, the rains have made things grow splen-
didly, and a week or twos' sunshine would
have a wonderful effect. Though surrounded
by heather, I only got a slight trace of honey
from it, as there was no moisture at all in the
ground when the bloom was out. But to
return to the present season ; I had a very fair
swarm on May 27, which is now doing well.
I seem to get a swarm on that or following
day every year ; and they do well.

About a fortnight ago I had a curious
experience. Upon opening one of the hives,
which had been supered with shallow-frames
above excluder-zinc, there was a procession of

234

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 12, 1902.

workers, each carrying a dead or maimed
drone upwards over the quilts where I had
raised them. On examination I found the
drones had forced themselves through the ex-
cluder and been killed above by the workers ;
for 1 threw out from the super at least 100
dead drones, and about twenty others who
were jammed half way through the zinc. The
superabundance of drones was owing to the
transference of combs from a skep to bar-
frames last season. Experientia docet. One
question has been occupying my mind since,
viz., how to get rid of these combs in quickest
way without losing the brood in them ? I am
at present working them to the outside to be
removed when free from brood. If one took
them out and placed them on top of frames,
giving access all round, would the brood hatch
out in a perpendicular position 1 [Probably
it would. — Eds.] — W. P. Gornall, Earn-
borough, Hants.

makes the bee-keeper ask, and rightly ask
" What do I get for my money ? " And re-
flection answers, " Nought ! " I enclose name
and address, neither for publication, and sign
myself — Apis, June 8.

BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATIONS

AND " ASSOCIATED EFFORT."

[4798.] You, Mr. Editor, in this week's
editorial, have administered a severe but not
undeserved rebuke to those bee-keepers (?)
who will not make any associated effort for
the good of the craft at large, and whose
shortsightedness prevents their seeing that
what benefits their neighbour must, of
necessity, benefit themselves also. But there
is another side of the shield that ought, in
fairness, to be shown. Bee-keepers' associa-
tions, or, rather, their hon. secretaries, are not
impeccable. I will relate the delinquencies
of one, who shall, however, be nameless.
Early in the present year I wrote to the hon.
secretary of the B.KA. for the county in
which I reside, expressing my wish to become
a member, and received in return a copy of a
previous year's " report," prize schedule, and
entry form complete. This led me to suppose
that there would be a honey show held during
the present year. Alas, a vain delusion !
Not only will there be no show, I find, but
the prize-money due to exhibitors at the last
is as yet unpaid !

Not knowing this at the time, I forwarded
my subscription, and asked that the expert
might pay me a visit in the spring. Many
weeks elapsed, and a second letter had to be
written before the receipt of the money was
acknowledged, and then the secretary in-
formed me that he would visit me himself " as
soon as the weather broke." Now, sir, here
we are in the middle of the honey flow, with
hawthorn already going out of flower, and
clover and sainfoin fast coming on, but no sign
of either this gentleman or his expert (indeed,
I understand that the latter does not exist !)
have I seen, and evidently, for all he knows
or cares my comb might be rotten with foul
brood, my stocks dwindled to vanishing point,
and the whole thing generally at sixes and
sevens. It is treatment such as this that

A VISIT TO THE ROOT'S.

BY F. W. L. SLADEN.

The name of the A. I. Root Company is well
known in connection with bees and bee-
keeping appliances throughout the world. It
was my privilege to spend about a fortnight
at their establishment last September.

Mr. A. I. Root, the founder of the firm,
was unfortunately away when I called, and I
was very sorry to miss him. He has, however,
ceased for some time to take any active in-
terest in the bees, and his mantle has fallen
upon his eldest son, Mr. Ernest R. Root,
who presides over the business and edits
their well-known bee journal, Gleanings in
Bee Culture. Gleanings, as it is called for
short, is issued twice a month, and its pages
teem with up-to-date information about bees
and bee-keepers in America. It is printed
and published at the Root factory. Mr. E. R.
Root was also the President of the United
States National Bee-keepers' Association last
year, and it was a very great pleasure to me
to meet him, for I have seldom conversed
with a man who is so well up in the practical
side of bee-keeping as he. He was, of course,
exceedingly busy, and it was not often I could
get a conversation with him in business hours ;
but when he could spare the time I obtained
more information from him in a few minutes
than I did in many days by other means.

Our conversations often took turns which
specially interested me. One of these was
when we chatted on the different British and
American names for the same appliances and
parts of hives. In America the roof of a bive
is called a " cover " and the floor a " bottom
board." Mr. Root thought that the British
terms for these parts were good, and spoke of
making an attempt to adopt them in America.
The photo which accompanies this account was
taken from the roof of one of the factory
buildings. It is of the Root Company's apiary.
There are about 500 hives, which are all kept
for queen-raising. Each hive has a grape vine
trained to a post growing in front of it to shade
the bees from the hot sun, and when I was
there (in September) the vines were laden with
ripe grapes hanging in large tempting-looking
clusters. They were small black grapes, and
had a very nice but peculiar flavour some-
thing like that of an alpine strawberry, and
they were so abundant that the factory hands
were allowed to buy all they could eat
at from 2 cents to 3 cents (Id, to lid.) per
pound. During my stay at Medina 1 spent a
great deal of my time in the apiary, and was
able to compare notes with Mr. Wardell, the

June 12, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

235

apiarist, on many little details ia queen-
raising. The trees shown behind the apiary
are of some rapid-growing species of spruce,
and form an excellent protection from strong
winds. In the corner of the apiary to the
left is a two-storied octagonal bee-house, built
originally, I believe, by Mr. A. I. Koot him-
self. No bees are now kept in it, and the
lower part is used as a honey-house. It
is covered with vines, which bear deliciously
flavoured grape3. Behind the trees, the house
in the centre is that of Mr. A. I. Root. It is
a very pretty and substantially-built red brick
house. On the extreme right is Mr. E. R.
Root's house. It is built of wood in one of
the numerous tasteful designs so common in
America. Just beneath it in the foreground
is a portion of the factory buildings. Several

The factory is a veritable hive of industry.
Sections, foundation, hives, frames, honey
extractors, and a thousand other articles of use
to bee-keepers are manufactured, each in their
own part of the large buildings. The sections
are cut by machinery out of ^-in. basswood,
and five long strip3 are cut at a stroke. These
are passed through a sanding machine, by
which they are polished, and in undergoing
this process they become quite hot. The next
machine they are passed through cuts them
into the correct length3 ; in this machine they
are dovetailed and have the bee-ways cut out.

In another machine they have the V-joints
cut in each of them singly, and from here
they are passed on to a table, where they are
packed in cases of 500 each, which are branded
on the outside with the number, size, and

APIARY OF THE A. I. ROOT CO , MEDINA, OHIO, U.S A.

white telephone poles are to be seen standing
amongst the trees.

On the extreme left (not shown in the
picture) are the Root Company's extensive
stacks of lumber. This consists chiefly of
basswood (the American lime tree) and white
pine (Weymouth pine), cut up into boards
about an inch in thickness. The former wood
is used for making sections and the latter for
hives. Mr. Root told me that the pine forests
are getting scarce, and that some day it may
be impossible to make a hive of 9-in. pine at
a moderate price, and that 6 in. or even
narrower widths may have to be used. Both
the basswood and pine emit a pleasant odour
when drying, which to new-comers like myself
is noticeable throughout the town of Medina.
The bees in the apiary live constantly in the
scent of the pinewood, and under the vibration
of the factory machinery.

shape. The 4| square " plain " or " no way "
section seems at present to be the most popular
section in America, but the sales of the new
tall sections have increased the fastest lately,
and it looks as if they will be a good deal
" to the front " in the future. To every wood-
working machine in the factory there are
suction-pipes, which carry the sawdust, &c,
to the engine furnace. This also burns odd
snaps of wood, &c, and very little coal is
used. I did not learn the number of hands
employed in the factory, or the annual output
of goods, but I believe I am right in saying
that it is the largest establishment of its
kind in existence, and the goods are supplied
throughout the world.

Medina is a small town of about 2,000
inhabitants, and the only industry of impor-
tance in it is that carried on at the Root
factory. The town is situated about thirty

236

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 12, 1902.

miles south of the city of Cleveland, which is
on the southern shore of Lake Erie. The
country around Medina is moderately flat and
very fertile and well cultivated. If it had not
been for the presence of fields of maize, the
peculiar wooden fences, sidewalks, and houses,
the wide, rough roads, and the numerous tall,
slightly- crooked telephone poles, and the
absence of neatly-trimmed hedges, it might
have been English country. The weather
during the fortnight I £was there (at end of
September) was continually sunny and calm
every day with the exception of one day, on
which rain fell. The days were much hotter
than ordinary English summer days, but the
nights were cold. The maple leaves were
beginning to turn colour ; the bees were, how-
ever, still gathering a little honey from wild-
aster (=Michaelmas daisy) and white melilot,
both of which plants grow wild in abundance.

<$tof «}s and mpfip.

[2872.] Bees not Working in Sections. — I
have supered a hive, and the bees have taken
to the middle sections, but they have not
begun drawing out the combs yet. They hang
in compact clusters on the face of the founda-
tion, but do not draw it out. 1. Does this
show that the brood-chamber below is getting
crowded, and that the bees will soon com-
mence comb-building in the supers ? 2. The
hawthorn hedges about here are a mass of
bloom ; there is any amount of it everywhere
around, and the air is quite heavy with its
perfume. Do you think I shall get any honey
in sections from this source if the weather is
good?— J. L. Saxby, Walton, Liverpool,
June 2.

Keplt. — 1. You may rely on it that when
honey is abundant the bees will soon start
comb-building and storing. They are simply
waiting for suitable weather to begin work.
2. The honey yielded by the hawthorn is good
when mixed with that from other sources,
but if gathered entirely from hawthorn it is
rank and rather unpleasant in flavour.

[2873.] Buying Diseased Stocks of Bees. —
On Friday last I was asked by a friend to
look at his bees, of which he had three stocks.
Two of them are in frame-hives purchased last
autumn, and the remaining one in a straw skep
bought about three weeks ago. I first looked
over the frame-hives, in one of which the
bees were dead, and in the other they were in
a very weak state. The bees in the skep
seemed to be strong and healthy to all out-
ward appearance. On further examining
the last-named frame-hive I found it in a very
dirty state, the combs containing a lot of dark-
coloured honey with the exception of two or
three frames, in which there was some brood
and about a couple of handfuls of bees along

with the queen. I came to the conclusion
that this hive had foul brood, and I cut away
a piece of the comb and secured the queen-
bee and a few of the workers. I am now
sending these on to you per post, and should
feel much obliged by having your opinion as
to whether I am right in thinking that they
are diseased. My friend wished to transfer
the bees in the skep to a new frame-hive.
Would he be right in doing so if the bees I
have sent on turn out to have foul brood ? I
send my name and address and sign myself
— A Bee-keeper, Glos., May 5.

Beply. — Comb received is badly affected
with foul brood of long standing. It shows
that the seller is either ignorant of the infec-
tious nature of this bee-disease, or was much
to blame in selling the hives referred to if
aware of it.

[2874.] Dealing with Weak Stocks in Early
Summer. — I began bee-keeping last year by
obtaining a swarm from a skep. This year
the bees are very weak — only about half a
frame of brood and a few eggs. I have looked
for the queen, but cannot find her. There is
no drone-comb in the hive. 1. Is this because
the queen may be old ? 2. I have ordered
another swarm. Could I raise a new queen
from this 1 I have always kept a few pieces
of naphthaline in the hive. — D. Chapman,
Beddington, Surrey, June 3.

Beply. — 1. Various causes may account for
the poor condition of the stock, and nothing
but personal inspection could enable us to give
a definite opinion, but it certainly looks as if
the queen is at fault. 2. Not to be of any
service to the weak stock, and it would be bad
bee-keeping to try it. You had best regard
the weak lot as not worth saving, and get to
know if the hive in question is free from
disease before taking any steps to even try to
preserve the bees and combs.

[2875.] Insect Nomenclature. — On opening
one of my hives on Saturday I found what
looked like a long-shaped lump of clay sticking
on the top quilt, but on closer inspection it
proved to be a nest, built in chambers, and
containing eggs and yellow stuff. I send you
what remains of it (it got damaged in taking
it off the quilt). Can you tell me what it has
been 1 I hope it will not arrive too broken
for you to be able to tell what it was. —
E. M. G., Claygate, Surrey, June 4.

We referred the above query to our esteemed
contributor Mr. Sladen as an expert on insect
life, and he sends the following reply : —

The clay-cells are those of some species of
wild bee. The u yellow stuff '' in each cell is
pollen, and the eggs you saw are those of the
parent bee, who also constructed the cells and
stocked them with pollen. Her work could
scarcely have been finished at the time you
took the cells, and if you had then watched
the hive, no doubt you would have seen her
return and could have secured her. Without

June 12, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

237

seeing a specimen of the bee that did the
work we should not like to hazard a conjecture
as to what species it was. The workmanship
of the cells is very delicate, and being in such
an unusual place, it is reasonable to suppose
that the bee may have been a rare kind. It is
possible that other similar cells are in course
of construction in other hives or in similar
places near by. — F. W. L. S.

[2876.] Transferring Bees. — I am a reader
of your Bee Journal keeping a stock of
twenty hives. They are straw hives, with
moveable frames, of Dutch construction
(Gravenhorst). But this year I want to
transfer them to Belgian wooden hives
(Dadant). Will you kindly give your advice
as to best manner and time to do this 1 I will
also be obliged if you will send me a copy of
the " Guide Book" as soon as possible. — (Dr.)
F. van Eeden, Waldcn, Bussum, Holland.

Keply. — If it be at all possible to transfer
the bees from their present straw hives to the
more modern frame-hive by the method de-
scribed on page 140 of " Guide Book " (which
latter has been duly forwarded as desired) we
advise you to follow the plan there detailed,
i.e., to allow the bees to transfer themselves
to the new hives. The task of cutting out
the combs of twenty hives — largely occupied
with brood at this season — and tying them
into the "Dadant" frames with tapes is a
task few would care to tackle, and, even if
successfully got through, the result would be
incomparably worse than having straight new
combs built in the new hives from full sheets
of foundation.

[2877.] Dealing ivith Diseased Stocks. —
Thank you very much for reply. Will take
your advice and get a fertile queen at once, a3
I have examined the hive this morning and
found the queen-cells started and two already
sealed over. 1. Will you please now tell me
if there is foul brood in comb sent 1 About a
week ago I thought there was a strange smell
about this hive, and on looking it over I found
comb as sample sent. It is strong in bees,
and has lots of brood, so much so that I have
put sections on, as the bees seem to need room.
If diseased, what shall I do with it ? 2. I have
fed all my stocks with medicated food, and
always keep naphthaline in them. A neigh-
bour of mine keeps bees, and I know she has
foul brood in them, but she will not destroy
her bees, though they are weak and worthless.
I always supply her with naphthaline, because
she and. I are neighbours and bee-keepers. I
am afraid you will say this one of mine has it,
but surely it does not follow all of mine must
get the disease, does it 'I 3. I keep my
alighting boards washed with carbolic acid
solution ; is this any good 1 Thank you for
your great patience with my inquiries. It is
most good of you week after week to answer
the ignorant questions of your readers. — P.
Hamshar, Sussex.
Keply. — 1 and 2. There are slight signs of

incipient foul brood in comb, which tends to
show that the disease is kept under control by
the use of preventives named. As we have to
deal with both samples of comb sent at inter-
vals some days apart, we are rather surprised
at second sample, for while indicating the
same " slight signs " as the first, the latter
contains little besides drone-brood. If there is
too much of this it should be cut out before
putting on surplus-chambers. With regard to
question, " What you must do 1 " we advise
letting the bees do their best in honey-gather-
ing while the season lasts ; then, after removal
of surplus, examine the brood-combs in lower
chamber. If the brood looks suspicious cut a
piece out and send it on, when we will advise
what step3 to take in the early autumn. 3.
It is always "good" to use disinfectants about
hives when disease is suspected.

[2878.] Dealing xoith Sivarms and Swarmed
Hives. — Just a line or two to let you know
that I got a big swarm yesterday from my
straw skep, extending about 2 ft. in a cluster
in the hedge near by. This makes me write
to ask what I should do with the bees remain-
ing in the skep, as I do not wish to buy a new
queen for them. 1. Should I wait- and see
if there are queen-cells in the skep before
nine days are over, and destroy all except the
best one ? 2. When the queen is hatched out,
and the bees have increased in strength and
number, will it be all right if I could put a
few sections in box, with roof on top, and
place on top of skep ? 3. I have successfully
hived the swarm, and saw the queen enter all
right ; should I give a rack of sections to the
swarm in about a fortnight from now, or when
should I put it on ? — Geo. Brooks, Rother-
ham, Yorks, June 3.

Reply. — 1. Do nothing now ; wait the
usual eight or nine days, when the skep will
most likely send out another swarm, headed
by a young queen. Then if increase of stocks
is not desired, turn up the skep and remove
all queen-cells visible before returning the
swarm to skep in the evening of same day.
2. You may get a few sections worked on top
of skep if the swarm is returned, but not
otherwise. 3. If weather keeps fine, and you
confine the swarm to about seven frames, a
rack of sections may be put on in ten days
if honey is coming in well.

[2879.] Diagnosing Foul Brood.— As a
reader ot your valuable journal, I should feel
greatly obliged if you will tell me whether
there is any trace of disease in the bit of
comb sent herewith. It was cut from the
feed-hole of a straw skep, the bees of which
seem lazy and disinclined to work, thirty
or forty usually clustering about the en-
trance. 2. Why is this 1 If you cannot
pronounce on this, I will send more with
brood in it. There is brood in the hive. —
Ergo, Leicester, June 4.

Reply. — 1. A bit of comb cut from the
feed-hole of a skep could not possibly be of

238

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 12, 1902.

any service in deciding with regard to foul
brood. Send on a bit of comb — just as cut out
— containing recently sealed or unsealed larvce.
2. The bees clustering so as to cover the en-
trance would tend to indicate a through-
draught which the bees are endeavouring to
prevent. Is the feed-hole at top well
covered ? If not, let it be done, so as to
conserve the warmth of the hive.

[2880.] Bees Bobbing in June. — I have
to-day under different cover sent you a small
piece of comb taken from one of my four
stocks. At the commencement of the season
the stocks were all equally strong, but noticing
vigorous attempts (chiefly unsuccessful, the
bees holding their own) made by the other
hives to rob the one under notice, and the
large amount of fighting, I became suspicious
and have been closely watching the hive. The
comb looks healthy to me, and I saw a young
worker-bee emerge from a cell. A short note
in B.B.J, as to whether healthy or not will
greatly oblige. If healthy, the continued
weakness of stock must be due to the queen
requiring replacing, as the bees are not too
thick on nine frames, whilst the other three are
full up on ten frames and also in the supers, the
latter being more than half full and a number
of sections completed and sealed. I should,
in this case, put a cast into the hive, first
removing the queen, which would provide a
fresh queen and also bring the stock up to full
strength, and would then super at once. —
T. A. Williamson, Abergavenny, June 3.

Reply. — The dead brood in comb sent is
" chilled " only. There is no disease.

[2881.] Uniting Swarms to Queenless Bees.
— Helping Beginners. — Can I unite a fresh
this year's swarm to a hive that has, I sup-
pose, no queen or only a worn-out one ? Upon
opening tne hive and looking at the combs I
found numerous drone-cells and a very
villainous collection of drones. There was no
worker-brood, but a quantity of newly-
gathered very clean honey-comb filled with
honey. I am surprised at the quantity of
honey. The comb taken out was quite soft,
and with difficulty held together so that we
could place it on a dish. I do not like the
plan of placing a skep over brood-frames. I
have several so from last year, and they are a
trouble to me.— H. W. C.

Reply. — We print above query as written
partly to show how difficult it is to make out
what is really meant by correspondents who,
as beginners in bee-keeping have evidently
not yet mastered the most rudimentary
principles of the craft and who are not
regular readers of this journal. For the rest
we must inform " H. W. 0." that letters
addressed to our publishers, Messrs. Kent
& Co., without sending either name, address,
or even date, are, according to rule, ineligible
for publication. We hope, however, by
securing " H. W. C7' as a subscriber, to be of

some assistance ; but he must take the trouble
to make himself clearly understood when
writing, or we cannot help him at all. First,
then, the bees, if they are queenless, or headed
by a drone-breeding queen, are not worth the
trouble of uniting to a this year's swarm.
They would be of no practical advantage to
the latter, and might cause mischief. On the
other hand, it is quite certain that if the hive
had in it when examined recently, " a
quantity of newly gathered; very clear honey-
comb (whatever that may mean) filled with
honey " in surprising quantity, there must be
some error in your description of the hive
and its contents. Anyway, there is a mis-
take somewhere, for it is safe to say
that bees in helpless condition stated, would
neither build new comb nor gather "large
quantities " of honey. Under the circum-
stances, we will be very pleased to reply
further if the hive and contents are carefully
examined and correctly described.

[2882.] Supering Diseased Stocks. — I shall
be much obliged if you can give me your
advice under the following circumstances :— «
There are seven bee-keepers within a quarter
of a mile radius here. I find that one has
five stocks, all of which are affected with foul
brood in every comb ; three of them are strong
in bees, and I have put sections on these
three. The owner is willing to have them all
driven, starved, and disinfected, and renew
frames, if you think it the wisest course to
pursue. The three being so very strong in bees,
I thought it might do to let them go on for a
month or two to see if they will store honey,
as white clover is always plentiful around
here. I will then treat them all after the
honey-flow. If they were my own I should
treat them at once, but I will await your
reply, as I have always found you give sound
advice. I cannot understand how the bees are so
strong, and yet much of the larva? seems to be
all dead and decaying in the combs, and very
few sealed over or in a white, healthy condi-
tion, as my own are. I think they are about
at their strongest now, and will dwindle
down as time goes on. — Constant Reader,
Kendal, June 7.

Reply. — We consider you have taken the
best course under the circumstances, because
our own experience has proved that a strong
lot of bees, even if affected with foul brood,
will at times gather a good harvest of surplus
honey. In one case, to our knowledge, the
bees, though unmistakably developing foul
brood, became thoroughly cured at end of the
season, and yielded well of surplus. Of course,
these cases are the exceptions that prove the
rule, and it would be folly to pay too much
attention to them. They are, however, none
the less true.

[2883.] Becrudescence of Foul Brood: An
Object-Lesson. — I shall be indebted if you will
pass verdict through the Bee Journal on the

June 12, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

239

enclosed piece of comb taken from hive that
had foul brood two years ago, but was clean
and prosperous last year. There has been a
lot of " chilled brood " found in hives around
here through the late inclement spring, but I
am afraid the sample of comb reveals a case
of the old disease breaking forth again, —
W. E. R., Driffield.

Reply. — There can be no doubt that yours
is a case of recrudescence of disease, though
long dormant. The recently sealed and un-
sealed larvoe show that foul brood is rapidly
developing, while in one or two cells with
thick, sunken cappings we find the ominous
speck of dried-up brown matter containing
spores in myriads. This is just the risk so
difficult to get rid of without destroying
diseased combs outright, because the sealed
cells are harmless while they remain covered
with a thick capping of wax, but when a
season of scarcity occurs like the present one
bees go hunting over possible cell where
food may be, and so release the spores of the
disease, and thus spread the mischief.

[2884.] Swarms Coming Off Unseen. — I had
a very large swarm from one of my hives on
Friday last, but as I did not see it issue
I am in difficulty to know which hive it
came from as they are all still so full of bees.
The one from whence I think it came I have
examined and find no queen in it. I have
always understood that the young queen came
out as soon as the swarm left, but there was an
empty cell and some sealed over, all of which
I removed, being afraid that through inex-
perience I may have overlooked her if she was
only young, and I did not wish to run the risk
of " casts " issuing later. 1. Kindly tell me if
I have done the right thing, or, if not, what I
Bhould have done 1 Another hive, although
thick with bees on combs, built from new
foundation recently given, has now honey
sealed over on the top of each frame, but
there is not a trace of queen, brood, or eggs,
though I saw the commencement of a queen
oell. I have taken a frame from another hive,
with, as far as I could judge, brood in all
stages and given it to them. 2. Will they be
able to raise a queen from this, and have I done
the correct thing? The bees seemed quite
normal in April, when they were cleaned,
perhaps not quite so strong as rest, and were
given several new frames of foundation in place
of very old ones. I have been feeding steadily
to get them in good condition. An early
answer will much oblige in case I have erred.
I fear there is no chance of a visit from expert
yet as weather has prevented his visit twioe.- —
Iris, Epsom.

Reply. — J. If the empty cell showed plain
signs that a queen bad batched out from it
quite recently, you have done right, and may
be fairly sure there is one in tho hive. 2- As
the beos "seemed normal" in April— when
you, perhaps incautiously, gave several frames
of foundation*»and are now evidently queen«

less, it is probable some mishap occurred to
the old queen at that time. You must now
examine the frame of brood given, and see
what progress has been made by the bees with
regard to queen-cells, because it is never quite
safe to assume that queens will be raised from
brood so given.

\tt $hom to dtome.

July 5 to 9, at Carlisle.—" Royal " Agricultural
Society's Show. Bee and Honey Section under the
management of the B.B.K.A.

July 17 and 18, at Boston, Linos.— Show of
Honey, Hives, and Bee-Appliances in connection with
the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society. Bee Depart-
ment under the management of the Lines. B.K.A,
Thirteen classes, with liberal money prizes and silver
medals. Schedules from R. Godson, Hon. See. Lines.
B.K.A. , Tothill, Alford, Lines. Entries close
June 18.

July 26, at Buttfleld Park, Hessle, East
Yorks. — Honey Show in connection with the Hessle
and District Horticultural Society. Good prizes for
Honey-Trophy, Sections, and Extracted Honey.
Schedules from Ernest C. S. Stow, Hon. Sec, Thornton
House, Hessle, East Yorks.

July 30 to August 1, at Leeds —Honey show
in connection with the annual show of the Yorkshire
Agricultural Society, at Roundhay Park. £2,115 in
prizes, including liberal cash prizes for honey.
Schedules from John Maughan, secretary, Blake-street,
York. Entries close June 23.

August 5, at Leamington.— Ninth annual show
of the Leamington St. Mary's Horticultural Society.
Three open classes for Six 1-lb. Sections, Six 1-lb. Jars
" Light," and Six 1-lb. Jars "Dark" Extracted Honey,
respectively. Liberal money-prizes. Schedules from
P. W. Smith, Secretary, 22, Leam-street, Leamington.
Entries close July 31.

August 7, at Kingstuorpe, Northants.
— Honey show of tne Northants B.K.A. in connection
with the Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Three
open classes with special prizes, including one for
single 1-lb. jar of honey. (Entry free.) Prizes 20s . 10s.(
7s. bd., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from R. Hefford, Sunny-
side, Kingsthorpe, Northampton. Entries close
August 1.

August 13, at Bradford Abbas, Dorset.—
Annual Show of the Yetminster and district B.K.A. in
the Vicarage grounds. Three open classes, including
one for Single 1-lb. Jar of Light and one of Dark
Honey (entry free). Prizes : 10s., 6s., 4s., in each class.
Schedules from G. Leeding, hon. secretary, Bradford
Abbas, Sherborne, Dorset. Entries close Aug. 9.

August 13 and 14, at Dudley.— Dudley Horti-
cultural Society.— Sections, Extracted Honey, Shallow
Frames, Observatory Hives, and Wax. Schedules from
H. Dickinson, Sunnyside, Dudley, Worcestershire.

August 20 and 21, 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 8-

August 28, at Montgomery, N. Wales.—
Honey show in connection with Montgomery and Dis-
trict Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Two open
classes for six's, sections, and extracted. Prizes 10s.,
5s., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from W. U. Jones, Secretary,
Church Bank, Montgomery. Entries close August
81.

August 28, at Llangollen.— In connection with
the annual Flower Show. Open classes for Six l»lb,
Sections, Six 1-lb. Bottles Extracted, and Beeswax,
Sohedules from Frank Little, Llangollen. Entries
close August 14,

Seotember 1 to 6. at Preston—Annual show of
the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society in connection
with th6 Festival week o! the Guild Merchant (which

240

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 12, 1902.

recurs only once in every twenty-one years). In honour
of the occasion a largely increased list of money prizes
is offered for honey along with silver and bronze medals
of the B.B.K.A. and also of the Society. Open Classes
for Honey-Trophy, Sections, Extracted Honey, Beeswax,
Instructive Exhibits in Bee-Culture, &c. Schedules
from Edward Bohane, Secretary, Miller-arcade, Pres-
ton. Entries close August 2.

September 6, at Bramhall, near Stock-
port.—Honey Show in connection with the Bramhall
and Woodford District Horticultural Society. Liberal
prizes. Schedules from J. Turner, Glenwood, Bram-
hall, near Stockport. Entries close August 30.

September 6 to 13, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and AHied Traders' (10th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Numerous classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees
wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers. Special
attention is directed to the new Honey-selling
Classes. Schedules (now ready) from H. S. Rogers,
Secretary, 27, Leadenhall - street, London, E.C.
Entries close August 26-

September 10 and 11, at Hull.— Honey show
in connection with the Hull and District Horticultural
Association, at the Artillery Barracks. Seven open
classes, including one for Honey Trophy, prizes £2
and £1 ; also classes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar of extracted honey, with free entry.
Schedules from F. W. Thompson, hon. sec, 8, Albert-
square, Ella-street, Hull. Entries close Septem-
ber 3.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace.— Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition
of Bees, Honey, and Appliances. Specially increased
prizes and medals for Coronation year. Further par-
ticulars shortly. Schedules from Hon. Secretary,
Henry W. Brice, 100, Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath.

September 20 to 27, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with the
sixth Annual Exhibition and Market of the C4rooery
and Kindred Trades. Numerous classes for comb and
extracted honey and beeswax. Open to all British
Bee-keepers. Special attention is directed to the new
Honey-selling Classes. Schedules (ready shortly)
from H. S. Rogers, Secretary, 27, Leadenhall-street,
London, E.C.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All querierforwarded will be attended to, and thou only
of per tonal inter e»t will be answered in tki$ column.

*s* A well-known artist connected with
periodical literature, who has recently
become a bee-keeper, kindly sends the fol-
lowing welcome information regarding one
whom all bee-men will hope to see become
a successful bee-keeper. He says : — " One of
the latest recruits to the ranks of bee-keepers
is the well-known author, Mr. Eudyard
Kipling, who has just installed his first hive
in the garden of his house at Eottingdean,
near Brighton. — Animo et fide.

M. I. A. (Hants). — The Bee-keepers' Insurance
Scheme. — The form of receipt published
on page 181 of our issue for May 8 fully
explains the particulars of the way in
which the insurance scheme will be worked.
If, therefore, any further information is
required — beyond what appears on page
231 this week — application must be made
to your county Secretary, or to Mr.
Edwin H. Young, Secretary B.B.K.A., 12,
Hanover-square, W.

J. L. S. (Clevedon). — Honey Extractors. —
For those who do not fear the labour of ex-
tracting, the ,c Little "Wonder" answers

very well ; but with many hives at work no
bee-man would care to dispense with the
cylinder extractor, with its saving of labour
and greater efficiency.
W. E. (Cardiff). — Addresses of Correspondents.
— We cannot undertake to furnish appli-
cants with addresses of correspondents who
use a nom-de-plume or whose initials only
appear. They are regarded as " private "
and confidential. If this rule were not
adhered to we should probably hear com-
paratively few reports of foul brood.

F. Hamshar (Ouckfield). — Immature Brood
Cast Out. — When worker brood is cast out
in quantity in spring or early summer it is
a sure sign that food is short, and that
little or no honey is to be got outside. The
remedy is to feed at once.

G. W. F. (Wolverhampton). — Dead Queens
Cast Out. — We cannot very well judge
from a dead queen whether or not she is
" worn-out,'' because it sometimes happens
that very prolific mothers are by no means
promising in appearance. One of the
queens sent was a well-grown adult, and
seemed all right. The other you had your-
self crushed flat in forcing your note into
the matchbox, and was useles3 for examina-
tion.

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) toe 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. Bingham (Cheltenham) and W. Mist
(Surrey). — Combs are affected with foul
brood. Neither case is a bad one, nor is
the disease of old standing.

E. B. A. (Bridgend, Glam.). — There are signs
of foul brood in comb, but sample was so
badly crushed up as to render examination
very difficult.

E. W. Brosch (Wylde Green). — 1. Brood is
" chilled,'' not foul. 2. The brood may have
been dead about three or four weeks, and it
is far on in development, having reached the
imago stage.

A. Nightingale, — You were quite right in
pronouncing the comb to be diseased ; it is
a decided case of " F. B."

M. Taplin (Nettleham, Lines). — The
" specimen " sent is simply a single chilled
larva, probably from an outside cell in the
hive below the entrance of which it was
found. It is no indication of disease at all.

M. Waghorn (Brighton). — Foul brood is
developing in both samples of comb sent.

*** The crowded state of our Query and
Reply column this week compels us to hold
over several letters and queries till next issue.

June 19, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

241

<ft£itorial, $fcrta kt

GLAMORGANSHIRE B.K.A.

RESUSCITATING THE B.K. ASSOCIATION.

The following circular has been sent to us
for publication. Unfortunately, it reached us
too late for our issue of the 12th inst., thus
leaving but a short notice for Bee Journal
readers in the district. We hope, however,
that all interested who receive this intimation
will make an effort to attend.

Dear Sir, or Madam, — A meeting of those
interested in apiculture will be held at the
Grand Hotel, Westgate - street, Cardiff, on
Friday, June 20, at 8 p.m., with the object
of resuscitating the Glamorganshire Bee-
keepers' Association.

Chairman : Major-General Lee, R.E., J.P.

Several well-known gentlemen, and also
many prominent bee-keepers, have signified
their intention of attending. I shall be glad
if you can arrange to be present, and also
influence the attendance of any one interested
in bee-keeping, as it is most important that
the best possible support be given in order to
successfully carry out the object in view.

Mr. W. G. Preece, bee expert and medallist,
and formerly secretary of the Shropshire
B.K.A., has kindly consented to give a short
address on the advantages of such an associa-
tion, and will also exhibit a number of
lantern slides, &c. — Yours faithfully,

R. T. Duncan.

Barry,

June 11, 1902.

YORKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY.

We beg to remind intending exhibitors that
the general entry for the above society's show at
Leeds closes on Saturday next, the 21st inst.
(Entry at double fees will be received up to
Saturday, June 28.)

THE "ROYAL COUNTIES" SHOW AT
READING.

That unregulable element, the weather,
sadly marred the success — at least from the
spectatorial point of view — of the first of the
honey shows of the present season, which this
year was held at Reading, from June 10 to 13
inclusive. But while the honey exhibited was
good both in quality and quantity, and a
brave display, both of the produce of the hive
and of appliances, rewarded the exertions of
the indefatigable hon. sec. of the Berks
B.K.A. (with whom rested the management of
the agricultural section of the show), and
gratified those who were fortunate enough to
pay it a visit before Jupiter Pluvius turned

the show ground into a veritable swamp,
there was, as might be expected, considerinig
the backwardness of the season and the earli-
ness of the show, very little of the current
year's honey crop in evidence. The Bee
tent of the Berks B.K.A. was erected, and
demonstrations and lectures were given therein
at intervals, when atmospheric conditions were
favourable, by Mr. H. Edwards, of Shrubs
Hill, Sunningdale.

On Wednesday, 11th inst., King Lewanika
visited the show, and evinced much delight
on witnessing the manipulations in the tent :
and on the following day the Prince and
Princess of Wales graced the fixture with their
presence, and were to have witnessed a demon-
stration. Owing, however, to rain and the
sodden nature of the ground, the projected
tour of the exhibits had to be abandoned ; but
Messrs. Felix B. Parfit, J.P., D. W. Bishop-
Ackerman, and H. Edwards, representing the
Council of the Berks B.K.A., had the honour
of being introduced to the Royal box, where,
on behalf of the association, Mrs. G. W.
Palmer (wife of one of the vice-presidents),
made a presentation to the Princess of a
basket of Berkshire honey, which was
graciously accepted ; and Mr. Edwards intro-
duced to the notice of their Royal Highnesses
a royal princess (virgin queen) — one of several
which had hatched out in a nucleus on the
show ground a few hours earlier. Mr. W.
Broughton Carr officiated as judge, and made
the following awards : —

OPEN CLASSES.

Collection of Hives and Appliances. — 1st,
E. H. Taylor, Welwyn ; 2nd, R. H. Coltman,
Burton-on-Trent ; 3rd, T. A. Flood, Reading.

Observatory Hive with Queen and Bees. —
1st, A. E. C. Mumford, Redhill.

Complete Frame-hive. — 1st, R. H. Coltman ;
2nd, E. H. Taylor ; 3rd, T. A. Flood.

Complete Inexpensive Frame-hive for Cot-
tager's Use. — 1st, R. H. Coltman ; 2nd, A. E.
C. Mumford ; 3rd, R. H. Coltman ; h.c, E. H.
Taylor.

Twelve 1-lb. Sections of 1901 or any previous
year. — 1st, W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury ;
2nd, J. Sopp, Crowmarsh ; 3rd, Surg.-Gen.
Woolfryes, Kintbury.

Six 1-lb. Sections of 1902.— 1st, W. Wood-
ley ; 2nd, A. Hamer, Llandilo, S. Wales ;
3rd, D. W. Bishop-Ackerman, Reading.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
H. W. Seymour, Henley-on-Thames ; 2nd,
A. G. Preen, Nesscliffe.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Liquid Honey, Gathered
prior to 1902. — 1st, H. W. Seymour ; 2nd,
W Woodley ; 3rd, A. G. Preen ; 4th, Rev.
E. R. Iremonger, Clatford; v.h.c, R. Dutton,
Terling; h.c, Rev. W. H. Edwards, Pang-
bourne.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Granulated Honey. — 1st,
H. W. Seymour; 2nd, R. Rowell, Winch-
field; 3rd, W. Woodley; v.h.c, R. Allen,
Bicester.

242

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. ~^ (June 19, 1902.

Honey Trophy (100 lb. limit).— 1st (and
silver medal of B.B.K.A.) W. Woodley ; 2nd,

D. W. Bishop- Ackerman.

Honey Trophy. — (50 lb. limit). — 1st (and
bronze medal of B.B.K.A.) H. W. Seymour ;
2nd, D. W. Bishop- Acker man.

Beeswax (not less than 3 lb.)— 1st, H. W
Seymour ; 2nd, Jno. Berry, Llanrwst, N.
Wales) ; 3rd, E. C. R. White, Newton Toney ;
v.h.c, R. Duttpn ; h.c, D. W. Bishop-
Ackerman.

Useful Invention Connected with Bee-
Keeping. — 1st, H. Edwards, Sunningdale,
(swarm-catcher) ; 2nd, Messrs. Sheppard and
Howard (section - rack with woven wire
dividers) ; 3rd, R. Allen (emergency swarm
box and travelling crate combined).

Collection of Honey and Wax in Applied
Form. — 1st, H. W. Seymour.

Mead (Half gallon).— 1st, H. W. Seymour ;
2nd, A. Hamer.

Honey Vinegar (Half gallon). — 1st, H. W.
Seymour.

Educational Exhibit Connected with Bee
Culture. — 1st, Dr. Percy Sharp, Brant
BroughtoD, Lines, (lantern slides) ; 2nd, H. W.
Seymour (honey in applied form).

LOCAL CLASSES.

Six 1-lb. Sections of any Year. — 1st, W.
Woodley ; 2nd, J. Sopp ; 3rd, A. Head,
Winkfield.

Six 1-lb. Sections of 1902. — No award.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey of any
Year. — 1st, H. W. Seymour; 2nd, J". Sopp
and W. Woodley (equal) ; 3rd, S. Temblett ;
Andover, and C. J. Johnson, Caversham
(equal) ; v.h.c, W. R. Howell, Wallingford.

Six 1-lb. Jars Honey of any Year. — (1st
not awarded) ; 2nd, A. Head.

Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey of 1.902. —
No awards.

Comb- Honey Design. — (1st not awarded) ;
2nd, fl. W. Seymour and J. Sopp (equal).

Beeswax. — 1st, H. W. Seymour ; 2nd, W.
Woodley ; 3rd, G. W. Davies, Wallingford,
and Rev. W. H. Edwards (equal) ; c, Rev.

E. R. Iremonger.

SPECIAL CLASSES.

Six 1-lb. Sections of 1902. — (1st and 2nd
not awarded) ; 3rd, D. W. Bishop-Ackerman.

Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey of 1902. —
No award. — (Communicated.)

On Friday, the last day of the show, an
examination of candidates for the Third Class
Certificate of the B.B.K.A was held on the
show ground under the most adverse condi-
tions possible to conceive. Heavy rain ft 11
during the whole time, and but for the hearty
and helpful assistance of the Hon. Secretary,
Mr. Bishop-Ackerman, Mr. Edwards, the
expert, and some of the candidates, the prac-
tical portion of the examination would have
been impossible, and as some of the candi-
dates had travelled long distances to attend,
grievous disappointment would have resulted.

However, a canvas awning was run up, and
rough and ready protection from the down-
pour extemporised, and we were thus enabled
to get through the work.

We refer to this matter here in simple
justice to the gentlemen named, without
whose cordial co-operation our own time — as
examiner — and that of the candidates would
have been wasted. — W. B. C.

NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM
B.K.A.
Mr. James Waddell, Wooler, Secretary of
the Northumberland and Durham Bee-keepers'
Association has been appointed as an expert,
to make a tour amongst the bee-keeping com-
munity with a view to give advice and assis-
tance to those requiring it. Mr. Waddell will
be supported financially from the County
Council. Arrangements are being made for
the next show to be held in Newcastle, and
the Society has been fortunate in securing the
services of Earl Grey as President. — (Commu-
nicated).

(&om^mAtntt.

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinion! expressed by correspondent!. No notice will b*
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.

[4799.] A Trying Season. — The poet writes
of glorious June, sunny, flowery, leafy June,
of " The golden smile of June, with bloom
and sun in every place, and all the world in
tune,'' but the present month, so far as it has
gone (16th), instead of smiles has worn a
constant frown. In fact, it has been as sun-
less and wet as November, and cold as March,
with scarcely a break in the cloudy sky. The
weather has been, indeed, a time of trial and
anxiety to the bee-keeper and disastrous for
the poor bees. We hear of starved stocks, of
drones (mature and immature) being cast out
of the hives in every direction. New swarms
which ventured to start colonising in the three fi
or four warm days at the end of May, some of
them utterly ruined ; those not fed being I
found dead in heaps on the floor-board ; while I
those which have been fed every day, have f.
made little progress beyond a little comb- '
building. The barometer has misled us this ;
month, for it has rained more or less nearly every
day (or night), and whether pointing to " Fair,"
" Change,'' or " Rain," the conditions outside
have been the same. Yet with every rise in

June 19, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

243

the barometer our hopes have risen also ; but
the fervent wish for a few days of "bee-
weather " — when the bees could get to work
and save labour and expense of feeding — has
been unrealised. So far as my memory serves,
the present season is worse in my own district
than that of '88, when we had a few days in
which the bees worked hard and stored a
little honey.

Bee-keepers who have supered and have
not troubled to feed their stocks will, I fear,
(if climatic conditions are general) cripple the
future usefulness of their colonies, even if we
get better weather later on ; and the general
opinion of the weather-wise is that we shall
get no settled weather till after the 21st inst.

Natural Swarming. — The foregoing note will
make it plain to any one that natural swarms
have been few in number so far, aDd the fore-
cast points to continued scarcity. The greater
part of the drone-brood has been destroyed by
the bees in trying to save the colony ; con-
sequently, one great incentive to swarming has
been removed ; then, again, in many cases the
hives are empty and bare of honey, breeding
has been curtailed if not stopped altogether,
and these empty cells will be the first to be
filled with honey when surplus is brought in.
This must, of course, reduce the breeding-
space in the near future, and further remove
that congested condition of hives necessary to
start the so-called " swarming fever."

Artificial Swarms. — These I do not make
or recommend, nor would I advise any one to
make them, except as nuclei, with a frame or
two from other hives and a few bees, to
gradually build up into stocks for another
season. Artificial swarms do not start off with
that verve and vim that animate the natural
swarm ; they are more in the position of trans-
ported forced labour, lacking the buoyant
hope and " go " of the enterprising hard-
working colony of emigrants, and, though they
may, and do, manage to establish themselves,
the colony will in the following year be barely
equal to a good natural swarm of that period,
and may yield results of surplus sometimes
not equal to that of a good natural swarm of
the current season.

The Present Need for Feeding. — Yes, feed
regularly during the present bad bee-weather
if the bees are to live and prosper. Thin
syrup, given in shallow-pans in the open, is
the least troublesome. A wisp of straw to
prevent the bees drowning in the syrup, or
half a pint of syrup to each stock every night
will carry on the colony till better times.

Foul Brood. — It appears from the numerous
letters in your query and reply columns that
disease is still rampant in the country.
" Robbing " of diseased stocks is now generally
considered to be the most fruitful source of
spreading foul brood, and results seem to prove
that it is so ; but this insidious foe to bee-keep-
ing may be scattered in other forms and through
other sources. What of comb-foundation, for
instance ? Is every parcel of wax thoroughly

treated before being made up into comb-
foundation to insure the destruction of every
germ and spore ? If bee-keepers had to pay
double for foundation warranted free from
germs of disease, it would be cheap at the
price compared to foundation that may con-
tain the germs of disease. I think that every
maker should take steps to sterilise wax before
making it into foundation. Again, what
systems are our experts following for its
eradication ? Is each one a law unto himself,
or is there any recognised system ? Now is
the time to discuss this matter, when the
spring tours are closing. Let us have
" associated effort " along this line for the
benefit of our craft and those poor handi-
capped ones who are in the toils of foul
brood.— W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury.

PATENT HIVES.

[4800.] Referring to Mr. Gray's letter
in the Bee Journal of May 29 (page 213),
a question is asked you concerning the state
of mind of your contributor " D. M. M." re-
specting my hive when he wrote on " Current
Topic?," in B.J. of May 13 (page 192). So far as
I have seen, no answer has been given. I
think " D. M. M." was the right party to
answer the rather uncomplimentary question,
but I suppose he has more important duties to
attend to. Having, however, had the pleasure
of a visit from him recently, I can vouch for
his being a gentleman whose statements can
be "taken seriously." The "statements"
referred to were mostly taken up with giving
my estimate of my " offspring," and what I
claim for it. His opinion is " seriously " and
very guardedly given when he admits that
my hive is a " novelty," and says that some
points of it may come in for commendation.
However, I am quite satisfied with that from
one who like yourself prefers to " let well
alone." "When " D. M. M." saw my hive, it
was not completed. This has now been done,
and a patent applied for, so that the public
will soon have an opportunity of judging of
its merits, and it will get a chance to " stand
on its own legs."

Mr. Gray seems to have jumped to the con-
clusion that he has forstalled me. This may
be so, but he must know that there are
different ways of doing the same thing.

This much I am certain of, my hive is
original and different in all its parts and
method of working from any hive yet invented
so far as I know. It is generous of Mr. Gray
to offer to " freely give " what he has " freely
received " (he does not say from whom) to the
readers of the B.J., and I, for one, hope he
will not keep us long in suspense. —
Alexander Retd, Vrray, N.B.

P.S. — After D. M. M.'s comments on my
hive appeared, I have had a copy of another
bee journal sent me (I thought they were all
defunct except yours). It is claimed to be
" a journal devoted to up-to-date bee-keeping.'

244

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 19, 1902.

I must confess I found it a little too far up
for me. I was entertained with it certainly,
but I confess my inability to quite understand
it, some of it beiDg beyond my comprehension.
However, I mean to become a subscriber. I
like something with a bit of " go " in it and,
perhaps, its Editor will enlighten me on a few
points, that is to say, if some of the startling
assertions he makes are " meant to be taken
seriously.'' Talk of patent hives, they are too
numerous to mention, but does not that very
fact show that many want something better
than the now old bar-frame hive 1 Call it up-to-
date if you like. Let the old one go into the
smelting pot like, as Dr. Eainny has given the
higher critics liberty to do with the old books
of the Bible, and it will come out purified,
perfected, and complete. — A. E.

THE SEASON IN KENT.

AN ENCOURAGING REPORT.

[4801.] The incidents of bee-keeping are
varied and numerous, and as a counterbalance
to many depressing ones which this cheerless
season has produced, it will be interesting to
some of your readers to hear of one, in which
I bore a part on Wednesday, the 11th inst.
In fulfilment of a promise I visited on that
day the County Industrial School at Ashford,
Kent. In a pleasant introductory chat with
the superintendent, I found that he had two
hives of bees in straw skeps which he had
placed upon the frames of two hives last
autumn. One of these was in strong condi-
tion, the other he believed so be weak. On
the 7th of the month he had driven the
bees in the strong hive and caught and
put the queen into the bottom hive and
duly placed a queen-excluder in position
and replaced the skep upon it. While this
was being related the report came that the
bees were swarming, and conversation was
promptly abandoned, giving place to action.
The swarm was not long in settling, pending
which we examined the combined hives. The
skep was removed and inverted, and was
found to contain quite a large number of
bees, sealed brood in all the combs from top
to bottom, and several queen cells. This was
set aside and attention directed to the frames
in the hive, on which the skep had rested.
Upon taking them out one by one every frame
was found completely occupied from top to
bottom with sealed brood, there being several
queen cells. The question then arose what
should be done ? Here was an opportunity,
which I regarded as almost unique, of
making three good colonies out of
one, and it was so decided ; the swarm,
weighing upwards of 6 lb., was hived
in a new l< W. B. C." hive ; the combs and
bees, which had furnished the swarm, were
lifted out and put into a similar hive, and the
skep was placed over the hive referred to as
the weak one, which we found possessed a

drone-laying queen, and was practically empty.
Of course, the latter queen was caught and
destroyed. The pleasure of the owner was
unbounded, and as for myself, I found it,
well, exhilarating. A reasonable computation
of the number of bees in the swarm and in
the combined hives would be 50,000, and
those to shortly hatch out 60,000, so that
when the warm weather comes the fortunate
owner may look with some confidence to a fair
harvest from his hives. I trust it may be in
my power in due time to report progress. I
can only describe the hive as magnificent. —
J. Garratt, Meopham, Kent.

FOUL BROOD TROUBLES IN WALES

BUYING DISEASED STOCKS.

[4802.] Allow me, Mr. Editor, to express
my sympathy with the " bee-keeper in
Wales," referred to in your editorial of the
5th inst. (page 221). I, too, am another bee-
keeper in Wales, and badly hit by foul brood.
Of fifty stocks put up for winter only two
were found in the spring unaffected by the
scourge. It had made its appearance in some
of the hives a year ago, and after then treating
the affected cases in a drastic manner and, as
I thought, cured them, the discovery made
this spring that the disease had spread
throughout the apiary was disconcerting in
the extreme. The number of my stocks is
now reduced by deaths and uniting to thirteen,
and of those not more than three are of
effective, surplus-storing strength. All old
combs are destroyed, and hives cleaned, and I
am hopeful that with care the disease will be
kept under.

As to the cause of the outbreak, I can only
surmise that it was due to the presence of
germs of the disease in some stocks that I
bought three years ago. I have kept bees for
about twenty years, and, previous to last
summer, had had no acquaintance with foul
brood. My present experience has convinced
me of the urgent need of a British Foul Brood
Act, for, so long as half or more of our coun-
ties are without bee associations, the means
for keeping foul brood under control are prac-
tically non-existent. Even were every county
provided with its association, the non-inclu-
sion of a large proportion of bee-keepers
would go far to nullify the efforts of the
associations in their attempts at repression.
It seems to me that nothing short of com-
pulsory powers will avail.

As there is nothing to be gained by conceal-
ment, I append my name and address. — John
Morgan, Upper Boat, Pontypridd, Glam.

INSURANCE FOR BEE-KEEPERS.

[4803.] Correspondence upon this subject
having revived, I would like to take the
opportunity to enter a strong protest against
the additional charge imposed upon bee-

June 19, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

245

keepers who are not members of the British
Bee-keepers' Association. The sum charged
extra — i.e., 6d. — is, of course, small and hardly
worth quarrelling over, but the principle of the
thing is objectionable, more especially in view
of the large share which unattached bee-
keepers have taken in making the insurance
scheme possible.

If I mistake not, the subject was originally
brought forward by a non-member, and past
copies of our Journal will further bear
witness that non-members took a lively and
useful interest in the matter. Later, we read
in the Journal that the scheme proposed
could only be carried out if sufficient support
were obtained from bee-keepers generally and
(page 41) ". . . . a sufficient amount of sup-
port has now been promised, .... it is not
a little curious to note that the great majority
of applications received .... have come from
readers of the B.B.J, who are not members of
any bee-keepers' association at all."

If this means anything, it would appear that
without the support of unattached bee-keepers
the insurance scheme would have come to
nothing. For this service this body of bee-
keepers is to be mulcted in an additional fee !
— Unattached, June 13.

QUEEN VAGARIES.
[4804.] Would you be so good as to give
me your valued opinion concerning the con-
duct of some bees under the following circum-
stances : — On Friday, June 6, a hive swarmed.
The owner (a lady who has just commenced
bee-keeping) asked me to look at them on
Sunday, the 8th, fearing something was wrong
with the parent stock. I found the swarm
had been nicely housed in a new hive, but the
old stock was in a dirty old hive with a fixed
floor-board ; and, moreover, being only about
16^ in. wide, the top bars of standard frames
had to be cut down a little in order to go in.
I also saw and destroyed several wax-moth
grubs — these were what had alarmed the
owner. As expense was no object, I advised
her to get a new hive, and to transfer the
frames and destroy the old hive. There were
six or seven sealed queen- cells in the hive.
On Sunday, the 15th, the new hive being
ready, I went to transfer the bees for her. I
lifted the old hive to one side, stood the
new one in its place, and then trans-
ferred the frames one by one, keeping them
in the same order. I spotted the queen, and
found that all the queen-cells except two had
been torn open at the side and destroyed. Of
the other two, one was open at the apex and
empty — presumably the cell from which the
queen I had seen had hatched out. The other
I cut out ; it contained a young queen in quite
an early stage of nymph-hood. From these
signs I concluded that the bees had decided
not to send out a cast. There were no eggs as
yet in the hive, but, considering the cold and
wet of the week from June 8 to 15, 1 was not

surprised, for even if the queen had been
several days hatched she had scarcely had a
chance of taking the nuptial flight. So far,
therefore, all seemed straightforward and clear ;
but now comes the — to me — unexpected con-
duct of the bees. Scarcely ten minutes after
the removal was finished, the bees in large
numbers began to stream out from the hive,
apparently as though they were going to
swarm ; but, although a good many circled
about in the air, a large number — I
should say the majority — simply settled
on the ground and the surrounding
plants — potatoes, in fact — and almost
immediately these began returning to the hive
or collecting in little clusters about and upon
the hive. Almost at the moment that the
bees began to come out a light rain came on,
which very soon became a sharp shower.
This rapidly hurried them in, and also drove
us indoors for about threequarters of an hour.
On my return it seemed at first as though all
the bees had gone in, but I found a cluster of
perhaps a pint or so of bees had settled near
the top of a wall thickly covered with ivy.
These I secured, and threw out upon the
alighting board ; and sure enough there was
the queen with them ! Now what I should
like to know is why they went out. Is it
probable that in spite of what seemed like
signs to the contrary, they were a "cast,"
which were baulked of their full intentions
by the rain : or might it have been that the
queen went off on her nuptial flight and that
the rain together, perhaps, with the unusual
presence of several people about the hive
caused her to alight on the wall close by?
Or is there any other probable explanation ? —
Ballydawly, London, S.W., June 16.

[The natural inference is that, as you hap-
pened to select the very day when — under
normal conditions — the second swarm was due,
the first hatched queen was with the " cluster "
which you hived, and the rain caused the
straggling lots to return to the hive instead of
joining the queen, as they would eventually
have done but for the rain. — Eds.]

BEES ON THE MARCH IN SOUTH
AFRICA.

A COMMANDEERED SWARM.

[4805.] I received a letter this morning
from a friend, Sergeant-Major J. Lincoln, 7th
Battery, Royal Artillery, dated from Kroon-
stadt, South Africa, May 6, 1902, in which,
after inquiring after my bees here at home, he
gives an account of a swarm of bees he met
with in South Africa. The extract from the
sergeant-major's letter reads as follows : —
11 Talking of bees, when we were out on trek
near Senekal last January we caught a couple
of Boers in a Cape cart, and after having this
cart in the battery for a couple of days we
found there was a genuine swarm of bees
under the seat, with quite a lot of honey i-

246

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 19, 1902.

their combs. I could not understand why
there always seemed to be so many bees
flying about around the cart as we were going
along the road, but while our "wheeler''
was doing some slight repairs to the cart he
came across the bees under the seat. Of
course we had a regular treat of honey on our
biscuits. I was sorry afterwards I did not
take a snapshot of them in the cart before we
disturbed them. It would have been a bit of
a curio, wouldn't itl" As we get some
accounts of bees in queer situations in B.B.J.
I thought the extract might have some interest
to readers, as we have had several accounts
about the doings of bees from that country in
your pages. — R. Meadowcroft, Wokingham,
Berks.

POLLEN-CLOGGED COMBS.

[4806.] I notice in Bee Journal from
time to time correspondents complaining of
being unable to clean " pollen-clogged combs,"
and in reply to W. J. Smith you say on
page 220 (May 29) "There is no known or
easy method of cleaning pollen-clogged combs
so as to render them fit for use." If you will
send me on a pollen-clogged comb, even of
comb in which no brood has been reared, I
will clean it, and return to you by next post.
I think you will find the comb an agreeable
surprise, and as readily taken to by the
bees as any others. I have myself had them
filled with eggs on both sides in three
days. Old combs with hardened, dry
pollen are more difficult, but unless the
pollen is hardened pea-meal or flour they
can be cleaned with a little more patience. I
have sent you an advertisement, and any bee-
keepers wishing a few cleaned should pack
securely and note the rail address.

Combs pollen-clogged should have the honey
extracted and packed, so as not to injure the
cells. — D. Vallance, Dunaskin, Lines.

[In the genet al interest of bee-keepers we
depart from our rule of keeping correspondence
outside the region of " free advertisements " in
the above case, and will be glad to forward a
pollen-clogged comb — if some reader will send
one to this office — to Mr. Vallance for cleaning,
and on its return will report for the benefit of
readers. — Eds.]

BEES IN MID-SHROPSHIRE.
[4807.] I wish that I could send your
readers a more cheerful "note" from these
parts. I do not know how our brethren in
the south are doing, but in this district of the
Midlands things are looking very bad indeed.
The weather is about as adverse as it possibly
can be. A fortnight ago bees were well up in
supers, and looked like doing some good work,
but to-day the supers are practically deserted.
We have had cold north winds for a week or
more, with not the slightest prospect of a
change for the better. Several bee-keepers
much older than myself declare that they have

never experienced anything similar to that
they are having now. The bees are right, the
bee-keepers are right, the country is right —
all we need is some sunshine, and then things
will go with a merry hum. May the change
soon come and gladden the heart of every bee-
man, including myself. — James Clat, Wel-
lington, Salop, June. 14.

GLEANINGS FROM FOREIGN BEE
JOURNALS.

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

L'Apicoltore (Italy). — The lizard must de-
cidedly be reckoned as an enemy of the bee,
and commits much havoc in the early rpring
before the straw cushions, which are placed
between hive and hive at the beginning of
winter, are removed.

These form a favourable lurking-place for
the lizards, and any tired bee alighting on the
cushions on her way back to the hive, falls a
victim to the watchful foe. When the straw
padding is removed, and when, as spring ad-
vances, there is more insect life abroad, these
creatures seem to leave the apiaries.

Deutsche Bieninsche (from American Bee
Journal). — We have combs forty years old
that I would not exchange for the same
quantity of new foundation.

Elsass-Lothringischer Bienen Zeitung. —
Tribute of honey and wax under the
Parlavingians. — From Acts of the time of
Charlemagne we find that every royal seat was
surrounded by a territory belonging especially
to it, generally a few villages with large farm
holdings ; sometimes even considerable towns
with a warden and mayor, both of which had
to pay a tribute in kind to the palace at
regular times of grain, flour, malt, vegetables,
eggs, butter, cheese, poultry, meat, fish, lard,
also honey and wax, and other articles.

In case of the Emperor arriving unexpectedly
at the palace, smoked provisions and salted
meat, sausages, butter cheese, honey and wax,
flour, wine, beer, and vinegar, were kept in
store.

In the royal district, Asuapium, the tribute
consisted of ninety baskets full of old corn,
100 measures of barley, 100 measures of
wheat 430 of oats, one measure of beans, twelve
of pea?, three measures of honey, one of batter,
ten sides of bacon, 400 fresh hams, and 43 lb.
of cheese.

The cattle also came under tribute thus : —
Seventy- nine riding horses, twenty-four three-
year-old, twelve two-year-old, thirteen one
year; four mules, twenty oxen, two asses,
thirty cows with their calves, three bulls,
150 large pig*, 100 voung pigs, eighty sheep
with their lambs, fifteen goats wiih kids, six
he-goats, &c.

Fifty Hives of Bees. — Foity geese, six
ducks, 100 fowls, and eight peacocks.

In the monasteries of this period bee-keep-

June 19, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

247

ing was much in favour. The monastery of
Staffelsee bad seventeen hives, and amongst
other provisions mentioned was a store of
honey.

On a farm belonging to the Abbey of
Freising we read of two hives of bees. Of two
holdings of the Abbey of Lorch, one had to
deliver yearly a pig, a pot of honey, a measure
of flour, and of oats and two pieces of linen-
cloth. The other contributing a pig, a pot of
honey, a measure of oats and fifteen eggs.

(fta^s and Jjtyfip.

[2885.] A Beginner's Troubles. — I have just
commenced bee-keeping, having purchased a
stock, and a " W. B. C7' hive, &c, from one of
the leading firms. The bees reached me on April
26, and I transferred them from travelling box
to hive while a strong cold wind was blowing.
With a beginner's audacity, I handled them
without gloves or gauntlets, and soon found a
number of the bees seeking an abiding place
up the sleeves of my coat. Consequently, I
got four stings in one arm and one in the other,
and considered 1 had got off lightly.

I have been reading your valuable paper for
some time now, and have well studied the
" Guide Book." Acting on advice from both,
I fed my bees from the start, and have the
satisfaction now of seeing a strong stock of
eager workers. About ten days ago, 1 decided
to examine as to the quantity of brood, &c,
but, desiring to escape crippling from swelled
arms, took the precaution to tie my coat
sleeves, and rubbed my hands and wrists well
with " Apifuge,'' then, with a " case '' of
" Resa " in my waistcoat pocket, I felt confi-
demVand safe. But I had hardly commenced
operations when, resisting all the charms or
otherwise of the " Apifuge,'' a bee declared
war against me, and stung the back of my
hand with a joyous spite which was soon
changed into painful fear. I was still confi-
dent, however, for had I not " Resa '' for my
friend, and so, carefully extracted the sting, I
rubbed in the " reliable remedy '' and con-
tinued my examination, with which I was
well satisfied, although the shortness of food
in the hive showed the soundness of your
advice to feed the bees. But, alas, for the
remedies, my arm had begun to swell con-
siderably, and in spite of continued and pro-
longed rubbings with the " New " remedy, the
swelling increased until from my finger tips to
my elbow I had doubled in size. Since then
I have had a certain amount of contempt for
" Apifuge '' and "Resa," and a good deal of
respect for bee-keepers who are silly enough to
wear gloves. It would pay me better to buy
a pair than to lose two days' business and
spend money on preventives and remedies.
I must say, however, that while helping a
friend I was stung on the neck, and that he

almost immediately applied liquid ammonia,
which apparently was most efficacious, as I had
no more trouble from the sting. In conclusion,
allow me to add my testimony to the worth of
the Bee Journal, and to ask one question. Last
week I bought a swarm which had been hived
in a skep for about fourteen days. I decided
not to interfere with it further than by taking
it off the board and placing on the frames of a
" W. B. C." filled with foundation. Have I
done right, and how long is it likely to be
before the queen descends to the bar frames
below ? — J. Ausden, Canterbury.

Reply. — Before dealing with our corre-
spondent's query on transferring, we may
venture a word of advice on the earlier por-
tion of his interesting letter, as it is always a
point with us to try and put beginners in the
right way where possible. In this way, then,
we advise our correspondent to adopt the wise
adage, " make haste slowly " in most things
connected with bee?. " Audacity " is no dc ubt
very useful at times, but in bee-keeping it is
seldom so, as bees resent it in their own very
pointed way, and it rarely succeeds. On the
other hand, a quiet gentleness of manner in
handling has usually the good result of in-
ducing quietness in the bees, and our friend
may take it from us that he will soon be
able to discard both " remedies " and " gloves.''
if he goes the right way about his bee work,
for he is evidently made of the right material
for a good bee man. With regard to " gloves,"
however, we advise him to discard them with
all speed when he has got on a little way, and
in using "remedies " he had best not use them
on the top of each other as described above.
When dealing with antidotes, any " mixing ''
of material may possibly nullify the good
effects of both. Then with regard to am-
monia, we have seen it applied many times
without any benefit whatever in cases of bee-
stings. Replying to your final query, you
have done< quite right so far, but the time
when the queen will take possession of lower
hive depends on the amount of comb available
for egg-laying in the skep. Directly the old
combs are occupied with honey and brood, the
queen will pass below and establish the brood-
nest there.

[2886.] Transferring Bees. — Will you
kindly tell me in your next issue what you
would advise under following circumstances ? — ■
I am a beginner in bee-keeping and am trying
to get a skep of bees to transfer themselves
to a frame-hive. The stock is a very strong
one, and I placed the skep on frames the
second week in April, but owing, I suppose,
to cold weather, the bees have not yet taken
to frames below, and on examining them
yesterday I slightly lifted the skep and found
three of the combs were broken from their
fastenings and resting on frames. The skep is
crammed with bees, I did not take skep right
off on seeing what had happened, but in
placing it back I must have crushed some of

248

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 19, 1902.

the comb, as the bees have been busy all day
removing dead bees and crushed brood from
the hive. I do not know now what would be
best to do with them, and can see no reference
in any of the journals or books to a similar
mishap, so would be very grateful for advice.
— J. Birch, Windlesham, Surrey.

Reply. — Such mishaps as those related
above are so entirely the fault of the operator
that it should cause no surprise that they are
not provided for when giving directions in
text-books. We cannot imagine how the
combs of skep broke down unless very roughly
handled, the operation in question being one
of the simplest bits of bee-work we know of.
The same may be said of crushing the comb in
replacing the skep, and therefore we advise
you to leave the skep where it is, and allow
the bees to make the best of matters. If as
strong as you suppose, they will take posses-
sion of the frame-hive when the queen needs
room for egg-laying, and your lack of expe-
rience makes us fear to advise any further
lifting of the skep. On the other hand, if you
can secure the help of one who is accustomed
to bee-work, he would, perhaps, be able to
straighten matters up without much effort or
labour, and put you in the way of going on all
right in future.

[2887.] Pollen-laden Bees in Swarm. — Can
you kindly explain why in a swarm which
came off here yesterday a large percentage of
the bees composing it were carrying pollen ?
I have never in my experience seen anything
like the amount in a swarm before. They
were placed on their old stand on eight frames
with 1-in. starters, and given the super from
the old hive, and to-day are hard at work,
and, to my surprise, are still carrying pollen
in quantities. I have always hived my swarms
as above, and have never had pollen in the
supers, as usually the bees, I notice, take in
little for a day or two when hived. An ex-
planation of the above would greatly oblige. —
A Dumfriesshire Bee-keeper, Thornhill,
June 14.

Reply. — It is nothing uncommon to see a
few scores of pollen-laden bees among the
thousands which constitute a swarm. More-
over, it only shows that pollen is very abun-
dant in your locality just now, and that the
bees in question — on returning home laden
with it — have become suddenly filled with the
joyous excitement of the swarm's outrush, and
joined the emigrating host of bees without
stopping to unburden their legs.

[2888.] Advertising Stocks of Bees for Sale.
—Perhaps it would be of some interest to
other of your readers as well as myself if you
gave us your opinion as to what right or reason
a man has, who sells a stock of bees through
your advertisement columns, in not sending
the same within a few days. There is a con-
tinuous advertisement in your Journal of
stocks for sale. I wrote for one and sent
money along j in reply he informs me tL at my

order will be filled in rotation. I could under-
stand this if I had written for a swarm ; but I
was in urgent need of a small stock in order to
transfer some frames of brood to it from my
overflowing colony, and thus try to prevent
swarming. It is now going on for two weeks
since I wrote, and in the meantime I could
have purchased others, and got them near
home, too, by the advertisements in your last
issue. I think it is very misleading for any
one to offer stocks for sale who is not able to
immediately fill his orders. I have sent the
advertiser two postcards since, but, having
received no reply, I suppose I shall have to
wait until he either swarms his hives or forms
a stock out of a nucleus. In the meantime
my own bees may swarm and frustrate my
own object. Truly, a man is on the wrong
side of a bargain when he pays his money
before getting his goods. — A Bee-keeper,
Southport.

Reply. — Without overlooking the difficulty
of judging rightly before hearing both sides of
the case, our correspondent seems to have a
real ground for complaint, and, as we have the
means of identifying the advertiser in
question, we have written the latter, and hope
to have some explanation of the delay, pending
which we defer expressing an " opinion'' as
requested.

(ftdurts fnm tin ffixa.

Beedon, Newbury, June 10. — The first week
of June, now passed, is no improvement on
May — rwet, cold, dull days, very much like the
June of 1888 — no swarms and barely a supply
of food being gathered by even strong hives ;
a few very strong stocks stored a few pounds
of honey the previous week from trifolium and
other sources, but no increase of stores is
observable for the first week in June. I have
not supered more than half my apiary — first,
because I want some swarms for customers,
and, secondly, I have had to feed to keep
them growing. I have noticed drone larvae,
partly eaten, being cast out of a few hives ;
this tells the tale of shortage of supply of
food. The rains have greatly increased the
forage, if we could only get the weather suitable
for its ingathering. I hope our friends who
have had early swarms have fed them, unless
the weather has been different from ours in
West Berks.— W. Woodley.

Churchdown, near Cheltenham, June 10. —
Never do I remember a more trying spring for
the poor bees than that of 1902. With winds
generally blowing from a northerly direction
and bitterly cold, stocks have not pulled along
as they should do. Several of mine are now
weak, having brood on only five or six frames
each, so I must unite to secure the honey-crop.
Spring-feeding has been a heavy item with
me this time, for I have had to feed nearly all

June 19, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

249

my stocks, they were so short of stores ; how-
ever, they all came through the winter well.
The strongest have already been supered, and
the bees are working well in most of them, but
the weather is so bad one cannot expect much
result. We had a few warm days on June 2
to June 5, and I had three swarms, two being
successfully hived, the other decamped ; no
doubt these bees had in mind some distant
Klondike, where honey would be plentiful,
and thought they would emigrate. I hope
they have found a home, or all will be starved
to death. Clover is now beginning to bloom ;
this, with the limes, is our main honey crop,
so I hope matters will improve. If we could
only get settled weather, we might get a good
harvest yet. I notice to-day that the bees are
gathering honey-dew from the currant bushes,
but I should think the late heavy rains will
have washed it most all off. — H. Swift.

Chichester, June 13. — I hope by the time
you " echo " these few lines we shall be having
fine weather, with plenty of of sunshine, other-
wise the outlook for a honey yield will be far
below the average. We seem to get the two
extremes of weather latterly ; and this season
puts one in mind of 1888, which here in the
south (and, if I remember right, in the far-away
north, too) was the worst on record. But our
cry must be " Hope on, hope ever ! " And
should Old Sol get the upper hand, who knows
but the season of 1902 may be a record for
honey ? Any way, by keeping the bees in
tune by judicious teeding, it may turn out all
right in the end. Some of the most backward
seasons have been known to end as among the
best, and to compensate for the present and
for the never-ending rain our motto must be
" Feed " ; and thus we shall keep stocks in
trim for a late harvest. The sparrows are a
great nuisance this season in catching and
eating the bees alive. — J. D.

NOVELTIES FOR 1902.

FANCY STAINED WOODS FOR BEE-KEEPERS' USE.

Messrs. Abbott Bros., Southall, write as
follows : — "We beg to forward you samples
of new fancy stained woods. These are,
perhaps, the greatest novelty seen for many
years, and bee-keepers would, no doubt, like
to know about them as being capital for
making show-cases, show-stands for honey,
and, indeed, all other fancy goods in connec-
tion with the trade." After inspecting the
samples, we can certainly say it is a surprise
to see what beautiful effects are got by the
wood in question being stained — right through
the whole log — in all colours. The various
colours bring out the " graining " or markings
of the wood in so many tints as to produce
a very pretty effect. It remains for enter-
prising bee-keepers to see how best the new
idea may be utilised, and if samples can be
had for a small sum, many would, no doubt,
apply for them. They are well worth seeing.

\n #hmti8 to (Bamt.

July 5 to 9, at Carlisle.—" Royal " Agricultural
Society's Show. Bee and Honey Section under the
management of the B.B.K.A.

July 17 and 18, at Boston, Lines.— Show of
Honey, Hives, and Bee-Appliances in connection with
the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society. Bee Depart-
ment under the management of the Lines. B.K.A.
Thirteen classes, with liberal money prizes and silver
medals. Entries closed.

July 26, at Buttfleld Park, Hessle, East
Yorfes. — Honey Show in connection with the Hessle
and District Horticultural Society. Good prizes for
Honey-Trophy, Sections, and Extracted Honey.
Schedules from Ernest C. S. Stow, Hon. Sec, Thornton
House, Hessle, East Yorks.

July 30 to August 1, at Leeds— Honey show
in connection with the annual show of the Yorkshire
Agricultural Society, at Roundhay Park. £2,115 in
prizes, including liberal cash prizes for honey.
Schedules from John Maughan, secretary, Blake-street,
York. Entries close June 28.

August 5, at Leamington.— Ninth annual show
of the Leamington St. Mary's Horticultural Society.
Three open classes for Six 1-lb. Sections, Six 1-lb. Jars
" Light," and Six 1-lb. Jars " Dark" Extracted Honey,
respectively. Liberal money-prizes. Schedules from
P. W. Smith, Secretary, 22, Learn -street, Leamington.
Entries close July 31.

August 7, at Kingsthorpe, Northants.
— Honey show of tne Northants B.K.A. in connection
with the Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Three
open classes with special prizes, including one for
single 1-lb. jar of honey. {Entry free.) Prizes 20s., 10s.,
7s. tid., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from R. Hefford, Sunny-
side, Kingsthorpe, Northampton. Entries Close
August 1.

August 13, at Bradford Abbas, Dorset.—
Annual Show of the Yetminster and district B.K.A. in
the Vicarage grounds. Three open classes, including
one for Single 1-lb. Jar of Light and one of Dark
Honey (entry free). Prizes : 10s., 6s., 4s., in each class.
Schedules from G. Deeding, hon. secretary, Bradford
Abbas, Sherborne, Dorset. Entries close Aug. 9.

August 13 and 14, at Dudley— Dudley Horti-
cultural Society. — Sections, Extracted Honey, Shallow
Frames, Observatory Hives, and Wax. Schedules from
H. Dickinson, Sunnyside, Dudley, Worcestershire.

August 20 and 21, 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.
Eleven Open Classes for Honey. Schedules from S. Cart
wright, Hon. Secretary, Shropshire B.K.A., Shaw-
bury, Shrewsbury. Entries close August 8.

August 23, at Hyde.— Cheshire B.K.A. Show,
in connection with the Cheshire Agricultural Society.
Eight classes for Hives, Honey, and Wax. Liberal
prizes. Schedules from T. A. Beckett, St. Werburgh's
Chambers, Chester. Entries close August 2 (at
double fees August 9).

August 28, at Montgomery, N". Wales.—
Honey show in connection with Montgomery and Dis-
trict Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Two open
classes for six's, sections, and extracted. Prizes 10s.,
5s., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from W. U.Jones, Secretary,
Church Bank, Montgomery. Entries close August
21.

August 28, at Llangollen.— In connection with
the annual Flower Show. Open classes for Six 1-lb.
Sections, Six 1-lb. Bottles Extracted, and Beeswax.
Schedules from Frank Little, Llangollen. Entries
close August 14.

September 1 to 6, at Preston. — Annual show of
the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society in connection
with the Festival week of the Guild Merchant (which
recurs only once in every twenty-one years). In honour
of the occasion a largely increased list of money prizes
is offered for honey along with silver and bronze medals
of the B.B.K.A. and also of the Society. Open Classes
for Honey-Trophy, Sections, Extracted Honey, Beeswax,
Instructive Exhibits in Bee-Culture, &c. Schedules
from Edward Bohane, Secretary, Miller-arcade, Pres-
ton. Entries close August 2.

250

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June 19, 1902.

September 6, at Bramhall, near Stock-
port.— Honey Show in connection with the Bramhall
and Woodford District Horticultural Society. Liberal
prizes. Schedules from J. Turner, Glenwood, Bram-
hall, near Stockport. Entries close August 30.

September 6 to 13, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (10th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Numerous classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees
wax. Open to all British. Bee-keepers. Special
attention is directed to the new Honey-sei'ing
Classes. Schedules (now ready) from H. S. Rogers,
Secretary, 27, Leadenhall - street, London, E.C.
Entries close August 26-

September 10 and 11, at Hull.— Honey show
in connection with the Hull and District Horticultural
Association, at the Artillery Barracks. Seven open
classes, including one for Honey Trophy, prizes £2
and £1 ; also classes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar of extracted honey, with free entry.
Schedules from F W. Thompson, hon. sec, S, Albert-
square, Ella-street, Hull. Entries close Septem-
ber 3.

September lO and 11, at Bebington, near
Birkenhead.— Cheshire B.K.A. Show, in connection
with Birkenhead and Wirral Agricultural Society, on
New Show-ground. Numerous classes for Hives, Houey,
and Wax. Substantial prizes. Schedules from A. H.
Edwardson, 6, Hamilton-square, Birkenhead. Entries
close September 1.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace.— Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition
of Bees, Honey, and Appliances. Specially increased
prizes and medals for Coronation year. Further par-
ticulars shortly. Schedules from Hon. Secretary,
Henry W. Brice, 100, Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace.— Surrey B.K A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, Wax, and Appliances, <fec. Twenty-four classes
(ten open to all). Increased
Schedules ready shortly, from F.
Marden House, Redhill, Surrey.

September 20 to 27, at the Agricultural
Hall, London —Honey Show in connection with the
sixth Annual Exhibition and Market of the Grocery
and Kindred Trades. Numerous classes for comb and
extracted honey and beeswax. Open to all British
Bee-Keepers. Special attention is directed to the new
Honey-selling <Jlasses. Schedules (ready shortly)
from H. S. Rogers, Secretary, 27, Leadenhall-street,
London, E.C.

Notices to Correspondents A Inquirers.

All querietforvarded will he atttndtd to, and tho*» only
of p er tonal int ere ai will be antwered in thii column

prizes and medals.
B. White, Secretary,

Venta (Winchester). — Soluble Phenyl. — 1.
This can be obtained from Morris, Little, &
Co., chemists, Doncaster. It is not "the
same as Calvert's No. 2 Medical Carbolic
Acid." 2. Formalin is analogous to formic
acid, which has been mentioned as useful in
curing foul brood for many years past, but,
like all other antiseptics, it has little or no
effect on the spores of the disease.

J. C (Cumberland). — Artificial Base for
Comb-I oundation. — For the information of
yourself and of any other well-mearjing bee-
keeper who may conceive the idea of sub-
stituting an artificial base for comb-founda-
tion, we may inform them that wood, card-
board, muslin, and similar materials have
been already tried in order to gain the de-
sirable advantages you have in view, but so
far only failure has resulted. It is only fair
to tell you this, as it may save your time

and expense in experimenting. Try it by
all means, if you wish, but we have seen so
many failures that our advice is " don't."
L. Collings (Leyland) and Geo. Ward
(Chester-le-Street). — Insect Nomenclature.
— The insects sent by both our correspon-
dents are wild bees of the Andrena species.
They are commonly called sand-bees from
their habit of nesting in banks of sand or
in sandy places.

F. W. Hodgson (Harborne), — Insect sent is
a wild bee — Osmia ccerulescens. It gener-
ally nests in old posts F. W. L. S.

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."

0 and M (Durham). — Comb is decidedly
affected with foul brood.

Cardiganshire. — Foul brood is developing in
comb without any doubt. It does not
require bees to be kept in your immediate
neighbourhood to account for the outbreak,
seeing that bees foraging and perhaps
robbing infected hives cover a considerable
radius. It is not a bad case, however,' and
may be kept under by using preventives.

E. Griffen (Upton-on-Severn). — Comb con-
tains chilled brood only ; no disease.

A. A. (Saltley, Birmingham). — Bees Fanning
at Hive Entrance. — The "fanning" at hive
entrance mentioned on page 147 of " Guide
Book " as one of the indications of foul
brood refers to times and seasons when there
is no need for " fanning " by the bees to
cause a circulation of fresh air when the
hive is overheated in warm weather. In
other words, the bees " fan " when foul
brood is present in order to rid the hive of
the bad odour ; but in " fanning " a healthy
stock is one of the sure signs of prosperity
within.

G. D. J. (Carnarvon). — Expert Help. — We are
very pleased to hear of the promised help
being secured, and have no doubt it will be
appreciated.

E. A. R. (Saffron Walden). — Tin Receptacles
for Honey. — We rather think your customer
is somewhat of an alarmist with regard
to the poisonous effects of tinned goods as
food. It is well known that the acid in
honey acts upon zinc, and also upon gal-
vanised iron, to the detriment of the honey,
but tin prevents this mischief, and it is only
when tin of very poor quality is used for
honey packages that any mischief arises.

*#* In view of the " Coronation holidays "
next week, we will be glad to have all
" copy " intended for next issue sent in as
early as possible.

June 26, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

251

auditorial, $utxm, ki.

BEITISH BEE - KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The monthly meeting of the Council was
leld at 12, Hanover-square, on Thursday,
une 19, Mr. T. I. Weston occupying the
hair. There were also present Colonel
Valker, Dr. T. S. Elliot, Messrs. W. Brough-
m Carr, H. G. Morris, W. F. Reid, T. H. E.
Vatts- Silvester, F. B. White, and the Secre-
«ry. Apologies for enforced absence were
jad from Miss Gayton, Hon. and Rev. Henry
High, Mr. W. H. Harris, Mr. G. H. Morrell,
LP., Mr. Ernest Walker, and Mr. C. N.
faite.

The minutes of the previous meeting were
ad and confirmed.

The following members were elected, viz. :
Sharman Forrester, Tombland, Norwich
ife member) ; J. E. Jackson, Pinder GreeD,
iethley, Leeds ; Wm. T. Lewis, Maple wood,
landaff ; Geo. Watson, Simla Lodge, Clon-
Tf, Dublin ; Dr. Sidney Wood, Bottisham,
imbs.

The Report of the Finance Committee,
ving particulars of receipts and expenditure
date, was presented and approved.
In accordance with the recommendations of
lamine™, it was resolved to award expert
rtificates to the following : Lionel L. Jacobs,
rat class ; H. D. Davidson and A. E. C.
nmford, third class.

Nominations were made of examiners to
ficiate at Carlisle and Boston, and of judges
the honey department at the forthcoming
airy Show. The Secretary reported that the
ironess Burdett-Coutts (President) had
ndly promised to contribute £10 towards
e prize fund, and an additional donation of
10 towards the Challenge Cup to be offered
the Dairy Show in commemoration of the
wonation. It is hoped by further subscrip-
>ns the Society will be in a position to offer
cup worthy of the great event.
A number of letters upon various subjects
ire read to and dealt with by the Council.
A Report by the Secretary in regard to the
surance scheme, together with correspond-
ice relating to a number of difficulties in the
orking of the scheme, were read and dis-
ssed. The Chairman was authorised to
nsult a solicitor with reference to some of
e points raised, and, if necessary, to arrange
counsel's opinion, the issue of receipts to
suspended pending the results of the legal
nsultation.

The next ordinary meeting of the Council
ill be held on Thursday, July 17.

I GLAMORGANSHIRE B.K.A.

RESUSCITATING THE B.K. ASSOCIATION.

A public meeting was held at the Grand
otel, Cardiff, on the 20th inst., to consider

the advisability of resuscitating the Glamor-
ganshire B.K.A. The attendance was good
and representative. Major-General Lee, R E.,
J. P., occupied the chair. Among those
present were : 0. H. Jones, Esq., Dr. De Vere
Hunt, Vice-President, Cardiff and County
Horticultural Society ; F. W. Long, Esq., B. A.,
County Agricultural Lecturer; Mr. Julian,
Secretary Gardener's Society ; Freeman Gravil,
Esq., W. T. Lewis, Esq., and W. J. Randall,
Esq.

The Chairman, having touched upon the
desirability of a county association on account
of the manifold advantages it afforded, Mr.
R. T. Duncan read several sympathetic letters
—one of which from the secretary of the
Horticultural Society intimated that society's
willingness to provide at its next show in July
both a tent for honey exhibits and two guineas
towards prizes.

Mr. Duncan then formally moved that the
Glamorganshire B.K.A. be resuscitated. Mr.
W. G. Preece, who seconded, replied to the
chairman's question by asserting that in his
opinion bee-keeping, carried on by efficient
persons on scientific principles could be made a
great success in their county. Mr. Jones, Dr.
Hunt, and Mr. Long supported the resolution,
which was carried nem. con.

The rules of the old- Association were
unanimously adopted en bloc. Life members
subscribe £5 ; members 5^., artisans 2s. 6d.,
and agricultural labourers Is. each per annum.

The Rt. Hon. Lord Windsor was elected
President.

The following Vice-Presidents were chosen :
The Earl of Jersey, P.O., Lord Dunraven,
Lord Aberdare, Colonel Wyndham Quinn,
M.P., Admiral Lyons, Major-General Lee, Sir
W. T. Lewis, Sir Thomas Morel, Colonel
Fisher, Colonel Turberville, Major Bell, D. T.
Alexander, Esq., John Cory, Esq., Godfrey L.
Clarke, Esq., Clifford Cory, Esq., E. M.
Corbett, Esq., O. H. Jones, Esq., Gordon
Lennox, Esq., W. T. Lewis, Esq.

A general committee was appointed together
with an acting committee composed as fol-
lows : — Messrs. J. Boyes, R. T. Duncan,
Freeman Gravil, J. Morgan, W. G. Preece,
Robert Thomas, with Messrs. W. H. Lewis,
Treasurer ; B. Davies, " Ardwyn," Radyr,
near Cardiff, and William Richards, Hon.
Secretary.

Mr. W. G. Preece, expert and medallist,
gave a short but admirable address on " Hive
Management,'' illustrating the same by charts
and lantern-slides.

An enthusiastic meeting was concluded
with the customary vote of thanks.

It is very greatly wished that all bee-
keepers in the county will attach themselves
to the Association without delay, for obviously
enough the greater the number of members
the greater will be the advantages to be
derived. — Wm. Richards, Hon. Secretary,
Gabalfa, Cardiff, June 22.

252

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[June 26, 1902.

HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of
May, 1902, was £3,622.— From a return
furnished to the British Bee Journal by the
St.ati.gt.irnl Office, TT.'M . flnatntns.

Cflrrapondettte.

The Editori do not hold themselve* responsible for the
•pinioni expressed by eorretpondentt. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communication!, and eorretpondentt
are requested to write on one tide of the paper only and
give their real namet and addrettet, not necettarily for
publication, but at a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on teparate piecet of paper. We
do not undertake to return reiected communication!.

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

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

.] With Brains, Sir!— "Pray, Mr.
Opie, with what do you mix your colours ? "
asked a dilettante student of the great piinter.
"With brains, sir !" was the gruff but true
reply. One feels on placing himself in the
position of an hon. county secretary or hard-
wrought expert, that a little more of this
important commodity applied to bee-keeping
would be a consummation devoutly to be
wished. Perhaps it is not so much the actual
lack of brains as the utter want of treating
the matter from a common-sense standpoint
that proves so aggravating a thorn in the
flesh to these hard-wrought officials. A
certain date has arrived, and your dilettante
keeper of bees demands an examination of his
stocks, irrespective of weather or any other
hindrance to successful manipulation of hives.
In past seasons they were examined by a
given date, why not now 1 Again, the too
keen novice sees it advised that a certain
operation should he performed by a given
time, and rushes off with a low temperature
to open his hives, perhaps to spread the brood,
with the inevitable result that large quanti-
ties are chilled, and the progress of the stock
effectually checked for some time. He has at
all times an " itching palm" for examination
and inspection of the progress his bees are
making. Like the plant-grower who persis-
tently raises his plants to see how the roots
are progressing, he checks all advancement.
With all early manipulations especially, due
regard should be given to guiding our actions
by the dictates of common sense. Indeed, all
beginners should be strongly advised to do as
little internal investigation as possible when
from outside observation it is seen that the
colony shows distinct evidence of prosperity,
jmd all manipulations should be mixed with
brains.

Hioing Swarms. — A lady queries me as to
the phrase " as early as possible " in an article
I wrote lately, and suggests that there might

be a danger of the bees deserting if dealt with
at mid-day. If a swarm comes off early in the
day during the continuance of a full honey
flow there is an obvious advantage in dealing
with it as expeditiously as possible, so that
there may be little interruption of work. If
the swarmed lot is removed at once, and the
new body-box set in its place, containing the
removed frames and those added with full
sheets of foundation, the swarm may be shaken
down in front immediately they cluster, and
allowed to ruo in with little danger of any
accident resulting If the queen is killed, ot
caught and caged at once, of course it is
impossible for the swarm to take wing and
decamp, as the bond of union which might
have tempted them to seek a new home ha'
been removed. In any case, the swarm, i
dealt with immediately after leaving its ok
home, is what I may call more amenable t<
discipline than if handled some time after
If, however, the weather is excessively hot
with a bright sun beating down from at
unclouded sky, it is undoubtedly safest anc
beat for many bee-keepers to leave the swam
in the hiving skep, as near the original hiv<
as possible, and do the "running in" during th
cooler part of the day, when there is littl
likelihood of any desire for bees to play truant
Indeed, I would be inclined to advise that thi
should be done whenever there is any doub
in the mind of a bee-keeper of a danger of bee
decamping during the running in process. Al
tbe difference would be the loss of a few hour
of comb building or honey gathering, in
portant, no doubt, but sinking into insiii
nificance when placed against even th
probable loss of a good swarm.

Paucity of Hives. — In journeying an;
distance by train, or touring by bicycle, i
mus^ strike the observant bee-keeper ho
very few hives are to be seen along tbe rout
Here and there in certain corners a few ma
be seen in contiguous gardens, but then Ion
stretches of country are passed without th
least signs of a single hive. Certain district'
where some enthusiastic admirer of the cal
acts as a centre to generate and disseminat
the bee-fever, show a considerable proportio
of smart, neat, and up-to-date hives. 0
perhaps, owing to certain uncommon facilttu
for the disposal of surplus, bee-keeping provt
a special success and flourishes. Where hivt
are common, one feature is very noticeabl<
The successful bee-man mav be picked out t
a glance from his unsuccessful nighboa
Everything about the former's garden look
bright and tight, neat, smart, and tidj
whereas in the latter case hives are all sixei
and-sevens, and tiltei at all slopes, while taei
surrmndmgs are anything but an adornment!

The Coronation. — The present issue fal|
on Coronation Day, when almost councUil
numOers in every city, town, village, aaj
hamlet are assenioled from all parts of th'
world to do homage and reverence to the grea;
Sovereign whom we delight to honour. Th!

June 26, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

253

multitude of swarms we as a nation have sent
out to every quarter of the globe acknowledge
fealty to the same single bond, so that we
really form one colony — the greatest and
mightiest of the earth. And thus we will
remain as long as we continue one in heart
and soul, with the blood-link close binding us.
From every one of the bees of this busy
human hive, from Poles to Equator, there
rises to-day nne crv and prayer — " God Save
our King ? "— D. M. M., Banff.

TACKLING THE BEES.

AN AMATEURS EXPERIENCE.

[4809.] I must premise my story by admit-
ting that I was dreadfully afraid of bees. If one
buzzed near me I ran ; if one pitched on me,
I knocked it off. Of course, I knew that to
do this was the surest way to get stung, but I
could not help it. Last September my brother
started bee-keeping with three hives, bought
through a well-known expert. These hives he
planted outside our front-room wiodow. I
shut the window down, as you may be sure,
and, being on the safe side, watched him
handle the frames. Very soon I began to get
interested, and on seeing the bees crawl all
over his face and in and out his ears, I came
to the conclusion that tbey were not the
fearful creatures I had imagined. He held
frames with bees on them that I might ob-
serve everything through the window as he
talked about them ; but as I could not see or
hear satisfactorily through the glass, curiosity
tempted me outside, not without many a
quiver and a perfect readiness to bolt off if
the need arose. I looked inside the open
hive, and the wonders it contained soon inte-
rested me so greatly that 1 grew quite at home
— so to speak — with the bees. Seeing all this,
ray sistpr-in-law dared me to remove a frame
from a hive and put ;t back in its place (sho
was on the safe side of the window, you know).
Now when a woman says " dare,'' a man
generally must " do," and 30 1 " did '' ; but I
was very glad when the frame was safe back
again in the hive, and could hardly realise that
1 had not been stung. Thus ended my first
bee-experience.

The other day my brother went away for a
short holiday. He was in treaty for three
more hives of bees at the time when he left,
and he said to me, "If the hives come just
plant them down, open the doors, and leave
them until I return." In due course the hives
arrived after a journey of over 100 miles. I
noticed that they smelled beautifully of honey.
I planted them down carefully, and opened the
doors continuously, and so left them. I next
took the opportunity of speaking to Mr.
Jenkins, a well-known bee-keeper here, who
has been godfather to many bee-keepers in
the district, about them. With his usual
amiability he said, " Let's have a look at

them." We went up, and when he opened one
of the hives I beheld a Bight the interest of
which made me forget all my fears. There
was before us a fine ten-framed hive with
nearly every frame heavy with honey, but
every comb of which had got broken loose
during the journey and had fallen on top of
each other in a heap ! while the bees had
braced and built them all into one solid mass
of beautiful new, white, first season combs all
piled on top of each other in the middle of the
bare frames ! On seeing the state of affairs
Mr. Jenkins made an involuntary exclamation
which you need not print, adding. "Man
alive ; get me a big dish ; now a large knife ;
hurry up, what ever shall I do ? " But he did
not wait long ; he began by doffing bis coat ;
then after rolling up his sleeves and jamming
down his hat, he said : '•' Now fetch me some
tape ; bring a lot of it ! and a basin and big
spoon." Off I hurried to get the necessaries,
and, by the time I came back, he had already
landed a huge comb with 5 lb. or 6 lb. of the
loveliest honey on to the dish I had just
brought him. In this one the bottom bar of
the frame had given way. The next frame he
carefully cut away by severing the brace-
comb, then diving his bare hands down among
the bees brought out a whole comb and the
frame at the same time and held it in its
proper upright position with the honey stream-
ing down over his fingers ! " Here, come along
quick ; tie this in, both ends, with that tape !
Good ! Now the scissors ! Cut the ends
cloce. Good again ! Now hand me that basin
and spoon." Scooping up from the bottom of
the hive spoonfuls of honey and drowned bees,
be cleared up the hive floor, put back frame
No. 1 ; then the same operation secured
frames Nos. 2, 3, and 4. By this time the
sticky sides of the hive had made him honey-
smeared up past the elbows. " Never mind,
old man," said he. " We'll save a lot of them
yet. It must have been a wonderfully strong
hive, when there are still thousands of bees
living yet." And so there were. Luckily,
the combs had fallen backwards, and most of
the bees must have been round the entrance at
the timp, endeavouring, no doubt, to get air
during the heat of the journey. A moment or
two later Mr. Jenkins exclaimed. " There she
is ! The queen's all right ! " This was good
news to us, and before long the nine frames
were tied into their respective places ; and,
with a chuckle at having got through a tough
job that very few would like to tackle, our
bee-friend spread out the basin of mixed hoDey
and bees on to a dish, and put it down in the
sun for the bees to carry back to their hive.

A week later he came again, and, after his
cutting away the tapes, you would hardly
believe the accident had ever happened. I
think it will be some time before I get
frightened of a be*e again. Why, to-day one
crawled up my sleeve ; it tickled me much
while travelling over my skin, but I just held
my arm still, and in due time the bee marched

254

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 26, 1902.

down again. I therefore charitably supposed
he — or she — was only engaged in scientific
research, and saw no more reason why he —
or she — should not have a look up my sleeve
than I had in looking over the cells in the
hive. — An Amateur Bee-Man, Glamorgan,
June 20.

QUEEN MATING.

[4810.] The following may be of interest to
some of your readers as illustrating the period
of time which may elapse between the hatch-
ing and mating of a young queen. On March
31, on examining one end of a Wells' hive, I
found two frames of brood and two sealed
queen cells, but no eggs. I was unable to
examine again until April 13, when I saw
a young queen. I saw this queen fly
first on April 15, and on fine days
up to May 23, when at 4.15 p.m. she returned
with no apparent sign of having mated. It
was fine on the afternoon of the 24th. but I did
not see her on that day. On May 27, I found
there were eggs laid regularly in two combs.
On June 4, sealing of worker brood had com-
menced.

According to the above, this queen must
have been forty-seven or forty-eight days
old when mated, and was flying at intervals for
a period of thirty-nine days. It is said that
bees take no notice of a virgin queen. I have
seen them apparently drive one back on a
cloudy day, and often seen them feed one on
the alighting board.

I have lost three queens this spring, which
makes me think there is something in the
observation of your correspondent, "John
Berry," i.e., that queens air themselves in the
spring.

Farmers tell me here that there will be very
little white clover this year ; the grass is high
and will cover it. — G. F. O'Fflahertie,
Netteswell, Harlow, Essex, June 19.

P.S. — I had three swarms yesterday morn-
ing, all the stocks were working well in supers,
one had two boxe3 of shallow-frames on.

REMEDIES FOR BEE-STINGS.

A MEDICAL OPINION.

[4811.] I am much interested in the question
of bee-venom and the possibility of applying
effectively any remedy, whether of known or
secret composition, to the locus of a sting. I
shall greatly esteem information or experience
from bee-keepers on either of these two points :
(1) The practical result, beneficial or other-
wise, of any remedy ; and (2) evidence as to
what chemical constituent of the venom is the
active irritant or poison ? The oft-repeated
statement that formic acid is the active prin-
ciple of the poison I gravely doubt, and
believe it to be opposed to the available
physiological evidence. — Leslie Phillips,
M.D., Leamington, June 23.

DEALING WITH FOUL BROOD.

[4812.] You will probably recollect that I
forwarded to you a piece of comb from a hive
of mine which was not doing well and asked
you to say if it was infected with " foul
brood '' and to advise ; and that you " wired ''
me in the affirmative on the 9th inst. I have
delayed thanking you till I had removed the
bees, burned the mats, &c, and thoroughly
disinfected the hive before returning the bees.
I carried out generally all the instructions
given by Mr. Oowau for application in cases of
"foul brood," and with, as I think, the
happiest results, as the bees now seem to be
doing well. I have five stocks and none of
the others have been affected. I now return
you my cordial thanks for your assistance and
advice, which has been of much service. —
Maetal, Roseneath, N.B., June 19.

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE apiaries of our readers.

The Rev. Mr. Oldham — whose apiary is
shown on next page — is a clergyman who we
may assume to have taken the advice to " keep
bees " given by a certain Bishop. This being
so, we are pleased to see his balance-sheet
shows a " profit " side. For the rest, his notes
are so full of interest as to need no addition.
He says : —

" I am venturing to send a few remarks
which must be taken for what they are worth
but at the same time are the result of careful
thought and work amongst the bees for the
last ten years.

"Beginning with one hive, the gift of a
friend, I have gradually increased my number
of stocks up to twenty, beyond which I do
not intend to go, as that number gives one
person quite enough work in the busy season.

" I bought my experience rather dearly at
first, and well remember taking off my first
rack of sections, and the way in which the
bees paid me out. I suppose I was rather
clumsy, or more probably nervous, and a hole
in my veil at the back, of which I was
ignorant, proved a rare opportunity for the
bees, who were not slow to avail themselves of
an entrance.

" The second or third year I became
thoroughly interested in the pursuit, and have
gone on adding to my stocks up to two years
ago, when the maximum was reached.

" As a hobby (and I have several others) it
is certainly the most fascinating one I know of,
especially when confidence is gained, and one
can perform any reasonable manipulation
without fear of a sting, even in early spring
or autumn regardless of bee veil.

" Much may be done to bring stocks on
quickly by feeding, and at the proper time

June 26, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

255

judicious spreading the brood. In fact the
object of my writing these remarks is the out-
come of an article in the Bee Journal of
May 29 by Mr. B. M. Doolittle on ' Spreading
Brood in Spring.' I am not able to endorse
what he says about reversing the brood, as I
have never tried it, but what I find an
immense help is to take an outside comb of
honey, bruise it and place it in the middle of
the brood nest, and repeat the operation at
intervals of seven or eight days till the hive is
practically full of brood, when a super can be
put on, and the bees will as a rule take to it
at once. Of course, to do this there must be
plenty of stores in the hive, the result of
autumn feeding, which is far preferable to
spring feeding. It is wonderful how, with

price. I average about 6d. a lb. for run honey,
and only 7d. for sections. In fact, this year
I intend working almost entirely for run
honey (shallow-frame supers). Last year my
take was over 700 lbs., about half of it in
sections.

" This is a good neighbourhood, as it is a
great fruit-growing district — plum, cherry,
apple, and small fruit trees abounding on all
sides, followed by field beans, white clover,
and a few lime-trees, with Spanish chestnut
and blackberry to finish up with.

" With regard to swarms, if they come off
(as they will sometimes) in the middle of the
season, my plan is as follows (I think I have
seen it recommended by some one in your
paper, and it has answered admirably) . —

THE REV. E. H. OLDHAM's APIARY, STANFORD RECTORY, WORCESTER.

careful management, a hive may thus be
brought quickly forward. However, as Mr.
Doolittle says, ' care and experience ' are
necessary ; and comparatively weak stocks are
better left alone. At the present time, May
30, 1 have three stocks working in supers, and
this is by no means an early neighbourhood,
my rectory being situated several hundred
feet above sea-level.

" Your readers may like to know that I
work my apiary for profit as well as pleasure.
In fact, I find my bees the most paying part
of my farm stock. Last year I kept an
accurate account, and found at the end. that
I had a net profit of £16 10s. on seventeen
stocks, spring count. I also had four swarms.

" The great drawback I find is to get a fair

" In the evening I run the swarm into a
hive fitted up with spare combs, if possible, but
failing these, with full sheets of foundation,
placing it where the old stock stood, and
remove the latter to a new position some way
off. The supers are taken off and put on the
hive where the swarm is, and in nine cases out
of ten will be taken to and finished by the
swarm. Only once has the stock from which
the swarm came failed to re-queen itself.

" I find Mr. Shepherd's ' Becord ' hive all
that can be desired, both for cheapness and
efficiency, and all his appliances compare very
favourably with those of other firms.

"In conclusion, I should like to pay a
tribute to the Bev. E. Davenport, late expert
Worcestershire Bee-keepers' Association, who

256

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 26, 1902.

has given me valuable advice in former year.',
and also to Mr. H. Hooper, his successor, who
helped me with my extracting, &c, last
summer, and whom I found exceedingly
obliging and intelligent."

<|)iwifl8 and Spites.

[2889.] Dividing Stocks for Increase. —
Thanking you for the information you gave
me last autumn, I am again asking you for
advice concerning a hive 1 have divided. It
was very strong in bees on eleven frames and
plenty of brood ; so I took frame with queen
on and three others loaded with bees, brood,
and pollen, and put them into a new
" Cowan " hive with four standard frames and
wired found xtioo. Tbis new hive is doing
well, but the old stock a week ago had six
queen-cells, and I thought soon to have a new
queen there. Bat in looking over frames
yesterday Wf ek I saw the six queen-cells ; I
found each queen-cell entirely torn down or
destroyed. There is not one left now in the
hive. I have been feeding the bees each day
with slow feeder. I divided them as directed
in Cowan's "Guide Book." Shall be pleased
to get your help in Bee Journal, of which
1 have been a reader for two years, and hope
to continue doing so. — E. B., Selly Oak,
June 22.

Reply. — The fact of queen cells being found
as stated points to there being a queen in the
hive. Look again, and see if you cannot find
either eggs and brood or a queen in the combs.

[2890.] Bees Robbing in June. — I have to-
day, under different "-oyer, sent you a small
piece of comb taken from one of my four
stocks. At the commencement of the season
the stocks were all equally strong, but
noticing vigorous attempts (chiefly unsuc-
cessful, the bees holding their own1, made by
the other hives to rob the one under notice
and the large amount of fighting 1 became
suspicious and have been closely watching the
hive. The combs look healthy to me, and I
saw a young worker bee emerge from a cell.
A short note in B.B.J, a* to whether beaitby
or not will greatly oblige. If healthy the
continued weakness of stock must be due to
the queen requiring replacing, as the bees are
not too thick on nine frames, whilst the other
three are lull up on ten frames and in supers,
the latter being more than half full and a
number of section* completed and sealed.
1 should, in this case, put a cast into the
hive, first removing the queen, which would
provide a fresh queen and also bring the
stock up to full strength, and would then
(■uper at once. — T. A. Williamson, Aber-
yavenny, June 3.

Reply. — There is no disease in comb sent ;
the dead brood is " chilled " only. Apparently

the queen is at fault. Much obliged for
photo of wasps' nest which appears to be a very
fine one.

[2891.] Diagnosing Foul Brood. — 1 found
enclosed piece of comb in one of my hives,
and should be glad to know whether the
slightly unpleasant smell is " foul brood " or
only dead and decomposed larvae of drones.
The hive in which I found it was otherwise
perfectly sweet, and was only examined on
account of evident pcarcity of bees. I dis-
covered that the queen (a drone-breeder)
evidently had been produced an an un-
favourable time last year, and was not fertilised.
The stock was one of my strongest and
most productive ia 1901, and there are
still about three combs well covered with
bees, besides a large number of drones. I
also saw (what is very difficult to find
elsewhere) a quantity of last year's houey.
After taking away the queen I put in a frame
of brood from another stock, and shall
anxiously watch to see whether the bees will
raise a queen. When a stock has been found
queenless at the beginning of a season I have
never found them able or willing to raise a
new queen. I attribure this to the old bees
having lost heart and become reconciled to
queenlessne-s, but in the present circum-
stances I have good hope that the disappear-
ance of their queen being simultaneous with
supply of brood the bees will Ret to work to
replace her. — West Hants, June 20.

Reply. — The very ugly piece of comb sent
(chiefly old, black drone-comb) had in it but
two sealed worker-cells, both of which were
so full of the brown, sticky, ropey mass as to
convince the most casual observer, after
probing, that there must be other and similar
c»4!s in the hive from whence sample came.
We should give the stock " a short shrift," for
it is not only worthless, but the two cells we
saw were absolutely rotten with foul brood of
old standing.

[2892.] Dwindling Stocks. — I am sending,
under separate cover, three pieces of comb
taken from a weak hive that has steadily gone
down, until I am afraid the whole colony will
be lost. The piece of comb with the brood in
is from another hive, and is p*rt of a comb
containing brood which I gave to the weak
hive, as I thought the bees had lost their
qaeen, and that they would raise another from
the brood given. It appears, however, to
have only made things worse. I may say I
only started bee-keepiog last year, and am, of
course, inexperienced. What I want par-
ticularly to know, however, is whether there
is any disease, and, if there is, what is best to
be done in order to protect my other hive,
which is doing fairly well, though I find it has
been starved a bit. — T. Campbell Futers,
Acklington, Northumberland, June 12.

Reply. — There is no disease in any one of
the three samples sent. No 1 is comb never
bred in at all, the cells of which contain

June 26, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

257

nothing worse than granulated honey. The
second piece named has in the cells chilled
brood and some pollen, while the third con-
tains pollen only. It would appear thit the
weak stock has been queenless for some time
past, aDd is, in consequence, entirely worth-
less at this season, seeing that the bees will be
old, and would do no good if re-queened.

[2893.] Swarms Deserting Hives. — I hived
a swarm of bees on Saturday, the 21st inst.,
at ODe o'clock, and afcer the bees had been
hived three hours and a half they all left the
bive and made off to a hole in the top of an
elm tree about half a mile away. Here
they settled and took possession of the tree as
their home. The hive I used was well
cleaned a few days before the swarm issued.
Will you kindly let me know in your next
issue of B.B.J, what you think caused the
bees to desf re the hive 1 — T. B., Burford,
Oxon, June 21.

Reply. — We can only suppose that for
some reason or other the bees did not take
kindly to the hive in which you housed them.
A personal examination might enable us to
account for the desertion, as in our personal
experience of hiving hundreds of swarms we
never had a case of bees flying off after being
comfortably hived along with their queen.

[2894 ] Tunisian Bees and Superfluous
Queen-cells. — Inst January a friend of mine
imported a nuclei of four frames of Tunisian
bees, which arrived here in very fair order,
and took kindly to their new home. In three
months the ten frames were completely filled,
and a rack of sections was placed over the
brood frames, with the excluder zinc between.
Early last; month, as the hive seemed to be
getting overcrowded with young stock, it was
decided to place four frames of young brood in
a new bive, and trust to the bees making a
queen from a worker. About ten days after
the hive was examined, and no less than
twenty queen-cells were found, of which
eighteen were cut out. In another week an
examination was made, but neither young
queens nor the queen-cells were to be seen,
though on a new frame of foundation another
four queen-cells had been started. My friend
and myself are both beginners, and at a loss to
account for the disappearance of both queens
and cells, and theiefore a?k : — 1. Is it not un-
usual for so maDy queen-cells to be made at
once ? 2. Did we do right in cutting out the
eighteen cells ? 3. We led the bees to force
the production of a queen ; was this right ? —
G. O , Ootacamund, S. India, June 3.

Reply. — 1. Tunisian bees are known to
raise an inordinate number of queen cells.
We have heard of as many as sixty or more
cells having been built and occupied with
young queens at one time. 2. Yes. 3. With
ordinary bees stimulative feeding is useful
when queen-rearing, but with the bees re-
ferred to the quantity of queens they rear are

a positive nuisance. It is probable the young
queen intended to head the stock — if one was
hatched from the cells you left — met with an
accident while out on her mating trip. We
assume, of course, that you did not leave
abortive cells behind after cutting out the
eighteen cells.

[2895.] Value of Beeswax. — I shall be glad
if you will please enlighten me on the follow-
ing point under "Queries and Replies,'' viz.,
Beeswax: — When it costs so much in honey
(i.e., the labour of the bees) to produce wax.
how is it that wax can be sold so cheaply ? If
1 lb. of wax costs, siy, at least 6 lb. of honey
to produce it, why is 1 !•">. of wax not worth at
least, say. 6s. ?— Beeswax, Billiter- square,,
London, B.C., June 20.

Reply. — The question why 1 lb. of bees-
wax is not worth at least 6s. is to our mind
simply one of supply, and demand. Nor can
the price of beeswax be calculated on the price
of British honey. The calculation you have
in mind is, we presume, bised on what
appears in the "Guide Book'' (page 14), but
that is only intended to show the importance
to the bee-keeper of preserving his store-
combs for use in successive years, in order to
save the bees much time and labour in gather-
ing honey to be used in secreting wax for
comb-building. If one bears in mind that
from 1 lb. of wax bees can construct 35,000
cells of comb, the statement referred to will be
found a perfectly sound one.

[2896.] Swarming Vagaries. — On June 11
one of two hives (which I will call A and B)
standing 5 ft. apart, swarmed, the bees
clustering on a gooseberry bush, about 25 ft.
away. The expert of our association
came that day and cut out all the queen-
cells save one ; this done, I returned the
bees in r>be evening, killing th« old q leen.
On the 19th, hive B swarmed, and the bees
settled on the same gooseberry bush as did the
swarm from A. According to people present
at the time, the hive B swarmed a few
minutes after A on June 11, as the bees of the
latter were settling ; but the second swarm
mysteriously melted away. I therefore ask :
Is it possible that the bees could have left the
hive and joined the swarm thinking their old
queen was there 1 The swarm was exceptionally
heavy, weighing just under 81b. 1 may add
that hive A swarmed again <-n the 21st, and I
again returned the bees to their parent hive,
after cutting out all queen-cells Trusting 1
have made the details cl»ar to you. — S. G.
Stebbins, Beddington, June 22.

Reply. — Io is by no means uncommon for
the bees of a hive contiguous to one that is
swarming to catch the enthusiasm — so to
speak — of the " outrush," and start swarming
themselves, and we expect this has occurred on
the 11th. But as the queen of B hive did not
leave her hive on that date, the bulk of her
bees would return — or " melt away," as you

258

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 26, 1902.

term it. A good many of the bees of B would,
however, remain with the swarm from A, and
this would account for the extra weight of the
latter when hived.

["2897.] Suspected Store-combs for Feeding
Bees. — I am sending you five cells cut out of
some combs I have kept over the winter.
These combs were taken trom a hive I doubled
with another last year, and I got from it four
or five boxes of shallow frames filled with
honey. The ten standard frames on the top
of brood-nest, from which these cells are cut
were perfectly filled, weighing nearly 6 lb.
each, and I left sufficient in the brood-nest for
the winter. On examining these combs
previous to putting them in to help some
stocks that are short ol food, I find ten or
twelve cells of the same description as those
enclosed. I have cut them all out. 1. Will
you kindly give me your opinion whether I
shall be running any risk in giving these
combs to my bees as food ? My hives are
now almost boiling over with bees ; shallow
frames aDd racks of sections — in some cases
lioubled — quite full of bees, but no weather to
gather anything. Following the advice of
one of your correspondents, I tried four of
my hives without excluders below sections ;
the result being I had six racks on the four
hives containing eighteen sections each. Out
of the 108 sections I found thirty -three had
brood in them in various stages. Your
correspondent said he could readily forgive
his queens if they went up into the sections,
as it would show they were very prolific. I
cannot so readily forgive mine, for they have
spoilt the combs and thrown away a lot of
time. I shall be anxious to receive your
verdict on the combs, as I want to use them if
fit. — A Constant Reader Amateur, Penryn,
Cornwall, June 23.

Reply. — As each of the cells referred to
contains foul brood, we should on no account
use the stored combs as bee-food. The honey
is quite good for household use, but not for
the bees.

[2898.] More Swarming Vagaries. — What
think you of the breeding propensities of my
bees, as detailed in the following notes, taking
into consideration our county, and myself as a
beginner? On June 11 my colony, which had
on top at the time a box of shallow frames
and a rack of sections, much to my surprise,
commenced to swarm about 2 p.m. As the
bees were rushing out, rain, which had
threatened all day, began to descend. The
swarm, thick in the air at first, soon began to
settle on my lettuce plants, on the ground —
indeed, on all available space in two or three
of the gardens around my own. Hundreds
must have perished, for the rain was heavy.
About 6 p.m., however, I noticed that the
main cluster had formed upon one of the front
legs of the hive, and as there was a lull in the
downpour I took a coal-shovel and rake and

scraped up three fairly good shovelfuls of
bees, which I threw upon the flight-board. I
think the old queen must have been with this
lot. Daring the evening I rescued many
cupfuls of bees, which I found in little
bunches on the vegetation about. Now, on
the 18th inst., the same hive swarmed again
at 1.30 p.m. To me, who had never seen
bees swarming before, the quantity that came
out seemed prodigious. Happily it kept fine,
and they soon clustered on the trunk of my
neighbour's apple tree, a few yards away from
the hive. The cluster was so big that I
thought my skep would hardly hold them, so
— as they were only about 1 ft. from the
ground — I brought a hive close under them,
and soon had them in marching line with the
aid of a goose feather. After having placed
them in position 1 went to the old hive, and
cut out seven queen-cells, leaving a perfect
one for the next sovereign. Now, thought I,
that will settle their little antics. Foolish
hope ; for three days after out came another
swarm. This lot went some distance, and
settled in a garden perhaps 200 yards away.
I soon had them in a skep, which I inverted
and covered over with gauze. On weighing
them, I found the lot to weigh just 7 lb.,
which meant a net weight of 4 lb. of bees.
When clustered the swarms seemed not more
than one-third the size of the first or top
swarm. I therefore estimate the latter to be
about 10 lb. They completely fill eight
frames now, and are carrying in pollen freely.
Soon after placing the second swarm in a cool
place I opened the parent hive, caught a
young queen, which I destroyed, and cut out
seven more queen-cells ; two or three queens
escaped from the cells whilst I was doing
this, so I must have overlooked some on the
previous Wednesday. In the evening I re-
turned the second swarm to the old hive.
Next morning I found two dead queens on
the flight-board, and two more the morning
after. This morning they carried out another
dead queen, and I also found one running about
in the garden, but its wings were damaged.
The super of shallow frames seems now to be
utterly forsaken by the bees, although I have
removed one frame. They are carrying in
pollen in enormous loads. I can hardly
think they have got a young laying queen
already. Do you think they are bent on
more queen-cells, a3 the old queen's eggs left
last Wednesday will probably serve? — Rout.
H. Chadwick.

Reply. — From details given we think that
the old queen was lost on the 11th when first
swarm came off, and not returned to the hive
as you suppose. This being so, the swarm of
June 18 may be regarded as a second swarm,
though containing the bees of a first or top
swarm. The probability, therefore, now is
that the parent hive is now headed by a young
queen, and if the latter get safely mated all
will go on right. Any way, you may ease
your mind with regard to any more aueen

June 26, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

259

cells being formed ; and if the combs are now
examined, eggs and brood 'will most likely be
found in the cells, along with the young
queen.

[2899.] Stocking "Wells" Hive by Divid-
ing.— Can I adopt the following plan to
stock a " Wells hive " ? I propose to place a
swarm in the hive, and after the bees have
drawn out and filled eight frames of founda-
tion with eggs and brood, to introduce the
excluder dummy and place four combs of
brood with four extra frames of foundation on
either side, and then cage a fertile queen on
the queenless side. Is this feasible ? if so,
how soon would it be wise to liberate the
queen 1 Your valuable opinion on this matter
will greatly oblige. — Alex. L. Grimshaw,
Ashton- on- Mersey.

Reply. — We think the success or failure of
the plan stated will be very much a matter of
chance, seeing that unless the bees can be got
to work separately as two stocks you will not
easily get one half the colony to cross over, so
to speak, and accept an alien queen while
their own mother bee is in the next compart-
ment. As a method of dividing a stock
your plan is crude, and we think it will fail
for the reasons given.

[2900.] Dealing with Queenless Stocks. —
Having a stock of bees in frame-hive which
is queenless and containing no brood, but fairly
strong, do you think it likely to prove a suc-
cess to remove a skep and put on top of
frames of queenless hive after the skep has
sent off a swarm ? The hives near the queen-
less stock are strong, with surplus-chambers
on, so do not want to unite to them. Shall be
pleased to send up a photo of part of my
apiary if you care to see it, as being, perhaps,
not unworthy a place in Bee Journal. —
Nemo, Deddtngton, Oxon, June 9.

Eeplt. — Though not entirely free from risk
to the bees in skep, we think the plan of
utilising the queenless bees is fairly safe. It
would also do away with the issue of a second
swarm from skep, and give the latter a good
start off with a fresh supply of field workers.
We shall be glad to know how the plan suc-
ceeds, as it is novel to us. Send on photo by
all means and if suitable it will be inserted.

PRESS CUTTING.

HONEY A NUTRITIVE LAXATIVE

Sir James Sawyer, the well-known physi-
cian, is never tired of dilating upon the virtues
of honey. Addressing the members of the
Warwickshire Bee-keepers' Association re-
cently, he declared that honey was a nutritious
food, capable of administering to every activity
of the body and mind, of muscular action, and
of resistance to cold and disease. If we con-
sume ordinary sugar it has to be changed into
glucose before we can assimilate it, but the
bee has already done that for us with regard
to the sugar-solution which it took from the
flower. Besides being nutritive, honey is
valuable as a laxative. — Science Siftings.

\u j&himis to <&<nne.

July 5 to 9, at Carlisle.—" Royal " Agricultural
Society's Show. Bee and Honey Section under the
management of the B.B.K.A.

July 17 and 18, at Boston, Lines.— Show of
Honey, Hives, and Bee-Appliances in connection with
the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society. Bee Depart-
ment under the management of the Lines. B.K.A.

July 26, at Buttfield ParK, Hessle, East
YorKS. — Honey Show in connection with the Hessle
and District Eorticultural Society. Good prizes for
Honey-Trophy, Sections, and Extracted Honey.
Schedules from Ernest C. S. Stow, hon. sec, Thornton
House, Hessle, Bast Yorks.

July 30 to August 1, at Leeds —Honey show
in connection with the annual show of the Yorkshire
Agricultural Society, at Roundhay Park. £2,115 in
prizes, including liberal cash prizes for honey.
Schedules from John Maughan, secretary, Blake-street,
York. Entries close June 28-

August 5, at Leamington. — Ninth annual show
of the Leamington St. Mary's Horticultural Society.
Three open classes for Six 1-lb. Sections, Six 1-lb. Jars
" Light," and Six 1-lb. Jars " Darn" Extracted Honey,
respectively. Liberal money-prizes. Schedules from
P. W. Smith, Secretary, 22, Leam-street, Leamington.
Entries close July 31-

August 7, at Kingstborpe, Northants.
— Honey show of tne Northants B.K.A. in connection
with the Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Three
open classes with special prizes, including one for
single 1-lb. jar of honey. {Entry free.) Prizes 20s., 10s.,
7s. ed., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from R. Hefford, Sunny-
side, Kingsthorpe, Northampton. Entries close
August 1.

August 13, at Bradford Abbas, Dorset.—
Annual Show of the Yetminster and district B.K.A. in
the Vicarage grounds. Three open classes, including
one for Siugle 1-lb. Jar of Light and one of Dark
Honey (entry free). Prizes : 10s., 6s., 4s., in each class.
Schedules from G. Leeding, hon. secretary, Bradford
Abbas, Sherborne, Dorset. Entries close Aug. 9.

August 13, at Badstock, Bath.— Honey show in
connection with the annual show of the Radstock ami
District Horticultural and Fancier's Association.
Schedules from the Secretary, B. M. Clark 1, Fox
Hills, Radstock, Bath.

August 13 and 14, at Dudley.— Dudley Horti-
cultural Society. — Sections, Extracted Honey, Shallow
Frames, Observatory Hives, and Wax. Schedules from
H. Dickinson, Sunnyside, Dudley, Worcestershire.

August 20 and 21, at Shrewsbury.— Annual
Show of the Shropshire B.K.A., in connection with the
Shropshire Horticultural Society's Great Floral Fete iu
"The Quarry." Bees, Honey, Hives, and Appliances.
Thirteen Open Classes for Honey. Schedules from S.
Cartwright, Hon. Secretary, Shropshire B.K.A., Shaw-
bury, Shrewsbury, iiintries close August 8.

August 23, at Hyde.— Cheshire B.K.A. Show,
in connection with the Cheshire Agricultural Society.
Eight classes for Hives, Honey, and Wax. Liberal
prizes. Schedules from T. A. Beckett, St. Werburgh's
Chambers, Chester. Entries close August 2 (at
double fees August 9).

August 28, at Montgomery, N. Wales.—
Honey show in connection with Montgomery aud Dis-
trict Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Two open
classes for six's, sections, and extracted. Prizes 10s.,
5s., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from W. U. Jones, Secretary,
Church Bank, Montgomery. Entries close August
21.

August 28, at Llangollen.— In connection with
the annual Flower Show. Open classes for Six 1-lh.
Sections, Six 1-lb. Bottles Extracted, and Beeswax.
Schedules from Frank Little, Llangollen. Entries
close August 14.

September 1 to 6, at Preston.— Annual show of
the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society in connection
with the Festival week of the Guild Merchant (which
recurs only once in every twenty-one years). In honour
of the occasion a largely increased list of money prizes
is offered for honey along with silver and bronze m«dals
of the B.B.K.A. and also of the Society. Open Classes

260

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 26, 1902.

for Honey-Trophy, Sections, Extracted Honey, Beeswax'
Instructive Exhibits in Bee-Culture, <fec. Schedules
from Edward Bohane, Secretary, Miller-arcade, Pies-
ton, .entries cl^se August 2.

September 6, at Bramhall, near Stock-

t>Ort.— Honey Show in connection with the Bramhall
and Woodford District Horticultural Society. Liberal
.prizes. Schedules from J. Turner, Glenwood, Bram-
hall, near Stockport. Entries close august 30.

September 6 to 13, at the Agricultural
■Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (10th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Numerous classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees
wax. Open to all British. Bee-keepers. Special
attention is directed to the new Honey-sel'mg
Cussj.-. Schedules (now ready) from H. S. Rogers,
Secretary, 27, Leadenhall - street, London, E.C.
Eutries close August 26-

September 10 and 11, at Hull.— Honey show
in connection with the Hull and District Horticultural
Association, at the Artillery Barracks. Sevea open
classes, including one for Honey Trophy, prizes £2
and £1 ; also classes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar of extracted honey, with free em re-
schedules from F W. Thompson, hon. sec, 8, Albert-
square, Ella-street, Hull. Entries close Septem-
ber 3.

Seutember lO and 11, at Bebington, near
Birkenhead. —Cheshire B.K.A. Show, in connection
with Birkenhead and Wirral Agricultural Society, on
New Showground. Numerous classes for Hives, Honey,
and Wax. Substantial prizes. Schedules from A. H.
Edwardson, 6, Hamilton-square, Birkenhead. Entries
close September 1.

September 10 and 11, at Der>\y.— Derbyshire
B K A Twenty-first Annual Show of Hives, Bees, and
Honey on the show ground of the Derbyshire Agricul-
tural Society. Schedules from R. H. Coltman, Hon.
Sec. D. B.K.A., Station-street, Burtou-on-Trent. En-
tries close August 23. Double fees to August 30.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palnce.— Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition
of Bees, Honey, and Appliances. Specially increased
prizes and medals for Coronation year. Further par-
ticulars shortly. Schedules from Hon Secretary,
Henry W. Brice, 100, Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace.— Surrey B.K A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, Wax, and Appliances, <fec. Twenty-four classes
(ten open to all). Increased prizes and medals.
Schedules ready shortly, from F. B. White, Secretary,
Marden House, Redhill, Surrey.

September 20 to 27, at the Agricultural
Hall, London — Honey Show in connection with the
sixth Annua] Exhibition and Market of the Grocery
and Kindred Trades. Numerous classes for comb and
extracted honey and beeswax. Open to all British
Bee-Keeper)-. Special attention is directed to the new
Honey-selling Jlasses. Schedules (ready shortly)
from H. S. Rogers, Secretary, 27, Leadenhall-street,
London, EC.

Notices to Correspondent* <& inquirers.

All queriet/orwarded will bt attended to, and «*<?»» onig
of otT'onal interns) will bt antwerid in thit column.

F. J. (Mountmellick). — Bees Dying in
June.— The dead bees bent afford no
clue to cause of death. It is by no means
safe to assume that food is sure to be taken
when offered to a stock known to be short
of stores. Indeed, it is not seldom found
to be quite a task even for an experienced
hand to stitrtbees in carrying the food down
whtn offered them ; once they get accus-
tomed to the feeder, however, all will
generally go well. We have heard of
several cases this spring where bees have
starved to death of hunger with a feeder on.

Italian Queen (co. Cork). — Race of
Bees. — Tiie dead queen sent was smashed iu
pose and quite unfit forjudging with regard
to mating. The most we can say is the
insect is a hybrid Italian black queen, noc
at all distinctly marked but apparently an
adult. Whether mated or not we cannot
say.

Novice (Stafford). — Dead Queen Cast Out. —
1. Tao bee sent is a fully-groiva adult
queen. 2. It will save time to give the
bees a prolific mother at once, as proposed,
if you can readily obtain one.

W. L. T. (Atherstone). — Black Bees in Hives.
The shiny black appearance of the thorax
and upper side of the abdomen in dead bees
sent is caused by the fact that all the
pubescence or hairiness has got rubbed
off in the pulling about robber bees receive
when fighting or struggling for possession of
the stores of the stock being robbed out.
The mischief will cure itself when honey is
abundant outside.

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, takinj 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 Waterside B.K.A. (Yorks). — While we
have not much doubt that the comb sent is
from an affected hive we would prefer a
sample of comb with brood in it to judye
from. There is not a trace of brood in the
comb sent, and if you have the breeding
combs now in use to cut from, a better pieco
mi^ht certainly have been chosen.

Halifax (Ilkley). — Without being a bad case,
there is undoubted foul brood in the hive
from which sample was taken.

W. Hayman (Sidmouth). — Foul brood is
developing in comb, but it is noc a bad case,
and as the outbreak is only a recent one,
we consider that no blame cau be atta3hed
to seller of the stock a year ago.

C. Marks (Devon). — Sample No. 1 contains
mouldy pollen only ; in No. 2 there is fresher
pollen and web of wax-moth with larva? of
same alive.

Wm. Gray (Alnwick). — Comb is decidedly
affected with foul brood.

J. W. (Winchcomb, Glos.). — Foul brood is
rapidly developing in comb.

B. P. (Caerleon). — We find slight signs of
incipient foul brood in comb. vViih only
three cells to judge from it hardly gives us
a fair chance of diagnosing.

*** Several letters and queries are in print
and will appear in our next issue.

July 3, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

261

<& dttorfal $fata &&

AN AMERICAN BEE EXHIBIT.

645 HIVES OF BEES ON SHOW.

We have much pleasure iu complying with
the request of the General Press Bureau, St.
Louis, U.S.A., to publish in our journals
(weekly and monthly) the following remark-
able announcement with regard to the bee
exhibit at the World's Fair to be held at St.
Louis next year. It will afford British bee-
keepers some idea of the way they manage
matters in that country of big things. Our
American brethren seem to have a pas-
sion for establishing for themselves a claim
to "The Biggest Show on Earth," and — to
use a vulgarism — the following so far easily
■ takes the cake " in bee exhibits.

We also learn that the World's Fair grounds,
acquired up to date, comprise 778 acres, being
nearly two miles long and a mile wide in one
part, while negotiations are pending for an
additional 400 acres. The announcement
referred to reads as under : —

" World's Fair Grounds, St. Louis, June
14, 1902.— 'The liveliest live exhibit at the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904 will
come from Colorado." Thus spoke Van E.
Rouse, the Colorado Springs mine owner and
capitalist, during his visit to St. Louis this
week with the Colorado World's Fair Com-
mission, of which he is an active member.
' The world generally knows that as a mining
country Colorado leads all nations on the
globe,' continued Mr. Rouse, 'and this has
naturally created the impression outside of
Colorado that all the wealth of our magnifi-
cent State is hidden underground. Our
exhibit at the World's Fair will show Colorado
to be not only great in mining, but that it is
a world-leader in horticulture and agriculture.

"'The World's Fair management in their
plan and scope of the Exposition declared they
wanted live exhibits, so in casting about for
plans to make our exhibit conform to that
idea, we interested one of our wealthiest and
most public spirited citizens, Mayor Swink, of
Rocky Ford. Mr. Swink is an apiarist, and
he has, perhaps, the largest bee-plant in
America. He is going to bring his bees to the
World's Fair, and they will work here from
the time the Exposition opens until it closes.
Mr. Swink's plan, which will cost fully
10,000 dols. of his own money, is to bring to
St. Louis enough beehives to construct in
miniature a counterpart of the Colorado State
House at Denver. The bees will then be
turned out to find material for honey-making
in the country surrounding the World's Fair
grounds. It will require about 640 hives to
construct the little State House, and in it
about five and one-half million bees will work.
It will be a great exhibit. In Colorado we
make the finest honey in the world. We have

one bee-man who works his bees all the year
through. In summer they work in his alfalfa
fields in Colorado, and in the fall he ships
them to his plantation in Florida, where they
work among the flowers and orange groves
until time to return them to the West in the
Spring.'

" In Colorado we have each year a Water-
melon day at Rocky Ford, a Potato day at
Greeley, a Strawberry day at Canon City, and
a Fruit day at Grand Junction. These are
holidays, and all Colorado turns out to the
celebrations. In 1904 these celebrations will
be held in St. Louis, and we expect to bring a
good many trainloads of people here to partici-
pate in them, and on these days Colorado fruit
will be as free as water for those who celebrate
with us."

fimttyim&tntt.

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinion/ expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymout 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 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, <Scc.,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 at well
as the page on which it appears.

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[4813.] The month just passed has given us
a grand contrast in the weather. During the
first fortnight it was more akin to the frigid
zone than the temperate ; then, with a burst
of sunshine, the heat-wave stole over us, and
we have been sweltering in a temperature
equal to anything in the same line in the
torrid zone ! But bee-keepers will not com-
plain. No, there is not a word of grumbling
now amongst us ; our erstwhile long faces are
as beaming with satisfaction as that of the
farmer in his hayfield.

Swarming. — Yes ; ample to meet all wants,
with second swarms galore, and all within ten
days of those cold, dull, sunless days of mid
June ! Is this the " continual feeding " to
keep stocks going, or was it the " touch of
Nature '' and the colonising instinct of the
bee that became excited beyond control ?
Anyway, our pet theory of non-swarming
bees has again been, if not refuted, at least
has had a set-back, and we shall have to go
over the old path again. Possibly in years
to come we may have to acknowledge that our

262

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[July 3, 1902.

efforts along the line of " improvement of the
honey bee '' may be more apparent than real.

Packing Swarms. — To those who sell swarms
I would say have your travelling-boxes deeper
than wide or flat. I have had mine deeper this
season, and, notwithstanding the spell of hot
weather, my swarms have all travelled well so
far as I have heard, and nearly all were
despatched within a week! never such a
swarming week before.

Surplus Honey. — Yea, what looks like a
" glut '' of it ; bees working with might and
main to fill up all kind of receptacles given
them. Sections are no " Chinese puzzle " to
them to fill when there is honey to be had for
the gathering. I rather think the " puzzle " of
the poor bee is where to find the honey in a
poor season or district rather than to fill the
square sections even with plain zinc dividers. I
have had them filled in five or six days— sections
put on 27th are to-day (30th) ready for
another rack under them. How is that for
Beedon ? The only thing that " gives us
pause" in connection with our sanguine
estimate of this season's hopes is the con-
tinual click of the mowing machine laying
our forage low. Still we must not forget that
these grand fields of bee-blossom are not
grown for the benefit of bee-keepers, though
an allwise Providence has arranged that these
busy creatures, the bees, should have the first
rifling of the sweets of the flowers, and by so
doing make it possible for the farmer to per-
petuate his seed for sowing another year ; and
thus we all rejoice in the plenitude of Nature's
gifts, and each feel that our craft does some-
thing for the rejuvenating of Nature in the
course of the year.

July is now with us — the month of queen-
breeding. This is another source of interest,
and our endeavour should be" to produce the
very best queens we can. Do not let us
become faddists in this matter. Depend on it,
friends, that we shall not very much improve
on Nature's way. Bee-keeping, ancient and
modern, has had to depend principally on
Nature for the perpetuation of the genus Apis
mellifica. The puny efforts of man has only
a parochial effect on the species. The combined
efforts expended in no particular line, but rather
each on his or her own train of thought and ex-
periment, is not, in my opinion, likely to increase
the value of the honey-bee as a honey collect-
ing machine — the so-called long-tongued
variety of bees do not pan out in excess of
traits over the ordinary bees. All the advance
made by our American bee-keeping friends, so
frequently vaunted as fixed traits, &c, was
eclipsed at the Pan-American Exhibition by a
colony of black (or common brown) bees
gathering the largest quantity of honey during
the time the Exhibition was open. There were,
I believe, several noted strains of Golden
Italians, possibly some albinos and Carniolans,
yet the common black outstripped them when
put to a working test. — W. Woodley, Beedon,
Newbury.

NOTES FROM WYCHWOOD FOREST.

[4814.] This district, from the bee-keeper's
point of view, has had a bad time of it, and
while the old Forest has been enlivened with
the riug of tools and sounds of busy work in
the quarries (silent for perhaps a century past)
giving welcome work to men all over the county
side, the poor bees have suffered dreadfully.
Some stocks starved outright, others reduced
to severest straits and only saved by care and
timely feeding, and then uniting for surplus
work when the welcome sun came to revive
our hopes. To-day (June 30) the bees are in
full swing, so that, to all appearances, some-
thing of a harvest will be gathered, and from
what I can see of it of good quality.

I have found another use for honey which
deserves to be recorded. Having the mis-
fortune to get a tiny chip of marble into my
eye while engaged in carving a " capital "
recently, and all efforts to locate and remove
the aforesaid bit being of no avail, I was re-
commended to get a drop of honey just on the
ball of the eye as I lay on my back, and at
last, after some days of pain and inconvenience,
the honey gave relief. I therefore thought,
with the Editors' permission, that I must
" pass this on."

Vagrant swarms are on the wing in this
neighbourhood of late, no less than three
settling on the trees in Cornbury Park to my
own knowledge.

I note that honey was a notable item among
Oxfordshire products in ancient times. It is
recorded that King Henry I. received so much
cash and nine pints of honey yearly from the
city of Oxford.

The circulation of Bee Journal is increas-
ing hereabout from what I hear, and one is
pleased to notice that local notes are looked
for with much interest. There is a bond of
brotherhood and friendship growing between
readers that must be a benefit to our craft in
these days, when one is tempted sometimes
to think that the creed of the majority can be
summed up in the words, "Every man for
himself.'' — John Kibble, Charlbury, Oxford,
June 30.

SWARMING VAGARIES.

[4815.J 1. On May 29, at 2 p.m., the bees
swarmed from one end of a " Wells '' hive (the
other end of the hive being empty). This
swarm was safely housed in a frame-hive. 2.
On Friday, June 6, a second swarm issued
from the same stock, and was put into the
other end of the " Wells " hive. This swarm
was not there the next day, and most probably
have crept through in some way to the other
bees. 3. On June 10 another swarm came out,
and was hived in a small fiame-hive, but this
swarm also disappeared. 4. On June 14
a fourth swarm issued, and this was again put
into the small hive last referred to, and has re-

July 3, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

263

mained there, and is apparently settling down
to work.

So that I have had four swarms from one
hive. Nos. 1 and 4 are doing well. Nos. 2
and 3, as I have said, disappeared, and I sup-
pose, for some reason or other, they returned
to the parent stock and came out agaiD, forming
swarm No. 4. Is this the explanation, as
No. 4 was a large swarm ?

A few days after the fourth swarm had been
settled I noticed that the parent hive from
which the four swarms came out, had an
enormous number of drones flying in and out,
and I, therefore, procured a " drone trap." I
caught two traps full and two partly full, and
I found one trap full contained 660 drones.
So that altogether I shall have destroyed from
this hive about 2,000 drones, and this after
four (or two ?) swarms had gone from the
parent hive.

I should like to know if there is anything
wrong or irregular in this matter of the
drones — on the part of the bees in producing
so many, or on mine in killing them 1 — J. C.
Stott, Sheffield, June.

[We feel pretty sure that none of the
swarms actually made off or decamped. As
regards the superfluous drones, you should get
rid of three-fourths of the drone-comb now in
the hive, and that is all you need trouble about,
the rest being quite normal. — Eds.]

KEMEDIES FOR BEE-STINGS.

MEDICAL OPINION.

[4816.] I should like to draw the attention
of Dr. Phillips (who writes on page 254) to the
fact thac what he mentions as an oft-repeated
statement has long since been abandoned by
men who know anything of the chemical pro-
perties of formic acid and the poison of the
bee's sting respectively. For some time past
the idea of formic acid itself being the actual
irritant has been given up, and a chemical
substance as yet unknown assumed to be the
chief cause. I should advise Dr. Phillips to
procure Dr. Lauger's various publications on
the bee's venom ; he will there find more than
the information he asks for in the British
Bee Journal.

Dr. Lauger has shown himself to be a
master in the work which he has taken up as
his special subject. — R. Hamlyn-Harris,
Tiibingen University, Germany, June 28.

[4817.] I am a reader of the B.B.J., and
having seen that some of your correspondents
suffer much from stings, I wonder if they have
ever tried freshly-cut onion ? We took two
old hives to pieces and transferred the bees
here, and, with the help of the onion, did not
Buffer at all. It is also said to destroy the
smell of formic acid, and, therefore, prevent
further irritation of the bees in case of a stiDg.

We have always used onion for stings of bees
and wasps. — E. P., Birr, Ireland, June 24.

FOUNDATION AND FOUL BROOD.

[4818.] I entirely agree with Mr. W.
Woodley (4799, page 243) as to the probability
of foul brood being spread by means of
infected comb foundation, and should like to
hear the opinions of other beekeepers upon
this matter. I have long considered this a
most fruitful source of the disease, and have
known foul brood break out on many combs
built from a particular parcel of foundation in
a hitherto healthy apiary. The undoubted
fact that foul brood is rare in the apiary of
the true skeppist, that is the one who has no
frame-hives at all, strongly supports this
theory. — John P. Phillips, Spetchley,
Worcester, June 23.

STARTING ON MODERN METHODS.

[4819.] I am, and have been a bee-keeper in
a small way for the past five years. I am
fond of them, and have let them live to gather
and live on their own store, having "taken'' but
one stock during that time — and that in the
old barbarous way, brimstone pit, &c, which
caused such a revulsion of feeling that I have
not attempted it since. I have this year
already had four swarms, and one a year pre-
viously, and now have eight skeps standing. I
have ordered a bar-frame hive to begin with,
and think of turning my attention to the
study and culture of bees for profit as well as
pleasure in future. I have taken B.B.J, for a
few weeks, and the Record for May and June.
I should like to join the Association if eligible,
and should be glad if you will send me in-
formation as to what steps to take in order to
become a member.

I am ignorant as to the management of
bees, and have ordered Cowan's " Guide Book."
— H. L., Bexley Heath.

P.S. — I may say I accidentally became
possessed of a swarm in 1897 in a chimney
pot on my house, which I took off, and put the
bees into a straw hive.

[Write Mr. H. W. Brice, Hon. Sec. Kent
B.K.A., 100, Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath.
—Eds.]

A FEW NOTES FROM YORKSHIRE.

BEES STORING FAST.

[4820.] I am sending you a few notes as to
the bee-doings in this part of Yorkshire. I
was fortunate in bringing all my stocks safely
through the winter. We had exceedingly bad
weather in May, a good many stocks in the
district being literally starved to death for
want of food. Yet there was plenty of bee-
forage everywhere around us. I have never
seen more blossom on the blackthorn, but the
bees were unable to leave their hives at all

264

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[July 3, 1902.

until it had almost all died down and
withered. However, when the fine weather
did at last come, the bees seemed bent on
making up for lost time, and supers were soon
teeming with busy workers. To-day (June
28) I looked through my hives, and was de-
lighted to see the rapid improvement. I
removed twenty-three well-filled sections from
one hive, and all stocks with sections on had
nearly one rack completed. I find that my
bees are a full week in advance of last year in
the matter of surplus-storing, and should this
fine weather continue for a week or two the
bees will do as well, if not better, than usual.
— G. A. Barnes, Thornton Dale, Yorks,
June 28.

BUKNING BEES IN TREES.

[4821.1 As a reader of your valuable paper,
I send on a cutting taken from a Norwich
paper of yesterday's date (the Eastern Evening
News). I think it might serve a good purpose
to publish it, as it is a practice every bee-
keeper ought to condemn and try and stop.—
A Beginner, E. Dereham, Norfolk, June 28.

BURNING BEES.

To the Editor.
Sir, — Whilst out this evening in the neigh-
bourhood of Catton, I was horrified to see two
lads eagerly watching the burning of some
straw, paper, &c, which they had placed in
the hollow of a tree. The reason for this was
that the tree happened to contain a bees' nest.
Cannot such acts of shameful cruelty be put a
stop to ? I would not have ventured on your
space, save that I fear this is not an isolated
instance. — Disgusted, June 25, 1902.

WORKING FOR COMB HONEY.

In writing on the production of comb honey
I suppose the proper thing to do would be to
begin in the fall, tell how to prepare the bee3
for winter, and build them up in the spring
ready for the honey-flow. But as that would
take up too much valuable space, I shall
assume that they have come through the
winter and early spring to the time of fruit-
bloom, which occurs about the last of April
or the fore part of May in this locality. At
this time each colony should be examined
carefully, clip all queens that are not already
clipped, and note especially the very weak
and very strong colonies, for these are the
ones with which we have to do at present.

I believe Borne bee-keepers advise taking
brood from the medium-strong colonies to
build up weaker ones. I prefer to go to the
very strongest colonies. I have been thinking
it is better to use up one or two strong
colonies to build up several weak ones, than
to weaken the medium colonies — to make
the weak ones only medium. Take one

or two frames of hatching brood (be sure and
have the bees just emerging from their cells),
place these frames in the centre of the brood-
nest, and your colony is strengthened at once.
As fast as the young bees emerge the queen
will lay in the empty cells, and the eggs will
be right where they can be kept warm.

The queen will also extend the brood-nest on
each side, as there are now plenty of young
bees to take care of the brood. There is
nothing like lots of young bees to encourage
a weak colony. By continuing this method,
always replacing the frames of brood taken
from the strong colony with empty combs, we
will soon have all the colonies in a flourishing
condition and ready for the harvest.

We come now to the time of swarming and
putting on the supers, but before we put on
the supers I wish to call your attention to the
one I have used for the last three or four
years, which is arranged in this manner : It is
what is known as the T super, the size to fit a
10-frame hive, and will hold twenty-eight
4| in. by A\ in. bee- way sections ; but instead
of putting in twenty-eight sections I put in only
twenty-four, with a follower at each side, leav-
ing a bee-space of about £ in. between the
inside of the super and follower. It is to the
importance of this bee-space that I wish to
call your attention. I find the bees will build
out and finish the outside sections much
quicker and better than without it ; it also
acts as a ventilator, giving the bees a chance
to ripen up the honey very fast. There should
also be a space of at least §-in. between
supers, and between the cover of the hive and
super, for if we expect to have the sections of
honey built out and sealed to the top and
bottom we must have room for enough bees to
cluster to keep up the heat. In such a super
there is a living blanket of bees from § in. to
\ in. thick all over the top and around the
sides, and they are bound to produce a first-
class article.

Having the supers all ready with sections
filled with full sheets of foundation, and a few
bait-sections in the first ones put on, we are
ready for the harvest ; and as the honey begins
to come in we are likely to have some swarms ;
but to prevent this as much as possible I raise
up the hive3 on i-inch blocks at each corner
and give plenty of super-room. But, do all
we may, we will have some swarms, which I
should manage in this way, and this manage-
ment is for a long, continuous honey-flow, and
admits of very little increase.

I use a 10-frame hive. Provide a hive with
five frames containing full sheets of foundation
or empty oombs, putting them all together in
the centre of the hive. When the first colony
swarms set the old hive to one side, place the
new one in its place and fill up with two
frames of honey and three of brood from the
old hive, being sure to destroy all queen- cells.
Take the brood that will not emerge for four
or five days, put on the super at once, and the
bees will go right to work. Fill up the old

July 3, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

265

hive with full sheets of foundation or empty
combs ; in from five to seven days shake off
most of the bees in front of the new hive and
use the old one for the next swarm, putting
it on the stand of the next colony that swarms,
leaving that hive at the side of the stand for
seven days, then placing it on a stand of its
own, beginning again with a new hive as with
the first swarm. In this way we increase only
one-third, and our colonies are almost as strong
as if they had not swarmed.

By this method the strength of the colony
increases from the day it is hived, instead of
decreasing for three weeks before there are any
young to take the place of the old ones that
are wearing themselves out every day.

As soon as the first super is well started,
raise it up and put an empty one underneath,
and so continue, taking off the full ones as
soon as finished. But at any time when the
flow begins to slacken, place the empty super
on top, which will in a great measure prevent
having so many partly- filled sections, as the
bees will usually finish the lower ones before
going above, especially during a light honey-
flow. — G. W. Stephenson in American Bee
Journal.

<|tt^!S and $$li$s.

[2901.] Transferring Bees and Removing
Bees from House-roofs. — I should be greatly
obliged to have you reply on the following
points : 1. At the house here a nest of bees
has been established and active for several
years past. They are located between weather
tiling and the plaster on the inside. A few
days ago a swarm came from the nest, and
with the help of a neighbour I got them hived
in a skep. I now wish to get them into a
modern frame-hive so as to be able to handle
the bees and remove the surplus honey when
desirable. How am I to proceed ? 2. Again,
it is probable the colony in the house-roof may
produce another swarm. Should this occur
how can I prepare myself so as to secure the
bees in the speediest and best manner in a
proper hive ? Must a skep be used in the
first instance ? 3. Would you advise my
taking any honey from the swarm recently
hived or should I leave all its food for the
winter '< I think these three questions are the
chief points I desire information on, but my
fouith should have been put first, viz., What
reliable instruction book would you recom-
mend and what pattern of hive should I
adopt ? If you will reply to this and give
any hints for getting the bees out of the hive
under the tiling and into proper hives, I shall
be greatly obliged. — D. S., Staplehurst, Kent.

Reply. — 1. Seeing that you are quite inex-
perienced with regard to bee-work, and that

the swarm had been hived for some days
before your query was written, we cannot
advise any attempt on your part to transfer
the bees and combs from skep to a frame-hive.
To undertake the task is to court failure, if
not disaster. 2. It is, as a rule, advisable to
hive every swarm first in a hiving skep, which
latter — after the cluster of bees has been
shaken into it — is placed on a newspaper or
tablecloth spread out on the ground, with its
front wedged up to allow any flying bees of
the swarm that may be on the wing to gather
in. 3. If the weather continues fine it is
possible for a good swarm of the current year
to gather some surplus in addition to pro-
viding plenty of winter stores in the body-
box. This, however, all depends on the
season and location. 4. You are quite right
as regards the importance of providing your-
self with a reliable guide-book. No beginner
can hope to get on in the craft and be suc-
cessful without such a work ; and when you
ask us to name both a book and a hive, we
simply say, get the " Guide Book " published
at this office ; in it will be found instructions
on nearly all the points you name.

[2902.] Dealing with Vicious Bees. — I have
two old stocks of bees and one swarm, all of
which are very vicious. They sting any one
who goes near them, and, for myself, I may
say if I am stung I am unwell for a day or so ;
so have not been near them this season.
1. Can you tell me if I requeened the hives
with, say, Carniolan queens I should get a
quieter race ? 2. Where can I get some one to
catch the old queens ? There is no one in my
village who knows anything about bees, and
I have lost my nerve. I have kept bees for
about six or eight years. At first I had an
easy lot to work, but, unfortunately, bought
from a cottager a very vicious lot, who by
degrees impregnated all my hives. I have
reduced my apiary in consequence from about
ten hives to the three I have now. — S. J. L.,
Stratford- on- Avon, June 29.

Reply. — 1. When bees become so vicious
as to be unamenable to handling without risk
or great trouble, they are not worth keeping,
and the sooner the old queens are destroyed
and new blood introduced, the better. You
cannot, therefore, do better than purchase pure
Carniolan queens for the purpose, as they are
the quietest bees extant. 2. Mr. G. Franklin,
of Barton Green, Kenilworth, expert to the
Warwick B.K.A. would no doubt do all you
required if written to.

[2903.] Delayed Queen Mating. — I am
greatly obliged by your reply to my question
in last week's Journal. May I venture to
trouble you again ? I am sending a queen for
your inspection, and should be grateful if you
would tell me whether she has been fertilised.
Her history is as follows. A hive swarmed on
May 30. After hiving the swarm, the parent

266

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[July 3, 1902.

hive was examined with a view of cutting out
all queen-cells except one. It was found, how-
ever, to contain only one sealed queen-cell,
which was, therefore, left in the hive. On
June 15 the hive was opened and the queen
found; but she has not yet begun laying.
Another week was allowed to pass, and on the
22nd the hive was once more examined. There
was not a trace of any eggs, and every vestige
of the original brood left by the old queen
before the swarm went out was, of course,
hatched out. Thinking that, perhaps, some-
thing was wrong with the young queen, seeing
so long a time had passed without her showing
any intention of laying, I carefully picked her
off the comb on which I found her, and caged
her, along with two or three attendant bees,
and am now sending her to you. — Bally-
dawly, London, H.W., June 24.

Reply. — The queen was quite lively when
inspected, and is a well developed and rather
fine-looking young mother-bee ; and, seeing
how adverse has been the weather during
almost the whole of the time since she hatched
out, it is quite possible she has had no oppor-
tunity of becoming fertilised. She is now
again in your possession and weather is at last
suitable. We think there is a fair chance of
her mating and starting to lay in course of a
few days.

[2904.] Transferring from Skeps to Frame-
hives. — This spring I purchased a stock of
bees, and should be very glad if you would
kindly inform me •what variety they are. 1. I
enclose drone and worker for identification.
I have them at present (as purchased) in a
straw skep covered with a cheese-box, and I
have placed a body - box containing ten
standard frames on top, which the bees have
already commenced to draw out. I have a
frame-hive ready, and purpose transferring
about September 1, putting all the filled and
drawn-out combs from body-box into the new
hive, and feeding rapidly with syrup until all
are full for their winter food, and taking
whatever honey there may be in the skep for
my own consumption. The bees apparently
do not intend to swarm this year, as a fort-
night back they ejected the drones, killing
many, though I see they still tolerate a small
number, ejecting them occasionally in a half-
hearted sort of way, but do not sting
them and allow them to readily regain an
entrance. 2. Is the warmer weather likely to
have caused them to alter their treatment of
the drones ? 3. Would it be reasonable to
purchase an Italian queen about August 1 and
make an artificial swarm as detailed in
Webster's " Book of Bee-keeping '' ? I am told
August is a busy month in this district, as
garden flowers are then most plentiful, though
bees have to travel over a mile to reach green
fields, the borders of Epping Forest, or any
other wild food. I should greatly esteem any
advice or comments you may be good enough

to make, as I may be moving into the Epping
Forest district, where heather, also, to a certain
extent abounds, in which case I should greatly
increase my hives as I get my hand in. —
E. W. Appleton, Walthamstoiv, N.E.,
June 30.

Reply. — 1. Bees sent are the common
brown or native variety. 2. The recent cold
weather and scarcity of food have caused the
turning out of the drones. 3. If the instructions
are carefully carried out, it will, no doubt,
work out all right. You should make a point
of stimulating breeding, which means " work-
ing for bees," until the present month is out if
the hives are within reach of heather forage in
quantity.

[2905.] Moot Points in Appliances and
Comb Foundation. — Would you kindly tell
me in Bee Journal : — 1. What is the advan-
tage of having a bee-space between sections
and sides of the rack, as the latter are nearly
all made that way now ? 2. Do bees draw out
comb-foundation or do they build on it ? My
reason for asking this question is, a friend
who, like myself, is a Bee Journal reader,
argues that they build on it, and I cannot con-
vince him that they draw it out. We, there-
fore, agreed to take your view as decisive on
the point.— W. D. W., Old Benwell, New-
castle-on-Tyne.

Reply. — 1. You are in error in supposing
that all section-racks have a bee-space at
sides. It is only when the four-bee-way sec-
tion is used that this arrangement is neces-
sary, and as the older form of section (i.e., the
two-bee-way) is holding more than its own in
popular favour the style of rack you name is
really falling into disuse. 2. As a matter of
fact, you are both equally right and wrong.
When bees have foundation with high " side-
walls '' given them, they thin down the said
walls, using the surplus wax for elongating
the cell walls. In this way, then, they cer-
tainly do " draw it out." On the other hand,
if the foundation has only the slightest indica-
tion of the cell-form they will build on it. In
other words, if a sheet of perfectly plain wax
is given, the bees will undoubtedly build
their comb cells on it.

[2906.] Dealing loith Foul Brood. — Last
year I had a present of bees given me by a
real friend, but which proved to be a hotbed
of " F.B." I had never heard of this bee-
disease, and the greatest thing that troubled
me was the " stinger.'' Now I am sorry to
say I have had practical acquaintance with
this pest, and though I destroyed that hive
entirely in August last, the disease appeared
in another hive this spring. It was very
slight when expert pointed it out to me, and
he thought there was every reason for its
being cured. I fed heavily with medicated
syrup, placed naphthaline in hive, and saw bees

July 3, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

267

increase rapidly. They have filled out brood-
nest, one rack of sections, and are working
now a second, besides throwing off a
good swarm, which, however, was returned.
So far that hive promises all right, but of the
next to it : — Well, on Friday last, seeing they
were not doing as they should, I removed a rack
of sections which they are filling and looked
into the brood-chamber, and there, to my horror
I may say, I found early traces of " F.B.'' This
hive was certified by expert at end of May to
be quite healthy. Now, Sir, what is my best
course I I have now twelve bar-frame hives,
seven of this season, and the remaining
three of last year have all swarmed, two of
them twice each, and are at present healthy.
I now beg to ask the following : — 1. Should I
deal with them at once, or wait till nearer end
of honey flow 1 2. Would you advise me to
spare bees or send the whole to the brimstone
pit ? 3. I thought I might unite the two
stocks later and feed them up for winter, but
whatever remedy you advise I know will be
safe, and I will act upon it. Anyway, I am
determined not to have "F.B.'' in my apiary. I
intend going in for third-class experts' exami-
nation soon, and my only doubt is whether or
not to delay treatment during the honey
season. I ought also to say that these same
hives were new last season, and the one given
me was my first — just as an encouragement !
My friend knew nothing of "F.B." himself, and
was a beginner, and that is how much of this
is spread, through ignorance. If I had not
joined the Hampshire Association and had
expert advice last autumn, my whole apiary
would probably have fairly reeked with disease
by now, and every one near me, for the one
destroyed was in the " spore " stage. I have
just examined two hives mentioned, and find
since Saturday they are fast sealing up sec-
tions. If I were to ^starve bees for three days
after removing them from present hives, it
would not be wise to place unfinished super
and sections on other hives, I presume. —
A. A. A., Andover, June 28.

Reply. — 1. Under the circumstances and at
the present time we should let the bees go on
storing honey as long as the ingathering lasts.
Then see to the condition of the sealed brood,
and act accordingly. 2. Above reply meets
the second query. 3. It may be advisable to
unite both lots in autumn if bees are weak
and combs need destroying, but not otherwise.

[2907.] Dealing tvith Virgin Swarms. — I
had a swarm of bees yesterday from a swarm
I hived on the 12th inst. What would you
have done with them ? — John M. Terson,
Dover, June 27.

Reply. — Return the swarm after cutting
out all queen-cells.

[2908.] Foul Brood Troubles— Since writ-
ing you with regard to suspicious comb in two
hives, and which you were not able to diagnose,
I have examined both hives again. One
appears to be all right, without a sign of foul

brood, but the other is quite without bees.
They must have decamped in a body leaving
brood in seven combs. I am at a loss to
account for this, unless the bad odour has
driven them away. They were busy on
Friday last, but I could not examine the hives
until to-day. I enclose a sample of comb,
which I put down at once to a bad attack of
foul brood, through the brood being deserted
may really be the cause of the present state,
I suppose. Appearances alone would point
otherwise, and with the care in medicating and
disinfecting I was loth to believe that I have
another attack. We have, however, skeppists
around who take no care, nor care either that
we are liable to such mischief through them ;
and so I must reluctantly give up the pleasant
and profitable hobby of beekeeping. I may
add that I have destroyed the whole lot —
hive, frames and quilts — of the doubtful hive
lest others of my eighteen may go. — Wafer,
Worcester, June 25,

Reply. — There are signs of incipient foul
brood in comb. It is no doubt most annoying
to have one's efforts to keep disease from the
bees thwarted in this way, and we advise you
getting the help of the county B.K.A. in an
endeavour to bring the skeppists to a sense of
reason by means of moral pressure, if no thing
else will suffice.

[2909. J Stamping Out Foul Brood.— Whilst
overhauling one of my hives the other day,
cutting out queen-cells, I was horrified at the
discovery of signs of foul brood in two or
three oi the middle frames of the hive. As
the said hive is very strong, I purpose waiting
until the bees have gathered in the lime-
blossom harvest, which will take place in
about ten days' or a fortnight's time. When
that has taken place, and I have removed the
stores, I intend brushing off the bees from the
old frames into a skep, covering the same
with some open cloth or netting and placing
the skep in a cool, dark cellar for forty-eight
hours ; then shaking them through the top
into a new hive containing six frames of
wired brood-foundation, and feed them up
with about 6 or 7 lb. of medicated syrup
during night time. The skep will be burned,
together with the old frames, combs, and
cloths. 1. Kindly inform me if the proposed
procedure is correct, or should I take stronger
measures to rid my bees of this scourge.
2. What should be done with regard to stray
bees that fall on the ground or escape from
the skep during manipulations'? 3. I am
anxious to re-queen the stock ; would this be
a good opportunity for doing so by destroying
the old queen when placing bees in skep ?
Would the bees take to a new queen if she
were placed with them in the new hive after
forty-eight hours of queenless confinement. —
Troubled One, Cornwall, June 28.

Reply. — 1. Yes, you will be doing quite
the right thing. 2. You need take no account
of stray bees or those that escape beyond

268

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[July 3, 1902.

operating in the evening, and, if possible, in
an outhouse away from your other hives. 3.
In view of the fact that the stock is now very
strong, we should not advise re-queening. The
present mother-bee is evidently a prolific and
good one, and you may " go further and fare
worse '' in changing, to say nothing of the cost
and trouble.

(ftriuws flnrai tkt Sices.

Burghwallis, Doncaster. — We have removed
our apiary of twenty-eight hives nearly seventy
miles by rail, and yet they received no
damage whatever, although the hives were all
changed out of one truck into another, on
account of the two companies having different
brakes, making it impossible for one truck to
run through. We are very sorry we shall
miss the heather harvest, as we do not know
of any within reach of Burghwallis. — Scurrah
and Garnett.

Wisbech, Cambs, June 23. — We are having
glorious bee weather just now, but it has been
very unsettled, causing many swarms. I have
had five swarms out of four hives. The
curious thing was the seoond swarm out of
No. 1, on Saturday last, was an immense
one, quite filling a large skep. I put it in a
large wood hive, and gave them a super with
ten frames and a rack of sections on top of
that. The next morning they were all full of
bees at work. — Jas. Dann.

SOMETHING ON HONEY-FLAVOURS,
MARKEfING, &c.

Most people think that honey is honey, and
the notable difference in taste between
sweet clover, alfalfa, white clover, basswood,
goldenrod, and buckwheat, for instance, will
give rise to many questions of how they can be
secured separately, and give full opportunity
to explain the use of the extractor, and why
extracted honey can be profitably produced at
a lower price than comb-honey ; and, in time,
you will learn to tell when asked " Which is
the best honey 1 " (before tasting the samples).
They are all good honeys, and as to food value
one is as good as the other, but I can't tell by
looking at you which you like best.

Now, since you like your sweet clover a
little mixed with some other, I would say if
you have pure basswood honey put in I alfalfa,
and people who like basswood honey will like
it better ; also to your pure buckwheat put in
$ alfalfa and it is so mild it is not noticeable
to the taste, only makes the buckwheat flavour
less rank, and improves the whole ; and you
will be surprised to see how many will like it
better than any other and order it. Also
California sage should be diluted with alfalfa.
I say alfalfa because it is so mild and of such
good body.

Dr. Miller expresses the idea about too
much flavour, and I find it pays to teach

people the difference, and label each kind
always true to name.

One store sold over 500 Mason jars of honey
this season, nearly all candied, because it is
cleaner to handle ; clerks like to handle it
better, and people can take it home safer, and
eat it candied or melt it, as they please. The
result is all because I took special pains to give
every man, woman, and child in the small
town, who was fond of honey, a taste of the
various flavours, and explained how we kept
the various kinds separate, &c. I told them
that I would put my honey in the store, always
labelled true to name, advised them to re-
member which kind they liked best, and to call
for it at the store. If they ever found I have
deceived them, to take it back and get their
money. So well has this experiment of
thorough canvass succeeded that if I only had
the time to go to every town in the United
States and do likewise, I could use almost an
unlimited supply. I have added two more
towns to my list of thoroughly canvassed —
educated somewhat in regard to honey. I
gave them an opportunity to educate them-
selves about flavours, and already the stores
are asking for more honey. One small town
has used over 1,000 lb., while two towns four
times its size, on either side, have used 1201b.,
all because of a little time in educating people
as to what extracted honey is, how much
difference in flower flavour, how to melt when
candied, &c.

Now, in mixing various honeys, heat from
130 deg. to 160 deg., stir thoroughly, let it
stand a hour, and skim what foam rises, then
draw off into jars properly labelled true to
name, and put in the store and let it candy
when it may ; the label will explain that.

When I say mixed-flavoured honey, I do not

mean adulterated with glucose or syrups — no,

! no, but mixed one flavour of pure bees' honey

(perhaps of strong flavour) with another pure

bees' honey of a milder flavour.

Naturally, we would generally get buck-
wheat honey with some of the last of clover or
basswood, and then with some goldenrod,
heartsease, or aster, but principally buckwheat ;
also sweet clover in our country here will get
mixed more or less with other clovers, and
shoestring, snowdrop, &c.

Oh, for a honey exchange that would see to
it that our good honey was properly put on the
market, in a standard but otherwise useful
package, properly labelled true to name. One
man cannot do it. The creamery men see to
it that their fancy butter gets to the consumer
in good order, and not mixed with oleo ; then
why should not the bee-keepers do the same,
and not throw it on the general market, and let
it be mixed with glucose before reaching the
consumer, and perhaps labelled " Red Top
Clover Honey," or " California White Clover
Honey," or, as I saw in Sioux City this winter,
" King-Bee Honey ? '' Such stuff, along with
poorly ripened, strongly flavoured honey, tends
to disgust the public with extracted honey.

July 3, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

269

In fact, all my remarks refer to clear or ex-
tracted honey. — Thos. Chantry in American
Bee Journal.

PRESS CUTTING.

AN EXCITING BEE ADVENTURE.

An exciting incident occurred at Castle
Hedingham, Essex, on Saturday evening and
Sunday, in connection with an attempted
capture of a swarm of bees and a comb of
honey. The bees made their home in a large
elm trea near the residence of Mr. V. W.
Taylor, J. P. The tree is hollow from top to
bottom, and an enterprising resident of the
village conceived the idea of lighting a fire at
the bottom to smoke the bees out at the top,
where he had arranged to catch them. He
was then going to get the honey. Unfortu-
nately for him the tree caught fire, and after
trying for some time to put it out, thinking he
had succeeded, he departed, leaving his ladder
and hive near the tree. As it was, the tree
was seen on fire just before midnight by
Inspector Wapling and P.O. Frost, who, after
two hours' strenuous labour, thought they had
managed to extinguish the flames. The tree,
however, was found to be burning on the
Sunday about midday, when several members
of the village fire brigade attended and estab-
lished a bucket service. Happily their efforts
were successful. The bees were still about
the tree on Tuesday, when some of them
showed signs of their recent experiences. —
Essex County Chronicle, June 28.

TRADE CATALOGUE RECEIVED.

W. P. Meadows, Syston, near Leicester. —
Mr. Meadows' annual catalogue (No. 23) for
1902 is new in shape and has undergone com-
plete revision in substance. It consists of
sixty-two pages, well got up, and illustrated
from end to end. It is rather a pity to see it
coming out so late in the season, but those
who need Mr. Meadows' special goods, particu-
larly in extractors, will do well to procure a
copy without delay.

$tt ^Jurats to ®amt,

July 5 to 9, at Carlisle.—" Royal " Agricultural
Society's Show. Bee and Honey Section under the
management of the B.B.K.A.

July 17 and 18, at Boston, Lines.— Show of
Honey, Hives, and Bee-Appliances in connection with
the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society. Bee Depart-
ment under the management of the Lines. B.K.A.

July 26, at Buttfleld Park, Hessle, East
Yorks.— Honey Show in connection with the Hessle
and District Horticultural Society. Good prizes' for
Honey-Trophy, Sections, and Extracted Honey.
Schedules from Ernest C. S. Stow, hon. sec, Thornton
House, H§ ssle, East Yorks.

July 30 to August 1, at Leeds —Honey show
in connection with the annual show of the Yorkshire
Agricultural Society, at Roundhay Park. £2,115 in
prizes, including liberal cash prizes for honey.
Eatries closed.

August 4, in the "Walled Meadow,
Andover.— Honey Show in connection with the

Andover and District Horticultural Society. Class for
single 1-lb. jar of extracted honey (with no entry fee).
Also classes for sections, extracted honey (light and
dark), bell glasses, honeycomb designs, and beeswax.
Schedules from the Hon. Sec, Dr. Gillett, Elvin House,
Andover. Entries close July 28.

August 5, at Leamington. — Ninth annual show
of the Leamington St. Mary's Horticultural Society.
Three open classes for Six 1-lb. Sections, Six 1-lb. Jars
" Light," and Six 1-lb. Jars " Dark " Extracted Honey,
respectively. Liberal money-prizes. Schedules from
P. W. Smith, Secretary, 22 Leam-street, Leamington.
Entries cloBe July 31.

August 6, at Neston Park, "Wilts.— Honey
show in connection with the Atworth and District Horti-
cultural Society. Fourteen classes for Honey and
Bees, including classes for single 1-lb. section and
single 1-lb. jar, with free entry. Schedules from J. P.
Inkpen, Secretary, Neston, Corsham. Entries close
July 35.

August 7, at Kingsthorpe, Northants.
— Honey show of tne Northants B.K.A. in connection
with the Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Three
open classes with special prizes, including one for
single 1-lb. jar of honey. {Entry free.) Prizes 20s., 10s.,
7s. tid., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from R. Hefford, Sunny-
side, Kingsthorpe, Northampton. Eatries close
August 1.

August 13, in the Grounds of Harden-
hincn Park.— Honey show in connection with the
Chippenham & District Horticultural Society. Twelve
classes for Honey and Bees, including open classes
for single 1-lb. section and 'single 1-lb. jar (with no
entry fee). Schedules from W. Small, Secretary,
Market-place, Chippenham, Wilts.

August 13, at Bradford Abbas, Dorset.—
Annual Show of the Yetminster and district B.K.A. in
the Vicarage grounds. Three open classes, including
one for Single 1-lb. Jar of Light and one of Dark
Honey (entry free). Prizes : 10s., 6s., 4s., in each class.
Schedules from G. Leeding, hon. secretary, Bradford
Abbas, Sherborne, Dorset. Entries close Aug. 9.

August 13, at Itadstock, Bath— Honey show in
connection with the annual show of the Radstock and
District Horticultural and Fanciers' Association.
Schedules from the Secretary, B. M. Clark 1, Fox
Hills, Radstock, Bath.

August 13 and 14, at Dudley.— Dudley Horti-
cultural Society.— Sections, Extracted Honey, Shallow
Frames, Observatory Hives, and Wax. Schedules from
H. Dickinson, Sunnyside, Dudley, Worcestershire.

August 16, at Ammanford (S. "Wales).—
Honey Show in connection with the Ammanford
Flower Show. Judge appointed by the B.B.K.A.
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. One local class.
Particulars from Mr. Ivor Morris, Hon. Secretary,
Ammanford, R S.O. Entries close August 12.

August 20 and 21, 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.
Thirteen Open Classes for Honey. Schedules from S.
Cartwright, Hon. Secretary, Shropshire B.K.A., Shaw-
bury, Shrewsbury. Entries close August 8.

August 23, at Hyde.— Cheshire B.K.A. Show,
in connection with the Cheshire Agricultural Society.
Eight classes for Hives, Honey, and Wax. Liberal
prizes. Schedules from T. A. Beckett, St. Werburgh's
Chambers, Chester. Entries close August 2 (at
double fees August 9).

August 27 and 28, at "Warwick.— Honey show
of the Warwickshire B.K.A., in conjunction with the
Annual Show of the Agricultural Society. Schedules
from Jas. Noble Bower, Hon. Secretary, Warwick
B.K.A., Knowle.

August 28, at Montgomery, M". "Wales.—
Honey show in connection with Montgomery and Dis-
trict Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Two open
classes for six's, sections, and extracted. Prizes 10s.,
5s., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from W. U.Jones, Secretary, '
Church Bank, Montgomery. Entries close August
21.

August 28, at Llangollen.— In connection with
the annual Flower Show. Open classes for Six 1-lb.
Sections, Six 1-lb. Bottles Extracted, and Beeswax.

270

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[July 3, 1902.

Schedules from Frank Little, Llangollen. Entries
close August 14.

September 1 to 6, at Preston.— Annual show of
the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society in connection
with the Festival week of the Guild Merchant (which
recurs only once in every twenty-one years). In honour
of the occasion a largely increased list of money prizes
is offered for honey along with silver and bronze medals
of the B.B.K.A. and also of the Society. Open Classes
for Honey-Trophy, Sections, Extracted Honey, Beeswax,
Instructive Exhibits in Bee-Culture, &c. Schedules
from Edward Bohane, Secretary, Miller-arcade, Pres-
ton. Jilntries close August 2.

September 6, at Bramhall, near Btock-
port.— Honey Show in connection with the Bramhall
and Woodford District Horticultural Society. Liberal
prizes. Schedules from J. Turner, Glenwood, Bram-
hall, near Stockport. Entries close august 30.

September 6 to 13, at the Agricultural
Hall London.— Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (10th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Numerous classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees
wax. Open to all British. Bee-keepers. Special
attention is directed to the new Honey-selling
Classes. Schedules (now ready) from H. S. Rogers,
Secretary, 27, Leadenhall - street, London, E.C.
Entries close August 26.

September 10 and 11, at Hull.— Honey show
in connection with the Hull and District Horticultural
Association, at the Artillery Barracks. Seven open
classes, including one for Honey Trophy, prizes £2
and £1 ; also classes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar of extracted honey, with free entry.
Schedules from F. W. Thompson, hon. sec, 8, Albert-
square, Ella-street, Hull. Entries close Septem-
ber 3.

September lO and 11, at Bebingtou, near
Birkenhead.— Cheshire B.K.A. Show, in connection
with Birkenhead and Wirral Agricultural Society, on
New Show-ground. Numerous classes for Hives, Honey,
and Wax. Substantial prizes. Schedules from A. H.
Edwardson, 6, Hamilton-square, Birkenhead. Entries
close September 1.

September 10 and 11, at Derby.— Derbyshire
B.K.A. Twenty-first Annual Show of Hives, Bees, and
Honey on the show ground of the Derbyshire Agricul-
tural Society. Schedules from R. H. Coltman, Hon.
Sec. D. B.K.A., Station-street, Burton-on-Trent. En-
tries close August 23. Double fees to August 30.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace.— Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition
of Bees, Honey, and Appliances. Specially increased
prizes and medals for Coronation year. Further par-
ticulars shortly. Schedules from Hon. Secretary,
Henry W. Brice, 100, Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace. — Surrey B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, Wax, and Appliances, &c. Twenty-four classes
(ten open to all). Increased prizes and medals.
Schedules ready shortly, from F. B. White, Secretary,
Marden House, Redhill, Surrey.

September 20 to 27, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with the
sixth Annual Exhibition and Market of the Grocery
and Kindred Trades. Numerous classes for comb and
extracted honey and beeswax. Open to all British
Bee-Jieepers. Special attention is directed to the new
Honey-selling Classes. Schedules (ready shortly)
from H. S. Rogers, Secretary, 27, Leadenhall-street,
London, E.C.

October 7 to 10, 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.

Notices to Correspondents &. Inquirers.

J. Edgerlet (Lanes.). — Bee-forage Plants. —
No. 1 is the common trefoil. No. 2. Bird's
foot' trefoil (Lotus comiculatus).

Kirkby Lodge (Somerset). — Home-made
Extractors. — 1. No home-made extractor we
ever saw, or heard of, is comparable to those

sold by dealers. The "Little Wonder"
extractor will answer well for a small
apiary, and can be had for a few shillings.
" Starters " of Drone-foundation for
Swarms. — 2. No great harm is done, be-
cause a swarm will not build drone-comb,
even if drone-cell starters be given, until
their hive is nearly filled with combs.
3. By " working well in sections " it is
meant that the rack is well filled with bees,
which are rapidly building comb and storing
honey in most or all of the sections.

A. Finch (Caterham). — Joining Bee Associa-
tion.— The hon. secretary of the Essex
BK.A. is Mr. J. W. Sheppard, King's
Head-hill, Chingford.

S. J. Lloyd (Thrapston). — Dealing with
Vicious Bees. — 1. It will certainly tend to
remove your trouble if the two stocks are
re-queened with Carniolan mothers. 2. The
hon. secretary of the county B.K.A. would
assist you in getting expert help in re-
queening the hives. Write to Mr. S. Noble
Bower, hon. secretary, B.K.A,, Knowle.

Geo. Wm. Perry (Yeovil). — Insurance for
Bee-keepers. — By referring to the report of
B.B.K. A. Council meeting in our last week's
issue, the present position of affairs with
regard to the insurance scheme will be clearly
understood. Meantime, communications on
the subject cannot be officially answered
other than by the secretary of the B.B.K. A.

A. N. (Backs). — Boys and Bees : A Question
of Annoyance. — The particulars given — of
bees being made to cause trouble to
labourers working on a line of railway, and
so preventing work from proceeding — make
it clear that it is the boys who pelt the bees,
and so cause them to become irascible and
disposed to sting, who need dealing with
more than do the bees themselves. Surely
you can obtain police assistance to stop
the nuisance. If not, we should be in-
clined to take the law (and a stout stick)
into our own hands. If help were needed,
surely some friendly bee-man would share
your keen sense of the injury and annoy-
ance you suffer through the mischievous-
ness of a few young urchins, and help you
to apply the useful stick in putting an end
to such mischief.

C. E. P. (Glain.). — Ants in Hives. — A useful
preventive of these pests is illustrated in
Messrs. Jas. Lee & Sons' catalogue.

Suspected Combs.

0. E. P. (Glamorgan). — Comb received,
though not at all old, is simply reekiag with
foul brood. There is no use trying remedies
with a weak stock on such comb3. The
whole contents of the hive and all quilts,
&c, should be burnt at once.

Bees (Dolgelly). — There is foul brood in
comb, but not of virulent type. The queen
was evidently worthless and a drone-
breeder, so you took a wise course in
destroying the lot.

July 10, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

271

(ZWitoriaL $tttxm, kt

THE "ROYAL" SHOW.

CARLISLE MEETING, 1902.

The sixty-third annual exhibition of the
" Royal " Agricultural Society of England
opened at Carlisle on Monday, the 7th, under
ideal conditions so far as regards that im-
portant factor, "the weather," is concerned.
The enclosed ground comprising the Show-
yard extends to both sides of the river Calder,
that nearest the Castle being the smaller
portion, and in this are displayed the
numerous implement stands, machinery in
motion, &c. After crossing the bridges — of
which there are two — we reach the live stock
and produce departments of the Show. Taken
altogether, the ground enclosed seems smaller
than at Cardiff last year ; but with so
admirable an arrangement as the plan shows,
there is no difficulty in finding one's " way
about," so compactly are the stands arranged.
Nor is there any undue crowding, the
spacious gangways affording ample room for
visitors when inspecting the numerous imple-
ments displayed on all sides.

Naturally, we made our way to the upper
part of the Show-yard and to the spot devoted
to the bee section of the Show. And he would
be a hard-to-please bee-keeper, indeed, who
had a single fault to find with the site allotted
to our craft — indeed, we consider it one of the
best positions in the whole enclosure. Close
to the horse-ring and to the Royal pavilion
and band-stand, with a splendid view right in
front, the bee-show is set where it cannot fail
to be seen by the many thousands of visitors
who will naturally make for a point so full of
attractions as the one mentioned.

The bee display, though hardly so large as
we have seen, makes up a goodly show, not-
withstanding the disappointments of an
adverse month of June for the bees. Honey
of the current year was there, both sections
and extracted, and if the quantity was small
for so important a show, it lacked nothing in
quality, the prize samples being worthy of a
front place in an autumn show. Indeed,
when we consider that little more than a week
of real honey weather sufficed to produce most
of the best "stuff'' staged it is little short of
marvellous to think how rapid was the storing
while the ingathering continued.

We shall have to defer till next week a
more extended notice of the exhibits as a
whole, and for the present confine our notice
to the few words above, and the full prize list.

The Rev. R. Errington, Warden Vicarage,
Hexham, and Mr. W. Broughton Carr, 17,
King William-street, London, W.C., officiated
as judges, and made the following awards : —

APPLIANCES.

Class 335. — Collection of Hives and Ap-
pliances.— 1st, W. P. Meadows, Syston,

Leicester ; 2nd, E. H. Taylor, Welwyn,
Herts ; 3rd, R. H. Coltman, Station-street,
Burton-on-Trent.

Class 336. — Outfit for Beginners in Bee-
keeping.— 1st, E. H. Taylor ; 2nd and 3rd,
R. H. Coltman ; reserve No. and h.c, W. P.
Meadows.

Class 337. — Observation Hive, with
and Queen. — 1st, W. Dixon, Beckett- street,
Leeds.

Class 338. — Complete Frame-Hive for
General Use. — 1st, Jas. Lee & Son, Silver-
street, Holborn, London, W.C. ; 2nd and 3rd,
W. P. Meadows ; reserve No. and h.c, R. H.
Coltman ; h.c, E. H. Taylor.

Class 339.— Inexpensive Frame-Hive for
Cottager's Use. — 1st, Jas. Lee & Son ; 2nd,
R. H. Coltman ; 3rd, W. P. Meadows ; re-
serve No. and h.c. W. P. Meadows.

Class 340. — Honey Extractor. — 1st and 2nd,
W. P. Meadows ; reserve No. and h.c, R. H.
Coltman; h.c, E. H. Taylor and W. P.
Meadows.

Class 341. — New Appliance Connected with
Bee-keeping, introduced since 1900. — 1st,
W. J. Sheppard, King's Head-hill, Cningford
(for rack of sections fitted with bee-spaced
woven- wire dividers) ; equal 2nd, W. Cart-
wright, Moore, Warrington, and W. Dixon
(both for combination section-rack for comb
and extracted honey) ; reserve number, H.
Cleaver, 8, Northcote-street, Leamington Spa
(appliance for glassing sections).

HONEY.

Class 342. — Twelve l-lb. Sections — 1st, Wm.
Woodley, Beedon, Newbury ; 2nd, Richard
Brown, Somersham, Hunts ; 3rd, Gray &
Thompson, Long Eaton R.S.O., Derbyshire ;
reserve No. and h.c, E. C. R. White, New
Toney, Newton Toney, Salisbury.

Class 343.— Twelve l-lb. Sections of 1901 or
any previous year. — 1st, Jas. Kerr, Milldam-
head, Dumfries ; 2nd, Jas. Waddell, Wooler,
Northumberland ; 3rd, W. Woodley ; reserve
No. and h.c., Wm. Bracken, Tirril, Penrith.

Class 344. — Twelve l-lb. Sections (Heather
Honey) any year. — 1st, Jas. Waddell ; 2nd,
J. M. Balmbra, Alnwick, Northumberland ;
3rd, W. Dixon ; reserve No. and h.c, J.
Thompson, Langleeford, Wooler ; h.c, F.
Garnett, Burgh Wallis, Doncaster.

Class 345. — Three Shallow Frames Comb
Honey for Extracting. — 1st, Jesse Garrett,
Meopham, Kent.

Class 346. — Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted
Honey (Light-coloured). — 1st, W. Woodley ;
2nd, Thos. Blake, Broughton, Stockbridge,
Hants. ; 3rd, J. Pearman, Penny Long Lane,
Derby ; reserve No. and he, J. H. Seabrook,
Longfield, Kent ; h.c, Jesse Garrett ; c,
E. C. R. White.

Class 347. — Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted
Honey (Medium-coloured). — 1st, J. H.

272

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 10, 1902.

Wootton, Byford, Hereford ; 2nd, Richard
Brown (no 3rd awarded).

Glass 348. — No entry.

Class 349. — Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted
Honey of 1901 or any previous year. — 1st,
Jas. Kerr ; 2nd, T. S. Holdsworth, Kirton
Lindsey, Lines. ; 3rd, R. Brown ; reserve No.
and h.c., R. Brown.

Glass 350. — Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted
Heather Honey of 1901. — 1st, Jno. Berry,
Llanrwst, N. Wales ; 2nd, Jas. Waddell ;
3rd, W. Dixon ; reserve No. and h.c, Thos.
Richards.

Glass 351. — Tivelve 1-lb. Jars Granulated
Honey of 1901 or any previous year. — 1st,
R. Brown ; 2nd, W. Woodley ; 3rd, Rev.
H. F. Goffe, Thoresway, Caistor, Lines.;
reserve No. and h.c, A. Hamer, Llandlo
Bridge, Carmarthen.

Class 352. — Honey 7rophy (Attractive Dis-
play in any Form). — 1st, Richd. Brown ; 2nd,
Gray & Thompson ; reserve No. and h.c,
W. P. Meadows ; h.c, R. H. Coltman.

Class 353. — Beeswax (not less than 3-lb). —
1st, Jno. Berry ; 2nd, E. C. R. White ; reserve
No. and h.c, Jno. Edwards, Callington, Corn-
wall ; c, R. Brown.

Class 354. — Beeswax (not less than 3-lb. in
Cakes and Package, Suitable for the Retail
Trade). — 1st, Jno. Berry.

Class 355. — Honey-vinegar (Half Gallon).—
1st, J. Gray, Long Eaton, Derbyshire ; 3rd, A.
Hamer ; no second awarded.

Class 356 — Mead (Half Gallon).— No first
awarded ; 2nd, A. Hamer ; 3rd, J. Bradley,
Stoney Stretton, Shrewsbury.

Class 357. — Exhibit Connected with Prac-
tical Bee - Culture (including Articles of
Food, tfce.) — 1st, W. Dixon; certificate of
merit, J. Gray.

Class 358. — Exhibit of a Scientific Nature
not mentioned in Foregoing Classes. — 1st, Dr.
Percy Sharp, Brant Broughton (Lantern Slides
on Bee-keeping).

INTERESTING INCIDENT AT THE " ROTAL "
SHOW.

Amongst the visitors to the Royal Show at
Carlisle, on Monday, was his Highness Sir
Shahu Chatrapati Maharaja, G.C.S.I., LL.D.,
Maharaja of Kolhapur, and suite. A special
demonstration in bee-driving, and other mani-
pulations, was given by Mr. W. Herrod,
Expert Apiarist and Lecturer to the B.B.K.
Association, for his Highness's pleasure and
edification. Mr. Young, the Secretary of the
British Bee-keepers' Association, was in
attendance, conducting the visitors through
the department, and explaining the methods
of using the various appliances exhibited. We
understand that his Highness was considerably
interested in what he saw, and that he has
decided to purchase hives and bees, which he
intends taking with him on his return to
India.

^uraspnAetttt.

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 reiected communications.

Communications relating to the literary department,
reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for Review, die, 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.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

[4822.] Manipulations. — I have lately advised
that these take place as seldom as possible
when outside observation shows evidence of
successful progress. Bat when any such out-
ward evidence points to a necessity for
investigation, 'an examination should take place,
and any such should be thorough in its
character and conclusive in the deductions
derived from the internal condition of the
hive The health and strength of the colony
should be carefully noted, and especially any
signs of disease should be rigidly diagnosed,
and then, or at an early date, conclusively
tested. Evidences of the presence of a failing
or defective queen are generally easily
detected, and in such a case prompt measures
should be taken for her supercession. Defec-
tive or ill-built comb should be removed and
replaced by frames with full sheets of founda-
tion.

Veils. — During manipulations a veil should
always be in use, or, at least, handy. Although
bees as a rule, in the early part of the season,
are very quiet and gentle, rarely volunteering
a sting, the operator is able to handle them
with more confidence when he is armed in
proof. When the honey harvest is on, and the
bees are being deprived of their stores, it would
be foolhardy to go about the work without
protection. I prefer a veil of black silk net, as
it folds up neatly in small space and can be
carried about in the pocket, being thus at all
times handy. It also affords a far less
obstructed view than the rougher veils formed
of green net or wire gauze and net, while its
neatness and handiness is in every way an
added advantage over these.

Smokers. — A smoker is an indispensable
article of a bee-man's outfit. Nothing tends
so much to sweeten the temper of bees and
make them amenable to discipline as a good
smoker judiciously used. Be sparing, however,
in the use of smoke, and under no circum-
stances should it be poured into the hive in
heavy clouds, as this upsets the whole internal
organisation of the bees' domicile in a way

July 10, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

273

they are slow to recover from. Moleskin,
corduroy, touchwood, and soft brown paper
make serviceable fuel. The paper, if dipped
in a solution of water and saltpetre, as advised
last year in " Notes by the Way," will keep in
without fail until it burns down. Many
apiarists prefer carbolic cloths, but there is a
danger of the honey being tainted by their
use, and when hives are to be open for some
time the smoker is undoubtedly the best and
most effective quietener.

Splendid Honey Gathering. — With fine
weather, abundant forage, and a strong force
of bees under proper management, it is some-
times marvellous to see how rapidly they store
honey in large quantity in a given time. I
am not aware what may be set down as a
record take for a day, but I know an instance
where for a fairly lengthy period a hive on
scales showed a daily gain of about 5 lb.
The highest recorded addition wa3 5 lb. 11 oz.
on a fine day in early August, while working
on the heather. I have repeatedly had hives
filling up surplus chambers at the rate of one
rack of sections a week, and I have heard of
considerably better work being done for weeks
together.

Insectivorous Flowers. — Several plants more
or less common in this country derive part of
their sustenance from catching and eating
flies, amongst them being Butterworts,
Bladderworts, and Sun-dews. We have at
present a profusion of these last - named
flowers blooming in the more boggy parts of
our moorlands. It is too small for being a
good pollen-producing plant, and the parti-
cular trait in its conduct which calls for
special comment at present is the fact that
it is insectivorous — it actually seizes on,
digests, and assimilates small flies in consider-
able numbers. The poor peaty soil in which
it grows is so deficient in nitrogenous matter
that the plant has to secure it from some other
source, and so Nature has provided it with
a number of hair-like tentacles stretching
outward and upward from the body of the
leaf, somewhat like a pin - cushion stuck
full of pins, and the head of each
of these is represented by a drop of
clear sticky fluid which shines in the sun like
glistening dew — hence the name Sun-dew.
Each drop of this glutinous liquid is a verit-
able fly-trap. When these leaves are ex-
amined,'very frequently we find several flies on
them in different stages of absorption. The
one just newly trapped struggles hard for
liberty, but the very efforts it makes only
assist the more in holding it a close prisoner.
Its movements so irritate the glands that they
pour out on it a more copious flow of the
secretion. Strange to say, too, the tentacles
assist each other, and even the whole leaf has
the power of folding in and changing its shape
from that of a flat pin-cushion to something
resembling a clenched fist. It is marvellous
to watch attentively and observe this strange
action. It is scarcely credible that anything

but a sentient being is capable of such
concerted action as is here unerringly
displayed. The fly is really digested
by the plant and becomes part of its
substance. Bees in collecting pollen occa-
sionally brush off some of the dust from the
anthers of flowers, and these particles being
caught by the drops of acid are also digested
and absorbed. The same process takes place
if small particles of the white of an egg are
administered, but if too large a supply is given
it proves the death of the leaf. A somewhat
analogous Drocess may be seen in the sensitive
plant or Venus fly-catcher, often seen in our
conservatories, though the action of the leaf
is somewhat different. It is a regular trap and
closes quickly, having no glutinous matter to
hold the fly in thrall. Both have the rare
discrimination to choose only matter which
they can readily assimilate, while they reject
any substance which is indigestible. The sun-
dew if taken up with a good ball of earth and
kept moist, may be grown at home for some
time, when the absorbing interest its actions
engender, will repay the small trouble
entailed.— D. M. M., Banff.

REMOVING BEES FROM HOLLOW
TREES.

[4823.] I thought it might possess interest
for readers of our B.J. to have an account of
removing bees from a hollow tree, in order to
show how it is done. I have taken several lots
of bees from trees, &c, and rather like these
jobs; they are interesting tasks and a good
way of spending a pleasant afternoon. In this
particular case the tree, a large ash, had been
felled by the woodcutters, who were ignorant
of the fact that some 30 ft. up was a strong
colony of bees, but when the tree at last fell
to the ground the men were quickly made
aware of the bees being there, and it was not
long before the former were completely routed.
Later on I was asked to go and see if anything
could be done with the bees, so that the tree
could be finished up for carting off. I agreed
to go, and, on arrival, I found one of the
branches had rotted off, leaving a hole through
the bark to a large cavity some 3 ft. by 1 ft.,
an ideal place for bees. There was a hole
through which the bees worked, and this was
promptly stopped with an old bag. By " tap-
ping" 1 judged the depth of the cavity, and
set the "woodman'' to cut into the tree. In
fifteen minutes we found I had hit upon the
hole to a nicety, the "saw-cut" being just
above the combs. (A.t this point the woodman
fled.) Of course, the proper amount of smoke,
&c, was used before the cutting commenced,
and during the whole of the operation. I now
cleared out the newly-cut hole until the combs
were easily seen, and then fixed skep above
the combs as close down as possible, stopping
up the junction of skep and hive all round as
warmly as possible, and commenced to thud

274

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[July 10, 1902.

the tree with the head of an axe (as we rap
the sides of skeps in " driving bees ") blowing
smoke in at their natural entrance when they
commenced to "run" beautifully, and in
fifteen minutes or so were all in the skep, a
fine, strong, clean, healthy lot of bees, with a
last year's queen. This was on May 10, so
you see I got quite an early swarm, and to-
day they are as good as any stock I have.
The woodman got a nice bit of honey and
carried away all the comb for wax. A nice
lot of healthy brood, I am sorry to say, had to
be thrown away. It took about two hours to
do the whole job. Later on, if you wish it, I
will send you an account of a stock in a house
here, between the ceiling and floor. I have
cut a 3 in. hole in the floor and got them now
supered and doing well inside the room. —
P. S., Broseley, Salop, July 5.

A PROLIFIC QUEEN.

[4824.] I read with pleasure the pithy
reports of your correspondents, and am now
trying to make some return by sending you a
few notes from this district. Weather has
been very unseasonable until end of June, as
I suppose it is all over the country. Bees
have done nothing up to now, except increase
in breeding ; therefore, they are now ready
for the opening of the white clover. I never
really knew what a prolific queen was until
lately. Whit week I found one of my hives
queenless, so united it to a fairly strong stock,
containing about nine frames of bees and four
fr?mes of brood. When united the bees covered
about ten frames, so I put the ten standard
frames which I had left over on the top as a
super. The queen has bred so fast since that
I have had to give them another super with
foundation. The bees now cover eighteen
frames with sixteen frames of brood, without
any signs of swarming. The queen was bred
last July and crossed with a Oarniolan drone.
Can any reader show a better record as re-
gards a prolific queen's laying? — F. R.,
Heeley, Sheffield.

RAILWAY CHARGES.

[4825.] Can you, or any of your readers,
give me any information re the above ? I have
just received a show schedule, and it states :
" Honey can be sent by passenger train at
reduced rate, at owner's risk." Now, the
S. E. & C. R., the only company serving this
neighbourhood, have a rate for farm-produce
at 4d. for 20 lb., and Id. additional for every
5 lb. up to 60 lb., provided it is packed in
boxes which they supply, or similar ones.
Now, these boxes are not suitable for comb-
honey, and the rate only applies to London
and seaside stations on their system. Will
the other companies take it on farther at that
rate ?

They have another rate for parcels between

S. E. & C. stations and stations in England
and Wales, by which a parcel of, say, 1 dozen
sections (which I could not pack under a gross
weight of 24 lb.) costs 2s. for a distance ex-
ceeding 100 miles. This, with return carriage,
makes 4s., which seeing rather heavy. If you,
or anyone among your readers who send
honey by rail, can help us or explain this
matter, it will greatly oblige others, besides
myself.

I enclose name and address, and sign myself.
— Weald of Kent.

[We will be glad if some of our friends who
deal with railway companies will send a line
of reply to above. — Eds.]

TUNISIAN BEES.

[4826.] I have read with interest the
account of the Tunisian bees in the Journal
of June 26. I tried a queen of that race when
I was in Cornwall, and found the result the
same as described. Sometimes there were as
many as five queens in one swarm ! I fancy
the climate suited them there, Now, I should
like to try them here, and am writing to ask if
you could put me in the way of obtaining a
queen which I could add to a swarm of English
bees. Perhaps, if your writer has so many,
she would spare me one, and I would write and
ask if I knew her address. — (Mrs.) T. J.
Tomlinson, Camforth, July 2.

[We think that Mr. E. H. Taylor, Welwyn,
Herts., supplies Tunisian queen bees at very
moderate prices. — Eds.]

(Correspondence continued on page 276.)

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

The owner of the apiary seen on next page,
though not personally known to us, is one
of the useful bee-men whose uniform success
— in a modest way — teaches valuable lessons
to those who are always feeling and com-
plaining of the drawbacks in bee-keeping.
We therefore need add nothing to the
interesting notes sent by Mr. Boon, who
writes as follows : —

"My interest in bee-keeping was first
aroused three summers ago, this being my
fourth season with the bees, and it finds me
the owner of five stocks all in excellent condi-
tion ; at least, that is my opinion of them.
Seeing then that you consider the photo sent
worth a place in the ' Homes of the Honey
Bee,' and want a few lines to go along with
the picture in print, I may say I began by
buying a stock in a skep in May, 1889, for
which I gave £1. Three weeks after-
wards this skep sent out a good swarm, which
was successfully hived, and then put into a
'W.B.C hive. About a month later I
braced up my nerves and resolved to drive the

July 10, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

275

bees from the parent stock, and transfer both
bees and combs to another frame-hive. I cut
out of the skep all combs containing brood, and
tied them into standard frames, fastening the
same as well a? I could with strips of flannel
for a day or two. I then took these off, and
all went on well, and, a^ the weather kept fine,
in due course I put on surplus-chambers,
and they were soon occupied by the bees, so
that when the season closed I had taken no
less than 31 lb. of honey. There are, I see,
not seldom complaints about trouble in find-
ing a market for honey, and in regard to this
I find no trouble whatever in selling my
honey at Is. per lb. Last season I took
a3 lb. from two stocks, and after selling all of

deal. I also grow borage, sweet marjoram,
mignonette, sweet pea, and Canterbury bell.
As one reader says, these are only as a drop of
water in the sea, but I add my word to say
every little helps the busy bee in its work of
storing honey. I am also very thankful
in being enabled to say that I have never seen
foul brood up to the present time.

" I noticed a remark some tune ago in one
of your journals saying that the bees got
salicylic acid (which is a preventive of
disease) from the willows. I still use naph-
thaline myself, and I also keep a strict ac-
count of all my expenses and receipts, so that
I am able to give items on either side for
each year, for by so doing I know exactly how

MR. W. BOON'S APIARY, BRADDOCKS HAY, BIDDULPH, NEAR CONGLETON, CHESHIRE.

this I bought about 18 lb. from other bee-
keepers in order to keep my customers
together. In this way, then, although not so
fortunate as some of your readers who manage
to take 150 lb. or so per hive, I am content
with my lot, as I might very well be worse off.
Besides, the district is not so good as some
localities, seeing we live in a valley in which
two rivers take their rise — the Trent runs
one way and the Dane the other. But if
there are better bee-locations, there are also
worse ones ; and I never forget the real
pleasure I get from the bees. To watch the
bees in the early spring on the snowdrops,
crocuses, arabis, wallflowers, willows, and
other flowers affords pleasure worth a good

matters stand from the £ s. d. point of view.
I have at present nine modern frame-hives,
four of which I made during the last winter,
and three the winter before ; the other two I
bought as patterns. With regard to choice
of hives, I prefer the ' Cowan,' holding about
fourteen standard frames in the brood-chamber.
For surplus storage I use shallow frames with
wide ends, spacing the frames 2 in. from
centre to centre. I use these because only
extracted honey is called for about this dis-
trict. I also had to buy a large extractor, so
you see I have had a fairly good outlay on
appliances, but at the end of last season the
bees had themselves cleared the cost of all ap-
pliances so far, and the present spring, as already

276

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 10, 1902.

stated, finds me with five good stocks well housed
and comfortable. But apart from all this, I
derive a great amount of pleasure, along with
many useful lessons to be learned, from tbe
busy bee. I may thus venture to say, with
the shepherd on the hillside of Judea, ' How
manifold are Thy works, in wisdom hast Thou
made them all.' In conclusion, I have a copy
of the 'British Bee-keeper's Guide Book,'
and also the ' Modern Bee Farm.' I am a
regular reader of your papers, from which I
derive great benefit. The photo sent (with
figures of myself and daughter) was taken in
April last by a friend who is in the photo
business in the beautiful village of Biddulph.
Wishing to all a good season in 1902.''

CORRESPONDENCE.

{Continued from page 274.)
FOUL BROOD TROUBLES.

[4827.] If " Wafer " (2908, page 267) would
send me the addresses of any neighbours whom
he knows or believes to have foul brood, and
who do not take steps to prevent mischief to
other apiarists, I would do what I can to
induce them to allow the necessary examina-
tion and action. If any good resulted from
my efforts, no doubt "Wafer" would assist
our local experts, as these give up much time
gratuitously to the stamping out of disease. I
am pleased to say that the influence of our
Association has recently been used successfully
in a similar case. — John P. Phillips, Hon.
Sec, Worcestershire B.K.A., Spetchley, July 5.

GLEANINGS FROM FOREIGN BEE
JOURNALS.

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

Leipziger Bienen Zeitung (Germany). —
Under the new German customs regulations
it was arranged that hives with live bees up
to 40 lb. in weight should be allowed to enter
the country duty free.

The welfare of the home industry was con-
sidered in this arraDgement, but on more
closely examining the question we find that
the desired end has not been achieved.

The object of the import of live bees into
the country duty free was to enable bee-
keepers to refresh their stocks with fresh
blood.

But good queens are quite enough for this
purpose, and they can be sent through the post
at very slight cost.

If more is wanted, a swarm from Carniola
or a brood stock from Italy might at the
outside estimate weigh 30 lb.

The 40 lb. maximal weight, however, can
only operate against the home industry, as
whole railway trucks of hives, weighing not
more than 40 lb., are sent from Holland over
the borders duty free, under pretence of being

brood-hives, when in truth they are sent for
the honey to be extracted, and the Dutch bee-
keeper can thus send the whole of his honey
harvest to the German consumer or dealer free
of cost.

Dutch bee-keeping is mostly managed in
straw skeps with bell-shaped tops and thin
straw bottoms. They take all the swarms
they can, and it is not often the hives weigh
40 lb., so under present regulations they can
be sent quite unchallenged over the borders.

The Agricultural Board at Bonn is therefore
trying to get the weight reduced to 20 lb., and
for other imported honey to pay a duty of
40m. (about £2) per hundredweight.

Revue Internationale oV Apiculture. — In
Algeria, and especially at Mascara, we enjoy
an exceptional climate, so that we can hardly
say that our bees winter. The lowest tem-
peratures we have noticed here have been
1 deg., 2 deg., 3 deg. Celsius, a decided white
frost in the early morning, but from 10 to
12 o'clock in the day 14 deg. C, and con-
ditions favourable to permit our bees to fly
freely. Our hives are sheltered under a
roof of tarred felt resting on a wall
facing the east. It would be impossible to
have them in the open, exposed to the full
rays of the sun (which, in summer time,
attain to 40 to 45 Celsius), for the combs
would be melted, and indescribable pillage
would result. Our bees ought to " winter "
from September to the end of December,
during which time not a flower opens ; but
the climate is so mild that in January the
brood nearly fills the hives, and young drones
have been seen to fly on January 15. The
almond trees yield a great deal of pollen ; the
bees worked them from January to April, and
also the rosemary, which in these mountains
is nearly always in flower.

The Italian bee is much shier of going out
in wind and cold than our common bee, but
in the early mornings all the common bees are
at work, while the Italian colonies are still
completely quiet.

WEATHER REPORT.

Westbourne, Sussex.

May, 1902.
Sunless Days, 1 .
Below average, 57'6

hou^s.
Mean

Rainfall, 2 60 in.

Heaviest fall, 27 in.,
on 3rd and 7th.

Rain fell on 22 days.

Above average, '82 in.

Maximum Tempera-
ture, 70°, on 25th.

Minimum Tempera-
ture, 30°, on 14tb.

Minimum on Grass,
16°, on 10 th.

Frosty Nights, 3.

Sunshine, 1834 hours.

Brightest Day, 27th,
14 hours.

Maximum,

Minimum,

Temperature,

56 6°.
Mean

39 9°.
Mean

48-2°.
Below average, 3*1°.
Maximum Barometer,

3066°, on 25th.
Minimum Barometer,

2957°, on 18th.

L. B. BlRKETT.

July 10, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

277

WEATHER REPORT.

Westbourne, Sussex.

Rainfall, 3 32 in.
Heaviest fall, "69, on

19th.
Rain fell on 18 days.
Above average, 1*31

in.
Maximum

ture, 78'

Minimum

ture, 40
Sunshine,

hours.
Brightest day, 26th,

15 '5 hours.

tempera-
on 28th.

ternpera-
on 21st.
238-5

June, 1902.

Sunless days, 3.
average,

109

maximum,

minimum,

temperature,

Above

hours.
Mean

66-lc
Mean

44 9C
Mean

55-5°

Below average, 2 -2°.
Maximum barometer,

30 42° on 24th.
Minimum barometer,

29-64° on 20th.

L. B. Birkett.

tifcftots from M ^m%.

The Park, Harron, Ireland, July 2. — The
weather has not been advantageous lor mem-
bers of the craft in Ireland. I lost a stock
through foul brood ; we had removed them
into a new clean hive, but they apparently
joined themselves to a neighbouring stock ;
it was the first case I have had. Last week,
under the genial sunshine, I had two swarms ;
I believe there have only been one or two
swarms up to this date in the locality. I
hope they will do well, but all depends on the
weather. — G. F. Gilliland.

<$s{rip m& Jl^litys.

[2910.] Queen-rearing in July. — Will you
kindly tell me through the Journal if it is
now too late to go in for queen raising this
seasoD, and when is the proper time ? I
thougnt of trying Mr. Brice's plan, as it seemed
to me to be the simplest I have seen. — Lune,
Caton, July 3.

Reply. — July is a very good month for
queen-rearing.

[2911.] Frames for Brood Nests. — I
wiah to know if I am likely to suc-
ceed with a stock of bees I have in a long
double hive with two entrances containing
eighteen Standard frames with two entrances.
It has nine frames in one half, and empty
space back of dummy. How will it answer
if I let them swarm, and put swarm into the
now empty space with " Wells '' dummy
between ? Will nine frames each side be
ufficient for queens to breed in? I have

never sent a query to Bee Journal before, as
I have always found out what I was desirous
of knowing from your answers to other
novices like myself, and often wonder at the
patience you manifest in giving answers to the
same questions so repeatedly. — Beta, Wel-
lington, Salop, July 3.

P.S. — I have Cowan's " Guide Book,'' and
find it most useful in my apiary, a photo of
which I hope to be able to send before long.

Reply. — Yes, nine frames in each compart-
ment will do well for brood-nests of a double-
queened hive.

[2912.] Syrup in Brood Combs. — In the
autumn I had thirty hives of bees, but
owing to spring dwindling I was compelled to
unite many lots, and have now only eighteen
colonies. Fourteen of the thirty were
driven bees fed up, so that I have a large
quantity of brood-combs filled with sealed
syrup. Upon examining the same last week,
1 found the syrup leaking from the combs, and
it smells quite rancid. 1. If I were to extract
it and re- boil, would it be fit for use 1 2. If
the combs were washed with warm water
diluted with naphthol beta, could they be
used again ? I am sure there will be quite
60 lb. to 70 lb. syrup. If you can answer in
your next issue I shall esteem it a favour, as I
am wanting some brood-combs. — Economical,
York.

Reply. — 1. Yes, if the syrup is extracted
and re-boiled it will be quite fit for bee food.
2. Certainly, so long as they are free from
foul brood.

[2913.] Legal Damage Done by Bees. — Can
you inform me of any cases decided in the
Law Courts relative to injury done by bees ?
I should be much obliged if you could, with
references to the reports. — New Brighton,
Liverpool, July 1 .

Reply. — For four Id. stamps we can send
you back numbers of the B.J. giving instances
such as you desire.

[2914.] Transferring Bees and Swarming
Vagaries. — I have been transferring three
skeps of bees to bar-frame hives ; I placed each
of the skeps on seven full sheets of foundation
the second week in April. On June 10, a
very strong swarm issued from one hive. I
examined hive, and cut out all queen-cells but
one, thinking by doing so I should prevent
them from " casting " ; but on June 17 1 had a
cast from the same hive, which was as strong
as a first swarm. I again examined skep, and
found only about a quart of bees, most of
which were drones. I drove bees in skep,
and found a young queen, which I removed.
I put on queen-excluder and returned cast,
which are working well now. Do you not
think this rather unusual, seeing they had
seven full sheets of foundation beneath them 1
With reference to query No. 2886, page 247
(transferring bees) in B.B.J., June 19, I am
always pleased to help my fellow bee-keepers

278

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 10, 1902.

as far as my experience will allow ; so on
reading in Journal our brother's trouble, I
saddled my " bike " and proceeded to Windle-
shans, where I found the bees, which were
very strong, having drawn out five full sheets
of foundation. On turning up skep, I found
the three combs which had fallen down, most
of brood being hatched out. I removed the
fallen combs. The bees had built three new
combs in their places, all of which were filled
with brood and eggs. I drove the bees re-
maining in skep, put on queen- excluder, and
replaced skep. In three weeks I hope to help
our brother in removing skeD and placing on
supers. — J. T. Hurdwell, Yorktown, Surrey,
July 2.

Reply. — We can only attribute the many
cases lately reported of swarming vagaries to
the cold month of June, which put off swarm-
ing in many instances till the young queens
had hatched out, and, as in your case, normal
swarming and casting were in consequence
quite thrown out of gear. Thus old queens
and young virgins got mixed up in very
singular fashion.

[2915. J Giving Surplus-chambers to Swarms.
— On June 18 I caught a very large stray
swarm of bees and placed them in a frame-
hive containing seven frames. I examined
them on the 25th and found the whole seven
combs fully built out. I then added three
more frames (all, of course, fitted with founda-
tion). I examined them again on the 29th
and found all ten frames fully built out and a
good quantity of brood capped and uncapped
in three frames. All combs also stored with a
fair quantity of syrup with which I had fed
them from the start. The bees are now
crowded on eight of the ten frames, and the
two end frames are fairly well occupied with
bees busy filling up the cells. I therefore
ask, what is now the best thing to do, put on
supers at once or wait until the end frames
are fully crowded ? 2. Is not this an unusually
quick time to build out so many combs ? 3.
Is it likely that they would take the syrup
from the frames into the supers 1 —J. Goss,
Sidmouth. July 2.

Reply. — The weather being now entirely
favourable for honey-gathering, we should
give a rack of sections or a box of shallow
frames at once. 2. It is quick work, but not
remarkably so, seeing that there was a " very
large " one and has been hived over a fort-
night. 3. No ; honey is too plentiful outside
for that to occur.

[2916.] Loss of Queen. — On looking through
one of my frame-hives to-day I found it well
stocked with bees, sealed and unsealed honey,
but no brood of any kind, and was rather
in a mist what to do (I may say that the
super was put on May 28, and it was then
full of bees, and they had not taken possession
of it), so I took a frame from another hive
which contained brood and eggs, and put it in

centre of hive. I therefore ask, Was this the
best thing to do under the circumstances 1 —
J. B. Archer, Market Deeping, July 7.

Reply. — Probably the hive has swarmed,
and the virgin queen has not yet commenced
to lay. You would do quite right in giving
frame containing eggs and brood. If it is
certain that the stock is queenless a better
plan would be to introduce a fertile queen.

[2917.] Bees Refusing to Enter Supers. —
I would like your opinion on the following :
— I have four hives, one of which is doing
exceedingly well, but the other three which
had their supers put on at the same time have
practically never been into them. Yesterday
I had a swarm from one of these hives, which
seems to me very odd, as I should have
thought they would have filled the super before
swarming, and, as for the others, I cannot
understand why they do not occupy them.
Can you tell me what is the cause of this ? —
H. E. Beckett, Sheffield, June 28.

Reply. — To tell the "cause" of bees re-
fusing to enter supers, with any degree of
certainty, would require a personal inspection
of the hives referred to, and no amount of
personal experience will alter this fact. All
we can do, therefore, is to explain the prin-
ciples thao guide bee-keepers who know their
work, and that is, given good weather, avail-
able bee-forage, and strong stocks, it only
needs to place properly-prepared surplus-
chambers (or supers) over the brood-nest,
pack them warmly, and the bees will take
possession and work in them with a will. The
essentials are as named above, the rest is
management, and this will come to those who
strive after it. No doubt we could explain
the " whys and wherefores " if we had the
hive open and could handle the combs ; other-
wise, it is little more than guess-work.

[2918.] Ancient Bee Books. — Through the
kindness of a gentleman in this town I have
been lent a copy of " The Feminine Monarchi";
or, The Histori of Bees," by Charles Butter,
Magd. Oxford — Printed bv William Turner
for the author. MDCXXXIV. Can you tell
me if this work is well known, and whether
copies of it are procurable ? I presume it is a
valuable work. — Cymric, Winchester, June 28.

Reply. — There are several editions of
Butter's " Feminin6," some of which are more
valuable than others. With regard to copies
being "procurable,'' they may be had by
paying the market price from well-known
dealers in ancient books, and occasionally a
copy is "picked up'' at a second-hand book-
stall for a moderate sum. We will ascertain
from a competent authority the market valne
of the edition referred to, and print his reply
later on. Meantime we may say that in
former volumes of this journal may be found
many interesting articles on " Ancient Bee
Books," one specially devoted to Butter's
work among them.

July 10, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

279

§m $lt0ttt8 to (burnt.

July 17 and 18, at Boston, Lines.— Show of
Honey, Hives, and Bee-Appliances in connection with
the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society. Bee Depart-
ment under the management of the Lines. B.K.A.

July 23, at Tadcaster.— Annual Show of the
Tadcaster Agricultural and Horticultural Society.
Open Classes for six 1-lb. sections and for six 1-lb.
jars extracted honey (entry-fee, Is. in each class).
Schedules from F. Powell, Hon. Sec, Stutton, Tad-
caster, Yorks. Entries close July 23.

July 23 and 24, at Cardiff. Glamorganshire
B.K.A. in connection with the Cardiff and County
Horticultural Society's Show at the Sophia-gardens.
Show of honey and appliances. Open to all British
Bee-keepers. Liberal cash prizes. Schedules from
William Richards, Hon. Sec, Gabalfa, Cardiff.
Entries close July 19.

July 26, at Buttfleld Park, Hessle, East
Yorks.— Honey Show in connection with the Hessle
and District Horticultural Society. Good prizes for
Honey-Trophy, Sections, and Extracted Honey.
Schedules from Ernest C. S. Stow, hon. sec, Thornton
House, Hessle, East Yorks.

July 30 to August 1, at Leeds— Honey show
in connection with the annual show of the Yorkshire
Agricultural Society, at Roundhay Park. £2,115 in
prizes, including liberal cash prizes for honey.
Entries closed.

August 4, in the "Walled Meadow,
Andover. — Honey Show in connection with the
Andover and District Horticultural Society. Class for
single 1-lb. jar of extracted honey (with no entry fee).
Also classes for sections, extracted honey (light and
dark), bell glasses, honeycomb designs, and beeswax.
Schedules from the Hon. Sec, Dr. Gillett, Elvin House,
Andover. Entries close July 28.

August 4, at Exeter. — Annual Show of the
Devon B.K.A., in conjunction with the Exhibition of
the St. Thomas Cottage Garden Society. Eleven open
classes. Schedules from E. E. Scholefleld, Hon. Sec
Devon B.K.A., Heathfield, Chudleigh, S. Devon.
Entries close July 28.

August 4, at Melton Constable Park.—
Annual Show of ihe North Norfolk B.K.A. Four open
classes, including one for single 1-lb. Jar of Honey and
one for 1-lb. Section. Schedules from C. J. Cooke,
Hon. Sec, Edgefield, Melton Constable. Entries
close July 26.

August 5, at Leamington.— Ninth annual show
of the Leamington St. Mary's Horticultural Society.
Three open classes for Six 1-lb. Sections, Six 1-lb. Jars
" Light," and Six 1-lb. Jars " Dark " Extracted Honey,
respectively. Liberal money-prizes. Schedules from
P. W. Smith, Secretary, 22 Leam-street, Leamington.
Entries close July 31.

August 6, at Neston Park, "Wilts.— Honey
show in connection with the Atworth and District Horti-
cultural Society. Fourteen classes for Honey and
Bees, including classes for single 1-lb. section and
single 1-lb. jar, with free entry. Schedules from J. P.
Inkpen, Secretary, Neston, Corsham. Entries close
July 30.

August 7, at Kingsthorpe, Northants.
— Honey show of tne Northants B.K.A. in connection
with the Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Three
open classes with special prizes, including one for
single 1-lb. jar of honey. {Entry free.) Prizes 20s., 10s.,
7s. 0d., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from R. Hefford, Sunny-
side, Kingsthorpe, Northampton. Entries close
August 1.

August 13, in the Grounds of Harden-
hincb Park.— Honey show in connection with the
Chippenham & District Horticultural Society. Twelve
classes for Honey and Bees, includiug open classes
for single 1-lb. section and single 1-lb. jar (with no
entry fee). Schedules from W. Small, Secretary,
Market-place, Chippenham, Wilts.

August 13, at Bradford Abbas, Dorset.—
Annual Show of the Yetminster and district B.K.A. in
the Vicarage grounds. Three open classes, including
one for Single 1-lb. Jar of Light and one of Dark
Honey (entry free). Prizes : 10s., 6s., 4s., in each class.

Schedules from G. Leeding, hon. secretary, Bradford
Abbas, Sherborne, Dorset. Entries close Aug. 9.

August 13, at Badstock, Bath.— Honey show in
connection with the annual show of the Radstock and
District Horticultural and Fanciers' Association.
Schedules from the Secretary, B. M. Clark, 1, Fox
Hills, Radstock, Bath.

August 13 and 14, at Dudley.— Dudley Horti-
cultural Society.— Sections, Extracted Honey, Shallow
Frames, Observatory Hives, and Wax. Schedules from
H. Dickinson, Sunnyside, Dudley, Worcestershire.

August 18, at Ammanford (S. "Walesa-
Honey Show in connection with the Ammanford
Flower Show. Judge appointed by the B.B.K.A.
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. One local class.
Particulars from Mr. Ivor Morris, Hon. Secretary,
Ammanford, R S.O. Entries close August 12.

August 20 and 21, 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.
Thirteen Open Classes for Honey. Schedules from S.
Cartwright, Hon. Secretary, Shropshire B.K.A., Shaw-
bury, Shrewsbury. Entries close August 8.

August 23, at Hyde.— Cheshire B.K.A. Show,
in connection with the Cheshire Agricultural Society.
Eight classes for Hives, Honey, and Wax. Liberal
prizes. Schedules from T. A. Beckett, St. Werburgh's
Chambers, Chester. Entries close August 2 (at
double fees August 9).

August 27 and 28, at "Warwick.— Honey show
of the Warwickshire B.K.A., in conjunction with the
Annual Show of the Agricultural Society. Schedules
from Jas. Noble Bower, Hon. Secretary, Warwick
B.K.A., Knowle.

August 27 and 28, at TJttoxeter.— Bee and
Honey Show in connection with the Annual Show of
the Staffordshire Agricultural Society. Fifteen classes
for bees, honey, and appliances. Open classes for
12 1-lb. sections, 24 1-lb. jars, and 12 1-lb. jars extracted
honey respectively. Scheduleh from Rev. G. C. Bruton,
Hon. Sec. Staffs. B.K.A., Great Haywood Vicarage,
Stafford. Entries close August 2.

August 28, at Montgomery, N. "Wales.—
Honey show in connection with Montgomery and Dis-
trict Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Two open
classes for six's, sections, and extracted. Prizes 10s.,
5s., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from W. U.Jones, Secretary,
Church Bank, Montgomery. Entries close August
21.

August 28, at Llangollen.— In connection with
the annual Flower Show. Open classes for Six 1-lb.
Sections, Six 1-lb. Bottles Extracted, and Beeswax.
Schedules from Frank Little, Llangollen. Entries
close August 14.

September 1 to 6, at Preston.— Annual show of
the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society in connection
with the Festival week of the Guild Merchant (which
recurs only once in every twenty-one years). In honour
of the occasion a largely increased list of money prizes
is offered for honey along with silver and bronze medals
of the B.B.K.A. and also of the Society. Open Classes
for Honey -Trophy, Sections, Extracted Honey, Beeswax,
Instructive Exhibits in Bee-Culture, &c Schedules
from Edward Bohane, Secretary, Miller-arcade, Pres-
ton. Entries close August 2.

September 6, at Bramhall, near Stock-
port.—Honey Show in connection with the Bramhall
and Woodford District Horticultural Society. Liberal
prizes. Schedules from J. Turner, Glenwood, Bram-
hall, near Stockport. Entries close August 30.

September 6 to 13, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (10th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Numerous classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees
wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers. Special
attention is directed to the new Honey-selHng
Classes. Schedules (now ready) from H. S. Rogers,
Secretary, 27, Leadenhall - street, London, £.C.
Entries close August 26.

September 10 and 11, at Hull.— Honey show
in connection with the Hull and District Horticultural
Association, at the Artillery Barracks. Seven open
classes, including one for Honey Trophy, prizes £2
and £1 ; also classes for single 1-lb. section and single

280

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 10, 1902.

l-lb. jar of extracted honey, with free entry.
Schedules from F. W. Thompson, hon. sec, 8, Albert-
square, Ella-street, Hull. Entries close Septem-
ber 3.

September lO and 11, at Bebington, near
Birkenhead.— Cheshire B.K.A. Show, in connection
with Birkenhead and Wirral Agricultural Society, on
New Show-ground. Numerous classes for Hives, Honey,
and Wax. Substantial prizes. Schedules from A. H.
Edwardson, 6, Hamilton-square, Birkenhead. Entries
close September 1.

September 10 and 11, at Derby.— Derbyshire
B.K.A. Twenty-first Annual Show of Hives, Bees, and
Honey on the show ground of the Derbyshire Agricul-
tural Society. Schedules from R. H. Coltman, Hon.
Sec. D. B.K.A., Station-street, Burton -on -Trent. En-
tries close August 23. Double fees to August 30.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace. — Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition
of Bees, Honey, and Appliances. Specially increased
prizes and medals for Coronation year. Further par-
ticulars shortly. Schedules from Hon. Secretary,
Henry W. Brice, 100, Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace. — Surrey B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, Wax, and Appliances, &c. Twenty-four classes
(ten open to all). Increased prizes and medals.
Schedules ready shortly, from F. B. White, Secretary,
Marden House, Redhill, Surrey.

September 20 to 27> at the Agricultural
Sail, Lpndon. — Honey Show in connection with the
sixth Annual Exhibition and Market of the Grocery
and Kindred Trades. Numerous classes for comb and
extracted honey and beeswax. Open to all British
Bee-Keepers. Special attention is directed to the new
Honey-selling Classes. Schedules (ready shortly)
from H. S. Rogers, Secretary, 27, Leadenhall-street,
London, E.C.

October 7 to 10, 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.

PEESS CUTTING.

HONEY POISONING.

(From our own Correspondent.)

Sydney, May 27.
Wild honey is not always a safe food, as
several Australian prospectors have on more
than one occasion discovered to their cost.
The aboriginals are said to possess the art of
discriminating between the various kinds of
wild honey, but have not communicated it to
the white man. Yet how disastrous a want
of the knowledge may sometimes prove is
illustrated by a recent tragical incident in
New Zealand. It appears that a Maori, said
to be 100 years old, and certainly little, if
anything, short of that age, feeling unwell
recently, told his friends not to bother about
him or to trouble themselves by coming much
to the "whare" (dwelling) in which he lived
alone. He said he would find a grave for
himself, which they understood to mean that
he would probably retire to one of the caves
near there and die. Recently he was missed,
and eight stalwart Maori men started to
search tor him. Having been unable to find
him, they retired in the evening to his whare,
and in their hunger regaled themselves with
honey from one ot his hives. They were soou
taken very ill, and recognised that they had
eaten honey gathered by bees from poisonous

tree blossoms. Five of them are dead, and
the other three have recovered after fearful
sufferings. One of them has his tongue badly
mangled as the result of convulsions. A
constable was subsequently instructed to
destroy the remainder of the honey, except a
sample for analysis. — Eastern Daily Press.

Notices to Correspondents A inquirers.

All querieeforwarded will be attended to, unit tkoem onlf
of perianal inter tit tetll be amvered in tkil eolumn.

G. W. S. (Rugby). — Experts' Certificates. —
1. Intending candidates who are not mem-
bers of a county association should write
to Mr. Edwin H. Young (secretary, British
Bee-keepers' Association, 12, Hanover-
square, London) for information regarding
particulars required. 2. There are no fixed
places for holding examinations except at
the apiary of the B.B.K.A., which is esta-
blished at the Horticultural College,
Swanley, Kent. All other exams, are held
at the most convenient place available.
They are usually held in connection with
the annual show of the county B.K.A.
concerned, and the county secretary makes
the needful arrangements, acting in concert
with Mr. Young, as secretary of the central
body, in London. 3. Messrs. Newton &
Co., optician?, Fleet-street, London, supply
slides on bee-keeping, as do several others
whose names may be had from Mr. Young.
4. As our Mr. Cowan is at present some
6,000 miles away from England, please ad-
dress "Editors" when writing to this office.

J. Palmer (Sussex). — Parent Stock lound
Dead Three Days' after Swarming. — There
is, to our mind, no other possible way of ac-
counting for the bees being found dead other
than the one you suggest, viz., the bees
having been killed by some one or somehow.

W. W. (Glasgow). — Young Queens and
Mating. — 1. The young queen leaves the
hive for her mating trip in from three to
five days after hatching out, unless delayed
by adverse weather. 2. When fertilised,
she usually begins to lay in about three
days.

E. J. B. (Southampton).— 1. "The Bee-
keepers' Practical Note Book'' is out of
print at present. A new edition will be
issued in a few months' time, and will be
announced in B.B.J, when ready. 2. No,
the course you mention is unnecessary.

Forrester (Lyndhurst). — Dealing with
Foul Brood. — If there is risk to healtby
hives, and no experience, it is safest and
best to destroy diseased stocks out of
harm's way.

Wm. Wood (Brownhills). — Dead Queen
Cast Out. — The insect sent is evidently an
adult fertile queen.
T. E. (Waddesden).— Insect Nomenclature. —
The insect is a queen hornet.

July 17, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

281

(BB/rihb $atim, &t

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

CARLISLE MEETING, 1902.

(Continued from page 272.)

The necessarily brief notes of the " Royal "
show despatched on Monday night for publica-
tion last week included a remark on the ideal
weather prevalent when we wrote, which, as
time went on, proved sadly wide of the mark.

In fact, it has been a moot point among
Cumberland folk who remember the memor-
able " wet show " of a dozen years ago, which
of the two was the wettest, that of 1880 or
the recent one of 1902. All we can say is if
the second and fourth show-days of last week
were surpassed in discomfort to visitors at the
"Royal" of 1880, it must have been bad
indeed.

Although the weather on Wednesday was
fairly fine while the show remained open, no
sooner had the visitors left the ground than
rain fell in torrents, and in consequence the
Srst shilling day was ushered in by quite
ieplorable conditions in the show-ground.
Nevertheless, nearly 47,000 visitors passed
;he turnstiles, and bore themselves with
remarkable good humour when trudging
through the rain and mud, four or five inches
deep in viewing the stands.

Thus it comes about that the final one of
-he migratory shows of the Royal Agricultural
Society was unfortunately made memorable
jy adverse weather conditions which greatly
marred what would otherwise have been a
gathering to be remembeied for all time.

The bee department remained from first to
last one of the best placed and most popular
points of the show-ground, and never do we
remember a time when larger crowds gathered
round the bee-tent listening to Mr. Herrod's
plain, terse, and well-delivered lectures and
lemonstrations with the bees.

Coming to the various classes, they were
fairly well filled, though the distance away
ind the " busy time " no doubt kept some of
rar best manufacturers in the south away.
The total entries numbered 154, and, as usual,
:here were some absentees, whose intended
jxhibits could not be staged owing to the late
idverse bee-weather.

Class 335. — Collection of Hives and Ap-
pliances.— An excellent display this was ;
remarkable for the absence of anything in
;he shape of inferior goods. Indeed so
dose was the competition that well on
'or two hours of the judgea' time was
sxpended on this class alone. In saying this,
ire need not analyse the exhibits. All were
jood, and the awards carefully did the
"grading," so they must speak for themselves.

Class 336. — Outfit for a Beginner in Bee
duping. — Seven exhibits were staged in this
Jlass, and we hardly know how to report on

them, so difficult is it to see how some of the
" Outfits" can be sold for the price (30s.) with
any profit to the maker. Mr. E. H. Taylor's
1st prize one was a marvel at the figure ; in
it were none but good articles, well made and
efficient, no essential for starting bee-keeping
(except bees) being omitted. The prize
exhibits were all good value, and well worth
their awards.

Class 337. Observatory Hive with Bees and
Queen. — This class was, for the reasons already
mentioned, very poorly filled, Mr. W. Dixon
taking first with a neat well-furnished hive.

Class 338. Complete Hive for General
Use.— Though only seven entries were staged
in this important class, there was no falling off
in the quality of the exhibits, but rather the
other way, good workmanship being now a
primary object with all manufacturers who
hope to win prizes. In this direction we are
very pleased to note that the reliance on wire
nails for building up hives is slowly but
surely giving place to either the genuine dove-
tail joint for all corners or, what is almost as
good, the mortise joint, as in the one-piece
section. This is a decided step forward, and
we hope to see it adopted by all-hive-makers.
Messrs. Jas. Lee & Son were first with a
" W. B. C." hive that really bore out its name
— which is not the case with some bearing
those ?ometimes much-abused initials. It was
not a " non-swarmer," but a reliable article for
" general use," as per schedule.

The second prize went to Mr. W. P.
Meadows, as did also the third, the higher
award going to a hive of similar type to
Messrs. Lee & Son, but with a non-swarming-
chamber added, the latter appliance being
fitted with a small window back and front,
which enabled the bee-keeper to tell when the
bees had taken possession of the bottom-
chamber without withdrawing the latter.

Mr. Meadows' third-prize hive may be
described as a " W.B.C." on the "XL All"
plan, and also had a non-swarming chamber,
not fitted with windows.

Mr. Coltman had the reserve number and a
high commend for a good and well-made hive,
similar in type to those already mentioned,
but instead of a loose stand the legs were
fixed to the floorboard.

A high commend was also given to Mr.
E. H. Taylor for a capitally-made dovetailed
hive of similar type to those already men-
tioned, also a "non-swarmer." But for a few
minor faults — easily remedied — this hive
would have been higher up in the prize
list, for in material and workmanship it was
all that could be desired.

Class 339. Inexpensive Hive for Cottagers'
Use. — Six exhibits were staged in this class.
Messrs. Lee taking first and Mr. Coltman
second, with good, useful hives similar in
type. Both were well worth the prices
affixed, without being cut too low to pay the
makers ; a thing we were very pleased to see.
The third went to Mr. Meadows, for his well-

282

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 17, 1902.

known and altogether admirable hive for the
moors. It is difficult to imagine a heather
hive to beat this. Mr. Meadows also took the
minor awards in this class for a good hive.

Class 340. Honey Extractor. — This class
brought seven exhibits, all good in their way,
but, as usual, Mr. Meadows was easily first
and second, Mr. Coltman taking the Reserve
No. and h.c. with a reversible " Cowan " of
similar build to the 1st prize one. A h.c.
was also given to Mr. E. H. Taylor and
W. P. Meadows for machines of smaller type
than those named.

Want of space compels us to hold over a
brief notice of the honey classes and those
for new appliances and new inventions till
next week.

%mxttyM&tMt.

The Editort 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.

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[4828.] The season for bee-keepers has been
an unusually chequered one in " Coronation
year " in some parts. I hear of bees that are
barely getting a living, while other reports to
hand declare that for bees and bee-keepers it
has been a " good time." In this district we
have had little to grumble about since the
2l8t ult., but not much to brag of. Honey
came in very fast for about a week or ten
days ; then, owing to the " mowers," the forage
was cut down daily till the whole was laid
low. The "aftermath," however, is pushing
up, but hot days seem to dry up the flower-
blooms very speedily.

The Swarming Season. — Swarms came
with a rush, and stopped almost as suddenly.
We have had casts — or second swarms — only
during the past week, and these small in size,
showing that parent stocks were much
depleted by the large swarms that came off a
week earlier. I noticed in one or two cases
that the parent hives were practically cleared
of bees after swarming. This, of course,
precludes work in supers for nearly a fort-
night after .swarming. No wonder that we,
as honey-producers, so earnestly hope to secure
a non-swarming strain of bees sometime.

Queen Breeding under the Swarming Im-
pulse.— The question arises —Will queens which
were bred in June prove mothers of swarming
stocks another season 1 For myself, I say no ;
or, at least, not more so than if supersedure
had taken place \yithout swarming, as is so
often done by stocks that do not swarm. The

period of re- queening had arrived, and stocks
were preparing for the great annual renewal
of the species ; then came a few hot days and
a honey-flow that gave every encouragement
to the bees to go forth and colonise. This
emigrating was dependent on the weather
rather than on the instinct of the bees. The
preparations were made in the usual way,
some stocks intending to swarm and some to
renew their queens without swarming. Then
came the sudden spell of bee-weather, the
bees revelling in the glorious sunshine and its
consequent inflow of honey, which brought on
a sharp attack of the swarming fever — as we
call it. But this attack will not affect the
queens of 1902. They, no doubt, will be
healthy, robust, virile queens, but I see no
reason why they should inherit the swarming
instinct.

The Blight. — The present season has been
notable and remarkable for many kinds ol
blight, the oaks being so badly infested as to
strip them of their foliage ; the underwood,
too, growing within their shade was stripped
of leaves, as the myriads of caterpillars fell
from the trees overhead. Fruit trees, plums,
&c, also suffered in the same way, in some
cases more than half the leaves being now
dried up ; currant trees, especially the rec|
currant, are now leafless in our district. Firs!
came a black blight on the leaves, then the
rain washed away part of it, but the leavei
felt off, leaving only a sprinkling of currants
which are stunted, shrivelled, or very small.

The Honey Crop of 1902.— What about th
crop ? Now is the time for our Editors t<
summarise the prospects of the season in i
way that those of us whose knowledge is les
extended are unable to do. I suggest tha
postcards go up to King William-street bj
the thousand, with results compared with las'
year, and what the prospects are of the late
crop. If this is done, we may be in a positior
to secure the best prices for our produce, an(
by these means our Editor, in his central posi
tion, would be able to afford the craft ;
positive advantage ; nor do I think there is ai
individual amongst us who would more gladly
do this than the one we know as " W. B. C.
— W. Woodlet, Beedon, Newbury.

MORE SWARMING VAGARIES.

[4829.] No doubt every bee-keeper coulc
relate some queer experiences with swarmi
this year. As I have enjoyed a few, it may bi
of interest to others to read : — On May 24
(11 a.m.) my first swarm greeted me, and j
good one it was, too, settling quite close t<
ground in a rosebush, so that bees were hivec
by handfuls. All seemed well till, at thre<
o'clock the same day, another came out and, tc,
my grief, rose high into the air and sailed offj
and at the same time the occupants of hive
number one also re-swarmed and quietly made
off, myself after them. These contented them-
selves with a short ramble, and settled in a

July 17, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

283

hole in the ground. I successfully hived them
again, and placed them in frame-hive in
evening, and all is going well.

June 10 next swarm, the greater portion of
which had been drowned. This was a very-
strong skep ; and early one morning you may
imagine my surprise at seeing the hive and
alighting-board black with bees, while clusters
had been washed off in a heavy storm. I
covered these over and waited till above date
for a swarm to come forth.

June 18. — Glorious day ; the first and only
day I had been away this spring ; inspected
two swarms from skeps, had stands all ready,
and had left instructions with my wife what to
do. At 9.30 the first swarm issued, but it
came from a frame-hive and was successfully
hived. At 11.0, another swarm, also from a
frame-hive, and this lot, without any ado,
united of themselves to the swarm first hived.
Soon after, a battle-royal ensued, and second
swarm returned to their hive, leaving many
dead comrades behind. This was, I suppose,
because the " master '' was away. Swarms
came daily, and in every case except one
settled quite close to the ground, till on Tues-
day, June 24, when a very large one decamped
and settled on the top of the church tower,
50 ft. high. Fortunately the roof is flat and a
good one, and here, on the morning of the
26 th, I managed to hive them, removing the
lead, and scooping out the bees by a handful
at a time. This swarm has since then filled
ten frames, and the bees are now busy filling a
rack of sections.

Still my hives continued to swarm per-
sistently, the last two playing me a fine game.
At twelve o'clock on July 1 a beautiful swarm
came forth and settled in the lower part of
rose bush. At four o'clock on the same day
another swarm came out and settled on top of
the same bush. One of these came from a
frame-hive that had suffered from a slight
attack of "F.B." early in the season, so I
thought I would treat these carefully by them-
selves ; otherwise, I should have united the
two swarms. I therefore placed in straw
skep, after sprinkling the latter with medi-
cated syrup. The other one I transferred to
a frame-hive, but here is what happened !
The swarm from the frame-hive next morning
entered the straw skep, which latter was a
large one, so I hoped the bees would " stay
there.' They did " stay " for two days, and
to-day (Friday) the whole two lots swarmed
out again, and settled on the same bush as
before. There was about 11 lb. of bees in
that lot. For this latest " vagary " I offer the
following reason, which I think is, perhaps,
correct : — The frame-hive had been scrubbed
with carbolic acid solution for disinfecting
purposes, and the offensive smell had not gone
when the swarm was hived. Consequently,
the bees left. Then in case of the straw skep,
some naphthaline was put in with the swarm,
and being a very hot day, this evaporated
very fast, and the bees were so crowded that

they could not stand it, and, in consequence,
made off to find another dwelling-place with a
less pungent odour. I am to-night once more
going to place these swarms in a frame-hive
which has been scrubbed with hot soda-water
and sweetened. Anyway, I hope they will
" stay " this time. It is also possible that my
experience with my swarming vagaries in 1902
will be found instructive and not unpleasant
reading, so I send the account on.

I had at the beginning four straw skeps to
build up my stock and five frame-hives, and
have now seventeen stocks, after uniting several.
I have had fifteen swarms of my own, and
during this season I have hived twenty-one in
all. — A. A. A, Abbottsam, July 5.

DRONES AND VIRGIN QUEENS.

AN TTNUSUAL EXPERIENCE.

[4830.] At the latter end of last week I had
a second swarm or " cast " from one of my
colonies, and in searching for queens found a
" virgin,'' which I caged for future use. On
liberating her later on in a queenless stock
the bees accepted her forthwith, but while
watching her on the comb I noticed her
following a drone, and as I had never seen
such behaviour before I was curious to see
the result, which very soon came about in un-
expected fashion. The young queen attacked
the poor drone in a very " unroyal '' manner,
in fact, just as she would a rival queen, and in
a very short time he was dead ! — E. Wood-
ham, Clavering, Newport, Essex, July 8.

NOTES FROM SOUTH HANTS.

[4831.] In certain respects the present
season has been the most remarkable within
my personal experience as concerns bee-keep-
ing. My stocks (nine in number) came
splendidly through the winter, and about the
beginning of May a few of them were in such
fine condition that I was tempted by a short
spell of promising weather to begin supering
with a view to obtaining some benefit from
the great profusion of apple blossom. Little
or nothing resulted from this, however, and
we then entered on that period of cold and
rainy weather which will be only too well
remembered by your readers. Not one of my
stocks reached starvation point, though some
came so near it that for a few days I had to
watch their condition very closely. The
depletion of stores resulting from this state of
affairs had the effect of providing the queens
with almost unlimited laying space, with the
result that when fine weather set in the
population of the hives speedily became
so overwhelming that swarming set in as
the order of the day and raged
with a fervour that no efforts seemed capable
of checking. For days I was engaged in
returning swarms to the hives, after picking
out the queens, and in at least two cases this

284

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 17, 1902.

course proved remarkably successful, the bees
resuming work with renewed vigour. So
enormous, however, did the population of
most of the hives prove to be that, notwith-
standing the loss of several swarms, work
slackened only to a very limited extent, and
the pleasing fact remains to be recorded that
at present the honey season promises, with
me, to be at least an average one. From
one hive I have taken forty finished sections,
and smaller quantities from several others,
while the contents of many remaining racks
are very near completion. Some racks, I may
mention, were filled within a week. I recently
hived the largest swarm I have personally
dealt with. It was, I imagine, a combination
of two swarms, and weighed, I believe, not less
than 11 or 12 lb.

It is right to add that, from inquiry, I gather
that my own experience this season has been
more favourable than that of most other bee-
keepers in the neighbourhood. — A. Rotds,
jun., Soberton, Hants, July 11.

OVERDOSING BEES.

[4832.J You will perhaps remember me
bringing to your office in London early in the
present season some comb suspected of being
affected with foul brood. This comb you
declared to be affected with the disease, but
with the help of our expert, and dressing
every affected cell with a solution made from
Calvert's No. 7 carbolic acid the trouble as
regards foul brood was over, for I failed to
find any trace of affected cells. But although
this was so the brood was not properly sealed
over. I brought another piece of comb to
show this new trouble, and enlist your help
in finding out what was wrong, and you
kindly gave me directions what to do. I
promptly wrote your instructions home, telling
them what to do, and on examining the combs
five days after I could see a decided improve-
ment in the appearance of the brood. I
examined them again on July 8, three weeks
since I saw you, and found brood in perfect
condition, and the stock getting very strong.
It was, as you said, a plain proof of overdosing
with naphthaline, or too strong naphthaline.
If you care to publish this in your valuable
paper for the benefit of others I should be
pleased. — Richard Allen, Tusmore, Bicester,
July 10.

DEALING WITH SWARMS.

[4833.] The enclosed piece of comb is taken
from a stock that swarmed on June 25, the
bees clustering on the alighting board of
another hive. I stroked a large part of the
swarm into the hiving skep, but on looking at
them later I found the bees had decamped.
Next day they swarmed again, and were suc-
cessfully hived. I afterwards examined the
brood-nest, and I found several queen-cells ;
one with its side torn down, from which I

thought a young queen had apparently
hatched out, and another capped over. The
latter I cut out, to find afterwards that it
contained only a hard amber-coloured sub-
stance. I concluded that the old queen had
issued with the first swarm, and had got
accidently killed. I therefore removed two
frames of brood from lower hive and put them
in the super, replacing them with two frames
of foundation. This done I returned the
swarm. There was plenty of capped brood
in lower hive, but no eggs or young
larvae. I yesterday peeped into the super,
but the bees were not doing much, so
then I examined the brood-nest, and, to my
great surprise, could find neither eggs nor
grubs — only patches of brood like the enclosed ;
so I therefore gave them a frame of eggs and
brood from another hive, thinking they might
be queenless. So what I want to know is —
Did I do right ? And is comb sent free from
disease ? — W. C, Kermincham, Holmes
Chapel, July 9.

[The course adopted was right under the
circumstances, seeing that there is no disease in
comb sent. — Eds.]

BEE VENOM.

[4834.] I am exceedingly obliged to Mr. R.
Ham lyn- Harris (4,816, p. 263) for the infor-
mation he gives with regard to the researches
of Dr. Lauger. May I ask him to amplify
his information so as to make it more readily
available in this country ? Will Mr. H.-H.
kindly give the bibliographical references with
publishers of Dr. Lauger's publications ? I
note that Mr. Cowan gives a reference which
might be useful on this subject, viz., Hauser,
G. " Physiologische und Histologische
Untersuchungen iiber das Geruchsorgan der
Insekten." 1880. Could any reader of the
B.B.J, give me sight of this pamphlet 1 —
Leslie Phillips, M.D., Leamington Spa,
July 9.

BEE NOTES FROM DERBYSHIRE.

[4835] "All things come to him who waits,"
says the adage. A month since bee-keepers
were pulling long faces, but to-day we can
rejoice — brood-nests are full and second
supers are well forward after three weeks of
real bee-weather. On June 21 a bee-friend
whom I visited was to my surprise getting
supers ready, so I helped him to put them on,
and his stocks were a sight worth going to
see— twelve frames in a hive (he had only
four), ten or eleven in each packed with
brood ! After the cold, wet time we had,
these hives had to be seen to be realised. The
maybloom was in full swing, with several
fields of " charlock :' just coming in bloom,
and the bees stored rapidly. On the 11th
(Friday last) we extracted over 90 lb. of
sealed honey of golden-yellow colour, pro-
bably from the charlock, but so thick it would

July 17, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

285

hardly run through the extractor tap. White
clover is also at its best now, but the mowing
machine is starting to lay it low. There is a
fine clover field within half-a-mile of me such
as is seldom seen at Pilsby. Noticing my
bees all making that way, I paid the field a
visit, and the " hum" was enough to gladden
a bee-man's heart, the blossoms being fairly
alive with bees. I have had bad luck with
two hives, which has taught me that it is no
use trying to work up little lots in cold, wet
weather, although one weak stock I had
a year since proved my most productive
colony in the end, owing to the favourable
weather. I had another weak lot, the queen
of which was worthless, so I killed her, and
united the bees to the next stock. The latter
sent out a swarm eight days afterwards, the
bees clustering on the stem of a large goose-
berry bush, impossible to get at with a hiving
skep ; but we at once popped the latter on
the top of the tree, and the swarm marched
up into it grand, and after cutting out all
queen cells I returned the swarm to the
parent hive.

There has been a lot of runaway swarms this
year. I went to see an old skeppist the other
night who keeps a couple of hives simply for
the say of the thing. He never takes any
honey from the bees because, as he said, "the
bees gathers the honey and they have a right
to it." His wife added, " Yes, and we feed
them, too.'' This was true, as I found the
bottle under the straw thatching on lifting it
up. These good folk still *' ring " the bees
down when a swarm comes off. May I offer a
word of advice to beginners ? On no account
be persuaded to put supers on without excluder
zinc below. I tried dispensing with excluders
on two hives this year, one had an adapting-
board, but the queen came through it, and I
found grubs in drone-comb on one frame. I
took it out, exposed the brood for four days
to chill it, then replaced the frame ; the bees
carried out the dead brood, but next day more
eggs were found in the comb, so I stopped the
queen's game by an excluder. But the other
lot beat me altogether ; the queen went up
right through a rack of sections to deposit
eggs in drone-comb in the top super, although
she had four new frames of worker- comb
ready for eggs in the bottom hive, and I have
spent a bad hour or two trying to find her, but
in vain, as the hive is so crowded with bees. —
Tom Sleight, Pilsby, Chesterfield, July 14,
1902.

HONEY AT "OWNER'S RISK" BY
RAIL.

[4836.] In reply to "Weald of Kent"
(4825, page 274), I beg to say all he has to
do is to go to the nearest station, and ask for
and sign a general " Owner's Risk " note,
which latter will hold good until withdrawn
in writing. He will then be able to send and
receive all honey at a cheap rate without

further bother or trouble. He will also be
able to send it by any railway company in
Great Britain at the same rate. Use what
honey-box you like. Get a time-table from
the station which contains "owner's risk
rates," and what they carry at that rate. I
always know what it will cost me in sending
honey to a show before I leave the house with
it. I sent 24 lb. to the "Royal," Carlisle,
nearly 200 miles, for Is. ; 30 miles, 6d. for
24 lb. ; 50 miles, 6d. for 24 lb. ; 100 miles,
9d. for 24 lb. ; 200 miles, 24 lb., Is. ; any
distance, 24 lb., Is. 3d. — Exhibitor, Derby,
July 13.

PROLIFIC QUEENS.

[4837.] When reading the letter (4824,
page 274) in last week's B.B. J., I thought the
following might possess interest. On May 24
last one of my hives sent out a swarm which
was hived on ten Standard frames, fitted with
foundation. A fortnight later the swarm was
supered with a rack of sections. On June 29
I was surprised to see this hive send out a
swarm, and on examination I found combs
built out in sections, and all ten frames in
brood-chamber filled both sides with brood.
I also cut out eight capped queen-cells. I
may say there has been a good number of
swarms in this district, but not much honey
has been gathered. White clover, however,
looks very promising, and, given fine weather,
the bees will no doubt give a good account
of themselves. — Geo. Levers, Loughborough,
July 11.

ESSEX AND SUFFOLK B.K.A.

Mr. Withycombe, the Expert of the Essex
and Suffolk B.K.A., has been engaged by the
Essex County Council Technical Instruction
Committee to give lectures and demonstra-
tions in the bee-tent on the occasion of the
Chingford Horticultural Society's Show on
Saturday afternoon, July 19 next, in the
grounds of Sunnyside, King's Head Hill,
Chingford. Messrs. Lee & Son have also
been engaged to make an educational exhibit
of hives and bee appliances. There are several
classes for honey open to Essex. — W. J.
Sheppard, Hon. Sec, Chingford, July 12.

ITALIANISING BEES.

THE TIME OT SWARMING.

Question. — I see that you sometimes answer
questions in the American Bee Journal, so I
send along a couple. Wishing to Italianise
my bees I have thought that it might be done
by changing queens during the time of swarm-
ing. What 1 mean is this : If I have my
queens' wings clipped and hive the new swarm
on the returning plan, can I pick up the old
queen while the swarm is out, put an Italian
queen in a cage, put the new hive on the old

286

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 17, 1902.

stand, and when the swarm returns let the
Italian queen run in with the bees into this
new hive, the same as would the old queen did
I not change them ? Would it be safe to let
a strange queen go in with the swarm ?

Answer. — From an experience of thirty
years I have found that the changing of
queens, upon the hiving of any swarm of bees,
in any place, is liable to " raise a rumpus,"
and especially is this the case where the swarm
is hived upon a new stand ; for in this case
the least disturbance or dissatisfaction will
start the swarm running out and all over the
hive, resulting in the larger part of the bees
going back home. And the chances of failure
are too great for all practical purposes with a
single swarm hived in a new location. Where
two or more swarms cluster together, if the
new queen is placed in a large cage made
wholly of wire-cloth except the stopper, so
that the bees can get near the queen in large
numbers, and the cage hung with the clustered
swarm for half an hour or so till they are led
to call her "mother," then this large swarm
can be hived where you please, and the queen
allowed to run in with the swarm, and as a
rule all will go well.

The why of this is that where two or more
swarms cluster together they seem to know
that strange queens and strange bees must be
thrown one with the other, and so are not so
disposed to be such sticklers for their own
queen, or go back to their brood if they can-
not find her with them. But as very few wish
to hive two or more swarms together, so that
it is possible thus to give a queen, only occa-
sionally, did we so wish to do, this also is
hardly practical. The chances are better
where the swarm is hived in a new hive on the
old stand, or allowed to return as our ques-
tioner suggests, and where you have the old
queen bo you can control her on account of her
having a clipped wing ; but even then they
will sometimes become so dissatisfied that they
will hunt up the old hive (unless moved quite
a distance from its old stand), and all, or nearly
all, go back to it, or, worse still, go into the
hives all about the apiary, where in many
cases they will all be killed.

If the above large cage is used, placing the
cage over the frames before the swarm returns
or is hived, and the queen allowed to remain
in this cage for a day or two, the chances of
success are much increased. The reason for
this dissatisfaction coming to the bees is not
so much that they have a strange queen, as
that TVtrths of them consider that they have no
queen at all, they thinking thus because when
the first few bees come in contact with the
strange queen they immediately cluster her so
that the most of the bees cannot get near
enough even to get a scent of her, and so the
majority consider themselves queenless, and all
know that it is very hard work to make
queenless bees stay in a new hive.

The large cage places the queen so that the
bees cannot cluster her so but what the main

swarm can " catch the scent,'' and so they do
not consider themselves as being without a
queen. On the whole, I would not advise the
changing of queens during the swarming
season in any way or by any plan, for I find it
to be much more annoying to try to change a
queen with a colony about to swarm, or with
those which have lately swarmed, than with
any others, or at any other time of the year,
and, besides, a failure more often results. —
G. M. Doolittle, American Bee Journal.

(ftt^s and mpEp.

[2919.] Recovering Truant Swarms. An
Unfortunate Mishap. — I should be glad of
your valued opinion on the following : — 1. On
Sunday the 5th inst., I had a swarm from a
skep. The bees settled on the trunk of a tree
in my neighbour's garden, and must have been
clustered there from one to two hours before I
tried to hive them in a skep. From the posi-
tion of the swarm it was impossible to shake
them into the skep ; so I endeavoured to brush
them gentlyin (was this the best plan ?), but the
whole lot of bees immediately rose into the air,
and made across a field, where they took
possession of an empty hive about a quarter of
a mile from my apiary. I followed them, and
at once acquainted the owner of the empty
hive — thanks to your valuable remarks a week
or two ago re swarms decamping — who gave
me. permission to remove the bees from the
abode they had chosen, and take them away
in the evening in my own hive. The recovery
of my truant swarm so far promised well, but
judge of my dismay when, on lifting out the
combs of the hive they took possession of, I
found the whole ten frames with honey in the
cells and reeking with foul brood. On making
this discovery I further questioned the owner,
who said, " Oh ! the bees died out this spring,
and I took no further notice of them." Well
now, what I would like to know is if I feed
the bees on medicated food (as described in
" Guide Book ") in addition to what they will
gather from the limes, do you think there is a
possibility of saving them after shaking the
bees from the infected combs into my clean
hive, or would it be best to destroy the lot
later iu the autumn after the next visit from
our expert ? I have placed the hive 30 yards
away Irom my healthy stocks. 2. I examined
(by permission) another stock belonging to the
owner of the diseased hive, and this is also
affected with foul brood. I have advised the
owner to allow me to shake the bees (which
cover nine frames) into a empty skep for forty-
eight hours, then to put them into a clean hive
with full sheets of foundation and feed up on
medicated food. The skep frames and all
things subjected to the infection will be burned.
— T. W. C , Colchester, July 9.

Refly. — Under the circumstances detailed

July 17, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

287

above there is no good reason whatever for
destroying the bees in the autumn unless foul
brood appears in the combs when packing for
winter. The plan proposed to be followed is the
right one, and may be quite successful. With
regard to hiving the swarm by brushing the
bees into skep, it was the very way to bring
about the result mentioned. You should have
fixed the skep overhead and smoked the bees
gently upward.

[2920.] Immature Drones Cast out of Hive
after Swarming. — I should be glad if you
would kindly give me your view with regard
to the following event : — About a fortnight
ago a large swarm issued from my hive, which
I successfully put into a new hive. Yester-
day morning I noticed about twenty or thirty
dead bees (like the enclosed) on the ground
below the alighting board, and the bees were
bringing more of them out of the hive as I
watched. What is the reason of this 1 To-
day I see many drones on the wing outside.
I am only a beekeeper of three months stand-
ing, hence my question, which 1 daresay is
very easy for an ordinary beekeeper to solve.
I might mention that I have put a rack of sec-
tions on the parent hive, and the bees will not
go into it at all. Why is this ? — (Rev.)
E. F. 0. Eardley, Glossop, July 13.

Reply. — 1. The dead bees cast out are im-
mature drones in the imago stage, which are
now useless to the colony, because no further
swarming will take place this season. 2.
Various reasons might be given for the bees
refusing to work in sections, but only inspec-
tion of the hive, and the way you have fitted
up the rack and put it on, would afford a
reliable clue to the cause of bees refusing to
work in it.

[2921.] Allowing Bees to Transfer Them-
selves.— I have two skeps that were last April
placed over the top-bars of a frame-hive for
the bees to transfer themselves to the body-
box below. I have just inspected the latter,
and find five or six of the frame-combs fully
drawn out, and apparently containing honey,
but I do not see any brood or sealed stores. I
therefore ask : — 1. Would it be better now to
leave the skeps until the autumn ? 2. Could
I then use the " Porter Escape '' to free the
skeps of bees 1 3. Will the queen establish
herself in the frames for the winter so that I
should not find her left behind in the skep ?
4. Can a queen pass through a Porter
Escape ? I had a fine swarm on the 18th inst.,
although a rack of sections was on, and the
bees had not attempted to draw the comb in
the sections. I am very perplexed and disap-
pointed, as I thought bees would not swarm
after taking to sections, even though no honey
was stored. — R. J. T., Romford, June 27.

Reply. — 1. By all means let the bees store
surplus in skep and establish their brood-nest
in frame-hive before the season ends. 2. Yes.
3. You should assure yourself of the queen
being below before removing the skep. 4.

She could, but we have never heard of a queen
attempting to do so.

[2922.] Bees Refusing to Work in Sections. —
The county expert paid me a visit on June 12,
and made me an artificial swarm from one of
my stocks, putting seven frames fitted with
fall sheets of foundation in the new hive. I
gave the bees 4 lb. of syrup. On June 24 a
natural swarm issued from the old stock,
from which the artificial one was taken, which
I put on six frames of foundation. I supered
the first swarm mentioned on June 21, and on
the 28th did the same to the second one ; but
on peeping in to-day I find neither of the
swarms have taken to sections. Will you
please tell me probable cause and remedy in
your next issue. — H. J. P., Colchester.

Reply. — The probable cause is — in both
cases — either that the bees do not need
surplus-room for storage, or else honey is not
plentiful in your district. It must be borne
in mind that bees will not store in surplus-
chambers until room is needed for brood-
raising below. In your case it may take the
swarms all their time to build combs and
store supplies to last them till next season
comes round.

[2923.] Bees near Meadows. — Will you
kindly advise me on the following 1 My bees
stand in my allotment garden facing south ; a
hedge at the back ; but on the right of bees is
a meadow without any hedge, only a wood
paling to shelter the bees from the south-west
gales. I have a wind-break about 7 ft. high
and 8 yards in extent. As I am about to
increase my stocks I want, as far as possible, to
prevent any accident, or to do something to
prevent accidents when the mowing-machine
comes. Do you think a wind-break about
9 ft. or 10 ft. high run along the fence for
about 10 yards would be sufficient to cause the
bees to fly high enough in that direction over the
heads of people working among the hay 1 —
Wm. Preece, Ticehurst, Sussex.

Reply. — Such a fence as is proposed would,
no doubt, tend very much to minimise possible
trouble, but a deal depends upon the way the
bees are managed, and the temper of the bees
involved. We should advise you to make a
point of being present, if possible, when mow-
ing operations begin, and judge for yourself
how far the measures taken are effectual for
the purpose intended.

[2924.] Requeening Hives. — 1. If we catch
and destroy queens now will it interfere much
with the working of the bees ? 2. When
queens have been removed should we have to
see that there is only one queen-cell in the
hive in order to prevent them swarming ? I
may say my hives have not swarmed this
season. Reply in B.B.J, will oblige. — R. L. S.,
Formby.

Reply. — 1. Yes, removal of queens will
delay surplus-gathering very much. 2. The
probability is that removal of queen will do

288

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 17, 1902.

away with the inclination to swarm entirely
so that no trouble will be needed over queen-
cells.

[2925.] Starting Bee-Keeping in Frame-
Hives. — I wish to start bee-keeping in frame-
hives, and should be glad if you will kindly
tell me how to proceed with my present stock.
Two years since, I purchased a stock of bees in
a straw skep. On this my gardener placed a
smaller skep which was removed last summer
and found filled with honey. The bees did
not swarm, and this spring another skep was
placed on the top as last year, and in June a
very large swarm emerged from the hive, and
this swarm has been placed in a skep. Now
I want to start on a good plan, with a quiet
strain of bees. Could I purchase next spring
a carniolan queen, and place her with this
year's swarm in frame-hive 1 In this case must
I remove the present queen or how ? Thank-
ing you in anticipation. — E. B., Ventnor, Isle
of Wight

Reply. — It is not difficult to introduce a
quiet strain of bees when frame-hives are used,
but with regard to keeping bees on modern
methods, we need do no more than advise the
purchase of a good text-book, without which
no beginner can hope to succeed. The " Guide
Book," price Is. 8d., post-free, will afford all
the information needed on the subject of bee-
management.

[2926.] Returning Sivarms. — May I ven-
ture to ask your opinion on the following
point 1 I hived a very strong swarm in a
frame-hive, adding from the parent stock
six frames of comb containing brood, &c,
and four frames fitted with full sheets of
foundation. Owing, however, to my careless-
ness or inexperience, I must have omitted to
cut out all the queen-cells from the comb
given, for twelve days later the swarm threw
out a very good swarm. This I secured and
returned in the evening, but failed to secure
the queen. They swarmed again the following
day. Having doubts of my ability to get hold
of the queen, I left the bees in the skep,
which I placed on a stand. It afterwards
occurred to me to ask whether the following
plan might not have been successful ? Place
over the sections — three parts filled with
honey — the super- clearer, and over that the
queen-excluder, and on the latter put the skep
containing the swarm. Now, supposing this
to have been done as stated, would the bees,
having no other means of egress, have worked
their way out through queen-excluder and
clearer, leaving queen and drones behind,
which I could then have removed and
destroyed. I mentioned this plan to several
bee-keepers of experience, but it was a novel
idea to them, and suggested that I should
write to you. Thanking you in anticipation
for your kind reply in the Journal. — (Rev.)
John Schor, Hants, July 10.

Reply. — If the super-clearer is properly
adjusted the worker-bees would sooner or later

pass through the " clearer " and queen-excluder
leaving drones and queen in skep. So far,
then, your plan would answer, but any brood
in skep would become chilled and die for lack
of bees to maintain the necessary warmth.
You had, therefore, better not try it.

[2927.] Beginners and Swarms. — Will you
kindly advise a beginner how to act under the
following circumstances : — I have a frame-hive
which swarmed on June 25. Being away
from home at the time, the swarm (a very
strong one headed by a 1901 queen) was not
properly hived and in consequence the bees
took wing and decamped. On my return home
five days afterwards I cut out one sealed queen-
cell. There were two empty queen-cells, so I
thought the new queen had hatched out all
right. A friend tells me, however, that unless
the empty cell had the little cover or cap
hanging to it, it was an old cell. Yesterday
(July 8) I examined the hive, and find no
unsealed brood or eggs, but plenty of sealed
worker-cells and a good deal of sealed drone-
cells, which latter I cut out, but I saw no
queen-cells. The bees are still very strong
and working well. Shall I buy at once a new
queen or wait a little longer 1 I could see no
queen, though the hive is full of bees crowded
on every frame. They refused to take to the
sections before they swarmed, though I took
out the outside frame, putting in division
board, on which they began to build comb. —
Devon, Sidmouth, July 9.

Reply. — You should on no account think
of requeening the stock without first making
quite sure that there is no queen in the hive.
By the time you read these lines it is more
than probable, from details given, that eggs
and brood will be seen in the combs ; but if
not, then requeening will be the only alterna-
tive course to follow.

\tt j&farats ia <&mt

July 17 and 18? at Boston, Lines.— Show of
Honey, Hives, and Bee- Appliances in connection with
the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society. Bee Depart-
ment under the management of the Lines. B.K.A.

July 23, at Tadcaster.— Annual Show of the
Tadcaster Agricultural and Horticultural Society.
Open Classes for six 1-lb. sections and for six 1-lb.
jars extracted honey (entry-fee, Is. in each class).
Schedules from F. Powell, Hon. Sec, Stutton, Tad-
caster, Yorks. Entries close July 23.

July 23 and 24, at Cardiff. Glamorganshire
B.K.A. in connection with the Cardiff and County
Horticultural Society's Show at the Sophia-gardens.
Show of honey and appliances. Open to all British.
Bee-keepers. Liberal cash prizes. Schedules from
William Richards, Hon. Sec, Gabalfa, Cardiff.
Entries close July 19.

July 26, at Buttfleld Park, Hessle, East
Yorks. — Honey Show in connection with the Hessle
and District Horticultural Society. Good prizes for
Honey-Trophy, Sections, and Extracted Honey.
Schedules from Ernest C. S. Stow, hon. sec, Thornton
House, Hessle, East Yorks.

July 30 to August 1, at Leeds.— Honey show
in connection with the annual show of the Yorkshire

July 17, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

289

Agricultural Society, at Roundhay Park. £2,115 in
prizes, including liberal cash prizes for honey.
Entries closed.

July 30, at Henbury, near Bristol.— Honey
show of the Henbury and District B.K.A., in connection
with the Henbury Horticultural Society's Exhibition.
Seven open classes for honey and beeswax including
classes for single lib. section and for single 1-lb. jar of
honey (with free entry) ; prizes, 10s., 7s., and 3s. in each
class. Schedules from W. G. Bamfield, hon. sec.
Henbury and District B.K.A., Cribb's Causeway, near
Bristol. Entries close July 23.

August 2, at Helsley, Cheshire.— Flower show
and athletic sports. Three classes for Honey and Wax
open to all bee-keepers in Cheshire. C.B K.A. medal
for best exhibit by member. Schedules from Dr.
Briant, Helsley, Warrington. Entries close
July 26.

August 4, at Lichfield (Bank Holiday).—
Honey show iu connection with the Lichfield Floral and
Horticultural Society.- Open classes for Sections and
Extracted Honey. Five prizes each class, 20s., 15s.,
10s., 5s., 2s. 6d. Schedules from F. J. Hall, hon.
secretary, City Station Wharf, Lichfield. Entries
clese July 28.

August 4, in the "Walled Meadow,
Andover. — Honey Show in connection with the
Andover and District Horticultural Society. Class for
single 1-lb. jar of extracted honey (with no entry fee).
Also classes for sections, extracted honey (light and
dark), bell glasses, honeycomb designs, and beeswax.
Schedules from the Hon. Sec, Dr. Gillett, Elvin House,
Andover. Entries close July 28.

August 4, at Exeter— Annual Show of the
Devon B.K.A., in conjunction with the Exhibition of
the St. Thomas Cottage Garden Society. Eleven open
classes. Schedules from E. E. Scholefield. Hon. Sec.
Devon B. K. A., Heathfield, Chudleigh, ' S. Devon.
Entries close July 28.

August 4, at Melton Constable Park.—
Annual Show of the North Norfolk B.K.A. Four open
classes, including one for single 1-lb. Jar of Honey and
one for 1-lb. Section. Schedules from C. J. Cooke,
Hon. Sec, Edgefield, Melton Constable. Entries
close July 26.

August 5, at Leamington.— Ninth annual show
of the Leamington St. Mary's Horticultural Society.
Three open classes for Six 1-lb. Sections, Six 1-lb. Jars
*' Light," and Six 1-lb. Jars " Dark " Extracted Honey,
respectively. Liberal money-prizes. Schedules from
P. W. Smith, Secretary, 22 Leam-street, Leamington.
Entries close July 31.

August 6, at Weston Park, "Wilts.— Honey
show in connection with the Atworth and District Horti-
cultural Society. Fourteen classes for Honey and
Bees, including classes for single 1-lb. section and
Bingle 1-lb. jar, with free entry. Schedules from J. P.
Inkpen, Secretary, Neston, Corsham. Entries close
July 30.

August 6, at Clutton, Bristol.— Honey Show
of the Bristol B.K.A. , in connection with the Clutton
and District Flower Show. Liberal prizes. Six open
classes for honey and bee-appliances, including classes
for single 1-lb. section and single 1-lb. jar extracted
honey (entry free). Schedules from Jas. Brown, hon.
sec, 31, Bridge-street, Bristol. Entries close
July 31.

August 7> at Kingsthorpe, Northants.
— Honey show of tne Northants B.K.A. in connection
with the Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Three
open classes with special prizes, including one for
single 1-lb. jar of honey. {Entry free.) Prizes 20s., 10s.,
7s. tid., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from R. Hefford, Sunny-
side, Kingsthorpe, Northampton. Eatries close
August 1.

August 13, in the G-rounds of Harden-
hinch Park. — Honey show in connection with the
Chippenham & District Horticultural Society. Twelve
classes for Honey and Bees, including open classes
for single 1-lb. section aud 'single 1-lb. jar (with no
entry fee). Schedules from W. Small, Secretary,
Market-place, Chippenham, Wilts.

August 13, at Bradford Abbas, Dorset.—
Annual Show of the Yetminster and district B.K.A. in
the Vicarage grounds. Three open classes, including
one for Single 1-lb. Jar of Light and one of Dark
Honey (entry free). Prizes : 10s., 6s., 4s., in each class.
Schedules from G. Leeding, hou. secretary, Bradford
Abbas, Sherborne, Dorset. Entries close Aug. 9.

August 13, at Radstock, Bath.— Honey show in
connection with the annual show of the Radstock and
District Horticultural and Fanciers' Association.
Schedules from the Secretary, B. M. Clark, 1, Fox
Hills, Radstock, Bath.

August 13 and 14, at Dudley.— Dudley Horti-
cultural Society.— Sections, Extracted Honey, Shallow
Frames, Observatory Hives, and Wax. Schedules from
H. Dickinson. Sunnyside, Dudley, Worcestershire.

August 13 and 14, at Dudley.— Annual show of
the Worcestershire B.K.A. in counectiou with the
Dudley Horticultural Society. Schedules from A. R.
Moreton, Leigh, Worcester, show secretary. Eatries
close August 6.

August 16, at Ammanford (S. "Walesa-
Honey Show in connection with the Ammanford
Flower Show. Judge appointed by the B.B.K.A.
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. One local class.
Particulars from Mr. Ivor Morris, Hon. Secretary,
Ammanford, R S.O. Entries close August 12.

August 20 and 21, 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.
Thirteen Open Classes for Honey. Schedules from S.
Cartwright, Hon. Secretary, Shropshire B.K.A., Shaw-
bury, Shrewsbury. Entries close August 8.

August 23, at Hyde.— Cheshire B.K.A. Show,
in connection with the Cheshire Agricultural Society.
Eight classes for Hives, Honey, and Wax. Liberal
prizes. Schedules from T. A. Beckett, St. Werburgh's
Chambers, Chester. Entries close August 2 (at
double fees August 9).

August 26, at Cartmel, Lanes.— Honey show in
connection with the annual show of the Cartmel
Agricultural Society. Open classes for Six Sections and
for Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey ; also for beeswax in
cakes for domestic use. Special prizes for members of
the Lancashire B.K.A. and for county bee-keepers.
Schedules from Wm. Cragg, secretary, Cartmel.
Entries close August 16-

August 27 and 28, at "Warwick.— Honey show
of the Warwickshire B.K.A., in conjunction with the
Annual Show of the Agricuitural Society. Schedules
from Jas. Noble Bower, Hon. Secretary, Warwick
B.K.A., Knowle.

August 27 and 28, at TJttoxeter.— Bee and
Honey Show in connection with the Annual Show of
the Staffordshire Agricultural Society. Fifteen classes
for bees, honey, and appliances. ■ Open classes for
12 1-lb. sections, 24 1-lb. jars, and 12 1-lb. jars extracted
honey respectively. Schedules from Rev. G. C. Bruton,
Hon. Sec. Staffs. B.K.A., Great Haywood Vicarage,
Stafford. Entries close August 2.

August 28, at Montgomery, N. Wales.—
Honey show in connection with Montgomery and Dis-
trict Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Two open
classes for six's, sections, and extracted. Prizes 10s.,
5s., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from W. U. Jones, Secretary,
Church Bank, Montgomery. Entries close August
21.

August 28, at Llangollen.— In connection with
the annual Flower Show. Open classes for Six 1-lb.
Sections, Six 1-lb. Bottles Extracted, and Beeswax.
Schedules from Frank Little, Llangollen. Entries
close August 14.

September 1 to 6, at Preston.— Annual show of
the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society in connection
with the Festival week of the Guild Merchant (which
recurs only once in every twenty-one years). In honour
of the occasion a largely increased list of money prizes
is offered for honey along with silver and bronze medals
of the B.B.K.A. and also of the Society. Open Classes
for Honey-Trophy, Sections, Extracted Honey, Beeswax,
Instructive Exhibits in Bee-Culture, &c Schedules
from Edward Bohane, Secretary, Miller-arcade, Pres-
ton. Entries close August 2.

September 6, at Bramhall, near Stock-
port.— Honey Show in connection with the Bramhall
and Woodford District Horticultural Society. Liberal
prizes. Schedules from J. Turner, Glenwood, Bram-
hall, near Stockport. Entries close August 30.

September 6 to 13, at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (10th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Numerous classes and

290

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[July 17, 1902.

liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees
wax. Open to all British. Bee-keepers. Special
attention is directed to the new Honey-selling
Classes. Schedules (now ready) from H. S. Rogers,
Secretary, 27, Leadenhall - street, London, E.C.
Entries close August 26-

September 10 and 11, at Hull.— Honey show
in connection with the Hull and District Horticultural
Association, at the Artillery Barracks. Seven open
classes, including one for Honey Trophy, prizes £2
and £1 ; also classes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar of extracted honey, with free entry.
Schedules from F. W. Thompson, hon. sec, 8, Albert*
square, Ella-street, Hull. Entries close Septem-
ber 3.

September lO and 11, at Bebington, near
Birkenhead.— Cheshire B.K.A Show, in connection
with Birkenhead and Wirral Agricultural Society, on
New Show-ground. Numerous classes for Hives, Honey,
and Wax. Substantial prizes. Schedules from A. H.
Edwardson, 6, Hamilton-square, Birkenhead. Entries
close September 1.

September 10 and 11, at Derby.— Derbyshire
B.K.A. Twenty-first Annual Show of Hives, Bees, and
Honey on the show ground of the Derbyshire Agricul-
tural Society. Schedules from R. H. Coltman, Hon.
Sec. D. B.K.A., Station-street, Burton-on-Trent. En-
tries close August 23. Double fees to August 30.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace. — Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition
of Bees, Honey, and Appliances. Specially increased
prizes and medals for Coronation year. Further par-
ticulars shortly. Schedules from Hon. Secretary,
Henry W. Brice, 100, Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace. — Surrey B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, Wax, and Appliances, &c. Twenty-four classes
(ten open to all). Increased prizes and medals.
Schedules ready shortly, from F. B. White, Secretary,
Marden House, Redhill, Surrey.

September 20 to 27, at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with the
sixth Annual, Exhibition and Market of the Grocery
and Kindred Trades. Numerous classes for comb and
extracted honey and beeswax. Open to all British
Bee-keepers. Special attention is directed to the new
Honey-selling Classes. Schedules (ready shortly)
from H. S. Rogers, Secretary, 27, Leadenhall-street,
London, E.C.

October 4, at Newcastle-on-Tyne- — Annual
show of the Northumberland and Durham B.K.A. in
the Y.M.C.A. Institute, Blackett-street. Fifteen
classes for Bees. Honey, and Bee-appliances. Schedules
from James Waddell, hon. secretary, Wooler, North-
umberland. Entries finally close lO a.m.,
October 4.

October 7 to 10, 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.

Notices to Correspondents <£ Inquirers.

Letter) or queries asking for addresses of manufac
tnrers 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.

AH queriesf or warded will be attended to, and thou only
qf personal interest will be answered in this column.

*V* Referring to Tunisian Bees, Mr. A. E.
Trimmings, Woodside Apiary, Gedling,
Notts, writes as follows : — "I notice in the
Journal for July 10 (page 274) a Mrs.
Tomlinson asks where she can get some of
these bees ? If she will send me a ready-

addressed envelope I will send a queen, free
of charge, as soon as I get a few more on
hand than I require."

In our reply to Mrs. Tomlinson we did
not deem it worth while sending her the
full name and address of our correspondent
in India, whose query (2894, page 257)
originated Mrs. Tomlinson's request, but
sent the name of the only dealer in this
country who imports Tunisian queens, viz ,
Mr. E. H. Taylor, Welwyn, Herts.— [Eds ]
A. G. Dixon (London, W.). — Joining Bee-
keepers' Associations — The Hon. Secretary
of the Kent and Sussex B.K.A. is Mr. U.
W. Brice, 100, Brigstock-road, Thornton
Heath.

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'1 Editor,"
not "Manager."

A. H. H. (Oatford, S.E.).— We find only
chilled brood in three cells of comb sent.

J. N. (Stirchley). — There is foul brood of old
standing in sample ; besides, the comb is
old and dirty, so it cannot possibly be from
a swarm of this year as stated.

C. H. B. (Ashley). — In only two cells of comb
do we find slight signs of incipient " E-B."

J. A. S. (Warwicks). — Foul brood is spreading
rapidly, but it is evidently a recent outbreak
if comb sent is a fair sample.

Midlothian. — There is no foul brood in comb
sent.

Anxious B. B. (Barrowford). — We cannot
understand your " expert '' having any
" doubt " with regard to the comb sent. It
is badly affected with foul brood, as should
be seen in a moment by any one who has
experience of the disease.

E. Matthews (Royston). — Through our
absence for several days at " Royal '' show,
Carlisle, samples of suspected combs sent
in meantime were in bad condition for
inspection on our return. Yours had so
grown over with fungus as to be almost
unfit for diagnosing, as will be seen by
portion of wrapping sent you by post.
There is, however, enough to show decided
foul brood in one or two cells.

Honey Samples.

J. Chapman (Belfast). — Honey sent is good
in quality, but hardly up to show-bench
standard if competition was strong.

E. B. (Glam.). — There is nothing injurious to
human beings in honey taken from a hive
affected with foul brood. But on no account
must it be given to bees as food.
*#* Several interesting Letters and some

Queries are in type, and will appear in our

next issue.

July 24, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

291

(Mtorial, $tiimf &t

BEITISH BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.

The monthly meeting of the Council was
held on Thursday, July 17th inst , at 105,
Jermyn-street, S.W., Mr. T. I. Weston occu-
pying the chair. There were also present : —
Dr. Elliot, Rev. W. E. Burkitt, Major Fair,
Messrs. W. Broughton Carr, W. F. Reid,
T. H. E. Watts-Silvester, F. B. White, and
the Secretary. Letters explaining enforced
absence were read from Miss Gay ton, Hon.
and Rev. Henry Bligh, Colonel Walker,
Messrs. R. T. Andrews, H. Jonas, H. G.
Morris, E. Walker, C. N. White, and E. D.
TilL

The minutes of the previous meeting were
read and confirmed. The following were duly
elected to membership, viz. : — Glamorganshire
B.K. Association — hon. sec, Mr. William
Richards, Gabalfa, Cardiff ; Ernest Oetzman,
Lyndhurst, Slough ; Miss M. A. Digby, Bus-
sage, Brimscombe, Stroud.

The report of the Finance Committee,
giving particulars of receipts and expenditure
to date, was presented and approved.

The Secretary stated that since the Carlisle
Show he had had a further interview with his
Highness Sir Shahu Chatrapati, Maharaja of
Kolapur, in regard to the bees, hives, and
other appliances intended for exportation to
India.

Mr. W. Broughton Carr's report on the
examinations conducted by him at Carlisle
was received, and it was resolved to grant
third class diplomas to the following candi-
dates, viz. : — Henrv Marrs, David Scott, Jas.
Picken, and Jas. Waddell.

Judges and examiners were appointed to
officiate at fixtures in the following coun-
ties : — Berks, Carmarthen, Chester, Devon,
Kent, Lancaster, Norfolk, Somerset, Stafford,
and Worcester.

The Chairman and Secretary reported at
length upon interviews with one of the
solicitors to Inland Revenue at Somerset
House, with the Association's solicitor, and
other legal authorities, in respect to the tech-
nical objections to the issue of the form of
insurance premium receipt adopted by the
Association. A new form was presented for
approval, which Mr. Weston was authorised to
submit to Messrs. Heath & Co., the insurance
brokers, and afterwards circulate (in place of
the existing form) through the various County
Associations participating in the insurance
Bcheme. The conditions of the insurance will
remain as originally proposed, except in regard
to the dates for sending in remittances.

The next ordinary meeting of the Council
will take place on Thursday, September 18.

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

CARLISLE MEETING, 1902.

(Concluded from page 273.)

THE HONEY CLASSES.

The fact of the Royal show of 1902 being
held later in the season than it has for a good
many years past led to the belief that a big
display of the current season's honey would
be staged. Eleven extra days at so critical a
time for bee-men as the end of June and
beginning of July was an advantage not to be
regarded lightly, and notwithstanding the
distance away from the earliest honey dis-
tricts, southern bee-keepers made their entries
in very encouraging fashion, so that all boded
well for a good wind-up to the yearly wander-
ings of the " Royal," preparatory to settling
down on a permanent site near London.
That potent factor "the weather," however,
spoiled the occasion not only for the show
itself, but for the exhibits of 1902 honey,
and entries were perforce withdrawn in many
cases simply because the month of June was
all against the bees, and the full intention to
stage exhibits in too many cases went for
nought in face of the untoward conditions.
The entries showed that the will was there,
and small blame can therefore be attached to
absentees who had no honey to stage. On the
other hand, our best men were represented on
the show-bench, those with fifty to 100 or
more stocks of bees to help them, and, more-
over, located in the choicest districts for yield-
ing "good stuff," so that we may take it that
the best honey the country has yielded in
1902 was staged, and the display though
small was of very good quality.

Class 342. — Twelve 1-lb. Sections. — Apart
from quantity, this section class was good in
nearly all respects ; indeed, we cannot readily
recall the time when better exhibits of sections
of current year were staged at a "Royal"
Show, the 1st prize lot being very good, as
were also those which took second place. Both
were from sainfoin, and Messrs. W. Woodley
and Richard Brown no doubt staged their best
dozen for such an occasion. The 3rd prize
went to tall sections, which were hardly done
full justice to, being in dark brown wood cases
and entirely without lace- edging. The h.c.
and reserve number were also a fairly good lot,
but of the others few were up to " Royal "
Show form.

Class 343. — Twelve 1-lb. Sections of Pre-
vious Years. — The winning exhibits in this
class — though showing the usual signs of thin
capping, i.e., more or less " greasiness," on face
of comb — were a presentable lot, as may be
inferred from the well-known names of the
prize-takers.

Class 344. — Twelve 1-lb. Heather Sections. —
A small but very good show indeed. It is
seldom we see well-kept and high-class
sections of a previous year on the show-bench,
and on this occasion every " win '' was well
merited in every respect.

292

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 24, 1902.

Class 345. — Three Shallow Frames Comb
Honey. — Though five entries were made here
only a single exhibit was staged, but this well-
earned its 1st prize.

Class 346. — Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted
Honey of 1902. — Bearing in mind the adverse
circumstances already named this was a good
class, Mr. W. Woodley's 1st prize sample
being excellent. The 2nd and 3rd were also
good. Of the rest, they earned the awards
given.

Class 347.— For Medium-coloured Ex-
tracted Honey. — With the exception of the
1st and 2nd prize lots the class was only
poor.

The class for " dark honey " produced no
entry.

Class 349.— Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted
Honey of Previous Years. — This class made a
good show. The exhibits all looked well, and
those receiving awards were very good.

Class 350. — A small but excellent class.
The winning exhibits were of the "mild
flavoured " heather kind, which is, we sup-
pose, popular with more consumers in this
country than what are called "strong
flavoured " heather honeys.

Class 351.— Twelve 1-lb. Jars Granulated
Honey. — A good class, as may be inferred
when we see Messrs. W. Woodley and R.
Brown again placed 1st and 2nd — in the order
named, with the Rev. H. Goffe, Thoresway, as
3rd, and reserve number and h.c. to W. A.
Hamer, Llandilo.

Class 352. — Honey Trophies.— Only four
exhibits were staged in this class, but all were
good, the 1st— Mr. Brown— especially so.
We judged it to be almost all— if not wholly
—this year's honey : a point which enhanced
its value very much. But the sections — among
them some 2-lb. ones — and other samples of
comb honey, were very good indeed. The
2nd prize lot was somewhat marred by the
staging of figures of dogs (cut out with fret-
saw) holding in their mouths a small jar of
honey. The 3rd prize trophy and that which
took reserve number and h.c. were both good.

In the class for cakes of wax for retail
counter trade only one exhibit was staged, but
it was so good as would need a lot of beating.

The classes for honey-vinegar and mead
were poorly represented, the respective awards
being barely earned in any case.

The only remaining classes for notice are
those for New Inventions since 1900 ; for
practical exhibits connected witth bee-culture,
and for those of a scientific nature not men-
tioned in foregoing classes. We may sum
these up by saying that in the first-named Mr.
Shepherd took 1st, with a section-rack fitted
with the new wire-cloth dividers which
provide clustering room for wax-aecreting
bees, while not incommoding the incoming
honey-gatherers. This we consider a very
good idea and well earned its place. Messrs.
Dixon & Cartwright were placed equal 2nd
for an appliance used for an exactly similar

purpose, viz., a combined rack for holding
sections and shallow frames at same time.

The remaining two classes call for no special
notice, being of a familiar kind, each good
but not new, viz , Dr. Percy Sharp for his
capital lantern slides and the others for sweets
and confectionery.

Qbamtytm&mu.

%* 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 avvears.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

SOME LAWS OF BROOD-RAISING APPLIED TO
FRAMES.

[4838.] Nature is generally a safe guide, and
man following her example and guided by her
dictates seldom strays far from the right path.
When he endeavours to amend her deeds or
improve on her works he must, if success is to
crown his efforts, act in conformity with certain
laws ; and any breach of these will generally
entail failure and disappointment. Let us
examine how bees act in certain circumstances
when untrammelled by the art of man, and
endeavour to discover if their actions will
assist us in certain fundamental points of pro-
cedure when fixing on the very best shape and
size of our brood-nest in modern frame hives.
Bees found building combs in large spaces,
where no let or hindrance is imposed on their
will, very rarely, indeed, avail themselves of
all the space at their disposal and instinctively
construct their dwelling within a measurable
compass ; and, further, their brood - nest is
almost invariably found to conform to certain
laws. Two of these are of the greatest im-
portance to us in considering the question of
the best shape and size of frame which it is
advisable to use in our brood body-boxes. Of
course, combs in such homes are deeper as a
rule than we use them in our hives, out that
is only what might be expected in receptacles
forming the double purpose of store and

Fig. 1.— Deep Frame.

surplus-chambers. It is found, however, that
leaving out of consideration the upper part of
this comb, which is rarely bred in, that two
points of the utmost importance present them-
selves prominently to our notice : — 1. Brood
is found, as a rule, in only a limited area
covering a space, roughly speaking, about the

July 24, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

293

size of our Standard frame. (It is immaterial
for my argument if it varies by an inch or so
more or less). 2. It always takes an oval
form at the crown of the cluster. Several
other points deserve attention, but these two
are sufficient for the present.

Now, applying these rules to frames larger
than the Standard we find that— the frames
being deeper, say, than 9 in. — a large part of
the stores is deposited in the brood-chamber.
The brood does not, as a rule, extend to the
top-bar, and, consequently, we have an inch
or two in most of the frames occupied by
sealed stores. Here they serve no good pur-
pose, and, indeed, are an obvious hindrance
to rapid storing iu surplus - chambers. Bees
once accustomed to seal stores below in the
height of the season will show an almost in-
curable reluctance to occupy any super space
on the hive. A strong and powerful force
will, of course, occupy surplus chambers and
store therein under compulsion, but they loaf
too much and seem to watch for every un-
occupied cell as bees hatch out in the lower
frames — thereby crowding out the queen and
curtailing seriously the superficial space which
is an urgent necessity if she is to do the best
work required to keep them up to the highest
pitch of perfection. The bees do not like to
be cut off far from their brood, and this space
of sealed stores acts as a division which they
are reluctant to pass over, and hence even a
strong lot will not store the same amount in
supers in such hives by the end of the season
as they would in hives with frames where the

j&'S

.

8&

Fig.

'Standard" Frame.

brood just touched on the top cells of the
frame.

Even worse faults manifest themselves in
frames less than the standard which must
militate against the successful development of
powerful colonies. The frames being so small,
are all required for brood, and consequently
there is little or no honey — no store cupboard
— in close proximity to the brood nest. So
the nurses have impediments placed in their
way when all their energies are taxed to the
utmost in tending on the larvae and young
bees. Again, the oval form which it seems an
inborn instinct in bees to assume in the brood
nest, is impaired, and a division and sub-divi-
sion of the cluster, when a second set of
shallow frames are placed above, entails loss of
heat, more work to generate what is a neces-
sity, and less perfect results from the work
performed by the bees. Such severance of the

cluster is utterly reprehensible, as it throws
the action of the bees out of gear, and im-
pedes, hampers, and confuses the movements
of the queen when we should do all we
can to give her every facility in our power.
Instances may be given where good results in
surplus have been secured in certain seasons
from the use of shallow frames, but it is safe to

&/

/

Brood,

X

■Sis.
.+

Fig. 3.— Shallow Frame.

say the examples are few and isolated, and at
their best they bear no comparison with what
has been obtained with larger frames over a
series of years.

If the premise with which I started is
correct, and it is the fruits of wide observation,
the standard frame as nearly as possible pro-
vides the ideal breeding-space and store-cup-
board necessary for the most successful
development of a brood nest, and the conse-
quent attainment of the chief object of the
beeman's desire, viz., a strong force of bees
ready to roll in the honey when the season
opens.— D. M. M., Banff.

BEE-KEEPING IN HANTS.

GOOD WORK BY SWARMS.

[4839.] Although the season opened with
very discouraging prospects for honey
gathering it is ending gloriously in this
parts. The bees during the unfavourable
weather in May and June bred very fast,
cramming the combs with brood, and when
the fine weather set in the bees, in spite of
surplus-chambers being on the hives, swarmed.
But the swarms were, as a rule, very fine, and
are now giving a good account of themselves.
Two that came under my notice are, I think,
worthy of a record in the Journal. No. 1
hived on June 21 on nine sheets of foundation,
were examined two days later (the 23rd), and
every comb was found to be built-out, the
centre ones being occupied with eggs and the
outside ones full of honey (not capped over).
They are now (July 14) hard at work in a
section-rack of sections, which are almost
ready to take off. No. 2 swarmed June 25.
The parent-hive was removed, and swarm
hived on original stand (with super from
original hive), the hive being made up as
follows : — Two frames of batching brood from
original stock, the rest being foundation, and
built-out combs (empty). Thirty-three sections
have been taken from the swarm, and they
have now a rack of twenty-one sections three
parts filled. — F. D. Hills, Alton, Hants,
July 14.

294

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 24, 1902.

LECTURES ON BEE-KEEPING.

[4840.] I would like to call the attention of
experts and others who from time to time
lecture upon bee-keeping to an excellent
syllabus of the subjects generally dealt with in
a book now being issued by the Board of Edu-
cation entitled, " Supplementary Regulations
for Secondary Day Schools, and for Evening
Schools, from 1st August, 1902, to 31st July,
1903," published by Eyre & Spottiswoode,
and may be had by ordering from any book-
seller for the price of 4d. There are eight
sections of subjects on p. 271 of the publica-
tion referred to, and if each of the subjects in
the sections are thoroughly understood and
given with ease, simplicity, and clearness of
expression, they cannot fail to interest an
audience. Lecturers would do well to make a
note of them.

I think there is great advantage in falling
into line with higher authorities ; they caa be
referred to, and while doing so there is great
scope for individual effort. The book is worth
having at such a low price for the numerous
other subjects it contains of an educational
character, although they are mostly syllabuses.
It will give a person a general idea of how
much there is to be learned, and how little of
that much we know.— John Brown, Poly-
phant, Launceston, July 21.

BEE VENOM.

[4841.] In reply to Dr. Phillips, I should
like to say that until 1 can supply him with
the full details he requires, he will find many
useful facts in my review of one of Dr.
Langer's articles. The same appeared in the
British Bee Journal of September 5, 1901,
under the title " The Poison and Sting of the
Honey Bee."

As the paper by Hauser, " Physiologische
und Histologische Untersuchungen iiber das
Geruchorgan der Insecten," refers to the
olfactory organs, I fail to see how it would be
useful to Dr. Phillips on the question of bee
venom ? — R. Hamlyn-Harris, July 19, 1902.

TRANSFERRING BEES.
[4842.] Thanks for your advice in B.J., but
as others may be in the same difficulty, allow
me to discuss the matter somewhat more at
length. I had the choice between four plans
to transfer my bees — 1. To fix the full combs
with wire into the " Dadant " frames. This
was done in April with a small colony. The
result was very bad, as the bees came to grief,
probably because of the queen getting lost and
the abnormal cold weather at the time. 2.
To let the colonies swarm and bring the
ewarms into the new hives. This was the
advice given me by Dutch experts, as they had
found that the bees will not work downward
when superposing the straw hives. This was
their own experience, and so is mine too.
Thus far I got one small swarm in a Dadant
hive. But this plan has several drawbacks.

What if the bees don't swarm, or swarm too
late to form a strong colony before autumn ?
Further, it implies a great loss of time and
work from bees and bee-keeper. Finally,
what to do with the old stocks weakened by
swarming.

The third plan is to take artificial swarms,
brushing the bees from the straw-hive frames
into the new hives, and divide the old combs
between the other straw-hive colonies. I did
this with two colonies with good result. But
what to do with the combs if the straw hives
are full ? The fourth plan is yours, viz., to
pose the straw hives on top of wooden ones,
and let the bees work themselves down. This
would be indeed the best plan if the bees
agreed to work down. But they obstinately
refuse to work in the large wooden hives, and
even seem inclined to swarm. I have arranged
four hives in that way in the beginning of
May with the same negative result, though I
took the strongest colonies which were full to
the bottom. There seems to be no chance to
get my bees transferred this summer in this
way.

There is a fifth plan, which I intend to try
next, i.e., to drive the bees down and put
excluder between. But then there seems
danger to ensue for the queen according to the
" Guide *Book." Yet I must try something. —
F. van Eeden, Walden, Bussum, Holland.

ANONYMOUS DONORS.

AN acknowledgment.
[4843.] I shall be thankful if you will
allow me to say in your columns that I have
received another donation to the Kent and
Sussex B.K.A. Palace Show Prize Fund
without any name, initial, or clue to the
sender, save that the 10s. Postal Order has
the stamp of High-street, Sevenoaks, office,
and is dated July 8. Should this meet the
eye of the donor, let him (or her) be assured
that we are greatly obliged for the gift. —
E. D. Till, Eynsford, Kent, July 21.

DEALING WITH FOUL BROOD.
[4844.] Your "wire" of to-day duly to
hand. 1 would thank you for promptitude in
reply. Very sorry indeed to have your ver-
dict, but feared it was a case of foul brood.
This is the first I have heard of the disease in
this neighbourhood, and do not know the
source. I am making strenuous efforts to
rouse the bee-keepers of this district to an
intelligent interest in modern bee-keeping, and
this case was discovered upon one of these
expeditions. It is, however, very discouraging
to a beginner, coupled with such a season as
the present. The stock in question is now
destroyed ; bees, quilts, frames, and combs,
and the hive fumigated. The other stocks will
be fed on medicated syrup, unless I discover
further cases of similar character. This does
not seem to me to be of the most virulent type
of " F.B."— L, S. C, June 16.

July 24, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

295

HOMES OF THE HONEY-BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

Mr. Ford, whose apiary appears below, is,
as stated, a reader who makes the business
side of bee-keeping an important part of his
work. He not only sells honey, but stocks
and swarms of bees. This being so, we are
very pleased to see him laying such special
stress on the point of " cleanliness," by which
is evidently meant care for the bees with
regard to keeping them free from disease.
This is so important a matter for all " dealers "
who are intent on giving satisfaction to cus-
tomers that we hope all will follow the same
lines. For the rest, we leave Mr. Ford to tell
his own story as follows : —

" In sending the enclosed photograph of my

boastingly, but simply for the interest of
would-be bee-keepers, in order to show that
there is a good bit of profit to be made by
keeping a few stocks of bees under good
management. The motto on my show-cards is,
' Nothing without Labour,' and I think it is
very applicable to most trades, but more espe-
cially bee-keeping. My hives stand on a small
plot of ground, an awkward-shaped corner of a
meadow about 200 yards from the buildings,
and are thus in a bad position for photo-
graphing because of being so close together.
I vary the pattern of hive and aspect, some
facing anything between south and west.
The old brooms seen inverted in the picture
answer two purposes — first, as a 'land-
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MR. ARTHUR E. FORD'S APIARY, HEMEL HEMPSTEAD, HERTS.

apiary, you will probably notice one thing, and
that I boast of — viz., cleanliness. A thoroughly
clean hive inside and out is essential for the
well-being of the bees and storing of honey.
This, I believe, is a good step towards the pre-
vention of disease, and the next in importance
is strong stocks. These I get by uniting two,
or even three, weak lots together. At the
time the photo, was taken I had seventeen
frame hives and two skep hives, and up to the
time of writing (June 1)1 have had but one
swarm, though I expect a few more daily. I
am only a bee-keeper of but eight years' or so
experience, but I have studied very closely
the ways, &c, of these little workers of ours.
My sales to date have been very fair — viz.,
four stocks and twelve hives. I do not say this

clustering-place for swarms when they issue.
You can see a small part of the bees' drinking
fountain on left-hand of photo, which consists
of an old tin milk pan with some rough
matting — as used by gardeners for packing,
&c. — placed in pan ; this provides a resting
place for the bees, enabling them to get water
from a leaking tap falling on a board into the
pan. May I also say a word about my little
four-and-a-half-year-old boy seen helping me
to spread the brood in a hive ? He is holding
one frame and the smoker while I am
examining the other frames. This bee-man
is not in the least nervous, and that is the
main point, but he has been fond of bees since
he could toddle. The other object i3 your
humble servant, the writer hereof."

296

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[July 24, 1902.

GLEANINGS FKOM FOREIGN BEE
JOURNALS.

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

Bucher Beige. — Pliny tells us that a Roman
Senator had a hive made of the most trans-
parent horn, in order to observe the bees at
their work.

There appears to be no notice of the use
of observatory hives in any writings of the
Middle Ages. About 1680, Swammerdam
might have made interesting discoveries had
he known of such a possibility. That he did
not is proved by his suggesting to put " panes "
of paper in the hives, and when the bees had
worked a certain time to tear them away and
observe their work. He seems not to have
known that the bees would not have waited
for him to tear away the paper ! At this time
the hives used were simply basket hives, quite
useless for purposes of observation. Reaumur
was more fortunate in being able to use glazed
hives in his studies on the hymenoptera.
Some of his hives were in shape like a
pyramid, so made because (as he said) the bees
commence building at the top ; they seek
warmth, and concentrate in the top part where
they find a space they can entirely fill up.

Huber invented a hive to open like the
leaves of a book, but this kind of hive did not
answer in winter, as the bees could not be
kept sufficiently warm. The manufacture of
hives with windows has provided the means
of making observations with the greatest
precision, and an intelligent apiculturist can
now verify in the course of a single season the
observations previously made during 2,000
years. We advise our young bee-keepers to
read for themselves the works of Reaumur and
Huber.

Deutsche Bienenzucht. — Purchasers of honey
often object to its colour, quite wrongly.
Honey from the same hive changes colour in
the course of the season. The honey from
white clover is light in colour. Later on, in
July, bees work on other flowers, and the
honey becomes darker in colour. It, however,
gains rather than loses in bouquet and flavour.

Bienenwertschaftliches Centralblatt. — On the
island of Fehmaen, Schleswig-Holstein, red
clover is the chief bee-pasture. Carniolan
bees were introduced at first as an experiment,
and it has been proved that the second cut of
the red clover yields them a rich harvest. The
most favourably situated colonies in the island
with Carniolan bees realised from 102 lb. to
123 lb. of honey per hive ; while a neighbour
with the ordinary black bee only had an
average of 30 lb. per hive, another about 33 lb.
Therefore, the conclusion established is that
for the working of red clover there is no bee
so useful as the Carniolan.

Native Bees in Africa; an interesting
Extract. — M. Decle, in his most interesting
work, " Three Years in Savage Africa," gives

a lively description of an attack by bees while
he was travelling between Lakes Tanganika
and Victoria Nyanza in Central Africa. He
says : —

" We entered the little village where I
meant to camp, and while I was having some
food 1 saw some of my men leaping out of one
of the huts, and close behind them came an
army of bees. Everyone rushed into the huts,
some of the more daring men tried to save
the goats and fowls, which were attacked by
the furious enemy. All that were not brought
in fled on every side, simply mad with pain
from the bee stings. One of my donkeys
broke his tether and dashed through the
village at a furious gallop, then burst through
the outer enclosure and escaped into the open
country. My other two donkeys, whose ropes
were too strong for them, rolled on the ground
and howled. I had followed the example of
the natives and dashed into one of the huts,
but when I saw this I wrapped myself in
blankets, and, waving a torch of burning
straw, hastened to the rescue. I managed to
get the donkeys loose and had them led out of
the village. I have before seen a herd of oxen
in terror of lions, but never have I seen so
many creatures in such mad panic as I saw on
that day from the bees, and they had good
reason. Instead of flying in a compact swarm,
the bees darted with the rapidity of lightning
to every part of the village, no one could ven-
ture from the huts without half a dozen liter-
ally fastening themselves upon him. If a door
was so much as left ajar the bees darted at the
opening, only in the darkest corner could one
escape their attacks. In spite of their numbers
there was no humming, only a silent, grim,
pitiless onslaught^

" I soon discovered what had provoked this
fierce attack. The natives of this district are
great bee-keepers. Outside each village a few
trees which manage to grow in the miserable
sandy soil are covered with artificial hives —
old gourds with a hole bored through them,
pots upside down, old boxes made of bark, or
any other thing that comes handy.

" Besides this, they put in the darkest
corner of their huts short poles smeared with
honey, and on these the bees alight and build
their combs. Almost every hut has thus its
open hive. You can go near and watch the
bees at work. They are quite harmless if
undisturbed. But it appeared that one of my
men had gone into a hut and carelessly lit a
fire near one of these nests. The disturbed
bees rushed at him in a body, being joined by
others, and the scene I have described was the
result."

(fta^ws and H^pltp.

[2928.] Transferring from Skeps to Frame
Hives. — Will you kindly answer the two
following questions in the B.B.J. : — 1. I have

July 24, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

297

four old stocks of bees in skeps, and wish to
transfer them to frame-hives ; but being only
a novice in bee-management, I ask : 1.
AVhen would be the best time to transfer,
should it be done at once in order to let the
bees get well established in their new home by
wintering time, or wait till September, or
when 1 2. In transferring, would they
transfer themselves at this season in accordance
with the method advised of late in B.J., or
should I drive them 1 I may say two of the
four are weak, and have been doing very little
in the way of work during this season. I
gave a super to each on May 9 ; one lot a
fortnight afterwards began working in the
super and then left it, and I had a swarm
from that hive ; none of the others have
taken to the super at all, and yet the bees
seem to be active, as far as I am able to
judge. — H. L., Bexley Heath, July 19.

Reply. — 1. If it is intended to transfer the
old combs from the skeps to the new hives,
the present time would be suitable ; but we
strongly urge you not to transfer the old combs
at all. It is no easy task for a beginner to
perform the operation, and it makes a poor job,
even when done by a competent hand, com-
pared with new, clean, straight combs to
furnish the frame-hives with. We should
winter the bees where they now are unless you
can purchase half-a-dozen clean, ready-built
standard frames of comb for each hive, in
which case the bees might be driven from the
skeps and run into the hives so fitted as soon
as the breeding season is over — or, say, at end
of August. 2. No ; there will be no chance
of bees in skeps transferring themselves to a
frame-hive placed below at this late season ;
and to drive them from their combs containing
brood would entail the loss of some thousands
of young bees, now hatching out, thus weaken-
ing the hive for future work. Your mention
of weak stocks that "have done very little
work this season " makes us advise an inspec-
tion of the latter, to ascertain, if possible, the
cause of weakness. They may be diseased,
and, if so, all labour spent on them is worse
than wasted.

[2929.] Slightly Diseased Hives and Surplus-
chambers. — About a month ago, the expert from
the Northumberland and Durham B.K. A paid
us a visit to inspect our hives (about fifty in
all) and found foul brood in several. I have
two hives, and in one of them about three
or four cells were affected in two frames.
He told me I had better take these frames out
and feed the bees on medicated syrup. But
as honey had just started to come in, the bees
refused to take the food offered, and sections
were at once put on the hive. A month later
(July 15), there are three racks of sections on
the hive, two of which racks are about
finished, and on removing them to examine
the brood-frames to-day we find about twelve
cells affected in five frames Do you consider
it will tend to effect a cure by repeating these

examinations and removing frame after frame
each time as we find them affected ; or if not
advisable to go on removing frames in this
way, what is the best thing to do ? — R. H,,
West Hartlepool, July 16.

Reply. — We should leave brood-nests un-
disturbed till the close of the honey season.
Then, afcer removal of all surplus, examine
each frame, and take away every one that
contained larvte affected with the disease. By
that time breeding for the year would be about
ended, and combs will be available for medi-
cated food given as winter stores. In advis-
ing as above, we take for granted that the
outbreak of disease a recent one, and that
there are 'no affected cells left in the hive
which contain foul brood of old standing, i.e.,
those in which the contents have reached the
spore stage.

[2930.] Ants in Hives. — As you are always
willing to oblige bee-keepers in their difficul-
ties, I ask your advice. When my hives go
to the moors about the end of July, I always
find that a great number of black ants get
into the roofs and space between section-rack3
and lifts, also between the quilts ; sometimes
the hives are almost black with them. Can
anything be done to prevent this mischief, or
tend to check the ants from getting in, or is
there any trap that could be used ? The dis-
tance to moors is about fourteen miles, and I
am unable to see the hives sometimes for a
week or ten days at a time. I have never
found ants in any part of the hives to which
bees have access, although frequently there is —
in addition to the mature insects — embryo also
on the quilts. In this district the honey
harvest is fully a month later than last year,
and will hardly be up to the average. F.B. is
quite unknown here. I enclose name, &c,
and sign myself— B. Hive, Bedale, Yorks.

Reply. — Some bee-keepers set the hive-legs
in lids from used coffee tins, and pour oil or
paraffin into the lids. This is fairly effective,
but the iron "cup'' device for screwing on
bottom of hive-legs (sold by Messrs. Jas. Lee
& Son) is the most effectual cure we know of
for preventing the mischief referred to.

[2931.] A Beginner's Queries. — I have three
hives of bees, two of which are verv strong and
active, the third is less strong. I have taken
one rack of sections from each of the two
stronger ones, and one of these two has nearly
completed a third rack, whereas the weaker of
the three has not yet filled one rack. I, there-
fore, ask : — 1. Should I give more sections for
filling after removing those now on ? 2. The
bees have occupied their present hives for
three or four years, and during that time have
never been opened or examined except to take
off the surplus honey. Would you advise me
to have them examined by an experienced
bee-keeper or allow them to continue as they
are 1 They seem quite healthy, judging from
their activity. 3. The bees are, as a rule, very
vicious, consequently I am, more or less, afraid

298

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 24, 1902.

to touch the brood-frames, which seem to be
sealed fast to the hive. Can you say why the
bees pursue and sting persons who maybe nearly
100 yards away from the hives at the time ?
I observe the bees ejecting the drones out of
the hives for past week. I am sure there are
100 dead drones outside one hive. What
does that indicate ? Is the honey season
drawing to a close 1 The white clover is
plenty yet, as the fields about are pasture land,
and there are no other bees in the immediate
neighbourhood. I presume they have plenty
of scope to gather honey yet. None of my
hives swarmed this year. Is that a sign of a
failing queen 1 A number of people who have
had bees for years are giving them up, as they
cannot get sale for the honey, and consider
bee-keeping to be a bother. Therefore I cannot
get anyone to instruct me in their manage-
ment. I saw a novel way of taking surplus
honey the other day. The bees were in a
straw skep which was cemented outside to
protect it from the weather. The skep was
placed over a box resembling the bar-frame
portion of a hive, with frames and comb inside.
In the lid of box there was a hole cut, and
excluding-zinc placed over it, and the skep put
over the hole, so that when the bees had the
box full you just lifted the lid off with skep
on top, and withdrew the box and honey.
The owner told me he got 50 and 60 lb. of
honey in the box at a time, if the season was
good, and he had no expense in purchasing a
hive. Would you approve of this method of
bee-keeping from an economical standpoint ? —
A. W. H., Kilkenny, July 15.

Reply. — 1. Unless the bee-forage in your
district includes a good breadth of heather it
is useless giving the bees more sections to fill
after mid-July. 2. If the bees have pros-
pered, and are prospering, on the let-alone
principle, we should let them continue as they
are. You may " go further and fare worse,"
as the proverb says. Hence our withholding
advice. 3. If the bees are naturally vicious
when left alone, they may become more so if
manipulated, this being another reason for
avoiding disturbance. 4. It points to a speedy
end to honey gathering for the year, also to
all idea of swarming being given up by the
bees till next year. 5. No ; but your friend
is quite at liberty to uphold his view, though
contrary to ours.

[2932.] Feeding Swarms in Skeps. — Will
you be good enough to advise me on the fol-
lowing ?— On Tuesday last I hived a good
swarm in a new skep. The season is late for
such work, and the bees cannot, I feel sure,
obtain sufficient stores to winter. I, therefore,
am anxious to feed them to enable them to do
this, but do not want to cut but the crown of
the skep. The reason I am keeping them thus
is for stock purposes. In your extensive
experience can you tell me of a method of
feeding them without cutting the skep, and in
such a manner as to prevent robbing ? I

have the " Guide Book " and " Simmins' Bee-
farm," but neither touch on this point. — D.,
Ashby-de-la-Zouch, July 20 (twenty years a
subscriber to the B.B.J. ).

Reply. — By fitting the rim of an American
cheesebox lid (to be had for a copper or two)
on lower edge of skep to raise it up a couple
of inches, the bees may be fed from a plate
laid on floor-board. Pour the syrup in latter
with some sliced corks laid in the food for the
bees to stand on. Keep a look-out that
stranger bees don't start " robbing," i.e., carry-
ing off the food.

[2933. Bees Transferring Themselves. — Hav-
ing followed the directions given on page 140
of " Guide Book," I have been allowing four
skeps of bees to transfer themselves into a
frame-hive. But owing to bad weather, I find
that they will need all their stores to bring
them through the winter. If I was to place
skep below frame-hive, and allow them to
winter in that way, would I be likely to get
it off empty early in spring ? Your answer
will oblige.— J. McG., Galston, July 17.

Reply. — We should leave the skeps on all
winter, as being the safest course to follow
with regard to preserving the stocks alive.

%tt &hflttJ8 to (gfltttl.

July 26, at Buttfleld Park, Hessle, East
Yorks. — Honey Show in connection with the Hessle
and District Horticultural Society. Good prizes for
Honey-Trophy, Sections, and Extracted Honey.
Schedules from Ernest C. S. Stow, hon. sec, Thornton
House, Hessle, East Yorks.

July 30 to August 1, at Leeds.— Honey show
in connection with the annual show of the Yorkshire
Agricultural Society, at Roundhay Park. £2,115 in
prizes, including liberal cash prizes for honey.
Entries closed.

July 30, at Henbury, near Bristol.— Honey
show of the Henbury and District B.K.A., in connection
with the Henbury Horticultural Society's Exhibition.
Seven open classes for honey and beeswax, including
classes for single 1-lb. section and for single 1-lb. jar of
honey (with free entry) ; prizes, 10s., 7s., and 3s. in each
class. Schedules from W. G. Eamneld, hon. sec.
Henbury and District B.K.A., Cribb's Causeway, near
Bristol. Entries close July 23.

August 2, at Helsley, Cheshire.— Flower show
and athletic sports. Three classes for Honey and Wax
open to all bee-keepers in Cheshire. C.B.K.A. medal
for best exhibit by member. Schedules from Dr.
Briant, Helsley, Warrington. Entries close
July 26.

August 4, at Lichfield (Bank Holidays-
Honey show in connection with the Lichfield Floral and
Horticultural Society. Open classes for Sections and
Extracted Honey. Five prizes each class, 20s., 15s.,
10s., 5s., 2s. 6d. Schedules from F. J. Hall, hon.
secretary, City Station Wharf, Lichfield. Entries
clese July 28.

August 4, in the "Walled Meadow,
Audover. — Honey Show in connection with the
Andover and District Horticultural Society. Class for
single 1-lb. jar of extracted honey (with no entry fee).
Also classes for sections, extracted honey (light and
dark), bell glasses, honeycomb designs, and beeswax.
Schedules from the Hon. Sec, Dr. Gillett, Elvin House,
Andover. Entries close July 28.

August 4, at Exeter. — Annual Show of the
Devon B.K.A., in conjunction with the Exhibition of
the St. Thomas Cottage Garden Society. Eleven open
classes. Schedules from E. E. Scholefleld, Hon. Sec.
Devon B. K.A., Heathfleld, Chudleigh, S. Devon.
Entries close July 28.

July 24, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

299

August 4. at Melton Constable Park-
Annual Show of the North Norfolk B.K.A. Four open
classes, including one for single 1-lb. Jar of Honey and
one for 1-lb. Section. Schedules from C. J. Cooke,
Hon. Sec, Edgefield, Melton Constable. Entries
close July 26.

August 5, at Leamington. — Ninth annual show
of the Leamington St. Mary's Horticultural Society.
Three open classes for Six 1-lb. Sections, Six 1-lb. Jars
"Light," and Six 1-lb. Jars "Dark" Extracted Honey,
respectively. Liberal money-prizes. Schedules from
P. W. Smith, Secretary, 22 Leam-street, Leamington.
Entries close July 31.

August 6, at Neston Park, Wilts. -Honey
show in connection with the Atworth and District Horti-
cultural Society. Fourteen classes for Honey and
Bees, including classes for single 1-lb. section and
single 1-lb. jar, with free entry. Schedules from J. P.
Inkpen, Secretary, Neston, Corsham. Entries close
July 30.

August 6, at Clutton, Bristol.— Honey Show
of the Bristol B.K.A., in connection with the Clutton
and District Flower Show. Liberal prizes. Six open
classes for honey and bee-appliances, including classes
for single 1-lb. section and single 1-lb. jar extracted
honey (entry free). Schedules from Jas. Brown, hon.
sec, 31, Bridge-street, Bristol. Entries close
July 31.

August 7> at Kingsthorpe, KTortnants.
—Honey show of tne Northants B.K.A. in connection
with the Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Three
open classes with special prizes, including one for
single 1-lb. jar of honey. (Entry free.) Prizes 20s., 10s.,
7s. bd., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from R. Hefford, Sunny-
side, Kingsthorpe, Northampton. Eatries close
August 1.

August 13, in the Grounds of Harden-
hincb. Park. — Honey show in connection with the
Chippenham & District Horticultural Society. Twelve
classes for Honey and Bees, including open classes
for single 1-lb. section and 'single 1-lb. jar (with no
entry fee). Schedules from W. Small, Secretary,
Market-place, Chippenham, Wilts.

August 13, at Bradford Abbas, Dorset.—
Annual Show of the Yetminster and district B.K.A. in
the Vicarage grounds. Three open classes, including
one for Single 1-lb. Jar of Light and one of Dark
Honey (entry free). Prizes: 10s., 6s., 4s., in each class.
Schedules from G-. Leeding, hon. secretary, Bradford
Abbas, Sherborne, Dorset. Entries close Aug. 9.

August 13, at Radstock, Bath— Honey show in
connection with the annual show of the Radstock and
District Horticultural and Fanciers' Association.
Schedules from the Secretary, B. M. Clark, 1, Fox
Hills, Radstock, Bath.

August 13 and 14, at Dudley.— Dudley Horti-
cultural Society.— Sections, Extracted Honey, Shallow
Frames, Observatory Hives, and Wax. Schedules from
H. Dickinson, Sunnyside, Dudley, Worcestershire.

August 13 and 14, at Dudley.— Annual show of
the Worcestershire B.K.A. in connectiou with the
Dudley Horticultural Society. Schedules from A. R.
Moreton, Leigh, Worcester, show secretary. Eatries
close August 6-

August 16, at Ammanford (S. Wales).—
Honey Show in connection with the Ammanford
Flower Show. Judge appointed by the B. B.K.A.
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. One local class.
Particulars from Mr. Ivor Morris, Hon. Secretary,
Ammanford, R S.O. Entries close August 12.

August 20 and 21, 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.
Thirteen Open Classes for Honey. Schedules from S.
Cartwright, Hon. Secretary, Shropshire B.K.A., Shaw-
bury, Shrewsbury. Entries close August 8.

August 23, 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 the winner of
first prize in this class. Schedules from Mr. S. Wade,
Hon. Sec, Barnton, Northwich. Entries close
August lo.

August 23, at Hyde.— Cheshire B.K.A. Show,
in connection with the Cheshire Agricultural Society.
Eight classes for Hives, Honey, and Wax. Liberal

prizes. Schedules from T. A. Beckett, St. Werburgh's
Chambers, Chester. Entries close August 2 (at
double fees August 9).

August 26, at Cartmel, Lanes.— Honey show in
connection with the annual show of the Cartmel
Agricultural Society. Open classes for Six Sections and
for Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey ; also for beeswax in
cakes for domestic use. Special prizes for members of
the Lancashire B.K.A. and for county bee-keepers.
Schedules from Wm. Cragg, secretary, Cartmel.
Entries close August 16.

August 27 and 28, at Warwick.— Honey show
of the Warwickshire B.K.A., in conjunction with the
Annual Show of the Agricultural Society. Schedules
from Jas. Noble Bower, Hon. Secretary, Warwick
B.K.A., Knowle.

August 27 and 28, at TJttoxeter.— Bee and
Honey Show in connection with the Annual Show of
the Staffordshire Agricultural Society. Fifteen classes
for bees, honey, and appliances. Open classes for
12 1-lb. sections, 24 1-lb. jars, and 12 1-lb. jars extracted
honey respectively. Schedules from Rev. G-. C. Bruton,
Hon. Sec. Staffs. B.K.A., Great Haywood Vicarage,
Stafford. Entries close August 2.

August 28, at Montgomery, N. Wales.—
Honey show in connection with Montgomery and Dis-
trict Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Two open
classes for six's, sections, and extracted. Prizes 10s.,
5s., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from W. U. Jones, Secretary,
Church Bank, Montgomery. Entries close August
21.

August 28, at Llangollen.— In connection with
the annual Flower Show. Open classes for Six 1-lb.
Sections, Six 1-lb. Bottles Extracted, and Beeswax.
Schedules from Frank Little, Llangollen. Entries
close August 14.

September 1 to 6, at Preston.— Annual show of
the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society in connection
with the Festival week of the Guild Merchant (which
recurs only once in every twenty -one years). In honour
of the occasion a largely increased list of money prizes
is offered for honey along with silver and bronze medals
of the B.B.K.A. and also of the Society. Open Classes
for Honey-Trophy, Sections, Extracted Honey, Beeswax,
Instructive Exhibits in Bee-Culture, &c. Schedules
from Edward Bohane, Secretary, Miller-arcade, Pres-
ton. Entries close August 2.

September 6, at Bramhall, near Stock-
port.—Honey Show in connection with the Bramhall
and Woodford District Horticultural Society. Liberal
prizes. Schedules from J. Turner, Glenwood, Bram-
hall, near Stockport. Entries close August 30.

September 6 to 13, at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (10th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Numerous classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees
wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers. Special
attention is directed to the new Honey-selling
Classes. Schedules (now ready) from H. S. Rogers,
Secretary, 27, Leadenhall - street, London, E.C.
Entries close August 26-

September 10 and 11, at Hull.— Honey show
in connection with the Hull and District Horticultural
Association, at the Artillery Barracks. Seven open
classes, including one for Honey Trophy, prizes £2
and £1 ; also classes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar of extracted honey, with free entry.
Schedules from F. W. Thompson, hon. sec, 8, Albert-
square, Ella-street, Hull. Entries close Septem-
ber 3.

September lO and 11, at Bebington, near
Birkenhead.— Cheshire B.K.A. Show, in connection
with Birkenhead and Wirral Agricultural Society, on
New Show-ground. Numerous classes for Hives, Honey,
and Wax. Substantial prizes. Schedules from A. H.
Edwardson, 6, Hamilton-square, Birkenhead. Entries
close September 1.

September 10 and 11, at Derby.— Derbyshire
B.K.A. Twenty-first Annual Show of Hives, Bees, and
Honey on the show ground of the Derbyshire Agricul-
tural Society. Schedules from R. H. Coltman, Hon.
Sec. D. B.K.A., Station-street, Burton-on-Trent. En-
tries close August 23. Double fees to August 30.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace.— Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition
of Bees, Honey, and Appliances. Specially increased
prizes and medals for Coronation year. Further par-
ticulars shortly. Schedules from Hon. Secretary,
Henry W. Brice, 100, Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath.

300

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 24, 1902.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace. — Surrey B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, Wax, and Appliances, &c. Twenty-four classes
(teu open to all). Increased prizes and medals.
Schedules ready shortly, from F. B. White, Secretary,
Marden House, Redhill, Surrey.

September 20 to 27, at tbe Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with the
sixth Annual Exhibition and Market of the- Grocery
and Kindred Trades. Numerous classes for comb and
extracted honey and beeswax. Open to all British
Bee-Keepers. Special attention is directed to the new
Honey-selling Classes. Schedules (ready shortly)
from H. S. Rogers, Secretary, 27, Leadenhall-street,
London, E.C.

October 4, at Newcastle-on-Tyne-— Annual
show of the Northumberland and Durham B.K.A. in
the Y.M.C.A. Institute, Blackett-street. Fifteen
classes for Bees. Honey, and Bee-appliances. Schedules
from James Waddell, hon. secretary, Wooler, North-
umberland. Entries finally close lO a.m.,
October 4.

October 7 to 10, 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.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All querieiforwarded will be attended to, and tkom only
of pertonal interest will be antwered in this column.

*#* Pollen Clogged Combs. — Referring to the
letter of Mr. D. Vallance on the difficulty of
removing pollen from combs (4,806, page
246), we received from Mr. Vallance a
frame of comb in which the centre portion
of which he rightly describes as being "pretty
well clogged with pollen" on both sides.
This comb after infection we marked and
returned — as requested by sender — for
cleaning, and a couple of days later the
same comb was received from Scotland
perfectly free from pollen. A result which
we consider very satisfactory. The only
qualification needed so far as justifying our
view that " old pollen-clogged combs had
best be burnt as not worth spending time
on " is that we had in mind far worse
specimens than tbe sample referred to i.e.,
with combs fall up with old, hard pollen.
The pollen in comb inspected was appa-
rently of this year's gathering, and the cells
had only been once bred in and was more-
over a nice straight (wired in) comb,
just such a one as we should make an effort
to preserve for future use ; otherwise the
" cleaning out " was a complete success. —
[Eds.]

L. Eoyden (Liverpool). — Syrup for Use when
Uniting Bees. — Any kind of sugar may be
used for making syrup intended for use in
"uniting" bees. Such syrup is made with
double the quantity of water compared with
that for bee-food. In fact, is little more
than well sweetened water, so thin as to be
sprinkled on with a spray diffuser. Bear in
mind also that common flour, sprinkled over
the bees from a dredger, is as effective as
syrup if properly used.

A. A. Blair (Midlothian).— Liability of
Railway Companies for Damage to Bees. —

1. Railway companies are only " respon-
sible'' for damage to a stock of bees in
straw step caused by the negligence of their
own employees. Moreover, the consignee
should refuse to accept delivery when goods
arrive in damaged condition ; and, if you
overlooked this point, we fear you will have
difficulty in getting compensation for
damage. 2. The same rule applies to the
second sleep, in which the bees were found
to be suffocated on arrival. In this case it
may have been bad or improper packing
that caused the mishap, so that the County
Court Judge before whom the claim for
compensation came, if contested, would
decide where the blame lay after hearing the
evidence pro and con.

J. Hewitt (Bedworth). — Preparing Honey
for 'Showing. — There is no book or pam-
phlet that we know of specially dealing with
this subject. With regard to glazing
sections, if you refer to prepaid advertise-
ments, in any issue of B.J. for March or
April last, it will show" Mr. Woodley's offer
to supply a sample glazed section to work
from.

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,"
not " Manager."

(Canon) R. M. Beresford (Instioge). — The
dead larvas sent are simply chilled-brood in
the pupa stage cast out after death by the
bees. We cannot judge as regards disease
from samples of either dead brood or bees
when so cast out. It would involve alto-
gether too much time and labour by way of
microscopic research to make a post-mortem
from such material.

P. C. (Grantown).-
fast.

-Foul brood developing

" Novice " (Annfield Plain, co. Durham). —
Sample of comb (smashed quite flat in post)
is utterly unfit for judging whether affected
with foul brood or not. Refer to printed
clause in this column giving directions
regarding "suspected combs."

J. Chapman (Belfast). — Honey Samples. —
Honey moderately good. Is from mixed
sources, possessing no special flavour that
enables us to define the source from whence
it was gathered.

D. P. (Scarboro').— We find foul brood in
both samples, though neither shows any-
thing to indicate that the disease is of long
standing or of virulent type.

Several answers are unavoidably
held over.

BRITISH BEE JOURNAL?' ^oae>-

301

U

ANNUAL SHOW.

This annual show was held in connection
with the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society at
Boston on Thursday and Friday, July 17 and
18, and was favoured by beautiful weather.
The attendance on the second day was a
record one for the society, the honey depart-
ment being crowded the whole day. Dr. P.
Sharp conducted an examination for the 3rd
class certificate when two candidates came
forward. Mr. W. M. Herrod lectured in the
bell-tent to very large and appreciative
audiences, several new members of the
L.B.K.A. being enrolled. Dr. Carline (Lin-
coln), and Dr. P. Sharp (Brant Broughton),
acted as judges, and made the following
awards —

OPEN CLASSES.

Collection of Hives and Appliances. — 1st,
W. P. Meadows, Syston, Leicester ; 2nd,
| E. H. Taylor, Welwyn, Herts ; 3rd, R H.
Ooltman, Burton-on-Trent, Staffs.

Complete Hive for General Use {Price not
exceeding 2os.). — 1st, R H. Coltman ; 2nd,
E. H. Taylor; 3rd, W. R. Garner, Dyke,
Bourne, Lines.

Complete Hive {Price not exceeding 12s. 6d.).
—1st, W. R Garner ; 2nd, R H. Coltman ;
3rd, E. H. Taylor.

Honey Trophy. — 1st and British B K.A.
Silver Medal, D. Seamer, Grimsby ; 2nd and
B.B.K.A. Bronze Medal, F. Harris, Sibsey.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, A. W. Weather-
hogg, Willoughton, Lincoln ; 2nd, R. Allen,
Trusmore, Bicester ; 3rd, H. Goodaell, Bidden-
ham, Kent ; 4th, W. Hatliff, Thoresway,
Lines.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, T.
Blake, Broughton, Hants; 2nd, A. W. Weather-
hogg; 3rd, T. S. Holdsworth, Kirton-in-
Lindsey ; 4th, "W. Hatliff.

COUNTY ONLY.

Twelve l-lb. Sections.— 1, A. W. Weather-
hogg; 2nd, W. Hatliff; 3rd, H. Pears, Mere,
Lincoln ; 4th, D. Seamer.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (Light).
—1st and L.B.K.A. Silver Medal, F. W.
Fruaher, Crowland ; 2nd, A. W. Weather-
hogg ; 3rd, H. Roughton, Holbeach ; 4th, Rev.
H. F. Goffe, Thoresway.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (other
than Light). — 1st, F. W. Frusher ; 2nd, W.
Patchett, Cabourne.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honeg (Novices).
—1st, Mr. Geo. T. Pilkington, Branswell;

2nd, H. Roughton ; 3rd, F. W. Spratling,

Haconby.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Granulated Honey (open).
—1st, Rev. H. F. Goffe j 2nd, F. S. Smith,

Louth ; 3rd, J. R. Frankish, Grasby ; v.h.c,
D. Seamer.

Beeswax (open class). — 1st. Jno. Berry,
Llanrwst ; 2nd, R. Dutton, Yerling, Essex.

Observatory Hive with Bees and Queen. —
1st, E. Godson, YothilL. Lines ; 2nd, B. 0.
Blackburn, Billinghay, Lines. ; 3rd, D.
Seamer.

HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of
June, 1902, was £4,294.— From a retwn
furnished to the British Bbe Journal by the
Statistical Office, HM. Customs.

flflrosjjwutattt.

The Editor* do not hold themtelo** retpontible for the
opinion* tapreutd 6jr corretpondentt . No notice will be
taken of anongmouM communication*, and corretpondentt
art requested to writ* on on* tide of the paper only and
gin* their real nam** and addrt****, not neoettarilg for
publication, but a* a guarantee of good faith. IUuttra-
tion* thould be drawn on uparat* piece* of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communication!.

Communications relating to the literary department,
reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries ,
Booh* for Review, die, must be addressed only to "The
Editoes of the' British Bee Journal," 17, King WUliam-
ttreet, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi-
cations relating to advertisements, dee., must be addressed
to " Thh MANAaHE, 'Britifih Bee Journal' Office, 17,
King William-street, Strand, London, W.C."

%* In order to facilitate reference, Corretpondentt,
when epeaking of any letter or query previously %n*erted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter a* weU
at the page on which it appear*.

INSECTIVOROUS PLANTS.

[4845.] I was interested with the note in
" Comments on Current Topics ,; (page 273
of your last issue) on insectivorous plants, as I
have known these curious anomalies of the
vegetable world for some time. Early in the
spring this year I brought some Drosera
plants from the New Forest and tried to grow
them in captivity. My method was to take a
soup plate or shallow receptacle, and fill it
with washed cinders or coke, heaping it up in
the centre. This was then covered with a
layer of moss, on which the Drosera were
placed. The whole is th»t kept saturated
with, preferably, rain watt * .*?hich contains
nitrogen in one or two foiva the water, if
necessary, being changed two or three times a
week. Under this treatment the plants
nourish, as it simulates their native environ-
ment. This spring I started bee-keeping, and
one day was surprised to see a score of bees
on my Drosera plants. Not only were they
attracted by the water to quench their thirst,
but also were imbibing the glairy saccharine
fluid secreted by the tentacles. I thought this
observation might be of interest to some of
your readers. On moors and heaths, where
these plants are abundant, they may be a

302

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL, [July 31, 1902.

source of bee-food. The bees are too heavy
and strong to be captured by the inclosing
tentacles. The above also, in my opinion, is
not a bad way of providing bees with water,
as the moss covering prevents the rapid
evaporation attended by other methods. —
C. T. J., Miskin-road, Dartford.

BEES BUILDING IN THE OPEN.

[4846.] I enclose a photo, which I, think
will interest your readers, as bearing on the
question often
discussed of
winter quar-
ters.

We pack up
our bees with
every care as
winter ap-
proaches, and
yet here is a
stock which
passed last
winter with-
out any shelter
whatever be-
yond the shelf
from which
the comba are
hung, and the
two side walls
of the little
old - fashioned
bee-shed pro-
jecting just
jar enough to
break the
force of the
wind.

The photo-
graph shows
them exactly
as I saw them
at the begin-
ning of last
April, and I
was assured
by their
owner that
they had re-
mained so
throughout
the winter,
though at one
time there
was a foot of snow on the ground.

It will be seen that their combs cover nine
courses of brickwork, and therefore hang to a
depth of 3l£ in. I need hardly explain that
the stock was placed on the shelf in the box-
hive shown, and worked their way down
through a hole in the wood of shelf!

The bee-shed in question is in the garden
of Bitterly Court, Ludlow, the residence of Mr.
J. V. Wheeler. — J. B. Hewitt, Worcester.

BEES BUILDING COMBS IN THE OPEN

FEEDING SWARMS IN SEEPS.

[4847.] The inquiry under the above j|
heading (2,932, page 298) led me to think ftifj
worth while to send an account of a simple
plan I have had in use for a number of years,
and which has proved very efficient for the;
purpose.

It is an underfeeding arrangement, and the
"material" required is, first, a fairly sound1
box, large enough to form a floor for skep.
Cut away half of one end (this end to be
always at the back of skep), and then closely

board over the:
top to form a
floor, and cut a
" feed - hole,'";
not in centre,
but rather to
the right. Fix
a shelf under:
feed-hole on
which the
"feeder" is
to rest ; the
latter should:
be made so
as to slide in
on the shelf;
easily, and,
when in posi- .
tion, one side
of feeder
should be
exactly under'
feed-hole, to
allow bees to
pass up and
down freely.
Four small
wedges will
be necessary
to Wedge
feeder tightly
to floor to pre-
vent robbing.
The feeder
may be made
of a chocolate
cream box,
well pitched
at joints (a
baking- tin
with perpen-
dicular sides
will do). A
wood "float"
used in either case, cut from one piece
board and to fit very loosely inside of

is
of
feeder.

A " Fry's chocolate cream " box will
hold about 6 lb. of syrup, and such
an arrangement, when once fitted up,
will last a lifetime, and ten skeps in one
season may be fed to necessary weight by
its use.— Owen Browning, Kingsomborne,
Hants.

July 31, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

303

RAILWAY CHARGES FOR HONEY.

[4848.] In reply to the letter in B.B.J, of
July 10 (4825, p. 274) I beg to enclose tariff
of charges for conveyance of farm and dairy
produce (including honey) from the Great
Western Railway Company's "Guide.'' I
believe most, if not all, of the railway com-
panies in this district run goods (at owner's
risk) at the same terms, so that you see 24 lb.
will go 200 miles for Is. Referring to honey
season, we now have white clover in pro-
fusion about this district ; limes just breaking
bud, and bees fairly " romping honey in."
Every prospect of a good season. — F. Evans,
Market Drayton, July 16.

DEALING WITH VICIOUS BEES.

[4849.] I am particularly interested in the
answer which you give to a correspondent
(2,902, page 265) in B.J. of July 3. I started
bee-keeping in 1897 with Carniolans and for
two years they were very quiet. I could sit
close to the hives and watch the bees. But
since then they have become very bad-tem-
pered and attack people even twenty yards
away. I put this down to their becoming
crossed with the neighbour's black bees,
though they still keep their markings and
their propensity for swarming. So much so
that, if it were not for the difficulty of finding
the old queens, I should requeen with the
common bee and so get rid of hybrids. Do
you think I am wrong in my theory ? — E. C,
Newton Abbot.

[It is a well-known fact that the mildest-
tempered bees, when of the pure race, sud-
denly become very vicious when hybridised,
so that there is no safe way of restoring former
gentleness but by introducing a pure Carniolan
queen. We never heard of pure Carniolan
bees turning vicious if not hybridised.]

BEE VENOM.

[4850.] Mr. R. Hamlyn-Harris's note (4841,
page 294) calls for a word from me, although
this may anticipate my full paper on the
subject. I believe it likely that the poison
of bee venom is identical with, or related
to, the perfume or scent constituent of the
venom, and I am anxious to know if any
investigations on the influence of amyl salts
(? nitrite), as an excitant to bees, have pre-
ceded my own now proceeding. — Leslie
Phillips, M.D., Leamington Spa, July 25.

POLLEN-CLOGGED COMBS.

[4851.] Many thanks for your opinion of the
cleaning of the pollenised comb. My object in
sending you a nexo delicate comb of last year's
build was chiefly to show that such a one could
be cleaned without injury. During the last

five years I have experimented with all sorts
of comb — frames (wired and unwired), comb3
transferred to frames and unwired, combs
without frames at all, taken from skeps or
vagrant swarms, and virgin comb, combs of all
ages — and the result was always the same, no
injury to the comb. No great care is neces-
sary in handling such a comb as you describe ;
old, full-pollened cells, hardened with age,
yield just as readily as the one I sent. The
cells that present any difficulty are those in
which pollen and honey have become candied
and present the appearance and texture of
"toffee.'' These, however, are always, so far
as my present experience goes, a very small
fraction of the cells requiring cleaning. The
cells were counted before the comb was
despatched, and numbered fully 1,000, but the
same operation would have practically cleaned
the whole comb in the same time. — D. V.,
Dunaskin, July 26.

TRANSFERRING FROM SKEPS.

[4852.] A month or so ago I took two
swarms of bees in skep3 to a friend who
wanted to start bee-keeping. I found he had
not got any hives, so put the skeps down on
boards where he intended to have his hives.
He has now got hives, and they are fitted
ready for the bees. The skeps are full of
comb and overflowing with bees ; but the hay
is nearly all cut, and the honey flow is practi-
cally over. 1. Should he transfer now by
lifting the skeps on top of the frame-hives
and packing in the usual way, or should he let
the bees winter in the skeps and transfer in
spring?— G. H. Bruce.

DO ROBBER-BEES STING ?

In an editorial under the heading, "Do
Robber-Bees Sting ? " a suspicion is ventured
that robbers do not sting the defenders of the
hive they are trying to rob. Moreover, the
Editor asks for something positive upon the
subject, and here it is : — Robber-bees do sting
at such times, and with terrible effect, too. If
this were not so, how is it they are so success-
ful in overrunning at times a good, normal
colony ? Surely the bees of the attacked
colony are not intimidated by any superior
force of numbers, and retreat before the rob-
bers in their rush for the stores ? This is not
in the nature of the honey-bee when she feels
that her home is worth fighting for. When
such a colony submits to the plundering of its
combs, you may know that its fighting force
has been swept away by the fierce onslaughts
of those frenzied desperadoes ?

There is something peculiar about the
apparent ease with which robber-bees will, in
so many cases, get the better of a bee that
opposes it in an endeavour to enter the hive.
The robber is worked up to the very highest
pitch of excitement and abandonment to an

304

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 31, 1902.

evil habit ; the poison- glands pour forth their
fiery fluids more bountifully ; and, the honey-
sac being almost perfectly in a state of deple-
tion, it will be seen that she is in the very
best possible fighting condition. But a robber-
bee will not use its sting for the mere pleasure
of killing — that characterises a villain in
human form. There is a risk to run which
she is not willing to take in any such way. I
mean the risk of losing her sting. The danger
of having it torn away is not so great when
thrust into the body of another bee ; but when
the sting has penetrated sufficiently to kill
outright, the bee cannot withdraw it easily,
and I have often seen them crawling about
upon the ground in front of the hive dragging
the dead bee thereby.

Eobbers will often bite and sting just a
little a bee that has surrendered, in an effort
to make her give up the last mite of honey,
which may cause the bee to die in a short
time. This, to me, is more plausible than that
the captives, so to speak, join the victors in
their own hive. When a robber has been
seized by a fighting bee, and the two are
buzzing so rapidly on the alighting-board or
ground in front of the hive that the eye cannot
determine what is actually being done at the
time, the fact that one, and quite often both,
of them have their mandibles fastened upon
each other at the close convinces me that both
■were fighting. Sometimes they cease buzzing,
and wrestle on the ground for the advantage.
The mandibles hold a death-grip, while the
two hindmost legs of each are dexterously
used in an effort to prevent the other from
getting into position to use its sting. The bee
whose abdomen is distended the least of the
two that are fighting usually succeeds in this
and destroys the other. So soon as the fatal
thrust of the sting has been effected, the vic-
torious bee will usually make an effort to
break away ; but the other will often cling by
the mandibles till she is too weak to do this.

As the editorial in question suggests,
evidence of a very conclusive nature may be
had in cases where the contention is between
a colony of Italian and black bees. The un-
trained eye then can easily separate the
robbers from the regular inmates of the hive.
But the experienced observer will not often
be deceived by the manoeuvres of robber-bees.
The sweet melody in the hum of a bee
engaged in honest pursuits is so different from
the loud, shrill notes of robbers that the ear
alone may detect them. The bright, cheery
colour of honesty is soon swept away, being
replaced by a dirty, glassy, greased appear-
ance in a short time, when a bee resigns itself
to this evil habit. All Italian bees will, when
they become aged, assume a darker colour
than they had when in younger life ; but this
shade of blackness that comes with waning
vitality — vitality spent in honest toil — con-
trasts largely with the other, though the
novice may be wholly unable to determine a
robber by its colour.

Upon approaching a hive — and 1 might say
any hive, even its own — a robber-bee will
hover over the entrance, just out of the reach
of the guards, very much as a sparrow-hawk
will flutter above a certain spot in some
grassy, weedy field when watching for a
mouse.

There is anything but pleasantness in an
apiary where the bees have acquired the habit
of robbing. On behalf of the little honey-bee,
and the good graces of every reader of this
journal who has the care of bees, I beseech
you to use great care not to provoke them to
rob. Their mission is a noble one, and they
should not be tempted to pursue an ignoble
one through the careless exposure of sweets.

I would be pleased to hear from others upon
the subject of robber-bees. — W. W. M'Neal
in American Bee Journal.

[2934.] Superfluous Queen-cells. — On June
21 last I hived a swarm at the rectory near
here, where I attend to the bees, and after
cutting out ten queen-cells, returned the
swarm to the parent hive. On July 5 the
same hive swarmed again, and when examined
I found no less than thirty-seven queen-cells,
most of them containing a full-grown queen.
I killed about twenty-five of them, the rest
escaping and getting mixed up with the bees
or taking wing, and so being lo3t. The queens
in question were reared in what looked like
enlarged drone-cells with just a curve down-
wards. They were nearly all small queens.
After clearing the lot out, I ran the swarm
back into the parent hive, and they are now
working in section. But I am unable to
account for such a lot of queens being reared
in one hive. Can you explain the reason ?
I may say the above-named bees were bought
at a sale last year ; the then owner was known
to have a lot of bees from abroad. I think
this may account for their outlandish tricks.
I should like to know what you think, as it
looks as if I had mismanaged the bees in some
way to have all this trouble ; whereas I have
given every attention to them and treated
them just as I do my own in every way.—
C. R., Wickford, July 21.

Reply. — It is a well-known fact that some
foreign races of bees produce an extraordinary
number of queens at swarming time. The
highest number we can call to mind is re-
corded of native Egyptian bees at Cairo,
which appeared in our monthly, the Record,
of December, 1895, under the heading, " Bee-
keeping in Egypt.'' The writer says, when
speaking of " Queen-raising Extraordinary '' : —
" On February 23 a native colony of native
bees swarmed from a " W.B.C' hive, and
the swarm was skepped by my man. He
afterwards handed me twenty-seven queens,

July 31, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

305

which had been thrown out of the skep. The
swarm was placed in another " W.B C." hive,
and on the following morning I picked from
the flight-boards of parent and new hive forty-
nine queens. A further eighty -two queens were
taken away by General F. as specimens. We
under-estimated when we said about fifty
were left on the ground, so this gave us
27 + 49 + 82 + 50=208 queens actually hatched
out at the time of swarming ! The parent
hive was then opened, and all ten frames were
found literally festooned with still sealed queen-
cells ; these were cut out and taken into
town, and callers at the Ministry were sur-
prised to see a score or so of queen-bees flying
about the place, while others were hatching-
out from the cells. At the suggestion of
General F. I enumerated these cells, counting
only those in which a queen existed at the
time. There were more than 200. This brings
the figure to 408 queens in this single colony.
I then counted all cells, sealed or vacated, and
they actually totted up to more than 600 ! !
In view of this nice condition of things, I
considered it about time to look at the other
hives ; but after cutting fifty-four cells from
the three end combs of one stock I gave it up.
Every native colony was in the same condi-
tion, and beautiful straight comb3 of worker-
cells were ruined. Quite 50 per cent, of the
whole were only fit for melting down ! You
can easily gather from this that swarms were
the order of the day ; but I secured very few.
I am quite certain that my man discovered
the swarms when they had clustered, and
carried them off at night, otherwise he would
not have turned up morning after morning
with his eyes bunged up with stings, a3 was
the case.

[2935.] Bee-keeping in China. — 1. Can you
or.any of your readers tell me the best way of
inducing bees to gather honey on the hills in
Hongkong ? From April to September the
temperature in the shade varies between
75 deg. at night and 85 deg. in the day.
October to December it drops 10 deg. to
20 deg., January and February it is colder,
with usually two or three weeks of slight frost,
but in March it begins to heat up again.
Owing to the foggy weather we have off and
on in February to May the bees at times for
three or four days together do not get out
much, and in the colder weather (October to
January) when we have usually bright days
with a good hot sun from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
they seem to do as much or more work than
in the hot weather of summer. It is perhaps
owing to these bright, hot days in the cool
season that they do not store much. In
January to February the days are often hot
enough to bring them out, so they can
work more or less all the year through. I
may say the bees are much the same to look at
as the ordinary English bee, but only about
two-thirds of the latter^ size. 2. Cock-
roaches are very troublesome, and as they fly
- eadily I would like to know what is the best

way of preventing them flying into the en-
trances of the hives 1 3. Is it too hot for the
bee3 to place the hives in the sun with a
double roof? If stood in the shade under
trees the ants drop down in numbers on to the
hive-roofs. 4. Is it necessary to feed on loaf
sugar 1 Raw sugar can of course be obtained
much cheaper. 5. I have bsen using hives
holding ten frames, standard siza. Perhaps as
the bees are smaller than English and not
likely to do half as much work as the latter,
it would be better to use a different hive. If
so, what do you suggest ? 6. Would it be
possible to take English queens to Hongkong
(five weeks' journey), and how many bee3
should be sent with each queen, and what is
the best way of packing, watering, and feeding
them ? I enclose name, &c , while signing
myself — Hongkong, Salisbury, July 17, 1902.

Reply. — 1. We will be very glad if any
B.J. reader possessing some knowledge of bee-
keeping in China will forward such particulars
as may be helpful to our correspondent on
queries 1 and 2. For the rest, we may reply
to such questions as do not require local know-
ledge as follows : — 3. In hot climates the most
useful protection for bees against heat is a
hive with a loose outer case, similar to the
hives used in this country. 4. Refined sugar is
far the best for bee-food, the treacle or molasses
in raw sugars being apt to cause dysentery.
5. We should prefer the B.B.K.A. Standard
frame. 6. Of our English dealers we think
Mr. Sladen, of Ripple Court, near Dover, or
Mr. E. H. Taylor, Welwyn, Herts, could afford
useful information on this point, as being well
versed in the export trade.

[2936.] Unicomb Observatory Hives. — I
have made a one-frame observatory hive for
use in a shop window according to the
dimensions given in " A Modern Bee Farm,''
by S. Simmins, but the width is not given.
I therefore ask — 1. Is a 2-in. space right, as it
just takes the frame and leaves a bee-space
between comb and glass-.3ide of hive ? 2.
Can the bees be exposed night and day in
shop window without any covering, say for
two weeks, or should they have warm covering
at night 1 I notice the queen (a three-year-
old, 1 think) has laid in all the empty cells
and can now be seen dropping the eggs any-
where.— Constant Reader, Kendal, July 28.

Reply. — 1. As the upper portion of combs
are frequently built out to a thickness of over
Itt in., it may be well to allow a clear 2^ in.
between the glass sides of the hive. 2. Unless
weather is warm, a warm covering of some
kind will be needed at night, and we should
not expose the hive for more than one week
at a time without allowing the bees a chance
to fly for a day for cleansing purposes.

[2937.] 1. Bee-Keeping near Liverpool. — As
it is necessary for me to move my bees from pre-
sent position, I am writing to ask if you or any
of your readers can tell me the best neighbour-

306

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[July 31, 1902.

hood for bees within a few miles of Liverpool ?
West Derby, Prescot, Knotty Ash, or any
other of the eastern suburbs preferred. While
moving I want to locate them in the best avail-
able district, hence my asking your advice. 2.
Effect of Stings. — Since commencing keeping
bees last .September I have received half-a-
dozen stings. 1 suffered no inconvenience from
the first five, although two were on the face.
There was no swelling and only a slight
tingling for a time. The sixth sting, however,
more than made up for the others. I was
stung on the nose, and, beyond removing the
sting, took no further notice at first ; but it
commenced to swell and continued swelling
for about twenty hours, by which time my
appearance was, to say the least, a remarkable
sight. My eyes were almost closed, cheeks
were puffed oat very much, and my upper lip
about three times its usual size. This was
getting serious, so I visited the doctor, who
said that either my blood was out of order or
the bee had been feeding on something
poisonous just previous. Now, if future
stings were to affect me in a like manner I
will have to give the bees a wide berth. I
do not think my blood is out of order, as I
was stung on the head a week or so before
and no swelling followed. What is your
opinion ? — G. Geldard, Walton, Liverpool,
July 15.

Reply. — 1. West Derby was a fairly good
bee district when we knew it twenty years
ago, but the suburban districts of Liverpool
are so changed since our time, we cannot
safely answer. Perhaps some local reader will
reply. 2. There is no accounting for such
incidents as you relate, beyond some such
explanation as that given by the medical man
you consulted.

[2938.] Managing Swarms. — I am anxious
to know your opinion. I had a swarm of bees
in the latter end of June ; they were put in a
box with twelve frames, and with quarter
foundation. As they seemed languid in work-
ing, standing about entrances, &c, I examined
box, taking out each frame super while
looking for queen. I may say I am only
starting bee-keeping, and would not know a
queen, I believe, if I saw her. In any case, I
could see no queen. The frames are well
filled with honey around the outside, while
some of the cells in the centre are half filled
with pollen. There were no capped cells. I
therefore ask : 1. Could queen be dead, and
they still gather honey ? 2. If queen was
living for past four weeks, would it be easy to
see young brood 1 3. Should I get a queen
and introduce her, as am afraid of losing it ; it
was very strong swarm ? A second swarm
came off the same box four days after, and is
doing well. You see very few bees carrying
in pollen. — J. H. Scott, Go. Down, July 24.

Reply. — 1. The symptoms seen point to
queenlessness. 2. Brood should certainly be

seen in combs before now if queen is there
and mated. 3. Either introduce a fertile
queen or add a small swarm, with queen, to
the stock.

[2939.] Destroying Vicious Bees. — Would
yon kindly answer the following query in the
columns of the British Bee Journal. I
have two very strong stocks of bees which are
so vicious that it is impossible to do anything
with them, so I have made up my mind to
destroy them at the end of the honey season.
Would you kindly advise me as to the best
means of doing this 1 Would smoking them
with sulphur taint the honey, or would cyanide
of potassium fumes injure the honey in any
way ? — " Apiculturist," Tavistock, July 26.

Reply. — Make a hole in ground and insert
therein an old tin lid with an ounce of
sulphur, drop a hot coal in the sulphur, and
lift the hive off its floorboard (after smoking
the bees a little at entrance), and drop it gently
over the burning sulphur. In one minute all
will be over with the bees, and little harm
done to honey.

[2940.] Bees Fighting amongst Themselves. — •
Will you kindly give me your advice on the
following ? — I got one of Lee's " Crystal
Palace Supers" this year, and put it on a
hive ; but the bees not being very strong I
afterwards removed it to a strong stock above
a box of shallow frames nearly full. Directly
after the bees began to carry " black shiny
bees" out, which I thought at first were
robbers, although I did not notice any robbers
about entrance. After being on for about
three weeks I removed the shallow frames,
and put a rack of sections on, when the bees
at once stopped carrying dead or dying bees
, out of the hive. The shallow frames were
fitted with Super "Weed" foundation same
as sections. The removed box stood on an
adapter with excluder zinc, so that the bees
had to go through two excluders. Every
time I lifted quilts the bees would rush out
at top at full speed, and the noise and com-
motion was quite different to an ordinary
super. They did not work at all in super. I
thought it might be the smell from the wood.
2. Can you recommend the plan for driving
and carrying bees in bags given by J. Simkins
in No. 834, vol. xxvi., N.S. 442? Last
year I united a first and second swarm after
killing queen of first, but they fought and
made young queen's wings quite ragged.
Dusting with flour did not cure them until I
put a frame of brood in, when they at once
settled down. Is this usual, as I never ex-
pected it 1 Your answer will oblige. — Joseph
Edgerley, Chorley, July 28.

Reply. — 1. The only reason we can give
for what you describe is that the bees have
been fighting among themselves owing to the
fact of honey from an alien stock being given
them. This has occurred at rare intervals in

July 31, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

307

our experience, and we quite think it is so
in your case. 2. Yes, it has answered very
well.

(Bthm flwrat tte Stots.

Salperton, Cheltenlmm. — I have, along with
others, to complain of the weather all through
June. It was very much against bee-work
here ; consequently, swarms in this district
are scarce. Being a young hand, I may be a
bit anxious, but that is, I think, better than
not caring whether the bees live or die. On
June 10 I tried driving the bees from skep,
and running them into a frame-hive, but am
afraid I drove too many bees from skep before
queen walked up. Still, I do not mind if
those left behind will prosper by my feeding
well on medicated syrup. They take down
about a pint a day. Could you give me name
of secretary of Glos. B.K.A., as I am desirous
of joining ? The last few days, findiDg a
quantity of drones (immature) cast out, made
me " look up " back numbers, and find my
answer in B.J. (2833, page 178).— C. R.
Hopkins.

Grantown-on-Spey, July 25. — We have had
a most disastrous season here. Only one day
of sunshine this month. Continual rain and
snow on hills yesterday. Swarms are almost
unheard of and surplus honey is not to be
thought of. In fact, stocks are living from
hand to mouth.— P. C.

PARTHENOGENESIS.

LESSONS IN HEREDITY FROM BEES.

It was first announced in 1845 that,
although impregnation is necessary to produce
female bees, the male bees develop from un-
fertilised eggs. In an article on this subject
in the Deutsche Revue, Professor J. W.
S pen gel, of the University of Giessen, states
that it required more than ten years of
additional research to convince scientific men
that the rule applying to the majority of
animal forms admits of the exception now
termed parthenogenesis. The writer goes on
to say : —

" Now if all female bees, the workers as
well as the queens, have developed from
fertilised eggs, and all male bees (drones) from
the unfertilised, since the queen is the only
one to lay eggs, the kinds of relationship
between the three classes of bees are most
unique, and must be remarkably instructive as
regards heredity.

" Take the progeny of any queen-bee, which
commonly consists of a queen, numerous
workers, and several drones ; and among these
children of this same mother, the young queen

and the workers are sisters, but the drones are
only their half-brothers, because they have not
the same father, or, in fact, no father at all.
Of course, they all have a common grand-
father— the one on the mother's side. The
workers remain childless all their lives, sus-
taining the relation of aunts to the numerous
sons and daughters of their married sister, the
queen. The drones never have any other
children than daughters.

" This situation provides for most interest-
ing deductions on the process of heredity — (1)
the male properties of the drones cannot have
been inherited from the parents, since they
have only a mother ; (2) the drones do not
transmit their masculine characteristics to
their descendants, since the eggs that they
impregnate never produce other than females ;
(3) the workers possess characteristics that
were not present in either father or mother,
which accordingly they could not have in-
herited, and which, being incapable of repro-
duction, they cannot transmit to descen-
dants.

"Before an attempt to solve these apparent
contradictions, we glance at the most impor-
tant differences amongst the three classes,
physical and mental : — 1. Aside from the re-
productive organs, there is variation in size, in
which the queen is superior to the drones, and
these to the workers. 2. Hairs and bristles
grow on the workers' hind legs, and serve as
brushes and baskets for collecting pollen
from the flowers. 3. The workers have
a peculiar development of instrument of
the mouth, including the unusually long
tongue for licking up honey. 4. Wax glands
are provided for the workers. 5. The sting is
present in the females, the queen, and the
workers,, but wanting in the drones. 6. The
eyes are smallest in the queen and somewhat
larger in the workers, while in the drones they
are so Jarge as to meet upon the upper surface
of the body! The weU-known mental differ-
ences are in as sharp contrast. While the
workers are remarkable for activity, skill, and
loyal sacrifice for the state, the entire mission
of the queen and drones is reproduction of
their species ; the queen being assiduous in
the deposit of eggs, the drones stupid and
slothful. How has heredity produced the
characteristics peculiar to the workers and the
drones ?

" The heredity of the queen presents fewer
difficulties, inasmuch as her development from
an impregnated egg is not peculiar except for
the constancy of similarity to the mother ; in
other words, for the fact that the masculine
properties of the father never develop. If,
however, the queen and her husband differ in
other characteristics, as when a light-haired
Italian queen is united to a black - haired
German drone, the queen children of the union
as well as the worker children bear the marks
of both parents as regards the hair, some
resembling the father, others the mother.
" But when workers develop from the fertilised

308

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 31, 1902.

eggs, it is not according to the usual process of
heredity. Tbese young bees have characteris-
tics not to be found in either of the parents or
of the grandparents, but only in their aunts
and grand-aunts who have had no share in
their procreation. However, if the queen can
transmit to these worker descendants character-
istics foreign to her own, we must assume
their existence within her in a latent state.
The fact is, every fertilised egg of a bee con-
tains the possibility of development into
either a worker or a queen. That depends
altogether upon the nourishment of the larva
into which the egg is first developed. After
a certain day in the course of development, the
specific diet that develops workers is steadily
supplied to those of the larvae destined for the
worker class. Marvellous and mysterious as
the fact is, it has no bearing upon heredity.

" But how about the heredity of the drones,
with neither a father from whom they could
have inherited their masculinity, nor sons to
whom they can transmit it ? At first this
seems more remarkable. However, as soon as
we recognise that they have a grandfather
and grandsons, we perceive that it is not
necessary to posit any other variety of heredity
than atavism. Of course, it is not the usual
form of atavism, since this is unvarying and
of necessity, while usually the kind of
heredity which overleaps a generation is, if not
exceptional, at least only one of many possi-
bilities. Here, again, the crossing of German
with Italian bees has furnished important in-
formation and enabled us to establish the
facts.

" The most amazing thing is that the bee
workers, which are incapable of reproduction,
should nevertheless preserve their charac-
teristic marks with a constancy we have been
accustomed to explain as the result of here-
dity. Because this class is of the greatest
importance to bee-folk, it is the more remark-
able that they are not capable of transmitting
their characteristics to descendants of their
own. Are they not the ones who perform all
of the labour ? Does not the weal or the woe
of the state depend upon their activity, their
capability? If there has been evolution of
the bees, it must have been especially the
workers who have undergone the process. But
how can that have been transmitted by inheri-
tance to the others ? The explanation must be
derived from the fact that the workers are
the queen's sisters, whose differences have
developed from a difference of diet ; accordingly
that the queen is in possession of the charac-
teristics of the workers, only the variations
have remained latent. And these, by means
of her eggs that become fertilised, she trans-
mits to those of her female descendants that
are destined for the worker class. However,
this affords proof that it is only the innate
characteristics of the workers that the queen
is able to transmit j she never comes into pos-
session of their acquired ones."— Translation
made for the Literary Digest (New York).

\tt #farai8 to <&«ntt.

August 2, at Helsby, Cheshire.— Flower show
and athletic sports. Three classes for Honey and Wax
open to all bee-keepers in Cheshire. C.B.K.A. medal
for best exhibit by member. Schedules from Dr.
Briant, Helsby, Warrington. Entries close
July 26.

August 4, at Lichfield (Bank Holiday) —
Honey show in connection with the Lichfield Floral and
Horticultural Society. Open classes for Sections and
Extracted Honey. Five prizes each class, 20s., 15s.,
10s., 5s., 2s. 6d. Schedules from F. J. Hall, hon.
secretary, City Station Wharf, Lichfield. Entries
clese July 28.

August 4, in the "Walled Meadow,
Audover.— Honey Show in connection with the
Andover and District Horticultural Society. Class for
single 1-lb. jar of extracted honey (with no entry fee).
Also classes for sections, extracted honey (light and
dark), bell glasses, honeycomb designs, and beeswax.
Schedules from the Hon. Sec, Dr. Gillett, Elvin House,
Andover. Entries close July 28.

August 4, at Exeter. — Annual Show of the
Devon B.K.A., in conjunction with the Exhibition of
the St. Thomas Cottage Garden Society. Eleven open
classes. Schedules from E. E. Scholefield, Hon. Sec.
Devon B.K.A., Heathfield, Chudleigh, S. Devon.
Entries close July 28.

August 4, at Melton Constable Park.—
Annual Show of the North Norfolk B.K.A. Four open
classes, including one for single 1-lb. Jar of Honey and
one for 1-lb. Section. Schedules from C. J. Cooke,
Hon. Sec, Edgefield, Melton Constable. Entries
close July 26.

August 5, at Leamington.— Ninth annual show
of the Leamington St. Mary's Horticultural Society.
Three open classes for Six 1-lb. Sections, Six 1-lb. Jars
" Light," and Six 1-lb. Jars "Dark" Extracted Honey,
respectively. Liberal money-prizes. Schedules from
P. W. Smith, Secretary, 22 Leam-street, Leamington.
Entries close July 31.

August 6. at Neston Park, "Wilts.— Honey
show in connection with the Atworth and District Horti-
cultural Society. Fourteen classes for Honey and
Bees, including classes for single 1-lb. section and
single 1-lb. jar, with free entry. Schedules from J. P.
Inkpen, Secretary, Neston, Corsham. Entries close
July 30.

August 6, at Clutton, Bristol.— Honey Show
of the Bristol B.K.A., in connection with the Clutton
and District Flower Show. Liberal prizes. Six open
classes for honey and bee-appliances, including classes
for single 1-lb. section and single 1-lb. jar extracted
honey (entry free). Schedules from Jas. Brown, hon.
sec, 31, Bridge-street, Bristol. Entries close
July 31.

August 7, at Kingsthorpe, Northants.
— Honey show of tne Nortnants B.K.A. in connection
with the Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Three
open classes with special prizes, including one for
single 1-lb. jar of honey. (Entry free.) Prizes 20s., 10s.,
7s. 6d., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from R. Hefford, Sunny-
side, Kingsthorpe, Northampton. Entries close
August 1

August 13, in the Grounds of Harden-
hinch Park.— Honey show in connection with the
Chippenham & District Horticultural Society. Twelve
classes for Honey and Bees, including open classes
for single 1-lb. section and single 1-lb. jar (with no
entry fee). Schedules from W. Small, Secretary
Market-place, Chippenham, Wilts.

August 13, at Bradford Abbas, Dorset.—
Annual Show of the Yetminster and district B.K.A. in
the Vicarage grounds. Three open classes, including
one for Single 1-lb. Jar of Light and one of Dark
Honey (entry free). Prizes: 10s., 6s., 4s., in each class.
Schedules from G. Leeding, hon. secretary, Bradford
Abbas, Sherborne, Dorset. Entries close Aug. 9.

August 13, at Badstock, Bath.— Honey show in
connection with the annual show of the Radstock and
District Horticultural and Fanciers' Association.
Schedules from the Secretary, B. M. Clark, 1, Fox
Hills, Radstock, Bath.

July 31, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL

309

August 13 and 14, at Dudley.— Annual show of
the Worcestershire B.K.A. in connectiou with the
Dudley Horticultural Society. Schedules from A. R.
Moreton, Leigh, Worcester, show secretary. Entries
close August 6.

August 13 and 14, at Dudley.— Dudley Horti-
cultural Society.— Sections, Extracted Honey, Shallow
Frames, Observatory Hives, and Wax. Schedules from
H. Dickinson, Sunnyside, Dudley, Worcestershire.

August 14, at Goole.— Bee and honey show in
connection with the Goole and District Agricultural
Society. Six open classes, including one for single 1-lb.
extracted honey (with free entry). Schedules from J.
Luddington and H. S. White, Secretaries, Lindum
House, Goole.

August 16, at Ammanford (S. Walesa-
Honey Show in connection with the Ammanford
Flower Show. Judge appointed by the B.B.K.A.
Liberal prizes for single 1-lb. section and single 1-lb.
jar extracted honey, also classes for three sections and
three Ub. jars light and dark honey. One local class.
Particulars from Mr. Ivor Morris, Hon. Secretary,
Ammanford, R S.O. Entries close August 12.

August, 16, at Endmoor, in connection with
Flower Show. Open classes for comb and extracted
honey. Schedules from Mr. AV. Oldfleld, Endmoor,
Kendal. Entries close August 9.

August 20 and 21, 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.
Thirteen Open Classes for Honey. Schedules from S.
Cartwright, Hon. Secretary, Shropshire B.K.A. , Shaw-
bury, Shrewsbury. Entries close August 8.

August 23, 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 the winner of
first prize in this class. Schedules from Mr. S. Wade,
Hon. Sec, Barnton, Northwich. Entries close
August 16.

August 23, at Hyde.— Cheshire B.K.A. Show,
in connection with the Cheshire Agricultural Society.
Eight classes for Hives, Honey, and Wax. Liberal
prizes. Schedules from T. A. Beckett, St. Werburgh's
Chambers, Chester. Entries close August 2 (at
double fees August 9).

August 26, at Cartmel, Lanes.— Honey show in
connectiou with the annual show of the Cartmel
Agricultural Society. Open classes for Six Sections and
for Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey ; also for beeswax in
cakes for domestic use. Special prizes for members of
the Lancashire B.K.A. and for county bee-keepers.
Schedules from, Wm. Cragg, secretary, Cartmel.
Entries close August 16.

August 27 and 28, at "Warwick.— Honey show
of the Warwickshire B.K.A., in conjunction with the
Annual Show of the Agricultural Society. Schedules
from Jas. Noble Bower, Hon. Secretary, Warwick
B.K.A., Knowle.

August 27 and 28, at TJttoxeter— Bee and
Honey Show in connection with the Annual Show of
the Staffordshire Agricultural Society. Fifteen classes
for bees, honey, and appliances. Open classes for
12 1-lb. sections, 24 1-lb. jars, and 12 1-lb. jars extracted
honey respectively. Schedules from Rev. G. C. Bruton,
Hon. Sec. Staffs. B.K.A., Great Haywood Vicarage,
Stafford. Entries close August 2.

August 28, at Montgomery, N. Wales.—
Honey show in connection with Montgomery and Dis-
trict Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Two open
classes for six's, sections, and extracted. Prizes 10s.,
5s., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from W. TJ. Jones, Secretary,
Church Bank, Montgomery. Entries close August
21.

August 28, at Llangollen.— In connection with
the annual Flower Show. Open classes for Six 1-lb.
Sections, Six 1-lb. Bottles Extracted, and Beeswax.
Schedules from Frank Little, Llangollen. Entries
close August 14.

September 1 to 6, at Preston.— Annual show of
the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society in connection
with the Festival week of the Guild Merchant (which

recurs only once in every twenty -one years). In honour
of the occasion a largely increased list of money prizes
is offered for honey along with silver and bronze medals
of the B.B.K.A. and also of the Society. Open Classes
for Honey-Trophy, Sections, Extracted Honey, Beeswax,
Instructive Exhibits in Bee-Culture, &c. Schedules
from Edward Bohane, Secretary, Miller-arcade, Pres-
ton. Entries close August 2.

September 6, at Bramhall, near Stock-
port.—Honey Show in connection with the Bramhall
and Woodford District Horticultural Society. Liberal
prizes. Schedules from J. Turner, Glenwood, Bram-
hall, near Stockport. Entries close August 30.

September 6 to 13, at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (10th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Numerous classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees
wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers. Special
attention is directed to the new Honey-selling
Classes. Schedules (now ready) from H. S. Rogers,
Secretary, 27, Leadenhall - street, London, E.C.
Entries close August 26.

September 10 and 11, at Hull.— Honey show
in connection with the Hull and District Horticultural
Association, at the Artillery Barracks. Seven open
classes, including one for Honey Trophy, prizes £2
and £1 ; also classes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar of extracted honey, with free entry.
Schedules from F. W. Thompson, hon. sec, 8, Albert-
square, Ella-street, Hull. Entries close Septem-
ber 3.

September lO and 11, at Bebingtou, near
Birkenhead.— Cheshire B.K.A. Show, in connection
with Birkenhead and Wirral Agricultural Society, on
New Show-ground. Numerous classes for Hives, Honey,
and Wax. Substantial prizes. Schedules from A. H.
Edwardson, 6, Hamilton-square, Birkenhead. Entries
close September 1.

September 10 and 11, at Derby.— Derbyshire
B.K.A. Twenty-first Annual Show of Hives, Bees, and
Honey on the show ground of the Derbyshire Agricul-
tural Society. Schedules from R. H. Coltman, Hon.
Sec. D. B.K.A., Station-street, Burton-on-Trent. En-
tries close August 23. Double fees to August 30.

September 10 and 11, in Waverley Market,
Hainbucgh. — Midlothian Bee-Keepers' Ninth Ex-
hibition. Seven open classes. Prize money, 12s., 8s.,
4s. Entry 2s. Schedules from W. Weir, Heriot, Mid-
lothian. Entries close September 3.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace. — Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition
of Bees, Honey, and Appliances. Specially increased
prizes and medals for Coronation year. Further par-
ticulars shortly. Schedules from Hon. Secretary,
Henry W. Brice, 100, Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace. — Surrey B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, Wax, and Appliances, &c. Twenty-four classes
(ten open to all). Increased prizes and medals.
Schedules ready shortly, from F. B. White, Secretary,
Marden House, Redhill, Surrey.

September 20 to 27, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with the
sixth Annual Exhibition and Market of the Grocery
and Kindred Trades. Numerous classes for comb and
extracted honey and beeswax. Open to all British
Bee-keepers. Special attention is directed to the new
Honey-selling Classes. Schedules (ready shortly)
from H. S. Rogers, Secretary, 27, Leadenhall-street,
London, E.C.

October 4, at Neweastle-on-Tyne.— Annua
show of the Northumberland and Durham B.K.A. in
the Y M.C.A. Institute, Blackett-street. Fifteen
classes for Bees. Honey, and Bee-appliances. Schedules
from James Waddel), hon. secretary, Wooler, North-
umberland. Entries finally close lO a.m.,
October 4.

October 7 to 10, 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, <fec Schedulf s
from Mr. Wm. C. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-
square, London, W.

310

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[July 31, 1902.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All querie i for warded will be attended to, and thott only
of per tonal inter eet will be aniwered in thie column,

Lettert or gueriet asking for addresses of manufae
twers 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,

fueries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
eepers, 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.

C. H. B. (Ashley, Newmarket). — Safety
Boxes for Honey. — The Safety Paper and
Box Manufacturing Co., High - street,
Borough, E.C.

John Hamilton (Belfast). — Honey Samples.
— Honey as sample is quite wholesome as
food for those who can take it as such, but
its disagreeable odour and rank, coarse
flavour render it unfit for table use. We
should say it was gathered where " privet "
was blooming freely.

A. R. Hesselwood (Yetford). — Driving Bees
from Box. — 1. An experienced
would find little or no difficulty in removing
the bees from box by " driving " not quite
" in the ordinary way '' as stated, but with
only such modifications as present them-
selves when operating. 2. The hands alone
— when beating on sides of box to cause the
bees to " run " — would answer quite as well
as the " mallets " you suggest.

J. Stone (Derby). — Height for Bee-Screens. —
There is no fixed height for these. If the
roadway is more than a dozen yards away a
screen to cause the bees to fly over the
heads of passers-by is of no use for the
purpose intended. Say what is the distance
between hives and roadway and we will
advise further.

Basildon (Bexley). — Moving Bees Forty
Yards. — On no account should hives
stocked with bees be moved to a location
40 yards away at this season. To do so
would cause the loss of hundreds — probably
thousands — of bees through their going back
to the old stands and being unable to find
the new ones. The removal should either
be deferred till winter — when bees are some-
times confined to their hives for several
weeks at a spell — or else be moved
temporarily two or three miles away for a
few weeks, then brought back to the desired
new location near their present one. Either
of these latter courses will prevent bee loss.

L. Royden (Liverpool). — Sugar for Bee-food.
— Your question last week mentioned only
sugar for sprinkling over bees when
" uniting." Hence our reply on page 300.
The sample of sugar now sent is entirely un-
suitable for bee-food. It is raw cane sugar
of the darkest, coarsest kind. In conse-
quence contains a large percentage of treacle
or molasses. Refined cane sugar only
should, for obvious reasons, be used in all

food for wintering bees on, seeing how
seldom they can leave the hive for a
cleansing flight.

C. Reed (Wickford). — Fermenting Honey. —
1. We can offer no explanation why certain
jars of granulated honey — gathered over a
year ago— should just now "show signs of
starting to ' work ' (i.e., ferment) like new
wine," as stated, beyond saying it is owing
to chemical action set up by the tempera-
ture. The fact that other jars kept in same
place remain solid only serves to show that
the top portion of honey in bulk may be
unripe and liable to fermentation, while the
lower sort of the same " bulk " will remain
in perfectly good condition.

Derby (Ambergate). — Recipes for Mead and
Honey Vinegar. — The best recipes we know
of for making either of the above are con-
tained in the pamphlet, " Mead and How
to Make it " (price 4d.), published by the
Rev. G. W. Bancks, Dartford, Kent.

West Malvern as a Bee District. — Mr. W.
Herrod, Apiarist of the Horticultural
College, Swanley, Kent, writes — " Will
some reader kindly inform me as to the
capabilities of West Malvern as a bee
district ?

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,"
not

Cymraes (Anglesea) and J. S. Lawton
(Bridgnorth). — Beyond a very slight trace
of incipient foul brood, the comb sent in
each case contains only chilled brood.

Novice (Rotherham). — Comb contains pollen
only.

J. H. S. (Dunsford). — Comb contains foul
brood of old standing.

P. C. (Grantown-on-Spey). — There is foul
brood — in the incipient stage — in both
samples ; but we have no doubt that almost
all the dead larvae in both pieces of comb
would have hatched out if left in the hive.
The disease seems to be only just developing,
to judge by sample.

H. E. (Woodgreen). — We find no disease in
comb sent ; but with regard to the " some-
thing wrong'' which you suspect, it arises
from a drone-breeding queen. There is none
of what you term " digging away the cells "
by the bees ; on the contrary, they are
lengthening out worker- cells to accommo-
date drone-brood.

W. B. (Blackley). — Comb is affected with foul
brood of old standing.

*x* All specimens of comb and honey samples
received on the 29th must stand over
till next week.

Aug. 7, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

311

(Mtorial, $fftim, &t

THE COMING SHOWS.

Among the more important of the bee and
honey shows for which the date for closing
entries is close at hand we invite attention to
the Great Guild Show at Preston. This im-
portant fixture is held on September 1 to 6
— that is, Monday to Saturday — and the
Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society have
the advantage this year of holding their annual
show in the festival week of the Ancient
Guild Merchants, which takes place but once
in twenty-one years and is made the occasion
of a general holiday week by thousands of
visitors from all parts of Lancashire and the
surrounding counties. The entries finally
close on Monday next, the 11th inst., and as
the prize list is considerably augmented for
the occasion, the comparatively few fortunate
ones who have secured good samples of honey
this year will miss an exceptional chance of
valuable money prizes, silver medals, &c, if
they allow the 11th to slip by without entering
an exhibit.

W. Dixon ; 2nd, R. H. Coltman ; he, W.
Shepherd, Tadcaster.

HONEY AND WAX.

Twelve 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, W. Dixon ; 2nd,
H. Waddington, Boroughbridge ; 3rd. T.
Hood, Pickering.

Twelve 1-lb. Sections (Heather Honey). — 1st,
W. Dixon ; 2nd, H. Waddington.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
T. S. Holdsworth. Kirton Lindsey, Lines. :
2nd and 3rd, W. Dixon ; h.c , J. Pearman,
Derby.

Beeswax (not under 3 lb.). — 1st, T. Hood ;
2nd, E. H. Taylor. — Communicated.

YORKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY.

ANNUAL SHOW AT LEEDS.

The annual show of the above society was
held on July 30 and 31 and August 1 at
Roundhay Park, Leeds.

The bee and honey section was fairly well
supported, with a total of sixty-seven entries,
which in so moderate a season as the present
one compares well, against fifty-three last
year. Owing to the sudden illness of Mr.
Fred. A. Pay, who has for some years past
lectured in the bee-tent, the usual bee-demon-
strations did not take place on the first day,
but it was hoped that the tent lectures would
go on as usual later in the week.

The display of honey was smaller than
usual, owing to the adverse season in the
north. Some good samples, however, were
staged in the five classes devoted to honey and
beeswax.

Mr. F. Boyes, Beverley, judged the bee and
honey exhibits and made the following
awards : —

Collection of Hives and Appliances. — 1st,
William Dixon, Beckett-street, Leeds ; 2nd,
E. H. Taylor, Welwyn, Herts ; 3rd, R. H.
Coltman, Station-street, Burton-on-Trent.

Complete Frame Hive for General Use. — 1st,
R. H. Coltman ; 2nd and 3rd, E. H. Taylor.

Observatory Hive with Queen and Bees. —
1st, E. H. Taylor ; 2nd, W. Dixon.

Display of Honey and Bee Products. — 1st,

GLAMORGANSHIRE B.K.A.

ANNUAL SHOW.

The first annual show of bees, honey, and
appliances under the management of the above
re-formed Association (in connection with the
Cardiff and County Horticultural Society) was
held on July 23 and 24, in Lord Bute's charm-
ing and capacious "Sophia Gardens," so
deservedly admired by visitors to the " Royal "
last year. The show as a whole — the honey
department in particular — was an immensely
successful one, alike from the financial and the
exhibitor's point of view. This was undoubtedly
to a great degree due to the delightful weather
which prevailed. Bearing in mind that the
organisation was resuscitated so recently as
June 20, and that the season is a poor one, the
officials of the Association naturally feel much
encouraged by the unqualified success of the
show.

Messrs. Robert Drane and W. G. Preece
were appointed judges and made the following
awards : —

Twelve 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, W. T. Lewis,
Llandaff ; 2nd, A. Hamer, Llandilo Bridge ;
3rd, G. H. Mitchell, Cardiff.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (light). —
1st, R. Morgan, Cowbridge ; 2nd, G. P.
Workman, Llanishen ; 3rd, John Morgan,
Pontypridd.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (dark). —
1st, G. W. Kirby, Bristol ; 2nd, William
John, Pontypridd ; 3rd, C. H. Dare, Llan-
haran.

Three Shallow Frames of Comb Honey. —
1st, C. T. Jenkins, Pontypridd ; 2nd, R.
Morgan ; 3rd, J. Boyes, Cardiff.

Collection of Hives and Appliances. — 1st,
E. H. Taylor, Welwyn, Herts.

Messrs. J. Boyes and W. G. Preece gave at
intervals each day lectures and demonstrations
in the bee-tent, which was besieged by atten- •
tive audiences. — W. Richards, Hon. Sec,
Glamorganshire B.K.A.

HENBURY DISTRICT B.K.A.

ANNUAL SHOW.

The annual show of the above Association
was held in connection with that of the

312

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Aug. 7, 1902.

Henbury Horticultural Society at Henbury,
near Bristol, on July 30. The 180 ft. of new
staging provided by the Association this year
w?s well filled by the 100 entries received, and
the way in which the exhibits, together with
the choice profusion of cut and pot flowers
and ferns, were arranged, evoked the unstinted
praise of the judges and marked appreciation
of the hundreds of visitors to the honey tent.
Messrs. S. Jordan (Bristol) and G. Lovell
(Wrington) officiated as judges, and made the
following awards : —

OPEN CLASSES.

Honey Trophy. — 1st, J. Seldon, Umber-
leigh, N. Devon ; 2nd, W. G. Barnfield ; 3rd,
H. F. Jolly, Henbury.

Twelve 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, W. Woodley,
Newbury ; 2nd, J. Seldon ; 3rd, C. A.
Newman, Henbury.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
W. Woodley ; 2nd, C. A. Newman ; 3rd,
J. Seldon.

Single 1-lb. Jar Extracted Honey. — 1st,
Mrs. G. Dear, Middle Woodford, Salisbury ;
2nd, Rev. W. A. Allan, Nailsworth, Glos. ;
3rd, H. Goodsell, Biddenden, Kent ; v.h.c,
W. Thomas, Henbury.

Single 1-lb. Section — 1st, J. Seldon ; 2nd,
H. Goodsell; 3rd, W. Thomas; v.h.c, E.
Meares, Henbury.

Beeswax. — 1st, O. A. Newman ; 2nd, H. F.
Jolly ; 3rd, Mrs. Waller, Charlton.

members' classes.

Twelve 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, C. A. Newman ;
2nd, E. Prosser, Henbury ; 3rd, Mrs. Waller ;
v.h.c, E. Meares.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
Mrs. Waller ; 2nd, C. A. Newman ; 3rd, M.
Mills Baker, Hallen, Henbury.

Six 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, E. Prosser; 2nd,
M. Mills Baker ; 3rd, E. Meares ; v.h.c,
W. G. Barnfield ; he, C. A. Newman.

Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, C. A.
Newman ; 2nd, W. Thomas : 3rd, Mrs.
Waller.

Three Shallow Frames of Comb Honey —
1st, M. Mills Biker ; 2nd, W. G. Barnfield ;
3rd, Mrs. A. Todd, Clifton.

Three 1-lb. Sections.— 1st, W. Thomas ;
2nd, Mrs. Waller ; 3rd, C. A Newman ; v.h.c,
A. J. Weaver, Henbury ; h.c, E. Prosser.

NOVICES.

Three 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey.— 1st,
M. Mills Baker ; 2nd, E. Prosser.

Three 1-lb. Sections.— 1st, E. Prosser ; 3rd
(no 2nd awarded), M. Mills Baker.

Silver Medal. — C. A. Newman with thirty
points.

Bronze Medal. — M. M. Baker and E.
Prosser equal with twenty points each.

Both medals given by Mrs. A. Todd —
W. G. Barnfield, Hon. Secretary, H.B.K.A.

NORTH NORFOLK B.K.A.

The North Norfolk Beekeepers' Association
held their annual honey show in conjunction
with the Melton Constable and District Horti-
cultural and Agricultural Societies' Show, in
Lord Hastings' beautiful park, on Monday,
August 4.

Being favoured with fine weather, there was
a large attendance of holiday makers, who were
much interested in the exhibits, and also in the
lectures given at intervals in the bee tent.

The honey staged was less in quantity and
lower in grade than usual, owing to the very
variable weather experienced this summer. The
first prize sections in the Open class were
generally admired. Mr. Brown, of Somersham,
must be congratulated on his "win.'' The
winners in the several extracted honey classes
have also well earned their prizes.

The arrangements, in the able hands of Mr.
C. J. Cooke, of Edgefield, were in every way
satisfactory. Mr. T. I. Weston acted as judge,
and made the following awards : —

members' classes.

Twelve 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, and Bronze
Medal, W. J. Norman, Harpley ; 2nd, O.
Goddard, Reepham ; 3rd, H. W. Woolsey,
Edgefield.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
and Silver Medal, W. Fake, Massingham ;
2nd, W. J. Norman ; 3rd, H. W. Lingwood,
Hindringham.

Six 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, R. 0. Goddard,
Melton Constable ; 2nd, G. W. Woolsey.

Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, G. W.
Woolsey ; 2nd, J. Plattin, Briston.

Beestvax. — 1st, H. W. Woolsey.

open classes.

Twelve 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, R. Brown,
Somersham, Hunts. ; 2nd, W. J. Norman,
Harpley.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
W. Fake, Massingham ; 2nd, R. Brown ; 3rd,
W. J. Norman ; 4th, H. W. Lingwood,
Hindringham.

Single 1-lb. Section. — 1st, W. Hatliff,
Thoresway, Caistor ; 2nd, H. W. Woolsey ;
3rd, S. Meyer, Senr., Hamblington; 4th,
W. J. Norman.

Single 1-lb. Jar Extracted Honey. — 1st, S.
Temblett, Andover, Hants. ; 2nd, W. Fake ;
3rd, R. Brown ; 4th, W. J. Norman. —
( Go mmunicated ).

HONEY SHOW AT HELSBY.

An exhibition of honey and beeswax was
held in connection with the flower show at
Helsby, Cheshire, on August 2. There were
forty-seven entries in the various classes, and
the quality of the exhibits was decidedly good,
onsidering the bad season. The Rev. F. J.
Backler judged the exhibits, and made the
following awards : —

Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (open to

I

Aug. 7, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,

313

Cheshire). — 1st, H. Potts, Sutton, Warring-
ton ; 2nd, Rev. E. Charley, Ince ; 3rd, J.
Griffith, Alvanley.

Beeswax (open to Cheshire). — 1st, Rev. E.
Charley ; 2nd, Job Astbury, Kelsall.

Three 1-lb. Sections (open to Cheshire). —
1st, Rev. E. Charley ; 2 ad, A. J. Briant,
Helsby ; 3rd, A. Thorpe, Westaston.

Three 1-/6. Jars Granulated Honey (local).
— 1st, Rev. E. Charley ; 2nd, Job Astbury ;
3rd, A. Newstead, Ince.

Six lib Jars Extracted Honey (local). — J.
Griffith, Alvanley; 2nd, Rev. 'E. Charley;
3rd, A. J. Briant.

The Cheshire B.K.A. Bronze Medal for
best exhibit by a member was awarded to
Rev. E. Charley. — (Communicated.)

dbormpniltVLtt,

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
epiniont expressed by correspondent!. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, 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 at a guarantee of good faith. Illuttra-
tiont should be drawn on teparate piecet of paper. We
do not undertake to return reieoted communications.

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[4853 ] With the passing of the honey
harvest the weather has not improved, and
the bees have perforce been kept idle. The
blossoms of the limes are now nearly past, and
but very little honey has been gathered from
them this season. There is some aftermath, if
we could get a little nice, warm summer
weather, which is wanted badly by the farmers
to bring the harvest to perfection.

Requeening will require attention during
the next month ; it is not good policy to drive
the matter far into September. This putting
off till late in the season may leave your stocks
weak in bees to go into winter quarters, and
possibly another spring the stock will be in the
same condition.

Ants are often a great nuisance to bee-
keepers, and to the bees also, when they are
disturbed and get down to the brood-nest ; at
this time of the year they are a great bother if
they find out the store of honey. I myself
had a few in the storeroom, and, tracing them
to their nest, found it was quite the other side
of the house. The ants were ever journeying
to and fro, night and day (at least, they were
passing between the house and their nest at
ten to eleven at night, and the next morning
early found them still moving). After
sprinkling a little paraffin over the nest, the
ants are nearly cleared out, only a few
stragglers remaining on the track to the store.
A deep hole made in the middle of the ant-
hill will destroy many, or a tall bottle planted
in their nest will catch numbers of ants.

Another method is a kettle of boiling water
poured over the nest. This kills instantly,
and is as humane as the hole or bottle.

I hope our readers have provided our
Editor with the means of gauging the honey
harvest this year with its predecessors — a
post-card is not an expensive matter, and the
trouble is very small. In this district, I think
we may say that the crop is about two-thirds
of last year — quality good— no honey dew or
dark honey. The later honey is good in
quality, so we must take consolation in the
fact that what we have is all good.

The price ought to be in accordance with the
crop ; at any rate, I hope bee-keepers will hold
out for the best price they can make of their
small return in produce. The prices of most
goods have been in the ascendant for some
time, except honey, which has been gradua lly
reduced to its present price, often by the new
hand, who fancies he will never be able to sell
or eat his crop. One man advertised a few
sections at 6d. in the suburbs of a wealthy
town last month ! — W. Woodley, Beedon,
Newbury.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

[4854.] A Disappointing Season. — I have no
hesitation in characterising the present season,
viewed apiculturally up to date, as the most
disastrous on record. On the closing day of
July not only is there no super honey in even
the strongest hives, but in almost all even the
body-box contains only a few ounces. Drone
capping, drone grubs, and any number of
mature drones have been ejected from every
hive for a week past, showing unmistakably
the internal condition of the colonies in regard
to the store cupboard. Surplus chambers,
where left on, have been entirely deserted,
owing to the low temperature and lack of
nectar. The excessive cold has stunted the
growth of bloom in the fields of white
clover, and the heavy deluges of rain which
have been so prevalent have washed out
what small quantities of nectar the plants
were able to secrete, so that even when
we have had an occasional hour of sun-
shine (a very rare occurrence) the bees spent
them in idle quest of the nectarious juice
which should be, but was not, in the flowers.
Swarms have actually to be fed to keep them
alive, and several stocks require the same
attention. On the 24th the higher Bens of
the Grampians were white with a good coating
of snow ; and even lower down heavy hail
showers have been frequent — a state of matters
almost unexampled at this time of the year.
So much for the dark and sombre side of the
picture ; but I am optimist enough to feel
confident that it cannot last, and that good
weather must follow the bad. As our heather
season has yet to come, we have still a fair
prospect ahead. Indeed, evident signs of
amendment appear as I write, and August has

314

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Aug. 7, 1902.

been ushered in bright and radiant, with baro-
meter and thermometer both rising.

Honey. — The substances which have been
recognised in honey are" mainly sugar of two
kinds, one crystallisable and analagous to
glucose, and the other uncrystallisable — with
some small percentage of gummy, waxy,
colouring odorous matters — and pollen. Now
sugar is the material into which starch is con-
verted when made in the leaves in order that
it may become transmissible over the plant.
This substance before it can help the plant to
grow is converted into cellulon, of which the
cell- walls are built up and regularly nourished
and repaired. Honey is thus found to be a
very valuable building material necessary for
the plants well-being. Fortunately for the
bee it has not to go searching all over seeking
for some weak point where it may rob the
flower of its sweets, though at one time it is more
than probable that it had to do so. Now plants
yielding honey are provided with honey-
glands or nectaries, and many even with
honey guides to direct the bee just where to
light in order that it may feast at its ease
without any loss of time. These are in-
teresting, and may form a useful comment at
some future time. These nectaries are diverse
in shape, number, and position in different
flowers, but always present in some form in
all honey-yielding plants, while they are
absent in those yielding no nectar. It would
appear that the flow of this sweet to the
flower requires bright sunshine, a considerable
degree of heat, a lusty growth of the plant,
and a wealth of bloom. Conversely, cold east
winds, dull sunless weather, and heavy rain-
fall hinder the flow or wash out the substance
from the flower, an experience brought home
to ua this season, while an imperfect growth
of the plant from any cause checks the flow of
nectar and the glands do not develop.

Some Famous Kinds of Honey. — Both in
ancient and modern times certain kinds of
honey, by their superior excellence, have
obtained a prominence wbich has made them
known all the world over : —

1. Hymettus Honey was the produce of wild
thyme and other aromatic herbs growing along
the slopes of Mount Hymettus, a mountain in
Attica. Its superior excellence is still main-
tained, though it is not produced in such
quantity as it once was. I have a distinct
recollection of Mr. Till writing some time ago
that he had obtained a genuine sample which
was to be tasted by several eminent bee-
masters and reported on. It would be interest-
ing to have the results of their deliberations.

2. Hybla Honey was obtained from Mount
Hybla, in Sicily, and it had a reputation
which gave its excellence a publicity far and
wide. Shakespeare refers to it more than
once. '• A most sweet girl — as the honey of
Hybla," is high praise of a fair maiden ; and
a master of euphony is succinctly described in
another line, " But for your words, they rob
the Hybla bees." Some reader may be able

to secure a specimen of this famous honey,
and give us an estimate of its excellence when
compared with the Grecian sample.

3. Narbonne Honey takes its name from
a town in the South of France, and is con-
sidered to be possessed of a super excellence
when compared with even the finest of French
honey, though I have heard it credibly stated
that a great part of what is sold under this
name is produced hundreds of miles from
Narbonne, and that some of it is even " made
in Germany."

4. Sage Honey. — The famous sage honey of
California is said to be very fine. Mr. Root
is extra enthusiastic over it, and states that a
nice sample is enough to call forth exclama-
tions of surprise and delight, and he records
that Mr. Langstroth declared it was almost
identical in flavour with the far-farmed honey
of Hymettus, a sample of which he had tasted.
What greater praise could be awarded 1 As
the plants yielding both samples are almost
identical, there may be something in the con-
tention.

5. Highland Heather Heather is the prince
of them all. Taking the best points in each
of these different kinds of honey and blending
them all together we might get a result equal
perhaps, but which would not excel, the pro-
duce of our glorious heather hills. I, for one,
vote it the finest specimen of honey it is
possible to obtain. — D. M. M., Banff.

SWARMS HIVING THEMSELVES.

[4855.] I have been living in London for
the last six years, so my poor bees are not
what they were. No one takes any notice of
them, and I come home from time to time
and do what I can, but until this year have
lost all my swarms. I generally come home
about Easter and super all the hives, and then
they are left to their own devices till about
mid-July, when I come home again and take
the honey, and finally pack them up for the
winter. I get a fair amount of honey, and the
bees seem very happy and well. This year a
very curious thiug happened, which I thought
would interest you. This spring one of my
best hives wanted to swarm, and T had no
time to swarm them artificially, so I placed a
long hive, complete with wax guides, &c,
beside the one referred to, and left them. I
came home on July 1, and found both hives
full of bees, and doing excellently. Another
hive had an enormous cluster hanging outside,
so I treated them in the same way, and on my
return home last week, found I had captured
an enormous and very valuable swarm ! I
intend next year placing an empty hive beside
each of my strong hives and watching to see
the result. It is a common thing here for the
villagers to see a cloud of bees flying about
They often tell me. I am sure they are my
bees, but no one knows what becomes of them.
—V. W. A. P., Ashford, Kent.

(Correspondence continued on page 316.)

Aug. 7, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

315

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

Mr. May, whose apiary is illustrated below,
is still another bee-man of the true sort, one
who makes his own hives and also makes his
bees pay him for the labour bestowed, with
the pleasure he derives from them thrown in.
It is from such experiences as are detailed
below that we encourage beginners in bee-
keeping, and show that a market can be found
for their produce if the business capacity is
there. We also commend Mr. May's views on
foul brood to all who read the following
words ; for the rest, his useful " Notes '' speak
for themselves. He says : —

" I began bee-keeping ten years ago by

keeping bees and fowls close together. One
of the main things, to my mind, in bee-
keeping is to have all the hives as clean as
possible, with young queens heading every
stock, and plenty of stores for winter. Also
to wrap up well, and keep hives dry. I have
two out-apiaries, for I find the bees do better
when not crowded too closely together.

" Like most bee-keepers, I have had a touch
of foul brood, but it does not stop very long
with me, for at the first sign I break up the
colony, treat the bees as a swarm, and start
them in a clean hive with a young queen. I
burn the old combs, and scorch the hive all
over the inside with a painter's lamp. It is
of no use to play with it, and I advise all bee-
keepers to banish the pest from their places as

'- * .. r, '^hi&W,: -n M ^ , - .,• 1

MR. H. MAYS APIARY, KINGSTON, WALLINGFORD, BERKS.

purchasing a bar-frame hive and a swarm.
At that time I knew nothing about bees,
but a friend gave me a little advice, and, with
the help of the Bee Journal, I soon picked
up the rest. I have now increased my apiary
with swarms and driven lots to eighty stocks.
I make all my own hives and section-racks,
and, being always on the look-out for good
things, I have established six hives on the
'Wells,' or double-queen, system. These
have done very well with me on the whole.
I have forty lots of bees located close to my
back door, the stands being placed under fruit
trees, which latter are useful for the swarms
to settle in, and also for shade, a3 I am also
a poultryman, and keep the fowls all round
the bees. Nor do I find any difficulty in

quick as they can. If every bee-man in the
kingdom would do the same foul brood would
soon be stamped out. This is a fairly good
district for honey, both for quality and
quantity. I have had some very good
' takes ' in my time. I generally manage to
sell off all my honey of one year before the
new season's crop comes in. My price is
8d. per lb. retail for sections and extracted,
the wholesale price a little less.

"The question is often asked, 'Does bee-
keeping pay?' For myself, I can answer,
' Yes, with proper management and plenty of
hard work, and long days in the busy time.'

" Our crop for the present season is small —
only about half the quantity I got last year—
but the quality is very good."

316

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Aug. 7, 1902.

CORRESPONDENCE.
{Continued from page 314.)

TAKING BEES TO HONG KONG.

[4850.] Replying to your inquirer, " Hong
Kong'' (p. 305), I think that the risk in
sending queen-bees to Hong Kong would not
be great if they were well packed and properly
attended to on the voyage. Just a few care-
fully-selected bees should be placed with the
queen in a properly-provisioned, long-distance,
mailing-cage. In hot places, for instance in
the Red Sea, they should be kept at a tem-
perature of about 70 deg. Fahr. The risk
would be reduced by putting rather more bees
than would go into a long-distance cage into a
slightly larger box and feeding them occa-
sionally. In this way I brought a queen of
the Himalaya race of bees successfully from
Darjeeling, in the Eastern Himalayas, via
Calcutta and Colombo, to England, in March,
1897, and nearly six weeks elapsed between
the time that she left her hive in Darjeeling
and the time when she reached my apiary.
Taking full colonies or swarms is attended
with much greater risks ; and the Italian bee,
being less excitable and better able to stand
heat than our native race, would probably also
travel better.

I think your correspondent's chief difficulty
may be not in taking the queens to Hong
Kong, but in keeping them and their bees
there. The late Mr. J. C. Douglas, of the
Indian Telegraph Department, made several
unsuccessful attempts at keeping Italian bees
in Bengal. In the plains they quickly dwindled
and died ; those sent to the hill district of
Darjeeling lived longer, but they ultimately
shared the same fate. Their death was attri-
buted to the attacks of various enemies.

The experiment your correspondent intends
making is an interesting one, and deserves
success. — F. W. L. Sladen, F.E.S., Dover,
July 31, 1902.

BEE-KEEPING IN CHINA.

[4857.] As one who has had no little expe-
rience with bees in the tropics, will you permit
me to reply briefly to your correspondent
" Hong Kong," whose question appears on
page 305 last week.

1. Bee-keeping in tropical countries is very
much the same as in the temperate zones.
The bees need a long rest during certain
months of the year, when the queens prac-
tically cease to lay, and very little stores are
gathered. The honey season (with spells of
dearth) may last six, seven, or eight months.
The quantities of honey collected is sometimes
very great, the frames being filled in the course
of a lew days, especially during the honey flow
of some particular and widely spread plant or
flowering tree. At such times the extractor
must be kept at work, else the bees will
become " inert." Sometimes in the very
middle of the hot season every cell is filled

so that the queens cease to lay, and the bees
remain at home in a sleepy condition.

2. The bee your correspondent is familiar
with is evidently the Apis Inclica. The culti-
vation of this variety cannot be made profitable.
The climate of Hong Kong would be quite
suitable for the European bee, which thrives
in the hottest regions, if properly taken care
of, and protected from damp and the ravages
of ants and other insscts.

3. To obtain bees, your correspondent had
better get his stocks from Australia. Steamers
run direct from certain Australian ports, and
the journey being about a fortnight's duration,
the bees would be much more likely to turn
up alive than if sent the very long voyage
from home.

4. Bees in the tropics must be kept dry.
Providing the hives have good roofs, it is as
well to keep them in the sun. Trees or
hedges may be near to break the force of the
wind in unsheltered places.

5. The hives should be well made, so as to
give no harbour in the joints to pests. Single-
wall hives are the best, provided they be
made of good wood. Such hives may be
obtained from America or Australia.

6. To prevent cockroaches getting into the
hives, the bees should be kept strong, and the
entrances contracted.

7. Bees should not require to be fed in the
tropics, if properly managed. Care should be
taken that they always have a sufficient supply
of stores for emergencies — like stormy or very
hot weather.

8. English hives and standard frames are
altogether on too large a scale for the diminu-
tive Apis Indica. Surely English bees have
been introduced into Hong Kong ere this !

9 It is needless to impress upon your corre-
spondent the need of great care and watchful-
ness, as bees in the tropics suffer from many
dangers and enemies. Damp is their greatest
enemy. Swarms which go into the bush
rarely have a prolonged existence. — W. H.,
Hitcham Rectory, Ipswich, A ugust 5.

WEATHER REPORT.

Westbourne, Sussex.

July, 1902.
Sunless days, 0.

average, 6 9

Riinfall, 1'63 in.

Heaviest fall, "40, on
1st.

Riin fell on 10 days.

Below average, '87
in.

Maximum tempera-
ture, 82° on 15 th.

Minimum tempera-
ture, 39° on 4th.

Sunshine, 217'1
hours.

Brightest day, 8th,
14-8 hours.

Below

hours.
Mean maximum,

68-6°.
Mean minimum,

50 7°.
Mean

59 -6°

Below average, 1"1°.
Maximum barometer,

30 50° on 19th.
Minimum barometer,

2971° on 27th.

L. B. BlRKETT.

temperature,

Aug. 7, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

317

CONVERSATIONS WITH DOOLITrLE.

REPLACING QUEENS.

" Say, Doolittle, I came this afternoon to
ask you a question.''

" Well, what is bothering you now, Mr.
Smith ? "

" I have several old hybrid queens that are
past their usefulness, and have tolerated them
thus far only as I thought it would be better
to let them go through the honey harvest rather
than to run the risk of less honey in replacing
them while the harvest was on. These I wish
to replace with young Italian queens. How
and when shall I proceed to do it ? "

"Perhaps we better take up the when
matter first.''

" Very good. How about the when ? "
" This can be done at any time ; but I find
that the bees supersede more queens just after
the main honey harvest for the season is over,
in this locality, than at any other time of the
year ; consequently, where I wish to supersede
queens for any reason I do it just after the
basswood-honey season is over, as basswood
gives our main honey-flow."

" But I live where white clover gives the
main yield."

"Very well. Then your best time would
be just after clover has failed, which would
naturally be from July 1 to 15.''

" I comprehend now. The superseding is to
be done after any honey-flow has ceased
where the person resides who wishes to do
the superseding.''
"Exactly."

" Then i am ready for the how."
"Unless a change in variety of bees is
desired, I would advise the beginner to leave
this matter of supersedure of queens to the
bees, as they will make fewer mistakes, if this
matter is left to them, than the smartest bee-
keeper in the land — especially where there is
any Italian blood in the bees."

"But I told you I wished to change to
Italians."

" Yes, I know you did ; but I thought it
might be well to give you this hint, so that,
after your bees became thoroughly Italianised,
you need not think you must be superseding
their queens all the while."

" That was all right ; but go ahead.''
" Where a change of the breed of bees is
desired, then, of course, the apiarist must do
it. The plan I use most, and like the best, is
to start queen-cells just before the basswood-
honey yield closes, when the bees are in the
best possible shape to raise extra-good queens ;
then two days before these cells are ripe, or
two days before the queens will emerge from
them, I go to the colonies having queens
which I wish to supersede, and hunt out the
queens and kill them. Two days later the
nearly mature cells are placed in queen-cell
protectors and placed in these colonies."
" What are queen-cell protectors 1 "
" They are a sort of cone-shaped affair

made of wire cloth or wire wound in a coil
just a little larger than the cell, and having a
hole about the size of a leadpencil in the
small end for the queen to come out through
when she bites the covering from the point
of the cell. The A. I. Root Company keeps
them for sale, and will send you a sample, if
you so request, with 5 cents for the same.
They are used to keep the bees from destroy-
ing the cell before they realise they are queen-
less, or for any other reasons."

" I am glad to hear of these ; but does this
insure a certain success in every case ? "

" Not absolutely so ; but my experience
has been that, in nineteen cases out of twenty,
young, thrifty, vigorous queens will be found
laying in colonies thus treated, fifteen days
later."

"But suppose I had rather buy my queens
than to raise them ? "

" If you do not wish to raise the queens,
that is your privilege ; but the apiarist who
raises his own queens is independent, and no
one is a full-grown bee-keeper till he or she
learns to do this. But you can send away for
the queens if you so think. But I would
advise you to raise a few queens, in any
event. It is something you will enjoy after
you once try it, and will be time profitably
spent besides, as there is little or no worry
over the introducing part with the cells."

"lam glad you touched this introduction
part, for I am not used to introducing queens.
Is there much trouble and loss connected
therewith 1 "

" With the old veteran there is little loss,
and with the directions on the cages contain-
ing the queens there is little trouble. In this
we are ahead of what they were a quarter of a
century ago. As a few days without a laying
queen is of little consequence at this time of
the year, I would advise, to insure against loss
in introduction, that the old queen be killed
from nine to ten days before we try to intro-
duce a new queen to the colony."
" What do you do this for ? "
" This is to prepare them so they will want
a queen so badly that they will surely accept
the new queen when given. During these
nine to ten days they will construct queen-
cells from which to furnish themselves with
another queen, and also perfect and seal all
larval brood, so that they cannot construct
more queen-cell3, should all of these cells be
taken off. Knowing this, we proceed on
either of these days to open the hive, shake
the bees off the combs, so we can readily see
all the queen-cells which may have been
started, cutting or breaking every one off.'
This makes the colony ' hopelessly queenless,
as it is called, so that they are glad to take
any queen that is offered them, so that the
existence of the colony may be preserved.
Now follow the directions sent with every
queen, letting the bees eat the candy away
till the queen is liberated, according to the
instructions accompanying the queen.''

318

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Aug. 7, 1902.

" Have you any other plan 1 "

" If you do not wish to go to this trouble,
there is another way which is usually success-
ful. It is to remove the old queen in the
forenoon of a pleasant day ; and at night,
after the bees have all returned home, give
them a little smoke ; and when they are filled
with honey, allow the new queen to run in at
the entrance, blowing in a puff or two after
her. Do not open the hive in four or five
days, in either case, and you will rarely fail."
— Gleanings (American).

Qttpfy and $$ltys.

[2941.] Dealing with Unfinished Supers. —
May I ask for advice, through your columns,
on the following matter ? I have a strong
stock in a frame hive, and now holding twelve
frames ; on the strength of the summer
weather prevailing four or five weeks ago, I
piled on a rack of sections and two shallow-
frame supers one after the other in the usual
way. As you know, the weather broke sud-
denly, and now each of the three supers is
about half finished — combs built out, filled,
and capped in the centre, and in course of
construction at the sides. I am at a loss to
know the best course to adopt. Would I be
right in leaving the lot in on the chance of
having better weather, feeding to produce
comb in the meantime ? Or should I reduce
the shallow frames to one set, taking out the
frames of foundation which haVe only juBt
been started 1 Clover is plentiful, and in full
bloom here at present, but the weather is
wretched. The honey season has been poor
all round here. I hope the people who have
heather pasturage will have a better season. —
W. O. J., Newport, Mon,, August 4,

Reply. — The only way of getting partly-
filled supers finished at this late season is
to take away all but those nearest approach-
ing to completion ; then wrap as warmly as
possible, taking care to conserve the warmth
of the surplus-chambers in every possible
way by adding extra quilts.

[2942.] Dead Queen Cast Out. — In passing
round my apiary on July 27 I was astonished
to find a queen-bee (which I enclose) lying
dead in front of one of the hives. I should be
greatly obliged if you can tell me the cause of
death, and, in the event of that particular
hive proving queenless upon examination,
what course you would advise me to pursue. —
C. A., Nantwich, July 28.

Reply. — Dead queen sent (a young one) is
either an aborted queen or has been maimed
while in the hive. The tarsus — or foot — of
one leg is missing, apparently broken off
during life, or shrivelled up in the process of
hatching. If the intended examination you
purpose making proves the old queen to be
still in the hive, it shows that the queen cast

out was useless. On the other hand, if queen
cells are found, it is a case of superseding by
the bees themselves.

[2943.] Legal Protection Against Bobbing
Bees.--I should be glad of your opinion to the
following question : If, after taking all pos-
sible precautions myself to prevent robbing, I
can prove that a neighbour's bees are doing
that to mine, have I any legal redress ? — F. G.,
Brentford, August 2.

Reply. — There is no law that will help you
in the above matter ; indeed, it is difficult to
say how any legal enactment could possibly
meet the case. To attempt to fix liability on
a bee-keeper for the "robbing" propensities
of his bees would be, to our mind, absurd.

[2944] Bees for High Altitudes.— •Will you
very kindly let me know what sort of bees
would be the best for me to keep here in
North Devon ? We are nearly 1,000 ft. above
sea-level, and have heavy rain in winter,
sometimes up to April. Do you think the
Ligurian bee would thrive here ? and are
Italian bees as strong as the English ones ?
Also, are they easier to manage ? — Louise
Dunning, North Devon, August 5.

Reply. — Seeing that the original home of
the Ligurian bee is in the Italian Alps, it
should be quite suitable for your district,
while one of the ehief characteristics of the
pure Ligurian is extreme gentleness during
manipulation. You should, however, be careful
to get a queen of the pure race, not a hybrid,
&i the latter are sometimes troublesome to
handle.

j§w ^harass to (&omt

August 7, at Kingsttiorpe, M"ortnants.
— Honey show of tne Northants B.K.A. in connection
with the Horticultural Society's Exhibition.

August 13, in the Grounds of Harden-
hincn Park. — Honey show in connection with the
Chippenham & District Horticultural Society. Twelve
classes for Honey and Bees, including open classes
for single 1-lb. section and single 1-lb. jar (with no
entry fee). Schedules from W. Small, Secretary
Market-place, Chippenham, Wilts.

August 13, at Bradford Abbas, Dorset.—
Annual Show of the Yetminster and district B.K.A. in
the Vicarage grounds. Three open classes, including
one for Single 1-lb. Jar of Light and one of Dark
Honey (entry free). Prizes : 10s., 6s., 4s., in each class.
Schedules from G. Leeding, lion, secretary, Bradford
Abbas, Sherborne, Dorset. Entries close Aug. 9.

August 13, at Radstock, Bath.— Honey show in
connection with the annual show of the Radstock and
District Horticultural and Fanciers' Association.
Schedules from the Secretary, B. M. Clark, 1, Fox
Hills, Radstock, Bath.

August 13 and 14, at Dudley.— Dudley Horti-
cultural Society.— Sections, Extracted Honey, Shallow
Frames, Observatory Hives, and Wax. Schedules from
H. Dickinson, Sunnyside, Dudley, Worcestershire.

August 13 and 14, at Dudley.— Annual show of
the Worcestershire B.K.A. in connectiou with the
Dudley Horticultural Society. Schedules from A. R.
Moreton, Leigh, Worcester, show secretary. Entries
close August 6.

August 14, at Goole.— Bee and honey show in
connection with the Goole and District Agricultural
Society. Six open classes, including one for single 1-lb.
extracted honey (with free entry). Schedules from J.
Luddingtou and H. S. White, Secretaries, Lindum
House, Goole.

Aug. 7, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

319

August 15 and 16, at Dumfries.— Open Honey
Show, with Gold and Silver Medals and a handsome
Silver Cup, among other liberal prizes. Particulars
from Root. G. Mann, Secretary, Courier and Herald
Offices, Dumfries. Entries close August 12.
(See larger advt. in this issue.)

August 16, at Ammanford (S. Wales).—
Honey Show in connection with the Ammanford
Flower Show. Judge appointed by the B.B.K.A.
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. One local class.
Particulars from Mr. Ivor Morris, Hon. Secretary,
Ammanford, ft S.O. Entries close August 12.

August, 16, at Endmoor, in connection with
Flower Show. Open classes for comb and extracted
honey. Schedules from Mr. W. Oldfleld, Endmoor,
Kendal. Entries close August 9.

August 20 and 21, at Shrewsbuty.— 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.
Thirteen Open Classes for Honey. Schedules from S.
Cartwright, Hon. Secretary, Shropshire B.K.A., Shaw-
bury, Shrewsbury. Entries close August 8.

August 23, 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 the winner of
first prize in this class. Schedules from Mr. S. Wade,
Hon. Sec, Barnton, Northwich. Entries close
August 16.

August 23, at Hyde.— Cheshire B.K.A. Show,
in connection with the Cheshire Agricultural Society.
Eight classes for Hives, Honey, and Wax. Liberal
prizes. Schedules from T. A. Beckett, St. Werburgh's
Chambers, Chester. Entries close August 2 (at
double fees August 9).

August 26, at Cartmel, Lanes.— Honey show in
connection with the annual show of the Cartmel
Agricultural Society. Open classes for Six Sections and
for Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey ; aUo for beeswax in
cakes for domestic use. Special prizes for members of
the Lancashire B.K.A. and for county bee-keepers.
Schedules from Wm. Cragg, secretary, Cartmel.
Entries close August 16.

August 27 and 28, at "Warwick.— Honey show
of the Warwickshire B.K.A., in conjunction with the
Annual Show of the Agricultural Society. Schedules
from Jas. Noble Bower, Hon. Secretary, Warwick
B.K.A., Knowle.

August 27 and 28, at TJttoxeter.— Bee and
Honey Show in connection with the Annual Show of
the Staffordshire Agricultural Society. Fifteen classes
for bees, honey, and appliances. Open classes for
12 1-lb. sections, 24 1-lb. jars, and 12 1-lb jars extracted
honey respectively. Schedules from Rev. G. C. Bruton,
Hon. Sec. Staffs. B.K.A., Great Haywood Vicarage,
Stafford. Entries close August 2.

August 28, at Montgomery, N- Wales.—
Honey show in connection with Montgomery and Dis-
trict Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Two open
classes for six's, sections, and extracted. Prizes 10s.,
5s., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from W. U. Jones, Secretary,
Church Bank, Montgomery. Entries close August
21.

August 28, at Llangollen.— In connection with
the annual Flower Show. Open classes for Six 1-lb.
Sections, Six 1-lb Bottles Extracted, and Beeswax.
Schedules from Frank Little, Llangollen. Entries
close August 14.

SeDtember 1 to 6, at Preston.— Annual show of
the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society in connection
with the Festival week of the Guild Merchant (which
recurs only once in every twenty-one years). In honour
of the occasion a largely increased list of money prizes
is offered for honey along with silver and bronze medals
of the B.B.K.A. and also of the Society. Open Classes
for Honey-Trophy, Sections, Extracted Honey, Beeswax,
Instructive Exhibits in Bee-Culture, &c Schedules
from Edward Bohane, Secretary, Miller-arcade, Pres-
ton. Entries finally close on August 11.

September 6, at Bramhall, near titocV-
TJort.— Honey Show in connection with the Bramhall
and Woodford District Horticultural Society. Liberal
prizes. Schedules from J. Turner, Glenwood, Bram-
hall, near Stockport. Entries close August 30.

September 6 to 13, at tbe Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with

the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (10th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Numerous classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees
wax. Open to all British. Bee-keepers. Special
attention is directed to the new Honey-selling
Classes. Schedules (now ready) from H. S. Rogers,
Secretary, 27, Leadenhall - street, London, E.C.
Entries close August 26.

September 10 and 11, at Hull.— Honey show
in connection with the Hull and District Horticultural
Association, at the Artillery Barracks. Seven open
classes, including one for Honey Trophy, prizes £2
and £1 ; also classes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar of extracted honey, with free entry.
Schedules from F. W. Thompson, hon. sec, 8, Albert-
square, Ella-street, Hull. Entries close Septem-
ber 3.

September lO and 11, at Bebington, near
Birkenhead.— Cheshire B.K.A. Show, in connection
with Birkenhead and Wirral Agricultural Society, on
New Show-ground. Numerous classes for Hives, Honey,
and Wax. Substantial prizes. Schedules from A. H.
Edwardson, 6, Hamilton-square, Birkenhead. Entries
close September 1.

September 10 and 11, at Derby.— Derbyshire
B.K.A. Twenty-first Annual Show of Hives, Bees, and
Honey on the show ground of the Derbyshire Agricul-
tural Society. Schedules from R. H. Coltman, Hon.
Sec. D.B.K.A., Station-street, Burton-on-Trent. En-
tries close August 23. Double fees to August 30 .

September 10 and 11, in Waverley Market,
Edinbutgh.— Midlothian Bee-Keepers' Ninth Ex-
hibition. Seven open classes. Prize money, 12s., 8s.,
4s. Entry 2s. Schedules from W. Weir, Heriot, Mid-
lothian. Entries close September 3-

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace.— Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition
of Bees, Honey, and Appliances. Specially increased
prizes and medals for Coronation year. Further par-
ticulars shortly. Schedules from Hon. Secretary,
Henry W. Brice, 100, Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath.
Entries close September 1.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace.— Surrey B.K A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, Wax, and Appliances, <fec. Twenty-four classes
(ten open to all). Increased prizes and medals.
Schedules from F. B. White, Secretary, Marden House,
Redhill, Surrey.

September 20 to 27, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with the
sixth Annual Exhibition and Market of the Grocery
and Kindred Trades. Numerous classes for comb and
extracted honey and beeswax. Open to all British
Bee-Keepers. Special attention is directed to the new
Honey-selling classes. Schedules (ready shortly)
from H. S. Rogers, Secretary, 27, Leadenhall-street,
London, EC.

October 4, at Newcastle-on-Tyne-— Annua
show of the Northumberland and Durham BK.A. in
the YM.C.A. Institute, Blackett-street. Fifteen
classes for Bees. Honey, and Bee-appliances. Schedules
from James Waddell, hon. secretary, Wooler, North-
umberland. Entries finally close lO a.m.,
October 4.

October 7 to 10, 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, <fcc. Schedules
from Mr. Wm. C. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-
square, London, W.

Notices to Correspondents A inquirers.

All quartet forwarded will be attended to, and tnoee onl)
qf r>e—onal interest will he answered «* this column

Lettert or queries asking ror addresses of manufac-
turers or correspondent!!, or where appliances can be pin -
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.

*** Referring to the question of "Lociting
Foul Brood," Mr. J. H. Horn, Bedale,
Yorks, writes as follows : — " Allow me to

320

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Aug. 7, 1902.

contradict the remarks made by ' B. Hive,
Bedale' (2930, page 297), in B.J. of July
24, -when be says : ' Foul brood is quite
unknown here.' If be or any bee-keeper
would like to see it I can show them stocks
under treatment within the sound of Bedale
Church clock, and can only say the district
is full of foul brood. Perhaps he does not
know it. I shall be pleased to receive name
of 'B. Hive, Bedah:"

*.£* We have received from the Post-office
authorities a label bearing the words
" Found unattached in W.C. District Office,
August 7, 1902." The postmark is " Gala-
shiels." The sender will therefore know
why no reply appears.

Brentford. — Bee - Van Mismanagement. —
Without expressing any opinion with regard
to the mismanagement you refer to, it
would be very unfair to those concerned to
publish your severe strictures without
knowing the " other side of the story." We
would therefore endeavour to ascertain
from the Hon. Sec. of the Association —
whom we know to be a hard worker in the
cause — some particulars of the demonstra-
tion and lecture in question, and then
decide as to publication.

J. Clement (Penllergaer). — Thistles as Bee-
forage. — Neither the neld-thistle nor the
double poppy are of any real value as bee-
plants.

Honey Samples.

W. H. (Bucks). — No. 1 is good, but, being
well on with granulation, will need reliquefy-
ing before it is eligible for the liquid honey
class. No. 2. Good on all points. Either
are good enough for any local show.

Cymro (Penybont). — All three samples are
good and quite fit for showing. There is
very little difference in quality between
them ; No. 3 is, perhaps, best. You must
pack more carefully if exhibits are to travel
to show safely, two of the three jars being
cracked in transit.

J. C (Belfast). — Sample (from mixed sources)
will do well for show-bench in a moderate
competition, but hardly comes to first-class
standard.

J. U. T. (Dover). — No. 2 is an excellent
sample of honey, good on all points. The
difference in colour observable in No. 1 is
caused by the bees visiting forage later od,
which yields darker coloured honey, but the
bulk is much the same in both samples.
No. 1 is good in flavour, and if the black-
berry bramble is flowering freely it would
tend to darken the colour, as would also the
lime bloom in the present season.

0. Jones (Shrewsbury). — Your sample is from
mixed sources, but we think its strong
aromatic flavour is from " weed " growing in
your locality.

-Foul brood just develop-

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,"
not " Manager."

J. M. K. (Keith).— Comb contains " chilled
brood " only.

W. W. W. (Wolverhampton). — Foul brood of
old standing.

Anxious (Horton).
iDg in comb.

G. J. (Southport). — Seems a case of starvation,
not disease, as all larvse in cells is in the
pupa stage, and shows no sign of disease.
You should procure a copy of " Guide Book "
for particulars with regard to treatment of
foul brood.

T. Walker (Glos.). — There is decided foul
brood in a few cells of comb sent. It could
have reached its present stage in the seven
weeks stated ; but other combs in the hive
may, of course, show it in the later or spore
stage.

F. Hamshar. — Sample No. 1 contains only
" chilled '' brood ; in No. 2 the only sealed
cells are full of hone. The unsealed ones
contain pollen.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve Kordt and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

TWO TESTED 1902 QUEENS, 5s. each. Arrival
guaranteed. Howes, Staple Hill, Bristol, o 23

WANTED. DRIVEN BEES, healthy and strong, state
lowest price on rail. Ernest Oetzmann, Lynd-
hurst, Slough, G.W.R. o 21

HEALTHY DRIVEN BEES with Queen, 5s. lot.
Boxes returned. A. MORETON, Bee Expert,
Leigh, Worcester. 0 20

RIPENER WANTED, exchange good singing
Cock CANARY, sell 7s. 6d. fertile Queen, 2s.
Walker, Apiary, Earlestown. o 25

SECTIONS and EXTRACTED HONEY WANTED
(best quality Sainfoin or Clover). Mention price.
F. Sladen, Ripple Court Apiary, Dover. o 12

WANTED DRIVEN BEES. State lowest wholesale
price. Dawkins, Cyprian Apiary, Sutton Cold-
field. o 20

DRIVEN BEE'S, August delivery, 3s. 6d per lot with
Queens ; Boxes returnable G.W.R. Pullen,
Ramsbury, Hungerford. 0 11

PLENDID LOT of EXTRACTED HONEY and
SECTIONS; tins returnable G.W.R. Pullen,
Ramsbury, Hungerford. O 10

FOUR STOCKS of HEALTHY BEES FOR SALE,
two in W. B C. hives, £1 each. Apply, S. HODSON,
No. 31, Upper Valley-road, Sheffield. O 13

DRIVEN BEES.— Not less than 4 lb. , 5s. Despatched
in rotation and advised. Davidson, Expert,
Basingstoke. O 22

A PRACTICAL BEEKEEPER (married, 27) requires
1\. EMPLOYMENT, any capacity ; assist in business
or fruit farm. Excellent references. Address, 21,
Hubert-road, Selly Oak, Birmingham. O 18

Aug. 14, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

321

<Mt0ral Ifcrte, &t.

CREATING A HONEY MARKET.

SELLING CLASSES FOR HONEY.

The question of creating a market for bee-
produce is one that possesses interest for all
who are producers of honey in quantity beyond
their own requirements ; and it seems, there-
fore, an opportune occasion to invite attention
to this matter, when the date draws near for
closing entries at two important shows held
in London, at which honey selling wholesale
is made a special feature. We refer to the
two great exhibitions at the Agricultural Hall
— first, of the Confectioners' and Allied Trades,
on September 6 to 13, and second, that of the
Grocers' and Kindred Trades, on the 20th to
27 th of the same month. Both these remain
open for eight days, and as one of the
most important objects is the bringing
together of producers and buyers — who are
traders — from all parts of the kingdom, an
opportunity is afford ed for doing business on a
large scale, which producers of the various
edibles dealt with should not lose siglt of.

In order, then, to meet trade requirements,
the directors have this year introduced a new
feature in the honey section of their schedule,
viz., selling-classes for honey by sample. The
competition in these classes is not altogether
one for the prizes offered, but rather to arrive
at a certain standard of excellence in quality,
which entitles the exhibitor to a certificate of
merit. This certificate is a judge's verdict —
so to speak — guaranteeing the quality of the
samples staged, and buyers are thus assisted
by expert opinion when purchasing. In other
words, the honey held in bulk by the bee-
keeper at home is sold by sample at the
Agricultural Hall, an arrangement which must
commend itself to buyer and seller alike.

This is what we to-day invite special
attention to, and as the entries for the first-
named show (the Confectioners') close on the
26th inst., and for the Grocers' four days later
(on the 30th), the time is short for thinking
the matter over. The list of prizes is the most
liberal one offered at any show held during the
year, and as honey is none too plentiful for the
show-bench in 1902, those who possess good
stuff will consult their own interests by
writing at once for a schedule.

Nor must we omit to remind readers of the
Dairy Show, the entries for which close on
September 8. The special attraction for ex-
hibitors at this popular show is the Challenge
Cup offered by the British Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation in commemoration of the Coronation
year. This cup will be a valuable one, and
needs winning three times before becoming
the property of the winner. Full particulars
regarding it will be found in the prize list to
be had from Mr. W. C. Young, 12, Hanover-
square, London.

DEVON BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL SHOW.

The fifth annual exhibition of honey, wax,
bees, and appliances was held in conjunction
with the exhibition of the St. Thomas Cottage
Garden Society, at St. Thomas Pleasure
Grounds, Exeter, on August 4.

Owing, doubtless, to the unfavourable
season, the exhibits of comb-honey in sections
were less numerous than usual. The other
classes were well represented ; the quality of
extracted honey was uniformly excellent, and
the wax could hardly be improved upon.
Heavy rain during the afternoon caused a
small attendance, and prevented operations in
the bee-tent. Col. Walker acted as judge,
and made the following awards : —

Twelve 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, C. Squire,
Morte-hoe ; 2nd, C. Marks, Kingsbridge; com-
mended, H. Patey, Kingsbridge.

Three Standard or Shallow Frames of
Comb Honey for Extracting. — 1st, J. B.
Huule, Chittlehampton ; 2nd, John Seldon ;
commended, C. Squire.

Single \-lb. Section. — 1st, John Seldon ;
2nd, C. Marks ; 3rd, J. H. Short, Dunsford.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (Light-
coloured). — 1st, J. B. Houle ; 2nd, C. Squire ;
3rd, C. Marks ; v.h.c, H. Patey ; h.c, Mrs.
Phillips, Kenton ; c, S. Temblett, Andover,
Hants.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (Medium-
coloured). — 1st, W. H. Oliver, Exeter ; 2nd,
R. Furse, Woodbury ; 3rd, J. B. Houle ;
v.h.c, Mrs. Phillips.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (Dark-
coloured). — 1st, Miss M. Pittis, Uplyme ;
h.c, E. Scholefield, Chudleigh.

Six 1-lb. Jars Granulated Honey. — 1st, Mrs.
Phillips ; 2nd, E Scholefield.

Beeswax (single block), not less than 1 lb. —
1st., C. Squire ■ 2nd, E. Scholefield ; 3rd, J.
Seldon ; v.h.c, A. G. Preen, Shrewsbury ;
c, Jno. Berry, Llanrwst, N. Wales.

Display of Honey and Honey Products
(weight not over 150 lb). — 1st, J. Seldon ;
2nd, W. H. Oliver.

Observatory Hive, with Bees and Queen. —
Prize, E. E. Scholefield.

Collection of Hives and Appliances.— -No
exhibit.

Frame-hive made by Amateur Joiner.
Member of the D.B.K.A.— V.h.c, W. H,
Piper, Sidmouth. — (Communicated.)

LEICESTERSHIRE B.K.A.

ANNUAL SHOW.

This Association held its annual exhibition
in conjunction with the Abbey Park Flower
Show on August 5 and 6. The show as a
whole was a very successful one, the number
of entries in the honey department being
nearly 100, and some excellent samples of
produce were staged. Demonstrations in the

322

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 14, 1902.

bee-tent were given by Mr. W. W. Falkner
to highly interested audiences. Mr. H. M.
Riley (Leicester) and Mr. R. Brown (Somers-
ham, Hunts) were the judges, and made the
following awards : —

Observatory Hive, with Bees and Queen. —
1st, A. Beadsmore, Woodhouse Eaves.

Twelve 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, W. P. Meadows,
Syston ; 2nd (equal), J. Waterfield, Kibworth,
and H. Smith, Melton.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (light). —
1st, W. Wesley, Desford ; 2nd, S. Sprav,
Melton ; 3rd, Mrs. Smith, Melton ; 4th, J.
Orton, Enderby ; h.c, J. G. Payne, Lutter-
worth.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (dark). —
1st, J. W. Drake, Lutterworth ; 2nd, G. J.
Levers, Loughboro' ; 3rd, H. Dilworth,
Shangton.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Granulated Honey. — 1st,
H. Dilworth ; 2nd, J. W. Drake.

Display of Honey. — 1st, H. Smith; 2nd,
Miss S. J. Cooper, Leicester.

Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (dark),
(novices). — 1st, E. Shilbourne, Melton ; 2nd,
E. Coleman, Oadby.

Six 1-lb. Sections (novices). — 1st, A. Orton,
Enderby ; 2nd, T. H. Geary, Leicester.

Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (light),
(novices). — 1st, W. Wesley, Desford ; 2nd, A.
Orton.

Honey Beverage. — 1st, Mrs. Garner,
Waltham ; 2nd, Mrs. Waterfield, Kibworth.

Honey Cake.— 1st, Mrs. Waterfield ; 2nd,
Miss S. J. Cooper. — (Communicated.)

BRISTOL, SOMERSETSHIRE, AND
SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE B.K.A.

HONEY SHOW AT CLUTTON.

The above Association held their annual
honey show on August 6 in connection with
the Clutton and District Flower Show and
Industrial Exhibition, and we are pleased to
record it as a great success. The honey classes
were well filled and the following prizes were
awarded : —

Display of Honey. — 1st, G. W. Kirby, St.
George ; 2nd, Ivan Sheppard, Chewton Men-
dip ; 3rd, G. H. Caple, Stanton Prior.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey.— 1st,
S. Temblett, Andover ; 2nd, Jas. Coates,
Twerton-on-Avon ; 3rd, G. H. Caple.

Twelve 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, G. W. Kirby ;
2nd, J. Coates.

Single 1-lb. Jar Extracted Honey.— 1st, J.
Coates ; 2nd, S. Temblett ; 3rd, R. Flower,
Hinton Blewitt.

Single 1-lb. Section. — 1st, J. Coates ; 2nd,
G. W. Kirby; 3rd, A. H. Lyons, East
Harptree.

OPEN CLASSES.

Collection of Bee Appliances.—- Jas. Brown
& Sons, Bristol.

Twelve 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, G. W. Kirby ;
2nH , Ivan Shepherd.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, J.
Coates; 2nd, G. W. Kirby; 3rd, E. A.
Newman.

Three Shallow Frames Comb Honey. — 1st,
Ivan Sheppard ; 2nd, A. H. Lyons.

Beeswax (3 lb.). — 1st, R. Flower ; 2nd, C.
Newman, Henbury ; 3rd, F. Kirby.

Three 1-lb. Jars Granulated Honey. — 1st,
A. Lockwood, Kingswood ; 2nd, Ivan Shep-
pard ; 3rd, A. H. Lyons.

LOCAL CLASSES.

Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
A. H. Lyons ; 2nd, T. Sheppard ; 3rd, G. H.
Caple.

Six 1-lb. Square Jars Extracted Honey. —
1st, T. Sheppard ; 2nd, A. Lockwood ; 3rd,
R. Flower.

Display of Honey (Lady Bee-keepers only).
— 1st, Mrs. Walter, Westbury-on-Trym ; 2nd,
Mrs. L. S. Kirby, St. George.

NOVICES ONLY.

Three 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, A, Salmon, Em-
borow ; 2nd, A. Lockwood ; 3rd, W. A.
Standrick, Henbury.

Three 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
A. H. Lyons ; 2nd, Montagu Stevens, Stanton
Drew ; 3rd, A. Salmon. — (Communicated.)

HONEY SHOW AT ALDERLEY EDGE.

The Adlington and District Agricultural
Society's Show was held at Alderley Edge
(Cheshire) on August 6. Owing to the un-
favourable season, the number of honey
exhibits was less than in 1901. The Rev. E.
Charley, Hon. Secretary, Cheshire B.K.A.,
officiated as judge, and made the following
awards : —

Frame Hive. — 1st, W. Cartwright, Moore,
Warrington ; 2nd, W. Garner & Son, Qxford-
road, Altrincham.

Six 1-lb. Sections (open). — 1st, W. Woodley,
Newbury ; 2nd, W. Ratcliffe, Barthomley ;
3rd, A. Thorpe, Wistaston.

Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (open). — 1st,
W. Woodley ; 2nd, F. Jennings, Warford ;
3rd. S. Wright, Wilmslow.

Beeswax (open). — 1st, J. Berry, Llanrwst ;
2Qd, ; 3rd, W. Ratcliffe.

Six Jars of Extracted Honey (district). —
l*t, S. Wright ; 2nd, T. Smith, Alderley
Edge.

Beeswax (district). — 1st, S. Wright.— (Com-
municated.)

HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of
July, 1902, was £5,553.— From a return
furnished to the British Bee Journal by the
Statistical Office, H.M. Customs.

Aug. H, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

323

<&mmpniitMt

The Editors do not hold themtelvet retponttole for tht
•pinions e*pretted by correspondents. 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 addresses, not necettarily for
publication, but at a guarantee of good faith. Ulustra-
tiont should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return reiected communication!.

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-
itreet, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi-
cations relating to advertisements, <Ssc.,must be addressed
to " The ilANAGER, '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 at well
at the page on which it appears.

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[4858.] The weather since my last notes has
not improved for either bee-keepers or farmers;
— cold, dull, unsettled days, no sunshine, and
therefore no honey. We must hope that the
bees of our NortherD brethren will do well on
the heather and compensate them for the loss
of the flower-honey. The season in the North,
to judge by the letters I have received, has
been worse than in our part of the Kingdom ;
in some parts of Ireland, too, the wet weather
seems to have spoiled the early crop. The
hope now is that the " aftermath " will yield
some nectar, and so save us from having to
feed the bees for winter stores.

Introducing Queens. — I notice a timely
article by the veteran, Mr. Doolittle, in last
week's B.J. I have proved that both methods
given are good ones. I have also introduced
queens (virgins too) by taking the queen
from hive, then sprinkling the bees with flour
from a dredger, and when putting the new
queen on top of frames shake the flour
dredger over her and she will run below white
as a dusty miller. By the time the bees
have brushed themselves up smart and trim
again the introduction is complete.

All surplus-chambers may now be removed,
or the hives cleared, and any sections not
sealed should be put through the extractor.
This matter renews one's memory of the
" wants " of bee-keepers, which I commend to
our up-to-date appliance makers. In extract-
ing the honey from late sections, the combs
are in many cases only slightly attached to the
wood sections, which contain little cushion-
shaped lumps of honey, and the force required
to extract this breaks the comb away from the
sections, and they have to be thrown into the
strainer. What we want is a cage for the
sections, with a 3 in. square wire projecting to
take the bearing of the comb. I have got
over this trouble for many years by using
pieces of perforated zinc to prevent the comb
from breaking away, and am generally suc-
cessful ; but if I could purchase a well-made
cage with the parts made to project just i in.

to | in. in the proper place, to save the comb,
I would gladly buy one. The cage should be
made to take six sections, so that with a
full-size extractor six partly-filled sections
could be extracted at once. This would also
be a very useful appliance for heather-going
bee-keepers, who could extract their flower
honey and have their sections refilled by the
bees with the glorious heather honey our
friend, " D. M. M., of Banff," writes so fondly
of in last week's B. J.— W. Woodlet, Beedon,
Newbury.

BEE-SPACED WOVEN-WIRE
DIVIDERS.

[4859.] I have received a note from Mr.
John H. Howard in which he says, " Never
have I had better finished sections than with
the bee-spaced moven-wire dividers this year.
There can be no doubt about their utility, and
one great feature, other than filling and finish,
is that in each of the racks put on, outside
sections were the first completed."

This is now the third season Mr. Howard
has been experimenting with bee-spaced
dividers, and it would appear from the fore-
going that he was not quite satisfied with the
results he has obtained, and that the principle
of the bee space, which provides room for
another seam of bees between each row of
sections, is a sound one, and an advance on
the type of dividers in present use. In face
of this evidence, it will be instructive to know
if Mr. Howard's experience has been borne out
by others who have tried the bee-spaced
dividers this season. My own, I regret to say,
has been practically nil. I had the dividers
on two hives at a distance from home, both of
which, unfortunately, swarmed before the sec-
tions were finished. We have had a very poor
season for honey in this part of Essex ; many
stocks I have examined have not gone into the
supers at all, and, I fear, will not store enough
honey to winter on.— W. J. Sheppard, Hon.
Sec. E. and S.B.K.A. Chingford, August!.

TREATMENT OF VICIOUS BEES.
[4860.] I have frequently seen letters in the
Bee Journal from correspondents, who are
often beginners, complaining of the vicious
tempers of their bees. Five years' experience
of bee-keeping inclines me to think that the
fault frequently lies rather with the keeper
than the bees. We all know that the temper
of a colony of bees varies according to the
weather, the condition of their stores, and the
amount of work they have on hand. If an
unsuitable time be selected for manipulations,
the bees resent it, and if their owner be timid
or inexperienced, they earn for themselves a
character which they do not really deserve.
With the object of subduing the inmates of
the hive, dense volumes of sickening smoke
are blown in at the entrance on all subsequent
occasions, and the bees are apt with one accord

324

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 14, 1902.

to exert more than sufficient physical force to
fix the bad impression the bee - keeper bad
formed of them. In my second years' bee-
keeping I bought a small apiary, but before
the summer was far advanced I came to the
conclusion that 1 had come into possession
of an army of " tartars." They seemed dis-
inclined to brook interference, and the
more smoke I gave them the worse they
became. One day I lifted the quilts off
very gently. There was no angry buzz, and
by discarding the smoker as a subjugator, and
using it merely as a gentle driver, I was able
to do anything with the stocks. I now rarely
use smoke except to drive the bees below the
excluder, so as to avoid crushing them when
putting on supers. I have overhauled four
hives in succession in this way without getting
a sting. When a young apiarist's charges
become unruly and he loses nerve, the best
thing is to cover up at once, and try again
another day.

Extreme gentleness in manipulation and
slow movements, especially of the hands,
about the hive are of supreme importance in
the management of vicious bees. I hope my
method will be tried with the bees which
formed the subject of complaint a few weeks
ago, and that they may yet be spared the
brimstone pit. — C. H. H., Watford, August 9.

TRANSFERRING BEES FROM SKEPS.

[4861.] 1 notice you are continually asked
for advice re the above, and, reading article
No. 4842, on page 294, I thought it might
cause doubt in some minds as to the efficiency
of the " fourth plan " mentioned by Mr. van
Eeden. In recent years I have transferred
some dozen stocks in this way, and have had no
failures. This year I only had one skep to do,
but it was done so well — in my estimation —
that it may encourage some readers to hear
how allowing the bees to transfer themselves
works out in practice.

As this was a backward year I commenced
operations later than usual, giving them ten
frames — five of comb and five of half sheets of
foundation — and after a time driving bees and
putting on queen-excluder. Early on June 28
I was surprised to find the bees hanging out
ready to swarm, so I went to work to prevent
them. I got a body box ready as super, with
twelve standard frames of foundation — half
sheets — removed skep, which was heavy, but
not full, and took out every frame below to
cut out queen-cells, but could not find any,
so put back alternate frames of comb and
foundation, supered with body-box arranged in
the same way, and replaced skep on top.

Last week I took off skep, which, in spite of
very old combs, produced 13^ lb. of run honey,
and they still have twenty-two frames quite
full of brood and honey.

I may add that I have a " Wells' '' hive
which wanted to swarm, and I checked them
in the same way, and they now have forty-

eight standard frames and forty-two sections
all full. These extra frames will be very useful
for driven bees which I shall have in a week
or two. — E. E. J. E., Oxford, August 6.

LEAVING ON SUPERS ALL WINTER.

[4862] Oq seeing the illustration in B.B.J,
of July 31 of bees wintering on exposed
combs, the idea struck me that they must be
a hardier little insect than generally depicted.
On that basis, I have formed a plan for
wintering mine, but before undertaking it I
should like your advice, if you will kindly
give it, with regard to my plan. I propose to
leave the shallow-frame supers on all my hives
through the winter. I also intend to feed up
the stocks on top of these, and let the bees
store the food either there or in body-box.
Seeing that they have not drawn all the
foundation out in the supers, this may be an
inducement for them to do so. Then, again,
as I have not much convenience for stowing
away the supers, they will be out of the way
until spring, and I shall not have to provide
winter passages. Also would it not give the
queen more space below, so that she could
continue breeding later on in the year than if
all stores and bees were suddenly compressed
into the body-box ? — R. H. Chadwick,
Southport, August 11.

[The plan of leaving supers above brood -
nests for the winter is not new ; we practised
it over twenty years ago in our own apiary,
under certain conditions desirable at the time,
and found the bees winter very well indeed
when so dealt with. We will be glad to know
later on how it succeeds in your case. — Eds.]

BEES AND POTATO BLOSSOM.

SOME OLD-TIME REMINISCENCES.

[4863.] This part of the country is filled
with the scent of the potato bloom. I enclose
you sample. I had no idea the blossom of the
potato gave out such a sweet scent. I thought
it was the white clover at first, of which there
is still a good deal in bloom about here, but I
found it was not so. Why I write you is to
ask if you could tell me whether it is of any
use to bees. I have looked, bub have never
seen any, but the fields are of such large
extent and not many bees kept about here. I
have been a bee-keeper nearly sixty years. I
started with skeps in Cumberland, near the
moors. We used to "clog" the hives for
surplus ; that is, put another skep under the
old or parent stock, but more often destroy
the surplus swarms with sulphur. About the
year '45, I remember, the wooden " Nutts "
hive came out — brood-box in centre and two
store-boxe3, one at each side, and bell-glass
over centre of brood-box. I got a large
quantity of honey out of this hive one season
— I believe about 150 lb. Then for about
forty years I lived in towns, so had to give up

Aug. 14, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

325

bee-keeping ; but tbis last seven years I bave
lived in the country, and took to my old
bobby again. I have twelve hives, but I can
only get a bumper crop from one. I got last
season from it 121 lb. in sections ; this
year I shall only get about 80 lb. from
the same hive. All my others have
swarmed, and I shall not have above
30 lb. from the best, and some of them none.
I have prevented swarming in this one good
hive by covering the hive with mats, and
soaking them with a watering can two or
three times a day. It is astonishing what an
effect a cold douche has on bees when they are
nearly mad with heat during the hottest part
of the day. There is no doubt also that when
a hive of bees goes in for "storing "for one
season they get the knack of it. As it was,
it took all my spare time and water to keep
this one cool during that four days very hoc
weather three weeks ago.

A pipe running the whole length of the
hives with a rose attached to a branch
opposite every hive, and a tap to each, all con-
nected to an elevated tub would be a very
simple plan of cooling any hive when required.
The idea is not new. A lady, Mrs. Crossfield,
an apiarist about here, told me her grand-
mother used wet cloths to put over her skeps
to prevent swarming. — J. Paley, Kirkham,
August 8.

WEST MALVERN AS A BEE
DISTRICT.

[4864.J Referring to Mr. W. Herrod's
inquiry in B.B.J, of July 31 (page 310) as to
West Malvern as a suitable place for bee-
keeping. I took a cycle run round the locality
yesterday, and my impression from the nature
of the flora and general surroundings was
favourable. I called later in the day on a
member of our association residing in Col wall
(some two miles distant), and he said his bees
always did well.

Fruit plantations yield a spring supply of
honey, followed by a moderate amount of
white clover, and limes closing the season. I
thought this might be helpful to your corre-
spondent in case no one else replied. — James
G. Godwin, hon. secretary Hereford B.K.A.,
Wiihington, August 5.

GLEANINGS FROM FOREIGN BEE
JOURNALS.

BT R. HAMLYN-HARRIS, D.SC, F R.M.S., F.Z.S.,
F.E.S., ETC.

Deutsche lllustrirte Bienen - Zeitung. —
Frederick the Great was a zealous promoter
of bee-keeping. He gave orders that the
clergy, all institutions and abbeys, as well as
the tenants of the Royal domains, should
keep a certain proportion of bee-hives. Each
tenant paying a rent over 150 thalers
(=£22 10s.) should keep ten, and the others at

least twenty, hives of bees, or pay a fine of 15s.
for each missing hive. In neighbourhoods
where there was sufficient bee-pasture, each
peasant farmer had to keep one or two hives
or pay a fine. But, on the other hand, if any
one could show more than ten hives they
received a reward for each.

Bee-keepers from other parts were invited to
settle and spread the knowledge of apiculture.
Robbing the stocks was punished with from
one to three years' imprisonment, and if any -
one attempted to pjison the bees they were
liable to six years' hard labour.

The results of this fostering care were soon
evident. Frederick wrote to Voltaire, " We
have increased the number of bee-hives by a
third part in this year."

Leipziger Bienen- Zeitung. — I have often
seen it questioned by bee-keepers whether the
queen of a hive that had just swarmed herself
kills her rivals, or whether the workers do
away with the superfluous queens ? On
June 26 this year I had a Carniolan stock
which swarmed for the third time this season,
and after the swarm had left there was a loud,
buzzing of drones. I went closer, and saw a
queen before the entrance. At that moment
another queen advanced from the hive in an
excited manner and stuug the other queen
twice with great virulence. The injured queen
was quite quiet and made no resistance.
After the deed the murderess returned to the
hive, followed slowly by her victim.

There can be no question as to the truth of
this observation.

Bulletin de la Societe a" Apiculture de la
Somme. — Visiting my hives in October,
some of the supers were full of bees ; one I
found had not a single bee in the super.
On examining the body of the hive, some
of the bees fell on to the grass at the side.
I sent a few good puffs of smoke over them,
and they went up to the entrance of the
hive. I thought the matter ended. A
month later, towards the end of November,
walking in front of these hives, I noticed
quite a swarm of bees under the same hive.
I thought of what had occurred the month
before, and thought it likely the queen had
fallen on the grass and had not returned to
the hive ; that she had taken up her abode
underneath, and that all the bees had
joined her there. On examining the hive
there were only a few bees to be seen there in
search of honey.

Taking necessary precautions, we hived this
" St. Catherine's Swarm." It was difficult to
disconnect it, for the bees had built four
beautiful combs and had warehoused three to
four pounds of honey, of which the greater
part was sealed. The bees had fetched this
honey from their hive that they might be pro-
vided with provisions in their new abode.

Schweizerische B. Zeitung. — Austria has
more hives than any other European State — ■
more than 1,500,000. Then follows Germany,
with 1,450,000 ; France, with 950,000 ;

326

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 14, 1902.

Holland, 240,000 ; Belgium, 200,000 ; Kussia,
110,000 ; Denmark, with 90,000 ; and Greece,
30,000 hives of bees.

Leipziger Bienen-Ztitung. — In the public
gardens here (Drosedow) a swarm of bees
took possession of a wild cherry tree. I knew
nothing of this, but one day 1 was told that
there were bees in the gardens, so, having just
lost a swarm, I set off with all needful
appliances, and proceeded to the seat of
action. All efforts were, however, useless ;
the bees could not be got out.

At last in the next winter, in a very hard
frost, the tree was felled ; the farmer who
rented the land had, to my surprise, given it
to me.

The workmen cut right into the bees. Many
were killed, others fled out and perished on the
snow. The frightened workmen immediately
blocked the large opening with a great whisp
of straw, which broke down the combs, and in
this condition the log, with the bees, passed
into my hands.

In the following summer they recovered,
and in autumn were transferred to a skep,
while their tree stem was transformed into a
five-story hive, with movable frames six deep.
In March this year the bees were fly icy ana
working with energy, and in May they were
restored to their modernised dwelling.

The Same. — Every year when the acacia
blossom — the finest and best of all honey-
yielding plants — is over, those bee-keepers
who are favoured in having acacias near their
hives are apt to wish that there could be a
second acacia harvest in the late summer just
when the colonies are strongest. Just such a
plant seems to be the Sophora japonica. A
bee-keeper from Budapest writes that in that
district there are many of these trees which
flower towards the autumn, and yield great
quantities of honey. Though the much re-
commended phazelia is capable of greatly im-
proving the honey yield, this plant cannot be
compared with the rich harvest of the acacia,
and the Sophora japonica excels even the
acacia. Heir Otto Schultz, Buckow, intends
to make a nursery for the young trees of the
sophora, so that the tree may be more widely
known and planted.

BKIEF BEPORTS.

HERTFORDSHIRE.

In response to Mr. Woodley's appeal on
page 313 for brief reports on honey crop,
it gives me pleasure to send a brief report
of the progress of bees in this district. For
myself, I can say that stocks not swarmed
have done fairly well — not quite up to the
average— and taking the apiary through, and
those I attend to, and the reports I have to
hand from local bee-keepers, the " take " is
about three-fifths of last year. The quality is
very good — no dark honey — and the price has
risen Is. per dozen, wholesale and retail, and
have to refuse many orders at that. Sections

are very scarce. I shall be judging at local
shows shortly, and will report later as to
quality. You can publish this, and it may
encourage others to cheer up. — Arthur E.
Ford, Kernel Hempstead, August 10.

SOMERSETSHIRE.

I regret to say our crop is almost a failure.
Swarms the rule. Honey the exception.
What little honey has been got is mixed with
that confounded honey-dew. We have had
only one real good season here for the last five
years. Only three weeks of good bee weather
this summer. Swarms almost starving, though
heather and clover abundant. — Worker Bee,
Langford, August 11.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE.

I have had a bumping crop of honey-
Weather just right since June 27. Clover?
mustard, and limes yielded well in their turn.
— H. T. Wright, March, August 7.

[2945.] Theoretical v. Practical Bee-keeping.
— I have just commenced to keep bees, and
have made myself acquainted with several of
the text-books recommended to bee-keepers, in-
cluding the " Guide Book," by T. W. Cowan.
I have also read with much interest the
weekly numbers of the B.B.J., and am order-
ing the Record. I find myself sufficiently
" up in theory," but decidedly " down in
practice." I am also very desirous of manag-
ing my own bees single-handed, as I know,
from the answers to correspondents in your
papers, that this district is reeking with foul
brood ; and, from my own somewhat exten-
sive experience of micro-organisms, how easy
it would be for a bee-expert visiting many
hives in succession to spread infection and
nullify all preventive effects. One of the
greatest difficulties I have to contend with is
to decide which of two diametrically opposed
opinions I ought to follow, e.g., to go in for
hybrid bees or pure bred bees. The special
advantage which your opinions have for me is
that they, unlike those of bee-keepers in the
trade, are quite disinterested. I have com-
menced with one hive bought from a well-
known dealer, and the bees have, so far as I
can judge, done very well. 1. I should like to
know whether these bees are pure bred or
hybrids, and should be much obliged if you
would kindly examine the drone and worker-
bee sent herewith and give me your opinion 1

2. At same time, it would be of service to
me if you could give a reference to the best
standard work (English, French, or German)
dealing with the distinctive characters of the
various varieties (or species) of the honey-bee.

3. I am sending with same enclosure a larva
of a number (eight or nine) which have been

Aug. 14, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

327

cast out of the hive during the last few days.
Is the blackening due to chilled brood, or
may it possibly represent the stage reached by
larva when the foul brood is checked in its
development by the presence of carbolic acid
and naphthaline ? My bees are very warmly
wrapped up, but the sides of the hive are
single- walled, and thus, I suppose, chilling of
the brood may take place. I may add that I
picked up the drone alive and healthy and
killed it with chloroform. The worker-bee
was being carried out, dead, and owing to the
wind the load proved too heavy a one. To
my surprise, the worker appears to be a young
one, and not like other workers that I have
seen carried out in small numbers before.
Perhaps you will not mind saying whether the
bee is a young or old one ; and, if young,
whether it is not unusual for an apparently
healthy and young bee to be carried out in
this way % 4. May T trouble you with one
more query ? The Virginian creeper — chiefly
Ampelopsis Veitchii — is very abundant here. I
have seen the bees work it in hundreds on my
own house in past years. Do they gather
honey from it ? If so, is the honey of good
quality 1 I have very many queries which I
should like to add, but I must forbear. — A. H.
Trow, D.Sc.

Reply. — 1. The drone is a hybrid, but the
worker-bee shows no markings at all beyond
that of a common brown bee. 2. There is no
book, to our knowledge, that deals specially
with the distinctive features of the different
varieties of bees, or does more than describe
the special characteristics, as is done in the
"Guide Book." 3. The shrivelled-up larva
sent is merely " chilled," and — as is usual —
cast out by the bees. 4. None of the varieties
of Virginian creeper are classed as honey-
producing plants.

[2946.] Foul-brood Remedies. — The three
pieces of comb sent by post were taken from a
hive, the owner of which placed naphthaline
in it a fortnight ago that he got at a local
chemist's. He also used formalin two days
ago. The owner of the hive told me that on
the evening after using formalin the bees
seemed very excited, and many left the hive.
On examining the frames yesterday I found
five frames of brood all nearly chilled ; only
very few bees left alive, and the stock queen-
less. Now, will you please say in Bee
Journal if there is foul brood in any of the
combs sent ? In some of the cells you will
notice the larvae is discoloured. Do you think
the mischief can have been caused by the use
of too strong disinfectants ? Kindly .let me
know, also, where T can get the Bee Journal
for 1900 bound or unbound, and also state
price I — T. U., Kilkenny.

Reply. — Your samples reached this office
after hours on Saturday the 2nd inst, and as
Monday, the 4th, was a closed day for ordinary
business in London, the combs were not seen
till the 5th. The very small samples sent were

not suitable for diagnosing the case by, seeing
that the cells containing a very few unsealed
larvte had been probed before despatching.
We saw enough, however, to make us fairly
certain that foul brood is developing slightly.
The bulk of the brood is " chilled,'' a result
probably brought about by the bees being
driven from the combs by the formalin
used. The same may also have caused the
queen to leave the hive, and perhaps perish
outside. Hence queenlessness.

[2947.] Insect Nomenclature. — Can you tell
me what insect ? The enclosed bit of tiny
comb containing sealed brood was found
on a gooseberry bush, and hung on the branch
just in the same way that bees build their
combs. It was brought to me to see if I knew
what insects the comb was built by, but, as I
have never seen anything like it before, I
thought perhaps you could enlighten us in the
B.B.J.— A. C, Bourton-on-the- Water.

Reply. — We forwarded the comb to Mr.
F. W. L. Sladen, who kindly writes as follows
regarding it : — " The ' comb ' sent consists of
a minute bunch of cylindrical cocoons. Each
cocoon is only one-eighth of an inch in length,
and contains a living and partly-matured pupa
of an insect. I have placed the cells in a
place favourable for the development and
emergence of the insects, and, if this takes
place, I hope to be able to send you the name
of the insects, with any notes on their habits
that I can obtain— F. W. L. Sladen."

[2948.J Bees Starving in July. — The hive
from which sample of comb sent was taken is
one of three which bad reached the verge of
starvation in mid -July, so scarce is honey this
year in this locality. It looks to me as though
the bees had been unable to maintain the
necessary heat to hatch the brood, and to feed
those which were hatching, as many have died
with their heads and tongues protruding. The
sample is taken from the centre of one comb,
but in most of the combs affected, the brood
round the outside of the cluster has suffered.
I shall be sorry if it is disease, but I will not
be surprised, as a stock has died out only a
mile from here through foul brood. Since I
commenced feeding and treating for the above,
two of the queens have recommenced laying,
and the young larvte looks well and healthy,
while the bees are actively engaged pulling out
the dead from the combs.— X. Y. Z., Mid-
lothian.

Reply. — The brood in comb sent is chilled
only ; there is no disease.

[2949.] Dividing Stocks for Increase. — Loss
of Queens.— Early in July I divided the bees
in a frame hive to save swarming, taking the
queen, with three frames of brood, &c, and
brushing bees from two other frames into new
hive. All is going on well in the latter. In
the old hive I found nine queen-cells a week
after division, all of which appeared to have
hatched out, but no queen could be found.

328

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 14, 1902.

They formed a further seven queen-cells, and
healthy grubs were seen in each before being
sealed over. These have since hatched out,
but though 1 have searched for a queen I
cannot find one, and to all appearance the
hive is queenless. Will you inform me : — 1.
If young queens are similar to the old ones ?
2. Is it usual for things as I have detailed
above to happen in healthy hives ? 3. Do
the bees destroy surplus queens 1 There are a
large quantity of drones in the hive. A reply
in next issue will oblige. — J. F., Doncaster,
.1 ngust 7.

Reply. — 1. The only difference in a young
queen is her less matronly look, but an old
queen has less hairiness or pubescence about
the thorax and abdomen by reason of the
hairs getting worn off with age. 2. We should
think yours a very exceptional case, judging
by details given. 3. Yes.

(grimes frum tht Mm%.

Watford, Herts, August 9. — Through the
lack of a suitable place in which to keep bees,
this season I have only had one colony. I
worked it up in the spring, and placed a super
over the brood nest on May 25. The bees
accepted the additional room immediately, but
owing to the unsuitable weather, they only
gathered a little over 30 lb. of honey. The
queen has done splendidly, and with a good
season this take would have been exceeded. —
C. H. H.

%n %hm% td ®,mt

ZJ

August 14, at Goole.— Bee and honey show in
connection with the Goole and District Agricultural
Society.

August 15 and 16, at Dumfries.— Open Honey
Show, with Gold and Silver Medals and a handsome
Silver Cup, among other liberal prizes.

August 16, at Ammanford (S. "Walesa-
Honey Show in connection with the Ammanford
Flower Show.

August, 16, at Endmoor, in connection with
FloweF Show. Open classes for comb and extracted
honey.

August 20 and 21, at Shrewsbuiy— 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.

August 23, 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 the winner of
first prize in this class. Schedules from Mr. S. Wade,
Hon. Sec, Barnton, North wich. Entries close
August 16.

August 23, at Hyde.— Cheshire B.K.A. Show,
in connection with the Cheshire Agricultural Society.
Eight classes for Hives, Honey, and Wax.

August 26, at Cartmel, .Lanes.— Honey show in
connection with the annual show of the Cartmel
Agricultural Society. Open classes for Six Sections and
for Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey ; also for beeswax in
cakes for domestic use. Special prizes for members of
the Lancashire B.K.A. and for county bee-keepers.

Schedules from Wm. Cragg, secretary, Cartmel. '
Entries close August 16-

August 27, at Reading. — Honey show of the
Berks B.K.A., in connection with the Reading Horti-
cultural Society. Open to Berks only. Schedules and
all particulars from D. W. Bishop Ackerman, Hon. Sec.
Berks B.K.A. Entries close August 23-

August 27 and 28, at Warwick.— Honey show
of the Warwickshire B.K.A., in conjunction with the
Annual Show of the Agricultural Society. Schedules
from Jas. Noble Bower, Hon. Secretary, Warwick
B.K.A., Knowle.

August 27 and 28, at Uttoxeter.— Bee and
Honey Show in connection with the Annual Show of
the Staffordshire Agricultural Society.

August 28, at Montgomery, N. Wales.—
Honey show in connection with Moutgomery and Dis-
trict Horticultural Society's Exhibition. Two open
classes for six's, sections, and extracted. Prizes 10s.,
5s., and 2s. 6d. Schedules from W. U. Jones, Secretary,
Church Bank, Montgomery. Entries close August
21.

August 28, at Llangollen.— In connection with
the annual Flower Show. Open classes for Six 1-lb.
Sections, Six 1-lb. Bottles Extracted, and Beeswax.
Schedules from Frank Little, Llangollen. Entries
close August 14.

September 1 to 6, at Preston.— Annual show of
the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society in connection
with the Festival week of the Guild Merchant (which
recurs only once in every twenty -one years). In honour
of the occasion a largely increased list of money prizes
is offered for honey along with silver and bronze medals
of the B.B.K.A. and also of the Society.

September 6, at Bramhall, near Stock-
port.—Honey Show in connection with the Bramhall
and Woodford District Horticultural Society. Liberal
prizes. Schedules from J. Turner, Glenwood, Bram-
hall, near Stockport. Entries close August 30.

September 6 to 13, at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (10th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Numerous classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees
wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers. Special
attention is directed to the new Honey-selling
Classes. Schedules (now ready) from H. S. Rogers,
Secretary, 27, Leadenhall - street, London, E.C.
Entries close August 26-

September 10 and 11, at Hull.— Honey show
in connection with the Hull and District Horticultural
Association, at the Artillery Barracks. Seven open
classes, including one for Honey Trophy, prizes £2
and £1 ; also classes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar of extracted honey, with free entry.
Schedules from F. W. Thompson, hon. sec, 8, Albert-
square, Ella-street, Hull. Entries close Septem-
ber 3.

September lO and 11, at Bebington, near
Birkenhead. — Cheshire B.K.A. Show, in connection
with Birkenhead and Wirral Agricultural Society, on
New Show-ground. Numerous classes for Hives, Honey,
and Wax. Substantial prizes. Schedules from A. H.
Edwardson, 6, Hamilton-square, Birkenhead. Entries
close September 1.

September 10 and 11, at Derby.— Derbyshire
B.K.A. Twenty-first Annual Show of Hives, Bees, and
Honey on the show ground of the Derbyshire Agricul-
tural Society. Schedules from R. H. Coltman, Hon.
Sec D. B.K.A., Station-street, Burton-on-Treut. En-
tries close August 23. Double fees to August 30.

September 10 and 11, in Waverley Market.
Slainbu gh. — Midlothian Bee-Keepers' Ninth Ex-
hibition. Seven open classes. Prize money, 12s., Ss. ,
4s. Entry 2s. Schedules from W. Weir, Heriot, Mid-
lothian. Entries close September 3-

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace. — Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition
of Bees, Honey, and Appliances. Specially increased
prizes and medals for Coronation year. Further par-
ticulars shortly. Schedules from Hon. Secretary,
Henry W. Brice, 100, Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath.
Entries close September 1.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace. — Surrey B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, Wax, and Appliances, &c. Twenty-four classes
(ten open to all). Increased prizes and medals.
Schedules from F. B. White, Secretary, Marden House,
Redhill, Surrey. Entries close September 1.

Aug. 14, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

329

September 20 to 27, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with the
sixth Annual Exhibition and Market of the Grocery
aad Kindred Trades. Numerous classes for comb and
extracted honey and beeswax. Open to all British
Bee-jreepers. Special attention is directed to the new
rtoney-selling Classes. Schedules from H. S.
Rogers, Secretary, 27, »Leadenhall-street, London, E.C.
Entries close August 30.

October 4, at IsTewcastle-on-Tyne.— Annual
show of the Northumberland and Durham B K.A. in
the Y M.C.A. Institute, Blackett-street. Fifteen
classes for Bees, Honey, and Bee-appliances. (Open to
Northumberland and Durham only.) Schedules from
.Tames Waddell, hon. secretary, Wooler, Northumber-
land. Entries finally close lO a.m., October 4.

October 7 to 10, 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, <fec. Schedules
from Mr. Win. C. Young, Secretary, 12, Hauover-
square, London, W. Entries close Sept. 8.

PKESS CUTTING.

A SWARM COMES DOWN THE CHIMNEY.

A remarkable incident occurred at Down-
ham, Lancashire, yesterday morning, a large
swarm of bees coming down the chimney into
the upper room of one of the dwelling-houses,
apparently in search of their queen. The room
door was closed, and the windows opened, and
the assistance of a local bee-keeper obtained,
but there had been no evacuation last night.
The incident has caused quite a sensation in'
the village. — Lancashire Post, June 26.

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 thot* only
of personal interest will be answered in this nolumn.

*)t* Ancient Bee-Books. — Referring to the
inquiry on page 278 of our issue for July
10, Colonel Walker, of South Devon—
the " competent authority " we had
in mind — has been good enough to
send us the following particulars with
regard to the market value of the book in
question. He writes : — " As to the value
of Butler's Feminin Monarchi, 1634 ; that
is the phonetic edition, and as such possesses'
an interest for readers and collectors outside
the circle of hee-men. It is, in consequence,
elevated to the dignity of being sold as a
separate item at public auctions, where it
usually fetches from 21s. to 42s., according
to its condition. Quaritch recently had a
copy for sale at £4. A middling copy
would cost, as a rule, about 24s. from a
bookseller.''

*x* A correspondent, dating from Man-
chester, Auausc 5, writes : — '; I should esteem

it a great favour if you would in your next
issue ask some of your subscribers to kindly,
on a post-card, advise me if they know of
any good heather forage for bees near Mac-
clesfield ? I have heard of Cheshire bee-
men taking stocks to Hayfield, but going
there an hour or two yesterday afternoon,
I did not discover any good spot for them.''

E. M. D P. (Barnstaple). — Honey Extractors.
— A.n efficient machine suitable for a small
apiary may be bad for about 15s. to 21s.
Any of our leading advertisers will supply
them at prices quoted .

"A Beginner" (Bucks). — Full Sheets or
Starters Only, Which ? — 1. The question
ot using full sheets or " starters " only of
foundation for swarms is simply a matter
of choice ; either will answer the purpose of
insuring straight combs in frames, and that
is the essential point, whatever ro,ay be said
by the "lecturer" you refer to. Nor doe3
the "Guide Book" confirm the lecturer's
views as you state. In the chapter on
" Hiving Bees " (page 21) the instructions
are to use either full sheets of foundation
wired, or strips 1 in. or more in depth
known as " starters." 2. With regard to
the swarms — hived in June — not working,
the fact of the bees not being able to build
out all the combs in brood-chamber, as
stated, obviously furnishes the reply, and
shows that June was a very poor month for
bees. We cannot quite understand your
mention of " nine frames full of brood and
honey " in view of the inquiry, " When
ought I to put in whole sheets, now or in
spring 1 ''

" Beginner " (Portadown). — Bees Killing off'
Drones. — 1. Your mention of haviug '' put
two skeps into bar-frames," is too indefinite
for us to quite make out whether the combs
and bees have been transferred, or the
skeps placed above the frame-hives in order
that the bees might transfer themselves.
2. The killing off drones and " casting out
drone grubs" in one lot, simply indicates
the stoppage of income, and the desire of
the bees to do away with useless consumers
of their stores.

J. B. P. (Darlington). — Aborted Bees Cast
Out. — The fully-formed but wingless bees
owe their deformity to untoward conditions
during the process of hatching, ; i.e., insuffi-
cient warmth for proper development of the
insect when in the chrysalis stage.

Thos. Walker (Glos). — We cannot undertake
post replies to queries, the labour would be
altogether too great. Your query was
answered last week on page 320.

J. C. (Weston-super-Mare). — Varieties of
Heathers. — 1. The three samples are respec-
tively as follows : — No. 1, Erica or Calluna
vulgaris (common ling) ; No. 2, Erica
cinerea, or bell heather ; No. 3, Erica
tetralix, or cro3s-leaved heath. These

330

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 14, 1902.

heathers are fully described and illustrated
on page 327 of B.J. for August 15, last
year. 2. The Hon. Secretary of the Bristol
and Somerset B.K.A. is Mr. Jas. Brown,
Messrs. Brown & Sons, Seedsmen, Bristol.

" Amateur " (Leek). — Sour Mead for Making
Honey- Vinegar. — We should not think that
hoDey-vinegar made from sour mead would
be fit for use, as good honey- vinegar requires
far more care in the making than mead.

G. L. (Cowling). — Queen Cast Out. — The dead
queen was too hard and dry for post mortem
examination, but from the appearance it
seems to have been a case of "balling."
The shape of dead insect is that of a virgin
queen, and evidently a hybrid.

H. C. (Coventry). — Experts' Certificates. — For
particulars regarding syllabus of examina-
tions for these apply to Mr. E. H. Young,
Sec. B B.K.A , 12, Hanover-square, London.

T. H. T. (Cornwall.) — Value of Driven Bees.
— There can be no question of the value of
ten or twelve stocks of bees to be had gratis
for the trouble of driving. But we doubt
very much whether you would make a
success of the task, seeing that you are
entirely inexperienced and ask us to give
you full directions for driving, uniting, and
after treatment. With regard to the latter
items you had best read the " Guide Book "
which gives the needful particulars, and for
the rest we advise you to get the help of
some bee-man accustomed to the work, or
some serious trouble may follow your first
attempt at bee-driving on a large scale.

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,"
not " Manager."

J. M. (co. Down). — Foul brood is rapidly
developing in comb, but as the case is pro-
bably not of old standing, it hardly calls for
the most drastic measures. The bees may
be saved, and if strengthened by a stock of
driven bees in treating as a swarm, all may
go on well in a clean hive with proper treat-
ment preparatory to packing down for
winter.

W. W. (Wisbech). — There is foul brood in
both samples.

F. Hamshar. — Both samples show signs of
foul brood in the incipient stage. Being a
recent outbreak, the empty sections may be
used again.

R. C. L. (High Barnet).— Comb contains only
pollen and honey (or food). We do not see
any brood at all in cells. Can you not cut

1 in. square of unsealed brood and send
it on 1

(Miss) C. M. B. (Horsham).— The "black
appearance " in comb referred to is merely
due to the cells having had brood reared in
them. There is no trace of brood now in
cells. The honey had run out of box and
was sent on by post-office in official envelope
as "found damaged in post" to you.
Liquid honey should not be sent unless
safely packed.

R. T. (Minchinhampton). — There is foul
brood of such a bad type in comb that we
advise total destruction of bees and combs.

Honey Samples.

J. W. P. (Walthamstow). — Both samples are
fairly good. No. 1 better of the two, and
might do for show-bench, if not too keen
a competition.

G. H. (Cambs). — The honey is beginning) to
granulate and would need warming care-
fully to clear it for the show-bench. It is
of good quality and quite suitable for a
local show.

*** Some Queries are unavoidably held over
for reply till next week.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve toords and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

WANTED, any quantity BEESWAX. Good price
given. Ross, Barkerland House, Dumfries. 0 37

-i CWT. of OLD HONEY, in two tins, 50s. E. Holder,
1 Grosvenor Cottage, Bath. 0 36

HEALTHY DRIVEN BEES, Is. 3d. per lb., not less
than 4 lb. (Boxes to be returned.) E. Long,
Fu) bourn, Cambs. 0 34

DRIVEN BEES.— Strong STOCKS, with Queens, 5s.
Package returnable. PHILLIPS, Spetchley,
Worcester. O 35

SIX strong STOCKS of BEES, with or without Hives,
all on Standard Frames. JOHN Brookfielb,
Gardener, 108, Stamford-road, Birkdale, Southport.

0 38

OWEN BROWNING, Ashley, wishes to notify that
he cannot take more orders for honey this season.
Limited quantity Driven Bees ready after 20th inst.,
Is. 3d. per lb. Q 33

DRIVEN BEES, guaranteed healthy (apiary
established 25 years), with 1902 fertile Queens,
strong lots, 5s., on rail; Selected Queens, 2s. 6d. ;
Bees, with 1901 Queen, 4s. Expert, Bee Journal Office.
O .-.9

EW SECTIONS WANTED, best quality. T. SMITH,
17, Cambridge-street, Hyde Park. N 63

N

WANTED, NEW SECTIONS (first quality). State
lowest for cash. CHILTON, Polegate, Sussex.

HEALTHY DRIVEN BEES with Queen, 5s. lot.
Boxes returned. A. Moreton, Bee Expert,

Leigh, Worcester. °_20_

ECTIONS and EXTRACTED HONEY WANTED
(best quality Sainfoin or Clover). Mention price.
F. Sladen, Ripple Court Apiary, Dover. o 12

DRIVEN BEES, August delivery, 3s. 6d per lot with
Queens; Boxes returnable G.W.R. PuLLEN,
Ramsbury, Hungerford. O 11

PLENDID LOT oF EXTRACTED HONEY and
SECTIONS ; tins returnable G.W.R. Pullen,
Ramsbury, Hungerford. o 10

Aug. 21, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

331

4SSAoM, $xtxm, &t

HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT B.K.A.

SWANMORE BRANCH.

The annual show of above branch was held
on July 30, at Bishops Waltham, in con-
nection with that of the Bishops Waltham
Horticultural Society. The season began
unfavourably, but finished up well, and it is
probable that the supply of honey will not be
much below the average. Mr. E. H. Bellairs
judged the honey, and made the following
awards : —

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, E. Ainsley ;
2nd, W. G. Hedges ; 3rd, E. Hedges.

Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, E. Ainsley ; 2 ad,
A. Royds,Jr. ; 3rd, W. Cooper ; c, E. Hedges.

Three l-lb. Sections. — Equal firsts, E. Ainsley
and A. Royds, Jr.; 2nd, Miss Martin.

Single l-lb. Section. — 1st, E. Ainsley ; 2nd,
Miss Mai tin ; 3rd, W. Cooper.

Three l-lb. Sections (novices). — 1st, Miss
Nessie Martin ; 2nd, W. King.

Display of Honey. — 1st, W. G. Hedges ;
2nd, C T. Hedges ; 3rd, Ernest Hedges.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (light).
—1st, E. Ainsley ; 2nd, F. Sandell'; 3rd, E.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (dark).
— 1st, E. Ainsley.

Six l-lb. Sections and Six l-lb. Jars. —
Equal firsts, E. Ainsley and F. Sandell ; 2nd,
W. G. Hedges.

Three l-lb. Section and Three l-lb. Jars. —
1st, E. Ainsley; 2nd, F. Sandell; 3rd, E.
Hedges.

Single Section and Single Jar. — 1st, F.
Sandell ; 2nd, E. Ainsley.

Three l-lb. Jars Granulated Honey. — 1st,
F. Sparksman ; 2nd, W. Cooper.

Two Shallow Frames Comb Honey. — 1st,
C. T. Hedges ; 2nd, W. G. Hedges ; 3rd, E.
Hedges.

Twelve l-lb. in Sections and Twelve l-lb.
Jars Extracted Honey (members only). — 1st,
E. Ainsley ; 2nd, E. Hedges ; 3rd, W. G.
Hedges.

Wasps! Nest.—l^, W. G. Hedges ; 2nd, F.
GarnetD.

Bell Glass Svper (weighing 45 lb.) shown by
W. G. Hedges was highly commended. —
{Communicated. )

EAST KENT HONEY SHOW.

The first show was held at Wye on
August 13 in connection with the local Horti-
cultural Show. Lord Stanhope (Lord-Lieu-
tenant of Kent), Mr. Laurence Hardy, M.P.,
and Mr. Edward Ascherson kindly extended
their patronage thereto.

A total of nearly seventy entries were re-
ceived for the seven classes, the competition

in the classes for sections and extracted honey
being particularly keen.

Considering the season, which has been far
from propitious for bee-keepers, the show was
a distinct success.

The Rev. J. H. Carr, Rector of Adisham,
judged the exhibits and made the following
awards : — ,

OPEN TO EAST KENT ONLY.

Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, South-Eastern
Agricultural College, Wye ; 2nd, E. R. Nash,
Smarden ; 3rd, T. Head, Canterbury ; 4th,
G. Bishopp, Lydd.

Two Shallow Frames Comb Honey. — 1st,
E. R. Nash ; 2nd, Rev. F. N. Style, Pluckley ;
3rd, G. Alexander, Ashford ; 4th, S. Darling-
ton, Charing.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, E. R.
Nash ; 2nd, S. Darlington ; 3rd, T. Knight,
Elham ; 4th, W. Hills, Kennington.

Super of Honey. — 1st, J. Chittenden, Wye ;
2nd, H. C. Dodd, Wye ; 3rd, W. Hills.

Beeswax. — 1st, G. Bishopp ; 2nd, Miss S.
Amos, Wye ; 3rd, T. Head ; 4th, Miss H.
McGregor, Wye.

Trophy of Bee-Products. — 1st, South-
Eastern Agricultural College ; 2nd, J. D.
Tappenden, Ashford ; 3rd, T. Dodd, Wye.

Sleep of Honey (skeppists only). — 1st, G.
Collins, Kennington ; 2nd, J. Maxted, Little
Chart ; 3rd, H. Reynolds, Wye.

Mr. Jesse Garratt during the day gave inte-
resting demonstrations and lectures in the
Kent County Council bee-tent. — J. Ttppen,
Hon. Sec.

HONEY SHOW AT BRADFORD
ABBAS.

The tenth annual show under the auspices
of the Yetmin9ter District B.K.A. was held on
August 13 in wretched weather, on the
Vicarage Lawn, by kind invitation of Miss
Hatfield.

The entries were numerous, notwithstanding
the bad season, and the quality was excep-
tionally good in all classes.

Mr. Brown, of Maiden Newton, and Mr.
Stacey, of Merriott, officiated as judges, and
made the following awards : —

MEMBERS ONLY.

Standard Frame of Comb Honey. — 1st, J.
Batten, Thornford ; 2nd, J. Andrews, Thorn-
ford ; 3rd, F. Trott, Leigh ; 4tb, E. Higgins,
Bradford Abbas.

Shallow Frame of Comb Honey. — 1st, G.
Leeding, Bradford Abbas ; 2nd, F. Trott ; 3rd,
A. Buckland, Thornford ; 4th, W. Lang, Brad-
ford Abbas.

Six l-lb. Sections.— 1st, F. Trott; 2nd, T.
Banger, Leigh ; 3rd, Miss A. M. Ffooks,
Leigh ; 4tb, G. Leeding.

Bell Glass (over 10 lb.).— 1st, G. Leeding ;
2nd, J. Andrews ; 3rd, W. Lang.

Bell Glass (under 10 lb.).— 1st, G. Leeding ;
2nd, C. Smith, Wyke ; 3rd, G. Andrews.

332

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 21, 1902.

Twelve 1-/6. Jars Extracted Honey (light).
—1st, F. Trott ; 2nd, T. Banger ; 3rd, C.
Smith ; 4th, J. Andrews.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (dark).
— 1st, J. Andrews ; 2nd, T. Gabe, Thornford ;
3rd, E. Higgins ; 4th, G. Leeding.

Beeswax. — 1st, G. Leeding ; 2nd, F. Trott ;
3rd, T. Bishop, Bradford Abbas ; 4th, 0.
Smith.

Honey Trophy. — 1st, 0. Smith.

Honey Trophy (open to previous winners
only).— 1st, G. Leeding ; 2nd, F. Trott.

Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, J.
Andrews ; 2nd W. Lang.

OPEN CLASSES.

Single 1-lb. Jar Extracted Honey (light). —
1st, Miss D. Edwards, Broughton, Hants ;
2nd, S. Temblett, Andover, Hants ; 3rd, H.
Goodsell, Biddenden, Kent.

Single 1-lb. Jar Extracted Honey (dark). —
1st, C. Smith, Wyke, Dorset ; 2nd, F. Trott,
Leigh, Dorset.

Collection of Bee Flowers. — 1st, E. Higgins,
Bradford Abbas ; 2nd, Miss Hilda Leeding,
Bradford Abbas.

An interesting feature was the bee-driving
competition. Mr. H. M. Tilley, County
Council Instructor, adjudicated and awarded
the prizes as follows : — 1st, T. Bishop ; 2nd,
G. Leeding ; 3rd, E. Higgins.

faotrnpnUmt

1'ht Jtditort do not hold themselves responsioie for the
opinions emprttttd by correspondents. No notice will bt
taken of anonymou* communication*, and correspondent!
art requetted to write on one tide of the paper only and
give their real names and addrettet, not necestarih) for
publication, but at a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tiont should be drawn on separate piecet of paper. We
do not undertake to return reiected communications. ■

COMMENTS ON CUKRENT TOPICS.

[4865.] Heather and Weather. — Last year I
noted that the heather was in bloom on
July 15, and bees were working actively on it
from the 20th onward. This year no single
floret has opened on the corresponding date
of August — a full month later than last year.
Shepherds and gamekeepers predict a poor
bloom, and as the season is so far gone, the
prospects are not at present bright, for up to
date not a single ounce of surplus honey has
been consigned to the supers of any of my
hives. If they gather as much as will save
feeding I shall be very thankful. Bees scarcely
ever looked outside from the beginning of
August until the 13th, when they had a very
busy day. Dull leaden skies have hid the
sun, cold east winds have prevailed, and
chilling showers have soured the plants, while
a continuous low temperature has soured the
bees, and kept them indoors.

Excellent Advice. — Marcus Aurelius was a
man of sage counsel, and many of his sayings

remind us of the wisdom of Solomon. Here
is one : " Get up ! In the morning when
thou risest unwillingly let this thought be
present, I am rising to the thoughts of a
human being. Dost thou exist then to take
thy pleasure, and not for action and exertion 1
Dost thou not see the little plants, the little
birds, the ants, the spiders, the bees working
together to put in order their little parts of
the universe, and art thou unwilling to do the
work of a human being, and dost thou not
make haste to do that which is according to
thy nature 1 "

How to Know Sivarmed Stocks. — When a
swarm comes out with no watcher near, it is
difficult to tell from which out of a number of
hives it has issued. Here is an infallible test,
simple in performance, and within the reach
of all: Take a cup and place a spoonful of
flour in it. Detach about a score of bees from
the cluster, letting them fall into the flour.
Cover the mouth of cup with palm of hand
and shake all together, thus giving them a
thorough dusting. Throw them down on a
clean place, some distance away, and remove
the skep with swarm to a new site, preferably
where it cannot be readily seen by the dusted
bees. These latter, as soon as they have got
over their astonishment at their rough treat-
ment, fly at first in the direction of the spot
where the swarm settled, but finding no bees
there, they make, wisely, for their old home.
I found this in the Journal years ago, and
now hand it down to the new generation.

Poisonous Honey. — Some time ago I dealt
with this subject, and promised to revert to it.
Lately in the public prints several cases have
been recorded where deleterious results
followed the eating of certain kinds of honey.
The very interesting account given on page
280, if substantiated, would confirm this
beyond dispute. Certain kinds of honey
undoubtedly create nausea, vomiting, and
produce other marks of poisoning. I think it
is distinctly implied in Jonathan's answer to
Saul, " I tasted of the honey and my eyes
were enlightened," that it acted as a regular
stimulant. So long ago as our school-boy
days we remember reading in Xenophon's
" Anabasis,'' in the " History of the Ten
Thousand,'' that something like a temporary
insanity or a species of drunkenness pervaded
the whole army when they ate of the honey of
Trebizond. A modern writer records that he
recently saw exactly the same effect produced
by the eating of honey in that country. An
Italian bee journal lately recorded that the
members of a family who partook of a certain
kind of honey were all seized soon after with
" delirium, dancing and gesticulating like
lunatics." After a profound sleep they
gradually recovered. Mr. Root holds that
honey may be poisonous both for the bees and
for human beings, and in his "A. B. C." gives
well-authenticated instances of this happening
in each case.
Dr. Gramma, one of his authorities, in

Aug. 21, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

333

describing the effect the poisonous honey had
on the soldiers, gives almost a paraphrase of
Xenophon's description. The evil effects
lasted for several days, and where an over-in-
dulgence of the tempting sweet had taken
place, he certifies tbat even death followed.
It appears as if a species of drunkenness first
set in, followed by sickness, aDd then ensued
drowsiness and a desire for sleep. As far as
taste and smell are concerned, it is well known
that different plants yield honey of a distinct
aroma and flavour so decided that an expert
honey taster can at once declare the source
from which most of our distinctive honies are
gathered. This has a bearing, I think, on the
point under consideration. Mr. Shorthouse
[4679] considered that as the active poison was
mainly located in the roots of plants, nectar
sucked from the flower would be innocuous, but
this scarcely follows. The root is often to a
certain extent the store where the juice is
hoarded up until required by the stem, &c,
and this juice is really the food of the flower
and flows by the stem to the nectaries, where
it is found by the bees and transferred by
them to their cells. The aroma of the plants
being distinctly conveyed to the honey, it
follows, I think, that bees may convey some of
their poisonous property into their honey
Btores. It has been noted that one species of
lime brings about a certain amount of stupe-
faction, not only to hive bees, but even to
wasps and the more lusty humble bees. I can
myself certify that I have seen the latter
acting in every way as if they were under the
influence of a narcotic, and I remember once
supplying the Journal with a short para-
graph on " Drunken Humble Bees.'— D. M. M ,
Bang.

THE HONEY BEE.

ITS FRIENDS AND FOES.

[4866.] 1 venture to suggest that it would
render your journal still more interesting
were you to occasionally devote a portion to
instructing apiculturists in the sciences of
entomology and botany.

I do not mean to thoroughly embrace the
subjects in all directions ; that I know to be
both needless and impossible, but only so far
as would interest and enable many of us who
are keenly interested in bees, insects, butter-
flies, flowers, &c. (collectively, the honey bee,
its friends and foes), to grasp our subject more
perfectly from a scientific standpoint, and, at
the same time, provide a very healthful pas-
time for our winter hours of leisure.

Bee-keeping, as we all well know, has long
since left the hands of the superstitious fad-
dists, perhaps from the time the bar-frame
hive came into vogue, since which apiculture
has developed into quite an industry ; and we
now find it has energetic followers, possessed
in many cases of much scientific knowledge ;
in others, people who would so interest them-
selves if the means for so doing were given,

Hence I venture to suggest that the Journal
should devote a portion known as "The
Science Corner," and give, periodically, plain
and concise directions for hilling, dissecting,
preserving, mounting, and naming specimens
of interest to the apiculturist, i.e., the queen,
drone, and worker bee in their different stages of
life ; specimens of the different breeds of bees,
the ant, earwig, wax-moth, spider, wasp, fly-
catcher, tits, &c. ; and perhaps go a step
further in directing for the gathering of the
various honey-giving flowers, and the pressing
of them so that their characteristic points are
made manifest. In fact, I think there is no
limit to such a fascinating and instructive
pastime, and I feel sure it would, or at least
should, find many interested workers, espe-
cially as the outlay in instruments required
for carrying out the experiments is but
trifling.

Then the reward, I am sure, is well worthy
of the labour (if correctly termed). For
instead of producing from an old match-box,
hidden away in some remote corner, a speci-
men of a once-favoured queen, which in her
day worked wonders in her honey-getting,
brood-rearing, or colour-producing qualities, or
what not, we show our friends a frame of
beautifully mounted, carefully preserved
queens, insects, or otherwise, each of which is
in a natural life-like position, or an album of
mounted botanical specimens, each correctly
and scientifically named ; we feel j ustly proud
of our undertaking, and, besides, we render
our subject far more interesting and instruc-
tive, and may be the means of others taking
up the pursuit. However, before doing so,
they want reminding of the old fact that a
thing badly done is a constant thorn ; whereas
a thing well done is an object of beauty — con-
sequently a joy for ever.

Finally, it would give me much pleasure if
prizes were offered for the best collection of
mounted specimens in entomology and botany
at our honey shows. I am sure our scientific
workers, of whom we are vastly proud, would
gain encouragement, and the exhibition should
be of additional interest to all observers.

In conclusion, I sincerely tender my apolo-
gies if in my suggestions I have overstepped
the boundary of etiquette. — W. H., Evesham,
August 13.

CURING VICIOUS BEES.

[4867.] The following incident may be of
some use to some of your numerous readers
who are troubled with vicious bees. It will
undoubtedly amuse many who are bee-keepers,
if you consider it worth publishing. In June
last I happened to call upon a bee-keeper
whose bees, especially those belonging to one
hive, were in a most furious state, and had
been so for some days. As I approached the
hive in question, I was at once surrounded by
bees, whose well-known " war note " could not
be misunderstood. They meant, evidently,

334

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 21, 1902.

"a fight to the finish," and as the asser-
tion of the good housewife, who said
with special emphasis, " They are posi-
tively dangerous,'' was only too true,
realising the situation ' (there was a public
roadway on one side of the garden), I re-
quested that the bees should not in any way
be disturbed, and requested that a bogey-man,
or " scare-crow '' should be placed near the
hives and moved to a different position from
day to day, the object being to make them
familiar, at least, with the appearance of a
human figure. The desired end was attained,
not altogether as I anticipated, but on
August 14 the owner writes me : — " Your
suggestion to put up a hat and coat in front of
hive of ill-tempered bees worked wonderfully.
All the bad bees evidently stung the hat,
which was covered with stings, and we have
had no stings since, although gojng near
the hives.'' — William Sole, Wimbledon,
August 16.

INSECT NOMENCLATURE.

[4868.] With reference to the comb of little
cocoons sent me for identification last week,
and mentioned on page 327, one perfect insect
emerged from it last evening, and in two hours'
time about thirty had made their appearance.
No more have since come out, although there
are a number of cells still capped over. The
insects turn out to be a species of ichneumon-
fly of the section Braconidse. I have been
able to identify it from the tables given in
Marshall's work on the Braconidse (in Andre's
" Species des Hymenopteres ") as Microgaster
alvearius, Fab. Marshall gives a note oq the
comb-like arrangement of the cocoons of this
species, a translation of which I give here.

"These insects are autumnal and social
parasites in geometer- (looper-) caterpillars.

" The larvae practise a method of arranging
their cocoons, which is also common to those
of M. flavipes and M. minutus; they place
them in the form of a honey-comb, often to
the number of a hundred, with no external
covering beyond a band of silk which sur-
rounds the circumference of the combs. This
borrows very often the contour of the space
left vacant underneath the body of the cater-
pillar, which preserves in dying its charac-
teristic loop-like attitude. In England these
combs are frequently to be found attached to
various kinds of shrubs, especially to the twigs
of the jasmine. In other countries of Europe
this microgaster is apparently less well known.
.... Ratzeburg gives M. alvearius as para-
site on a saw-fly, Nematus septentrionalis, L. ;
but this statement is refuted by other ob-
servers. This species can usually be obtained
from Bumia luteolata, L., and from Bormia
gemmaria, Brahm."

Bumia luteolata is one of the brimstone
moths. — F. W. L. Sladen, Bipple Court
Apiary, Dover, August 16.

JUDGING HONEY (?).

[4869.] At a local flower show held here
this week prizes were offered for " six sections
of honey," and I am told by the steward that
the judges awarded the prizes according to the
weight of the exhibit. Prizes were awarded
to sections which were not evenly capped, of a
bad colour, travel stained, and the surface of
the sections very uneven, whilst an exhibit
which . was beautifully finished, without pop-
holes, with comb well attached to wood on all
sides, of uniform colour, and the capping
perfectly even, were passed over simply
because the sections did not happen to weigh
to so much, although they were all over
16 oz. each. The unfairness of the awards
was so apparent that many persons expressed
surprise.

I should like to know whether " weight " is
regarded as the main factor in determining
awards in such cases ?— E. W., August 16.

[We omit name of locality where the show
referred to was held for obvious reasons ; but
the way in which the prizes were awarded
clearly shows that the gentlemen who were
appointed to judge the exhibits had no
experience of the work. The onus conse-
quently falls upon those who selected the
judges. — Eds.]

FOUL BROOD REMEDIES.

[4870.] In ordering a fresh supply of foul
brood remedies J may say naphthaline does
remarkably well. I cannot say that it actually
cures foul brood amongst the bee?, but I do
know that some of my colonies that have been
well-nigh rank with disease have in the course
of two seasons so recovered as to become power-
ful enough to collect me three crates of shallow
frames crammed full of delicious honey this
season.

My time is too much limited to allow me to
manipulate my thirty or forty colonies on the
orthodox principles, so I have to work on the
let-em-alone system, and any foul broody hive
gets closed down to its ten-bar frames, wrapped
up closely with a medium width entrance, and
naphthaline dropped down each corner of the
hive about once in ten days during the honey
season. The result of this is that the bees in
nearly every case turn out remarkably strong
the next spring, and prove some of my very
best houey gatherers. — Moreton Lord, Sussex,
Augvst 9.

(Correspondence continued on page 336.)

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

Our friend Mr. Hopkins, whose apiary
appears this week, sends such full and inte-
resting " notes " concerning himself and his
useful bee-work that we may well allow them
to speak for themselves without any addition
from us. He says : —

" I have been myself very much interested

Aug. 21, 1902.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

335

in the ' Homes of the Honey Bee ' pictures in
B.B.J., and although my apiary is only a small
one, 1 thought it might interest some of your
many readers to let them know that hees can
be made to pay a labouring man if properly
managed, as well as those with larger incomes.
I commenced bee-keeping in 1890 with one
skep, having caught the ' bee fever ' through
hiving a swarm for a friend without getting a
sting. Previously to this I had no liking at
all lor bees, but I have now fifteen colonies,
some of which could not be shown in the
photo. These are quite as many as I can
manage well, having to be at my work from
six in the morning till eight at night and often
later. After seeing a copy of your valuable

front is a privet hedge, which I planted as a
screen for the purpose of causing the bees to
rise over a pathway only about four yards
from the front of the hives. I find it neces-
sary to take these precautions in order to keep
the bees quiet, as there are neighbours who
use the pathway as well as ourselves, and I
am glad to say that they hardly ever get a
sting. I also gave my neighbour a swarm, and
lend a hand in managing them, so we
get along very well together. You see by
photo that the hives are rather too close
together, but this cannot be helped, owing to
want of space in my garden. The two figures
seen in photo are the good wife and myself.
She does her share in the bee-work by ex-

MR. C. HOPKINS' APIARY, HAMPTON LEVETT, DROITWICH, WORCESTER.

Bee Journal (for which I am indebted for
all my bee knowledge), I was soon convinced
that a good bar-frame hive was the best to
work with, and I bought one ; then added one
or two each year as my slender income
allowed. They are on the ' W.B.C plan,
and all interchangeable except one. I do very
well with them, my average ' take ' of hooey
beiDg about 80 lb. per hive all round. I have,
however, got as much as 130 lb. from one
hive. I make it a rule to prevent the issue of
any swarms by giving room a little in advance
of requirements, and by shading the hives in
very hot weather. The foliage seen at the
back is raspberry canes and black-currant
trees, which I planted for shelter. In the

tracting and bottling the honey, fitting up
sections for use, and cleaning and grading
them when taken off, which latter items we
make two of our chief points in management.
I attend to almost all the bees in our parish,
where ' box ' hives are kept, for they are not
worthy to be called bar-framed hives, some of
them being old sugar-boxes, with no roof on.
The bee-men about here are mostly skeppists,
but I do my best for them.

" So you see I have my hands pretty full, but
it is always a pleasure to me to work among
the bees.

"My hobby for 1902 was a nucleus of White
Star Italians, which I am pleased to say have
done exceedingly well. Besides throwing off

336

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 21, 1902.

a large swarm, which I returned after remov-
ing four frames packed with brood and all
queen cells, some of which I used for re-queen-
ing, they bave fitted a box of ehallow frames,
about 30 lb. weight, and three racks of sec-
tions, making a total of 931b. I call this
good for the short honey season we have had
here.

" I must now bring my story to a close,
as I fear 1 have exceeded my space, with
good wishes to all bee-keepers, and especially
our worthy Editors, one of whom 1 had the
pleasure of meeting once and hope to do so
again at some future time.''

CORRESPONDENCE.

{Continued from page 334.)

NOTES OF A "QUAYLE" CALL.

THERE IS A HAPPY LAND, FAR, FAR AWAY.

[4871.] It is now a long time since we used
to sing about that Happy Land, with only
the vaguest of childish ideas as to its exact
location. Suffice it to say that we have found
it, that it is all our fancy pictured it, and that
it is not so very far away.

It is no myth ; neither fairyland, though
scored by many a fairy glen ; nor topsey-
turveydom, although, whilst a part of the
Empire, it governs itself ; although its Arms
are legs ; and though whilst its title is the
Isle of Man, it is not devoid of women, and
other trifling anomalies. We fear that is
doubtfully expressed, and that the gude wives
will have somewhat to say on the matter.

Our apologies, ladies, it is the work of the
"printer's devil," that should have been a
semi-colon.

Yes, the Happy Land of Mona.

Mona ! thou Gem of the Ocean,
Mona ! thou Pearl of the Deep,

Peaceful amidst its commotion,
Lull'd by its Tempest to sleep.

The stern claims of a workaday world have
torn us from its embrace, but it " still doth
haunt us in our dreams," and we imagine our-
selves again basking in its sunlight, listening
to the music of its bees.

It might be thought that " Mona " and
" Man " are equivalent terms, but the synonym
should be handled with care, as, whilst there
are many bee-men in the island, there are no
bemoaners over Mona's bees ! Curiously
enough, it was a bee which first greeted us,
and which came aboard at Douglas, perhaps to
look for friends, or, possibly, like the snowy-
pinioned gulls, seeking what it might devour !
The Manx bees are very intelligent ! We
wish we could also record that they have no
tails !

Truth compels us to state that it was not
" Mellifica," but of the humble-bumble order,
so that we could not regard the twinkle in its
iris aB a message from a brother bee-man. We,
therefore, called upon brother Horsley for our

welcome, and had full measure meted to us by
mine host of the Merridale House, who seemed
to be more than busy with a houseful of
visitors, but yet found time for a bee-chat.

Mine merrie host, we wonder how any bee
can be found with sufficient hardness
in its feminine heart to sting you, or with
strength of mind to decide upon which par-
ticular part of your broad, cheery countenance
to leave its mark. "May you live and
prosper, and may you never lack a harvest of
visitors in the poorest of seasons." Our
advice to all holiday-making bee-keepers is,

" Go and stay with ," but we suppose this

should really go into the advertisement
columns.

It was our intention to visit Mr. Lancelot
Quayle, and we were assured by Mr. H. that
we should have the right hand of Manx good
fellowship extended to us, as we found to be
the case when we called upon the genial post-
master of Glen Maye, known to most British
bee-keepers as the holder of single-hive record
returns. We introduced ourselves as having
heard he kept a bee, and might we see it ;
also our friend, Mr. Geo. Crawshaw, as a
nephew of the late Mr. Geo. Neighbour, and
we were at once upon the familiar bee-speak-
ing terms. Mr. Q. took us into his house,
and showed us all that was his, rejoicing our
hearts by the sight of bees tumbling home
with distended bodies, singing the honey song,
whilst the aroma of early heather honey filled
the air. And this, whilst with us the feeders
are in use on strong stocks lest they starve !

Of Mrs. Quayle's hospitality too we par-
took. They would have us sit at their table,
and, needless to say, sample their honey. We
have the pleasantest recollection of our visit.
And the bees ! We were privileged to inspect
some of the hives, and later to assist in re-
moving numerous boxes of shallow-frames,
busy as the bees themselves, check- weighing,
extracting, and returning empties, wrapped up
the while in a most business-like clean apron.
Mr. Q.'s official assistant, although securely
veiled, suffered from the "jumps," and was,
we think, glad to be excused when we offered
to take his place. As it was clearly Mr. Q.'s
buzzy season, he was sorry we had not called
earlier to avoid the rush. Still, we did good
work during our limited time. Mr. Q. is a
user of the carbolic cloth, but likes the moral
support of a smoker in readiness — or rate
blackness — as when called upon for a verdict
it was commonly " out.'' It was of the " cold
blasted '' order — we speak of it advisedly in
the " imperfect " tense, and in our anathema
of the tense transposed the order of its title.
How Mr. Q. smiled as frame after frame out
of the upper crates came to view sealed to the
bottom, but for a few cells of the heather honey
just beginning to pour in. By the way, he
maintains that his heather surplus comes from
the bell heather, not the common ling. We
were duly shown the " record " hive, and
another which has since yielded over 350 lb.

Aug. 21, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

337

This is a bad season for him ; he does not
expect " to average much more than 100 lb.
per hive ! " What are the secrets of his
success ?

Thoroughness and Capability. — He believes
in the best, and uses, for instance, full sheets
of the finest weed drove base fir in his shallow-
frames. We have been at work with him,
have seen his books, and can testify to the
careful way his returns are handled.

Substantial Hives. — These are home-made,
double walled, and with a large brood Dest ;
twelve or thirteen standard frames. His bees
" would be constantly swarming with fewer.''
He is, however, in a large frame of mind, and
intends to experiment with the commercial
16 in. by 10 in.

A Prolific Strain of Bees. — The progeny
of the record queen has, we understand, gone
to improve the stock of a noted breeder.

A Bee District Second to None. — Mr. Q.
informs us that from the early gorse to the laie
heather there is always some forage, and he
does not despise the claims of the dandelion or
the humble daisy to rank as honey producers.
His bees are situate in a valley, sheltered from
the winds, and sail downhill with their load to
the little garden, or the roof of the house,
where records are made ; to create fresh
figures, "A land flowing with milk and
honey,'' and except that most of the mi)k
seems to be cream, this would be a good de-
scription.

But Q. is not always without trouble. Last
Sunday, for instance, his bees swarmed high
in an old ash tree. So he " ups '' with a home-
made " Manum " catcher ; most of his outfit
is home-made — and well made too — except
the Manum, and that mattered. For it
broke, and most of the bees fell on poor Q.,
who fled "extinguished.'' At least, if wish-
ing could have got the stings out, he worked
hard. The bees brought their defensive
organs into full play, and. whilst Q. paid the
piper, this was hardly the tune he had called !

However, with the help of the " extractor "
and a corkscrew he found himself again, and
after shovelling the stings into his formic
acid bottle, he went to church thinking
deeply ! Well, if your bees toill do these
thiDgs on Sunday, Mr. Q.-

It was not uncil next day that the scattered
cohorts were safely housed, and when we saw
them were working as merrily as if nothing
had happened, although one or two bees
seemed to remember Q.'s face.

We wonder, does he know those beautiful
lines of the Laureate beginning : —

There was an old man up a tree,
Who was awfully bored by a bee,

When they said " Does it buzz ? "

He replied " Yes, it does,
It's a regular brute of a bee ! "

Goodbye, Bro. Quayle, the best of continued
success be yours, and better luck next year.
Only 100 lb. a hive ! Poor, poor man. — L. S.
Crawshaw, Illcley, August 14.

^np$ m& $$fip.

[2950.] Surplus Pollen in Combs. — Last
year I took from hives seven bar-frames
for honey extraction between September 16 and
21. Their average weight before the honey
was extracted was 31b. 14 oz. ; after extrac-
tion 2 lb. 2 oz. Allowing 12 oz. as the weight
of the frame and empty comb alone, the stored
pollen, &c, of each frame must have weighed
on an average 1£ lb. — that is, sixth-sevenths of
the weight of houey yielded. The bees are not
much inclined to remove the non-honey stores,
and it is not advisable, I believe, to leave the
full number of frames in the hives during the
winter, thereby extending the space to have
kept warm. Consequently nearly all this " bee
bread " was wasted, for it soon gets mouldy.
Yesterday, the examination of a hive showed
that at present there is not much bee-bread
stored. 1. Is it then desirable to take the honey
now, leaving in the hives bar-frames enough
for what additional store room the bees may
want before the end of the season ? It would
not be much. Waste of " bee-bread " would
thus be avoided, though to take combs how
would, no doubt, involve some loss of brood.
2. Also would you kindly tell me whether, in
the event of frames being removed now, it is
expedient to turn the bees' lost energies to
account by giving them full foundation and
syrup to induce them to draw out the founda-
tion-sheets into combs for next year's use when
swarming begins ? —A Reader, Wokingham,
August 16.

Reply. — Bee -keepers should use every
means to prevent the storage of pollen in
combs intended for surplus honey. Yours is
simply a question of bearing this in mind in
the future, as the frames iu question can be of
little use to preserve as store combs. 2. It is
now too late to get comb-foundation drawn
out.

[2951] Bobbing by Bees,— Kindly advise
the best course 10 adopt in the following
case: — I have three single and one double
(Wells) hives. A few days ago I noticed a
great commotion on the alighting-board of
" Welb Right" (I will call those two colonies
— they enter from the ends — " Wells Right "
and " Wells Left "). 1 thought it must be a
case of robbing, so gradually closed the
entrance to about a finger's width, and put a
cloth saturated with phenyl on the board.
The bees did not like it, but the commotion
continued — a mass of excited and raging bees.
I then opened the slides full and put a piece
of perforated zinc in front, thereby closing the
entrance, and kept them so for a night and
day. Next evening, on removing the zinc, I
found most of the bees dead. Was this a case
of suffocation ? In the meantime the robbers
had attacked the " left." This entrance I had
closed to a bee's space. They clustered on the

338

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 21, 1902.

alightine-board in spite of saturated cloth, &c.
I opened the slides full, and put in place a
piece of perforated zinc, as on the other side ;
but in addition to this I removed the centre
piece of glass on the top of the frames and
replaced it with perforated zinc — 16 in. by
6 in., I should say. I use sheets of
glass on the top of the frames, under
the quilts, in all my hives ; in each
case the glass is divided into three pieces.
Kept them (the bees) shut up all day, late at
night removed the zinc from the entrance, but
replaced it in the early morning, when the
inmates appeared none the worse for their
confinement. The robbers now turned their
attention to the nearest hive, whose entrance
I had closed up to a bee's space, and put a
saturated cloth on the board, but the attack
was just as determined as in the other cases.
Closed the entrance and removed the middle
sheet of glass from the top, and put a piece of
perforated zinc in place of it ; after dark
opened the entrance and closed it again early
next morning, when the bees appeared quite
lively. It now looks as if the other two hives
will not be allowed to escape a visit from the
robbers. The three colonies attacked are not
weaklings ; on the contrary, they are strong.
The first, a May swarm (9 lb.), has given
me 38 lb. of honey (shallow frames) ; the
second, with 1901 queen, 43 lb. ; the third
also 1901 queen, 37 lb. ; and " this is a very
bad season " I am told. — W. C. H., South
Devon, August 18.

Eeply. — It seems to be a case of determined
robbing on a large scale, and the reducing
entrances so very much has helped the bees of
attacked stocks to kill off the marauders.

[2952.] Bees Swarming after Removal of
Surplus Honey. — I placed a super-clearer on
a hive on the 15th inst. and removed sections
and super-clearer the afternoon of the
16th inst. About an hour afterwards, namely,
about 3.30 p.m., a small swarm issued from
the hive and settled upon an awning over the
hive. As the day vas a very warm one
perhaps the bees thought that summer had
arrived, but is not the occurrence an unusual
one? — Weyside, Woking, August 18.

Reply. — It is a very unusual occurrence,
and can only be accounted for by the changed
conditions under which the bees found them-
selves after their stores had gone.

[2953.] Bee Nomenclature. — A few days
ago I noticed some bees, which I thougnt
resembled the honey-bee, carrying pieces of
leaves under a slated roof near by. I noticed
that some were busy with the leaves, while
others carried in pollen, and on lifting some of
the slates I found a quantity of cells made of
the leaves beautifully arranged, and even
capped with the same. As I have never seen
anything of the kind before, I should be very
much obliged if you will kindly give some
information about it in the Journal. I

enclose some of the cells and bees. — B. C,
York.

Eeply. — The interesting specimens sent are
the work of the leaf-cutter bee.

§cc jMunos to (ftflme.

August 23, at Barnton, Nortbwich.— 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 the winner of
first prize in this class.

August 23, at Hyde.— Cheshire B.K.A. Show,
in connection with the Cheshire Agricultural Society.
Eight classes for Hives, Honey, and Wax.

August 26, at Cartmel, Lanes.— Honey show in
connection with the annual show of the Cartmel
Agricultural Society.

August 27, at Beading.— Honey show of the
Berks B.K. A., in connection with the Reading Horti-
cultural Society. Open to Berks only. (Schedules and
all particulars from D. W. Bishop Ackerman, Hon. Sec.
Berks B.K.A. Entries close August 23.

August 27 and 28, at Warwick.— Honey show
of the Warwickshire B.K.A., in conjunction with the
Annual Show of the Agricultural Soeiety. Schedules
from Jas. Noble Bower, Hon. Secretary, Warwick
B.K.A., Knowle.

August 27 and 28, at Uttoxeter.— Bee and
Honey Show in connection with the Annual Show of
the Staffordshire Agricultural Society.

August 28, at Montgomery, N. Wales.—
Honey show in connection with Montgomery aud Dis-
trict Horticultural Society's Exhibition.

August 28, at Llangollen.— In connection with
the annual Flower Show. Open classes for Six 1-lb.
Sections, Six 1-lb. Bottles Extracted, and Beeswax.

September 1 to 6, at Preston.— Annual show of
the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society in connection
with the Festival week of the Guild Merchant (which
recurs only once in every twenty-one years). In honour
of the occasion a largely increased list of money prizes
is offered for honey along with silver and bronze medals
of the B.B.K.A. and also of the Society.

September 6, at Bramhall, near Stock-
port.—Honey Show in connection with the Bramhall
and Woodford District Horticultural Society. Liberal
prizes. Schedules from J. Turner, Glenwood, Bram-
hall, near Stockport. Entries close August 30.

September 6 to 13, at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (10th)
Annual Exhibition and Market. Numerous classes and
liberal prizes for comb and extracted honey and bees
wax. Open to all British Bee-keepers. Special
attention is directed to the new Honey-selling
Classes. Schedules (now ready) from H. S. Rogers,
Secretary, 27, Leadenhall - street, London, E.C.
Entries close August 26-

September 10 and 11, at Hull.— Honey show
in connection with the Hull and District Horticultural
Association, at the Artillery Barracks. Seven open
classes, including one for Honey Trophy, prizes £2
and £1 ; also classes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar of extracted honey, with free entry.
Schedules from F. W. Thompson, hon. sec, 8, Albert-
square, Ella-street, Hull. Entries close Septem-
ber 3.

September lO and 11, at Bebingtoti, near
Birkenhead.— Cheshire B.K.A. Show, in connection
with Birkenhead and Wirral Agricultural Society, on
New Show-ground. Numerous classes for Hives, Honey,
and Wax. Substantial prizes. Schedules from A. H.
Edwardson, 6, Hamilton-square, Birkenhead. Entries
close September 1.

September 10 and 11, at Derby.— Derbyshire
B.K.A. Twenty-first Annual Show of Hives, Bees, and
Honey on the show ground of the Derbyshire Agricul-
tural Society. Schedules from R. H. Coltman, Hon.

Aug. 21, 1902.] ■ THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

339

Sec. D.B.K.A., Station-street, Burton -cm-Trent. En-
tries close August 23. Double fees to August 30.

September 10 and 11, in Waverley Market,
■»5dinbu.igh.— Midlothian Bee-Keepers' Ninth Ex-
hibition. Seven open classes. Prize mooey, 12s., 8s.,
4s. Entry 2s. Schedules from W. Weir, Heriot, Mid-
lothian. Entries close September 3.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace.— Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition
of Bees, Honey, and Appliances. Specially increased
prizes and medals for Coronation year. Further par-
ticulars shortly. Schedules from Hon. Secretary,
Henry W. Brice, 100, Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath.
Entries close September 1.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace. — Surrey B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, Wax, and Appliances, &c. Twenty-four classes
(ten open to all). Increased prizes and medals.
Schedules from F. B. White, Secretary, Marden House,
Redhill, Surrey. Entries close September 1.

September 20 to 27, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with the
sixth Annual Exhibition and Market of the Grocery
and Kindred Trades. Numerous classes for comb and
extracted honey and beeswax. Open to all British
Bee-keepers. Special attention is directed to the new
Honey-selling Classes. Schedules from H. S.
Rogers, Secretary, 27, Leadenhall-street, London, E.C.
Entries close August 30.

October 4, at Newcastle-on-Tyne — Annual
show of the Northumberland and Durham B.K.A. in
the Y.M.C.A. Institute, Blackett-street. Fifteen
classes for Bees. Honey, and Bee-appliances. (Open to
Northumberland and Durham only.) Schedules from
James Waddell, hon. secretary, Wooler, Northumber-
land. Entries finally close lO a.m., October 4.

October 7 to 10, 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 Sept. 8.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Lettert or queries asking for addresses of manufac-
turer! or correspondent), 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.

Erratum. — Bee-spaced Dividers. — Referring
to Mr. Sheppard's letter (4859, p. 323) last
week, in line twelve, the words " he was not
quite satisfied '' should read he is quite
satisfied. We regret that a printer's error
should thus have conveyed an altogether
wroug impression.

S. M. (Croydon). — Expert Help Wanted. —
We cannot give you the address of " a
Surrey bee-farmer " willing to assist you in
re-arranging the bees mentioned. The
Hon. Secretary of the Surrey Bee-keepers'
Association (Mr. F. B. White, Marden
House, Redhill) would, no doubt, be able
to get the needed help, if written to.

C. P. (Llandaff). — Building up Stocks from
Driven Bees. — 1. To be safe in preparing
driven bees for winter when comb-building
is required, the driving should not be de-
ferred after the end of August or first week

in September. 2. For syrup for autumn
feeding use 10 lb. refined cane sugar to
5 pints water, and boil a few minutes.

J. Edgerley (Chorley). — Bees Fighting
among Themselves. — The vagueness in de-
scription was not ours. We did our best
to make out the details given correctly. We
regret our inability to offer any further
explanation of the trouble from the later
details you have been good enough to send.

W. E. S. (Worcester). — Labels for Granu-
lated Honey. — We do not know of any one
who stocks the labels as printed on page 90
of the " Guide Book,'' but any local printer
would print a few for a small sum.

J. Pepper (Leicestershire). — Recife for Mead.
— We can send you a copy of a former issue
of B.B.J., with recipe, for l£d. in stamps.

Jessie Rowlands (Liverpool). — Bobber Bees.
— The "black, shiny bees'' are robbers
from other hives than the one attacked.
They will do no harm so long as the stocks
attacked are strong.

J. R. (Coventry). — Your address on the
" Wonders of the Bee-Hive " would no
doubt be interesting and useful, but it is
very much open to question whether
Sunday is the most suitable day for the
performance of such work. For ourselves,
we venture to think it is not.

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,"
not "Manager."

J. Clapperton (Galashiels). — Your sample
must have miscarried in post, unless it has
been detained by the Post Office authorities
through bad packing. Anyway, it has not
reached this office. Please send another
sample.

H. S. S. M. (Stretford).— There is foul brood
in comb, but the three cells only did not
help us to judge whether or not the disease
is of old standing.

R. M. B. (Luton). — There is no disease in
comb.

B. Y. (Redditch).— Foul brood is just
developing, and if the stock is strong in
bees, we should treat them as a swarm in a
clean hive. With only three or four cells to
judge from, it is, however, impossible to tell
the condition of other combs in the hive.

Constant Reader (Thorverton, Devon). —
There is foul brood in both samples of
comb sent.

Honey Samples.

F. K. (Lewes). — The honey is good, and will
be quite suitable for showing. It is suitable
only for the medium-coloured class.

R. M. (Cowbridge).— Both honies are good.
Judging by present condition, we think

340

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 21, 1902.

No. 2 will be the better. No. 1 is not suffi-
ciently warmed to dissolve all the granules ;
but if No. 1 is made as bright and clear as
No. 2, it will stand first in quality.

F. Hender (Glos.). — 1. All three samples
are good honies. No. 1 excellent in colour
and nice flavour, but rather thin. Nos. 2
and 3 are also good in colour, though
several shades darker than No. 1. Their
flavour is also good, so that, without being
quite first class, they would stand a good
chance on the show-bench. 2. For par-
ticulars regarding membership of B.B.K.A.
apply to the Secretary, Mr. E. H. Young,
12, Hanover-3quare, London.

*#* Some Queries are unavoidably held over
for reply till next week.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve Kordi and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three tcordt or under, One Penny.

80

H

H

ABOUT SIX CWT, good light HONEY in tins or
bottles. Offers. Garner, Dyke, Bourne. 0 42

LOTS DRIVEN BEES, Is. 3d. lb., or3s.6d. per lot.
J. Barnes, Burwell. o 44

FOUR STOCKS of HEALTHY BEES two in " W.B.C."
hives, £1 each. Leaving country. E. Hudson,
No. 31, Upper Valley-road, Sheffield. 0 30

EXCHANGE handsome blue-ticked SETTER BITCH,
two yeara old, for hqney. Walker, Grotto,
Kirkby-Stephen. O 31

ONEY WANTED (good extracted), in tins, light
or medium. Price to Aphis, B.B.J. Office.

o 54

HONEY WANTED (old granulated), in tins.
Quantity and lowest price to Aphis, B.B.J.
Office. O 53

THREE STOCKS of BEES FOR SALE, Carniolan,
Italians, standard Hives, price 15s. each. D. Cole,
Moor Cottages, London-road, Colnbrook, Slough, o 52

XTRACTOR, "Little Wonder," one frame little
used, working order, 5s. 6d. E. Eddison, Shire-
oaks, Workoop, Notts. 0 50

OW TO CLEAN POLLEN -CLOGGED COMBS,"
onreceipt.ofls. Id. D.VALLANCE.Dunaskin, N.B.
o 46

THREE GOOD LOTS of BEES, in standard Frame
Hives, price £1 each. D. COLE, Moor Cottages,
London-road, Colnbrook, Slough. o 27

Q r> TH YEAR.— My noted small swarms, 5s. 6d., cases
Z/ O free. First-rate Queens in introducing cages, 5s. ;
delivered. Alsford, Expert, Blandford. o 8

CLOVER HONEY, fine quality, in tins about 28-lb.,
or screw-cap and tie-over jars. Sample, 2d.
J. Geary, Barwell, Hinckley. O 14

WANTED, this season's ENGLISH HONEY, in 14 or
28-lb. tins or bulk. Send sample and price.
Carriage paid. H. Shorthouse, 47, Pershore-road,
Birmingham. o 40

HEALTHY three-frame NUCLEUS, including brood
and honey, fertile Queen, 9s. 6d. Good SECTIONS
WANTED. John Thomas Sole, 133, Stinton-street,
Cambridge. O 41

ECTIONS of HONEY (1902) required, at 6s. doz
Carriage forward. Any quantity taken above three
dozen. Write, Gordon Rowe, Honey Packer, Market
Lavington, Wilts. O 45

COCK GOLDFINCH and HEN CANARY (bred mules),
one breeding and three single cages, Exchange
8 lb. Driven Bees with Queens. Arnold, Owen Villa,
Victoria-road, New Barnet. O 47

Prepaid Advertisements (Continued).

SPLENDID EXTRACTED HONEY, in 1-lb. screw-cap
bottles. 8s. per doz. Carriage paid on quantities.
Four 1st prizes this year. Sample, 5d. J. Trebble,
The Apiaries, Romansleigh, South Molton. o 48

iqah FERTILE QUEENS now ready, 49. each.
iyU4 Orders booked for driven bees, strong lots,
3s. 6d. each. Hewett & Hills, Laburnum Apiary, Alton,
Hants. o 29

FOR SALE (after coming off Heather), 40 Strong
STOCKS BEES, 1902 Queens, all in first-class new
Hives, price 22s. 6d. each. Metcalfe, Stockeld Grange
Wetherby. 0 51

THREE BAR-FRAMED HIVES, very strong with
Bees, on eight Frames each. Section Crates, last
year's swarms ; guaranteed healthy ; with winter stores ;
genuine ; accept £4 or offer. Best, Abingdon, Berks.

O 32

HEALTHY DRIVEN ' BEES, headed with young
Queen (not less than 4-lb. lots) price Is. 3d.
per lb. Boxes returnable. Also young Queens, Is. 6d.
each, post-free. R. Brown, Flora Apiary, Somersham,
Hunts. O 43

EIGHT STOCKS of BEES, guaranteed strong and
healthy, each on ten standard bars, young queens,
hives good as new. Wax extractor, honey strainer with
pot ; also quantity of HONEY. What offers in cash ?
Inspection if desired. One double-stocked hive.
Chatham, Juur., Leominster. O 55

BELGIANS for BEES, &c. Twenty very promising
youngsters, five weeks, Fashoda and Lordgate-
House strain, Exchange Observatory Hive or anything
useful to a Bee-keeper. Two splendid Does in kindle
and one Buck, Fashoda strain, Exchange ditto ; all
healthy. Furber, Old Trafford, Manchester. o 49

WANTED, any quantity BEESWAX. Good price
given. Ross, Barkerland House, Dumfries, o 37

1 CWT. of OLD HONEY, in two tins, 50s. E. Holder,
1 Grosvenor Cottage, Bath. Q 36

WANTED, NEW SECTIONS (first quality). State
lowest for cash. Chilton, Polegate, Sussex.

HEALTHY DRIVEN BEES with Queen, 5s. lot.
Boxes returned. A. MORETON, Bee Expert,
Leigh, Worcester. O_20 _

SECTIONS and EXTRACTED HONEY WANTED
(best quality Sainfoin or Clover). Mention price.
F. Sladen, Ripple Court Apiary, Dover. o 12

DRIVEN BEE^, August delivery, 3s. 6d per lot with
Queens ; Boxes returnable G.W.R. Pullen,
Ramsbury, Hungerford. 0 11

SPLENDID LOT of EXTRACTED HONEY and
SECTIONS; tins returnable G.W.R. Pullen,
Ramsbury, Hungerford. o 10

FINEST EXTRACTED HONEY, 1-lb. jars, 7s. 6d. doz.
Special quotation for quantities. W. Burden,
Mere, Wilts. o 24

PURE MOUNTAIN HONEV, all from Sections, run
and in comb. Apply Massy, Newgate, Rock, R.S.O.,
South Wales. O 1

HEALTHY DRIVEN BEES, Is. 3d. per lb., not less
than 4 lb. (Boxes to be returned.) E. Long,
Fulbourn, Cambs. o 34

DRIVEN BEES.— Strong STOCKS, with Queens, 5s.
Package returnable. Phillips, Spetchley,
Worcester. Q 35

SIX strong STOCKS of BEES, with or without Hives,
all on Standard Frames. John Brookfield,
Gardener, 108, Stamford-road, Birkdale, Southport.
Q 38

-i /-TH YEAR.— Still cheapest and best. Garnett's
1 O original English Screw-cap HONEY JARS. Six
dozen 7-oz., 8s. 9d. ; ten dozen 16-oz., 16s. 6d. Free on
rail : cash. Garnbtt Bros., High-street, Rotherham.

FINE TESTED 1902 FERTILE QUEENS, 3s. 6d. each,
post free. Bees, Is. 6d. lb. for 5-lb. lots or over,
Queen included. Guaranteed healthy, package to be
returned. WHITING, Valley Apiaries, Uundou, Clare,
Suffolk. 0 9

Aug. 28, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

341

(Mforial, $at\m, &t

SOME IMPORTANT SHOWS

FOR WHICH ENTRIES ARE STILL OPEN.

We again beg to draw the attention of
readers to the dates of closing entries for
several very important shows which will be
held during the next week or two. To name
them in the order of precedence, there is, first,
the Grocers' at the Agricultural Hall, for
which the entries close in two days — i.e., on
Saturday next, August 30. Then follow the
shows of the Kent and Sussex and the Surrey
B.K.A. respectively. These two exhibitions
run concurrently at the Crystal Palace, and
the final day for entries is in both cases,
Monday next, September 1. Finally, we have
the Dairy Show, held the first week in
October, the entries closing on Monday, Sep-
tember 8.

The liberal prizes offered at the above-
named shows should tempt all who possess good
samples of honey to make an entry, especially
as the occasion may be taken advantage of to
dispose of all exhibits for sale on the spot.
There should not be much trouble in effecting
sales if good honey is as scarce as reports lead
us to believe. And we shall be surprised if
B.B.J, readers do not avail themselves of the
chance at prize winning.

SHROPSHIRE B.KA.

ANNUAL SHOW.

The annual show of the above association
was held at Shrewsbury on August 20 and 21
in the picturesque grounds of " The Quarry,''
in connection with the Shropshire Horti-
cultural Society's great Floral F£te. The
weather was everything that could be desired.
The attendance was a record one, between
60,000 and 70,000 persons entering the grounds
on the second day.

The entries in the honey section of the show
were less numerous than last year, owing to
the unfavourable season, but the exhibits were
of excellent quality, both of comb and ex-
tracted honey.

The B.B.K.A. silver medal was secured by
Mr. J. Clay, Mr. S. Cartwright and Mr. G.
Croxton securing the bronze medal and the
certificate respectively.

The arrangements of the show were effi-
ciently carried out by a committee of which
Mr. Roff King was chairman, Miss M. E.
Eyton hon. treasurer, and Mr. S. Cartwright
hon. secretary.

The judges were Mr. W. Broughton Carr,
London, and the Rev. E. Charley, Ince
Vicarage, neai Chester, who made the follow-
ing awards : —

OPEN CLASSES.

Twenty-four 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Carver,
Wellington, Salop ; 2nd, Phil. Jones, Church

Stretton ; h.c, S. Cartwright, Shaw bury
Shrewsbury.

Twelve 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, Toddington
Orchard Company, Gloucester ; 2nd, W. Rat-
cliff, Barthomley, Cheshire ; 3rd, A. Hamer,
Llandilo, Carmarthenshire.

Twelve 1-lb. Sections (other than 4£ in. by
4|- in.).— 1st, J. Carver ; 2nd, J. Clay, Wel-
lington, Salop.

Twenty-four 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey
(light colour).— 1st, E. Clowes, Blackbrook,
Staffordshire ; 2nd, J. Carver ; v.h.c, S.
Cartwright; h.c, R. Holland, Wellington,
Salop.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (light
colour). — 1st, S. Temblett, Andover, Hants ;
2nd, A. G. Preen, Nesscliffe, Salop ; 3rd, F.
Blake, Broughton, Hants ; 4th, E. Clowes ;
v.h.c, E. H. Millward, Kidderminster, and
J. Clav ; h.c, J. R. Bennett, Kidderminster.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (medium
colour).— 1st, W. H. Brown, Shrewsbury;
2nd, S. Cartwright; 3rd, A. Hamer; v.h.c,
P. Scott, Broseley, Salop, and E. P. Hinde,
Heswall, Cheshire ; c , J. Clay and A. G.
Preen.

Collection of Honey (gathered from different
flowers and named). — 1st, J. Bradley, Yockle-
ton, Salop ; 2nd, A. Hamer.

MEMBERS ONLY.

Twenty-four 1-lb. Sections— 1st, J. Clay ;
2nd, P. Jones ; h.c, S. Cartwright.

Twelve 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, P. Jones ; 2nd,
J. Carver ; v.h.c, J. Clay.

Twelve 1-lb. Sections (other than 4j in. by
4£ in.). — 1st, J. Carver ; 2nd, J. Clay.

Single 1-lb. Section and 1-lb. Jar Extracted
Honey.— 1st, W. H. Brown ; 2nd, S. Cart-
wright ; v.h.c, J. Clay and J. Carver.

Twenty-four Bottles Light-coloured Honey.
—1st, S. Cartwright ; 2nd, J. Clay ; 3rd, J.
Carver ; v.h.c, J. W. Astbury, Hadley,
Salop ; c, F. W. Norris, Cardington, Salop.

Twelve Bottles Light- coloured Honey. —
1st, G. Croxton, Yorton, Salop ; 2nd, J. Clay ;
3rd, F. W. Norris.

Twenty-four Bottles Dark-coloured Honey.
— 1st, W. H. Brown ; 2nd, J. Carver ; c,
A. G. Preen.

Novelty in Honey or Wax. — 1st, W. H.
Brown.

Most Interesting Exhibit Pertaining to
Bee-culture. — 1st, J. Bradley.

ARTISAN MEMBERS ONLY.

Twelve 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Churton,
Wolleston ; 2nd, E. Brookfield, Myddle.

Six 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Hammond,
Acton Scott ; 2nd, E. Brookfield.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
J. Churton ; 2nd, J. Mills, Shavington ; v.h.c,
E. Brookfield ; h.c, L. Powell, Cold Hatton ;
c, P. Graham, Montford.

Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
J. Churton ; 2nd, E. Brookfield ; v.h.c,
W. Bagaler, Madeley.

342

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 28, 1902.

COTTAGER MEMBERS ONLY.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, T. Croxton,
Hope Bowdler ; 2nd, G. Croxton.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
G. Croxton ; 2nd, J. Bright, Cardington ; 3rd,
T. Croxton.

Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, T. Croxton ; 2nd,
J. Stanton, Besford ; 3rd, G. Batter, Blore
Heath.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
J. Stanton ; 2nd, G. Butter ; 3rd, G. Croxton ;
h.c, Mrs. Powell, Cold Hatton.

Single l-lb. Jar Extracted Honev. — 1st,
G. Butter ; 2nd, G. Croxton ; 3rd, G. Lloyd.

Single l-lb. Section. — 1st, G. Butter ; 2nd,
G. Croxton ; 3rd, T. Croxton.

OPEN CLASSES.

Honey Trophy. — 1st, W. H. Brown ; 2nd,
J. Bradley ; 3rd, A. Hamser.

Frame-hive. — 1st, E. H. Taylor, Welwyn,
Herts ; 2nd and h.c , W. P. Meadows, Syston.

Collection of Appliances. — 1st, W. P.
Meadows ; 2nd, E. H. Taylor.

Honey Beverage. — 1st, W. H. Brown;
v.h.c, J. Bradley.

Beeswax (Salop only). — 1st, W. P. Norris ;
2nd, J. Carver ; h.c, Mrs. A. G. Preen.

Honey Vinegar (open). — 1st, W. H. Brown ;
h.c, P. Scattergood, Stapleford, Notts.

Collection of Bee-flowers {named). — 1st, J.
Bradley ; 2nd, Miss E. Humphreys, Yockle-
ton. — S. Cartwright, Hon. Sec.

NORTHAMPTON B.K.A.

ANNUAL SHOW.

The annual show of the Northamptonshire
Bee-keepers' Association was held on August 7,
in the grounds of Lady Robinson, St. David's,
Kingsthorpe, Northampton. The entries were
not quite up to some previous shows, but all
the classes had more exhibits than prizes to be
awarded. Some fine sections of Mr. W. Todd,
Oundle, unfortunately, arrived too late. Mr.
R. King (Wolverton) and Mr. J. R. Truss
(Ufford) judged the honey, and Mr. George
Hefford (Northampton) the honey cakes, and
made the following awards : —

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, H. Williams,
Overstone ; 2nd, R. Allen, Tusmore, Bicester ;
3rd, J. Adams, West Haddon ; 4th, W.
Manning, Northampton.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (light).
— 1st, J. Adams ; 2nd, R. Allen ; 3rd, H.
Williams ; 4th, J. Buckby, Burton Latimer ;
5tb, W. Manning.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (dark). —
1st, C. J. Burnett, Northampton; 2nd, W.
Manning ; 3rd, G. Page, Holcot.

Six l-lb. Jars Granulated Honey. — 1st, W.
Manning ; 2nd , R. Allen ; 3rd, J. Adams.

Three Shallow Frames of Honey in Comb. —
1st, J. Adams ; 2nd, J. Bubb, Bugbrooke ;
3rd, C. J. Burnett ; 4th, W. Manning.

Beeswax (not less than 1 lb.). — 1st, R.
Allen ; 2nd, F. J. Old ; equal 3rd and 4th,
G. S. Pilgrim and E. H. Williams.

Six l-lb. Sections (non- winners at previous
shows only). — 1st, W. H. Williams ; 2nd, R
Allen ; 3rd, H. J. Norman, Queen's Park.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
W. H. Williams ; 2nd, F. E. Norman ; 3rd,
W. A. Tinsley, Kingsley Park.

Super of Comb Honey. — 1st, J. Bubb ; 2nd
F. E. Norman ; 3rd, W. H. Williams.

OPEN TO THE UNITED KINGDOM.

(Entry free.)

Single l-lb. Jar of Honey. — 1st, E. Lodge,
High Easter, Chelmsford ; 2nd, James Kerr,
Dumfries ; 3rd, S. J. Mayer, Norwich ; 4th
C. Wells, Oxendon; 5th, S. Temblett
Andover.

Single l-lb . Jar Extracted Honey.— 1st, C.
Lodge ; 2nd, J. Adams ; 3rd, W. Loveday ;
4th, Thos. Blake.

SPECIAL PRIZES.

(Entry free.)

Honey Cake. — 1st, Mrs. Bubb; 2nd, Migf
Whiteside, Kingsthorpe ; 3rd, Mrs. Freshney
Thoresway, Caistor ; 4th, Mrs. C. J. Burnett
h.c, R. Allen. — (Communicated.)

WORCESTER B.K.A.

ANNUAL SHOW.

The above association held their annua
honey show on August 13 and 14, in connec
tion with the Dudley Floral Fete. Then
were nearly fifty entries, and some excellen
samples of extracted honey and sections wen
staged. Mr. T. I. Weston, Wickham-Bishops
Essex, anted as judge, and made the following
awards : —

Observatory Hive. — One entry only. N
award.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, C. H. Haynes
Hanley" Castle ; 2nd, E. A. Millward, Chad
desley Corbett ; 3rd, A. R. Moreton, Leigh.

Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. R. Bennett,
Kidderminster ; 2nd, C. H. Haynes ; 3rd
M. H. Swift, Churchdown.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted lionet/. — 1st
E. A. Millward ; 2nd, F. J. Moore, Tewkes-
bury ; 3rd, Dr. D. Fitch, Chaddesley Corbett.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, E. A.
Millward; 2nd F. J. Moore; 3rd, C. H.
Haynes.

Beeswax. — 1st, E. A. Millward ; 2nd, A. R.
Moreton.

Shallow Frame of Comb - Honey. — 1st,
W. H. Higley, Kidderminster; 2nd, E. A.
Millward.

Mr. Weston also held, on the preceding day,
an examination for the Third Class Certificate
of the B.B.K.A., three candidates presenting
themselves. — (Communicated. )

Aug. 28, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

343

Gmttytm&mt

The Editors do not hold themtelvei reipontible for the
tpiniont eapretted 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 addrettet, not necettarily for
publication, but at a guarantee of good faith. Jllustra-
tiont should be drawn on tep orate pieeet of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communication!.

Communications relating to the literary department,
reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for Revieto, &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, Corretpondentt,
when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter at well
as the page on which it appeart.

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[4872.] The bee-keepers' harvest is over in
the South of England, and his crop in most
instances is garnered. We have an advantage
over the farmer in being able to secure our
crop, if the weather be fine, without waiting
for the previous heavy rains to " dry out ''
before storing our produce. Unfortunately,
our crop, from which we hoped so much, is a
light one, and our plans have been full of
disappointments for nearly every one — from
king to cottager. We bee-keepers hoped for
a good season, and laid ourselves out for a real
"Coronation" year, which should stand as a
record for the craft, and now, behold our
failures ! 1902 has been a record year in
many of the things adverse to humanity, and to
northern bee-keepers it has been disastrous.
I have many friends and customers in Scot-
land, and the general complaint is the deplor-
able poorness of the honey-crop ; some with
close on twenty stocks will not have a finished
section to take. Yet that hope which never
faileth still lures onward, and they are wise
generals who go on planning for another year.
Some I know of are requeening where
required, and thus are laying the foundation
for success in 1903.

The shortage of the honey season should
prompt those who have secured a crop to
stand up for a fair price for their produce. I
often revert to this subject, and hope by so
doing not to occupy space which might be
filled with glowing records of making 6s. 6i.
to 7s. 6d. per dozen for the cream of the
honey-crop in sections. The isolation of some
bee-keepers, and, in many cases, the want of
commercial education, renders them easy dupes
to the hard dealer. I, myself, produce as
many sections as anyone in Berks — perhaps
in England — yet I have never had any over
or left on hand when the new crop has come
in. But I always endeavour to secure a
fair price, as every one should, in my
opinion, do, while leaving a fair margin
to the retailer. Many articles dealt with
at the stores yield a much smaller percentage of

profit to the dealer than honey — either in jars
or sections — and as the middleman is quite
able to take care of himself the bee-keeper
should try to do the same.

With more honesty existing amongst the
craft we should be able to secure better
prices all round, and by standing shoulder to
shoulder ever ready, ever willing, to help any
brother bee-keeper by a word of advice in
things pertaining to the " get up " of his crop
for the market, or by the best and safest
mode of packing and transit, we shall be able
to report progress as the years roll on. The
pioneers of the craft cannot spread their own
knowledge of bee-keeping broadcast to reach
everyone, but much can be done by exhibit-
ing at the various shows both in appliances
and produce. There are fouud the genuine
" technical classes '' ; there the " demonstra-
tions '' which appeal to the mind and become
useful " wrinkles " well rubbed in and
remembered by the novice who will get details
of how to go about his work in making hives,
and the many other things required in the
modern bee-yard. He will there learn lessons
in the " get up " of his produce, in the work-
ing up of his wax, in the clarifying of his run
honey, and in the glazing of his sections.

The glazing of all sections is one of the
stepping-stones to my own success in the way
of sales. My customers often tell me they
can buy cheaper, but not better, as the un-
glazed sections deteriorate so quickly in damp
weather and also in windy, dusty weather.
Yes, they get steamy, dusty, dirty, and in a
short time watery, when exposed in a busy
shop in an unglazed condition. — W. Wood-
ley, Beedon, Newbury.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

AND ITS AFFILIATED ASSOCIATIONS.

[4873.] In your monthly Record for August
our former colleague, Mr. H. W. Brice, has
seen fit to make a most unwarrantable attack
upon the British Bee-keepers' Association.
According to his statement when asked,
"What help is afforded to the bee-keeping
community by this body? I am, perforce,
compelled to answer none ! " Now this is a
telling and striking phrase, but Mr. Brice
knows that it is entirely misleading. He
cannot plead ignorance of the facts, for
he writes having the last annual report
before him, wherein is plainly set forth the
work done by the Association during the
year, together with a statement of the
accounts. Will you, Mr. Editor, kindly
allow me space to quote from that report
which I regret most of your readers have not
seen, as, unfortunately, so few of them support
the parent Association by becoming members.
Judging from his words, Mr. Brice seems to
consider the holding of shows, and the giving
of medals and certificates, to be the best way
of helping the bee-keeping community ;
possibly your readers may agree with him

344

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 28, 1902.

if so, turning to the report, we find that the
Association had the management during the
past year, of four shows, viz., the bee and
honey department of the "Royal'' Agricul-
tural Show, which is the principal annual
show of bee appliances in the kingdom ; the
honey department of the Grocers' Exhibition
and of the Confectioners' Exhibition, in which
are seen, at the Agricultural Hall, two of the
best collections of honey shown for trade pur-
poses ; and the well known and appreciated
honey department of the British Dairy
Farmers' Association, usually called the
"Dairy Show," in Loudon. On these shows
was expended upwards of 50 per cent, of

THE TOTAL INCOME OF THE ASSOCIATION
FROM SUBSCRIPTIONS, DONATIONS, AND ENTRY

fees : yet, forsooth, Mr. Brice would mis-
inform the public, through your columns, that
we do not help the bee keeping community.
Though exhibitions and shows are a pleasant
and popular method of promoting an interest
in bee-keeping, yet, as a matter of fact,
"showing" resolves itself more or less into
prize-hunting by a limited number of able
bee-keepers who are well situated as to
locality ; so in my opinion the money spent
by the Exhibitions Committee in supporting
them is not so well laid out as that which is
spent by the Education Committee. It
is in this latter department that the Asso-
ciation's work is starved by lack of funds
and support, yet, by the aid of gentlemen who
voluntarily undertook much of the work, no
less than eighty -four candidates were examined
for certificates at fourteen centres, from Corn-
wall in the South to Yorkshire in the North,
Carmarthenshire in the West to Essex in the
East. This work makes no noise in the
world, is not advertised or heralded by the
trumpets of speech-making, but it is yearly
providing a supply of duly qualified men and
women able to guide and instruct the cottager
in the best and most modern methods of bee-
keeping. Another £200 a year could be
profitably spent in this department of the
Association's work, including the instructional
apiary, but to the extent of our means the
Association does help in this way the whole
bee-keeping community. Let me turn now to
the consideration of Mr. Brice's statement
that " it would appear that they have large or
comparatively large sums in hand." The re-
port says balance at bank, £57 ; of this £20
is held in trust for a specific object, leaving
only £37 as our working balance. In the
Po3t Office is a sum of £148, put by (as Mr.
B. may remember) for the purpose of paving
for the forthcoming edition of " Modern Bee-
keeping,'' of which book we shall require
15,000 copies. Debtors, stock of books and
pamphlets, the utensils and appliances of the
Society make up the total of the assets.
Where, then, are " the large funds " out of
which free gifts to " some of the hundreds of
such shows " can be made ? They exist only
in Mr. Brice's imagination.

It is an undoubted fact, the parent Associa-
tion is suffering greatly, owing to the multi-
plicity of local shows and societies ; because
men of property and standing in the counties,
having assisted the local society, refrain from
supporting the parent body, although the
latter is in touch with all that is best in the
bee-keeping industry, and endeavours to work
for all ; yet it is grudged even the guinea
affiliation fee by associations which it assisted
into being.

In conclusion, let me assure your readers
that the council are earnest in their desire
to promote bee-keeping and assist bee-
keepers, and to the full extent of the slender
funds at their disposal they do so.

I fear, Mr. Editor, I have transgressed the
limits of your space, or I would refer to some
things we wish to do, but cannot at present
attempt. Possibly at some future time you
will kindly allow me the opportunity. — Thos.
I. Weston, Vice-Chairman B.B.K.A, Wick-
ham- Bishops, Witham, Essex, August 19.

SUPPOSED WAX-MOTH LARV.E

IN THE CAPPINGS OF HONEY-COMBS.

[4874.] A year or two ago my attention
was called to numerous minute tunnels formed
on the under-side of, and occasionally occur-
ring as an excrescence through, the capping
of some sections of honey exhibited at the
Dairy Show. These tunnels were attributed
to wax-moth larvae (Galleria cereana), but a
careful examination of the affected combs
seemed to show that the work was done by a
much smaller animal than the larva of the
wax-moth. The animal, whatever it was,
could not then be found. Last year, however,
Mr. H. W. Seymour, of Henley-on-Thames,
sent me some cappings in which the tunnels
had been recently formed, and from these I
obtained one or two small larvae which were
quite distinct from those of the wax-moth ; in-
deed, they were unlike those of a lepidopteron.

If this meets the eye of Mr. Seymour, or
of any bee-keeper who had combs injured this
year in the manner described above, I should
be very much obliged to him if he would send
me some of the cappings, with any informa-
tion obtainable, to enable me to complete my
investigation. The cappings should be shaved
off the comb with as little honey as possible,
and "placed between two pieces of section
separated by two narrow strips to keep it from
getting crushed in the post.

I may say that exposing the combs to the
fumes of burning sulphur for a few minutes (a
practice often employed in America for the
purpose of bleaching them) would probably
destroy the pest, but if we could trace its life
history and so become acquainted with its
habits, we should be in a much better position
to attack it. My investigations were checked
in an interesting stage through lack of material,
and I should much like to complete them. It

Aug. 28, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

345

is possible that on account of the coolness of
the present summer the pest may be less
common this year than usual. — F. W. L.
Sladen, F.E.S., Ripple Court, Dover.

HEATHER PROSPECTS.

[4875.] Just as I am commencing to write
there are welcome signs of a change in the
weather, which, in all seriousness, is badly
wanted. Last year at this time I had
secured between two and three hundred
heather sections, and now I am actually feed-
ing the bees — such a contrast as I hope I may
not live to see again. Already several hives
have died of hunger in this district, and unless
we get a speedy and sustained improvement in
the atmospheric conditions many more will
have met a similar fate by the end of next
week. It is really pitiable to see the bees
crawl out of the hives in their enfeebled state,
only to fall off the alighting-board on to the
ground to die. Some of the bees in my own
hives did not seem to have sufficient strength
to reach the food I had given them, so I gave
them a sprinkling of warm syrup, which seemed
to have an instantaneous and beneficial effect on
their drooping spirits, and was as refreshing to
me as it was comforting to them. The heather
is only beginning to come into bloom, and it is
safe to say that without more warmth and sun-
shine not one half of it will ever show its
colour. I have warned the beekeepers in my
immediate vicinity of the impending fate of
their stocks if they are not closely watched
and fed where necessary ; but if the weather
would only take up, and let us have a taste of
brighter and better things — if only just to
show it had not forgotten how to do it— the
bees, which are fairly strong, would, I have no
doubt, still give a good account of themselves.
I do not want to appear too pessimistic, as it is
not my nature to be so at any time, but the
prospects are anything but encouraging, and
with a lot of careless keepers of bees in this
district, I am sadly afraid, unless our prophets
send us better weather soon, bees will not be
over-plentiful next spring. — R. T. Tennant,
Thirsk, August 23.

SOME "FACTS" ABOUT BEE-
KEEPING.

QUEEN INTRODUCTION.

[4876.] " Facts are stubborn things " — very.
I have lately encountered a few which I
cannot in any way harmonise with other facts,
and I shall be glad of any help that will
enable me to do so. Here are the facts : — On
the 9th inst. I divided a strong stock, and left
the stronger portion queenless. That same
evening I introduced a tested queen according
to the method recommended by Mr. Doolittle.
On examination six days later I found that

the introduction had been unsuccessful — the
one unsuccessful case in seven by the same
method — and that the bees were rearing two
queens. Examined the stcck again on the
22nd, and was surprised to find eggs in some
of the combs ; not only eggs, but just a few
larvae, to which the bees had supplied tiny
quantities of food. Those larvae must have
hatched from eggs laid three days earlier, so
that we have the extraordinary circumstance
of a queen being reared and laying in ten
days from the date of the loss of the old
queen. If we deduct from the said ten days
the normal time between hatching and fer-
tilisation, and the further period between
fertilisation and egg-laying, we have practically
no time left for the rearing of the queen.

What am I to think ? There are no doubts
as to the facts as stated : queenless on the
9th, introduction of queen same evening,
failure on the 15th to find queen or eggs,
finding on same date of two queen-cells, on
the 22nd discovery of three-days-old eggs. To
account partially for the young queen's pre-
cocity, I may say that the bees of the divided
stock gave immediate signs of the discovery of
queenlessness, and may, therefore, have com-
menced preparations for rearing a new queen
even before the strange queen was offered
them ; that they were steadily fed from the
first ; that they had abundance of brood in all
stages ; and that, on account of receiving the
major portion of the flying bees, they were
crowded to overflowing on the seven combs to
which they were confined. More light ! —
J. M., Upper Boat, Pontypridd, August 23.

[It will be interesting to have the opinion
of queen breeders on the "facts " stated above,
and we will be glad to have their views ; but
for ourselves the " circumstance of a queen
being reared " (fertilised) " and laying in ten
days '' is a "fact" quite beyond our accept-
ance, and there must — we think — be some
other explanation of the " circumstance " than
that given by our correspondent. — Eds ]

WOLVERHAMPTON EXHIBITION.

THE ONTARIO HONEY EXHIBIT.

[4877.] Visitors to the Wolverhampton
Exhibition who are interested in bee-keeping
should not fail to examine the very excellent
display of honey, both in comb and extracted,
made by the Bee-keepers' Association of the
Province of Ontario in the Canadian Pavilion.
The evenness of the quality is most noticeable,
and the sample the writer was allowed to taste
is a high-class clover honey. As to price, it
was stated to command lOd. to Is. per lb. in
Canada, and is being sold at the latter price in
the exhibition. Messrs. J. D. Evans, the
president, and W. Couse, the secretary of the
society, are to be congratulated both on the
quality of the exhibit and the tasteful manner
in which it is displayed. — T. I. W.

346

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 28, 1902.

HOME FROM SOUTH AFRICA.

Bee-keepers who are readers of the
Journal will be glad to know that Captain
Wilfrid Gutch sailed for home in the
Kinfauns Castle, which steamer left Cape
Town on the 5 th inst. He has served with
merit from almost the beginning of the
campaign. It will be remembered that Mr.
Gutch, . who was practising as a barrister,
volunteered during the dark days that
followed Magersfontein, leaving briefs and
bees and everything behind, in order to hurry
to the front when every man that could be
had was needed. Being an expert rider, he
was soon afforded the opportunity of dis-
tinguishing himself, and now he comes home
with a captaincy and a commission. *

Most thankful are we that he has been
shielded from harm, and that he is returning
with health and with honours.

BRIEF REPORTS.

EAST SUFFOLK.

On former occasions I have sent you short
notes of the result of the honey crop in this
locality. The season just passed has been an
extraordinary one ; to begin with it was very
late, and little surplus was stored prior to
Midsummer, honey then came in at an
incredible rate and was of excellent quality.
I had two hives situate about half a mile from
t he centre of this town which gave respectively
58 lb. extracted and fifty-one sections, both
stocks were exceptionally strong. I believe
no dark honey was stored in this locality
until the limes were on — they were later than
usual. My best stocks this year were those
that last season had foul brood so badly that
everything except the hives and bees them-
selves was burnt, bearing out a point so often
alluded to in your papers of the desirability
of new combs. I ihave now kept bees ten
years and found nothing pays so much as a
liberal supply of new frames with whole
sheets of foundation — many, otherwise good
bee-keepers are inclined to neglect or be lax
in this respect, but 1 am convinced the money
thus expended meets with a liberal return.
The contributors to the Bee-keeper's Record
have over and over again advocated renewing
a portion of the brood frames of each hive
yearly. — A Regular Reader.

LINCOLNSHIRE.

With few exceptions my hives are yielding
unsatisfactorily and several have given no
surplus at all. These latter were in March
and April most fit for work. — F. M. S.,
Bourne.

AYRSHIRE.

I am sorry to say that in our district the
honey crop is hardly a third of last year. The
heather is just coming into bloom at this date,
but am afraid it is too late for the bees to

gather much from it. — J. H., Cumnock, N.B.,
August 18.

P.S. — I also send you herewith a cutting
from the Glasgow Evening News a short time
ago. If you care to insert it in your useful
journal, it will let our " southern friends " see
what a bad honey-season we have had in
Scotland this year, owing to the cold and
sunless conditions which prevailed during
June and July. — J. H.

The cutting sent reads as follows : —
" Bitter complaint is being made by honey-
merchants in the city owing to the comparative
failure of the summer season. The clover
variety of this delicacy is, it would appear, a
very scarce commodity, owing to the rainy
conditions. Bee-keepers state that swarms
1 coming off the hive ' have in many cases
perished outside from cold and rain, while
those safely housed have — again owing to bad
weather — been unable to gather food for them-
selves. Last year an exceptional season was
experienced. The hope is held out that a
warm autumn will stimulate trade in heather
honey — perhaps, after all, the favourite variety
— but in the mean time the remainder of last
season's stock is being carefully husbanded, in
view of a demand likely to be considerably
beyond the limits of the supply."

CRAIGO, N.B.

Most of the bee-keepers in the locality have
had their hives placed in charge of Mr.
Middleton, of Haughend, Glenesk, for the
heather season. The home or clover honey
may be said to be a complete failure, the
returns scarcely showing ounces for pounds of
last year's crop. Clover all over the district
had been very rich, but owing to cold days
and frosty nights sweetness was awanting.
The heather, which is beginning to burst,
gives promise of a good crop, but without
warm weather the result will most likely be
the same as at home.

GLAMORGANSHIRE.

I am very sorry to have to admit that this
season's crop here is nearly a complete failure.
Not so much honey from four stocks and two
swarms this year as I had from two swarms
during last, but must say that what I have had,
though small in quantity, is excellent in quality.
We readers of B.B.J, will hear less this year of
vain attempts to sell honey I am thinking. —
Clover, Neath, August 15.

CHESHIRE.

Regarding the season here, it is not nearly
so good as last year, owing to either cold
winds or rain. Bees had little chance of
getting any surplus from the fruit blossoms,
or later from the hawthorn or limes ; but for
a couple or three weeks fine, when clover was
out, honey has come in very slowly. However,
we must be thankful for what we get. — Ebor.

Aug. 28, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

347

[2954.] Removing Supers. — Please excuse
my troubling you again this week for answer
in the B.B.J., but I notice in your ruDnthly
Record it is stated on page 128 that unsealed
honey in shallow frames should be taken off
not later than the first or second week in
August. Acting on this advice I removed
from one of my hives a super of seven shallow
frames, several of the latter wholly unsealed,
on August 17, leaving some sections still on.
After extracting the shallow combs I put
them back to be cleaned up by the bees, and
to-day (24th) was going to remove them but
was astonished to find the bees had started
refilling the combs again with honey, so I left
them on to extract again at a later date. 1.
Did I do wrong in leaving them on a week
for cleaning, or did I take them off too soon in
view of the late season ? 2. Should I do
right in leaving them on another fortnight?
There is a good-sized field of red clover
blooming near here ; is the honey likely to be
from that ? — S. Gr. S., Beddington, August 24.

Reply. — 1. No, not exactly wrong, but the
advice to remove unsealed honey in August is
perfectly sound, for as a rule unsealed stores
will be carried below into brood-nest if left on
after the honey-flow has stopped. We have
known scores of shallow-frames of unsealed
honey lost to the bee-keeper by a few days'
neglect of this precaution. The present
season is, however, so abnormal in character
that the words printed in same par a few lines
higher up should have been taken into account,
i.e., "as soon as honey gathering is fairly
over," all surplus must be removed. 2. We
should not fix a given time for removal, but
wait till the secretion of honey in flowers has
about ceased for the season.

[2955.] Transferring Bees. — Will you kindly
give me your advice on the following : — Last
year I placed two skeps of bees on two bar-
frame hives, each having ten frames fitted with
full sheets of foundation. This was in the
summer. I thought this year they would
transfer themselves, and although the combs
are worked out, and the queen has been below
laying small quantities of brood, the bulk of
bees are still in skeps, where there are slabs of
sealed brood. I wish to get the bees into
frame-hives. Should I drive them now, or
leave it till April ? I am afraid of " balling "
at the latter time. Perhaps you will tell me
when you think the best time to drive under
the circumstances. — Perplexed, Ashby-de-la-
Zouch, August 25.

Reply. — Before we advise as to wintering,
it will be well to let us know how many frames
of comb in lower hive are fully drawn out.
In any case, however, you should not think of
driving the bees from skeps till the " slabs of
sealed brood " have hatched out. Write us
again after examining the frames as requested,
when we will endeavour to help you.

[2956.] Glearing-up Wet Combs. — Last even-
ing, after dusk, I gave a stock of home-bred
Italians, a rack of shallow-frames just ex-
tracted to clear up. Happening to go out
about 11 p.m. the same night, I was surprised
to find the alighting-board of this hive covered
with a roaring, hissing mass of bees. Next
morning I found a cluster under the hive,
another on a tree close by, and the ground in
front of the hive and at the back wa9 almost
covered by these Italians. I put the two
clusters in the hive, and fixed " ladders " for
those on the ground to climb up by. How-
ever, the space around the hive is to-night
almost yellow with numbed bees. Are these
" foreigners " of too excitable a nature to give
dripping combs to ? There was no question
of robbing. I should be glad if your valued
advice as to what to do with other combs I
have, also how and when to unite two weak
lots that it is impossible to bring side by side.
They are now about twenty yards apart, with
bushes between. — F. H. Brown, Birmingham,
August 19.

Reply. — Italian bees are not as a rule more
liable to get excited than natives, though they
do at times act quite differently from what we
are accustomed to. For instance, we have our-
selves had an Italian swarm which, instead of
clustering in a solid mass as all well-ordered
bees should do, spread themselves out in scores
of small clusters covering a good-sized potato
patch, remaining so for a long time — in fact,
needing to be scooped up in little lots and
thrown together as when uniting. We should
in future not give them wet combs to clean up
till quite dark. With regard to " uniting," if
the hives cannot be brought close together,
you must take the chance of losing some bees.

(Mms fwrat the Warn,

Woodbines Apiary, St. Brelades, Jersey,
C.I., August 18. — Bees in this part of the
King's dominions are now working well on
the heather, which is in splendid condition,
with every prospect of good results. The
blackberry has now nearly finished blooming,
and most other flowers are past, so that with
the finish of the heather, in about three to
four weeks from this, it will be time to take
stock and balance up for the year, which —
approximately — is only a medium one. —
W. W. Kay.

GLEA.NINGS FROM FOREIGN BEE
JOURNALS.

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

Gazette Apicole de France.— -The stingless
bees of South America make little honey, the
absence of the sting causing suppression of the

348

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 28, 1902.

secretion of formic acid which alone preserves
the honey.

Of the eighteen varieties of bees met with
in the North of Brazil, only three have stings.
Ants have long ago taught us the antiseptic
character jf formic acid. Many species build
vast cities of vegetable debris containing
numerous seeds which keep perfectly for
years without the least signs of germination,
development being suspended by the formic
acid.

The English naturalist, Moggeridge, dis-
covered that these seeds will germinate if the
ants abandon their dwelling.

The Same. — The head of the Department of
Agriculture for French Guiana has just been
asked for a report on the rearing of bees for
that province. The wild swarms being very
numerous, we do not doubt that the investi-
gation will lead to a successful issue.

Revue Internationale d: 'Apiculture. — Letter
from the United Stales. — Our bees suffered
much last winter in consequence of their
having stored quantities of " honey dew." I
feared a bad winter, as I thought the honey
was not wholesome ; but it was the first time
we had seen this substance gathered in the
month of September, and as there was also
some good honey in the hives we did not
think it needful to remove it, and feed with
other honey.

During January and February the bees
were confined to their hives by the weather.
Then the mischief began to show itself ;
dysentery set in, and the bees died off in such
numbers that a third of the colonies perished.

Hives placed near the Mississippi (which
only gathered the honey of autumn flowers)
wintered well, while the others tended as
carefully suffered so severely.

Twenty hives where honey dew had been
gathered were wintered in the cellar by way
of experiment, but only four survived. From
this we must conclude that good winter
nourishment is of vital importance. The
purest honey the least contaminated by ex-
traneous matters should be given where the
bees are confined for a length of time by
severity of climate.

Last year everything was burnt up by
drought, this year we see nothing but rain.
Everything grows vigorously truly, and if we
have sunny days by-and-bye, we may get an
autumn honey harvest.

The Same. — Honey dew has been analysed
and found to contain some quantity of dex-
trine, which (wholesome for man) appears to be
the cause of trouble to the bees in the winter
time when they cannot leave the hive. At
other seasons it forms a perfectly harmless
food.

Honey dew is formed during the great heats
of summer under certain atmospheric
influences. A sudden fall of temperature is a
principal cause of its exudation.

%tt J$h<rtrjJ5 to (&mat

September 1 to 6, at Preston.— Annual show of
the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society in connection
with the Festival week of the Guild Merchant (which
recurs only once in every twenty -one years). In honour
of the occasion a largely increased list of money prizes
is offered for honey along with silver and bronze medals
of the B.B.K.A. and also of the Society.

September 6, at Bramhall, near Stock-
port.— Honey Show in connection with the Bramhall
and Woodford District Horticultural Society. Liberal
prizes. Schedules from J. Turner, Glenwood, Bram-
hall, near Stockport. Entries close August 30.

September 6 to 13, at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (10th)
Annual Exhibition and Market.

September 10 and 11, at Hull.— Honey show
in connection with the Hull and District Horticultural
Association, at the Artillery Barracks. Seven open
classes, including one for Honey Trophy, prizes £2
and £1 ; also classes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar of extracted honey, with free entry.
Schedules from F. W. Thompson, hon. sec, 8, Albert-
square, Ella-street, Hull. Entries close Septem-
ber 3.

September lO and 11, at Bebington, near
Birkenhead.— Cheshire B.K.A. Show, in connection
with Birkenhead and Wirral Agricultural Society, on
New Show-ground. Numerous classes for Hives, Honey,
and Wax. Substantial prizes. Schedules from A. H.
Edwardson, 6, Hamilton-square, Birkenhead. Entries
close September 1.

September 10 and 11, at Derby.— Derbyshire
B.K.A. Twenty-first Annual Show of Hives, Bees, and
Honey on the show ground of the Derbyshire Agricul-
tural Society. Schedules from R. H. Coltman, Hon.
Sec. D. B.K.A., Station-street, Burton-on-Trent. En-
tries closed. Double fees to August 30.

September 10 and 11, in Waverley Market,
Edinburgh. — Midlothian Bee-Keepers' Ninth Ex-
hibition. Seven open classes. Prize money, 12s., 8s.,
4s. Entry 2s. Schedules from W. Weir, Heriot, Mid-
lothian. Entries close September 3.

September 11, at Yeovil, in connection with the
Yeovil Agricultural Show. Two Open Classes— Single
1-lb. Section and Single 1-lb. Jar of Extracted Honey
(no entry fee). Prizes, 12s. 6d., 7s. 6d., 5s., in each
class. Schedules from Everton Watts, hon. sec,
Mansion House, Yeovil, and G. W. Perry, 81, Middle-
street, Yeovil. Entries close September 8.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace.— Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition
of Bees, Honey, and Appliances. Specially increased
prizes and medals for Coronation year. Further par-
ticulars shortly. Schedules from Hon. Secretary,
Henry W. Brice, 100, Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath.
Entries close September 1.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace. — Surrey B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, Wax, and Appliances, &c Twenty-four classes
(ten open to all). Increased prizes and medals.
Schedules from F. B. White, Secretary, Harden House,
Redhill, Surrey. Entries close September 1.

September 20 to 27, at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with the
sixth Annual Exhibition and Market of the Grocery
and Kindred Trades. Numerous classes for comb and
extracted honey and beeswax. Open to all British
Bee-keepers. Special attention is directed to the new
Honey-selling Classes. Schedules from H. S.
Rogers, Secretary, 27, Leadenhall-street, London, B.C.
Entries close August 30.

October 4, at Newcastle-on-Tyne — Annual
show of the Northumberland and Durham B.K.A. in
the Y.M.C.A. Institute, Blackett-street. Fifteen
classes for Bees, Honey, and Bee-appliances. (Open to
I Northumberland and Durham only.) Schedules from
James Waddell, hon. secretary, Wooler, Northumber-
land. Entries finally close lO a.m., October 4-

October 7 to 10, 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 Hr. Wm. C. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover,
square, London, W. Entries close Sept.8.

Aug. 28, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

349

PEESS CUTTINGS.

BIRDS AND BEES.

In a recent note in this column on the
subject of " Bees and Birds " it was suggested
that when the bird felt inclined to dine off
the bee he selected drones, as they have no
sting. Mr. W. G. Bridge now writes : —

I cannot assert that such is, or is not, the
case in some instances, but have not detected
that discrimination, although I have kept and
studied bee3 for twenty-five years. Perhaps,
however, it may be interesting to your readers
if I relate a circumstance that came under my
notice some two or three years ago. I was
walking in my garden in mid winter, when
snow covered the ground, and, hearing a
tapping noise, I looked, and a tit — a blue tit,
I believe — perched upon the alighting-board
of one of my hives. He picked up the bee
that came out to ask " Who's there ? " and
flew to a currant bush close at hand to disaect
and dine. That was course No. 1 . Just then
my daughter joined me. I told her what had
happened. Presently the tit returned to the
hive and repeated the process, and we counted
fourteen such visits. I felt that he had dined
well by that time, and signified it by throwing
a stone to frighten him away. The snow
under the tree was strewn with the remnants
of the repast. Now, in this case the drone
theory falls flat. Unless the hive is queenless,
and in this case it was not so, there are no
drones in the hive in winter. They have
all been slain months before. The tit bad
fourteen worker bees, in spite of stings. —
Daily News.

A swarm of bees at Princes Risborough
(Bucks) have taken up their abode in the
mouth of a large terra-cotta lion, placed over
the entrance to a brewery. It is believed
there are many pounds of honey deposited in
the cavity. Tne incident gives a fair imitation
of Samson's celebrated riddle, " Out of the
strong cometh sweetness." — Daily Telegraph.

SWARM OF BEES HIVED IN A BUCKET.

A peculiar incident in connection with the
local Coronation decorations was witnessed
on Saturday afternoon in Queen-street, Cardiff.
A festoon of artificial roses hung across the
entrance to North-road, and in the centre, at
the lowest point, huog what had the appear-
ance to the casual passer-by of two large
bunches of grapes. These had attracted a
large number of bees, which were swarming
around and settling upon them. However,
when a portion of one of the bunches of grapes
fell to the ground it was apparent that they
were not grapes at all, but bees clustered to-
gether. Some one of an eminently practical
frame of mind succeeded in " hiving " them in
a capacious bucket. This was accomplished by
gently and cautiously lowering the decoration
till it nearly touched the ground, placing the
bucket underneath the clustered bees, and
when they were lowered into the bucket
clapping a cover on.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All queriet/ortearded vill be attended to, ana tkote onlf
of pertonal intereitwill be annoered in tJtie eolumn.

*#* Referring to |the inquiry for expert help
by " S. M.'' (Croydon), page 339, last week,
Mr. J. E. Short, certificated bee expert, 51,
New Clive-road, West Dulwich, writes
offering to do the work required if written
to.

*** -A- correspondent, dating from Cleaton
Moor, writes: — "Can you, or any of your
correspondents, give us any information
about the red clover bee's character ? '' For
ourselves, we may say the " red clover bee "
has not, in our opinion, much " character "
to lose, seeing that we have but small faith
in the " long-tongue " theory.— [Eds.]

Ebor (Cheshire). — Varieties of Bees. — We
should say the bees are well-marked hybrids
of the Cyprian and brown-bee cross. Of the
three bees sent two are very well marked,
while the third does not differ much from
the ordinary or common brown-bee.

S. H. Foster (Oxon) — Unripe Honey. —
Although honey that has not been " capped "
or sealed over by the bees is, as a rule,
" unripe," it does not follow that all sealed
honey must be ripe. Therefore, your query,
" What is unripe honey ? Is it uncapped
honey 1 " does not quite meet the case. Thin
honey, whether sealed or unsealed, is more
or less unripe, and should be kept in a warm
place (temperature above 80 deg. Fahr.) for
a few days to ripen it. The illustration on
page 85 of " Guide Book " shows a honey -
ripeoer, and explains the method of
"ripening."

H. Potts (Warrington). — Foreign Queen
Breeders. — The person you name is well
known on the Continent as a reliable
breeder of Italian queens, and we have no
doubt there is some good reason for delay
complained of.

C. Schofield (Halifax). — Soluble Phenyl. —
This should be obtainable at local chemists,
but if not, write to Morris, Little, & Co.,
wholesale chemists, Doncaster, who will
send it post-free for 6d.

Honey Samples.

T. W. F. (Glos.) — 1. Sample sent is from mixed
sources, and is hardly good enough for show-
ing except at local show. We can hardly
grade its colour in an earthenware jar, from
which contents were leaking through in-
secure packing. A paper cover is obviously
unsafe for liquid honey in post.

(Miss) J. M. B. (Atherstone).— Both samples
are of good quality, No. 1 especially so.
Your earlier samples must have missed in
post, or been badly packed, as they failed to
reach us.

Bumble Puppy (N. Wales). — Honey is of
excellent quality for either market or show-
bench.

J. G. (Mottram). — Sample is unripe and only
of medium quality. It would not keep

350

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 28, 1902.

long, and cannot be regarded as a table-
honey in its present condition.
S. G. S. (Beddington). — Honey is of good
quality and suitable for showing in the
" medium coloured " class.

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,"
not " Manager."

Constant Eeader (Yorks). — The comb sent
is reeking with foul brood — about as bad a
case as we can imagine. There is nothing
to be done with such a stock but burning
the whole contents of the hive.

Constant Eeader (Sheffield). — Sample con-
tains decided foul brood in pronounced
form. It is, however, not of very old stand-
ing in comb sent.

Geo. Allen (Derbyshire). — Comb contains
nothing worse than pollen. If queen is
satisfactory a driven lot of bees may be
added to the stock at the first convenient
chance.

Salop (Kidderminster). — Foul brood is deve-
loping fast in comb, but as it is apparently
a recent outbreak you should get the bees
off their present combs and treat as advised
in " Guide Book." When writing to B.B.J.
please address "Editors." To address
" W. B. Carr " is misleading and causes
delay unless letters are for Record.

(Miss) E. Williams (Cornwall). — The sample
No. 4 is badly infected with foul brood ;
No. 5 is much less serious, but it is
diseased. The bees, however strong, will do
no good if left to winter on combs contain-
ing the diseased larvae, so they should be
dealt with as directed in " Guide Book."

F. Hamshar (Sussex). — We think brood is
only " chilled " in comb sent, but samples
are unsuitable for proper examination.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve word* and under, Sixpenee; for every addi-
tional Three wordt or under, One Penny.

DRIVEN BEES, Is. 6d. lb. ; Queens, 2s. each. Woods,
Normandy. o 70

DRIVEN BEES.— Healthy Strong Lots, 3s. 9d. ; 1892
Fertile Queens, Is. 6d. ; Three-frame Nuclei, 7s. 6d.
Sole, Potton, Sandy, Beds. 0 69

HONEY WANTED in Exchange for Gent's Pneumatic
CYCLE. Price £7 10s. APHIS, B.B.J. Office.
o 66

FEW LAYING QUEENS for disposal, 2s. each.
Vales, 17, Mount Pleasant-road, Alton, Hants.
O 67

ANY QUANTITY SECTION HONEY Bought. 6s.
doz. carriage paid. Wax Is. 3d. II). E. H. TAYLOR,
Welwyn, Herts. o 57

A FEW healthy DRIVEN BEES, with Queen, 4s. per
lot ; on rail. W. H. Higley, Bee Expei t, 15,
Mason-street, Kidderminster. ___

HOPS, 9d. lb. ; 5 lb., 3s. ; post free. HOLYER, Rey-
nolds-lane, Tunbridge Wells. o 56

Prepaid Advertisements (Continued).

HEALTHY DRIVEN BEES on brood combs with
Queen, 4s. lot. Free on rail. Brown, 31, Canon-
street, Shrewsbury. o 63

WANTED, one or two 2£ cwt. BARRELS, suitable for
sending Honey by rail. W.' Eight, Chisledon,
Swindon. o 62

PROLIFIC QUEENS, 1902, Autumn reared from non-
swarming Stocks, 3s. 6d., post free. Taylor,
Northwick, Jockey-road, Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfteld.
_____ O 65

WANTED, DRIVEN BEES. EUN HONEY and
SECTIONS. Quote lowest price, to Ker, South-
ridge, Harlow, Essex. o b8

DRIVEN BEES, with Queen, 3s. per stock. Orders
booked in rotation. Martin, Bee-keeper, Woking -
ham, Berks. o 64

GUARANTEED pure ENGLISH BEESWAX, good
quality. Send sample and lowest price for 28 or
56 lb. Carriage paid to F. Round, Chemist, Birkdale,
Southport.

FOR.SALE, Owner giving up, TWO STOCKS BEES on
ten Frames, with Hives and two lifts each (one
a Taylor's 20th Century Hive), 25s. each. King, 36,
Churchill-road, Walthamstow.

DRIVEN BEES, healthy, 3s. per lot, including Queen ;
also a few Strong Stocks in Bar-frame Hives
complete, 22s. 6d. each. Willis, Oakley, Wimborne,
Dorset. o 61

LIGURIAN BEES.— Strong stocks, grand workers,
Ten frames with young Queen, 15s. each. Package
returnable. Palmer, Tamar Cottage, St. Budeaux,
Devonport. o 60

WANTED, any quantity of NEW HONEY in one lb.
Sections, Clover, also'Heather, clean, well-filled,
and sealed. State price delivered for cash. M. Charlton,
No. 42, Fawcett-street, Sunderland. 0 59

FOR SALE, three strong STOCKS of BEES in
Standard-size Bar-frame Hives, £1 Is. each ; one Skep,
12s. 6d. ; one "Windsor" Extractor, 10s. George
Swindels, Cherry Tree Cottage, Romiley, Cheshire.
O 58

SECTION GLAZING. — Just arrived, a large consign-
ment of LACE PAPER, in neat patterns ; White,
1 in. wide, 100 7d., 300 Is. 6d., 5,000 4s. 6d. ; Pink, Green
and Blue, 1 in. wide, 100 8d., 300 Is. 9d., 500 2s. 9d.,
1,000 5s. LACE BANDS (lace both sides), 2| in., 3 in.
and 3i in. wide ; White, 100 Is. 3d., 200 2s. 4d., 300 3s. 3d.,
500 4s. 6d. ; Lace Bands in Pink and Green, 100 Is. 6d.,
300 4s. 3d., 500 6s. All post free. An advance of 15 per
cent, in price causes extra on previous price's.
W. WOODLEY, Beedon, Newbury.

ABOUT SIX CWT. good light HONEY in tins or
bottles. Offers. Garner, Dyke, Bourne. 0 42
ANTED, NEW SECTIONS (first quality). State
lowest for cash. Chilton, Polegate, Sussex.

W

-1 CWT. of OLD HONEY, in two tins, 50s. E. HOLDER,

1 Grosvenor Cottage, Bath. O 36

EALTHY DRIVEN BEES with Queen, 5s. lot.
Boxes returned. A. Moreton, Bee Expert,

Leigh, Worcester. O 20

RIVEN BEES, August delivery, 3s. 6d. per lot with
Queens ; Boxes returnable G.W.R. Pullen,

Ramsbury, Hungerford. 0 11

PLENDID" LOT of EXTRACTED HONEY and
SECTIONS; tins returnable G.W.R. Pullen,

Ramsbury ^Hungerford. Q 10

EALTHY DRIVEN BEES, Is. 3d. per lb., not less
than 4 lb. (Boxes to be returned.) E. Long,

Fulbourn, Cambs. Q 34

RIVEN BEES.— Strong STOCKS, with Queens, 5s.
Package returnable. Phillips, Spetchley,

Worcester. 0 35

ONEY WANTED (good extracted), in tins, light
or medium. Price to Aphis, B.B.J. Office.

Q 54

ONEY WANTED (old granulated), in tins.
Quantity and lowest price to Aphis, B.B.J.

Office. O 53

qpTH YEAR.— My noted small swarms, 5s. 6d., cases
Z4 D free. First-rate Queens in introducing cages, 5s. ;
delivered. Alsford, Expert, Blandford. 0 8

H

Sept. 4, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

351

(Mtorial, $tiim, kt

Deatb of /IDr. Cbas, Hmoaut

Though less familiar to present-day readers
than to those of the older school of bee-
keepers, the name of Chas. Dadant is known
wherever modern bee-keeping is practised.
The firm of Chas. Dadant & Son, as makers of
comb foundation, has been held in the highest
repute for many years past, both in America
and this country ; and though Mr. Dadant
had reached a ripe old age, his death will
cause sincere regret as severing one more link
which joins us to the most worthy veterans of
the craft. In tendering our own sympathy,
along with that of British bee-keepers, to his
family, we are very pleased to print below an
account written by the deceased gentleman
himself for the American Bee Journal about
ten years ago, and which is now reprinted
along with a brief notice of his death, which
took place, after a short illness, on July 16.

" I was born on May 22, 1817, in Vaux-
sous-Aubigny, a French village of Champaign,
near the confines of Bui gundy. My father
was a doctor of medicine. From the age of
six to seventeen I went to school, living with
my grandfather, who was a locksmith in the
city of Langres.

"Then I entered as clerk in a wholesale
dry-goods store, and ten years after I went
into partnership with one of the owners of the
store. We began successfully ; we had earned
some money when the French Revolution of
1848 came, followed by the Republic, which
was destroyed by Napoleon III. and replaced
by his Empire. For six years the trouble
and the insecurity lasted, and determined us
to quit the business. Then I succeeded to my
father-in-law, who was a tanner, but bad luck
continued to persecute me. The city of
Langres, the ancient Audomatunum, which,
several thousand years ago, was the capital of
a people named the ' Lingones,' is situated on
a high mountain, which overlooks its vicinity
nearly on every side. Csesar and the other
Roman Emperors, at the time when the Roman
Empire owned most of Western Europe, forti-
fied Langres with strong walls, which were so
well constructed that they are solid yet, after
2,000 years. These walls affording a protec-
tion to the inhabitants, the city was densely
peopled, and its commerce was facilitated by
a quantity of good roads, laid with stones and
cement, and directed to every point of the
compass.

"These Roman roads, as they are yet
called, helped greatly the business of the city,
which was very prosperous until the railroads

came. Of course, these railroads refused to
climb the high mountains, and built their
depot two miles away, in the bottom of a
deep valley. Then the city began to depopu-
late, and its buildings lost 90 per cent, of
their value. Compelled to go elsewhere to
get a living, I resolved to come to the United
States.

"It was thirty years ago I came, a poor
man with a family. Unable to understand a
word of English, I subscribed for a weekly
paper, and began to translate it with the help
of a pocket dictionary. But the greatest diffi-
culty was the pronunciation. I was soon able
to write so as to be understood, but my
spoken English was not intelligible. The
French language has very little accent, while
the English has the accent on one syllable in
each word, and the scholars themselves do not
always agree on the syllable on which the
accent ought to be placed. Then imagine the
difficulty of a foreigner ! A great many
store -keepers were amazed to see me explain
in writing what I wanted, when they had been
unable to understand my language.

"As I had already tried bee-keeping for
pleasure in France, I began here with two
colonies. What I knew of bees had satisfied
me that a well- managed apiary would give
enough profit to support a family, and the
result proved that I was right.

"Soon after I began to rear Italian queens.
Being able to understand the Italian language,
and having been elected an honorary member
of the Italian Society of Bee-keepers, it was
an easy matter for me to try the importation
of bees. But the conditions indispensable to
success were not yet known, so I lost some
money in the undertaking. Then I went to
Italy, but the trip was a failure. I had about
resolved to quit the business of importing
queens when I began experimenting with
Fiorini, and soon after all the queens arrived
alive.

"But the care of 400 colonies, with the
comb foundation business, was then beginning
to give us — my son and myself — as much
work as we were able to do, so we resolved to
quit the importing business.

" We have since revised the book of our
friend Langstroth, and published a French
edition, which has had the honour of being
translated into the Russian language.

" I am now seventy-six years old, and I
have enjoyed, so far, good health, thanks to
the care of my wife and of our children and
grandchildren living with us en famille. —
Chas. Dadant."

SHOW AT BISHOP'S STORTFORD.

BISHOP'S STORTFORD AND DISTRICT B.K A.

The annual honey show of the above asso-
ciation was held on August 13 in connection
with the Horticultural Exhibition in the

352

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Sept. 4, 1902.

gardens of The Grange, which were kindly
thrown open to the public by permission of
John Barker, Esq., J.P.

An interesting feature of the show was the
lectures on " Bee Management '' given in the
County Council bee-tent by Mr. W. Debnam,
the last being under the management of the
hon. secretary, Mr. G. W. S border, assisted
by Mr. C. J. Dodd.

The exhibits made up a very good display,
though the entries were less numerous than
last year.

Mr. W. Debnam was the judge, and made
the following awards :—

Twelve 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, C. H. Poulton,
Aspenden, Herts ; 2nd, F. Calvert, Furneux,
Pelham ; 3rd, C. Lodge, High Easter, Essex.

Six 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, H. S. Cheader,
Much Hadham ; 2nd, C. Lodge ; 3rd, C. H.
Poulton.

Three Shallow Frames of Comb Honey. —
1st, C H. Poulton ; 3rd, G. C. Burgess,
Bishop's Stortford (2nd not awarded).

Straw Super. — 1st, R. Blake, Birchangel.

Glass Super. — 1st, W. J. Kitson (weight
about 50 lb.).

One Jar Extracted Honey (light). — 1st, C.
Lodge ; 2nd, A. R. Gold ; 3rd, W. J. Kitson.

One Jar Extracted Honey (dark). — 1st,
Mrs. Smith, Birchangel ; 2nd, W. J. Kitson ;
3rd, G. C. Burgess.

Beeswax. — 3rd, C. Lodge (1st and 2nd not
awarded).

SPECIAL PRIZES GIVEN BY W. P. NEAL, ESQ.,
PRESIDENT.

Honey Trophy. — 1st, C. H. Poulton ; 2nd,
C. Lodge. — (Communicated.)

HONEY SHOW AT LLANGOLLEN.

The honey show held on August 28 in con-
nection with the Llangollen Flower Show
was a great success. The entries numbered
forty-one, and some really splendid exhibits
were staged. Owing to the keen competition,
the Committee granted an equal third prize
in two classes. Mr. Stokes, of Chirk, acted
as judge, and made the following awards : —

Six 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, Ely Berry,
Llanrwst ; 2nd, Alf. G. Preen, Nesscliffe ;
equal 3rd, Jas. Clay, Wellington, and Chic
Jones, Church Stretton ; h.c, S. Cartwright,
Shrewsbury ; c, — Goodsell, Biddenden.

Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, Jas.
Clay ; 2nd, Alf. G. Preen ; equal 3rd, E. A.
Millward, Chaddesley Corbett, and Rev. E.
Charley, Ince Vicarage ; h.c, Mr. Griffiths,
Helsby ; c, Ely Berry.

Beeswax. — 1st, Alf. G. Preen ; 2nd, Ely
Berry; 3rd, E. A. Millward.— {Com-
municated.)

tomspmtdeno.

The Kditori do not hold themselves responsible for the
•pinions expressed by correspondent!. No notice will b*
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, bat 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, <kc.,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, <bc.,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 at well
as the page on which it appears.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

[4878.] A Neio Section Extractor.— -Those I
have seen are mere toys giving the bee-keeper
an infinite amount of trouble with very poor
results, and I have discarded them for some
years, making the bees themselves do all the
work of clearing out unfinished or faulty
sections. Several objections might obviously
be taken to such a practice, though the more
serious of these may be considerably
minimised by due care and tact. Still, this
process of " extracting'' is apt to lead to
robbing unless very judiciously gone about,
and out of this cross bees are engendered.
Another drawback is that the work has often
to be done when bees are disinclined to taste
even exposed sweets owing to a full flow of
honey being on. Therefore, to preserve the
bees' and bee-man's temper, and do the work
with efficiency, ease, and comfort, Mr.
Meadows, perhaps, might invent a really good
and reliable machine such as Mr. Woodley
suggests. If he does, heather men will have
reason to bestow a blessing on him.

Vicious Bees.—"G. H. H." (4860, page
323) contributes sound sense to this sub-
ject, and readers should pay particular atten-
tion to what he says on gentleness in
manipulation as a preventive (not a cure)
of viciousness. If he had really caught
" Tartars '' he would find that " moral
suasion" had no effect on their temper or
disposition. The cause for such ill-temper
deserves some careful study. I am inclined to
attribute it mainly to careless and injudicious
intercrossing of different races. The very
worst stock I ever dealt with was a cross
where Cyprian blood had been mixed with
that of hybrids produced from former exten-
sive and indiscriminate blending in an inju-
dicious manner of all races. Even Mr. Sole's
". Bogie Man '.' could scarcely have stood an
assault from them when they were on the war-
path.

"Tanging" Bees. — Ovid wrote, probably
about the first year of the Christian era : —
" They report that honey was discovered by
Bacchus. He was proceeding from the sandy

Sept. 4, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

353

Hebrus, accompanied by the Satyrs, and they
were come to the flowery Pangseum, when the
cymbal-bearing hands of the attendants gave
forth a clang. Behold, impelled by the sound,
unknown winged creatures swarm together,
and the sound which the brasses produce the
bees pursue. Bacchus collects them as they
flit about, and shuts them up in a hollow tree,
and he has his reward in the discovery of
honey." I had no idea that bee-tanging had
an origin of such hoary antiquity. Now,
since I wrote the foregoing, I have discovered
that Pliny wrote that " to cause a swarm of
bees to settle you must strike on brazen
vessels." Who will discover an earlier origin
for the process ?

Alpine Flowers. — It is a fallacy to think that
only in lowland dales and sheltered woodlands
Nature strews her fair floral favours, for

" Up among the mountains,
In soft and mossy cell,
By the silent springs and fountains
The loTely wild flowers dwell."

The pretty Alpine campion is one of these,
and it forms a dense matted turf with its
beautiful bright purple flowers peeping up
among the foliage like small stars. It is never
seen in lowland ground, but is found only near
the summits of our loftiest bens. I have seen
it on the Cairngorm range, close beside an ice
field. The moisture trickling from this seemed
to give the needed sap to bring the plant to
full fruition.

At the present time we have another flower
deserving attention. This is the soldanella or
snowbell, a dainty little plant about 3 in.
high, bearing pendant fringed white or violet
bells. They may at times be seen rising out of
a bed of snow, much the same as we find the
snowdrop in an inclement spring. During a
snowstorm of some duration it will be
observed that all round our hives the snow is
melted by the heat from the colony, and a
process somewhat similar enables the solda-
nella to work its way up from beneath the
snowy covering. The breathing organs of the
plant evolve so much heat that the encircling
snow is melted, thus forming a cavity for the
flower to blossom in, and the process goes on
until it succeeds in reaching the surface and
opens out into a lovely bell.

Several little gems of the stellaria seem to
have their native habitat high up near the
tops of our higher peaks, and I found a
number well up to the 4,000-ft. line, near the
summit of Ben Nevis. At present we have
one of these lovely Alpine flowers " fruiting,"
from 2,000 to 3,000 ft. up our ben, in the
shape of the wild strawberry. It is known by
several other names, such as averns, cloud-
berries, and buckberries, but the botanical
name is JRubus chamitmorus. They grow at
a lower altitude than I have natned, but seldom
flower, and never fruit at a low elevation. It
is the highest growing fruit I know, although
blackberries, crowberries, and cranberries are
all found about 2,000 ft. above sea-level.

Drunken Humble-Bees. — Here is another
extract on this subject from " The Arcadian
Calendar," in August Strand :—" The humble-
bees are busy, as usual. The humble-bee
occasionally varies industry with over-indul-
gence, but habitual intoxication is unknown ;
for this excellent reason, that he who weakly
yields to the seduction of such strong waters
as the honey-dew on the lime leaf falls drunk
and incapable to the ground, and dies without
a chance of reformation.'' That the event
occurs by the bees sipping the honey from the
flower, and not the dew from the leaf, is easily
proved, as it takes place in seasons when no
honey-dew is perceptible. — D. M. M., Banff.

SOME "FACTS" ABOUT BEE-
KEEPING.

ON QUEEN INTRODUCTION.

[4879.] The "facts" given by' your corre-
spondent "J. M." on page 345 may be
explained in at least two ways : —

1. The introduced queen might not have
been turned out of the hive. Your correspon-
dent does not say that he found her dead, and
the fact that there were no eggs, but queen-
cells, in the hive a few days later could easily
be explained. Probably the queen was
" balled," or she was otherwise prevented
from laying eggs — a very common occurrence
with a newly introduced queen ; and this,
coupled with the fact that stimulative feeding
was kept up every day, would fully account
for the bees forming and nursing queen-cells,
which they would not be likely to destroy
until the queen commenced laying eggs. Not
being able to find the queen is negative evi-
dence, upon which an expert learns to place
very little dependence.

2. An unfertilised queen from another hive
may have found her way into the hive before
or after her nuptial flight. This occasionally
happens in a queen-raising apiary where there
are a number of nuclei containing unfertilised
queens at the same time.

The first is by far the more likely hypo-
thesis. It is absolutely impossible for a queen
to be raised from a worker-larva, and fertilised
within ten days. I have found that a queen
requires at least four or five days from the
time she emerges from her cell before she can
be fertilised, and the period is usually quite a
week. This year it has been more often a fort-
night with us, and I have one or two queens
that have been out of their cells over three
weeks before they commenced egg-laying ;
however, they produced worker-brood, showing
they were properly fertilised. — F. "W. L.
Sladen, Ripple Court Apiary, Dover,
August 29.

[4880.] The "facts" in connection with the
introduction of his queen — as detailed by your
correspondent " J. M." on page 345— will to

354

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Sept. 4, 1902.

most bee-keepers appear fables, as his conclu-
sions are at variance with all scientific investi-
gation on this subject. I believe the true
solution of the mystery is simply that the
fertile queen was successfully introduced,
although "J. M." failed to see it on his ex-
amination. The hive, being strong, pro-
ceeded to rear two queens on the same prin-
ciple on which stocks rear queens previous to
swarming. These would be subsequently
destroyed. The eggs and larvae seen were
evidently the produce of the introduced queen.
It may be asked if the queen introduced was
a " laying '' one. If newly fertilised, the
phenomenon has an explanation which is
obvious even to the novice in bee-keeping. —
J. S. D., Duns, August 29.

A CHEAP HOME-MADE HONEY
PRESS.

[4881.] I would like to inform your readers
how I made a simple, effective, and cheap
honey press. It has always been a trouble to
me to get all the honey out of wax cappings
and broken combs. I have formerly used a
small iron screw press which fitted into my
wax extractor, but found it a tedious job.

Tbe following is a terse description of a
press I made this month, and which gives me
complete satisfaction — Two pieces of pitch
pine, H in. thick and 2 ft. by 8 in.; two
joiners' bench screws, 2f in. in diameter.
Through the two pieces of pitch pine I bored
two 2|-iD. holes, 17 in. from centre to centre.
After putting the screws through pitch pine
plates, I put them through the side of a bench
with screw blocks on the inside. This will
keep press in proper position.

I use a bag made of cheese cloth to hold
the wax cappings or broken comb. Place the
bag between the pitch pine plates, and
squeeze home. This will extract nearly all
the honey, and the total cost of the p:ess
need not exceed 4s. — Lancelot Quatle,
Glenmay, Isle of Man, August 28.

EXTRACTING UNFINISHED

SECTIONS.

[4882.] In reply to Mr. Woodle>'s note in
B. J., page 323, as to a section extracting cage
being needed, I would draw his attention to
page 480 of " Cheshire," Vol. II., where he
will find a cage such as he wants very clearly
illustrated and described, and he can make it
himself. I would only add, use tinned wires
and tinned wire cloth, which is better in every
way than zinc. I made one of these cages five
years ago, and find it just the thing for
extracting unfinished clover sections previous
to their being returned to the bees for re-
filling.— G. M. S., Keswick, September 1.

HONEY OF BEES.

[4883 ] H Jimero, in " Boll. Society Espan.
Hist. Nat. II." (1902), pages 98-102, gives the
results of a number of saccharometric and
polarimetric observations on various kinds of
honey from different parts of Spain.

The above is gleaned from the Journal of
the Royal Microscopical Society of London for
August, in case any of your readers should
be interested in the question. — R. Hamlyn-
Harris, D.Sc, &c, Tipton, Staffs, August 23.

INSURANCE SCHEME.

[4884.] In answer to your Devon corre-
spondents in this month's Record, I would
like, with your permission, through the
columns of the Bee Journal, to tell them
that the insurance scheme is now working
smoothly, and that many bee-keepers have
taken advantage of it to guard themselves
against claims for damage done to " third
parties " by their bees. As, however, some
intending insurers were prevented from doing
so by the unfortunate hitch which occurred at
the first start of the scheme, it has been
decided to extend the time of joining the
scheme till October 1. The conditions are
those published in the B.J. of May 8, 1902,
page 181, and full particulars can be obtained
from the Secretaries of the County Associa-
tions, or from Mr. E. H. YouDg, 12, Hanover-
square, London, W. Tlnr period covered by
the insurance will still remain as at first, v:z ,
to August 1, 1903.— T. I. Wkston.

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

Miss Mary Elsie Bott, whose home-apiary
forms our bee-garden picture this week, is one
of the few lady readers who have obtained the
expert's certificate of the B.B.K.A., and as it
was our privilege, about a year ago, to recom-
mend her for a " good pass," we know some-
thing of her ability as a bee-keeper. The
following "notes," written at our request, are
so full and interesting that we need add
nothing to them : —

" My bee-keeping experiences began in the
year 1898, when I undertook to help my
brother in the management of his apiary, then
numbering six hives and two skeps. Owing
entirely to lack of knowledge, my first year
could hardly be called successful, seeing that I
only took 63 lb. of honey and lo3t (by starva-
tion) two stocks.

"Determined to remedy, if possible, this
state of affairs, I bought all the best books
dealing with apiculture that I could learn of,
joined the Essex Bee-keepers' Association,
read its literature, and commenced to study in

Sept. 4, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

355

earnest ; but the more I read the more I
wanted to know about this most interesting
study. Foul brood has twice shown
itself in my apiary, but fortunately,
having some knowledge of the treatment
of this disease, both the affected stocks
were saved, and no others became affected.
This is not a first-rate district for honey
production. My brother, having no time to
help with the bees, gave them all to me, and
as swarms were made the hives numbered
fourteen. In addition to the apiary depicted
in the picture, I have an out-apiary located
about a mile away from here, by the riverside,
surrounded by orchards and gardens, where
the bees 'make food upon the summer's
velvet buds.'

port a ladder. Nothing daunted, however, I
mounted some high steps, with a skep in one
hand, a garden -rake in the other, and, getting
a good hold of the branch with the rake, I
endeavoured to catch the falling mass in
the skep, but had misjudged the distance !
They fell on its side, it overbalanced, the skep
went down, the bees went up ! The gardener,
who was watching, fled for his life, making
sundry unorthodox remarks about ' bees ' and
the ways of women in particular. Not being
able] to move either up or down, the beeB
began to settle all over the step", while I
stood perfectly still and awaited results. After
a time, during which I was growing ' sadder and
wiser,' they commenced to rise, and in a short
time settled in the same place as before. I

MISS M. ELSIE BOTT S APIARY, CHELMSFORD, ESSEX.

" All the hives and skeps are numbered,
and have their corresponding numbers in the
' record book,' where a regular account is kept
of expenditure and the amount of honey taken.
For ladies especially I think the study and
practice of apiculture a most interesting,
healthy, and profitable pursuit, although I
should keep bees solely for the love of them.
The natural dislike and fear we all experience
about the 100 per cent, hypodermic injection
of formic acid is soon overcome. A gentle but
firm hand is all that is required when mani-
pulating, as bee3 rarely if ever sting unless
needlessly annoyed.

" This year, when taking a swarm, I had an
awkward experience. They had settled on a
branch of a high pear tree, too slender to sup-

then got a man who could climb to use a
saw, and eventually, after about an hour (' a
shining hour 1 '), I secured the swarm.

" In the springtime I was greatly interested
in a pair of great tits (Par us major) enjoy iug
many a meal at my expense. They tapped on
the floor - boards of the hive, and when a
poor half-torpid bee came out to ascertain the
cause of this disturbance he was immediately
caught up and carried off. The carefully
extracted stings laid on the roof of a certain
hive indicate clearly that other bee-lovers live
about here who also know something about
' The Anatomy and Physiology of the Honey
Bee,' and (though from a somewhat different
standpoint) are as attached to the little Apis
mellijica as myself.''

356

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Sept. 4, 1902.

BISULPHIDE OF CAKBON

FOR DESTROYING WAX MOTH.

The article by Professor A. J. Cook,
entitled " C.S.," which appeared on page 390,
1 read with much interest. Before com-
mencing to use this drug moth-worms were
one of the most difficult problems I had to
contend with, for they have always been very
numerous here. I have had sets of combs,
and even hives themselves, almost cut to
pieces by moth- worms, in cases where the bees
deserted their hives, and it was not discovered
until some time afterward. When comb-
honey is removed from the hive, a close watch
must be kept, for moth-worms are sure to
develop on some of it, and if their depreda-
tions are not checked a large part of it will
soon be ruined.

Some persons seem to think these moth-
worms appear only on comb-honey that con-
tains more or less bee-bread, but I regret to
say that this is far from being the case here.
They are much more apt to appear on combs
that contain a few cells of pollen, but I have
had hundreds of sections of comb-honey that
did not contain a cell of bee-bread badly cut
up and damaged by moth-larvte.

A number of years ago I sold 2,000 lb. of
white clover comb-honey to a large retail
grocery concern in Minneapolis. The honey
was shipped about the middle of August, by
express. I got a special rate, and went along
with the shipment, as it had to be transferred
twice, and I wanted to see that it was
handled as it should be. It was not crated,
simply cased in 24-lb. cases, two of which
were fastened together. Not a comb was
broken en. route. The firm was much pleased
with the honey, and contracted for more to be
delivered later.

About three weeks after I returned home
I received a letter from them, saying the
honey was being all cut to pieces by worms,
and that they would hold me fully responsible
for not only the price of the honey, but also
for damages to them in loss of time, customers,
and numerous other things, for, they said,
they could prove the worms were in the honey
when I delivered it ; they had kept it in a
place free from worms, and there were no
other worms of that kind in the city.

I had been afraid the moth-worms might
damage it before they were able to sell it all,
for it was shipped soon after being removed
from the hives, and had not been sulphured,
sulphur being then the only remedy I knew
of. It would have done no good, for the
honey was free from worms at the time it was
shipped, but contained moth-eggs which
developed into larva' soon afterwards. The
fumes of the sulphur have no effect whatever
on these eggs, at least not what we can sub-
ject them to without discolouring the honey.

The fumes of bisulphide of carbon not only
kill moth-worms, but utterly destroy the
vitality of all eggs that the comb may contain.

A good many seem to question whether it
does kill the eggs as well as hatched larvae. I
know, from a large amount of actual expe-
rience, that it does.

Last year I sold to a large grocery house in
a near-by city nearly 7,000 lb. of honey.
This firm had considerable experience with,
and loss from, moth-worms developing in
honey after they bought it, and on this account
would not buy any very large amount at one
time, although besides a large retail trade they
had quite a jobbing trade from the Dakotas.
Last year one of the firm was at my place to
buy honey ; if it were not for worms they
could handle a large amount. He was very
sceptical about my assertion that the worms
would not appear on it. In order to get him
to buy the amount which he did, I had to get
the bank in our town to guarantee him the
full amount he paid for the honey, on all that
the moth-worms appeared upon.

The reason I have mentioned this incident
is on account of a curious, and possibly impor-
tant, incident connected with it. This firm
expected to need about 2,000 lb. or more for
their retail trade, and this amount I put up in
" T '' supers. The honey was all hauled to
them by team, and by using supers it saved
me the price on shipping- cases for this
amount.

Last spring I went to that city to gather up
a load of empty supers, cases, and cans, and
found that this firm still had considerable of
the honey I sold to them. I helped take out
what was left in the supers and pack it in
boxes. While one of the firm and I were
doing this he spoke about my honey keeping
so much better than the other they had. He
said that was why they had so much of mine
left. They had bought a number of small lots
from different bee-keepers around there, and
towards spring it all commenced to granulate
or candy iu the comb, and they wanted to get
rid of that first. I was unable to find a trace
of granulation in any of that I sold them.
Now, this honey I sold them was all subjected
to the fumes of bisulphide of carbon for three
and a half hours, or longer. Did this prevent
granulation, or have anything to do with its
not granulating 1 If I live I shall know in a
year from now, or less, for this season I shall
subject samples of both comb and extracted
honey to these fumes and keep them over
winter, besides similar lots that have not been
treated.

Some may remember that I described how,
last fall, I had subjected the winter stores of
a number of colonies to these fumes in order
to find out whether honey so treated was
affected or rendered unfit for winter food. I
have not space here to go over the matter, but
in a former article I explained why it was very
important for me to know whether honey so
treated was safe for winter food, and I am
glad to say that it is. The colonies on these
stores wintered in good shape, and this proves,
also, I believe, that honey so treated is per-

Sept. 4, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

357

fectly wholesome, for if trace enough of these
deadly fumes remained in it to make it
injurious to health, it would surely have
affected the bees during the long confinement
of winter.

Before closing I will say a few words about
the manner of using this drug. I have de-
scribed this before, but I still see it recom-
mended by many to pile up hive-bodies
containing combs, and treat them by putting
some bisulphide in the upper stories. Such a
method may kill moth- worms and eggs all
right, or it may have no effect on them— it all
depends on how tight the bottom cover and
hive-bodies fit, how much of the drug is used,
and the length of time the combs are exposed
to the fumes. I have a tight box made out
of matched lumber that is large enough so
that a number of supers of section-honey or
hive-bodies containing combs can be placed in
and treated at one time. When this box is
closed up it is nearly air-tight, and I know
pretty nearly to a minute how loDg it takes to
kill moth- worms in it, but whether the vitality
of the eggs is destroyed as soon as the
worms themselves I do not know. For this
reason I have always treated the combs much
longer than was necessary to kill the worms. —
0. Davenport, Southern Minnesota, in
" American Bee Journal."

^uqrip and mplip.

[2957.] Uniting Queenless Bees.. — I am
desirous of uniting a queenless stock to one
with a fertile queen, and therefore ask : — 1.
If the queenless bees are reduced to the con-
dition of a swarm, will it be necessary to
observe the conditions as regards moving by
degrees to a close proximity with the other
stock ? The two hives are about 7 ft. or 8 ft.
apart now, with another one midway between.
The queenless stock has been so a month or
five weeks, in which case the " Guide Book ''
says the fertile queen in the other hive had
better be caged. 2. Is this absolutely neces-
sary, as I feel hardly competent to capture and
place the queen in cage ? — S. M., Sheffield,
August 27.

Reply. — 1. It would very much reduce the
risk of loss to bee-life by doing as proposed,
and if the further precaution is taken of
altering the outer appearance of the hive by
placing a small branch of a tree across the
entrance little or no , loss will occur. 2.
Though not absolutely necessary, it is far
better and safer to do as directed, and if a
pipe-cover cage is used the operation of caging
is a very simple one.

[2958.] Starting Bee-keeping in Canada. — I
am thinking of going out to Canada next year,
and should like to have your opinion with
regard to a few things connected with Cana-
dian bee-keeping, for although intending to
be a farmer, I should like to keep some hives

there. I have now eighteen stocks and have
always found the bees to pay very well, my
highest yield from one hive being 1121b.

1. Would you advise me to take one or two
stocks out with me, or would it be better to
buy them out there ? 2. Could you also tell
me if there is any trouble in marketing the
honey, and also about what price it brings ?
3. Do you know of any association in Canada
that I could join ? I see by the Bee Journal
that a lot of honey is brought to England from
abroad. I should like to know if much of it
comes from Canada ? Thanking you for past
advice. — H. T., Tring, Herts, Aug^lst 27.

Reply. — By way of reply to several queries
enumerated above, we refer you to page 345
of our last week's issue, and think if you could
make it convenient to visit the Wolverhampton
Exhibition and see the display of the Ontario
Bee-keepers' Association, it would be well
worth while to have an interview with the
Canadian bee-keepers in charge of the Ontario
exhibit. They could inform you more fully
and reliably on bee-keeping in Canada than
any one in this country.

[2959 ] Moving Bees to New Location. —
I have started bee-keeping, and at the end of
May I purchased a stock from a gentleman
leaving the neighbourhood, who lived about a
mile and a half by road from my home. I have
left the stock in his garden, fearing if I brought
it home the bees might find their way back
there and die. Do you think I might
venture to bring them home now, or would
you advise letting them remain where they
are a bit longer? The stock swarmed two
days after I had purchased, and threw off a
fine strong swarm which I brought home and
hived in a frame-hive with nine frames. Some
weeks ago I put sections on, but the bees
have not commenced work in them. Last
week they cast out a large number of drones.
Do you think they ought to have worked
in the sections, or is it a bad honey year?
I think the latter is the case in this dis-
trict. I should like to join the Kent and
Sussex Association if you would kindly give
Secretary's name and address. — C. T. J.,
Dartford, Kent.

Reply. — 1. It will be best to leave the
bees where they are till active flying for the
season ends. You will then lose no bees.

2. Mr. H. W. Brice, 100, Brigstock-road,
Thornton Heath, is Hon. Sec. of the Kent
and Sussex B.K.A.

(ftrhaes from th* $nus.

Horsford, Norfolk, September 1. — The
honey crop in this district is hardly so heavy
as last year owing to the wet season. The
quality, however, is very good, and with
the latter surely we bee-keepers ought to stand
up for a better price than that at which honey
is now selling. — Hy. Thos. March.

358

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Sept. 4, 1902.

§w j&hfluta to (Eamt .

September 6 to 13, at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (10th)
Annual Exhibition and Market.

September 10 and 11, at Hull.— Honey show
in connection with the Hull and District Horticultural
Association, at the Artillery Barracks. Seven open
classes, including one for Honey Trophy, prizes £2
and £1 ; also classes for single 1-lb. section and single
1-lb. jar of extracted honey, with free entry.
Schedules from F. W. Thompson, hon. sec, 8, Albert-
square, Ella-street, Hull.

September lO and 11, at Bebington, near
Birkenhead.— Cheshire B.K.A. Show, in connection
with Birkenhead and Wirral Agricultural Society, on
New Show-ground. Numerous classes for Hives, Honey,
and Wax. Substantial prizes. Schedules from A. H.
Edwardson, 6, Hamilton-square, Birkenhead.

September 10 and 11, at Derby.— Derbyshire
B.K.A. Twenty-first Annual Show of Hives, Bees, and
Honey on the show ground of the Derbyshire Agricul-
tural Society. Schedules from R. H. Coltman, Hon.
Sec. D. B.K.A., Station-street, Burton-on-Trent.

September 10 and 11, in Waverley Market,
IDdinbutgh.— Midlothian Bee-Keepers' Ninth Ex-
hibition. Seven open classes. Prize money, 12s., 8s.,
4s. Entry 2s. Schedules from W. Weir, Heriot, Mid-
lothian.

September 11, at Yeovil, in connection with the
Yeovil Agricultural Show. Two Open Classes—Single
1-lb. Section and Single 1-lb. Jar of Extracted Honey
(no entry fee). Prizes, 12s. 6d., 7s. 6d., 5s., in each
class. Schedules from Everton Watts, hon. sec,
Mansion House, Yeovil, and G. W. Perry, 81, Middle-
street, Yeovil. Entries close September 8.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace. — Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition
of Bees, Honey, and Appliances. Specially increased
prizes and medals for Coronation year. Further par-
ticulars shortly. Schedules from Hon. Secretary,
Henry W. Brice, 100, Brigstock-road, Thornton Heath.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace.— Surrey B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, Wax, and Appliances, &c Twenty-four classes
(ten open to all). Increased prizes and medals.
Schedules from F. B. White, Secretary, Marden House,
Eedhill, Surrey.

September 20 to 27, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with the
sixth Annual Exhibition and Market of the Grocery
and Kindred Trades. Numerous classes for comb and
extracted honey and beeswax. Open to all British
Bee-keepers. Special attention is directed to the new
Honey-selling Classes. Schedules from H. S.
Rogers, Secretary, 27, Leadenhall-street, London, E.C.

October 4, at Newcastle-on-Tyne.— Annual
show of the Northumberland and Durham B.K.A. in
the Y.M.C.A. Institute, Blackett-street. Fifteen
classes for Bees, Honey, and Bee-appliances. (Open to
Northumberland and Durham only.) Schedules from
James Waddell, hon. secretary, Wooler, Northumber-
land. Entries finally close lO a.m., October 4.

October 7 to 10, 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, <fcc. Schedules
from Mr. Wm. C. Young, Secretary, 12, Hanover-
square, London, W. Entries close Sept. 8.

CONVERSATIONS WITH DOOLITTLE.

BEE PARALYSIS.

" Good afternoon, Mr. Doolittle. How is
the honey crop this year ? "

" Very light indeed, so far. We have really
had only three days when nectar was brought
into the hives more than about what was I

needed to support the bees. July 2, 4, and 6
it did not rain, and the atmosphere was just
right for the secretion of nectar in the clover-
blossoms, and the bees worked with a will.
In fact, those days seemed like a flow from
basswood, and the bees went into the sections,
drew out the foundation very rapidly, and I
had hopes of quite a yield of section honey,
even though it had rained twenty-eight out of
the thirty days of June. But it came on
rainy again, so the bees could not get out of
the hives till the 11th, when a north and east
wind sprang up, which is always unfavourable
to nectar secretion, especially with clover, and
that was the last of our white honey."

" Do you think you will have any sections
completed ? "

" From the little I have examined I think
the most of the bait sections are nearly
capped over, so that there will probably be
from six to eight sections to the hive. But it
has been so slow in capping that there will be
little that will class as even No. 1 honey.''

" Sorry you did not have a better crop.
But that was not the real reason for my
coming (by letter) to see you. I fear my
bees have paralysis. At some of the hives
many bees seem to be swollen up, and seem to
shake as if they had the ague, some of them
being smooth and shiny. There is a lot of
brood in these hives, but in some of them the
bees are apparently dying faster than they are
replaced with the emerging brood. In front
of two hives the bees lie dead in heaps. Do
you think the trouble is paralysis V

" From your description I think there is
little doubt that your bees have paralysis."

" How long has this disease been known ? ''

" I do not remember hearing anything
about it previous to the earlier eighties ; and
when it was first heard of it was under the
name of 'the nameless bee-disease,' if that
can be . called a name. For a time it made
very rapid strides, till there were very few
apiarists who were not familiar with it, either
in their own apiary or in that of some neigh-
bour, during the nineties. But' since the
ushering in; of the twentieth century the
disease seems to be on the wane, or, at least,
very little is said about it now."

" What is the cause of this trouble ? "

" That was the great question in the minds
of all those who had it in their apiaries ; for
where the cause can be fully understood a
remedy is always soon found ; but unless I
have been remiss in my reading, no one seems
to be sure that he knows what the cause is.
Many guesses have been made ; but as the
years have rolled by they have proved to be
only guesses, and I doubt our having any-
thing reliable as to the cause of this plague to
the bees.''

" But can you not tell me what I can do to
help these colonies ? "

"Such telling would be little more than
guesswork. When the disease first made its
appearance some of the knowing ones told us

Sept. 4, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

359

the whole trouble came from not letting the
bees have access to all of the salt they wanted,
and from this it was said that, if a strong
brine was made and sprinkled over the bees
and combs, it was a certain cure."

" Did you try it 2 "

" Yes, I tried it, and it was tried by bee-
keepers quite generally ; but it was soon
apparent that it was of no use as a general
remedy. Then salicylic and carbolic acid
were recommended, not only as a cure for the
disease, but as a preventive as well ; but when
the general public came to use them, and
apiarists whose knowledge was the practical
side of bee culture, the verdict was, ' Had
little or no efiect.' Therefore, so far as I
know, ' What can I do to help them ? ' still
remains an unanswered problem."

" I have been told that the trouble comes
from the queen. What do you think of
this ? "

" In reply to this I must say, as I did to
the other remedies, that there were those,
some years ago, who told us the whole trouble
came through the queen, and that, if the
queen was killed and another given in her
place, then, as soon as the bees emerged
from the new queen, the disease would
begin to grow less and less ; and when all
the bees from the original queen had died,
the colony would be free from the disease.
This was tried more largely than any other
remedy ; but after a thorough trial of the
same by hundreds, if not by thousands, it
was found that, in the majority of cases, such
change had no efiect whatever."

" What was your experience with this
remedy 1 "

" The first time I tried it the colony kept
along about the same till fall came on, when
it got better, and I thought I saw a ray of
hope in the matter, although I had noticed
that diseased colonies which lived through
till then generally got better in the fall. But
the next year I had another colony come
down with it, the worst of anything I had
ever had ; and to fully test the matter I took
their queen away and gave her to a healthy
colony, at the same time giving the diseased
colony a young laying queen. The result this
time was that the colony to which I gave the
diseased (?) queen went right on in a
prosperous condition, with no signs of the
disease, while the diseased colony showed no
abatement of the disease, they becoming so
weakened in August that they were likely
not to repel robbers, when they were united
with another colony.''

" Did you have any further experience with
this matter ? "

" Yes. For a time every c ilony that was
put on a certain stand, when set from the cellar,
had the disease during the summer, so I con-
cluded that location had something to do with
it, or that the trouble came from some
infection which arose out of the ground at
certain places. But after a few years the

colonies set on this stand were all right, and
one on the opposite side of the apiary con-
tracted the disease ; so that again I came to
the conclusion I knew nothing definite about
this trouble."

" You speak as though the disease was on
the wane, and this gives me courage. How
long since you have seen any symptoms of the
disease ? ''

" I have seen very little of it since 1897.
One colony showed some few bees diseased,
with swollen, shiny abdomens, and shaking
motions, in 1900, and that is the last I have
seen anything of it. There was a time when
bee-keepers quite generally believed that this
disease would ruin our pursuit ; but you are
the only one who has asked me about the
matter in over a year ; and 1 have seen
very little in print on the matter during
that time. I do not think you need to
worry over the matter if only a few of your
colonies have the disease. But I am glad
you called our attention to this, for it i3 well
for all to know that there is such a disease
as bee paralysis, and I hope that whenever
and wherever anything new is discovered in
the matter it will be told of in the bee
papers. Perhaps when the editor of Gleanings
sees thi3 he will tell us what he has heard in
the matter of late." — G. M. Doolittle in
Gleanings (American).

WEATHER REPORT.

Westbourne, Sussex.

Rainfall, 4 65 in.

Heaviest fall, 124 in.,
on 18th.

Rain full on 17 days.

Above aver., 2 26 in.

Maximum Tempera-
ture, 77°, on 29 h.

Minimum Tempera-
ture, 43°, on 11th.

Minimum on Grass,
27s, on 11th.

Frosty Nights, — .

Sunshine, 149 6 hours.

Brightest Day, 22 jd,
11 '5 hours.

August, 1902.
Sunless Days, 1.
Below average, 69 '3

hours.
Mean

66 6°.
Mean

51-5°.
Mean

59-5°.
Below average, 5°.
Maximum Barometer,

30 35°, on 22nd.
Minimum Barometer,

29 '77°, on 19th.

L. B. BlRKETT.

Maximum,

Minimum,

Temperature,

Notices tu Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letter $ or queries asking for addressee 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,

fueries, and replies is meant for the general good of bee-
eepers, and not for advertisements. TPe 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.

J. N. (Bainbridge). — Honey comb Designs. —
Instructions for making these have appeared
several times in our pages, an admirable

360

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Sept. 4, 1902.

specimen being illustrated in our issue of
May 2 last year, which will be forwarded
for three halfpenny stamps.

W. H. W. (co. Wexford). — Removing Be.es
from Chimneys and Trees. — It is not a
very difficult task to remove bee3 and
combs from a disused chimney if you can
get at them, though it is more of a brick-
layer's job than a bee-keepei's. It is
only necessary to use plenty of smoke in
keeping the bees quiet while cutting away
the combs, " driving '' being out of the
question. When you tell us that "two
persons " have already made an attempt
on the chimney and the hollow tree, re-
spectively, and have both failed after
getting well stung, it seems advisable to
try and get the opinion of an experienced
bee-keeper, who could inspect the two lots
of bees. As they have been located where
they now are for about seven years it may
be guessed that the bees are pretty safe from
outside intrusion, and to judge safely with
regard to mode of procedure without some
sort of inspection is, to say the least, almost
futile.

J. U. T. (Dover). — Leaving Unfinished Sec-
tions on Hives. — It will do no harm to leave
the contents of unfinished sections for the
bees' use. Some bee-keepers make a rule
of doing this, and find it answers very
well.

Money Samples.

Cumnock. — The "black stuff" you inquire
about is simply honey gathered from natural
sources, but dark in colour, as is much of
the autumn-gathered honey this year.

T. J. (Devon). — Honey is of good colour and
flavour,but rather thin, though it shows signs
of granulating.

E. Cott (Lincoln). — Honey is of good quality,
and, though not granulated solid, is quite
ripe and will keep well. There is no account-
ting for the varying manner in which honey
granulates.

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 squan
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 tocover
cost of telegram. All letters to be addressed " Editor,"
not " Manager."

(Miss) G. H. M. (Chepstow).— The comb sent
is affected with foul brood. We should
have been spared trouble and expense if
your parcel had been correctly addressed.
We forwarded it to an advertiser in Beds.
(nom de plume is " Expert," B.J. Office),

only to have it returned, and find it was
intended for Editors.

0. C. (Moberley). — The sample of old and
black comb was unsuitable for diagnosing,
there being only a single sealed cell to judge
from, and no brood at all. The cell referred
to, however, contains foul brood of old
standing.

E. E. S. (Sutton Coldfield).— Foul brood is
just developing in comb received, but the
disease may, of course, be present in the
spore- stage in some combs to have caused
the outbreak.

V* Some letters, queries, and reports on Stis-
pected Combs, Honey Samples, &c, are
unavoidably held over till next toeek owing
to Editor's enforced absence from Town.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve word* and under, Sixpence ; for every addi-
tional Three word* or under, One Penny.

DRIVEN BEES, 2s. 9d. lot., or Is. lb. Box returned.
J. Barnes. Burwell, Cambs. o 74

CLOVER HONEY, in 28-lb. tins, 6Ad. per lb. Tins Is.
each. Sample, 2d. J. Geary, Barwell, Hinckley.

0 79*

INEST EXTRACTED HONEY, Sainfoin and White
Clover, in tins, 6d. lb. Sample 2d. CRAM, Chorley-
wood, Rickmansworth, Herts. o 73

ONEY, EXTRACTED (English'), 50s. percwt. on rail
Manea. Tins returnable. F. PEPPER, Manea,
March. 0 77

SUPER FOUNDATION MACHINE and Dipping Tank,
EXCHANGE Honey or Driven Bees. Holmes,
Brunswick- road, Plymouth. o 83

ON OR BEFORE SATURDAY NEXT ONLY, 30 lots
Jhealthy Driven Bees, 2s. 6d. each, oris, per lb. Sole,
Expert, Potton, Sandy. O 81

TI7ANTED, CLEAN, WELL-FILLED SECTIONS, and
VV Light EXTRACTED HONEY. Quote lowest,
carriage paid. Gibson, Ballygowan, Belfast. o 82

EXTRACTOR (two-frame), good working order, cost
22s. 6d., 17s. 6d. WHITE CLOVER HONEY in
28-lb. tins, 6Jd. lb., on rail. Light colour, very thick.
Ernest Eddison, Shireoaks, Worksop, Notts. o 75

WANTED, DRIVEN BEES, HONEY, or APPLI-
ANCES, for High-class Dragon Pigeons. Giving
up fancy. Approval if necessary. Apply, Fairall, 27,
Newbridge-street, Wolverhampton. o 78

FOR SALE, Nine well-made STANDABD HIVES,
healthy bees, plenty stores, at £1 each ; will take
£8 10s. for lot. Owner giving up. Apply, Westmacott,
Park-place, Blockley, Worcestershire. O 80

FOR SALE, 20 healthy STOCKS of BEES iu well-
made ten-frame hives. Lift for two crates (section),
waterproof roof. All interchangeable. Headed with
Queens of current year. On rail, 22s. 6d. each. Sharp,
The Apiary, Brampton, Huntingdon. o 76

ABOUT SIX CWT. good light HONEY in tins or
bottles. Offers. Garner, Dyke, Bourne, o 42

WANTED, NEW SECTIONS (first quality). State
lowest for cash. Chilton, Polegate, Sussex.

WANTED, any quantity of NEW HONEY in one lb.
Sections, Clover, also'Heather, clean, well-filled,
and sealed. State price delivered for cash. M. Charlton,
No. 42, Fawcett-street, Sunderland. 0 59

Sept. 11, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

361

ROYAL LANCASHIRE AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY.

THE GUILD MERCHANT SHOW AT PRESTON.

After a lapse of twenty years, the ancient
Guild Merchant held its historic festival at
Preston, on September 1, and five following
day?. As is known to most dwellers in the
North of England, the " Guild Merchant " has
for more than 700 years continued this
memorable meeting at regular intervals of
twenty years, and ever since its institution the
Agricultural Society has held its annual show
at Preston in the Guild week. We are glad
to be able to record a very favourable week, so
far as regards weather, for the trades and
other processions which depend so largely for
their success on weather conditions.

The Agricultural Show — as may be sup-
posed— was a splendid success, the attendance
on the show days being very large indeed, and
the Society provided very liberally for a big
show in the Honey department by offering
liberal prizes in money and medals. But for
the bad season in the north, the honey show
would, no doubt, have been a record one. As
it was, the display was very satisfactory, in
view of the adverse conditions. The Honey
Trophies — of which no less than ten were
staged in the two classes— made up a goodly
show of themselves.

The appliance classes were good, as were
also the interesting and practical exhibits.

The steward appointed for the bee depart-
ment was Mr. Geo. Rose, of Liverpool, but
owing to the large number of exhibits he had
in the various classes, Mr. Williamson, sec.
to the L.B.K.A., undertook to act as steward,
and attend to the judges while the latter were
making the awards.

W. Broughton Carr (London), and Mr. Jas.
Cragg judged the exhibits and made the
following awards : —

OPEN CLASSES.

Trophy of Honey and Honey Prodttcts (6
entries).— 1st (£2 and B.B.K.A. Silver Medal),
John Helme, Norton Canon, We obley, R.S.O.;
2nd (£1 10s.), Wm. Dixon, Beckett-street,
Leeds ; 3rd (15s.), Geo. Rose, Great Charlotte-
street, Liverpool.

Twelve l-lb. Sections (7 entries). — 1st (£2
and B.B.K.A. Bronze* Medal), W. Woodley,
Beedon, Newbury ; 2nd (£1), A. W. Weather-
hogg, Willoughton, Lincoln ; 3rd (10s.), Jesse
Garratt, S. E. Agricultural College, Wye,
Kent ; v.h.c, Rev. R. W. Lamb, Burton
Pidsea Rectory, Hull.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (16
entries). — 1st (£2 and B.B K. A. Certificate),
S. Temblett, Andover ; 2nd (£1), Wm.
Cookson, Hesketh Bank, Preston ; 3rd (103.),
W. Woodley ; v.h.c, A. W. Weatherhogg,
C. A. Miller (Leighford, Staffs.), and Alf.

G. Preen (Nesscliffe, Shrewsbury) ; h.c,
E. C R. White, Newton Toney, Salisbury.

COUNTY CLASSES.

Trophy of Honey and Honey Products (4
entries).— 1st (£3 and Silver Medal of the
Lanes B.K.A.), Geo. Rose, Liverpool ; 2nd
(£2 and Bronze Medal of the Lanes B.K.A.),
Robt, Rymer, Hesketh Bank ; 3rd (£1), Wm.
Forrester, Huyton, near Liverpool.

Tivelvel-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (19 entries).
—1st (30i.), Jas. Ball, Hesketh Bank; 2nd,
Robt. Rymer ; 2nd (10s.), Thomas Eaves, Ham-
bleton, Poulton-le-Fylde ; 3rd (53.), Mrs. J.
Stirzaker, Stalmine, Poulton-le-Fylde ; h.c, J.
Jones, Carnforth, and F. Sharpies, Rainhill,
Liverpool ; c, Wm. J. Garlick, Hesketh
Bank ; W. A. Cook, Tarleton ; Luke Collinge,
Leyland ; and Th. Ormesher, Westhead, near
Ormskirk.

Twelve l-lb. Sections (4 entries). — 1st (30s.),
John Hale, Croston, near Preston (2nd and
3rd not awarded).

OPEN CLASSES.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Dark Honey
(7 entries).— 1st (£1 10s), Mrs. E. Berry,
Llanrwst, North Wales ; 2nd (10s.), J. Jones,
Carnforth ; 3rd (5s.), Th. Walker, Esthwaite,
Hawkshead.

Twelve l-lb. Sections Heather Honey (5
entries). — 1st (£1 10a.), Wm. Dixon, Leeds ;
2nd (10s.), Th. Walker.

Beeswax, in handy and attractive form for
shop sale (11 entries).— 1st (15s.), E. C. R.
White, .Newton Toney ; 2nd (10s.), John
Berry, Llanrwst ; 3rd (5s.), Hugh Berry, Ty
Newydd, Llanrwst ; c, Wm. Forrester,
Huyton.

Most Attractive Exhibit of Confectionery,
&c. in all of which honey is used. — 1st (30s.),
Wm. Dixon.

Stiitable Outfit for a Beginner in Bee-
keeping, price not to exceed £2 10s. (5 entries).
— 1st and 2nd, Geo. Rose ; 3rd, Abbott Bros.,
Merchant's Quay, Dublin.

Complete Frame Hive for General Use (6
entries). — 1st, E H. Taylor, Welwyn, Herts ;
2nd, Geo. Rose, Liverpool ; 3rd, Abbott Bros.,
Dublin ; h.c, Geo. Rose.

Honey Extractors (5 entries). — 1st, 2nd,
and 3rd, Geo. Rose.

Interesting and Instructive Exhibits in Bee
Culture (5 entries). — 1st (£2), Wm. Dixon ;
2nd (£1 10s.), H. Edwards, Sunningdale,
Berks ; 3rd (£1), Geo. Rose. — {Communicated.)

THE CONFECTIONERS AND ALLIED

TRADES ANNUAL EXHIBITION

AND MARKET.

HONEY SHOW AT THE AGRICULTURAL HALL.

The tenth annual International Exhibition
and Market of the Confectioners and Kindred
Trades, held as usual at the Royal Agricultural

362

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 11, 1902.

Hall, London, was opened on Saturday, the
6th inst., and will be continued till the 13th.
In view of the fact that many important
exhibitions held this year have been some-
what adversely affected by outside influences
in no way connected with the aims or objects
of the promoters, it was gratifying to see a
favourable prospect of a successful week.

The total entries have been in every way
satisfactory, and we had hoped to see bee-
keeping well to the fore by a display that
would have been memorable in the annals of
the craft. But the fates — or, rather, the
weather — has been all against us, and although
the entries were very satisfactory for what has
come to be spoken of as a season of honey-
failure, they fell short of what we should have
liked to see. This was especially regrettable
in the new Selling Classes instituted this year,
which — as may be guessed — were poorly
represented. There was, however, soni9 satis-
faction in seeing the classes for extracted
honey of excellent quality represented by over
a thousand 1-lb. jars in all, together with a
fair display of very good sections.

The class for three shallow-frames of comb-
honey for extracting, with twelve entries, also
produced some excellent frames of comb, far
better, as a whole, than any we have previously
seen this year. Pressure on our space and the
late hour at which the judging was finished on
Saturday evening compels us to defer a fuller
notice of the show till next week, as we had no
time to do more than get through the awards.
We hope, however, to again refer to the show
in our next issue after a second visit.

Mr. W. Broughton Carr, London, and Mr.
T. I. Weston, Wickham Bishops, Essex,
officiated as judges, and made the following

AWARDS.

Display of Honey (comb and extracted) and
Honey Prohccts, shown in suitably attractive
form for a tradesman's window (6 entries). —
1st— £4 and B.B.K.A. Silver Medal, Jas. Lae
& Son, Silver-street, High Holborn, and
Monk's Acre, Andover ; 2ad— £3and B.B.K.A.
Bronze Medal, Mrs. Waller, Pen Park, West-
bury-on-Tryn,': Bristol ; 3rd— £2, R. Brown,
Somershani, Hunts ; 4th — £l, H. W. Seymour,
Market Place, Henley-on-Thames ; h.c, W.
Woodley, Beedon, Newbury ; c, A. W.
Rawlins, Stourbridge.

Twelve 1-lb. Sections (10 entries). — 1st— £2
and B.B.K.A. Certificate, A. Barber, Comber-
ton, Catnbs; 2nd, W. Wojdley ; 3rd, A. W.
Weatherhogg, Willoughton, L'ncoln ; 4th, H.
W. Seymour; 5th, R. Brown; v. h.c, H. H.
Pyke, Newbury, Bucks; and S. Bailey,
Horsham, Sussex ; h.c, G. Walker, Wendover,
Bucks.

Twelve 1-lb. Heather Sections (4 entries). —
1st and 2nd not awarded; 3rd— 15a., Jas.
Waddell, Wooler. Northumberland ; 4th— 10s.,
H. Rowell, Winchfield, Hants.

Three Shallow Frames Comb Honey for
Extracting (12 entries). — 1st — £l 53., R.

Brown ; 2nd— £1, H. W. Seymour ; 3rd— 153.,
W. Woodley ; 4th— 10s., F. R. Court, Sitting-
bourne, Kent ; v.b.c, A. Barber, Comberton,
Cambs. ; J. Lee and Son, and G. W. Kirby,
St. George, Bristol.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Light Coloured Extracted
Honey (35 entries). — 1st — £2, J. Lee and
Son ; 2nd— £1 10s., R. Brown ; 3rd— £1, G.
Hickford, Felstead ; 4th— 10s., W. J. Longley,
Basingstoke, Hants ; 5th — 53., W. Woodley ;
v.h.c, H. H. Pyke ; F. G. Brown, Corsham,
Wilts ; H. W. Seymour ; S. Temblett,
Andover, Hants ; G. F. O'Fflahertie, Nettles-
well, Harlow ; C. Lodge, Chelmsford ; W.
Loveday, Hatfield Heath, Harlow ; and J.
Smart, Andover, Hants ; h.c, W. F. Fake,
Gt. Massingham, King's Lynn ; G. Walker,
Wendover, Bucks ; W. Wesley, Desford,
Leicester; L. McNeil Stewart, Hextable; J.
Sopp, Crowmarsh, Wallingford, Berks ; and
T. Blake, Broughton, Hants.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Medium Coloured Ex-
tracted Honey (20 entries). — 1st — £1 5s., J.
Lee and Son ; 2nd — 153., R. Brown ; 3rd—
10s., H. W. Seymour ; 4th— 5s., H. Rowell ;
v.h.c, H. Sam ways, Maesybont, Llandebie,
R.S.O., and Miss J. Smith, Duxhurst, Rei-
gate, Surrey ; h.c, G. W. Kirby and G.
Walker.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Dark Coloured Edrazled
Honey (7 entries).— 1st— £1, H. W. Sey-
mour; 2nd— 153., L. McNeil Stewart; 3rd—
10s., J. G. Goodwin, Mayfield, Withington,
Hereford ; C. J. Adam3, West Haddon,
Rugby.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Heather Honey ' (6
entries). — 1st — £1 5s., T. Richards, Church
Greasley, Burton-on-Trent ; 2nd — „£1, L.
McNeil Stewart ; 3rd— 15s., H. Rowell.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Granulated Honey (15
entries). — 1st — £l 53., J. Hookway, Welling-
ton, Somerset ; 2nd — £l, W. Loveday ; 3rd—
15s., R Brown ; 4th— 10s., T. Blake ; v.h c,
C. Lodge, High Easton, Chelmsford ; h.c, H.
W. Seymour ; F. S. Smith, Louth, Linc3, and
J. Smart ; c, Rev. H. Goffe, Caistor, Lines.

Beeswax in Cakes, Quality of Wax, Form of
Cakes and Package, suitable for retail counter
trade (8 entries). — 1st — £1, Jno. Berry,
Llanrwst, North Wales ; 2nd— 15s., E. C. R.
White, Newton Tony, Salisbury ; 3rd— 10-j.,
H. W. Seymour ; 4th — 5s., J. Lee & Son ;
h.c, R. Brown; c, T. Hood, Pickering,
Yorks.

Beeswax, judged for quality of wax only (18
entries).— 1st — <£l, J. Berry ; 2nd— 15s., H.
W. Seymour; 8rd— 10s., F. Harris, Sibsy,
Boston ; 4th — 53., W. Patchett, Caistor,
Lines ; v.h.c, W. Loveday and W. Woodley.

HONEY SELLING CLASSES.

Extracted Honey in Bulk by Sample with
price (8 entries).— ^03rtificates of merit awarded
to : — E. Gristwood, Norton Court Lodg e
Sittingbourne ; A. Carnow, Marazion, Corn
wall ; J. H. Seabrook, Longfield, Kent ; S
Temblett, Andover, Hants ; W. J. Longley

Sept. 11, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

363

Ramsdell, Basingstoke, Hants ; F. R. Court,
Greenstreet, Sittingbourne, Kent.

Extracted Honey in l-lb. Jars — by Sample
ivith price — (6 entries). — Certificates of merit
awarded to : — A. W. Rawlins, Hagley-road,
Stourbridge ; W. Hibbert, High-street, Sutton-
in-Ashfield ; C. Lodge, High Easton, Chelms-
ford ; W. Loveday, Hatfield Heath, Harlow,
Essex ; R. Brown, Somersham, Hants.

STAFFORDSHIRE B.KA.

ANNUAL SHOW.

The annual show of the above Association
was held, in conjunction with that of the
Staffordshire Agricultural Society, at Uttoxeter
on August 27 and 28, and it is reported that,
favoured by fine weather, the meeting was an
all round success.

The bee and honey section was, as usual,
under the management of the Staffordshire
B.K.A., and, notwithstanding an adverse bee
season, was one of the most attractive features
of the show. The entries reached the satis-
factory total of 130, some exceeding good
exhibits being staged. The Rev. 0. F.
Buckler, Bidston Rectory, Cheshire, judged
the exhibits and made the following awards : —

Trophy of Honey in any Form (not to exceed
100 lb.). — 1st, Harry Wood, Paradise, Lich-
field ; 2 ad, Elihu Clowes, Black brook, New-
castle ; 3rd, R. H. Coltman, Blackpool-street,
Burton- on-Trent.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st (and B B.KA.
sil. medal), E. White, Market Drayton ; 2nd
(and bronze medal), Harry Wood ; 3rd (and
certificate), John Kendrick, Stone.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
Joseph Tinsley, Chebsey, Stafford ; 2nd, E.
Clowes ; 3rd, G. W. Buttery, Wheaton Aston,
Stafford.

Twelve l-lb. Jars ( Dark) Extracted Honey.
—1st, Harry Wood ; 2nd, G. H. Mytto'n,
Lichfield ; 3rd, W. Williams, Lichfield.

Six l-lb. Jars Granulated Honey. — 1st,
G. W. Buttery ; 2nd, Harry Wood ; 3rd,
Thomas Harper, Uttoxeter.

Three Frames of Comb Honey for Ex-
tracting.— 1st, G. W. Buttery ; 2nd, John
Stubbs, Rickerscote ; 3rd, W. Tildesley,
Stone.

Observatory Hive with Bees and Queen. —
1st, Wm. Hutchinson, Leek ; 2nd, E. Clowes ;
3rd, John Beech, Burntwood, Lichfield.

Beeswax, not to exceed 3 lb. — 1st, John
Stubbs ; 2nd, D. H. Bird, Whittington, Lich-
field ; 3rd, T. Harper.

Twelve l-lb. Sections (Labourers only). —
1st, Jos. Leadbetter, Tillington, Staffs ; 2nd,
J. Lymer, Stone ; 3rd, W. W. Dempster,
Lichfield.

LABOUREKS' CLASSES.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey.— 1st,
Jos. Leadbetter ; 2nd, W. W. Dempster ; 3rd,
John Lymer.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, Jos-
Leadbetter; 2nd, W. Tidesley, Stone ; 3rd,
W. W. Dempster.

OPEN CLASSES.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, John Stone,
Cubley, Sudbury ; 2nd, Rev. E. Charley, Ince
Vicarage, Chester ; 3rd, W. Woodley, Beedon,
Newbury.

Twelve l-lb. Glass Jars of Run or Extracted
Honey. — 1st, S. Temblett, Aodover, Hants;
2 ad, T. S. Holdsworth, Kirton Lindsey,
Lines. ; 3rd, J. Pearman, Penny Long Lane,
Derby.

Twenty-four l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. —
1st, John Smart, Aadover ; 2nd, E. Clowes ;
3rd, Joseph Tinsley.

Collection of Hives and Appliances. — 1st,
E. H. Taylor, Welwyn, Herts ; 2nd, R. H.
Coltman, Station-street, Burton-on-Trent. —
(Communicated.)

CHESHIRE B.K.A.

ANNUAL SHOW.

The honey department of the Cheshire
Agricultural Society's Show at Hyde, on
August 23, was under the management of the
County Bee-keepers' Association. There was
a large falling off in the number of entries as
compared with 1901, but an ample explana-
tion was forthcoming in the unfavourable
season which Cheshire bee-keepers have
experienced, and in the somewhat inaccessible
locality in which the show was held. The
judges were Mr. T. D. Schofield, Alderley
Edge, and the Rev. E. Charley, Ince Vicarage,
Chester, who made the following awards : — ■

OPEN CLASSES.

Irame Hive. — 1st and 2nd, W. Cartwright,
Moore, Warrington.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, W. Woodley,
Beedon, Newbury ; 2nd, J. Pearman, Penny
Longlane, Derby ; 3rd, W. Ratcliffe, Bar-
thomley, Crewe.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
J. Pearman ; 2nd, A. G. Preen, Nescliffe,
Shrewsbury ; 3rd, W. Woodley ; reserve,
S. Temblett, Andover.

Beeswax. — 1st, J. Berry, Llanrwst ; 2nd,
J. Pearman ; 3rd, W. Ratcliffe ; h.c, A. G.
Preen..

members' classes.

Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, W. Ratcliffe ; 2nd,
A. Thorpe, Wistaston ; 3rd, J. T. Fernley,
Cheadle, Hulme.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
P. H. Rawson, Market Drayton ; 2nd, S.
Eaton, Audlem ; 3rd, W. Gainerston, Altrin-
cham ; reserve, J. Astbury, Kelsall ; h.c,
G. Lambert, Comberbach, and R. Gray,
Bremborough.

Six l-lb. Jars Granulated Honey. — 1st
A. Thorpe ; 2nd, R. Gray ; 3rd, J. Astbury
reserve, P. H. Rawson.

364

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 11, 1902.

DISTRICT CLASSES.

Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 3rd, J. T.
Femley. (1st and 2nd prizes not awarded.)

— ( Communicated. )

HONEY SHOW AT AMMANFORD.
The annual show of the Horticultural Society
was held at Ammanford, and in connection
therewith prizes to the value of J10 10s. was
offered in the Honey section of the show.
The entries were not so numerous as last year.
Unfortunately, the season has been a bad one ;
otherwise, such a prize list ought to have pro-
duced a greater competition.

Mr. S. Jordan judged the exhibits, and
made the following awards : —

Single l-lb. Jar Extracted Honey. — 1st,
A. Hamer, Llandilo ; 2nd, W. Woodley,
Beedon, Newbury ; 3rd, L. Hopkins, Aberyst-
with ; 4tb, S. Temblett, Andover ; 5 th, F. J.
Moore, Tewkesbury.

Single l-lb. Section.— 1st, W. Woodley ;
2nd, A. Hamer; 3rd, Gideon Spearman,
Colesbourne ; 4th, W. Hatliff, Thoresway,
Caistor ; 5th, Toddington Orchard Co., Winch-
combe, Glos.

Single l-lb. Jar Extracted Honey {Local). —
1st, A. Hamer ; 2nd, H. Samways, Maesybont,
Llandebie.

Three l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (Light). —
1st, A. Hamer ; 2nd, W. Woodley ; 3rd, S.
Temblett.

Three l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (Dark). —
1st, Thos. Roberts, Garnant ; 2nd, H. Sam-
ways ; 3rd, Miss Edith Bevan, Maesybont,
Llandebie.

Three l-lb. Sections. — 1st, G. Spearman ;
2nd, W. Woodley ; 3rd, Toddington Orchard
Company. — (Communicated.)

HONEY SHOW AT MONTGOMERY.

In connection with Montgomery and Dis-
trict Horticultural Society's Show on August
28 an excellent display of honey was made.
The local classes did not receive many entries,
as the season has been a poor one in the
district, but in the open classes there was
good competition and honey of splendid
quality was staged.

Mr. Pickard, U.C.W., Aberystwitb, was
tbe judge, and made the following awards : —

OPEN CLASSES.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey.— 1st,
E. R. Nash, Smarden, Kent ; 2nd, S.
Temblett, Andover, Hants ; 3rd, A. Preen,
Nesscliffe ; v.b.c, W. H. Brown, Shrewsbury ;
h.c, J. Carver, Wellington, Salop ; S. Cart-
wright, Shawbury, Shrewsbury.

Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, W. H. Brown ;
2nd, A. Preen; 3rd, Russell Oakley, Christ -
church ; v.h.c, J. Carver ; h.c, S. Cartwright.

LOCAL CLASS.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, J.

Watkin, Luggy ; 2nd, Rev. E. Brown, Mont-
gomery ; 3rd, Dr. Morgan, Montgomery.

Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, Rev. E. Brown ;
2nd, H. Jones, Walcot ; 3rd, E. Moatyn
Pryce, Gunley. — (Communicated.)

HEREFORDSHIRE BK.A.

ANNUAL HONEY FAIR.

Under the auspices of the Herefordshire
Bee-keepers' Association, the eighteenth
annual honey fair was held in the Butter
Market, Hereford, on September 3. Altogether
there were 792 lb. of honey staged, which was
considerably in excess of that in 1900, with
only 392 lb., but the amount was below that
of last year, when 1,254 lb. were staged. It
would seem thac Herefordshire is better off in
respect to quantity than are some other
counties. In the opinion of the judge, the ex-
hibition all round was a very good one, bearing
in mind the bad season. The collections and
trophies were of much merit. The average
price for honey was lOd. to Is. per lb.

Mr. E. J. Burtt, of Gloucester, was the
judge, and made the following awards : —

Trophy of Honey, not exceeding 100 lb.
(open). — 1st, J. Helme, Norton Canon ; 2nd,
T. M. Meadham, Huntington ; 3rd, W.
Tomkins, Burghill.

Exhibit of Honey not exceeding 50 lb.
(novices). — 1st, A. W. Burgoyne, Lyonshall ;
2nd, J. E. Williams, Moorhampton.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (open).
— 1st, J. Helme ; 2nd, A. W. Burgoyne ; 3rd,
T. M. Meadham ; h.c, J. Grindrod, Whit-
field ; c , W. Tomkins.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (novices). —
1st, Rev. J. B. Hewitt, Upper Sapey ; 2nd, J.
Grindrod ; 3rd, A. W. Burgoyne ; h.c, A. W.
Burgoyne ; c, J. E. Williams.

Twelve l-lb. Sections (open). — 1st, J. Helme ;
2nd, J. E. Williams ; 3rd, W. Tomkins.

Six l-lb. Sections (novices). — 1st, J. E.
Williams; 2nd, J. G.Godwin, Withington ;
3rd, R. Grindrod.

Exhibit of Honey in any Shape not Ex'
ceeding 4:01b. (cottageis and non-previous
winners only). — 1st, A. W. Burgoyne. — (Com-
municated.)

t&ttmtyim&tML

The Bditort do not hold themselves responsible for tht
tpiniont eapressed by correspondent*. 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 names and addressee, 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 in return reiected communication:

NOTES BY THE WAY.
[4885.] There has been some improvement
in the weather since September came in ;
harvesting has been in full swing; the reaping-

Sept. 11, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

365

hooks have been hunted out and re-sharpened
for cutting a good portion of the crop by
hand labour. The children, too, have again
taken their small share in the fields with their
parent?, drawing the " bands '' to bind the
sheaves. The few days of sunny weather has
started the bees to work gleaning amongst the
few scattered flowers that have put forth their
blossoms since the fragmentary summer of
1902. Though we bee-keepers shall get only a
remDant, let us hope it may be both warm
and dry all through the month.

Wasps are again somewhat numerous, and
are a constant worry to the bees whose store
of winter food they are so anxious to share.
Indeed, it is only by constant guarding that
these pests of the hive bee can be kept out of
the hives by reducing entrances to an inch or
so. This enables the bees to resist the in-
truders. Bottles containing " wine-dregs " with
a piece of paper tied over the mouth and a
central hole will catch many, but an evening
spent destroying the nests soon reduces the
numbers of the enemy. The quickest plan,
however, is to place a small lump of cyanide
of potassium at the entrance of the wasp
nest, this avoids trouble in digging out and
dispenses with stings.

Honey Prices. — The two shows at the
Agricultural Hall, LondoD, will, no doubt,
give some slight idea of the prices asked by
bee-keepers for their produce, as there aret
special " selling classes,'' and certificates of
merit will be awarded to all exhibits of good
quality. Bee-keepers who are so often
grumbling that there is no market for honey
will do well to send on their goods marked at
a fair price ; fair to the producer, while allow-
ing the retailer a fair return also. The season
has been a poor one, and the crop, in many
instances, will be cleared shortly ; therefore, in
pricing the dozen sections or dozen jars the
weights, quality, and " get up " should count
when the dozen sections (and a fair sample
dozen should be sent, not all picked ones)
weighs 12 lb., they are in good saleable condi-
tion, that is, if properly sealed and built out
to the wood of the section. If in jars, the
style and cost of the jars should also be taken
into account when fixing the prices, the
" nominal " pounds are, of course, not worth
so much when filled as the full pounds, while
that in tie-over jars is, of course, less in value
than screw- capped jars. I express no opinion
as regards price, as it is impossible to do so
without seeing the honey.

Section Extracting. — There seems to be a
few who would be glad to have cages made
with projections to take the pressure off the
attachments of the comb to the wood of
sections, judging by the letters and references
I have received since I referred to the matter
in a former " note." I have for many years ex-
tracted twelve sections at a time in my
" extractor,'' six in each cage, and by using
pieces of perforated zinc to take the bearing of
combs have managed fairly well, but when

honey is thick the combs get damaged and, no
doubt, others who take trouble to save every-
thing in the shape of bee-work done for future
use will have noticed how very much more
fragile some combs are than those built from
a different honey. The wax in some sections
is much stronger or tougher than in others,
which is very thin, fragile, and brittle ; and a
new section cage, to take six on each side,
would, I feel sure, be a useful addition to our
bee appliances. A friend at Keswick reminds
me that " Cheshire '' mentioned such a cage.
It is so many years since I saw " Cheshire's "
work, that I do not remember to have seen
anything of the matter.

The honey show in this country is the only
chance the bee-keeper has of exchanging views
and ideas with his brethren in the craft ; com-
paring notes, talking over the season's work
and doings, giving his experiences, and hoping
to receive some useful information in return.
Some trades are able to have their " Welcome
Clubs " in the buildings in which their show is
going on. Could not some such rendezvous be
arranged by bee-keepers, or are we so poor
and few in number that the home is beyond
our hope ?— W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury.

QUEEN INTRODUCTION.

THK " FACTS " CONNECTED THEREWITH.

[4886.] I am prompted to reply to the
letter of " J. M., Pontypridd," which appears
on page 345 of B.J. for August 28.

Your correspondent's " facts " are somewhat
incomplete, or the light he requires might be
brighter. He does not say which of Doo-
little's methods were employed, though it is
clear he did not use a cage, nor confine brood-
less bees on the " recommended '' methods ;
and his percentage of loss (" one in seven
cases ") does not — upon reference to the book
in question — afford a clue.

Nor does " J. M." afford any information as
to the condition of the new queen before
introduction. All this leads me to ask : 1.
Had she travelled any distance ? 2. How was
she treated after receipt 1 3. Was she from
an adjacent colony ? 4. What was its con-
dition ? And (5) How long was she confined ?

These details would seem to affect the time
before the new queen began to lay. For
instance, I have introduced by direct intro-
duction—or the " Simmins " method — queens
which have been confined in postal cages, and
several days have sometimes elapsed before
they settled again to lay. This may not be
unusual, the ovaries are to be stimulated
afresh. Take the case of one young queen,
in my own experience. She was a travelled
" tested queen, of different race from my own
or neighbouring bees, and was introduced at
night to a strong colony. She " piped '' for
some time as though frightened or roughly
treated, and an examination three days later
failed to reveal any signs of her,

366

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept 11, 1*02.

I made an examination on the fifth day, and
failed to discover eggs or enlarged cells, and a
frame of younger brood was therefore added.
On again examining the hive next day I found
s >me addition of eggs to this comb and also in
the one adjacent.

Of course, one must take for granted that
J. M.'s " facts " are correct, and that his
queen was tested, i.e., not a virgin ; but when
he asserts that the introduction was unsuc-
cessful, I venture to suggest that failure to
find a queen does not prove she is not in the
hive !

I would also ask, doe3 the present queen
show signs of rough usage, and are the result-
ing bees of the " tested " variety 1 As J. M.
does not give any details regarding the fate of
the queen cells, the questions arise, were these
destroyed ; did either hatch ? His suggestion
is apparently in the latter direction, and that
the queen was reared in less than normal time.
But his own reasoning on the subject shows
that he does not seriously hold this view.
Suppose, however, that an "old'' larva was
chosen, the queen " period '' would not be
shortened, although the worker period might
be less. la any case the abnormal queen
would not be so well formed, nor so likely to
meet the drone in record time !

One does not like to be dogmatic upon any
subject, and in bee-keeping particularly all
sorts of things seem possible.

Is it not possible, for instance, that the bees
decided — about the same' time as " J. M." — to
supersede the old queen, and had started
queen-cells for the purpose a week before the
introduction, destroying them later 1

Bees seem sometimes to continue building
cells for a day or two under altered conditions.
My suggestion is, however, that the queen was
safely introduced, and did not lay for some
days owing to some mis-stated cause. More-
over, if the present bees are not of the tested
race, I would ask : Does " J. M." remember
losing a virgin queen from an adjacent hive
about the same time 1

I fear J have occupied too much of your
space, and asked many questions, but my
justification lies in the fact that 1 am often
surprised at the problems which the B.B.J.
is asked to unravel upon the scantiest of data,
and whilst there seems to be room for more
" light " on this matter, your correspondent
himself would appear to be the one mo3t able
to supply it !— L S. Crawshaw, Yorks, Sep-
tember 2.

SOME 'FACTS" ABOUT BEE-
KEEPING.
[4887.] I am much obliged to Mr. Sladen
and " J. S. D." for their assistance in eluci-
dating my "facts" on page 353 of B.B.J. I
assumed too readily that my failure to find
the introduced queen, the absence of evidence
of her presence, the rearing of queens subse-
quent to her introduction, and all this so late

in the season, poinded unmistakably t«
queenlesmess. One thing I omitted to state
in my recital of " facts," viz., that I could not
of my own knowledge say that the introduced
queen was " teste 1," but she was sold to me as
a tested queen. If this explanation had been
made the mystery would have been rendered
more easy of solution. The explanations
given in the B.B.J., backed up by friendly
expert opinion nearer home (unkindejt cut of
all, I was told I had been dreaming), go to
prove that though bees do nothing invariably,
they will not under any circumstances accom-
plish the impossible.

It may be remembere d that a few months
ago I reported severe losses from foul brood.
The tale of my misfortunes was not complete,
for further losses occurred until the number
of my stocks was reduced from fifty, autumn
count, to nine in mid-June. Since that date
an improvement has set in, and, what with
division and a few driven stocks, I have now
nineteen hives tenanted, with the inmates in
apparently perfect health. Of course, the
honey yield has been insignificant — a mere
100 lb. or so — and, notwithstanding a reserve
fund of about 300 lb., I am under the necessity
of buying heavily. — J. M., Pontypridd.

POISONOUS HONEY.

[4888 ] After reading the very interesting
piper by your contributor "D. M. M." in the
Journal of August 21, I think it requires
some small comment from me, inasmuch as I
think my paper (4679, in B.J. of Feb. 6)
scarcely conveys the meaning originally in-
tended, or that he has placed some slight
misconstruction upon it.

I then endeavoured to express most clearly
that a fbwer contains less of the active
poisonous characteristic of a plant (as person-
ally proved by chemical analysis) than does
either leaf, stem, or root. I quite agree with
our friend that the root during winter and
early spring stores the j uices for the building
of stem and leaves, and according to season
contains more or less alkaloidal poison, as is
the foliage advanced or o'herwise.

I am also strongly inclined to regard nectar
purely as a secretion (possibly the result of
dialysation), and which can be compared for
our purpose with the secretions of the human
body. For instance, the secretions of the nasal
or oral organs rarely, if ever, contain any indi-
cations of poison, although such poison may
be largely present in the blood. And,
although these honey poisoning cases are not
infrequently reported to have taken place
abroad, yet they have not been authenticated
by chemical or toxicological analysis, which,
it is to be expected, would have been per-
formed. The possibility of bacterial or metallic
poisoning his not, so far as I know, been
brought forward, although much may be
attributed to either of these causes. I have
frequently found copper in no small amount

Sept. 11.1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

367

in foreign horey, and I have no doubt but that
other metals can be found, did we trouble to
search, since honey, as all apiculturists know,
is naturally preserved with formic acid, which
must have some action, if only slight, on the
inside of the metallic vessels in which it is
frequently stored.

Again, honey can be regarded as a medium
suited for the cultivation of bacilli (especially
in a fermented state), and that it tolerates
Bacillus alvei is but too well known to us all.
But of poisonous bacilli in honey I have as yet
had no experience, so that I only bring it
forward as a feasible suggestion. In my busi-
ness career, in which I think I have handled
a few hundred tons of foreign honey, 1 have,
on more than one occasion, suffered unpleasant
effects after partaking of the same. But on the
two or three occasions on which I investigated
the matter I found the honey to contain either
wax in undue propartion, or distinct traces of
copper, and have attributed the results to
either of these two causes.

Again, I am not inclined to agree that
because the aroma of a plant is conveyed to
honey, it necessarily follows that the latter
possesses some of its poisonous properties
without its being substantiated by chemical
analysis.

It is easily possible that the overpowering
odour of some plant may have brought about
the symptoms referred to in the article on the
" Drunken Bee," as an atmosphere impreg-
nated with lilies or violets produces un-
pleasant symptoms frequently in human life ;
or, still more likely, the lime tree and others
may emit a volatile perfume possessing
alcoholic or aldehydic properties, which would
produce the identical results recorded. But
I hope to write an article on this particular
subject, controlled by practical experiments,
at an early date.

Finally, I would wish it to be understood
that these remarks are not brought forward
with a spirit of controversy with my friend Mr.
" D. M. M.," but in the hope that they will,
like his work on the same subject, bring some
of our scientific workers to the rescue, and
that we shall arrive at some satisfactory con-
clusimi on this all-important subject.

I tender my apologies for the delay in this
paper which has been caused by my absence
from home for a short while. — Herbert
Shorthouse, M.P.S., F.C.S., September 6.

EXTRACTING SECTIONS.

[4889.] "G. M. S." (page 35 i) recommends
an extracting ca^e far sections, described in
Vol. II. of Cheshire's book. No doubt that
is all right, but to-diy (September 5) we have
extracted 300 unfinished sections, and oily
damaged fourteen of the whole lot, and these
were broken when we made our first start, the
result of too much speed. The work wa3 done
with an ordinary Meadows' " Guinea " geared

extractor. We were surprised to find it so
convenient for section-extracting. — Devereux,
Shillington, September 5.

dfto^a and J^li^s.

[2960.] Cleaning-up Wet Combs. — I had a
bad time with my bees to-day (August 30)
when putting back into the hive for cleaning-
up a box of shallow-frames from which I had
just extracted the contents, having taken
them from the hive about four days pre-
viously. I hid given same stock the first lot
of frames extracted the day before, for the
bees to clean out th9 conib3, and on removing
this box to-day and putting on the other one
I got such a reception as I shall not soon
forget. The bees rushed at me in hundreds.
Fortunately I had a veil on, or I should h ive
got it more severely even than I did ; as it was,
I was pretty badly stung. Nor did I use a
smoker, as is my usual custom. The day
would not be considered a bad one for the
purpose, and the time was mid-day. Do you
consider it was the fact of my not using the
smoker that ciused the attack, or had I been
disturbing the bees too often ? I have three
hives containing shallow-frame3 and three
others worked for sections, and so far have
managed to take the honey away without
much trouble. I do not mind a few stings,
but do not like the bees to " make for me :)
like they did to-day. If you would recom-
mend me how to manage better I should be
much obliged. — G. W\ J., Si, Martin, Corn-
wall.

Reply. — On such occasions as are men-
tioned above, and at this season of the year, a
puff or two of smoke should always be given
before removing combs. We should also sup-
pose that the bees would not be honey-
gathering on the day mentioned, and the
feast they got in cleaning up the combs would
incline them to be " touchy " in temper, as
bees often are in autumn. Finally, it should
be borne ia mind that boxes of wet combs
should always be given to bees after sundown,
or an hour or two after bees have ceased
working for the day.

[2961.] Removing Sleeps after Transferring
>. — I must thank you for your reply to
my previous query (2955, page 347). There
are ten brood-frames fully drawn out under-
neath each skep ; the brood in skeps is hatch-
ing out now. Will you please tell me what to
do, whether to transfer as soon as all are
hatched, or wait till April ? — Perplexed,
Ashby-de-la Zouch.

Reply. — As soon as brood in skeps ha3
hatched out the bees may be driven and
allowed to run into the lower hive ; then feed
up rapidly for wintering.

368

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 11, 1902.

[2962.] Coverings for Skep Hives. — I have
several skep hives which I am anxious to cover
up for protection during the winter. We have
heard much of the coverings of frames beiDg
made secure and water-tight, but can you or
any of your numerous readers tell me of a
good cover for skeps, one that will look neat,
be rainproof, and impart the necessary warmth
to the interior ? The straw-hackle becomes
untidy, and offers an abode for mice and other
vermin. — A.. E., Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Septem-
ber 6.

Reply. — For neatness and " good looks ''
nothing beats a well-made straw hackle ; but
for efficiency and durability use an American
cheese-box, with its bottom knocked out, and
surmount this with an earthenware milk-pan
as roof.

[2963.] Transferring Bees. — Following your
advice- 1, on April 19. last, placed two skeps of
bees over top bars of frame-hives. These
bees were driven and fed-up lots of September,
1901, so that the combs were all comparatively
new. On August 1 I removed the skep3, the
result being 18 lb. net in No. 1 skep, and
22 lb. in No. 2. They had in addition ten
and eleven frames respectively in their new
quarters full of brood and honey, which I
purpose leaving alone. 1. Do you agree 1
Anyway, I am quite satisfied with the result,
and beg to thank you for helping me with
your prompt advice. I should like to ask
two more questions if I am not too trouble-
some. 2. Is a fifteen-frame hive likely to pre-
vent the swarming fever ? 3. When is the
best time of year to renew the brood frames,
and how many at a time 1 — R. J. T., Romford,
September 4.

Reply. — 1. Your proposed plan is quite
right. 2. It will assist in the direction named,
but is not a sure preventive. 3. In spring, as
brood needs spreading, say, early in April, or
as soon as weather is warm and settled.

[2964.] Feeding up Driven Bees. — I shall
be much obliged if you would reply in your
next issue if the following method of dealing
with driven bees is correct. I am having
this week the bees from four strong skeps.
After " driving," I purpose uniting the
whole of these in a frame-hive, en eight
bars furnished with full sheets of " Weed ''
foundation, and feeding liberally with syrup
(say half-pint a day), with candy cake medi-
cated with pea-flour given above top-bars of
frames. If I am doing right in this, kindly
say how long the feeding of syrup should
continue. Any hint would be esteemed. —
W. T., Maidstone, September 6.

Reply. — Quite right, but there will be no
need to give flour candy if you give, say, 25 lb.
of syrup rapidly. The bee3 must, however,
be kept as warm as possible during the time
they are comb-building.

[2965.] Dark Honey for Winter Bee-Food.
— The season here has been very poor. Very

little honey stored till about three weeks ago,
when the bees worked hard and gathered a
quantity of dark-coloured stuff which I take
to be honey-dew. From an extract in Bee
Journal of August 28 I am in some doubt
as to its being suitable winter food for the
bees ; however, it is of little other use, and I
meant to give it to them instead of feeding
with syrup. One of my stocks stored more
than 25 lb. of it in one week, so there is
plenty of it. From one hive holding twelve
frames, that did not swarm, I got some nice
honey earlier in the season. 1. Kindly say in
next week's Journal if I may give them the
" black '' honey. 2. I suppose if I uncap it
and place it above brood nest they will carry
it down all right. — A Reader, Doune, N.B.,
September 3.

Reply. — 1. We never hesitate in leaving
dark honey for the bees' use in winter, whether
it be called honey-dew or " black honey,'' or
otherwise. 2. If the sealed comb is uncapped
the honey will most likely be carried below,
but it does not always so happen.

<&ihot% from the Stois.

Chichester, September 5. — As a brief echo
from the South Coast for 1902, I may say bees
and bee-keepers have done badly this season,
the surplus of honey being not more than a
quarter of the ordinary crop. It makes one
almost inclined to write surplus nil, for where
one stock has put a little in the supers, per-
haps its neighbouring colony will require it
before next spring, seeing that a good many
stocks are very light and will require feeding.
For honey gathering I cannot remember so
unpropitious a season ; 1888 was bad, but not
so bad as 1902. Altogether here in the South
we must say crop far below the average. I
would also add a line to say, do not forget to
feed your light-weight stocks, or maybe 1903
will find you minus bees to do anything at all
for you.— J. D.

BRIEF REPORT.

GLENISLA, N.B.

The yield of honey this season, so far as it
has gone, has probably been the poorest since
modern bee-keeping came into vogue. Clover
was not abundant, and in addition to this, the
weather prevented the bees from leaving the
hive for almost half the available time. Nor
does the heather hold out very brilliant pro-
spects. It is only just now coming into bloom,
and owing to the long continuance of wet
weather and want of sun it will probably fade
soon. The yield of heather honey, even from
the best apiaries, cannot be large. Prices are
likely to range high, but this will not nearly
compensate for the reduced yield.

Sept. 11, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

369

\tt $hm% to <&smt.

September 6 to 13, at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with
the Confectioners', Bakers', and Allied Traders' (10th)
Annual Exhibition and Market.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace. — Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition
of Bees, Honey, and Appliances.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace. — Surrey B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, Wax, and Appliances, &c.

September 20 to 27, at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with the
seventh Annual Exhibition and Market of the Grocery
and Kindred Trades.

October 4, at Newcastle-on-Tyne-— Annual
show of the Northumberland and Durham B.K.A. in
the Y.M.C.A. Institute, Blackett-street. Fifteen
classes for Bees, Honey, and Bee-appliances. (Open to
Northumberland and Durham only.) Schedules from
James Waddell, hon. secretary, Wooler, Northumber-
land. Entries finally close lO a.m., October 4.

October 7 to 10, 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.

PRESS CUTTING.

FIREMEN AND HIVING BEES.

(From our own Correspondent.)

Berlin, Thursday, July 17.

Yesterday it took the Berlin fire brigade
two hours to hive a swarm of bees, which had
settled on one of the masts of the electric
tramway line.

Armed with their smoke helmets and fire-
proof gloves, the men succeeded at last in
securing them in a sack. An enormous throng
of people witnessed the exciting scene. — Daily
Mail.

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

C. S. Bradley (Kettering). — Insect Nomen-
clature.— The insect sent is a specimen
(female) of the Giant Sir ex. The female is
furnished with a long ovipositor, by me ids
of which it bores a hole through the bark of
the tree stem for the deposit of her eggs.
The resultant larva is what does the mis-
chief to the tree in which it is reared, and
causes the "Sirex'' to be classed among
insects injurious to plant Jife.

J. B. Peacock (Darlington). — Varieties of
Heather. — Both sprigs of heath sent are the
Erica vulgaris, or common ling. It is one

of the two best honey-yielding heathers.
The bad season you complain of is common
nearly everywhere this year.

A Beginner (Tamworth). — Early Granula-
tion of Honey. — The granulation of honey
depends so much on season, apart from the
source of supply, that no time cm be fixed
for it becoming " white and solid," as all
pure honey granulates. It is no detriment.

E. D. (TerliDg).— Soluble Phenyl for Medi-
cating Bee Food. — By following the direc-
tions on page 167 of " Guide Book'' (when
using No. 7 recipe) you will be able to
medicate with soluble phenyl as desired.
Do not forget the " note " below recipe
referred to, viz., to pour the water on the
phenyl in order to form an emulsion when
shaken.

J. H. B. (Cheshire).— Effect of Bee Stings.—
It is, no doubt, largely owing to the condi-
tion of the blood at the time that so marked
and unusual an effect as you describe follows
a single bee-sting. "We have heard of such
before, but only on very rare occasions, and
usually with persons of full habit. We
cannot say if you will be immune from
further mischief of the same kind, though
we hope you may, as those we know of
have been.

Inquirer (York) — Dartford, Kent, as a
Bee District. — We have known very good
harvests of honey secured in the district
named, as fruit orchards are plentiful all
over the county.

Constant Reader (Northampton). — Late
Granulation of Honey. — It is not uncom-
mon for honey kept in a warm cupboard to
remain liquid for over a year. To keep
since last year in that condition shows its
ripe condition when stored away, and testi-
fies to its good quality rather than the
contrary. As it has now begun to granu-
late it should do well for exhibition next if
the " grain " is all right.

A. Metcalf (Milnthorp). — Feeding Trans-
ferred Bees. — You do not say if any of the
" combs '' (as well as bees) have been trans-
ferred from the skep to frame-hive. This
is important, because if the bees have to
build out from foundation all combs they
have to winter od, the hive must be made
as warm as possible and good thick syrup
given rapidly and plentifully till five or six
frames of comb are drawn out. We cannot
undertake post replies, but you might let us
know if the bees take the food weii and are
getting on with comb -building.

Josiah Gatley (Manitoba, Canada). — Ex-
hibiting Canadian Honey at Shows. — We
fear you would have difficulty in getting
Canadian honey staged in competition at
shows in this country — under the present
arrangements with regard to prize schedules,
it being generally laid down therein that
the honey staged must be " gathered in the

370

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 11, 1902.

United Kingdom." Beside?, all shows for
the year 1902 will be over by the time you
name.

L. H. (Lyndhurst). — Buying Queens from
Abroad. — You had better ask for instruc-
tions with regard to safe introduction from
the queen-breeder who supplies the queens.
By so doing we could not be blamed for any
mishap that might occur; besides, the
breeder usually gives the needed directions.

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 squari
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,"
not " Manager.''

C. B. (Galston). — Comb contains nothing worse
than "chilled" brood.

H. R. (Holbeach). — Your sample has failed to
reach us. It may have been undelivered by
post through being badly packed. We also
notice you address letter, dated 3rd inst,
" Editor, L B.K. A.," which is entirely wrong.

J. M. (Kidderminster). — There is foul brood
in comb.

J. H. H. (Keyingham, Hull). — Your sample
contains no brood at all, and is therefore
unsuitable for examination with regard to
foul brood. If you have, as stated, combs
in the hive " with capped brood in them,"
why not send an inch or so on to help us in
forming an opinion ?

Honey Samjrte.

R. E. (Llanbedr). — The sample is coarsely
granulated aEd shows signs of fermentation.
It is also of poor flavourless quality, but it
would need chemical analysis to test its
purity. You must be careful in declaring
it to be adulterated, merely because of being
dubious as to its purity, or you might get
into trouble.

Special Prepaid Advertisements.

Twelve words and under, Sixpence; for every addi-
tional Three words or under, One Penny.

D

RIVEN BEES with QUEEN, 4s.; cash with order
box returnable. Peters, Banstead. o S7

HEALTHY DRIVEN BEES, 3s. 6d. lot ; travelling-
boxes free. Morris, Stationmaster, Stanford-le-
Hope, Essex. 0 99

NEW HONEY (extracted), 28-lb. tins at, 6d. per lb. ;
sample 2d. Owen Browning, Ashley, King's
Somborne, Hants. p 1

DRIVEN BEES with Queen, 3s. lot ; package return-
able. M. Greaves, Boys' Home, South Bersted,
Bognor. 0 96

FOR SALE, three purebred BUFF LEGHORN
COCKERELS, 3s. each ; approval. WARREN Juiir.,
Great Horwood, Winslow, Bucks. o 95

Prepaid Advertisements (Continued).

WANTED, 1,000 lbs. EXTRACTED HONEY. Price
to John Morgan, Upper Boat, Pontypridd.

o 91

WAX EXTRACTOR by Taylor, only used 4 or 5 times ;
cost 10s. 6d., sell for 6s. or exchange honey ripener.
DEVEREUX, Shillington, Hitcbin, Herts. O 8t

T UST right for the Heather.— SHALLOW FRAMES of
J COMB, 1^-in. thick, 5d. each. John Walton,
Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington. p 2

WANTED, WELL-FILLED SECTIONS, quote lowest,
carriage paid. Summers, Broadgate, Beeston,
Notts. o 86

WANTED, 2£cwt. EXTRACTED HONEY. State
lowest price. Kaberrt, Pharmacist, Southport.
0 93

EXTRACTOR (Little Wonder) FOR SALE, excellent
condition, 4s., or Exchange Feeders, &c. Moore,
Coldharbour, Sherborne. O 94

FOR SALE, eight strong healthy STOCKS. Bar-
Frame Hives, Extractor and Appliances. MARSH,
East Wick, Marlborough. 0 85

WANTED, SKEP HONEY-COMB ; also RUN, 30s.c\vt.
Bees, wholesale price. For Sale, Variety Queen,
5s. ; Nuclei, 7s. 6d. DAWKINS, Sutton Coldfield. 0 92

WHAT OFFERS, 100 good SECTIONS, 2 cwt. light
HONEY, 28-lb. tins ; 144 lbs. in 1-lb. screw-cap
jars ; 10 lb. Beeswax ? Hedges, Bishops Waltham.

O 89

A/T ESSES. STONE & SON, Chemists, Exeter, are
lVl buyers of ENGLISH BEESWAX in large or small
quantities. Write stating quantity and price required.
P 5

SPLENDID LIGHT ENGLISH HONEY, 6|d. lb.:
second quality, 5d. Sample, 2d. E. E. Hardy,
Queen Ann's Cottage, Great Yeldham, Halstead, Essex.

0 98

ALF-PLATE PHOTOGRAPHIC SET and quantity

Accessories, price £5 5s., cost nearly double, take

part cash and Bees to £6 10s. Doubtfire, Wealdstone.

P 4

FOR SALE, 11 BAR-FRAME HIVES BEES, with
Supers and Section Crates, splendid condition •
also few empty Hives ; quantity Honey — -Barnes,
Station-road, Wigton, Cumberland. o 97

TEN 14-ft. CARPENTER'S BENCHES, 12s. 6d. each ;
General Joiner, £40 ; Mitre Cutter, cramps, 25s. ;
i-ton Wire Nails from 7s. 6d cwt. ; 10-in. Foundation
Mill and Tank, 20s. ; Feeders, 3d. to 3s. (20 lb.) ; Section
Crates, 8s. doz. ; carriage paid. Exchanges entertained.
John Edey, Surveyor, St. Neots. ■ o 88

GUARANTEED HEALTHY DRIVEN BEES, ls.Sd. lb.
with Queen : Queens, 2s. ; strong Stocks, straw
Skeps, 12s. 6d., 1902 Queens. Wanted. Sections or Ex-
tracted, good, in Exchange for Stocks, ten Standard
Frames, or sell 30s., with Hives. Woods, Normandy,
Guildford. P 3

RUDGE-WHITWORTH BICYCLE, fres wheel and
rim brakes; dittto, fixed wheel, quite new;
" Dispatch," with free wheel and rim brake. Will
ride either machine to any address within 40 miles of
London. F. Carter, Home Cottage, High-road, Burnt
Oak, Edgware, Middlesex. o 90

DRIVEN BEES, 2s. 9d. lot., or Is. lb. Box returned.
J. Barnes. Burwell, Cambs. o 74

ABOUT SIX CWT. good light HONEY in tins or
bottles. Offers. Garner, Dyke, Bourne, o 42

ANTED, NEW SECTIONS (first quality). State
lowest for cash. Chilton, Polegate, Sussex.

HONEY, EXTRACTED (English), 50s. per cwt. on rail
Manea. Tins returnable. F. Pepper, Manea,
March. Q 77

HEALTHY DRIVEN BEES, Is. 3d. per lb., not less
than 4 lb. (Boxes to be returned.) E. Long,
Fulbouru, Cambs. O 34

Sept. 18, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

371

(MtoraL Ijtirfkea, kt

THE " CONFECTIONEEIES :'
EXHIBITION.

THE CONFECTIONERS' SHOW.

Eesuniing our hurried notice of last week
on the above exhibition, there is not much to
add with regard to the display as a whole,
except to express our regret that an adverse
bee-season unfortunately upset all chance of a
successful entry for the new Selling- Classes
instituted this year for the first time.

Instead of a goodly array of hotey for sale
by sample at prices likely to invite atten-
tion from would-be buyers, there was not a
single sample of section-honey on offer, and
the extracted honey in jars, to say the least,
made a poor and uninteresting display from
several points of view.

Bee-keepers cannot, of course, command a
good season, and had the chance offered we
have no doubt it would have been taken ad-
vantage of ; but for the 'present our hope is
that better luck will come should the oppor-
tunity again occur of making an effort to
establish a honey market on practical business
lines.

Eegarding the other classes, a word of
special mention must be given to the Trophy
Class, in which some excellent exhibits were
staged. We are also bound to say the printed
requirements of the schedule were evidently
carefully noted by most of the exhibitors.

The prizes went in the order of merit to
" displays of honey and honey products shown
in suitably attractive form for a tradesman's
window " in the fullest sense, and this is the
best praise that can be given.

The classes for extracted honey graded by
colour are, we think, now settling down into
their^true position so far as showing their
relative importance on the show-bench with
thirty-five entries of "light," twenty of
" medium," and seven of " dark '' honey
staged.

The wax-classes also are getting into line
with the requirements of the schedule, the
" quality '' class producing eighteen entries
against eight in that for the "retail counter
trade," being very much to the purpose.

We need say no more on the show as a
whole beyond adding a line to inform intend-
ing exhibitors at the Dairy Show next month
that exhibits staged at the " Confectionerie?,''
and also at the " Groceries '' (which latter
opens on Saturday next), can leave their
" Dairy " exhibits at the Hall till the required
time for showing. This important concession
will, no doubt, be fully appreciated, seeing how
much trouble and expense will be saved
thereby.

WAEWICKSHIRE B.K.A.

ANNUAL SHOW.

The Warwickshire Bee keepers' Association,
which now numbers nearly 500 members, held
its annual show at Warwick, on August 27
and 28, in conjunction with that of the War-
wickshire Agricultural Society. The entries
in the bee department nearly doubled those at
Solihull last year, and the exhibition was a
genuine success. Lady Leigh sent a selection
of comb and extracted honey, and this exhibit
was awarded the Society's certificate of merit.
Mr. G. Franklin, expert of the Warwickshire
Association, gave a number of demonstrations
during the afternoon. Dr. Hamlyn Harris,
Vice-President of the Bristol Bee-keepers'
Association, who judged the exhibits, made a
few observations on the merits of the exhibi-
tion, which he said was a decided success. He
suggested that classes should be introduced
into the schedule for honey vinegar and other
fluids. His experience on the Continent, he
added, had shown him that their Continental
neighbours were far ahead of them as regarded
the uses of honey.

The prizes were then distributed, and at the
conclusion the company heartily accorded a
vote of thanks to Lord Leigh and the Hon.
Cordelia Leigh for their presence that after-
noon.

Mr. Barr then presented the Hon. Cordelia
Leigh with the certificate of merit awarded
to Lady Leigh for her non-competitive exhi-
bition. Lord Leigh, in reply, humorously
remarked that he would request Lady Leigh
to allow him to place the certificate in the
strong-room at Stoneleigh Abbey in order
that it might be handed down to succeeding
generations.

AWARDS.

Observatory Hive with Bees (Foreign) and
Queen. — 1st, E. H. Taylor, Welwyn, Herts.

Observatory Hive with Bees (English) and
Queen.— 1st, E. H. Taylor; 2nd, W. A.
Rollins, Stourbridge.

Bar-frame Hive for General Use. — 1st,
E. H. Taylor; 2nd, G. Franklin, Burton
Green, Kenilworth ; c, Joseph Hunt, Hamp-
ton-in-Arden.

Frame-hive for Cottagers' Use. — 1st, E. H.
Taylor ; c, Jos. Hurst.

Super Honey from One Apiary. — 1st, John
Walton, Weston, Leamington ; 2nd, W. E.
Charles, Wellesbourne ; 3rd and h.c, G.
Franklin; v.h.c, H. Cleaver, Leamington.

Shallow-frames for Extracting. — 1st, H.
Cleaver ; 2nd, J. Walton.

Twenty - four 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, A.
Hutchinson, King's Norton ; 2nd and b.c,
H. Cleaver; 3rd, J. Walton; h.c, H. G.
Eveson, Wootton Waiven, and H. Parker.

Twelve 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, A. Hutchin-
son ; 2nd and h.c, H. Cleaver ; 3rd, J. Walton ;
h.c, H. G. Eveson and Miss E. K. Coventry.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
W. E. Charles ; 2nd, H. Cleaver ; 3rd, A. W.

372

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 18, 1902.

Eollins ; hiC, W. J. Hyde and J. Walton ; c,
A. C. Piatt, Warwick.

Extracted Honey (not over 50 lb.). — 1st,
A. D. Allen, Banbury ; 2nd, W. R. Charles ;
3rd, G. Franklin ; h.c, J. Walton, J. Bur-
rows, and W. J. Hyde.

Stiper Honey from One Hive (cottagers
only). — 1st, J. Arthurs, Studley ; 2nd, J.
Seeney, Stratford-on-Avon ; 3rd, J. Hurst ;
4th, W. H. Allard.

Twenty-four 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, W. H.
Allard : 2nd, R. Cleaver ; 3rd, C. J. Graves,
Knowle ; 4 th, J. Lees, Wootton Waven ;
5th, J. Corbett, Knowle ; 6th, D. Creswell,
Dunnington.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, W. H. Allard ;
2nd, J. Arthurs ; 3rd, R. Meade, Dunchurch ;
equal 4th, J. Rodenhurst, J. Seeney, and J.
Corbett ; v.h.c, W. J. Alliband ; h.c, R.
Cleaver.

Single 1-lb. Jar Extracted Honey. — 1st, R.
Cleaver; 2nd, W. H. Allard; 3rd, W. J.
Alliband ; equal 4th, J. Arthurs, E. lliff, and
S. Ford ; h.c, R. Meade and M. Galloway.

Coronation Trophy. — 1st, H. Cleaver ; 2nd
and v.h.c, J. Walton ; 3rd, A. W. Rollins ;
c, J. Burrows.

Collection of Appliances. — 1st, G. Franklin ;
2nd, L. Wilday, Minworth ; 3rd, W. H.
Allard ; h.c, H. Cleaver and A. W. Rollins ;
c, E. H. Taylor.

Bee driving Competition. — 1st, J. Perry,
Banbury ; 2nd, J. Arthurs ; 3rd, J. Seeney.
— (Communicated. )

BERKS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

SHOW AT READING.

On Wednesday, August 27, the Berks
B.K.A. held a show of honey at the Forbury
Gardens, Reading, in conjunction -with the
Summer Show of the Reading Horticultural
Society. The honey display was under the
management of Mr. D. W. Bishop-Ackerman,
Hon. Sec of the Berks B.K.A. ; and Mr. T. A.
Flood, of Reading, gave demonstrations in the
bee-tent at intervals. The entries numbered
forty-five, and the Rev. W. E. Burkitt
officiated as judge, makiDg the following
awards : —

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, S. A. Canning,
Wickham Heath ; 2nd, C. W. Dyer, Comp-
ton ; 3rd, H. W. Seymour, Henley-on-
Thames.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
H. W. Seymour ; 2nd, W. W. Davies, Wal-
lingford ; 3rd, W. Janes, Marlow.

Six l-lb. Sections (novices). — 1st, W.
Canning, Boxford ; 2nd, W. Janes ; 3rd, A.
Wise, Calcot.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (novices). —
1st, — Barlow, Downley ; 2nd, C. Austin,
Twyford ; 3rd, A. Wise.

Trophy of Honey and Wax. — 1st. H W.
Seymour ; 2nd, A. D. Woodley, Caversham ;
3rd, C. W. Dyer.— (Communicated.)

CHESHIRE B.K.A.

HONEY SHOW AT BEBINGTON.

A show of hives, honey, and wax was held
in connection with the Wirral and Birkenhead
Agricultural Society at Bebington, on Sep-
tember 10 and 11. Considering the unsatis-
factory nature of the season, the number of
entries (122) was very satisfactory. The Rev.
T. J. Evans, Tarvin Vicarage, and Mr. R.
Cock, Stafford, officiated as judges, and made
the following awards : —

OPEN CLASSES.

Complete Frame Hive. — 1st, Geo. Rose,
Liverpool ; 2nd, W. Cartwright, Moore, War-
rington.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, W. Woodley
Beedon, Newbury ; 2nd, A. W. Weatherhogg,
Willoughton ; 3rd, J. Pear man, Derby.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
T. S. Holdsworth, Kirton Lindsey ; 2nd, J.
Pearman ; 3rd, W. Woodley.

MEMBERS' CLASSES.

Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, Rev. E. Charley,
Ince Vicarage ; 2nd, W. Ratcliffe, Barthomley;
3rd, Mrs. Arnold, Barrow Rectory.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
A. Thomas, Frodsham ; 2nd, P. H. Rawson,
Market Drayton ; 3rd, S. Eaton, Audlem.

Six l-lb. Jars Granulated Honey. — 1st,
P. H. Rawson ; 2nd, R. Gray, Bromborough ;
3rd, H. Edwards, Rossett.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (other than
light-coloured). — 1st, E. P. Hinde, Heswall ;
2nd, S. Eaton ; 3rd, J. Cunnah, Wrexham.

Two Shallow Frames of Comb Honey — 1st,
R. Gray ; 2nd, J. Dean, Upton ; 3rd, T. Hen-
shaw, Thrapwood.

Beeswax.— 1st, W. Ratcliffe ; 2nd, G. Lam-
bert, Comberbach ; 3rd, E. Maxwell, Tallaw
Green.

DISTRICT CLASS.

1st, W. Lowe, Rainhill ; 2nd, E. Griffiths,
Rainhill ; 3rd, Rev. E. Charley. — (Communi-
cated.)

NOTTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL SHOW AT MOORGREEN.

The annual show of above association was
held at Moorgreen on September 9, and as
far as weather (the first consideration) is con-
cerned was all that could be wished for. The
exhibits staged were rather more numerous
than usual, and the honey of excellent quality
generally. Mr. W. B, Webster, Binfield,
Berks, officiated as judge, assisted by Mr.
G. E. Skelhorne, of Notts., and made the
following awards : —

Collection of Hives and Appliances (no
entry).

Complete Frame-hive for General Use (no
entry).

Display of Honey in any Form, not to
exceed 80 lb. of Honey (5 entries). — 1st,
G. Marshall, Norwell ; 2nd, G. Hayes, Bees-
ton ; 3rd, J. Gray, Long Eaton.

Sept. 18, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

373

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (light)
(14 entries). — 1st, A. G. Pugh, Beeston ;
2nd, J. Breward, Staythorpe ; 3rd, W. Brooks,
Eastwood.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (dark)
(9 entries).— 1st, A. G. Puj>h ; 2ad, G. M.
Bolton, Eastwood ; 3rd, W. Brooks.

Six l-lb. Sections (6 entries). — 1st, G.
Marshall ; 2nd, D. Marshall, Cropwell Butter.

Six l-lb. Jars Granulated Honey (8
entries) — 1st, H. Merryweath, Southwell ;
2nd, A. E. Trimmings, Gedliog ; 3rd, G.
Marshall

Shalloiv- Frame of Comb Honey for
Extracting (7 entries).— 1st, G. Marshall ;
2nd, G. H. Pepper, Earns field.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (novices
only— 7 entries). — 1st, H. Mackender,
Newark ; 2nd, L. Walker, Ruddington ; 3rd,
C. Markham, Retford.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (local class
—5 entries). — 1st, W. Brooks ; 2nd, G.
Smithurst, Watnall ; 3rd, G. M. Bolton.

Honey- Vine gar. — 1st, J. Gray; 2nd, G.
Hayes.

Observatory Hi'e with Bees and Queen
(9 entries).— 1st, R. Mackender, Newark ;
2nd, H. Mackender, Newark ; 3rd, G. Mar-
shall ; 4th, Geo. Smith, Bradmore.

Beeswax in 2-os. Cakes (8 entries). — 1st, A. H.
Hill, Balderton ; 2nd, R. Mackender.

During the day, Mr. P. Scattergood held
an examination of candidates for the third-
class certificate of the B.B.K.A., three candi-
dates presenting themselves. — (Communi-
cated.)

(&ormpvaLmt

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for tht
•pinions eapressed by correspondent!. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communication*, and eorretpondenU
are requetted to write on one tide of the paper only and
give their real namet and addressee, not necettarily for
publication, but at a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tiont should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return reiected communication:

Communications relating to the literary department,
reports of Associations, Shoios, 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, die., must be addressed
to "The Manager, 'British Bee Journal" Ojjice, 17,
King William-street, Strand, London, W.C."

*** In order to facilitate reference, Corretpondentt,
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.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.
l_4890.] Honey Glands. — These are organs
found in many flowers, and their office is to
secrete the sweet saccharine juice and generate
it in the nectareous sacs, where it is stored up
until it is rifled by the bees on their foraging
excursions. They differ in number in various

kinds of flowers, from one to five or more,
generally according to the arrangement of
the flower petals. Thus, in the Ranunculus
family, with their five flower- leaves, there are
five nectaries, corresponding with the five
petals. In irregular flowers, however, the
case is different, and frequently but one
exists. It is placed in different positions on
different flowers, but always situated just
where the bee can most easily approach and
sip from it. If these glands differ in number
and position, their shape and size are even
more diverse. The raspberry flower has a
regular circular honey trough, and the bee
sips all round it, taking some time to ex-
haust the supply. That bountiful bee flower,
the lime, has a boat-shaped structure which
in certain seasons is ever full to overflowing,
and perhaps on no other plant does the insect
load up so quickly and with so little trouble
or exertion. Hellebores and many others
have little tubular honey-pots yielding their
stores willingly. The buttercups have five
small circular glands, one on each petal.
Though the flower is generally the seat of
these receptacles for the nectareous secretion,
other parts may be found at times to yield a
flow, as in the case of beans and vetches,
which secrete it by their stipules.

Honey Guides. — No less wonderful than
the convenience of the honey glands which so
much aid the bee in garnering the sweets of
the flowers are these "guides," which direct
it where to find the receptacles. The flower,
indeed, seems to hold out a signal to the bee
directing it where it should alight. Especially
are these marks prominent on flowers of
irregular formation, for they are invariably
possessed of bright spots or streaks found
only just over the part where the honey glands
are situated. So the bees, making direct for
these, lose no time in searching for the spot
where the coveted sweets are deposited. I am
inclined to favour the theory of those scientists
who believe that the visits paid by bees to
these flowers have generated both honey
"glands'' and honey "guides."

It may be worth mentioning that the name
of " honey guide " is also given to a species of
small bird found in many parts of Africa.
This bird seems to take a delight in directing
men to the spot where bees' nests and honey
are to be found. They flutter and fly a little
in advance, until at last they alight close to the
spot where the honey is to be found. It is
generally believed that they act in this way
from no idea of benefiting mankind, but in
order that, when the bees' domicile is rifled,
they may gorge themselves at their leisure
from the remains of the honey and the young
larva? left behind.

A Bee Fable. — The Talmud records that
the Queen of Sheba, hearing of the wisdom
of Solomon, resolved to put it to the severest
test she could possibly devise. She presented
herself with a bouquet of flowers in each
hand, one culled from Nature and the other

374

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 18, 1902.

formed by the art of man, and asked the wise
King which was the false and which was the
true. At first he seemed sorely perplexed,
but observing a number of bees hunting for
nectar he ordered the flowers to be placed
within their reach, when they at once chose
the real flowers, showing king, queen, and
courtiers which were Nature's. An interesting
poem has been written on the incident, the
closing line of which records that "Even
Israel's King learned wisdom from the bees."

A Science Corner. — There is no doubt that
if this were got up on proper lines and con-
ducted by some one of experience and know-
ledge such a page could be made very
interesting and instructive. The study of the
bee is incomplete without a study of the
flowers whose essence they suck and on
whose bountiful favours they live. The more
we seek to know of these plants the more are
we bound to be impressed with the wonderful
goodness and bounty of the kind Providence
who has bestowed these lovely gems to gladden
our eyes with their beauty and cheer our lives
with their exquisite colour and fragrance.
They brighten every walk we take from early
spring till late autumn, and the admirable
system of succession, with its infinite variety
of form and shade, prevents any tameness or
sameness from palling the senses, for one
species follows another in "gay but quick
succession,'' so that every day there is some-
thing new.

Then as to the fauna, what numbers of the
Hymenoptera we encounter everywhere ! Our
gardens are teeming with them all summer
long, and every field contains its myriads ;
and for those who have the eye to see and the
brain to comprehend, their shape, size, general
appearance, homes, habits, and modes of life are
all matters of interest, while the study and
classification add new ze3t to every country
walk or ramble. Mr. Sladen has proved a
master in this department, and has shown
a readiness and ability in answering all
questions on insect nomenclature worthy of
all praise. We want a reliable botanist who
would in the same way aid i he keen student
of flowers and plants visited by the bee. I
am confident our Editors will find room for
any such contributions, and that " W. H."
(who wrote on page 333) has only to make a
beginning ; for is not our Journal " devoted
to the interests of bee-keepers " ? — D. M. M.,
Banff.

REAL "FACTS" ABOUT BEE-
KEEPING.
[4891.] Your correspondent, " J. M.,
Pontypridd5' (page 366), is much obliged for
some suggestions as to the failure of intro-
ducing a queen to a hive, and having found
another queen hatched out and laying in a
few days after. Now, Messrs. Editors, did it
strike neither you nor Mr. Sladen that bees
hemselves re-queen about August, and while

your correspondent's bees were already re-
queening, was it likely they would have his alien
queen ? I first saw the explanation to your cor-
respondent's mystery about twelve years ago,
when the superseded queen was leaving her
happy home in favour of her newly-matured
daughter. When "J. M.'' took out the old
queen, the young queen was ready to hatch
out in a short time, and the introduced queen,
of course, was simply not wanted.

Referring to Mr. Woodley's "Note" on
section extracting (page 365), if he will drive
his extractor slowly for a little while, and
then finish extracting his sections after turn-
ing the cages the other way round, he will
only break about one section in fifty.

I am a busy man, but the above prob-
lems were so easy of solution that I thought I
would trouble you with my help in solving
them. — Ernest E. Davis, Great Bookham,
Surrey, September 13.

{Correspondence continued on page 376.)

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

The illustration on opposite page carries us
once more to Ireland, where Mr. Doyle may
be counted a3 a typical bee-man of the best
sart. A farmer by occupation, he shows how
bee-keeping may be included as a branch of
farm work with pleasure and profit, as shown
in the following " Notes '' written at our
request : —

"During the month of June, 1887, one day
will always be fixed in my memory as record-
ing my start in bee-keeping, for on that day I
found a stray swarm on our land, and, of
course, I hived the wandering bees in a skep.
We were at the time subscribers to an agri-
cultural paper that had its weekly bee column,
which I at once began to take an interest in
as dealing with modern bee-keeping. The
result of my reading was that before the
following June I had bought a good frame-
hive to work from, and secured all the bee
books I could lay hands on were bought, and
their contents eagerly devoured. I also
managed by the autumn of 1888 to drive some
skeps of bees, and in this way increased my
small apiary -to five stocks.

11 Being handy with carpenters' tools, I
made all the hives seen from the first or
pattern one. The frames are bought ready-
made, being so cheap as not to be worth the
trouble of making. Nearly every year since
that time I have largely increased the number
of my stocks from swarms and driven bees,
and I find stocks built up from the latter
always the following year.

" In my home apiary at the present I have
sixty stocks, all in frame-hives, and last spring
I started an out-apiary in which there are
now twenty stocks — fifteen in frame-hives and
five in skeps— and they are all strong in bees

Sept. 18, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

375

and stores, mo3t of them being headed by young
queens.

" I work entirely for section-honey, and
regard extracting as a messy job. In my
earlier days I used to put excluder zinc be-
tween frames and sections, but for the last
few years I have discarded excluders and
have very few sections spoiled thereby. A
few years ago I made four ' Wells ' hives,
and they worked fairly well as regards the
supplies, but I think any two single-queened
hives would gather as much surplus as one
' Wells,' which latter I always regarded as
two hives. In my case I found that, when-
ever one end of a ' Wells ' swarmed, the
other lot followed suit ; thus by the end of
the year I usually had one end queenless.

with me. My fifty- five hive3 (spring count)
swarmed forty-eight times. I increased them
to seventy colonies, and these a7eraged seventy
sections per hive. It seems to me impossible
to stop bees from swarming when honey is
coming in fast. But taking all in all, I do
not think natural swarming is any disadvan-
tage if the hives are rightly manipulated after-
wards. I do not allow the swarms to be
long idle, for they are often busy building out
foundation one hour after the swarm comes
off. It is a pleasure to me to say foul brood
has never appeared in my apiary, though the
disease is less than three miles away.

" I have made it a rule for the last seven
or eight years to transfer all stocks annually
to clean body-boxes, and after scraping floor-

MR. JOHN DOYLE S APIARY, KELLYSTOWN, ADAMSTOWN, CO. WEXFORD.

Not only so, but when I have now an empty
hive it is generally a ' Wells.'

" I also tried Simmins's non-swarming
system when my stocks had increased to
forty or fifty. I read Mr. Simmins's pamphlet
carefully, and gave the plan a fair trial, both
with frames fitted with starters only under
the brood-nest and in long hives with frames
and starters placed in front of the brood-nest,
but when the warm weather came the bees
swarmed as much as any hive I had. I
regard swarming as one of the greatest
troubles a bee-keeper has. To give an
example. In 1898 my fortynine hives (spring
count) 8 warmed eighty-four times. I increased
to sixty-nine stocks, and they gave me an
average of fifty sections per hive.

"The season of 1901 was a very good one

boards I put naphthaline in the back of hives
renewing it as needed. I also remove dark
or irregular combs, and replace them with full
sheets of foundation.

" The hives in the home apiary stand about
6 ft. apart, round the four squares of a half-
acre garden. They are shaded on three sides
by trees. On the fourth is a privet hedge, to
which nearly all the swarms go until the
virgin queens begin to come out, when the
swarms usually cluster on the tops of the
highest trees and in all sorts of awkward
places. In my opinion, the shade of trees is
very useful and good for bees in warm
weather. And though it is often said hive
entrances'should face south, those which face
north do as well as any in the garden.

"I think this year of 1902 has been in our

376

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Sept. 18, 1902.

district the most abnormal season for bee-
keepers in living memory. When June came
in bees were very strong, and carrying in
honey fairly well. Then the north-east wind
came, accompanied by cold sleety showers,
and continued for three weeks, by which time
bees were at starvation point. Then we had
about a fortnight of good bee weather. In
July honey was abundant in the white clover,
but bees were not strong enough to take full
advantage of it. My own stocks averaged
thirty 1-lb. sections per hive, which is not so
bad, all things considered. Bee-keepers at
local shows have told me none had more than
one rack of sections per hive, and some much
less than that.

"In conclusion, let me say it was as a hobby
I began bee-keeping, but am very glad to say
it has become a very successful hobby with
me. The photo is by a local amateur, Mr.
T. Dunbar, who takes a great delight in the
study of the art. And also I should not close
without acknowledging that my success in
bee-keeping is in a great measure due to the
valuable assistance I derived in my earlier
years from the Bee-keepers' Record and the
British Bee Journal."

CORRESPONDENCE.

{Continued from jyage 374.)

THE PRESTON GUILD MERCHANT
WEEK.

[4892.] The great Preston Guild Merchant,
with its quaint old-time ceremonies, full of
reminiscences of the past, has, after twenty
years, come round again, and the Guild Court
is adjourned to meet again twenty years hence !
"Proud Preston" has for a week given itself
up to processions miles in length and jollifica-
tions, ending up with a grand revel and torch-
light procession on Saturday night. No mean
part of the "Guild Week" was the "Royal
Lancashire Agricultural Society's Show held
at Moor Park on September 2 to 5, 24,000
people paying for entrance on the 3rd, and
39,000 on the 4th, apart from the many who
crushed in without payment at all.

The honey shed and bee tent were erected
just inside the show ground to the right of the
main entrance. Mr. H. Edwards lectured to
large and interested audiences (punctually at
the appointed times, note) and the result
was some new members for the Lanes.
B.K.A. The Royal Lancashire Agricultural
Society is one of the oldest county agricultural
associations in the kingdom, and prides itself
on doing things well. Certainly the prizes
offered in the honey section were liberal
enough to tempt more numerous entries had
the past honey season been even a
moderately good one. As it was, the
moderate entries resulted in the honey
shed being reduced in size from what was
originally intended. Lancashire men had put

forth special efforts to make a brave show, and
though they had few entries in the section
class, the county class secured the largest entry
for twelve jars of extracted honey, and an
extra prize was awarded by the judges in con-
sequence of the close competition.

It was also pleasing to see an entry of ten
honey trophies, nine of which were staged.
Mr. George Rose has given valuable prizes
year after year in this class, and he will be
well pleased to see it at last bring forth so
good a display. Mr. R. himself this year
secured 1st and the Lanes B.K.A. silver medal
for a fine trophy, which was greatly admired,
the only fault being that it required more
space to show it to full advantage. The
weather was very favourable, except on the
morning of second day (Wednesday), and
then a fierce gale that came — and went, for-
tunately— so suddenly as to do considerable
damage, many of the tents and stands being
almost wrecked. The honey-shed held, and
the roof remained intact, but the staging was
shaken to and fro like a tree, and nearly the
whole of the sections and many honey jars
and bottles were thrown to the ground, some
being smashed completely ; but while sym-
pathy must be felt for those who suffered loss,
it was some satisfaction to find the prize ones
undamaged. It blew all Wednesday morning,
but by midday Mr. Rose and several willing-
handed voluntary assistants had restored things
to something like order in the honey shed. A
good deal of honey was sold at the show,
several of the trophy exhibitors doing a big
trade, and a number of local men in the
twelve-jars class, by bringing in honey each
day, got rid of a considerable quantity. The
little knot of bee-keepers at Hesketh Bank
were much in evidence, and took their share
of the prize money, Mr. Rymer's trophy being
an admirable example of what can' be done
with little expense for stands and furnishing,
and the honey itself was delicious in flavour,
colour, and consistency. What a district
Hesketh Bank must be, all the honey shown
from there being just that same "saleable
article.'' Messrs. W. Broughton Carr and
James Cragg were the judges, and no one
would venture to think that these gentlemen
did other than give their awards to the best
exhibits. Lancashire men were particularly
pleased to have " W. B. C." back again
among them for a brief spell, and we rejoiced
to see him looking fairly well, and found him
as ready as ever to help forward the craft
when we saw our old friend taking the oppor-
tunity to give a kindly and useful lesson in
judging to two or three non-exhibitors who
sought help in this way, and so killing two
birds with one stone.

On Wednesday Mr. Carr conducted an
examination of candidates for the third-class
certificates of the B. B.K.A. in Mr. Rose's
home apiary, Ormskirk, and as the " Roses "
were all " duty bound '' to be at the " Guild
Show," the examiner and candidates had per-

Sept. 18, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

377

force to take over the home and the apiary
for the occasion. It had much interest for the
writer to learn that " W. B. C." was at the last
" Guild Merchant '' domiciled as a Lancashire
and Cheshire bee-keeper, and had charge of
the bee department twenty years ago. On
the other hand, our absent host, "G. R.,'' was
then domiciled in Middlesex and Surrey.
Such are the changes of time. May they both
live to see the next " guild " under even
happier circumstances, wherever they each
may then be.— A Bee-Keeper Who was
There, September 10.

ROYAL LANCS. SHOW AT PRESTON.

A MEAN THEFT.

[4893.] While it's no use crying over spilt
milk or howling after one is hurt, it may be
well, in order to put other lecturers on their
guard against being made victims in similar
circumstances, to place on record an act of
despicable meanness which was perpetrated at
the recent Preston show of the Royal Lan-
cashire Agricultural Society. As a portion of
a queen-raising exhibit I had a fine Italian
queen, a black drone, and several hybrid
workers in one of my " observatory " postal
and introduction cages, and I was allowing
this cage to be passed round for inspection
whilst I was lecturing and demonstrating in
the bee tent. But at the second demonstra-
tion on Wednesday, September 3, the cage
and contents disappeared, stolen evidently by
some bee-keepers acting in concert, as other-
wise it would scarcely have been possible to
have purloined an article which a number of
spectators were anxious to get a sight of. — H.
Edwards, Expert to Lancashire B.K.A.,
Shrubs Hill, Sunningdale, September 12.

BRIEF REPORTS.

HEREFORDSHIRE.

Honey is very scarce this year in this
part of Herefordshire. My best hive has not
given me more than 50 lb., and the average
will be below 30 lb., I am afraid. I must not
complain, however, as many of my brethren in
the craft have done much worse than that.
All my surplus granulated a fortnight after
being removed from hives. Quality and
colour are good, and I shall not sell at less
than 9s. per dozen wholesale, or Is. per lb.
retail. I do not believe in cutting prices. —
W. H., Brilley, September 10.

WARWICKSHIRE.

In response to the request that bee-keepers
should report their honey take for 1902, I
have pleasure in saying that I have taken
210 lb. from five hives, but as one of these
only gave rather more than 10 lb., I have had
an average of nearly 50 lb. per hive from four

hives. The honey is darker in colour than
last year, and began to candy within a week
or two of extracting, but is excellent in
quality. — S. K. S., Birmingham, September 11.

I find my ten stocks are exceedingly short
of stores this autumn, though strong in bees.
The season here has been very poor — in fact,
the worst I have had since I started four
years ago — and the average per hive will
hardly come to 25 lb. Those worked for
sections were almost a complete failure. —
W. F. L. L., Borden, Sittingbourne, Sep>t 10.

CORNWALL.

I am only a beginner, having but three
stocks, but 1 think they have done fairly well
for the season, seeing that I have taken from
them fifty sections and about 140 lb. extracted
honey.— J. S., Saltash, Sept/ember 10.

STRANGE STORY.

A BEE-KEEPER'S DOUBLE LIFE.

One of the most sensational cases of a man
with a double life has, says the Star, just come
to light in the West of England. It has been
discovered by the accident of death that Mr.
Edmund Hall, an accountant and bee-keeper,
who had resided for nineteen years at Oborne,
a little village a mile from Sherborne, Dorset,
was in reality Colonel Edmund Carter Plant,
C.B., colonel commanding the 2nd Gloucester
Volunteer R.E., master at Clifton College,
with a residence and, until 1900, a wife in
Bristol. The story runs thus : —

Mr. Edmund Hall had lived at Oborne
without any one suspecting that the " accoun-
tant " had another side to his life. He went
away from home on business, but no one was
surprised at that. When he was at home he
was noted for his interest in bee-keeping.

Curiously enough, that is not one of the
"recreations" which " Who's Who " gives as
preferred by Colonel Edmund Plant. Mr.
Hall, who was about sixty, went over last
Monday afternoon to the farm of Mr. Ryall,
of North Wootton, in order to " drive " some
bees. After this operation he was sitting at
tea with Mrs. Ryall and his own little son,
who had accompanied him. Suddenly he got
up from the tea-table, and remarking, " I'm
going to faint," fell forward and immediately
expired. An inquest was held next day, and
the jury returned a verdict of "Death from
natural causes," i.e., heart disease.

On Wednesday morning the Bristol papers
appeared with long obituary notices of Colonel
Edmund Piant, C.B., who was decorated in
1897 for his services to ihe Volunteer move-
ment. This gentleman was a Hampshire man,
who settled in Bristol in 1861, first as a science
master at the old Trade and Mining School in
Nelson-street, and subsequently at Clifton

378

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Sept. 18, 1902.

College. He was married in 1865 to Miss
Frances Colchester, of Ashleworth, Gloucester,
a lady who died in January, 1900.

The upshot of the whole thing was that
"Edmund Hall " and Colonel Plant were the
same person. In the anxiety to maintain the
secret of Colonel Plant's double life, the name
of " Edmund Hall " was engraved on the coffin
plate, which was removed to Bristol by train
on Friday. It was in this single coffin that,
in Arne's Vale Cemetery, Bristol, on Saturday,
two identities were buried. Colonel Plant's
coffin was covered with a Union Jack, and the
inscription on the plate was : "Edmund
Carter Plant, C.B., Colonel Bristol Engineers.
Died September 1, 1902. Aged 60 years. ''

The reasons for the strange double life so
long maintained have not been disclosed, but
the correspondent states that the dead man's
surviving children at Oborne were entirely
unaware of his real identity until after his
death. — Western Mercury.

NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM
B.K.A.

Owing to the very unfavourable bee-season
of 1902, the committee of the above associa-
tion have decided to cancel their honey show
arranged to be held in Newcastle on October 4.
They greatly regret the circumstances which
have compelled them to take this course, and
trust that the members and others interested
in the association will uphold their decision by
attending a meeting in the Y.M.C. A. Institute,
Newcastle, on October 4 at 5 p.m.

The annual honey show is the usual rendez-
vous for bee-keepers "young and old," meeting
each other and comparing notes ; and although
the show is reluctantly cancelled, it is hoped
that the proposed meeting will prove a rally-
ing point for the brotherhood known as the
N. and D. B. K. Association.— Jas. Waddell,
Hon. Sec, Wooler, September 13.

4$n\xw and $j^rli$.

[2966.] Destroying Diseased Bees. — I have
ten hives of bees, and they have done very
well this year, but I am sorry to say one hive
has developed foul brood. The bees are fairly
strong, and have plenty of honey in the frames
below ; they also have put 6 lb. in the sections
I gave them on the top. I have decided to
destroy the bees, burn the frames, quilts, and
sections, and then proceed as you advise in
the " Guide Book," as nine hives of bees will
be quite enough for me, as I do not get time
to look after so many. I should be much
obliged if you would kindly tell me : — 1".
What is the best way to destroy bees in a
hive with section-rack on ? 2. Is it safe

to use the honey they have stored in the top
six sections I mentioned ?

The hive next to the above has given me
42 lb. of surplus this year. The one on the
other side has swarmed and stored about
21 lb. of surplus. I take in the British Bee
Journal every week, and fiod it most
interesting. Swarms have been very numerous
here this year, but little honey was made till
July.— D. L. S., Pound Bill, Worth,
Crawley, Sussex.

Reply. — 1. Make a hole in the ground
large enough to hold the lid of an old mustard
tin, into which tin " lid " put a tablespoonful
of sulphur. Drop a red-hot coal into the
sulphur, and at once set the hive over the
hole, seeing that the bees have no way of
escape ; in about one minute the bees will be
dead. 2. Yes.

[2967.] Building up Stocks from Driven
Bees. — I drove the bees from a straw skep on
September 9, and placed them in a frame-hive,
fitting the frames with full sheets of comb-
foundation, and have since gently and regularly
fed them. Will the queen start laying now,
and the stock become safe for wintering ?
There was a lot of brood in the skep, but it
was destroyed. — A. G. H., September 12.

Reply. — Much depends on the number of
bees got from the skep. It is usual to unite
the bees from two skeps when building up a
colony from driven lots in autumn. You had
better confine the bees to about five frames
and feed rapidly, also taking every mean3
(by giviDg plenty of warm coverings) to con-
serve the heat in the hive while comb-
building is in progress. It is a great pity the
brood in skep was destroyed, when it is so
easy to get sealed brood hatched out. The
resultant young bees would have formed the
backbone of the colony had they been pre-
served.

[2968.] Bee-keepers in Central India. — A
friend of mine is shortly going out to India.
Can you favour him with the name of some
bee-keeper in the Central Provinces, say near
Hoshangabad, Harsi, Bhopal, Sohagpur, or
Sioni Malwa who, could help my friend in
starting ? I do not want to unduly burden
you with a reply, but a helping hand to a
novice would be most welcome. — R. B.,
Southampton, September 9.

Reply. — We have several subscribers in
India, but cannot fix upon one near the point
named. Perhaps some reader better informed
than ourselves will send a line of reply for
insertion.

[2969.] Re-queening Driven Stocks of Bees
— On September 1 I put two lots of driven
bees into a new hive ; they united satis-
factorily, no fighting, but on examining them
four days later I could find no queen or brood.
This was on Friday, and we looked again on
Sunday morning, with same result. I there-
fore introduced another queen, which I find

Sept. 18, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

379

this morning has been killed. Do you think
there is already a queen in the hive, or should
I introduce another one ?— Frank King.

Reply. — It would appear almost certain
that one of the queens is in the hive ; and no
further attempt at re-queening should be made
without a good search for the queen (or eggs)
presumably now with the bees.

[2970.] Re- queening Wives. — I intended to
allow several of my stocks of bees to re-queen
themselves this year, and in doing this re-
moved the queens from two of my best stocks
on August 15. Eight days afterwards T
removed the queens from four other stocks.
I then, on the 25th, took queen-cells from the
first hives mentioned, and put them in the
centre of brood-nest of the other four stocks.
All the queens emerged from cells, but none
of them have begun to lay yet, and nearly all
the drones are killed off. Kindly oblige
through Bee Journal what I had better do.
— M. H., Tunbridge Wells, September 9.

Reply. — The only thing you can do is to
make another examination, and assure yourself
that young queens are in each hive. Then, if
there is drone-brood in worker-cells, the
queens will be worthless ; but if worker-brood
is found, they will be all right. The queens
will, if there, show one or other of these
results.

(ftrhwes |wm the igtucs.

Church Mill, Standlake, September 12. —
I am sending you an " echo " from mid-Oxon.
The bee-3eason has been an adverse one, with
the exception of about three weeks in Jane
and July. The whole of the springtime was
wet and stormy, quite up till the middle of
June, when a spell of real bee- weather caused
the bees to swarm in all directions, and started
them to work in supers, with the result that
our average " take " exceeded that of last year,
being 48| lb. of surplus per hive. The honey-
flow practically lasted only a month, and the
bees have been living on their stores since
the beginning of August. — D. J. H.

PRESS CUTTING.

THE MUSIC OF PARADISE.

I am sitting in my garden, and everywhere
around me the hot, hazy summer air is full of
sounds — a lark singing far up above the livid
green fields, a hen cackling presumptuously
down in the hamlet because she has laid a
golden egg, a sheep bleating over on the hill,
and the school bairns making merry at their
summer games.

But it is not of any of these sound* I am
thinking as I sit and watch beneath the shade
of the lilac trees. I am listening lazily to the
cmstant hum of bees which fills the garden
on this hot summer noon— the sound that

makes the music of Paradise, that lulls to
sleep the busiest man as he reclines at ease
and gives the good God thanks that at last
the whole earth is decked in its pomp of
summer splendour. Yet why is it ordained
that bees will undertake their busiest work on
the hottest and sultriest day, when man is at
his laziest, and can do nothing but dream
through his hours in the coolest, greenest spot
of woodland shade ? But so it is. To venture
into the open on this day of merciless sun is
to be frizzled and baked and melted into a
limp mass of perspiring humanity.

To be a bee-keeper is to be full of anxious
thoughts when the mind of other men is calm
and quiet. There is nothing for it but to rise
up and swathe the head and neck in a gauzy
veil as he approaches the little row of hives in
the corner yonder. One would think the bee
colony had risen in revolt. And so it has.
When the bees swarm everything else must
wait. The most serious man, no matter how
occupied, must risa and run to hive the
swarm.

Moreover, bees form a comradeship between
men of all sorts and conditions. To keep bees
is to be the friend of every bee-keeper. And
when the bees swarm friend mu3t run to help
friend. S:>, after a day of sweltering heat,
when the bee3 were all secure and the shadows
were falling cool and refreshing in this garden
at Fairshiels, the bee-keeper was suddenly
summoned from his well-earned leisure. Who
was it ? One bearing news. A swarm of bees
was hanging on the roadside wellnigh a mile
and a half off! A fine, big, first swarm !
Whose were they ? Who bad a right to
them ? The first on the spot. No one claimed
them. No one had followed them. So a
council of war is held, and three comrades in
beercraft set off — one with a skep, another
to be initiated into the gentle art of bee-
stealing, and the bee-keeper following on his
" bike.'' Arrived at the spot, there are the
bees hanging in a great pear-shaped cluster
against the blue sky. The branch of the tree
from which tney hang is within reach of an
outstretched arm. It is an e isy and a speedy
capture, the bees being shaken into the skep,
then turned up and secured in a white sheet
tied with string. Then home ! Thus are we
kept in excitement at Fairshiels in the long,
hot midsummer days when the bees begin to
swarm, and in the long, still midsummer
nights a sound of buzzings innumerable runs
through the dreamland of our sleep, and we
rest on pillows sweet with the scent of honey
and of heather.'' — Condensed from The People's
Friend.

HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of
August, 1902, was £3,179. — From a return
furnished to the British Bee Journal by the
Statistical Office, H.M. Customs.

380

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 18, 1902.

%tt j&htfttfs to (Emttf.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace.— Kent and Sussex B.K.A. Annual Exhibition
of Bees, Honey, and Appliances.

September 18, 19, and 20, at Crystal
Palace.— Surrey B.K.A. Annual Exhibition of Bees,
Honey, Wax, and Appliances, &c.

September 20 to 27, at the Agricultural
Hall, London.— Honey Show in connection with the
seventh Annual Exhibition and Market of the Grocery
and Kindred Trades.

October 4, at Newcastle-on-Tyne.— Annual
show of the Northumberland and Durham B.K.A. in
the Y.M.C.A. Institute. (The above Show has
been cancelled.)

October 7 to 10, 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.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All queriesforvardod will bt attended to, and thoat only
of pertonalintsrett trill bt antwtrtd in thit column .

F. H. P. (Great Crosby).— Do Bees Gather
Pollen Promiscuously ? — The bee when
pollen-gathering acts much as it does when
visiting flowers for honey, i.e , it keeps to
one variety of flower.

C. H. B. (Newmarket).— Wax Moth.— I. Yes,
as you suppose the sample of larvae is the
true wax-moth (Galleria cereana). 2. Sample
of candy is fairly good and soft, but the grain
might be more smooth like the fondant sugar
in chocolate creams.

P. C. (Grantown-on-Spey). — Forming Bee-
keepers' Associations. — Bee-keepers' Associa-
tions in any part of the United Kingdom
may become affiliated to the parent body
in London if it is so desired. For informa-
tion on the point write the Secretary,
B.B.K.A., Mr. E. H. Young, 12, Hanover-
square, London, W.

L. S. C. (Ilkley). — Compulsory Powers for
Dealing with Foul Brood.— With regard to
your question " What efforts have been
made in the past for obtaining legislation on
the subject of foul brood" we may say a
very considerable amount of effort was
expended and heavy expenses incurred by
the B. B.K.A. some few years ago in the
direction mentioned. By writing to the
Secretary of the Association you could
obtain printed evidence of this. Among
other things a Bill was drafted having for
its object the obtaining of compulsory
powers for the better prevention of foul
brood, the full text of which appeared in
our issue of May 21, 1896.

G. W. (Waltham Abbey).— Wild Bees'
Nomenclature. — In " making a collection of
wild bees,'' as proposed, you will find
valuable information in the series of articles
on the subject by Mr. F. W. L. Sladen,
which appeared in our pages some time ago,
and which may be had from this office at
Id. per copy.

W. K. (Aberdeenshire). — Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation.— We are not aware of any B.K.A.
for Aberdeenshire ; perhaps some Scotch
reader will say if such an association exists.

R. Hunter (Clonmel). — Bees and Wasps. —

1$, The only protection you can give the bees
attacked is to reduce the entrance to |- in.
in width, and set traps of sweetened water
in bottles to catch the marauding wasps.

E. Orchard (Wilts). — Insurance for Bee-
keepers.— Your last letter was wrongly
addressed to this office instead of " Secre-
tary, B. B.K.A., 12, Hanover - square,
London.'' How was the earlier one (en-
closing P.O.) addressed ? If you will
enlighten us on this point we will reply by
post. The B.B.J, has, of course, no official
connection with the Insurance Scheme of
the B.B.K.A.

D. Vallance (Dunaskin). — Drones and
Queen-mating. — The drone sent simply
shows the usual or normal signs of having
mated with a queen.

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 squan
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 t o
" wire" replies as to F.B. if six stamps are sent to cover
cost of telegram. All letters to be addressed " Editor,"
not " Manager."

R. T. (Oowbridge). — We find no disease in
comb, but as the queen is evidently a drone
breeder, the bees will now be worthless.

E. S. (Saltash). — The comb contains no
disease, and being quite new with its first
batch of brood in cells, the stock in frame-
hive will be quite safe.

J. G. (Sissinghurst) and J. A. (Sheffield).—
Comb is affectedwith foul brood.

J. 0. C. (Cornwall) and A. B. C. (Cornwall).
— We find no trace of foul brood in sample,
but as the comb looks suspicious melt it
down for wax.

Honey Samples.

A. G. H. (Aberdeen). — Sample of honey is
quite ripe, and we see no reason why it
should not keep well if properly cared for
in a warm, dry place.

A. B. (Scotland).— The flavour of both honeys
sent is a little peculiar, but we do not trace
sugar in either samples.

J. M. B. (Atherstone). — No. 1 is a good, well-
flavoured honey. Not at all " too thin " to
keep well if properly cared for. No. 2 is
only fair in quality, but of good consistency,
and will keep well. It is not nearly so
good as No. 1.

Cymraes (Anglesea). — The sample is an ex-
cellent honey, good in all respects, and we
can understand its getting first prize.

*** Some interesting letters and queries
received late are in type, but unavoidably
held over till next week.

Sept. 25, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

381

(Editorial, $atim> te.

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

BEE-KEEPERS' CONFERENCE ON OCTOBER 9

The monthly meeting of the Council was
held at 105, Jermyn-street, on Thursday, 18th
iast, Mr. T. I. Weston occupying the chair.
There were also present Dr. Elliot, Messrs.
R. T. Andrews, W. Broughton Carr, W. H.
Harris, W. F. Reid, and the Secretary.
Apologies for absence were received from the
Hon. and Rev. H. Bligh, Colonel Walker, Mr.
H. G. Morris, and Mr. E. D. Till.

The minutes of the previous meeting were
read and confirmed. The following new
members were elected, viz. : — Mr. L. S.
Crawshaw, Burnside, Ilkley ; Mr. C E.
Freeman, Chiltern Hills Apiary, Wendover,
Bucks; Mr. F. A. Kent, 21, High East-street,
Dorchester ; Mr. David Morgan, Aberpedwar
Farm, Llandovery ; Mr. Walter Oddy, Alpha
Cottage, Fordington, Dorchester ; Mr. Basil
H. Wilkinson, 35, Old Jewry, E.C.

The report of the Finance Committee, pre-
sented by Mr. Weston, gave particulars of
the receipts and expenditure to date. A list
of cheques required was brought forward, and,
together with the report, duly approved. An
application from the Cheshire Association for
services of an examiner on September 27 was
received and agreed to.

Reports on examinations recently held at
Boston, Budleigh Salterton, Chester, Clutton,
Derby, Dudley, Melton Constable, Moor-
green, Preston, Reading, Swanley, and
Uttoxeter were presented, and it was
resolved to award certificates to the following
candidates, viz.: — Mrs. Syke3 ; Misses M.
Ardington, Badcock, E. Bourne, M. A.
Bowen, W. E. Brenchley, F. E. Bury, E. W.
Butler, W. M. Buttenshaw, C. M. Douglas,
M. Draper, M. Emlyn, M. English, S.
Fenoulhet, S. Grundy, Hibbert, H. Hughes-
Jones, Lilly Hughes-Jones, Jackson, Johns,
L. Livesay, Millard, G. Mordaunt, M.
Murrell, Parry, A. M. Perry, F. T. P. Poyer,
0. M. Robert, M. Dagmar Sillar, J. Smith,
R. H. Swaine, M. W. F. Unwin, V. S.
Whetsham, M. M. Whiting, H. Wimpress,
and W. H. Young; Messrs. L. Brigge -Wither,
J. W. Brewer, G. Carnell, Henry Crook, L. S.
Crawshaw, Wm. Dirham, K. D. Flower,
Robt. Furse, A. C. Greenfield, A. P. HotteD,
Sam). King, E. J. Le Francois, John Little-
proud, Saml. Livsey, Horace Mackender,
Arthur Newstead, Rowland Parker, jun.,
E. H. Powell, Joseph Price, W. U. Simons,
Thomas Stevens, L. McNeil Stewart, Geo.
Taj lor, Joseph Tinsley, Jno. Waller, and
J. E. B. Whitelaw.

An examination of candidates for 2nd-class
certificates will be held on Nov. 14 and 15.

The Secretary brought forward a statement
showing the number of stocks registered under
the Association's insurance scheme, together
with the premiums paid thereon.

Correspondence on various matters was
read and dealt with by the Council.

In accordance with a decision arrived at
some time ago arrangements were made for a
conference of representatives of county associa-
tions to be held on Thursday, October 9,
for the purpose of furthering the interests,
economical working and general welfare of
the various societies, and conducing to the
establishment of more intimate relations
between the B.B.K.A. and its affiliated
Associations. The Secretary was instructed
to issue invitations to the meeting.

The conference will be followed by a con-
versazione, at which the topics for discussion
will be "Brace-combs," "Dividers," " Quilts,"
and " Smokers."

The next meeting of the Council will be
held on Thursday, October 23.

THE GROCERS' EXHIBITION.

HONEY SHOW AT THE AGRICULTURAL HALL.

After a busy week occupied in transforming
the numerous handsome stands of the Con-
fectioners and Bakers' into equally attractive
ones of another kind, the seventh Annual
Exhibition of the Grocery and Allied Trades
opened on September 20 and continues till
Saturday next, the 27th. As wa3 the case
last year, the honey section wa3 transferred
from the ground floor to the gallery, where, if
les3 prominently before the bulk of visitors, it
afforded bee-keepers a better chance of in-
specting their own portion of the show in
comfort and without crowding.

In common with the reports of every honey
display this year, there must be the usual pre-
face of a bad honey season to account for
lessened entries, and the " Grocers' " was on
exception, but to the general rule it was very
satisfactory indeed to see not only a good
display, but some of the best stuff the country
has seen thi3 year. We need not occupy space
with the respective classes ; they were much
in line with the show at the same hall a week
ago. Only four' Trophies of Honey were
staged, and as they were all good ones, it was
gratifying to the judges— and, no doubt, satis-
factory to the exhibitors — to be able to award
a substantial money priz?, &c, to each ; for it
is no light matter to set up a handsome trophy
and have to take it down and home again
with only labour and outlay for one's pains.

We were also pleased to see the " selling
classes " rather better represented than at the
Confectioners', though, for the reasons stated
above, they fell short of our expectations.

Messrs. W. Broughton Carr and T. I.
Weston officiated as judges, and made the
following awards : —

Display of Honey (comb and extracted) and
Honey Products, shown in suitably attractive
form for a tradesman's window (4 entries). —
1st— £4 and B.B K.A. Silver Medal, F. W.
Woodley, Camp Stores, Compton, Newbury,
Berks ; 2nd— £3 and B.B.K A. Bronze Medal

382

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 25, 1902.

L. McNeil Stewart, Claremont-terrace, Hex-
table ; 3rd— £2, C. W. Dyer, Compton
Crossing, Newbury, Berks ; 4th — £l, C. H.
Poulton, Aspenden, Buntingford, Herts.

Twelve l-lb. Sections (17 entries). — 1st —
£2, F. W. Woodley ; 2nd— £1 10s., C. C.
Hill, Willoughton, Cliff, Lincoln ; 3rd— .£1,
S. Bailey, Horsham, Sussex ; 4th — 10s., A.
Hunt, Newark ; 5th — 5s., F. A. Kent, Dor-
chester ; v.h.c, F. Burrell, Great Barton, Bury
St. Edmunds ; v.h.c, W. Blakerman, Oving-
ton, Alresford, Hants ; v.h.c, H. Cleaver,
Leamington Spa.

Twelve l-lb. Heather Sections (12 entries).
— 1st — £1 5s., James Kerr, Milldam Head,
Dumfries ; 2nd — £1, W. Thompson, Wooler,
Northumberland ; 3rd — 15s., G. Walton,
Windermere ; 4th — 10s., J. M. Balmbra,
Alnwick.

Three Shallow Frames Comb Honey
(7 entries). — 1st — £1 5s., L. McNeil Stewart ;
2nd— £1, J. Merrells, Thetford, Norfolk; 3rd
— 15s., F. A. Kent, Dorchester ; 4th — 10s.,
E. C. R. White, Newton Tony, Salisbury.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (light)
(29 entries).— 1st— £2, L. McNeil Stewart;
2nd— £\ 10s., F. W. Woodley; 3rd— £1,
James Kerr ; 4th— 10s., C. W. Dyer ; 5th—
5s., W. H. Woods, Hemingford Grey, St. Ives,
Hunts ; v.h.c, S. Temblett, Andover, Hants.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey
(medium colour) (18 entries). — 1st — £1 5s.,
Mrs. Kirby, St. George's, Bristol ; 2nd —
£1, E. R. Nash, Smarden, Kent ; 3rd
— 15s., F. J. Old, Piddington, Northampton ;
4th — 10s., W. Blakeman, Ovington, Alresford,
Hants.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (dark)
(11 entries). — 1st — .£1, Jas. Kerr; 2nd —
15s., J. Adams, West Haddon, Rugby ; 3rd
— -10s., Jas. Lee & Son, Silver-street, Holborn,
W.C., and Monk's Acre, Andover.

Twelve Jars Heather Honey (12 entries).
— 1st — £1 5s., Jas. Lee & Son ; 2nd — £1,
J. Waddell, Wooler, Northumberland ; 3rd
— 15s., T. Hood, Pickering, Yorks ; 4th — 10s.,
W. Sproston, Great Haywood, Staffs.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Granulated Honey (7
entries). — 1st — £1 5s., Jas. Lee & Son ; 2nd —
£1, F. W. Woodley; 3rd— 15s., R. Allen,
Tusmore, Bicester ; 4th — 10s., Rev. H. Goffe,
Thoresway Rectory, Caistor, Lines ; h.c, J.
Adams, West Haddon, Rugby.

Beeswax in Cakes, Quality of Wax, Form,
of Cakes and Package, suitable for retail
counter trade (7 entries). — 1st — £1, A. Hunt,
Newark ; 2nd— 15s., F. W. Woodley ; 3rd—
10s., L. McNeil Stewart; 4th— 5s., W.
Blakeman.

Beeswax, judged for quality of wax only
(8 entries).— 1st— £1, E. C. R. White;
2nd — 15s., J. Gedge, Penryn, Cornwall ;
3rd— 10s., F. W. Woodley; 4th— 5s., L.
McNeil Stewart.

HONEY SELLING CLASSES.

Extracted Honey in Bulk — by Sample with
price (8 entries). — Certificates of merit awarded

to : — W. H. Woods, Hemingford Grey, St.
Ives, Hunts ; A. Curmow, Marzione, Cornwall ;
H. Swift, Churchdown, Cheltenham ; H. Pears,
Mere, Lincoln ; and Rev. C. S. Nevill,
Wickenby Rectory, Lincoln.

Extracted Honey in l-lb. Jars — by Sample
with price — (6 entries). — Certificates of merit
awarded to : — R. W. S. Merrett, Churchdown,
Cheltenham, and H. M. Turner, 4, Turl-street,
Oxford.

Sections by Sample, with price per doz. —
Certificate of merit to J. C. Roberts, Holland-
road, Maidstone, Kent.

CHESHIRE B.K.A.

HONEY SHOW AT BRAMHALL.

The annual show of the Bramhall and
Woodford District Horticultural Society was
held on September 6 in the grounds of
Bramall Hall by permission of Chas. H.
Nevill, Esq., J.P. The honey section was
very successful, though the entries were not
quite so numerous as last year, and in the
local classes the honey was darker in colour.
There was a lecture and demonstration in the
bee-tent under the auspices of the Cheshire
County Council which attracted a large and
attentive audience, Mr. F. H. Taylor,
Fallowfield, Manchester, being the lecturer.
Mr. Taylor also judged the honey, &c, and
made the following awards : —

OPEN CLASSES.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Pearman,
Derby ; 2nd, Rev. E. Charley, Ince, Chester ;
3rd, A. Thorpe Wistaston, Crewe.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, J.
Pearman ; 2nd, S. Temblett, Andover ; 3rd,
W. H. Higley, Kidderminster ; v.h.c, Rev. E.
Charley; C. S. Wright, Wilmslow, and T.
Sleight, Pilsley, Chesterfield.

Beeswax. — 1st, J. Pearman ; 2nd, S. Wright;
3rd, W. P. Young, Patricroft.

LOCAL CLASSES.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — No entries.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honeu. — 1st,
Mrs. Bull, Bramhall; 2ud, Jas. T. Fernley
Cheadle, Hulme ; 3rd, Geo. Johnson,
Bramhall.

Beeswax. — 1st, J. Turner, Bramhall. — (Com-
municated.)

DERBYSHIRE B.K.A.

ANNUAL SHOW.

The annual show of the Derbyshire Bee-
keepers' Association was held on the show
ground at Derby in conjunction with that of the
Agricultural Society on September 10 and 11.
Notwithstanding the fact that the past season
has been a poor one for bee-keepers in the
county, some honey of excellent quality was
staged. The Challenge Cup offered by J. L. P.
Barber, Esq., J.P., President of the D.B.K.A.,

Sept. 25, 1 902.^ THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

383

for the best trophy of honey was won for the
third time in succession by J. Stone, Cubley.

Mr. C. N. White, St. Neots, Hunts, officiated
as judge of the honey section and made the
following awards : —

Observatory Hive, with Bees and Queen. —
1st, A. H. Dawson, Tatenhill ; 2nd, J.
Pearman, Derby ; 3rd, C. Spencer, Beighton.

Observatory Hive (one or more frames), with
Queen and Bees. — 1st, H. Hill, Ockbrook ;
2nd, J. Pearman ; 3rd, S. Durose, Burton-on-
Trent.

Trophy of Honey (Challenge Gup and
Special Prize).— 1st, J. Stone, Cubley; 2nd,
T. Austin, Ockbrook ; 3rd, H. Hill.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Stone ; 2nd,
J. Pearman ; 3rd, S. Durose.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (light).
— 1st, S. Durose ; 2nd, A. H. Dawson ; 3rd,
J. K. Bridges, Hardstaff.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (dark). —
1st, S. Durose ; 2nd, A. H. Dawson.

Beeswax. — 1st, J. Pearman ; 2nd, H. Hill ;
3rd, J. Stone.

Honey Trophy (cottagers only). — 1st, J.
Pearman ; 2nd, A. H. Roland, Burton.

Bight l-lb. Sections and Twelve l-lb. Jars
Extracted Honey. — 1st, F. M. James, Ash-
bourne.

OPEN CLASSES.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Stone ; 2nd,
S. Durose ; 3rd, G. Hill, Cambridge.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
A. H. Dawson ; 2nd, J. Smart, Audover ;
3rd, R. Brown, Somersham, Hunts.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Granulated Honey. — 1st,
J. Rerry, Llanrwst ; 2nd, A. H. Dawson ; 3rd,
S. Durose.

Single l-lb. Section. — 1st, G. Hill ; 2nd, J.
Stone ; 3rd, R. Brown.

Single l-lb. Jar Extracted Honey. — 1st,
A. H. Dawson ; 2nd, R. Brown ; 3rd, J. R.
Bridges. — (Communicated.)

LEICESTERSHIRE B.K.A.

This association held an exhibition of honey,
&c, in connection with the Loughborough
Agricultural Society's Show in Southfields
Park, Loughborough, on September 17. The
entries were rather less than those of the
previous year, but the quality of the exhibits
was all that could be desired. Mr. W. P.
Meadows, Syston, kindly officiated as judge,
and made the following awards : —

OPEN CLASSES.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
J. G. Payne, Lutterworth ; 2nd, J. Waterfield,
Kibworth ; 3rd, S. Sprag, Melton Mowbray.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Waterfield ;
2nd, H. Bott, Market Harborough.

Single l-lb. Jar Extracted Honey. — 1st,
J. G. Payne.

LOUGHBOROUGH DISTRICT ONLY.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (light). — ■
1st, A. Brown ; 2nd, S. G. Godkin.

Six 1-Z6. Jars Extracted Honey (dark). —
1st, G. J. Levers ; 2nd, Mrs. Spence.

Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. J. Jones ; 2nd,
G. J. Levers. — John Waterfield, Hon Secre-
tary L.B.K.A.

(fi/ttmzpvi&mit

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
opiniont 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 goodfatth. 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, bhows, Meetings, Hchoes, 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 at well
as the page on which it appear*.

SOME MORE "FACTS" ABOUT
QUEENS,

AND SOME " FANCIES " CONNECTED THERE-
WITH.

[4894 ] This is an age of progress. _ The
facts of yesterday become the fancies of
to-day ; and the knowledge of to-day stands
a good chance of being of purely archaeological
interest a week hence. 'Tis true that " lacts
are stubborn things," also that a " fact " has
been designated " a lie and a half '' ; and
whilst it is possible that some (Editors in-
cluded) may scoff at the idea of a queen being
reared and laying in ten days, it is even more
possible that I may be dubbed a full-blown
member of the Ananias fraternity when I pro-
ceed to still further shorten the necessary
period to three days only !

It happened thusly : On Monday morning,
August 4, the queen and the whole of the
unsealed brood was removed from a hive,
numbered 13 in my apiary, in preparation for
queen-iaising, and during the afternoon of
the same day a prepared cell-raising frame,
fitted with cell-cups containing just hatched
larvae, was given to the (otherwise) hope-
lessly queenless colony. On Tuesday
morning, about half past nine, a small
swarm was seen on the wing. The bees
composing it swung round in the air for some
quarter of an hour, and eventually settled
upon the front of No. 32 nucleus, and com-
menced to draw in. Opening this hive the
colony (on six combs, my divisible half
standard) was found crowded for room, a con-
dition which was remedied by giving them an
extra (dry) comb. On Friday morning this
nucleus colony, still showing signs of restless-
ness, was again examined, and a farther (dry)

384

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Sept. 25, 1902.

comb given, the one given on Tuesday being
found full of eggs and just-hatched larvse.
On Sunday morning, August 10 (I had only
reached home just before midnight on Satur-
day) a peep was taken at No. 13 to see how
the queen- cells were getting on. Consterna-
tion ! Every cell had been destroyed. The
reason was quickly obvious, for the combs on
either side of the queen-raisiDg frame were
found filled with eggs and just-hatched larvse,
and on one of the combs a fine young queen
was found. Opening nucleus No. 32, the bees
of which still showed signs of restlessness,
the comb given on the previous Friday was
found filled with eggs, but no queen could be
discovered. Whilst the examination was pro-
ceeding the colony again took wing, and, later,
returned ; but whether or not any further
" swarming " took place it is impossible to
say, as with the exception of Monday (Bank
Holiday) and from 10.30 p.m. Thursday to
9.30 a.m. on Friday, I was away from home
all the week.

To cut a long story short, it may be stated
that during the next few days No. 32 started
queen-cells, and that no queen was missing
from any other hive ; and thus we are brought
face to face with the seemingly almost
incredible fact that the queen of No. 32 was
in her own colony and depositing eggs there
(vide the comb given) on Tuesday ; on
Wednesday (vide the hatching larvse) she must
have been in No. 13 ; on Friday or Saturday
(vide the eggs in the second comb given) she
must have been back in her old quarters ; and
by Sunday morning she had migrated again to
No. 13 where she was discovered.

The foregoing are the " facts.'' Now for the
" fancies." My theory is that the bees of No.
13, realising their desperate condition— a
necessary condition, according to the method
I employ, precedent to getting cells started
over selected larva? —sent a deputation to the
queen of No. 32, who accepted their overtures.
Her departure probably occasioned the swarm-
ing noticed on the Tuesday, though the fact
remains that she must have been in her right-
ful home almost immediately after the
swarming took place, otherwise it would not
have been possible for larvse to be hatching
seventy-two hours later, unless the time in the
egg stage can be modified by the bees to the
extent of acceleration as well as retardation —
the latter being well known and recognised.

Applying the foregoing facts to those related
by J. M., Pontypridd, on page 345, it is not
difficult to assume that his bees have become
possessed of a queen in much the same manner
as did my No. 13 colony. That the queen his
colony now has was raised after the division of
his original colony is beyond the bounds of
possibility.

Now for some more facts which tend to
upset established theories. At Taplow, Bucks,
a heavy swarm came off in June. It settled
somewhat awkwardly, and the owner (a lady)
was prevented from properly hiving it by a

heavy storm, which suddenly came on after
the major portion of the bees had been shaken
into a skep. The balance of the bee3, still
remaining in the hedge, was offered to and
taken away next day by the under gardener,
and both lots seemed to be doing well. When
I examined the lady's portion in July, I found
the bees had built nothing but drone-comb, in
which they had stored a considerable quantity
of honey, but there was neither queen nor brood
of any sort present. What made the half-
swarm remain without a queen ?

Early in June I sent a queen to a customer
in Lancashire, who had found a populous hive
queenless, cautioning him to be very careful
that a virgin queeu was not left in the hive.
I met him at the Preston show last week, and
felt some astonishment when he informed me
that the new queen had been safely introduced,
but that on the morning following her release
he had found a dead virgin on the alighting-
board. Did the bee3 realise that the stranger
was better than the queen of their own
raising '!— H. Edwards (Expert, 2ad Class),
Shrubs Hill Cottage, Sunningdale, Sept. 12.

HIVING DRIVEN BEES.

MY FIRST EXPERIENCE.

[4895.] A friend and myself, having lately
caught the ' ; bee-fever," decided to take up the
hobby, and under the advice of a successful
and friendly bee-keeper we became Bee
Journal readers, and bought a hive each,
which we set up in some allotment gardens.
We began by ordering two 4 lb. lots of driven
bees, and our friend promised to show us how
to transfer the bees to the new hives. Unfortu-
nately, the bees arrived later than expected,
and, in consequence, our friend was not avail-
able, and had to send us instructions instead,
the said instructions being : first, to operate
on the evening of the day on which the
bees arrived. We were then to unfasten
the lid, hold the box over the hive, give a
smart rap or two on the box and the bees would
fall on the frame-tops, them cover them lightly
with the quilt, replace the roof, and leave the
bees to pass down into the brood-chamber,
when we could put on the rapid feeders. All
was quite simple, and little risk of being
stung.

Before commencing operations I began by
tucking my trousers into my socks, and got
my gloves on. My companion had left his
gloves at home, but, nothing daunted, he
began to " rap " the bees, while I stood ready
to pop on the quilt. But the bees did not
seem inclined to leave the box, and the more
my friend rapped the tighter they clung to
the inside thereof. Not to be beaten I began
to stroke the bees into the hive with my
gloved hands, when they immediately began
to crawl up my sleeves, stinging my arms as
they marched. We managed, however, to

Sept. 25, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

385

stroke all out but a few, and then the fun
began. The bees took wing, and surrounded
us on mischief bent ; they got up my friend's
trouser legs and up his sleeves ; some were
crawling all over my chest and back (inside
my shirt) and stinging vigorously, in fact we
were in " a warm corner," and decided to beat
a retreat. We put on the roof and retired to
a safe distance in order to rid ourselves of the
bees, and in doing this noticed that those
which settled on our faces, necks, and hands
did not sting us at all, it was only when they
were pressed inside our clothes ; so casting
aside all orthodox methods, my friend bared
his chest and arms, and returning to the hive
he eventually got the bees into ihe body-box
and placed on the quilt, when they settled
down. I emptied the box into the second
hive, and we had no difficulty with them at
all ; the bees left the box and settled into the
brood frames in the course of a few minutes.
We had no bee-smoker, but used our pipe3
during the operations. Neither of us were
stung on the face ; my friend escaped with
only two or three stings, and though I was
stung a good deal on the arms and body, the
stings did not affect us to any extent, as the
pain subsided in a little while. Taking into
consideration that this was our first experience,
we were satisfied, and hope to get safely
thiough the winter, and have a successful
season next year. — J. E. W., Leicester ,
September 17.

OUR " SCIENCE " CORNER.

[4896.] It gave me very great pleasure to
see the paper, written by my friend, Mr.
William Heining (4866, page 333), suggesting
a science corner (where object-lessons in
botany, entomology, and taxidermy are periodi-
cally given), favourably commented upon by
Mr. "D. M. M.," and doubly glad was I to see
that he associates the name of Mr. F. W. L.
S laden with the entomology department, as I
feel sure that his articles would be a most
valuable acquisition to our journal, and I
tbink, perhaps, as is done in many other scien-
tific papers, the Editors might, through the
paper, request the names of gentlemen who
would assist in this direction, when we have
reason to expect that some very interesting
contributions would be constantly published
and raise the scientific aspect of our paper.
But before this can take place I, for one, should
like to see some encouragement from would-be
natural historians, as the amount of work
entailed in accurately writing a short article is
more than is generally imagined, and the
writer most assuredly secures consolation in
knowing that the fruits of his labours are
being appreciated.

Also I think it would encourage the Editors
in sanctioning this departure, did they receive
communications from any one so interested.

Finally, I have much pleasure in volunteer-
ing my small assistance, and hope, with our

friend, Mr. "D. M. M.," Banff, that the
" Science Corner, Illustrated,'' will be shortly
made manifest, and that it will meet the sup-
port of all enthusiastic bee-keepers. — Herbert
Shorthouse, M.P.S., F.C.S., &o., Sept. 18.

MY BEE EXPERIENCES.

[4897.] In April, 1901, a kindly disposed
brother-in-law presented me with a stock of
bees along with various appliances and para-
phernalia connected with bee-keeping.

The hive was brought to my garden in spite
of my protestations that I know nothing of
bee management, and when I tell you that
they were a particularly "vicious lot ' you
will understand my regarding them with no
friendly feelings. It may be asked, " Do I
still so regard them 1 " I answer, " Not by
any means." Although owing to ignorance and
inattention I lost two fine swarms a month
after my start, yet I got that year 56 lb. of
honey from supers.

Having safely wintered the colony I fancied
myself well on the way to become a bee-
keeper, but I got over confident and tried my
hand at artificial swarming and failed, not that
my plan was faulty in inception, but the
" idea " was not sufficiently permeated with
either science or experience.

The fresh colony I made got on all right for
a while ; then the bees' energies seemed to
flag, and in the end they became queenle3S
and succumbed to robbers.

The parent hive also did badly, and failed
to store any surplus honey. However, they
raised a new queen all right.

I have during this summer attended a forty-
five minutes' lecture and demonstration by an
expert at an agricultural show, and this proved
of greater service than all my reading of bee-
literature, much of which is merely " Greek "
to the uninitiated, but which is made clear
enough by a good bee-demonstrator.

A day or two after the lecture referred to,
I accepted the offer of a colony of bees for the
trouble of " driving." I chose the evening of
a fine day, and found the stock in a cheese-
box, and the difficulty in fixing the skep on
the wooden cheesebox was successfully over-
come, and the driving process satisfactorily
got through, though it took some time, and
the queen managed to elude all observation in
the process. The cheesebox contained 40 lb.
of honey.

Next morning the bee3 were safely trans-
ferred to the hive mentioned after it had
been thoroughly disinfected. This happened
a fortnight ago, and, being anxious about the
queen, I carefully examined the frames to-day,
but failed to find her ; nor was there any
sign of brood, so I regretfully concluded that
the bees were queenless.

An hour later, on approaching the hive to
give some syrup, I was attracted by a loud
humming, which could be heard yards away.

386

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Sept. 25, 1902.

Wondering what it meant, I was about to
uncover the hive when I noticed in the grass
a small cluster of bees, about a dozen or so,
and in their midst the queen ! I lost no
time in tenderly picking up and returning
her to her subjects by putting her in the hive
at the top, when the " tune " was changed
instantly, I hope for one of welcome home on
her return.

I have already spun this yarn beyond my
first intention. I therefore conclude by saying,
eighteen months ago the hobby was thrust
upon my unwilling acceptance, now I love
every bee I ome across. — J. L., Penrhnvceiber,
September 17.

P.S. — Can you tell me what will happen in
the driven colony referred to above, which is
a strong one but absolutely without a single
drone, as far as I can see ? Will the queen
produce eggs without drones ? And will it be
safe to transfer drones from another hive ?
—J. L.

[We had best advise you to invest in a copy
of a " Guide Book," as being indispensable to
any beginner in bee-keeping. You will then
learn, along with other information, how
queen-mating takes place, and how unneces-
sary drones are to a queen once mated. — Eds.]

BEE NOTES FKOM DERBYSHIRE.

QUEEN INTRODUCTION.

[4898.] I had an experience somewhat
similar to that of "J. M." (4876, August 28)
in the same week. I removed a frame of bees,
with old queen, from a hive for show pur-
poses, and two days later, in place of the one
taken away, substituted another frame with
bees and a young queen. I examined the hive
a week later, and found on one frame a queen-
cell. I may say the bees introduced along
with the young queen had all been killed off,
as they lay dead outside the hive next morning.
I thought they had killed the queen too, and
were rearing another, but, having spare queens
on hand, I pulled the capping of the queen-
cell off, and the queen was hatching all right.
I was about to shut the hive down and give
the bees another queen, but looked the frames
over to make sure no other queens were
hatching, and found the queen, and she had
already laid about a dozen eggs.

The end of the bee season for 1902 has
been like feeding up driven bees this year,
for every hive was food less when supers were
removed. I only got 70 lb. of honey from my
five hives (spring count), but it is very thick.
— Tom Sleight, Pilsby, Chesterfield.

APPLIANCE MAKERS AND FOUL
BROOD.

[4899.] Yesterday I went to an appliance
maker, who shall be nameless, to purchase a
feeder. On putting a question, I was told in
reply that a frame on a shelf " contained foul

brood which had been sent for examination."
This frame was not covered in any way, and
was almost touching some unwrapped comb-
foundation. On my mentioning the risk of
infection, the assistant who served me said it
could only be carried by the bees themselves ;
and, taking the comb down, he probed the
cells with his pencil (which he uses for mark-
ing wood for hive making), and brought out
the well-known sticky substance, afterwards
wiping the pencil on his apron. Though he
said there was no risk, I should think disease
could be quickly spread this way. Indeed,
there ought not to be two opinions about it, I
think, and I will be glad to have yours. I
send name and address (not for publication),
and sign myself —Carbolic, September 20.

[We quite agree there should not be two
opinions on the culpable carelessness dis-
played.— Eds.]

GLEANINGS FROM FOREIGN BEE
JOURNALS.

BT R. HAMLYN-HARRIS, F.R.M.S., F.Z.S.,
F.ES., ETC.

Bulletin de la Societe d' 'Apiculture de
Tanisie. — The natives of the mountains in the
interior of Tunis keep bees underground. A
walk of two or three miles through a mag-
nificent cactus forest led to arid mountains,
where the only trees are a few scattered thuyas
{Arbor vita), but where rosemary flourished
in quantities. After crossing several ravines,
some miserable tents came in view, where live
the caretakers of the bees, needful in a country
where manv of the natives only live by
thieving. The hives are placed on the highest
parts of the sides of a small ravine, with no
attempt at orientation. About fifty rectan-
gular holes are dug in the soil, generally 70 to
80 centimetres long, 40 wide, and 30 to 40
deep, walls and floors being made quite
smooth. These holes are covered with pieces
of the thuya trees, closely joined, and then
with about 2 in. to '3 in. of earth, which is
made exactly even with the surrounding soil.
The hive entrance is at the top, which, how-
ever, does not seem to annoy the bees. On
placing a swarm in a hive, a few pieces of
bark are fastened inside to compel the bees to
build separate combs, and to facilitate the
honey harvest. On our expressing a wish to
see the working of the hives, the earth was
scratched away by one of the boys in charge,
who first lighted some dried wood and grass
by way of a smoker, then removed some of
the pieces of wood at the top of the hive, and
showed the bees working on the first comb,
well built, and with cells, some open, some
covered in, all full of honey.

The native boy seemed quite proof against
stings; but he understood his bees, and
managed them with tact, so that they remained
perfectly quiet and good tempered. In all the

Sept. 25, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

387

mountainous region of Haniama there are
many such apiaries ; they appear to answer
perfectly, for they are well protected from the
heat, and the nature of the soil (tufa) protects
them from moisture. It was impossible to get
any idea of the yield of such an apiary, as the
natives imagine that some unknown impost is
threatening them, and will give no informa-
tion.

L'Apicu/teur. — A bee-keeper on the Rhone
says his bees have worked profitably in hives
made from hollow trees, and many have yielded
as much as 60 lb. of honey per hive, and that
without comb foundation or any such assist-
ance.

The Same. — Watching a comb where young
bees were hatching, I observed one moving its
head near a gallery of a wax moth. "When
she was fully hatched, I saw, to my astonish-
ment, that her wings were partially atrophied.
This gave rise to the impression that the wax
moth is the cause of this injury.

^vqxip ami ltypli$s.

[2971.] Utilising Driven Bees and Queens. —

1. I am a subscriber to the Bee Journal, but
only a beginner in bee-keeping, and as I want
to unite several lots of driven bees to my
stocks in order to strengthen them I seek
advice as to the best way of uniting. 2. I
would also ask : Is there any way of preserving
the queens from the driven bees in case I
should lose any of the queens from my stocks
this winter 1 I shall have ten spare queens to
spare when all my stocks are made right. —
B. C. Freasley, Atherstone, September 16.

Reply. — 1. The safest way of uniting
driven bees to stocks in frame-hives is to
shake the bees off a few of the combs on to a
large flight-board placed temporarily in front
of hive-entrance, and as they run in dust
them well with flour from a dredger. When
the bees from a couple of frames have been
thus dealt with, shake a third frame, and as
these are floured and running in throw a
driven lot of bees among them and let all run
in together, dusting them well as they do so.

2. The spare queens can only be preserved by
forming nuclei, and carefully preparing these
for winter. If you have a " Guide Book •'
details of this work will be found therein. If
not, get one if you wish to succeed in bee-
keeping.

[2972.] Driven Bees Deserting Hives. — On
September 5 I drove seven skeps of bees for a
friend, four of which lot I united and put in
a new frame-hive, and the other three lots in
another, both of which hives were new. On
the evening of next day my friend was much

surprised to find both hives deserted, the whole
of the bees having left their hives, joined
forces, and were clustering like an enormous
swarm on the branch of tree near by. He cut
the branch off and shook the whole of the bees
down in front of the hive, into which they ran
and now occupy. I advised him to put in all
the ten frames, the hive is made to hold in
brood-chamber, and, as it is a non-swarming
hive made for shallow-frames underneath the
body-box, he put these in also in order to hold
so big a lot of bees. Will you, therefore,
please say in Bee Journal if we have done
the proper thing under the circumstances ? If
not, will you kindly advise what to do ; are
they likely to winter all right after fed up ? 2.
What was the probable cause of bees leaving
hives and clustering together in one lot ? Is
not this a very exceptional ca3e ? — H. J. P.,
Colchester.

Reply. — 1. The course followed was the
simplest and easiest, though not many bee-
men would leave seven driven lots of bees to
form one stock if two colonies were desired.
There should be no difficulty in getting combs
built-out and the stock well provisioned for
winter if plenty of syrup is given rapidly. So
large a lot of driven bees should fill the hive
with combs in a very few days if given the
chance by rapid-feeding. The lower chamber
may be dispensed with when cold weather
comes. 2. There is no sure way of account-
ing for such bee-vagaries as are detailed
above.

[2973 ] Failure in Queen Introduction. —
I should be much obliged if, with your usual
courtesy, you would advise me on the fol-
lowing poinrs : — On the 4th inst. I examined
one of my stocks, headed by an old queen, and
found the bees only covered five frames and
possessed very little brood. I removed the
old queen, and next day introduced a young
queen in a " Meadows-Raynor " queen-cage,
with its lower half filled with sugar. On the
evening of the 7th I released the queen, and
five days later examined the combs, but failed
to find her, but saw four or five queen-cells.
This being my first attempt at queen intro-
duction, it has rather disheartened me. Will
you kindly answer the following questions ?
1. Is the fact of queen-cells being seen con-
clusive proof that there is no queen in the
hive ? It may be well to say that I rarely
find a queen when looking for one. 2. Is it
likely the young queen was starved to death
owing to the inappropriateness of the sugar as
food ? 3. Is the stock worth risking a new
queen on, considering its size and the time it
has been queenless 1 4. Previously to intro-
ducing the new queen I had clipped her
wings ; would the bees be likely to refuse her
in consequence ? — Buzz, CaerJeon, Septem-
ber 16.

Reply. — 1. As a general rule, no, seeing
that bees raise queen-cells with a queen at the
head of the colony under several and varying

388

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 25, 1902.

conditions, such as preparing to swarm, de-
posing old queens, &c. But when cells are
started after introducing an alien queen it is a
pretty safe sign that the stranger has not been
accepted, but killed. 2. Yes ; in fact, it is
fairly certain that the queen perished from
having unsuitable food. 3. We think not ; the
bees are old, few in number, and not worth
saving. 4. " Clipping " the queen alone would
not cause the bees to refuse her, though why
you cut her wings is not apparent.

[2974.] Bees Re-queening Themselves. — I
am in doubt as to the proper course to
take with one of my hives of bees. It
was originally a swarm (not over strong)
hived on nine frames on June 23 and placed
on stand of the parent stock. About second
week in August I noticed drones being turned
out of the hive and concluded all was right.
Early this month I examined the hive and
found a good supply of honey, but the bees
were weak in numbers and I could see no eggs
or unsealed brood, only a few cells of sealed
worker-brood. I noticed three or four empty
queen-cells, so concluded the bees had re-
queened themselves, but I did not discover
her majesty. Two days ago, however, I made
another examination, but could find no queen
nor any brood save one solitary sealed drone
larva, which, on uncapping, proved nearly
matured and healthy. I should feel certain
that the hive was queenless but for the fact
that my other two colonies have also ceased
breeding, which fact, I suppose, is due to the
very exceptional season experienced. I have
reduced the stock in question to six frames
and thought to unite the bees to another stock,
but decided not to do so without writing to
you, as it seems a bit risky in view of the fact
that a virgin queen may possibly be in the
hive. I should be very glad if you will advise
me what to do and also say whether, if the
bees raised a new queen, they would eject the
drones from the hive before she was success-
fully mated?— M. W. S., Upper Halliford,
September 20.

Eeply. — The proper way to make certain
with regard to queenlessness is to examine the
combs for eggs or brood, because if the bees
had re-queened themselves, and the young
queen was safely mated, eggs or brood would
assuredly be found. Judging from details
given, it is more than probable that the stock
is queenless.

[2975.] Uniting Suspected Bees — Autumn
Feeding. — I am sending a portion of comb
taken from a swarm in skep hived in June
last, the parent hive of which swarmed again
soon after. There are now not many bees
left, 80 I decided to drive them out, and in
doing this I saw no queen, while the enclosed
is the only piece of brood to be found. I
united the bees with the stock they had
originally swarmed from (after flouring both
lots well). 1. Have I done right, and if

there should be a queen, will she survive in
her new quarters? I have noticed no signs
of fighting yet among the bees, and as I am
not certain if the driven bees had a queen I
hope all will be right. 2. Would you also
tell me how much honey I must give to two
stocks in frame-hives, from which I have
removed skeps placed above frames in April 1
I had a good deal of trouble to get the bees
out ; in one the combs of ten frames are
drawn out, but apparently all the honey had
been stored in the skep3 in both cases. I
have placed feeding-bottles containing dark
honey on both hives, and as I have to leave
the neighbourhood very soon what instruc-
tions must I have as to the weight of honey
to be given and how late in the year ?
Feeding was commenced last night. 3.
Would you also say if honey that has been
mixed up with pollen and brood is quite
harmless as food after being strained through
muslin bags ? — B. Purvis, Chelmsford.

Eeply. — Yes, quite right. There was no
disease in comb sent, the dead brood being
chilled only, not foul. 2. If the stocks in
frame-hives are now foodless they will each
need 20 lb. to 25 lb. of syrup or honey to
carry them through the winter. Autumn
feeding should be started at once — indeed, it
is now late to begin — and the food given as
fast as the bees will carry it down from
" rapid-feeders." 3. Yes, quite harmless.

THE HARVEST OF THE HIVE.

By Sir Edwin Arnold.

Now that the last golden sheaf has left, or
is leaving, the stubble, there is another les
important, but golden, harvest to be reaped—
that, namely, of the bees. As September
wanes the bee-master prepares to gather from
his unpaid labourers in many a cottage garden
the results of their summer toil among the
blossoms. A report recently issued by the
Apiarian Society shows to what an extent
honey still figures among our country pro-
ducts. Time was when this yearly looting of
the little brown workmen was a much more
serious matter for these islands. Before
the sugar-cane was domesticated from the
wild reed, and the various other sources of
sugar had been utilised, it was upon the bee
that the community relied for the indispens-
able saccharine. Out of honey it also brewed
its heady beverages of mead and metheglin,
and a lump of loaf sugar would have been as
great a novelty to Queen Elizabeth as wireless
telegraphy is for us to-day. In many countries
the wild bee's honeycomb in hollow tree-trunk
or rocky cliff is still the sugar-pot of tropical
peoples, although they may live amid waving
canefields, and one can see how precious was
considered that wonderful little waxen store-

Sept. 25, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

389

house by many a passage in Holy Writ. It
refreshed Absalom after fierce battle, as well
as giving a famous riddle to Samson. For
sugar the world must have, and in the early
life of man the honey-bee was one of his best
friends.

Even now the amount annually "produced
and garnered from hives is remarkable in
volume and value, as thi8 report plainly shows.
A well-kept hive, holding a good breed of
workers, and those modern appliances which
have made bee-keeping a science, will return
to its owner from first to last something over
100 lb. of pure honey, after leaving to the little
inmates the margin which they must retain to
live through ihe winter. It is for this tiny
margin alone that each petty kingdom labours,
and if those gold-banded citizens were left to
themselves they would generally cease from
effort when as much as this had been safely
accumulated. But the bees always begin at
the top to build and to fill their combs, and
the bee-keeper profits by this custom to keep
each hive supplied with empty comb-boxes
inserted from above. Thus, time after time,
when flowers are thickest and most richly
charged with nectar, the marvellous
directing spirit which governs every swarm
keeps the winged marauders hard at duty.
The queen herself, or some other high
authority, hums in stern command to the
chief officer on duty, " What mean these
empty spaces 1 Turn to and fill them up."
Whereupon there are fresh raids made upon
the clover, heather, blossoming beans, or what
not, and again and again the brave little
bands crowd home with fresh supplies until
October brings the long vacation of the tribe,
and the last swarm has settled down for the
winter round their proud and happy sovereign.
Then the grateful bee-master makes each hive
comfortable for the cold weather, the bees
intelligently assisting, and we behold finished
for one season more that amazing cycle of
patient industry, that astounding picture of
loyalty and clear-sighted providence which
made Shakespeare pen his splendid lines,
declaring that

They teach
The arts of order to a peopled kingdom.

Hardly, indeed, is there any marvel in the
whole range of nature so profound, so instruc-
tive, so full of rebuke for idle and stupid
agnosticism as that tiny teacher, the honey-
bee. Even the superficial facts of its exist-
ence are so astonishing as to have impressed
humanity from the very first. But if we go
deeper into the miracle of its intelligence,
devotion, far-reaching faith, faultless duty, as
well as into the mysteries of its physiology,
the bee becomes positively inexhaustible as a
subject for admiration. Those who know it,
as Lord Avebury or M. Maeterlinck know it,
can tell us such thiDgs about the smill being
as to render fairyland commonplace. Such
mysteries of bee life cannot be entered into

here, but I count it among one of the proud
memories of my own career that I have had
the honour of close personal acquaintance
with the bees, ants, wasps, and other in-
sects entertained, educated, and studied
by Lord Avebury when he was Sir John
Lubbock.

No political county vote ever interested me
half so much as that of one summer afternoon,
when we took a plebiscite of the bees to learn
which of all the flower colours was most
attractive to the honey robbers. On the lawn
in the Kentish garden were laid squares of
paper equal in size but differently tinted, each
besmeared with an equal quantity of honey,
whilst we sat like election clerks, pencil and
paper in hand, each man watching over three
stations, and so noted during a specified time
the exact number of visits paid to each
coloured square during that interval. They
knew their own mind, " those wonderful
bugs," as an American visitor styled them —
they wanted no husting speeches to tell them
which tint upon a blossom, which hue, spread
over meadow bank or woodland glade or gay
country garden, promised the best honey or
wax or bees' food — no loitering on the way
with those loyal thieves when they had found
the right colour and the ready-made wealth.
With their thighs packed full of what to them
was riches untold, they came and went like
bank clerks in the City, who lightly carry
millions sterling strapped round them, and
not one drop of it was touched nor one
minute of labour grudged. I forget just now
their exact vote ; what flower-colour it was
which they triumphantly bore to the head of
the poll. Yet, certainly that was no demo-
cratic choice which the brown workmen made,
to whom no system of government, except the
monarchical, could be so much as conceivable.
And yet how extraordinary the character is of
the dynasties honoured and obeyed in their
palaces of twisted straw — alas ! what would
become of all theories aboutDivine right among
men if, like the bees, we could make a new
queen every sixteen days. When the hive is
threatened with anarchy by absence of the sup-
plementary rulers or by unroyal neglect of official
duties on their part they do not address the
Crown, nor proclaim a revolution, nor declare
a war, nor loot and devour the honey stored in
the six-sided Treasury pots. Simply they build
a special cell, shaped like the wicker basket that
is used when pool is played at the billiard-
table, and thither they conduct her Majesty.
There does she enter, "high and composedly "
like Queen Elizabeth at Hatfield. In that
cell she deposits one of the 2,000 eggs which
it is her daily duty to lay, and no microscope
can detect the slightest difference between
that egg and the others which will turn into
workers or drones. But the bees place in her
cell certain special foods, and lock up its
gates with certain solemn observances, afcer
which, in sixteen days, lo ! there is a new
queen, who shall lead a swarm or govern in

390

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 25, 1902.

the old one. So goes her Grace back to her
own throne, and there

Seated in her majesty surveys
The singing masons kneading roofs of gold,
The civil citizens storing up the honey,
The poor mechanic porters crowding in,
Their heavy burdens at the narrow gate ;
The sad-eyed justice, with his surly hum,
Delivering o'er to executors pale,
The lazy, yawning drone.

Daily Telegraph.

\u ^Jurats to (Efltrw.

September 20 to 27> at the Agricultural
Hall, London. — Honey Show in connection with the
seventh Annual Exhibition and Market of the Grocery
and Kindred Trades.

October 4, at Newcastle-on-Tyne — Annual
show of the Northumberland and Durham B.K.A. in
the Y.M.C.A. Institute. (The above Show has
been cancelled.)

October 7 to 10, 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.

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

C. F. B. (Sark). — Salicylic Acid Solution. —

1. As given in " Guide Book :' (9oh Edition),
Salicylic Acid, 1 oz. ; Soda-Borax, 1 oz. ;
Water, 4 pints. 2. The recipes given fourteen
or fifteen years ago have been superseded
by other and better remedies since dis-
covered, hence the change in present (17th)
edition.

H. E. N. (Hornsey). — JBraula Caica in Hives.
There is no doubt as to tbe identity of the
" reddish-brown insect '' you have in the
hive, and if treated as directed in " Guide
Book " — as stated — it will soon disappear.

2. Queens Ceasing to Lay. — Id is rather
early lur breeding to cease entirely in
September, but if queen is a good one, you
may induce her to provide a batch of late
reared bees by keeping the hive warmly
wrapped and slow and constant feeding for
a week or two.

B. B. (Weston-super-Mare). — Keeping Bees
for Profit near London. — We fear the
chances are not great of money being made
from bee-keeping at New Eltham, near

London. The place is no doubt good
enough for bees to keep themselves and
yield some surplus for home use in good
seasons, but for money making the hives
must be located further afield. The district
named is, we fear, too rapidly resolving itself
into " villadom " for profitable bee-keeping.

Waldy (Essex). — Foul Brood and Comb
Foundation. — Even if noc badly affected,
the wax from a diseased stock is not safe to
use in foundation-making. Why not melt
combs down and use the wax for household
purposes 1

R. 0. (Christchurch). — American and Colonial
Bee Journals. — It is rather a " tall order "
to ask us to print addresses of all the bee
papers published in America and the
Colonies, there being, we suppose, some
dozens of them. If our correspondent will
name a few we will give the needed infor-
mation.

Prudentia (Dumbartonshire). — Scottish B.K.
Associations. — 1. We are not aware of a
Bee-keepers' Association for Dumbarton-
shire. Perhaps some Scotch B.J. reader
with local knowledge will kindly name the
nearest B.K.A. to that county.

Honey Samples.

S. E. L. E. (Stafford). —No. 1 is a very good
honey, for either show-bench or for table
uae. No. 2 is also good, but does not equal
No. 1.

W. C. S. (Wellington, Som.).— Though not
very thick, your sample is fairly ripe and of
good flavour. The " ripener " will not help
much unless the honey is kept at a tempera-
ture of about 80 deg. Fahr. There is no
trace of heather-honey in sample.

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 squars
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
" ivire" replies as to F.B. if six stamps are sent to cover
cost of telegram. All letters to be addressed "Editor,"
not " Manager."

A. R. M. (Worcester). — No disease in sample
of comb.

W. L. (Lancaster). — Comb sent contains only
chilled brood.

G. H. W. (Penrhiwceiber). — Comb is not only
free from disease, but is not even " pollen-
clogged " as supposed. In fact, save for a
few cells containing pollen, it is filled with
sealed honey only. It would be correct to
call it "honey clogged '' being full of sealed
honey.

S. T. (Chesterfield).— Neither of the two cells
in tiny bit of comb sent contains foul brood,
but the sample is not at all suitable for
judging from with regard to disease.

Oct. 2, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

391

(Mtorral, $otim, kt

BEITISH BEEKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

THE DAIRY SHOW AND CONVERSAZIONE.

The advertisement on our front page will
serve to remind readers that the Dairy Show-
opens at the Agricultural Hall on Tuesday
next, October 7. We are also authorised to
extend to all bee-keepers who purpose visiting
the show a cordial invitation to attend the final
Conversazione of the B.B.K.A. for the year
at 105, Jermyn-street, St. James's, where the
Board-room of the R.S.P.C.A. is placed at the
disposal of the Council for the evening, the
Conversazione beginning at six o'clock on
Thursday, the 9th icst. Light refreshments
will be provided for visitors, who can reach
the place of meeting readily by 'bus from the
Agricultural Hall to Piccadilly-circus in about
half-an-hour.

It may be of interest also to say that prior
to the Conversazione a meeting of representa-
tives of County Bee-keepers' Associations will
be held at the same place for the purpose of con-
ferring with the parent body on the best means
of furthering the interests, economical work-
ing, and general welfare of the various
societies, and conducing to the establishment
of more intimate relations between the
B.B.K.A. and its affiliated Associations.

The conference referred to above will open
at four o'clock.

KENT AND SUSSEX B.KA.

ANNUAL SHOW AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

The Kent and Sussex B.K.A., jointly with
the Surrey B K.A., and in conjunction with
the Royal Horticultural Society's Fruit Show,
held their annual exhibition at the Crystal
Palace on September 18, 19, and 20. The
joint efforts of the respective hon. secretaries
of the two County Associations resulted in
one of the largest and finest displays of honey
and honey produce, hives, bees, anl appli-
ances ever staged in this kingdom, the total
entries exceeding 480. Favoured by fine
weather, Messrs. W. Herrod and C. T. Overton
gave daily frequent lectures and demonstra-
tions in the grounds to large audiences. On
the first day of the show 53,000 persons visited
the Palace. The quality of the honey staged
from Kent and Sussex was of the highest
character, and gave no indication of the
poorness of the season generally. In fact, all
those who supported the show felt that it was
one worthy of such an amalgamation and of
the Coronation year.

Messrs. F. Brett, A. J. Carter, and Ernest
Walker officiated as judges and made the
following awards :—

Observatory Hive, tvith Bees and Queen (in
open class).— 1st, W. Herrod, Swanley, Kent ;

2nd, E. H. Taylor, Welwyn ; 3rd, J. Lee &
Son, Silver-street, W.C. ; he, W. Herrod.

members' classes.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, W. Herrod ;
2nd, A. Hounson, Bosham ; 3rd, M. Killner,
Billingshurst ; he, Rev. M. W. B. Osmaston,
Goodnestone.

Six 1-/6. Sections. — 1st, W. Herrod; 2nd,
M. Killner ; 3d, H. Dobell, Marden ; v.h.c,
J. C. Roberts, Maidstone ; h.c, E. R. Nash,
Smarden.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,
W. Herrod ; 2nd, E. R. Nash ; 3rd, T.
Evershed ; v.h.c, Rev. M. W. B. Osmaston ;
h.c, J. R. Court, Green-street Green, E. D.
Till, Eynsford ; and c, J. Seabrook.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st,

E. R. Nash ; 2nd, Fox & Vidler, Rye ; 3rd,
T. Evershed ; v.h.c, W. Herrod ; h.c, M.
Killner; c, Rev. M. W. B. Osmaston, H.
Dobell, G. C. Lyon, Hastings, and A. T.
Walton, Chelsfield.

Thr.e Shallow frames of Comb Honey for
Extracting.— 1st, E. R. Nash; 2nd, Rev.
M. W. B.' Osmaston ; 3rd, T. Evershed ; v.h.c ,

F. R. Court ; h.c , Miss Carter, Farningham.
Single Shallow- frame Comb Honey for

Ea trading. — 1st, Geo. Wells, Aylesford; 2nd,
W. Herrod ; 3rd, Miss Carter.

Medals of the K. & S. B.K.A. to the
three most meritorious exhibits in above
honey classes were awarded respectively, to
W. Herrod, E. R. Nash, and M. Killner.

OPEN CLASSES.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (light).
— 1st, E. Lodge, Chelmsford ; 2nd, W. Love-
day, Harlow ; 3rd, H. W. Seymour, Henley-
on-Thames ; h.c, J. Coates.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (light). —
1st, Jas. Lee & Son ; 2nd, C. Lodge ; 3rd,
W. Loveday ; v.b.c, A. G. Preen, Nesscliffe,
and G. W. Kir by, Bristol; h.c, W. Barlow,
High Wycombe, and H. W. Seymour.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st (and Brorze
Medal "One and AIL' Association), H. W.
Seymour ; 2nd (and certificate ditto), S.
Bailey, Itchingfield ; 3rd, C. Lodge ; v.h.c,
W. Loveday ; h.c, A. Hounson.

Six l-lb. Sections.— 1st, W. Herrod ; 2nd,
W. Loveday ; 3rd, S. Bailey ; v.h.c, F. A.
Kent, Dorchester, H. W. Seymour, and W. H.
Brown, Shrewsbury.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Granulated Honey. — 1st,
C. Lodge ; 2nd, Mis3 Carter ; 3rd, H. W.
Seymour ; h.c, T. Evershed.

Six l-lb. Jars Granulated Honey. — 1st,
C. Lodge ; 2nd, W. Loveday ; 3rd, H. W.
Seymour ; v.h.c, T. Evershed ; h.c, P. H.,
Moss, Farningham ; c, H. W. Howland,
Mersham.

Three Shallow Frames Comb Honey for
Extracting. — 1st, H. W. Seymour ; 2nd, G.
Wells ; 3rd, W. Loveday.

Single Shallow Frame Comb Honey for Ex-
tracting.— 1st, Geo. Wells ; 2nd, J. B. Houle,

392

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 2, 1902.

Chittlehampton ; 3rd, H. W. Seymour ; 4tb,
P. H. Moss.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (dark).
— 1st, H. W". Seymour ; 2nd, E. George,
Shrewsbury ; 3rd, A. T. Walton ; h.c, G. W.
Kirby.

Trophy of Honey and Honey Products. —
1st (aud B.B.K.A. Silver Medal), H. W. Sej-
mour ; 2nd (and B.8.K.A. Bronze Medal),
James Lee & Son ; 3rd (and B.B.K.A. Certi-
ficate), W. Loveday ; v.h.c, W. flerrod ; b.c,
Mrs. Waller, Bristol.

Beeswax. — 1st, A. G. Preen, Nesscliffe ;
2nd, T. Evershed ; 3rd, J. Pearman, Derby ;
v.h.c, W. Patchett, Cobourne ; b.c, Jno.
Berry; c, W. Herrod.

Honey Vinegar and Mead. — 1st, T. Ever-
shed ; 2nd, vV. Loveday ; 3rd, 0. Lodge ;
h.c, W. H. Brown, Shrewsbury.

Articles of Food Containing Honey. — 1st,
M. Killner; 2nd, T. Evershed ; 3rd, fl. W.
Seymour.

Complete Frame Hive. — 1st, E. H. Taylor ;
2nd, U T. Overton, Crawley, Sussex ; 3rd,
J. S. Greenbill, Wimbledon.

Outfit for Beginner in Bee-keeping (price
not over 30s.).— ist, E. H. Taylor ; 2nd, C. T.
Overton ; 3rd. James Lee & Son.

Collection of Hives and Appliances. — 1st,
James Lee & Son ; 2ud, E. H. Taylor ; 3rd,
C. T. Overton.

Objects of Interest. — Certificates of Merit to
Dr. P. Sharp (Lantern Slides), and Mr. Tom
Pogmore (Swarming Arrangements). — H. W.
Brice, Hon. Sec. K. & S. B.K. A.

SUEEEY

BEE-KEEPERS'
TION.

ASSOCIA-

SHOW AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

The annual exhibition of the Surrey B.K.A.
was held in the large concert hall in the
Crystal Palace on September 18, 19, and 20,
and notwithstanding the past unfavourable
season for bee-keeping, the show was a great
success and again a record one, being the
largest of the kind held this year, the total
entries in the twenty-four classes numbering
286. An interesting and instructive feature of
the show was a large collection of photographs
of the members' apiaries, &c.

The exhibits were of excellent quality, and
in some classes, notably that for granulated
honey, were more numerous and much supe-
rior to those staged last year. In the class for
" dark '' honey, some heather honey was
staged by mistake, and should have been
exhibited in the heather class, where it pro-
bably would have appeared to advantage.
Cakes and confectionery made with honey
were well represented, as was also the class
tor beeswax, the latter producing more entries
than in any previous year, and the quality was
very superior. The observatory hives formed
a great attraction for the thousands of persons
who visited the show. Fine collections of

hives and appliances were staged by Messrs.
Lee & Son, Silver-street, Holoorn ; E. H.
Taylor, Welwyn, Herts ; and C. T. Overton,
Crawley, Sussex.

The exhibit gaining the model of the War-
wick vase was of exceptional merit, showing a
number of articles of food, confectionery,
sweets, bread, and vinegar in which honey is
capable of being used with great advantage,
and also showing many other purposes to
which wax can be usefully employed.

The judges were Messrs. Ernest Walker,
A. J. Carter, and F. Brett, and the following
are their awards : —

MEMBERS' CLASSES.

Twelve 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, W. Welch,
Cranleigh ; 2nd, A. H. Miller, Egham ; 3rd,
A. E. Mumford, Redhill.

Six 1-lb. Sections — 1st, J. 0. Quinton,
Bedhill ; 2nd, T. Earl, Crawley ; 3rd, E.
Peters, Banstead ; v.h.c, W. Sole, Wimble-
don ; h.c, E. C. P. Hull, Eedhill; and A. E.
Mumford.

Six 1-lb. Sections Heather Honey. — 1st, A.
Allen, Elstead ; 2nd, A. Seth-Smith, Cob-
ham ; 3rd, W. E. Backett, Cobham ; h.c, G.
Chandler, Winchfield ; c, E. P. Betts, Camberey.

Three Shallow-Frames Comb Honey for
Extracting. — 1st, E. Bon toft, Caterham
Valley ; 2nd, A. Seth-Smith; 3rd, A. Watkin,
New Maiden.

One Shallow - Frame Comb Honey for
Extracting — 1st, A. Seth-Smith ; 2nd, C. E.
Corbould, Leatherhead ; 3rd, E. C. Blundell,
Horley.

Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (Light). —
1st, E. Bontoft; 2nd, G. Poulter, Leatherhead ;
3rd, H. Dann, Walliogton ; v.h c, E. C.
Blundell ; h.c, A. Greenslade, Sutton.

Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey {light). — 1st,
J. 0. Quinton ; 2nd, P. W. Worsfold, Shal-
ford ; 3rd, J. Davis, Cranleigh ; v.h.c, Miss
Stone, Ewell ; h.c, G. Poulter; and J. L.
Wiuborne, Croydon.

Six 1-lb. Jars Heather Honey. — 1st, J. Shar-
land, Haslemere ; 2nd, G. Chandler ; 3rd,
W. E. Hackett ; v.h.c, A. Allen.

Six 1-lb Jars Extracted Honey (dark). —
1st, A. E. Mumford ; 2nd, E. l\ Grove, Ewell ;
3rd, A. Greenslade; v.hc, H. Sayers, Ches-
sington ; h.c , T. H. E. Watts-Silvester,
Suroiton ; c, F. J. Bernau, Eedhill ; H.
Dann ; and T. HE. Watts-Silvester.

Six 1-lb. Jars Granulated Honey. — 1st, P.
W. Worsfold ; 2nd, J. Davis ; 3rd, A. Seth-
Smith ; v.hc, G. Chandler ; h.c, J. Earl,
Three Bridges ; c, M. Lamboll, Chiddingfold.

Best and Most Attractive Display of Bee
Products exceeding 100 lb. — 1st, C. f. Over-
ton, Urawley.

Beesioax. — 1st, W. A. Woods, Normandy,
Guildford ; 2nd, J. Davis ; v.h.c, A. if.
Miller ; h.c, E. Boutoft and H. Sayers.

Articles of Food containing Honey. — 1st,
F. J. Weise, Anerley ; 2nd, T. Earl ; h.c,
A. Seth-Smith.

Oct. 2, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

393

OPEN CLASSES.

Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, W. Herrod, Swan-
ley ; 2nd, Jas. Lee & Son, Andover ; 3rd,
J. Bailey, Horsham ; v.h.c., R. Brown, Somer-
sham ; h.c, H. vV\ Seymour, Henley-on-
Thames, and A. G. Preen, Shrewsbury.

Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey {light). —
1st, Jas. Lee & Son ; 2nd, K. Brown ; 3rd,
C. Squire, Morthoe, North Devon ; v.h.c,
C. Lodge, Chelmsford, and W. Loveday,
Harlow ; h.c, G. N. Kirby, Bristol ; J.
MerrelL-, Thetford ; Rev. M. W. B. Osmaston,
Goodneston, Dover ; H. W. Seymour ; J. B.
Houle, Chittlehamptou ; and J. O. Quinton.

Three Shallow- Frames Comb- Honey. — 1st,
Rev. JM. W. B. Osinaston ; 2nd, Jas. Lee &
Son ; 3rd, G. W. Kirby.

One Shallow- Frame Comb-Honey. — 1st,
R. C. Blundell ; 2nd, G. W. Kirby.

Beeswax. — 1st, A. G. Preen ; 2nd, C. Pack,
Horsham ; 3rd, G. Leeding, Sherborne ; v h.c,
W. Patchett, Cabourne, near Oaistor ; h.c, C.
Squire ; c, W. A. Woods.

Interesting and Instructive Exhibit Con-
nected ivith Bee Culture. — 1st, Mrs. Waller,
Westbury-on-Tryrn ; 2nd, Jas. Lee & Son.

Observatory Hive, with Bees and Queen. —
2nd, Jas. Lee & Son ; 3rd, B. H. Taylor,
Welwyn, Herts.

Collection of Hives and Appliances. — 1st,
Jas. Lee & Son ; 2nd, E. H. Taylor ; 3rd,
C. T. Overton.

Complete Frame- Hive for General Use. —
1st, E. H. Taylor ; 2nd, J. Lee & Son ; 3rd,
C. T. Overton.

Most Suitable Outfit for Beginner in Bee-
keeping.— 1st, E. H. Taylor ; 2nd, C. T.
Overton ; 3rd, Jas. Lee & Son. — E. B. Whtte,
Hon. Sec, Surrey B.K.A.

tornspmtdena.

The Editor* do not hold themtelvet responsible for the
tpiniont expressed by correspondent!. Ifo notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only and
give their real names and addresses, not necessarily fot
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
do not undertake to return reiected communications.

Communications relating to the literary department,
reports of Associations, Ahows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for Review, &c.,must be addressed only to "The
Editors of the' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William-
street, titrand, London, W.C." All business communi-
cations relating to advertisements, ice, must be addressed
to "The Manager, 'British Bee Journal' Ojfice, 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 at well
as the page on which it appears.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

[4900.] Feed ! feed ! feed ! This should be
the watchword of every bee-man at the
present time. If it has not yet been attended
io, the sooner the duty is performed the better.

Not only is there no surplus worth naming at
tne end of this sunless summer, but a very
large percentage of colonies will require less
or more feeding to preserve them for another
season's work. Let it be remembered that
every colony now short of stores is a certain
loss, whereas a few pounds of sugar given to
each may save them to do excellent work next
year, in other words, a shilling spent now
may secure one or two pounds in 1903. No
time should be lost either, as late feeding does
not give the bees a chance of sealing and
properly arranging the stores, so that bees go
into winter quarters in bad form. A large
Canadian feeder containing from 5 to 10 lb.
of syrup does the work very expeditiously —
and nothing but rapid feeding should be done
at this late period. Heather gave way very
early this year. Indeed, it was scarcely ever
properly in bloom, as chill nights, and dull,
cloudy, sunless skies all day stunted its growth
and hindered its proper development. Any
surplus secured should fetch a handsome price.
1 never had so many inquiries for honey.
Two houses alone would have taken any
quantity, and at any reasonable price. But
alas ! this season is what I have already
called it, one of honey famine.

The Government. — Any divergence on the
part of the bee-keeper from the laws regu-
lating the character and conduct of bee-life
may make oi a well-behaved and gently dis-
poned lot of bees a set of raging demons,
caring for nothing but revenge, and who
sacrifice even their own lives without remorse
or hesitation, so long as they think they are
doing it for the benefit and advantage of the
colony as a whole. This is one of the most
distinctive features of bee government, and
perhaps one of the finest traits in insect
life. The whole regulation, organisation, and
management of the hive is purely republican,
and the law unhesitatingly sacrihees the indi-
vidual for the good of the community, and she
quietly acquiesces and immolates herself on
the altar ol duty. The individual in the hive
is nothing : the community is everything.
From the earliest times the excellent rule and
general order have been a theme of praise.
Virgil wrote : —

" Some have taught
That bees have portions of ethereal thought " ;

and Shakespeare describes them as

" Creatures that by a rule of Nature teach
The art of order to a peopled kingdom."

Viewing the internal organisation of a
populous hive in the month of August one
realises the truth and force of the proverb,
" As busy as a bee." 1 know no other
creature who displays such an overmastering
zeal for labour, and none who can carry it
on from early morning to darkening eve
with such unflagging energy and perseverance.
Labour seems to be its sole delight, and at no
time does it appear to revel in happiness more
' than when it is plying its industry with the

394

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 2, 1902.

utmost tension. What more delightful sight
can any bee-man imagine than a strong colony
of bees working on the heather in some
delightfully bright day of glorious sunshine.
What hurry and bustle is displayed by the
returning bees as they approach their hives
heavily laden with their rich and luscious
amber stores ! How straight they make for
that small entrance, without doubt or hesita-
tion, darting direct as an arrow from the
foraging grounds for the one speck, perhaps
amongst scores, which is all the world to
them, as it bears the magic name of home.
How wisely and well they, the guards, and
the outgoing bee3 avoid all semblance of
crush or confusion, and how unerringly they
go to the right spot in the super or brood
nest, with their loads of honey, pollen or
propolis, depositing each just where the spirit
of the hive teaches them is best. Truly they
seem to be, again quoting Virgil,

" Endued with particles of heavenly fires
For God the whole created mass inspires."

An Irate Bee. — Has it ever been your good
(or bad) fortune to see a bee in a mad fury ?
What a passionate temper it works itself into,
and what thrilling words of wrath and passion
the notes of its war song seem to convey to the
alarmed beholder ! Humour it whichever
way you please, it cannot, or will not", be
soothed or calmed into restfulness. Move
but a muscle and straight it comes at you ;
shrink but ever so little and some instinct
teaches it you are vulnerable. Stand stock
stil', yet you cannot deceive it into a belief
that you are mere matter, and it persists until
tired nature has to give way ; and even the
wink of an eyelid adds fuel to the flame of its
ire, for thereby it knows its fury has told.
On the other hand, try to fight it, and you,
the giant, have to give way to the pigmy. It
has a system, too, in its attack, and bides its
time until the psychological moment arrives.
It seems to take a savage joy in biding its
time, and seldom makes direct for its victim
in a bee-line, but gyrates and circles in ever
contracting spirals. Now it flies round and
round the subject of its wrath in wonderful
evolutionp, and, with intense suddenness, it
appears from the most unexpected quarters.
Darts fierce and quick, lightning-like in their
speed, and awe-inspiring in their determina-
tion, follow from all points of the compass.
Meteoric evolution-, concentrating and gather-
ing force and virulence from the delay, tell on
the firmest nerves. The amount of passionate
vehemence and venomous passion it imparts
to its fiery buzz convey an infinity of spiteful
wrath, and its notes ring the changes on wild
anger. Stormy rage, passionate hate, savage
animup, malignant exasperation, and vehement
fury, till, at last wrought up to the highest
pitch of passioD, with one savage dart, fierce,
quick, and determined, it buries its poisonous
weapon in the most vulnerable part of its
victim.— D. M. M., Banff.

FOUL BROOD AND APPLIANCE
MAKERS.
[4901.] Some years ago I had my apiary of
about £50 worth of bees and hives totally
ruined by foul brood and, knowing the exceed-
ingly infectious nature of the disease, I am
extremely anxious to keep free from it in
future ; therefore, in the interest of myself
and also of British bee-keepers' in general, I
should be glad if " Carbolic," who writes in
B.B.J., September 25, would, at least, state
the name of the county in which he witnessed
the appliance maker's employee tampering in
such a foolhardy manner with foul-broody
comb in close proximity to " foundation," &c.
I have proved foul brood to start afresh in a
bar-frame hive (that was well dusted with
carbolic powder when put away) after eleven
years! I think, in the interest of those who
make foundation and those also who buy, that,
at least, so much information ought to be given.
I am desirous of purchasing several pounds'
worth of foundation before another spring, but
if I knew who the person was that probe3
foul-broody combs with a workman's pencil
and then neatly rubs it on his workman's
apron, I would not have any appliance from
that firm at a gift. As it now stands, the
question seems to resolve into : — Shall we buy
foundation and risk infection, or go without,
and be safe an 1 suffer inconvenience and loss
in next year honey crop by so doing ? —
" Alvbi B." eptember 27.

HONEY AT THE "GROCERIES."
A bee-keepers' impressions thereon.

[4902.] May I trouble you with a few of
my impressions of the honey show at the
" Groceries " Exhibition held last week at the
Agricultural Hall ?

In the first place, I think it was a magnifi-
cent show of bee-produce, both in quality and
quantity. Second, something was wanting,
according to my mind, in order to make it as
attractive a3 it should be ; the selling classes,
for instance, should have had prices attached
in a way that would invite buyers' attention.
Thirdly, absurd prices were asked (I was given
to understand 9d. per lb. was asked for honey
in bulk), which will tend to defeat the object
for which the class was instituted, viz., to
establish a honey market between producerj
and buyers. I also think the display could be
made more attractive by bracketing the classes
distinctly and plainly, so that the uninitiated
could understand something of the differences
in the various honies staged, as "light class,"
"medium class," "dark class," "heather sec-
tions," " free from heather," " selling class," &c.

Then, I think, selling classes should have

attached to them name and address of the

exhibitor and price asked, and he should not

expect fancy prices from wholesale buyers.-

I H. Devereux, Shillington, September 29.

Oct. 2, 1902.]

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

395

A BEE-HIVE CURIOSITY.

[4903.] I send you a curiosity, in shape of
a photograph of a wasps' nest attached to the
rear sides of two straw skeps, which I thought
might interest B.B J. readers. I came across
it recently when preparing to drive the two
skeps shown, which latter were covered with
some old sacking. In removing this the side
of wasps' nest was torn away, thus giving
a sectional view of the nest, showing its
characteristic formation of horizontal combs,
the cells facing downward. Some of the cells
can be clearly seen to have rough edges,
showing that the perfect wasps have emerged ;
others are rounded off at bottom, evidence
that the insects have not got through.
The nest is
situated at
back of skeps,
it being
doubtful
whether the

bees would

have per-

mitte d their

presence in

front.

I have often

come across

small wasps'

nests in dis-
used hives,

but never one

attached to

hives, or so

large as this.

Hoping it may

be of interest

to you and

your readers.-H. J. Banks, 1st Class Eocpeit,

B.B.K.A , Wragby, Lines.

A CURIOUS COMBINATION— BEES AND WASPS

BEE-DRIVING EXPERIENCES.

BY AN AMATEUR.

[4904.] There are items of one's bee-keeping
that remain as " permanent remembrances."
Hiving the first swarm, the first sting, &c,
are amongst these, and in my own case
removal from a district of frame-hives to one
in which skeps were the rule, and bar-frames
the exception, brought about a new experience
that may possess interest for readers, so I send
it on for what it is worth. One of my fiame-
hives was set up in April in a conspicuous
position, and soon inquiries for help were
pretty numerous from old skeppists of both
sexes. Later on I undertook to drive a few
condemned skeps, taking the bees for the
trouble, and thereby hangs a tale. Without
having done any "driving," I had seen the
operation performed at a show, and armed
with this knowledge and a smoker, I set out
for an old widow's bees. After a puff or two
of smoke at the skep entrance, I removed a

tin wash-basin and sundry pieces of old sack,
then lifted the skep, 'and dropped it over a
cloth, and carried it to a shady spot, and set
it on a garden seat. There was no bucket
handy, but by rolling up a coat and bedding
the hive upon it, I managed to steady the
skep for driving. A few bees were beginning
to be troublesome. After a few puffs of smoke
the driving skep was attached, and the game
began. The queen was a young ol e, and the
bees ran up into the top skep rapidly. At
last, after less than fifteen minutes, nearly all
bees were out, though I did not see the queen
go up. The top skep was then taken off, and
the bees tied down, and my first driving ex-
perience was successfully ended. The old skep
yielded over a stone of dark- coloured honey.

The bees (a
strong lot)
were safely
hived on full
sheets of
foundation.

The second
operation was
ako easily got
through. The
skep, being
a flat-topped
one, answered
beautifully.
The third skep
was rather
more difficult
to manage,
for although
a flat-topped
one, it had a
small straw
super fastened
on the top with thick string. However,
after cutting the string and puffing in
plenty of smoke, I forced off the super and
clapped a handy brick over the central hole of
lower skep, and carried the upper one to a
shady place for driving. This was a job, the
super being about half a3 large as the skep
into which the bees were to be driven. How-
ever, the job was done, and the bees safely
secured and covered up. Being queenless,
they were running all over the hive, buzzing
away like an engine. The stock was then
safely driven into another skep, and, as I had
a long walk before me and night coming on,
the two lots were carried home separately,
and with the aid of a flour-dredger the two
portions were united to the bees from the
first-named skep. One queen was cast out
during the day, and the united bees settled
down very nicely.

Then came expedition No. 3. In this case
the skep was a round-topped one, and was
placed mouth upwards in a bucket, and then
my first real trouble began. A hole had
somehow been made in the top of the skep,
and when the "patting" commenced a few
bee3 came out that way to "investigate.''

396

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 2, 1902.

One got in the way of my left hand, and I got
my first sting ! But disasters never come
singly. No sooner had a good lot of bees got
into the top skep than the wire skewer bent,
and the skep, by twisting round, caused a
number of bees to drop on to the table. A
lot took wing, and mischief seemed imminent,
as the smoker (bless it) had gone out ! and my
matches were lost. Luckily, a carbolic cloth
was handy, and, popping this over the skep, I
had a ftesh box thrown to me, and after the
smoker was well alight, I " went " for the
skej.', but the bees were settling down as
quiedy as if this was the usual order of
tilings. Eventually I finished my task as odd
bees were running about crying "lost," and I
did not want to crush any more.

1 was rather troubled until on placing the
stock skep on a garden-seat with arms, luckily
close at hand, I propped the driving skep in
the angle between the arm and the back.
After some little time "driving,'' the bees
(evidently with the queen) had run up. In
order to gather up the stragglers, the driving
skep was placed on the old stand, and the
bees found their way home. This lot of bees
were also housed in a new hive on full sheets
of foundation. Thus ended expedition No. 3.
Two important lessons had been learned ;
first, that skeps are best moved when the
mouth is covered with a mild carbolic cloth ;
and second, that the less smoke used the
quicker is the driving completed. Thus ex-
perience teaches wisdom.

Expedition No. 4 yielded more experience.
A late swarm had been hived in the skep, and
as they were very light I was asked to " take "
them. My skill as a bee driver was now
becoming noised abroad, and on starting
out I was followed by a few people who
wished to see me at work. They little sus-
pected what an amateur I was at the job.
However, I did not give myself away by
appearing nervous. On reaching the hive I
puffed in a little smoke, lifted it, and in drop-
ping it over the carbolic cloth noticed that the
skep was only half full of comb. I therefore
carefully and very deliberately went through
my task, as I was being watched (from a safe
distance) by onlookers. The operation took
longer than I expected, as the bees had such
a long " mount " lrom the combs to the
driviog-skep, but for the first time I saw a
queen ascend, though she escaped me when
trying to catch her. When all was over a
young farmer asked me to look at his two
nives, and see if I could help him. I con-
sented, and this leads on to expedition No. 5.

i found that one stock was in a Tate's cube-
sugnr box, which had held 1 cwt. of sugar.
The other was a soap box. 1 did not feel
equal to the task before me, and therefore
wrote to you, Mr. Editor, for advice. This
you kindly gave on page 310 of B.J. for
July 31 last. The part of your reply referring
to " experience " being needed warned me to
be careiul. Please accept my best thanks for

your reply. One Saturday afternoon tI set
out, and on arrival at my destination I agreed
to " defer • operations till ' master '.returned
from market, as he would like to see me at
work again." On commencing, I flattened out
one side of my driving-skep, and placed it
handy ; then carried the smaller of the two
boxes into an old arbour. My luck had not
forsaken me. The combs ran from end to
end, and when the flattened side of skep was
placed in position ic just fitted, and a con-
venient nail hole received the driving-skewer.
A couple of holes, rapidly made with a big
gimlet, received the driving irons. On this
occasion the carbolic cloth subdued the bees
so well that the smoker was not used at all ;
indeed, the bees were so quiet that I dispensed
with hat and veil for the first time. I again
missed the queen, but ran the bees into a
new hive on the old stand. I did not get the
driven bees this time, as the owner became
entl usiastic, and anxious to keep them.
However, he came over a few days later with
a good share of the honey as payment for my
trouble.

The following Saturday I again visited the
same place ou expedition the sixth. This
time master was at home, and so I tackled the
Tate's sugar-box. During the previous year
(1901) the sun had made things warm for the
bees in this box, and some combs consequently
had dropped down on to the stand. The box
was also bulky and very heavy, but after a
struggle I managed to turn it over and cover
with my carbolic cloth. It was quite three-
fourths full of comb, but owing to the break-
down mentioned the combs were irregularly
built, and some broke down while we carried
it to the arbour. I say we carried, for it was
too heavy for one. The queen must have been
old and worn out, for thd swarm was set up
in 1901, and no swarm had issued this year.
After fixing my driving skep as well as I could
1 commenced patting. I had got at least
3 lb. of bees out when the remainder obsti-
nately refused to leave the box. I smoked
them, and tried to get the combs out, but it
was no good, so after working over an hour,
and as darkness was coming on, I determined
to sulphur the remainder. I united the bees
(using the flour dredger) to the lot I had pre-
viously set up, and the sulphuring job com-
pleted my task. There was at the very least
four stones of honey in the box. Some of it
was in new comb and of a beautiful light
colour and flavour, but two-thirds was in old
comb, and consequently dark coloured. It
was good honey, nevertheless. The driven
bees were fed with best cane sugar, and are all
doing well.

My next and final experience was the worst
of the lot ; when an old (neglected) frame-
hive in a neighbouring village received my
attention. The bees had worked their way
into the root and fastened it down. I blocked
up the entrance with a carbolic cloth, only to
find that the roof fitted badly and the bees,

Oct. 2, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

397

had a back-door. Th;s I blocked up, and then
proceeded to deport the hive. After boring a
hole in the roof with a centre-bit, I smoked the
bees and forcibly pulled off the roof. The
first bees 1 saw were drones and, as it was
September 3, I guessed they were queenless.
After tearing away the quilts the combs were
seen to be of all shapes, sizes, and conditions,
and the frames so fixed as to be immovable.
All this work had taken time, and evening
was fast approaching, so I drove all the bees I
could, and then smoked the rest out. When
we broke out the combs there was in them a
good lot of honey and pollen, but not a scrap
of brood. This, of course, convinced me that
the bees were queenless. I joined them up
(using the flour dredger) to a little lot which I
had started, and then thought that I had done.
But your reply to a query last week regarding
joining queenless bees to bees with a queen
troubled me, as I had not taken the precau-
tion to cage the queen. Indeed, I did not
know that she was in danger, or I should have
caged her for a day or two. I shall have a
look soon to see how they are going on.

I have a few more '' driving jobs '' on hand
when the weather improves. It has been a
somewhat exciting but extremely interesting
experience to me. My advice and help, I am
glad to say, have been the means of helping to
convert three skeppists to frame-hive bee-
keepers, so others have benefited as well as
myself ; and I hope that if this appears in the
B.B.J, it will encourage others to try their
hands at the work. Helping others has been
the means of teaching me a good deal about
the craft, and next year I hope to sign myself
a certificated expert. — A. R. Heselwood,
September 13.

GLEANINGS FROM FOREIGN BEE
JOURNALS.

BT R. HAMLYN-HARRIS, D.SC, F R.M.S., F.Z.S.,
F.E.S., ETC.

L' Apiculteur. — La9t year, in looking over a
bed of tulips, I was surprised to see many
dead bees in the flowers, and others struggling
vainly to get out of the blossoms they had
visited.

L' Apicoltorc. — The wood-bee (Apis Sel-
vanca) of Central America is a Utile larger
than a house-fly and about half the size of our
ordinary bee. These bees are brown, with
golden rays on the abdomen, and have the
appearance of having the legs too short ; they
build in hollow trees. If an attempt is made
to take the nest they become furious, and fly
into one's mouth and ears, and even get under
the clothes, of the enemy, rendering the
work almost impossible.

Tneir nests are always divided into two
parts, one for the brood and one for the reserve
of honey. The upper part of the nest is full

of this reserve, and here we see the originality
o** their habits. Instead of placing the honey
in comb?, it is filled into capsules of wax
almost the size of a peanut and very much the
same shape. The petitions of these cells are
of the thickness of paper. If the nest is
opened carefully the cells have the appearance
of a cluster of nuts, some cream colour and
some brown. The bees do not fill the inter-
stices with honey, but use them as passages.
The honey is never of lighter colour than
molasses, and the taste is somewhat rancid, as
if mixed with pollen. The natives do not
seem to care for the honey, but they take the
combs with the brood, and chew it up as a
boy would eat a nice slice of bread and
nitrmalade.

Leipslger Bienenzeitung. — As a remedy for
bee or wa*p stings in the throat or mouth is
given the following: — Take a teaspoonful of
salt, slightly moistened with water, and'
swallowed slowly ; the pain and swelling dis-
appear in a very short time. Tnis simple
means has saved many lives.

Elsass Lothringischer Biea&nz'dchter. — Doe3
it injure bees to feed them on honey which is
more or less fermented I

There are two kinds of fermentation in
honey — " vinous and acid " ; the former does
not spoil the honey so as to injure the bees,
which, indeed, eat it eagerly. Hanoverian
apiculturists maintain that their heather honey
which has passed through vinous fermentation
is an excellent nourishment for the bees, as
promoting the extension of the brood-nests.

Honey become acid has the taste of vinegar.
This is not suitable food for bees, and, indeed,
it is easy to see that they turn from it with
dislike. Any bees which nave eaten it
become swollen and succumb to severe suffer-
ings. Acid honey, however, is not lost, as it
makes a wholesome and excellent vinegar for
domestic purposes.

<f> i^ri^s and Ji$lul8.

[2976] Making Winter Passages. — I should
bs pleased to have information regarding the
above. 1 saw simple plan mentioned in the
B.B. Journal of placing sticks underneath
the quilt, instead of cutting passage-ways
through the combs, but I did not quite see
how it could be done without the bees escaping
round the edges of the quilt after being raised
up by the stick. Is there any other good
plan ? — Ignorance, Milnthorpe, September 27.

P.S. — Some time ago l wrote you asking for
advice on driven bees. I find that they have
full frames of comb, and to all appearance
doing well. Thanks for your kind reply.

Reply. — The best and simplest device we
know of is that which serves for giving candy-

398

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 2, 1902.

food to bees in winter. It consists, as shown
in sketch, of two curved pieces of wood cut
from an American cheese-box, crossed and
united by an inch or inch and a half screw,
the thread of which protrudes into the curva-
ture. Laying this, not as shown in cut, but
legs upwards, in a saucer, with a sheet of
paper underneath, we pour the melted sugar in
until about an inch of each leg is left exposed.
The device need not touch the bottom
of the plate ; if it dips under the surface
a half-inch it will do, and for this purpose a
piece of cardboard laid across the four legs
will sufficiently overcome the buoyancy of the
wood until the candy sets. Thus, when the

candy is placed over the frames, the four legs
protruding slantingly 1 in. long give bee-3pace
at once under its whole area. Moreover, the
candy is held by the wood and projecting
screw-thread from sinking down on to the
bees as they undermine it ; and when com-
pletely eaten away the device still stands to
support the quilt, leaving about 1 in. passage-
way over the frames. The device spans five
seams of half an inch, and it does not require
the exercise of high mathematics to see that,
given frames of nearly an inch, and interspaces
of half an inch, the four legs of the device
(which, by-the-by, should be opened to about
3 in. wide) will always find a footing.

[2977.] Autumn Feeding. — One of my
stocks is very short of winter supplies, and it is
now too late to feed with syrup ; but I have a
quantity of honey unfit for the table, owing to
honey-dew, &c, which could be used for
feeding. Now, what I am desirous of ascer-
taining is, would it be safe to feed the bees up
with this honey if warmed and the bees
packed up and encouraged to take the food ?
I could, of course, place the sections in a rack
over the brood- chamber, but would they take
it down now that the weather has turned so
cold ? — Anxious One, Cornwall, September 27.

Reply. — The honey referred to may be used
with perfect safety as bee-food.

[2978.] Bee Parasites. — While examining
one of my colonies of bees the other day I
discovered on the queen three red insects, each
about the size of an ordinary pin's head. I
failed to find any on the woiker-bees. The
queen is a 1902 one, only recently introduced
into the hive, but I found the same kind of
insect on the old queen. I have two other
hives close by this one, but I have not seen the
insects in them. Will you kindly tell me — 1.
What they are ] 2. Do they attack queen

only ? 3. Do they injure the queen in any
way ? 4. By what means could I get rid of
them ? I send name, &c , and sign myself —
Chequers, Glos., September 24.

Reply. — I. The insect referred to i?, no
doubt, the parasite known as Braula coeca, or
blind louse. 2. It is seen on worker-bees in
hives where the parasites are numerous, but
seems to show a decided preference for the
queen ; worker?, when troubled at all, seldom
carry more than two of the braulas, but a
queen occasionally has at times half a dozen
of them at a time. 3. They worry and annoy
queens very much. 4. Tobacco smoke will
cause them to drop on to the floorboard, where
they should be swept off on to the ground.

[2979.] Clarifying Beeswax.~I have been a
subscriber to the B.B.J, for some time, but
not having seen described in it any way of
clarifying beeswax after it is melted, I ask
you to kindly assist me ? I have seen sulphuric
acid mentioned, but do not know the manner
of using, neither the proportions. Your reply
will oblige. — J. P. C. E., Sussex.

Reply. — 1. As a rule, we do not care to
advise the use of chemicals in clarifying bees-
wax, preferring the ordinary method of
cleansing as far as possible by running the
melted wax into clean water, and scraping the
discoloured portion that gathers on the under-
side of the cake when cold. For those who
prefer the method referred to in above query
we insert the following method of refining
wax and improving its colour from a former
issue of our Journal : — Take J oz. of the
best roll annotto, cut it into thin pieces,
and put it in a clean copper or enamelled
vessel with a pint of water, and boil it until it
is perfectly dissolved ; then add 14 lb. of melted
wax and continue the boiling until the wax has
taken up the colour and the greater portion of
the water has evaporated, then, withdrawing the
heat, carefully sprinkle over its whole surface
about half a fluid ounce of sulphuric acid ;
attention must be paid or it will froth up and
boil over. The melted wax should now be
covered and left for some hours to settle and
cool slowly, care being taken not to disturb
the sediment. All impurities will be at the
bottom of the cake and should be scraped off.

[2980.] Bees Fighting Among Themselves.
— Some days ago I received a stock of Italian
beesj and put them in a clean hive with comb3
and brood from another colony. The bees are
fighting among themselves ; they were doing
so before I put them in the hive. What is
the cause of that, and how can it be prevented?
— F. Procurator, Devon, September 29.

Reply. — We must have more details before
attempting to explain the cause of bee3 fight-
ing among themselves. They are known to do
this on very rare occasions when food and
brood from another stock is given to them,
but not otherwise.

Oct 2, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

399

(btfoti front tht Sims.

Four Elms, Ede abridge, Kent, Sep-
tember 29.— I have now been able to " line
up" all my finished sections and jars of
extracted honey as prepared for marketing.
I find my crop from eleven hives averages
30 lb. par hive. For such a season as we
have had I consider this an excellent crop. In
fact, I have never had a better ! Bee-keepers
more fortunately situated than myself would
probably grumble at such a small harvest in a
good season. I am, however, thankful to get
s i much in the be3t of seasons. My good
f >rtune in securing such a crop is no doubt
due to the gentle feeding of all stocks during
the trying spring experience this year.
All my colonies were strong in bees at that
time but very short of food, with one or two
exceptions. According to report this seemed
to be the ruling condition of hives in this
district. "When the short period of good bee-
weather came (not more than a fortnight's dura-
tion) the bees were ready and hence the crop.
I may say that there is also a 'balancing"
f<a'ure which may explain my satisfaction
over such a comparatively small harvest, and
that is I find little or no difficulty in disposing
of it at Is. par lb. to private customers. —
W. H. C.

A NEW DEPARTURE

IU TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

By the permission of the Governors of the
People's Palace, Miss HaU, the curator of the
Stepney Borough Museum, on Tuesday com-
menced a series of demonstrations with an
observatory hive and a number of specimens
and preparations on the ''Honey Bee and its
Allies." These will be repeated daily till
Friday, October 3. Invitations have been
issued by the Museum Committee to the head
teachers of schools in the neighbourhood
inviting them to send their classes in charge of
one of th-ir staff. This plan has a double
advantage : discipline is maintained by the
presence of the teacher, who has an oppor-
tunity of profiting by the lesson given by one
well acquainted with the particular subject
and with the best means of imparting infor-
mation and awakening interest in the minds
( f the pupils. These demonstrations promise
to be very successful. Arrangements have
already been made for more than sixty schools
to send their children, and yesterday morning
over 200, with several teachers, were present,
and the total attendance must have been
tomeihing over 500. It has been found
necessary for the lecturer to have some help.
Miss Hill has therefore availed herself of the
services of the assistant in the Museum, who,
while she is demonstrating the life-history and
work of the bee, describes to another section

various allied species, food plants, methods of
taking honey, and the ne3ts of the common
wasp, the leaf-sutter bee, and some other
forms. An observatory hive for teaching pur-
poses is a modification of the bar-frame hive
invented in the United States about half a
century ago. It may be described as a frame
about 3 ft. square, in which are placed brood-
comb i and honeycombs. The back and front
are of glas?, so that the h^es may be seen at
work, and the frame revolves, so that both
sides may be brought under the observation of
the class. The foot is hollow, communicating
with the inside of the frame, and with the
open air, in order to allow the workers an
opportunity of gathering nectar or pollen
according to the season of the year. To allow
the children to obtain some idea of the pro-
boscis, or tongue, and the method of feeding, a
few bees had been confined in a circular,
excavated cell, covered with glass, under which
a little syrup had been run. Without a micro-
scope it, was not possible to show how the
nectar is swept up into the mouth by the
successive whorls of hairs ; but still the children
could see enough to give them a fair general
notion of the bee's action when the insect is
busy in the open cup of a flower. Miss Hall
first gave a clear description of an insect in
familiar language, sedulously avoiding the use
of technical terms, and the children were
asked to verify this description from the
living bees. The characteristics of the queen
bee, the males or drones, and the workers or
neuters — the three classes generally found in
a hive — were set forth ; but here only the
first and the last could be demonstrated, for
the drones had been eliminated. This is
easily effected where artificial foundation for
the brood comb is supplied to the bees, by
making the base of the cells of such a the
that the comb will contain only worker-brooH.
The advantage of supplying artificial founda-
tions for comb to the bees will be at once
recognised when one remembers that rather
less thjn 1 lb. of wax is secreted by these
insects from every 12 lb. of honey. Honey is
deposited in foundation fitted in boxes
made to contain about 1 lb. of honey, that
being found a convenient quantity to market.
These boxes, which are generally adopted
by bee-keepers, can easily be removed
when full, and empty one3 substituted. At
another table were shown preserved specimens
of many of the British wild bees, the common
wasp, and the hornet, the largest British
species of the group, natural wax, and various
kinds of cells, in which egg< and honey and
pollen are stored. These were described by
Mis3 Hall's assistant, who did his work in a
very creditable manner. Great interest has
been taken in these demonstrations by many
bee-keepers, and one influential member of an
Association in the Home Counties brought
yesterday, as a present, a live wasps' nest,
carefully swathed in muslin. This gentleman
stated that at a recent show the fertilisation

400

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 2, 1902.

of queen wasps, about the manner and time
of wbicb some douht had existed, had been
observf d. The observers were, however,
somewhat surprised to fif d that the process
had already ^een watched and described by
Reaumur. Those who are interested in the
subject will tind the French naturalist's ac-
count in the sixth volume of the " Memoires
nour Servir '' (page 200). — Standard, Septem-
ber 25.

PRESS CUTTING.

QUEENS TEN A SHILLING.

With the idea of ridding the neighbourhood
of a nuisance cause-i by wasps, Mr. F. B.
Eastwood, a local resident, offered to give 5s.
to people of Clandon and East and West
Horsley, Surrey, for every fifty queen wasps
brought to him.

Up to th* present Mr. Eastwood has paid
£3 15s., 759 queen wasps having been rap-
tured. One man captured as many as 226. —
Star.

According to the Paris correspondent of the
Standard, some of the clerical partisans in
France have invented a new method of war-
fare : — " A certain portion of the inhabitants
of Saint Meen refuse to listen to counsels of
moderation. Hives full of bees will, they
declare, be placed on the barricades in such a
nosition as to insure the injects stinging the
horses when the hives are upset by the
cavalry." Those who provoke religious strife
are often said to stir up a hornet's nest, but it
is hard that the gentle and mystic bee, as
M. Maeterlinck has taught us to regard him,
should be enlisted in this service. We wonder,
by the way, if the employment of stinging
insects is countenanced by the usages of war
as denned at the Hague Conference. — West-
minster Gazette.

%tt Shmus to tflamt

October 7 to 10, at the Agricultural Hall,
Lon dor. — Show of Honey and Bee-produce in con-
nection with the British Dairy Farmers' Association.
Numerous and liberal prizes for honey, <fec.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All querietforteardrd mill b» attended to, and thoi* onlf

of pxrtnnal irtifrf* v'JJ h» m>«««i( «■* Hit nnJwm-n

T. Whitelaw (Crawley). — Doolittles Book
on Queen rearing. — The only dealer we
know of who stocks this book is Mr. Geo.
Rose, Great Charlotte - street, Liverpool.
He may also keep Professor Cook's work on

F. G. B. '(High "Blantyre). — Black Shiny
Bees. — The bees sent are black and shiny

because the pubesence or hairiness has been
rubbed off the thorax and abdomen through
fighting and "robbing." Tt is an unmis-
takable sign of severe fight' ng when bees
are seen cast out of hives in that condition.

P. Robinson (Hayes Common). — Foul Brood
Preventives. — If you will give us the date
and page of B.B.J, in which the statement
you refer to appears, we will be very
pleased to reply as requested. Without it
we can say nothing.

A. W. (Surrey). — Bee Parasites. — See reply
to " Chequers,'' page 398.

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 squan
inches of comb be sent, taking care to neither crush the
comb nor probe the cells before despatching.

In urgent cases (and inhere 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,"
not " Manager.''

J. Edwards (Calliugton). — No disease in
comb.

Meirioniwr (DolgeHy). — Foul-brood is just
developing in comb sent.

Disappointed (Tavistock). — The sample sent
shows a very pronounced case of foul-brood.
As you have the " Guide Book," we need
only advise dealing with it in the way
recommended therein.

J. M. B. (Cornwall).— 1. We find very slight
traces of incipient foul-brood in comb, but
the sealed cells in sample contain only
chilled brood. 2. All stocks short of food
in brood-chamber at this season must be fed
up to required weight of stores (not under
20 lb.) without delay, and all food should
be medicated — as directed in "Guide
Book '' — in your case. 3. The dark specks
in debris sent are the excreta of some
insect. 4 Naphthol beta will dissolve
if dealt with according to directions on
wrapper. We cannot recall having received
the photo named, but will be glad to see
one of your apiary.

R. W. (Glasgow). — Bad case of foul brood.

Honey Samples.

F. Procurator (Devon). — 1. Hooey sent
is of good flavour, showing a slight admix-
ture of heather, but it is granulating
rapidly. No. 1 candy is good ; No. 2
being rather too hard or not " buttery "
enough in &rain.

Errata. — In our report of the Warwick-
shire BK.A. Show on page 372 of B.B.J,
for September 18 — last paragraph but one —
the awards printed for " Collection of Appli-
ances '' should have been for " Beeswax.''

For Collection of Appliances the awards
were : — 1st, Geo. Franklin, Burton Green,
Kenil worth ; 2nd, E. H. Taylor, Welwyn,
Herts.

Oct. 9, 1902.];

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

401

(ftditarial, Ifartim, &c

THE B.B.K.A. CONVERSAZIONE.

In expressing our wish for a good attend-
ance at the final conversazione, which will be
held to-night at the rooms of the R.S.P.C.A.,
105, Jermyn - street, St. James', we may
remind readers — especially visitors to the
Dairy Show and those residing near town—
that the proceedings commence at 6 p.m., and
the journey by 'bus from the Agricultural Hall
occupies about thirty-five minutes.

It will also be of some interest to say that
the illuminated address for presentation to
Mr. J. M. Hooker by his bee-keeping friends
in this country will be on view during the
conversazione.

MARRIAGE OF MR. F. W. L. SLADEN.

October 2, at Pettigo Church, Frederick
W. L. Sladen, eldest son of Colonel and Lady
Sarah Sladen, Ripple Court, Kent, to Violet,
fourth daughter of Captain Barton, D.L., The
Waterfoot, co. Fermanagh.

The numerous friends of our esteemed con-
tiibutor, Mr. Sladen, who are readers of this
Journal will join us in offering our cordial
congratulations on his marriage, with best
wishes for a long and happy life for Mrs.
Sladen and himself.

THE DAIRY SHOW.

The twenty-seventh annual show of the
British Dairy Farmers' Association opened at
the Agricultural Hall, London, on Tuesday,
the 7th inst., and continues till Friday next,
the 10th. We have just time to publish the
awards this week, while reserving any com-
ments it may be necessary to make till our
next issue.

Messrs. W. Broughton Carr, London, and
C. N. White, St. Neots, Hunts, were appointed
judges, and made the following

AWARDS.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (Light
Coloured). — 1st, Jas. Lee & Son, Silver-street,
Holborn, W.C., and Monks Acre Apiary,
Andover, Hants ; 2nd, John Smart, Andover ;
3rd, T. S. Holdsworth, Kirton Lindsey, Lines ;
4th, Richard Brown, Somersham, Hunts ; v.h.c.
and reserve No., W. Woodley, Beedon, New-
bury ; v.h.c, H. W. Seymour, Henley-on-
-Thames ; h.c, E. C. R. White, Newton
Toney, Salisbury, and John Carver, Welling-
ton, Salop ; c, T. Evershead, Billingshurst,
Sussex.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (Medium
Coloured). — 1st, Richard Brown ; 2nd, Jas.
Lee & Son ; 3rd, H. W. Seymour ; 4th, E. R.
Nasb, Smarden, Kent; v.h.c. and reserve
No., P. B. Govett, Tideford, St. Germans,
Cornwall ; v.h.c, H. M. Turner, Oxford ;
h.c, E, C. Whiter

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (Dark
Coloured).- 1st, H. W. Seymour ; 2nd, E. C. R.
White ; reserve No., W. Sproston, Gt.
Haywood, Staffs.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Heather Honey.
— 1st, Thos. Richards, Church Gresley, Staffs ;
2nd, John Berry, Llanrwst, N. Wales ; v.h.c,
W. Sproston and Jas. Lee & Son ; h.c, J. M.
Balmbra, Alnwick.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Granulated Honey. — 1st,
Richard Brown ; 2nd, J. Hookway, Welling-
ton, Som. ; 3rd, W. Woodley.

Twelve l-lb. Sections — 1st, H. W. Seymour ;
2nd, A. W. Weatherhogg, Willoughton,
Lines ; 3rd, W. Woodley ; v.h.c and reserve
No., Richard Brown.

Twelve l-lb. Sections, other than 4j in. by
A\in. — 1st, H. W. Seymour ; reserve No., Rev.
R. M. Lamb, Burton Pidsea, Hull.

Twelve l-lb. Sections Heather Honey. — 1st,
Jas. Waddell, Wooler, Northumberland ;
2nd, J. M. Balmbra ; reserve No., Jas. Lee
& Son.

Display of Comb and Extracted Honey. —
1st, Jas. Lee & Son ; 2nd, H. W. Seymour ;
v.h.c. and reserve No., W. Woodley.

Beeswax, Judged for Quality of Wax only.
— 1st, Jno. Berry ; 2nd, H W. Seymour ;
v.h.c. and reserve No., E. C. R. White.

Beeswax in Marketable Cakes Suitable for
Retail Trade. — 1st, Jas. Lee & Son ; 2nd, Jno.
Berry ; 3rd, H. W. Seymour ; v.h.c and reserve
No., J. Pearman, Pennylong-lane, Derby ; h.c,
E. H. Taylor, Welwyn, Herts.

Interesting and Instructive Exhibits of a
Practical Nature. — 1st, Miss K. M. Hall,
Curator, Stepney Borough Museum, London ;
2nd, Dr. Percy Sharp, Brant Broughton ; v.h.c.
and reserve No., H. W. Seymour ; v.h.c, W.
Woodley.

(ftarmjrantee.

The Editort do not hold themtelvet responsible for the
opinions emprei$ed by eorretpondenU. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communication!, and eorretpondenU
are requested to write on one tide of the paper only and
give their real namet and addrettti, not necessarily for
publication, but at a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieeet of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected eommunieatiom.

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

NOTES BY THE WAY.
[4905. J Once again we have practically
completed our out-of-doors work in the apiary
for the season, and we now have time to
review our season's work, to take note of the
failures and successes of our " fads " or trials
of new methods of doing the old-time work.
If the successes outnumber our failures we
shall feel that we are progressing— that we
have discovered " short cuts '' where erstwhile
we had to go the whole length to accomplish

402

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 9, 1902.

the same amount of work. The season now
drawing to a olose has been a chequered one
to most bee-keepers. The honey producer
has had only a partial crop ; the queen-breeder
has had considerable work and care without a
proportionate fulfilment of his hopes and
plans. Young queens have not mated so
satisfactorily as in most years, and some
have altogether failed to mate, especially
those bred late in July and early in August,
so that we have had two restricted outputs.
Indeed, swarming was the only part of the
summer's work which has gone off with a vim,
and where increase was not required or a
market found for swarms this acted against
the bee-keeper's best hopes and wishes.

The present outlook is none too rosy, as in
many instances the bees are badly supplied
with stores, and, where feeding has not already
been attended to, the winter will tell a sorry
tale before another spring comes round.
Therefore I would urge those who have pro-
crastinated with their bee-work to give a few
pounds of thick, warm syrup and a good-sized
cake of candy when packing down for the
winter.

Extracting Sections. — The mention made
some time ago has brought me several letters
of advice, for which I tender thanks. One
gentleman says, " Turn your extractor very
slowly," &c. When I do this the honey in
some of the partly-filled sections will not leave
the comb, and when I get the extractor going
at extracting " pace " the combs break away,
unless I have my perforated pieces of zinc to
take the weight of honey or the force of the
centrifugal motion. But if our removable
cages had the wire sides made with the projec-
tions (say 3| in. square) projecting half an
inch or so to take the bearings of six sections
in each cage, the work would go off expedi-
tiously and satisfactorily when extracting
twelve sections at one time.

Vagaries of Queens.—This matter has
called forth replies in the Journal as to the
facts, and as the bee-keeper's axiom says,
"Bess do nothing invariably," so with the
absence or presence of queens in hives in some
seasons this axiom has proved true in many
cases. When bees "re-queen" of their own ac-
cord, there are often about three or four queen-
cells already to hatch within a short time of
each other, and the resulting virgin queens
often go forth on the wedding - trip and
fail to return. Where they go to no one
knows; you rarely see anything of them
on the ground in front of the hives, even
when there are seen to be five, six, or seven
vacated queen-cells, and only one queen can
be found in the hive. Some one will declare
there has been a " battle royal " and the con-
quering queen is reigning ; that may be, but
where are ine Others '? Have they been
driven forth to become the prey of bird?, or
have they become mated and then entered
some other hive requiring a young queen (or it
may be a nucleus with queen cells) and been

duly accepted ? In this way havoc is made
with the best-laid plans of the queen-breeder ;
his batch of fine queen-cells are destroyed by
the bees who are badly in want of a laying
queen. Such vagaries as these may account
for many seemingly inexplicable occurrences
in the working of an apiary.

Obituary Note. — I have not seen any
obituary notice in B.J. of the late Mr. Jabez
Sopp, of Growmarsh, near Wallingford. The
only short notice I have seen of our late
friend appeared in Newbury News of Sep*
tember 11 (I believe), where it stated that
" Mr. Jabez Sopp, the noted bee-keeper of
Crowmarsb, died suddenly." In the same
week's B.J. Mr. Sopp's name appears amongst
the v.hc.'s for light-coloured honey. Was
this a posthumous honour ? Our veterans
" cross the bar " or drop out of our ranks as
time goes on ; new men fill up the breach,
though those who are left of the " old guard "
remember and love those who have stood
shoulder to shoulder in the years that are far
behind, and pine for a clasp of the vanished
hand, or a bee-chat as in days of yore. —
W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury.

SOME NOTES ON PASSING EVENTS.

[4906.] I am always interested in reading
contributions in your pages from such men as
"D. M. M," H. W. Brice, W. Woodley,
and others, and I find that all agree in this
being an exceptionally bad year for honey, and
I note their advice to hold out for a fairly
good price. I also note that one of our
principal appliance makers has been adver-
tising until this week for good well-filled sec-
tions to be delivered free for 6s. per dozen,
not a very tempting offer, knowing what the
season is like. Like a good many others this
year, I have more demand for well-filled sec-
tions than I can supply — in fact, it has been
a very bad year indeed, many people com-
plaining that they have not been able to get
the bees in the supers at all. I have had no
trouble that way, but there has been so little
honey gathered that, beyond drawing out the
comb foundation in many cases, there has been
little else done in surplus-chambers.

We are not in what can be called an ideal
place for fast gathering of honey, being
situated on the borders of Dartmoor. Yet
we have apple orchards for spring work, clover
in season, and a touch of heather, just enough
heather to help the bees in the autumn and
save much feeding ; we have no beans, limes,
or such-like crops.

Skeps were the usual thing here, but they
are gradually giving way before the bar-frame
hive. I was the first in our parish to adopt
the standard-frame, and I have taught others
to do the same. It seems easy work to
become a bee-keeper now. When I started
twenty years ago it was so very different ; then
the Journal was not known here, and it was

Oct. 9,1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JGtJRNAL.

403

difficult to get a start on the right lines. One can
learn more from one week's issue of the B.B.J,
than could be obtained from a year or two
plodding on without it. Now it is a bee-
keeper's own fault if he flounders about in the
ditch of uncertainty (as I did at first starting),
thanks to the Bee Journal, County Asso-
ciations and their bee tents, County Council
lectures, and a host of experts.

J . should like very much to be present at the
meeting of representatives of County Associa-
tions to be held in London on the 9 th, but it is
impossible for me. Yet I hope something
will be done to bring the County Associations
more in touch with the parent society. One
thing I would like arranged for, viz., a con-
ference, say, onee a- year, and each affiliated
society to be able to send a delegate, and each
County Association, when holding their annual
show, to have certificates given from the
B.B.K.A. to the successful exhibits.

It would be a good thing, if possible, for the
conference to be a travelling one ; say, take in
all the counties in turn, so that we could all
in time get a chance of coming into contact
with some of the prominent members of the
craft ; for to most of us the great men are
only known by name, and we cannot afford the
expense or time to come to London. I had
to travel twenty-seven miles by rail to get a
chance of trying for an expert certificate,
and had the pleasure of meeting Mr.
W. Broughton Carr in a bee-garden, and just
missed being examined by him. He came
down to Exeter to judge the honey classes
and take the candidates. I happened to
be nearly last on the list, and before my
turn came I had to hurry off to catch the last
train. I had to wait another year and travel
another twenty-seven miles ; yet for all that I
am glad to have seen our Editor, even for so
short a time. Hoping, if fortune favours, to
have the pleasure of seeing more of the
B.B.K.A., and that the best counsel . will
prevail and good come from the. meeting of
the 9th.— A. Godsland (Third Class Expert),
Bovey Tracey, Devon. .

HELPING BEE-KEEPERS.

[4907.] I have got into the way of lending
a hand in helping bee-keepers in my district,
and in consequence, a neighbour asked me to go
and put his bees right for winter. The hives
had never been looked into at all since I
examined them in May two years ago ; they
had swarmed and hived themselves into old
hives on frames thrown in anyhow. Not a
single super had been put on this year, and
yet they are the best provided stocks for
winter of any I have so far seen in the country,
the body-box being crammed with sealed
honey. I managed to cut one or two combs
out of the back of two of them, but the other
(a this year's "swarm) I let alone, as it was too
mUcbJfor me. The. swarm had 'hived itself on
•seven old combsy and built*, the rest .of the

combs on the dummy at back. The bees had
then passed up above the frame-tops, and
built combs upwards in spires and pinnacles
all over, the top-bars, as the latter had no
quilts on them, in fact, nothing overhead
but the roof, and had the honey-flow lasted a
bit longer, they could have filled the roof with
comb and honey. They had built oyer 6 in.
high with comb, so I got a carving knife to
work and sliced it down level to frame-tops
and covered them down for winter. This was,
I thought, the toughest job I should have to
tackle this autumn, and wondered if there
could be any worse in the land. But I was
mistaken, for I was asked to look at some
bees that had belonged 'to a man who was
killed in the mine a year ago. ' I knew the
poor fellow had some hives, but thought his
wife would be able te look after them ; but it
appeared they had been left entirely alone.
When I reached the place the widdw said, "I
am afraid you'll have trouble, as the hives
have never been touched since his death." . I
found trouble enough, and for three hours I
was cutting and carving out combs and fixing
things up. There was only one hive in spring,
and it sent out a swarm on Coronation- day
(June 26), For two years before this it had
not been looked into once. The excluder-zinc
had been on all that time, and some wood
slabs were nailed on to give the bees a way
over the tops of frames, the only covering all
that time being three thicknesses of calico
thrown loosely on. The bees had plastered
every hole up with propolis that needed
stopping, and how they lived through last
winter and spring seemed little short of a
miracle. I had to get a pair of pincers
to pull the excluder off. I then found
that every frame below was built to the
hive-side. They were, however, well stored
withhoney, and the beesseemed strong and quite
content to spend another winter under the same
cover. I took out three of the heavy frames,
told the widow to empty them in the ex-
tractor, then return and give 4 lb. of sugar-
syrup to the bees, which would be ample for
their winter needs. I then turned my atten-
tion to the swarm, which had been hived in a
skep, and the skep set on a floor board, the
said board and skep then placed on the top of
a body-box belonging to a frame-hive. But
the bees did not like that side of the board,
and so next day, like sensible bees, they
changed sides, going in at body-box entrance.
And somehow the queen and the whole
swarm then deserted the skep and started work
below. • There were no frames, so the bees
built combs to the underside of floor board on
which the skep stood. But by some means
several combs had fallen down, and when they
got them to stick at last the bees had built eight
combs, and joined therrit$cthose on the floor,
so that when -I lifted the board up some combs
held on and some stuck to the bottom of box,
so' 1 had torn them in half in lifting it. This
madea big jness, as you may Suppbse.' However,

404

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 9,1902.

the widow told me to make the best of them,
so I first cut away the combs from bottom of
box, then stuck a piece of comb in the
inside of a skep, and put this inside the
box, with a hive-rug over all to keep bees in,
then bit by bit I carved the honey and
combs off the board, shaking and brushing the
bees off at the entrance, and running them
into the skep. Then, when all was done, I
told the widow of a man who wanted some
driven bees, and would no doubt give her a
couple of shillings for the bees, for which she
gladly consented to sell them. During all the
time I was at work I never got a single sting !
So I started for home, thankful that I had got
through an awkward bee-job and helped the
widow. — Tom Sleight, Pilsby, Chesterfield.

YORKSHIRE NOTES.

[4908.] I am afraid my " notes " will have
to be in a low key. The season here has been
very poor, though I hear of a few not many
miles away who have done moderately well.
The information I have so far got shows a
weight of 28 lb. of surplus per hive down to
nothing, and in some instances worse than
nothing, bees having been hungered to death
in August. With hives that have not been to
the moors feeding will have to be pretty
general, or they cannot possibly winter in
safety. I hear there are many stocks of bees
dead on the East Yorkshire moors, and hives
that had not ten to fourteen days' provisions in
store when taken (say about the 8th to 12th
of last month) will have suffered heavily or
died outright. One stock in this state when
sent in our lot was found to be dead. The
reason is obvious — the heather season was at
least fifteen days later than usual, and we had
only about three fine days in the first
fortnight.

It will be of interest, as showing the
poorness of the season, to give you an account
of the daily work done by a swarm of mine
this year, with weight of honey gained or lost
between June 26 and August 4. This swarm,

1 may say, was joined to a very weak lot of
bees after removal of their queen. The
weights were taken daily, with the following
result: — Increase, June 26, 1 lb.; 27th, 3 lb ;
28th, 3 lb. 4 oz.; 29th, 2 lb.; 30th, 1 lb. 4 oz.
July 1, no gain; 2nd, decrease, 1^ lb.; 3rd,
increase, 8 oz.; 4th, decrease, 12 oz.; 5th, in-
crease, 5 lb.; 6th, 3 lb. 13 oz.; 7th, decrease,
8oz.; 8th, 8oz.; 9tb, 10 oz.; 10th and 11th,
increase, 6 oz.; 12fcb, decrease, 12 oz.; 13th,
increase, 1 lb. 3 oz.; 14th, 4 lb. 3 oz.; 15th,

2 lb. 13 oz.; 16th, 1 lb. 9 oz.; 17th, nil ; 18tn
and 19th, decrease, 1 lb. 12 oz.; 2(Xh, nil ;
21st to 23rd, decrease, 12 oz.; 24th and 25th,
1 lb. 9 oz.; 26th to 28th, 1 lb.; 29th to
August 4, 1 lb. 6 oz. Total weight gained,
29 lb. 15 oz.; lost, 11 lb. 1 oz. Net gain,
18 lb. 14 oz.

I think our average of flower honey will not
be over 10 lb. a kive. Of my eight stocks,

two have produced no surplus at all. No
feeding, however, will be required. While
some have a fair quantity of honey in the
supers, not one-third of it is sealed over.
The brood- combs, however, seem to have a
fair amount of sealed heather honey. This is
my worst season, with one exception, viz., in
1886, when from fourteen hives I got 9 lb. of
honey, dropped £2 cash for food and material,
and reduced my stock to five, by the following
spring. So, after all, we will say 1902 is not
so bad but it might have been worse. Success
to bee-keepers and Bee Journal !

P. S. — Limes flowered well. No honey
from them. Hundreds of young trees in
Harrogate. — G. D., Harrogate, October 2.

CARELESS APPLIANCE-MAKERS.

[4909.] In reply to your correspondent
" Alvei B." (4901, B.B.J. October 2), I do not
think it would be fair to state the name of the
county in which I witnessed such careless-
ness, at an appliance-maker's, in regard to
foul brood, on account of other dealers in the
same county ; but I may say that the maker
in question is not, I believe, a manufacturer
of "foundation," and I recommend "Alvei
B.," and others who fear infection from the
cause mentioned by me (on page 386 of B.B.J.,
September 25), to buy direct from a manu-
facturer who makes a speciality of foundation-
making, as the fewer hands it has to pass
through the less must be the risk of infection.
— Carbolic, October 4.

HOMES OF THE HONEY-BEE.

THE APIARIES OP OUR READERS.

We have in Mr. Hastings, a part of whoso
bee-garden is shown on next page, another
Scotch bee- keeper of the best type — one
whose school-day experiences in the craft were
among straw skeps, but who on reaching man-
hood lost no time in adopting modern methods
and the frame-hive.

The account our friend sends of his bee-
work and its results is so full and interesting
that it needs no addition from us. He says : —

" I enclose photo of my small bee-garden in
the hope that some time you may have room
for it in your Journal and Bee-keepers"
Record, which latter I read with great
pleasure every month. With the help and in-
struction I got from it and Mr. Cowan's ' Guide
Book,' I get on famously with the bees. I
am sorry to say in our part of Scotland we
have had a very poor season for honey, the
worst I have had since I started bee-keeping
fifteen years ago. But seeing that I had a
splendid season last year I do not grumble.
It is not too much to say my work lies among
the bees and hives. I am wood forester
to P. A. Pasley Dirom, Esq., of Mount-
annan, and hare time allowed to do all that

Oct. 9, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

405

is needful for the bees. I make all my own
hives, which are constructed on the ' W.B.C
principle, as I consider it best for all purposes.
The little girl seen on top of the hive is my
youngest daughter, aged six. She has no
fear of the bees, and has never got a sting,
whereas the older ones very often get stung.
I have at the time of writing only nine hives
with bees in them, and I do not care to
increase, for I find they are as many as I can
manage nicely. Some bee-keepers who spend
a lot of time and thought on non-swarming
hives will be surprised to hear that I have
scarcely ever had a swarm, as I always give
the bees plenty of room in advance of require-
ments, and this fully answers the purpose of
stopping swarming with me. On the question

to suffocate in the brimstone-pit, and I used
to go often and watch him working amongst
them. He went out bareheaded, with leather
apron on and sleeves turned up, and I do not
remember him getting stung often. My
grandfather brewed a kind of beer called
' bregwort ' from the honey along with herbs,
and he used scarcely any other medicine
than this. I got a skep of bees from
him in 1887, and started on my own
account at Shawhead, about seven miles west
of Dumfries. I borrowed a frame-hive from a
neighbour as a pattern, and made one in
which I put my bees the next year, together
with a swarm that they threw, and this same
hive and frames have never been empty since.
Although there never has been a very big

MR. ROBERT HASTINGS' APIARY, MOUNT ANNAN, ANNAN, N.B.

of finding a market for my honey, too, I may
truly say I have no difficulty whatever in dis-
posing of all I can secure at about 8d. per lb.
in bulk, or lOd. in either screw- cap jar3 or
sections. The photo sent was taken by my
employer, but the camera had to be too near
to get in all the hives and house.

" My first experience of bee-keeping dates
back to the time I was at school thirty years
ago, although it is just fifteen years since I
Btarted on my own account. My grandfather,
who was a shoemaker, kept bees in straw
skeps, and attended more to them and to
growing herbs in his garden than shoemaking,
which was left to the journeymen and appren-
tice?. He wintered always from ten to
twelve skeps, so he generally had several casts

return, my bees have always given me some
surplus. I was very seldom at home for a
number of years, so my mother attended to
them, with the help of 'The British Bee-
keepers' Book for Beginners.' Twelve years
ago I married and settled in Annan, since
when I have gone in for bee-keeping in
earnest, and have since increased the num-
ber of my hives, until I have now nine
strong stocks. I give them plenty of room,
and very seldom have had a cast or swarm
during the last four or five years. Ours is not
a very good locality for 'record takes' of
honey, bat the honey is mostly of good quality,
from white clover and limes ; the heather is
too far away, and I think we have
too many woods round about for extensive

406

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 9, 1902.

gathering* There are a good many
bee-keepers in this parish, and some
of them do very well, and I am glad to say
I have never either seen or heard of foul brood
yet in this district. I have never tried queen-
rearing yet, but would like very much to be
able to raise my own queens, t will make a
trial of it soon, a? I find that when I can get
driven bees to strengthen the old hives, they
work with renewed vigour. I have just got
about 20 lb. of honey this year from all my
hives, and not very good in colour. I showed
extracted honey last year at Dumfries and at
Edinburgh, and I got a second and four
minor awards in different classes at Dum-
fries, and a second at the Edinburgh Home
Workers' Exhibition. I was very pleased
with my first efforts on the show- bench. I
have an extractor and ripener, and sell nothing
but ripe good quality honey.

"In conclusion, I think everyone should
have a hobby of some kind ; and, where there
is a suitable place for an apiary, there can
be no more interesting one than bee-keeping.
The little workers are a very interesting
study, and you can learn nothing but good
from them — except when they use their stings
to excess, and with careful handling that can
be avoided."

WEATHER REPORT.

Westbourne, Sussex.

Rainfall, .88 in.

Heaviest fall, .35 in.,
on 2nd.

Rain fell on 9 days.

Below aver., T48 in.

Maximum Tempera-
ture, 69°, on 7 th.

Minimum Tempera-
ture, 37°, on 18th.

Minimum on Grass,
-25°, on 18 th.

Frosty Nights, — .

Sunshine, 158 3 hours.

Brightest Day, 13th,

, 10-8 hours.

September, 1902.
Sunless Days, 1 .
Below average, 21 '5

hours.
Mean Maximum,

633°.
Mean Minimum,

48-7°.
Mean Temperature,

56°.
Above average, 1*2°.
Maximum Barometer,

3062°, on 26th.
Minimum Barometer,

29 -78°, on 12th.

L. B. BlRKETT.

CONVERSATIONS WITH DOOLITTLE"

HOW TO SECURE WORKER COMB FROM
" STARTERS."

"Good morning, Mr. Doolittle. Too cold
for the bees to work this morning, and here it
is nine o'clock the 16th day of August."

" Yes, it is very cold for the time of year,
Mr. Brown. The mercury stood at only
10 deg. above freezing this morning, and the
same on the morning of the 13th. I fear we
are not going to get much buckwheat honey
on account of the cold, as it is now nearly in
full bloom; and the hives do not have at

present one-fourth enough honey in them for
winter ; and unless we have a yield from buck-
wheat it means feeding for winter stores —
something I have not had to do for twelve or
fifteen years past. But we will not dwell on
this part of the matter. What can I do for
you this morning 1 "

" Having no surplus honey this year, with
a prospect of buying sugar for winter stores,
owing to our wet, cold summer, I thought to
economise a little by having the bees build
their own comb in the frames next season
instead of buying foundation, as I have gene-
rally done. I read somewhere that you had
the most of your combs built in the frames
without the use of foundation, only as starters,
so I came to talk the matter over with you."

"Yes, I have allowed the bees to build
many combs in the frames and mainly did this
when I first began bee-keeping. But what
part of this comb-building has bothered
you % "

" In taking out the combs and inserting
frames having only a starter, I find the bees
almost invariably build drone comb." '

" Yes, that is as I have found it ajl along
my bee-keeping life, for the same has" shown
that it is . folly to insert a frame, having only a
starter in it, in a full colony previous to the
swarming of that colony, with the hope of
getting much if any worker comb ; and if
frames must be inserted in such colonies at
such times, it will pay the apiarist to purchase
comb foundation for such frames, even though
he has no surplus honey, rather than try to
get them filled by the bees."

" But suppose we have worker combs on
hand for such times."

" That would be all right ; in fact, I con-
sider built-out combs even better for such
places than frames filled with foundation.
For where only one or two frames of founda-
tion are placed in a hive between combs, when
honey is coming in from the fields, the cells
from the comb along the top-bars to the
frames are extended so they jut out into the
space that belongs to the frame having the
foundation in, before the foundation is drawn
fully out, so that we have ' fat ' combs in some
frames and ' lean ' ones in others, in a way that
causes much trouble in exchanging them,
especially in hives having frames at fixed dis-
tances."

"But these extra comb3 cause us to pre-
suppose that they have been built some time,
so we come to the main idea how to secure
extra frames of worker comb without using
full sheets of foundation.''

" I find that there are three conditions of
the hive or colony under which, if rightly
managed, the bees will almost invariably build
worker comb.''

"Now you are talking about just what I
wished to know. Tell me about the condition
you consider best."

" The surest of the three ways is when a
colony is quite weak, or what we term a

Oct. 9, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

40?

nucleus. If such a colony is deprived of all of
its combs save one of honey and one of brood,
and a frame having a starter in it is inserted
between the two combs left in the hive, the
bees will, ninety-nine times out of a hundred,
fill that frame with worker comb, and said
comb will be as perfect as one built from foun-
dation under the most favourable circum-
stances. Taking advantage of this fact, I take
frames of brood from the weaker colonies I
have at the beginning of the honey-flow, those
too weak to work in sections to advantage, and
give this brood to the weaker of the stronger
colonies, and set the weak colonies to building
comb, as I have explained. You will note
here that I really make a gain in this way as
to surplus honey, for this brood, where placed,
gives better results in section honey than it
would have done had it been left where it was
with the weak colony, as it almost immediately
puts the bees of the colony where given (into
the sections) at work, while, had the brood
remained in its own hive, these colonies would
have been somewhat slow in starting in the
sections."

" Well, that is quite a scheme, surely ; for
we can really kill two birds with one stone in
this way. I wish I had known of this matter
last year, as I had several colonies that I could
have worked that way. But what of the
second best plan 1 ''

" The second is, at the time of hiving new
swarms, which are treated in this way when I
wish them to build worker comb. The swarm
is hived on the full number of frames the hive
contains, and left for thirty -six to forty-eight
hours, a super of sections being put on when
the swarm is hived. The hive is now opened
and five of the frames are allowed to remain —
the five that have perfect worker comb being
built in them, and dummies are used to take
the place of the frames taken out. This
throws the force of bees, not needed below,
into the sections, so that the bees do not need
to build any store comb in the brood-nest,
which store comb, when built for that purpose,
is generally of the drone size of cells.- By this
time the queen is ready to keep up with the
bees in their comb-building with her eggs ;
and in this way, nine times out of ten, I get
these five frames filled with worker comb, and,
besides, secure a good yield of section honey."

" Why do you wait from thirty-six to forty-
eight hours about arranging the hive ? Why
not give only the five frames at the time of
hiving 1 "

" Glad you asked that question, as I should
have forgotten to speak of something that
would have bothered you had I not told you.
In the first place, a swarm given only five
frames when hived is liable to think the place
of abode too small, and leave, or swarm out,
and such a procedure is a nuisance. In the
next place, when any colony having an old or
laying queen is first hived, the bees are likely
to build comb too fast for her, hence some of
the combs first started are liable to be of the

drone size on account of the queen not being
in condition to lay many eggs at first, as all
queens cease almost entirely to lay for twenty-
four hours previous to swarming, so that they
may be reduced in weight that they may fly
and accompany the swarm ; and full prolific-
ness does not return under forty-eight hours
after the swarm has commenced keeping house
in its new home. And as these combs, having
the drone size of cells, are just right for store
combs, the bees generally, when once started,
keep right on with that size of cells till the
bottom of the hive is reached."

" I see now why I have had so much drone
Comb built when hiving swarms without
giving frames of foundation, and I am glad to
know of this matter. But I must soon be
going ; but I should like to hear of the third
plan before I go."

" The third condition under which worker
comb will be built is just after the young
queen gets to laying in any colony having cast
a swarm. If, after she has been laying two or
three days, we take away two or three combs
and put frames with starters in their places,
we shall find that these frames will be mainly
filled with worker comb. As the bees are now
over the swarming fever and desire worker
bees to promote the welfare of the colony, no
drones are needed, and the young queens are
not likely to lay in drone comb. However, we
are not quite as certain of all worker comb in
this case as we are in either of the other two,
as there are plenty of built combs in the hive
for the young queen to use, and it sometimes
happens that the bees will prefer to leave off
storing in the sections and build store comb in
the frames, thus defeating what we are striving
to attain."

" Well, thanks until you are better paidj I
will try all the plans next year, and then I can
tell more about how the matter works with
me. Good day." — Gleanings {American).

(fto^ma and JWS

[2981.] Removing Sections. A Tough Job.
— Being called by a neighbour to take some
sections off a hive on which they had been
placed by another man in -the beginning of the
summer, I naturally thought it would only be
necessary to put on, or possibly adapt, my
super-clearer for use, and remove the honey,
when cleared of bees, without further trouble ;
but on examination, I found the following
situation : — The sections were arranged much
the same as a handful of matches arranges
itself if dropped on the floor, and apparently
the sections had never seen foundation. Some
few in a corner were massed together with
honey and comb. After managing to haul oft
the honey, somehow I found the body-box has
been made too long one way and too shor
the other for the " Standard " frame. Acros

408

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 9, 1902.

one-half of this said body-box plain slips or
bars of wood had been nailed, that was all.
The bees have, of course, built combs right
through this space in all directions ; it is full
of honey and the bees are strong. I want
your advice as to what should be done ? To
me there appears two ways. First : In the
spring tilt the box up cornerways and hammer
away until the bees are driven out. This
would probably take some time, but I think it
could be done, then start in a new hive ; or
secondly: In the spring place other bars of
wood where these are missing ; fix piece of
excluder zinc over body-box, and make a
temporary section- rack suitable for holding as
many sections as it will take and get next
season's surplus honey stored therein. Then in
the autumn proceed as suggested above for first
plan. 1. Would either of these methods be
likely to meet with success, or can you let me
know of one which would ? 2. Another thing
on which I wish to have your opinion. I have
seen people here in Ireland make syrup (for
bee-food) this way. Take a large bowl without
a bottom, over the lower opening tie a piece
of muslin. Half fill with sugar, place over a
jar, pour in water and let it filter throueh. I
do not think the plan a good one. What is
your view ? I do not like to trouble you
unless I cannot help, but there are occasions
on which your assistance is invaluable. —
Thanking you in advance, Slieve Donard,
Newcastle, co. Down, Ireland, October 4.

Reply. — 1. Without saying that either of
your plans is unworkable, we advise an
alternative to both, viz., to winter the bees
in the present body-box, after contract-
ing the size by shutting off the space in
which the combs are cross-built, and deal with
it in spring as directed in the well-known
method of allowing bees to transfer themselves
from skeps to frame-hives. 2. No plan of
syrup-making equals the one given in " Guide
Book." The one you mention results in
simple sugar and water, not bee-food.

[2982.] Wax Moth anal Store Combs.— I
have had so much trouble through moths
damaging my ready built combs that I am
led to ask what is the safest way to preserve
such for use in future seasons ? All I could
get my bees to do in the past poor season was
to build some nice shallow-frames of comb,
for though they put a little honey in them at
the end of June, it was either carried down
into the brood chambers or used for food.
Thus my only asset in surplus-boxes is these
combs, which, of course, are worth something.
I have nearly four dozen of them ready for
use in 1903 if I can save them from moth-
ravages. Your reply will be esteemed by — A
Young Bee-Man, Staffs, October 3.

Reply. — Store combs for extracted honey
are so valuable an "asset" to an up-to-date
bee- man that their safe storage for future use
is an item of work that no good bee-keeper
will grudge time over. In reply, we there-

fore reproduce below a sketch of a simple
contrivance devised by ourselves many years
ago, which in our hands answers the purposes
of storing combs for future use and keeps
them clear of moths.
The "body box" (fig. 1) is 9 in. deep,

14^ in. from front to back, and 32 in. long,
inside measure. So that, if needed, standard
size combs may be stored therein. Three-
quarter-inch or even ^-in. board is quite strong
enough for the sides and floor of the body box.
The uprights at each corner are 33 in. long,
2 in. wide, and \ in. thick, nailed on to the
outside of body box. Four light rails — slaters'
laths answer well for these — front and back
form the runners on which the frames hang ;
they are nailed on the inside of uprights with
their top edges 6 in. apart, the top rails only
being continuous. This rack when complete
is very light, and will comfortably hold 100
frames.

The sketch (fig. 2) represents the frame of
cover, and is made of very light laths, the

X

•>v

Fig 2.

uprights being 34 in. long, and the interna
dimensions of just sufficient length and width
to slip easily over the " rack '' when the latter
is full of frames of comb. When nailed up,
this frame has a covering of several thick-
nesses of strong paper pasted together, and the
whole is then complete. The cover fits down
over all quite close to the ground, and we find
that no moths or spiders, &c, ever attempt to
enter at the bottom edges. A dozen balls of
naphthaline are placed in the body-box, and
the fumes will permeate the whole of the

Oct. 9, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

409

PREPARING BEES FOR WINTER.

In compliance with a request for a means of
recording the condition of all colonies in the
apiary after completing the necessary pre-
paration for wintering, and also for general
reference regarding each hive's history and
" doings " for the past year, we insert the

practice to enable him to see at a glance
(a) number of hive ; (b) queen hatched on
June 5 last year ; (c) queen came from
hive No. 8 ; (d) bees strong in autumn when
examined ; (e) combs in hive need renewing
next spring ; (/) 67 lb. of surplus was taken ;
(g) 9 lb. of syrup food required to complete
winter stores ; (h) feeding finished October 1 ;

REGISTER OF

AUTUMN EXAMINATION OF STOCKS—

-OCTOBER, 1902.

Number

of

Hive.

Queen
Hatched.

Hive
Queen
came

from

Condition

of

Bees.

Condition

of

Combs.

Honey
Yielded.

Food
Required

for
Winter.

Finished
Feeding

Number

of
Combs.

Remarks.

above table, in which, as will be seen, pro-
vision has been made for ten stocks of bees.
Where a less number are kept, additional
columns may be arranged under the others
with such headings as it may be desired to
take note of. If, therefore, the reader will
suppose the ten columns to be filled up
as shown below, it will only need a little

(i) bees wintered on eight combs ; and ( j)
that, as food is only noted as " fair," candy
will ba needed in March.

The doings of each colony in the apiary will
thus be recorded, and much trouble saved in
the coming winter and spring months by
having notes for reference indoors without
having to open hives.

5/6/1901

No. 8

good

faulty

67 1b.

9 1b.

Oct. 1

Give candy in
March.

(Queries continued from previous page.)
eombs and stop mischief. For fumigation of
oombs with sulphur, space is allowed in body
V>x for holding the burning brimstone in an
old tin-lid, and when a hot coal is put in, the
cover is placed over the whole, and effectually
k««p« in the fumes.

"PERFORMANCES" IN THE BEE-
TENT.
A copy of the current issue of a county
newspaper has been forwarded to us, in which
the following paragraph was marked presum-
ably for publication : —

1 In addition to the show proper there were

various other attractions in the grounds, chief
amongst which was the bee-tent, in which
Mr. , the County Instructor in Apicul-
ture, lectured and gave demonstrations on the
artificial swarming of bees. His operations
included transferring bees from one hive to
another, and taking the honey without destroy-
ing the bees by the fumes of burning brim-
stone, which is the practice of bee-keepers of
the old school. To prove how little there is
to fear from bees when managed according to

their natural instincts, Mr. performed

some new and extraordinary feats with swarms
of bees. The first was to place a hive con-
taining several thousand bees over his unpio-
tected head and face, and walk from the bee-
tent round the show-ground. He then re-

410

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 9, 1902,

peated the feat, but instead of walking rode a
bicycle. 0" removing the hive containing
the swarm of bees from over his head a
gentleman inquired how many times he had

been stung. Mr. : jplied not once

during the two feats, and he felt much more
safe with his head in the hive with the bees
than he should with his head in some person's

hats without bees (laughter). Mr.

next attracted a swarm of several thousand
bees to cluster on his bare hand and arm, and
carried the swarm about the show ground.
A gentleman came and touched the bees with
his hand, but the bees showed no resentment.''

" Mr. Mills, of London, gave ventriloquial
and conjuring entertainments, &c."

We have omitted names and places ad-
visedly, and hope it will not be taken amiss if
we venture to say that the " County Instructor
in Apiculture'' will consult his own dignity
and that of the industry he represents officially
by refraining from such "performances'' as
are detailed above. To have a lecture and
bee demonstration given — we suppose — under
the auspices of the Technical Instruction Com-
mittee of the County Council described as
" new and extraordinary feats performed with
swarms of bees," as detailed above, is more
apt to reduce bee-craft to the level of the
"Ventriloquial and conjuring entertainments"
of the performer from London, whose " feats "
not inappropriately are referred to immediately
below those of the performer in the bee-tent.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letters or queriet 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 letter'',
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

%* A correspondent signing himself " Out-
Apiarist" (Cirencester) writes: — ''Would
you please invite brother bee-keepers who
have tried the ' Edwards ' swarm-catcher
during the last season to give their ex-
perience in B.J. ? It would be appre-
ciated."

P. Robinson (Hayes Common). — Foul Brood
Prevention. — The remedies recommended
by this journal are so well known that there
is no need to ask our opinion with regard to
them. With the opinions of those who
differ from us we have nothing to do ; but,
in reply to your question, we are entirely in
accord with the advice given by the lecturer
mentioned, so far as regards the value of
naphthaline in bee-hives.

Esher, (Somerset).— The Bad Bee Season. —
There is no heed for us to give "special

instructions" with regard to treatment of
bees for the present year. Bad bee seasons
are unfortunately not rare, though we hope
it will be a lonj? time ere so bad a year for
bee-keeping generally as 1902 will recur.
Meantime the only thing really needful is
to see that all stocks have a full supply of
food (say, 20 lb. at least) for wintering on.
This done, we hope to see bees come out
strong and ready for a successful year's
work in 1903.
A. L. Grimshaw (Ashton-on-Mersey). — Bees
not Sealing Food in Autumn. — It is always
best to winter bees on sealed food, but
if the syrup in unsealed portion of combs re-
ferred to is so thick as stated it will do no
harm whatever to leave it in the combs, as
the bees will use it for present needs.

E F. (Balby).— Syrup-Food Making— 1. We
should require a sample of the sugar, and
the method of making, before venturing an
opinion " why the bees fall on the ground
by dozens as if intoxicated.'' 2. With re-
gard to sugar crystallising on muslin and
preventing bees from getting at the food,
as stated, it arises from the fact of the bees
not " feeding '' from the inverted bottle at
all till the syrup crystalises on the surface
of muslin.

Suspected Combs.

Special Notice to correspondents sending queries on
" Foul b, ood.''

We urgently request that all letters sent with samples
of inspected comb be put outside the box or tin containing
'he sample. Also that no more than a couple of squan
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,"
not " Manager."

G. D. (St. Mary Cray).— There is foul brood
in both samples of comb sent.

A. K. M. (Spalding). — A bad case of virulent
foul brood. Drastic measures should be
taken with the stock.

E. W. W. (Winchelsea). — There is foul brood
of old standing in comb.

J. Jenkins (Cardiff). — Your second samples
are no better than those first sent, so far as
being unsuitable for the purpose of
diagnosing foul brood. There is practically
nothing to judge from. In the small bit of
crushed up comb we find a single larva
dead from cold, but there may be in other,
combs plenty of material that could help us
in forming an opinion. The fact of bees
being unwilling to take food at this season
is no indication at all of disease ; nor is the
fact of them refusing to carry unsealed
food down into the brood-nest below. On the
other hand, any food offered in late autumn
should be good, freshly-made syrup given
warm, not "syrup made last spring with
an overdose of salt." The fact of the bees
having refused this syrup last spring should
account for their present refusal.

Oct. 16, 1902.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

411

<# ditorial, §jtota, &t

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOC [ATION

CONFERENCE OF COUNTT REPRESENTATIVES.

A conference of representatives of County
Bee-keepers' Associations with the council of
the B. B.KA. was held at 105, Jermyn-street,
on Thursday, October 9, at 4 p.m., for the
purpose of furthering the interests, economical
working, and general welfare of the various
societies, and conducing to the establishment
of more intimate relations between the
B.B.K.A. and its affiliated societies. There
was a large attendance, the spacious board-
room being filled by gentlemen representing
the various County Associations affiliated to
the B.B.K.A.

Mr. T. I. Weston (Vice-Chairman of the
Council) presided, and opened the proceedings
by calling on the secretary to read the notice
convening the meeting, and also letters of
apology lor absence from a few members of the
committee and from county delegates. This
having been done, the chairman explained that
the conference was the outcome of a resolution
proposed by Colonel Walker on the occasion
of the monthly meeting of the council held on
November 2 last year. It was said there was
a general feeling that the central body and
County Associations were not so closely in
touch as was good for both of them. In
pursuance of the resolution the council of the
B.B.K.A. had drawn up an agenda of subjects
for discussion which seemed to be most suit-
able and important at the present time. The
first topic before them for consideration was
" The Difficulties Experienced by County
Associations and the Most Successful Ways of
Meeting Them," and he would be glad if some
representative would open the debate by
narrating his experiences and difficulties.

Colonel Walker then rose and said it was
not a new thing for members of County Asso-
ciations to meet the Central Council ; in fact,
the practice was common quite early in the
records of Associations, when there were very
few county auxiliaries. Of late years, how-
ever, the opportunity had not been taken
much advantage of, although the parent Asso-
ciation always encouraged it. In his own
county (Devon) the supreme difficulty was
" money,'' and the want of it had been the
trouble always. In former days this difficulty
was less hard to meet than at present, not-
withstanding the fact that they now had the
County Council behind them. In 1899, the
first time his Association approached the
County Council, it made terms with the latter,
and induced that body to supply a bee-tent,
which the Bee-keepers' Association was allowed
to make use of on payment of carriage, while
it remained the property of the County
Council. Good work was done in this way,
but the next year his Association succeeded in
obtaining a grant, a sum sufficient to enable

them to hire a bee-van, to be sent round the
county. This van tour was very success-
ful, and had the effect of securing a
few new members to the local body. The
following year, 1901, he and his Committee
thought they could do better, and managed
to obtain a similar vote of money to be used
for lectures at shows. They found, however,
chat the sum granted could not be satis-
factorily expended in that way, and as the
money voted must be utilised only in the
particular mode agreed upon previous to the
grant, they returned the balance of the grant
to the Council, having only disbursed a small
proportion of the whole sum. In 1902 the
Devon Association saw that unless some
different arrangement were come to no proper
headway would be made, and application was
therefore made that the new grant might be
split up into different heads, viz , two-thirds
of the whole for the expert tour, and the
remaining third in equal portions for shows
and for literature. Tbis was agreed to, but
the County Council would not allow any
portion of the amount allotted for literature
to include assistant secretarial expenses
except for " postages.'' The carrying out of
the work involved by this grant was a severe
strain on the secretary, and it seemed only
reasonable that he should be allowed clerical
help. Nevertheless, his committee thought
they had done very well, and in the literature
department had been able to include the cost
of the monthly journal issued by them, and
the leaflet inserted therein. The expert tour
had gained them ninety-nine new members
this year, and he though^ his Association bad
been fairly successful in its efforts. One
feature, however, must always be borne in
mind, which was that " grants in aid " were
never certain to be repeated. Newly-elected
County Councillors might not hold the same
views as their predecessors. One of the
difficulties his Association had, along with
most other?, he supposed, was to get members
to pay their subscriptions, and on that point,
no doubt, they would like to hear suggestions.
Mr. A. G. Pugh (Notts B.K.A.) thought
the Devon B.K.A. was to be congratulated,
for although Colonel Walker complained at
first of their difficulty in getting money, yet
he finished by announcing a very liberal grant
from the Devon County Council. Most
counties would envy his success. Referring
to his (the speaker's) own county, the local
Association held a committee meeting on the
first Saturday in the present month, when he
was deputed to ask at this conference whether
the B.B.K.A. had any reserve fund from
which it could help its struggling affiliated
County Associations ? Having been for many
years a member of the parent society, he had
told his friends not to think of that, knowing,
as he did, the dearth of funds at the head
office. He rather differed from Colonel
Walker regarding the actual value of County
Council support, being inclined to think that

412

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 16, 1902.

instead of their being a help to the county
B.K.A., they might possibly be the reverse.
The Notts B.K.A. had received from the
County Council a grant which had gradually
increased from ,£10 to £40, and his Associa-
tion suggested to the County Council that this
sum be spent upon an expert tour. This
suggestion being agreed to, his Committee
drew up a scheme and made the necessary
arrangements. The result, however, was that
after the expert had rendered all the assistance
required by members, the latter began to ask,
"Why should we continue to pay a yearly
subscription to the Association for assistance
which the County Council is paying for 1 And
this being so, there is no need to subscribe
any longer to the County B.K.A." It thus
became obvious that if those views became
general the Association would eventually
cease to exist. Some people do not take a
broad view of these matters, but were always
inclined to ask, " What shall I get for my
money 1 '' And it was difficult to convince
these people that they were getting anything
if the expert service was being paid for by the
County Council. If his Association could
keep the membership up to 200, it could
exist fairly well, but it was a difficult matter
to keep up their numbers, and any sugges-
tions from this meeting in the direction indi-
cated would be welcome to his Committee.
The question was also asked at his meeting,
" What does the B.B.K.A. do for us in return
for the affiliation fee ? '' He had always sup-
ported the payment of this fee, and pointed out
that the "British" did much more for the
cause throughout the country than the local
members were aware of. Probably, among
other things, they did not know that the
British had a large library of bee-books which
was at tbeir disposal. He thought it would
be a wise thing for the central body to publish
a leaflet stating what they had done and were
prepared to do for the affiliated Associations.
This would open the eyes of many country
bee-keepers, who thereby would feel them-
selves in much closer touch with the parent body
than they could be under present conditions.

Mr. Pears (Lines B.K.A) said that in
Lincolnshire they used to have a grant from
the Lindsey Division of the County Council,
but it had been withheld during the last two
or three years, owing to the County Council
being divided in opinion with regard to it.
His Association was the means of a great many
lectures being given in different parts of the
county, and had secured many new members
thereby. Next year a strong effort would be
made to regain the help formerly given by the
County Council. The grant of £20 which
they had at one time was a small matter,
but much good in helping cottagers had been
achieved by its help. At present his Associa-
tion numbered 500 members, and they held
several shows within a radius of ten miles, as
well as supporting local flower shows by small
money grants and medals, &c.

The Eev. W. E. Burkitt (Wilts B.K.A.)
endorsed the general complaint about the lack
of funds. The Wiltshire County Council
would not grant his Association a single
sixpence. They pay the expense of sending
the Association's bee-tent to shows and
appoint several men as tbeir own experts, he
(the speaker) being one of those employed to
a certain extent for that purpose. Some of
these so-called experts were not certificated at
all. Their visits had damaged the Associa-
tion, and caused a loss of membership. The
uncertificated men could handle bees very
well, but they were at a loss sometimes. The
experts made returns to the County Council
of everything they did, all of which par-
ticulars were published in the County Council
Reports.

Mr. H. Hill (Derbyshire B.K.A.) expressed
himself as unequal to the task of solving the
difficulties experienced by the Derbyshire
Association. They had changed Committees
and Secretaries with the object of importing
new blood, but he did not discern much im-
provement. They had a County Council
grant, which was used chiefly for lecturing.
He did not think it had gained them any new
members to the Association, and he was in-
clined to indorse Mr. Pugh's opinion, though
it might induce a few persons to start bee-
keeping, who would eventually join the
Association if an expert was sent out by the
Council. He (the speaker) found that if one
talked to the local members about the advan-
tage of " shows," they would generally retort :
"Yes, but that is all in the hands of ex-
perts, and the prize-money gets divided among
a few." Personally, he believed that nothing
was better than a show for educational pur-
poses. If the County Council would agree to
pay the cost of literature and the distribution
of it, his Association would be thankful for
removing from it an expenditure of about
£15 per annum, which was a great demand
on their resources. The Derbyshire Associa-
tion had been in existence twenty years, but
it needed some renewal of activity. A good
local expert was no doubt the chief pillar and
support of an Association. He should be a
man who studied the bee-keeper and not
himself only, as many did.

Mr. Allen Sharp (Hunts B K A.) said the
Hunts Association had been established
twenty years, and he had been a member
from the commencement. Their lamentation,
like that of the other county associations, was
want of funds, and the difficulty was how to
get them 1 The County Council made them a
grant of £20, but did not permit of it being
used as the Association would like. For two
or three years the latter were in the habit of
paying experts to lecture, but that did not
add much to their membership, and instead of
giving lectures the expert was now sent round
to visit bee-keepers at their own apiaries and
to give them advice and instruction. He (the
I speaker) did not know that auy local benefit

Oct. 16, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

413

had been derived from being affiliated to the
B.B.K.A., nor did he know how matters
could be otherwise. He had experienced
much of the difficulty referred to by Mr.
Pugh, namely, the de3ire of bee-keepers to see
a tangible quid pro quo for their affiliation
fee. Their members were falling off in
numbers, but he was not without hope of an
increase in the near future. For some time
past their Committee had been considering a
scheme for turning the Hunts B K.A. into a
mutual benefit society. One difficulty of the
members was to know how to get at the
wholesale market price of honey. In conse-
quence of this members often undersold one
another, and he had known a divergence
of as much as 2s. per dozen in the
price of sections. His Committee wanted to
devise a system of sending in a return by each
member at the end of every fortnight or month
stating the quantity of honey sold and the
price realised. This plan would give a sure
indication of the market value, and would
have a tendency to form a " ring " and keep up
prices for the benefit of the producer. Then
they had another project in view. It was
admittedly a serious matter if any bee-keeper
were taken ill during the honey-season. In
this event the bees must be left to themselves,
and most likely the season's honey would be
lost. Therefore, they proposed that if any
accident of the kind should happen the
members take upon each other the respon-
sibility of managing the sick man's bees during
the season ; and, io. the event of death fol-
lowing, the Association would come forward
and dispose of the apiary to the best advan-
tage, which they could, no doubt, do better
than the widow could. They had also thought
over the matter of insurance since the " hitch "
or stoppage had occurred in the B.B.K A.
scheme some months ago, and a proposition
was afoot to insure amongst themselves.
(Mr. Carr here intimated that all difficulties
in the scheme referred to were now removed,
and several thousand pounds' worth of insur-
ances effected through the medium of the
B.B.K.A.). Another idea of his Committee
was to hold their meetings in places where
there was an apiary near at hand. They had
had one very successful meeting under these
conditions, and discussed matters which were
capable of practical demonstration and exami-
nation there and then. There were between
fifty and sixty members of his Association,
and since holding the last meeting promises of
several new subscribers had been received.

Mr. Bishop-Ackerman (Berks B.K.A.) said
the experience of his Association in Berkshire
with the County Council had been rather
better than that of some branches. For the
past twelve years the County Council had
granted £50, which for the first year or two
was used more particularly for lectures. Then
it was decided to have a bee-van built and
furnished and sent over the county, but
although the County Council grant was sup-

posed to cover the expense thereof, it did not
do so, and a debt was being contracted. The
County Council laid down certain restrictions,
but two years ago his Association asked that
body to allow the Committee to work on their
own lines ; and now, besides the bee-van tours
in the north, south, and eastern divisions of
the county, they had used a portion of the
money for expert work, with better results.
The expert visited members and non-members
alike ; but members were promised an extra
visit in the autumn. This had been done,
and yet the Association was able to boast of
a balance on the right side. Two years last
February it had a deficit of £56, which had
since been converted into a surplus of £7, and
at the end of the present year he hoped to
report a balance of between £20 and £30.
The system of giving to members two visits
by the expert had greatly increased the
number of subscribers. There were 300
members at present, and he hoped for a
further augmentation thereof.

Mr. Sheppard (Essex and Suffolk B.KA.)
considered that in Essex the expert's services
were the Association's strong point, and most
good to the funds was derived from the same.
His committee tried in this way to give the
members as good a return for their money as
possible. The Association provided labels,
which were greatly appreciated, and had a
system of providing money for local shows,
which was also regarded with much favour.
The membership numbered 400, and was
gradually increasing, the sphere of the Asso-
ciation having latterly extended to Suffolk.
About five or six years ago the Association's
accounts showed a deficit of £40, but that had
been met and replaced by a balance to the
good of £15. They had no grant from the
County Council. In reply to questions, the
speaker said that the 5s. members were the
backbone of the Association. He had a few
honorary members at £1 Is. and 10s. 6d. ;
but, above all, the Association possessed a good
"expert," which, he thought, accounted in
large measure for its success.

The Chairman (as a member of the Essex
B.K.A) said that in Essfx they had been at
cross purposes with the County Council, and
that was perhaps the reason why no help was
forthcoming from that quarter. It seemed to
be considered by their Notts friends that
County Council grants were a detriment,
because the members, getting their work paid
for out of the rates, saw no reason why they
should support the Association. On the other
hand, Devon and Berks seemed to be more
than satisfied with what they had done. Thus
it was curious that there were three or four
counties worked on different lines, yet with
fairly good results. Personally, he thought
that associations ought to work with County
Councils, but it must be done thoroughly.
Every effort should be made to prevent these
bodies appointing men as lecturers who were
not fully conversant with their business. The

414

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 16, 1902.

associations ought, by means of their experts,
to strive to put themselves in such a position
of influence that they can go to the County
Councils and apply for grants with a good
prospect of being listened to. The educational
side of the subject should specially be worked
through the County Councils, not only to the
satisfaction of the latter, but to that of the
members. Mr. Sharp had, he thought, started
a fresh idea when speaking of mutual help
among members in cases of sickness or death
during the honey season. He (the Chairman)
did not remember to have seen that suggestion
mooted in the Beport of any County. The
proposal was,',he thought, an excellent one, and
could, perhaps, be carried out in small neigh-
bourhoods, but whether it would be practicable
over a large area he did not know.

Mr. Turner (Oxfordshire B.K.A.) said that
their Association had received the greatest
help from the County Council. Some years
ago it gave £50 towards apiculture, but
owing to bad management the grant had been
refused for a time," since which an energetic
secretary had brought about a revival, and now
£30 was allowed. This was intended prin-
cipally for lectures, but instead of giving lec-
tures to an audience of perhaps half-a-doren
people, the Association had arranged that a
couple of bee demonstrations should stand for
three lectures in a country village. This
enabled them to make better terms with the
expert, who, supposing he was visiting any
town, would give one or two lectures in the
afternoon and then visit all the apiaries, where
if desirable demonstrations could be given.
He considered practical demonstrations far
preferable to dry lectures in a schoolroom.
The Association had a large number of Is.
members, and another feature of their system
was that 5s. subscribers were allowed (and
everybody liked a little patronage) to nomi-
nate two villagers who should have the assist-
ance of the expert. The experts sent out were
all qualified. One of them, Mr. Hancox, of
Steeple Aston, acted from mere love of the
craft. He (the speaker), as hon. sec, found it
difficult to get subscriptions, and one method
of collecting them was to refuse the expert's
visit in the autumn until after the contribution
was paid.

Mr. Pugh, referring to his previous remarks,
wished it to be clearly understood that he did
not oppose County Council grants. The point
he wanted to drive home wa3 that the work
should be done by and through the Associa-
tions, and not by the County Councils acting
independently of Associations. The obvious
reason for this was that if the expert felt that
the County Council was paying him, he would
not care (certainly in many cases) whether the
Association sank or swam ; while, on the
other hand, if he knew his engagement
depended on the success of the Association,
the case would be quite different.

The Chairman then introduced the next
item on the agenda : — "The establishment of

uniform returns from each county, showing
the number of bee-keepers, the number of
stocks owned by them, the prevalence or
absence of foul brood, &c." He dilated on
the importance of securing information respect-
ing the number of skeps in the country, as
compared with bar-framed hives, and where
the former were most prevalent. Also the
quantities of honey raised in different localities.
A form could be drawn up embodying these
and other questions, and sent round through
local Associations to — if possible — every bee-
keeper in the kingdom, whose names could
be kept private. The B. B.K.A desired to
be in a position to go to County Councils
and say : — " This is the state of the bee-
keeping industry ; is it not worth your while
to foster it ? " The authorities were apt to
consider that the production of honey was
quite a local concern, for which there was no
market, and that it was therefore not worthy
of consideration. Apiculturists wanted to
prove the contrary, and his suggestion was
one of the means to that end. An advertise-
ment which had appeared, offering £75 per
annum for an expert in Ireland, showed that
there was life in the industry, and it was
desirable to further prove this by statistics.

Mr. Hill said their Derby county experts
always stated the number of skeps and bar-
framed hives, but as to details of the quantity
of honey raised that information could not be
obtained, even if there were no objection to
the inquisitorial character of it, until the
autumn visit.

Mr. Ackerman thought the task would be a
heavy and expensive one. A similar under-
taking cost his Association £63 to obtain the
information. True, they received a grant of
£50 for the purpose, but this was exceeded by
£13. There were 1,500 bee-keepers in Berk-
shire.

The Chairman replied that nothing like that
sum was spent in taking a census of Essex.
He himself obtained, as far as possible, the
names and number of hives of every bee-keeper
in the county, and was astonished at the exist-
ence of so many. The information was derived
from the public schoolmasters, who in their
turn received particulars from the children
under their care as to the number of hives, &c.

Mr. Ackerman said the Berks inquiry was
conducted by the expert, who, firstly, obtained
the names of all bee-keepers from the school-
masters, and then as far as possible visited
every one of them. This service, of course,
had to be paid for.

Mr. Carr remarked that in Ireland, where
statistics are published, the case was altogether
different, as the work was done by the police
through the Department of Agriculture. He
feared that any attempt to discover the
amount and value of honey raised by each
individual bee-keeper would be impracticable.

The remainder of Beport will appear in our
next issue.

Oct. 16, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

415

The Bditori do not hold themtelvet reipontible for tht
opinion* expressed by correipondenti. No notieo will be
taken of anonymous communication*, and correipondenti
art requested to write on one tide of tie paper only and
give their real namet and addrettet, not necettarily for
publication, but at a guarantee of good faith. Illuitra-
tiont should be drawn on separate piecet of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communication!.

%* In order to facilitate reference, Correipondenti,
when ipeaking of any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter at well
at the page on which it appear t.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

[4910.] Borage. — This is an excellent honey-
plant, and if grown in considerable quantity
would appreciably increase the season's yield.
Unfortunately, it is not very handsome, though
its flowers, taken individually, are very fair
and lovely, and their bright and vivid shade
of blue is exceedingly beautiful. A well
known lady writer lately described them as
" buds of heaven's own blue," but the shade
varies, and is sometimes far too light to be
compared to a sky-blue. She is happier in a
second simile when she makes a young mother
describe her baby's eyes as " those eyes of
borage blue.'' Further, she happily charac-
terises the borage as " the alluring plant." A
carious superstition existed atone time, and it
was believed that this plant held the secret of
a magic potion which was capable of scaring
all grief, so that one's very dearest might die
and never be missed by any one who partook
of this magic libation. Those who believed in
simples reckoned it among the cordial flowers,
and Gerarde tells us that the flowers were put
into salads "to make the mind glad." " They
comfort the heart, drive away sorrow, and
increase the joy of the mind." Alas, no
nepenthe such as this exists for us in modern
times. Even, however, at the present day a
high authority informs us that the leaves of
the borage impart a coolness to beverages in
which they are steeped, and with wine, water,
lemon, and sugar, enter into the composition
of an Eoglish drink called " a cool tankard.''
This season I find bees busy on the few plants
I possess, after white clover and heather have
ceased to yield. During any rare hour of
bright sunshine every flower allures a bee, and
the visits are so oft recurrent that the plant
must yield bountifully and secrete quickly.

The Elusiveness of Young Queens. — On
examining a hive for a queen, one is generally
satisfied of her presence when he sees brood,
sealed and unsealed, in all stages, from the
tiniest little worm to the larva almost filling
the entire cell. Keeping a sharp look-out,
further evidence is observable when we dis-
cover traces of her recent egg-laying arranged
in systematic order round the already existing
patches of brood ; and, from their appearance
and position in the cell, a close observer may
ascertain if they have been deposited a day or
two or just previous to his inspection of the

comb. So the search can be carried on on
that particular or adjacent frame if the eggs
show that they have been recently deposited.
Her graceful form and leisurely movements,
once seen, mark her out clearly from the
" vulgar throng " of busy workers or bulky
drones by which she is surrounded, so that
her presence is easily detected unless the hive
is uncommonly populous, or the bees have
been set on the run by rough handling of the
hive or frames or the too profuse use of smoke.
It may be taken as an axiom that the less
smoke we use the more certain we are to find
the queen. But all this is true only of staid,
sedate, and matronly mothers who have been
fertilised for some time, and who have settled
down to their life's work. At times young
virgin queens are very hard to find, and one
is often apt to come to the erroneous conclu-
sion that there is no queen present owing to
her movements being so elusive. She takes
advantage of all manner of subterfuges to
elude the keen eye of the searcher, and with
such success that too often the introduction of
a purchased queen proves unsuccessful. The
bees know she is there, and, being their very own
they cling to her to the detriment, or even
extinction, of the stock, in preference to
accepting the presidency of an alien, however
valuable she may be. This is one of the
enigmas of bee-life which at times tend to
shake our faith in the wisdom, or almost
preternatural instinct, which is one of the
marvels of the hive. I had, during the past
summer, an illustration of this strangely
elusive power of a young drone-breeding
queen. Uncontrovertible evidence was abun-
dantly present of her presence in the hive.
The dome-shaped capping of brood in worker
cells, the irregular distribution of larvse in
patches here and there or in isolated cells, the
indiscriminate way in which the eggs were
deposited, the presence in cells of more than
one egg, all testified not only that there was a
queen present in the hive, but afforded proof
positive that she had, owing to our wintry
summer, failed to meet the drone. Yet the
frames were all twice carefully handled without
any signs of her bodily presence being observ-
able. Next day another rigid inspection took
place, and every frame was examined in a cool
and deliberate fashion, but she again success-
fully eluded observation, and it was only after
another examination had been begun that she
was seen hurrying along the floorboard to gain
a footing on the frame last replaced. Once
seen, I kept her under close surveillance to
test the cause of her elusiveness, and found
that time after time she was temporarily able
to elude observation by swiftly darting through
pop-holes, rushing round the ends or bottom
of the frames, taking advantage of irregularly-
built comb, or hiding wherever any
" bunching " of bees took place at the un-
capped honey cells, and, once at least, /tying
from the frame under observation to one
already in the hive. Altogether, her powers

416

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 16, 1902.

of elusion were truly marvellous, and, after
observing them carefully for some time, it
would in no way surprise me though fre-
quently the search for a virgin queen were
given up under the mistaken impression that
no such presided in the hive about to be re-
queened. I have lately, in communications
from various correspondents, observed pro-
blems propounded which were easily solved
when we recognise the almost magical powers
of elusion possessed by these young virgin
queens.— D. M. M., Banff.

THE SEASON IN NOETHANTS.

A REMARKABLE REPORT FOR 1902.

[4911.] Not often seeing any account in the
B.B.J. as to bee-keeping in this part, it may
interest some readers to know how bees have
got on in Northants. The spring being cold
and wet, bees required a lot of care to get
them aloDg at all. It was feed, feed, up to
mid-June. We then had a turn for the
better, and we had a regular "Corona-
tion '' bee-time ; in fact, what with swarms
and honey-extracting, it was the liveliest time
I have ever had in all my sixteen years' bee-
keeping. Fortunately I had got my bees up
to " concert pitch,'' and the honey fairly rolled
in. Never before have I known the bees to
gather so fast as then. We had to literally
extract morning and night for a few days to
give room for storing. It really seemed as
though the bees worked night and day. The
result is that 1902 is the best season I have
had for many years. With regard to quality,
the honey varied from rather dark to medium,
but good, while some was splendid, fit to put
before any one. With regard to sales, I have
disposed of a good deal, but prices seem to get
a little lower as time goes on even in a year
like this. I have a fair quantity on hand yet,
but it keeps going. If I am not cleared out
by Christmas I must advertise in the B.B.J. ,
and I don't think it will be much trouble to
get rid of it. How very generous some
buyers are who advertise in the B.B.J, in this
year of honey scarcity ! Fancy 6s. per dozen
offered for best sections, and 5f d. per lb. for
best extracted (vide last week's B.B.J.). I hope
these prices will not tempt producers to part
with good honey at such prices in a year of
honey -famine, as we are told this is. Any-
way, those of us who have done so well this
year can sympathise with members of the
craft who have had nothing but disappoint-
ments for their year's work. — Chas. Wells,
Oxendon, Market Harboro', October 6.

SECTION EXTRACTING.

[4912.] In reply to the remark of Mr.
Woodley in B.B.J, of September 11 (page
365), I enclose sketch of my section-extracting
cages, made according to Cheshire's book.
Two are needed to balance the extractor.

They are, as shown by fig. 1, like miniature
bookshelves, 2 in. deep, the sides and the two
shelves being made of f -in. yello w pine, whilst
the top and bottom are made of ^-in. stuff.
Of course, tin could be used with advantage,
but with this the ciges would not be so simple
to make. Attached to the front of each cage
is a lattice-work of supporting wires carrying
six tinned wire-cloth guards, in length and
width | in. less each way than that of the
kind of section used, and with their sides bent
up to a depth of \ in. They are soldered — raw

SECTION-EXTRACTING CAGE.

edge outwards — at the corners to the v^-in.
thick tinned cross wires ; four of these are
straight and two bent, as shown by figs. 3
and 4, and they are attached to the frame
with small staples or tinned tacks, the ends
that meet being side by side, so as to lie flat.
Fig. 2, which is a part section through one of
the cages, shows how the sections (S) are stood
upon the shelves, with the comb-surface bearing
up against the wire-cloth (C). The size of the

Oct. 16, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

417

frame depends on kind of section used. Place
two together, measure across both each way,
and add | in. to each measurement, and that
is the spaoe to allow inside each division. In
making be careful not to make the cage too
large to go into your extractor. Mine is a
" Raynor," geared, with chain, and I use it at
full speed. In reply to your correspondent,
"Devereux"' (page 367), I would say that I
only use them with delicate combs, as I now
use hanging section-frames, with detachable
separators, and put the hangers into the extrac-
tor, just as though they we re shallow-frames. —
G. M. Saunders, Keswick.

HIVING EXTRAORDINARY.

A TRUE STORY.

[4913.] The following novel plan was
adopted by an old skeppist, owning, at least,
170 stocks of bees : — One hot day at the end
of June several swarms issued simultaneously
and the bee-man had only three empty skeps,
which would not hold one-half the bees. So,
feeling sure that many other swarms would
turn out during the day, he emptied the
second lot in question into a sack and tied
them up. Later the same day, as expected,
many others (he could not say how many) of
his numerous skeps followed suit, and the
swarms were treated in the same way. Then he
sent for more skeps, and ordered a long stand.
When these came home a few days after, he
untied the sack and laded out the bees with a
hand bowl. In this way nine skeps were
filled, all of which were placed on the stand.
This done, he turned the sack inside out and
shook it! "Now, guv'ner" (he said, when
I called a few days ago), " how is it them bees
wouldn't bide ? Every blessed skep was
empty within a week. I knows there was £10
worth of bees went away.'' Then he added,
" It's the wust season I ever knowed — stifled
fifty lots an' only pot 7 cwt. of honey." — A
Country Parson, October 1.

centre of brood-nest. I had united three driven
lots of bees about three weeks ago and liber-
ally fed them with syrup in the usual way.
On examining the ground round the hive next
morning after the expert's visit, I found the
bees carrying in pollen freely, but a dead
queen had been thrown out of the hive we had
been examining the day before, thus proving
the expert's view that two queens were in the
hive at the time. The bees had evidently settled
down for winter with two laying queens, but
being disturbed by the examination the rival
queens had met, with the result of " survival
of the fittest." I will send photo of my apiary
for " Homes of the Honey Bee" for our journals
if you can find room for it. — Thos, Wells,
Colchester, October 11.

TWO QUEENS IN A HIVE.

[4914.] The ahove subject always seems to
possess interest for your numerous bee-keeping
readers, and I therefore send you the following
particulars that have come under my own
immediate notice : On the 7th inst. I had the
pleasure of a visit from our county expert,
who, upon overhauling the combs of one of
my hives, expressed the opinion that there
were two queens in it. He arrived at this
conclusion on finding two distinct and separate
lots of brood on separate combs. The first
batch was seen to be compactly laid in the
second frame from the entrance (the frames
hang parallel with the hive front), then fol-
lowed two frames devoid of brood, and on lift-
ing the fifth frame from doorway of hive we
came across another lot of brood like the first,
thus giving two empty frames right in the

FACTS ABOUT FOUL BROOD.

[4915.] List season I reported a case of a
swarm taking possession of a hive which had
died of foul brood two years previously, this
swarm taking possession of the old comb, and
the swarm only showing some so-called chilled
brood, no foul. You omitted this in my report
in B.J. Perhaps you were justified in doing so.
But facts are facts, all the same. This hive
is still in existence, and was very strong this
last spring, with no signs of foul brood what-
ever, or chilled either, and, if the season had
been good, would have given good results. As
it is, I took twelve sectioos of honey from
it, and after that eight sections and a frame
of honey (the best) was removed, leaving the
stock very scantily provisioned. This hive
belongs to a gentleman at Harrogate, and can
be examined by any expert. — G. D., Yorks,
October 2.

FOUL BROOD LEGISLATION.

[4916.] Through the medium of^ your
journal I should like to call attention to the
above subject before the forthcoming General
Election. Would it not be advisable for all
secretaries, as well as the local secretaries of
the associations, to petition all candidates on
the subject? I think if they were well
supported by members of the different
associations that " little insignificant party "
would make its voice heard. Trusting that
an abler pen than mine will take up this most
important subject, — Wm. Lloyd, Lancaster.

SOME EAST KENT NOTES.

[4917.] Having finished bee - work for
another season and got all my stocks packed
down for winter, I am sending along a few
notes on the year's results.

Although the spring and .summer were
generally so wet and cold, 1902 must be put
down as a real " Coronation year " with me — a

418

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 16, 1902.

record year both as regards honey secured and
cash realised from the sale of the products of
the busy bee. Unlike many of your corre-
spondents who have secured but little surplus,
my stocks have yielded an average of fully
50 lb. per hive, and a profit of about £l 4s.
each colony. My " Ford- Wells " hive did
well, and again stood at the head of the poll,
giving me five dozen shallow-frames of honey ;
thus, although some of the single hives yielded
a good surplus, the double-colony hive was
equal to two of the best.

It must be very discouraging to bee-keepers,
after doing their best to get stocks into strong
condition all ready for field work, to have
their efforts frustrated by adverse weather ;
and when an apiarist of the ability of
"D. M. M." states in September Record that
" up to date not one single ounce of honey
has been consigned to the supers in an apiary
of over twenty colonies,'' I think all bee-
keepers will wish with him in his concluding
paragraph " that it may be fifty years before
we have another season like 1902."

During my seven summers' bee-keeping I
have never known queens to cease laying so
early as this year, for when examining my
stocks the latter part of September to see how
they stood for winter stores I was surprised to
find so little brood ; indeed, in a couple of my
hives there were no eggs at all. I made sure
the stocks were not queenless by hunting up
the queens in each case. It was very satisfac-
tory, however, to fiud a good supply of natural
stores, so that with a good honey harvest and
a large number of frames of comb drawn out
ready for next year (a very valuable asset) I
have every reason to be satisfied with the
season's results.

Selling Honey. — No doubt the scarcity of
honey has greatly facilitated the disposing
of the year's crop, and judging from the
B.B.J, advertisement columns honey is still
wanted. For my own part, I have sold right
out, and have only three pots left for my own
use. Apart from supplying honey wholesale to
shopkeepers, which realised me 8s. per doz.,
I invested in one of Abbott Bros.' honey
show-cases, advertised in B.J. about two
years ago— a really well-made article, of excel-
lent design — in which I put half a dozen
bottles of honey, and hung it up on the wall
outside my house ; and this, along with one of
Geo. Rose's labels, " Honey from our own
bee3," resulted in the sale of about seventy
1-lb bottles at lOd. per lb. — Arthur H.
Homersham, Sturry, near Canterbury,
October 13.

HONEY IMPORTS.
The value of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of
September, 1902, was £803.— From a return
furnished to the British Bee Journal by the
Statistical Office, HM. Customs.

$tt^8 and H^fys.

[2983.] Feeding Bees Returned from the
Moors. — I brought my bees back from the
moors on October 4, and I find that they have
not nearly enough food in the brood chamber to
last through the winter. Is it too late to start
syrup feeding, or would it be safer to give
them soft candy only 1 I ask this question as
everything has been so late this year that I
thought there might still be time to start feed-
ing them with syrup. I shall be glad to hear
as soon as convenient, as the time is now
getting very short before bees cease flying. —
H. E. Beckett, Sheffield, October 11.

Reply. — We advise crowding the bees on
to as many combs as they can cover thickly,
and giving ten to fifteen pounds of thick, well-
made syrup food in a rapid feeder, holding the
food in about twice filling. Give the syrup
warm, and put on plenty of warm coverings to
induce the bees to seal the food over. Do not
be afraid of crowding the bees on to four or
five combs. After food mentioned has been
taken down, put on a 4 lb. cake of candy.

[2984. J Clearing Bees from Sections. — 1.
On attempting to drive bees by rapping
and smoking out of a skep containing honey
and brood into the entrance of a frame
hive (over which the hive had been placed as
a super), many of the bees remained in the
skep, even after ten minutes' rapping. What
ought I to have done to get them out 1
Would a bee escape have cleared them out,
as there was a little brood still to hatch out ?
2. When you take off a rack of shallow frames
or sections, how do you drive the bees out ?
Must the frames and sections be taken out
singly, and the bees brushed off? If the
bees are unduly disturbed they spoil the
comb for show purposes. — Oliver Mourant,
Jersey, October 1.

Reply. — 1. The bees should have been
driven into an empty skep, then thrown
down from the latter in front of the frame-
hive and allowed to run in. 2. The use of a
super- clearer effectually prevents any damage
to cappings of combs. If no super-clearer is
available there is no other way but brushing
off the bees as stated.

[2985.] Suspected Loss of Queen. — I recently
noticed several drones flying outside one of my
hives which I have packed down for the
winter, and as these are allowed free entrance
in their own home, but promptly collared by
the bees of any other hive they try to enter, I
fear that this stock is either queenless or has
had its queen damaged in its return from the
heather. Would you kindly tell me if it
would be wise to re-queen now or to wait till
March. In either case 1 shall have to pur-
chase a queen. — Beeist, Darwen, October 13.

Reply. — If the queen is really missing, by
far the best course will be to re- queen at

Oct. 16, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

419

once. Bees left queenless all winter will
become more or less demoralised, as it were,
by next spring, and thus lose half the advan-
tage of re-queening, besides the increased risk
of their refusing to accept an alien queen.

tifchus from the pm

Winchester, Hants, October 11. — The bee-
season ha3 not been a good one down here.
My best stock gave me thirty-one well-filled
sections, and 15 lb. of extracted honey, but
my other hives only averaged twenty-one well-
filled sections each. I have not had a single
swarm this year from my own hives, but I
found two vagrant ones, and my father gave
me a very strong swarm weighing about 9 lb.
The latter very soon filled a ten-frame hive
with combs, and wonld no doubt have given
some surplus but for the poor season. I
might say what I know about beesT learnt from
the B.B.J, and Record, along with the " Guide
Book."— G. H. C.

NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM
B.K.A.

Owing to the season of 1902 being so very
unfavourable for honey-gathering, the Com-
mittee of the above Association decided to
cancel their honey show for the year. A meet-
ing of members and friends was held in the
Y.M.C. A., Newcastle, on Saturday, October 4,
and was well attended by members from
all parts of the two counties, many having
travelled long distances to be present.

J. J. Weighill, Esq., Stocksfield, occupied
the chair, and in his opening remarks he said
that they were gathered together under very
different circumstances to that of the previous
year, which had been so remarkable for the
excellence of the display at their show. He
was pleased to notice that some heather honey
had been got this year by the beautiful, well-
finished super which had been brought by
their secretary, whom tney all looked upon
as an authority on honey-production. He was
glad that Mr. Wad dell advocated showing
honey, as it was the means of keeping their
Association's produce well before the public,
specially so when his exhibits usually figured
amongst the prize-winners.

Messrs. Burkill, Johnstone, Armstrong,
Gardener, Rochester, Scougall, Peacock,
Garnett, Robinson, and others all spoke of
this being a remarkably poor season, and the
worst since that of 1888.

The secretary (Mr. Waddell) gave a special
report of his tour through the two counties on
expert work. He had been very kindly re-
ceived, and made welcome by every bee-keeper
visited, and in many instances had rendered

great assistance by locating foul brood in hives
and districts where it was never even sus-
pected. He had travelled some 700 miles on
his bicycle, and visited about 350 bee-keepers,
owning some 2,500 hives.

A hearty vote of thanks from the Associa-
tion was accorded to the Northumberland
County Council for their grant in aid for
expert work. It was also resolved that a
deputation be formed to wait upon the Durham
County Council with a request that the sphere
of work in the county be extended so as to
enable them to locate and deal with foul brood
among bees.

Mr. Peacock, Darlington, exhibited special
entrances and alighting boards for hive-fronts
for transit to the moors.

Various other subjects were discussed and
dealt with.

An address on " Section Honey for Exhibi-
tion" was given by Mr. Jas. Waddell, in
which he dwelt on the absolute necessity of
presenting everything neat and clean. He
also explained how to prepare honey for exhi-
bition and marketing by grading, glassing, and
packing for transit in view of his audience.

A pleasant meeting closed with the usual
votes of thanks.

A committee meeting was held at the close,
and a deputation of gentlemen was formed to
wait upon the Durham C.C. — (Communicated.)

BEE-KEEPING IN IRELAND.
The inquiries made in the preceding fifteen
years relative to the extent to which bee-
keeping is followed in Ireland were repeated
in 1901 by the Department of Agriculture and
Technical Instruction. According to the
returns received, there would appear to have
been a decrease of 16 "4 per cent, in the
quantity of honey produced in 1900 as com-
pared with the preceding year, the returns for
which showed an increase of 41 "7 per cent, as
compared with the quantity in 1898. The
quantity of honey produced, according to the
returns, was 623,559 1b.; of this 143,3681b.
were produced in the province of Leinster,
211,821 lb. in Munster, 155,9621b. in Ulster,
and 112,408 lb. in Connaught. Of the
623,559 lb., 403,207 lb. were produced " in
hives having movable combs,'' and 220,352 lb.
" in other hives." It was stated that 260,074 lb.
was " run honey," and 363,485 lb. " section
honey." The number of stocks bought through
the winter of 1900-1901 amounted to 33,171,
of which 16,754 were in hives having movable
combs, and 16,417 in other hives. According
to the returns collected, there were 6,7431b.
of wax manufactured in 1900, of which
3,394 lb. were from hives having movable
combs, and 3,349 lb. from other hives. The
returns received in 1900 gave the number of
swarms at work during the season of 1899 as
23,981 ; the quantity of honey was 745,692 lb.
The number of stocks brought through the

420

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 16, 1902.

winter of 1899-1900 as 31,045 ; and the
quantity of wax manufactured in 1899 as
4,873 lb.— Commerce, July 30.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letter* or queriet 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 queriesforwardedwill be attended to, and thou onlf
of personal inter est will be answered in this column

*** Mr. J. J. Alsford (Blandford) asks us to
say that he has had a postcard — on a busi-
ness matter — from Mr. J. F. Spencer, who
sends no address, so that he cannot reply
thereto.

A. Hall (Blackpool). — Reliability of Adver-
tisers.— We can personally vouch for the
reliability and character for fair dealing of
the advertiser whose name you give. There
must, we feel sure, be some good reason for
the delay of which you complain. Write
again, and mention what we have stated
above.

H. D. (Sutton Coldfield). — Buying on Deposit
System. — We could not undertake the task
of adjudicating between buyer and seller on
the value of goods purchased on the " deposit
system." All we can do is hold the cash till
both parties agree to terms. If they fail
in this, the money is returned to sender
after deducting the few coppers charged for
commission.

G. H. C. (Winchester).— Insect Nomenclature.
— The insect sent is not "a queen-wasp," or
a wasp at all, as supposed, but a fine hornet.

E. F. Glass (Bath).— Joining County B.K.
Association. — Mr. Jas. Brown, Bridge-street,
Bristol, Hon. Sec. Bristol and District
B.K.A., will, if written to, inform you with
regard to membership.

" G." (Leicestershire).— Moving Hives to Bee-
house. — 1. The hives, intended for removal
into your new bee-house, should be allowed
to remain on their present stands until cold
weather has kept the bees indoors for several
weeks. It would assuredly cause loss of
bees to move them into the house " a few
yards away " unless this precaution is taken.
2. The bees sent are a cross between the
Carniolan and the ordinary brown bee.

C. H. P. (Preston).— French Bee Journal—
A suitable paper for your purpose is the
Revue Internationale, edited by M. Edouard
Bertrand, Nyon, Switzerland.

Amateur (Delabole, Cornwall). — Wintering
Bees. — The best advice we can give to any

one starting bee-keeping is to invest in a
copy of the " Guide Book,'' where a whole
chapter is devoted to " Wintering Bees."
We say this, first, because we could not give
full details in this column, and, second,
because you will soon want information on
" Spring Management," and so on, as the
season for work arrives, all of which sub-
jects can only be dealt with in a text-book.

C. M. (Aberdare). —Qualifying as a " Bee-
Expert." — 1. For information with regard
to examinations for experts' certificates
applications must be made to the Secretary
of the British Bee-keepers' Association, 12,
Hanover-square, London. 2. Duly qualified
persons are employed in various ways by
county bee-keepers' associations, and also
by County Councils in giving instruction
on bee-keeping, but we cannot very well
take upon ourselves to say what your
personal chances are of obtaining such em-
ployment.

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 squan
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,"
not " Manager."

Trollope (Cumberland). — No. 1 sample
shows foul brood in the incipient stage. We
should judge it to be only a recent out-
break, unless other combs may point to a
different conclusion. No. 2 has no brood at
all in comb, save in two cells, which contain
sealed drone-brood in worker-cells, thus
showing that, as suspected, the young queen
has not mated.

J. B. M. (Yorks). — Your sample shows a bad
case of foul brood of old standing. It would
be a waste of time and labour to try and
winter the stock as proposed. Our advice
is to burn the whole contents of the hive
without delay. The safety of your healthy
stocks alone should render drastic measures
imperative. Bear in mind that naphthaline
has no effect on the spores of foul brood,
and the hive in question must be literally
teeming with these.

R. Y. (Dumfriesshire). — There is decided foul
brood in the hive, and we advise dealing
with it as recommended above to " J. B. M ,"
though your case is not quite so bad.
With fourteen hives alongside the one
affected, you should run no risks.

Novice (Stourbridge). — Comb contains
nothing worse than " chilled '' brood ; no
disease at all.

*#* Several letters and replies to queries are
in type, and will appear in our next issue.

Oct. 23, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

421

(Mtoriai, $fcrtttea. &i-

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

CONFERENCE OP COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES.

{Continued from page 414.)

The Chairman then opened the discussion
of item No. 3 on the agenda, viz. : — " The
drawing up of a uniform set of instructions
for the use of experts when visiting members'
apiaries, &c.''

Colonel Walker thought it would be advan-
tageous to carry out this proposal. One of
the great difficulties in getting experts to do
their work properly was the objection that
prevailed among some bee-keepers against
having their apiaries visited at all because of
the fear of infection. It was exceedingly
necessary that theie should be no risk of that
evil, and almost as much so that there should
even be no suspicion of it. It was difficult to
eradicate the notion in the minds of some
people that the expert's visit was liable to do
more harm than good. He produced a form,
drawn up very carefully, which had been
sent round with the Devon experts, and some-
thing of that pattern might be agreed on. It
would be far better if all adopted the same
plan, even in the matter of disinfectants used
for the person and the hive. Carbolic acid
was disagreeable to handle, but there were
many disinfectants quite as effective and
without any disadvantage. In Devon they
used, on the advice of an eminent chemist,
perchloride of mercury. One of the tabloids
he exhibited dissolved in a pint of water was
supposed to kill all spore?, and twice that
strength destroy all spores in less than a
minute. There was no evil smell with the
preparation.

Mr. Reid endorsed Colonel Walker's state-
ment that perchloride of mercury, being one
of the most powerful poisons known, was a
germicide. Its deadly character was one
reason why it must be used only by respon-
sible people and with extreme care, lest the
minutest quantity should get into the honey.
Carbolic acid was nob effective, but the vapour
of sulphur absolutely sterilised everything, if
enough were administered. Phormol would
also serve, but again the difficulty was that
these were deadly poisons. There should
undoubtedly be a standard set of rules for
experts, because then all the members of
Associations throughout the country would
not be able to grumble that the expert does
not do this or that, &c, and he thought the
B.B.K.A. could do nothing better than draft
such a set of rules for general use.

The Chairman said that if the affiliated
Associations would send him their instruc-
tions which they issued to their experts he
would collate them, and bring the matter
before the Council, with a view to the drafting
of a set of instructions that would be suitable
for all.

Mr. Reid said that in Surrey they had a
complete system of statistics devised by Mr.
White, the indefatigable secretary. One of
the experts' duties was to post the forms filled
up atier having visited the members. He did
not consider it practicable to obtain from bee-
keepers particulars as to the amount of honey
produced, nor did he believe the information
would be of much value. The quantity
gathered in Great Britain this year would not
compare with last year's crop, and a similar
divergence might be expected from time to
time. The Surrey Association's statistics
were only collected from members. He was
sure Mr. White would gladly place the
forms used at the disposal of the B.B.K.A.
(Mr. Young, the secretary, intimated that
he already had copies of the form in question
from Surrey and other counties.) The par-
ticulars obtained referred to the number of
skeps, bar- framed hives, and the prevalence
of foul brood. If a county association had
any importance at all its principal object
must be to check and stamp out foul brood.
He thought it was useless to look forward to
legislation on that subject. In Surrey they
had reduced it enormously by going round to
every bee-keeper who was suspected of
harbouring the disease. He thought it very
desirable that county secretaries should obtain
statistics on this point, and furnish the same
to the parent body.

Colonel Walker suggested that the Council
of the B.B.K.A. should, with the aid of the
forms sent up as patterns, decide on the
form they would recommend to be adopted.

The Secretary said it was hoped that the
Minister of Agriculture would be present the
next day at the Dairy Show, when perhaps
the Chairman's attendance to explain any-
thing in connection with the honey depart-
ment might be of advantage to the industry.
The Chairman gladly assented.

Mr. Meadows said it was taken for granted
that every county had a certificated expert.
That was not the case in Leicestershire, and
he believed the same applied to other associa-
tions. His county was badly off for experts,
and if the B.B.K.A. could induce duly
qualified men to come from other counties and
be available for expert work, they would be
doing a vast amount of good. The local
association had an energetic secretary, but
unfortunately he could not spare the neces-
sary time to work up the county, and this
drawback, coupled with the indifferent expert
service, rendered their position unsatisfactory.
He also thought it was a pity that some
scheme could not be found for partially
remunerating secretaries, who could then
devote more time to the work, and that the
strong counties could not come to the help of
the weak ones.

Referring to the use of perchloride of
mercury Mr. Carr stated that on one occasion,
some years ago, when holding an examination

422

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 23, 1902.

of candidates for expert's certificates, he had
with him samples of diseased comb which he
thought it might be useful for all examiners
to take with them for the purpose of testing
the knowledge of candidates. With regard
to foul brood, he also had tabloids similar to
those now before them with him. Any one who
touched the samples of diseased comb had to
wash his hands in the solution prepared as
Colonel Walker stated. But the danger of
germicides which are deadly poisons, in un-
skilled hands led him to give up the idea of
using perchloride of mercury in the way he had
intended. Nevertheless he hoped that the
remedy was as satisfactory as claimed.

Colonel Walker did not propose to cleanse
a hive with the disinfectant, but only to
provide something that was not offensive, and
with which the expert could disinfect himself,
and thus prevent the spread of disease.
Every medical man carried out, or was
supposed to, a precaution of this charactt r

Mr. Reid said that perchloride of mercury
would destroy the spores in a hive if it could
be brought into direct contact with the germs,
but these were often concealed in pieces of
propolis or wax, and, consequently, evaded
contact. Whatever remedy was used whether
sulphuring, heating, washing inside or out,
they were all, more or less, uncertain, and he
advocated burning the hive.

The Chairman promised to bear in mind the
points raised when the whole subject came
forward for discussion at an early meeting of
the Council.

The Chairman, in reference to subject No. 4
on the agenda, " Consideration of Other Pro-
posals for Enhancing the Usefulness of County
Associations," read a letter from a gentleman
at Burton-on-Trent, suggesting the advisability
of all Associations adopting a method of
stamping sections on the inside, whilst in the
flat, with the Association's stamp, so as to
guard against dishonest showing.

Mr. R. H. Colt man (Hon. Secretary, Derby-
shire B.K. A.) exhibited some sections stamped
on the inside, according to the custom in
Derbyshire. Without such safeguard, he said,
there was nothing to prevent persons buying
sections from other apiaries and exhibiting
them as their own.

The Chairman then read an extract from a
letter written by the Secretary of the North-
umberland and Durham B.K.A., to the effect
that the B.B.K.A. would be acting wisely by
issuing suggestions for the instruction of the
various County Councils, many of whom,
probably through ignorance, did not yet see
sufficient necessity to assist the bee-keeping
industry. The writer also submitted that
apiculture was a means of preventing rural
depopulation ; also that measures should be
taken in regard to foul brood, which next year
would probably be accentuated owing to the
recent poor season, many affected stocks
having died at the moors and been robbed of
all their stores.

Mr. Hill said that some years ago at the
Derbyshire Show some sections were ex-
hibited which were said to be gathered from '
sainfoin. He knew that the bee-keeper who
showed them had no sainfoin about his I
locality, and, indeed, none grew in the county ;
and, moreover, an appliance dealer present
told him (the speaker) that he had seen the
same sections at the Shrewsbury Show, and
gave the name of the exhibitor. He (Mr.
Hill) wrote two notes to the latter, asking
him questions relative to the honey referred
to, but received no answer to the points
raised, but merely that the bee-keeper in
question never answered disappointed ex-
hibitors. Since then some years had elapsed,
and the custom of stamping sections had
been adopted. A significant fact in con-
nection therewith was that the Derbyshire
bee-keeper immediately afterwards declared
that he would not show any more section
honey, as it did not pay. He (the speaker)
believed that dishonesty was practised at
most flower shows throughout the country in
this respect, and that the B.B.K.A. should
make an eftort to prevent it, in the interests of
bee-keepers generally.

The Chairman said that all who wished to
show could write to their secretary and tell
him so. There would only be a few men
competent to win at shows.

Mr. Turner asked how the man would fare
who had 600 or more sections to stamp, be-
cause he would have to stamp all, not knowing
which particular sections would turn out fit
for show purposes. Besides, the system of
stamping would not prevent fraud, seeing that
stamped sec dons could easily be bought.

Mr. Sharp and others joined in the debate,
the members being generally of opinion that
the stamp might be borrowed, or sections
sent to be stamped.

The Chairman read portions of a letter from
a gentleman at Bristol who recommended that
the B.B.K.A. should issue leaflets stating its
aims and objects and all the latest and best
ideas in nutshell form, which could be for-
warded to local secretaries, and sent out by
them in the annual reports ; that the parent
Society should supply affiliated societies with
medals at cost price. He further stated that
he had had to write about forty letters to
effect a few insurances, and asked why hon.
secretaries should have to do such extra work
and pay postages for no advantage to their
own associations ? Commenting on this, the
Chairman said that when a hitch took place
in the negotiations regarding the insurance
scheme of the B.B.K.A., the Bristol Associa-
tion became impatient, and, he was told, had
started an insurance plan of its own. Now,
however, all difficulties had been removed in
the former case, and over 5,000 hives had
already been insured, and premiums paid in
small sums to the extent of £25. The
affiliated societies had handed in
£9 4s. 10d., and in addition £16 Is. lid.

Oct. 23, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

423

had been received at the office of the
B.B.K.A. He thought no one could object
to pay one penny per hive, and if it was not
done through the affiliated associations the
work could not be properly carried out. Every
person who did not belong to an association,
but nevertheless wished to be included in the
B.B.K.A. list of insurers, paid an extra 6d.
Secretaries, by helping in this business,
enabled members to effect their insurance at
6d. less than they otherwise could. He
hoped local secretaries and experts would do
their best to push forward this insurance boon,
and enable the Company better to cover its
risks. In reply to Colonel Walker, he added
that no insurances could be sent in after
October 1.

Mr. Keid strongly advocated solidarity in
reference to the insurance scheme. He hoped
and expected that next year the members
would be doubled.

Mr. Pugh hoped this meeting was the pre-
cursor of many others of a similar character,
which could not fail to enlighten bee-keepers
and advance their industry. He also trusted
that the parent body would make the county
representatives feel that their attendance was
appreciated, and would send them the agenda
and other papers from time to time.

After a few words from the Secretary, Mr.
Reid, and Mr. Meadows on the same subject,
Colonel Walker inquired whether any of the
counties paid the expenses of their repre-
sentatives' attendance.

The Rev. Mr. Burkitt replied that Wilts
paid out-of-pocket expenses ; Mr. Meadows,
that Leicester contributed not a penny ; Mr.
Pugh, that Notts allowed 10s. (about half the
train fare to London) ; the Berks delegate,
that his county paid expenses if the repre-
sentative required it.

The Lincolnshire delegate suggested that
this meeting in future be held at the Royal
Show ; but the Chairman held that the Council
must decide that question.

Mr. Reid thanked the county visitors for
their suggestions, which would always be
warmly welcomed and considered by the
Council of the B.B.K.A.

A word of thanks to Colonel Walker for
initiating the meeting brought the conference
to a close.

The report of Conversazione which followed
the Conference will appear next iveek.

PROKOPOVITSH.

A PIONEER IN SUPERINO.

By Lieut-Col. H. J. 0. Walker.

In all probability the name of the Russian
bee-master whose hive I have to describe is
iamiliar to but few of the readers of this
journal, most of whom will be surprised to
see how closely the shallow-frames or sections,
for I hardly know which to term them, de-

vised by Prokop6vitsh in the first half of the
nineteenth century resemble those in use at
the present time. The description and illus-
trations now produced are taken from a little
treatise published in Paris in 1841, itself a
translation from the Russian of an earlier
edition.

After having served in a Hussar regiment,
Prokopovitsh settled down to study bee-
keeping, and haviDg worked out a system, he
established a school of apiculture in the village
of Paltshiky, where in a " vast garden "
stocked with 2,800 hives he taught his craft
to students, whose number was never less than
eighty, and who came to him from all parts of
Russia for a two y ears' course. His fees were
small, his teaching practical, and his hives of a
strong and simple construction. Movable
boxes had been advocated for many years,
both as tiered vertically and as worked on a
system of horizontal expansion ; they must
have been well known to Prokopovitsh. He,
however, retained the long, upright, one-piece
hive commonly used in Russia and Poland,
arranging it in such a way that it could be
used according to both methods, and at the
same time would admit of a systematic
removal of the wax before it had become too
old to find a ready market, a point of impor-
tance in days when wax was so valuable.

Fig, 1.

In fig. 1, we see the bive facing us in per-
spective ; an oblong box 3 ft. 6 in. high, 14 in.
to 22 in. wide, and 12 in. to 16 in. deep as
might be preferred. The front is formed of
three shutters of equal size and removable ;
the two upper resting on 1 in. strips (c) let
into each side of the hive, and all three fitting
into rebates and securable by pins (6). The
hive could be divided into compartments by
boards that in front rested on the strips and
must have been otherwise supported inter-
nally. With the view of preventing the bees

424

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 23, 1902.

from extending their combs to the shutters
two bars or rods (d) were let into the sides of
the hive, a little inside the shutters. On one
side of the hive there were three doors (f) ;
the middle door exactly in the middle of the
side, the upper door 1 in. above the level of
the upper dividing strip, and the lower one
1 in. below the lower strip.'7

The ordinary working of the hive is not
properly described, but would seem to have
been as follows : — A swarm, having been
introduced, would establish itself in the top
of the hive and work downwards. In due
course, perhaps the following year, the brood-
nest would be opposite to the middle shutter,
and the combs in the top of the hive would
hold the honey. The top shutter removed,
these would be cut out by the bee-master.
The following year he would clear out the
middle compartment, and then turn the hive
upside down, so that the bees would reverse
their operations and again work downwards
into the middle compartment, and the next
take would be from the originally lowest end
of the hive, now the uppermost. In this way,
as already mentioned, the wax would always
be fresh, and the honey that of the current
year's storing. There was nothing very original
so far, except the inversion of the hive ; the
general working was that in practice in Russia
and Poland. It is suggested in the treatise
that the hive could be worked horizontally for
honey or for artificial swarms. This might
have been done by means of dividing-boards
with sliding doors, the swarm being first
established in the middle compartment, but
there would have been difficulties.

We come now to the peculiar invention
that distinguishes Prokopovitsh ; and to
appreciate its merit we should bear in mind
that at the time when he took to apiculture
there had been no frames used except those
that composed the leaf-hive of Huber, from
whom Prokopovitsh perhaps derived his in-
spiration. It was his ambition to obtain pure
honey gathered entirely from one source, such
honey as could only be secured by storage in
fresh-built combs in compartments of restricted
size ; and having noticed that under ordinary
circumstances the mother-bee never leaves the
brood-combs, so that any sensible gap between

these and other combs built in the hire would
probably exclude her, he was led to adopt the
little frames shown in figs. 1 and 2. They

* The middle door is wrongly placed in the figure here
reproduced from the pamphlet.

were made of very thin wood, and were as
long as the hive was deep ; their height was
about half their length, and their breadth not
more than 1| in. The figure frame is about
12 in. by 6 in. The bottom bars were hol-
lowed out for a bee passage, and the side bars
next to the shutters were similarly treated, to
admit of observation.

The working when these frames were used
was as follows. After taking the honey in the
autumn from either the top or the middle
compartment, a slotted board (fig. 3) was
placed over the brood combs, and over this

' ^

i A i 1

1 '

Fig. 8.

again a plain board for wintering. Next
summer, in a suitable honey-flow, the latter
was removed ; and a set of frames, to each of
which a strip of comb had been attached as a
guide, was placed upon the slotted board, so
that the bees could go above and store the
super. It is not distinctly stated that two
tiers of frames were ever used. If they were,
the communication must have been along the
front, as the top bars had no bee-space ; there
was a little play between the frames, but
probably not enough for a bee to pass.

Thus, in one great step, Prokopovitsh
attained to the pure comb super-honey of our
own day, and it is said that the stored frames
were sent long distances without injury. The
slotted board was in itself a useful invention,
one that has been since revived and brought
out with no small flourish. It has been
sometimes assumed that frames were used
throughout this hive ; but I cannot find it so
in the treatise, and, moreover, such a course
would have been very inconvenient, and
contrary to the principles of the inventor.
Ingenious as the hive was, it could not be
expected to survive the introduction of
movable bar-frames : its popularity would
have been very brief if used in the way
suggested.

The only honey plant recommended by
Prokopovitsh for culture was Echium
vulgare, known to us as viper's bugloss, but
less common in these islands as a wild plant
than on the Continent. The type of the
family to which it belongs is our garden
borage. — Budleigh Sallerton, South Devon,
October 20.

Oct. 23, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

425

The Bditort do not hold themtelvei responsible for the
opinions empreesed by correspondents. No notice will b»
taken of anonymout communication*, and eorretpondenti
are requested to write on one tide of the paper only and
give their real name* and addresses, not necessarily for
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tiont thould be drawn on separate piece* of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communication*.

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

NOTES BY THE WAY.
[4918] To the negligent one in bee-work
we say again, " What you have to do amongst
your bees do quickly " ; if feeding has been
neglected give good thick syrup lukewarm,
and wrap up the feeder to keep it warm as
long as possible.

If a stock requires, say, 10 lb. of food, give
5 or 6 lb. of syrup and then a large cake of
soft candy (weighing 3 or 4 lb.). When all
the feeding has been completed, do not forget
the winter passages ; these are very easily
provided. Split up a piece of an old broken
box — or i-in. board — into strips 6 in. or 7 in.
long, and cut the ends to a wedge shape ;
two or three of these strips can be laid flat on
the top of frames over the cluster of bees, and
the quilt rolled back before a bee has had
time to take wing. This simple device
answers every requirement in giving the bees
access to the stores in frames beyond their
reach when extreme weather prevails for a
long period, and when removed the following
spring they can be burnt out of the way.
Whenever quilts are torn off the frames late
in the season care should be taken in replacing
them, so that there is no current of air allowed
to pass through the brood nest. A warm
flat-iron will make a good job of the quilt
fixing, but let it be an old one, not used in the
laundry or kitchen.

Price of Honey in Sections. — I notice our
Devonshire friend, Mr. Godsland (4906,
page 402), refers to the low price offered for
sections by an advertiser in the B.J. Without
proposing to arbitrate as to the low offer, or
the light weight and dark colour of many
sections on the market, but from facts within
my personal knowledge, the price offered is as
much as the goods were worth. I am not
referring to any purchases made by myself —
up to the present moment I have not pur-
chased this year a single section or a single
pound of extracted honey — but in talking
over the matter with others who have pur-
chased sections they aver, and I myself know,
that there is — as we say in trade — " very little
in the honey trade at that price." We will
take the matter thusly : — The purchaser sends
spring crates in which to pack the honey —
item No. 1. The goods arrive, and in looking
over the cases we find (spring crates notwith-
standing) there are quite a dozen of the little

lumps of honey detached from the sections.
These have to be strained; result 6 lb. to
7 lb. of honey instead of 12 lb. That is
item No. 2. Then the parcel has to be
graded, and we only get, say, half of
them, worth, in the market, 9s. or 9s. 6d.
when put either into glazed section-boxes
or glazed— the other half have again to be run
through, and we find some are worth 8s. per
dozen and the rest 7s., and so to hide their
imperfections we cover up rather wide on the
face of the glass— the result is that, after all
this trouble and labour has been expended, we
are some few shillings to the good, and pos-
sibly have to wait till after next Christmas
before the money returns. Of course, if one
bee-keeper purchases the produce of another
at sixpence and sells at a shilling, that is
taking unfair advantage of his brother in the
craft. But if a purchaser takes all the sec-
tions a bee-keeper produces at sixpence each,
and also takes all the risks of marketing the
produce and to sell again wholesale, I contend,
that unless the whole lot is of exceptionable
quality, the price mentioned is a fair one ;
the labourer is worthy of his hire, even if he
is the upper middleman.

I am sure others besides myself will appre-
ciate the drawing of Mr. Saunders' section-
extracting cage, which illustrates very plainly
the style of cage required by bee-keepers in
extracting the honey from unfinished sections
at the end of the ordinary honey hirvest, or by
those who take their bees to the moors and
are glad of every bit of comb in which the
bees can store the heather honey. A pair of
extra " cages " could be supplied at a small
increase on the prices now charged for ex-
tractors, and for those machines which have a
square cage provision could be made to
extract twenty-four sections at one time, and
so anyone needing to do so would then be able
to extract any number of unfinished ones in
double quick time.— W. Woodlev, Beedon,
Newbury.

BEES IN WARWICKSHIRE.

[4919.] While the weather here in War-
wickshire has apparently been very much on
a par with that experienced in other districts
as regards the prevalence of north-east winds
and a generally low temperature, in reality,
when judged by results, and from a bee-
keeper's standpoint, it cannot have been so.

Certainly, the spring was inclement, which,
to my mind, was not necessarily a disadvan-
tage in a district where early surplus is never
gathered, for an unrestricted brood-nest was
thus provided, which, by judicious stimulative
feeding, was kept filled with brood and
colonies brought into excellent condition for
the white clover, which seldom yields any-
thing appreciable before the middle of June.

But from the 18th of that month until July
20 the weather was very favourable, and
honey came in rapidly, mostly clover with, in

426

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 23, 1902.

some cases, an admixture of honey from the
field-bean.

The first boxes of shallow-frames were
practically filled in a fortnight, and the stocks
being fairly equal in strength, they were all
ready for the second boxes at the same time.
But here the better stocks pulled ahead
somewhat, and in two instances third lots of
frames were given.

The other stocks were not quite so forward
with their sealing, and the addition of further
storage room was therefore deferred, but I am
inclined to think that a larger harvest would
have been secured if I had treated all alike to
a third box of frames, for while those not so
treated simply completed their sealing, the
other two stored between them some 37 lb.
more honey and completed the sealing of the
two first frames given as well.

From this you will gather that the honey
was not extracted as gathered, but left to be
ripened and sealed on the hives.

The limes, which usually contribute about
half my crop, almost entirely failed this year.
They bloomed late, and adverse weather set in
when they were at their best. No honey was
gathered after July 3], and all supers were
removed before August 15.

A later examination showed that in some
cases brood-chambers were almost destitute of
food, and about 4 cwt. of syrup has had to be
given.

My spring count was fourteen colonies, two
of the best of which I reserved for queen-
rearing. The best lot (age of queen uncertain,
as she was in one of two stocks of driven
bees in 1900) gave me 82 lb. (calculated after
it was in the jars with the caps on). The
second best, with queen of 1901, produced
75 lb. Total crop, 711 lb., also calculated
when jarred oft'.

The two reserved lots were artificially
swarmed on July 5. The two swarms yielded
25 lb. of honey, the stocks produced six
young queens, five of which were successfully
mated and have bred nicely in nuclei.

Driven bees have brought my present count
up to twenty -three. One marked difference
between the present season here and that of
1901 is the almost entire absence of brood in
September, notwithstanding stimulative feed-
ing. In September of last year several of my
hives could boast of eight frames of brood,
without any stimulation. Here is the fly in
the ointment.

Of swarms I have no direct information,
but a cast containing two young queens, which
issued on July 30, proved indirectly that I had
one, at any rate.

This cast (a large one) now covers eight
frames, and on September 24 had five frames
of brood.

I find driven lots when headed by young
queens, most serviceable for uniting to stocks
that cannot keep the pace in the spring. I
unite at the beginning of June when the two
lota combined have eight or more frames well

filled with brood ; if more than eight, the
surplus brood- combs are distributed among
other colonies that are not so well off.

It may interest some of your readers to
know that over 500 lb. of my crop has already
been disposed of at Is. per 1-lb. bottle.

For an ordinary season there is nothing out
of the ordinary in the foregoing brief record ;
but in such an admittedly unsatisfactory
season as that just passed, I think I may con-
sider myself fairly fortunate. — James Sim-
kins, Wanoickshire.

THE SEASON IN DERBYSHIRE.
[4920.] Allow me to thank you for what
knowledge of bee-keeping I possess, all re-
ceived through the B.B.J., the B.K. Record,
and the " Guide Book." I had kept bees for
about twelve months before I saw inside a
hive or touched a frame. The year 1902
appears to have been a bad season for hwney
everywhere, but for a novice it has been
especially trying, seeing it has caused many
a doubt and many a fear as to what is the
best thing to do in a trying time, but it has
yielded me many a pleasant hour notwith-
standing. I had my doubts when buying?
should I manage to secure healthy bees, or
should I get what is to me worse than the
nightmare, " foul brood " I Never having
previously seen a brood- comb, I expected to
find them the same colour as the new comb
foundation I had bought, so when I opened
the hive and found combs nearly black, I
thought I was "done." My fear of the bees
at first was great, but the fear of any one
finding out that I really was frightened of my
new " workmen '' was greater, and niany a
time I have been complimented on my pluck
in handling live bees, when all the time I was
in a terrible funk. However, that trouble is
over now, thank goodness.

Well, now for my results. From two stocks
bought in April I have extracted 72 lb. of
splendid light honey, and secured fourteen
well-finished 1 lb. sections. This was gathered
between June 26 and July 10, after which
time the bees did not get an ounce. On
August 28 we removed all unfinished sec-
tions, and extracted the contents ; then we
took the hives to the moors. They were in
splendid condition at starting — plenty of bees
and brood, but no store, so I divided the
twenty-eight sections mentioned above as un-
finished, and gave them the empty combs we
had just extracted from, all drones having
been killed off during the slack time. We
left them among the heather until Septem-
ber 19, but it was a rough, cold, wet time,
with only seven or eight days of good weather
all along.

On opening we found the sections " dry as a
bone," but below, in surplus-boxes, things
improved, as in each hive there were eight
combs for extracting nearly full, and capped
half-way down. Better still, the brood-combs,

Oct. 23, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

427

ten in each, were in the same condition, i.e.,
capped half-way down, and a lot of unsealed
honey as well, so I thought they would do
without feeding, and wrapped them up for
winter. This now worries me a little, so I
want to ask, Will they consume the unsealed
stores before it ferment?, and so does them
harm, or should I have fed them until they
had sealed all up ? The bees are very strong,
and will not stand contracting on to fewer
combs than at present. There were good
patches of brood on three combs in one, and
on four in the other, when they came from the
moors, and I was surprised to find as many
drones as in July, but they killed them all off
in a few days after reaching home again. We
are now waiting the arrival of a " honey -press,"
ordered some time ago (how long-winded these
makers are !), so cannot say what the heather
yield will be, but I think it will reach 50 lb.
The two stocks have worked very evenly, and
gathered pound for pound, as near as I can
judge. The weather now is rough and cold,
and they are not showing much, but what do
come out are like millers, as white as if rolled
in flour. I have also noticed them on a heap
of tire-ashes, gathering the dust. Does this
denote a lack of pollen ? — E. H., Chesterfield,
October 14.

[Unsealed food is usually consumed first.
The bees described as " like millers " have
been visiting the Canadian balsam for pollen.
—Eds.]

THE CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES.

[4921.] Referring to your report 0*" the above
meeting in last week's Bee Journal, and the
opening remarks of Mr. Hill (who represented
our county of Derbyshire), may I be allowed
to say that, although sure that friend Hill did
not mean to be unjust to our late secretary,
his words are rather misleading when he says,
on page 412, " We changed committees and
secretaries with the object of importing new
blood, but he did not discern much improve-
ment." As a matter of fact, we changed our
secretary because Mr. Walker could not on
any account be induced to continue the secre-
taryship any longer, and resigned, much to the
regret of the majority of the committee and
also of the members. — J. Pearman, Penny-
lane, Darby, October 17.

EXPERTS AND FOUL BROOD.

[4922.J Many thanks for your information
in reply to my query as to foul brood in
samples of comb which I sent. I feel con-
vinced that the outbreak is the result of my
being a member of the county association. I
only keep a few hives for pleasure and own
consumption of honey ; this being my third
year's experience with bees. The hive affected
was the only one examined by the expert on
his visit in October last, my other two hives
being away at the heather. The queen is an

Italian cross, extremely prolific, but has been
very troublesome this summer, owing to her
offspring's bad temper. I awaited the arrival
of the expert to remove her, with a view to
substitute a Carniolan. Two hours were spent
by the expert and myself in looking for her
on the thirteen frames constituting the
hive. The frames were looked over twice,
shaken off and run in twice, but to no
effect so far as finding of the queen
was concerned. The bees were then
perfectly healthy. A month later I find the
comb, a sample of which I forwarded to you,
and which you pronounced to contain foul
brood in the incipient stage. I suspected the
disease at once and took out the frame. To-
day I find another frame in the same hive so
affected ; this I also took out and burnt, and
placed naphthaline in the bottom of the hive,
and shall give a cake of medicated candy and
close up for the winter in the course of a day
or two. My small apiary is some distance
from any other bees — practically isolated, in
fact ; the comb in which the outbreak occurred
is practically new, the hive new, and there are
no bees near from which infection could have
come ; I myself have not been near other
bees. On the other hand, foul brood is
general in the county, although there are no
cases within some mdes of here, and the
expert had been amongst it daily. No other
person except myself and the expert has
handled my bees in any way. Can I reason-
ably on this evidence come to any other
conclusion than that the disease was con-
tracted from the expert ? I mean to have it
out with the County Association.

The naphthaline I have is in flake form. I
see it always mentioned in the Journal as in
balls. I have put a little on the floor of the
hive, and presume this is correct, or how can I
make it into balls ?

The season here has been a very bad one
hereabouts. Plenty of swarms, but little
honey. Heather yielded better ; one hive
gave 27 lb. in shallow-frame supers, another
nil — the queen, a young one, three weeks old
when taken to the heather, not having been
mated. I saw eggs from her in the hive
before she went away, and thought she was all
right. I send name and address, while
signing myself — Herbs, October 20.

[Naphthaline in " flake form ' is not fit for
use in bee-hives. — Eds.]

FOUL BROOD LEGISLATION.
[4923.] In reply to Mr. Lloyd, who wrote
on page 417 last week, I am shortly intending
to do all I can to interest our M.P.s in bee-
keeping, with the idea of obtaining for the
County Councils a by-law enabling them to
deal with " foul brood." Our County Council
is a " go-ahead " one, and I can trust to its
assistance in the matter, and if other county
associations would do the same, something
may be done, the manner of dealing with

428

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 23, 1902.

disease to be left with the County Councils as
each may think best for their county. But I
would suggest that the most effective way
would be through County Association experts.
— G. M. Saunders, Hon. Secretary Cumber-
land B.K.A., October 20.

SOME BEE NOTES FROM HERTS.

SELLING HONEY.

[4924.] I have found honey to be very
scarce in and around Mid and West Herts,
and the quality at the various shows where
honey was exhibited may be classed as fair to
good. Little can be said as to quality, nor
was the general appearance what it should be
to attract the attention of buyers or to stage
in shop windows. I think the latter is a point
that should not be overlooked, because it
seems to me that the shopkeeper should be
studied even before the producer. Any way,
it is he that has to sell our honey, to stock it,
and deal out to the consumer. This, of course,
is a free country, and every one claims he can
do as he likes with his own ; but, as Mr.
Allen Sharp says (on page 413, last week),
members often under-sell each other in Hunts,
as they do here in Herts. With many bee-
keepers, as soon as they have secured any
honey they must sell it, and, as I think, with
far too little regard to price, some even
carrying it round to private nouses and selling
it at 6d. per lb. in the summer months. I
have myself seen sections for sale in shop
windows at 5d. each. If spoken to about the
folly of this they reply, " Better sell at that
than extract it, as there is not much more than
8 oz. of honey in them." I heartily wish that
there was an Association for Herts, and that
Mr. Sharp's suggestion for establishing some
system whereby bee-keepers could know the
market value of their produce could be carried
out. No doubt our Editors would afford space
for reports from reliable sources, which could
be published weekly, as the prices vary in dif-
ferent localities. For myself, I am selling in
North London, St. Albans, Watford, and
Hemel Hempstead — sections, 10s. 6d. per
dozen, and screw-cap jars of extracted honey
(country orders only), 9s. and 10s. per dozen,
carriage paid. Having a very large demand
for good sections, I should like to know if I
am underselling any one ; or is it attributable
to scarcity of sections this year that the sale
is so brisk ? This price pays me, but that is
not the point. I may say that I only deal
wholesale with first-grade stuff, as I can easily
retail second-grade at home. I think the
grocers are selling retail at Is. 2d. and Is. 3d.
per section in London, that being the price I
get from private customers.

I trust you will agree with me, and see the
need of what I request. I enclose my address,
if you see fit to publish it, while signing
myself, — Gade, Herts.

[We will le very pleased to afford the space

desired for any reliable reports likely to be of
service in the direction indicated, but it will
obviously need some sort of co-operation on
the part of bee-keepers themselves to make
the idea of any real practical value as regards
current prices. — Eds.]

[2986.] Examinations for Experts' Certifi-
cates.— Some time ago, amongst other questions,
I asked you what books you would advise me
to read up, as I thought of going in for the
3rd Class Experts' Certificate, but you, appa-
rently, missed that part of my letter, though
you were good enough to answer my other
queries. Could you do this in an early issue ?
1 keep only four hives, and find that as many
as I can look after properly at present. No
doubt you will agree with me that there is
neither pleasure nor profit in keeping more
bees than you can look after properly, or, for
the matter of that, anything other than bees.
Some day I would like to send you a photo
of my little lot. Thanking you in anticipation
of your kind reply. — Harry Clarke, Allesley,
Coventry.

Reply. — 1. The books recommended by the
B.B.K.A. are " The British Bee-keeper's Guide
Book " and " The A B C of Bee Culture,'' and
for the higher certificates, " The Honey Bee :
Its Natural History, Anatomy, and Physio-
logy," by T. W. Cowan. 2. You are quite
right on this point ; a few stocks of bees, well
cared for and worked on modern methods, are
more satisfactory in every way, and will yield
more in actual surplus honey than double the
number allowed to swarm at will, and almost
starve for want of food when stores run out
through neglect. Glad to have photo.

[2987.] Confining Bees to Hives. — 1. Can you
tell me through the B.B.J, the cause of death
of bees enclosed ? I had to shift my hives a
distance of about 300 yards, so I covered the
entrance with perforated zinc and kept them
shut in for three days. When opened yester-
day I found the entrance blocked with dead
bees. The frames are full of honey, so they
could not have been starved. 2. Please let
me know the best way to pack bar-frame
hives and skeps for travelling 'I — F. M., East-
bourne, October 20.

Reply. — 1. The dead bees sent have
worried themselves to death in their vain
efforts to get out of the hives during their
three days' confinement. The wonder is that
with entrances blocked the stocks, if strong,
did not perish outright. The merest tyro in
bee-keeping should know that care is needed
to ensure ventilation when bees are confined
to their hives as stated. 2. The best advice
we can give you is to invest in a " Guide
Book," in which such details as you need on

Oct. 23, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

429

bee-management are to be found. This is the
only and obvious means of avoiding such
mishaps as you give particulars of.

[2988.] Spreading Disease by Want of Care.
— I come to you seeking advice about my bees.
They were left till late before being fed up for
winter, and when I come to look them over I
find foul brood in six out of eight stocks ; in
fact, only the swarms of this year are free from
disease. I have never seen foul brood before,
but have only been a bee-keeper three years,
and have never examined any bees but my
own, or had any advice on how to manage save
what I got from the " Guide Book " and
B.B.J. I now see from the " Guide Book ''
that it is too late to treat them by making
artificial swarms. The food given was syrup
in which salicyllic acid and borax were added.
I noticed that the bees did not fly so freely as
usual just after the honey harvest ended, but
thought it was through bad weather ; how-
ever, when a few fine days came there was a
lot of fighting going on, so I closed the entrances
and used carbolic acid to check it, and when I
looked them over later on to see if they had
enough stores for winter I find no brood but
dead ropey stuff that will come out on the end
of a match as described in "Guide Book."
There is not much of it, some frames have
none, others have a few cells, four or five have
a larger number, and some perforated cappings.
I have, no doubt, done a good deal myself
towards spreading it through my apiary, for I
gave the frames, after extracting, back to other
stocks to refill after taking away. I may also
say that a number of stocks died in this
neighbourhood last spring through being
robbed out and want of stores. I now believe
foul brood was the cause, and I expect my
own bees got it from the same source.

I did pretty well this year, considering the
season. Of my six stocks in spring, three
were late swarms, which I built up by giving
frames of brood from the strong hives and
continuous feeding till nearly the end of June.
They gave me about 2 cwt. of surplus-honey
and two swarms, which was an average of
about 37 lb. per hive, and, as our honey-flow
only lasted from two to three weeks, it was
very satisfactory. This attack of foul brood,
however, has cured me of the bee-fever, which
I had before, and I see no good prospect in the
future, for if I clear out all the hives and start
afresh, the same thing will come again, unless
all my bee-keeping neighbours will do the
same — will follow up the same treatment in
regard to curing as myself. — Iago, Treharris,
October 17.

Reply.— It is, as you say, too late now to
think of getting the bees off their present
combs and establishing them in a clean hive.
And it is no less certain that the chances are
small of keeping healthy stocks of bees in
proximity to a neighbour whose apiary is not
only infected with foul brood, but where no
steps are taken to check the disease. In the

present instance, however, there has, no doubt,
been some want of care on your part, because,
in view of risk arising from the source of
danger mentioned above, it should have been
guarded against by more watchfulness by
yourself. For the present we advise removal
of all combs containing any cells of the
"ropey stuff" mentioned, medication of all
food given, and close examination of hatching
brood in the early spring of 1903.

[2989 ] Uniting Driven Lots of Bees.—
Will you kindly give me your opinion
on the following matter 1 In September, a
neighbouring bee-keeper found one of his
stocks without brood or eggs, and as it also
showed other signs in the same direction,
he concluded it was queenless. He therefore,
on October 3, got three lots of driven bees and
united one of the lots with the stock referred
to. Next morning, after waiting, a queen and
a few dead bees were thrown out, but beyond
this all went well then. He gave me the other
two lots to unite with some driven bees 1
had that had been fed on syrup. We united
them by throwing them out on top of the
frames and driving them down with carbolic
cloth. Next morning two pints of bees were
on the ground, and another pint yesterday.
Can you tell me the reason why in one case
the uniting was all right and in the other a
failure ? — P. W., Netteswell, Essex.

Reply. — Without knowing what method of
uniting was followed in the successful case, we
cannot point out the exact reasons for the
different result ; but the failure was no doubt
owing to your departing from orthodox and
well-known methods of uniting, and adopting
a plan of your own which, we think, is
certainly original.

[2990. J Wintering Bees. — I should esteem
it a great favour by having your opinion on
the following : — I have ten hives of bees in
my garden, and on one side of the garden
facing south a long one-story building with
shutters similar to those used at tanyards for
drying skins, &c, I thought of removing the
whole of my hives inside this building in a
month or so for tbe winter months, facing the
entrances of the hives to the shutters which
open and close at will. As it will not be con-
venient to} put them on the ground floor, I
intend putting them on the first floor, which
is about 7 ft. high, but would first like to
have your opinion in the matter. If you
advise this, when may I, with safety, remove
them to the garden again in the spring ? and
would you advise me to open or close the
shutters of the building or regulate according
to the weather? — T. W., Rollingsbourne,
October 20.

Reply.— The plan of setting the hives in a
building for winter would not only involve a
lot of trouble and some risk, but instead of
doing good would probably lead to harm.
Bees, if properly protected, winter best on
their summer stands in this country.

430

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 23, 1902.

(&ihm |r0m thi pots.

LJanwcrn, Croydon, October 17. — I read
•with interest the '"Echoes" from the different
parts of the country, and am glad to hear
that some bee-keepers have not done so
badly. With regard to myself, being some-
what near London, where we depend prac-
tically on the limes, the season has been very
poor ; in fact, I do not think the bees
gathered anything at all from this source,
seeing that what little honev I have obtained
is of a darker colour. However, I have
taken advantage of the* slump to re-queen
throughout, and now await 1903. If it is
not troubling you too much, you might add
a memorandum as to what the general colour
of honey gathered from the limes should be.
Is it the flower or the weather that governs
this ?— W. F. H.

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 querit sforwardtd will be attended to, and thotm onlf
of personal interest will bt answered in this column.

A " B.J.'' Reader (Flintshire). — Discoloured
Combs. — The fact of brood-combs being
somewhat discoloured is no detriment
whatever to their usefulness. The comb
sent contains no trace of brood at all, and
only a little pollen in a few cells ; not the
slightest sign of disease.

J. M. Balm bra. — Honey Exhibitions. — We
cannot " warn possible competitors '' against
making entries for a show unless you will
furnish us with reliable documentary evi-
dence of the shortcomings complained of.
Why not write to the officials and send us
on their reply ? If this is done we might be
quite willing to publish it.

W. C. W. (Sydenham). — Fatdty Sections. —
There is nothing wrong with the honey in
section sent, though the flavour is a bit
peculiar. Its colour is excellent, but the
producer is a careless bee-keeper whose
sections, to say the least, are not creditable to
bis method of producing section-honey for
table use. The one sent is not well filled,
while the wood is dirty and travel-stained
and has the appearance of having been used

last year. To be fit for market the wood of
sections should be — so to speak — " clean as
a new pin,'' and not soiled either with pro-
polis or by unclean handling.

"Honey" (Bromley). — Queenless Stocks ik
October. — 1. A stock of bees now "queen-
less and containing mostly drones '' is not
worth either time or trouble ; to spend
money in the purchase of a queen for it
will be simply throwing cash away. 2.
Neither ants nor earwigs are allowed to
become residents in well-kept hives. It
would be well for you to procure a " Guide
Book"' without which it is not much
use attempting to make a success of bee-
keeping.

Rev. V. S. (Blandford).— Weight of Wax in
Combs. — We cannot lay down a rule giving
even approximate weight of wax obtainable
from combs removed from hives, which
we have never seen. Probably the combs
from two skeps — which only yielded lj lb.
of wax — were very old, and consequently
the gross weight would be largely made up
of pollen and the cocoons left behind in the
cells by scores of be^s hatched therein. On
the other hand, clean combs from surplus-
chambers are almost all wax.

D. G. T. (Ilminster).— Be, Training.— It
would serve no good purpose to print the
rather silly nonsense in cutting you send.
We have dealt with a somewhat similar
cutting on page 409 of B.J. for October 9.

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 ' squan
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,
not " Manager."

G. R. (Wimbledon). — Black Combs.— The
colour and condition of comb sent arise
simply from age. Such cells as it contains
are useless to the bees either for breeding in
or storage purposes. All such comb should
be removed from hives and either melted
down for wax or burnt. With regard to
your sample, we should burn it, as the
portion of wax it contains is not worth
troubling over.

"P. Pool" (Mon.).— Comb contains foul
brood of old standing.

*** We are again compelled to hold over
replies to a few queries — not urgent — together
with some letters, till next week.

Oct. 30, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

431

(Mtorial, Ijtotios, &t

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

CONVERSAZIONE.

(Continued from page 423.)

During an interval for light refreshments,
when tea and coffee, &c, were served, Mr.
Jesse Garratt called attention to the testi-
monial which had been prepared by a com-
mittee of members of the B.B.K.A. for
presentation to Mr. John M. Hooker. The
handsome illuminated address was on view
mounted in a frame of dark walnut on the
mantelpiece, and the text thereof set forth the
valued services to the cause of bee-keeping
which had been rendered by the recipient
from the very foundation of the B B.K.A. ;
indeed, Mr. Hooker's untiring efforts at a
period when the Association was struggling
in infancy largely contributed to its ultimate
success. Mr. Garratt, in continuing his
remarks, said that he felt sure Mr. Hooker
would always be with the members in spirit,
so absorbing was his interest in everything
which concerned bee-keepers and their
industry. The Committee who had been
instrumental in organising the testimonial
were anxious that this audience should see the
address, which was about to be sent oveu to Mr.
Hooker in the United States together with a
moderately filled purse to enable him to make
any purchase that he might choose for himself
in recollection of his association with apicul-
ture, and in memory of his bee-keeping friends
in this country.

After tea the members reassembled in con-
versazione, while Lieut. -Colonel Walker was
voted to the chair, and, on being given to
understand that Mr. Tom Pogmore desired to
exhibit a patent bee-catcher, called on that
gentleman to show the appliance.

Mr. Tom Pogmore said that when swarms
of bees settled in the hole of a wall or tree it
was sometimes a troublesome and slow process
to dislodge them, and he had therefore wished
to show them a patent appliance by means of
which this might easily be done. A funnel-
shaped bee-escape was fitted over the entrance
to the hole, which prevented egress except
through the cone which tapered to a point out-
wards. When once outside, the bees could
not find their way back again, but would enter
the box fixed in a hanging position beside the
hole and join the nucleus therein. A model
illustrating the method of procedure was here
exhibited. He (the speaker) stated that this
plan had never been known to fail, and that a
great number of stocks had been taken in
Norfolk and Suffolk by this means. He
admitted, however, the apparatus was only
practical in midsummer, and that the brood
hatching in the wall would be left un-
touched. When enough bees were collected,
the box which served as a catcher might be

left for two or three days, after which it could
be removed as required.

Mr. Hill thought the idea a good one, but
he was afraid that if bees were moved in the
middle of summer they would go back to the
old location.

Mr. Ackerman considered the plan, if
practical and efficient, ingenious, for he had
known cases where the roof of a house had to
be almost stripped off to get rid of bees.

Mr. E. Walker pointed out that by the
method in question he supposed the bees in
the hole could be tapped every three weeks ?
Some discussion followed, in which varying
opinions were expressed pro and con. regarding
the invention, after which

Mr. Pogmore showed what he described as
his new bee- feeder, which could also be used
as a dummy-board, and which answered the
purpose splendidly.

Mr. Weston examined the contrivance,
which he said, to his mind, was simply an
adaptation of the Simmins's dry-sugar feeder.

The Chairman expressed the obligations of
the meeting to Mr. Pogmore for his ingenious
inventions, and then mentioned that the first
subject on their list for dealing with was
"Bee-Smokers," and called upon

Mr. Reid, who related his experiments for the
purpose of obtaining a better smoker fuel. At
present the " Bingham " was, he supposed, the
one in most general use, but its weak point
was the frequent failure of the fuel to keep
alight as long as required, which occasionally
led to unfortunate results ; and for a long
time past he had been endeavouring to find a
fuel that would continue to burn for an hour
or two. Brown paper was very well when
there was nothing better, but in its manufac-
ture all brown paper had mineral matter
added to colour it. The general tint of the
fibre used for paper was light, and ochre was
employed to darken it. This caused the sub-
stance to give off a dust in burning which had
a tendency to get over the comb and into the
honey. A perfect fuel should leave no ash at
all. Ordinary cellulose yielded no ash that
could affect the combs, and this substance
made into cartridge form for insertion in the
tube of the smoker gave precisely what was
wanted. He exhibited several specimens he
had made along with others illustrating the
use of boiled straw-pulp, corrugated cardboard,
leaves of the " Chapman honey plant," and
other substances to use as smoker fuel. Peat
finely pulverised, moistened, and mixed with
a cement of flour paste to make the particles
cohere, formed a good fuel. This latter
should be moulded with a hole down the
centre, through which the smoke would pass
and the material burn regularly to the end.
The production of a dense smoke was not
necessary, but positively injurious. It was
really the vapour of tarry substances which
would invariably settle on the combs. He
had often tasted these tarry matters from a
smoker. He assured his hearers that bees

432

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 30, 1902.

could be intimidated equally well with smoke
that was almost invisible, and did not convey
any disagreeable taste to the honey. Most
inexperienced bee-keepers used a great deal
too much smoke, and this for a time bewil-
dered the bees, but after recovery, and not
being gorged with honey, they were apt to
seek for something to sting.

Mr. Jas. Lee said he had many years ago
used peat-fuel, obtained from the peat bogs at
Pirbright for smoking bees.

In reply to an interrogator who inquired
whether it would be worth while to use a
weak solution of saltpetre to facilitate the
burning, Mr. Reid said that the nitrous fumes
of saltpetre were not good for bees, but he
thought the lower part of a cartridge might
be touched by the solution with good effect.

Mr. Hill asked the cause of the black
dripping substances, which was the chief
obstacle against using brown paper in
smokers 1

Mr. Reid explained that brown paper took
up 10 per cent, of moisture from the air, and
in damp weather absorbed as much as 12 per
cent. Smoker-cartridges should, therefore, be
kept in a closed canister and as dry as
possible.

The Chairman thanked Mr. Reid, who had
been so prodigal in his experiments, which
were always interesting and attractive,
jocosely adding a hope that Mr. Reid would
leave them a bit of colour in their smoke for
the sake of the beginner, to whom a visible
means of keeping the bees under was a source
of great comfort in rather " trying " times.

Mr. Weston then desired to draw the atten-
tion of those who had been unable to visit the
Dairy Show to the handsome " Coronation
Challenge Cup " which, with great liberality,
had been presented by the Baroness Burdett-
Coutts. The trophy had this year been won
by Mr. Seymour, of Henley-on-Thames, but
the cup would have to be won three times by
the same exhibitor before it could be per-
manently held, and would, therefore, form a
suitable and worthy prize to be contended for
at the shows of the British Bee-Keepers'
Association. He congratulated Mr. Seymour
upon his " win,'' and hoped that his example
would be emulated next year, and thus be
productive of the most strenuous competition.
The subject of " Brace-combs " was next in
order, and might be well worthy of ventilation,
and in opening the discussion thereon Mr.
Weston detailed minutely the different con-
ditions under which brace-combs were found
in a hive. The present rage for cheapness
accounted in great measure for the existence
thereof. A cheap frame did not permit of an
expensive top bar, and wss the cause of
the general ill-fitting and badly finished-off
frames, all of which promoted the evil. Be-
sides this, bee-keepers ought to study the
exact distances required by the bees in their
movements, or brace combs would result.
Mr. Reid said that the usual principle upon

which the bees acted was to build brace
combs over the spaces which they could very
nearly, but not quite, reach.

In answer to an inquiry as to the best
width of top bar to prevent brace combs —

Mr. Lee said he had tried this year in his
apiary at Andover top bars 1^ in. wide, and
this prevented brace-combs. Indeed, he
never found the face of the comb project out
beyoDd the top bar. These latter were § in.
thick in the standard frame, but he thought
a thicker bar would be better. In any case
he certainly considered it desirable to reduce
the width of the bottom bar, and bring it
within £ in.

Mr. Weston spoke of Mr. Lee as an
appliance maker who had now gone largely into
the trade of honey producing, and had found
out for himself the difficulties of his customers.
He had realised the necessity of making a
stronger top bar.

The Chairman suggested that the meeting
ask Mr. Weston as Vice-Chairman of the
B, B.K.A., to express to the Baroness Burdett-
Coutts the grateful thanks of the B.B.K.A.
for her handsome gift of a Coronation
Challenge Cup, which proposal was assented
to by acclamation.

Mr. Carr asked for the views of members
regarding the peculiar effect of the use of the
"fence" or slotted separators when working
for section honey. He referred to sections
staged at many shows, each of which had a
disfiguring projection on the face of the comb
opposite the slots in the separators used. He
thought it was evident to any one that that
wa3 a great fault, and he hoped members who
intended to exhibit next year would see that
the opening was made smaller or done away
with altogether. A number of the sections
exhibited had ribs across the combs.

Mr. R. Brown said he had used slotted
dividers, but with proper management never
found any corrugations or marks on the face
of sections, though he had seen them on the
show-bench. The marks were probably caused
by not pushing the sections up tightly. When
using these slotted dividers he packed the
sections up tightly with powerful springs.
He used the no-bee-way sections. In order
to clear the slotted separators from propolis
after using, he had baked about 200 of them
at one time in the kitchen oven, by which
means all the wax and propolis ran off, and
very little scraping was necessary.

Mr. Reid said the propolis would clean off
well in a boiler of water with some soda.

Mr. Weston recommended the use of the
solar-extractor for such purpose instead of the
oven.

Mr. Reid's experience of metal dividers in
section-racks inclined him against them, and
he thought there was not the slightest doubt
that many of the refusals of bees to start
working in sections was attributable to the
chilling effect of the cold metal.
Mr. Carr asked if any one present had tried

Oct. 30, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

433

the American system of dispensing with quilts
altogether, and adopting the flat-top hive-roof
or cover with a bee-space between the top bars
and the roof ?

Mr. Weston said he bad not tried this plan,
but he thought it would be a great advantage
if quilts could be done away with as they har-
boured moths and other insects. The bees
endeavoured to propolise over every little
aperture wherever air entered. They like
ventilation at the bottom, but at the top they
tried to stop up everything with propolis. A
friend of his tried ordinary black roofing-felt,
above the frame-tops in winter, but it had to
be pulled forcibly off and destroyed when the
bees began to work again in the spring. He did
not believe it was necessary as a sine qua non
to make the hives so warm at the top, and,
moreover, did not think that so much heat
was conserved, as many bee-keepers were in-
clined to maintain. It was quite a possibility
that the crown-board might take the place of
a number of quilts.

Mr. Eeid corroborated Mr. Weston's views.
The bees did not propolise celluloid, but only
jusc touched it on the edge, and that substance
made an excellent quilt. The bee-keeper
could see what was going on underneath it
without taking it off and letting in the cold.
Unfortunately thick celluloid, which was
usually supplied, buckled up, and consequently
would not tit close. The best celluloid of all
for use in the hive was a very thin sheet —
that employed in the production of the
cinematograph pictures. He would not have
anything else. The bees ate less honey if
kept warm at top. He did not use any
winter passages at all.

Mr. Bevan was in favour of cow hair felt
quilts', which refused to take up moisture,
whilst flannel was an absorber.

Tne Chairman would be very sorry to do
without winter passages. His bees were so
provided by leaving on a super-clearer all
through the winter.

Mr. Edgar Wilson, on behalf of Mr.
Geary, then showed a glass observation hive,
made for exhibition at the Crystal Palace, in
which the combs were built on the glass ;
thus a bee-keeper could see from the back of
the cells the eggs, the pollen, and the honey.

The Chairman doubted if a queen would
deposit eggs on the surface of the glass ;
indeed, the conditions would be mosc un-
natural, the exhibit, however, was no doubt
interesting.

Mr. Hill did not believe the system could
be of any practical use, as glass soon became
cold, and the young grub would probably die.

Mr. Weston said, in his opinion the
exhibit would evoke more general interest if
the combs on glass could be shown in the
summer time with brood in the cells seen in
process of hatching.

Mr. Wilson then produced an apparatus in-
vented by Mr. Geary for the purpose of ensur-
ing the fertilisation of queens by selected

drones, and said that the inventor was present
and would, if allowed, be pleased to explain
its use. Mr. Geary then came forward and
began by saying he very much doubted
whether the fertilisation of queen bees ever
took place in the air or on the wing as
was generally supposed ; he then produced
an apparatus, and said by his plan and
the use of the appliance shown a queen
could be held in a flying position and
the process of mating facilitated by the bee-
keeper himself handling the drone. The
advantage thereof was that a cross or a pure
breed of bees could be produced as the bee-
keeper desired ; but he (the speaker) must
admit that he could only claim 5 per cent, of
successes.

Mr. Hill wished to know how Mr. Geary
conld prove that the queen had been mated on
the particular occasion when assisted by the
bee-keeper and controlled in the apparatus ?
To which Mr. Geary replied, that the experi-
ment would only be attempted when the
queen was secured as she passed out of the
nive on her mating trip. On being asked if he
had himself got queens mated on the plan
described, Mr. Geary replied in the affirmative,
but said he could only get five queens mated
out of a hundred experimented with.

After a few further practical questions by
those present, which created some laughter,
the Chairman said the contrivance was in-
genious, but he thought it would require a
great deal of demonstration before its practical
usefulness could be admitted. He could not
himself see how queens were to be secured and
handled as stated. However, on behalf of
those present he thanked Mr. Geary for show-
ing them his invention.

Mr. Weston showed samples of honey from
the famed Mounts Hymettus (Athens) and
Grindelwald (Switzerland), which were passed
round and generally tasted.

Mr. Weston then said the meeting was
aware that the Royal Agricultural Society had
held its last itinerant show, and would pro-
bably be established in future on the north-
west frontier of London, which would render
it far more accessible to the majority of the
population than when held at Carlisle, or at
Maidstone and other distant parts of the
provinces. The substitution of a fixed abode
would no doubt, therefore, be a permanent
benefit to all. It occurred to him that this
change Avould bring in its turn some other
developments for the bee industry. Firstly,
it would probably enable the B.BK.A. to
erect a permanent staging, upon which honey
could be better shown than had hitherto been
done in the temporary tent or shed put up for
the exhibition of it. This would enable them
to remodel their schedule, and change the
system of prize-giving, as far as such alteration
was deemed desirable. In that respect he
might suggest that instead of giving a prize
for a collection of appliances, would it not be
an advantage to give a special prize for a

434

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 30, 1902.

particular appliance, so that the thoughts and
energies of inventors might be concentrated on
one special point, and therefore be more likely
to yield success, than in traversing the old
field of appliance invention',? He might also
say that some assistance would be required if
apiculture was to secure a permanent location
at the show. The Eoyal Agricultural Society
could not do everything, and he hoped that
between this and the next R.A. exhibition it
would be possible to establish a fund to
promote the undertaking, and find out the
best means of carrying it out.

Mr. Carr said he hoped no effort would be
made to do away with the class for " collections
of appliances '' in order to substitute one for a
single or particular kind of appliance. The
collections class was good for illustrating
everything that was best in modern bee-keep-
ing, and helped very largely to make up the
attractions of the show as a whole.

Mr. H. Jonas thought the most important
point the Committee would have to consider
was the building that would have to be put
up, and whether the Eoyal Agricultural
Society would erect the premises required ;
therefore, some effort should be made to ascer-
tain what the arrangements were to be as early
as possible. He believed that if bee-keepers
desired a special building they would have to
contribute towards its cost. The Society had
secured 200 acres of land at Twyford Abbey,
near to which the chief railway companies had
running powers.

Mr. Carr thought it would be worth while
for all bee-keepers to unite in helping to build
a place specially adapted for their purpose,
because if the Eoyal Agricultural Society
allowed this, a permanent home would be
assured to the bee-keeping industry.

The Chairman endorsed this, and said that
it was of more importance at present to sub-
scribe to this object than to a fund for giving
additional prizes.

The Secretary believed that if the B.B.K. A.
were well supported by all the county associa-
tions there would be a good chance of obtain-
ing a desirable site.

Messrs. Pugh, Hill, the Secretary, and
others discussed the system at present in
vogue of awarding prizes, the general opinion
being that funds should be raised for the
purpose of providing separate prizes for the
products of each county, the competition being
confined within each county respectively.

Mr. Willard said similar troubles arose in
connection with the fruit show at the Royal
Horticultural Society. Of course, Kent could
produce better fruit than other counties, con-
sequently there was a reluctance to compete.
Now, however, an arrangement had been
made to group three adjacent counties to-
gether, and award separate prizes for each
separate group. This was much fairer than
the previous plan of offering prizes for the
whole of Eogland, because the south, with its
climatic advantages, could obviously do better

than the north. He thought the beekeeping
schedule of prizes should be worked out on
somewhat of the same lines.

Mr. Sharp pointed out that the principle
might be capable of evasion, where a man
resided in one county and perhaps kept bees
in two or three others.

Mr. Brown lived in Hunts, but within fifty
yards of the Cambs. border, and he approved
of the Eoyal Horticultural Society's plan of
grouping counties.

Mr. Hill said that in Derbyshire he could
not produce any honey, except a little from
hawthorn, before the third week in June.

The Chairman said that must be borne in
mind in framing the schedule. He agreed
with the grouping plan.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman (who, in
acknowledgment, said the meeting had been
a most successful and instructive one) brought
the proceedings to a close.

(Owing to pressure on our space, Report of
the Monthly Meeting of the B.B.K. A. Council,
which took place on the 23rd inst., is unavoid-
ably held over till next week.)

The Kditors do not hold themselves responsible for the
•pinions espretsed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymout 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 as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra-
tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We
in not undertake to return rejected communication:

COMMENTS ON CUEBENT TOPICS.

CAN A " BOGIE " MAN WORK A MIRACLE ?

[4925] Under the heading of "Curing
Vicious Bees " on page 333, this query is
answered in the affirmative, for there we read
the following : " I advised that a bogie man
or scarecrow should be set up near the hive,
and the cure worked wonderfully, for I was
informed ' All the bad bees evidently stung the
hat, which was covered with stings, and we
have had no stings since.' '' This, if true, is a
miracle cure of the simplest kind, whereby
any one can get rid of vicious bees with the
greatest ease. I am very much astonished
that no one has taken notice of it hitherto, but
the whole affair is so astounding that I cannot
let it pass without commenting on it and ex-
pressing a doubt as to the genuineness or
thoroughness of the cure that is said to have
been wrought.

A bee, even in a passion, does not evince a
blind fury in its action or conduct, but rather
shows a method in its madness which enables
it to reserve the final thrust for the most
vulnerable point of its adversary. It never
circles round a tree, plant, or shrub, looking
for a weak point, as only animated nature has
anything more than a passing attraction for it.
So I cannot agree to the plea put forward in
[4867] that if a " bogie " man were set up he

Oct. 30, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

435

would receive the stings of all the irate bees
of a vicious colony until only the good-
tempered ones are left, and, hey presto ! a cure
of viciousness takes place, and the stock be-
comes gentle and tractable. Come, and let
us reason it out together, my bee-
friends, and discover if the argument
holds water? I trow not. A bee is, I fondly
believe, a creature of sense and discretion, and
(call it instinct, if you like) it can reason out a
point admirably. It very rarely stings any
other than a vulnerable part of either man or
animal. It darts furiously at several points,
and strikes hard, but not home, for it is dis-
criminating, and knows when the act would
be a case of love's labour lost. This is not a
result of mere blind chance or instinct alone,
for the creature is admirably provided with
organs, serving the special function of guides,
to direct it where it can make an impression.
The forward part of the sting is furnished with
palpi, or feelers, with which it tests the nature
of the substance or material into which it is
about to thrust its lancets to prepare a way
for the injection of the formic acid from the
poison sac. Now these palpi, on perceiviog
tint the substance has no feeling, or is im-
pervious, telegraphs this fact to the brain of
the bee, and an instantaneous message is
returned instructing the sting to desist. Note
this procedure on some fine day in summer,
when your head, masked in a panoply of mail
in the shape of a net veil, enables you to pluck
up sufficient nerve to stand stock still with a
few passionate bees buzzing all around. Ob-
serve how they strike fierce and fast at your
trousers or sleeves when you move a limb.
Did you ever find that they, other than acci-
dentally, left a sting behind ? I never did,
and I am almost prepared to make the
positive statement that a bee never stings
such an object voluntarily. The feelers
show it the futility of such a pro-
cedure, and, wise creature, it retains its
sting for some future occasion, when it can
strike home. But I have a second objection
to the sanctioning of such a " cure " for
viciousness. The bee cannot do what is
claimed for the " bogie " man's hat. When it
inserts its sting beneath our cuticle the barbs
keep their hold, and the consequence follows
that the bee is unable to extricate the
weapon. It circles on it as on a pivot in the
vain endeavour, till, acting on a law of nature,
the weakest point gives way, and the bee is
left stingless. The same law allows it to
thrust the sting into such an object as a felt
hat with perfect impunitj , and the bee departs
with its sting. The hat is not a "medium"
for extracting stings. Holding the opinion,
therefore, that a bee can not and will not
sting such an object, I vote the cure an im-
possibility. I have no desire to question the
bona-fides of Mr. Sole's statement. Indeed,
he founds the whole argument of the won-
derful cure, not on his own authority, but
simply records hearsay evidence, which does

not pass muster in a court of law. I fear,
therefore, "some one has blundered" ; and I,
for one, will remain a " doubting Thomas " until
some positive proof is produced showing that
bees can be cured of viciousness in this novel
way. For the statement really means that
they work out their own salvation by volun-
tarily offering up the lives of all the wicked
brethren — or rather sisterhood — in one wild
orgie of savage and reckless self-slaughter, all
sacrificing their lives, not in defence of home
and friends, or for the good or well-being of
the community, but from an insane and
insensate desire to strike at any object bearing
the most remote resemblance to the genus
homo. Apart, however, from this one point
of indiscriminate suicidal mania I am ready
to admit that the idea of a bogie man seb up
in close proximity to a hive of vicious bees
may do some good in curing them by
familiarising them with the object. Familiarity
may breed contempt, as it does in the case of
the crows, or it may simply serve to convince
them that the figure is no enemy, and that it
is not there with any overt intent of attacking
their dear homeland. From this standpoint,
I am prepared to accept the " man," and deem
the matter one worthy of at least trial and
experiment. — D. M. M., Banff'.

NORTH YORKSHIRE NOTES.
[4926.] The reading of bad reports I pre-
sume will now be getting monotonous, but as
our bad seasons should be chronicled as well
as the good ones, I venture to give an outline
of the way bee-keeping has fared in this part
of the country. Without doubt, the year
1902 has been one of the worst in this dis-
trict for many years. From the early spring
to May 20 the weather was more like winter
than early summer as may be than the open-
ing days of spring. Judged by my " Notes,''
which read thus : " May 6, cold and stormy ;
ground covered with snow.'' "May 23, the
first bee- day of the season.'' Then by the end
of the month the weather changed to wintry
cold again, and so it remained until June 22,
when the bees commenced working on the
May-bloom, then followed the various later
fbwers. But besides being a very poor
season, it has been a very peculiar one with
mc For the past seven years I have invari-
ably had a large amount of honey in July
varying in colour from very dark to absolutely
black, and in quality practically unsaleable ;
this year, on the contrary, there has not been
a trace of dark honey gathered. Such sur-
plus as my own bees gathered in July last
has all been good saleable stuff, not only
so, but in that month mv bees had the best
honey -gathering time for July that I have ex-
perienced for the past seven years. In plain
words, the bees cleared off all expenses for the
current year, and left me a little to the good
besides. I am sorry to say, however, many
hereabouts were less fortunate than myself,

436

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 30, 1902.

for a good few stocks had already succumbed
before the favourable weather set in, and in
others the bees were so reduced in numbers
that they were never able to pull themselves
into form.

The heather (the sole hope of our harvest)
was fully three weeks late. I first noticed
bees going to the heather on August 26, and
then all seemed to go on well until Septem-
ber 1 ; but on the 2nd of that month a
change for the worse in the weather took
place. Honey almost ceased to come iD, and
by September 13 all was over ! Our hopes
had all vanished in mid-air ! My own surplus
was forty finished sections and about 2 cwt. of
extracted honey. Not one quarter of my
usual crop. Here let me say that my " Wells "
hives on the " W. B. C." principle have again
shown their superiority in a bad season.
Taking the heather harvest — which is acknow-
ledged to be one of the worst ever known —
my twenty single hives gave me forty sections
among them — an average of two each ;
while nine " Wells " gave 224 lb. of ex-
tracted honey, an average of nearly 25 lb.
each. Certainly a poor thing in either case.

With my remaining " Wells " hive — I have
ten in all — I did a little experimenting. Seeing
so many discouraging accounts in the B.B.J.,
I resolved to try one "Wells" for section-
work with one queen only. I did this in order
to see if those nives could not be utilised for
this purpose ; and T now give my experience
in order that if Bee Journal readers found
difficulty in working these hives with two
queens, they could adopt the single-queen
plan and devote them to working for section-
honey. My plan was this : I made one
" Wells " up with one queen in her first year,,
put in two box or hollow dummies to take the
place of four frames, then extended the brood -
nest up to sixteen frames. This done, I added
a section-rack. The result was my securing
fifteen sections before the heather season and
eight from the heather — twenty-three in all,
besides 7i lb. in unfinished sections. I also
took six brood-frames, which yielded other
15 lb. of extracted honey — a total of 45| lb.
for the season. It must be understood, how-
ever, that one season's trial does not prove
this plan to be good or bad. I simply give
results of the first trial, and any one that finds
a difficulty in woiking double-queened hivts
might try it and give us their opinion on the
matter.

In conclusion, let me say, although the
season has been very poor, it has taught me
a lesson or two I shall not readily forg* t. —
J. Rymer, Levisham, Yorlcs, October 23.

THE SEASON IN ROSS-SHIRE.
[4927.] The season here has been the worst
I have known since I started bee-keeping.
The weather was made up of "samples," mostly
bad ones. Winter was fairly well represented.
In several cases the bees did not even enter

the supers at all. Strangely enough, the
season of 1892 seems to have been in the
north very similar to the one just past, being
" cold, stormy, and also honeyless.'' As good
and bad seasons seem to come time about,
surely we may look forward in the coming
year to a season as good as that of 1893. The
few saleable sections I got fetched a good price,
but even although, the value of the crop is only
a quarter of that of last year's.

Heather sections are very scarce. Stocks
were prepared as usual by the beginning of
August, but the heather was not, and as there
was very little honey in the frames, the queens
were not encouraged to keep on laying. By
the end of the month frames were crowded
with bees, but almost empty of brood, so that
when a few good days came during the first
week of September, the bees, having plenty
room below, declined to store any honey in
the sections. Stocks have, therefore, gone
into winter quarters with plenty of natural
stores, and vacant cells below same well filled
with brood.

One stock is exceptionally strong ; they are
a special strain from a well-known breeder,
and were transferred from a skep on to nine
frames (not standards), when, in the third
week of September, they were closed down
for winter. They had a large quantity of
honey in frames, with brood in all stages, were
covering all the nine frames and clustered
below them and on outside of dummy board.
While the drones were cast out of all my
other hives a month ago, these particular
drones are still on the wing — in this case a
sign of prosperity. The stock is so wealthy
that it can afford to tolerate the useless
drones.

I see that your correspondent, "D. M. M.,
Banff," has fared no better than others this
season. His system of tiering four or five
racks of sections high, though excellent in a
good season, and in districts where heather
comes in as the main crop, would have been
very much at a discount during the past
sunless summer. I had one stock on fifteen
frames, with four racks of sections on top, and
two below as a nadir ; they had plenty of
ventilation, and yet the bees swarmed ; the
queen's wing had been "clipped," and she fell
on the ground in front of the alighting-board.
The swarm did not form a cluster, but lay on
a bed of lettuces in front of the hive. By the
time I had the queen and a handful of her
subjects in the hiving skep, the swarm had
missed her and the bees were fast going back to
the hive.

I laid the skep on its side among them and
threw in a few of the clustering bees ; these
started " calling,'' and the rest soon found
their way iD. This swarm weighed 8i lb. net.
Of the four section-racks, the three lower ones
were well filled with comb and honey, but the
queen had used several of them for breeding,
and so spoiled them. In the fourth the foun-
dation had not been worked out.

Oct. 30, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

437

The fifteen frames were all crammed with
brood, and there were over a dozen queen-cells,
several already hatched out. I made up some
nuclei with these queens and a few frames of
brood, cut out all the cells, and then returned
the swarm in the evening.

When the young queens started laying, the
old queen was removed and the stock divided
in two, on the " Wells '' principle, with a
young queen and eight frames of bees on each
side of the perforated dummy. They worked
well, and gave a fairly good surplus of heather
honey.

There can be no doubt that this nuisance of
"undesirable swarming" is owing to prolific
queens not getting enough breeding room. If
we are to keep to the " Standard " frame, I
think we must use at least twenty frames ; get
these filled with brood, and contract to the
usual ten frames when the honey flow comes
on. Mr. Rymer's method is a step in the
right direction, but it is only suitable for dis-
tricts like his own ; in this part of Scotland it
would result in a poor crop of clover honey,
owing to the production of an excess of brood
during the height of the season, and if we
were to take off sections for three weeks while
waiting for brood to hatch out of the upper
story, what would become of the heather crop,
coming, as it generally does, immediately
after that from white clover ?

What is wanted is a method of working
our stocks to take full advantage of the pro-
lificness of our queens, and at the same time
to guard against over production of brood
once the honey flow has commenced. I think
we should make an effort to solve this
problem, and those interested in its solution
should experiment during the coming sea3on,
and report results in our Journal.

There are some bee-men here who prefer
old queens, as they think a queen in her first
season is too prolific. Mr. Simmins says, " A
queen cannot be too prolific, but our manage-
ment must ensure that she does her utmost
before the honey flow begins." When we
realise the truth of these words, and work our
stocks on a system that will enable us to
make the most of the laying powers of our
queens, our bees will always be in good con-
dition, the " wintering " problem and " spring
dwindling" will cease to trouble us, our
colonies will build up in spring without any
nursing, and will be ready for the honey flow
at whatever time it comes. — J. M. E., Ussie
Valley, October 22.

A SWARM IN SEPTEMBER.
[4928.] The following swarming incident
might possess interest for some of your
readers : " As 1 sat at dinner on September 9
last, a swarm of bees made their appearance
in my front garden, and, after flying about for
a short time they went over the house and
settled in my back garden. Close by was a
small apple-tree which at the time was a mass

of bloom. I got the swarm into a hiving skep,
and later in the day hived the bees in a bar-
frame hive, giving them some few frames of
honey I had by me. I also added some frames
of foundation and started slow feeding. All
has since gone on well, and on looking into the
hive on the 11th inst. I found the frames of
foundation fully drawn out and quite a lot of
brood in them. The old axiom says : " A
swarm in July is not worth a fly." I am going
to see what a September swarm is worth, when
dealt with on modern methods ? I think it
must have been a " hunger swarm," but should
like to hear your opinion ] — H. May, Kings-
ton, Wallingford.

[We quite agree with your view. — Eds.]

WEIGHING HIVES.

DAILY GAINS AND LOSSES IN WEIGHT.

[4929.] I notice your correspondent, " G. D.,
Harrogate " (4908, page 404), gives an inte-
resting report of daily gains and losses on a
tested hive, and on my own behalf I beg to
thank him. I note his remark in postscript
that limes flowered well. If he ever visited
the Valley Gardens when the limes there were
in flower, there was one (there are only four
trees that flower out of a total of twenty or
thirty trees), only a small lime as limes go,
but it was one mass of bloom this year ; yet I
never saw a single bee on it during the whole
time it was in bloom, possibly the weather
was too cold. Bat the point is, why should
only four trees flower out of the lot ? I have
each season inquired of the gardeners working
there, who have known the trees since plant-
ing, and they cannot give any reason for them
not flowering. — W. G , Bastrick.

THE "EDWARDS" SWARM-CATCHER.

[4930.] Noticing the request, on page 410,
of " Out- Apiarist " for the experiences of those
who have tested the appliance which forms
the caption hereof, I beg to second that
request, and would personally feel much
obliged if every bee-keeper who has used it
would report.

Though I did not intend, until the appliance
had had some disinterested trial, that any
great quantity should be placed upon the
market, I must confess that I am somewhat
surprised and disappointed at the very small
number requisitioned. The action of the
appliance makers in whose hands I placed it
of adding 2s. to the price may have had some
deterrent effect on sales, but I expect the main
reason may be found in the fact that former
'•catchers " put on the market have not ful-
filled their destiny, and the price paid for
them has been just so much money thrown
away. u Once bitten, twice shy ; " and bee-
keepers can scarce be blamed if they are slow
in taking up with something which, for all

438

THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 30, 1902.

they know, may prove merely another ignis
fatuus.

As a commencement, just to start the ball
rolling, I will relate my experiences with the
" catcher'' for 1902, but before I do so I will
go back to the previous year, for " thereby
hang3 a tale" or a "caution.'' One of my
hives, experimentally fitted in 1901, cast a
swarm in my absence ; the swarm clustered
and eventually returned, leaving the "hiver"
box untenanted. On my return I examined
the appliance, and found the point of the
cone blocked by the body of a burly drone, who,
having got his " head and shoulders'' through,
found himself in such tight quarters that he
could neither go forward nor backward. The
" cone " in question was one of those little
stamped brass affairs put out some few years ago
by Abbott Bros., and though its nose had been
filed away to enlarge the opening, the filing
had evidently not been sufficiently thorough.
This defect having been remedied, the swarm
was, when it came off again the following day,
duly hived, precisely " to order." " All's well
that ends well,'' but by careful watching I
found that drones had some difficulty in
climbing up owing to the smoothness of the
surface of the cones and to the infrequency of
the perforations therein, and though it involved
a little more trouble to makes cones of finely-
perforated zinc, I found the substitution of the
latter for those of brass to be a decided im-
provement. I am led to dwell somewhat upon
this point because it has come to my know-
ledge that at least one of the dealers who has
been handling my " catcher " has departed from
the pattern of the one sent him to the extent
of fitting the brass cone, the opening at whose
point is not sufficiently large to allow the
passage of the queen. All "catchers'' then
sent out by this firm have been rendered use-
less for the purpose intended by the trivial, yet
serious, overlooking of a simple detail.

Now for 1902. Though nearly all my hives
were fitted with "catchers," 1 only had two
swarms ; one duly hived itself in regulation
manner on June 22, but the other, which came
off on the same day, returned to the hive, leav-
ing nothing in the " hiver " but a large force of
drones. On the following day the colony
swarmed again, but though the queen was
trapped in the "hiver,'' the bees neglected her
and went back into the hive. I withdrew the
front slide to release the queen, but apparently
she failed to get back into the hive, no further
swarming taking place until July 5, when,
during my absence, a swarm came off and re-
turned, leaving no queen upstairs ([ might
here say that I had previously altered the
" catcher " by substituting for the zinc cone a
different kind of " trap " (?), which allowed
queen and drones to go back to the hive). On
the following day further swarming occurred,
and though the queen was seen in the " hiver "
box and the bees commenced to cluster there,
the swarm eventually withdrew into the hive
proper ; the new " trap " was now removed

and the cone replaced. Being away from home
all the following week 1 am unable to say what
took place, but on the following Sunday, July
13, I found on reaching home that the
" hiver " was tenanted by a swarm. This was
towards evening shaken out in front of the
hive, and next morning a dead queen, con-
siderably mauled, was found on the alighting
board.

I was considerably puzz'ed to account for
the vagaries of this colony, and was at first
inclined to blame the " catcher," which was a
slight variation from my standard pattern ;
but on consideration, and in view of the
subsequent success of the appliance when the
drones had been thinned in numbers, I
feel that I may with reasonableness put
the blame upon the large number of drones
contained in the hive. The combs in this
particular hive (which came into my possession
in a roundabout way), owing to economy (?)
ia the use of foundation had a large number
of drone cells, and an abnormally large
number of drones were raised, in so much so
that when the earlier swarmings too'r place
the inside of the " catcher '' and the front of
the " hiver '' box seemed to be a solid mass
of struggling drones trying frantically to
secure a passage through the slight avenues
of escape offered.

It has been suggested to me in several
quarters that the communication between
"catcher" and "hiver" box — a single cone,
allowing but one bee at a time to pass the turn-
stile— is too slight ; that more cones would be
an improvement. In reply, I must say that
the construction of the appliance necessitates
the communication between the two chambers
being immediately above the point of the
angular front ; hence a duplication of cones is
inadvisable. But in view of the circumstance
just related, I am of opinion that the commu-
nication might be extended with advantage, to
which end I propose to use a cone with an oval
nose, allowing, say, the passage of three drones
at a time. I also intend next season to try
the effect of using a plain cylinder of per-
forated zinc about 2 in. high.

In conclusion, I would say that for the
future the "catcher" (the lower portion) will
be made to one standard pattern and size —
the same as those sent out the past season —
leaving the adaptation to individual hives of
varying sizes to be made by means of wider
(or narrower) fillets, upon which, in any case,
the hive body has to be mounted, in order to
accommodate the appliance. In the matter of
the " hiver '' box — the upper portion — I shall
arrange, in consequence of repeated request,
for the purchaser to have the option of a
simple box in one piece, or, especially for out
apiaries, a box as at present, but arranged
to take standard frames. — H. Edwards,
Shrubs Bill Cottage, Sunningdalc, October 14.

P.S. — Will Mr. Herrod please report as to
the " catcher '' sent to Swanley for trial at the
B.B.K.A. apiary ?

Oct. 30, 1901] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

439

MARKETING HONEY.

[4931.] A great deal has been said during
the year now drawing to a close on the subject
of marketing honey and prices wholesale and
retail, and, after reading the various remarks
of correspondents who express their views in
our B.B.J, upon the matter, the conclusion I
have arrived at is that the method adopted
by A. H. Homersham, whose letter appears
on October 16 (4917, page 418), is as sensible
and practical as anyone need to adopt. It
naturally follows that if I have the best
honey in the country for sale, and would-be
buyers do not know it, they are not likely to
come to me uninvited. My remedy, there-
fore, lies in letting them know where my
honey is to be had, and to my mind nothing
seems more direct than the sight of samples,
coupled with the transparent window-bill
announcing the fact that Honey from our own
bees can be bought here. Now if we consider the
question as practical men ; bearing in mind
that in a short time (say, a month) 70 lb. of
honey was disposed of at lOd. per lb., how
much would be sold in twelve months at Is.
per lb. ? I venture to put the quantity at
700 lb., with an increase of sales annually.
Most bee-keepers are in too big a hurry to sell
out. If better prices are to ever be obtained,
the middleman must be dispensed with, and,
if necessary, the consumer waited upon ; at
least, that is my opinion. I sell only to the
consumer direct at Is., although I have been
repeatedly asked by the tradesman who offers
9d. if I had any honey for sale ? I prefer to
wait, and find it pays me better to do so.
Hoping for a better season next year, and
looking forward to other opinions and better
methods of selling honey. — W. W. K., St.
Brelades, Jersey, October 21.

<$)iu}ri$s and mplip.

[2991.] Removing Bees from House Roofs.
— A Promising Start in Bee-keeping. — Being
in the building line I had occasion the other
day, in the course of business, to remove a
swarm of bees from under the slates of a
house roof. In doing this job I killed as few
bees as possible, cutting out the combs —
which were evidently old, but nearly full of
honey — one by one with the bees on them,
and putting all into a box, thinking I might
make use of them ; and, although not a bee-
keeper, and knowing nothing about bees, I was
very unwilling to destroy them. I now write
to ask : — Can I keep the bees alive shut
up in the box all through the coming winter ?
1 have made a hole in the box, and the bees
keep going in and out every tine day, but all
seem to come back before night. I have
become so much interested in my capture
that 1 would like to start bee-keeping as soon
as I can, and if you will recommend me a
good book on the subject your help through

the Bee Journal will be much appreciated.
— F. L., Walton-on-Thames.

Reply.— Replying to your question, the
bee3 must on no account be kept " shut up "
in the box all through the winter, but should
be allowed free to come and go as they are
allowed to do now. Beyond seeing that they
are well protected from " wind and weather "
and kept reasonably warm, all will, we hope,
go on well, if food is as plentiful in the
combs as stated. With regard to starting
bee-keeping, you have made a very promising
beginning, and with the help of a reliable
" Guide Book," which may be had post free
for Is. 8d., we have no doubt of your success.

[2992.] Help for Beginners in Bee-keeping. —
Kindly give me some information on the
following points : About the middle of June
last I received the first stock of bees I ever
possessed. Whether they were a young swarm
or a stock that had swarmed I do not know.
The bees were on eight frames of old comb
with practically no store of food, and so the
weather being cold and wet I had to feed
them for a while. I afterwards put in three
more frames fitted with full sheets of founda-
tion. Then about the middle of July I gave
them a super of twenty-one sections, on which
they soon began to work hard whenever the
weather was favourable. By the middle of
September they had filled four of these sec-
tions, and some five more nearly so, but un-
capped, and the other dozen contained more or
less honey. They had, however, but little
stores in the brood-nest, so I fed them up well
with syrup, using 21 lb. of lump sugar, besides
giving them some of the unfinished sections to
clear out. 1. Will this be enough for their
winter store ? I think the bees are very
strong in numbers and there are still a good
few drones left, but most of the latter have
been killed off. I also see the bees entering
the hive with pollen on their legs and some
carry in a white-looking material. 2. Is this
latter used for capping the combs or is it food
for young bees ? 3. How many swarms may
I reasonably expect from the hive next year
if it is a favourable season ? I am anxious to
have a pretty good idea of that so that I may
know how many hives to provide during the
winter. If you will kindly help me I shall be
obliged. — J. Senogles, Douglas, Isle of Man.

Reply. — 1. If the weight of food stated was
given late in September, it will be ample for
wintering on. 2. The " white - looking
material " would, no doubt, be pollen, like the
rest. 3. Two new hives will meet all your
requirements, unless your intention is to go in
for increase in preference to securing some
surplus-honey. You cannot have both.

[2993.] Queens Passing Through Excluder
Zinc. — I am writing to ask if you advise the
use of drone-cell foundation for shallow-
frames I I had three hives this summer in
which drone-base foundation was used in the

440

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Oct. 30, 1902.

shallow-frames intended for extracting, but
the queen must have gone up through the
excluder-zinc placed above the brood-chambers,
as the bees built queen-cells in them, and
hundreds of drones were hatched out in the
super. I have kept bees since 1895, and never
had this happen before. Of course, I got no
honey from these hives till the excluder was
removed and the drones smoked down. Can
I do anything to prevent a recurrence of this
mischief? The B.B.J, and Bee-keepers' Record
are my best bee-friends, and, along with your
excellent " Guide Book," have taught me all I
know about bees, but I have still much to
learn. — Drone Bee, Wymondham, Norfolk,
October 22.

Reply. — Our preference is for the ordinary
worker-cell foundation in surplus-chambers,
because, although it may be advantageous to
have honey for extracting stored in drone-
comb, there is just the " set-off '' against this
which caused your own trouble, i.e., the
curious fact that queens make desperate efforts
to pass through excluder when drone-comb is
being built, in order to deposit eggs therein.
The only prevention is to be sure that the
excluder zinc is correctly made and properly
fitted. We say this because it often happens
that it is the bee-keepers own fault when
queens pass into surplus-chambers through
lack of care in fixing.

[2994] Bees Destroyed by Bats. — I have been
a bee-keeper for many years, as was also my
father before me, but we have never before
experienced anything similar to what happened
last winter in my small apiary. We had six
stocks of bees to commence winter with, but
when spring came there were only two left
alive, the other four having been killed by
rats. I keep my bees in straw skeps, and the
rats had eaten large holes through the skep
sides and thus got at the honey, all of which
they consumed. It is perfectly certain that it
was rats that did it, because I caught one in
the act. There is a small brook close by and
rats are rather numerous about the spot. 1.
I will be much obliged if you can tell me how
to protect my bees, which are still in straw
skeps, from the rats in the coming winter ? 2.
You might also kindly advise me where to
procure the best wooden, or bar-frame hives
for use next summer ? I have taken your
useful paper, the British Bee Journal,
every week since I saw the first copy some
time ago. — P. S., Stockbridge.

Rei>ly. — 1. A rough box-cover is the only
thing we can suggest for keeping off rats.
2. Please refer to our advertising columns for
the addresses of appliance dealers. We cannot
in fairness recommend special firms, and good
hives are procurable from any of our leading
advertisers.

*** The Report of the Glamorgan B.K.A.
Conversazione and Mr. A. Sharp's Baper
on " The Hunts B.K.A. and its Work " are
unavoidably held over ti'.l next week.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All (jumriet forwarded vill bt attended to, and tkoie only
of pergonal inter ett will bt anneered in thit column.

H. S. (Birmingham). — Lantern Slides for
Lecturing Burposes. — These can be hired
from the B.B.K.A. on application to the
Secretary, Mr. Edwin H. Young, 12, Han-
over-square, London.

J. F. (Doncaster). — Bee Nomenclature. — Bees
sent are the ordinary brown variety common
in this country.

D. W. Ingham (Ripon). — Insuring Hives. —
The Secretary of the B.B.K.A., Mr. E. H.
Young, 12, Hanover-square, London, will
supply information regarding the insurance
of bees.

E. Lucas (co. Down). — Buying Queens from
Foreigners. — It is a pity you went so far
back in our advertising pages as May, 1901,
when ordering queens, as it is, of course,
possible that the advertiser in question may
be dead or out of the business, as he does not
advertise with us this year. We know of
no other reason why your letters should not
be answered.

T. Wilcox (Talywain). — Abortive Queen-
cells. — There are no reliable means of judg-
ing whether or not queen-cells are likely to
be abortive until the hatching - out time
approaches, when a " ripe cell " is easily dis-
tinguishable by the " thinned down " and
"mealy-looking," so to speak, appearance of
the capping at point of the cell. A prac-
tical eye readily picks out fully rope-cells,
though some abortive ones are apt to
deceive beginners.

T. Lloyd (Pembroke Dock). — Wax Scale. —
The curious " white particles '' you refer to
are simply the wax-scales extruded between
the segments of the abdomen when the
insect is preparing for comb-building.

F. J. (Mountmellick). — Winter Coverings for
Frame • tops ; Fainting Hives Different
Colours. — 1. American cloth used as
stated, " glazed side down," and thick grey
under-felt a3 sample, make as good quilting
for winter as we know of. 2. The advan-
tage in painting hive entrances of different
colours is to assist young queens in locating
their own homes on returning from their
mating flight. 3. Uniting Bees. — If your
plan of uniting bees succeeded, it need not
be departed from, but we prefer flour to
thin syrup for the purpose, because of its
not tending to start "robbing,'' as syrup
not seldom does

Suspected Combs.
R. L. (Essex). — The piece of comb sent was
absolutely reeking with foul brood, nearly
every cell being full of the brown sticky
matter characteristic of the% disease in viru-
lent form. You should see that the contents
of your neighbour's hive, and the handful of
bees it contains, are promptly burnt, for
the sake of your own and other healthy
stocks.

Nov. 6, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

441

auditorial, Ifrrtkea, kt

BRITISH BEEKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The monthly meeting of the Council was
held at 105, Jermyn-street, S.W., on Thurs-
day, October 23, Mr. T. I. Weston occupying
the chair. There were also present Colonel
Walker, Messrs. R. T. Andrews, W. Brough-
ton Carr, H. G. Morris, E. Walker, and the
Secretary. Letters regretting enforced absence
were read from Miss Gayton, Rev. W. E.
Burkitt, Mr. H. Jonas, Mr. W. F. Reid, and
Mr. F. B. White.

The minutes of the previous meeting were
read and confirmed. Three new members
were elected as under : — Mr. F. J. Bernau,
Norfolk Lodge, Redhill ; Mr. L. Bigg-
Wither, Dilwyn, R.S.O., Herefordshire ; Mr.
6. A. Shaw, Springfield, Feltham.

Mr. Weston presented the Finance Com-
mittee's report, which was duly approved.

In accordance with the reports of examiners
it was resolved to award third-class expert
certificates to Messrs. J. Fancourt, 6. H.
Garner, and Allen Sharp.

The Secretary stated that about eight or
nine candidates had intimated their intention
of presenting themselves for examination for
the second-class diplomas on November 14
and 15, and arrangements were made for the
nomination and appointment of " Super-
visors."

Referring to insurance for bee-keepers, a
statement was laid upon the table showing
that the [number of stocks of bees insured to
date was 6,251.

Letters from the Secretaries of the Leicester-
shire and Northumberland Associations were
read to, and dealt with, by the Council.

Proposals made at the recent conference of
representatives of County Associations were
considered, and, alter some deliberation,
adjourned for further discussion at future
meetings.

The Chairman reported that, in accordance
with a request of the Council at the last
meeting, he had interviews with Mr. Compton-
Bracebridge, of the Royal Agricultural Society,
in regard to the proposed new classification
for honey at the 1903 Show. It was thought
the suggested changes were likely to meet
with approval of the Society, and it was
requested that the proposed alterations should
be embodied in a letter to be put before the
Stock Prizes Committee on November 3. The
Council have therefore grouped the counties as
enumerated below subject, of course, to such
minor alterations as may be considered
necessary or desirable : —

1. Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset,
Wilts.

2. Berks, Hants, Isle of Wight, Surrey,
Sussex, Kent.

3. Suffolk, Essex, Bucks, Middlesex, Herts,
Oxon.

4. Norfolk, Cambs, Hunts, Rutland, Bed',
Leicester, Northampton.

5. Gloucestor, Monmouth, Worcester,
Hereford, Warwick, Shropshire.

6. Notts, Lincoln, Cheshire, Derby,
Stafford.

7. Yorks, Lancaster, Northumberland,
Durham, Cumberland, Westmoreland, Isle of
Man.

8. Welsh Counties.

9. Scotland.
10. Ireland.

It is also proposed to allocate four classes
for honey to each division or group, viz. : —
(a) Light honey. (b) Medium or dark-
coloured honey, (c) Granulated honey ; and
(cl) Comb honey.

These radical changes are brought forward
with the object of engendering a greater
interest in the " Royal " Show as a national
exhibition, and making the bee and honey
department thereof more truly representative
of the industry. It is hoped that bee-keepers
in the various districts will help to this end.

The Council, being anxious to draft a uni-
form set of " Instructions to Experts " for use
throughout the country, will be glad if those
county secretaries who have not already don-j
so will now forward to the Secretary,
B.B.K.A., 12, Hanover-square, W., copies of
the instructions at present issued to their
experts.

The next meeting of the Council was fixed
for November 20.

GLAMORGANSHIRE B.KA.

CONVERSAZIONE AT CARDIFF.

A most successful and enjoyable conver-
sazione was held on Thursday, October 23,
at the Y.M.C.A. Lecture Hall, Cardiff.

It was preceded by a meeting of the
General Committee, when the Secretary an-
nounced that after an existence of only four
months the number of members relatively
exceeded that of some of the old-established
county associations. The kindness of Pro-
fessor Haycroft (University College) and other
gentlemen enabled the Committee to arrange
a microscopical display of the structure of the
honey bee, about twenty -four instruments being
employed. Excellent specimens of bee-
appliances were kindly sent by Messrs. Lee
& Son, Meadows, and Taylor. These, to-
gether with a good sample of honey in comb
and jars, and an observatory hive, were taste-
fully arranged round the hall.

There was a crowded attendance when
Major-General H. H. Lee rose to make a brief
introductory speech. He said there was
something beyond the monetary aspect of the
question to be considered, and he submitted
that bee-keeping added much to the charm
and the amenities of life. As a pastime it
would compare favourably with cricket and
football, and hence it appealed to him, while

442

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Nov. 6, 1902.

on the business side of the question it should
be known that an enormous amount of honey
was imported which might as well be pro-
duced at home.

Mr. W. Goodwin Preece then gave an in-
teresting lecture, illustrated by excellent
lantern photographs.

Light refreshments were served, and the
proceedings concluded with a programme of
vocal and instrumental music charmingly
rendered by Miss Hilda Evans (Royal Welsh
Ladies' Choir), Mr. R. V. Pierson (solo flute),
and the Goodwillie Singers, a male quartette
who won great applause by their refined un-
accompanied part singing. — W. Richards,
Hon. Sec, Gabalfa, Cardiff".

MR. T. W. COWAN IN BRITISH
COLUMBIA.

The regular monthly meeting of the Natural
History Society of British Columbia was held
in the Parliament Building, Victoria, B.C.,
and was largely attended, many ladies being
present. After the minutes of the previous
meeting had been read, and some specimens of
wood from Alaska had been submitted for
inspection, the Rev. Canon Beanlands called
the attention of members to the fact that they
had with them that evening a distinguished
visitor who was well-known the world over as
an eminent authority on the subject of bees,
and he would ask the members to suspend the
standing orders of business, and request Mr.
T. W. Cowan to address them on any topic
he might think of interest to them. Upon
motion this was carried unanimously, and for
upwards of an hour Mr. Cowan kept the
attention of the audience, who were deeply
interested in all the lecturer had to say. Mr.
Cowan gave a brief description of the natural
history of bees, and then alluded to their
habits and to the modern methods of bee-
keeping. The most interesting part of the
discourse was that relating to bees as fertilisers
of blossoms, and it was something quite new
for many of those present to learn how depen-
dent we are upon bees for much of the fiuit
we enjoy. Mr. Cowan spoke without notes or
reference of any kind, and at the conclusion of
his address apologised for taking up so much
time, but said that he had only touched the
fringe of the subject, and invited those present
to ask any questions. A number of questions
were asked, and satisfactorily answered by the
lecturer. Canon Beanlands, who moved a vote
of thanks, which was seconded by Mr. Robin-
son, said that they had enjoyed that evening
one of the most interesting lectures it had
been his privilege to attend, and they were
much indebted to Mr. Cowan from the prompt
manner in which he had responded to their
request. The vote of thanks was carried by
acclamation, and it being nearly eleven o'clock,
the members separated, having adjourned the
business to the next meeting.

As a sequel to this, at the regular meeting
of the society, held September 22, Mr.
T. W. Cowan was unanimously elected an
honorary member of the Natural History
Society of British Columbia.

GLEANINGS FROM FOREIGN BEE
JOURNALS.

BY R. HAMLYN-H ARRIS, D.SC, F.R.M.S., F.Z.S.,
P.E.S., ETC.

Leipziger Bienenzeitung. — In the museum
at Cairo there is a bee which sits with out-
spread wings on a band which encircles a
mummy. Doubtless the insect was caught at
the moment when the corpse was being pre-
served with gum and palm oil. Time has not
changed the beautiful structure of the bee, it
still appears alive and to be just in readiness
to fly away.

Leipziger Bienenzeitung. — A bee-keeper at
the village of Hosterhof (Saxony) has a colony
of which some of the drones have white eyes.
The year before he had installed a young
queen, which produced the anomaly. This
shows how easily any especial qualities of the
queen bees are inherited, and proves the great
need there is of care in choosing a queen.

Bienenwirthschaftliches Centralblatt. — This
paper gives an article from Stade, in the
province of Hanover, on the planting of trees
useful to bees. Advice is given to apply to
the Commissioner of Roads, requesting that
such trees as apple, morella cherry, maple,
mountain ash, aspens, acacias, and, above all,
limes, might be planted along the roads. The
town of Stade has four lovely lime avenues
leading from the gates towards the country.
Maples are very useful, coming in after the
fruit trees, and also hardy, attaining some-
times to an age of 100 years. The lime and
the buckwheat flower at the same time. The
bees gather honey from the buckwheat in the
morning, and from the limes in the latter part
of the day, and excellent honey it is.

The writer urges each bee-keeper to plant
what trees he can in his own garden, as well
as to advocate the public establishment of
useful trees in the roads and lanes.

The same. — Another writer gives his ex-
perience with a quarter of an acre of land
which was first sown with rape, upon which
the bees worked eagerly (the green fodder
was given to a goat), then with mixed flower
seeds, among which was a quantity of
phazalia. This kept the bees at work well
into the autumn, and the colonies grew and
prospered abundantly.

The same. — It is known that honey will
keep good for years, but it is new to learn
that it can be preserved for several hundred
years. Lately, in digging out the cellars for
a new building in Berlin, the workmen came
upon a quantity of burnt rubbish, which,
upon examination, was considered to be
traceable to the great fire of 1384, which

Nov. 6, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

443

destroyed nearly the whole of Berlin.
Amongst the ashes a vessel was found con-
taining a sticky substance, which proved on
investigation to be honey, and this had been
preserved in the debris of the fire for more
than 500 years.

GmtsfsnAmt

The Editors do not hold themselves reiponnble for tht
epinionc empreited by correspondent!. 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 communication!.

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 cwnmuni-
cations relating to advertisements, &c.,must be addressed
to "The Manager, 'British Bee Journal' Offl.ce, 17,
King William-street, Strand, London, W.C."

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[4932.] Selling Honey. — Having in my last
" Notes " referred (on page 423) to the price of
honey, I was pleased to see the letter of Mr.
Simkins on " Bees in Warwickshire," on same
page, where at the end your correspondent
mentions having realised Is. per jar for his ex-
tracted honey, while another writer, " Gade," in
same issue (page 428) mentions having realised
10s. 6d. per dozen for first-grade sections of
honey. 1 have not asked more than 10s. per
dozen for best (glazed) sections, and this from
regular customers. One of the largest of these
customers had always paid me 10s. per dozen
without a grumble till last year at the close of
one of the large exhibitions held in the Agri-
cultural Hall, London. I was sending them
the exhibit (trophy), and leaving the honey
in the hall ready for dispatch per " carriers."
Of course it was legibly addressed to the firm
who had purchased it. The consequence was
that some one amongst the exhibitors, no
doubt thinking to secure the supplying of
the firm in question, offered sections,
glazed and delivered to them, Is. per
dozen lower than they had been paying me,
and the result was that I had to reduce
my price to 9s. 6d. per dozen in order to retain
their custom. This then is how some bee-
keepers are ever ready to " spoil the trade " of
his brother beekeeper. This system of
" cutting'' is one of tne most disadvantageous
results of " showing." You either have to pay
carriage of goods — perhaps a hundred miles —
home, and then back again maybe past the
doors of the hall where they have been staged,
or stand the chance of a mean trick, a bit of
" sharp practice," that may cost you pounds
in the long run. Such, however, is the
" brotherhood of man '' where the chance of
doing another a good (?) turn comes in.

Current Prices. — Tne past volumes of the
B.B.J, bear witness that I have ever

endeavoured to inculcate friendly co-operation
amongst bee-keepers, to secure a fair market
for our produce, and as " our Journal " is the
only medium of conference we have, I hope
that every one who has the well-being and
well-doing of our small industry at heart will
stand up for a " fair price " for their bee-
produce. We should all make a practice of
grading sections, so that the whole parcel con-
signed should be saleable at the retailer's
counter — not a few lightweight sections
slipped in at full-weight price. By fair
dealing of this kind only can customers be
held year after year. Your correspondents,
Mr. Homersham and " W. H. IC," seem both
able to dispose of their honey at retail prices,
one at 10d., the other at Is. per lb. jar, and
what these two bee-keepers have done others
located in spots where the " British public "
passes their doors can no doubt do also, with
profit to themselves and the craft. The more
bee-keepers in our ranks who retail, the less
there will be to compete and, too often, under-
sell in the wholesale market. But there are so
many places where very few people pass the bee-
keepers' home that such cases as are quoted
are few and far between, and those less
favourably situated have to seek a market in
the world's emporium.

Shming Honey. — I have been asked to
write on " Showing Honey." One inquirer
says " does it pay ? " another asks me to "give
approximate cost of staging a trophy of
honey." This is rather a big order, and I
feel that my version will not enthuse the
would-be honey-showing bee-keeper. Any-
way I will enumerate the cost (about) of my
attempt at the "Dairy Show "of 1902. (1.)
Entry fee, 2s . 6d. (2.) One day's work, i.e.,
selecting and preparing exhibit beyond
ordinary market requirements, 5s.. (3.) Cost
of gross carriage, 5s. (4.) Journey to Agri-
cultural Hall to stage, 8s. 6d. (5.) Expenses of
lodging, &c, in town and return journey,
9s. 6d. (6.) Loss of two days' work, 10s.
Return rail journey to town to repack the
exhibits and expenses in London, 9s. 6d.
(7.) Return rail journey, 6s. ; loss of one day,
5s. Cost of carriage of glass and extras for
staging the '"trophy," railway and carrier
Is. 6d. This gives a total of £3 Is. 6d. squan-
dered in a competition which resulted in a
" high commend." I have charged 5s. per day
(ordinary mechanic's wages) and nothing for
tood, as one requires food either at home or
abroad, and the return journey home cost
slightly more than staying in town ; but I
had the two full days at home, so that it was
the cheapest for me to return. Besides, I
was very busy with home work at the time ;
so that anyone who contemplates entering
the lists another season, if living some sixty
miles from town and a considerable distance
from railway station, will have some estimate
of probable cost. Other letters have reached
me animadverting on the unfairness of bee-
keepers having to compete with manufacturers

444

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Nov. 6, 1902.

and merchants in both honey and wax classes.
Some say they shall transfer their orders to
the appliance dealers who are non-competitors
with their customers in the honey and wax
classes.

Wax Classes. — I consider these manu-
facturers' classes are of no real value to bee-
keepers. To show this let us suppose two
exhibits of suitable cakes for retail trade. If
one i3 a good " commercial " wax, and the other
of first-class quality, the last exhibit gets the
award ; but when the grocer or oilman in-
quires of the bee-keeper how much he can
supply and the price per pound, the answer
of the exhibitor k " He has none to sell."
He will not even part with the exhibit, or he
may sell his next year's prizes. In this way
all one has to do is to get an extra good
sample of wax, and " trot it out '' to show
after show as each year comes round. The
same with bottles of mead and honey-vinegar.
One sees the same old stuff staged year after
year. Even so-called " designs in honey-
comb" have become crystalised beyond
damage by rail. Yet they still put in an
appearance ; aye, and by some inexplicable
law manage to secure the awards. The
awards in mead and vinegar classes are given
to mixtures which are bright and clear. No
tasting in this century ! A century ago the
awards were given for flavour and bouquet, as
well as colour or brightness.

The honey merchant who buys a large
quantity of honey during the season is open
to the suspicion or conjecture by rival com-
petitors that he may be exhibiting other than
the produce of his own bees. At some shows,
of course, this restriction does not apply,
though it is distinctly stated in most of our
schedules, " all honey shall be the produce of
the exhibitors' own bees," and the same con-
jecture arises in one's mind in reference to the
wax classes, where wax merchants compete
with beekeepers.

Grouping Counties.— The idea of grouping
counties will probably come sooner than some
expect, seeing that the permanent settling-
down of the " Royal " show in the metropolitan
district will enhance the importance of
some of the other agricultural societies ; and
by bee-keepers' associations utilising these
societies, such as the " Bath and West " and
" Royal Counties," the county associations in
which these shows take place can easily con-
fine the honey prizes to the contracting
counties who promote the show. Again,
when one reads the remarks of some, who
call prominent showmen " prize hunters "
and "grabbers," they are led to ask why the
committees compile their schedules to admit
bee-keepers beyond their own county limits 1
Also why do secretaries of these associations
write asking " prominent '' exhibitors to make
entries ? Will someone kindly explain these
things, and make them easily understood by
untutored minds like my own ?— W. Woodlet,
Beedon, Newbury.

SELLING HONEY.

A HONEY MARKET 120 YEARS AGO.

[4933] In "Life and Letters of Gilbert
White, of Selborne," written and edited by
his great-grand-nephew, Mr. Rasliegh Holt-
White, and published by Murray last year,
there is the following passage, under date
October 4, 1783, copied from the naturalist's
journal : — " This day has been at Selborne the
honey market ; for a person from Chart came
over with a cart, to whom all the villagers
round brought their hives, and sold their
contents. Combs were sold last year at about
3|d. per lb. ; this year from 3|d. to 4d." —
E. D. Till, Eynsford.

(Correspondence continued on page 446.)

HOMES OP THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

We have special pleasure in illustrating on
next page the apiary of the Rev. W. Head,
as belonging to one of the best friends of our
industry. A thoroughly good bee-keeper in
all respects, one who makes his own hives
and many of his own appliances, he produces
honey and markets it himself with profit.
Not only so, but he gives freely of his know-
ledge to others. For the rest the following
" notes " need no addition from us : —

" Seven years ago my youngest daughter,
aged seven, had given to her a swarm of bees
in an old skep, which, from some cause or
other — probably lack of food — failed to sur-
vive through the ensuing winter. The next
summer the hive was taken possession of by a
small truant swarm, or cast, and I promptly
invested in the ' Guide Book,' in order to find
out how to deal with them. I made 25 lb. of
sugar into syrup to feed them up with, but
most of it was carried off by foragers from
other bee-gardens, so that before the winter
was over this lot also had perished. I had,
however, by this time become highly inter-
ested in the subject of bees by studying the
'Guide Book,' and I resolved to make a
start on modern lines with the frame-hive. I
had been told that purchased bees were un-
lucky ; but I have a habit of running counter
to these ancient sayings, and, therefore, bought
two stocks in the early spring of 1897, and
a swarm later on in the same year. From
these I had five swarms the same season — the
first I lost. It came off on a Sunday morning,
and Whit Sunday, too. I had extra services
to take at my two churches, and could not
look after them myself properly in conse-
quence, with the result that they left the
hiving skep about noon, and flew off I know
not whither. The second, third, and fourth I
secured, though not without trouble ; the fifth
I lost mainly through ignorance. Not having
a hive ready, I left the swarm in the skep
covered over with a cloth to prevent their
escape, and found most of them either
drowned or suffocated when I went to hive
them. Eaperientia docet. I only mention

Nov. 6, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

445

these details that others who are beginning
may avoid the mistakes I made. I had never
seen a swarm of bees in my life until I saw
that one on the Whit-Sunday morning, so
that my experience has been neither long nor
wide.

" When I first began with my hobby, I pur-
chased a couple of hives, and made some
more from the same pattern. But when
the illustrations and measurements of the
' W.B.C hive were published in British Bee
Journal, I was attracted by them, and immt-
diately set about the construction of one,
which I liked so much that I determined to
use no others. All I have since made have

known a roof lifted off by wind, though we
get rough weather occasionally. When
putting my hives together, I always use thick
paint in every joint before nailing up, and I
am never troubled, in consequence, with leaky
roofs and wee quilts.

" My hives have a south aspect, with a
thick hedge on the west and buildings on the
north side. Forage is fairly abundant in the
near neighbourhood in the shape of fruit
blossom, white clover, <&c., and some heather
may be had further afield. This latter crop,
however, is very precarious. In six years I
have only had one really good heather yield,
i.e., 229 lb. from six hives ;Jast year l{ got

THE REV. W. HEAD S APIART, WITNEY-ON-WTE, HEREFORDSHIRE.

been on the same general plan, and my
original kind I have either sold or given away.
I find much pleasure in making my own
apparatus and a considerable saving as well.
I adhere strictly to standard measurements in
hives, though in one or two points I have
modified the regular ' W. B. C.' design, e g.,
I have my stand and floorboard in one ; I do
not use metal runners to carry the frames of
broodnest, but chamfer the outer edge of back
and front, leaving only i in. for the ends to
rest on ; and I make my roofs with sides deep
enough to cover a shallow-frame super. This
does away with one lift, and gives weight and
stability in windy weather. I have never

about 20 lb. ; this year I have secured
nothing.

" I find no trouble comparatively in dis-
posing of all the surplus I secure at remunera-
tive prices. I only sell my best honey, any-
thing thin or unripe is either consumed at
home or given back to the bees. Thus I keep
my old customers and constantly secure new
ones. Of course, I put up all honey for sale
in uniform jars with my own special label
attached, this latter acts both as a guarantee
and as an advertisement. People ask for my
honey at the retailers, and see that they get it.

" I have tried to stir up interest in modern
methods among my skeppist parishioners, and

446

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Nov. 6, 1902.

with some little success. But not all of them
are willing to throw into the work the energy
it deserves, and will well repay. They take
in but slowly the doctrine that full sheets of
foundation, whether in brood nest or super,
are a splendid investment. They know that
bees can produce wax, but they do not know
— or they ignore — what it costs in time and
honey to do it. Thus, to save 2s. 6d. in May
they sacrifice 10s. in August.

" I regret to say that I am no stranger to
that dreaded foe, foul brood. For four years
I have had to fight it, and I am not certain
yet that victory is with me, though, as I have
seen no signs of its presence this autumn I
am hoping the battle is won.

" I fear I am occupying space to very little
advantage, but I should like to bear witness
to the help I have received from the B.B.
Journal and Record. I have rarely had to
ask a question in either, as I find almost
every conceivable point dealt with at one
time or another ; while the contributed
articles — scientific, sentimental, practical, and
fanciful — always contain something to reward
their careful perusal.

" My experience has taught me the value
of the following things : — Order, foresight,
enterprise, personal attention, carefully kept
memoranda."

CORRESPONDENCE.

{Continued from page 444.)

PRICE OF HONEY.
[4934.] My attention has been called to a
paragraph in "Notes by the Way" ("page
425) referring to mine of a previous issue re
the price of honey. Mr. Woodley has evi-
dently rather misunderstood me. What I
was alluding to was an advertisement asking
for " well-filled sections to be delivered free,"
and offering 6s. per dozen for them ; not to
sections being offered for sale at that price.
In Mr. Woodley's " Notes " he leads one to
think that 6s. per dozen was as much as the
sections offered were worth, and that he was
referring to a particular lot of honey that had
been offered at that price. In summing up
the expenses, &c, in handling the same he
describes an imaginary case, observing
"Quite a dozen of the little lumps of
honey are detached from the wood in spite
of spring crates," &c. Now the advertise-
ment distinctly asked for well-filled sec-
tions, which I take to mean those weighing
16 oz. at least, and attached to the wood
on all four sides. Such sections would never
become detached from the wood if spring-
crates were used, unless with extraordinary
rough usage, and to call " 6s. a dozen as much
as the stuff was worth " in a season like this
is, to my mind, wide of the mark, especially as
good, well-filled sections are being sold in
many of our large towns for Is. each. After
all, the bee-keeper has to produce the stuff,

not the dealer. He has, first, to provide the
bees, buy or make a hive to put them in,
foundation to furnish the frames and sections,
rent a garden or plot of land to stand the bees
on, and give his time in attending and caring
for them. And do all this to produce sections
for sale, and at 6s. per dozen, "well filled.'
Where does the poor bee-keeper come in 1 —
A Godsland, Bovey Tracey, Devon.

BEES IN WARWICKSHIRE.

[4935.] Herewith I send you a Warwick-
shire report, which, though not so glowing as
that of Mr. C. Wells on page 416 (who might
have told us what his average take per hive
really was), may tend to encourage those who
have only done moderately well this most
unpropitious season. From three hives which
I managed for a neighbour I took 70 lb. of
honey in shallow-frames ; for another neigh-
bour, with only one hive, twenty-four com-
pleted sections (six of which took a 1st prize)
and 6 lb. extracted honey ; and from one of
my own, twenty-two good sections and 7 lb.
extracted honey —the others averaging 23 lb.
per hive, all got from shallow-frames. The
doings of one stock somewhat surprised me.
On June 21 I united two " casts " weighing
respectively 2| lb. and 3j lb. — 6 lb. in all.
The bees were hived on two combs partly
filled withjaoney, and eight frames of founda-
tion, and fed. On July 4 I found brood,*and
four days later, on the 8th, put on rack of
sections. On the 28 th took out six of the
latter for exhibition, and gained second prize,
and later on nine more sections were removed,
and this is now one of the best stocks in my
apiary.

Our two principal supplies came from
charlock (of which there were some really
grand crops) and limes, for, although white
clover blossomed well, the bees did not work
at all freely on it. The early fruit blossom
was lost through inclement weather.

The hives are all in splendid condition for
wintering, being packed full of both bees and
honey, even to the outside frames, so I hope
to make a great start for season 1903. I may
mention that I never rob the brood chambers.
— C. H. Tomlinson, Hollywood.

THE CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES.
[4936] I was painfully surprised on reading
Mr. Hill's remarks at the Conference, reported
on p. 422 of B.B. J., Oct. 23, because I know
the attack was intended for myself. I and my
family are well known both to the appliance-
dealer mentioned and to Mr. Wootton, who
represented the Derbyshire B.K.A. at the
conference held at the Shrewsbury Show on
August 23, 1893. I also see by referring to
B.B.J, of September 7, 1893, the following
names appear as successful exhibitors of
sections at the same show : Messrs. Horton,

Nov. 6, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

447

Carver, Simpson, Nickels, Oartwright, Jones,
Palmer, Bradley, Griffiths, Carpenter, Ham-
monds, and Croxton. Now, Sir, if any of the
above-named exhibitors can prove that I or
any of my family were in Shrewsbury during
the show, or that I had honey of any kind
from the same show, my offer of nine years
ago stands good to-day — i.e., I will give
£5 to the Children's Hospital. Being only a
working man, I regret being unable at present
to take the steps I should like to do. I
admire the reply of the " exhibitor " quoted
by Mr. Hill ; nor was I aware, before reading
his remarks on page 422, of the part he
played in the matter. Moreover, the section
" cut " by the judge from the exhibit Mr. Hill
referred to was sent to you, Mr. Editor, by
our late secretary, Mr. Atkins, for your
opinion (I received Is. for it from the Associa-
tion), and your reply, to the effect that the
honey was from white clover, was read at
the first meeting of the Committee after our
show. From that time till now — some nine
years — I have never heard a word, though
Mr. Hill and myself have worked together
on the Committee of the D.B.K.A. for
the whole time, and we have only had
"stamped sections " for four years. Referring to
Mr. Hill's statement that no sainfoin is grown
in our county, he well knows Mr. Stone
grows it with success. I may say I welcome
the stamped sections, and continue to produce
a few for exhibition, though 1 have no sale for
them, and they do not pay. I have had to
sell my best glazed sections after the shows
were over at 8s. per dozen. I could say a good
deal more about shows and showing, and about
the use of stamped and non-stamped sections
by exhibitors, but 1 leave the matter where it
stands, trusting you will give this publication
for the sake of justice to all. 1 send my
name, &c. (not for publication). Mud has been
thrown ; some will stick ; so I sign myself —
" The Accused " (Member of the D.B.K.A.).

EXPERTS AND FOUL BROOD.
[4937.] Your correspondent, " Herbs "
(4922, page 427), makes a very grave charge
against the expert employed by the Associa-
tion of which he must be a member. He
places the sole cause of his disaster to the
hands of the expert. Doubtless the latter did
all he could — according to bis ability — to
serve the requirements of that particular
member, and render him good service in
searching for the queen he was desirous to be
rid of. But just fancy keeping a hive open
over two hours at a stretch looking for a
queen ! this is sufficient in itself to chill the
brood, and thus indirectly lead to the result
complained of. If bee - keepers generally
would take more care in keeping the frames
covered while making their examinations,
much of the mischief would be avoided. I
consider " Herbs " must take one-half of the
blame to himself, and in future be more care-

ful when examining his hives. — J. S. Lawton,
Bridgnorth, October 26.

[Without entering further into the matter,
we may point out that foul brood is not
generated from " chilled " brood. — Eds.]

BEE-HIVE CURIOSITIES

FOR LANTERN SLIDES.

[4938 ] Referring to the " Bee-hive Curi-
osity," illustrated on page 395 of B.B.J., on
the 2nd ult., and others of a similar kind,
which have appeared from time to time in
your columns, I should be very glad to know
if any of your correspondents possess lantern
slides of the same ? or, failing that, the nega-
tives from which such could be made 1 I find
that, " curiosities " of a like kind to those
in question invariably have an attraction for
audiences, either when shown on the lantern
screen during a lecture or at the end of it. I
enclose my name and address, so that perhaps
some of your readers might write me on the
subject. — D. Mappin, Headley Park, Ejysom.

THE HUNTS B.K A. AND ITS WORK,

PAST, present, and future.

(Read at a Conference of Members on
October 18, by Allen Sharp.)

The heading of my paper, as you will observe,
is a very broad one. I do not, however, intend
to weary you with a detailed account of work
already accomplished. What concerns us most
just now, and what we are anxious to discuss
to-day, is the future work of the Hunts Bee-
keepers' Association. But before we can
decide upon any definite course of action it
may be well to briefly review the past and
carefully consider the present ; we shall then
be the better able to formulate our plans for
future usefulness. It is now twenty years
since this Association came into existence, its
object being to encourage modern methods of
bee-keeping, and in order to accomplish that
object lectures have been given all over the
county ; bee-keepers have been visited by
experts who have given practical instruction
in the management of bees, dealing with foul
brood, and so on. Shows, also, have been held
where the best methods of putting up honey
in an attractive and saleable form have been
fully demonstrated, and it cannot be denied
that good and useful work has been accom-
plished during its twenty years of labour.
Not only so, but the cause of bee-keeping has
been constantly moving onwards, and, in con-
sequence, bee-keeping at the present time is
an entirely different matter to what it was
when the Association was first formed. The
industry has grown into an important busi-
ness, is still growing, and still capable of
further extension. But, speaking for our-
selves, I may say that, while we — as bee-
keepers— have made rapid and sound pro-
gress, we have as an Association remained

448

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Nov. 6, 1902.

practically stationary ; that is to say, we have
been moving in exactly the same groove in
which we started, with but slight variation.

The result is that bee-keeping has got ahead
of our Association, and if we carefully con-
sider our present position we must, I think,
admit that the Hunts B.KA. has to some ex-
tent lost touch of bee-keepers, with the
inevitable and regrettable result that our
membership has declined. I say this ad-
visedly, because there never was a time when
we had a wider scope for useful work than the
present. Never before was the need so great
for real Association work in its true sense as
now. But to make our Association a success
it is necessary that we should be in a position
to offer to every member some benefit in re-
turn for the money he is asked to subscribe,
and if we can do that, as I believe we can,
there is not the slightest doubt that our
membership will rapidly increase, and our
usefulness correspondingly extend. But we
must not forget that membership ought to be
actuated by higher motives than mere in-
dividual gain.

All who join the Association should do so
with the feeling that they are helping a cause
which will work for the common good of all
concerned.

The Committee have long felt the necessity
for putting the Association on a new footing,
and thus bringing it more in conformity
with present-day needs and requirements.
But what to do and how to do it are ques-
tions which hive been seriously considered
and freely discussed on more than one occa-
sion. The first move we made was at the last
annual meeting, when it was resolved that
instead of one meeting a year we would hold
at least four, and that two out of the four
should take place at members' apiaries in
different parts of the county, to which all
members should be invited f >r interchange of
ideas, discussion, and so on. The first of these
meetings took place at Brampton on August 16.
I do not feel at liberty to say much about that
meeting, as it was held at my house, but I
may, perhaps, be pardoned for observing that
it proved a great success — greater than was
anticipated — and there is no doubt that such
meetings will become very popular and
beneficial. At the meeting referred to we
spent four or five hours in interesting dis-
cussion and pleasant bee-chat. Amongst
other matters, that of co-operation was dis-
cussed, and under that head were brought
forward the following questions : — I. The
wholesale price of honey, and how to obtain
it. 2. To assist members in case of sickness
during the honey season. 3. To assist rela-
tives of deceased member in disposing of bees,
&c. 4. To raise a fund in the form of insur-
ance to assist members in the event of their
being called upon to pay compensation for
damage done by their bees.

These questions were favourably received,
and it was the unanimous wish of the meeting

that they should be put into operation as
early as possible. In response to the request
then made, I now have pleasure in laying
before you a rough outline for the working of
the various matters referred to.

The first question is — The wholesale price
of honey, and how to ascertain it. At the
present time there is no set price for honey.
Honey, we are told, is worth what you can
make of it. That, no doubt, is true, but not
satisfactory. As we all know, the season rules
to a great extent the price of honey ; but it
often happens that in the same year and in
the same district where exactly the same class
of honey is produced, there is a considerable
difference in the wholesale prices realised — a
fact owing almost entirely to some bee-keepers
not knowing what is being done by others. I
therefore suggest that during the months of
June, July, and August each member who
sells honey wholesale shall on the 1st and 15th
of each of the said months send a return to
the secretary, stating the quantity and quality
of the honey he has sold, and the price
realised during the fortnight ending the 15 th
or last of the month, as the case may be. In
such return it should be made clear whether
buyer or seller finds tins, and pays carriage in
the case of extracted honey, and if in sections it
should be notified whether glazed or unglazed.
On receipt of such returns, the secretary
would write out a return embodying the whole
lot, showing how many lots of honey had been
sold, how much in e^ch lot, and whether first
or second grade, and price realised, but no
names given, the secretary being requiied to
regard as strictly private the nj,mes of all
members who send in returns. Any one re-
quiring such returns to make application to
the secretary. The secretary would thus be
saved the trouble of sending out unnecessary
returns. Thus no man need fear that his
business concerns will be made public. By
thus suppressing names no one receiving a
return would know who had supplied ihe in-
formation to the secretary, but we should see
at a glance what was going on in the county,
and this would be of great benefit to us all.

The next question is that of rendering help
to sick members. It is suggested that if a
member becomes unable to attend to his bee*,
and has no one to assist him, he shall notify
the same to the secretary, who shall then
arrange for members of the Association to
manage such sick member's bees until his
recovery, free of charge. Should there at any
time be any difficulty in carrying out the
above, the secretary shall have the power to
appoint some one to do the necessary work
and remunerate him out of the general funds
of the Association. It is, however, highly
desirable that all assistance shall be voluntary
and gratis. Every member should feel that
it is his duty to help a fellow-member in the
time of need, with the assurance that he him-
self would receive the same help if at any
time required.

Nov. 6, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

449

In the case of a member dying and leaving
his bees to be sold, the Association shall, on
receiving such information from the proper
quarter, take steps to dispose of the same.
There is no doubt that an apiary of a deceased
member, offered for sale by the Association,
would realise a much better price than if left
to be dealt with by people wno know nothing
about bees, to say nothing about the worry
and trouble it would save the relatives.

There is only one other question to be con-
sidered, viz., insurance. It now and then
happens — not often by any means — that bees,
from some cause or oiher, generally through
the ignorance of some one, become trouble-
some, and sting anybody and anything that
happens to go in their way ; and we have on
record cases — happily few in number — where
serious injury has been done to both man and
beast through bees, in which cases compensa-
tion has been claimed. I have been a bee-
keeper in Hunts for the past twenty-five
years, but have never known or heard of such
a case in the whole county. Bat, notwith-
standing this freedom from trouble in that
line, it is just as well to be prepared for that
which is least expected. Let us then arrange
that each member shall pay to the secretary so
much per hive per annum (whatever sum may
be agreed upon), the money thus raised to
form an insurance fund ; and if any member
is called upon to pay compensation for damage
done by his bees, such compensation shall be
paid out of the said fund so far as the amount
in hand will permit. We would guarantee no
fixed amount, but only agree to pay according
to the extent of our means, i.e , the sum in
hand. There are only about tbree months
(probably five weeks would be nearer the
mark) during the year when there is the
slightest risk of bees doing damage. We
must therefore make it plain that whatever
claims there are will be duly considered, but
none will be paid until, say, the month of
October. If there is one claim, and there are
funds enough in hand to cover it, the claim
will be paid in full ; but if the claim exceeds
the sum available, well, then the matter is
quite simple : the member called upon to pay
the claim would take all we could give him
and make up the deficiency himself. In the
event of more than one claim, and the total
amount required to meet the case being in
excess of the total amount in hand, in that
case each one would be paid pro rata accord-
ing to the funds in hand. But I don't think
that there will be any difficulty in that
direction. Judging from past experience, I
should say that, if we all pay, say, Id. or so
per hive per annum, we shall soon have a fund
large enough to help us out of any difficulty
that is ever likely to occur. I have not
attempted to do more than give a rough out-
line of the questions referred to. If they com-
mend themselves to you, freely discuss them ;
make any necessary alterations ; and appoint
a sub-committee to give them the final polish,

and put them into operation at once. I
promised to be brief, otherwise I should have
said a great deal more.

[2995.] Bee Candij Cast Out of Hives —
Would you kindly give me your opinion in
the following 1 On uctober 23 I gave each of
my hives (twelve in number) a cake of soft
candy (medicated), but on looking at the hives
on the following day I found a lot of white
powder, which on examination was found to
be the candy given. I have watched the bees
for fully an hour busy bringing out the candy,
and depositing the same on the floor-board.
1. Can you give me any reason for this ? The
candy was not my own make, but was bought
from a well-known firm. 2. What am 1 to
do 1 I have about 20 lb. of it left. I am going
away from home for three months, and wanted
to leave the bees with plenty of candy-food.

3. How is a frame prepared for holding syrup ?

4. Would ordinary candy one buys at a con-
fectioner's be of any good to place in the
hives 1 — Redlar, Lymington, October 27.

Reply. — 1. The fault is obviously in the
candy, which is coarse and hard in grain,
instead of soft, smooth, and buttery. What
you call " white powder " is the hard granules
of badly-made 'candy, which the bees cannot
store in the comb, and carry out as being use-
less for food. 2. The hard, candy might be
used in making syrup-food for spring use. 3.
If you mean a frame on the plan of Simmins'
dry-sugar feeder, it only needs to nail the
boards on both sides of a frame, leaving
a 4-in. space at top on one side as an entrance
to the hollow space between the two board?.
Care must be taken to make the feeder water-
tight, and the insides of the boards should be
left rough to afford foothold for the bees when
feeding. 4. It is not suitable bee-food.

[2996] Marketable Shape for Beeswax in
Small Calces. — As a regular reader of the
Jouknal, I ask would our Editors or some
practical contributor to give us information
with regard to the best way of putting bees-
wax into marketable and convenient shape or
form for retailing ? Is the square chocolate-
cream form suitable ? or what is the best
mould, and where is it procurable ? I am sure
many readers besides myself will appreciate
this information. The Editors or any other
of experience. — Pure Beeswax, Kinross,
N.B., October 29.

Reply. — We cannot tell you where to
procure the " best mould " for wax-cakes.
It is a moot point which is best, and our
personal view could only be given for what it
is worth. It is, however, certain that a rather
thick andj strong cake, weighing as near an
ounce as can be sold at Id., is a, very suitable

450

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Nov. 6, 1902.

cake for the counter trade. We prefer round
to square shape, without any sharp edges to
chip off in using. Some cakes should be
made double the size of above, to sell at 2d.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All querietfonearded mill be attended to, and thoee only
of per -tonal inter e$t will be anewered in thie column

"V* A correspondent writes as follows : — " I
am writing to ask if you can say whether
there is any opening in the bee industry
of this country for a ' manager ' or ' head
apiarist.' I have had two years' varied
practical experience with a prominent
bee-keeper in England, and am well up
in all branches of apiary work, including
honey-production, putting up for market,
packing, &c, also queen- rearing and
general office work. I also understand bee-
keepers' book-keeping, commercial travel-
ling, lecturing, &c. Do you think there is
any opening for me in England ? I
imagine most English bee-keepers keep,
say, twenty to thirty stocks only— this, of
course, would be useless ; they would not
require a specialist. Are there any
apiculturists possessing a sufficient number
of hives who could afford me ? Any informa-
tion would be greatly valued.''

[Not being able to furnish the information
asked for, we insert the above, and should
any reader desire to communicate with
the writer (whose name and address we
hold) letters addressed " Apiarist '' to this
office will be duly forwarded. — Eds.]

G. Geldard (Liverpool). — Bee Districts near
Liverpool. — Without being able to promise
more help by adopting the very unusual
course of repeating in print a request that
has brought no response on its first inser-
tion, we suggest that you might write to
Mr. R. Anderton, Stone Bridge Farm, West
Derby, or to Mr. Wm. Forrester, Huyton,
near Liverpool, both of whom are bee-men
who know their districts well for honey-
producing. Refer also to report of show at
Preston in B.B.J, of September 11 last
(page 361), for names of local prize winners.

J. Worley (Sheffield). — Cardboard Box-
makers. — The advertiser whose name you
have mislaid is no doubt the Safety Paper
Box Co., Borough High-street, London, S.E.

Gwenlevi (Weybridge). — Insurance for Bee-
keepers.— It is an error to suppose that bees
are insured against foul brood under the
scheme referred to. Write to Mr. E. H.
Young, Secretary B.B.K.A., 12, Hanover-
square, W., for particulars of Insurance for
bee-keepers.

P. W. (Netteswell, Essex1). — Uniting Driven
Bees. — 1. On referring to the MS. we find

that the words which you say " have been
left out " in Query 2989 do not appear at
all in your copy. 2. We can give no reason
for the failure in one case and success in
the other.

G. Latcock (Cowling). — Dead Queen Cast
Out. — The queen sent has no doubt been
" balled " for a long time before being killed
outright. All pubescence has gone from
the thorax and abdomen, and both wings
appear to have been literally bitten away
piecemeal. The insect is too dry for i^ost-
mortem, but we judge it to be a fertile
(Ligurian) queen.

P. H. W. (South Devon). — What is a
" Complete Frame-hive for General Use " ?
— It would be " sending coals to New-
castle " for us to occupy space in describing
the various parts of a modern frame-hive.
As you refer to yourself as " an interested
amateur," we advise the purchase of a good
" Guide Book " as an indispensable adjunct
to bee-keeping ; also to procure a catalogue
from one of our leading advertisers. Pos-
sessed of these two items of bee-literature,
you will learn all about a complete frame-
hive.

Novice (Alfreton). — Amount of Stores for
Wintering Bees in Skep. — 1. The only
criterion under circumstances stated is to
get an approximate weight of actual food.
As combs are " old and black," and may
contain much pollen, the skep should
weigh at least 25 lb. gross to be safe for
wintering. 2. About 1^ in. is a suitable
width for entrance to frame-hive in winter.

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 squan
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
costoj telegram. All letters to be addressed "Editor,"
not " Manager."

"J."' (Wallingford). — The few cells— other
than empty ones — in comb contain foul
brood, and it would be sheer folly to use
them again. We should either melt down
for wax, or burn all such combs.

Honey Samples.

— Alfred (Dudley). — 1. There is nothing in
sample of granulated honey to cause us to
doubt its genuineness. 2. We cannot say
why the chemist referred to gives a con-
trary opinion, beyond the fact that he
appears to know very little about honey.

W. A. W. (Guildford). — The granulated honey
received is from mixed sources — mainly
white clover. It is of very good quality.

*** Several letters and queries are held over
for want of room.

Nov. 13, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

451

(B&itoml $tiimt fci.

BRITISH BEE KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

THE NEW SHOW YARD.

We understand that the grouping of coun-
ties as proposed for the new classification for
honey at the forthcoming meeting of the Royal
Agricultural Society of England is likely to
meet with the full approval of the " Prizes
Committee " of that Society, and it is accord-
ingly suggested that bee-keepers' associations
or intending exhibitors having any proposals to
make in regard thereto will address the same
to the Secretary B.B.K.A., 12, Hanover-
square, without delay, as the Council will
shortly proceed to draft the complete prize
schedule upon the new lines.

In view also of the fact that many societies
are uniting their efforts to ensure the success
of the " Royal " show on its new and per-
manent site near London, it will be well for
bee-keepers to consider what can be done in
this direction, in order to keep pace with the
progress made by other societies and in the
interest of the bee industry generally.

HONEY IMPORTS.

The value of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of
October, 1902, was £625. — From a return
furnished to the British Bee Journal by the
Statistical Office, H.M. Customs.

ftimt&pwtetttt.

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for tht
eptnions expressed by correspondents. 2fo notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and eorrespondenti
are requested to sprite on one eide 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 net undertake to return rejected communications.

Communications relating to the literary department,
reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Book* for Review, <kc.,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.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

[4939.] Ladies v. Gentlemen. — One of our
most prominent bee-keepers a jear or two
ago wrote an article on our hobby as an occu-
pation for the gentler sex, and at the time I
felt perturbed, as I dreaded that a great and
mighty Amazonian host might join the ranks

and oust all of us who are mere men. The
lapse of time, perhaps, or the discovery that
affairs have undergone no serious revolution,
have soothed my nerves and enables me now
to view the matter with perfect equanimity,
and I feel no perturbation of spirit even when
reading over the list of new experts on pajje
381. Thirty-six ladies have obtained the
much coveted certificate, as against twenty-six
gentlemen. That must mean that the cult is
extending and finding special favour amongst
women, or that those going forward give
more attention to preparation for the oral and
written part, as well as the manipulation of
hives, so as to be better fitted for passing
the examination with credit. I understand
they are apt pupils, and, as might be ex-
pected of their sex, readier to respond fully
and promptly to the questions of the
examiner. They are tactful and full of re
source in manipulation, and their smart and
active, yet neat and gentle, movements tell in
their favour in capturing queens and handling
frames. Even in regard to the heavier and
more trying calls on their strength and endur-
ance, I remember one of the examiners once
wrote words of high praise and commendation.

Hiving by Entrance. — It is sometimes ad-
vised that bees from a skep or swarm- box
should be shaken into a bar-frame hive from
above, throwing them down between the top-
bars. It is presumed that some of the frames
are first withdrawn, and the space between
those left considerably widened, to allow the
mass of bees to fall to the floor, as otherwise
most of them would lie on the top of the bars.
Even with this precaution, it often makes a
messy job, and if they are slow to leave the
skep or swarm-box, requiring several shakes
and bumps to dislodge them, those first thrown
boil up so much that if the operator's courage
oozes out he is in danger of scamping the work
and scampering off, regardless of how be places
on the quilt, so that frequently they take up
their abode in the hive roof. Cases of this
kind are so common that novices should, I
think, be advised to do all their hiving or
transferring by shaking the bees on an en-
larged platform in front of the entrance, which
should be opened to its full capacity to allow
the bees to walk, or rather, run in. After the
first few pioneers have discovered the narrow
way leading to their new residence, they set
up a charming buzz of glad content, and this
sound is taken up by the whole throng, until
soon every head is inclined in the direction of
home, sweet home. I think this latter plan is
preferable to the overhead hiving, as with it
there is less chance of an upset, it is an easier
and safer plan, the treatment of the bees is
gentler, there is less chance of the bees de-
camping, and no likelihood of injuring the
queen, as sometimes happens when the bees
are roughly thrown from above.

The Fall of the Season. — Nowhere, perhaps,
in all our lovely island can a fairer scene be
witnessed than along the valley of the river

452

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 13, 1902.

Spey from Ballindalloch to Craigellachie in
the closing days of October. What a
delightful picture of grace and loveliness the
woodlands there were during the period of
transition ! From a wealth of sylvan green
they underwent a gradual but wonderful
transformation, each successive change making
the scene one of exquisite beauty, while the
trees were dressed in their coat of russet
brown, intermixed with all the varying shades
and tints of yellow and gold and crimson
which mark the fall of the leaf. The wealth
of leafage was seen slowly consuming away in
a many-coloured death. One tree was clothed
in a gown of warm russet freaked with gold ;
another showed all patches and streaks of
yellow flame, mingled with the green that
still lingered as if loath to die. Anon wide
stretches were seen showing sanguine flushes
like a golden sunset ; while side by side were
patches austerely brown, varied by spots
where Nature had placed a fiery finger on the
leaves, or , where by some freak she had
severely touched them with " withered hue
and sere." The elm flared out a very vivid
yellow ; the poplar became a vista of pale
gold ; the ash darkened to an almost black
hue ; the horse-chestnut looked a faded mass
of dark green, all tinged with dull grey or
faded brown ; the plane was a mass of copper
bronze; the wild- cherry was robed in scarlet
and gold ; the rowan became a wealth of
crimson leaves arid red berries ; the maple a
flaring purple, tinged with many shades ; the
larch an auriferous mass of glowing yellow ;
while the dark and sombre green of the pine
and the vivid emerald hue of the spruce made
a splendid effect in the background. Uncon-
sciously, perhaps, the gladness of heart engen-
dered by such a wealth of beauty is tinged
with a regret at its departure, for already, on
this early November day, the woodlands are
only bare boughs. Only ! Nay ; for already
the baby Hope is laughing at Decay, and,
closely looked at, those bare, naked twigs are
all strung with the germs of future leaves, for
a fall green bud of promise is developed even
as the old leaves fall.

Bee-candy. — The state of the brood-nest in
too many hives, and more especially the con-
dition of the store cupboard, makes me feel
that the coming year will see a good many
claims made by the bees on their owners in
early spring at a date which will be unsuitable
for syrup feeding ; so I would council all who
have doubts of supplies holding out to try
their hand at candy-making. I am no advo-
cate, as a rule, of this form of feeding, and
have used none of it for half a dozen years at
least ; but this exceptional year requires
exceptional measures, and so I reproduce a
table I compiled some years ago as the fruits
of a search I had made in backs numbers of
the Journal. Considerable diversity of
opinion prevails on several points, especially
in regard to the time taken and the proportion
of the ingredients, but each and all make

efficient candy, capable of pulling a good stock
through : —

Maker.

Time
taken.

Sug'r.

Cream of
Tartar.

Wat'r.

Salt.

Mr. McNally
Mr. R. Brown ...
Mr. Woodley
Mr. Raitt

Min.

2

10

6

10

Till

ready

lbs.

7
10

6
10

6

Tea-
spoonful.
1

I

3

1
3

Pints.

U

1

2

1

none
Salt
Salt
Salt

D. M. M., Banff.

CRUELTY ON THE SHOW-BENCH.

AN APPEAL TO BEE-KEEPERS.

[4940.] I feel called upon by my own
conscience to draw the attention of exhibitors
at shows, and others interested, to the unpar-
donable cases of cruelty to bees that one
occasionally sees enacted on the show-bench.
I wish to lay no wilful charge of cruelty to
any one. I believe every modern bee-keeper
loves his bees. But it is difficult to help
speaking when such a case as the following
comes to one's notice. I was judging at a
Midland Counties show in England some
little time back when it was my duty to
adjudicate upon several classes of observatory
hives. In every case there were observatory
hives staged so overcrowded with bees that it
required no experienced eye to at once see
that the poor little creatures were suffering
severely, and that from such a simple thing as
want of air.

One hive (one of those single-frame obser-
vatories apparently contrived for torture)
had only a small, miserable vent-hole at the
top and insufficient ventilation at the bottom,
yet it was so overstocked with bees that by
five o'clock nearly all the insects were either
dead or dying !

It was a case of such needless cruelty, a
scene which would affect any lover of Nature
and Nature's creatures as being both cruel and
unnecessary. I therefore appeal to British
bee-keepers, and ask, Why cannot this sort of
thing be put a stop to ? I feel sure that
ignorance is the cause, and I lay no other
oharge at the door of the offenders, but I for
one cannot witness such wholesale slaughter
and not raise my voice in trying to prevent a
recurrence of such cruelty as may be wit-
nessed every year at various shows.

Is there no remedy ( Must the little
labourers who toil for us with such untiring
energy and devotion be tortured to death in
this way 1 I appeal first to the more ex-
perienced among British bee-keepers, and ask
them to be more careful in the future, while
to the le3s experienced I say consult some one
not dnly experienced but kind to bees before
attempting to exhibit observatory hives
stocked with bees, unless he has obtained

Nov. 13, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

453

sufficient information to enable him to do so
without cruelty to our helpless little friends
and benefactors. — R. Hamlyn-Harris, D.Sc,
F.R.M.S., F.Z.S., F.E.S., &c, Imperial
Department of Agriculture for the West
Indies, Barbados, October.

NOTES FROM THE LAKE DISTRICT.

[4941.] Honey has been at a premium here
this season. A cold summer, during which
little nectar was secreted, was followed by a
very unfavourable heather season.

Many stocks are short of stores for winter,
and will not be able to hold out unless well
supplied with candy. Swarms were not very
numerous, and many showed an inclination to
seek fresh pastures, taking their departure
soon after clustering.

Foul Brood. — The treatment of this in a
mild form, by pouring into the affected cells
crude carbolic acid, as I have seen practised
by more than one expert, should be dis-
countenanced, as it must cause the death of
scores of bees. These cells will invariably be
found cleared out in the following spring, and
every bee which has assisted in the work will,
no doubt, have been destroyed. The diagnosis
of it (F.B.) is to my mind not altogether
satisfactory, the fact of a few or many cells
containing a brown, ill-smelling mass, is not
sufficient evidence without a microscopic
examination. I have known of a case where
a hive was full of such cells, in which all the
bees died ; this was replenished — without any
remedial measures having been taken — by
driven bees, and which in the following spring
did not show a trace of foul brood, but was
the strongest hive in the apiary and gave a
good return.

I am of opinion that chilled brood may
undergo a similar decomposition, especially if
cold weather should supervene to prevent the
bees clearing out the dead larsse.

Heather Honey. — Mr. Simmins, in his book,
advises re-queening, before the heather flow
commences, with a young queen of present
season. I should be glad to know if many
practise this, and with what result. My own
experience is that young queens are not so
prolific as second-year queens ; and, in spite
of the re-queening, the honey does not go
upstairs so freely as in a hive with a second-
summer queen. — Heather Honey.

BEE-KEEPERS AND FOUL BROOD.

[4942.] Having read the query (2988) of your
correspondent " Iago,'' in B.J. of October 23,
I was greatly surprised to hear of foul brood
being prevalent at Treharris. He evidently
surmises that his bees have contracted the
disease from those of his neighbours. I was
told that one of his neighbours did lose a few
stocks owing to moving to another house last
winter, and another neighbour lost a stock or

two, but I cannot say from what cause. As
regards myself, I am also a neighbour, who
only commenced bee-keeping in March last,
and now possess three hives, which are open
for inspection by any expert " Iago '' may
wish to send ; therefore I hope your corre-
spondent will not blame me for spreading
foul brood for want of the care which, accord-
ing to what appears on page 429, he has failed
to exercise himself, or possibly he would have
found out before the eleventh hour that his
stocks were badly affected, and thus endanger-
ing those of his other neighbours. I examined
my own hives six weeks ago, and found them
quite healthy with brood, and abundance of
stores for wintering. I fed up with about
16 lb. of syrup, and am going to add a few
pounds of candy. Bee - keepers are not
numerous in Treharris, and therefore it should
not be difficult to stamp out foul brood, for I
do not think the neighbours referred to would
be so mean as to stand by idle if they
were aware that their bees were affected.
To my mind, then, the only way out of the
difficulty would be for each one of us to join
the Glamorgan Bee - keepers' Association,
which I am sure would assist us. Like
" Iago," I have been attacked with " bee-
fever," but everything has gone on satisfactory
up to the present ; but I am glad to read, on
the open confession made in your pages, as it
will enable neighbours of the writer in ques-
tion to be on their guard. In conclusion, I
wish to say that I attended the conversazione
of the Glamorganshire B.K.A., held in Cardiff
on October 23, and derived some knowledge
from attending it, and also from the appli-
ances and honey on view, while I felt proud to
be present at such an interesting occasion,
with plenty iof welcome to all bee-keepers.
I shall certainly join the Association in the
coming year, hoping "Iago "and his neigh,
bours will do likewise. — W. J. Hayes-
Treharris, November 1.

BEES IN A RABBIT-HOLE.

QUEENS and excluder zinc.
[4943.] On Monday, October 27, while en-
gaged in my usual winter occupation of trap-
ping rabbits, I came across a very unusual
sight, a description of which I thought might
be of interest to your readers. While busy
setting my traps to catch rabbits, I noticed
some bees flying in and out from a rabbit-hole
near by. The hole in question had a much
larger entrance than usual, from the very
numerous rabbits using it ; so I could see the
bees and combs without enlarging the mouth
of the hole at all. Resolving to secure the
bees if possible, I inquired if there were any
bee-keepers near, as I was twenty-five miles
away from my own house. Hearing of a place
where bees were kept, I went there, and got
some frames and " tying-in tape,'- then returned
and began the job. I found the first combs

454

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 13, 1902.

had broken away from the earth to which they
had been attached, and had fallen down in a
heap, but the bees had then built upward from
them, and so had got a good deal of comb for
clustering on. There was a fairly good lot of
bees, but very little honey ; however, I secured
all there was of bees and combs, and having
nineteen stocks at home, I had plenty of
sealed stores to give them for wintering on.

I am much interested in this lot of "rabbit-
hole bees," because, while a rabbit-trapper in
winter, I am a bee-keeper in summer, and find
my bees not only pay very well, but keep me
busy making hives, putting on and taking off
supers, and selling the honey when gathered in.
I also attend to nearly all the bees about here,
as the expert never pays us a visit. I am,
however, thankful that there is a B.B J.
within reach of all, for I find it very inter-
esting. I have also the "ABC of Bee-
Culture,'' which is a good and helpful book.

On looking over the B.B.J, of October 30, 1
notice a query on page 439 about queens
passing through excluder zinc. A bee-friend
called my attention this summer to a similar
case. We found que en-cells in the super —
some being sealed over — and there was also
sealed drone-brood in the combs, but, after
removing the supers to try and find, out if the
queen could have passed through owing to
careless fixing, we found she could not have
done so. Then we removed the cap from a
queen-cell and found a young drone therein.
Later on we discovered that the eggs in super
had come from a "laying worker" which we
promptly killed. The hive in question had
no less than forty standard frames in and
tiered above the brood-nest ; the queen being
confined to the latter by excluder zinc, while
the fertile worker was laying in the top story.
This is not the first time I have known the
8ame thiDg to happen, but never before did I
see drones hatched in queen-cells.

In conclusion, I may say bees are still carry-
ing in pollen, while no feeding is required. I
will shortly send you a photograph of my
apiary and a few notes on my fifteen years'
bee-keeping experience for " Homes of the
Honey Bee." — T. Stapleton, Cornivall,
November 2.

BEE-NOTES FROM LEICESTERSHIRE.
[4944] I am sending a few lines giving the
results on the bee-season of 1902 in this part
of the cotntry. I am located in the south-west
part of Leicestershire, within a few miles of
North Warwickshire, in a district not very
favourable to the production of honey in large
quantities, being almost entirely dependent for
surplus on the white clover. A few fields of
beans are grown, but no sainfoin, and lime trees
do not thrive in this neighbourhood. However,
since 1 commenced here in '94 I have always
managed to secure some surplus. My average
in a good year has been about 60 lb. per hive.
I have made it a rule to re-queen all my

stocks every second year by introducing a
young queen to half of the colonies every year,
and in doing so have purchased queens from
breeders who claim to have a superior strain
of bees. Owing to the increase of stocks in
my apiary two or three year3 ago, the expense
of purchasing young queens became consider-
able, so that I decided to raise my own in
future, though I still continue to buy queens
from strains which have given remarkable
results, whether it be in this country or in
America ; and in this way I now have some
fine queens from G. M. Doolittle, J. P.
Moore, and the A. I. Root Company's Red
Clover strain, the " Hutchinson '' Superior
stock, and last, but not least, Simmins' " W.S."
Italians, and also from other less famous
breeders. I do not hesitate to say, as the
result of my experience with these various
strains, that some are much superior to others ;
at any rate, they give better results with me
in this district. If you think it would be of
interest to the readers of the B.J., I will
another time give some of my experiences
with the different races of bees. At present I
will confine my report for the past season,
commencing in the spring with twenty stocks
in hives of various makes, bat all taking the
standard frames.

I set apart five stocks for queen-rearing
purposes, the others being run for honey. I had
one small swarm, which came from a very
strong stock in a hive with twelve frames in
brood-nest, a box of shallow-frame3 above and
a non-swarming chamber below containing
frames with starters only. The swarm for-
tunately entered an adjoining empty hive of
their own accord, as my apiary is about half
a mile from home. The weather here during
spring and early summer wa3 wet and cold,
and at the end of June the bees were very short
of stores, some of the strongest stocks casting
out immature drones in large numbers. I
therefore gave them a few pounds of syrup.
I used about half a hundredweight of sugar
previous to the honey - flow — not a large
quantity considering the season and number
of colonies. At the end of the first week in
July we were favoured with a few days of real
hot weather, and the clover was then coming
well into bloom, and I never remember honey
to come in so rapidly. Some of the stocks
quickly filled two boxes of shallow - frames,
and though I kept the extractor going till
dark each evening, I could scarcely give room
fast enough. I had to put on both standard
and shallow bodies fitted with starters only to
keep pace with their requirements. Unfor-
tunately, however, just as the honey-flow was
at its best the weather changed, the wind
veered round to east and north, and became
cold and stormy, so honey gathering ceased
almost as suddenly as it commenced. How-
ever, on finishing up extracting, I found some
of the hives yielded 100 lb., others 50 lb. and
60 lb. respectively, so that I have no cause to
complain about my share of honey for 1902.

Nov. 13, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

455

The quality is very good, but granulation
began very quickly. If it was not drawn off
from the ripener within a few days after being
extracted bottling was impossible until it was
reliquefied. — J. G, Hinckley, November 8.

A NOVEL BEEHIVE.
[4945.] The novel hive shown in the illus-
tration is the handiwork of Mr. B. Hayton,
Kendal Park, Kendal. It consists of part of
an ash tree trunk in two sections. The lower
part or stand is, of course, solid, thus pro-
viding a substantial base. The bees' com-
partment was hollowed out without cuttiog
what is now the outer wall, so that no joint
was necessary. The roof is hinged and opens
or closes with the greatest facility. The

will refer to the Journal, July 24 (Query No.
2930), headed " Ants in Hives," and my reply
to same in issue of August 7 (page 320), it
will in some measure explain the above re-
marks. If not out of place, let me say I am a
great lover of bee-life, and not only travel in
order to assist struggling bee-keepers, but
freely give what little advice I can, besides
rendering assistance where requested to do so ;
not otherwise. This spring I was asked by a
bee-keeper to meet him for the purpose of in-
specting and putting into seasonable form
some bees owned by the head gamekeeper to
a nobleman in Yorkshire. The owner of the
bees was seriously ill at the time, and has
since, I regret to say, died. The bees were
kept within a quarter of a mile of the pUce
where dwells the writer of " Ants in Hives,''

sSKJP'

55

|HH? ■■■— ---..'-

A NOVEL BEE-HIVE.
(Made from an Ash Tree.)

making of the hive was a work of time and
patience, not little of either being required
for the task. Mr. Hayton reckons that it
took him two months at three hours a night,
and nothing less than a five pound note
would repay him for his trouble. A second
hive of a similar typ9 is now in course of
construction, and when completed the pair
will match. — D. F., Kendal.

LOCATING FOUL BROOD.

[4946.] I have often thought, when reading
the Bee Journal and coming across remarks
about "foul brood unknown" in given dis-
tricts, it might be only a very nice way of
playing the confidence trick on likely buyers
f driven bees and swarms, &c. If readers

where " foul brood is unknown." I found
them in a very bad state, and expressed my
opinion at the time as such to my friend.
Some few weeks before this took place I had
been asked by a bee-keeper living within half a
mile of the same place if I would unite four
stocks and thus make two colonies of the four,
as he did not wish to be overstocked. The
first two lots I united all right, but on coming
to the others I found one of them with frames
and combs broken down in a heap, and nearly
impossible to remove. I therefore got the
bee-keeper to let me operate on the stock in
my own apiary — some four miles away — which
he did. I made a start on the first fine day,
ouly to find the bees in a very bad way with
foul brood. This stock was the oldest of the
four lots referred to above. I can only, after

456

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 13, 1902.

such an experience, come to one conclusion,
that the place mentioned on page 297 is in
a very warm corner for foul brood ! On
August 30 a neighbouring bee-keeper called
at my house, and in our subsequent conver-
sation about bees and other matters I found
it was he who had written on this matter
under the nom de plume of '' B. Hive/' on
page 297.

In reference to Mr. Woodley's " Notes by
the Way," on page 425, I quite agree with
Mr. Godsland's remarks on the question of
the " tempting offer '' of an appliance maker,
viz., 6s. per dozen for good sections, considering
the very poor season. With respect to
Mr. Woodley's remarks about the use of
spring crates being offered for sending sec-
tions in, it almost looks as if the honey-
buying appliance dealer would have a lot of
these spring crates to offer cheap next season.
I am also surprised to see how neatly Mr.
Woodley tries to make out how unprofitable
dealing in sections, even at these low prices,
turns out. For myself, I must say Mr.
Woodley pulls a rather long string in his
" Notes " on this subject. I happen to know
one large section buyer in the North of
England, whose advertisement appears in the
Bee Journal every year, and who does not
over-burden the bee-keeper with a too heavy
share of the cash when buying sections. I often
visit the town where his shop is, and give a
look at the window to see how sections are
selling, but seldom find them offered at less
than Is. 3d. each, unless they are granulated,
in which case the sections are sold at lOd.
each, some combs being cut away from the
wood and placed on a dish and sold as a "job
line." This proves one thing, viz., " The
labourer is worthy of his hire," as Mr. Wood-
ley says. — J. H. Horn, Bedale, Yorks.

SOME EAST KENT NOTES.

[4947.] Selling Honey. — Having read the
remarks of your correspondent, " W. W. K.,
St. Brelades," page 439 (4931), on my note
under this heading in B.B.J, of October
16 (page 418), I may say that the 70 lb. of
honey was disposed of within the time your
correspondent surmises, viz., a month. I am
glad to have his favourable opinion of my
method of selling honey, while 1 admire his
faith when calculating that 700 lb. should
be sold in a year. If " W. W. K." has that
weight of honey by him, I hope he will sell
only to consumers direct, and then let readers
of the B.B.J, know how he has fared. Until
700 lb. has been sold retail by the producer at
lOd. or Is. per lb. from his private residence in
twelve months, I fear I must remain, like
" D. M. M." and the bogey man, a " doubting
Thomas," for of its possibility I, like the
Scotsman, " hae ma doots." At the same
time I am confident that a lot of honey could
be sold in this way, and since taking down my
honey show-case I have had quite a number

of people call and inquire if I had any more
honey to sell. " W. W. K." hits out pretty
straight in stating that bee-keepers are in
too big a hurry to sell ; indeed, I am myself a
sinner in this respect, for had I been less
pushful in selling wholesale, the extra 2d.
on the three dozen or four dozen pounds that
went to the middleman would have been in
my own pocket. I am, however, very favour-
ably situated for retailing honey from the
door, my house (a detached villa) standing a
little back from the main road from Canter-
bury to Margate. It is thus located in one of
those spots where the " British public," as Mr.
Woodley says, pass my door. But surely such
places are not few and far between, and there
must be scores of bee-keepers possessing less
than a dozen hives who are similarly placed to
myself, and could sell their honey at a much
better price in this way if disposed to try.
Next summer I intend to have another " go ''
at this " front door trade," and hope to have
both sections and extracted honey to offer.
Any way, I mean to hold my crop and not bt
in such a hurry to sell wholesale as hitherto.

Smoker Fuel. — I was much interested in the
discussion at the B.B.K.A. conversazione on
smoker-fuel. Brown paper is the material gene-
rally used, because it is at hand nearly every-
where ; but the objection to it is the moisture
emitted from the nozzle of the smoker after
being used for some time. " Touchwood "
makes a good smoke and lasts much longer
than paper. I first got to know of this fuel
from a visit paid to Mr. Sladen's apiary some
three or four years ago, and I now use it when
making a lengthy examination. — Arthur H.
Homersham, Sturry, near Canterbury,
November 8.

DEALING WITH FOUL BROOD.

AN UNFORTUNATE PURCHASE.

[4948.] On going into a new house in March
last, I took over three stocks of bees in boxes,
built " W.B.C." hives for them, and allowed
the bees to transfer themselves to the latter.
I afterwards discovered that one of the three
boxes was rotten with foul brood and another
slightly affected. The boxes were then re-
moved and burnt. Later on I bought two
stocks in frame-hives, thus leaving me at the
end of the present season with five 3tocks in
good hives. When examined in the autumn
all were apparently healthy except one, which
had about a dozen cells diseased. These cells
I cut out, and, after extracting all honey, fed
up with syrup medicated with naphthol beta.
1. Is this hive likely to be clean in spring and
remain so ? 2. What are the staining and
culture properties of Bacillus alvei ? I can
find no mention of it in my text-books.

I propose in the spring to try my hand at
queen-rearing. 3. Is there any objection to
dividing up a " W.B.C." hive into three by
division-boards and separators to entrance,
putting temporary wings on alighting-board,

Nov. 13, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

457

for reception of nuclei ? 4. What is the safest
way of introducing queens 1 I bought two
Italians in September, caging them as directed
on comb ; one died within thirty-six hours in
cage, and the other had been eaten out when
I opened hive to release her after thirty-six
hours, and I found bees just killing her off on
alighting-board. Luckily I had preserved the
old queens, and got them back and safely
accepted.

Apologising for my lengthy list of questions,
M. B., Selsey-on-Sea, Sussex.

[1. If the disease was in the incipient stage
only, the chances are favourable that it will
be found free from foul brood in spring. In
any case, however, the hatching brood will
need to be carefully watched in spring,
especially during the month of May. 2. You
will do well to read Mr. H. W. Brice's
remarks, printed in a former issue of this
journal, on "stains" for use in studying the
Bacillus alvei under the microscope. 3. The
hive may be temporarily divided so as to
form three nucleus colonies, if the temporary
entrances can be formed, say, one in front and
one at each side ; but to have all three door-
ways close together in front would probably
lead to mishaps in queen-mating. 4. Either
the "Edwards" or the " Brice '' introducing
cages and methods of using are as safe as any
we know of. — Eds.]

GLEANINGS FROM FOREIGN BEE
JOURNALS.

BY R. HAMLTN-HARRIS, D.SC, F.R.M.S., F.Z.S.,
F.E.S., ETC.

Leipziger Bienenzeitung (Germany). — In
the Saxon Erzgebirge and in the Province of
Silesia there are often sad complaints from
bee-keepers in early spring, especially in
May, when the early flowers yield the first
pollen and honey. It is then found that the
bees, together with their brood, die off in
great numbers, so that in some places not a
single colony remains alive, and many a small
farmer has lost all his bees, while his fruit
trees stood fruitless. The source from whence
the mischief comes — in this part of the country
it brings certain death to the bees — is the
arsenic manufactory at Maifritzdorf. It ap-
pears that arsenic is found in the mines of
Reichenstein, the ore from which mines is
ground and roasted, and arsenic prepared
therefrom at the above-named manufactory.

The fumes generated in the process pass
through chambers, where they are gradually
cooled, and the pure arsenic deposited, while
the refuse passes into the outer air by means
of a high chimney, and falls in the form of
fine dust containing arsenic on the surrounding
vegetation and in the water. The poison is
then taken from the plants by bees in the
form of honey and pollen, it being known

that insects are very susceptible to the baneful
influence of the poison.

Honey, pollen, and a few dead bees from
one of these unfortunate apiaries were exa-
mined at the chemical laboratory of the
Silesian Chamber of Agriculture in Breslau,
and the analysis yielded unquestionable traces
of arsenic.

This had gone on for three or four years in
the neighbourhood of Maifritzdorf, and the
height of the chimney in question was in-
creased to try and lessen the evil, but this
only carried the fumes over a wider area
without reducing the mischief. The district is
very mountainous ; therefore, much depends
on the winds prevailing ; thus the bees in
some villages suffered severely, while in other
villages there was nothing to complain of.
Neither man nor the larger animals are in any
way injured by the slight arsenical deposit in
water or on vegetation, and the failure in the
fruit crop results from the absence of insect
life.

The Same (Germany). — The bee-louse
Braula caeca) may become a more serious
plague than is generally supposed. That the
parasite weakens the colony seemed more than
probable, but it was thought to be impossible
that its presence could bring about the
destruction of a stock of bees. One bee-
keeper, however, last year had the number of
his stocks reduced from thirty-seven to a
single hive in consequence of a plague of the
bee-louse. In the early spring the hives
showed nothing peculiar, but little by little
the flight of the bees and their general move-
ments became heavier, while tneir numbers
diminished visibly ; many took flight and
never returned. Near the hives on grass
stems and on bits of wood were found little
groups of dead and dying bees. Not only
the queen-bee, but also the workers were
largely covered with the louse, and the para-
sites were visible even on the brood-combs.
The hive was like one in the last stage of
famine, and the brood became less and less,
while the bees lost heart and were not in the
least inclined to sting !

In some of the hives the queen was found
dead, covered thickly with lice, on the floor of
the hive. Four affected colonies fled from
their demoralised homes, and the others slowly
died out.

The reason of this seems to be taking too
much honey from the stocks, and feeding with
only sugar syrup, which is not enough, and
will not answer for brood rearing. This done
for several successive years brought the bees
into such a weakened condition that they were
unable to withstand the attacks of these de-
structive parasites. Scrupulous cleanliness is
most needful to be observed, and no debris
allowed to accumulate on the floorboard, as that
is the first hiding-place for the bee-lou3e, and
also of the wax-moth, another enemy of the
hive and its inhabitants.

458

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 13, 1902.

PRESERVING THE FLAVOUR OF
HONEY.

We are all anxious that our honey be of the
very best quality and flavour, but, perhaps,
we are not all of us aware that we ourselves
have much to do in bringing about the desired
result, as well as the bees. The bees may
give the honey into our hands in the very best
condition, yet it is possible for us, by our
ignorance or carelessness, to injure it much,
if not utterly ruin it. It is a fact that not
many people, aside from bee-keepers, know
how to keep honey properly.

One of our neighbours bought a case of
honey from us. She used one section for tea,
and put the rest in the cellar for safe keeping,
to be only used upon state occasions. Some
time afterward company came unexpectedly,
and as she knew they were very fond of honey
she went to the cellar for a section, thinking
as she went how fortunate she was in having
such nice honey to offer them. You can
imagine how she felt on finding her honey
utterly ruined, not much like the beautiful
white honey she had put there. The cellar
was damp — the very worst place she could
have possibly put it ; and yet it is a very
common thing for people who do not know
any better to put honey in the cellar. They
naturally think it a nice, cool place for it, not
knowing that the hottest and driest place you
can find is the best in which to keep honey.

A place in the kitchen near the cook stove
is an ideal spot in which to keep it. If kept
there long enough the honey will string from
the knife when it is cut, and the flavour will
he uninjured. Neither will you be likely to
have any trouble with the honey candying
in the comb, as it may do if kept in a cold
though dry place.

Just the other day a lady telephoned me to
know what she should do with her honey that
had candied in the comb. I told her the only
thing she could do was to melt it up and use
it as extracted honey ; gave instructions as to
how she could do it, saying, "Put the honey
in a dish or jar, set it in hot water, but be
careful not to let it get too hot, as that would
spoil the flavour. When it is all melted set it
aside to cool. When cool remove the cake of
wax which has risen to the top, and the honey is
ready for use. After washing the honey off
put the wax in a dish with some hot water,
and melt it over again, and when it is cool
you will have a nice cake of wax.''

If the public knew more about taking care
of honey it might be that they would use
more of it. As it is, if they spoil the honey
by not taking the right care of it, they are not
likely to blame themselves for it, but think
they have been cheated by having an inferior
article palmed off on them, and they make up
their minds that they will not again invest
much in honey right away. And they may be
honest in it, too, as they do not know any
better.

The kitchen will do very well for a small
lot, but if a large quantity has to be stored,
some place else must be provided for it. An
attic or a garret is a suitable place — one of
those attics on which the sun beats down so
fiercely in the summer-time that it makes it
so hot that you feel as if you could scarcely
breathe, that is the place for your honey.
There it will thoroughly ripen.

It may not be generally known, but honey
that has been kept for a sufficient length of
time in such a hot place will be able to stand
the freezing of the severest winter without the
comb cracking, as it usually does when
frozen.

After the thorough ripening the honey gets
by being kept as above, it never granulates,
and perhaps it is the granulating that cracks
the comb. Some have special rooms made as
honey-room?, with dark walls and roofs to
attract the rays of the sun.

In piling up your supers of honey in such
rooms, or in the attic, it is a good thing to put
small blocks between them at the corners,
making a space of about an inch between the
supers for a free circulation of air to pass
through. — Emma M. Wilson, in American
Bee Journal.

(ftt^rip and Jj^fys.

[2997.J Suspected Foul Brood. — I am
sending a piece of comb which I suspect is
affected with foul brood, and shall be obliged
for reply in B.B.J., to which paper I am a
yearly subscriber. I have three stocks of beea
in frame-hives, and two of them seem perfectly
healthy, all brood having hatched out when
examined on October 23 (that being the finest
day since I got the hives back from the
moors). The stock in question had two
frames like sample sent. I have removed all
frames, and have given six from my other two
stocks to winter on, which the bees cover well
(in fact, they are crowded). I have put
naphthaline in each hive, and shall give in a day
or two a 2-lb. cake of medicated candy to each
stock. I therefore ask : 1. Have I treated the
supposed diseased stock rightly, or would you
advise destroying the lot now ? 2. If disease
is not of long standing can I save stock in
early spring by treating according to "Guide
Book '' ? I also enclose two dead bees for
inspection and your opinion of the same. I
suspected this stock as being queenless by the
presence of drones, and on examination found
the crushed bee between shoulder of frame
and body box which I thought was the queen.
I then purchased a cast and united them on
October 27, and to-day, the 31st, found the
full-sized bee which I think is a queen cast
out and several drones. The queen introduced

Nov. 13, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

459

is much larger than the one sent. — D.
Raisbeck, Yorks, October 31.

Reply. — 1. We find traces of foul brood of
old standing in comb sent, consequently you
did quite right in getting the bees on to new
and healthy combs as stated. After the
remedial measures adopted, it will be ad-
visable to keep a sharp look-out in spring —
when brood will be hatching — for any trace of
disease visible, but we would give the stock a
chance to recover itself. 2. You need only
bear in mind that it is not a recent outbreak
of the disease, and be careful in spring as
advised.

[2998.] Honey and Eczema. — I suffer from
a form of eczema which until now has never
appeared on my limbs in scales larger than a
split pea. It has recently, however, developed
considerably, and that since I took to eating
honey in rather large quantities. Is it likely
that honey is the cause 1 Perhaps some medical
reader might comment — " Westerner,"
Jersey, November 10.

Reply. — We shall be glad to have a com-
petent opinion on the above. For ourselves,
however — and armed with the exceptional
opportunities for hearing of such things — we
have no hesitation in declaring our conviction
that "eczema" in no form whatever will
result from eating honey.

[2999] Deferred Breeding after Queen Intro-
duction. — Will you kindly give me your
opinion on the following ? On September 24
I introduced an imported Italian queen to a
black stock after taking away the old queen.
On examination a week later I found she had
laid a small patch of eggs ; so, concluding all
was well, I packed them down for winter.
Seeing however, last week, that in my other
two hives (both young queens) the bees were
carrying in pollen freely, while the bee3 of the
hive in question — which, with the imported
queen, is the strongest stock I have — were not,
1 examined them to see if the queen was all
right. I found no eggs or brood in any form,
but the queen was there and seemed lively
enough ; so I came to the conclusion that the
patch of eggs I saw were all she had laid,
seeing that, four weeks later, there was no
brood, neither have I seen any Italian workers
yet. 1. Am I right ? 2. This queen was
purchased direct from Malan Bros. Are they
known as reliable dealers, and do you think I
can depend on this queen for next year ? —
W. H. S., Nottingham, November 10.

Reply. — 1. Probably you are quite right,
but it does not follow that the Italian queen
is any the worsa for the fact. You had better
defer judging till next spring, when the Italian
may possibly resume the maternal work of
egg- laying freely, and perchance shoot ahead
of the young ones. 2. We consider the firm
referred to quite reliable.

[3000.] Wintering Bees .' Amount of Stores
Needed. — As this is my first season at bee-

keeping, I shall be very much obliged to you
if you will give me your advice on the fol-
lowing point through the B.B.J. I fed my
stock (as directed in the " Guide Book ") up to
September 28, and, having then to go from
home, I had to discontinue feeding, and there-
fore packed up the hive for winter on that
date. The bees were then on nine frames,
each being about half filled with sealed stores.

1. Do you think this sufficient food, or would
you advise me to open up the hive again and
give some soft candy ? 2. I read in the " Guide
Book " that eight frames are sufficient for
wintering on, but as I was stung three times
in brushing off the bees from the tenth frame
I relinquished any further operations. Did i
do right ?— C. G. S., South Norwood, Nov. 10,

Reply. — 1. " Nine frames half filled with
sealed stores " will be more than ample food
for winter, so there will be no need for candy.

2. Quite right. It is best to remove any
superfluous frames not covered by bees when
" winter packing," but no harm will result
from what you did.

LECTURES ON BEES.

TECHNICAL EDUCATION AT THE PEOPLE'S
PALACE.

Referring to the lectures by Miss Hall,
Curator of the Stepney Borough Museum, that
lady writes as follows : —

" I thought the query contained in the
enclosed letter might be interesting for your
journal so send it on.

"I am just in the midst of my bee cam-
paign with the elementary schools. This year
we have Messrs. James Lee & Son's excellent
hive in the Winter Garden at the People's
Palace, and I am getting a great many classes
from the schools."

Dear Madam, — I am taking the liberty of
asking for some informating which I think you
may, perhaps, be kind enough to supply if I
am not trespassing too seriously upon your
time, which is, doubtless, valuable.

My uncle, the Rector of a parish near
Reading, has kept bees for several years, and
is deeply interested in them. It would, there-
fore, be a great pleasure to me if I could obtain
the information he is in search of. He says :
— " 1 do not suppose anything is likely to take
you to the People's Palace any day between
this and October 3, and act as eyes and ears
for me to discover whether Miss Hall, in her
lectures on the ' Honey Bee and its Allies,'
exhibits any specimens of bees that make their
nests in the sand, with specimens of their
nests ? In the neighbourhood of Colwich
(between it and Stafford), close to Milford
Station, on Cannon Chase, I came upon some
hundreds of bees, apparently sand-dwellera —
to judge by the number of little holes in the
sand — but possibly attracted by the heather.
The weather forbada my carrying out a wish
to go thither again with trowel, &c, to try to

460

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 13, 1902.

get specimens of their cells, for which I might
have had to dig between 1 ft. and 3 ft. The
first time I saw them. I was not free to make
an examination. I have in vain tried in
Wolverhampton, Stafford, and Reading lib-
raries to get any material information. Seeing
in the Stayidard a notice of Miss Hall's lectures
1 have wondered if I could get from her the
information I wish.''

Being, unfortunately, prevented from attend-
ing your lectures I have copied out the extract
in full, because my own ignorance on the sub-
ject is so great that I am not even sure what
it is he wishes to know, but imagine he wants
to discover whether the bees he saw were
really sand-dwellers, and what sort of nests
sand-dwelling 'bees would make. — B. G. H.,
West Kensington.

[Replying to the question on wild bees, we
have no doubt of their belonging to a variety
of the Andrena species, commonly known as
" sand bees.'' The reverend gentleman
interested would no doubt obtain fuller
information from the papers on " Our Wild
Bees," by Mr. F. W. L. Sladen, which appeared
in our pages some time ago. — Eds.]

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 bt attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column

*%* Referring to bee-keeping near Liverpool,
Mr. Geo Rose, Great Charlotte-3treet,
Liverpool, writes : — " If your correspondent
Mr. Geldard will make an appointment
and give me a call I shall be only too glad
to talk over with him the districts favour-
able to bee-keeping round about Liverpool.
I hope you will also kindly acquit us
Liverpool bee-men of want of courtesy in
not coming forward to oblige Mr. G.,
because I have myself previously made this
offer to him ; it is thus difficult to see how
much more we can do."

D. L. (Dean). — Late Pollen-carrying. — 1.
The busy pollen-carrying noticed at this
late season indicates that some brood-
rearing is going on in the hive, owing no
doubt to having introduced a prolific
Italian queen five weeks ago. 2. Italian
bees — if pure — are less inclined to sting
than the ordinary brown or native variety.

M. D. (Leamington). — Bee-heaping as a Busi-
ness.— Unless as an adjunct to some other
business, or as a branch of the bee-appliance
trade, it is not advisable to rely on bee-
keeping. The results in honey production
are too uncertain in this country. On the

other hand we consider it a valuable addition
to the business of a small farmer.

Fairplat (Alnwick). — The Newcastle Ex-
hibition.— We have had several adverse
comments from bee-keepers on the manage-
ment of the last show held in the same
town, and we cordially sympathise with
exhibitors if they have been unfairly
treated ; but when correspondents write
anonymously, or withhold their names from
publication, we cannot do more than say that
it is free to all who consider themselves un-
justly dealt with at the former show to give
the forthcoming one the " wide berth " that
" Fairplay " suggests. The other exhibitors
whose names are given will, no doubt, use
their own discretion without any advice
from us. The question of "bad" or "good"
management is a very complex one, and
without full details on both sides of the
case it would be manifestly unfair for us to
take the steps our anonymous correspondent
thinks desirable.

W. Badcock (Ossett). — Bee Associations and
Insurance for Bee-keepers. — It is not abso-
lutely necessary to join an association in
order to take advantage of the insurance
scheme. Non-members have, however, to
pay an extra 6d. in addition to the usual
premium ; and it is thus advantageous to
join your county B.K.A. Failing this,
apply to Mr. E. H. Young, Sec. B.B.K.A.,
12, Hanover-square, London.

Suspected Combs.

Special Notice to correspondents sending queries on
" Foul brood."

We urgently request that all letters sent with sample's
of suspected comb be put outside the box or tin containing
the sample. Also that no more than a couple of squan
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"
not " Manager."

M. S. (St. Ives). — The cells contain nothing
worse than pollen, but as the comb is black
and old it badly needs renewing.

C. E. P. (Glani.). — Although the cappings of
sealed cells in sample of old comb (where all
trace of brood has dried up and disappeared)
have a very suspicious look, we find no trace
of disease therein. The dead brood in
newer sample of comb is " chilled " only.

Money Samples.
0. M. (Jersey). — The light- coloured sample is
from mixed sources, mostly clover, but it is
rapidly granulating, and would need to be
slightly warmed in hot water to remove the
granules and cloudiness before being fit for
show-bench. Quality is good. The other
sample (medium colour) has some heather
honey in it, but the quality is deteriorated
by it showing signs of fermentation.

Some Queries (not urgent) are held over till
next week.

Nov. 20, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

461

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

ITS RELATION TO COUKTT ASSOCIATIONS.

Reverting once more to the recent interest-
ing and useful Conference of Representatives
of County Associations with the Council of
the B.B.K.A. we wish to draw careful con-
sideration to one point of great importance
mentioned by at least one delegate. This is,
the advantages derived by County Associa-
tions from their connection wiih the central
body. From time to time the question has
been asked " Whether a County Association
receives good value for its affiliation-fee of
one guinea?'' Various replies have been
made to the inquiry. Very proper stress has
been laid upon the assistance rendered to
County shows by (1) the appointment of
fully-qualified judges through the Council ;
(2) the granting of medals and certificates to
the most distinguished exhibitors ; (3) the
Bkilled examination of all sorts of new
appliances, and reports thereon ; (4) advice
on matters of detail and difficulty in par-
ticular cases. While one or more of these
four points will have weight with different
Associations, we desire now to direct special
attention to four other reasons for a cordial
and close connection between the B.B.K.A.
and its affiliated institutions. If, in doing so,
we have to appeal from parochial and pro-
vincial to wider views we believe we shall
have from our readers a fair and sympathetic
consideration of our theses.

These, briefly put, are the following : —
First, experience has shown that, if sound
and general progress is to be made in any
direction, it is necessary that those interested
in a specific subject should secure a central
Council of persons, qualified by knowledge and
practical acquaintance with affairs, to act as
an executive body. There will be very varied
matters requiring to be dealt with, but wise
and resolute courses of action can only be
decided upon and carried out by a combina-
tion of individuals in whom some measure of
authority is inherent. Such a body will, in
most instances, be at first self-constituted ;
but, after a time, if its work has received more
or less public approval, and if it is representa-
tive of widely-spread opinions, it will gather
to itself, of right, greater and more definite
power.

/Secondly, so soon as the influence and work
of such a central Council have gained the
confidence of the largely scattered individuals
interested in the particular subject or pursuit,
further progress will largely depend on the
rallying round it of local Associations whose
members desire the spread of information and
of the best modes of procedure. As our French
neighbours say, *' solidarity '' becomes of great

importance. The old fable of the bundle of
sticks points its everlastingly true moral, and
its applicability to the matter in hand needs
no enforcement.

The two propositions we have thus far
laid down are of general force. Those which
we are now going to state are more closely
restricted to the subject of our present article,
but are too often overlooked.

Thirdly, ther, it becomes every year more
essential, for the security of apiculture, as a
science and an art, that there should be a central
authority capable of conducting examinations,
and supplying the country with certificated
experts, to give sound teaching, advice, and
help of various kinds to bee-keepers. The
work already accomplished in these directions
by the B.B.K.A. has been too little recognised
hitherto ; but the practical benefits arising
from it are immense. We may safely say that
it has re volui ionised bee-keeping in this
country, and any Association which fails to
keep this point before itself, either knows
little of what has been, and is being, done by
the Council, or shows little gratitude for
being called into existence. In the future
this branch of the central body's labours will
have yet larger and more striking results, in
view of the countenance and assistance given
by County Councils to our County Associa-
tions.

Fourthly, in the general interests of bee-
keeping it is essential that adequate support
should be given to the head Association, which,
from its position and constitution, is the only
body possessed of means to get, in the interests
of apiculture, into touch with the Board of
Agriculture, the Councils of great Agricultural
and horticultural /Societies, and such trade
Associations as connect themselves with the pro-
duction, sale, and uses of honey.

This last point, as regards the Board of Agri-
culture, is of prime importance in view of future
steps in relation to foul brood. Before any
compulsory measures can be taken, the above
Department must be interested, influenced,
and set in motion, and the only body qualified
for securing these ends is the B.B K A.,
strongly backed by its affiliated Associations.

No small amount of most valuable work has
been done all over the country in the above
directions by the B B.K.A. The negotiations
for space for exhibits at shows ; the drawing up
of schedules ; the appointment of well-qualified
judges ; the granting of prizes, medals, and
certificates ; the attendance of members of the
Council at the great shows to give information
and all kinds of help to exhibitors aud visitors
— all these are works of no very conspicuous
kind, but of far-reaching importance to the
advance and prosperity of boe- keeping. We
have not exhausted the subject, but we trust
that, without holding a brief for the B.B K. A.,
what we have urged will satisfy County Asso-
ciations that their interests are bound up in
the stability and hearty support of the central
Association.

462

THE BEITISH BEE JOUENAL.

[Nov. 20, 1902.

©bttuar)?.

THE LATE DR. ANGELO DUBINI.

It is with sincere regret that we have to
record the death of another eminent veteran
bee-keeper. Dr. Angelo Dubini, of Milan,
Italy, who has passed away at the ripe age of
eighty-eight years, was for forty years in
practice as a physician, and was for most of
that time attached to the Grand Hospital of
Milan. During his medical career he attained
considerable distinction, and published several
important works which established his medical
reputation. He retired from a busy medical
practice in 1878, but even in his retirement he
could not lead an idle life, and from that time
he devoted himself to bee-keeping and the
advancement of modern methods of bee-
management. He was a most indefatigable
worker, and advocate of the movable- frame
hive, which he used at his villa apiary at
Cassano Magnago, about an hour's ride from
Milan. He possessed a most fertile brain, and
while a clever theorist, was also thoroughly
practical, and showed wonderful ingenuity in
the number of improvements in bee-appliances
that he invented. The hive he used was a
compromise between our frame-hive and the
Italian, the frames being taken out with tongs
from behind when supers were on, and at
other times lifted out from the top, as in the
hives used in this country.

In 1868 L'Apicoltore was established, Dr.
Dubini being one of its founders. He has been
a regular contributor to its pages from that
time ; his articles were ably written, and, being
conversant with many languages, his monthly
reviews of the different foreign bee-papers
were of considerable merit, for he possessed a
happy knack of giving the gist or substance of
a long article in very few lines. He was the
author of " L'Ape e il suo governo," a work of
688 pages, and of considerable importance,
which he brought out in 1881, giving all the
best information up to that time collected
from English, French, German, and other
works. At that time great strides were being
made in bee-keeping knowledge, and he found
it necessary, in 1886, to publish an appendix
to the above work, entitled, " Appendice
all' opera del Oav. Dot. Angelo Dubini, L'Ape
e il suo governo," which contained information
up to date of publication, and such as was not
contained in the former work.

Since our first meetiDg with Dr. Dubini at
Milan in 1885, we have been in frequent
correspondence with him, and have met him
on several occasions, always finding him most
genial and agreeable, and willing to discuss
his favourite pursuit. His loss will be felt not
only by Italian bee-keepers but by all who
have had the pleasure of knowing him, either
personally or through his writings.

[The above obituary notice — written by our
Senior Editor— derives additional interest from
Mr. Cowan's intimate personal acquaintance
with the late Dr. Dubini.— W. B. C.J

(&0TmpVl&tMt

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

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

[4949.] The late mild open weather has
enabled the bees to forage for pollen, and,
during the last few days, for honey also, for
I have noticed them working on the ivy-
bloom. Where stores are short a cake of
candy may be given at any time over the
feed-hole in first quilt, but care must be
taken to cover down with warm material to
prevent cold draughts in brood-chambers. The
early date at which breeding almost ceased
this season seems to have alarmed many bee-
keepers. I have mjself had inquiries for a
reason why this should be, and i could only
attribute it to the weather, season, crops, or
the low temperature, as probable causes. No
doubt others, along with myself, were agree-
ably surprised when packing down for winter
to find their colonies in such a populous state.
This was especially noticeable when placing
the strips of wood on frame-tops to form the
winter passages. This operation I generally
defer till later in the seasoD, when the bees
have clustered themselves for winter ; when this
condition is reached the quilt is rolled back,
and in laying on the strips a glance tells the
strength of colony, which is then marked
strong or fair as the case may be, and the
whole occupies only half a minute or so. The
cake of candy is given some time during the
winter months as required. The card in each
hive has the condition of the colony marked
on it when the overhaul is made in September
along with requirements as regards food.

Mice in Hives and on Tops of Skeps. —
These should be trapped or caught. If " puss "
is employed on the job and does it well, it
will be a short shrift for the mice in the
future, for every time the bee-keeper is among
the hives puss will be near, ready to pounce
on the first mouse that moves ; at least, that is
my experience.

Price of Honey. — Referring to Mr. Gods-
land's remarks on page 446, I can assure him
that it was no imaginary case of the "little
lumps.'' I have had experience of the matter

Nov. 20, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

463

on more than one occasion. First, let me say
lhat I referred to no particular parcel of
honey as advertised in B.B.J., but as a
general condition of things. When one
bee-keeper having secured a market, pur-
chases the whole of another bee-keeper's
sections, I say and maintain that there are
three grades of quality, and therefore three
grades in market value. If the sections were
sold direct to the retailer at 6s. per dozen it
would be far more advantageous to the pur-
chaser than if sold to another bee-keeper to seil
again to the retailer. Mr. Godsland's 16-oz.
sections are " graded " sections, for weight at
least, and would probably contain twc -thirds
first-grade quality ; this would enhance the
value of the parcel. Thus my remark near the
close of the paragraph on " Prices of Honey,"
(page 425), of one bee-keeper taking advan-
tage of a brother in the craft, expresses my
opinion of the transaction, and I have received
private letters thanking me for putting the
matter fairly before B.B.J, readers. There is
one other risk which I did not mention in my
" Notes '' on page 425 — i.e., in selling honey
there are " bad debts " to guard against. I
myself have had more than one heavy loss in
having to accept a small "dividend" in lieu
of 20a. in the pound. In one case I did not
get a fraction for considerably over £20
worth of honey sent carriage paid.

Metal Dividers in Sectional Supers. — As
my apiaries are worked almost exclusively for
section honey I wish to say in reply to remarks
ac the Conference in Jermyn-street, that I
have discarded every wood-divider from my
stock of appliances and use metal dividers
only — some slotted, others plain. Yet, year
after year I experience no difficulty in getting
bees to take to supers as soon as they are
placed in the hives. Some bee-keepers seem
to be so eager to get the bees at work in
sections that they place them on the hives
ten days or a fortnight too early. A neigh-
bour remarked to me last spring, " I have got
all my sections on ; how are you getting on
with yours/" I replied I had not even
thought of putting on a single rack of sections
at the time and should not do so for a fort-
night. The result was every stock of my
friend's bees swarmed. I do not say that the
3warming resulted entirely from early supering,
but the probabilities are that it conduced to
the swarming.

Crown-boards for Hives. — The crown-board
of twenty yeaTS ago is suggested as likely to
arise, pbtenix-like, from its ashes, and again
take its place in the hive. The American
plan of using flat roofs to their hives for the
winter repository may suit their climate and
system, but as British bee-keepers all winter
their bees out of doors, the use of a board only
above frames would, in my opinion, weed out
all but the strong colonies in the apiary —
another example of the survival of the fittest.
Those " top bars " are, I see, again to the fore.
Past volumes of the B.B.J. bear witness that

top bars of 1x6 in. to 1| in. wide tend to pre-
vent brace -combs, and that bees do not often,
build or bulge the face of the comb beyond
the width of these top bars; also that 1 here
are no brace-c<mbs built and but very little
propolis used where these wider top bars are
in use. I have combs as flat as a board in
these frame?, which I have had in use many
years. Surely there is "nothing new under
the sun " ! — W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury,

WANTED, A FRAME.

[4950.] I was pleased to notice by the
report of the recent B.B.K.A. conversazione
(from which I regret I was absent) that the
subject of the construction of frames cropped
up during the discussion on brace-combs. As
one who has for several years been advocating
a better frame, perhaps I may be allowed to
say a few words on the matter. And it may
not be altogether out of place to remark that
at the conversazione held in February last I
had in my bag a sample frame, such as I shall
here refer to, and upon which I was wishful
of raising discussion, but as "Pil Garlick"
had already had two "innings" — swarm-
catcher and queen cage — the frame never had
a chance of having the sleep rubbed out of its
eyes.

Always being given to the " weighing up "
of thinge, and taking very little for granted, I
commenced my bee-keeping with £-in. top
bars, deeming §-in. too slight. The appliance
maker sent them with a saw cut through the
centre, which, to my mind, so weakened them
that I substituted solid tops of my own
make. Frame- making, however, with the aid
of hand-saw and plane, proved too tedious a
job, and eventually I reverted to the stan-
dard f-in. top bar.

When the B.B.K.A. selected a certain size
of frame as its " standard," it also fixed upon
the dimensions of the material composing it.
As to whether or not a mistake was made
when the size of the frame was fixed I do not
propose to deal, but it is absolutely certain
that a big mistake was made in fixing upon a
top bar of i in. in thickness, side bars i in.
thick, and a bottom bar of & in. substance, all
being gin. wide. Manufacturers have all
departed from these sizes, so far as regards
side and bottom bars ; the original top bar
only is left as settled by the Committee, and
this has been worsened by the introduction
of a saw-cut through it in which to fix the
foundation. Nastiest of all nasty methods of
foundation fixing, the inventor (?) of "the saw-
cut ought to be hung, drawn, and quartered !
Not only has it so weakened an already weak
top-bar that the two sides of it rarely stand
level, but it has done more, I believe, than
anything else to encourage the propagation of
the wax -moth.

Long ago I urged upon friend Lee the desir-
ability of a wider and thicker top-bar; and

464

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 20, 1902.

the matter has been under discussion in the
editorial sanctum of the B.B.J. Whilst Mr.
Lee admitted the desirability of something
wider, he would not countenance extra thick-
ness ; Mr. Carr was favourably inclined to-
wards a thicker bar, but would not hear of a
wider one. In my own apiary, I have for
some years been testing the relative merits of
top-bars of all widths and thicknesses, and I
have had under purview bars £ in., 1 in.,
1-iV in., H in., 1| in. wide, and of all thick-
nesses, from | in. to t in., and whilst I like
best of all these 1| in. by i in., I realise that
the very thick top- bar restricts the comb space
too much in a frame of " standard " size. As
a result, I have settled upon a top bar 1| in.
by not less than f in., the ends reduced to
£ in. by | in., so as not to interfere with the
" metal ends " in universal use ; side bars,
i in. by T5 in., and bottom bar | in. by £ in.
Personally, I want the bottom bar the same
width as the side bars, but the majority of
appliance dealers send them out narrower —
which is, I think, a mistake.

Now, it may be asked, what advantages
accrue from the use of this stouter and more
expensive frame ? To any one propounding
that query I would say, give it a trial for one
season, and if you do not then approve of it,
I will change all combs in such frames for
equally good combs in frames with the
" standard " top-bar. This may be thought
a sly move to get rid of something I do not
want, but I will guarantee that the exchanges
would be few and far between. The thicker
and wider top-bar will enable one to have all
frame tops in the hive in the same plane ; it
will prevent to a surprising extent the daubing
in of propolis ; it will almost entirely prevent
brace-comb, and materially reduce the need
for the use of excluder zinc between brood
nest and supers.

And then we come to the question of
foundation fixing. The saw- cut is out of
court. " I'll have none of it." What, then ?
At one time I was favourably inclined towards
groove and wedge (Abbott's method), but the
wedges will give way unless groove and thick-
ness of foundation are correctly adjusted. I
have given that up. What, then ? The old-
fashioned plan of running molten wax down
each side of a sheet of foundation held up
against a solid top bar is fairly satisfactory,
but not quite so. What, then ? If all frames
were wired — and if only every bee-keeper
realised the advantages of wired frames, the
slight extra trouble would not be found worthy
of consideration — as they should be when full
sheets of foundation are used, no further aid
to fixing would be necessary, but as some will
not " wire," and as some may wish at times to
employ starters only, I have fixed upon a plain
groove & in. by £ in. cut in the centre of the
underside of the top bar, as, all things con-
sidered, the best method ; it is only necessary
after placing the foundation in the groove to
melt up a little wax in a teaspoon held over

the lamp or gas, and run this down on each
side of the sheet. If that foundation falls out
you can kick yourself, as it will be your own
fault, always provided that the foundation is
what it should be, for I am sorry to say there
is still bad foundation on the market, of which
more anon.

Have I made out a case for a change 1 It is
tedious work making frames, even although I
have a 6-in. circular saw mounted on my
lathe (with which I can slice up If -in.
mahogany without undue fatigue), but I'm
waitin', oh ! I'm waitin', for the progressive
manufacturer who'll put my pet frame on the
market and thereby earn the gratitude of — H.
Edwards, Shrubs Sill Cottage, Sunningdale,
November 11.

PS. — If no manufacturer will put out such
a frame, will those who feel the need of it, or
would like to give it a trial, communicate with
me. If there is sufficient call for them I will
order a quantity in time for next season's use.

THE HONEY SHOWS OF 1902.

[4951. J Referring to Mr. Woodley's " Notes
by the Way " (4932, page 444), I notice that
in " Wax, &c, Classes," he specially refers to
" mead, honey-vinegar, &c.,'' and states that
" the same old stuff is staged year after year,
&c.'' I beg to inform him that the mead and
honey-vinegar exhibited by myself at the late
Dairy Show was made by myself during the
year 1901. I suppose he imagines it is "the
same old stuff" because the bottles in which it
was shown were the same in shape as those I
always use in exhibiting mead and vinegar.
He says, " The awards in meid and vinegar
classes are given to mixtures which are bright
and clear.'' How would he have them go 1
Would he like to see an inch of sediment in
each bottle 1 I should think awards would go
to mead and vinegar that tastes as good as it
looks.

Mr. Woodley also mentions the " wax
classes." Perhaps Mr. John Berry will have
a word to say on this subject. There was a
good deal of comment at the recent shows on
wax and honey merchants competing at the
late exhibition — almost as much as there was
at the Grocers' Exhibition on the fact of Mr.
Woodley, jun., winning in several classes with
honey, wax, &c.

I am afraid this buying and selling of
bee-produce for exhibition purposes will do
no good to the craft. Several individuals have
remarked to me that " Bee-keepers are at the
' Grocers' ' on sufferance only," so I suppose it
is best to let sleeping dogs lie.

Perhaps a word on the question of bees on
" trophies" may not be out of place, especially
as I thought one exhibit at the " Grocers' "
should have been disqualified as a case of
cruelty to bees on the Bhow-bench. I should
like to see it distinctly stated in prize
schedules of future shows whether live bees

Nov. 20, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

465

are to be allowed on " trophies " or not, so
that exhibitors may know what to do in the
matter. — H. W. Seymour, Market-place,
Henley-on-Thames, November 17.

EXPERTS AND FOUL BROOD.

A CASE IN POINT.

[4952.] I was struck with a remark made
by Colonel Walker at the recent Conference
of County Representatives about " the ob-
jection prevailing amongst some bee-keepers
against having their apiaries visited by an ex-
pert for fear of infection." This reminds me
of a case that happened in our county some
years since. I wrote a certain Rev. Canon
(alas ! now no more) who owned forty hives, if
he would like to have the experts call when in
his neighbourhood. '' No ! " he wrote ; he was
afraid of infection, which " may easily be
brought in the hair of his head.'' The expert,
however, did call, just for a short bee-chat,
and before he left the Rev. Canon allowed one
stock — which was rather weak — to be
examined, and, much to his surprise, the ex-
pert certified the stock as " badly diseased.''
Others were then examined, but no further
disease was discovered ; and thus the expert's
visit, instead of bringing infection, was the
means of preventing a bad outbreak of foul
brood. In conclusion, I may add that after
the Canon's death a healthy apiary was dis-
posed of. May not the same thing happen to
others as well as to our late member? —
R. Godson, Hon. Sec. Lines B.K.A.

CARBOLIC ACID FOR FOUL BROOD.

RE-QUEENING FOR THE HEATHER HARVEST.

[4953.] Referring to the article headed
" Notes from The Lake District," on page 453,
your correspondent, " Heather Honey," makes
a charge against " more than one expert " of
using strong carbolic acid as a remedy for
foul brood.

Having myself acted as expert more than
once for the said district, may I be allowed
to say I have never used crude carbolic acid,
and have never advised its use4? I certainly
have visited one apiary where it had been
used by two bee-keepers, neither of whom
held a certificate, though they are first-class
practical bee-men. I pointed out the mistake
made in using crude carbolic, the effects of
which they could see for themselves. The
practice, however, ought to be stopped, and its
bad effect explained, if it really is as " Heather
Honey" says. I should advise your corre-
spondent to report his experience to the
Committee of tne Lancashire Bee-keepers'
Association, and let them deal with it.

The practice of re-queening stocks before
sending them to the moors is a common one
ere, and " Heather Honey " cannot do better

than follow it up. By re-queening about
fourteen days before the heather comes into
bloom with a young fertile queen, and having at
that time the hive full of bees, with brood-
nest about half full of brood, and the other
half full of stores, one is well and fully
prepared for securing a good harvest of heather
honey. — Luke Collinge, Turpin Green,
Leyland, November 15.

A BEE EXPERIENCE.

[4954.] I think the following experience
may be of interest — and, perhaps, of use — to
some of the more venturesome bee-keepers.
On the 31st ult. I had occasion to disturb one
of my hives ; the day being cold, the bees only
flew a short way, and one settled on my face,
entered my ear, and got right inside, setting
up a tremendous buzzing, the sensation being
awful. Finding the bee beyond my reach, in
trying to get it out with my fingers, I hurried
to the doctor, who quickly got the bee out in
pieces with the help of a syringe and hot
water. The noise, however, seemed to con-
tinue for hours after the bee had been re-
moved, and I am still slightly deaf in that ear.
It wa?, I suppose, an unusual occurrence, and
it any of your readers have had a similar ex-
perience they have my heartfelt sympathy. I
like to hear the hum of my bees, but certainly
do not like them inside my ear. — C. Morris,
Stan ford-le- Hope.

A LEICESTER ECHO.

[4955.] I notice in B.B.J, of November 6
that Mr. Woodley mentions having received
letters commenting on the unfairness of
appliance manufacturers in competing with
ordinary bee-keepers in the honey and wax
classes. I am entirely in sympathy with Mr.
Woodley's correspondents. In saying this I
do not necessarily infer that the exhibits in
question are not the produce of the exhibitors'
own bees, but it looks bad, and I have seen
sections staged by manufacturers in com-
petition so immensely superior to the rest
shown as to cause me instinctively to wonder,
"From how many thousands were these
selected ? " Not only this, but it is, to use a
mild expression, grasping, not to say mean,
for a large appliance-maker who is able to
show scores of appliances, and to gratify
to the full his lust for honours, to enter
the lists in the classes which should be
reserved for his customers. It is not to be
wondered at if small bee-keepers do transfer
their custom to non-exhibiting manufacturers,
as, when you see large firms taking prizes or
honourable mentions in about 50 per cent, of
the classes, the odds are just a trifle too long
for ordinary showmen. In penning these few
lines, kindly note that I am not " a dis-
appointed exhibitor," as it has never been my

466

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 20, 1902.

luck (?) to be thrown into competition with
the gentlemen concerned.

With regard to the condition of bees I
endorse what others say about scarcity of
brood this autumn. Stores were also short
here.— Granite Grey, Leicestershire, Nov. 12.

BEE HIVES IN BATTLE.

SOME HISTORICAL REMINISCENCES.

Referring to the important part played by
bees in the warfare of bjgone ages, the
Standard in a recent issue gives some his-
torical reminiscences which will be read with
special interest by bee-keepers of to-day. It
says : —

One of the quaintest developments of
mediaeval warfare was revived in Brittany the
other day when a party of peasants, defending
a Roman Catholic school which the Govern-
ment had ordered to be closed, used hives of
bees as missiles against the troops. The idea
seems to have originated in our own island
of Great Britain, when somewhere about
908 a.d., a host of Danes and Norwegian?,
coming from Ireland, laid siege to Chester.
The English in this city appealed in vain to
their overlord, Ethelred of Mercia and his
heroic wife Ethelfleda, the daughter of Alfred
the Great. Ethelred, sick of mortal illness,
could do nothiDg ; and Ethelfleda herself
could only offer good advice. Under Hinga-
mund, their leader, the Danes set up hurdles
beneath the city walls, and, thus protected,
began to undermine the fortifications. When
the English hurled down rocks upon their
heads the invaders strengthened their hurdles
by massive posts. The English retaliated by
pouring down boiling mead and water, and
when the Danes, in reply, covered their
hurdles with hides, the .English, as a last
resort, gathered all the bee-hives of the city
aDd flung them down upon their foes.
This manoeuvre was successful. " The Danes,"
says the old Irish chronicle, " were pre-
vented from moving their hands or their
legs owing to the number of the bees
that stung them,'' and, in despair, they
abandoned the siege. The next use of
bee-hives in mediaeval warfare occurs some
thirty years later, in the days when Otto the
Great was layiDg the foundation of the Ger-
man Empire, in the lifetime of his first wife,
the Euglish Edith, who, singularly enough, was
herself the niece of Ethelfleda of Mercia, men-
tioned above, and granddaughter of our Eng-
lish Alfred the Great. Somewhere about 940
a.d., Ghiselbert, Duke of Lorraine, revolted
against King Otto, who was powerless to
crush him till, assisted by one of Ghiselbert's
own followers, Immo, the Ulysses of the age,
who had incurred his lord's anger by craftily
obtaining possession of a herd of swine.
Ghiselbert, in wrath, laid siege to the strong-
hold in which his vassal lay, but was foiled by

Immo's craft. "Immo," writes the contem-
porary chronicler, is reported to have collected
a large number of bee-hives, and to have flung
them "out against the Duke's horsemen. As
the bees rushed out stinging the horses into
such madness that their riders could not con-
trol them, Immo, looking forth from the walls,
ordered his men to make a sally." The
stratagem was successful in Germany as it
had been in England thirty years earlier,
and Ghiselbert, discomfited, raised the siege,
declaring that if Immo had only been faithful
he could easily have conquered all Lorraine,
but, with Immo opposed to him, he could not
be victorious even if helped by all the other
people of the land.

A hundred and fifty yeara later, during the
First Crusade, the use of bee-hives in warfare
had permeated to the East. When Count
Raymond of Toulouse laid siege to the Saracen
stronghold of Marrab, some fifty miles from
Antioch, the contemporary chronicler, Ray-
mond's own chaplain, tells how, as the
Christians moved up their scaling ladders to
the walls, the Mohammedans repulsed them
by slinging from their military engines
" stones, and quarrels, and fire, and bolts, and
bee-hives witu their bees." This passage
suggests a development of the earlier practice
of merely dropping hives on the opponents'
heads. And a similar use of military engines
for slinging bee-hives is actually pictured in a
remarkable English MS. preserved at Oxford,
written in 1326-7 a.d. This venerable volume
which, wrapt up in its long and flowing velvet
cover, looks something like a baby-book in
swaddling clothes, contains — on two pages
fronting each other — towards the right, a
picture of a number of bee-hives placed on a
row, from one or two of which a few bees are
seen to be issuing angrily ; towards the left, a
mangonel placed ready in position for taking
up the bee-hives on the opposite leaf and
hurling them against the enemy. The same
MS., it may be noted, contains the earliest
pictorial representation of a cannon known to
archaeologists. But it is not from the pages of
mediyeval chronicles or on the illuminated
leaves of mediaeval MSS. that we gather our
fullest and best accounts of the use of bee-
hives in warfare. For this we must turn to
mediaeval romances — and first of all to the
famous English rhyming poem of "Richard
Coeur de Lion,'' written somewhere in the
early years of the fourteenth century, almost
at the very moment when the Christ Church
MS. referred to just above was being copied
and illuminated. In " Richard Coeur de
Lion '' we read how Richard I., King of
England, when starting on the Third Crusade,
had besides

Two hundred shippes well vitailed [victualled]
With force hawberks, swords, and knives
Thirteen shippes i-lade with hives
Of bees.

These hives, when he got to the Holy Land,
Richard caused to be hurled from his man-

Nov. 20, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

467

gonels againtt tbe city. The result mu3t
have surpassed his most sanguine expecta-
tions : —

The Saracens them armed all

And ran anon unto the wall ;

In white sheets they Kan hem wrien [wrap themselves)

For the biting of his flyen [i.e., flies = bees].

As the maDgonels continued plying their
fearsome missiles the Saracens become still
more terrified : —

And hid hem in a deep cellar
That none of hem might come near.
They saw King Richard was full fell
When his flyen bit so well.

This passage is curious, amongst other
things, as indicative of a fresh development
in the art of bee -hive warfare, for in it we find
bees used on the offensive by the attacking
party, and not merely confined to the de-
fenders.-

More remarkable still, however, is the
account given of the use of bee-hives in the
enormous fourteenth century poem of " Gode-
froid de Bouillon." This colossal work by
some unknown Belgian poet is about three
times as long as "Paradise Lost." Towards
the conclusion Godfrey of Bouillon and the
other Christians are represented as sieging
Acre, but to little purpose till at last Bishop
Adhemar, of Pay — the Aaron of the First
Crusade, as Godfrey was its Moses — tells his
comrades he has had a dream. In this
dream he received a miraculous indication of
the best means to be adopted for capturing
the stubborn fortress. The bees on this
occasion were to be collected not merely
in their native hives, but— with a skilful
allusion on the poet's part to the local in-
dustries of his own Low German home at
Namur and its neighbourhood — we are
reminded how at the brewing-season wasps
and bees and other stinging "flies" were
wont to swarm into the vessels in
which the sweet-savoured beer of the
Middle Ages was brewed. Let them
adapt this home truth to the exigencies
of foreign warfare, and, trusting not to
Nature's bee-hives alone, bottle up the insects
which restored their good wives' industry at
home for use against the enemy abroad. " All
round us," urged the Bishop, " there is an
abundance of bees. Let us take them and
hurl them from our engines over the city
walls. So shall we keep the Saracens off
while we are undermining their fortress.''
When the Bishop had thus spokeD, the poem
continues, "all the noble princes burst out
laughing, with a shout, ' Hurrah for the good
Bishop ! He has found it written in his
Psalter that we shall take Acre by bees."'
Tweuty-five mangonels accoidingly were
brought up, and all commenced slinging their
bee-hives at the same moment. The "flies,''
we are told, went swarming everywhere,
buzzing into the Saracens' ears, stinging them
on the eyes, and torturing them so that they
fled incontinently from the ramparts. Soon

there was neither woman nor child that dared
to leave their houses ; while the men were, if
possible, more terrified, crying out, " We
cannot endure it any longer ; these bees are
eatiDg U3 up. May Mahomet curse the man
who hurled them amongst us." The Sultan, in
despair, called for his great galley, and fled
away in terror to Ascalon by sea. The
Christians broke through the walls, and " in
this manner was taken and conquered that
noble city which is called Acre. Thus, by
bees was the city taken and subdued."

(f^rtys mi |l$fya.

[3001.] Bee - keeping for Profit. — Having
just read your "Guide Book," I have
become interested in the subject of bee-
keeping, and will be obliged for a little
information. I am a native of Somerset, and
have a good opportunity of putting up a
number of hives, but although taking up the
industry for pleasure, I have not sufficient
means to go in for it unless there is some
profit attached.

As a reader of the Bee Journal for a short
time and a mere novice, I have not yet seen it
stated what the average profit per annum
from a well-regulated hive ought to be ; hence
my questions.

Will you therefore kindly say: — l.Howmany
hives, properly managed, would be required to
yield a profit of £50 per annum, reckoning
the sale of honey produced, also proceeds from
sale of swarms, queens, stocks of bees, and
wax ? 2. Is there a ready market for first-
class comb-honey on a large scale, on the
London market, for instance ? 3. Would a
five weeks course of instruction be the quickest
and most economical way of gaining an insight
into the industry ? The course I refer to is
that given at a college in Reading.

I have put the questions in numerical order
to give as little trouble as possible in replying.
— S. C, London, November 14.

Reply. — 1. The question of how many hives
will bring in an average profit of £50 per
annum depends so much on the bee- keeper
himself and the district he works in thtt it
is impossible to lay down a reliable rule that
will work out well. The introductory chapter
in " Guide Book "' contains the gist of all (hat
can be imparted on the subject beyond a
perusal of the varyiug experiences of those
who are actively engaged in the pursuit as
recorded from time to time in our pages. We
may say, however, that it would be necessary
to keep a good number of hives if the business
is to include all the various branches of the
trade enumerated by our correspondent, and
we should advise his devoting himself to

468

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 20, 1902.

honey-production alone until sufficient expe
rience has been gained before including queen-
rearing and sale of bees. Moreover, it would
be sheer folly for a beginner to set up fifty
stocks of bees before he has learned how to
manage half-a-dozen properly. 2. It is only
fair to say that, to our knowledge, there is no
ready market for comb-honey on a large scale
in London. Honey stands on the same foot-
ing as other branches of produce. Markets
have to be found, those available being fairly
well looked after by well-known honey-pro-
ducers already in the field, so that new-comers
have — as in all other trades — to take their
chance in the general competition around us.
5. Yes ; moreover, it is a sine qud non that
the instruction be both theoretical and
thoroughly practical to be of real service in
your case.

[3002.] Subduing Vicious Bees. — 1. Can
you explain my failure to subdue a stock of
bees a short time ago when placing bars on top
of frames in place of winter passages ? I used
smoke at entrance and on top of frames, and
because they were inclined to be bad-
tempered I then gave the bees some very thin,
warm syrup, poured in between frames, leav-
ing them some minutes before again raising
quilc, but they were very little better, and it
was only after a third application of smoke
that I succeeded, with the loss of a few bees.
In my other apiary of nine hives, in Kent, I
used a carbolic cloth and the carbolic fumi-
gator when taking honey this autumn, and
although I carefully followed instructions
given in hand-books (this being my first year
of bee-keeping), 1 was rarely successful in
more chan partially subduing them. I am
aware, of course, that bees are more irritable
at that time of the year than at any other. Is
my probable fault too little carbolic or too
much haste after fumigation ? Decoy Hives. —
2. Is there any law preventing people from
placing empty hives in their gardens as decoys
to catch their neighbour's swarms ? I am told
there is not, and if this is the case, it would be
worth while to put some empty hives near by
to catch any truant swarms that may escape
without notice. Has this been found practicable ?
I have lost several swarms, and in each case
they went to the nearest hollow tree. Bee
Nomenclature. — 3. I enclose a couple of bees
taken from different hives. Can you tell me
their respective breeds ?— H., Biggleswade.

Reply. — 1. If the bees in question are
naturally vicious— as some stocks undoubtedly
are — we should attribute your failure in a
great measure to lack of experience. The
operation in which you were engaged is of so
simple a nature that an expert would probably
have it done before the bees had a chance of
becoming roused to viciousness. To pour
" warm syrup between the frames," as stated,
was the very thing likely to start the trouble
complained of, and, once started, the attempt
of a beginner to subdue such trouble often

ends in his adding to it. The same remark
applies to the use of other intimidants than
smoke. Personally, we never use any other
subjugator than a good smoker. 2. There is
no law we know of to prevent the use of
" decoy hives," except the unwritten law which
makes it wrong to try and obtain possession of
what is not our own. Your bee-keeping
neighbour would justly resent "decoys" being
set to catch his swarms, as you would, no
doubt, yourself, bearing in mind that bees
often search out a home when preparing
to swarm, and not seldom make straight for
such when found prepared ready for occupa-
tion in a neighbouring garden. 3. Beyond a
very faint trace of foreign blood in one of the
bees sent, they are of the common, or native,
variety.

[3003.] A Novices Queries. — I should be
obliged if you would answer the following in
B.B.J. : — 1. On opening my hive (I have only
oue) a few days ago I saw cells in brood-nest
which were partially filled with a substance
the colour of thin glue ; would this be dark
honey ? 2. Should hive entrances be con-
tracted during winter months ? 3. Is any
sound wood suitable for making hives, or is
"pine" best, and, if so, why? 4. Can you
give me name and address of secretary of the
County Association? 5. Can you tell me of
any article on hive-making likely to help me ?
I am a novice at bee-keeping, having bought
a swarm last summer. I much appreciate
Bee Journal and Record, and find them a
great help. — R. B. Dart, Great Missenden,
Bucks, November 12.

Reply. — 1. The probability is that the
glue-like substance in cells will be pollen that
has had a covering of honey. 2. Yes. 3.
Yellow pine is best for hive-making because
white pine, or "spruce," is more liable to
shrink and crack than the former. 4. There
is no county B.K.A. in Bucks of which we
have any knowledge. The hon. secretary of
the Berks Association is Mr. D. W. Bishop-
Ackerman, Reading. 5. Articles on " Hive-
making " have appeared in former issues of
B.B.J., and may be had on application at
usual price.

$t\m from tit* |§tots.

Tothill, Alford, Zwics.—Although we have
done better with our bees in Lines than some
counties, particularly in the West and North,
1 have not had so much autumn feeding to do
myself for several years as this season, some
stocks having little or no stores in the brood*
nest. It has been a most peouliar season ;
stocks that were not very strong in time to
catch the early honey-flow gave no surplus at
all. Although clover was most abundant from

Nov. 20, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

469

the second week in July to the middle of
August, I never saw so much clover bloom —
the fields were white with it; but notwith-
standing the luxuriant bee-forage, we have
very little clover-honey in these parts. — R. G.

IMMUNITY TO BEE-STINGS.

That a person who has been ofcen stung by
bees becomes in time immune to the poison of
the sting is asserted by Dr. H. F. Parker in
The Medical Times (October). He reports
that when he first began to keep bees he was
frequently stung, and that each stiDg was
attended with acute pain, but that as time
went on the pain and swelling became les3.
In the following year, while transferring a
hive of bees, he had an experience which he
thus relates : —

" Sting followed sting in succession, in legs,
arms, fingers, neck, and face. I imagined
what a picture I would present, with closed
eyes and swollen hands and feet. I worked
on, however, and so did the bees. I could
feel the needle-like thrust, but then it did not
seem to pain as much, and at last I finished
my task. With aching head, slight nausea,
and vertigo slowly coming on, I gave a sigh of
relief for what was accomplished, and filled
with wonderment as to what my personal
appearance would be.

''Imagine my astonishment to find merely
slightly raised red spots, like little pimples,
with the sting in the centre, as the result of
each and every stiDg. I must have had some-
thing like forty of them on various parts of
my body. My clothes were full of them, but
the material being so thick, did not allow the
stings to penetrate. The dizziness, nausea,
and headache left me, and ' Richard was
himself again.'

" When I again visited my bees, I did not
dread the stinging properties any longer, at
least not as much so as formerly, and then,
aod ever since, I have found that when a bee
does sting me, the pain is only sharp for an
instant, and there is an absence of the after-
swflling. . . .

" I have since been stung many more times
than I was at that time, and yet none of the
symptoms above referred to have been re-
produced. Am I not, therefore, immune to
the poison of the honey-bee, at least to a
certain extent ?

" All authorities on bee- culture state the
fact — as a crumb of comfort to novices in
bee-keeping — that the poison of a bee will
produce less and less effect upon their
systems. 'Old bee-keepers,' it is said, 'like
Mithridates, appear almost to thrive upon
the poison itself' Huish speaks of ' seeing
the bald head of Bonner, a celebrated practical
apiarist, covered with stings which seemed to
produce upon him no unpleasant effect.'
Rev. Mr. Kleine advises beginners to allow

themselves to be stung frequently, assuring
them that in two seasons their systems will
become accustomed to the poison. , . .

" In conclusion, let me state that I firmly
believe that the bee-keeper becomes inoculated
with the poison of the bee, and usually be-
comes proof, or at least immune, against it,
is no more to be doubted than the fact that
vaccination is a preventive against smallpox,"
—Literary Digest (New York).

AUSTRALIAN HONEY IN LONDON.

[The following letter appears in the Mel-
bourne Leader of September 6. — Eds.]

Sir,— "My attention has been drawn to an
article in a daily paper, under the heading of
" Sweets to the Sweet." Making some allow-
ance for embellishments, the facts are, no
doubt, as stated, but they are not new, for
Victorian apiarists have been well aware of
this state of affairs in London for a consider-
able time, and the Victorian Apiarists' Asso-
ciation has made every possible effort to
overcome the difficulties in the way. Mr.
Gregson, from whom the writer of the article
obtained bis information, is convinced that it
requires capital to obtain an output for our
honey in England, and suggests £5,000 as the
amount necessary. This has been exactly the
view of this Association, even to that amount.
But so far as the Department of Agriculture
is concerned we have very little hope at pre-
sent. Some six months ago the Victorian
Apiarists' Association cautiously approached
the Depirtment of Agriculture on this sub-
ject, and received, before even mentioning
financial assistance, the disappointing answer
that the utmost the department could do for
the bee-keeping industry was to arrange for
shipping space for our produce. Some time
previously the depirtment invited bee-keepers
to forward sample packages for the Agent-
General's office in London, each lot labelled
with the name and address of producer, so
that orders could be forwarded out to him.

Now, anyone at all acquainted with honey-
production knows that it is not grown or pro-
duced at will, but can only be obtained when
Nature provides the nectar, which she does in
Australia in an uncertain, fitful way. Some
seasons our yields equal, perhaps even exceed
those of any other country, but there are also
seasons of total failure. These facts have to
be taken into account in any attempt to open
up an outside market. The excess of a good
season will have to be held over for the
succeeding poor one, otherwise we shall lose
again the customers we have won, and begin
again afresh, when we have another surplus of
production. Therefore nothing can be done
without capital. Producers cannot hold their
honey or find the capital.

There is another difficulty in the fact that
probably no other country has as many different

470

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 20, 1902.

flavours, colours and varieties of honey as
Australia. Honey differs so much, not only
between different localities, but in the same
apiary in different seasons, that an apiarist
sending, say, red gum, yellow box or grey box
honey to London, could not supply the same
sample the following season. Hence a system
of grading and possibly blending would be in-
operative to ensure anything like uniformity
of character. This matter also was suggested
to the Department of Agriculture, and declared
outside its province.

Having failed to obtain the assistance of the
Agricultural Department in these two matters,
we would suggest as an alternative some in-
vestigations and experiments for the reduction
of colour and the excess of essential oils in
Australian honey, so that it may compete on
even terms in the markets of the world — with
American or European honey whenever we
have a surplus in Australia, thus avoiding the
necessity of employing capital to keep up a
continuous supply for customers educated to a
taste for the characteristics of our honey. —
Yours, &c, R. Beuhne, Correspondent,
Victorian Apiarists' Association, September 2,
1902.

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 queries forwarded will b* attended to, and those onlj
qf personal interest will he answered in this column

*** We have been requested by the Secretary
to invite the attention of members of the
Warwickshire and the Worcestershire Bee-
keepers' Associations, and of others interested
in bee-keeping, to a meeting in connection
with the Midland Pharmaceutical Associa-
tion, to be held at the Mason College
University, Edmund -street, Birmingham,
on Thursday, November 27, at 8 30 p m.,
Sir James Sawyer in the chair, when a
lecture on "Scientific Bee-Oulture," illus-
trated by lantern slides, will be delivered
by Mr. H. S. Shorthouse, F.C.S. There
is no charge for admission.

J. B. Peacock (Darlington). — The Profits of
Bee-keeping. — Much obliged for cutting
sent, but with regard to publishing same in
B.B.J. , as suggested, we may remind our
corre-pondent that much of the information
contained in the interesting article referred
to has, we think, been gathered from our own
columns from time to time, and it would
thus be reprinting matter already familiar
to our readers. A report of the meeting of
Northumberland and Durham bee-keepers
on October 4 appears on page 419 of B.B.J,
for October 16.

"Roces" (Halifax). — Hive Making. — 1.
Particulars for making the hive mentioned
by the Rev. W. Hjad (on page 445)
appeared in B.B J. of June 24 and July 1,
Vol. 25. The two numbers may be had
from this offue. 2. For information re-
garding the " Wells " hive and the system
of working it, write to Mr. G. Wells,
Eioles, Aylesford, Kent, who has published
a small pamphlet oa the subject.

J. H. HoRN(Bedale, Yorks). — Honey Cures. — ,
If you care to send a sample of the pills
mentioned to " Westerner " (who writes on
page 459) we will forward his address on
receipt of past-card. The other particulars
sent are hardly suitable for the pages of a
bee journal.

J. J. W. R. (St. Alban3).— Show Reports —
The report as written is not suitable for
publication, seeing that the judge — upon
whom somewhat disparaging reflections are
cast — was, we presume, duly appointed by
the show committee, to whom any complaint
against the awards should be made. More-
over, we can rarely find room for reports
of flower shows at which only a couple of
classes for honey are included.

G. Geldard (Liverpool). — Bee Districts near
Liverpool. — We are glad the help we
promised has been forthcoming. Mr.
Anderton is well acquainted with the
locality, and can spaak with authority on
the subject. With regard to the other
gentleman named, there must be a mis-
understanding somewhere, which a line from
yourself to him would no doubt clear up,
without unnecessary publicity. We will
forward your letter, and ask that a reply be
sent by post if you approve.

[Since the above wafe in type, we have
received the following from Mr. W. Cork-
hill, a bee-keeper long resident in Liver-
pool : — ' In reply to your correspondent,
Mr. Geldard, I beg to say there are several
good districts for bees near Liverpool —
among them West Darby, Walton Hall
Estate and neighbourhood, Sefton, Aintree,
Maghull, Aughton, &c. I prefer the
neighbourhood of Aughton, on the Preston
road, as being the best district for white
clover within twelve miles of Liverpool,
It is close to Town Green station on the
L. and Y.R., about two miles from
Ormskirk.'']

Honey Sample.

A. T. (N.B.) — Honey is of good quality, but
badly needs straining through fine muslin —
to remove the numerous particles of what
look i like specks of pollen — in order to
make it suitable for table use. There is no
trace of heather honey in sample.

Suspected Comb.
J. Alderson (Lancaster). — Comb contains
nothing worse than mildewed pollen.

Nov. 27, 1902.] THEj BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

471

(Mtorial, $tata kt

BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

The monthly meeting of the Council was
held at 105, Jermyn-strett, S.W., on Thursday,
November 20, Mr. H. Jonas in the chair.
There were also present the Hon. and
Rev. Henry Bligh ; Dr. Elliot ; Messrs. W.
Brouohton Carr, H. G. Morris, W. F. Reid,
E. D. Till, E. Walker, and the Secretary.
Letters explaining absence were read from the
Vice-Chairman, Mr. T. I. Weston, Miss
Gayton, Rev. W. E. Burkitt, Messrs. R. T.
Andrews, W. H. Harris, and F. B. White.

The minutes of the previous meeting were
read and confirmed.

The following new members wpre elected,
viz.:— Mr. Hugh Cleaver, The Hill Farm,
Much Hadbam ; Mr. L. Illingworth, 26, Cres-
wick-road, Springfield Park, Acton, W.

Mr. Jonas presented the Finance Com-
mittee's Report, which was adopted.

The Secretary reported that examinations
of twenty-five candidates for second class
expert certificates were held in ten centres on
November 14 and 15, and that the papers had
been duly forwarded to the examiners. Appli-
cations for other examinations in December
and January were received, which the Council
were unable to accede to.

The Council proceeded to further consider
the proposals for the next Royal Show,
together with a number of suggestions
received from county associations. The draft
prize schedule was completed for submission
to the R.A.SE. A very leDgtby discus-
sion ensued upon matters arising out of the
conference held in October last, especially the
proposal for the establishment of uniform
returns from each county, and the preparation
of a uniform set of instructions for the use of
experts when visiting members apiaries. The
Secretary was instructed to prepare a form
embodying the most important features con-
tained in the specimen forms received from
various societies prior to a final decision in
the matter.

After a prolonged sitting the Council
adjourned until Thursday, December 18.

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the
•pinions eapressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communication*, and eorretpondenti
are requeited 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.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

[4956.] Ericas as Honey Plants. — All that I
had seen in past years led me to doubt whether
Erica cinerea or Erica tetralix were honey-

plants at all, and I believed that Calluna
vulgaris (ling) was the only heath yielding of
its sweets to the bees. I have considerable
stretches of both Erica cintrea and Erica
tetralix within easy reach of my hives, but
(perhaps, from not observing the matter
properly) I never took note of bees working
on either. Lately, however, Mr. Crawshaw,
in describing a visit to Mr. Lancelot yuayle,
of Glenmay, I.O.M., says that the latter
■'maintains that his heath er-sui plus comes
from the bell heather, not the common ling
(i.e., Calluna vulgaris)." This positive state-
ment coming from so excellent a beeman and
coupled with the recollection of a previous
assertion of his that he extracted his heather
honey made me look closer into the matter.
Our Highland heather honey gathered from
the true heath, Calluna vulgaris, will not
extract, as a result of applying centrifugal
force to the combs, being far too thick in
consistency even when newly gathered. It
only leaves the cells, and with signs of
regret, when pressure is brought to bear
sufficient to destroy the combs. At times in
previous years I have come across a small
quantity of honey gathered early in the
season darker than clover, lighter than heather,
and lacking in several characteristics of the
qualities of a blend of the two. Recollecting
these facts I spent several hours on successive
daysin August, before the true heather was in
full flower, and discovered a fairly good
number of bees working on Erica cinerea.
I knew they were not likely to be gathering
pollen from the flowers, as it yields an
insignificant quantity, and pollen bearing
plants were abundant, but close observation
showed me clearly they were visiting the
flowers for their honey. The well-known move-
ments of the body when the act of
sucking is going on cleaily revealed that they
were rifling its sweets, and judging from the
time the movements were going on they were
acquiring it in fair quantities. Close inspec-
tion of the combs in the hives later on in the
afternoon showed me appreciable quantities of
the newly-gathered sweet of the distinct colour
and consistency I had previously noted. I
have since examined it in a ripe state,
and have come to the conclusion that it
will readily extract. It, however, differs in
several important points from true heather
honey. Its colour is duller and not so pro-
nounced as the vivid bright amber shade of
the other. It is not so dense, has not the con-
sistency of true mountain heather honey, and
is, of course, considerably thinner and more
liquid. The distinctive aroma of true heather
honey is all but lacking, the aroma here being
very faint— the mere essence of a scent. The
taste is too mild and unpronounced to tickle
the palate or to convey to the senses the sharp
and full flavour of the product of the true
"ling." Perhaps Mr. Lancelot Quayle, who
handles it in quantity, can enlighten us on
these points, and correct me if I am wrong in

472

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 27, 1902.

my deductions, as my evidence up to date is
too limited to give anything like an authorita-
tive statement. I do not approach the subject
with any bias in favour of calluna, and would
indeed be glad to establish this erica as an un-
doubted honey-plant, as in the old clan days it
was the badge of the Macdonalds, so I have a
tender spot in my heart for this lovely flower
— the grand heather bells of Scottish song and
story. I have never seen bees work on tetralix,
but this may be accounted for owing to its
frequenting lower and damper locations. Even
the true heather forgets to secrete nectar when
it grows on low, marshy or boggy ground.

Jottings. — 1. No one understood better than
he how to hive up the honey of good talk
wherever he met with it. 2. Kindness in
ourselves is the best honey that blunts the
sting of unkindness in others. 3. As the bee
collects nectar and departs without injuring
the flower or its colour or scent, so let a wise
man dwell in his village. (From the " Book of
Buddah.'') 4. Conundrum — How does a bee
resemble a merchant? She sells (cells) her
honey. 5. The same facetious friend who
gave me the conundrum to speculate over
assured me with the utmost solemnity that he
saw a bee a few days before on the very top of
Ben Nevis. 1 expressed grave doubts of the
accuracy of his statement, but his assurances
were so emphatic that my scepticism had to
give way, though the merry twinkle in his eye
as we parted revived my doubts. I got an
explanation of the riddle a few days later on
reading the meteorological report, which was
signed, "William Bee." 6. He saw his
divinity surrounded by tiresome bees, who
hummed about the fairest flower of the season,
basking in the honey d sweetness of her frank
smiles. 7. The hot sunshine without, and the
drowsy humming of bees floating in at the
open window was charged with hints of
slumber to the middle-aged. 8. To one who
has known and love 1 them, a summer where
there are no bees becomes as sad and empty as
one without flowers or birds. 9. M. Maeter-
linck describes the drone as follows :— In-
delicate and wasteful, sleek and corpulent,
fully content with their idle existence as
honorary lovers, they feast and carouse, throng
the alleys, obstruct the passages, and hinder
the work; jostling and jostled, fatuously
pompous, swelled with foolish, good-natured
contempt.

Skep Covers.— One of the neatest, simplest-
made, and most effective can be constructed
from a piece of felt. If marked off in a circle
and cut three-quarters round, the remaining
part cut down to the centre line can be joined
so that it becomes a perfect cone. This,
placed over the skep, guards it from all damp.
-Directions for cutting out these covers are
given by Cheshire, Hunter, and Taylor. Many
skep covers are fearfully and wonderfully
made, and though from an artistic or pic-
turesque view they may look well, especially
when distance lends enchantment to the view,

a very little expense would make neater and
tidier ones, and, better still, make them effec-
tive as excluders of rain and damp, which act
so much to the detriment of the stock. —
D. M. M., Banff.

THE NEW "ROYAL" SHOW YARD.

[4957.] Though not inclined to say any-
thing by way of damping the energies of those
who have worked, and are working to secure
for the " Royal '' Show, and the several
minor exhibitions connected therewith, a
permanent home, I would point out that,
while accepting the axiom, " A rolling stone
gathers no moss," it is, I think, by moving
from county to county all over the kingdom
that the " R.A.S.E." maintains and increases
its membership. But I am thinking mainly
of the B.B.K.A., which has secured many new
members and gathered moss in the form of
subscriptions through the shows taking place
in various counties. There are, no doubt,
numerous benefits connected with a permanent
home, but with regard to the bee-industry the
question is, will a "Royal'' show held near
London year after year benefit bee-keeping to
the same extent as by going among the bee-
keepers of different counties % The same ex-
hibitors of honey and appliances will, no
doubt, send entries from John O'Groat's and all
the country between there and London, to the
permanent home of the " Royal," but will not
the B.B.K.A. be to some extent deprived of
the means of conveying to the uninitiated the
knowledge of modern methods which make
bee-keeping a success ?

If, under the new arrangement, the
B.B.K.A. ceases to carry knowledge to the
people, as it has done in the past, what in-
ducement is offered to the dwellers in remote
counties to visit the show or even be informed
of the existence of the British Bee-keepers'
Association ? Will the latter be in a position
to make a money grant to be expended in a
different county each year, as is now done, in
lieu of the present benefit to be withdrawn ?
The Association may by a course of lectures
in different centres help those whom it will
otherwise cease to reach, and in this way
make its existence known, and should "gather
moss " in spots where the best " moss '' grows,
but hardly so well as under present condi-
tions I fancy — places where dwell the class of
persons who cannot come to London for in-
formation. Localities where tons of nectar
are wasted yearly because there are no bees to
gather it, or where existing bee-keepers lack
the information that would help them to suc-
cess. The "rolling-stone" maxim is good in
its way, but there is more than one kind of
" moss." One kind gathers upon fixed ob-
jects ; another — the best, I think — is secured
by searching for it in distant and out-of-the-
way places. On the other hand, we must not
forget that the B.B.K.A., though in other
directions powerful, is not strong fiancially,

Nov. 27, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

473

and must, I suppose, lean upon a Society that
is strong in that respect. For this reason, I
suppose, the alternative is forced upon the
B.B.K. A., of accepting the lesser evil.

The grouping of counties seems to be a step
forward.

" Wanted, a Frame.'' — Time, by which so
many things are proved, has established the
usefulness of our " Standard '' frame. It has
also shown that this frame may, with advan-
tage, be improved by strengthening it. Bat I
think we should not dwell too much upon the
defects of the "Standard" frame as made
according to the dimensions adopted by the
B.B.K. A.

We bee-keepers are not a little indebted to
those who, five-and-twenty or more years ago,
gave their time to the consideration of a
uniform frame for general use. Tnose pioneers,
after long and full consideration of the question,
gave the benefit of their knowledge and expe-
rience for the good of bee craft in general.
The acknowledgment of the benefits thus
conferred upon the whole industry by the use
of a standard frame is a duty none will deny,
and it is no less our duty to point out and
remedy defects, if such are after long expe-
rience proved to exist. This may be done
without reflecting upon the judgment of those
who designed a frame the usefulness of which
is so widely recognised that bees on combs
built in frames of an obsolete pattern are to-
day practically unsaleable.

The dimensions of the frame adopted by
Mr. H. Edwards, and referred to on page 463,
will, I believe, meet with the approval of most
bee-keepers, but for myself 1 would prefer
the bottom bar a little narrower if the top
and side bars are to be of the dimensions
given.

The Saw-cut in Top Bars. — With regard to
the saw-cut, so much abused by Mr. Edwards,
my experience — obtained among bee-keepers
in all stations of life — is dead against his, and
goes to show that a standard frame without
the saw-cut would, to the beginner at least, be
as a blessing half withheld. I could say a
good deal on the use and abuse of the
"saw-cut," but, to be brief, I should object
to the adoption of a standard frame with-
out it. Solid top bars are all very well
in the hands of a few, but numbers claim
prior consideration. With good bee-keeping,
trouble from the wax-moth need not be feared
through the saw-cut. I do, however, some-
times see — in apiaries run on the let-alone sys-
tem, with old propolis-bedaubed quilts several
years old — top bars damaged by the larvee of
the wax-moth, and the saw-cut making a
cradle for the same.

I agree with Mr. Edwards upon the advan-
tages of wired combs. But where do these ad-
vantages come in, even if a stronger frame be
used, if the frame is mutilated by cutting the
bars half through to let in the wire 1 Yet in
this way a strong frame is made weak by some
prominent bee-keepers in the process of wiring.

Since penning my remarks on the " Royal "
Show, I am glad to have learned that the
B.B.K. A. do not propose to incur any heavy
expenses at the new show-ground of the
R.A. Society until it is seen how the new
conditions work. — W. Loveday, Hatfield
Heath, Harlow.

FRAME CONSTRUCTION.

[4958] With regard to the particular form
of frame advocated by your correspondent,
Mr. Edwards, on page 464 of last week's B.J.,
if he will place an order for a definite
quantity, or guarantee to take a certain
quantity during a season, sufficient to pay
an appliance manufacturer to make them,
he will have no difficulty in getting his
order executed. I should, however, like to
say that one of the principal reasons why no
manufacturer has taken upon himself to
manufacture such a frame is that it has not
been approved by the Council of the British
Bee-keepers' Association, and until friend
Edwards can induce that body to approve of
the frame, after testing it for themselves, the
Council will never recommend it as an im-
provement over the B.B.K.A. "Standard"
frame, which, after full consideration by a
special committee appointed for the purpose,
was adopted as the best for all-round purposes.
Without this approval, Mr. Edwards's sug-
gested frame will not " catch on,'' as the
Council's opinion and advice justly carries
great weight with bee-keepers generally.
Every year various suggestions are made
with regard to altering the size of frames by
different persons, which suggestions are, of
course, quite right and.proper to make ; but I
do not think due consideration is given to
the mess and tangle bee-keepers would get
into if there were several different sizes and
shapes of frames catalogued, and put on the
market, as was the case several years ago.

Before the " Standard " frame was adopted,
appliance makers to a great extent followed
their own ideas with regard to the size of
frames — consequently hardly a hive or frame
from different makers would interchange with
one another, and thus the interchangeability
which is such an essential and important part
in the proper working of an apiary was lost to
the bee-keeper. I am glad to say this bad
state of things has now happily almost died
out, for I know of no more annoying, and
irritating, and unpleasant things to a, bee-
keeper, or one that gives him such a " warm
quarter of an hour " than when one goes to
pack a stock of bees in a travelling-box made
to take the orthodox " Standard " frame, and
finds the frames a bit too large, &c, and
which means having to cut them down to
proper size with scores of angry bees flying
around.

Personally I think the " Standard ' frame,
as at present made, could be slightly im-
proved, but unfortunately all bee-keepers do

4*4

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Nov. 27, 1902.

not think alike, and until they do I say
" let us stick to a uniform ' Standard,'
which we have now got, and so, while
securing interchangeability, we shall avoid
the trouble caused in the past for lack of this
desideratum.'' — E. H. Taylor, Welwyn, Herts,
November 22.

BEESWAX FOR THE SHOW-BENCH.

CRITICISING EXHIBITS.

[4959.] Referring to Mr. Woodless " Notes "
on the exhibits of beeswax " suitable for the
retail trade," in B.B.J, of November 6 (page
444), I expected some one more able than
myself to say a word on his, to my mind,
UDjustly adverse remarks, but as no one has
taken the matter up so far, I beg to say (as
one of the most frequent exhibitors of wax for
the last few years) that Mr. Woodley is greatly
mistaken in his assumptions. In the first
place, he assumes, and distinctly says, that
" first-class wax takes the award " against
" good commercial wax." I can, of course,
speak only for myself, but I never staged any
but my ordinary wax in this class, after the
schedule stated that the judges only needed
"commercial wax." As to not having any
similar wax to dispose of, as Mr. W. says, I
sold about 80 lb. to a firm only last week, all
quite as good as that in my exhibit at the
Dairy Show (in the class for wax suitable for
retail trade). I think, however, the time is
not far distant when the judges must give
some consideration to quality in this class also.
I mean when the form of cake and suitability
of package has reached some standard of
excellence.

Then, with reference to the "extra good
sample of wax" that he mentions, I do not
rind any difficulty in getting it. Give me
good clean combs or cappings, and I can make
it all fit for showing, and that, too, without
any " doctoring." Therefore, every bee-keeper
has the same chance as myself.

As to " trotting out of the same sample to
show after show as each year comes round,''
Mr. Woodley is again manifestly unjust to his
brother exhibitors. Not only so, but his con-
tention cuts both ways, for he lays himself
open to the fair retort that good sections could
be " trotted out to show after show " in the
same way. Speaking for myself, my experience
is that I could send the same lot of sections, or
of extracted honey, to more shows than I could
the same exhibit of beeswax. In the first
place, it is very seldom that we get all the
cakes of wax returned from shows, the reason
given being that some one has been helping
himself to it. (Mr. Woodley is probably
aware that I lost my whole exhibit of first-
class wax at the show of his own County
B.K.A. at Reading this year, and it was not
delivered from the show-tent to the railway com-
pany.) But even in cases where all is returned,
I find that the same wax is not fit for staging
at more than two or three shows ; indeed, I

have had several lots spoiled for exhibition
purposes after a single show, so much is the
wax knocked about and discoloured at times.
In conclusion, I would like to see a word on
this point from some other wax exhibitors who
may have had similar experience to myself. —
Jno. Berry, Llannvst, .N. Wales, Nov. 21.

A BEE EXPERIENCE.

[4960.] Referring to the letter headed " A
Bee Experience," on page 465 of this week's
issue, I can heartily sympathise with your cor-
respondent, the same thing having happened
to me five years ago. For about three years
afterwards I invariably used a veil when
manipulating, but am afraid I have now got
more venturesome, as I often open my hives
without any protection. — Fred S. Gifford,
Brentford, November 21.

(Correspondence continued on page 476.)

HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

The view of Mr. Standring's apiary on next
page comes as a seasonable novelty in bee-
garden pictures, and though too wintry to be
typical of the weather of to-day, it may pre-
pare us for the long and severe frosts foretold
by the weather-wise. For the rest, the follow-
ing copious "notes," written at our request,
need no addition from us : —

"During the year 1895, while on a visit to
my brother at Dewsbury, in Yorkshire, I was
first introduced to bees and their homes, and
like many other unvaccinated mortals I
took the disease sometimes called bee-fever,
and mine must have been a severe attack, as
it is worse to-day than ever. Before leaving
Dewsbury I took in quite a large cargo of
information on bees, but the portion retained
on my return to Blackpool was very small.
However, I prepared to start for the next
season of 1896 by purchasing hive, foundation,
&c, and a swarm of bees from Mr. J. Howard,
of Holme ; but with only a July swarm surplus
honey was, of course, out of the question for my
first season. Next year I bought two more
swarms and got one from the old stock, so this
made up my apiary to four stocks at the end
of 1897. In this year, as in all cases with
me, I have never been able to get any surplus
from a swarm during its first season.

" My brother paid me occasional visits, so
timed as to help me with the bees until I
could manage them myself. During one of
these visits an incident occurred that may
afford a useful lesson to beginners like myself.
We were examining one of the hives, my
brother wearing his bee-veil only, while I had
the protection of both veil and gloves. Thus
considering myself bee-proof against stings, I
kept close up in order to see all I could and

Nov. 27, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

475

render any little help required ; but very early
the bees seemed to take a great liking to my-
self, and came buzzing round me in good
numbers, but being ' safe,' as supposed, I felt
no alarm ; but it so happened that my veil was
badly fixed, and there was a flaw in my guard
which the bees were not long in discovering,
and a good number getting inside several dis-
played their ' attachment ' for the disturbers
of their hive in the usual way by attaching
themselves to the operator. I made off with
all speed, as you may guess, but a lot of bees
followed me viciously. In the end, however,
I gradually got rid of all, including those
inside my veil, though the latter left their
' attachments,' i.e., stings, behind them.

house and get the hives nearer home, where I
could see to them more readily and with more
comfort. I secured a place just on the edge of
the town about twenty minutes' walk away,
and got the bees moved in due course to where
they are seen in photo.

" In the following season (1899) I got only
a very small amount of surplus owing in some
measure to removal, and, being short of honey
to supply the customers I had got, I bought
some through an advertisement in the B.B.J. ,
but when received it was such poor stuff that
I dare not offer it for sale, and used it to feed
the bees with. This has rather shaken my
confidence in trusting to advertisements with-
out first getting samples. In 1900 two swarms

MR. WALTER STANDRINGS APIARY, NEAR BLACKPOOL, LANCASHIRE.

Meantime my brother worked away at the
hive as though there was not a bee within a
mile of him, and took no harm whatever ! He
removed about twenty stings from my face and
neck. I then fixed up my veil securely, after
which I helped to finish the work in comfort.
Moral : In bee-work don't do things by
halves. During the year 1898 I got from the
old stock and from my four colonies about
90 lb. of surplus-honey and two swarms, and
was, in consequence, very proud of my bees
and their work. Up to this time my hives
were located in the country; over four miles
away (with no train or1 tram available), and,
after the long journey on foot, rain has come
on and stopped all chance of doing anything
with the bees, so I decided to build a bee-

issued, thus increasing my colonies to six, but
I only got 70 lb. of honey and no swarms in
my first season near town ; not very satisfac-
tory, considering that in addition I lost two
during the winter, and also was compelled to
remove the bees. Before doing so, however, I
had the photograph taken by my brother, and,
as will be seen, there was at the time about
5 in. of snow on the ground.

" The year 1901 found my hives back again
on the old stand, four miles away. During
that season my best stock became queenless,
and, after giving the bees a frame of brood and
eggs for queen-rearing (as the brood in their
own hive was too old for the purpose before I
found out the loss of queen) without result, I
gave a second frame, with no better success ;

476

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 27, 1902.

but while examining the brood-combs I spied
a sealed queen-cell, nearly buried away down
the side of the frame. The egg or larva must
have been carried into the cell, as there was, I
think, no brood young enough near at hand
for queen-raising. I also had a case of two
queens in one hive last year. I watched them
lor eleven days, and then, in order to secure
the younger queen of the two from taking
night, I clipped her wings and then returned
her to the other end of the hive, where I knew
the old queen was. Ten minutes later it was
turned out dead! I got 1731b. of surplus
honey in 1901 from five hives, but I took all I
could get, and had to feed up heavily in con-
sequence. I have been as careful as possible
in attending to the bees during the present
year of 1902, considering the distance to walk
and the fact that my time is not always my
own. The result is I have been able to secure
about 2001b. of surplus honey, besides a
swarm and a cast, and am very well satisfied.
I had some idea of trying to qualify for an ex-
pert, but must wait till 1 get more experience,
never having had occasion to drive bee* or
seen anything of foul brood, and I take it that
one needs practical experience of these things,
among others, to be successful. . With regard
to selling honey, I have been less fortunate
than some of your readers ; Lut by ' pushing '
I managed to sell it to shops at 9d. per lb. I
hope to increase my apiary in 1903 by three
or four swarms, and trust it will be a year of
success for all in the craft."

CORRESPONDENCE.

{Continued from page 474.)

RE-QUEENING FOR THE HEATHER.

[4961.] Your correspondent, "Heather
Honey " (4941, page 453), questions the ad-
visability of re-queening before the commence-
ment of the heather honey flow, and states
that he finds more honey stored in the supers
when stocks are headed by queens of the pre-
vious year. " Heather Honey '; has doubtless
fallen into the common error of inserting a
newly-mated queen in place of a worn-out old
one, and expecting this new mother to pro-
duce, right away, combs crammed with brood.
This is a frequent cause of failure, as no queen,
however prolific, can successfully compete with
the desire of the workers to cram the brood-
frames with the heather honey. The most that
any queen can do is to keep the brood nest in
tie condition it may be in when the heather
flow commences. What Mr. Simmins advises
is, that the young queens should be brought
forward in nuclei from the beginning of July,
and when preparing for the heather destroy
the old queen and unite the two lots on the
best combs, " frames crammed with hatching
brood," The queen will then be able to hold
her own, and the honey must go into the
supers.

Most heather-men now work on this system,
and it is the best as yet "invented,'* but I
believe it can be greatly improved upon to
give even better results at the heather, and at
the same time go a long way towards keeping
stocks in the " pink of condition," and equal
to the present " best."

I should like very much to read the expe-
riences of J. G. Hinckley (4944, page 455)
with the celebrated queens he has got, and
particularly the results from the United States
raised Italians as compared with the ? White
Star" bees.

I prefer British bred foreign races myself,
not altogether from patriotic motives, but
because they are acclimatised and more likely
to give good results in our climate than queens
transported from more sunny lands. — J. M. E.,
Ussie Valley, Conon Bridge, November 22.

EXPERTS' CERTIFICATES.

[4962.] In the "editorial" of last week
(page 461), under the heading "Thirdly,"
reference is made to conducting examinations
for expert certificates by the B.B.K.A.
Council. I shall be much obliged if you will
inform me by means of a footnote to this
letter, or perhaps some other member of the
Council may be good enough to send a reply
in your columns to the following questions : —
1. Is there a special examination for a foul-
brood certificate held by the B.B.K.A.
Council? 2. If so, when and where is it
held, and what entrance-fee is charged ?
3. Does the present expert certificate granted
by the B.B.K.A. cover this special foul-brood
certificate or not ?

My reasons for asking these questions are : —

Firstly, I have never seen anything stated
officially about this foul-brood certificate.

Secondly, I noticed that a large appliance
dealer advertises the fact that he holds a
London certificate on foul brood. I wrote
and asked him if this foul-brood certificate
was the expert certificate of the B.B.K.A.,
receiving a reply that he was too busy at the
time to go into the matter, and referred me to
you.

Thirdly, I have seen it stated in the B.B.J. ,
by one who was a frequent contributor to
your columns, that he held a certificate in foul
brood ; and, fourthly, I see in your adver-
tising columns last week an advertisement for
a B.B.K.A. expert, with foul-brood certificate
indispensable. From this it may be inferred
that the B.B.K.A. expert certificate is not a
sufficient guarantee as to foul-brood qualifica-
tions, which, in my opinion, will lower the
value of the B.B.K.A. expert certificates
considerably in the opinion of bee-keepers
generally. What am I also to conclude from
the fact that not a single question, in the late
second-class examination for expert certificate,
dealt specifically with the subject of foul
brood ?

If it is a fact that the B.B.K.A. certificate

Nov. 27, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

477

does not apply to foul brood, then it is time
this should be generally known ; if it does
apply, as I have always considered it to do,
then this special foul-brood certificate is
altogether unnecessary.

Allow me to sign myself — " 2 ad Class
B.B.K.A. Expert, a Member of B.B.K.A.,
and a Supervisor at late 2nd Class Examina-
tion."— Carmarthenshire, November 24.

[There is no special examination beyond
that which all candidates for third-class
certificate now undergo before securing a
" pass." This particular section of the exami-
nation paper has only been in use during the
last few years, consequently those who
obtained their certificates earlier are required
to come up for the special section of the
examination dealing with foul brood only.
—Eds]

CANDY-MAKING.
[4963.J Having often heard complaints
about bee-candy, that the bees do not take it,
or have a reluctance for it, I have for the last
few years been trying to find out how to make
the best quality of candy for feeding bees.
I have made many experiments, and you may
remember I sent some samples in March last
for your opinion. Your favourable judgment
encouraged me. First quality bee-food being,
to my mind, so important in bee-keeping,
Bspecially during winter. I have twenty -two
strong stocks of bees, and hope very soon to
double their number, because it is to me most
interesting, so intensely am I interested in the
work of the busy bee ! I have also made a
special study of confectionery, and this enables
me to prepare food which keeps them always
healthy. I have already tried the effects on
our bees of the medicated " honey-candy " of
which I am sending you samples. The bees
seem to be very fond of it. 1. But I would like
to have your advice regarding it. 2. Will you
also kindly tell me if soluble phenyle is better
than naphthol beta for medicating bee-food,
and how it should be used for candy-making '?
In making the candy of which samples are
enclosed, I have foi owed the "Guide Book"
recipe, with some additions of my own. —
" R. F. Procurator," Buckfastleigh, Devon.

[I. Candy is very good indeed. 2. We
prefer N. beta for medicating bee-food. — Eds]

A BEGINNER'S REPORT.
[4964.] As a recent subscriber to the
Bee Journal, and after reading interesting
accounts of their doings from bee-keepers, I
venture to send you my report as a beginner,
if worth publishing, for the benefit of novices.
My brother went to Canada last year, leaving
six stocks of bees to be looked after by a bee-
expert, who examined the hives on May 11,
after the fruit-blossom was over. On May 29
a large swarm issued from one hive and

decamped. In June two other swarms made
off in the same way, one lot carrying away
with them an Italian queen for which my
brother gave 10s. the previous season, and so,
as the expert did not come and see to the bees,
I thought it time I did something myself. I
first got the help of another man, and on
opening up the hives we found them simply
choke-full of honey. We took off a box of
shallow-frames from the stock that had an
Italian queen, and extracted 28 lb. of honey,
besides what we consumed in the house.
Since then I took a box of sealed combs from
this same hive. From another I removed
forty-two 1-lb. sections, and from a third I
got a box of shallow-frames and a second box
half full. This is the stock from which the
first swarm decamped. Then from a " Wells ''
hive we got four racks of sections, more than
sixty of which weighed over 1 lb. each, some
being 18 oz. From another we only got two
shallow-frames, the bees refusing to. touch the
foundation in the others. The sixth hive
gave us three racks of sections.

I have not touched any of the brood -
chambers, only taking honey above the zinc
excluder. I packed the bees down for the
season on August 8, as I wanted them to
lay in a good store for the winter, as I
could not attend to feed them because of
living eight, miles away. I looked at
them, however, the first week in Septem-
ber, and could see that all brood-combs
were sealed over on top as full as could be.
In the " Wells'' hive there is a glass window
at the back, and through it the six outside
combs appeared to be sealed down to the
bottom. This is the best honey season we
have ever experienced. I was in doubt about
being able to sell the honey, but I have dis-
posed of all the lot at from 9d. to Is. per lb.,
except the last fifteen sections, which were sold
at 7d. each. Even at this late time of year
the bees of three of the hives are busy carry-
ing in pollen. After extracting honey I re-
turned the surplus combs for the bees to clean
up before storing them away, but they started
filling and sealing them up again instead, so I
took the surplus chambers away, and at the
end of September I burned the cappings of
the sealed comb3, and again gave them to the
bees, and this time they cleaned them out
beautifully. In concluding, I should like to
say it seems certain that at times bees select
a place where to go before swarming, because
one swarm of ours made straight off to the
chimney of a house near. There were cracks
and crevices in the chimney, and passing through
these the bees took possession. The people
living in the house said it was the third swarm
which came there this year, and as the bees
entered the bedroom they could not sleep
there on the night the bees came ; so each time
they had to light a fire and drive them out.
Finally, they got a mason and filled up the
crevices with mortar.— J. S., Easton, Bristol,
November 15.

478

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 27, 1902.

TEMPERATURE OF BROOD-
CHAMBERS.

AMOUNT OF HONEY IN THE BROOD-NEST.

I notice that Dr. C. 0. Miller is " at sea "
as to the proportion of honey and brood-nest
area in brood-chamber (in frames of comb) at
different seasons and under varying circum-
stances. After some years of careful study
and observation, I am convinced that the
solution of the problem is almost entirely one
of inside hive temperature. We know that in
cold or cool weather the brood-nest is small
compared with what it is in warm weather.
We also know, or should know, that the
brood centre must be held at all times at the
same temperature, no matter what the outside
temperature may be ; and to observe their
brood centre as the temperature goes up or
down, whether advancing to the honey season
or warm weather, or retiring after the honey
season is over, is to prove the above statement
to be correct.

It is clearly a matter of temperature when
the queen decreases the circle of egg-lay iDg,
thus allowing the bees to fill a larger space
under the top bar with honey ; whether the
temperature is lowered by cool weather or by
swarming, and, as is often the case, by careless
operators allowing the air to circulate through
the hive, lowering the temperature below the
point where the bees can counterbalance by
ihe heat of their bodies. And I have also
observed that this nest is decreased in size
when work is begun in the supers, simply
because the temperature has been lowered in
the brood-chamber by a larger number of bees
being transferred to work in the supers, it
being necessary for a number of bees sufficient
to gain and maintain a comb-buildiDg
temperature at that point.

The prolific queen does not lay eggs nearer
the top bar than an unprolific one, as such,
but because she is likely to have reared a
larger colony, which large colony is capable
of heating a larger area of brood-nest than a
smaller one. If you will transfer a prolific
queen from her large colony to a small one
she will circumscribe her nest area to fit the
capacity of the small colony to heat up and
care for brood ; or, if you will put a poor or
unprolific queen into a large colony, she will
enlarge upon her former nest area, as her
colony can maintain a brood-rearing tempera-
turej and, as a proof of the statement here
advanced, she will deposit more eggs, under
favourable circumstances, than the better
queen will under under unfavourable circum-
stances ; and in either case the top bar will be
approached or receded from as the tempera-
ture inside the hive is raised or lowered from
any cause.

It is a matter of inside hive temperature
when bees go into supers containing extract-
ing-combs more readily than they go on to
foundation in those frames, and more readily
into empty frames with foundation than into

sections with foundation. Where the combs
are already drawn out, honey can be stored by
a few bees at a temperature much below that
required to build comb, thereby allowing a
smaller colony to care for nest area, and send
up a force to store honey in the super ; but
when it is necessary that comb should be drawn
out, then this same colony must wait until the
outside temperature raises the inside tempera-
ture, or until the bees have increased in
number sufficient to send up a force large
enough to maintain a comb-building tempera-
ture in this same super, and at the same time
care for the hive below.

Bees dislike sections for the simple reason
that it disturbs the temperature of the hive
beyond the conditions in extracting frames to
furnish enough bees to cover the wooden parti-
tions (which are greatly in their way), in order
to get together in sufficient cluster to produce
and maintain comb-building heat ; and in most
instances, if not in all, a separate detachment
of bees for each section is necessary before
they can do much work in them ; and, too, the
weather must be warm before these little
" squads " of bees can produce enough heat to
build comb-in the sections.

It is a matter of inside hive temperature
when combs are not built down and fastened
to the bottom bar. The bees cannot build
down any further than they can produce and
maintain a comb-building temperature. To
prove this, hive two swarms of about the same,
size, and under nearly the same circumstances,
and give one of them an all-round entrance at
the bottom, and the other a one-end entrance,
and note if the first mentioned will build down
to the bottom bar, and if the other will not
build down and fasten combs to the bottom
bar. Why this difference ?

It is impossible for the bees to produce and
maintain in an all-round- entrance hive (with
free circulation of air) sufficient heat to enable
them to build comb down, and especially to
fasten it, to the wooden bar. The temperature
can be produced, and held in the other
instance, and especially will the comb bo filled
out, and fastened at the closed end of the hive.

It is a matter of temperature when queens
do or do not go up into supers to lay eggs. If
the inside temperature of the super is high
enough to hatch eggs and rear brood she will
go up ; otherwise she will not. Temperature
is her first consideration. If the temperature
necessary to rear brood were no higher than
that to store honey or build comb, supers
without brood would be the exception instead
of the rule.

I am aware that bees can lower the tem-
perature in their hives by their own exertions,
and that this is often necessary in the largest
colonies and in the hottest weather.

" The idea seems to prevail that there is an
advantage in shallow top bars." I beg leave
to suggest that there is an advantage in any
thing that lessens the distance a cluster of
bees must move (in concert) so as to be able

Nov. 27, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

479

to produce the all-important temperature, so
often mentioned in this article, that is neces-
sary to build comb.

Deep top bars with air circulating over
them, as when the super is on, cannot in many
instances be brought up to a comb-building
temperature, full length of the frame, to say
nothing of brood-rearing near it, so the bees,
in my observation, store honey down to the
point where the queen stops laying, and she
stops at the point where the temperature gets
too low for her purpose.

One queen reigning supreme and alone in a
hive is suggestive of but one nest or brood
centre ; and to compel the bees to produce a
second heat centre, and possible brood centre,
is to suggest to them another queen ; and if
you will exclude the reigning one, and give
the bees the mean?, they will rear one for this
centre or (to them) new hive. I feel sure they
will rear just as good a one as the one below.
And why they would not do so under normal
conditions, and produce the best of queens, is
more than I can comprehend, Mr. Alley to the
contrary notwithstanding.

Bees will not hesitate to cros3 honey and
wide top bars as such, but because of the
difficulty they encounter in transferring a
heat centre so great a distance.

I am folly convinced, both by experience
and observation, that a close study of inside
hive temperature will settle many of the
questions now awaiting answers among bee-
men ; and when this matter of temperature is
well in hand the aim of the inventor along
these lines will be to conform to the perfectly
natural requirements of the bees rather than
to the caprice of the operator ; and, further,
I now predict that, when all is known that
may be known of this inside hive temperature,
and its bearing on bees and honey, the present
hive will change its shape and proportions to
that required by the bees. — J. M. Gibbs in
Gleanings (American).

$ttf tp and Jj^liqa.

[3004.] Wiring Frames. — I am enclosing a
sample of the wire that I have used iu wiring
frames, and find that in a short time it turns
black. I therefore ask — Will this ba any
detriment to the honey when extracted ? I
have taken a small quantity of surplus honey
from the wired combs, but it shows no dis-
coloration. I will, however, be glad if you
can tell me, through the B J., if the sample
sent is the proper " tinned wire" advised for
use, and if of the right strength. — H. C. M.,
Collingham, November 23.

Reply. — The wire sent is untinned, and
therefore not the proper material for wiring
frames. It is well known that the acid in
honey acts upon iron in such a way as to be
more or less detrimental to the honey ; but,

in your case, the fact of the wire being for the
most part embedded in wax, would make the
mischief almost inappreciable. When buying
wire for the purpose of wiring frames, go to a
reliable tradesman and ask for " No. 30 tinned
wire," or, better still, get from a dealer in bee-
appliances of good repute who will sell only
the right article.

[3005.] Cleaning Beeswax. — I will be
glad to have your opinion on enclosed sample
of beeswax. It has been through the extractor,
and after that twice melted, allowing it to boil
while stirring well. I have a copy of the
book on " Beeswax,'' but it does not assist me
in getting it purified and made suitable for
salei? Your help will therefore be appreciated.
— T. M. B., Atherstone, November 24.

Reply. — The sample is of fairly good
quality, and quite suitable for sale purposes.
If the "extractor" used is the " Gerster,"
illustrated on page 87 of " Guide Baok," it
needs only to allow the wax to run from the
apparatus into a bowl of clean water without
any subsequent boiling or stirring — as stated
— in order to produce a cleaner sample than
that sent. The latter, however, is a good
commercial wax, though not clean enough for
the show-bench.

PRESS CUTTINGS.
Mr. Cardell Williams, bee-expert and
lecturer under the Cornwall County Council,
has just discovered the queerest place for a
swarm of bees that he has ever known. The
bees got through a rivet hole in the tube of
the mainstay of a large crane at work on
Hayle Quay. Although the crane is in
operation daily the bees are still undisturbed,
— Cornish Telegraph.

A TREASURE SAVED BY HONEY.

The Morning Leader of October 22 is re-
sponsible for the following : — A Krugersdorp
farmer upon the outbreak of war buried
£1,500 in an ant-heap on his farm. In the
course of events he took a holiday trip to
Ceylon, "under persuasion." During his
absence a swarm of bees built them a nest in
this very ant-heap, all unconscious of its pre-
cious store. On the advent of the British
troops some roaming Tommies were attracted
by the busy bees, the product of whose in-
dustry offered an acceptable addition to their
larder. They located the ant-heap, and re-
moved the golden honey. The farmer re-
turned from his little trip but a few weeks
ago, and upon arrival on his farm bethought
him of his buried bullion. Carefully taking
his bearings, he approached the fateful ant-
heap, and when within 100 yards or so ob-
served, with a keenness of sight heightened by
eager anticipation, that a radical disturbance
had occurred. His jaw and heart dropped in
unison. Half-dazed, and with but a vague
notion of what he was doing, he proceeded to

480

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Nov. 27, 1902.

remove the little debris left, when, lo and
behold ! within 1 in. or 2 in. of the surface he
discovered the treasure he had given up for
lost.

t'honey season.
It's a varry lang tahm sen t' honey season
wur knawn ta be sa bad. I've talked tiv a
few apists durin' t' last few days, an' wi one
consent they've tell'd me 'at they've nivver
knawn sike a bad season. Mr. John Mould,
o' Danby, one o' t' biggest bee-farmers i' t'
North, says 'at monny swarms have deed an'
them 'at haven't a'e eaten all ther honey
nearly. Yan or twee hives here an' these
have deean middlin' but the're t' exception.
Ah leyke honey i' t' cap best mesen^-but
there's varry few hev it in t' aud feshioned
way noo-a-days. Ah knaw ya spot where
honey's making Is. 3d. a poond reglar. But
t' hevvy rains at t' start o' this " summer "
meead honey varry wattery and them 'at put a
bit i' t' stocking wi' what tha gat wi' t' sale o'
honey will be sairly disappointed this back
end. — Malton Gazette (Yorks).

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All querietforwarded will be attended to, and thote only
of penonal inter ett will be anttoered in thie column.

*£* A correspondent, who signs himself " A
Visitor to the Dairy Show," writes comment-
ing on the letter of Mr. H. W. Seymour
(4951, page 464). We do not, however,
see that any useful purpose can be served
by the publication of anonymous communi-
cations of this kind, which deal mainly with
casual remarks made by persons whose
names are not given. What " a lady '' said
to " Mr. A." at a "certain show "has no
particular interest for general readers, and
would probably only lead to retort from
some other person " name not for publica-
tion.'' Our correspondent must remember
that there are two sides to every question,
and persons who attempt to criticise should
not only do so under their own name, but
in fairness be prepared to substantiate their
statements by reliable evidence. — Eds.

T. F. (Ilkley). — Transferring Bees from
Skeps to Frame-Hives. — 1. You had better
get the skep of bees to your own place —
half a mile away — by tying over its mouth
a square of coarse cheese-cloth, and carrying
it carefully at night bottom upwards. Defer
transferring to frame-hive till next spring,
when it may be done as proposed by setting
the skep on top- bars and allowing the bees
to transfer themselves. 2. All feeding up
for winter should be done before cold
weather sets in. Bees, will frequently re-
fuse syrup-food at this cold season, and
must have soft candy instead. 3. Do not
trouble to re-queen your hives till you see
how they get on in brood-rearing next
spring. The bees may have re-queened
themselves, and have youDg ones at the

present time. Age of stocks is not a safe
criterion of age of queens.

L. B. W. (Hereford). — Perforated Cappings in
Foul Brood. — 1. We do not think it possible
to define the "exact cause" more clearly
than to say the cells in which the diseased
larvae die are sometimes never completely
sealed over by the bees at all, and at others
the cappings are perforated by the bees for
some reason beyond our present knowledge.
2. The publication mentioned could pro-
bably be obtained through the A. I. Root
Co., Medina, Ohio, U.S.A.

R. C. 0. (Barnet). — Pure Gane versus Beet
Sugar. — We cannot take upon ourselves to
state authoritatively whether the sugar you
name is "pure cane or not.'' Nothing short
of a chemical analysis would prove that. If
your local grocer tells you, as stated, that
*' there is not a bit of cane sugar " in any of
the sugars referred to, you must set what-
ever value you please on his opinion. On
the other hand, the press-cuttiug enclosed in
your letter, showing that a fine of ,£10, or a
month's imprisonment, was imposed on a
London grocer for selling " beet sugar dyed
yellow " as Demerara sugar, is clear proof
that the offence is punishable by law.

C. R. W. (Greenwich).— Making Soft Bee
Candy. — Your sample, though in some re-
spects good, has not been quite sufficiently
boiled. It is fairly soft now while freshly
made, but would probably become too hard
for bee food in a week or two. It is also
rathercoarse in grain, and has not the
smooth or " buttery " consistency of first-
class bee-candy.

A. Aylward (Birmingham). — Measurements
for Making the " W.B.C." Hive.—l. See
reply to "Rocks" in last week's B.B.J.,
page 470. Candy for Winter Food. — 2. If
your stocks had no natural stores on hand
when fed up, 10 lb. of sugar made into
syrup is not enough to carry them safely
through the long winter with which we are
threatened ; the supply should therefore be
supplemented by a good-sized cake of soft
candy placed beneath the quilts and warmly
packed around to prevent cold draught
through brood-nest.

A. L. G. (Ashton-on-Mersey). — Candy-making.
— See reply to " C. R. W." on this page.

Honey Samples.

W. 0. W. (Sydenham).— Sample is rapidly
granulating, and has neither sufficient
flavour nor aroma to enable us to define its
source. The colour would probably be
termed " medium " if sample was warmed
sufficiently to clarify it by melting the
granules.

E. B. 0. (Caterham). — The heather sample
(No. 1) is of good flavour and aroma, but is
granulating and shows signs of fermentation.
No 2 has also begun to granulate ; the
flavour is fairly good, but it has a very
objectionable aroma.

Dec. 4, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

481

(Mtorial, $fcrtim, &t

THE LAW COURTS.

KING'S BENCH DIVISION.

(Before Mr. Justice Lawrance and a Special
Jury.)

COLTMAN V. COWAN, CARE, AND
LEE & SON.

ACTION FOR LIBEL AGAINST THE " BRITISH
BEE JOURNAL."

This action was heard on Thursday and
Friday, November 28 and 29, 1902, before
Mr. Justice Lawrance and a special jury, and
resulted in a verdict for the defendants.

In view of our limited space, we cannot
well print a full report of the trial, but as the
case is of some importance to the bee industry
in general, we purpose next week to print
in full the " Statement of Claim " and the
"Defence," and such particulars as may be
needful, together with a shorthand note of the
summing up of the learned Judge.

ftorttapOTuIaia.

The Editor i do not hold themselves responsible for the
opinion* empr tiled by corrttpondentt. No notice will be
taken of anonymous communications, and correspondent!
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, 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' Offi.ce, 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.

[4965.] The "Standard Frame'' is again
under discussion, and Mr. Edwards (on page
463) deals with the subject somewhat fully.
For myself, I only referred to the subject in
my closing " Note " on same page, and wish
now to further assert that the gross of frames
Messrs. Abbott made for me in '93 or '94 (at
a small extra charge beyond their usual price)
have convinced me that a wider top-bar than
the '' Standard " is an advance, because of the
greater uniformity of the thickness of combs

built in same, compared with those built in
the B.B.K.A. "Standard'' frame— also the
comparatively small amount of propolis used
by the bees, and the almost total absence of
brood-combs. When I remarked some time
ago that bee-keeping had advanced very
little during the last ten or fifteen
years our Editors, apparently, did not
fall in with my view — yet here we have
a demonstrative fact that we are at
a standstill as regards frames. During the
years that have passed since the B.B.K.A.
adopted the " Standard " frame many letters
have appeared in the B.J. advocating altera-
tions in the size, but they have always been out-
voted, and we have stood by the " Standard " ;
but now, in the matter of width and thickness
of top and bottom bars, the advocates of a
change in these points in no wise challenge
the " Standard's " outside size. For myself, I
advise bee-keepers to make or procure a dozen
or two of " Standard '' size frames, with top
bar 1TV in. to 1^ in. wide and ■&• in. thick,
and with Abbott's twin groove for fixing the
foundation, and I feel sure that those who do
so will, after trial, be enthusiasts in favour
of a change. It will ensure strength and
rigidness to the brood-frames, avoid " sagging "
in centre of brood-nest, thus allowing a
space for honey cells below sections — which
makes the removal of the super a difficult
matter— and no excluder will be required
under section racks worked over these frames.
Shows, ic— Mr. H. W. Seymour, in his
reply to my "Note" (on page 464), says the
mead and vinegar exhibited by himself " was
made in 1901." I, for one, do not doubt his
word, but I still stand by my assertion that a
good sample of wax, as also a few bottles of
vinegar and mead, are not perishable articles,
and that age imparts (to the latter at least), if
really good, a commercial value, as in port
wine. Do judges taste mead and vinegar?
As regards the ancient specimen of honey-
comb design I referred to, certainly that was
Mr. Seymour's and it must have been worked
in last century, if not earlier. Others exhibited
mead and vinegar besides my friend Mr. S.,
so that my reference was general. The wax
in " commercial cakes '' is not, in my
opinion, likely to be adopted as the channel
by which the bee-keeper will dispose of his
yearly output. I contend that modern bee-
keepers are consumers of wax rather than
producers. Those who live in heather dis-
tricts and have to crush their combs have a
larger quantity than have those living in flower-
honey districts, who extract and save their
combs for future use, having only the cap-
pings and a few old combs to melt up ; and if
they are careful, trying to make their bee-
keeping profitable, these cakes are sent to be
made up into foundation. Indeed, I know
from practical experience that the comb-honey
producer requires every year to purchase wax
in the shape of comb-foundation, much more
than is produced, even where every particle is

482

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Dec. 4, 1902.

taken care of and rendered into wax. The
parcel of wax Mr. Berry mentions on
page 474 as sold by him to a firm
was, I opine, sold to a foundation maker,
if the bulk was of his usual fine quality.
With regard to Mr. Seymour's mention of
F. W. Woodley, the wax shown by this exhi-
bitor was the ordinary wax-cakes such as he
and other grocers sell to customers the year
through. It was not quite so bright in colour
as his previous consignment from the whole-
sale house in London. Evidently we bee-
keepers cannot teach the wax-cake makers
anything new. I am sorry if Mr. Berry feels
hurt by anything I have said re the same
cakes of wax being trotted out to show
afoer show. I may tell him that the
" current comment " is that such things
are not only possible, but are really done.
Then, as regards his retort about sections
of honey, I reply, yes ; these also go to
more than one show very often, and again,
when they return from the first show they are
often unshowable again. Some kind " packer "
will persist in placing them upside down or
sideways, or the railway company will give
them some slight "jars" and crack the cap-
ping. All these things start " weeping " and
the sections are spoiled for the show bench.
Not so the wax in a cake ; for even if chipped
it can be remelted. I never heard of Mr.
Berry's loss of wax ; indeed, I was not at the
last show at Beading, so do not know if it was
staged.

I endorse what Mr. Seymour says in his last
par, re live bees and trophies. I do hope that
these will be barred from future shows, and
also that show committees, in drawing up
their next year's schedules, will not only put
a stop to this inhuman practice of confining
poor bees nine or ten days, but will also bar
other items which have crept into the " Trophy
Class," such as cosmetics, soaps, hair-restorers,
and suchlike things. No English .houey^haa
ever, in my opinion, been used in the manu-
facture of any of these articles. Then why
should we, as bee-keepers, countenance them ?
Flowers, as adornments, are also of question-
able utility. Time was when the flowers were
honey or pollen- bearing plants, and when no
mention was made as " suitable for a grocer's
window." Now we try to outdo each other
with these table decorations. The gentleman
gardener is approached, and some of his finest
floral specimens are used, flowers from which
the busy bee never gets a sip of honey or a
grain of pollen. Then the other side is that
but little water is put in the fl)wer vases, or
the water fiuds its way over the sides and
spoils the section-", or is dried up, and before
the show i8 over they are in a semi-dried
state, and the visitor is inclined to write
"Ichabod" on the whole affair. For these
reasons I appeal to the show committees to
sweep the flower decorations away — let the
trophy consist of edibles only.- — W. Woodley,
Beedon, Newbury.

TSE CONFERENCE OF BEEKEEPERS.

SOME GENERAL " NOTES " THEREON.

[4966.] I have been much interested in
your report of the conference of county
representatives, and feel sure good will come
of it, especially if it can be made an annual
affair. May I also be permitted to endorse
all that is said in the editorial of November
20 as to the advantages of affiliation with the
B.B.K.A., which applies with equal force as a
reason for every bee-keeper joimog his county
association. I think that all readers of the
Bee Journal or its monthly, the Record,
who are not already members of any bee-
keepers' association should join one in the
coming year. All bee-keepers reap benefit
from the labour of those who are associated
together for mutual help, and I think the
least they can do is to show a little gratitude,
and render help, be it ever so little — not keep
aloof, and then grumble at having to pay an
extra 6d. for insurance as non-members. Bee-
keepers and their associations should adopt
the motto "Union is strength," bearing in
mind also that greater numbers means greater
strength. The " thirdly '' and "fourthly"
of your editorial (page 461) should be
taken to heart by every bee-keeper. The
good to the craft, which has been accom-
plished, cannot be over-estimated. It has,
indeed, " revolutionised bee-keeping in this
country." Speaking for myself, I think it
would be a bad day for British bee-keepers if
the B.B.K.A. should, by any mischance, cease
to exist. Tnere is useful and important work
before it, work that can only be accomplished
by securing the cordial co-operation of the
county associations and bee-keepers gene-
rally. Along with other thing-), I hope some
day to see some practical scheme formulated
for regulating the price of honey, so that it
may have some kind of "market value,'' and
supply and demand be better adjusted. Then
there is the ever-recurring theme of some kind
of legislation respecting foul brood. I have
often, when doing " expert work," wished that
some power or authority was available to
enable one to deal with this pest, but at
present one can only give advice and trust that
it is followed. Compulsory powers might not
prove an unmixed blessing, but there are
people, generally non-members of associ itions,
and who never see a bee paper on whom moral
suasion has no effect, and my experience goes
to prove that tbe only way of dealing with
them is by the force of law.

While on the subject of foul brood, I would
like to suggest that all Associations shoald
furnish their experts with a form of nocice of
foul brood, and copies of the Bjard of Agri-
culture leaflet on tbe subject, as was done in
Devon last spring. I do not know whether
the Devon Association's printed "form" is
copyright or not, but if so, no doubt they
would allow others to use it, or the " form "
might be printed in the B.B.J. These forms

Dec. 4, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

483

give advice in a nutshell, as regarding the bes'
treatment of stocks affected, and nothing
could be clearer, or, better, to give to a bee-
keeper, whose stocks were diseased, than one
of these forms and a leaflet. They are at hand
to refer to, consequently there is no danger of
forgetting what the expert said. The only
improvement I can suggest is, that the three
stages of the disease should be numbered on
the card, so that the expert could mark hives
to correspond. I would also suggest a change
in respect to the experts' report books. These
at present vary much in different counties. In
some the report is simply left with the bee-
keeper ; others send it to the Association
secretary. In some forms no space is left save
for the barest facts and figures. There should
be ample room for any remarks or advice
given, and if a counterfoil was attached one
could be left with the bee-keeper for reference
and the other sent to the Association. Thus
the expert could have the particulars on his
next visit, and this would be a great help to
him in giving advice, especially if it was not
the same expert.

Having done expert work in several
couuties, I have naturally been interested in
several recent letters in B.B.J, referring to
experts spreading foul brood. If an expert
takes proper precautions in disinfecting his
clothing and his appliances after examining
diseased stocks it is very unlikely he will
carry infection. Personally, I have for
several years used perchloride of mercury as a
disinfectant for hands, and smoker, &c, when
on tour. Many times have bee-keepers
expressed surprise at the extreme precaution
taken, not having the least idea that foul
brood was so infectious. If an expert is expe-
rienced and careful there is no fear of his
carrying the infection in his clothes. It
requires actual contact in order to communi-
cate the disease, and there would be no excuse
for any one disregarding this rule. The safest
way is to work with coat off and shirt sleeves
rolled up.

Your correspondent " Herbs " (4,922, page
42,) should not, I thin1*, be too ready to cast
blame on the expert. In the first place, it was
a month after the latter's visit that foul brood
was found only in the incipient stage. Had
the bees contracted the disease from the
expert, it would assuredly have appeared
earlier. Foul brood being admittedly general
in the county, there are probably colonies of
bees nearer to " Herb's " apiary than he is
aware ; may be in a tree, chimney, or hoube
roof, which his bees have robbed, and my
experience this season has been that they
would rob, if there was the slightest chance
even of plunder. I also gather that no pre-
ventive was used until after the outbreak of
disease. Surely this was a mistake ? for no
matter how isolated a bee-keeper may deem
his apiary, " Prevention is better than cure.''
I cannot agree with your esteemed corres-
pondent "D. M. M., Banff," when he, on

page 434, ridicules the idea of a " bogie man "
working a miracle ! I wonder if he has ever
tackled bees which had worked themselves up
into a blind fury. He says, "they strike
fierce and fast at your trousers or sleeves
when you move a limb . . ." My experience
is a bee never stings such an object volun-
tarily. I can assure "D. M. M.'' I have often
known them do this. Once or twice I have
had scores of them dotted about all over my
clothes, stinging for all they were worth,
though not reaching the flesh ; at the same
time the palpi must have telegraphed to the
brain that the substance pierced had no
feeling.

With regard to a "new frame," I am quite
at one with Mr. Edwards respecting strength
of top bar and dislike of saw cut (4950, page
463). I make up my own frames, and they
are solid. It is as little trouble to me to fix
foundation (which I always wire) by running
melted wax in each angle as it would be
getting it in the saw-cut. May not one reason
why so few use these frames be the difficulty
of obtaining them ? Many bee - keepers,
especially beginners, simply take whatever
frame is on the market, without studying the
pros and cons. Not only do the cut bars sag, and
sometimes break, but often the two halves are
nailed together after foundation is inserted,
with tops uneven, leaving a space under quilts,
to be propolised up or filled with dirt. The
solid bar is stronger even if only § in. thick,
cleaner and neater. Mr. Taylor (4,958, page
473) I think goes beside the mark. I do not
see that Mr. Edwards alters the size of frame,
but the strength of it ; and if a stronger top-
bar is used, it can be cut down at ends, as he
suggests, to take the ordinary tin end, and if
this is done from the under side, and outside
measurements of frame kept to " Standard ''
size, interchangeability will not be damaged in
any way. — J. Herrod, Trentside Apiary,
Sutton-on-Trent, Newark.

MARKETING HONEY.

[4967.] Supplementary to my letter in
B.J. of October 30 (page 439), and also in
reply to Mr. Homersham (page 456), on
" Selling Honey," wherein he seems to doubt
the possibilities of disposing of 700 lb. in a
year, retail at Is. per lb., I wish to say that
my calculation is based on what I have sold
myself, and also upon what other contributors
to our pages tell us they have done. I have
never had so much, as 700 lb. for sale in a
season, but I am working my apiary (which I
have just removed to a more sheltered spot)
for increase, so that I may get the 700 lb. in
due time. At present I am wintering five
stocks. My progress has been slow, owing to
nearness of main road to my hives. This
is now altered since removing them, and
I have every confidence in being able to
achieve greater results in the future. I find

484

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Dec. 4, 1902.

in looking over back numbers of Record, that
Mr. L. Wren, in describing his apiary (page
149, October, 1898), says : — " I run about
twenty hives for honey production, and retail
annually about 1,000 lb. without soliciting a
single customer.'' I hope the readers of the
B.B.J, will note this, and that Mr. Homersham
will be duly rewarded by haviog his doubts
removed by pushing his " front door trade."

Sections versus Screw-Gap Jars. — No doubt
the former look much better than the latter
when glazed and laced up to perfection in Mr.
Woodley's best style, but much of this is only
outward show stuck on to please the eye, and
which only serves (in many instances) to blind
the purchaser by leading him to believe he is
buying a superior honey and full weight,
hence the need, as we have so often been told
through the pages of the B.B.J., to grade
your honey, which simply means to sort out
the sections which weigh 16 oz. and look the
best, and so on with others of a lighter weight,
but which weigh approximately about the same
one with another. Compare this with good
honey in 16 oz. screw-cap jars and my money
for the same number by the dozen would be
better laid out on the latter than the former so
far as weight of honey is concerned. The
quality, if run from supers or shallow frames
tilled above the brood-nest, as all sections
usually are, would be equal in every respect.
Yet, doubtless in many instances, the one
which pleased the eye the most would over
the retail counter fetch the top price. I do
not think that any bee-master who works his
apiary for sections would, in grading the
same, uncap one for the sake of ascertaining
the quality of the honey, while much ca,n be
judged from the colour as viewed through the
bottle. What say our friends ?— W. W. K.,
St. Breladtfs, Jersey, November 24.

AN ECHO FROM HANTS.

[4968.] The Past Season.— The weather
conditions down this way have been much the
same as in most counties during the honey-
flow. All the surplus we got was stored
within the three weeks of fine weather, which
broke up just as the lime3 were coming into
blossom, so, of course, there was no honey
from that source this year. My " take " for
1902 from three hives has been No. 1, fifty
sections ; No. 2, thirty-four sections ; No. 3,
43 lb. extracted — an average of 42 lb. per hive.
I had only three colonies to start with, but
have made up nine stocks for winter, with
driven lots, and hope for a larger harvest next
year. A friend and I took a few hives to the
heather (about five miles away), but got
■carcely any honey from that source. I do not
think we had more than three really fine days
during the time the heather was in bloom.

The Size of Frame Question. — Ably set
forth by Mr. Edwards in B.B.J, of Novem-
ber 20, is, I think, an important one, as the
top-bar of th« present "Standard'' frame

"sags" with the weight of honey during a
good season. 1 have lately come across a
frame with the top-bar £ in. in thickness,
with projecting ends § in., so as to accommo-
date the ordinary metal end — a step in the
right direction. Then the question of brace-
combs comes up. Of course, with the
excluder on this doe3 not happen, and I agree
with Mr. Edwards, that if a top-bar can be
made so as to do away with, as far as possible,
the excluder, so much the better. I think
the frame he refers to, with the bottom-bar
same width as the sides, ought to become a
general favourite, especially if it answers so
well as stated.

Experts and Foul Brood. — Some few years
ago when I kept bees in another county, and
in a spot where foul brood was very much in
evidence, the expert of that county paid me a
visit. Being well aware of the nature of that
dread disease, and of the precautions needed,
I took a bowl of disinfectant with us when
examining the bees, but although I called the
expert's attention to the bowl he paid not the
slightest heed, and went on from hive to hive,
myself and the bowl in his wake. Needless
to say, I lost confidence in that man entirely,
and I do not wonder at the objection of others
to the visits of careless experts. I omit both
name of county and expert, not being wishful
to rake up the mud after so long a lapse of
time.

Competing Appliance Makers. — I really do
not see what real objection there is to these
gentlemen keeping bees, producing honey and
wax, and competing in the ordinary way with
any one else. The complainants all seem to agree
that these manufacturers are honest in staging
their own honey, &c. That being so I think
it a little narrowminded to threaten a boycott
to these " grasping ? " manufacturers. Their
bees are no better than those of other bee-
keepers, neither can they gather superior
honey. True, they may be in a good district,
but surely they are not alone ? At any rate,
it will make no difference to me who exhibits,
or who makes appliances, if I can get what I
want at any manufacturers, I get it.

I might mention I am not a " grasper " but
intend competing with any who like to come.
— D. H. F., Hants, November 26.

WANTED, A FRAME.
[4969.] I, for one, agree with your corre-
spondent, Mr. H. Edwards (4950, page 433),
in his condemnation of the " Standard" frame.
Its faults — especially when they are aggravated
by the saw cut in the top-bar — are too evident
to be overlooked. For the purpose of founda-
tion fixing, the " Abbott " groove-and-wedge
frame is a great improvement, and, in the
hands of an experienced person, the danger of
the foundation slipping out is very small. I
say in the hands of an " experienced person,"
for a neighbouring bee-keeper, to whom I
supplied frames of this pattern a few month*

Dec. 4, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

485

ago, and who had not previously tried them
found them anything but satisfactory. He
had inserted six frames alternately with combs
already in the hive (a serious mistake,
this, in the end of the summer), and
when we examined the hive a week or two
later all six sheets of foundation were found
dropped out of the groove. Since the in-
experienced form so large a proportion of our
number it would appear that some other
method of fixing foundation must be sought.
Without having tried the plan advocated by
Mr. Edwards one cannot speak with full con-
fidence of its merits, but I am inclined to
think that the thick top bar, with | in. groove
on the underside, will prove in practice to be
better than the groove-and-wedge method,
even when the latter has the advantage of
being associated with a top bar § in. thick, as
is the case with the frame that I use — made
in America, I believe.

Mr. Edwards proposes, " in order not to
interfere with the metal ends in universal use,"
to reduce the ends of his new frame to £ in.
by I in. Why not adopt a wide-shouldered end
that would work with the metal end, and
gradually supplant that abomination? The
" W.B.C." end is, no doubt, a very ingenious
invention, but how many bee-keepers use it
for the purpose for which it was introduced ?
How many practise closing up of combs to
prevent drone breeding 1 Very few, I imagine.
The thin, narrow top-bar, and the metal end
might, in my opinion, advantageously be
allowed to disappear together. Of the advan-
tage of putting more wood into the side and
bottom-bars, I am not so convinced. With a
satisfactory method of hanging the foundation,
there would be very little need of wiring the
frame, and, except for wiring purposes, the
side and bottom are very well as they are. —
John Morgan, Upper Boat, Pontypridd-

COUNTY EXPERTS AND FOUL
BROOD.

USE OF CRUDE CARBOLIC ACID.

[4970.] Referring to the letter headed
"Notes from the Lake District," page 453,
and the use of carbolic acid for foul brood, as
your correspondent, " Heather Honey,'' does
not give his name or locality, and mentions
more than one expert, the point he raises is
somewhat vague to deal with, a3 Mr. Luke
Collinge's reply on page 465 shows.

Our Association has only employed one
expert, who has, so far, travelled over not more
than half the county, and the probabilities are
that " Heather Honey " does not refer to
him.

The method our expert works on, whenever
possible, is to prepare a clean hive with
frames fitted with full sheets of foundation.
He shakes off the bees from their infected
combs and lets them run into the prepared

hive ; burns all combs and quilts, burying the
ashes, and feeds at once, medicated, if possible,
with naphthaline on floorboards. Should any
odd cell of " F. B. " be found to recur after
this treatment, Chen he drop3 crude carbolic
into it ; and as he never does this to more
than twelve cells, the bees do not mind it.
The result has been satisfactory.

The crude carbolic burns up the foul-brood
germs, and is avoided by the bees until it has
evaporated, when the cells can be safely used
by them.

He handles the carbolic with a small
medicine dropper, so that it only goes where
it is needed, as a careless way of applying it
would, of course, end in failure.

If "Heather Honey'' will send me his
address, I shall be only too pleased to give
him the fullest particulars. — G-. M. Saunders,
Hon. Sec, Cumberland B.K.A., Keswick.

ANOTHER "BEE EXPERIENCE."

[4971.] Reading the remarks of your corre-"
spondent, C. Morris, on page 465, headed " A
Bee Experience," brings to mind an occurrence
that befel me whilst on the moors last
September. Hearing a friend talking to a
lady at the foot of the hill whilst we had a
roam amongst the heather, he informed her
that I was a beekeeper, and on hearing this she
asked me, when we got back, if I would
examine a stock which she had bought from a
friend of hers.

As I had neither veil or anv tackle with me,
I did not feel much inclined, but she being
anxious to know how the bees were, I said I
would have a look. The hive was situated at
the foot of the hill, so the bees, when going out
or returning home, had a steep rise and fall.
The entrance was guarded by an abundance of
tall growing weeds, including thistles and
nettles — life size.

The day was grand, one of the few which
we have had this year, when the heather was
giving forth its sweets. I lit my pipe, and
commenced to take off the roof, but found it
securely fastened down by four strong nails.
" Had the lady a pair of pincers or a strong
screw-driver ? " I inquired. " Yes, she had
a screw-driver " (about as thick as a pencil).
After a long time, by the aid of my jack-
knife, a good deal of twisting and pulling,
I managed to get the roof off. And what a
picture of comfort and prosperity I disclosed !
Earwigs in profusion, woodlice galore ; moths,
spiders, and other creepy things seemed to
be revelling and having " high jinks " here.
After scattering this happy family, I found
the queen-excluder on top of a shallow-frame
super, containing some " good old " dirty
combs of various shapes ; and under this
super was a piece of rotten baize cloth, stuck
firmly to the frame tops. After scattering
more "wigs," little tortoises, &c, a bee came
through a hole to wish me the compliments

486

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Dec. 4, 1902.

of the day ! The bees were strong, had plenty
of stores and — dirt ! I offered to transfer them
to another hive, and, after cleaning out the cob-
webs in it, I went to the stock, moved it to
one side, placed the " cleaned-out " hive on
the stand, and commenced to transfer the
combs and bees. What a job ! The lags of
the frames were all sizes, and the combs had
to be spaced as best they could. You can
guess the state of the temper of the bees after
so much jostling and exposure. One bee went
for my nose, another for my throat, others for
my neck and hands ; but the climax came
when I felt one wending its way into my ear !
I do not know whether it was in search of wax,
or mistook it for a ' This way in ! ' I kept
cool, knowing there was no through admit-
tance, and did not attempt to guide it back-
wards by mild persuasion, or forcibly eject it.
I knew I should chance a ' fat head.' Any-
way, after looking round, and finding no nectar
there — I cannot say about wax — it elbowed its
way out again, much to my satisfaction. The
experience was far from pleasant, and, like
your correspondent, I felt the noise for some
days."— W. K. West.

EXHIBITION AT NEWOASTLE-ON-
TYNE.

HONEY SECTION OP THE SHOW.

An exhibition connected with the grocery
trades was held in St. George's Drill Hall,
Newcastle, Nov. 5 to 19. Amongst the many
competitions British honey was included, and,
taking the poor season into consideration,
there was a fair display of honey, wax, and
bee appliances.

Messrs. Kidd and Weighell acted as judges,
and made the following awards : —

Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey.— 1st,
E. C. R. White, Newton Toney, near Salis-
bury ; 2nd, T. S. Holdsworth, Kirton-in-
Lindsey, Lines. ; 3rd, E. C. R. White.

Twelve l-lb. Jars Heather Honey. — 1st,
John Thompson, Langleeford ; 2nd, Wm.
Thompson, Btoadstruther ; 3rd, R. Trotter,
Akeld Station.

Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, L. McNeil
Stewart, Claremont- terrace, Swanley, Kent
(only award).

Twelve l-lb. Sections Heather Honey. — 1st,
Wm. Thompson (only award).

Most Suitable Outfit for a Beginner (price
not to exceed £1 10s) — 1st, R. H. Cokman,
49, Station-street, Burton-on-Trent ; 2nd,
Caldcleugh Bros., Silver-street, Durham ; 3rd,
W. J. Watson, Limited, Town Hall Buildings,
Newcastle-oo-Tyue.

Beeswax in Cakes, Quality of Wax, Form
of Cakes and Suitability of Package to be
Adapted for the Retail Counter. — 1st, J.
Pearman, Pennylong Lane, Derby ; 2nd, John
Berry, Llanrwst, N. Wales ; 3rd, E. 0. R.

White ; v.h.c, Wm. Hood, Dairy, Ayrshire ;
and J. L. Dent, Burnhill, DarliDgton. — Jas.
Waddell, Wooler, for Mr. W. A. Cowie,
Manager.

THE DENVER CONVENTION.

At the Annual Convention of the National
Bee-keepers' Association of America, on
September 2, 3, 4, and 5, 1902, the President
(Mr. W. Z. Hutchinson) delivered the fol-
lowing address on

THE FUTURE OF BEE-KEEPING.

Fellow Beekeepers, — Has there ever
crossed your mind the thought that modern
bee-culture has advanced by distinct stages ?
When Father Langstroth's invention laid bare
the secrets of the hive, allowing man to turn
one more page in the book of Nature, then
began what might be called the mechanical
stage. In this were brought forth hives,
smokers, sections, comb foundation, and the
honey-extractor. Minor mechanical improve-
ments, like the bee escape, the qaeeu and
drone trap, the solar wax extractor, the wax
press, perhaps an uncapping machine, may be
occasionally added to our list of implements,
but the fundamental mechanical improvements
were made long years ago.

Next came the methodical stage, when,
with the aid of mechanical inventions, were
developed methods and systems of manage-
ment. Bee-keepers learned to control in-
crease, to rear, snip, and introduce queens ; to
secure the largest amount of the best honey in
the most marketable shape ; learned the nume-
rous operations that come under the head of
manipulation. Some of our present methods
will certainly be improved upon, but it is
doubtful if future bee-keepers will secure their
crops |with much less labour than we now
bestow upon ours. Our hives, implements,
and methods leave little room for improve-
ment.

In another respect bee-keeping is not now
what it was years ago. The invention of
improved hives and implements, allowing the
adoption of more profitable methods, but
calliDg for greater skill, has gradually led bee-
keeping from mixed husbandry to that of
speciality. Of course there are, and probably
always will be, people whose tastes impel them
to keep a few bees, but the great mass of
people have found it more profitable to buy
their honey, the same as they have learned
that it does not pay them to make their own
cheese.

Bee-keeping has become a distinct branch
of agriculture, and is largely in the hands of
specialists. These specialists have implements
and methods that answer well their purpose,
and the natural question is, " What next 1"
What will be the next stage 1 What will be
the future of bee-keeping ?

The answer is not far to seek. The history

Dec. 4, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOtTRNAL.

487

of kindred industries will be the history of
bee-keeping. First came discovery, invention,
and development ; next came speciality, and
now comes orginisatian and co-operation.

Most emphatically is this an age of organi-
sation. An industry without organisation is
practically helpless — at the mercy of all other
organisations. Organisation saved the citrus
fruit industry of California. But we need not
go that far for an illustration. Eight here, in
this good State of Colorado, with its fields
watered from the eternal hills and robed in
the royal purple of alfalfa, bee-keeping would
have languished and been robbed of its com-
mercial charm, had not organisation come to
the rescue.

Organisation has already done much for
bee-keeping. It has fostered a fraternal spirit,
helped to scatter apicultural wisdom from
ocean to ocean, protected its members from
unjust persecution and secured favourable
legislation. But the dear old Association, of
which we are all so proud, is even now but the
nucleus of what it is destined eventually to
become.

Perhaps the next great work of this organi-
sation will be the timely gathering of statistics
regarding the prospective harvest and the re-
porting of the supply and demand in different
localities, thus preventing glutted markets and
unprofitable sales. From this the good work
will go on until, if the Association does not
actually control the bulk of the sales, it will
be a potent factor in the regulation of prices.

Honey may never be higher in price than it
is now, but it will be produced at less cost.
The continued development of specialty and
of organisation will lesBen the cost of produc-
tion. The number of bees will be increased,
but not the number of bee-keepers. - They
will " keep more bees." Few bee-keepers will
be content with simply the home apiary.
There will be an out-apiary for each day in the
week. With this style of bee-keeping organi-
sation will be an easy matter.

Commercial bee-keeping of the future will
be in the hands of specialists. In the hands
of men who have carefully selected and
thoroughly understand their respective locali-
ties. Of men who keep enough bees to employ
fully their hands, their brains, and their
capital. And among these men there will be
complete organisation and co-operation.

As a foundation for the more perfect organi-
sation of the future, let us cherish and foster
the dear old Association of which we are now
members. Let us pay our dues promptly.
Let. us encourage others to join. Let us lay
aside self and selfishness. And of the talents
that we possess let us give that which will the
most quickly and surely help to build up, to
strengthen, and to broaden its scope. Let us
rest not until every bee-keeper, from ocean to
ocean, has rallied under its banner, and all can
co-operate as the members of one great
family.

WEATHER REPORT.

Westbourne, Sussex.

Rainfall, 2.32 in.

Heaviest fall, .55 in.,
on 15th.

Rain fell on 18 days.

Below aver., 1"45 in.

Maximum Tempera-
ture, 63°, on 10 ih.

Minimum Tempera-
ture, 28°, on 23 rd.

Minimum on Grass,
20°, on 23rd.

Frosty Nights, 1.

Sunshine, 89 4 hours.

Brightest Day, 21st,
8*6 hours.

October, 1902.
Sunless Days, 7.
Below average, 39 5
hou^s.

Maximum,

Minimum,

Temperature,

Mean

55-5°.
Mean

43°.
Mean

49-2°

Above average, 1'6°.
Maximum Barometer,

3072°, on 24th.
Minimum Barometer,

29-52°, on 10th.

L. B. BlRKETT.

WEATHER REPORT.

Westbourne, Sussex.

Rainfall, 3 34 in.

Heaviest fall, *50, on
11th.

Rain fell on 17 days.

Below average, "04
in.

Maximum tempera-
ture, 58° on 6th.

Minimum tempera-
ture, 28° on 18th.

Minimum on grass,
23°, on 18th.

Frosty nights, 5.

Sunshine, 56 1

hours.

Brightest day, 4th,
5-8 hours.

November, 1902.
Sunless days, 11.
Below average, 16'1

hours.

maximum,

minimum,
temperature,

Mean

49-5°.
Mean

38 3°.
Mean

43 9°.
Above average, 1'7°.
Maximum barometer,

30 36° on 2nd.
Minimum barometer,

29-20° on 25th.

L. B. BlRKETT.

THE WORKING POWERS OF BEES.

THE LONG-TONGUE THEORY.

Since our experimenting apiarists and
scientific men agree it is neither tongue-
reach nor toogue-length that enables the red
clover honey gatherers to obtain the lucid
nectar from the deep tubes beneath the
corolla of the red clover, would it not be well
for them to turn their searchlights in other
directions, and if possible discover the true
secret, even if it does not exactly tally with
old ideas ?

For many years we have been extolling the
wisdom of the honey-bee. In the " A B C of
Bee Culture '' Mr. T. W. Cowan is quoted as
showing the brain of the honey-bee to be
superior to all other insects. One cm hardly
find a book written on the apiary which ha3
not something to say of the wonderful know-
ledge possessed by the honey-bee. Have we
not good evidence at hand to prove that they

488

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Dec. 4, 1902.

are not all endowed with the same amount of
wisdom and skill any more than the human
family is ? For instance, we see a vast dif-
ference in their skill and workmanship in
comb-building, in their manner of constructing
queen, drone, and even worker cells. I could
relate many instances showing the cunning of
the honey-bee if I had the time and space.
These things I have observed in my own
apiary, and I doubt not that all old bee-
keepers can say the same. This being true,
why should we not credit the honey-bee with
at least a small amount of progressive know-
ledge which is being handed down little by
little from generation to generation, and not
say it is simply instinct, and that the first
honey-bee on earth (which perhaps had a nest
in a hollow tree in the Garden of Eden) knew
as much as our best strains of the present
day ? I think it would be but fair to give
them the advantage of a doubt, and investi-
gate in other directions. I hope that those
who have time and opportunity will examine
and ascertain, if possible, if these red-clover
bees may not have some way of pressing the
deep, delicate flower-tubes close around their
tongues, making it airtight below, then raising
the nectar to their honey-sics by suction, or,
by pressing the lower part of the soft, pliable
tube, force the honey up to the surface so it
will be in reach of the shortest tongues.

In the American " Bee-keepers' Guide,"
Professor Cook, after describing the physi-
ology of bees' tongues, says : " The bee, then,
can take nectar in three different ways — first,
rapidly, when sipping from flowers containing
much nectar by the large channels formed by
approximating its maxillse and labial palpi ;
secondly, slowly, from deep tubular flowers,
when it sips through the central rod ; and,
thirdly, it may lap from a smeared surface
because of the slitted ligula." So does it not
seem reasonable, with their extra brain power
and their many wonderful appendages, they
should be able to contrive some way to obtain
the coveted sweet from the red - clover
blossoms, especially those which have been bred
for many generations in a country where red
clover is extensively grown 1 I do not doubt
that there are many red- clover bees in the
East, where they have had such excellent
opportunities to become acquainted with the
mode of obtaining it ; but in many parts of
the United States red clover does not succeed
well, and in such localities I should hardly
expect red-clover bees. — L. 0. Westcott, in
Gleanings (American).

[I should question very much whether the
bees with short tongues, even if they could
make an airtight connection with the flower
tube, could suck all the honey out. From
a mechanical point of view the feat would be
impossible unless there could be a vent at the
bottom, by which the 15 lb. of air-pressure
outside of the tube could be exerted to force
the nectar up to and within reach of the bees'
tongues. Perhaps the matter may be better

explained if I illustrate it in this way : Sup-
pose we have a bottle half full of water.
Through the cork we insert a little pump, the
suction of which is above the surface of the
water. Now, if we work that pump the
water, of course, will not come up. But
suppose we insert the suction of the pump
into the water there will very soon be a
partial vacuum. When the air pressure in
the bottle is not sufficient to force the water
up the suction pump it will fail to draw
water.

Of course it is true that bees have a very
large brain compared with that of other
insects, and we know, too, from experience,
that they exhibit wonderful sagacity at times.
But I do not know any way by which bees
could use their brains in getting honey from
red clover unless those same bees in some
way puncture or tear away the base of the
flower so that they can reach the nectar.
Experiments, and a great amount of testimony
so far goes to show that bees do not cut or
bite open either the skins of fruit or the
delicate tissue composing the base of the
flower tubes. — Ed. Gleanings.']

$t\im from tit* Urns.

Bishop's Stortford Herts, November 24.^
Yesterday (Sunday) a fine day. Temperature
in the shade, 49 deg., and sun shining splendid*
Bees from ail my hives were flying strong and
in good force, after the weather for the past
week. — Ponica.

Qiqrip smtt |£a$lij|a.

[3006.] "Robbing" Diseased Stocks in
November. — When visiting a friend recently,
who has an apiary of thirteen stocks in frame -
hives, I found one stock being " robbed,''
although entrance was reduced to i in. On
examination this stock proved to be infested
with foul brood. The hive was at once closed,
as but few bees remained, and comb3 and
quilts condemned to the fire ; the hive to be
treated with Calvert's No. 5 carbolic acid.
The other stocks had been packed for winter,
and this being so, and the weather now so un-
suitable for examining the brood-nests of
stocks, and the hives each having been sup-
plied in the usual way with napthaline, I
ask :— 1. Would it not be the least evil to
leave bees undisturbed till early spring rather
than overhaul them in November? 2. Is
thin linoleum likely to prove conducive to
disease as a covering in winter from its non-
porosity? It has been used in this apiary

Dec. 4, 19G2.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

489

under woollen quilts, because the bees do not
propolise it. — " Apiarist,'' Berks.

Keply. — 1. No possible good would result
from an examination of hives already packed
for winter, as stated. The inspection must
be deferred till early spring, when all hatching
brood, carefully noted, and measures must be
taken where danger is threatened. 2. No, it is
quite common to use non-porous coverings
without any ill-effects arising therefrom.

[3007.] Suspected Combs. — Will you kindly
say in B.B.J, if the enclosed comb is affected
with foul brood ; and if so, would you advise
destruction of the shallow-frames that have
been used as supers on the said hive. Colony
appears fairly strong, but has not sufficient
stores to carry them through the winter. —
F. W., Wisbech.

Reply. — There is foul brood in two of
the dozen or so capped cells in comb sent.
JudgiDg by sample it is a recent outbreak of
disease. We would melt down the combs
referred to.

[3008.] Queen Cast Out in November. —
Enclosed is a queen-bee which I found on
alighting-board to-day (November 30). Will
you please tell me probable cause of mis-
hap 1 The hive in question was packed for
winter on November 2, and has not been
disturbed since. It is a June swarm, headed,
of course, by the old queen, age of which is
probably two and a halt" years old. Enclosed
queen appears much smaller to me than the
one I have been accustomed to see. Will you
kindly tell me if it is the old queen, and what
is best to do under the circumstances ? — H. M.,
Horsforth, November 30.

Reply. — The bee sent is an old queen, and,
judging by appearance, has for some time past
been failing in prolificness. Indeed, but for
the jagged wings and other indications of age,
it might be an unmated queen. There is no
other way of remedying queenlessness at this
season but by requeening the stock, if you can
hear of any one who has a surplus queen on
hand for disposal.

GOOD ADVICE TO BEE-KEEPERS.

We commend the following very excel-
lent advice to the notice of bee-keepere in
general as being worthy of taking to heart.
It is from the pen of Col. Walker, Chairman
of the Devon B.K.A., and appears in the
local edition of the Bee-keepers' Record issued
by the D.B.K.A., in October last : —

' ' Keeping bees is a pursuit at once delight-
ful and profitable to those who are naturally
fitted for it, but any one who is not prepared
to look after his own bees, and keep them
healthy, had far better not keep bees at all.
We wish this to be understood : we should
say it even though we knew that it would rob

the association of half its numbers. We beg
to remind all our members, new and old, that
the association exists mainly for the ' en-
couragement and welfare of bee culture,' and
that in no way can they better attain that
object than by doing their utmost to keep
down, and eventually do away with, the curse
of foul brood, that bears so heavily on too
many districts in this country.

" Words and good wishes will not do much.
Rather let every member of the Bee-keepers'
Association be able to say at the end of this
year that he has done all in his power to
cleanse his own apiary, if affected, and that by
no carelessness or lack of energy has he been,
directly or indirectly, the means of spreading
the disease amongst his neighbours. It is not
much to ask of an honest bee-keeper ; a simple
and even a narrow performance of an obvious
duty ; and yet, had even this much been
done, the reports of our experts on their
recent tour would never have shown certain
districts so thickly spotted with foul brood as
they are at this' moment. There are many
cases of sheer ignorance ; some, we regret to
say, where better things might have been
expected. In all friendliness, we urge bee-
keepers of the latter class, without loss of
time, to cleanse themselves, and then to lend
a helping hand to their less enlightened neigh-
bours. Better than good advice is good
example."

PRESS CUTTINGS.

FOUL BROOD GERMS AND THE POTATO
PLANT.

The so-called foul-brood of bees was first
described under that name by Schirach in
1769, but it is supposed that so far back as
Aristotle it was a recognised disease, and that
the remarks about it made by this writer
undoubtedly refer to this particular malady.
It was in 1885 that Messrs. Watson-Cheyne
& Cheshire, with Koch's new bacteriological
methods at their disposal, submitted this
destructive disease to an elaborate scientific
investigation, and shortly after presented to
the scientific world a certain Bacillus alvei,
which was accepted as the fons et origo of the
foul brood of bees. The subject has occupied
much attention, not only of apiarists, but also
of scientific men, and in 1900 Mr. Francis
Harrison, of Ontario, published an important
memoir dealing with methods of effectually
combating the disease. The latest con-
tribution to the scientific work on the
subject emanates from the University
of Liege, and the funds for carrying it on were
provided by the Belgian Government. Dr.
Lambotte, as the result of his extended
researches, affirms that the Bacillus alvei of
Cheyne and Cheshire is identical with the
well-known and widely-distributed Bacillus

490

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Dec. 4, 1902.

mesentericus vulgaris, and must be placed in
the same category with, for example, the
ubiquitous B. coli communis, which, although
a normal and harmless inhabitant of the
intestine, may, under given conditions, become
pathogenic and give rise to disease. The
endowment of harmless micro-organisms by
suitable means with pathogenic properties is,
of course, a well-recognised achievement, and
Dr. Lambotte has shown experimentally how
the familiar so-called potato - bacillus may
artificially become invested with disease-pro-
ducing powers and can engender foul-brood
disease in bees. —Nature.

THE TRANSFORMATION OF GERMS.

I have alluded in this column to the fact
that it is highly probable that certain
microbes through an alteration of their
environment may undergo a metamorphosis
evolving another type or species, exhibiting
different powers and habits. Thus the harm-
less bacillus coli of our digestive system is
believed by some authorities to be capable of
developing into the typhoid microbe, and at
least we know the latter's disease-producing
properties are accentuated by its association
with the former. In Nature an interesting
illustration is given of an analogous case.
There is a disease of bees called " foul brood,''
and this was ascertained to be due to the
work of the bacillus alvei. From Liege comes
the news that this germ is only the B.
mesentericus vulgaris masquerading under
another guise. This last is ordinarily harm-
less. The potato bacillus thus shifted to
new surroundings develops " foul brood " in
bees. Dr. Andrew Wilson in Daily Chronicle,
October 30, 1902.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

Letter* or queries diking for addretset qf 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 qf their communications.

All queriesforwardtd will be attended to, and thou only
of personal interest will be answered in this,eolumn.

*** A correspondent who writes under the
nom de plume of " Bee-Farm,'' is desirous
of obtaining information as to the suitability,
or otherwise, of Hundon and Clare, Suffolk,
or of Maldon, E>sex, as locations for profit-
able bee-keeping. Will some reader who
has experience of the districts named kindly
send a line of reply ?

Ponica (Bishops Stortford).— Weekly Tem-
peratures— While thanking you very much
for kindly offering to., supply a weekly

record of temperature, we think the
monthly " Weather Reports " now appear-
ing in our pages suffice for the purpose.

J. F. 0. (Cape Colony, S.A) — Insert Nomen-
clature.— We are forwarding the package,
duly received and quite intact, to our
esteemed contributor, Mr. F. L. Sladen,
who will, we hope, afford some information
regarding the curious little insects enclosed,
for publication in an early issue of B.B.J.

J. G. McC. (Carnforth).— Bee Candy.— -Your
sample is too hard ; otherwise it is fairly
good, though not sufficiently smooth — or
" buttery " — in grain. If used when quite
freshly made, it would, no doubt, be used
by the bees readily enough, but though
" only made a week ago," it is quite hard on
the outside.

Thos. Wells (Colchester). — Lantern Slides
on Bee-keeping. — There must be some mis-
carriage in post, we think. The B.B.K.A.
have a full set of lantern slides, which can
be hired for use by members of the Bee-
keepers' Association, or by non-members.
If you write to Mr. E. H. Young, Sec.
B.K.A., 12, Hanover-square, W., the charge
for hiring will be furnished.

J. S. (Easton). — Bees in an Oak Tree for 100
Yean. — We will be very pleased to have a
photo of so great a curiosity as you men-
tion, and if suitable for reproducing as a
tone-block, we will have it engraved for
publication.

" Somerset " (Crewkerne). — Re-queening
Stocks. — The best time to re-queen stocks is
in the autumn, because at that season the
qualities of the queen to be deposed will be
known, and judged by her past season's
work. With regard to methods of intro-
duction and "how to destroy the old one," we
advise you to purchase a " Guide Book,''
where such operations are fully detailed.
We cannot in this column undertake to
teach the art of bee-keeping, for which a
text-book is indispensable.

An Old Subscriber (London). — Buying
Queens. — Beyond referring you to those of
our advertisers who deal in queens we
cannot do more than suggest a small
advertisement in our prepaid column, which
would probably secure you the couple of
queens desired. We regret delay in reply,
but it was unavoidable.

S. H. F. (Burford). — Disinfecting Old Combs.
— No useful purpose would follow an
attempt to " disinfect old combs so as not
to injure them for future use," as stated,
even if it were practicable to render them
innocuous by any chemical process. The
best course with such combs is to melt them
down for wax, and use the latter for house-
hold purposes when extracted. To subject
combs containing spores of foul brood to
the fumes of burning sulphur would be of
ho advantage whatever so far as ridding
them of the said spores.

Dec. 11, 1902.] THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.

491

(Editorial, $}<rtim, &l

THE RECENT ACTION FOR LIBEL.

As notified on page 481 last week, we
to-day print following particulars regarding
the recent action for libel against ourselves,
as Editors, and Messrs. Jas. Lee & Son, bee-
appliance manufacturers.

Should the occasion arise later on we may
add to the purely legal particulars which
appear below a fuller report of the evidence
given at the trial, seeing that a full shorthand
note of the proceedings is available for use if
required.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE.

King's Bench Division.

Writ issued April 22, 1902.

Between Richard Henry Coltman, Plaintiff,

and
Thomas William Cowan, W. Broughton
Carr, and James Lee & Son, Defendants.

Statement of Claim.

1. The plaintiff is a manufacturer of and
dealer in bee-hives and bee-keeping appliances,
and carries on business at Bur ton-or. -Trent. The
defendants, Cowan and Carr, are the pro-
prietors and editors of a newspaper called the
British Bee Journal, and the defendants
James Lee & Son, carry on business at 10,
Silver-street, High Holborn, in the County of
London, as manufacturers of, and dealers in,
the same articles as the plaintiff.

2. The plaintiff has suffered damage by the
defendants, Cowan and Carr, falsely and
maliciously, and with intent to injure the
plaintiff in his said business, printirg and pub-
lishing in the aforesaid newspaper of and con-
cerning the plaintiff, the words following : —

"Unfair Exhibiting.

A Protest.

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 reflecting discredit on the
part of the judges, but on the first prize
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 purposes only.
I call this dishonest in the highest degree,
and discreditable in every way. It is to be

hoped our judges, and buyers of appliances,
will award honours or credit where de-
served. 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 bad 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.

Syston-Cardiff,
June 29."

W. P. Meadows.

Particulars.

The said words complained of were printed
and published by the defendants, Cowan and
Carr, in their said newspaper, called the
British Bee Journal, published at 17,
King William-street, London, W.C., on July
4, 1901.

3. By the said libellous words, the defen-
dants, Cowan and Carr, meant and intended
to convey that the plaintiff who had obtained
the first prize for his exhibits in the class for
" The Best Collection of Hives and Appl;ances"
at the Royal Agricultural Society's Show,
Cardiff, for 1901, had obtained the said prize
by dishonesty and fraud, and had fraudulently
copied in his exhibits the machines and
appliances of other manufacturers and dealers,
and that the plaintiff had no right to exhibit
any of the machines and appliances which he
had exhibited at the said show.

4. The plaintiff has also suffered damage by
the defendarts, James Lee & Son, falsely and
maliciously, and with intent to injure the said
plaintiff iu his aforesaid business, writing and
publishing, and procuring to be printed and
published, and by the defendants, Cowan and
Carr, falsely and maliciously, and with like
intent, printing and publishing in the said
newspaper, the British Bee Journal, of
and concerning the plaintiff the words follow-
ing :—

" We endorse the statements contained 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 him-
self to pirate the best of the ideas, and the
particular specialities of several appliance
makers (who, we might say without egotism,
are admittedly prominent in the appliance
manufacturing trade), in some instances
exact 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 ? In
fact, as Mr. Meadows pointed out in jour
issue of last week the judges have no
knowledge of the dishonourable methods
adopted.

Disagreeable as the task is to us, we feel
injustice to ourselves and others) interested

492

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 11, 1902.

who only wish for fair dealing, to enter a
strong protest against such practices.

James Lee & Son.
10, Silver-street,

High Holborn, W.C'

Particulars.
The said words complained of were written
and published by the defendants, James Lee
&Son, in a letter addressed and sent by them
to the defendants, Co wan and Carr, and the
said letter was printed and published by the
defendants Cowan and Carr in their said
newspaper, the British Bee Journal, on
July 11, 1901.

5. By the said libellous words the defend-
ants repeated and emphasised the libellous
statements published by the defendants,
Cowan and Carr in the said British Bee
Journal of July 4, 1901, and meant and
intended to convey thereby that the plaintiff,
who had obtained the first prizi for his
exhibits in Class No. 334 for "A Collection of
Hives and Appliances '' at the Royal Agricul-
tural Show at Cardiff for 1901, and obtained
the said prize by dishonesty and fraud, and
had fraudulently copied in his exhibits the
machines and appliances of other manufac-
turers and dealers, and that the plaintiff had
no right to exhibit any of the machines and
appliances which he had exhibited at the
said show.

6. By reason of the premises the plaintiff
has been and is greatly injured in his credit
and reputation and in his aforesiid business.

Tin plaintiff claim} £500 damages from
each defendant.

Place of trial :— Middlesex.

H. Newson.

Delivered May 22, 1902, by E Lydekker, of
Salisbury House, Finsbury Circus, EC,
Agent for R. W. Skinner, Burtoa-on-
Trent.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE.

King's Bench Division.
Between Richard Henry Coltman, Plaintiff,

and
Thomas William Cowan, W. Broughton
Carr, and James Lee & Son, Defendants.

Defence.

1. The defendant Cowan is the proprietor of
the British Bee Journal The defendant
Carr is one of the editors of the said journal.
The defendants, James Lee & S)D, are manu-
facturers and sellers of bee-hives and bee-
keeping appliances. Save as abore admitted
the defendants do not aimit the allegations
contained in paragraph 1 of the Statement of
Claim.

2 The defenlants, Cowan and Carr, admit
that they printed and published in the said

journal on July 4, 1901, the letter from one
W. P. Meadows, set out in paragraph 2 of the
Statement of Claim. Save as above admitted
they deny the remaining allegations in the
said paragraph.

3. The defendants, Cowan and Carr, deny
that the said words bear the meaning alleged
in paragraph 3 of the Statement of Ciaim.

4. The defendants, James Lee & Son, admit
that they wrote to the said journal the letter
set out in paragragh 4 of the Statement of
Claim. The defendants, Cowan and Carr,
admit that they priated and published the
said letter in the said journal on July 11,
1901. Save as above admitted they deny the
remaining allegations in the said piragraph.

5. The defendants deny that tha said words
bear the meaning alleged in paragraph 5 of the
Statement of Claim.

(5. Ths defendants, Cowan and Carr, as to
the words set out in paragraph 2 of the State-
ment of Claim, and all the defendants as to the
words set out in paragraph 4 of the Statement
of Claim, say that in sj far as th9 said words
consist of statements of fact, they are true in
substance, and, in fact, in their fair and
ordinary meaning, and that in so far as they
consist of comment, they are fair comment
upon matters of general public interest.

Particulars are as Follows: —

At the show of the Royal Agricultural
Society of England, held at Cardiff on June
26, 1901, the plaintiff exhibited and obtained
first prize in Class N). 334 for " Collection of
Hives and Appliances " (Open to Manufacturers
of Bee App'iances only, being; articles sold in
the usual way of trade). The plaintiff, in his
said exhibit, showed one of Messrs Lie &
Son's Observatory Hives, which he did not,
and could not, sell ia the usual way of trade.
The said exhibit also contained copies of
" Extractors " and " W. B. C. Ends " for use
on hive frames, made by W. P. Meadows. He
also, at the same show, exhibited in a clasj
distinct by itself a copy of a " Frame Hive for
cottagers' use," which he had bought from
Messrs. James Lee & Son.

In June, 1899, the plaiatiff exhibited at
Maidstone, and obtained first prize for, a
" Frame Hive for cottagers' u?e.'' The plaintiff
exhibited the said hive, with the addition of a
few appliances worth about 3i. The hive
exhibited by the plaintiff was one he had
bought from Messrs. James Lee & Son.

At the Royal Agricultural Show at York, in
1900, the plaintiff exhibited a hive he had
previously bought of Messrs. James Lee &
Son, under exactly similar circumstances.

In the plaintiff's current catalogue, on
page 5, the plaintiff advertises a Three-Frame
Observatory Hive (with an illustration). The
said illustration is copied from Messrs. James
Lee & Son's Three-Frame Observatory Hive.

On page 3 of the said catalogue of the
plaintiff he advertises an Improved Non-
Swarming Hive on the W. B. C. plan (with

Dec. 11, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

493

an illustration). The illustration is copied
from Messrs. James Lee & Son's Non-
Swarming W. B. C. hive.

On page 22 of the said catalogue the plaintiff
advertises Registered Section Cases (with an
illustration). The said section cases are those
manufactured by Messrs. James Lee & Sod,
who have registered the design.

On page 14 of the plaintiff's catalogue for
1900 the plaintiff advertises honey extractors
(with an illustration). The said illustration is
copied from an extractor, or from an illustra-
tion of an extractor, of one W. P. Meadows.

The plaintiff also with his advertisements
supplies copies of order forms, which are
copied verbatim from the order form of one
E. H. Taylor, a manufacturer of bee ap-
pliances.

Montague Shearman.

Delivered the 30th day of June, 1902, by
Cook & Ellis, of No. 7, Mark-lane, EC.,
Solicitors for the defendants.

In the High Court of Justice.
King's Bench Division.

1902.— C— No. 1288.

Between Richard Henry Coltman, plain-
tiff, and Thomas William Cowan, W.
Broughton Carr, and James Lee & Son,
defendants.

Reply.

The plaintiff as to the defence says : — That
he joins issue thereon save in so far as the
same consists of admissions.

H. Newson. —

Delivered July 9, 1902, by E. Lydekker, of
Salisbury House, Finsbury-circus, E.G., agent
for.R. W. Skinner, Burton-on-Trent.

The trial took place in the High Court of
Justice (King's Bench Division) on Thurs-
day and Friday, November 27 and 28, 1902,
before Mr. Justice Lawrance and a special
jury.

The plaintiff claimed £1,500 damages.

After hearing the evidence Mr. Justice
Lawrance summed up as follows : Gentlemen
of the Jury, — I will not detain you long. This
action is brought by the plaintiff, Mr. Colt-
man, to recover damages against the pro-
prietors of a newspaper called the British
Bee Journal and Messrs. Lee, who wrote to
the paper. What is complained of by the
plaintiff is that what was said is libellous,
and imputes to him dishonest or dishonourable
dealing.

Now, it seems that there had been a show
— the Royal Agricultural Show at Cardiff —
and the Bee-keepers' Association had an ex-
hibition there in which they showed appliances
interesting to people who keep bees and pro-
duce honey. Some time ago, as far back as the
Maidstone Show, which was held in 1899,

— the Cardiff Show being in 1901 — there was
some criticism with regard to what had been
done in the way of showing in the " Collections
class.'' It seems that prizes are given for the
best " Observatory hives," " Frame hives,"
" Cottage hives," and so od, dealing with
different things. Among other things there is
one class for a Collection of Hives and Appli-
ances, the cnly rule appljing to that is that
it is " Open to Manufacturers of Bee Appli-
ances only, being articles sold in their usual
way of trade." What has taken place with
regard to the class in question is this, that
as to persons who have exhibited therein
other persons' goods, comments have been
made, not of the kind we are trying now,
but comments were made at Maidstone in the
year 1899 on the plaintiff showing these things.
It is quite true there is nothing in the rules
to say that the goods shall be the manufacture
of the person who is showing them. There is
no law that has been written yet that some-
body has not got behind. I dare say you know
the old saying about " driving a coach and
horses through an Act of Parliament.'' But a
man cannot shield himself behind rules that
are made by somebody else. You see what I
mean, gentlemeD. It is not enough for him
to say "certain persons made certain rules,
and because I am within those rules I have
not done that which is dishonourable.'' The
question is whether he has or has not in your
opinion done it. That is the only que stun. It is
idle, as it seems to me, to shield oneself behind
rules which do not reallv apply. You heard
what the officer of the Society said in answer
to me tc-day. I said, •' You find your rule
does not apply to the particular thing " ; and he
said, " It does not "; then I said, "I suppose you
will make it your business to alter your rule, and
do what is right"; and he said, "We shall." If this
means that this " Collection " should be per-
sonal— the collection of the manufacturer him-
self of a particular kind of hives ; or if it is
merely to mean that a man may go into the
market and buy a hive because it is the best
obtainable, then go to somebody else who sells
other appliances, section-racks and so on, go
all round in that way ; and if the only condi-
tion is that he is to be a manufacturer of bee
appliances — if that is all, anybody in a show
could suppose that if that rule was made by
the Bee-keepers' Association — the object being
of course to stimulate new ideas, new inven-
tion, and to improve the manufacture of hives
and the keeping of bees, and I suppose rightly
that this " Collection of Hives and Appliances,
consisting of the following articles (open to
manufacturers, only being articles sold in their
usual way of trade")— I suppose, I say, that
the only conclusion one would arrive at is that,
broadly speaking, they are their own things.
It does not seem to me that that is met by
making an objection which seems to me a
most trivial one: "Oh. nobody makes all
these things themselves," because they have
to send to America for some very small part.

494

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Dec. 11, 1902.

You remember one of the manufacturers
said it was 6|d. out of a total of £l 4*.
It seems these things are made in America
cheaper than they can get them m ide here,
and therefore they get them in America. To
say that that man is in the same position as a
person who comes and shows in a " Collection "
things bought at d ffdrent persons' shops all
round, having availed hinuelf of the invention
of other people, and having added nothing
whatever himself to the subject matter, seems
to me not to be on all fours at all. A man
designs a hive, invents a hive. He must send
to America for parts of it ; but if he sent to
America for the whole of it, it would still be
his hive. He may say, " I designed the hive,
I cannot get it made in England on satisfac-
tory term.3, and I am going to send it to
America to be made, for unless I do, I cannot
get my hive made at a profit."

Now, gentlemen, I am going to read the
letter and ask you broadly what you think.
I say " broadly " because when counsel on
either side has dissected every word, it is as
well to take a broad view of the case as far as
we can. I am going to ask you, is this a
direct attack by the defendants, or rather, I
should say, by the defendants, Messrs. Lee ;
for the other people are really defendants,
because they are the proprietors and publishers
of the paper ; and it is not pretended for a
moment they have anything more to do with
it than that they printed and published the
letter. Is this an attack by Messrs. Lee &
Son, who are the only defendants here who
wrote or had anything to do with writing this
letter with regard to the plaintiff ; or is it a
protest against the m inner in which this
showing in a ''Collection" is carried out ? If it
is the former, it is actionable. A person who
publishes a libel that is untrue has to pay
damages, and the question of damages is one
entirely for you. If, however, it is a protest,
although couched in strong language — if it
is a fair protest against a principle, and not
a direct attack on an individual (for that is
how I shall leave it to you), it is a case in
which the defendants would be entitled to
your verdict. That is why this part of the
case — the part of the case that Mr. Stanger
vehemently urged upon you, what is called
the "single exhibit " (the frame hive) — becomes
important. Now Meadows is the first person
who wrote, and he wrote at some earlier time
the letter I am going to speak of. Before
reading that, let me say this : Bear in mind
what 1 hive said about that, and remember
what has been said by the witnesses called.
One must remember — it is only fair to do so
— that of all the witnesses who have been called
on behalf of the defendants, there is nobody
who ha* spoken more severely against the
system than two witnesses called for the
plaintiff. Those two gentlemen — Mr. Young
and Mr. Taylor — distinctly said that, in
their opinion, it would be discreditable in
a " single exhibit " class to exhibit somebody

e^e's goods as against the exhibitor him-
self. They have spoken the more strongly
because they are cilled to support the case of
the plaintiff It is the more strong when you
get the witness who comes for oae side and
speaks on the other. Now the letter of
Meadows is headed " Unfair Exhibiting," and
the question you have to keep in your mind
during the time I read it is this : —Is this a
protest against the system carried out, or is it,
as is alleged by the plaintiff, an attack on him,
or is it, as was said by the counsel for the
plaintiff, an attack on him in order to crush the
man and prevent him carrying on his business ?
It says :—" Unfair Exhibiting. A Protest.
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-
flecting discredit on the part of the judges,
but on the first prize 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.'' That is to say, hives were put in the
exhibit and some other machines — machines
which he had worked at for twenty years.
Then, ' ' Many other appliances on the same
lines looked as though original articles, but
had been bought for copying purposes
only. I call this dishonest in the highest
degree, and discreditable 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 the second place
to another whose goods have been designed
and perfected by oneself.'' That is to say, It
is rather hard for me to see a man take a prize
for my goods — goods I designed, and which he
bought and put in his Collection, although I
had a collection of my own, and of which
the first prize taker has had no hand in
designing. (,Iask, is this the right way to
secure his honours ? Let the best g>odswia
by all mean?, but not after the above fashion."
That is written by Meadows. He had an
action brought against him ; Meadows apolo-
gised, and there was an end of that action as
far as he was concerned. Some people do not
like actions. I will not say who are the
wisest people. Some people will do anything
rather than go to law. I should not like, in
the presence of the gentlemen sitting down
there, to say that they are the wisest people,
but at all events they get out of it very
quickly. 01 course, that is not to reflect on
anybody else. That would be unfair. An
attack might be made upon two men ; one
man might say, "I would do anything
before I fought," and pay cost3, and there
is nothing more. Another man might
say, "I will see you hanged first,
and I will fight to my last breath." So you

Dec. 11, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

495

must not let the fact that Meadows settled
the case reflect against the other man. He
must stand on his own merits, but not by
the fact that Meadows settled the other
action. Now, gentlemen, shortly afterwards
another letter appeared, and this is the letter
on which this action is brought. It endorses
Meadows' letter, and therefore Meadows'
letter has to be taken into consideration. It
says, " We endorse the statements contained
in Mr. Meadows' communication on page 264,
as applying equally to several of our speciali-
ties to which we have devoted much time and
spared no expense whatever in perfecting.''
Just the same complaint. "If an exhibitor
can bring himself to pirate the best of the
ideas and the particular specialities of several
appliance makers (who, we might say
without egotism, are admittedly prominent
in the appliance manufacturing trade),
in some instances exact 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 "
That is, if a man may go round and buy the
best articles ia the market of different people
and put them in one collection although he
has not contributed one single idea, is that the
sort of thing that is intended a ad that the
man should t^ke a prize for l Tflat is what it
comes to in plain English. It goes on : "In
fact, as Mr. Meadows pointed out in your
issue of last week, the judges have no know-
ledge of the dishonourable 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." Therefore,
you have Lee & Son adopting the letter of
Mr. Meadows, and what they are saying is that
they are complaining of the methods which
have been adopted in this " Collection 'J by a
person who may ba a manufacturer of bee appli-
ances in the smallest degree, and yet ma/ avail
himself of the designs or inventions of other
people by going and buying goods, and putting
them all in one " Collection '' together. Now,
gentlemen, you had one of the judges before
you. A great deal has been said about the
other judge not being called, but the judge
that was called, Mr. Jonas, said he did not
approve of what was done in the matter. He
did not go further than that. Again, you have
had your attention called to these rules, and
one would suppose the rules were a sore of
law that nobody could get round in any way.
The judge is bound by them, of course. He
comes to the show to judge, and he has to see
the "Best Collection of Hives and Appliances."
There was another gentleman who was called
early in the proceedings, the Secretary of the
Bee-keepers' Association, and you heard what
he said about the rules — that the rules do not
meet the case, and will have to be altered.

Now, a good deal ha 3 been said — and
it is important in this matter— with respect

to Class 338 : " Most complete and inexpensive
Frame-hive for Cottagers' use, unpiinted,
price not to exceed 10i. 6d." True, it did not
get a prize, but it was intended to get a prize
if it could. That was taken bodily from Lee
& Son ; it was bought from them, they them-
selves being exhibitors at the show at the
time, and it was exhibited as a " single exhibit.''
There is not one person who has been called —
I am speaking from memory, but I trust to
your memory to check me — who says that is
honest. Many of them denounce it entirely.
Two gentlemen called for the plaintiff, Mr.
Taylor and Mr. Young, both denounce it.
They say, " Whatever doubt there may be
about the Collection " — and when speaking
about a "collection" they are only speaking
about a collection having regard to the
wording of these rules, but the wording of
the rules made by the Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion is not to be the test of what is
honourable or dishonourable, because that is
really the way of looking at it ; still, they
all say — plaintiff's witnesses and defendants'
witnesses — that it was not an honest or
honourable thing to do. Nobody could doubt
this. Supposing any one who knew nothing
about hives or anything of the sort sees that
a prize is given for the " best collection of
hives.'' You or I go to see it. What con-
clusion would you draw if you saw this on the
catalogue 1 Why, that he was exhibiting it
himself, and not that he bought it two days
before of somebody else who invented it, or a
man who spent his money and brains upon it.
The plaintiff admitted he did that, and it is
admitted by his own witnesses that that was not
an honourable thing to do. With regard to the
other part about the ,; collection,'' you heard
Mr. Lee say — and several other persons called
said the same — that in a general collection
nobody could find the whole of the materials
for it ; but I think he said that only one-
tenth of his " collection''1 was of things manu-
factured by other people. The whole of the
plaintiffs collection, so far as we know, was
made out of miscellaneous articles bought from
A, B, C, and D, all over the place, and, so far
as we know, no part of it was manufactured
by the plaintiff himself. I say so far as we
know.

Now, gentlemen, you must first say
whether you think that these words are
justified. You shall have the two letters
before you.

Mr. Newson : Might I interrupt your
Lordship? Yesterday, the plaintiff said, as I
gathered, that some of the articles he exhibted
in the collection were those he manufactured,
though not all. That was his evidence as I
uade (.'stood.

Mr. Justice Lawrance : 1 will see what
he said. Where did he say it }.

Mr. Newson : In his examination-in-
chief.

Mr. Justice Lawrance : I see he said : —

496

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Dec. 11, 1902.

'•' I exhibited other persons' machines as well
as my own inventions."

Mr. Newson : Yes ; " As well as my own
inventions.'' That is what I wa3 referring to.
Mr. Justice Lawrance : Yes, but the
amount of them we know nothing about — not
a word whether it was 2d. in the £ or what-
ever it may be.

Mr. Newson : He was not cross-examined
as to that.

Mr. Justice Lawrance : We do not know
a word about that. Now, gentlemen, what
the defendants say in answer is this : — Mr.
Cowan is the proprietor of the British Bee
Journal, and Mr. Carr is one of the Editors.
It is really the same defence for all the de-
fendants. They say that, so far as the words
consist of statements of fact, they are true.
That is for you to say ; and then they say
that, as far as they consist of comment, they
are fair comment on matters of general public
interest. There is no comment by the Editor
of the paper. Very often when there is a
letter published there are observations made
afterwards, but there is nothing of that
kind here. The question is, are these facts
true in substance and in fact? If so, the
defendants are entitled to your verdict. If
they are not true in substance and in fact, the
plaintiff is entitled to your verdict, and the
question then come?, what damages is he
entitled to 1 And when you come to take into
consideration what damages he is entitled to,
you will have to say on that matter what view
you think is the proper one to take with
regard to that which all the witnesses, plain-
tin's and defendants', admit was an improper
thing to do, namely, to exhibit in a "single
exhibit '' class a hive as his own which was in
fact Lee's, and which Lee was exhibiting in the
same place. That is the use of it — to show
that he was not acting an honourable part
with regard to that— and that fact would have
a considerable influence on your mind on the
question of damages, if you think it is
a question of damages for the plaintifl — that
is to say, if you find the words are not true in
substance and in fact. I f you find for him,
then, his conduct with regard to that matter,
of course, would have a considerable influence
upon you in the question of damages.

The jury consulted without leaving the box,
and gave a verdict for the defendants.

The witnesses called for the plaintiff were
Mr. Edwin H. Young, and Mr.E. H. Taylor.

The witnesses called for the defendants were
Mr. James Lee, Mr. Robert Lee, Mr. J. H.
Howard, [Mr. H. W. Brice, Mr. Henry Jonas,
and Mr. W. Herrod.

An application by plaintiff's counsel for
&tay of execution was refused by his Lordship.
Mr. Terrell, K.C., and Mr. H. Newson
appeared for the plaintiff, the Hon. Alfred
Lyttleton, K.O., and Mr. Montague Shearman
(instructed by Messrs. Cook & Ellis, 7, Mark-
jane, E.C) representing the defendants.

€ormpnAtut

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for th*
epinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be
taken of anonymoue 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 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.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

SOME MORE FAMOUS HONIES.

[4972.] Sainfoin.— This is undoubtedly a
very fine honey, and it proves its excellence by
taking a leading place year after year on the
show -bench of many of the agricultural exhibi-
tions in the south of England. It is not quite
so favourably viewed in the north, and even the
finest sample has frequently to take a second
place in open competition. The standard of
taste is perhaps founded on different principles.
The particular characteristics of sainfoin as a
table delicacy, though fine, are not so abiding
as some other honies, and one might tire of it
if in constant use as a staple adjunct of food
much sooner than they would of that produced
from its cousin — if I may be allowed to desig-
nate it by that grade of kinship — white clover ;
which, used day after day, never palls on even
the most delicate palate. A honey lover can
return to it time after time without experienc-
ing any feeling of satiety, as might take place
with a sample conveying a very pronounced
flavour and aroma as, for example, that from
heather. The blending of the several proper-
ties are in clover so fine and evenly-balanced
that the whole forms an almost ideal assimila-
tion. Sainfoin is lacking in this important
characteristic. The plant is not much grown
in Scotland, as possibly our vigorous climate
is found to be unsuitable for its successful
development, and the soil may be lacking on
which it luxuriates. An interesting fairy tale
records how it got its name. It was on a bed
of this plant in a stable of Bethlehem nearly
2,000 years ago that an Infant lay who was to
revolutionise the world ; " Holy Hay " they
called it, and its name has ever since been
Saint Foin, or sainfoin. The fancy is a
pleasing one, whether it has any foundation in
fact or not.

Raspberry. — Not often can fruit blossom be
relied on to yield anything like an appreciable
surplus, but where fruit is grown in abundance
it yields in favoured seasons large quantities
of a very finely flavoured delicacy. In a dis-
trict such as that around Blairgowrie along
the banks of the " ireful Ericht,'' where the
raspberry is almost ubiquitous, it is a staple
source of nectar. " Fruit farms extend from
4 to 80 acres, but small farm3 of 5 and
6 acres are more common ; and it is estimated

Dec. 11, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

497

that 500 acres are under fruit. During the
past season 1,700 tons of fruit were sent off."
Here is an almost ideal spot for planting
down an extensive apiary with some prospect
of a certainty that it could be made to pay,
as white clover is also abundant, limes are
numerous, and heather blooms profu-ely in
close proximity to the town. Strawberries are
also very extensively grown, and the blossom
must often be a veritable mine of wealth to
the diligent little foragers.

Bassivood (Tilia Americana) yields an
abucdant flow, and is perhaps the most
fruitful nectar-giver of all our flowers and
trees. By all accounts it is not to be relied
on every year, and " once in a great while,'' as
they would say over there, it proves unpro-
ductive, or the weather militates against the
successful gathering of its sweets. After our
experience this year we know it is not singular
in this drawback, as even our most reliable
plants fail ao times. But I am safe in saying
that none of our sources yield like basswood.
Mr. Root states that he has a single hive
giving as much as 43 lb. in three days, and
Doolittle caps that by a record of 66 lb. in
the same time. That is enough to make our
mouths water I I have never tasted basswood
honey, so I can only give an opinion second
hand as to its quality. It is fair and pleasant
to look upon, either as a liquid or a solid;
and is, as a rule, agreeable and palatable when
partaken of in moderation or at intervals ; but
at times it tastes strong and rank, and one
would sooner tire of it than they would of
many of our standard honies.

Lime Honey. — Closely allied to the last,
but bearing distinctive features of its own, is
the nectar yielded by Tilia Europea, and its
allied genera. What a wealth of bloom an
avenue of lime trees may be during the closing
days of July must be seen to be fully appre-
ciated ! I have before described the glad and
joyous sound made by the bees working
thereon as a multi-millioned hum. The sound
and the scent are almost overpowering on some
bright and sunny summer day, when Old Sol
pours his glorious rays in a mighty flood of un-
interrupted brightness. On such a day the
flowers have a power of secreting a constant
supply which never runs dry, and they seem
almost to drop nectar. Each floret has a
series of what I may call nectarious cups,
which are full to overflowing, and in no
other flower I know can the bee load up so
fast, or with so little exertion, as on the fair
flowers of the glorious linden trees. The
quality of the honey is good, but if I were
asked my candid opinion, I am not prepared
to accord it a place in the first three if a list
were demanded.

Alfalfa. — This is another American honey
which some laud to the sky, as witness the
following : — " This is not only the finest in
appearance of any honey I ever saw in my
life, but it is also equal in flavour to the best.
It is almost, if not quite, as clear as water, and

yet during a hot July day it will scarcely i un-
it is clear as crystal and exquisite in flavour."
When I add that the season of yield lasts
" from July to September," and that it is re-
ported as secured " Not only by the ton, but
by the car load," it must be conceded that the
plant is an admirable bearer, and that the
product is a most desirable sample deserving
to be ranked high amongst the leadiog kinds
of honey. Some of the " takes " recorded from
it approach the region of the fabulous. I
should like to learn if anything like a success-
ful attempt has been made to introduce the
plant into this country ?

Skep Covers. — Some interest has been shown
in the felt covers mentioned in my last, and,
having had requests for a fuller description, I
append details, together with sketch, which
will make the description clear and simplify
matters : —

Take a piece of felt 4 ft. long, the breadth
being 2 ft. 8 in.

Draw a line with chalk along the centre
from D to O.

With A as centre, describe the circle
B. D. F.

Then, with B as centre, describe circle
ACE.

Then draw heavier lines as in figure.

Cut out along the circular lines B. D. F. to
B. Then along lines A. C. E.

You will thus have two covers cut out.

Draw the straight edges together until one
edge touches the dotted line. Tack these two
edges together into a thia lath. The result is
a shapely cone and a very effective skep cover.

Try the sketches and cutting out on a piece
of brown paper before operating on the felt. — -
D. M. M., Banff.

THE STANDARD FRAME.

CAN IT BE IMPROVED ?

[4973.] The question of strengthening the
" Standard '' frame now under dis ussion in j our
pages will, I trust, add to the general adoption
or a frame giving such a desirable result, but I
maintain that the following proposition must
be adhered to, viz., any alteration made must
allow such frame to interchange with the
Standard frame, and with the almost universal
" W.B.C' ends, which are, 1 venture to say,
used on nine-tenths of the frames now in
general use. I also wish to say that a wider

493

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Dec. 11, 1902.

top-bar i3 not a recent addition as your corre-
spondent, Mr. H. Edwards, supposes, nor is it
so recent as Mr. Woodley thinks when he harks
back fifteen years. Let me say they first came
under my notice some twenty-five or thirty
years ago in the apiary of the late Rev. George
Raynor, and the advantage of such a frame in
preventing brace-combs was so evident, that
I at once adopted them in my own apiary at
the time.

In the discussion following Mr. Weston's
address at the conversazione in the Dairy
Show week, on "Brace-Combs and their
Causes," I gave my experience, extending over
a long period, of these full inch-wide frames in
reducing brace-combs to a minimum. I also
gave the source of my information, but as this
was not reported, some gentlemen not present
at the meeting naturally thought that I was
taking credit for an improvement carried out
by another.

When we started our appliance business in
London this wide frame was reintroduced, and
brought to the notice of many ; and to me it
was amazing to find that the great majority
of bee-keepers would have none of it, because
it was a departure from the " hall marked "
frame of the B.B.K.A. On the other hand,
it should be particularly noted that it is
interchangeable with the Standard frame.
Several of our friends, however, " masters in
the craft," tried them, and thev very rapidly
displaced the g-in. by the full 1-in. wide
top- bar frame. On starting our apiary at
Andover the frames used were all of this
pattern — that is to say, the top-bar measures
lT's in. wide (it has no saw-cut), by f in. thick,
the ends or "lugs" being reduced to | in.
wide, which allows the use of the ordinary
" W.B.C. ends." The side-bars are the same
width, and the bottom bar £• in. wide — the
latter detail I consider an important one.
With such a frame, in which the foundation is
wired and fixed by a method I believe
peculiarly my own I get straight combs, no
sagging (or sinking) of the top-bar, and am
practically free from brace-combs.

There was a chorus of complaints of brace-
combs at the conversazione, and I then
decided that I would devote a swarm or a
stock to getting a set of such frames filled,
with the view of bringing the stock box and
the contents to the conversazione at the end
of the season next year.

This decision might be extended and
adopted by those others who are now, each in
their own way, recommending their several
pet frames. Such exhibits would be of great
value and in the highest degree instructive.

Thicker top bars are sent out by some
milkers, most of which are reduced to & in.
thick each end, sufficiently far in length to
drop in the 14| in. space, a shoulder being
left which, to me, is an abomination. These
shoulders are propolised with a great difficulty
in readjusting alter being removed.—™ James
Lee, Monk's Acre Apiary, Andover.

HEATHER HONEY

FROM ERICA CINEREA.

[4974.] I very willingly respond to the re-
quest of your contributor " D. M. M." (on
page 471) for information with regard to the
character of honey gathered from bell heather
(Erica cinerea). But first let me say it is a
good thing for bee-keepers living in different
localities to compare their experiences on the
various subjects connected with their loved
craft, because we are all liable to judge from
our own particular experience, and therefrom
formulate what we conceive must be a general
rule, which rule being accepted, may oft-times
lead us to a wrong conclusion.

My observations lead me to conclude that
plants which yield a considerable quantity of
honey in one district, may yield little or none
in certain other districts, or at least, if they
do yield any, the bees (for reasons obvious or
otherwise) do not gather it. In our part of
the Isle of Man the bell heather blooms from
the beginning of July to end of August.

As long as the white clover, wild sage, and
other honey-bearing flowers continue to yield
a large supply of nectar, the bell heather may
remain to a large extent unvisited by the bees ;
but when these mentioned sources begin to
fail, then some bees will repair to the heather,
and during this interval we have a very excel-
lent heather-blend of honey. In the year 1899
I sent a sample of this honey to our junior
Editor, and the following reply appeared in
the B B.J. of August 24, 1899 : —

" The sample received is excellent in colour,
consistency, and aroma. The flavour is much
milder than that of the full-flavoured Scotch
heather honeys, but — mainly on that account
— it might, we think, be preferred by honey
users in the south, who consider the Scotch
product too strong in flavour for frequent use.
—Eds."

In the same year I took a special prize for
heather honey at the Manchester Colonial
Exhibition, for thi3 same blend in a state of
granulation. One of the judges bought my
exhibit, and informed me that it was one of
the best flavoured honeys he had ever tasted.

During the last two weeks of August the
chief source of honey is the bell heather. I
have many times gone to the top of a small
mountain near us, and seen thousands of my
bees going to and fro in a constant stream, and
all engaged on the bell heather. The honey
is a very dark rich red colour. When
extracted it is thinner than clover honey. It
soon granulates into a fine smooth grain and
turns a brownish-yellow colour. The aroma
is magnificent, and fills the extracting room
with the lovely scent, which may be enjoyed
when crossing a moor of this heather in the
Isle of Man in the month of August. When
working on it my bees store honey very
rapidly ; indeed, m a honey-yielder it sur-
passes any plant I know.

At the beginning of September, and whilst

Dec. 11, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

499

large tracts of common " ling '' are in fall bloom,
my bees suddenly cease from storing surplus,
and it has been long a source of wonder to me
why thi-j shoald be, if the common ling is
invariab y a good honey yielder. In this
locality the common ling gives off very little
scent, and it yields a very large amouat of
pollen, and is worked (presumably for honey)
by cjuntless thousands of wild bees. My
experience of "ling'' honey is confined to a few
clots which will not extract, at the end of the
season, of a gluey consistency and yellow
colour. I received a small sample of "ling
honey " from a friend in Scotland, and while it
is much lighter in colour than bell heather
honey, it is of a much more pungent and
strong acrid flavour than anything I get. —
Lancelot Quayle, Glenmay, Isle of Man.

HEATHER HONEY.

ERICA CINEREA ON BOG-LAND.

[4975.] I notice your correspondent,
"D. M. M.,'' Banff, on page 472 of Bee
Journal, says that even the true heather, i.e.,
Erica cinerea (or bell heather), forgets to
secrete nectar when it grows on low, marshy,
or boggy ground." I should like to know if
this is an established fact, because the first
week in August I took six hives with supers
full of bees on to Chat Moss, over which
Stephenson crossed when laying his railway
from Manchester to Liverpool. Acres of
heather lay close to the hives, yet the bees
never appeared to work on it at all, and at the
end of September I took off the supers, and
on examining the brood - chambers found
them, to my intense disgust, foodie ss !
The bees also, in four of the hives, had
dwindled down to four or five seams in each
hive. I gave them no food, but packed them
up for the winter, and I intended to leave
them there until next season, as the distance
is not far from my home, and the bees will
have just as good foraging ground as regards
the flowers of the fields as they would have if
I brought them home.

But "Chat Moss'' is all bog, so according
to "D. M. M." it is no use leaving bees there
for the sake of the heather.

Will our Scottish friend please oblige
further on this point, or will the Editor give
his opinion ? — J. L., Boothstoivn, Manchester.

[It is, we think, well known among bee-
keepers who are " moor-men " that none of
the Ericas yield nectar in appreciable quanti-
ties from wet bog-land. — Eds ]

FRAME-CONSTRUCTION, &c.

BEESWAX FOR SHOWING.

[4976. J Mr. Edwards, in his remarks on
various kinds of frames, rather "damns with
faint praise " the method of fixing foundation
adopted by Messrs. Abbott Broi. — i.e., the

double-grove and wedge— alleging that the
wedges give way in his hand.

Really, one is tempted to prescribe him a
do3e of his own "cure," viz., that "gentle
kijk" which be advises; ai I am fully per-
suaded that, if the wedges fall out with him,
it must be entirely his own fault.

Personally, I can fully endorse what the
firm mentioned say of their method — viz., " If
the wedge is well pressed in from end to end
(which is perfectly easy to do), not one in a
thousand will give way.'' 01 all the scores I
have used, I have never had one give way yet.
I consider the double-groove and wedge, with
the | in. top-bar, a long way ahead, of the
usual § in. bar with saw-cut right through. At
the same time, I see no need for a bar § in.
thick, a3 preferred by Mr. Edwards. This is
going to the other extreme. How any one
could revert from the above neat and
thoroughly efficient mode of fixing a full sheet
of foundation to th $ old and time-wasting way
of using melted wax, I cannot imagine.

Speaking of wax reminds me that when
Mr. Berry says (on page 474) that '' every
bee-keeper has the same chance as himself,"
he would have done well to have qualified this
statement a little by limiting the number to
those who live in heather districts. Wax ren-
dered from combs worked in places where the
"ling'' yields largely of honey has a fine and
distinctive aroma, almost wholly absent in that
obtained from other sources, usually denomi-
nated " flower " honey. It is this fine and
lasting aroma which places Mr. Berry's wax
at " the top,'' not the colour or cleanness of the
sample. I had soma myself this season (almost
entirely from " cappings ") which, as near as I
can judge, surpassed in colour (lightness) any
of the samples at the Dairy Show, but the
characteristic odour of beeswax from a heather
moor was lacking. — S. P. S., Bochjord, Essex.

SWARM CATCHERS.

EXPERIMENTAL TRIALS.

[4977.] In reply to Mr. Edwards's personal
request to myself in his postscript at foot of
page 438 a week or two ago for a [report
on his " swarm catcher,'' I beg to say that my
report on same had already been sent to the
B B.K.A. Council, who expect a report on
all new appliances tested here. In the first
place, and with regard to the swarm catcher
in question, a special " fitting" for underneath
the brood chamber is needed for each different
type or pattern hive, and even wben this is
done from measurements supplied this portion
of the appliance is not sure to fit, as in the
ca3e of the one sent here, which had to be
altered although made for and fitted to a
" W. B. C. " hive. The sorting out for fixing
in the spring would therefore be a great
nuisance, I think, in a large apiary, unless the
hives were all made exactly alike. Add to the

500

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Dec. 11, 1902.

above the fact that the brood- chamber must
be lifted clear of the floor-board in order to
put the "fitting" in which the catcher slides
in positioD, entailing careful manipulation to
prevent crushing bees. It will thus be easily
seen how great a loss of time is entailed, and
that in the busiest part of the season. I find
it also possesses a fault noticeable in the
" Brice " catcher, before the latter was altered
and the fault remedied by substituting
"standard frames" in the portion in which
the swarm is hived. Mr. Edwards's " catcher''
is fitted with very shallow frames, so that
where a swarm takes possession the bees would
be too crowded in this confined space, thus
causing considerable excitement, and possibly
in hot weather suffocating some of the bees.

Unfortunately, the stock upon which the
catcher was placed here did not swarm, so I
have not been able to test its action in such a
case. The greatest drawback I saw in work-
ing the appliance (and one that would prevent
me personally from adopting it) is the fact of
the bees building brace-combs in the space
between the bottom-bars and floor-board at
the back of the hive — i.e., in the space which
occurs between the V-shaped passages of the
"catcher.'' This fault resulted in both my
assistant and self receiving a number of stings,
besides the nuisance of having to clean off
these brace-combs. The cost also places, I
fear, the catcher bejond the reach of the
average bee-keeper.

Summed up briefly, then, I consider the
appliance is "ingenious" but "wrong'' in
construction, and it will need a lot of altera-
tion and simplifying, in my opinion, before it
becomes of practical use.

Having thus reported publicly on the above,
it is only fair to give my experience with the
" Brice catcher," which has been in use here in
the apiary for five years. In this case the
" catcher " can be placed in position or removed
in less than one minute by a couple of turns
of wire round two eyelets ; this, too, without
disturbing the brood-chamber or even the bees.
It has " standard " frames which will comfort-
ably accommodate the swarm when caught.
It works every time the swarm issues, as
several photographs taken by and in posses-
sion of myself will testify. One drawback,
"if such it can be called," is that ic
is the scraping off of the pollen-pellets from
the legs of the worker bees, This, how-
ever, I consider rather an advantage, as it
prevents pollen-clogged combs, and as the
catcher is in use only a short time the bees
can easily make up the winter store after its
removal. I fear I am no friend of the
applunct-dealer, but I still believe in the bee-
keeper making his own " bee gear," and
buying as little as possible. Should he desire
a "' swarm catcher,'' the last-named one is
simple in construction, and, with one as a
pattern, the merest tyro in the use of car-
penters' tools can easily make them from
boxes purchased from the grocer for a few

pence, and so save expense. — W. Herrod
(Bee Expert), The Hot tiiultural College,
iSwanley, December 6.

THE "RYMER" METHOD.

[4978.] I have been looking for reports as to
results from the working of trie above method
during the past season, and, except from Mr.
Rymer himself, there have been none. Its
failure in the hands of those who tried it
during 1901 seems to have convinced bee-
keepers that the system is impracticable, but
those who sent in the unfavourable reports
brought failure on themselves by blindly
following Mr. Rymer's way of working,
without considering whether it was suited to
their districts or not. One bee-man made
success impossible by giving the second brood-
chamber only a few days before the honey-
flow began ; others, who ought to have known
better, tried the method in districts where
there is no heather crop.

They all seem to have overlooked the fact
that the method, as worked by Mr. Rymer, is
applicable only to the requirements of Levis -
ham, which is unlike the majority of white
clover-heather districts in that, between these
two crops there comes in a third crop of black
honey of little commercial value, but quite
good as bee food. When Mr. Rymer separates
the brood-boxes the " black stuff" begins to
come in, and as fast as brood hatches out of
upper storey the cells are filled with honey.
At the end of three weeks these frames con-
tain stores instead of brood, are removed, and
replaced by sections which the immense popu-
lation quickly fill with the incoming heather
honey. It is easily seen that Mr. Rymer's
method is quite suitable for his own district,
as long as this crop of " black stuff '' has to be
dealt with.

There seems to have been no reports on the
method from heather men, with the exception
of " D. M. M.'' who mentioned that it had not
proved a success in his hand^. No details
were given, but probably Mr. Rymer's system
was carried out without any deviation, with
the inevitable result that the upper story was
blocked with the heather honey which ought
to have gone into the sections. " Jj. M. M.'1
is a most able and successful bee-man, and
that the " Rymer '' method should fail in his
hands must have deterred many lesser bee-
keepers from giving it a trial. Had he
adapted the system to his district by turning
the lower brood-box upside down, and at the
same time tiering up with combed sections in
his usual way, the result would have been very
different, as no brood would be raised or
honey stored in the inverted combs. I am
inclined to think that the half-hearted way in
which the " Rymer " method has been tried is
altogether owing to the prevailing impression
among bee-keepers that the present way of
working is perfect, that bee-keeping has now
reached its zenith, and that no further im-

Dec. 11, 1902.]

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

501

provement is possible. The men who used
the curious hives described in " Ancient Bee
Books" (B.B.J., 1901), the champions of the
" Pettigrew '' system of skep management, and
those who worked with the far-famed Stewarton
hive were all, no doubt, confident that they
Ifad reached perfection, but all their systems
have had to give way to the present one of
modern bee-keeping ; and modern bee-keeping
must move with the times.

This is an age of progress, and of fierce, un-
spiring competition. On every hand we see
that old-established firms have had to revise
their former methols of doing business or else
go to the wall. This is the case in every line,
and the bee-keeping business can be no excep-
tion to the general rule. In a letter to this
journal some time ago, Mr. David Raitt
warned bee-keepers to " stir up " and " push
things " if they were to compete successfully
with the enormous inflow of foreign honey.
There can be no doubt that foreign competi-
tion will be felt still more keenly in the future,
the ever increasing facilities for cheap and
rapid ocean transit will enable the foreigner to
land his honey on our shores at still lower
prices. If we are to hold our own ia the
struggle we must neglect nothing that is likely
to enable us to increase our surplus from every
stock in the apiary. At present in every
apiary there are always some stocks that give
far better results than any of the others,
perhaps to the extent of 50 per cent, more
surplus. There would be a great gain if we
could so manage our colonies that we might
ensure such stocks being the rule, rather than
the exception.

The splendid results from these " best '
stocks cannot be altogether credited to the
prolificness of the queens heading them, but
rather that, owing to a combination of favour-
able circumstances such queens were enabled
to display their powers at the right time —
before the season opened.

If we are to have the best average results,
we must ensure that, along with plenty of
stores, every stock goes into winter quarters
with an immense population of young bees,
that will not die off in spring until they have
reared up such large numbers of young that
succesj will be certain. That this is seldom
the case shows that the present system of
management is not parfect. Mr. Rymer has
proved that a queen is quite able to fill twenty
'' Standard " frames with brood ; while we
allow her only ten to twelve frames. Need we
wonder that the swarming nuisance is so hard
to combat. There is room for reform here.

But to allow a queen breeding room to the
extent of twenty frames while honey was
coming in would react unfavourably on the
surplus, for the immense quantity of brood
would consume a substantial amount of the
honey which would otherwise hive gone into
the supers. If we take full advantage of the
prolificness of our queens oar stocks will go

into winter quarters in ideal condition ; but,
on the other hand, this excessive brood-rearing
would prove disastrous to all hopes of a heavy
crop of surplus honey. By our present system
of limiting brood-production we get fairly
good crops of honey, but to secure it our stocks
have to be forced on by stimulating to
" boiling " point, from which they gradually
dwindle down until they go into winter in the
usual unsatisfactory condition.

It seems rather difficult to reconcile these
two extremes. Perhaps the following extract
from " A Modern Bee Farm '' may help
towards a solution of the problem. Mr.
Simmins says, " Only a combined system of
dividing and uniting .... will ever give re-
sults equal to the resources of a district.'' The
ideal method, when it comes, will be worked
on the above line3, and when we have made it
a success, and can regard it as an essential
part of our general management, modern bee-
keeping will be more worthy of the name. —
J. M. E., Ussie Valley, Gononbridge.

RE QUEENING FOR THE HEATHER.

[4979.] In reply to your correspondents,
" Luke Collinge," who wrote on page 465, and
" J. M. E." (page 476), I still maintain that a
second-season queen is more prolific than one
hatched and fertilised just before the honey-
flow commences I am aware that a young
queen acts as a stimulus to the bees, and the
bees are thus more inclined to enter the supers,
but the object of re-queening before the
heather-flow is to keep the brood-nest re-
plenished with brood and eggs instead of
honey, and my contention is that a second-
season queen would effect this purpose better
than a younger one. I am quite open to con-
viction otherwise, but I merely stated my own
experience in the matter. The idea appeared
to me to be one of the best means of obtainiog
heather honey, and I strongly favour it. At
the same time, the results have not come up
to my expectation. Possibly the seasons have
not been favourable for the production of
heather honey in this district for some years,
which may account for my failure.

lean entirely exonerate "Luke Collinge''
from having used crude carbolic acid in my
apiary, for he has never examined my hives
in the capacity of expert, although I am
pleased to have made his acquaintance.
Further, in reply to Mr. G. M. Saunders,
I reside in Lancashire, so that my
remarks re use of crude carbolic acid as
a cure for foul brood do not apply to the
expert for Cumberland. At the same time I
strongly disapprove of the use of crude
carbolic acid at all ; the idea of its evaporating
is, I believe, more imaginary than real. —
Heather Honey, Hawkshiad, Lanes, De-
cember 6.

502

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 11, 1902.

SIR JAMES SAWYER ON HONEY.

Sir Jarues Sawyer presided at a lecture
delivered at the University, given under the
auspices of the Midland Pharmaceutical Asso-
ciation, on December 1, by Mr. H. S. Short-
house, on the subject of "Scientific Bee-
Culture." To Sir James the subject of bee-
culture and honey is a congenial subject, and
he deliyhts to extol their virtues. Since he
last spoke on the subject, he said, he had been
extending his experiences with regard to the
remedial and other uses of honey. In honey
they might be quite sure they had that which
was useful as a demulcent — something which
suffices and soothes when taken at the
mouth ; that which was useful as an
emollient — a preparation which, applied to
an irritating surface of the body, would
promote its healing ; that which was a
valuable nutrient— a means of supplying
a peculiar form of sugar in a condition ready
for immediate digestion, and for immediate
application to the nutrition of the body in the
building up of tissues and the maintenance
of the body ; and finally, in honey they would
find that which was a very valuable evacuant
— something which, taken into the body, would
promote the discharge of noxious matter. Mr.
Shorthouse's lecture, which was lavishly illus-
trated with lantern slides, dealt with the whole
subject of bee-culture in a thoroughly compre-
hensive and intelligent manner, right from the
infancy of the subject up to the present day
with its scientific and advanced methods.
At the close he was cordially thanked. —
(Communicated.)

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

All qutritiforwardod will bt attsnd»d to, and tkott only
of per tonal intereit will bt antwtrtd in tkil column.

J. F. 0., (Cape Colony, S. A). — Insert Nomen-
clature— Chelifer cancroides. — Referring to
the above, our contributor, Mr. F. L.
Sladen, says : — " The little animal sent is
a species of Chelifer. It is similar to the
one from South Africa you sent me in
March, 1899, which was described and
figured in the British Bee Journal,
vol. xxvii , page 126. It is not, strictly
speaking, an insect, for it has more than
six leg*, and it is possessed of claws like a
crab or scorpion, to which class of creatures
it is allied. Mr. R. J. Pocock, of the
British Museum, to whom the accompany-
ing sketch of the creature was sent, made
the following reply : —

{ The sketch you sent this morning repre-
sents what I believe to be an undescribed
species of Chelifer. The chelifers constitute
an order of Arachnida allied to spiders,
scorpions, mites, &c. We have a few
specimens of this species in the Museum,
which came some years back from Natal.

The trick of catching hold of the bee's legs
is common to all the species of the group.
Our English species, C. cancroides, for
example, as well as other genera of the
same group, may often be found hanging
on to the legs of flies and T/puhr ; others
again, in South America and elsewhere, gefc
under the elytra of large beetles. The

Actual s"»ie.

reason for the habit is unknown, though
perhaps it may be connected with the
feeding habits of the chelifers, which devour
mites and other small insect-like animals.
I should say that they would inflict no
damage upon the bees. They might con-
ceivably destroy the egg*, but I do not
think it likely. If they infest the hives it
is most likely in quest of parasitic mites
and ticks.' "

G. F. G. (Londonderry). — Extracting Thick
Honey from Standard Size Combs. — We
can only advise keeping the combs in a
warm room for a day or two before using
the extractor, and being very careful in
uncapping, using a very keen-edged knife to
avoid breaking !jthe cell-walls. If this is
done, the honey can certainly be made to
leave the combs by revolving the cage at a
sufficiently rapid speed. The fact of the
combs being wired will prevent breakage.
We have personally had to extract honey as
thick as any we ever saw, and never yet
failed in clearing the combs fairly well with
the help of a geared extractor.

Bantjes, Webster, & Bantjes (Transvaal,
S. Africa) — Bee Farming and Appliance-
Dealing in S. Africa. — Not being dealers
in bee-appliances, either wholesale or retail,
we can only refer you to our leading adver-
tisers, who will, no doubt, be pleased to
negotiate with you regarding the manufac-
ture and shipment of bee-goods if a satis-
factory arrangement is made.

J. B. P. (Newport, Mon.). — Bee-keeping in
Egypt. — An interesting article on "Bee-
keeping in Egypt," dated from the place you
are going to (Cairo), appeared in our
monthly, the B. K. Record, some time ago,
and can be had from this office for 2|d. in
stamps.

*jt* Several lengthy letters— already in typc-~
arc unavoidably .held aver tiU neat wee/c,

Dec. 18, 1902.]

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

503

(Miami, $utxm, &t

NOTICE TO READERS.
Owing to Christmas-day falling on Thurs-
day next week, we shall be compelled to go to
press on Tuesday, the 23rd inst., a day earlier
than usual. This cbaDge is necessary in order
to meet the requirements of our wholesale
agents in London and in the chief provincial
town?, who must perforce deliver to " the
trade '' on the 23rd inst. We will therefore
be much obliged if correspondents will post
all communications for insertion in next
week's issue not later than Saturday, the 20tb,
or to reach us on Monday, the 22nd.

MODERN BEE-KEEPING.

A HANDBOOK FOR COTTAGERS.

Referring to the new edition of the above-
named hand-book not being prepared for
press, we are requested to say that the
editors are willing to advertise in the forth-
coming edition the names and addresses of
working experts and lecturers in bee-keeping
for the nominal sum of 2s. 6d. each. As
beginners in apiculture are often needing
assistance, it is advisable for experts not to
let slip this opportunity of making their
names public. Particulars, with postal order,
to be sent to Mr. E. H. Young, Sec,
B.B.K.A., 12, Hanover-square, London,
without delay.

HONEY IMPORTS.
The value of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of
November, 1902, was £701. — From a return
furnished to the British Bee Journal by the
Statistical Office, H.M. Customs.

$Qmtytii\X&tMt

Th* Jtditort do not hold tKtmtelves retpontible for th*
epinion* eapretted by eorretpondenti. No notice will bt
taken of anonymou* communication*, and eorretpondenti
are requeited to write on one tide of the paper only and
give their real name* and addretiet, not necetiarily for
publication, but a* a guarantee of good faith. Ilhittra-
tion* should be drawn on leparate piece* of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communication*.

%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondent*,
when speaking of any letter or query previously interted,
will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter a* well
at the page on which it appear*.

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[4980.] As one pens the last "Notes'' of
each succeeding year, a feeling of sadness
somehow invades the thoughts, and a retrospect
will force itself on the mind, bringing back
memories of the joyous hopes and anticipa-
tions which the year at its birth engendered ;
and now, as we draw towar i , its close, we
know how far those hopes have been realised

in our own craft. We have had many disap-
pointments ; the rosy hues of hope in spring
have not materialised, the realisation has not
been commensurate with our anticipations ;
yet, notwithstanding these shortcomings, we
bee-keepers as a body have much to be
thankful for. Our cup may not have been
filled to the brim, but we have not been sent
empty away ; some of the bounties from the
cornucopia of Nature have been secured, and,
as is usually the case every year, some of us
have tcceived a greater share than others.
For this the more fortunate ones are, we trust,
thankful, but, let us hope, not in any sense
boastful ; and, with the sanguineness insepar-
able from bee-keeping, we again look forward
and wish our craft general success another
season.

Scarecrows. — The past week of severe frost
has brought large numbers of pigeons into our
district ; these depredators on the farmers'
"greenstuff," from turnip-tops to the hearts of
the sainfoin plants, are also the enemies of the
bee-keeper. A neighbour farmer (who is also
a bee-keeper) has protected his sainfoin fields
with a few "scarecrows," and the pigeons have
not troubled him since.

Wide Top Bars. — Referring to the letter of
Mr. James Lee (4977, page 497), in which he
mentions having used wide top-bars for
twenty -five or thirty years, let me say I have
some old frames a full inch wide, with pro-
jecting wood pins or pegs as distance keepers,
which frames were made in the late seventies,
at the time when crown-boards were in general
use ; the said crown -boards had openings by
which the bees reached the supers. I have
also a sectional super of that date, with sec-
tions 2 in. wide, the line of wax in centre of
each section, and the whole papered together,
with glass at each end, no bottoms to the
sections of super, so that it was simply an
inverted lidless box, formed of strips of wood
about 2 in. wide, and, when filled, the paper
outside could be easily cut through, so that
the combs of honey could be sold separately.
Then came Mr. Lee's "Crystal Palace" super,
with strips of wood to draw out to give the
bees access to another super placed on the top
of the other. I do not pose as one of the
" old guard," though I well remember the
letters of Mr. C. N. Abbott and others in the
English Michanic preparatory to his starting
the Bee Journal. I also remember I hived
my first swarm of bees on Thanksgiving-day
for Peace in June, 1856.

As regards propolisation of the wide wood
end of "Abbott's Pattern'' top-bar, I have
nothing to complain of — in fact, with cham-
fered wood " runners '' I get very little pro-
polisation, as they fit so well that the bees
have no need to use propolis, there being no
crevices left for them to fill. I have a few
hives with metal ends, which are very much
more bedaubed with propolis than the wood
ends of " Abbott's Pattern."

Interchangeability was the aim of the

504

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Dec. 18, 1902.

" Standard " frame, and this has so much in
its favour from so many points of view that he
would be a bold man who ran a tilt against it.
But there are no couveniences on this mun-
dane sphere but has its failings, and weakness
is one of the " failings " of the top-bar of the
"Standard" frame. Then another and still
greater is the opportunity it gives of spread-
ing foul brood by robbing one stock to
replenish the stores of another ; thus " iater-
changeability " is not always advisable. Where
the apiary is healthy the advantage of giving
a comb of food to a needy stock is a boon to
the busy bee-keeper, but if any traces of
disease is existent the risk of spreading it to
healthy stocks is very great ; far better give a
cake of candy or a bottle of syrup. I endorse
what your correspondent " S. P. S.'' says (on
page 496) re Abbott's double groove and
wedge in fixing foundation. I also agree with
what he says as to Mr. Berry's fine "heather
aroma " to his (Mr. B.'s) wax. I may add that
to my knowledge it has been the aroma
which has secured first honours to friend
Berry's wax ; other samples have been superior
(perhaps only slightly), but they were lacking
in that full aroma which tickles the olfactory
nerves of the judges and decides the contest.

" Shook Sivarms." — What are called "shook
swarms" seem a current topic amongst our
American cousins. They have tried swarm-
catchers and self-hivers, but have found them
wanting in practical utility. Now they are
jubilant over "shook swarms." These, when
made at the right time, are to prevent natural
swarming, clear out foul brood, increase the
" take "of both honey and wax, and enable
the apiarist to manage more hives. One
enthusiast thinks an apiary for each day in
the week (except Sunday) will be possible.
This system, if our honey-flow was of longer
duration, would meet the demand of "J. M. E."
(4978, page 499). We must also be up and
doing, or we shall be ousted in our own
market. I notice in the American Bee
Journals that the Irish Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion have established a honey depot in Dublin,
for the disposal of Irish honey to the advantage
of Irish bee-keepers. Can any one give parti-
culars of the scheme and the good work it is
doing 1

Before I write finis to my 1902 notes, allow
me to wish every bee-keeper a joyous time at
the glad festival ; may all our past differences
be forgotten, and may a bright Christmastide
of goodwill herald in a Happy New Year. —
W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury.

WANTED, A FRAME.

THE FRAME FOUND.

[4981.] The publication of my letter (4950,
on page 463) seems to have aroused some
interest, judging from the number of com-
munications relative thereto which have
reached me. One correspondent says he

can do with 500 such frames, provided price
is not more than 25 per cent, above that of
the ordinary frame ; his proviso can be met,
and the disposal of at least 1,000 of them is
in sight.

Another correspondent, hailing from Swin-
don (who says he does not know whether I am
a mechanic or a gentleman — Poser No. 1),
condemns "the present top-bar with the slot,
as you can always see the wax-moth concealed
in it" (Poser No. 2), and holds up his hand
for a broad-shouldered frame of a sort that
one rarely, and fortunately, meets with. The
only illustration I can find of such a top-bar
is in an old Howard catalogue (which I think
is quite a dozen years old), where, on page 26,
it is figured in connection with the "Stirling"
super. This gentleman — no, he says he is a
mechanic — makes his own frames and his
hives out of " Quaker Oats '' boxes. I should
be inclined to retort : " Nasty frames in nasty
hives." Toe frames I could not tolerate,
but bass is, in my opinion, most unsuitable
wood for hive making; bat, as my correspon-
dent says, " I know I am on the right track,
and I believe every word you said in the
B.B.J." (two statements that are not on
speaking terms with one another — Poser
No. 3), it is perhaps waste of time to try to
convince him that he might do better. He
inquires where he can get a circular saw for
his lathe. If such is not obtainable at a
local tool shop, it can be obtained from
Nurse & Co., Fleet-street, London, EC, at
4s. 6d. for one 6 in. diameter, with a mandrel
to suit for a like amount.

Another correspondent informs me that it
was the late C. N. Abbott who introduced
the saw-cut. If so, I will withdraw my
remarks concerning its inventor (?), as it
would only be impertinence to speak thus of
one who did so much for the advancement
of bee-keeping. My opinion, however, as to
its banefulness remains unchanged. Other
correspondents who have promised their
support towards making my suggested frame
a commercial possibility are cordially thanked,
and are referred to the firm mentioned later
on. I am not an appliance dealer, and do not
propose, at present at least, to compete with
those who are.

From the British " Weed " Factory at
Holme comes a catalogue, and my attention is
drawn to the " A 19 " frame, with top bar § in.
by i in , ears reduced to g in. by § in., under-
side grooved for foundation, price 9s. per hun-
dred; and from Burton comes an intimation
that it is in contemplation to put on the market
next year a frame with § in. grooved top bar,
both it and side bars being 1^$ in. wide. Now,
neither of these, whilst they are advances upon
the "regulation" frame, are good enough to
permit me to substitute either for the
"wanted" frame, and I should advise him of
Burton to go slow with that wide side bar. I
don't think I want it.

Away down somewhere in " the wild and

Dec. 18, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,

505

woolly West " is a place which may, with a
little search, he discovered on any map of
England. It is known as Exeter. In Exeter
is a street yclept " Guinea,'' and Nos. 10 and
11 of that street comprise the business
premises of J. T. Burgess & Son, who are
described on the cover of a neat, well-printed
catalogue of thirty-two pages — a copy of which
has been forwarded — as " inventors and manu-
facturers of the most 'up-to-date' bee'iives
and appliances." A peep inside the cover
does not belie the external description, for
therein are illustrated hives made with
"never a plinth," and with lock- jointed —
so-called dovetailed — corners, and, what I
have never seen outside my own apiary —
which does not say they do not exist —
plinthless " W. B. C. " hives, all lifts inverting
and telescoping on the Sandringham principle,
the best principle of hive construction, in my
opinion, ever brought out. It is right — right
every time, and all the time.

And accompanying the catalogue came a
sample frame which, in dimensions, is exactly
in accordance with those I named, except
that the side bars are -fa in. thicker. Tne
under side of top-bar is double grooved, and
provided with a wedge ; and bottom and
side bars are also grooved. Eespecting these
frames Messrs. Burgess say " . . . We have
received many flattering testimonials from
those who have used them. If the sheet of
foundation is long enough to fit loosely
in grooves of side bars the bees are more
likely to attach same to wood. The groove
in bottom bar is used to fix a wax starter,
\ in. wide, allowing the sheet of foundation
to hang clear by \ in. ; by this method we
shall more often have perfect combs built. . . .
We do not find the wedges fall out as men-
tioned by you, although we have had expe-
rience in fixing foundation in about 1,000
frames. We have sold from 10,000 to 15,000
of them, and supply them at Is. 6d. per dozen,
or 9s. 6d. per 100." In point of workmanship
there is nothing wanting, and the price is
right. The grooves inside bars may be helpful
in getting combs well attached to the wood,
and I am inclined to think the bottom starter
business may be a good " kink." Is not Dr.
Miller, one of America's largest comb-honey
producers, an advocate of narrow bottom-
starters in sections ? He produces better-
filled sections thereby ; and is it not possible
that the same effect would result if the prin-
ciple was applied to frames ? I will test it
and see ; but I am not convinced of the use-
fulness or necessity of the wedge under the
top bar, and I should prefer its room to its
company.

Messrs. Burgess, are you there 1 Get a
thousand made up, omitting the wedge and
the extra groove, and make the single groove
a bit shallower. This should cheapen the
frames by 6d. a hundred ; and, if they hang
on hand, I will take the balance at the end
of the season. And one cannot help asking

how it is that you are content to hide your
light under a bushel (skep ?) ! It surely
cannot be that you have your hands full
catering to the wants of the " wild and
woolly " Westerners. Even then 'tis one of
'em — a "Pharaoh that (apparently) knows
not Joseph (Burgess)" — that has bespoken
500 of the new frames, so you had better
remove that skep. You evidently know the
B. B. J., but it and its readers don't know so
much of you as it might be to their and your
interest to do. If any formal introduction is
needed, well, here it is. And if I have earned
any commission it will do at Christmas —
turkey from each ; slice off the breast for each
who has shouted approval ; bones will be
picked with Messrs. Taylor and Loveday.

Mr. Taylor (4958, page 473), let me begin
by offering you some sauce. You had best fill
up on that, for you will get no turkey — unless
there is " rhubarb " tacked on to the end of it.
A good old proverb has it, " People who live
in glass houses shouldn't throw stones." If
my frame will not " catch on " because it has
not received a dispensation from the B.B.K.A.,
how goes it with your "improved frame — the
result of much thought and experiment " (vide
page 43 of your list issued July 1, 1901 ; also
page 56 of list dated February 1, 1901)?
And, whilst you are about it, just turn up
page 48 of T. B. Blow's catalogue dated
March 1, 1894, and then tell us how it is
that he and you have dared to put out a
frame which differs from the " standard " fixed
by the B.B.K.A. And you might also tell
why it is that a frame which in 1894 was
"patent applied for ''is still in the same
happy condition. Would not they let you
have one because it was not "standard?"
No, no, friend Taylor, your " bogie " will not
do. During the slack season you might
derive a little satisfaction from the perusal of
the catalogues of your competitors. You
would then find that nearly every one offers an
"improved" frame, thereby infringing the
B.B.K.A. specification which, to a dull-
headed chap like myself, meaneth that said
specification is not satisfactory, in fact, I
do not know of a single person who supplies
frames exact to that specification. Do you ?

And either friend Taylor's mental equili-
brium has been temporarily (I hope) dis-
turbed, or else he is guilty of careless reading,
for the greater part of his letter is concerned
with repelling an attack that has not yet been
made. Bless your heart, my dear Taylor, 1
run no risk of having the B.B.K.A. Council
in full cry for my scalp, for I aoi far too well
aware of the value of a "standard" size
(even should I be forced to admit — which I
have noi — that that size is other than the
best) to make any effort to overthrow it.
That windmill-tilting job is still " to-let'' so
far as I am concerned.

Mr. Loveday, too (4957, page 473) seems
afflicted with a little density in the region of
the cranium, which has caused him also to

506

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Dec. 18, 1902.

read into my letter something I did not write
there. I object. And he appears to have
jumped to the conclusion that I advocate a
wider side bar. Put on your specs, Loveday.

With regard to the saw-cut, one cannot help
feeling sorry that Mr. Loveday 's experience —
though "obtained among bee-keepers in all
stations of life" — has not been wider, so that
his dictum would have carried more weight.
Unfortunately (in a double sense) for him,
" there are others " whose horizon is not
bounded by the narrow limitations that per-
tain to his. Whilst I have no objection to
him, or any one else, preferring a top-bar with
a saw-cut (or with two, if they like), I do
object that any one should attempt to deny to
me, and to others who feel the need of it, the
provision of something better. Did I hear
some one shout, " Dog in the manger ? "

" With good bee-keeping, trouble from the
wax-moth need not be feared through the
saw-cut " is another Loveday dictum which
has too strong a leaning towards the positive.
If it was not for unduly nattering myself, I
should like to say to my astral body,
" Edwards, you're a good bee-keeper, and you
belong rather to the stir-'em-up-ofcen school
than to the let-'em-alone clique." Yet I cannot
keep clear of wax-moth, and keeping surplus
combs free from their depredations is a real
trouble to me. Bro. Woodley, you there ? Do
you have any trouble with wax-moth ? You
do, I know. If you are not a bad bee-keeper,
friend Loveday must be side-tracked. But,
perchance, by " trouble " he means having
colonies succumb to its ravages. I will venture
a guess that neither you nor I have trouble of
that sort. But we both have neighbours who
are not so careful as they might be. Is not
that so ?

And Mr. Loveday has got the wrong per-
spective on the wiring question, too. He
says — bottom of page 473— that he agrees
upon the advantages of wired combs, but
plaintively adds, " But where do these advan-
tages come in, even if a stronger frame be used
if the frame is mutilated by cutting the bars
half through to let in the wire " (italics mine).
W-h-a-t ? I thought I had been advocating an
unmutilated frame, and that the Dymoke of
mutilation hailed from Hatfield Heath ! Mr.
Loveday blows hot and cold in alternate
breaths, and founds his arguments (?) on a
basis of fallacy. He first objects to solid top-
bars (which can used unmutilated if the frame
is wired) and in the next paragraph lets fly
against wiring because this necessitates
mutilation. Man, man ! What ails you ?
Are we to understand that you do not know
how to wire a frame " without cutting the bar3
half through to let in the wire " ?

The object of my "4950" was the arousing
of .sufficient interest to induce some go-ahead
appliance-maker to put on the market a frame
w!rch, I am sure, only needs testing to be
appreciated. The fact that nearly, if not
uite, all of them even now offtr an

" improvement " is in itself sufficient con-
demnation of the specification which was long
ago attached to the " Standard " frame ; even
the " opposition " hereinbefore dealt with
admit that there is room for improvement.
Mr. John Howard says in his catalogue,
respecting his frames with ^-in. top bars, that
they " always keep perfectly straight in use,
and do not drop in centre as in § in. by i-in.
saw-cut top bar" (italics mine), and a wider
top-bar is appreciated by brother Woodley —
vide 4949, page 46,3. The need for change,
then, may, I think, be accepted as self-
evident ; but whether or not the frame I have
recommended will " fill the bill '' remains to
be seen. As it can be obtained, I invite all to
give it a trial ; and I can crib a line from
friend Taj lot's catalogue, and say of my
improved frames, as he does of his : " Once

TRIED, NO OTHERS WILL EVER BE USED."

And, in conclusion, I cannot resist a final
dig in the Taylorian ribs by remarking that I
have some of his 83a frames that are " paid
off,'' and those that are still in commission
will have to hand in their checks before they
are much older. Friends Messrs. appliance
dealers who don't want to be shelved as
" back numbers," you had better fall into line
and, without waiting for a B.B.K. A. dispensa-
tion, add "the best frame of all" to your
regular stock lines, and thus help bee-keeping
and yourselves. — B. Edwards, Shrubs Hill
Cottaye, Sunningdale.

{Correspondence continued on page 508.)

HOMES OF THE HONEY-BEE.

THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS.

It is a sign of the " go-ahead " way in which
the bee-keeping of to-day is carried out when
we have in our friend Mr. Wells — whose little
apiary appears on next page — a bee-man who
began only a couple of years ago and is now
engaged in driving bees, removing ditto from
house gables, and all sorts of up-to-date bee-
work, besides making all his own hives. He
says of himself : —

" My bee-keeping experience commenced in
the year 1900. A friend of mine sold me a
weak swarm and a frame hive on July 20 of
that year. I removed the bees home at night,
and felt proud to think I possessed a hive of
bees, as I had always a liking for them. Next
morning I must needs go and have a look at
them by turning back the quilt, when I had
to face (the music) a sharp attack from the
bees, being stung on the hands, &c. This in-
duced me to take the Bee-keeper's Record, as I
thought it might help me, and would be
enough for me to read each month. How-
ever, my mind and interest expanded, so I
decided to take the British Bee Journal
weekly. I then purchased Mr. Cowan's
'Guide Book' and 'The Honey Bee,' and
my reading of them taught me how little I

Dec. 18, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

507

knew of the management of bees. (I had con-
tracted the bee -fever in a most virulent form,
so I was told, and the infection remains with
me still.) So I fed up my stock during
September, which came through the winter
safely. During the next spring I purchased
another stock in a frame hive, and, to my dis-
may, just as the honey flow commenced my
first stock became queenless, probably by my
awkward manipulations. My other stock
yielded me 30 lb. of surplus honey — not a bad
start, considering my inexperience. My read-
ing led me on to try driving bees, so I pur-
chased two more hives ; then went into the
surrounding villages, found out all the skeppists
I could, and offered to drive their bees. I also

picture to my right I removed sixty sections,
and I have disposed of them all at Is. per
section, many of them weighing 18 oz. The
bicycle seen in the photo, and the skep,
shows the way I convey home my driven lots
of bees. I usually manage to fix two skeps,
one over the other, and bind them well
together, using the driving-irons for that
purpose ; then tying well with strong cord.
I have a fascination for removing bees from
the roofs of houses, and there are many such
houses round here, and the bees have never
been disturbed in some instances for twelve
years. I have removed three such lots this
year, and when driving the bees up the combs
in one gable-end of a house, ^noticed a large

MR. THOS. WELLS' APIARY, COLCHESTER, ESSEX.

gave them a trifle, according to the strength
of the stocks. I managed well — thanks for
seeing our expert drive bees at a local flower
show — for I saved nine stocks from the
sulphur- pit, strengthened my two stocks, and
increased their number to four. I then joined
the Essex and Suffolk Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion, and I have never regretted doing so, as
much valuable information is gained fiom a
good expert. I now make my own hives to
take the ' Standard ' frames, some of which
are seen in photo. I like to see a good
alighting-board. 1902 has been a good year
with me, considering the adverse weather ;
the three stocks I had for storing surplus
honey yielded me 150 sections in ten or twelve
days. From the hive seen ab the end of the

quantity of bees coming from another direction
on the return end of the gable, and uniting
with the bees I was driving, so that my skep
was full when the task was complete.

" I afcerwards found there were two lots of
bees which had built their comb3 between the
upright timbers, the connection from one to
the other being by the small apertures between
the laths and the upright end post. I thought
it was a fine haul for me, although the occupier
of the house was delighted to think he was
being rid of a serious nuisance. Like most
bee-keepers, I have been troubled this year
with foul brood in my apiary, which I hope to
stamp out by antiseptic methods. I find one
cannot be too careful and cleanly about the
inside and outside of the hive, taking every

508

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 18, 1902.

precaution when examining it so as to detect
the commencement of any outbreak, as an
early diagaosis of the disease, with prompt
treatment, will render less virulent its attack.
I am afraid, Mr. Editor, you will think I am
trespassing on your valuable space, but in
closing I should just like to say that, owing to
my bee-keeping experience, I find and see a
fresh beauty in all the trees and flowers, the
fields have a sweeter green ; there is a sure
rest for the mind and body with such a health-
giving hobby — an inducement to home, with
its joys and comforts — and as I watch the
industrious little workers, I think of the poet's
words : —

" ' Let us then be up aud doing,
With a heart for any fate,
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labour and to wait.' '

CORRESPONDENCE.

(Continued from page 506 )
WANTED, A FRAME.
[4982.] May I be allowed to add my quota
to this discussion, which appears to crop up
with more or less regularity, proving to some
extent that existing arrangements are not
entirely satisfactory ? And, as we find old
hands declaiming against these, the subject
cannot be dismissed out of hand, as it might
be were it merely a case of new brooms
desirous on their novitiate of making a " clean
sweep." Whatever one's opinion of the de-
merits of the size of frame adopted as standard,
or the undesirability of the upheaval conse-
quent upon the change, this would seem to be
irrelevant to the present discussion, which
appears more concerned with the construction
of the cheap " dovetail " frame in particular.
This is not satisfactory. It must be admitted
that the ends of the top-bars are the weakest
parts of the frame proper, owing to the various
slots at their junction with the frame. A top
bar broken at this point should be examined
for one to realise how little wood remains ; and
when one considers that these frame lugs may
nave to support a season's honey, or be sub-
ject to a severe strain, say, when prising a
rack of sections free, it will be seen that they,
at any rate, do not err on the side of strength.
It is also a work of some delicacy to satisfac-
torily nail the top and side bars together.
The saw-cut for foundation fixing is an abomi-
nation, and I should like to heartily endorse
Mr. Edwards's remarks on page 463.

It does not, however, seem to me that Mr.
Edwards makes out a strong case for the
extreme size of top-bar he recommends. His
answers to a query as to its advantages are
not strong enough nor convincing enough to
warrant the expenditure on the part of a
majority of bee-keepers. He says (page 464) : —
1. "The frame tops are in the same plane."
So are the " dovetail " tops, or at least those
of all frames with same sized ends and
solid top-bars. 2. He does not say where

propolis is prevented. 3. He claims reduction
of brace-combs and disuse of excluder zinc.
A good honey-board will accomplish some of
this, and may be dispensed with at will, but
a deep top-bar would be " always with us,''
although at times it might be desirable that
a queen should pass these, as in " doubling "
or " storifying," whilst the width ( l£ in.)
would prevent a narrower spacing, and would
still further divide the hive into compart-
ments—one of the alleged disadvantages of
section racks. I suggest, therefore, that
although a stronger frame miy be desirable, that
his top-bar is too large, and enclose a sketch
of my own frame, which is somewhat similar

to that of Mr. Edwards, having a groove for
foundation, but with the top-bar § in. by
$ in. deep, the side bars § in. by $ in. The
top-bar is, however, as will be seen, only
16| in. long ; the bee-way being obtained by
a staple in each side-bar. The foundation
is merely inserted in the groove, but is
thoroughly wired by Mr. W. B. Webster's
method, except that the horizontal wire is
placed at the bottom of the sheet, instead of
at the top. The most perfect combs result.
They are well worth the slight extra trouble
of this method. I may say that 1 have had
beautiful worker combs built over this wiring
from starters only ! The frame, it will be
seen, is largely a combination of the good
points of various others.

I may say that the cost of these frames,
machine-made, locally, is about the same as
the Dovetail in one gross lots. The "jig"
required for their assembling is of very simple

N N— Headless nails to hold side-bars.

construction. I enclose a sketch. As will be
seen, it consists of a base to which three
cleats are attached by screws, the dots repre-
senting the screw-heads. A couple of head-
less wire nails, n n, serve to hold the side bars

Dec. 18, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

509

in check whilst the top-bar is being nailed to
them, as shown ; the frame is then iaverted
to secure the bottom bar.

One of the strongest frames I have seen was
that made by Mr. Horsley, of Douglas. These
had small triangular blocks firmly glued into
the internal angles, and were very well made.
Some bee-men seem willing to take extra
trouble to have their furniture "just right"
even in these commercial days.

These frames were, however, larger than
the standard size, being for experimental
purposes — 16 in. by 10 in.

May I, in this connection, suggest a system
of working which may have its advantages
with the " Standard " frame, if this is not over-
burdened with top-bar ] It is possible that a
prolific queen, or even an ordinary queen in
a good locality, may be crowded by the
" Standard " frame, and non-swarming cham-
bers have been devised as a safety-valve to
such colonies. The system of working these
is, however, not infallible, as the bees will
often swarm without occupying them, and
the method recommended in all seriousness
demands the destruction of brood found in
them ! If it were possible to ensure their
occupation, with an extension of the brood-
nest where desired, there would be a distinct
gain in their usefulness.

My method does not suggest the use of the
N.S. chamber until the bees have begun to
work above, but the brood-nest is allowed to
become fairly crowded in spring, when a set
of shallow-frames is given above without
excluder of any kind. These frames may
contain worked-out combs and " starters," but
worker comb and brood is aimed at.

Should drone comb be built upon the
starters, it should be reduced to desired limits
or full sheets of foundation substituted ; the
partly-built cotnbs being utilised upon similar,
but more backward, stocks. When the upper
story is well tenanted, or drone comb is begun,
the shallow-frames are to be put below the
brood-nest proper ; the condition of these
frames and the approach of the honey-flow
regulating the operation. A surplus-chamber
is now placed above an excluder, preferably a
set of shallow frames with full sheets of drone-
foundation, or sections may be given as
desired, the bees being already in the habit of
working above the standard brood-frames. If
it be desired later on to reduce the brood-
nest, the shallow-frames containing brood are
easily disposed of in nuclei ; to strengthen, or
form other colonies, for queen-rearing in
upper stories, &c. •

The standard brood-frames of the stock
will then very likely contain as much crowded
brood as an investing frame could show.

This would seem to be something of a con-
tribution to a non-swarming system, but the
suggestion is formulated with an eye to what
is really a larger comb, where the standard
size is found too small for the particular
colony or locality, whilst retaining the advan-

tages of a standard, without loss to the colony,
as if those " shallow brood-frames " are not
adopted as such, they simply qualify for the
extractor. — L. S. Crawshaw, Burnside, IlMey,
November 29.

HEATHER HONEY,

AND HONIES IN GENERAL FOR MARKET.

[4983.] It is not always that we North
Country men get " pasture " in the B.B.J.
suited to our locality, but of late the excellent
contributions by Mr. Lancelot Quayle, I. 0.
Man, " D. M. M.," Banff, and " Ellis," Conon
Bridge, are calculated to suit all who dwell
in ' ' Heathland '' or its proximity. Then the
different sources of the precious nectar has
come in for review.

Firstly, as to the heather and the honey
from such. I do not know that I can add
much to profit the craft, but we here agree
that the bell heather (Erica cinerea) is of
little value, and is frequented by the bee? only
when there is a dearth of other supplies. The
bell heather, of course, blooms in advance of
our common heather (or ling), but I think it
is agreed the colour is dark and consistency
poor. Indeed, Mr. L. Quayle himself bears
this out. Last year we had a consignment of
sections of beautiful heather honey from the
Pitlochry district — which is the best in Scot-
land— but it was so dark and thin (as if
unripe), we were glad to see the last of it. It
would seem that the same had been gathered
from the bell heather — or else some unusual
source had been tapped — but the aroma, &c,
was all right.

The Isle of Man quality is good in aroma
and colour (when granulated) but, of course,
far removed from our idea of a honey with
body in it, such as you could stand a pencil in
and the latter remain bolt upright. Yet
where ours might prove too strong for the
delicate taste, the milder southern quality
would nicely "fill the bill.''

In writing about honey, however, I would
fain diverge from the subject of quality to
honey gathering, and observe, just by the way,
that, in a year like the past one, we proved
how great the value of some or all of the
sections, to be brought out and extracted here
immediately previous to going ten miles up
the glen. Also we disproved the idea of
lifting the full or well-on-the-way section-rack
at the moors and slipping an empty one
under. It is the other way about to secure
success ; and besides being colder in August
and September, the bees will not have inter-
ference with their own little plans. Return-
ing, though, to the question of honey,
perhaps some of our more scientific men
will give us some help re the apparent
more rapid granulation of honey in the
comb, where two or three sources of supply
are available at one time ? Is there likely to
be a chemical action tending to quicker
granulation, where, say, clover and raspberry

510

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 18, 1902.

honey is stored in the same cell ? or when
there is a glut of honey are the workers in-
clined to seal up too quickly, and so tend
to bring about granulation prematurely ?
Handling, as we do, large quantities of comb
honey and storing same safely in a warm, dry
place, we still have the difficulty, often, of the
aforesaid grievance.

Lastly. How is it some firms not con-
nected with bees or bee-supplies are turning
out tons of honey and selling same against
genuine local stuff ? I affirm such is a source
of danger to smaller bee-men, and it is time it
was tackled. I assume cheap lots are bought
up and all blended or "selected," as they say,
and then put up in " out-of-the-usual-style ''
of jars, Greek, &c. I see no need to be
scared, but would say let those who can give
us help to effectually deal with the problem
use the columns of the B.J. for the common

Pity we could not have more of those
ar.icles quoted from Gleanings regarding
marketing of honey. How many producers,
for instance, take the trouble to warm honey
—say, a dry heat — to 160 deg. Fahr., when
the chances are it will not granulate on the
grocer's shelf for months, if at all 1 Again,
do not let us stick to the stereotyped glass
jars or bottles. Let us be ingenious. For
instance, we are having quite a run in
sixpenny glass " tumblers " of honey, which
hold about 6| oz., and these are corked and
tiofoiled, and are certainly attractive, to say
nothing of the usefulness of the empty
tumbler !

Buying such at 10s. to lis. per gross, wads
§ in. thick at 4s. per gross, and tinfoil at 2s.
per lb., cut out in circular form ready for use,
I say, ladies and gentlemen, we can command
a paying trade. — D. Raitt, Blairgowrie, N.B.,
December 13.

BEES IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.

EXPERIENCES OF A NOVICE IN 1902.

[4984.] I thought perhaps my experiences
in this generally bad year might be of some
interest to your readers. I am a novice in
bee-keeping, this being my second year, and
last season my time was occupied in trans-
ferring bees from skeps to frame-hives ; and
though I did have a little surplus, it was not
looked for or expected. I went into winter
quarters last year with fourteen stocks. You
will say a large number for a beginner, but I
am an idle man, and can devote myself
entirely to my bees ; besides which I wanted
to experiment, and in doing so there is always
a chance of loss. I had made up my mind to
work for extracted honey, and my hives were
as follows : — Four fifteen-frame hives, four
twelve-frame hives, and the rest ten-frame.
Out of the fourteen stocks three were
made up of driven bees, eight skeps, fed
up in the autumn. The daily examina-
tion of my hives showed me that these,

then, were weaker than any of the
others, owing, of course, to no late-hatched
bees being present. With slow feeding they
all came on nicely, but the weather was most
unfavourable, the hives were soon empty of
winter stores, but as I kept the feeders on
they continued to breed, with the result that I
had in some of the larger hives twelve frames
of brood, not patches of brood, but right up to
the top bar. The expert on seeing them said
he had never seen such a sight as some of the
frames. I continued to feed, and from my
note-book I find I supered the last of the
eleven hives from which I was going to extract
on June 21. I did not use excluder, which
perhaps was wrong, but placed a piece of oil-
cloth over the middle eight frames in the
fifteen frame hives, and in the middle five
frames in the twelve frames, and then put my
shallow-frame super on. Of course I had no
drawn out shallow frames, so used half-sheets
of foundation. The enormous populations
soon drew this out for me and added drone
cells to fill up. On examination one day
I found one queen up and laying in these
drone cells. I drove her down with
a few puffs of tobacco smoke, cut out the
strips of brood, and had no more trouble, on
July I extracted for the first time 182| lb. I
only used the one super of shallow frames,
removing those which were capped over, ex-
tracting and returning the wet comb — again, I
suppose, bad practice, but with me successful.
On July 111 had to extract again, this time
276| lb., and again on August 1 191f lb ,
making a total of 651j lb. from eleven hives,
all from the supers. I could have taken some
frames from the body-boxes no doubt, but
refrained. This gives me an average of just
over 59 lb. per hive for the eleven, and for a
bad year I must be satisfied. I also increased
my stock to eighteen, which I have shut down
for winter with ample stores, and no feeding
or candy wanted. The quality of candy is, I
suppose, good, as I exhibited it on three occa-
sions, and was awarded 1st prize on each
occasion, and also the B.B.KA. bronze
medal at the Warwickshire B.K.A. Show
for the best exhibition of extracted honey,
not exceeding 50 lb. The knowledge 1 have
derived is as follows : — One super of shallow
frames is ample if extracted as they become
full ; queen excluder not a necessity ; and
fifteen frame-hives a great advantage over
smaller ones for extracting purposes. My
four fifteen frame hives gave me 122^ lb.,
87 lb., 85i lb. and 75 lb. respectively, against
61 j lb., tne best of the twelve frame ones.
This autumn I imported some Italian queens,
and I intend in the coming season to turn my
entire apiary into Italians, and as there are no
bees near I hope to keep them pure. If you
think my experience in this direction will be
of interest to yonr readers I will write you
again next year. I enclose you a balance-
sheet, which you can either publish or not,
showing that a novice in South Northants has

Dec. 18, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

511

made a profit in this generally bad year. The
selling of honey is the point I have not yet
mastered, as what I have sold has not
averaged more than 6§d., which seems to me
a very low price for a year of shortage, and I
still have honey left. I must conclude by
saying that I am greatly indebted for what I
am pleased to call my success to our local
expert and to your excellent paper, and I
think I may fairly say I know the " Guide
Book'' backwards, and if I do not always
follow its advice, why it is my fault if I come
to misfortune. Another publication which I
consider of the greatest use is the " A.B.C. of
Bee-Culture."

Dr.

BALANCE-SHEET, 1902.

By plant as per inventory, Jan. 1,

1902 £11 14 0

Paid for food and foundation ... 2 19 6

„ new plant ... ... 7 1 7

„ new stock ... ... 1 5 0

Labour and sundry expenses ... 1 15 0

Balance

£24 15
18 11

1

H

£43 6 6h

Cr.

By plant in stock this date, less

10 percent £20 9 2

By honey in stock 5 0 0

Received for honey ... ... 16 7 A\

Received for sundries 1 10 0

£43 6 6£

— A Novice, S. Northamptonshire,

December 13.

©bituan?.

THE REV. J. F. BUCKLER.

We deeply regret to record the death of the
above-named gentleman, who was for over
twenty years past one of the most active and
enthusiastic promoters of the bee-industry in
the NdTth of England. Ever since he became
Rector of Bidston, Cheshire, in 1881 Mr.
Buckler was unceasing and constant in his
support of bee-craft among his parishioners ;
and when, in 1884, he became associated with
ourselves on the Executive Committee of the
Lancashire and Cheshire B.K.A, which was
then in its third year of operations, it was the
beginning of joint labours in the cause of bee-
keeping which never afterwards slackened. Mr.
Buckler subsequently became Chairman of the
L. and C. B.K A., and was rarely, if ever,
absent from its meetings.

He also very frequently officiated as judge
of the bee department at important shows in
the north, and has officiated in the same
capacity at the " Royal " show, besides being
many times appointed an examiner of candi-
dates for the certificates of the B.B.K.A.

When the dual County Association of Lanca-
shire and Cheshire a few years ago decided to
separate and have an Association for each
county, Mr. Buckler was unanimously ap-
pointed Chairman of the Cheshire B.K. A., and
held the office ever since. Indeed, his loss
will be severely felt by Cheshire bee-keepers,
among whom his genial urbanity and tactful
chairmanship was highly appreciated.

The news cf his decease reached this country
by cable from Las Palmas, whither it was
deemed advisable that he should winter owing
to failing health, but he had only reached the
Canaries when his illness took a serious turn,
resulting fatally on Thursday, December 4.

On behalf of bee-keepers generally, but
especially of those who, along with ourselves,
were co-workers with Mr. Buckler in labour-
ing for the good of the bee-industry, we tender
sincere and heartfelt sympathy to his family
under their sad bereavement.

DR. A. B. MASON.

We gathered from the American Bee Journal
of the 4th inst. the sad news of the untimely
death of the above well-known American bee-
keeper, through an explosion caused by the
escape of natural gas from a stove in the
summer kitchen of his house, on October 30.
It seems Dr. Mason had entered the room
with a lighted lamp and an explosion fol-
lowed. Though badly burned about the head,
face, and hands, the doctor for a few days
seemed in a fair way of recovery, but owing
to his advanced years, he could not overcome
the nervous shock to the system, and died on
November 12 at his residence, Toledo, Ohio,
U.S.A.

We are indebted to the American Bee
Journal for the following particulars concern-
ing the deceased gentleman, and we tender on
behalf of all British bee-keepers our respectful
sympathy to his sorrowing family for the loss
of one who is regarded very highly in this
country as a " Father '' of the craft, whose
memory will be cherished in the long years to
come : —

"Dr. Mason was born in Erie Co., N.Y., in
1833, and was raised on a farm. When
seventeen years old he taught school, and then
attended Beloit College, Wis, for several
terms. He then began the study of medicine,
and attended lectures at the University of
Michigan in 1857 and 1858. But the practice
of medicine was not to his taste, and, having
studied dentistry in connection with medicine,
he adopted the dental profession, and con-
tinued to practise it throughout his whole life.
In 1862 he moved to Waterloo, Iowa, and was
President of the Northern Iowa Dental Asso-
ciation for two years.

Dr. Mason was prominently active in
religious work. He united with the Baptist
church when eighteen years of age, and filled
different offices in the church. At one time
he was a church clerk, a trustee, and clerk
of the board of trustees, besides being a ■

512

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Dec. 18, 1902.

Sunday-school superintendent. In Sunday-
school work he was prominent, his activity
extending to neighbouring counties.

His interest in bee-keeping began in 1869,
and from that time his interest increased as
the number of his colonies increased, until in
1873 he made his bees an important source of
revenue, severe attacks of rheumatism making
close confinement to office work objectionable.

He was well known as prominent in api-
cultural matters in Ohio, to which State he
moved in 1874, locating in the vicinity of
Toledo. In 1882 his apiary was infected with
foul brood, but he succeeded in curing it so
effectually that there was no return of the
disease.

He was the leading spirit in securing pro-
minence for apiculture at the Tri-State Fair,
which was held yearly at Toledo, and was the
efficient superintendent of that department.
He was also superintendent of the Apiarian
Department of the Ohio Centennial Exposition,
which took place at Columbus in 1888.

In 1887 he was elected President of the
National Bee-keepers' Association (known by
another name at that time), to which office he
was re-elected the following year. For the
past seven years he has been secretary of the
same body, and occupied that position at the
time of his death, his term expiring with the
end of this year.

Dr. Mason was a man of fine appearance
and commanding presence, and was always a
conspicuous figure at the national conventions,
his jovial manner always adding interest to
the meetings."

Qnpfys mi mplfy.

[3009.] Removing Bees from Trees. — I am
writing to ask advice under the following
circumstances : — On December 12 I was
helping to take down a dead beech tree. One
of the large branches was hollow ; in it was
found a bees' nest with a lot of bees and
combs, but not much honey. Much of the
latter got spoilt in the tree falling. I secured
the bees and comb, and on reaching home
secured combs in bar-frames by tape, and then
put bees in a frame-hive. 1 examined them
to-day (December 14). I am afraid queen is
killed. I therefore ask — Will bees live till
spring ? I have put hive in a warm shed.
What I propose to do is to feed bees with warm
syrup as long as mild weather lasts, then put
on soft candy. I will examine as early as
possible in spring. If found queenless, will
either unite the bees to another stock, or put
in a frame of brood and eggs from another
hive. I may say that I have your valuable
"Guide Book,'' and am also a regular reader
of Bee Journal ; indeed, all I have leaint
of bees has been gathered from those two
sources. Hoping that I am not troubling you

too much. — A Young Beginner, East Dere-
ham, December 14.

Reply. — We should like to know why you
are afraid the bees are queenless. If, how-
ever, your assumption is correct there is
nothing for it but carrying out the course
proposed for utilising the bees by uniting them
to another stock.

[3010.] Amount of Food for Winter. — I
am writing to ask you if you think that my
bees (I have only one hive) have enough food
for winter 1 I fed them up in September,
and on the 25th of that month examined the
hive and found that it contained about four
and a half frames (" Standard '' size) of Byrup
food ; some of it sealed and some unsealed.
I then gave the bees another 5 lb. more of
sugar made into syrup, and packed the hive
for the winter on October 6, putting a 2-lb.
cake of candy on top of the frames. This
morning (December 14) being very mild and
many of the bees flying, I looked beneath the
quilts and found that about three-quarters of
the candy bad disappeared, and so feel rather
anxious lest they should be coming to the
end of their stores. Do you think that the
bees have enough food below to last till
March, or bad I better open the hive on a
mild day and give them more candy ? — " B.,"
co. Durham, December 14.

Reply. — The fact of candy being consumed
is rather indicative of the good condition of
the bees than a sign of stores being consumed.
There will be ample stores to carry the bees on
to February next, when another cake of candy
may be given.

Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers.

liettert or queries asking for addresses uf 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. T. E. (Oxon).— Candy Making— No. 1
(honey and sugar) is of good grain and con-
sistency, being smooth and " buttery." It
is a good candy. No. 2 (sugar only), though
fairly good, is a good way behind No. 1 in
quality.

Honey Samples.

J. C. (Belfast). — Honey sent is poor in
quality and thin in consistency. Though
beginning to granulate, it is not well
ripened, and in consequence is not likely to
keep well.

S. E. L. E. D. (Staffs.).— Honey is excellent
in colour and flavour ; almost wholly from
white clover. It is a very good sample.

#*# Some Letters and Queries are unavoidably
held over till next week.

Dec. 25, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

513

(Mtarial, Ijtotioji, &t

A CLOSING LINE FOE VOL. XXX.

The fact of our final issue for 1902 requiring
to be in the hands of readers a day earlier
than usual enables us, in penning a closing
line for Vol. XXX., to express our cordial
good wishes for a happy Christmas-time to all
readers of the British Bee Journal, and a
sincere hope that the coming year may, in all
respects, improve on that now ending. It has
been a stressful year for the dwellers in this
land as a whole ; and the industry we repre-
sent has had perhaps more than its share of
the strain, both individually and collectively,
but bee-keepers — ourselves included — are full
of hope that the specially adverse items of
the year's labours are items that do not crop
up very often. Bad years will come round, as
will brighter ones, and we feel that our own
hope will be shared that 1903 opens out a pro-
spect of better times for all.

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.

We are requested to announce that the
above exhibition will be arranged and or-
ganised by the "Central Association of
Austrian Bee-keepers," which is the largest
and most important bee-keeping association
in that kingdom.

The exhibition will be held in the Floral
Rooms of the Imperial Horticultural Associa-
tion, Vienna, from April 4 to April 26, 1903.

Foreigners are invited to exhibit, the main
object being to demonstrate the present state
of apiculture in all civilised countries.

The apicultural display will be divided into
the following groups . — 1. Live bees ; 2. Bee-
hives ; 3. Appliances ; 4. Bee products ;
5. Artificial products ; 6. Teaching and litera-
ture ; 7. Machines ; 8. Special bee-houses.

Forms of entry and further information
may be obtained from the " Central Associa-
tion for Bee-keeping in Austria," Schaufler-
gasse 6, Wien I.

Cormpiuiwta.

The Editori do not hold themselves responsible for the
tpiniont expressed if correspondents. No notice will he
taken of anonymous communication*, and eorreipondenti
art 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 piece* of paper. We
do not undertake to return rejected communications.

COMMENTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

" THE WRATHFUL BEE."

[4985.] Every year we hear of some story
being circulated far and wide regarding the
wrath of the bee ; always to its detriment, and

with all extenuating circumstances carefully
suppressed. One year it is a horse who has
such a strange fascination for standing, like a
country bumpkin, with its mouth so wide
open that it actually allows a whole swarm of
bees to enter — with the inevitable result that
the horse ceases to be a horse, and becomes
" clay." Any one acquainted with horses would
at once say that physically the performance
was an impossible one ; and even among
the uninitiated I never met a single person
who believed in anything but a fictional •
origin for the tale. Last year it was widely
reported that a whole flock of sheep were
chased for miles, and numbers of them cruelly
stung to death by bees. On tracing the history
of the story away back to its source, the number
dwindled down, and ultimately it resolved
itself into the bald fact that a shepherd, his
dog, and three sheep had been badly stung by
wasps. The young dog had pawed at a wasp's
b^ke while the shepherd was asleep near by.
My informant adds : Bees were not kept
within three miles of the spot ! Just the
other day our northern papers were circulating
a story regarding a dog which had been stung
to death " near Holme." It contained a
modicum of truth, but the implication that
the bees were the guilty parties scarcely does
them justice, as I am credibly informed on the
very best authority that they were not the
aggressors, and that the cause of offence had
its origin on the other side. Mankind, too,
at times becomes a victim, but only when he
is the assailant, and when he incautiously
departs from certain well-known rules, which,
acted on judiciously, ought to safeguard him
against any serious consequences. A nettle
can sting most effectively ; grasp it properly
and it does not hurt.

Nature has, wisely and well, implanted a
sting in the bee to act as a weapon of defence ;
and, on occasions, it can use this weapon
most effectively in defending its hearth
and home. Without such a protection, the
race could not exist, and the bee as a
species would soon become extinct, for then
every beast, bird, and insect of superior
strength would prey upon it, and rob it of its
sweets as soon as gathered. Every time they
took a flight these marauders would lessen
their number, while creeping, crawling, and
flying insects could, with impunity, make its
home and treasures their prey, until the life
of the community, from hateful foes within
and dire foes without, would become a burden
too heavy to bear.

Now, guarded as they and their luscious
treasure are, by the weapons of several
thousands of amazons — a regular serried
phalanx of armed warriors — all ready and
willing to sacrifice themselves on the altar of
duty in defence of house and home, kith and
kin, queen and hard won stores — other
insects, even of superior strength, show a due
regard to meuin and tuum, Nemo rue impune
lacessit might be written over the entrance of

514

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Dec. 25, 1902.

these Kepublican strongholds, each an im-
pregnable fortress, for no enemy can expect to
intrude on the sacred precincts, meddle with
their rich treasures, or disarrange their internal
organisation with impunity. Man, when he
becomes a beekeeper, is the first to see and
admire the beauty and utility of this admir-
able arrangement, which perfects and com-
pletes the order and harmony of these children
of nature — showing that bee-law is framed
with the best and wisest design so that
their arrangement like that of all things
created must be declared »to be " very good.''
Ani yet the marvel of it all is that the
bee-keeper finds the wrath of the bee is
almost a matter of fiction. We know from
hearsay or observation that she has a sting,
and, perhaps, have a lively recollection of
suffering from her anger (or shall I say her
sense of justice) in our novitiate days. These
are but reminiscences ; but why the change 1
Now we can handle bees with impunity, having
learned wisdom from experience — for experi-
ence teaches even fools. We have discovered
that there is a right and a wrong way of
handling them, and, consequently, we have
acquired |a 'steadiness of nerve. This secures
us a confidence, which again engenders gen-
tleness in manipulating them, which finally
begets gentleness on their part, and a species
of reciprocity all round. Of the bee's stinging
powers and some comments on my "Com-
ments '' I will have something more to say at
an early date.

" A Merry Christmas ! '' — The present issue
falling, as it does, on December 25, enables me,
appropriately, to wish all brother and sister
bee-keepers the Compliments of the Season.
In regard to the year now in its last throes, I
would express the wish that this day week
may " Ring out the false ; ring in the true.''
For the fast passing year has been the most
disastrous since the advent of modern api-
culture. It has been the worst for over fifty
years, I am told. May it be more than other
fifty before we have such another ! — D. M. M.,
Banff.

BACILLUS ALVEI.

IS IT THE BACILLUS MESENTERICUS VULGARIS ?

[4986.] The so-called foul brood in bees was
first discovered under that name by Schirach
in 17(39, but it is supposed that so far back as
Aristotle it was a recognised disease. It was
in 1885 that Messrs. Watson Cheyne, and
Cheshire submitted this destructive disease to
an elaborate scientific investigation, and
shortly after presented to the scientific world
a certain Bacillus alvei which was accepted as
the fons et origo of the foul brood in bees.
The latest contribution to the scientific work
on the subject emanates from the University
of Liege, and the funds for carrying it on were
provided by the Belgian Government. Dr.
Lambotte, as the result of his extended re-
searches, affirms that the Bacillus alvei of

Cheyne and Cheshire is identical with the
well-known and widely-distributed Bacillus
mesentericus vulgaris, and must be placed in
the same category with, for example, the
Bacillus coli communis, which, although a
normal and harmless inhabitant of the intes-
tine, may under given conditions become
pathogenic and give rise to disease.

The endowment of harmless micro-organisms
by suitable means with pathogenic properties is,
of course, a well recognised achievement, and
Dr. Lambotte has shown experimentally how
the familiar potato bacillus may artificially
become infested with disease-producing powers
and can engender foul brood disease in bees.

I have gleaned the above from Nature for
October 23 on account of its great importance
to bee- keepers generally.

Although Dr. Lambotte's research shows
Bacillus alvei to be identical with Bacillus
mesentericus vulgaris, and I have no reason to
doubt it, yet, for the sake of certainty, I must
say I should like to see this confirmed. The
practical experiments seem to leave no doubt,
and yet at the same time it is difficult to
connect certain links in one's experience. In
Barbados, for instance, where I am staying at
the present time, no foul brood is known, and
from the state of the bee3, they are exceed-
ingly healthy. Yet it is hardly to be disputed
that in such a densely-populated place as this,
under prevailing conditions, known only to
those who live in the Island, that B. mesen-
tericus vulgaris and others must exist abun-
dantly. Why have the bees never contracted
the disease ?

I do not presume to set my opinion against
that of Dr. Lambotte, I only desire to place
on record a thought which has occurred
to me. — R. Hamltn - Harris, D.Sc,
F.R.M.S., F.Z.S., F.E.S., &c, Newham, Belle-
ville, Barbados, West Indies, December 4.

SHOWS AND SHOWI G.

[498 7. J As a practical bee-keeper of over
twenty years' experience, I trust I may be
permitted to make a few remarks with refer-
ence to Shows. The unseemly wranglings and
petulant objections of some who profess to be
interested in apiculture has done and is doing
much to disgust not a few who, from the
highest view and not from any feeling of self-
interest, are anxious that bee-shows should
everywhere be encouraged. Some time ago,
at much trouble and some personal expense, I
organised, at a flower show, an exhibition of
bees and of bee-produce. The exhibition was
pronounced by every one to be a conspicuous
success. But alas for the show and the exhi-
bition, a disagreeably contentious element was
introduced, which so displeased the resident
and neighbouring gentry that on the follow-
ing year all the leading people refused to
have anything to do with the show,
with the result that it fell through, and I

Dec. 25, 1902.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

51i

determined never again in that district to make
any attempt to teach the people how to keep
bees. This is only a sample of the result of
the conduct of those who so stupidly make
themselves disagreeable to those who are
anxious to encourage local shows and exhibi-
tions. There are some who, if they cannot
have everything their own way, would kill a
show. Conspicuous among these I cannot
help thinking is Mr. Woodley. He seems to
live upon objections. His remarks with refe-
rence to " trophies " could never be made by
one who was by nature and not profession a
bee-keeper. For instance, "in my opinioD,"
he says (I should think in this matter he
enjoys sweet isolation), "no English honey
has ever been used in '' the manufacture of
such things " as cosmetics, soaps, hair-restorers,
and such like '' articles. What a confession !
The horizon of Mr. Woodley's knowledge is
manifestly a very near one. With sublime
innocence he fails to realise that possibly there
may be uses for bee-produce of which he has
never heard or conceived. An ounce of know-
ledge is worth a pound of " opinion." I know
for a fact that honey is used in the manufac-
ture of many of these articles to which Mr.
Woodley takes exception ; indeed, it is used
in many articles which as yet have not
appeared in the " Trophy Classes," aDd so
there is room for improvement in the exhibits
in these classes.

I do earnestly hope, Sirs, that you will use
your irjfluence to discourage those who by
repeatedly raising objections are doing much
to retard the success of bee- shows and to
disgust educated people. — (Rev.) Donald
Moore, Clifton, December 12.

CREATING A HONEY MARKET.

SELLING THE YEAR ROUND.

[4988.] So far as can be gathered from the
Bee Journal pages there has been no trouble
about selling honey this year ; indeed, with
most bee-keepers the difficulty has been to get
saleable honey. We must, however, be look-
ing ahead, for the first good season will
doubtless bring forth the usual wail of " over-
production '' and " bad prices."

Most goods in the grocery line are handled
at a very low rate of profit, but somehow this
does not seem to apply to honey, seeing that
the average retailer generally looks to clear
up to 50 per cent, profit on its sale. Bee-
keepers themselves are, I think, largely to
blame for this ; for, although a shop may at
the time already be overstocked, they will
persist in forcing sales as if glad to part with
their honey at any priee they may be offered
for it. The grocer holds the honey for a
while, and then sells out at a handsome profit,
while the beeman raises the cry of " bees
don't pay," thereby damping the enthusiasm
of would-be beginners. Surely there should
be some simple remedy for this state

of affairs ? According to my experience,
the present tendency in the provision trade is,
that as far as possible everything should be
supplied direct from the .producer to the
consumer. At least, this is what must be
meant when in the shops we see goods marked
as being "from our own factories" or "direct
from our own farms," &c, and thus the public
is continually being taught to believe that it
is to their advantage to deal with firms trading
on such lines. And I contend that bee-
keepers can learn something from this. There
seem to be plenty of bee-men all over the
country who, whether through being better
situated or more enterprising than others,
have worked up a good connection with
private customers, 'and these fortunate
ones are usually " sold out " at a good price,
by the end of October, and, in due course,
mention the the fact in a letter to the
B.B.J. This is all very well so far as it goes,
but having done so well could they not do
better still 1 It can hardly be the case that
their customers use honey only in the fall.
In other words I ask, would they not, if it was
offered to them, buy honey all the year
round ? If my question is answered in
the affirmative I then go further and say :
Let these successful beemen get in touch
with their less fortunate brethren ; those who
complain that they can find no market for the
honey they produce. The latter would no
doubt agree that a fair commission should be
charged on all sales ; customers would be
regularly supplied, and large quantities of
honey disposed of by bee-keepers in this way
to their mutual benefit, and to the benefit of
the British bee-keeping in general.

The cry of "over-production,' is idle and
mischievous. The only way of increasing the
demand is to increase the supply ; by restrict-
ing the output we merely play into the hands
of the foreigner. But if bee-craft is to be sec
on a firm commercial basis, beekeepers will
have to stop the unbusinesslike practice of
forcing their honey on the market at any price
it will fetch as soon as removed from the hives.
What would be thought of farmers if they did
the same with their crop when harvested ? To
sum the matter up it seems to me that there is
plenty of room for more honey producers, but
if it is to take its place as a common article
of food, honey must, like other foodstuffs, be
supplied regularly, and kept prominently be-
fore the public every year and all the year
round. — J. M. E., Ussie Valley, Cononbridge.

FOUNDATION FIXING, &c.

[4989.] Mr. S. P. S.'s (Rochford) (4976)
remarks as to the " old and time- wasting way
of using melted wax " for fixing foundation in
frames have led me to state my experience in
this line.

This "waxing" method hag been my way
of fixing foundation annually now for the past
eighteen years for an apiary averaging fifteen

516

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Dec. 25, 1902.

hives. I was, however, rather surprised to see
Mr. Herrod (4966) uses the same method. I
should have expected such an up-to-date
expert to have discarded such a method long
ago. [The "Mr. Herrod'' you refer is noi
Mr. W. Herrod the B.B.K.A.'s expert, but
his brother, Mr. J. Herrod. — Eds] Daring
my eighteen years' bee-keeping I have fitted
hundreds of frames with foundation, and
have become possessed of a few dozens of
Abbott's split-top frames. These I originally
fixed in the usual way with the saw-cut-, but
in renewing the foundation they have invari-
ably been done with molten wax, which is the
best plan I have yet seen. One great
dislike I have to the cut top bar is the diffi-
culty of thoroughly cleaning the frame. I am
unfortunately in a district not quite free
from foul brood ; const quently, when old combs
want renewing it becomes necessary to clean
the frames, and this I always do by baking
them, or, rather, roasting them, over a red-hot
fire ; and the ones with the saw- cut, or grooves,
are most difficult to clean ; the plain ones
scrape easily, and are as sound and good as
new. As to time taken in fixing foundation,
I think I could keep pace with any one with
their cut-top-bar method. There certainly is
the trouble of making the wax hot, and it is
looked upon as a messy job, but that is really
more fancy than a reality. One thing I have
particularly noticed re fixing foundation is the
number of complaints of foundation dropping
out of the frames when put into the hives.
This is a thing I have never experienced,
although I never wire any frames.

As to the size of our " Standard" frame, to
depart from that now would be disastrous
to the bee-keeping industry, a somewhat
thicker top bar might be an improvement,
although my own experience says the (full)
three-eighths solid top is quite sufficient for
all purposes, and is cheaper than the cut-top
ones, and this is one of the most important
things to study in bee-keeping. — H. Neve,
Heathfield, Sussex, December 15.

THE "TROPHY CLASS" AT SHOWS.

[4990.] I see in Mr. Woodley's " Notes by
the Way'' in your issue of December 4 (page
482) he makes a pointed reference to the
Trophy Class at Shows, and after enumerating
certain things, says " No English honey has
ever in my opinion been used in the manufac-
ture of any of these articles.'' If, as I suppose,
he is alludiDg to my trophy at the Con-
fectioners' and Bakers' Exhibition last
September, he is mistaken. Everything
exhibited by me was made with pure English
honey or wax. It would be a pity if the
Show Committees in drawing up next year's
schedules were to " bar '' any items which are
of practical use and for which honey or bees-
wax is required. There is no better floor-
polish or furniture cream than that made
with beeswax, and the value of honey for

its medicinal properties has always been
acknowledged. In the making of girgles and
coujjh-mixtures honey is frequently used, as in
many other things, and I know by experience
that honey for the cure and relief of asthma is
invaluable.

In former days the basis of almost all salves
and ointments was clarified beeswax, and it is
still considerably used in the making of these,
which, I think, Mr. Woodley refers to as
" cosmetics."

I possess a very old recipe book (1815), and
it is surprising what a number of domestic
remedies were in use in those days which con-
tained honey. Though they knew less then
about beekeeping and management, they
appear to have known infinitely more about
the uses of honey. — L. Waller, Pen Park,
near Bristol, December 13.

FOUL BROOD AND BEE-FOOD.

[4991.] I was very pleased to see in the
B.B. J. of December 4 (page 489) the "Good
Advice to Bee-keepers," by one so competent
as Colonel Walker. I quite endorse his view
that it is the duty of every bee-keeper to do
his utmost to cleanse his apiary from foul brood,
or, if not actually infected, to use every means
in order to prevent infection.

I am frequently asked by neighbouring
cottagers to look at their bees or to harvest
their honey in autumn, and sometimes I got
the " driven bees '' for my trouble. But soon
found out the danger of accepting the latter,
for before I learned to fully understand the
nature of foul brood, I carried home with me
the germs of the disease to my own apiary.
I may say this pest is the only thing I fear in
bee-keeping, and when I had to destroy one
of my best stocks I resolved never again to
accept driven bees from my neighbours. How-
ever, by promptness and energy, I got rid of
the contagion, and, although surrounded as
I am by careless neighbours, when the expert
of the Devon B.K.A. examined my hives, he
said : " Your bees are in a splendid condition;
I never expected to find stocks here so strong
and healthy as yours." I may say, however, it
is only by the exercise of constant care that
bees can be kept free from disease if it exists
in a district, when you are exposed to the
carelessness or ignorance of cottager bee-
keepers, who know nothing or care nothing
about risk to others. It is so difficult to make
them understand the true nature of foul
brood.

I could narrate many instances of the
arduous labour I underwent in trying to clear
out foul brood from the apiaries of cottager
skeppists and farmers who kept bees, but
know little about them. I only know it was
very discouraging often to find one's advice
with regard to treatment quite disregarded.
The details might be useful, but would occupy
too much space.

It seems impossible to suggest an efficacious

Dec. 25, 1902.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.

517

means of dealing successfully -with bee-keepers
so wilfully careless of others' welfare as many
I have come across. In fact, nothing short of
compulsory legal powers could be successful
with them, but it shows how true are Colonel
Walker's words : — " Any one who is not pre-
pared to look after his own bees and keep
them healthy had far better not keep bees
at all." Every one admits how much there is
still to be done in curing foul brood in this
country. But I am persuaded that if bee-
keepers would unite in a common effort in
that direction, the progress would be rapid.
Everything depends on our bees being kept
healthy and strong, and anioDg the means of
securing this end the most important is good
and wholesome food. I am in accord with
the most competent authorities in saying this.
All the reliable text-books recommend first
quality bee food, while eminent German bee-
keepers especially insist on tbat point. No
less an authority than Gravenhorst, in refer-
ence to feeding, says : — " To the question,
with what shall we feed our bees ? ' I reply,
with good and carefully gathered honey.'
By this I understand ; — (1) Honey taken
from healthy stocks ; (2) taken from
sealed combs only ; (3) honey harvested
and preserved with the greatest care. Honey
from sealed combs only is " good " for feeding,
because only such is in properly wholesome
condition. It should never contain dead
bees or brood, or be spoiled in any way. But
if bee-keepers use honey at all for bee-food
they usually buy the cheapest rather than the
best. This, however, is poor economy, seeing
that winter food for the bees is of far greater
importance to the well-doing of the colony
than the hive and its accessories. Honey
dew and that gathered from fir trees should
be removed from hive without delay. Food
made from cane sugar is better than doubtful
honey. In spring we should be careful to
feed only with granulated honey of a buttery
consistence, in order that the bees may take
it slowly, and not cause robbery."

When Gravenhorst wrote these lines he did
not know bee-candy as it is made now. Had
he done so, no doubt he would have recog-
nised its advantages over granulated honey.
Herr Gravenhorst goes on to say " as domestic
animals yield the greatest profit when they
receive good and abundant nourishment, so it
is with bees. Indeed, the latter require still
greater care than others on account of their
delicate construction.'' This is the opinion of
Gravenhorst about food and feeding, and
being impressed by the great care German
bee-keepers bestow on bee-food, I resolved to
try and find out the best kind of food for
winter and spring feeding, and which would
at the same time help to destroy "foul brood,''
and when I say that I have succeeded in
keeping my bees strong and free from disease
amid unfavourable surroundings, it is near the
right thing, so far as maintaining the vital
forces of the bees. I sent samples of this kind

of candy to our Editors, who pronounced it a
" very good sample." Bee-candy, to be " good,"
must be soft and smooth in grain, like the
fondant sugars made by confectioners. I prefer
properly-made candy to either honey or syrup-
food for any season. It never induces "rob-
bing," nor does it excite the bees, while, if pro-
perly made, it has all the good qualities of syrup
without the inconveniences of the latter.
Syrup-food, if given abundantly, causes a lot
of watery stuff to be put in the combs which
has to be evaporated in the hive itself, and
this at a season when the outside temperature
is damp and cold. Then in the hands of
beginners or careless persons extensive syrup-
feeding starts robbing, which, as we all know,
is so difficult to stop.

I insist strongly on the point that if we
want it to be profitable to our bees and to help
us to destroy foul brood, candy must not only
be made with the best raw material, but it
must also be smooth in grain, just as the
u Guide Book " prescribes. For if it is rough
and sandy in grain, or too hard, it will be of
very little use to the bees, and in many cases
will be hurtful to them. Therefore, let all
bee-keepers use only first quality bee-food,
medicated against foul brood, and we will see
this terrible pe3t, which weighs so heavily
upon us, visibly disappear.

In conclusion, I admit that syrup-feeding at
the proper season and in the hands of skilful
bee-masters, has some advantages over candy,
viz., for rapid feeding. But how many are
skilful and careful1?— B. Colomban, O.S.B.,
St. Mary's Abbey, Buckfastleigh, Devon.

THE BOGIE MAN.

CURING VICIOUS BEES.

[4992.] Your correspondent "D. M. M."
has some " Comments " on page 434 of B.J.
for October 30 on bee-stings and " Bogie "
men, which brings Mr. J. Herrod on the scene
(4966, page 486) with the assurance that he
" has had scores of stings dotted all over his
clothing." It is not the first time the
" Bogie " man has made his appearance in the
pages of the B.B.J. It has frequently proved
most beneficial, and I fancy has had your
recommendation. Now "D. M. M." himself
is ready to admit that when p'aced in close
proximity to a vicious hive it may do some
good. I conclude from this that our friend's
object is to cast some doubt upon the truth-
fulness of Mr. Sole, who first wrote on the
subject in your pages as long ago as August
21 (4867, page 333). In other words, while
questioning the veracity of Mr. Sole, he seems
to me to cover his own want of knowledge
as to fact. He says "A bee, even in passion,
does not evince a blind fary in its action."
I may assure him that it often does. Let
him isolate a bad-tempered stock of bees, and
not allow it to be visited for a few month?.
He will meet with ample demonstration, and

518

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

[Dec. 25, 1902.

his theory of any other than the " vulnerable
part of a man " is at variance with fact. If
after such a visit he will examine for him-
self he will find many stings conspicuous in
the hat, coat, and vest, where the ligaments
and honey sac show white flecks. I am a
bee-keeper of observation and experience, and
can assure our Scotch friend that a bee struck
when circling round its own hive will, in blind
fury, stiug anything that moves. I have seen
it, and I have seen one bee, after having lost
its sting, raise a tumult in a hive, and set
it in a regular commotion. Bees are cautious
as a rule. The " fury '' is the exception. A
bee with its sting sticking in your hat is, un-
wittingly, as dangerous as one with its sting
carefully stowed away. I can tell our friend,
too, that when a bee has left its sting in your
hat it makes as much fuss as if it had already
got a new one, and will then become a cautious
bee by experience. I have caught such in my
hand when they have been so deeply intent
on getting into my eyes. — Tom Abbott,
Cheshire, December 9.

[We have omitted some further criticism of
Mr. J. Herrod's letter with special reference to
experts and foul brood, as it seems to us that
our correspondent is confusing the writer of
4966 )page 486) with the well-known expert
and apiarist of the B.B.K.A., Mr. W. Herrod,
whereas Mr. J. Herrod is a younger brother of
his. — Eds.]

WANTED, A FEAME.
[.4993] Yes, along with other bee-keepers,
I want a frame, but that is not ail ; a good
many of us want " Quaker Oats " boxes, a saw,
a small plane, a gimlet, a few screws and nails,
and a pair of willing hands, and you will soon
have a useful hive 22 in. long to hold
" standard " frames. The super will be same
size as the brood -chamber, a nice roof to keep
the wet out, a floorboard of the same wood,
and there you are ! This is called by Mr. H.
Edwards " a nasty frame " in a " nasty hive,"
which hive will cost you 3s. This price is one
that suits a bee-keeper who is a mechanic. As
for its being " nasty," that is a matter of
opinion, I take it, but for the result I asked a
friend, another mechanic, to come and see me
take the honey this year, and he watched
me take 50 lb. of beautiful honey out of this
"nasty " hive. Therefore, I hold that I am on
the right track. I have known the little
labourers we call " the bees " since 1857, and
I can give them a good character now.
Now, friend Edwards, will you set to work
and teach our country labouring men how
they can make a better cheap hive in the
winter evenings than the one I have men-
tioned ? When you do, and when foul brood
comes, we will all be indebted to you ;
but meantime I am satisfied with one of
these nasty hives, so long as they give me
50 lb. of honey ; and the cost of another will
be just a fraction below 3 s. Any one can

look after a few bees, if they have the money
to buy all the appliances you advocate ; but
here you can go through miles of bee-country
and not a hive to be seen. It is these men
who have only from 12s. to 183. per week
wages that I am trying to " bring into line."
The only " swarm-catcher " I need is myself.
I mean to say that bees will do well in one of
these " nasty " hives, but I call them cheap
and " nice," and I say to any labouring man,
do not spend any money on hives, but read
the little Bee Journal as often as you can,
and you will see week after week what to do.
If in any fix or difficulty, ask the Editor a
question or two now and again, and he will
set you straight. In conclusion, I wish all
friends of the bees better luck next year.
— Basswood, Swindon, Wilts.

[3011.] Keeping Doney in Lard Buckets. —
I recently had 40 lb. of honey stored in a lard
bucket, which latter was placed in a copper of
hot water to melt the honey, so that I could
run it into jars. I enclose sample, and you
will find that it now tastes strongly of lard
and wood. Will you therefore please say if
you know of any process which would put this
into a proper condition for sale, and, if not,
would it do for feeding bees 1 — Atlas,
Cheshire, December 12.

Reply. — We regret to say honey is utterly
spoiled for sale purposes or table use by the
admixture of lard and strong flavour of the
latter in sample sent. It may do no harm to
feed bees with it, and this is the best use we
can recommend its being put to.

Notices to Correspondents & inquirers,

A. S. (Keston, Kent). — Queen Cast out in
December. — 1. The dead queen sent is a
nicely marked Italian. 2. We should say
it is not the laying queen of the colony,
being very young, and bearing all . the
appearance of a non-mated queen. 3. With
regard to its being the only queen at head
of the colony, this is a point requiring
inspection of combs before a decision can
be arrived at. You should take first chance
of a warm day, when btes are flying, to have
a search on combs for queen. 4. We cannot
give cause of death.

"Prospect" (Castle Cary). — Bee Candy. —
The candy sent is utterly unfit for use as
bee-food. You must adhere closely to
instructions in " Guide Book," and neither
use tartaric acid in mistake for cream of
tartar, nor use raw Barbados sugar instead
of refined crystals or loaf sugar. Your
sample is simply a soft brown paste that
would not hold together, but run down
among the combs and cause all sorts of
mischief to the bees.