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<div class="transnote covernote">
<p class="center" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">The cover image was
created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.</p>
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<h1> THE AMERICAN<br/> BEE JOURNAL </h1>
<div class="center large">OLDEST BEE PAPER<br/>
IN AMERICA<br/><br/>
ESTABLISHED<br/>
IN 1861<br/>
DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO BEE-CULTURE.<br/>
Weekly, $1 a Year.<br/>
Sample Copy Free.</div>
<hr class="r25" />
<div class="center">VOL. XXXIII. CHICAGO, ILL.,JAN. 25, 1894. NO. 4.</div>
<hr class="chap" />
<p><span class="pagenum">[103]</span></p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i001a.png" alt="" /></div>
<h2 class="nobreak">EDITORIAL</h2></div>
<div class="center large">GEORGE W YORK.<br/>
<span class="small">EDITOR</span></div>
<p><b>Beeswax</b>, so it is said, is formed by
one equivalent of starch changed into fat
by losing one equivalent of carbonic acid
and seven equivalents of oxygen.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<p><b>The Ohio Convention</b> will be
omitted this winter. So we are informed
by Miss Dema Bennett, the Secretary of
the association. She says that the Executive
Committee has so decided, but will
hold one next winter. Due notice of time
and place will be given in the <span class="smcap">Bee Journal</span>.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<p><b>Bro. Geo. W. Brodbeck</b>, of Los
Angeles, Calif., has been appointed chairman
of a committee to secure and put in
place the bee and honey exhibit at the Midwinter
Fair now being held in San Francisco.</p>
<p>It is proposed that a "honey pyramid,"
consisting of comb and extracted honey, be
built, six feet square at the base, and 15
feet high. It is thought that 1,500 pounds
will be required, and that this will exceed
the famous Egyptian pyramids—in sweetness.</p>
<p>California bee-keepers are invited to help
make the display, which, no doubt, they
will do in a handsome manner.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<p><b>Bro. G. M. Doolittle</b> is writing a
series of semi-political articles for the <i>Free
Press</i> of Skaneateles, N. Y. The first is on
"The Tariff Wrong in Principle." Another
will be on "The Tariff for Protection
Wrong;" the next on "The Tariff for
Revenue Wrong;" then will come two
articles on "The Liquor Traffic," which will
probably be followed by one on the financial
situation of our country. If the reader
desires to see all these articles, send 25
cents to the <i>Free Press</i> for three months
subscription, asking the publisher to begin
with Bro. Doolittle's first article, then you
will have them all. For ourselves, we can
say that we are always interested in what
Bro. Doolittle may have to say, whether it
be on bee-keeping, or anything else.</p>
<p><span class="xxlarge">☞</span> Bees never puncture fruit, and unless
the skin has been broken by other insects
or birds, they never molest it.—<i>Newman.</i></p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<p><b>Basis of Honey-Predictions.</b>—Finally,
we think we have learned upon
what basis certain honey-prophets base
their prophecies about honey crops. It appears
to be something like this:</p>
<p>The more rain and snow in November
and December, the more honey there will
be the following season; and if there is no
rain or snow in the two months mentioned,
there will be no honey.</p>
<p>The predictions are made upon the reports
of the State Weather Bureaus, or the
Weather Bureau reports in Washington,
D. C. All who wish to test the reliability
of such a basis for a honey-prediction,
should get the weather reports, and begin
to foretell for themselves, and thus not be
<span class="pagenum">[104]</span>
required to await the movements of some
so-called "honey-prophet."</p>
<p>We believe the above rule for prophesying
is for linden, sourwood, and white
clover honey.</p>
<p>Who knows but this may be the secret to
which the Tennessee honey-prophet, Sam
Wilson, has been so tenaciously hanging
on? We shouldn't be a bit surprised if it
should prove to be that very secret. If so,
every bee-keeper can now be his own
"honey-prophet"—whether he gets any
honey or not.</p>
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<p><b>Mr. N. W. McLain</b>—once in charge
of a United States experiment apiary, and
an apicultural writer—has been visiting
recently at Mrs. Atchley's home. Mr.
McLain's address is Hinsdale, Ills.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<p><b>The Iowa Honey Exhibit</b> at the
World's Fair, we have pleasure in illustrating
and describing this week. No separate
appropriation was made for the exhibit,
but the Iowa Columbian Commission,
recognizing bee-culture as one of the
many agricultural pursuits of the State,
desired that a creditable exhibit of honey
and wax should be made in connection
with their agricultural exhibits, and for
that purpose appointed Bro. E. Kretchmer,
of Red Oak, Iowa, on Jan. 14, 1893. This
being too late to secure suitable honey for
an exhibit from the crop of 1892, only
enough was placed in the case at the beginning
of the Fair to retain the space.</p>
<p>There being no money to buy the honey
for a suitable exhibit, Mr. Kretchmer, by
issuing several circulars, and making several
personal visits to prominent apiarists,
enlisted the aid of the Iowa bee-keepers,
and nobly did they respond by loaning the
honey that was exhibited in the Iowa case.
Believing that much credit is due those
who thus generously loan honey for exhibition
purposes, we give the names of those
who aided thus, and also what they contributed:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>E. J. Cronkleton, of Dunlap—100 pounds
of nice comb honey.</p>
<p>F. A. Beals, of Salix—480 pounds of extracted
basswood honey, and 544 pounds of
comb honey.</p>
<p>R. B. Arnold, of Foster—20 pounds of
white clover comb honey.</p>
<p>T. C. DeClercq, of DeSoto—60 pounds of
extracted clover honey, 60 pounds of extracted
basswood honey, and 105 pounds of
comb honey.</p>
<p>L. G. Clute, of Manchester—20 pounds of
very nice comb honey, and this was honored
with an award.</p>
<p>A. J. Duncan, of Hartford—50 pounds of
extracted basswood honey.</p>
<p>F. Furst, of Adair—40 pounds of comb
honey.</p>
<p>Oliver Foster, of Mt. Vernon—30 pounds
of comb honey, and 60 pounds of extracted
honey; which also received an award.</p>
<p>Thos. O. Hines, of Anamosa—91 pounds
of comb honey.</p>
<p>Thos. Johnson, of Coon Rapids—22 pounds
of comb, and 25 pounds of extracted honey.</p>
</blockquote>
<div class="topspace2"></div>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i002a.png" alt="" /> <div class="caption"><i>Iowa Exhibit at the World's Fair.</i></div>
</div>
<div class="topspace2"></div>
<blockquote>
<p>Noah Miller, of North English—48 pounds
of white clover comb honey.</p>
<p>J. H. Stanford, of Cherokee—20 pounds
of aster honey, gathered in October, 1892.</p>
<p>J. L. Strong of Clarinda—100 pounds of
comb honey.</p>
<p>J. H. Stephens, of Riverton—60 pounds
of extracted basswood honey, and 43
pounds of comb honey.</p>
<p>Mont. Wyrick, of Cascade—100 pounds of
extracted honey.</p>
<p>E. Kretchmer, of Red Oak—100 pounds of
alfalfa comb honey, which received an
award; also 200 pounds of extracted clover
honey, which also received an award, and
175 pounds of clover comb honey.</p>
<p>Wm. Kimble, of DeWitt—77 pounds of
comb, and 66 pounds of extracted honey,
which received an award.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>All of the extracted honey was displayed
<span class="pagenum">[105]</span>
in 18 different vessels, holding from 4
ounces to 12 pounds each.</p>
<p>The principal display of extracted honey
was near the east end of the case, arranged
on cone-shaped shelving. This cone of
honey reached a height of about 6 feet, and
was 5 feet in diameter, while near the west
end of the case a pyramid was erected,
with extracted honey in different sized
glass jars, with sheets of glass between the
several tiers, and large vase-shaped jars
filled with honey were dispersed within the
case.</p>
<p>The arrangement of displaying the comb
honey consisted principally in a bank near
the center of the case, about 11 feet long,
tapering from a base nearly 5 feet wide to
a crest 6 feet high, surmounted with extracted
honey in ornamental jars.</p>
<p>The front, or west end, display consisted
of two columns of comb honey which supported
the words "IOWA HONEY," built
of comb honey; over which was shown a
hollow tri-angle of fine comb honey, reaching
to the top of the case.</p>
<p>In the east end of the case was displayed
a tri-angle of comb honey in open sections,
the three walls being 3×5 feet each, surmounted
with extracted honey in vessels
of various sizes and shapes. Near the edge
of the ceiling of the case were suspended
neat glass pails filled with extracted
honey; while nice specimens of bright wax,
in ornamental forms and shapes, were
placed in every available nook and corner
of the case.</p>
<p>To the untiring efforts of Bro. Kretchmer
belongs the credit of securing and
placing the very tasty exhibit of Iowa
honey and wax. Few men would have undertaken
the task, and carried it to as successful
a completion, as he did. On another
page of this issue of the <span class="smcap">Bee Journal</span> may
be found a picture and also biographical
sketch of Bro. Kretchmer—the man to
whom Iowa bee-keepers now owe a debt of
gratitude.</p>
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<p><b>Fine Weather</b> in Texas was reported
by Mrs. Atchley on Jan. 12th. They had
had no frost, and everything was green.
Cabbage heads weighing 15 pounds were
then standing in the gardens. It seems
from this that things down there "stand
on their heads," and grow just as well as
if "right side (or end) up." Good for
Texas!</p>
<hr class="chap" />
<p><span class="pagenum">[106]</span></p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i003.png" alt="" /></div>
<h2 class="nobreak smcap"><span class="xlarge">General Questions</span></h2></div>
<p class="center">
ANSWERED BY<br/>
<span class="xlarge">DR. C. C. MILLER,</span><br/>
<span class="smcap">Marengo, Ill.</span><br/></p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration01.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<blockquote>
<p>In this department will be answered those
questions needing <span class="smcap">IMMEDIATE</span> attention, and
such as are not of sufficient special interest to
require replies from the 20 or more apiarists
who help to make "Queries and Replies" so
interesting on another page. In the main, it
will contain questions and answers upon matters
that particularly interest beginners.—<span class="smcap">Ed.</span></p>
</blockquote>
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<p><b>Feeding Bees in the Cellar.</b></p>
<p>What is the best way to feed bees
when wintering in the cellar? I started
in 1891 with three colonies, but have
had bad luck the last two winters. I
have 13 colonies at the present time—9
outdoors, and 4 in the cellar.</p>
<p class="sig5">M. W.</p>
<p class="sig-left2">Sterling, Ill.</p>
<p class="p3"><span class="smcap">Answer.</span>—There is nothing better
than to give them frames filled with
honey. Carefully remove two or three
of the empty combs till you strike the
brood-nest—that is, till you come to a
comb with bees on—then put in a comb
of honey. Be sure that there are bees
enough on the comb next to the honey
so that there will be no doubt about
their commencing on the honey right
away, for there might be such a thing
as their starving without ever touching
it, unless it were pushed right under their
little noses. If the first frame in the
brood-nest has too few bees, it may be
best to put the honey between this and
the next comb with bees on. If the
temperature of your cellar varies, don't
take the time when it is coldest.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<p><b>Bees Dying in the Cellar.</b></p>
<p>As I have always had bad luck in wintering
bees out-of-doors, I thought I
would winter them in the cellar this
winter, so I have followed the <span class="smcap">American
Bee Journal</span> along, and studied closely
all that has appeared in it about wintering
bees in the cellar. I finally settled
upon the way of one writer's plan, thinking
it perhaps a good way; that is, to
raise the hive from the bottom-board
about an inch, by putting blocks under
<span class="pagenum">[106]</span>
the corners. I believe he said that the
bees would not come out if kept in the
dark—that I have done, and I find every
time I go to them, that the ground is
covered with dead bees, and at this rate
I think there will not be any left by
spring. Why do my bees come out, if
others do not?</p>
<p>My crop of honey last season was
none, as usual, and I have had to feed
to carry the bees through the winter.</p>
<p class="sig5">E. H. H.</p>
<p class="sig-left2">St. Johnsbury Center, Vt.</p>
<p class="p3"><span class="smcap">Answer.</span>—Whatever may be the cause
of your bees dying, you may rely on it
that it is not likely to be caused by the
raising of the hive as you have done.
You can keep the bees from troubling
the cellar-bottom by letting the hive
down and shutting the bees in with wire
cloth, for in that case the bees cannot
get out, but they'll die just as fast as
ever and perhaps a little faster, for if
bees find they are fastened in, they are
all the more eager to get out.</p>
<p>There must be something wrong with
the bees or the cellar, and knowing
nothing about it but that the hive is
raised and the bees are dying, it is hard
to make any kind of a guess as to the
cause of the trouble. If the hive is
spotted and daubed about the entrance,
then diarrhea is at work. This may
come from the quality of the food, or it
may come from the condition of the cellar;
45° seems to be the degree of
temperature that most agree upon as
desirable, and if your cellar is much
above 50° it is probably too warm. If
below 40°, I would try heating it up, to
see what the effect would be. Anything
that quiets the bees down may be considered
a move in the right direction,
for undoubtedly bees that are coming
out and dying in large numbers are not
quiet.</p>
<p>It may be that the air of the cellar
is bad—too close, or poisoned with decaying
vegetables—but there isn't much
use in going on guessing. The most
that can be said is to try to have pure
air at about 45°, and see whether the
trouble continues.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<p><b>Increasing an Apiary—Sweet Clover.</b></p>
<p>1. I have 12 colonies of bees, and I
want to increase them. Would I better
keep the bees confined to the brood-chamber
till they swarm, or would it be
best to give them access to one section-case?
Or would I better increase by
dividing?</p>
<p>2. Where can I get sweet clover seed,
that Mr. Newman recommends so highly
for bee-pasturage?</p>
<p class="sig5">J. S.</p>
<p class="sig-left2">Long, W. Va.</p>
<p class="p3"><span class="smcap">Answers.</span>—1. If you are anxious for
increase and care little for honey, you
will do well to put on no supers. Or,
you might let part of them have one
super each. You may find, however,
that it will not make much difference.</p>
<p>If you have had no experience in that
line, perhaps it will be best not to meddle
much with dividing colonies, but let
the bees swarm at their own sweet will;
still, it will be good practice for you to
make a few colonies by dividing. In
any case, be sure to get some good text-book
and study up thoroughly, then you
will have a more intelligent idea of the
whole business. Any points that are
not clearly understood will be cheerfully
explained in this department, unless you
ask too hard questions.</p>
<p>2. Melilot, or sweet clover, seed can
be had at any large seed-store. Many
of the supply dealers who advertise in
the <span class="smcap">Bee Journal</span> have it for sale.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<p><b>Carrying Out Dead Brood.</b></p>
<p>I have a case of dead brood on my
hands, which I do not understand. The
bees are in a 10-frame hive that I
bought of a neighbor last June. At this
time they have a hive full of honey and
young bees; they are carrying out
young brood that is just ready to cap
over. It does not appear to be foul
brood, and I do not know what to call
it. Any information on the subject
would be appreciated.</p>
<p class="sig5">M. F. B.</p>
<p class="sig-left2">Indianapolis, Ind.</p>
<p class="p3"><span class="smcap">Answer.</span>—It is possible that worms
are at work, and the brood is thrown
out where they have gnawed away the
cappings or some part of the cells.
Possibly a cold spell may have made the
cluster contract so much as to leave the
brood unprotected, when the brood was
chilled and afterward thrown out.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<p><b>Capons and Caponizing</b>, by
Edward Warren Sawyer, M. D., Fanny
Field, and others. It shows in clear
language and illustrations all about
caponizing fowls; and thus how to
make the most money in poultry-raising.
Every poultry-keeper should have it.
Price, postpaid, 30 cents; or clubbed
with <span class="smcap">Bee Journal</span> one year, for $1.10.</p>
<hr class="chap" />
<p><span class="pagenum">[107]</span></p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i005.png" alt="" /></div>
<h2 class="nobreak"> <span class="xlarge"><span class="smcap">Biographical</span></span><br/> <span class="smaller">Langstroth</span> </h2></div>
<h3>No. 66.—Edward Kretchmer.</h3>
<hr class="r25" />
<p>The subject of our sketch this week is
another of the leading bee-keepers
whom we had the pleasure of meeting
often during the World's Fair last summer,
and whom it was always a delight
to see on our weekly visits to the apiarian
department in the "White City."</p>
<div class="topspace2"></div>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i005b.png" alt="Photograph" /> <div class="caption"><i>E. KRETCHMER.</i></div>
</div>
<div class="topspace2"></div>
<p>The <i>Progressive Bee-Keeper</i>—the paper
from which we take the subjoined sketch—says
this of our Iowa friend:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Mr. Kretchmer is one of the pioneers
of Western apiculture, a man of whom
the bee-keeping fraternity may be
proud, and one who has received many
honors, both from those of his calling,
and the public at large.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>As mentioned on another page, it was
Bro. Kretchmer who superintended the
Iowa honey exhibit at the World's Fair,
and his successful efforts are well attested
by a glance at the illustration on
page 104, and also by the awards
secured. Incidentally, we may say that
he is one of the largest manufacturers
and dealers in bee-keepers' supplies west
of the "Mississippi creek."</p>
<p>As we doubtless could add nothing
further of interest regarding Bro.
Kretchmer, we are glad to give the
sketch referred to before, written by his
12-year-old daughter, Valencia, who is
not only a member of the Iowa State
Bee-Keepers' Association, but also of
the North American. Here is what she
writes about "her papa"—and she ought
to know him pretty well:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Edward Kretchmer was born on the
Atlantic ocean in 1844, on the American
merchant vessel, "Louisiana;" and
though of German parentage, he is an
American by birth. He was brought up
in Selicia, Prussia. His father was one
of the prominent bee-keepers of his
time, and the originator of the first rolls
that manufactured "mid-rib," or our
earlier form of comb foundation; which,
by writers, is frequently confounded
with that of Mehring's, whose invention
presented the edge of a full thickness of
comb, or the beginning of a top-bar.
Hence the German translation, "foundation."</p>
<p>Mr. Kretchmer resided about five
miles from Dr. Dzierzon, the world-renowned
author and apiarist, and from
whom, during a season's stay, he received
the first lessons in advanced bee-culture.
In 1858 he received a colony
of Italian bees as a birthday present,
and since that time, with the exception
of three years, he has been a breeder of
Italian bees.</p>
<p>He came to the United States, and to
the State of Iowa, about the year 1859,
and in the summer of 1860 purchased
the first Italian queen that crossed the
Mississippi river. In 1861 he entered
the army. During his absence, his
father sold the original colony to W. H.
<span class="pagenum">[108]</span>
Furman, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the
owner of the Langstroth patent for that
State.</p>
<p>After his discharge from the army, he
again engaged in bee-culture, and while
a visitor at the Iowa State Fair, an incident
occurred which brought him to
public notice, as a well-informed bee-keeper.
The incident referred to was
this:</p>
<p>An oddly-dressed man, with bees in
his hat, was selling little vials of scented
water as a "bee-charm," taking dollars
right and left, stating that with it bees
were rendered peaceable enough to open
a hive without being stung. Mr. Kretchmer
remarked that he could do that
without the drug. The drug vender
promptly challenged the youthful-looking
German, no doubt expecting him to
"back down" from his statement, but
on the contrary Mr. K. secured a little
smoke, and promptly opened the colony
of bees of another exhibitor, quickly
found the queen, and exhibited the
combs, covered with bees, to a multitude
of spectators, without a sting. He
was, in consequence thereof, requested
by several to communicate his method
through some of the journals, and he
soon became a noted writer—writing
both in the German and English language.
In the older files of the <span class="smcap">American
Bee Journal</span>, his name may be
found to numerous articles. He also
issued "Winke Fur Bienen Zuchter"—"Intimation
to Bee-Keepers;" "The
Amateur Bee-Keepers' Guide," written
in 1866, and "The Bee-Keepers' Guide-Book,"
the latter, a neat volume of 256
pages, issued in 1872.</p>
<p>In 1867 he removed from eastern
Iowa to Coburg, Iowa, where he was
postmaster for eight years, mayor of the
town, and for two terms chairman of
the Board of Supervisors for Montgomery
county; he declining a re-election,
and also the nomination for State Senator.</p>
<p>The demand for better shipping facilities
induced him to remove his entire
factory to Red Oak in 1890, which is
his present residence.</p>
<p>He is a prominent Odd Fellow, and an
enthusiastic Mason, being a member of
the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery,
as well as of the Degree of Rebecca,
and the Eastern Star, both of
which he is now the presiding officer.</p>
<p>On the recommendation of the President
of the Iowa Bee-Keepers' Association,
he was appointed by the Iowa Columbian
Commission to take charge of
the Iowa honey exhibit at the World's
Fair. This appointment he very reluctantly
accepted about the middle of
last January, 1893, after which time he
labored for the success of that exhibit,
without the hope of fee or reward, although
a very unfavorable honey season
made such an undertaking a difficult
task. He is now conducting various experiments
with new implements in bee-culture.</p>
<p class="sig5"><span class="smcap">Valencia Kretchmer.</span><br/></p>
</blockquote>
<hr class="chap" />
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i006.png" alt="" /></div>
<h2 class="nobreak"><span class="smcap large">In Sunny<br/> Southland</span></h2></div>
<div class="center">CONDUCTED BY<br/>
<span class="large"><b>MRS. JENNIE ATCHLEY</b></span>,<br/>
<span class="smcap">Beeville, Texas</span>.</div>
<hr class="r25" />
<h3 class="nobreak">Bee-Keeping and Poultry for Women.</h3>
<hr class="r25" />
<p>While I was looking over the index of
the <span class="smcap">Bee Journal</span> for 1893, I came
across the above subject, and as I have
not time to turn back and find what was
said on the subject, I wish to add a word
more concerning poultry combined with
bees for women.</p>
<p>Now, when we take a right view of
our surroundings, and look at human
nature a moment, we will see that but
very few people wish to engage in a
business that will give no rest at all, as
it will sooner or later, become a drag,
and we become tired, and long for recreation.
Well, I for one do not count
idleness recreation; but some other
light work for rest of mind and body is
sought for, and for women (and I will
say men, too) I think poultry is first
choice to go with bees. I know that it
gives me rest and pleasure when tired
of working with the bees, to get some
grain and call up the chicks, and pet
them awhile, and see to their wants—such
as good, comfortable nests, roosts,
etc.; and this kind of rest proves to me
profitable, as well as rest and pleasure.</p>
<p>I know that too much business of any
kind is worse than not enough business,
and I think we should avoid having too
many irons in the fire at one time, but I
do believe that to get the best of enjoyment
and pleasure, we should have
something else to go with bees, whether
it pays or not; and I believe that nearly
<span class="pagenum">[109]</span>
all successful bee-keepers are lovers of
flowers and poultry. Am I right?</p>
<p>I have a flock of fine Plymouth Rock
chickens, and a bunch of White Holland
turkeys, and, oh! how I do enjoy a rest
sometimes among my pet chickens and
turkeys!</p>
<p class="sig5"><span class="smcap">Jennie Atchley.</span></p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<h3 class="nobreak">Out With a Load of Preachers.</h3>
<hr class="r25" />
<p>As I have promised to tell more about
southwest Texas, I will proceed by saying
that Charlie has just returned (Dec.
28th) with a wagon load of preachers
that he carried out hunting two weeks
ago. I will relate their success.</p>
<p>They killed 20 wild turkeys, 4 wild
geese, and a number of ducks, squirrels,
armadillo, and a lot of other small game,
and one deer. Charles says that of all
the lively crowds he ever saw, it is a
wagon load of preachers. They made
it a rule that the first man that entered
camp with a loaded gun should cook a
day, and soon they had plenty of cooks.</p>
<p>Charles says that he and one of the
preachers went out one day together,
and they espied a deer off 50 or 75
yards, and the preacher was to have
first shot, then if he missed his aim
Charles was to try it. The preacher's
gun snapped, and failed to fire, and then
Charles fired away and missed the deer.
The preacher told him that he had the
"buck ague," and so why he missed it.
But Charles says that he was laughing
at the hard Sunday-school words the
preacher was saying because his gun
failed to fire, so it turned out that
neither of them bagged that deer.</p>
<p>All the preachers got lost, and lay out
one night about 15 miles from camp.
They had killed a deer, but could not
carry it all. A large 12-spike buck
would have weighed 200 pounds. Well,
they took off the hams, and took turns
about carrying it, and they got bewildered,
and night overtook them. But
about dusk they espied a log-cabin, and
went to it, but found no one at home,
and from the best they could make out,
it was the home of one of the "fence-riders,"
or where one of the guards
lived that looked after the ranch to keep
fence cutters and hunters out. The
preachers were so nearly famished and
tired that they remained all night at the
cabin, and no owner came that night,
but the preachers found some dried beef
and some flour and black molasses, so
they were fixed, and soon filled their
empty "bread-baskets," as they called
them.</p>
<p>They would not sleep on the bed, as
they found a six shooter under the pillow,
but they laid on the floor, and one
kept watch while the others slept, up
until midnight, when all fell asleep.
The reason they kept watch was, that
they feared the owner would come home
and take them for robbers, and fire into
them without warning. But no owner
came, so in the morning they arose early
and ate breakfast, and Charles says the
preachers say they left some money and
a note on the table, to show the owner
that they were not robbers, but they
longed for a fence-rider to overtake
them, as they had gotten in on forbidden
ground, and did not know how to get
out. As there were 170,000 acres in
the pasture, you see they had a hard
time of it.</p>
<p>But before night the following day
they reached camp O. K., but nearly
worn out, and they said they did not expect
to find Charles there, as none of
them would have staid alone at that
camp among the wolves, panthers, wild
cats, cougars, bears, etc. But Charles
said he made it all right without any
trouble, but the coyote wolves kept him
plenty of company with their howling.
However, the preachers made up their
minds that if that 14-year-old boy had
remained at the camp ten miles from
anybody all alone, they would each give
him a dollar, which they did, though
Charles says he thanked them and offered
the money back; but no, they
said that a boy with all that courage
justly deserved the money, and they insisted
on his keeping it, which he did.</p>
<p>They then went into conference, and
delegated two to go after the rest of that
big fat deer, when lo, and behold, <i>they</i>
got lost, and just barely made it into
camp by night, without finding the
treasure. They then called together
the "court" and discussed the matter
of adjournment, as most of them had to
get home in time to preach the Christmas
sermon at their several churches.
Well, they broke camp on the morning
of Dec. 22nd, and Charles started home
with his wagon load of Baptist ministers.</p>
<p>You will remember that I have told
you of our bee-wagon being enclosed
with wire-cloth, and resembles a lion's
cage. Well, after they got started on
their way home, they concluded to play
lion awhile, and one of them was a little
fellow, and Charles says that the larger
preachers tore his clothes nearly all off
of him, and when they arrived at the
hotel at Beeville, he wrapped himself up
in his overcoat and went in, and they
had to go out and buy some clothes for
<span class="pagenum">[110]</span>
him. They wanted him to preach that
night in Beeville, but he would not because
they had torn his clothes off.</p>
<p>Charlie says that he has been out with
lots of crowds, but the preachers were
the liveliest set he ever saw. He says
they had him promise to haul them out
again a year hence, as they were coming
if the Lord was willing, and when they
could get as brave a boy as he was they
were sure of success. Charles says they
were very prompt, and paid him $1.00
per day, besides the premium for his
bravery, and he will surely take them
out whenever they come.</p>
<p>The preachers killed so many turkeys
that they rotted on their hands, and
they agreed to knock the first one down
that mentioned turkey in a month.</p>
<p class="sig5"><span class="smcap">Jennie Atchley.</span></p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<h3 class="nobreak">How to Draw Brood.</h3>
<hr class="r25" />
<p>It will be understood that we keep
some out yards to draw brood from to
keep up the nuclei in the queen-rearing
yards. We injured some colonies very
much by injudicious drawing of brood.
If we do not wish to run the colonies
down to nothing, we should mark X on
the top-bars of two or three brood-frames,
and do not take them when we
are drawing brood. I find that two
Langstroth frames in the center of the
brood-nest will keep the colony up pretty
well, but three are better—that leaves
about three frames to draw on, when 8-frame
hives are used, as the two outside
combs seldom have brood, or not as
much as the center ones.</p>
<p>The best plan to control an apiary
that persists in swarming, is to draw
brood from it and recruit or build nuclei
with the brood. It would likely astonish
any one to know how much brood
can be drawn from a good queen during
the season. I am satisfied that we have
drawn as much as 50 frames of brood
from a single colony during one season
of eight to ten months, and then get
some honey, and have a fine colony for
winter in the colony we draw from. But
if we draw at random, and take any and
all the frames, we are likely to ruin the
colonies.</p>
<p class="sig5"><span class="smcap">Jennie Atchley.</span></p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<p><b>Honey as Food and Medicine</b> is
just the thing to help sell honey, as it shows
the various ways in which honey may be
used as a food and as a medicine. Try 100
copies of it, and see what good "salesmen"
they are. See the third page of this
number of the <span class="smcap">Bee Journal</span> for description
and prices.</p>
<hr class="chap" />
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i008.png" alt="" /></div>
<h2 class="nobreak"><span class="xlarge">QUERIES</span> <span class="small">AND</span> <span class="large">REPLIES</span></h2></div>
<hr class="r25" />
<h3 class="nobreak"><span class="xlarge">Color of Queens Regardless of Mating.</span></h3>
<hr class="r25" />
<p class="medium"><b>Query 907.</b>—If you were buying Italian
queens, what color would you expect them to
be, regardless of how they are mated?—Iowa.</p>
<div class="p2">
<p>Yellow.—<span class="smcap">E. France.</span></p>
<p>Yellow, of course.—<span class="smcap">Jas. A. Stone.</span></p>
<p>The color of Italian queens.—<span class="smcap">Eugene
Secor.</span></p>
<p>At least three-banded.—<span class="smcap">J. M. Hambaugh.</span></p>
<p>Any color from yellow to dark leather
color.—<span class="smcap">M. Mahin.</span></p>
<p>That depends upon what breeder you
are buying from.—<span class="smcap">P. H. Elwood.</span></p>
<p>I should not anticipate. A leather-colored
queen is satisfactory to me.—<span class="smcap">Mrs.
L. Harrison.</span></p>
<p>Italians vary very much in color. It
is hard to tell in a sentence, what color
they should be.—<span class="smcap">Emerson T. Abbott.</span></p>
<p>The imported are dark, but American
skill has bred them "doubtless pure" to
a very bright yellow to the tip.—<span class="smcap">J. H.
Larrabee.</span></p>
<p>I should expect them to be somewhere
from light yellow to nearly black, and
should prefer a dark leather color.—<span class="smcap">C.
C. Miller.</span></p>
<p>I should certainly expect them to show
three well-developed yellow bands, but
would prefer the dark, to the very light
yellow queens.—<span class="smcap">C. H. Dibbern.</span></p>
<p>If I "were buying Italian queens," I
should <i>expect</i> them to be the color of
Italians. I prefer such as are known as
"leather-colored."—<span class="smcap">A. B. Mason.</span></p>
<p>The color is not sure proof, but they
should have three distinct yellow bands.
They may be brown, light or dark, and
still be Italians.—<span class="smcap">Mrs. J. N. Heater.</span></p>
<p>Anywhere from a light yellow to a full black,
and with all sorts of shades
and markings between. Queens may be
bred so as to be nearly uniform in color
and markings, and the same brood, with
<span class="pagenum">[111]</span>
a little difference in manipulation, will
produce queens several shades darker.—<span class="smcap">J.
A. Green.</span></p>
<p>We do not care for color, if they have
the yellow rings, and their workers are
gentle and stay on the combs when we
raise them out of the hive.—<span class="smcap">Dadant &
Son.</span></p>
<p>Yellow, or a dark brown color. However,
in rare instances I have seen
queens as dark as black queens produce
fine 3-banded Italian bees.—<span class="smcap">Mrs. Jennie
Atchley.</span></p>
<p>If I were buying "Italian queens,"
and knew nothing of their mating, I
would expect the three yellow bands,
with the other Italian characteristics.—<span class="smcap">H.
D. Cutting.</span></p>
<p>I would have to depend on the advertisement
of the breeder, and expect
what he promised; it might be light or
leather-colored, three or five banded.—<span class="smcap">S.
I. Freeborn.</span></p>
<p>Anywhere from nearly black to a
nearly yellow abdomen, just in accord
with their being reared from an imported
queen, or the mother of 5-banded bees.—<span class="smcap">G.
M. Doolittle.</span></p>
<p>Italian queens vary from almost coal-black
to almost golden yellow, and in
purchasing many I should expect to get
almost all shades of color between those
two extremes.—<span class="smcap">R. L. Taylor.</span></p>
<p>I should expect them to show a yellow
abdomen all except the tip. But it is
said on good authority that some of the
imported Italian queens of undoubted
purity are quite dark all over.—<span class="smcap">G. L.
Tinker.</span></p>
<p>Pure Italian queens vary very much
in color from bright yellow to dark. Imported
queens generally average darker
than homebred. I have had some nearly
as dark as some black queens.—<span class="smcap">J. P. H.
Brown.</span></p>
<p>I should prefer a dark strain, and
would expect each worker to be marked
with three yellow bands. I have never
found the very bright yellow bees so
good as gatherers, though usually very
amiable.—<span class="smcap">A. J. Cook.</span></p>
<p>Of at least three bands of golden yellow;
with legs and lower part of the
abdomen same color—balance, grayish
black. The queen should show nearly
the entire abdomen of orange yellow;
though the shade varies greatly.—<span class="smcap">Will
M. Barnum.</span></p>
<p>I would expect them to have yellow or
leather-colored abdomens, except perhaps
some dark color at the tip. <i>Stripes</i>
around the abdomen is a sign of black
blood. But sometimes pure Italian
stock will show outcroppings of black
blood, and this is often seen in nearly
black queens, but such "outcrops" did
do it when I reared queens for sale.
Remember, the Italian is a "thoroughbred,"
not a pure-blood race.—<span class="smcap">G. W.
Demaree.</span></p>
<p>I should not care what the color
would be. I have found very black
queens give very light-colored workers,
and <i>vice versa</i>. Nothing can be told in
this direction from the color of the
queen; the mating drone usually governs
the color.—<span class="smcap">J. E. Pond.</span></p>
</div>
<hr class="chap" />
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i009.png" alt="" /></div>
<h2 class="nobreak"><span class="smcap xlarge">Contributions</span></h2></div>
<hr class="r25" />
<h3 class="nobreak"><span class="xlarge">Selling Extracted Honey at Retail.</span></h3>
<hr class="r25" />
<p class="center"><i>Written for the American Bee Journal</i></p>
<p class="center">BY H. M. MELBEE.</p>
<hr class="r25" />
<p>My attention is called to some remarks
by Dr. Miller, on page 817 of the <span class="smcap">Bee
Journal</span> for Dec. 28, 1893, on the subject
of selling extracted honey. Judging
from what I see between the lines, I do
not think the Doctor desires any instructions
that would insure him 24 cents
per pound, at retail, for extracted honey,
nor any other price, in fact, whether remunerative
or otherwise. The reason,
perhaps, for this, is because the Doctor
does not produce honey at all in the extracted
form, but confines himself entirely
to the production of comb honey.</p>
<p>There seems to be all through the
Doctor's remarks, a vein of <i>ridicule</i>, and
this may be accounted for by reason of
the fact that certain parties have been,
and still are, able to dispose of extracted
honey, at retail, at a higher figure than
the Doctor can secure for that in the
comb. The Doctor says he is sure that
he could do nothing of the kind himself,
but that should surprise no one, nor
should it discourage others from trying
to do so. Not many years ago the Doctor
stated publicly, if my memory is not
at fault, that he could not produce first-grade
<span class="pagenum">[112]</span>
comb honey under a special classification,
whereas there were others who
thought they could. And, judging from
what was shown at the World's Fair
honey exhibit last year, it was plain to
see that the Doctor was right in what
he thought he could not do in that
direction.</p>
<p>Some of the imaginary talk the Doctor
gives with that imaginary lady,
plainly shows that he has had no experience,
worth copying, in selling extracted
honey. In short, he imagines a talk,
which, in some respects, I have never
met with in more than 20 years' experience.
An agent, properly instructed,
who could not have silenced that lady's
remarks, would not be worth his salt to
me.</p>
<p>I know from experience, not theory
nor imagination, that any lady or gentleman
competent to sell books, can be
instructed to sell extracted honey in
thousands of cities and villages, and at
remunerative prices. But the agent
must have proper instructions, and then
must follow them. But I never attempt
to give those instructions to any one
who has no desire to know them. I
have now had in my employ three agents
who have always sold extracted honey
at my prices, and profitably, by following
my instructions. One of these
agents was a lady—the other two young
men.</p>
<p>No, Doctor, I do not live in a mountainous
country, nor where the people I
trade with live miles away from groceries,
nor where honey-producers are
unknown. The country where I live is
just about as level as where the Doctor
resides, and groceries are just about as
convenient and numerous. I presume
the people are just about as wealthy and
intelligent, with possibly one or two exceptions,
as those in the Doctor's neighborhood
This being the case, the Doctor
does not seem to understand why my
customers do not find out that they can
buy honey at a lower price than they
pay me. Why, doctor, they do know
they can buy comb honey, in wooden
sections, at about the price you mention,
but they have intelligence enough to
know that when they pay for a section
of wood and honey they do not get, on
an average, to exceed 12 ounces of honey.
And, with some assistance, they reason
thus: If they have to pay 20, or even
18, cents for three-fourths of a pound
of honey, they might as well pay my
price, or 24 cents, and get 16 ounces,
or a full pound.</p>
<p>Again: Neither Melbee nor his agents,
when soliciting orders for honey, have
ever yet been found guilty of carrying
around with them a bee-paper of any
description, for the express purpose of
showing to would-be purchasers the
market reports, as prepared and manipulated
by commission merchants, nor do
they ever intend to be guilty of doing
so. On the other hand, the Doctor perhaps
would not approve of such an un-business-like
procedure. I presume the
Doctor would carry a sample of honey
in one hand, and a sample of one of
those market reports in the other, and
then call the special attention of his
patrons to both samples. That, of
course, would be just like the Doctor!</p>
<p>The Doctor seems to think that Melbee
might be a wealthy man if he would
only set a score or so of agents to work
selling honey for him on his terms and
at his prices. Perhaps the Doctor is
right for once. On the other hand, the
Doctor perhaps might have been also
wealthy, if he had stuck to the music
trade at a salary of—say $2,500 per
year. But as he did not do so, perhaps
we have a right to infer that he has become
exceedingly wealthy from the sale
of his honey crops.</p>
<p>The Doctor attempts to make it appear
that the difference between 7 cents
wholesale, and 24 cents retail, is all
profit. A novice might think so, but a
bee-keeper of Dr. Miller's experience
should know better. Evidently the Doctor
has had no experience as to the expense
connected with the sale of extracted
honey, by the plan pursued by
myself and my agents, or else he desires
to misrepresent the profits we obtain. I
am frank to confess that we do get a
good profit, but no larger than thousands
of others might secure by knowing
how.</p>
<p>To conclude: Melbee desires it to be
distinctly understood that he does not
follow the honey-trade simply for health
and pleasure, but mainly for dollars and
cents.</p>
<p class="sig-left2">Honeyville, Beeland.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<h3 class="nobreak"><span class="xlarge">Positive Prevention of After-Swarming.</span></h3>
<hr class="r25" />
<p class="center"><i>Written for the American Bee Journal</i></p>
<p class="center">BY FRANK COVERDALE.</p>
<hr class="r25" />
<p>James Heddon, I believe, was the first
to give us a practical method for the
control of after-swarming; however, the
method could not be absolutely depended
upon to do the work, but was a grand
step in the right direction. Who knows,
to a certainty, just when the first queen-cell
<span class="pagenum">[113]</span>
will hatch in the old hive—whether
it will be 5 days or 15 days? A second
swarm might issue before the old hive
was ever moved to its permanent stand,
and again after it had been moved, on
account of the first cell hatching so late.</p>
<p>It was when I was busy making hay,
when an occasional swarm would leave
me, causing much vexation in my mind,
and many hours of deep study, how I
should overcome this difficulty; and it
came, to my mind that a bee-escape
might do the work, so I attached one to
a hive, at the first opportunity. A 1½-inch
hole was bored in the center of one
side near the bottom edge, and a wire-screen
cone fitted in the hole, and the
entrance entirely closed; the newly-hived
swarm was placed close by its side,
with the entrance just under the above
prepared cone, and every bee that left
the old hive became an occupant of the
new hive.</p>
<p>In three days an examination was
made in the old hive, for I was afraid
that too many bees would leave the
brood, and destruction be the result.
But, oh, how I was delighted! All was
lovely still. In three days more another
examination was made, with like results,
and still another three days later, making
nine days. Then I began boring
holes in other hives, and treating them
as above, with the same results, until all
(60 colonies) that swarmed were in the
same condition.</p>
<p>Some of the old hives were moved to
their new stands in 12, others in 13, 14
and 16 days, the last being rather too
long a time—14 days is about right in
my location. Then these old colonies
can be given a ripe queen-cell, or a
queen, or the entrance be opened and
left so until all the young bees are
hatched, when the entrance can be
again closed, and it will unite with the
new swarm, and the combs will be
empty. In fact, you may have full control
of the matter, as to managing
against second swarms.</p>
<p>The first two years I used the bored
holes, covering them over when through,
with a piece of section tacked over
them; but since then an escape has been
used at the entrance; however, at times
the latter would get clogged, causing
some annoyance, and I now think the
bored hole at the side is best.</p>
<p>If the reader will carefully look over
the back numbers of the <span class="smcap">Bee Journal</span>,
it will be seen that I have touched upon
this point before, but dare not recommend
it as being entirely practicable.
But I hesitate no longer, but advise all
who stand in need, to try and be convinced
how this plan lessens labor, cost
and vexation of after-swarms; and in
my location greatly increases a crop of
comb honey, and of finer quality than it
otherwise would have been.</p>
<p>Fear not that the new swarms will be
overcrowded in numbers, and swarm
again, but furnish each new hive with
starters below and full sheets of comb
foundation in all the sections above, and
you will soon begin to wonder whether
it is best to "prevent swarming" or
not. It is nice to have wood-zinc queen-excluders,
then all can be arranged at
the time of hiving—such as moving the
partly-finished sections from the parent
colony immediately to the newly-hived
swarm, and not have to wait two or
three days for the queen to establish her
brood-nest below.</p>
<p class="sig-left2">Welton, Iowa.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<h3 class="nobreak"><span class="xlarge">Making Sugar Syrup for Feeding Bees.</span></h3>
<hr class="r25" />
<p class="center"><i>Written for the American Bee Journal</i></p>
<p class="center">BY G. M. DOOLITTLE.</p>
<hr class="r25" />
<p>The following has come to hand from
some one who forgot to sign his or her
name, so I will answer through the <span class="smcap">Bee
Journal</span>, as requested.</p>
<p>"Will you tell us through the columns
of the <span class="smcap">American Bee Journal</span> just how
you make sugar syrup for feeding bees,
as I have some bees which will need
feeding before long? I think you have
given this before, but I cannot find
where it is. If I remember rightly, you
use honey to a certain extent, and, if so,
is there no danger of getting foul brood,
where one may have to buy honey for
this purpose?"</p>
<p>In answering the above, it may be
well, and interesting to the reader, to
know just how I came to hit on the
formula for sugar syrup, which I have
given several times before in the different
bee-papers, as hinted at by our correspondent.</p>
<p>Some years ago, after a poor season, I
found that all of my queen-rearing colonies
would have to be fed, as well as
some of the others, so I set about looking
up recipes for making the feed, as I
had no surplus combs of honey. I found
plenty of recipes telling how to make it,
using vinegar, cream-of-tartar and tartaric
acid in greater or less quantities to
keep the syrup from candying or crystallizing.
When about concluding to use
one of these, I ran across one that said
all that was necessary to do was to pour
boiling water on the granulated sugar,
<span class="pagenum">[114]</span>
stirring both together as long as the
water would dissolve any more sugar.
As this seemed so simple I concluded to
use this.</p>
<p>Having the syrup made and the feeders
in the hive, I proceeded to feed, all
going well the first feed. When I came
to feed the second night, I found the
feed skimmed over with a crust of sugar
which had formed on the surface during
the 24 hours it had been standing. I
also found that it had granulated on the
bottom and sides of the can, and upon
going to the hives I found a little on the
bottom and sides of the feeders. However,
I persisted in feeding it, as the
one giving the plan said nothing was
needed to keep the syrup from crystallizing,
as the bees put acid enough into
it in manipulating to keep it a liquid.</p>
<p>After a few days, I noticed bees out
at the entrance of the hive of each colony
fed, having little grains of sugar on
their wings and bodies, trying to fly, but
most of them had so much on them that
they could only hop around, making a
purring sound with their wings. I next
looked inside of the hive, when I found
that fully one-fifth of the bees had more
or less of these sugar crystals on them,
while the inside of the feeders was all
covered with crystals. Upon looking
into the cells containing the syrup, I
found that in many of them crystallization
had commenced to such an extent
that the crystals were easily seen. I
said this would not answer, so when the
next batch of syrup was made, I put
vinegar in the water before stirring in
the sugar. While the vinegar helped
about the crystals, it also gave a taste
to the syrup which I did not like, so in
the next I tried cream of tartar, and
then tartaric acid; but in spite of them
all, the syrup would crystallize some,
unless I added so much that a disagreeable
taste was given the syrup.</p>
<p>It now came to me, how in early years
I had used, owing to scarcity of honey
at our house, honey and sugar mixed, on
the table, in which case neither the
honey nor sugar granulated, so the next
batch of syrup was made as follows:</p>
<p>Fifteen pounds of water was put into
a large tin dish and brought to a boil,
when 30 pounds of granulated sugar
was poured in and stirred for a moment
till it had mostly dissolved, when it was
left over the fire till it boiled again.
Upon taking from the fire, five pounds
of honey was poured in, and the whole
stirred enough to mix thoroughly. I
found in this a syrup of about the consistency
of honey, which remained a
liquid from day to day—a syrup that
any bee-keeper could easily make, and
one which would not crystallize on the
bees, feeders or in the cells. I have
kept this syrup standing in an open dish
for months at a time without its crystallizing
or souring.</p>
<p>It has now been some 10 or 12 years
since the experiments above given were
tried, and during all that time I have
never found how I could improve on this
food for feeding bees for winter stores.
For spring feeding, I would use 25
pounds of water to the same amount of
sugar and honey, as this gives better
results in brood-rearing than does the
thicker syrup.</p>
<p>As to there being any danger, should
it so happen that honey from a foul-broody
colony was used, I would say
that there need be no fears, for if the
honey is stirred in as above given, it
will all be scalded, and the scalding of
honey anything else having the germs
of foul brood about or in it, effectually
kills these germs. However, care should
be used in handling honey which may
have come from a foul-broody hive, as
the least bit of it carelessly left where
the bees can get it, while in its raw
state, will carry with it the seeds of foul
brood, just as surely as corn grows from
seed corn.</p>
<p>There is one other item I wish to notice
before closing, and that is where
our correspondent hints at its being
necessary to feed his bees before long.
If, as I suspect, the correspondent lives
in the North, he should have fed the
bees in October what they needed to
carry them through the winter. This is
a duty he not only owes to himself, but
to the bees also, for, while bees often do
come through the winter when fed during
cold weather, yet the chances are
that a loss of colonies will not only waste
the bees, but the syrup fed as well.</p>
<p class="sig-left2">Borodino, N. Y.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<h3 class="nobreak"><span class="xlarge">Bees in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.</span></h3>
<hr class="r25" />
<p class="center"><i>Written for the American Bee Journal</i></p>
<p class="center">BY S. L. WATKINS.</p>
<hr class="r25" />
<p>The honey season, the past year, was
above the average, and bees have paid
well. The last, two or three seasons I
have not kept so many bees as I formerly
did. I took up a piece of land here
in the upper Sierras, and have been improving
it. I have started in the nursery
business, and I find that this goes
splendidly with the bee-business. From
now on, I shall increase my bees up, and
<span class="pagenum">[115]</span>
go into the business extensively again. I
shall place all my hives in a straight
row, and build a car track behind them,
and I can easily run all my honey into
the extracting house. This will facilitate
things greatly. The past summer
I had my hives set on stumps, and I tell
you it was a job to carry the combs to
the house where I extracted.</p>
<p>Some will ask, why I kept my bees on
stumps. Well, I had no other place to
put them. This country is heavily timbered
with yellow pine, sugar pine, incense
cedar, cypress, spruce, fir, madrona,
oaks, etc.; and it is extremely
hard to clean, but after the land is once
cleaned, it is very valuable.</p>
<p>Land that was one year ago covered
with pine stumps, is now covered with
strawberry plants, fruit trees, and ornamental
plants, and they look splendidly,
too. It took an immense amount of
work, but it pays well.</p>
<p>The bee-hive that I use, and the one
that I expect to use for a long time,
takes frames about 7x14 inches; the
hive is about 14 inches wide; two
stories comprise a hive, which is about
16 inches high. I tier up several stories
high in the honey season. I find that I
can handle bees very rapidly; can
shake the bees from the combs without
even breaking the comb loose from the
frame; with the Langstroth hive, or
frame, rather, the combs will give way
occasionally in hot weather, if not
wired.</p>
<p>I think that I shall always run for extracted
honey at this apiary. In Placerville,
Calif., where I used to rear bees
for sale, I had a decided preference for
Carniolan bees. I think that I shall
rear them largely. The so-called Golden
Italian bees—if I can prove to my satisfaction
that they will equal the Carniolans,
I will insert a number of queens.</p>
<p>When I was extensively engaged in
rearing queen-bees, the call was for the
leather-colored Italians—and very few
of the light-colored queens were called
for; now it seems to be the reverse, all
queen-breeders are advertising the Golden
Italian bees and queens.</p>
<p>The Holy Land and Cyprian bees seem
to have gone out of fashion; so also the
Albino. I see that the Carniolan race is
not much advertised in the bee-papers
any more. Well, I shall pin my faith
to them for awhile yet, until I find something
better.</p>
<p>A cross between the Carniolan and
Italian race of honey-bees, makes wonderfully
energetic bees; they protect
their hives well, and are marvelous
honey-gatherers.</p>
<p>There has been a greater interest
manifested in bees this season than for
a long time, and I contemplate, from
now on, that a great many will engage
in this industry in the Sierra Nevada
mountains.</p>
<p>I am pleased to see that the <span class="smcap">American
Bee Journal</span> is improving so steadily.
Later on I shall give you some bee-notes
for its columns.</p>
<p class="sig-left2">Grizzly Flats, Calif.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<h3 class="nobreak"><span class="xlarge">Danger in Climbing for Swarms, Etc.</span></h3>
<hr class="r25" />
<p class="center"><i>Written for the American Bee Journal</i></p>
<p class="center">BY LEWIS K. SMITH.</p>
<hr class="r25" />
<p>As a caution to my brother bee-keepers,
I will say: Don't climb unless you
are sure of your footing. On the 26th
of last May, I was called on to hive a
swarm of bees that had settled high up
in an apple tree. Having been a great
climber from childhood's days, I bounded
up to the top of the tree, and sawed off
the limb containing the swarm while I
stood on a limb below. The additional
weight of the bees and limb split off the
one on which I stood, and down came
Smith, bees and all—a distance of 22
feet. That it did not kill me I am humbly
thankful to Him who holds us in the
hollow of his hand. For nearly two
days I was partly paralyzed, and was
finally relieved by the application of an
electric battery, and other means applied
by two eminent physicians who
were unremitting in their attentions day
and night.</p>
<p>Do we sufficiently appreciate the arduous
labors of those men of science,
working day and night with both mind
and body, taxing every energy, and enlisting
every sympathy of their being?
Is it wonderful that they wear out,
break down, and die suddenly? Whenever
I think of those terrible hours of
suffering, when my digestive system was
completely paralyzed, and my life was
wavering in the balance, my heart goes
out in thanksgiving to a merciful Providence,
and I treasure the faithful ministrations
of my physicians and friends.</p>
<h4 class="nobreak">DRUMMING BEES FROM A HIVE WITH<br/>
CROSSWISE COMBS.</h4>
<p>Let me add one suggestion to the instructions
to F. M. L., on page 716 of
the <span class="smcap">Bee Journal</span> for Dec. 7, 1893,
relative to drumming bees out of a hive
with cross combs, into a box above. If
he will go to some hive having nice,
straight comb, and get a frame or two
<span class="pagenum">[116]</span>
with unsealed brood, and put in the upper
box or hive, I am of the opinion his
bees will go up more readily, and stay
better contented. Then, too, it will be
much easier to find the queen if he desires
to supersede her.</p>
<h4 class="nobreak">RESULTS OF THE PAST SEASON.</h4>
<p>From 66 colonies, spring count, some
of them nuclei, my crop of section honey
was between 400 and 500 pounds.
This surplus was stored by a few extra-good
colonies—one of them filling 78
sections, and not swarming. The queen
of this colony was reared in 1892 from
an imported Italian mother.</p>
<p>Another that did well, was a cross between
the Italian and Carniolan stock.
On the whole, I find the Carniolans
much less desirable than the Italians. It
may be that my Carniolans were not
pure, but they are extra-good fighters,
vindictive, and often pounce on me
without provocation. So I've been superseding
the queens for two years.</p>
<p class="sig-left2">Gainesboro, Tenn.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<h3 class="nobreak"><span class="xlarge">Brace-Combs—Cause and Prevention.</span></h3>
<hr class="r25" />
<p class="center"><i>Written for the American Bee Journal</i></p>
<p class="center">BY E. J. CRONKLETON.</p>
<hr class="r25" />
<p>Brace-combs and bees must be studied
in connection, in order to arrive at correct
conclusions about brace-combs. I
think I will be able to convince every
well-informed bee-keeper—one who has
well learned the nature, habits and instincts
of the bee—that there is some
truth in my theory, or at least it will
cause him to do a little thinking, and
that is healthful.</p>
<p>We all know how irritable the bee is,
especially by a jar—the least little jar
will bring a response from every bee in
the hive. Well, suppose it does, what of
that? Well, nothing particular, only
we learn something by it. Suppose the
frames are loose at their bearings, resting
on metal bearings for your convenience,
and a perfect torment to the bees—torment
because they cannot glue
them down at the ends, and their walking
over the combs causes them to tremble,
and a bee cannot stand that—it is a
constant annoyance. What is the result?
Why, brace-combs are the inevitable
result? They go right at it,
and brace up and strengthen those
combs, just as long as there is the least
jar or tremble about them.</p>
<p>Years ago, when I was taking my
first lessons in the art of bee-culture, I
had but few brace-combs; but the
metal-bearing craze was sprung on me.
I had considerable trouble prying the
frames loose from their bearings, so I
thought this will be nice—I can just
pick the combs out—it will be a pleasure
indeed. The result was just as fine a
lot of brace-combs as any one ever saw.
The bees literally filled the spaces between
the top-bars up, only leaving here
and there a hole to pass through to the
section.</p>
<p>Well, I looked at them as I examined
hive after hive, and I thought I was undone
entirely. It looked very much as
though my elegant scheme had miscarried,
while the bees had made a perfect
success of theirs, though I, at that
time, had not the remotest idea what
caused the bees to interlace the combs
in that manner.</p>
<p>I could easily see that I would better
fall back on first principles, which I did,
and brace-combs have disappeared ever
since, with me, in proportion to the
pains that I have taken to have the
combs well fastened in the hives. I
have no scheme for fastening the frames,
just so they will not tremble and shake
when the bees travel over them.</p>
<p>Mr. Heddon's thumb-screw business
would be just the thing. The Hoffman
frame can be used to advantage. Suit
yourselves, and use your own judgment,
and your own resources.</p>
<p>I have said nothing about burr-combs,
from the fact that I am not certain that
I know anything about them. I see a
difference, but I think their mission is
the same.</p>
<p>Try this, and I am satisfied you will
see that I am right for once.</p>
<p class="sig-left2">Dunlap, Iowa.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration04.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<h3 class="nobreak"><span class="xlarge">Convention Notices.</span></h3>
<hr class="r25" />
<blockquote>
<p>WISCONSIN.—The Wisconsin Bee-Keepers'
Association will meet in Madison, Wis., on
Feb. 7 and 8, 1894. An interesting meeting is
expected. It is earnestly hoped there may be
a full attendance.</p>
<p class="sig5"><span class="smcap">J. W. Vance</span>, Cor. Sec.</p>
<p class="sig-left2">Madison. Wis.</p>
<p><span class="smcap">Kansas.</span>—There will be a meeting of the
Southeastern Kansas Bee-Keepers' Association
on March 10, 1894, at the apiaries of
Thomas Willett, 5 miles northeast of Bronson,
Bourbon Co., Kansas. All are invited to
come.</p>
<p class="sig5"><span class="smcap">J. C. Balch</span>, Sec.</p>
<p class="sig-left2">Bronson, Kans.</p>
</blockquote>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<p><span class="large"><b>A Binder</b></span> for holding a year's numbers
of the <span class="smcap">Bee Journal</span> we mail for
only 50 cents; or clubbed with the
<span class="smcap">Journal</span> for $1.40.</p>
<hr class="chap" />
<p><span class="pagenum">[117]</span></p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i015.png" alt="" /></div>
<h2 class="nobreak"><span class="smcap xlarge">Convention</span><br/> Proceedings</h2></div>
<hr class="r25" />
<h3 class="nobreak"><span class="xlarge">The Michigan State Convention.</span></h3>
<hr class="r25" />
<p class="center"><i>Reported for the "American Bee Journal"</i></p>
<p class="center">BY W. Z. HUTCHINSON.</p>
<hr class="r25" />
<p>The Michigan Bee-Keepers' Association
held their 28th annual convention
on Jan. 2 and 3, 1894, in the Common
Council Chambers in the city of Flint.
The convention was called to order by
President Taylor, and the following
members paid their dues:</p>
<div class="sig-left4">
<p>M. H. Hunt, Bell Branch.<br/>
L. A. Aspinwall, Jackson.<br/>
Hon. R. L. Taylor, Lapeer.<br/>
Wm. Anderson, Imlay City.<br/>
H. D. Cutting, Tecumseh.<br/>
W. Z. Hutchinson, Flint.<br/>
August Koeppen, Flint.<br/>
Earl Post, Atlas.<br/>
E. M. Miller, Swartz Creek.<br/>
M. S. West, Flint.<br/>
H. Webster, Byron.<br/>
H. L. Hutchinson, Mayville.<br/>
E. G. Grimes, Vernon.<br/>
Byron Walker, Evart.<br/>
Chas. Koeppen, Flint.<br/>
Andre Torry, Flint.<br/>
M. McWain, Grand Blanc.<br/>
L. H. Root, Prattville.<br/>
Jas. Cowe, Imlay City.<br/>
Jno. Cowe, Imlay City.<br/></p>
</div>
<p>Pres. Taylor then read the following
essay, entitled,<br/><br/></p>
<div class="center large"><b>Apicultural Work at Experiment<br/>
Stations.</b></div>
<p>If I appear to any to go into devious
paths in a brief treatment of the topic
assigned me, it is owing to the latitude
which the topic itself gives me.</p>
<p>And first I ask, do bee-keepers want
it? that is, do they want that sort of
work at the stations? I am sometimes
in doubt about it. I judge somewhat
from the course of my own feelings in
the matter. Before I became connected
with the work and began to study into
it, I was not inclined to esteem it over
highly, but now if I were to express my
thoughts and feelings freely, you would
no doubt think me on the verge of the
domain whose inhabitants are called
cranks. Such is the effect of contact
and acquaintance. Now, while the
great body of bee-keepers has not the
enthusiasm which close contemplation
begets, yet if called upon they would
vote pretty unanimously in favor of the
work.</p>
<p>Then the question suggests itself, why
would they vote for it? Provision has
been made by the general government
by which the agricultural college of
each State is to receive annually a certain
sum of money to be devoted to the
support of an experiment station in the
interest of agriculture and kindred pursuits
generally. This sum was to be in
the first instance, as I understand it,
$15,000, and after that to be increased
by the sum of $1,000 each year until
the amount of $250,000 is reached,
which is then to remain fixed at that
point. That is, that is to be the course
of affairs, unless the ideas of economy
of the present administration at Washington
require that this money be kept
in the general treasury. This is a considerable
sum of money, and apiculture
is equitably entitled to all and more
than it is now getting in this State.</p>
<p>Now is it simply because they are
equitably entitled to it, that the bee-keepers
would claim a just share to be
devoted to apicultural work, like a
school-boy unwilling that his fellow
should use his sled whether he wants it
himself or not? Or is it because they
feel it is not only their right, but to their
advantage? Have they such a lively
faith in the probable value of results
that they will scrutinize and study
them? That bee-keepers should have
an active interest in these matters is of
the utmost importance if the work is to
go on. Those in authority are generally
quite ready to be directed by the will of
those they serve, if they can learn certainly
what that will is.</p>
<p>Can the work be made of real value?
Take one item. For myself, I have become
more and more impressed with the
importance of a thorough knowledge of
foundations designed for use in sections
for the production of comb honey. Much
has been guessed, but so far as I can
learn little is yet <i>known</i> on this subject.
In the experiment of which I recently
gave an account, one of the objects
aimed at was to determine, if possible,
if there was a difference among them,
and, if so, what kind was of such a
nature as to enable the bees to work it
down most nearly to the thinness and
character of natural comb. To me the
<span class="pagenum">[118]</span>
results were very satisfactory and encouraging,
and this not because one
kind was shown to be better than
another, but because it appeared that
a method had been hit upon by which
the relative value of foundations could
be practically determined.</p>
<p>But this, it seems, is only a beginning.
Now that a door is open, many other
questions come up at the very threshold
and press for a solution. What makes
the difference among foundations? Is
it the character of the machine used in
making, or the character of the wax?
or is it the method of dealing with the
wax? Then, if comb from foundation
is made as thin as the natural comb, is
it still more tenacious, or is it equally
friable and tender?</p>
<p>Again, it is well understood that the
natural comb is not composed entirely of
wax, but that other substances are combined
with the wax. Can anything be
done to imitate the natural comb in
this, and so make foundation even less
subject to the charge of being an adulteration
than it is at present? This
suggests the matter of economy of wax
in the use of foundation thus: What is
the per cent. of wax wasted, not to say
worse than wasted, when so made into
foundation that the septa of comb resulting
is 60 per cent. thicker than the
septa of natural comb? or, to put it in
another way, if foundation whose septa
the bees will work down to a thinness of
90/10,000 of an inch is worth 60
cents, what is that worth whose septa
the bees will work down to a thickness
of 60/10,000 of an inch? Probably
from 25 to 40 per cent. more. If a man
uses much foundation, this should touch
him at the tenderest point.</p>
<p>I try not to be carried off my feet by
enthusiasm, perhaps, nevertheless, I
may be. What do bee-keepers who
stand off at arm's length think of the
value of such investigation?</p>
<p>It will not do to say it is better not to
agitate these and such like questions, it
will only call the attention of consumers
to the defects of comb honey as now
produced, and injure its sale. It can
hardly injure the sale of honey for consumers
to know that we are trying
earnestly to improve its quality, but if
on eating it a heavy wad of wax forms
in the mouth, that will do the work
though the eater may hardly know exactly
why. Nothing finds so ready a
market as goods that give a fine sensation
to the palate in every particular.
We are bound to make our comb honey
equal in every respect to that produced
by the bees unaided by foundation, if we
can.</p>
<p>I can think of nothing that would
have a greater tendency to popularize
the work of the station, and to excite
the interest of the bee-keeping fraternity
in it, than to enlist as many as possible
in the matter of making suggestions as
to subjects and methods of experiment,
but more especially as to <i>methods</i>. Subjects
are plentiful and easily discovered,
but simple and satisfactory methods are
often slow to suggest themselves. I
meditated upon the matter all summer
before a practical plan for the comparison
of combs made from different foundations
presented itself; to another
mind the first thought would have been
the right one.</p>
<p>Now, I am at work endeavoring to
discover a method of procedure for determining
the cause of the wintering
trouble. I want it to be so plain that
every one will recognize it as the right
one, and be compelled to accept its utterances
as final. It is hardly necessary
to say that it is still undiscovered, but
perhaps our own journal, the <i>Review</i>,
might furnish us the key by means of a
symposium of numerous brief articles
addressed to this one point.</p>
<p>Finally, as a closing paragraph, I
want to take this opportunity to make a
suggestion to the apicultural journals of
the country. I am no journalist—I
make no professions of knowing how to
conduct a journal, and, I am not going
to offer any advice on that point, but I
wonder if some of them without detriment
to themselves could not give a
little more active assistance in sustaining
the work by an effort to create a
more general interest in its behalf. For
that purpose, probably nothing could be
better than candid criticism.</p>
<p class="sig5"><span class="smcap">R. L. Taylor.</span></p>
<hr class="tb" />
<p>At the close of the essay Pres. Taylor
remarked: "I suppose it is known that
no appropriation has been made to continue
this work for more than one year,
and whether it is to be continued will
depend somewhat upon the action taken
by this meeting. It would also be well
to have a committee appointed to decide
in regard to the line of experiments that
are to be conducted."</p>
<p>M. H. Hunt—In regard to the experiments
of foundation, I would suggest
that there is a great difference in wax,
and this alone might account for much
of the difference reported.</p>
<p>Pres. Taylor—I know that there is a
difference in wax, but I could have all
of the foundation made from the same
<span class="pagenum">[119]</span>
batch. I could make some from it, and
then send some to you, some to Dadant,
and to others.</p>
<p>Wm. Anderson—There is a great need
of experiments in regard to wintering.
There is no drawback so great as this,
here in the North.</p>
<p>L. A. Aspinwall—I have experimented
for 20 years with machinery, and the
profits for the last five years have paid
for all the experiments. If we could
learn how to successfully winter our
bees, there would be a saving of thousands
of dollars.</p>
<p>Upon motion of Mr. Hunt a committee
of three (W. Z. Hutchinson, L. A.
Aspinwall and Wm. Anderson) was appointed
to draft a resolution expressing
the views of the convention, in regard
to the desirability of having the experimental
work continued, the selection of
a man to do the work, and the appointment
of a committee to decide in regard
to the line of work to be done.</p>
<p>Next came an essay from the Hon.
Geo. E. Hilton, on the<br/><br/></p>
<div class="center large"><b>Advantages of Northern Michigan for<br/>
Honey-Production.</b></div>
<p>That Northern Michigan has advantages
over the southern or older portions
of the State, none familiar with the productions
of honey can deny. But to
know the advantages of any locality one
must be familiar with the flora. The
first advantage to be derived from these
newer localities is the early flow. In
springs following winters of deep snows
our bees are bringing in pollen and some
from the willows before the snow is all
gone. The soft maples soon follow,
then the hard or sugar maple, from
which we get large quantities of honey.
I have said that I believed were the bees
in as good condition to store honey as
during the basswood flow, it would come
in nearly as fast. The honey very much
resembles maple syrup. I think, however,
that it gets its color from the mixture
of dandelion that comes in at the
same time. As I prefer to have this all
used in the brood-nest, I do not put on
the surplus cases until the raspberry
bloom opens, but I have extracted from
the stronger colonies' brood-nests to give
the queen room, and fed to the weaker
ones, and if you have never tried it you
would be surprised at the results with
the weak colony.</p>
<p>From what I have already written,
you will readily see that our bees are in
the very best possible condition to store
surplus at the opening of the raspberry
bloom. The blackberry comes before
this is gone, and lasts until clover, and
clover lasts until basswood, so you see it
gives a continuous flow of white honey
from berry bloom to close of basswood.</p>
<p>Some years ago one of the oldest
honey-producers in the State (one who
lives in the village where they keep the insane
and raise celery, and who wintered
his bees in a damp cellar, and brought
them out in the spring reeking with
mold, and declared they wintered splendidly),
came to make me a visit during
the berry bloom, before clover was in
blossom. We went into the yard, and
he remarked that my bees <i>seemed</i> strong.
"Oh, yes," I said, "they are doing very
nicely."</p>
<p>I raised the cover to one of my chaff
hives—"What!" he said, "<i>got surplus
cases on?</i>" "Oh, yes," I said; and stepping
to the next hive I showed him one
tiered up, and the top one nearly
finished.</p>
<p>"Well, if that don't beat me! Why, I
had not thought of putting on a super
yet," he further remarked. On looking
further, he admitted there were more
bees in one of my hives than in any
three of his.</p>
<p>That year I took 1,500 pounds of
berry bloom honey from 65 colonies, but
I never knew blackberry to produce so
much honey as in that year. My average,
that year, was 80 pounds per colony,
comb honey.</p>
<p>Two years ago last September, I was
sick the entire month. As soon as I
could safely get out, I commenced a trip
among the bee-keepers, partially for a
visit, but principally to buy honey. The
most promising fields I found were in
Mecosta, Clare, Isabella, Montcalm,
Osceola and Lake counties, and the
honey I found, as a whole, was of the
best quality I ever bought. At Martiney,
in Mecosta county, I found a fine lot
produced by a young lady. In Clare
county I found nice lots, also in Osceola
county. In all these counties they get
their honey principally from raspberry
and willow-herb. The willow-herb coming
soon after the berry bloom, and lasting
until frost. In all these counties I
did not see a section of dark honey, and
here comes the sequel to their successful
wintering—the brood-chambers are well
filled with this white, well-ripened
honey, and very little pollen (the willow-herb
produces but little pollen); the
bees breed up so fast, and the hives are
teeming full of good, healthy bees.</p>
<p>In these counties, in the spring and
early summer, there are thousands of
acres of wild berries, and in the latter
<span class="pagenum">[120]</span>
part of the summer and fall just as
many of the willow-herb.</p>
<p>In Lake county there was less timber,
and the golden-rod predominates in the
fall, and there is not so much willow-herb.
From Baldwin north there are
acres and acres of golden-rod, that resemble
fields of wheat. If I could be
with you, I could tell you much more
about this country than I can write,
and it is the first time, I think, in 14
years, that I have missed a State convention.</p>
<p>I wish you all a pleasant and profitable
time, which I know you will have.</p>
<p class="sig5"><span class="smcap">Geo E. Hilton.</span><br/></p>
<hr class="tb" />
<p>Byron Walker—I have been in the
locality of the willow-herb one year, and
it did not yield honey that year. I believe
it is considered a sure producer of
honey. In Clare county there are many
asters, and bees have died in the winter.
Perhaps the yield was light.</p>
<p>Chas. Koeppen—I believe that more
depends upon ventilation than upon the
stores. The foul air and moisture must
be carried off. I have two apiaries—in
one there was a good yield, and in the
other but little.</p>
<p>H. L. Hutchinson—I have not had a
failure with golden-rod in ten years.</p>
<p>E. G. Grimes—Alsike furnishes the
most honey in my locality.</p>
<p>Mr. Koeppen—Alsike is like other
plants. Sometimes it furnishes honey,
and sometimes not.</p>
<p>H. Webster asked if there was any
foundation in the assertion that some
bees gathered honey from red clover
while others did not.</p>
<p>W. Z. Hutchinson—I one year had
1,000 pounds of honey from red clover.
It was the result of a drouth that shortened
the tubes of the blossoms. I had
blacks, hybrids and Italians in the
yard, and they all gathered honey from
red clover.</p>
<p>August Koeppen said that it would
pay to move bees to some other locality
only when there was nothing that could
be gathered at home. Migratory bee-keeping
is largely practiced in Germany.</p>
<p class="center">(Continued next week.)</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<blockquote>
<p>"<b>The Honey-Bee</b>: Its Natural
History, Anatomy and Physiology," is the
title of the book written by Thos. Wm.
Cowan, editor of the <i>British Bee Journal</i>. It
is bound in cloth, beautifully illustrated,
and very interesting. Price, $1.00, postpaid;
or we club it with the <span class="smcap">Bee Journal</span>
one year for $1.65. We have only three of
these books left.</p>
</blockquote>
<hr class="chap" />
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i018.png" alt="" /></div>
<h2 class="nobreak"><span class="smcap xlarge">Random Stings</span><br/> <span class="smcap smaller">From "The Stinger."</span></h2></div>
<div class="poetry-container">
<div class="poetry">
<div class="stanza">
<div class="verse indent2">The "Stinger's" a poet,</div>
<div class="verse indent2">Knows a sheep from a goa-et,</div>
<div class="verse">And he stings at random all day;</div>
<div class="verse indent2">He thinks he's a honey,</div>
<div class="verse indent2">Because he's so funny—</div>
<div class="verse">For reference see A. B. J.</div>
<div class="verse indent6">—<i>Progressive Bee-Keeper</i></div>
</div><div class="stanza">
<div class="verse indent2">No, I'm not a poet,</div>
<div class="verse indent2">Neither did I know-et,</div>
<div class="verse">Nor do I sting all the livelong day;</div>
<div class="verse indent2">Once a week I've some fun</div>
<div class="verse indent2">Making you folks jump and run—</div>
<div class="verse">So, what more do you wish me to say?</div>
</div></div>
</div>
<hr class="tb" />
<p>A certain editor reckoned without his
host when he tried to heap more accomplishments
upon Editor York than the
latter was entitled too. Though Mr. York
is a hard working man in the office of the
<span class="smcap">Bee Journal</span>, he is saved the task of doing
the stinging; which is, at times, hard
work, for some of the people and things
that "The Stinger" has to punctuate are
pretty tough.</p>
<hr class="tb" />
<p>I think the reason why Editor York is
not a "Stinger" is because he has not had
much to do with the Punics. If he knew
from practical demonstrations what those
bees were, he would probably become a
stinger, too. This is not intended as a joke
on somebody's bees.</p>
<hr class="tb" />
<p>Rambler was hurt at last. For a time he
was confined to the hospital, where I send
all those who have been hit with my darts.
He announced his injury in the <span class="smcap">Bee Journal</span>
for Dec. 7, 1893, page 730, and he
thought the wound inflicted by me must
have been produced by a ramrod out of my
gun. If he had been hurt as badly as he
admitted he was, I am surprised. When
my sting penetrated his thick hide he must
have seen stars, consequently, at the same
time, he had no trouble in magnifying a
sting into the proportions of a ramrod. I
would say in a fatherly way: My dear
Rambler, keep your nose from rambling
around in the loose way that you have
been letting it stray about, and there will
be little danger of its running up against
the sting of The Stinger.</p>
<hr class="tb" />
<p>Rambler says he smiled a "smole" when
his nose came in contact with my "stinger."
Stings seem to have the same effect upon
him that laughing-gas has upon a patient
in a dentist's chair. Rambler, beware, for
have you not heard that "laughing often
comes to crying?" The next time we may
<span class="pagenum">[121]</span>
hear from you, you may be sitting in a
corner crying, because the sting got into
your nose a little below the tip, and it is
hurting you in a way that a sting never
troubled you before.</p>
<hr class="tb" />
<p>The mission of The Stinger is to reform
the bee-keeping world. (Did I hear you
say that that is impossible, dear reader?)
There is no man in the world that needs
reforming more than the Rambler, and so
his threats to expose me if I do not cease
troubling him, fall upon me as uselessly as
if he had never uttered them. For shame,
on you, Rambler! to intimate that you will
silence my pen. You might as well try to
melt the snow on the tops of the high
mountains away back of where you live,
with that genial smile of yours, as to keep
The Stinger from performing his mission.
Rambler, beware of the day when I shall
meet you in battle array.</p>
<hr class="tb" />
<p>Some one has sent me a copy of the December
number of the <i>California Cultivator
and Poultry Keeper</i>. It is a nice publication,
but I do not see how it manages to live under
such a load of a name. As it has a well
edited apiary department, I imagine that
the publisher will some day add <i>Bee-Keeper</i>
to the already long title.</p>
<hr class="tb" />
<p>A correspondent writes to know if The
Stinger is a woman; she says she thinks
The Stinger must be a female, because
males do not sting. I would inform the
fair writer, and all other persons who have
doubts as to the sex of The Stinger, that he
is a male; this male stings, if other males
do not.</p>
<hr class="tb" />
<p>What is the difference between a swarm
of bees and a sewing bee?</p>
<p>None, as far as buzzing is concerned.—<i>Ex.</i></p>
<hr class="tb" />
<p>Charlie—"Papa, why is it that honey,
money and funny rhyme?"</p>
<p>"I don't know, unless that it is often
very funny to get honey out of a bee-hive
when the bees are all about your head, and
because it is worth all the money one gets
for it to get the honey from the bees. I
heard a man say that he would not take
honey from bees at any price."</p>
<p>Charlie—"Well, that's funny."</p>
<hr class="tb" />
<p>Student in apicultural class at agricultural
college—"Professor, why is it dangerous
for a person with the blues to go into
an apiary?"</p>
<p>Professor (perplexed)—"I do not know;
the text-books do not say anything on the
subject."</p>
<p>Student (with much glee)—Because bees
are said to have a preference for blue!</p>
<hr class="tb" />
<p>"To be or not to be stung," might have
been written by Shakespeare instead of all
that stuff about shuffling off this mortal
coil, that school boys are so fond of spouting
on declamation days. If he had said
that about the bees, and a little more too,
we might now be classing the Bard of Avon
as something of a bee-keeper; and perhaps
we would be having a peep into his immortal
works through the pages of our friend,
<i>Gleanings</i>.</p>
<hr class="tb" />
<p>Mr. Maybee—I have read that a professor
in one of our agricultural colleges says that
there is considerable difference between
the sting of a wasp and that of a bee.</p>
<p>Mrs. M.—I am not willing to take that
learned man's word for it, as I was stung
by both, and did not see the difference;
both are too hot for me.</p>
<hr class="chap" />
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration02.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<h2 class="nobreak"><span class="smcap xlarge"><i>Langstroth Fund.</i></span></h2></div>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration01.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<blockquote>
<p>[For years, bee-keepers have felt that they
owed the Rev. L. L. Langstroth—the Father
of American bee-culture—a debt that they
can never very well pay, for his invention of
the Movable-Frame Hive which so completely
revolutionized bee-keeping throughout all the
world. In order that his few remaining years
may be made as happy and as comfortable as
possible, we feel that we should undertake a
plan by which those bee-keepers who consider
it a privilege as well as a duty, might have an
opportunity to contribute something toward
a fund that should be gathered and forwarded
to Father Langstroth as a slight token of their
appreciation, and regard felt for him by bee-keepers
everywhere. No amount above $1.00
is expected from any person at one time—but
any sum, however large or small, we will of
course receive and turn over to Father L.
All receipts will be acknowledged here.—<span class="smcap">Ed.</span>]</p>
</blockquote>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration01.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<h2 class="nobreak">List of Contributors.</h2></div>
<hr class="r25" />
<table summary="contributors">
<tr>
<td class="tdl">Previously Reported</td>
<td class="tdr">$79 95</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tdl">Margaret Swain, Pendleton, Ind.</td>
<td class="tdr">50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tdl">Ed. Weidner, Earlville, Ills.</td>
<td class="tdr">1 00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tdl">Scott LaMont, Jarrett, Minn.</td>
<td class="tdr">90</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tdl">Wm. Kittinger, Caledonia, Wis.</td>
<td class="tdr">1 00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tdl"> </td>
<td class="tdr">———</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tdl"> Total</td>
<td class="tdr">$83 35</td>
</tr>
</table>
<div class="topspace2">
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
</div>
<h2 class="nobreak">CLUBBING LIST.</h2></div>
<hr class="r25" />
<p><span class="large"><b>We Club</b></span> the <i>American Bee Journal</i>
for a year, with any of the following papers
at the club prices quoted in the <span class="large"><b>LAST</b></span>
column. The regular price of both is given
in the first column. One year's subscription
for the American Bee Journal must be sent
with each order for another paper:<br/><br/></p>
<table summary="clubbing list">
<tr>
<td class="tdl"> </td>
<td class="tdc"><i>Price of both.</i></td>
<td class="tdc"><i> Club.</i></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tdl">The American Bee Journal</td>
<td class="tdr">$1 00</td>
<td class="tdr"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tdl"> </td>
<td class="tdr"> </td>
<td class="tdr"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tdl">and Gleanings in Bee-Culture</td>
<td class="tdr">2 00</td>
<td class="tdr">1 75</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tdl"> Bee-Keepers' Review</td>
<td class="tdr">2 00</td>
<td class="tdr">1 75</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tdl"> Canadian Bee Journal</td>
<td class="tdr">2 00</td>
<td class="tdr">1 75</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tdl"> The Apiculturist</td>
<td class="tdr">1 75</td>
<td class="tdr">1 65</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tdl"> Progressive Bee-Keeper</td>
<td class="tdr">1 50</td>
<td class="tdr">1 30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tdl"> American Bee-Keeper</td>
<td class="tdr">1 50</td>
<td class="tdr">1 40</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tdl"> Nebraska Bee-Keeper</td>
<td class="tdr">1 50</td>
<td class="tdr">1 35</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tdl">The 8 above-named papers</td>
<td class="tdr">6 25</td>
<td class="tdr">5 25</td>
</tr>
</table>
<div class="topspace2">
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
</div>
<p class="center"><span class="large"><b>Have You Read</b></span> page 101 yet?</p>
<hr class="chap" />
<p><span class="pagenum">[122]</span></p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i020.png" alt="" /></div>
<h2 class="nobreak"> <span class="smcap large">OUR</span><br/><span class="smcap xlarge">Letter Box</span><br/><br/> <i>REPORTS PROSPECTS &c</i></h2></div>
<hr class="r25" />
<p><span class="xxlarge">☞</span><span class="medium"> Do not write anything for publication
on the same sheet of paper with business
matters, unless it can be torn apart without
interfering with either part of the letter.</span></p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration02.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<p class="large"><b>The "Bee Journal" a Great Help.</b></p>
<p>There is so much valuable information in
the <span class="smcap">Bee Journal</span> that I cannot afford to
destroy them, but will bind them and keep
them as a book of reference. Really, I
don't see how I could do without the <span class="smcap">Bee
Journal</span>, or some other bee-paper that
would come up to its standard. Last year
I produced 1,500 pounds of comb honey,
while in former years I never got over 400
pounds. Of course the extra flow last year
accounts for much of my better success,
but I also attribute very much of it to the
"Old Reliable."</p>
<p>Myself and son have now 55 colonies in
winter quarters, all apparently doing well
except one colony that I think is queenless.
Our success last year would have been
much greater had the dry weather not cut
the basswood flow short.</p>
<p class="sig5"><span class="smcap">A. H. Snowberger.</span></p>
<p class="sig-left2">Huntington, Ind., Jan. 5, 1894.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<p class="large"><b>Had Plenty of Good Flights.</b></p>
<p>I had 5 colonies, spring count, and increased
to 11. They did very well the forepart
of the season, but it was too dry to
grow buckwheat, or any other honey-plant.
The bees went into winter quarters in good
condition, and are all right up to date.
They have had plenty of good flights so
far, but the worst is to come yet. In the
spring, if the weather stays warm, they
consume more than when it is cold. Bees
were rather scarce last spring.</p>
<p class="sig5"><span class="smcap">W. F. Rinck.</span></p>
<p class="sig-left2">West Alexandria, O., Jan. 1, 1894.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<p class="large"><b>A Good Report—Bee Management.</b></p>
<p>My 18 colonies of bees came through the
winter in good condition last spring. They
gave me a surplus of 2,000 pounds of white
and sweet clover honey, 1,400 pounds of extracted,
and 600 pounds of comb honey.
The former sold here at $1.00 a gallon, and
the latter at 13 cents a pound. I run 5 colonies
a different way for extracted honey,
and those 5 gave a surplus of 800 pounds.
It was done as follows:</p>
<p>I watch until they prepare to swarm, and
the honey-flow is close. I take out all
frames from the brood-chamber, except the
one the queen is on, which I put in the center,
and fill the chamber with new frames
of full sheets of comb foundation. I then
take a full sheet of Root's perforated zinc,
with ¼-inch bee-space between the frames
and zinc, and put it over the brood-chamber.
I then put a chamber on top of the
zinc, and put the frames with the bees and
brood in this top chamber, and cover it up.
Now I have a laying queen and lots of
room for brood below, and as fast as the
brood hatches above, they fill it with
honey if the flow is here. It was here this
year, for they filled the top chamber, after
the first extracting, in four days—6 frames
two-thirds capped.</p>
<p>My increase is from 18 to 25 colonies,
which are in double-walled hives, and in as
good condition for winter as I ever had
them.</p>
<p class="sig5"><span class="smcap">Henry Bohlmann.</span></p>
<p class="sig-left2">Defiance, O., Jan. 1, 1894.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<p class="large"><b>Uses of Perforated Zinc.</b></p>
<p>In reading the short item by Mrs. Jennie
Atchley, in regard to the different uses of
Dr. Tinker's perforated zinc, I thought I
would add a little of my experience to those
already given.</p>
<p>1st. In hiving young swarms, I have
found it to be excellent to place over the
entrance to keep them from leaving or returning
to the home hive.</p>
<p>2nd. When four or six swarms issue at
the same time, and cluster together, I have
found it to be of the greatest value to me.
I look the bees over, find my queens, and
place them in separate hives, and put on
the zinc over the entrance; then I take a
large dipper and dip the bees from the
place where they alighted, putting them in
front of the different hives, when the bees
will separate, each swarm going into its
own hive.</p>
<p>In using the zinc, some might misunderstand
me. I only leave the zinc on the entrance
from two to four days; if the queens
are young, I only leave it on two days, so
as to give them a flight. With old queens
I leave it on longer.</p>
<p class="sig5"><span class="smcap">Andrew M. Thompson.</span></p>
<p class="sig-left2">Canaseraga, N. Y.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<p class="large"><b>Something from Central California.</b></p>
<p>Being a Californian, and having not as
yet crossed the State line, it is with great
pleasure that I read the reports from other
States or localities throughout the United
States. I was pleased to see in the <span class="smcap">Bee
Journal</span> a report from Kern county—a
county joining Tulare county on the south—of
my neighbor realizing nearly 300
pounds per colony. Now I have reasons to
believe that bees will produce a great deal
of honey per colony in Kern county, as I
own a small ranch containing 685 acres
down there, and am quite familiar with
the country. We have the largest alfalfa
fields in the world in Kern county, Calif.
We have a man in Kern county who owns
in one body almost 1,000,000 acres of land.</p>
<p>I have seen the time that all the counties
<span class="pagenum">[123]</span>
in the San Joaquin valley, consisting of
Kern, Tulare, Kings, Fresno, Modara,
Merced, and Modesto—all were joined in
large tracts, and had their herds after herds
of bellowing cattle roaming over its one
level plain, as the San Joaquin valley is
level, not one elevation 50 feet high in a
valley that is 75×200 miles in size.</p>
<p>Our Senator, Tom Fowler, who owned
cattle all along the coast from San Francisco
to Los Angeles, used to say: "I own
the cattle that roam on a thousand hills."
I am the same old 76. Tom and all of his
bellowing herds are no more. The "76
ranch," which is located in Tulare county,
was Tom's head-quarters. It has been cut
up into small farms, all the way from 20 up
to 2,000 acres, and there are thousands of
happy and beautiful homes, school houses,
churches and towns, instead of the mustang
and its master.</p>
<p>Our part of the State is not generally
known, as this is central California, and
the cities north and south try to claim us
as theirs.</p>
<p class="sig5"><span class="smcap">Fred M. Hart.</span></p>
<p class="sig-left2">Traver, Calif.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<p class="large"><b>A Little Experience with Bees.</b></p>
<p>Bee-keeping has about "gone to seed" in
this part of the country. If a person undertakes
to keep bees on modern principles,
he is considered a crank. They think "pa"
knew it all. "Pa" kept 15 or 20 colonies,
and would get 20 or 25 pounds of honey
from one colony. "Pa" would take care
of his bees; he would put little blocks or
nails under each corner of the hive, and
then moths would not bother them!</p>
<p>I have read Quinby's book, "A B C of
Bee-Culture," <i>Gleanings</i> for two years, the
<span class="smcap">Bee Journal</span> for one year, also "Bees and
Honey," and with my practical experience,
I feel that I am just beginning to learn my
A B C's.</p>
<p>My experience is not very extensive. I
ran one colony this year for increase, and
made 10 colonies from it, and they only
cast one natural swarm. I got the idea of
artificial increase from "Bees and Honey."
That alone has been worth ten times the
price of the <span class="smcap">Bee Journal</span> to me. Those 10
colonies of bees could not be bought for
$20. People will say "times are too hard—I
can't spare the money."</p>
<p>I can't close without telling how much
I enjoy "In Sunny Southland." That alone
is worth the price of the paper. Long live
the <span class="smcap">American Bee Journal</span>!</p>
<p class="sig5"><span class="smcap">C. L. Doyle.</span></p>
<p class="sig-left2">Fayette Corners, Tenn.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<p class="large"><b>Half a Crop—Golden Italians, Etc.</b></p>
<p>The common verdict regarding the honey
season in this locality is but half a crop. A
cold, wet and late spring left the colonies
in such a weak condition, that were they
not stimulated, they would have been in no
condition at all when the honey-flow came.
We had a splendid flow from honey-locust,
although there were such high winds and
continual rains during the bloom, that the
bees could work scarcely a day at a time.</p>
<p>Right here I want to say one good thing
for those golden 5-banded Italians, which
race almost every one wishes to condemn.
They were working almost every day,
while the others did not dare venture out.
This shows them to be very strong on the
wing, but as to their superiority as everyday
honey-gatherers, over the leather-colored
variety, I am not prepared to say.
For a hardy strain, long livers, and a business
class of bees, give me uniformly
marked leather-colored Italians, every
time.</p>
<p>To return to our honey-resources: White
clover was almost a total failure, as a
severe drouth existed during the bloom,
and it did not secrete much nectar. Smartweed
was our main stand-by, with golden-rod
a close second. They yield an excellent
honey.</p>
<p>My style of marketing is three one-pound
sections in a frame, for which I had no
trouble in obtaining 60 cents. Extracted
brings 12½ cents, although there is complaint
of adulteration in our market.</p>
<p>Our bees are in fine condition for winter,
and we have hopes for a better season next
year.</p>
<p class="sig5"><span class="smcap">J. C. Wallenmeyer.</span></p>
<p class="sig-left2">Evansville, Ind., Dec. 17, 1893.</p>
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<p class="large"><b>Good Season in 1893, Etc.</b></p>
<p>A queer winter we are having thus far.
The forepart of December was cold, the
mercury reaching zero a number of times,
with very little snow. The middle of December
it warmed up, the snow all disappeared,
and on the 22nd it was 70 degrees in
the shade; on the 25th it was 60 degrees,
and I let my bees have a flight. They were
not as thick as in June.</p>
<p>The last season was a good one in this
locality. I never saw white clover so thick
before. We had a heavy wind and hail
storm in buckwheat bloom, which was a
complete stop to the buckwheat flow, which
started in well. Golden-rod and asters did
not yield much. There were a good many
runaway swarms the past season, quite a
number being found on the lake shore. I
got four. The lake takes off one-half, or
nearly that, of my pasture (being situated
on the shore). We have about 8 inches of
ice now, and have had very good ice-boating
so far.</p>
<p class="sig5"><span class="smcap">S. H. Eastwood.</span></p>
<p class="sig-left2">Cicero Centre, N. Y., Jan. 8, 1894.</p>
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<p class="large"><b>Won't Winter on Sorghum.</b></p>
<p>On page 559, of the <span class="smcap">Bee Journal</span> for
1893, there is an item concerning sorghum
for wintering bees. Mrs. Atchley suggests
that I try it and report, which I will do
with pleasure.</p>
<p>I can only report failure. Mrs. Atchley
reports that she could not get her bees to
take hold of sorghum. I had 5 colonies
which I fed on it last October, sufficient to
carry them through the winter. They are
now all dead but one colony, and that one
is reduced in numbers to a mere handful of
<span class="pagenum">[124]</span>
bees. They all had plenty of sealed stores
when they died, and fell down on the bottom-board.
All of my other colonies are
wintering well, that have honey stores.</p>
<p>Now, if Mrs. Atchley wants to try sorghum
next winter, I think if she will go to
some of her colonies of bees in warm, dry
weather in October—some that have plenty
of bees and not much honey—and raise the
front end of the hive a little higher than
the back, and pour in the pure sorghum
just a little for one or two evenings, to get
them started to eating it, then increase a
little more, feeding every evening, I think
in a week or so her bees will have plenty of
sealed stores to last them through the winter—if
they should live that long. But I
don't think they would.</p>
<p>I don't wish Mrs. Atchley to feed her bees
on sorghum, nor any one else, unless you
want to lose your bees, for that you will do
if they are fed on pure sorghum.</p>
<p>Some Northern bee-keepers may think
there is a disease among my bees, but such
is not the case. There never was any disease
among bees in this country, that I
know of.</p>
<p class="sig5"><span class="smcap">N. E. Cleveland.</span></p>
<p class="sig-left2">Decatur, Miss., Dec. 23, 1893.</p>
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<p class="large"><b>Getting Statistics on Bee-Culture.</b></p>
<p>I notice on page 743 of the <span class="smcap">Bee Journal</span>
for 1893, under heading of "Comb Honey
in the United States," a request for all
manufacturers of honey-sections to report
all sales of sections to Dr. Miller, for the
purpose of ascertaining the amount of
honey produced, etc. That would be one
way to guess at the amount, but I don't
think it would be very much of a guess.</p>
<p>It appears to me that there is but one
way to get at the amount of honey produced
in the United States. Every assessor
has a long list of questions provided on
purpose to get at the statistics of the country.
When these statistics are finally compiled,
they are sent out all over the country,
and we can see at a glance just how
much wheat, oats, corn, etc., each State
has produced the previous season. Now, I
don't think it would require very much
persuasion on the part of the bee-fraternity
to secure the placing of two or three more
questions on that list, viz.:</p>
<p>1. How many colonies of bees did you
have, spring count, on June 1st, last year?</p>
<p>2. How many pounds of comb honey did
you produce?</p>
<p>3. How many pounds of extracted honey?</p>
<p>This would bring out a full report of the
amount of honey produced in the United
States. It would also show the number of
colonies of bees kept by the States.</p>
<p class="sig5"><span class="smcap">C. H. Pond.</span></p>
<p class="sig-left2">Kasson, Minn.</p>
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<p class="large"><b>Value of Bee Papers and Books.</b></p>
<p>There is little use trying to keep bees,
either for pleasure or profit, without at
least one live bee-paper to awaken interest
and enthusiasm, and keep the apiarist
abreast of the times. When we see an
apiary that shows neatness, taste and prosperity,
we need not be told that the owner
or manager has access to bee papers and
books; and when we find a bee-yard with
hives huddled together regardless of order,
distance or taste, with many of the colonies
dead and dying, we are sure that the
knowledge, skill and enterprise that come
from the study of apiarian literature, have
never reached that desolate and forlorn
spot. Of course the bees are black, but no
darker than much of the filthy comb and
honey inside the hives. By neglect, much
of the worker comb has become unfit for
brood-rearing, and hence drones are reared
in superabundance, and these deteriorated
male bees fill the air for miles in all directions,
to vitiate the pure blood of all well-kept
apiaries.</p>
<p>But the intelligent, careful, painstaking
apiarist will find encouragement in the assurance
that all bees kept by such slipshod
methods are doomed, and on the principle
of "the survival of the fittest" must go,
and the sooner the better for all concerned.</p>
<p>Bees in this section did well last season,
and went into winter quarters in excellent
condition. The recent warm spell gave
them a fine airing (those on the summer
stands), and now they should winter with
but little loss.</p>
<p class="sig5"><span class="smcap">S. S. Butts.</span></p>
<p class="sig-left2">Wyalusing, Pa., Dec. 28, 1893.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/decoration03.png" alt="Decorative Divider" /></div>
<p class="large"><b>The Season of 1893, Etc.</b></p>
<p>I read the <span class="smcap">Bee Journal</span> with much pleasure,
for my bees are almost all the comfort
that I have left, as I have no family now.
My wife died last February. I have two
daughters, but they were married years
ago. I have a comfortable home, and
enough of this world's goods to live on, but
what matters that, when the ties of love
are forever broken?</p>
<p>Well, the last season was not very good
for the bee-man in this part of the State.
The dry weather set in just as the basswood
came into bloom, and cut it short. It was
just a little cool for white clover, so our
crop was short. I have always worked for
comb honey, and for that reason I have
never had very heavy returns.</p>
<p>My bees came out of the cellar in fair
condition last spring. I put away 20 colonies,
and lost 4 through my neglect (the
breaking up of my family unnerved me
for business). The bees increased to 30
colonies, which are now in the cellar, as
that is my method of keeping them. They
are heavy with winter stores, and so far
are doing well. They were put in on Nov.
22nd.</p>
<p>I want to say a few words in favor of the
yellow bee, as I have both. They stored
nearly all the surplus. In a good season
the blacks will do just as well, but when
the crop is short, the yellow bees are the
best for me.</p>
<p>I have sold 500 pounds of honey, and
have 100 or more of uncapped honey left.</p>
<p class="sig5"><span class="smcap">D. C. Wilson.</span></p>
<p class="sig-left2">Viola, Iowa, Dec. 19, 1893.</p>
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<p class="center"><span class="large"><b>Great Premium</b></span> on page 101!</p>
<hr class="full" />
<div class="transnote">
<p><span class="smcap">Transcriber's Notes.</span></p>
<p> 1. Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical
errors.</p>
<p>2. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed.</p>
</div>
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